When we talk about idol worship we think of primitive tribes dancing around a totem pole, or the Israelites dancing around statues of the god Baal, or the ancient Greeks in their temples of Zeus. But when the Bible talks about false idols it really refers to any form of worship which has replaced the worship of God. Using that as a definition, we see that we in modern times are probably the most heathen of all civilizations in history. since we have so many false gods. By not believing in the one and only God we leave room in our hearts for any number of false gods to encamp themselves. We are a world of fanatics, enthusiasts, experts, fake authority figures, role models, celebrities, superstars, movie stars, sports stars, local heroes.
Anyone who appears on our TV screens for more than 15 minutes is branded with the ominous title of celebrity. We even have TV shows called Pop Idol and American Idol, the bulk of which is taken up with less than average talent. As consumers we adore and pursue avidly certain designer labels which attain enormous proportions in our lives. What all these things have in common is that they are there to fulfill a need for security, self-esteem and meaning. When people feel unloved they search blindly and in a panic stricken mode for something that will make them loved. Donning a particular fashion label or adoring a certain pop celebrity gives us a share in something that we perceive as worthwhile, a successful brand or worthy name, in other words we adopt ourselves into that "family." This "family" of ocurse, is an illusion. It is not real. There is no love and support in hard times, only a grab for our cash during the good times.
So what is wrong with hero worship? Nothing at all if it is operated under the umbrella of the one true saviour Jesus Christ. But worship without the real God leads to disappointment, frustration, anger, poverty, family break-ups, failed careers, sexual perversion, manifest greed, corruption, and many other nasty consequences. Jesus is the only idol who gives back more than He receives. When you devote your life to Jesus, you don't just get a nice wardrobe, you get eternal, selfless joy.
Milton Johanides is a retired businessman, church elder, writer and artist. He has been featured on BBC TVs Songs of Praise, owned numerous art galleries and once ran an award winning picture framing business in Scotland. The views expressed in these articles are his own. Web address: http://www.x-ibit-it.com
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Friday, June 5, 2009
Men of the Year - True Love and False Idols
Finally, a fashion post all about the guys! Pay attention, dudes...and ladies who want their man to be all lookin' good and stuff.
The latest trend is all about taking if from the streets. We've seen a growing number of design houses begin to incorporate graffiti artwork, but none with the authenticity and artistic flair of True Love & False Idols.
"We hope you like our line. We love making it. Our inspiration is our lives, our friends, our music and cities," say Alex and Alex, the men behind the brand. One is a straightedge punk kid from the O.C.; the other an ex graffiti artist from Venice.
They got together back in 2005 after working together at another fashion line. The two Alex's fused their diverse backgrounds into a street couture collection that blends punk rock, hip hop, graffiti and Southern California influences to create art-driven designs for men that don't look all sissified.
They are perhaps best known for their embroidered cashmere hoodies and their intricate graphic tees, which are available on their web site trueloveandfalseidols.com and in stores across the good 'ol US of A.
You may have already spotted TLFI on mega-hit shows like American Idol, The Hills and America's Next Top Model, or on the back of a few of the most fashionable guys in the game like Jamie Foxx, T.I., Sean Paul and Ryan Seacrest. The next hot guy sporting TLFI should be you {or your boyfriend}.
Copyright © 2008 Young Hollywood LLC. All rights reserved.
Wes Ferguson is a lifestyle expert and entertainment writer living out the Young Hollywood dream in beautiful Westside Los Angeles. (http://www.younghollywood.com)
The latest trend is all about taking if from the streets. We've seen a growing number of design houses begin to incorporate graffiti artwork, but none with the authenticity and artistic flair of True Love & False Idols.
"We hope you like our line. We love making it. Our inspiration is our lives, our friends, our music and cities," say Alex and Alex, the men behind the brand. One is a straightedge punk kid from the O.C.; the other an ex graffiti artist from Venice.
They got together back in 2005 after working together at another fashion line. The two Alex's fused their diverse backgrounds into a street couture collection that blends punk rock, hip hop, graffiti and Southern California influences to create art-driven designs for men that don't look all sissified.
They are perhaps best known for their embroidered cashmere hoodies and their intricate graphic tees, which are available on their web site trueloveandfalseidols.com and in stores across the good 'ol US of A.
You may have already spotted TLFI on mega-hit shows like American Idol, The Hills and America's Next Top Model, or on the back of a few of the most fashionable guys in the game like Jamie Foxx, T.I., Sean Paul and Ryan Seacrest. The next hot guy sporting TLFI should be you {or your boyfriend}.
Copyright © 2008 Young Hollywood LLC. All rights reserved.
Wes Ferguson is a lifestyle expert and entertainment writer living out the Young Hollywood dream in beautiful Westside Los Angeles. (http://www.younghollywood.com)
How is Idol Worship Apparent in the Modern World?
When we talk about idol worship we think of primitive tribes dancing around a totem pole, or the Israelites dancing around statues of the god Baal, or the ancient Greeks in their temples of Zeus. But when the Bible talks about false idols it really refers to any form of worship which has replaced the worship of God. Using that as a definition, we see that we in modern times are probably the most heathen of all civilizations in history. since we have so many false gods. By not believing in the one and only God we leave room in our hearts for any number of false gods to encamp themselves. We are a world of fanatics, enthusiasts, experts, fake authority figures, role models, celebrities, superstars, movie stars, sports stars, local heroes.
Anyone who appears on our TV screens for more than 15 minutes is branded with the ominous title of celebrity. We even have TV shows called Pop Idol and American Idol, the bulk of which is taken up with less than average talent. As consumers we adore and pursue avidly certain designer labels which attain enormous proportions in our lives. What all these things have in common is that they are there to fulfill a need for security, self-esteem and meaning. When people feel unloved they search blindly and in a panic stricken mode for something that will make them loved. Donning a particular fashion label or adoring a certain pop celebrity gives us a share in something that we perceive as worthwhile, a successful brand or worthy name, in other words we adopt ourselves into that "family." This "family" of ocurse, is an illusion. It is not real. There is no love and support in hard times, only a grab for our cash during the good times.
So what is wrong with hero worship? Nothing at all if it is operated under the umbrella of the one true saviour Jesus Christ. But worship without the real God leads to disappointment, frustration, anger, poverty, family break-ups, failed careers, sexual perversion, manifest greed, corruption, and many other nasty consequences. Jesus is the only idol who gives back more than He receives. When you devote your life to Jesus, you don't just get a nice wardrobe, you get eternal, selfless joy.
Milton Johanides is a retired businessman, church elder, writer and artist. He has been featured on BBC TVs Songs of Praise, owned numerous art galleries and once ran an award winning picture framing business in Scotland. The views expressed in these articles are his own. Web address: http://www.x-ibit-it.com
Anyone who appears on our TV screens for more than 15 minutes is branded with the ominous title of celebrity. We even have TV shows called Pop Idol and American Idol, the bulk of which is taken up with less than average talent. As consumers we adore and pursue avidly certain designer labels which attain enormous proportions in our lives. What all these things have in common is that they are there to fulfill a need for security, self-esteem and meaning. When people feel unloved they search blindly and in a panic stricken mode for something that will make them loved. Donning a particular fashion label or adoring a certain pop celebrity gives us a share in something that we perceive as worthwhile, a successful brand or worthy name, in other words we adopt ourselves into that "family." This "family" of ocurse, is an illusion. It is not real. There is no love and support in hard times, only a grab for our cash during the good times.
So what is wrong with hero worship? Nothing at all if it is operated under the umbrella of the one true saviour Jesus Christ. But worship without the real God leads to disappointment, frustration, anger, poverty, family break-ups, failed careers, sexual perversion, manifest greed, corruption, and many other nasty consequences. Jesus is the only idol who gives back more than He receives. When you devote your life to Jesus, you don't just get a nice wardrobe, you get eternal, selfless joy.
Milton Johanides is a retired businessman, church elder, writer and artist. He has been featured on BBC TVs Songs of Praise, owned numerous art galleries and once ran an award winning picture framing business in Scotland. The views expressed in these articles are his own. Web address: http://www.x-ibit-it.com
Simon Cowell - An Idol Of Our Times
It is my belief that the popularity of the American Idol and X-factor judge, Simon Cowell is down to a recognition, deep in the belly of the collective, that it's healthy to revolt against sycophancy and tell it like it is. There's certainly nothing plastic, or false, about Mr Cowell's honesty on his talent search show.
Infact, it seems that Simon was born with a form of Tourettes Syndrome. Every time he's called to judge someone, he hears them sing and exhibits an uncontrollable urge to say what millions are thinking -- but few would dare utter out loud. His no-holds barred approach resonates strongly in the psyche of the 'authenticity challenged' millions worldwide who are saying, "Hey, it's great to see you" or "Have a nice day", whilst really wanting to tell the person to take a hike.
This is Simon's fascination; his ability to eschew any facade and still be accepted by the social elite. In his uniform of tight black tee shirts, he is like a modern day comic book hero. Superman may have his costume of indestructibility but Simon has his cloak of opinion, and uses it to great effect.
Looking to his birth chart it's easy to locate the letter that Simon Cowell should wear on his body; P for Pluto or Power. This is the secret of his success. Venus, ruler of his Sun is in close conjunction with Pluto, in the picky, detail oriented sign of Virgo. The Venus/Pluto conjunction is perfect symbolism for his ability to take singers (Venus) and transform (Pluto) their life and fortunes.
From a wider standpoint though, as viewers we are not responding to Simon, per se, but to the energies of Neptune (plastic, imagery, illusion, music) in Aquarius (the collective). Throughout the 1990's and early 2000's we were all subjected to an incessant barrage of images on celluloid, or via broadcast and print media, about how perfect and harmonious our lives and interactions with one another should be. Unfortunately, the majority of us were merging into that ideal of perfection, rather than living authentically and being who we are. Now though, the illusion is slowly beginning to shatter.
When someone like Simon comes to public awareness he embodies the shadow side, whilst also appealing to the ideal - hence the title of the show. Like the 'perfect' celebrity who shocks us with their anorexia or drugs battle, revealing a hitherto unguessed fallibility, unconsciously Simon Cowell represents the shadow of the collective psyche and has forced us to look at the side that we would rather deny exists. This is perfectly expressed through Neptune sextile to his Venus/Pluto conjunction and is reiterated by his Moon (midday) being close to the Galactic Centre. Simon's birthtime is not publicly available but, as I have noted before, people who are born with a personal planet close to the Galactic Centre at 26 Sag, often seem to come to worldwide prominence.
Simon Philip Cowell was born on 7 October 1959 in Brighton, England. It is commonly believed that Libra is the sign of diplomacy with a penchant for sitting on the fence. However many in the legal profession, and those who act as Judges in any connotation, are often born under the sign. Librans may have to weigh up decisions about themselves but, when it comes to dealing with other people, they get to the point quickly and succinctly (Aries rules 7th).
Mars in aspect to Simon's Mercury increases the ability to be 'cutting.' Additionally with Saturn (the planet of authority) and Jupiter (the planet of Judges) in their own signs, he is confident of his 'rulings'. This Mars in sextile aspect to Uranus (and the Moon at midday) speaks of his delight in shocking the public and generally stirring things up a little. Sextiles always point to communication or travel issues and the same planets incline him to be to-and-froing in his 'flash' cars, or private jets.
For someone who makes a living out of handling images it is hardly surprising that Simon Cowell should manage his own extremely skillfully. For all his apparent arrogance though, rest assured that this is someone who is his own worst critic, who sets impossibly high standards for himself and can even be shy.
The Moon in close proximity to his natal Saturn reveals that his emotional control is as strictly controlled as his public image; but what you see is not necessarily what you get. Although he openly flirts with Paula Abdul, assiduously cultivates an image of being a ladies man and is seen to be in a relationship with Terri Seymour, rumors persist about Mr Cowell's sexual persuasion. Astrological correspondences simply cannot denote whether someone is gay for that's a matter of personal choice. What is revealed with this birthchart is that with Mars conjunct the Sun in Libra, sextile from experimental Uranus, this person is likely to be charismatic -- to members of both sexes. Combine this with Venus conjunct Pluto and, well, let's just say, I'm sure Simon Cowell has great success in the 'lurve' department but probably ensures his lover hangs up his/her clothes and signs the Official Secrets Act before any encounter. With Mars in the sign of Venus, which is itself in the sign of Mercury, this tells us he probably prefers his lovers to be slightly androgynous looking, youthful, and clean! He'll be particularly attracted to exotic looking women (Moon Sag).
Here's a man who is literally idolised because he embodies the societal dream for fame and riches. However before those who aren't desirous of 'fools gold' rush to pledge their distaste for the Man, let me just conclude by saying that without Simon Cowell in this world, a large proportion of the population would still equate candor with social and business suicide.
Cowell has shown there is another way. If only politicians could see that truth is a bitter but necessary pill, and doesn't preclude adoration, then he will have done us all a great service and moved us a step closer towards a more honest society. In this respect he truly has become a powerful truth idol of our times!
Kathryn Cassidy writes on a variety of topics on her blogs A longer version of this article can be viewed at collaboratingwithfate.blogspot.com along with many more astrological articles. Topics of a more esoteric nature can be viewed at cosmiccipher.blogspot.com
Infact, it seems that Simon was born with a form of Tourettes Syndrome. Every time he's called to judge someone, he hears them sing and exhibits an uncontrollable urge to say what millions are thinking -- but few would dare utter out loud. His no-holds barred approach resonates strongly in the psyche of the 'authenticity challenged' millions worldwide who are saying, "Hey, it's great to see you" or "Have a nice day", whilst really wanting to tell the person to take a hike.
This is Simon's fascination; his ability to eschew any facade and still be accepted by the social elite. In his uniform of tight black tee shirts, he is like a modern day comic book hero. Superman may have his costume of indestructibility but Simon has his cloak of opinion, and uses it to great effect.
Looking to his birth chart it's easy to locate the letter that Simon Cowell should wear on his body; P for Pluto or Power. This is the secret of his success. Venus, ruler of his Sun is in close conjunction with Pluto, in the picky, detail oriented sign of Virgo. The Venus/Pluto conjunction is perfect symbolism for his ability to take singers (Venus) and transform (Pluto) their life and fortunes.
From a wider standpoint though, as viewers we are not responding to Simon, per se, but to the energies of Neptune (plastic, imagery, illusion, music) in Aquarius (the collective). Throughout the 1990's and early 2000's we were all subjected to an incessant barrage of images on celluloid, or via broadcast and print media, about how perfect and harmonious our lives and interactions with one another should be. Unfortunately, the majority of us were merging into that ideal of perfection, rather than living authentically and being who we are. Now though, the illusion is slowly beginning to shatter.
When someone like Simon comes to public awareness he embodies the shadow side, whilst also appealing to the ideal - hence the title of the show. Like the 'perfect' celebrity who shocks us with their anorexia or drugs battle, revealing a hitherto unguessed fallibility, unconsciously Simon Cowell represents the shadow of the collective psyche and has forced us to look at the side that we would rather deny exists. This is perfectly expressed through Neptune sextile to his Venus/Pluto conjunction and is reiterated by his Moon (midday) being close to the Galactic Centre. Simon's birthtime is not publicly available but, as I have noted before, people who are born with a personal planet close to the Galactic Centre at 26 Sag, often seem to come to worldwide prominence.
Simon Philip Cowell was born on 7 October 1959 in Brighton, England. It is commonly believed that Libra is the sign of diplomacy with a penchant for sitting on the fence. However many in the legal profession, and those who act as Judges in any connotation, are often born under the sign. Librans may have to weigh up decisions about themselves but, when it comes to dealing with other people, they get to the point quickly and succinctly (Aries rules 7th).
Mars in aspect to Simon's Mercury increases the ability to be 'cutting.' Additionally with Saturn (the planet of authority) and Jupiter (the planet of Judges) in their own signs, he is confident of his 'rulings'. This Mars in sextile aspect to Uranus (and the Moon at midday) speaks of his delight in shocking the public and generally stirring things up a little. Sextiles always point to communication or travel issues and the same planets incline him to be to-and-froing in his 'flash' cars, or private jets.
For someone who makes a living out of handling images it is hardly surprising that Simon Cowell should manage his own extremely skillfully. For all his apparent arrogance though, rest assured that this is someone who is his own worst critic, who sets impossibly high standards for himself and can even be shy.
The Moon in close proximity to his natal Saturn reveals that his emotional control is as strictly controlled as his public image; but what you see is not necessarily what you get. Although he openly flirts with Paula Abdul, assiduously cultivates an image of being a ladies man and is seen to be in a relationship with Terri Seymour, rumors persist about Mr Cowell's sexual persuasion. Astrological correspondences simply cannot denote whether someone is gay for that's a matter of personal choice. What is revealed with this birthchart is that with Mars conjunct the Sun in Libra, sextile from experimental Uranus, this person is likely to be charismatic -- to members of both sexes. Combine this with Venus conjunct Pluto and, well, let's just say, I'm sure Simon Cowell has great success in the 'lurve' department but probably ensures his lover hangs up his/her clothes and signs the Official Secrets Act before any encounter. With Mars in the sign of Venus, which is itself in the sign of Mercury, this tells us he probably prefers his lovers to be slightly androgynous looking, youthful, and clean! He'll be particularly attracted to exotic looking women (Moon Sag).
Here's a man who is literally idolised because he embodies the societal dream for fame and riches. However before those who aren't desirous of 'fools gold' rush to pledge their distaste for the Man, let me just conclude by saying that without Simon Cowell in this world, a large proportion of the population would still equate candor with social and business suicide.
Cowell has shown there is another way. If only politicians could see that truth is a bitter but necessary pill, and doesn't preclude adoration, then he will have done us all a great service and moved us a step closer towards a more honest society. In this respect he truly has become a powerful truth idol of our times!
Kathryn Cassidy writes on a variety of topics on her blogs A longer version of this article can be viewed at collaboratingwithfate.blogspot.com along with many more astrological articles. Topics of a more esoteric nature can be viewed at cosmiccipher.blogspot.com
Hollywood Still the Center of the Entertainment World
New York may be the center of the theatre and financial world, but now and then we're reminded that Los Angeles is the center of the entertainment universe. Events throughout the year remind us that the stars of television and motion pictures revolve around Hollywood, most prominently with shows like American Idol and 24 finishing their seasons in Los Angeles. Yes, 24 took place in Washington D.C., but the cast celebrated the show finale a week early on the west coast, as described below.
