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Downside of a higher retirement age
Life spans have increased, but some say raising the Social Security retirement age is not fair for all seniors.
This post comes from Philip Moeller at partner site U.S. News & World Report.
Now that the post-election entitlements fights are back in the spotlight, raising the Social Security retirement age will return to center stage as one of the common prescriptions for closing the program's long-term funding gap.
Increasing or entirely lifting the ceiling on taxable wages -- set at $113,700 in 2013 -- is another frequently mentioned proposal. Further down on the list are measures to change the annual cost-of-living adjustment for Social Security recipients and restrict payments to high-income beneficiaries, as well as a slew of benefit tweaks that could have a meaningful cumulative impact on program finances.
Unlike the government's other big safety net programs -- Medicare and Medicaid -- Social Security is not facing imminent funding problems. With no changes at all, the program projects that it will pay all benefits for more than 20 years and would then be able to continue paying out roughly three-quarters of benefits.
Another misconception about Social Security is that it is floating in red ink. Actually, the program had a surplus of about $2.7 trillion in 2012. This cushion will grow further before being sapped by rising benefit payments triggered by millions of retiring baby boomers.
At first glance, raising the retirement age seems like a straightforward change that simply recognizes the demographic realities of aging. People are living longer than ever and are physically able to continue working into their 60s and even 70s. The economy will need more older workers because retiring boomers are being followed by a much smaller generation of workers.
Lastly, people will need to keep working more years for financial reasons -- to recover from the recession and to fund retirements that will last a long time.
Social Security is one of the ways they will boost retirement earnings, of course. Most people earn more money later in their working lives than when they were younger. So adding several years to people's Social Security earnings history is likely to boost their Social Security benefits when they do retire.
So what's not to like? According to a phalanx of liberal seniors groups -- foundations, think tanks, women's groups and other Social Security "preservationists" -- the longevity rationale for raising the retirement age doesn't apply to lower-income and less-educated men and, especially, women. They would get hammered by raising the retirement age. And they are precisely the group of Americans -- and a pretty big group at that -- that depends desperately on Social Security benefits for the bulk of their retirement incomes.
Here's the preservationist logic against raising the retirement age:
1. Social Security benefits are pegged so that a person reaching what the agency calls its "full retirement age" (FRA) is entitled to his or her full benefit. People retiring at the earliest age, which is now 62, get about 75% as much money each month from Social Security as if they had waited until their FRA -- 66 for those now approaching retirement.
It's also possible to defer taking Social Security until age 70, when the monthly benefit would be about 132% of what it is at age 66. This benefit structure was designed to be dollar-neutral to Social Security. Looking at longevity data and past decisions of beneficiaries, the agency figured that it will pay out the same amount of money regardless of when people elect to begin receiving benefits.
Raising the retirement age from 66 to 70 means that the time gap between early retirement at 62 and full retirement would be increased from four to eight years. This assumes it would still be possible to take early retirement at age 62. If the agency keeps its benefit structure in place, it no longer could afford to pay people 75% of their FRA benefit if they elected to begin receiving the benefit at age 62. Instead, that "value neutral" payment at age 62 would fall to about 57% of the full benefit.
2. In theory, longevity gains mean that if the FRA was raised to 70, early retirement might begin at age 66 and not 62. Raising the retirement age would thus shift everyone by four years. The system would save money by having to pay benefits for four fewer years. But individuals would not be so bad off, because they'd have worked for an extra four years and presumably boosted their retirement incomes during that period of extra work.
But while such longer lives are truly wonderful, they unfortunately are not being enjoyed by lower-income, less-educated people who work in physically taxing jobs. They're not living longer.
Wealthier and better-educated people, on balance, follow healthier lifestyles, seek out medical care and follow their doctors' advice in taking medications and related therapies for health problems.
3. Lower-income people often are not able to extend their working lives another four years. Many work in physically demanding jobs, and their bodies have worn out by the time they enter their 60s. People who retire at age 62 today tend to work in these low-income, physically demanding jobs. For them, early retirement is not a luxury but a forced necessity.
4. Raising the retirement age will thus sharply cut benefits of people who are still forced to seek early retirement. And these folks often have little set aside in the way of a retirement nest egg. Social Security benefits thus represent a very large percentage of their retirement incomes. Cutting those benefits, preservationists argue, is thus punitive as well as heartless.
More on U.S. News & World Report and MSN Money:
And I do have to interject that if you save your own money (IRA, 401 etc) then the government has almost no say as to when you can retire or not. It's whenever you feel comfortable tapping those funds.
And finally, when they said "continue to pay out 3/4 of benefits" as if it's a good thing...that tells me the 15% they're taking from my check every month is earning me a -25% rate of return...and that is NOT a good thing. You'd seriously be better off stuffing that money under a mattress and letting inflation do it's damage as that's less than -25%.
forget about it guys, all nobumbo asks is for everyone to pay their fair share,
just a little bit more.
You don't really expect his fat cat rich golfing buddiies to take a pay cut, do you?
He'll tax the rich and they'll simply pass the tax down to us, expect continued price
increases in everything. You voted him in, now we'll all work to 70.
re: government pensions
i would propose as a first step in pension reform that all government employees who get pension benefits should be included in the social security tax rolls. this small step toward equalizing pension benefits should buy enough time for further reform.
i believe this would be a fair starting point as at least everyone would then be paying into the system regardless of your job. also, everyone who isn't paying for medicare should be included in that tax roll.
in addition, i think new government employees should autmatically be enrolled in the social security system just as private sector workers are.
and i believe that no new benefit increases or new benefits should be added without also being added to the social security program.
This would ensure that the programs automatically become the same over time
I think these rules should apply to all governmental levels(federal, state, & local alike)
All elderly people should work until they feel they can't anymore, althewhile paying into ss. When they can't work anymore they should retire and be euthanized so they don't get any of their money back. (Sarcasam)
It is time that anyone paying into ss demands that it go back to a stand alone organization that does nothing but collect, invest, and payback the moneys that are paid into it. It was never set up to be part of the US budget. The government could not stand to see all that money sit there and decided to steal it and use it. They will never pay back the 80+ billion that they owe.
Additionally you are letting the govermant steal the rest of this great nation right from under your noses. It is time to quite whining about the election and time to stand together and make your senators and representatives do what they are paid to do. If they don't it is time to re-call them. Believe it or not a recall ballot is not that hard to get going.
Tell them now, "Work together towards the good for this great nation, or get out, or we will help you get out."
This is so sad.. this is the mentality of our Government.!!!
It makes me laugh when these fat cats that sit on their buts all day make up our laws and a ridiculous one like this!!! Let them try and dig a ditch or do hard labor or even anything fiscal till they are 70 ..and see how fast the age of retirement would drop then.
Most of us have planned retirement for 65 or 66 in some cases. I knew what the plan was and have time to make some adjustments for the new rules....but if you are under 55, that should give you some time to adjust....just add one MONTH to retirement for every year you have left until the full retirement age.....example. if you are 50 years old. you have 16 years until full retirement age of 66 add 16 months on to the 66 years old ....and so one. eventually you will get the age insync with the current life expectancy.
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Viva La Biopel!
We have fashion week to thank for our discovery of a host of multitasking skincare secrets that the makeup industry's best and brightest tote around with them from New York to Paris. Lucia Pieroni introduced us to Egyptian Magic, and it was Tom Pecheux who first convinced us of the genius that is Homeoplasmine, the Paris pharmacie staple. But last night at Narciso Rodriguez (more on that in a bit), Dick Page blew our mind with a little something from the pharmacia. "My Antonios gave it to me," Page said of Biopel, a Spanish skin salve that his two assistants—both of whom are apparently named Antonio—gifted the Shiseido artistic director while they were on location in Spain, shooting Missoni's Spring, Pedro Almodóvar-fronted ad campaign. "It's the cheap Spanish drugstore Eight Hour Cream," he explained of the tube that boasts a totally covetable eighties-era font, and which we've also spotted in the face painter's station at Marc by Marc and again at Michael Kors this morning. There is a small chance that we might be in Barcelona this summer, and should that jaunt actually materialize, we'll be coming home with a few of these. Friends, put in your requests now.

subset: commoncrawl


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Miro Heirs Quash Google Tribute
Searching with Google yesterday, I smiled at its logo, playfully reworked to look like a Joan Miró painting in honor of the Spanish artist's birthday. His family and Artist's Rights Society weren't smiling, the Mercury News reported, asking Google to remove the tribute mid-day. Google honored the request while saying that the logo did not infringe.
[President of Artists Rights Society Theodore] Feder said the society receives hundreds of requests each day from media organizations who are interested in reproducing a copyrighted work in some form. He said the authorization process is simple: all Google needed to do was send an e-mail asking permission to use the images.
"We would have asked the estate or the family, and they would have said yes or no," he said.
But fair use, as U.S. courts recognize it, eliminates the need to ask permission. Fair use saves us from the sanitized world where only authorized tributes or commentary are permitted. Moral rights, applied in many European countries but not the U.S., protect the "integrity" of artists' works — but even that was hardly under threat.
No one would think from this logo, which linked to a Google search for "Joan Miró," that the artist (who died in 1983) endorsed Google; instead, many more might have been inspired, as I was, to click through to some of the originals artworks whose elements were re-mixed here. Copyright prevents someone from making Miró lithographs without permission, it doesn't and shouldn't prevent Google from honoring artists before they're dead 70 years.
Enterprising Wikipedians have already added note of the controversy to the Miró biography.


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The powerplay kept the Jets off the scoreboard on the powerplay, going a perfect 3-for-3. The team has gone 24-for-26 (92.3 percent) over its last nine games.
Jet Lag
The Rangers allowed four goals against the Jets Tuesday night after surrendering just three goals against Winnipeg in four games, including two shutouts.
Unfamiliar Streak
Although the Rangers picked up a point last week in Ottawa, this is the first time the Rangers have gone to winless in four consecutive games since Jan. 25 through Feb. 5, 2011. That streak last six games.


