When I Was Young

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Back when Christopher Reeve was alive, and was already wheelchair-bound, there was a commercial that had him walking. Many were angry at that video clip, and many expressed their sentiments to 'Superman', saying that it was actually an exploit of his condition.

He disagreed; he said it was actually a good shot for him, and it gave him hope of someday being able to walk (again).

Not long afterwards, a new TV ads took a different route - using deceased persons. How'd you take it?

For the full story, read the news article below:

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Using the deceased in TV ads

Nike has certainly stirred up a lot of controversy with its new ad featuring the voice of Tiger Woods’ late father, Earl Woods, who appears to be talking to his son regarding Tiger’s recent activities – though the voiceover is from a 2004 documentary in which he wasn’t even speaking to his son, but comparing himself to his wife.Upon watching the ad, two questions came to mind – why would anyone have thought this was a good idea and how did Tiger Woods ever agree to this?

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Image by cattias.photos via Flickr

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Not everyone can be accommodated, and some have to go through unpleasant experiences of being driven away from their desire to pay tribute to Michael Jackson.

See the story here.

Catch Michael Jackson on this very last video before his death… he was preparing for his ‘Final Concert’, and he never made it.

Posted: 26 June 2009 0829 hrs

Michael Jackson stands with Quincy Jones at the Grammy Awards in 1984. (file pic)

LOS ANGELES: Celebrities and stars around the globe were overwhelmed by sorrow and shock on Thursday as they sought to absorb the news of the sudden death of pop icon Michael Jackson.

"I'm absolutely devastated at this news," bestselling record producer and musician Quincy Jones told NBC, after Jackson died suddenly aged 50, apparently from a cardiac arrest, at his Beverly Hills home.

"I just don't have the words. Divinity brought our souls together and allowed us to do what we could do through the '80s," Jones said.

"To this day that music is played in every corner of the world, and the reason is because he had it all – talent, grace, and professionalism. I've lost my little brother today and part of my soul has gone with him."

As crowds of people began to gather at the hospital where Jackson had been rushed for treatment, the biggest and greatest of the entertainment world were struggling to take in news of his death.

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger issued a statement lamenting the loss of "one of the most influential and iconic figures in the music industry".

Schwarzenegger noted that there were "serious questions" about Jackson's personal life, but the governor said he and his wife Maria Shriver joined "all Californians in expressing our shock and sadness over his death."

"Our hearts go out the Jackson family, Michael's children and to his fans worldwide," the statement said.

"I'm just devastated, very, very sad. I pray that his soul is up there now," close friend Uri Geller told the BBC, after multiple US news outlets confirmed Jackson's death.

Jackson was best man when the television physic Geller renewed his wedding vows in 2001.

"I'm still trying to hold on to the glimmer that it is not true. It is too surreal for me to absorb that Michael is no longer with us."

Geller told the BBC that he was "absolutely shocked" as Jackson had been in good shape training for his comeback tour due to launch on July 13 in London.

"Michael was in good shape because he was practising, he was training, he was rehearsing for the shows," he said.

"Michael was careful with what he ate, he was just fine. Last time I know and heard of what he was doing he was in great shape. And this is why I'm so absolutely shocked by this news and I'm praying and hoping it's not true."

US actor Jamie Foxx was in the middle of an interview with "Extra" TV when the news broke, and said that he hoped Jackson would be remembered as a "brilliant musician" and not for "the circus sideshow" that his life turned into.

British Foreign Secretary David Miliband also posted his thoughts on Jackson's death on Twitter. "Never has one soared so high and yet dived so low. RIP Michael," Miliband wrote.

Many paid tribute to Jackson's influence on the world of music and dance. His album "Thriller" remains the bestselling album of all time with more than 41 million sales.

And his iconic moonwalk has passed into dance legend, endlessly copied by millions of dancers around the world.

"From a dancer's perspective, he was the epitome of the natural mover and popularised the 'moonwalk' from his Billy Jean video. Of course, the dance that he did for 'Thriller' is still performed, used and emulated constantly," said Ashley Roland, co-artistic director of the Oregon-based dance company BodyVox.

"He was an inspiration to so many, and I am one of them."

British child actor Mark Lester, the godfather to Jackson's children, said he was in shock at the news, and praised Jackson's attributes as a father.

"They're the most fabulous kids – whatever they need, they've got me," Lester told MSNBC.

- AFP/so

From ChannelNewsAsia.com; see the source article here.

I think this time, this old woman can really say, "When I Was Young"… when you were younger you can do so many things… and just like Susan Boyle, this old lady is wowing the judges and the audience…! You think you can do the same thing, achieve the same feat? Keep on trying!

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Time is GMT + 8 hours

Posted: 29-May-2009 14:25 hrs

Television watchers in Qingdao. A 79-year-old retiree in north China has wowed judges of a televised singing contest, state media said Friday, in an echo of Susan Boyle, a middle-aged woman in Britain who achieved stardom with her voice

A 79-year-old retiree in north China has wowed judges of a televised singing contest, state media said Friday, in an echo of Susan Boyle, a middle-aged woman in Britain who achieved stardom with her voice.

Wu Baiwei, the oldest contestant on "Happy Girl," the equivalent of Pop Idol in China, is now one of the top 50 contenders for an eagerly awaited televised final due in July, the official China Daily reported.

The retired teacher from Xi'an, the capital of Shaanxi province, was walking on the streets of the city when she saw a lot of girls signing up for a singing contest, the newspaper said.

"I asked them if an old woman like me could take part and they said 'yes'," she was quoted as saying.

She went to the first rounds of the competition on Monday, after having nervously figured out she had enrolled for one of the most famous talent shows in China.

In an echo of Boyle, a 48-year-old Scottish woman who became famous after appearing on a similar talent show called "Britain's Got Talent" and wowing judges, Wu impressed the programme's arbitrators and was sent to the next round.

A video clip on youku.com, a popular Chinese file-sharing website, shows her sitting down in front of the judges, and singing "On Songhua River," a famous patriotic Chinese song about the Japanese invasion in the 1930s. — AFP

From TODAYOnline.com, Top Stories – Friday, 29-May-2009; see the source article here.