August Birthdays

Since it's August, time to say Happy Birthday

Valtteri Bottas

-Birth name: Valtteri Viktor Bottas

-DOB: 8/28/1989

-Where: Nastola, Finland

-He's currently a reserve driver for the Mercedes AMG Petronas team

Bruce Dickinson

-Birth name: Paul Bruce Dickinson

-DOB: 8/7/1958

-Where: Worksop, Nottinghamshire, England

-He practices fencing in his spare time

Joe Elliott

-Birth name: Joseph Thomas Elliott

-DOB: 8/1/1959

-Where: Sheffield, England

-He is the lead singer of a band called The Cybernauts, a tribute band to David Bowie

Rob Halford

-Birth name: Robert John Arthur Halford

-DOB: 8/25/1951

-Where: Sutton Coldfield, United Kingdom

-He knew ever since he was ten years old that he was gay

Glenn Hughes

-DOB: 8/21/1951

-Where: Cannock, United Kingdom

-He suffered from drug addiction for years, until an EMT threatened him with bodily harm and he got sober for good

James Jagger

-DOB: 8/28/1985

-Where: New York City, New York

-Actress Cyndy Hall is his aunt

Shawn Michaels

-Birth name: Michael Shawn Hickenbottom

-DOB: 7/22/1965

-Where: Chandler, Arizona

-He took his wrestling name from his real name, just switching around his first and middle name

Sean Connery

-Birth name: Thomas Sean Connery

-DOB: 8/25/1930

-Where: Edinburgh, Scotland

-DOD: 10/31/2020

-Where: Nassau, Bahamas

-Out of all six actors who have played the role of James Bond, he is the only one who actually served in the Royal Navy

John Deacon

-Birth name: John Richard Deacon

-DOB: 8/19/1951

-Where: Leicester, England

-Played bass for hard rock band Queen

Mark Webber

-Birth name: Mark Alan Webber

-DOB: 8/27/1976

-Where: Queanbeyan, Australia

-Joined the Porsche team and won the 2015 FIA World Endurance Championship

Raoul Bova

-DOB: 8/14/1971

-Where: Rome, Italy

-Prior to becoming an actor, he took the entrance exam to become part of the Carabinieri, the Italian military police, but he was refused

20 TV Shows That Are Still Popular

There are tons of TV shows out there to watch. Nothing beats the classic ones from the 1970s-1990s. They still hold up to this day. Thomas West, a writer for the MSN.com page YardBarker, has compiled a list of 20 TV shows that are still popular

Ironically, I actually watch quite a few of these shows. Such as The Golden Girls, I Love Lucy, The Carol Burnett Show, Scooby Doo, Where Are You?, Murder, She Wrote

1. The West Wing

-This political drama gives a good side to government. It shows that there are people who work in government offices who really do have the best interests of the people as their top consideration. This show is a great reminder of alternative options to handling situations

2. The Nanny

-It's a pretty hilarious sitcom. There was humor all around, from Fran Drescher's character to the kids, and there was romance between Fran Fine and her boss Mr. Sheffield. Then, of course, was the long running rivalry between C.C. and Niles. Overall, the show had a good heart as well

3. Maude

-Bea Arthur is mostly known for playing outspoken, sarcastic Dorothy Zbornak on The Golden Girls. Prior to this, she starred on the 1970s television show Maude, as an outspoken feminist. She played a fiery feminist not afraid to speak her mind about the issues of the day, including abortion. And who doesn't love Bea Arthur?

4. All in the Family

-This 1970s-era television show dealt with all of the issues in the world at that time, such as gay rights, feminism, abortion, etc. There was an almost constant battle of the wits between Archie Bunker and his  daughter and son in law. The issues they debate about are still hot topics to this day and it makes the show feel relevant

5. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

-For many who grew up in the 1990s, Will Smith will always be The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. There is a strong sense of culture clash, as Will's character came from the working class area of Philadelphia and suddenly finds himself in the affluent area of Bel-Air, California. His humor is constantly present, making the show funny and also an overall good show to watch. It even spawned a new spin off called Bel-Air

6. Seinfeld

-There is not really much of a premise or plot to the show. It's a show about nothing. Somehow, it's found popularity with people. It's still popular thanks to streaming services. The characters still resonate with people, despite going off of the air nearly thirty years ago