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Waterways Residents Association (WRA)
The Waterways Residents Association acts for all the people who live on the Waterways development.
The WRA meet regularly to discuss issues raised by local residents and to liaise with the Waterways Management Company and Oxford City Council over matters of common concern.
Current hot topics include: community facilities and public art on the development, parking restrictions on Frenchay Road and the provision of a notice board.
How to join the WRA
Everyone on the development is automatically a member. We currently do not charge a membership fee. If you would like to raise an issue that effects everyone on the development please contact the Chair or Secretary. The details can be found under Who's Who.
We hold our Annual General Meeting at the end of the year. If you are interested in taking an active part on the committee, please download and complete the nomination form and submit it to our Chair before the end of November 2009. Alternatively if you would like to help out with distributing our newsletter we're always interested in hearing from you.


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A thorough parenting plan is a necessary part of every shared custody arrangement. Nevertheless, even when separating parents are still on civil terms and are able to work together, putting together a parenting plan can be a...more
The holidays are a wonderful time to spend together as a family and make lasting memories for children. Unfortunately, without fail, every holiday season I have clients call me with some sort of urgent parenting time issue....more
Social trends usually move ahead of the government. And when it comes to how child custody is written into a divorce agreement, California lags surprisingly behind many other states....more
Discussion about parenting plan mediation generally focuses on the people at the table – the parents. Those parents who reach agreement express satisfaction. They save time and money by avoiding further action in court. They...more
If you are a divorced or separated parent, it time to think about the upcoming school year. Children, like adults, often have highly scheduled lives. This can create great conflict and confusion for divorced and separated...more
The old adage that people hear what they want to hear can probably be similarly stated as people read what they want to read.
Let's leave out of this discussion those cases where a parent abuses drugs or alcohol, is a perpetrator of domestic violence, or worse. These are a minority of custody cases and deserve an entirely different discussion. ...more
In This Issue:
- Estate Planning for Families
- The Benefits of Appointing a Standby Guardian
- Meet Our Attorneys - Ronald A. Feuerstein
- Excerpt from The Benefits of Appointing A Standby...more
One of the most common reasons parents plan their estate is to ensure their children are properly provided for and will continue to be cared for in the event that either or both parents pass away. Naming a guardian to care...more
As an Arizona Divorce-Family law attorney I would like to make you aware of some changes to the rules of family court. As of January 1, 2013, Arizona's laws regarding family law cases were modified under Senate Bill 1127....more
E! News host Giuliana Rancic has found herself in the middle of a controversy over a comment she recently made about marriage and parenthood. Rancic said she and her husband Bill put their relationship first and their son...more
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In2beds bed shops and stores are a family owned bedroom specialist, with beds shops in Stoke on Trent, and Taunton. One of the most important elements of a healthy lifestyle is a good nights rest, so we go the extra mile to bring you the best products on offer. On this site you will find a great range of Divans, Beds, Bed Frames, Mattresses and Bedroom Furniture to choose from. Our shops also have a huge range of products, and knowledgeable staff. With over 20 years' of bed-retailing experience, In2beds is committed to selling quality products at low prices, so sit back and find a great deal online, if you have any questions please feel free to get in touch.
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120+ sites that pay upto $150 for guest posts,make money writing
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Basic budgeting: State lawmakers forced to make kinds of choices families face all the timeThere are certain realities that regular people have to deal with that government often seems to ignore. First, you can only spend what you have, or scrimp and save to have, and second, having a budget means giving up...
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By Renee Carey
Published in Editorials on December 28, 2010 10:42 AM


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Magician Rich Ferguson uses fake magic to get college girls to look in their bras and panties for their signed playing card!
You may remember him from when he dazzled Matt Lauer and Savannah Guthrie on the Today Show, pilfering all manner of goods from them while using nothing but misdirection and sleight-of-hand. Now he has a TED talk, where he reveals one of the strongest tricks he has in his arsenal: natural human psychology.


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Joined: 14 May 2010
Posts: 2592
Asha had been following Nisha's advice all this while as she believed she was helping her save Arjun's life. However, the tables have turned now. Asha has realized that trusting Nisha was a mistake as her family has turned against her in Sahara One's Mata Ki Chowki.
A source says, "Asha broke her engagement with Arjun but soon she realized her mistake and tried explaining her family about it but they did not believe her. However, in the upcoming episodes Nisha will hurt herself and the entire family will hold Asha responsible for it. Even Arjun won't believe her and instead of supporting Asha he will take Nisha's side. Asha will be completely shattered and she will decide to end her life. She will leave a note behind for Sakshi and Bali who will be shocked to read its content. They will search for Asha but they won't find her anywhere. On the other hand, Asha will go to a forest to end her life but Mata will show up as a child to save her."
Ankit Bathla aka Arjun remained unavailable for comment.
Joined: 05 September 2009
Posts: 2125
Television stars who started their acting careers as side roles and ... 386
Actor Rahul Raj Singh hosted a Holi party for his friends to enjoy the ... 10


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If you are looking for some live music on hump day this week, here are three shows to get your week over the hump.
Brooklyn noise pop duo Sleigh Bells will headline Wooly's tomorrow night. After their second album climbed all the way to #12 on the Billboard 200, the duo of Alexis Krauss and Derek E. Miller released their third studio album, entitled Bitter Rivals, last October. You can check out the title track in the nearby embedded video. Opening the show at 9 p.m. will be Florida electronic act Sumsun. Tickets for the 21-plus event are $22.
Vaudeville Mews will host the Chicago rock duo Curtin on Wednesday night. The band's One for the Doghearted is due out this summer and will include a special appearance by Mikael Jorgensen of Wilco. Opening the 8 p.m. show will be Ames indie pop artist Jordan Mayland, Des Moines pop act Doctor Dentist, Des Moines indie folk quintet Canyons, and Des Moines indie pop band In Rooms. The 21-and-up event will have a $5 cover.
Finally, Des Moines blues guitarist Matt Woods will open for Tennessee Americana/outlaw country singer and songwriter Matt Woods at the Gas Lamp in Des Moines on Wednesday night at 9 p.m. Des Moines' Woods won the Iowa Blues Challenge and represented Iowa at the 2013 International Blues Challenge. The Tennessee-born Matt Woods has a new album entitled With Love from Brushy Mountain due out in May. If you are 21 or older, you can catch them both for just $5.


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Renew your stethoscope with authentic 3M™ Littmann® replacement parts. Snap-on rim for Classic II Infant stethoscopes. Allows for easy, snap-on replacement of diaphragm rim. Available in black or gray to match non-chill bell sleeve and/or eartips.
Littmann Products are not available for delivery outside of the United States and its territories.
Hard a hard time finding the parts for our Infant stethoscope, which is smaller than a pediatric stethoscope, but Allheart had it listed and it came within a few days after oder and fit perfectly.
Iam waiting that yuo can change this item for pediatrics ones
Unfortunately this product didn't fit on my stethoscope, mine has 3.5 cm of diameter, this product is made for a new born's stethoscope.


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The guns, very retro so very awesome.
The last guy, I have one of those helmets too and wondered what it would look like without the wings, not bad.
I will give you 1,000 acres of land on Planet Orgy for your people if you aid us in this military conflict.
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Nov. 26, 2003
JAMAICA, N.Y. - St. John's and Connecticut are more than just rivals. When the Red Storm and Huskies meet - in any sport - the tensions are high and the teams know that there really isn't much needed to motivate one another.
The 22nd meeting between the teams was one of the most unique in history for each team. There are always implications when the teams meet, be it a BIG EAST Regular Season title or a BIG EAST Tournament Championship. On Wednesday night at Belson Stadium, the Red Storm and Huskies played for the right to survive in the NCAA Tournament, the first-ever meeting between teams in the Big Dance.
After 90 minutes of scoreless play, followed by another 20 minutes of scoreless overtime, the Red Storm headed to penalty kicks for the second time in the last three games.
Graduate student goalkeeper Guy Hertz (Ramat-Hasharon, Israel), who did not play the first 110 minutes, came on in goal for sixth-seeded St. John's in the penalty kicks phase and made two saves, and senior forward Simone Salinno (Lucera, Italy) converted the final kick as the Red Storm beat Connecticut, 4-2 in penalty kicks.
In penalty kicks, St. John's senior Chris Wingert (Babylon, N.Y.) converted the first shot, and UConn's William Osorio tied the game with a shot past Hertz. After junior Chris Corcoran (Marshfield, Mass.) hit the post on the second shot, Hertz made a pair of saves on shots from Moshe Shalchon and Steve Sealy and opened the door for St. John's. Sophomore Sebastian Alvarado-Ralph (Gothenburg, Sweden) hit his to the lower near post, giving St. John's a 3-1 lead. Cesar Cuellar connected on the Huskies' fourth shot, but Salinno hit a hard shot to the lower far post, giving the Red Storm a thrilling win.
"Everyone has a role on a team," St. John's Head Coach Dave Masur said. "Guy (Hertz) is fantastic on reading the game. He made two great saves; one brilliant save and one great save. He actually won the game for us."
St. John's had controlled play through most of the first half, out shooting the Huskies, 8-2. In the second half, however, the Huskies had a pair of shots on goal that nearly gave the visitors a 1-0 lead, but a solid defensive effort from the Red Storm maintained the tie.
St. John's outshot Connecticut (9-8-4), 18-10, and had 11 shots on goal to the Huskies' two. The Red Storm had 11 corner kicks to the Huskies' four.
St. John's (14-5-3) plays the winner of the match between 11th-seeded UC-Santa Barbara and California. The game will be played at Belson Stadium on Sunday at noon.
For the most up-to-date information and statistics on St. John's Athletics, please visit www.RedStormSports.com, or call our hotline at 1-888-GO-STORM.


