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The Crown Jewels of Jazz Festival returns Friday and Saturday with an adjusted format. While last year's fest was spread out across the Over-the-Rhine area, this year's Crown Jewels is more streamlined, with free events concentrated in OTR's Washington Park.
The fest kicks off Friday night with an 8 p.m. concert featuring unique and widely acclaimed Jazz singer Gregory Porter, as well as Cincinnati native Mandy Gaines (whose been busy performing throughout Europe and Asia).
Saturday at Washington Park, the fest kicks up again with Phil DeGreg, Baba Charles Miller and Kathy Wade (whose Learning Through Art, Inc. presents the Crown Jewels fest) performing and telling the story of Jazz (and other music) in a program called "Journeys: A Black Anthology of Music" at 4 p.m. At 5 p.m., "Piano Picnic in the Park" will showcase area pianists; DeGreg, Jim Connerly, Billy Larkin, Charles Ramsey III, Cheryl Renee, Steve Schmidt and Erwin Stuckey will each perform their two favorite Jazz numbers during the hour and a half performance.
Then it's time to dance! The fest closes out at 8 p.m. with "Dancing Under the Stars" at the park's bandstand, featuring music from the 18-piece Sound Body Jazz Orchestra and dancers/teachers from the Dare to Dance Ballroom Dance and Fitness Studio.
Given that it is presented by Learning Through Art, Inc., it is fitting that the Crown Jewels of Jazz fest will also include an educational program Saturday morning for high school musicians at the School for Creative and Performing Arts, just across the street from Washington Park's 12th Street entrance. The CJ2 Jazz Camp, which will feature clinics, classes and more with many of Cincinnati's top Jazz musicians and educators (including DeGreg, Stuckey, Jim Anderson, Marc Fields, Ted Karas, Mike Wade, Art Gore, Brent Gallaher and many others), begins at 8:30 a.m. There is a $35 fee per student.
For complete info on the Jazz Camp and all of the Crown Jewels of Jazz events, visit learningthroughart.com. And click here to read CityBeat's interview with Wade about the fest and her org's other work.
500 Miles to Memphis' two most recent album releases are local classics that reside in two vastly different musical landscapes. Their 2007 album, Sunshine in a Shot Glass, offers 12 tracks of undiluted Country Punk. The album starts off with the band's hit "All My Friends are Crazy" and doesn't let up. The band's followup, 2011's We've Built Up to Nothing, took the Country Punk roots and drastically expanded on the concept. Influenced by The Beatles, the Cincinnati-based quintet added layer upon layer of instrumentation to craft an epic that radically expanded the groundwork laid in 2007.
Now, in 2014 the band is set to unleash Stand There and Bleed. With its latest release, 500 Miles to Memphis has pulled back and opted for a simpler, more straightforward group of songs. In doing so, the band has written its best album to date.
The band will host a listening party for the new album tonight (Thursday) at The Drinkery in Over-the-Rhine. The album will be played in its entirety at 9 p.m., then the group will play an acoustic set at 10 p.m. The event is free. (The official release date for Stand There and Bleed has yet to be announced.)
At its core, 500 Miles to Memphis has always been about vocalist/guitarist Ryan Malott telling the stories of his life. And with three years in between releases, Malott has plenty to talk about. Stand There and Bleed is Malott's most personal output so far. We see a glimpse of tour life in "Medication," the joys of marriage in "Takes Some Time" and the trials of addiction in "Easy Way Out." Malott may have traded the bottle for coffee and a Playstation controller, but the struggle is ongoing. In fact, the best tracks on the album are the ones that document Malott's missteps, but only because the album has so much hope, as well. There is a light at the end of the tunnel, and Malott is steadily working his way towards it.
Joining Malott is bassist/vocalist Noah Sugarman, drummer Kevin Hogle, guitarist/vocalist Aaron Whalen and lap steel guitarist David Rhodes Brown. This all-star lineup compliments Malott's lyrics expertly. Gone are We Built Up to Nothing's more eccentric instrument choices; 500 stripped away the excess to more fully focus on what it had in house. The result is an album that's more consistent and true to 500's vision as a whole. Malott is influenced by Country and Punk Rock in equal measure and these influences come across stronger than ever on Bleed, with each member adding their own touch on the theme. Hogle's drumming is still some of the best in town; his musical ear enables him to mold his style to each and heighten the mood of all. Brown's steel playing on Stand There and Bleed keeps the more Punk-based tracks grounded in 500's roots and elevates the Country tracks to another level with effortlessly delivered solos. Finally, Whalen and Sugarman's guitar and bass inject energy throughout the record that reinforces Stand There and Bleed's straightforward, powerful delivery.
Malott's vocal delivery has been honed and refined on Stand There and Bleed, as well. Malott is an unabashed fan of Green Day and comparisons to Billie Joe Armstrong in songs like "Bethel, OH" and "Abilene" are undeniable. Malott has also continued to inject large amounts of emotion into his vocals. He's always been an expressive singer but the earnestness and pain in "You'll Get Around" and "Alone" show a departure from We've Built Up to Nothing's more polished vocals. Part of the recording process was breaking Malott of those good habits and getting him used to putting the feeling back into each take. What results is an album that's a little rougher around the edges and much more emotionally captivating for the listener.
500 Miles to Memphis has been pushing its music forward for years, constantly hitting the road to share its take on Country Punk. The band has been virtuous to the genre and also bent it to an almost unrecognizable state. With Stand There and Bleed, the quintet has met somewhere in the middle. The band has trimmed the fat, focused on what each (incredibly talented) member brings to the table and built a record that is its most focused and honest to date.
The band has traveled way more than 500 miles to reach where they are now, but with albums like Stand There and Bleed carrying them, they have plenty more ahead of them.
Thanks to an assist from sponsor P&G, one of the more anticipated MidPoint Music Festival performances this year will be a special free "happy hour" concert.
Brooklyn Indie Rock group Real Estate will perform on the Midway stage the Friday of the fest (Sept. 26) at 6 p.m. Cincinnati faves The Yugos will kick the special event off at 5 p.m., with Arkansas' Knox Hamilton, Nashville's Colony House and others playing after Real Estate.
The MidPoint Midway is the hub of various activities that runs along a blocked off portion of 12th Street in Over-the-Rhine (between Walnut and Vine streets). The strip has featured the popular "Box Truck Carnival" (the ArtWorks-helmed project will be replaced with a new project this year) and will again have lots of food and other cool/fun vendors.
The Midway's stage is free and open to music fans of all ages. On Thursday, Sept. 25, the outdoor stage will feature excellent local acts Automagik, Black Owls and Pike 27, plus Columbus, Ohio's Indigo Wild. On Saturday, Sept. 27, the stage will host Cincinnati's The Ready Stance, as well as Bailiff, Alex G, Low Cut Connie and Magnolia Sons.
Music on the MidPoint Midway begins at 5 p.m. Sept. 25-26, and 6 p.m. on Sept. 27.
For those who want to catch more than just the freebies, MPMF tickets are available here. The three-day, all-music-access passes are currently just $69; the price goes up to $79 after Sept. 1.
Looking on music shelves this week, it will be hard to miss the bright and loud 1000hp, the latest offering and No. 1 Rock album from Godsmack. It may be a little bit different vibe, but it is the same great Rock music they have given audiences for well over a decade. Since the breakout Awake album in 2000, they have literally been evolving with the genre, captivating audiences and gathering fans with each performance.
CityBeat was able to preview their show at the Uproar Festival Sunday night at Riverbend with drummer Shannon Larkin. After a couple subdued tours in which they let the music speak, they are back to their roots with hard hitting, pyro-filled, knock-you-back action.
Find tickets/more info on Sunday's Uproar stop here.
CityBeat: You guys have been working hard. You will be releasing the album next week,1000hp. What can the fans expect from this album?
Shannon Larkin: We kind of infused a different sound for us. It's more of a punkier vibe as far as upbeats and down stroking. Not so much chunk-chunk as the last record or box or Metal. It is a fine tuned thing we do each record because we don't want to keep making the same record over and over again. Yet you can't change your sound and alienate your fan base. The last record we went balls out Metal sound. So on this one, we made a conscious effort to try and change things up and give a more punky vibe to it.
CB: What is your favorite track to play off the new album?
SL: "1000hp" the song. I just love it. It has an AC/DC vibe to me. I don't get to play much four to the floor drumming so it is just a straight ahead full fierce and I love it.
CB: I actually watched the webisodes that you guys created to promote the new album and that was interesting. I'm sure the fans love to see the behind the scenes of the new album and how the album was made. During one of the webisodes, the band talks about how you were the one who introduced Dave Fortman, the current producer, to the band on the last record. Why did you think he would be a good fit for Godsmack?
SL: I was in a band called Ugly Kid Joe with Dave and he was the guitar player and we toured the world together for six years and made a couple records. I knew that not only was he a great producer with great ears and a great engineer and a great mixer, but I knew also he was this great dude. When you start making records, it gets balanced and pressure on and arguments ensue, the producer has to almost be a psychiatrist and step in when band members get in each other's face and Dave is just a great person that if there is any tension in the room over a part for instance, if we are arguing what is a better part or arrangement of the song, Dave diffuses the situation with humor. He is good at that and just making everybody feel comfortable when the red light comes on. He is just brilliant. I can't say enough about him. It doesn't hurt he had made hit records with Evanescence, Mudvayne, Slipknot, and the list goes on and on, but that helped too when I introduced him to (Godsmack singer) Sully (Erna). But then an hour after meeting with Dave, Sully loved him too. I knew he'd get the gig after talking to Sully if it was up to Sully because he co-produces every record. I knew Sully had to like Dave and I knew he would. Perfect fit.
CB: Where did the name come from for the album?
SL:: When we were writing that song, Sully was trying to do a history-of-the-band-type song. He was thinking we are at 100,000 horse power. When the song came together, it was too many syllables and 1,000 horsepower fits perfectly, but is that enough horse power? Ironically, we have this Top Performance Pro Shop beside our headquarters here in New England. They soup up cars and rev up cars and we went next door and the dude fired up a 1003 horsepower Chevelle and that was enough horsepower. It wasn't even street legal. It ended up being the car we recorded to start the album and the song.
CB: You have been doing a lot of drum clinics. Why is it important for you to get out and work with younger people and do drum clinics across the country?
SL: My company Yamaha gives away drums. They are the best set drums I've played, No. 1, so I just love and am honored to be endorsed by them. They have been on me for years about getting out there and trying to push the company. I am the guy who had never done a clinic before and I am not a solo artist or soloist. I am a band guy and always have been a band guy. I never even do a drum solo. When Sully & I play together the whole band is on stage and it is a drum feature.
I had always said no to Yamaha about doing these clinics. Then I heard Paul Bostaphwho plays for Slayer. He did the clinics, but he didn't do it as a soloist or solos, he played along to Slayer songs he recorded and got the drums taken out. So when I realized I could do that, then I was like "Wow," I had done like 30 records and I had played a bunch of session work and all these cool records I hadn't been able to play in years. So when I found out I could have all these drum tracks removed and play a clinic and play my favorite songs I had recorded the last 30 years, I was in.
I only did a one week tour so far and I only did the West Coast and it was really fun and cool but weird with nobody around, not having my guys. It's funny, I told people you can be on stage in front of 50,000 people and not be nervous, not one butterfly in my stomach, but walk into a Guitar Center that is lit up like a K-Mart and there is only 150 dudes out there, but they are all drummers staring at me, and I'm scared to death. It turned out to be really fun. I was happy to do it.
CB: Have you gotten any tattoos recently?
SL: I haven't. The last tattoo I got was the Ugly Kid Joe Devil logo on my leg. I did a record with them the year before last. I still jam with Ugly. I did a record with them calledStairway to Hell and so I got this logo.
CB: I know you are a big fan of The Ramones too and we just lost the last Ramone. Do you have any thoughts about that?
SL: It's devastating in so many ways. I just don't like them, they are my favorite band of all time and I have seen them over 20 times over the last 25 years. When Tommy died, I really felt my mortality because, I don't know (what) your favorite band is, say it's Led Zeppelin — there are three out of four of those guys still alive and they were older than The Ramones. I asked everybody. Not one person I know has had every original member of their favorite band die. It really hit me hard. Am I next? It was really crazy there for a minute. Of course, I just saturated my ears with Ramones songs for the last two weeks. It was devastating.
CB: Last time I spoke to you we were talking about your daughters and now they are teenagers. Do you have any advice for other dads?
SL: Yeah, just try to hang in there because they all go through that teenage time where they seem to hate their parents and they don't. They don't hate you and will come back around.
CB: What can the fans look forward to here with Uproar here in Cincinnati?
SL: Well we are going to play a bunch of new stuff. I don't know if fans look forward to that but we sure do as a band. We have been together for 12 years and we love the old stuff, and we will play plenty of that too, but we will be doing five new songs in the set which is exciting for us.
They can definitely look forward to a big show also. You know, the last few tours we toned it down because we used to have these monstrous shows with the pyro going off and bombs going off and video. The last couple tours, we tried to prove to ourselves, we try to be a great live band and don't need all the bells and whistles, so the last few tours (have) just been the band and some lights. But this time we are bringing it all back, things blowing up and flames flying off the stage.
CB: I always loved the fire.
SL: It definitely is cool having the big columns of flames shooting up. It's funny because these summer tours are hot as hell anyway and they are flames and are hotter than hell. So we are up there sweating and it is worth it, especially when those concussion bombs go off. I love those, they are my favorite parts, those real loud mortars and everybody flinches in the crowd. It is crazy and cool.
Since then they have accumulated enough hits to fill up any set to keep crowds entertained. With them teaming up with Chicago currently on tour, it brings a nostalgic rush of Rock live to audiences across the country.
CityBeat caught up with founding member and keyboard player Neal Doughty to get a feel of how life has changed over the years in the music business. The band performs at Riverbend Music Center Wednesday night. Find tickets/more info here.
CityBeat: I read in an interview that you found the name REO Speedwagon in an engineering class when you were in school in Illinois. I was curious if you ever finished your engineering degree.
Neal Doughty: No. I did not finish the engineering degree. I went to college for five years and never graduated because when the band got started it was just a little dormitory, a couple guys in the dorm, playing for fun playing on weekends. Then the band got really, really popular and we started branching out to Ohio and Indiana and the first thing we knew is we were too busy to go to class. And if you are in engineering at the University of Illinois, you better go to class because it is not easy. So myself and Alan, our original drummer, neither one of us finished college. We stuck with the band. It was sink or swim in the music business. It was interesting telling my parents that I had dropped out of college after five years, but we were already supporting ourselves with this band. We are already actually making a living. My dad goes, "Hey I can't argue with that. People go to five years of college and never do get a job." They handled that OK and I am happy with how that turned out.
CB: I think you made the right choice. That is pretty hardcore to have a full-time band and finish school.
ND: Yeah, I have two nephews that are engineers and it's a good area because I haven't heard of an engineer who couldn't find work. They were hired right out of college. I would have been happy either way. I am still interested in scientific things. I would have enjoyed it and been pretty good at it but this will do. It's fine.
CB: You have been playing the hits for over 30 years. What is your favorite song to play live?
ND: I think my favorite song live, I love playing "Can't Fight This Feeling" because I get to showcase the piano a bit on that intro. I also love playing "Back on the Road," the song that Bruce sings. It is somehow the perfect tempo and a crowd who hasn't been on their feet yet will always get up for that song.
Of course with all the changes and stories of our career, there isn't one song we play live that I don't like, which is a great luxury. A lot of bands don't have that. We have been together so long and have so many records out that we can pick our favorite songs to play live and it usually turns out to be the favorites of the audience too. Most bands, they probably play some songs that at least two guys hate it, but we have been very lucky to have a lot of songs to choose from. I'm happy.
CB: What has been your greatest Rock star moment?
ND: My wife is in the room and she is laughing because I think she had something to do with my greatest Rock star moment. I don't know if we should go into the details. We met at a show. We had known each other for a long time and had never quite gotten together. One night after the show, she pretty much attacked me in the dressing room in front of the entire crew. There were no clothes that came off. It was all very legal and everything. All I can say is within three months, instead of living at the beach in California I was living in Minnesota where it gets really cold. This was eight years ago and so far it has been totally worth it. Yes, that was my greatest Rock star moment … to have a woman that was so affectionate in front of so many people.
CB: That is the best story I have heard in a while.
ND: She is laughing her head off right now.
CB: There is nothing illegal about clothes coming off, by the way. It is fine.
ND: Everybody kept their clothes on. It was just kind of a message that I like you, a really nice way of saying I like you. In fact, I was supposed to leave town that night but the band got me a hotel room and a plane ticket. It turned out to be fairly innocent, but it was the start of a great relationship that is going eight years later. You definitely meet some of the wrong women on the road, and this is one of the rare instances where I met the right one.
CB: The internet and social media have totally changed the way bands can make it and get on the radio and get famous now. Do you think it is easier or harder for a band to make it today?
ND: It is a whole different thing. It used to be very, very hard to get a record contract. We were together four years just starting before we got somebody interested with us. We were lucky to be with Epic Records for so many years. They let us do like 10 records that weren't hits until we had High Fidelity in 1980 and 1981. There is no record label that would give a band that many chances to turn in a hit.
On the other hand, now you can make a record on your telephone and upload it to the internet. If it goes viral, anything can happen. I live in a small town in Minnesota, and one of the students there, one of my wife's English students, made a video on a broken iPhone with an out of tune piano and it went viral. It has 10 million views on YouTube and she now has a couple record companies fighting over her.
I don't mind how it's working today. If I were going to, in my old age, try to make a song of my own, I think I would like the fact I could make it at home, upload it to the Internet and see what happens. I have nephews who are in a Rock band. They have become the most popular band in the St Louis area just from all their sales online. I think it is a great equalizer. You no longer need a lot of money behind you to get a break and that's good. Any kid in a basement has the same chance as somebody with a million dollars to spend in a studio and I think that's truly great.
CB: Are there any new up and coming bands or current artists that you would want to collaborate with?
ND: I tend to like one song by an artist and just buy that one song, which you can do now. I tend to have this really crazy range of tastes in bands. I like Foster the People on one end and I like Brad Paisley on the other end of the scale. Brad happens to be a good friend of ours, so I may be biased.
My taste in music is so eclectic now, something that maybe couldn't have happened before the Internet. You hear a song on a TV show in the music in the background and there was no way you would ever find out what that song was. A lot of the new groups that get discovered, that I like now, it started watching a TV show, with a great song in the background. You just now have to aim your phone at the TV and it will tell you who the band is. That is really the greatest invention ever. There are songs I hear on the radio or in a movie or in the background of a TV show and you could have searched for the rest of your life and never found it. Now, being able to find anything you might hear is my favorite thing that has happened to the music business. If you look at the playlist on my phone, you would think this guy is all over the map with the stuff he likes. I am very happy about that development.
CB: You have been on the road for many, many years. Do you keep journals or photographs? How do you keep the history of the touring and the memories?
ND: No, once again, the Internet has helped with that. There were some lost photographs. We have had a million things happen that were great. Recently one of our old crew members from 30 years ago found a picture of John Entwistle jamming with us on stage in London, and Brian May for Queen hanging out with us in the dressing room that night. These old black and white pictures so people will actually believe that something that great happened to me. We found a picture of literally the house 157 Riverside Ave., which we rented in Rockport, Conn., where we did our first album. Now we found what it looks like recently. Then we also found they tore the thing down. Granted, it was not a national landmark, but seeing pictures of it a few years ago, we could see why they tore it down. It was about to fall down and we probably had something to do with that.
CB: You have had a few band members change over the years. How do you know you have a right fit?
ND: Well we have been kind of lucky we had only one real change happen and it all happened at the same time. Our current lineup has been together for 25 years, which is longer than the original group was together.
Back in the late 80's, our original drummer Alan who I started the band with, and our original guitar player Gary both left around the same time. Alan couldn't handle the road anymore because he was too attached to his family. He quit for the best of reasons, to be with his kids and wife. He opened a restaurant and is doing well. Gary started not handling the road well. The road brought out all of his demons. There was a point when he just couldn't do it anymore because it's too hard.
That really is when we got Brian, our drummer, and Dave, our guitar player, and that all happened very fast. We did a major set of auditions for drummers. I think we auditioned eight drummers in two days. Brian was the first one and we knew right then he was the guy we wanted. I asked Kevin if we had to listen to seven more drummers but he wanted to be fair to them. But Brian easily passed that audition. Dave Amato, our guitar player has a great background. He played with Ted Nugent. He has been on Motley Crue albums. He was a known studio guy in Los Angeles. He came over to Kevin's house and we jammed for about half an hour and then immediately asked him to join the band. It was a perfect fit from the first note.
We were lucky to get Brian and Dave. They brought new energy into the band. I am not sure if we would be together now if it wasn't for what those guys brought, which was new enthusiasm. We still call them the new guys after 25 years and they are getting kind of sick of it. That is the only real change we have made and it was 25 years ago. I am happy we still have our original vocalist which not every band is lucky enough to say that. We made one change and it has been great since.
CB: Do you have any regrets over the years?
ND: I have no personal regrets. I have done some incredibly, stupid, horrible things but I don't regret them because they all led to where I am now and I am a very happy person right now.
CB: What can the fans expect when you come to Cincinnati this year?
ND: First of all, they can expect us to play a one hour set of our favorite songs and they'll know all of them except for one surprise new song. I know the audience cringes when a band plays that new song because they want to hear the familiar stuff. This song is good, really good. We wouldn't do it live otherwise. It's got a hook right from the beginning. It has gotten nice mentions in our reviews so far.
Then Chicago comes on and does all of their hits. Then the lights go down and come back up three minutes later (with) both bands on stage doing three individual hits by each band. Six songs, literally the biggest hits of each band, played together, 14 individuals playing at the same time. That took about a 12-hour rehearsal to put that together and it is just amazing. The Phoenix newspaper called it one jaw-dropping moment after another. I have to agree. I am way in the back of the stage on that part and I love it because I can watch the whole thing. These guys from both bands are just running around having the best time of their life.
We have known some of the guys for Chicago for decades. Robert Lamm, one of the lead singers and writers was a neighbor in Beverly Hills back when I lived there 35 years ago and somehow we never toured with them.
We didn't know if (the onstage collaboration) would work. They were a little more progressive, a little Jazz oriented, but they are still Rock & Roll. We are more Country or Folk. We weren't sure the same audience would show up for both bands and it has worked beautifully. The shows so far have been virtual sellouts. The thing has blended so well.
Picture "Keep on Loving You" with that beautiful Chicago horn section. It gives me chills and I have been playing it 40 years. The crowd, the lights come up, and every camera comes out at the same time. They can't believe … that we have that many people on stage and they are technically all playing together and we know what we are doing is more amazing. It is something you won't see very often. We haven't done anything like this. I am definitely having a really good time, we call it the grand finale. I am sure it shows to the audience we are having so much fun.
