Showing posts with label World. Show all posts
Showing posts with label World. Show all posts

Sunday, February 27, 2011

Top 10 Richest Rappers in the World

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1. Jay-Z

JAY-Z----MillionAndOne

Jay-Z - Shawn Corey Carter born December 4, 1969. He is an American rapper and businessman. He is one of the most financially successful hip hop artists and entrepreneurs in America having had a net worth of over $450 million in 2010. He has sold approximately 50 million albums worldwide, while receiving thirteen Grammy Awards for his musical work, and numerous additional nominations. He married American R&B superstar BeyoncĂ© Knowles on April 4, 2008. On December 11, 2009, Jay-Z was ranked as the 10th most successful artist of the 2000–2009 decade by Billboard Magazine and ranking as the 5th top solo male artist and as the 4th top rapper behind Eminem, Nelly, and 50 Cent.


2. Diddy

Diddy

Diddy (a) Sean John Combs born November 4, 1969, , is an American rapper, singer, record producer, actor and men's fashion designer. He has won three Grammy Awards and two MTV Video Music Awards, and his clothing line earned a Council of Fashion Designers of America award.Combs' net worth was estimated at US $346 million.


3. Akon

Akon

Aliaune Badara Akon Thiam born April 16, 1973, is a Senegalese-American R&B recording artist and songwriter. According to Forbes Akon grossed $21 million in 2010, $20 million in 2009 and $12 million in 2008. He rose to prominence in 2004 following the release of "Locked Up", the first single from his debut album Trouble. His second album, Konvicted, earned him a Grammy Award nomination of the single "Smack That". He has since founded two record labels, Konvict Muzik and Kon Live Distribution.
Akon often sings hooks for other artists and is currently credited with over 300 guest appearances and 45 Billboard Hot 100 songs. He has worked with numerous performers such as Michael Jackson, R. Kelly, Quincy Jones, Eminem and Whitney Houston. He is the first solo artist to hold both the number one and two spots simultaneously on the Billboard Hot 100 charts twice. He has had 6 Grammy Awards nominations and has produced many hits for artists such as Lady Gaga, Colby O'Donis and Leona Lewis. Lady Gaga and T-Pain are two artists who were given their chance at fame by Akon. He has also released a song called "Beautiful" featuring Colby O'Donis and Kardinal Offishall which is in his hit album named Freedom which he released in 2008 and also "Right Now (Na Na Na)" in the same album.


4. Lil Wayne

lil-wayne

Lil Wayne - Dewayne Michael Carter, Jr. born September 27, 1982, is an American rapper. At the age of nine, Lil Wayne joined Cash Money Records as the youngest member of the label, and half of the duo, The B.G.'z, with B.G in 1997, Lil Wayne joined the group Hot Boys, which also included rappers Juvenile, B.G., and Turk. Hot Boys debuted with Get It How U Live! that year.


5. Dr. Dre

Dr Dre

Dr. Dre is an american rapper, actor and producer with a net worth of $160 million. Born Andre Romelle Young, Dre was raised in South Central Los Angeles during the budding West coast hip-hop scene, Dre frequented nightclubs where he learned to DJ and became a member of electro-hop group World Class Wreckin’ Cru in 1984. After meeting fellow rapper Ice Cube, Dr. Dre joined rap project N.W.A. run by rapper Eazy-E under Ruthless Records and released Straight Outta Compton in 1988. Violent, profane and undeniably groundbreaking, Straight Outta Compton would go double platinum and go down in music history as one of the most pivotal albums for hip-hop.


6. Ludacris

ludacris

Award winning rapper and actor Ludacris has a net worth of $60 million. Christopher Brian Bridges (born September 11, 1977), better known by his stage name Ludacris, is an American rapper and actor. Along with his manager, Chaka Zulu, Ludacris is the co-founder of Disturbing tha Peace, an imprint distributed by Def Jam Recordings. Ludacris has won the Screen Actors Guild, Critic's Choice, MTV, and Grammy Awards during his career.


