(By Davide)

Torno a infestare la rubrica musicale con un  nuovo articolo, dedicato a una delle mie band favorite: Lorenzo mi ha ammonito che gli "sgozzacapretti" come li chiama lui non sarebbero presenza gradita :-) e io rispettando la sua opinione posso dire che qui non parlerò di sgozzamenti ne tantomeno di sound grezzo: i Kamelot, band americana guidata dal vocalist Roy Khan - sono un gruppo che trasuda poesia, epicità e romanticismo da ogni singola nota. La loro produzione sa bilanciare le cavalcate e le ritmiche potenti con melodie, assoli e soprattutto linee vocali di bellezza assoluta: personalmente Roy Khan ha uno dei timbri più struggenti che abbia mai sentito, pronto a lanciarsi in un lamento d'amore (come nella straziante "Don't You Cry") o a divenire narratore dalla spiccata teatralità e drammaticità ( "Descent of the Archangel", "Elizabeth: Mirror Mirror", "Lost and damned"). Godibilissimi anche gli arrangiamenti, sempre di classe (soprattutto quelli del chitarrista Youngblood, a tutti gli effetti il partner perfetto di Khan) e i duetti con la voce femminile che caratterizzano molti brani del gruppo. Anche i testi meritano una note a parte, per la varietà di sentimenti e di rimandi al patrimonio gotico/romantico (l'album "Epica" si ispira al Faust di Goethe). Penso sia abbastanza per incoraggiare chi non li conosce a cercare qualcosa, sempre che siate aperti d'orecchio e apprezziate una buona dose di lirismo musicale!

Sinopse

A remota e isolada Mystery, no Alasca, parece um lugar frio e sem nenhum atrativo, para quem pouco a conhece. Mas, para quem a conhece realmente, sabe que Mystery possui também seus escândalos sexuais, segredos escondidos e hipocrisias políticas, como qualquer grande cidade. Mas também possui um time amador de hóquei. E, num lugar onde todos sabem tudo sobre todos, uma matéria numa revista nacional coloca Mystery sob os holofotes, fazendo com que os poderosos New York Rangers resolvam fazer uma partida amistosa contra a equipe de hóquei no local.

Desafio no Gelo - Miracle
Ator - Kurt Russel

Sinopse

Repleto de ção e muito suspense, Desafio no Gelo conta a inspiradora história por trás de um dos maiores momentos no mundo dos esportes - a vitória olímpica triunfante dos Estados Unidos sobre a União Soviética em um jogo de hóquei, em 1980. O ator indicado ao Globo de Ouro, Kurt Russell (Cortina de Fogo, O Retrato de uma Coragem), em uma de suas melhores performaces, interpreta o treinador Herb Books, determinado a realizar um sonho - derrotar o imbatível time de hóquei da União Soviética. Começando com um seletivo time de 20 garotos, Brooks treina-os para jogar como nunca haviam jogado, e os transforma em um time capaz de realizar o impossível.

Slap Shot

Slap Shot 2: Breaking the Ice
Diretor: Steve Boyum

Youngblood

The Mighty Ducks – 1992

Gordon Bombay (Estevez) é um talentoso advogado que está vivendo o auge de sua carreira profissional. Mas apesar do sucesso ele é constantemente atormentado por seu passado quando, ainda criança, perdeu um pênalti decisivo na final da Liga Infantil de Hóquei. Este fato fez com que ele se afastasse do esporte. Mas um dia, Bombay é preso por cometer infrações de trânsito e, para não ir pra cadeia, aceita prestar serviços à comunidade: terá que treinar um time infantil de hóquei com os piores jogadores que já patinaram sobre o gelo. Agora, ele tem que voltar a amar o esporte e ainda por cima, transformar seus garotos em vencedores!

D2: The Mighty Ducks - EUA – 1994
Direção: Sam Weisman


Gordon Bombay (Estevez) volta a jogar hóquei e está a um passo da Liga Profissional. Mas uma séria contusão põe fim ao seu sonho! Impossibilitado de jogar, ele aceita treinar a equipe dos EUA nos Jogos Infantis da Amizade, em Los Angeles. Ele convoca muitos de seus antigos jogadores para o time, que ainda conta com o reforço de jovens talentos de todo o país. Mas a equipe começa a ter problemas e Gordon, deslumbrado com o estilo hollywoodiano de viver, faz pouco para ajudar. Agora, para serem vencedores, os EUA devem superar as adversidades e a fortíssima equipe da Islândia!

