Jennifer's blog

This week's music from Glee was quite the eclectic mix, but supplied the perfect soundtrack for the "Born This Way" episode.

Glee really brought it with the music this week. I truly enjoyed every track, but the absolute standout for me was the mash-up of West Side Story's "I'm Pretty" with TLC's "Unpretty," which was sung by Lea Michele (Rachel) and Dianna Agron (Quinn). GLEE: Lauren (Ashley Fink, L), Kurt

These days, the million-dollar question isn’t, "who is Bruno Mars?" it’s, what is Bruno Mars poised to do next? Yes, it’s great to be young Bruno Mars, the gifted, smooth, and soulful Hawaiian-born crooner/producer, who’s been enjoying a magical run in the pop world since listeners and critics fell for his honey-coated hooks on tracks by ascendant rapper B.O.B (“Nothin’ on You”) and bad-boy hip-hopper Travie McCoy (“Billionaire”).

But it appears that Mars’ shot at solo stardom, his real shining time, has finally arrived, what with the release of his keenly anticipated debut, Doo-Wops & Hooligans (Elektra/Asylum), a refreshing and appealing 10-track concoction of radio-ready and catchy pop tunes, flavoured with everything from reggae and blues to soul and funk. Throughout the record, Mars (25, born Peter Gene Hernandez) projects emotions that reel you in, as well as a boyish innocence, and a sensitivity that serves to ratchet up the effervescent energy and the authenticity of his lyrics.

Lead single “Just The Way You Are,” a piercing ode to unconditional love, is already a major Billboard hit, fresh on the tongues of both puppy-love schoolgirls and grown men. Then there’s the pulsating groove “Grenade,” steeped in the pleasure, passion and pain that regularly characterize intimate relationships.

But the real standouts on the disc that must be highlighted include the luminous mid-tempo smash “Liquor Store Blues,” a melodious boom-box joint that wonderfully, if humorously, explores addiction (“I take one shot for my pain, one drag for my sorrow/Get messed up today, I’ll be okay tomorrow”). You simply can’t get lyrics more droll or brainer than that. The track is made all the more alluring thanks to a great cameo from reggae superstar Damian ‘Junior Gong’ Marley.

The guest appearances continue with smart contributions from Cee-Lo Green (for whom Mars penned the new hit “F-ck You”) and B.O.B on the anthemic album closer “The Other Side.” Another favourite, the beautifully written “Talking to the Moon,” finds Mars waxing poetic about love and longing – a forte that the singer employs with great results in his work.

n short, there’s hardly anything to complain about on Doo-Wops & Hooligans. Bruno Mars has a bonafide hit album on his hands that fans and investors in good music will lovingly appreciate. The multi-talented Mars makes ample use of his gifts as writer and vocalist with remarkable results, blending an appealing outside-the-box approach with modern relevance and James Blunt-esque sensitivity.

That said, the singer has a promising future that appears set to capitalize on not just his deft songwriting but also his amazing singing talent. Delivering a playful sense of humour and terrific vocals, while repping for the females (‘doo-wop’ grooves) and the fellas (‘hooligan’ joints), Mars’ debut release is nothing if not an impressive success for the rising star.

Chasing Harry Winston
by Lauren Weisberger
Chasing Harry Winston

The bestselling author of The Devil Wears Prada and Everyone Worth Knowing returns with the story of three best friends who vow to change their entire lives...and change them fast.

Emmy is newly single, and not by choice. She was this close to the ring and the baby she's wanted her whole life when her boyfriend left her for his twenty-three-year-old personal trainer — who
...more

Flawless, a Pretty Little Liars Novel, by Sara Shepard
Melanie Dee

Flawless, by Sara Shepard, is the second novel in the Pretty Little Liars series. I first fell in love with her writings when I got hold of the first book Pretty Little Liars. (Read Review Here).

I fell in love with the group of teen girls in the first book. In the second book, Flawless, all 4 of my favorite bad girls are back. Aria, Hanna, Emily, and Spencer. Each with their own dirty set of
secrets.

As we learned in the last book Pretty Little Liars, Allison's body had been found. Yep, Allison is dead, long dead. The girls had been receiving text messages and emails from someone named 'A'. A seemed to know all of their dirty secrets, and she was going to tell! With Allison not being alive to be the mystery 'A', the girls are sent into a shock-wave, as they know someone else besides Allison knows their secrets...but who?

We also learned the big secret that wasn't discussed in Pretty Little Liars. It turned out that the big secret was that Allison was responsible for Jenna's (a dorky girl in the neighborhood) going blind. Turns out though, that Toby Jenna's step brother, also knew that it was Allison, who lit the firecracker which caused Jenna to go blind. He saw her do it!

Allison though has dirt on Toby, and if Toby wants Allison to keep her mouth shut, he better take the blame for Jenna's accident. Toby goes along with it, and you are left clueless as to what Toby's secret is.

Anyhow, it turns out Spencer was there when Allison was caught by Toby. So now she knows that Toby knows that they are responsible for Jenna's accident.

Bushnell, Carrie Bradshaw, Charlotte, drag show, gay men, Gossip Girl, Manhattan, Mary Elizabeth Williams, Miranda, Salon.com, Samantha, Sarah Jessica Parker, Sex and the City, Shane Watson, The Carie Diaries, the London Times, the New York Observer, West Virgnia
by Chauncey Mabe

Carrie Bradshaw at 17 --er, I mean Candace Bushnell.