7. Snoop Dogg

snoopdogg

Snoop Dogg’s net worth of $150 million.He is one of the wealthiest and most successful rappers to come out of the 1990s rap scene, and one of the few still recording today. An example of West Coast rap, he has released ten solo albums since 1992 and has a net worth of $150 million. Calvin Cordozar Broadus, Jr. born October 20, 1971


8. Timbaland

Timbaland 04

Timbaland is a Grammy Award-Winning record producer, singer and rapper with has an estimated net worth of $100 million. Born Timothy Zachery Mosley in Virginia Beach, Virginia on March 10, 1971,


9. Pharrell Williams

Pharrell-Williams

Pharrell Williams is an American rapper, singer, record producer, and fashion designer Born on May 5, 1979 in Virginia Beach, Virginia Pharrell Williams is a successful recording artist, producer, musician and fashion designer with an estimated net worth of $77.5 million. The oldest of three sons, he began his career in partnership with childhood friend,


10. Kanye West

Kanye West

Kanye Omari West born June 8, 1977. He is an American rapper, singer, and record producer. West first rose to fame as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records, where he eventually achieved recognition for his work on Jay-Z's album The Blueprint, as well as hit singles for musical artists including Alicia Keys, Ludacris, and Janet Jackson. His style of production originally used pitched-up vocal samples from soul songs incorporated with his own drums and instruments.Kanye West’s estimated Net Worth $70 million dollar.

Top 10 Tallest Hotels in the world

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No.1 Rose Rayhaan by Rotana

Rose Rayhaan by Rotana - Dubai1

City : Dubai

Country:UAE

Height :1,092 ft

Floors :72

Year of opening: 2009


No.2 Burj Al Arab

Burj Al Arab

City : Dubai

Country:UAE

Height :1,060 ft

Floors :60

Year of opening: 1999


No.3 Jumeirah Emirates Towers Hotel

Jumeirah_Emirates_Towers_Hotel_Dubai_n1

City : Dubai

Country:UAE

Height :1,014 ft

Floors : 56

Year of opening: 2001


No 4. The Address Downtown Dubai

the-address-downtown-dubai

City : Dubai

Country:UAE

Height :1,004 ft

Floors :63

Year of opening: 2008


No.5 Baiyoke Tower II

Baiyoke Tower II

City :Bangkok

Country:Thailand

Height :997 ft

Floors :85

Year of opening:1997


No.6 The Cullinan South Tower

high_hotels_5a

City :Hong Kong

Country:Hong Kong

Height : 889ft

Floors :68

Year of opening: 2008


No.7 Grand Lisboa

Grand Lisboa

City : Macau

Country:Macau

Height :846 ft

Floors :52

Year of opening: 2008


No.8 Lanko·Grand Hyatt Hotel

high_hotels_7x

City :Chongqing

Country:China

Height :846 ft

Floors :60

Year of opening: 2004


No.9 State Tower

State Tower Bangkok

City :Bangkok

Country:Thailand

Height :810 ft

Floors :63

Year of opening: 2001


No.10 Centara Grand HotelCentara Grand Hotel

City :Bangkok

Country:Thailand

Height :771 ft

Floors :57

Year of opening: 2008

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Top 10 Hot Beautiful Female Boxers in the World

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To put it mildly, boxing is a rough sport.It’s hard to stay beautiful with other people constantly trying to re-arrange your face.But with it’s inclusion in the 2012 Olympics, you can expect to see more and more women become interested in “The Sweet Science”.Here are a few women that have gotten into, and out of, the ring with their looks intact.

1-Laila Ali

Laila_Ali

Laila Ali, the daughter of “The Greatest”, boxing legend Muhammad Ali.Laila stands five foot ten and weighs around 160 pounds.In her first bout in December 8, 1999, she knocked her opponent April Fowler out in the first round.Her record stands at 24 Wins (21 knockouts, 3 decisions) 0 Losses and 0 Draws.Laila’s last fight was a win over Gwendolyn O’Neil on February 3rd, 2007.


2-Lucia Rijker

Lucia Rijker

Dutch Professional female boxer, kickboxer, and actress.She has been nicknamed by press, “The Most Dangerous Woman in the World” and “The Dutch Destroyer”.Her current record is 17 wins (14 knockouts) 0 losses and 0 draws.Her last fight was on May 20th, 2004 and it was a win over Deborah Fettkether.Rijker stated that although not retired as a professional boxer, she would only consider one more fight – a bout with Laila Ali.


3-Jessica Rakoczy

Jessica Rakoczy

Jessica “The Ragin’” Rakoczy is Canadian,3 time WIBA World Champion and NABAW Light Weight Champ.Jessica’s record stands at 31 wins (11 knockouts), 3 losses and 0 draws.Her last fight was a win over Jessica Mohs on July 16th, 2009.


4-Mia St. John

Mia St. John

Professional female boxer, model, businesswoman, and Tae Kwon Do champion Mia St. John.Her record is 46 wins (18 knockouts), 11 losses and 2 draws.Her last fight was a win over Tammy Franks at the Santa Ana Star Casino in Bernalillo, New Mexico on October 16th, 2010.


