It seems that the days of naming your son or daughter with your own name and adding a second, third or a fourth sign in roman numerals at the end are fading away. This seems to be especially the case with celebrities. The more unique, the better! As to whether celebrities are simply a little loopy, or whether they simply like the attention that a unique baby name will bring, we do not know. What we do know is that the names just keep getting crazier and crazier. Below is a list of some of our favorite celebrity baby names over the years.
Banjo - Patrick & Rachel Griffiths
This choice of name was based on the main character from 'The man who came to dinner'.
Apple - Gwyneth Paltrow & Chris Martin
We don't even think the parents understand why they chose this name!
Heavenly Hiraani Tiger Lilly, Fifi Trixibelle, Peaches Honeyblossom - Paula Yates
Definetely three of the most 'out there' names in the history of baby names!
Jett - John Travolta & Kelly Preston
Well, John has always loved airplanes, so we'll let them get away with this one.
Zowie - David Bowie
Doesn't seem that bad, until you realise that with the last name it makes "Zowie Bowie".
Rumer Glenn, Tallulah Belle, Scott LaRue - Bruce Willis & Demi Moore
At least there are some normal names mixed in there, but still among our craziest!
Daisey Boo - Jamie Oliver
Typical celebrity, had to chuck in the "Boo" at the end.
Pilot Inspektor - Scott Lee & Beth Riesgrat
This kid is going to have a hard time at school.
Milo - Ricky Lake
This is okay, just so long as she doesn't name her second child "Otis".
Elijah Bob Patricius Guggi Q - Bono
Bono had definetely put some thought into this one!
Prince Michael, Prince Michael II, Paris Michael - Michael Jackson
We think this is just too many Michaels for one house hold.
Dexter, Diane Keaton
Only just acceptable for a boy, but would you believe this is her daughters name?
Moon Unit, Ahmet Emuukha Roden, Dreezil, Diva - Frank Zappa
Once again, among the craziest baby names in history.
Ocean, True, Sonnet - Forest Whitaker
We dont't mind the name Sonnet, but you can make your own mind up on the other two.
Betty Kitten, Honey Kinney, Harvey Kirby - Jane Goldman & Jonathan Ross
We wouldn't name our kids these names, but they do have a nice ring to them.
For more celebrity baby names visit, http://www.namestobe.com/celebritybabynames.php
About The Author
Article written by Sarah Mitchell of NamesToBe.com. Article free for reprint as long as this info box is present and all hyperlinks remain active.
Baby names and meanings at http://www.namestobe.com/
Baby naming tips at http://www.namestobe.com/celebrity-article.html
Breast Cancer Cure With The Power Of Fame by: Denny Armstrong
There is no known cure for breast cancer. More than 1.5 million people will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year worldwide. The incidence of breast cancer has nearly tripled in the past 50 years. A woman's lifetime risk has increased from 1 in 20 in the 1950's to 1 in 7 today. Scientists don't know why most women get breast cancer, yet breast cancer is the most frequent tumor found in women the world over. What can a woman do when fate has played a cruel joke and a woman's very life can be in question? What do you do when an intimate part of your body becomes host to an assassin, a foreign element assigned to debilitate, maim and kill?
A woman who dies of breast cancer is robbed of an average of nearly 20 years of her life. Breast cancer knows no social boundaries. It’s a disease that can affect anyone. Some prominent women whose lives that have been touched by breast cancer include: Anastacia, singer only 29 years old! Jill Eikenberry actress age 52; Ann Jillian, 48, Actress; Peggy Fleming age 49 figure skater; Kate Jackson age 50 (Charlies Angels); Olivia Newton-John age 50 actress singer; Patti LaBelle, age 57, singer; Diahann Carroll, age 63 Actress/singer; Rue McClanahan, Hollywood actress, Rue is best known for her portrayal of Blanche on the hit sitcom “The Golden Girls;” Shirley Temple Black age 70 Actress/singer; Betty Ford, Former First Lady; Nancy Reagan age 77 former first lady; Melissa Etheridge age 43 singer; Lynn Redgrave, age 59, actress; Edie Falco Sopranos star, Tami Agassi, sister to tennis star Andre Agassi, and the beautiful Suzanne Summers actress. Dusty Springfield the singer, died from breast cancer at age 59. Breast cancer also took the lives of Linda McCartney and Jill Ireland. This is a disease that has plagued women for centuries. The mother of Louis XIV of France died of breast cancer in 1666. These high rates of breast cancer are not acceptable to the women of the world and must be met with scientific research that provides results.
Despite over a decade of research, and more than $1.7 billion spent, hundreds of women worldwide are dying from breast cancer every day. Yet doctors don’t know how breast cancer starts or how to cure it. Doctors are still approaching treatment for breast cancer in the same old fashioned ways: surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. Barbaric treatments…And scientists keep doing the same old redundant research that’s simply not working. Over 30 US federal agencies and dozens of foundations, pharmaceutical and biotech companies are conducting or funding research, but: No one knows how much money is being raised every year. No one knows how much money is being spent every year. No one knows where the money is going. Meanwhile, mothers, sisters and daughters are dying-at a rate of nearly 110 women a day. It’s time for a new approach to cure this deadly killer. We don’t want you to have to under go surgery, radiation or chemotherapy.
A global action is the only answer to rising cancer deaths. Someone needs to answer the action call on all types of cancer. Newly formed International Celebrity Cancer Research Foundation has answered that call on global cancer. ICCRF’s war on cancer will be fought with the power of fame with celebrities from all 192 countries of the world. But the war on cancer can only be won with the support from the citizens of the world. Each and every one of you can answer your personal call to action to help fight the global war on cancer by supporting ICCRF’s battle on the war on cancer now.
Billionaires whom we have been recommended that we should contact for support include: Paul Allen, Bill and Melinda Gates, Jon Huntsman, William and Alice Goodman, Ann Lurie, Jamie and Karen Moyer, Harold C. Simmons, Alfred Mann, Sumner M. Redstone, Michael Milton and the Palm beach billionaires. There are simply too many billionaires to mention them all. The combined wealth of the three Microsoft billionaires alone is more than ten times the amount spent by the U.S. Federal Government on research to fight cancer and other deadly diseases. We could use help from the media with publicity stories, ads and promotions to get the word out. We are particularly interested in looking for assistance from the billionaires of the world; there are approximately 600 in the world. Billionaires like Sergey Brin and Larry Page (Google billionaires), Rupert Murdoch, Ted Turner, and Oprah Winfrey and others who control the media could get our life-saving message to the world fast.
Here’s what some very influential and famous people have to say about breast cancer research. Michael Douglas and his wife Catherine Zeta Jones, "Catherine and I are committed to do everything possible to eradicate this disease," says Oscar-winner Michael Douglas. Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson, “I lost my aunt to breast cancer about two years ago and my very good friend Liz to ovarian around the same time," says Wilson, who is married to Tom Hanks. "I've seen what these cancers are really like and we have to support more research.” Steven Spielberg and his wife Kate Capshaw, “Steven and I are passionate about improving women's health," says Capshaw.”
