Miley Cyrus' tour has the day off today, which is perfect timing, as it will allow her to do fully celebrate her birthday, which is today. Seventeen years ago, the singer was born Destiny Hope Cyrus (which has honestly always sounded more made up than her stage name), and in that brief period on the planet, she has managed to carve out a tiny empire that not only features her music, film and television projects but also a cosmetic line, licensed clothing and any number of other tie-ins. Not bad for the daughter of the guy who unleashed "Achy Breaky Heart" onto the world.

Of course, it's probably not all about celebration today in Cyrus' camp, as they just lost a member of their road crew to an unfortunate tour bus accident last week.

Cyrus has grabbed a number of headlines in the past year, most notably in her swearing off of Twitter for the sake of more privacy. Her music is evolving, too. The dance-rock of her Hannah Montana material has given way to a more singer-songwriter type of vibe on songs like "The Climb" and "Full Circle." Amazingly, Cyrus' audience appears to be evolving along with her, so it will be interesting to see how she deals with entering young adulthood. Based on what came through on her Twitter, it's quite possible that Cyrus could crank out this century's version of Exile in Guyville by the time she's 25.

But that's the future. For now, she can enjoy her birthday, and we can celebrate by cranking up the volume on "7 Things" and getting lost in the moment.

Right now, this very second, "The Twilight Saga: New Moon" is playing at a theater near you. Perhaps you're going to see it tonight. Perhaps you're taking the afternoon off to see it. Perhaps you're a true devotee and you've seen it already. Twice. No matter what your level of enthusiasm is, one thing is for certain: The story of Edward Cullen and Bella Swan has captured the imaginations of millions, and the hunger for the continuation of the films is real. It's telling that one of the most searched-for items on the Internet this morning had to do with the release date of "Eclipse," the already-completed third film in the "Twilight" series (for those curious, it's June 30, 2010, so feel free to get in line now).

The anticipation over "New Moon" has hit a fever pitch this week, with stars Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner making the rounds on talk shows and late night programs all week. In fact, all three of them will be on tonight's episode of "Jimmy Kimmel Live." Also appearing on tonight's episode? Death Cab for Cutie, who are fresh off their excellent performance at Wednesday night's Woodie Awards taping. Their new single "Meet Me on the Equinox" is the lead track from the soundtrack to "New Moon." Sadly, after all the anticipation over where the song would appear in the film, it only runs over the credits). Still, the video is a delightfully moody piece, full of neo-goth foreboding that perfectly matches the song's dreamy melody.

When the 1980s came to a close, there were a handful of artists who had established themselves as definitive contributors to the decade's musical palette. Names like Bruce Springsteen, Prince and Michael Jackson became synonymous with changing the direction of popular music in the decade of decadence. A strong late bloomer (but still a powerful contender), U2 were also mentioned alongside those greats. Their '80s output (especially 1987's The Joshua Tree) cemented them as not only a group who could fill stadiums with their soaring anthems but who were also pushing the envelope musically and socially. Of all the great groups from the '80s, U2 managed to evolve both the fastest and the best, and they proved it on this day in 1991 when they released Achtung Baby. The 12 song collection was recorded at least partially in Berlin, Germany, in the wake of the fall of the Berlin Wall, and blew out U2's sound to include elements of dance music, industrial rock and the glowing, humming ambient tones of co-producers Daniel Lanois and Brian Eno. While it seemed like U2 were on top of the world, Achtung Baby elevated them to new heights, inspired the massive "Zoo TV" stadium tour and helped usher in the era of alternative rock. (U2 don't get enough credit for making arty experimentation seem like pop music.)

Though the rest of the '90s were not nearly as triumphant for U2 (they battled both fans and critics on the even-further-reaching albums Zooropa and Pop), they remain one of the great shape-shifting international rock bands, and despite having 30 years of experience under their collective belt, they still feel vital today. Break out your copy of Achtung Baby and marvel at how well it has aged. Start with "Even Better Than the Real Thing."

When they first scored a breakout hit in 1997 with "Dammit," it seemed like Blink-182 would simply be another pop-punk band who had ridden the coattails of Green Day to another anonymous radio smash. But there was something about the potty-mouthed trio that kept people coming back, and the group with the nonsense name ended up becoming one of the more influential rock groups at the turn of the millennium. It helped that they continued to deliver great songs ("All the Small Things," "What's My Age Again?" and "The Rock Show" among them) along with excellent videos (the boy band-skewering "All the Small Things" was a notorious "TRL" staple for a large portion of 2000).

