November 11, 2010
By the ZippyCart Shopping Cart Reviews Content Team

Hide your kids, hide your wife, and why not,  hide your husbands too. Kim, Khloe, and Kourtney Kardashian have teamed up with MasterCard to be the faces of a new prepaid credit card that targets the teen and parents’ of teens demographics. The Kardashian card is designed to help parents monitor their children’s spending, control their balances, and teach kids about money management.

“Teens do not spend their money as their parents think they do [...] and drugs are a huge problem in this country. I give my son a small amount of cash and track his spending on his card,” says a rep for Mobile Resource, who helped MasterCard launch the Kardashian card on November 10.

Signing up with the prepaid card automatically opens a free Mobile Money account connecting the card to any mobile device and allows users to conveniently transfer funds between accounts by cell phone. Users also have the option to receive mobile alerts on all purchases. Does this mean the Kardashian Sisters are now the faces of financial responsibility?

The girls are best known for their hit reality series Keeping Up With the Kardashians on the E! network and not for their financial savvy. Ironically, Kim Kardashian is so notorious for her extravagant spending that her own family had to stage an intervention to get her to curb her shopaholic ways. She admits that she spends the most out of all the Kardashians, with recent purchase including a $2,500 pair of Christian Louboutin shoes and a $30,000 Birkin bag. Given how vastly her idea of spending varies from the average American’s, this Kardashian may not be the financial role model that teens need.

Kim Kardashian’ s other endorsements are a bit of a dichotomy as well, ranging from weight loss products with Quick Slim, a workout DVD, and Reebok appearances,  to lending her face to Carl’s Jr., Famous Cupcakes, and Sugar Factory’s Couture Lollipops. Her variety of past endorsements may not all fit together perfectly, but her latest venture may prove to be a smart one.

Prepaid credit cards are projected to gain popularity over the next few years. They have perks that credit cards don’t, like the inability of acquiring debt and a lack of overdrafts, while keeping strengths like federal insurance and the ability to receive salary direct deposits. They are so useful that by 2014, nearly 12 million people are expected to have a prepaid credit card of some kind.

November 9, 2010
By the ZippyCart Shopping Cart Reviews Content Team

Conan O’Brien began his career working as writer for Saturday Night Live and The Simpsons, before moving on to have his own Late Night television show which ran from 1993-2009. He then went on to take over the Tonight Show with Jay Leno in 2009, but was forced out a short time after starting the job, as Jay Leno’s new venture was failing so he wanted to return to the show. As part of the NBC contract, Conan could not be on the air with another show until September 2010 at the earliest. This led us to the new Conan O’Brien show on TBS, which just debuted last night after much anticipation from those in TeamCoco. One of the most talked about moments from the show was Seth Rogan announcing his engagement, which is generating a lot of buzz online today as people search to find out more details about the future nuptials.

Team Coco is where fans have been keeping up with Conan while they awaited his new show on TBS, and was also the place of much attention starting in late October as the site announced a promotion where they would give away 10,000 free Conan t-shirts. 1,000 free Conan-shirts were given away daily, for the 10 days leading up to last night’s premier. Fans who participated in the giveaway snatched up the free Conan t-shirts very quickly, and now these one-of-a-kind designs have left fans wanting to buy them at the Team Coco online store. However when you go and visit the Zazzle powered Team Coco store, you can only buy two different Conan t-shirt designs, and fans are being quite vocal on Twitter, Facebook, and the Team Coco website about wanting more selection.

Some of the most talked about designs from the 10 day free giveaway of Conan t-shirts included Zombie Conan, Conan on the Twitter Failwhale, and the Conan blimp. It is unclear if fans will have a chance to purchase these cool Conan t-shirts, but knowing the relationship that Conan has with his fans, it is likely that we will see these designs pop up in the Team Coco online store sometime very soon.

