Ke$ha keeps party girl act alive with 'Warrior'

Peter Kramer / NBC via Getty Images

Ke$ha performs on TODAY last month.

By Tony Sclafani, NBC News contributor

Almost all pop singers play roles of some sort, but rarely has there been a major artist who has defined herself as narrowly as Ke$ha. The Nashville-born 25-year-old, who drops her second album, ?Warrior? on Tuesday, Dec. 4, made her first impression as a party girl bar none with ?TiK ToK,? her first solo hit that rode in on the melodic coattails of Lady Gaga?s ?Just Dance.? But where Gaga was resigned to dancing in the face of catastrophe in her song, Ke$ha painted her life as a non-stop party in hers. Even her Web site was registered as ?keshaparty.com.?

Clearly, the shtick worked. Her debut album sold over 2.5 million units worldwide, catapulting Ke$ha to ?global superstar,? as her PR people put it. And it?s a role she continues to play well on her new album. But unless you?re a diehard fan, it all comes off a bit too one-dimensional hearing Ke$ha play the party girl track after track.

If you loved her debut CD, ?Animal,? the 12 songs on ?Warrior? definitely won?t disappoint, with their pumping beats (mostly courtesy of producer Dr. Luke) and outlandish lyrics, all of which Ke$ha had a hand in writing. If you?re not down with Ke$ha?s in-your-face persona, you?ll feel like you?ve spent an hour with a media caricature of a Third Wave feminist who thinks acting like one of the boys means non-stop attitude and excess.

?Acting? is a key word because the trouble with Ke$ha?s persona is that it sounds too stage-managed and therefore doesn?t quite ring true. Her enunciation is more schoolmarmish than street, her lyrics are too calculatedly ?outrageous,? and her hooks too predictable. Ke$ha is playing the Rolling Stones to Taylor Swift?s Beatles in today?s pop scene, and while this makes sense image-wise, the music she makes comes off as just as safe and corporate in its own way as Swift?s. And if Ke$ha?s material is all a big send-up intended ironically, well, most of her audience probably isn?t getting the joke.

That doesn?t mean ?Warrior? is a weak album. There?s a lot of craft in the kind of major label dance music in which Ke$ha specializes. Taken as a whole, it?s samey and wearying. But the songs, when taken individually, all reveal ear-catching hooks and will sound a lot better in the context of Top 40 radio, which is where they?re designed to go, after all.

The lead-off single, ?Die Young,? has already gone top-10, its fatalistic, lovelorn lyric delivering a clever juxtaposition to its pounding electro-beats. ?C?mon? is the album?s reported second single and will probably be cranked at teenage parties like any early Beastie Boys single was, considering its reference to high school. Iggy Pop, whose wild child persona helped pave the way for Ke$ha, guests on ?Dirty Love,? a pounding rock track on which Ke$ha uses a deep, throaty voice that offers a welcome break from her nasal-sounding raps.

The album?s biggest surprise, though, is ?Wonderland,? a piano-driven classic rock-styled ballad that makes good on Ke$ha?s promise to bring some retro sounds into her music. It?s got a lyric filled with hungry-years nostalgia about reminiscing with old friends that?s like nothing the singer has ever written. And then Ke$ha distracts from the mood by throwing in a profane word on one of the best lines, underscoring how her self-styled image informs every move she makes. Even KISS and Alice Cooper knew to play it straight on occasion.

Tony Sclafani?s writing can be seen at www.tonysclafani.com.

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Source: http://entertainment.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/12/04/15648591-keha-keeps-party-girl-act-alive-with-warrior?lite

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reading on - Workers' Compensation

Your private photos could be used against you by insurance companies.

Today's post comes from guest author Nathan Reckman from Paul McAndrew Law Firm.

Recently, it seems as though everyone is connected through social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter. These tools have become a great way to keep in touch with friends and family scattered all over the world. Unfortunately, the information you or your connections post on your social networking sites can cause your workers? compensation claim to be denied.

The Commission denied further benefits?in part based on pictures obtained from Zack?s MySpace and Facebook pages.

For example, Zack Clement suffered a hernia when a refrigerator fell on him while he was working at a warehouse in Arkansas. After undergoing three surgeries and receiving work comp benefits for a year, Zack took his case back to the Arkansas Compensation Commission to get an extension of his benefits. The Commission denied further benefits in part based on pictures obtained from Zack?s MySpace and Facebook pages. The Arkansas Court of Appeals upheld the Commission?s decision, noting Zack?s claims of excruciating pain were inconsistent with the pictures of Zack drinking and partying.

