Stefani Germanotta, now known as Lady Gaga, performing at an NYU talent show in 2005.

Wow. Good stuff... she seems to be a bit different in today's world eh?

BONUS KEYWORD: "WOW" Good till November 24th!!

If you’re afraid of Friday the 13th you’re in good company.

Henry Ford, Napoleon and President Franklin Roosevelt all lived in fear of the so-called cursed day. 

Ford refused to do business on Friday the 13th and FDR refused to travel on the day. 

The phobia around the 13th is a cousin to triskaidekaphobia, the fear of the number 13.

Even today, the Otis Elevator Company knows better than to include a button with a 13 on it in elevators all over the world.

Story

The Rocketboom Institute for Internet Studies examines the phenomenon of Auto-Tune with help from special guest Professor "Weird Al" Yankovic!

All VIDEOS HERE

Christopher Walken on Friday Night with Jonathan Ross BBC1.

Most businesses dependent on consumer spending, from clothing to computers to appliances, have felt the pinch.
 
But some consumer-product companies have benefited from the recession, usually because they sell the kind of stuff that helps people save money. Other companies have capitalized on timely technology or latched on to powerful trends that defy the recession.

THE LIST:

~~Arm & Hammer laundry detergent. ... "power brands," known for value and dependability, have been thriving.

~~ Coleman camping gear. Lavish vacations are back on the wish list, with more people staying close to home.

~~ Hyundai automobiles. There's a depression in the auto industry, but Hyundai has the right cars for lean times, and sales are up nearly 3 percent, thanks to an affordable lineup of feature-packed vehicles and spiffy new models like the Genesis sedan and coupe.

~~Green Mountain Coffee Roasters have been thanks to its Keurig single-cup brewing systems, popular in many offices and increasingly in private homes. 

~~ Presto cookers. It slices, dices, and appeals to nesting consumers doing more of their own cooking.

~~ Private-label salad dressing. The jar might say Kroger, Safeway, Wal-Mart, or Trader Joe's, but it's probably made by a private-label food company. Sales of cheaper store brands have surged during the recession, but consumers have also gotten used to higher quality.

~~ Hasbro Toys: like Transformers.  A sharp boost in entertainment licensing revenue from Transformers and a related stalwart, G.I. Joe, have helped offset reductions in other parts of Hasbro's earnings statement.

~~ Tupperware. Pinched consumers are saving more of everything, including leftovers, which means these are boom times for food-storage products like Tupperware.

~~ Universal remotes. One thing we're not skimping on is TV time, and California-based Universal Electronics has benefited from several trends: the
proliferation of TVs and video recorders, the growth of high-definition TV, and the transition from analog to digital signals.

Universal makes remote control devices for big cable companies like Comcast, Time Warner, and Direct TV, specializing in the technology that allows one gizmo to communicate with multiple types of electronics. When cable subscribers upgrade their service, there's a good chance they get a new remote furnished by Universal.
Source with MORE

Including...  The Summer of Death
Celebs dropped like rabbit pellets all summer long: David Carradine. Ed McMahon. Farrah Fawcett. Karl Malden. Billy Mays. DJ AM. And of course, the King of Pop, Michael Jackson.

Costume:
Take a standard Grim Reaper cloak and sickle costume, add beach accessories like a big straw hat and sandals, and replace the sickle with a surfboard. Voila! Death takes a holiday.

Shopping list:
- Grim Reaper costume (Target)
- straw hat (J.Crew)
- beach sandals (Old Navy)
- sunglasses (Sunglass Hut)
- surfboard (Amazon.com)


Government Bailout Fairy
These days, we like to reward failure and mediocrity -- the Fed has been throwing gobs of cash at belly-up banks, brokerages and auto makers, like a government fairy godmother. Hey, that sounds like a good costume idea!

Costume:
Start with a classic Uncle Sam suit, then doll it up with the wings, wand and tiara from a fairy costume. Don't forget lots of trillion-dollar bills to hand out to anyone who asks for one. Or one-hundred.

