Source: www.nytimes.com --- Friday, January 06, 2012
Buying less Iranian Oil would further tighten the economic vise on an increasingly defiant nation that announced plans for a new round of naval drills in the Strait of Hormuz. ...
Source: http://feeds.nytimes.com/click.phdo?i=efb3fdbe21f7f84c38158b1039b1c3c1
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Story Published: Jan 6, 2012 at 5:00 AM MST
Story Updated: Jan 6, 2012 at 5:00 AM MST
CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) ? An economic analysis estimates the relatively young Wyoming Wildlife and Natural Resource Trust has created more than 500 jobs a year and about $21 million in worker income in the state since 2006.
It also estimates that every dollar invested in conservation easements returns $4 in economic value.
The trust is an independent state agency that was created in 2005. It funds projects that enhance and conserve wildlife habitat and natural resource values throughout the state. It has allocated more than $35 million to more than 320 projects across the state.
More than 200 separate entities have contributed money to help fund the projects.
The economic analysis of the state's investment in the trust was done by the University of Wyoming's Ruckelshaus Institute and The Trust for Public Land.
Source: http://www.kulr8.com/news/wyoming/136762138.html
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Cornell scientists perform optical illusion, herald invisibility through bending of light (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 06 Jan 2012 02:08:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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PhysOrg | Email this | CommentsSource: http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/06/cornell-scientists-herald-invisibility/
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Scorecard
James Pattinson got his first wicket when he trapped Kohli plumb in front of the wicket with a full straight delivery that Kohli tried to get across and flick but missed. The ball stayed low as well and hit him right in front.
Ben Hilfenhaus took his fourth wicket by dismissing Dhoni taking an easy return catch. Dhoni looked to drive the full delivery but hit it back without control. It lobbed up to Hilfenhaus who took it easily. It initially seemed as if it was a bump ball as Hilfenhaus did not celebrate, but the slip cordon came haring down in celebration. The on-field umpires referred to the third umpire and the replays showed that the ball came directly off the face of the bat towards the bowler.
Hilfenhaus dismissed Laxman with the second new ball that was pitched full just outside off and moved away just a touch. Laxman was squared up in defense and the ball went past the bat's edge to clip the off-stump leaving Laxman stunned.
Laxman hit 7 fours in his 66-run knock.
Tendulkar missed his 100th ton yet again as Australian captain Michael Clarke had him caught by Michael Hussey at first slip for 80.
Clarke tossed up a delivery outside off, Tendulkar came forward to defend but the ball spun away and took the outside edge, it went to Brad Haddin who was slow in getting up, but such was the luck for Tendulkar that the ball went off Haddin's gloves towards Hussey at first slip.
The moment Tendulkar's wicket fell there was stunned silence at the SCG and one could hear only Haddin and Hussey screaming in delight. Then the crowd gave the master a standing ovation as he departed for a wonderful 80.
Tendulkar hit 9 fours and added 104 runs with VVS Laxman for the fourth wicket.
India lost Gautam Gambhir in the first session.
Laxman scored a 92-ball 50 soon after lunch, which included six fours, to take India past the 250-run mark.
India, resumed at 114/2 on Friday, lost overnight batsman Gambhir (83) but scored 129 runs off 27 overs during the two-hour session.
Tendulkar hit a fighting half-century to lead India's battle alongwith VVS Laxman against the Aussies. Tendulkar's fifty came in 89 balls with the help of seven boundaries.
Earlier in the day, seamer Peter Siddle, who replaced Ben Hilfenhaus, gave Australia a crucial breakthrough as he got rid of Gambhir.
Gambhir, who scored 83 of 142 balls with the help of 11 fours, tried to play the shot on the on-side but it took the leading edge which was well caught by David Warner at point.
Gambhir and Tendulkar added 68 runs for the third wicket.
The conditions were little overcast on Day 4 due to some showers on Thursday evening but the weather is perfectly fine for the game of cricket at the SCG.
India, who have never won a Test series in Australia, reached third day stumps at 114 for two, 354 behind, with Gautam Gambhir on 68 and Sachin Tendulkar eight.
Earlier on the third day of the Test, Indian opener Virender Sehwag (4) and an uncertain Rahul Dravid (29) were cooling their heels in the pavilion, which raises the possibility of an innings defeat in the match.
Michael Hussey remained unbeaten on 150 but the glory of the day belonged to Australian skipper Michael Clarke who was left unconquered on 329, the highest score ever made at the SCG, which is hosting its 100th Test.
Triple centurion Michael Clarke put team interests ahead of personal glory as Australia moved towards a crushing win over India in the second Test.
Captain Clarke, unbeaten on 329, declared Australia's first innings closed at 659 for four to press for victory - despite various individual milestones beckoning.
After building a massive 468-run lead, Clarke called a halt to the onslaught to give his attack seven and a half sessions to bowl India out.
He was rewarded with the key wickets of Virender Sehwag and Rahul Dravid as the tourists dug in to save going 2-0 down in the four-Test series.
India had an early stumble when big-hitter Sehwag was brilliantly plucked from the air by the athletic David Warner at point off Ben Hilfenhaus for four.
Dravid's reputation as "The Wall" took another hit when he was out bowled for the third time in the series, this time by Hilfenhaus for 29.
Gambhir was lucky enough to survive after he was dropped by wicketkeeper Brad Haddin on 66 off James Pattinson in the penultimate over of the day.
Clarke's score is the fourth highest score by an Australian in Test cricket, behind Matthew Hayden (380), Sir Donald Bradman (334) and Mark Taylor (334).
