Celebrities Kids Who Are All Grown Up

Grown up

Don’t they grow up so fast? Some of our favorite celebrities who started out as teeny tiny children have kept the motors going and have pushed on with success, even into adulthood. Others have not been so successful. Actors like Macaulay Culkin and Lindsay Logan started off with such promise, but went off the deep-end.
Not the case for these young celebrities. They’ve been in the spotlight all their lives, and whether they follow in their parents’ footsteps or not, they have all found their own calling in life (or at least started to).
There are tons of child stars – almost every movie needs a kid for that ‘aww’ factor, or plot development, and everyone has to start somewhere – but there aren’t many who can gracefully transition into adulthood, it seems.
Rather than becoming a mini-me of their parents, these celebrities have tried to branch out into other things. One can only imagine how annoying it would be to always be associated with your parents’ success, and these young celebs must know that burden all too well. Whether they’ve found success or floundered, here are 10 celebrity kids all grown up.

10. Kelly & Jack Osbourne (30 and 29 Years Old)

Kelly and Jack Osbourne might have once been best-known as the children of Black Sabbath’s Ozzy Osbourne, and for starring on the reality show based around their family, The Osbournes, but they’ve since grown into their own. Kelly was a presenter on E!’s Fashion Police from 2010 to 2015, and she’s also appeared on Dancing with the Stars. Kelly Osbourne has found continued success as a talk-show host, and as a fashion expert. Unfortunately not all is well in the Osbourne household, medically speaking. She recently announced that she has the same cancer gene as Angelina Jolie, and that she’ll eventually have to have similar surgery – to remove her ovaries, fallopian tubes, and perhaps a double mastectomy. Jack Osbourne, who’s also a dad now, has become a successful fitness and travel reporter after his rise to fame on The Osbournes. He has presented on shows such as BBC’s Saving Planet Earth, and Jack Osbourne: Adrenaline Junkie. Unfortunately, he also has medical issues, as he was diagnosed with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis in 2012. Since the diagnosis, he has made significant lifestyle changes, such as minimizing stress, exercising regularly, and ceasing any intense physical workouts.

9. Rumer Willis (26 Years Old)

Rumer Willis is the oldest daughter of Bruce Willis and Demi Moore. She followed in her parents’ footsteps and became an actress, starring in her first role at the ripe age of five, in the movie Now and Then. Since then, Rumer has had a steady career. She appeared in the 1996 film Striptease, and in the 2000s she made appearances on shows like CSI: NY, Medium, and The Secret Life of the American Teenager. From 2009 to 2010, Rumer had a recurring role on the show 90210, and in 2012 to 2013, she played a character on Hawaii Five-0. She has worked with her father twice, first in the film The Whole Nine Yards (2000), and then in Hostage (2005). She was announced as one of the celebrities to compete on season 20 of Dancing with the Stars in 2015, and her first performance – with professional partner Valentin Chmerkovskiy – earned her the highest score of the night.

8. Ireland Baldwin (19 Years Old)

Ireland Baldwin is the daughter of actors Alec Baldwin and Kim Basinger. She is a fashion model, and is noted for her tall height of 6 feet 2 inches. In 2013, she signed her first modeling contract with IMG Models, and made her debut in a swimsuit editorial for the New York Post. She subsequently appeared on W Magazine’s ‘It Trend, It Girl’ feature, and then Vanity Fair’s It Girl later that year. She made her acting debut in 2013’s film Grudge Match, where she played a young version of Kim Basinger’s character in flashback scenes. Ireland gained public recognition at the age of 11, after her father left an angry voicemail that became leaked to the public. They have since made up. After breaking up with her long-time boyfriend, Ireland began dating female rapper Angel Haze. There has since been speculation that the two women are no longer together.

7. Lourdes “Lola” Leon (18 Years Old)

Lourdes Leon is the daughter of megastar Madonna and her ex-husband (1995-1997), Carlos Leon. When Lourdes was born, in 1996, Madonna achieved a few personal goals. First, she “triumphed on screen” with her leading role in Evita, and then she “achieved her dream of having a child,” which she had always wanted. At this point in time, Madonna was reinventing her image (as she tends to do), while commonly strutting around while holding her daughter. Fast-forward almost 20 years later, and Lourdes Leon has grown into a beautiful, stunning young woman. She helped design the Material Girl clothing line with her mom, and then she shrugged away her posh lifestyle to go to her mother’s old college, the University of Michigan, while staying in a shared, tiny dorm room. A fellow student told the Daily Mail that, “She’s not as sociable as many people would have thought, and she couldn’t be more different than Madonna’s huge persona.”

6. Brooklyn Joseph Beckham (16 Years Old)

For early fans of the Spice Girls and followers of British soccer, it seems like only yesterday that Brooklyn Beckham became the newest celebrity baby with a quirky name. Now, at 16, he’s a long-time resident of the United States and has become a professional model. His British roots are still strong though, and he’s followed in his father’s footsteps as a keen footballer. With his father’s talent and looks, it’s no surprise Brooklyn has grown into a dashing young man. A glance at his selfie-laden Instagram profile suggests he’s also inherited his mother’s self-confidence and charisma.

5. Paris Jackson (16 Years Old)

Paris Jackson is the 16-year-old daughter of the late Michael Jackson and Debbie Rowe. She was always a cute girl who the media couldn’t get enough of, but she’s since become her own beautiful person, and has persevered through some hard times. The teen battled depression, and was hospitalized in 2013 following a suicide attempt. According to the NY Daily News, it “wasn’t the first time,” as Paris hinted at cutting her wrists in a blog that was filled with disturbing images. Recently, however, she’s been spotted in LA, looking happier than ever with her personal trainer. She left the limelight in recent years and even entered a therapeutic boarding school in Utah, which, according to anonymous sources, was “exactly what she needed.”

4. Bindi Irwin (16 Years Old)

Bindi Irwin first became famous as the adorable little daughter of Steve and Terri Irwin, the Crocodile Hunter extraordinaires. She would often appear on the show as a toddler, but since her father’s tragic death, she’s sprouted into a talented young woman. Her first name came from the name of her father’s favorite crocodile at the Australia Zoo. After Steve’s death by a stingray barb in 2006, Bindi and Terri announced that they would continue Steve’s conservation and television work. She received a standing ovation after delivering a eulogy for her father in front of 300 million viewers, and a 2006 TV Week readers’ poll voted her speech as the television moment of the year. Since then, she has hosted shows such as My Daddy the Crocodile Hunter, Bindi the Jungle Girl, and she also made a hip-hop album called Trouble in the Jungle. In 2008, at the age of nine, she became the youngest performer to ever win a Daytime Emmy Award when she won the award for “Outstanding Performer in a Children’s Series,” with Bindi the Jungle Girl.

3. Jaden Smith (16 Years Old)

The son of Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith has seen a huge rise in popularity in the recent years (as has his younger sister, Willow). He is regularly in the tabloid headlines, and has become a successful actor in his own right. He starred in his first film at the age of eight with his dad in the 2006 film The Pursuit of Happyness. Smith then went on and appeared in the remake of The Day the Earth Stood Still, and then starred alongside Jackie Chan in the remake of The Karate Kid. His most recent film had him starring with his father again, in After Earth. Besides acting, Jaden has also signed a record label with Columbia Records. He’s done music with Justin Bieber, such as the platinum certified single “Never Say Never,” and has played on numerous non-album singles. He’s also dating TV personality and Kardashian-sister Kylie Jenner, which definitely doesn’t hurt his fame factor.

2. Ava Phillippe (15 Years Old)

The daughter of Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe was the product of a fairytale Hollywood romance. That was, before the relationship soured and Ryan Phillippe reportedly cheated on his Oscar-winning wife. Ava Phillippe wasn’t a celebaby in the spotlight; rather, she had a relatively normal existence and was only ever exposed to the A-list world when making public appearences with her mother or being snapped by the paps. Recently, apparently tiring of constant comparisons to her lookalike famous mom,  the naturally blonde 15 year old Ava Phillippe stepped out with a dramatic new pink ‘do.

1. Kaia Gerber (14 Years Old)

Kaia Crawford took the world by storm when, at 13, she appeared in a high fashion spread looking every inch the supermodel. She almost put mom Cindy Crawford to shame. Kaia and her brother Presley are the children of happily married superstar Crawford and her businessman husband, Richard Gerber. While 16 year old Presley is maintaining a low profile, Kaia has been involved in theatre from a young age and shot her first high-profile fashion campaign at the age of 10. Still just 14 years old, the world is expecting big things from this celebrity heiress.

via Cory Barclay

The Young Supermodels That Are Making Millions

Young Supermodels That Are Making Millions

Young Supermodels

In the world of luxury fashion, supermodels start strutting their stuff on the catwalk as young as 15 or 16. So usually, by the time they get to their twenties, they are seasoned vets already. And when they eventually get into their 30’s, sometimes they are even considered old and some need to move on to other professions. It’s definitely an industry unto itself, unlike any other sector in the world. There’s a lot of money to be made by models, but with that said, there is only a short time frame in which most can make tons of cash. In the following article, we profile 10 young super models who still have several years to go in their career and are making tons of cash right now.