7. Star Trek

-This is one of the most influential sci-fi shows around. It still holds up well to this day. The costumes and special effects seem incredibly outdated, especially in a world that now uses CGI and AI to do special effects. But, it's the outdated costumes and special effects that people love most. The show provided something that was joyful, exciting about the extents that it would go to regarding progressive points of view. It's from a time where things were far simpler. It's still popular to this day and finding new fans almost constantly

8. Scooby Doo, Where Are You?

-There have been few animated characters who have had a long, successful career. One of them is Scooby Doo. He is one of the most successful animated characters, inspiring spin off TV shows, television movies, such as Zombie Island, Alien Invaders, etc. Airing in the late 1960s, the show featured a cowardly Great Dane and five kids solving mysteries the old fashioned way, with clues and investigations. It's a reminder of the days when Saturday morning cartoons were a tradition with kids while others love the simply fun of an old fashioned mystery

9. Gunsmoke

-One of the many Western television programs on TV, they were quite popular in the 1950s. While many of the shows have been long since forgotten, Gunsmoke is not one of them. This show ran twenty seasons, from the 1950s to the 1970s. Today, it might seen as old fashioned, but it still holds up well. Many love the show for the great performances of James Arness, Milburn Stone and Amanda Blake

10. The Jeffersons

-This show was a revolution in TV. Staying on the air from 1975-1985, it showed an upwardly moving black couple and their family. It showed this family in a positive way in an era where black actors and actresses often got stuck in typecast roles. The show appealed to many because of the heartfelt and humorous relationship between Louise "Weezy" Jefferson and her husband George, played by Isabel Sanford and Sherman Hemsley. To this day, this show is still popular and is also gaining new fans

11. The Carol Burnett Show

-This show is still popular thanks to streaming services. When it aired on TV, it was sure to be a night of laughs and music. The lady for whom the show is named, Carol Burnett, starred in sketches along with comedic actors Harvey Korman and Tim Conway. Many of the sketches are still remembered to this day, like the spoof of Gone with the Wind. In the case of the show, it was Went with the Wind. And there were so many guest stars, both actors, actresses and musicians, that everyone loved to see who was going to turn up in a sketch, from Julie Andrews to Jim Nabors to Maggie Smith to The Jackson 5 and more. Each episode of the show would end with the current guest star signing their autograph in a book for Carol. This show even inspired a spin off called Mama's Family, starring Vicki Lawrence as the titular Mama. Carol Burnett would appear from time to time playing Eunice

12. The Mary Tyler Moore Show

-Despite being something straight out of the 1970s, and a second wave of feminism following, the show is still popular. It was revolutionary at the time because it featured an unmarried, independent w

13. Designing Women

-Similar to The Golden Girls, this program, created by Linda Bloodworth-Thomason, focused on a group of four women who run a design firm in Atlanta, Georgia. This show dealt with touchy topics, such as HIV / AIDS. It was on TV during the 1980s and 1990s and is still a beloved TV show to this day

14. Cheers

-Everyone knows the iconic theme to this show centered around a Boston bar. This show was the very definition of workplace sitcom. It centered on Sam Malone, a bartender running a Boston bar and the various people who enter and leave the bar. Despite being on in the 1980s, it seems dated by today's standards. It's still popular for those looking for a good laugh. And some can even quote the show, like people quoting Norm by saying "It's a dog eat dog world and I'm wearing Milk Bone underwear"

15. M*A*S*H

-This TV show was based on a book of the same name. It told the story of a medical unit in Korea during the Korean War. It found the right balance between drama and comedy, creating tear-inducing laughing and heartbreaking grief. It's easy to see why this show still holds up today

16. Murder, She Wrote

-This show takes place in the Maine town of Cabot Cove. It centers on a murder mystery writer named Jessica Fletcher who always manages to find herself at the center of a juicy mystery. Angela Lansbury plays this role perfectly. There's just something about this show that people love. Whether it's the cozy, timeless feel of it or that it's good old fashioned detective work, this show never gets old

17. The Twilight Zone

-Rod Serling and his show The Twilight Zone, have remained one of the most thought-inducing programs out there. Each episode had a moral to learn. So it was as much educational as it was entertaining. Rod Serling had the ability to take anxieties people felt and turn them into stories that were terrifying to watch for the time. When you watch it, it takes you back to 1950s era America and the concerns plaguing the world at that time and their relation to current events

18. Kolchak: The Night Stalker

-This was a short lived television series. It had just 20 episodes. Despite its short run, it did make an impact on some people. It was said to have even inspired The X-Files. Darren McGavin played the title character and the stories were quite scary for the time period. While it doesn't rely on special effects, it relies on an eerie atmosphere, which is the reason it's still entertaining to watch