The attention to Hollywood starts in a subtle way on New year's Day with the Rose Parade. Floats showing themes from movies, TV shows and popular culture make up a substantial percentage of the parade, cruising up a Southern California boulevard on what is usually a beautiful clear morning. The preparation leading up to this American tradition is immense, with huge grandstands being set up in mid-December. A rose-colored paint stripe runs down the center of Colorado Boulevard marking the parade path. The float drivers, tucked way inside their colorful vehicles with no windows looking forward, can mainly look down to see the stripe. Outside spotters with radios help them know about stopping, starting, faster, slower, etc.
Then there's the buzz around the Academy Awards in March. This continues for weeks in the media. In the days leading up the the awards show the streets around the Kodak Theatre in the heart of Hollywood are closed down. Viewing stands are erected, canopies raised and, finally the red carpet is rolled out.
By the time the statues have been given out, American Idol is well along towards its finale in Mid May. The semi-final shows are televised from the CBS TV studios in town, even though it is a Fox network show. Although the competition starts in cities throughout America and Puerto Rico, things heat up when the qualifiers head to California for Hollywood Week. Then for the next couple of months Ryan Seacrest, the judges and the Idol contestants are Live From Hollywood!
Sprinkled throughout the year are various movie premiers that focus the world on Los Angeles. Sometimes it's a television show. With the season finale of Fox TVs 24 upon us, Jack Bauer and the rest of the team were celebrated at a premier in West Los Angeles recently. The occasion was an advance showing of the final 2-hours of the 24 season; this was almost a full week before the rest of the world finds out what happens with Tony, President Taylor, Jack and Chloe.
This writer was able to score tickets to this event, which included a big-screen showing of the two episodes, followed by most of the primary cast joining each other onstage for discussions and a time for Questions and Answers. Beforehand there was the usual media action, with dozens of photographers checking out the stars.
During the discussion time afterwards, Guest Star John Voigt (blown up in a car bomb unfortunately) said that he watched the whole thing at the back of the theatre. He said he thoroughly enjoyed how the crowd was so immersed in the plot, and knew the little nuances of facial expressions by chloe and others. We were told that the cast really treats each other like a family, even when Tony and Jack are beating the tar out of each other. There were cast members from this and previous seasons in the VIP portion of the audience. We do know that it is no surprise that Jack Bauer survives for another season.
It won't be long before there will be another movie or TV premier in Hollywood. It may be superficial, but it is certainly a big part of our culture.
Michael is a Southern California native and writes regularly on a variety of topics, most recently on various travel opportunities in SoCal. Visit the SoCal Guru's Hollywood tips and To see a photo of the rose-colored paint stripe along Colorado Boulevard in Pasadena. The site offers insight and tips for your best Southern California vacation
The attention to Hollywood starts in a subtle way on New year's Day with the Rose Parade. Floats showing themes from movies, TV shows and popular culture make up a substantial percentage of the parade, cruising up a Southern California boulevard on what is usually a beautiful clear morning. The preparation leading up to this American tradition is immense, with huge grandstands being set up in mid-December. A rose-colored paint stripe runs down the center of Colorado Boulevard marking the parade path. The float drivers, tucked way inside their colorful vehicles with no windows looking forward, can mainly look down to see the stripe. Outside spotters with radios help them know about stopping, starting, faster, slower, etc.
Then there's the buzz around the Academy Awards in March. This continues for weeks in the media. In the days leading up the the awards show the streets around the Kodak Theatre in the heart of Hollywood are closed down. Viewing stands are erected, canopies raised and, finally the red carpet is rolled out.
By the time the statues have been given out, American Idol is well along towards its finale in Mid May. The semi-final shows are televised from the CBS TV studios in town, even though it is a Fox network show. Although the competition starts in cities throughout America and Puerto Rico, things heat up when the qualifiers head to California for Hollywood Week. Then for the next couple of months Ryan Seacrest, the judges and the Idol contestants are Live From Hollywood!
Sprinkled throughout the year are various movie premiers that focus the world on Los Angeles. Sometimes it's a television show. With the season finale of Fox TVs 24 upon us, Jack Bauer and the rest of the team were celebrated at a premier in West Los Angeles recently. The occasion was an advance showing of the final 2-hours of the 24 season; this was almost a full week before the rest of the world finds out what happens with Tony, President Taylor, Jack and Chloe.
This writer was able to score tickets to this event, which included a big-screen showing of the two episodes, followed by most of the primary cast joining each other onstage for discussions and a time for Questions and Answers. Beforehand there was the usual media action, with dozens of photographers checking out the stars.
During the discussion time afterwards, Guest Star John Voigt (blown up in a car bomb unfortunately) said that he watched the whole thing at the back of the theatre. He said he thoroughly enjoyed how the crowd was so immersed in the plot, and knew the little nuances of facial expressions by chloe and others. We were told that the cast really treats each other like a family, even when Tony and Jack are beating the tar out of each other. There were cast members from this and previous seasons in the VIP portion of the audience. We do know that it is no surprise that Jack Bauer survives for another season.
It won't be long before there will be another movie or TV premier in Hollywood. It may be superficial, but it is certainly a big part of our culture.
Michael is a Southern California native and writes regularly on a variety of topics, most recently on various travel opportunities in SoCal. Visit the SoCal Guru's Hollywood tips and To see a photo of the rose-colored paint stripe along Colorado Boulevard in Pasadena. The site offers insight and tips for your best Southern California vacation
David Archuleta Biography
The David Archuleta Biography begins on December 28, 1990 when he was born in Miami Florida. His mother, Lupe Marie, was a salsa singer and dancer from Honduras. When he was six, his family moved to Sandy, Utah which is near Salt Lake City.
Soon after that, he got into music after watching the Les Miserables video. He got was first noticed when he was 10 when he won the Utah Talent Competition's Children's Division with his rendition of Dolly Parton's "I Will Always Love You."
One year later, he made his television debut on the Jenny Jones show. The segment was on future Latino stars.
When he was 12, he was the Junior Vocal Champion on the Star Search 2 series.
Shortly after that, he was diagnosed with partial Vocal Paralysis. He decided not to risk surgery and now says he is fully recovered, but for several years, he limited his singing performances.
He was inspired by the first season of American Idol and was especially taken by the performances of Tamyra Gray and eventual winner Kelly Clarkson.
He was also inspired by his mother who frequently performed Salsa music alongside his four sisters. He has said that music from Latin America has been a big influence in his life.
But there have been a number of popular American musicians who have influenced him as well including Natalie Cole, Stevie Wonder, and Bryan Adams. Archuleta says he tries to infuse pop music with a soulful vibe.
Archuleta was selected to compete on American Idol when he was just 17. Because he was a minor, his parents had to be with him. He also had to attend school during the competition.
Like season 2 contestant Clay Aiken, Archuleta did not let a second place outcome keep him from making great music deals after American Idol was over. He signed with Jive Records and released the self titled David Archuleta record on November 11, 2008 which has already sold 1.5 million digital copies.
And that is the David Archuleta biography - one that has a whole lot more writing to do as this young musician's career progresses.
If you want to download "Crush," "A Little Not Too Over You," or any of the other great songs from the David Archuleta album FREE and LEGAL, go to http://www.freemp3now.info
Soon after that, he got into music after watching the Les Miserables video. He got was first noticed when he was 10 when he won the Utah Talent Competition's Children's Division with his rendition of Dolly Parton's "I Will Always Love You."
One year later, he made his television debut on the Jenny Jones show. The segment was on future Latino stars.
When he was 12, he was the Junior Vocal Champion on the Star Search 2 series.
Shortly after that, he was diagnosed with partial Vocal Paralysis. He decided not to risk surgery and now says he is fully recovered, but for several years, he limited his singing performances.
He was inspired by the first season of American Idol and was especially taken by the performances of Tamyra Gray and eventual winner Kelly Clarkson.
He was also inspired by his mother who frequently performed Salsa music alongside his four sisters. He has said that music from Latin America has been a big influence in his life.
But there have been a number of popular American musicians who have influenced him as well including Natalie Cole, Stevie Wonder, and Bryan Adams. Archuleta says he tries to infuse pop music with a soulful vibe.
Archuleta was selected to compete on American Idol when he was just 17. Because he was a minor, his parents had to be with him. He also had to attend school during the competition.
Like season 2 contestant Clay Aiken, Archuleta did not let a second place outcome keep him from making great music deals after American Idol was over. He signed with Jive Records and released the self titled David Archuleta record on November 11, 2008 which has already sold 1.5 million digital copies.
And that is the David Archuleta biography - one that has a whole lot more writing to do as this young musician's career progresses.
If you want to download "Crush," "A Little Not Too Over You," or any of the other great songs from the David Archuleta album FREE and LEGAL, go to http://www.freemp3now.info
Primetime 2007 - Fox's Lineup
K-Ville – Set in New Orleans two years after hurricane Katrina, K-Ville is produced by Jonathan Lisco, and focuses on the valiant police who stood at their posts during and after hurricane. Doing their best to maintain order amid the chaos that still reigns. K-Ville stars Anthony Anderson, Cole Hauser, Maximiliano Hernández, Blake Shields, Tawney Cypress and John Carroll Lynch.
Anchorwoman – This is a new twist – an old concept, failing TV station brings in stunner new anchorwoman to boost ratings. The interesting twist is the stars don’t play other people - they play themselves. No false names, this is them. Starring Lauren Jones, Phil Hurley, Annalisa Petraglia, Dan Delgado, Michelle Reese.
Back To You – Kelsey Grammer and Patricia Heaton are together in a new comedy from Fox and Stephen Levitan. In the 90’s Chuck Darling and Kelly Carr made Pittsburgh local TV their domain. But, things change, Chuck moved on to fail at his next career move when Youtube posted a video of an off-air tirade. Now he’s back, and if he can get over the rivalries with Kelly, maybe they can recreate the magic of the 90’s and bring their station back to the top.
Canterbury’s Law – Take a rebellious attorney determined to take on the system and change it for the better. Put her together with her Law Scholar husband, and assemble a team of rebels and cast-offs who have everything to offer the right leader, and you have Canterbury’s Law. A new take on courtroom drama where the legal system is about to get rewritten, because when it comes to Law, Canterbury makes it, or breaks it. Starring Julianna Margulies as Elizabeth Canterbury, as well as Linus Roache, Ben Shenkman, , Trieste Dunn, and Jocko Sims.
Gordon Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares – After Hell’s Kitchen Ramsay will return with an American version of the successful British series. Give Gordon a week and a failing restaurant, and he’ll turn it around, no excuses. We all know the temper of one of the world’s top chefs. Now see him in unscripted action as he turns a failing restaurant into a four or five star phenomenon in a week.
Nashville – A new documentary-style soap opera set in Nashville. Where dreams are sung and failures stand out louder than success. Behind very song there is a story, and Nashville will show many of those stories.
New Amsterdam - Set in modern-Day New York, this series focuses on a man made immortal by Native American magic back in 1642. Now he and the city are one, he feels it's pain and can solve crimes committed within it's borders like no other. He is John Amsterdam. Starring Nikolaj Coster Waldau(Kingdom of Heaven) as John Amsterdam, Zuleikha Robinson(Rome) as Eva Marquez, Alexie Gilmore(Find Love) as Dr. Sara Dillane, and Stephen Henderson(Law and Order: SVU) as Omar
The Sarah Connor Chronicles - With the end of T2 - we were left with Sarah and John on the run from society. Knowing that Skynet would not stop, and having to find their own way in a vastly more complicated world than when this all began. This series explains the events that occurred between T2 and T3 - and in some ways reinvents the franchise in a new and dynamic direction. Starring Lena Headly as Sarah Conner and Thomas Dekker as John, the cast is rounded out by Richard T Jones as an FBI agent who is converted to their cause, and Summer Glau as a student at John's school who is not at all what she seems.
The Search for The Next Great American Band - American Idol for groups has finally come to Primetime TV. A reality competition that will whittle down to 10 finalists who will then compete for votes until here is only 1 left who will get a major recording deal and the chance to become a musical superstar. Any band will do, can you make the cut?
The Rules For Starting Over - What do you do when your marriage ends, you try again. This comedy features Craig Bierko(Boston Legal) as Gator, Rashida Jones(The Office) as Kate, Johnny Sneed(The Guardian) as Tommy and Shaun Majumder(Harold and Kumar go to White Castle) as Freddy
When Women Rule The world – A new reality TV show that puts a group of alpha men into a subservient role to a group of women. Week after week one man will be eliminated until only one man remains, the one who can best allow himself to be led by the women. Can a group of women work together to ensure they can lead effectively?
Fox Fall and Spring Schedules
MONDAY
8:00-9:00 PM PRISON BREAK
9:00-10:00 PM K-VILLE
TUESDAY
8:00-9:00 PM NEW AMSTERDAM
9:00-10:00 PM HOUSE
WEDNESDAY
8:00-8:30 PM BACK TO YOU
8:30-9:00 PM 'TIL DEATH
9:00-10:00 PM BONES
THURSDAY
8:00-9:00 PM ARE YOU SMARTER THAN A 5th GRADER?
9:00-10:00 PM KITCHEN NIGHTMARES
FRIDAY
8:00-9:00 PM THE SEARCH FOR THE NEXT GREAT AMERICAN BAND (working title)
9:00-10:00 PM NASHVILLE (working title)
SATURDAY
8:00-8:30 PM COPS
8:30-9:00 PM COPS
9:00-10:00 PM AMERICA'S MOST WANTED: AMERICA FIGHTS BACK
SUNDAY
7:00-8:00 PM THE OT (NFL post-game)
8:00-8:30 PM THE SIMPSONS
8:30-9:00 PM KING OF THE HILL
9:00-9:30 PM FAMILY GUY
9:30-10:00 PM AMERICAN DAD
Fox Spring 2008 Schedule
MONDAY
8:00-9:00 PM K-VILLE (January)/PRISON BREAK (Spring)
9:00-10:00 PM 24
TUESDAY
8:00-9:00 PM AMERICAN IDOL
9:00-10:00 PM HOUSE
WEDNESDAY (January)
8:00-8:30 PM BACK TO YOU
8:30-9:00 PM 'TIL DEATH
9:00-10:00 PM AMERICAN IDOL
WEDNESDAY (Spring)
8:00-8:30 PM BACK TO YOU
8:30-9:00 PM THE RETURN OF JEZEBEL JAMES (working title)
9:00-9:30 PM AMERICAN IDOL Results Show
9:30-10:00 PM 'TIL DEATH
THURSDAY
8:00-9:00 PM ARE YOU SMARTER THAN A 5th GRADER?
9:00-10:00 PM CANTERBURY'S LAW
FRIDAY (Spring)
8:00-9:00 PM BONES
9:00-10:00 PM NEW AMSTERDAM
SATURDAY
8:00-8:30 PM COPS
8:30-9:00 PM COPS
9:00-10:00 PM AMERICA'S MOST WANTED: AMERICA FIGHTS BACK
SUNDAY (Spring)
7:00-7:30 PM KING OF THE HILL
7:30-8:00 PM AMERICAN DAD
8:00-8:30 PM THE SIMPSONS
8:30-9:00 PM FAMILY GUY
9:00-10:00 PM THE SARAH CONNOR CHRONICLES
Tim Morrison is the designer of TV Stocks Online, the world's first fully developed television stock market simulator totally functional with live data from Nielson figures and user interactions. Join the growing fantasy market, share your opinions on current TV and see if you can pick the winners and losers out of the current Primetime television lineups.
Anchorwoman – This is a new twist – an old concept, failing TV station brings in stunner new anchorwoman to boost ratings. The interesting twist is the stars don’t play other people - they play themselves. No false names, this is them. Starring Lauren Jones, Phil Hurley, Annalisa Petraglia, Dan Delgado, Michelle Reese.
Back To You – Kelsey Grammer and Patricia Heaton are together in a new comedy from Fox and Stephen Levitan. In the 90’s Chuck Darling and Kelly Carr made Pittsburgh local TV their domain. But, things change, Chuck moved on to fail at his next career move when Youtube posted a video of an off-air tirade. Now he’s back, and if he can get over the rivalries with Kelly, maybe they can recreate the magic of the 90’s and bring their station back to the top.
Canterbury’s Law – Take a rebellious attorney determined to take on the system and change it for the better. Put her together with her Law Scholar husband, and assemble a team of rebels and cast-offs who have everything to offer the right leader, and you have Canterbury’s Law. A new take on courtroom drama where the legal system is about to get rewritten, because when it comes to Law, Canterbury makes it, or breaks it. Starring Julianna Margulies as Elizabeth Canterbury, as well as Linus Roache, Ben Shenkman, , Trieste Dunn, and Jocko Sims.
Gordon Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares – After Hell’s Kitchen Ramsay will return with an American version of the successful British series. Give Gordon a week and a failing restaurant, and he’ll turn it around, no excuses. We all know the temper of one of the world’s top chefs. Now see him in unscripted action as he turns a failing restaurant into a four or five star phenomenon in a week.
Nashville – A new documentary-style soap opera set in Nashville. Where dreams are sung and failures stand out louder than success. Behind very song there is a story, and Nashville will show many of those stories.
New Amsterdam - Set in modern-Day New York, this series focuses on a man made immortal by Native American magic back in 1642. Now he and the city are one, he feels it's pain and can solve crimes committed within it's borders like no other. He is John Amsterdam. Starring Nikolaj Coster Waldau(Kingdom of Heaven) as John Amsterdam, Zuleikha Robinson(Rome) as Eva Marquez, Alexie Gilmore(Find Love) as Dr. Sara Dillane, and Stephen Henderson(Law and Order: SVU) as Omar
The Sarah Connor Chronicles - With the end of T2 - we were left with Sarah and John on the run from society. Knowing that Skynet would not stop, and having to find their own way in a vastly more complicated world than when this all began. This series explains the events that occurred between T2 and T3 - and in some ways reinvents the franchise in a new and dynamic direction. Starring Lena Headly as Sarah Conner and Thomas Dekker as John, the cast is rounded out by Richard T Jones as an FBI agent who is converted to their cause, and Summer Glau as a student at John's school who is not at all what she seems.
The Search for The Next Great American Band - American Idol for groups has finally come to Primetime TV. A reality competition that will whittle down to 10 finalists who will then compete for votes until here is only 1 left who will get a major recording deal and the chance to become a musical superstar. Any band will do, can you make the cut?
