Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Justin Bieber's $187,000 Supercar

 Justin Bieber's $187,000 Supercar


Yesterday at approximately 12 p.m. PT, a driver in a Honda Civic dared to brush up against the pricey Ferrari driven by 17-year-old pop star Justin Bieber in the San Fernando Valley. Los Angeles Police Officer Gregory Baek told the AP the accident was a "very minor collision," and sources confirmed to TMZ the Honda merely "tapped" the rear left side of the vehicle piloted by Bieber -- evidently when its driver tried to get around Bieber's ride in an underground parking garage, as E! reports. There was no visible damage to either vehicle, no injuries, and authorities who arrived to check out the scene didn't even bother to file a report. Case closed!

Except this is Justin Bieber we're talking about here -- a pop star who can't go to a mall or promote his fragrance Someday at Macy's without major incident. Bieber has escaped harm in all such incidents, and the Honda owner is probably heaving a sigh of relief today that this snafu had a similar conclusion. The Civic (current base list price: $15,805) didn't even ding the Ferrari F430 (most recent base list price: $186,925). Bieber was first spotted in the matte black Ferrari F430 last year. The car's standard features include a 32-valve engine, panic alarm (which might come in handy if you're a a teen heartthrob), and the ability to fill "every pleasure receptor in your brain with automotive giddiness." Its top speed: 200 mph.

You can't totally blame the teen star for wanting a toy (albeit one that costs nearly three times the median income of a family of four): In the past few months alone he's been egged onstage in Australia, had his music videos yanked from YouTube by a hacker, and learned his Vanity Fair cover bombed at the newsstand. There's even been a bit of a Justin Bieber crime wave in the air -- a man was recently busted for stealing a cardboard cut-out of the pop star from a Florida mall, and a ceremonial Justin Bieber Way street sign was swiped in Texas.


For an experience just as thrilling as driving a $200K Ferrari, follow The Amplifier on Twitter now!

For a glimpse of how this latest incident could have gone awry, check out Yahoo!'s report on an insane accident (a million-dollar fender bender!) involving the very same vehicle Bieber was driving in July. And here's what Bieber's fancy ride looks like:
Read More: Yahoo

Saturday, August 27, 2011

Subliminal Messages in Famous Logos

Subliminal Messages in Famous Logos
You’ve seen these famous logos countless times on billboards, passing by on trucks, and at the grocery store, but there is more to them than meets the eye. If you take a closer look, you will find that these recognized logos have hidden images and messages. Check out these inventive designs that cleverly use white space and optical illusions to display subliminal messages.

FedEx
  This logo appears to be very simple, but if you look at the white space between the "E" and "x" in “Ex," you'll find it is more complex than you thought. Can you spot the arrow?

Tostitos
  These popular party chips are a staple at many backyard BBQs, but chances are, you've never noticed the hidden celebration scene concealed within the letters. The second and third "t’s" are sharing a chip over an "i" that is dotted with a salsa bowl. Yum!

Le Tour de France
 Named the world's most famous and prestigious cycling race, bike-lovers and non-cyclists alike are familiar with the event's emblem. However, you might be missing out on the logo's most interesting aspect. After careful examination, you'll notice an image of a person riding a bicycle; the yellow circle is the front wheel and the r is the body.

Amazon.com

  Amazon.com has become a go-to source for electronic commerce. Clearly there is an arrow under Amazon, but have you ever thought about its significance? Take a look at where the arrow begins and ends: a and z. This secret message seems to conveys that Amazon offers everything from A to Z!

Hershey's Kisses
 The Kisses logo doesn’t have much to it, but if you look at it sideways, you might see a chocolate kiss formed between the K and the I.

Toblerone
 There’s a slightly obscured bear within the Matterhorn Mountain if you look closely. That’s because the candy bar hails from Bern, Switzerland, a city supposedly named for a bear.

Big Ten
 Penn State became the 11th member of this university athletic conference, hence the embedded “11” in this logo. That is, until the University of Nebraska–Lincoln became number 12, ushering in a new logo era.

Northwest Airlines
 Before merging with Delta, Northwest’s logo was one of the best in the industry. The N and W within the circle are fairly obvious, but did you know the circle also serves as a compass? And guess which direction the arrow in the upper-left-hand corner (or the beginning of the w) is pointing?

Baskin-Robbins

 Famous for its thirty-one ice-cream flavors (though the company’s expanded beyond that original number at this point), Baskin-Robbins unveiled this new logo in 2006 to commemorate its sixtieth anniversary.

Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium 

  The tree stands out almost immediately, but if you give the image more than a cursory glance, the designer’s remarkable use of white space becomes clear. There’s a lot of life in this logo, which makes it perfect for a zoo-aquarium combination.

Goodwill

What looks like half of a happy face is also a bigger version of the G in Goodwill’s name. It gives the logo an entirely different feel when you think about it that way.

