World’s 20 Most Powerful Athletes for 2011

01. Peyton Manning

The Indianapolis Colts quarterback is more than simply the one of the best players in America’s sport. He’s also a model of class, sportsmanship and overall likability that fans (and sponsors) can’t get enough of.

02. Shaun White

White, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, combines dominance on the slopes with a friendly face and personality. All this adds up to instant marketability.

03. Tiger Woods

Tiger Woods may have fallen from grace, but he hasn’t fallen far. Last year he still made $70 million in endorsements to remain America’s highest paid athlete. But guess who’s not far behind.

04. 04 Phil Mickelson

More than just a moneymaker and an ace golfer, Mickelson provided the feel good sports story of the year when his wife, recovering from breast cancer surgery, met him at the 18th hole of his third Masters victory.

05. Tom Brady

Although he couldn’t make it past Rex Ryan’s Jets, the three-time Super Bowl champ still led his New England Patriots to a staggering 14 regular season wins.

06. Shaquille O’Neal

At 38, the four-time NBA champ has a legitimate chance to earn his fifth ring as the back-up center for the Boston Celtics. Even if the big man falls short, it’s doubtful that his extreme marketability will suffer much.

07. Drew Brees

Want to know how to win the support of fans and sponsors the world over? Try bringing a championship to an American city that’s seen more hard-luck and shown more resiliency than any other. That’s exactly what Drew Brees did for New Orleans.

08. Lance Armstrong

Although Armstrong has seen his share of controversy over the past few years, no number of doping allegations can take away from his cycling accomplishments (winning seven Tour de Frances after beating cancer) and his charity work.

09. Albert Pujols

The perfect antidote to the backlash against baseball over Performance Enhancing Drugs, Pujols is proof that you don’t have to play dirty to dominate the game.

10. Apolo Anton Ohno

Ohno? Oh yes. The Olympic speed skater has won loads of gold medals, but he really captured America’s heart as a contestant on Dancing With the Stars.

11. LeBron James

To some, LeBron is a backstabber who betrayed his hometown team on national TV. To others, he’s a phenomenal player who, like many other athletes, simply wants the best chance to win. For the time being at least, it would appear the public has embraced the first perspective; LeBron slipped a whopping nine spots this year.

12. Michael Phelps

Although it’s been over two years since winning eight gold medals at the Beijing Olympics, that stellar achievement is enough for him to continue raking in the advertising bucks for years to come.

13. Lindsey Vonn

The darling of the 2010 Winter Olympics, Vonn is a sexy, hardworking downhill phenom whose star should only continue to burn bright into the future.

14. Kobe Bryant

In 2009, Bryant won his first NBA title without the big man Shaq down low. But that clearly wasn’t enough for him. Last year he won another title and now has a solid shot of a 2nd three-repeat, a feat that would only be rivaled by the great Michael Jordan.

15. Roger Federer

The Swiss Maestro has won 16 Grand Slam singles titles, more than any other male tennis player in history. He held the ATP number one spot for 237 straight weeks until earlier this month, when the following athlete overtook him…

16. Rafael Nadal

Winner of last year’s French Open, U.S. Open and Wimbledon, the dashing Spaniard’s advertising strategy is wildly varied: he’s been in a claymation viral video, but he’s also gearing up to be the new face (and body of course) of Armani underwear.

17. Eli Manning

While no match for big brother Peyton in the endorsement category, his heroics in Super Bowl XLII have made him a fan favorite pretty much everywhere outside of Foxboro.

18. Serena Williams

The accolades speak for themselves: 27 Grand Slam titles, 2 Olympic golds, and Williams shows no sign of slowing down. And with her fashion line and high-dollar endorsements, Williams’ influence is as potent as her crushing serves.

19. David Beckham

Plagued by injuries, Beckham didn’t exactly have a banner year on the field. But he’s the most recognizable face in international soccer which certainly counts for something ($40.5 million to be exact).

20. Dwayne Wade

Unlike LeBron, Wade didn’t have to betray anyone to get his own personal dream team in Miami. Nevertheless, it looks like he’s suffered from “guilt by association,” falling to number 20 after being ranked sixth in last year’s list.

