Eddie Murphy Considered a Front Runner to Host Oscars

When next year's Oscars take place on February 26, 2012, there is a good chance that the host for the evening will be none other than Eddie Murphy. You remember Eddie Murphy, right? Murphy, of course, was perhaps the most celebrated comedian of the 1980s and early 1990s, after soaring to fame as a cast member on Saturday Night Live. Murphy starred in such 1980s classics as Beverly Hills Copy, 48 Hours and Trading Places, along with some others that didn't quite reach "classic" status. But even as Murphy transitioned into more family-friendly roles like the Nutty Professor, Dr. Doolittle, and eventually the Shrek series, he's remained relevant because of his influence on the leading comedians of today.

From Chris Rock to Howard Stern, almost every successful comedian today will point to Eddie Murphy as one of the all-time great comedic talents. In terms of stand-up comedians, Murphy is considered by many to be the best to ever take the stage. His two feature-length stand-up films, Delirious and Raw, are still among the most popular stand-up routines of comedy fans.

The issue with Eddie Murphy is that few have seen him take the stage to perform over the last two decades. There is no doubt that Murphy has more than enough comedic talent to carry the Academy Awards. He could get by on doing voices and characters alone and have the viewing audience in stitches. But the Academy is always trying to strike that perfect balance between funny and entertaining, while still observing some sense of decorum and respect for the "craft." From that perspective, Murphy would seem to be a perfect fit. I know I'll tune in if he's the host.

10 Famous People Who Died While Performing

All the famous people that I am going to mention in this article have died in the most surprising and shocking way, while performing. The way in which these artists have died is very dramatic and sounds more like a movie script more than a real life story. The famous personalities I have mentioned come from different genres like actors, magicians, musicians, show anchors, singers, comedians, and wrestlers. Their death was sudden and unexpected. One of them died because of a heart attack and one accidentally ended up shooting himself. None of them in their wildest dreams would have imagined that their life would end like this.


10 Famous People Who Died While Performing
Following is a list of the 10 famous people who died while performing. The only thing common between all the personalities mentioned above is the fact that they died while doing something they loved, Performing! They have left their mark in the world history and will be immortal in millions of hearts.

STEVE IRWIN February 22, 1962 - September 4, 2006 Cause of Death: Stingray Spine's Sting Steve Irwin was a man with no fear. He was like Tarzan as he was born with the crocodiles and other reptiles and was actually pally with them. He became famous performing for the wildlife shows on Animal Planet. He Starred on Croc Files, New Breed Vets, and The Crocodile Hunter Dairies. He dealt with all sorts of animals and he loved doing what he did. He directed a few shows and had discovered a new species of turtle and it was named after him. He was certainly the USP of the Channel. However, the 'Crocodile Hunter' died while snorkeling for his documentary 'Ocean's Deadliest' at the Great Barrier Reef, Batt Reef, North Queensland after a Stingray Spine fatally pierced him in his chest. The invincible man was laid down! I wish he never died! Though you can relive him on Animal Planet yet! "I have no fear of losing my life - if I have to save a koala or a crocodile or a kangaroo or a snake, mate, I will save it."

BRANDON LEE February 1, 1965 - March 31, 1993 Cause of Death: Gun Shot He is the son of the legendary martial arts superstar, Bruce Lee. He was gorgeous and only 28 when he died. He died while shooting for a film 'The Crow'. The team of 'The Crow' decided to shoot the scene where another character was to shoot him using dummy cartridges. But unfortunately their negligence they forgot to remove the primers from them. Lee performed his scene in which he was shot. He hit the floor and the crew applauded for his extraordinary performance; but Lee did not rise after the director said "CUT". They rushed to him and realized he was shot in reality and took him to hospital. He was declared dead after an unsuccessful six hour operation was performed to remove the bullet. His last lines were "Bang! Bang! Don't forget to send flowers!". He was asking one of the crew members if the flowers for a dead in the movie were arranged for. "Because we do not know when we will die, we get to think of life as an inexhaustible well. And yet everything happens only a certain number of times. And a very small number really."

WILLIAM ELLSWORTH ROBINSON April 2, 1861- March 23, 1918 Cause of Death: Gun Shot If you Google his name, the first thing that appears on your searched list would be 'Chung Ling Soo'. He was a famous American Magician who claimed himself to be the 'Original Chinese Conjure'. He died accidentally when he was performing a trick where his assistants who act as Boxers with two large guns shoot at William. William's trick was to stop the bullets from hitting him with his hands. Sometimes he would also act as if he has been shot, but would pop out the bullet from his mouth. This time accidentally the gun was not unloaded and it hit him straight in his chest. His last words were, "Oh my God. Something's happened. Lower the curtain!"

TOMMY COOPER March 19, 1921 - April 15, 1984 Cause of Death: Heart Attack Tommy was a very popular magician and a British prop comedian. He died whilst performing an act on 'Live From Her Majesty's'. He was playing the part where he would pull out different props from his robe like it was magical. These props were actually passed on to him by his assistant. Once he was done performing, he was supposed to walk out but instead he fell on his head on the floor and everyone heard the snoring sound. They all assumed it was a joke, but when he did not wake up, that's when it was realized that he passed away after having a heart attack. "I used to be indecisive but now I am not quite sure."

OWEN HART May 7, 1965 - May 23, 1999 Cause of Death: Internal Bleeding Owen was a professional amateur wrestler. He has been the WWF Champion twice, WWF World Tag Team Champion (four times), won USFA Unified World Heavy Weight Championship (once), WWF King of the Ring, WWG European Championship (once). Owen died in the most tragic way while making an entry for the Intercontinental Championship in Kansas City, Missouri. This match was against the Godfather. He was making his entry with a harness and while it was lowering, the equipment malfunctioned and Owen fell from a height of 78 feet. His chest first bumped on the first rope and he then crashed on the floor. He was later taken to the hospital but was announced 'dead on arrival'. He is still remembered as the 'The Blue Blazer'. "Nobody really knows for sure who the Blue Blazer is, but like I said in my interview, there's a little bit of the Blue Blazer in each and every one of us."

DARELL LANCE ABBOTT August 20, 1966 - December 8, 2004 Cause of Death: Shot in the Head Darell was a famous American guitarist who founded the heavy metal bands - Pantera and Damageplan. He was accoladed with the title "One of the most influential stylists in modern metal" and his tine was also included in the "50 Greatest Tones of All Time". His career ended with his life when a gunman 'Nathan Gale' shot Darell. He was shot thrice in his head and died immediately. Besides him the gunman killed a few others too. His motive is not clearly known but it is said that he was a paranoid schizophrenic and ended up killing Darell thinking he was trying to steal his identity. "I was lucky enough to get to see guys like Bugs Henderson, Jimmy Wallace, all those great Texas blues players."