This was the 25th instance of a triple century in Test cricket. Only Bradman, Brian Lara, Virender Sehwag and Chris Gayle are the four batsmen who have hit triple century twice in Tests.
Source: http://timesofindia.feedsportal.com/fy/8at2Etd0VIN6I1Yp/story01.htm
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| Coordinates | 28?36?50?N77?12?32?N |
|---|---|
| years active | 1992?present |
| background | solo_singer |
| birth name | Britney Jean Spears |
| birth date | December 02, 1981 |
| birth place | |
| genre | Pop, dance |
| occupation | Singer, songwriter, dancer, actress, record producer, author, fashion designer, video director |
| instrument | Vocals, piano |
| label | Jive |
| associated acts | InnosenseThe New Mickey Mouse Club |
| website | }} |
In 2001, she released her third studio album Britney and expanded her brand, playing the starring role in the film Crossroads. She assumed creative control of her fourth studio album, In the Zone (2003), which yielded chart-topping singles "Me Against the Music", "Toxic" and "Everytime". After the release of two compilation albums, Spears experienced personal struggles and her career went under hiatus. Her fifth studio album, Blackout, was released in 2007 and despite receiving little promotion, it spawned hits "Gimme More" and "Piece of Me". In 2008, her erratic behavior and hospitalizations caused her to be placed in a conservatorship. The same year, her sixth studio album Circus was released, with the global chart-topping lead single "Womanizer". She embarked on her highest-grossing global concert tour, The Circus Starring Britney Spears, in 2009. Her seventh studio album Femme Fatale, released in 2011, has become the first of her albums to yield three top ten singles in the United States.
Spears has sold over 100 million records worldwide. According to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), she is the eighth top-selling female artist in the United States, with 33?million certified albums. Spears is also recognized as the best-selling female artist of the first decade of the 21st century, as well as the fifth overall. She was ranked the 8th Artist of the 2000s by Billboard. In June 2010, Spears was ranked sixth on Forbes list of the 100 Most Powerful and Influential celebrities in the world; she is also the third most mentioned musician on the internet, according to Forbes.
In June 1997, Spears was in talks with manager Lou Pearlman to join female pop group Innosense. Lynne asked family friend and entertainment lawyer Larry Rudolph for his opinion and submitted a tape of Spears singing over a Whitney Houston karaoke song along with some pictures. Rudolph decided he wanted to pitch her to record labels, therefore she needed a professional demo. He sent Spears an unused song from Toni Braxton; she rehearsed for a week and recorded her vocals in a studio with a sound engineer. Spears traveled to New York with the demo and met with executives from four labels, returning to Kentwood the same day. Three of the labels rejected her, arguing audiences wanted pop bands such as the Backstreet Boys and the Spice Girls, and "there wasn't going to be another Madonna, another Debbie Gibson, or another Tiffany." Two weeks later, executives from Jive Records returned calls to Rudolph. Senior vice president of A&R Jeff Fenster stated about Spears's audition that "It's very rare to hear someone that age who can deliver emotional content and commercial appeal. [...] For any artist, the motivation?the 'eye of the tiger'? is extremely important. And Britney had that." They appointed her to work with producer Eric Foster White for a month, who reportedly shaped her voice from "lower and less poppy" delivery to "distinctively, unmistakably Britney." After hearing the recorded material, president Clive Calder ordered a full album. Spears had originally envisioned "Sheryl Crow music, but younger more adult contemporary" but felt all right with her label's appointment of producers, since "It made more sense to go pop, because I can dance to it?it's more me." She flew to Cheiron Studios in Stockholm, Sweden, where half of the album was recorded from March to April 1998, with producers Max Martin, Denniz Pop and Rami Yacoub, among others.
The April 1999 cover of Rolling Stone featured Spears lying on her bed, clad with a bra, shorts and an open top. The American Family Association (AFA) referred to the shoot as "a disturbing mix of childhood innocence and adult sexuality" and called to "God-loving Americans to boycott stores selling Britney's albums." Spears responded to the outcry commenting, "What's the big deal? I have strong morals. [...] I'd do it again. I thought the pictures were fine. And I was tired of being compared to Debbie Gibson and all of this bubblegum pop all the time." Shortly before, Spears had announced publicly she would remain a virgin until marriage. On June 28, 1999, Spears began her first headlining ...Baby One More Time Tour in North America, which was positively received by critics, but generated some controversy due to her racy outfits. An extension of the tour, titled Crazy 2k, followed in March 2000. Spears premiered songs from her upcoming second album during the show. Oops!... I Did It Again, her second studio album, was released in May 2000. It debuted at number one in the US, selling 1,3 million copies, breaking the SoundScan record for the highest debut sales by any solo artist. The album sold over 20 million copies worldwide. Rob Sheffield of Rolling Stone said that "the great thing about Oops!?? under the cheese surface, Britney's demand for satisfaction is complex, fierce and downright scary, making her a true child of rock & roll tradition." The album's lead single, "Oops!... I Did It Again", peaked at the top of the charts in Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and many other European nations. The album as well as the title track received Grammy nominations for Best Pop Vocal Album and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, respectively.
The same year, Spears embarked on the Oops!... I Did It Again World Tour, which grossed $40.5?million; she also released her first book, Britney Spears' Heart-to-Heart, co-written with her mother. On September 7, 2000, Spears performed at the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards. Halfway through the performance, she ripped off her black suit to reveal a sequined flesh-colored bodysuit, followed by heavy dance routine. It is noted by critics as the moment that Spears showed signs of becoming a more provocative performer. Amidst media speculation, Spears confirmed she was dating 'N Sync member Justin Timberlake.
