Inspired by Poet, Writer, Musician & Songwriter Leonard Cohen
“Considered one of the most influential authors of our time, his poems and songs have beautifully explored the major issues of humanity in great depth.”
Leonard Cohen, a Canadian, was born on September 21st, 1934. As a teen, he learned to play guitar and formed a country folk group. He attended McGill University to study law which he never completed. He started a journey as a poet /writer; his first publication, in 1956, was a book of poetry entitled Let Us Compare Mythologies. The Spice-Box of Earth (1961)
brought Cohen public acclaim as a poet.
His first novel published in 1963 was Favourite Game; Beautiful Losers
followed in 1966.
Yeats, Miller, Irving, Leighton influenced Cohen’s as a writer.
He often wrote about religion, sex, relationships, isolation. For a number of years, Leonard went into a secluded life in a Zen Buddist monastery. Leonard had “a persona often associated with mystique.”.
By the late 60s, Cohen was publishing fewer books and started focusing on writing music and recording. In 1967, he moved to the US to pursue folk music. He wrote his first published song Suzanne for Judy Collins in 1967; the same year he recorded his first album. Songs from that album were picked up by popular musicians like James Taylor and David Crosby. Cohen published his best known book of poetry and prose in 1978 -Death of a Ladies Man.The record, of the same title, was co-written and produced with Phil Spector (Songwriter/ record producer Spector was responsible for over 25 Top 40 hits in his career. Spector wrote lyrics and produced for many famous artists like Righteous Brothers, Ike and Tina Turner, Beatles, Rolling Stones.) Leonard Cohen, at 77, is still writing and producing music. A full collection is expected out in October.
Awards: In 2008, Leonard Cohen was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
In June, he was bestowed with the Prince of Asturias Award for Letters considered one of the highest honor for a writer.
Recurrent themes in Cohen’s early writings revolved around depression and suicide; later in his career he has written about political and social injustice. Cohen shows, in a profound way, that one’s writing can have a tremendous impact on our world and humanity.
When this American woman
( from “Let Us Compare Mythologies”)
When this American woman,
whose thighs are bound in casual red cloth,
comes thundering past my sitting place
like a forest-burning Mongol tribe,
the city is ravished and brittle buildings
of a hundred years splash into the street;
and my eyes are burnt
for the embroidered Chinese girls,
already old, and so small
between the thin pines
on these enormous landscapes,
that if you turn your head
they are lost for hours.
Thanks to Leonard Cohen for years of inspiration – Happy Birthday


Believe in the paranomal!
Atlanta, GA — It is very true. “The National Church of Bey“, an organization that recently formed the new religion called Beyism (based on pop star Beyoncé Knowles), based in Atlanta, Georgia. Although Beyoncé herself is not believed to be a part of it, she is the foundation of it and has so far not made a statement denouncing it. ~http://www.blacknews.com
The church also goes on to say, “Donations have poured in and we will soon have enough to build a temple in honor of Mother Bey”.
We will invite her to speak to her flock, once the doors are open.”Reportedly, The National Church Of Bey is also looking to expand outside of the Atlanta area. According to them, they already have parishes popping up all over the United States, Canada, and England.
You guys have to see the official church commercial:
And then there’s more!
The Department of Women’s and Gender Studies at Rutgers University is offering a course called “Politicizing Beyonce.” and Georgetown University has a class called “The Sociology of Hip-Hop: The Urban Theodicy of Jay-Z,” focusing on Beyonce’s rapper husband.
How does one get this kind of power? I’d love to hear what Beyonce has to say about all this. Does she feel honored? powerful? is she just sitting back and letting it all soak in? or is she just ignoring the foolishness and just considering these folks are no more than crazy obsessed fans?


Check on this episode of the Nerdist podcast featuring Michael Shannon (Boardwalk Empire, Man of Steel, The Iceman) talks with Chris and Matt about using a flip phone, the numerous roles he has played, and life as General Zod. They also talk about bad experiences on planes, Dungeons and Dragons, and all the movies Michael has been in lately!
Along with Shannon's entertainment career, they discuss his time as a PIRG canvasser (around 29:00). While he can’t quite remember what PIRG stands, and while he found canvassing to be challenging, it's clear he’s a pretty hard-core environmentalist to this day.
Photo Credit: Jason Merritt/Getty Images


Until I met her, I’d rather have stuck pins in my eyes than interview Sorisha Naidoo.
The impression I got of her from the pages of newspapers was of a shameless gold-digger who married a man 23 years her senior for his bucks. I despised the materialism and pretentiousness she seemed to represent, but a visit to her uMhlanga pad revealed a more nuanced picture.
She’s mightily ambitious, but you don’t have to dig too deep to find an eminently likeable person: keen social climber that she may be.
There’s good reason Naidoo’s in the media crosshairs: she’s good-looking, bright and controversial, not least because she punts a skin lightening cream in post-apartheid South Africa. She’s smeared it liberally all over her body and it has rendered her a few tones lighter than the hue she was born.
Naidoo is married to South Africa’s biggest self-promoting businessman, Vivian Reddy, a politically connected mogul who likes the tag “billionaire”.
Their plush house, in a gated estate on the uMhlanga Ridge, is tasteful glass and stone. Chandeliers twinkle in the afternoon sunlight. It’s comfortable and not over the top.
The bar is stocked with every shade of Johnnie Walker. Portraits of Reddy and luminaries take pride of place.
There are snaps of him with Nelson Mandela, Jacob Zuma, Dali Tambo, Oprah and Winnie Madikizela-Mandela.
There’s no doubt money buys you influence – Naidoo, not in so many words, will be the first to tell you that. But she seems not entirely defined by the money and influence she’s synonymous with.
Celebrity interviews are difficult. Savvy stars are generally on a charm offensive. They want you to write nice things about them and they give interviews to drum up support for their new book, movie, etc.
Next week Naidoo will launch an anti-ageing cream she claims will make my wrinkled forehead feel like a baby’s bum.
This does absolutely nothing for me, but on receiving the press release, I dared her public relations consultant to set up an interview.
She did, and there I sat with Naidoo, who was attractive in a disarmingly homespun way.
As we sat down, she motioned to an ugly pair of pugs grunting on the carpet. Max and Macy.
“They fart a lot. I’m warning you now so you don’t think it’s me.”
I didn’t think leggy beauty queens with perfect teeth farted, let alone uttered the word.
In the flesh, Naidoo is the antithesis of her public image. While she glides around like a TV star and is immaculately turned out, she’s warm and sincere.
And, most appealing, she’s absolutely candid about all the nasty stuff that’s been said about her, such as her “buying” Facebook friends, her weight, her complexion and the relationship between her and her much older husband, whom she allegedly stole from his loyal wife of many years.
One of four children to Shallcross shopkeepers Krishna and Lalitha, Naidoo says she worked the till at their store all through her matric year, until her brother was shot dead in an armed robbery.
To recover from the trauma, she went to university in Bangalore where she studied pre-medicine for two years, which she hated.
Returning home, she got a journalism degree from Rhodes University and in 2001 stopped being a working-class kid from Shallcross. She won the Miss India South Africa pageant and was launched on a path to fame and fortune.
The crown landed her a job in public relations with Southern Sun and a DJ slot on the graveyard shift at East Coast Radio, which involved getting up at sparrow’s to drive from Shallcross for her 3am to 6am slot.
Soon Naidoo got bumped up to co-host the breakfast show with Alan Khan and became the public relations officer at Sugarmill Casino.
Around that time she met Reddy, who called her “a lot” and wooed her over coffee.
Naidoo says initially she thought he was “an annoying Indian man”, but soon saw a different side to him. He paid her attention when no other guys asked her out.
Naidoo took an offer to move to Highveld Stereo when she and Reddy had been seeing each other for about a year. In Johannesburg, she starred in the TV soapie Scandal.
At the time, Reddy told her he was separated from his wife. Naidoo didn’t grill him about this because it was “none of my business”.
“We didn’t see each other a lot, but we’d talk for two hours a day on the phone and he was so refreshing. His conversation was challenging and he fed my mind.”
Naidoo says they spoke mostly about business, but also about philosophy and aspirations.
So how does she respond to claims that she’s a gold-digger?
“I welcome it. It used to haunt me, but I don’t care now. I always earned a reasonably good salary and I’ve never stopped working.”
She proudly declares that she’s bought her husband a R300 000 watch for his birthday, with her own dosh.
So how much is Reddy really worth and how much of it is hers?
“I really don’t know. I haven’t asked. What’s his is his and what’s mine is mine.
“I don’t even know if I’m in the will… I’ve got to credit Viv, he said I must stand on my own… he could find someone else tomorrow. I’ve got to be independent and self-sufficient.”
When Naidoo started her cosmetics business eight years ago, she mistakenly assumed Reddy would fund it.
“I didn’t even think about money. I’m like ‘please lend me some money’ and he’s like ‘no’, and it was a slap in the face, but I’m grateful. Viv said I had to build up a credit record with the bank and I did.”
Naidoo says she happened upon the skin lightening cream by chance. She was modelling for an FHM shoot and she didn’t like the dark colour of her knees and elbows.
She tried out creams she discovered on the internet. She got lighter and thought it looked “cool”.
People commented on how pretty she looked and asked her how she did it.
“I thought ‘Duh, this is glaringly obvious’ (the business opportunity), and I’ve been doing it for eight years.”
Naidoo says being light-skinned is prized in Indian culture, which is bolstered by Bollywood.
“If I didn’t do this, somebody else would… now I’ve dropped a few shades, I’m locked in. If I stopped, people would say I don’t have confidence in my own product.”
Having said that, Naidoo says she’s actually darkened recently. She’s constantly experimenting with creams, using herself as a guinea pig rather than anyone else.
At one point, she burnt her skin using an inferior product but persevered because the skin lightening cream awakened her interest in cosmetics.
It turned her into a “Google freak” and helped her land the African rights to the Crystal Tomato range, which will be launched next week.
Isn’t the preoccupation with beauty shallow?
Naidoo’s answer is contradictory if revealing. “Yes, it’s very vain. I’d never deny it. I want to look like this when I’m 40. In this industry, it’s expected.”
Then Naidoo says she doesn’t hanker after the spotlight any more. She’s happy with her 51kg frame and laughs off Winnie Madikizela’s comments about her skinniness being unAfrican.
She has a faux American accent, maybe a TV affectation. She jokes about her four tattoos, justifying them with an enthusiastic chirp you’d expect from a teenager: “Hey, I’m from Grahamstown!”
In the next breath, she talks earnestly about her goal to grow her business and age gracefully.
Naidoo’s genuinely attentive and hands-on with her children Kalina, three, and Saihil, five.
She credits her hard-working parents for whatever success she’s achieved.
No longer fazed about being called a trophy wife, Naidoo says she and Reddy would probably be together if they were poor.
“As long as he could still feed my soul. Money is circumstantial.”
The demands of their respective businesses mean they see each other about three times a week, either in Durban or in Johannesburg, where they have a flat. Naidoo says she’s done with worrying about her image in the media.
“I like to think I’m me, that I’ve never changed from the Shallcross girl who can go behind the till tomorrow…The people who matter in my life know me.”
- By Greg Arde. This story first appeared in the Sunday Tribune on 27 November 2013.
- Picture: Val Adamson
Greg Ardé is a journalist based in Durban, South Africa. He has written three books and currently edits a magazine.
In the course of his 30-year career Greg has been involved with a number of media, including newspapers, radio and television. He is the former bureau chief of the Sunday Times in Durban and editor of a monthly magazine which appeared in that newspaper.
He was previously deputy editor of the Sunday Tribune, property editor of the same publication and business editor of The Mercury.
He was political reporter on the Daily News and worked for the South African Press Association in the run-up to South Africa's first democratic elections in 1994. In that time he covered political violence extensively. Greg has a national diploma in journalism from the erstwhile Technikon Natal.
As part of this, he served a year’s internship at the Daily Dispatch in East London and later ran the Dispatch's Umtata bureau, close to the birthplace of Nelson Mandela. He is deeply committed to issues of justice, accountability and development and wrote a weekly column for 15 years.
Greg has a keen interest in the evolution of cities and in 2013 and 2014, contributed to the Resilient Cities series, an initiative sponsored by the Rockefeller Foundation.
Greg’s passion for politics, cities and development nurtured a curiosity in business and entrepreneurs and he has run three publications in that vein.
In the course of his career, Greg has also facilitated a number of roundtable talks aimed at improving education, economic development and job creation in Durban, the city he calls home.