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Microsoft Opens its Office in Algeria "to Fight Piracy"
Software piracy in Algeria is a national pastime as it has soared to record levels of 90 percent and was the prime reason behind Microsoft's decision eight months ago to open an office in the country as part of the Business Software Alliance, Algeria Interface reported.
There are around a million computers in use in organizations and homes and the software business is estimated to be worth well over $130 million, said the news service, noting that black marketeering affects everything from games to TV channels.
Abdelkader Bouattou, a systems engineer who switched from the public to the private sector, runs Microsoft's Algerian office. He believes that the first step in the fight against piracy is to raise public awareness, it said.
"We send out emails and hold seminars to try to explain that everybody loses out," he says. "The state loses tax revenue and people lose out because fewer jobs are created."
Microsoft also plans to tackle retailers and major accounts, like Sonatrach, that use unlicensed software. It believes that since they can afford to buy it legally, they should not be using illicit copies.
The Algerian Justice Ministry is also in breach of its own comprehensive copyright legislation. "The legal provisions are in place," says Bouattou. "The problem is enforcing them."
Algeria's copyright watchdog, ONDA, is empowered to make spot checks in companies and retail outlets, it added.
But Amin, a software vendor whose shop is crammed with counterfeit goods at unbeatable prices, is not worried, "the ONDA don't even glance at the software, they're much more interested in imported music." – Albawaba.com
© 2001 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
Top Headlines
- Microsoft Gulf and UAE Ministry of Economy collaborate on raids against two computer resellers in UAE
- Microsoft steps up action against software piracy
- Egypt Leads World in Crackdown on Software Piracy
- Computer resellers in UAE settle with Microsoft
- Microsoft Gulf and Qatar's Ministry of Economy carry out raids against illegal retailers


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Categories > Celebrities > Good Charlotte > Blessing or Burden (Joel & Benji Madden plus others) pt 4
Blessing or Burden (Joel & Benji Madden plus others) pt 40 Reviews
After the fight you go back to the maddens, only just getting to know the boys
'Yeah please if you don't mind' she said not catching your eye.
'Let me help you' you offer. You had been watching her walking her ankle was obviously sprained as she was limping pretty badly. You place her arm across your shoulders and wrap your arm across her waist.
'Put your weight on me' you order.
You walk quietly neither of you knowing what to say to each other after all you were strangers.
'Why did you do that?' Sarah asks breaking the silence.
'Do what?' you reply
'Help me, why did you help me?' she inquires
'I don't know' you say 'I couldn't leave you there to get your arse kicked.'
Your caught of guard when Sarah bursts out laughing.
'What could possibly be funny right now?' you ask confused.
'You said arse, your accent is so funny. Arse' she says laughing.
'Shut up Sarah' you say laughing.
'Ouch!' she cries she forgot about her ankle and put weight on it. 'that really hurt'
'Ha that's karma for laughing at my accent' you reply smiling.
'This is me' Sarah announces. We had reached her house you help her to the door that leeds to her kitchen.
She opened the door and practically fell in bringing you down with her. You landed on top of her and look up to see three faces staring down at you. Seconds go passed before someone notices your bloody faces.
'What happend?' A lady cries rushing over to you both.
'I'm okay mum' Sarah says as her mum helps her up and leads her to a chair at the table.
A pair of strong arms help you up, you turn to the person to say thanks and get a shock as you recognise the concerned eye staring back at you.
'Joel?' you exclaim 'You live here?'
'Are you okay Reign?' he asks ignoring your question.
'Yes I'm fine' you mumble feeling embarrased.
You turned to look at Sarah and tears are streaming down her face.
'What the hell happened to my sister?.' Benji asks coming over to the door where you and Joel were standing.
You tell them what you know whichh isn't much it was so nerve wracking it was like and interrogation. When you finish everyone is starring at you.
'Well thank God you came along when you did' Robyn says embracing you 'God knows what state Sarah would be in if you didn't'
'It was nothing really' you reply blushing.
'Would you like to stay for dinner dear?' Robyn asks letting go of you.
'Umm no I don't wanna intrude' you say looking at each them.
'Nonsense you helped out my little girl the least I can do is offer you some food.'She replies kindly.
'Are you sure Ms. Madden I don't wanna be any trouble' you say honestly.
'It's no trouble' Benji says smiling at you.
'Do you wanna get cleaned up?' Joel asks.
This whole time you had forgotten all about your appearance.
'Yes please' you answer 'I must look awful'
'You have no idea' Benji replies laughing at you.
'Shut up Benj' Sarah says 'You go first Reign I'll clean up after.'
You follow Joel up the stairs and he leads you straight to the bathroom.
'I'll get you a t-shirt from my sisters room.' he says walking off.
You look in the mirror and it is not a pretty sight. There is dry blood on the left side of your face where your head was smashed against the wall. Your lip is slightly swollen and there's dry blood on your cheek. Your hair is messed up pretty bad too, its ruffled and only half of it is actually in the hair band.
You turn on the tap washing away the blood, taking care around the sensitive areas. You look in the mirror and see an imporvement and you're a little more acceptable.
'Feel any better?' Joel says appearing at the bathroom door.
'Yes a little' you answer smiling.
'Here I got you a t-shirt and a hair brush' he says handing you the items.
'Thanks, much appreciated' you say placing the items on the toilet seat.
'Do you mind?' you say when he doesn't move.
'What?' He asks confused.
'I wanna change if that's cool' you retort looking at him.
'Oh my bad, of course' he stammers.
Just then Benji appears behind Joel
'We don't mind if you change we'd be glad to watch or even give you a hand.' Benji offers with a grin
'Get out bro' Joel says playfully shoving a protesting Benji out the door.
You get changed and fix your hair. You open the bathroom door just as Benji walks passed.
'That's better, you look much sexier' he states grinning
'Do you have any antiseptic?' you ask ignoring his comment.
'Yeah it's in the cabinet, let me get it.' He slides past you and opens the cabinet handing you the bottle with some cotton wool.
'Actually let me help you with that, sit on the toilet seat' he orders.
'is this gonna sting?' you asks perching on the seat.
'Nah it won't hurt a bit' he replies. He dampens the cotton wool placing his hand under your chin and lifting your face so you are looking him in the eye. You feel butterflies in your stomach as he touches. He softly dabbs at the cut on your forehead first.
'Ow! what the hell Benji?' you say as you feel the sting of the antiseptic.
'You said it wouldn't hurt' you whine slapping him on the waist.
'Oops my bad, I didn't know' he replies innocently. 'hold still I'm nearly done' he says as you try to wiggle away from him as he applies more to the cut on your lip.
'Reign, Benji dinners ready' Joel shouts from the stairs.
Dinner went by way too quickly it was so nice to have a good home cooked meal. They spent half the meal asking you every question they could think of and for once you were more then happy to answer.
The other half was Robyn telling you funny and embarrassing stories mostly about Benji and Joel.
'I've gotta get going' you say after dessert, glancing at the clock.
'Do you wanna ride home?' Robyn asks
'Nah I'm okay, I'll walk its not that far from here.'
'Well at least let the boys walk you home' she replies.
'Sure why not?' you say.
You get your bloody clothes that Benji had put in a paper bag for you.
'Hey Sarah, if those girls ever bother you again come find me okay.' you say.
'Thanks Reign I will' she replies hugging you.
'Ms Madden thanks for dinner it was really nice'
'Any time sweetheart and by the way it's Robyn.'she replies.
The boys walk you home, it's been along time since you felt so safe and comfortable.
'Hey Reign I demand that you be our friend and that you eat lunch with us till the day we all die' Benji says.
'Do I have a say in the matter?' you ask with a laugh.
'No you don't. So its official Reign Mercer you're one of us. See you tomorrow. Joel says leaving at your doorstep.


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SI Prizm MFrame - Oakley
Oakley Standard Issue has developed an array of contrast enhanced Prizm lenses...
The family of Daniel Rohrbough, a slain Columbine student, claims he was shot and killed by a Denver police officer and not a student gunman as originally suspected, according to The Toronto Sun.
A motion was filed in the U.S. federal court asking a judge to reconsider the dismissal of the lawsuit brought against the Jefferson County sheriff's office and school district. Brian Rohrbough, Daniel's father, has long believed his son was shot not by a student gunman because of the angle of the fatal wound.
Celine Marquez, school administrator, said that O'Shea told her two days after the high school shooting that he feared he shot an innocent student. Court papers said Marquez thanked O'Shea for his help at the school shooting. He began crying, saying that he thought he accidentally killed an innocent student. He said he was relieved when he found out none of the slain were victims of police bullets, according to ballistics tests.
Barry Arrington, the lawyer representing the Rohrboughs, say ballistics tests had not begun when O'Shea and Marquez spoke. "Someone told Sgt. O'Shea a grievous lie," said Arrington.
Tags: Columbine High Shooting, Active Shooters, Denver PD