10. Kendall Jenner

When we are talking about young models really hauling in the cash right now, you definitely have to start with the hot young star of the Kardashian clan, Kendall Jenner. In a short span of about a year and a half, she has become one of the go-to models on the scene. She has appeared in fashion shows for all the top brands in Paris and Milan, and has been on the cover of so many top-tier magazines including: Harper’s Bazaar, Love, Allure, Interview and more. She recently dropped $2.7 million on her first home in Calabasas, CA, and that’s a sure sign that she’s raking in the dough.

9. Cara Delevingne

Cara is just 22-yrs-old and in the last two years or so, she has become one of the most recognizable “bad girl” supermodels in the world. She’s been known to party hard with celeb friends like Rihanna and Michelle Rodriguez, and she is extremely active on social media too. She has walked the runway and done shows for Chanel and appeared in campaigns for Burberry, DKNY, Mulberry and La Perla. She’s also expanding into movies; she has a handful of movies (London Fields, Paper Towns, Pan) coming out this year and she was also cast in the highly anticipated superhero flick Suicide Squad set to debut next year. Forbes lists her earnings last year to be $3.5 million.

8. Kate Upton

She’s just 22-yrs-old but the attractive and voluptuous Kate Upton is earning tons of cash at a really fast rate. She is doing her thing in the movies now with roles in films like The Other Woman, and she has also scored some very sweet endorsement deals with video games (Game of War), fashion brand Express and she’s also the face for Bobbi Brown cosmetics. For 2014, Forbes listed her earnings to be $7 million. Now that’s very impressive indeed.

7. Karlie Kloss

Karlie Kloss is another American model barely into her 20’s who is making an amazing amount of money in the glamorous fashion industry. She has been a Victoria’s Secret Angel for the last two years, and has also appeared in campaigns and walked runway shows for luxury brands like Jean Paul Gaultier, Dolce & Gabbana, Dior, Hermes, Alexander McQueen and more. For 2014, Forbes recorded her as earning $4 million for showing off her gorgeous physique. She is certainly living the life.

6. Jourdan Dunn

Jourdan Dunn is a young British model who is quickly ascending the ranks to supermodel status. She is only 24, and she is actually best friends with another British model on this list, Cara Delevingne. Dunn has appeared in music videos with Beyoncé, walked runways for top brands like Prada and appeared in campaigns for names like Balmain, Burberry, DKNY and GAP. According to Forbes, she earned $4 million dollars in 2014, and that number is sure to scale even higher this year.

5. Candice Swanepoel

There’s something about South African women that’s different from women everywhere in the world. When they are beautiful, it just doesn’t stop there, they take it all the way to absolutely “drop-dead” gorgeous. A prime example of that is the actress Charlize Theron and another one is the stunning 25-yr-old Candice Swanepoel. Candice is one of the top Victoria’s Secret Angels and she also has contracts with Versace Fragrance and the cosmetics juggernaut, Max Factor. In 2014, she earned $3 million according to Forbes magazine.

4. Joan Smalls

In the world of modeling, when you hit the age of 30, you are already considered to be getting “old” because there are so many young starlets always arriving on the scene. At the age of 25, Puerto Rican model Joan Smalls is still doing her thing. She is often referred to as the catwalk queen for her amazing walk on the fashion runway, and in 2011, she became the first Latina model to be the official face of Estee Lauder cosmetics. Joan Smalls is “muy caliente” and Forbes listed her as earning $3 million last year.

3. Erin Heatherton

Erin Heatherton is yet another Victoria’s Secret model who made it to this list. We can all fairly assume that Victoria’s Secret doesn’t skimp when it’s time to pay their models. Erin is 26-yrs-old and apart from her work with the ubiquitous lingerie brand, she has also appeared in ads for Lacoste, Armani, Karl Lagerfeld and more. She is even branching into acting and has won roles in shows like The League and movies like Grown Ups 2. In 2014, she earned $3 million.

2. Lindsey Wixson

Often times, in the world of high fashion modeling, it’s best to have a different look and unique features that set you completely apart from the pack. That’s exactly the look that the 20-yr-old Wichita, Kansas native Wixson has, and she is riding it all the way to the top. She has gapped front teeth and permanent “bee-stung” lips and has appeared in campaigns for brands like Versace, Alexander McQueen and Chanel. For 2014, Forbes reported her earning a very decent amount of $3 million for flaunting her one-of-a-kind features.

1. Chanel Iman

Chanel Iman is only 24-yrs-old but she has been modelling for more than 10 years already. Some of her biggest clients include Victoria’s Secret and GAP, and she has walked the runways for uber-luxury brands like Balenciaga, Versace and Stella McCartney. For the last two years or so, she was involved in a relationship with Harlem rapper A$AP Rocky, but it seems that ended in the latter part of 2014. We think she’ll be fine; the svelte stunner has a net worth of $8 million and she hasn’t even turned 25 yet.

via Geo Hagan

The Most Futuristic Cars In Development

F 015 Luxury

Cars have advanced massively over the past century since they were first introduced. They have evolved from the large and sluggish machines that could only be used by an elite group of society, to the modern vehicles that most of the Western world depend on to travel. Whether it is commuting to work, visiting friends or going to the store, cars are essential parts of our lives and we depend on them every day.
As they play such a large part in the way the world works, designers and engineers are continuously looking to advance the technologies that go into making cars. This ranges from new and interesting features to enhancements to the materials and techniques used to build the cars.
As they prepare for future and the different challenges that it will bring, manufactures are constantly developing new designs that can overcome potential problems that may affect drivers in the upcoming years. They are also working on new technologies and features to get an edge on their competitors. This allows them to make sure that customers choose them rather than another manufacturer. For all of these reasons, there are a huge number of cars that are currently under development that would appear more at home in a science fiction film, rather than on a real life road. These are some of the more incredible futuristic cars we could be driving.

10. Mercedes Benz BIOME

Mercedes Benz is often at the forefront of car technologies and they have now even looked to completely change not just the cars themselves, but how they are actually made. The BIOME car, which was first revealed at the Los Angeles Design Challenge, is a completely unique idea that sees a car that rather than being manufactured completely on a production line, could instead be grown. Featuring natural materials, Mercedes Benz sees the BIOME as a possible future for the motor industry, utilizing the resources given off by nature in conjunction with the latest technology. The biggest feature is a specially grown material called BioFibre that is incredibly light but also super strong.

9. Toyota iRoad

Many car companies are exploring person mobility vehicles as the potential future of the car. They are essentially small vehicles, which are able to carry just one or two people and are designed especially for the tight urban streets of major cities. Toyota’s own project based on this concept is the iRoad. It is small and lightweight, almost like a cross between a motorcycle and a car. This makes it ideal for commuting in busy traffic and would allow people to park much more easily than they could in a traditional car. Engineers from Toyota are also confident that the iRoad is far safer than a motorcycle, thanks to its strong outer shell and the warning system in place to help drivers avoid problems.

8. Kia Pop

With car manufacturers increasingly looking at utilizing new types of technology to power their vehicles, to help combat global warming and in response to the limited supply of fossil fuels, one of the most important advances has come in the form of the electric car. Kia demonstrated their answer to the electric motor with the Kia Pop. With a distinctive design that would look more at home in a science-fiction movie, it features a lightweight design so that the vehicle can be more efficient. This allows the electric motor to travel almost 100 miles per charge, making it ideal for travelling in urban areas.

7. Toyota Nori

Toyota first developed the idea behind the Nori when they entered the 2010 Design Challenge at the Los Angeles Auto Show in 2010. As well as being incredibly eco-friendly, the Nori also features a distinctive podular design, as the chassis and the body of the car are not separate entities, but instead an interwoven structure that combined the two. This would help the Nori to be built at a lower cost, as it would use less material. However, it would also increase the strength significantly and lower the weight of the entire vehicle, making it far more efficient. It would also make use of solar cells woven into the material, allowing power to be generated and stored as a back-up for the electric motor.

6. Cadillac Aera

The Cadillac Aera was the General Motors Advanced Design California studio’s answer to creating a car that would be luxurious, reliable, efficient and stylish. The 2+2 couple features an ultra-lightweight design that aims to be as aerodynamic as possible, making it incredibly fuel-efficient. The structure itself is made from a special material that makes it strong enough to withstand even exceptional impacts, with special air cells woven into the material that reduce the forces experienced in the vehicle. Most important to the Aera though is its Pneumatic Drive System, which uses an engine powered by compressed air that could have a range of more than 1,000 miles.