JON-ERIK-HEXUM November 5, 1957 - October 18, 1984 Cause of Death: Shot Hexum was a famous American model turned actor. He killed himself, unintentionally. He was on the set of 'Cover Up' shooting for the 7th episode for the 'Golden Opportunity' Series. He performed a shot but Hexum's director was not happy with the outcome, which made Hexum uneasy and impatient. To change his mood, he started to play around with the revolver and pointed it on his temple like a Russian Roulette game and pulled the trigger. The blanks were made out of plastic, but it can cause injuries if it is fired from a short distance, specially on a very vulnerable place. He was certainly not aware of his actions, but the paper wadding from the black struck him, right in his temple which created a trauma that damaged a part of his skull and caused a massive hemorrhage. He was under treatment for 6 days but couldn't survive any further. "I worry about not being a great actor. I'd hate to die young and never have made Grapes of Wrath. Life goes by so fast...I just don't want to miss out on anything."

KARL WALLENDA January 21, 1905 - March 22, 1978 Cause of Death: Multiple Injuries. Karl Wallenda was a Daredevil. He used to perform with his family known as 'The Great Wallendas' which used to perform stunts like cycling on the wire and four-man pyramid. In 1970, Karl wire-walked across the Tallulah Gorge. The wire was very high and the distance was almost of a quarter mile and he managed it successfully. Approximately 30,000 people watching him do this. He had tried several stunts and in spite of several injuries and damage he never stopped. But unfortunately he couldn't successfully complete his final high wire-walk. Karl undertook a 10 story high wire-walk from one tower of the Condado Plaza Hotel to the other. The wire was about 121 feet high above the sidewalk. He began walking but just then wind started blowing at a speed of 32 miles per hour and made him lose his balance and pushed him off the wire. He fell on the ground and death had laid its icy hands on him. He always said, "Life is being on the wire; everything else is just waiting."

EDITH WEBSTER 1914 - November 22,1986 Cause of Death: Heart Attack Edith Webster was a famous stage actress in America. In 1986, the veteran stage actress was giving her final performance in, 'The Drunkard'- an off-Broadway play. She had played that role throughout the eight years period where she played the character of an old grandmother. In her final scene she was to sing the song "Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone" and then just collapse on the floor. Her performance went really well and the song she sang that is said to be her best interpretation of the song. She sang the song and collapsed on the floor, the audience gave her a standing ovation but she remained motionless in her body without life. She died at the same moment when she actually died in the play because of a fatal heart attack. I guess it was God's wish to call his beloved back before she could retire as performing was the soul of her life.

VIC MORROW February 14, 1929 - July 23, 1982 Cause of Death: Helicopter Malfunction Vic Morrow was an American actor who was known for playing the lead role of the 'Sgt. Saunders' in the Combat series. He died while he was shooting for 'Twilight Star: The Movie'. His death is unimaginable. Morrow along with two other children was shooting a scene where they were trying to escape from a U.S Army helicopter in a Vietnamese village. The helicopter was 25 feet above them and suddenly because of a pyrotechnic explosion the helicopter fell on Morrow and the other two kids in a flash of time and they all were beheaded in the incident. A terribly tragic death. Vic Morrow was once asked about the safety levels maintained in the explosions he films. As a reply he said, "Because we are in a war situation, this can sometimes be dangerous work. But guys like A.D. Flowers and his technicians just take it in stride and get on with the job. In four years, we've never had a serious accident or injury working with all the explosions."

There are many other famous artists who have died while performing but I have mentioned the one's I thought were the most tragic. Other famous celebrity deaths include Roy Kinnear, Eric Morecambe, Sid James, Paul Mantz, J. I. Rodale, Arnold Soboloff, Jackie Wilson,

Singers and Musicians Who Died at 27

I read this quote on some sidey post card a few years ago; and it immediately came back to me as I read about the "Curse of 27" concept. The first thought that came to my mind was that members of the 27 Club probably lived by this quote. Though the word 'miserable' kind of pokes. They didn't really lead a miserable life, not consciously or by choice at least; and yet their lives turned out to be full of pain and misery. You read about singers and musicians who died at 27 and you can't help feeling this pang in the chest. Do you feel sad or pity for them? Not exactly. Do you feel hatred? Not that either. But something just aches deep inside. These are the people who led a true rock n' roll life. Kurt Cobain is one of the later members of the club, but if the former members of the 27 club would have read his suicide note they would have probably lit up their lighters when they came to the end of it... "it's better to burn out than to fade away".

Curse of 27 - Most Iconic Members

The Curse of 27 - or the 27 Club, or the Forever 27 Club - refers to a club of persons (singers and musicians mostly, all dead) belonging to the music industry, who died at the age of 27 years. The club includes many people from the music industry - right from its alleged first member Robert Johnson (1911 - 1938) to the latest Amy Winehouse (1983 - 2011). Here is a brief account of some of its most iconic members. In the context in which this club was formed, the following members are those music-makers whose lives epitomized the rock n' roll life, who perfectly fit the image. They are the 'originals'.

~ Kurt Cobain ~ ("Come As You Are", "Smells Like Teen Spirit", "All Apologies")
Born: 20 February 1967
Died: c. 5 April 1994
Cause of Death: Suicide
Kurt Cobain is probably the best thing to have ever happened to grunge music. Lead singer and guitarist of the most popular grunge band Nirvana, Kurt went through a troubled childhood. Many believe he never really fully recovered from his parents' divorce (they divorced when he was 8 years old). Originally a very energetic, excited, happy and positive child, Kurt's life was full of angst in the later years. He was married to Courtney Love and was father of Frances Bean Cobain at the time of his death. Kurt suffered from a chronic stomach pain that was the cause of much emotional distress to him. He developed a habit for heroin after having consumed the drug for three days continuously to find that it relieved him of the stomach ache. In his suicide note, he said he didn't feel for music the way he used to before, which is held as the motive behind his suicide, apart from his health condition and his failing marriage.