Carrefour 

 The name of this French international retail chain translates to “crossroads,” or “intersection” in English. The two arrows pointing in opposite directions indicate this, but there’s also a big C hidden in the white space.

London Symphony Orchestra

 The seemingly simple design is both an acronym for the London Symphony Orchestra and a conductor conducting with a baton in his right hand. Neat, huh?

Milwaukee Brewers 

 This was the Brewers’ emblem from 1978 until 1993. An art history student designed the baseball glove composed of an m and a b for a 1977 logo contest. Now it’s one of the most famous logos in baseball.

Washington State University

 Washington State University’s mascot is a cougar, but putting a picture of an actual cougar in the logo would be so boring. Instead, the cougar is created with creative exaggerations of the letters W, S, and U.

Friday, August 26, 2011

Britney's Bikini Body Through the Years

Britney's Bikini Body Through the Years

 Sept. 16, 2001

A well-toned Spears showed off her iconic abs in a teeny-weeny two-piece in Sydney, Australia. "I probably do like 500-sit-ups," Spears has told Oprah Winfrey. "And If I'm having a really good day, I'll do like probably, 1,000."


April 23, 2004

On a beach in L.A. during a break in touring, the-Cheetos-and-Red-Bull loving singer (with a cigarette in hand) set off a media frenzy when she was photographed cavorting with Kevin Federline.

July 15, 2004

"Lounging around" as a newlywed caused Spears to put on pounds, she has said (here at a hotel pool in Marina del Rey, CA).

April 13, 2005

Bun in the oven! The parents-to-be strolled along the beach hand-in-hand in Destin, Florida, the day she announced she was pregnant with their first child.  While carrying Sean, Spears gave in to her cravings at Wendy's and Chili's.

June 15, 2006

Hours before her infamous interview with Matt Lauer aired, Spears (pregnant with #2) soaked up rays in Miami. When asked about her marriage, Spears denied any problems. "[Kevin] helps me," Spears told Lauer. "He has to. I'm an emotional wreck right now." On November 7, Spears filed for divorce.

Nov. 7, 2006

A six-months pregnant Spears walked along the beach in L.A. while picking out shells for Sean Preston on the day she filed for divorce from Kevin Federline. "I love my child and I would do anything to protect him," the singer has said.

Feb. 28, 2007

Before checking into Promises rehab center in Malibu for the second time, a  newly bald Spears (in a blonde wig) headed to the Mondrian hotel where she made two new gal pals at the poolside Star Bar.

July 18, 2007

Spears and her then assistant Shannon Funk stripped down to their skivvies and took a dip in the ocean in Malibu. "I used to walk around my house completely naked. And my dad would say, 'Britney, put some clothes on, we have people over,'" Spears told Esquire.

April 23, 2008

To get back in shape, Spears (in Malibu) has been hitting Bally Total Fitness in L.A. "She takes her workout seriously," says a gymgoer.

May 18, 2008

A happy and healthy looking Spears hit the beach for a five-day vacation with Mel Gibson and her dad in Costa Rica. While surfing, a witness says, Spears yelled, "I'm scared!" before hitting the water for 40 minutes. "She caught some waves."

Aug. 8, 2009

"I've had to work hard at getting [my body] back to where it used to be," Spears (at a photo shoot for the 2009

Aug. 21, 2009

The singer showed off her bikini bod with sis Jamie-Lynn, 18, during an outing with sons, Sean, 4, and Jayden, 3, in Miami. "They both looked to be in pretty good shape," a witness to the family's outing at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel tells Us.

Oct. 18, 2009

On a break from her Circus concert tour, Spears donned a black bikini and shades for a three-night getaway at the Tides Zihuatanejo resort in Mexico with agent beau, Jason Trawick, and her sons.

Nov. 15, 2009

The singer, who wrapped her tour last month, shed a reported 20 pounds before hitting the road, thanks to two-hour cardio-and-strength training workouts three times a week (on top of dance rehearsals).
Source: USmag

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Steve Jobs resigns as CEO of Apple

Steve Jobs resigns as CEO of Apple

Silicon Valley legend Steve Jobs on Wednesday resigned as chief executive of Apple Inc in a stunning move that ended his 14-year reign at the technology giant he co-founded in a garage.
Apple shares dived as much as 7 percent in after-hours trade after the pancreatic cancer survivor and industry icon, who has been on medical leave for an undisclosed condition since January 17, announced he will be replaced by COO and longtime heir apparent Tim Cook.

