In print: On Her Majesty's Secret Service by Ian Fleming (1963)

We're nearing the end of the run of the James Bond books by Ian Fleming. In 1963 we were given "On Her Majesty's Secret Service."

The book starts in France and Bond is strangely drawn to a girl that he senses is in terrible danger. It turned out he was right. She was suicidal and his intervention bought him some serious favor with a mafia crime boss. As a favor Marc Ange, the mob guy, provides Bond with a lead to capture a villain by the name of Blofeld.

The rest of the story is dedicated to Bond going after the villain, and falling in love with the girl along the way. In fact, Bond arranges to marry her after the mission. The mission ends up a partial failure with the escape of Blofeld which also ends in the tragic ending of the book.

This book was a fun read because Bonds a bunch of mistakes that nearly get him killed. He's not the flawless spy from the movies. You also get to see him fail head over heels in love, and you feel the tragedy of the ending. A real thriller and great read.

Trivia: This book announces the Bond family motto: The World Is Not Enough which goes on to become a title of ANOTHER 007 movie!

Review Tuesday: Semi Precious Weapons EP

I had the chance to listen to the eponymous three-song Semi Precious Weapons EP. I don't know what you'd gather from the cover, pictured to the right, but they are best described as a pop / punk band.

The songs are biting in the tradition of punk lyrics, but well produced and polished for the listening enjoyment of the masses. I liked the songs and found them to be pretty catchy. If you give this band a shot you'll find yourself walking down the block singing, "I can't pay my rent but I'm fucking gorgeous" in no time.

Semi Precious Weapons are currently on tour with Lady Gaga.

More here:

http://www.semipreciousweapons.com/

Jeff Krantz - The Last One to Know

Jeff Krantz was wearing a drab, gray suit, sitting behind a desk when he had an epiphany. This is not the life I should be living, he thought in January 2007. That night, Krantz decided it was time to pursue his living-room hobby. Little did Krantz know that within a year, the International Music Awards would name him a Male Artist of the Year finalist, and Billboard, Newsweek and The London Metro would feature him as a groundbreaking singer-songwriter. Instead of hitting the road, Krantz broke industry standards by finding tens of thousands of fans through Second Life, an online virtual world with over 12 million users. Under the pseudonym Hep Shepherd, Krantz streamed 200 live performances from his NYC loft. His acoustic performances broke attendance records. Billboard Magazine reported that his virtual shows were “sold out,” and Krantz quickly caught the attention of the music industry.

• Comparison: Mark Knopfler, James Taylor, Dave Matthews
• Influence: Jack Johnson, Cat Stevens, Dave Matthews

http://www.jeffkrantzmusic.com/

http://www.myspace.com/jeffkrantz

http://www.facebook.com/jeffkrantz1

http://twitter.com/jeffkrantz

Twiztid release new tour dates

Psychopathic records' own TWIZTID have just released their tour schedule for Spring 2010. The infamous duo of Jamie Madrox and Monoxide released their 7th studio album W.I.C.K.E.D. last year, and it was the groups highest charting album to date, peaking at #11 on the Billboard 200. The album is also the third-highest charting album in Psychopathic Records history, beaten only by label mates ICP's The Amazing Jeckel Brothers and the recently released Bang! Pow! Boom!

The band also released a video for the song "HA Ha HA Ha HA Ha" which can be seen here.

2010 tour dates are as follows:

With Special Guests: Blaze & Kung Fu Vampire
Town Ballroom Buffalo, NY Thu, 02/18/10
Mr. Smalls Theatre Pittsburgh, PA Thu, 02/19/10
The Palladium Worcester, MA Sat, 02/20/10
B.B. King's Blues Club New York, NY Mon, 02/22/10
Northern Lights Clifton Park, NY Tue, 02/23/10
Sonar Baltimore, MD Thu, 02/25/10
Theater of Living Arts Philadelphia, PA Fri, 02/26/10
Norva Norfolk, VA Sat, 02/27/10
Amo's Southend Charlotte, NC Sun, 02/28/10
The Masquerade Atlanta, GA Mon, 03/01/10
The State Theater St. Petersburg, FL Wed, 03/03/10
Firestone Orlando, FL Thu, 03/04/10
Lakewood Theater Dallas, TX Sat, 03/06/10
Warehouse Live - Studio Houston, TX Sun, 03/07/10
White Rabbit San Antonio, TX Wed, 03/08/10
Cain's Ballroom Tulsa, OK Tue, 03/09/10
House of Blues - Las Vegas Las Vegas, NV Thu, 03/11/10
Marquee Theater Tempe, AZ Fri, 03/12/10
Galaxy Concert Theater Santa Ana, CA Sat, 03/13/10
Majestic Ventura Theater Ventura, CA Sun, 03/14/10
Phoenix Theater Petaluma, CA Mon, 03/15/10
The Boardwalk Orangevale, CA Wed, 03/17/10
Senator Theater Chico, CA Thu, 03/18/10
New Oasis Reno, NV Fri, 03/19/10
Roseland Theater Portland, OR Sat, 03/20/10
Showbox at the Market Seattle, WA Sun, 03/21/10
Knitting Factory Concert House Spokane, WA Tue, 03/23/10
Knitting Factory Concert House Boise, ID Wed, 03/24/10
In the Venue Salt Lake City, UT Thu, 03/25/10
Fillmore Auditorium Denver, CO Thu, 03/26/10
Cotillion Ballroom Wichita, KS Sat, 03/27/10
Diamond Ballroom Oklahoma City, OK Sat, 03/28/10
Beaumont Club Kansas City, MO Sat, 03/30/10
People's Court Des Moines, IA Sat, 03/31/10
First Avenue Minneapolis, MN Sat, 04/01/10
The Eagles Club Milwaukee, WI Sat, 04/02/10
Pop's Sauget, IL Sat, 04/03/10
Intersection Grand Rapids, MI Mon, 04/05/10
Bogart's Cincinnati, OH Sat, 04/06/10
Headliner's Music Hall Louisville, KY Sat, 04/07/10
Newport Music Hall Columbus, OH Sat, 04/08/10
Clutch Cargos Pontiac, MI Fri, 04/09/10
Logan Square Auditorium Chicago, IL Sat, 04/10/10

"HA HA HA HA HA" music video URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_8nx5bdh2Y

Sneak Peek Of Debi Nova's Drummer Boy Video

Catch a sneak peek of Debi Nova's sizzling video for "Drummer Boy." The infectious track was co-written by the Costa Rican superstar and will appear on her forthcoming album release, Luna Nueva. "Drummer Boy" embodies the combination of irresistible Latin rhythms and potent pop smarts found on her full-length debut due out this spring. Stay tuned for the electrifying video premiere on Thursday, February 11th across MTV's platform and visit debinova.com for more information.

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

vitiate \VISH-ee-ayt\, transitive verb:

1. To make faulty or imperfect; to render defective; to impair; as, "exaggeration vitiates a style of writing."
2. To corrupt morally; to debase.
3. To render ineffective; as, "fraud vitiates a contract."

Vitiate comes from Latin vitiare, from vitium, fault. It is related to vice (a moral failing or fault), which comes from vitium via French.

snowpocalypse

• snow + apocalypse = snowpocalypse. When weathermen predict large amounts of snowfall in a short period of time.

Clint: Dude, I heard on the weather channel you had a snowpocalypse last night in your area
Paul: Naw, just a couple inches, the weather man is an idiot.
Trivia
What does the name of the element krypton mean in Greek?

• “Hidden”—from the Greek word kryptos. The element was given the name because of the difficulty its discoverers had in isolating it.

History

• National Weather Service: then known as the United States Weather Bureau, was founded; it used to alert fruit growers to the approach of stormy weather by telegraph (1870)
• Davis Cup: international tennis competition was played for the first time; its donor, Dwight F. Davis, won (1900)
• war time: clocks were turned forward one hour in the US to aid the war effort; this change to daylight-saving time was year-round and lasted till the end of WWII (1942)
• Satchel Paige: became the first Negro League player elected into Major League Baseball's Hall of Fame (1971)

Berfdays!

• William Henry Harrison (1773-1841): US president who served only 1 month before dying of pneumonia
• Carole King (68): singer/songwriter, "You've Got a Friend"; plus, musicians Gasparo Angiolini (1731-1803) and Joe Ely (63),
• Judith Light (61): Claire Meadeon Ugly Betty; also, actors Kathryn Grayson (88), Janet Suzman (71), Joe Pesci (67), Mia Farrow (65), Charles Shaughnessy (55), Julie Warner (45), Jason George (38), Charlie Day (34), A.J. Buckley (33), Zhang Ziyi (31) and David Gallagher (25)
• Alice Walker (66): Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Color Purple; other writers born on this date include Amy Lowell (1874-1925) and J. M. Coetzee (70)

Neon Trees Break "Habits" on Mercury Records Debut, out 3/16

Comprised of Tyler Glenn (lead vocals/keyboards), Chris Allen (guitars), Branden Campbell (bass), and Elaine Bradley (drums/vocals), the band swirls together slick electric pop, sturdy organic rock and hook-happy new wave into melodic, hard-hitting anthems of adolescent angst and love lost and found.

Radio stations nationwide are rabid for the addictive first single “Animal," a paean to sexual longing equally at home in the arena or on the dance floor.

"Animal" is available now on iTunes:

http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/animal-single/id350834892.

Check out the video for Neon Trees "Animal"
http://www.vevo.com/watch/neon-trees/animal/USUV70904466

Connect with Neon Trees:

www.twitter.com/neontrees
www.myspace.com/neontrees
http://www.fameisdead.com/

Look forward to Mondays! 02/08/2010

Olivia Munn

Unseen & untouched Jan Maxim pics

Hottie of the day!

cred to ou

Introducing American Bang and Their New Single

American Bang is comprised of a wildly talented gang of young rock ‘n rollers who’ve been playing together in assorted combinations all their lives. After many incarnations of local bands, all four members – Johnston, lead guitarist Ben Brown, bassist Kelby Ray, and drummer Neil Mason – came of age musically as students of rock ‘n roll in the heart of Music City, which has paid off in the group’s confident sense of song craft.

The Nashville rocker's self-titled, loud, sexy, and soulful major-label debut album is a memorable and melodic introduction to the rock group. The album, produced by the legendary Bob Rock, successfully captures all the amazing grace and guts of their deep musical roots and Southern accent. From the pounding and gritty opening of “Whiskey Walk,” to the instantly anthemic “Wild & Young,” to the messy, Stonesy romance of “Hurts Like Hell,” it’s clear that American Bang shoots straight at the heart of great American rock ‘n roll.

