text:
By Susan Osterhaus, Secondary Mathematics Teacher, TSBVI
The use of scientific graphing calculators is now a mainstay of secondary math classrooms, and they must be provided to students for the End-of-Course Examination for Algebra I. When the new statewide assessment (TAKS) begins in Spring 2003, the Algebra I exam will be eliminated, and it is expected that the TAKS 9th, 10th and 11th Grade (Exit Level) Mathematics will require the use of a scientific graphing calculator. Initially, calculators will not be permitted on the 8th Grade math TAKS. However, their use may be included in the near future. Each student must also have access to a graphing calculator for routine classwork and practice. Visually impaired students must meet the same requirements as their peers, and Teachers of the Visually Impaired (TVIs) must be prepared to teach their students the skills needed to be successful in mathematics courses. A review of the technology currently available may help TVIs determine the most appropriate ways to teach their students and prepare them for statewide assessments.
The Administrator's Manual of the 2001 End-of-Course Test states that each student must have access to a graphing calculator during the testing. Students may use any graphing calculator except those with typewriter-style keypads (known as QWERTY) or those that include a computer algebra system. Students may also use any four-function or scientific calculator on the test, but hand-held minicomputers or laptop computers may not be used. TEA usually accommodates the needs of special education students on an individual basis. If a visually impaired student uses, or wishes to use, a piece of technology not currently approved by TEA, the student's TVI should contact the Accommodations Task Force at TEA, which may give permission to use it on statewide assessments. For further information, the TVI might also call the Student Assessment Division of TEA, at (512) 463-9536. Remember, the device must be an accommodation that the student routinely uses in class.
Large Display Scientific/Graphing Calculators
TI ViewScreen Solutions (Current price: $300)
Texas Instruments (TI) makes a ViewScreen package for several TI calculators including the TI-82 and TI-83. It has worked well with some low vision students. They use a ViewScreen calculator connected to a ViewScreen LCD display panel placed on a light box. Some students prefer using their calculator on the newer color CCTVs. This technology is easily available and has been approved by TEA. The ViewScreen package is already used by math teachers on their overhead projectors, so they should have no problem training visually impaired students with this technology.
VisAble (Current price: $269)
The VisAble is the only large display scientific calculator made as a one-piece portable unit, and is an alternative for low vision students who are unable to use one of the TI solutions. However, it does not have graphing capabilities. Betacom Corporation manufactures it. Although most general education math teachers will be unfamiliar with the VisAble, the various functions are easily identifiable, and a willing math teacher should have little difficulty orienting the visually impaired student to the VisAble. This technology is more expensive than some, but it does meet with TEA's approval.
TI-83 Trainer (Current price: $49.50)
Professor Goldstein's TI-83 Trainer is an affordable computer software program with complete TI-83 calculator emulation. When installed on a laptop, the student has a very portable device. The addition of magnification software provides even better accessibility. If the math teacher has selected the TI-83 as the class calculator of choice, the TI-83 Trainer is an excellent option for the low vision student. The math teacher should have little difficulty orienting the visually impaired student. However, this option has not been approved by TEA at the present time.
Scientific Notebook (Current price: $129)
Scientific Notebook (SN) is another software package. When installed on a laptop, the student has a very portable device, which is more than just a graphing scientific calculator. SN is also a math/text processor, so the student can do all assignments, calculations, and graphs in one document directly on the laptop. It has onscreen magnification up to 400%, or additional magnification software may be used. In addition, two large print fonts are available from MAVIS at NMSU, which will allow further onscreen magnification and large print hard copies. Metroplex Voice Computing is even working on voice recognition software to make it accessible to the totally blind. With the right techniques, it is also possible for a blind student to work with matrices using Scientific Notebook and a screen reader to solve systems of equations and find regression lines. Furthermore, math teachers can enter all their worksheets, tests, etc. on SN, and the teacher of the visually impaired can easily translate them into Nemeth code. Many general education math teachers are just now discovering SN and seem quite excited about its potential. Although it has not been approved by TEA at the present time, most math teachers should find it to be affordable and user-friendly.
Braille Scientific Calculator
Leo Braille Display Calculator (Current price: $1000)
The Leo is the only stand-alone braille-display scientific calculator, and is an alternative for the deafblind student who does not use a notetaker with braille display. However, it does not have graphing capabilities. Robotron Sensory Tools manufactures it. Most math teachers will need training before they can assist the student with this technology. The cost may be prohibitive for most, but it does meet with TEA's approval.
Talking Scientific/Graphing Calculators
ORION TI-34 (Current price: $199)
Certain low vision students may prefer a stand-alone talking scientific calculator, and although there are many such calculators on the market today, the ORION TI-34 from Orbit Research is currently the most affordable and user-friendly. It is also approved by TEA. While it does not have graphing capabilities, it is easily accessible by totally blind students (unlike the TIs and the VisAble), and features a built-in learning mode. The ORION's LCD display and functionality are identical to the TI-34, so math teachers should feel very comfortable orienting the visually impaired student.
Graph-It (Current price: $49) and Graph-It PC (Current Price: $149)
Graph-It is a tactile scientific graphing calculator program for Blazie Engineering Note-Takers. Graph-It PC is designed for use with IBM compatible PCs. Both are available from Freedom Scientific. The student can type in an equation and produce a tactile graphic on most embossers. An audio representation of the graph can also be played through the speaker for a quick, sound-picture of the graph. The software is quite limited, however, and the tactile graphics and audio graph lack precision. The note-takers also include a built-in scientific calculator. Although this combination is not the most user-friendly or time efficient scientific graphing calculator solution, it may be the only option for a deafblind student. Most math teachers will need training before they can assist a visually impaired student with Graph-It, and this is not a TEA-approved solution.
Accessible Graphing Calculator (Current price: $75)
The Accessible Graphing Calculator (AGC) from ViewPlus Software, Inc. is a self-voicing graphing scientific calculator software program. Unlike a hand-held calculator, it displays results through speech and sounds, as well as visually presenting numbers and graphs. This program is intended to have capabilities comparable to a full-featured hand-held scientific and statistical graphing calculator. The AGC is truly accessible for all students, and could be used for the entire class. The onscreen graphics are easily seen by a low vision student via an enlargement feature, and the graph can be listened to by using the sophisticated audio wave feature. Print copies can be made with any standard printer using a variety of fonts, including braille. The print copies with braille fonts can be copied onto swell paper and run through a tactile imaging machine. One of the best ways to use the AGC is with a TIGER Braille/graphics embosser from ViewPlus Technologies, Inc., but the TIGER is rather expensive. Although considerable time is typically needed for training a blind student to use the ACG totally independently, the math teacher is usually able to assist the student because it is so user-friendly for the sighted individual. The AGC cannot do matrices or parent functions, but the various functions it will perform are quite impressive. (The vendor plans to continue upgrading the software, including working with matrices.) It has not been approved by TEA at the present time.
Teachers of the visually impaired must make many decisions about appropriate programming and technology for their students. They must not only be aware of the different kinds of technology that are available, but also be able to teach their students how to use them. For TEA to approve the use of a piece of technology, it should be routinely used by a student to complete assignments at school. The student should (a) have access to a graphing calculator, (b) know how to use a graphing calculator, and (c) use it to practice routine class work at the same time as his or her classmates.
TSBVI is committed to being a resource for visually impaired students, their teachers, and their families. It sponsors a variety of workshops and training opportunities, and maintains a math website at http://www.tsbvi.edu The website not only provides information about appropriate materials, tools and technology, but also offers specific suggestions for collaboration between teachers of the visually impaired and general education math teachers. In addition, the Special Programs Department offers a three-week summer class, Adaptive Tools and Technology for Accessible Mathematics (ATTAM), and a one-week ATTAM class during the regular school year. They also offer several one-week sessions of individualized instruction on specific IEP objectives throughout the year, which might include math and/or math technology goals. Finally, the Comprehensive Programs Department offers Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II in two-period blocks during the academic school year. The two-period block allows additional time for learning the necessary Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS), perfecting the Nemeth code, and training in the use of adaptive math tools and technology.
If you have questions about teaching math to students with visual impairments, contact Susan Osterhaus at or (512) 206-9305.