Analysts do not expect Jobs' resignation -- which had long been foreseen -- to derail the company's fabled product-launch roadmap, including possibly a new iPhone in September and a third iteration of the iPad tablet in 2012.
"I have always said if there ever came a day when I could no longer meet my duties and expectations as Apple's CEO, I would be the first to let you know. Unfortunately, that day has come," he said in a brief letter announcing his resignation.
The 55-year-old CEO had briefly emerged from his medical leave in March to unveil the latest version of the iPad and later to attend a dinner hosted by President Barack Obama for technology leaders in Silicon Valley.
Jobs' often-gaunt appearance has sparked questions about his health and his ability to continue at Apple.
"I will say to investors: don't panic and remain calm, it's the right thing to do. Steve will be chairman and Cook is CEO," said BGC Financial analyst Colin Gillis.
Apple shares slid to $357.40 in extended trading after a brief halt. They had gained 0.7 percent to close at $376.18 on the Nasdaq.
Analysts again expressed confidence in the Apple bench, headed by longtime company No. 2 and supply-chain maven Cook.
"Investors are very comfortable with Tim Cook even though Jobs has been a driver of innovation and clearly an Apple success. Tim has shown Apple can still outperform extremely well when he's been acting as CEO," said Cross Research analyst Shannon Cross.
"I don't know if it's a health issue. I don't know if it is a shock. Most likely it was going to happen at some point. Why today versus another day? I don't know."

Source: Yahoo

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

5.8 quake in Virginia felt in New York, D.C.

5.8 quake in Virginia felt in New York, D.C.

An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 5.9 struck Tuesday in northern Virginia, the U.S. Geological Survey said.

The quake, which struck at 1:51 p.m., was felt in Washington, in Richmond, Virginia, and as far away as North Carolina and New York, witnesses reported.
"It's one of the largest that we've had there," USGS seismologist Lucy Jones told CNN. Aftershocks were a concern, she said. "People should be expecting (them), especially over the next hour or two," she added.
She said that she would expect to see "significant damage" to old, brick buildings near the epicenter. "If you've already got some damage, you might want to stay outside," she said.
She also raised concern that water and gas lines may have been damaged.

"Our building was shaking the way a skyscraper isn't supposed to shake," said a lawyer in a high-rise in midtown Manhattan.
The quake was 3.7 miles deep and was located 83 miles southwest of Washington, the USGS said.

 source: CNN

Monday, August 22, 2011

Man Bathes With Rattlesnakes

Man Bathes With Rattlesnakes

The tiny Coryell County town of Oglesby is known for its rattlesnakes and this weekend, 3,000 people piled around a snake pit to see a world record shattered.

KCEN was there to meet the “Snake Man” before his slithery bath.
In the snake pit, Heart of Texas Snake Handlers President Jackie Bibby is a star. “Having been bit numerous times,” he says, “I do know and understand the effect of a rattlesnake bite.”
Bibby is from Rising Star, Texas and is at the 42nd annual “Rattlesnake Round-up” to increase his own star power. “I’ll be trying to get in the bathtub with more than 120 rattlesnakes.”
Yep…a snake bath with at least 121 rattlers to break a Guinness Book world record. “Once I get the record in the can,” he says, “after that the rest is gonna be icing on the cake.”
The snakes thrown in the tub are not trained and tamed. They are Central Texas rattlers, through and through. Oglesby Lion’s Club President Duane Heiner says, “We have snake handlers and snake hunters that go out throughout the county, throughout various counties. They go round up a bunch of rattlesnakes and bring them in.”

With a crowd gathered around and some excited “Snake Man” fans, Bibby broke the world record, sitting in the tub with 123 snakes.
While the risk of these slitherers is extreme, it is one Bibby says he lives for. “You’re never more alive than when you’re near death,” he says.
Wonder what is done with all of these rattlesnakes after the round-up? Many snake hunters sell the meat to a buyer, who then sells it to Asian countries where the meat is considered a delicacy.


Sunday, August 21, 2011

Two of Gadhafi's sons arrested in Tripoli

Two of Gadhafi's sons arrested in Tripoli

Two of Moammar Gadhafi's sons -- Saif al-Islam and Saadi -- have been arrested by opposition forces in Tripoli, rebel officials said.

There was no immediate reaction from Libyan government officials to the claims. CNN could not confirm the arrests, and there was no documentation provided by the rebels to verify the report.

Ali Said, general secretary of the Benghazi-based Transitional National Council, said late Sunday that Saif al-Islam Gadhafi, a top official in the regime, had been arrested in the capital.
Then, early Monday, Jumma Ibrahim -- a rebel spokesman based in Libya's western mountain region -- confirmed Saif al-Islam's arrest and said that another of the leader's sons, Saadi, had been arrested as well.
The businessman and onetime professional soccer player helped set up an April CNN interview with a woman who claimed she'd been raped by government troops. Saadi Gadhafi later told CNN that those behind the attack should be prosecuted.