Spears's performance of the single at the 2001 MTV Video Music Awards featured a caged tiger and a large albino python draped over her shoulders. It was harshly received by animal rights organization PETA, who claimed the animals were mistreated and scrapped plans for an anti-fur billboard that was to feature Spears. To support the album, Spears embarked on the Dream Within a Dream Tour. The show was critically praised for its technical innovations, the pi?ce de r?sistance being a water screen that pumped two tons of water into the stage. The tour grossed $43.7?million, becoming the second highest grossing tour of 2002 by a female artist, behind Cher's Farewell Tour. Her career success was highlighted by Forbes in 2002, as Spears was ranked the world's most powerful celebrity. Spears also landed her first starring role in Crossroads, released in February 2002. Although the film was largely panned, most critics actually praised Spears's acting. Crossroads, which had a $11 million budget, went on to gross over $57 million worldwide. In June 2002, Spears opened her first restaurant, Nyla, in New York City, but terminated her relationship in November, citing mismanagement and "management's failure to keep her fully apprised". In July 2002, Spears announced she would take a six month break from her career; however, she went back into the studio in October to record her new album. Spears's relationship with Justin Timberlake ended after three years. In December 2002, Timberlake released the song "Cry Me a River" as the second single from his solo debut album. The music video featured a Spears look-alike and fueled the rumors that she had been unfaithful to him. As a response, Spears wrote the ballad "Everytime" with her backing vocalist and friend Annet Artani. The same year, Limp Bizkit frontman Fred Durst confirmed that he was in a relationship with Spears, only to deny it later. In a 2009 interview, he explained that "I just guess at the time it was taboo for a guy like me to be associated with a gal like her." Spears opened the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards with Christina Aguilera, performing "Like a Virgin". Halfway through they were joined by Madonna, with whom they both kissed. The incident was highly publicized.
Spears released her fourth studio album, In the Zone, in November 2003. She assumed more creative control by writing and co-producing most of the material. Vibe called it "A supremely confident dance record that also illustrates Spears's development as a songwriter." NPR listed the album as one of "The 50 Most Important Recording of the Decade", adding that "the decade's history of impeccably crafted pop is written on her body of work." In the Zone sold over 609,000 copies in the United States and debuted at the top of the charts, making Spears the first female artist in the SoundScan era to have her first four studio albums to debut at number one. It also debuted at the top of the charts in France and the top ten in Belgium, Denmark, Sweden and the Netherlands. In the Zone sold over 10 million copies worldwide. The album produced the hit singles: "Me Against the Music", a collaboration with Madonna; "Toxic"?which won a Grammy for Best Dance Recording; "Everytime" and "Outrageous".
In July 2004, she announced her engagement to American dancer Kevin Federline, whom she had met three months before. The romance received intense attention from the media, since Federline had recently broken up with actress Shar Jackson, who was still pregnant with their second child at the time. The initial stages of their relationship were chronicled in Spears's first reality show Britney & Kevin: Chaotic. They held a wedding ceremony on September 18, 2004, but were not legally married until three weeks later on October 6 due to a delay finalizing the couple's prenuptial agreement. Shortly after, she released her first fragrance with Elizabeth Arden, Curious, which broke the company's first-week gross for a perfume. In October 2004, Spears announced she would be taking another career break to start a family. Greatest Hits: My Prerogative, her first greatest hits compilation album, was released in November 2004. Spears's cover version of Bobby Brown's "My Prerogative" was released as the lead single from the album, reaching the top of the charts in Finland, Ireland, Italy and Norway. The second single, "Do Somethin'", was a top ten hit in Australia, the United Kingdom and other countries of mainland Europe. Worldwide, Greatest Hits: My Prerogative sold over 5 million copies. In late 2004, Spears went on KIIS-FM radio in Los Angeles, CA to play a new demo titled "Mona Lisa." The demo was to be the first single from an upcoming album called the "Original Doll." However, Spears' label later cancelled the album for unknown reasons. Spears gave birth to her first child, Sean Preston Federline, on September 14, 2005.
In November 2005, she released her first remix compilation, B in the Mix: The Remixes, which consists of eleven remixes. In February 2006, pictures surfaced of Spears driving with her son Sean, on her lap instead of in a car seat. Child advocates were horrified by the photos of her holding the wheel with one hand and Sean with the other. Spears claimed that the situation happened because of a frightening encounter with paparazzi, and that it was a mistake on her part. The following month, she guest-starred on the Will & Grace episode "Buy, Buy Baby" as closeted lesbian Amber Louise. She publicly announced she no longer studied Kabbalah in June 2006, explaining, "my baby is my religion." Two months later, Spears posed nude for the cover of Harper's Bazaar. The picture was heavily compared to Demi Moore's August 1991 Vanity Fair cover. She gave birth to her second child, Jayden James Federline, on September 12, 2006. On November 7, 2006, Spears filed for divorce from Federline, citing irreconcilable differences. Their divorce was finalized in July 2007, when the couple reached a global settlement and agreed to share joint custody of their children. Spears's aunt Sandra Bridges Covington, with whom she had been very close, died of ovarian cancer in January. On February 16, 2007, Spears stayed in a drug rehabilitation facility in Antigua for less than a day. The following night, she shaved her head with electric clippers at a hair salon in Tarzana, Los Angeles. She admitted herself to other treatment facilities during the following weeks. After completing a month-long program at Promises, she wrote on her website, "I truly hit rock bottom. Till this day I don't think that it was alcohol or depression. [...] was like a bad kid running around with ADD." In May 2007, she produced a series of promotional concerts at House of Blues venues, titled The M+M's Tour. Spears lost physical custody of her children to Federline on October 1, 2007. The reasons of the court ruling were not revealed to the public.
