New Year's Eve in Times Square

 

New Year's Eve in Times Square

Where is the Ball lowered?
The Times Square New Year's Eve Ball descends from a flagpole at the top of One Times Square. It can best be seen along Broadway, from 43rd Street to 50th Street, and along Seventh Avenue, as far north as 59th Street.

What streets will be closed for the celebrations?
The New York Police Department will begin closing down access to Times Square starting at 43rd Street and Broadway and moving north as revelers arrive. The exact times that these blocks close to pedestrian and vehicular traffic will depend on when the revelers begin arriving. It is likely that there will be no vehicular traffic on either Broadway or Seventh Avenue as of approximately 3:00 p.m. Vehicles will most likely have difficulty traveling across town after 6:00 p.m. above 42nd Street as far north as 59th Street. If you are planning to come to Times Square and join in the festivities, you are advised to enter from Sixth or Eighth Avenue. Your chance of getting a viewing spot near the Ball (at Broadway & 43rd Street) increases the earlier you arrive. The blocks will be closed off as they fill up northward, street-by-street, as the police deem necessary.

Will there be areas in Times Square designated for the disabled?
Yes. The police will set aside a viewing area for the disabled, located on the northwest corner of 43rd Street. However, this area will fill up quickly, and it is advised that disabled visitors arrive early in the day. For a listing of the access points from which you can enter Times Square, please click here.

Where is the best view?
The earlier you arrive, the better your view and the closer you will be to the action. The sound system is set up in the Bowtie area (where Broadway and Seventh Avenue cross), and the video screens on One Times Square (where the Ball is lowered) are easily visible. There are additional screens set up at Broadway and 50th Street, Broadway and 52nd Street, Broadway and 54th Street and Broadway and 58th Street.

What is the best way to come to Times Square?
The best way to come to Times Square is via public transportation. To get to Times Square, the # 1, 2, 3, 7, A, B, C, D, E, F, N, Q, R, W, V and S shuttle trains all service the Times Square area. Please note that the MTA has advised revelers not to use the 42nd Street Subway Station on New Year's Eve due to crowding conditions - you are advised to exit at one of the surrounding stations and enter Times Square on foot. It is expected that the MTA will keep all subway stations open on New Year's Eve. Some entrances and exits may be closed as crowd conditions require. After 7 p.m. on December 31st, the N and R train station at 49th Street and Seventh Avenue may be closed until after midnight. Trains may also bypass some stations, depending on how the crowds build. For further information nearer the date of the event, please call or visit the MTA at (718) 330-1234 or www.mta.info.

Santacon 2011 New York City

Santacon 2011 New York City

photos by Vanessa

The Beatles - Revolution (Live)

The Beatles - Revolution lyrics

The Beatles - Revolution lyrics


Writer: LENNON, JOHN WINSTON / MCCARTNEY, PAUL JAMES 

You say you want a revolution
Well, you know
We all want to change the world
You tell me that it's evolution
Well, you know
We all want to change the world
But when you talk about destruction
Don't you know that you can count me out
Don't you know it's gonna be all right
All right, all right


You say you got a real solution
Well, you know
We'd all love to see the plan
You ask me for a contribution
Well, you know
We're doing what we can
But when you want money 
For people with minds that hate
All I can tell is brother you have to wait
Don't you know it's gonna be all right
All right, all right
Ah


Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah...


You say you'll change the constitution
Well, you know
We all want to change your head
You tell me it's the institution
Well, you know
You better free you mind instead
But if you go carrying pictures of chairman Mao
You ain't going to make it with anyone anyhow
Don't you know it's gonna be all right
All right, all right
All right, all right, all right
All right, all right, all right

Manhattan Christmas Window Tour

Manhattan Christmas Window Tour 

Its that time of the year again ,when city stores deck out their windows in all the latest holiday splendor .A good place to start is on the  East Side of Manhattan with Bloomingdale's and then work your way slowly towards Fifth Avenue.

Bloomingdale's is on  59th Street and Lexington Avenue.. This years holiday windows feature : Vintage shopping bags — from 1981, 1983, 1990, 2001. Bllomingdale's even offers some  interactive displays . You can stand on a snowflake, and press a star-shaped button and your photo will be snapped and uploaded to Bloomingdale's Facebook page.By the way the  Celebrity-designed ornaments including ones by Heidi Klum and Al Roker are on sale and proceeds go to the Child Mind Institute, a children's mental health organization.

Barneys is located on 660 Madison Ave. near 61st Street.: Barneys is know for the Avant-garde window displays and is the perennial envelope pusher of the group when it comes to holiday window displays. This year Barney's features Lady Gaga and they convert their fifth floor into a Gaga workshop and the windows into a pop-art fun house. One window gives a glimpse into the pop star's boudoir, crafted entirely from hair. Items for sale include an $85 box of cookies shaped like her famous outfits and Gaga-inspired hair bows.Proceeds from sales of all Gaga-related items will go to her new nonprofit, the Born This Way Foundation, dedicated to empowering youth and fighting bullying.

Bergdorf Goodman located on  754 Fifth Avenue near 57th Street and offers crème de la crème of holiday window displays. Bergdorf's holiday windows, "Carnival of the Animals," are a study in good story-telling. These exquisite, finely detailed dioramas feature haunting creatures and scenes like a shimmery aquatic scene, a metallic tropical rain forest, and an arctic garden party. Go across the street to see the men's store windows, featuring a menagerie of animals dressed in Bergdorf frocks. My favorite was a confident lion with a beautiful mane seated in a pinstripe suit.

Henri Bendel located at  712 Fifth Ave. near 56th Street. Feature  windows that celebrtate the Radio City Rockettes and New York City. It's worth the stop just to see the Lady Liberty mannequin dressed in a robe made of 3,000 jelly beans. Bendel's was also the first Manhattan department store to unveil their windows, on Nov. 10.

The Cartier Building located on  651 Fifth Ave. near 52nd Street is one of the last remaining mansions on Fifth Avenue, this six- story marble and granite building is elegantly wrapped to look like a giant present, with a twinkling, lit-up red ribbon.In 1917 French jeweler Pierre Cartier bought this mansion from Morton Plant for $100 and a pearl necklace worth a million dollars.