The rebel spokesman, Ibrahim, also said that opposition forces have made it to Tripoli's Green Square, where Gadhafi supporters have gathered regularly to express their loyalty to Libya's long-time leader.
"The rebel fighters are in control of most of the neighborhoods in Tripoli," he said.
Late Saturday, Saif al-Islam -- who had emerged as a leading spokesman for the regime since the unrest began in February -- had laughed off reports of rebels taking Tripoli and claimed they were losing every battle.
But that account ran counter to reports from CNN reporters, witnesses and rebel officials on the ground. A NATO spokesman, in fact, said earlier Sunday that Moammar Gadhafi's "regime is crumbling."
In an audio address broadcast just before midnight -- his second of the day -- the longtime Libyan leader claimed that "very small groups of people who are collaborators with the imperialists" were fighting inside the capital. He also blasted the rebels who have been fighting to unseat him as "traitors."
"How can you let Tripoli, Libyan's capital, fall once again to occupation?" he said. "How can you let it become a military circus? ... It can't fall!"


Should the opposition prevail, Gadhafi said NATO would not protect them and predicted massive bloodshed. To prevent this, he said, Libyans -- he included a special appeal to women -- should go out and fight.
"Get out and lead, lead, lead the people to paradise," he said.
While the Libyan leader earlier predicted he'd win the battle, NATO said the end of his 42-year reign as the North African nation's ruler was near. NATO, under a U.N. Security Council resolution authorizing force to protect Libyan civilians, has conducted 7,549 strike sorties in Libya since the end of March.
"The Gadhafi regime is clearly crumbling," NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said in a statement. "The sooner Gadhafi realizes that he cannot win the battle against his own people, the better -- so that the Libyan people can be spared further bloodshed and suffering."
Earlier Sunday, NATO spokeswoman Oana Lungescu claimed "the territory (Gadhafi) controls is shrinking fast, his closest allies are packing their bags, and the people of Tripoli are rising."
Gunfire crackled and explosions rocked the capital Sunday night, as the six-month-long conflict finally approached Gadhafi's doorstep. Libyan government spokesman Musa Ibrahim told reporters just after 11 p.m. Sunday that some 1,300 people had been killed and about 5,000 wounded in fighting in the previous 12 hours.
"(The city) is being turned into a hellfire," he said.
Col. Roland Lavoie, a NATO spokesman based at the Joint Forces Command in Naples, Italy, said the situation was "very dynamic and very tense" Sunday after a spate of mostly small-scale skirmishes in downtown Tripoli and near the sea. While there was no sense of massive encounters, there were large movements of troops by both sides outside the city.


