|
|
NSAEN Magazine Articles
Art &
Literature | Business
& Finance | Charitable Foundations |
Entertainment & Events |
Fashion &
Beauty |
Food &
Beverage | Health & Fitness |
History
World Footprints Media Announces
Success Simplified with Tonya and Ian
Fitzpatrick is available in e-book format on Amazon and Barnes
and Noble. The paperback will be available in the Amazon store
as of August 10, 2011.
About Tonya and Ian Fitzpatrick Ian and Tonya Fitzpatrick are award-winning
broadcasters, authors, attorneys, sought after media guests, and
leaders in socially-conscious travel. As creators of the World
Footprints Network and hosts of the award-winning World
Footprints Radio Show, the Fitzpatricks bring a unique voice and
greater awareness to a variety of substantive issues with a
mission to inspire purposeful travel and global citizenship.
Pack for a Purpose --a nonprofit making a difference in the
lives of children around the world by encouraging travelers to
use available space in their luggage to provide supplies to the
communities they visit.
World Footprints Media
Just dance What is it about dancing that brings a smile to many faces? Is it the music? Is it the dance? Or is it the people? What makes a dancer want to just dance no matter what? That hot girl? That cute guy? The mere fact that it is great exercise? Or maybe it is because the dancer is able to show off in front of others? To some, dancing looks easy but once the steps are in motion, the learning curve has a new meaning. Learning anything new takes time. Others may understand the movement faster than others. And for some, the coordination takes a getting used to. When our muscles are used to one movement, the muscle memory remembers only that. Over time, those muscles will move differently as dance movements become memorized and second nature. As the learning curve becomes less prominent, excitement shows and confidence improves. The jitters of a beginner dancer are gone and being first on the floor is no longer frightful. Showing off those learned or fancy moves is a proud moment. Others take notice and not much longer, the dance card is filled up. By now, counterparts take notice. Movements are no longer novice like. The opposite gender is aware and before long, the night was danced away. Dancing encompasses more than making sure the feet and arm movements go in unison. It is about the enjoyment of the dance, the surroundings, the partners and the music. Music makes a difference on how dancers dance. Will the music allow the dancer to move a certain way to provoke a certain emotion? Or will the music have an unrecognizable beat that the dancer looks sloppy or uncomfortable? Dancing with the right partner can either be a delight or a disaster. No one wants to dance with someone that is offensive in any which way. Nor does one want to dance with someone that is so confident that the dance looks one sided. Boredom can set in or the thought of dread is on the mind. No matter what dance it is, the joy that is on the face of the dancer is all that matters. Who is to say who is the best or the worst dancer? All that matters is that the dancer has fun and has the passion to do it again. Sue Yan
Business Plan – Financial Analysis Writing a good business plan will take a great deal of research. The financial part of a business plan is the most important section next to the Executive Summary. It is also the most concrete, practical part of the business plan, which is likely to arouse the greatest interest. The financial plan should reflect all the financial aspects of the entire business plan. This section will deal mainly with numbers so financially astute readers may well turn to this section of your business plan first of all. If you can translate your ideas into figures, you will demonstrate both your practical planning skills and the potential profitability of your business. It is a good idea to jot down your financial assumptions as you work through each section of the business plan. Always keep in focus the material aspects of the subjects you are dealing with. If you do this, when you have finished writing the business plan, you will almost have completed the financial section simultaneously. When starting a business make sure you at least include the Cash Flow tables and Profit and Loss. As a beginning business, your financial data will be based on assumptions and premises but make sure you look at the following sections: Cash Flow: The cash flow analysis can be the main aspect of your business, the one that arouses the greatest interest. It deals with the cash revenues and cash outlays over a given period of time. It can be a direct look at your savings and checking accounts. Investors will pay close attention to this section of your business plan. Your cash flow section should serve as a clear indication of how your business will be able to meet financial obligations, while maintaining a positive cash flow balance. The desirable outcome is to prove that you can maintain a positive cash flow while you pay financing and interest. Pro Forma: Your pro forma financial statements or balance sheets deals with cash and income and also with assets, liabilities and capital. The balance should result in the debit and credit balances ending up equal. It is based on projections. Your projections should come as a result of research conducted about your industry. Break Even Analysis: Break even analysis is concerned with a company’s ability to meet costs. It determines whether or not your business will bring in enough money to meet its costs. The break even point for your company is where profits and losses are both equal to zero. Your break even point is calculated by dividing your total fixed costs by your selling price subtracted by variable costs. Sales Forecasting: Predicting your company sales in an accurate manner can be a challenging task. Your sales forecast will be based on a combination of market conditions, value of your business inventory and the resources at your disposal to distribute your goods. Profit and Loss: Here you will consider the sales forecast, the sales costs, operating expenses, and the profits. Make month-by-month formal estimates of sales and expenses to obtain a profit projection for your first year of operations. It will reveal gross margin, gross profit or profit before interest and taxes and net profit. Ratios: Ratios will help investors and lenders determine how fast your business can convert assets to cash. Working capital, debt to equity, current ratio, gross margin and return on investment are key ratios that help external users analyze the liquidity and profitability of you business. When you write business plans for existing companies, base your future planning on their past history. For startups, construct the financial plan by taking some premises and assumptions on board. The data you have at hand estimates the costs and investments necessary at starting and the sales, revenue and expenses forecasts made on the basis of the market analysis components and business statistics. By Cathy Harris, CEO Angels Press http://www.xndhangout.com/CathyHarris
Why do We Pay
So Much For Wine?
There are many reasons why wines are offered at varying prices.
Then, this is your first big semi-variable: Grape juice. I say semi-variable,
because you're going to have to pay something for the grapes that go into your
wine, but how much you pay depends hugely on where you are and what you're
producing.
So, where does that put us?
We're talking wine importers, distributors, and retailers, here. That $1.50 can
jump to $2.25, then $4.50, before you find it on the shelf for $7.99! And that
$16 bottle of wine? Well you'll be paying upwards of $40 for that likely.
Probably way upwards.
You see, analyzing the price of a bottle of wine is not really not as simple as
adding up the cost of the ingredients. There are salaries to pay (contrary to
popular opinion, good wine generally does not make itself), and then there are
expenses to cover. A bottling line for example, or the fee for a mobile
bottler to come and bottle your production for you at your location, utilities
-- maybe even some profit, if you're lucky. In addition to the sales tax you see
at the register, the winemaker must pay both state and federal excise taxes,
business and occupation taxes, litter taxes, payroll taxes. Then there are the
costs of utilities and processing elements used in the production of wine.
Stainless steel tanks, hoses, pumps, hoppers, conveyors, chillers, air
compressors, bottled gasses, forklifts, pallets and case boxes. Finally there
are the marketing costs for samples, advertising, "tastes" and promotions. Your
list barely scratched the surface!
Sure there are a ton of wines out there that deliver dubious value. A lot of
producers are late to the game, and they not only have a big mortgage to cover,
but they have hired the best and the brightest (and most expensive) consultants
to give their wines every chance of getting a higher score.
Oh yeah, high scores. I almost forgot to mention that. High scores are worth
much money In some cases, big money. As a winery, once a neighbor of yours gets
that kind of big money, you might be tempted to raise your prices too. I mean
your wine is just as good as his. Right?
Well, if it's not quite as good, it's pretty close, so maybe you don't raise
your price quite as much as he did. Say 10% less - a great deal! Yes, in
addition to points, egos play a huge role in the pricing of wines. All of this
tends to lead to more dubious values.
There are great wines out there that cost an arm and a leg, and their prices
have very little to do with what I just laid out. The marketplace determines
those prices, and demand far outstrips supply, but for the vast majority of
wines in the marketplace what I laid out does apply. Factor in additional
expenses and some profit and most wines should be in the $10-$100 range or so.
Beyond that, you're most likely getting into point score and ego tariff
territory. It's a different game, and one in which I don't have fun playing. I
don't mind drinking some of those wines, but paying the price, well, it tends to
rub me the wrong way! Remember Wine Is Food.
One more important note to add about wine pricing is how much you pay at a
restaurant. Typically, restaurants can mark up a bottle of their wine by
anywhere from 100% up to an astronomical 300%...or even more! And if you prefer
wine by the glass, understand that when you order a glass of your favorite white
or red you've just about covered the proprietor's per-bottle cost (this price,
of course, may vary, depending on several factors).
Next time you're eating out, take a moment to check the wine list and see if
there's a familiar bottle or two on the menu. Compare the restaurant's price to
the retail price and you'll have a pretty good idea as to how much more you're
paying. I'm not knocking a restaurant's pursuit of profit, but my wife and I are
always amazed at how much wine goes for at some restaurants. Greed is a terrible
thing but a restaurant does have additional costs involved they need to figure
in when they price their wine list. By Les Kincaid
The Mission...
Teach children to create exciting and empowering identities for themselves and
choose who they are going to Be... now and for the rest of their lives!
Developed by
Mark Papadas, I AM 4 Kids enables teachers and educators a way to truly help
their students develop as individuals. Teacher's help their kids realize who
they are, who they can be, help them realize self actualization early in life.
Can you
imagine what it would have been like if we, as kids, had that opportunity?
How many times, in search of ideas for yourself, have you asked a kid, "Hey,
what do you want to be when you grow up"? I asked that question so many
times over the years that my kids grew tired of hearing it.
The
development of this fundamental turn key program was not easy. It took
Mark a year of research development, testing and brainstorming to compile the
program before it was ready. I've been successfully teaching the I AM... principles to adults for about 10 years now. I took the core process of the adult program and translated into something that is engaging and entertaining for kids. It's broken out in to 5 and 10 minute segments to maintain their attention, uses cartoon characters as examples and helps the teachers, as facilitators, develop a process to obtain honest answers."
The
educational system in the United States is traditionally difficult to get your
foot in if you don't have the right connections, but I AM 4 Kids is getting
traction in major cities across the country. "Often times, real innovation comes from those outside of a particular industry. They don't have the same experience in the system and therefore have a completely different way of looking at things. Rather than focusing on the system, I AM 4 Kids concentrates on the kids. When kids are empowered to learn and grow by their own identity, the school system just needs to provide the framework to allow them to grow. The key to getting I AM 4 Kids accepted by educators is integrating it with the curriculum already being taught in the classrooms. Teachers already have too much on their plate. I AM 4 Kids was purposely designed to be an asset to teachers rather than another distraction."
Mark's
professional experience is in public speaking and helping adults achieve self
realization. He has shared the stage with the like of Brian Tracy, Dr.
Tony Alessandra, Bill Bartmann, Ivan Misner and many more. He's been
speaking professionally since 1993. After being with other motivational
based companies, like Anthony Robbins & Associates, Mark honed his own
philosophies and created the 'I AM' process.
Mark
realized the need for I AM 4 Kids after talking with a parent of one of the
youth sports teams that he coaches.
"Numerous
teams per year, I have parents approach me at the end of a season and ask what I
did to change the attitude of their son or daughter to change their attitude and
their performance. Often times, their grades have improved as well.
When I tell them that all I did was to open their kid's eyes to what they
could do for themselves by doing some fun coaching exercises, they are shocked.
That night, I put myself through the same process.
I asked myself, how could I have the same impact on kids on a much
grander scale? The answer is I AM 4
Kids."
I AM 4 Kids
is a business, admittedly not like every other, but a business focused on growth
and development non-the-less. However, there's another side. It's
the I AM 4 Kids
Foundation. It's the nonprofit organization Mark has created to supplement
the educational process of the I AM 4 Kids projects.