5-Kina Malpartida

Kina  Malpartida

Peruvian female professional boxer Kina Malpartida was born on March 25, 1980 in Lima, Peru.Her mother Susy Dyson, was an English born Supermodel and her father Oscar Malpartida a three time Peruvian National Surfing Champion.So she’s got good genes to say the least.Kina started out in Karate when she was six and started training as a boxer in 2003.Currently her boxing record is 12-3-0 and her last fight was a win over Liliana Palmera on June 26th, 2010 at the Jockey Club in Lima, Peru.Besides boxing, Kina does a lot of charity work, even founding her own charity for poor and disadvantaged children, the Kina Dynamite Foundation.


6-Regina Halmich

Regina Halmich

German female boxer Regina Halmich.Before her retirement in 2007, her record stood at 54 wins (16 knockouts), 1 loss and 1 draw.Her last match was a win over Hagar Shmoulefeld Finer on November 30th, 2007.


7-Hollie Dunaway
Hollie  Dunaway

Hollie “Hot Stuff” Dunaway from Van Buren, Arkansas was born on October 18, 1984. Dunaway is a world-class female professional boxer. She is originally from Fort Smith, Arkansas, and now Fights out of St. Louis, MO. Dunaway had no amateur background before she turned professional. Her full name is Hollie Natashia Dunaway. She made her boxing debut at on February 4, 2003 at The New Daisy Theatre in Memphis, Tennessee, losing to Melissa Shaffer. After losing 2 of her first 3 professional bouts, Dunaway turned things around, winning 13 of her next 14 fights, and avenging the one loss from those 14 fights.


8-Ina Menzer

Ina Menzer

Ina is a Kazakh Female boxer,born on November 10th, 1980 in Atbasar, Kazakhstan, and she currently resides in Mönchengladbach, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany. Her boxing record is an impressive 26-1-0, and that one loss was in her last match against Canadian female boxer Jeannine Garside.Until that bout, Ina was on a roll with twenty five wins in a row, an unbeaten record that had run since 2004.


9-Zulina Munoz

Zulina Munoz

Zulina “La Loba” Munoz was born on August 10th, 1987 in San Vicente Chicoloapan, MĂ©xico, Mexico. This right handed bantamweight made her pro boxing debut back on March 11th, 2005 with a win over Miriam Serrano at the Salon Super Estrella in Ciudad Nezahualcoyotl, MĂ©xico, Mexico.She has gone on to a 26-1-2 record.Zulina’s last fight was a win over Magdalena Leija on January 14th, 2011 at the Deportivo Trabajadores del Metro in Iztacalco, Distrito Federal, Mexico.


10-Melinda Cooper

image

Female boxer Melinda Cooper was born in Las Vegas, Nevada on March 6, 1985.The WIBA and IBA Flyweight Champion of the world, Melinda’s current record is 21 wins (11 knockouts), 0 loses and 0 draws.He latest match was a win over Miriam Avila at Auditorio Luis Estrada Medina in Guasave, Sinaloa, Mexico on August 14th, 2010.

Top 10 Hot Beautiful Female Boxers in the World

0 comments

To put it mildly, boxing is a rough sport.It’s hard to stay beautiful with other people constantly trying to re-arrange your face.But with it’s inclusion in the 2012 Olympics, you can expect to see more and more women become interested in “The Sweet Science”.Here are a few women that have gotten into, and out of, the ring with their looks intact.

1-Laila Ali

Laila_Ali

Laila Ali, the daughter of “The Greatest”, boxing legend Muhammad Ali.Laila stands five foot ten and weighs around 160 pounds.In her first bout in December 8, 1999, she knocked her opponent April Fowler out in the first round.Her record stands at 24 Wins (21 knockouts, 3 decisions) 0 Losses and 0 Draws.Laila’s last fight was a win over Gwendolyn O’Neil on February 3rd, 2007.


2-Lucia Rijker

Lucia Rijker

Dutch Professional female boxer, kickboxer, and actress.She has been nicknamed by press, “The Most Dangerous Woman in the World” and “The Dutch Destroyer”.Her current record is 17 wins (14 knockouts) 0 losses and 0 draws.Her last fight was on May 20th, 2004 and it was a win over Deborah Fettkether.Rijker stated that although not retired as a professional boxer, she would only consider one more fight – a bout with Laila Ali.


3-Jessica Rakoczy

Jessica Rakoczy

Jessica “The Ragin’” Rakoczy is Canadian,3 time WIBA World Champion and NABAW Light Weight Champ.Jessica’s record stands at 31 wins (11 knockouts), 3 losses and 0 draws.Her last fight was a win over Jessica Mohs on July 16th, 2009.


