10 Great Celebrity Music Video Cameos

Comedy, Drama, Glamour!  These Actors Bring a Little Extra

 It’s all Chevy Chase’s fault. In 1986, Paul Simon decided he didn’t like the music video prepared for his hit single “You Can Call Me Al,” and recruited one of his close friends to create a better one. The result is a hilarious video of Chase and Simon, with Chase towering a good 12 inches over the smaller Simon and lip-synching the lyrics.

 1. “You Can Call Me Al” by Paul Simon

(featuring Chevy Chase)

Watch it on YouTube here .

2. “Don’t Worry Be Happy” by Bobby McFerrin

(featuring Christopher Reeve and Robin Williams)

Watch it on YouTube here — it’s been watched nearly 13 million times.

3. “Celebrity” by Brad Paisley

(featuring Jason Alexander and William Shatner)

Watch it on YouTube here.

4. “Freedom! ‘90” by George Michael

(featuring Naomi Campbell, Linda Evangelista, Christy Turlington, and Cindy Crawford among other models)

Watch it on YouTube here — it’s been watched almost 10 million times.

5. “Remember the Time” by Michael Jackson

(featuring Magic Johnson, Iman and Eddie Murphy)

Watch it on YouTube here — it’s been viewed a whopping 36 million times.

6. “Not About Love” by Fiona Apple

(featuring Zach Galifianakis)

Watch it on YouTube here.

7. “Walkaway Joe” by Trisha Yearwood

(featuring a – very young! – Matthew McConaughey)

Watch it on YouTube here .

8. “Thing Called Love” by Bonnie Raitt

(featuring Dennis Quaid)

Watch it on YouTube here.

9. “Colder Weather” by Zac Brown Band

(featuring Liam Hemsworth)

Watch it on YouTube here.

 10. “Single Ladies” by Beyonce

(featuring Justin Timberlake, Andy Samberg and Paul Rudd)

Although not the official video for this song — this was actually a skit on “Saturday Night Live” — it belongs on the list for its sheer entertainment value.

Watch it on WAT.tv here.

21 Ways To Make Life Easier

From Kitchen To Car To Bedroom To Office, Make Your Life A Little Simpler

We could all use a little help now and then to smooth our way — check out these tips from around the web on small ways you can make things a bit easier.

1. Drop something tiny? Put some pantyhose over the end of your vacuum cleaner.
2. Need to slice that cake layer into two layers? Stick toothpicks all the way around marking the middle and then line up plain dental floss on top of the toothpicks, cross the ends and pull. (see Wikihow)
3. Try “filing” your clothes in drawers on their edges instead of stacking them, so you can see everything easily. (see Apartment Therapy)
4. Make an impromptu sound system in your kitchen by putting your iPod or music player in a bowl. (see Real Simple)
5. Keep emergency cash hidden by rolling it and stuffing it into an empty Chapstick tube.
6. Keep track of which cord is which with a sharpie and old bread tags. (see Unplggd.com)
7. Remember to send cards on time. Use a monthly expanding folder to store cards for special occasions. Keep a list of names and dates in each month — buy cards when you see one you like, file them, and then send them.
8. Buy vinegar by the jug. Find a thousand and one different uses for vinegar on VinegarTips.com — from keeping your steam iron clean to keeping your dog from scratching its ears.
9. Save your thumb and finger. Use a clothespin to hold a nail steady when hammering.
10. Make your pen magic and hard to lose. Drop a few magnets in the end of your pen and then stick it to the fridge or filing cabinet when you’re done with it. (see Biancolo)
11. Clean those nooks and crannies. Use an old electric toothbrush head dipped in silver polish to clean the decorative and hard to reach areas on your silver.
12. Got your phone wet? Try putting your phone (turn it off and take out the SIM card if there is one) in a bowl of rice for 24 to 48 hours. You’d be surprised how often this works.
13. Color code your keys. Grab some cheap and funky nail polish from the drugstore and paint the heads of your keys different colors. (see Reddit)
14. Keep your car neat. Use a plastic reusable cereal container for garbage in your car.
15. Who brings sand to the beach? No one. But you might want to bring baby powder on your next trip — sprinkle on sandy legs and feet and sand comes right off. (see I Heart Naptime)
16. No one wants smelly drawers. Tuck scented candles (or bars of soap) in your drawers to keep them smelling nice.
17. Don’t miss a bargain. If you’re shopping online, take a moment to quickly Google the item along with the words “discount,” “promotion,” or “sale” — you never know what special offers are floating on the net.
18. Control the bags. Stuff flimsy plastic shopping bags into an empty wet-wipes container. (see Savvy Housekeeping)
19. One product, many uses. Use dryer sheets to dust surfaces, not only does the coating pick up dust, the anti-static property helps repel new dust. You can also use dryer sheets to eliminate static on your clothes by wiping it lightly down your skirt or pants and to clean your iron. (see Real Simple)
20. Keep your berries fresher longer. Dump berries into a bowl filled with one part white vinegar and ten parts water. Swirl thoroughly, drain (rinsing is optional), and store in your refrigerator — raspberries will last a week or more. (see Food Lush)
21. Bye-bye blisters. Before going for a hike or run, slick some antiperspirant on your feet, especially those areas prone to blistering. The antiperspirant minimizes moisture and chafing.