There are 5
steps in the I AM 4 Kids curriculum. The 5th step - to "Be It"
is what the foundation has been created to support. The 5th
Step requires kids to go out and do a real world project involving other people,
demonstrating the identity they've found within themselves through action.
The foundation's sole purpose is to provide resources, volunteers and funding to
help as many of those projects as possible become realized. The Goal...
Mark's goal
is to raise $3.5 Million in angel investment and at least $10 Million in
donations and sponsorships to the Foundation by December 31st, 2010.
To some that may seem like a lot. To others, its pocket change, even in
this current economy. By all accounts, it is not much at all to help
launch a program that will help our children realize and establish their own
unique identities. Not much at all to help them on their way to a much
earlier self actualization than most of us ever will achieve.
The I AM 4
Kids Foundation was recently launched and successfully held its first fundraiser
in downtown Chicago with 4 more scheduled across the country by the end of the
year: May 6th in New York City; June 10th in Las Vegas;
September 16th in Los Angeles, and October 14th in Miami.
Isn't it
about time we stop turning our kids into 'sheepeople' and help them
become fantastically unique people?
For more
information about the "I AM 4 Kids program", visit www.iam4kids.com or contact
Mark Papadas at mark@iam4kids.com. You can also call their Lake in the Hills, IL
headquarters at 877.IAM.4848.
For more
information about the "I AM 4 Kids Foundation" , visit
www.IAM4KidsFoundation.org or contact at 800.466.0435.
By Peter
Gault for Topical Content © 2009 ARR
Interview with Comedian Damon Williams
Thank you for taking your time and doing this interview with No
Strings Attached E News.
NSA:
How old were you when you started doing stand-up comedy?
DW:
Twenty-seven.
NSA:
When did you start comedy and how funny were you as a kid?
DW:
I realized I had humor when Eddie Murphy burst upon the scene
and took comedy to a new level. He inspired the desire to make
people laugh from a different perspective so that made me think
I can do that too.
NSA:
Who is your biggest influence as a comedian?
DW:
I have several in my early stages. George Willborn had a major
influence on my development as a performer.
NSA:
How long have you been now a professional comedian?
DW:
Fifteen years. I went pro the first month I started.
NSA:
Any odd jobs you have done in the past to support yourself and
shape your career?
DW:
I worked at City Hall in Chicago. They used to call me “Eddie”
because I was funny around the building. That was around the
time “48Hours” came out. I wore suits all the time, even when I
was a gofer. Since “Reggie Hammond” came home from jail in a
suit in the movie the comparison began.
I also owned and operated a Subway Sandwich shop in 1990
(Pre Jared, the fat customer who lost a ton eating Subway subs).
The chain hadn’t caught on in Chicago yet, so I had to sell the
store. I’d never even worked fast food before and found myself
baking bread and making subs.
NSA:
How do you find the material you use on stage?
DW:
Life. Life provides ample material everyday. There’s something
funny to talk about. That’s why the website Youtube is so
popular. If you keep a camera handy or rolling during real life,
you will catch something funny. My brain is the camera, so I
catch all day some material that comes to me from the sky. I
have no idea why I think up this stuff.
NSA:
Who is your “muse” or does the muse find you?
DW:
I don’t really have a muse. If I had to say, I’d say a recurring
audience is my motivation because if you have repeat customers
or “regulars” you can’t use the same jokes. Take that in
consideration they are my muse.
NSA:
How did your family handle your decision in getting into comedy?
DW:
They were surprised I was a quiet child basically so I caught a
few people off guard.
NSA:
Show business is not a nine-to-five job. How does it affect your
personal life?
DW:
It allows me to have a personal life. On average I only work 4
hours a week onstage. So if I’m not traveling I have lots of
personal time.
NSA:
You have toured and worked with a lot of famous comedians, who
is your favorite and why?
DW:
I can’t say a favorite due to the different things they bring to
the table; but I met some amazing people doing stand up. Far too
many to mention, but I like Chris Rock, DL Hugely, Dave Chapell,
Ellen, Cedric, Bernie, Steve (I opened for the King of Comedy
tour). Then there are some equally talented comics with lower
profiles:
Tony Roberts, Rob Stapleton, Kyle Grooms, Marvin Dixon, Deon
Cole, Mark Simmons.
NSA:
Being from Chicago, do you feel Chicago is compatible with other
major cities such as NY or LA to start a career in show
business?
DW:
I believe Chicago is the sole reason I do standup. Had I not
been in the Chicago I wouldn’t have had some of my most
successful achievements. They can be directly attributed to
being in Chicago when I started. For greater aspirations you
have to go to one of those cities.
NSA:
Are the stand-up opportunities here in Chicago as plentiful as
in NY or LA?
DW:
It depends. You can find a place nightly in Chicago.
NSA:
Where are the best places you have ever performed and why?
DW:
Madison Square Garden (sold out) during the King of Comedy tour,
the United Center, the Comic Strip in Edmonton, Tom Joyner’s
Cruise (great mature audience). The Star Plaza Theater in
Merrillville is always good. Every seat is good and they have
great acoustics.
NSA:
Every first Saturday of the month you perform at the Hilton
Chicago, targeting the female audience. Why did you decide to
produce a female oriented show and where would you like to go
from here?
DW:
We never set out to target females. We want everyone to attend.
It’s just that females have responded and support our efforts.
We love the ladies, but the fellas are welcome.
NSA:
What are your goals and dreams for the next 5 years?
DW:
To become a nationally respected headliner, acting in film and
or television the tonight show and an HBO Special.
NSA:
I heard that you are interested in acting and currently pursuing
auditions in Hollywood, is that true?
DW:
Somewhat I haven’t pursued Hollywood auditions, but I have a
role in a Hollywood film scheduled to shoot early Fall.
NSA:
Any new projects in the works?
DW:
I’m awaiting confirmation for a half hour special on Comedy
Central. I’m also preparing material to shoot my first real
performance DVD. Beyond that I’m just touring and taking life as
it comes one joke at a time.
NSA:
What is your ultimate goal in your comedy career?
DW:
Film, TV, and host the Family Feud. They’ve never had an African
American host (I’m kidding). I want to take stand up to its
highest level so I can semi-retire to Vegas, where old comedians
go to die.
NSA:
What advise would you give the new generation of comedians?
DW:
Learn the craft. Be original. Never take your audience for
granted.
NSA:
Three things you can’t live without?
DW:
My Son, my Jokes and my Faith.
NSA:
Anything you’d like to add?
DW:
I’ll see you when I look at you.
Thank you and we wish you success and funny times for the
future!
TAMMY GILLIS CAST IN THE THIRD SEASON OF SPIKE TV’S ORIGINAL COMEDY “BLUE MOUNTAIN STATE” Tammy is
also appearing on television this month alongside Rachael Leigh
Cook in the
thriller “Stealing Paradise”, airing July 7th, 2011
Tammy is also appearing on television this month, with her appearance opposite Rachael Leigh Cook in the thriller ‘Stealing Paradise’. The film, which will air on The Movie Network, Movie Central and Super Écran, premieres on July 7th 2011. ‘Stealing Paradise’ follows an aeronautical engineer falsely accused of murder-possibly to cover up the theft of her designs. To view the trailer, visit: http://vimeo.com/21208920 Tammy can be seen on the small screen elsewhere as well, just having appeared in roles on two hit Global shows, including the new series ‘Endgame’, as well as the drama ‘Shattered’. Up next on television, Tammy can be seen in a recurring guest starring role on season three of ‘Less Than Kind’, the original comedy series from Astral’s The Movie Network (Eastern Canada) and Corus Entertainment’s Movie Central (Western Canada). The role has Tammy starring as Barbara, the new trophy wife of Jack, Aunt Clara’s ex-husband. Barbara is young, pretty and full of life. Maybe a little too full of life, with her Jekyll and Hyde personality. Hilarity ensues when Barbara enters the scene. The talented actor has amassed a number of impressive credits throughout her career, including roles in feature films such as ‘Shooter’, and ‘White Noise 2’. Her television appearances include the critically acclaimed CBC series ‘jPod’, ‘Reaper’, ‘The L Word’, and the final season of ‘Battlestar Galactica’. Tammy has worked on a number of MOW’s as well, one opposite Linda Hamilton in ‘Home for Christmas’, and another with Kim Basinger in ‘The Mermaid Chair’. This gorgeous performer was named one of Femme Fatale’s ‘Fresh Faces of the Year’ in 2007. Her successful career began as a model, and led to her being one of the main spokesmodels for underwear company Ginch Gonch. This role had her representing the line around the world, from Canada, to France, to El Salvador. Since then she has moved on to film and television, not only in front of the camera, but behind it as well. Gillis has acted as a producer on a couple of short films, including ‘Dealing with Jerks and Din’. She currently has a number of projects in development that she has written, including a feature film and a webisode series titled ‘Goodnight Tammy’. Since the move from her Manitoba farming roots to pursue her dream of acting, Tammy has become a successful and respected member of the entertainment industry in Canada. Tammy is currently based in Vancouver and travels to LA and Toronto for projects. When she isn’t busy on set, the multifaceted performer loves to stay active—she loves skiing and is currently beginning to learn ballet! Tammy is available for interviews and photographs upon request.
For more information on Tammy, visit: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0319320/
For more information and media requests, please contact: Lesley Diana - lesley@thepromotionpeople.ca ph: 604-726-5575
Interview with the International Shooting Star Magician Florian
Zimmer
Here I am, sitting at my computer and working on my interview
for the incredible and young up-coming magician in the world,
Florian Zimmer.
I have so many questions but know I have to keep it to a
minimum. I’ll try to
compose the best questions to find out what it takes to be an
extraordinary magician.
I barely have an idea of what magic is about and have only been
exposed to it on television. I
have no clue of what energy and hard work it takes to be the
best in the world of magic. With
this interview, I hope to at least get some insight and create
for all of us, a mental picture of what it takes to be a top
magician.
NSAEN: How did you get started and what was the first trick you
ever performed?
Florian:
I was 10 years old when I saw a magician who was invited to
perform at a family-party. Seeing the look in the peoples faces
how they reacted to the magic inspired me. I wanted to be like
this guy. A magician that was using silk, bottles and glasses –
very traditional..
I was hooked. I had to learn the craft somehow even not having
any contact to other magicians. The internet was not popular at
this time so had I had to start learning from the book. I was
lucky to find a few magic books in the library in my home town.
First Trick: making my school teacher disappear.
NSAEN: When did you perform for the very first time in front of
an audience?
Florian:
The very first time when I performed in front of an audience and
I assume you mean a big stage at the age of 14. As a performer,
my audience can be anywhere. I see the world as my stage. No
matter where you –meet the magic- it is always going to be
exiting. So when I started I did not have stage shows
whatsoever. I was sharing my magic with everyone who wanted (or
not wanted) to see it. I was trying out as much as I could.
Doing numerous free shows – just to get the experience.
NSAEN: When did you realize that you wanted to make magic your
profession?
Florian:
It was when I saw that
party-magician, I knew what I would do with my life. I kept
telling my parents what I wanted to be when I grow up. Well,
they encouraged me with my plans, but also made sure that I
would learn something –decent-. That is why I worked as an
account-manager for a couple of years.
NSAEN: How much work, time and effort does it take to learn
these incredible techniques and how to execute them?