~ Amy Winehouse ~ ("Rehab", "Tears Dry On Their Own", "Stronger Than Me")
Born: 14 September 1983
Died: 23 July 2011
Cause of Death: (unexplained)
Best known for her contralto voice and superb blending of music genres such as jazz, soul and R&B, Amy Winehouse is the latest member to have been included in the 27 Club. Her accomplishments include being the first British female artist to win 5 Grammys, winning the BRIT Award for Best British Female Artist (2007), winning the Ivor Novello Award for Best Contemporary Song among many other. The artist is also known for her famous beehive hairstyle and her 'Cleopatra-inspired' make-up style. Amid many personal difficulties such as being a manic depressive, engaging in violence with husband Fielder-Civil, drug problems and the like, Amy managed to pave the way for unconventional female artists such as Lady Gaga. Her is a musical genius that got wasted in a life of immense emotional turmoil. Her death was mourned by many artists like U2, Nicki Minaj, Kelly Clarkson, Lady Gaga through the tributes they paid her.

VMA Executives Gush Over Lady Gaga’s Performance at Awards Show

Executives for MTV’s Music Video Awards were gushing after seeing how well Lady Gaga did in her role as "Jo Calderone" at the awards show recently. They’ve said she was so in character that it’s as though Gaga wasn’t there at all – that she actually "became" Calderone for the show rather than merely playing a part. Whether you buy that or not, what is clear is that Lady Gaga has more than just pop singing chops. Turns out she can act as well. The consummate entertainer interacted with Britney Spears an wowed both the crowd and the show’s producers.

Said VMA Executive Producer Dave Sirulnick, "We had talked to her about the creative a few weeks before the show. We had a call with her, and it became clear that she’s going to be Jo. She showed up as Jo, rehearsed as Jo. If you said ‘Gaga,’ she wouldn’t respond. After rehearsals, she comes over, she says to me, ‘It’s nice to meet you,’ and I say to her, ‘I know your friend Gaga,’ and she says, ‘That Gaga, what a bitch!’ She did not break character once. She walks in backstage and, in front of a whole bunch of people, went into the men’s room."

Sirulnick went on, describing how dedicated Gaga was to continuing to play the part: "Later we had all the Young the Giant fans line dup waiting for the band to rehearse their performance, and Jo was walking out of the building to her dressing room and someone yelled ‘It’s Gaga!’ But she didn’t respond, just kept on walking, until finally someone yelled, ‘Hey, Jo!’ and then she turned and waved." After performing the character, Gaga also performed her song, "You and I," to great effect. She then came back out on state, still in character, to both pay tribute to Britney Spears and to give her a kiss.

Famous Celebrity Deaths

Hollywood has had its fair share of dramatic instances where tragic death seems to be a normal occurrence and not so much otherwise. In recent weeks, the death of Amy Winehouse caused quite a stir among the music and film industry, with people not surprised about how and why it happened. I for one presumed that it had something to do with either drugs or alcohol, and not a common case like an accident. There are deaths in the fraternity that have famous actors and actresses usually being victims of drug abuse and a life that drives them to take the worst of decisions to end their lives, which we cannot speculate given the haziness of the situation.

Famous Celebrity Deaths Revealed

It is upsetting to turn on the television set or tune into the radio only to hear about yet another celebrity death. Some of us have now accepted the fact that tragedy is Hollywood's way of bidding their best actors and actresses goodbye. The lucky few that died normal deaths didn't stir up such controversy or have something dark going on in their lives to leave us all mouth gaping at their untimely deaths. Let's now explore the different deaths that have occurred in the past years of the rich and famous.

Amy Winehouse 1983-2011 (Singer)

Amy Winehouse, was only 27 when she was found dead in her apartment in London on 23rd July, 2011. She was a talented singer with a voice that was musically acclaimed for its edginess and fresh sound. Her ex-husband Blake Fielder-Civil, reported that she once went into a fit (in a past incident) and stopped breathing post black out, where he gave her mouth to mouth resuscitation to help revive her. Winehouse's autopsy didn't conclude anything concrete, where the evidence that it may have been drugs has not been brought to light.

Ryan Dunn 1977-2011 ('Jackass' Madcap)

The death of Ryan Dunn, star of the hit movie series 'Jackass' was something the cast wasn't prepared for. The blow intensity was felt more by Johnny Knoxville, boss of the 'Jackass' movie runs. Ryan was suspected of drunk driving, while being one of two passengers in the car wreck that killed both present, as the car swerved off the road and burst into flames thereafter. The incident has been termed as an 'auto accident' and not a 'DUI' scenario.

Brittany Murphy 1977-2009 (Actress/Singer)

The death of Brittany Murphy was one of those unexpected tragedies that you wouldn't ever see coming, where although not highly acclaimed as an actress, she did do her bit to squeeze herself into the limelight every now and then. The 'Girl Interrupted' star was known for her quirky acting when it came to comedy and romance like 'Just Married' where she starred opposite funny man Ashton Kutcher. Reportedly, Murphy died from a cardiac arrest while in the shower. Rumors circulated about her having an eating disorder while even dealing with drugs, where her husband Simon Monjack snuffed the bad talk saying that Hollywood was responsible for her death. By that he meant his late wife was under pressure from the film industry, where the final cause of her death was due to stress and depression.

Heath Ledger 1979-2008 (Actor)

Heath Ledger reined in the hearts of the female audiences in '10 Things I Hate About You' as the bad boy Australian who woes actress Julia Stiles as part of a bet, who later ends up falling for her. The star's death created a wave of confusion and talk - being as sudden as the death of Michael Jackson. The star's last film 'The Dark Knight' was the highlight of the actor's career, and a big push rise for his stature as an actor since 'Brokeback Mountain' where it all tragically came to an end in 2008. He was found dead in his apartment, where autopsy reports revealed that the actor had died due to an overdose on prescription pills, due to his insomnia related troubles. Whether it was deliberate or an accident hasn't been made conclusive.

Bruce Lee 1940-1973 (Actor)

Bruce Lee was said to have suffered from cerebral edema, where medical reports called it 'death by misadventure'. He died due to a brain swelling incident that led him to suffer constant headaches and blackouts. Traces of Equagesic was found in his blood stream which acted as both a relaxant and painkiller. Rumors of course followed like they seem to when someone famous dies from a death that isn't concrete in evidence, that drugs were involved as part of Bruce's death.

