On Tuesday, 26 October 2010
A brand-name celebrity's endorsement may not guarantee success for a new business. Then again, it sure doesn't hurt. Here are 10 startups with real star power behind them.
Ashton Kutcher
Social media darling Ashton Kutcher--famous for routing CNN to become the first person with 1 million Twitter followers--is set to cash in on networking enterprise, Foursquare. Established in 2009, the service combines gaming experience with GPS technology to get people out and about. Users check in via smart phone at registered venues, collecting virtual and real-life credits along the way. Kutcher, an early angel investor in the startup, has helped the company raise $21.4 million to date
The former Melrose Place hunk tapped into his female fan base when creating this matronly social networking site in 2006. It now boasts 2 million registered users. Shue and two other investors own 100% of the equity. The site recently began partnering with Good Morning America to report the "MomIndex," which measures the well-being of American moms.
Consiglieri
Steve Nash
The future Hall of Fame point guard knows how to diversify his portfolio. Besides his production company, sports club and charitable foundation, Nash announced in August he is now aiming to launch Consiglieri, a marketing consultancy and venture capital firm targeting the e-commerce, sports and consumer durables sectors. Consiglieri's backers thus far include Zig Capital and Deutsch Inc. Nash hopes to raise a total war chest of $20 million.
The future Hall of Fame point guard knows how to diversify his portfolio. Besides his production company, sports club and charitable foundation, Nash announced in August he is now aiming to launch Consiglieri, a marketing consultancy and venture capital firm targeting the e-commerce, sports and consumer durables sectors. Consiglieri's backers thus far include Zig Capital and Deutsch Inc. Nash hopes to raise a total war chest of $20 million.
WeMix
Ludacris
Take emerging artists, add a dash of music-mashing, stir in some rap mogul and spread evenly on social media platform. The result: WeMix music network, a 2007 media venture headed by three-time Grammy Award-winning rapper Ludacris and MegaMobile TV founder Chris Apfel. Members of this online community are given the tools to collaborate on beats and encouraged to share ideas with other members. Top-notch performers stand a chance to spit some rhymes with Luda himself.
Take emerging artists, add a dash of music-mashing, stir in some rap mogul and spread evenly on social media platform. The result: WeMix music network, a 2007 media venture headed by three-time Grammy Award-winning rapper Ludacris and MegaMobile TV founder Chris Apfel. Members of this online community are given the tools to collaborate on beats and encouraged to share ideas with other members. Top-notch performers stand a chance to spit some rhymes with Luda himself.
WePlay
Derek Jeter, LeBron James, Peyton Manning
The youth-sports networking site has an all-world trio of backers. Created to merge the interests of young players, parents and coaches, WePlay incorporates multimedia sharing and community discussion. The stars' collective investment: $8.6 million in 2008.
The youth-sports networking site has an all-world trio of backers. Created to merge the interests of young players, parents and coaches, WePlay incorporates multimedia sharing and community discussion. The stars' collective investment: $8.6 million in 2008.
Foursquare
Social media darling Ashton Kutcher--famous for routing CNN to become the first person with 1 million Twitter followers--is set to cash in on networking enterprise, Foursquare. Established in 2009, the service combines gaming experience with GPS technology to get people out and about. Users check in via smart phone at registered venues, collecting virtual and real-life credits along the way. Kutcher, an early angel investor in the startup, has helped the company raise $21.4 million to date
Alchemist Management
MC Hammer
Stanley Burrell, better known as 90s hip-hop sensation MC Hammer, recently announced he is carving out a stake in the world of mixed martial arts (MMA), and he'll do it from a corner office. From sudden bankruptcy to social media resurgence, Burrell signed on in July as CEO of Alchemist Management, an MMA marketing venture.
Stanley Burrell, better known as 90s hip-hop sensation MC Hammer, recently announced he is carving out a stake in the world of mixed martial arts (MMA), and he'll do it from a corner office. From sudden bankruptcy to social media resurgence, Burrell signed on in July as CEO of Alchemist Management, an MMA marketing venture.
The Filter
Peter Gabriel
The ever forward-thinking 80s music vanguard is helping to drown out the sound of online flotsam with a new music and entertainment recommendation system. Launched in April 2008 and backed by Gabriel and Eden Ventures (initial investment: $1.8 million), the telepathic search engine sifts through online media and spits out tracks based on user interests.
