Billy Joel's "feud" with Elton John. Wings guitarist has brain damage.  Happy birthday Graham Nash! Axl Rose may lose big lawsuit. Why you shouldn't flirt when it rains. iPhone users pay the most monthly. What your desk says about you. Tips on how not to look like a tourist on vacation. Six smarter ways to procrastinate. What they don't tell you in the plane safety demo.

BILLY JOEL

During his recent chat with Rolling Stone Billy Joel touched upon his apparent feud with former touring partner Elton John. Joel responded to Elton's 2011 charges in the same magazine about his lack of new material and the claim that Billy only attended designer rehabs -- rather than committing to more strenuous programs. The quote came after Billy decided not to continue on with the pair's highly lucrative "Face To Face" tour.

Billy told Rolling Stone that he felt that Elton was "in the right place" when he made the comments, but went on to explain: "We haven't spoken, and I don't know why. Elton doesn't really know me that well. We toured together for 16 years and never really hung out. Elton assumes a lot about me that he doesn't really know. If he thought I was screwing up or doing something bad, I don't know why he didn't just call me. I wasn't as mad as I was disappointed."

Back in 2011, Elton told Today, "He hates me at the moment and I understand why. He sent me a message and he's not happy and I understand that. . . I'm sorry I had to say it, but I'm saying it because I really want Billy to live a long life and be very happy. I understand why he's p***ed with me and I can take that on the chin. . . That's all it came from. I understand why he's mad at me. I'm only trying to help. Maybe I should have done it privately, but I've been so frustrated over the years. Years ago when people tried to tell me, I didn't talk to them for years. Now I look back and they were only trying to help. . . I love the guy. . . I wanna stress that. He may wanna punch my face in at the moment, but it's OK."

Shortly after, Billy Joel responded with a statement, which read:

1. I do not hate Elton John
2. I do not want to "punch him in the face"
3. If he wants to call me, my number is still the same.
4. Good luck with the movie. BILLY JOEL

WINGS

Original Wings lead guitarist Henry McCullough has reportedly sufferer brain damage due to his heart attack last November. McCullough's Wings bandmate and close friend, drummer Denny Seiwell told the music blog, Something Else, "Unfortunately, we just got some bad news on Henry's condition. By the time the ambulance got there, because the lack of oxygen from that period of the heart attack through first treatment, he's suffered some significant brain damage."

Seiwell added that although McCullough's longtime partner, Josie, is holding out hope for McCullough to pull through, doctors are less optimistic: "Josie is very hopeful, but some of the doctors -- according to friends -- don't think that he's going to have much of a recovery. He's going to need constant care the rest of his life."

McCullough was Wings' first lead guitarist, joining the already formed band in January 1972 and quitting in August 1973 on the eve of Paul McCartney and Wings leaving for Lagos to record Band On The Run. He left his mark such early McCartney solo classics as "Give Ireland Back To The Irish," "C Moon," "Hi Hi Hi," "Mary Had A Little Lamb," "My Love," "Big Barn Bed," "The Mess," "Country Dreamer," Denny Laine's "I Would Only Smile," "Best Friend," "When The Night," and "Live And Let Die." McCullough also played lead guitar on Wings' first Number One album, 1973's Red Rose Speedway.

GRAHAM NASH

Happy Birthday to Graham Nash who turns 71 on Saturday (February 2nd)!!! Crosby, Stills, & Nash have just announced that they'll team-up this spring with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra and Wynton Marsalis. The trio will play the two-night event on May 1st and 3rd at Lincoln Center's Rose Theatre, dubbed, The Crosby, Stills & Nash Songbook, which will consist of the Jazz at Lincoln Center's 2013 Annual Gala Concert followed by a charity dinner, with the general public able to purchase tickets for the May 3rd show.

Out now is the CD/DVD set CSN 2012 which includes such classics as "Carry On/Questions," "Marrakesh Express," "Long Time Gone," "Southern Cross," "Wasted On The Way," "Deja Vu," "Our House," "Helplessly Hoping," "Wooden Ships," "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes," and "Teach Your Children," among others. CSN 2012 also spotlights the group's solo careers with a take on Nash's "Military Madness," Stephen Stills' "Love The One You're With," "Johnny's Garden" and his Buffalo Springfield classics "For What It's Worth" and "Bluebird." Also included are the new songs -- David Crosby's "Radio" and Nash's "Almost Gone," as well as the group's tight-harmony cover of Bob Dylan's "Girl From North Country."