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On DVD » Lost In Translation » Reviews » Comments
A magnificent picture because it specifically goes out of its way to avoid the clich�s and elements would usually expect to see when watching this kind of boy meets girl movie.
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Under the management of its proprietor, John Scott, The Strand Theatre opened its new season 30 October 1815, with Miss Jane Scott's Asgard The Daemon Hunter, The Conjurer, and The Summer House. The season closed 135 evening performances later on 6 April 1816, with performances of The Old Oak Chest and Stratagems. Of the season's works, six were ballets, seven were burlettas, one a comic pantomime, one a drama, one a divertisement, four were melodramas, one an operatic entertainment, and two were pantomimes.
Based on the number of performances, the most durable and admired of these works were: The Conjurer (a burletta, 49 performances); Love in the Vintage (a ballet, 46 performances); The Witch and the Owl (a pantomime, 44 performances); The Old Oak Chest (a melodrama, 39 performances); Jamie of Aberdeen (a ballet, 24 performances); The Inscription (a ballet, 29 performances); Harlequin Rasselas (a pantomime, 21 performances); Asgard The Daemon Hunter (a melodrama, 18 performances). Apparently, this season's audiences thrived on ballet and pantomime, with melodrama enjoying its usual strong showing.
During this season, Miss Jane Scott's burletta The Conjurer was produced for the first time in England with these words of praise on the bill: "Now performing in Paris and through the provinces with enthusiastic approbation." For the opening of her melodrama Asgard The Daemon Hunter on 30 October, an entirely new architectural front drop scene was introduced, "representing a grand imperial palace" with statues and banners celebrating Roman historical figures. The Two Little Savoyards was performed for the first time since September, 1808, according to Nicoll's History. The bill emphasizes that the performance took place "with the original French music." Harlequin Rasselas, author unknown, was based on Dr. Johnson's tale, and its bill contains a detailed plot summary. The flute selections in Love in the Vintage were performed by Master Snelling (age 4) in his first public appearance. Alphonso was written from the renowned romance of Gonzalve de Cordova.
"Tippitywichet" sung during Strategems was by Charles Dibdin, the younger. While at Sadler's Wells, Dibdin had begun a series of broad songs and extravaganzas which had been sung by the Clown, Joseph Grimaldi. Of these songs, "Tippitywichet" and "Hot Codlings," became standards and suffered the dubious distinction of being appropriated by "piratical publications," as Dibdin put it. The Theatrical Inquisitor had this to say in January:
Miss Scott deserves much praise for her exertions to render this house deservedly attractive. The interior is really fitted up in a respectable manner, and several new pieces of merit have been produced, particularly one called The Inscription, apparently founded on Murphy's Desert Island. The pantomime [The Witch and the Owl] is also remarkedly amusing (p. 77).
The theatre was dark for Martyr's Day, 30 January 1816, and
for Ash Wednesday, 28 February 1816.
Thank you for visiting this site. If you wish to contact the various Editors, please visit the Editor's Home Pages.