5 Amazing Moments From the London Olympics

Slideshows and Photos Across the Internet Are Commemorating the Event

Nielsen Ratings reported that nearly 220 million Americans tuned in to the Olympics — making it the most watched event in US TV history.

The photo that gold medal winner Jordan Burroughs tweeted on Saturday is being talked about as the image that is worth more than a thousand words — a picture of him and Sadegh Goudarzi, the Iranian wrestler Burroughs beat to take the gold, hugging each other.

Then there’s Michael Phelps, who has won a mind-boggling and record-setting 22 medals — 18 of which are gold. In fact, if he were a country, he would land in the top 60 countries with the most medals, while on the list of most gold medals he would be at #36!

Photo from “With One Last Gold, Phelps Caps Career That Inspired a Generation” The New York Times

London prides itself on its pomp and circumstance — and the opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympics were no exception, as can be seen by the extraordinary fireworks display during the finale.

Photo from “Top Photos” on London2012.com

It’s been called “Morgan’s Miracle” — after the US womens soccer player Abby Wambach took the game against Canada into overtime, Alex Morgan scored the winning goal with just 30 seconds to spare. Three days later, the team defeated Japan and took the gold.

Photo from “Fresh Faces: U.S. Soccer Star Alex Morgan” on NBCOlympics.com

And of course, this year’s Olympics was also about watching the watchers — the newly minted Duke and Duchess of Cambridge most particularly.

Photo from “Where Are The Royals Today?” On NBCOlympics.com

For more fantastic images and stories, check out these sites:

• London 2012 Pictures of the Day on The New York Times
• Stunning Images From London Olympics Finale on Huffington Post
• Olympic Slideshows on NBCOlympics.com
• Photos and Galleries on London2012.com
• London 2012 on Olympic.org

5 Books Everyone Is Reading This Summer

If You Haven’t Heard of “Gone Girl” Yet, You Will

1. “Gone Girl” by Gillian Flynn

Possibly the hottest book of the summer, “Gone Girl” tells the tale of a missing wife in a disintegrating marriage. The Wall Street Journal called the book “compulsively readable” and Reese Witherspoon has already snapped up the rights to produce and star in the film version.

2. “Most Talkative: Stories from the front lines of pop culture” by Andy Cohen

Even for those who aren’t “Real Housewives” fans, this book from the franchise’s creator (and Bravo’s executive vice-president of development and talent) Andy Cohen is sure to offer a few chuckles. A meandering through the path Cohen has been on since his early days watching “Charlie’s Angels” and “All My Children,” “Most Talkative” is chock full of celebrity anecdotes, pop culture mishaps and even an underlying thread of what it takes to make it in showbiz.

3. “11/22/63: A Novel” by Stephen King

If you’re looking forward to the movie “Looper,” this book should be right up your alley. “One of the best time-travel stories since H. G. Wells” (The New York Times), Stephen King’s “11/22/63: A Novel” should also keep you busy for a while — it’s nearly 900 pages long.

4. “Dead End in Norvelt” by Jack Gantos

Set in the 1960s, “Dead End in Norvelt,” a young adult novel, won this year’s Newbery Medal for children’s literature. The American Library Assn., which awards the prize, called the book “an achingly funny romp through a dingy New Deal town.”