Drawing upon a wide range of influences such as The Faces and Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, American Bang has forged their own distinctive sound in their own surprisingly classic yet decidedly fresh brand of rock ‘n roll that shines through. American Bang has opened for some of rock ‘n roll’s most respected artists, including ZZ Top and The Pretenders, whose audiences gave them standing ovations on several occasions.

Check out the bands first single "Whiskey Walk" and get ready for their self-titled debut this Spring on Reprise Records.
***

"Whiskey Walk" Audio:

• http://wbr.edgeboss.net/qtime/wbr/americanbang/audio/americanbang_001_whiskey-walk_128.mov

MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/americanbang

Whitlock

Whitlock: a cross between Miley Cyrus and Taylor Swift – with a touch of New Kids on the Block.

Whitlock is Callie, age 16, Eddie, age 15, and Ellie, age 13. The siblings have been performing together for six years. Their performances feature tight 3-part harmony arrangements of original teen pop music combined with contemporary choreography. Their performances appeal to their peers as well as to other age groups and contain a positive message about life.

Comparison: Aly & A.J., Miley Cyrus, Taylor Swift
Influence: Miley Cyrus, New Kids on the Block, The Jonas Brothers, Taylor Swift

http://www.whitlockband.com/
http://www.myspace.com/whitlockband
http://www.facebook.com/whitlockband
http://twitter.com/whitlockband
http://www.youtube.com/whitlockband

Weekend Box Office: 02/08/2010

Tops at the Box Office

1. Dear John
2. Avatar
3. From Paris with Love
4. Edge of Darkness
5. Tooth Fairy

OMG! Avatar has finally been knocked out of the #1 spot by the movie Dear John. Of course, Avatar broke all sorts of records during it's reign that Dear John can never hope to. The new John revolta movie disappointed in a distant third.

Monday, February 8, 2010

approbation \ap-ruh-BAY-shuhn\, noun:

1. The act of approving; formal or official approval.
2. Praise; commendation.

Approbation is from Latin approbatio, from approbare, "to approve or cause to be approved," from ap- (for ad-), used intensively + probare, "to make or find good," from probus, "good, excellent, fine."

mondaze

• a daze you find yourself in due to it being Monday

I locked my keys in my car because I was in a total Mondaze. I hate the start of a new work week.

Trivia

Why is yellow the color of the jersey awarded to the overall leader of the Tour de France bike race?

• It was the color of the pages of L’Auto, the newspaper that was the original sponsor of the three-week event in 1903.

History

• Mary, Queen of Scots: was beheaded after being implicated in the Babington plot against Elizabeth I (1587)
• The Devil's Footprints: 100 miles of hooflike prints appeared in the snow in Devon, England (1855)
• Russo-Japanese War: began with a surprise attack by Japan on the Russian fleet at Port Arthur (now Lüshun) (1904)
• NASDAQ: the world's first electronic stock market opened, facilitating trading directly between the investors and buyers/sellers; the acronym stands for "National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation" (1971)

Berfdays!

• Martin Buber (1878-1965): theologian and philosopher, I and Thou
• John Williams (78): composer of some of filmdom's most famous themes, Superman, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Star Wars
• Ted Koppel (70): broadcast journalist, original anchor of Nightline
• John Grisham (55): author of The Firm, The Associate; other writers born on this date include John Ruskin (1819-1900), Jules Verne (1828-1905), Kate Chopin (1851-1904) and Elizabeth Bishop (1911-1979)
• Alonzo Mourning (40): NBA center
• Creed Bratton (67): The Office's former hippie Creed; also, actors Lana Turner (1921-1995), Jack Lemmon (1925-2001), James Dean (1931-1955), Nick Nolte (69), Robert Klein (68), Mary Steenburgen (57) and Josh Morrow and Seth Green (both 36)

HIM streaming new album on Myspace now

Finnish Love Metallers HIM are now streaming their seventh studio album Screamworks: Love in Theory and Practice on their Myspace profile. The album, which was produced by Matt Squire (The Used, All Time Low, Saosin) was recently described by frontman Ville Valo as being "the most sexual album we've ever made". Ville also added "I like the immediacy of it. There's a lot of information put in short songs and they don't let go. That was the whole vibe for me".

Screamworks: Love in Theory and Practice will be hitting stores in the U.S. on February 9th.

The track listing is as follows:

1. In Venere Veritas
2. Scared to Death"
3. Heartkiller"
4. Dying Song
5. Disarm Me (With Your Loneliness)
6. Love, the Hardest Way
7. Katherine Wheel
8. In the Arms of Rain
9. Ode to Solitude
10. Shatter Me With Hope
11. Acoustic Funeral (For Love in Limbo)
12. Like St. Valentine
13. The Foreboding Sense of Impending Happiness

Myspace stream URL: http://www.myspace.com/heartagram

SAINTS WIN THE SUPERBOWL!!!

The underdog New Orleans Saints just defeated the Colts in the superbowl!!! 31-17

THE TAXMAN COMETH

From my email:

THE TAXMAN COMETH

At the end of the tax year, the Tax Office sent an inspector to audit the books of a Synagogue.

While he was checking the books he turned to the Rabbi and said, 'I notice you buy a lot of candles. What do you do with the candle drippings?'

'Good question,' noted the Rabbi. 'We save them up and send them back to the candle makers, and every now and then they send us a free box of candles.'

'Oh,' replied the auditor, somewhat disappointed that his unusual question had a practical answer.

But on he went, in his obnoxious way:
'What about all these bread-wafer purchases? What do you do with the crumbs?'

'Ah, yes,' replied the Rabbi, realising that the inspector was trying to trap him with an unanswerable question. 'We collect them and send them back to the manufacturers, and every now and then they send us a free box of bread-wafers.'

'I see,' replied the auditor, thinking hard about how he could fluster the know-it-all Rabbi. 'Well, Rabbi,' he went on, 'what do you do with all the leftover foreskins from the circumcisions you perform?'

'Here, too, we do not waste,' answered the Rabbi...

'What we do is save all the foreskins and send them to the Tax Office, and about once a year they send us a complete dick.'

Sunday, February 7, 2010

ignoramus \ig-nuh-RAY-mus\, noun:

• An ignorant person; a dunce.

Ignoramus was the name of a character in George Ruggle's 1615 play of the same name. The name was derived from the Latin, literally, "we are ignorant," from ignorare, "not to know," from ignarus, "not knowing," from ig- (for in-), "not" + gnarus, "knowing, acquainted with, expert in." It is related to ignorant and ignore.

LCD Trip

• When you watch too much football on your LCD big-screen. Can apply to other sports or programming in which you sit, staring at it for hours. Known to have negative effects on you health.

Joe Sixpack gets an LCD Trip every night watching ESPN.
Trivia

What professional boxer—the only man to fight both Rocky Marciano and Muhammad Ali—scored a record 141 knockouts during his 27-year career?

• Archie Moore, who won 194 of his 229 bouts, but lost to both Marciano and Ali.

History

• British invasion: The Beatles arrived in US for the first time and were mobbed at JFK International Airport(1964)
• suffrage: women were granted the right to vote in Switzerland (1971)
• Pluto: the dwarf planet moved closer to the Sun than Neptune for the first time since its discovery (1979)
• "Baby Doc" Duvalier: Haiti's "president for life" fled for France; five years later on the same date, the nation swore in its first democratically elected president, Jean-Bertrand Aristide (1986)
• Maastricht Treaty: was signed in the Netherlands; it created the European Union as a successor to the European Community, and established a central banking systen and a common currency — the euro (1992)

Berfdays, yo!

• Sir Thomas More (1478-1535): author of Utopia; he was beheaded for refusing to recognize King Henry VIII as head of the church
• Charles Dickens (1812-1870): author of Great Expectations and Oliver Twist; other authors born on this birth date include Laura Ingalls Wilder (1867-1957), Sinclair Lewis (1885-1951) and Gay Talese (78)
• Frederick Douglass (1817-1895): abolitionist
• An Wang (1920-1990): computer pioneer, Wang Laboratories; plus, inventor John Deere (1804-1886)
• James Spader (50): Alan Shore on Boston Legal; also, actors Miguel Ferrer (55), Eddie Izzard (48), Chris Rock and Jason Gedrick (both 45), Ashton Kutcher (32) and Tina Majorino (25)
• Garth Brooks (48): country singer/songwriter who, in 1992, had an unprecedented five albums at once on Billboard's pop top 50 chart; musicians Eubie Blake (1883-1983) and David Bryan (48) were also born on this date

Saturday, February 6, 2010

eschew \es-CHOO\, transitive verb:

• To shun; to avoid (as something wrong or distasteful).

Eschew comes from Old French eschiver, ultimately of Germanic origin, scheuchen.
It's complicated

• One of the options for "Relationship Status" on Facebook. Refers to a couple in an ambiguous state between "friends" and "in a relationship". May also be used to indicate dissatisfaction with an existing relationship.

If someone changes their status from "In a Relationship" to "It's Complicated", expect them to be "Single" and "Looking for Random Play" soon.
Trivia
How many volcanoes formed Hawaii, the Big Island of the Hawaiian chain?

• Five—Mauna Loa, Mauna Kea, Kilauea, Hualalai, and Kohala.

History

• Elizabeth II: became the reigning monarch of theUnited Kingdom upon the death of her father,George VI; she was formally crowned a year later (1952)
• Apollo 14: astronaut Alan Shepard became the first person to golf on the moon, while crewmate Edgar Mitchell threw a lunar scoop handle as a javelin (1971)

Berfdays, yo!

• Ronald Reagan (1911-2004): 40th POTUS
• Aaron Burr (1756-1836): Thomas Jefferson's vice president; he killed opponent Alexander Hamilton in a duel
• François Truffaut (1932-1984):New Wave film director and critic
• Mike Farrell (71): BJ Hunnicutt onM*A*S*H; other TV personalities born today includePatrick Macnee (88), Rip Torn and Mamie Van Doren (both 79), Gayle Hunnicutt (67), Michael Tucker (66),Kathy Najimy (53) and Barry Miller (52)
• Babe Ruth (1895-1948): New York Yankee slugger
• Tom Brokaw (70): broadcast journalist, longtime anchor of NBC Nightly News
• Axl Rose (48): rock singer with Guns 'N Roses; other musicians born today are Bob Marley (1945-1981), Fabian (67), Rick Astley (44) and Natalie Cole (60)

The Pirelli Calender is delicious

See it here, but you'll be hard pressed to find tires in most of the pics:

http://jalopnik.com/5458817/2010-pirelli-calendar-seriously-what-does-this-have-to-do-with-tires-nsfw?skyline=true&s=i

WTF Friday: Spiderman???