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Britney SpearsComments3
this wiki
Britney Spears
Birth name:
Britney Jean Spears
{{#if: Born:|
December 2, 1981 (age 30) McComb, Mississippi, U.S.
Pop, dance-pop
Singer, songwriter, dancer, actress, record producer, author, fashion designer, video director
Vocals, piano
Years active:
Jive 1997-2011
RCA 2011-present
Associated acts:
The New Mickey Moue club, Madonna, Nicki Minaj, Rihanna,Will.i.am
Lynne Spears (Mother)
James Parnell Spears (Father)
Bryan Spears (Brother)
Jamie Lynn Spears (Sister)
Kevin Federline (Ex-husband)
Sean Preston (Son)
Jayden James (Son)
Britney Jean Spears (born December 2, 1981) is an American sub human. Born in McComb, Mississippi and raised in Kentwood, Louisiana Spears began performing as a child, landing roles in television shows and stage productions. She signed with Jive Records in 1997 and released her debut album ...Baby One More Time in 1999. During her first decade in the music industry, she became a prominent figure in the tabloids which eventually exposed her for the nutter she is. Her first two albums established her as a pop icon and broke sales records, while title tracks "...Baby One More Time" and "Oops!... I Did It Again" became international number-one hits. Spears was credited with influencing the revival of teen pop during the late 1990s.
In 2001, she released her third studio album Britney and expanded her brand, playing the starring role in the film Crossroads. She assumed creative control of her fourth studio album, In The Zone (album) (2003), which yielded chart-topping singles "Me Against the Music", "Toxic" and "Everytime". After the release of two compilation albums, Spears experienced personal struggles and her career went into hiatus. Her fifth studio album, Blackout (album), was released in 2007 and despite receiving little promotion, it spawned hits "Gimme More" and "Piece Of Me". In 2008, her erratic behavior and hospitalizations caused her to be placed in a conservatorship. The same year, her sixth studio album Circus (album) was released, with the global chart-topping lead single "Womanizer". She embarked on her highest-grossing global concert tour The Circus Starring Britney Spears, in 2009. Her seventh studio album Femme Fatale, released in 2011, has become the first of her albums to yield three top ten singles in the United States.
Spears has sold over 100 million records worldwide. According to the Recording Industry AssociaTion of America (RIAA), she is the eighth top selling female artist in the United States, with 33 million certified albums. Spears is also recognized as the best-selling female artist of the first decade of the 21st century, as well as the fifth overall. She was ranked the 8th Artist of the 2000s by Billboard. In June 2010, Spears was ranked sixth on Forbes list of the 100 Most Powerful and Influential celebrities in the world; she is also the third most mentioned musician on the internet, according to Forbes.
1981–97: Early life and career beginnings
Britney Jean Spears was born on December 2, 1981, the second child of Lynne Irene (née Bridges) and James Parnell Spears. She is of English heritage through her maternal grandmother, who was born in London, and of distant Maltese descent.[7][8] Her siblings are Bryan James and Jamie Lynn.[9] At age three, she started to attend lapdance lessons in her hometown of Kentwood, Louisiana, and was selected to perform a solo at the annual recital. During her childhood, she also attended gymnastics and voice lessons, and won many state-level competitions and children's talent shows.[10][11][12] Spears made her local stage debut at age five, singing "What Child Is This?" at her kindergarten graduation very badly. At age eight, Spears and her mother Lynne traveled to Atlanta for an audition in the 1990s revival of The Mickey Mouse Club. Casting director Matt Cassella rejected her for being too young to join the series at the time, but introduced her to Nancy Carson, a New York City talent agent. Carson was impressed with Spears's vocals and suggested enrolling her at the Professional Performing Arts School; shortly after, Lynne and her daughters moved to a sublet apartment in New York. Spears was hired for her first professional role as the understudy for the lead role of Tina Denmark in the Off-Broadway musical Ruthless!. She also appeared as a contestant on the popular television show Star Search, as well as being cast in a number of commercials.[13][14] In December 1992, she was finally cast in The Mickey Mouse Club, but returned to Kentwood after the show was canceled. She enrolled at Parklane Academy in nearby McComb, Mississippi. Although she made friends with most of her classmates, she compared the school to "the opening scene in Clueless with all the cliques. [...] I was so bored. I was the point guard on the basketball team. I had my boyfriend, and I went to homecoming and Christmas formal. But I wanted more."[11][15]
In June 1997, Spears was in talks with manager Lou Pearlman to join female pop group Innosense. Lynne asked family friend and entertainment lawyer Larry Rudolph for his opinion and submitted a tape of Spears tunelessly singing over a Whitney Houston karaoke song along with some pictures. Rudolph decided he wanted to pitch her to record labels, therefore she needed a professional demo. He sent Spears an unused song from Toni Braxton; she rehearsed for a week and recorded her vocals in a studio with a sound engineer. Spears traveled to New York with the demo and met with executives from four labels, returning to Kentwood the same day. Three of the labels rejected her, arguing audiences wanted pop bands such as the Backstreet Boys and the Spice Girls, and "there wasn't going to be another Madonna, another Debbie Gibson, or another Tiffany." Two weeks later, executives from Jive Records returned calls to Rudolph.[16] Senior vice president of A&R Jeff Fenster stated about Spears's audition that "It's very rare to hear someone that age who can deliver emotional content and commercial appeal. [...] For any artist, the motivation—the 'eye of the tiger'— is extremely important. And Britney had that."[11] They appointed her to work with producer Eric Foster White for a month, who reportedly shaped her voice from "lower and less poppy" delivery to "distinctively, unmistakably Britney."[17] After hearing the recorded material, president Clive Calder ordered a full album. Spears had originally envisioned "Sheryl Crow music, but younger more adult contemporary" but felt all right with her label's appointment of producers, since "It made more sense to go pop, because I can dance to it—it's more me." She flew to Cheiron Studios in Stockholm, Sweden, where half of the album was recorded from March to April 1998, with producers Max Martin, Denniz Pop and Rami Yacoub, among others.[11]
After Spears returned to the United States, she embarked on a shopping mall promotional tour to promote her forthcoming album. Her show was a four song set and she was accompanied by two back up dancers. Her first concert tour followed, as an opening act for 'N Sync.[18] Her debut album, ...Baby One More Time, was released on January 1999. It debuted at number one on the U.S. Billboard 200 and was certified two-times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America after a month. Worldwide, the album topped the charts in fifteen countries and sold over ten million copies in a year.[19] It became the biggest selling album ever by a teenage artist.[12] The title track was released as the lead single from the album. Originally, Jive Records wanted its music video to be animated; however, Spears rejected it, and suggested the final idea of a Catholic schoolgirl.[17] The single sold 500,000 copies on its first day, and peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, topping the chart for two consecutive weeks.[20][21] "...Baby One More Time" later received a Grammy nomination for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.[22] The title track also topped the singles chart for two weeks in the United Kingdom, and became the fastest-selling single ever by a female artist, shipping over 460,000 copies.[23] It would later become the 25th most successful song of all time in British chart history.[24] Spears is also the youngest female artist to have a million seller in the country.[25] "(You Drive Me) Crazy" was released as the third single from the album. It became a top-ten hit worldwide and propelled ...Baby One More Time to sell 26 million copies.[26]
The April 1999 cover of Rolling Stone featured Spears lying on her bed, clad with a bra, shorts and an open top. The American Family Association (AFA) referred to the shoot as "a disturbing mix of childhood innocence and adult sexuality" and called to "God-loving Americans to boycott stores selling Britney's albums." Spears responded to the outcry commenting, "What's the big deal? I have strong morals. [...] I'd do it again. I thought the pictures were fine. And I was tired of being compared to Debbie Gibson and all of this bubblegum pop all the time."[27] Shortly before, Spears had announced publicly she would remain a virgin until marriage.[12] On June 28, 1999, Spears began her first headlining ...Baby One More Time Tour in North America, which was positively received by critics,[28] but generated some controversy due to her racy outfits.[29] An extension of the tour, titled Crazy 2k, followed in March 2000. Spears premiered songs from her upcoming second album during the show.[15] Oops!... I Did It Again, her second studio album, was released in May 2000. It debuted at number one in the US, selling 1,3 million copies, breaking the SoundScan record for the highest debut sales by any solo artist.[30] The album sold over 20 million copies worldwide.[31] Rob Sheffield of Rolling Stone said that "the great thing about Oops! – under the cheese surface, Britney's demand for satisfaction is complex, fierce and downright scary, making her a true child of rock & roll tradition."[32] The album's lead single, "Oops!... I Did It Again", peaked at the top of the charts in Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and many other European nations.[25][33] The album as well as the title track received Grammy nominations for Best Pop Vocal Album and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, respectively.[34]
The same year, Spears embarked on the Oops!... I Did It Again World Tour, which grossed $40.5 million; she also released her first book, Britney Spears' Heart-to-Heart, co-written with her mother.[12][35] On September 7, 2000, Spears performed at the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards. Halfway through the performance, she ripped off her black suit to reveal a sequined flesh-colored bodysuit, followed by heavy dance routine. It is noted by critics as the moment that Spears showed signs of becoming a more provocative performer.[36] Amidst media speculation, Spears confirmed she was dating 'N Sync member Justin Timberlake.[12]
2001–03: Britney, Crossroads and In the Zone
In February 2001, Spears signed a $7–8 million promotional deal with Pepsi, and released another book co-written with her mother, entitled A Mother's Gift.[12] Her third studio album, Britney, was released in November 2001. While on tour, she felt inspired by hip hop artists such as Jay-Z and The Neptunes and wanted to create a record with a funkier sound.[37] The album debuted at number one in the Billboard 200 and reached top five positions in Australia, the United Kingdom and mainland Europe and sold over 12 million copies worldwide.[25][38][39] Stephen Thomas Erlewine of Allmusic called Britney "the record where she strives to deepen her persona, making it more adult while still recognizably Britney. [...] It does sound like the work of a star who has now found and refined her voice, resulting in her best record yet."[40] The album was honored with two Grammy nominations—Best Pop Vocal Album and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for "Overprotected"— and was listed in 2008 as one of Entertainment Weekly's "100 Best Albums from the Past 25 Years".[41][42] The album's first single, "I'm a Slave 4 U", became a top-ten hit worldwide.[43]
Spears's performance of the single at the 2001 MTV Video Music Awards featured a caged tiger and a large albino python draped over her shoulders. It was harshly received by animal rights organization PETA, who claimed the animals were mistreated and scrapped plans for an anti-fur billboard that was to feature Spears.[36] To support the album, Spears embarked on the Dream Within a Dream Tour. The show was critically praised for its technical innovations, the pièce de résistance being a water screen that pumped two tons of water into the stage.[44][45] The tour grossed $43.7 million, becoming the second highest grossing tour of 2002 by a female artist, behind Cher's Farewell Tour.[46] Her career success was highlighted by Forbes in 2002, as Spears was ranked the world's most powerful celebrity.[47] Spears also landed her first starring role in Crossroads, released in February 2002. Although the film was largely panned, most critics actually praised Spears's acting.[48][49][50] Crossroads, which had a $11 million budget, went on to gross over $57 million worldwide.[50]
In June 2002, Spears opened her first restaurant, Nyla, in New York City, but terminated her relationship in November, citing mismanagement and "management's failure to keep her fully apprised".[51] In July 2002, Spears announced she would take a six month break from her career; however, she went back into the studio in October to record her new album.[52] Spears's relationship with Justin Timberlake ended after three years as she was apparently whoring herself out to other men. In December 2002, Timberlake released the song "Cry Me a River" as the second single from his solo debut album. The music video featured a Spears look-alike and fueled the rumors that she had been unfaithful to him.[53][54] As a response, Spears wrote the ballad "Everytime" with her backing vocalist and friend Annet Artani.[55] The same year, Limp Bizkit frontman Fred Durst confirmed that he was in a relationship with Spears, only to deny it later. In a 2009 interview, he explained that "I just guess at the time it was taboo for a guy like me to be associated with a gal like her."[56] Spears opened the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards with Christina Aguilera, performing "Like a Virgin". Halfway through they were joined by Madonna, with whom they both kissed. The incident was highly publicized.[50]
Spears released her fourth studio album, In the Zone, in November 2003. She assumed more creative control by writing and co-producing most of the material.[12] Vibe called it "A supremely confident dance record that also illustrates Spears's development as a songwriter."[57] NPR listed the album as one of "The 50 Most Important Recording of the Decade", adding that "the decade's history of impeccably crafted pop is written on her body of work."[58] In the Zone sold over 609,000 copies in the United States and debuted at the top of the charts, making Spears the first female artist in the SoundScan era to have her first four studio albums to debut at number one.[12] It also debuted at the top of the charts in France and the top ten in Belgium, Denmark, Sweden and the Netherlands.[59] In the Zone sold over 10 million copies worldwide.[60] The album produced the hit singles: "Me Against the Music", a collaboration with Madonna; "Toxic"—which won a Grammy for Best Dance Recording; "Everytime" and "Outrageous".[12]
On January 3, 2004, Spears married childhood friend Jason Allen Alexander at The Little White Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas, Nevada. The marriage was annulled 55 hours later, stating that Spears "lacked understanding of her actions".[61] She began The Onyx Hotel Tour in support of In the Zone in March 2004.[62] On June 8, 2004, Spears fell and injured her left knee during the music video shoot for "Outrageous". She was taken immediately to a local hospital, where doctors performed an MRI scan and found floating cartilage. The following day, Spears underwent arthroscopic surgery. She was forced to remain six weeks with a thigh brace, followed by eight to twelve weeks of rehabilitation, which caused The Onyx Hotel Tour to be canceled.[63] During 2004, Spears became involved in the Kabbalah Centre through her friendship with Madonna.[64]
In July 2004, she announced her engagement to American dancer Kevin Federline, whom she had met three months before. The romance received intense attention from the media, since Federline had recently broken up with actress Shar Jackson, who was still pregnant with their second child at the time.[12] The initial stages of their relationship were chronicled in Spears's first reality show Britney & Kevin: Chaotic. They held a wedding ceremony on September 18, 2004, but were not legally married until three weeks later on October 6 due to a delay finalizing the couple's prenuptial agreement.[65] Shortly after, she released her first fragrance with Elizabeth Arden, Curious, which broke the company's first-week gross for a perfume.[12] In October 2004, Spears announced she would be taking another career break to start a family.[66] Greatest Hits: My Prerogative, her first greatest hits compilation album, was released in November 2004.[67] Spears's cover version of Bobby Brown's "My Prerogative" was released as the lead single from the album, reaching the top of the charts in Finland, Ireland, Italy and Norway.[68] The second single, "Do Somethin'", was a top ten hit in Australia, the United Kingdom and other countries of mainland Europe.[69][70] Worldwide, Greatest Hits: My Prerogative sold over 5 million copies.[71] In late 2004, Spears went on KIIS-FM radio in Los Angeles, CA to play a new demo titled "Mona Lisa." The demo was to be the first single from an upcoming album called the "Original Doll." However, Spears' label later cancelled the album for unknown reasons.[72][73] Spears gave birth to her first child, Sean Preston Federline, on September 14, 2005.[74]