Saks Fifth Avenue  611 Fifth Ave. at 50th Street.This year the facade of the building becomes a canvas for a 3-D bubble and snowflake show. The windows are based on the children's book "Who Makes the Snow," and will be its largest display in recent years.The retailer commissioned various fashion houses such as Alexander McQueen, Nina Ricci, Proenza Schouler and Stella McCartney to create one-of-a-kind holiday-themed dresses to be featured in the windows.

Lord & Taylor on: 424 Fifth Ave. near 38th Street. "What is Christmas made of?" is the question. This year Lord & Taylor asked kids from local schools and shelters to submit drawings answering the question.  The series of windows are inspired by these drawings and feature moving dolls that depict classic holiday scenes — ice skating in Central Park, baking at home and waiting for Santa Claus to arrive. At the unveiling on Nov. 15, the Young People's Chorus of NYC sang an original song, "What is Christmas Made Of." Their answer: "Everything you give and the love that's in you."

Macy's at 151 W. 34th St. near Sixth Avenue.Blending old with the new, these windows tell a story of what happens to our wishes. Our hopes and dreams board a rocket ship, get mixed and transformed in a steam-punk factory, and turn into unique ornaments.The display features  cutting-edge 3-D visuals that do not require glasses and at the end of the display, visitors can create their own virtual ornament and upload it to their Facebook page.Proceeds from their celebrity-designed ornament collection will go to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Triumph The Insult Comic @ Occupy Wall Street

Triumph The Insult Comic @ Occupy Wall Street

Boxing Legend Joe Frazier dies

Boxing Legend Joe Frazier dies

Joe Frazier spent most of his life living in the shadow of his sometime arch nemesis Muhammad Ali.The two waged three epic heavyweight battles between them which became the most memorable in boxing history.The 1975 “Thrilla in Manila,” in which Frazier was stopped by his corner from answering the bell for the 15th round is by many considered to be the greatest boxing match of all time.

Frazier never seemed to emerge from Ali’s imposing shadow, despite his own impressive run as a heavyweight champion.The two at times were more than foes , it was personal ,but later in life they grew to respect each other after Ali apologized  for ugly ,derogatory comments belittling Frazier unjustifiably as a racial sellout and a “stupid gorilla.”

Frazier, who died Monday at 67, is more known in large part for having lost two of the three Ali fights, as well as a devastating knockout defeat at the hands of George Foreman that cost him the title. Never truly receiving his well-earned respect due as a fighter, it is now conceded by many experts that Joe Frazier ranks among boxing’s best of the best. .

Hugh Jackman, 'Back On Broadway'

Hugh Jackman, 'Back On Broadway'

Jackman is back on Broadway, with his newly-announced limited-run NYC one-man show, which started previews on Oct. 25 and opened officially November 10.

It’s been a long seven years since Hugh Jackman appeared on Broadway in The Boy From Oz.Jackman is more than just another Hollywood A-Lister looking to cut his teeth on a Broadway stage this man can really dance and sing. No he not dressed like Wolverine and the show is devoid of his super hero status.

Like Jackman's sold-out Toronto and San Francisco concerts, the New York production will include “a personal selection of his favorite musical numbers.” In past performances , the 18-song set all by the way backed by a full orchestra included “Over the Rainbow,” “As Time Goes By,” and “Lady Marmalade.”

According to the Broadway show’s press rep, Hugh Jackman, Back on Broadway has been altered for New York. what ever that means and you'll have to see the show for yourself , I wont spoil it here . The Broadway League says the Tony Award-winning performer's one-man show pulled in over $1.2 million at the box office during eight preview performances.Jackman's pull even broke The Broadhurst Theatre's box office record, beating "700 Sundays" starring Billy Crystal, "Hamlet" with Jude Law and "The Merchant of Venice" starring Al Pacino.

So what do you want to hear Hugh sing? These are some tunes from the earlier staged concerts including “A Little Less Conversation,” “Crazy Little Thing Called Love,” or Richard Marx’s “I’ll Be Right Here Waiting for You.” .

Indy Champion Dan Wheldon dies in tragic crash

Indy Champion Dan Wheldon dies in tragic crash 

Dan Wheldon 33 ,died from injuries shortly after a collision at the 2011 IZOD IndyCar World Championship at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on 16 October 2011, . Daniel Clive "Dan" Wheldon born 22 June 1978 was from England. Weldon was the 2005 Indy Racing League IndyCar Series champion, and winner of the Indianapolis 500 in both 2005 and 2011

Wheldon was as they say born to race and moved to the United States in 1999, where he spent several years in lower open-wheeled circuits like the U.S. F2000 Championship Series, the Toyota Atlantic series and the Indy Lights series.

For Wheldon Indy racing started In 2002, when Wheldon moved up to the IRL IndyCar Series for two events, with Panther Racing . The following year Wheldon joined Andretti Green Racing, taking the spot of Michael Andretti following Michael's  retirement. Weldon collected Rookie of the Year honors and in 2004, he won his first IRL race at Twin Ring Motegi in Japan, ultimately finishing as runner-up to teammate Tony Kanaan in the championship with three wins.

Wheldon met his untimely death this week at the 2011 IZOD IndyCar World Championship at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The tragic 15-car pile up came during lap 11. The multi-car pile-up resulted in a race stopping red flag. Wheldon had to be extricated from his car and airlifted to a local hospital with what were described as "serious injuries."Weldon subsequently died .

The IndyCar officials and drivers decided that the race should be abandoned, and held a five-lap salute in Wheldon's honour, with his number 77 being displayed alone at the top of the scoring pylon.Michael Andretti later revealed that Wheldon had just signed with Andretti Autosport for a multi-year deal to replace driver Danica Patrick.

Lady Gaga Shoots ‘Marry The Night’ in Harlem

Lady Gaga Shoots ‘Marry The Night’ in Harlem

Back in September it was announced that Lady Gaga’s fifth single off of Born This Way would be “Marry The Night,”. This week Lady Gaga was spotted Uptown in Harlem shooting the music video for the single.

After shooting "You and I," in Nebraska Lady Gaga returned to her home town the big apple for her fifth single off "Born This Way". The weather was not so kind and greeted her with gloomy weather and raindrops as she shot an epic dance number uptown.

Earlier in the week, Gaga filmed at the Snug Harbor Cultural Center on Staten Island, where extras donned ballerina attire, hospital gowns and of coarse leopard print. While Gaga keep her costume under wraps by reportedly hiding behind a sheet, she did appeared happy to show off her oversized headgear and icy blue lipstick to photographers.