Today I come not to bury Carrie Bradshaw, but to praise her. I’m talking, of course, about the real Carrie Bradshaw, found only in Candace Bushnell’s book, Sex and the City. Being a heterosexual man, I could never watch the TV show for more than a few minutes without itching all over and running out of the room.

Some people may view Bushnell’s new novel, The Carrie Diaries, as a cynical bid to find readers in the Gossip Girl demographic. But it looks to me like a smart attempt on the part of a writer to regain proprietorship of a character that’s been co-opted by television.

Bushnell’s extensive book tour brings her to the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables on Friday at 7:30 p.m. Sponsored by Books & Books, this is a ticketed event. For more information, visit the bookstore’s website.

Just how completely Bushnell has lost control of Carrie and her story is, among other things, a testament to the power of television. If you want proof, graze through a few readers’ comments at amazon.com or bn.com. A representative sample: “The Carrie Bradshaw that was depicted in the book is not like the Carrie Bradshaw from the series at all, at least not as far as I can tell.”

Aw — you say that like it’s a bad thing.

It’s forgivable for civilian fans of the show to fall into this type of confusion, less so when expressed by a professional critic. At the usually reliable Salon.com, Mary Elizabeth Williams complains that Bushnell, in telling the story of Carrie’s high school years, doesn’t stay true to “to the clues of Carrie’s previous life glimpsed during the run of the series.”

The depth of stupidity in this comment is beyond reckoning. After all, Bushnell had little or nothing to do with creating the TV show. But she did start the whole Sex and the City empire with a column she wrote for the New York Observer in the mid-1990s. She has the right to tell Carrie’s story, with or without regard to what happens on the show.

Bushnell based the Observer column on her own experiences as a single woman in Manhattan. “Carrie Bradshaw” is an alter-ego, invented to give the author some fig leaf of privacy. The book Sex and the City, published in 1996, is a collection of essays — readers coming from the tv show are invariably disappointed it doesn’t have a stronger narrative arc. They seem to have no clue it’s not that kind of book.

When producer Darren Star bought rights to adapt Sex and the City into a television comedy, he approached Bushnell’s book the way a coal mining company approaches a mountain in West Virgina. He dumbed Carrie down with what Shane Watson, in a long Bushnell profile at the London Times, calls “little girly tics and self-conscious kookiness.”

Candace Bushnell today, at 51.

Watson finds Bushnell “altogether smarter and funnier, and her story is way more interesting, because it has been ugly and sordid at times.” That’s a perfect description of how I’ve always viewed Carrie in the book vs. Sarah Jessica Parker’s Carrie as a vapid, materialistic shoe fetishist.

By the time I read Sex and the City the TV phenomenon was already in full swing. Any criticism I offer here of the HBO series, I’ll admit, is like someone reporting on a party while banging on the ceiling of the apartment downstairs with a broom handle.

The number of episodes I’ve seen can be counted on one hand–not enough for a valid assessment. Still, I must note that it always seemed like a drag show to me, one in which the women talked and behaved, in their attitude toward romance, more like gay men than any women I’ve ever known. Many of which, I’ll concede, love the show.

Yet none of what made me itch about the show is present in Bushnell’s book. Yes, Carrie chases sex and romance, but she’s more focused on her career. She goes to a lot of glamorous parties and reports how empty and pointless they are. She struggles to make ends meet.

Most of all, the four-sided friendship that is the heart of the television show is completely absent from the book. Samantha, Charlotte and Miranda are minor characters, with personalities dramatically different from the TV versions. Far from a celebration of female bonding, Sex and the City, literary version, carries a strong note of alienation, isolation and female competition.

I’m not going to make a case for Bushnell as a great stylist, but she is competent. Sex and the City, the book, has far more depth and texture and honest observation than I’d expected. If readers can set aside the cotton-candy expectations enflamed by the sugar rush of the TV show, they might want to give The Carrie Diaries a chance.

Okay, now you can tell me how wrong I am, how the show is a brave and honest depiction of the way women really are.

TOP 11 WORST SONG IN 2010



Willow Smith - I Whip My Hair

Okay, it was bad enough that 2010 brought us the Karate Kid remake with Jaden Smith, but now Will Smith's other spawn is getting into the celebrity act. And let's just say that she sings about as well as her brother acts. "I Whip My Hair" is a nightmare of a brain-drill that's no better than what you'd hear in a junior high talent contest in Oklahoma. But her dad's famous, so Jay-Z signed her to Roc Nation.


BrokenCYDE - Teach Me How To Scream

Emo: bad. Screamo: worse. Whatever the living hell BrokenCYDE is: the absolute worst ever. The "crunkcore" trio from Albuquerque, New Mexico have been universally reviled by just about every living human being in the world, but there are still enough pre-teens who hate their parents out there to make their album debut at #86 on the Billboard Top 100.


Countess Luann - Money Can't Buy You Class

People who shouldn't have music careers: reality show "personalities." Special negation goes to Countess Luann duLesseps, star of Bravo's atrocity The Real Housewives Of New York City. Some genius decided to put her on wax with a horrendous auto-tuned monstrosity called "Money Can't Buy You Class," which is rich coming from a nightmare of this caliber.