D3: The Mighty Ducks - EUA – 1996
Direção: Robert Lieberman

Sinopse

Os garotos da equipe dos Mighty Ducks ganham bolsas de estudos para freqüentarem a Academia Eden Hall, uma conceituada escola particular. Mas eles se vêem numa grande enrascada quando chegam á nova escola: o time não será treinado por Gordon Bombay (Estevez), e sim por Ted Orion (Nordling), um técnico exigente e antipático. Além disso, o time principal da escola não aceita a chegada do novo time infantil e começa a desprezá-los. O time deve se unir e continuar firme, para assim suportar a nova escola e conseguir fazer frente ao esnobe time principal!

But here's one thing you won't be able to do: attend Mr. V's Figure 8 Disco in the Westgate Shopping Center. 'Cause it's closed now. Sorry, guys.

THE BEST NEW BEAUTY POSTS - Thursday 4/10

If its good enough for CZJ! Christine at 15 Minute Beauty Fanatic reviews Elizabeth Arden's new fragrance, Mediterranean Breeze.

Insider Scoop! Kristen Kelly at Beauty Addict fills you in on the latest online beauty deals.

Mineral Madness! Cybele over at Cybele Says reviews Youngblood's new Liquid Mineral Foundation.

There she is....Miss America! Belinda shows you how to get a free beauty guide from Sacha, the official beauty pageant cosmetics brand.

4vision gmbh germany
showA.g · showAgency-group
Auf dem Schildrain 3
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Telefon: (0049) 0700/88446633 (12 Cent/Minute)

Internet: www.showag.de Titelseite Katalog: 7000 Künstler
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But I couldn't. I went home P1500++ poorer.

The bookworm in me is extremely happy, though. In addition to these two:

I also found myself buying this:

The first Youngblood compilation. I've wanted this since forever, but in high school I didn't have much stipends and allowance so it wasn't until now that I finally can afford it, LOL. Of course I'll be buying the next compilations someday too, when I've recovered from today's shopping spree.

Really, I'm this close to being broke. Somebody please stop me the next time I try going anywhere near National Bookstore or Powerbooks. (Incidentally, I also applied for a Powerbooks Powercard today. Guess I can see myself buying more already. Oh noes.)

And while we're on the topic of books, somebody please explain to me why The Heart Reader is nowhere to be found? And it's not just out of stock; they don't have it in their records! And by they, I mean BOTH National Bookstore and Powerbooks. I meant to give to Shayne for her birthday pa naman. (Yes Ben kaya ako nasa National nun, I was looking for a gift. I wasn't just buying a notebook, although I needed that one as well.) Oh well. I found something totally different but incredibly cool naman which I'd really like to keep for myself, and I would if I didn't love Shayne so much. That's how cool it is.

Basta. Next time, I'm trying harder to stop myself. But in case I still fail, somebody please stop me. Use any means necessary, including guns or whatever, haha. I'm banning myself until the start of Christmas break. Syempre I'll give myself a Christmas gift eh, yung The Boy Who Loved Anne Frank na since I can't afford to buy it anytime soon anymore. But if anyone would like to give it to me as a Christmas gift, I'd appreciate it very much too, haha.

Pd:  a los asiduos de la pagina ¿ No se os parece a otro video ? a ver quie lo adivina.

Black Kids sound like The Go! Team fronted by Reggie’s hero Robert Smith. And they’re obsessed with sex. On ‘Listen To Your Body Tonight’
co-vocalist Dawn Watley has an actual mid-song conversation with her body (‘played’ by frontman Reggie Youngblood), who informs her that
“I wanna feel somebody on you”, while the protagonist of ‘Love Me Already’ jealously wonders “What she’s doing in his apartment at midnight?/I didn’t get an invite”. Every song seems to be about desire, usually – and brilliantly, in the case of ‘I’m Not Going To Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance With You’ – of the unreciprocated variety, although it glistens with such a buoyant sheen (kudos to producer Bernard Butler on that one) you barely notice the darkness bubbling underneath.

So what if the presence of a mere six new songs suggests Black Kids aren’t exactly prolific? And who cares if things run out of steam by the time ‘Look At Me (When I Rock Wichoo)’ brings things to a close? ‘Partie Traumatic’ is the sexiest, most outrageous outright pop album of ’08
so far, hard not to love and (seemingly) even easier to lay.