The Annual Columbus Day Parade

The Annual Columbus Day Parade 

The Annual Columbus Day Parade features 35,000 marchers and over 100 groups, including bands, floats and contingents. Nearly one million spectators.

On October 10, 2011, Fifth Avenue will be transformed by the Columbus Day Parade, into the world’s largest celebration of Italian-American culture. The parade was led by Grand Marshal Joseph Plumeri, philanthropist, and Chairman and CEO of Willis Group Holdings. The Annual Columbus Day Parade features 35,000 marchers and over 100 groups, including bands, floats and contingents. Nearly one million spectators.The Columbus Day Parade has been organized by the Columbus Citizens Foundation in New York since 1929.

The Columbus Day Parade is a fun filled Parade that gets bigger and better every year.The Parade Committee has spent countless hours reviewing many talented Bands and entertaining acts in an effort to make this year’s Columbus Day Parade the most exciting event yet! This year, the Parade will be marching up Fifth Avenue from 44th to 72nd Street and the grandstands are located on Fifth Avenue between 67th and 69th Streets.

This year features many talented performers like Pia Toscano from American Idol as well as the Italian Musical, “The Italian Fairy” .The Sacred Heart University Marching Band as well as Stony Brook University Marching Band will be just a few of the dozen high school bands, as well as virtuosi professional groups from the United States and Italy, marched up Fifth Avenue and filled the canyons of midtown with joyous, heart-pounding music.Traditional folk groups will perform centuries-old dances, and cutting-edge designs were brought to the parade route in displays of the vibrant culture that is Italy today.

The Annual Columbus Day Parade celebrates the spirit of exploration and courage that inspired Christopher Columbus’s 1492 expedition and the important contributions Italian-Americans have made to the United States.

Al Davis NFL icon, Raiders owner dies at 82

Al Davis NFL icon, Raiders owner  dies at 82

Al Davis, maverick owner of the Oakland/Los Angles Raiders whose iconoclastic reign over the Raiders led to three Super Bowl titles and made the silver-and-black franchise a symbol of renegade toughness, died this past Saturday at age 82.

Davis was known as brilliant, enigmatic and unapologetically independent turning the Raiders into one of the most successful franchises in pro football in the 1960s and '70s.Davis was a keen judge of talent, and was willing to accept other team's castoffs and troublemakers and he was able to get the best out of them.

Davis one of the NFL's most enigmatic personalities feuded with NFL commissioners, coaches, and cities on his way to three Super Bowl titles. Those who grew close to him often referred to him as 'Coach Davis' a tribute to his stint as head coach in the early years of the franchise and to his wealth of football expertise.

A Raiders spokesperson said Davis died at his home, which in his final years was a hotel near the Oakland airport , cause of death was not immediately disclosed.

The NFL will feature a moment of silence for Davis at every game this weekend. The Raiders posted a stirring, 90-second tribute video on their website and issued the following statement :

"Al Davis was unique - a maverick, a giant among giants, a true legend. ... He was an innovator, a pioneer with a deep love ... for the game of football. His contributions to the game are innumerable and his legacy will endure. ... Al Davis was a champion of diversity who maintained the courage of his convictions. His passion for the game we all love is best exemplified by his famous phrase, 'COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE.' "

Multimillion dollar re-design for Times Square

Multimillion dollar re-design for Times Square 

(NEW YORK- NEW YORK ) The architects behind the National September 11 Memorial & Museum have unveiled their yet to be finalized plans to spruce up the Theater District's cross roads of the world . The pedestrianized area of Times Square will get  a multimillion-dollar face lift.Under the new proposal the curbs will be removed and the shabby blue-and- beige painted asphalt replaced with stone or concrete. The large benches and chairs will be replace the red metal seats currently scattered around the area reducing the clutter.

The street will be leveled to remove traces of the old curbs and sidewalks, and it will be embedded with stainless steel "pucks" no bigger than a nickel to reflect the lights coming off Times Square's vibrant super sized signs and lighting. The number of light poles will be reduced.

Tim Tompkins, president of the Times Square Alliance, who has been working closely with the architects,"We wanted to reduce the clutter ... and create a unified identity for the heart of Times Square". he went on ,"It'll look dramatically different, but we like that in some ways the design is about more being less,"

Construction is scheduled to begin next fall and be completed by 2014. So far "The general reaction was very favorable," said Wally Rubin, Community Board 5 district manager. "It's taken years of thought and work and dialogue to make Times Square the kind of place that looks good and works for the purposes that it's designed for." continued Rubin .

Officials are hoping the zone, running from W. 42nd to W. 47th Sts., will provide a place for tourists to congregate while still enabling frenetic New Yorkers who live and work in the area to pass through unhindered.

Mamma Mia!

Mamma Mia! is a musical written by British playwright Catherine Johnson, based on the songs of the 1970's super group ABBA. Music is composed by former members of the band Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus.Although the title of the musical is taken from the group's 1975 chart-topper "Mamma Mia", the plot is not biographical.

Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson, who composed the original music for ABBA, were involved in the development of the show from the beginning. Anni-Frid Lyngstad has been involved financially in the production and she has also been present at many of the premieres around the world. The musical includes such hits as "Super Trouper", "Lay All Your Love On Me", "Dancing Queen", "Knowing Me, Knowing You", "Take A Chance On Me", "Thank You for the Music", "Money, Money, Money", "The Winner Takes It All", "Voulez Vous" and "SOS".

Momma Mia!  made its US debut in San Francisco, California at the Orpheum Theatre from 17 November 2000 to 17 February 2001,moving next to Los Angeles, California at the Shubert Theatre from 26 February 2001 to 12 May 2001, and finally to Chicago, Illinois at the Cadillac Palace from 13 May 2001 to 12 August 2001.The Broadway opening was at the Winter Garden Theatre on 18 October 2001 and is currently running, as of September 14, 2011. The director is Phyllida Lloyd with choreography by Anthony Van Laast.

Over 42 million people have now seen Mamma Mia! which has grossed $2 billion dollars worldwide. A film adaptation starring Meryl Streep, Colin Firth, Pierce Brosnan, Amanda Seyfried, Christine Baranski and Julie Walters was released in July 2008.

How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying

How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying is a musical with music and lyrics by Frank Loesser and book by Abe Burrows, Jack Weinstock, and Willie Gilbert, based on Shepherd Mead's 1952 book of the same name.In 1952, Shepherd Mead's satirical book, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, became a national bestseller.