Florian:
Too much. I think the people don’t really see how much work is
really involved in inventing, creating and performing magic. My
craft is not about buying tricks in a magic shop. The idea is to
reinvent magic and being ready for the next level. A few minutes
of original material on stage are countless hours (years) of
work in advance. However the rehearsals are fun. (-:
NSAEN: Where do you get your inspiration to create new and
unique tricks/techniques and to push yourself to go further?
Florian:
Seriously. I don’t really know where it comes from. I am just
having ideas everyday of my life. Creating something that has
not been done before is what drives me.
NSAEN: What ultimate goal would you like to achieve in the world
of magic? What would
you like to accomplish that could possibly put you at the peak
of the magic world?
Florian:
Right now I am working on my TV-Shows. My biggest goal is to
establish myself as an illusionist internationally. Live-Show,
TV-Special.. You name it. I hope that people out there like my
style and I found my performances in the US very rewarding.
NSAEN: You were born and raised in Germany and now you are
performing in places like Las Vegas and Paris. What are
differences are there in the performances and your expectations?
Florian:
All are fun, but
if I would choose between Paris and Las Vegas – I`d go for
Vegas.
NSAEN: When did you begin to consider yourself a professional
magician?
Florian:
Did I say I am professional? -lol
NSAEN: You currently hold the title of European Magic Champion.
You also won the American “Golden Lion Award” and you are the
only German magician ever to have received the highest award
from Siegfried and Roy. How has your career changed since you
have been awarded these titles and in addition, being hailed by
Siegfried and Roy as the greatest talent on earth?
Florian:
For me the awards mean all -and nothing. Let me explain. When I
did competitions mostly a Jury decided who had the best act. But
how do you choose one act out of all these performers to win. Is
it creativity or a new style, the response of the audience. In
the end it does not matter how many other magicians like your
act or your new twist. It is the public that matters.
Illusionists that I look up to mostly never entered a real magic
contest. And these are the guys that I am going to be compared
in the future.
NSAEN: When you found out that Michael Jackson requested a
private performance at his home, did you arrange a special
performance just for him and how did you feel about performing
in front of Michael Jackson?
Florian: That was a thrill. My first time in the States and
being invited from Michael Jackson to perform on his private
property in Las Vegas. That is pretty cool. I was doing my “face
to face” show where you witness the illusions right before your
eyes and it is happening even inside your hands. Michael created
an atmosphere that made me comfortable from the very first
moment on. It felt like that I knew him forever. Michael is a
big fan of the art and enjoys very much being involved in an
illusion. He even incorporated big stage-illusions in his own
live-shows and says that magic is an inspiration for him.
NSAEN: What sets you apart from all the other magicians?
Florian:
I am inventing the stuff myself and I like to take risks.
NSAEN: How often do you change your performances or do you stick
with a particular routine?
Florian:
I am always developing. Some effects will take years to perfect.
When I feel something is ready I am trying it out in front of an
audience and sometimes take it back to improve the performance.
The performance continuously changes because I want it to be
better. I am never satisfied what I am seeing myself do. What
you see me do today will be better tomorrow.
NSAEN: What are the differences in magic styles and what is your
personal preference?
Florian:
I prefer magic to be fresh and new. A dark mysterious style
would not fit my personality.
NSAEN: We hear so much about illusions and magic.
What is the difference?
Florian:
The reason why this is so confusing is that magicians don’t
necessarily want to be called a magician because people think
about a guy with a rabbit and a top-hat. Now that you have heard
this I am taking it back and say that it doesn’t really matter.
Trick, magic, illusion. It is the person that makes a difference
and not the name.
NSAEN: What future goals and plans do you have for yourself?
Florian:
I would love to live in the states and have my show there.
NSAEN: What would be your ultimate dream come true?
Florian:
People come to my show, know my name and respect me for who I
am.
NSAEN: When you are not
on stage or practicing magic, how do you unwind and relax?
What are some of your hobbies?
Florian:
I like to hang out with my very close friends here in Germany.
Going to the movies, clubs.. I think like everybody in my age.
NSAEN: How much time is left for family with such a hectic
travel and performance schedule?
Florian:
Family is very important for me. I am lucky to have a family
that I can always rely on and encourage me in all my plans. My
godmother is my secretary since two years now. And that makes me
happy.
NSAEN: When you perform, what do you want the audience to take
from your show?
Florian:
I want the audience to be inspired and I want them to live the
magic. Understanding that you can blow all limits if you believe
in yourself and follow your dream. So never stop.
I know this is along interview, but this one of the most
interesting interviews I have done and even more questions…….but
I save those for another time!!!
Thank you Florian!
STARRLIGHT
Tall, handsome Nigel Barker, currently best known for his role as judge and photographer on Tyra Banks show, America's Next Top Model, came to Chicago to sign his new book, Nigel Barkers' Beauty Equation, at Nieman Marcus, September 23, 2010, for the kickoff party of the 5th Annual Couture and Cocktails event presented by the Women's Board of the Joffrey Ballet. Surrounded by the glamorous board members and attendees, Barker was classily gracious and charming to everyone as he signed his book and was photographed in the beautiful Zodiac Room. Barker had planned a career in
medicine, studying biology and physics. One day his gorgeous mother, a
Miss Sri Lanka, entered him in a modeling contest where he was a finalist, and
he then began his ten year modeling career in Paris, Milan, London and New York.
His love of fashion grew, and he opened a photography studio in New York where
his clients included some of the world's most recognized names including Pierre
Cardin and Nicole Miller. His photos appear in several magazines that include
GQ, People, Interview, and Lucky. Nigel Barker is married to CoverGirl
representative Cristen Barker since 1999. They have two children and
reside in New York.
Eyeliner for you
The world of eyeliner!!! I would
say it is the most complicated application of make up to apply, yet every woman
has at sometime been inspired to use it to emphasize her eyes. Whether it
is a powder, pencil or gel, eyeliner is this seasons way to play so let's find
out how to get the most out of it!
If you prefer a pencil liner, make sure
it's creamy. Sometimes chalky ones are harder to run along the lash line.
I like pencils from MAC and Stila. They tend to be creamy and glide on
very smooth. Pencils are also good to use on the inner rim of the eye for a more
dramatic look.
Powder or eye shadow liners work
best when you want to create a softer look. They are also good for
creating everybody's favorite
Smokey Eye.
Simply dip the tip of the brush in water, then into the shadow and apply the
shadow to the lash line wet. You can use just about any eyeliner brush
depending on how think or thin you want your eyeliner to look. Use a
thicker eyeliner brush to create that
smokey
look.
My personal favorite is gel eyeliner. I
wear Bobbi Brown's gel eyeliner. It is water resistant and comes in thirteen
shades. I also find that it is less messy than the liquid liners. It is
best applied with an Ultra Fine Eyeliner Brush. This is the best eyeliner
for going out at night. This eyeliner is not going anywhere.
So the choice is yours, but the results
from any of the three can really play up your eyes!!! I hope my little tour
through
eyeliner
world will help you get the look you want. When you
try it next time,you go out and have fun out there!!!
Brianna Thompson Make-Up Artist
A
Bit about Olive Oil
Like wine, extra virgin olive oil is a product of a natural
fruit, the quality and character of which is largely dependent
on the climate. And like the grape vine, there are a many
different varieties of olive, each producing olive oils with
distinctive style and character. Varieties like Arbequina that
hails from Catalonia, produces sweet fruity oil; the fragrant
Frantoio, spicy Leccino and bitter Moraiolo from Tuscany; the
aromatic Koroneiki from Greece, and the world’s most prolific
yet great varieties, Picual from Spain one of my favorite oils.
Be sure to buy your olive oil from a purveyor that has a good
turnover in oil. Olive oil has a pretty short shelf life. About
6-8 months from the time it was bottled, if kept in a cool dark
place, not the refrigerator either.
Buy in fairly small quantities and use it up that insures your
olive oil will likely be tasty and not rancid. The majority of
olive oils found in stores in America are rancid. That isn’t
going to make you sick but it tastes awful. Remember the fact it
says extra virgin does not mean it high quality oil. Find one
you like and stay with it.
Copyright © Les Kincaid. All rights reserved.
HOW TO EAT YOUR WAY THROUGH
THE HOLIDAYS GUILT-FREE Suggestions for Eating your way through the
Holidays Guilt-Free
FOOD AND HOLIDAYS
go together. But as we all know, when friends and family are gathered around the
table, it is all too easy to overdo. On a special holiday, many Americans eat an
average of 8,220 calories and 418 grams of fat. That is close to two to three
times the recommended intake for an adult. I want to share a few tips you can
take to keep you and your family eating healthy during the Holidays.
By: Sylvia Klinger
The Exercise of Eating
Many people do not realize that in order
to burn calories you must consume calories! We get drawn into the idea
that the less you eat the more weight you lose which is the exact opposite of
how our body works. Do not let your mind wander into delusions of all you
can eat buffets however - there are certain rules when it comes to making
food work for you and not against you!
OK sounds a little bit ridiculous I know
but this concept is centered on our body's natural energy maker, our metabolism.
Metabolism is the single most important tool when it comes to losing weight and
looking good but hardly anyone knows about it. They just know that the more you
exercise and the healthier you eat the better you look. This is a good
start but understanding how to alter our metabolism to maximize our efforts is
essential. The thermic effect of food (TEF) is the
rationale as to why eating 5-6 meals a day is better for weight loss than eating
2-3 big meals or no meals at all. Imagine every time you put some type of
food in your body different physical and chemical reactions must take place to
break that food into its rawest form for absorption. These processes don't come
cheap and cost our body precious energy - i.e. calories. Of course
different foods have different caloric burning ability: Protein 30% = Most Fat 3% = Least Carbohydrates = Depends on Complexity (Increase Complexity =
Increase TEF) Ex. -> 100 Calories of Protein Consumed x 30% = 70 Calories
Gained and 30 Calories Burnt Processing It Eating 5-6 meals a day keeps our metabolic fires burning and
our body out of starvation mode. Once we begin to starve ourselves our body
kicks into a storage mode and we begin to store every calorie we consume because
our body does not know when the next meal will be. Consuming many small meals
throughout the day lets our body "relax" and utilize only what is needed for the
time being without storing extra calories in the form of adipose fat tissue. So next time you think about skipping your next meal to lose
a few extra pounds remember that you are actually asking it to increase its fat
storing ability! Dr. Ivan Rusilko D.O. Mr. USA World 2010 By Dr. Ivan Rusilko
www.ivanrusilko.net "Make your Dent in this World as Big as Possible!"
THE REMNANTS OF HISTORY
The remnants of history are all
around us. On a recent walk through my neighborhood I was noticing the
buildings that lined the street. It dawned on me that even though it is
2010, if you were to eliminate the cars, I could be walking through a scene from
the turn of the century- the previous century that is. I live on the north
side of
North Center, the area I am
referring to, was beginning to be developed as far back as 1870. In 1871, the massive
The second great wave of immigration
was in full swing. Over the next four decades Germans, Italians, Irish,
Polish, and Scandinavians among others were flocking to
It is tempting to get lulled into a false sense of our own
modernity. The information age is in full swing, and our daily lives are
now awash in laptops, smart phones, and Facebook. It seems as though we
live in a futuristic society once only envisioned by science fiction writers.
However, we are still living in unison with the past and our neighborhoods
contain evidence of this.