10 World's Expensive Fountain Pens

Aurora Diamante fountain pen

Price: $1,470,600

The Aurora Diamante is the most expensive writing instrument till date. Only one is for sale per year. The Aurora Diamante contains over 30 carats of De Beers’s diamonds on a solid platinum barrel. It has a two-tone, rhodium-treated, 18KT solid gold nib and is personalized with a coat of arms, signature or portrait. Aurora Pens says it is the only over 30 carat pen in the world.

Mystery Masterpiece – Mont Blanc and Van Cleef & Arpels Limited Edition

Price: $730,000

To commemorate the centenary of these two renowned brands, Montblanc and Van Cleef & Arpels have collaborated on this fine, limited editions Mystery Masterpiece. Three individual editions, each set with either rubies, sapphires, or emeralds, will be crafted. Using the “Mystery Setting” technique for the gemstones, these intricate writing instruments are set to stun with their extravagant design, and equally-extravagant price: at US$730,000 each, they are truly a fitting homage to a century of each brands’ respective history

La Modernista Diamonds – Caran d’Ache

Price: $265,000

La Modernista Diamonds was made by the Swiss company Caran d’Ache in 1999 in homage to Antonio Gaudi (1852-1926), the most famous of Modernist architects. This amazing fountain pen was sold in Harrods, London, for $265,000, becoming the most expensive pen in GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS in 2001. La Modernista Diamonds is made of rhodium-coated solid silver components. It boasts of an 18-carat rhodium-coated gold nib and is set with a total of 5,072 Wessel ton diamonds weighing in at 20-carats, as well as and 96 rubies totalling 32-carats. The pen was hand-made by master jeweler Robert Perron and it took him six months to complete this true masterpiece of writing instruments.

Omas Phoenix Platinum – Fountain Pen Luxury Limited Edition with Diamonds

Price: $60,000

With overwhelming price tag of $60,000, this truncated cone shaped pen is a true embodiment of fact and fancy. Made with 950 platinum and yellow Enamel, with considerable length and diameter, 18K gold rhodiated engraving nib.

Visconti – Ripple H.R.H. Fountain Pen

Price: $ 57,000

One of the most remarkable Visconti pens is Ripple H.R.H. Limited Edition fountain pen. Made of 18K white gold and diamonds and with two-tone 18K gold nib, it costs $57,000.00. It has double reservoir filling system and is sold in two variations – white gold and black.

Visconti – Alchemy H.R.H. Fountain Pens

Price: $ 57,000

The beautifully handcrafted Alchemy HRH by Visconti is part of the HRH collection of handmade fountain pens and roller ball pens from this fine pen maker. This luxury pen, unlike other fountain pens, has two nibs, two ink reservoirs and is trimmed with two different metals � exquisite gold and silver vermeil. Both nibs are of the best 18K gold and come in different sizes to suit every writing style. Even those used to writing with roller ball pens will love using the Alchemy.

The body is made from a classic, rich, red resin and the gold and silver trim is decorated with expensive 4K diamonds and rubies. One cap has gold trim, the other silver, and these trims interlace to create a cosmic map with alchemic symbols – stunning!

Visconti – The Forbidden City H.R.H. Fountain Pen

Price: $50,500.00

The Visconti brand is known for best quality, style and creativity. This distinguished Visconti pen is the Forbidden City H.R.H. Limited Edition fountain Pen. Made of black resin, 18K gold and diamonds and boasting of Power Filler innovative filling system invented by Visconti, it is sold for $50,500.00.

MARTE – Omas Fountain Pen

Price: $43,000

Omas Fountain Pen MARTE is part of the Viaggi dell’Uomo, Travel of Man, Masterpieces collection of custom design fountain pens, roller ball pens and pen sets. The Marte (Italian for Mars) is actually a map of Mars made from classic rose gold to represent the pink-red hue of the planet. Deserts, mountains and craters all feature on the barrel of this pen and four rubies mark the landing points of the Russian and American probes. The cap is encrusted with 2K of small diamonds reminiscent of the polar ice caps and the clip details astronomer Tycho Brahe’s Mural Quadrant. Even the rose gold nib is engraved with a representation of the Greek God Mars! There are just 30 of these fountain pens in circulation, so they are perfect for the pen collector to add to his expensive pen collections, or for the executive who enjoys writing with designe

Gaia High Luxury – Omas Fountain Pens

Price: $43,000

Gaia high Luxury fountain pens and roller ball pens by Omas are a glimpse into the dark and deep recesses of the earth. The impenetrable inner core of the earth has inspired wonder, curiosity and interest in man since creation. A miscellany of precious materials such as the white and yellow 18K gold, the Onyx, the Crystal rock, the hematite and the vegetal resin has been utilized into the making of this mystic model by Omas.