The Rules For Starting Over - What do you do when your marriage ends, you try again. This comedy features Craig Bierko(Boston Legal) as Gator, Rashida Jones(The Office) as Kate, Johnny Sneed(The Guardian) as Tommy and Shaun Majumder(Harold and Kumar go to White Castle) as Freddy
When Women Rule The world – A new reality TV show that puts a group of alpha men into a subservient role to a group of women. Week after week one man will be eliminated until only one man remains, the one who can best allow himself to be led by the women. Can a group of women work together to ensure they can lead effectively?
Fox Fall and Spring Schedules
MONDAY
8:00-9:00 PM PRISON BREAK
9:00-10:00 PM K-VILLE
TUESDAY
8:00-9:00 PM NEW AMSTERDAM
9:00-10:00 PM HOUSE
WEDNESDAY
8:00-8:30 PM BACK TO YOU
8:30-9:00 PM 'TIL DEATH
9:00-10:00 PM BONES
THURSDAY
8:00-9:00 PM ARE YOU SMARTER THAN A 5th GRADER?
9:00-10:00 PM KITCHEN NIGHTMARES
FRIDAY
8:00-9:00 PM THE SEARCH FOR THE NEXT GREAT AMERICAN BAND (working title)
9:00-10:00 PM NASHVILLE (working title)
SATURDAY
8:00-8:30 PM COPS
8:30-9:00 PM COPS
9:00-10:00 PM AMERICA'S MOST WANTED: AMERICA FIGHTS BACK
SUNDAY
7:00-8:00 PM THE OT (NFL post-game)
8:00-8:30 PM THE SIMPSONS
8:30-9:00 PM KING OF THE HILL
9:00-9:30 PM FAMILY GUY
9:30-10:00 PM AMERICAN DAD
Fox Spring 2008 Schedule
MONDAY
8:00-9:00 PM K-VILLE (January)/PRISON BREAK (Spring)
9:00-10:00 PM 24
TUESDAY
8:00-9:00 PM AMERICAN IDOL
9:00-10:00 PM HOUSE
WEDNESDAY (January)
8:00-8:30 PM BACK TO YOU
8:30-9:00 PM 'TIL DEATH
9:00-10:00 PM AMERICAN IDOL
WEDNESDAY (Spring)
8:00-8:30 PM BACK TO YOU
8:30-9:00 PM THE RETURN OF JEZEBEL JAMES (working title)
9:00-9:30 PM AMERICAN IDOL Results Show
9:30-10:00 PM 'TIL DEATH
THURSDAY
8:00-9:00 PM ARE YOU SMARTER THAN A 5th GRADER?
9:00-10:00 PM CANTERBURY'S LAW
FRIDAY (Spring)
8:00-9:00 PM BONES
9:00-10:00 PM NEW AMSTERDAM
SATURDAY
8:00-8:30 PM COPS
8:30-9:00 PM COPS
9:00-10:00 PM AMERICA'S MOST WANTED: AMERICA FIGHTS BACK
SUNDAY (Spring)
7:00-7:30 PM KING OF THE HILL
7:30-8:00 PM AMERICAN DAD
8:00-8:30 PM THE SIMPSONS
8:30-9:00 PM FAMILY GUY
9:00-10:00 PM THE SARAH CONNOR CHRONICLES
Tim Morrison is the designer of TV Stocks Online, the world's first fully developed television stock market simulator totally functional with live data from Nielson figures and user interactions. Join the growing fantasy market, share your opinions on current TV and see if you can pick the winners and losers out of the current Primetime television lineups.
How To Become An Overnight Success
Taylor Hicks, Evelyn Adams, William "Bud" Post, Eldrick Woods, Suzanne Mullins, and Joanne “Jo” Rowling all have something in common. For at least one time in each of their lives, they were an overnight success.
Many Americans, at least, will recognize Taylor Hicks as a 2006 winner of the popular TV show, "American Idol". British subjects have cause to be proud of Joanne "Jo" Rowling who is more easily recognized by her pen name, J. K. Rowling. Those who still don't recognize her have almost certainly heard of the boy wizard she created who goes by the simple name of Harry Potter. Harry's a bit of an overnight success himself, and he has taken J. K. Rowling along on a magical ride. Who's Eldrick Woods? Oh, if I had just said Tiger Woods, you would have picked up on it right away, and where's the fun in that?
Who are Evelyn Adams, William Post, and Suzanne Mullins? We'll get to that in a moment.
There are essentially two ways to become an overnight success. Taylor Hicks, J. K. Rowling, and Tiger Woods exemplify the first way.
Taylor Hicks became an overnight success in the middle of 2006 when he won top spot on the "American Idol" TV show. That much many "American Idol" fans and music buffs around the world now know. What many don't know, or even think about, is that Taylor Hicks spent a decade as an independent artist before his overnight success. Had you been at the Playboy Mansion, the Talledega Motor Speedway, or in Auburn, Alabama on the right night, you might have gotten to hear him perform. Over the years, he did get to perform with such legendary names as James Brown, Tom Petty, and Jackson Browne. However, up until the night he won the "American Idol" competition, HIS name was not exactly a household item.
Joanne Rowling was turned down by Oxford College in her younger days and worked variously as a researcher and secretary and also in Portugal as a teacher of English. In the early 90's, she got the initial idea for the young wizard who eventually became Harry Potter, and began writing. She completed her first novel while she was unemployed. She was living at the time on what we in America would call "welfare". When she first tried to market "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone", a close friend, who was on her side, advised her to "get a day job" because he didn't feel she had a chance to make much money in children's books. The first printing run was one-thousand books and half of those were sent to libraries. Today, those first one-thousand books are each one a collector's item in itself. While this ex-secretary and English teacher must surely be pleased by the fantastic income she has made from the Harry Potter books and movies, she is possibly even more pleased by the fact that in 2006, in a poll by "The Book Magazine", J. K. Rowling was selected as "the greatest living British writer."
Okay, so how did Tiger Woods get in a list of overnight successes?
Well, you may have seen a small trend in the mini-biographies of Taylor Hicks and J. K. Rowling. Although they fit into the category, even a cursory scanning of their lives shows they paid their dues for some time before success found them. In fact, the overnight success they experienced came about after years of disappointment, standing on the bottom rung of the ladder, and in some cases, not even being near the ladder.
Tiger Woods has been called by some a "golfing prodigy", and that is not an unrealistic assessment. However, even a Tiger Woods does not get to where he is today by strapping on a set of cleats and wandering out onto a golf course with a nine iron and a dream. He learns, practices, fails, assesses, moves forward, falls down, gets up, and starts all over again.
In other words, an overnight success very seldom happens overnight. The success comes after a lot of effort on the part of the successful person.
After a memorable performance, a great pianist was approached by one of the audience. The fan spoke glowingly about the performance and finished with the remark that she wished that she could play as well. Perhaps with more truth than tact, the pianist replied to the effect that she was wrong. She could NOT genuinely wish to play as well as he. Otherwise, she would practice for hours a day year after year as he did, rather than simply "wishing" she could play as well.
Overnight success is so named from its apparently sudden appearance on one's doorstep. However, success is not too good at finding people unless they have built a pathway for it to follow, and perhaps lit a beacon as well.
I mentioned that there are essentially two ways to become an overnight success, and I have concentrated on the first group for a reason. If you wish to join that group, YOU are the one in control of the situation. If you seriously want to be in the first group, you now have an idea of what you might need to do.
So, who are Evelyn Adams, William "Bud" Post, and Suzanne Mullins? They too were overnight successes. They each won a lottery.
Evelyn Adams actually was an overnight success twice. She won the New Jersey lottery in 1985 and 1986. She won a total of 5.4 million dollars. She lost it all, donating part of it to some needy Atlantic City slot machines. "Bud" Post won 16.2 million dollars in Pennsylvania but eventually wound up living on his social security. Suzanne Mullins won 4.2 million dollars in 1993. She lost all of it and went even deeper in debt through poor decisions on its use.
There's another term sometimes used for an overnight success. That term is "flash in the pan". Many people who are seeking what they see as success will often wind up as just a flash in the pan at best unless they are willing to get out the necessary tools and prepare the pathway so that success can find them.
Tiger Woods, J. K. Rowling, and Taylor Hicks were willing to build the pathway and keep it cleared. Their names will be familiar for years to come, and they can always claim the victor's laurel wreath for becoming an overnight success.
Donovan Baldwin is a Dallas area writer and a University Of West Florida alumnus (1973) with a BA in accounting and a keen interest in health, self improvement, happiness, and success. He is also a member of Mensa and has held several managerial positions over the years. After retiring from the U. S. Army in 1995, he became interested in internet marketing and developed various online businesses. He has been writing poetry, articles, and essays for over 40 years, and now frequently publishes articles on his own websites and for use by other webmasters. He has a blog on writing and poetry at Ravensong-Poetry.blogspot.com and is the owner of TexasPrepaidCellular.com.
Many Americans, at least, will recognize Taylor Hicks as a 2006 winner of the popular TV show, "American Idol". British subjects have cause to be proud of Joanne "Jo" Rowling who is more easily recognized by her pen name, J. K. Rowling. Those who still don't recognize her have almost certainly heard of the boy wizard she created who goes by the simple name of Harry Potter. Harry's a bit of an overnight success himself, and he has taken J. K. Rowling along on a magical ride. Who's Eldrick Woods? Oh, if I had just said Tiger Woods, you would have picked up on it right away, and where's the fun in that?
Who are Evelyn Adams, William Post, and Suzanne Mullins? We'll get to that in a moment.
There are essentially two ways to become an overnight success. Taylor Hicks, J. K. Rowling, and Tiger Woods exemplify the first way.
Taylor Hicks became an overnight success in the middle of 2006 when he won top spot on the "American Idol" TV show. That much many "American Idol" fans and music buffs around the world now know. What many don't know, or even think about, is that Taylor Hicks spent a decade as an independent artist before his overnight success. Had you been at the Playboy Mansion, the Talledega Motor Speedway, or in Auburn, Alabama on the right night, you might have gotten to hear him perform. Over the years, he did get to perform with such legendary names as James Brown, Tom Petty, and Jackson Browne. However, up until the night he won the "American Idol" competition, HIS name was not exactly a household item.
Joanne Rowling was turned down by Oxford College in her younger days and worked variously as a researcher and secretary and also in Portugal as a teacher of English. In the early 90's, she got the initial idea for the young wizard who eventually became Harry Potter, and began writing. She completed her first novel while she was unemployed. She was living at the time on what we in America would call "welfare". When she first tried to market "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone", a close friend, who was on her side, advised her to "get a day job" because he didn't feel she had a chance to make much money in children's books. The first printing run was one-thousand books and half of those were sent to libraries. Today, those first one-thousand books are each one a collector's item in itself. While this ex-secretary and English teacher must surely be pleased by the fantastic income she has made from the Harry Potter books and movies, she is possibly even more pleased by the fact that in 2006, in a poll by "The Book Magazine", J. K. Rowling was selected as "the greatest living British writer."
Okay, so how did Tiger Woods get in a list of overnight successes?
Well, you may have seen a small trend in the mini-biographies of Taylor Hicks and J. K. Rowling. Although they fit into the category, even a cursory scanning of their lives shows they paid their dues for some time before success found them. In fact, the overnight success they experienced came about after years of disappointment, standing on the bottom rung of the ladder, and in some cases, not even being near the ladder.
Tiger Woods has been called by some a "golfing prodigy", and that is not an unrealistic assessment. However, even a Tiger Woods does not get to where he is today by strapping on a set of cleats and wandering out onto a golf course with a nine iron and a dream. He learns, practices, fails, assesses, moves forward, falls down, gets up, and starts all over again.
In other words, an overnight success very seldom happens overnight. The success comes after a lot of effort on the part of the successful person.
After a memorable performance, a great pianist was approached by one of the audience. The fan spoke glowingly about the performance and finished with the remark that she wished that she could play as well. Perhaps with more truth than tact, the pianist replied to the effect that she was wrong. She could NOT genuinely wish to play as well as he. Otherwise, she would practice for hours a day year after year as he did, rather than simply "wishing" she could play as well.
Overnight success is so named from its apparently sudden appearance on one's doorstep. However, success is not too good at finding people unless they have built a pathway for it to follow, and perhaps lit a beacon as well.
I mentioned that there are essentially two ways to become an overnight success, and I have concentrated on the first group for a reason. If you wish to join that group, YOU are the one in control of the situation. If you seriously want to be in the first group, you now have an idea of what you might need to do.
So, who are Evelyn Adams, William "Bud" Post, and Suzanne Mullins? They too were overnight successes. They each won a lottery.
Evelyn Adams actually was an overnight success twice. She won the New Jersey lottery in 1985 and 1986. She won a total of 5.4 million dollars. She lost it all, donating part of it to some needy Atlantic City slot machines. "Bud" Post won 16.2 million dollars in Pennsylvania but eventually wound up living on his social security. Suzanne Mullins won 4.2 million dollars in 1993. She lost all of it and went even deeper in debt through poor decisions on its use.
There's another term sometimes used for an overnight success. That term is "flash in the pan". Many people who are seeking what they see as success will often wind up as just a flash in the pan at best unless they are willing to get out the necessary tools and prepare the pathway so that success can find them.
Tiger Woods, J. K. Rowling, and Taylor Hicks were willing to build the pathway and keep it cleared. Their names will be familiar for years to come, and they can always claim the victor's laurel wreath for becoming an overnight success.
Donovan Baldwin is a Dallas area writer and a University Of West Florida alumnus (1973) with a BA in accounting and a keen interest in health, self improvement, happiness, and success. He is also a member of Mensa and has held several managerial positions over the years. After retiring from the U. S. Army in 1995, he became interested in internet marketing and developed various online businesses. He has been writing poetry, articles, and essays for over 40 years, and now frequently publishes articles on his own websites and for use by other webmasters. He has a blog on writing and poetry at Ravensong-Poetry.blogspot.com and is the owner of TexasPrepaidCellular.com.
Auditioning For Canadian Idol Or Any Idol Show? Heed This Advice!
We were watching the second last show of the American Idol 2007 auditions the other night ... you know the ones that make you laugh and cry all at once ... when a talented young musician who's staying with us asked "What's wrong with her voice? Why is she choking or or doing something weird with her throat as if she has something stuck there?"
An award-winning singer/songwriter, who also performs as an impersonator from time to time, had the answer immediately. She said: "You've got to remember a lot of the younger ones have grown up with Britney Spears, Jessica Simpson and that whole bunch. Britney's little "uh", that sound like she makes like she's swallowing her tongue, was part of her trademark. It's what made her stand out from the rest. She needed a gimmick, especially since she really isn't much of a singer. So now, these kids come in and copy that, thinking it's good singing. They just don't know any better!"
Her comments make a ton of sense. If you want to impress these judges, and remember, you might never get in front of the decision makers themselves as there are several rounds of other judges beforehand, then for heaven's sake, don't copy the gimmicky things a major artist uses. For that matter, don't copy a major artist at all!
If you want to sing a Christina Aguilera or Whitney Houston song, first off remember that it's impossible, even for judges, to not immediately compare your delivery to theirs. Big artists like this are probably best avoided unless you truly have the chops to pull it off.
But if you do decide to do something made famous by the famous, then MAKE IT YOUR OWN. Don't sing it just the way they do. If they do a run here, or a scat there, you do something different. If you can't think of what to do, if all you can do is copy them i.e. do a karaoke performance, then don't expect the judges to wax ecstatic over your delivery. The judges are looking for original singers, ones who know who they are and have enough talent to give any song an original spin. After all, if you do win Canadian Idol, American Idol, Australian Idol or whatever Idol you enter, you will be given original songs to perform and there won't be anyone to copy. It'll be up to you and your producers to deliver a song that people haven't heard in a way they want to hear it.
In short, YOU must be able to SELL an original song. A company is going to invest millions in marketing you. We already have a Britney, a Christina, a David Bowie, a Justin Timberlake etc etc. The world doesn't need a carbon copy of these. They've already been done! And the last thing the judges, or those who are going to turn you into the next big thing want is what the world's already seen and heard.
So final word: when you go into your audition, be original or don't audition. And being original is not about dressing up like a fool or gyrating around a pole or lying on the floor. That'll probably get you into the funny pre-lim show, but that's as far as you'll go. If that's all you want, then forget what you've just read. But if you really want a shot at becoming the next "IDOL", then make sure you stand apart from the rest with your original version of whatever you sing. Good luck!
Viga Boland is the webmaster of IDOL DREAMS.
An award-winning singer/songwriter, who also performs as an impersonator from time to time, had the answer immediately. She said: "You've got to remember a lot of the younger ones have grown up with Britney Spears, Jessica Simpson and that whole bunch. Britney's little "uh", that sound like she makes like she's swallowing her tongue, was part of her trademark. It's what made her stand out from the rest. She needed a gimmick, especially since she really isn't much of a singer. So now, these kids come in and copy that, thinking it's good singing. They just don't know any better!"
Her comments make a ton of sense. If you want to impress these judges, and remember, you might never get in front of the decision makers themselves as there are several rounds of other judges beforehand, then for heaven's sake, don't copy the gimmicky things a major artist uses. For that matter, don't copy a major artist at all!
If you want to sing a Christina Aguilera or Whitney Houston song, first off remember that it's impossible, even for judges, to not immediately compare your delivery to theirs. Big artists like this are probably best avoided unless you truly have the chops to pull it off.
But if you do decide to do something made famous by the famous, then MAKE IT YOUR OWN. Don't sing it just the way they do. If they do a run here, or a scat there, you do something different. If you can't think of what to do, if all you can do is copy them i.e. do a karaoke performance, then don't expect the judges to wax ecstatic over your delivery. The judges are looking for original singers, ones who know who they are and have enough talent to give any song an original spin. After all, if you do win Canadian Idol, American Idol, Australian Idol or whatever Idol you enter, you will be given original songs to perform and there won't be anyone to copy. It'll be up to you and your producers to deliver a song that people haven't heard in a way they want to hear it.
In short, YOU must be able to SELL an original song. A company is going to invest millions in marketing you. We already have a Britney, a Christina, a David Bowie, a Justin Timberlake etc etc. The world doesn't need a carbon copy of these. They've already been done! And the last thing the judges, or those who are going to turn you into the next big thing want is what the world's already seen and heard.
So final word: when you go into your audition, be original or don't audition. And being original is not about dressing up like a fool or gyrating around a pole or lying on the floor. That'll probably get you into the funny pre-lim show, but that's as far as you'll go. If that's all you want, then forget what you've just read. But if you really want a shot at becoming the next "IDOL", then make sure you stand apart from the rest with your original version of whatever you sing. Good luck!