Shopping List:
- Uncle Sam costume (Toys 'R Us)
- magic fairy costume (Amazon.com)
- trillion-dollar bills (eCrater.com)

"Slumdog Millionaire"
For the four of you who haven't seen the movie, "Slumdog Millionaire" is about a young Indian man, Jamal, whose harrowing life experiences serendipitously supplied him with just the right knowledge to win big on the TV show, "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" Or did he cheat?

The cops thought so, which is why they hung Jamal by the arms from the ceiling and beat him like a piñata to try to make him confess. With the help of a friend, you can do the same.

Costume (for two):
Your friend is Jamal, handcuffed and dangling from a rafter while you, as the police interrogator, invite other Halloween partygoers to ask him trivia questions. Every time he gets one wrong, give him a good whack with your billy club.

Shopping List:
- handcuffs (Self Defense Products)
- heavy cable or chain (local hardware store)
- "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" quiz book (Amazon.com)
- police baton (Self Defense Products)


The Swine Flu
It has a funny name (why not Pork Flu?) and makes for the easiest costume on this list.

Costume:
A pig head with a breathing mask. That's it. Don't think about it too hard, because it doesn't really make sense. It's what comedy professionals call a "sight gag."

Shopping list:
- pig mask (Moon Costumes)
- surgical mask (First Aid Monster)
FULL LIST HERE

David Wells Isn't Ashamed Of His Bodily Functions

TBS sports anchor Ernie Johnson calls David Wells on what sounded like air escaping from a balloon, he was forced to come back with the immortal "I just farted."

Good Stuff- click HERE

What was the wackiest costume you've ever worn, for Halloween?

One of the hottest viral videos of the last year has been Chloe and Keith's Wedding, a funny little clip of a bride getting knocked into a pool by the clumsy best man mid-ceremony. It was uploaded to YouTube in October of 2008 and has been viewed by at least 30 million people since then.

In February, Time magazine ranked it as one of Internet's 99 Greatest Hits. It has aired on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, The Today Show, Good Morning America, The Early Show and Australian, British and Japanese news networks.

We can tell you: it's definitely a hoax.

Chloe and Keith are actors named Josh Covitt and Charissa Wheeler. They're not married.

The clip and its video follow-up are both part of a completely scripted independent film conceived by writer/director Archie Gips along with producing partner Dennis Anderson and executive producer Nancy Moonves (ex-wife of CBS chief Les Moonves).

The pool the bride fell into? That was Nancy's. It was filmed at her house.

Nancy says, "We didn't set out to fool anyone. It just took on a life of its own."

Archie doesn't really like the word hoax. "It's more a blurring of reality and fiction".

It started as a way of marketing what they saw as a romantic comedy movie and it snowballed so much that they kept the myth alive.

What about flat-out lying - as the actors seemed to do on Good Day L.A.? Archie says, "We tried to lie as little as possible".

But he admits that some people are really ticked off at finally knowing it's not a real clip of a real wedding - and that they're now selling it.

Techcrunch Crunchpad
Tech blogger Michael Arrington wanted a low-cost tablet computer-something to handle basic Web tasks from the comfort of his couch. No company offered one, so he designed it himself.

Palm Pre
The Palm Pre ($200 with a contract from Sprint) doesn't break ground with any one engineering advance. Instead, it sets a new standard by putting all the best available technologies together.

Nikon Coolpix S1000PJ
Nikon has notched a first: There's a tiny LED projector in its 12.1-megapixel, $430 compact camera that casts large, clear images onto a wall. This promises to resurrect the slide shows of earlier eras, without the hassle of actual slides.

Loggerhead Bionic Hydrant Wrench
The five-sided nuts on fire hydrants are rarely a uniform size, and parallel-jawed adjustable fire wrenches can't grip the fasteners. LoggerHead Tools' new, one-size-fits-all wrench surrounds the fastener with five jaws. The wrench will allow firefighters to open any hydrant fast.

The rest HERE

Meet Joshua Sacco, YouTube's newest star.

His dad, Jim Sacco, is a big hockey fan, and he instilled that in his little boy. After roughly 150 viewings of the 2004 movie Miracle, the story of the 1980 U.S. hockey team featuring Kurt Russell as coach Herb Brooks,  Josh learned to recite the locker room speech scene.