In 1955 playwrights Willie Gilbert and Jack Weinstock created a dramatic interpretation ithat went unproduced for five years. Agent Abe Newborn brought the work to the attention of producers Cy Feuer and Ernest Martin, with the intention of retooling it as a musical. Feuer and Martin had had great success with the 1950 adaptation of Guys and Dolls . The tow brought in the creative team from Guys and Dolls to work on How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying .Abe Burrows and Frank Loesser set to work on the new adaptation, with rehearsals beginning in August 1961. Burrows collaborated on the book with Jack Weinstock and Willie Gilbert, also serving as director. The new adaptation was even more satirical than the original and added romance to the story

The October 1961 the musical opened at the 46th Street Theatre on Broadway and ran for 1,417 performances. The show won seven Tony Awards, the New York Drama Critics Circle award, and the 1962 Pulitzer Prize for Drama.

In 1967, a film based on the musical was released by United Artists, staring many of the original cast  In 1995 a revival was mounted at the same theater as the original production now called the Richard Rodgers Theatre and ran for 548 performances. The revival starred Matthew Broderick and Megan Mullally. On March 27, 2011 a 50th anniversary revival directed and choreographed by Rob Ashford and starring Daniel Radcliffe and John Larroquette opened at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre.

Chicago

Chicago is a Prohibition-era musical set in Chicago. The music is by John Kander with lyrics by Fred Ebb and a book by Ebb and Bob Fosse. The story is as true today as it was then ,a satire on corruption in the administration of criminal justice and of course the "celebrity criminal"..The musical is based on a play of the same name by reporter Maurine Dallas Watkins, who was assigned to cover the 1924 trials of murderesses Beulah Annan and Belva Gaertner for the Chicago Tribune.

The original Broadway production opened June 3, 1975, at the 46th Street Theatre and ran for 936 performances. Bob Fosse choreographed the original production, and his style is strongly identified with the show. Chicago's 1996 Broadway revival holds the record for the longest-running musical revival on Broadway and is its fourth longest-running show.of all time  As of April 2011, it has played for more than 5,900 performances.

The musical was also produced in London's West End and on several tours and international productions. The 2002 Academy Award-winning film version of the musical was directed by Rob Marshall and starred Catherine Zeta-Jones, Renee Zellweger, Richard Gere, John C. Reilly, and Queen Latifah.

Surf is up for the Unofficial New York Surf Week

Surf is up for the Unofficial New York Surf Week

Yesterday Friday September 23rd marked the official start of  the unofficial surf week in New York with the 17th Annual Manasquan Longboard Classic in New Jersey . Wednesday is the start of the 11th Annual Unsound Pro in Long Beach, NY which runs through the week and weekend and overlaps the 2nd Annual NY Surf Film Festival which opens on Friday and runs through Sunday, September 27 at Tribeca Cinemas. Yes that's New York, New York with its gritty ultra urban environment New York City is  one of the few true metropolitan areas of the world where you can pretty much find any type of food, art, people, music, and culture, with legitimate yes legitimate surf within reach of mass transit.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21st

Unsound & NY Surf Film Fesitval Kickoff Party: Tiki Bar, Long Beach NY, 7-11PM (Free)
Join the event staff and competitors for drink specials and a buffet as well as a premiere of “Spectacular Adventures” starring Cory Lopez , Asher Nolan and more. For more information call (516) 608-0018.

A Rising Tide Charity Event: Bar 13, New York, NY, 7-10PM ($20 Door/Charitable Donation)
Please join WAVES FOR DEVELOPMENT at Bar 13 as we celebrate the diverse work of surf-related nonprofits and kick-off the 2nd annual NY Surf Film Festival and Unsound Pro surf competition. A sick space with 2 for 1 drink specials and a 400 person capacity roof top lounge. Join various other surf-related non profits (Surfrider, SurfAid, Stoked Mentoring, Waves of Health and Life Rolls On) who will provide information on their respective causes. There will also be raffle prizes and a NYC premiere of “Spectacular Adventures” starring Cory Lopez, Asher Nolan and more.

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 22nd

Unsound PRO, Long Beach, NY: 9AM-3PM
Mens Round One Surfing @ Lincoln Blvd.
Unsound Pro Party, Long Beach NY, Swingbelly’s, 8-11PM
Free Buffet and Drink Specials all night. Giveaways from Unsound, Oakley and Skull Candy. Meet Unsound and Red Bull Team Riders Ryan Carlson, Balaram Stack, Ian Walsh and Evan Giesalman

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 24th
Unsound PRO: 9AM-4PM
Mens and Junior Pro Action and Round 1 Womens and Long Board Pro @ Lincoln Blvd
DJ “Vynl Ritchie” Spinning on the Beach from 12PM-4PM
Autograph Signing with Unsound Team Riders Balaram Stack, Ryan Carlson and TJ Gumiela and Giveaways all day long from Skull Candy, Unsound and BP Fuel.

NY Surf Film Festival DAY 2 @ Tribeca Cinemas, NYC, 6PM-1AM
Feature Films Screening: Clay Marzo: Just Add Water, The Women and the Waves, White Wash, Beyond the Dream: The Joey Buran Story, Innermost Limits of Pure Fun, Modern Collective, Sea of Darkness
Short Film Screenings: Hindered Root, Dark Fall, Lets Boogie, I’d Rather Sink Than Call Brad for Help, All Points South, Tear Devils, Gum for My Boat, Inundation.

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 25th
Unsound PRO: 9AM-4PM
Semi Final & Finals Action for all Divisions @ Lincoln BLVD, Long Beach NY
DJ VYNL RITCHIE SPINNING 12PM-4PM with giveaways from Skull Candy, Unsound, Oakley and BP Fuel.

NY Surf Film Festival DAY 3 @ Tribeca Cinemas NYC, 3PM-6PM
Feature Films Screening: Surfing 50 States, Out of Place, The Endless Summer, Hanging Five
(Click Here for Film Groupings, Tickets and Schedule)
Trailers | Feature Films | Short Films

AWARDS PARTY FOR THE NEW YORK SURF FILM FESTIVAL AND THE UNSOUND PRO TO FOLLOW @ THE RED BULL SPACE 40 THOMPSON NYC, FROM 6PM-???

Billy Elliot

Billy Elliot is a musical based on the 2000 film Billy Elliot. The music by Sir Elton John, and book and lyrics are by Lee Hall, who also wrote the film's screenplay. Hall's screenplay was inspired in part by A. J. Cronin's 1935 novel, The Stars Look Down about an earlier miners' strike, to which the musical's opening song pays homage.