text:
Tears For Fears! (ヒコザルの涙! Chimchar's Tears) is the 1st episode of Pokémon: DP Battle Dimension.
On the way to Veilstone City, Ash and the others stop to have lunch. When Ash, Dawn, and Brock let all their Pokémon out, Chimchar is shocked to see a happy environment, which is different from the one it had with Paul. Meanwhile, a group of Zangoose are lured to Team Rocket's Seviper, which results in Team Rocket blasting off. Meowth is separated from Jessie and James, and has a midnight meeting with Chimchar about life. The next day, Team Rocket attacks and captures all of the Pokémon except for Ash's Chimchar. The Zangoose also return, and now it is up to Chimchar to put its fear behind it and fight the Zangoose.
Episode Plot
As Brock cooks lunch, Ash complains how it is not done yet. Brock and Dawn agree he should help them, so Ash sends his Pokémon as assistance. Dawn agrees with him, so sends her own and Brock as well. As everyone sets the table for the lunch, Chimchar remembers that Paul gave a can and it had to hurry up to eat the food. Chimchar is a bit baffled, but when it eats a bit of Brock's food, it is happy and continues. Team Rocket also have lunch, even if Meowth complains Jessie did not do a thing. Seviper senses something and has a grudge. Seviper charges against its enemies of old - Zangoose.
Team Rocket sees the battle and know it will be over when one side wins. With three Zangoose, Jessie is worried and calls Seviper back, but Seviper comes out, despite Jessie's orders. Suddenly, Seviper gets attacked by Zangoose and Team Rocket blasts off. However, Meowth separates from the group and blasts off in other direction. Chimchar sees the training - Buizel uses Aqua Jet, but Pikachu evades and uses Iron Tail, though gets countered by SonicBoom. Pikachu charges from one side on another, making Buizel confused and attacks it with Iron Tail. Brock stops the training and Ash and Dawn compliment the Pokémon, while Chimchar sees all of this. Chimchar remembers that during Paul's training, it managed to defeat Elekid, though Paul was not impressed, as it could have attacked like the time it battled Zangoose.
Ash proposes to Chimchar a battle, as Piplup is prepared. Piplup uses BubbleBeam, but misses, as Chimchar digs. Chimchar attacks and follows by scratching. Piplup retaliates by pecking. The Pokémon gather and see this strange battle. Meowth wanders and sees the battle. Chimchar digs and hits Piplup. They collide with BubbleBeam and Flamethrower, but Chimchar manages to be defeated, as Piplup is stronger. Chimchar remembers well that Paul thought it was a disgrace and released it, though Ash grabs him and gives it confidence, as it almost managed to defeat Piplup - everyone confirms that was a good battle. Chimchar is touched and begins to cry for this support.
As everyone sleeps, Chimchar dreams how it was put to the test - Paul wanted it to use Blaze when rocks were pushed from a Graveler. Chimchar spots the Graveler is gone and Zangoose attack it, waking it up. It spots it was only a nightmare and goes for a walk. It encounters Meowth, who is looking for Jessie and James. Chimchar goes to battle, but Meowth is not interested in battling. Meowth has a talk with Chimchar, thinking it is lucky enough to have a new trainer, as it will never be in pressure that it was with Paul. Next day, Chimchar sees everyone setting the table and goes with Ash to get some water. Jessie and James managed to find Meowth. They go to get the twerps' Pokémon and are lucky to find them. They fire the nets and get every Pokémon, except Chimchar, who is with Ash.
Dawn goes to call her Pokémon back, but the glass prevents this. The Pokémon attack, but the glass is too thick. Suddenly, Seviper comes out, and after a moment, the Zangoose attack the balloon. To prevent the battle, Team Rocket goes in a tube to prevent damage. Seviper and Zangoose attack, though the glass prevents any damage, the tube is still pushed. Ash and Chimchar came and Chimchar sees the Zangoose, remembers well the nightmare. Ash knows Chimchar is scared of them, but tells it is the only one that can save its buddies. Chimchar remembers what happened yesterday, so is ready to go. Ash tells Chimchar it does not need Blaze to be activated - after all, they won the Tag Competition without it.
Chimchar attacks the Zangoose with Flamethrower, then scratches them. A Zangoose attacks, though Ash comes to take the hit for Chimchar to be saved. Chimchar digs and defeats one Zangoose. Chimchar digs once more, then comes out and defeats the other two with Flamethrower. Team Rocket try to escape, but the Pokémon attack - Piplup BubbleBeam, Buneary Ice Beam, Turtwig Razor Leaf, Pikachu Thunderbolt and Chimchar Flamethrower. The Pokémon are pleased to know Chimchar became more powerful, and overcame its fears.
- Kayzie Rogers returns after being on Hiatus for Season 10, the first of many old 4Kids voice actors to return to the Pokémon series.
- This was the first episode dubbed by DuArt, who had hired many of 4Kids voice actors to return to the Pokémon franchise.
- The episode title itself is a reference to the british band Tears For Fears.
Though Ash got scars on the shoulder, in later scenes the scars are removed.
|Pokémon the Series: Diamond and Pearl
|Other series: The Beginning and Gold and Silver · Ruby and Sapphire · Black & White · XY and XYZ · Sun & Moon · 2019 series

subset: commoncrawl


text:
The gals are busy at work decorating for Christmas at our Pet Friendly Carmel Bed and Breakfast, and I'm helping, of course. The tree water is just as tasty this year as in year's past.
The Carmel Heritage Society's Holiday Inn tour is this coming Sunday, December 2.
Also, the Carmel by the Sea Christmas Tree Lighting is next Friday, December 7 followed by a reception at the Sunset Center.
There are lots of other holiday happenings coming up in the area throughout December, so plan you holiday trip now.
The gals are still offering the 3rd night FREE midweek thru December 20, and I will be here to greet you to ring in the holidays at our Carmel Pet Friendly Inn!


text:
Burnett leaves with shoulder strain
Toronto starter A.J. Burnett left Tuesday night's game against the Giants with a strain of the right shoulder. After the Jays' loss, the pitcher said he thinks it could be a result of fatigue — throwing 372 pitches over three starts can do that to a guy — and he'll probably have to miss at least one start.
This is unrelated to the elbow issue last year or any other issue he's had throught the eight trips to the DL over his nine seasons. He'll go through some more tests on Wednesday, when the Jays will know more about the extent of the injury. He's hoping to avoid a trip to the DL (the Jays can only hope with 11 guys landing on that fateful list already this year).
Toronto manager John Gibbons said the Jays will add another pitcher to the bullpen for Wednesday's finale with the Giants. That also means someone will have to be demoted. That could mean the days of carrying four catchers are no longer. We'll see what happens. I'm outta here. Quick turnarounds are always fun when you're fighting jetlag.
QUOTE OF THE NIGHT: The pressbox here at AT&T Park is VERY close to the field and the stands. So as people leave the game, their are eye level with us reporters in the 'box. One woman walking by after the game pointed to the pressbox and said to her friend, "These are all the bloggers and internet people." Yeah, nevermind all the newspaper writers. Remember when those existed?
3 Comments
Way to Go Gibby
Hey now keep Halliday out there ever game for 110 to 120 pitches-burn him as well.
Tell the Yankees to shove it when they complain about injuries.
Overwork is likely the cause of Burnett's injury, but it's pretty hard to pull a pitcher when he's pitching as well as Burnett has been. Look how upset Ted Lily got last year. Haliday and Burnett are both on a pretty long leash when it comes to how long they stay out there, but hopefully now Burnett has an idea of when he's gone to the well too often, and can back off a bit.


text:
By Teachers, For Teachers
Summer has all but rolled up its beach towel for the last time this year. The iced tea is staring contemplatively at its winter companion the kettle on the stove.
Kids have adorned classroom walls with the last dispatches from Florida vacations, and teachers everywhere are pondering where to go next to keep their classrooms alive.
Before I go into a classroom, I start by planning certain activities: "lessons" you might call them. The only problem is you can't plan a real lesson. Not the kind that kids remember as well as their summer vacation to Siesta Key. Those "lessons" are only opportunities we search for and grab a hold of if we can catch them. They're like fireflies that start to fade as soon as we close the jar lid. It's hard to keep them glowing, but that's what they demand.
The firefly metaphor speaks to something else about teaching which is hard to understand: the impermanence of learning confined within a classroom. Fireflies can't live in the jars once we trap them for examination and neither can the intrinsic motivation of a group of kids stay trapped for long within four walls.
Student success can only take flight once it is freed from the control of a "teacher" and the classroom. Kids are so used to being subordinate once they get through middle and high school, it's hard to rekindle any glow that's left in them. Their love for learning, what made them raise their hand so fervently in elementary school, has been trapped in a compliant glass bulb devoid of any real goals.
If we want to see kids the way we see them the first week of school, when they yearn for our attention, raise their hands out of curiosity and not obligation, and truly seek to learn, we need to make changes in the ways we speak and act as teachers. It's that intrinsic glow which drives exploration and makes kids move their pencils, scroll their mouse wheels, and engage with others in conversation.
Though we may want to trap them at times, to rally them for a brief moment of awesome light, we can't lose what makes them glow in the first place. Their luminescence comes from the childlike desire to go somewhere new and to be guided along the way by the others.
A hopeful classroom relies on the lights of students to illuminate. An optimistic teacher balances the pursuit of that light with the search for what it will shine on.
How do you inspire students' intrinsic love of learning? Share in the comments section!


text:
RealOG brauchte ein neues Website Design und hat einen Wettbewerb auf 99designs gestartet.
Aus 29 Designs von 6 Designern wurde eine Gewinner gewählt.
Create a sharp and professional informational website that sets our 4 year old company apart from the scads of other generic unfocused real estate investment companies out there.
Cabal Investments
Cabal Investments is an investment firm focused on apartment investing. Our method, however, differs in that we focus much more on the people aspect of investing. The people involved (residents, managers, bankers, vendors, etc.) are what make or break an apartment investment.
This website will serve to inform three customer groups (in order of importance), so please gear the website for these types of individuals:
1. Investors – Our investors are mostly first time group investors as well as repeat investors. We want to sell who we are and what we do to new investors as well as embody confidence in our current investors. Current investors can log on through this site to access info on their current investments.
2. Buyers/Sellers – Who we purchase and sell our apartment buildings from/to. We want to inform them of who we are and signify confidence in our abilities to close as well as the success of our projects.
3. Tenants – Live in our buildings and pay our mortgage. Rarely will they know we are the owners, but if they visit our site, we want them to feel comfortable with and trusting of our company.
A clip from the new marketing copy on the website:
"The funny thing about real estate investment is it's less about real estate and more about people. Agents, investors, tenants, loan officers, city officials… you get the point. More deals are won and lost because of the people involved. Don't misunderstand, numbers are important, but they are only as good as the people giving them to you.
"So how do you find the best people?"
The company represents:
1. Teamwork
2. Integrity
3. Success
4. Security (financial and domestic)
5. Simplicity
Rating System:
1 star - wrong direction
2 star - getting closer but need revisions or a different take on your design
3 star - most elements we like, maybe try a new font or color
4 star - design is being considered
- Style: Modern, clean, professional, dynamic website
- Don't pack with text. Customer will read about 2 or 3 paragraphs before they lose interest. Need to use extra space on website smartly for design.
- Recognizable, must stand out from other RE investment companies
- Design should echo our focus on the human aspect of apartment investing
- A design with same colors as my current website http://www.cabalinvestments.com (Cabernet/Black/White)
- Please use the logo available at:- http://www.cabalinvestments.com/Logo/LogoFC.bmp
- http://www.cabalinvestments.com/Logo/LogoBW.bmp
- http://www.cabalinvestments.com/Logo/Icon.bmp
- http://www.cabalinvestments.com/Logo/LogoDB.jpg
- http://www.cabalinvestments.com/Logo/Logo.pdf
- Stick to "wants" but feel free to innovate. Demonstrate your creativity
- Stiffness and Stuffiness - keep it clean and professional, but use creativity to avoid the stiffness of standard investment websites.
- No 'cartoon-ish' or childish designs