His dad filmed it, put it up on YouTube in July and now it's gotten over 1 million views.

(Ellen DeGeneres had him on her show, and he recited it again from memory because he's just now learning how to read "at kindergarten".)

The Kurt Russell version is on YouTube.

Kelly Clarkson decided to do a two-for-one cover song when she did her own versions of Kings Of Leon's "Use Somebody" and Alanis Morrisette's "That I Would Be Good".

The performance came during a show at the Mohegan Sun arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.

Madonna and Lady Gaga both wore lingerie and thigh-high boots for a skit on Saturday Night Live that featured name-calling, hair-pulling and a kiss. 

Madonna and Gaga appeared on stage together as musical guests on the skit "Deep Dish".

At one point, Madonna reached over and grabbed a chunk of Lady Gaga's hair. That's when the fists started to fly. The two threw punches then ended up wrestling on the floor before calming down.

Madonna asked Gaga: "What kind of name is Lady Gaga? It sounds like baby food."

Gaga replied by saying: "The kind that's No. 1 on the Billboard charts."

At the end of the skit, the two of them leaned in for a kiss but never got to it because SNL actor Kenan Thompson got in the middle of them and got a kiss on each cheek.

These strategies can help you talk down your doctor, your dry cleaner and your hotel. (From Money mag.)
 
1. Your doctor bill

Why now: Your MD knows times are tough. And he's used to negotiating his fees -- he does it all the time with insurers.

Strategy: If you have to shell out a chunk of cash for a covered treatment, offer to pay the doctor and hospital upfront in exchange for a 10% to 20% discount. They'll often accept to avoid the hassle of dealing with your insurer.

No coverage for a dental crown or physical therapy? Offer the lowest rate your provider charges an insurer(typically 30% to 50% off "retail"). To find those rates, check big insurers' websites or go to vimo.com.

2. Your dry-cleaning bill

Why now: The recession is squeezing small businesses hard. It's easier to get a discount at an independent shop than at a large chain store.

Strategy: Use your clout as a regular: Tally up your typical monthly tab and show it to your dry cleaner when no other customers are around. Then ask for a 10% to 20% discount.

If you need to sweeten the deal, offer to pay cash (credit card fees are costly to retailers) or to drop off and pick up your clothes on slower days of the week.

3. Your hotel bill

Why now: Companies slashed travel budgets, and Americans are staycationing in droves. Hotel occupancy is expected to average less than 55% this year.

Strategy: When booking, call the hotel directly(not the 800 number) and ask the front desk or a reservations manager for a discount on the published rate.

No deal? Suggest an upgrade to a suite or the concierge floor, which comes with amenities such as free breakfast and evening hors d'oeuvres at no additional charge. If you're a member of the hotel's frequent-stay program, mention it -- you'll have more leverage.  

Including... The Ickey Shuffle

The Lambeau Leap 

Billy “White Shoes” Johnson

and...

Wes Welker of the Patriots... the snow angel.

FULL LIST with VIDEOS

Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream
In 2000, Ben & Jerry sold the ice cream to Dutch-British conglomerate Unilever for $326 million.

Gerber
In 1994, a Swiss pharmaceutical company bought Gerber for about $3.7 billion.

7-Eleven
The company sold out to a Japanese conglomerate in 1983.

Fender
Although Fender still produces some high-end models in its Corona, Calif., plant, most of its instruments are built in Mexico, Japan and South Korea.

Levi's
Levi's has more than 50 plants and offices in 35 countries. Nearly half its revenue comes from operations in Europe and the Asia-Pacific region. Check your label: very few still say "Made in the U.S.A."

More HERE

It's Katy Perry back when she was Katy Hudson, singing in a club in Pomona, CA.

Rare Stefani Germanotta footage live at the Bitter End pre Lady Gaga mega-stardom performing, "Hollywood".

Footage from Michael Jackson's 'This is It' concert has been released and some say that his moves were a little off.

Here's the latest clip, featuring "Human Nature".

