By Kim Thai, USA TODAY NEW YORK — What do Michelle Obama, the rapper M.I.A., Zac Efron and Tom Hanks have in common?
They all made *Time* magazine's annual list of the year's most influential people. Stars gathered to celebrate the list Tuesday night at the Time Warner Center. In opening remarks, the first lady asked attendees to encourage young people to pursue careers in public service and social innovation. She also announced that the Obama administration is creating a Social Innovation Fund to help inventive non-profit groups and social entrepreneurs. Prior to the gala, celebrities discussed the list and the most influential people in their lives. "I like that Hillary was on the list," conservative author and commentator Ann Coulter said. "If she had divorced Bill, she could have won. But she's not, so it's just cocktails for me. (*Time*) finally got Rush (Limbaugh) in." A.R. Rahman, who landed on *Time*'s list after composing music for Oscar best picture *Slumdog Millionaire*, called the feeling "unbelievable." "I think it was 15 or 16 years of writing music in India for the underground scene that did it," he said. *The View* host Joy Behar, meanwhile, raved about Michelle Obama. "She's very warm, very sane. She's not crazy," she said. "(President Obama) has a solid foundation. She has real family values, so does he. I really appreciate them." http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2009-05-05-time-influential-people-gala_N.htm -- regards, Vithur