text:
Census Bureau over-hired, pulled back on job offersTuesday, April 21st, 2009
The Colorado Springs Gazette just reported on of the Census Bureau's most serious blunders to date, revealing that job offers for potential employees were rescinded, but only when those who thought they were new-hires showed up for their first day on the job. One wonders, how widespread is this bureaucratic nightmare? Here's the report:
Thinking she'd secured a better gig, Colorado Springs resident Janet Seville quit her $10-an-hour, part-time job at a building company last month.
But when she showed up for her new job last week, she learned it was all a big misunderstanding.
With unemployment in Colorado Springs at a 21-year high, it was a tough break for the 65-year-old divorcee.
Seville thought she had secured a full-time, temporary position at the U.S. Census Bureau making $13.25 an hour.
But Seville said she and nine other applicants were turned away. She said officials told the applicants the Census Bureau had hired too many people.
"They gave it to us and took it away," she said. "I just thought it was horrible. I mean, how can they do that? They just blew it off like it was nothing. I mean, they apologized and said we would get paid for one hour for showing up, and for mileage and travel time, but that's just not good enough."
Seville went to the media. She went to Rep. Doug Lamborn's office.
With the country in the middle of a recession, Seville said, she has few financial resources and isn't sure what she'll do if she can't find another job soon.
Her previous employer filled her position quickly but agreed to let her come back as a substitute, which she did over the weekend.
Seville said she doesn't expect anything to change now, but she wants people to know about the effect a bureaucratic mix-up can have.
A Census Bureau official said the situation is more of a misunderstanding. The bureau hired about 140,000 people nationwide for temporary jobs to get ready for the 2010 Census, the once-a-decade count of everyone who lives in the country.
With that many people, and given the demands of the work, there's bound to be turnover, said spokeswoman Deborah Cameron. Seville was among a group of people on a list as possible replacements when some from earlier waves of hiring departed, Cameron said.
"That training class (Seville attended) was actually designated as a replacement training class, so all people there knew that it was possible, they were in a pool as someone who could replace in terms of carry-over, and they could be used now or they could be used a little bit later," Cameron said.
Seville said she and all the other applicants had good reason to believe they were following up on firm job offers, not just another step in the application process.
She said there was no paperwork recording the job offer, just a phone call March 14 with orders to show up April 1. That was later delayed to an April 16 start date.


text:
Arapahoe County sheriff crosses party lines, endorses Democratic DA candidate
Grayson Robinson, a Republican and longtime sheriff of Arapahoe County, has bypassed the Republican candidate for district attorney to endorse Democrat Ethan Feldman.
Such crossover endorsements are rare.
"I have known Ethan Feldman as a prosecutor, private attorney, judge and friend for most of his career," Robinson said in a statement. "He has consistently earned the respect of this community and his colleagues. I know that Ethan will serve with integrity, professionalism, and a dedication to justice when elected as our next district dttorney."
Feldman faces Republican George Brauchler for DA in the 18th Judicial District, which is comprised of Arapahoe, Douglas, Elbert and Lincoln counties. The winner succeeds Carol Chamber, who is term limited.


text:
Dramatic growth over the past 20 years has made Houston the most ethnically diverse large metropolitan area in the country and reduced its segregation, according to a new report from Rice University's Kinder Institute for Urban Research and the Hobby Center for the Study of Texas.
The report, "Houston Region Grows More Ethnically Diverse, With Small Declines in Segregation," also found that two Houston suburbs -- Pearland and Missouri City -- have slightly surpassed Houston as the region's most diverse cities. The researchers used census data from 1990, 2000 and 2010 to analyze the region's growth and changes over the past 20 years.
Houston metro region's widespread growth and diversity are attributable to a 1965 shift in immigration laws, said report co-author Michael Emerson, co-director of the Kinder Institute and the Allyn and Gladys Cline Professor of Sociology. That year marked a dramatic shift in how visas were granted; the United States began giving the same number of visas to every country in the world. The impact has been the substantial ethnic diversification of the immigration population. Before 1965, the immigration population was predominately from Europe; now it is coming principally from Africa, Latin America and Asia.
Emerson said that while the entire country has felt the effects of this transition, the Houston metropolitan region's position as an "immigrant gateway" has meant that its population in both the city and the metro area has shifted to one where Anglos are now a numerical minority.
"The majority of the Houston metropolitan area's growth has taken place since 1965, fueled by diverse immigrants and the children they have had since arriving," Emerson said. "As a result, the degree of diversity has even surpassed the nation's largest metro area, New York City."
And Houston's diversity extends beyond the city itself, according to report co-author Jenifer Bratter, director of the Kinder Institute's Race Scholars program and an associate professor of sociology.
"Houston is one of a handful of what is known as majority-minority cities, where Anglos represent less than 50 percent of the population," Bratter said. "And while Houston is one of the country's most diverse major cities, Pearland and Missouri City are now on par with Houston as the area's most ethnically diverse cities. Pearland and Missouri City are also significantly less segregated than the city of Houston."
Report co-author Junia Howell, a Rice graduate student in sociology, said the occurrence of more diverse cities is rare.
"This is very different from what's happening in most regions across the U.S.," she said. "The common assumption is that suburbs are more homogenous than central cities, but places like Missouri City and Pearland are breaking that mold."
Howell said the smaller levels of segregation in Houston's outlying areas could be attributed in part to the lack of established segregation patterns, such as those found in Houston and similar large cities across the country.
"Because diversity is increasing across the region, there are these new suburbs being created quickly that lack these traditional patterns," she said.
Other findings in the report:
- Black-Latino segregation in the region has declined more rapidly than segregation between any other ethnic groups.
- Blacks are most segregated where they represent the largest absolute and relative numbers.
- The smaller the percentage of Anglos in an area, the greater their segregation from other groups.
- Asians live closest to Anglos and continue to be significantly segregated from blacks and Latinos.
The authors hope their study will highlight Houston's diversity relative to the rest of the country and show how people in the metro region are living amid these population changes. According to Emerson, the extensive diversity of the Houston region offers great potential for moving toward being a world-class city.
"Harnessing the burgeoning ethnic diversity of the Houston region is a signature opportunity to lead the nation in the transition to a fully inclusive, unified multi-ethnic region," he said. "How Houston handles this transition will go far in shaping the vitality of its future."
P. Wilner Jeanty, a research scientist and demographer for the Kinder Institute and Mike Cline, a research scientist in the Department of Sociology were also study co-authors. The Kinder Institute and the Hobby Center funded the research.
Rice University has a VideoLink ReadyCam TV interview studio. ReadyCam is capable of transmitting broadcast-quality standard-definition and high-definition video directly to all news media organizations around the world 24/7. To schedule an interview with one of the authors, contact David Ruth, director of national media relations at Rice, at email@example.com or 713-348-6327.
Related links:
Rice News video: http://www.
Houston Region Grows More Ethnically Diverse, With Small Declines in Segregation: http://ow.
Michael Emerson bio: http://sociology.
Jenifer Bratter bio: http://sociology.
Kinder Institute for Urban Research: http://kinder.
Hobby Center for the Study of Texas: http://hobbycenter.
Located on a 300-acre forested campus in Houston, Rice University is consistently ranked among the nation's top 20 universities by U.S. News & World Report. Rice has highly respected schools of Architecture, Business, Continuing Studies, Engineering, Humanities, Music, Natural Sciences and Social Sciences and is known for its "unconventional wisdom." With 3,708 undergraduates and 2,374 graduate students, Rice's undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio is 6-to-1. Its residential college system builds close-knit communities and lifelong friendships, just one reason why Rice has been ranked No. 1 for best quality of life multiple times by the Princeton Review and No. 4 for "best value" among private universities by Kiplinger's Personal Finance. To read "What they're saying about Rice," go to www.rice.edu/nationalmedia/Rice.pdf.


text:
About Charleston
About Charleston
Charleston, South Carolina, is a city known for its enchantment and charm, as well as its fascinating beauty, history, and culture. Since its settlement in 1670 by English colonists, the charming historic seaport of Charleston has been a favorite vacation and relocation destination.
Steeped in history, Charleston is often called a "living museum." Its past and present are intertwined like no other city and are evident in its culture, architecture, plantations, and famous gardens.
With its lively and historical festivals and cultural events, there's never a dull moment in Charleston. From the Southeastern Wildlife Exposition every February, to the Spoleto Festival USA held each May, to the wide array of nightlife activities, there is always something going on in Greater Charleston. The mild coastal climate makes Charleston's world-renowned golf courses and beautiful beaches fun to enjoy year-round.
Come to Charleston and see for yourself.


text: The Breakfast Club is a 1985 American coming-of-age comedy-drama film written, produced, and directed by John Hughes and starring Emilio Estevez, Paul Gleason, Anthony Michael Hall, John Kapelos, Judd Nelson, Molly Ringwald and Ally Sheedy. The storyline follows five teenagers, each a member of a different high school clique, who spend a Saturday in detention together and come to realize that they are all more than their respective stereotypes, while facing a villainous principal. Critics consider it one of the greatest high school films, as well as one of Hughes' most memorable and recognizable works. The media referred to the film's five main actors as members of a group called the ... more on Wikipedia