The newest loss of Playboy founder, Hugh Hefner leftover Movie industry mourning, however, we can’t assist but think about all the Playboy bunnies Hef lead into the limelight since the well known magazine were only available in 1953.
At the 18, she began the girl field on Playboy and a year later during the 1969 she arrived the lady firstly five Playboy covers. Barbi old Hugh Hefner out-of 1969-1976, which was experienced a lengthy period of time to possess Hef. Just after separating ways that have Hef, she hitched George Gradow when you look at the 1979 and additionally they had a couple of people together with her. Barbi splits the woman family’s time passed between property inside the Aspen and you may Los Angeles and you may she and you may Hef remained best friends over time.
Shannon had the woman start on Playboy on account of a show named “Excitement off a lifestyle,” and this allows its audience live out its ambitions. It casted Shannon, an aspiring design, during the time. Shannon’s shoot triggered their to get the latest 1982 Playmate of your Seasons and have now revealed her acting community. She lived at the Playboy Mansion for about 14 days since Hugh Hefner’s companion. She wound up fulfilling this lady husband, Hug bassist Gene Simmons, at the Playboy Residence in the 1983.
Her community and you may lifetime was basically continuously regarding spotlight on account of higher =profile matchmaking, not she and you may Hef had been never ever personal
Shannon common that it photos towards the Instagram and you may paid off their areas to Hef with a coming in contact with mention. “#HughHefnerwill be missed from the all of us both and many more inside the globe. He’d a serious effect on my entire life. My husband and you will Hef commonly chatted about the numerous one thing they got in common apart from me. ”
Clips, comics, politics philosophies and you may love
Pamela Anderson flower to fame whenever she secure the fresh October 1989 issue of Playboy while the Playmate of one’s Week in the 1990. Once their Playboy glory, Pamela scored this new character regarding C. J. Parker for the “Baywatch” and you will played the fresh area for five decades. She and you may Hef was in fact constantly personal and you can Pam got a massive 14 Playboy covers throughout the their industry, top of a lot to believe you to definitely she was Hef’s muse out of types. She common an emotional so long to her longtime pal on the Instagram late with the Wednesday immediately after she read the news headlines off their passing, “My personal favorite image of #Hef and that i. His sharp manly stare you to definitely turned into your instantly into the what you people.”
Called Skip Will get 1992 or Playmate of the season 1993, Anna Nicole Smith is one of the most popular Playboy designs. Smith got their very first Playboy defense for the age Vickie Smith. She proceeded to accomplish four significantly more talks about getting Hugh Hefner’ journal, for instance the June 1993 Playmate of the season procedure. The girl past safety are wrote inside the . Anna Nicole try no complete stranger to conflict, and you may she had a highly-advertised marriage so you can J. Howard Marshall. Pursuing the his passing, Anna Nicole began an extended courtroom competition more than his estate. Anna Nicole died at the young age of 39 out of an enthusiastic overdose towards prescription drugs. At the time of her demise, this lady boy, Daniel, got merely passed away, and you will she has also been in an intolerable infant custody competition more the lady daughter, Dannielynn Birkhead.
Marilyn Monroe had been a successful actress whenever this lady nude pictures starred in the new introduction problem of Playboy Mag when you look at the 1953. Hefner bought the fresh images, and therefore we pulled before Monroe got well-known. To the August 5, 1962 Marilyn are receive dry within her bed room, brand new coroner governed the latest death “probable suicide.” She and you will Hefner usually forever end up being fastened even though in life and you can when you look at the dying – Hefner will be hidden beside her crypt inside Los angeles.
Jenny McCarthy first started the lady field for the 1993 since the an unclothed design to possess Playboy and you will was later called Playmate of the season. McCarthy’s field blossomed and she went on in order to host reveals for the MTV and you will became a host on “The scene.” She now computers her own tell you into the SiriusXM. The very last day she posed to have Playboy are into the safeguards when you look at the 2012, hence she desired to do for her 40th birthday celebration. Jenny is partnered to date sincerely mobile help you actor, Donnie Wahlberg. Jenny appreciated Hef which have a sweet photo with the Wednesday. She captioned the fresh photographs, “Split #Hef Thank you for are a significant and you may modifying a lot of people’s lifetime, particularly mine. Thanks for opting for us to end up being one of your bunnies. I am hoping We produced your proud. I will permanently getting pleased. ?????”


Today is the 59th birthday of punk/rockabilly/pop/new wave rock’s true legends, Elvis Costello. In 1977, a then 23-year-old EC put out arguably one of the greatest debut records, My Aim Is True. His run of records with The Attractions starting with This Year’s Model through Imperial Bedroom was one of most inspired and impressive starts to a career that has now spanned five decades. Whether as a solo artist, working with the Attractions, the Brodsky Quartet, or most recently The Roots, Elvis Costello’s career has been one filled with countless memorable moments. For many, he’ll forever be remembered as the quirky, bespectacled young man that fused Rock-a-Billy pop rock with a punk edge, but his musical appetite and explorations have been legion and varied. And, if you have had the pleasure of seeing him live (I was fortunate to on multiple occasions (and once with the Attractions!)), he is an engrossing, captivating, and giving live performer. He is definitely on my desert island list of recording artists. If I only had the EC canon to listen to, I’d be happy island-bound camper.
Give yourself a chance to revisit some of his classics starting with the fitting opening of My Aim Is True.
Happy Birthday EC! Hopefully there will be many more to come and great tunes to share.


As one of the country’s most trusted category experts, and recognized personalities, in gardening and sustainability, Joe Lamp’l (aka joe gardener®) has been hooked on horticulture since childhood.
Joe’s passion for living a greener life is evident to a nationwide audience who turns to him for gardening advice through his new joe gardener Online Gardening Academy™. And, his fans also tune in to watch him in his current role as creator, executive producer and host of the Emmy-award-winning PBS series, Growing a Greener World®. Previously, he was the host of Fresh from the Garden on DIY Network. Joe also shares his know-how on NBC’s TODAY SHOW, ABC’s Good Morning America, The Weather Channel and through his popular books and podcast series, among other outlets.
Joe is the founder and “Joe” behind joegardener.com—a gardening-intensive website that focuses on how-to videos, podcasts, online courses and blog posts. Here, he covers everything around the most popular topics gardeners want to know.
Joe’s past accolades include The American Horticultural Society’s B.Y. Morrison Communication Award for effective and inspirational print, radio, television, and online media communications. He received the Best On-Air Talent for Television by The Garden Writers Association. And, he has also won multiple Taste Awards for: Best Branded Television Series, Best Environmental Television, Series, Film or Video, and Breakout Storyteller of the Year for a television series. He also took home a 2018 Daytime Emmy Award for Best Lifestyle Program. When he’s not talking or writing about green living, Joe can likely be found in and around his organic garden, and spending time with his family on their Atlanta, GA farm.
Backyard Life Q&A with Joe Lamp’l


Jay Leno took some members of the media around the set for his new show, and he revealed the secret of his historically high ratings. What is it? Is it spending extra time crafting jokes? Going to comedy clubs to see what subjects make people laugh hardest? Nope.
Partly joking, partly not, Leno noted networks study minute-by-minute ratings reports to try to determine which elements of a late-night talk show work. One rule of thumb: Prudishly dressed celebrities don’t go over well.
If the first guest on his show is an attractive actress wearing a pantsuit and her shirt is buttoned to her neck, Leno said, viewership will drop the moment she walks out. Or if a well-known actor is wearing a beard that makes him unrecognizable, ratings will likewise go down.
“I can walk into the Green Room and see what a celebrity is wearing and go, ‘We’re screwed,’” Leno said.
Okay, I’m going to try to be fair. That makes perfect sense, and it’s the sort of thing you learn when you do “The Tonight Show” for 17 years.
A large door allows Leno to drive a car directly onto to the set, which is something Leno intends to do, albeit infrequently. The color scheme is rich and contemporary (“We’re putting a PF Changs here,” Leno joked).
One unique element is a full embrace of Leno’s love of classic automobiles. There’s artful photos mounted in various spots along the frames of the stage of his car collection (usually closeups of parts, such a speedometer). [THR]
Yup. Cars and clothes. That’s why Leno’s the best.