19. I Love Lucy

-Two of the most remembered episodes of this program were "Lucy Gets a Job" and Lucy Does a Commercial." There's no doubt Lucille Ball was the genius of comedy in the 1950s. She was thrown into superstardom with her program I Love Lucy. Despite airing in the 1950s, something about the show just makes it loveable. Her comedy style was hilarious, joyful and a refreshing change. Lucille Ball is a master of physical comedy as well as sarcastic remarks and facial expressions. It's no wonder the show is still highly popular, thanks to streaming services allowing people to re-discover this show and new fans to discover the show

20. The Golden Girls

-No one can deny the comedic genius of Bea Arthur (Dorothy), Estelle Getty (Sophia), Rue McClanahan (Blanche) and Betty White (Rose). Despite going on the air in 1992, the show was funny, heartfelt, with great actors and actresses, and politically relevant for the time period. They often discussed issues that were just as relevant then as they are now, from same-sex marriage to care and concerns for the elderly and the problems with aging. They tackle these issues with comedy, and cheesecake, of course

Movie Cameos by Musicians

Sometimes musicians will appear in a movie just for fun or other reasons. It's fun seeing your favorite musician appear in a movie you happen to be watching. According to MSN.com page YardBarker and writer Jeff Mezydlo, here are 25 movie cameos by musicians

1. Alice Cooper in Wayne's World

-Fans of his music love his cameo in Wayne's World. If they have seen this movie, and they see Alice Cooper, they are almost automatically required to start quoting the movie. Doing what Wayne and Garth do, bowing down shouting "We're not worthy! We're not worthy! We're scum! We suck!" Fans are also incredibly surprised at the historically accurate and even hilarious delivery of information of the Milwaukee area

2. Huey Lewis in Back to the Future

-Unless you know what Huey Lewis looks like, you'll watch the movie and completely miss him. The funniest moment in the Back to the Future series is when Marty and his band, The Pinheads, are playing a hard rock, almost Van Halen-like version of the Huey Lewis & The News song "The Power of Love." It's done during a Battle of the Bands contest and one of the judges is...Huey Lewis. He tells them that they are "just too darn loud."

3. Billy Idol in The Wedding Singer

-Billy Idol poked fun at his slightly addicted past by appearing in The Wedding Singer, chugging a bottle of liquor. Since the film took place in the 1980s, it was easier for Idol to poke fun at himself. He blew minds of people as he assisted Robbie (Adam Sandler) in trying to win over Julia (Drew Barrymore) while en route to Las Vegas, where Julia is in a rush to get married to her fiancee Glenn

4. Bruce Springsteen in High Fidelity

-This film centered around a record store clerk wanting to get back in touch with former loves. He could describe it as being like a Bruce Springsteen song. The singer made an appearance in the film

5. Tom Petty in The Postman

-Tom Petty plays the Bridge City Mayor in this film. Both Kevin Costner and Tom Petty had a fun exchange between each other, showing respect for each other's work in their fields. Kevin Costner says "I know you. You're famous." And Tom Petty returns with "I was once. Sorta. Kinda. Not anymore."

6. Michael Jackson in Men in Black II

-The iconic singer made an appearance in the second installment, as an agent named M, reporting to Chief Zed

7. Tom Jones in Mars Attacks!

-This Tim Burton-directed spoof on alien movies from the 1950s had an array of stars in it. Yet the most talked about appearance was that of singer Tom Jones. He manages to survive the Martian attack in Las Vegas while ending the movie with his most iconic hit "It's Not Unusual"

8. Jack White in Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story

-In this film, starring John C. Reilly, Jack White plays Elvis Presley. Despite his screen time being short, he was able to make perfect use of his time by imitating the slight slur of The King and even the karate moves, which added humor

9. Tom Waits in Domino

-This film centers on a young bounty hunter named Domino Harvey (Keira Knightley), while Waits plays someone known only as "Wanderer". It's a small role, but it makes a big impact

10. Keith Richards in Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End

-The Rolling Stones rocker appeared as Captain Teague, Capt. Jack Sparrow's father. He's almost immediately recognizable except for the obvious pirate costume. He played Captain Teague, keeper of the Pirate Codex (the pirate code)

11. Lemmy Kilmister in Airheads

-Motorhead fans will know this name and face anywhere. If they have seen the film Airheads, they can immediately spot their hero in the crowd. Brendan Fraser plays Chazz, a vocalist and bassist for The Lone Rangers. He admits his real name is Chester and that, while in high school, he was a geek. This enables the crowd to start letting out revelations from the crowd themselves. Even Lemmy proclaimed he was "editor of the school magazine."