5. Terrafugia TF-X

Flying cars have been a staple of what people believe the future will hold for decades and yet, they seem no closer to reality than they did when Back to the Future first released. However, Terrafugia have been researching the possibility of vehicles that are capable of being driven on roads and flown in the sky for several years. They have created several crude prototypes, but their TF-X model is their most advanced project so far. It would feature high-powered propellers that allow for vertical takeoffs, have a range of up to 500 miles and would be able to reach speeds of at least 200 miles per hour.

4. BMW GINA

The BMW GINA is a car that the German company has been developing since 2001. Various models have been shown at trade shows and it has grabbed attention because of the unique material it is made out of. Unlike other sports cars that use lightweight metals or strong polymers such as aluminum or carbon fiber, the GINA uses a super strong fabric that stretches over the chassis. The seamless fabric can even change shape, allowing things like spoilers to emerge from the car. Other features include self-moving seats and a steering wheel that can sit in an idle position to make entering and exiting the vehicle easier.

3. Google Self-Driving Car

The Google Self-Driving Car is perhaps the most famous example of an autonomous car that can travel on the road without the need of any input from a driver. Using a number of different sensors, including a LIDAR system that sits on top of the car, as well as detailed maps pre-loaded into the software, the vehicle is able to navigate on roads. The future that Google envisions for these cars is that it hopes they would help solve a large number of problems. By allowing anyone to get in the vehicles, it means that those who cannot drive can still travel longer distances, alleviate the issue of drunk driving and even reduce the number of road traffic accidents significantly.

2. Chevrolet EN-V

The EN-V is a concept car currently being worked on by General Motors in partnership with Segway and SAIC. It is suggested as the possible solution for the future, when increasingly large populations and growing cities become even more crowded. The EN-V would make travelling in such places on busy roads simpler and would help alleviate the problem of overcrowding thanks to its small design. Using technology developed by Segway, the small car is able to balance perfectly despite its thin base. It is also eco-friendly thanks to small portable electric motors that power each of the two wheels independently.

1. F 015 Luxury in Motion

The entire idea behind Mercedes Benz’ F 015 Luxury in Motion is to allow those using the car to be as comfortable as possible while they are travelling to their destination, hence the name. The autonomous does not require a driver, instead allowing its passengers to relax in an interior that looks more like a comfortable room you’d expect to find in a building rather than a car. Its body would be made of plastic reinforced with carbon-fiber, along with aluminum to ensure it is as light as possible. Each door also opens at a full 90 degree angle to allow for easy access and have special inflatable structures that act as air bags in the case of a road traffic accident. The car’s functions can be controlled via a high resolution touch screen that also integrates other control technologies, such as eye-tracking and gesture.

via Nathan Gibson

The Jobs You Thought Paid Well, But Don’t

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We work jobs for a number of reasons, but it’s not called a “job” for nothing. You are performing work for money. Many jobs you know won’t pay for a second house or extravagant vacations, and other careers sound like they would, but actually don’t. This list contains the jobs that you’d expect to pay a lot, but don’t.

There is little consistency in what jobs pay or don’t pay. This list includes high profile positions, jobs that prolong the lives of others and bow ties. It also includes jobs that require a lot of schooling and very long hours of work. Benefits are not factored in, but in many cases are also below expectations.

A few jobs just missed the list. Surgical Technologists work next to the Surgeons that perform risky procedures and often save lives. If they don’t do their jobs well, the Surgeon can’t perform his job well. Their make an average of $45,000 a year. Now, Embalmers are a strange group that you would think do a job no one else wants with financial reward, but they are only hauling in $50,000 on average. Then there are the reporters (oh, the poor writers) who go out and get news and report it. They bring in on average $45,000 a year.

A lot of the jobs listed are noble professions, but the salary is low due to job application saturation, supply vs. demand or alternate options for that particular product or service. Next time someone tells you they are a Marine Biologist you can still be impressed, just know they aren’t swimming in hundred dollar bills. Here are 10 jobs that pay less than you thought.

10. Marine Biologist – Average Salary: $55,000

Like most people, I associate Marine Biology with intelligence and lots of schooling, and that’s correct. Marine Biologists are experts in their field. This profession studies animals, their characteristics and habits, looking to improve as well as learn how improve marine life. They often relocate to be near water and will relocate again depending on projects available. As far as education you need a bachelor degree to start, but really you will need a master’s degree and probably a doctorate degree to move into a senior position. For all of this work you can expect an average salary around $55K. Clearly saying you’re a “Marine Biologist” is more important than the salary you are making.

9. Professors – Average Salary: $65,000

Everyone knows grade school and high school teachers don’t make jack when it comes to earnings, but pay for professors is also very low. Professors, meaning anyone teaching beyond high school, typically have gone to school for many years. Most have a Ph. D or at least a master’s degree at smaller colleges. Pay is also dependent on area; some are a tad more lucrative (although still low). Professors focusing on areas of cultural studies can expect an average annual salary of $60K, those teaching math and science $65K and literature professors make up to an average of $70K a year.

8. Accountants – Average Salary: $63,000

Most would think the employees responsible for the numbers and reporting the health of the company would be paid well, but that is not the case for Accountants. In addition to number crunching, Accountants research financial information as well as perform audit functions for both internal and external needs. Extra schooling is usually required; a bachelor degree is required and depending on the industry you can expect qualifications to be either a MBA or CPA (Certified Public Accountant) license. Despite all of the schooling and the high-profile nature of the job, Accountants only make approximately $63K a year on average.

7. Psychologists – Average Salary: $65,000

People seek help from psychologists for a number of reasons, but the reason they go is usually because they believe these doctors can help them. A Psychologist meets with their clients and then uses their knowledge and research to diagnose their mental condition and make recommendations based on their findings. They may also be called on to diagnose emotional disorders or whether an individual is capable of processing certain information. The requirements in states vary, but most require a Ph. D. degree as well as a license to practice psychology in that state. As you can see, that’s a lot of weight on the shoulders of a Psychologist. That’s why it’s surprising they can expect to only make $65K a year on average.

6. Architect – Average Salary: $65,000

There is a reason “Architect” was George Costanza’s go-to profession on Seinfeld. There is a prestige that goes along with someone that designs buildings as well as other structures. Obviously the very best can name their price, but that is a select few. For the rest of the Architects they can expect earn an average annual salary of $65K. To be an Architect you typically need more than just a bachelor degree, in order to be licensed you will need to complete a master’s degree that includes your licensing, or you will need to apply, study and pass a test for your license.

5. Chemist – Average Salary: $70,000

You would think a Chemist would have a lucrative salary, but that’s just not the case. It’s actually pretty bad when you consider the few that can really be considered good in this field of study. A Chemist studies substances, their properties and reactions and use this information for developing new products or finding efficiencies/inefficiencies in the process. Schooling is dependent on your role, but if you are in a researching role you can expect a Ph.D. degree is probably required. The good news about this job is that when you tell people your job is “Chemist” they can’t help, but be impressed. The bad news is the average annual salary for a Chemist barely reaches $70K a year.

4. Biomedical Engineer – Average Salary: $75,000

Chances are if this is your job you will have to explain exactly what you do and even then it may not be clear. Biomedical Engineers typically work with medicine and biology, finding solutions for diseases, long-term effects and new reactions. As you can probably guess, a Biomedical Engineer needs to be intelligent and have impeccable research skills. Most of these jobs offer advance degrees, usually a master’s or Ph.D. for the top jobs. A Biomedical Engineer may be the conduit for the cure for a debilitating disease, but their paycheck won’t likely reflect that. These jobs pay $75K a year on average.

3. Optometrist – Average Salary: $100,000

Eye guys really get the shaft in the world of doctors. Optometrists perform eye exams and treat problems in the area of the eyes. This includes various issues that may include infection, disease or even blindness. The schooling is similar to that of other doctors with a bachelor degree followed by optometry school (4 years) to earn your title as well as a residency if the doctor is looking to pursue a specific area of optometry. The average physician brings in around $185K a year on average; a dentist brings in $160K a year on average. That’s why it’s so surprising that an Optometrist can expect to only make around $100K a year on average. Good info for those that know they want to be a doctor, but not sure what area of the body they want to focus on.

2. Private Detectives – Average Salary: $50,000

If your goal in life is to live the life of a crime novel detective then Private Investigator (Private Detective) may be for you. If you are looking to make a ton of cash, well then, you may consider another line of work. Depending on your clients, the work may be dangerous, but the good news is that schooling is optional, especially if you work “off the books.” The average annual salary for a P.I. is $50K, which is obviously below what someone may expect. Of course, just like the novels, all it takes is that one (preferably wealthy) client and you are set.

