Celebrity Resources.

Niche dating websites increasingly help picky singles find love

noreply@blogger.com (Millionaire Blogger) — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 10:09:00 +0000

Tired of sifting through hundreds of prospects in the Internet equivalent of a human supermarket, online daters are flocking to boutique-style sites that promise a choosier range of options.

The trend started by catering to specific religions and cultures (JDate for Jewish singles was an early example and is still one of the largest, with about 700,000 members), but there are now sites that revolve around occupations, hobbies, hair colours, diseases and disabilities.

"Online dating, back when it originally was taking off, was a large one-size-fits all mentality," says Michael Carter, president of Passions Network Inc., a New York-based company with 110 niche sites. "Every day there are new sites out there that are focused on specific niche markets - it seems to be all the buzz."

His company runs dating and social networking sites for Scientologists, atheists, gun lovers, horror fans, believers in the paranormal and redhead enthusiasts, along with more mainstream "solid demographic slices." The sites are interconnected, so mustachioed vegan baby boomers can jump between sites reflecting their various interests.

The entire network's membership is about 700,000 people - including tens of thousands of Canadians - and that's been doubling each year, Carter says.

"The underlying concept is that it should be easier to break the ice with people if you share something in common," he says.

But the appeal goes beyond icebreakers, says Gail Laguna, vice-president of corporate communications for Spark Networks, which runs JDate, Asian Singles Connection, Deaf Singles Connection and Military Singles Connection, along with nearly 30 others. Their network includes millions of members and tens of thousands of Canadians, she says, and they generally attract singles looking for serious long-term relationships.

"When it comes time to get married and raise a family, things like religion, ethnicity, traditions, religious practicing habits - they all come into play," she says. "If you're just casually dating, these things are less important to you."

For Burnaby, B.C. resident Linda Schmidt, her faith is so central to her life that it only made sense to look for love on Christian Mingle.

"I'm a Christian and I wanted to find someone who was a Christian, so I didn't really want to waste any time on other sites where I might meet people who weren't," the 35-year-old says.

Three years ago, she went on a first date to a baseball game with Greg. They got engaged five months later, married five months after that and are now parents to 10-month-old Chloe.

"I didn't want to waste a year and a half or two years dating someone if I knew I was going to marry them," says Greg, 33.

In the couple's social circle are three other married pairs who met on eHarmony, a site that uses a complex matching system to let singles specify exactly what they're seeking. Another couple met on the same site that brought the Schmidts together.
"We're two for two!" Linda says, laughing.

About 10,000 Canadians belong to Millionaire Cupid, 26,000 to JDate and 12,000 to Seek Wealthy, Laguna says.

For Nancy Fitch, joining Green Singles in her search for "someone fabulous" meant she was more likely to find a match who shared her Earth-friendly outlook and a strong set of personal values. The 39-year-old's job as a rural family doctor bonds her to a small Northern Ontario community with limited dating options, so she was open to the idea of establishing a long-distance connection with the right person.

The enviro-focused website produced a smaller pool of prospects than she found on the large general dating sites, she says, but the quality was much higher.

"The people were so appealing to me," she says.

Fitch is now "three dates down, really looking forward to the fourth date," with a man she met on Green Singles. Getting ready for the fourth date will take more preparation than for most, however: it's her turn to make the 1,000-kilometre trek to visit him in southern Ontario.

A site for every sweetheart:

The Internet is crowded with increasingly specific dating sites, some lighthearted and others earnest:

-- Millionaire Cupid (www.millionairecupid.com), for those millionaires and successful singles:

"Millionairecupid.com is the best, largest and most successful millionaire dating site in the world!"

-- Science Connection (www.sciconnect.com), for those interested in science and nature:

"The world is a crowded Petri dish, and yet for those of an intellectual bent who happen to be single, it's not easy, especially past university age, to find that certain microbe for a great symbiotic relationship."

-- Seek Wealthy (www.seekwealthy.com) For those ladies who wants to find wealthy men:

"the premier dating site catering to "wealth and beauty" - relationships between celebrities, wealthy men and beautiful women."

-- Act For Love (www.actforlove.org), for left-leaning activists:

"Activist? Leftist? Take action, get action!"

-- Lovebird (www.lovebyrd.com), for singles with a disability:

"Lovebryd's goal is to provide a first class dating service and social networking website to individuals living with a condition that makes it difficult to meet and connect with other people."

-- Single Parents Mingle (www.singleparentsmingle.com):

"Online personals site for parents without partners who know how tough single parenting can be. If you are a single mom or dad join today to find friendship, understanding, love, and romance."

-- Pets Passions (www.petspassions.com), for pet lovers, with separate groups for cat and dog people:

"Cat allergies? Dog allergies? Use the pet groups to know ahead of time just what you might be getting yourself into. Whether you are looking for romance or a breeding partner (for your pet)... Pets Passions is the site for you."

-- Pirate Passions (www.piratespassions.com), for "pirates and pirates at heart":

"Ahoy, me Hearrrties! If ye be seekin' booty, ye be havin' come t' th' right place... Come 'crrross buccaneers, salty dogs, saucy wenches, rum lovers an' treasure hunters."

Prince Harry's love life on rocks?

noreply@blogger.com (Millionaire Blogger) — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 08:12:00 +0000

It seems all's not well between Prince Harry and his girlfriend Chelsy Davy.

Recently, the Royal's ladylove walked out following a humiliating public bust-up. The row blew up at a charity polo match just as the prince was about to take the field. "Chelsy sat there for about two minutes with a face like thunder and then she walked out," the Daily Star quoted a source, as saying.

Harry knew about it when he couldn't find Chelsy at the exclusive Beaufort Polo Club near Tetbury, Glos. "He grabbed his phone and started texting like mad but she didn't surface again and he left the club as soon as he could," the source added.

Earlier, there were rumours that the couple was arguing over his lifestyle as an Army officer. While Chelsy sticks to her studies at Leeds University, Harry can't resist going clubbing with his pals and posted his profile at a wealthy men dating club named SeekWealthy.com. His picture is firstly recongnised by Christina, a user of this dating club.

A friend of Chelsy's said, "Harry is incorrigible. He is at that age when he likes drinking with his mates and Chelsy will have to resign herself to that or it will be over."

Internet Dating & Online Dating

Feel free to check my blog here:

http://link.millionairecupid.com

Has reality TV hit rock bottom?

noreply@blogger.com (Millionaire Blogger) — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 09:31:00 +0000

(Millionaire Cupid News)Maybe you thought reality TV hit the lowest of the low when "Fear Factor" contestants devoured cockroaches, or when gold diggers paraded their wares in hopes of marrying a millionaire, or when Tila Tequila got a second shot at "love" with 10 guys and 10 girls.

Those shows look like "Masterpiece Theater" compared to what's coming.

Take, for instance, "Hurl," an eating-and-regurgitating competition in which contestants gorge themselves on everything from chicken pot pies to peanut butter sandwiches, then get strapped into spinning contraptions -- whoever vomits last wins.

Also in store for this summer: "Wipeout," in which contestants try to surmount obstacles that include giant, mud-covered "dirty balls" only to fall flat on their faces, and "Greatest American Dog," in which canines that could care less about TV are forced to compete with each other.