Have a fun weekend!

Thought of the day: Headlight

The other night I got into my car, started it up, flipped on the headlights and noticed one was out. I mulled it over, you see so many cars with lights out, should I take the chance and drive home?

It took a couple seconds to decide to replace the headlight. I keep spares in the trunk, so I might as well get it done. It's not like it would be less cold or less dark the following night anyway. It took a couple minutes to swap in the new one and get rolling.

I got onto the Clearview Expressway and at the very next entrance a Police Cruiser merged into traffic ahead of me. I figure I dodged a $100+ ticket in that moment!

Is it February Erd yet?

I'm waiting for info from a client. He's been away but said in an email that he'll be back on Feb erd. When is that?

Agnes Is A One To Watch In 2010

International superstar Agnes was the youngest winner of Sweden's American Idol at 17 years old, and now only four years later she poised to take the US pop music scene by storm. The rising star is currently featured on Access Hollywood's "On The Download" where she is deemed an artist to watch in 2010! Agnes has made a huge splash in the dance/club scene with her infectious single "Release Me" and is ready for the mainstream as the song crosses over to pop radio.

“My music is pop, dance and a little bit disco," says Agnes. "The songs on this album – it’s a lot of up-tempo songs – but the most important thing is just having good songs and good melodies. I like to debut my songs just singing to guitar accompaniment, so that people can hear the melodies.”

Read the rest of the interview here to find out about Agnes' love for music, role models and forthcoming album release.

Full interview: http://www.accesshollywood.com/lady-gaga/on-the-download-ones-to-watch-in-2010-part-ii-agnes_article_27785

Sick Puppies to chat with fans over LiveStream on 2/9 at 3:30pm ES

Join Australian Alt-Rockers, Sick Puppies, for a very special live acoustic session and chat. They'll be playing tracks from their album, Tri-Polar, and will be answering your questions LIVE this Tuesday February 9th at 3:30pm EST at Livestream.com/SickPuppies! Chat with them across Facebook, Twitter and add the player to your own page or Facebook!

The band is also about to embark on a tour with Chevelle. Tour dates are as follows:

W/ Chevelle * no Chevelle
2/8 HOB – Boston, MA
2/9 The Fillmore @ Irving Plaza – New York, NY
2/10 Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel – Providence, RI
2/12 Electric Factory – Philadelphia, PA
2/13 UC Riverside – Riverside, CA *
2/15 Lifestyle Communities – Columbus, OH
2/16 Royal Oak Theatre – Royal Oak, MI
2/17 Piere’s – Fort Wayne, IN
2/19 Egyptian Room at Murat Centre – Indianapolis, IN
2/20 Riviera Theatre – Chicago, IL

W/ Nickelback, Breaking Benjamin, Shinedown * no Shinedown
4/6 John Labatt Center – London, ON
4/8 Air Canada Centre – Toronto, ON
4/9 Bell Centre – Montreal, QC
4/11 Scotiabank Place – Kanata, ON
4/13 Verizon Center – Washington, DC
4/14 Hampton Coliseum – Hampton, VA *
4/16 Bi-Lo Center – Greenville, SC *
4/17 Greensboro Coliseum Complex – Greensboro, NC *
4/19 Amway Arena – Orlando, FL *
4/21 Philips Arena – Atlanta, GA *
4/23 Scottrade Center – St. Louis, MO
4/24 BOK Center – Tulsa, OK *
4/26 Sprint Center – Kansas City, MO
5/5 Spokane Center – Spokane, WA
5/7 Tacoma Dome – Tacoma, WA
5/8 Memorial Coliseum – Portland, OR
5/10 Idaho Center – Nampa, ID
5/14 INTRUST Bank Arena – Wichita, KS
5/15 American Airlines Center – Dallas, TX
5/18 Allstate Arena – Chicago, IL
5/19 Van Andel Arena – Grand Rapids, MI
5/21 Bradley Center – Milwaukee, WI
5/22 Verizon Wireless Music Center – Noblesville, IN
5/24 Target Center – Minneapolis, MN
5/25 Qwest Center – Omaha, NE
5/27 Fargo Dome – Fargo, ND
5/29 Credit Union Center – Saskatoon, SK
5/31 Pengrowth Saddledome – Calgary, AB
6/1 Rexall Place – Edmonton, AB
6/3 General Motors Place – Vancouver, BC

Farrad

“If you have not had a chance to check out the correctness known as Farrad, then take a peek…he is definitely one to watch and if you don’t find yourself busting a move while listening to this you must have a giant stick shoved sideways up you’re a**. TRUST.” (Walt Cessna, contributor to BlackBook & A Shaded View On Fashion)

• Comparison: Prince, Justin Timberlake, Andre 3000, Beyonce Knowles
• Influence: Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Tina Turner, David Bowie, Mick Jagger

http://www.farrad.com/

http://www.facebook.com/FARRADMUSIC

http://www.myspace.com/farradonline

http://twitter.com/farradmusic

Event:

Date: February 26, 2010 - 11PM
Venue: Ritz Bar & Lounge New York, NY 10036
Info: (212) 333-4177
Ticket price: Free
Minimum age: 21
Other Information: Chris Ryan Presents FLEX FRIDAYS at THE RITZ, and this weekend he brings musical sensation FARRAD!

Alice In Chains and Friends launch Fantasy Football Auction

At the beginning of this year's NFL season, hard-core NFL fan Jerry Cantrell of Alice In Chains recruited some fellow heavy metal musicians and friends to take part in his other passion, FANTASY FOOTBALL. Besides Jerry, the league’s lineup consisted of Duff Mckagan of G 'N' R and Velvet Revolver, Mike Inez of Alice In Chains, Zakk Wylde of Ozzy Osbourne and Black Label Society, Vinnie Paul of Pantera and Hellyeah, Scott Ian of Anthrax, guitarist Kenny Wayne Shepherd, drummer Kenny Aronoff, former NFL player Matt Willig and ESPN's Talented Mr. Roto, Matthew Berry. Each participant donated an item for online auction, and all of the proceeds go to the charity chosen by the champion of the fantasy league.

Now, with the Alice In Chains & Friends Fantasy Football Season officially over and Matt Willig declared winner, it is time for each participant’s item to be auctioned off for the benefit of Matt’s chosen charity: St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. 100% of the money raised from these auctions will go towards St. Jude, which works to find cures for children with catastrophic illnesses through research and treatment.

Check out the items available below and bid hard! :

• G&L Rampage Jerry Cantrell Signature Model Signed by Alice in Chains - http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170442010585
• Warkwick RockBass Streamer LX Signed by Alice in Chains - http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170442017593
• Kenny Wayne Shepherd Signature Series Fender Stratocaster - http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170442018098
• Brett Favre Autographed Minnesota Vikings Football Jersey - http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170442020431
• Duff McKagan Pack including signed GNR Bass book, computer bag, and Loaded Vinyl record - http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170442020867
• Autographed Vinnie Paul Custom Snare Drum and Dean ML-X Guitar - http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170442022934
• Kenny Aronoff Autographed Zildjian Cymbal, Remo Drum Head, and Vic Firth Drum Sticks - http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170442022335
• Autographed Zakk Wylde Buzzsaw Les Paul Custom Guitar by Epiphone - http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170442023533
• Scott Ian Autographed Jackson King V - http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170442023163
• Matthew Berry Signed Football - http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170442019227

Paper Tongues and the New Orleans Saint

“Trinity,” a song from up-and-coming rockers Paper Tongues’ forthcoming debut album, is the background music to a new, fan-generated video chronicling the New Orleans Saints' road to this year’s Super Bowl. A hard-hitting anthem about surviving against all odds, "Trinity" is the perfect theme song for a team that only five years ago had no home and an uncertain future but are now headed to the NFL Super Bowl game for the first time in franchise history. Watch the video now to get in the spirit for Sunday’s big game, and be sure to check out Paper Tongues’ official MySpace page for more information on this hot new band.

Paper Tongues’ debut album, featuring “Trinity” and their first single “Ride to California,” will hit stores on March 30th. They will soon be on the road with Crash Kings before joining back up with Switchfoot as part of the Hello Hurricane tour.

• Video Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bx5xdfW42M
• MySpace: www.myspace.com/papertongues
• Official Page: www.papertongues.com

Tour Dates w/ Crash Kings
Feb 11 Cain’s Ballroom 2nd Stage Tulsa, Oklahoma
Feb 13 Midland Theatre - KRBZ’s Afentra’s Valentines Party Kansas City, Missouri
Feb 14 The Rave - FM 102.1 Kramp & Adler Missed Connections Mixer Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Feb 17 The Waiting Room - KIWR 89.7 The River Presents Paper Tongues Omaha, Nebraska
Feb 19 McGuffy’s House of Rock - WXEG Presents Paper Tongues Dayton, Ohio

Hello Hurricane Tour w/Switchfoot
Feb 22 Cains Ballroom - Hello Hurricane Tour with Switchfoot Tulsa, Oklahoma
Feb 25 The Black Sheep - Hello Hurricane Tour with Switchfoot Colorado Springs, Colorado
Feb 26 Ogden Theater - Hello Hurricane Tour with Switchfoot Denver, Colorado
May 1 The Bamboozle- Meadowlands Sports Complex East Rutherford, New Jersey

New Photos From Barenaked Ladies Video Shoot, First Single Now Available on iTunes

The Barenaked Ladies are set to debut their new music video for "You Run Away" within the next few weeks, but until then have posted a few pictures from the shoot on their official website. The photos - some of which show drummer Tyler Stewart dressed as a janitor, keyboardist Kevin Hearn in a 19th century coat and top hat, and bassist Jim Creeggan involved in what appears to be a bicycle accident - will definitely keep fans guessing about the upcoming video's storyline. Stay tuned to BarenakedLadies.com for information on the "You Run Away" premiere, and for any additional news and updates.

"You Run Away" is the first single from the Barenaked Ladies's latest album, All In Good Time, due out March 23rd in Canada and March 30th in the US. The song is available now on iTunes. The Ladies also recently announced the dates for their Canadian tour, with US dates coming soon.