There are few things that comedian Jim Breuer takes seriously. One, for sure, is his devotion to the New York Mets. The Valley Stream native will make light of his family, friends, pets and colleagues, but the Mets? He sighs, his eyes get wide, and he just starts going…and going…and ranting…and because of all that ranting he has become to this generation of Mets fans what Jerry Seinfeld was to older diehards; the comedic face of the franchise.
“In so many ways I’m like ‘Rain Man’ with the Mets,” Breuer said recently while out promoting his latest special, “Comic Frenzy,” to air on EPIX and EPIX.com starting on Friday May 29. “Bud Harrelson getting pummeled by Pete Rose, Joel Youngblood and John Stearns, Hubie Brooks hitting streak, those were the way I measured my childhood, and boy did it leave scars. It’s a habit that just won’t quit.”
Bob Apodaca getting hit in the head, George “The Stork” Theodore’s first homer, Robbie Alomar’s bobblehead, The Dykstra homer in the ’86 NLCS, they are all part of the former “Saturday Night Live” star’s memory bank. Sometimes they have made it into his hugely popular standup routine, other times, “It’s going to a dark place to talk about being a Mets fan,” he joked.
Through the years Breuer has had season tickets at Shea Stadium, moved gigs to watch the playoffs and like so many of the rank and file, has shook his head at the revolving door of talent over the years. But, he cautioned, “I think good things are coming…if we just stay healthy.” The nets for their part have had a healthy respect for the comedian’s work over the years. He threw out a first pitch at Shea and will again this Friday, “softening the mound for Matt Harvey,” he added, when the team, EPIX and Topps will officially unveil his own trading card to commemorate his fandom and the comedy special.
For his part, Breuer has taken his fandom viral, sporting short videos that have been a huge hit with Mets fans as they went through the elation of the team’s fast start, and the doldrums of their recent drought. He has also signed on with SNY to be a guest correspondent in and around the team from time to time this year.
“We have been there for Dave Kingman and Lee Mazzilli, suffered through Beltran in the playoffs, and now we have the worst thing possible…hope. Nothing worse for a Mets fan to have hope, but it’s nice to be involved if it works out. Hell, ’86 wasn’t THAT long ago,” he half joked. Hope a bad thing?
Mets fans can relate, especially to their latest and maybe most genuine, celebrity voice of the fan.


Burn Fat and Tighten Your Glutes with this Easy Exercise
Marzia Prince, Healthy Housewife, fitness trainer, and health expert, shows us her new favorite way to do a squat. Using the TRX Suspension Training System, Marzia can do a Front Squat to tone her glutes, hamstrings, quads, and core quickly. Kick it up with a little jump sprint for added cardio to burn calories, bust fat, and get your blood pumping.
About Marzia Prince
International fitness supermodel Marzia Prince is a top celebrity trainer, fitness expert, life coach, the 2007 Ms. Bikini Universe, IFBB Bikini Pro, creator of the Healthy Housewives, and a published writer. She is one of the original pioneers who brought the fitness bikini body type to the bodybuilding world. Being an athlete and fitness model has helped Marzia taker her fitness to the next level. She holds many certifications including pre/postnatal, geriatrics, nutrition, bio-mechanics in resistance training, and life coaching. The fitness and wellness lifestyle is Marzia Prince’s passion. She thoroughly enjoys spreading the word of holistic health to the world.


Detainment of Rapper 21 Savage by ICE
Hello, this is Anna, a part-time employee at IMS.
Today, I wanted to share story that made considerable news in the US regarding immigration visas, and how it serves as an anecdote about immigration affairs in the United States.
The story centers around a rapper known as 21 Savage (whose real name is Shaya Abin Abraham-Joseph); he is known as an Atlanta-based rapper, whose debut studio album reached #2 on the Billboard 200 (with a single from the album reaching #2 on the Billboard Hot 100). He also reached the #1 single spot with a feature on Post Malone’s song “Rockstar”, which was nominated for two categories at the Grammy Awards.
21 Savage was detained on February 3rd by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), who presented he was living in the United States illegally. As it turns out, 21 Savage was originally born in the United Kingdom and moved to the States with his parents when he was 7 years old. His parents did not reapply for his visa and he has remained in the United States ever since.
In response, many celebrities came together and spoke out against the unfair treatment of 21 Savage and other immigrants who face deportation via a video on Mic ( here ). His arrest came as a surprise to many, including his fans and 21 Savage himself, since the rapper was in fact in the process of renewing his U visa petition, though at the time it had been pending for 4 years.
This case is only one example of how unforgiving the system is against a person who has been living in the country for almost 2 decades. The rapper was targeted and arrested via ICE, and 10 days later, he was released after posting bail. This means he missed his opportunity to perform at the Grammy Awards on February 10th, which he was scheduled to do with Post Malone.
This story, which highlights a UK citizen overstaying their dependent visa, calls into question the efficacy of this debate in general. ICE is cracking down on people in the United States illegally no matter what, even if it is a Grammy-nominated artist.


Nothing Compares to Sinead O’Connor at Westport Music Fest!
Sinéad O’Connor who is set to perform at the Westport Festival of Music & Food on Sunday, 29th June alongside Bryan Adams and Kool & the Gang, has announced that she has signed to Nettwerk Music Group and plans to release an album of brand new recordings called “The Vishnu Room” worldwide on 12 August.
Indicative of where Sinéad is in life, the album is passionate and direct, yet with an overarching fragility; her voice is a weapon, as powerful as it is tender. “Having published Sinead as a songwriter for the last 5 years, it’s great to now broaden that relationship to the Nettwerk label too. The new recordings are incredible and we’re all very excited to be working on this worldwide release for later this year,” says Blair McDonald, MD of Nettwerk Music Group UK.
From her breakthrough hit, 1987’s Mandinka, to the multi-platinum international success of 1990’s I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got with its number one version of Prince’s “Nothing Compares 2 U,” from her fearless genre-crossing forays into Irish folk, and roots reggae to her collaborations with artists as diverse as Peter Gabriel, Massive Attack and The Chieftains, O’Connor has trodden a unique path to become the most iconic female artist of the past 30 years. There is no one like Sinéad O’Connor.
Don’t miss Sinead O’Connor at the Westport Festival of Music & Food! http://www.sineadoconnor.com/


“Fabricio Boliveira é uma estrela” – Crítica do Blog TMTM / Festival de Toronto
O ator Fabricio Boliveira, exclusivo do elenco Carol Condé Agenciamento, foi considerado uma estrela pela crítica do blog The More the Merrier (TMTM) Arts Radio. “ I’ve looked up at enough screens to recognize a star when I see one, and there is no doubt in my mind that Brazillian television actor, Fabrício Boliveira, is a star. I’m talking the old school kind of star, a star that is both charismatic and an outstanding actor. The screen magic in Boliveira’s soulful eyes and the restrained passion with which he plays his character, João, captivated me from the moment he appeared on screen.”
Link do site, clique aqui!


Over the past week, South Africa has been under a Lady Gaga
spell with the pop star's recent tour to our shores from
airport sightings to meet-and-greets to fans (or should I say
'Little Monsters') overloading social media platforms raving about
her performances in both Jo'burg and Cape Town. For someone who was
waiting on tables only 5 years ago, Lady Gaga has sure risen to
super stardom quickly: scooping up a plethora of awards, selling
out mega-stadiums, endless attention in the press; and a social
media following that's larger than the population of many
As I sat in awe of the concert - a spectacle of lights,
outrageous fashion and high energy - I tried to comprehend how this
small in stature 26 year old has become completely larger than
life. She can sing, but she's no Adele; she may write her own
songs, but she's no Elton John; and she may have some great moves,
but will never come close to Michael Jackson. Given this and as I
looked around me at the sea of pink wigs in the crowd, I realised
what it is that Gaga's got: Marketing!
With this in mind, what branding lessons can we learn from good
Whether you're a fan or not, almost everyone remembers something
about Lady Gaga. Whether it's the infamous meat dress, arriving in
an egg at the Grammy Awards or her risqué lyrics, she's always
creating memorable moments that get people talking. With the mass
of choice out there, brands need to follow suit to get noticed and
break through the clutter. It's not only about shock tactics
(although brands like Nando's and Diesel do use these), but
memorability can also come in the form of distinctive iconography.
During the concert, Gaga raised her hand to form her famous
'monster claw' and the crowd went wild. So many great brands do the
same: memorable icons like the Coca-Cola bottle, Oros man or even
Intel's signature sound all create resonance.
The mass attendance of die-hard fans at her concerts and with
almost 32 million Twitter followers, it is an understatement to say
that Lady Gaga has a huge following. It's a massive fan base and
they are the biggest brand ambassadors: the hottest commodity for
any brand. She's grown this bunch of brand disciples by paying them
lots of attention. She's calls them Little Monsters and the
'monster claw' is the official greeting they share. This way they
feel that they are part of something and can identify each other.
Throughout the concert she spoke about her fans and even brought a
whole bunch on stage to sing with her. Where professionals are not
allowed to attend concerts, her fans can share their recordings on
YouTube. She knows how to treat her fans and make them feel special
and in return they have made her the 'Mother Monster' and a
mega-star. Not too far off from the great brands like Converse and
Harley-Davidson that have spawned sub-cultures.
Lady Gaga has always positioned herself as being a bit offbeat.
She's even rather extra-terrestrial. Throughout the show, she
referred to herself as being alien and after a while you can
actually start believing it. The reason for this: consistency.
Whether at an awards ceremony, landing at an airport or shopping
for groceries, Gaga maintains her wacky persona and has the outfits
and external cues to go with it. She talks her talk and walks her
walk, and that's why the Lady Gaga 'brand' is so believable and
credible. Consistency not only creates brand resonance, but it
gives fans (or consumers) the peace of mind that what they like
will stay how they like it. Other brand greats like KFC, Cadbury's
and Marlboro all employ this strategy.
Before the concert started, at regular intervals the screens
around the stadium played advertisements for Lady Gaga's new
fragrance, Fame. Talk about a captive audience and potential for
cross sell opportunities! The Mother Monster's empire extends her
brand further into cosmetics, clothing and earphones - platforms
that are relevant to her character. She's also picky about what she
endorses and will only do so if it is consistent with her values -
for instance she turned down the lucrative opportunity to partner
with retailer Target because of its donations to anti-gay rights
political candidates. Gaga is also famous for putting music
teasers on her social media platforms and the fans lap it up. She's
utilised the power of integrated marketing & communications to
its fullest while still staying true to her brand.
Love her or hate her, Lady Gaga is truly a marketing marvel. In
such a short space of time, she has brilliantly and strategically
built a brand that's recognisable across the globe. She could have
easily disappeared back into the blue yonder after releasing her
first single,Just Dancein 2008 (like so many other one-hit wonders)
but this marketing machine is still going from strength to
strength. All too often, we as marketers revert back to complicated
theories and marketing models, but how Stefani Germanotta
transformed herself into brand Lady Gaga is truly phenomenal. We
can all learn something from this marketing monster.