Viga Boland is the webmaster of IDOL DREAMS.
Download and Watch American Gangster the Ethical Way
There are plenty of links you can find in order to download and watch American Gangster. The successful movie was uploaded by nearly every website dealing with video streaming and/or video downloading.
"American Gangster" was much anticipated, and the moment it was released, the copy was there online for downloading. In fact, the screener of the movie had appeared on the Internet even before the movie was released! Now, you can find its DVD-rip online without much of a hassle.
However, as you can figure it out, most of the sites, offering you to download and watch American Gangster for free, are simply illegal. They might excuse themselves by claiming they bear no responsibility of what links their users share. Quite often, you can see the disclaimer, saying that the site does not host any of the video materials; therefore, it does not violate copyright laws. But the truth is that there is a lot of copyright infringement going on and these sites choose to ignore it, because they are interested in attracting visitors and getting money from advertisements.
So, do not fool yourself thinking that people just share great free stuff out of generosity. More than 90% of all sites offering free movies, especially the latest ones, are harmful for your computer, installing malware to spy on your Internet surfing habits and even get your private info. Many will also try to make you click on their ads, even if you do not want to.
If you are on a file sharing network, more trouble adds to malware and pop-ups: virus attacks will be unavoidable, so all you have to rely on is your anti-virus program (which is never a 100% guarantee). In fact, it is quite possible to get your PC infected with the very first file you download from another user. So, if you have never tried it, happily keep being away from torrents.
To download and watch "American Gangster" the ethical way is possible, but it will not be free of cost. Sites, selling DVD quality movies legally, charge per movie download or per view. It is quite fair, but might not be affordable for a movie buff, who looks to watch a lot of movies on the Internet. There are ways to save, however, without risking your security and running into a trouble.
Take a minute to read my blog, which discovers the ethical, yet affordable ways to download and watch American Gangster.
Read about the top services for full length movie downloads like American Gangster today
"American Gangster" was much anticipated, and the moment it was released, the copy was there online for downloading. In fact, the screener of the movie had appeared on the Internet even before the movie was released! Now, you can find its DVD-rip online without much of a hassle.
However, as you can figure it out, most of the sites, offering you to download and watch American Gangster for free, are simply illegal. They might excuse themselves by claiming they bear no responsibility of what links their users share. Quite often, you can see the disclaimer, saying that the site does not host any of the video materials; therefore, it does not violate copyright laws. But the truth is that there is a lot of copyright infringement going on and these sites choose to ignore it, because they are interested in attracting visitors and getting money from advertisements.
So, do not fool yourself thinking that people just share great free stuff out of generosity. More than 90% of all sites offering free movies, especially the latest ones, are harmful for your computer, installing malware to spy on your Internet surfing habits and even get your private info. Many will also try to make you click on their ads, even if you do not want to.
If you are on a file sharing network, more trouble adds to malware and pop-ups: virus attacks will be unavoidable, so all you have to rely on is your anti-virus program (which is never a 100% guarantee). In fact, it is quite possible to get your PC infected with the very first file you download from another user. So, if you have never tried it, happily keep being away from torrents.
To download and watch "American Gangster" the ethical way is possible, but it will not be free of cost. Sites, selling DVD quality movies legally, charge per movie download or per view. It is quite fair, but might not be affordable for a movie buff, who looks to watch a lot of movies on the Internet. There are ways to save, however, without risking your security and running into a trouble.
Take a minute to read my blog, which discovers the ethical, yet affordable ways to download and watch American Gangster.
Read about the top services for full length movie downloads like American Gangster today
Steps Required To Becoming A Participant On A Reality TV Game Show
Reality TV shows have taken the world by storm and have become quite popular. You always hear of people having to get their American Idol fix each week or you'll be sitting in the doctor's office hearing general conversation about the latest episode of Survivor. It isn't like they contain any type of artistic wonder to them, but they are, however, cheap for to make and there are always new ways being developed that exposes the lives of people on TV.
The truth is that real life is not boring. It is interesting to see what it is someone is going to do next, especially if they are known for doing things that are considered to not be normal. However, these people get on these shows somehow, which means there are certain criteria that has to be met. Sure, we look at some of them and wonder what kind of criteria a show has when some of the participants may seem somewhat psychologically imbalanced, but it is those people that make reality shows even more interesting.
So how do people get onto reality shows such as the Bachelorette, American Idol, The Apprentice, and other such shows?
Let's look at American Idol. We all know that there is an audition process involved. We watch them on TV and we laugh our heads off at some of those who think they can sing and can't or who are just trying to get on TV. These are people that are amateurs, seasoned singers, but none of them are under any type of entertainment contract. The ages of 16 to 26 are permitted to audition at the designated venue before 8:00 a.m. on audition days. However, other reality shows may require that those applying to become participants on the show be at least 18 or 21. These are considered open call interviews, which a lot of reality shows such as the Apprentice will do in order to increase the choices of possible participants
All reality show auditions require that a release form be filled out and presented. Identification and a photograph are also required. Participants are usually interviewed at some point. For shows such as the Bachelor and the Bachelorette, the applicants must be single. The worst thing these shows want to learn is that a married man or a married woman is simply trying to get on TV. However, those wishing to participate can apply on their own or be nominated by someone else. Shows such as these also require a video that does not exceed three minutes must accompany the application and be mailed to a specified address.
For the shows that require travel in order to interview, the show will not pay the travel expenses, so it is up to the potential participant to fit the bill. Such reality shows that require this is Survivor and the Apprentice. An application is sent into the show along with a photo to a specified address. If chosen for the interview, the potential participant gets to go to Hollywood or another designated location for the interview. Most also a video no longer than three minutes that introduces the prospect to the
However, it is fair to say that the applications are on the reality show's websites and those wishing to participate must be vigilant in listening for when the show starts asking people to apply. Many of the applications require photos and three minute video introductions and will require the prospect to fit the bill for their travel expenses if chosen for an interview. Then again, open casting calls are a great way to quickly get attention, so it is important to look out for those as well.
HNE Castings is the leading agency that casts people exclusively for reality tv shows. HNE Castings has been on business for many years casting contestants for shows like Survivor, America's Next Top Model, American Idol and more.
The truth is that real life is not boring. It is interesting to see what it is someone is going to do next, especially if they are known for doing things that are considered to not be normal. However, these people get on these shows somehow, which means there are certain criteria that has to be met. Sure, we look at some of them and wonder what kind of criteria a show has when some of the participants may seem somewhat psychologically imbalanced, but it is those people that make reality shows even more interesting.
So how do people get onto reality shows such as the Bachelorette, American Idol, The Apprentice, and other such shows?
Let's look at American Idol. We all know that there is an audition process involved. We watch them on TV and we laugh our heads off at some of those who think they can sing and can't or who are just trying to get on TV. These are people that are amateurs, seasoned singers, but none of them are under any type of entertainment contract. The ages of 16 to 26 are permitted to audition at the designated venue before 8:00 a.m. on audition days. However, other reality shows may require that those applying to become participants on the show be at least 18 or 21. These are considered open call interviews, which a lot of reality shows such as the Apprentice will do in order to increase the choices of possible participants
All reality show auditions require that a release form be filled out and presented. Identification and a photograph are also required. Participants are usually interviewed at some point. For shows such as the Bachelor and the Bachelorette, the applicants must be single. The worst thing these shows want to learn is that a married man or a married woman is simply trying to get on TV. However, those wishing to participate can apply on their own or be nominated by someone else. Shows such as these also require a video that does not exceed three minutes must accompany the application and be mailed to a specified address.
For the shows that require travel in order to interview, the show will not pay the travel expenses, so it is up to the potential participant to fit the bill. Such reality shows that require this is Survivor and the Apprentice. An application is sent into the show along with a photo to a specified address. If chosen for the interview, the potential participant gets to go to Hollywood or another designated location for the interview. Most also a video no longer than three minutes that introduces the prospect to the
However, it is fair to say that the applications are on the reality show's websites and those wishing to participate must be vigilant in listening for when the show starts asking people to apply. Many of the applications require photos and three minute video introductions and will require the prospect to fit the bill for their travel expenses if chosen for an interview. Then again, open casting calls are a great way to quickly get attention, so it is important to look out for those as well.
HNE Castings is the leading agency that casts people exclusively for reality tv shows. HNE Castings has been on business for many years casting contestants for shows like Survivor, America's Next Top Model, American Idol and more.
American Idol - Stairway to Newer Gods
As the name might suggests, American Idol is the nationwide search for one singer who can be crowned the undisputed music sensation. It can be said that this is one of the most perfect talent reality shows ever to appear on the tube. First started in the year 2002, American Idol has come a long way ever since its initial years. This was initially broadcasted by the FOX Network.
Presently the competition has reached its 8th edition. The format almost remains unchanged. This is one reality show that tests the mettle of the contestants and consistently puts them through grinding rounds of auditions in front of the judging crew who do their best to shape and sometimes break their morale. This show is created by Simon Fuller a UK based entertainment executive.
After two rounds with the executive producers of the show, the chosen ones finally get to meet the judges face to face and do their best in front of them. This is a show that has won applauses from all over the world and primarily is seen by millions of people. The show has a few rounds of eliminations and the audiences get to vote their favorite contestants after an initial round of auditions. The person with the least number of votes is eliminated. The American Idol format has become so popular that many other countries have started hosting similar shows.
There are a few rules that are applicable in the American Idol contests and any singer bound by a contract is not allowed to take part in this competition. He/she also needs to be American citizen or need to be permanent residents of America. Since Season 4, the upper age limit of the contestants was raised to 28 years from 24 years. The contestants who are chosen for the Hollywood round face eliminations by a different member of the judging panel consisting of Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell.
This trio has been joined by Kara DioGuardi from Season 8 of American Idol. After the Hollywood round comes the Semi Finals and then the chosen participants all face each other at the Final round. In the Finals various themes revolving around various successful artists are prepared for the contestants. This includes the likes of Elton John, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Stevie Wonder, Neil Diamond, Queen and Jon Bon Jovi to name a few.
In the finals, as per each performance, an episode of the results reveals the breakdown of public voting and the most popular contestants names remain a mystery. The bottom three contestants are all named or it can be said that the least popular contestants are summoned to the center of the stage and the bottom two from the three are soon revealed and finally the contestant having the lowest number of votes is bade adieu.
He or she says goodbye after giving one last performance. The finale sees only one contestant who remains as the proverbial "last contestant standing" and he or she is declared the winner. In the year 2008, the venue of the finals was changed from the Kodak Theatre to the Nokia Theatre that holds an audience of over 7,000. The winner is announced at the following results show. The winner or rather the survivor receives a total of $1,000,000 record deal with a very popular mainstream label and each year American Idol winners have recorded their maiden labels within the first few months of winning.
The winner is then managed by the American Idol-related 19 Management. In a few cases there are some finalists who have got the opportunity to get signed by the show's management company and have received a few record deals with a partner of the major label. This is American Idol where anxiety, pain, tears, public opinion, outburst, ridicule, and fate shape a winner.
Check out the latest news on American Idol and all American Idol Episodes
Presently the competition has reached its 8th edition. The format almost remains unchanged. This is one reality show that tests the mettle of the contestants and consistently puts them through grinding rounds of auditions in front of the judging crew who do their best to shape and sometimes break their morale. This show is created by Simon Fuller a UK based entertainment executive.
After two rounds with the executive producers of the show, the chosen ones finally get to meet the judges face to face and do their best in front of them. This is a show that has won applauses from all over the world and primarily is seen by millions of people. The show has a few rounds of eliminations and the audiences get to vote their favorite contestants after an initial round of auditions. The person with the least number of votes is eliminated. The American Idol format has become so popular that many other countries have started hosting similar shows.
There are a few rules that are applicable in the American Idol contests and any singer bound by a contract is not allowed to take part in this competition. He/she also needs to be American citizen or need to be permanent residents of America. Since Season 4, the upper age limit of the contestants was raised to 28 years from 24 years. The contestants who are chosen for the Hollywood round face eliminations by a different member of the judging panel consisting of Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell.
This trio has been joined by Kara DioGuardi from Season 8 of American Idol. After the Hollywood round comes the Semi Finals and then the chosen participants all face each other at the Final round. In the Finals various themes revolving around various successful artists are prepared for the contestants. This includes the likes of Elton John, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Stevie Wonder, Neil Diamond, Queen and Jon Bon Jovi to name a few.
In the finals, as per each performance, an episode of the results reveals the breakdown of public voting and the most popular contestants names remain a mystery. The bottom three contestants are all named or it can be said that the least popular contestants are summoned to the center of the stage and the bottom two from the three are soon revealed and finally the contestant having the lowest number of votes is bade adieu.
He or she says goodbye after giving one last performance. The finale sees only one contestant who remains as the proverbial "last contestant standing" and he or she is declared the winner. In the year 2008, the venue of the finals was changed from the Kodak Theatre to the Nokia Theatre that holds an audience of over 7,000. The winner is announced at the following results show. The winner or rather the survivor receives a total of $1,000,000 record deal with a very popular mainstream label and each year American Idol winners have recorded their maiden labels within the first few months of winning.
The winner is then managed by the American Idol-related 19 Management. In a few cases there are some finalists who have got the opportunity to get signed by the show's management company and have received a few record deals with a partner of the major label. This is American Idol where anxiety, pain, tears, public opinion, outburst, ridicule, and fate shape a winner.
Check out the latest news on American Idol and all American Idol Episodes
American Idol - Stairway to Newer Gods
As the name might suggests, American Idol is the nationwide search for one singer who can be crowned the undisputed music sensation. It can be said that this is one of the most perfect talent reality shows ever to appear on the tube. First started in the year 2002, American Idol has come a long way ever since its initial years. This was initially broadcasted by the FOX Network.
Presently the competition has reached its 8th edition. The format almost remains unchanged. This is one reality show that tests the mettle of the contestants and consistently puts them through grinding rounds of auditions in front of the judging crew who do their best to shape and sometimes break their morale. This show is created by Simon Fuller a UK based entertainment executive.
After two rounds with the executive producers of the show, the chosen ones finally get to meet the judges face to face and do their best in front of them. This is a show that has won applauses from all over the world and primarily is seen by millions of people. The show has a few rounds of eliminations and the audiences get to vote their favorite contestants after an initial round of auditions. The person with the least number of votes is eliminated. The American Idol format has become so popular that many other countries have started hosting similar shows.
There are a few rules that are applicable in the American Idol contests and any singer bound by a contract is not allowed to take part in this competition. He/she also needs to be American citizen or need to be permanent residents of America. Since Season 4, the upper age limit of the contestants was raised to 28 years from 24 years. The contestants who are chosen for the Hollywood round face eliminations by a different member of the judging panel consisting of Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell.
This trio has been joined by Kara DioGuardi from Season 8 of American Idol. After the Hollywood round comes the Semi Finals and then the chosen participants all face each other at the Final round. In the Finals various themes revolving around various successful artists are prepared for the contestants. This includes the likes of Elton John, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Stevie Wonder, Neil Diamond, Queen and Jon Bon Jovi to name a few.
In the finals, as per each performance, an episode of the results reveals the breakdown of public voting and the most popular contestants names remain a mystery. The bottom three contestants are all named or it can be said that the least popular contestants are summoned to the center of the stage and the bottom two from the three are soon revealed and finally the contestant having the lowest number of votes is bade adieu.
He or she says goodbye after giving one last performance. The finale sees only one contestant who remains as the proverbial "last contestant standing" and he or she is declared the winner. In the year 2008, the venue of the finals was changed from the Kodak Theatre to the Nokia Theatre that holds an audience of over 7,000. The winner is announced at the following results show. The winner or rather the survivor receives a total of $1,000,000 record deal with a very popular mainstream label and each year American Idol winners have recorded their maiden labels within the first few months of winning.
The winner is then managed by the American Idol-related 19 Management. In a few cases there are some finalists who have got the opportunity to get signed by the show's management company and have received a few record deals with a partner of the major label. This is American Idol where anxiety, pain, tears, public opinion, outburst, ridicule, and fate shape a winner.
Check out the latest news on American Idol and all American Idol Episodes
Presently the competition has reached its 8th edition. The format almost remains unchanged. This is one reality show that tests the mettle of the contestants and consistently puts them through grinding rounds of auditions in front of the judging crew who do their best to shape and sometimes break their morale. This show is created by Simon Fuller a UK based entertainment executive.
After two rounds with the executive producers of the show, the chosen ones finally get to meet the judges face to face and do their best in front of them. This is a show that has won applauses from all over the world and primarily is seen by millions of people. The show has a few rounds of eliminations and the audiences get to vote their favorite contestants after an initial round of auditions. The person with the least number of votes is eliminated. The American Idol format has become so popular that many other countries have started hosting similar shows.
There are a few rules that are applicable in the American Idol contests and any singer bound by a contract is not allowed to take part in this competition. He/she also needs to be American citizen or need to be permanent residents of America. Since Season 4, the upper age limit of the contestants was raised to 28 years from 24 years. The contestants who are chosen for the Hollywood round face eliminations by a different member of the judging panel consisting of Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell.
This trio has been joined by Kara DioGuardi from Season 8 of American Idol. After the Hollywood round comes the Semi Finals and then the chosen participants all face each other at the Final round. In the Finals various themes revolving around various successful artists are prepared for the contestants. This includes the likes of Elton John, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Stevie Wonder, Neil Diamond, Queen and Jon Bon Jovi to name a few.
In the finals, as per each performance, an episode of the results reveals the breakdown of public voting and the most popular contestants names remain a mystery. The bottom three contestants are all named or it can be said that the least popular contestants are summoned to the center of the stage and the bottom two from the three are soon revealed and finally the contestant having the lowest number of votes is bade adieu.
He or she says goodbye after giving one last performance. The finale sees only one contestant who remains as the proverbial "last contestant standing" and he or she is declared the winner. In the year 2008, the venue of the finals was changed from the Kodak Theatre to the Nokia Theatre that holds an audience of over 7,000. The winner is announced at the following results show. The winner or rather the survivor receives a total of $1,000,000 record deal with a very popular mainstream label and each year American Idol winners have recorded their maiden labels within the first few months of winning.
The winner is then managed by the American Idol-related 19 Management. In a few cases there are some finalists who have got the opportunity to get signed by the show's management company and have received a few record deals with a partner of the major label. This is American Idol where anxiety, pain, tears, public opinion, outburst, ridicule, and fate shape a winner.