Gaia High Luxury fountain pens and roller ball pens are a presentation in the celebration of Jules Verne’s futuristic vision of the world. It also commemorates the one hundredth death anniversary. Depicting geographical wonders of the world, the pen absolutely differs from pens that reflect the classic essence of history. The dark grey colour of the metal that it is made of, symbolizes the trip to the dark interior of the earth. The body of the pen from top to toe features the engraved images of gigantic spiders, carnivorous plants, and water beasts. The blend of fear and wonder in the engraving of these horrors makes this

particular model different from a range of pen collections

CREW 60TH White Gold – Tebaldi fountain pens

Price: $43,000

TIBALDI Pens CREW 60TH are a landmark in pen making history with Bentley, the automobile giant creating its own handcrafted pen sets in association with the world’s best Italian luxury designer pen maker, Tebaldi.

These expensive Tebaldi for Bentley pens have a two-tone 18-carat yellow gold nib covered in rhodium and ruthenium. The pen’s barrel has the fine finish identical to Bentley’s dashboard. This finish was first used in Bentley’s earliest car with a technique called engine tuning. The pen’s cap and upper and lower barrel parts are knurled for a good grip while writing for the executive. You can see the level of ink through the transparent window of the Tebaldi for Bentley pens. A handmade tie shaped clip on the pen marks Tebaldi’s signature.The Tebaldi for Bentley Crewe 60th white gold fountain pen collection is a limited edition of 40 solid white gold fountain pens.

Top 10 Unusual Gender Selection Techniques

Many couples worldwide are wanting to increase the probability of bearing a baby of a particular gender they want. Some couples have even had four or five sons or daughters, when all they wanted was a child of the opposite gender. There are a few methods out there to help give them the son or daughter of their dreams. Lets discuss some of the techniques parents have tried, to help give them the boy or girl they so wanted to complete their family. Nonetheless, parents, of course, need to love whatever they get, all the same.

10:Chinese Gender Chart

I have put this at the top of the list because most people, in the public or scientific community, just don’t believe this method works. Nonetheless, companies claim that this is an amazing method with 99% accuracy and was found in an ancient tomb. Earth, air, fire and water within the spirits of the parents to be are believed to influence their luck and, therefore, give them a baby of the gender they want. However, surveys have shown the success rate to be a mere 50%, therefore showing this “method” really doesn’t work at all.

9:Dr. Landrum Shettles method

This method has some scientific merit, but not a lot. Shettles claims an 80% for couples wanting a boy and a 75% success rate for those wanting a girl. However, surveys by inGender.com have shown 60% for a boy and 65% for a girl. Shettles theory is based on timing intercourse with ovulation. If the parents want a boy, they are to try for a baby as close to the female’s ovulation as possible. If they want a girl, the are to try 3 or 4 days before ovulation. Shettles theorizes his method works because the father’s gamete bearing an x chromosome (girl) is larger and slower, but lives longer, whereas the father’s gamete bearing a y chromosome (boy) is smaller and faster, but has a shorter life.

8:Diet Method

The diet method has received some fairly positive reviews. Scientists believe that the woman’s diet influences the PH of her reproductive tract. Y chromosome gametes thrive in an alkaline environment, whereas x chromosome gametes prefer an acidic environment. If the couple wants a girl they should eat fish, lettuce and drink lots of milk, generally foods rich in calcium. For a boy, they should eat lots of meat, sodium and eggs, a protein-based diet. Surveys have shown success rates of up to 80% and the diet method seems to actually have produced quite a lot of happy parents, but couples are strongly recommended to talk to their doctor before starting such a strict diet, and many believe it’s not very healthy, especially when trying for a baby.

7:O+12 Method

Kynzi, an Australian mother, discovered this method as a result of many years of wanting a daughter. She had 6 sons, with 5 of whom she had used the Shettles method in hopes of getting a girl. Finally, she figured that maybe his method just didn’t work and decided to try for a baby AFTER her ovulation. She tried 12 hours after all signs of ovulation had passed and got her girl. Many of her friends tried her method as well and many of them got a daughter. Over 12 years, a 70% success rate has been documented for this method. (Note that this method is only for couples who wish to try for a daughter).