Her fifth studio album, Blackout, was released in October 2007. It debuted at the top of charts in Canada and Ireland, number two in the U.S. Billboard 200,?held off from the top spot by Eagles's Long Road out of Eden? France, Japan, Mexico and the United Kingdom and the top ten in Australia, Korea, New Zealand and many European nations. In the United States, Spears became the only female artist to have her first five studio albums debut at the two top slots of the chart. Blackout sold over 3.1 million copies worldwide. Peter Robinson of The Observer said that "Britney has delivered the best album of her career, raising the bar for modern pop music with an incendiary mix of Timbaland's Shock Value and her own back catalogue." Dennis Lim of Blender commented, "Spears?s fifth studio album is her most consistent, a seamlessly entertaining collection of bright, brash electropop." Blackout won Album of the Year at MTV Europe Music Awards 2008 and was listed as the fifth Best Pop Album of the Decade by The Times. Spears performed the lead single "Gimme More" at the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards. The performance was panned by many critics. David Willis of BBC stated her performance would "go down in the history books as being one of the worst to grace the MTV Awards". Despite the backlash, the single rocketed to worldwide success, peaking at number one in Canada and the top ten in almost every country it charted. The second single "Piece of Me" reached the top of the charts in Ireland and reached the top five in Australia, Canada, Denmark, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. The third single "Break the Ice" was released the following year and had moderate success due to Spears not being able to promote it properly. In December 2007, Spears began a relationship with paparazzo Adnan Ghalib.
Her sixth studio album Circus, was released in December 2008. It received positive reviews from critics; according to the music review aggregation of Metacritic, it garnered an average score of 64/100. Circus debuted at number one in Canada, Czech Republic and the United States, and inside the top in many European nations. In the United States, Spears became the youngest female artist to have five albums debut at number one, earning a place in the Guinness Book of World Records. She also became the only act in the Soundscan era to have four albums debut with 500,000 or more copies sold. Circus became one of the fastest-selling albums of the year, and has sold 4 million copies worldwide. Its lead single, "Womanizer", became her first number one in the Billboard Hot 100 since "...Baby One More Time" and topped the charts in countries such as Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Norway and Sweden. It was also nominated for a Grammy in the category of Best Dance Recording. In January 2009, Spears and her father James obtained a restraining order against her former manager Sam Lufti, ex-boyfriend Adnan Ghalib and attorney Jon Eardley?all of whom, court documents claim, had been conspiring to gain control of Spears's affairs. The restraining order forbids Lutfi and Ghalib from contacting Spears or coming within 250 yards of her, her property or family members. Spears embarked on The Circus Starring Britney Spears in March 2009. With a gross of U.S. $131.8 million, it became the fifth highest grossing tour of the year.
She released her second greatest hits album, The Singles Collection in November 2009. "3" became her third number one single in the US, and was the first song to debut at the top of the charts in three years. Later that month, she released an application for iPhone and iPod Touch titled "It's Britney!". In May 2010, Spears's representatives confirmed she was dating her agent Jason Trawick, and that they had decided to end their professional relationship to focus on their personal relationship. Spears designed a limited edition clothing line for Candie's, which was released in stores in July 2010. On September 28, 2010, she made a cameo appearance on a Spears-themed tribute episode of American TV show Glee, titled "Britney/Brittany". Spears approved of the episode, although her appearances received mixed reviews from critics. The episode drew Glee's second largest audience, as well as the show's highest ratings ever.
On March 2011, Spears announced that she would tour throughout the United States during summer 2011 The Femme Fatale Tour opened June 16 at the Power Balance Pavilion in Sacramento, California to positive reviews. Many critics noted that Spears sang more of the concert live in response to lip-synching accusations during The Circus Starring Britney Spears, and that the dancing is some of her best in years. The first ten US dates of the tour grossed $6.2 million, landing the fifty-fifth spot on Pollstar's Top 100 North American Tours list for the half-way point of the year. The tour will travel to Europe and South and Central America later in 2011. On August 12, Spears announced that her performances at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto will be taped to air on the EPIX television channel and for a DVD release, resulting in the doubling of traffic to EPIX social sites and 'Britney Spears' becoming a worldwide trending topic on Twitter. Her first televised concert since the Onyx Hotel Tour in 2004, the show, Britney Spears: Femme Fatale, was shot in 2D and 3D on August 13 and 14 and will premiere on Epix in November.
On June 15, 2011, it was announced by Billboard that the RCA/Jive Label Group would be splitting, with Jive Records going to a restructured Epic Records, and RCA Records staying intact. In August it was announced that Spears had officially joined the RCA's roster. During the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards on August 28 2011, MTV played tribute to Spears with a group of young female dancers that memorialised Britney's music videos, performances, and style. Following which, Spears accepted the MTV Video Vanguard Award from Lady Gaga, who said that "industry wouldn't be the same without [her]".
On September 9, 2011, Spears announced that her second remix album, B in the Mix: The Remixes Vol. 2, will be released on October 11, along with the tracklist.
