I appreciate all the comments from my article last month,10 Bands That Shook The World. The passion and knowledge of music fans never cease to amaze me. There rightly were some observations that the list did not include any bands from the last twenty years. In my view this is not because all the great bands preceded Nirvana but rather that we need time to evaluate a particular band’s influence and their place in history. Does their music stand up to the scrutiny of year after year and how does it measure up to the great ones that came before? With this in mind, I wanted to look at the post-Nirvana era and focus on 10 bands that have made memorable music. Bands that have strong melodies, distinctive vocals, thought-provoking lyrics, have reached enough people through sales or airplay, and can play live. Artists who have made multiple records worthy of your attention. I’d like to include REM, Metallica, and the Chili Peppers but they all had a long and rich musical history prior to Nirvana and that’s my starting point for this article. A final word…I’m not playing the “popularity is bad” game. If they’re on my list they deserve to be. Here they are in alphabetical order: Arcade Fire: This Montreal band has succeeded entirely on their own terms without the machinery of a major label. Their passionate fans have spread the word worldwide, resulting in Arcade Fire now being one of the biggest live bands on the planet. Their records are great but experiencing Arcade Fire’s jubilant, cirque-styled performances with an incredible array of instruments is not to be missed…anything can happen. Arcade Fire, Photo Credit: Man Alive! Coldplay: One of the best bands to emerge from the UK in the past decade, Coldplay has grown into one of the world’s top bands. Consistently strong melodies, quality lyrics, memorable songs and a charismatic vocalist, the group’s early promise has been realized with their most recent and best album to date Viva La Vida…The band puts on strong live performances that generate sold out shows worldwide. Dave Matthews Band: This Virginia based band made it the hard way…endlessly playing all over the country to emerge as one of America’s top live bands. Their lengthy shows and amazing musicianship continue the legacy of the Grateful Dead, with the Dave Matthews Band inheriting the mantle of the best jam band around. Like the Dead, the band is more of a live experience, not needing hit songs (though they’ve have a few of those as well) to play stadiums. They rock! Death Cab For Cutie: This excellent band from Seattle consistently make exceptional records and back it up with a compelling and exciting live show. Their songs often demonstrate a very interesting structure as evidenced by the sublime “I Will Possess Your Heart”. Distinctive music and unmistakable vocals make Death Cab an influence on many of the indie rock bands we’re listening to today. Death Cab For Cutie, Photo Credit: AlamosBasement Green Day: A band that keeps getting better, Green Day delivered arguably the best album of the decade with American Idiot. Their growth as a band is not only measured by well-written music but in their excellent lyrics. 21st Century Breakdown was also very good. Green Day are one of the tightest bands touring today which is why seeing them live is always so satisfying. Their Broadway show of American Idiot was well reviewed and cemented the band’s reputation as one of the best bands anywhere. Linkin Park: The successful marriage of rock and hip-hop came together dramatically in their debut album Hybrid Theory. Linkin Park has attracted a huge fan base worldwide not only by consistently delivering compelling songs but by musically adventuresome collaborations with Jay Z. The band is exciting live and continues to evolve their sound, allowing them to succeed where many of their rap-rock contemporaries have failed. Muse: A band that broke in Europe first, finally reaching major status in the States on their last tour. The songs are well written, passionate, and memorable. It’s no surprise Stephenie Meyer listened to Muse while writing the Twilight series…the music is mesmerizing. Muse is also an exceptional live band, which is how they grew their fan base, and is now filling arenas. This trio will be around for a long time. Pearl Jam: As a contemporary of Nirvana in the early days of the Seattle grunge scene, the band grew in the 90′s into one of the consistently top bands around the globe. Known from the beginning as a great live band, they have grown a passionate fan base by adhering to their own rules…unapologetic, touring the way they want, putting out albums without concerning themselves if they had a hit track for radio play. A real original. Pearl Jam, Photo Credit: Pearl Jam Official Radiohead: An astounding band live or on record, Radiohead is one of the most influential bands since Nirvana. The ground breaking OK Computer was that rare and happy confluence of art meeting wide success. Their innovative relationship with fans continued with the release of In Rainbows at a price determined by what the individual fan chose to pay. A commitment to creativity and experimentation are why Radiohead continues to be one of the great bands. White Stripes: Though their amicable breakup was announced earlier this year (the main reason cited being “to preserve what is beautiful and special about the band”), the Whites Stripes displayed an authentic style that was always a surprise. Between Jack White’s originality, great guitar playing and musical curiosity (as manifested by his several side projects), the duo created a distinctive sound all their own. The breakthrough classic “Seven Nation Army” rightly gained them hordes of new fans. Like many of the bands on this list, The White Stripes seemed to do what they want without trying to please anyone but themselves. The White Stripes, Photo Credit: Fabbio Venni And I just have to include 5 bands that show the promise of establishing a lasting legacy in the future: Band of Horses Bright Eyes Fleet Foxes Kings of Leon Mumford & Sons Ok, that’s my list…let me know yours.