text:
Shopping. Shopping for a kid.
Friday, April 16, 2010
We were shopping, shopping for a kid. We looked through books, huge, heavy books filled with pictures of smiling kids. Under the pictures were labels. Each label had all of the ingredients that went into making each "product". We checked each picture and each label against our list, our shopping list.
That's how it felt with our third adoption. With our first two adoptions we were the product. We put together marketing campaigns. Those campaigns were distributed to the shoppers and the shoppers made decisions based on our ingredients, our nutritional value and our expiration dates. I think it was easier for us to be the product and not the shopper.
We already had kids, seven all together, so we went about making a list of what we thought we wanted. It was like choosing fruit it seemed to me. "Do I want the green grapes, or the purple grapes? Seeded or unseeded? Organic or not?" We thought we had a simple list: girl under the age of three living in Washington or Oregon. That was it. We looked at hundreds of pictures of girls under three living in the Pacific Northwest that that were free for adoption and not just a "maybe". How could we choose? The more we looked the more confused we became.
We had tunnel vision. We were shopping for the child that would fit into our lives. We weren't searching for the child whose life we would fit into. Quite by accident we saw a profile of a child that didn't match our list. Yes, it was a girl. Yes she lived in Washington. Yes she was free for adoption, parental rights had been terminated. She was six years old, three years over what we wanted. Jeff and I exchanged uncertain glances. To be polite we agreed to look at the picture.
We stared at the smiling face in the school photograph. We turned and stared at each other. We were looking at our daughter. I'm not sure how we knew, we just did. The "label" didn't matter. It had all sorts of warning signs listed in bold print:
Crack baby
Fetal Alcohol Effects
The list went on. We were shown police records of the people whose rights had been terminated. We were shown the hospital records of our daughter. The phrases that stood out were "smells like brewery", "positive for cocaine", "three pounds", "fragile preemie". None of that mattered. Our list didn't matter. What mattered was bringing our daughter home as soon as we humanly could.
A week later we sat in a Burger King waiting to meet our daughter. The caseworker was late. We kept checking our watches, looking out of the windows, and pacing waiting for our daughter to be delivered. The minutes crept by, each one longer than the last. I had to get to a phone. I had to see if there was a problem.
I had just left a frantic voice mail for the caseworker when this little sprite of a child burst through the door. She was in white tights, a white turtleneck and a blue jumper. Her ebony hair had been pulled into many braids. Her braids had been secured with hair ties that had brightly colored balls attached. She bolted through the fast food joint. She was screaming "My Daddy, my Daddy, my new Daddy!" Every head turned, every face smiled. Every one there watched a child meet her Daddy for the very first time.
When she got to where Jeff was standing she leapt off of the floor and into his arms nearly knocking him over. She touched his tear stained face and traced the path of his emotion with her little brown hand. Then she threw her skinny little arms around his neck and pressed her cheek against his.
Suddenly she maneuvered herself around in his arms and yelled "Where's my mommy?" Then she saw me. Our eyes locked and I saw a smile, a smile bigger than I've ever seen on such a small child. In an instant she was out of Jeff's protective arms and into mine. "You're my new mommy!"
"Yes, I am your mommy."
She burrowed her head into my neck and giggled. She reached out for her daddy. He put his strong arms around us both. Jeff and I cried, she giggled. Time stood still. Our daughter was with us at last.
That was fourteen years ago. This past March Nikki turned 20. She graduated high school last May at the top of her class. She will begin college this fall studying Criminal Justice and Art History. I can't imagine our lives had we stubbornly stuck to our list. I can't imagine our lives without our daughter. I don't want to imagine what would have happened had we heeded the warnings boldly posted on her "label".


text:
|Loyko Road of the Gypsies (CD)
|This is Russian gypsy music performed with consummate mastery.Their sell-out Frankfurt concert, recorded on this album, prompted the leading German daily Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung to write: "Nobody wanted to let them leave the stage. Musicians through and through, they really gave everything in this concert. Virtuoso dances, gentle romances, melancholy minor keys and a capella song - Loyko know exactly how to draw out the very quintessence of musicianship. With sharp-witted irony, they interpret the musical treasures of Eastern Europe which have developed into an independent genre in Russia and have influenced Russian music. Loyko add their own special touch with some unique arrangements and skilful tempi." Another leading German daily, the Süddeutsche Zeitung, was no less enthusiastic: "With exquisite a capella singing the trio goes straight to the very soul of the audience."
Released by Network Medien GmbH, 1998, Format: CD
Track 1
Track 2
Track 3
|<< back to the shop


text:
Have been on hiatus from JD for almost 2 years. Good to be back and I am sure it will give the staff cause for a few words of disbelief to see my ugly mug back in the forums.
A big hey to all you JD gods!
Well, holy crap! Look what the cat dragged in...
Page created in 0.038 seconds with 19 queries.


text:
|關於the Point Lookout location,參見Ark & Dove Cathedral。
|This is the Cathedral of the Children of the Cathedral. I don't know why they say Cathedral twice.
—A teenager
To the outside world, the Cathedral is nothing more than an innocent (albeit intimidating) set up for the Children of the Cathedral organization, which tries to bring love and peace to the wastes. Below it, however, lies a secret underground Vault (more specifically, the Los Angeles Vault), which serves as a home and base for the Master.
The Cathedral can be found one square west and nineteen squares south of Vault 13.
The Cathedral was built some time after 2155, following the Master's discovery of the Boneyard Vault. He conquered the inhabitants and set up operations there, and the human cultists began to use the Vault as their powerbase. Eventually, this monumental building known as the Cathedral was constructed above the Vault. The Cultists thus became known as the Children of the Cathedral.
The Cathedral was destroyed in 2162 either by a man known as the Vault Dweller or by the Master himself, when he learned that his super mutants were sterile.
Most of the Cathedral ground was taken up by the massive main chapel, whose vaulted ceiling was lost in the darkness above. Small chambers flanking the entrance to it were usually taken up by chanters or other devotees, while doors from the chapel itself led into the Cathedral's infirmary (headed by the notorious Dr. Wu), the shop, offering various souvenirs for the discerning pilgrim, the buildings main power generator, High Elder Lasher's chambers, the base of the tower as well as access to the basement, where all the less useful things were stored...including the entrance to the Los Angeles Vault.
From time to time, Father Morpheus would come down from his chambers to give a speech to the gathered faithful. Sometimes, even a giant holographic image of the Master appeared, to the awe of the assembled.
The adjoining tower had three floors, where the Nightkin resided, as well as the more important members of the Children of the Cathedral, like high priests. Dane resided in a room on the first floor of the tower, while Morpheus, the leader of the Children, resided on the third, upper floor.
- In the Fallout: New Vegas add-on Dead Money, the companion Dog may sometimes say to himself: "I want to go back, back to the base. Or the Church, I miss the Church." As Dog was once a soldier of the Master, "the Church" is likely to be a reference to the Cathedral.
- It is not known how the Master managed to get here, considering he was residing in the Mariposa Military Base beforehand, and he was also a horribly mutated, and probably immobile, blob of flesh.


text:
Reader's report: The XL SturdiBag, in-cabin carrier for a tall Miniature Poodle
As I've said before, it's easy to travel with a small pet dog (say, under 10 lbs.), and it's pretty easy to travel with a pet Chloe's size (she has variously weighed 13-16 lbs., and stands 12″ tall at the shoulder). But what about pets weighing more than 16 lbs., or measuring more than 12″ tall at the shoulder? This week, reader Amy reports on making the extra-large SturdiBag work for her tall Miniature Poodle, with some useful modifications and … Read more


text:
Recently, the Northwest Energy Angels convened a breakfast briefing on cleantech investing, and I had the honor of moderating a panel headlined by Clean Tech Nation author and Clean Edge managing director Ron Pernick; Kirk Washington, a Partner at Yaletown Venture Partners; and Susan Preston, General Partner for the CalCEF Clean Energy Angel Fund.
As our region continues to look for ways to create jobs, innovate and become a leader in clean energy, here are four key takeaways from the discussion.
Kirk Washington of Yaletown was direct in his assessment of what he and his firm likes to see in new ideas. The key is "capital efficient" businesses — or firms that need minimum of outside capital to get off the ground. The best way to drive capital efficiency?
"Through customer money," he says.
In other words, companies should strive to introduce products as fast as possible, even if that means engaging with customers with a product that is not fully featured. "Getting objective feedback earlier helps make sure you're developing the right product," he said. Washington also stressed the importance of building the whole organization – sales, marketing, support, supply chain – rather than just focusing on the technology.
Catch 22? Not necessarily.
There are many ways to involve customers, especially as strategic partners, early in the process. We're starting to see this a lot in the biofuels space, as large oil companies with big balance sheets increasingly are willing to fund construction of facilities if certain milestones for production and scale can be met.
Susan Preston made a poignant distinction between "necessity" economics and "luxury" economics. She believes that the more a product or service can solve a problem (a necessity) the better the chance of it seeing large-scale commercial success. Gone are the days when consumers will pay a "green" premium, and absent regulations or mandates, corporate customers will always seek the lowest cost option.
Early-stage cleantech companies would be wise to engineer their products and services with a focus on performance and cost rather than "green-ness." There are some good examples of this in the chemicals space, with startups like bioplastics manufacturer Newlight Technologies.
Let's assume that you can create a product or service that performs as good or better for the same or lower cost than the incumbent. And let's also assume you have some traction with customers. Scaling any type of production company, energy provider or biotech needs capital – and likely a lot of it. In today's challenging funding environment, what's a startup to do?
Ron Pernick talked about several innovative ways to fund clean energy companies. The first is to enable clean energy companies to form Master Limited Partnerships (MLP), which are like traditional limited partnerships except that they can be traded on a public stock exchange. Traditionally, MLPs are limited to companies that are focused on the petroleum, coal and natural gas industries.
However, opening up MLPs to renewables could be a shot in the arm for the industry, given that MLPs are a proven method of raising large amounts of funding at a relatively low cost. In fact, U.S. Senator Chris Coons of Delaware has proposed the Master Limited Partnerships Parity Act to level the playing field. At just 200 words long, the Act is simple and direct. Anyone involved in large scale energy development should root for its passage.
But what if you're not developing a 500mw solar array? What if you need funding to build a demo of an electric bike or a prototype of a new battery storage system? Will the new "crowdfunding" concept, which was enabled by President Obama's JOBS Act earlier this year, be an option?
The answer from the panel was a resounding … "maybe." All three of the panelists expressed some concerns about the overall quality of investors, as well as the quality of the offerings themselves. There was strong agreement that investing personal money – no matter the amount – is not a trivial act. Panelists would like to see more detail from the SEC about crowdfunding guidelines and regulations before giving a final opinion.
One thing that could be attractive about crowdfunding, with the assumption that the concerns noted above are made moot by regulations, is that it could be a great way to "top off" a round of funding in conjunction with an angel group which has done the core due diligence for others to leverage. crowdfunding could be highly complementary. At the Northwest Energy Angels, we often times can provide much, but not all, capital needed to fully fund a round.
If crowdfunding takes off, it could be a valuable asset for entrepreneurs and angels alike. Crowdfunders could leverage the professional due diligence of an angel group or venture capitalist, and those groups could leverage the aggregated funding power of individuals.
The three panelists agreed with the ability of the cleantech industry to create jobs and increase our national energy security. With extreme weather events increasing and rising ocean levels, it's not a matter of if the U.S. will adopt more and more clean technologies, the only question is how quickly. Importantly, since the cleantech industry is a global industry, the U.S. needs to make sure it stays on top of this critical technological wave or yield economic sector leadership elsewhere.
Byron McCann is co-chairman of the Northwest Energy Angels, the first early-stage investment group in the United States to focus exclusively on cleantech industries.