Barry Nicolson

Rest assured, Russian Circles have not rested upon their laurels, and in Station have created a completely different album compared to their last effort. First track Campaign is a slow, melodic build up that acts as a calm introduction before the storm of Harper Lewis. It doesn't really go anywhere, patiently building up to a climax that never comes, but floats along before subsiding to a key change, with Mike Sullivan's calm, muted fret wanderings creating a beautifully soft effect that entrances you.

Things then fade out into Harper Lewis which immediately stands out after the slow pace of the intro, Dave Turncrantz pounding his drums with a resolute power as Brian Cook makes his first standout moment with a deliciously evil bassline that rattles the speakers. Layered over this is Sullivan's drawn out high notes, that pierce the whole song. It is a myriad of ideas that all combine together, going from soft to heavy, intricate to simple but never once losing its power. Just as they know how to do so well, it all builds up and up before overflowing into a brilliant burst of furious fills and guitar meanderings.

Title track Station moves along at a terrifically bouncy pace, almost rivalling Battles' Atlas for sheer fun, which is odd given the dark bassline, but Turncrantz's drum rolls just fill the song with an irresistible groove. Things pause for a brief respite midway through before letting out another burst of energy and power that could force a nation to stamp its feet on the ground, just wishing they could sound as good as Turncrantz. It's a wonderful track that goes from a drunken dance to sober serious, with some guitar picking that sounds very reminiscent of Efrim Menuch's technique in Godspeed You! Black Emperor, but is invariably Sullivan's own.

Verses however showcases a much more patient opening, with drawn out notes layered over a deep, unsettling bass that nearly caused my subwoofer to break. Then out of nowhere comes this beautiful guitar tone that sounds gorgeously sweet to the ears. Despite the risk of boredom with this kind of angle, the drumming injects the necessary pace to keep the song alive, and there is a vast variety in Sullivan's picked notes that keep it all fresh and interesting. Things do not say so understated for long, with another epic climax brought about, the guitar loud and clear, acting almost like a call to arms to whomever might be listening.

As Verses rattles to a close, Youngblood instantly picks things up again with familiar high pitched guitar picking, and once again the drums prove themselves to be the shot of heroin in the song, as they punctuate the crisp guitar work of both Cook and Sullivan. It's a haunting track, that speeds along with a dangerous motive, dark and evocative. Chainsaw-like riffs make this the heaviest track on the album, as Sullivan moves things along at a pace that barely gives you time to take in what has happened, before the song has changed tactics again. It is right here that the trio really come together, and you start to feel that Cook was just the right man for the job as the climax of the song builds up, layer over layer, one part never superseding another until things can go nowhere else and the song slowly eases itself into Stations' swan song.

The closer Xaavi is also the shortest track on the album, at a modest four and a half minutes long. There's a strange element of the Wild West infused into the music, a lonely riff that embodies the image of one lone ranger walking off into the sunset. Despite the addition of keyboards in this track, nothing really takes away the focus on Sullivan's isolated guitar work, with even Turncrantz's drumming taking a step back from the limelight. And then for one final time, the threesome all come together again, drums growing louder, bass rumbling below and the guitars beckoning you to fall into their world one more time, and as it builds and builds your anticipation is shot when things just end, almost as if Russian Circles have offered you the meaning of life, and then taken it away with a knowing wink.

Station is a different album from Enter, make no bones about it. It showcases a more patient side to the band, and whether this is a natural development or down to Cook's introduction is a topic up for debate. But although Station doesn't immediately come across as a 'better' album than Enter, it is certainly a much more slickly crafted one, rich with layers that you'll keep on discovering upon every listen. It's deeper, not as shallow as to give into cheap temptations, and it's all the better for it. A definite grower, and if this is just a station on Russian Circles' journey then I cannot wait for where the train is set to take us next.

Don’t go to Blogger or WordPress for a breath of fresh air. They’re the perfect place to look for countless sentences that begin with “I.” (sic)

Either he's a smug paying blogger on TypePad or he built his own site from scratch, I believe Mr. Ortega doesn't have any business driving people away from the two sites or disparaging them, as tonally implied by the statement. As it happens, I am a very happy WordPress user. I was a former Blogger user but switched to WordPress last year because my former blog contained rants that are better off written on a private notebook or diary, and because I find WP's templates cleaner and more visually-appealing. But contrary to what he likes to think, Blogger and WordPress have blogs that are not narcissistic nor self-obsessed; there are blogs that are profound, well-thought, and well-written. With patience as a key, you will be rewarded with very good reads when you go searching.