Trim a door First figure out how much you need to cut off the bottom of the door. Mark this on the door with a small pencil mark. Sometimes the doors will already be off the hinges and you will need to measure down from the edge of the hinge to the carpet. Subtract one quarter inch from this and mark the door accordingly.
If the door is still hanging use the screwdriver held at an angle under each hinge pin and rap gently with a hammer. This will get the pin started so you can then put the screwdriver under the head of the pit and rap out the rest of the way with the hammer. Start at the bottom of the door as the top hinge will generally hold the door in place while you do this. Be careful not to let the pins drop on your new carpet as they are usually dirty with graphite or grease. Have someone help you carry the door out to the saw horses so you do not bang up your walls on the way through.
Have your sawhorses covered with a towel
or small pieces of your old carpet so as to not mar the surface of your door.
Now use your straight edge and a pencil to extend your mark across the bottom of
the door. With the straight edge in place, score along the line with your knife.
Do this a few times so you cut through the veneer if any. This cut will keep the
wood from splintering back as you cut through the door. Set your saw on the door
and adjust the depth of the blade so it is about one quarter inch deeper than
you need to cut the door. USE SAFETY GOOGLES! Make your cut on the waste side of
the line (the side that is being cut off). Stay close to the line but if needed
afterwards you can clean up your cut with the belt sander. Do
not let the piece you are cutting off the door fall off as you get to the end of
your cut. I usually use my free hand to hold this piece up. You could just
extend some scraps of wood under the door past the cut to hold the piece up.
Remember the scraps have to be bigger than what you are going to cut and that
you will be cutting through them. Clean off the saw dust and carry
the door back into the house and hang it back on the hinges. Do the top hinge
first and work down. Sometimes a friendly tap with the hammer may be needed to
put the door back on the hinges. By Tom Reitmeyer
Cowboy moved to Wyoming
One day, he comes in and only orders two mugs. All the
regulars take notice and fall silent. When he comes back to the bar for
the second round, the bartender says, 'I don't want to intrude on your grief,
but I wanted to offer my condolences on your loss.' The cowboy looks quite
puzzled for a moment, then light dawns in his eyes and he laughs. 'Oh, no,
everybody's just fine, he explains, 'It's just that my wife said I drink
too much and I had to quit drinking!!!...
But my brothers do
NOT have a problem.'
Is Alcoholism self-inflicted
An alcoholic can no more wish alcoholism away than a diabetic can wish away diabetes. Diabetes in simple, non-professional terms; is a body's inability to process sugars normally. Alcoholism is the body's inability to process alcohol. Just as a person with diabetes has an adverse reaction to sugar so do alcoholics with regards to alcohol. This is the idea that alcoholism is a disease. Many people do not believe alcoholism is a disease and point fingers at the alcoholic to say it is self- inflicted. If you were to give ten people the exact same amounts of alcohol for periods of time there reactions to the alcohol would be different. Some might feel tipsy and want to stop drinking right away. Others may like the tipsy feeling and want to feel more that tipsy. Then you have those that do not feel the effects produced by alcohol right away and keep drinking. Everybody reacts differently to the effects of alcohol. Alcoholism, contrary to popular belief is not about how much a person drinks as much as it is about what it does to a person's life. Very often this is the reason alcoholics are viewed a morally reprehensible. The concept of alcoholism being self-inflicted if then perpetuated. The quotes at the beginning of this article are typical comments made regarding alcoholics. Here are some of the thoughts from the alcoholic in times of clarity: It will be different this time. I know I can drink like other people. If I do not drink until 6pm and stop at 9pm then I know I do not have a problem. All I really want to do is drink like other people. I had good intentions and do not understand why this happens all the time. These are the types of comments often heard from the alcoholic person that does not understand how they got that way. A person that wakes up one morning with diabetes type 1 or 2 is just as confused how there body all of the sudden does not process sugar the way it used to. Is it the diabetic's fault that their body changed the way it processes sugar? For type 2 diabetes people say it is poor choices that helped bring this on. This is a true statement to a degree. At one point their body was able to process sugars reasonably. If the amount of sugar intake was the only problem there would be many more diabetic people in the world. The fact is that their bodies react differently to sugar. In the beginning an alcoholic might have been able to handle the effects of alcohol to a degree. If ingesting large amounts of alcohol was the issue there would be many more alcoholics in the world. It is only reasonable at this point to say that the alcoholic body reacts differently to alcohol. The stigma that alcoholism is self inflicted by making morally wrong decision has changed over the years however the idea of someone being the town drunk has not completely gone away. Alcoholics are not bad people rather than sick people wanting to get well. There are not many alcoholics I have spoken to over the years that do not wish they could just is drink like everybody else. Alcohol is such a huge part of our society in every aspect that the alcoholic can often feel alienated from family and friends because they know if they take a drink (just as everyone else) it usually does not end up favorable for them. Family gatherings often revolve around celebration and there is usually alcohol present. It stands to reason that the alcoholic is just trying to be like everyone else and fit in just like everyone else. The problem is that just like diabetes a person does not know until after the fact that they are alcoholic. Since alcoholism is an abnormal reaction to alcohol there are no indications ahead of time that a person is alcoholic so they are no more at fault for getting alcoholism than the diabetic becoming diabetic. By E. Lavin http://www.xndhangout.com/wowreally97
The Grimps
The
Next Big Thing In Kids Animation & The Music Business
Also
a musician, Sirgiovanni decided to create something new by
combining his two passions which was Rock n Roll and cartooning
and created The Grimps.
By
night they’re 4 cool, charming, irrepressible musicians on the
verge of stardom. By day, they’re hairy, scary and tiny. A bit
gruesome and a bit impish. They lived 500 years ago, cursed by
the evil Spectar because he was jealous of their music and
celebrity. So he cursed and turned them into ugly little grimps,
Sirgiovanni says the target audience is kids 6-12 years old ,
but believes the interest will be broader extending to the
parents and grandparents. The Grimps in some way is his tribute
to his hero’s in music and had fun
by writing subtle references to the history of rock n
roll in the stories and names
To
go a step further, Sirgiovanni hopes to have many musical pop
icons and contemporary celebrities
Sirgiovanni is hoping to sign a deal very soon for The Grimps as
an animated TV series and major motion picture. In addition to
the show, Sirgiovanni intends on producing original rock n roll
music to be presented to the public as The Grimps.
Representing Mr. Sirgiovanni is Ron Alexenburg, former President
of Epic & CBS Records. Mr. Alexenburg is iconic in the
music business over the past 40 years. He’s responsible for
launching acts such as, Michael Jackson, Meatloaf,
Musical production and supervision is being handled by Ron
Dante. Ron Dante is well known for being the voice of the
biggest selling single in 1969, Sugar Sugar by The Archie’s as
well as producing for Barry
“Children’s television has had a void in recent years with a
popular show “, say’s Sirgiovanni. They never know when the next
big thing will grab the kids…..I think The Grimps will be it.
Four Boxes a cyber-thriller
 Viewing an internet site that appears to be four real time web-cams hidden in an apartment of unknown location, Trevor realizes that he might be witnessing the occupant, unaware that he is on camera, planning a crime that would involve the loss of many innocent lives. As Trevor gets his two cohorts interested in watching these web-cams that apparently show the planning of a horrific event, the suspense builds as to what they are witnessing in cyber-land. Is this for real, or a fake? Contact the authorities or not? We get to know these three characters fairly well in this interesting internet thriller. Portrayed as being in their late twenties/early thirties, Rob, Trevor and Amber are, unfortunately, typical of a growing portion of generation Y, Z or whatever they are. This trio has attitudes and issues, with society and each other. However there is a sexy charm about them as they deal with it all, each in their own special way. The odds seem to be against Rob and the amber-haired Amber ever making it as a married couple (apropos given that a recent poll revealed 40% of Americans feel marriage is obsolete). He drinks to mask his insecurities about several things - in particular his relationship with Amber, who enjoys prescription and (no open-air cannabis shops in Minnesota yet) non-prescription meds to stay level. We learn early on that Trevor and Amber were a couple before she and Rob became engaged. When Rob invites Amber to stay in the deceased Mr.Zill's home with them, Trevor's discomfort at spending a few days with his former squeeze and his business partner, now his former squeeze's fiance, is palpable. Sound like a downer of a movie? Not in the least. In fact, the end result is quite the opposite. Because of the many jabs that it takes at that age group and their collective takes on sex, drugs and rock n roll, Four Boxes is darkly comic. The basic story is scary, but the often suspense-filled dialogue is devilishly satirical, at times within the same line. Amber speaks volumes in her comments to Trevor that remind him "...we used to do the rump-ride". Trevor cracks up all baby-boomers when considering wine as a new adult beverage choice because he has...gotta grow up some day. When Rob's advice to the group is to not contact the police because what they are seeing is all over the internet anyway, we are given a view of the diffidence, and the blind trust in the internet, that defines our current techno-civilization - a malady that is not age or generation specific. This tongue-in-cheek quirkiness saves the film, making it considerably more entertaining than one it is being compared to, the predictable Blair Witch Project, which was reliant on the audience buying it is premise. More on the mark is the dubbing of this movie as the Rear Window of the internet. But the similarities end with the set-up. Hitchcock told his actors when, and with which finger, to scratch their arses. From the looks of it, McDill's style is a horse of a completely different color, one that hands the viewer a totally different experience, with nary a moment of overacting in it. And it goes one step further than Hitchcock's classic in that it has a surprise double (even triple depending on your point of view) twist at the end. Bravo! The husband and wife filmmaking team of Megan Huber and Wyatt McDill have created a low cost gem in Four Boxes. Let us hope this efficient team gets more money to play with next time. This is also a film that every aspiring filmmaker should see. It is a great example of guerilla movie-making when the dollars are stretched so far you can watch Lincoln's benevolent smile become a scream. by Charlie Trimarco photo courtesy Lake Street Productions
The Return to the Beatles by John J Kerecz
The Return one of America’s Premier Tributes to the Beatles is a
theatrical recreation concert celebrating the greatest rock and
roll group of all time, The Beatles.
The Return has been around since the 90’ and their present line up
of Richard Stelling as John, Shane Landers as Paul,
Michael Fulop as George, and Adam Thurston as
Ringo, has not change for 11 years.
All of the members of
The Return hail from Griffin, GA.
They have performed all over the world including
the Cavern in Liverpool, as well as Abbey Road Studios in
London. In Japan they headlined the 40th anniversary celebration
of the Beatles visit to Tokyo. In Hermosillo, Mexico they
debuted their "Sgt Peppers & Beyond" show in front of over
10,000 fans. In the US they were recently named the Atlanta
Braves Band of the Year.
The
Return is the Beatles. It is their look, their sound, their
mannerisms, their accents, their costuming, and their vocal
harmonies in the most authentic recreation that you will find.
The show is produced to feature a live concert through the
Beatles’ eras of music with retro costumes. As well as musical,
it is a visual, and theatrical concert experience that will
appeal to audience members of all ages.
So if you need to get your Beatles
fix, check out beatlesreturn.com and check out a show near you!
Dinner
Theaters,
Bang for your Buck
by John J Kerecz
You are sure to find yourself wanting to go back and see a dinner and a show at a local dinner theater again and again.