text:
Tuesday, 30 June 2009
Pop Auction results
Christie's of New York had a Pop culture auction on June 23d, and this fully autographed giant Sgt Pepper poster went under the hammer for a mere $52.500.
Other prices realized were: An early black and white promo card, signed by The Beatles in blue ink on the verso, $3 750, a photographic Christmas card, reading From Me - To You, Wishing you a Merry Christmas signed by all four Beatles in blue and black ink, also $3 750, a superb copy of the rare "Gold Parlophone" first pressing of the Beatles UK debut album Please Please Me in mono at $2 500, the "Incredible!" Yesterday And Today poster with the butcher photo at $1 875, and a pair of green, plastic Silhouette prescription glasses, worn by John Lennon. The glasses were accompanied by an image of Lennon wearing the glasses at Elton John's suite at the Sherry Netherland during the mid-1970s. They were estimated to go for €3-5 000 but went for $8 125.
Christie's Auction Catalogue
Monday, 29 June 2009
Book Review: The Beatles and Ireland
Book Review: The Beatles and Ireland
by Michael Lynch and Damian Smyth
230 pages
Publisher: The Collins Press
Published October 1st,2008
The weather in Norway has been terrific as of late, and this week-end provided me with not only a terrible sunburn (now there's a Farrah Fawcett - Wings connection), but was also an opportunity to catch up on my reading.
There are good reasons why the book I reviewed earlier was called "The Beatles in Scotland", while this one bears the title "The Beatles and Ireland". While the Beatles played 22 concerts in Scotland at the height of Beatlemania, as well as having their first tour there as The Silver Beatles, Ireland on the other hand was only visited by the band once for a concert. On the 7th of November 1963, The Beatles gave their only concert in the Adelphi Cinema,Dublin (yes, Bob Geldof attended). That's talking about the Irish Republic, of course. Ireland is, as we know, divided in two, Eire or the Republic of Ireland became an independent country in 1922, but the British government refused the six northernmost counties to become part of the new republic. These counties then became Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kindom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (commonly referred to as the UK). Belfast is the capital of Northern Ireland, and in the whole of Northern Ireland there are today about 1,6 million inhabitants. The Eire constitution of 1937 has a united Ireland as a goal, but this demand has not been as strong of late, possibly because the Republic has experienced much economic growth for the past decade, something that can not be said about Northern Ireland.
The Beatles also gave two concerts in Northern Ireland when they played in Belfast the day after Dublin, and gave a return performance the year after, on November 2nd, 1964. These concerts are also chronicled in this book. After that, with no more concerts to write about, the bulk of the book explores other connections between Ireland and The Beatles.
And it all starts with family ties. Both Lennon, McCartney and Harrison has Irish roots, the strongest of which belong to George, whose Irish mother can trace her family all the way back to when the Normans left France for Ireland in the thirteenth century. While we read about Lennon's visits to his family in Edinburgh in "Beatles in Scotland", this time it's George who takes time out during the Dublin visit to seek out his relatives. His mother also came over to Dublin on this occasion.
Apart from this, we could sum up the rest of the book by mentioning that both John and Paul wrote songs about Ireland in 1972 ("Luck of The Irish" and "Sunday Bloody Sunday" from John, "Give Ireland Back To The Irish" from Paul), that John bought the island of Dorinish in 1967 and had it until he died, and that Paul McCartney married Heather Mills in Ireland. The songs are only discussed in brief, but those other subjects are scrutinized thoroughly in the book. We have never before read such a chronology of the island Dorinish before, and we are almost flies on the wall at the McCartney-Mills-wedding, as this event is told by a hired Irish camera man. McCartney and Mills were keen to document their wedding thoroughly, so they hired a movie team with unlimited access to the couple for several days before and at the wedding and reception. The resulting wedding video has never been showed to the public, it was the couple's private momento - just a little bit better filmed and edited than most people's wedding videos! One particularly interesting piece of information from the proceedings was the fact that Paul's daughter Stella specifically asked the camera crew not to include her in the video. This may be evidence that she was opposed to the wedding, as has been rumoured in the press for years. We also get to know that Ringo Starr, who held a speech at the wedding, split from the reception after a very short while.
Lennon had Alistair Taylor buy him the island of Dorinish in 1967, when he planned to make it his private retreat, together with Cynthia and Julian. The marriage broke up, and it was John and Yoko who paid the island a visit after a while. When they chose to live in New York City, John gave a group of hippies permission to start a colony there, but they left after a couple of years. With the island abandoned, Lennon still had a romantic dream of returning, perhaps to spend his autumn years there with Yoko. This dream seems to be portrayed in the "(Just Like) Starting Over"-video that Yoko commisioned years later.
That dream burst at the slaying of John, and Yoko eventually sold the island to the Gavin family in 1985. The family originally planned to make use of the island as gracing fields, but it was instead left as a wild life reservation.
We also get to hear about the easter holidays in 1964, when George and his new girlfriend Pattie took John and Cynthia to the Dromoland Castle Hotel in Co Clare, Ireland. After a pleasant first day there, they woke up the next morning besieged by journalists and photographers. George and John agreed to a photo session, but their holidays had to end and the girls were smuggled out of the hotel in a laundry basket. At this time, George wanted to keep the lid on his new relationship.
Also after The Beatles split up, few solo concerts have reached Ireland, but Ringo held a concert at "The Point" in Dublin in 1998 and Paul held a concert in the Royal Dublin Showgrounds during his "Back in the world" tour of 2003. Both are of course presented here, with track listings and concert reviews.
Then there's a chapter about The Beatles Ireland fan club, founded in 1993, and Irish Beatles cover band The Quarrymen (later to become The Classic Beatles after John Lennon's original The Quarrymen started playing together again).
One amusing chapter is about Irishman Richard Hall who on his way to a family wedding in 1968 decides to drop by Weybridge and say hello to John Lennon! His cheekiness is rewarded when John and Julian not only gives them a tour around the house, but also a great parting gift: Lennon's Ivor Novello statuette, an award for "She's Leaving Home"!
Presenting Irishmen with a reference to The Beatles almost becomes a parody when we get to know the serviceman who serviced Allan Williams' Austin J4 van, the car that brought The Beatles to Hamburg!
The text of the book ends on page 114, but is filled out with six appendixes:
Appendix 1: An Irish Beatles "Who-is-who", Listing people from Ireland with a Beatles connection alphabetically, with info of varying length about each one. The most interesting ones here are perhaps ex-Wings member Henry McCulloch, and Gene Mahon who designed the back cover of Sgt Pepper and the Apple logo for the record labels. Other well-known Irish Beatle people are Wilfred Brambell, Freda Kelly. Paddy Delaney, Eamonn Andrews, Spud Murphy, Geoff Rhind and Pattie Boyd!
Appendix 2: "Day Trippers" deals with visits to Ireland from Beatles and people from the Beatles' history. This is where Paul and Heather visit Barretstown in 2004, Julia Baird lived in Belfast for a while, Donovan brings George to Kilkullen in 1971, and George visits Ron Wood in 2000, Cynthia Lennon lived in Ireland in the seventies, Paul and Linda drives around Ireland looking for Percy Thrillington in 1971, and Yoko Ono as well as John's sons Sean og Julian have also visited the country.
Appendix 3 is about the best known Beatles landmarks in Ireland, but disappointingly the Adelphi Cinema in Dublin, where they played in 1963 has been knocked down. Just one wall is still standing, now part of a parking house. Similarly, the Ritz Cinema in Belfast was torn down, and has been replaced by a hotel. Fortunately, King's Hall in Belfast is still with us, the venue for The Beatles' 1964 concert.
Appendix 4 is of interest to many, we know. It's the Irish Hit Charts, with Beatles and solo-Beatles releases featured. Let's just mention a few of the more interesting chart facts: "She Loves You" and "I Want To Hold Your Hand" only went to 2nd place in Ireland, and the three 1990's singles "Baby It's You", "Free As A Bird" and "Real Love" went to twelfth, fifth and sixth in the charts. We're also noticing that Paul McCartneys "Fine Line" og "Jenny Wren" placed at positions 53 og 60, far from hits, but still, in the charts! John's "Imagine"-single made a comeback at position no. 3 in 1999, and George's "My Sweet Lord" went to number five in 2002. Ringo had a few good hits during 1971-1974, but nothing after that. When it comes to album charts, they weren't compiled in Ireland until the 1990's. Thus, the album chart lists starts with "Live At The BBC" who went ninth in 1994, and the "Anthology" collections all ended up on sixth. "Sgt. Pepper" made a surprise appearance on the album lists in 1997 despite there not being an anniversary edition, it still goes to a respectable eighteenth place in the Top 40. "Yellow Submarine Songtrack" peaks at a disappointing 22nd place, but "1" bringes Beatles to the toppermost in 2001. "Let It Be…Naked" is in at seven, and "Love" peaked at a good 3d place in the Irish album charts. Paul McCartney's album hits in Ireland starts with "Flaming Pie" at 21. and ends with "Memory Almost Full" at 30. Highest placement was "Wingspan" which ended up at 10. Lennon has two collections in the charts with "Lennon Legend" on 5th, while "Working Class Hero" only managed 21st as best placement. George is only represented together with the Traveling Wilburys on the album charts, with the 2007 boxed set which actually made it to the top and stayed in the Top 40 for 13 weeks.
Appendix 5 is "Beatle Interviews", starting with a transcription of the Beatles chat on Granada TV's "Scene at 6:30" on the 20th of December 1963. A bit less interesting is a transcription of a radio interview with Allan Williams and Bob Wooler from 1984, but a good, long Ringo interview from 1998 and a lackluster McCartney interview from 2003 saves the chapter.
Appendix 6 is called "Irish Broadcasting and the Beatles" and deals with what the title says, Irish radio- and TV-shows with and about the Beatles and ex-Beatles with a short description of each show.
The book is illustrated throughout, with photos, partly rare ones, and documents and concert tickets, all rendered in black and white. It ends with something every good reference book needs, an index. We at WogBlog fully support these national Beatles book, every country should have one!
Neil Young & Paul McCartney A Day In The Life
Neil Young & Paul McCartney A Day In The Life Live From Hyde Park 27th June 2009 (720P HD). It was rumoured for a while that Paul McCartney was to be the main attraction at Saturdays "Hard Rock Calling" concert in Hyde Park, London, and duly reported in this blog. A few months ago, however, the main event was officially announced, and it was Neil Young. So naturally, we scrapped our ticket-buying plans (after all, Neil played in Oslo before London). This we lived to regret, when we found out that Paul had entered the stage and participated in Neil's rendition of "A Day In The Life". Oh, well.
Friday, 26 June 2009
Michael Jackson and The Beatles
Michael Jackson passed away somewhat unexpectedly last night. In this article, we examine the bonds between the Beatles and Michael Jackson.
Jackson was initially a member of the popular family group The Jackson 5, who had the distinction of becoming the second animated saturday morning cartoon series based on living persons. Unlike the Beatles' series, the Jacksons were themselves participants in the creation. Michael, enamoured by being involved in fairy tales, was said to have given a lot of creative input. The series ran for two seasons, from September 11, 1971 until September 1, 1973. In the '80s, as Michael Jackson's popularity soared, this series was resurrected by many cable and network TV stations. In the nineties the series was dusted off again for airings on MTV and VH1.
During their six-year Motown tenure, The Jackson 5 were one of the biggest pop-music phenomena of the seventies, and the band served as the launching pad for the solo careers of their lead singers Jermaine and Michael. They were the first black teen idols to appeal equally to white audiences. In 1971, Motown began a spin-off solo career for Michael, whose first single, "Got to Be There," was a Top 5 hit. Michael also sang the title track for the 1972 motion picture "Ben", another smash hit.
The first Beatles angle came with Michael's 1979 solo album "Off The Wall", where he covered Paul McCartney's song "Girlfriend", a Wings album track from "London Town". "Off The Wall" featured the hit single "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" and reached number three on the Billboard 200 albums charts.