4-Mia St. John

Mia St. John

Professional female boxer, model, businesswoman, and Tae Kwon Do champion Mia St. John.Her record is 46 wins (18 knockouts), 11 losses and 2 draws.Her last fight was a win over Tammy Franks at the Santa Ana Star Casino in Bernalillo, New Mexico on October 16th, 2010.


5-Kina Malpartida

Kina  Malpartida

Peruvian female professional boxer Kina Malpartida was born on March 25, 1980 in Lima, Peru.Her mother Susy Dyson, was an English born Supermodel and her father Oscar Malpartida a three time Peruvian National Surfing Champion.So she’s got good genes to say the least.Kina started out in Karate when she was six and started training as a boxer in 2003.Currently her boxing record is 12-3-0 and her last fight was a win over Liliana Palmera on June 26th, 2010 at the Jockey Club in Lima, Peru.Besides boxing, Kina does a lot of charity work, even founding her own charity for poor and disadvantaged children, the Kina Dynamite Foundation.


6-Regina Halmich

Regina Halmich

German female boxer Regina Halmich.Before her retirement in 2007, her record stood at 54 wins (16 knockouts), 1 loss and 1 draw.Her last match was a win over Hagar Shmoulefeld Finer on November 30th, 2007.


7-Hollie Dunaway
Hollie  Dunaway

Hollie “Hot Stuff” Dunaway from Van Buren, Arkansas was born on October 18, 1984. Dunaway is a world-class female professional boxer. She is originally from Fort Smith, Arkansas, and now Fights out of St. Louis, MO. Dunaway had no amateur background before she turned professional. Her full name is Hollie Natashia Dunaway. She made her boxing debut at on February 4, 2003 at The New Daisy Theatre in Memphis, Tennessee, losing to Melissa Shaffer. After losing 2 of her first 3 professional bouts, Dunaway turned things around, winning 13 of her next 14 fights, and avenging the one loss from those 14 fights.


8-Ina Menzer

Ina Menzer

Ina is a Kazakh Female boxer,born on November 10th, 1980 in Atbasar, Kazakhstan, and she currently resides in Mönchengladbach, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany. Her boxing record is an impressive 26-1-0, and that one loss was in her last match against Canadian female boxer Jeannine Garside.Until that bout, Ina was on a roll with twenty five wins in a row, an unbeaten record that had run since 2004.


9-Zulina Munoz

Zulina Munoz

Zulina “La Loba” Munoz was born on August 10th, 1987 in San Vicente Chicoloapan, MĂ©xico, Mexico. This right handed bantamweight made her pro boxing debut back on March 11th, 2005 with a win over Miriam Serrano at the Salon Super Estrella in Ciudad Nezahualcoyotl, MĂ©xico, Mexico.She has gone on to a 26-1-2 record.Zulina’s last fight was a win over Magdalena Leija on January 14th, 2011 at the Deportivo Trabajadores del Metro in Iztacalco, Distrito Federal, Mexico.


10-Melinda Cooper

image

Female boxer Melinda Cooper was born in Las Vegas, Nevada on March 6, 1985.The WIBA and IBA Flyweight Champion of the world, Melinda’s current record is 21 wins (11 knockouts), 0 loses and 0 draws.He latest match was a win over Miriam Avila at Auditorio Luis Estrada Medina in Guasave, Sinaloa, Mexico on August 14th, 2010.

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Best Moments from the Screen Actors Guild Awards

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sag

Betty White was quite happy with her naked man statue as she accepted the award for best female actor in a comedy series for 'Hot in Cleveland.'

2

Natalie Portman had to be censored in her speech as she accepted the award for best female actor in a leading role for 'Black Swan.' CLICK PHOTO to see more gowns from the red carpet at SAG Awards.

Take our Poll
Screen Actors Guild Awards 2011

Do you think the SAG Awards are a good indicator of Oscar winners?

Yes, all those academies and guilds tend to vote similarly.

No, there's always one or two surprises.

I don't know, I don't watch awards shows.

The SAG awards were saucier than usual Sunday night, with Betty White flirting with her naked trophy, Colin Firth revealing he used his SAG card to pick up women and Natalie Portman issuing an expletive upon winning the best actress award.

The Daily News brings you the top 10 moments from the 17th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards:

10. Steve Buscemi's "Untouchables" memory: The 53-year-old actor harked back to an audition for "The Untouchables" that he bombed in 1987 after winning outstanding actor in a drama series for "Boardwalk Empire" He thanked casting director Ellen Lewis "for having faith after my awful audition 20-something years ago when she brought me in to see Brian De Palma." He then proceeded to imitate himself grumbling and then saying, "Thank you."