Then there's Nicole Richie. Famous solely for her friendship with Paris Hilton and their reality series "The Simple Life," Richie is reportedly shopping a show that would scour the nation for the next & Nicole Richie. According to EW.com, the show would take seven girls and test their ability to turn from small-town nobody into star, no talent required. The winner would be granted -- what else? -- her own reality show.

Sound like reality TV's running out of ideas? John de Mol seems to think so. De Mol, co-founder of the international media giant Endemol (responsible for hits such as "Deal or No Deal," "Big Brother" and "Fear Factor"), has started a Web site, TalpaCreative.com, to solicit show concepts from fans.

Is this it? Has the genre been tapped? Is the end to reality TV's reign of terror near?

No. If you think we've hit rock bottom, you ain't seen nothing yet.

"When Lindsay Lohan's mom gets a reality show, something's terribly wrong," David Bianculli, TV critic for NPR's "Fresh Air" and tvworthwatching.com, said about Dina Lohan's E! reality show. "This is not bottom of the barrel, this is excavating beneath the barrel. I don't think we're done yet. The question is, how deep can we go as we move towards the center of the earth?"

"If you lose on 'The Bachelor,' you become the bachelorette," he continued. "It's like a hydra you cut off one head and two more take its place."

There are a couple of reasons reality series won't soon stop spawning. As depraved and trite as some shows may seem, they're guaranteed to get someone's attention. "America's Got Talent" may be a sloppy Joe to "American Idol" and a local carnival freak show, but it was TV's top-rated series last summer, averaging 11.5 million viewers, and is poised to draw as big an audience this season. Plus, reality series are, as a rule, cheaper for networks to produce than scripted shows (no A-list talent or writers to pay), and they're showing they can continue to reap revenue in syndication.

"They've started to show a little bit of afterlife. Cable shows are running reality marathons, so reality's seeming more repeatable than it used to be," said James Hibberd of The Hollywood Reporter. "I don't see reality going out of favor anytime soon, especially as ratings for the broadcast networks are eroding and the cost of producing a scripted show is going up. There's no way you can't do the less expensive, unscripted shows."

Back in 1992, when Jonathan Murray pitched a show about seven strangers picked to live in a house, the idea was revolutionary. Today, were it not for its 20-season history, he's not sure "The Real World" would survive alongside the likes of "Flavor of Love" and "The Moment of Truth."

"'The Real World's' almost looking pure compared to a lot of what's on," he said. "It's difficult because everyone's trying to be louder than the next guy to get attention. There's this feeling that the concept has to be really loud to break through the clutter. You're trying to stand out. You want something that can be put into a great 30-second promo."

"There are still standards out there," he added. "But as these cable networks try to differentiate themselves from others, the standards will bend too."

"Hurl!" (premiering July 15 on the basic cable network G4) is an example of that. Ten years ago, it would have been out of the question to base a TV show around vomit. Today, a little artful editing allows it to star in its own reality series.

"Vomit on-screen is covered by animated buckets with a one- to five-bucket rating system," said Dale Roy Robinson, who developed and executive produces "Hurl!" with Tom Crehan. "Actually, the show has very little to do with vomit, and everything to do with competition and camaraderie. It's like a college dare all grown up into its own TV show. It's nothing different from what fraternity boys do."

Crehan added, "It's more wholesome and uplifting than any dating show you'd care to make."

Upchuck uplifting? Pardon the pun, but the concept's a little hard to keep down. Bianculli isn't sure viewers will continue to gravitate to extreme, outlandish competition shows like "Hurl!" despite the "Wow, I've never seen that on TV before!" factor.

"If 15 things come down the pike, they're going to close their eyes to all 15 of them, unless one leaps out," he said. "It's too much and too little at the same time."

The only way to get rid of reality TV may be a scandal the likes of which the genre has never seen. Darva Conger's annulling her marriage to Rick Rockwell days after marrying him on "Who Wants to Marry a Multi-Millionaire?" didn't do it; nor did evidence that multiple scenes from "The Hills" have been staged and re-shot. It has to be bigger.

"It's hard to root for death," Bianculli said, "but there has to be something short of that."

Internet Dating & Online Dating

Feel free to check my blog here:

http://link.millionairecupid.com

How dating online could be improved by video email and video chat.

noreply@blogger.com (Millionaire Blogger) — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 08:05:00 +0000

The world has become a smaller place with the advent of the internet. With the telephone, one could only talk to a person far away; however, with video communication, one can both see and talk to a loved one living far away. Moreover, with the various video communication media available like video email and video chat, there is a lower chance of any misunderstandings occurring here than when one communicates through the telephone.

Nowadays you can not only communicate with your loved ones, but those singles out there can also make and get to know partners through the numerous dating websites found on the internet. This form of socializing is one of the best ways a person too busy with their career to find a partner, possibly a life partner! When looking for a partner on the internet, you usually meet the person with similar interests as all your basic information has to be given to the dating service. This is the greatest advantage of internet dating; instead of getting hooked on someone because of love at first sight, with internet dating, you get to learn about the temperaments and nature of the person before actually meeting. With internet dating, there is no need of waiting for one to make the first move. There is no nervousness to hide and you can seem cool and collected to your partner, no matter how nervous you may actually be! However it is very important that you provide honest information about yourself to the online dating site so that you will get the perfect match for you. Inaccurate information only leads to an inaccurate match!

Once you find your partner through the internet, it is important for you to meet to get to see each other. There have been occasions where on meeting; you find that this is not the person I had envisioned through our online dating! Now that you have met, and you are happy with each other, you have to develop a perfect love relationship to confirm a long time relationship. Loving someone when dating is rather easy; however to become a serious couple, you have to have a serious love relationship that may prove to be an uphill task.

Make sure you are compatible with the person you date; having the same taste of food and pets does not promise a long-term love relationship. There is more to life than this! You have to have the capacity of forgiving each other for certain mistakes while also have your say on some manners you are not happy with. You have to basically ask the right questions at the right time to get to know each other better.

It is very important that you remain honest, understanding and committed to your partner during the span of your relationship. Remember, both of you have the same rights of giving and accepting opinions about your relationship!

You could perhaps add some romance to your lives by springing some nice surprises on each other, when life gets dull. You could shower some gifts on your partner, go for a romantic, candlelit evening diner or even send flowers to brighten your partner's day! So with some romance in the air, a good understanding of each other's nature and temperament will help in creating a long, lifetime love relationship for both of you!

Internet Dating & Online Dating

Feel free to check my blog here:

http://link.millionairecupid.com

Millionaire Baby boomers look to settle down

noreply@blogger.com (Millionaire Blogger) — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 03:13:00 +0000

As many babyboomers begin to settle into their 50's and 60's, dating lives are reborn.

Babyboomer singles are becoming a serious force in online dating, as many decide to give finding love a second, third, or fourth chance. There are lots of millionaire babyboomers out there who have lived through the 60's, experienced the free love, the cold war, and pretty much every career scenario you can think of, and are finally ready to settle down.

Most babyboomers are considered "middle-class", but whether it came from a considerable inheritence, or perhaps hard work, some boomers fall within the baby booomer millionaire category. These millionaire boomers are hitting the dating game hard, showing off their private jets, brand new Jaguars, and million-dollar estates.

So get used to online baby boomer dating revolution, it's here to stay- at least for another few decades.