Check out the latest news on American Idol and all American Idol Episodes
Real Estate Agent Personal Branding - Learning From American Idol - Part 7
The Triumph of Authenticity
This American Idol season finale confirmed what was evident last year as well: The triumph of authenticity. Authenticity in personal branding for real estate agents is the most important lesson from this show.
Both finalists are genuine and unpretentious which is what America responded to with a record breaking 100,000,000 (approximately) votes. The fact that more people identified with, and voted for, Kris did not take away from Adam's success. Nor, did it take away from the other contestants in the top five-- Matt, Alison and Danny who also exemplified authenticity. Certainly, last year's "Battle of the Davids" was not a war between opponents, but two distinct styles, each with an authentic brand signal.
All five finalists this year were clear examples of distinct brand categories:
Kris - soft rock
Adam -- hard rock
Danny - pop
Alison -- rhythm & blues- female
Matt -- rhythm and blues-male
The nature of the American Idol competition is such that only one person wins. That is not the case in the real estate marketplace. They could have structured the Idol competition so that there was a winner in each brand category. This would then better mirror the competitive landscape in real estate where there can be a market leader in each niche such as condos, waterfront properties, individual neighborhoods, etc. It would also mirror the voting public who votes with their dollars when they actually buy songs or albums. Those who prefer rhythm and blues would not necessarily buy Adam's albums.
In your real estate practice, always keep this in mind: The fact that people like to do business with people that represent their personal values means that there is always room at the top. There is plenty of business for excellent real estate agents. The key is to make your brand signal so clear and strong that you attract your ideal clients and make it easy for them to identify you as their ideal agent as fast as possible. Simply stated, personal branding, done right, accelerates the match making process and is especially satisfying when that signal is authentic.
This concludes our American Idol series on personal branding. We hope you enjoyed it!
Ron and Alexandra Seigel are the managing partners of Napa Consultants, International the leading luxury real estate marketing firm, specializing in web design, personal branding, and company branding. Gain the competitive edge in your luxury real estate marketplace. Visit our highly acclaimed blog, the Language of Luxury. "Get Fluent. Get Affluent!" Learn more about gaining and sustaining market leadership at http://www.NapaConsultants.com
This American Idol season finale confirmed what was evident last year as well: The triumph of authenticity. Authenticity in personal branding for real estate agents is the most important lesson from this show.
Both finalists are genuine and unpretentious which is what America responded to with a record breaking 100,000,000 (approximately) votes. The fact that more people identified with, and voted for, Kris did not take away from Adam's success. Nor, did it take away from the other contestants in the top five-- Matt, Alison and Danny who also exemplified authenticity. Certainly, last year's "Battle of the Davids" was not a war between opponents, but two distinct styles, each with an authentic brand signal.
All five finalists this year were clear examples of distinct brand categories:
Kris - soft rock
Adam -- hard rock
Danny - pop
Alison -- rhythm & blues- female
Matt -- rhythm and blues-male
The nature of the American Idol competition is such that only one person wins. That is not the case in the real estate marketplace. They could have structured the Idol competition so that there was a winner in each brand category. This would then better mirror the competitive landscape in real estate where there can be a market leader in each niche such as condos, waterfront properties, individual neighborhoods, etc. It would also mirror the voting public who votes with their dollars when they actually buy songs or albums. Those who prefer rhythm and blues would not necessarily buy Adam's albums.
In your real estate practice, always keep this in mind: The fact that people like to do business with people that represent their personal values means that there is always room at the top. There is plenty of business for excellent real estate agents. The key is to make your brand signal so clear and strong that you attract your ideal clients and make it easy for them to identify you as their ideal agent as fast as possible. Simply stated, personal branding, done right, accelerates the match making process and is especially satisfying when that signal is authentic.
This concludes our American Idol series on personal branding. We hope you enjoyed it!
Ron and Alexandra Seigel are the managing partners of Napa Consultants, International the leading luxury real estate marketing firm, specializing in web design, personal branding, and company branding. Gain the competitive edge in your luxury real estate marketplace. Visit our highly acclaimed blog, the Language of Luxury. "Get Fluent. Get Affluent!" Learn more about gaining and sustaining market leadership at http://www.NapaConsultants.com
Winning As the Dark Horse
It's amazing the lessons we can learn about life simply by paying attention to popular culture. I know that the American public watches too much television, but you can learn the lessons of life without turning on the tube simply by keeping your ears open to what's happening. There have been two instances this week that reinforces the idea that no matter what others say; it's your belief in you that will carry you across the finish line.
"Dancing with the Stars" crowned their new champion and the champ is none other than gymnast Shawn Johnson. All season and even till the end the entertainment critics had pre-coronated Giles to be the winner, but the public who gets a voice saw things differently than the producers and the judges. If we need repetition for emphasis than look no further than the most recent "American Idol" finale. The underdog Kris Allen was crowned the new "American Idol" over the judges pick Adam Lambert. On Tuesday night's American Idol the judges basically placated Kris into receiving the consolation prize without knowing the results, aren't they embarrassed?
What does this mean for you following your diagnosis of a chronic or life-threatening illness? Even the experts get it wrong. Even the experts, those with all the education may not have all the answers. Even the experts can't control the uncontrollable like your attitude, perseverance, and spiritual determination to get well. Even the experts can't predict with absolute certainty who will cross the finish line to health and healing and who will incur greater challenges.
That's the funny thing about life; we try so hard to map things, chart things, and account for things and there are just some things that go beyond being boxed into a corner. In both reality shows the dark horse didn't simply give up; they went out and left everything they had on that stage. Why? Because in that moment it wasn't about a title, a trophy or a contract, it was about being at peace with themselves. It was about the self-knowledge and commitment to fulfilling their own beliefs about themselves. It was about their personal integrity and not wanting to live a life full of regrets. Do you leave everything you have on the stage of life? Are you holding back thinking you may need some reserves? Let me tell you that you will always have enough fight when it's necessary.
Being the dark horse means that everyone around you has to be prepared for surprises. When you aren't favored to succeed you have a bit more freedom to create new paths on your journey to wellness. Being the dark horse doesn't mean that people have given up on you...they will only give up on you if you give up on you.
Would you like other suggestions for promoting health and healing in the face of adversity? Get your FREE copy of the special report "The 5 Pillars of Health and Healing". As a bonus I'd like to offer you the multimedia program "Instilling Hope for Health". Want to benefit from my experience with illness and twenty years of working with clients who have been diagnosed? Get your FREE report and multimedia program at http://www.survivingstrong.com
Watch weekly inspiring health and healing videos at http://www.survivingstrongtv.com
"Dancing with the Stars" crowned their new champion and the champ is none other than gymnast Shawn Johnson. All season and even till the end the entertainment critics had pre-coronated Giles to be the winner, but the public who gets a voice saw things differently than the producers and the judges. If we need repetition for emphasis than look no further than the most recent "American Idol" finale. The underdog Kris Allen was crowned the new "American Idol" over the judges pick Adam Lambert. On Tuesday night's American Idol the judges basically placated Kris into receiving the consolation prize without knowing the results, aren't they embarrassed?
What does this mean for you following your diagnosis of a chronic or life-threatening illness? Even the experts get it wrong. Even the experts, those with all the education may not have all the answers. Even the experts can't control the uncontrollable like your attitude, perseverance, and spiritual determination to get well. Even the experts can't predict with absolute certainty who will cross the finish line to health and healing and who will incur greater challenges.
That's the funny thing about life; we try so hard to map things, chart things, and account for things and there are just some things that go beyond being boxed into a corner. In both reality shows the dark horse didn't simply give up; they went out and left everything they had on that stage. Why? Because in that moment it wasn't about a title, a trophy or a contract, it was about being at peace with themselves. It was about the self-knowledge and commitment to fulfilling their own beliefs about themselves. It was about their personal integrity and not wanting to live a life full of regrets. Do you leave everything you have on the stage of life? Are you holding back thinking you may need some reserves? Let me tell you that you will always have enough fight when it's necessary.
Being the dark horse means that everyone around you has to be prepared for surprises. When you aren't favored to succeed you have a bit more freedom to create new paths on your journey to wellness. Being the dark horse doesn't mean that people have given up on you...they will only give up on you if you give up on you.
Would you like other suggestions for promoting health and healing in the face of adversity? Get your FREE copy of the special report "The 5 Pillars of Health and Healing". As a bonus I'd like to offer you the multimedia program "Instilling Hope for Health". Want to benefit from my experience with illness and twenty years of working with clients who have been diagnosed? Get your FREE report and multimedia program at http://www.survivingstrong.com
Watch weekly inspiring health and healing videos at http://www.survivingstrongtv.com
David Cook Singer
David Cook, singer and winner of the seventh season of American Idol, is a popular musician known for songs such as "Light On."
Prior to his appearance on the popular American Idol reality TV competition, Cook released an album called Analog Heart. After winning, he released a self titled album, David Cook which has gone platinum.
Cook has lived in the southern Midwest all of his life. He was born in Houston, TX, raised in Blue Springs, MO, and now lives in Tulsa, OK. He is the middle of three brothers.
David Cook showed an early appreciation for music after a music teacher gave him a part in a Christmas play in 2nd grade. Through junior high and high school, he was active in school choirs and musical theater. When he was 12, he received his first guitar.
In addition to his musical interests, he was also active on the school's baseball team and in the forensics program (he qualified for the national tournament twice in high school).
He went to the University of Central Missouri on a drama scholarship, but did not pursue theater as a major. He graduated in 2006 with a degree in Graphic Design.
After college, he made a deal with his family that he could spend the time up until he was 26 pursuing music. After that, he would get a "real" job.
Fortunately, that time never came as Cook was a breakout success on American Idol. The funny thing though is that he never even meant to try out for the show. He simply went to the auditions to support his brother. But when the brother didn't make the cut, he encouraged David to give it a try. Cook's audition piece was Bon Jovi's "Livin' on a Prayer."
After his American Idol victory on May 21, 2008, Cook had a record shattering 11 hits on the Hot 100.
In January, 2009, Cook started the Declaration tour.
And that is the story, to date, of David Cook, singer.
If you enjoy the music of David Cook singer you should go to http://www.FreeMP3now.info where you can legally download free music by Cook including popular hits like "Light On" and "Come Back to Me."
Prior to his appearance on the popular American Idol reality TV competition, Cook released an album called Analog Heart. After winning, he released a self titled album, David Cook which has gone platinum.
Cook has lived in the southern Midwest all of his life. He was born in Houston, TX, raised in Blue Springs, MO, and now lives in Tulsa, OK. He is the middle of three brothers.
David Cook showed an early appreciation for music after a music teacher gave him a part in a Christmas play in 2nd grade. Through junior high and high school, he was active in school choirs and musical theater. When he was 12, he received his first guitar.
In addition to his musical interests, he was also active on the school's baseball team and in the forensics program (he qualified for the national tournament twice in high school).
He went to the University of Central Missouri on a drama scholarship, but did not pursue theater as a major. He graduated in 2006 with a degree in Graphic Design.
After college, he made a deal with his family that he could spend the time up until he was 26 pursuing music. After that, he would get a "real" job.
Fortunately, that time never came as Cook was a breakout success on American Idol. The funny thing though is that he never even meant to try out for the show. He simply went to the auditions to support his brother. But when the brother didn't make the cut, he encouraged David to give it a try. Cook's audition piece was Bon Jovi's "Livin' on a Prayer."
After his American Idol victory on May 21, 2008, Cook had a record shattering 11 hits on the Hot 100.
In January, 2009, Cook started the Declaration tour.
And that is the story, to date, of David Cook, singer.
If you enjoy the music of David Cook singer you should go to http://www.FreeMP3now.info where you can legally download free music by Cook including popular hits like "Light On" and "Come Back to Me."
American Idol - Will The Show Go On?
American Idol continues to set new records each week with the number of votes garnered from viewers when the time comes to selecting which contestant they liked best and preferred to have them stay in the competition. It is astounding as that interest remains in a talent show that is now into its seventh season, and while television ratings might have dipped slightly this year, it is undeniable that fans still love the show, and would remain devoted as long as there are willing contestants. And the latter numbers in the tens of thousands each year when American Idol auditions are held in the various cities across the United States.
With its seventh season now nearing its climax as one contestant gets eliminated each week until the final two pit their singing talents against each other, there has been a general lack of controversy and scandal this year, unlike that of previous seasons when many American Idol fans tagged onto every news bit that emerged from the show. Even the three judges of Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson got into the act at times which drummed up even more media hype. This season's contestants appear to be genuinely interested in singing and having a chance to establish themselves in the music industry, rather than generating fanfare and interest from other sources.
However, there has also been a noticeable lack of personalities this year. The initial drama generated from the likes of Asia'H Epperson, Kristy Lee Cook and Amy Davis has quickly dissipated as two of them were eliminated early in the competition, while Kristy Lee Cook has been shown to lack any performing abilities and vocal range. The men themselves have looked shy or apprehensive on stage, with the exception of David Cook, whose overbearing confidence can be easily construed as overriding arrogance by many.
Without a doubt, the remaining contestants such as David Cook, David Archuleta, Michael Johns and Brooke White have showcased their vocal talents. But the lack of a performance edge has dulled the show on many occasions. Proponents of the show would applaud this development as they would now be able to concentrate on the genuine singing abilities of the finalists, but this could easily alienate the other fans of American Idol who are genuinely enamored of the star qualities from previous editions such as that of Katherine McPhee's, who is now a regular feature in celebrity gossip columns. Whether this would lead to a stronger show in the long run is anybody's guess, but American Idol is as much about show business as it is about singing, and it remains to be seen if the producers' decision to go mainly for talent this year would be worth the risk.
David Johns is a keen fan of Asia'H Epperson for season 7 and American Idol in general. He enjoys reviewing the show every week and provides insightful critique of each contestant's performance
With its seventh season now nearing its climax as one contestant gets eliminated each week until the final two pit their singing talents against each other, there has been a general lack of controversy and scandal this year, unlike that of previous seasons when many American Idol fans tagged onto every news bit that emerged from the show. Even the three judges of Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson got into the act at times which drummed up even more media hype. This season's contestants appear to be genuinely interested in singing and having a chance to establish themselves in the music industry, rather than generating fanfare and interest from other sources.
However, there has also been a noticeable lack of personalities this year. The initial drama generated from the likes of Asia'H Epperson, Kristy Lee Cook and Amy Davis has quickly dissipated as two of them were eliminated early in the competition, while Kristy Lee Cook has been shown to lack any performing abilities and vocal range. The men themselves have looked shy or apprehensive on stage, with the exception of David Cook, whose overbearing confidence can be easily construed as overriding arrogance by many.
Without a doubt, the remaining contestants such as David Cook, David Archuleta, Michael Johns and Brooke White have showcased their vocal talents. But the lack of a performance edge has dulled the show on many occasions. Proponents of the show would applaud this development as they would now be able to concentrate on the genuine singing abilities of the finalists, but this could easily alienate the other fans of American Idol who are genuinely enamored of the star qualities from previous editions such as that of Katherine McPhee's, who is now a regular feature in celebrity gossip columns. Whether this would lead to a stronger show in the long run is anybody's guess, but American Idol is as much about show business as it is about singing, and it remains to be seen if the producers' decision to go mainly for talent this year would be worth the risk.
David Johns is a keen fan of Asia'H Epperson for season 7 and American Idol in general. He enjoys reviewing the show every week and provides insightful critique of each contestant's performance
Melinda Doolittle - The American Idol for Season Six
I like being entertained and if you have been watching this seasons' Idols in competition, you will probably agree with me and think they should just hand over the crown to Melinda DooLittle now.
Yahoo TV is reporting an October 7th, 1977 date of birth for DooLittle. Which happens to be a date that is very near to last years winner Taylor Hicks' date of birth. But Hicks has several different sites reporting inconsistencies on his date of birth. Some sources are saying it was 10/6/76, while others are saying it is 10/7/76, and still yet there are others that say it was on the 8th, and even one site reported January 24...
...and it is really driving this stargazer nuts, I mean really, you are either born on the 6th or the 7th, in October or January. I am wondering how these folks make it to work on time.
Anyway, getting back to Melinda DooLittle, and hoping that Yahoo TV got her birth data right, I took a look at DooLittles' stars for 10/07/77 in Brentwood, TN at sunrise.
Melinda is having what is called in astrology her Saturn Return. It simply means that the planet Saturn, in its transit right now, is coming to pass the same exact position it held when Melinda was born.
This astrological occurrence (Saturn Return) usually happens for all of us around the ages of 28, 29, and 30. It is a time when we want to do what we came here to do. We want to quit messin' around and get down to life's business. This Saturn Return for Melinda is happening in the sign of Leo--and the sign of Leo is the sign that rules talent, creativity, and the stage. Being an American Idol contestant is perfectly fitting.
Now although Melinda has her progressed Moon moving through the sign of Leo and ready to conjunct her natally placed Saturn--and that is a very good thing for Melinda as it gets her recognition (Saturn) as a stage performing powerhouse (Leo) with massive popularity (Moon) --but I am just not sure if that is enough to get her the crown.
I was hoping to see several favorable transits from Jupiter to her natal and progressed planets as was with past season idol winners. Especially when I don't trust the American Idol voting process. I mean really, they make such a big deal over these voting numbers each week but never a big deal of how these numbers are exactly processed --and so, when you know that an anagram for the phrase AMERICAN IDOL is DEMONIC LIAR it sort of leaves one, at least me, in an doubtful frame of mind as to the voting integrity of American Idol. Oh, but I still watch each week. I told you, I like to be entertained, and this Melinda DooLittle knows all about delivery and entertaining.
Now speaking of anagrams the letters in the name MELINDA DOOLITTLE when rearranged become ALL-TIME NOTED IDOL. Ya gotta love it.
So I am thinking, perhaps the time of Melinda's birth will place transitting Jupiter accordingly--like on her ascendant or midheaven--and she will be our next American Idol. Or perhaps this other anagram I found ELIMINATED TO DOLL will come into play meaning that one of the younger gals beat her out. Gina or Jordan come to mind.
Whether Doolittle is meant to have the Idol crown or not (which only an exact time of her birth will tell for sure) there is one thing for certain--her life from here on in will not be the same...
...as Melinda's progressed Sun has just moved over progressed Uranus and is getting hit with a trining transit from Uranus. So there is will one surprise after the other for Melinda. And one way or the other, voted in or voted off, Melinda DooLittle will be in a recording studio somewhere belting out one goose-bump song after the next. Oh my, but wait...
