Memento Mori

Power, in its most technical and specific sense, means the ability to advance interests through exertion of influence, discussion or diplomacy, or force of arms. People like Oprah and Rowling are famous, and as such their words have some weight. However, they are both limited by their professions, not simply different than Dr. Rice or Chancellor Merkel. In addition, while Oprah does attempt on a daily basis to make serious, thoughtful comments and from her point of view, improve the world - her "power base" is mostly married stay-at-home women. While there's nothing wrong with that, it's just limiting. JK Rowling writes children's fiction (which many adults also enjoy, obviously) and isn't exactly in the business of affecting the world in any ways other than expanding her bank account and possibly encouraging reading. Rowling, more than Oprah, would find it incredibly difficult just to step into the international arena and really make a difference. There can be plenty of debate over whether or not Condi Rice wields any effective power, being a subordinate, but Merkel (and others mentioned) are sovereign leaders of countries. States (like Germany and India) are the principle actors on the world stage, and in effect are answerable to no-one (not even the United Nations takes away a country's sovereignty...basically the right to rule itself and conduct foreign policy).

Here's Marisa' fathead pic, taken from the website zoom preview and patched together...

more...

More P2 photos:

Just to bump Marisa and answer this... In Madden/NCAA (I prefer the latter) when I'm backed up in my own end zone I usually try to run off-tackle (not with a pitch, those lead to a bunch of fumbles or tackles for loss). Often the defense is pre-occupied with stuffing the middle, and if you can break through a tackle or two, your big RB is into the secondary and breaks off a nice long run.

Uh, I was under the impression that this was good. In fact, I'm going to stick to that impression. /mmm, Kelly Brook

Yes it is. If you pass you have to drop back into the end zone, which could lead to a safety. When you're that backed up, you play it as safe as possible. If you fark up the execution, well, that's just bad luck. You run the ball and try to get some room for your punter.

2 weeks ago? There was a big controversy over where Tom Brady would be... the birth or Gisele's birthday.

Josie, of course.

Rice is probably up there, regardless of any political controversy. Anyway, it's Dr. Rice. Oprah's influence is mostly domestic. Gisele is a model, and in the grand scheme of things, who cares? Sure, she's the richest model, but it's a drop in the barrel in the scope we're talking about. Hillary Clinton's power is mostly presumptive, but there's no guarantee she can get past Obama, or even the Republican nominee - given the baggage she carries with her (she has high negatives among Republicans who may not otherwise vote for an underwhelming GOP candidate unless it is to keep her out). Angela Merkel is probably near the top. A few decades ago I might have mentioned Queen Elizabeth II, but I'm not sure how much real influence the monarchy has anymore. Pratibha Patil is Prime Minister of India. So I'd probably go with... Condi Rice - In summary, the Secretary of State of the United States is one of the most influential posts in the world. If she says something, it's world news. Regardless of who she works for. Angela Merkel - Chancellor of Germany, one of the most influential European states with a strong economy Pratibha Patil - Prime Minister of the second most populous nation in the world, and a nuclear power.

I try not to get into these kinds of discussions (personality) - but to be fair, just a few years ago Angelina Jolie was wearing a vial of Billy Bob's blood around her neck.

I thought biel dated jeter. Did alba date him too? Yeah, a long time ago. Derek Jeter has pretty much dated everybody.

Here's some more: Plus a bonus promotional shot from P2

A few more...

In theory? No. In common practice? Nope. I'm against really, really ugly tattoos.

whats wrong with being american?

I'd agree, but she added about 8 flaws with her poor decision-making.

This.

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Another set of caps...

A ton more... /monthly_06_2007/post-400-0-1593839859-67331_thumb.jpg" class="ipsImage ipsImage_thumbnailed" alt="elisha_cuthbert-cfda07_3276.jpg">