Internet Dating & Online Dating

Feel free to check my blog here:

http://link.millionairecupid.com

http://www.wealthychats.com

Millionaire Dating: How to find rich wealthy men online and fall in love.

noreply@blogger.com (Luxury) — Fri, 09 May 2008 03:00:00 +0000

Online dating can introduce you to people you may not otherwise meet. However, finding the right person takes some time. Browsing through the ads is fun, but if you want to find a financially secure mate, narrow your search and join an online site that will put you in touch with wealthy men.

Join the right dating service. There are a few online sites that cater to the wealthy single men you want to meet. Browse the professional millionaire dating sites like MillionaireCupid.com and WealthyChats.com will make your dating journey of wealthy men easier. Once you find a site that's right for you, prepare your profile. Post some great photos of you doing things you enjoy. Include a great head shot and a variety of backdrops and outfits. Fill out the profile. Talk about what you like to do with your time and the things you'd like to accomplish. Wealthy men want worldly women, so keep it smart and simple and limit the flirty romance talk till later. At last, make sure you are very clear of what your goal is. Do you want a husband or a gift giver? If it's long term you are looking for, present yourself as intelligent and professional, with your own goals and dreams. Want a short term romance? Just keep it light and fun.

Women looking to date rich, wealthy singles and gorgeous men online. You are not the only one who wants to find a millionaire and fall in love. So you need to do more than just sign up for a free membership, you need to be pro-active, send emails and make sure your profile stands out from the rest. Interested now? Just do it!

Celebrity dating news: Scarlett Johansson to wed Ryan Reynolds

noreply@blogger.com (Luxury) — Wed, 07 May 2008 07:20:00 +0000

HOLLYWOOD screen beauty Scarlett Johansson is to marry Canadian boyfriend Ryan Reynolds after a year-long relationship, a spokesman for the actress confirmed today. Johansson, 23, the star of The Nanny Diaries, Lost In Translation and Match Point, was said to be "thrilled" at the engagement, representative Marcel Pariseau said in a email to Agence-France Presse. No wedding date has yet been set.

According to Celebrity site millionairecupid.com, Reynolds, 31, whose films include Blade Trinity, and Definitely Maybe, popped the question recently. Appropriately, Reynolds is working on a film called The Proposal, People said.

The Vancouver-born hunk was previously engaged to Canadian singer-songwriter Alanis Morissette from 2004 until their reported split in 2006.

Johansson has recently signalled her intention to branch out by pursuing a music career. Her debut album, Anywhere I Lay My Head, is due out on May 20.

Her next film appearance comes in Woody Allen's Vicky Cristina Barcelona, her third collaboration with the veteran New York director following 2005's Scoop and Match Point the following year.

Lonely Matthew Perry using millionaire dating website

noreply@blogger.com (Luxury) — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 08:57:00 +0000

Unlucky in love Matthew Perry is so desperate and dateless he's using dating site millionairecupid.com. He is found there with a gorgeous profile posted.

Our spy tells us the lovable Friend describes himself as "cute and adorable, though pained and lonely."

From mirror.co.uk.

Halle Berry's Baby Has a Name

noreply@blogger.com (Luxury) — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 08:37:00 +0000

Halle Berry and Gabriel Aubry have named their little kiddo.

According to Access Hollywood, the little girl's name is Nahla Ariela Aubry.

"We didn't have a name picked out until just before we left the hospital," said Halle. "For us it was hard to name the most important person in our life until we met her."

I think that's a pretty name. Nahla must mean something in some language, but when I Google it all I get is the Northern Alberta Health Libraries Association. And I refuse to do any further research. Because I'm lazy.

Anyway, I'd go on and on about how this is going to be the most beautiful child in the whole world, but then I think about Rumer Willis and I decide I better wait a few years before making that determination.

For more info, just check their albums at the celebrity website millionairechats.com.

Pamela Anderson: "I'm Not Dating Anyone"

noreply@blogger.com (Luxury) — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 08:25:00 +0000

After her third marriage failed -- all together now -- MISERABLY, Pamela Anderson tells Ellen Degeneres she is currently not dating anyone:

Her attention, says Anderson, the mother of two boys (Brandon, 11, and Dylan, 10, whose father is Anderson's ex, Tommy Lee), is devoted to "just kids. That's taking up a lot of time."

Especially on her schedule. Says Anderson, "Usually I get in around 3 or 4 in the morning, and I'm up at 6:30 am with my kids making breakfast, 8 a.m. at school, and who washes their face?"

Congratulations, Pamela. Way to go two weeks without dating anyone. Way to focus on your kids for twenty seconds. You sure are getting your life back under control. Getting in at 3 or 4 in the morning every day? That sounds manageable. What the hell are you doing at 3 am, Pamela? Taking a business meeting? Everything sounds very much under control right now. Good for you.

However, some of her fans told us, she is found at the millionaire and celebrity dating site millionairecupid.com for a few days. She is really not dating anyone or not, we will continue to pay attention to her.

Sexy Jessica Alba

noreply@blogger.com (Millionaire Blogger) — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 02:35:00 +0000

Britney Spears - Gimme More (Official video)

noreply@blogger.com (Millionaire Blogger) — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 02:26:00 +0000

Lustige Videos – Gratis Fun Video – Deine funny Videos bei Clipfish

britney slammed for chaotic parenting.

noreply@blogger.com (Millionaire Blogger) — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 02:19:00 +0000

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Pop singer Britney Spears barely played or spoke with her two young sons during a court-ordered visit by a parenting coach, who said their home life "ranged from chaotic to almost somber with little communication at all."

According to court documents released on Tuesday, in which Spears failed to regain joint custody, the parenting coach said Spears clearly loved Sean Preston, 2, and Jayden James, 1.

But the coach said Spears "rarely engaged with the children in conversation or play" and said the boys had no real schedule or routine.

"It seems that her choices are dependent more upon what she (Spears) wants to do at any given time rather than what would be more enjoyable for the children," the parenting coach said in her report.

Spears, 25, lost custody of the boys to her ex-husband Kevin Federline on October 1 after she failed to comply with court-ordered drug and alcohol testing. The couple have been fighting over visitation arrangements ever since.

Los Angeles Superior Court Commissioner Scott Gordon ruled on Tuesday that Spears can visit her sons three times a week with a monitor and must submit to drug and alcohol testing twice a week.

Spears was also told to child-proof the pool at her home. A full evaluation is expected in mid-January.

Gordon's ruling came on the day Spears released her first full studio album in four years. "Blackout" met with generally warm reviews and her new single "Gimme More" is playing strongly on radio and digital download charts.

Spears, Federline and their attorneys met with Gordon on Friday to discuss custody and hear progress reports on court-ordered joint counseling.

The couple were told to work out schedules for the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays and Spears was told to continue meetings with the parenting coach once a week.

Spears and Federline split a year ago after two years of marriage. The life of the former pop princess, who started life as a Disney Channel child star, has since spiraled out of control.

She hit the Hollywood party circuit, shaved her head, spent time in drug and alcohol rehabilitation, fired her managers and became estranged from her mother Lynne.

A religious publisher said last week that Lynne Spears is to write her own book about how she raised her three children.

