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That's $20M a stem... Much like how Fred Astaire took-out a policy on his legendary dancin' legs for $75K a pop -and national treasure Dolly Parton hedged her ginormous, iconic boobs for $600K (for the set)- contemporary pop star Taylor Swift has now insured her own (Grade-A) legs for a cool $40M. And although her music is not entirely my cup of tea, I've heard worse (plus she's actually a songwriter- I respect that). Alas, they might have guessed a bit light on the legs appraisal- seems to have become her trademark already, and no doubt more than a minor element of...

Rapper Snoop Dogg is part of new UnloadYour401K campaign aimed at getting hard-working Americans to call their financial advisers and get rid of any and all investments in gun companies. Snoop Dogg appears in a video for the campaign in which he says, “I’ve been affected by gun violence over the years, just through the deaths of friend and family members, and associates.” In another portion he appears again, this time holding a white sign with “#ImUnloading” emblazoned upon it. He says, “I’m unloading for my love ones that I lost.” Singer/Songwriter Jhene Aiko also appears in the #ImUnloading video....

ROUND 7 - THE FINAL - OF THE '80S TOURNAMENT OF CHART-TOPPERS COMMENCES! Votes due: Sunday, March 15 @ 6:00 pm Eastern. The Final Pair! Vote for your favorite! No reply, no vote. A tie will be broken with a run-off which will end (hopefully) the following Monday.

“If people want to judge it I think maybe they should watch and see how carefully, delicately and chastely it was handled,” co-creator Peter Paige tells TheWrap ABC Family’s “The Fosters” drew both praise and criticism this week for a daring gay kiss scene between two 13-year-old male characters. But, the show’s creators said they were merely staying true to their story. “If people want to judge it, I think maybe they should watch and see how carefully, delicately and chastely it was handled. We are not here to sensationalize or exploit anyone,” Peter Paige, the drama’s co-creator, told TheWrap.

Hanover, Germany - In a thrilling show tonight, the German TV public have chosen their winner for the 2015 Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna: Andreas Kümmert won the vote of the public but declined to represent Germany. Thus the second-placed Ann-Sophie will be singing Black Smoke in Vienna!

ROUND 6 OF THE '80S TOURNAMENT OF CHART-TOPPERS COMMENCES! Votes due: Sunday, March 8 @ 6:00 pm Eastern. The Final 4 in just 2 pairs of songs! Vote for your favorite of each pair shown. No reply, no vote. (You may abstain from any pairs.) Any ties will be broken with a run-off which will end (hopefully) the following Monday.

YouTube:Carl Orff - O Fortuna ~ Carmina Burana

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYuOZnAqQCYThe 2014-15 Louisville Leopard Percussionists rehearsing Kashmir, The Ocean, and Immigrant Song by Led Zeppelin. The Louisville Leopard Percussionists began in 1993. They are a performing ensemble of approximately 55 student musicians, ages 7-12, living in and around Louisville, Kentucky. Each student learns and acquires proficiency on several instruments, such as marimbas, xylophone, vibraphone, drum set, timbales, congas, bongos and piano.

As the nation continues discussions about police brutality and how it pertains to racism, acting veteran Will Smith is also addressing the way America’s overall obsession with gun culture is leading to many early deaths in the Black community. The Fresh Prince of Bel Air has also sparked rumors that he may be making a return to the music business with the help of one of hip-hop’s biggest stars, Kanye West. Smith has spent more than 25 years in the acting business, something that often leaves big stars disconnected from the issues impacting people who don’t benefit from fame and...

ROUND 5 OF THE '80S TOURNAMENT OF CHART-TOPPERS COMMENCES! Votes due: Sunday, March 1 @ 6:00 pm Eastern. The Great 8 in just 4 pairs of songs! Vote for your favorite of each pair shown. No reply, no vote. (You may abstain from any pairs.) Any ties will be broken with a run-off which will end (hopefully) the following Monday. Format: Yearly rank/seed - year - song title - act

"Another senseless act of violence that took the life of a great guy. So sad," Minaj wrote.

This'll mean nothing to anyone except those familiar with the drum corps' of days pastPart of my '62 - '65 heritage

Paddy Reilly singing Carrickfergus, at Opera House, Cork.

ROUND 4 OF THE '80S TOURNAMENT OF CHART-TOPPERS COMMENCES! Votes due: Sunday, Feb 22 @ 6:00 pm Eastern. Sweet 16 in 8 pairs of songs! Vote for your favorite of each pair shown. No reply, no vote. (You may abstain from any pairs.) Any ties will be broken with a run-off which will end the following Monday. Format: Yearly rank/seed - year - song title - act

(VIDEO-AT-LINK) Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's receiving encouragement to run for president from an unlikely source — Rev. Al Sharpton. The MSNBC host and civil rights leader tweeted that during a meeting on the red carpet at the 40th anniversary episode of Saturday Night Live on Sunday, he encouraged Palin on Twitter to make a bid for the White House — but not with the intention of winning. Reverend Al Sharpton ✔ @TheRevAl I saw Sarah Palin on the red carpet and we talked to Xtra together. I urged her to run in 2016 and help the Democrats out. 9:24...

We have a TIE from Round 3 to BREAK! (What is it with 1983? No one seems to be able to separate the songs!) #4 1983 "Down Under” Men at Work versus #1 1983 "Every Breath You Take" Police

I saw this movie a couple of days ago and am still reeling from its presentation. It is the story of a family torn apart by the Korean war and how they work from being dirt poor to successful. It is a story of a family losing and finding its loved ones. It has the sweetest scene I have seen in ANY movie, but it's not staged or recorded. It's a real recording from history, which has a tremendous effect on those watching. It really happened. This movie is worth watching

As crazy as the 'NBC Nightly News' with Jon Stewart may sound, the timing of Stewart's announcement and the length of Brian Williams' suspension is oddly perfect for exactly that to happen.Jon Stewart's retirement announcement times up perfectly with Brian WIlliams' suspension ending. Is there more than meets the eye in that coincidence? For media conspiracy theorists, it doesn't get any better than this. At almost the exact moment NBC gives Brian Williams a six-month timeout, Jon Stewart announces that somewhere around the time those six months are up, he will become a free agent. Coincidence? Oh yeah, say the...

If you've ever been told that you're "tone deaf" or "can't carry a tune," don't give up. New research out of Northwestern University suggests that singing accurately is not so much a talent as a learned skill that can decline over time if not used. The ability to sing on key may have more in common with the kind of practice that goes into playing an instrument than people realize, said lead researcher Steven Demorest, a professor of music education at Northwestern's Bienen School of Music. "No one expects a beginner on violin to sound good right away, it takes...

ROUND 3 OF THE '80S TOURNAMENT OF CHART-TOPPERS COMMENCES! Votes due: Sunday, Feb 15 @ 6:00 pm Eastern. Sweet 16 pairs of songs! Vote for your favorite in each pair shown. No reply, no vote. (You may abstain from any pairs.) Any ties will be broken with a run-off which will end the following Monday. Format: Yearly rank/seed - year - song title - act