The plot revolves around motherless Billy, who trades boxing gloves for ballet shoes. This is the story of Billy's personal struggle and fulfillment balanced against a counter-story of family breakdown and community strife caused by the UK miners' strike (1984–1985) in County Durham, in North Eastern England.

The musical premiered in London's West End in 2005 and was nominated for nine Laurence Olivier Awards, winning four including Best New Musical. The London production is still running strongly, and its success led to productions in Australia, on Broadway and elsewhere. In New York, Billy Elliot won ten Tony Awards and ten Drama Desk Awards, including, in each case, best musical. It has also won numerous awards in Australia including a record-tying seven Helpmann Awards.

The Broadway production opened at the Imperial Theatre on 1 October 2008 in previews and officially on 13 November 2008. The London production's creative team directed and designed the entire Broadway production. The title role of Billy was rotated among three young actors, David Álvarez, Kiril Kulish and Trent Kowalik, the last of whom had also played the role in London. The supporting cast included Haydn Gwynne, reprising her role of Mrs. Wilkinson from the London production, and Gregory Jbara as Billy's father. The Broadway production opened to rave reviews.

The Phantom of the Opera

The Phantom of the Opera is a musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber, based on the French novel Le Fantôme de l'Opéra by Gaston Leroux.

The music was composed by Lloyd Webber, with most lyrics were written by Charles Hart, and some additional lyrical help by Richard Stilgoe. and Alan Jay Lerner who was an early collaborator, withdrew due to illness did some initial work on a single song, "Masquerade"

The central plot revolves around a beautiful soprano, Christine Daaé, who becomes the obsession of some would say stalked by a mysterious, disfigured masked musical genius.

The Phantom of the Opera opened in the West End in 1986, and on Broadway in 1988. It became the longest-running musical in Broadway history after overtaking Cats in 2006 and it is also the second-longest-running West End musical.

Phantom won the 1986 Olivier Award and the 1988 Tony Award for Best Musical, and Michael Crawford as the Phantom won the 1986 Olivier and 1988 Tony for Best Performance by an Actor in a Musical. The show has been performed in 149 cities in 25 countries, and has played to over 100 million people. With a total worldwide box office receipts of over $5.1billion with a "B" .Making Phantom is the highest-grossing entertainment event of all time. The New York production alone has grossed over US $800 million, making it the most financially successful Broadway show in history.

Memphis

Memphis is a musical with music and lyrics by David Bryan and Joe DiPietro ,lyrics and book. The musical is loosely based on Memphis life of disc jockey Dewey Phillips, one of the first white DJs to play black music in the 1950s.

Memphis was staged during the 2003-04 season at both the North Shore Music Theatre in Beverly, Massachusetts and TheatreWorks in Mountain View, California.It opened on Broadway on October 19, 2009 ,Directed by Christopher Ashley and choreographed by Sergio Trujillo, the Broadway production began previews at the Shubert Theatre on September 23, 2009 and officially opened on October 19.

The cast included many of the cast members from the pre-Broadway productions, including Chad Kimball as Huey Calhoun and Montego Glover as Felicia Farrell. The creative team included costume designer Paul Tazewell, scenic designer David Gallo, and lighting designer Howell Binkley. The Broadway production won Best Musical in the Live Theatre division of the Golden Icon Awards, and at the 2010 Tony Awards Memphis won for Best Musical, along with three other Tony's. Memphis has played 800 performances on Broadway as of September 21st, 2011.

The Lion King

The Lion King produced by Disney Theatrica is a musical based on the 1994 Disney animated film. The music is by Elton John and lyrics by Tim Rice along with the musical score created by Hans Zimmer with choral arrangements by Lebo M. Directed by Julie Taymor, the musical recreates the animated film by featuring actors in animal costumes as well as giant puppets.

Lion King the musical debuted July 8, 1997, in Minneapolis, Minnesota at the Orpheum Theatre, and was hailed as an instant success before premiering on Broadway at the New Amsterdam Theater on October 15, 1997 in previews with the official opening on November 13, 1997.The Broadway production moved on June 13, 2006,to the Minskoff Theatre to make way for the musical version of Mary Poppins, where it is still running after more than 5,350 performances making the Lion King Broadway's seventh longest-running show.

The show debuted in London's West End at the  Lyceum Theatre on October 19, 1999 and is still running. The cast of the West End production were invited to perform at the Royal Variety Performance 2008 at the London Palladium on December 11, in the presence of the British Royal Family.

Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious

Introduced to most of us by the 1964 Walt Disney musical film starring Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke. Mary Poppins is a Walt Disney Theatrical musical based on the Mary Poppins series of children's books by P. L. Travers and of course the movie.. The West End production opened in December 2004 and received two Olivier Awards, one for Best Actress in a Musical and the other for Best Theatre Choreography.

The musical shares the film's musical score and lyrics written by the Academy Award winning Sherman Brothers, along with additional music and lyrics by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe. The book was written by Julian Fellowes. The musical was directed by Richard Eyre and co-directed by Matthew Bourne, who also acted as co-choreographer with Stephen Mear.The  Broadway production opened with a near-identical creative team in November 2006. The Broadway version received seven Tony Award nominations, including Best Musical, winning for Best Scenic Design.

The stage musical is a fusion of various elements from both the film and the book series. Some elements from the Mary Poppins series of children's books that had been omitted from the film were restored, such as the walking statue and the ladders rising to the stars while others were omitted, such as the scene in which Uncle Albert gets caught on the ceiling, chuckling.

Jersey Boys

Jersey Boys is a documentary-style musical, based on the life and times of the most successful 1960s rock 'n roll groups, the Four Seasons .The music is by Bob Gaudio, and lyrics by Bob Crewe ,the book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice.  Jersey Boys opened on Broadway in 2005, and has since had a North American National Tour, along with productions in London's West End, Las Vegas, Chicago, Toronto, Melbourne, Sydney and Philadelphia. Jersey Boys was the winner of four 2006 Tony Awards including Best Musical.