Stars that we know that are interested in supporting cancer research including breast cancer research include: Melissa Etheridge, Charlie Sheen, Kirk and Anne Douglas, Sting and wife Trudie Styler, Larry King, Sylvester Stallone, Nicole Kidman, Bon Jovi, Julia Roberts, Jack Lemmon, Dustin Hoffman, Denzel Washington, Warren Beatty, Candice Bergen, Angie Dickinson, Sally Field, Larry Hagman, Merv Griffin, Carroll O'Connor and his wife, Nancy, Robert DiNiro, Cybill Shepherd, Elizabeth Taylor, Michael Jackson, Sean Penn, Gwyneth Paltrow, Carmen Electra, Gene Wilder, Oprah Winfrey, Brad Pitt, Michael J. Fox, Tom Cruise, Nicolas Cage, Leonardo Di Caprio, Sigourney Weaver, Bruce Willis, Billy Joel, Tim McGraw, Robbin Williams, Elizabeth Hurley, Tiger Woods, Madonna, Jennifer Lopez, Britney Spears, Will Smith, Katie Couric, George Clooney, Mike Myers, Ben affleck, Ron Howard, Brian Grazer, Mel Gibson, Harrison Ford, Tommy Lee Jones, Al Pacino, P Diddy, George Lucas, Oliver Stone, Drew Barrymore, Britney Spears, Barbara Streisand, Gene Hackman, Fred Thompson , Burt Reynolds, William Shatner, Donald Trump, Donald Sutherland, Morgan Freeman, Dan Aykroyd, Chevy Chase, Sidney Poitier, Tom Arnold, Quincy Jones, Eminem, Shaquille Oneal, Adam Sandler, Steven Soderbergh, Bono/U-2, Patti LaBelle, Rosie O’Donnell, Halle Berry, Susan Sarandon, Actor Rob Lowe, he was moved to serve as a spokesperson for the Lee National Denim Day, which raised money for breast cancer research, because his grandmother and great-grandmother both suffered from the disease, Sharon Osbourne, Britt Ekland, Westlife, Simon Cowell, Emma Thompson, Philip Treacy, Geri Halliwell, Paul McCartney, and Lance Armstrong.
Country music stars who support breast cancer research include: Wynona Judd, Amy Grant, Donny Osmond, Martina McBride, Kenny Chesney, Shania Twain, Tim McGraw, Reba McEntire, George Strait, Toby Keith, LeAnn Rimes, the Dixie Chicks, Lonestar, Brad Paisley, Diamond Rio, Trick Pony, Alan Jackson, SHeDAISY, Terri Clark, Lee Ann Womack, Phil Vassar, Buddy Jewell, Joe Nichols, Amy Grant, Anne Murray, Vince Gill, Randy Travis, Tracy Lawrence, Tammy Cochran, Billy Ray Cyrus, Lee Greenwood, George Jones, Rascal Flatts, Emerson Drive, Bering Strait, Brooks & Dunn, Clint Black, Steve Wariner, Kenny Rogers, Alabama, Faith Hill and Sara Evans, Richard Marx, Anne Cochran, Lee Ann Womack, Terri Clark, Dave Koz, Sophie B. Hawkins, Jonatha Brooke, Heart’s Anne and Nancy Wilson and Mercy Me.
We are also hoping that more of my celebrity friends will come forward as spokespersons and spread their wings to help support our breast cancer research. My friends and acquaintances include: Steven Seagal, Charlie Sheen (Charlie, has done a great job for breast cancer research by leading an effort in the fight against breast cancer, by encouraging the American public to take part in a National Denim Day), Wesley Snipes, Danny Glover, Erik Estrada, Tom Arnold, Dolph Lundgren, Roger Clinton, Bill Clinton, Usher, Clint Black, Hulk Hogan, Ivana Trump, Clint Black, John Secada, Sylvester Stalone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Mike Reno, Eddie Money, Paul Hogan, Jay Leno, Danny Glover, Danny Aiello, Larry Hagman, Lee Majors, Tyson Becford, Jennifer Tilly, David Hasselhoff, Richard Branson, Brendan Fraser, Cindy Crawford, (whose grandmother died from breast cancer), Cher, Demi Moore, Bruce Willis, Michelle Pfeiffer, and other stars that I have had the good fortune of meeting in person and others celebrities that I hope to meet in the future. How about Clint Eastwood, Jack Nicholson, Pierce Brosnon, Mick Jagger and Pamela Lee Anderson. (Photos of Denny and the stars can be viewed at his promotional group listed below.) We have star friends who are bigger than life and they are ready to become our spokespersons. But we still need your donations to get our celebrities to international print and broadcast ads to get the word out. We, the people of the world can cure breast cancer as well as all the cancers of the world.
Please feel free to publish this article and resource box in your ezine, newsletter, offline publication or website. A copy would be appreciated at dennyarmstrongiccrf@yahoo.com
About The Author
Denny Armstrong counsels and writes about the global cancer problem. Mr. Armstrong has recently formed the new International Celebrity Cancer Research Foundation. You may join the war on cancer by joining ICCRF’s group and supporting the cause to find better treatments and a cure for all types of cancer. visit his group at: http://groups.msn.com/CancerResearch
dennyarmstrongiccrf@yahoo.com
A woman who dies of breast cancer is robbed of an average of nearly 20 years of her life. Breast cancer knows no social boundaries. It’s a disease that can affect anyone. Some prominent women whose lives that have been touched by breast cancer include: Anastacia, singer only 29 years old! Jill Eikenberry actress age 52; Ann Jillian, 48, Actress; Peggy Fleming age 49 figure skater; Kate Jackson age 50 (Charlies Angels); Olivia Newton-John age 50 actress singer; Patti LaBelle, age 57, singer; Diahann Carroll, age 63 Actress/singer; Rue McClanahan, Hollywood actress, Rue is best known for her portrayal of Blanche on the hit sitcom “The Golden Girls;” Shirley Temple Black age 70 Actress/singer; Betty Ford, Former First Lady; Nancy Reagan age 77 former first lady; Melissa Etheridge age 43 singer; Lynn Redgrave, age 59, actress; Edie Falco Sopranos star, Tami Agassi, sister to tennis star Andre Agassi, and the beautiful Suzanne Summers actress. Dusty Springfield the singer, died from breast cancer at age 59. Breast cancer also took the lives of Linda McCartney and Jill Ireland. This is a disease that has plagued women for centuries. The mother of Louis XIV of France died of breast cancer in 1666. These high rates of breast cancer are not acceptable to the women of the world and must be met with scientific research that provides results.
Despite over a decade of research, and more than $1.7 billion spent, hundreds of women worldwide are dying from breast cancer every day. Yet doctors don’t know how breast cancer starts or how to cure it. Doctors are still approaching treatment for breast cancer in the same old fashioned ways: surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. Barbaric treatments…And scientists keep doing the same old redundant research that’s simply not working. Over 30 US federal agencies and dozens of foundations, pharmaceutical and biotech companies are conducting or funding research, but: No one knows how much money is being raised every year. No one knows how much money is being spent every year. No one knows where the money is going. Meanwhile, mothers, sisters and daughters are dying-at a rate of nearly 110 women a day. It’s time for a new approach to cure this deadly killer. We don’t want you to have to under go surgery, radiation or chemotherapy.