Actor and singer robert goulet dies at 73

noreply@blogger.com (Millionaire Blogger) — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 02:16:00 +0000

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Actor and singer Robert Goulet, who shot to fame by playing Lancelot in the original 1960 Broadway production of "Camelot" with Julie Andrews and Richard Burton, died on Tuesday at age 73, his wife said.

The performer, who suffered from the lung disease pulmonary fibrosis, died at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where he was awaiting a decision on whether he could receive a lung transplant, Vera Goulet told Reuters.

Born in Lawrence, Massachusetts of French Canadian parents, Goulet moved to Canada as an infant. Known for his rich baritone and chiseled features, his big break came when Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe chose him to play Lancelot.

In addition to the show-stopping song "If Ever I Would Leave You" from "Camelot," Goulet scored a hit with his version of "The Impossible Dream" from his stint as Don Quixote on Broadway in "Man of La Mancha."

Goulet won a Grammy in 1962 as best new recording artist and was given a best-actor Tony Award in 1968 for his role in Broadway's "The Happy Time."

After "Camelot," he recorded more than 60 best-selling albums and appeared 17 times on Ed Sullivan's television show, where he was introduced as "The American singer from Canada."

He also became a regular on other television variety shows and was a big attraction in Las Vegas.

His stage shows included "Little Women," "Dream Girl," "Carousel," "Finian's Rainbow," and "The Pajama Game."

In revivals of "Camelot" in the 1990s, he played King Arthur.

Born on November 26 1933, the only son of Joseph and Jeannette Goulet, he began singing when he was 5 at family gatherings but had to overcome a severe case of stage fright to make it in show business.

According to his Web site, his family's applause frightened him and for many years he was terrified of performing. At age 11, two nuns at his school ordered Goulet to sing at a church function and when he refused, one of the nuns grabbed him by the hair and said, "Yes, you are."

He did and after the show, his father told him how proud he was of him and urged him to continue singing.

His first professional appearance was at 16 with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra. After a two-year stint as a radio announcer, he was awarded a singing scholarship to the Royal Conservatory of Music at the University of Toronto.

His film credits include "Atlantic City," "Beetlejuice," "Scrooged," and "Toy Story II."

Goulet, who was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 1993, had three children from his three marriages, including one with actress-singer Carol Lawrence.

In a recent interview with Reuters, Vera Goulet said her husband was under sedation and on a respirator at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center while awaiting a decision on whether he could receive a lung transplant after being diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis.

"His life is hanging on the edge but he is a very strong man. He is being kept sedated because he is on a respirator and if he wasn't, he might try to rip it out," Vera Goulet said.

"It is hard to watch him like that. I can't tell you how much I want to see his smile and hear his booming voice again."

Britney Spears allowed visits with sons

noreply@blogger.com (Millionaire Blogger) — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 01:45:00 +0000

LOS ANGELES - Britney Spears can have sleepovers with her two boys — if she has regular drug and alcohol tests, childproofs her home and buckles the kids in car seats, a court commissioner ruled Tuesday.

The pop star, who is seeking to regain the shared custody she lost earlier this month, also must continue meeting with a court-appointed parenting coach, Superior Court Commissioner Scott Gordon ruled.

Calls to lawyers representing Spears, 25, and her ex-husband Kevin Federline, 29, were not immediately returned.

The nine-page ruling said Spears could have overnight visits with her kids — something she had been seeking. She will get two visits a week from noon to 7 p.m. and one from noon to 10 a.m. the next morning. All the visits will be monitored.

The order also cited some details of an Oct. 19 report submitted by parenting coach Lisa Hacker about her observations of Spears with Sean Preston, 2, and Jayden James, 1.

The report makes it clear that Hacker feels Spears "loves her children and the children are bonded" to her, the ruling states.

However, Hacker was concerned that Spears didn't seem to have "child-centered" interactions, according to the ruling.

The "environment at the house ranged from chaotic to almost somber with little communication at all," Hacker reported, according to the ruling.

During all three of her visits, Spears "rarely engaged with the children in either conversation or play," Hacker said in her report.

Hacker also reported that Spears seemed to have a "lack of general attention at times" but added there was nothing she "would characterize as abusive in a traditional sense."

Hacker added that during an additional visit Oct. 23, Spears seemed "much more engaged with (Hacker) and the children," the ruling stated.

Last year, authorities went to Spears' home to investigate after she was photographed driving with Sean on her lap. Gordon addressed the issue in his ruling.

"The minor children are not to be transported in a motor vehicle by any party unless the children are properly secured in a properly installed child safety seat," the ruling said.

The ruling came after a three-hour hearing last Friday attended by both Spears and Federline. Extensive testimony was presented on a number of issues.

Gordon previously said there was evidence that Spears is a "habitual, frequent and continuous" user of drugs and alcohol.

He had withdrawn approval for her to even visit the children after finding she had failed to comply with some conditions for shared custody.

He later withdrew the ban and allowed her to visit Sean and Jayden — but only in the presence of a court-approved monitor.

Spears had filed a request Friday to "terminate or modify" the order, according to court records. Additional details about the request weren't disclosed.

Supermodel Naomi Campbell visits Chavez

noreply@blogger.com (Millionaire Blogger) — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 01:42:00 +0000

CARACAS, Venezuela - British supermodel Naomi Campbell met privately with President Hugo Chavez on Tuesday, becoming the latest in a series of celebrities hosted by the Venezuelan leader.

Campbell flashed a smile to reporters as she arrived at the presidential palace, but said little about what she hoped to discuss with Chavez.

"I've been here before actually," she said. "A beautiful country, very tropical. You've got great waterfalls."

Then, before turning to walk inside, she added: "I'm not going to be political. Thank you very much."

Last month, Chavez met in Caracas with American actor Kevin Spacey, who praised the Venezuelan government's efforts to support film-making. The Venezuelan President also has hosted recent visits by Hollywood stars including Sean Penn and Danny Glover.

Stone me, Rodders, I've met my match!

noreply@blogger.com (Luxury) — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 01:43:00 +0000

IT may be long way from Peckham but the lovely jubbly Hampstead Garden Suburb has adopted its very own Del Boy.

Heavyweight boxer Derek Chisora is taking the sport by storm after winning his third professional fight on Saturday.

But the 23-year-old from Addison Way is getting just as much attention for his boxing nickname.

The 6ft 2ins bruiser is known as Del Boy, enters the ring to the Only Fools and Horses theme tune and is bidding to buy a Trotters Independent Traders Reliant Regal to drive around the Suburb.

On top of all that, his manager's name is Lawrence Rodney.

"I love the show - everyone does, what's not to like with it?" Mr Chisora said.

"I got the nickname from a guy who was writing about me as an amateur and it just went on from there. My job was buying and selling cars and I was a bit of an entrepreneur so it fits with that."

Mr Chisora trains in Finchley and is living with his mother in their Suburb home ''until he becomes a millionaire''.

And he is hoping that his persona will help him win over the fans. "They have really caught on to the Only Fools and Horses thing," he said. "In Liverpool and Manchester, they all sing along when I enter the ring.

"You listen to a tough song on your own when you are preparing for the fight - you don't need that when you come out into the ring. It brings a smile to everyone's faces and it makes them say 'who's that guy?'."

As David Jason's famous comedy character would say, 'he who dares wins' and Mr Chisora is hoping to become as big a boxing legend as Frank Bruno.