Intelligent Entertainment Systems
Sony's "Laugh Detection System" is a way for the electronics giant to gauge your reaction to humor on TV and in movies through a webcam hooked up to your PS3 and television. When you watch comedy, the webcam will read your laughter, facial expression and body language and share that data on a network with other consumers. So instead of relying on movie reviews, you'd actually be able to see which flicks elicit the best responses from viewers.

Transforming Chairs
Instead of clogging your living quarters with both an armchair and rocking chair,. Designer Peter Vardai's Fotel transforming chair converts from rocker to armchair in just 20 seconds.

LED Graffiti Spray Cans
Thanks to LED Graffiti Spray Cans, you'll be able to lend your artistic talents to the world without making a mess. In the dark, these cans (which look just like your average can of spray paint) will emit a visible LED that will appear like a much cooler version of a raver waving a glow stick. You'll be able to change the color and brightness of your light with the click of a button.

Hypersonic Scramjets
A futuristic "scramjet" will actually be tested later this year. The Boeing X-51A will be able to travel up to 10,000 miles per hour, meaning once this technology is common on commercial airlines, you'll be able to jump across the continent in well under an hour. International flights will be done before your legs even get cramped.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

VIDEO: Remix: Kanye West Disrespect and interrupt Taylor Swift at MTV Awards

Patrick Swayze's former co-stars released statements remembering the actor.

Whoopi Goldberg starred alongside Swayze in the 1991 hit film 'Ghost'. She said: "Patrick was a really good man, a funny man and one to whom I owe much that I can't ever repay. I believe in 'Ghost's' message, so he'll always be
near."

Jennifer Grey, aka 'Baby' in 1987's "Dirty Dancing" said: "When I think of him, I think of being in his arms when we were kids, dancing, practicing the lift in the freezing lake, having a blast doing this tiny little movie we thought no one would ever see".

She says Swayze was a "real cowboy with a tender heart," who was so fearless doing his own stunts that "it was not surprising to me that the war he waged on his cancer was so courageous and dignified."

"Patrick was a rare and beautiful combination of raw masculinity and amazing grace."

Demi Moore was Swayze's leading lady in "Ghost". Her statement reads:

"Patrick you are loved by so many and your light will forever shine in all of our lives. In the words of Sam to Molly. 'It's amazing Molly. The love inside, you take it with you.' I will miss you. Demi"

Kirstie Alley costarred with Swayze in the 1985 TV miniseries North and South.  She posted on Twitter: "I will always cherish my amazing memories of Patrick...we had so much fun together...come back soon Patrick, we need you here on earth."

California Governor and former actor Arnold Schwarzenegger said in a statement:

"Patrick Swayze was a talented and passionate artist who struck a memorable chord with audiences throughout the world. He played a wide range of characters both on stage and in movies and his celebrated performances made the hard work of acting look effortless -- which I know from experience is not easy"

Rob Lowe, costarred in Francis Ford Coppola's "The Outsiders". Lowe said,
"Patrick lived a hundred lifetimes in one. I will remember him for that, and I will remember him for how much he loved his wife Lisa. He was such an intense actor, so full of passion and vigor. He definitely made the most out of it. It's a sad day."

C. Thomas Howell also shared the screen with Swayze in 'The Outsiders,' as well as 'Red Dawn' and 'Grandview, U.S.A.'. Howell said:

"I have always had a special place in my heart for Patrick. While I was fortunate enough to work with him in three films, it was our passion for horses that forged a friendship between us that I treasure to this day. Not only did we lose a fine actor today, I lost my older 'Outsiders' brother. My heart goes out to not only his entire family, but all his fans as well."

Swayze's co-star on "The Beast", Travis Fimmel, said: "He was an inspiration, a gentleman and I was blessed to have worked with him and even more blessed to have called him my friend. My heartfelt condolences go out to his wife Lisa and their family."

Gary Busey starred in "Point Break". He said: "Patrick Swayze was a kindred spirit and a spiritual brother of mine.  His focus was center target and his purpose was with faith, kindness, grace, understanding, and love. Patrick Swayze's book of life will never be over because he's moved on to the spiritual plateau where life is forever."