12. David Bowie in Zoolander

-While there were quite a few musician cameos in this film, the one that stood out for a lot of people was iconic musician David Bowie. He was playing himself, after judging the "walk off" between Ben Stiller, who played Derek and Owen Wilson, who played Hansel

13. Snoop Dogg in Half Baked

-He has shown himself to be versatile in many ways, such as film, TV and music. One of the more popular moments was when he appeared in the film Half Baked, where he was shown smoking with Thurgood (Dave Chappelle) and Brian (Jim Breuer)

14. Pearl Jam in Singles

-Not only did Seattle rockers Soundgarden and Chris Cornell appear in this film, fellow Seattle rockers Pearl Jam did too, since the movie was about the growing "Seattle Sound". The then lineup of Eddie Vedder, Jeff Ament and Stone Gossard played themselves, but were part of the band Citizen Dick, fronted by Cliff (Matt Dillon)

15. Kanye West in The Love Guru

-This is one of Kanye's more interesting film moments. It came in the form of the 2008 Mike Myers film. He wears a Toronto Maple Leafs jersey, next to Mike Myers, who is also wearing one. Kanye also yells "I love hockey"

16. Flea in The Big Lebowski

-The Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist was also in this film. His character was also said to be a nihilist, and he took a bowling ball to his stomach thanks to Walter Sobchak (John Goodman)

17. Aimee Mann in the Big Lebowski

-Aimee Mann is the vocalist for 80s era band Til Tuesday. She's also their bassist. She's most noted for her appearance in the film The Big Lebowski. She played a German nihilist girl who gave up her pinky toe in the kidnapping scheme

18. Phil Collins in Hook

-This is one of the more well known ones. If you're familiar with the band Genesis, then you'll know who Phil Collins is and know what he looks like. He's almost instantly recognizable except for a mustache and glasses as he plays a police detective named Inspector Good who is investigating the disappearance of Peter Banning's children

19. Chris Cornell in Singles

-This 1992 film tells the story of single life and the now blooming Seattle music scene, featuring some of the biggest names in grunge. Soundgarden was part of that scene. Cornell was the man inspecting the speakers that Matt Dillon's character installed in a car. While the scene didn't end as expected, it's still interesting for fans of Soundgarden

20. Blink-182 in American Pie

-Not only did the band contribute music to the soundtrack, they also appeared in the film. It was the then lineup of Travis Barker, Mark Hoppus and Tom DeLonge. They appeared in the scene where Jim (Jason Biggs) tried to pick up a foreign exchange student named Nadia, played by Shannon Elizabeth in his bedroom

21. Gwen Stefani in The Aviator

-Former No Doubt vocalist Gwen Stefani appeared as Hollywood starlet Jean Harlow, who was the arm candy of Leonardo DiCaprio's Howard Hughes in this film, which told the story of the eccentric yet reclusive man

22. Anthony Kiedis in Point Break

-The Red Hot Chili Peppers vocalist gets a cameo as a surfer who jumps Johnny Utah (Keanu Reeves) at the beach showers. Kiedis and his friends get their punishment when Patrick Swayze's character Bodhi stepped in to teach them a lesson

23. ZZ Top in Back to the Future Part III

-In the last installment of the highly popular series, this is considered to be the worst of the three. There is one unique moment in the film. Texas rock legend ZZ Top was cast because director Robert Zemeckis was a big fan. They were the band playing at the party. They played a more country version of their song "Doubleback", which is from their 1990 album Recycler

24. Tom Waits in The Outsiders

-This was his earliest cameo in films. He appeared in the film version of the classic S.E. Hinton novel. He appears in the scene where Pony Boy Curtis (C. Thomas Howell) and Johnny (Ralph Maccio) are looking for their friend Dallas (Matt Dillion). Waits plays Buck Merrill, who opens the door of a bar

25. George Harrison in Monty Python's Life of Brian

-This member of The Beatles was a massive fan of Monty Python. It's easy to miss him, but if you have  a sharp eye, you can easily find him. Eric Idle of the comedy troupe contacted Harrison to see if he could assist the group in getting funding. Harrison agreed and it earned him a spot in the film