November 9, 2010
By the ZippyCart Shopping Cart Reviews Content Team

Whether it can be stomached or not, Mike Sorrentino who is better known as The Situation has made quite a name for himself. Known for his fist pumping, grenade dodging, and womanizing antics on MTV’s reality series, The Jersey Shore, The Situation has parlayed the series’ popularity into his own successful brand. It has already been estimated that he will bring in $5 million by the end of this year, from appearances, to his show salary, and a number of endorsements, that kind of money is not such a bad situation. Don’t worry, that sickening feeling in the gut will go away soon. Who knew fist pumping his 15 minutes of fame could lead into millions of dollars? With a book already out in stores, Here’s the Situation a ‘Guide to Creeping on Chicks, Avoiding Grenades, and Getting in Your GTL on the Jersey Shore,’ Sorrentino just seems he cannot be stopped. Not to mention on iTunes, the little gem that is his RAP single featuring Fatman Scoop entitled, what else but, The Situation. His other endorsements include Vitamin Water, Reebok, NOX Energy, a couple clothing lines, an upcoming vodka, and a $5 iPhone app that locates the nearest GTL (gym, tanning, and laundry) throughout the U.S.

The latest venture for him is an ab-focused workout DVD in which viewers can get their own gym on for 50 minutes with The Situation. In as little as 15 minutes a day viewers can also get their own ‘Situation.’ The DVD also includes a segment called Sitch’s Ab Secrets that teaches how The Situation maintains his abs as well as tips toward getting a hard body. The workout DVD is now available for pre-order on Amazon.com before it is fully unleashed onto store shelves November 23rd.

In sum, it looks like The Situation may have the whole world fooled as he is building an empire based on products and endorsements that will make any consumer look, act, date, drink and dance just like him. Cloning himself indefinitely, people will soon be living in a land, guidofied, where the ozone is saturated with hairspray, being hyper tan is the thing, and there is no end or escape from fist pumping.

November 9, 2010
By the ZippyCart Shopping Cart Reviews Content Team

Remembering the days of classic vinyl records, bucket seats, and an era moved by the sounds of the first time hearing Etta James silkily play through the speakers and the different emotions it ignited. Music moves people, the beat of a song can remind us of a love from many years ago, trigger nostalgia from a concert, or even benchmark a powerful moment in history. It can be a movement, a passion, the beat that keeps a foot tapping,

Beethoven made us smarter, Chuck Berry fathered Rock and Roll, The Beatles drove a musical revolution, and Jimi Hendrix changed the way a guitar was played. These great names played instruments and they played them well. Their beginnings come from that ignition of musical emotion and allowing that emotion to inspire them to learn an instrument. However, the musical movement is slowly fading to the background.

VH1 has spent 13 years on saving music education programs in public schools with their non-profit Save the Music Foundation. The past years have seen the diminishing of musical education due to budget cuts in a changing economy but what is really being removed is the outlet for students to express themselves, foster their creative minds, and the potential to develop a future innovative artist or even the next musical legend. VH1 has joined with online auction Charitybuzz.com to sell over 20 big artist items to raise money to help restore instrumental music education in public schools.

The website currently has Ringo Starr’s signed drumset for bid at $4,817.00, a VIP trip for VH1′s Diva’s Salute to the Troops 2010 at $750.00, and a meet and greet at a Reba McIntyre concert for $850.00 are just a few of the items being offered. The auction is live now until November 23rd and all the proceeds from the auction will benefit the foundation.

The foundation will continue to raise money with their annual Save the Music gala tonight with live performances with John Legend, John Mayer, Natasha Bedingfield and with appearances from many other big names in music. The gala will be hosted by LG Mobile Phones at The James New York hotel honoring musical legend Julie Andrews for her years of music education advocacy. The night will be full of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s music easily reminding people how music can shape and influence lives.

November 9, 2010
By the ZippyCart Shopping Cart Reviews Content Team

Hey Bieber fans, wait no more, the countdown begins, December 1st is the release date for Justin Bieber dolls everywhere! *Cue tears of happiness*

Here’s a crash course, on Bieber 101. The international teenster’s been breaking hearts all over with his magical voice and boyish charm that will make any mother blush. Known for pop hits like “One Less Lonely Girl,” and “Baby,” Bieber has turned into a major brand from clothing, bedding, a newly released autobiography (by the way, Bieber is 16 years old), and now he has a doll.