~~ You know all the words to The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air theme song

~~You collected (and maybe played) Pogs

~~You remember people fighting over Beanie Babies and Tickle Me Elmo toys

~~You had a short-lived slap bracelet phase

~~You know the Macarena

~~Your winter coat used to be a Starter jacket

~~ Your shoes had flashing lights

~~TGIF was your favorite TV lineup

~~ Bill Nye taught you something

~~ You wanted to find Carmen Sandiego AND Waldo

~~ Surge was your idea of an energy drink

~~ Warheads and Tongue Splashers were a key contributor to your cavities

~~ You knew every detail about each Saved By The Bell character

~~ You had a stance on whether you liked Ice Ice Baby or U Can't Touch This better

~~ You thought gas was expensive when it was over $1

~~ You (or someone you know) wore Jelly Shoes, the Crocs of the 90s.

Britney Spears covered Alanis Morrissette's' biggest hit, "You Oughta Know", at her concert in Greensboro, North Carolina.

Surprisingly, Britney sand the song without a backing track and there is video proof!

Bonus Keyword... "COMPLIMENT" Good thru Sept. 10th!!

A Lavish Home or Two
Home is where the heart is -- and fortune as well. A real estate expert says: "If someone were to win the lottery I would think they'd want to own a truly extraordinary home."

Dream Vacation for 100 Friends, Family
Now that you've won the big jackpot, why not do something nice for your friends and family? Forget the standard vacation. Consider renting out an entire 50-villa resort.

Charitable Donations and Philanthropy
It may be tempting to spend prize money on pampering yourself, but charitable giving is common among individuals with means. Whether that money goes to cancer research, your church, university a human rights group, international disaster relief, animal shelters or food banks, experts suggest you plan your giving wisely.

Your Own Private Island
Forget lavish vacations or posh homes. To really signal your entrance into the world of the rich, consider buying a private island in the Bahamas. For as little as $750,000 you can purchase and camp out on your own private slice of paradise in The Bahamas, just like actor Johnny Depp, who purchased his own island in Exuma.

A New, Vintage Luxury Car
The new Mercedes-Benz AMG SLS may catch the eye of a new multi-millionaire. In spring 2010, after more than 50 years, the German automaker will bring back its classic Gullwing sports car, known for its signature doors that opened up towards the sky. Asking price: $200,000.

LINK

A woman in Largo, Florida didn't celebrate her birthday with cake... she spent it with a stun gun.

She turned 59, and decided to go on a crime spree.

She robbed a gas station with her stun gun and got $130. After she grabbed the cash, she used her stun gun on one of the workers.

Then she tried to rob a Subway... but a Subway worker grabbed a knife, and the birthday girl took off.

When the cops showed up, the woman admitted to the robberies and said she needed the money to buy pain killers.

She's sitting in the Pinellas County Jail.

Story

Questionable footage of a Coroner's van inside a locked parking lot and, allegedly, Michael Jackson hopping out:

FREAKY!! BONUS KEYWORD... "FREAKY" Good thru August 30th!!

A sampling of some popular shorthand texting terms.

* UG2BK . . . . . . . You got to be kidding

* GBTW. . . . . . . . Get back to work

* NMP . . . . . . . . . Not my problem

* PIR . . . . . . . . . . Parent in room

* GFTD. . . . . . . . . Gone for the day

* FYEO. . . . . . . . . For your eyes only

* BI5 . . . . . . . . . . Back in five minutes

* DEGT . . . . . . . . Don't even go there

* BIL . . . . . Boss is listening

* PAW. . . . Parents are watching

* 99 . . . . . . Parents are no longer watching

* PCM . . . . Please call me

* IMS. . . . . I am sorry

* TOY. . . . . Thinking of you

* KUTGW. . Keep up the good work

* CID . . . . . Consider it done

* FWIW. . . For what it's worth

* HAND . . . Have a nice day

* IAT . . . . . I am tired

* NRN . . . . No response necessary

* 4COL. . . . For crying out loud

* WRUD. . . What are you doing

* LMIRL. . . Let's meet in real life

* ^5 . . . . . . High five