Elvis Presley 1935-1977 (Singer/Actor)

Elvis Presley touched the hearts of many American folk and belted out rock and roll tracks that took the nation by storm. Much-loved and highly respected for his sultry vocals and fluid dance moves, Elvis Presley was America's sweetheart where his life came abruptly to an end after saturating his system with too many drugs. His body at the time was weak, and he would force himself to perform on stage for his fans, where his death did give them solace to see his suffering end. Overdosing on the drugs led him to believe that they were helping him, and the turnout was shocking when he was found dead on his bathroom floor. He was only 42 when he was found dead.

Anna Nicole Smith 1967-2007 (Actress/Model)

Anna Nicole Smith was beautiful, talented and the center of controversy. She was immersed with problems in and around her life, and probably spiraled out of control after the death of her son. She was found in her hotel room, where she was being resuscitated but without any sign of life after several tries. The drug chloral hydrate when mixed with other prescription drugs that she was on, was a deadly mix that led to her death, where depression was a known side effect. The mystery circulating around the incident was that the drugs that were supposed to be for her husband, was found in her system leading to rumors that this may have been a suicide if not an accidental death.

Gary Coleman 1968-2010 (Actor)

Gary Coleman when seen on the infamous sitcom 'Diff'rent Strokes' could only leave a smile on my face with his adorable chubby cheeks and witty child-like humor. Starting at the young age of 8, Gary Coleman was America's favorite little kid (Arnold Jackson) who died at the age of 42 from congenital kidney disease. He will be missed by many of his fans, where 'Diff'rent Strokes' is still as big a hit as it was back in the day.

Elizabeth Taylor 1932-2011 (Actress)

Elizabeth Taylor was a profound actress who made her mark in the film industry, starting out in black and white while then moving into an era of color and style. Known for her classiness, her strong and subdued way of putting forward a character was both professional and recognized. She was most definitely an iconic actress of her time and is still very much revered even today. She'd been suffering from congestive heart failure for so long, that it finally took a toll on her and led her weak heart to finally give out. She died at age 79.

Bernie Mac 1957-2008 (Stand Up Comedian/Actor)

I'm sure a lot of us tuned in to 'The Bernie Mac Show', where Mac plays himself in a series that were loosely based on his real life. Rising slowly up the ladder of success, Bernie Mac has his way of tickling audiences' funny bone, most often recognized as a class A stand up comedian more than an actor. He suffered from complications due to pneumonia, and was hospitalized and said to be responding well to the treatment being done on him. Sadly his system couldn't take it anymore and he passed away in August 2008.

Peter Falk 1927-2011 (Actor)

Peter Falk was someone any mystery loving fanatic would adore, with his calm demeanor while addressing crimes, and his skeptical and shrewd manner in solving cases as Detective Columbo in the hit series 'Columbo'. He'd been suffering from Alzheimer's disease, battling it out for a while, before passing away this year, 2011.

Michael Jackson 1958-2009 (Singer)

Michael was able to throw a large casting net of influence over people of all ages, making it big for himself as a child when he appeared as the lead singer among his brothers in the music group 'The Jackson 5'. Fans around the world were obsessed with his drive and passion to make music that was both powerful and magnetic. The moonwalker died from a cardiac arrest during the time when he was putting together his much-anticipated concert 'This is It', where only the rehearsal footage was then made public. Fans were devastated world-wide, including members of his family and those who knew him well. He was 50 when he died on June 25th, 2009.

Steve Irwin 1962-2006 (Naturalist)

The infamous crocodile hunter was a hearty Australian that managed to make the most dangerous of situations, a fascinating one. With his eccentric ways and his obvious passion for the wild, Steve Irwin was seen as an iconic naturalist of his time. Steve Irwin was killed in a stingray attack, where his daring self may have pushed the boundaries a tad too much, sadly leading to his demise.

Red Hot Chili Peppers Say Most Recent Album Not a Comeback

It’s been a long time since the Red Hot Chili Peppers have released an album, so one could be forgiven for calling their latest release, "I’m With You," a comeback of sorts. It is, after all, the first album that they’ve released since guitarist John Frusciante left the band. But Rolling Stone’s David Fricke had the gall to call the album a comeback effort and it did not site too well with Anthony Kiedis, the band’s lead singer, or the rest of the band. Noted Keidis, "What did we come back from? Malaria?"

Keidis added, "Maybe in the traditional sense of the word, like ‘coming back’ from our break. But ‘comeback,’ ‘reunion,’ I don’t know. We took a moment to reflect and consider the possibilities, and we’re really fortunate Josh was available and wanting to join forces with us. We didn’t really ever lose full momentum, so it wasn’t like we disbanded and re-banded, we just got kind of flotatious and then reformed together in a new configuration. ‘Comeback’ sounds like you quit and then started again, we didn’t quite quit."

Keidis seems to be talking circles around the issue. Flotatious? Really? Either way, the Red Hot Chili Peppers are back…er, here again? Whatever they are, there’s a new album, and for fans of the band, which reached the peak of its popularity in the 1990s, it’s a good thing. New guitarist Josh Kinghoffer, to whom Keidis referred in his comments, noted, "It’s the first time the band took more than a couple of months off probably in the last 10 years." So there you have it…it’s not a comeback. It’s just a new album.

New Dancing with the Stars Cast Revealed

Dancing with the Stars has the luxury of hand-picking it's celebrity and near-celebrity contestants for every season, and with 12 seasons already under its belt, DWTS knows what it's doing. The show has mastered the art of sprinkling in just enough eye candy, just enough train wreck, just enough controversy and just enough nearly-legitimate celebrity, to appeal to a wide swath of the American viewing public.

This year's cast is certainly no exception and may be one of the more exaggerated groups of contestants that DWTS has managed to produce. Chaz Bono and Nancy Grace are probably the two most provocative contestants - and both are sure to draw fire and scrutiny from the far right and far left among the viewing public. Kristin Cavallari fills the eye candy role vacated by last season's surprise contender, Audrina Patridge. Ron Artest of the Los Angeles Lakers is there representing professional athletes and David Arquette assumes the David Hasselhoff role as the contestant who most closely resembles a legitimate Hollywood celebrity.

Of course, Arquette's appearance on the show may be the most interesting of all, given his ongoing struggles with addiction and his deteriorating marriage to Courtney Cox. Given Cox's still-secure A-list status, it's hard to imagine that Arquette feels like a stint on DWTS is going to offer him any sort of career boost. Assuming that he is still sober, it's a puzzling choice.

But once the dancing and the judging start, celebrity status really just fades away. That's really the brilliance of the show. Viewers get to see the "celebrities" simply as contestants who are trying to compete in a skill that is foreign to many of them.