Jersey Boys first premiered at the La Jolla Playhouse at University of California, San Diego, in an out-of-town tryout on October 5, 2004 and ran through January 16, 2005 The Broadway previews began on October 4, 2005 and the show officially opened on November 6, 2005 at the August Wilson Theatre. The original cast starred John Lloyd Young as Frankie Valli, Christian Hoff as Tommy DeVito, Daniel Reichard as Bob Gaudio, and J. Robert Spencer as Nick Massi. The musical is directed by Des McAnuff, with choreography by Sergio Trujillo. The musical uses many of the group's hit songs to tell the turbulent story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons' rise to fame and fortune. The Broadway production has had 38 previews and 2241 performances as of April 10, 2011 and on June 25, 2011 the musical became the 25th longest-running show on Broadway.

Wicked

Wicked is a musical based on a novel by Gregory Maguire : The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West (1995), a parallel novel to the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz and L. Frank Baum's classic story The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900). Music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by Winnie Holzman.

Wicked is told from the perspective of the witches of the Land of Oz: Elphaba. There is the misunderstood girl with emerald-green skin, and Galinda, later Glinda, the beautiful, ambitious and popular blonde.  The two clash  and Wicked tells the story in which these two unlikely friends as they grow to become the Wicked Witch of the West and the Good Witch of the North. All the time struggling through opposing personalities different viewpoints,  a rivalry over a love-interest, reactions to the Wizard's corrupt government, and finally, Elphaba's  fall from grace. The plot begins before Dorothy's arrival from Kansas and includes references to locations, events, characters and situations from the original 1939 film and Baum's novel and ends some time after Dorthy departs.

Wicked was originality produced by Universal Pictures in coalition with Marc Platt and David Stone, the Joe Mantello-directed and Wayne Cilento-choreographed original production premiered on Broadway at the Gershwin Theatre in October 2003, after completing pre-Broadway SHN tryouts at San Francisco's Curran Theatre in May 2003. It originally stared included Idina Menzel as Elphaba, Kristin Chenoweth as Glinda, and Joel Grey as the Wizard. Though the critics were originally luke warm , the musical has proved a favorite among patrons. The success of the Broadway production has spawned openings of five other North American productions, including two national tours, as well as a four-year strong West End production and several international productions in Japan, Germany and Australia.

While the original production won three out of its ten Tony Award nominations, garnered six Drama Desk Awards and received one Grammy Award, Wicked has since accrued one Laurence Olivier Award and six Helpmann Awards internationally. Since its 2003 debut, Wicked has broken box office records around the world, holding weekly-gross-takings records in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, St. Louis, and London. It's  original production, having played 3,259 performances, and celebrating its eighth anniversary on October 30, 2011. This milestone  makes Wicked the 14th longest-running Broadway show in history.

Mariano Rivera picks up 602

Mariano Rivera picks up 602


(NEW YORK- NEW YORK) In an all to familiar scene the 41 year old Mariano Rivera steeped to the mound and closed out the side .As soon as the door to the bullpen opened the Yankee Stadium crowd rose to its feet. Growing louder and louder through the scoreless ninth as the ever-dominant reliever converted yet one more save. This one, the big one number 602 , putting Rivera to the top of the list of all time saves.

With this save Rivera passed Trevor Hoffman for the top spot on baseball's all-time saves list. The win, coupled with a Boston afternoon loss, makes  the New York Yankee playoff magic number to four to clinch a playoff spot.

The save also marks the seventh time in Rivera's illustrious career that he has recorded at least 43 saves in a season (1997, 1999, 2001, 2004, 2005 and 2009). Only Hoffman, who has done it nine times, has more than Rivera's eight 40-save seasons with 9. The save also marked  the right-hander's 290th save at Yankee Stadium and 32nd save against the Twins.

Bryant Park WiFi Hotspot ,yes it works

Bryant Park WiFi Hotspot ,yes it works 

Bryant Park has always been one of my favorite public spaces in Manhattan . Like many of the old guard hard core New Yorkers I was quite skeptical of the "free WiFi" and wondered if it really worked .Bryant park has been wireless since 2001 ,but I was still a non believer .

Today I arrived a bit early for a midtown meeting and though I would give it a try . I am happy to report that I got on with out a hitch and the bandwidth seemed more than adequate. So I spent the better part of an hour surfing away seamlessly with plenty of bandwidth to spare .

I didn't really see as many laptop as one would expect . The park was mostly filled with a mix of tourists snapping photos and local suits escaping from the corporate grind. Most people seemed just happy to sit back and realxing watching the world go by .

There is No Place like Home for the Labor Day Weekend

There is No Place like Home for the Labor Day Weekend
PJ Blogger and the Staff of the Ridgewood blog

You don't have to hit the road to enjoy an awesome Labor Day Weekend.

Ridgewood , NJ- Whether its the cost of gas , cleaning up after hurricane Irene or the economy just has you down ,or for what ever reason your stuck home for the labor day weekend There are plenty of ways to have fun without leaving the village proving over and over again that  "there's no place like home."

In order to get away from it all simply unplug your phone and staying away from your laptop and turn off the local news . Kick back in your own yard finish some gardening projects or just relax in your won back yard.
 
Maybe its time to host your own , "dream barbecue" ditching the plain old hot dogs and burgers and trying something more interesting. Seafood , steaks or pork are great on the grill, as are veggies like zucchini and eggplant. Make your own potato salad or try out one of favorite recipes.

Make and appointment and Indulge yourself with a massage, take to the hot tub or try a local restaurant you've always been curious about.

Consider spending a night at a hotel or campground close by or you can even camp out with the kids in your own backyard. It will give you a totally different "outsider" perspective and make you feel like you've gone on a secret get away.

Do an Internet search for "unknown" attractions in your area and visit one of them. There is so much to do right here in Ridgewood and even Bergen County It can be easy to overlook the diversions that are right under your nose.

Pick another culture and celebrate it with film, cuisine and activities.

Rent ,down load or buy a bunch of movies with a particular theme and celebrate your own film festival.

Take it easy when it comes all the around the house stuff like cleaning the yard or other household tasks. Labor Day is about taking a break from work, not doing it!

Suggestions:

USS ling in Hackensack :http://www.njnm.com/
The Hermitage : http://www.thehermitage.org/
the James Rose Center : http://www.jamesrosecenter.org/index.html

original post : http://www.theridgewoodblog.net/2011/09/there-is-no-place-like-home-for-labor.html

President Candidate Ron Paul Goes Punk Rock

President Candidate Ron Paul Goes Punk Rock



 I wanna be sedated lol  

Jersey Shore‘s “The Situation” at 46 lounge tonight

Jersey Shore‘s “The Situation”  at 46 lounge tonight 

Was  it a real request or simply another  publicity stunt? Either way, retailer Abercrombie & Fitch is getting some nice attention this week after a statement they released asking Michael Sorrentino,“The Situation” one of the stars of the MTV reality television series "The Jersey Shore" to stop wearing clothing made by their company.