...I just noticed one more thing. The planet Neptune, which is the planet that inspires music, measures 13 degrees of Sagittarius at Melinda's birth, which in total degrees of celestial longitude measures to become the number 253. This number 253 can become the date 5/23 , which this year happens to fall on a Wednesday, which is after Tuesday, which is a date that has in the past been very near the date when other American Idols got their crown.
I guess we will just have to wait and see if MELINDA DOOLITTLE and the name anagram DOMINATE IDOL TELL will put her at the finale.
Renee Francis is a professional Astrologer located in Southern Colorado. Miss Francis offers a wide range of astrological services from natal chart erection to astrological report services. She also schedules private phone consults and designs specialized workshops around a groups own interests.
Miss Francis' real unrelenting passion for the stars however lies in her own independent study into the matter of missing children and the use of using the stars and planets as a tool in location and profiling possible suspects.
When Miss Francis' isn't charting the stars for others, or playing around with the words that can be born of people names, she waits to hear from you.
When you visit her site Astrology for Today she offers visitors the opportunity to get a Free Full Color Natal Birth Chart with a free subscription to her newsletter wherein she shares her avid interest teaching others how to be their own best Astrologer.
Yahoo TV is reporting an October 7th, 1977 date of birth for DooLittle. Which happens to be a date that is very near to last years winner Taylor Hicks' date of birth. But Hicks has several different sites reporting inconsistencies on his date of birth. Some sources are saying it was 10/6/76, while others are saying it is 10/7/76, and still yet there are others that say it was on the 8th, and even one site reported January 24...
...and it is really driving this stargazer nuts, I mean really, you are either born on the 6th or the 7th, in October or January. I am wondering how these folks make it to work on time.
Anyway, getting back to Melinda DooLittle, and hoping that Yahoo TV got her birth data right, I took a look at DooLittles' stars for 10/07/77 in Brentwood, TN at sunrise.
Melinda is having what is called in astrology her Saturn Return. It simply means that the planet Saturn, in its transit right now, is coming to pass the same exact position it held when Melinda was born.
This astrological occurrence (Saturn Return) usually happens for all of us around the ages of 28, 29, and 30. It is a time when we want to do what we came here to do. We want to quit messin' around and get down to life's business. This Saturn Return for Melinda is happening in the sign of Leo--and the sign of Leo is the sign that rules talent, creativity, and the stage. Being an American Idol contestant is perfectly fitting.
Now although Melinda has her progressed Moon moving through the sign of Leo and ready to conjunct her natally placed Saturn--and that is a very good thing for Melinda as it gets her recognition (Saturn) as a stage performing powerhouse (Leo) with massive popularity (Moon) --but I am just not sure if that is enough to get her the crown.
I was hoping to see several favorable transits from Jupiter to her natal and progressed planets as was with past season idol winners. Especially when I don't trust the American Idol voting process. I mean really, they make such a big deal over these voting numbers each week but never a big deal of how these numbers are exactly processed --and so, when you know that an anagram for the phrase AMERICAN IDOL is DEMONIC LIAR it sort of leaves one, at least me, in an doubtful frame of mind as to the voting integrity of American Idol. Oh, but I still watch each week. I told you, I like to be entertained, and this Melinda DooLittle knows all about delivery and entertaining.
Now speaking of anagrams the letters in the name MELINDA DOOLITTLE when rearranged become ALL-TIME NOTED IDOL. Ya gotta love it.
So I am thinking, perhaps the time of Melinda's birth will place transitting Jupiter accordingly--like on her ascendant or midheaven--and she will be our next American Idol. Or perhaps this other anagram I found ELIMINATED TO DOLL will come into play meaning that one of the younger gals beat her out. Gina or Jordan come to mind.
Whether Doolittle is meant to have the Idol crown or not (which only an exact time of her birth will tell for sure) there is one thing for certain--her life from here on in will not be the same...
...as Melinda's progressed Sun has just moved over progressed Uranus and is getting hit with a trining transit from Uranus. So there is will one surprise after the other for Melinda. And one way or the other, voted in or voted off, Melinda DooLittle will be in a recording studio somewhere belting out one goose-bump song after the next. Oh my, but wait...
...I just noticed one more thing. The planet Neptune, which is the planet that inspires music, measures 13 degrees of Sagittarius at Melinda's birth, which in total degrees of celestial longitude measures to become the number 253. This number 253 can become the date 5/23 , which this year happens to fall on a Wednesday, which is after Tuesday, which is a date that has in the past been very near the date when other American Idols got their crown.
I guess we will just have to wait and see if MELINDA DOOLITTLE and the name anagram DOMINATE IDOL TELL will put her at the finale.
Renee Francis is a professional Astrologer located in Southern Colorado. Miss Francis offers a wide range of astrological services from natal chart erection to astrological report services. She also schedules private phone consults and designs specialized workshops around a groups own interests.
Miss Francis' real unrelenting passion for the stars however lies in her own independent study into the matter of missing children and the use of using the stars and planets as a tool in location and profiling possible suspects.
When Miss Francis' isn't charting the stars for others, or playing around with the words that can be born of people names, she waits to hear from you.
When you visit her site Astrology for Today she offers visitors the opportunity to get a Free Full Color Natal Birth Chart with a free subscription to her newsletter wherein she shares her avid interest teaching others how to be their own best Astrologer.
American Idol Can Lead to Amazing Profits!
American Idol is hugely popular on TV in the US, but the internet allows it to be popular worldwide. This kind of exposure means it can be used to generate online profits - here's what I mean...
As the weekly show airs, the amount of traffic related to the subject increases. It's relatively easy to find keywords to focus on, and what I mean by keywords is the words that people are typing into search engines to get their information.
On the day of the show, the quest for information about how was voted out gets to a stage where those keywords become some of the hottest searches online, full stop! This is huge information, because it means that we know where there is a load of online traffic, so all we have to do to make profits is to put something in front of that traffic which we can monetize.
This could be as simple as a blog post - it's free to do, and if we set up blog with adverts that make us money, which can be set up fro free, and if we use the relevant keywords in our blog post title, it will hoover up a good portion of that traffic, which in turn will lead to profit.
That may seem too easy, or only small change, but those too concepts are wrong. Yes, it is easy, but in fact it's the ease of the process that puts people off, who simply cannot believe it can be that simple. Secondly, the small change can add up if you repeat the process over and over, and once you get used to it, you can crank out the pages, and then leave them to build up free profits for you.
So you can see, it's possible to make amazing profits online from American Idol.
Gordon Bryan is a writer from the UK. Find out more about how he uses current events to generate profits and grab his free traffic generating technique at: http://www.gordonbryan.com/currentevents
As the weekly show airs, the amount of traffic related to the subject increases. It's relatively easy to find keywords to focus on, and what I mean by keywords is the words that people are typing into search engines to get their information.
On the day of the show, the quest for information about how was voted out gets to a stage where those keywords become some of the hottest searches online, full stop! This is huge information, because it means that we know where there is a load of online traffic, so all we have to do to make profits is to put something in front of that traffic which we can monetize.
This could be as simple as a blog post - it's free to do, and if we set up blog with adverts that make us money, which can be set up fro free, and if we use the relevant keywords in our blog post title, it will hoover up a good portion of that traffic, which in turn will lead to profit.
That may seem too easy, or only small change, but those too concepts are wrong. Yes, it is easy, but in fact it's the ease of the process that puts people off, who simply cannot believe it can be that simple. Secondly, the small change can add up if you repeat the process over and over, and once you get used to it, you can crank out the pages, and then leave them to build up free profits for you.
So you can see, it's possible to make amazing profits online from American Idol.
Gordon Bryan is a writer from the UK. Find out more about how he uses current events to generate profits and grab his free traffic generating technique at: http://www.gordonbryan.com/currentevents
3 Tips to Pass American Idol
The first round of American Idol Audition is very different from the show you see on TV. The producers, not Randy, Simon and Paula, will pick up the persons who they think might have potential out of tens of thousands of contestants. Here are some useful tips.
Go to a hotel near the venue and have a good rest. Usually the audition begin at 8 a.m. Any line up before 6 a.m. is not allowed. You better get there between 6 a.m and 8 a.m. Leave plenty of time to traffic since there will be a big crowd. Bring some food and water with as you may have a long line to wait.
Dress smart. Since there are only 15-30 seconds for each contestant, put on some dress which make you standing out. according to the game rules, clothing that reveals tattoos, has designer names, sports teams, or any other logos or brand names, or bears the name or likeness of a celebrity, living or dead are not allowed. My advice is to dress like a real, stylish, and attractive you. Dress like American idol winner will not help since the producers are looking for people with potential.
Pick up the right song to show your voice. Since you've got just 15-30 seconds, make the best use of it. Do not pick up a song that is poplar, cool, or different. Choose the song carefully to make sure show off your unique voice. My advice is to show in front of your family or friends. Let them tell you which song they think represent you best. Also prepare 1 or 2 backup songs in case the producer really like you and ask you to sing something else.
If you want to pass American Idol audition and make yourself shown on TV. Click the link below to find out the absolute "lock and key" to you getting past the first round. http://www.buyer-review.com/americanidol/
Go to a hotel near the venue and have a good rest. Usually the audition begin at 8 a.m. Any line up before 6 a.m. is not allowed. You better get there between 6 a.m and 8 a.m. Leave plenty of time to traffic since there will be a big crowd. Bring some food and water with as you may have a long line to wait.
Dress smart. Since there are only 15-30 seconds for each contestant, put on some dress which make you standing out. according to the game rules, clothing that reveals tattoos, has designer names, sports teams, or any other logos or brand names, or bears the name or likeness of a celebrity, living or dead are not allowed. My advice is to dress like a real, stylish, and attractive you. Dress like American idol winner will not help since the producers are looking for people with potential.
Pick up the right song to show your voice. Since you've got just 15-30 seconds, make the best use of it. Do not pick up a song that is poplar, cool, or different. Choose the song carefully to make sure show off your unique voice. My advice is to show in front of your family or friends. Let them tell you which song they think represent you best. Also prepare 1 or 2 backup songs in case the producer really like you and ask you to sing something else.
If you want to pass American Idol audition and make yourself shown on TV. Click the link below to find out the absolute "lock and key" to you getting past the first round. http://www.buyer-review.com/americanidol/
Simon Cowell: The Man Behind the Scowl
Ah, Simon Cowell: the wit, the jabs, the accent. If you’re like me – a fan of American Idol (Hi Sanjaya!) – you probably find yourself having a love/hate relationship with good ol’ Simon. On one hand he’s cute, he’s funny, and he’s extremely honest: he’s seemingly what every girl wants to find in a man. But, on the other hand, he’s a little too honest. He’s not the type of guy a woman should approach in a new pair of jeans and ask, "Do these make me look fat?" Sometimes Simon should simply plead the fifth.
Still, you have to respect his honesty. In a world where lying and brown nosing run rampant, Simon has taken a stand and said what most people are afraid to say: exactly what he thinks. This leaves many of us curious about who he really is; just who is the Cowell behind the scowl?
Simon Cowell was born in Brighton, England to a music industry property executive and a socialite. From a large family – and here we thought he was an only child – Simon has three half brothers, a half sister, and a younger brother. A family of success, many of his siblings are multimillionaires.
After dropping out of school at the age of 17, Simon teetered between a few random jobs before, with the help of his father, landing a job in the mail room at EMI Music Publishing. Going from the mail room to where Simon is now may seem like something straight out of television, but for Simon - a man known for blending TV with real life - this "television like plot" proved to be his reality.
He soon began to climb the ranks of EMI, periodically leaving to pursue other endeavors, only to return when those endeavors failed. In 1985, however, the failing temporarily ceased: Simon, along with a coworker, launched an independent record label called Fanfare Records. For four years Fanfare saw success, but in 1989 – when the mother company of Fanfare discontinued – Simon was met with bankruptcy, debt, and a move back in with his parents.
In late 1989, Simon landed a job as an A&R representative for BMG. Here he signed a number of pop acts who were well received and began releasing novelty recordings. These featured, among others, songs from The Teletubbies and The Power Rangers.
In 2001, Simon was given his proverbial gavel and became a judge on Pop Idol, a British television reality series that featured undiscovered young talent in the United Kingdom. Like its spin-off, American Idol, Pop Idol involved viewers calling in to vote for their favorites.
Born from Pop Idol, American Idol hit the airwaves in 2002 and - with Simon at the judging helm - became an instant hit. The success of American Idol is based on many factors - America’s love for music, the excitement of discovering talent that would otherwise go unnoticed, the ability to participate in the choice that is made - but one huge factor is simply Simon. Without people tuning in to see what he will say, American Idol would not have garnered such a huge fan base.
While working on American Idol, Simon also serves on the judging panel of The X Factor, a British talent show airing on Saturdays. Produced by Simon’s production company, The X Factor aims to find performers who possess that indescribable factor capable of making them a star. Unlike Pop Idol or American Idol, The X Factor has no age limit, allowing anyone over 14 to participate, and allows both solo singers and groups to enter the competition.
In 2006, Simon secured himself - both financially and in pop culture - by signing a five year contract worth 38 million. In addition to American Idol, Simon is involved with American Inventor, America’s Got Talent, Celebrity Duets, Grease is the Word, and Rock Rivals.
Love him or hate him - or go back and forth - American Idol would not be the same without Simon Cowell. He brings an element of surprise and brutal honesty to the show. Sometimes he seems cruel, but most of the time he simply appears like a man whose bark is way worse that his bite.
The biggest thing fans really have to appreciate about him is that when he sees someone who is a good singer, he doesn't play games: he tells them they're great and when he says it we know he means it. It is a sentiment dear to the heart, and one he conveys in my imagination each time I sing in the shower.
Jennifer Jordan is a senior editor for http://iturbocharge.com. Possessing an infatuation with pop culture – and a gift for stalking – she keeps up on the latest news of the musical world.
Still, you have to respect his honesty. In a world where lying and brown nosing run rampant, Simon has taken a stand and said what most people are afraid to say: exactly what he thinks. This leaves many of us curious about who he really is; just who is the Cowell behind the scowl?
Simon Cowell was born in Brighton, England to a music industry property executive and a socialite. From a large family – and here we thought he was an only child – Simon has three half brothers, a half sister, and a younger brother. A family of success, many of his siblings are multimillionaires.
After dropping out of school at the age of 17, Simon teetered between a few random jobs before, with the help of his father, landing a job in the mail room at EMI Music Publishing. Going from the mail room to where Simon is now may seem like something straight out of television, but for Simon - a man known for blending TV with real life - this "television like plot" proved to be his reality.
He soon began to climb the ranks of EMI, periodically leaving to pursue other endeavors, only to return when those endeavors failed. In 1985, however, the failing temporarily ceased: Simon, along with a coworker, launched an independent record label called Fanfare Records. For four years Fanfare saw success, but in 1989 – when the mother company of Fanfare discontinued – Simon was met with bankruptcy, debt, and a move back in with his parents.
In late 1989, Simon landed a job as an A&R representative for BMG. Here he signed a number of pop acts who were well received and began releasing novelty recordings. These featured, among others, songs from The Teletubbies and The Power Rangers.
In 2001, Simon was given his proverbial gavel and became a judge on Pop Idol, a British television reality series that featured undiscovered young talent in the United Kingdom. Like its spin-off, American Idol, Pop Idol involved viewers calling in to vote for their favorites.
Born from Pop Idol, American Idol hit the airwaves in 2002 and - with Simon at the judging helm - became an instant hit. The success of American Idol is based on many factors - America’s love for music, the excitement of discovering talent that would otherwise go unnoticed, the ability to participate in the choice that is made - but one huge factor is simply Simon. Without people tuning in to see what he will say, American Idol would not have garnered such a huge fan base.
While working on American Idol, Simon also serves on the judging panel of The X Factor, a British talent show airing on Saturdays. Produced by Simon’s production company, The X Factor aims to find performers who possess that indescribable factor capable of making them a star. Unlike Pop Idol or American Idol, The X Factor has no age limit, allowing anyone over 14 to participate, and allows both solo singers and groups to enter the competition.
In 2006, Simon secured himself - both financially and in pop culture - by signing a five year contract worth 38 million. In addition to American Idol, Simon is involved with American Inventor, America’s Got Talent, Celebrity Duets, Grease is the Word, and Rock Rivals.
Love him or hate him - or go back and forth - American Idol would not be the same without Simon Cowell. He brings an element of surprise and brutal honesty to the show. Sometimes he seems cruel, but most of the time he simply appears like a man whose bark is way worse that his bite.
The biggest thing fans really have to appreciate about him is that when he sees someone who is a good singer, he doesn't play games: he tells them they're great and when he says it we know he means it. It is a sentiment dear to the heart, and one he conveys in my imagination each time I sing in the shower.
Jennifer Jordan is a senior editor for http://iturbocharge.com. Possessing an infatuation with pop culture – and a gift for stalking – she keeps up on the latest news of the musical world.
The Idol-Makers
The end of the television season in May included the usual array of cliffhangers on shows like “Alias,” the departure of Noah Wylie from “ER” and the finale of the highly-rated “Everybody Loves Raymond” after 210 episodes. On the last day of “Sweeps,” more than 29 million people tuned in to see the crowning of the fourth “American Idol.”
With a recording contract and the key to a private jet in hand, Carrie Underwood, a 22-year-old college student from Oklahoma, said her victory was “the best night of my life.” Next week her first single debuts, most likely near the top of the charts. From there, she’ll take her shot at stardom, hoping to match the multi-platinum album sales of the first “Idol” winner Kelly Clarkson and second-year runner-up Clay Aiken.
In terms of total viewers, “American Idol” ranked first this season, and fans cast nearly 500 million votes during the competition. If your franchise business was like “American Idol,” a celebrity panel and national television audience would soon be judging your employees “on stage.” As an Idol-Maker, it is your role to give them the guidance they need to perform at their highest level, so you get the outcome you seek.
Success Handler Action: If Paula Abdul, Randy Jackson and Simon Cowell called today and said they will be in town next month to review your employees, what steps would you need to take to get them ready for their big moment? Even if the phone doesn’t ring, preparing your employees for being the best in their jobs will make your small business soar. After you finish reading this E-Newsletter, use these questions to identify your biggest employee training opportunities:
~ Who is having the most difficult time executing their jobs in the manner you would like?
~ What are some of the things that keep happening frequently without improvement?
