Steven Tyler talks Led Zep. New Bon Jovi single. Rock N' Roll Fantasy Camp. Wireless charging? Ten ways to be an obnoxious Facebook friend. Coca-Cola might help your stomach issues. Four cheap winter dates. Ten things that will be cheaper in 2013.

STEVEN TYLER

Steven Tyler has given the most in-depth account of his weeklong stint jamming with Led Zeppelin. Following the success of the band's 2007 London reunion show -- now available as Celebration Day -- Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, and Jason Bonham kept rehearsing in hopes that Robert Plant would soon join them, but when Plant showed no interest, the trio sought out outside singers for a possible new project.

Tyler told his side of the story to Classic Rock magazine, recalling: "I went over and played with Jimmy and the rest of them in (summer 2008). It wasn't an audition to be in Zeppelin, it was an audition to play with Zeppelin. We were going to do a couple of stadiums. And then while I was there, Jimmy spoke to me about maybe doing an album. I went home and thought about it for a couple of days, and I got back to him and said, 'Look Jimmy, you're in an iconic band and so am I. I can't in good faith, leave my band and be in your band.'"

He went on to say, "We played all day for a week. Every time we took a break I smoked a cigar and Jimmy smoked a cigarette. We went out back and spoke with Jimmy about everything on the planet. It started out with, 'Jimmy, you have no idea how grateful I am to have the chance to come over and jam with you guys.' And he goes, 'Well, maybe we can play some shows together.' And I said, 'Stop right there. I'm playing in a band with John Paul Jones?'"

Tyler explained that although he had a blast, he soon realized that he had his own band situation to work out: "They let me sing every song I wanted; 'Black Dog,' 'Stairway To Heaven.' But it was just a week. And yeah, Jimmy asked me to do some stuff with him. But I didn't want to be Coverdale/Page. Plus, I figured in the time it would take to do that, I could rally my own band back together. So, was I gonna be in Jimmy's band? No. But what an honor."

Steven Tyler said that regardless of Aerosmith's well-documented ups and downs -- unlike many of their peers -- the band has proven to be truly unstoppable: "We have that one thing about us, that we never quit, we never gave up, we always went on tour, and we always did an album. If you were to ask me, 'What's the greatest thing Aerosmith ever did?' -- we stuck around."

BON JOVI

Bon Jovi has just released "Because We Can," the lead single from the band's upcoming album, What About Now, which is due out on March 26th. "Because We Can" was written by Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, and Billy Falcon. Falcon has been a longtime collaborator of the band's, having co-written tracks for such Bon Jovi albums as Crush, Bounce, Have A Nice Day, Lost Highway, and The Circle.

What About Now will also feature the original Jon Bon Jovi song, "Not Running Anymore" from the movie, Stand Up Guys. The song has been nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song. This marks the first time Jon Bon Jovi has scored a Golden Globe nomination since winning in 1990, for "Blaze Of Glory" from Young Guns II. The Golden Globe Awards ceremony will be broadcast live on Sunday (January 13th) at 5:00 p.m. PT/8:00 p.m. ET on NBC.

Jon Bon Jovi said he and the band have come a long way since scoring their first Number One album with 1986's Slippery When Wet: "Y'know when I was 25 and we wrote ' . . .Bad Name,' you were the kid with long hair in the mall -- sex, drugs, rock n' roll. All that kind of stuff. You were a cowboy. You were gonna ride into town. You were dead or alive. That's who I was at that time. I'm not that guy anymore. I've grown up in the public eye. We've been at this a long time."

Richie Sambora said that he particularly gets a kick out of the fact that with each new album, Bon Jovi scores another generation of fans, who get hooked in by the band's new music: "We have a whole new demographic of people that think we're a new band, y'know what I mean? And it's pretty cool, we clean up pretty good for some old guys, and that feels real good, y' now, that people think we're a new band, some of them. And now, I think they're getting acquainted with our catalog a lot now, too."

ROCK N' ROLL FANTASY CAMP

Once again Who frontman Roger Daltrey is taking part in the Rock N' Roll Fantasy Camp being held from January 23rd to 27th at Las Vegas' MGM Grand Hotel. Among the other notables on-board for the crash course on staging a full-on rock show will be Dave Navarro of Jane's Addiction and Hall of Fame singer-songwriter Richie Furay of Buffalo Springfield and Poco fame. Also performing will be Who touring guitarist Simon Townshend, and Jane's Addiction drummer Steven Perkins.

Among the counselors participating this year are Rock N' Roll Fantasy Camp Musical Director Kip Winger; bassist Rudy Sarzo of Quiet Riot, Whitesnake, and Ozzy Osbourne -- and now Geoff Tate's Queensryche; Alice Cooper guitarist Kane Roberts; and Black Sabbath, Dio, and Heaven And Hell drummer Vinny Appice.

According to RockCamp.com, "(Campers will) rock out live on one of the strips greatest performing art stages ever built. Proof of the dream coming true will be a professionally recorded song and the DVD of your final performance just so you can prove this actually happened."