Oops!...I Did It Again and subsequent albums saw Spears working with several contemporary R&B producers, leading to "a combination of bubblegum, urban soul, and raga." Her third studio album, Britney derived from the teen pop niche, "[r]hythmically and melodically?... sharper, tougher than what came before. What used to be unabashedly frothy has some disco grit, underpinned by Spears' spunky self-determination that helps sell hooks that are already catchier, by and large, than those that populated her previous two albums." Guy Blackman of The Age wrote that while few would care to listen to an entire Spears album, "[t]he thing about Spears, though, is that her biggest songs, no matter how committee-created or impossibly polished, have always been convincing because of her delivery, her commitment and her presence. For her mostly teenage fans, Spears expresses perfectly the conflicting urges of adolescence, the tension between chastity and sexual experience, between hedonism and responsibility, between confidence and vulnerability."
Her vocal ability has also been criticized, often drawing unfavorable comparison to her pop rival, Christina Aguilera Critic Allan Raible derides her overdependence in Circus on digital effects and the robotic effect it creates. "She?s never been a strong vocalist..." writes Raible, "Could she handle these songs with stripped down arrangements and no vocal effects? More importantly, would anyone want to hear her attempt such a performance? Does it matter? No. The focus is still image over substance." Her image and persona are also often contrasted to Christina Aguilera. David Browne of Entertainment Weekly observed "Christina Aguilera may flash skin and belly button, but in her music and manner, she's too eager not to offend?? she's a good girl pretending to be bad. Spears, however, comes across as a bad girl acting good?... Spears' artificial-sweetener voice is much less interesting than the settings, yet that blandness is actually a relief compared with Aguilera's numbing vocal gymnastics. In contrast, Allmusic comments: "Like her peer Christina Aguilera, Britney equates maturity with transparent sexuality and the pounding sounds of nightclubs?... Where Christina comes across like a natural-born skank, Britney is the girl next door cutting loose at college, drinking and smoking and dancing and sexing just a little too recklessly, since this is the first time she can indulge herself. Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine notes, "The disparity between Aguilera and Spears can't be measured solely by the timbre and octave range of their voices?... [Aguilera's] popularity has never reached the fever pitch of Britney's."
Like other dance-oriented pop stars, it has been widely reported that Spears lip-syncs in concert. Author Gary Giddins wrote in his book Natural selection: Gary Giddins on comedy, film, music, and books (2006) that "among many other performers accused of moving their lips while a machine does the labor are Britney Spears, Luciano Pavarotti, Shania Twain, Beyonc?, and Madonna." Rashod D. Ollison of The Baltimore Sun observes: "Many pop stars?... feel they have no choice but to seek vocal enhancement. Since the advent of MTV and other video music channels, pop audiences have been fed elaborate videos thick with jaw-dropping effects, awesome choreography, fabulous clothes, marvelous bodies. And the same level of perfection is expected to extend beyond the video set to the concert stage. So if Britney Spears, Janet Jackson or Madonna sounds shrill and flat without a backing track, fans won't pay up to $300 for a concert ticket." Giddins adds, "it was reported Britney Spears fans prefer her to lip-sync?despite her denials of doing so (contradicted by her own director)?because they expect flawless digitalization when they pay serious money for a concert."
In Australia, NSW Fair Trading Minister Virginia Judge has advised disclaimers be printed on any ticket for concerts which contain any prerecorded vocals. She commented: "There could have been some instances where people actually go and purchase a ticket thinking that they're going to have a live performance ... for some people that means that everything is live, it's fresh, it happens instantaneously, it's not something that's been pre-recorded. You want to make sure that they're actually paying for what they think they're getting." Noting on the prevalence of lip-syncing, Los Angeles Daily News reported "in the context of a Britney Spears concert, does it really matter? Like a Vegas revue show, you don't go to hear the music, you go for the somewhat-ridiculous spectacle of it all". Similarly, Aline Mendelsohn of the Orlando Sentinel remarked: "Let's get one thing straight: A Britney Spears concert is not about the music?... you have to remember that it's about the sight, not the sound." Critic Glenn Gamboa comments her concert tours are "like her life?a massive money-making venture designed to play up her talents and distract from her shortcomings with a mix of techno-tinged sex appeal and disco-flavored flash. And, like her life, it is, more or less, a success.
Many critics have argued that Spears should not be considered in the same league of talent as Jackson or Madonna. Journalists Erika Montalvo and Jackie Sheppard of the Rocky Mountain Collegian observed "[s]ome may argue that Spears is not only a good recording artist but also an important cultural icon." However, in examining her level of skill as an artist, it is questioned that "[a]lthough she has been classified among female elites such as Janet Jackson and Madonna, what does Ms. Spears really have in common with these divas of rock?" Joan Anderman of The Boston Globe remarked that "[t]hirteen costume changes in 90 minutes won't bless her with Madonna's intelligence or cultural barometer. An army of cutting-edge R&B producers won't supply her with Janet Jackson's sense of humor or sincere smile?... Britney's heroes aren't great singers. But they're real singers. Spears sounds robotic, nearly inhuman, on her records, so processed is her voice by digital pitch-shifters and synthesizers."
Reporter Ed Bumgardner commented her transition from teen pop start to adult sex symbol with her third studio album Britney "takes its cues from two other successful performers?Madonna and Janet Jackson?both of whom she brazenly rips off and both of whom, like Spears, are passable singers, at best." Critic Shane Harrison wrote: "From the minimalist thump and "Nasty" feel of "I'm a Slave 4 U" to the scattered quotes in "Boys", [Britney] feels like [Spears's] attempt at 'Control'."