A global action is the only answer to rising cancer deaths. Someone needs to answer the action call on all types of cancer. Newly formed International Celebrity Cancer Research Foundation has answered that call on global cancer. ICCRF’s war on cancer will be fought with the power of fame with celebrities from all 192 countries of the world. But the war on cancer can only be won with the support from the citizens of the world. Each and every one of you can answer your personal call to action to help fight the global war on cancer by supporting ICCRF’s battle on the war on cancer now.
Billionaires whom we have been recommended that we should contact for support include: Paul Allen, Bill and Melinda Gates, Jon Huntsman, William and Alice Goodman, Ann Lurie, Jamie and Karen Moyer, Harold C. Simmons, Alfred Mann, Sumner M. Redstone, Michael Milton and the Palm beach billionaires. There are simply too many billionaires to mention them all. The combined wealth of the three Microsoft billionaires alone is more than ten times the amount spent by the U.S. Federal Government on research to fight cancer and other deadly diseases. We could use help from the media with publicity stories, ads and promotions to get the word out. We are particularly interested in looking for assistance from the billionaires of the world; there are approximately 600 in the world. Billionaires like Sergey Brin and Larry Page (Google billionaires), Rupert Murdoch, Ted Turner, and Oprah Winfrey and others who control the media could get our life-saving message to the world fast.
Here’s what some very influential and famous people have to say about breast cancer research. Michael Douglas and his wife Catherine Zeta Jones, "Catherine and I are committed to do everything possible to eradicate this disease," says Oscar-winner Michael Douglas. Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson, “I lost my aunt to breast cancer about two years ago and my very good friend Liz to ovarian around the same time," says Wilson, who is married to Tom Hanks. "I've seen what these cancers are really like and we have to support more research.” Steven Spielberg and his wife Kate Capshaw, “Steven and I are passionate about improving women's health," says Capshaw.”
Stars that we know that are interested in supporting cancer research including breast cancer research include: Melissa Etheridge, Charlie Sheen, Kirk and Anne Douglas, Sting and wife Trudie Styler, Larry King, Sylvester Stallone, Nicole Kidman, Bon Jovi, Julia Roberts, Jack Lemmon, Dustin Hoffman, Denzel Washington, Warren Beatty, Candice Bergen, Angie Dickinson, Sally Field, Larry Hagman, Merv Griffin, Carroll O'Connor and his wife, Nancy, Robert DiNiro, Cybill Shepherd, Elizabeth Taylor, Michael Jackson, Sean Penn, Gwyneth Paltrow, Carmen Electra, Gene Wilder, Oprah Winfrey, Brad Pitt, Michael J. Fox, Tom Cruise, Nicolas Cage, Leonardo Di Caprio, Sigourney Weaver, Bruce Willis, Billy Joel, Tim McGraw, Robbin Williams, Elizabeth Hurley, Tiger Woods, Madonna, Jennifer Lopez, Britney Spears, Will Smith, Katie Couric, George Clooney, Mike Myers, Ben affleck, Ron Howard, Brian Grazer, Mel Gibson, Harrison Ford, Tommy Lee Jones, Al Pacino, P Diddy, George Lucas, Oliver Stone, Drew Barrymore, Britney Spears, Barbara Streisand, Gene Hackman, Fred Thompson , Burt Reynolds, William Shatner, Donald Trump, Donald Sutherland, Morgan Freeman, Dan Aykroyd, Chevy Chase, Sidney Poitier, Tom Arnold, Quincy Jones, Eminem, Shaquille Oneal, Adam Sandler, Steven Soderbergh, Bono/U-2, Patti LaBelle, Rosie O’Donnell, Halle Berry, Susan Sarandon, Actor Rob Lowe, he was moved to serve as a spokesperson for the Lee National Denim Day, which raised money for breast cancer research, because his grandmother and great-grandmother both suffered from the disease, Sharon Osbourne, Britt Ekland, Westlife, Simon Cowell, Emma Thompson, Philip Treacy, Geri Halliwell, Paul McCartney, and Lance Armstrong.
Country music stars who support breast cancer research include: Wynona Judd, Amy Grant, Donny Osmond, Martina McBride, Kenny Chesney, Shania Twain, Tim McGraw, Reba McEntire, George Strait, Toby Keith, LeAnn Rimes, the Dixie Chicks, Lonestar, Brad Paisley, Diamond Rio, Trick Pony, Alan Jackson, SHeDAISY, Terri Clark, Lee Ann Womack, Phil Vassar, Buddy Jewell, Joe Nichols, Amy Grant, Anne Murray, Vince Gill, Randy Travis, Tracy Lawrence, Tammy Cochran, Billy Ray Cyrus, Lee Greenwood, George Jones, Rascal Flatts, Emerson Drive, Bering Strait, Brooks & Dunn, Clint Black, Steve Wariner, Kenny Rogers, Alabama, Faith Hill and Sara Evans, Richard Marx, Anne Cochran, Lee Ann Womack, Terri Clark, Dave Koz, Sophie B. Hawkins, Jonatha Brooke, Heart’s Anne and Nancy Wilson and Mercy Me.
We are also hoping that more of my celebrity friends will come forward as spokespersons and spread their wings to help support our breast cancer research. My friends and acquaintances include: Steven Seagal, Charlie Sheen (Charlie, has done a great job for breast cancer research by leading an effort in the fight against breast cancer, by encouraging the American public to take part in a National Denim Day), Wesley Snipes, Danny Glover, Erik Estrada, Tom Arnold, Dolph Lundgren, Roger Clinton, Bill Clinton, Usher, Clint Black, Hulk Hogan, Ivana Trump, Clint Black, John Secada, Sylvester Stalone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Mike Reno, Eddie Money, Paul Hogan, Jay Leno, Danny Glover, Danny Aiello, Larry Hagman, Lee Majors, Tyson Becford, Jennifer Tilly, David Hasselhoff, Richard Branson, Brendan Fraser, Cindy Crawford, (whose grandmother died from breast cancer), Cher, Demi Moore, Bruce Willis, Michelle Pfeiffer, and other stars that I have had the good fortune of meeting in person and others celebrities that I hope to meet in the future. How about Clint Eastwood, Jack Nicholson, Pierce Brosnon, Mick Jagger and Pamela Lee Anderson. (Photos of Denny and the stars can be viewed at his promotional group listed below.) We have star friends who are bigger than life and they are ready to become our spokespersons. But we still need your donations to get our celebrities to international print and broadcast ads to get the word out. We, the people of the world can cure breast cancer as well as all the cancers of the world.