9. Vintage celebrity ads: Dennis Haysbert paid tribute to the actors who have appeared in ads on TV, introducing clips including "Graduate-era Dustin Hoffman who sang the praises of a hollow-sounding car he tapped while Ken Jeong did a sexy dance while holding a bottle of Pepto-Bismol.

8. Melissa Leo on her "man" trophy: "Thank you, girls, for helping me get a man I can bring home tonight!" she yelled to the actresses who played her daughter in the film. After winning best supporting actress for "The Fighter," she thanked costume designer Mark Bridges, though she admitted that when she saw them on the hanger, she thought, "Boy I don't think so."

7. Julianna Margulies lets it snow: Upon winning her second consecutive trophy for outstanding actress in a drama series, Margulies thanked New York "for keeping us" and "all teamsters for digging us out of the snow for the past two weeks."

6. Betty White flirts with her trophy: Though she claimed to have found her win for best actress in a comedy series to be "the biggest surprise" ever, the 89-year-old actress appeared more shocked by the nude trophy she was given. "Oooh!" she cooed as she ran her hands along its bare back. "I can't say thank you enough," she smiled as she wrapped her hands around its body.

5. Tim Conway's intro for Ernest Borgnine: After appearing to miss his cue, the 77-year-old actor (and Borgnine's co-star in "McHale's Navy) scooted onto the stage to present Ernest Borgnine with the lifetime achievement award. "I must admit I'm a little disappointed, Ernie told me this was a pilot," he said before joking that Borgnine's epic film resume wasn't very impressive.

4. "Social Network\\\" cast: Riffing off the theme of competition in David Fincher's film, Andrew Garfield and Justin Timberake fought for a place behind the mike while presenting the Facebook movie in the best ensemble category. Timberlake then joked about the mic's feedback and Garfield made a "so-so" gesture after a clip of the film was shown.

3. Christian Balejoined by Dickie Ecklund: The "Fighter" star whooped with joy when the man whom he played in the biopic joined him on stage. "How do you like me now?" Ecklund asked Bale, causing the actor to laugh.

2. Natalie Portman swears: After winning the award for best actress in a film, the very pregnant "Black Swan star thanked the SAGs for taking care of her since she was 11. She also thanked "My parents who always taught me to work my hardest and never be an a---ole."

1. Colin Firth thanks SAG for letting him in: After winning best actor for his role in "The King's Speech

" he talked about how his SAG card had a glow and how he used it to get female attention. "I'd like to thank security for letting me in the building," he finally said.

Monday, February 14, 2011

Top Ten Biggest Oil Reserves in the World

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1. Ghawar. Saudi Arabia. 30 Billion Barrels.

The once and future king. Ghawar is thought to have had more than 100 billion barrels of recoverable oil in place. At 160 miles long and 16 miles wide it boggles the mind of even the most experienced geologists. With something on the order of 60 billion produced over the past 60 years, you'd be excused for thinking that Ghawar was sliding into its twilight years. Yet the Saudis insist that Ghawar is still going strong, producing 4.5 million bpd from six main producing areas with the ability to do 5 million bpd if called upon.

2. West Qurna. Iraq. 21 Billion Barrels.

This month a joint venture between ExxonMobil and Royal Dutch Shell were awarded the contract to develop the 9 billion barrel first phase of the West Qurna oil field. They will aim to raise output from 300,000 bpd to 2.3 million bpd. It's tough to make the case that the two biggest oil companies from the countries that invaded Iraq in 2003 are getting a sweetheart deal. The contract calls for the government of Iraq to retain ownership of the field and the oil.

3. Majnoon. Iraq. 13 Billion Barrels.

Massive reserves in a relatively small area near the Euphrates River in southern Iraq, the field's abundance was so mind-boggling that it was named Majnoon, Arabic for "crazy." This easy oil hasn't been developed in part because of its location so close to the Iranian border. In the 1980s, during the Iran-Iraq war, managers reportedly buried the wells, concerned that they might be targeted by Iranian forces. The field produces just 50,000 bpd now but has the potential to do 1.8 million bpd.

4. Rumaila. Iraq. 17 Billion Barrels.

In November, British giant BP and China National Petroleum won the first oil contract of the post-Saddam era to redevelop Rumaila. Located on the border with Kuwait, the field is already producing 1 million bpd, half of Iraq's total production. The partners intend to spend some $15 billion to treble that to 2.85 million bpd. That output would be enough to put Rumaila in second-place worldwide after Saudi Arabia's Ghawar.