List of Movies Featuring Dogs

The bond between a man and his dog is just indescribable. The reason I am saying this because its one of those few relationships which are not based on conditions. Dogs are known for their giving nature and undying care for their owners and they expect nothing in return. This is one relationship where the master is always the receiver and the dog is always the giver. This amazing bond has also been highlighted on the silver screen and provided movie lovers with some amazing moments. Here are some great dog movies to watch.

Amazing Dog Movies

Almost everyone loves a dog movie, even people who are scared of dogs love to see the majestic animal saving the day and standing up for good. Dog movies are one of the best examples of family movies. These movies also serve as a good source of entertainment and inspiration for young minds and they start loving their pets even more.

Beethoven, 1992
Beethoven tops my list because it is a personal favorite and also because the movie contains all the elements of a perfect family flick. The story is about a cute and loving St. Bernard (Beethoven) and how a loving family welcomes the dog into their home. Every actor in the movie has played a significant role but the dog is a show stealer, for sure.

101 Dalmatians, 1996
This is probably the best dog film produced by Disney till date. 101 Dalmatians broke all box office records on it is release and also got universal acclaim. The film stars Glen Close, Jeff Daniels, Joely Richardson and two very cute Dalmatians. 101 Dalmatians is one of the most popular family films of all time and it is great fun to watch even today.

Hachi: A Dog's Tale, 2009
Inspired from a true story, this movie is the finest example of a dog's loyalty towards its master. This tear jerker is based on the life of an incredible dog Hachi and the special relationship the pet shared with its master played by Richard Gere. I certainly won't give out the details on this one. The movie is a must watch and keep some tissues with you at all times.

Marley & Me, 2008
Inspired from the autobiographical book by John Grogan, Marley & Me is a comedy drama film about a mischievous dog and the owners. This movie is filled with the mischief of the dog and it stars Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston. The movie is a complete entertainer and is a perfect balance of happy and sad moments.

Bolt, 2008
One of the best animated dog films from Disney, Bolt is a story of a German Shepherd who works on a TV show as a super dog and thinks its powers are for real. Bolt is accidentally shipped to New York from Hollywood and embarks on a mission to reunite with its owner. The movie was a big hit among kids and adults and it also gathered lots of praise from movie critics. Celebrities such as John Travolta and Miley Cyrus have lend their voices for this movie.

Turner and Hooch, 1989
Among the best cop and dog movies of its time, Turner and Hooch stars Tom Hanks as detective Turner who is stuck with a French Mastiff Hooch which is a trouble maker. Turner has to tolerate the dog because the dog is his only hope to crack a murder case. A good example of a man and dog relationship that becomes stronger with time.

Country Star Chely Wright Marries Girlfriend Lauren Blitzer

Chely Wright, who famously came out and announced that she was a lesbian just over a year ago, has married her girlfriend Lauren Blitzer. Wright posted wedding photos on Twitter, showing both she and Blitzer wearing white gowns. After announcing her sexual orientation in May, 2010, Wright did an interview where she addressed the mindset in the country music scene regarding homosexuality. While the format has morphed from its roots of sweet melodies, true stories of pain and suffering and steel guitars and fiddles to what can mostly be classified as bad rock and roll performed by people in cowboy hats, it seems that the long-rooted resistance to anything else that is non-traditional remains.

In that interview over a year ago, Wright noted, "It's the unforgivable. Historically, country music would rather an artist be a drunk - they even encourage and endorse that one. You get good money from Jim Beam to put that emblem on the side of your bus. I was on the Crown Royal tour, and I have to say it was one of my favorite tours. They would rather you were a drug addict than be gay. They will forgive you if you beat your wife, lose your kids to state, get six divorces, make a sex tape, get labeled as a tramp - any and all of it is better than being gay."

Wright is, well...right, of course. And it's odd from a genre that has been willing to all but forget its roots and open the doors for such a watered down version of its original format that Alan Jackson and George Strait created the song "Murder on Music Row," an allusion to the fact that country music had been wiped out of Music Row in Nashville, Tennessee in favor of "drums and rock and roll guitars [that] are mixed up in your face."

Hound Dog Composer Jerry Leiber Dies

Legendary songwriter Jerry Leiber has died of cardiopulmonary failure in Los Angeles at the age of 78. He was part of one of the best songwriting teams of the '50s and '60s when he teamed up with Mike Stoller. This team of two gave the world hits like 'Jailhouse Rock', 'Hound Dog', 'Yakety Yak', 'Loving You', 'Stand By Me', besides numerous others. As part of this hit songwriting team, Jerry Leiber wrote the lyrics, while Mike Stoller was in charge of composing the music. And the two went on to create some magic that mesmerized audiences the world over.

Jerry Leiber was from Baltimore, but he moved to Los Angeles, where he met and teamed up with Mike Stoller. And the duo simply never looked back once they came out with the number one hit of Elvis Presley - 'Hound Dog' in 1956, which was actually a reinvented rock and roll classic that Jerry had written for Willie Mae "Big Mamma" Thorton in 1953. Interestingly, though Elvis' version was a bigger hit, Jerry always maintained that he personally preferred Thorton's version. They also created some unforgettable music for the likes of Barbra Streisand, Buddy Holly, the Rolling Stones, the Beatles, Aretha Franklin and Jerry Lee Lewis. President of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, Terry Stewart said, "The music world lost today one of its greatest poet laureates. Jerry not only wrote the words that everyone was singing, he led the way in how we verbalized our feelings about the societal changes we were living within post-World War II life. Appropriately, his vehicles of choice were the emerging populist musical genres of rhythm and blues and then rock and roll."

The duo were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1985, the Producers Hall of Fame in 1986, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988. With the passing away of Jerry Leiber, indeed, the world has today lost one of its greatest contributors to the music industry.

Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner Expecting Third Child

A brief statement from their publicists announced that Affleck and Garner are excited to be announce that they are expecting a third child at some point in the future. Now that the news is out, I'm sure we're going to get a steady dose of "baby bump" shots of Garner with some sprinkling of Ben playing with their two daughters while Mom takes it easy. Whatever the case, Hollywood never gets tired of adding new famous babies to cover.

Between the Jolie-Pitt's and Suri and the growing number of babies from Hollywood's elite, the entertainment media and paparazzi always have some fall-back content in the event of slow news cycles. Every few weeks, we get feature pieces on the children of Hollywood's hottest celebrities. The reason is that there are usually significant periods of time during which nothing "newsworthy" happens to said hot celebrities.