In 2010, along with the rest of the Hollies, Nash was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The occasion marked Nash's second entrance into the Hall, having already been inducted with CSN back in 1998.

GUNS N' ROSES

Guns N' Roses singer Axl Rose looks like he may lose his $20 million lawsuit filed against video game giant Activision Blizzard, according to the Hollywood Reporter. Rose sued the company in November 2010, claiming that it used an image of former Guns guitarist Slash in Guitar Hero III after promising him that the game would not feature any reference to Rose's ex-bandmate. Rose claimed that was a condition of him agreeing to license the song "Welcome To The Jungle" for use in the game.

However, a Los Angeles Superior Court judge indicated on Thursday (January 31st) that he is inclined to dismiss Rose's suit because he did not file it until a full three years after the game's October 2007 release. Rose has said that he was not aware of Slash's image in the game until later, although documents in the case indicated that an attorney for the singer emailed Activision about it around the time the game came out.

Rose said in a deposition, "The reason I did not file a lawsuit is because Activision -- through my managers and representatives -- offered me a separate video game and other business proposals worth millions of dollars to resolve and settle my claims relating to GH III."

He added, "From December 2007 through November 2010, Activision was offering me a Guns N' Roses-dedicated video game, a game dedicated to music from the Chinese Democracy album, and other proposals."

Although Rose's legal team tried to point to emails suggesting that an agreement was in place for Activision to not use any images or music related to Slash, Judge Charles Palmer responded, "The only extrinsic evidence supports Activision's interpretation and does not support Rose's interpretation."

A full decision should be coming within weeks.

WHY YOU SHOULDN'T FLIRT WHEN IT RAINS

New research from France finds that you shouldn't try to get her number if it's raining. Researchers at the University of South Brittany knew that previous studies have shown that sunny weather improves people's moods, and they wondered if cloudy days would do the opposite. For the experiment they got five attractive men to use the same pickup line on 500-random women. Each woman was approached when the sun was shining bright or a cloudy spring day. They found that on sunny days 22-percent of the women were receptive to the flirting and gave their phone number, but that on cloudy days women only gave their digits 14-percent of the time. (Men's Health)

IPHONE USERS PAY THE MOST MONTHLY

A U.S. Research firm finds that iPhone users pay the most per month for data, calls and texts than users of other smartphone platforms. Consumer Intelligence Research Partners did the research and found that 59-percent of iPhone useres have monthly bills of more than 100-dollars, and 10-percent pay more than that. Researchers said a little over a third of iPhone users pay 51-to-100-dollars per month, and that 53-percent of Android phone users pay more than 100-dollars-per-month. Josh Levitz, with Consumer Intelligence Research, says that since iPhones have high subsidies the carriers are working hard to make their month back during the course of the contract. (UPI)

WHAT YOUR DESK SAYS ABOUT YOU (Yahoo):

1) An organized desk says... you're dependable and timely. People with organized desks tend to be more conscientious, meaning that they are reliable, task oriented people who plan well and get their work done on time. "When I go into a space, I look for a calendar first," says Sam Gosling, psychologist and professor at the University of Texas at Austin and author of Snoop: What Your Stuff Says About You, since an up-to-date, used desk calendar is another sign of a conscientious person. Having a messy desk isn't a bad thing (creative people often do), but others may judge you incorrectly. "When people see a messy office, they infer that the person is disagreeable, which is not necessarily true," Gosling says. "My hunch is that the mess is unpleasant [to look at], so they assume the person is inconsiderate."

2) Uncommon objects say... you're creative and open to new experiences. People with original art, unusual spaces, or a diverse array of objects tend to be high in openness, meaning they embrace new ideas or experiences and are often very creative. "If you go in and think, wow, I've never seen that before, they're likely high in openness," Gosling says. Innovative companies, such as ad agencies or tech startups, tend to attract creative people and encourage their employees to showcase their personalities. For example, Etsy gives each new employee a $100 site credit to decorate their desks, leading to an odd array of robots, stuffed octopus, vintage typewriters, and artwork.

3) Inspirational posters and messages say... you're neurotic. People who pepper their desks with inspirational statements are typically a bit more neurotic -- the classic Type A personality. "[Inspirational statements are] a psychological form of trying to keep people together [emotionally]," Gosling says. "It calms anxiety." If you have inspirational posters up, don't worry that they're sending the wrong message. Neurotic people are often highly successful in the workplace and the sayings they choose to display communicate their values to others.