Citing Jackson's resolve to incorporate personal and social issues into her work and Madonna's ability to constantly redefine the boundaries of socially acceptable material in the industry, Spears's catalog ultimately pales in comparison, because "[w]hile Jackson and Madonna wrote their own music about subjects of importance, [Spears's] music sounds like an upbeat version of either, 'I want to grow up but the media won't let me,' or 'Here kitty, kitty, I'm wearing my underwear outside of my leather pants'-type ballads." In contrast, Guy Blackman argues that although "no one would argue that Spears is some kind of pioneering pop auteur, there?s still a lot to like about her back catalogue. During her world-conquering peak, she was just about as cutting edge as you could get in the world of global pop superstardom. Spears didn?t just work with big names, she gave big names their names, and maintained her high currency in the world?s most fickle industry for years, when most aspiring starlets are lucky to manage months."
After meeting Spears face to face, Janet Jackson stated: "she said to me, 'I'm such a big fan; I really admire you.' That's so flattering. Everyone gets inspiration from some place. And it's awesome to see someone else coming up who's dancing and singing, and seeing how all these kids relate to her. A lot of people put it down, but what she does is a positive thing." Madonna's respect for Spears has also been a subject of observation. Santiago Fouz-Hern?ndez and Freya Jarman-Ivens, authors of Madonna's drowned worlds: new approaches to her cultural transformations, 1983-2003 (2004) note that the most well known cross-generational relationship exists between Spears and Madonna in which "the entertainment newsmedia almost became obsessed with their relationship of mutual admiration." The biographers also report "[s]ome observers of popular culture, however, feel that the comparisons between the two artist are meaningless and fail to recognize Madonna's unique contribution: Madonna was never 'just another pop star' whereas Britney can more easily be seen as a standard manufactured pop act."
Barbara Ellen of The Observer has reported: "Spears is famously one of the 'oldest' teenagers pop has ever produced, almost middle aged in terms of focus and determination. Many 19-year-olds haven't even started working by that age, whereas Britney, a former Mouseketeer, was that most unusual and volatile of American phenomena?? a child with a full-time career. While other little girls were putting posters on their walls, Britney was wanting to be the poster on the wall. Whereas other children develop at their own pace, Britney was developing at a pace set by the ferociously competitive American entertainment industry". 'Britney Spears' was Yahoo!'s most popular search term between 2005 and 2008, and has been in a total of seven different years. Spears was named as Most Searched Person in the Guinness World Records book edition 2007 and 2009. Spears has also become a major influence among many new artists, including Kristinia DeBarge, Lady Gaga, Little Boots, Selena Gomez & the Scene, Pixie Lott and Miley Cyrus who has cited Spears as one of her biggest inspirations and has also referenced Spears in her hit song "Party in the U.S.A.". Spears' personal breakdown was also cited as an inspiration for Barry Manilow's album "15 Minutes".
In 2011, Adam Markovitz of Entertainment Weekly commented on the cultural significance of Spears' voice and music. "We don't ask a whole lot from Britney Spears as an entertainer...we'll still send her straight up the charts simply because she's Britney. She's an American institution, as deeply sacred and messed up as pro wrestling or the filibuster. Musically, though, Spears will always have to measure up to her own gold standards of pop euphony: the operatic slither of 2004's 'Toxic' and the candied funk of 2000's 'Oops!...I Did It Again.' Spears is no technical singer, that's for sure. But backed by Martin and Dr. Luke's wall of pound, her vocals melt into a mix of babytalk coo and coital panting that is, in its own overprocessed way, just as iconic and propulsive as Michael Jackson's yips or Eminem's snarls."
Bebo Norman wrote a song about Spears, called "Britney", which was released as a single. Boy band Busted also wrote a song about Spears called "Britney", which was on their debut album. She is also mentioned in P!nk's song "Don't Let Me Get Me". She was cited as the inspiration of Gwyneth Paltrow's character in the 2010 film Country Strong. Richard Cheese called Britney Spears "a remarkable recording artist" and also went on to say that she was "versatile" and what the industry calls an "artist". People magazine and MTV reported that October 1, 2008, the Bronx's John Philip Sousa Middle School, named their music studio in honor of Britney Spears. Spears herself was present during the ceremony and donated $10,000 to the school's music program.