With a new album under his belt singer-songwriter, Joe Pug will bring his The Flood In Color tour to Australia this November. Joe Pug's new record "The Flood In Color" is nearly four years in the making. But that betrays the fact that the making of the album was one of the most natural and rewarding processes of his career. The album process started with the goal of focusing on the simplicity of musicians playing together, live, in the same room and Pug wanted to take a new approach. No stranger to Australian shores do not miss a true song craftsman at work this November.
|18+ GENERAL ADMISSION STANDING FAN PRESALE||$39.83*|
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Ozark Henry is the artist name of the Belgian singer-songwriter Piet Goddaer
Ozark Henry has left his mark on the Belgian music scene since the mid-‘90s as a singer, songwriter, composer and producer. His early, mostly avant-garde electronic work quickly earned him the support of artists like David Bowie, Trent Reznor, Jah Wobble and Zazie. He toured as the supporting act for Moby and Garbage and the acclaimed French music magazine Les Inrocks labelled him ‘le jeune Bowie Flamand’.
Since then, he has released seven platinum studio albums and three soundtracks, cutting out a unique musical path. Always looking for new ways to translate sensory, emotional experiences through to his music, he blends heritage with technology, craft with experiment, audio with visual.


- Mi6.co.uk ::: Final Four James Bond #6 Candidates (24th July 2005)
- Mi6.co.uk ::: Goran Visnjic linked with director Martin Campbell for James Bond role (25th May 2005)
- Mi6.co.uk ::: Final four James Bond #6 contenders unveiled (24th July 2005)
Croatian actor Goran Visnjic is being seriously considered as the sixth 007. He has reportedly been in multiple meetings with “Casino Royale” director Martin Campbell throughout March. It is understood that he is a favourite of Campbell to take over from Pierce Brosnan.
Established big- screen names such as Clive Owen and Dougray Scott are being overlooked in favour of this shortlist.
ER-hunk Goran Visnjic, 32, posh Henry Cavill, 22, Aussie Alex O’Lachlan, 28, and veteran Scot Ewan Stewart, 47, took part in a series of screen tests last week. They played out love scenes with Emmerdale’s Camilla Power – tipped to be a Bond girl.
There was a time in which many of us were sure that Goran Visnjic was going to be casted as James Bond #6. Martin Campbell seemed to like him, and the EON producers found him worthy of a screen test. But in the end, the role was given to Daniel Craig, of course — Why? Debbie McWilliams, the casting director for Casino Royale, told the Australian press in December of 2006 that Visnjic was “just too young”.
I think that Visnjic had the looks of a potential Bond actor. Actually, I think he was the best candidate of the Final Four. He was handsome, and not too bad of an actor from what I saw of him in ER. His resume wasn’t good though, and still isn’t. Ice Age, Elektra, and a cob-job made-for-TV version of Spartacus. If I saw that on someone’s resume, I suppose I wouldn’t hire them either.
But, his potential involvement with Bond wasn’t cut short when Daniel Craig was casted. Following the success of Casino Royale, a Croatian newspaper reported:
“when auditioning for Bond in Casino Royale, Goran Visnjic did such a good job he burned into the minds of the EON psyche. So powerful was his performance that he single handly won the role of next Bond Baddie in the upcoming Bond22 film with Daniel Craig.”
“It is rumoured that Goran’s agent has confirmed the star is working on something massive and will be taking a well earned break from ER in late 2007. It is rumoured that Goran will be playing Vesper Lynd’s former love interest and that his role will be sizable, meanacing and significant to the plot of the upcoming Bond adventure. Bond 22 is continuation of Casino Royale and will be forming a trilogy story for Daniel Craig’s rough and tough Bond.”
This obviously fell through, too, and we haven’t heard of Visnjic in the Bond news ever since.
I have to say, though – Visnjic does look a bit like actor Simon Kassianides, who played Yusef (Vesper’s lover) in Quantum of Solace.
Overall, I think Visnjic had a bit more potential than the other candidates. Surely more than that Ewan Stewart character. But obviously EON wanted to redo James Bond’s image, rather than having him look pretty-boy Brosnan. With the casting of Daniel Craig, it seems as if they wanted a bit more rugged, manly actor to play Fleming’s character. Keeping this in mind, and with his age thrown into the equation, Visnjic didn’t have much of a chance.
… By the way — how the hell do you pronounce Visnjic, anyway?


Jimmy Kennedy’s mother Anna Baskin was an Ardara lady. Born and bred here, she married the local constable Joseph Kennedy in the church of Ireland in 1901. Subsequently, her husband was transferred to Omagh, where Jimmy Kennedy was born in 1902.
Jimmy was a world famous composer of music and one of the most successful songwriters of all time. He had more hits in the USA than anyone until Lennon and McCartney. His hits included ‘South of the Border‘, ‘Red Sail in the Sunset‘, ‘Isle of Capri‘, ‘The Prayer‘ and ‘The Hokey Pokey’.
The date of the festival coincides with St. Valentine’s Weekend.
We will also celebrate the great poet, storyteller and general character Packie Manus Byrne. He would be celebrating his 101st birthday on the 18th but sadly he passed away a couple of years ago and as a community we want to keep his memory alive.


Musician's name as best known: Glenn Gould
Index name: Gould, Glenn
Pronunciation: glehn goold
Full name: Glenn Herbert Gould
Also known as: Glenn Gold
Musical identity: Classical pianist
Died: October 4, 1982; Toronto, Canada
Although Gould’s musical career was by no means limited to his recordings and performances, it was as a pianist that he made his considerably charismatic presence most felt. While he lived, he was nearly as infamous for his eccentricities and iconoclastic approach to venerated composers (particularly Mozart and Beethoven) as he was famous for his prolific and excellent musicianship. Since his death, however, both his recordings and his bringing the works of neglected or misunderstood composers to his audience (which was the broadest of any classical solo instrumentalist) have emerged as not only his greatest contributions but also some of the greatest contributions of any classical performer of the twentieth century.
It has been said that Gould was more popular after his death than he was while he lived. Unlike many artists of whom such a statement has been made, however, Gould also enjoyed immense popularity during his lifetime. Indeed, the escalating sales of his many posthumously repackaged recordings were merely a continuation of a long-established trend among lovers of Gould’s music.
Angilette, Elizabeth. Philosopher at the Keyboard: Glenn Gould. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield, 2001. A fascinating attempt to construct a coherent philosophy of both art and life from Gould’s many writings and otherwise-documented statements.
Payzant, Geoffrey. Glenn Gould, Music and Mind. Toronto, Ontario: Key Porter, 2005. The latest edition of Payzant’s Gould-approved exploration of the aesthetic and philosophical ramifications of his abandonment of the concert stage for the studio and his utilization of “creative cheating” to construct the best musical performances possible in an era of increasing technological sophistication.


Who was he and what was he famous for?
Stephen Hawking was born in Oxford, in January 1942. He was a British author, professor and scientist whose groundbreaking work in the fields of Physics and Cosmology, as well as his books, helped to make science accessible to everyone.
Hawking studied Physics, starting with a BA (Bachelor of Arts) at the University of Oxford, before completing a Ph.D at the University of Oxford.
At the age of 21, whilst studying at the University of Cambridge, Hawking was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). He continued to work despite the effects the disease were having on his body.
He later became Cambridge’s professor of Mathematics, a post once held by Isaac Newton.
His contributions earned him many honoUrs, including being elected a fellow of the Royal Society and being made Commander of the British Empire (CBE).
Stephen Hawking is most famous for his contributions to Cosmology, General Relativity, and Quantum Gravity, especially his Black Hole Theory.
He died at his home in Cambridge earlier this year, at the age of 76.
Did you also know?
- Hawking received mediocre grades in primary and high school
- He was on the Oxford Rowing Team in his first year at the University
- At 21 years of age, he was given only a few years to live – Having been diagnosed with ALS
- He was a children’s book author, having collaborated with his daughter in 2007
- He believed in the possibility of aliens
- He has featured in an episode of The Simpsons, voicing himself.
- Part of his life story was depicted in the Oscar winning 2014 film The Theory of Everything, where Stephen Hawking is portrayed by actor Eddie Redmayne
- Boundless Universe Theory
- The Big Bang Theory
- The Origins of the Universe
- Black Hole Radiation
- Gravitational and Spacetime Singularities
Some quotes from Hawking
- “Intelligence is the ability to adapt to change”
- “Silent people have the loudest minds”
- “However difficult life may seem, there is always something you can do and succeed at”
- “The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge”
- “Work gives you meaning and purpose, and life is empty without it”


11 Apr WEEKENDS
We first met Amy on set while shooting a commercial for the Gold Coast Titans, little did we know that this cam op and editor had a voice! And her talent for music was off the charts! (insert cough… PLATINUM) Needless to say after a little hustle we are chuffed to say that we got to co-direct with Amy and shoot her latest single “Weekends”.
It was a Monday night, the local IGA was still in operation as we sneakily set up lights and soon took over, aisle by aisle. We shot into the wee hours of the morning, so things did get a little cray, cray… here’s the behind the scenes…
Amy Billings, who performs as Amy Shark, is an Australian indie pop singer-songwriter and producer from the Gold Coast, Queensland. She is best known for her 2016 single “Adore”, which was voted in at number 2 on the Triple J Hottest 100, 2016.
Shark grew up on the Gold Coast and attended Southport State High School throughout her teenage years. She has been a video editor for the Gold Coast Titans and a resident of Broadbeach Waters with her husband Shane and has been active as a musician on YouTube since 2014. In 2016, Shark won Pop Song of the Year at the Queensland Music Awards, and embarked on a nationwide tour. She performed her single “Adore”, released in 2016 with production assistance from M-Phazes and Cam Bluff, in addition to a cover of Silverchair’s “Miss You Love” for Like a Version. “Adore” received significant media attention as one of two frontrunners to take out first place in the Triple J Hottest 100, 2016, alongside Flume’s “Never Be like You”; it was later voted in second place.
If you wanna see Amy live:
View the official film clip below…
“WEEKENDS” with Amy Shark
Executive Producer : Amy Billings
Production : fotomedia.com.au
Director : Jude Kalman
DOP : Lincoln Williams
Gripping : Nick Carrum
Behind the Scenes : Jack Brittliff
Editor : Jude Kalman / Amy Billings
Colourist : Chris Browne


You want to see smoking hot? Find a copy of the March 4th, 1999 Rolling Stone with Jennifer Aniston on the cover. Now that's HOT.
(For those wondering... for some reason my sister has that issue laying around. No, I rather doubt it's because she wants to do Jennifer Aniston...)