Lil Wayne - Paradice

It's fair to say that Rebirth was one of the worst albums of 2010. Lil Wayne's pre-jail attempt to venture into rock music was a desperately bad idea, with Wayne proving that his trademark languid rhyming style really doesn't translate to dramatic rock singing. Like, at all. We could have picked just about any track off of this one, but "Paradice" might well be the worst.


Ke$ha - Blah Blah Blah

Where to even start with Ke$ha? "Tik Tok" dropped at the very end of 2009, introducing the world to the horrible trashbag songstress, and 2010 just brought song after song of her atrocious auto-tuned garbage to the airwaves. Every song was bad, but "Blah Blah Blah" was probably the worst - there's barely even a melody, let alone lyrics.


Soulja Boy - Pretty Boy Swag

Okay, I have to admit I felt a little affection for Soulja Boy earlier this year when "Bitch I Look Like Goku" dropped - the ridiculous rapper comparing himself to Dragonball Z was hilarious in the best way. Unfortunately, his year-ending single "Pretty Boy Swag" is hilarious in the worst way. Tell'Em hasn't gotten any better behind the mic since his debut with "Crank That," and he may have actually gotten worse.


Jackyl - Just Like A Negro

Yes, that Jackyl, the horrible 90s metal band where the singer used a chainsaw on stage. I guess that gimmick doesn't work in the 2K10 because they've moved over to horrendous versions of racially inappropriate songs. "Just Like A Negro" was originally recorded by Atlanta funk band Mother's Finest in the 70s. Let's just say that this cover isn't an improvement, despite the presence of DMC vainly trying to capture the Aerosmith spark in a bottle again.


Travie McCoy - Billionaire

What kind of spectacular pussy do you have to be to go by "Travie?" Like, seriously, you might as well be a Cabbage Patch Kid. But the lead singer of the Gym Class Heroes (a band that sucks) proved that his music is just as pussified with this solo outing, featuring the overexposed Bruno Mars and the most sub-Beach Boys reggae riff. Seriously, lyrics this stupid have rarely been released into the atmosphere without bursting into flame.


Black Eyed Peas - Imma Be

The Black Eyed Peas are Not A Good Band. I'm sorry, they're just not. Ever since "Let's Get Retarded," they've specialized in extruding the most nondescript, odious, radio-friendly Soylent Green the music industry has to offer. 2010's entry in their hall of shame was "Imma Be," which is exactly the kind of content-free crap that made them so famous, but this time with future cars and robots. I used to like future cars and robots.


Jedward - Under Pressure

Okay, America doesn't have a monopoly on horrible music. Britain's The X Factor unleashed this horror on the Earth last year. Jedward are a pair of identical twins who captivated that bad-toothed island nation with... well, I don't know. Who knows? So they got a record contract and proceeded to put Vanilla Ice on their first single, a nightmare mashup of Queen's "Under Pressure" and Ice's "Ice Ice Baby." It's as bad as it sounds.


YG - Toot It And Boot It

So hip-hop is basically dead, right? I know that us old people have been saying it for a million years but 2010 was the last shovel of dirt on the coffin. How else can you explain the existence of "Toot It And Boot It" by YG, a 19 year old MC from Compton with a massive Myspace following? I get it. You have sex with girls and you make them go home. That's cool. Could you just, I dunno, get some flow or something? You rap like Stephen Hawking skateboards.

1. "Baby" featuring Ludacris - 2010

Courtesy Island Records
"Baby" was the first single from Justin Bieber's second album My World 2.0. It has a soaring chorus that gives a nod to classic doo-wop while the guest rap from Ludacris keeps "Baby" firmly anchored in the present. The song peaked at #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 in February 2010 and was ultimately certified double platinum for sales.

2. "One Time" - 2009

Courtesy Island Records
"One Time" was Justin Bieber's first single. It is a confident performance that many compared with Chris Brown's debut on "Run It!" "One Time" peaked at #17 in the US and sold over a million digital copies.

3. "Somebody To Love" - 2010

Courtesy Island Records
"Somebody To Love" moved Justin Bieber into club dance territory. A remix and accompanying video that featured his mentor Usher is now considered by many to be the definitive version of "Somebody To Love." The song peaked at #15 on the charts.

4. "One Less Lonely Girl" - 2009

Courtesy Island Records
Justin Bieber demonstrated that he knows his way around a pop ballad with the release of "One Less Lonely Girl." The romantic video shows him tracking down a girl for a date. Ultimately Justin Bieber is successful. "One Less Lonely Girl" hit a chart peak of #16 and was certified gold.

5. "Eenie Meenie" with Sean Kingston - 2010

Courtesy Island Records
This collaboration melding the pop-R&B sound of Justin Bieber with the island reggae pop of Sean Kingston buoyantly led the way into the summer of 2010. There is clear, fun chemistry between the pair in the accompanying music video. "Eenie Meenie" peaked at #15 on the charts and was certified platinum for digital sales.

6. "U Smile" - 2010

Courtesy Island Records
Justin Bieber the blue-eyed soul crooner shows himself on "U Smile." He dedicates this song specifically to his fans. "U Smile" would likely charm older music fans as well as his teen base. The single peaked at #27 on the charts in late summer 2010.