Category:1981 births Category:21st-century actors Category:Actors from Louisiana Category:American child singers Category:American dance musicians Category:American dancers Category:American female pop singers Category:American female singers Category:American film actors Category:American music video directors Category:American musicians of English descent Category:American people of English descent Category:American people of Maltese descent Category:American pop singers Category:American singer-songwriters Category:American stage actors Category:American television actors Category:Baptists from the United States Category:English-language singers Category:Grammy Award winners Category:Innosense members Category:Jive Records artists Category:RCA Records artists Category:Living people Category:Mouseketeers Category:Musicians from Louisiana Category:Parklane Academy alumni Category:Participants in American reality television series Category:People from Kentwood, Louisiana Category:Sony BMG artists Category:World Music Awards winners
af:Britney Spears als:Britney Spears ar:?????? ????? az:Britni Spirs be:?????? ????? be-x-old:?????? ?????? bcl:Britney Spears bar:Britney Spears bs:Britney Spears bg:?????? ?????? ca:Britney Spears cs:Britney Spears cbk-zam:Britney Spears cy:Britney Spears da:Britney Spears de:Britney Spears et:Britney Spears el:???????? ?????? eml:Britney Spears es:Britney Spears eo:Britney Spears eu:Britney Spears fa:?????? ?????? fo:Britney Spears fr:Britney Spears fy:Britney Spears ga:Britney Spears gl:Britney Spears ko:???? ???? hy:?????? ????? hi:??????? ???????? hr:Britney Spears io:Britney Spears ilo:Britney Spears id:Britney Spears is:Britney Spears it:Britney Spears he:?????? ????? jv:Britney Spears kn:???????? ????????? ka:?????? ?????? csb:Britney Spears sw:Britney Spears la:Britney Spears lv:Britnija Sp?rsa lt:Britney Spears li:Britney Spears hu:Britney Spears mk:?????? ????? ml:?????????? ????????? ms:Britney Jean Spears mn:?????? ????? na:Britney Spears nl:Britney Spears ne:???????? ???????? ja:??????????? no:Britney Spears nn:Britney Spears oc:Britney Spears pnb:????? ?????? pap:Britney Spears pl:Britney Spears pt:Britney Spears kaa:Britney Spears ro:Britney Spears ru:?????, ?????? sc:Britney Spears sq:Britney Spears scn:Britney Spears simple:Britney Spears sk:Britney Spearsov? sl:Britney Spears so:Britney Spears sr:?????? ????? sh:Britney Spears fi:Britney Spears sv:Britney Spears tl:Britney Spears ta:???????? ????????? te:???????? ????????? th:???????? ???????? tr:Britney Spears uk:?????? ????? ur:????? ?????? vi:Britney Spears yi:?????? ????? zh:????????Source: http://article.wn.com/view/2012/01/04/Britney_Spears_begins_choosing_a_wedding_dress_designer/
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While the City were digesting Germany's sale, Portugal slipped out the results of its own debt auction. And the sale appears to have gone OK.
Unlike German, Portugal found buyers for the full ?1bn of three-month treasury bills on offer. It also managed to sell the debt at lower interest rate than at the previous auction, with yields dropping to 4.346% versus 4.873%.
There was also more demand for the bills, with the bid-to-cover ratio rising to 2.4 versus 2.0 (where 1.0 means the number of bids equalled the amount of debt on sale).
City analysts say that today's German bond auction is an improvement on November's sale of 10-year Bunds (when a third of debt was unsold), but nothing to cheer about.
Peter Chatwell of Credit Agricole said it was "much better than November's auction, but not particularly great either".
Michael Leister of DZ Bank agreed, saying:
It's not a good auction, but it's not a surprise. For a good auction we need a pronounced flight to quality environment which we didn't get in the past couple of days.
And Marc Ostwald of Monument Securities pointed out that the yield of just 1.93% means that people who bought the debt will see their returns comprehensively eroded by inflation:
For all that Germany it is a safe-haven, the fact of the matter is inflation is in the high 2s still and a yield of 1.93 (percent) over 10 years doesn't get you anything in real terms.
Germany's debt auction has also just concluded --- and the breaking news is that it has sold just over ?4bn of the ?5bn of 10-year Bunds on offer.
The Bundesbank reported that it sold ?4.057 of 10-year Bunds. The yield (or interest rate) on the debt fell slightly to 1.93%, from 1.98%, but this is the second auction in a row where the German Finance Agency has been forced to retain some debt.
We'd flagged up at 9.58am that there was a risk that the auction might not be fully subscribed (David Schnautz of Commersbank called the results very accurately).
The result certainly isn't a disaster, and it would be wrong to suggest that 'the markets' suddenly don't trust German debt. Looking at the table of results -- Germany actually received more than ?5bn of bids, but presumably some of the bids were unacceptably low.
Here come the auction results -- with the British debt sale going smoothly.
The UK Debt Management Agency just reported that it sold its ?3.75bn of five-year gilts at an average yield, or interest rate, of 1.106%. That's a drop from 1.143% at the last auction of this kind.
Will add reaction as it comes in.
One to bookmark -- my colleague Heather Stewart has compiled a very handy list of the main upcoming events in the Eurozone crisis this month:
Eurozone crisis: calendar of key events in January
It's going to be a hectic time -- with regular meetings of political leaders punctuated by almost daily auctions of government debt. And as a climax -- January will end with the IMF/EU/ECB troika delivering its report on Greece.
Eurozone inflation has fallen, bringing some relief to the region's consumers. Eurostat reported that the consumer prices index dropped to 2.8% in December, down from 3% in November.
I think that's all the economic data for the morning. Next up, those bond auction results....
Today's auction of 10-year German debt is particularly interesting as the previous sale of this type of debt, last November, flopped -- with a third of the bunds not sold.
David Schnautz of Commersbank has predicted that the auction will go "reasonably well", but that around 20% of the ?5bn of debt on offer might not find buyers.
An anonymous trader has also told Reuters that the sale could be "tricky". That's partly because German debt is now so highly valued that it offers a very low interest rate (the yield on 10-year bunds is trading around 1.93% this morning). Simply put, there are better (but riskier?) returns elsewhere.....
While the eurozone heads towards recession, the latest indication is that the UK economy probably stagnated in the last quarter of 2011.
That's the suggestion from this morning's survey of Britain's construction industry in December, which showed that growth in the sector picked up pace last month (rising to 53.2 from 52.3 on Markit's index).
Markit (who have had a busy morning) said the data means the UK construction sector probably grew in the last quarter, which should prevent Britain "sliding back into contraction".
Service sector business activity. Source: Markit/Eurostat The powerhouse German economy continues to outpace weaker rivals, according to new economic data that also suggests the eurozone is heading into recession.
Markit has reported that Germany's service sector picked up pace in December, with activity (as measured by its PMI survey) rising to 52.4 from 50.3 in November [so well above the 50-point mark that seperates expansion from contraction).