"Gadhafi is clearly losing his capabilities, and I think we all know how this will end. We just don't know when," Lavoie said. "He still has some command and control, as we saw a SCUD missile fired yesterday, so let's not conclude it is over."
One fierce gun battle broke out Sunday evening near the hotel where many international reporters were stationed in Tripoli. Many government officials packed their suitcases and left the hotel earlier in the day.
A woman in Tripoli said late Sunday that she and others went outside, "screaming" and calling for Gadhafi's ouster -- and had plenty of company.
"We realized that no one wants him, no one wants this dictator," the resident said.
Musa Ibrahim told CNN on Sunday that "more than 65,000 professional men" are fighting in Tripoli, with thousands more flooding in to help defend the regime, and added that they "can hold for much longer." He acknowledged "continuous fighting" in the city, predicting a "humanitarian disaster" unless an immediate ceasefire is called.
"It's not about who will win," he said. "The world needs to hear this message, that a massacre will be committed in Tripoli if one side wins now."
The spokesman denied an Al-Arabiya report that Gadhafi's guard had surrendered, calling it "false information."
In a statement, the Transitional National Council said its fighters would follow international protocols in order to protect civilians, among other measures.
"The guidelines ... demonstrate the NTC's commitment to do its best to ensure that those fighting in its name, through adherence to the principles of international humanitarian law, minimize the harm to the Libyan people," the statement said. "This will facilitate the effective reconciliation and reconstruction of our nation once the fighting ends."
Rebels moved truckloads of ammunition on roads toward Tripoli on Sunday after seizing an ammunition depot once held by Gadhafi's forces.
Rebel fighters told CNN they controlled Zawiya and had pushed Gadhafi's forces more than 15 miles outside the city -- and 15 miles west of Tripoli. But Gadhafi's forces continued firing into Zawiya from a distance.
The opposition also claimed control of a major oil refinery and cut off a key coastal road outside the city, a major supply route to the capital.
Libyan state television reported Sunday that dozens of armed rebels were arrested south of Zawiya, and their weapons were seized.
Some areas of eastern Tripoli, including the suburb of Tajoura, were out of government control Sunday, according to a Libyan government official who asked not to be named. Rebels set car tires afire along barricades there, the official said.
The official said 65,000 troops loyal to Gadhafi are ready to defend Tripoli, and warned that a massacre would occur if NATO continued to back rebel efforts.
Aref Ali Nayed, an ambassador in the United Arab Emirates for the Libyan rebels' Transitional National Council, said opposition forces were calling Sunday "Day 1."
"The reason we declare it 'Day 1' is because we feel Gadhafi is already finished. He is already finished, most importantly, in our hearts," he said. "We no longer fear him."
Jumma Ibrahim, a rebel spokesman from the western mountain region around Zintan, claimed opposition fighters had taken control of the main intelligence operations building in Tripoli.
He also said some Libyan army personnel had defected and joined the rebels in the area of the capital's airport, which he claimed the rebels took over.
But government spokesman Ibrahim denied that the airport had switched hands, insisting all of Tripoli was safe and under the control of Gadhafi's forces.
CNN could not immediately confirm whether rebel fighters had taken control of any parts of the city, including the airport. But network staffers on the ground reports that this weekend's fighting appears to be among the most intense yet in Tripoli.
The fighters will continue to get significant support from NATO, said Lungescu, the alliance spokeswoman. NATO made 22 "key hits" in the Tripoli area Saturday, including on several military facilities, with Lavoie saying the alliance conducted more strikes Sunday to maintain pressure on Gadhafi's forces.
Ibrahim, the government spokesman, blamed NATO for the conflict and appealed for a cease-fire.
"Every drop of Libyan blood shed by these rebels is the responsibility of the Western world, especially NATO's countries," he said. "We hold (U.S. President Barack) Obama, (British Prime Minister David) Cameron and (French President Nicolas) Sarkozy morally responsible for every single unnecessary death that takes place in this country."
But Lungescu, the NATO spokeswoman, told CNN on Sunday that the Gadhafi regime is to blame for all the bloodshed over the last six months.
"What we've seen consistently, systematically and brutally are attacks by the Gadhafi regime (on civilians)," she said. "NATO has consistently defended the U.N. mandate, and we have saved countless lives."
Officials briefed Obama on the situation in Libya Sunday morning and the president will continue to receive updates, White House spokesman Josh Earnest said. U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta also received a detailed situational update, a senior Pentagon official said, and U.S. State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is being "briefed regularly" as well.
"Gadhafi's days are numbered," said Nuland. "If Gadhafi cared about the welfare of the Libyan people, he would step down now."
A Maltese ship seeking to evacuate foreign nationals from Libya on Sunday came under heavy fire when a rebel-controlled ship ambushed it near the Libyan coastline in an apparent hijack attempt. As the captain tried to steer toward Tripoli's port, Gadhafi forces began firing at the rebels, leaving the Maltese ship in the crossfire.
No injuries were reported, but the Maltese ship was forced to turn around. The foreign nationals remained stranded in Libya.
In the rebel hub of Benghazi, meanwhile, CNN iReporter Sammi Addahoumi showed video of large, boisterous crowds in the city's Freedom Square reacting as reports of the developments played on a large screen.
"The spirits are quite high," said Addahoumi, a 28-year-old deli manager from South Carolina who said his father fled Benghazi decades ago. "Everyone is expecting Tripoli to fall."
In his speech on state television Sunday, though, Gadhafi said the rebels -- whom he described as "infidels," "traitors" and "gangsters" -- would fail and vowed not to back down.
"This is the hour of victory," he said. "This hour is the hour of defiance."

Read More: CNN


 

Friday, August 19, 2011

Amazing shade illusion will make you see the light


Amazing shade illusion will make you see the light

Don't believe everything you see. Take this insane optical illusion, which uses light and shadow to transform a gray square into a white square right before your eyes:
It's a pretty impressive effect -- but it's not entirely new. The Checker Shadow illusion was published back in 1995 by MIT professor Edward H. Adelson, though optical illusion guru 'brusspup' really gives it new life by bringing it off the page and into the real world.

So how does it work, exactly?  The key lies in the shadow cast by the cylinder and how our poor, confused brains process light. The shadow darkens the central square, but it still appears to be "light" in color because of the contrast with its darker neighbors.  Our brains are so fooled by this local contrast that it's difficult to perceive that the "light" square in the shadow has the same absolute shade as the "dark" square out of it.
Source: Yahoo

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Top 10 Most distrusted celebrities 2011

Top 10 Most distrusted celebrities 2011

According to a recently released poll by Ipsos, a whopping 60% of Americans don't trust Paris Hilton. Hilton was found to be the absolute least trustworthy celeb, beating out other morally questionable folks.

 1. Paris Hilton
Paris Whitney Hilton (born February 17, 1981) is an American heiress and media personality. She is a great-granddaughter of Conrad Hilton (founder of Hilton Hotels). Hilton is known for her controversial participation in a s3x tape in 2003, and appearance on the television series The Simple Life alongside fellow socialite and childhood best friend Nicole Richie. She is also known for her 2004 tongue-in-cheekautobiography, several minor film roles (most notably her role in the horror film House of Wax in 2005), her 2006 music album Paris, and her work in modeling.
 According to released poll by Ipsos, 60% of Americans don't trust Paris Hilton.

2. Charlie Sheen
Sheen's personal life has also made headlines, including reports about alcohol and drug abuse and marital problems as well as allegations of domestic violence. He was fired from his role on Two and a Half Men by CBS and Warner Bros. on March 7, 2011. Sheen subsequently announced a nationwide tour.
 According to the poll 52% Americans distrust Charlie Sheen.