Jay ChouREINVENTING HIMSELF
Musician. Actor. Director. Icon. For over two decades, the ‘King of Asian Pop’ has pushed boundaries around the world. From Taipei to Hollywood, Jay Chou is always ready to go where the next challenge takes him.
A MAN OF TASTE
Jay Chou sports the TUDOR Royal, with its cutting-edge technical performance and refined aesthetic it sits at the crossroads between classic and sports watches. As a man of taste and culture, Jay Chou also wears the Black Bay Chrono in steel with a white and black dial, with contrasting sub-counters in the purest tradition of the sports chronograph.
Devoted to the classic
Brought up in a family of teachers in Taiwan, Jay Chou was introduced to the piano at the age of four, after he demonstrated an early gift for music. He later on picked up the cello and to this day, still mentions Chopin as his favourite composer.
Pushing the boundaries
In 2007 Jay Chou founded his own record company, JVR Music, which pioneered cross-cultural fusion of electronic music with Asian pop music. This stable of talents proved repeatedly that his approach as a producer is in perfect tune with the aspiration of the youth in most parts of South-East Asia.
Not only does he write, compose and produce music, he is also the director of a large number of music videos, including his own. Recognized in the directing circles, both in Asia and in the USA, as a successful director, he fully expresses in those short formats the vibe he feels among his fans, the deep and personal inspirations he passes on to the crowds.
Up for anything
Jay Chou plays the piano, the cello, the violin, the guitar and various types of percussion instruments. He started his career as a lyrics and music composer, and then put those talents to even better use when he started his singing career in 2000. He pioneered the blend of Western music styles such as R&B and electronica with Asian classical music, inventing the “Chou Style”. After several albums, all sold in millions of copies, he took up acting.
In several Asian super-productions and blockbusters and in major Hollywood productions, he proved to be as much in his place on a cinema set as on stage. His filmography also includes the writing and directing of two feature films, which gathered critic’s acclaim. In both of them, music naturally played a major part. After several years working as an actor, he returned to his first love, music. He picked up his career where he had left it and quickly rose to the top of Asian charts touring the world with every new album.
Jay Chou is also a known philanthropist. He stepped up when a major earthquake hit and devastated Taiwan in 2011, and again when a major industrial incident occurred in 2014. He is an ambassador, and a major donor, to the Fubon Charity Foundation, which is dedicated to the cause dearest to him, the care and education of impoverished, distressed and disabled children.
Jay Chou likes to wear


Lee Elci – The Voice of Freedom
Lee Elci is an American radio talk show host, political commentator, print journalist, author, writer and producer with over two decades of on air experience as a Talk Radio host and commentator.
Lee was a former professional baseball player with the St. Louis Cardinals and spent time playing professionally in Europe and Australia. He has also spent time on the small screen with a recurring role on the soap opera “As the World Turns”. He has appeared on the Sopranos, Sex and The City, The Guiding Light, and ESPN.
It is his wide variety of life experiences that drive his unique brand of informative and entertaining commentary. His regular guests include, military heroes, doctors, foreign policy experts, and political columnists along with interviews with every level of politician including Senators and congressmen as well as Governors and Mayors. He has a deep love of animals, strong beliefs in personal freedom and has a great and abiding respect for our Veterans and first responders.
Lee is unapologetically a proud American.The Lee Elci show now reaches hundreds of thousands of listeners one 94.9 News Now and also the USA Radio Network
To Contact Lee Elci
From Connecticut: 860-464-9490
From Long Island: 631-317-1949
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 357, Ledyard CT 06339


Emily Aurelia isn’t smashing it on Instagram yet, but she should! Her Major cosplay is completely on point and so is her Kerrigan. She has recently turned some heads with her easy clickable Tracer shots. But with only 10k followers, she’s got a long way to go till she’s pulling the numbers of other major players. Also, don’t forget to follow her on Facebook while you’re at it!
Cosplay of the Day: Emily Aurelia
0 Thoughts on Cosplay of the Day: Emily Aurelia


Last Friday(May 21), BTS melted hearts around the world with the release of their new single “Butter”. The song has been highly anticipated by fans since the announcement of it back in April when their YouTube channel hosted the butter-melting countdown.
During its premiere, “Butter” drew more than 3.89 million concurrent viewers, breaking the previous record set by the band’s last summer’s hit "Dynamite”. During the first 24 hours, “Butter” broke numerous records, including those previously held by BTS themselves. It was the fastest music video to reach 100 million views, and totaled 112.8 million record-breaking views by the end of the 24 hours. The song also debuted at number one on Apple Music Maldives on Friday at 5 p.m. MVT and has remained there since.
The song which BTS’ vocalist Jimin described as “cute and maybe a little charismatic, but also kind”, features a funky dance beat and bright visuals. The lyrics, for which the band’s leader RM is credited for as well, include catchy lines such as “smooth as butter” and also an endearing shout-out to their fans with the rap line “got ARMY right behind us when we say so”.
While the song features colourful and vibrant visuals full of dancing and snappy clothes, fans are patiently waiting to see it be performed live. BTS is set to perform "Butter" for the first time on television at the 2021 Billboard Music Awards, The band is nominated for four awards this year at the BBMAs, including their fifth nomination for the fan-voted category Top Social Artist. In addition, the sepet also won nominations for Top Duo/Group, Top Selling Artist and Top Selling Song for their previous single “Dynamite”. The show will air live from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on Monday, May 24, at 5 a.m. MVT.


Patricia Noonan is a NYC-based actor, singer, and writer with a passion for telling great stories. Since coming to New York, she has made a name for herself by breathing new life into the leading ladies of classic shows, working with composers and writers to bring original stories to the stage and screen for the first time, and expanding the stories we tell about women.
Patricia first fell in love with the joys and challenges of working on a new piece as part of the original cast of Little House on the Prairie at the Guthrie Theater and she continues to help bring new shows to life in NYC and beyond. Recently, she stepped into the shoes of one of her literary heroes – the feisty Elizabeth Bennet – in the world premiere of the new musical Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. Patricia also received critical acclaim for her portrayal of rebel artist Lorelei, a role she originated in the Off-Broadway Signs of Life, and for her work as the damaged but lovable Abby in the regional debut of Neurosis. Other notable new works include Maury Yeston’s Death Takes a Holiday at the Roundabout, in which she created the role of Sophia, the sexy maid who has a way with towels, Edwin, bringing to life the famous actor Edwin Booth’s wife Mollie, and Baby Case, in which she played characters ranging from Scots-Irish nurse Betty Gow to a powerful prostitute to Ginger Rogers.
In theaters from the east to the west coast and everywhere in between, Patricia has also shone while recreating classic leading lady roles like My Fair Lady’s Eliza, Carousel’s Julie Jordan, Secret Garden’s Lily, and Pirates of Penzance’s Mabel for today’s audiences. Back home in NYC, she has been part of the great tradition of City Center Encores, appearing in Girl Crazy, Where’s Charley, The Most Happy Fella, Annie Get Your Gun, and as Meg in Merrily We Roll Along, and took the stage as part of the Emmy-nominated Carousel at Avery Fisher Hall (PBS: Live from Lincoln Center).
As a concert performer, Patricia has traveled the country from Fort Worth’s Bass Hall to the home of the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center. She can also be heard on the cast recordings of Death Takes a Holiday and Merrily We Roll Along.
A Philly girl at heart (her hometown of cheesesteaks and wonderfully rabid sports fans), Patricia graduated at the top of her class from Boston College as a member of the Presidential Scholars Program with a dual degree in Theater Arts and English. While at Boston College, Patricia saw her award-winning original plays Mermaid People and The Storykeeper produced. Currently, she is working on the new Irish-inspired musical Learning How to Drown with Amanda Jacobs which has been workshopped at The Pitch at the Finger Lakes Musical Theater Festival and at the Johnny Mercer Writers’ Colony at Goodspeed and received a workshop production at Boston College. She is also writing the book and lyrics for Sweetwater with the wonderful composer Sean Mahoney.


Lily Chen Foster has played many roles in her life, but she is most proud of playing the leading role of mother of two extraordinary sons, Zachary and Anthony; wife of Charles Foster; and daughter of parents to whom she is still very devoted.
Ms. Chen was the leading actress in her first film, which had a revolutionary theme and was the favorite film of Chairman Mao Zedong. She went on to be the leading actress in over 18 films, including the role of Ci An in the film The West Queen, which was the biggest budget film in China at the time.
Ms. Chen received her master’s degree in drama at the University of Houston under Sydney Berger and returned to China to make several additional films and to play roles in U.S. television and film productions. Her major role was in the BBC/Australian Broadcasting Corporation movie, The Children of the Dragon, for which she received critical acclaim in the London Times and other media outlets. She also participated in a number of theatrical productions in China and was the emcee of major nationally televised National Day celebrations. In the United States, she wrote, directed and choreographed the Express Theater production of The Monkey King. The story of her time on the farm in China during the Cultural Revolution was dramatized in the University of St. Thomas production of Voices of America.
Civically, Ms. Chen served on the Board of the Alley Theater and is currently on the Board and is a director of Friends of The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD and the Houston Galveston Institute. She is also on the Advisory Boards of the Asia Society Texas Center and the University of Houston. She chaired the Asian Chamber of Commerce Awards Dinner and, along with her husband Charles, is active in many civic projects.


Mr. Mukesh Tiwari at TEDxIPERBhopal
Known for his aggressive role in Gangajal; as the bloodthirsty antagonist of China Gate and of course his jolly role in Golmaal Series. Branding Mr. Mukesh Tiwari as the epitome of versatility won’t be untrue at all. Apart from wooing the audiences with his acting skills in Hindi Cinema, Mukesh Tiwari has mesmerized people with his role in Tamil, Telugu, and Punjabi. He has graduated from the Nation School of Drama (NSD). Mr. Mukesh Tiwari was one of the speakers at TEDxIPERBhopal.
A Journey of Passion
The expedition of life and passion of Mr. Mukesh Tiwari left the audience enthralled at TEDxIPERBhopal. The personality charisma and the ease with which he gets into any character make Mukesh Tiwari distinctive. He shared his ideation of believing in oneself, pursuing dreams and not allowing anyone to let your confidence fade. Coming from a humble background he has made his name as the epitome of versatility. From “Jageera” to “Vasooli Bhai” he has shown his acting capabilities and was awarded numerous times as the best actor in the National School of Drama and has wooed the audiences with his acting skills.
Mr. Mukesh Tiwari while addressing the audience told us to believe in ourselves and accept the potential to outgrow everyone. All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them. We must have good faith in ourselves and willing to work towards dreams. It was a session of great fun as Mr. Mukesh Tiwari during the Talks shared his funny yet inspiring life experiences which got the audience totally enthralled. Altogether, IPER Bhopal conveys sincere thanks to Mr. Mukesh Tiwari for being with us and giving us such inspiration.
Indeed, a Journey of Passion!


“What it Really Takes”
So many people dream and aspire to have their creativity influence thousands, maybe even millions. But what does it really take? In this week’s, we bring back the one and only Chris Tomlin, just as his new album ‘Holy Roar’ is released. In this in-depth interview, Chris talks about his journey so far and the sacrifices he’s had to make along the way.
If you’ve got any questions for Rich, make sure to download the Anchor app on your smartphone to leave him a message, and he’ll answer it in future episodes.