What better way to fill content space and sell magazines than by splashing cute pictures of babies and toddlers on your cover? Who doesn't want to hear the speculative details about how Angelina and Brad rear their brood? Is Suri Cruise on a diet? Is she too old for a pacifier? Too young for high heels? You tell me.

And while the media obsession with Hollywood babies is only going to grow as more enter the world, it won't be long before we're onto the next generation of Hollywood parents and their perfect bundles of joy. And the circle of life starts anew.

Tips for Runway Modeling

The minute you say the word 'fashion' you can see in your mind glamorous models sashaying on the ramp one behind the other, and you can hear the shutterbug go "click click click!" The fashion industry in New york City alone is responsible for the employment of over 150,000 people, representing more than 5% of the working people of NYC. The fashion industry is responsible for a turnover of almost $9 billion as wage yearly. The tax revenue generated by the fashion industry totals to more than $1.5 billion. More than 200,000 people flock to NYC every year for the Fashion Week to see models walk down the ramp wearing creations of designers.

Now just imagine being a part of all this... better still, being one of those girls wearing those designer creations and having all those shutterbugs go "click click click!" at. Feeling dizzy? Get a grip! Being a runway model is awesome! But not everyone who dares to enter this field makes it big. Find out in this article, what it takes to be good... and to leave every single person in the audience with his/her mouth wide open!

A Technical Presentation of Television

Mass Media includes the written press, the audio-visual means and multimedia systems. Newspapers, radio and television claim to offer people information concerning the political, economical and cultural life of society, concerning education, health, international relationships, public persons, and so on. Moreover, mass-media circulates opinions and viewpoints regarding public interest events. At the same time, it informs citizens regarding the way in which public institutions work. Because of this reason the press was proclaimed the fourth state power.

The written press is the oldest type of mass media communication. It comprises: magazines, also called gazettes and journals, or daily magazines. They are issued every day. Their role is to keep the public informed about the newest events. Depending on the way of diffusion, we can classify them as central, regional or local gazettes. Depending on the type of information given, the majorities have a general profile; others are specialized in sports and economic news, and so on. There are also many magazines and publications with a weekly appearance or which are issued every month, every semester, and so on. Because of that they are also called periodicals. Most of them are specialized or they are addressed to a target audience such as youth, women, IT experts, sports lovers, rock music fans, and many more.

Among the audio-visual means we can mention the radio, which renders sound messages, and the television, which communicates through sound and images. Depending on the area of reception, we can speak of national and local televisions. Depending on its owner, there are public and private televisions. Private televisions have mostly a commercial character; there are many commercial sports intercalated among the TV programs. TV programs are broadcasted in ether through satellite or relays. Multimedia systems are communication and information means using computer science.

Television is the mass communication medium with the greatest impact on our society. Technically speaking, it is defined as a procedure of decomposing, distance broadcast and than recomposing images. Television was invented between the two World Wars and developed as part of the great mass media only at the end of 1940, first in the United States and then in Europe.

A child of radio and cinematography, television has long preserved a language which, being original, allows it to take an essential part in the media system. When it appeared, at the beginning of 1930, it suddenly caused the surprise of the first observers, who were fascinated with a sort of "tele-presence" allowed by this uncanny media form. Analysts state that television is a documentary means which increases considerably radio’s power of information, adding hearing to vision. Television work is based on selenium’s capacity to transform luminous energy in electrical energy and vice verse, because of the electrons’ radiations.

The analysis of the image can be done with the help of an electronic camera, which converts the optic image in a correspondence image. For that, a fascicle of electrons scans behind a screen which is made of a multitude of luminous points, disposed on 525 lines which make up 25 images (photogram) per second. The analyzed image is transformed in an electric signal which will be broadcasted through radio diffusion. Upon its reception, the image is reconstructed through the same procedure. The screen of a television is made of a plurality of fluorescent points, excited by modulating the electronic signals, and the luminosity being rendered by the cathodic tube’s voltage. The camera seems to imitate quite in details the human eye and is the main tool in the television industry. A camera essentially serves for catching luminous signals, electromagnetic radiations and to transform them into electric signal.

If the images that are found in the field interest of the camera can suffer changes in time, space and color, the resulting electric signal varies only in time. Electromagnetic waves by which the television signal is broadcasted have ultra short wavelengths (from 10 meters to 0.1 millimeters), or extremely high frequencies respectively (from 300 Megahertz to 3000 Gigahertz). Like in the case of the radio, there are two main compartments: the studio and the technical direction. The studio is an inner space inside the television building in which the broadcast is being performed. There, the presenter realizes the program, being filmed by the cameramen. Each image taken by the video cameras inside the studio is visible on a monitor in the technical direction department. All the technical aspects including the software necessary to make a movie or clip, any kind of required arrangement in order to obtain the desired result takes place in this technical studio where the video takes its final shape.

Jada Pinkett and Will Smith Deny Break-up Rumors

At some point yesterday, entertainment headlines started blaring that Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, one of the few allegedly successful Hollywood couples, were breaking up. That carried on throughout the day, until the following joint statement was issued by Will and Jada via Access Hollywood:

"Although we are reluctant to respond to these types of press reports, the rumors circulating about our relationship are completely false. We are still together, and our marriage is intact."

And while it would be very easy to dismiss the whole episode as a result of overzealous and erroneous reporting on the part of the entertainment media - specifically InTouch Weekly - it's probably best to simply put the notion of a Smith break-up on the shelf for now. No one's going to convince me that InTouch Weekly should be trusted on the merits of their journalistic integrity, but digging up gossip on celebrities is their entire reason for existence. So, in that sense, I give them the benefit of the doubt that they uncovered something very tangible and very convincing, which suggested that the Smith marriage was finished.

Perhaps publishing the headline was premature, and that would appear to be the case given the joint statement denial. But I'm still betting that there was something uncovered that would lead a reasonable person to assume that the Smith marriage is in big trouble. Maybe the story goes away entirely, but I'm betting that we hear more about this at some point in the next year or two, possibly sooner.

Alec Baldwin Moves in with Young Girlfriend, Ponders Run for Mayor of NYC

Alec Baldwin is riding high with the success of 30 Rock, which is set to embark on yet another Emmy-nominated season in a few weeks. He's generally considered one of the most talented comedic actors in prime time and he has managed to rebuild his image after some ugly incidents involving his daughter and ex-wife Kim Basinger.

