Pia Toscano

Pia Toscano Brings 'American Idol' Audience To Its Feet

Judges praise 21 year old's powerhouse Performance of the Pretenders' 'I'll Stand By You.'

On a night when Thia Megia gave a quiet, confident performance well beyond her 15 years and teen Lauren Alaina was compared to both Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood, it was nevertheless Pia Toscano who stole the show on Wednesday's (March 2) "American Idol."

Toscano, who anchored the episode with the final performance of the evening, took on the Pretenders' "I'll Stand By You" and knocked it out of the park, building to a series of powerful glory notes in the closing moments that brought the entire studio audience — her fellow contestants and the judges included — to its feet.

The soaring anthem, from the Pretenders' 1994 album Last of the Independents, has a bit of "Idol" history of its own: Gina Glocksen sang it as a contestant back in season six, but more memorably, Carrie Underwood sang it during the "Idol Gives Back" special that same year. The song became a top 10 single for Underwood, peaking at #6 on Billboard's Hot 100; it remains her second-highest charting Hot 100 single to date. (Underwood took it higher than even the Pretenders did; their version topped out at #16.)

Toscano, the 21-year-old NY who tried out for "Idol" during the New Jersey auditions, was resplendent on Wednesday in a sleek, black mini-dress. Following her performance, which was as assured as it was controlled, she held her hands in front of her mouth as Randy Jackson reminded her of the standing O she had just received and then told her that her performance immediately ranked among the best performances in the show's history. "That was unbelievable," the Dawg told her. "That's how you do it!"

Steven Tyler, after invoking one of his more nonsensical Tyler-isms ("You know, after Monday and Tuesday, even a week says WTF" — WTF??), agreed with Jackson's assertion that she was "unbelievable," adding as well that it was "gorgeous." Jennifer Lopez kicked it up a notch, calling the performance "out of this world." "You were saving that for when it counts!" she teased her.

Heading into the show, Toscano wasn't necessarily a name on the tip of the tongues of many viewers, but it definitely was afterward. And on a night when she needed to bring it, she brought it, and in doing so brought the house down with her.

Standard Chartered

Standard Chartered Posts Record Profit

Standard Chartered PLC on Wednesday posted a record net profit for 2010, driven by increased wholesale income and a sharp reduction in loan-impairment charges.

The U.K.-based, Asia-focused lender said its net profit rose 29% in 2010 to a record $4.23 billion from $3.28 billion a year earlier. Total operating income for the 12 months ended Dec. 31 was $16.1 billion, up 5.8% from $15.2 billion in 2009, while loan-impairment charges dropped 56% to $883 million from $2 billion.

Standard Chartered said it expects to keep delivering double-digit income growth this year despite higher costs, regulatory pressures and a cautious forecast for the world economy.

Chief Executive Peter Sands called regulation the bank's "biggest external challenge" and estimated a new U.K. levy on large banks' balance sheets will cost it around $180 million after tax this year.

Mr. Sands said the bank has started 2011 with good momentum and volume growth in both wholesale and consumer banking. He said earnings and return on equity this year will reflect that momentum, but that dilution from last year's $5.2 billion rights issue and the U.K. levy will have an impact.

Costs grew 13% in the year, from increased regulatory and compliance factors and higher staff costs, but Finance Director Richard Meddings told Cantos he is confident cost growth should be brought back into line with income growth this year.

Internet Explorer Has Stopped Working

Internet Explorer Has Stopped Working March 1 2011: IE8 or 9?

Internet Explorer Users Have Been Having Trouble With the Browser and For Many It Stopped Working March 1 2011

There appears to be some trouble with Internet Explorer today - messages are popping up all over the Internet about users getting a message on their screen saying:

"Internet Explorer Has Stopped Working

"A problem caused the program to stop working correctly. Windows will close the program and notify you if a solution is available."

There have been some suggestions to try installing IE9, rather than using IE8, but it is unclear if this will solve your problem.

You can also try resetting Internet Explorer, by taking the following steps:

Go to Start, then Control Panel. Click on Network and Internet, then open Internet Options, and the Advanced Tab, and click Reset.

You then have to "Delete personal settings" and then click on the Reset button.

Let us know if you have been having the same problems below, and if you have any methods to fix it!