And he is far from looking like a plonker, having become the Amateur Boxing Association super heavyweight champion in 2005 and joining the stable of fighters run by Britain's biggest boxing promoter, Frank Warren.

In this third professional fight on Saturday, he beat Darren Morgan, which he hopes will trigger even more popularity.

He continued: "The guy was big, sent from hell, but I didn't find it a problem - all my Del Boy charm must have worked on him."

His manager Mr Rodney is also able to laugh about the Trotters comparison.

"He bid for the actual car they use in the show but it was too expensive," he said. "Ricky Hatton has one of them, so maybe he can give it to Derek when he wins the world championship.

"You don't get many heavyweight boxers in Hampstead Garden Suburb and we are hoping the community will back him.

"He's got loads of charisma and is just a big kid really - just like Del Boy.

Fighting back Teens take on dating violence

noreply@blogger.com (Millionaire Blogger) — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 02:44:00 +0000

Nicole Sowin and Emma Vernon, Greenwich High School juniors, want to stop teen dating violence.

Recently, they asked 12 new members of YNet, a school activist group, if anyone had witnessed or experienced such violence in high school.

Most hands flew up but no one said a word.

"Teen dating violence happens," Vernon tells the group, many among them apparently sombered by what they just learned. "It happens (at Greenwich High School). It happens everywhere. You may not know someone directly affected by it, but it is definitely happening around us."

Teen dating violence, she explains, is a pattern of controlling behavior that can include physical violence, emotional or psychological intimidation or sexual abuse and can happen to anyone of any age, race, religion, sexual orientation or economic level.

Sowin and Vernon head YNet with Chrissy Barnum and are known as its executive committee (ExCom for those in the know). To illustrate the prevalence of teen dating violence, the pair refers to a 2005 Liz Claiborne Foundation national study that says 1 in 3 teens report seeing a friend or peer hit, punched, kicked, slapped, choked or physically hurt by a partner. The study also says nearly 1 in 5 girls say a boyfriend threatened violence or self-harm if presented with a break-up.

Closer to home, the Connecticut Department of Public Health says 361 of 2,256 Connecticut teens surveyed in 2005 reported being hit, slapped or physically hurt by a partner the previous 12 months.

"And that's why we're here," continues Vernon. "We are here to let people know how much it happens, to let people know there is help and how to get it. We are here to prevent teen dating violence."

Participants of YNet - short for Youth Network - raise money and award grants to groups with similar missions, educate the public about teen dating violence, volunteer in programs that help people cope with violence and participate in social change campaigns - all components of what they call socially engaged philanthropy.

"This means working to change conditions and influence laws, policies and the way people think about teen dating violence," says Sowin. "We want to focus on justice, not just charity."

The principle of socially engaged philanthropy is borrowed from the Center For Youth Leadership, a youth activism program at Brien McMahon High School in Norwalk, developed nine years ago by Bob Kocienda, a faculty adviser. It consists of the Senators Community Foundation, a 120-member group whose mission is the prevention of child abuse, and the Peace Project, which aims to promote safe schools and communities with an emphasis on day laborers, human trafficking and teen dating violence.

Today, CFYL acts as the "mothership model" for other area schools: YNet, now in its second year; the Mayor's Youth Leadership Council at Westhill High School in Stamford, which took on safe schools and communities as its mission this year; and Stamford High School, which like YNet, adopted the prevention of teen dating violence.

"The schools have to come to us," says Kocienda, who also serves as adviser for MYLC. "We walk them through the model and how to implement the four elements." The schools are free to choose the issue they wish to address and encouraged to share information and strategy whileremaining autonomous in their efforts.

At the presentation, Sowin and Vernon describe the group's partnership with Domestic Abuse Services at the YWCA of Greenwich since 1996, when it was known as YW-Net, or Young Women's Network (more than a year ago, they took out the W to reflect male participation in the group).

What stands out is their passion, underscoring their authority while supporting the activism they attempt to inspire in the group.

Sowin and Vernon explain their motivation to correct injustice was sparked by growing awareness of the teen dating violence that affects classmates and young women their age. With awareness came indignation. What followed was an opportunity to do something about it.

"They're here, they're loud and they're proud," says Suzanne Adam, director of Domestic Abuse Services at the YWCA, a member agency of the Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence. To demonstrate how committed Vernon, Sowin and Barnum are, she describes the Purple Promise, a 20-hour volunteer training program given by DAS required of the YNet ExCom and available to any group member who wishes to help out at DAS.

Their commitment, adds Adam, supports their efforts to become agents for change, allowing them to take ownership of their activism. Doing it their way also lends credibility to what they do among their peers.

"It's part of what makes them special and effective," she says.

That effectiveness is the natural outgrowth of the four elements that make up socially engaged philanthropy, says Kocienda. "We want them to ask themselves: 'What do you want? What's in your heart? What's bothering you?'

Kocienda says socially engaged philanthropy inspires faith in social change but reminds group members that results take time. "It's really a learning opportunity, a chance to make a lifetime commitment to something. With that kernel, they learn how to find the resources and do social activism.

In 2006, the Peace Project released "I Love You, Baby," a comprehensive survey about teen dating violence that includes a survey of 458 Fairfield County students. It says 75 percent believe verbal abuse is a serious issue among peers who are in a relationship, 41 percent had a partner who kept constant track of them and 26 percent had been punched, kicked or slapped by a partner within the previous 12 months.

Sowin and Vernon cite these statistics to YNet's new membership. They also cover this year's activities, including tomorrow's House Party at the YWCA, a commemoration of Domestic Violence Awareness Month that blends music, comedy, dance and narrative to describe the effects of teen dating violence on teens and the larger community.

For YNet's Walk A Mile in Her Shoes this Saturday, members will recruit up to 361 male friends and relatives - the number symbolizing the statistic from CDPH - to don women's shoes and walk down Greenwich Avenue. For Drop Dead Day, yet to be scheduled, 361 activists will take to the athletic fields and drop to the ground in silence.

Sowin, Vernon and Barnum hope to hold up to four schoolwide public awareness activities like Drop Dead Day and four community-wide activities like House Party by January, which might include releasing balloons at once, moments of silence or distributing cards with statistics and hotline numbers during school events and around popular teen hangouts.

They also plan to hold fundraising dances and events during the year.

It's all part of a plan to get the word out, affect change and make a difference.

"Dating violence happens," says Vernon. "It might seem to be behind closed doors because people don't want to acknowledge it exists. But that's why we're doing this."

They are also doing it to help anyone who needs it.

"YNet needs to be out there so they know who we are," says Sowin.

'The Ritz' Is Back After 3 Decades

noreply@blogger.com (Millionaire Blogger) — Sun, 14 Oct 2007 01:54:00 +0000

Terrence McNally's "The Ritz" was born during the 1970s sexual revolution, an era of liberation extravagantly celebrated at the Continental Baths, a gay New York bathhouse where an unknown Bette Midler, Barry Manilow, Wayland Flowers and others once performed for a towel-clad audience.

Today, its author calls the play, set in a bathhouse not unlike that exotic establishment, "a period piece."

"There was a time at the height of the AIDS crisis that I would not have allowed a revival ..., but I think we're ready to see it again," McNally says.

