YouTube

You know, it’s not often that I see an ad campaign and think “man that’s really good.”  Heck I don’t even see many commercials anymore because I watch most things on my DVR, but this New Era campaign with celebrities talking trash about their favorite baseball teams is just great.  This year they’re focusing on the Cubs and White Sox rivalry and since they play each other this weekend, here is a new commercial.

You Tube

They say that deaths come in threes…The legendary Donna Summer died today in Florida at the age of 63 after a battle with breast  cancer.  She was a five-time Grammy winner, and will always be remembered as a Disco Queen. She is survived by her husband, singer and producer Bruce Sudano, their daughters, Brooklyn and Amanda and Summer’s daughter, Mimi, from a previous marriage.

Donna dominated the charts in the 70′s and 80′s with hits like ‘Last Dance’, ‘Hot Stuff’, and ‘She Works Hard For The Money.’ Donna was a record breaker who knew no boundaries. She was the first African American female performer to receive an MTV VMA nomination for the video and choreography of ‘She Works Hard for the Money’ AND was nominated for two Golden Globes, winning one for ‘Last Dance.’ Her Grammy wins included Best R&B Vocal Performance Female for ‘Last Dance’ and Best Rock Vocal Performance Female for ‘Hot Stuff’. She was also the first artist to have three consecutive double albums reach N0. 1 on the U.S. Billboard chart, along with 12 Gold-selling singles throughout her career.

This will always be my favorite…

Here is the Lemon Bucket Orkestra, live on Air Canada Flight AC 876 bound for Bucharest,taking advantage of the 20-minute delay at Toronto Pearson International Airport.

It’s probably pretty self explanatory, but also the little intro explains the concept, too… then the video actually is the concept!For God’s sake, quit reading and start watching if you want to learn more/laugh!

Susan Saunders

Here is Shannon Schwartz and her family getting ready to fly out on a trip she won to Orlando with CIRA, Allegiant and WBNQ with BNQ Benefits!

Central Illinois Regional Airport is a lovely and convenient airport right in our own backyard. With free parking, and the nicest TSA agents you could ever hope to be patted down by, you are silly to drive far away to fly for work or pleasure. It is even fun to watch the planes come in. Here is the inaugural Allegiant flight arriving at CIRA on Wednesday, May 17, 2012.

Forbes

Justin Bieber isn’t No. 1 on the Forbes Celebrity 100list — that honor goes to Jennifer Lopez – but he is on the cover of the issue.

It’s another major magazine profile that bridges the gap from boy to man for the singer. While most Beliebers don’t care about the financials that are detailed in this story, it reveals that the Biebs is a very savvy (and wealthy) businessman.

Here’s the quick math. Since debuting three years ago, the ‘Boyfriend’ singer has sold 15 million albums and grossed $150 million over 157 tour dates in two dozen countries. His film ‘Never Say Never’ nabbed $30 million in opening weekend box office receipts. His ‘Someday’ fragrance raked in $60 million during its first six months. Add that up, and he’s earned about $108 million in the past two years.

In the social media sphere, he shakes out like this: 21 million Twitter followers, 43 million Facebook fans and 740 million ‘Baby’ YouTube video views, the most ever for one clip. Interestingly, a Twitter employee said that in 2010, three percent of the company’s infrastructure was dedicated to dealing with tweets related to the singer!

All that activity translates to plenty of money for him and his business managers to play with in the investment world. The Biebs is a venture capitalist who drops money into upstarts and products he likes. His manager Scooter Braun also stated firmly that he won’t let his client get involved in something unless he is into it. Smart strategy.

Bieber has been dumping millions into private tech start up companies and holds stakes in a dozen or so companies. The sleuths at FORBES verified four: messaging platform Tinychat, social curation app Stamped, gaming outfit Sojo Studios and Spotify.

The Biebs isn’t paid to endorse these products. He invests his own capital into them and most haven’t even promoted his involvement. So it’s not like he tweets about the products and uses his image to sell them a la Kim Kardashian – he directly funds them.