CINCINNATI, Ohio (August 6, 2014) — The long wait is over. Fans eager to see what artists are playing at
MidPoint Music Festival will now find a full schedule online at MPMF.com. Approximately 150 acts from seven
countries, 57 cities, and across the tri-state region will perform in Cincinnati USA, September 25–27, 2014.
For weeks now, festival organizers have been leaking some bands and details via social media, but venue
and showcase times have been kept under wraps until today. All-access passes are on sale at mpmf.com for
what is arguably the best music festival value in the nation.
"We've always offered a wide array of music styles, but this year's lineup has really developed into something
special and diverse," said Dan McCabe, creative director. "I think fans would be hard pressed to find another
festival that can give you a bigger bang for your buck."
Experience live music for three days
The 13th annual festival will present three exciting days of live music on 14 stages in the Over-the-Rhine and Downtown neighborhoods. While the event maintains its status as a primary showcase for emerging independent talent, there's no denying that this year's edition has raised the bar in booking established artists.
Cincinnati-music fans should take note that MidPoint welcomes one the most acclaimed local bands to break out in the 90s, The Afghan Whigs, who have stormed back better than ever with their first studio album in the past 16 years. MidPoint will be the only regional appearance for the band during their current world tour.
MidPoint will also be the tour kickoff for Chromeo, the "funk lordz" from Toronto, who are contending for the song of the summer with their single Jealous (I ain't with it). Washington Park should expect a dance party with the band's huge lightshow. Consequence of Sound called them a "must-see live show for any festival."
Additionally, the festival will host some well-established names from the indie-music world over the past decade, including OK Go, The Raveonettes, Panda Bear, Sun Kil Moon and Joseph Arthur. Bands like Real Estate, St. Paul & the Broken Bones and Jessica Lea Mayfield are newer, but no less widely known.
Longtime MidPoint fans might also notice a wider array of music styles. The lineup still features a healthy
amount of pop and indie rock, but organizers have listened to fans' suggestions, adding more:
Country Nikki Lane, Margo & the Price Tags, Bulletville;
Folk Lost in the Trees, Mutual Benefit, Woody Pines, Honey Locust, The Ridges;
R&B St. Paul and the Broken Bones, Magnolia Sons, The Almighty Get Down;
Blues Barrence Whitfield and the Savages, No Sinner, Left Lane Cruiser;
Heavy Metal Deafheaven, Liturgy; as well as more dance-oriented sounds like
Hip-hop/EDM Tycho, Dessa, WHY?, Body Language, and Parallels.
Experience new venues for young and old
Festival venues continue to evolve with great new, larger stages at Memorial Hall and Christian Moerlein Brewery. Younger fans will able see more showcases than ever with all-ages stages at the Contemporary Arts Center, Taft Ballroom, Memorial Hall, the MidPoint Midway, Christian Moerlein Outdoor Stage and Washington Park. In fact, children under 10 years of age can attend our Washington Park showcases for free with a paying adult. With afternoon music programmed for Washington Park on Saturday that could be just what the doctor ordered for parents who seldom get out to concerts.
Experience a unique festival atmosphere
Since 2001, MidPoint's goal has been to help you discover your new favorite band. Our embrace of today's
emerging artists is born of the same spirit employed by Cincinnati's celebrated musical pioneers, who always
reached for something new. This festival isn't as much about the flavor-of-the-month, but rather a
tastemaker's event where the bands performing will be what people are talking about next year.
For three days, fans can walk easily between venues dotted throughout beautiful, resurgent Over-the-Rhine.
This collection of young creative talent amongst an architecturally rich urban setting makes MidPoint a one-ofa-
kind experience. Unlike some festivals on a farm or a huge fielded area that could be anywhere, MidPoint
carries the heart of our city with intimate performances in smaller clubs and theaters. We think Cincinnati is
one of the best music cities in the world. With MidPoint showcasing bands and our city's center, we are
putting our best foot forward towards showing this is a great place to live, work and play.
Everything is on an upswing in Over-the-Rhine and Downtown Cincinnati and we expect the fans to not just
enjoy the music, but the wonderfully reimagined Washington Park, our handsome German-heritage buildings
and all of the newer hip restaurants, cafés and hi-tech companies that are making this one of the hottest
regions of the Midwest.
Experience food and fun on the Midway
We realize that not everyone can afford to attend a music festival, so we've tried to make a small part of it
accessible to everyone with our outdoor MidPoint Midway. All of the music programmed here is free, thanks
in part to the help of festival sponsor P&G.
The Midway takes up about two blocks on 12th Street in Over-the-Rhine. Fans at the Midway can find festival
essentials such as food and beer trucks, various vendors and the return of the artistic installations coordinated
with the help of ArtWorks. (More on that in the coming weeks.)
MidPoint's box office is also at the Midway, where fans will purchase All-Access, VIP, or single-day passes.
Bicycles encouraged
It is fairly easy to hop from show to show, but with 10 venues in Over-the-Rhine and four located downtown,
not every showcase will be a quick walk. But it is a quick bike ride. Festival organizers will continue to partner
with the City of Cincinnati to place a number of bike racks in strategic locations. We encourage everyone to
save their feet for the dance floor and bring their bike to get to those must-see bands faster.
MidPoint Music Festival highlights to look for:
Thursday September 25
Chromeo; Panda Bear; St. Paul & the Broken Bones; Sun Kil Moon; Lost in the Trees; and Nikki Lane
Friday September 26
The Afghan Whigs; Tycho; Real Estate; Wussy; WHY?; Dessa; Rubblebucket; and Jessica Lea Mayfield
Saturday September 27
OK Go; The Raveonettes; Deafheaven; Empires; EMA; Earth; Saintseneca; and Speedy Ortiz
Cincinnati USA represent:
Automagik; Black Owls; Bulletville; Culture Queer; Darlene; Fathers; Fists of Love; Heavy Hinges; Honey &
Houston; Honeyspiders; Injecting Strangers; Leggy; Molly Sullivan; Old City; Prim; Public; Smasherman; State
Song; The Afghan Whigs; The Almighty Get Down; The Ready Stance; Us, Today; WHY?; and Wussy
A full performance schedule is now online at MPMF.com/festival. All artists are subject to change without
notice. Schedule updates and further festival news will be available at MPMF.com, on Facebook and Twitter.
Arnolds Bar & Grill
210 East Eighth Street
Christian Moerlein Brewery
1621 Moore Street (2 stages)
Contemporary Arts Center
44 East Sixth Street (all ages)
Bioré Stage at Know Theatre
1120 Jackson Street (2 stages)
Mainstay Rock Bar
301 West Fifth Street
Memorial Hall
1225 Elm Street (all ages)
Midpoint Midway Presented by P&G
Twelfth Street, between Vine & Walnut (all ages)
MOTR Pub
1345 Main Street
Mr. Pitiful's
1323 Main Street
Taft Ballroom
317 East Fifth Street (all ages)
The Drinkery
1150 Main Street
Washington Park Presented by Dewey's Pizza
1230 Elm Street (all ages)
All-Access Pass $69 ($79 after September 1)
VIP Pass $179
Single-Day Pass $40 (Limited quantities)
All venues will offer the option of À la carte pricing at the door, which covers that night at that venue.
Entry into any MidPoint venue is subject to legal capacity limits. All-Access Pass holders get admission to all
MidPoint showcases, all three days. VIP pass holders get an enhanced experience with the ability to skip
lines with priority admission, plus they receive access to catered VIP reception events each evening, with
complimentary food and beverages. An exclusive VIP viewing area is included at the Washington Park stage.
Eric Johnson is one of America's great guitar players. A natural guitarists of sorts, he has been touring since his late teen years in the '70s and has worked with many great acts from a variety of genres — including Rock, Folk, Alt Country and Jazz — over that time. His Grammy Award-winning pedigree makes him still a very in-demand session musician and his own new takes on classic songs has made him a favorite on the festival circuit.
Johnson brings his unique stylings to the Ballroom at the Taft Theatre in Cincinnati on Tuesday night. (Find tickets/more info here.) This is a can't-miss show, for guitar fans in particular.
CityBeat: Do you have a favorite guitar that you play?
Eric Johnson: Yes, I have an old Fender Stratocaster that I play a whole lot. It's probably my favorite guitar.
CB: Is it always with you?
EJ: It is pretty much. Sometimes I'll tour without it and use other stuff. Also I worked with Fender and designed my own signature guitar so I use that a lot too.
CB: What's the longest you have ever gone without playing guitar?
EJ: I don't know, maybe a couple weeks.
CB: What do you think the best guitar solo of all time?
EJ: That would be really tough to say. Probably something musical and interesting to listen to over and over. Maybe something by Jimi Hendrix like "May This Be Love." I wouldn't say it's the best guitar solo ever, but it comes to mind as a really wonderful solo.
CB: Johnny Winter, your fellow Texan, just passed away. Do you have any thoughts about him or fond memories?
EJ: I got to meet him when I was a teenager and he was always really nice and complimentary to me. I was really surprised to hear that he had passed away because I had heard that he was doing a lot better and (was) healthy and on the upswing. It came as a sad surprise.
CB: I had just seen him at JazzFest in New Orleans in May. He played great and looked healthy. I was shocked as well.
EJ: Yeah I didn't expect it at all because he was doing so well.
CB: Is there a group of people or person that was most influential to you or helpful to you during your early career days?
EJ: Well, when I started in my very early career, Johnny Winter said some nice things about me and that helped me a lot. Steve Morse from the Dixie Dregs helped me out. Christopher Cross kind of helped get things going, and getting to play with Carole King and Cat Stevens — that was a real and official help to me.
CB: It's so different now for bands trying to make it. Do you have any thoughts on if it's easier or tougher now for bands that want to play music?
EJ: I think it's a lot tougher. People are reluctant to pay for music and there are so many bands out now. With the use of the internet and YouTube, anybody can be creative, which is good in a way. If you want to have a career, you have to have something pretty dynamic and unique that is captivating to people.
CB: Last time I saw you perform was on the Experience Hendrix Tour. I have seen that show a couple times. What was the highlight of the tour for you?
EJ: Different ones. I remember the first ones I did, it was playing with Billy Cox and Mitch Mitchell. Then Mitch passed away. Getting to hang out with Billy Cox is really a great thing. I liked Doyle Bramhall's set, and getting to play with all those musicians is a treat.
CB: What do you do with your down time when you are out on the road?
EJ: I just chill out or practice or take hikes and explore the city. I hang out with friends or family if they happen to be in the town I am in.
CB: Do you have any Cincinnati stories from the past when you have played here?
EJ: I have always enjoyed playing there. I have a couple close friends from Ohio. I have gone and hung out around the rivers and stuff. Cincinnati has some really great music shops there as well.
CB: What can fans expect from your show here at the Taft?
EJ: We are doing a couple re-workings of tunes I like to play. We change them up so much they are kind of their own deal. I have this live record that just came out, Live in Europe, and I will do some of those songs, but I will do some new tunes and some re-workings of old tunes and tunes by other people. It will kind of be a cross-section of different stuff.
CB: Are you constantly working on new music or do you take breaks?
EJ: I try to constantly work on it, some kind of thing, whether collaboration with somebody else or playing on somebody else's recording or something on my own.
CB: I know you started out doing a lot of sessions early in your career. Do you do any sessions now or work with any other artists?
EJ: Yeah, pretty much all the time. I do one a month at least.
CB: Are there any current bands that you would like to collaborate with or work with from a live music standpoint?
EJ: I'll tell you a lot of different things I like. I dig that band Explosions in the Sky. I like Grizzly Bear. I think they are great. Tallest Man on Earth is a great Folk singer as well.
Old and new traditions will coalesce at this year's MidPoint Music Festival as Christian Moerlein Brewing Company will host acts all weekend long, including headliners Panda Bear, Tycho and The Raveonettes. The 13th annual MPMF runs Sept. 25 -27 and continues to expand throughout downtown Cincinnati and the Over-the-Rhine area.
Not only will Moerlein be the official beer of MPMF, but the brewery is opening its OTR location as a venue for the festival. Panda Bear will perform at the outdoor Moerlein stage Thursday, with Tycho following on Friday and the Raveonettes on Saturday.
The Moerlein brewery holds Cincinnati history in its underground tunnels that were used to keep lagers cold before the invention of refrigeration. Now, as technology and the city itself have advanced, Moerlein can provide its fine beers at every single MPMF location so no festival-goer will go without a drink.
The brewery will bring out all its finest brews for the festival, including seasonal Hell Town Rye-Ot Ale, Zeppelin Bavarian Pale Ale, Over-the-Rhine Ale, Northern Liberties IPA and Lager House Helles.
The Moerlein family has a deep-rooted Cincinnati history, and since its recent rebirth has continued its work to uphold Cincinnati as a brewing capital.
"Our festival has a tradition of promoting Cincinnati originals, whether that be through our music pioneers or our urban culture," said Dan McCabe, artistic director of MPMF, in a press release. "Christian Moerlein only strengthens that tradition, as they've been a leader in America's craft beer resurgence since the early '80s. Cincinnati music fans love Cincinnati beer."
Three years ago on summer vacation, I heard about Pitchfork Music Festival from my older sister. She went to the festival with friends from her college radio station, and told me about spending the weekend in Chicago, crashing on a friend's apartment floor and navigating the train system. It didn't sound particularly comfortable, but I wanted to see for myself.
The next year, I bought my ticket and found my way to the festival grounds, an ordinary public park with baseball diamonds and a conveniently located CTA train stop. During last year's festival, which was filled with uninvited weather, I stood in the rain to watch Bjork, who was dressed like an extraterrestrial porcupine, and witnessed Lil B, "The BasedGod," inspire thousands of his devoted supporters. I left exhausted, but figured I would come back next year.
Heading into the festival this year, I was excited for the headliners and many smaller artists I've never seen. But as I walked into the park on Friday, there were two major surprises: a clear sky and free Twinkies.
I arrived at the festival in the early afternoon and headed over to the Blue Stage in the corner of the park. I listened to the Haxan Cloak for a short time, before leaving to see Sharon Van Etten on the Red stage. As I waited, my anticipation grew waiting to hear her perform songs from her outstanding new album, Are We There. Once Neneh Cherry ended on the adjacent stage, Van Etten began with "Afraid of Nothing," the album's first song.
She wasn't afraid of anything, jumping right into the performance by displaying her honest songwriting, singing "You told me the day/That you show me your face/We'd be in trouble for a long time." Near the end of her set, she humbly thanked her band and began the melancholy "Your Love is Killing Me."
After focusing on Van Etten's lyrics that revolved around the difficulties of love, I was ready for Avey Tare's Slasher Flicks to take the stage. The newly formed trio is led by Animal Collective member Dave Porter, who joined forces with former Dirty Projector member Angel Deradoorian and ex-Ponytail drummer Jeremy Hyman to create their first record, Enter the Slasher House.
There's more to Slasher Flicks besides Avey Tare as Deradoorian controlled the woozy synths and driving basslines behind a stack of keyboards and contributed another layer with echoing vocals.The second "Little Fang" began, the crowd bobbed their heads, moving to the beat of the punctuated bassline. The crowd later joined Avey Tare in singing the song's chorus, "You're something special/You've got to shout it out/If there are doubts then we will groove it out." Nearly the entire crowd agreed with Avey's lyrics and kept a high level of energy until the finale, "Strange Colores".
After getting back late from seeing Deafheaven at the Bottom Lounge, I would have loved to sleep in before starting Day 2, but after seeing Twin Peaks at the Northside Rock n' Roll Carnival, I couldn't miss seeing the band play in their hometown. Frontman Cadien James certainly wasn't going to let his broken leg stop him as he rolled out on stage in a wheelchair.
The young band played a mix of old songs, like "Baby Blue," and tore through crowd favorites "Flavor" and "I Found a New Way" off their upcoming album Wild Onion. The entire band was elated to be kicking off the festival's second day in front of many of their friends.
Cloud Nothings performed later in the day on the red stage, following a great performance by British quartet Wild Beasts. I watched from afar as I grabbed a spot up front for Cloud Nothings. After seeing them at Midpoint Music Festival in 2012, they've become one of my favorite bands, and one I most anticipated seeing at Pitchfork.
Lead singer Dylan Baldi walked on stage and counted off "Now Here In", the first track on their sophomore album Here and Nowhere Else. The moshpit broke open during "Separation", while the security guards constantly motioned towards each other every time they spotted a crowd surfer. Like most shows, Baldi ended with "Wasted Days," but this time, he brought out two friends to add more power to the grueling, eight-minute track.
Leading up to the festival, Sunday sold out the fastest, partly due to the Kendrick Lamar's headlining spot, but most likely because the entire day was filled with exciting acts. I also wanted to check out some of this year's upcoming Midpoint Music Festival performers (Speedy Ortiz, Mutual Benefit and Real Estate).
After eating a much-needed breakfast in Logan Square Sunday morning, I was ready for the final day. But, without thinking, I boarded the wrong train on my way to the park, forcing me to backtrack to the loop. I got to the festival just in time to head over to the Blue Stage to see Speedy Ortiz, a band from Massachusetts who played a handful of songs from their awesome record Major Arcana. Then I went to the Green Stage to see Mutual Benefit, a Folk project created by Columbus native Jordan Lee. His stunning music was a great fit for the crowd that was spread out across the festival grounds.
Throughout the entire day, the Red Stage was filled with amazing shows by the likes of DIIV, Earl Sweatshirt and Grimes. DIIV played a cover of Bob Dylan's "Like A Rolling Stone," along with a handful of new songs. Real Estate started its set in the early evening with a cover of the Nerves' "Paper Dolls" and worked in a few songs from previous records. The crowed responded the most to "Horizon" and "Crime" from the new album Atlas. Once Real Estate ended, I took a break to sit down with friends and eat some pizza. After resting up, I was ready to see Kendrick perform for the first time after missing him multiple times in Cincinnati.
While Kendrick Lamar was still on his ascension to the top when he played Pitchfork two years ago, there's no question he deserves the headlining spot. He's considered the king of the West Coast after releasing his major label debut that detailed his life in Compton.
Finally, the lights were lowered and the screen lit up, showing the beginning of the short film that accompanied Kendrick throughout his set. The large video screen later projected scenes of empty liquor bottles rattling on the floor during "Swimming Pools (Drank)" and Kendrick driving his mom's purple Dodge Caravan down Compton's Rosecrans Avenue in the late hours of the night.
As his backing band began playing "Money Trees", Kendrick came out to a roaring crowd. The energy continued as Kendrick began "Backseat Freestyle" and later performed "m.A.A.d city." Every minute of the show Kendrick had the audience's full attention, whether they were rapping along or listening to him speak. After performing every song fromgood kid, m.A.A.d. city, Kendrick left the stage, only to come back to perform "A.D.H.D" from Section .80. The 27-year-old rapper proved that with his skillful vocal delivery and interactive showmanship, he possesses the ability to connect with his fans and capture the attention of a crowd any size.
After finding my way out of the park, I realized that the Pitchfork Music Festival might be the only time where Shoegaze pioneers Slowdive, the widely recognizable Earl Sweatshirt and Disco legend Giorgio Moroder all played on the same stages in one weekend.
Pitchfork, the website, may be criticized for their decimal rating scale, or removing poor reviews of albums (i.e. deleting their 0.8 rating/review of Belle & Sebastian's mid 2000's comeback album The Boy with the Arab Strap), but each summer music-fans leave its festival satisfied. The bottom line is that Pitchfork creates a music festival featuring an eccentric lineup, consistent ticket prices and much smaller grounds than most major music festivals.
If you go to Pitchfork next year, expect a balanced dose of Indie Rock, Hip Hop, Folk and much more for $140 in Union Park with 18,000 people standing in the outfield of a baseball diamond.
The third and final day of Forecastle finally arrived. The fest's weekend felt much longer than, well, a weekend, though each day seemingly flew by. By this point, the festival started to feel like home.
I entered the media tent expecting familiar faces, waited like a patient puppy in front of its food bowl for happy hour, snagged a band interview or two and wandered from stage to stage. Despite my tired eyes, I knew that I could get used to this. Like all good things, though, Forecastle had to come to an end. But not before one last day of fun.
I got to the fest just in time for The Weeks at the Boom Stage. After interviewing the band the previous day, I was looking forward to seeing what they would present live, and I wasn't disappointed. A Southern-rooted band (Mississippi-rooted, to be exact), the Rock vibe was heavy with lead vocalist Cyle Barnes belting out his husky, Caleb Followill-esque lyrics. These young and rowdy dudes proved to be the perfect start to a sunny afternoon of music.
I scooted away from the stage to browse through the artist tents behind me. As I've said, I'm a total sucker for band posters, so off to shop I went. Thankfully my new friend Coltin found me before I could spend too much and we made our way to happy hour in the media tent.
It is quite possible that this is the most pizza I have ever consumed in a three-day period, but when free food calls, one must answer. After taking advantage of the day's free amenities, Coltin and I attempted (and failed) to get into the Bourbon Lounge, so found our way to the Mast Stage for Brett Dennen. The songs that Dennen write are simple — They aren't trying too hard, but they're pleasant, and Dennen's vocals tie everything together quite nicely. After several songs, though, it was time to wander again, so to the Boom Stage I returned.
Trampled By Turtles was next on my list, as I was scheduled to interview them that evening. Day 3 was much hotter than the others — the cool breeze that carried us through Days 1 and 2 had left us, and bodies glimmered in the summer sun. If you're getting the idea that this stopped anyone from basking in the heat for their favorite bands, you're wrong. I realized this as TBT began their set, the audience dancing without hesitation. Perhaps this proves to be true for most shows, particularly at a festival such as this — our bodies ache, our feet hurt, we are "hangry," but once the music begins we forget it all. We are taken to a different place. TBT did this for their audience as the incredibly fast-fingered Erik Berry on the mandolin drove the crowd wild. It was a sight to see.
Day 3 required much more wandering on my part and floating between bands, so, knowing that I needed to at least catch a few songs from Jenny Lewis' set, I made my way to the Mast Stage. Wishing my beagle Rilo (named after Rilo Kiley) was with me, I swayed to Lewis' songs from her latest album, The Voyager, and was quickly reminded of why I fell in love with her old band some years back. Lewis is a little sassy and a lot of fun, rocking out on stage with her band dressed in white and rainbow suits. After a few songs it was time for my last interview of the fest.
I met with a few guys from Trampled By Turtles in the media tent for a quick chat, though I was admittedly distracted by the sounds of Nickel Creek in the distance. I wrapped up our interview and bolted to the stage like I've never brisk-walked before. With a smile on my face and happy tear in my eye, I was thrilled to watch a band that I've adored since middle school.
I cannot begin to describe how happy I was to see Nickel Creek, especially considering they played so much of their early material. Songs like "The Lighthouse's Tale", "Reasons Why" and "When You Come Back Down" from their 2000 self-titled album and "This Side," along with the instrumental tunes from 2002's This Side, were all featured, and each song sounded as perfect as the recordings. After so many years, Nickel Creek sounds as beautiful as ever and the band even has a new record out, A Dotted Line. I think I could have died a happy gal after seeing them.
After Nickel Creek, until Beck's Forecastle-ending performance, I travelled from stage to stage (mostly in search of food) and ran into Adam, a fellow photojournalism pal from school. It was nice to see a friend after only briefly seeing familiar faces throughout the day, so together we went to dance to Flume. It was quite literally a party under the freeway as the Australian DJ blasted his beats from the stage, hands in the air and a sea of bodies moving in sync. Once that set ended it was time for Beck, and Adam and I ran to the stage.
Over the course of Beck's first few songs we managed to weasel our way toward the front, getting closer to the main stage than I had been the entire weekend. There couldn't have been a more perfect end to Forecastle.
Beck sang the beautifully airy and springtime-sounding songs from his latest release Morning Phase, but didn't fail to bring the party with old favorites like "Loser", "Girl" and more, eventually ending the night with "Sexx Laws" for the encore. One would never realize that Beck has been at this for as long as he has. His energy was amazing; bouncing across the stage between band members, the party atmosphere was what we needed to wrap up the night (and fest).
The audience was immense but was perhaps one of the friendliest crowd I encountered over the weekend — not sure if that's due to the realization that our tired feet would soon get the rest they needed or perhaps it was just the booze. Either way, Forecastle ended with one of the best shows of the weekend, and we left on the perfect note to wrap up the fest.
Things to know for Forecastle if you plan to go next year: Wear comfortable shoes. Know that if you come in sandals, you will leave with very dirty feet.
Stay hydrated. Keep water with you, especially if the weather is as hot as Day 3 this year. Music festivals require long days, so don't forget to take care of yourself.
Come with a schedule. You can create a custom schedule on the Forecastle website and print it out, something that helped me immensely this year in keeping track of things. Don't be afraid to go outside your comfort zone, though. Discovering new music is what festivals are all about!