Well many people know Tina Turner as an iconic Rock star, they don't know her as Anna Mae. They also don't know the story behind the music.
So who is Anna Mae?
Anna Mae was born on November 26th 1939 to Zelma and Floyd Bullock. At the time of Zelma being pregnant with Tina she was also being abused by Floyd. Zelma never did really bond with Tina. Eventually she left Floyd who would then go on to abandon Tina with her grandparents. Unfortunately, this has led us to notice that Tina also had attachment issues.
Was Tina also a domestic abuse survivor?
Tina eventually married her manager Ike Turner. He was also abusive towards her. On a road trip to Dallas, Texas he beat her so badly that she had two black eyes. When he fell asleep in the hotel room that night Tina took off with only 30 cents in her pocket. She never looked back and managed to become a huge success even though she started with nothing.
What does this say to others who has survived both child and domestic abuse?
In the 1980s Tina came out as a spokeswoman against domestic violence. (This was a time in which domestic violence wasn't even being discussed much.) Her message is one of not only surviving but thriving. It's a message that tells us that even when all odds are stacked against us we too can thrive. In this way it's a message that shouldn't be ignored, but should be very encouraging.


Ariana Madix storms off the set during Vanderpump Rules season 11 finale filming after makers allegedly tried to make her talk to ex-boyfriend Tom Sandoval and Scheana. During filming for the Vanderpump Rules season 11 finale, Ariana had made it clear that she wouldn’t film with Sandoval despite picture with him numerous times.
She reportedly stormed off; Ariana has refused to film with Tom. And when they struggled to corner them together. She needs nothing to do with her ex, Tom Sandoval. Reportedly, at the season 11 finale recording, Ariana Madix blindsided producers of Vanderpump Rules on Friday night in San Francisco.
Ariana Madix Storms Off
Ariana Madix Storms Off During Vanderpump Rules Season 11 Finale – Fans of Ariana and Vanderpump Rules respect her decision to stand up for herself and are excited for the dramatic ending her exit creates for the final episode. Things became hated for Ariana Madix to storm off the set when the cast was caught filming Vanderpump Rules season 11 finale. Ariana is happily in a new bond with fitness Instagram influencer Daniel Wai, but she wasn’t ready to film with ex-Tom Sandoval. After ten long years together, Ariana and Tom have broken up when she knows Tom is having a year-long affair with their co-star, Raquel Leviss.
Even if their lives still have some crossover, Ariana insisted she would not be filming with her ex. She continued this condition despite the numerous times the former couple picture together during Vanderpump Rules’ season 11 recording. For the cast trip to San Francisco, Ariana, her new boyfriend, and Sandoval were all confirmed to be together. Maybe Ariana meant she was refusing to speak with Sandoval on camera and not essentially that she wouldn’t be caught filming group scenes with him. That would explain her reply to the supposed attempted conversation the source claimed occurred for the finale.
Ariana Said She Wouldn’t Film With Sandoval For VPR Season 11
During the final episode of Vanderpump Rules season 11, Ariana will be running from the group’s festivities. It’s not necessarily surprising and makes for a dramatic ending viewers frequently hope for. VPR and Ariana’s fans like to see her stand up for herself and respect her decisions. Ariana confirmed that she would think about her comfort, whereas Sandoval continues to untie and affect both the cast and the show.
For Vanderpump Rules season 11, Ariana Madix wasn’t likely to be anywhere near Tom Sandoval, so the tea checks out accordingly. The source noted that this heated conversation between Scheana and Sandoval followed a long time, making it even more logical. VPR fans can’t wait to see how Sandoval presents itself through another season, and sources keep them on their toes until it’s available to stream.
Ariana Madix Gives’ Vanderpump Rules‘ Season 11 Update
Ariana Madix Says” Tom Will Spend Every Single Episode Trashing Me” Bounces’ Vanderpump Rules‘ Season 11 Update I Do Not” Film with Tom Sandoval.”
She’s leaving her communication with him in the once, Ariana Madix’s ex-boyfriend cheated on her — and rightfully so. She discovered his affair with their co-star and close associate Rachel” Raquel” Leviss months after their split. Madix gave an update on where they stand now and teased what we can anticipate from the forthcoming season of VanderpumpRules.
Madix verified that she has not shot for Vanderpump Rules Season 11 with Sandoval — despite being pictured in the same position at cast events. While speaking on Scheana Shay’s Shenanigans podcast,” To make it veritably clear he and I don’t retake together, I haven’t forgiven him, we aren’t cool, that has not changed at each,” Madix said.” But I know that he’ll presumably spend every chapter trashing me and our relationship because, in the same vain as this podcast that happened with Bethenny( Frankel), it serves him in some way to do that.” She continued,” It’s disturbing because if anybody’s suitable to trash anyone in the situation, it should be me. After all, I was done and didn’t do him dirty.” Also, Madix agreed with Leviss’ decision not to return for Season 11.
When Did FilmingBegin?
Weeks after season 10 officially stopped rising, Ariana spot filming with Katie and Scheana in L.A. Sandoval, for his part, miss the opening of production to shoot Special Forces season 2 but verified in July 2023 that he’d begun filming the new season. Latterly that month, Scheana called a recent day of filming with Sandoval the” most emotionally draining day I’ve ever had in 11 seasons of Vanderpump Rules.”
What Is Ariana’s Plan for Filming Season 11?
Ariana told The New York Times in May 2023 that no. I’ve nothing to say to either of them,” when asked whether she was” open to filming with” Sandoval and Raquel for season 11 after their affair.” Our show is authentic and follows an honest group of friends, and neither is in the group of friends, so good luck.” Ariana, who started dating Daniel Wai after her split from Sandoval, mugged with her boyfriend during the season-ending.
Will Raquel Return for Season 11?
After months of enterprise, Lisa verified that Raquel would not return for the new Pump Rules season.” When she was in the talent, her crew texted and sent e-mail us. We wanted to make sure she was in a good place first, and I was going to do a one- on- one with her,” she told TMZ in August 2023.” She talked about( returning). Her crew reached out. But in the end, I suppose she decided not to.”
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Maggie Philbin, TeenTech
Tech legend Maggie Philbin has received multiple awards during her career, including an OBE for her work to promote careers in STEM and the Creative Industries.
She co-founded TeenTech, which helps young people get the tech skills they need, in 2008 and is president of the Institute of Engineering Designers.
Older readers will remember her best as a presenter on Tomorrow’s World.
For the full #FemaleFounders101 list, head here.


The famous celebrity Khloe Kardashian impressed the world in 2015 with her new diet and the results of this diet. As Khloe showed her new body transformation the world immediately wanted to know the secret. So, in this article, we reveal the secret effective diet of Khloe Kardashian.
The 33- years old star even started her own business project thanks to her incredible diet – the project is named Revenge body. The Revenge body project is based on Khloe Kardashian’s diet which is consisted of regular meals that include a lot of fruits, salads, and proteins. The bread, the muffins and also other multi-ingredient carbs are not part of the diet and they are strictly forbidden since they can also be inflammatory for the body.
The day begins usually with high- protein breakfast with a lot of water, fresh fruits and also rice. All this is blended and turned into a delicious smoothie. After the breakfast a piece of fruit in on the diet plan. The lunch also contains a lot of protein and a lot of salad rich in iron, such as spinach or beetroot. Usually, Khloe eats chicken meat for lunch and after the lunch, the fourth and the fifth meal include a lot of vegetables, such as tomatoes, celery or also eggs and almonds. The dinner includes fatty fish and also a lot of vegetables – salad and then again fruit is in the plan.
However, the diet comes along with a personal trainer and also daily training. Khloe’s favorite sport is running, but according to her personal trainer, she also does other types of exercises, such as squat jumps, side planks, weightlifting and rope runs in order to help her diet and keep the summer body.
The Revenge body project helped Khloe do even more for her body and also help other people improve their way of life and achieve the wanted summer body.


Born in Jamaica and raised in the Bronx, HoodCelebrityy made a strong impression when she dropped “The Takeover” on SoundCloud last year. In a flash, lots of heads were turning toward the twentysomething MC whose blend of trap and dancehall had an instantly seductive vibe, and whose confidence was obvious with every rhyme she spit. Her ‘Can’t Believe It’s Just a Girl’ mixtape bolstered all the props that she was receiving, and early shout-outs from future stars like Cardi B further and features with French Montana cemented her cred. Fast forward and HoodCelebrityy’s rolling with Epic and flexing in the video for “Walking Trophy,” a hot little track that’s all about pushing posi vibes and stressing self-worth. She also has the song “Find My Way Out” on the ‘Superfly’ soundtrack. The singer has said it’s about a woman who knows she’s beautiful without men having to tell her. In our ‘Three Thoughts’ interview, HoodCelebrityy explains how to live your best life by “burstin’ the bubble” of other people’s expectations and simply being yourself.
Producer: Jayson Rodriguez
Director: Micah Bickham
Watch HoodCelebrityy videos: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCn4m…


Leif Vollebekk has unveiled a brand new video directed by his close collaborator Kaveh Nabatian for ‘Into The Ether’, a stand out track from his latest album ’Twin Solitude’ which is out now on Secret City Records.
Talking about the idea to visually bring this song to life, Leif explains: “The groove for this song came to me when I was swimming at the YMCA. So I asked Kaveh if we could have everything take place in an underwater nightclub. He told me that we absolutely could. But then things became clear that the nightclub isn’t what needed to submerge. In the end it’s just someone coming down for air.”
Whilst Kaveh Nabatian adds: “To me, this is a song about confronting the lies we tell each other and ourselves. Leif and I had the idea to film that moment in the night when the shiny exterior we create around ourselves shatters… That feeling of loneliness is something like floating underwater… slowly falling into the ether.”
‘Twin Solitude’ has been nominated for Adult Alternative Album of the Year at this year’s prestigious Juno Awards. Ahead of the awards ceremony, which will take place in Vancouver, Canada at the end of May, Leif will perform as part of the Juno Awards celebrations and at Juno Fest in Vancouver; first participating in the #SINGITFWD Benefit Concert for Saint James Music Academy on March 21st at The Vogue Theatre and then playing March 24th at the Biltmore Cabaret.
Leif Vollebekk is currently recording material for a new album to be released in 2019.
As well as the Juno Award nomination, ‘Twin Solitude’ has been met with praises from critics all over the world, shortlisted for the Polaris Music Prize, nominated at the Canadian Folk Music Awards, and has also amassed over 11 million streams across platforms.