7. "Love Me" - 2009

Courtesy Island Records
Justin Bieber heads in a playful electro direction here. "Love Me" borrows from the Cardigans' classic "Lovefool." It was released as a digital only single and peaked at #37.

8. "Never Say Never" featuring Jaden Smith - 2010

Courtesy Island Records
Justin Bieber invades the world of movie soundtracks with this inspirational track from the soundtrack to the 2010 version of The Karate Kid. The movie's star Jaden Smith adds in a rap. "Never Say Never" hit a chart peak of #33, and the title was used for Justin Bieber's biographical film due in theaters in early 2011.

9. "Never Let You Go" - 2010

Courtesy Island Records
"Never Let You Go" was released as a digital only single by Justin Bieber. It has been compared to Chris Brown's hit single "Forever." "Never Let You Go" peaked at #21 on the Billboard Hot 100.

10. "Favorite Girl" - 2009

Courtesy Island Records
"Favorite Girl" was released as a digital only single from Justin Bieber's first album My World. The song is firmly in an R&B groove. "Favorite Girl" hit #26 on the pop chart.

1. E.T by Katy Perry Featuring Kanye West
Teenage Dream

2.Rolling In The Deep
Adele
21

3.Just Can't Get Enough
The Black Eyed Peas
The Beginning/The Best of the E.N.D.

4.S&M
Rihanna
Loud

5.Down On Me
Jeremih Featuring 50 Cent
All About You

6.The Lazy Song
Bruno Mars
Doo-Wops & Hooligans

7.On The Floor
Jennifer Lopez Featuring Pitbull
Love?

8.Look At Me Now
Chris Brown Featuring Lil Wayne & Busta Rhymes
Look At Me Now

9.Blow
Ke$ha
Cannibal

10.F**k You (Forget You)
Cee Lo Green
F**k You

Even though 80 years have elapsed since he wrote it, Adolf Hitler's Mein Kampf is still legally banned in Germany. And we fear the ghost of Hitler so greatly that few wish to mark, or even acknowledge, the anniversary of Mein Kampf's publication.

You may hate the book and its author, but it would have to be included on any list of books that changed the world.

The first part of Mein Kampf was published under the title Eine Abrechnung (A Reckoning) on July 18, 1925. The second part came out in 1926.

Hitler's preferred title was Four-and-a-Half Years Of Struggle Against Lies, Stupidity And Cowardice; his German publisher sensibly condensed this to My Struggle.

Mein Kampf had few readers -- the style was as rambling, hectoring and unwieldy as Hitler's original title indicated. A bare 9,000 copies sold in 1925, though by 1930, sales had reached a respectable 54,000.

In 1933, after Hitler won the election, the book sold an estimated 1.5 million copies.

As Mein Kampf sold briskly, other books burned. On May 10, the Nazis held mass bonfires of books that expressed an 'un-German' spirit.

Works by Marx, Freud, Proust, John Dos Passos, Brecht, Helen Keller, Hemingway, Einstein, Thomas Mann and Jack London were consigned to the flames.

Photographs from that time show huge bonfires surrounded by exulting students. A quote from Heinrich Heine was passed around at the time; no one knew how grimly apposite it would be: 'Where one burns books, one will soon burn people.'

In Hitler's Germany, Mein Kampf was a bestseller: a copy was given to every German couple who got married, every Nazi was expected to own the book. By 1945, eight million copies of the book had sold.

Today, Mein Kampf is still widely available everywhere, bar Germany. It is many things: an artifact of fear and loathing, a symbol of unspeakable evil, an index of how far we really believe in free speech.

When sales of the book spiked in Turkey this summer, some saw it as an indication of a growing tendency towards fundamentalism.

It's hard to read Mein Kampf as just a book; the terrible history its author imposed on Europe and the ghosts of the Holocaust haunt every line of it.

But this depressing document, blending paranoia with appalling hostility and badly constructed arguments, must be read so that we don't forget the banality of evil.

Hitler wrote in vitriol: 'Was there any form of filth or profligacy without at least one Jew involved in it? If you cut even cautiously into such an abscess, you found, like a maggot in a rotting body, often dazzled by the sudden light -- a kike!'

These statements, like Hitler's championing of an abhorrent nationalism, his obsession with the 'master race' and his advocating of mass propaganda, have been analysed all too often.

Re-reading Mein Kampf, what struck me was a passage where Hitler explained his philosophy of reading: 'For reading is no end in itself, but a means to an end... a man who possesses the art of correct reading will… instinctively and immediately perceive everything which in his opinion is worth permanently remembering, either because it is suited to his purpose or generally worth knowing. Once the knowledge he has achieved in this fashion is correctly coordinated within the somehow existing picture of this or that subject created by the imaginations it will function either as a corrective or a complement…"

For years, I've seen Mein Kampf as the work of a bad writer; now I see it as the work of a terrifyingly bad reader. Hitler looked for nothing in literature but confirmation of his own narrow, inhuman views, and because he blinkered his vision so well, he found only confirmation, not illumination, certainly not compassion.

Over the years, Mein Kampf has lost its readership -- only the bigoted, those with closed hearts and minds, find any kind of enlightenment in its pages.

For the rest of us, what those pages reveal is a thin, peevish voice, one that blends self-pity with hatred in repulsive fashion.

But the books Hitler's armies burned that day in May, those books are still read, still discussed, still enjoyed, still alive. The Fuehrer is dead; it's time to lay the ghost of his bad writing to rest as well.

