“The postman wants an autograph. The cab driver wants a picture. The waitress wants a handshake. Everyone wants a piece of you.” John Lennon
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Succes 2010: Norah Jones
Geethali Norah Jones Shankar, popularly known by her stage name Norah Jones, is an American singer-songwriter, pianist, keyboardist, guitarist, and actress.
In 2002, she launched her solo music career with the release of the commercially successful and critically acclaimed album Come Away With Me, which was certified a diamond album in 2005, having sold over 20 million copies. The record earned Jones five Grammy Awards, including the Album of the Year, Record of the Year, and Best New Artist. Her subsequent studio albums, Feels like Home, released in 2004, Not Too Late, released in 2007 and her 2009 release The Fall, all gained Platinum status after selling over a million copies and were generally well received by critics.
Jones has won nine Grammy Awards and was Billboard magazine's 60th best-selling music artist of the 2000–2009 decade.
Born in Brooklyn, New York, Jones is the daughter of Indian sitar player Ravi Shankar and concert producer Sue Jones. She is the half-sister of Anoushka Shankar.
Monday, August 30, 2010
Succes 2010: George Clooney
George Clooney este un actor american detinator al Premiului Oscar pentru cel mai bun actor în rol secundar în anul 2006.
Primul sau rol important a fost in 1984 în sitcomul de scurta durata E/R.
Printre filmele importante in care a jucat se numara "The Perfect Storm" și "O Brother, Where Art Thou?". În 2001, el a facut echipa cu Soderbergh din nou pentru Ocean's Eleven, film care a adus incasari de 444 milioane dolari, fiind urmat de Ocean's Twelve, în 2004, și Ocean's Thirteen, în 2007. În 2001, Clooney a fondat studioul de producție Secțiunea Opt cu Steven Soderbergh.
clooney si-a facut debutul regizoral în 2002 cu Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, o adaptare a autobiografie a producatorului de televiziune Chuck Barris.
critici și spectatori deopotrivă.
La Gala Premiilor Oscar din 2006, Clooney a fost nominalizat la categoriile Cel mai bun regizor si Cel mai bun scenariu original, pentru Good Night, Good Luck, precum și la categoria Cel mai bun actor in rol secundar, pentru Syriana.
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Succes 2010: Robert F. Kennedy, Jr
Robert Francis Kennedy, Jr. is the third of eleven children born to Ethel Skakel Kennedy and Robert F. Kennedy and is the nephew of John F. Kennedy and Edward M. Kennedy. He is an attorney specializing in environmental law and was co-host of Ring of Fire on the Air America Radio network.
In a January 2007 interview in O, The Oprah Magazine, Kennedy hinted that he might run for the position of United States Senator from New York, if Hillary Clinton were to win the 2008 Presidential election. The Senate seat formerly held by Clinton is the same seat to which RFK Jr.'s father Robert F. Kennedy was elected in 1964. Kennedy announced on December 2, 2008, however, that he was not interested in taking Clinton's seat
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Oldies but goldies: Boy George
Boy George (born George Alan O'Dowd on 14 June 1961) is a British singer-songwriter who was part of the English New Romantic movement which emerged in the early 1980s. He helped give androgyny an international stage with the success of Culture Club during the 1980s. His music is often classified as blue-eyed soul, which is influenced by rhythm and blues and reggae. His 1990s and 2000s-era solo music has glam influences such as David Bowie and Iggy Pop. He also founded and was lead singer of Jesus Loves You during the period 1989–1992. Being involved in many activities (among them songwriting, DJing, writing books, designing clothes and photography), he has released fewer music recordings in the last decade.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Succes 2010: Finn E. Kydland, Nobel Memorial Prize in Economics
Finn Erling Kydland (născut la 1 decembrie 1943) este un economist norvegian, laureat al Premiului Nobel pentru economie în anul 2004.
Succes 2010: Robert Thirsk, primul astronaut care a scris si publicat un articol in timp ce se afla pe orbita
Robert Brent "Bob" Thirsk is a Canadian engineer and physician, and a CSA astronaut. He holds the Canadian records for the longest space flight (187 days 20 hours) and the most time spent in space (204 days 18 hours).