It seems pretty clear that Mimi took her beef with the Eminem in front of the cameras by impersonating him as an obssesed Mariah stalker, though she denies the song is aimed at anyone in particular. In the video Carey stars both as herself and as the goateed Eminem double, who takes jobs as a chauffeur and a photo-shoot assistant to get closer to the singer. SNL’s Andy Samberg was rumored to have been originally cast in the Eminem role and backed out, leaving Carey to portray the guy who surrounds himself with images of Mariah and at the end gets hit by a bus when he finally gets his one on one moment. Ouch. Mariah’s history with Eminem goes back to 2001, when the two reportedly dated briefly as Carey worked on Charmbracelet. In 2005, Eminem played a portion of alleged voicemail messages Carey left him before performing his song “Puke” at concerts, and tossed references to the star into “Superman” and “When the Music Stops” on The Eminem Show. A year later, he went off on Mariah on his Shade45 satellite radio station. Eminem started the most recent volley between the pair when he pleaded for Carey to return to him and called out her husband Nick Cannon on Relapse’s “Bagpipes From Baghdad. Though she seemed hesitant to respond publicly in the past (her manager Benny Medina has issued statements about Em’s behavior, though), Mariah promptly fired back, with a little help from The-Dream and Tricky Stewart, with “Obsessed,” the first single of Carey’s August 25th album Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel. Now we must wait to see what Slim Shady will say about all of this. What do you think he will do?
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Slightly Stoopid, Stephen Marley, Mickey Avalon and good old Snoop Doggy Dogg will hit the road this summer on a cross-country tour dubbed Blazed and Confused (how appropriate). To promote the tour, the guys recorded a Funny or Die clip spoofing Heineken commercials where a group of men discover a closet of beer. In Snoop and co's version, the jackpot is more greener if you will...
For tour dates & info go to this link: http://www.celebritynewsbuzz.com/blazed-confused-tour-snoop-dogg-slightly-stoopid/
“Remember Me,” originally dubbed “Don’t Forget” when it leaked out back in May 2009, was supposed to be the first official track released off the planned Paper Trail: Case Closed reissue, however MTV is now reporting that plans to release Case Closed have been nixed. “The re-release is definitely not happening,” a rep for Atlantic Records told MTV, adding “We plan on releasing the additional songs digitally.”
“Remember Me” is already available for download on Atlantic’s Website. “Remember Me” won’t be the only time fans will get to see Tip while the rapper is sporting the orange jumpsuit in an Arkansas penitentiary. Fansite Trap Musik reports that a video for “Hell of a Life,” another track off of the now-canceled Paper Trail reissue, was also filmed prior to T.I.’s lockdown. Unlike “Remember Me,” “Hell of a Life” features much more uplifting subject matter like video vixens, nice rides and people smiling. Check the video out below, Thoughts? I like very much!!
Julian Casablancas, The Strokes singer and chief songwriter, will release his debut solo album, Phrazes for the Young, this fall!
The eight songs on the disc include "River of Brake Lights," "Glass" and "Ludlow St." The album was produced by Jason Lader, who has previous worked with Jay-Z, Coldplay, Gwen Stefani and Justin Timberlake. Additional production came from Mike Mogis, the studio wizard in Bright Eyes.
In the past few years, while The Strokes have been on hiatus, guitarist Albert Hammond, Jr. released two solo records. Bassist Nikolai Fraiture -- as his alter ego, Nickel Eye -- went solo with last year's album, The Time of the Assassins. And drummer Fabrizio Moretti made an inceredible disc with his buddies in Little Joy. For the past few months, as we've told you,The Strokes have been cracking away, writing tunes together for their fourth album, and getting along better than ever.
Soon, Julian will announce some special U.S. dates to present Phrazes for the Young, and promises a solo tour for later this year. Check out below a preview for his upcomign album. Thoughts?
Thursday, July 9, 2009
The game has new features like the RockFest option and the instrument-swapping Party Mode . Guitar Hero 5 will be released on September 1st( yay!) , giving it an eight-day head start on Harmonix/MTV Games’ The Beatles: Rock Band. Guitar Hero 5’s eclectic set list will also feature the Rolling Stone’s Sympathy for the Devil, Nirvana’s “Lithium,” the White Stripes’ “Blue Orchid,” TV on the Radio, Kiss and many more. I can't wait to rock out to my favorite songs!! For the latest batch of songs on the GH5 track list, read below:
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
<<--Daughtry, 'Leave this Town'
The Dead Weather [Jack White & Alison Mosshart], 'Horehound'
DevilDriver, 'Pray For Villains'
Nicholas Hooper, 'Harry Potter & the Half-Blood Prince'
Jessie James, 'Jessie James'
Crosby Loggins, 'Time to Move'
Twista, 'Category F5'---->>>
The Fiery Furnaces, 'I'm Going Away'
Susanna Hoffs & Matthews Sweets, 'Under the Covers, Vol. 2'
Ian Hunter, 'Man Overboard'
La Roux, 'Bulletproof [EP]'
Kenny Loggins, 'All Join In'
Our Lady Peace, 'Burn, Burn'
Portugal. The Man, 'The Satanic Satanist'
Rescue Signals, 'Indecisions'
Jordin Sparks, 'Battlefield'---->>
Sugar Ray, 'Music for Cougars'
Wye Oak, 'The Knot'
Howling Bells, 'Radio Wars'
Sax Ruins, 'Waqiquo'
Ashley Tisdale, 'Guilty Pleasure'--->>
****Which of these albums are you dying to buy??Tell me! I really want La Rouxs' EP <3 I love her!


It’s because the people asked her to – and she just couldn’t disappoint them.
“I have been virtually mobbed by people demanding I should fight the elections,” Bollywood actor Rakhi Sawant was quoted as saying. “So here I am.”
Thirty-six-year-old Sawant, who is contesting the 2014 Lok Sabha elections as a candidate for her newly formed Rashtriya Aam Party, will fight it out from the Mumbai North-West constituency. Her opponents? Congress’s Gurudas Kamat, Shiv Sena’s Gajanan Kirtikar, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena’s Mahesh Manjrekar and Samajwadi Party’s Kamaal R Khan.
The actor said she was offered a ticket by the BJP to contest from Srirampur in West Bengal, but chose to stand from Mumbai. Why? Because she speaks Hindi and Marathi, Sawant said, not Bengali — and also because she lives right here in Mumbai.
Curiously, Sawant has declared she is illiterate — although she attended the Goklibai High School in the Mumbai suburb of Vile Parle, and later the Mithibai College, also in Mumbai.
Sawant’s entry into politics has raised many eyebrows. The ‘item girl’ image from her Bollywood career and a series of controversial — some say bizarre — statements have not helped build her case as a serious politician. Nor has her attempt to promote her party symbol, a green chilli, by wearing an all-green attire.
That said, you have to credit her for making an attempt to stand up for what she believes in. Sawant says she will give her last drop of blood to serve the “dukhi janta“.
At the end of the day, entering politics requires guts. Entering politics as the lone candidate of a party that you formed yourself requires even more guts. So leave Sawant alone, will you?
This story was also published on WoNoBo.com, our media partner.


I’m late to the Taylor Swift party. And I may not stay long.
At the 2012 Grammys, she sang her hit single, Mean, and needless-to-say, I connected. Me, and the millions of others who had already made her platinum selling album, Speak Now, a hit. Let’s face it, is there any person on the planet who can’t turn to someone and say, “Why you gotta be so mean?”
But a beautiful exclamation point on the universal story of wanting to get to the metaphorical “big city” came at Grammys. I had to reverse engineer the story, because I only listened to the original song after seeing her perform, but it was no less powerful in the remembering.
Taylor’s got two things in the story of being picked on, oppressed, and maligned that she’s aspiring to in the chorus. Living in, “a big old city” is my favorite. The quintessential get-out-of-your small-town-living-well-is-the-best-revenge-move-on dream. She’s also got, “big enough so you can’t hit me.” All you’re ever gonna be is mean, she sings.
It’s a nice when the heroine of the story looks and sounds like Taylor, and by age of twenty-two is a mega star. But that’s what makes us want to imagine that we’re her. That our little sad story ends so well; in a golden dress with a Grammy in each hand.
At one point in the song, the music stops and the beat is maintained by clapping. When that happened at the Grammys, Taylor swapped out the lyrics, “living in a big old city” for, “singing at the Grammys.”
That’s got to be a great moment to live through. Then she won a Grammy for the song, and one for best country performance.
And all you’re ever gonna be is mean.


How did Wanda and Alex meet?
Wanda and Alex’s story of how they met is super cute. The Tongue Untied comedian opened up about how a friend had advised her to give corny pickup lines a try to meet people in a 2018 interview with The Guardian. Wanda instead opted to tell Alex all about a kitchen remodeling job she had while riding a ferry to New York’s Fire Island. Apparently, the pair were a perfect match. “Something really said to me – like, audibly – ‘Wow, that’s what you need, Wanda,'” she said.


Almost six months after he was announced as the winner of the award, legendary US singer-songwriter Bob Dylan has formally accepted his Nobel Prize in Literature. The ceremony was a small, private affair in Stockholm.
Behind closed doors and away from the world's media, Bob Dylan has collected his Nobel Literature diploma and medal in Sweden's capital.
He was named as the winner of the prestigious accolade in October last year for creating "new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition."
Klas Ostergren, a member of the Swedish Academy, said the 75-year-old American singer-songwriter received his award on Saturday afternoon during a small gathering at a hotel next to the conference center where Dylan was performing a concert later that night.
'A very nice, kind man'
The intimate event was in line with the singer's wishes, with just academy members and a member of Dylan's staff in attendance, Ostergren said.
"It went very well indeed," he added, describing Dylan as "a very nice, kind man."
Other members of the academy told Swedish media that Dylan seemed pleased by the award. Hours earlier, during his show in Stockholm, Dylan made no reference to the Nobel award. The musician previously declined the invitation to attend the traditional Nobel Prize banquet and ceremony on December 10 last year, citing other commitments.
Nobel lecture still to come
According to Nobel Prize guidelines, in order to receive the award - worth 8 million kronor ($894,800 / 839,000 euros) winners must present a lecture within six months of the December 10 ceremony. The lecture can take various forms, including a short speech, a performance, a video broadcast or a song.
Dylan said he would not give his Nobel lecture this weekend, but a recorded version of it will be sent later. Pre-recorded Nobel lectures are not without precedent. Canadian Nobel literature laureate Alice Munro also sent a taped lecture in 2013.
'Are my songs literature?'
After becoming the first songwriter to win the award in October, Dylan kept silent for two weeks, fueling speculation about whether he would accept the prize.
In a thank you speech, which was read aloud during December's ceremony, he apologized for not being able to attend the event, adding that he was surprised to be placed in the same league of authors such as Ernest Hemingway and Albert Camus.
"Not once have I ever had the time to ask myself, 'Are my songs literature?'" he noted in his speech.