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May 30, 2016
Meridian, Miss.
The superintendent of Meridian Public Schools delivered his annual state of the district address to the Meridian Rotary Club.
Dr. Alvin Taylor spoke about the district's accomplishments over the past year. He says the construction projects and incentive plans have been moving smoothly. The district implemented a consent degree and a new PBIS (Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports) approach.
Taylor says the schools have increased security staff, and he's especially proud of their academic successes.
"We're very pleased with our results from 2013-2014," said Taylor. "As always, I can't speak on specific test scores and results because the scores are under embargo, but I can say we were successful in meeting our goals."
Taylor says Meridian schools are off to the best start he has seen yet.
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- Overview
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- Home
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Medicare Coverage from Coventry Health Care
- Getting more for your money is always a good thing, especially when it comes to your Medicare coverage. It pays to be a smart shopper. And when you take the time to compare your options, you can find real value.
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- With affordable monthly plan premiums and the coverage options you want, our plans will help you see Medicare in a whole new light.


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Writer, illustrator, and knitter Franklin Habit joins us for his monthly column featuring humor and insights into a yarncrafter's life.
It has been my pleasure and privilege over the past several years to be interviewed by a few knitting magazines in America and abroad. The experience is always a little jarring, as for the first three-quarters of my life even those who knew me well were less than interested in my life and opinions. In some ways, it's easier. When nobody cares to ask you about your creative process, you don't have to worry about admitting that it mostly involves watching funny dog videos on YouTube and taking naps.
But interviewers, even the clever ones, always ask at least a few common questions that quickly become familiar and are easily answered. What's it like to be a man who knits?* Who taught you knit? What's your ideal yarn? What's on your needles right now? You learn quickly that you'd better ready for those.
Once in a while, though, even a softball question will throw you a curve. For me, that question was, "What music do you listen to while you work?"
My answer was that if the work requires concentration–designing a lace motif, say, as opposed to knitting merrily along a sample–I work in silence. No music, no television, no funny dog videos. Silence.
The writer wasn't terribly pleased with that response. It upset her data. She told me that every other designer she'd spoken to had obligingly offered the name of a recording artist, or at least a musical genre. Would I please do likewise? Or would I prefer she picked something for me?
So I told her to say I was physically unable to knit a single stitch in the morning until I had listened to the whole of Erich Korngold's opera Die Tote Stadt while sitting in a bubble bath. She cut me out of the article.
Posted in Humor | 28 Comments » Comments