Now, Baldwin has shacked up with his girlfriend Hilaria Thomas, a yoga instructor who now shares an apartment with Baldwin in SoHo. The couple has been spotted all over the city and East Hampton, often with what appear to be versions of promise rings on their fingers. When asked about their future together, both have hinted at possibilities, but declined to offer specifics.

Given the age difference, it wouldn't seem to make much sense on either side for the pair to marry. Especially given Baldwin's difficult past as a result of his marriage to Basinger. Of course, he'd be even more wise to avoid marriage if a run for political office is really in his head. There would be nothing worse than a full-court press from the media to dig up anything possible on a young wife like Thomas.

Baldwin has reportedly dropped numerous hints that he would consider a run for Mayor of New York City at some point in the future. He acknowledged that he would likely have to wait until after the upcoming 2013 election, since his responsibilities with 30 Rock would most likely continue beyond that point. But as the show will probably wind down in the coming years, it's very easy to envision Baldwin trying to make a run at public office. He's intelligent and would likely be comfortable with the scrutiny and constant media attention. Whether he would be a competent mayor is another question altogether.

PlayStation Vita Release Date And Price

When it comes to gaming, no one is content to simply play their games only on their consoles. When traveling, for portable entertainment on the go, unfortunately a game console cannot be taken everywhere. Playing games on a mobile phone, be it smart or simple, is not the same thing. A mobile phone, no matter how hi-tech, needs to have dedicated hardware to handle different games and their graphics. But with a handheld game console, on a smaller screen but with dedicated machinery, play games anywhere and everywhere. In the arena of handheld consoles, the two heavyweights are Sony and Nintendo, always engaged in a game of electronic one-upmanship with each other. The Sony PlayStation Portable (PSP) released in 2004, was a top handheld device and has sold 72.99 million units since its release. But it was outshone by the Nintendo DS, the most popular and best-selling handheld console ever. Lately Nintendo has released the 3DS, a 3D handheld console. Not to be outdone, Sony's return-fire upcoming handheld is the Sony PlayStation (PS) Vita.

A Look Under the PlayStation Vita's Hood

So why all the fuss about this handheld? Go through the following PS Vita specs to get what is the big deal in this little gaming machine:

• 5 inch OLED touch screen interface on the front and the rear of the console. Use your fingers to move your in-game characters.
• A motion system like no other - Sixaxis® motion sensors, gyroscope, accelerometer and compass.
• Front camera allows you to see and interact with other players.
• Rear camera allows for Augmented Reality (AR) gaming (play in real world video settings).
• Dual camera system tracks player's head movement and allows face detection.
• Familiar PlayStation face buttons (triangle, square, x and circle) and D-Pad (direction pad) allow traditional handheld input.
• Dual analog sticks let you change camera angles with just a flick. Ideal for first person shooters.
• Backward compatibility - Play any PSP game on the Vita.
• Connect to the Internet wirelessly or through 3G (provided by AT&T, separate device).
• Storage media slot and NVG (Sony proprietary flash card) used for software input.
• Equipped with stereo speakers and a microphone, Bluetooth and GPS ability (only with 3G model).
• Chat while gaming and access social networking sites through Facebook and Twitter app support.

In addition to the above drool-worthy features and specs, here's a line-up of PlayStation Vita games, specially designed for the touch-joystick control system:

• Dynasty
• Gravity
• HotShots Golf
• Hustle Kings
• Little Deviants
• LittleBigPlanet
• ModNation Racers
• Reality Fighters
• Resistance: Burning Skies
• Ruin
• Sound Shapes
• Super Stardust Delta
• Uncharted: Golden Abyss
• Virtua Tennis 4
• Wipeout

PlayStation Vita Release Date and Price

Rumors of new releases float around, especially with big-name companies like Sony. But the first real confirmation that a new Sony handheld was being released, came with an official Sony announcement in Tokyo in January. At this E3 (Electronic Entertainment Expo) 2011, the device's real name was released (it was formerly known as the Sony NGP) as well as some specs. The PS Vita release date at that time was breezily announced as during the holiday season. Most Sony products are released first in Japan, then North America and Europe. But Sony went all mum about any further release details like where will it debut and when. So at that time the PSV was expected to hit U.S. stores in late October - early November, in time for the holiday rush. Sadly that bubble is burst with Sony's latest announcement.

As per a Sony press release and the official PSV site, the PSV release date has been pushed to the end of the year.. in Japan. So once it debuts in Japan, it will hit American and European shores only in the early months of 2012. That means no PSV for Thanksgiving or for Christmas (major bummer). No further details are given about the release, like a confirmed date or shipment policies, other than a "phased roll out". But maybe in the upcoming Tokyo Game Show (TGS) 2011, held in mid-September, Sony may release an official release date and some more release information. And what about the cost?

The PS Vita price details have remained the same, no increase or decrease in the released price information. At the time of its launch, the PlayStation Vita's price was US dollars $249 (Wi-Fi) and $299 for 3G. Likewise the European pricing is €249 for the Wi-Fi model and €299 for the 3G model. In Japan, the price of the PSV is 24,980 yen (Wi-Fi) and 29,980 yen (3G). The PSV's price tag of $250 for the Wi-Fi version seems to be on the high-end of the handheld console price spectrum. The Nintendo DS had the same price at its launch. Recently however, the DS's price has been slashed majorly in a bid to revive flagging sales (price drop from $250 to $170).

Dancing with the Stars has the luxury of hand-picking it's celebrity and near-celebrity contestants for every season, and with 12 seasons already unde

Beyonce came to the VMAs with the biggest story of the night hidden under her red, flowing gown. As it turns out, she couldn't even get past the red carpet before revealing that she was pregnant and that she and Jay-Z are beyond ecstatic about the news. She is apparently getting close to three months pregnant, so there is no word at this point as to the sex of the baby or even when, exactly, she is due.

And while Beyonce and Jay-Z definitely had the big story of the night, there was actually a major awards show that occurred as well. And what would a major music awards show be without some antics from Lady Gaga and Britney Spears. This time around, Gaga appeared on stage as her male alter ego, Jo Calderone. Britney remained in character as, well, Britney. Eventually, to the surprise of no one, the two found themselves in an awkward onstage kiss, so obviously reminiscent of Britney and Madonna's kiss so many years ago. Christina Aguilera was there as well, but that's not what's remembered.

Given the forward-looking nature of MTV and its creative leaders, don't you think it's time that they took a different route with regard to the "Britney kissing someone onstage" routine. First of all, Britney Spears is no longer the hot little number who captivated fans of all ages with her string of hits laden with sexual innuendo. Nothing against Britney, but it's probably time to pass the torch on the whole act.