Please feel free to publish this article and resource box in your ezine, newsletter, offline publication or website. A copy would be appreciated at dennyarmstrongiccrf@yahoo.com
About The Author
Denny Armstrong counsels and writes about the global cancer problem. Mr. Armstrong has recently formed the new International Celebrity Cancer Research Foundation. You may join the war on cancer by joining ICCRF’s group and supporting the cause to find better treatments and a cure for all types of cancer. visit his group at: http://groups.msn.com/CancerResearch
dennyarmstrongiccrf@yahoo.com
Pedophiles / Ephebophiles and Sexual Child Abuse by: Dorothy M. Neddermeyer, PhD
The media reported the Michael Jackson case incessantly for the duration of his trial. What was tragically lacking are the facts regarding pedophiles/ephebophiles and sexual child abuse.
Studies reveal 62% of girls and 31% of boys will be sexually abused by age 18—considered low based on health services.
— 80% are sexually abused by a family member
— 19% are abused by someone the child knows and trusts
— 1% according to government statistics are abused by strangers
The unbelievable truth: Pedophiles/Ephebophiles conduct themselves as average and ordinary to the world. He or she may be a leader in the church; the community; or business. Pedophiles/ephebophiles seldom fit a classic stereotype—education, socioeconomic status, career or culture.
Furthermore, sexual abuse/incest is more difficult to believe or accept when the person we like, admire, love, and/or marry is the perpetrator. This is precisely why Jackson’s family, fans and the uninformed can unequivocally believe he could not possibly be an Ephebophile—sexual attraction to adolescents.
Pedophiles/Ephebophiles are cunning predators with a honed mode of operation. They are experts at manipulation, thus escaping adult reality. They feel entitled, justifying their actions as loving; not harming the child. They expend considerable energy maintaining this illusion to themselves and others. They create a persona of goodness beyond reproach. They go to great lengths to present themselves as exemplary people, who love children. Jackson’s defense attorney, Mesereau, invoked this convoluted tactic in response to the judge’s ruling that previous accounts of sexual abuse claims, which were settled, was admissible. Mesereau countered, "He [Jackson] also has spent millions on children with AIDS. We can drown them with examples of where Mr. Jackson has been so benevolent, so generous, so charitable, so giving for good causes, that it will make their theory look silly."
Mesereau’s statement exemplifies, anyone who sees through the perpetrator’s façade is met with admonishment and rebuke for being critical, irrational, racist, out-to-get the person, and/or jealous. The perpetrator is the family emperor with no clothes. "I know my son, and this is ridiculous," Jackson’s mother, Katherine Jackson, said in an interview on CBS "The Early Show." She said people who believe Michael is guilty "don't know him." Jackson's father, said his son was beloved around the world but had trouble in the United States because of racism. He said the accuser's motives were clear: "It's about money."
Even more frightening Pedophiles/Ephebophiles do not hold beliefs reflecting society’s moral and ethical values. Therefore, coupled with the child’s innocence and trust of the abuser usually pressure or violence is seldom required. Thus, the perpetrator can unequivocally state, “I love children. Never-ever. I could never harm a child or anyone. It’s not in my heart. It’s not who I am.” --Michael Jackson, 1993.
There is another insidious aspect to Jackson’s contact with adolescents—he flaunts the relationship as ‘sweet and innocent’ admonishing anyone for believing it is sexual. Using the definition of sexual abuse, Jackson’s befriending adolescent boys under the guise of helping them with a life threatening illness and/or sleeping with them, albeit, he slept on the floor and the child slept in his bed, is in and of itself sexual abuse.
"Incest is both sexual abuse and an abuse of power. It is violence that does not require force. Another is using the victim, treating them in a way that they do not want or in a way that is not appropriate by a person with whom a different relationship is required. It is abuse because it does not take into consideration the needs or wishes of the child; rather, it meets the needs of the other person at the child's expense. If the experience has sexual meaning for another person, in lieu of a nurturing purpose for the benefit of the child, it is abuse. If it is unwanted or inappropriate for her age or the relationship, it is abuse. Incest [sexual abuse] can occur through words, sounds, or even exposure of the child to sights or acts that are sexual but do not involve her. If she is forced to see what she does not want to see, for instance, by an exhibitionist, it is abuse. If a child is forced into an experience that is sexual in content or overtone that is abuse.
As long as the child is induced into sexual activity with someone who is in a position of greater power, whether that power is derived through the perpetrator’s age, size, status, or relationship, the act is abusive. A child who cannot refuse, or who believes she or he cannot refuse, is a child who has been violated." (E. Sue Blume, Secret Survivors).
About The Author
Dorothy M. Neddermeyer, PhD, author, If I’d Only Known...Sexual Abuse in or out of the Family: A Guide to Prevention, speaker/seminar leader has over twenty years experience in Personal/Professional Development. She is noted for her pioneering work in Emotional, Physical and Sexual Abuse Prevention and Recovery. http://www.gen-assist.com/store.html
Studies reveal 62% of girls and 31% of boys will be sexually abused by age 18—considered low based on health services.
— 80% are sexually abused by a family member
— 19% are abused by someone the child knows and trusts
— 1% according to government statistics are abused by strangers
The unbelievable truth: Pedophiles/Ephebophiles conduct themselves as average and ordinary to the world. He or she may be a leader in the church; the community; or business. Pedophiles/ephebophiles seldom fit a classic stereotype—education, socioeconomic status, career or culture.
Furthermore, sexual abuse/incest is more difficult to believe or accept when the person we like, admire, love, and/or marry is the perpetrator. This is precisely why Jackson’s family, fans and the uninformed can unequivocally believe he could not possibly be an Ephebophile—sexual attraction to adolescents.
Pedophiles/Ephebophiles are cunning predators with a honed mode of operation. They are experts at manipulation, thus escaping adult reality. They feel entitled, justifying their actions as loving; not harming the child. They expend considerable energy maintaining this illusion to themselves and others. They create a persona of goodness beyond reproach. They go to great lengths to present themselves as exemplary people, who love children. Jackson’s defense attorney, Mesereau, invoked this convoluted tactic in response to the judge’s ruling that previous accounts of sexual abuse claims, which were settled, was admissible. Mesereau countered, "He [Jackson] also has spent millions on children with AIDS. We can drown them with examples of where Mr. Jackson has been so benevolent, so generous, so charitable, so giving for good causes, that it will make their theory look silly."
Mesereau’s statement exemplifies, anyone who sees through the perpetrator’s façade is met with admonishment and rebuke for being critical, irrational, racist, out-to-get the person, and/or jealous. The perpetrator is the family emperor with no clothes. "I know my son, and this is ridiculous," Jackson’s mother, Katherine Jackson, said in an interview on CBS "The Early Show." She said people who believe Michael is guilty "don't know him." Jackson's father, said his son was beloved around the world but had trouble in the United States because of racism. He said the accuser's motives were clear: "It's about money."
Even more frightening Pedophiles/Ephebophiles do not hold beliefs reflecting society’s moral and ethical values. Therefore, coupled with the child’s innocence and trust of the abuser usually pressure or violence is seldom required. Thus, the perpetrator can unequivocally state, “I love children. Never-ever. I could never harm a child or anyone. It’s not in my heart. It’s not who I am.” --Michael Jackson, 1993.