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Michelle Kraczkowski
Assistant Professor & Biotechnology Program Coordinator
Phone: 860-343-5747
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Office Location: Wheaton 217
Office Hours: Tuesdays & Thursdays 1:00 – 4:00 PM
Read Bio
"Nature is an amazing resource, but can be fragile and too often destroyed by human effects. Understanding the way organisms function, interact and evolve allows us to apply the appropriate methods of protection. I hope that in my career I can discover some of this information and do my little bit to help the world."
So says Dr. Michelle Kraczkowski, assistant professor and biotechnology program coordinator at MxCC, who has dedicated her academic career to finding some of these answers through the study of the early fish of New England.
How early? Well, you have to go back in time 20,000 years ago (to the end of the last official ice age) when glacier ice started to leave New England. That, according to Michelle, is when life started to get really interesting.
That is when many freshwater rivers were created, and fish were able to return to the area. She has been closely studying those fish for years, making them – specifically the Blacknose Dace – the focus of her Ph.D. thesis at Wesleyan University (for which she received the Barry Kiefer Prize for outstanding 2013 thesis in biology). By using phylogenetic analyses, along with molecular and morphological techniques on the dace, Michelle believes we can better understand the evolutionary processes of the past and today.
In her quest to expand the knowledge of fish evolution (with the ultimate goal of modeling and applying our findings to the future), Michelle has uncovered some answers to questions about these early fish. They have been the topic of her written articles and presentations at industry events.
Prior to joining the full-time teaching staff at MxCC, Michelle served as research fellow of the College of the Environment at Wesleyan University, and was a visiting assistant professor of biology at the University. She held several positions at MxCC including interim recruitment and placement coordinator, interim curriculum innovation coordinator, and adjunct professor. She also has taught biology and science courses at Quinnipiac University.
Michelle first acquired her appreciation for and the ability to identify fish while quahogging and fishing with her dad on Narragansett Bay, and later in more detail when she stocked fish in Connecticut rivers and lakes for the Department of Environmental Protection (now DEEP). She also worked with the EPA in Narragansett, RI, to study the micro-habitats of winter waterfowl and aquatic surveys for the EPA's National Coastal Assessment program (for which she received the EPA's Superior Accomplishment Award).
As part of her commitment to support future scientists, Michelle regularly contributes time and talent to many community events including MxCC's Math Academy, the DNA Discovery Center Research Interactive exhibit at The Field Museum in Chicago, the 5th Grade Science Experience of Wesleyan University Labs, National Geographic's Bioblitz event in Middletown, and as a science fair judge at the Moody School in Middletown.
She is a member of the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, American Fisheries Society, and American Women in Science, and holds a small watercraft boating license from Rhode Island and Connecticut.
Michelle earned her Ph.D. in biology from Wesleyan University, and her master's of arts degree in ecology and environmental sciences from Central Connecticut State University. She earned her bachelor's of science degree in marine biology from the University of Rhode Island.
In her spare time, Michelle enjoys all types of music especially folk and bluegrass, hiking, swimming, running, yard work, and time with her two cats.