Two more Rock Camps are on the books for the MGM Grand this year -- Alice Cooper heads up the camp running from February 14th to February 18th, and Sammy Hagar will be heading up the March 5th through 9th Rock Camp.

WIRELESS CHARGING MAY SOON BE POSSIBLE

What if you could charge your cell phone wirelessly via a chip embedded in a Starbucks table? It might be possible in the next year or so. At the 2013 International Consumer Electronics show in Las Vegas yesterday (January 7th) it was announced that 30-companies associated with smartphones will join the Power Matters Alliance (PMA) organization which is working to make wireless power the norm. PMA board member Daniel Schreiber says Starbucks, AT&T and Google are the newest members of the PMA. Schreiber says, "For wireless power to really transform our lives, a lot of things have to come together, from how companies make their products to public spaces deploying the right technology for charging." Starbucks announced in October that it would introduce Duracell Powermat charging stations embedded into tables at 17 of its Boston locations, which increased PMA membership. (Mashable)

TEN WAYS TO BE AN OBNOXIOUS FACEBOOK FRIEND(The Stir):

1) You update your status with vacation countdowns. "Just booked the hotel for Cancun -- 94 Days!!!" We get it. You're excited. But 94 days is 93 days too many to hear about it.

2) You tag multiple pictures every single time you leave the house. Because how else will people know that you actually have a wild and crazy social life if you don't tag TONS of pictures?! HOW?

3) You update your status incessantly during any sports game you watch. Ask yourself this: If you watch a football game, and don't write about it on Facebook ... did you really watch it?

4) You post entire photo albums of just kissy faces. Dear Lord. I don't have enough time to explain why this is bad. Just no. Un-pucker those lips immediately.

5) You take your issues out on the Facebook community. Firing off statuses like, "Leave me alone. Don't try calling me. I hate everyone!!!!" only begs the question: why the hell are you on a social media site?

6) You use Facebook to try to get back at your ex. We know you've got #SingleGirlSwag now that you're on your own, but it's really obvious what you're trying to do.

7) Your status updates are TMI. Sorry about your baby's rash, that you were puking all night, or how badly you smell after that 10-mile run ... but some things are better kept to yourself.

8) You fish for compliments. "OMG, this guy stopped me on the street and told me I have the most beautiful eyes ever. Yeah right! I look like sh*t today!!" *Rolls eyes.*

9) You update everyone daily, but your schedule hasn't changed. If you go to the gym every day, there's really no need to write "at the gym" on your status each time. We know you're there. We believe you.

10) You get a new haircut/makeover/outfit and immediately upload a picture. Because God forbid you wait for people to see you in person.

 

COCA-COLA MIGHT HELP YOUR STOMACH ISSUES

A report published in the journal Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics says that patients suffering gastric phytobezoar, or a stomach blockage, may find relief by drinking Coca-Cola. To find this, researchers from the University of Athens examined academic papers that detailed 46 patients with the stomach blockage who were treated with Coke over the past ten-years. For half of the patients the soda cured the blockage, and 19-patients only needed non-invasive treatments as a result of the cola's help. Experts say the Coca-Cola contains chemicals that act like gastric acid and help digest fiber. If not for the coke, treatment options for the condition include lasers and non-surgical endoscopies to the last resort of surgery. (Daily Mail)

FOUR CHEAP WINTER DATES(Men's Health):

1) Channel her sweet tooth. Nothing says sexy quite like a man who loves to cook. So if you're looking to satisfy her sweet tooth, invite her over to bake. Lay out all the ingredients you need to make the perfect cookie from scratch - flour, semi-sweet chocolate chips, eggs, the works - then challenge her and see who can make the best batch. While you're waiting for the oven to work its magic, sweeten the deal by making her hot cocoa, dating and flirting expert Tracey Steinberg advises. And don't forget fun additives like whipped cream, marshmallows, and Kahula.

2) Tip a few back. If she's a fan of Kentucky's most treasured spirit, take her to a distillery or local bar that offers bourbon tastings. This excursion's almost always a hit on dates, because there are elements of playfulness and intrigue when you try new things together, says Steinberg. Plus, bourbon is guaranteed to warm you up while the temperatures continue to drop. (Swap for a winery or brewery depending on her tastes.)

3) Brave the snow. Skiing and snowboarding are always sure bets, but not everyone has enough cash for equipment - or lives near a set of slopes. Your alternative: Take her sledding, or hit up an ice-staking rink on an adults-only night. These dates are simple enough that you'll both enjoy them without much practice, and you'll avoid the headaches that come with long lines, says Steinberg. Bonus points if you bring a thermos of that spiked hot cocoa.

4) Throw the ultimate movie night. Thankfully, not every date has to involve a ton of work. In fact, sometimes she prefers to have you all to herself, Steinberg says. Your game plan: Order in something you can pair with wine, like Thai, sushi, or Indian. Pick up your preferred bottle of vino, and search Netflix for something scary. Our suggestions: Paranormal Activity and The Exorcist .With a double feature like that, she'll be seeking refuge under the blanket in minutes. "Showing vulnerability is a major bonding experience," says professional dating doctor David Coleman. "A little bit of humanity always leads to second dates."