There is another insidious aspect to Jackson’s contact with adolescents—he flaunts the relationship as ‘sweet and innocent’ admonishing anyone for believing it is sexual. Using the definition of sexual abuse, Jackson’s befriending adolescent boys under the guise of helping them with a life threatening illness and/or sleeping with them, albeit, he slept on the floor and the child slept in his bed, is in and of itself sexual abuse.
"Incest is both sexual abuse and an abuse of power. It is violence that does not require force. Another is using the victim, treating them in a way that they do not want or in a way that is not appropriate by a person with whom a different relationship is required. It is abuse because it does not take into consideration the needs or wishes of the child; rather, it meets the needs of the other person at the child's expense. If the experience has sexual meaning for another person, in lieu of a nurturing purpose for the benefit of the child, it is abuse. If it is unwanted or inappropriate for her age or the relationship, it is abuse. Incest [sexual abuse] can occur through words, sounds, or even exposure of the child to sights or acts that are sexual but do not involve her. If she is forced to see what she does not want to see, for instance, by an exhibitionist, it is abuse. If a child is forced into an experience that is sexual in content or overtone that is abuse.
As long as the child is induced into sexual activity with someone who is in a position of greater power, whether that power is derived through the perpetrator’s age, size, status, or relationship, the act is abusive. A child who cannot refuse, or who believes she or he cannot refuse, is a child who has been violated." (E. Sue Blume, Secret Survivors).
About The Author
Dorothy M. Neddermeyer, PhD, author, If I’d Only Known...Sexual Abuse in or out of the Family: A Guide to Prevention, speaker/seminar leader has over twenty years experience in Personal/Professional Development. She is noted for her pioneering work in Emotional, Physical and Sexual Abuse Prevention and Recovery. http://www.gen-assist.com/store.html
Be Wise - Go for Total Wealth. by: Emmanuel Emezie
When we lack certain things, the joy of living is diminished. In some instances we may become severely distressed and even incapacitated by such lack. When we are sick, in other words, when we lack good health, it is usually not a happy circumstance and we do all we can to regain our health. When someone is poor, that is, when they lack money and material possessions, life is not very enjoyable. Such a person is not able to live the way they wish or do the things they want. Poverty oppresses and incapacitates. As individuals and as nations, we all are desirous to distance ourselves from poverty.
Likewise, life is not so full and joyful when we fail to find happiness and fulfillment in relationships and in our work. (By relationships, I mean relationship with God and relationship with our fellow human beings). The deep desires we have to commune with deity and to love and be loved by others are emotional needs we are born with. And so we find that human beings experience want in three identifiable areas. Life requires us to cope with physical, material and spiritual wants.
The saying, "health is wealth" implies that someone in good health can be said to have physical wealth. When a person has a lot of money and material possessions we describe him or her as being materially wealthy. In the same vein, when someone finds happiness and fulfillment in relationships and in their work, they can be said to possess spiritual wealth. And this brings us to the concept of total wealth. To have total wealth is to be completely free from any form of lack, be it physical, material or spiritual. This is the holistic model of success. A person is truly wealthy only when he or she has gained total wealth.
In general, people tend to be primarily concerned with their material wellbeing. Hence they focus on striving for material wealth. But thanks to Jane Fonda, the American keep fit buff. In the last few decades, Americans and others around the globe have realized the need to actively pursue wealth of the physical kind. There is now an awareness of the health risks inherent in the sedentary life style engendered by technological advancement. These days, being healthy is not just about being free from sickness. One has to be physically fit. Lots of people are now adopting the proactive approach of exercising regularly to maintain good health and keep fit.
However, acquiring spiritual wealth is one goal most people cannot be said to be striving hard to attain. And to think that this ought to be our first priority. When someone gains spiritual wealth, they are guaranteed to also gain material and physical wealth. If you have any reservations about this assertion, then listen to the wise counsel of one of the world’s greatest spiritual luminaries, Jesus Christ of Nazareth:
"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air, they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." (Taken from the Bible (NIV), Mathew 6:25-33).
But what is there to lose if someone chooses not to bother with the pursuit of spiritual wealth? The answer to this question can be found by taking a close look at the lives of some prominent individuals.
When it comes to fame and fortune, very few people can match Michael Jackson. He rose so high as a star that the tag ‘superstar’ was just not good enough for him and so he has been dubbed ‘megastar’. The singer has undoubtedly raked in fabulous amounts as earnings from record sales worldwide. But in spite of his phenomenal career success, he has not found happiness and fulfillment in close relationships. His marriage to Priscilla Presley did not prove to be blissful. He has been involved in other relationships that ended on a sour and acrimonious note with settlements taking place in and out of court. Michael Jackson may rank as one of the richest and most famous men in the world, but he certainly is not one of the happiest. Riches and popularity are simply not enough. We need spiritual wealth to guarantee happiness and fulfillment in life.
The late Princess Diana had everything going for her, it would seem. She became a member of one of the world’s most loved and respected royal families by marriage. In terms of material wealth and social status, her union with British royalty catapulted her to the very top. However, the love of God and fellow man, which are pointers to spiritual wealth, were not particularly evident in her private life. In close relationships, happiness and fulfillment eluded her. She slid from the position of dream princess to the level of adulterous spouse and then chose to tag along as girlfriend to a wealthy businessman. We all know the tragic end to her story. She was killed in a car crash while on a trip with her lover.
As monarch of an oil producing Arab State, the late King Hussein of Jordan enjoyed the affluence and influence that come with his position. But while all was well materially, he was wanting in physical wealth. Even the best doctors in the United States could not save him from the cancer that put an end to his reign while he was still in his sixties. Money cannot always secure good health much less procure longevity. Only the possession of spiritual wealth will enable us attain and maintain happiness, good health and success in life.
In "The Parable of the Rich Fool", Jesus confirms that there is a price to pay when we fail to make acquiring spiritual wealth our first priority, (Luke 12:13-21):
Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?” Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”
And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop. He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’ “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grains and my goods. And I will say to myself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’
But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich towards God.”
If the reader is still not convinced of the wisdom of striving for spiritual wealth, the statement I am about to quote should settle the matter. It was made by someone who has chased after the material as well as the spiritual kind of wealth.
Sir John Templeton is one of America’s most successful financial investors. He is reputed to have created some of the world’s largest and most successful international investment funds. Later, he sold his various Templeton Funds to the Franklin Group for $440 million. Now in his nineties, he is a fulltime philanthropist. Through the John Templeton Foundation, which he established, he gives away about $40 million a year to funding work aimed at discovering and advancing scientific knowledge about the spiritual aspect of life. For his many accomplishments, he was knighted Sir John by Queen Elizabeth II in 1987.
Here is what this extraordinary individual has to say about what the pursuit of spiritual wealth has done to his life: "I focus on spiritual wealth now, and I am busier, more enthusiastic, and more joyful than I have ever been." (Culled from www.templeton.org).