Continue reading …Michele Bachmann Forming Presidential Exploratory Committee, But Even Former Chief of Staff Won’t Vote for Her
March 25, 2011 No Comment
Click here to view this media How sad is it when even your former chief of staff says they won’t vote for you if you decide to run for president? Apparently that’s the case with Minnesota wingnut Rep. Michele Bachmann who just announced that she’s forming a presidential exploratory committee by this summer. Let the dragging of the field of Republican primary candidates even further to the right (if that’s even humanly possible) begin! Bachmann’s Former Chief Of Staff: I’m Voting For Tim Pawlenty : Thrilling tea partiers and liberals alike, CNN reported today that right-wing Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) will form a presidential exploratory committee by July. Boasting a pseudo-firm grasp on U.S. history , policy priorities , and reality , Bachmann hopes to secure America’s vote of confidence come 2012. Unfortunately, she’s already lost one vote : her most recent chief of staff’s. Serving as her fifth Chief of Staff before resigning last summer, Ron Carey said he intends to vote for Tim Pawlenty in the GOP race for President because “electability is a very, very high attribute you have to have”. Go read the rest of their post and Ed Schultz did a mash-up of some of Bachmann’s greatest hits in the video above.
Continue reading …Tim Pawlenty’s video guru, Lucas Baiano, talks politics, video and Ronald Reagan
March 25, 2011 No CommentOn Monday, former Minnesota Governor dipped more than a toe into the Republican nomination pool…and he did so in a blockbuster-style video that is more reminiscent of a multi-million dollar car commercial than a shaky handy-cam video. With his announcement video and his epic Courage to Stand mini bio-pic, Pawlenty is fast becoming the candidate to beat in terms of web video. We sat down with the brains behind Pawlenty’s video operation, 23 year-old Lucas Baiano to learn more about how he wrestles with web video, political preferences, and portraying the emotional quotient of a candidate. 1. How do you approach creating video for the web, rather than for television? For my generation, the web is becoming the preferred choice. I think smart candidates are beginning to recognize that you need to incorporate all social media elements in order to create and establish a successful campaign. The web allows for more creativity with fewer restrictions. It’s real and and less filtered. The most significant benefit is that you can engage your audience and allow them to interact in terms of sharing, comments and unlimited viewing. This has revolutionized the way an audience views and experiences media. Visual / interactive media and online features will play a prime role and be a significant component of www.TimPawlenty.com as time progresses. Innovation is key. America will have to stay tuned – we’ve only just begun. 2. Your videos for Pawlenty have been described as “cinematic”. Do you think that political video is moving in a “blockbuster” direction this cycle, or is there still room for the handy-cam video? Cinematic style happens to be my creative style. It’s never been ‘boring’ and it’s never been done to this extent in the political forum, so I’m excited to be pioneering a new frontier. Feedback has been positive – my generation of voters is connecting to these videos and becoming more interested in the political process and the candidates. 3. You supported Hillary in the last cycle. What made you shift to Pawlenty? Are you motivated by politics or by film? Honestly, by both. Film and politics are my two great interests. Having the opportunity to combine them in this way is a tremendous creative canvas but you also need the most important element to connect them — a compelling story. I try to find the EQ, the Emotional Quotient, within the person’s story. With Governor Pawlenty, his is the American Story. At a young age, he had to overcome personal tragedy, challenge and hardship. Now he’s achieved so much. That’s the definition of inspiration. He would make a great President and a great role model for our young generation facing their own struggles and hardships in an economic climate that’s not so favorable. 4. What is one piece of advice you’d give someone looking to make political video? When I was starting, I looked for every opportunity I could find in the field. I worked long hours for little pay, but I worked tremendously hard. If you don’t take the opportunities that present themselves, someone else will, and through these opportunities, you learn and grow. Perfect your skills, be persistent, and when the right opportunity comes, you’ll be prepared. Frank Capra (Wonderful Life) once said, “Don’t follow trends…..start them”. That’s about the best advice I’ve ever heard and I keep that in mind while producing every project.