Not only do they want him to stop wearing their clothes , even offering to pay him not to wear their clothing. But just hours after their offer their latest figures for  retail chain were released and fell short of expectations . A bit later the  Situation tweeted  ,"Looks like Abercrombie got themselves into a Situation!" .

If you still haven't gotten enough of Mike "THE SITUATION" Sorrentino he will be LIVE at 46 Lounge tonight

Arrive early and view the next episode of the Jersey Shore right here @46 Lounge on 12 plasma screens with full Audio then meet "The Situation" after words
 
JERSEY SHORE VIEWING PARTY
FROM 9-11PM

MEET MIKE "THE SITUATION"
FROM 11-3AM

Music by DJ TORO 92.3 Now
Resident Dj's Todd George & Joey C
Dance, Mashups, Vocal House, Top 40
_______________________________

Everyone reduced on text list till 11pm
To get on the list Text "46" to 545454
   
For v.i.p, table reservations, birthdays partys or guestlist call 201.998.4001 or log onto www.njclubnights.com

Open till 3am 46 Lounge - 300 Rt 46E, Totowa, NJ

Gov. Rick Perry Goes "Old Time Religion"

Gov. Rick Perry Goes "Old Time Religion"....

Gun toting stripper Lee Grace Dougherty still on the lam

Gun toting stripper Lee Grace Dougherty still on the lam 

A thrill-seeking Florida stripper Lee Grace Dougherty and her AK-47-wielding brothers went on a multistate crime spree yesterday even ignoring their heartsick mother's plea to give themselves up.

Dougherty's mom made her appeal after the FBI launched a nationwide manhunt for alleged "Dougherty Gang" bank robbers Lee Grace Dougherty, a 26-year-old stripper; her brother Ryan Dougherty, 21; and their half-brother, Dylan Dougherty Stanley, 26. The  "Dougherty Gang"  has been on a multistate crime spree since last Tuesday, when the group allegedly opened fire on a Zephyrhills, Fla., Police officer who was looking to chase down their white Subaru for speeding. The officer was not hurt, but one of the 20 bullets they unleashed on shot out one of his tires and effectively ended the chase.

The same day the Doughertys turned up about 200 miles away at a Georgia bank.All three,were masked and armed with AK-47s, shot up the bank ceiling before making off with an undisclosed amount of cash.

The ring leader Lee Grace who works as a stripper at Cheaters in Cocoa Beach had been wanted by police on a probation violation.The FBI believes the trio first tried to flee the highway cop because of Ryan Dougherty, who was sentenced Aug. 1 to 12 years of probation for "sexting" 400 explicit text messages to an 11-year-old girl he met on MySpace.

Lee Grace has previously boasted of her penchant for wreaking havoc, particularly with her brothers. "I love to farm and shoot guys and wreck cars," she wrote on her Flickr.com profile page. "I'm a redneck and proud of it, I like causing mayhem with my siblings."

A police search turned up an abandoned home that Dougherty trio had recently shared turned up an expansive underground bunker, believed to have a been a place to stockpile weapons . "I don't think this will end happily," said Lee Grace's fiancé of seven months, college math teacher Brendon Bookman.

Yankee Batboy new "tell all "

Yankee Batboy new "tell all " 

At age 15, Luis Castillo lived the dream, Castillo was a batboy for the New York Yankees  from 1998 until 2005 .Castillo ran errands for A-Rod, caught warm-up pitches with Andy Pettitte and David Cone, and partied with Ruben Sierra. In those days batboys did not have to sign confidentiality agreement. Which leads us to his new memoir, "Clubhouse Confidential."  were Castillo divulges Yankee player secrets.

Opening Day 1998 was his first day on the job , Castillo says he didn't know what to expect. he quickly learned that the tradition is that every bat boy gets a nickname from Derek Jeter himself . Castillo says that Jeter was easygoing ,joked a lot ,and teased everyone as a way to bond with his fellow team mates.

Castillo claims that Jeter and some of the players were terrific tippers. Roger Clemens would tip $3,000 at the end of the year. Posada gave him $7,000. A-Rod kicked in $1,400. A sizable amount, but when A-Rod  found out that other players were tipping more, he bumped his tips up. Making sure he was the best tipper in the league. Castillo says A-Rod tipped $100 a week to make sure there was a creatine shake waiting for him after each home game.

One day, President Clinton walked into the clubhouse with four Secret Service agents. Players were being polite as hell with him until Jeter  in full uniform, on the way out to the field paused just long enough to say: "Hey, Mr. President, you staying out of trouble?"

Castillo  says that  stadium operations, used a  "Red Alert." system when owner George Steinbrenner arrived.Manager of Stadium Operations would punch in a special code into the walkie -talkie system and the word would spread like wild fire. Casitillo describes the lave hate relationship the team had with Steinbrenner and players like David Cone would often rib the over protective owner.

Despite Steinbrenners penchant to micro manage the team Joe Torre  never let it interfere with his game .Torre would say , "This is what the Boss wants, but this is what we're going to do."  Torre was usually focused no matter what the situation and kept his nose to the grindstone. The only one thing that ever distracted him from work,  was the pony's and Torre would often have the OTB channel on his TV in his office.
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Cycling in and around town I have picked up a couple of tips I want to pass on

Cycling in and around town I have picked up a couple of tips I want to pass on
PJ Blogger

Ridgewood NJ - Cycling in and around town I have picked up three tips I want to pass on;
First cyclists and drivers look at the road from two entirely different perspectives ; the cyclist is connected by every nuance , bump ,lawn sprinkler , pot hole and road condition while the drivers perspective is much farther removed. Cyclist often look to avoid road hazards that drivers hardly notice.

Next a cyclist must be extremely vigilant. No amount of safety gear can stand up to the impact of a 3000 pound automobile.This makes vigilance the single most important safety feature for the cyclist.  Always remember it is up the rider to protect themselves. anticipate and be on the defensive.