Thickest Book
On Wednesday, 20 May 2009, Agatha Christie, the “Queen of Crime”, breaks a new world record for the thickest book. For the first time, all the Miss Marple stories – 12 novels and 20 short stories – are collected and published in one volume, for fans and collectors alike.

The Complete Miss Marple runs to a staggering 4,032 pages. Its spine, a work of inspired engineering by master craftsmen, is 322 mm (12.6 in) thick. Agatha Christie already holds two other world records – for the longest running play, The Mousetrap – and as the best-selling fiction author of all time.

In all, 43 murders are solved: 12 poisonings; six strangulations; two drownings; two stabbings; a burning; one blow to the head; one death by an arrow and two people pushed.

There are 68 crimes committed; 11 philandering lovers; 68 secrets and lies; 22 false accusations; 59 red-herrings and 21 romances. A total of 143 cups of tea are drunk in the massive volume, there are 66 maids and 47 garments are knitted.



It is a visually stunning book bound in dark-red leather with gold lettering and red-edged pages. Weighing 8.02 kg (17 lb 10 oz), it is presented in a suede-lined wooden box with brass fittings and a leather handle.



In his preface, Agatha Christie’s grandson, Mathew Prichard, writes: “The character continues to speak to readers some eighty years and more after her debut precisely because, in those quiet moments at the end of the day or when a difficult decision needs to be made, each of us wishes for our own Miss Marple to give clear and unequivocal advice.”




The book was unveiled at Foyles bookshop on Charing Cross Road in London, UK, on 20 May 2009, where Guinness World Records™ Adjudicator John Pilley measured the book and officially announced the record. Agatha Christie’s grandson Mathew Prichard was also present at the unveiling of the record-breaking book.

MOST EXPENSIVE HOTEL IN THE WORLD: Most of us have simple demands when it comes to travel lodging– a bed, a bathroom, a TV and wi-fi. There are others, however, whose demands far eclipse the simple convenience of your basic hotel room. When the world’s most wealthy travelers take a vacation for their own, they are treated to suites that cover entire floors of a hotel building, rooms that include a personal butler, hell– some even come with their own private helicopter, which is why we are here to talk about the most expensive hotel in the world! Take a peek into the experience of the world’s most wealthy travelers. Here are 10 of the most expensive hotel rooms in the world.

10. $15,500 a night – Imperial Suite, Park Hyatt-Vendôme
Paris, France


Situated on the second floor of the Park Hyatt-Vendôme’s Haussmanian building is the hotel’s 750 square-foot Imperial Suite. This pricey suite has high ceilings, a dining room, kitchenette and bar. When visitors tire of toiling, they relax with an “In Suite Spa” that comes outfitted with a steam room, Whirlpool and built-in massage table.



9. $16,000 a night – Royal Suite, Four Seasons George V
Paris, France


The George V in Paris boasts a pair of “sumptuous” Royal Suites that each come with private terraces and rooms filled with antique furniture. Each suite has a marble entrance, a full kitchen, a sauna and a separate bathroom for guests. The expensive 2,600 square-foot suites are split into separate spaces for sleeping and entertaining, both of which also have a private office. And yet this is a cheap version of the most expensive.



8. $17,500 a night – Royal Armleder Suite, Le Richemond
Geneva, Switzerland


Le Richemond’s Royal Armleder Suite reopened in 2007 after an extensive restoration of the hotel’s seventh floor, which the luxury suite occupies the entirety of. The suite is bedecked in gold, mosaics and parquet floors and has a 300 square-foot terrace with stunning views of Geneva and the nearby Alps.



7. $18,000 a night – Royal Suite, Burj Al Arab
Dubai, United Arab Emirates


A two-story suite that centers around an epic staircase, Burj Al Arab’s Royal Suite has Carrara marble floors, mahogany furniture and a master bedroom with a rotating four-post canopy bed. Guests enjoy Hermes bathroom products, Faubourg fragrances, their own private elevator and cinema and for a bit extra– a chauffeur driven Rolls Royce or helicopter.



6. $18,200 – Ritz-Carlton Suite, The Ritz-Carlton
Moscow, Russia


Floor-to-ceiling windows outline the Ritz-Carlton Suite at the hotel chain’s Moscow location making it one of the most extravagantof the expensive. Imperial furniture fills the 2,500 square-foot suite, which comes with a heated floor, a grand piano and a library. The suite has views of the Kremlin, Red Square and St. Basil’s Cathedral and visitors get to enjoy five meals a day and their very own KGB-approved autonomous energy supply system and secure telecommunications array.





5. $25,000 a night – Bridge Suite at The Atlantis
Paradise Island, Bahamas


The 10-room Bridge Suite at Bahamian resort The Atlantis fills the entire space linking the hotel complex’s two flagship towers. Forbes reports the suite has hosted guests including Oprah and Michael Jackson. [pic via flickr]



4. $33,000 a night – Royal Penthouse Suite, President Wilson Hotel
Geneva, Switzerland


President Woodrow Wilson reportedly suffered from high blood pressure, so it’s safe to assume he would have appreciated a stress-free stay at President Wilson Hotel’s Royal Penthouse Suite. Consuming the entire top floor of the hotel, the four-bedroom suite can hold up to 40 guests in its cocktail lounge and is said to be the best digs for heads of state wanting to make an impression when they’re in town on United Nations business. [pic via guardian uk]



3. $34,000 a night – Ty Warner Penthouse, Four Seasons
New York


The Ty Warner Penthouse practically floats in Manhattan. Floor-to-ceiling windows surround all sides of the massive suite, surrounding guests in 360-degree views of the city skyline from atop Manhattan’s tallest hotel. The nine-room suite has walls inlayed with mother of pearl, gold and platinum-woven fabrics, and the room itself includes a private butler, unlimited global calling and TVs programmed to receive every channel in the entire world.