For his part, Bieber understands the financial and long-term value of being connected in the digital age, even if privacy and mystique are casualties.  ”It used to be there was a mystery to the artist,” says Bieber. “Now there’s, like, no mystery — the fans want the connection, they want to see you Instagramming at a coffee shop in the morning.”

Forbes

Forbes

Forbes

Forbes

Watch the Justin Bieber ‘Boyfriend’ Video

Source: PopCrush.com

Tom Cruise told Playboy,

“I was down in Miami, recording different songs. And director Adam Shankman called and said, ‘Def Leppard’s coming by the set.’ I said, ‘Man, that’s cool.’ Then I paused. ‘Wait, I’m rehearsing their song tomorrow.’ And he’s like, ‘Yeah!’ [laughs] So we started right in the deep end, and that was the first scene I shot in the movie…They went to the back of the Bourbon Room, and I looked at my band and was like, ‘Hit it.’ All the crew was watching them watching me. Joe Elliott, points at me and goes, ‘F— you! F— you!’ Then I saw big smiles on their faces, and I realized I’d gotten their stamp. It was a very cool moment. It was important they knew I was honoring their music and not making fun of them.”

‘Rock of Ages‘ comes out June 15, 2012

As American University School of Public Affairs graduates walked across the stage to accept their diplomas, graduate Sarah Cooper became engaged to School of Communication graduate Sam Miller. He proposed on stage in front of family and classmates.

You tube user : americanuniversity

What was the best thing you saw at graduation this year? Log into Facebook and comment below.

FOX

Sometimes all you need is talent to stand out, but in this episode of ‘Glee’, the singing group attempts to use props to beat out nemesis Vocal Adrenaline. Tina (Jenna Ushkowitz) learns a lesson about Rachel (Lea Michele) when she suffers a freak body-swapping incident and Puckerman (Mark Salling) and Coach Beiste (Dot Jones) discover that there’s nothing wrong with asking for help.

In the episode open, Sue (Jane Lynch) wants Kurt (Chris Colfer) to wear a dress during Nationals to compete with Vocal Adrenaline’s cross-dressing Unique (Alex Newell), who managed to score a recent magazine cover. Meanwhile, Rachel continues on her path to gain acceptance into NYADA, appropriately singing ‘I Won’t Give Up’ by Jason Mraz. After she peps herself up she calls NYADA judge Carmen (Whoopi Goldberg) and invites her to Nationals to see her perform again and win an MVP award.

Will (Matthew Morrison) and Sue discuss the Nationals’ song selections, with Sue giving the club welding helmets and leg warmers so they can properly perform Irene Cara’s ‘Flashdance,’ hopefully getting props for their use of props. An angry Tina storms out after Rachel receives yet another solo. In the hall, Mike (Harry Shum Jr.) tries to reason with her that Rachel, as a senior, deserves a solo and Rachel herself argues that she needs it to get another shot at NYADA. She has worked too hard to give up this opportunity and Tina will be able to get more solos next year.

Tina is at the mall buying fabric for Glee club costumes when she trips and falls into a nearby fountain, hitting her head. Don’t text and walk kids! When she emerges from the fountain, she is dressed like Rachel, and Blaine (Darren Criss) and Kurt who rushed to check on her are now played by Puck and Finn (Cory Monteith), worried for Tina — as Rachel’s — well being.

The body swapping continues at school with Mercedes (Amber Riley) and Brittany (Heather Morris) switching bodies, and Artie (Kevin McHale) and Santana (Naya Rivera) trading places. Inside practice, Will and Sue have also switched places, and Tina as Rachel is forced to sing Rachel’s solo, Celine Dion’s ‘Because You Loved Me.’ Tina is finally able to bask in the glow of a standing ovation and she goes to thank Rachel as Tina for all her hard work and promises she will get attention next year. In response, Rachel as Tina tells Tina as Rachel (confusing, I know) not to give up on her dreams and go find Carmen and try again. After this exchange, Tina wakes up in her own body at the mall.