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WIN $500! vPulse Photo Contest Details and Official Rules
Velodyne wants to see how you rock the vPulse! Take a photo of your brother, sister, girlfriend, boyfriend, husband, wife, mother, father, son, daughter, or anyone else wearing vPulse in-ear headphones for a chance to win $500.
To enter:
- Post a photo via the official Velodyne Facebook contest app of someone wearing a pair of vPulse in-ear headphones. (Please DO NOT email entries or post them on Velodyne's main Facebook wall/timeline; only entries properly submitted through the Contests app will be eligible to win.) This photo should reflect your creativity and prominently feature the vPulse.
- Entries must be submitted by 11:59PM (PST) on May 14, 2012. A panel of Velodyne employees will select finalists, and public voting via the Facebook app will determine the winner. The voting period will last from May 22th-29th, and the winner will be announced May 30th.
- The photo cannot be obscene; it should not contain violence or nudity. Please refer to the Facebook terms of service for more guidance.
- You may submit unlimited entries.
- By posting your photo, you are granting Velodyne the rights to use and disseminate the image across any and all marketing platforms, including but not limited to: Velodyne.com, official Velodyne social media platforms, and the Velodyne blog.
- Prize will be delivered in the form of a check mailed to an address provided by the winner. In the case of a winner located outside the US, prize will be delivered via wire transfer.
- This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook.