On June 20, 1996, Thirsk flew aboard space shuttle mission STS-78 (the life and microgravity Spacelab mission) as a payload specialist. During this 17-day flight aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia, he and his six crew mates performed 43 experiments devoted to the study of life and materials science. Most of these experiments were conducted within the pressurized Spacelab laboratory module situated in the orbiter’s payload bay. The life science experiments investigated changes in plants, animals and humans under spaceflight conditions. The materials science experiments examined protein crystallization, fluid dynamics and high-temperature solidification of multi-phase materials in microgravity.
While on STS-78, Thirsk wrote two columns for the Calgary Sun newspaper. This was the first occasion in which an astronaut wrote and filed a story to a newspaper—and had it published—while the astronaut was still in orbit.
During the ISS 20/21 flight, he was visited by two other Canadians: Julie Payette (Space Shuttle Endeavour STS 127) and space tourist Guy Laliberté on Soyuz TMA-16 at the end of September 2009. The meeting between Thirsk and Payette in July 2009 was the first time two Canadians met in space.[6] He and the Soyuz TMA-15 crew returned to earth December 1, 2009.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Succes 2010: David Platt, fost international englez. Actual antrenor al echipei Manchester City
David Andrew Platt is a retired English footballer, who played as a midfielder. David Platt began his career as an apprentice at Manchester United F.C.. Platt later moved to Crewe Alexandra F.C. where he began building a reputation as a goal scoring midfield player. In 1988, aged 22, he signed for Aston Villa where he continued his scoring rates. In 1989 he gained the attention of Sir Bobby Robson, the then England manager and made his debut. At the 1990 FIFA World Cup, Platt increased his continental reputation by scoring goals with both head and feet, whilst displaying passing abilities and high work rates. His performances in Italy earned him a move to Bari in 1991. His goal scoring abilities in the frugal and defensive Italian league. In 1992 he moved to Juventus, where he spent one season. In 1993, he moved to Sampdoria where he stayed for two seasons before returning to England with Arsenal, taking the total amount of money spent on his transfer fees, to £20 million. Platt played with the London club for three years before his retirement in 1998. Platt continued scoring goals for England, playing in Euro 92 and 96. Despite his efforts, England failed to qualify for the 1994 FIFA World Cup. Afterwards, he returned to England as player-manager of Nottingham Forest. After expensive signings and failure on the field, he was sacked. Platt also served as manager of Sampdoria before leaving his post owing to poor results. Platt also managed the England Under-21 team. He is currently serving on Manchester City's coaching staff as first team coach.
Platt was given his first England cap by Bobby Robson in a friendly against Italy in 1989, and was then included in the England squad when Robson named his 22 players for the 1990 World Cup.
Platt was on the bench for all of England's group games, but was sent on as an extra time substitute in the second round game against Belgium. He responded by scoring a memorable volley on the turn in the very last minute of extra time—his first goal for his country, and also the latest goal up until then (excluding deciding penalties) in World Cup history - sending England into the quarter finals.
On 1 July 2010, Platt was hired as first team coach at Manchester City, a decision that was not well received by many City fans because of his well documented anti-City stance as a pundit.
Succes 2010: Kolo Touré (Manchester City)
Kolo Habib Touré is an Ivorian professional footballer who currently plays for Premier League club Manchester City and is the current club vice-captain, and also plays internationally for the Ivorian national team. Touré is a central defender. He is the older brother of Manchester City midfielder Yaya Touré and Smouha's Ibrahim Touré.
After much transfer speculation, it was announced on 28 July 2009 that Manchester City had agreed a fee of £14 million for Touré. After he successfully passed a medical in Manchester on 29 July 2009, Touré signed a four-year contract with the club of which has the option of extending by a further five years. City, who finished 10th the previous season, had made a number high-profile signings in preparation for the 2009–10 season, and Touré hoped to help make City a top four team. He was appointed the club captain by former manager, Mark Hughes. He scored his first goal for Manchester City in a 2–1 League Cup win over Fulham on 23 September 2009. He scored his first league goal for City against Burnley on 7 November 2009. Manchester City finished the season in fifth position losing out to Tottenham Hotspur F.C. by just three points. On 2 July 2010 Kolo Touré was joined by his brother Yaya at Manchester City following a transfer believed to be worth around £24 million.