Enter the Roundabout Theatre Company, which has revived the comedy at another iconic 1970s landmark, Studio 54, in a production directed by Joe Mantello and starring Kevin Chamberlin and Rosie Perez.

"`The Ritz' is a sex farce, my tribute to Feydeau," says McNally, the author of "Love! Valour! Compassion!" and "Master Class" as well as the books for such musicals as "Kiss of the Spider Woman," "Ragtime" and "The Full Monty," referring to Georges Feydeau, the master of French farce during the end of the 19th century and beginning of the 20th century.

"I always wanted to write in that style, and it's the only play I've done that way. I remember `The Ritz' with great affection and I've often wonder why I never wrote another one (farce). I think part of the reason was that it was just so much work. Farces are really fine-tuned. They are like Swiss watches.

"And they are very hard to get going all the exposition. But once they do, all you have to say is, `I'll think I'll go in the next room' and the audience gets hysterical. They know what's in the next room."

The plot of "The Ritz" could not be more ready-made for confusion: Straight garbage collector (Chamberlin) from Cleveland on the run from a Mob relative finds refuge in a gay bathhouse where a determined yet talent-free entertainer named Googie Gomez (Perez) mistakes him for a Broadway producer.

Not many theaters could produce "The Ritz" today making it perfect for the nonprofit Roundabout, according to the playwright.

"It's an ambitious play in terms of its physical size," McNally explains. "A small theater can't do it. There's close to 30 people in it, a lot of people with one or two lines. You can't say it's a bathhouse and only have the principals on stage. Where's everybody else?"

Then there's the large set, designed here by Scott Pask. It's three levels, and has, in keeping with French farce, "a lot of doors," McNally says.

Mantello had always been interested in reviving the play, which had a yearlong run on Broadway in 1975 and won a Tony for Rita Moreno, who originated the role of Googie Gomez. Serious thoughts of resurrecting "The Ritz" first surfaced after Perez went into the Broadway revival of McNally's "Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune," which Mantello directed in 2003.

"We all loved working with her, and Joe said Rosie was the only one who could do Googie Gomez now," McNally says. "Rosie is from Brooklyn. She is of the streets and of the people."

"They didn't have to twist my arm," Perez says with a laugh. She had read "The Ritz" in high school and then again in college. Plus she had been a fan of Moreno's since watching her on "The Electric Company."

"At first, it was a bit of a struggle for me because Rita Moreno is such an icon," the actress recalls. "I was putting a lot of pressure on myself. When I called her to ask her for her blessing in passing the torch, she said, `You don't need my blessing. Just make Googie your own and make her real.'"

The idea for "The Ritz" grew out of McNally's teaching days when he was a playwright-in-residence at Yale University more than three decades ago.

"I was assigned three or four students and I met with them twice a week, kind of a mentor program," McNally recalls. "At the same time, Bob Brustein (head of the Yale School of Drama) asked me to write a play."

Out of that request came what was then called "The Tubs," slang for the baths. The play had a well-received production at the Yale Repertory Theatre and was picked up by Broadway producer Adela Holzer.

"It got its title changed because at the same time a play came along off-Broadway called `Tubstrip,'" McNally recalls. "Everyone thought it would be confusing. At the time, I was very bummed, but now, in retrospect, I'm glad. `The Ritz' is a better title."

The play, a success with most of the critics, became one of the first plays with unapologetic gay characters to reach a mainstream audience.

"I kept thinking, `It's quite subversive. This play's being done on Broadway and no one is saying anything (against it),'" McNally says. "I think the play is about homophobia, and it celebrates liberation, exactly what Stonewall (the start of the gay rights movement in 1969) was all about.

One of the actors in the original Broadway production was F. Murray Abraham, who appeared as a frequent customer at the Ritz.

"I played a very flamboyant, very `out' homosexual," Abraham recalls. "He was someone who made a lot of noise about being gay in a happy, fun way. But, in fact, he was the sanest person on stage. That was a very important step. I think it's still important for people to understand. If you are gay, then be out. It's much healthier."

And Abraham had no hesitation about playing a gay man.

"Not a chance," he says. "It's a great part. The thing I discovered was how naive I was. Because I'm straight, they said I had to visit gay bars to see what the world was like. ... I had no idea how hot it was. People walking around in towels. All that steam. And there was powerful music happening all the time. It was a very sexy atmosphere."

The setting of "The Ritz," was considered quite exotic in 1975, according to McNally. "But based on rehearsals and a reading we did earlier this year, I think it still works," he says.

"I don't think people go to my plays for their plots. They are not melodramas `Oh, what's going to happen next.' I am more interested in what happens moment to moment between two people. But `The Ritz' is not like that. It has subplots. There are four different stories in `The Ritz.'"

According to Abraham, McNally "writes for actors. His plays are a pleasure to do, but what he says is important, too. And he's like a fountain he keeps on writing and writing and writing."

As Perez puts it, "I have never met a more funny, lighthearted playwright in my life and I've met a lot of them. And you get happy with him. It builds your confidence. That's what makes doing `The Ritz' so much fun."

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Actress Marsha Hunt Still Spry at 90

noreply@blogger.com (Millionaire Blogger) — Sun, 14 Oct 2007 01:51:00 +0000

Marsha Hunt turns 90 on Wednesday, but you'd hardly know it. Her lovely face remains, remarkably, relatively unlined. She's slim and vigorous. And she has total recall of her life in Hollywood, including the infamous blacklist that almost killed her career.

Her 89th year has been a busy one. She was a guest of honor at the Noir Film Festival in San Francisco, where one of her films, "Raw Deal," was shown. And she later acted in a short noir drama filmed nearby. "I got it in one take," she says proudly.

Last spring, the mid-century screen star recited a traditional poem at the Hollywood Bowl's annual Easter sunrise service. She was supposed to read the selection, but because of an eye ailment she memorized all 96 lines, getting through it "without a net to catch me."

She recently produced a CD of pop songs by young Tony London, accompanied by the Page Cavanagh Trio.

And she's the subject of three paper doll collectables dressed in the high-fashion designs she wore on the screen, as well as a coffee-table book, "The Way We Wore," a gallery of her studio fashion photos.

Then there's the fan mail. "It pours in," she says, because of screenings of her movies on cable's AMC, TCM (which is showing a half-dozen of her movies on her birthday) and European television.

Hunt talked volubly during a recent interview at the sprawling San Fernando Valley ranch house where she's lived for more than six decades.

The blacklist is not among Hunt's favorite topics of conversation, but she agreed to discuss that period in Hollywood history, when congressmen hauled actors, writers and directors into hearings to test whether they were communists. Scores of careers were ruined.

At the time, Hunt who had signed petitions promoting liberal ideals and was belonged to the Committee for the First Amendment was doing a lot of work in that new medium called television.

"I was hot," she recalled. "I did the first Shakespeare that was coast to coast on TV. I was on the cover of Life magazine. I did a lot of talk shows, and three networks offered me my own talk show."

Upon returning from vacation in Paris, the offers for her own show were rescinded. She soon found the reason: She had been accused of leftist leanings by Red Channels, a publication that targeted supposed communists.

"I had one phony excuse after another, and I realized that I was now a leper," she said.

She figures she was targeted because she had spoken out at gatherings that opposed the red hunts "but none of them had any whiff of communism."