In terms of quality of life, we all want the best for ourselves and total wealth is the very best that life has to offer us. Be wise, go for it.
About The Author
Emmanuel Emezie is a philosopher-scientist. A six-year-long scientific inquiry into the spiritual aspect of life led him to the discovery of intriguing and life-improving spiritual knowledge. For more information, visit: http://www.sssi.org.
Likewise, life is not so full and joyful when we fail to find happiness and fulfillment in relationships and in our work. (By relationships, I mean relationship with God and relationship with our fellow human beings). The deep desires we have to commune with deity and to love and be loved by others are emotional needs we are born with. And so we find that human beings experience want in three identifiable areas. Life requires us to cope with physical, material and spiritual wants.
The saying, "health is wealth" implies that someone in good health can be said to have physical wealth. When a person has a lot of money and material possessions we describe him or her as being materially wealthy. In the same vein, when someone finds happiness and fulfillment in relationships and in their work, they can be said to possess spiritual wealth. And this brings us to the concept of total wealth. To have total wealth is to be completely free from any form of lack, be it physical, material or spiritual. This is the holistic model of success. A person is truly wealthy only when he or she has gained total wealth.
In general, people tend to be primarily concerned with their material wellbeing. Hence they focus on striving for material wealth. But thanks to Jane Fonda, the American keep fit buff. In the last few decades, Americans and others around the globe have realized the need to actively pursue wealth of the physical kind. There is now an awareness of the health risks inherent in the sedentary life style engendered by technological advancement. These days, being healthy is not just about being free from sickness. One has to be physically fit. Lots of people are now adopting the proactive approach of exercising regularly to maintain good health and keep fit.
However, acquiring spiritual wealth is one goal most people cannot be said to be striving hard to attain. And to think that this ought to be our first priority. When someone gains spiritual wealth, they are guaranteed to also gain material and physical wealth. If you have any reservations about this assertion, then listen to the wise counsel of one of the world’s greatest spiritual luminaries, Jesus Christ of Nazareth:
"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air, they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." (Taken from the Bible (NIV), Mathew 6:25-33).
But what is there to lose if someone chooses not to bother with the pursuit of spiritual wealth? The answer to this question can be found by taking a close look at the lives of some prominent individuals.
When it comes to fame and fortune, very few people can match Michael Jackson. He rose so high as a star that the tag ‘superstar’ was just not good enough for him and so he has been dubbed ‘megastar’. The singer has undoubtedly raked in fabulous amounts as earnings from record sales worldwide. But in spite of his phenomenal career success, he has not found happiness and fulfillment in close relationships. His marriage to Priscilla Presley did not prove to be blissful. He has been involved in other relationships that ended on a sour and acrimonious note with settlements taking place in and out of court. Michael Jackson may rank as one of the richest and most famous men in the world, but he certainly is not one of the happiest. Riches and popularity are simply not enough. We need spiritual wealth to guarantee happiness and fulfillment in life.
The late Princess Diana had everything going for her, it would seem. She became a member of one of the world’s most loved and respected royal families by marriage. In terms of material wealth and social status, her union with British royalty catapulted her to the very top. However, the love of God and fellow man, which are pointers to spiritual wealth, were not particularly evident in her private life. In close relationships, happiness and fulfillment eluded her. She slid from the position of dream princess to the level of adulterous spouse and then chose to tag along as girlfriend to a wealthy businessman. We all know the tragic end to her story. She was killed in a car crash while on a trip with her lover.
As monarch of an oil producing Arab State, the late King Hussein of Jordan enjoyed the affluence and influence that come with his position. But while all was well materially, he was wanting in physical wealth. Even the best doctors in the United States could not save him from the cancer that put an end to his reign while he was still in his sixties. Money cannot always secure good health much less procure longevity. Only the possession of spiritual wealth will enable us attain and maintain happiness, good health and success in life.
In "The Parable of the Rich Fool", Jesus confirms that there is a price to pay when we fail to make acquiring spiritual wealth our first priority, (Luke 12:13-21):
Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?” Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”
And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop. He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’ “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grains and my goods. And I will say to myself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’
But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich towards God.”
If the reader is still not convinced of the wisdom of striving for spiritual wealth, the statement I am about to quote should settle the matter. It was made by someone who has chased after the material as well as the spiritual kind of wealth.
Sir John Templeton is one of America’s most successful financial investors. He is reputed to have created some of the world’s largest and most successful international investment funds. Later, he sold his various Templeton Funds to the Franklin Group for $440 million. Now in his nineties, he is a fulltime philanthropist. Through the John Templeton Foundation, which he established, he gives away about $40 million a year to funding work aimed at discovering and advancing scientific knowledge about the spiritual aspect of life. For his many accomplishments, he was knighted Sir John by Queen Elizabeth II in 1987.
Here is what this extraordinary individual has to say about what the pursuit of spiritual wealth has done to his life: "I focus on spiritual wealth now, and I am busier, more enthusiastic, and more joyful than I have ever been." (Culled from www.templeton.org).
In terms of quality of life, we all want the best for ourselves and total wealth is the very best that life has to offer us. Be wise, go for it.
About The Author
Emmanuel Emezie is a philosopher-scientist. A six-year-long scientific inquiry into the spiritual aspect of life led him to the discovery of intriguing and life-improving spiritual knowledge. For more information, visit: http://www.sssi.org.
The "X Factor": What Is It And Do You Have "It." by: Gian Fiero
What exactly is the “X factor?” You hear professionals in the entertainment industry referring to it. You hear artists alluding to it, but you rarely hear anyone defining “It.” If you are an aspiring music artist or an entertainer, it’s important that you know what “It” is because in the mind of the most seasoned and powerful industry professionals, having “It” is what determines if you are worth the investment of endless amounts of time and money.
In order to properly and accurately define what “It” or "The X Factor" is, we will approach the subject from two perspectives: emotional and visual. Visually, it goes beyond good looks. Good looks are often confused with the “X factor.” This can be traced back to the advent and popularity of music videos in the 80’s, which created a greater emphasis and need for artists that could give “good face” or in laymen’s terms, were photogenic.
But good looks only get attention. People who have “It” can maintain attention beyond a quick glance, or even a double take. They have something called magnetism. Magnetism is a combination of personal qualities such as: a sociable personality; self-confidence; charm; inner peace; comfort with one’s sexuality; rebelliousness; obvious intellect; a unique viewpoint; intensity or focus; authority; or sense of humor. In some instances, it is truly indescribable, but very recognizable to those who have seen “It” before.
Emotionally, those with this “X factor” have a way of pushing our buttons psychologically. They make us feel good or inspired. Pissed off or aggravated. Challenged or validated. They intrigue us. They can be the center of attention without trying. Regardless of how they affect us, they engage us emotionally and the “X factor” that lives within them, speaks to something inside of us, often times, something that we are not even in touch with.
Those who are talented and would like to pursue a professional career in the music industry as a commercial music artist must understand that for many of you, no matter how hard you work, your success and destiny have already been pre-determined by the natural presence, or tangible amount, of “X Factor” that you were born with.