Dayum, girl – that’s how to use Instagram to your advantage.
19-year-old Anok Yai landed a modelling contract with a high-end, global agency overnight after posting a single photo that dropped the world’s jaw.
She thinks the photo that gained her insta fame made her look like a “deer in headlights,” using “average” as another adjective for the pic. She obviously had no idea what was coming, however, telling the Washington Post that:
When it got to a couple thousand and it just kept going higher and higher, I was surprised. And I was happy. I always wanted it to happen, but it was something I never expected.
You need to see this:
Her Instagram following blew up, moving from 300 followers to 50 000 in a matter of days, with her picture in Howard’s yard eventually gaining more than 30 000 likes.
She went on to say:
I got an email from a modelling agency. They said they were interested in having me and they had me call them. And they just set up tons of interviews and it just went on from there.
Did she get it from her mama?
S I G N E D ? — @anok_yai has signed with Next Management worldwide. Please join us in welcoming Anok! pic.twitter.com/razxjEASy5
— Next Models (@NextModels) October 31, 2017
Legs for days.
Her flawlessness is thanks to Sudanese heritage, but Yai was born in Egypt and moved to the U.S. when she was only two years old. She would later move to Manchester, New Hampshire, where she grew up and identifies with most.
Steve Hall captured the moment after bumping into Yai at Yard Fest in Washington D.C., asking her to pose for a few shots for his fashion website, The SUNK. He, too, earned an extra 14 000 likes after posting the picture on his own Instagram page.
Now she’s with Next Models in New York, an agency that has worked with the likes of Lana Del Rey and Rita Ora, holding down covers on Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar.
And her mom wants her to continue with her studies? Sounds like my dad.


The 2017 Looking Ahead Awards
The Young Stars of This is Us
The Elizabeth Taylor Award for Social Awareness
The Looking Ahead Awards raises support and awareness for The Actors Fund's Looking Ahead program services for the young performer community!
Click on Purchase tickets.


Annie Clark’s been making waves in the art-rock scene since 2006 under the name St. Vincent. At the 57th Annual Grammy Awards, she claimed her first Grammy for Best Alternative Album, the first female solo-artist to do so since Sinead O’Connor in 1991. She triumphed over the fierce competition of Jack White, Alt-J, and Arcade Fire, and accepted the award while on world tour in Australia. She’s been touring non-stop since 2014, and if you saw her perform at Stage AE back in April you know how magnificent her performances are. She co-ordinates dance moves while playing guitar and adjusting effect pedals. She’s intense, she’s talented, and she’s out there doing her thing.
St. Vincent can’t be bothered by people who say her music’s weird and unusual—to her ugliness is its own type of power. To write music that challenges expectations and norms, yet keeps you coming back despite yourself, is her specialty. In an interview with tUnE-yArDs’ Merill Garbus she once said “I feel like every time somebody asks ‘what’s it like to be a woman in music’ the only difference is, you get asked ‘what’s it like to be a woman in music.” She strives for the control of her narrative, to not be fenced in by reporters into being the poor girl in a boy’s industry. It seems she’d rather teach an interviewer a few of her soccer tricks, or talk about that one time she wandered naked through a desert, than follow a gendered line of questioning.
Respecting this, I’ll only say once more how great it is for a female solo-artist to take a Best Alternative Album again. For artists like Fiona Apple, Tori Amos, and Bjork to be nominated multiple times over decades to no avail, and for all aspiring Indie-Rock artists, to see a 24-year draught in female winners come to an end is a big deal. For St. Vincent, the Grammy’s an honor that’s being mailed home so her mother can display it in the living room. For decades we’ve lived in a world where women write the year’s best albums, it’s important for the Grammy’s to acknowledge this, but you can’t put your life on hold for an award show. She has to pack her bags in Australia, do a show in Taiwan, then three in Japan closing off February, before doing a South-American leg in March.


Thursday night we went to see Jerry Seinfeld at the SkyPac in Bowling Green. We had such a fun time! It was our first time at the SkyPac and it’s such fabulous place! I’m totally getting season tickets. There isn’t a bad seat in the house. If you live close to Southern KY it’s definitely worth checking out. HERE is their schedule of performances for the rest of the year.
So back to Seinfeld. He was hilarious and Mark Schiff, the comedian who opened up for him was equally hilarious. So if you’re into the stand up thing, I can tell you that Jerry Seinfeld is one of the funniest shows I’ve ever seen.
Jerry: “wives complain all the time that their husbands are bad listeners. My wife has never said that about me. At least I’ve never heard her say that. She may have said it, but I’ve never heard her say it.”
There ya go.
He’s just funny.


GET READY FOR 2015!
The word is out. The deal is done. Look who’s coming to the Festival next year![/schedule] [schedule on='2013-08-01' at="20:46" expon='2014-08-01' expat="20:46"]
The Festival is finally here. Prepare to be blown away by each and every one of our performers. Stay tuned for a 2015 announcement![/schedule]
Florida Georgia Line
View All See our main stage line-up!
Friday, August 1
Singer, songwriter and guitar virtuoso, Brad Paisley, has been performing professionally since he was 13. With numerous country accolades such as 14 CMA awards, including three time Male Vocalist of the Year and a record-setting five consecutive Academy of Country Music Male Vocalist honors, he has earned the right to title his ninth studio album, This Is Country Music. His lively, multi-faceted performances pay heartfelt homage to the music he’s loved since childhood.
Saturday, August 2
Revolution has cast a spark in mainstream country music, and outlaw rebel Eric Church is to blame. Church has led his pack through retrospective songwriting, invigorating live shows, and a hard-boiled attitude soaked in blood and sweat, and ice cold beers. There’s no doubt since the release of his ground-breaking third album CHIEF, his tribe of disciples is demanding the world’s help in catapulting their “chief” of country music from smoky barroom songster to headlining arena superstar.
Sunday, August 3
He’s had eight No. 1 singles and written every one of them. He’s performed at Lollapalooza, the Telluride Bluegrass Festival, Bonnaroo and the CMA Music Festival, tailoring his sets to each. His instantly recognizable voice and acoustic/electric hybrid sound have propelled him to membership in the Grand Ole Opry and, in 2011, a performance for the President at the White House. He’s done things his own way, satisfied his own muses and done all he can to bring all kinds of fans along with him.


Dubuque-based alternative country artist Elizabeth Mary will release her latest single, “Sweatpants and Wine,” off of her upcoming debut album, “Meet Me in Madison.”
The single will be available on Spotify, Apple Music, iTunes and Amazon Music beginning on Friday, June 14.
She will celebrate the release with a performance at The Yardarm, 1201 Shiras Ave. Extension, at 8 p.m. Friday, with the local band Tightrope.
Elizabeth Mary wrote her first song, “I Have a Dream,” at age 10 and has been pursuing that dream ever since.
Raised on a dairy farm in rural Dubuque County, she performed her first shows to herds of disinterested cattle and cornfields, getting her first taste of performing in local choirs and talent shows throughout the community.
At 22, she went on to become the lead singer for the local band Zero 2 Sixty, with which she performed for eight years at local venues and festivals.
In April 2018, Elizabeth Mary recorded and released her six-track debut EP, “Dance with the Fear.” Her single, “Mirror, Mirror,” was picked up by regional radio and began streaming nationwide.
In September 2018, Elizabeth Mary opened for country artist Collin Raye and released the single, “Breathe in Girl.” Additional performances have seen her opening for regional and national artists such as Jake McVey and The Bellamy Brothers, and playing large festivals.
She will open for Clint Black and BlackHawk at America’s River Festival at the Port of Dubuque on Friday, June 21.
“Meet Me in Madison” is due for release in the fall.
For more information, visit


Another one of the Alamo family passes!
TED COLE...aka...Cole_blooded Guerra played a cantina girl in 'The Alamo'
By Michele Gualano - Express-News
09/06/2010 Alma Angelina Reyes Guerra
BORN: June 14, 1940, in San Antonio
DIED: Sept. 3, 2010, in San Antonio
PRECEDED BY: Her husband, Arthur
SURVIVED BY: Sons, Arthur and Orlando; daughter, Alma Leticia Guerra- Gillette;
and five grandchildrenSERVICES
: The family will receive guests from 5 to 7 p.m.
Tuesday at Porter Loring Mortuary North. Processional will begin at 9 a.m.
Wednesday at Porter Loring, followed by a 9:30 a.m. Mass at Holy Spirit Catholic
Church at 758 W. Ramsey.
The youngest of five children, Alma Reyes sought her family's attention through
entertainment. She had a knack for performing and spent much of her childhood
whirling through the house dancing and singing.
As a teen, she brought her love of skits to the stage at the Alameda Theater.
And it wasn't long before her natural talent and beauty caught the attention of
Hollywood casting agents. At 19, Reyes landed a part in the movie “The Alamo”
as a cantina girl.
Almost immediately, she formed a lasting friendship with actor John Wayne.
His admiration for her led to an introduction to his son, Michael. They dated
for a short time, until Reyes decided to marry the boy next door, Arthur Guerra.
Alma Guerra died Friday of complications from a heart condition. She was 70.
Though Guerra ended her acting career to focus on marriage and family, her
personality still held the traits of an actress.
“She was dramatic, theatrical and vivacious,” sister Elizabeth Flores said,
“and an excellent storyteller — especially stories about our family's history.”
Family was her top priority, and she graciously provided loved ones with gifts,
birthday phone calls and top-notch advice on everything from fashion to party
Guerra hosted two of her children's weddings at her 10-acre Shavano Park
property. She oversaw every detail from the flower selections to the bride
and groom's entrance by way of horse-drawn carriages.
Lending her time to provide public relations work for her husband's company,
Super S Foods, was another arena that Guerra enjoyed.
“She stood by my father when he had nothing,” son Orlando said. “He was
able to become successful with her help.”
Together, Guerra and her husband traveled extensively, mostly throughout
Europe. But their quaint vacation home, which sits beside Lake LBJ, became
her favorite destination.
“She thought it was so beautiful there,” her sister said. “She always
recognized beauty in every little detail — in nature, people and art.”
In the early '80s, Guerra began art classes. Like acting, this also came
naturally. She mostly created landscapes, but her favorite was working with
paint on porcelain. She gave many works to family and friends.
After her husband's death in 1993, Guerra struggled for several years to cope
without him. The birth of her first granddaughter and devotion to family helped
alleviate the emptiness she felt.
“Something that always caught me by surprise was her wisdom,” son Arthur said.
“It was the type of wisdom that you would have to live to be 100 to have —
she was truly far beyond her time.”