Second, paragraphs 7 to 10 lack depth, because they are just statements of facts with no new insight infused. Many people already know these things--they know that putting Google AdSense is just as easy as adding a new widget, or that they can change their blog layout daily thanks to customizable CSS. So where is the myth there?

The third point comes back to the statement quoted above. We all know blogs grew because of people wanting to have their own little spaces in the sun, in the Web, rather. And isn't this growth facilitated by the "I" needing or wanting to be heard? Mr. Ortega himself is a blogger as he has said, am I am sure he created one because of the same need/want. It is the "I" in his world that facilitated the creation of his blog. By declaring the said statement, he is shooting himself in the foot.

He then goes on to say:

Worse, the Web is home also to people who would say vicious words against you, and it’s all the more frustrating because they usually do it anonymously.

But it all unravels when he says:

I have one blog that serves as a reservoir of my angst and anger. I could write there everything, including things I choose not to say to others, because I’d be burning bridges if I did. Of course, I don’t name names and places, and nobody knows it’s my blog. (highlights mine)

For the life of me, I cannot determine where he really wants to go with those statements. There is a huge hole in his arguments, and I cannot yet patch it together.

Here's another piece of news: by publishing your name and article in a public medium such as the newspaper, it will only take one curious reader to find out who you are, so don't hide things under the pretence of "nobody knows it's my blog". Now that he has published as a writer, his identity will come up whenever, whatever happens. And to be hiding these thoughts into guises is, for me, self-serving and dishonest.

Whether or not you name names or places, here's the drift: people will know you have a blog. People know you have a blog. And people now know where your blog is.

And the funny thing is, Mr. Ortega is on Blogger.

With that, Mr. Ortega finally shot both of his feet.

*************

Note: Mr. Ortega has another version of the published essay in his blog. He says he was only 50% serious in his blog. I hope he learns that when he writes, it always has many implications: literal, tonal, subliminal, etc., and that people will take his words as final if he published it. If he was only 50% percent serious, why post something at all? Just for fun? Please, do not hide under that excuse.

I'm keeping these, though.  Once the new pair arrives and the left eye isn't dodgy like it has been, I'm getting the others fitted with a new left lens.

I'll have to wait until I get my new spectacles before I plow through the following visual texts:

These two films I've seen but not analyzed in great detail (out loud or on paper):

I will continue to update my blog with news items and other random bits of feats and treats, but there won't be any film deconstructions until I get my new, new glasses.

In the mean time, snack on this glazed donut:

Click here to read the full story.

I loved the way it encourages people to question how today's society does things, particularly in relation to waste and the environment. The other thing that grabs the reader's attention in this trilogy is the technology that is used in Tally's world, some of the inventions are really cool like hoverboards and while some of them are really scary for example in specials when they start to talk about internal software. Personally I hate the idea of humans and computers ever mixing like that.

For more information go to www.scottwesterfled.com the author blog is really interesting as well thats just www.scottwesterfeld.com/blog

My "local" comic shop knows this and they saved a copy of the first issue of Youngblood volume 4 that just came out from Image Comics. I haven't read it yet, but they saved me a copy with "cover B" by Liefeld, and it looks nice. Liefeld didn't do anything else in the book, though.

In the back is a preview of the newly rescripted, lettered, and colored version of the original series that will be released as a hard cover. I'll wait for the price to see if I want to order it, and might hope for a cheaper TPB. It looks nice, but I don't want to spend too much on the book.

(click link above)

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 Anticipated “Luxury Lounge” Event Presented By Rolls-Royce Date Release 

 WHAT:           The “Luxury Lounge” presented by Rolls-Royce and produced by EntertainCorp is a private event showcasing Luxury Lifestyle living through the use of entertainment (film, music, spoken word and comedy).  The Luxury Lounge targets the Urban Community living within the metro Atlanta Area with a household income of at least  $250,000 per year. Exclusive invited guest will become more familiar with various luxury products while giving them an opportunity to try these products. Other activities include: Support of The Music Education Group which was created to provide a program that allows students to become more creative and responsible by introducing them to the world of music.  MEG Inc works to reduce low self-esteem and juvenile delinquency by offering an activity-based program that allows students to express themselves positively.

 WHEN:           Thursday, March 27, 2008 from 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. (EST).  Red carpet arrivals from 8:30 to 9:30 Media will have the chance to conduct interviews with celebrity host, platinum artist and red carpet arrivals. Please call media contact to schedule interview. Photographers are welcome. 