1. Firefighters – Average Salary: $50,000

Firefighters put their lives in danger and on the line each time they punch in for work. Their job is to put out fires, but really it’s to save lives, risking their health and lives in the process. A Firefighter must be ready at anytime to respond. The training and schooling is ongoing, always making sure they are properly educated as well as in adequate physical condition for the job. For all of this a Firefighter can expect an average annual salary of only $50K. I think it goes without saying (will say it anyway) that being a Firefighter is a higher calling, money is definitely secondary when considering this career. Another reason to hold the job of Firefighter in high regard, despite the surprisingly low salary.

via David Grant

Need To Spend Millions To Avoid Disappearing

The Cities That Need To Spend Millions To Avoid Disappearing

As humans argue whether or not the first law of thermodynamics applies to the burning of fossil fuels, our planet has experienced some of the hottest average temperatures in recorded history, resulting in the gradual rise of large bodies of water and atypical climate behavior.

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Some areas of the world, such as the island nation of Kiribati, already have plans in place to buy large parcels of land in other countries in order to resettle residents. Much of the population of Kiribati has already migrated to the main island of Tarawam when the ocean claimed areas that were previously habitable.

Tuvalu, another island nation that will likely disappear, doesn’t mince words when it comes to rising water levels, considering the threat to be “of no difference to a slow and insidious form of terrorism against us.” A study by the World Bank and the OECD reveals the estimated minimum costs of rising oceans in some of the biggest coastal cities in the world. If these big cities don’t spend the next few decades preparing for potentially overwhelming floods, the associated costs could rise as high as $1 trillion per year.

10. Osaka – minimum: $120 million per year

Osaka is Japan’s third biggest city, with a population of more than 2.5 million acting as the economic engine of the Kansai region for hundreds of years. Osaka used to be called Naniwa back when emperors ruled Japan. Osaka was the nation’s first capital city at a time when Japan’s capital city shifted according to the location of the emperor. According to calculations, Osaka will lose a minimum of $120 million per year due to rising water levels. However, out of the ten cities on this list, Osaka will need to spend the smallest proportion of their GDP dealing with floods, requiring only 0.03% to pay for the losses.

9. Shenzhen – minimum: $169 million per year

This major economic contributor to Chinese wealth started as a fishing village named Baoan County. China designated the area as a special economic zone in 1979, changing the name of the city to Shenzhen. A new prosperity reigned after China built this city up as their first “special economic zone” project, taking advantage of its location close to Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta. Shenzhen will experience minimum losses of about $169 million on an annual basis due to rising waters. In terms of percentage of GDP, Shenzhen ranks tenth out of all cities, requiring 0.38% of the city’s GDP to compensate for flooding.

8. Boston – minimum: $237 million per year

Currently dealing with record amounts of snow delivered through a series of unrelenting blizzards, Boston is intimately familiar with changing climate patterns that have the effect of making life miserable. After setting a new record for the snowiest month by over 20 inches in February 2015, Bostonians can expect rising water levels to further impact their economy. According to the calculations, Boston will have to have to spend about 0.13% of its GDP – about $237 million per year – to compensate for upcoming losses. Boston’s hazard plan lists old housing and parts of the city built on fill as significant challenges for dealing with disasters.

7. Tampa – $244 million per year

The City of Tampa, a sunny locale that’s on the west coast of Florida, can expect to deal with losses of $244 million annually as oceans continue to rise. This will necessitate a minimum of 0.26% of this city’s GDP to account for flooding activity. With a population of over 350,000, Tampa is the 54th largest city in the United States and the third largest in the state of Florida, behind Miami and Jacksonville. The population of Tampa has grown by more than 15% since 2000, drawn to the fantastic weather and growing base of attractions that include the Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, Busch Gardens and the Florida Aquarium.

6. Nagoya – $260 million per year

Situated at the northern tip of Ise Bay, which connects to the northern Pacific Ocean, Nagoya is the fourth largest city in Japan with more than 2 million residents calling this city home. This capital of the Aichi Prefecture is home to the headquarters of one of the most powerful car companies in the world – the Toyota Motor Corporation. Nagoya was also leveled by allied bombing towards the end of WWII, losing many of its historical buildings. Already familiar with the effects of earthquakes and tsunamis, Nagoya has an extensive network of shelters to flee to when disaster strikes. Projected annual losses of $260 million per year comprise 0.26% of the city’s GDP.

5. Mumbai – $284 million per year

Located on the midwest portion of India, Mumbai’s coast is adjacent to the Arabian Sea. Mumbai is the capital city of Maharashtra state and features the second biggest population of any Indian city with more than 20 million residents, nearly doubling a 2001 census that declared Mumbai’s population to be about 12 million. As of 2014, Mumbai is the sixth most populous city in the world, with projections of the city growing to be the fourth biggest with a population of 28 million by 2030. The estimated costs of rising water levels worldwide will require Mumbai to compensate losses by spending 0.47% of its GDP, the seventh biggest investment of GDP on this list.

4. New Orleans – $507 million per year

The geography and climate of New Orleans already make this unique city susceptible to flooding and disaster. However, the combination of rising water levels and intense hurricanes results in a projected minimum loss of $507 million per year, requiring the second highest investment of GDP on this list – 1.21% of the city’s production – to deal with the damage. A series of new storm surge barriers are being created to help protect the residents of New Orleans and Louisiana from a repeat of Hurricane Katrina. The Lake Borgne surge barrier, 26 feet tall and 1.8 miles long, is one of the newest constructions in what promises to be the one of  largest series ofbarriers on the planet.

3. New York – $628 million per year

The biggest city in the United States – population over 8 million and growing – is also one of the epicenters of the world’s economic markets. As a result, despite the impact of storms like Hurricane Sandy on the populace, only 0.08% of the city”s GDP is required to pay for the damages, second lowest on this list only to Osaka. New York’s prosperity puts them in the position to invest early and often in improved infrastructure to reduce the impact of further storms and surges, especially considering the $50 billion price tag of Hurricane Sandy, which was the second most expensive storm in American history.

2. Miami – $672 million per year

A geologist from the Florida International University displayed a series of projections that showed the extent of the damage of rising seawater, outlining how a four-to-six foot rise in oceans will drown the entire waterfront while submerging the Florida Keys. The impact would be felt around the world, if only for the four million passengers per year embarking on cruises from Miami – the busiest cruise ship port in the world. Despite predictions that the city is completely doomed, the projections of this study suggest that Miami will only lose $627 million annually, requiring 0.3% of their GDP to cover the costs.

1. Guangzhou – $687 million per year

The biggest city in the Guangdong Province is Guangzhou, which has a population of over 11 million. It’s one of the economic engines of China, located on the Pearl River, allowing it to be a port that’s also close to both Macau and Hong Kong. This city is projected to have to spend the largest portion of their GDP on damages out of all cities on in this study, requiring 1.32% of GDP diverted towards damage recovery. Also called Canton, Guangzhou is the fourth biggest city in China and was one of the first to benefit from the opening up of government policy concerning international trade. The city has attracted millions to work in one of many manufacturing complexes that create plastic goods, electronics, clothes and other consumer goods for the world.

via writes freelance, Kent Tukeli

Surprising Celebrities Who Took Playboy

Celebrities Who Took It All Off For Playboy

Playboy magazine is famous for two things; Hugh Hefner and naked, stunning women. The first issue was published in 1953 and it was such a success that it sold out almost instantly. More than 1.5 million copies are sold a year and in 2010 the Playboy brand generated an annual revenue of $210 million.

During it’s vintage days, Marilyn Monroe even stripped down to nothing for a coveted spot in the magazine. By 1970, it had become the very first gentleman’s magazine to be printed in Braille.

Playboy

The rabbit logo has become one of the most recognised icons and titles on top shelves around the world. Anyone who’s given the opportunity to appear will reap the benefits of instant fame and access to some of the biggest and loudest parties at the Playboy Mansion. The coveted title of Playmate Of The Year has been won by models ever since 1957. The tradition of Playboy has been called out-dated and past-it by some, but there are still plenty of young women throwing their clothes off for the chance to appear on it’s pages.

One thing for which Playboy is famous is convincing celebrities to, literally, reveal all. With names like Pamela Anderson, Carmen Electra, Kim Kardashian and Kate Moss gracing the front covers like goddesses, Playboy is well known for exclusive, erotic photo shoots.

Some other huge names attached to the publication are less widely remembered, most likely  brushed under the carpet now and kept hush hush by their PR teams. These are 20 celebrities you may have forgotten graced the covers of the original top-shelf mag.

10. Denise Richards

In December 2004 the Starship Troopers actress, Denise Richards, was in a turbulent relationship with Charlie Sheen and had a five-month-old daughter with the actor. Showing to the world that women can still have killer figures even after childbirth she took the self-esteem boosting step of shooting for Playboy magazine. Her ten page spread of ‘erotic nudes’ was a far cry from her America’s sweetheart image. Showing off her full potential as a sex symbol strengthened her career and she became one of the world’s most desirable women.