2. $40,000 a night – Hugh Hefner Sky Villa, Palms Casino Resort
Las Vegas


Hugh Hefner’s Playboy-themed suite at the Palms Casino resort has a $700,000 jacuzzi that cantilevers out above the Las Vegas strip. The 10,000 square-foot, two-story suite comes with around-the-clock butler service and (of course) a rotating bed set beneath a mirrored ceiling. [pic via guardian uk]



1. $50,000 a night – Royal Villa at Grand Resort Lagonissi
Athens, Greece


Get ready for the most expensive hotel money can buy. The Grand Resort’s Royal Villa gives the world’s most exclusive guests a private version of every

1. Sentosa

Ok, place number one is Sentosa. In case you’ve not seen it in brochures or tour packages, I can tell you that Sentosa is certainly (without a doubt) one of the must-see places in Singapore. The lovely island off the southern coast of the Singapore mainland is one of the most visited resorts for tourists. Come 2010, there will be a Sentosa based integrated resort which will definitely see visitors flocking to the island even more.

2. Singapore Zoo

Place number tow you ask? It’s got to be the Singapore Zoo. The Singapore Zoo is renowned both in Southeast Asia and world-wide for its variety of animals and excellent pedigree. You’ll see everything from Chinese pandas to orang utans to white tigers. Certainly worth a visit and if you have the time, go for the Night Safari which is an interesting night tour of the zoo.

3. Chinatown

The next place one has to visit has to be Chinatown. If you’re interested in the culture and sights of the largest ethnic group in Singapore, then Chinatown is a must visit for its interesting little curio shops and cultural fare. Make sure you pop in to try the local food and also shop for traditional Chinese stuff like herbs and mahjong sets or jade.

4. Little India

Having talked about Chinatown, we got to talk also about Little India. Little India certainly has a charm all its own. If you’re in the mood for some Indian cultural experience, Little India has everything to offer you – from the traditional temples to the culinary delights of Indian curry or textiles. A must-visit for any tourist.

5. Boat Quay

The last place I have to mention has got to be Boat Quay. This place, especially on a Friday night, is full of working professionals and will lend you some insight into what the young working crowd here in Singapore gets into on weekends. Mostly a place for pubbing, clubbing and partying the night away.

Conclusion

Ok, I hope the above has shed some light into what are the must-see places in Singapore. Given limited time in Singapore, it is critical for any tourist to prioritize and decide what is the best place to visit. The above 5 places are great suggestions, so be sure to check them out! Happy travels!

Colosseum

The Colosseum is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the world and no trip to Europe is complete without a stop to see this impressive structure. It has been featured in movies, literature and artwork and seeing it is something that everyone should do at least once. Of all the places to visit in Rome, the Colosseum is definitely one of the best.



Roman Forum

Many of the most captivating and inspiring Roman attractions can be found in the Roman Forum. It is the sight of countless historical sights including Arch of Constantine, Arch of Titus, Temple of Saturn, Basilica Aemilia, and Mamertine Prison just to name a few. With so many incredible structures in such a concentrated area, the Roman Forum makes for an excellent place to explore.

Trevi Fountain

Considered by many to be one of the most impressive fountains in Rome, Trevi Fountain features an impeccable design and beautiful sculptures. One of the most popular activities for people visiting the fountain is to throw a coin over their left shoulder to guarantee a return visit to Rome.

Sistine Chapel

Located in the Apostolic Palace, the Sistine Chapel is world famous for its architecture which is said to be modeled after Solomon’s Temple. The Chapel is home to several incredible frescoes including two which are considered to be Michelangelo’s most amazing works of the art; the Last Judgement and the Creation of Adam.

Pantheon

One of ancient Rome’s best preserved structures, the Pantheon features a striking interior and an amazing dome which is yet another great feat of Roman engineering. It was constructed nearly 2000 years ago on the remains of an even older temple which was destroyed by fire. There is no doubt about it, the Pantheon is one of the best places to visit in Rome.

St. Peter’s Basilica

Dating back to the 15th century, St. Peter’s Basilica is regarded as one of the most holy Catholic sites on Earth and is considered by many to be the greatest church in all of Christendom. It is also the burial site of Saint Peter, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus. For those with a taste for both history and architecture it doesn’t get much better than this.

Piazza Navona

Built on top of the Stadium of Domitian, the Piazza Navona is lined with restaurants and cafes serving traditional Italian food. Along with delicious cuisine, you will find several fountains which in themselves are incredible works of art. It is a popular place to visit for both tourists and citizens of Rome.





Trajan’s Column

Standing almost 100 feet high, Trajan’s Column’s is a beautiful piece of Roman architecture and sculptural art. Winding around the column is a frieze illustrating the battles between Rome and Dacia in early 100 AD. It is a captivating sight and one which the Romans are truly very proud of.