Brandon McHose:
The Double Threat
by John J Kerecz
Brandon has recorded two CDs. All of the compositions on the CDs were written by himself and for the most recent project Token; Brandon enlisted the talents of Stevie Ray Vaughn’s former keyboardist, a Grammy nominated bassist, Seal’s drummer and John Melencamp’s keyboardist as Producer. Brandon performs frequently in and around the Austin and Chicago markets and has built a significant and loyal fan base.
Kirby Krackle Kirby Krackle is a nerd rock duo comprised of two life long comic book junkies, Kyle Stevens and Jim Demonakos, who create songs dedicated to their addition. They have performed their unique style of pop rock at comic book conventions from New York to San Diego, Toronto to Seattle and numerous places and venues in between. The band has released two albums, their self-titled debut in 2009 and their last album, E for Everyone, in 2010. Jim Demonakos co-writes the songs for this nerd rock band. He’s also a freelance editor, writer and consultant in addition to being a full-time nerd. Kyle and Jim decided to make comic book music because they sell it, they read it, they love it! They are not the first band to do music about comic books Black Sabbath has done “Iron Man’ and Paul McCartney did “Magneto and the Titanium Man”, but they might be the only band to do exclusively super hero-related songs dealing with super heros and how they cope with being a hero and also having a regular social life. A video for the song, “On and On” was released in July 2010. Soon after, animated videos for “Up Up, Down Down”, “Zombie Apocalypse” and “Secret Identity” were released. Their songs “Ring Capacity” and “Vault 101” were released on the Rock Band Network in 2010. Also, as a special gift to email subscribers, the band released a special Christmas track, “Vigilante Christmas”. Kirby Krackle is a band that by mixing their passions of music and comics have been able to go from playing bars of twenty people to conventions of hundreds to thousands, maybe we all should learn from this example.
The Parson Red Heads
The Parson Red
Heads is a graceful, laid-back eight-year-old Portland, OR band
led by Evan Way and wife Brette
Marie,
according to the band’s myspace page, they are “the reigning
kings of the feel-good beard rock movement”.
Presently the band is recording and tour testing their upcoming
album Yearling due out soon.
When listening to The Parsons comparisons to bands from the
1960s and 1970s come to mind. The band’s singer Evan Way thinks
that the Parsons “totally have that vibe, although I don’t think
we are nearly that ‘throwback’. I really think it is more of a
songwriting style, approach, and a vibe thing, more than it is
the actual sound of the band, that gets us those comparisons. We
often get compared to The Byrds and they are definitely one of
my favorite bands. I don’t necessarily hear a similarity in the
songs, but I hear a similarity in the approach the harmonies,
the jangly guitars, etc. We’re influenced by so many different
things, ranging from The Byrds to Fleetwood Mac to Fairport
Convention.”
The Parsons have a history of performing collaboratively with
large numbers of as many as 8 or 9 musicians on stage, but the
current tour features a scaled down version of the band to just
four: two guitars, bass, and drums. This is the essential core
group of Charlie Hester, Sam Fowles, Brette Marie, and Evan Way.
This core group are the ones who do all the song arranging and
writing.
‘The title of the new record Yearling has all sorts of
meanings’, says Way. ‘For us with this album the obvious is that
the record took between one and two years to make but it means
much more than that. The collection of songs tell stories about
learning as you go, moving on when you finally realize you can’t
turn back and loving people when you can. It’s a record about
growing up made by a band that’s growing up. The songs and
messages are very important to us, as are the performances and
memories we have of the creation of this album. We consider it a
big step for us, although one step of many, but an important one
nonetheless.’
Meet the Meat Puppets
The Meat Puppets,
One of America’s premier indie bands remain one of the most
significant and vibrant American original acts. The band's
reputation for blending punk, country and rock is well known in
the indie scene. The Kirkwood brothers, Curt and Cris two
thirds of the bands trio, were widely exposed to the MTV
generation when Nirvana's Cobain pursued them to join as guest
musicians on Nirvana's MTV
Unplugged
performance in 1993. The band's subsequent album
Too High to Die
went gold, selling over 500,000 albums, and became their most
successful commercial release. After various trials and
tribulations that have been well documented by the press, the
band reunited in 2006. Rounding out the present line up of the
band is drummer Shandon Sahm, whose dad was noted Texan
traditionalist Doug Sahm of the Texas Tornados.
In April 2011, this legendary rock trio cemented their powerful
return with the release of their new album
Lollipop on
Megaforce Records. The Meat Puppets have a name that most
self-respecting rock fans recognize - even if many have only
heard Kurt Cobain sing the band's songs. Singer, guitarist, and
primary songwriter Curt Kirkwood didn't want a big comeback
record or tour when he reunited with his bassist brother Cris,
but it looks like their fans want one pushing for more and more
dates and new music.
Curt, recognizes that the most important thing, he said, is to
make progress, to not merely exploit the past: "There is the
anachronism involved, there is a heritage, there is a history in
all this stuff. And yet, you move it on. ... It's on you to not
rest on your laurels."
This was the band that, with Hüsker Dü and the Minutemen, helped
SST Records define alternative rock in the early 1980s. This is
one of the bands that paved the way for alternative country in
the '90s. This is the band that released two classic records
1984's Meat Puppets II
and 1985's Up on the
Sun and has been around for nearly three decades.
If from any other band, this comment of Curt Kirkwood's would
sound pretty odd. "We don't have much style. We don't have much
fashion going on. We don't have a motto," he said. "Just make
good music. I really just like to play music. And I like it to
be well played and compelling. I'm not that ambitious outside of
that.", but for myself and other fans I am sure we are all just
happy Curt and Cris, the Meat Puppets, are who they are!
Kirby Krackle by John Kerecz A video for their song "On and on" was released in July 2010. Soon after, animated videos for "Up Up, Down Down", "Zombie Apocalypse" and "Secret Identity" were released .
Monster Track Super Group by John Kerecz
If you like classic 60's & 70's monster tracks, then this
classic rock power group will fix you all up.
As the name suggests “Monster Track Super group” is a super
group featuring three prominent Pennsylvania musicians with
diversified back grounds.
Bret Alexander of The Badlees plays guitar, bass, and
keyboards; Jeremy Hummel former Breaking Benjamin drummer is
percussions; and Jeff Pittinger of the classic rock style band
White Witch provides the vocals.
These three musicians show that their talents reach
beyond what you might be used to hearing them play and come
together to update classic rock that makes it fresh and new
again. Their
versions of classics are smooth, polished, and respectful, the
guitar, keyboard, and drums are always well balanced, and
Pittinger’s voice performs with a tone, delicacy and range
beyond what is usually heard in this day and age.
When asked about why they came together from doing
original music to do classic covers Pittinger quickly responded
“I do not view it as much as being a cover band as being part of
a revival, bringing back the songs that made rock great to a new
generation” he continued “I have notebooks full of songs that I
feel have been the biggest influence on my life and rock history
that I have always wanted to record and now we are doing it”.
Monster Track Supergroup has a self-titled EP out with their
versions of Cat Steven’s “Wild World”, Creedence Clearwater’s
“Have You Ever Seen the Rain”, Nick Gilder’s “Hot Child in the
City”, and Dobie Gray’s “Drift Away”.
All four songs enable the listener to experience these
classic tunes as if they were reborn for today, while also show
casing these artists outside their normal musical settings.
Presently Monster Track Supergroup is back in the studio working
on a full album and getting ready to do some upcoming shows.
Written in German, and signed in Hamburg in 1961, long-lost
document is worth a nice penny! The first recording and publishing contract signed by the Beatles is to be auctioned in London . The seven-page document, whose existence was previously unknown turned up in Switzerland. The contract, which is expected to fetch a price, is unique as it is the group's first, and was believed to have been lost until its owners recently decided to part with it. The signing by the young band in Hamburg, Germany, on 19 June 1961, was risky as none of group knew what they were getting into: the contract was written in German, with no translation made available. But so keen were the band to have a recording contract, they signed anyway. There are five signatures: John W Lennon, James Paul McCartney, George Harrison (then only 18) and the group's former drummer, Peter Best. He was sacked a year later to make way for Ringo Starr. The fifth signature belongs to the German band-leader Bert Kaempfert. At the time, he was also an arranger and producer and hired the Beatles under the auspices of Polydor Records to back the English singer Tony Sheridan.
By agreeing to take the hot seat at Metro International for a day, the pop star has joined a long (but not always distinguished) guest list After conquering the pop world, Lady Gaga is turning her hand, to journalism. Whether she will attempt to create a collector's edition is yet to be seen. The pop star will oversee production of 17 international editions of the Metro International morning newspaper next month. The title is distinct from the British paper Metro, but the publisher, which is based in Sweden and owns titles in 18 countries, has an office in London and it is from here that the singer will be making her editorial decisions. Lady Gaga has skilfully manipulated the media in the past and now has the opportunity to actually sit in an editor's chair.
Agency investigated links between killings of rappers Biggie Smalls and Tupac Shakur. Even at the time it seemed like a conspiracy theory of the highest order, but a trove of documents released by the FBI shows that the agency took seriously the suggested link between the 1990s murders of two of hip hop's biggest stars Posted on an FBI website in response to a Freedom of Information request, the papers show that the agency was engaged at the outset of its investigation in searching for links between the death in the 1997 of Brooklyn's Notorious B.I.G, also known as Biggie Smalls, whose real name was Christopher Wallace, and the murder just a few months earlier in Las Vegas of another hip hop star, Tupac Shakur. Almost a decade and a half later neither the Los Angeles murder of Wallace or of Shakur has been solved and the twin mysteries of their violent deaths continue to grip the hip-hop scene.
Streamlined Grammys The American Recording Academy has revealed that starting in 2012 it will be giving away a mere 78 Grammy awards to the world's most successful and talented musical artists and bands, down sharply from the evidently extravagant 108 that it has become accustomed to distributing over recent years. Presumed benefits of this sudden shedding of gong-weight include a cut in manufacturing costs, those model gramophones don't grow on trees, and an easier job for producers trying to deliver an evening awards show that doesn't last into the next day. But perhaps more importantly those still winning a Grammy can be just a little bit prouder. Scratch: The Ultimate DJ Game Trailer Scratch: The Ultimate DJ is the newest music/rhythm game to hit the scene bringing the art of Hip Hop DJing within your reach. Armed with a wireless Numark turntable controller; you have the ability to create authentic scratches and beats allowing you to add your own flavor to the music. No pre-loaded, simulated scratches; just pure creativity.Enjoy your rise to fame from DJ newbie to ruler of the DJ universe with over 60 licensed Hip Hop tracks that will help you keep the crowd moving. Scratch is more than just a video game but a fun and creative DJ experience that you can share with your friends both in-person and online. With Scratch: The Ultimate DJ, the music is in your hands. Video URL: http://www.xndyou.com/uploads/vnHfHjlYjqDWxiinKbEp.flv
 US AND WORLD NEWS AND OPINION
From the idiotic to the sublime you will read below a few headlines that have been culled from various newspaper articles. I most certainly trust that this will give rise to some thoughtful musings on your part.