As time progressed, the group became more and more adventurous on record, adding a healthy dose of early adult melancholy and a handful of sonic experiments. Despite it's pun-tastic title and a series of big hooks, 2001's Take Off Your Pants and Jacket is something of a bummer (at least tonally), and the band's self-titled fifth album (which was released on this day in 2003) is mostly filled with New Wave-inspired sounds and profoundly "adult" themes. It sounded like an album made by a band dealing with tumult, so it wasn't particularly surprising when the group announced they were going on hiatus in 2005. It opened the door for a number of side projects (including Angels & Airwaves, +44 and the Transplants), each of which received some degree of success. But the group finally decided to get back together and tour earlier this year, and a new album is coming in 2010. It's safe to say that the fans agreed with the sentiment of Blink-182's "I Miss You," a dramatic, Cure-inspired ballad that stands as one of the band's biggest hits.

Being a legend can be tough. Sometimes you're not entirely appreciated until after you die (or at least until after you stop making work that people pay attention to). Sometimes it's worse than that, and you're forced to toil under the burden of your past accomplishments, forever failing to live up to what you did decades ago. This is especially true in the film world. Because the lifespan of a director can cross over a number of eras, movements and business outlooks, it seems like a number of artists whose places in the annals of movie history were formerly secure now struggle to find relevance.

Martin Scorsese doesn't have that problem. He's a rare combination of living legend and active genius, constantly pushing himself to the limit and experimenting with his storytelling skills. He could have easily settled into a pattern of simple crime dramas for the rest of his career, essentially remaking "Goodfellas" over and over again. Instead, he indulged in bold experiments like "Bringing Out the Dead," "Kundun" and "My Voyage to Italy." Along the way, he remained interested in the relationship between crime and justice in America ("The Departed," "Gangs of New York") and next year sees the release of his first thriller (the atmospheric "Shutter Island").

Scorsese celebrates a birthday today (he turns 67 years old). One thing that has kept him young is his love for music (he directed the Bob Dylan documentary "No Direction Home" and the Rolling Stones concert film "Shine a Light"). He has directed but a single music video in his career, but it's a big one: Michael Jackson's cinematic, tough-looking "Bad." Enjoy the rarely-seen long version, and remember that Marty is a national treasure.

Last year saw the long-awaited release of Guns N' Roses' Chinese Democracy, an album that was first discussed in earnest some time around 1994 and finally hit store shelves 14 years later. It provided an easy metaphor for work that seemed to be forever delayed (one of the many reasons it was ultimately disappointing). With Axl's opus finally out in the open, the anticipation turned to Dr. Dre, whose Detox has been talked about for just as long. Dre revolutionized the way the public thinks about commercial rap with 1992's The Chronic, and since that record was released he has been teasing out a project called Detox. All the while, Dre has continued to produce for other MCs and oversee his label Aftermath Entertainment, but Detox remains incomplete (so much so that there are next to no inklings about what it could possibly sound like).

But 10 years ago, Dre provided a brief peek into what Detox might ultimately become. On this day in 1999, Dre released 2001, a confusingly-named collection of street anthems that not only resurrected G-funk but also helped to elevate Eminem (who had a star turn on "Forgot About Dre") and re-establish Snoop Dogg as a major player on the mainstream hip-hop scene. It's strange to consider now, but the middle years of the '90s were not particularly kind to Snoop, who had broken out huge with Doggystyle but floundered a bit when his follow-up Tha Doggfather failed to meet expectations. Master P ended up drawing him to the No Limit roster, and after the tired Da Game is to be Sold, Not to be Told, the one-two punch of 2001 and Snoop's own No Limit Top Dogg brought him back into the spotlight. He has Dre — and the killer cut "The Next Episode" — to thank.

The NBA season is underway, and a few things are already clear: Shaquille O'Neal is making an impact in Cleveland, the Boston Celtics appear to be back to their championship form and the Clippers are still no good at all. Though most teams have played less than 10 games, it's already an exciting season, part of the best hoops era since the Lakers/Celtics/Pistons/Rockets years of the 1980s. What's missing from the current crop of superstars? Somebody who can shatter backboards. Though O'Neal has destroyed his fair share of equipment early in his career, you rarely see a dunk so devastating that the fiberglass gives way. It's incredible to think that Darryl Dawkins, the former forward for the Philadelphia 76ers and the New Jersey Nets, used to be known for dunking so hard that he would leave a path of destruction — so much so that he was nicknamed "Chocolate Thunder." On November 13, 1979, Dawkins rose up over Bill Robinzine of the Kansas City Kings, threw down a powerful slam dunk and shattered his first fiberglass backboard. Dawkins, a flamboyant athlete who had nicknames for all his different dunks (including "The Spine Chiller Supreme" and "The Turbo Sexophonic Delight"), broke so many backboards that he was threatened with monetary fines to discourage him from delaying the game and creating so much dangerous shrapnel. His crimes against the hardware lead to the development of the breakaway rim, which could still be torn down but kept the glass in tact.