Link to Photos on Official Website:

http://barenakedladies.com/photos/official/shots-you-run-away-music-video-shoot

Dave Aude, Disco Fries And Ralphi Rosario Remix Selena Gomez & The Scene's Naturally

Selena Gomez & The Scene's "Naturally" has received the remix treatment! Dave Aude, Disco Fries, and Ralphi Rosario have all worked their magic on the Gold selling track which appears on the album Kiss & Tell available on iTunes now. Check out the three brand new remixes that are sure to be heard in clubs across the country.

Catch Selena live on tour dates listed below, performing on Good Morning America (2/11) and Late Night with Jimmy Fallon (2/12) as well as an interview on The Today Show (2/12).

2/7 San Antonio, TX AT&T Center
2/11 New York, NY Gramercy Theatre
2/14 Philadelphia, PA Tower Theatre
2/20 Uniondale, NY Pop Con @ Nassau Coliseum
3/21 Houston, TX Houston Rodeo

Disco Fries:
http://wdig.vo.llnwd.net/d1/hollywood_records/selenagomez/naturally/audio/selena-010_naturally_disco_fries_radio_128.rm
http://wdig.vo.llnwd.net/d1/hollywood_records/selenagomez/naturally/audio/selena-010_naturally_disco_fries_radio_128.wma

Disco Fries Remix on iTunes:

http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/naturally-disco-fries-remix/id351905655

Ralphi Rosario:
http://wdig.vo.llnwd.net/d1/hollywood_records/selenagomez/naturally/audio/selena-007_naturally_ralphi_rosario_radio_128.rm
http://wdig.vo.llnwd.net/d1/hollywood_records/selenagomez/naturally/audio/selena-007_naturally_ralphi_rosario_radio_128.wma

Dave Aude:
http://wdig.vo.llnwd.net/d1/hollywood_records/selenagomez/naturally/audio/selena-003_naturally_dave_aude_radio_128.rm
http://wdig.vo.llnwd.net/d1/hollywood_records/selenagomez/naturally/audio/selena-003_naturally_dave_aude_radio_128.wma

Friday, February 5, 2010

distrait \dis-TRAY\, adjective:

• Divided or withdrawn in attention, especially because of anxiety.

Distrait is from Old French, from distraire, "to distract," from Latin distrahere, "to pull apart; to draw away; to distract," from dis- + trahere, "to draw, to pull." It is related to distraught and distracted, which have the same Latin source.

methuselah (meh-THOO-zuh-luh) noun:

1. An extremely old man.
2. An oversized wine bottle holding approx. 6 liters.

EtymologyAfter biblical figure Methuselah, who was said to have lived 969 years.
slurring your text

• when you're so drunk that you're texts are unreadable

(310) heryls so imsd gaonna bea tah the apartty tognlaoit!!!!

(510) chris, u gotta stop slurring your texts.
Trivia
According to author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, what did Sherlock Holmes keep near his fireplace in the toe end of a Persian slipper?

• His pipe tobacco.

History

• United Artists: US film company was founded by Charlie Chaplin, Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks and D.W. Griffith; a current version of the studio is owned, in part, by Tom Cruise (1919)
• Reader's Digest: DeWittand Lila Wallace published their first issue of condensed articles; the pocket-sized volume cost 25 cents (1922)
• BBC pips: six short tones used to mark the end of the hour were broadcast for the first time from the Royal Greenwich Observatory (1924)
• Tybee bomb: the US lost a hydrogen bomb off the coast of Georgia; some 14 nuclear weapons are known to be missing from the US arsenal alone (1958)

Berdays!

• Sir Robert Peel (1788-1850): British PM who modernized the police force; Greek PM Andreas Papandreou (1919-1996) shared this birth date
• Andrew M. Greeley (82): priest and best-selling author; also, writers Ralph E. McGill (1898-1969), William Burroughs (1914-1997), Stephen J. Cannell (69) and Christopher Guest (62)
• Hank Aaron (76): MLB hall-of-famer and No. 2 on the all-time HR list; athletes Roger Staubach (68) and Roberto Alomar (42) also celebrate birthdays today
• Laura Linney (46): SAG-, Emmy- and Golden Globe-winner for John Adams; other actors born today includeJohn Carradine (1906-1988), Stuart Damon (73), David Selby (69), Charlotte Rampling (64), Barbara Hershey (62), Tim Meadows (49), Jennifer Jason Leigh (48) and Jeremy Sumpter (21)

Turtle Thursday: Hawksbill turtle

From my email:

The hawksbill turtle is a critically endangered sea turtle belonging to the family Cheloniidae. It is the only species in its genus. The species has a worldwide distribution, with Atlantic and Pacific subspecies. Eretmochelys imbricata imbricata is the Atlantic subspecies, while Eretmochelys imbricata bissa is found in the Indo-Pacific region. The hawkbill's appearance is similar to that of other marine turtles. It has a generally flattened body shape, a protective carapace, and its flipper-like arms are adapted for swimming in the open ocean. E. imbricata is easily distinguished from other sea turtles by its sharp, curving beak with prominent tomium, and the saw-like appearance of its shell margins. While the turtle lives a part of its life in the open ocean, it is most often encountered in shallow lagoons and coral reefs where it feeds on its chosen prey, sea sponges. Some of the sponges eaten by E. imbricata are known to be highly toxic and lethal when eaten by other organisms. Because of human fishing practices, Eretmochelys imbricata populations around the world are threatened with extinction and the turtle has been classified as critically endangered by the World Conservation Union. By the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, it is illegal to capture and to trade in hawksbill turtles and products derived from them in many nations.

Read the rest of this article:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawksbill_turtle

Wolfmother Gibson Guitar Giveaway

Aussie quartet Wolfmother are on the rock ‘n roll warpath! With their new album Cosmic Egg reigniting a rock fire in fans and the band hitting the road with legends AC/DC, Wolfmother and your humble narrator t3h Bax0jayz have teamed to give one lucky fan a chance to win a Gibson SG! Cosmic Egg, which features the single “White Feather,” is in stores now. Wolfmother can also be heard on the new Alice In Wonderland soundtrack Almost Alice!

Jump to the contest page here:

http://www.totalassault.com/contests/id/02633/

AFI Premiere Beautiful Thieves Video

AFI will premiere its new video for “Beautiful Thieves,” the new single from its acclaimed Crash Love album, across all MTV channels today.

Immediately following the premiere, AFI fans will be invited to submit questions about the video, the song, Crash Love and/or anything AFI-related via Facebook at http://facebook.com/afireinside

AFI will answer selected questions during a live video chat taking place on 4:00 p.m. PST February 11. Fans can tune in then at http://facebook.com/afireinside to see if their questions are answered, while at the same time chatting live with members of AFI and fellow fans.

The February 11 event, hosted by livestream.com, will also feature the world premiere of a “Making of ‘Beautiful Thieves’,” a look at what went into making the newest AFI video featuring never seen before behind the scenes performance and interview footage.

"Beautiful Thieves" video: http://www.mtv.com/videos/afi/449746/beautiful-thieves.jhtml#artist=150284

Osaru

Osaru is a multi-talented musician, composer and vocalist who lives in the heart of the Piedmont Triad in North Carolina, USA. Here are some thoughts about his music:

* Very good music. I played your cd over and over again.
* I like the flow of the album.
* Unique aural ambience, some of your songs remind me of Kenny G.
* Great music! I could have that playing all day!

• Comparison: Paul Hardcastle, Najee, Steve Scott, Ronny Jordan, Kenny G
• Influence: Boney James, Stanley Clarke, Stevie Wonder, Kenny G, George Benson

http://www.osarumusic.com/
http://www.myspace.com/osaruzone

Beautifully Mad

Tony King and Kris Ralph are Beautifully Mad, two of Australia’s finest Singer/songwriters. ARIA Award winning Tony King was named Australian Songwriter of the Year 2009. Kris Ralph is an award winning songwriter and ex-actor, who performed with Russell Crowe and trained with Jazz legend Kerrie Biddell. Together they light an exhilarating acoustic candle that flickers between Folk and the silhouette of Jazz.

• Comparison: James Taylor, Sting, Paul Simon, Diana Krall, Nina Simone
• Influence: James Taylor, Sting, Leonard Cohen, Rickie Lee Jones, Luka Bloom

A breathtaking ride that recalls the beauty of James Taylor, some honey from KD Lang, a lyrical spice of Cohen washed down with some Waits-like humour. An acoustic candle that flickers between Folk and the silhouette of Jazz. Beautifully Mad are Kris Ralph and Tony King, who was recently crowned Australian Songwriter of the Year 2009. The Basement is lucky enough to have the extended lineup of this must see band with Bill Risby on piano, Peter Badenoch on bass, Abraham Rounds on drums, and guest saxophonist Craig Walters. Expect goosebumps in the hauntingly beautiful vein of Luka Bloom, to the exotic tones reminiscent of Cassandra Wilson to the wild Hendrix spiked guitar and dirty New Orleans exhilaration of a band possessed. 
Tony has a reputation for setting fire to a 12 string with his solos, while Kris melts hearts with her rich, mellifluous voice and nylon string guitar. Kris is also a fine painter represented in collections around the world, with several exhibitions in recent years often focusing on portraiture. Subjects have ranged from musicians such as Tom Waits to Protest Singers including Nina Simone, Peter Garrett, Archie Roach & Ruby Hunter. Tony has also toured extensively as lead guitarist for Andrew Strong, the incredible voice from the Commitments. They also co-wrote an album together in Ireland called Gypsys Kiss. Dont miss this rare opportunity "Beautifully Mad" were simply stunning. Excellent guitars and fabulous voices combined with lyrics that can only have come from people who have really lived, loved, lost & laughed through life. Their songs cut straight to the heart as they transported us. Thoroughly delightful entertainment! -Bill Arnett, Folkus Room Canberra

http://www.beautifullymad.com/
http://www.myspace.com/beautifullymad2
Facebook
http://twitter.com/beautifullymad

Tokio Hotel's World Behind My Wall iTunes Free Music Video Of The Week

Tokio Hotel's video for "World Behind My Wall" is currently featured as the free music video of the week on iTunes! The powerful ballad appears on the band's new album Humanoid which is available now. Head over to iTunes to grab the video today.

Tokio Hotel - “World Behind My Wall”
http://bit.ly/THwrldwll

Cypress Hill Unveil It Ain't Nothin' Video Trailer

Legendary west coast rappers Cypress Hill have unveiled a preview clip of their upcoming music video for "It Ain't Nothin." The short clip that launched today features the members of the iconic group returning to the hip-hop game to bring real rap music to the forefront. Check out the video here and get a sneak peek at what is to come.