Mom: Kicked off plane after baby carrier
didn’t fit
Wow! With all of the negative publicity that United Airlines receives including but not limited to: rude flight attendants, filthy cabins, union woes and the recent merger between Continental Airlines and United Airlines, you would think the last thing that United would want to avoid is more bad press. You have read my numerous articles on my great dislike for United. The many negative experiences that I have suffered at the hands of United are at a point that I refuse to fly the airlines. I purposefully will endure layovers, flying through other cities just avoid United. The very fact that this woman adhered to basic aviation safety principles by purchasing an additional seat to more fully protect her infant speaks to mom’s safety concerns and should be applauded. I might also add that child seats are standard in width and therefore proves once again that United really does not care for the paying customer. The entire situation as outlined in the Chicago Tribune article demonstrates that the un-friendly skies of United are populated by certain flight attendants that do not want to be bothered on a long flight with the potential of a baby that may do what babies do. Continental was once a proud airline. I know I was a frequent traveler with Continental. No longer will I maintain this status. Since it is now a joint effort Continental will go the way of United – a terrible flying experience.
Papas defends 2 on county payroll The Chicago Tribune in their usual outstanding style reported that the Cook County Treasurer Maria Papas defended herself for paying with taxpayer monies two salaries totaling $150,000. The two positions are: house cleaner and driver. Ms. Papas defended herself by saying that the jobs are legitimate but misclassified like thousands of others in county government. By the way, the driver was paid $93,500 per year and the housekeeper was paid $57,350 per year. Interestingly enough Maria Papas announced that she is diverting $200,000 of taxpayer monies to “study the issue.” This entire fiscal fiasco gives me comforting thoughts (please note my sarcasm). An elected official, who is the Cook County Treasurer, the largest county in Illinois and is responsible for tax payer monies, maintains the problem is one of “misclassification.” After all Ms. Papas should know as she is the “Cook County Treasurer.” Yet Ms. Papas allows this situation linger on for who knows how long and did nothing about the situation until it was uncovered by a Chicago Tribune reporter. I wonder how in the world she got this position to begin with. It follows simply if one is responsible for the fiscal well being of Cook County you would immediately know where and how the money is being spent. The answer is immediate and simple. There is no lack of information for the Cook County Treasurer. She knew about the high salaries, did nothing about the situation, and allowed this to go on. Ms. Papas hides behind the “threats on her life” as the reason for the driver and the high salary. The truth is obvious and disgusting. Politicians enjoy the trappings of power, and as in this case a housekeeper and driver are part of this entire picture. This is truly a shame because this situation lends more credence to the simple fact: Politicians don’t represent the people – Politicians represent themselves and whatever they can get.
The Rocky Mountain News reported that a seriously ill veteran insurance claim was rejected by an insurance administrator simply because the ill veteran underpaid his insurance premium by 2 cents. The insurance payment is $328.69 however the veteran in making the payment “only” paid $328.67 by mistake. Ceridian, the insurance provider stated for the record that “they were within their legal rights.” However Ceridian has relented covered the insurance claim and will be more proactive in contacting customers if a “tiny financial discrepancy threatens their coverage.” Yeah – Right! (as the teenagers of today say). The veteran’s health bill will be in the high 6 figures. Therefore why not deny coverage unless the insurance company gets caught. As in this case, the story made national news. Insurance do not like to cover any payments. The truth is that insurance companies are money machines. They talk about peace of mind, health care and rest assured everything health wise will be taken care of. In reality nothing could be further from the truth. A business cannot make money this way. Yes the insurance companies do cover claims because by law they have to. An insurance company would rather pocket your premiums and use the monies that you paid to invest and make more money. Remember the old adage, “use other people’s money to make money for yourself.” While I might not be a supporter of the President Obama healthcare initiative, some of the basic concepts are good. Insurance companies became the highway robbers from their inception despite the fact the original concept was certainly good. There is an area of law that is highly specialized. It is called “Good Faith.” By the way the title has nothing to do with religion. I studied this area of law while in law school and after I graduated. Simply put the US Supreme Court has ruled and maintained that the purpose of insurance is to insure not just make money. From the early decisions regarding insurance coverage to the present insurance companies continuously litigate claims. Hence if you actually read an insurance policy the great bulk of a policy are exclusions and exceptions not what is covered. This is simply because as an insurance company loses a case they compensate for the loss by adding exclusions and exceptions to the policy in an effort not to cover specific occurrences and save on cash outflow or put in other words make money not pay it out. Therefore the next time you decided to sit down and actually read one of your insurance policies (assuming you can stand the eye strain from the fine print) be aware of exactly what you are looking for and what you are reading.
Dr. David J. Height
resides in
THE INTREPID TRAVELS and MUSINGS OF THE ITINERANT CEO Naturally, the liberal critics of the study state that such studies are flawed because more of the federal work force is college educated, white collar which therefore increases it average pay. Ok enough about pro and con studies. Let us reason together. I believe that we can accept a simple fact, the U.S. government has grown to become and continues to remain and grow as a bureaucratic maze. The simple fact is that this country was founded on laws. Law needs to be interpreted and every facet of the operation of government requires its own form of bureaucracy. Hence there is a need to hire and retain employees that fulfill these interpretative functions among other duties. Curiously enough there is an exemption to the proposed federal freeze. Excluded from the list are: military personnel, government contractors, postal workers, members of Congress, congressional staffers, federal staffers, court judges and workers (as reported by the Washington Post). Let us take a close look at the exemptions. Military personnel I personally do not have a problem with, they lay their lives on the line for this country. Therefore I will accept the exemption although with reservation. Governmental contractors are exempted. What an interesting thought. I have to assume therefore that the contractors who seemingly already over charge the government, despite a bid process, who utilize influence to obtain the contracts will be able to continue on at tax payer expense (there goes your bailout monies). Postal workers are exempt? Is this possibly to avert a postal workers' strike? If you stop and consider that the U.S.P.S. is unionized this could very well be the reason. Members of Congress an exemption? Give me a break! They are already overpaid for what they do. The perks that these elected people are receiving are already staggering. Think about the soon to be former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Pelosi. She required not just a jet but a big one. After all, her responsibilities required her to fly back and forth to the home state of California. She had to have her retinue with her that included her family, staffers, and assumedly anyone else that could get a free ride. This of course was all at taxpayers' expense. God forbid that anyone interfere with potential increases in pay. Congressional and Federal staffers receive an exemption. Why not? They are part of the power infra structure and therefore must maintain the trappings of power. After all they are possibly the next leaders and must step into the golden shoes when their bosses either retire or are voted out of office. Therefore to maintain the status quo that is how it is done. Federal Court Judges and staffers of course must also receive an exemption. The simple reason is again power and the trappings of power. Remember the commercial it is not nice to fool Mother Nature? Well it is not nice to mess with the guys that interpret the law after all we could suffer a break down in how those laws are interpreted. And in fact the staffers, usually newly barred lawyers, must also maintain those trappings of power after all they are the future judges. Therefore we must maintain the status quo. In my business, I must on a continuous basis work within the governmental system. I on a continuous basis deal with specific entities of the U.S. government. Frankly, I find the liberals defense of such high pay on the basis of college educated, white collar personnel as utterly ludicrous. With few exceptions, I have found these college educated federal employees to be among other things: rude, badly trained or for that matter totally untrained with a lackadaisical attitude towards their jobs and the interpretation of the applicable laws thereof. To cite a few problems, I have had in the past problems with mail delivery. In complaining I was directly informed that the United States Postal System does not deliver mail. It took one letter to my Congressman and one letter to the person responsible for handling problems to get my mail delivered and the situation resolved. In another instance, I was required to obtain special permits. I followed instructions to the proverbial T. Not only did I not get the permits but after making numerous calls to Washington D.C., I was informed that the government does not accept emails only faxes for the permits (yet specifically stated in the on-line instructions complete with an email address send via email. In sum another federal employee who could not be bothered to do their job. And yes I did get the permits with the assistance of an excellent federal employee. Yet the as the common joke goes: once a federal employee you have job security for life. If we then translate this into the civilian work sector, an employee that functioned in a like capacity would be joining the ever growing U.S. unemployed. As you can imagine from reading I am in full favor of pay freezes for the U.S. government employee with few exceptions. I am also in favor of merit increases for federal employees like any other intelligently run business. I find the exemption rule as reported by the Washington Post completely ridiculous. My simple but logical reasoning is that the politicians truly preach: Do as I say not as I do. Thus we tighten our collective belts, pay our taxes, and stay out of the way. Meanwhile the deficit grows ever larger and the federal employee receives the benefits of tax monies. I continue to write about history. I keep pointing my finger at the downfall of the great Roman Civilization. They died from within notwithstanding the barbarian invasions that were experienced from the outside. The general populace was taxed to death; the conquered and subdued civilizations were taxed to death, all in the name of support for the great society. Ladies and Gentlemen this is directly where the U.S. is headed. We squander our wealth in the name of the Great Society, support the needless bureaucratic maze and specifically cater to the anointed few. And for what, to stimulate the economy nuts! The tax payer foots the bill. Oh be still my
quaking heart, I fear for America. By Dr. David J. Height
Dr. David J.