The ever forward-thinking 80s music vanguard is helping to drown out the sound of online flotsam with a new music and entertainment recommendation system. Launched in April 2008 and backed by Gabriel and Eden Ventures (initial investment: $1.8 million), the telepathic search engine sifts through online media and spits out tracks based on user interests.
Funny or Die
Will Ferrell
The big-screen comedy heavyweight and former SNL star made the move back to the small screen on HBO's Funny or Die Presents, courtesy of his co-owned online multimedia community of the same name. The content conglomerate, seeded by Sequoia Capital, features original material by comedic bigwigs (Adam McKay and Zach Galifianakis included) and encourages viewers to contribute their own creations. An undisclosed investor chipped in $2 million in December 2008.
The big-screen comedy heavyweight and former SNL star made the move back to the small screen on HBO's Funny or Die Presents, courtesy of his co-owned online multimedia community of the same name. The content conglomerate, seeded by Sequoia Capital, features original material by comedic bigwigs (Adam McKay and Zach Galifianakis included) and encourages viewers to contribute their own creations. An undisclosed investor chipped in $2 million in December 2008.
CafeMom
ShoeDazzle
Kim Kardashian
For a low monthly fee, this fashion-friendly website promises the personal styling perks of the, er, well-heeled plus a choice of one featured item (shoes, handbag or jewelry) per month. ShoeDazzle received $7 million to kick things off in 2009 and a second round of $13 million this year from Lightspeed and Polaris Venture Partners.
For a low monthly fee, this fashion-friendly website promises the personal styling perks of the, er, well-heeled plus a choice of one featured item (shoes, handbag or jewelry) per month. ShoeDazzle received $7 million to kick things off in 2009 and a second round of $13 million this year from Lightspeed and Polaris Venture Partners.
Gwyneth Paltrow
GOOP
What girl wouldn't want fashion and lifestyle advice from a rock-star-marrying, miracle-cleanse-touting, Oscar-winning cover girl? That's just what the ultra A-list actress had in mind when she launched well-being site GOOP.com in fall 2008. Paltrow's chic and minimalist site skips daintily from recommendations for diet and exercise, to musings on religion and retail. While detractors cite the thinness of the advice, some 150,000 subscribers have signed up to live life Gwyneth-style.
What girl wouldn't want fashion and lifestyle advice from a rock-star-marrying, miracle-cleanse-touting, Oscar-winning cover girl? That's just what the ultra A-list actress had in mind when she launched well-being site GOOP.com in fall 2008. Paltrow's chic and minimalist site skips daintily from recommendations for diet and exercise, to musings on religion and retail. While detractors cite the thinness of the advice, some 150,000 subscribers have signed up to live life Gwyneth-style.
On Monday, 25 October 2010
America is full of houses in which pain and suffering occurred and thus, some say, full of places that are haunted by the victims of that suffering. A look at some of the most famous "real" haunted houses would seem to give credence to that notion.
It's not clear whether ghosts choose to appear only to those who believe in them -- or not. But should you happen to visit one of these houses and run into a ghost, be sure to be polite.
Hull House
Hull House
Location: Chicago
Original purpose: The mansion was built by a developer in 1856.
Renown: In 1889, Jane Addams and Ellen Gates Starr turned it into a settlement house.
Haunting: The ghosts of a wife who died in a second-floor bedroom and a "devil baby" who was locked in the attic.
Winchester Mystery House
Location: San Jose, Calif.
Original purpose: Sarah Winchester lost her family, and to escape the curse, she started building.
Renown: Construction began in 1884 and only stopped when someone died. What did it cost?
Haunting: Some have said they see Winchester; others report different phenomena.
Whaley House & Museum
Location: San Diego
Original purpose: It was built as a home for a San Diego mayor and his wife in 1857.
Renown: It was built on or near the site of a hanging and a cemetery.
Haunting: Do some report heavy footsteps moving about the house? The spirit of a young girl? A dog? Other ghostly sightings?
Lizzie Borden House
Location: Fall River, Mass.
Original purpose: A widowed cabinetmaker bought the house for his new wife and his daughters in 1865.
Renown: The parents were killed with a hatchet in the house; a spinster was accused of the slaying.
Haunting: The family does not seem to rest easy; there are reports of cold spots, among other things.
LaLaurie House
Location: New Orleans
Original purpose: Built as a home for a doctor and his wife in 1832.
Renown: Madame LaLaurie is reputed to have tortured and punished slaves, including a child who fell to her death. When a fire exposed her, she disappeared.
Haunting: Do slaves haunt the house? Does a tall black figure?