5. “The Uninvited Guests” by Sadie Jones

What happens when an upper class British family gathered for a birthday celebration must open its doors to the straggling third-class survivors of a nearby train wreck? When the story is set in 1912 and is told by the masterful Sadie Jones, the answer is “hang on to your hat” because who knows what’s going to happen next? “The Uninvited Guests” is the story of “an elegant dinner party that turns into a phantasmagorical mashup evoking Noel Coward, Agatha Christie, The Twilight Zone, Downton Abbey and Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream.” (NPR)

No Gold Medals For Social Skills

The Olympic spirit may be easier to uphold on the track than online. This week the second athlete was thrown out of the Olympics and sent home after posting disparaging remarks about other competitors to their Twitter account.

Last Wednesday, Greek triple jumper Paraskevi Papachristou was kicked off the team for tweeting negatively about African immigrants in Greece. Shortly after the announcement, the athlete posted an apology to her Facebook page, saying, “I would like to express my heartfelt apologies for the unfortunate and tasteless joke I published on my personal Twitter account. I am very sorry and ashamed for the negative responses I triggered, since I never wanted to offend anyone, or to encroach human rights.” (via The New York Times)

Barely a week later, Michel Morganella, a Swiss soccer player was tossed off his team after tweeting insults about South Koreans the Swiss soccer team lost to South Korea 2-1 on Sunday. Morganella apologized shortly afterwards, as did the head of the Swiss Olympic delegation, who said the remarks “contradict the Olympic charter.”

The immediacy and accessibility of social media can be an instant emotional outlet for joy “We won!”, sadness “I can’t believe MJ is gone”, love “I love Mrs. A” and more — but it’s very immediacy and instant publication can transform one hot-headed, human reaction into an international insult. We have all had those moments of cursing and spewing and venting our frustration when things don’t go our way — until recently, those moments happened in our heads or under our breath. Social media is a powerful knife that can cut both ways — everyone, but especially public figures, might be well advised to count to 10, or maybe 100, before clicking “post.”

5 Infographics To Help You Eat Healthy

1. Eat breakfast and eat less all day

from DishinDietian

2. Shop smarter to eat better

from Supermarket News

3. Exercise this much to burn off that meal

from Nerd Graph

4. Forget the apple — eat these 10 nutrients every day

from Healthy Times Blog

5. What about all those diets?

from Greatist

7 Reasons To Love The Google Nexus 7 Tablet

1. Price

At $199 for a 7” tablet with 8GB of storage, the latest version of Android, and a gorgeous high resolution screen, Google’s Nexus 7 leaves the Kindle Fire ($199) and the Nook ($199) in the dust.

2. Size

With recent rumors swirling about Apple’s upcoming foray into the 7” tablet market (the “iPad mini”?), Clearly consumers like this size — at just over half the square inches of Apple’s iPad, the Nexus 7 is far easier to cart around.

3. Feel

Google got it right with this tablet — It’s light — at 12 oz., it weighs a little more than half the iPad 3 and it’s “grippy” — the back is covered in a friendly rubberized plastic.

4. Speed

Powered by an impressive 1.3GHz quad-core processor and 1GB of RAM , the Nexus posted impressive speed test results, going frame-for-frame-per second in graphics performance with the iPad 3 and beating the iPad in web browser speed and multi-threaded process testing.

5. Performance

The very first tablet to ship with the latest version of Android, Jelly Bean, the Nexus 7 offers significantly improved responsiveness compared to earlier Android versions.

6. User Experience

In addition to streamlining performance, Jelly Bean, the latest version of Android, comes with a more robust notification design — a feature that has been the bane of many tablet makers (and users) and an improved interface, including auto-sizing of icons to fit available space.

7. Display

One word: gorgeous. Other than the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 (which is nearly three times the price of the Nexus 7 at $565 with16GB on Amazon), this is by far the best display available on a 7” tablet — a 1280×800 IPS touchscreen with a pixel density of 216ppi. The iPad 3 with Retina display offers 264 ppi, while the iPad 2 displays at merely 132 ppi.

 

There have been recent reports that the Google Nexus 7 is out of stock — but a quick look on the Google Play site this morning has Google showing that the 8GB tablets are “in stock,” although the 16GB version ($249) says it “ships soon.”