The full length video for "It Ain't Nothin'," will make its premiere soon. Rise Up, featuring a guest appearance from Tom Morrello, will be available everywhere on April 6th!

Youtube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFuGQmcE5Ig

Alice in Chains launch ticket contest for nearly sold-out shows

Alice in Chains have teamed up with guitar tab site Ultimate-Guitar to offer fans a chance to win an Alice in Chains prize pack that includes a pair of tickets to a North American show of the winners choice. The rest of the prize pack includes a signed copy of Bass Player Magazine signed by and featuring Mike Inez on the cover, a signed copy of Black Gives Way to Blue, and an Alice in Chains t-shirt.

Alice in Chains' North American tour starts February 2nd in Vancouver and ends on March 21st in Minneapolis. Nearly all the dates are sold out, so head over to Ultimate-Guitar for a chance to win!

The band will also be starting its Fuse TV tour diary today (2/3) at Noon, which will be updated daily and can be previewed here.

Tour dates are as follows:

Feb 2 Vancouver, BC Orpheum Theatre SOLD OUT
Feb 4 Seattle, WA Paramount Theatre SOLD OUT
Feb 5 Seattle, WA Paramount Theatre SOLD OUT
Feb 6 Salem, OR Salem Armory AVAILABLE NOW
Feb 8 Boise, ID Knitting Factory SOLD OUT
Feb 10 Reno, NV Knitting Factory SOLD OUT
Feb 11 Oakland, CA Fox Theatre SOLD OUT
Feb 13 Los Angeles, CA Palladium AVAILABLE NOW
Feb 17 Phoenix, AZ Dodge Theatre AVAILABLE NOW
Feb 19 Denver, CO Fillmore AVAILABLE NOW
Feb 21 Kansas City, MO Midland Theatre SOLD OUT
Feb 22 St. Louis, MO Pageant SOLD OUT
Feb 23 Louisville, KY Louisville Palace SOLD OUT
Feb 25 Atlanta, GA Tabernacle SOLD OUT
Feb 26 Atlanta, GA Tabernacle SOLD OUT
Feb 27 Myrtle Beach, SC House of Blues SOLD OUT
Mar 01 Nashville, TN Municipal Auditorium AVAILABLE NOW
Mar 02 Charlotte, NC Fillmore SOLD OUT
Mar 03 Washington, DC DAR Constitution Hall AVAILABLE NOW
Mar 05 Richmond, VA The National AVAILABLE NOW
Mar 06 Mashantucket, CT Foxwoods SOLD OUT
Mar 08 New York, NY Terminal 5 SOLD OUT
Mar 09 New York, NY Terminal 5 SOLD OUT
Mar 12 Atlantic City, NJ Borgata SOLD OUT
Mar 13 Philadelphia, PA Tower Theatre SOLD OUT
Mar 14 Boston, MA Orpheum Theatre SOLD OUT
Mar 16 Montreal, QC Metropolis AVAILABLE NOW
Mar 17 Toronto, ON Sound Academy SOLD OUT
Mar 19 Detroit, MI Fillmore SOLD OUT
Mar 20 Chicago, IL Aragon Ballroom SOLD OUT
Mar 21 Minneapolis, MN Roy Wilkens Auditorium AVAILABLE NOW
For more information visit http://www.aliceinchains.com/

AIC CONTEST URL: http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/contests/aic2_contest.htm

Fuse TV tour diary preview: http://fuseblog.typepad.com/fuseblog/2010/02/alice-in-chains-tour-blog-starts-tomorrow.html

Thursday, February 4, 2010

pecuniary \pih-KYOO-nee-air-ee\, adjective:

1. Relating to money; monetary.
2. Consisting of money.
3. Requiring payment of money.

Pecuniary comes from Latin pecuniarius, "of money, pecuniary," from pecunia, "property in cattle, hence money," from pecu, "livestock, one's flocks and herds."

Urbaning

• To look up your own name on Urban Dictionary, either for definition or myspace useage.

Me and Rianna went on Urbaning last night, her name means a suckjob. Lets put it on myspace.

Trivia

How many years after his Oscar-winning film debut as Rocky did Sylvester Stallone appear in the fifth sequel, Rocky Balboa?

• Thirty. Rocky was released in 1976; Rocky Balboa in 2006.

History

• Confederate States of America: a new union broke away from the United States; it was formed by southern slave states (1861)
• Yalta Conference: the "Big Three" —Roosevelt, Churchilland Stalin — met in the Crimea (1945)
• Yugoslavia: was formally replaced by Serbia and Montenegro; the two declared independence three years later (2003)
• Facebook: social networking site that redefined "friend" was founded by Mark Zuckerberg (2004)

Berfdays yo!

• Natalie Imbruglia (35): singer, actress, piece of ass.
• Charles Lindbergh (1902-1974): the first aviator to fly solo across the Atlantic; flight pioneer Clement Ader (1841-1926) andLudwig Prandtl (1875-1953), father of aerodynamics, shared this birth date
• Rosa Parks (1913-2005): the black woman who refused to give up her seat on the bus
• Betty Friedan (1921-2006): founder of NOW
• Dan Quayle (63): VP under George Bush
• Alice Cooper (62): rocker; also, musicians John Steel (69), Florence LaRue (66) and Clint Black (48)
• Oscar De La Hoya (37): middleweight boxing champ who is also a singer

Hoffy Wednesday!

Week is Hoff done!

How Randy Jackson Met Paper Tongues

In a recent interview with MTV, music industry icon Randy Jackson reveals how the eclectic North Carolina-based group Paper Tongues got their big break. According to Jackson, Paper Tongues singer Aswan North approached the American Idol judge while he was eating lunch at an LA restaurant, knowing he was also a musician and would appreciate the band’s unique sound. Check out the video now to hear how it all went down.

Paper Tongues’ blend of rock, rap, funk and soul is quickly making its mark on the music scene. The music video for their single “Ride to California” has just been added into rotation on MTV2’s Rock the Deuce and MTVU, with their debut album scheduled to hit stores on March 30th. The band is currently part of the Hello Hurricane tour with Switchfoot. For more information on the band and on upcoming tour dates, visit Paper Tongues' official MySpace page.

Tour Dates w/ Crash Kings
Feb 11 Cain’s Ballroom 2nd Stage Tulsa, Oklahoma
Feb 13 Midland Theatre - KRBZ’s Afentra’s Valentines Party Kansas City, Missouri
Feb 14 The Rave - FM 102.1 Kramp & Adler Missed Connections Mixer Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Feb 17 The Waiting Room - KIWR 89.7 The River Presents Paper Tongues Omaha, Nebraska
Feb 19 McGuffy’s House of Rock - WXEG Presents Paper Tongues Dayton, Ohio

Hello Hurricane Tour w/Switchfoot
Feb 22 Cains Ballroom - Hello Hurricane Tour with Switchfoot Tulsa, Oklahoma
Feb 25 The Black Sheep - Hello Hurricane Tour with Switchfoot Colorado Springs, Colorado
Feb 26 Ogden Theater - Hello Hurricane Tour with Switchfoot Denver, Colorado
May 1 The Bamboozle- Meadowlands Sports Complex East Rutherford, New Jersey

Adelitas Way Contributes a New Song to WWE the Music: A New Day

Adelitas Way has contributed a brand new song called "A New Day" to an upcoming WWE compilation titled WWE: The Music -- A New Day. The collection, which also features songs from Story Of The Year and others, is available in-stores now as a standard CD and exclusively at Amazon MP3 as a digital download.

Meanwhile, the Las Vegas rockers continue to give their fans a behind the scenes look at life on the road through the use of digital short videos. The latest video captures bass guitarist Derek picking a fight with front man Rick and leaves one of the band members in pain on the floor. Check out the video here and see who comes out victorious.

Head over to the bands official MySpace page to hear the band's latest single "Last Stand" and a list of current tour dates with Theory of a Deadman and Halestorm.

Would you like a 300hp 2010 Ford Focus RS?

I like the Sonic Blue on mine better, but this is still a sweet ride:

http://jalopnik.com/5462561/your-best-chance-to-own-a-focus-rs-in-the-us

Direct link to ebay auction

Travelzoo Weekly Top 20

************************************************************
TOP 20 DEALS * -- FEBRUARY 03, 2010
************************************************************

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$74-$76 -- Fly to Florida from NYC (each way)
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$799 -- Tuscany 6-Night Vacation this Spring, w/Car & Air
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$604 -- Tokyo from NYC (Roundtrip), incl. Tax
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$449 -- Cancun All-Inclusive February Getaway w/Air
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$399 -- Caribbean 7-Night Cruise this Spring
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$799 -- Germany's Famous 'Passion Play' Package (Reg. $1300)
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>>> THIS WEEK'S TOP ENTERTAINMENT DEALS >>>
$89 -- Premium Seats to see 'Le Rêve' in Las Vegas, $40 OFF
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LUKE PARKIN

Luke Parkin is one of the most accomplished, conversant, and captivating assets, of the younger generation’s artists emerging to prominence. He has amassed upwards of 70 Albums, which amounts to over forty-five hours of music with a breathtaking oeuvre that spans many genres.

• Comparison: Claude Debussy, Moby, George Winston
• Influence: Martha Argerich, Maurice Ravel, Jean Michel Jarre

http://www.lukeparkin.com/
http://www.myspace.com/lukeparkincomposer
http://www.twitter.com/maestroluke
http://www.youtube.com/user/LukeParkinpr
Facebook Fan Page

Spam Comment of the day

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Beckinsale Saturday":

China and Russia put the blame on some screwed up experiments of US for the earthquake that happened in Haiti.Chinese and Russian Military scientists, these reports say, are concurring with Canadian researcher, and former Asia-Pacific Bureau Chief of Forbes Magazine, Benjamin Fulford, who in a very disturbing video released from his Japanese offices to the American public, details how the United States attacked China by the firing of a 90 Million Volt Shockwave from the Americans High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP) facilities in AlaskaIf we can recollect a previous news when US blamed Russia for the earthquake in Georgio. What do you guys think? Is it really possible to create an earthquake by humans?I came across this http://universalages.com/hot-news/what-happened-in-haiti-is-it-related-to-haarp/ article about Haiti Earthquake in some blog it seems very interesting, but conspiracy theories have always been there.