~ Where are areas you find yourself saying, “If only someone would ________?”
~ When mistakes occur, which individuals struggle to take responsibility?
~ Why are some of you employees not achieving the growth you expected this year?
“American Idol” had a big snafu this season when “pure human error” led to the wrong voting phone numbers appearing on the screen, and Fox had to throw out the results that night. While errors in your small business are not necessarily apparent to millions, they still impede your progress. Communicating the right way to do things and redirecting your employees’ efforts when needed is essential to improving your results.
Success Handler Action: Effective leadership begins in your recruiting and hiring, and continues through training and motivation. This means you have to regularly mold and polish your employees in order to prosper. Here are five ideas for turning them into outstanding performers:
1. Make sure your employees understand the vision you have for your small business.
2. Clarify your expectations, and how you will measure each person’s role.
3. Act like a director…leading them back on track when they stray off script.
4. Use “The Oreo Cookie Approach” to feedback – Compliment / Confront / Compliment.
5. Treat every day like an entertainer would: the joy is in the performance.
Carrie Underwood is the survivor among more than 100,000 wannabes who auditioned for this season’s “American Idol.” The show is a cultural phenomenon that creates a celebrity and makes a lot of money for a lot of people. While your employees may never sing on national television or receive a million-dollar talent contract, if you dedicate time, energy and resources to helping them develop their skills and shoot for the stars, you will be the big winner.
Copyright © 2005 by Success Handler, LLC. All rights reserved.
The Coach, David Handler, is the founder of Success Handler, (http://www.successhandler.com), and specializes in helping small business leaders find clarity and take action. He understands the challenges of running a business, because he’s been there – as a small business owner, franchisee, franchisor, corporate leader and trainer. Much like sports coaches, his coaching will show you how to compete on a level playing field in your industry.
With a recording contract and the key to a private jet in hand, Carrie Underwood, a 22-year-old college student from Oklahoma, said her victory was “the best night of my life.” Next week her first single debuts, most likely near the top of the charts. From there, she’ll take her shot at stardom, hoping to match the multi-platinum album sales of the first “Idol” winner Kelly Clarkson and second-year runner-up Clay Aiken.
In terms of total viewers, “American Idol” ranked first this season, and fans cast nearly 500 million votes during the competition. If your franchise business was like “American Idol,” a celebrity panel and national television audience would soon be judging your employees “on stage.” As an Idol-Maker, it is your role to give them the guidance they need to perform at their highest level, so you get the outcome you seek.
Success Handler Action: If Paula Abdul, Randy Jackson and Simon Cowell called today and said they will be in town next month to review your employees, what steps would you need to take to get them ready for their big moment? Even if the phone doesn’t ring, preparing your employees for being the best in their jobs will make your small business soar. After you finish reading this E-Newsletter, use these questions to identify your biggest employee training opportunities:
~ Who is having the most difficult time executing their jobs in the manner you would like?
~ What are some of the things that keep happening frequently without improvement?
~ Where are areas you find yourself saying, “If only someone would ________?”
~ When mistakes occur, which individuals struggle to take responsibility?
~ Why are some of you employees not achieving the growth you expected this year?
“American Idol” had a big snafu this season when “pure human error” led to the wrong voting phone numbers appearing on the screen, and Fox had to throw out the results that night. While errors in your small business are not necessarily apparent to millions, they still impede your progress. Communicating the right way to do things and redirecting your employees’ efforts when needed is essential to improving your results.
Success Handler Action: Effective leadership begins in your recruiting and hiring, and continues through training and motivation. This means you have to regularly mold and polish your employees in order to prosper. Here are five ideas for turning them into outstanding performers:
1. Make sure your employees understand the vision you have for your small business.
2. Clarify your expectations, and how you will measure each person’s role.
3. Act like a director…leading them back on track when they stray off script.
4. Use “The Oreo Cookie Approach” to feedback – Compliment / Confront / Compliment.
5. Treat every day like an entertainer would: the joy is in the performance.
Carrie Underwood is the survivor among more than 100,000 wannabes who auditioned for this season’s “American Idol.” The show is a cultural phenomenon that creates a celebrity and makes a lot of money for a lot of people. While your employees may never sing on national television or receive a million-dollar talent contract, if you dedicate time, energy and resources to helping them develop their skills and shoot for the stars, you will be the big winner.
Copyright © 2005 by Success Handler, LLC. All rights reserved.
The Coach, David Handler, is the founder of Success Handler, (http://www.successhandler.com), and specializes in helping small business leaders find clarity and take action. He understands the challenges of running a business, because he’s been there – as a small business owner, franchisee, franchisor, corporate leader and trainer. Much like sports coaches, his coaching will show you how to compete on a level playing field in your industry.
How To Be A Blogging Idol Instead Of An Idle Blogger
To be successful at Search Engine Optimization, it’s important that you continually test out new theories and ideas. Before I use new SEO techniques on a client’s website, I always test them on one of my own. In order to better understand the application of SEO to blogs, I decided to implement the following experiment:
I would create a blog for each American Idol contestant. Using a pseudonym, I would blog each candidate until they got booted off the show.
Once the final 12 candidates were decided, I would step up my posting pace. Being that this was an SEO project, I didn’t aim to provide any valuable insights into the candidates…I only planned to “blurb” news articles that mentioned each contestant.
The goal at the end of the project (besides gaining useful knowledge) was to have 1-2 “sustainable” blogs in place, while generating massive traffic the week of the final show.
Several weeks into the project, I discovered two things:
The Bo Bice Blog received considerably more traffic and better search engine rankings than the other blogs I had created.
Bo Bice was the first Idol contestant in 4 years that TOTALLY ROCKED. I very much wanted him to win.
So, while keeping my SEO experiment going, I decided to really “blog” about Bo Bice. In doing so, I learned many valuable lessons about creating a successful blog that can generate sustainable traffic, including many repeat visits.
Beginners Lessons:
Have a narrow focus: The quickest way to drive traffic to your blog is through excellent search engine rankings. If you blog about lots of unrelated topics, you won’t rank well for any of your key terms. Even if you don’t know much about SEO, you can still create a blog that will rank well in the search engines. Pick a narrow topic and keep your posts on topic. Choose a group of keywords relevant to your chosen topic and make sure you feature these terms prominently in your posts.
Build a base of content: Unless you already have a built-in audience, very few people are going to read your early blog posts because they will be extremely hard to find in either the blogosphere or the search engines. So, save your best content for when you’ve already developed a steady stream of web traffic. Blogging newspaper articles is a good way to build up relevant content quickly. All you need to do is subscribe to Google news alerts to get relevant articles featuring your top keywords. As your receive new articles, create a blog entry for each article, excerpt a relevant snippet (making sure to credit the source), and comment on the piece. This might not be interesting to your readers…but the objective here is to reach a point where you can start creating original, unique content that people will actually read because your blog can be easily found. For the more advanced beginners, adding an RSS feed that is focused on your targeted niche will also be of great value to your blog.
Try to make several posts each week. You’ll be amazed how much content you can build up in a short period of time.
Monetize your blog (if appropriate): I placed a combination of contextual and affiliate advertising on my blog. The advertising revenue on my blog was poor given the amount of traffic I generated…however, if you are blogging successfully in areas of business and technology, you could make a good deal of money from such advertising. Google AdSense is a ubiquitous way for bloggers to earn money from blogging. Once you’ve placed the AdSense javascript snippet in your blog source code, Google’s contextual ad technology will automatically choose ads relevant to your blog content and when someone clicks on the ad, you get paid.
Advanced Techniques:
“Blog and Ping”: There is a reason why news spreads so rapidly through the blogosphere. When you update your blog, depending on your blog host, a “ping” might be sent to one or more blog search engines that track the blogosphere, showing that you’ve made a new post to your blog. People who have subscribed to your blog, or people interested in your blogging topic, can be notified about your post and read it / link to it. An active course of “blogging and pinging” will help greatly in building links to your blog and generating more traffic.
Websites and software exist that will allow you to manually send pings to dozens of known blog search engines. Ping-o-matic is a website that allows you to ping 18 different blog search engines on demand. I’ve been using RSSSubmit from Dummy Software to submit all feeds to over 70 such services at the push of a button.
“Conventional” Link-Building: To maximize your blog search engine rankings, I strongly recommend building links for your blog just as if it were a website. I did not do this for the Bice blog and that oversight (probably) came back to bite me.
Google’s “Bourbon” update hit several days before the American Idol final and this blog was the only “Bourbon” casualty in my entire portfolio…vanishing from Google the Saturday before the final. My intuition (plus other anecdotal evidence) tells me that had I built a foundation of links outside the blogosphere prior to Bourbon, the blog would not have been hit…of course, I’ll never know. The blog reappeared in Google with its excellent search engine ranking 10 days after the Idol final, depriving me of a tremendous volume of Bo Bice web traffic for the time surrounding the final…Thanks, Google:.)
Linkmarket.net is by far the best link-trading site on the Internet. They now have more than 20,000 sites that are potential link partners. For $24.85 per year, you have unlimited ability to trade links with any site on the network. No matter what your site niche is, you should be able to find hundreds of potential trading partners and generate large numbers of inbound links quickly.
Press Releases: Online press releases are an excellent way to generate notice for your blog. I created a press release announcing the launch of the blog, and once I decided to “actively” blog Bo, I wrote a release each week recapping the show and featuring highlights from the blog. Online press releases can get thousands or even tens of thousands of reads…especially if you are writing on a “hot topic”. Many of the press release readers will become blog visitors.
PRWEB and PRLeap are the two most prominent online press release bureaus. Both allow free submission of releases and both allow you to pay for better “placement”. Your press releases will also get spidered into the search engines and (sometimes) will end up in Google or Yahoo News as well. I’ve seen my Bo Bice press releases as high as #3 in Google News for a “Bo Bice” search.
Best Idea Yet
When my blog reached a consistent 500 visitors a day, I decided to actively solicit posts from Bo’s fans. Sure, most blogs give readers the ability to post comments…but I thought that if I ran the comments as actual posts, I could create a “buzz” about the blog and generate large numbers of repeat visits. I ended up getting 5-15 e-mails every day from Bo’s fans wanting their information to be posted on the blog. So long as the post met my minimum blogging criteria, I ran the submission. Traffic spiked immediately and the quality of the submissions was generally excellent.
My idea worked strategically because the readers unknowingly submitted content that was SEO’ed for the keywords that were the focus of my blog… “Bo Bice”. By running reader posts, I generated large amounts of SEO’ed content that helped generate and maintain my top search engine rankings. And, my “Blog and Ping” strategy ensured that each and every new post (several per day) was broadcast all over the Internet.
Top Search Engine Rankings Confer “Authority Status”
For most of the duration of American Idol 4, I ranked #2 -4 in Google, and #6-15 in Yahoo for “Bo Bice” and I learned such rankings conferred an enormous amount of “authority” in my chosen subject. A sampling of my e-mails I received included:
After Bo performed “Vehicle” by “The Ides of March” (the first time), an original member of the band e-mailed a message to Bo’s fans through the blog. He even asked me if I knew how to reach Bo…which I didn’t.
A CBS Early Show Producer contacted my blog to promote Bo’s appearance on the show…asking his fans to show up at their New York studios.
What’s more, I received multiple messages from the person running the AOL American Idol fan poll soliciting votes for Bo.
Results:
Currently, my Bo Bice blog is generating sustainable traffic with very little work on my part (barring any unforeseen search engine calamity). As the American Idol Concert tour rolls this summer and as Bo gets to work on his first post-Idol album, I expect the traffic to increase.
One doesn’t need to be a SEO ace to be able to create a blog that can generate a large number of visitors. Whether you wish to blog for business lead generation, ad revenue, or personal reasons, if you follow the techniques described above, you can create and sustain a well-trafficked blog by following the techniques listed above.
Todd Mintz is the Director of Internet Marketing & Information Systems for S.R. Clarke Inc., a Real Estate Development and Residential / Commercial Construction Executive Search / Recruiting Firm headquartered in Fairfax, VA with offices nationwide. He is also a Director & Founding Member of SEMpdx: Portland, Oregon's Search Engine Marketing Association.
I would create a blog for each American Idol contestant. Using a pseudonym, I would blog each candidate until they got booted off the show.
Once the final 12 candidates were decided, I would step up my posting pace. Being that this was an SEO project, I didn’t aim to provide any valuable insights into the candidates…I only planned to “blurb” news articles that mentioned each contestant.
The goal at the end of the project (besides gaining useful knowledge) was to have 1-2 “sustainable” blogs in place, while generating massive traffic the week of the final show.
Several weeks into the project, I discovered two things:
The Bo Bice Blog received considerably more traffic and better search engine rankings than the other blogs I had created.
Bo Bice was the first Idol contestant in 4 years that TOTALLY ROCKED. I very much wanted him to win.
So, while keeping my SEO experiment going, I decided to really “blog” about Bo Bice. In doing so, I learned many valuable lessons about creating a successful blog that can generate sustainable traffic, including many repeat visits.
Beginners Lessons:
Have a narrow focus: The quickest way to drive traffic to your blog is through excellent search engine rankings. If you blog about lots of unrelated topics, you won’t rank well for any of your key terms. Even if you don’t know much about SEO, you can still create a blog that will rank well in the search engines. Pick a narrow topic and keep your posts on topic. Choose a group of keywords relevant to your chosen topic and make sure you feature these terms prominently in your posts.
Build a base of content: Unless you already have a built-in audience, very few people are going to read your early blog posts because they will be extremely hard to find in either the blogosphere or the search engines. So, save your best content for when you’ve already developed a steady stream of web traffic. Blogging newspaper articles is a good way to build up relevant content quickly. All you need to do is subscribe to Google news alerts to get relevant articles featuring your top keywords. As your receive new articles, create a blog entry for each article, excerpt a relevant snippet (making sure to credit the source), and comment on the piece. This might not be interesting to your readers…but the objective here is to reach a point where you can start creating original, unique content that people will actually read because your blog can be easily found. For the more advanced beginners, adding an RSS feed that is focused on your targeted niche will also be of great value to your blog.
Try to make several posts each week. You’ll be amazed how much content you can build up in a short period of time.
Monetize your blog (if appropriate): I placed a combination of contextual and affiliate advertising on my blog. The advertising revenue on my blog was poor given the amount of traffic I generated…however, if you are blogging successfully in areas of business and technology, you could make a good deal of money from such advertising. Google AdSense is a ubiquitous way for bloggers to earn money from blogging. Once you’ve placed the AdSense javascript snippet in your blog source code, Google’s contextual ad technology will automatically choose ads relevant to your blog content and when someone clicks on the ad, you get paid.
Advanced Techniques:
“Blog and Ping”: There is a reason why news spreads so rapidly through the blogosphere. When you update your blog, depending on your blog host, a “ping” might be sent to one or more blog search engines that track the blogosphere, showing that you’ve made a new post to your blog. People who have subscribed to your blog, or people interested in your blogging topic, can be notified about your post and read it / link to it. An active course of “blogging and pinging” will help greatly in building links to your blog and generating more traffic.
Websites and software exist that will allow you to manually send pings to dozens of known blog search engines. Ping-o-matic is a website that allows you to ping 18 different blog search engines on demand. I’ve been using RSSSubmit from Dummy Software to submit all feeds to over 70 such services at the push of a button.
“Conventional” Link-Building: To maximize your blog search engine rankings, I strongly recommend building links for your blog just as if it were a website. I did not do this for the Bice blog and that oversight (probably) came back to bite me.
Google’s “Bourbon” update hit several days before the American Idol final and this blog was the only “Bourbon” casualty in my entire portfolio…vanishing from Google the Saturday before the final. My intuition (plus other anecdotal evidence) tells me that had I built a foundation of links outside the blogosphere prior to Bourbon, the blog would not have been hit…of course, I’ll never know. The blog reappeared in Google with its excellent search engine ranking 10 days after the Idol final, depriving me of a tremendous volume of Bo Bice web traffic for the time surrounding the final…Thanks, Google:.)
Linkmarket.net is by far the best link-trading site on the Internet. They now have more than 20,000 sites that are potential link partners. For $24.85 per year, you have unlimited ability to trade links with any site on the network. No matter what your site niche is, you should be able to find hundreds of potential trading partners and generate large numbers of inbound links quickly.
Press Releases: Online press releases are an excellent way to generate notice for your blog. I created a press release announcing the launch of the blog, and once I decided to “actively” blog Bo, I wrote a release each week recapping the show and featuring highlights from the blog. Online press releases can get thousands or even tens of thousands of reads…especially if you are writing on a “hot topic”. Many of the press release readers will become blog visitors.
PRWEB and PRLeap are the two most prominent online press release bureaus. Both allow free submission of releases and both allow you to pay for better “placement”. Your press releases will also get spidered into the search engines and (sometimes) will end up in Google or Yahoo News as well. I’ve seen my Bo Bice press releases as high as #3 in Google News for a “Bo Bice” search.
Best Idea Yet
When my blog reached a consistent 500 visitors a day, I decided to actively solicit posts from Bo’s fans. Sure, most blogs give readers the ability to post comments…but I thought that if I ran the comments as actual posts, I could create a “buzz” about the blog and generate large numbers of repeat visits. I ended up getting 5-15 e-mails every day from Bo’s fans wanting their information to be posted on the blog. So long as the post met my minimum blogging criteria, I ran the submission. Traffic spiked immediately and the quality of the submissions was generally excellent.
My idea worked strategically because the readers unknowingly submitted content that was SEO’ed for the keywords that were the focus of my blog… “Bo Bice”. By running reader posts, I generated large amounts of SEO’ed content that helped generate and maintain my top search engine rankings. And, my “Blog and Ping” strategy ensured that each and every new post (several per day) was broadcast all over the Internet.
Top Search Engine Rankings Confer “Authority Status”
For most of the duration of American Idol 4, I ranked #2 -4 in Google, and #6-15 in Yahoo for “Bo Bice” and I learned such rankings conferred an enormous amount of “authority” in my chosen subject. A sampling of my e-mails I received included:
After Bo performed “Vehicle” by “The Ides of March” (the first time), an original member of the band e-mailed a message to Bo’s fans through the blog. He even asked me if I knew how to reach Bo…which I didn’t.
A CBS Early Show Producer contacted my blog to promote Bo’s appearance on the show…asking his fans to show up at their New York studios.
What’s more, I received multiple messages from the person running the AOL American Idol fan poll soliciting votes for Bo.