8 Reasons Federer Is The Greatest Tennis Player of All Time

Incredible Records, Facts and Stats About Roger Federer

Roger Federer, file photo. (Credit: Wiki Commons/James Marvin)

He’s polite, handsome, intelligent — and quite possibly the best men’s singles tennis player of all time. A veritable dinosaur on the court at 30 years old, Roger Federer has compiled a stunning resume of accomplishments. And as he proved last Sunday on the great lawns of Wimbledon, he’s not done yet.

This month Federer set a record when he played  in his eighth Wimbledon final. Take a look at eight other amazing accomplishments Federer has achieved so far in his career.

1. Grand Slam titles — 17

Federer has won 17 Majors in nine years — from his first championship win at Wimbledon in 2003 against Mark Philippoussis to his most recent victory at Wimbledon against Andy Murray.

Although he has won five more Grand Slam titles than any other men’s singles player (Roy Emerson won 12); five women’s singles players have racked up more than 17 Majors titles — Margaret Court won 24 between 1960 and 1975, and Steffi Graf won 22 between 1987 and 1999.

2. Grand Slam finals — 24

Federer shattered the previous record for a men’s singles player reaching the Grand Slam finals in his career — Ivan Lendl now runs a distant second with 19 Grand Slam finals.

3. Consecutive weeks at #1 — 237

Federer blew past Jimmy Connors’ record of 160 consecutive weeks ranked as the number one men’s singles player in the world — by more than 77 weeks (from February 2, 2004 to August 17, 2008). His consecutive run at the top spot also surpasses the women’s record of 186 weeks, held by Steffi Graf.

4. Consecutive quadfecta of Grand Slam finals

Federer is the only men’s singles player to reach the finals of all four Majors two years in a row — which he did in 2006 and 2007.

5. Consecutive U.S. Open titles — 5

In tennis’ Open Era (1968 forward), Federer’s five wins from 2004 to 2008 set the record for men’s singles consecutive titles on the courts in Flushing Meadows, NY.

6. Consecutive Wimbledon finals — 7

Federer is the only male player in history to make it to the final round on the green grass in England seven times in a row — he reached the last match on the grass Centre Court each year from 2003 to 2009.

7. Consecutive Grand Slam finals — 10

The 2007 U.S. Open saw Federer play in his tenth Grand Slam final in a row (the streak began in 2005 at Wimbledon) — blasting a pre-Open Era record of seven consecutive Majors finals set more than 70 years previously by Jack Crawford in 1934.

8. Consecutive titles at two different Grand Slams — 5

In 2008, when Federer won his fifth consecutive U.S. Open, he also became the first male player in tennis history to win the title at two different Grand Slams five years in a row — having won Wimbledon from 2003 to 2007, crushing Bjorn Borg’s previous record of four consecutive titles at two Grand Slams (the French Open from 1978 to 1981, and Wimbledon from 1976 to 1980).

Fed also surpassed Borg’s record of winning the same two Grand Slams in consecutive years when he won both Wimbledon and the U.S. Open from 2004-2007. Borg’s record was still an impressive three-year streak winning both the French Open and Wimbledon (from 1978-1980).

 

 

7 Cause Supporting Bracelets

Whatever your favorite cause, charity or initiative — chances are there’s jewelry to help you support it. From supporting our veterans to eradicating domestic violence, from breast cancer to thirst, check out these organizations that want you to wear your heart — or at least your cause — on your sleeve.

Bullets2Bandages

What’s more fitting as we near the holiday celebrating this country’s independence, won through the bravery and sacrifice of our first militia, than “a brand created to say thank you to America’s veterans”? Bullets2Bandages, founded by two former naval explosive ordnance disposal officers, takes an instrument of war and transforms it into a symbol of pride, gratitude, and healing. The products are all made in America from once-fired bullets.

Helping All Needs (HANDS)

HANDS allocates 100% of its proceeds to improving community standards and alleviating health inequities — show your support for anything from firefighters to breast cancer to your own custom cause with their “Unity Bands,”.

Jewelry for a Cause

Initially started to provide products for organizations to sell in their own fund-raising efforts, Jewelry for a Cause now also sells directly to customers — donating 20 percent of the proceeds to a charity of the client’s choice.

Twenty percent of the proceeds from the Hamsa bracelet are donated to Knockout Abuse Against Women.