Pop Punk Trio Young & Divine Ready Self-titled Debut

Albany pop-punk trio Young & Divine have weathered enough ups and downs during their two-year career to trade war stories with bands three times their age. But JP Clark, 23 (vocals/bass), Jake Mai, 23 (guitar/vocals) and Joe Bortscheller, 22 (drums) channeled every drop of experience into their irresistible, melodically stellar, upbeat self-titled RCA debut set for release in spring 2010. The album is a welcome blast of positive energy and amped-up rock that isn't afraid to get serious, too.

Young & Divine independently recorded their self-titled debut release with Kenneth Mount and Zack Odom (Cartel) at Atlanta's Tree Sound Studios, where the trio became acquainted with the pleasures of a 24-hour beer keg and jam-packed 12-hour workdays. But most importantly, their super-charged choruses, powerful guitar lines and ear-grabbing melodies got hammered into the final 13 songs for the album.

"’Shake That Bubble’ is about going to a club and it's your spot, you've got the hook up," Clark says of the group's dancey first single, where synths and a bouncy beat complement a barrage of guitars. "And it's also about what girls do at clubs – or what we're hoping they do."

Watch Young & Divine's infectious debut video for "Shake That Bubble" and head over to YoungandDivine.com for exclusive updates, more videos and a free album sampler track.

Full bio below:
Albany pop-punk trio Young & Divine have weathered enough ups and downs during their two-year career to trade war stories with bands three times their age. But JP Clark, 23 (vocals/bass), Jake Mai, 23 (guitar/vocals) and Joe Bortscheller, 22 (drums) channeled every drop of experience into their irresistible, melodically stellar, upbeat self-titled RCA debut, which is set for release in spring 2010, and the album is a welcome blast of positive energy and amped-up rock that isn't afraid to get serious, too.

The band got its start when Clark grabbed the drummer he befriended in a college psychology class — the one with the bleached-blond five-inch mohawk, Bortscheller — to play on the songs he'd been working up by ear (he doesn't read music). The group took off quickly as a four-piece, but Clark and Bortscheller soon found themselves in the market for a new bandmember to complete what was now going to be a trio. They found their missing piece in a literal digital haystack: MySpace.

"I was living in Texas where I'm from, and I got a random friend request from these jokers," laughs guitarist Jake Mai. Their energetic, catchy sound had him hooked and Mai quit his job and flew to Albany to join the band, giving Young & Divine their distinctive harmonies in the process.

After just two weeks of rehearsals all three could tell the chemistry was perfect, and the crew bonded over their childhood musical loves. As a kid, Clark ditched his piano lessons when he discovered Blink-182 and Nirvana, Mai learned dirty Adam Sandler songs on the acoustic guitar before finding Third Eye Blind and Aerosmith, and Bortscheller was convinced to pick up the drums for a Metallica cover band that never materialized. All three cite Green Day as a powerful influence.

Young & Divine's first few tours saw the trio grappling with busted transmissions, stubborn germs, and shady characters eyeing their gear. But their shows were making an impact and a fast following of loyal fans started trucking to every show within driving distance.

Young & Divine independently recorded their self-titled debut release with Kenneth Mount and Zack Odom (Cartel) at Atlanta's Tree Sound Studios, where the trio became acquainted with the pleasures of a 24-hour beer keg and jam-packed 12-hour workdays. But most importantly, their super-charged choruses, powerful guitar lines and ear-grabbing melodies got hammered into the final 13 songs for the album.

"’Shake That Bubble’ is about going to a club and it's your spot, you've got the hook up," Clark says of the group's dancey first single, where synths and a bouncy beat complement a barrage of guitars. "And it's also about what girls do at clubs – or what we're hoping they do."

The album's head-nodding opener is called "Bonus Track" and the tune usually leads off shows, too because it gives Mai a perfect opportunity to spin kick and oozes positive vibes.

"That's all I want to be around now. I was tired of the old ways and hanging around negative people," Clark explains. "Strangers by Day" is what the trio call their hook-up song about "people you want to keep on the down low," and "Nicole Deserved It" is the true tale of a girl who quit her job as a camp counselor to hang out with Clark after a show one summer. "She ended up being a crappy person, so I decided she deserved what she got," he says.

With Young & Divine due later this year, the trio are itching to get back on the road and show off some of their new tricks. "I've been practicing an idea for a drum solo now that everybody's going to be involved in," Bortscheller says. "A lot of bands forget they're entertainers," adds Mai. "Our sets are dynamic but we stick to our roots: we're a rock band."

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

aubade \oh-BAHD\, noun:

• A song or poem greeting the dawn; also, a composition suggestive of morning.

Aubade comes from the French, from aube, dawn + the noun suffix -ade: aube ultimately derives from Latin albus, white, pale, as in "alba lux," the "pale light" of dawn.

Vaguebooking

• An intentionally vague Facebook status update, that prompts friends to ask what's going on, or is possibly a cry for help.

Mary is: "wondering if it is all worth it"

Mark is: "thinking that was a bad idea"

Example: "Have you talked to Mark? He's vaguebooking again. I wonder if he's back with Mary..."

Opposite: Tammy is: "in line at the grocery store"

Trivia
What country’s capital was named for a British prime minister?

• New Zealand’s. The city of Wellington was named after the first duke of Wellington, Arthur Wellesley, in 1840. It became the capital in 1865. Wellington defeated Napoléon at Waterloo and served as British prime minister from 1828 to 1830.

History

• income tax: was authorized on afederal level in the US (1913)
• The day the music died: a plane crash killed rock stars Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and "the Big Bopper" (1959)
• Luna 9: Soviet spacecraft became the first to soft-land on the moon (1966)

Berfdays, yo!

• Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847): composer, conductor
• Gertrude Stein (1874-1946): avant garde author; also, editor Horace Greeley (1811-1872) and writer James Michener (1907-1997)
• Norman Rockwell (1894-1978): illustrator who painted a nostalgic, idealized picture of small-town US life
• Juan Negrin (1894-1956): Spanish Republican PM during Spanish Civil War
• Paul Sarbanes (77): Maryland's longest-serving senator; he sponsored the Sarbanes-Oxley Act
• Bob Griese (65): NFL hall-of-famer; quarterback Fran Tarkenton (70) also celebrates his birthday today
• Nathan Lane (54): comic actor, The Producers; other actors born today include Joey Bishop (1918-2007), Shelley Berman (84), Blythe Danner (67), Morgan Fairchild (60), Thomas Calabro (51), Maura Tierney (45), Warwick Davis (40) and Isla Fisher (34)

Like A Storm Play Station 3 Giveaway

In celebration of their recent debut album, The End of the Beginning, Like A Storm and Baxojayz are giving one fan a chance to win a Playstation 3. Enter now for your chance to win! The End of the Beginning features their first single "Chemical Infatuation.” Like A Storm is currently on tour with Shinedown, Puddle of Mudd, and Skillet through mid-February. Visit their MySpace page for tour dates and more updates on the band and make sure to pick up your copy of The End of the Beginning in stores and on iTunes now!

Jump to the contest page HERE.

Tour dates:

w/ Shinedown, Puddle of Mudd & Skillet
2/02 Youngstown, OH
2/03 University Park, PA
2/05 Detroit, MI
2/08 Rochester, MN
2/11 Fort Wayne, IN
2/12 Des Moines, IA
2/13 Peoria, IL
2/16 Toronto, ON

In the cinema: Legion

When I saw the movie posters with the tag-line When the last angel falls, the fight for mankind begins I knew that Legion was a movie worth seeing.

When God decides that it is time to destroy mankind (again! remember the flood?) he tells the angel Michael (played by Paul Bettany) to lead the angels to do the dirty job. Michael has loved humans ever since god put us on this planet and refused. He came down to Earth to assist in one occurrence to happen, the birth of the the son of a single waitress names Charlie.

The rest of the movie is a series of action scenes and thought provoking discussions. Needless to say there are heavy theological and philosophical themes to this flick that also has some pretty violent scenes.

The cast was well chosen and there were no filler personalities. I found the entire package to be very rewarding ad entertaining. Plus, since Mrs. bax0jayz didn't fall asleep during the slow spots, I know that it had some charms to it for people who are easily bored.

This film is disappearing fast from theaters already, so if you were thinking about catching it on the big screen, time's running short. it would probably be just as entertaining at home on DVD or cable.

More here:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1038686/

In the cinema: Sherlock Holmes

When I heard that Guy Ritchie was doing a Sherlock Holmes movie, I was expecting it to be the worst thing ever. As far as I'm concerned, Guy Ritchie has never put out anything worth seeing, why would he start now?

Apparently he did. He took the old stuffy, stiff-back Holmes from the books and made him into a brawling action hero. So I went with a group of friends to see it. It's 2+ hours of deep thought and fisticuffs.

When a violent murderer seems to rise from the dead, it's up to Sherlock Holmes and John Watson to spoils his plans for world domination. As typical with a Guy Ritchie movie, there is a subplot that introduces Moriarty, the villain throughout the books, and leaves an opening to a sequel.

What's good? The movie is smart and moves along nicely. What's bad? When Holmes assesses a situation in his head, they show it, then when he does it, it's shown again. It starts to grow dull after a while. The female lead, Rachel McAdams is, somehow, made to look unsexy. The rapid fire British can get past you. I never got fully used to all the accents in the movie and there are scenes that I wasn't able to keep up with. But all in all, the good out weighs the bad. Ritchie did a good job.

More on IMDB:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0988045/

Television Series: Dollhouse

Last Friday was the series finale for the Fox series DOLLHOUSE. The show ran two seasons. It might've been able to go longer but the intention of the show didn't surface until the second season, and already after most viewers bailed out on the series. Even Eliza Dushku fans were getting tired of a show that was, essentially, just her as the character Echo performing various roles and lots of costume changes.

I think the biggest problem with this series was the long period of character development. The entire first season and part of season two were dedicated to laying down the foundation. By that time people lost interest in the show, which appeared pointless, and FOX cancelled the show. At that point Joss Whedon ramped it up so the series can be completed by the last episode.

The concept as interesting, but if the show started concentrating on the evil corporation sooner it might've saved the series. Too bad, some of the characters were getting to be enjoyable to watch. I have to hand it to Whedon, he did a nice job of tying up all the loose ends in the finale.

More on IMDB:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1135300/

On CD: Bathing In The New Economy EP by Emmet Swimming

I recently had the opportunity to give the latest effort by Emmet Swimming, bathing In The New Economy, a listen.

This four-man band plays their brand of rock music that would be found enjoyable by all audiences.The six song EP is just that. Each song is distinct from the next, and everyone is charming. I think the one that caught me most by surprise was Joanna At The Door, which is almost completely in Spanish.