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Oral cancer
Oral cancer is cancer that starts in the mouth.
Alternative Names
Cancer - mouth; Mouth cancer; Head and neck cancer; Squamous cell cancer - mouth
Oral cancer most commonly involves the lips or the tongue. It may also occur on the:
Most oral cancers are a type called squamous cell carcinoma. These cancers tend to spread quickly.
Smoking and other tobacco use are linked to most cases of oral cancer. Heavy alcohol use also increases the risk of oral cancer.
Other factors that may increase the risk of oral cancer include:
Some oral cancers begin as a white plaque (leukoplakia) or as a mouth ulcer.
Men get oral cancer twice as often as women do, particularly men older than 40.
Oral cancer can appear as a lump or ulcer in the mouth that may be:
Other symptoms may include:
Exams and Tests
Your doctor or dentist will examine your mouth area. The exam may show:
Tests used to confirm oral cancer include:
X-rays and CT, MRI and PET scans may be done to determine if the cancer has spread.
Surgery to remove the tumor is usually recommended if the tumor is small enough. Surgery may be used together with radiation therapy and chemotherapy for larger tumors.
Other treatments may include speech therapy or other therapy to improve movement, chewing, swallowing, and speech.
Support Groups
You can ease the stress of illness by joining a cancer support group. Sharing with others who have common experiences and problems can help you not feel alone.
Outlook (Prognosis)
Approximately half of people with oral cancer will live more than 5 years after they are diagnosed and treated. If the cancer is found early, before it has spread to other tissues, the cure rate is nearly 90%. More than half of oral cancers have spread when the cancer is detected. Most have spread to the throat or neck.
Possible Complications
When to Contact a Medical Professional
Oral cancer may be discovered when the dentist does a routine cleaning and examination.
Call your health care provider if you have a sore in your mouth or lip or a lump in the neck that does not go away within 1 month. Early diagnosis and treatment of oral cancer greatly increases the chance of survival.
Oral cancer may be prevented by:
National Cancer Institute: PDQ Lip and Oral Cavity Cancer Treatment. Bethesda, Md: National Cancer Institute. Date last modified: July 16, 2012. Available at: http://cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/lip-and-oral-cavity/HealthProfessional. Accessed: February 3, 2014.
National Comprehensive Cancer Network. NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines): Head and neck cancers. Version 2.2013. Available at: http://www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/pdf/head-and-neck.pdf. Accessed: February 3, 2014.
Wein RO, Malone JP, Weber RS. Malignant neoplasms of the oral cavity. In: Flint PW, Haughey BH, Lund VJ, et al., eds. Cummings Otolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Elsevier Mosby; 2010:chap 96.
Review Date: 2/3/2014
Reviewed By: Ashutosh Kacker, MD, FACS, Professor of Clinical Otolaryngology, Weill Cornell Medical College, and Attending Otolaryngologist, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Isla Ogilvie, PhD, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. © 1997- A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.


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July 2012
This Explanation of Significant Differences (ESD) was prepared to describe a change to the Brookhaven Graphite Research Reactor (BGRR)remedy described in the January 31, 2005 Final Record of Decision(ROD). The final remedy selected in the ROD included removal of the graphite pile (completed in 2010) and the bioshield, which would result in the removal of more than 99 percent of the radioactive material at the BGRR complex.
During the removal of the graphite pile and biological shield, the floor beneath the BGRR was modified. First, to cover the void spaces to prevent graphite pile debris from falling into the air intake plenums and later, to strengthen the floor to accommodate a larger excavator/hammer unit required to break the high-density concrete walls of the bioshield. As a result, a 3.25 foot section of the bioshield wall was embedded below floor level.
The change to the scope of work for the BGRR is that the bioshield wall will be removed to the existing Building 701 floor level leaving the portion of the wall below the floor in-place. The remaining wall will be encased beneath a reinforced concrete cover.
The radiological content that would remain as a result of this change was reviewed. It has been determined that there will not be a change to the overall radiological content remaining and the 99 percent removal of radioactive material will still be achieved. Also, long-term stewardship activities needed for the BGRR will not be affected.
The Final Area of Concern 9, Brookhaven Graphite Research Reactor Explanation of Significant Differences was approved by the U.S. DOE, the EPA with concurrence by the NYSDEC on July 13, 2012.
Documents / Links


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Sold and Shipped by Oravo
Gemstone has a vibrant rich color and eye clean clarity. Pendant is in Sterling Silver with .925 stamp and measures 1 x 5/8 inches and weighs 4.80 grams. Pendant features top quality workmanship and a beautiful finish. Includes Free 18 inch Sterling Silver Box Style Chain, Free Ribbon Gift Box.
Jewelry Information
* Brand Name: Oravo
* Metal Stamp: .925-Sterling
* Metal: sterling-silver
* Minimum total gem weight: 6.25 carats
Lab-Created Alexandrite Information
* Stone: Alexandrite
* Stone shape: special-cut-shape
* Color: violet-blue
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This review is from: 6.25Ct. Superman Cut Alexandrite Sterling Silver Pendant w/ 18" Silver Necklace
Pros: Great Gift! It came fast in the mail, Amazing color for jewlery for my girlfriend. It wasnt too big and not too small, chain was good length and strong. Great Design for the price if offers.
Cons: None
Other Thoughts: None
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$util.date("MMMM d, yyyy",$topLevel.timeZone)
Recreational and commercial fishermen are at odds over house bill 353, which calls for designating red drum, spotted sea trout and striped bass as coastal game fish.
Supporters of the bill say the aim is to preserve and protect marine resources. If the bill passes, the fish could only be caught by hook and line and sale of the species would be prohibited, taking commercial fishermen out of the picture and those fish off the market.
Onslow County commissioners signed a resolution opposing the bill and so far more than 400 people have signed a petition against it.
The North Carolina Coastal Conservation Association said this is not about taking these fish from consumers, but rather the best way to use them economically for North Carolina going forward.
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Viewers with disabilities can get assistance accessing this station's FCC Public Inspection File by contacting the station with the information listed below. Questions or concerns relating to the accessibility of the FCC's online public file system should be directed to the FCC at 888-225-5322, 888-835-5322 (TTY), or firstname.lastname@example.com.