If you have “It,” then it’s a matter of harnessing and directing the power of “It” to make “It” more easily recognizable to others. For many however, there is nothing to tap into. It’s nearly impossible to get “It” as you get older if you didn’t have “It” when you were younger. Maturity is a nice quality to have, but it will never be mistaken for magnetism.
In my opinion, and in accordance with the laws of the “X Factor,” it is only appropriate that Michael Jackson is one of the top selling music artist of all time. As a child, he didn’t just have “It,” he had a whole lot of “It.” He had so much of “It” that he was able to infect his four brothers with “It.”
Throughout his teen years and well into adulthood, the immensity of his talent was intensified by the high abundance of “X Factor” that his father identified and helped him to develop. We have yet to see the level of intensity and focus that he displayed as a young star. He was truly destined to become the King of Pop - and still is regardless of what he has undergone in his personal life.
Other star music artists who have “It” are: Prince, Madonna, Usher, Justin Timberlake, Cher, Christina Aguilera, Beyonce, Bonjovi, Bono, Bruce Springstein, Barbara Streisand, Faith Hill, Tim McGraw, Garth Brooks, Eminem, Jay-Z, Ludacris, Missy Elliott, Bow Wow, Bebe & Ce Ce Winans, and Yolanda Adams to name a few.
Of course there are many music artists who have achieved success without having “It.” Often times these individuals are driven and committed and are able to achieve their success as a result of hard work, determination, sacrifice, good timing, great marketing, or exceptional talent. These fine attributes may ignite attention, but without the “X Factor” working for them, public interest and attention tends to diminish over time.
Compare Prince to Whitney Houston. Both entered the music industry around the same age (18) and both have a tremendous amount of talent (albeit in different ways). While the world was hypnotized by Whitney’s talented gospel like voice that was stored in a model’s body (a phenomenon that she helped to usher in), Prince’s magnetism garnered interest and attention from many of those who didn’t know quite what to make of him.
People tried to define him: Is he black or white? Is he straight or gay? Is he a rocker or an r&b artist? Is he a Christian or a freak? It really didn’t matter. What mattered is that he had “it,” and “it” is what kept us intrigued. He, like Michael Jackson, has so much of “It,” that “It” tends to overshadow the immensity of his talents.
Whitney Houston on the other hand, with all of the grace and charm that she learned to fabricate while at the Wilhelmina Talent Agency, did a fine job of creating the illusion of having “It.” She did however, have a high abundance of all the other qualities that are often mistaken for the “X Factor.”
Those who have “It” carry “It” with them from the cradle to the grave. Bad career decisions; a bad marriage; life’s mishaps; lack of fame; lack of money - none of those things can affect or eradicate “It.” “It” should not be confused with attitude, which is often projected. “It” is not forceful and temporary. “It” is subtle and consistent. “It” is a serious advantage that is afforded to only a small minority.
© Copyright 2006. All Rights Reserved.
About The Author
Gian Fiero has over 15 years of experience as a former personal manager and current music industry consultant who emphasizes entrepreneurship and specializes in music licensing. He has been a panelist, mentor, and moderator at many industry conferences, and a frequent guest lecturer on music business topics at San Francisco State University's Music Recording Industry Program; Oakland's High School for the Arts; California Lawyers for the Arts; the U.S. Small Business Administration; and the Learning Annex. Additionally, he is the creator of "The Fiero Filter," an industry tip sheet for content users; and the senior music reviewer for The Muse's Muse.
gfc@musesmail.com
In order to properly and accurately define what “It” or "The X Factor" is, we will approach the subject from two perspectives: emotional and visual. Visually, it goes beyond good looks. Good looks are often confused with the “X factor.” This can be traced back to the advent and popularity of music videos in the 80’s, which created a greater emphasis and need for artists that could give “good face” or in laymen’s terms, were photogenic.
But good looks only get attention. People who have “It” can maintain attention beyond a quick glance, or even a double take. They have something called magnetism. Magnetism is a combination of personal qualities such as: a sociable personality; self-confidence; charm; inner peace; comfort with one’s sexuality; rebelliousness; obvious intellect; a unique viewpoint; intensity or focus; authority; or sense of humor. In some instances, it is truly indescribable, but very recognizable to those who have seen “It” before.
Emotionally, those with this “X factor” have a way of pushing our buttons psychologically. They make us feel good or inspired. Pissed off or aggravated. Challenged or validated. They intrigue us. They can be the center of attention without trying. Regardless of how they affect us, they engage us emotionally and the “X factor” that lives within them, speaks to something inside of us, often times, something that we are not even in touch with.
Those who are talented and would like to pursue a professional career in the music industry as a commercial music artist must understand that for many of you, no matter how hard you work, your success and destiny have already been pre-determined by the natural presence, or tangible amount, of “X Factor” that you were born with.
If you have “It,” then it’s a matter of harnessing and directing the power of “It” to make “It” more easily recognizable to others. For many however, there is nothing to tap into. It’s nearly impossible to get “It” as you get older if you didn’t have “It” when you were younger. Maturity is a nice quality to have, but it will never be mistaken for magnetism.
In my opinion, and in accordance with the laws of the “X Factor,” it is only appropriate that Michael Jackson is one of the top selling music artist of all time. As a child, he didn’t just have “It,” he had a whole lot of “It.” He had so much of “It” that he was able to infect his four brothers with “It.”
Throughout his teen years and well into adulthood, the immensity of his talent was intensified by the high abundance of “X Factor” that his father identified and helped him to develop. We have yet to see the level of intensity and focus that he displayed as a young star. He was truly destined to become the King of Pop - and still is regardless of what he has undergone in his personal life.
Other star music artists who have “It” are: Prince, Madonna, Usher, Justin Timberlake, Cher, Christina Aguilera, Beyonce, Bonjovi, Bono, Bruce Springstein, Barbara Streisand, Faith Hill, Tim McGraw, Garth Brooks, Eminem, Jay-Z, Ludacris, Missy Elliott, Bow Wow, Bebe & Ce Ce Winans, and Yolanda Adams to name a few.
Of course there are many music artists who have achieved success without having “It.” Often times these individuals are driven and committed and are able to achieve their success as a result of hard work, determination, sacrifice, good timing, great marketing, or exceptional talent. These fine attributes may ignite attention, but without the “X Factor” working for them, public interest and attention tends to diminish over time.
Compare Prince to Whitney Houston. Both entered the music industry around the same age (18) and both have a tremendous amount of talent (albeit in different ways). While the world was hypnotized by Whitney’s talented gospel like voice that was stored in a model’s body (a phenomenon that she helped to usher in), Prince’s magnetism garnered interest and attention from many of those who didn’t know quite what to make of him.
People tried to define him: Is he black or white? Is he straight or gay? Is he a rocker or an r&b artist? Is he a Christian or a freak? It really didn’t matter. What mattered is that he had “it,” and “it” is what kept us intrigued. He, like Michael Jackson, has so much of “It,” that “It” tends to overshadow the immensity of his talents.