Succes 2010: Yaya Touré (Manchester City, Ivory Coast)
Fotbalistul ivorian Yaya Toure a devenit, la inceputul lunii iulie, cel mai bine platit jucator de fotbal din Anglia, dupa ce s-a transferat de la Barcelona la Man City.
Yaya castiga acum 185.000 de lire sterline pe săptămână. Din luna aprilie a anului viitor, suma va urca la 221.000 de lire. Net, Toure va castiga 5.75 milioane de lire sterline pe an sub tricolul lui Manchester City. Dupa semnatura, ivorianul a adaugat numarul sau de la echipa de club, 42.
Succes 2010: Carlos Tévez, "profetul argentinian al secolului XXI"
Carlos Alberto Tévez este un fotbalist argentinian care s-a afirmat la Boca Juniors, în Argentina, Corinthians, în Brazilia, West Ham United și Manchester United, în Anglia. În prezent activează la Manchester City, printr-un împrumut de doi ani efectuat de Media Sports Investments.
Este considerat unul dintre cei mai promițători jucători din Argentina. Precum conaționalul său Lionel Messi, a fost denumit de unii „Noul Maradona”. Diego Maradona l-a numit, într-o ocazie, „Profetul argentinian al secolului XXI”.
Monday, August 16, 2010
Succes 2010: Michael Phelps, înotător. Deținătorul recordului referitor la numărul de medalii de aur câștigate la o singură Olimpiadă
Michael Fred Phelps este un înotător american, multiplu campion mondial și olimpic la diferite probe de natație. Este de 14 ori medaliat cu aur la Jocurile Olimpice de vară (cel mai mare număr de medalii câștigate de orice sportiv) și este deținătorul a șapte recorduri mondiale.
Phelps este deținătorul recordului de cele mai multe medalii de aur câștigate la o singură Olimpiadă, cu opt medalii câștigate la Jocurile Olimpice de vară din 2008. Cu acest record, l-a depășit pe Mark Spitz, care era tot înotător și care deținea recordul de șapte medalii de aur câștigate la Jocurile Olimpice de vară din 1972.
În total, Phelps a câștigat 16 medalii olimpice: șase de aur și două de bronz la Atena în 2004, și opt de aur la Beijing în 2008.
Friday, August 13, 2010
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Succes 2010: Gregory Olsen, turist spaţial. Preţul "concediului": 20 millioane $
Gregory Hammond "Greg" Olsen is an American entrepreneur and scientist who, in October 2005, became the third private citizen to make a self-funded trip into space with Space Adventures.
Olsen was the co-founder and chairman of Sensors Unlimited Inc., a company developing optoelectronic devices such as sensitive near-infrared (NIR) and shortwave-infrared (SWIR) cameras. One of Sensors Unlimited's major customers is NASA.
Flown to the International Space Station (ISS) with Soyuz TMA-7 (launched October 1, 2005, docked October 3) and landed with Soyuz TMA-6 (October 10), Olsen is the third self-funded space tourist to visit the ISS, following Dennis Tito (2001) and Mark Shuttleworth (2002) (all three space tourists flew through Space Adventures, Ltd.). Gregory Olsen has made some comments indicating that he is unhappy with the "space tourist" designation. The following is from National Geographic's coverage "Space Launch - Along for the Ride (2007)": "Greg: The term space tourist implies that you`ll write a check and you go for a joyride. And believe me that is not the case at all. Narrator: Greg worked hard to get this far, training for two years with the Russian Space Agency."
He conducted several experiments in remote sensing and astronomy while aboard the space station. Dr. Olsen is a licensed Amateur Radio radio operator holding FCC callsign KC2ONX and spoke to students via ham radio from space through the ARISS project. In an informal presentation at a New Jersey high school, Dr. Olsen estimated the price of his space excursion at US$20 million.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Succes 2010: Guy Laliberté, primul clovn spaţial. Costul biletului: peste 35 de milioane $
Guy Laliberté is a Québécois entrepreneur, philanthropist, poker player, space tourist and currently the CEO of Cirque du Soleil. Starting out street performing as an accordion player, stiltwalker and fire-eater; Laliberté created his circus which is a synthesis of all circus styles around the world. In 2006, the 95% share holder of the US $1.2 billion Cirque Du Soleil was named the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year.