9. Daryl Hannah

In 2003 Daryl Hannah re-invented her career by taking the role of Elle Driver in Kill Bill, which was far from the image that kick-started her career as a mermaid in Splash. She also took to the front cover of Playboy in 2003, looking more elegant than even the sexiest assassin. She didn’t have full faith that this role would resurrect her career so decided to go one step further and pose nude to get the world talking about her again. It certainly worked and Quentin Tarantino appeared in the same issue. His was an interview only, though – no pictures thankfully.

8. Madonna

No woman on earth knows quite how to shock like Madonna; she has been the mastermind behind the iconic cone bra, sexually graphic performances and banned, erotic music videos. Despite all this everyone was still taken aback when she would be featured in Playboy magazine. In 1985, Madonna was on the verge of becoming a huge celebrity when the magazine published some old nude photos of the star. The Like A Virgin singer graced the cover and celebrated the nude shots.

7. Cindy Crawford

In July 1988 Cindy Crawford took to the front cover of Playboy, but not for the first time or just in the US as she graced the cover again in 1998. The 5 foot 9 inches model measured at 34″-25.5″-36″, and both of her pictorials were taken by American fashion photograph Herbert ‘Herb’ Ritts Jr. She was once the highest paid supermodel on the planet and is now worth $18 million. In her hey-day Mens Health magazine also named her one of the 100 Hottest Women of All-Time. When she was still the hottest of hot property, this cover shoot was a serious coup for the men’s mag.

6. Anna Faris

Anna Faris is a rare breed of a woman; funny, beautiful, smart and filthy. When promoting the 2008 movie House Bunny, which saw her playing the sexy Playboy bunny who is thrown out the famous mansion by a jealous rival, she graced the cover the magazine too. If she was going to act like a Playboy bunny then she might as well have become one. She is now married to Chris Pratt and has a young son with actor, but the funny lady was a choice for the cover that caught everyone by surprise. The blonde bombshell proved she’s the kind of person who is really up for just about anything.

5. Dita Von Teese

The world’s most famous burlesque dancer, Dita Von Teese, and former wife of Marilyn Manson has posed for Playboy several times. Known for her picture perfect pin-up physique, she has commented that she was inspired into a career of glamour modelling by looking at old issues of her Dad’s Playboy when she was younger. Dita Von Teese actually got her name from the Playboy shoots; every model who poses for the magazine is required to have a surname, although at the time she was known only as Dita. She chose ‘Von Treese’ after picking it out from a phone book, but it was misspelled on the cover as Von Teese. It has been her chosen stage name ever since.

4. Lindsay Lohan

When Lindsay Lohan first announced that she would be appearing on the cover of Playboy for the January/February 2012 issue, there were comments around the world that she was causing even more damage to her flagging career which saw her constantly in trouble with the law for drink and drugs charges. Her pictorial, however, was surprisingly classy. She did the shoot in the style of Marilyn Monroe’s The Last Sitting with a mop of blonde hair as tribute. The shoot was leaked online a month before the magazine was due on shelves and all the uncensored pictures went viral. Still waiting for a big movie comeback, Playboy didn’t harm Lohan’s career but it didn’t motivate the anticipated comeback.

3. Sharon Stone

In 1990, Sharon Stone became a household name for two reasons: She appeared in Total Recall, and she wore next to nothing in the July issue of Playboy. The timing of these two events was seen as a positive PR move for Stone and two years later she landed the role in Basic Instinct and performed ‘That Leg Crossing Scene.’ She had Hollywood hot under the collar, but this was not a one-off for Stone as she posed again for the Christmas Issue cover – timing it well with the release of Basic Instinct. So gracing the cover of Playboy was how she would promote her movies? As one of Hollywood’s most recognisable women, it worked.

2. Naomi Campbell

Naomi Campbell is one of the most well known models in the world, currently worth $48 million. But not even this Queen of Glamour could turn down the tempting offer to pose for Playboy. She was a regular at the notorious Playboy Mansion parties, so Hugh Hefner most likely propositioned the supermodel personally himself. The 5ft 9inches beauty appeared in pure white gift wrap for the Christmas 1999 issue. During the 90’s she was every man’s dream girl and would definitely have sat high at the top of any wish list. The headline on the cover screamed out from the shelves ‘Naomi Campbell – completely nude’ which sent it flying off the shelves.

1. Drew Barrymore

Drew Barrymore’s career has been a roller coaster of highs and lows. From child star to tortured teen, the silver screen goddess to a rumoured has-been and now she has changed her life to become a devoted Mother. If there is one woman in Hollywood you could say has seen every side of fame then it would have to be Barrymore. Many are unaware that she took her clothes off for the magazine back in 1995 when her career was moving back up into A-List territory: It was a tough job for her PR team to brush this event under the carpet. Still, the images endure and fans can still look back at the prolific, wealthy actress in her young, frivolous photoshoot.

via Cheish Merryweather

The Richest Drop Outs

The Richest College Drop Outs

A college degree isn’t necessarily a precursor to financial success. Some people just have that natural entrepreneurial instinct that gives them the upper hand in business. But that doesn’t mean they didn’t try to do things the conventional way and graduate from college first.

There are plenty of actors, musicians, and business people who excelled in school. Many celebrities, like Emma Watson and James Franco, have even gone back to finish a college degree or two just because they enjoy learning. College doesn’t have to be about getting a job and paying the bills, but not many people have that luxury.

Oprah and Gaga

There are a lot of ways to make money other than just go to college, get an entry level job, and slowly work your way up the corporate ladder. Not every one is satisfied with that, and money is what they really want. The people with the ambition, motivation, and creativity to work for themselves or do something that is unexpected are the ones who end up with more money than they know what to do with. Here are 10 people who gave post secondary education the old college try, dropped out, and ended up making millions anyway.

10. Lady Gaga- $220 Million

Lady Gaga was one of the lucky few to gain early admission to NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, but she dropped out of the program in her sophomore year to focus on her music career. Her father agreed to pay her rent for one year under the condition that if she was unsuccessful in music in that time, she would re-enroll in school. Needless to say, that didn’t happen. By 2008, she had moved to L.A with a record deal, and her first album The Fame, was released that summer. She is now an international superstar and has a net worth close to $220 million, proving that sometimes talent trumps formal training.

9. Ellen DeGeneres- $285 Million

Daytime talk show host, Ellen DeGeneres started out as a stand up comic. She went on to star in her own sitcom, Ellen, which is where she came out as a lesbian. She was the first openly lesbian actress to play an openly lesbian character on TV, and has since been a strong advocate and role model for LGBQT rights. She majored in communication studies at the University of New Orleans, but she only made it through one semester before dropping out and going through a series of odd jobs. Once she started doing stand-up, there was no looking back. She is now worth close to $285 million.

8. Russell Simmons – $325 Million

A legend in the hip-hop community, Russel Simmons only attended the City College of New York in Harlem for a brief period of time before dropping out to pursue business interests. Simmons joined his friend Rick Rubin in founding the Def Jam music label in 1983, and together they grew the business. Simmons also launched fashion label Phat Farm, which has become a staple in the hip-hop community as well. With a net worth around $325 million, Simmons is seen as one of the richest figures in hip-hop.

7. Tom Hanks- $350 Million

Award-winning actor, director, and writer, Tom Hanks has a reputation for being a really nice guy. He is also a millionaire, and one of the highest grossing actors in film history. Before he became a huge movie star, he studied theater at California State University. He ended up dropping out to intern at the Great Lakes Theatre Festival in Cleveland. He interned for 3 whole years, learning everything there is to know about theater production. Now, thanks to films like Saving Private Ryan, Forrest Gump, and The Da Vinci Code, Hanks has a net worth around $350 million.

6. Tiger Woods- $600 Million

College is often part of the road to becoming a professional athlete, at least for team sports, like football and basketball. But golf doesn’t always work that way. Tiger Woods has been ranked the number 1 golfer in the world various times throughout his career, and is one of the highest paid athletes in the world as well. He attended Stanford for two years on a golf scholarship, but he was already winning titles at that point, and decided to drop out and turn pro. The has won 14 major golf tournaments, and his current net worth is around $600 million.

5. James Cameron- $700 Million

Canadian writer and director, James Cameron has the distinction of being the director of the two biggest box office films of all time, Titanic, and Avatar. He was enrolled in a community college studying physics and English, but dropped out after one year. He worked as a truck driver, and spent time writing and teaching himself special effects. After seeing Star Wars in 1977, he realized he could combine art and science, and decided to enter the film industry. Besides being an Academy Award-winning director, he has also contributed to the field of deep sea exploration, and developed underwater filming technology. All with only one year of community college under his belt.