3. Britney Spears
 Britney Jean Spears (born December 2, 1981) is an American recording artist and entertainer. Born in McComb, Mississippi, and raised in Kentwood, Louisiana, Spears began performing as a child, landing acting roles in stage productions and television shows. She signed with Jive Records in 1997 and released her debut album ...Baby One More Time in 1999. During her first decade within the music industry, she became a prominent figure in mainstream popular music and popular culture, followed by a much-publicized personal life.

According to the poll 45% Americans distrust Britney Spears.

4. Kanye West  
Kanye Omari West born June 8, 1977) is an American rapper, singer, and record producer. West first rose to fame as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records, where he eventually achieved recognition for his work on Jay-Z's album The Blueprint, as well as hit singles for musical artists including Alicia Keys, Ludacris, and Janet Jackson. His style of production originally used pitched-up vocal samples from soul songs incorporated with his own drums and instruments.  

According to the poll 45% Americans distrust Kayne West.

5. Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger (born July 30, 1947) is an Austrian-American former professional bodybuilder, model, actor, director, businessman and politician who served as the 38th Governor of California (2003–11).Schwarzenegger began to weight train at the young age of 15 years old. He was awarded the title of Mr. Universe at age 20 and went on to win the Mr. Olympia contest seven times. Schwarzenegger has remained a prominent presence in the sport of bodybuilding and he has written several books and numerous articles on the sports.
 According to the poll 44% Americans distrust Arnold Schwarzenegger.

6. Tiger Woods 
Eldrick Tont "Tiger" Woods (born December 30, 1975) is an American professional golfer whose achievements to date rank him among the most successful golfers of all time. Formerly the World No. 1, he is the highest-paid professional athlete in the world, having earned an estimated US$90.5 million from winnings and endorsements in 2010. 
 According to the poll 42% Americans distrust Tiger Woods.

7. Kim Kardashian
Kimberly Noel "Kim" Kardashian (born October 21, 1980) is an American socialite, television personality, model, and actress. She is the daughter of late attorney Robert Kardashian, and is known for a s3x tape with her former boyfriend Ray J as well as her E! reality series that she shares with her family, Keeping Up with the Kardashians. Kardashian's prominence has increased as of January 2011 with the premiere of Kourtney and Kim Take New York, the second spin-off of Keeping Up with the Kardashians (the first being Kourtney and Khloé Take Miami), debuting on E!, with the series following Kim and sister Kourtney Kardashian as they leave Los Angeles to open a third D-A-S-H store in New York City. Kim Kardashian's Height    5 ft 2.5 in (1.59 m).

 According to the poll 38% Americans distrust Kim Kardashian .

8. Mel Gibson
Mel Colm-Cille Gerard Gibson, AO (born 3 January 1956) is an Australian-American actor, film director, producer and screenwriter. Born in Peekskill, New York, Gibson moved with his parents to Sydney, Australia when he was 12 years old and later studied acting at the Australian National Institute of Dramatic Art. After appearing in the Mad Max and Lethal Weapon series, Gibson went on to direct and star in the Academy Award-winning Braveheart. In 2004, he directed and produced The Passion of the Christ, a controversial, yet successful, film portraying the last hours in the life of Jesus. In recent years, remarks by Gibson have generated accusations of homophobia, antisemitism, racism, and misogyny; he has apologized repeatedly for the statements and denied that they represent his real opinions. 
 According to the poll 33% Americans distrust Mel Gibson.

9. Donald Trump
Donald John Trump, Sr. (born June 14, 1946) is an American business magnate, television personality and author. He is the chairman and president of The Trump Organization. Trump is also the founder of Trump Entertainment Resorts, which operates numerous casinos and hotels worldwide. Trump's extravagant lifestyle and outspoken manner have made him a celebrity for years, and more recently with his NBC reality show The Apprentice, where he serves as host and executive producer. 
In 2010, Trump expressed interest in becoming a candidate for President of the United States in 2012. On May 16, 2011, he announced he would not run. On May 23, he stated he has not completely ruled out running if no viable Republican Party candidate emerges. In 2011, Trump ranked No. 17 on the Forbes Celebrity 100 list. 
 
 According to the poll 31% Americans distrust Donald Trump.

10. LeBron James
 LeBron Raymone James born December 30, 1984 is an American professional basketball player for the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Nicknamed "King James", he was a three-time "Mr. Basketball" of Ohio in high school, and was highly promoted in the national media as a future NBA superstar while a sophomore at St. Vincent – St. Mary High School. 

 According to the poll 29% Americans distrust LeBron James.

The full Reuters/Ipsos poll can be seen at http://www.ipsos-na.com/news-polls/ or http://www.ipsos-na.com/news-polls/pressrelease.aspx?id=5306  

Paris Hilton Voted the Least Trustworthy Celebrity

Paris Hilton Voted the Least Trustworthy Celebrity

Would you buy a used car from Paris Hilton? As our Magic 8 ball used to say, "Outlook not so good." According to a recently released poll by Ipsos, a whopping 60% of Americans don't trust her.