text:
You guys are very misinformed about this situation. LIVE hasn't toured or released any material since the break-up. Chad Taylor and company are just starting a petty lawsuit over nothing.
Ed left the band because his bandmates were unhappy he was writing a solo album. The other bandmembers started a new band with Kevin Martin that failed, so they are now trying to bring back LIVE with a very average singer. The lawsuit is bogus.


text:
Montville, NJ, U.S.A.
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text:
1 Park near Portageville, Missouri
Caruthersville, Missouri 17.07 miles S
Sikeston, Missouri 32.41 miles NE
Charleston, Missouri 38.97 miles NE
Poplar Bluff, Missouri 45.25 miles NW
Portageville, Missouri (map) | (573) 359-1580
Sites: 50 | Latest Rate: $27.00 | 23 Reviews
|Clean Restrooms:
|Clean Showers:
May 2015 - $27.00
This is just a campgrounds for travelers, there is nothing to do at the campground or the area. However, the new owners were very friendly and eager to help. The sites were nearly all pull through, open but with many mature trees. The grounds were freshly mowed. The facilities were very clean. The showers appeared to be recently redone and were individual, which we prefer for privacy and security.
The only real concern is it is on a busy road and highway noise didn't let up all night. - aj brightman
Oct 2014 - $27.00
We agree with all the comments below. Access from the north is bumpy, shook our Casita a bit. Site is next to a cotton field, and has a number of very tall tress, providing shade to some but not all sites. Lawn well maintained, no fancy plantings but quite park-like. Would be a good spot for hot weather camping, with the trees. Bath and shower clean separate dog park. Only a few people there, maybe 4? out of 49 sites. By mistake we signed up for WE instead of WES, Surprised they asked for the $3 extra when there were so few campers. Owners are pleasant and helpful. Would definitely stay again. - User2700
Aug 2014 - $35.00
This is a Good Sam campground now, no longer a KOA. The campground is immaculate, clean, and very level. Access is by a frontage road. Coming from the north, it is a little bumpy, coming from the south is fine. We liked it and would stay here again. - dragonsix


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Butler track and field/cross country coach Matt Roe re-stocked
his men's teams and added talent to his women's squads
with the addition of 13 track and cross country recruits for
2010-11. The incoming class includes three national and four
state champions!
Set to join the Bulldogs this fall are Callum Hawkins (Glasgow, Scotland/Griffe), Harry Ellis (Warrington, England/Helsby), Ross Clarke (Essex, England/The Chafford School), Thomas Brueggeman (Columbus, Ind./Columbus North), Ryan Rosebrough (Indianapolis/Speedway), Andrew Wallace (Cincinnati, Ohio/Cincinnati Hills), Brad Magnetta (Naperville, Ill./Glenbard East), Craig Gundersen (Liverpool, England/Birmingham University, Pictured on front page), Matthew Proctor (Rochdale, England/Durham University), Jackson Carnes (Louisville, Ky./St. Xavier), Billy Klimczak (Naperville, Ill./Nequa Valley), Bethany Werge (South Bend/South Bend Riley) and Becky Howarth (Wigan, England/Durham University).
Hawkins, a four-time Scottish cross country champion, led Great Britain to the 2009 European U20 Cross Country team title, while finishing 19th individually. He won the European Youth 3000 meter championship in 2009, and he's had 18 international appearances. Ellis was the 2010 English School National Cross Country Champion and the 2010 Northern Athletics 3000 meter champion. He recently represented Great Britain in the 2010 World Junior Track and Field Championship. Clarke, South of England 1500 meter champion in 2009, placed sixth in the 1500 meter run at the 2009 British U23 Championships and 32nd at the 2008 English National Senior Men's Cross Country Championships.
"Callum (Hawkins) and Harry (Ellis) are two of the top incoming prospects in the country and two of the most decorated freshman distance runners ever at Butler," said Roe. "Both have world championship experience and tremendous upsides in terms of physical ability. Callum has a massive aerobic engine with the potential to be a force at the national level on the cross country course and in the longer distances. Harry has tremendous speed and range, and based on his performances, is one of the best raw talents coming into the NCAA this year. His upside is exciting. Ross (Clarke) is a very lightly trained athlete with a ton of potential. With time and development, he also has the tools to be a national level runner for us. We feel very fortunate to have these three freshman in our program."
Brueggeman, the Columbus North High School record-holder in the 100 meters and the 4X100 relay, was a state finalist in the 100 and 200 meters this past spring. He wound up placing sixth in the 100 at the state championship. Rosebrough, a three-sport athlete, placed third in the regional and 12th at the state championship in the 400 meter run this year.
"Thomas (Brueggeman) and Ryan (Rosebrough) are two of the better sprint prospects in Indiana this year," added Roe. "Both came to the sport relatively late after successful soccer careers. Thomas is explosive out of the blocks and will be an immediate force at the conference level in the 60 meters indoors and in the 100 meters outdoors. As he continues to improve his mechanics and strength, I can see him dropping his 200 times as well. Ryan is a tremendous all-around athlete. He will be an immediate asset on our relays and in the open 400 meters. Coach (Darren) Gauson is doing a great job putting together a competitive spring group, and I am excited to see both of these young men develop under his guidance."
Wallace led Cincinnati Hills to the Ohio 1A 4X800 state title in 2008 and placed third in the 800 meter run at the 2010 Ohio State Championship. Magnetta ran on Glenbard East's winning 4X800 relay team at the 2010 Illinois 3A State Championship and was a member of the state qualifying 4X400 relay team.
"I believe Andrew and Brad are two of the best "under-the-radar" middle distance prospects in the Midwest," continued Roe. "Both gladly gave up faster individual times and glory to win state relays titles for their respective schools. They are team-oriented guys, each blessed with great raw foot speed, cross country running backgrounds, and the will to excel at the Division I level. They will be immediate impact athletes in the league on the relays and in the middle distances."
Gundersen won the British U23 5000 meters national championship in 2010, and he placed third in the 3000 meters at the English Schools National Championships in 2007. Proctor placed 2nd in the 5000 meters at the 2010 British Universities & Colleges Sport (BUCS) Outdoor Championships and third in the 3000 meters at the 2010 BUCS Indoor Championships.
"Craig (Gundersen) and Matt (Proctor) will contribute right away for us on the cross country course and in the longer distances on the track," said Roe. "What I like most about these young men, outside of being great students and people, is how youthful they are both chronologically and in their running. As graduate students, both are quite young at 21 years of age, and in terms of running, both have performed well off of relatively modest training. As they continue to raise their training levels, they will really have an impact in our program."
Carnes was the Kentucky 3A state champion at 3200 meters in 2009, and he placed third at the Kentucky 3A State Cross Country Championships in 2008. Klimczak helped lead Nequa Valley to the Illinois 3A State Cross Country title and a No. 1 ranking in the Midwest in 2009.
"Jackson (Carnes) and Billy (Klimczak) give us more depth in cross country and in the distance events," noted Roe. "After winning an individual state title as a junior, Jackson missed most of his senior year with mononucleosis. He has very nice potential the further out he races. Billy is similar to Jackson as he is a pure distance runner. He comes from an outstanding high school program at Nequa Valley and is very well prepared for the challenges of Division I running."
Werge earned All-State honors last season, while placing 19th at the Indiana State Cross Country Meet. She was a Sectional Cross Country champion, and she represented Indiana at the Mid-East Cross Country Meet of Champions in 2009. Howarth placed tenth at the British University Cross Country Championship in 2010 and finished 21st at the British U20 National Cross Country Championships in 2009.
"Placed in the position to have such a large recruiting class last year, this (year's class) is decidedly smaller in the distances for women," stated Roe. "I really like Bethany (Werge) and Becky (Howarth) as prospects for our program. Bethany has trained mostly by herself and Becky is only in her second year of serious running. They both have huge potential and will contribute immediately to our talented young group of women."
Butler will open the 2010 cross country campaign on Friday, Sept. 3, at the Illini Challenge. The women's 4,000 meter race starts at 5 p.m. (ET), with the men's 6,000 meter race following at 5:30 p.m.
Butler Adds Track/Cross Country Talent For 2010-11
Butler track and field/cross country coach Matt Roe re-stocked
his men's teams and added talent to his women's squads
with the addition of 13 track and cross country recruits for
2010-11. The incoming class includes three national and four
state champions!


text:
Real Housewives of New Jersey
Jacqueline Laurita's Marriage Advice
Real Housewives of New Jersey star Jacqueline Laurita knows a thing of two about how to keep the marital fires alive, as she and hubby Chris have been happily married since 2002. Now, Jac is thankfully sharing a little marital advice with the rest of us!
Jac recently posted a photo of relationship pointers that she had given to a publication a while back, and she believes that the advice is still relevant. "Lol! My marriage advice! I'm sticking to it," she captions the pic on March 3.
So what is this advice that Jac has given? Here it is: "Sometimes, you've got to take it back and remember when you first met. Flirt a lot; don't let him see you cleaning the toilet. Keep some things private."
"Date night is really important," she adds.
We love her advice! Even though it seems like it might be common sense, we do think it's good for her to point this all out. And we're not sure that it's the end of the world to see someone cleaning a toilet, but that is a funny suggestion, and we do see how something like that could kill some of the romance in a marriage.
What do you think of Jac's advice?
Source: Jac on Twitter


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- Americathon (1 pics) ... Jimmy Dunphy
- Homeward Bound 2: Lost in San Francisco (2 pics) ... Lucky Lasorda
- Ladybugs (3 pics) ... Coach Cannoli
- Life with Louie (11 pics) ... Coach Larry Rockwell
Thomas Charles "Tommy" Lasorda (born September 22, 1927) is a former Major League baseball player who has had a lengthy career in sports management. In 2009, he marked his sixth decade in one capacity or another with the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers organization, the longest non-continuous (he played one season with the Kansas City Athletics) tenure anyone has had with the team, edging Dodger broadcaster Vin Scully by a single season. He was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame as a manager in 1997.
Posted by DOUGLAS J. KIRKHAM 7 hours ago
Posted by elviisdreamer 1 day ago
Posted by sahil Kumar 1 day ago
Posted by gustabm 2 days ago


text: Well this is going to show you exactly how much knowledge I have of motorcycle mechanics, which is not much at all. My previous bike was carburated and I had heard of folks getting after market pipes and air boxes thus requiring a stage 1 or 2 rejet. I have heard that the 2012 Victory cruisers come with a stage 2 kit out of the factory. What does this mean? I don't think my bikes performance and sound is drastically different than an 2011? I had done some "searching" but most of the conversations were between folks that know what they are talking about so not much explanation for the noob. Sorry for the ignorance.