4) An inviting space says... you're extroverted. People with especially inviting offices -- including an open door, comfortable chairs, or a candy jar -- tend to be very social. By creating a welcoming space, they show others that they're approachable, and often get many more visitors than the introverts.Sociability can pave the way for promotions and new opportunities, so introverts may help their careers by adding a few inviting touches. "People can learn to exercise that side," Gosling says. "But it'll never be pleasant like it is for someone who is biologically this way. It's not intrinsic."

TIPS ON HOW TO NOT LOOK LIKE A TOURIST ON VACATION (The Gloss):

1) Blend in. When I'm abroad I try my best to fit in, in regards to my clothing choices. I'm not changing my look, I'm modifying it.

2) Put away the paper map. Maps are awful, aren't they? They're big and impossible to read -- ugh. No. Thanks to it being 2013 we have every map we need at the tips of our fingers. And the best part is, while you're fumbling around trying to find your way with your Google map, it will look like you're texting.

3) Learn the basics in multiple languages. If you know "hello," "goodbye" and "thank you," then that's a huge help. It shows you're making an effort and have a grasp on basic manners. Everyone likes manners.

4) Smile and nod. When a language goes completely over your head, sometimes all you can do is smile and nod. You're not being an asshole, you're just saving yourself from extra hassle and confusion.I find when I grin and nod at restaurants it usually results in another glass of wine... because, apparently, that's what I've agreed to in my nodding.

5) Learn to give directions. There's nothing worse than being asked for directions and you stand there dumbfounded. In being aware of your surroundings, you'll be able to help others in need. Nothing says local, like someone who can help a fellow lost soul.
6) Don't get the cheeseburger. Come on, you guys! I get that it's easiest to go with what you know, but try something that locals eat! You never know, you may trade in your affinity for cheeseburgers with something else like... I don't know. But something awesome!

SIX SMARTER WAYS TO PROCRASTINATE(Huffington Post):

1) Instead of browsing YouTube, watch your favorite really funny video. The best breaks are "easy to engage and disengage from" says Alejandro Lleras, Ph.D., an associate professor of psychology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign., so giving yourself free-range to browse YouTube might suck you in too deep. However, laughter really is great medicine. A belly laugh certainly relaxes you, and may also increase productivity. Planning to watch that single funny video means you can quickly return to the task at hand.

2) Instead of perusing your social networks, call a friend.You'll get the same calming benefits of fostering a connection, and a break from the screen at the same time. Changing your environment helps you to truly leave your work behind, Lleras says. "If my office is the place where I'm working all the time, not being in my office allows me to more cleanly cut myself off from that task momentarily," he says. The cleaner the break, the more likely you are to return to your task reinvigorated. Lleras notes that you might not want to call someone you know will make you too emotional, though, like a partner if you're in the middle of a fight. "An emotional conversation is going to be difficult to stop thinking about once you start," he says.

3) Instead of watching TV, take a nap. If you're looking to really zone out, you might be tempted to settle down in front of the television. But before you know it, a few minutes turn into an hour-long episode, and then one episode becomes two. Get the same mental check-out with a quick nap. As long as you don't snooze for more than 30 minutes, you'll wake up feeling refreshed and ready to tackle the job.

4) Instead of eating at your desk, take a real lunch. Face it -- you're not very productive when you're typing with one hand and you've got a sandwich in the other. In fact, eating at your desk has been found to drain you of energy and decrease productivity, according to U.S. News. Instead of pretending to power through that project, take a few minutes to recharge midday away from your desk. (It's covered in germs, anyway!)

5) Instead of having a snack, take a walk. Eating to avoid finishing a to-do item is different from eating because you're hungry. Getting a little exercise instead can distract you from mindless snacking and help you refocus on getting stuff done. If you have the time and flexibility, plan your full workout for the middle of the day. Studies suggest that exercise during the work day -- even if it means time away from your desk -- increases productivity (and boosts your health, too). If not, even just five minutes can help.

6) Instead of daydreaming, run an errand. While it can be relaxing to picture your upcoming tropical vacation, daydreaming doesn't have that finite ending that you're looking for in an ideal break, says Lleras. But if you find yourself distracted by thoughts of the prescription waiting for you at the pharmacy, go pick it up. The change of scenery will help you clear your mind to come back with renewed intensity, he says, and you'll check something else off your to-do list to boot!