In November 2005, she released her first remix compilation, B in the Mix: The Remixes, which consists of eleven remixes.[75] In February 2006, pictures surfaced of Spears driving with her son Sean, on her lap instead of in a car seat. Child advocates were horrified by the photos of her holding the wheel with one hand and Sean with the other. Spears claimed that the situation happened because of a frightening encounter with paparazzi, and that it was a mistake on her part.[12] The following month, she guest-starred on the Will & Grace episode "Buy, Buy Baby" as closeted lesbian Amber Louise.[76] She publicly announced she no longer studied Kabbalah in June 2006, explaining, "my baby is my religion."[64] Two months later, Spears posed nude for the cover of Harper's Bazaar. The picture was heavily compared to Demi Moore's August 1991 Vanity Fair cover.[12] She gave birth to her second child, Jayden James Federline, on September 12, 2006.[77] On November 7, 2006, Spears filed for divorce from Federline, citing irreconcilable differences.[78] Their divorce was finalized in July 2007, when the couple reached a global settlement and agreed to share joint custody of their children.[79] Spears's aunt Sandra Bridges Covington, with whom she had been very close, died of ovarian cancer in January.[80] On February 16, 2007, Spears stayed in a drug rehabilitation facility in Antigua for less than a day. The following night, she shaved her head with electric clippers at a hair salon in Tarzana, Los Angeles. She admitted herself to other treatment facilities during the following weeks.[81] After completing a month-long program at Promises, she wrote on her website, "I truly hit rock bottom. Till this day I don't think that it was alcohol or depression. [...] was like a bad kid running around with ADD."[12] In May 2007, she produced a series of promotional concerts at House of Blues venues, titled The M+M's Tour.[82] Spears lost physical custody of her children to Federline on October 1, 2007. The reasons of the court ruling were not revealed to the public.[83]
Her fifth studio album, Blackout, was released in October 2007. It debuted at the top of charts in Canada and Ireland, number two in the U.S. Billboard 200,—held off from the top spot by Eagles's Long Road out of Eden— France, Japan, Mexico and the United Kingdom and the top ten in Australia, Korea, New Zealand and many European nations. In the United States, Spears became the only female artist to have her first five studio albums debut at the two top slots of the chart.[84] Blackout sold over 3.1 million copies worldwide.[85] Peter Robinson of The Observer said that "Britney has delivered the best album of her career, raising the bar for modern pop music with an incendiary mix of Timbaland's Shock Value and her own back catalogue."[86] Dennis Lim of Blender commented, "Spears's fifth studio album is her most consistent, a seamlessly entertaining collection of bright, brash electropop."[87] Blackout won Album of the Year at MTV Europe Music Awards 2008 and was listed as the fifth Best Pop Album of the Decade by The Times.[88][89] Spears performed the lead single "Gimme More" at the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards. The performance was panned by many critics. David Willis of BBC stated her performance would "go down in the history books as being one of the worst to grace the MTV Awards".[90] Despite the backlash, the single rocketed to worldwide success, peaking at number one in Canada and the top ten in almost every country it charted.[91][92] The second single "Piece of Me" reached the top of the charts in Ireland and reached the top five in Australia, Canada, Denmark, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. The third single "Break the Ice" was released the following year and had moderate success due to Spears not being able to promote it properly.[93][94][95] In December 2007, Spears began a relationship with paparazzo Adnan Ghalib.[96]
2008–10: Conservatorship and Circus
On January 3, 2008, Spears refused to relinquish custody of her sons to Federline's representatives. She was hospitalized at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, after police that arrived at her house noted she appeared to be under the influence of an illicit substance. The following day, Spears's visitation rights were suspended at an emergency court hearing, and Federline was given sole physical and legal custody of the children. On January 31, 2008, Spears was committed to the psychiatric ward of Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center and put on 5150 involuntary psychiatric hold. The court placed her under temporary conservatorship of her father James Spears and attorney Andrew Wallet, giving them complete control of her assets.[12] Spears was released on February 6, 2008. Her parents expressed disappointment and concern at the decision to release her.[97] The following month, she guest-starred on the How I Met Your Mother episode "Ten Sessions" as receptionist Abby. She received positive reviews for her performance, as well as bringing the series its highest ratings ever.[98][99] In July 2008, Spears regained some visitation rights after coming to an agreement with Federline and his counsel.[100] On September 7, 2008, Spears opened the MTV Video Music Awards with a pre-taped comedy sketch with Jonah Hill and an introduction speech. She won Best Female Video, Best Pop Video and Video of the Year for "Piece of Me".[101] A 60-minute introspective documentary, Britney: For the Record, was produced to chronicle Spears' return to the recording industry. Directed by Phil Griffin, For the Record was entirely shot in Beverly Hills, Hollywood, and New York City during the third quarter of 2008.[102] Main shooting began on September 5, 2008, two days before Spears' appearance at the MTV Video Music Awards. For the Record was broadcast on MTV on November 30, 2008 to 5.6 million viewers for the two airings on the premiere night. MTV reported that Spears' documentary garnered on average, the highest rating in its Sunday night timeslot, in the network's history.[103]
Her sixth studio album Circus, was released in December 2008. It received positive reviews from critics; according to the music review aggregation of Metacritic, it garnered an average score of 64/100.[104] Circus debuted at number one in Canada, Czech Republic and the United States, and inside the top in many European nations.[92][105] In the United States, Spears became the youngest female artist to have five albums debut at number one, earning a place in the Guinness Book of World Records.[106] She also became the only act in the Soundscan era to have four albums debut with 500,000 or more copies sold.[105] Circus became one of the fastest-selling albums of the year,[107] and has sold 4 million copies worldwide.[108][109] Its lead single, "Womanizer", became her first number one in the Billboard Hot 100 since "...Baby One More Time" and topped the charts in countries such as Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Norway and Sweden.[110][111] It was also nominated for a Grammy in the category of Best Dance Recording.[112] In January 2009, Spears and her father James obtained a restraining order against her former manager Sam Lufti, ex-boyfriend Adnan Ghalib and attorney Jon Eardley—all of whom, court documents claim, had been conspiring to gain control of Spears's affairs. The restraining order forbids Lutfi and Ghalib from contacting Spears or coming within 250 yards of her, her property or family members.[113] Spears embarked on The Circus Starring Britney Spears in March 2009. With a gross of U.S. $131.8 million, it became the fifth highest grossing tour of the year.[114]
She released her second greatest hits album, The Singles Collection in November 2009. "3" became her third number one single in the US, and was the first song to debut at the top of the charts in three years.[115] Later that month, she released an application for iPhone and iPod Touch titled "It's Britney!".[116] In May 2010, Spears's representatives confirmed she was dating her agent Jason Trawick, and that they had decided to end their professional relationship to focus on their personal relationship.[117] Spears designed a limited edition clothing line for Candie's, which was released in stores in July 2010.[118] On September 28, 2010, she made a cameo appearance on a Spears-themed tribute episode of American TV show Glee, titled "Britney/Brittany". Spears approved of the episode, although her appearances received mixed reviews from critics.[119][120] The episode drew Glee's second largest audience, as well as the show's highest ratings ever.[121][122]
2011–present: Femme Fatale, Engagement and Hiatus
In March 2011, Spears released her seventh studio album Femme Fatale.[123] Max Martin and Dr. Luke executive produced the album and the album's first single "Hold It Against Me". The single debuted at number-one on the Billboard Hot 100. This gave Spears her fourth number-one single on the chart, and made her only the second artist in history to have two consecutive singles debut at number-one, after Mariah Carey.[124] The album peaked at number one in the United States(selling 276,000 copies), Canada, and Australia, and peaked inside the top ten on nearly every other chart. The album's peak in the United States ties Britney with Mariah Carey and Janet Jackson for the third-most number ones among women.[125] Femme Fatale has sold over 590,000 copies in the United States and has been certified platinum by the RIAA.[126][127] The album received positive critical reviews after its release, receiving a score of 67 on Metacritic, her highest critical score since Oops!... I Did It Again, with many critics naming the album one of Spears's best.[128] In April 2011, Spears appeared in a remix to the song "S&M" by Rihanna after Rihanna asked her fans via Twitter who they wanted her to collaborate with.[129] The song reached number one in the US in mid-April 2011, giving Britney her fifth number one on the chart.[130] In early May, Spears' second single from Femme Fatale, "Till The World Ends", reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100 and had ninety-eight million audience impressions on the Billboard chart, granting Spears the highest weekly audience of her 13-year chart career.[131] Femme Fatale's third single "I Wanna Go" reached the top forty on the Billboard Hot 100 in June 2011. Among females in the last thirteen years, Spears now has the third-most top forty hits, with twenty-one.[132] In August, the single managed to reach the top-ten on the Billboard Hot 100, which is the first time for Spears to have three songs from one album in the top-ten.[133] On the week ending September 24, 2011, "I Wanna Go" moved 2-1 on the mainstream top 40, becoming her sixth number-one on that chart (making her tied for third all-time) and her first number-one and third top-ten pop song for Femme Fatale.[134] Spears now has the longest span of number ones on the mainstream top 40, with a length of twelve years, seven months, and four days.[134] In October 2011, the music video for Femme Fatale's fourth single "Criminal" caused controversy when British politicians criticized Spears for using replica guns while filming the video in an area of London that had been badly affected by the 2011 England riots. Members of the Hackney London Borough Council felt Spears "promoted gun violence" and suggested that Spears apologize and make a donation to a Hackney charity.[135] Spears's management briefly responded, stating, "The video is a fantasy story featuring Britney's boyfriend, Jason Trawick, which literally plays out the lyrics of a song written three years before the riots ever happened."[136] Later that month, due to her continued popularity, Spears became the seventh artist to gain one billion cumulative views on her Vevo account.[137]
On March 2011, Spears announced that she would tour throughout the United States during summer 2011.[138] The Femme Fatale Tour opened June 16 at the Power Balance Pavilion in Sacramento, California[139] to positive reviews.[140] Many critics noted that Spears sang more of the concert live in response to lip-synching accusations during The Circus Starring Britney Spears, and that the dancing is some of her best in years.[140] The first ten US dates of the tour grossed $6.2 million, landing the fifty-fifth spot on Pollstar's Top 100 North American Tours list for the half-way point of the year.[141] The tour will travel to Europe and South and Central America later in 2011.[142][143][144] On August 12, Spears announced that her performances at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto will be taped to air on the EPIX television channel and for a DVD release, resulting in the doubling of traffic to EPIX social sites and 'Britney Spears' becoming a worldwide trending topic on Twitter.[145] Her first televised concert since the Onyx Hotel Tour in 2004, the show, Britney Spears: Femme Fatale, was shot in 2D and 3D on August 13 and 14 and will premiere on Epix in November.[146][145]
On June 15, 2011, it was announced by Billboard that the RCA/Jive Label Group would be splitting, with Jive Records being fully moved under RCA Records staying intact. In August it was announced that Spears had officially joined the RCA's roster.[147][148] During the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards on August 28 2011, MTV played tribute to Spears with a group of young female dancers that memorialised Britney's music videos, performances, and style. Following which, Spears accepted the MTV Video Vanguard Award from Lady Gaga, who said that "industry wouldn't be the same without [her]".[149][150] On September 9, 2011, Spears announced her second remix album, B in the Mix: The Remixes Vol. 2, which was released on October 7, along with the tracklist.[151] On October 7, RCA Music Group announced it was disbanding Jive Records along with Arista Records and J Records. With the shutdown, Spears (and all other artists previously signed to these three labels) will release her future material on the RCA Records brand.[152][153]
On March 2011, Spears announced that she would tour throughout the United States during summer 2011.[138] The Femme Fatale Tour opened June 16 at the Power Balance Pavilion in Sacramento, California[139] to positive reviews.[140] Many critics noted that Spears sang more of the concert live in response to lip-synching accusations during The Circus Starring Britney Spears, and that the dancing is some of her best in years.[140] The first ten US dates of the tour grossed $6.2 million, landing the fifty-fifth spot on Pollstar's Top 100 North American Tours list for the half-way point of the year.[141] The tour will travel to Europe and South and Central America later in 2011.[142][143][144] On August 12, Spears announced that her performances at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto will be taped to air on the EPIX television channel and for a DVD release, resulting in the doubling of traffic to EPIX social sites and 'Britney Spears' becoming a worldwide trending topic on Twitter.[145] Her first televised concert since the Onyx Hotel Tour in 2004, the show, Britney Spears: Femme Fatale, was shot in 2D and 3D on August 13 and 14 and will premiere on Epix in November.[146][145]
In December 2011, Spears and Trawick became engaged.[154][155] As Spears remains under a conservatorship, her father will have to legally agree to the marriage.[156]
On June 15, 2011, it was announced by Billboard that the RCA/Jive Label Group would be splitting, with Jive Records being fully moved under RCA Records staying intact. In August it was announced that Spears had officially joined the RCA's roster.[156][157] During the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards on August 28 2011, MTV played tribute to Spears with a group of young female dancers that memorialised Britney's music videos, performances, and style. Following which, Spears accepted the MTV Video Vanguard Award from Lady Gaga, who said that "industry wouldn't be the same without [her]".[158][159] On September 9, 2011, Spears announced her second remix album, B in the Mix: The Remixes Vol. 2, which was released on October 7, along with the tracklist.[160] On October 7, RCA Music Group announced it was disbanding Jive Records along with Arista Records and J Records. With the shutdown, Spears (and all other artists previously signed to these three labels) will release her future material on the RCA Records brand.[161][162]
On December 16, Spears confirmed her engagement to her long-time boyfriend Jason Trawick, her former manager.[163] Spears revealed her three-carat diamond ring at a party in Las Vegas on December 17.[164] According to RCA's Joe Riccitelli the executive vice president of promotion for RCA Records, told U.S. radio station Hot 99.5 that Britney is taking time off in 2012.[165][166]