These are just 8 of many amazing places to visit in Rome. Each of them will provide you with a lasting memory and an exceptional travel experience. Rome is definitely one of the most beautiful places to visit in Italy and no matter what your tastes, this city has something for you.

A well known speaker started off his seminar by holding up a $20 bill. In the room of 200, he asked, "Who would like this $20 bill?"

Hands started going up.

He said, "I am going to give this $20 to one of you but first, let me do this." He proceeded to crumple the dollar bill up.

He then asked, "Who still wants it?"

Still the hands were up in the air.

"Well," he replied, "What if I do this?" And he dropped it on the ground and started to grind it into the floor with his shoe.

He picked it up, now all crumpled and dirty. "Now who still wants it?" Still the hands went into the air.

"My friends, you have all learned a very valuable lesson. No matter what I did to the money, you still wanted it because it did not decrease in value. It was still worth $20.

Many times in our lives, we are dropped, crumpled, and ground into the dirt by the decisions we make and the circumstances that come our way.

We feel as though we are worthless. But no matter what has happened or what will happen, you will never lose your value. You are special - Don't ever forget it!

Touching life story.....

A young man was getting ready to graduate college. For
many months he had admired a beautiful sports car in a dealer's
showroom, and knowing his father could well afford it, he told
him that was all he wanted.

As Graduation Day approached, the young man awaited
signs that his father had purchased the car. Finally, on the
morning of his graduation his father called him into his private
study. His father told him how proud he was to have such a fine
son, and told him how much he loved him. He handed his son
a beautiful wrapped gift box.

Curious, but somewhat disappointed the young man
opened the box and found a lovely, leather-bound Bible. Angrily,
he raised his voice at his father and said, "With all your money you
give me a Bible?" and stormed out of the house, leaving the holy
book.

Many years passed and the young man was very successful in
business.
He had a beautiful home and wonderful family, but realized his
father was very old, and thought perhaps he should go to him. He
had not seen him since that graduation day. Before he could make
arrangements, he received a telegram telling him his father had
passed away, and willed all of his possessions to his son. He
needed to come home immediately and take care things.
When he arrived at his father's house, sudden sadness and
regret filled his heart.

He began to search his father's important papers and
saw the still new Bible, just as he had left it years ago. With
tears, he opened the Bible and began to turn the pages. As he
read those words, a car key dropped from an envelope
taped behind the Bible.
It had a tag with the dealer's name, the same dealer who had the
sports car he had desired. On the tag was the date of his graduation,
and the words...PAID IN FULL.

How many times do we miss God's blessings because they are not
packaged as we expected?

Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same hospital room. One man was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour a day to drain the fluids from his lungs. His bed was next to the room's only window. The other man had to spend all his time flat on his back.

The men talked for hours on end. They spoke of their wives and families, their homes, their jobs, their involvement in the military service, where they had been on vacation. And every afternoon when the man in the bed next to the window could sit up, he would pass the time by describing to his roommate all the things he could see outside the window.

The man in the other bed would live for those one-hour periods where his world would be broadened and enlivened by all the activity and color of the outside world. The window overlooked a park with a lovely lake, the man had said. Ducks and swans played on the water while children sailed their model boats. Lovers walked arm in arm amid flowers of every color of the rainbow. Grand old trees graced the landscape, and a fine view of the city skyline could be seen in the distance. As the man by the window described all this in exquisite detail, the man on the other side of the room would close his eyes and imagine the picturesque scene.

One warm afternoon the man by the window described a parade passing by. Although the other man could not hear the band, he could see it in his mind's eye as the gentleman by the window portrayed it with descriptive words. Unexpectedly, an alien thought entered his head: Why should hehave all the pleasure of seeing everything while I never get to see anything? It didn't seem fair. As the thought fermented, the man felt ashamed at first. But as the days passed and he missed seeing more sights, his envy eroded into resentment and soon turned him sour. He began to brood and found himself unable to sleep. He should be by that window - and that thought now controlled his life.

Late one night, as he lay staring at the ceiling, the man by the window began to cough. He was choking on the fluid in his lungs. The other man watched in the dimly lit room as the struggling man by the window groped for the button to call for help. Listening from across the room, he never moved, never pushed his own button which would have brought the nurse running. In less than five minutes, the coughing and choking stopped, along with the sound of breathing. Now, there was only silence--deathly silence.

The following morning, the day nurse arrived to bring water for their baths. When she found the lifeless body of the man by the window, she was saddened and called the hospital attendant to take it away--no words, no fuss. As soon as it seemed appropriate, the man asked if he could be moved next to the window. The nurse was happy to make the switch and after making sure he was comfortable, she left him alone.

Slowly, painfully, he propped himself up on one elbow to take his first look. Finally, he would have the joy of seeing it all himself. He strained to slowly turn to look out the window beside the bed. It faced a blank wall.

Moral of the story:

The pursuit of happiness is a matter of choice...it is a positive attitude we consciously choose to express. It is not a gift that gets delivered to our doorstep each morning, nor does it come through the window. And I am certain that our circumstances are just a small part of what makes us joyful. If we wait for them to get just right, we will never find lasting joy.