Counterfeiting of Brands in India

Rapid advancement in technology and liberalization of the Indian economy have created an ideal market for people misusing existing brand values that have been cultivated and nurtured over a period of time. The mushrooming growth has also given rise to despicable marauding activity, which is nothing but piracy. But the question arises here is that is it the popularity factor which promotes counterfeiting among people or the need factor? I guess it is both.


Counterfeiting also referred as piracy in a common trade parlance mean the unlawful acquisition by a person of the property of another person without his consent. Ever since the evolution of brands, the business has marked a trend in the society where everyone wants to associate himself/herself with the latest quality fashion trends in different forms like branded clothes, institutes, branded products etc. After all, what matters at the end is to show off the branded You!!


The word ounterfeit describes the forgeries of currency and documents but these days the imitations of clothing, software, pharmaceuticals, jeans, watches, electronics, and company logos and brands have become common in the market. In the case of goods, it results in patent infringement or trademark infringement.Certain consumer goods, especially very expensive or desirable brands or those which are easy to reproduce at low rates have become quite frequent and common targets of counterfeiting. The counterfeiters either attempt to deceive the consumer into thinking they are purchasing a legitimate item, or convince the consumer that they could deceive others with the imitation. Some counterfeits are produced in the same factory that produces the original, authentic product, using the same materials.

Indian metros have become base for manufacturing counterfeit products and account for maximum Intellectual Property Rights violations. Delhi is the hub of counterfeit products in India as nearly 70 per cent counterfeit products originate here.


Again the question comes is what has evoked counterfeiting?


Brand business, its growth /competitions etc has led to availability of counterfeits because of the fact brand sells and makes you outstand and therefore the need to copy, pirate, counterfeit has emerged along with the growth of brands.In India, the direct loss to FMCG industry is also not less than ` 200 million. A survey was conducted to estimate the size of counterfeit of FMCG products and it revealed the stark reality of FMCG companies having maximum loss up to 40% and an average loss around 20% of their market share of their well known products.


The biggest concern is, however, the customers attraction towards these pirate products is directly proportional to price of these products which are sold at 40 to 45% lesser value than the original. A common man with limited knowledge falls for the counterfeit products due to its cheap or discounted prices. Enforcement of laws against counterfeiting is not so strict in India which is another big jolt for the brand industry.


As counterfeiting has become an economic problem of international importance and has been growing dramatically across the globe, manufacturers of the original products and government find themselves in a constant battle against counterfeiters. This has led to a variety of countermeasures based on lawful, political, administrative, or business techniques. The framework also considers the interplay of attitudes, purchase intentions, and dissonance that leads to coping processes and in turn influences attitudes and decisions. Counterfeiting appears in two different forms, as deceptive and non-deceptive counterfeiting. Under receptive counterfeiting, the consumer is not aware of the fact that he/she purchases a copy rather than the original product and cannot be held accountable for the behavior. Focus is on non-deceptive counterfeiting, where consumers intentionally purchase fake products.

Why You Shouldn’t Care About Small Business Pessimism

At first glance, today’s small business optimism index released by the National Federation of Independent Businesses might make you a little depressed: More than a quarter of small businesses indicated that sales were lower this month than last, and borrowing activity is at a 38-year low. And the index, pegged at 90.2, is only a few measly points higher than it was in January 2009, when the economy bottomed out.

And if you’re expecting Uncle Sam to swoop in and save the day, NFIB chief economist Bill Dunkelberg says don’t hold your breath.

“As for help from Washington, the Federal Reserve is “out of bullets” and Congress is completely ineffective,” Dunkelberg said in a statement. “Fiscal policy is in disarray and all that is proposed is higher spending and more regulations and higher taxes to support it. Not the type of incentives that help stimulate economic growth.”

So, feeling good yet? You should.

Sales may have flatlined in recent months, but the future may not be so bleak. The National Retail Federation is expecting a 2.8 percent increase in holiday sales this year, while trade associations like ShopperTrak and IBIS World predicted a 3 percent increase. A recent Purdue University survey sees that number jumping to 4 percent.

If sales numbers don’t sway you, just take a look at the recent job numbers as a marker of optimism. In October, about half of all job gains reported by ADP—pegged at about 110,000—came from small businesses, while larger firms, on the other hand, have consistently scaled back on their payrolls. The NFIB also found that a net of 3 percent of small business owners plan to create new jobs in the next three months—”the strongest reading for 2011 to date.” And a study released last week from researchhers at Pepperdine University found that though confidence among small business owners had dipped significantly since last Spring, almost half of the surveyed businesses said they plan to hire more employees in the next six months.

And SurePayroll Small Business Scorecard, which measures payroll data of 35,000 small businesses across the country, found its own confidence index surge 20 percentage points in October—one of the biggest raises in recent memory.

“Typically entrepreneurs don’t let the so-called “state of the union” hold them down,” says Michael Alter, the president of SurePayroll. ”When things get tough, they knuckle down and find a way to turn the negatives in their favor. They’re in it for the long haul and they know that the long haul sometimes requires faith and a fight.”

And it isn’t just American entrepreneurs that are feeling more confident these days, either. Our northern neighbors in Canada are starting to see the light as well.

“More business owners are saying their recent performance has been better than at any time since the recession began,” says Ted Mallett, the chief of economist of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB), in a statement. In fact, the CFIB saw its own index jump a few percentage points in October. “After falling back significantly in August and September, amid economic uncertainty, business owners seem to have restored at least some of their capital spending plans,” he added.

Speaking of capital spending, it’s also worth adding that small businesses are starting to view financing as a relatively insignificant barrier to entry. According to the NFIB report, just 4 percent of business owners grieved over finding access to capital, and the amount of small businesses that plan to increase capital outlays rose a whopping 21 percent since September.

And, contrary to Dunkelberg’s dire assertion, Washington may yet assist small business owners with access to capital. There are currently four bills entering Congress in the coming weeks that are meant to make it easier for small business to get cash. They include the Private Company Flexibility and Growth Act, the Access to Capital for Job Creators Act, the Entrepreneur Access to Capital Act, and H.R. 1965, which seeks to de-regulate small banks’ ability to lend.

So while the NFIB reported just a ‘minor uptick’ in confidence, the big picture results are hardly glum. We’re curious how you feel, though. Let us know in the comments section below how confident you are these days, and what you would like to see happen in Washington that might make you see the glass half full.