Height resides in Chicago with his family. He
is the President/CEO of TNI Group International
specializing in International Consumer
Products Sales and Marketing Consulting and Product Sourcing
###
The Arts are not Luxuries In world today, we are constantly reminded that times are tough, the economy is on the verge of collapse, that rainy day is right around the bend. Pundits and purveyors of financial snake-oil threaten us from every public medium with their apocalyptic vision of our disappearing wealth. All roads lead to the demise of our dreams. We are less prosperous as a world society than we were some years ago. There is a need to spend money carefully. We should walk away from the super-sized consumption habits we adopted in decades past. What I do not get is the how things are valued what is fashionably practical today. So, let us examine practical expenditures what are the necessities of life in our neighborhoods? I have often heard the old (and never-disputed) saying, Man does not live by bread alone. I believe we harm ourselves and our society if we deny there are some things that are almost as essential as food, clothing, and shelter to keep us alive and healthy. Music, Art, Poetry, Literature, Dance The absence of any of these would not cause physical death; however, what an erosion of humanity we would suffer for their loss. Through the arts, we share what is inside each of us, what we cannot see or touch, but is as much a part of us as our bones and tissue. The arts allow us to bridge a mental-physical communication gap that cannot be closed any other way. If the doomsday pundits are right, if times are growing meaner, we need to guard against becoming meaner ourselves. If we are reduced to the simply physical, we accept ourselves as just animals. It is the arts that raise mere existence into life. They reflect and magnify the beauty in the world. The arts are not luxuries. We must support them because they surely sustain us. We can survive with practical, but with the arts, we can really live. by John J Kerecz ###
WITH OPINION AND PERSPECTIVE Dear Reader, No Strings Attached Enews and I are creating a new column, along with my regular column found in the Powerful Thoughts section. I will be selecting a few of the major headlines as reported by the standard news agencies. My attempt is to briefly analyze the news injected with at times sarcastic humor, bits of philosophy, and other insights. Please bear with me as we seek to improve this new entree into No Strings Attached Enews. Remember, with experimentation does come improvement. THE WHITE HOUSE PRESS CONFERENCE The news of late was the US White House press conference that featured President Obama and former President Bill Clinton. The purpose of this press conference, as reported by the third estate including all of the television and cable channels was the efforts to sell the tax cut relief to the American Public. This relief that still remains as of this writing, a major bone of contention between the Republican and Democratic Party was simply to give the American population a break. If you stop and think about it the general population is reeling with unemployment unprecedented since the Great Depression. We read about Treasury Bills that have lost 6.4% in their anticipated payout value in 2020 as reported by the Chicago Tribune. Banks have reduced their interest rates on everything from Certificates of Deposit to Savings while raising their business fees. The American Taxpayer has bailed out General Motors to name a few entities. The US Government has created the Recovery Act to stimulate the economy. Yet we read about abuses of the system including money that has been used for questionable purposes. The fact remains, Mr. Obama appears to have lost governing control. If he has to rely upon a former US President to handle an essentially important press conference while he attends a White House Christmas Party with the First Lady then something is amiss. WIKI LEAKS Wiki Leaks has published thousands confidential documents that included sensitive material regarding the US and other Governments. The information included the Chinese assessment of their actual commitment to North Korea. The US Government leaks included internal assessments of President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan and his effectiveness not only in governing but honesty and commitment to fighting terrorism. The true question becomes exactly what is the general population actually allowed to know. Or for that matter actually what we should know. We are not dealing with issues that concern what is actually stored in Area 51 or who actually shot President John F. Kennedy. The issues that were released concern actual current events that can affect the well being of the United States and our relationship with other countries. I concede the fact that because a person is considered an expert in a particular field or in this case an assessor of situations does not in truth make him/her a true expert. However, the expert has spent (hopefully their life) making a study within a particular area. Therefore we must put our faith in their evaluations. Then by releasing the confidential information there is the risk of negatively impacting international and domestic relationships. Stop and think about the multitude of clandestine operations that took place during World War II. What would have happened if Wiki Leaks then existed and released secret information? As an example the Germans had a cipher machine, the Allies captured and cracked the code. Had this information been released, as a right to know to the general population would events turned out differently? VIRGINIA COURT RULES OBAMA HEALTH CARE LAW LAWSUIT MAY MOVE FORWARD AS BEING UNCONSTITUTIONAL As reported by the news agencies, a US District Court judge in Virginia has ruled that the Obama Health Care package lawsuit questioning constitutionality may move forward. The District Court Judge questioned the requirement of mandatory purchase as being constitutional and therefore a violation of the Commerce Clause. For those of you unfamiliar with the Commerce Clause of the US Constitution (Article I, Section 8, Clause 3) states that the United States Congress shall have power To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes. There has over the years been many an arguments as to what the framers of the US Constitution meant by this broad stroke. This includes the Dormant Clause of the Constitution. However we will not dwell on the Dormant Clause subject. What is of importance is to consider the requirement of mandatory purchase. Yes, health care is important. This country spends Billions of Dollars annually in health care issues from advertising to insurance premiums. Under the Clinton administration, our now Secretary of State Hillary Clinton addressed the nation, illustrating her point by holding up a giant government health card. Remember? Although essentially shot down, this became the first step in an effort for US Government subsidized Health Care. I call this socialized medicine not too dissimilar from like products found in Europe. Under the administration of Mr. Obama this is now law. Arguably the changes that may take effect in the not to distant future under the Republican Party may indeed change the law. However there is an interesting issue that confronts us all. Where does government control stop? If we consider that recently the US Government (that is we the taxpayers) just bailed out General Motors and AIG Insurance to name a few. For obvious reasons we did so. Simply put how could the government let either of these companies die? There are a lot of employees (taxpayers). The results could have been catastrophic. Consider this as a solution for the bailout. The US Government could have in the best interests of the country banned all car sales except for US manufacturers. Hence the only cars on the street would be GM, Ford and Chrysler products. You as the consumer would be mandated to buy only these vehicles. Now Obama Care is the law. By 2014 you are being forced to buy and have government health insurance. You will have zero options. You are being mandated under penalty of law. It stands to reason therefore a questionable and in my humble opinion violation of the Commerce Clause. You must buy! By Dr. David J. Height
Dr. David J. Height
resides in Chicago with his family. He is the
President/CEO of TNI Group International
specializing in International Consumer
Products Sales and Marketing Consulting and Product Sourcing
###
STARRLIGHT:
Glamorous Latin Movie Stars of Early Hollywoodby Steve Starr Chicago photographer, writer and social star, Steve Starr, is celebrating the publication of his STARRLIGHT, an intimate chronicle of five glamorous Latin actresses of the Golden Age of Hollywood.  Beautifully designed and meticulously researched, STARRLIGHT: Glamorous Latin Movie Stars of Early Hollywood presents revealing biographical accounts of cinematic stars Maria Montez, Dolores Del Rio, Lupe Velez, Carmen Miranda, and the most famous of all, Rita Hayworth, who few know was born Margarita Carmen Cansino, the daughter of a Spanish flamenco dancer. They left their childhood homes in Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Brazil, and Brooklyn to pursue stardom and fame in the Hollywood of the 1920s, 30s and 40s, personifying everything Hollywood represented glamour, romance, excitement and scandal. And, in addition to dazzling personas, they had real talent. Velez starred with Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. and became an icon in the same league with Clara Bow in the era of silent movies. Carmen Miranda single-handedly created a new style with her outrageous costumes and fruit basket hats. And, of course, Rita Hayworth's Gilda remains a sex-appeal classic. These luminescent Latina movie idols were adored for their presence, charm and flair, but were also wooed and betrayed by lovers and husbands. Hayworth married five times (including Orson Welles and the Aga Khan) and Velez was married to Hollywood's Tarzan, Johnny Weissmuller and dated Gary Cooper, later committing suicide after a doomed romance. Author Steve Starr intertwines the fantasyland of silver screen fame and fortune with intrigue and heartbreak. He shines the spotlight on the extraordinary public and private lives of these celebrated women who rose to heights of stardom far exceeding their wildest dreams. But the true beauty of STARRLIGHT is Starr's impeccable taste in choosing gorgeous historic photographs of the stars in movie stills, theatrical posters and magazine covers of the times. Starr has a passion for the era and his subjects and it shows. Each page is a feast for the eyes. An elegant silver linen-bound limited edition, this slim volume depicts over 100 beautiful images, many displayed in exquisite Art Deco glass frames from the author's acclaimed personal collection. STARRLIGHT: Glamorous Latin Movie Stars of Early Hollywood is simply an art book treasure. First Flight Books is a Chicago-owned publishing house and its gala book launch for STARRLIGHT was in October (on 10.10.10), as the coveted 500 e-vites to the Invitation Only event read. It was a social extravaganza with a Latin orchestra, tango exhibition, fabulous food and ambience as only Chicago's suave nightclub Rumba could provide to suit the theme of the book. Starr lives and shoots in Chicago where his studio is filled with his personal collection of nearly 1,000 original Art Deco photo framed images of Hollywood stars of the early 20th Century. His photos and articles are found in numerous publications in print and online, including the popular e-news magazine No Strings Attached. Several book signings are scheduled, including: ~ Friday November 16 at Tea at the Drake Hotel (1 pm to 4 pm; reservations required) and ~ Tuesday, December 7 at Karyn's on Green Street (5 pm to 9 pm. STARRLIGHT: Glamorous Latin Movie Stars of Early Hollywood is more than a book; it is a time machine, through which young and old discover the magical world of these radiant, yet vulnerable women who forever live in filmdom's everlasting, exciting and most eternally elegant era. by Mary Francis Apostolopolos
THE INTREPID TRAVELS and
MUSINGS OF THE ITINERANT CEO
By
Dr. David J. Height  As a reader of my various columns over the years you are aware that I love to jump on my soapbox and preach. I have seemingly covered every topic from business, politics, economics, government to man’s inhumanity to man. I have covered war, famine, and pestilence. In fact I have made dire predictions, warned of what may come to be and begged for all of us to become more aware and to do something positive about everything. For this column I am going to break my traditional style and cover a very personal subject - my son Paul. Fret not this is not a sad tale of woe but rather a celebratory story the purpose of which is to offer heartfelt congratulations to him. I remember 18 years ago this year he was born. I was in law school. The momentous day and time of his impeding birth arrived while I was in the midst of studying for final exams as a law student. Exams of which, I might add are generally written by the devil himself and are a never ceasing cause of headaches, upset stomachs and the “what if I had thought of that syndrome.” I recall the exact moment of his birth, the joy I felt that mom and son were both healthy if not exhausted from the strenuous efforts that were exerted by this mom/son team. I was relegated to the usual push, breathe, and fetch, duties that all fathers are expected to be doing at birth. I remember his first steps as he teetered on the edge of the coffee table for support and then boldly advanced forward only to wind up on his well padded and diapered keester. However as all toddlers do, his first awkward steps were transformed into confident steps. Steps, I might add that were to create great exercise for me to keep him from avoiding the usual dangerous situations that all babies are oblivious to. Of course there is the first birthday and the first birthday cake. Naturally the obligatory pictures are taken with a cake not so much eaten as worn. Great blackmail material when shown to the girl friend in combination with the baby pictures. You know exactly the kind of baby pictures I am talking about. These are the ones with baby’s big smile and butt that are omnipresent in the “Baby’s First Photo Album.” All moms have these photo albums. It is mandatory. Life passes on with membership first in the Cub Scouts and then Boy Scouts. Of course in my son’s case camping was out of the question. In his requirements are a soft bed, television, and room service all preferably in a 5 star hotel. So much for camping! Then comes learning to ride bicycles, skateboards, in-line skating and we initially tried downhill skiing. All were successful except for downhill skiing which from the start had a drawback – too cold! (a subject by the way that I will return to) Included in the passage of time was nursery school including learning how to glue “stuff.” The intended objects of the glue were missed however not the clothes, fingers and hair. Moving on to kindergarten, the concept of tying shoe laces eventually hit home as did the basics of the numbering system, letters and basic reading also found their intended mark. Grammar school was an even greater challenge with things like homework, various required projects, science fairs, and Paul’s great love – acting. Yes my wife and I have enjoyed many a play watching Paul in various roles including his presidential part in “Annie.” To write the least he is truly a ham bone. Of course graduation from the 8th grade was a big deal. He did receive the highest award possible for his linguistic studies in Spanish. He also privately received verbal accolades from a few of his teachers because of who he is – Paul. On his own with parental encouragement Paul made the conscious and momentous decision to attend boarding school in Switzerland. The school selected by him, American School of Leysin Switzerland, is rated as one of the most academically challenging high schools in the world. When we saw him off to his Swiss dorm for the first time, both my wife and I stood there with pride and smiles on our faces while inwardly shedding tears. After all, our “little boy” we would not see until Christmas. Let’s face it he was at 14, on his own in a big, tough, and sometimes very cruel world. He was truly going to be forced to make decisions on his own, learn very quickly and in sum “sink or swim.” He learned to swim. The high school academic rigors that he faced were by no means trivial. In fact the classes that he took were sufficient enough to make college students blush in fear. As the years progressed, I could sense in him a major intellectual change. His questions were no longer simple. The complexities of the questions asked of me at times caused me vexation and I am considered highly educated. Going hand in hand with questions were also answers from the young lord of the manor that were intelligently thought out, well presented and logical. This fine Swiss education also included trips abroad including Croatia, Italy, and Scotland to name a few. In fact his trip from Scotland to Chicago included wearing a newly purchased kilt, the appropriate shirt, and sporran. The only missing parts of the ensemble were the shoes. Oh yes, remember the part I wrote about downhill skiing being too cold? Well that too changed. As explained to me by his Japanese Professional Skiing instructor, the young prince is not just a good recreational skier. He is actually a WORLD CLASS skier. As explained to me his 90+ mph skiing is truly sensational, a speed for the gifted skier. I have other thoughts on the subject however I do not dwell on them. My Austrian sister-in-law who has been skiing for almost 50 years reacted the same way – Paul is a phenomenal skier. Or as the young prince, skiing in the Alps over the 2010 Christmas holidays stated: “Dad I kick butt on the slopes and man am I sweaty!” This is certainly a far cry from being too cold. Well 18 years have passed since that first day I saw him brought screaming and kicking into the world. He is now a handsome, strapping 6’4” blond haired young man with a deep baritone radio voice to match. The prince has become a world class skier, a good student, and a talented actor. Most importantly he has become a good man who is kind and compassionate. He is quick with a joke and a smile. Without question Paul has a definite Joie De Vivre. Paul has selected his college and will this fall be on his way to the East Coast to continue his studies. However he will be taking with him the memories and learning experience from his 4 years in Switzerland. June 3rd marks his high school graduation from the world renowned American School of Leysin Switzerland. What can I write other than to unequivocally state that both his Mother and I are extremely proud of him. I am using my column, therefore, as a forum to offer our congratulations for his magnificent accomplishments!