That, Markit said, means Germany's private sector returned to growth last month.
There was also good news for France, whose services sector expanded slightly in December with a PMI of 50.3.
The picture in other European countries was darker, though, with the eurozone's overall services sector shrinking again for the fourth month running (with a PMI of 48.8). Italy and Spain both saw their services sectors shrink sharply -- to 44.5 and 42.1 respectively.
As Chris Williamson, chief economist at Markit, put it:
Economic weakness is most evident in Italy and Spain, where domestic demand has been particularly hard hit by deficit-fighting austerity measures and growing uncertainty about the outlook. Recession is already looking inevitable in Italy, and is a growing possibility in Spain as well.
Other economists agreed that the data reinforces fears that the eurozone economy shrank in the last quarter of 2011.
Howard Archer, chief UK + European economist at IHS Global Insight, said:
While the December Eurozone services purchasing managers' survey showed improvement for a second month running, it still indicated a fourth successive month of contracting activity and the likelihood is that Eurozone GDP declined significantly in the fourth quarter of 2011.
Trouble in Italy, where shares in Unicredit -- the largest Italian bank by assets - have just been suspended after tumbling 10% since trading began at 8am.
The trigger is the news this morning that Unicredit's emergency ?7.5bn cash call is going to be priced at an even deeper discount than feared. The bank, which needs the funds to shore up its capital reserves, is selling shares at a 43% discount to their market value.
Details of the rights issue spooked investors, who had been braced for a 43% discount at the worst.
This Reuters story (written before the pricing was announced) has a good background explanation of the situation at Unicredit.
A very subdued start to trading in London, with the FTSE 100 up just 14 points at 5711. Most European markets are showing small losses.
Lord Wolfson's warning that Next's pre-Christmas sales suffered from the euro crisis reminds us that he is offering a ?250,000 prize to the economist who can devise the best way for a country to make an "orderly exit" for the euro.
The Conservative peer set the task in October, through his sponsorship of the Wolfson Economics Prize. He argued that:
There is now a real possibility that political or economic pressure may force one or more states to leave the euro. If this process is mismanaged it could threaten European savings, employment and the stability of the international banking system.
This prize aims to ensure that high quality economic thought is given to how the euro might be restructured into more stable currencies.
If you've got a great idea, it's not too late to submit it as the deadline is January 31st. More details here.
Lord Wolfson of Aspley Guise, chief executive of Next. Photograph: WPA Pool/Getty Images Lord Wolfson of Aspley Guise,, the chief executive of retailer Next, has blamed Europe's financial crisis after reporting 'disappointing' high street sales in the run-up to Christmas.
In the last few minutes, Simon Wolfson said the Eurozone debt crisis was "impacting UK consumer behaviour". He was speaking after Next reported a 2.7% decline in high street sales between 1 August and 24 December, compared with last year.
In a trading statement released to the City at 7am, Next also warned shareholders that trading in 2012 would suffer from:
Continuing difficulties in the Eurozone and its adverse effects on business confidence and the UK banking sector.
Next is the first major UK retailer to report results since Christmas, and is seen as a decent bellwether of the sector. If it's feeling the chill from Europe, weaker rivals must also be shivering.
I wonder, though, whether UK shoppers are really being affected by the twists and turns in the euro crisis, or whether Britain's own economic problems are the main factor. If you're facing a pay freeze or struggling to keep pace with UK inflation, then the fate of the euro may slide down your list of priorities...What do you think?...
Here's an agenda of today's main events:
? Eurozone Services PMI - 8.58am GMT (9.58am CET)
? UK construction PMI - 9.30am GMT (10.30am CET)
? Eurozone inflation for December - 10am GMT (11am CET)
? UK auction of ?3.75bn five-year gilts - from 10am
? German auction of ?5bn of 10-year bunds - from 10.30am
? Portuguese auction of ?0.75bn-?1bn of three-month bills - from 10am
Good morning, and welcome to another day of rolling coverage of the Eurozone debt crisis.
It's going to be quite a lively morning, with Germany, Portugal and the UK all holding debt auctions. While Lisbon is aiming to shift short-term bills repayable in just three months, London and Berlin are both selling long-term bonds (five-year gilts and 10-year bunds). That should be a test of investor appetite as 2012 gets into full swing.
There is also plenty of economic data to tickle the appetite, including eurozone inflation for December, and a healthcheck on Britain's construction sector.
Elsewhere, Greece's warning yesterday that it might quit the euro in three months has ratcheted up the tension -- we'll be watching for further developments in Athens.
Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2012/jan/04/eurozone-crisis-debt-auctions
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";var zflag_nid="1431";var zflag_cid="37/13/8";var zflag_sid="1";var zflag_width="1";var zflag_height="1";var zflag_sz="31"; RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) ? The Palestinians are downplaying expectations ahead of their first meeting with Israelis in more than a year.
The chief Palestinian negotiator, Saeb Erekat, and Israeli envoy Yitzhak Molcho are set to meet in Jordan on Tuesday in a bid to get peace talks restarted.
Negotiations have been stalled since September 2010.
Erekat told reporters in the West Bank on Monday that he doesn?t expect any breakthroughs unless Israel agrees to halt settlement construction in the West Bank and east Jerusalem.
He also said that Israel must accept its 1967 lines as the basis for a future border.
Israel captured the West Bank and east Jerusalem in the 1967 Mideast war.
Israel rejects the Palestinian demands and says peace talks should resume without preconditions.
Source: http://www.omaha.com/article/20120102/AP/120109973
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