At practice, the New Directions are trying to work through their ‘Flashdance’ song, complete with power tools, but they cannot perform their dance moves because the heavy props detract from their routine. Even though the props make them stand out, they refuse to use them and Kurt stands his ground, saying he will not dress in drag.

Santana, Mercedes and Brittany go to talk to Coach Beiste about her marital troubles, specifically that she is still living with and wed to her abusive husband. Cut to a memory of Coach Beiste listening to Cooter (Eric Bruskotter) verbally attack her while she clutches a knife. The girls invite her to Nationals so she can get out of the house, but she refuses their request, arguing that she’s fine.

Inside the locker room, Sue gives them a pep talk with Kurt revealing a video he took of the Vocal Adrenaline practice, which features a difficult dance move called the Human Centipede. Sue tells the group that Unique is the “ultimate prop” of Vocal Adrenaline, and Rachel cannot hope to compete with her. In an effort to cheer Rachel up, Tina finds her practicing and tells her about her body-swapping dream, in which Rachel as Tina advised herself to seek out Carmen.

Sue tries to continue with her plan by giving the group even more props, having ordered enough little people for each of them. Puck enters in a dress and Will puts and end to the props. In the hall, Puck is being bullied by the hockey team for coming to school in a dress and not being able to graduate. His insecurities ultimately get the best of him.

Meanwhile, Rachel and Tina are headed to see Carmen, and the two agree they will sing together before graduation. Puck’s fight reaches a head when things are literally taken outside and he pulls out a knife as the assembled crowd chants the word “loser” at him. Coach Beiste intervenes and she discovers parallels between herself and her student, who tells her that he feels useless. The two break down together and admit how much pain they’re both in.

Rachel arrives to talk to Carmen, who expresses dislike for Rachel repeatedly, bothering her with presents and voicemails. Not only does it take time away from her own day, but it is unfair to the other kids who want it equally as much. Tina speaks up for Rachel, and despite Rachel’s passion, Carmen asks them to leave. They do, with Rachel promising to try out every year until she is accepted.

After getting some confidence from Puck, Coach Beiste goes home to break things off with Cooter. He promises never to lose it again, but ultimately she leaves so she can start loving herself. In celebration of their growth, she and Puck sing Taylor Swift’s ‘Mean,’ and she reveals she obtained permission to get him to retake his failed test. He may graduate after all.

Tina proves she learned a lesson by briefly walking in Rachel’s shoes and Coach Beiste asks Will and Sue if she can join them at Nationals. She reveals she left Cooter and an emotional Sue gives her a hug. Rachel and Tina share a song, singing ‘Flashdance / What a Feeling’ by Irene Cara together as they dance onto the Nationals bus. Will the third time be a charm for the New Directions?

Watch Puck and Coach Beiste Perform Taylor Swift’s ‘Mean’

Source: PopCrush.com

YouTube

Today’s example of why live TV is fun, even when it’s about stocks, comes from Bloomberg TV where they get a little too cute with their live reporting from the newsroom floor.  Or trading floor maybe?  I don’t know.  Anyways, this is a rather awkward moment that’s captured forever thanks to the miracle of the internet.

YouTube

By now you may (or may not) have been introduced to Lilly the Hero Pit bull! She has become famous on facebook and all over the internet because on May 3rd, Lilly the family pit bull, saved her unconscious owner Christine from an oncoming freight train after she passed out on the tracks. Lilly is one of the many pitbulls around the country helping change the outlook of the breed deemed dangerous by many. But ask yourself this…how many humans do you think would risk their lives to save another?

Lilly saved her unconscious owner after she had been drinking and passed out on the train tracks, dragging Christine Spain from an oncoming freight train and instead taking the hit herself. The train wheels damaged Lilly’s front right leg and pelvis along with some other internal injuries. She has had many surgeries, sadly lost her right leg, and is now filled with bits of metal in hopes of keeping some of her other body parts.