CONGRATULATIONS PAUL
CLASS
OF 2011
AMERICAN
SCHOOL OF LEYSIN SWITZERLAND
Dr. David J. Height resides in
BEING POSITIVE WHAT IS IT REALLY
ALL ABOUT? The acquisition and striving towards the art of being positive seems to be something that is liberally and casually verbalised in grandest scheme of attaining a sense of purity. Hail the white halo cometh to sit upon thine head oh one of positivity. Everyone wants to be positive. It Is become a bit of a buzz word. You hear comments thrown casually to the wind I am positive. It really is about being positive. I am always positive. Hmmmmm....? Is this not when alarm bells start to ring and the big troll comes out of his tower to wag his big finger at you, shaking his head or would that be Jiminy Cricket from the animation Pinocchio, who becomes your own personal conscience telling you that somewhere along the line, this whole idea of constantly being positive is not quite how it works? The idea of being positive to many people seems to be about always looking externally on the ball, in touch with the self. To always be in an upbeat mood, smiling from ear to ear regardless of what dramas prevail or challenges present themselves. Being positive is having that sense of here I am even when the sun has gone to sleep and the thunder is roaring and the rains running down the back of your neck and you want to let off steam, but you have to hold it together because you are positive. Positive is smiling in the face of danger and turning the other cheek, and then the other cheek when life ticks you off so much that a mere mortal would scream abuse or throw a punch. Being positive is having that attitude that nothing bothers me, still with THAT smile adorned on your face as if it was set in stone. Yet often times, behind closed doors, and when the world is not privy to looking into the windows of your soul and when your smile disappears and all that positivity is drowned in a flood of tears and a sadness sweeps over your heart like a flood, then the truth about trying to remain and sustain this positive stance surfaces like a sore. Life is not about
being positive and pretending that it is one hunky dory ride into the sunset of
forever skipping on a road paved with gold. Do not forget the cracks in
between the pavements. Now do not get me wrong, being positive is a good
start, a very good start. The platform upon which we can build many of the
other and sometimes more important attributes that mould us into more rounded
individuals, to be self-aware is one of those attributes. Being positive
can become a dangerous catch phrase or slogan to keep the world at bay and to
also to keep the reality of what is really going on inside of us, tucked away.
Yet on occasion one must question, what happens to emotions that may arise i.e.
fear, sadness, loneliness, frustration and even anger? Where do we hide
them whilst still convincing ourselves that
we are
positive? Being self-aware, having a level of consciousness of where we are at any one moment in time is more crucial than being positive adding to that having an attitude of gratitude. I feel that positivity therefore builds from these places. Being present to this very moment is one of the best antidotes to enhance and enrich being positive and the key point here is that it keeps life real. Remember there are darkness and light, the yin and the yang, hot and cold. Everything has an opposite which therefore sustains balance. Being self-aware empowers us to realise that at times as positive as we may want to feel, or behave or be, sometimes we just do not feel in that place and you know what, it is ok. Take for example a see-saw. The extremes of being on a see-saw is that one minute you can be sitting on top of the world, looking over at an expanse of real time and the next you could be sitting at the very base of the earth itself, looking up. In a split second you have experienced an extreme of two opposites. Now bring the see-saw more into alignment where you have a balance of two people sitting at each end with very gentle movements and you get a nice balance. This is the way life works. If you operate too much at one end of the spectrum, then the only other way to balance that out would be to experience the other extreme end of the spectrum. Yet if you take things easy and be more mindful of the space in between the two extremes, then you strike a balance. Being positive all the time has the danger of denying us from experiencing the true realities of life. It is more about having a certain mindset to identify how you are feeling at any given moment in time and allowing yourself to experience and acknowledge the feeling and emotion and then having the awareness to then do something about it if you so choose. By denying how we feel at any given moment is to deny a huge part of our personal growth. We all need to experience and understand everything that life throws at us, as much as we can and in that vein it therefore allows us to make more informed choices and decisions about our lives and more importantly we get to know who we are and how we operate. So next time you blurt out how positive you are, take a moment and think about what you are really saying. Go easy on yourself. If you have what you might classify as an off day it is ok, it really is. Just remember, you do not need to stay. Esther Austin
Pentel Pencil Bible Highlighter
NBA Betting: 2010 Boston Celtics Predictions
The 2009~2010 season proved to be a grueling contest between the top teams in the NBA. Having narrowly defeated Orlando Magic in the semi finals, the Celtics faced off against Kobe Bryant and the L.A. Lakers in a momentous final that went all the way to a seventh game where the Lakers eventually overpowered the Celtics to take home the championship. That, however, has done little to dampen the spirit of this team.
If the current preseason standing is anything to go by, the Celtics are very much in the running for another playoff spot and hopefully another shot at the championship with a strong performance at home and on the road. Head Coach, Glenn Doc Rivers, squelched the speculation about his impending retirement by reaffirming his commitment for the 2010~2011 season. In addition, Jermaine O'Neal joined the roster as a temporary replacement for injured Kendrick Perkins. Also, in July 2010, Delonte West and Von Wafer joined the new squad as guards that now boast the likes of Shaquille O'Neal and other international basketball players from Israel and Turkey. In the current preseason standings, the Celtics have shown that they are a team not to be taken lightly with an 87% win record and off by half a point behind the Eastern Conference Table leaders. They boast a four game winning streak at the end of the preseason, putting them in a very strong position with all four wins at home and only one loss on the road. As a result, they are the team to beat in the upcoming official season of the NBA. The playoff spot seems all but certain, and the championship must be defended rigorously if any team wishes the Celtics not to attain it. It seems that the team as a whole has come out with a message this preseason staking their claim to the championship and making everyone take note of the upcoming battle that they will have when facing them. With the odds very much in their favor, it will take a miracle indeed to defeat them. Good luck to all the other teams who do not see them as Championship Contenders in the upcoming 2010~2011 season. By Vernon Croy Sports Handicapper
TechKonnect News He’s Bringing ‘SexyBack’ To The Web
Posted: 12 Jul
2011 04:54 PM PDT
He can already boast boy-band member, solo artist and movie-star
on his resume - and now multi-talented Justin Timberlake
can add part-owner of a social networking site too!
By James Neusom
I've written many times on the Whiteness Of Wi-Fi, and how
we as a people need to use technology to our own benefit...not corporate
Americas. Now Black businesses in the city of Inglewood CA have moved
forward to create their own
Dot.com stimulus plan. Manchester: One (www.m1net.mctorg.com),
a small business collaborative project of the non-profit Manchester Community
Technologies (MCT), has installed a FREE public Wi-Fi network along the
Manchester Blvd business corridor.
Madrid in a Wheelchair
Visit the Spanish capital from a different point of view. After going through brain surgery, I never thought a wheelchair would bring me such a rich experience. I went to new places but even better, I had the chance to see life from a totally different perspective in many ways. Right after leaving the hospital, unable to walk but refusing to stay home, I accepted a friends offer to use a wheelchair for some days. Many feelings came flooding in; I felt embarrassed because people would look at me or avoid doing so. Getting so much attention was hard, until I realized most people we crossed just wanted to help in any possible way. Plus children: while sitting in a wheelchair, your eyes are at the same level as theirs. Children react naturally; they would stare at me, surprised, and then asked me to give them a ride on my lap! That was real fun. My friend drove me to places I had never been before where walking was not necessary that way I could visit La Feria del Libro (The Book Fair) at the Parque del Retiro in the city without getting tired and always finding a place in the front row! Sellers would hand me as many books as I asked for and I got all their attention.
Next was a safari! Close to Madrid (only half an hour by car) the Safari Madrid
can be visited without leaving the car. 
There were tigers, elephants, giraffes, bears, rhinos, monkeys and hippos all
under a blazing sun just like in Africa. It was amazing!
 We sweated and laughed and I took hundreds of photos and later we stopped by a river and had a late Spanish lunch before heading back to Madrid. We also visited a very special park, El Capricho, in the north of the city. It used to be a private garden and the feeling is just like entering a time machine. An explosion of flowers, sculptures, fountains and even a maze! The only example of the Spanish Romantic Garden, El Capricho, was a precursor of the thematic parks far before Disneyland. Different ambiances make visitors travel in time, with Egyptian sphinxes, a little Greek temple, an old romantic jetty by a lake with a waterfall and an island; even black swans followed by their little ones that I could feed right from my wheelchair by the shore. Before that a member of the staff had to help us climb up a hill when we went too deep into the bushes. While being held in the air all I could do was close my eyes and pray those two would not stumble!
Shopping also became an adventure at Carrefour as we found out they had special
chariots that could be adapted to the wheelchair. Believe it or not, that was
fun too.
There was yet another park we visited, El parque Juan Carlos I, more exposed to the sun but easier to ride with a bigger lake where you can safely practice canoeing any time of the year. All in all it was fun and at the same time it placed me in a more vulnerable position where I could see the other side of my hometown but even more touching was how helpful and nice their citizens could be. By Gloria Bonafonte
TV Shows Open Mic, a production of Nexxt Level releases this month. It will be a show that bridges the gap between old school and new school sounds throughout the music industry. We had a chance to speak with Courtney Peterson the Director and founder of the show. He plans to release his show as a webisode right here on the xndnation.com. His plans are to have the first webisode ready and online in the beginning of Dec. 2010 with one to two episode releases per month. Open Mic will be available on xndtv.com Hip-Hop, R&B, and Rock channels with a wide variety of topics. Check out the trailer below:  |
Washington, DC - July 27, 2011 - Tonya and Ian Fitzpatrick, award winning
broadcasters, keynote speakers, attorneys and authors, have been selected from a
nationwide search to be featured in Success Simplified; a highly successful book
series from Tennessee based Insight Publishing. The book features best-selling
authors Stephen Covey (The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People), Dr. Tony
Alessandra (The New Art of Managing People), & Patricia Fripp (Award-winning
Professional Keynote Speaker). 
Order
Success Simplified Today
For
Immediate Release-July 2011, Vancouver BC—Rising
Canadian star Tammy Gillis is topping off a busy year of
television and film projects, with her recent casting in the
Spike TV series “Blue Mountain State” 
One
type of venue, that combines both of these, that has been
cropping up all over is the dinner theater, although not a new
idea it is an idea that is making a strong comeback as people
want more bang for their buck. One such place that I found to be
wonderfully entertaining
Throughout
the course of popular music there has been guys whose careers
were built on the prowess of their guitars and then there are
the guys known for being ‘singer/songwriters’. Brandon McHose is
one of the rare performers that are first a guitar guru and
secondly a talented singer/songwriter. 