 

TEN THINGS THAT'LL BE CHEAPER IN 2013(Yahoo):

1) Laptops, Flat-screen TVs, and Digital Cameras. The cost of commoditized technology (products made with basic, widespread knowledge of hardware components) will keep going down, says Brad Wilson, founder of the savings website BradsDeals and author of Do More, Spend Less: The New Secrets of Living the Good Life for Less. Because of technological improvements, electronics parts are becoming cheaper and easier to manufacture, tempting more companies to get in on the action. As suppliers compete for market share, prices for consumers fall-except on those beloved Apple products. There isn't an oversupply since only one company makes them.

2) Gas. Finally! A gallon of gas will cost about 20 cents less in 2013 as compared to 2012, according to Tancred Lidderdale of the U.S. Energy Information Administration. That's because production by non-OPEC nations like the United States and Canada is growing and causing crude oil prices to drop. But beware: Crude oil is an internationally traded commodity, so events in the Middle East, Africa and the Gulf of Mexico can cause supply disruptions and impact what we pay at the pump.

3) Online Apparel. Never buy an item at list price, says Wilson, adding that online coupons exist for nine out of ten retailers at any given time. "Deals are quick to find-the trick is remembering to look." Among the money-saving opportunities are site-wide sales, percentages off, rebates and free shipping (which is practically a rule these days). Just do a Google search for your favorite retailer-say, Old Navy, Carter's or Sports Authority-followed by the words "coupon code." Or head to sites like RetailMeNot, FatWallet or BradsDeals, where the average visitor spends 88 seconds looking for a coupon and saves $24.

4) Apps. "You'll see more free apps because the public has voted with their wallets that a free product that's good enough beats a paid product that's perfect," says strategic innovation consultant Scott Steinberg. "Thousands of free or low-priced apps released in 2012 offered full-fledged, program-level quality and performance, training shoppers to expect more for less." Since you bank on paying so little, companies are forced to drop prices further and make top-notch programs for next-to-nothing, but they'll make money from charging a premium for extra features and selling ads within the apps.

5) Tablets. Steinberg says these prices will plummet as more options flood the market, a result of hardware becoming more commoditized, public interest in tablets growing and competition strengthening among key tech players. Consumers who don't want a $500 iPad can now get a slew of lower-priced models starting at $199. "Even low-end devices are equipped with better graphics and more technological horsepower than ever," Steinberg says. "If all you want to do is read books, listen to music or surf the web, you can get a very good product for $200 to $300."

6) Smartphones. If you're still carrying a flip phone, this may be your year to switch. A rising number of carriers offering prepaid and monthly service made customers wary of longer contracts in 2012, according to Steinberg. That-along with the abundance of new, top-rated Android phone models-has led mobile carriers to "offer high-quality phones for as low as $100" when you commit to their service plan, says Steinberg. But prepare to pay higher monthly service fees as data charges rise.

7) Video Games. Prices on physical video games are going way down as manufacturers try to compete with digital downloads, says Steinberg. Free and super-cheap apps also vie for gamers' attention, as do streaming services and rentals. With little overhead for manufacturing, shipping and storage, these game-delivery systems keep costs down. That means actual video games must lower their prices to stay appealing. So games once sold for $60 will now cost $40, or even $30, Steinberg says.

8) Last-Minute Travel. The biggest travel trend for 2013 will be massive savings on mobile-exclusive deals via apps, says Expedia Travel Expert Sarah Gavin. Just don't anticipate the same savings to be available on websites. "There's a certain type of trip that people search for and book on a mobile device," she explains. "They tend to be short-term and closer to home, like an overnight or weekend at a hotel when the in-laws come to town." Hotels don't lower prices eight weeks out-they're hoping someone will still pay full price. But a high vacancy rate 48 hours in advance can mean drastic rate cutting to fill those rooms. As long as you're flexible, you can find last-minute deals for up to 60% off.

9) Bundled Vacations. Big resort destinations will continue to offer major savings when you buy airfare, room and car rental all together. "You can save nearly $525 on a weeklong trip for two adults by booking those three things at once because individual carriers can hide low rates in the package price," says Gavin. Also, as new hotels are being built again, rooms need to be occupied. Expect the best deals at resorts in Cancun, the Caribbean and Hawaii, where people spend extra money on day-trip excursions, spa services and alcohol.

10) Cruises. Over the past few years, cruising has become increasingly popular as bigger, better ships turned into destinations themselves. But last year's Costa Concordia disaster off the coast of Italy dissuaded some would-be vacationers. "In 2013, cruise lines will offer incentives to entice travelers back to their ships," says Gavin. Look for onboard deals and credits-especially early in the year.

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

xoxo,

Jennifer Tyler

Fabulous Mid-Day Diva