Continue reading …UAW Members Temporarily Shut Down Detroit Branch of Bank of America Yesterday
March 25, 2011 No CommentYou would think at some point that the banksters would notice that we all have a pretty good idea that they conned the Congress and brought down the country’s economy — while they sat back and collected the cash. And you’d think that they’d understand that business as usual isn’t acceptable anymore . If the corporate boy wonders had thought to pull back the reins on their greed, or pushed to get the government to help all the people they forced out of work, they wouldn’t have to be quite so nervous right now: At the end of the UAW’s three-day bargaining convention in Detroit, union president Bob King led more than 100 members into the Bank of America branch in downtown Detroit today and temporarily shut down its operations for about 30 minutes. Afterwards, the group joined hundreds more UAW members at the corner of Griswold and Congress streets in downtown Detroit and continued the protest. King criticized the bank for not paying taxes in 2009, overpaying its executives and opposing legislation such as credit card reform and the Foreclosure Prevention Act. “Anything that would help the middle class, Bank of America opposed,” King said. “When workers are struggling to pay child care and feed their families, Bank of America in 2010 made about $17.5 billion from credit card and ATM fees.” Bank of America spokeswoman Diane Wagner said Bank of America paid more than $40 billion in taxes from 2000 to 2009. However, she was unable to say how much the bank paid in taxes in 2009. Generally, companies don’t pay taxes unless they earn a profit. Wagner also said Bank of America repaid the $45 billion it received in federal stimulus dollars as well as an additional $2.5 billion in dividends. And, in 2009, Bank of America’s outgoing CEO received no pay under an agreement with the government. King said the protest against Bank of America and corporate tax breaks is connected to the battle for collective bargaining rights and the need to broaden the union’s organizing efforts. “Banks get bailed out, people get sold out,” King chanted as the crowd joined in.
Continue reading …Brian William Spins for Obama on ‘Late Night,’ Then Declares: ‘I Don’t Work’ for White House
March 25, 2011 No Comment
A defensive Brian Williams appeared on Wednesday's Late Night With Jimmy Fallon to explain away Barack Obama's handling of the situation in Libya. He also hit the show's for having a “political 'tude” against the President, complaining, “I've never heard you go into this area before.” After the comedian knocked Obama for “playing soccer in Rio,” Williams labeled that “unfair.” He added, “The President has scrambled phones. He's got video conferencing.” Following jokes from Fallon about the President's NCAA picks, the NBC Nightly News anchor sarcastically replied, ” I think we've seen a little political 'tude coming out tonight. This is interesting .” The journalist did allow that the White House has a perception problem, but continued to defend the President being out of the country: “Even though he's with his daughters and they get very little time off. He's down in South America, three country tour, doing all of the official business.” Williams oddly closed his appearance with an assertion of journalistic independence: ” I don't work for [The White House]. I cover them all equally, Democrats, Republicans .” A transcript of the March 23 segment, which aired at 12:50am EDT, follows: JIMMY FALLON: And it feels like to me, that President Obama is playing soccer in Rio with kids and Hillary Clinton seems to be weirdly stepping up, almost like she's being very presidential, I feel like. Isn't it weird? BRIAN WILLIAMS: It might be a bit unfair. He- you've got to remember, Jimmy- FALLON: Yeah? WILLIAMS: The machinery of the presidency, a lot like when you travel, the machinery of the presidency comes with the President. When you travel, you get, you know, the Late Night computer and your paging devices, so that decisions back in New York about guests, musical order can be made by you. The President has scrambled phones. He's got video conferencing. He's got the three big Irishmen in his life, [Tom] Donlan, Brennan and [William]Daley, who are part of his inner circle. He's got all of his people. They are all reachable. While he may come back early from this trip to South America, I think the command and control- American people like to see the President in the White House. FALLON: But, why is he there again? WILLIAMS: Well, this was a trip that, to have cancelled this- FALLON: It costs so much money? [Laughs] WILLIAMS: Yeah, right. FALLON: He can't get a refund? Come on. what is going down? He's making NCAA- doing his brackets on ESPN. I'm like, “Who is advising this?” WILLIAMS: Wow. I think- I think we've seen a little political 'tude coming out tonight. This is interesting. FALLON: Come on. A little. WILLIAMS: I think this is interesting. I've never heard you go into this area before. FALLON : I don't usually do it, but I feel like- I get upset. I go, what- I mean, I have better people advising me than the President does. WILLIAMS: Actually, I've met your staff. FALLON: Yeah, and- Yeah, you're right. WILLIAMS: Just one thing to remember. Every cruise missile, about like $1 million, 162 of those, think of what goes into launching each one. FALLON:: Sure, yeah, yeah. WILLIAMS: Target selection, all of that. It's- FALLON: I mean, it's a tough job. It's a crazy job. WILLIAMS: You feel like you have to hang on to something. FALLON: I'm always- I'm very patriotic. I'm always rooting for the President. I just feel like- I feel like I want to hear from him. WILLIAMS: Well this is a tough perception. The White House has to deal with this. Because, seriously, if you're saying it and you do hear this across America, it means it's real. And it means they've got to deal with the perception. Even though he's with his daughters and they get very little time off. He's down in South America, three country tour, doing all of the official business. I don't work for them. I cover them all equally, Democrats, Republicans. They've got an appearance issue, if you're saying they do. You have that kind of sway across this country. — Scott Whitlock is a news analyst for the Media Research Center. Click here to follow him on Twitter .