Feeling flushed in the face yet? Weak in the knees? That my friend, might just be ‘Bieber Fever.’ What exactly is ‘Bieber Fever?’ Symptoms of ‘Bieber Fever’ include a deep reddening in the face followed by an uncontrollable high pitch scream upon hearing his pop hits, an affinity for feathered bowl cuts, and an unashamed urge to kiss his poster before bedtime. It’s pretty easy to catch, there’s no known cure or vaccine, and it spreads like the Swine Flu. Some don’t even know they have the ‘Fever’ until it’s too late and in a blink of an eye, they are waiting in line for a Bieber Doll.

Bieber dolls come in two models, a singing version for $25.99 and a basic model for $17.99. The singing version offers a 30 second clip of one of his pop songs and is outfitted in the fashions from that corresponding music video. Here’s where it gets really wild, as the basic model will not disappoint, fans can choose from Bieber in Red Carpet Style, Street Style, or Awards Style. Various accessories and clothes come with the doll in true Bieber likeness as well as a mini magazine.

There will be a limited number of Justin Bieber dolls available for purchase and projected to be a hot ticket item for the holidays. Amazon.com is already offering preorders for the Justin Bieber dolls which will end Dec. 1 when they hit retail shelves everywhere. There will be one less lonely girl come this December when fans can sleep soundly snuggled next to their very own Justin Bieber doll.

Sammy Sosa’s infamous corked bat has been sold at auction and will surprisingly stay in Chicago.

Former Chicago Cubs pitcher Mike Remlinger put the bat up for auction in October.  He said he picked the bat up off the field during the Tampa Bay Rays game in 2003.  Some said that the bat could bring around $50,000.

The bat, which shattered in two pieces when Sosa grounded out to second base in the first inning of the game on June 3, 2003, went on the online auction block through Schulte Auctions on Oct. 1, and started off with a bid of $5,050.  After the bat had failed to meet the minimum bid, it was purchased by the CEO of Harry Caray’s Restaurant Group, Grant DePorter, for $14,407 plus roughly $2,000 in commission to Schulte Auctions.

Sosa was shocked to hear that Remlinger had put the bat up for auction.

“If he needed the money, [Remlinger] should have just asked me for some money,” Sosa said Tuesday through his spokeswoman, Rebecca Polihronis.

Remlinger claims to have tried contacting Sosa during an interview on “The Waddle & Silvy Show” on ESPN 1000, saying “Whether he got the message or not I know that I made two calls at the least, I think it was three, but I know absolutely it was more than once.”  He goes on to say “It really doesn’t matter to me. What’s done is done. If he still wants to give me some money that would be fine.”

DePorter had used the secret bidder name of the 1908 Cub’s Owner Charles Murphy. 1908 was the last time the Cub’s won the World Series.

November 5, 2010
By the ZippyCart Shopping Cart Reviews Content Team

While it might seem odd that eBay has become a hub for postmortem celebrity merchandise, it’s no longer unexpected.  We all grieve the death of a loved one in different ways that are often private and personal, but when a public figure passes, the grief is also public as fans reach out to grasp a piece of memorabilia in the hopes of immortalizing the deceased.  This was true earlier this week, with the passing of Andy Irons, a hero among surfers, who died unexpectedly of the dengue fever.  And with the recent death of Sparky Anderson, fans are racing to eBay to find the right piece of history that will honor this baseball legend.

Sparky Anderson died at 76, and is considered one of baseball’s greatest managers.  He led the Cincinnati Reds’ “Big Red Machine” dynasty of the 1970’s to two World Series championships, won a 3rd for the Detroit Tigers, and was the first manager to win the World Series in both the National and American leagues.   Because of his success, he was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2000, which was his first year of eligibility.  He retired from baseball in 1995, with an astounding 2,194 victories, which were the 3rd most in history, behind only Connie Mack and John McGraw.