Hilton was found to be the absolute least trustworthy celeb, beating out other morally questionable folks like Charlie Sheen (52% unfavorable), Britney Spears (45% unfavorable), and Kanye West (45% unfavorable). Others on the bottom of the list of unpopular personalities: Arnold Schwarzenegger (44%), Tiger Woods (42%), Kim Kardashian (38%), Mel Gibson (33%), Donald Trump (31%), and LeBron James (29%).

According to Ipsos, four of the bottom ten celebs (Tiger Woods, Charlie Sheen, Paris Hilton, Britney Spears) "are more widely disliked by women than they are by men." The rest are relatively evenly disliked by both genders.

The poll is more than just a "Mean Girls"-like popularity contest. The results can have an effect on which celebrities companies choose to endorse their products. To that end, you can expect Betty White to be a highly coveted pitch-woman in the years to come. The "Golden Girls" star was ranked as America's most trusted celebrity.

White, 89, scored an 86% favorable rating, topping such A-listers as Denzel Washington (85%), Sandra Bullock (84%), Clint Eastwood (83%), and Tom Hanks (81%). Rounding out the top ten were Harrison Ford (80%), Morgan Freeman (79%), Kate Middleton (79%), Will Smith (77%), and Johnny Depp (76%).

Source: Yahoo

Tim Hortons Frozen Doughnut Lawsuit

Tim Hortons Frozen Doughnut Lawsuit

Two unhappy franchisees have launched a class action lawsuit for $1.95 billion against Oakville-based Tim Hortons Inc.
They claim they lost money after the company changed the system of making doughnuts in 2002, from cooking them from scratch in stores to microwaving frozen par-baked doughnuts supplied by a plant in Brantford, owned 50-50 by Tim Hortons Inc. and an Irish company, IAWS Group plc.

The two Burlington franchise owners also claim that a more extensive lunch menu instituted by the fast food chain in recent years has not increased profit enough to make it worthwhile for them to serve the lunch.
They are claiming breach of contract, breach of duty of fair dealing, negligent misrepresentation and unjust enrichment.
The franchisees, represented by Jerome Morse of Adair Morse in Toronto, listed their complaints last week in a statement of claim in Ontario Superior Court of Justice where they are trying to have their suit certified as a class action.
Tim Hortons quickly issued a release saying it would defend itself and called the statement of claim “frivolous and completely without merit.”
The company pointed out that the Tim Hortons Franchise Advisory Board, consisting of elected store owners who represent all franchisees, had looked at the two franchisees’ claims.
“They have advised the Company they also view the matter as without merit, stating that the statement of claim doesn’t reflect the opinion of the vast majority of franchisees,” said the release.
It continued, “Strong relations with our store owners has been a hallmark of the company’s success during our 44-year history, reflected in the good relations we enjoy with the vast majority of our more than 1,200 franchisees.”
The lawsuit claimants say the system of supplying frozen partly-cooked dough from a factory has driven up the cost of doughnuts to franchisees more than they had been told it would, without increasing sales enough to make up for the additional cost.
“The prices charged to the franchisees for many products and supplies have increased and the prices charged are often significantly above market price for comparable products and supplies,” say the claimants.
The complaining franchisees also say franchisees had to invest $35,000 to $50,000 to switch equipment in order to handle the heat-and-serve system adopted by the company for baked goods.
They say Tim Hortons has profited from the new system because it earns a profit on all frozen products sold to franchisees, and the doughnuts are sold at an “inflated price.”
The two dissatisfied franchisees say the soup and sandwich lunch menu has earned them either a minimal profit or no profit at all because the company required them to sell lunch items at “unreasonably low margins.”
At the same time, they claim their costs have gone up because the lunches have become popular and they have had to hire more staff to serve them.
Source: can-resturantsnews

Saturday, August 13, 2011

Most Memorable Wrestlers of All Time

Most Memorable Wrestlers of All Time

Hulk Hogan:
His bright mustache and his dark, leathery skin are iconic of pro wrestling in general and '80s-era World Wrestling Federation in particular. But ever since his heyday, Hulk has never stepped away from the ring long enough for fans to forget his awesome stage presence, even when he was showcasing family brawls on his
reality show, "Hogan Knows Best."


"Macho Man" Randy Savage
Hogan may have been the break-out star of the WWF world of the '80s, but Savage was never far behind. In fact, Savage lived out his life in the wrestling ring, wowing fans with his flashy style until a few years before his death this year. Just think of Macho Man whenever you bite into a Slim Jim.
Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson
He's probably the pro wrestler who has transitioned best into mainstream movie stardom, taking top billing in action films and comedies alike. But to fans of his wrestling days, he'll always be the guy who kept the People's Elbow in his arsenal of moves.