I loaded up the EP on my mp3 player more than a week ago and I haven't listened to anything else since. It's just a great bunch of fun songs. Give a shot, you'll love it!

Their official website:

http://www.emmetswimming.com/

OneRepublic Acoustic Performance Of All The Right Moves

OneRepublic have been gaining momentum quickly in 2010 with the recent release of their sophomore album Waking Up and current single "All The Right Moves." The track is making its way up the Top 40 chart and continues to increase digital downloads each week. Next month, the Denver quintet is slated to perform the song at the NBA All Star Game and at the Winter Olympics.

Check out a brand new acoustic performance of "All The Right Moves" that the band recorded for MySpace's Down The Front sessions. The intimate performance features Ryan Tedder's stripped down vocals accompanied by a beautiful cello and xylophone.

Visit OneRepublic.net for more information and be sure to grab "All The Right Moves" on iTunes.

Six more weeks of winter

The grounghog meteorologist Punxsutawney Phil predicts 6 more weeks of winter. Damnit! More here:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_groundhog_day

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

gelid \JEL-id\, adjective:

• Extremely cold; icy.

Gelid comes from Latin gelidus, from gelu, "frost, cold."
evasive mumbling

• Mumbling the answer to a question in hopes that the questioner won't hear or understand an answer that may get you in trouble.

When mom asks about that broken plate, you better answer with some evasive mumbling.
Trivia
How did necessity result in the invention of the stethoscope?

• French physician René-Théophile-Hyacinthe Laennec felt it was inappropriate for him to check the heartbeat of a young female patient by placing his ear against her chest. So he made a cylinder out of paper and placed one end to her chest and one to his ear—and was amazed to find that the sound of her heartbeat was louder and clearer than it would have been had he pressed his ear directly to her chest.

Today's Holiday

• Groundhog Day: (February 2) In the U.S., the day that the groundhog predicts whether spring will be coming soon. If, on emerging from his hole, he sees his shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter; if not, spring is imminent. The tradition stems from English beliefs about seeing shadows on Candlemas (also February 2).

History

• Buenos Aires: was founded by Pedro de Mendoza of Spain (1536)
• Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo: agreement ended the Mexican-American War, with Mexico ceding much of the US West and Southwest (1848)
• Cardiff Giant: 10-foot-tall "petrified man" was revealed as a hoax; the figure was made of gypsum (1870)
• F.W. de Klerk: lifted the 30-year ban on the African National Congress and promised to free Nelson Mandela (1990)

Berfdays, yo!

• Talleyrand (1754-1838): diplomat, statesman; also, Abba Eban (1915-2002)
• James Joyce (1882-1941): author of Ulysses and Finnegans Wake; plus, poet and novelist James Dickey (1923-1997)
• George Halas (1895-1983): football pioneer who founded the Chicago Bears; wide receiver Donald Driver (35) also celebrates a birthday today
• Graham Nash (68): musician, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young; also, musicians Fritz Kreisler (1875-1962), Jascha Heifetz (1901-1987), Stan Getz (1927-1991), Tom Smothers (73) and Shakira (33)
• Marissa Jaret Winokur (37): Tony Award-winning actor, Hairspray; also, actors Elaine Stritch (84?), Robert Mandan (78), Bo Hopkins (68), Farrah Fawcett (1947-2009), Brent Spiner and Jack McGee (both 61), Kim Zimmer (55) and Jennifer Westfeldt (40)

SHAYNA ZAID & THE CATCH

Blending elements of folk, jazz, indie pop and cabaret, Shayna Zaid's melodically inclined lyrical work leaves traces of solace, reflection and affection. The combination of Zaid's dynamic stage presence, her powerful smoky voice and her playful jazzy swagger lends an enchanting display.

Comparison: Feist, Norah Jones, Macy Gray, Edie Brickell
Influence: Charlie Christian, The Beatles, Cat Stevens

http://www.shaynazaid.com/
http://www.myspace.com/shaynazaid
http://www.twitter.com/shaynazaid
http://www.facebook.com/shaynazaidmusic

Look Forward To Mondays! 02-01-2010

Julia Vasilyeva

Maxim Russia, February 2010



Hottie of the day

Cred to OU

The All-American Rejects Team Up With Gillette for New Music Film Series

The All-American Rejects have teamed up with Gillette.com for Gillette UNCUT, a new music film series by acclaimed rock photographer Danny Clinch. UNCUT is part of the personal care brand's new Shave Like A Rockstar campagin, and features a short film, photos, and exclusive behind-the-scenes footage of the band as they prepare for a recent concert in Atlantic City. In the intimate short, Tyson, Nick, Mike and Chris share with fans their pre-show rituals and preparations, as well as how they have evolved as a band and as individuals since their formation in 1999. Visit the Gillette website now for a backstage pass to all the action.

The All-American Rejects latest album, When the World Comes Down, is available now in stores and on iTunes.

Weekend Box Office: 02/01/2010

Tops at the Box Office

1. Avatar
2. Edge of Darkness
3. When in Rome
4. Tooth Fairy
5. The Book of Eli

AVATAR held onto the #1 spot for the 7th week in a row. By this time next week it should have some new records sewn up. I saw #6 movie Legion and #8 movie Sherlock Holmes over the weekend. Both reviews will be up tomorrow.

Monday, February 1, 2010

mondegreen \MON-di-green\, noun:

• A word or phrase resulting from a misinterpretation of a word or phrase that has been heard.

Mondegreen was coined by Sylvia Wright, US writer, from the line laid him on the green, interpreted as Lady Mondegreen, in a Scottish ballad.

Street Creep

1. A new perjorative term for Wall Street executives who raked in huge bonuses while plunging the world into economic chaos.
2. A financial advisor who sells Wall Street products on commission.

Did you see the news? Those Street Creeps are taking a private jet to Aruba using our bailout money.

Trivia
What notorious criminal offered a $10,000 reward—from jail—for information leading to the safe recovery of aviator Charles Lindbergh’s kidnapped son?

• Gangster Al Capone. Lindbergh’s son, Charles Jr., was 20 months old when he was kidnapped in March 1932. His body was found 10 weeks later.

History

• US Supreme Court: held its first session, in NY; John Jay, a Federalist Papersauthor, presided (1790)
• Oxford English Dictionary: first fascicle, A—Ant, was published (1884)
• Ayatollah Khomeini: returned to Tehran after some 15 years of exile; the Iranian Revolution turned the country into an Islamic republic soon after (1979)
• Columbia: space shuttle disintegrated on reentry, killing all seven astronauts aboard (2003)
• wardrobe malfunction: Janet Jackson, in a duet with Justin Timberlake, caused a stir at the Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show (2004)

Berfdays, yo!

• Langston Hughes (1902-1967): poet, author and playwright of the Harlem Renaissance; authors S.J. Perelman (1904-1979) and Dame Muriel Spark (1918-2006) shared this birth date
• Boris Yeltsin (1931-2007): former president of Russia
• Joe Sample (71): jazz pianist and composer; also, musicians Rick James (1948-2004), Don Everly (73), Mike Campbell (60), Lisa Marie Presley (42), Joshua Redman (41), Big Boi (35) and Julie Roberts (31)
• Princess Stephanie of Monaco (45): youngest child of Prince Rainier III and Princess Grace
• Lauren Conrad (24): reality TV personality, The Hills; also, actors Clark Gable (1901-1960), Stuart Whitman(82), Garrett Morris (73), Sherman Hemsley (72), Sherilyn Fenn (45), Terry Jones (68), Pauly Shore (42) and Brian Krause (41)

Sunday, January 31, 2010

penchant \PEN-chunt\, noun:

• Inclination; decided taste; a strong liking.

Penchant comes from the present participle of French pencher, "to incline, to bend," from (assumed) Late Latin pendicare, "to lean," from Latin pendere, "to weigh."

that's a good question

• A phrase usually indicating that the speaker has absolutely no idea how to answer said question. Often used to stall for time.

Photography teacher walking in on students who should be at pep rally: What are you doing here?

Sreya: That's a good question!

Trivia
In the world of medicine, what is the Alice in Wonderland Syndrome?

• An ailment whose sufferers have a distorted sense of time and space and believe their body, or parts of their body, have changed in size or shape. The name, of course, was inspired by Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.

History

• Guy Fawkes: was hanged for his part in the Gunpowder Plot to blow up Parliament and kill the king of England (1606)
• first US Social Security check: the sum of $22.54 was received by Ida May Fuller, who had paid three years of payroll taxes; she lived to 100, collecting a total of $22,888.92 from Social Security (1940)
• Great Flood of 1953: tidal surgekilled thousands and affected shorelines in the UK and the Netherlands
• Explorer I: the US launched its first Earth satellite, whose mission was to detect cosmic rays (1958)
• McDonald's: first opened in the Soviet Union, in Moscow (1990)

Berfdays

• André-Jacques Garnerin (1769-1823): parachutist; plus, balloonist Charles Green (1785-1870)
• Benjamin Hooks (85): civil rights leader
• Ernie Banks (79): MLB hall-of-famer; second-baseman Jackie Robinson (1919-1972) and pitcher Nolan Ryan (63) share this birth date
• Kenzaburo Oe (75): Nobel Prize-winning author; also, writers Zane Grey (1872-1939), John O'Hara (1905-1970), Thomas Merton (1915-1968) and Norman Mailer (1923-2007)
• Beatrix (72): queen of the Netherlands
• Minnie Driver (40): actor, on screens now inMotherhood; also, actors Jessica Walter (69), Anthony LaPaglia (51), and Portia de Rossi (37)
• Justin Timberlake (29): Grammy-winning pop singer; also, musicians Franz Schubert (1797-1828), Philip Glass (73), Charlie Musselwhite (66) and Johnny Rotten (54)

Saturday, January 30, 2010

rapacious \ruh-PAY-shuhs\, adjective:

1. Given to plunder; seizing by force.
2. Subsisting on prey.
3. Grasping; greedy.

Rapacious comes from Latin rapax, rapac-, "seizing, grasping, greedy," from rapere, "to seize, to snatch."

the time

• Giving the time to someone means having sexual intercourse with that person. Salinger uses this phrase quite often in his novel, The Catcher in the Rye.

"I don't think he gave that girl the time that night-but damn near."
Trivia
Which Batman villain was named Oswald Chesterfield Cobblepot at birth?

• The Penguin.