4. Oprah Winfrey- $3 Billion

Dubbed the “Queen of all Media”, Oprah Winfrey has also been ranked the richest African American of the 20th Century, and currently North America’s only black billionaire. She grew up in poverty in rural Mississippi, before getting a job in radio when she was 19. She was attending Tennessee State University on a full scholarship, but she was already finding success in broadcasting, so she dropped out to start her own production company. Oprah was a millionaire by the age of 32, but when TSU asked her to make a commencement speech in 1987, she decided to finish off the one credit she left unfinished, and became a college graduate.

3. Steve Jobs- $10.2 Billion

Microsoft has always been in direct competition with Apple. Steve Jobs started Apple in 1976 with his friend Steve Wozniak, who had the technological expertise that Jobs didn’t. Jobs was enrolled at Reed College in Portland for only 6 months before he dropped out and started pursuing more creative interests. While Wozniak built the first Apple computer on his own, it was Jobs who built the business. He was fired from the company in 1985, but after working for Pixar for awhile, he returned to Apple as CEO in 1996 and helped build it into the company it is now. When he died of cancer in 2011 he was worth an estimated $10.2 billion.

2. Mark Zuckerberg- $34.8 Billion

One of the creators of Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg, famously conceived of and launched the site while attending Harvard for psychology and computer science. He was already considered somewhat of a programming prodigy when he started school, and he immediately started working on his own websites out of his dorm room. He dropped out of school in his sophomore year to keep working on Facebook, and despite lawsuits accusing him of stealing the idea, he became a billionaire thanks to the site’s success by the age of 23. He is now the chairman and CEO and has an estimate net worth of around $34.8 billion.

1. Bill Gates- $79.3 Billion

Bill Gates is one of the most well known businessmen in the technology industry in the world. The founder of Microsoft is consistently ranked in Forbes’ list of the world’s wealthiest people, and is currently worth around $79.3 billion. Gates was in his sophomore year at Harvard when he dropped out to start his own computer software company with his friend Paul Allen, which became Microsoft. Gates was smart (he scored a 1590 on his SATs) and ambitious enough without a college degree to make the personal computer what it is today, so graduating from Harvard couldn’t have possibly made him any more money than he made on his own.

via freelance writer, Courtney Hardwick

Biggest Threats To America In 2015

The Biggest Threats To America In 2015

Cyber Crime

America gets a lot of heat for the way it handles itself on the world stage, but there’s really no other country out there that has as much responsibility. When things go awry, when the chips are down and  some bad thing happens, it’s how America reacts, or doesn’t react, that largely shapes how things progress.

That responsibility and power come with a good heap of trouble. Yes, there’s plenty of fear-mongering out there, and the average American is probably perfectly safe on any given day. That doesn’t mean there aren’t people out there who really want to see the American government and the American people suffer.

Every year, the US Intelligence Community releases a report outlining the greatest risks to US National Security. These are the Global Threats, the things that, if left unchecked, the intelligence community worries will wreak havoc not only on America, but also on the world. Here are the ten biggest threats to America, as outlined by that report.

10. Human Security – Infectious Disease

“Infectious diseases are among the foremost health security threats. A more crowded and interconnected world is increasing the opportunities for human and animal diseases to emerge and spread globally.” Ebola was the talk of the town last year, and it gets special mention in the government report. But it’s far from the only concern. “Antimicrobial drug resistance,” the phenomenon that is seeing many bacteria once thought to be under control developing resistance to the drugs used to fight them, is a large concern now, and is projected to become much worse in the future. MERS, a respiratory disease related to SARS, also gets singled out as a developing threat, along with diseases like HIV/AIDS and malaria. All told, diseases and pathogens kill millions of people around the world each year. As the report points out, it would only take one disease of exceptional virulence and deadliness to bring about a real global health disaster.

9. Human Security – Extreme Weather Endangering Food & Water Supplies

“Extreme weather, climate change, and public policies that affect food and water supplies will probably create or exacerbate humanitarian crises and instability risks.” It should be shocking to nobody that global warming makes the list as one of the greatest dangers facing society today. The report points out that Africa, the Middle East, and parts of Asia could soon struggle to produce enough food for their population, and the rest of the world could soon see food prices explode if global production drops. Water problems are also expected to increase. Developing nations will likely have difficulty securing enough water for their populations, and developed nations could see a rise in unrest as water shortages become more common. Beyond that, the activity of upstream nations could undermine efforts by those found downstream, and could lead to increased political tension in parched areas.

8. Human Security – Instability

“Global political instability risks will remain high in 2015 and beyond… Declining economic conditions are contributing to a risk of instability or internal conflict.” We’ve seen plenty of political instability in the news in the past year, notable examples being the conflict in Ukraine and the rise of ISIS. It might soon get a lot worse. The report points out that “roughly half” of all countries not currently unstable might soon become so, with violence expected to emerge in many of the newly-unstable regions. On top of the destruction that causes in itself, instability can lead to big problems in trying to solve some of the world’s other pressing concerns, like disease, food and water shortages, and terrorist activity. The fact that many developed nations will likely intervene less in the coming years is just icing on the cake.

7. Economics and Natural Resources

“The global economy continues to adjust to and recover from the global financial crisis that began in 2008; economic growth since that period is lagging behind that of the previous decade.” The recent plummeting of oil prices was actually a good thing for the global economy, a bit of a shot in the arm to help try and speed up what has been a slow recovery. Unfortunately, it’s also pretty bad news for oil exporters, and it won’t be enough to pull the world out of the muck. The report says global growth is at about 3.2%, “well below its 20-year, pre-[global financial crisis] average of 3.9 percent, and America’s humming economy is actually contributing, in part, to continued weakness in other countries. More people are looking to invest in America, which means fewer are looking to invest elsewhere.

6. Transnational Organized Crime

“Savvy, profit-driven criminal networks traffic in drugs, persons, wildlife, and weapons; corrode security and governance; undermine legitimate economic activity and the rule of law; cost economies important revenue; and undercut US development efforts.” This is a bit of an umbrella category, catching up all sorts of different activities undertake by the world’s criminal organizations. Drug trafficking gets particular notice, with the world’s heroin production near record-high levels now, and newly-developed synthetic drugs entering the market all the time. Human trafficking, the report estimates, accounts for “tens of billions of dollars annually” of illegal business, and is no isolated concern – it happens everywhere on earth, ruining lives of people from every country. There is also wildlife trafficking to take into account, including the illegal export and import of exotic animals and organs, limbs, and other parts taken to be sold on the black market. There is also the matter that illegal arts and antiquities trading is happening more often, more quickly, and with fewer results to stop them from happening. And to top it all off, corruption and instability are major contributors to crime of all kinds, making it easier for unsavoury elements to conduct their dirty deals and slip past whatever agencies are trying to keep them in check.

5. Space and Counterspace

“Threats to US space systems and services will increase during 2015 and beyond as potential adversaries pursue disruptive and destructive counterspace capabilities.” Though America’s space program has, in many ways, taken a back seat in recent years, many US interests depend upon the capabilities of satellites in orbit. The report singles out two states, Russia and China, as having and continuing to innovate on systems meant to destroy and disrupt  satellites of nations they are in conflict with. These include “reconnaissance, navigation, and communication” tools that, if crippled, could seriously hinder the capabilities of the targeted nation. One Chinese test performed in 2007 created “long-lived space debris,” which is another potential hazard of these kinds of systems – there’s nothing stopping any debris created by a destructive antisatellite weapon from taking out other systems, including those belonging to other states.

4. Weapons of Mass Destruction + Proliferation

“Nation-states’ efforts to develop or acquire weapons of mass destruction (WMD), their delivery systems, or their underlying technologies constitute a major threat to the United States, its deployed trooped, and allies.” Nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction have been a concern for decades, and recent developments have given increased cause for alarm. Iran is mentioned as a top concern, though the report does mention that “We do not know whether Iran will eventually decide to build nuclear weapons.” Recent developments suggest that the country is as least willing to negotiate its activities with the rest of the world, which gives reason for hope. The report notes that should it decide to pursue nuclear capabilities, its developments in space deployment could deliver it ICBM capabilities. North Korea continues to be a destructive influence in the East Asian region, and continues to work at developing weaponry that would allow it to strike at America directly. The report notes that its nuclear ambitions are likely “intended for deterrence, international prestige, and coercive diplomacy,” and not likely intended for active use. China and Russia continue to develop their own capabilities as well, designing new missiles, delivery systems, and transportation for the weapons. Lastly, Syria has been singled out for its use of chemical weaponry, in violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention.