5. Khuzestan. Iran. 100 Billion Barrels?

Not just a field, Khuzestan is the province where 90% of Iran's oil is produced. It borders Iraq and is home to the Ahwaz field, thought to produce 300,000 bpd, and the Yadavaran field, which is being developed by China's Sinopec under a $70 billion deal made in 2004. Last year in the province Iran trumpeted the discovery of an 8 billion barrel field called Soussangerd. Iraq's Majnoon field is thought to extend over the border into Khuzestan territory.

6. Kashagan. Kazakhstan. 9 Billion Barrels.

Discovered in the Caspian Sea in 2000, Kashagan has recoverable reserves of more than 9 billion bbl out of total oil in place of some 38 billion bbl. The reservoir is deep (15,000 feet), the oil is highly corrosive (19% hydrogen sulfide), and getting it is costly ($100 billion-plus in expected project costs). Production is expected to reach 1.5 million bpd by the end of the decade.

7. Khurais. Saudi Arabia. 27 Billion Barrels.

Last year Saudi Aramco put the finishing touches of the $10 billion development of Khurais. This included pipelines to bring 2 million bpd of seawater for injection under the field. This water injection, a technique perfected by the Saudis at Ghawar, is the key to Khurais and its 1.2 billion bpd of output. The field was partially developed in the 1980s with peak production on the order of 140,000 bpd. The reservoir is huge, but because of its complexity this oil is not "easy" like the untapped Iraqi fields.

8. Tupi. Brazil. 8 Billion Barrels.

Discovered off Rio de Janiero in 2006, the Tupi field was revolutionary for Brazil, the first of a rash of mega-discoveries including Jupiter and Carioca that have established the region as one of the world-class oil and gas basins of the world. The fields, in general, are under more than one mile of water, three miles of sand and rock, then another mile of solid salt. Because the salt layer scrambles the signals of seismic testing gear figuring out where to drill the well was extremely difficult. Costly too, at roughly $100 million per well.

9. Carabobo. Venezuela. 15 Billion Barrels.

Bidding on seven blocks in the Carabobo section of Venezuela's Orinoco heavy oil belt will take place at the end of January. The blocks up for bid contain some 15 billion barrels of heavy, tar-like oil. Similar to Canada's oil sands, there's no exploration risk--everyone knows the oil is there, it's just a matter of getting it out. Despite his feverish nationalization of oil fields, banks and retail stores, Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez knows that he needs foreign capital and expertise to unlock the heavy oil.

10. North Slope, Alaska. 40 billion barrels?

By 2025, without new development, North Slope oil output will decline to the point that there won't be enough oil to keep the Trans-Alaskan Pipeline System running. A 2008 Department of Energy study found that the North Slope, including the National Petroleum Reserve parts of the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge and offshore Beaufort and Chukchi Seas could yield nearly 40 billion barrels of oil and more than 125 trillion cubic feet of gas. BP, ExxonMobil and others are itching to build a $30 billion pipeline to carry gas down to the Lower 48. Without political support, it won't happen.

Top Ten Sports Brands in the World

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No. 1 Nike

Brand Value: $10.7 billion Nike is the only sports apparel company with a worldwide market share that has increased over the last two years.

No. 2 ESPN

Brand Value: $10.5 billion Disney's ESPN charges cable operators a monthly fee of almost $4 per subscriber, the highest rate of any U.S. basic cable channel.

No. 3 Adidas

Brand Value: $7.3 billion The Adidas name appears on the uniforms of 350 professional and national soccer, rugby, cricket and basketball teams worldwide.

No. 4 Gatorade

Brand Value: $6.4 billion PepsiCo's Gatorade brand has a market share of 75% of the North American sports drink industry, 3.5 times that of its rival, Coca-Cola's Powerade.

No. 5 Reebok

Brand Value: $2 billion A subsidiary of Adidas since 2006, Reebok is the official uniform provider of the National Football League, National Hockey League and Canadian Football League.

No. 6 Sky Sports

Brand Value: $1.3 billion Britain's answer to ESPN now has six channels and rights to a bevy of sports properties, including Premier League football, international rugby and cricket and two of golf's major championships

No. 7 EA Sports

Brand Value: $770 million EA Sports' "Madden NFL," the best-selling sports videogame in history, launched its 20th edition in 2009.

No. 8 Under Armour

Brand Value: $530 million Under Armour's anti-moisture shirts proved so popular among U.S. Marines serving abroad that it caused the Department of Defense to change its wardrobe regulations.