The best way to celebrate the majesty of Chocolate Thunder? Watch this amazing compendium of Dawkins' best dunks and bang around to Onyx's "Slam."

There's no doubt that Jay-Z's The Blueprint 3 is one of the best albums to hit the streets in 2009, and the singles "Run This Town" and "Empire State of Mind" have both become iconic entries in Jigga's long list of hits. Seven years ago, Jay was also working behind an entry in the Blueprint series. On November 12, 2002, he dropped The Blueprint 2: The Gift & The Curse, a sprawling double album that represents the legendary Brooklyn MC at his most experimental. There are forays into rock (the Cake-sampling "Guns & Roses," which features guitar by Lenny Kravitz), flashy club pop (the Pharrell Williams-produced "Excuse Me Miss") and some of Timbaland's best latter-day productions (the jittery "The Bounce" and the flashy "2 Many Hoes"). It's a long and sometimes difficult album, but it's one of the more playful pieces of Jigga's catalog.

Oddly, The Blueprint 2 is sometimes remembered as a pure pop album (despite the fact that most of the second disc contains some real genre stretching stuff). It's possible that people are simply remembering it for it's two biggest singles: The aforementioned "Excuse Me Miss" and the Beyoncé-assisted "'03 Bonnie & Clyde." The latter is one of those larger-than-life Kanye West productions that has a bit, easy-going groove and a gigantic hook. Though it's excellent, it's easily one of the most radio-friendly tunes Jay-Z has ever put out. It has a delightfully playful video that casts Jay and Beyoncé as outlaws on the run from the police.

Today is Veterans Day in the United States, a day of remembrance set aside to pay tribute to the men and women who serve in the military. Politics aside, a life of service is a difficult but necessary sacrifice, and those who choose to put their country and their sense of duty ahead of personal issues should be rewarded far more profoundly than they are.

Coincidentally, today also marks a key date in military history. On November 11, 1918, the first World War officially ended. Having run out of supplies and facing almost total annihilation from all sides, Germany signed an armistice with the Allies in France (poetically, the deal was signed at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of the year). All told, nine million soldiers died and 21 million more were wounded over the course of the four year conflict, which spread across central Europe and lead to the end of both the Ottoman and Austria-Hungarian Empires. Ironically, the official treaty that ended the first World War (the Treaty of Versailles, signed in June of 1919) put such heavy sanctions on Germany that it indirectly lead to the second World War, which broke out in September of 1939.

The word "soldier" gets tossed around pretty casually, so much so that the true and fundamental meaning of the word seems to have been lost. Too many rappers compare themselves to military personnel, likening the nation-first service of actual infantry to life on the street. It's also difficult to full capture the idea of what being a soldier is without becoming hokey or jingoistic, but ironically, Drowning Pool's "Soldiers" does a pretty good job of knowing the difference.

There aren't many true superstars left in the music world. Sure, there are plenty of people who make a big splash, but how many artists can pick up some buzz and then turn that into a sustainable career? When you consider her reach and her ability to diversify, it's possible to say that Taylor Swift is the country's biggest music star at the moment. On this day last year, Swift released her second album Fearless, which expanded on the promise of her self-titled debut and blew her pop-country sound open to embrace every listener at once. It's rare that an attempt to be everything to everyone actually pays off, but Swift's Fearless is the exception to the rule. 52 weeks later, Fearless remains in the top 10 on the Billboard album chart and has sold over four million copies. In fact, the only album on the chart whose sales are even close to Fearless is Swift's own self-titled debut, which broke a record for most consecutive charting weeks (it'll log its 159th this week).

But of course simple album sales do not necessarily a superstar make. Rather, Swift's ubiquity owes to her ability to co-host the CMT Awards, duet with T-Pain, take Kanye West's stage-crashing in stride while winning the VMA for Best Female Video and host "Saturday Night Live" (all of which she has done in the past six months). Like any good 21st century star, she has also taken the art of the music video very seriously. All the clips from Fearless are deeply cinematic affairs, including the quirky "You Belong With Me" and the lush "Fifteen." But it's the clip for "Love Story" that really put Swift over the top, casting her as the princess that all the girls in her audience want to be.