Lilly was actually adopted three years ago by Christine’s son David. He met Lilly at a rescue shelter, and Lilly’s sweet disposition let him know that she would be the perfect companion for his mother Christine, who was alone alot, and had some depression and alcohol problems.

As soon as Lilly made herself at home with Christine, Christine seemed to get better. She instantly fell in love with Lilly and gave her a reason to get out of bed in the morning. Lilly gave Christine a new purpose in life and a new reason to be alive. Things got better. But one day Christine received some bad news and seemed to fall off the wagon. That is when tragedy struck for Lilly as she was hit by the train while trying to save her owner and best friends life.

Happily, Lilly will be ok! She has a long road to recovery, and her life will never be the same again, but she is alive and for that I am very grateful.

And good news is she is well enough to go home, yesterday Lilly exited the hospital to go home with Christine’s son while she recovers and receives therapy to teach her how to walk again.

YouTube

Jay-Z is backing President Barack Obama’s recent endorsement of gay marriage. During a recent interview with CNN, the rap executive felt that POTUS’s announcement of support for states to legalize same-sex marriage was the right thing to do.

“I’ve always thought it as something that was still holding the country back,” Jay said. “What people do in their own homes is their business and you can choose to love whoever you love. That’s their business. It’s no different than discriminating against blacks. It’s discrimination plain and simple.”

Hov is a longtime supporter of Obama, having backed his 2008 presidential campaign and appearing on Young Jeezy‘s ‘My President’ (D.C. Remix), which is a tribute to the president. Of course, Obama has made it no secret that he’s a Jay-Z fan. Obama even picked Jay over Chicago native Kanye West, who he called a “jackass” — twice.

When Jay-Z was asked if he felt Obama’s decision to support gay marriage would cost him votes, he disregarded the notion. “I think it was the right thing to do,” he said. “So whether it cost him votes or not — it’s really not about votes, it’s about people. So whether it cost him votes or not, I think it was the right thing to do as a human being.”

Jay-Z for president?

Watch Video Where Jay-Z Backs Obama on Gay Marriage

Source: PopCrush.com

"Mr. P" from Patrice O'Neal

Much to no one’s surprise, Tim Taylor already brought the great Patrice O’Neal to your attention, but I don’t care – I want to talk about him again anyway.

My opportunity to talk about him comes from an article published in New York Magazine that called Patrice “The Comedian Comedians Were Afraid Of [NSFW]”

The article is definitely written for the over 18 set, and if you are one of them, I encourage you to click on the link and read it for yourself. If you are not, I will tell you what I thought of Patrice in my own less-graphic words.

Patrice was honest, and as a comedian, I believe that is the greatest thing that you can say about somebody.

A lot of us are funny. A lot of us are talented. A couple of us are successful… but so much of our humor, talents and success is spent on finally being  able to hide who we are from people that the honest among us can become larger than life.

I’m sure I don’t have to tell you that it’s uncomfortable to share your problems, your aspirations and all of those thoughts you have that you know people will judge you for… but, Patrice’s career stood for all of that and it scared the hell out of comics and audiences alike. Some people call what he did on stage “rude” or “dirty” but they are completely missing the point. Honesty isn’t about how nicely you can present something – it’s about how accurately you can do it.

Patrice was able to become so honest that he virtually stood in the way of his own success – and, I’ve never heard anyone speak with more content and even satisfaction with what some people would label self-sabotage.

Again, “self-sabotage” is just childish lashing out and that is the furthest thing from what  prohibited Patrice from becoming a bigger star. Patrice was really held back by the super-human level of honesty that he had developed. He knew that most of the people that wanted to hire you in showbiz offer you garbage that isn’t right for you, (or anyone else, really.) Sadly, the majority of us take whatever it crap we can get and try to see how long we can suffer through it or in what way we can futilely attempt to make it something that suits us… but, Patrice knew that and he just said no. The integrity it takes to do that as a freelance worker is monumental.