'RGX Girl' Rachel Specter Wants To Be Known For More Than Body-Spray Ads Model/actress has become Internet sensation since commercials began airing, but she's hoping for lasting success in film, TV. By Josh Horowitz Stardom — or, at the very least, notoriety — can come in any number of ways. It came for Lana Turner after she was discovered in a soda shop. Paris Hilton shot up to the A-list (or at least the cover of the tabloids) thanks to a sex tape. So why can't a career be made from four commercials for a men's body spray? Rachel Specter certainly isn't complaining. "Everyone has to start somewhere," the model/actress said, describing the unlikely vehicle for her sudden popularity. Specter is the latest in a relatively small line of actors and models who have found their visibility raised exponentially thanks to little more than a 30-second spot on television. But perhaps that's selling "the RGX girl" short. Forget trying to convey star power and charisma on the big screen in a few choice scenes. Imagine trying to be memorable in a commercial for a body spray that always seems to air right before Rosie welcomes the audience back to "The View." Either you've seen the commercials or you haven't. And if you have, you remember them. You remember them with a crystal-clear recall that simply doesn't befit an ad for a men's grooming product. She's talking to you, slowly approaching the camera in a clingy black dress. "I want to smell you from right here," she says with a mix of sly whimsy and come-hither sexiness. Her presence combines Rachel Bilson-like perkiness (fitting, since Specter was cast in a Comedy Central pilot aping Summer from "The O.C.") with the get-a-load-of-this sex appeal of Denise Richards. Specter recalls the notes she was given for the audition. "The description was a 20-something model type who is also approachable," she said. "They had us read it a few different ways. Like, 'This time read it like you're giving advice to your little brother.' They obviously didn't go with that one." No, they didn't. Not for the aforementioned ad or for the spot in which Specter leans forward, her low-cut top leaving little to the imagination, while talking about a man's confidence. If you forgot what the ad was selling, you'd be forgiven. Since the four spots Specter shot in February began airing, there has been a noticeable difference in her day-to-day life. "Sometimes people look at me weird, but I'm not sure if they recognize me or they're just looking at me weird," she said. But the greatest indication of her upwardly mobile fame factor? Google searches and MySpace popularity. "A week after the ads started airing, my MySpace page started to blow up," Specter said. She explains that there quickly seemed to be a large Internet conversation under way: Who is the RGX girl? A quick search of "RGX girl" bears this out. Debates over her sexiness vs. the Carl's Jr. girl's are outnumbered only by those desperate to discover her name. Of course Specter hopes her name gets in the hands of the right people. The real question for her lies in whether she can transcend "RGX girl" status to become something more in line with her ambitions. The history of flavor-of-the-month commercial wonders is a checkered one. For every Rebecca Gayheart, who was able to go from Noxzema girl to "90210" actress, or even Ali Landry, the onetime Doritos girl who's achieved a modicum of celebrity, there are a dozen Dell dudes. If your memory is foggy (and that proves the point, doesn't it?), Benjamin Curtis was best known as the Dell dude some years back thanks to a string of commercials in which the young actor was positively stoked about your purchase of a computer. The last bit of attention Curtis garnered was for a marijuana arrest in 2003. Specter is well aware of the pitfalls that can plague budding actors who achieve fame in unlikely places. But things are looking up, she insisted. When MTV News spoke with her she was enthused about the biggest development to come from her newfound notoriety. "I just did a table read today for a movie that Adam Sandler's company is producing," she said. "They called my people and were like, 'Can we get the girl from the RGX commercials?' " And so there Specter was, reading alongside Sandler, Anna Faris and America Ferrera. Not bad for a young woman who just three years ago arrived in Los Angeles from Florida without a clue. "I didn't know what I was doing," she admitted. Meanwhile, RGX is clearly happy with the arrangement. Specter's four commercials are all over YouTube, littered with comments ranging from the flattering to the obscene. As for how that translates into sales, Advertising Age magazine reports that the campaign is working, with the Right Guard spinoff garnering "1.5 share points in the body-spray category." Specter is uncertain where the campaign goes from here. She says she shot six commercials over the two-day shoot, leaving two more ads waiting for a giddy public eager to grab screen captures and debate her status on message boards. (We'll save you the trouble: She has a boyfriend.) Until then, Specter's quest for lasting success continues. She has already guest-starred on shows like "Entourage" and "How I Met Your Mother" and appeared in films opposite Harvey Keitel and Steven Seagal. On working with the latter, she reveals a savvy that belies her inexperience. "No comment," she laughed. Welcome to Hollywood. http://www.mtv.com/movies/news/articles/1560228/story.jhtml

:blink: no more VSFS or promotion interviews at Conan or Jay or wherever.... :cry: Well, I imagine if she does Angels & Demons she'll get plenty of exposure, and more movie roles.

Where do taste, touch, and smell fall into the equation?