In September 2009, Guy Laliberté became the first Canadian private space explorer. His mission was dedicated to raising awareness on water issues facing humankind on planet Earth, making his spaceflight the first, in his own words, "Poetic Social Mission" in space. Under the theme Moving Stars and Earth for Water, this first Poetic Social Mission in space aimed at touching people through an artistic approach: a special 120-minute webcast program featuring various artistic performances unfolding in 14 cities on five continents, including the International Space Station.
In April 2007, Laliberté finished fourth in the World Poker Tour Season Five event at Bellagio in Las Vegas and won $696,220. Laliberté also played on GSN's High Stakes Poker Season 4 show. He also took part in Poker After Dark season 4.
Monday, August 9, 2010
Succes 2010: Condoleezza Rice
Condoleezza Rice a fost secretar de stat al Statelor Unite ale Americii între ianuarie 2005 - ianuarie 2009. Între 2001 şi 2005 a ocupat funcţia de consilier pe probleme de securitate naţională al lui George W. Bush.
În decembrie 2005, Condoleezza Rice a întreprins un turneu în Europa pentru a lămuri tema centrelor de detenţie CIA pe teritoriul unor state din Europa de Est. În cadrul acestui turneu, pe data de 6 decembrie 2005 a efectuat o vizită de 3 ore în România, unde a fost primită de preşedintele Traian Băsescu.
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Bruce Springsteen aka The Boss
Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen is an American singer-songwriter recording and touring with the E Street Band. Springsteen is widely known for his brand of heartland rock infused with pop hooks, poetic lyrics, and Americana sentiments centered on his native New Jersey.
His nicknam is "The Boss".
Springsteen probably is best known for his album Born in the U.S.A. (1984), which sold 15 million copies in the U.S. and became one of the best-selling albums of all time, with seven singles hitting the Top 10, and the massively successful world tour that followed it. The title track was a bitter commentary on the treatment of Vietnam veterans, some of whom were Springsteen's friends and bandmates.
Friday, August 6, 2010
Succes 2010: Wolfgang Puck, chef de top mondial
Wolfgang Johannes Puck is an Austrian-American celebrity chef, restaurateur, and businessman based in Los Angeles. Wolfgang Puck restaurants, catering services, cookbooks and licensed products are run by Wolfgang Puck Companies, with three divisions.
Following the 1981 publication of his first cookbook, Modern French Cooking for the American Kitchen based on his Ma Maison recipes, Puck opened the restaurant Spago on the Sunset Strip in 1982. Fifteen years later, in 1997, Puck opened the award-winning Spago in Beverly Hills, which has been recognized as one of the Top 40 Restaurants in the U.S. since 2004. His success enabled him to launch the Wolfgang Puck Companies which includes the Wolfgang Puck Fine Dining Group, Wolfgang Puck Worldwide, Inc. and Wolfgang Puck Catering. The Wolfgang Puck Companies encompasses over 20 fine dining restaurants, premium catering services, more than 80 Wolfgang Puck Express operations, and kitchen and food merchandise, including cookbooks and canned foods.
Puck is The Honorary Chair Chef for the "Five Star Sensation" Benefit in Cleveland, Ohio every two years helping to bring $10 Million Dollars to support The Ireland Cancer Foundation of University Hospitals.
Wolfgang Puck's favorite food is macaroons. :)
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Succes 2010: Paul M. Nurse Winner of the 2001 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
Sir Paul Maxime Nurse, FRS is a British geneticist/cell biologist. He was awarded the 2001 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with Leland H. Hartwell and R. Timothy Hunt for their discoveries regarding cell cycle regulation by cyclin and cyclin dependent kinases.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Succes 2010: Mark Shuttleworth, primul "afronaut". Costul biletului: 20 de milioane de dolari
Mark Richard Shuttleworth, antreprenor din Africa de Sud, este cel de-al doilea turist spaţial şi primul african care ajunge în Spaţiu. A platit circa 20 de milioane de dolari pentru "excursie".
Shuttleworth locuieşte în prezent la Londra şi are dublă cetăţenie sud-africană şi engleză.