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Nazareth in Colombia says travellers don’t spend much and show little respect to indigenous people The small Amazonian town of Nazareth is a traveller’s dream. Wildlife prowls the surrounding jungles and the indigenous inhabitants practise ceremonies that long predate the arrival of the Spanish conquistadores. But it may be advisable for tourists to give the place a wide berth. Villagers here have declared their town off limits to travellers, even though this stretch of the Amazon river is playing host to more visitors than ever. Their main complaint: tourists’ behaviour, and that only a fraction of the money they spend trickles down to the indigenous. “What we earn here is very little. Tourists come here, they buy a few things, a few artisan goods, and they go. It is the travel agencies that make the good money,” said Juvencio Pereira, an Indigenous Guard, Nazareth’s unofficial volunteer police force. The town of 800 people, a 20-minute boat ride from the tourist hub of Leticia, takes its ban seriously. At the entrance, Pereira and other guards stand armed with their traditional sticks ready to deter unwelcome visitors. Nazareth resident Grimaldo Ramos feels that some tourists can’t distinguish between the wildlife and the Amazon’s residents, snapping photos of indigenous families as if they were another animal. “Tourists come and shove a camera in our faces,” he said. “Imagine if you were sitting in your home and strangers came in and started taking photos of you. You wouldn’t like it.” Nazareth’s actions reveal a split among the indigenous communities that live along the river about what role tourism should play in the region’s development. With the rise of eco-tourism, this part of the Amazon, which joins Colombia, Peru and Brazil, has seen a flood of travellers arriving to experience the world’s most biologically diverse region. Tourists swim with the Amazon’s pink dolphins, fish for piranhas, hike through the rainforests and take in the sunsets over the mighty river. According to the tourism office for the Colombian province of Amazonas, the 35,000 people who trekked to the region in 2010 represent a fivefold surge in numbers over the past eight years. But as Nazareth complains, the indigenous people have so far seen little of the benefits, mostly just the sharp end of tourism. A common concern among indigenous leaders is that local children are adopting the outsiders’ ways. A stroll through the riverbank towns of Macedonia, Puerto Narino and even Nazareth itself shows many children are more comfortable in “western” dress and listening to the imported music of reggaeton and Colombia’s vallenato. And then there are the inevitable misunderstandings of two cultures interacting. What a tourist may consider polite curiosity about indigenous culture can seem to some here intrusive and even an attempt to gain sacred tribal wisdom. “We don’t like it when they ask members of the community about our traditional knowledge and the medicines we possess,” said Pereira. Other communities, however, take the view that the number of visitors to the region is only going to rise, so they might as well profit from it. A couple of hours downriver lies Puerto Narino. It hosts a steady flow of visitors, but all must use the travel agencies based in the town. Puerto Narino’s mayor, Nelson Ruiz, understands Nazareth’s worries, but says that if tourism is well regulated it can help lift these communities out of the poverty that troubles much of this zone. “Other communities fear tourism can damage culture, damage our water resources with trash, destroy the environment, we don’t want that,” he says, adding visitors are expected to abide by certain rules, such as no drug-taking and no sexual tourism. For the residents back in Nazareth though, the loss of tourist revenue is a trade-off worth making. “We feel good here without tourists, there are no little annoyances,” said Ramos. Indigenous peoples Amazon Biodiversity South America Colombia Colombia Toby Muse guardian.co.uk