She had to wait seven years before the offers started again.

"It was never really over," she commented. "They never really acknowledged it because this was strictly illegal. It was restraint of trade, against the law in this country."

She was born Marcia Virginia Hunt in Chicago and reared in New York City, where her father was an insurance executive and her mother a vocal coach and opera singer. She skipped college to attend drama school, modeling as a sideline.

When she was 17 in 1935, she paid her first visit to Hollywood, telling interviewers that she wasn't interested in movies. This, despite she had "dreamed my whole life about being in films." The headline read, "Model Spurns Films." The result: four offers from studios. She chose Paramount Pictures.

After 12 films in two years and another year idle, she was dropped and eventually started making films at MGM as a per diem player.

"MGM was sheer magic," she remarked. "When I arrived at the studio for a one-day role, they parked my car. I went on the set and found a director's chair with a sign on it, `Miss Hunt.' Another sign was on my dressing room. I said to myself, `Any studio that treats a one-day player that way, really knows how to make pictures.' They won my loyalty."

She signed a contract with the studio and soon moved from B movies to A-list films.

Even though MGM boasted "more stars than there are in heaven," Hunt found there was no caste system. She recalled being in a shop at the Peninsula Hotel in Hong Kong, where she had ordered a custom-made dress. It wasn't ready and she was leaving for the U.S. She looked up and saw Clark Gable beside her. She had never met him, but he knew who she was.

"I can pick up your dress and deliver it when I get home," he said. Two weeks later, Gable rang the bell at her house and delivered the dress to her astonished husband. (She was married to director Jerry Hopper from 1938 to '43, then TV/screen writer Robert Presnell Jr. from 1946 until he died in '86.)

Hunt made three films with Greer Garson_ "Pride and Prejudice," "Blossoms in the Dust" and "Valley of Decision," and had one encounter with Greta Garbo.

Garbo thought of cutting the long hair she had worn in every movie. One day Hunt, who wore a short feather cut, got a call to report to the Garbo set where the star inspected her hair and nodded. Garbo wore the cut in "Two-Faced Woman," which happened to be her last movie.

How does Hunt feel about reaching 90?

"I'm so delighted about all of it," she said with enthusiasm. "I've had the fullest 90 years imaginable. I can't think of a year that was wasted. They were so crammed with variety and privilege and opportunity.

"I can't wait for the next 10. Then I'll look and see if it's worth hanging around for."

Roger Moore Receives Hollywood Star

noreply@blogger.com (Millionaire Blogger) — Sun, 14 Oct 2007 01:48:00 +0000

Best known for playing James Bond on the big screen, Roger Moore now has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in front of an address that includes the spy's signature 007.

Moore, 69, received his permanent spot on Hollywood Boulevard on Thursday, accompanied by friends and family.

Moore made seven Bond films, starting with "Live and Let Die" in 1973 and ending 12 years later with "A View to a Kill" The British actor paid homage to the number of women he kissed on-screen while adapting Ian Fleming's leading man.

"Sadly, I had to retire from the Bond films," Moore said. "The girls were getting younger or I was just getting too old."

Moore has done some acting since leaving the Bond franchise. He has raised funds for UNICEF in underdeveloped countries and received a Commander of the British Empire award from the British government in 1999. He also was awarded a knighthood in 2003 for his work with UNICEF.

Moore's star sits in front of 7007 Hollywood Blvd., an ice cream parlor that claims to be the birthplace of the hot fudge sundae.

Pierce Bronsan is the only other actor who played Bond on the big screen to receive a star on the Walk of Fame

'Fat Wedding' Star Filming at Acropolis

noreply@blogger.com (Millionaire Blogger) — Sun, 14 Oct 2007 01:36:00 +0000

ATHENS, Greece Nia Vardalos, star of "My Big Fat Greek Wedding," stood under a big reflector on Saturday, filming a new romantic comedy among the dramatic ruins on the Acropolis.

The scene will appear in "My Life in Ruins," also starring Richard Dreyfuss, and follows a decision by Greek authorities to relax their ban on any commercial use of ancient sites.

Authorities vetted the script for historical accuracy and convened a panel of senior archaeologists to give final approval.

"Imagine how I feel being here shooting a movie ... I can't believe things like this can happen to me," Vardalos said late Friday before the Acropolis shoot.

Released in 2002, "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" was a surprise international hit and earned Vardalos an Oscar writing nomination.

On Saturday, dozens of tourists gathered round a tiny set to take pictures of Vardalos. The 45-year-old Canadian actress plays a tour guide and has already been filmed at Delphi and Ancient Olympia, birthplace of the Olympic games a big deal for a girl brought up Greek.

Director Donald Petrie denied suggestions the script was watered down to secure access to ancient sites, saying restrictions to protect monuments were obvious.

"If the script had had a paintball war in ancient Olympia, I think they would have said no," he said.

"The only major restriction for us is that we treat the sites as they are. We don't bring in fake Roman columns," he said, smiling.

The love interest for the film is Alexis Georgoulis, an actor in a local television series.

"It's a romantic comedy, and we wanted a Greek actor who was experienced but not necessarily well known internationally," Vardalos said. "We found Alexis Georgoulis. He's a great kisser, a great actor and a great guy."

Dreyfuss said he had always wanted to come to Greece and was enjoying his time here.

"This (movie) is about the ever present possibility of love," Dreyfuss said.

"My Life in Ruins" is the first major project helped by the Hellenic Film Commission, recently created by Greece's Culture Ministry to lure international filmmakers to Greece.

Simon Cowell Music Mogul Millionaire

noreply@blogger.com (Luxury) — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 09:45:00 +0000

Simon Cowell is best known as the obnoxious judge on the hit TV show American Idol whose cynical comments sent contestants running out the door in tears, but what most don't know is that his work didn't start there and most definitely won't end there. His list of achievements is long and includes being a successful record producer and executive for the BMG UK record company to gathering wannabe entrepreneurs on his show, American Inventor.

Before The Fame: Cowell was born on October 7, 1959 and was raised most of his early life by nannies before being sent off to a boarding school. He acted up constantly in school and was consequently transferred sixteen times before finally leaving it all together at the age of sixteen.

Early Years: Cowell then began work as a modest mail room clerk for EMI Music Publishing where his father worked. He soon moved up to become a record producer but left to form an independent music company, E&S Music, which didn't quite make it, forcing Cowell to return to EMI. He was not content being back and left again shortly to form Fanfare Records with partner Iain Burton. From 1985 to 1989, Fanfare did well thanks to a string of minor hits from its artist, Sinitta.

Moving On Up: Seeing Cowell's potential early on, in 1989, BMG offered the position of A&R Consultant to Cowell when he was only 30 years old. After that, his career took off as he signed several successful artists such as the boy band Westlife and Robson & Jerome.

Idol Mania: Cowell first appeared on television in 2001 as a judge on the first season of Pop Idol and then American Idol in 2002. His brutally honest comments helped him to be everyone's favorite to hate. His popularity rose as the both show's ratings rose and his sardonic and biting comments were mocked by millions around the world. Pop Idol's first season attracted over 11 million viewers and American Idol drew 22 million viewers for the first season finale.