No. 9 YES Network

Brand Value: $525 million YES, the cable home of the New York Yankees and New Jersey Nets, is the highest-rated regional sports network in the United States.

No. 10 IMG

Brand Value: $400 million IMG has made a big push into college sports in recent years, striking multimedia deals with 19 athletic departments, including powerhouses Texas and Ohio State.

Top Ten World Most Corrupt Countries

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Somalia

In a continuous state of civil war since 1991, this country has become synonymous with piracy, probably its most lucrative industry. The millions of dollars in ransom money Somalia's pirates extract from nervous shipowners each year--Reuters reports 47 ships captured in 2009--fuels on-shore corruption and vicious gang warfare. There are signs of hope for this beleaguered nation: The African Development Bank has promised $2 million to establish a central bank and anti-corruption commission.

Afghanistan

President Hamid Karzai's brother is widely reported to have ties to the nation's virulent opium trade, and even President Obama has felt compelled to lecture Karzai on his government's reputation for rampant corruption. But with the Taliban still sheltering Osama bin Laden and billions of dollars in U.S. aid for corrupt officials to steal, it's unlikely Afghanistan will clean up its act any time soon.

Myanmar

The generals who run this Asian nation, formerly known as Burma, have a good thing going, and they're not going to give it up. Rich in timber, minerals, natural gas, as well an ideal transit point for illegal drugs, Myanmar has become the scene of "economic plunder" by its rulers, according to dissident Ka Hsaw Wa. The U.S. government has prohibited investment in Myanmar since 1997, and more recently slapped sanctions against more than 100 of its leaders and top economic institutions

Sudan

Leave aside the fact that Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir has been indicted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes and genocide. This resource-rich nation has a problem telling its citizens where their money's going. Global Witness uncovered serious discrepancies between how Chinese oil companies report their Sudanese oil production and the government's accounting for the same. With $6 billion in royalty revenue in recent years, even a 10% gap could mean hundreds of millions of dollars gone AWOL.

Iraq

Compared to the reign of Saddam Hussein, any government would look good. But still, Iraq's Shiite leaders are widely criticized by citizens for corrupt dealings that deprive the country of reliable water, electricity and fuel supplies. In a possibly hopeful sign, Iraq has joined the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, an Oslo-based program that aims to reduce corruption by requiring member governments to reveal contracts and payments by foreign oil drillers.

Chad

The World Bank pulled out of a $3.7 billion pipeline project in 2008 after President Idriss Deby commandeered oil revenue that was supposed to be used for health care, education and the reduction of poverty. More recently, a Chadian court accused the nation's finance and education ministers of corruption, including allegedly embezzling $4.3 million from a schoolbook purchasing program.

Uzbekistan

President Islam Karimov, an old communist warhorse, controls the legislature, judiciary and media and keeps getting elected by suspiciously large margins--88% of the vote in December 2007. With the government controlling large swaths of the economy, corruption and oppression are getting worse in the most populous nation in Central Asia. "Grades and degrees are routinely purchased" in the education system, according to the U.S. State Dept.

Turkmenistan

"Corruption is pervasive" in this resource-rich nation, says the State Department, with power concentrated in the hands of President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov. The government controls most sectors of the economy, including Turkmenistan's vast natural gas reserves, which make the country the second-largest gas exporter in the former Soviet Union after Russia.

Iran

If, as widely believed, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad stole the election in 2009, it's because the wealthy families associated with Iran's ruling mullahs and Revolutionary Guards aren't willing to surrender control of this oil-driven economy. Inefficient subsidy programs, a huge state-controlled oil sector and smuggling to foil international sanctions all provide abundant opportunities for corruption.

Haiti

This island nation declared independence in 1804 and less than two years later its first emperor, Jean Jacques Dessalines, was shot and hacked to pieces by citizens angry over rampant corruption. Little has changed since then. The death toll from the 2010 earthquake illustrates how poorly Haiti's government has provided for its citizens, while enriching the aristocratic families who control the economy.

Top Ten Technology Richest Person in the World 2010

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No.1 Bill Gates

$53 billionBill Gates

Microsoft, U.S.

Software visionary is now the world's second-richest man. Net worth still up $13 billion in a year as Microsoft shares rose 50% in 12 months, value of investment vehicle Cascade swelled. More than 60% of fortune held outside Microsoft; investments include Four Seasons hotels, Televisa, Auto Nation. Stepped down from day-to-day duties at Microsoft in 2008 to focus on philanthropy.


No.2 Lawrence Ellison Lawrence Ellison

$28 billion - Oracle, U.S.