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Schwarzenegger makes a triumphant return in film 'The Last Stand'
Published: Wednesday, January 23, 2013 at 5:14 p.m.
Last Modified: Wednesday, January 23, 2013 at 5:14 p.m.
It's been a long time since we've seen Arnold Schwarzenegger on screen. Sure, he's had a few amusing cameos in "The Expendables" and "The Expendables 2," and his CGI face appeared in "Terminator Salvation," but Arnold hasn't had a lead role since 2003's "Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines" while serving as the governor of California.
Want to see?
• 'The Last Stand' is directed by Kim Jee-woon and stars Arnold Schwarzenegger, Forest Whitaker, Johnny Knoxville, Peter Stormare, Luis Guzman, Jaimie Alexander and Eduardo Noriega. It is rated R for strong bloody violence throughout and language.
• Rated 3 1/2 stars out of four.
• Now showing at Cinemark Tinseltown USA in Salisbury; the Grande 18, Carmike Wynnsong 12 and Carmike 10, all in Winston-Salem; Regal Palladium Stadium 14 and Regal Oak Hollow Mall 7, both in High Point; and The Grand Theatre Four Seasons, Cinemark Brassfield Cinema 10 and Carmike 18, all in Greensboro.
• Check out the movie news link under Entertainment at www.the-dispatch.com for show times and more information.
Kim Jee-woon's "The Last Stand" is a perfectly staged comeback vehicle for Schwarzenegger, who stars as Ray Owens, a small town sheriff in a sleepy little village on the Mexican border. When dangerous cartel boss Gabriel Cortez (Eduardo Noriega) escapes from custody and makes a break for the border, Owens is the only thing that stands between him and freedom in Mexico.
With an FBI hostage in his souped-up Chevrolet, and the FBI hot on his tail, Cortez mobilizes a small army to ensure his escape. But Owens, along with his ragtag band of deputies (who might be the most inept band of lawmen since the Keystone Cops), will face the greatest challenge of their lives as they make their last stand against a seemingly unstoppable foe.
Owens represents a classic western archetype of the lone lawman standing up against a band of outlaws, a more modern equivalent of John Wayne in "Rio Bravo" or Gary Cooper in "High Noon." It is this archetypal symbolism that Kim subverts so slyly, playing with our expectations and delivering a surprisingly brilliant action film that is something far better, and far deeper, than anyone could have anticipated. On the surface, "The Last Stand" looks like just another Schwarzenegger shoot 'em up, but it is so much more than that.
Arnold himself hasn't changed much over the years. He's gotten older certainly (a point that the film raises frequently), but he's still playing basically the same character that he's been playing for nearly his entire career. Kim makes good use of that persona, contrasting Schwarzenegger's straightforward performance against a film that plays with more of a wink and a nod.
Arnold remains stubbornly Arnold, a completely unironic relic from an '80s action movie, surrounded by a changed world that is more ironic and self-referencing. He has remained unchanged by a rapidly evolving world, his sense of honor untouched by a world that been increasingly surrounded by quotation marks. It's a thrilling juxtaposition, with Arnold's lack of self-awareness and old-fashioned sense of honor triumphing over a world that has perhaps become too self-aware.
The film itself, and the people around him, tend to be incompetent caricatures, devoid of any real grounding or moral center. Arnold's lack of ambiguity is somewhat refreshing. Old-fashioned yes, but that's exactly the point.
"The Last Stand" longs for a simpler world while acknowledging the inevitable existence of something far more fast-paced and awash in self-effacing ironies (represented in large part by the very presence of Johnny Knoxville). Kim mixes the two into something brazenly modern where old-fashioned doesn't necessarily equate to obsolete. It serves as both an entertaining action film and a sort of exploration of tried and true values still operating in a modern world.
Who would have thought that Arnold's comeback vehicle would have so much going on beneath the surface? This isn't just a throwaway popcorn film, this is a triumph both for Arnold as an American icon and for Kim Jee-woon as a filmmaker. Come for the action and funny quips, but stay for the truly crackerjack filmmaking. Kim is a serious artist, and "The Last Stand," his first English language film, is a major achievement.
Matthew Lucas, a former Davidson County resident, studied theater and film studies at Appalachian State University. He now resides in Banner Elk and has a blog where he posts movie news, reviews and commentary at www.fromthefrontrow.net.
Reader comments posted to this article may be published in our print edition. All rights reserved. This copyrighted material may not be re-published without permission. Links are encouraged.


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Archive - Jul 2008
July 28th
2008 Las Vegas AAUs: Day 5
By Aran_Smith
Mon, 07/28/2008 - 10:58am
By Nick Prevenas, Borko Popic, and Aran Smith
After five days of wall-to-wall AAU basketball action, we managed to catch nearly every big-time high school recruit participating in the three major Las Vegas tournaments.
July 27th
Biedrins, Warriors Agree To Deal
On Sun, 07/27/2008 - 8:06pm.
San Francisco Chronicle
The Superstar Theory: Revisited and Supercharged, Part 2
By Robert_W._McChesney
Sun, 07/27/2008 - 4:50pm
By Robert W. McChesney
July 27, 2008
July 25th
2008 Las Vegas AAUs: Day 4
By Aran_Smith
Sat, 07/26/2008 - 12:52am
By Nick Prevenas
John Wall
[img_assist|nid=1594|title=John Wall|desc=|link=none|align=right|width=300|height=395] The North Carolina phenom is putting his stamp on the Reebok Summer Championship, submitting yet another dominant effort in D-One Sports' 84-77 win over a game Grand Rapids squad on Friday afternoon.
State of the Cap: Orlando Magic
By Josh_Redetzke
Fri, 07/25/2008 - 6:57pm
By Josh Redetzke
2008/09 Orlando Magic Payroll: $58.8 million
2008/09 Estimated NBA Salary Cap: $58 million
Roughly: $0.8 million over cap
The Good:
2008/09 Orlando Magic Payroll: $58.8 million
2008/09 Estimated NBA Salary Cap: $58 million
Roughly: $0.8 million over cap
The Good:
July 24th
2008 Las Vegas AAUs: Day 3
By Nick_Prevenas
Thu, 07/24/2008 - 11:45pm
By Nick Prevenas
Wall or Favors?
That was the question everyone was asking heading into Day 3 of Las Vegas' AAU hoops gathering. Who is the top player in the class of 2009?
Guard Ellis inks $67 million deal to stay with Warriors
On Thu, 07/24/2008 - 10:14pm.
Warriors match Clippers' offer to Azubuike
On Thu, 07/24/2008 - 3:26pm.
Associated Press
D'Antoni is proud, thankful
On Thu, 07/24/2008 - 2:52pm.
July 23rd
Role Players Cashing In Abroad
By Mike DeStefano
Thu, 07/24/2008 - 1:59am
It's official – the NBA has a big problem on its hands. This problem goes beyond dress code and player image, fixed games, gambling, and officiating scandals.
[img_assist|nid=1581|title=Josh Childress|desc=|link=none|align=right|width=300|height=450] The NBA is losing players to Europe, a huge dilemma for the League as a business and as a product on the court.


text:
Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC): A Glowing Economic Bloc in 2011 – Will It Extend to 2012?
MACRO WATCH – Middle East & Africa: Despite the crises that have hit the world's economies lately, GCC countries have always been seen as the world's glowing economic bloc with high oil revenues and strong fiscal balances. Since 2010, they have recovered from the 2008 financial crisis and achieved perceptible growth of 5.94% compared to 1.33% in 2009, mainly driven by Qatar, the world's fastest growing economy, with 16.64% GDP YoY.
GCC Countries Growth Rates & OPEC Crude Oil Price
Chart provided by: CEIC
In 2011, the slow-paced global recovery was characterized by Japan's earthquake and tsunami, U.S. and EU crises, as well as MENA region political unrest. GCC countries were only slightly affected compared to their peers, as the slow recovery deferred the implementation of long-term development plans that largely target privatization and diversification. Despite unrest in Bahrain since early 2011 and protests in Kuwait since November, GCC countries achieved an average growth for 2011 of 6.68% according to the IMF, mostly driven by Qatar's growth (18.74%).
Because GCC countries are dominant oil exporters, the main driver of GCC growth is the high oil prices that increased from 77.4 USD/barrel in 2010 to 107.44 USD/barrel in 2011. Other growth drivers were the increased public spending from the applied expansionary fiscal policies. In 2012, according to IMF forecasts, regional growth will shrink to 4.18% due to a considerable expected drop in oil prices because of a possible slump in the global outlook, along with an expected decline in GCC oil supply in 2012.
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By Mai Thabet in Egypt – CEIC Analyst
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