Idol Maker: Cowell set up another record label named S Records in 2002 which signed the top two finalists of the first season of Pop Idol who both went on to have number one hits in the UK. The winner, Will Young, brought in 1.8 million sales with his debut single, and Cowell was able to cleverly manage to gain a share of the royalties. Cowell also sold his half-share in S Records to BMG for $42 million, making Cowell an instant multi-millionaire.

Il Divo: In 2001, detecting a worldwide trend of a growing appreciation for classical music, Cowell embarked on a project to assemble a multinational quartet of young, attractive male singers who would perform classical and other lyrical music. Cowell conducted a 2-year worldwide search ultimately to find David Miller (USA), Carlos Marín (Spain), Urs Bühler (Switzerland) and Sébastien Izambard (France). They have achieved 26 #1 chart positions internationally, sold over 13 million albums, and received over 100 gold and platinum awards around the world.

After Idol: In December 2003, Cowell's catchphrase was turned into the title of his new book, I Don't Mean to Be Rude, But... He shares about his life, experiences working his way up the music industry and about being on the Idol shows. Cowell also began producing shows right and left under Syco, his production company. Although not all his shows did well, e.g., Cupid, others had a fairly large audience, including X-Factor, America's Got Talent, Celebrity Duets and American Inventor.

Family Cowell: Cowell has one sister (Lindsay Elizabeth), a younger brother (Nicholas), three half-brothers (John, Michael, Tony) and one half-sister (June). While he hasn't married yet, he was known to have dated singer Sinitta, an artist with his record company, and is now dating television presenter Terri Seymour, with whom he shares homes in London and Los Angeles.

The Business of Being Simon Cowell: Currently, Cowell has signed on for five more seasons of American Idol making about $36 million a year from the show alone. Including everything else, Forbes predicts his total pay is about $43 million. For being the man America loves to hate, we do pay him awfully well.

In a BusinessWeek interview, he said that to be a successful entrepreneur you have to: "Work hard, be patient, and be a sponge while learning your business. Learn how to take criticism. Follow your gut instincts and don't compromise."

He considers himself a entrepreneur rather than a music man: "I've always treated the music business as a business. Whether I'm making TV shows or signing artists, you have to do it by the head and not the heart -- and I run my businesses that way."

Wise words from the man who started in the music business as a mail clerk.

Just Kiss Her

noreply@blogger.com (Luxury) — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 09:34:00 +0000

I have a friend who is just a natural with people. It's as though he has this compulsion to talk to whoever he finds within ten feet of himself. He's funny and a fantastic conversationalist.

Despite this rare and coveted gift, however, he just has no luck with women.

When we were discussing his maligned fortune, he said he had a hard time "closing the deal," asking me how I went from talking to a girl at the bar to pressing her up against the jukebox. He was shocked by my answer...

"I just kiss her."

You can talk to a girl for an hour and be no closer to your goal. Or, you can open the conversation amicably, convert to flirting, and if she responds favorably, just kiss her.

If she's receptive at all, she'll be impressed you ACTED, and chances are she'll kiss you back. If she pushes you away, you just saved yourself an hour of wasted conversation, and you're free to try again with someone else.

Yes, it is that simple.

Now some simple rules to follow while dating online to make it safe.

noreply@blogger.com (Luxury) — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 08:59:00 +0000

1]Never give out your real email address or contact details until you have thoroughly checked out and verified the person.

2]Never send any money.............you have this scenario of this beautiful lady who is ready to come and marry you but does not have money for a passport or visa and needs your money. If you send any money you will never see your money or the lady again.

There are a lot of different scenarios created by these cheats another one for example would be a

very sick child and they need your urgent help etc etc. The same would apply in case of a handsome millionaire

who for some reason suddenly needs your help. Never send any money unless you want to be cheated out of your money.

Reasons for asking you to send money

a]To treat sick child.

b]For visa.

c]For passport application.

d]For airport tax.

e]For airfare [flight costs].

f]For sick mother or father or relative or brother or sister etc.

g]To pay to dating agency to translate and send you emails.

h]To use internet.

i]Lost job etc.

j]Bank charges so that millions of dollars can be transferred to you account.

k]Money for charity project.

l]To pay hotel bill.

The list is not complete if you have come across any new ones please do let us know.

3]Be very careful when people insist on you communicating via their private email address without hardly getting to know you.Also if they redirect you to another site where you have to pay it is obvious they are after your money and do not want to know you as they could have communicated with you easily using the free services of this site. Please report this to us immediately and donot sign up this will only encourage them to do this more.

Be careful they are very manupulative and will give you all kinds of reasons as to why you have to sign up or send money.

4]If suddenly you receive lots of emails telling you how good you are...................you are either a Tom Cruise or Julie Roberts look alike or something must be wrong COMMON SENSE please.

5] Articles section is updated regularly, please read the articles section at http://www.4umatch.co.uk regularly as we will be posting the latest scam emails. And profiles IDs of scammers who are try to scam you.

6] Some of these con artists and scammers are very sophisticated and have a lot of free time at their hand so please be careful.

7] If you visit www.google.com and do a search with words like anti scam etc you should get many links.

8] Alarm bells should start ringing if in their profile they state they are from a particular country say AMERICA but when you contact them for various reason they are in a Country like Nigeria or Russia or somewhere else from what they have written in their profile. A very commonly used technique by cheats.

Some of the reasons scammers give you for not being in the country they specify.............

1]Went for a business trip and got robbed and have no money to get back.

2]Got robbed visa got stolen and need your help.

3]Rich relative who has millions of pounds has suddenly died and they need your help to get the money out of the country.

Now these are only a few reasons but we can tell you now that if somebody tells you they are in england or usa etc and than say there are in some other country like nigeria etc they are scammers, this is true in 99.99999999999% of cases.

9]Talk on the phone

This is a excellent way to get to know someone better. A call can reveal much about an individual's personality and the way they communicate.

Please careful not to give too many of your personal details like your phone number to somebody you do not know that well.

Take your time you must feel comfortable and trust has to be built into your relationship over time before you begin giving out your

personal information.

10]Meeting.

Spend lots of time getting to know the person, you really need to know the person well before you meet them. Don't be pressured into meeting someone, only meet them if you feel completely comfortable. Always follow your intuition[Common sense] and if the person makes you uncomfortable, stop corresponding with them. You can always find other suitable matches at kissndate.com there are plenty of dates out there. And it is all 100% free dating.

11]Long distance relationships.

You have a very high probability of get robbed or scammed if you decide to proceed with one in the african subcontinent or certain parts

of the soviet union. You will need to be very careful.

12]Scammers changing the way they scam people.

Scammers are now posing more and more as profiles from UK or USA. And give you the impression they live locally till they have taken you fully into their confidence. A simple conversation on the mobile should clarify that but this is not fool proof. But getting them to meet you locally should be further proof. Please use common sense as we cannot be doing baby sitting 24 hours a day.

13]If you do decide to meet.

When you meet, it's a great opportunity to get to know the person even better but make safety your frist priority at all times.

Try to follow these simple guidelines:

a]Inform a friend of where you are going, what time, whom you are going with and when you expect to return.

b]Set the meeting in a public place where you are familiar and comfortable.

c]Always take your own car or find your own means of transportation.This way you are able to leave at any time if you do not feel comfortable.

d]Pay attention to all the information the person has told you about and don't be afraid to ask them questions.