Oracle founder's fortune continues to soar; shares up 70% in past 12 months. Database giant has bought 57 companies in the past five years. Completed $7.4 billion buyout of Sun Microsystems in January; acquired BEA Systems for $8.5 billion in 2008. Studied physics at U. of Chicago; didn't graduate. Started Oracle 1977; took public a day before Microsoft in 1986.


No.3 Sergey BrinSergey Brin

Net worth: $17.5 billion

The Google cofounder's hot streak brings him up a couple of rankings to 24th richest in the world. His fortune grew $5.5 billion as shares of the search giant rose 70% in past year. Google revenues hit $23.7 billion. Unveiled smart phone Nexus One in January; operates with Android software. Announced upgraded version of Chrome browser in March. Emigrated from Russia, met future partner Larry Page at Stanford; duo dropped out of computer science Ph.D. program in 1998. Brin introduced goats to Google's campus last year, since animals are less harmful to the environment than lawn mowers.


No.4 Larry Page

Net worth: $17.5 billionLarry Page

The surge in Google stock pushed up cofounder Page's fortune by $5.5 billion and lands him as 24th richest. Google continues to dominate search, though it has seen Microsoft's Bing search engine--launched in 2009--take a slice of its market share. The company has moved into mobile phones and mobile software with the January launch of its Nexus One smart phone, which uses its Android operating system software. Google Apps--including Google Docs and Google Calendar--are a $750 million piece of the overall business and growing. Page met Brin at Stanford, where the pair founded Google.


No.5 Azim PremjiAzim Premji

Net worth: $17 billion

Software czar's net worth jumped more than $11 billion in the past year, while his ranking among billionaires went from 83rd to 28th this year. Premji chairs Wipro, India's third-largest software exporter, which reported net profits in the last two quarters, signaling a rebound for the U.S.-dependent outsourcing giant. The Azim Premji Foundation, his charitable arm, plans to set up Azim Premji University. He co-chaired the World Economic Forum's annual meeting in Davos this year. Eldest son Rishad, a Harvard grad, is Wipro's general manager for treasury and investor relations.


No.6 Steve Ballmer

Net worth: $14.5 billionSteve Ballmer

Ballmer's net worth increased $3.5 billion in the last year, as Microsoft's shares climbed 50%. In 2009 the manic Microsoft chief finally cut a deal with Yahoo (after failed acquisition attempts) to pay for its search technology. The company's new operating system Windows 7, released in October 2009, was hailed as much better than predecessor Vista. The upcoming Windows Phone 7 Series mobile operating system surprised and delighted pundits. Ballmer, famous for impassioned stage antics, pretended to stomp on an iPhone at a company event last year, after an employee snapped a picture with Apple's offending device.


No.7 Bernard Arnault

$27.5 billionBernard Arnault

Luxury goods, France.

Bling is back, helping fashion icon grab title of richest European as shares of his luxury goods outfit LVMH--maker of Louis Vuitton, Moet & Chandon--surge 57%. LVMH is developing upscale Shanghai commercial property, L'Avenue Shanghai, with Macau billionaire Stanley Ho.


No.8 Paul AllenPaul Allen

Net worth: $13.5 billion

Microsoft cofounder's net worth rose $3 billion in the last year. Allen, who left Microsoft long ago, recently launched software outfit Xiant, whose product Filer helps users keep track of emails in Microsoft's Outlook. Though he no longer chairs Charter Communications, which recently emerged from bankruptcy, Allen still controls 35% of voting interest in the cable outfit. The philanthropist has been diagnosed with lymphoma and is undergoing chemotherapy treatment.


No.9 Michael Dell

Net worth: $13.5 billionMichael Dell

Dell's net worth rose $1.2 billion from a year ago, but his ranking among dropped to 37th from 25th last year. The leader of one of the world's largest PC-makers, trying to claw its way back to the top, completed a purchase of IT services outfit Perot Systems in November 2009. Dell returned to the company helm two years ago, brought new management, restructured divisions. Dell introduced smart phone and tablet devices in the past few months. The company's stock slipped nearly 10% in the past six months, however, and revenue fell 13% in the year ended January 2010.


No.10 Jeffrey Bezos

Net worth: $12.3 billionJeffrey Bezos

Bezos' fortune rose $5.5 billion in the past year, as Amazon shares climbed 100%. His rank on the billionaires list is 43rd this year, up from 68th last year. Bezos launched the Kindle digital book reader in 2007; Kindle 2 debuted in 2008. Amazon's net income increased 40% while the economy crashed in 2009, as bargain-hunters flocked to its online marketplace for low prices and convenience. It also acquired online shoe retailer Zappos in July 2009 for $800 million in stock.

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