Whitney Houston on the other hand, with all of the grace and charm that she learned to fabricate while at the Wilhelmina Talent Agency, did a fine job of creating the illusion of having “It.” She did however, have a high abundance of all the other qualities that are often mistaken for the “X Factor.”
Those who have “It” carry “It” with them from the cradle to the grave. Bad career decisions; a bad marriage; life’s mishaps; lack of fame; lack of money - none of those things can affect or eradicate “It.” “It” should not be confused with attitude, which is often projected. “It” is not forceful and temporary. “It” is subtle and consistent. “It” is a serious advantage that is afforded to only a small minority.
© Copyright 2006. All Rights Reserved.
About The Author
Gian Fiero has over 15 years of experience as a former personal manager and current music industry consultant who emphasizes entrepreneurship and specializes in music licensing. He has been a panelist, mentor, and moderator at many industry conferences, and a frequent guest lecturer on music business topics at San Francisco State University's Music Recording Industry Program; Oakland's High School for the Arts; California Lawyers for the Arts; the U.S. Small Business Administration; and the Learning Annex. Additionally, he is the creator of "The Fiero Filter," an industry tip sheet for content users; and the senior music reviewer for The Muse's Muse.
gfc@musesmail.com
Neverland Chronicle by: Gary Whittaker
ichael Jackson is one of the most recognized persons on the planet today. Even though he has not had a hit album in over a decade, Michael has continued to find his way into the media one way or another. From his rumoured problems with plastic surgery, to his association with monkeys, everyone has heard about how strange a character Michael has become. Aside from the black community that have continued to support him, despite his so-called skin condition and aversion to direct sunlight, most of the media has made "Jacko" a target of vicious headlines and articles.
Today, lawyers must pick a jury of 12 from a pool of 250 potential candidates after the judge said that they had screened enough of the 750 total people that were asked to the courtroom. Of that amount, about 450 people were screened prior to the judge decided that 1 and 1/2 days were enough.
To pick the 12, one must realize that it is humanly impossible not to already be predisposed to believe these charges against Michael Jackson. One must also realize that the motivation to lie in order to capitalize on subsequent book and interview deals would be enormous. Mainstream media were flooded with accusations of child molestation on the part of Michael Jackson for well over a decade. In recent history, both Bashir's unauthorized account of Michael's actions, and the subsequent side stories that have been carried as a result, every person in America has either watched, or been spoken to concerning his alleged conduct. Most recently, there was a leak to the Internet about what the "questionable material" was reported to be found in the Neverland estate. The article suggested that the material was in fact nude images of young boys, as well as magazine articles and DVD's featuring more nude images. Michael has responded to saying that this was false, and wants to be given his day in court to prove the truth.
I for one am waiting for this to happen. Sooner rather than later. I have been a big MJ fan for 18 years. I used to imitate his moves and dances in a comedic fashion for my younger sister, and have purchased every album I could, including his anthologies. I loved the fact that he broke away from convential behaviour and did what he wanted to do. If he truly were white, he would have been considered as eccentric. Being a pedophile however, is way to serious a charge to ignore. This is a man that placed himself in a major position of influence over children. If the evidence truly shows him guilty, I will be the first to lead the charge for castration. That being said, until Michael has a chance to defend himself, we should support him, or at least not condemn him. Michael has done a lot, not just for the black community, but also for children of all nationality. He has given hope and love to sick and dying children, and must be afforded the opportunity to rebut the accusations once and for all.
Let's be honest, the jury will decide his fate in the court of law. However, the information that comes out of this trial and made available to the public will hold him accountable to another jury: Public Opinion. Especially after O.J, I do not believe that the American court system will allow for a repeat of another high-profile case to go against public opinion. Too much is at stake. America is at war to protect freedom and democracy, or so they so. The recent election shows that America is truly at war in order to push what they perceive are Christian values. If there is any chance that Michael is innocent, despite what the public will believe to be evidence to the contrary, you can bet what you want on some kind of interference, either for the verdict, or a subsequent secondary charge with a guarantee of jail time.
Bottom line, Michael Jackson will be up against an opportunistic jury, the mainstream media, and a sceptical public. I wish him the best of luck.
About The Author
Gary Whittaker is the editor of T.E.N Magazine, a social and sports commentary webzine with balls! Check out more articles at http://www.tenwebzine.com.
editor@tenwebzine.com
Today, lawyers must pick a jury of 12 from a pool of 250 potential candidates after the judge said that they had screened enough of the 750 total people that were asked to the courtroom. Of that amount, about 450 people were screened prior to the judge decided that 1 and 1/2 days were enough.
To pick the 12, one must realize that it is humanly impossible not to already be predisposed to believe these charges against Michael Jackson. One must also realize that the motivation to lie in order to capitalize on subsequent book and interview deals would be enormous. Mainstream media were flooded with accusations of child molestation on the part of Michael Jackson for well over a decade. In recent history, both Bashir's unauthorized account of Michael's actions, and the subsequent side stories that have been carried as a result, every person in America has either watched, or been spoken to concerning his alleged conduct. Most recently, there was a leak to the Internet about what the "questionable material" was reported to be found in the Neverland estate. The article suggested that the material was in fact nude images of young boys, as well as magazine articles and DVD's featuring more nude images. Michael has responded to saying that this was false, and wants to be given his day in court to prove the truth.
I for one am waiting for this to happen. Sooner rather than later. I have been a big MJ fan for 18 years. I used to imitate his moves and dances in a comedic fashion for my younger sister, and have purchased every album I could, including his anthologies. I loved the fact that he broke away from convential behaviour and did what he wanted to do. If he truly were white, he would have been considered as eccentric. Being a pedophile however, is way to serious a charge to ignore. This is a man that placed himself in a major position of influence over children. If the evidence truly shows him guilty, I will be the first to lead the charge for castration. That being said, until Michael has a chance to defend himself, we should support him, or at least not condemn him. Michael has done a lot, not just for the black community, but also for children of all nationality. He has given hope and love to sick and dying children, and must be afforded the opportunity to rebut the accusations once and for all.
Let's be honest, the jury will decide his fate in the court of law. However, the information that comes out of this trial and made available to the public will hold him accountable to another jury: Public Opinion. Especially after O.J, I do not believe that the American court system will allow for a repeat of another high-profile case to go against public opinion. Too much is at stake. America is at war to protect freedom and democracy, or so they so. The recent election shows that America is truly at war in order to push what they perceive are Christian values. If there is any chance that Michael is innocent, despite what the public will believe to be evidence to the contrary, you can bet what you want on some kind of interference, either for the verdict, or a subsequent secondary charge with a guarantee of jail time.
Bottom line, Michael Jackson will be up against an opportunistic jury, the mainstream media, and a sceptical public. I wish him the best of luck.
About The Author
Gary Whittaker is the editor of T.E.N Magazine, a social and sports commentary webzine with balls! Check out more articles at http://www.tenwebzine.com.
editor@tenwebzine.com