Sidenote: An A-list actor lost it through foreclosure.
White House
Location: Washington, D.C.
Original purpose: Residence of presidents and their families. Who were the first?
Renown: Home of the "leader of the free world"; and a place some former inhabitants seem reluctant to leave.
Haunting: A president's wife hanging laundry? The ghost of the Great Emancipator? Another president's wife protecting her rose garden? The third president playing his violin? British soldiers? A "demon cat"?
Franklin Castle
Location: Cleveland
Original purpose: It was built in 1860 for a German immigrant and his wife.
Renown: Many deaths occurred in the home, and some were regarded as mysterious.
Haunting: Some report choking sounds in a room where a servant girl died. Later inhabitants told stories. Then there was an odd cemented-over area.
Sprague Mansion
Location: Cranston, R.I.
Original purpose: Home of the wealthy Sprague family.
Renown: In 1843, a family member was found dead on the road between his textile mill and his mansion.
Haunting: Is there a family member in the wine cellar? A butler on the stairs?
Chambers Mansion
Location: San FranciscoOriginal purpose: It first owner was a silver tycoon; it was built in 1887.
Renown: The tycoon's niece met an unpleasant fate. Was it an accident? Or deliberate?
Haunting: Some say she haunts the mansion.
Haunting: Some say she haunts the mansion.
Myrtles Plantation
Location: Saint Francisville, La.
Original purpose: A leader of the Whiskey Rebellion built the house on an Indian burial ground in 1794.
Renown: His daughter's husband reportedly kept a slave as a mistress. Whatever the slave's motives, her cake reportedly had fatal results. Another death was more mysterious.
Haunting: Does the ghost of a slave in a green turban wander at night? Do rooms sometimes smell of cigars? Are ghostly children heard playing on the veranda?
Stranahan House
Location: Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Original purpose: The house was built in 1906 for a Fort Lauderdale founder and his wife.
Renown: A hurricane, followed by the Great Depression, sank his business. He committed suicide.
Haunting: He and his wife are among the six ghosts who reportedly haunt the house.
Lemp Mansion
Location: St. Louis
Original purpose: A businessman bought the mansion built in the 1860s for a home and an auxiliary office
Renown: The mansion is believed to be under a curse that started with a Lemp.
Haunting: Ghosts of family members, including the Lavender Lady, reportedly still walk the halls. There are other reports of paranormal activity.
Biltmore Estate
Location: Asheville, N.C.
Original purpose: In the 1880s, a Vanderbilt built a "little mountain escape".
Renown: When he died in 1914, his widow reportedly continued to carry on conversations with him.
Haunting: There have been reports of a ghostly headless orange cat, a woman in black and a maid who serves champagne.
On Friday, 22 October 2010
Annual International 'Canstruction' Food Drive Returns
The annual international charity competition known as ‘Canstruction’ has returned and it is bigger and better than ever. The Canstruction food drive aims to raise hunger awareness during Thanksgiving. Founded in the U.S. in 1992, the Canstruction food drive has spread to over 170 cities around the world and boasts 30,000 volunteers and millions of pounds of donated food.
These awe-inspiring structures must be built with only full and labeled cans, without the use of glue and with only a team of five people building at one time.
These awe-inspiring structures must be built with only full and labeled cans, without the use of glue and with only a team of five people building at one time.
On
Companies like NuFormer and Macula are creating unique art installations by projecting videos onto buildings. This post showcases their best projects.
Madrid, Spain
Madrid, Spain
3D projection by NuFormer turned the facade of the building into a giant soccer themed pinball machine.
The 600 Years from the macula on Vimeo.
Super-menace from the macula on Vimeo.
NuFormer - Kazan, Russia. August 2010 from NuFormer Projection on Vimeo.
NuFormer - California, USA. August 2010 from NuFormer Projection on Vimeo.
Madrid, Spain
Madrid, Spain
3D projection by NuFormer turned the facade of the building into a giant soccer themed pinball machine.
Prague, Czech Republic
Cool video presentation by Macula during 600 year anniversary of the astrological tower clock at Old Town Square in Prague.The 600 Years from the macula on Vimeo.
Amsterdam, Netherlands
3D projection on the side of the Beurs van Berlage in Amsterdam.Hotel in Prague
Video mapping by Macula on the Hilton hotel in center of Prague.Super-menace from the macula on Vimeo.
Projection on Buildings
Showreel of NuFormer’s high quality 3D video mapping projections.Kazan, Russia
NuFormer was invited to do a 3D projection on the famous Theatre.NuFormer - Kazan, Russia. August 2010 from NuFormer Projection on Vimeo.