This is the part where I want to share my personal recollections of Patrice, but sadly, I never got a chance to work with him. I’ve kinda jotted down some ways that he influenced me and made me want to work harder to be a better comedian, but the fact of the matter is that if he heard or read anything like that, he would yell ‘shut-up’ so loud that it’d hurt every person I’ve ever met.

Instead, I will say that if you click the image of Mr.P or the title Mr.P anywhere in this post, it will take you to iTunes where you can purchase what turned out to be his last CD, which I whole heartedly encourage you to do. It is a great hour of honest, smart, live comedy. It’s an hour that you might think is either unfinished or at least not as polished as other comedy that you might be used to, but that is exactly the genius of Patrice. His thoughts are as impressive, well organized and articulate as any person that you’ll ever hear speak, but he draws you in by presenting them in a way where you feel like you are there as he is working them all out.

Admittedly, I don’t think that Mr.P is as great as his final special, Elephant In the Room, but all the money from Mr.P goes to the family that he left behind, so it’s the most direct way to try to repay everything that he gave to us.

Since Tim Taylor has also posted probably the least NSFW clip from Elephant, I’ll leave you with the second least NSFW clip. I hope you’ll click around and watch everything YouTube has to offer from Patrice, but as you do, remember that what you’re seeing might be outside of your comfort zone – and that would have made him very happy.

David Livingston / Frazer Harrison, Getty Images

Yes, we’re serious. It seems that with the successes of duets albums of the past, Barbra Streisand — with the help of her bosses at Sony Music — is now beginning to put together a duets compilation of her own. And one person that’s rumored to be on the album? You guessed it, the one and only babe from Barbados … Rihanna.

In the past, the process with these types of albums has been wildly successful, pairing up a living legend with hip, younger artists for multiple intentions. Not only in hopes to make both the artist and the album more successful in stores and on iTunes, but also to help the artist grab a brand new fan base. Not that Barbra needs it — she did just sign a reported $30 million deal with Sony Music.

But the duets process does work most of the time. Just look at Tony Bennett. The legendary crooner had his first number one album with ‘Duets II,’ released in Sept. 2011, at the age of 85, which featured the likes of Lady Gaga, Carrie Underwood, and the late and great Amy Winehouse.

Some more rumored guests to appear on the 70-year-old songstress’s album are Adele and perhaps even Jay-Z. It seems that with her new deal, Barbra’s ready to try something new. Who knows, the result could be very advantageous for the Brooklyn-bred singer.

Watch the Amy Winehouse and Tony Bennett ‘Body and Soul’ Video

Source: PopCrush.com

Never in my wildest dreams did I expect to freak out 500 feet above the arena. The cold sweat was pouring off me and for awhile I couldn’t do anything by grip the rails and breath heavy. Ray was brave enough to continue all the way out to the center of the grates, so you can see how high up it felt. Now I am know I will never sky dive. Apparently, I have a new found fear of heights.

Have you ever gained a fear later in life? What was the scariest thing you ever did on purpose and would never do again? Comment below after logging into to Facebook.

YouTube

Let this video serve as a reminder as we enter “sitting outside with a beer or two” season.  Do not sit on the awning.  It will end badly for you, but hilariously for the rest of us.  By the way, note what she lands on.  It makes this that much funnier.

YouTube

Have you ever ended a relationship with someone right before a big getaway you had planned together? An old boyfriend and I once broke up as we were planning a trip to Florida, I went without him and had the BEST time. A man from the UK recently had his heartbroken when his girlfriend dumped him and now he is GIVING his trip to Malta (where’s that?) away for FREE!

Tom says he is doing this because he wants to fix our world, genuinely making it a better place to live in, and so he can move on from heartbreak. He wants to give it to someone who deserves it the most. Think you deserve this trip? Email iwantyourholiday@hotmail.com.

It’s nice to know that there are genuinely good people wanting to do heartless things for others. Thank you Tom!