Musical style and performance
Following her debut, Spears was credited with leading the revival of teen pop in the late 1990s. The Daily Yomiuri reported that "[m]usic critics have hailed her as the most gifted teenage pop idol for many years, but Spears has set her sights a little higher-she is aiming for the level of superstardom that has been achieved by Madonna and Janet Jackson."[154] Rolling Stone wrote: "Britney Spears carries on the classic archetype of the rock & roll teen queen, the dungaree doll, the angel baby who just has to make a scene."[155] Rami Yacoub who co-produced Spears's debut album with lyricist Max Martin, commented, "I know from Denniz Pop and Max's previous productions, when we do songs, there's kind of a nasal thing. With N' Sync and the Backstreet Boys, we had to push for that mid-nasal voice. When Britney did that, she got this kind of raspy, sexy voice."[156] Following the release of her debut album, Chuck Taylor of Billboard observed, "Spears has become a consummate performer, with snappy dance moves, a clearly real-albeit young-and funkdified voice ... "(You Drive Me) Crazy", her third single ... demonstrates Spears's own development, proving that the 17-year-old is finding her own vocal personality after so many months of steadfast practice."[157] Stephen Thomas Erlewine of Allmusic referred to her music as a "blend of infectious, rap-inflected dance-pop and smooth balladry."[158] Spears later commented, "With ...Baby One More Time, I didn't get to show my voice off. The songs were great, but they weren't very challenging".[159]
Oops!...I Did It Again and subsequent albums saw Spears working with several contemporary R&B producers, leading to "a combination of bubblegum, urban soul, and raga."[160] Her third studio album, Britney derived from the teen pop niche, "[r]hythmically and melodically ... sharper, tougher than what came before. What used to be unabashedly frothy has some disco grit, underpinned by Spears' spunky self-determination that helps sell hooks that are already catchier, by and large, than those that populated her previous two albums."[161] Guy Blackman of The Age wrote that while few would care to listen to an entire Spears album, "[t]he thing about Spears, though, is that her biggest songs, no matter how committee-created or impossibly polished, have always been convincing because of her delivery, her commitment and her presence. For her mostly teenage fans, Spears expresses perfectly the conflicting urges of adolescence, the tension between chastity and sexual experience, between hedonism and responsibility, between confidence and vulnerability."[162]
Her vocal ability has also been criticized, often drawing unfavorable comparison to her pop rival, Christina Aguilera.[163] Critic Allan Raible derides her overdependence in Circus on digital effects and the robotic effect it creates. "She's never been a strong vocalist..." writes Raible, "Could she handle these songs with stripped down arrangements and no vocal effects? More importantly, would anyone want to hear her attempt such a performance? Does it matter? No. The focus is still image over substance."[164] Her image and persona are also often contrasted to Christina Aguilera. David Browne of Entertainment Weekly observed "Christina Aguilera may flash skin and belly button, but in her music and manner, she's too eager not to offend — she's a good girl pretending to be bad. Spears, however, comes across as a bad girl acting good ... Spears' artificial-sweetener voice is much less interesting than the settings, yet that blandness is actually a relief compared with Aguilera's numbing vocal gymnastics.[165] In contrast, Allmusic comments: "Like her peer Christina Aguilera, Britney equates maturity with transparent sexuality and the pounding sounds of nightclubs ... Where Christina comes across like a natural-born skank, Britney is the girl next door cutting loose at college, drinking and smoking and dancing and sexing just a little too recklessly, since this is the first time she can indulge herself.[166] Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine notes, "The disparity between Aguilera and Spears can't be measured solely by the timbre and octave range of their voices ... [Aguilera's] popularity has never reached the fever pitch of Britney's."[167]
It has been widely reported that Spears lip-syncs in concert. Author Gary Giddins wrote in his book Natural selection: Gary Giddins on comedy, film, music, and books (2006) that "among many other performers accused of moving their lips while a machine does the labor are Britney Spears, Luciano Pavarotti, Shania Twain, Beyoncé, and Madonna."[168] Rashod D. Ollison of The Baltimore Sun observes: "Many pop stars ... feel they have no choice but to seek vocal enhancement. Since the advent of MTV and other video music channels, pop audiences have been fed elaborate videos thick with jaw-dropping effects, awesome choreography, fabulous clothes, marvelous bodies. And the same level of perfection is expected to extend beyond the video set to the concert stage. So if Britney Spears, Janet Jackson or Madonna sounds shrill and flat without a backing track, fans won't pay up to $300 for a concert ticket."[169] Giddins adds, "it was reported Britney Spears fans prefer her to lip-sync—despite her denials of doing so (contradicted by her own director)—because they expect flawless digitalization when they pay serious money for a concert."[168]
In Australia, NSW Fair Trading Minister Virginia Judge has advised disclaimers be printed on any ticket for concerts which contain any prerecorded vocals. She commented: "There could have been some instances where people actually go and purchase a ticket thinking that they're going to have a live performance ... for some people that means that everything is live, it's fresh, it happens instantaneously, it's not something that's been pre-recorded. You want to make sure that they're actually paying for what they think they're getting."[170] Noting on the prevalence of lip-syncing, Los Angeles Daily News reported "in the context of a Britney Spears concert, does it really matter? Like a Vegas revue show, you don't go to hear the music, you go for the somewhat-ridiculous spectacle of it all".[171] Similarly, Aline Mendelsohn of the Orlando Sentinel remarked: "Let's get one thing straight: A Britney Spears concert is not about the music ... you have to remember that it's about the sight, not the sound."[172] Critic Glenn Gamboa comments her concert tours are "like her life—a massive money-making venture designed to play up her talents and distract from her shortcomings with a mix of techno-tinged sex appeal and disco-flavored flash. And, like her life, it is, more or less, a success.[173]
Throughout her career, Spears has drawn frequent comparisons to Madonna and Janet Jackson, in terms of vocals, choreography and stage presence, citing both as influences in her work. She has also named Michael Jackson as a source of inspiration.[174] According to Spears: "I know when I was younger, I looked up to people... like, you know, Janet Jackson and Madonna. And they were major inspirations for me. But I also had my own identity and I knew who I was, you know."[175] In the 2002 book Madonnastyle by Carol Clerk, she is quoted saying: "I have been a huge fan of Madonna since I was a little girl. She's the person that I've really looked up to. I would really, really like to be a legend like Madonna."[176]
Many critics have argued that Spears should not be considered in the same league of talent as Jackson or Madonna. Journalists Erika Montalvo and Jackie Sheppard of the Rocky Mountain Collegian observed "[s]ome may argue that Spears is not only a good recording artist but also an important cultural icon."[177] However, in examining her level of skill as an artist, it is questioned that "[a]lthough she has been classified among female elites such as Janet Jackson and Madonna, what does Ms. Spears really have in common with these divas of rock?"[177] Joan Anderman of The Boston Globe remarked that "[t]hirteen costume changes in 90 minutes won't bless her with Madonna's intelligence or cultural barometer. An army of cutting-edge R&B producers won't supply her with Janet Jackson's sense of humor or sincere smile ... Britney's heroes aren't great singers. But they're real singers. Spears sounds robotic, nearly inhuman, on her records, so processed is her voice by digital pitch-shifters and synthesizers."[178]
Reporter Ed Bumgardner commented her transition from teen pop start to adult sex symbol with her third studio album Britney "takes its cues from two other successful performers—Madonna and Janet Jackson—both of whom she brazenly rips off and both of whom, like Spears, are passable singers, at best."[179] Critic Shane Harrison wrote: "From the minimalist thump and "Nasty" feel of "I'm a Slave 4 U" to the scattered quotes in "Boys", [Britney] feels like [Spears's] attempt at 'Control'."[174]
Citing Jackson's resolve to incorporate personal and social issues into her work and Madonna's ability to constantly redefine the boundaries of socially acceptable material in the industry, Spears's catalog ultimately pales in comparison, because "[w]hile Jackson and Madonna wrote their own music about subjects of importance, [Spears's] music sounds like an upbeat version of either, 'I want to grow up but the media won't let me,' or 'Here kitty, kitty, I'm wearing my underwear outside of my leather pants'-type ballads."[177] In contrast, Guy Blackman argues that although "no one would argue that Spears is some kind of pioneering pop auteur, there's still a lot to like about her back catalogue. During her world-conquering peak, she was just about as cutting edge as you could get in the world of global pop superstardom. Spears didn't just work with big names, she gave big names their names, and maintained her high currency in the world's most fickle industry for years, when most aspiring starlets are lucky to manage months."[162]
After meeting Spears face to face, Janet Jackson stated: "she said to me, 'I'm such a big fan; I really admire you.' That's so flattering. Everyone gets inspiration from some place. And it's awesome to see someone else coming up who's dancing and singing, and seeing how all these kids relate to her. A lot of people put it down, but what she does is a positive thing."[180] Madonna's respect for Spears has also been a subject of observation. Santiago Fouz-Hernández and Freya Jarman-Ivens, authors of Madonna's drowned worlds: new approaches to her cultural transformations, 1983-2003 (2004) note that the most well known cross-generational relationship exists between Spears and Madonna in which "the entertainment newsmedia almost became obsessed with their relationship of mutual admiration."[181] The biographers also report "[s]ome observers of popular culture, however, feel that the comparisons between the two artist are meaningless and fail to recognize Madonna's unique contribution: Madonna was never 'just another pop star' whereas Britney can more easily be seen as a standard manufactured pop act."[181]
See also: List of awards and nominations received by Britney SpearsSpears became an international pop culture icon immediately after launching her recording career. Rolling Stone magazine wrote: "One of the most controversial and successful female vocalists of the 21st century," she "spearheaded the rise of post-millennial teen pop ... Spears early on cultivated a mixture of innocence and experience that broke the bank".[182] She is listed by the Guinness World Records as having the "Best-selling album by a teenage solo artist" for her debut album ...Baby One More Time which sold over thirteen million copies in the United States.[183] Melissa Ruggieri of the Richmond Times-Dispatch reported, "She's also marked for being the best-selling teenage artist. Before she turned 20 in 2001, Spears sold more than 37 million albums worldwide".[184]
Barbara Ellen of The Observer has reported: "Spears is famously one of the 'oldest' teenagers pop has ever produced, almost middle aged in terms of focus and determination. Many 19-year-olds haven't even started working by that age, whereas Britney, a former Mouseketeer, was that most unusual and volatile of American phenomena — a child with a full-time career. While other little girls were putting posters on their walls, Britney was wanting to be the poster on the wall. Whereas other children develop at their own pace, Britney was developing at a pace set by the ferociously competitive American entertainment industry".[185] 'Britney Spears' was Yahoo!'s most popular search term between 2005 and 2008, and has been in a total of seven different years.[186] Spears was named as Most Searched Person in the Guinness World Records book edition 2007 and 2009. Spears has also become a major influence among many new artists, including Kristinia DeBarge,[187] Lady Gaga,[188] Little Boots,[189] Selena Gomez & the Scene,[190] Pixie Lott[191] and Miley Cyrus who has cited Spears as one of her biggest inspirations and has also referenced Spears in her hit song "Party in the U.S.A.".[192][193] Spears' personal breakdown was also cited as an inspiration for Barry Manilow's album "15 Minutes".[194]
In 2011, Adam Markovitz of Entertainment Weekly commented on the cultural significance of Spears' voice and music. "We don't ask a whole lot from Britney Spears as an entertainer...we'll still send her straight up the charts simply because she's Britney. She's an American institution, as deeply sacred and messed up as pro wrestling or the filibuster. Musically, though, Spears will always have to measure up to her own gold standards of pop euphony: the operatic slither of 2004's 'Toxic' and the candied funk of 2000's 'Oops!...I Did It Again.' Spears is no technical singer, that's for sure. But backed by Martin and Dr. Luke's wall of pound, her vocals melt into a mix of babytalk coo and coital panting that is, in its own overprocessed way, just as iconic and propulsive as Michael Jackson's yips or Eminem's snarls."[195]
Bebo Norman wrote a song about Spears, called "Britney", which was released as a single. Boy band Busted also wrote a song about Spears called "Britney", which was on their debut album.[196] She is also mentioned in P!nk's song "Don't Let Me Get Me". She was cited as the inspiration of Gwyneth Paltrow's character in the 2010 film Country Strong.[197] Richard Cheese called Britney Spears "a remarkable recording artist" and also went on to say that she was "versatile" and what the industry calls an "artist". People magazine and MTV reported that October 1, 2008, the Bronx's John Philip Sousa Middle School, named their music studio in honor of Britney Spears.[198] Spears herself was present during the ceremony and donated $10,000 to the school's music program.[199]
Britney Spears discography
Studio Albums
- ...Baby One More Time (1999)
- Oops!... I Did It Again (2000)
- Britney (2001)
- In the Zone (2003)
- Blackout (album) (2007)
- Circus (album) (2008)
- Femme Fatale (2011)
Compilation albums
- B In The Mix: The Remixes (2005)
- The Singles Collection (2009)
- ...Baby One More Time Release Date: November 3, 1998
- Sometimes Release Date: May 22, 1999
- (You Drive Me) Crazy Release Date: September 18, 1999
- Born to Make You Happy Release Date: December 6, 1999
- From the Bottom of My Broken Heart Release Date: February 1, 2000
- Oops!... I Did It Again Release Date: April 22, 2000
- Lucky Release Date: August 12, 2000
- Stronger Release Date: November 30, 2000
- Don't Let Me Be the Last to Know Release Date:March 5, 2001
- I'm A Slave 4 U Release Date: September 24, 2001
- I'm Not A Girl, Not Yet A Woman Release Date:February 5, 2002
- Overprotected Release Date: April 27, 2002
- Anticipating Release Date: May 22, 2002
- I Love Rock 'n' Roll Release Date: June 1, 2002
- Boys Release Date: August 13, 2002
- Me Against the Music Release Date: October 20, 2003
- Toxic Release Date: January 31, 2004
- Everytime Release Date: May 22, 2004
- Outrageous Release Date: July 13, 2004
- I've Just Begun (Having My Fun) Release Date: August 17, 2004
- My Prerogative Release Date: September 21, 2004
- Chris Cox Megamix Release Date: December 21, 2004
- Do Somethin' Release Date:April 16, 2005
- Someday (I Will Understand) Release Date: October 11, 2005
- And Then We Kiss Release Date: November 2005
- Gimme More Release Date:September 22, 2007
- Piece Of Me Release Date: November 17, 2007
- Break the Ice Release Date: March 15, 2008
- Womanizer Release Date: September 26, 2008
- Circus Release Date: December 2, 2008
- If U Seek Amy Release Date: March 10, 2009
- Radar Release Date: June 23, 2009
- 3 Release Date: September 29, 2009
- Hold It Against Me Release Date: January 11, 2011
- Till the World Ends Release Date: March 4, 2011
- I Wanna Go Release Date: June 13, 2011
- Criminal Release Date: October, 2011
- ...Baby One More Time
- (You Drive Me) Crazy
- Sometimes
- Born to Make You Happy
- From the Bottom of My Broken Heart
- Oops!... I Did It Again
- Lucky
- Stronger
- Don't Let Me Be the Last to Know
- I'm A Slave 4 U
- Overprotected
- I'm Not A Girl, Not Yet A Woman
- Boys
- I Love Rock 'n' Roll
- Me Against the Music
- Toxic
- Everytime
- Outrageous
- My Prerogative
- Do Somethin'
- Gimme More
- Piece Of Me
- Break the Ice
- Womanizer
- Circus
- If U Seek Amy
- Radar
- 3
- Hold It Against Me
- Till the World Ends
- I Wanna Go
- Criminal