California, USA
NuFormer transformed a building into an old wall that later turned into an African jungle cabin and even later into a subway station.NuFormer - California, USA. August 2010 from NuFormer Projection on Vimeo.
On Monday, 18 October 2010
Celebrities have been put on this earth to entertain us. But sometimes their attempts go painfully awry. We're counting down the ten most uncomfortable examples.
10. Miley Cyrus Gives Director Adam Shankman a Lap Dance
R. Kelly may have seen nothing wrong with a little 
Kristen is the Queen of Gawkiness, so it'd be a travesty if she didn't make this list. But how could we possibly choose just one K.Stew awkward moment? When you drop your award during a live awards show, it probably trumps all. Did her palms get sweaty as she fumbled and dropped her Golden Popcorn statue for Best Female Performance at the 2009 MTV Movie Awards? 'Cause ours sure did
8. Mariah Carey's breakdown on "TRL"
When Mariah Carey showed up at "TRL" unannounced with an ice cream cart in July 2001, it was a little out of sorts. When she stripped off her shirt to reveal a tight tank and gold lame shorts, it was weird. When she started talking gibberish and, with a creepy laugh, said, "You're my therapy session right now Carson. You see, every now and then, somebody needs a little therapy, and today is that moment for me.
7. Faith Hill's CMA Outburst
Losing sucks. And when you have a camera in your face for a reaction shot, it sucks tenfold. Faith Hill learned that the hard way when she lost Female Vocalist of the Year to then-newcomer Carrie Underwood at the 2006 Country Music Awards. Backstage at the time, Faith screamed "What?" in the camera and then walked away. The singer maintains that she was just joking around, it was pretty uncomfortable to watch. 
6. Joaquin Phoenix on "The Late Show with David Letterman"
Now we know that Joaquin's bizarre transformation was just an act, but last year we were scratching our heads as much as Joaquin scratches that gross beard of his during his interview with David Letterman. Sure, we laughed when Dave joked about Joaquin spending time with the Unabomber and taking time off during the interview, but we really felt for him having to reach out to the void that seemed to be his guest.
5. Ryan Seacrest Tries to High-Five a Blind Man
Ryan Seacrest is an equal opportunity high-fiver: Black, white, tall, short -- it doesn't matter. Ryan's quest for equality was put to the test during Scott MacIntyre's "American Idol" Season 8 audition. Scott, if you recall, is blind, but that was no deterrent for Ryan's trailblazing ways. But when the high-five didn't go according to plan, Ryan improvised: He grabbed Scott's hand and walked him through it. Awkward!
4. Britney Spears Performs "Gimme More" at the VMAs
Who wasn't psyched to see Britney make a comeback at the MTV Video Music Awards in 2007? Expectations were high, but what actually went down was quite a different story. Her performance was underwhelming and painful to watch. Dressed in a sequined bra and underwear, Brit-Brit was sluggish, disoriented and out of shape. She moved around the stage aimlessly and wasn't even lip-syncing right. If only we knew how much farther she'd fall ….
3. Ashlee Simpson Lip-Syncs on "SNL"
And speaking of bad lip-syncing, how about Ashlee Simpson?! No list of uncomfortable celebrity moments would be complete without her little jig on "Saturday Night Live" in October 2004 when her lip-syncing ploy was unveiled. Apparently the drummer pressed a wrong button, causing the "Pieces of Me" voice guide track to play for a second time, as opposed to the second song they were supposed to play. Oopsies!
2. Tom Cruise Jumps on Oprah's Couch
Honorable Mention: Tom Cruise's interview with Matt Lauer about psychiatric medication
Tom's a passionate person, and with his passion often comes awkward-to-watch moments. The worst, however, was his infamous couch-jumping incident on "The Oprah Winfrey Show." Watching him on the show, we really didn't know what he was going to do jump on the couch, hug Oprah or whip out an AK-47. 
1. Kanye West: "George Bush Doesn't Care About Black People"
Honorable Mention: Kanye West interrupts Taylor Swift at the VMAs But the more uncomfortable moment has got to be Kanye's off-teleprompter rant during the Concert for Hurricane Relief in 2006. Just watch Mike Myers look at him in utter terror and disbelief, knowing that they’re on live TV and that he's stuck there with him. And when it all culminates with "George Bush doesn't care about black people," it was clear: Hurricane Kanye had come to town.
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