In Iowa, the Workers? Compensation Commission has also relied on Facebook posts to deny an injured worker benefits. Jody McCarthy had a debilitating back condition that she claimed was aggravated by her work. The deputy commissioner noted that Jody?s testimony was essential to the case because her doctors based their opinions on her reported symptoms. Because of items posted on her Facebook page the deputy didn?t find her testimony to be credible. According to the deputy commissioner: ?The main problem with claimant?s testimony is that she maintains that she is virtually prostrate with pain on a daily basis, however when pressed by previous testimony and by pictures and entries on her Facebook page, she agrees that there are physical activities she is able to perform.?

Even if your privacy settings are set so the public cannot see your entries, you may not be safe.

Even if your privacy settings are set so the public cannot see your entries, you may not be safe. For example, an insurance company could try to use one of your friends to collect information on you or they could try to directly befriend you. Injured workers must be especially aware of new friend requests from people they may not know. And, even if your privacy settings are airtight and you are only friends with people you know and trust, courts have held that Facebook records can be obtained through subpoena.

Even if you personally don?t post anything on a social networking site, you still have to be careful about what other people post. In Zack?s case, the pictures used to deny him benefits were posted by a friend. Regardless of the severity of a worker? s injury, an insurance company can use something as simple as a picture of you smiling to try to show that your injury is not as severe as you claim.

This is why we suggest to our clients that they deactivate their social network accounts during the pendency of their case. One can never be too safe in making sure no one has access to any evidence, no matter how innocent it may seem, that would deny the worker of the benefits they?re owed.

Source: http://workers-compensation.blogspot.com/2012/12/why-injured-workers-should-deactivate.html

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Greek debt cut deal paves way for recovery: central bank

ATHENS (Reuters) - Greece's economy may start recovering faster than currently expected if the debt-laden nation quickly implements reforms it has agreed to under its bailout deal, the country's central bank said on Monday.

"A new start is now possible," the Bank of Greece said adding that the deal, which will shave about 40 billion euros off debt, "creates plausible expectations of a recovery of the Greek economy, perhaps even earlier than projected at present".

The Bank of Greece expects gross domestic product to shrink by slightly more than 6 percent this year and by up to 4.5 percent in 2013, bringing total economic contraction in 2008-2013 to 24 percent, it said in a monetary policy report.

"Positive growth will be witnessed in the course of 2014," the central bank said in the report.

But the debt cut deal agreed by the country's international lenders last week is creating hopes for a quicker recovery, providing that structural reforms to make the economy more competitive will be fully and quickly implemented, it said.

Helped by wage cuts, Greece is expected to recoup next year all the cost competitiveness it has lost in 2001-2009, the Bank of Greece said.

Greek banks, whose recapitalization is a key element in the recovery effort, must complete the required capital increases by end-April, the Bank said. It said it expected just three large banks to remain in the country after consolidation in the sector is completed, down from six before the crisis.

(Reporting by Harry Papachristou)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/greek-debt-cut-deal-paves-way-recovery-central-113436719--business.html

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Breaking Dawn Kills Brad Pitt, Rules Box Office Once Again

Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2012/12/breaking-dawn-kills-brad-pitt-rules-box-office-once-again/

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Republicans on talk shows continue to criticize Susan Rice (Los Angeles Times)

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Staging Your Home | Real Estate North of Boston with Geri Farrelly

When selling your home, you want it to appeal to a wide variety of people, not showcase your personality or preferences. While you might love deep red walls in your dining room, it might be too bold for a potential buyer. Your goal is to sell your home and having the right buyer appeal is key. There are a few things to think of when staging your home.

Paint color is a must unless you already use neutral colors in your home. When looking for paint colors think of beige, olives, yellows, tans and greys. Outdated wallpaper patterns are a big no-no. Not only will an outdated look not be appealing to a buyer but the thought of having to take it down after buying the home can be a negative to a buyer. Taking down the wallpaper, fixing any imperfections in the walls with spackle and sanding, and applying a new coat of paint will go a long way. Choosing a paint with a low sheen will help hide any imperfections that may still remain.

De-cluttering your home will give it a clean, organized look that will appeal to a buyer. Minimal items should remain in your home and going through your space to take out anything you don?t need and sending it to storage is ideal. Think about your furniture as well, since often too much furniture can cause spaces to look small. In addition, by pulling furniture away from the walls and placing them in conversational groups, you add space to a room.

Having the right decorative items can help to create an inviting space. Rather than having items lined up, trying grouping different items together, like on the coffee table. Hang pictures and art work in groups as well, avoiding a traditional straight line on the wall. Make sure that you have things such as decorative towels and soaps in the bathroom to help set the scene. And adding the right lighting can help set a welcoming mood. Make sure you have a variety of lighting in each space, from table lamps, to accent lighting, and whole room lighting.

Basically, when staging your home, you want to make it a place that someone would want to live. Little touches here and there can really make a difference. With a little investment you might just find you are getting the offers you were hoping for.