Paul McCartney gave Michael's version of "Girlfriend" favourable mentions in interviews, and this may have lead to the phonecall from Jackson to McCartney that started their relationship as duetting composers. In 1981, Jackson and McCartney recorded "Say Say Say" and "The Man", but the two songs didn't make the track list of Paul's 1982 album "Tug of War", and were held over for eventual release on his 1983-album, "Pipes of Peace". In April 1982, Paul and Michael recorded the Jackson composition "The Girl Is Mine" together, and it was this song that ended up as their first released duet, when it became the A-side of a Michael Jackson single on October 18, 1982, one month prior to the release of Michael's new album, "Thriller", where the song was also featured. "The Girl Is Mine" achieved success in the music charts. Aside from topping the R&B singles chart, the single peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 and number eight in the UK. By 1985, it had sold 1.3 million copies, and was eventually certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America, for shipments of at least two million units.
The album "Thriller" was to become the stuff that dreams are made of. With the release of the second single "Billie Jean", the album topped the charts in many countries. At its peak, the album was selling a million copies a week worldwide. In just over a year, Thriller became—and currently remains—the best-selling album of all time.
A year after the release of "Thriller", the other two collaborations, "Say Say Say" and "The Man" were included on Paul McCartney's "Pipes of Peace" album, and "Say Say Say" was also released as a single. "Say Say Say" was a number one hit in the US and peaked at number two in the UK. Number one in Canada, Finland, Italy, Norway and Sweden, the single peaked within the top ten of Austria and New Zealand.
Due probably to the success of these duets, preparations were made to release their third collaboration, "The Man" as another single from the "Pipes of Peace" album, and it is rumoured that even a promotional video was made. The plans were eventually scrapped.
Following the success of "Thriller" and as the money started pouring in, McCartney adviced his new friend to invest in the music publishing business. McCartney runs a successful music publishing empire himself, his company MPL handles the music publishing rights for many well known compositions, including the musical "The Music Man" and all the Buddy Holly songs, among others. "I'm gonna buy your songs, Paul" was Jackson's cheeky reply, and he successfully managed to do just that. From Wikipedia: In one discussion, McCartney told Jackson about the millions of dollars he had made from music catalogs; he was earning approximately $40 million a year from other people's songs. Jackson then began a business career buying, selling and distributing publishing rights to music from numerous artists. Shortly afterwards, Northern Songs—a music catalog holding thousands of songs, including The Beatles' back catalog—was put up for sale.
Jackson took immediate interest in the catalog but was warned that he would face strong competition. Excited, he skipped around saying, "I don't care. I want those songs. Get me those songs Branca (his attorney)". Branca then contacted the attorney of McCartney, who clarified that his client was not interested in bidding; "It's too pricey". After Jackson had started negotiations, McCartney changed his mind and tried to persuade Yoko Ono to join him in a joint bid, she declined, so he pulled out. Jackson eventually beat the rest of the competition in negotiations that lasted 10 months, purchasing the catalog for $47.5 million. When McCartney found out he said, "I think it's dodgy to do things like that. To be someone's friend and then buy the rug they're standing on".
The two never collaborated anymore after that.
It turned out Ono had actually encouraged Jackson to buy the shares, telling the press after the sale, "I just feel like a friend has them." Yoko Ono and her son Sean were friends with Jackson at this point in time, and Sean was very into Jackson's music and style. At one point he even sported the "one glove" fashion at school, and he participated in Jackson's 1988 movie Moonwalker. One Lennon-McCartney composition, "Come Together" was also performed by Jackson in the movie and on the soundtrack album.
In 1995, Jackson merged his catalogue with Sony Music's publishing, for a reported $95 million, establishing Sony/ATV Music Publishing, in which he retained half-ownership. In April 2006 a package was proposed whereby, Jackson would borrow $300 million and reduce the interest rate payable on a loan he had, while giving Sony the future option to buy half of Jackson's stake in their jointly-owned publishing company (leaving Jackson with a 25% stake). Jackson agreed to a Sony-backed refinancing deal, although the finalised details were not made public.
In music publishing, copyright law runs for 28 years, then expires. The law states that if a writer sells his songs to another interest during his lifetime, and he dies before the right expires, his portion of the rights revert to his heirs. If the writer is still alive, he is out of luck, as far as getting the rights back. They are renewed by whoever bought them.
This means that when the rights to Beatles songs started expiring in 1990, Jackson owned 50% of Lennon/McCartney tunes, McCartney owned 25%, and Lennon's heirs (Yoko Ono and Sean Lennon) owned 25%. As the rights on each song expired, Lennon's heirs got back the half (25%) of the copyright that had been purchased from Lennon. That means that Lennon's heirs currently own 50% of all Lennon/McCartney tunes, Jackson's estate (with his merged company) now own 25% and McCartney owns 25%.
The George Harrison compositions handled by Northern Songs are:
Blue Jay Way
I Need You
I Want to Tell You
If I Needed Someone
Its All Too Much
Love You To
Only a Northern Song
Think for Yourself
Within You Without You
You Like Me Too Much
as well as the songs Harrison composed for the "Wonderwall" movie, released on his "Wonderwall Music" album. Unlike Lennon, Harrison died after the rights expired, so the rights to his songs remained with Jackson/Sony.
On January 6th, spinner.com reported a story from UK newspaper the Daily Mirror that "Michael Jackson intended to leave Paul McCartney the Beatles' back catalog in his will". Apparantly, the Daily Mirror quotes a Jackson insider as saying, "Michael told his lawyers he was sad he no longer talks to Sir Paul and said he wanted to make things right." This story has not been officially confirmed. As Jackson now has passed away, this issue now gains new interest. Paul McCartney has issued the following statement on his website:
"It's so sad and shocking. I feel privileged to have hung out and worked with Michael. He was a massively talented boy man with a gentle soul. His music will be remembered forever and my memories of our time together will be happy ones.
I send my deepest sympathy to his mother and the whole family and to his countless fans all around the world."
Michael Jackson Posters
Wednesday, 24 June 2009
Beatles Collectable Cards
UK Collectable cards
During the sixties, there was the collectable cards craze, and I suppose there are still those who indulge in this kind of thing. Some cards included a chewing gum, some didn't. The american made collectors cards are fairly well documented, but cards in different series were released worldwide by local companies jumping on the Beatles bandwagon.
Yellow Submarine Cards
In Sweden, the cards were and still are called "Filmisar" or "filmies", because most pictures were of famous stars of the screen. Here in Norway, local cards were never made, but sometimes we could find swedish "filmies" included in a bag of sweets. Finnish cards were also commonly available. UK cards were for sale as packs of 2 cards and a chewing gum.
Swedish collectable cards
As far as I know, international collectors cards have never been documented in a world spanning "cardography". Take a look at different collectors cards on these pages.
Tuesday, 23 June 2009
McCartney listed in Boston
Jambase are listing two new concerts for Paul McCartney, both in the Boston Red Sox home base, Fenway Park. The proposed dates are Wednesday, August 5th and Thursday, August 6th. We assume that the official word will eventually pop up over at the official Red Sox site.
Updated itiniary for what is beginning to look like a small tour:
4. Sat Radio City New York, NY
17. Fri Coachella Indio, CA
19. Sun The New Joint Las Vegas, NV
May - June: Break
11. Sat Halifax Commons Halifax, NS
17. Fri Citi Field Flushing, NY
18. Sat Citi Field Flushing, NY
21. Tue Citi Field Flushing, NY
01. Sat FedEx Field Landover, MD
05. Wed Fenway Park Boston, MA
06. Thu Fenway Park Boston, MA
15. Sat Piedmont Park Conservatory Atlanta, GA
Monday, 22 June 2009
Isn't It A Pity
This earliest demo of "Isn't It A Pity" is otherwise only available for people who download the full "Let It Roll - Songs of George Harrison" album from iTunes. Isn't it a pity?
Paul McCartney does Washington
LANDOVER, MD -- Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Paul McCartney will perform at FedExField - the home of the Washington Redskins – on Saturday, August 1.
Tickets go on sale Friday, June 26 at 10:00 A.M. ET and are available at all Ticketmaster locations, by calling 800-551-SEAT, and online at LiveNation.com. Tickets will be available at the FedExField Box Office on June 26 only. This concert is rain or shine.
This concert event at FedExField marks the latest in a series of landmark performances that link the beloved Beatle with Washington D.C., beginning with The Beatles' first concert on American soil in 1964 at the Washington Coliseum, and continuing with McCartney's critically acclaimed appearances in the District over the past forty-five years.
"This will be a great concert by one of the world's most-loved performers," said Daniel M. Snyder, Owner of the Washington Redskins and FedExField. "I've been a fan of Paul's all my life, so it's going to be a memorable night for us all."
The FedExField concert on August 1 will feature classics from McCartney's extensive catalog, including Beatles, Wings and solo career hits as well as selections from his most recent album Electric Arguments, released under his alias The Fireman.
Additionally, the FedExField show will be among McCartney's first U.S. appearances since his recent headlining stand at the first night of this year's Coachella festival and the same weekend's record-breaking one-off opening of the new Joint in Las Vegas.
The FedExField concert will also come on the heels of Paul McCartney's three sold-out shows at the new Citi Field in New York, with the public snapping up tickets minutes after they went on sale.
McCartney gave his first ever American performance at the Washington Coliseum on February 11, 1964. Joined by the Caravelles, Tommy Rose, and the Chiffons, the Fab Four played to a capacity crowd of over 8,000 people, heralding the arrival of Beatlemania in the United States.
The show on August 1 at FedExField marks McCartney's first performance in Washington D.C. since October 8, 2005. Dave McKenna raved about the show in his review for the Washington Post, stating "folks came to hear McCartney sing, in a voice still strong enough to leave listeners awestruck."
Ticket link
Thursday, 18 June 2009
New studio album from George Harrison?
The List reports that Olivia Harrison is contempleting a new release from the estate of George Harrison. A source said: "George half-finished loads of songs and often just forgot about them. There is probably an album's worth of material." Recently, Olivia revealed she wanted to do something with her husband's incomplete songs. She said: "There are lots of tracks. Some are closer to completion than others and with those I'd ask for help." The List believes Jeff Lynne will be called upon to produce a finished album, possibly together with George's son Dhani. WogBlog has heard that Dhani presented the idea of a boxed set of George's unreleased songs to EMI/Parlophone a couple of years ago, but they rejected it, mirroring Warner Bros' rejection of the initial version of George's "Somewhere in England" album. Maybe Parlophone is testing the waters with the new compilation CD "Let It Roll - Songs of George Harrison"?
Monday, 15 June 2009
The Beatles:Rockband Song list
This is the rumoured full list of songs to be released on the new The Beatles: Rockband computer game:
I Saw Her Standing There
Please Please Me
Twist and Shout
All My Loving
I Wanna Be Your Man
She Loves You
I Want to Hold Your Hand
A Hard Day's Night
And I Love Her
Can't Buy Me Love
I'm A Loser
Baby's in Black
I Feel Fine
Ticket to Ride
I've Just Seen a Face
I'm Down
Drive My Car
In My Life
If I Needed Someone
Day Tripper
She Said She Said
And Your Bird Can Sing
Paperback Writer
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds
Good Morning Good Morning
I Am the Walrus
Hello Goodbye
Back in the USSR
While My Guitar Gently Weeps
Everybody's Got Something to Hide Except Me and My Monkey
Helter Skelter
Hey Bulldog
Come Together
Octopus's Garden
Here Comes the Sun
Don't Let Me Down
Dig a Pony
I've Got a Feeling
Get Back
In addition, All You Need Is Love will be available for download exclusively for the XBox360 version of the game. Full albums will also be made available for download to the gamers, starting with Abbey Road
Saturday, 13 June 2009
Postcard from Berlin
We're having a wonderful time here on the European mainland. The weather's all over the place and so are we! Here are some new and better photos of the Beatles remastered boxed sets we found. Be good! And Peace :)
Tuesday, 9 June 2009
WogBlog Vacation
Monday, 8 June 2009
Past Masters Remastered
Now that's a lot better! Some people seems to have been fooled to order both the above CD and Past Masters Vol. 2, we notice over at the amazon store. No need to! The new Past Masters is a double disc, containing both Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 of the 1988 release, but in remastered form. Besides, some songs that appeared in mono on the previous Past Masters Vol 1 are in stereo on the new Past Masters.
The mono boxed set will include a "Mono Masters" album, equivalent to the Past Masters discs. No art has been released for it, but they'll probably use the cover for Past Masters Vol. 2 as inspiration for that one, is my bet.
Track Listing for the new Past Masters set:
Disc 1:
1. Love Me Do (Single Version)
2. From Me To You (now in stereo)
3. Thank You Girl (now in stereo)
4. She Loves You
5. I'll Get You
6. I Want To Hold Your Hand