Alkemie

For the eco-conscious fashionista, Alkemie offers jewelry made from 100% reclaimed metals, with leather from sustainable cattle farmers and dyed with earth friendly dye. And the company donates five percent of online proceeds each month to a different charity.

SWAK X

From South Africa, the SWAK X jewelry collection is made by “vulnerable young adults, many affected by HIV/AIDS.” A portion of SWAK X’s proceeds are donated to the Tomorrow Trust. Their Wrist to Hair (W2H) bracelets are double banded elastics decorated with a charm — wear them stacked on your wrist or holding up your hair.

Sprout Watches

What do you call a watch that’s biodegradable, sustainable, made from corn resin, organic cotton, mother of pearl and fish leather? Darn goodlooking!

Midomo Bracelet

Created by Red Button Design, the Midomo bracelet celebrates the launch of Midomo, a revolutionary water purifier for developing countries. Each bracelet sold means an African community receives a Midomo — and the wearer can actually track that Midomo’s journey online.

I’ll Take Famous Fathers For $200

Famous Fathers for $200: “Robin, Stefan, and Stella”

What are… famous kids with famous parents?

(photo from McCartney Fanclub)

• R&B star Robin Thicke is the son of Alan Thicke, the actor most well-known for his role on the TV show “Growing Pains.”
• Stefan Kendal is a musician who, along with his son, Skyler Austen, formed the pop sensation band LMFAO. Stefan is also the son of legendary music producer Berry Gordy.
• Stella McCartney is a hugely successful fashion designer with her own label who just happens to be the daughter of a member of the hugely successful British band (the Beatles) — Paul McCartney.

Famous Fathers for $400: “Angelina, Anjelica, and Sofia”

What are… Oscar winning kids of Oscar winning dads?

(photo from E Online)

• Angelina Jolie won the Oscar for Best Actress for “Girl Interrupted” in 2000. Her father, Jon Voight, won the award in 1979 for Best Actor in the film “Coming Home.”
• Anjelica Huston won the Best Actress award in 1986 for her work in “Prizzi’s Honor.” Her father, Walter Huston, won the Best Actor award in 1949 for his work in “Treasure of the Sierra Madre.”
• Anjelica Huston is also the only Academy Award winner who is the grandchild of another Oscar winner — John Huston, who won for Best Screenplay and Best Director for “Treasure of the Sierra Madre,” the same movie for which his son was awarded the Best Actor award.
• Sofia Coppola won an Oscar for her screenplay “Lost in Translation” in 2004. Her father, Francis Ford Coppola, has won five Oscars, including Best Director, Screenplay and Picture for “The Godfather: Part II” in 1975.

Famous Fathers for $600: “Ken, Mohammed, and Yannick”

What are… famous athletes with famous athletes for sons?

(photo from ML Blogs)

• World Series winner Ken Griffey and record-setting Ken Griffey, Jr. are the only father-son baseball duo to have played Major League Baseball at the same time (in 1989), on the same MLB team (in 1990) and the only pair to have hit back-to-back home runs in a game.
• Laila Ali has made a name for herself as a professional boxer, knocking out her opponent in her first match in just 31 seconds. She has a ways to go, however, to match the reputation of her legendary dad, Mohammed Ali.
• Yannick Noah gladdened the hearts of French people everywhere in 1983, when he became the first Frenchman to win the French Open in 37 years. His son is no slouch, albeit on a basketball court rather than a tennis court — after helping his college team to win two consecutive NCAA Championships, Joakim Noah went on to join the NBA, where he now shines as center for the Chicago Bulls.

Famous Fathers for $800: “Martha, Emma and Rashida”

What are… famous fathers that might surprise you?

(photo from fanpop)

• Actress Martha Plimpton, currently starring in the hit TV show “Raising Hope” is the daughter of Oscar-winning actor Keith Carradine, who played the Sheriff in last year’s “Cowboys and Aliens.”
• Music legend Quincy Jones is the proud father of actress Rashida Jones, of “The Office” and “Parks and Recreation.” Rashida’s mother is no slouch either. She is Peggy Lipton, who starred in the hit TV series “The Mod Squad.”
• Up and coming actress Emma Roberts is not only the niece of the uber-famous Julia Roberts, she is the daughter of actor Eric Roberts, who shot to fame in the early 1980s in the true-crime movie “Star 80.”