text:
How can you tell someone that you had a porn addiction? Is that something that people could deal with. "Ahhh, I am an ex porn addict." It just doesn't seem to be well received by people. It's not like you say I am an ex drug addict, and everyone thinks you are so cool that you overcame such a big problem. With pornography people seems to not be aware of how damaging it can be.. Anyway, if you have problems quitting take a look at http://pornaddictionend.com. If you have a porn addiction, it will help you understand it and stop it (it offers few of the best solutions I know of). If you're not addicted or you haven't heard of this addiction it will help you understand how serious this thing is.
The really shitty part about being a sex addict and having sex multiple times every weekend is that then when it doesn't happen, or looks like it won't, you get terribly depressed:/


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The Sheraton Zurich Hotel is located in the exciting, diverse quarter of Zurich West. All of the 197 guest rooms and suites span at least 31 square meters and are equipped with wired and wireless High Speed Internet Access, as well as state-of-the-art flat screen TV and in-room entertainment systems. A peaceful night's sleep is ensured by the plush Sheraton Sweet Sleeper™ Bed. The hotel offers a broad range of culinary choices--a restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating, a lobby bar, and a bistro/cafe. We also feature 24-hour room service. Our 630 square meters of flexible function space is ideal for meetings, seminars, conventions, and unforgettable banquets. Venues range from the distinguished boardroom for eight people to our largest space, which can accommodate 240 people.
On banks of the River Aare, just a 5 minutes walk from the centre. View of Jungfrau massif. Restaurant/terrace for hotel guests only. Ideal for relaxing holidays. Near Congress Centre and indoor/outdoor pool. PC and Internet for guests. Special offers.
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The hotel Laaxerhof**** is a 4 star hotel situated very quiet and exclusive, directly beside lift station. In our studios and family suites you will find every comfort you wish to have. Our indoor swimming-pool, the sauna and the whirlpool invite you to relax completely. Flims Laax Falera is one of the the largest resort for wintersport within the Alps which is continous. Due to the size, the great varity and the wide range of the area all guests who are interested in skiing will find exactly what they are looking for. The friends of wintersport will find more than 220km skiing pistes for all degrees of difficulty, included are 40km descent routes for freeriders. The largest descent is from the LaSiala to Flims is approx. 14km!


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I have no problem, zero, bearing witness to righteous complaints and justified backlash to pandemic IT fads and boondoggles we've lived through in our business and technology careers. That experience is and should be built into our common sense.
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Jan 17, '02 11:44:30PM • Contributed by: robg
If you are having difficulties in OS X, there are many ways to troubleshoot. Some are quite similar to the OS 9 style of troubleshooting - disable applications that load at login, try trashing preferences in your user's preferences folder, test without third-party hardware devices attached, etc.
However, there's a new tool you can use thanks to the inherent multi-user nature of OS X - try creating a new user and see if the problem persists. This can be especially helpful when troubleshooting an application problem. When I had a problem with mail quitting on launch, I used a second user ID to determine that the problem was only with my primary user - the new user was able to launch Mail perfectly well. This narrowed the scope of the problem to something (preference file or bad application) within my primary user's space. It turned out to be a corrupted Address Book database file.
So think about creating a second user ID for use in troubleshooting OS X - it doesn't take up much drive space, and it could help save a bit of time in identifying whether you have a user-level problem or a higher system-level problem.