3. Terrorism

“If ISIL were to substantially increase the priority it places on attacking the West… then the group’s access to radicalized Westerners who have fought in Syria and Iraq would provide a pool of operatives who potentially have access to the United States and other countries.” Terrorism, and particularly Islamist terrorism, are one of the largest threats on the list, but the report mentions that “Sunni violent extremists” the world over remain cause for concern for America and its allies. Attacks like the one in Paris in January will likely remain the exception, according to the report, as terrorist groups continue to focus on domestic activity, and not campaigns in America and other Western nations. Still, it does say that “homegrown violent extremists” remain cause for concern because of their “immediate and direct access” to their home countries. The report does expect, though, that such radicals would travel to the Middle East to join jihadist groups like ISIL. It says that since 2011, over 20,000 people from around the world have traveled to Syria to join the conflict.

2. Counterintelligence

“Penetrating the US national decisionmaking apparatus and Intelligence Community will remain primary objectives for foreign intelligence entities.” Once again, Russia and China are named specifically as risk factors for America, and are likely to continue to try to infiltrate, intercept, and disrupt American intelligence activities. “Non-state entities” like organized criminals and terrorists, are also likely to be a problem, and will continue to increase their counterintelligence work in order to try and evade government. The report emphasizes that a part of the problem is globalization, which has seen the US relying increasingly on international bodies for supplies and services. Additionally, “trusted insiders who disclose sensitive US Government Information without authorization” are listed as being major threats to the country and its intelligence work.

1. Cyber

“Cyber threats to US national and economic security are increasing in frequency, scale, sophistication, and severity of impact.” Thankfully, cyber crime is unlikely to reach the levels seen in films, where massive disaster can be meted out with nothing more than a laptop, an internet connection, and a single, massive infiltration. Instead, the report claims that smaller, more frequent attacks are likely to continue to harm the American economy and the country’s security. It’s the same groups as many of the other categories that will persist as threats in the online arena. Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea are all mentioned as being involved in some of the largest infiltrations in recent memory, including activity against American financial institutions and destructive attacks on corporations.

via writer and editor from Montreal, Rob Cote

Unexpected Celebrity Cameos

The Most Unexpected Celebrity Cameos in Music Videos

Celebrity Cameos

If it seems like music channels like MTV and MuchMusic barely show music videos anymore, that’s because they don’t. There are so many reality shows, half hour comedies and teen dramas on music channels these days that you have to wonder why artists even bother making music videos anymore.

Fortunately, there is still a market for videos thanks to YouTube. Fans love to watch the video interpretation for their favourite songs so they can gush in the comments about how hot someone is, or how the video is so cool, or more often, complain about how it wasn’t what they pictured. Music videos are still a huge part of the music industry and they help promote artists and their music. Especially when they do something unexpected in the video and it goes viral. One way some artists have chosen to make their videos stand out is to enlist the help of another celebrity. Someone that you would never think would be interested in the music video genre. Here are some of the most unexpected celebrity cameos in music videos.

10. Rupert Grint in Ed Sheeran’s “Lego House”

Rupert Grint may be most recognizable from his role as Ron Weasley in the Harry Potter franchise, but you have to admit he bears a striking resemblance to Ed Sheeran. Probably the whole British ginger thing. In the video, Grint plays a super fan of Sheeran’s who becomes increasingly unstable as the song goes on. At first he seems to be playing the part of Sheeran for the video, but it becomes clear after he is thrown off stage by security that he is in fact stalking Sheeran. As for the inspiration for the video, Sheeran told MTV, “People have called me Rupert Grint since age 11, and I thought I would poke a little fun at myself.”

9. Tom Hanks in Carly Rae Jepsen’s “I Really Like You”

Carly Rae Jepsen has been chasing the viral success of her first hit “Call Me Maybe” for awhile now, and she may have actually found it again with her video for “I Really Like You”. Not only is the song annoyingly catchy, but the video is classic viral material. Tom Hanks is the star of the video, as he goes about his day lip syncing along to the words of the song until the huge flash mob-style dance number at the end. Fellow Canadian, Justin Bieber also makes an appearance, but he’s overshadowed by Tom Hanks’ moves. Hanks told ET Canada that he is friends with someone who works with Carly, and when they asked him if he was interested in doing the video, he agreed immediately.

8. Alexander Skarsgard in Lady Gaga’s “Paparazzi”

You probably know him as sexy vampire, Eric, on HBO’s True Blood, but Alexander Skarsgard guest-starred in Lady Gaga‘s video for “Paparazzi” 2009 as her lover. In the beginning he tries to kill her by pushing her off a balcony, but after a lot of elaborate costume changes, and dance numbers, Gaga is back for her revenge. They also speak Swedish to each other, which is Skarsgard’s native language. He was a huge star in Sweden, and was named the Sexiest Man in Sweden five times before he started to find fame in North America, including a small role in Zoolander, and this video with Lady Gaga.

7. Andrew Garfield in The Arcade Fire’s “We Exist”

Spider-Man himself, Andrew Garfield, stars in The Arcade Fire’s video for “We Exist” as a transgender woman struggling with her identity. Garfield plays a man, who clearly identifies as a woman, experimenting with makeup, trying on lingerie, and going out to a bar alone. She is harassed and assaulted by a group of men who don’t understand her, when all she really wants is to be accepted. The band faced criticism for choosing to use a famous actor instead of a true trans-gendered actor, but front man Win Butler defended the choice, saying “For a gay kid in Jamaica to see the actor who played Spider-Man in that role is pretty damn powerful, in my opinion.”

6. Christopher Walken in Fatboy Slim’s “Weapon of Choice”

Christopher Walken doesn’t just make a cameo in Fatboy Slim‘s video for “Weapon of Choice”, he is the video. He shows off his dance moves by dancing up at escalator, through a hotel, and on a table top. He even does a no-handed cartwheel (although, that may be a stunt double) and flies. The video was directed by Spike Jonze. The video won 6 MTV Video Music award, including one awarded to Walken himself for Best Choreography.

5. Seth Rogen, Elijah Wood and Danny McBride in Beastie Boys’ “Make Some Noise”

The stars of the Beastie Boys video for “Make Some Noise” may be Seth Rogen, Elijah Wood, and Danny McBride as three friends who wreak havoc around the city while lip syncing to the song. But there are plenty more cameos thrown in there. That is Rashida Jones in the beginning, followed by Will Arnett. There are also appearances by Steve Buscemi, Amy Poehler, Orlando Bloom, and many more. A 30-minute long extended version of the video entitled “Fight For Your Right Revisited” was also released which is meant to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the classic Beastie Boys song “(You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party!)”

4. Jake Gylenhaal in Vampire Weekend’s “Giving Up The Gun”

The video for Vampire Weekend’s single “Giving Up The Gun” features a young girl playing a series of intense tennis matches against various opponents. She has no trouble beating Joe Jonas (of the Jonas Brothers), but her opponents get tougher and tougher until she has to face off against Jake Gyllenhaal in very small shorts. She manages to beat him too, and after defeating her own doppelganger, she wins the trophy. Gyllenhaal happened to be friends with the director, and a huge fan of Vampire Weekend.  He told MTV, “I drove down from San Francisco to this sound stage in downtown L.A., and I basically changed into a tennis outfit, and I got down.”

3. James Van Der Beek in Kesha’s “Blow”

There are people with unicorn heads in Kesha‘s video for “Blow” but still the most surprising thing is Dawson Leery, I mean James Van Der Beek, showing up to battle Kesha with guns that shoot laser bullets. Van Der Beek said of working with Kesha, “She’s a kick, man! She’s a hoot. Kind of the best version of who you think she would be from her music.” He also told Entertainment Weekly, “I’ve been on this kick in the last year or so of whatever’s being offered – no matter how off the wall – if it sounds fun, just saying yes. The pitch is, “Unicorns and lasers and a James Bond tuxedo?” I just said, “Why not?””

2. Jason Bateman, Ed Helms, Will Forte and Jason Sudeikis in Mumford & Sons’ “Hopeless Wanderer”

The video for the Mumford & Sons song “Hopeless Wanderer” comes off as more of a parody of typical folk music videos. Starring comedians Ed Helms, Will Forte, Jason Bateman, and Jason Sudeikis as a bearded band that carries their instruments down dirt paths to perform in barns, the video is clearly poking fun at folk music in general. The concept for the video was all the director, Sam Jones’, idea. He told Rolling Stone magazine when he showed Mumford & Sons the finished product, it was a hit. “The band loved it – they didn’t want to change a thing.”