Results:
Currently, my Bo Bice blog is generating sustainable traffic with very little work on my part (barring any unforeseen search engine calamity). As the American Idol Concert tour rolls this summer and as Bo gets to work on his first post-Idol album, I expect the traffic to increase.
One doesn’t need to be a SEO ace to be able to create a blog that can generate a large number of visitors. Whether you wish to blog for business lead generation, ad revenue, or personal reasons, if you follow the techniques described above, you can create and sustain a well-trafficked blog by following the techniques listed above.
Todd Mintz is the Director of Internet Marketing & Information Systems for S.R. Clarke Inc., a Real Estate Development and Residential / Commercial Construction Executive Search / Recruiting Firm headquartered in Fairfax, VA with offices nationwide. He is also a Director & Founding Member of SEMpdx: Portland, Oregon's Search Engine Marketing Association.
Let's Elect Presidents American Idol Style
I am tired of the way politicians run the way we elect a president. Wait, you thought you had a say in all this?
I'm tired of the Obama/Clinton and bystanders dog and pony show. Meaningless drivel. Debates. Ha. It's like watching Judge Judy or The People's Court! Election debates, like advertising in America has fallen to the level of the people who watch it, which is why we click through it. You'd have to have a pretty simple mind, or a Family Guy/Simpson's mind to believe that the orchestrated "electiontainment" we view on TV actually constitutes meaningful discourse on which we make decisions. Back up. Remember. Americans don't make decisions. We don't make choices. We are not proactive. We are reactive, and let things like George Bush, Bill Clinton, Barak Obama and Hillary Clinton happen to us.
Like Zig Ziglar says. Americans don't make choices. "We get up everyday no closer to hitting goals we never set for ourselves in the first place." Then we protect the candidate we believe should be the next President. Get real. Voting for next President of the United States has become something akin to going door-to-door soliciting small B2B accounts for Staples or Office Depot. As soon as you walk in the receptionists say, "No thank you. The bosses like Office Depot and I know they don't want to change." What? You think all these guys woke up this morning with the first conscious thought on their mind being, "Today I am going to defend my current office supply company to the death.!?" They just don't like you. And our choice in candidates is not a choice. It is the lesser of two evils. They are not leaders and most of us pick a candidate based upon who we think will do the least additional harm. Leader of the free world. Not. Presidents should be picked under the criteria "Entertainer of the Year.
We should do away with the electoral college, primaries and caucus states as they bear little resemblance to the popular vote. Bush lost the popular vote. Instead, think more in terms of voting on American Idol. Lets just have the candidates perform over a sixteen episode season and America can text in the winners of each week's competition. Then again, would Taylor Hicks be better? Doughtry seemed to do OK. Let's call the show American President. Anyone in Hollywood want to help me produce the show with Simon Cowel as one of the judges? Who cares how old the voters are who text in. We have adults voting now and we pick unqualified on-the-job-trained Presidents.
Martin Calle is Chief Creation Strategist at Calle & Company, the consumer packaged good industry's leading innovation management, knowledge creation business transformation company. Calle & Company invents, and reinvents, the world's most powerful consumer products, brands and categories specializing in new product concept development, new category and segmentation creation, breakthrough new product positioning and elemental product, packaging and delivery system design. Martin Calle's after-market creativity impacts today's corporate consumer brand portfolios significantly.
I'm tired of the Obama/Clinton and bystanders dog and pony show. Meaningless drivel. Debates. Ha. It's like watching Judge Judy or The People's Court! Election debates, like advertising in America has fallen to the level of the people who watch it, which is why we click through it. You'd have to have a pretty simple mind, or a Family Guy/Simpson's mind to believe that the orchestrated "electiontainment" we view on TV actually constitutes meaningful discourse on which we make decisions. Back up. Remember. Americans don't make decisions. We don't make choices. We are not proactive. We are reactive, and let things like George Bush, Bill Clinton, Barak Obama and Hillary Clinton happen to us.
Like Zig Ziglar says. Americans don't make choices. "We get up everyday no closer to hitting goals we never set for ourselves in the first place." Then we protect the candidate we believe should be the next President. Get real. Voting for next President of the United States has become something akin to going door-to-door soliciting small B2B accounts for Staples or Office Depot. As soon as you walk in the receptionists say, "No thank you. The bosses like Office Depot and I know they don't want to change." What? You think all these guys woke up this morning with the first conscious thought on their mind being, "Today I am going to defend my current office supply company to the death.!?" They just don't like you. And our choice in candidates is not a choice. It is the lesser of two evils. They are not leaders and most of us pick a candidate based upon who we think will do the least additional harm. Leader of the free world. Not. Presidents should be picked under the criteria "Entertainer of the Year.
We should do away with the electoral college, primaries and caucus states as they bear little resemblance to the popular vote. Bush lost the popular vote. Instead, think more in terms of voting on American Idol. Lets just have the candidates perform over a sixteen episode season and America can text in the winners of each week's competition. Then again, would Taylor Hicks be better? Doughtry seemed to do OK. Let's call the show American President. Anyone in Hollywood want to help me produce the show with Simon Cowel as one of the judges? Who cares how old the voters are who text in. We have adults voting now and we pick unqualified on-the-job-trained Presidents.
Martin Calle is Chief Creation Strategist at Calle & Company, the consumer packaged good industry's leading innovation management, knowledge creation business transformation company. Calle & Company invents, and reinvents, the world's most powerful consumer products, brands and categories specializing in new product concept development, new category and segmentation creation, breakthrough new product positioning and elemental product, packaging and delivery system design. Martin Calle's after-market creativity impacts today's corporate consumer brand portfolios significantly.
Filipina Dating - Four Qualities Of Filipino Girls
Are you looking for a Filipino girl? If you have Filipino friends then you already know what are Filipino girls like. However, for the benefit of those still searching and looking for a Filipino girl, these are some qualities you would surely like to know.
First, Filipino girls are known for their exotic oriental beauty and sweetness. There are many beautiful Filipinas who are famous worldwide, and have won international awards on beauty contests.
Some very popular Filipino Americans have even made it to Hollywood and American television, like Vanessa Anne Hudgens, Tia Carrere, Phoebe Cates, Reggie Lee who played Bill Kim in "Prison Break (Season 2)", Victoria Principal of "Dallas", Victoria Recaño of "CSI: Miami", Rob Schneider of "Saturday Night Live", Anna Maria Perez de Tagle who played Ashley from "Hannah Montana", Tamlyn Tomita of "The Joy Luck Club" and "The Karate Kid - Part II", Cheryl Burke who is a participant in "Dancing with the Stars", Vanessa Minnillo and many others.
In the international music industry, there are the likes of Allan Pineda of The Black Eyed Peas, Kirk Hammett who is the lead guitarist for Metallica, Enrique Iglesias, Julio Iglesias Jr., Nicole Scherzinger who is the lead singer for the Pussycat Dolls, and many others. Filipino Americans who were "American Idol" contestants includes Jasmine Trias of American Idol (Season 3), Camile Velasco of American Idol (Season 3), Melinda Lira of American Idol (season 4) and Ramiele Malubay of American Idol (Season 7). Also the first Asian supermodel in the 1980s who is Anna Bayle, and the famous Hollywood Fashion Designer Monique Lhuillier, who was born and raised in the Philippine province of Cebu, are both Filipino Americans.
Second, Filipino girls are not only beautiful, but are also charming and cheerful. Filipinas have a positive disposition in life making them delightful and friendly.
Third, the Filipino girl is often times conservative about how she conducts herself, particularly in public. A Filipino girl is usually prim and proper in her actions. This is because the Philippines is a country with many old fashioned ways.
In the courtship aspect, a real Filipina from the Philippines will respect her elders, have close family ties, strong religious beliefs, and will take a man seriously if only he is really willing to visit her family and introduce himself formally to her parents. It is considered disrespectful if a man courts a Filipino girl without informing her parents! In the Philippines, you should know that it is always expected that the man must show his face to the Filipina girl's family or else her whole family will not approve of you!
With that, Filipina women are expected to be playing hard to get. It is also one way by which the Filipina woman can measure the sincerity of her man. Love and romance is a very serious matter with conservative Filipina women, whether they are from a city like Manila, Cebu or the provinces.
Fourth, many Filipino girls have a heart of gold. They are also very sweet, loving, romantic, loyal and really faithful to the man they love. So, if you want to marry a Filipino girl, you should win the love in her Filipina heart, and you can have your Filipina beauty as your Filipino bride. However, be patient in your courtship and be really sincere in your intentions and you will surely win the love of her Filipina heart.
So, if you are looking for a Filipino girl as a girlfriend, or to be your future Filipino bride, do not wait for it to happen to you. Take action now.
Join online Filipino dating sites and meet the Filipino girl of your dreams!
Looiking for a Filipina? Visit http://www.filipinakisses.com and meet single Filipino girls for Filipina dating, online chat, serious relationship or more! Good luck!
Get your copy of The Western Man's Guide for Finding a Filipina Bride
First, Filipino girls are known for their exotic oriental beauty and sweetness. There are many beautiful Filipinas who are famous worldwide, and have won international awards on beauty contests.
Some very popular Filipino Americans have even made it to Hollywood and American television, like Vanessa Anne Hudgens, Tia Carrere, Phoebe Cates, Reggie Lee who played Bill Kim in "Prison Break (Season 2)", Victoria Principal of "Dallas", Victoria Recaño of "CSI: Miami", Rob Schneider of "Saturday Night Live", Anna Maria Perez de Tagle who played Ashley from "Hannah Montana", Tamlyn Tomita of "The Joy Luck Club" and "The Karate Kid - Part II", Cheryl Burke who is a participant in "Dancing with the Stars", Vanessa Minnillo and many others.
In the international music industry, there are the likes of Allan Pineda of The Black Eyed Peas, Kirk Hammett who is the lead guitarist for Metallica, Enrique Iglesias, Julio Iglesias Jr., Nicole Scherzinger who is the lead singer for the Pussycat Dolls, and many others. Filipino Americans who were "American Idol" contestants includes Jasmine Trias of American Idol (Season 3), Camile Velasco of American Idol (Season 3), Melinda Lira of American Idol (season 4) and Ramiele Malubay of American Idol (Season 7). Also the first Asian supermodel in the 1980s who is Anna Bayle, and the famous Hollywood Fashion Designer Monique Lhuillier, who was born and raised in the Philippine province of Cebu, are both Filipino Americans.
Second, Filipino girls are not only beautiful, but are also charming and cheerful. Filipinas have a positive disposition in life making them delightful and friendly.
Third, the Filipino girl is often times conservative about how she conducts herself, particularly in public. A Filipino girl is usually prim and proper in her actions. This is because the Philippines is a country with many old fashioned ways.
In the courtship aspect, a real Filipina from the Philippines will respect her elders, have close family ties, strong religious beliefs, and will take a man seriously if only he is really willing to visit her family and introduce himself formally to her parents. It is considered disrespectful if a man courts a Filipino girl without informing her parents! In the Philippines, you should know that it is always expected that the man must show his face to the Filipina girl's family or else her whole family will not approve of you!
With that, Filipina women are expected to be playing hard to get. It is also one way by which the Filipina woman can measure the sincerity of her man. Love and romance is a very serious matter with conservative Filipina women, whether they are from a city like Manila, Cebu or the provinces.
Fourth, many Filipino girls have a heart of gold. They are also very sweet, loving, romantic, loyal and really faithful to the man they love. So, if you want to marry a Filipino girl, you should win the love in her Filipina heart, and you can have your Filipina beauty as your Filipino bride. However, be patient in your courtship and be really sincere in your intentions and you will surely win the love of her Filipina heart.
So, if you are looking for a Filipino girl as a girlfriend, or to be your future Filipino bride, do not wait for it to happen to you. Take action now.
Join online Filipino dating sites and meet the Filipino girl of your dreams!
Looiking for a Filipina? Visit http://www.filipinakisses.com and meet single Filipino girls for Filipina dating, online chat, serious relationship or more! Good luck!
Get your copy of The Western Man's Guide for Finding a Filipina Bride
Does Clay Aiken Have a Girlfriend?
Does Clay Aiken have a girlfriend? The popular singer who first came to fame on the second season of television's American Idol didn't talk about women for a long time saying he preferred to keep that aspect of his life private. But in a 2008 interview, he admitted that he was gay.
Aiken didn't win on American Idol - he came in second to Ruben Stoddard, but RCA still offered him a contract. His first solo item was called "The Measure of a Man." This album debuted at #1 on the Billboard Chart and sold more than 600,000 copies in its first week.
Since then, he's recorded four more albums. They are: Merry Christmas with Love (2004), A Thousand Different Ways (2006), All is Well (2006), and On My Way Here (2008).
He's been on television since his debut on American Idol. He has been on both Saturday Night Live and the Tonight Show.
Does Clay Aiken have a girlfriend? Well, on Saturday Night Live, he was in a skit where star Jimmy Kimmel's then girlfriend (Sarah Silverman) admitted to having an affair with the singer. But that was a joke.
He does have a son, Parker Foster Aiken, with the woman who was the executive producer of his last three albums, Jaymes Foster.
Clay Aiken has also returned to American Idol from time to time. He appeared in season 5 on a night when all of the singers featured his music. He also provided the voice over for the 2007 AI Rewind show.
When you ask "Does Clay Aiken have a girlfriend" you may be missing the point of his music. The pop star has a musical gift that he chooses to keep separate from his private life.
Want the latest music from Clay Aiken? Get 25 Free MP3s now!
Aiken didn't win on American Idol - he came in second to Ruben Stoddard, but RCA still offered him a contract. His first solo item was called "The Measure of a Man." This album debuted at #1 on the Billboard Chart and sold more than 600,000 copies in its first week.
Since then, he's recorded four more albums. They are: Merry Christmas with Love (2004), A Thousand Different Ways (2006), All is Well (2006), and On My Way Here (2008).
He's been on television since his debut on American Idol. He has been on both Saturday Night Live and the Tonight Show.
Does Clay Aiken have a girlfriend? Well, on Saturday Night Live, he was in a skit where star Jimmy Kimmel's then girlfriend (Sarah Silverman) admitted to having an affair with the singer. But that was a joke.
He does have a son, Parker Foster Aiken, with the woman who was the executive producer of his last three albums, Jaymes Foster.
Clay Aiken has also returned to American Idol from time to time. He appeared in season 5 on a night when all of the singers featured his music. He also provided the voice over for the 2007 AI Rewind show.
When you ask "Does Clay Aiken have a girlfriend" you may be missing the point of his music. The pop star has a musical gift that he chooses to keep separate from his private life.
Want the latest music from Clay Aiken? Get 25 Free MP3s now!
Watch American Ingenuity at Work on Satellite TV
Imagination and Creativity! Those are the most critical components behind the popularity of the reality TV show American Inventor. Get inspired by watching on satellite TV as ordinary people turn their ideas into revolutionary new products. American inventor, the name of the show, is a dead giveaway for the general idea - inventions made by American entrepreneurs - but it doesn't fully explain the whimsical appeal of the show itself. Invention is transformed into competition, as 12 Americans, selected from hundreds of entrants, try to make their own invention the best of all.
The format of the show allows for a keen understanding of each personality and project. The group of inventors selected are split up into groups of three, and each show then focuses on one group at a time as the three people compete against one another. Each creator is given a budget of $50,000 dollars to optimize their invention â€" an amount that can be plenty or insufficient depending on the techniques and materials involved for each tool, product or toy. Some are eliminated during each episode while others move towards the top prize.
Some sassy Brits are the brains behind American Inventor. It was created by Peter Jones, who participated in a similar version in the UK, and produced by the same people who brought us American Idol, including - you guessed it - Simon Cowell. Their success with other reality shows is evidence enough that this show has got a lot to offer. There have been just two seasons thus far, and with any luck they will return with a third season soon.
The inventions on the show range from the weird to the everyday. Some are so simple and unexpected as to be a real contribution to society. A Season One competitor produced a training vest that helps athletes learn to catch a football, particularly aimed at helping receivers. The product is getting an endorsement from Jerry Rice and will actually get manufactured and be available for purchase in the future.
There are other excellent inventions: Who doesn't want a clip to use when the lock on a bathroom door is broken? And no doubt the world would benefit from a toilet that stopped the spread of bacteria when it flushed. In season two there was a breathtaking invention that certainly deserved to win - a convertible and backless bra made by contestant Elaine Cato. Happily, even without winning it still piqued the interest of several manufacturers and is now sold by Maidenform. That's the beauty of the show - although there is indeed a winner who carries away a cool million in business resources and support, most of the inventions are useful and clever enough that they get picked up by big brands and are successfully developed into reality.
Trying to find the best Direct TV deals? Whitney Alen can help. She's a whiz when it comes to satellite TV and everything related to it - Direct TV HD programming, packages and equipment.
The format of the show allows for a keen understanding of each personality and project. The group of inventors selected are split up into groups of three, and each show then focuses on one group at a time as the three people compete against one another. Each creator is given a budget of $50,000 dollars to optimize their invention â€" an amount that can be plenty or insufficient depending on the techniques and materials involved for each tool, product or toy. Some are eliminated during each episode while others move towards the top prize.
Some sassy Brits are the brains behind American Inventor. It was created by Peter Jones, who participated in a similar version in the UK, and produced by the same people who brought us American Idol, including - you guessed it - Simon Cowell. Their success with other reality shows is evidence enough that this show has got a lot to offer. There have been just two seasons thus far, and with any luck they will return with a third season soon.
The inventions on the show range from the weird to the everyday. Some are so simple and unexpected as to be a real contribution to society. A Season One competitor produced a training vest that helps athletes learn to catch a football, particularly aimed at helping receivers. The product is getting an endorsement from Jerry Rice and will actually get manufactured and be available for purchase in the future.
There are other excellent inventions: Who doesn't want a clip to use when the lock on a bathroom door is broken? And no doubt the world would benefit from a toilet that stopped the spread of bacteria when it flushed. In season two there was a breathtaking invention that certainly deserved to win - a convertible and backless bra made by contestant Elaine Cato. Happily, even without winning it still piqued the interest of several manufacturers and is now sold by Maidenform. That's the beauty of the show - although there is indeed a winner who carries away a cool million in business resources and support, most of the inventions are useful and clever enough that they get picked up by big brands and are successfully developed into reality.
Trying to find the best Direct TV deals? Whitney Alen can help. She's a whiz when it comes to satellite TV and everything related to it - Direct TV HD programming, packages and equipment.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