7. This Boy
8. Komm, Gib Mir Deine Hand (I Want To Hold Your Hand)
9. Sie Liebt Dich (She Loves You)
10. Long Tall Sally
11. I Call Your Name
12. Slow Down
13. Matchbox
14. I Feel Fine
15. She's a Woman
16. Bad Boy
17. Yes It Is
18. I'm Down
Disc 2:
1. Day Tripper
2. We Can Work It Out
3. Paperback Writer
4. Rain
5. Lady Madonna
6. The Inner Light
7. Hey Jude
8. Revolution
9. Get Back
10. Don't Let Me Down
11. The Ballad Of John And Yoko
12. Old Brown Shoe
13. Across The Universe
14. Let It Be
15. You Know My Name (Look Up The Number)
The list price is $24.98 in the USA but you may pre-order it from Amazon at $19.99. In the UK, the price is £13.98.
pre-order from Amazon (UK)
pre-order from Amazon (USA)
Friday, 5 June 2009
Remastered boxed sets - first look
These are cell phone pictures from the new Beatlefest catalog
HMV in Japan has the new remastered stereo and mono boxed sets listed on their website for pre-ordering, but without images.
The pre-order prices roughly converts to:
Mono Box........ USD 357,00
Stereo Box...... USD 311,00
What appears to be a difference in sizes of the boxes could be explained by the description on HMV Japan. They refer to the stereo box as "Long Card Box With Bonus Dvd", while the mono box is just described as "Beatles in Mono".
The mono box gathers together all of The Beatles recordings which were mixed for a mono release. It will contain 10 albums with their original mono mixes plus 2 more discs of mono masters (covering similar ground to the tracks on "Past Masters") As a bonus the discs for "Help!" and "Rubber Soul" also include the original 1965 stereo mixes.
HMV Japan Mono box
HMV Japan Stereo (Long Card Box With Bonus Dvd)
Thursday, 4 June 2009
McCartney's Archival project news
Some news coming from the archive work that is currently being done on the McCartney studio sessions future 4CD boxed set. First off, some interesting facts the archivists have discovered while reviewing songs for the three earlier discs.
Work has been done on three unreleased tracks from the Park Gates sessions late 198O with Wings: "Ecology of the world", "Rock'n'roll Rodeo " and "Good Morning Song" : these tracks were considered for disc 3, but dropped.
The medley from Give My Regards To Broadstreet ("Yesterday", "Wanderlust" and "Here, There & Everywhere") originally included "Fool on the Hill". It contains a new horns arrangement.
The South Strawberry sessions late 1981 with Stevie Wonder for "Ebony & Ivory" overdubs includes a couple of great jams for "Long and Winding Road " and "Lady Madonna".
Some overdubs were made at Montserrat for the "Ode to a Koala Bear" track.
The first working title for Get It was "Gotta Get It".
A lot of jams were recorded at Montserrat including one with Carl Perkins, Stevie Wonder, Paul and Denny Laine (just before he left), and one Denny Laine song was recorded at Montserrat.
"Any Younger" and "Unbeliavable Experience" were originally part of the "Sweetest Little Show" three-tracks medley with a length of more than 8 minutes. Recording started in March 1981 at Air Studios. During the same sessions, Paul recorded a special song for Lee Eastman for his birthday.
News about disc 4:
For disc four, still in research state, the following tracks have been chosen so far;
- Man We Was Lonely (duet with Johnny Cash)
- Is it Raining in London (with Hamish Stuart)
- Return to Pepperland
- So like Candy (with Elvis Costello)
- Sweet Home Country Girl
- Cello in The Ruins
- Winter Comes
Paul would like to re-record some songs for the project, so only 22 songs from the archives could be on disc 4 plus 3 new recordings ("Tomorrow", "Waterfalls" and the last song that Linda wrote are under consideration, with a duet with James on the last), but no recordings have been made yet.
15 unknown tracks are to be added on the listing later on as the project continues.
Meanwhile, I spent some time yesterday with the great Wings guitar player Henry McCullough, who did a gig in Oslo. Although a pleasant man, he could shed no new light on the ongoing archival project, even though he probably plays on a number of the 1972-1973 era songs. He explained that McCartney's people did not need to be in touch with him about releasing some of the old stuff, because he was paid for his session work back then, whether it was released or not.
McCartney's Citi Field Concert Poster
Meanwhile, we hear from Yawkey Way that Paul McCartney will play two dates at Fenway Park, Boston in August. This is unconfirmed at the moment.
Wednesday, 3 June 2009
Book review: The Beatles in Scotland
I finally had the chance to read this book, which was published last fall.
Book: The Beatles in Scotland
by: Ken McNab
Publisher: Polygon – Birlinn Ltd (UK)
Appx. 328 pages
Writing a book about the Beatles and the Scottish connections is a relatively thankful job, because the connections are plentyful.
One Beatle was born in Scotland (Stuart) and another spent his summer holidays there (John), a third has a farm there (Paul), The Beatles started their professional career there (Johnny Gentle & The Silver Beetles), and during the Beatlemania years (1963-1965) the Beatles played 22 concerts in Scotland. And when you also elect to write about scotsmen with one or another Beatles connection, you can also cover the rooftop concert as reported by a scottish journalist, and John Lennon's last concert performance in Madison Square Garden, witnessed by Elton John's scottish guitar player. So the scope of this book is a broad one.
But it all starts with John Lennon's Scotland connections, most of all the small village of Durness, where his Edinburgh aunt had a cottage. This is where the young John Lennon spent several summer holidays, after first having travelled by train to Edinburgh and visited his aunt and his cousin, Stan Parks. Together with his cousin, the road went on to Durness. The holidays made a mark in Lennon's mind, and he kept in touch with his cousin for as long as he lived. The chapter also explores the unfortunate pilgrim voyage John had in 1969 together with Yoko, Kyoko and Julian to show them Durness, a trip which lead to a traffic accident, which injured both Lennon and Ono, and had them hospitalised at Golspie. Meanwhile, the rest of the Beatles started recording the Abbey Road album.
Next up on the agenda is the very first tour: John, Paul, George, Stuart and Tommy Moore with Johnny Gentle as the main attraction. The quintet backed up Johnny as well as performing their own set. The next chapter is dedicated to the Scottish Beatle, Stuart Sutcliffe. His whole story is told, in fact we start it with the birth of his father, in 1905.
The next chapter is dedicated to the concerts, starting with January 2nd, 1963 and the band has it's classic final line-up. In the same chapter, we are also treated to their appearance at the scottish TV show Round Up. The chapters takes us from one scottish concert to another, all in chronological order, until the very last performance on December 3rd 1965 in Glasgow.
eye-witness reports from the Johnny Gentle tour tells of a different story than Gentle himself has written. Where Gentle recalls great receptions for the Beatles and their music, there's only polite applauds from the eye-witnesses. So I guess you could suspect that hindsight has coloured Gentle's memory quite a bit.
The scottish photographers get the next chapter, and they are Harry Benson (the pillow fight in Paris), Iain MacMillan (the Abbey Road cover) and Tom Murray (Mad Day Out). Unfortunately, there are no rare outtakes presented here, just the regular photos, and they are in black and white. But the stories the lensmen are telling are all entertaining.
Then there's a chapter about fellow musicians and friends from Scotland. Donovan, Lulu, Davey Johnstone, Hamish Stuart, Jack Bruce, Andy White (!), the Cavern bouncer Wallace Booth (the Beatles wanted him as road manager, but he suggested Mal Evans), the bands The Marmalade and (White) Trash, Fionna Duncan, Lonnie Donegan, Ivor (Buster Bloodvessel) Cutler, the football player Gordon Smith, the racing driver Jackie Stewart, Gordon Waller from Peter & Gordon, the composers Gallagher & Lyle, Al Stewart, Jimmy McCullough, Campbeltown Pipe Band, all get their stories told, and most of the ones that are still alive have been interviewed for the book. And the good stories among their anecdotes are many. The final chapter is about Mull of Kintyre and Paul McCartney's farm in that area.
The book has also some old photos we can't remember to have seen before, from concerts, TV appearances and backstage. There's one interesting photo missing though, we only get to hear about it: When The Beatles first meet up with Johnny Gentle, a newspaper photographer is present. A photo is taken with George holding his arms around a local girl, and the photo makes the next day's local newspaper. As we know, there's only one surviving photo of a Beatle from the Johnny Gentle tour, and that's one with George on stage with Johnny. If the author had managed to dig up the newspaper photo, we would have had twice as many.
McNab has a few mistakes throughout the book, logical errors. For instance, the 15 year old Richard Park can't have owned both Please Please Me and With The Beatles when he saw Beatles in concert in Kircaldy on the 6th of October 1963, because the latter album had yet to be released. That Lennon elected to take a short trip back home to Liverpool because of a cancelled concert in Scotland on the 2nd of January 1963 may be, but he didn't visit both Cynthia and his seven month old son Julian, because Julian had yet to be born – he was born on the 8th of April 1963. And for Lennon to manage this quick round trip to Liverpool, the cancelled concert in Keith must have been on the 2nd, and not as stated in the book, the 3rd., because they had a concert in Elgin on the 3rd.
The A Hard Day's Night movie was not released at Christmas 1964, it premiered on the 6th of July.
McNab also steps into the classic "Love Me Do"-trap, by claiming that Ringo is the one on drums on the album, and (the Scotsman) Andy White on the single – as we know, Ringo has said the same thing, but us nerds know that the opposite is true. Of course, the fact that the single master disappeared shortly after the release, forcing them to use the album master for subsequent re-releases of the single is a source of confusion for the ones involved. If you're still confused, just listen to the song. If you can hear a tambourine, then you know that's Ringo playing it, and Andy's on the drums. If you can't hear a tambourine, Ringo is on the drums.
McNab also confuses his readers by saying that it's Paul's old english sheepdog Martha who appears together with McCartney on the cover of the "Paul is Live"-album, that dog had left this world by that time. As far as I know, the dog on that cover is "Arrow", a descendent of old Martha.
But apart from these distractions, I can warmly recommend this book, which isn't giving us the big picture, but focuses on the little stories.
Listen to an interview with the author
Tuesday, 2 June 2009
The Beatles:RockBand - Opening Sequence
Prior to the appearance of Olivia, Yoko, Ringo and Paul, Microsoft presented the opening sequence of the Beatles:RockBand game on the big screen and there was also a Harmonix band present to play along with one of the melodies. This is a 10+ minute long video capturing that part of the press conference. We feature this as a link, because our column width does not support the width of the actual video.
Song montage
Paul and Ringo at E3
Paul and Ringo made a surprise appearance at last night's Microsoft Press conference at the E3 Game show, introducing The Beatles:RockBand for the Xbox 360.
That version will feature "All You Need Is Love" as an exclusive downloadable extra, and the profits of that song will be donated to "Doctors Without Borders".
It was also revealed that the Beatles:RockBand game will feature 45 songs, and that complete albums will be available for download as extra material, starting with "Abbey Road". A list of ten of the songs included with the game was also revealed:
* I Saw Her Standing There
* I Want To Hold Your Hand
* I Feel Fine
* Taxman
* Day Tripper
* Back In The USSR
* I Am The Walrus
* Octopus's Garden
* Here Comes The Sun
* Get Back
All the songs will be in their new, remastered versions.
Yoko Ono and Olivia Harrison were also present at the press conference. Here's the first official trailer for the game:
McCartney to play in New York again
The site says that "various reliable touring industry executives" have the ex-Beatle baptizing the sterling new stadium as a music venue with shows on July 17th and 18th, with a possible third performance added on the 21st.
Last fall, McCartney appeared at the final concert held at the now demolished Shea, as a guest star for Billy Joel's series of shows there.
The new concerts will take place during a break in the Mets' schedule, between July 12th and 27th.
USA Today reports: McCartney will play the first concerts at Citi Field, the new New York Mets ballpark that replaced storied Shea Stadium, where The Beatles made history 44 years ago. Tickets for the July 17-18 concerts go on sale Monday.
USA Today caught up with McCartney backstage at the E3 Beatles:RockBand presentation. The artist is quoted to have said "I'm really looking forward to it, it feels right. It was great to open Shea, and if anyone had to close it, I wanted to be there. So now I got the offer to open Citi Field, and it's like, oh, yeah, got to do it. That's my venue."
Asked about any surprise songs from the 1965 Shea Stadium concert, McCartney said "There are a couple I'm flirting with, but I don't decide this far out. Nobody heard us then, including us! As years go by, I think, 'This is when I thought I'd retire,' but I'm having too much fun," he says. "When you say to me 'Citi Field,' I go oooh inside. I'm hungry for that."
"If you like cheesecake, it doesn't matter how many you've had. You're still going to have the next one with relish."
Before Citi Field, McCartney is scheduled to perform on July 11th, in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Tickets to the Citi Field gigs here or by phone: 718-507-TIXX. The ticket sale starts Monday June 15th.


