Technology behind new Lennon TV ad
LONDON, Dec. 27 (UPI) -- The late British singer John Lennon says in a new TV commercial, made possible through modern technology, that the world's poor children need access to laptops.
The Daily Telegraph reported Friday that digital technology has allowed the late Beatles star to become a TV pitchman for the charity One Laptop per Child.
"Imagine every child no matter where in the world they were could access a universe of knowledge," Lennon is show saying in the commercial, an apparent reference to his solo hit "Imagine."
"They would have a chance to learn, to dream, to achieve anything they want.
"I tried to do it through my music, but now you can do it in a very different way."
Lennon's appearance in the commercial was approved by his widow, singer Yoko Ono, the British newspaper said.
Lennon was shot and killed in New York by a fan on Dec. 8, 1980.
Cowell shows off toned body in Barbados
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Dec. 27 (UPI) -- "America Idol" judge Simon Cowell says he works hard to maintain the toned body he recently showed off during a Barbados vacation.
The 49-year-old said a regimen of vitamins and a steady diet has allowed him to sustain a toned physique despite his advancing age, the Daily Mail reported Friday.
"I have had Botox but not in an obsessive way," Cowell said. "I just like to take care of myself. I am eating a lot better and have cut out the chocolate biscuits and crisps.
"I work out, take lots of vitamins and think I look good for my age."
The star of the British TV series "X Factor" said his focus on his looks is part of an overall TV culture obsessed with an individual's public image.
"I am vain but I cannot think of one person on TV who is not. It is the nature of the beast," Cowell told the British newspaper.
Hepburn Center may invigorate Conn. town
HARTFORD, Conn., Dec. 27 (UPI) -- A former Wall Street executive says the town of Old Saybrook, Conn., will likely benefit from the creation of the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center.
Bob Czepiel, now a filmmaker, said he and his wife Anne donated $100,000 toward the creation of the site aimed at remembering the late cinematic actress, The Hartford (Conn.) Courant reported Saturday.
The center will house a 250-seat theater dedicated to the "Love Among the Ruins" star, who lived in Old Saybrook before her death in 2003.
The couple agreed that while making the donation helped with the site's price tag of more than $5.6 million, it and the entire center project was a risk.
"During times like this, to get aggressive and do something like this is insane," Czepiel said, apparently referring to the economic recession. "But I am a dreamer, and I learned on Wall Street early on that you have to learn to lean against the wind."
"This whole lower Connecticut River Valley area could be a cultural mecca," his wife offered. "This center will sort of tie it all together."
Czepiel told the Courant he is hopeful the $100,000 donation will spur more donations to the project and its $1.7 million fundraising goal.
T-Pain surprised by musical success
ATLANTA, Dec. 27 (UPI) -- Rapper T-Pain says he is surprised by his current success in the U.S. music industry, noting the harsh criticism that greeted his first album.
The 24-year-old rapper said when his first album, "Rappa Ternt Sanga," was released in 2005, he expected to find minor success and then disappear from the nation's music scene, the Chicago Sun-Times reported Saturday.
"I didn't even see myself making it past the first album," he said of his first album's unexpected success in light of criticism. "The amount of hate I was getting for it; just seeing how people didn't really accept me at first. It was weird. I thought I was going to sell a quick 200,000 and be out the game."
Now T-Pain is releasing a third album, "Thr33 Ringz," in the wake of earning gold and platinum CD honors with his first and second album efforts respectively.
Songwriter Bryan-Michael Cox told the Sun-Times the "I'm Sprung" star's success has been based on his ability to produce rhythmic, yet innovative, songs
"T-Pain found a unique way to connect with the audience, the listeners by creating music that is innovative ... with simple rhythmic patterns," he said.
"The result is a hot track that is memorable."