6:The Ericsson Method

Founded by Dr. Ronald Ericsson, this doctor believes that Dr. Shettles had some good points. Ericsson experimented by putting semen in a test tube with water in it and allowing the faster y to swim away from the slower x, thus, effectively creating two samples in the tube. A cell would then be artificially inseminated into the female from the desired sample at either end of the test tube in hopes of giving her her awaited son or daughter. It’s about 70 to 80% effective.

5:Microsort

Semen is put in a rotator which is allowed to spin. The larger x gametes will spin to the outside keeping the y gametes further inward, thus giving the doctor, (yes this a clinical procedure just like #6), the opportunity to choose from the appropriate part of the rotator desired by the couple; about 70 to 80 percent effectiveness is claimed within the medical community for this method, but it is expensive and costs thousands of dollars per trial.

4:Pre-Implementation Genetic Diagnosis

Commonly referred to as PGD, this method is extremely controversial and actually illegal in most countries. This is also, by far, THE most expensive gender technique on the market. It costs tens of thousands of dollars per trial and was initially developed as a means of avoiding birth defects. Zygotes are fertilized in a petri dish and allowed to develop for a few days. Then, the doctor removes a single cell from each of them and tests it for an xx pair of chromosomes or an xy pair of chromosomes and inseminates a desired embryo into the mother, allowing the others to die (tantamount to murder many would call it). The embryo is likely to die in the mother, anyway, and it’s possible there won’t even BE any embryos in the dish of the desired gender. The medical community estimates this procedure to have well over a 99% chance of giving the couple the gender baby they want, if an embryo gets implanted and develops full term, but most consider it highly immoral and unnatural. It’s extremely expensive and it’s unlikely for the female to even get pregnant.

3:Smartstork

An American based company, they claim their product to be highly effective, mostly because they combine many factors and methods, helping the couple conceive their desired gender baby. They believe that the female’s tract and egg follicles alternate their PH and therefore attract different gender gametes at different times. Twins of opposite gender might occur if the PH is neutral or changes or the eggs are released at different times. They also take into account diet, herbal supplements, douching and many other factors to help increase gender probability. They claim that they have had over 5000 customers but only 20 failures reported to them. Personally, I do not believe they are THAT great. I suspect most who “failed” were just nonetheless pleased with what they got and didn’t dare to complain anyway, as any loving parent should.

2:Selnas

Dr. Patrick Schoun, in 1985, discovered that x-bearing gametes are slightly negatively charged and y-bearing gametes are slightly positively charged. The egg alternates its electric charge and therefore sometimes attracts female cells and repels male cells and sometimes attracts male cells and repels female cells. Schoun, from many observations in humans and cattle, created a formula based on the female’s chemistry, to determine how her egg would be charged and when. He created a chart of dates for all applying customers for $400 a year. They would then use the chart to try for a son or daughter. Selnas claims an 87% success rate for their method.

1 :Jonas

I thought I would save this for last, probably because it is, by far, the most original method out there. Dr. Eugen Jonas used to be a psychologist, but he was repulsed when Hungary legalized abortion, in 1956. He looked into the female’s reproductive cycle and found the rhythm method did not truly work to avoid pregnancy. He remembered a passage from the Bible stating that a woman is fertile by the moon. He went on to use astrology to determine women’s fertility, child’s health and child’s gender. He claims 98% success for desired gender, healthy child, helping the seemingly infertile conceive and when it’s unlikely for a woman to fall pregnant. Jonas further claims that his method is also the most scientifically tested of all methods and many tens of thousands of couples have been carefully and scientifically monitored to make sure they were following the method with full rigor (including abstinence on his own contraception dates for couples using any of the other 3 categories) and the results (contraception, infertility, healthy child and gender selection) were fully documented. However, many have dismissed his method as too good to be true and still others think Jonas is crazy. However, he and his wife (who share a generally unfavorable blood type) have 11 healthy children, all of which Jonas claims to have planned using his theories.

12 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About The Social Network

In case you don’t know, the movie The Social network is somewhat of a documentary about the social networking website Facebook. It got 8 Oscar nominations. These are some very interesting facts about the characters in the movie as well as the real people who invented Facebook.