History

• Charles I: monarch of Great Britain and Ireland was beheaded for treason (1649)
• Mahatma Gandhi: nonviolent Indian political and spiritual leader was assassinated in Delhi by a Hindu extremist; Gandhi had been working to promote Hindu-Muslimunity (1948)
• Tet Offensive: theVietcong launched a series of surprise attacks (1968)
• Bloody Sunday: 14 civil rights protesters were shot to death by British troops in Derry, Northern Ireland (1972)
• Iraq: held its first free election in 50 years (2005)

Berfdays, yo!

• Franklin Delano Roosevelt (1882-1945): the only POTUS elected to four terms; also, heads of state Félix Faure(1841-1899), Dick Cheney (69) and Abdullah II (48)
• Barbara Tuchman (1912-1989): Pulitzer Prize-winning author, The Guns of August; writers Edward Martyn (1859-1923), Richard Brautigan (1935-1984) and Michael Dorris (1945-1997) share this birth date
• Boris Spassky (73): chess master
• Phil Collins (59): drummer/singer, for Genesis and solo; musician Marty Balin (68) also celebrates a birthday today
• Gene Hackman (80): two-time Oscar-winner, for The French Connection and The Unforgiven; also, actors Dorothy Malone (85), Tammy Grimes (76), Vanessa Redgrave (73), Charles S. Dutton (59), Brett Butler (52), Norbert Leo Butz (43), Christian Bale (36) and Wilmer Valderrama (30)

Guts or Balls

From my email:

Guts or Balls? There is a medical distinction.

We've all heard about people having guts or balls, but do you really know the difference between them? In an effort to keep you informed, and to alleviate further confusion, the following definitions are listed below:

GUTS - Is arriving home late after a night out with the guys, being met by your wife with a broom, and having the guts to ask: 'Are you still cleaning, or are you flying somewhere?'

BALLS - Is coming home late after a night out with the guys, smelling of perfume and beer, lipstick on your collar, slapping your wife on the butt and having the balls to say: 'You're next, Chubby.'

I hope this clears up any confusion on the definitions.

Medically speaking, there is no difference in the outcome, since both ultimately result in death.

Charley Langer

Intelligent smooth jazz. Think "Phil Woods meets Boney James”. So far, the reviews are very postitive:

“Charley Langer doesn't waste these tracks. If you take the time to listen, each one reveals a different side of his musical personality...What we see here is a jazz musician as jack of all trades, and a darn good one, to boot.” - Dan MacIntosh, Indie-Music.com; critic for CMJ, Paste, Spin, and others

“Just downloaded Never The Same, and it's awesome! I referred you to a few other jazz enthusiasts upon hearing it. If you're ever in Kansas City or Columbia (MO), please let me know!” - Robin

“I can't stop listening to your album. It keeps getting better. I am now a SUPER fan.” - Nikki

"Saxophonist Charley Langer has assembled a fantastic group of accomplished musicians for his debut album Never the Same. This is not the typical jazz compilation of artists but rather an awesome blend of classic rock, peppered with jazz with a hint of classical... Never the Same is an excellent album and a real treat for listeners who crave something new and exciting from the same old same old “smooth jazz” genre." - Kelly O'Neil, ReviewYou.com; staff writer for CCM, U and CrossWalk magazines.

Comparison: Paul Desmond, Dave Koz, Phil Woods, Kenny G, Grover Washington, Jr.
Influence: Paul Desmond, David Sanborn, Tom Scott, Phil Woods, Grover Washington, Jr.

http://www.charleylanger.com/

http://www.myspace.com/charleylangermusic

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Charley-Langer/116179487439

http://twitter.com/charleylanger

http://www.ilike.com/artist/Charley+Langer/

http://www.youtube.com/charleylanger

Taking Dawn release Time to Burn / Plan performance for hometown crowd

Las Vegas-based rockers Taking Dawn, who just released their Roadrunner debut, Time to Burn, on Tuesday, January 26, are gearing up for an acoustic performance and autograph signing session at Zia Records, also known as Las Vegas’ best independent music store. The band will perform two songs, in addition to signing autographs for fans and customers. The in-store appearance will take place on Saturday, February 13 and will begin promptly at 2 PM at Zia on Eastern, 4225 S. Eastern Ave., Las Vegas, NV, 89119.

Taking Dawn are currently on tour with labelmates Theory of a Deadman. Expect to hear a lot more from this up ‘n coming band, who’ve been described as having “ballsy rock riffs that are ‘80s-influenced while still showcasing a lot of modern touches” by Cosmos Gaming and as “not afraid to rock hard and take names” by Colossal Pop. The Las Vegas Review Journal has deemed Time to Burn “a total rager.” Metalholic said the album had “guitars with winding melodies and high impact drumming.”

The band recently unveiled a video for the rockin' "Time to Burn" here.

"Time to Burn" video URL: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xbultl_taking-dawn-time-to-burn_music

For more information on Taking Dawn visit their Myspace page at: www.myspace.com/takingdawn

Green River Ordinance Post New Song And Video To Announce Tour Dates

Texas rockers Green River Ordinance are set to hit the road with Sleeperstar next month on a headlining tour. The two bands teamed up to record a very catchy song announcing the new shows and had a lot of fun recording a video to go along with it. Check out the dates below and watch the video featuring stop-motion animation, a stuffed hippo, and GRO drummer Denton Hunker in a monkey costume.

10 Feb 2010 8:00 P Jammin Java (Washington DC) Vienna
11 Feb 2010 8:00 P The Note (Philly) Westchester, Pennsylvania
13 Feb 2010 9:00 P Harpers Ferry Allston, Massachusetts
15 Feb 2010 3:00 P NACA - Mainstage Boston, Massachusetts
16 Feb 2010 8:00 P Mercury Lounge New York, New York
17 Feb 2010 8:00 P Club Cafe Live Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
18 Feb 2010 8:00 P Musica Akron, Ohio
19 Feb 2010 8:00 P Radio Radio Indianapolis, Indiana
20 Feb 2010 8:00 P The Basement Columbus, Ohio

Out of My Hands on iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/out-my-hands/id303893838

Jason Castro Opens Tour To Great Reviews

This week, Jason Castro hit the road with Caitlin Crosby and label-mate Matt Hires on a cross-country tour. The American Idol alum is only a few shows in, and his set is already receiving great reviews. The New York Times checked out Wednesday night's show and reflected on the journey that Castro has made from his American Idol audition to his "magnetic set" at Joe's Pub.

"Earlier this month he released “The Love Uncompromised EP” (Atlantic), a prelude to a full album this spring, and it’s among the most sure-footed records, debut or otherwise, by an “Idol” contestant from any season. Partly that’s because Mr. Castro has had time to marinate, and to woodshed. His season’s winner, David Cook, and runner-up, David Archuleta, both released debut albums about six months after the season finale. But no one rushed Mr. Castro to pin down his style, and he certainly didn’t rush himself. He’s got it down cold now, though: 1960s pop with bright guitars, slashed through with a contrarian streak. It’s as if he were still stuck in one of the genre-themed weeks on “Idol,” but the most apt one. Jack Johnson and Jason Mraz should be nervous."

Read the rest of the review here and be sure to keep up with Jason Castro on tour at Twitter.com/JasonCastro and JasonCastroMusic.com.

HIM present fans with video for "Like St. Valentine" / Ville talks about new son

Finnish rockers HIM have presented their fans with an early Valentines Day present in the form of a new video for "Like St. Valentine" - see it here. The song comes off the band's seventh studio album Screamworks: Love in Theory and Practice, which will be released on Sire Records February 9th. The band promise MANY more videos in the next few weeks for many of the 13 tracks from the new album. As part of that series Ville recently sat down and discussed the meaning behind the song "Love, The Hardest Way." The interview can be seen here.

Screamworks: Love in Theory and Practice is the follow-up to Venus Doom, which debuted at No. 12 in the US and was nominated for a Grammy Award for "Best Boxed/Special Limited Edition Packaging."

HIM will kick off a North American tour March 26th in Philadelphia and finish up in New York on May 7th.

Screamworks: Love in Theory and Practice tracklisting is as follows:

01. In Venere Veritas
02. Scared To Death
03. Heartkiller
04. Dying Song
05. Disarm Me (With Your Loneliness)
06. Love, The Hardest Way
07. Katherine Wheel
08. In The Arms Of Rain
09. Ode To Solitude
10. Shatter Me With Hope
11. Acoustic Funeral (For Love In Limbo)
12. Like St. Valentine
13. The Foreboding Sense Of Impending Happiness

"Like St. Valentine" video URL: http://likesaintvalentine.com/

"Love, The Hardest Way" interview clip URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVV4TW7o48A

Friday, January 29, 2010

verboten \ver-BOHT-n\, adjective:

• Forbidden, as by law; prohibited.

Verboten is from German, past participle of verbieten, to forbid, from Middle High German, which derives from Old High German farbiotan.

Grand Theft Impairment

• The 4-hour period of time that you cannot drive or function in society due to playing Grand Theft Auto. You may have the intention to steal a car, kill innocent people, and/or drive recklessly.

Girl: Hey you wanna come pick me up so we can go to the movies?
Guy: Aww, I wish but I have grand theft impairment, I can come later though.
Trivia
How many gallons of air does the average adult human inhale daily?

• More than 3,000.

History

• "The Raven": Edgar Allen Poe's poetic lament for the lost Lenore was first published, in The New York Evening Mirror(1845)
• Baseball Hall of Fame: Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth,Honus Wagner, Christy Mathewson and Walter Johnson were named the first inductees; the hall of fame and museum opened 3 years later (1936)
• Axis of Evil: Iran, Iraq and North Korea were named "regimes that sponsor terror" in President George W. Bush's State of the Union address (2002)

Berfdays, yo!

• Thomas Paine (1737-1809): pamphleteer, Common Sense
• William McKinley (1843-1901): 25th US president; he was assassinated by an anarchist
• Paddy Chayefsky (1923-1981): award-winning playwright, Network; also, writers Romain Rolland (1866-1944) and Edward Abbey (1927-1989)
• Tom Selleck (65): screen actor, Magnum, P.I., Friends; also, actors W.C. Fields (1880-1946), John Forsythe (92), Noel Harrison (76), Katharine Ross (70), Marc Singer (62), Ann Jillian (60), Nicholas Turturro (48), Edward Burns (42) and Heather Graham (40)
• Oprah Winfrey (56): TV's most influential talk-show host
• Greg Louganis (50): champion diver; won the gold even after severely injuring his head in a previous dive in the'88 Olympics