WHERE:        Venue location only to invited guest.                       

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Badrock is pretty self-explanatory.

Chapel I pictured as still being the cold-blooded psycho he is in the comic book, but here in embryo. Instead of the skull face make-up I put a halloween mask on him.

Diehard has become the paranoid android complete with USB 1.1 plug to recharge. He does not like this one bit.

Vogue is reprimanded for playing with sharp objects. Bad girl!

Wildstar! One of the second-tier characters at Image. I just got this idea and ran with it. In the books he's always shown with this intense shouting look on his face. Oh, the 90's....

DC COMICS
52 Aftermath: The Four Horsemen #6 (of 6)
Bat Lash #2 (of 6)
Batman Strikes #41
Cartoon Network Action Pack #21
Countdown to Final Crisis #16
Exterminator #25
Friday the 13^th: Bad Land #1 (of 2)
Gen 13 #16
Green Arrow Black Canary #4
Green Lantern Corps #20
Infinity Inc #5
JLA Classified #50
Nightwing #40
Salvation Run #3 (of 7)
Scalped #13
Simon Dark #4
Suicide Squad: Raise the Flag #5 (of 8)
Spirit #12
Superman #672
Teen Titans: The Lost Annual
Un-Men #6
Wonder Girl #5 (of 6)

IMAGE
Infinite Horizon #2 (of 6)
Youngblood #1

MARVEL COMICS
Amazing Spider-man #546 – Brand New Day
Civil War Chronicles #7
Ghost Rider #19
Avengers: House of M #3 (of 5)
Hulk #1
Marvel Adventures: Hulk #7
Nova #10
Onslaught Reborn #5 (of 5)
Punisher War Journal #15
Twelve #1 (of 12)
Wolverine #61
X-Factor #27

OTHER PUBLISHERS
Archie #581
Army of Darkness from Ashes #5
Boys #14
Doctor Who Classics #2
Fall of Cthulhu #9
Foundation #1 (of 5)
Jason & the Argonauts: Kingdom of Hades #1 (of 4)
Mercenaries #2
North Wind #1 (of 4)
Ramayan 3392 AD Reloaded #3
Sheena #4
Tales of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #41
Transformers: Beast Wars: The Ascending #4
Transformers: Best of UK: Dinobots #5

(click above image) 

Advisory 

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 Youngblood timepieces comes to atlanta with mixer and trunk show event in atlanta 

·        Youngblood Timepieces launches in Atlanta, Nov. 16-17·        Attendees will have an opportunity to meet and greet Paul Youngblood, Designer and Patrick Martin, CEO·        Youngblood Timepieces partners with rolling out magazine in producing “Design and Dialogue” Mixer·        Attendees will have a chance to learn more about the features that help make Youngblood Timepieces so "hot."·        Youngblood Timepieces will be giving away some cool prizes on both days.·        Portion of proceeds from all Youngblood Timepieces Trunk Show will go to Atlanta Children’s Shelter, Inc·        Everyone who purchases a Youngblood Timepieces during the trunk show will receive a copy of Alicia Keys NEW CD (while supplies last)

 WHO:             Youngblood Timepieces will take over Atlanta as part of the “Youngblood Timepieces Trunk Show” Event at Macy’s Lenox Square Mall. 

WHAT:           The event will feature all 64 pieces and color variations of Youngblood Timepieces. Paul Youngblood, Designer and Patrick Martin, CEO are the first African American owned fashion watch brand to walk in the doors of Macy’s. Owners Patrick Martin and Paul Youngblood have funded, designed and manufactured the brand with no 3^rd party corporate investors.  Macy’s South is proud and eager to support the brand under their minority vendor program. Youngblood Timepieces also known as YB Timepieces. Other activities include: Support of Atlanta Children’s Shelter and copies of the NEW anticipated Alicia Keys CD (while supplies last).  

WHEN:           Friday, Nov. 16, 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. (EST) at Over da Edge Dinner Club.  

Saturday, Nov. 17, Noon to 8:00 p.m. (EST) at the Macy’s Lenox Square Mall.

Media will have the chance to conduct interviews with Paul Youngblood, Designer and Patrick Martin, CEO. Please call media contact to schedule interview. Photographers are welcome. 

WHERE:        Over da Edge Dinner Club, 483 Edgewood Ave, Atlanta, GA 30303                       

Lenox Square Mall, 3393 Peachtree Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30326                         

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