"Stone Cold" Steve Austin
In a world of heroes and heels, Austin was an antihero, winning fans for his refusal to bow down to the authority of wrestling impressario Vince McMahon or anyone else. He got a cult following of wrestling nuts all proud to spread the gospel of "Austin 3:16."

Andre the Giant
The first ever inductee into the WWF hall of fame, Andre the Giant's story is a tragic one, in which the medical abnormality that allowed him to grow to a massive size ultimately killed him. But during his life, Andre ruled the ring -- and even scored a memorable supporting role in "The Princess Bride."

Jesse "The Body" Ventura
Not every pro wrestler wants to go to Hollywood, but Ventura did just that when he played roles in films like "Predator." No, Ventura had higher aspirations and ultimately ditched his feather boa and his villainous, cheating "in the ring" persona to serve as governor of Minnesota in 1999.

Mr. T
Yeah, pro wrestling isn't necessarily where most people go when they ponder the awesome power that is the T. However, this eventual "A-Team" star first cracked into show business in the WWF, appearing as Hulk Hogan's tag team partner in the first WrestleMania. He's been pitying fools ever since.


Joanie "Chyna" Laurer
Pro wrestling has had its share of ring girl eye candy, but the very buff Chyna stands apart as the first woman to ever compete in the World Wrestling men's division. Following her stint in the ring, Chyna seemed to be moving toward more legit stardom, landing a recurring role on "3rd Rock From the Sun" before moving on to "The Surreal Life" and, finally, more "adult" ventures.

Chris Jericho
Jericho won fans for eye-catching moves like "Walls of Jericho," but he also drew admirers for his all-around good looks. He parlayed the latter into a stint on "Dancing With the Stars" in early 2011.

Triple H
He may have missed out on starring in the role he was born to play -- the lead in "Thor," of course -- but that doesn't mean his career hasn't thrived. The man who began his career in the ring as well-mannered aristocrat Hunter Hearst Helmsley has had a successful wrestling career, married Vince McMahon's daughter, Stephanie, and is currently the chief operating officer of World Wrestling Enterprises. 

Stacy Keibler
Would you have expected any professional wrestler of having a chance at dating George Clooney? If the rumors are true and Keibler is Clooney's current ladylove, then it would mark yet another surprising phase in life of Keibler, who's already done everything from kicking butt action movies to competing on "Dancing With the Stars" to appearing in her bra and panties in a wrestling ring.

Ric Flair
Throughout his years of involvement with various wrestling enterprises, in which he both performed as a wrestler and acted as a manager, Flair made good on his last name and never lost his flamboyant style

John Cena
In a part of the pop culture world where macho is in major demand, Cena delivers. Not only is he a terror in the ring, but he also went military as the lead role in the film "The Marine," and also performed for a hip-hop album. All he needs is a monster truck, and he'd win the masculinity contest.

The Miz
The Miz (aka Mike Mizanin) stepped into the pro wrestling world with an existing fan base from his days on MTV's "The Real World," which actually documented the genesis of his ultra-macho "Miz" persona. In 2010, this reality star extraordinaire won the WWE Championship.

"Captain" Lou Albano
No, this isn't Albano in his wrestling guise, but it's still a pretty great pop culture footnote: He played Cyndi Lauper's dad in the music videos for "Girls Just Want to Have Fun," "She Bop" and the theme to "The Goonies." Albano, who also starred as Super Mario in a TV show based on the games, wrestled for nearly 40 years before passing away in 2009.

Vince McMahon
Lest you only think of McMahon as chairman and CEO of World Wrestling Enterprises and one of the minds who has most shaped pro wrestling into what it is today, McMahon occasionally stepped into the ring himself. What a great guy he is, allowing the regular roster of grapplers the chance to take down their own boss.

Bret "Hitman" Hart
He had a successful 25 years in the professional wrestling circuit, but even more, Hart deserves praise for having a trademark look -- consisting of pink, black and mirrored sunglasses -- that somehow didn't look completely goofy

The Undertaker
The guy's career hasn't significantly extended beyond the wrestling ring, but he doesn't really need to branch out. In a world of brightly colored spandex and bronzed pecs, The Undertaker brings a brand of creepy that sets him apart.
 Rowdy Roddy Piper
He debuted in the ring in 1969 and hasn't retired yet. But more than just a talented grappler, Piper has managed to embody the stereotype of the raging Scotsman and introduce generations of wrestling fans to the magic of kilts and bagpipes. He also starred in the B-movie awesomeness that is "They Live."

Mae Young and The Fabulous Moolah
The lovely ladies of wrestling owe a great debt to pro wrestling trailblazers like Mae Young (left) and The Fabulous Moolah, who blazed the trail to make the sport open to both genders. These two -- who began wrestling in 1939 and 1949, respectively -- were the subjects of a 2004 documentary on lady wrestling, "Lipstick & Dynamite, Piss & Vinegar."

Source: MSN