The pursuit of happiness is an inward journey. Our minds are like programs, awaiting the code that will determine behaviors; like bank vaults awaiting our deposits. If we regularly deposit positive, encouraging, and uplifting thoughts, if we continue to bite our lips just before we begin to grumble and complain, if we shoot down that seemingly harmless negative thought as it germinates, we will find that there is much to rejoice about.

1. Bali
Bali is one of the most visited islands in Indonesia. Bali is rich in culture, friendly local people (Balinese), and has many historic places such as Tanah Lot, Besakih (The mother of all temples), Singaraja, Klungkung and many more. The beaches in Bali are very often become the hot spot for surfer from Australia such as Kuta, Nusa dua, Seminyak and Sanur. Apart from the powerful wave for surfing, Bali also has a beautiful white sand a long the Badung and Lombok strait. if you visit Bedugul and Kintamani, you will find the most beautiful lakes in Northern of Bali. You may visit Holy monkey temple called Sangeh in the North of Bali. Beware of your camera, hat and belongings, because there are tons of monkeys that most likely will steal from you.


2. Borobudur
Borobudur is an ancient Buddhist temple and stupa. It is one of the Seven Wonders of the World and located in central Java island, the most populous island in Indonesia. It built around 8th century during the peak of Sailendra dynasty. This is a huge temple that I ever visited, there are many emboss carved sculptures on the each wall that telling the chronicles of Sailendra dynasty. I was so tried to walk around the temple on each levels. Hence, I just straight went up to Stupa, the top of the temple.

3. Mountain Bromo
Mountain Bromo is one of the still active volcanoes in Indonesia and located in East Java island. It surrounded by Sand of Sea and has 2,329 meters high and 10 km wide diameter in Tengger caldera. It has 250 concrete steps from the foot of mountain up to the edge of crater and the visitors are able to gaze inside the smoking crater. We took the Jeep to pass the huge Sand of Sea (it felt like you were at the desert) on the foot of Mountain while some tourists rode the horse. These sand are comes from volcanic ashes that erupted many years ago. It took me ten minutes to climb up to crater because you get tired easily on the high elevated area.

Stonehenge
Top Place to see in the UK
Stonehenge is a prehistoric stone circle and is believed to have been constructed around 3100BC. No one knows exactly what purpose it served, but it is thought to have been a centre of pagan worship.

The site is managed by English Heritage. The stone circle cannot be accessed during normal opening hours, although they do hold regular Stone Circle Access visits in the early morning and late evening.

Tower Bridge
Tower Bridge is one of London's most recognisable landmarks and possible one of the most famous bridges in the world.

Spanning the Thames, just next to the Tower of London, it was built in 1894 after 50 architects and designers entered a competition to design a new bridge for London.

Visitors can view London from the high-level walkways and access the Victorian Engine Rooms. You can also access the bridge lift schedule which shows times and dates when the bridge will rise for large vessels.

Tower Bridge
Tower Bridge is one of London's most recognisable landmarks and possible one of the most famous bridges in the world.

Spanning the Thames, just next to the Tower of London, it was built in 1894 after 50 architects and designers entered a competition to design a new bridge for London.

Visitors can view London from the high-level walkways and access the Victorian Engine Rooms. You can also access the bridge lift schedule which shows times and dates when the bridge will rise for large vessels.

Lake Windermere
The biggest lake in England
Lake Windermere, in Cumbria is 2 miles long, one mile wide and 220 feet deep. It is the largest natural lake in England and is part of the Lake District National Park.

Although popular with tourists, the west shoreline is almost completely owned by the National Trust, which makes it a haven for wildlife.

This stunning landscape is also known for it's connection with Beatrix Potter and Arthur Ransome.

Portmeirion
Portmeirion - possibly the most eccentric village in the UK?
Portmeirion is a fanciful Italianate village situated on the North Wales Coast. Designed and constructed by Sir Clough Williams-Ellis between 1925 and 1975, the village includes a hotel, holiday cottages, a teashop and restaurant.


The Giant's Causeway
The Giant's Causeway is a World Heritage Site in Northern Ireland.

The area is made up from about 40,000 interlocking basalt columns which were created after a volcanic eruption.

The name comes from the legend of Finn MacCool. The story goes that mythical Irish giant Finn built the causeway to get to Scotland and battle with a rival giant called Benandonner.

Edinburgh
Dominated by Edinburgh Castle, the city is a hotbed of cultural pursuits.

It's full of galleries and museums and hosts the biggest collection of arts festivals in the UK throughout July and August.

Edinburgh is also home to one of the largest New Year's celebrations in the world, the famous Hogmanay.

Tresco Abbey Gardens
The Sub-Tropical Tresco Abbey Gardens, found in the Scilly Isles, are regarded by botanists as one of the most interesting and varied botanical experiments in the world.

Many of the plants would not stand a chance on the Cornish mainland, less than 30 miles away. Yet even in Winter more than 300 plants will be in flower. The garden is home to species from 80 countries, ranging from Brazil to New Zealand and Burma to South Africa.

York Minster
Almost every British city has a stunning cathedral (bar 18), but York Minster is one of the most impressive.

It is the largest Gothic cathedral in northern Europe and is situated in York in Northern England. The present building was begun in about 1230 and completed in 1472.

The Eden Project
The Eden Project is one of the most exciting modern projects in the UK. The complex in Cornwall houses 100,000 plants