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Outake 1 – Adam Carter Captain America: The First Avenger (Trailer) Homes for Sale – 17643 N Tretheway Rd – Lockeford, CA 95237- NewsDaily: Carter to visit North Korea, not carrying U.S. message Former President Jimmy Carter plans to visit North Korea, the State Department said Thursday, but it said he was going in a private capacity and not carrying a message from the U.S. government. Christine Carter , PhD: Is Your New Baby a Marriage Wrecking Ball? Just because it is totally common for us to start feeling, say, hostile, toward our partner when junior comes home from the hospital, it doesn’t mean that those feelings are harmless — to the marriage or to junior. Maryland Politics: Del. Jill Carter to bureaucracy: Don't bog me … “And it is far from the ONLY bill I haven’t paid,” Carter writes. “However, I didn’t place a high priority on it because I thought insurance was taking care of a chunk due to ongoing massive leaks and flooding in the house. … The Tim Carter connection | College Basketball | a mySA.com blog Carter , in 11 seasons heading up the Roadrunners, captured 160 games and led the team to the NCAA Tournament twice. Before his tenure in San Antonio, however, Carter was an assistant coach under Hamilton at Oklahoma State from 1987-90. … Jimmy Carter plans new N.Korea trip: officials | Hot News Today SEOUL (AFP) – Former US president Jimmy Carter plans to visit North Korea on a private mission apparently intended to ease acute tensions, South Korean and US officials said Thursday. South Korea is “paying attention to Carter’s plan to … babyitemstore says: New at Baby Item Store: Newborn Boys' JUST ONE YOU™ Made by Carter 's ® Ivory/Blue 3 pc Puppy Cardigan Set NB Reviews http://bit.ly/fzHHOA
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Research in Motion Topped Q4 Estimates, Issued Weak Q1 Guidance RIMM – decrementing bid Research In Motion (RIMM) Reports Year-End Q4 2011 Big Short After Hours Part 2 Earnings Previews: Oracle Versus RIM (ORCL, RIMM , SAP, CSCO, HPQ … After the close of trading today will come earnings from two key players in technology and communications: Oracle Corporation (NASDAQ: ORCL) and Research-in-Motion Ltd. (NASDAQ: RIMM ). Traders and investors alike will be looking closely … RIMM Disappoints on Revs, Guidance | FavStocks BlackBerry maker Research In Motion ( RIMM ) beat its fiscal 4Q EPS estimates by 2 cents per share, but missed slightly on quarterly revenues and offered guidance. RIMM Earnings: Due In A Few | eWallstreeter RIMM’s stock has been on a wild ride this year, up 20% by mid-February before more or less giving that all back. It’s enjoying some nice pre-announcement buying right now, up 3% on the day at last glance. … RIMM Earnings: Investors Not Liking | eWallstreeter RIMM earnings disappoint, and investors punish the Blackberry maker. RIM: Weak Guidance Versus 'Value' ( RIMM ) | eWallstreeter Research-in-Motion Ltd. (NASDAQ: RIMM ) has reported its earnings for its fourth quarter. The maker of the BlackBerry reported earnings of $1.78 EPS and $5.6 billion in revenues. Thomson Reuters had estimates of $1.76 EPS and $5.64 … videoblogdaily says: donald trump, rimm , carter, myanmar, 9 news, uc berkeley, …: donald trump rimm carter myanmar 9 news uc berkeley… KennyWadeMusic.com
Continue reading …PBS’s Tavis Smiley Replays Deeply Fawning Interview of Warren Christopher as a Eulogy
March 24, 2011 No CommentIt’s not surprising that PBS talk show host Tavis Smiley would replay an old interview upon the death of Warren Christopher, Secretary of State in Bill Clinton's first term
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Del Monte Cantaloupe Recall Del Monte Cantaloupe Recall Issued Over Salmonella Concerns | Last … A Del Monte cantaloupe recall is underway after learning of the product’s link to the Salmonella outbreak. Public health officials have identified cantaloupes sold by Del Monte Fresh Produce as the likely cause of a recent Salmonella … Del Monte Cantaloupe Recall : Salmonella Contamination … An outbreak of Salmonella food poisoning has led to a recall of nearly 60000 Del Monte cantaloupes. The cantaloupe recall was announced on March 22 by the. newsinferno says: Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Del Monte Cantaloupe, Recall Issued http://bit.ly/hd4jud
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