text:
[Verse 1]
Life is amazing but nothing should amaze you
Hatred is a phase and it shouldn't even faze you
Hey yo my man told me, death ain't nothin' but birth in reverse
So if you end up hurtin' me first i'll throw the hearse in reverse
Then disperse a verse in reverse without rehearsin' it first
Cuz my verse two, hurt you, worse than my first do
But my verse three worse than my first two
So the verse me adverts you versing the virtue
Remember when I spit that verse in reverse? That verse was killin' me
You wanna be the first to adverse my versatility?
Nigga I'm hotter than the devil, with a fever, wearin' a leather and a beater and a sweater while he eatin' a jalapeno fajita, with a bookbag full of heat pads, a scully and a ski mask with the heat on in the E-Class at Exxon with a speed pass
Best rapper alive, what's that you called me?
I got 'em saying nobody in rap could guard me
So I keep something to back 'em off me
In case I gotta throw the mask on and pop like a jabberwokkee
Somebody tell Jay-Z buy me a gold chain
I am hip hop, I embody the whole game
This is lyrical murder; I could body the whole game
And have rappers at the precinct providing my whole name
And I'm so good I climb mountains in my downtime
I write my newfound rhymes on the down climb
I swim oceans when I'm bored, I'm the last hope
I in fact wrote that last quote on my backstroke
That's dope nigga Los is deep
If this my dream, imagine when I go to sleep
You ain't shit, cuz they never salute ya
And I'm so far ahead I can actually remember the future
Each one of my verse is dope
But I get better every second
So my best shit the worst shit I ever wrote
And I'm married to hip-hop, that's my persona
I had a beat come to me with a kiss on her
So I jumped on 'er just to let her know what's mine
You forever mine bitch then I flipped on her
In other words I don't beat my bitch; I just make the beat my bitch
See I done lost a couple girlfriends and a couple homeboys but you know I gotta keep my bitch
Thinkin' bout all the things that I loved her through
Fuck it, life is a bitch and I love her too
My two bitches, not you bitches
I officially love the most fly two bitches
I'm too vicious
Dark blue GT sky blue dishes like "bye you bitches"
What would they do without Los?
Hip-hop just took a deep breath and blew it out slow
I'mma run a extra lap, while the rest'll just stare
In other words I am the new breath of fresh air
Life is amazing but nothing should amaze you
Hatred is a phase and it shouldn't even faze you
Niggas try to hold you down; all that shit should raise you
Opposition everyday shouldn't even daze you
Life ain't a game, but these niggas try to play you
Gotta love your struggle being broke shouldn't break you
It should make you, make it
When hard times come and try to take you, take it
It's not until you lose, you appreciate the win
Then you never lose the will to appreciate again
Recognize your enemies appreciate your friends
They the ones that still around when your situation ends
Never imitate a lame, innovate the game
Have a mindset of Kobe when he penetrate the lane
Fuck intimidation, have no limitations mayne
It's a bunch of niggas waitin' to eliminate your game
Yeah homie, learn the game and digest
Passion and persistence turns pain to progress
Stop stressin', your man Los got this
8 months tops I'm in the Lambo, Countach
Riding through the city somethin' pretty riding shotgun
Motherfuck a hater stack your paper 'til the cops come
Cross the line of scrimmage if you blitzin' then we blockin'
And guns hailin' mary, cuz ain't no other option
Watchin', listenin', nigga that's a student
Not only make a plan, but make a plan and execute it
I'm the next to do it, they could never play us
You should work a little harder nigga second place SUCKS
Number One and I claimed it. Welcome to Swaggsville cuz that's what the fuck I named it
I could do this in my sleep, I don't fight fair
You niggas even try to go to sleep and I'm your nightmare
Number One and I claimed it. Welcome to Swaggsville cuz that's what the fuck I named it