Shortly after his death yesterday, collectors took to eBay to put memorabilia up for bid including a 1959 Sparky Anderson Rookie Card, a Sparky Anderson autographed upper deck card, autographed baseballs, bats, and more.  So many collectors have taken to eBay that it seems a new Sparky Anderson item is being posted every few minutes.  Fans who want to find that special item to remember this fallen baseball hero, are avidly searching the eBay listings, and will walk away with just the right piece of history to pay Sparky Anderson the respect he deserves.

November 5, 2010
By the ZippyCart Shopping Cart Reviews Content Team

Those of us who live in Seattle are well aware of an incident that took place in late October, where the life of Sub Pop Vice President of Sales and Director of Marketing, Andy Kotowicz, was cut short due to a terrible car accident. The Sub Pop record label was founded in Seattle back in the late 1980′s, and quickly gained popularity as they signed now famous bands Soundgarden, Nirvana, and Mudhoney. Many associate Sub Pop with the grunge scene that was popularized in Seattle during the late 80′s and early 90′s, More recently Sub Pop has had popular bands like The Postal Service, The Shins, Wolf Parade, and Flight of the Conchords on their label. Sub Pop allowed Kotowicz the ability to get to know many musicians in the local independent music scene, including the guys from Pearl Jam, which is one of the most famous bands to ever come out of the area. Shortly after the news broke of the passing of Kotowicz, Pearl Jam jumped in to try and provide some support for the Andy Kotowicz family foundation, which will help to support his wife Jocelyn and 3-year old daughter Anna.

All the members of Pearl Jam signed a Fender Standard Telecaster FSR guitar in Butterscotch and put it up for auction. The online auction for the guitar started low at only $550 when it first debuted at CharityBuzz on November 2. Only a few days later, the auction has received 15 bids, and when last checked, the highest bid was $9,500 by bidder Terry Kwasniewski. This online auction still has a lot of time left, as it runs until November 23, which means that the Andy Kotowicz family foundation should receive a sizable donation when all is said and done. November is also a big month for Pearl Jam, as it was just announced that they would release a live compilation album titled Live on Ten Legs in celebration of their 20th anniversary in 2011. It will feature 18 Pearl Jam songs that were recorded from their 2003-2010 world tours.

November 4, 2010
By the ZippyCart Shopping Cart Reviews Content Team

The social labels that are thrown onto people can sometimes be a heavy burden to bear. The struggle to find self worth when status, sexuality, race, and gender affect the way people identify themselves. It can bring an inner pain that is sometimes too hard to share. Given the past months, with the high number of teen suicides sweeping across the nation, the loss of someone’s son, daughter, and friend has shown us action is necessary to change the way we value and treat ourselves. Humanity reminds us we are just people.

“To be able to get to a point where you’re just happy with who you are, I think that’s when you know what real peace feels like.” -Portia De Rossi

Portia De Rossi, has released her first autobiography entitled ‘Unbearable Lightness: A Story of Loss and Gain’ in which she explains her struggles with self identity, battling anorexia and bulimia, and owning her sexuality under the Hollywood spotlight. Her story is one of self acceptance. She confesses in her younger years to hiding her sexuality as she tried to conform to societal norms. As she entered into a high profile career, the pressures from Hollywood affected how Portia defined her self worth. At one point, Portia was only consuming 300 calories a day as she dropped to 82 lbs., struggling with anorexia and bulimia made her feel alone as she kept it a secret. She explains her eating disorder was about wanting to feel admired, she worried what other people thought of her; and was simply trying to find a place where she belonged.

Her story is one that often goes untold, Portia urges parents and friends to voice their concerns to a loved one who may be going through the same struggles before it changes their life. Portia gives much credit to her wife, Ellen DeGeneres for helping her end her eating disorder.

“She has taught me that who I am is perfectly good enough…that I don’t have to pretend to be anything other than who I am, and that’s been the most incredible gift that she’s given me.”

Portia hopes that those also suffering with body image and self acceptance can find the light in her story.

“Look, I don’t think I’m perfect. I still don’t like my thighs,” she says. “But I’m not going to do anything to compromise my health or my sanity to change them. I don’t want to have secrets anymore. I don’t want to have a darkness that I feel that I should be ashamed of. And going forward now, without having anything to hide, the future looks pretty bright.”