1. Mila Kunis in Aerosmith’s “Jaded”

Released in 2000, the video for Aerosmith’s “Jaded” features an only 17-year-old, Mila Kunis. She was just starting to gain some recognition for her role as Jackie on That 70’s Show, and a part in an Aerosmith video was a great way to get more exposure. She plays a young girl who has lost the ability to feel due to losing touch with reality. Kunis has also appeared in music videos for The Strokes, KISS, Vitamin C, and Cheap Trick.

via freelance writer, Courtney Hardwick

The Richest Producers

The Richest Producers In Hollywood

George Lucas

Producers are often misunderstood and underrated in the public’s image of the movie industry. In fact, producers run the show. When a film wins Best Picture at the Oscars, it’s the producer who takes home the trophy. They are responsible for choosing the films that get made, for raising the money, for hiring the director, and often the cast and writers as well. During filming, producers make sure that the shooting doesn’t go over the budget, and in post-production they oversee the editing and musical accompaniment. In a nutshell, the producer is the person that a film’s life hinges upon.

Like the distribution of wealth and power all over America, there are a few producers who control the majority of the power in Hollywood. If your film gets picked up by one of these fifteen producers, you’re almost sure to find success, and possibly a career in film. Keep in mind, however, that they hear thousands of pitches every year – from directors and industry people with years of experience – and they usually only choose a handful of projects to get made. These are the movie producers who hold the most power, wealth, and influence in Hollywood today.

10. Kathleen Kennedy – $150 Million

Kathleen Kennedy is one of the most powerful women in the industry. She has been producing mega-hits alongside Steven Spielberg since 1981, when they co-founded Amblin Entertainment together (along with her husband, Frank Marshall). In 2012, her position as one of Hollywood’s most influential people was solidified when George Lucas chose her as his successor at Lucasfilm. She is one of the most-nominated producers at the Oscars, with eight noms but zero wins. She produced some of the highest-grossing films of the ’80s and ’90s, including E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Back to the Future, the Jurrasic Park trilogy, The Sixth Sense, and one of the most highly-acclaimed films of all time, Schindler’s List. Being head of Lucasfilm, she is also the producer for any upcoming Star Wars or Indiana Jones films. She has 10 films that have either been announced, or are in pre- or post-production, up through 2019.

9. Harvey Weinstein – $200 Million

Harvey Weinstein is the most influential and powerful producer in Hollywood. He’s best known as the co-founder of Miramax, and for being the co-chairman (along with his brother Bob) of The Weinstein Company, their production company, since 2005. He has more producer credits under his hefty belt (302) than probably any other producer in the industry. Weinstein is known for often being quite ruthless in order to get what he wants – which seems to always happen. Articles have pointed out that past winners of the Best Picture Academy Award have mentioned God’s name in their speech seven times, while winners have mentioned Harvey Weinstein’s name in their speech 30 times. That’s how influential he is. Weinstein won his Oscar for producing Shakespeare in Love, and he’s also produced such films as Pulp Fiction, Gangs of New York, The English Patient, Kill Bill, Sin City, Django Unchained, The King’s Speech, Inglourious Basterds, Rambo, The Aviator, The Lord of the Rings trilogy, and pretty much every other movie that’s ever been made.

8. Brian Grazer – $200 Million

While some of the people on this list began as directors or writers, and then branched out to producing once they’d found some success, Brian Grazer is a real producer’s producer. He has 148 producer credits spanning since 1978, and his films and TV shows have been nominated for 43 Academy Awards and 131 Emmys. Grazer himself has been nominated for four Oscars – and he finally won in 2001 with A Beautiful Mind. Grazer co-founded Imagine Entertainment in 1986, with Ron Howard. The films they’ve produced have grossed over $13 billion, making him one of the most lucrative producers in the industry. Some of the films from his ridiculously large repertoire are American Gangster, Rush, Robin Hood, Frost/Nixon, The Da Vinci Code, Angels & Demons, and that’s just in the last eight years. He’s also been the producer of the hugely successful TV series, 24, since its beginning.

7. Joel Silver – $300 Million

Joel Silver has been a Hollywood Producer for nearly 40 years. According to IMDb, he, along with Jerry Bruckheimer, are responsible for reinventing the action film genre in the 1980s, and he hasn’t slowed down since. In the ‘80s, he produced film such as Predator, Lethal Weapon and Die Hard (plus sequels). He continued in the ‘90s with more Lethal Weapons and Predators, The Last Boy Scout, the TV show Tales from the Crypt, and ended the century on a high-note with 1999’s The Matrix. In the 2000’s, Silver continued his success with the other Matrix movies, a slew of Jet Li action films, V for Vendetta, and Sherlock Holmes. He is set to produce his third Sherlock Holmes film in the coming years, and has announced five different films slated for release through 2016.

6. Michael Bay – $430 Million

Michael Bay might not have the greatest reputation amongst movie-goers and industry peers, but his formula has given him great success and made him a blockbuster juggernaut. Bay opts for over-the-top, sometimes-shallow action movies with huge explosions, which has given way to numerous hilarious videos with him as the focal point, such as an Epic Rap Battle and the “BAYSPLOSION!” YouTube videos. Despite the intellectual value of Bay’s productions, they are all almost certainly guaranteed to be hits. Who wouldn’t want to star in a movie that’s guaranteed to make $200 to $500 million at the box office? He’s produced films such as the four Transformers films, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Pain & Gain, The Purge, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Pearl Harbor, and his first production credit in 1998, Armageddon.

5. Peter Jackson – $450 Million

Despite only having less producer credits than anyone else on this list, the New Zealand-born Peter Jackson is a household name and one of the most successful and powerful producer/directors of the 21st century. Jackson directed and produced the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit trilogies, and earned himself three Oscars in 2004 (Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay) for The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. The final Lord of the Rings movie would go on to sweep the Oscars (winning 11 awards), becoming arguably the most successful fantasy film in history. Jackson has also produced movies such as District 9 (also nominated in the 2010 Academy Awards), King Kong, and The Frighteners. Any movie with Peter Jackson’s name attached to it is sure to be a smash at the box office.

4. James Cameron – $700 Million

James Cameron’s success ($700 million worth) is the kind you’d expect from Kevin Feige. Cameron, however – with 20 less credits than Feige – has something that no other person has under their belt: the two highest-grossing films of all time. We mean, of course, Avatar and Titanic. They are also the only two movies to ever gross over $2 billion at the worldwide box-office, with Titanic scoring $2.186 billion and Avatar bringing in $2.788 billion. Cameron got his start by writing The Terminator, Aliens, and Rambo: First Blood Part II in the ’80s. Once he had money and reputation, he started producing the films he wrote, like Titanic and Avatar, the latter of which has three more films in production through 2019. Nowadays, it’s impossible not to know who James Cameron is, and the power that he holds in Hollywood is immeasurable.

3. Jerry Bruckheimer – $850 Million

Jerry Bruckheimer seems to have his hand in every cookie jar. You don’t have to look far when scouring the TV or movie theater to find his name attached to a project. His smart decisions as a producer have made him one of the most sought-after and successful industry persons in Hollywood. Bruckheimer has been producing since 1972 (43 years if you’re keeping track), and has produced action films such as Top Gun and Beverly Hills Cop in the ’80s; Bad Boys, Con Air, and Armageddon in the ’90s; and Bad Company, Pearl Harbor, and Black Hawk Down in the 2000’s. His most popular and successful franchise would have to be the Pirates of the Caribbean movies, as well as the TV shows (and spin-offs) CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and The Amazing Race. Since 1999, Bruckheimer has produced no less than 26 TV shows!

2. Steven Spielberg –  $3.5 Billion

Steven Spielberg is one of the leading pioneers of the New Hollywood era, and is one of the most popular and inspirational filmmakers in history. He has 150 producer credits and 53 director credits, and is worth $3.5 billion. He’s won two Academy Awards for Best Director – first in 1993 with Schindler’s List, and then in 1998 with Saving Private Ryan. Three of his films – Jaws (1975), E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982), and Jurassic Park (1993) – achieved box office records, with each of them becoming the highest-grossing film made at the time. The unadjusted gross of all Spielberg-directed and produced films exceeds $8.5 billion. Some other hits he’s produced are Gremlins, Back to the Future, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Empire of the Sun, Men in Black, Deep Impact, the TV shows Pinky and the Brain and Animaniacs, Shrek, Catch Me If You Can, Letters From Iwo Jima, Transformers, True Grit, War Horse, Lincoln, and many, many more.

1. George Lucas – $4.3 Billion

George Lucas is arguably the film industry’s most financially successful filmmaker in history. Despite being nominated for four Oscars and never winning, Lucas’ films have stood the test of time. He is most famous for revolutionizing the sci-fi film with his immensely popular Star Wars trilogy, and then for adding to that success with the hugely successful Indiana Jones franchise. Those two franchises are some of the most endearing in film history, and they’ve given him incredible success. He’s executive-produced every movie and video game associated with Star Wars (including Episodes I through III, and the upcoming episodes VII through IX) and Indiana Jones. Besides his flagship franchises, Lucas has produced other successful films, such as Willow, The Land Before Time, Labyrinth, and more.

via freelance writer, Cory Barclay