Source: http://www.gerifarrelly.com/blog/staging-your-home

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Man in barista death linked to 7 other killings

FILE - This undated handout photo provided by the Anchorage Police Department shows Israel Keyes. Keyes, charged in the death of an Alaska barista, has killed himself, and authorities say he was linked to at least seven other possible slayings in three other states. Keyes was found dead in his Anchorage jail cell Sunday, Dec. 2, 2012. Officials say it was a suicide. (AP Photo/Anchorage Police, file)

FILE - This undated handout photo provided by the Anchorage Police Department shows Israel Keyes. Keyes, charged in the death of an Alaska barista, has killed himself, and authorities say he was linked to at least seven other possible slayings in three other states. Keyes was found dead in his Anchorage jail cell Sunday, Dec. 2, 2012. Officials say it was a suicide. (AP Photo/Anchorage Police, file)

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) ? A man charged in the death of an Alaska barista was found dead in his jail cell Sunday, and authorities announced hours later that investigators have linked him in recent months to seven other possible slayings in three other states.

Israel Keyes, who had also confessed to killing a Vermont couple, died of an apparent suicide, authorities said at a hastily assembled news conference that included U.S. Attorney Karen Loeffler, the FBI, and Anchorage police.

Keyes was facing a March trial in Anchorage federal court for the murder of 18-year-old Samantha Koenig, who was abducted from a coffee kiosk in the city last February. He was later arrested in Texas after using the victim's debit card.

Keyes confessed to killing Koenig, as well as killing Bill and Lorraine Currier of Essex, Vt., Anchorage police chief Mark Mew told reporters.

The bodies of the Curriers have never been found. They were last seen leaving their jobs on June 8, 2011. Co-workers reported them missing the next day.

Keyes, 34, also indicated he killed four others in Washington state and one person in New York state, but didn't give the victims' names, authorities said.

The FBI contends Keyes killed Koenig less than a day after she was kidnapped. Her body was recovered April 2 from an ice-covered lake north of Anchorage.

Koenig's disappearance gripped the city for weeks.

A surveillance camera showed an apparently armed man in a hooded sweat shirt leading Koenig away from the coffee stand. Koenig's friends and relatives established a reward fund and plastered the city with fliers with her photo in hopes of finding the young woman alive.

Prosecutors said Keyes stole the debit card from a vehicle she shared that was parked near her home, obtained the personal identification number and scratched the number into the card.

After killing Koenig, Keyes used her phone to send text messages to conceal the abduction, according to prosecutors. He flew to Texas and returned Feb. 17 to Anchorage, where he sent another text message demanding ransom and directing it to the account connected to the stolen debit card, according to prosecutors.

Keyes made withdrawals from automated teller machines in Alaska, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas before his arrest in Texas, according to prosecutors. He was charged with kidnapping resulting in Koenig's death.

Koenig's family said there was no apparent previous connection between the teen and the suspect. Reached by phone Sunday, Koenig's father, James Koenig declined to comment on Keyes' death.

In Vermont, the U.S. Attorney's Office said in a statement Sunday that they have been working with investigators in Alaska since April on the Currier case.

Investigators have determined that the couple's home was entered forcibly, and that there was evidence of a possible struggle.

Their car was stolen and was recovered several days after their disappearance at an apartment complex about three-quarters of a mile away from their home.

Marilyn Chates, Bill Currier's mother, told The Associated Press that police contacted her some time ago to tell her about Keyes' confession and to tell her that they believed the couple's killing was random.

Certificates of presumed death were issued over the summer and a memorial service was held in late summer, she said.

Vermont authorities called Chates Sunday to tell her of Keyes' suicide.

"After some thinking, our family has been saved the long road ahead ? trials, possible plea agreements and possible appeals ? and perhaps this was the best thing that could have happened," she said from her home in Florida Sunday evening.

Keyes was thorough and methodical in disposing victims, authorities said Sunday. Only Koenig's body has been recovered.

He didn't have a clear pattern in victims, who ranged widely in age, authorities said. Money appeared to be just a partial motive.

Authorities say they may never know the full extent of Keyes' crimes because he parsed out only a little information at a time, withholding names and locations of most of his victims.

There may be victims in other states, besides the four states noted by Keyes, FBI Special Agent in Charge Mary Rook said.

Keyes also confessed to bank robberies in New York state and Texas.

Authorities wouldn't say how Keyes killed himself, only that he was alone in his cell. An autopsy will be conducted.

Keyes could have faced the death penalty in the Koenig case.

___

Associated Press writer Rebecca Miller contributed to this report.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2012-12-03-Missing%20Barista/id-02cb2595f56a47978a42deb36ed45dce

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