WHAT THEY DON'T TELL YOU IN THE PLANE SAFETY DEMO (Yahoo):

1) Check those life vests. One thing they don't tell you in the typical safety demo: people take those life jackets, located under or between your seat, as souvenirs. It's a vile and punishable offense, and while airlines do check each seat at the start of every day, a plane could make several trips in a day, during any of which a passenger could steal a life vest. Not that it may much matter anyway. Only a small fraction of the passengers on US Airways Flight 1549 bothered to grab their life vests when Captain Sullenberger ditched his Airbus A320 into the Hudson River.

2) Put yours on first. You've heard it over and over: put on your own oxygen mask before helping those around you. But the safety demos never tell you why that's so important. The reason? You might only have 15 or 20 seconds in the event of a cabin decompression, during which all oxygen would be sucked out of the plane (and your lungs), before you'd experience confusion and a euphoric stoned state, at which point you might forget everything you heard during the safety demo (if in fact you even listened, which you probably didn't). In 30 to 45 seconds you'd probably pass out. So it's important to act quickly.Airplane safety experts also explained what else to expect during a sudden decompression: a burning smell from the oxygen canisters, severe vibration, a rapid descent (typically a drop of 20,000 feet in just 3 or 4 minutes), and an automated announcement telling you what to expect (because, obviously, the crew would have their own masks on and wouldn't be able to communicate with passengers).

3) The proper brace position. Some of the finer points of flight safety may seem particularly arcane, but there's a reason for every detail. If you've ever bothered, for example, to look at the safety card in the seat back pocket, you may have noticed that the correct brace position is to put your hands on your head, but not in just any slipshod fashion (and definitely not with the fingers locked together). See how the illustration shows one hand over the other? Is that just arbitrary? No as it turns out. Should something fall on you during a crash landing, you want to protect at least one hand (preferably the one you write with) because you'll need it to unbuckle your seat belt when it's safe to do so.

4) Why not fly backward? And speaking of the brace position, wouldn't it be unnecessary, I asked our airplane safety experts, if airlines oriented their seats so that everyone was flying backwards? After all, in the event of a crash landing or controlled emergency landing, there would be no need to assume the brace position if the seats didn't face forward. Isn't that why flight attendants face backward in their jump seats? "People equate rear-facing seats with trains, and we'd be out of business in a week," they answered. And why not have three- or four-point harnesses rather than seatbelts, such as those worn by flight attendants, one of my classmates asked? Aren't they safer? You've probably guessed the answer: airlines recommend keeping your seatbelt fastened whenever seated, and no one would want to wear such an uncomfortable contraption during the flight.

5) "Touch Drills" and "Muscle Memory." While your pilots are waiting for takeoff, it may surprise you that they're probably doing a safety drill -- what if this or that should go wrong on takeoff, which buttons would we push or steps would we take? So they go through the motions of various procedures, touching and even moving the controls. They call these touch drills. Airplane saftey experts suggest passengers practice buckling and unbuckling their seatbelts a few times before take-off because their muscle memory will default to trying to open a car seatbelt in the case of an emergency.

6) Why does red mean go? The escape path lighting along the floor shines red. Safety experts say that's because they show up better in a smoke filled cabin.

7) Those doors are heavy. The emergency over-wing doors weigh 40-pounds each, and are hard to open while seated. Tip: sit way back in your seat or you'll hit yourself on the head when the door swings down. Another tip: use your knee to rest the door and then swing it out and throw it on the wing (don't worry, you won't be sued for damages.)

8) The most macabre little tidbit. Next time you get on a plane, take note of the handles by the door, just inside the plane. What on earth are those for? Well, in a panicked emergency evacuation, when the flight attendants are manning the exit door, passengers, in their mad rush to get off, have a tendency to push them out of the way, sometimes all the way down the slide. The handles are there to make sure that the flight attendants stay on the plane if that's what they need to do.

9) Dim lights with shoes on? Speaking of the whys, just why do airlines dim the cabin lights during nighttime takeoffs and landings? You guessed it: to help adjust your eyes to the dark (either inside a smoke-filled cabin or on a darkened runway). And why do some airlines ask that you keep your shoes on (except high heels,which can tear the slide) when taking off and landing?

Thanks for listening to The Eagle while you work. Keep it fabulous, Houston!

xoxo,

Jennifer Tyler

Fabulous Mid-Day Diva