And finally wear extremely bright clothing. Don't underestimate how difficult it can be for a driver to see you .The brighter the better . It helps the driver notice you sooner. ,and makes you a more visible target . A couple of seconds can be the difference between a trip to the corner store and a trip to the emergency room .

http://www.theridgewoodblog.net/2011/07/cycling-in-and-around-town-i-have.html

Sook Pastry the taste test

Sook Pastry the taste test 

Sook Pastry a European style cafe that opened about four months ago at 24 South Broad Street. I know it took awhile but I finally got there.They seem to have found their groove already with their offerings of sandwiches, salads, crepes, Illy coffees which is a home run in my book and of coarse loads of delicious PASTRIES!

One is overwhelmed by the subtle smell of fresh cooked pastries as soon as you walk in The shelves are packed with a perfectly balanced color pallet of beautiful strawberry, chocolate and lemon delights just begging to be brought home.

I ordered a large cappuccino which was delicious not too hot or too cold and just the right amount of foam .After some though I settled on a Napoleon which was very creamy ,and not too sweet with a cake style crust . It was spot on . Other patrons told em they were very big fans of the multicolored Macarons.

The shop is very clean with a modern decor yet still very comfortable. Service was excellent and the staff was very friendly . They also have some very impressive looking cakes which would take any dinner party over the top for desert. My suggestion to defiantly give it a try .

http://www.theridgewoodblog.net/2011/07/sook-pastry-taste-test.html

FBI reveals it has new suspect in the mysterious 40 year old DB Cooper hijacking case

FBI reveals it has new suspect in the mysterious 40 year old DB Cooper hijacking case

The FBI has revealed that it believes it has credible evidence that will lead to America's most elusive and mysterious fugitive after 40 years. Famed hijacker and urban legend DB Cooper disappeared when he jumped out of a plane over Washington in 1971 during a hijacking.Known only as DB Cooper it remains Americas only unsolved hijacking .FBI Investigators claim that they are testing the fingerprints of a new suspect after what they said is the 'most promising' lead to date.

In 1971 a mystery hijacker calling himself Dan Cooper, also known as DB Cooper, boarded a Northwest flight in Portland for a flight to Seattle on the night of November 24 handing a note claiming he had dynamite to a flight attendant he commandeered the plane.

Cooper boarding the plane wearing dark sunglasses, ordered a whiskey and lit a cigarette before he passed a flight attendant a note that read: 'I HAVE A BOMB IN MY BRIEFCASE. I WILL USE IT IF NECESSARY. I WANT YOU TO SIT NEXT TO ME. YOU ARE BEING HIJACKED.'When the plane landed in Seattle, he demanded $200,000 and four parachutes and demanded to be flown to Mexico.In return he released 36 hostages. Somewhere over southwestern Washington, he jumped out the plane's tail exit at 10,000 feet with two of the chutes, and was never seen or heard from or seen again.

MsVictoria Martini

MsVictoria Martini

MsVictoria Martini is a stunningly beautiful and immensely talented model ,actress and singer . MsVictoria was born in Germany but now lives in New York City .Victoria has never been one to been afraid to make big moves, she loves challenges and is very driven to make her dreams come true. She exudes nothing but confidence and positive energy in an almost contagious fashion .

Victoria is currently working on releasing her new EP. Which will be ready for release any minute . When not hosting an event or busy at a photo shoot, Victoria loves spending time with the most important person in her life and her number one fan, her mom, who she credits with being her inspiration to come to America and make a success of her self .

On her down time she also enjoys writing songs and poetry,painting, working out and traveling. MsVictoria Martini is some to defiantly keep an eye on.



MsVictoria Martini video teaser for first single

The Third Annual Massive Madhatter Tea Party

The Third Annual Massive Madhatter Tea Party

I am late ,I'm late for a very important date ! The Free Art Society cordially invites you to witness The Third Annual Massive Madhatter Tea Party this July 31 n Tompkins Square Park .

This Tea Party features all the characters of Alice in Wonderland in all their wild glory. There are still many roles to fill for the big day and the Free Art Society needs Performers for this event.

Don your maddest hat and prepare to lose your head in this madcap East Village costume party.
Follow the white rabbit to Tompkins Square Park! Featuring every major character from Alice’s Adventures In Wonderland in a whirling eclectical spectacle.

The Red Queen will chop off heads. Humpty Dumpty will fall. Join the Black v. Red tug-of-war.
Question the Cheshire Cat and converse with the Caterpillar. See Alice & the Jabberwock in a thrilling swordfight duel to the death!!! And of course, there will be tea.

Featuring:Fritz Donnelly from “Hi Christina” as the Mad HatterRaya Brass Band
Moon Hooch and more!

Bring your camera's and document this epic East Village tradition! Performances from Upright Citizen's Brigade, Raya Brass Band and House of Yes!!!

If you missed last years tea party check out these links to get a better idea:

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/event.php?eid=209210309122492

http://vimeo.com/25941206

Please contact Leslie for more information!!!

DJ3K

 Derek Jeter’ homered in front of the home town crowd hitting one of baseball’s most hallowed milestones, a mark that has never been reached by any other New York Yankees’ great. Not Mantle ,not Marris, not Jolten Joe DiMaggio ,not even the Iron Horse Lou Gerhig ,or Babe Ruth could muster 3000 .Only Derek Jeter has entered this very exclusive 3000 hit club. Making today in one of the great moments of Yankee history.

http://www.manhattanstyle.com/sports/dj3k/

British University Stung by Bee loss

British University Stung by Bee loss 
by James Foytlin

Its an odd tale one reminiscent of a creepy sci-fi thriller ,a British university has been stung by a Bee theft .On Tuesday the university reported the theft of several thousand bees that were part a multi-million dollar neuroscience research project .Scottish Police are appealing for information after four bee hives containing  British black bees were stolen from a medical school in the city of Dundee.Police are keen to trace a white van and two men that were seen near the area on May 8.

Dr Chris Connolly lead researcher on the Dundee neuroscience project, who had reported the bees missing Sunday said in the ultimate understatement ,"This theft will undoubtedly hamper our research,"

The bees are described as "very unique" and identification should be easy. Dundee University's medical school has been investigating the potential effect of pesticides on bee learning and health. Dr. Connolly has speculated that who ever did this knows what they are doing and that the bees may have been stolen for breeding, or for selling to specialist bee-keepers.

Jetman Yves Rossy

Jetman Yves Rossy
by James Foytlin

Yves Rossy and his Jet Pack made a low key historic flight over the Grand Canyon. The Swiss adventurer, dubbed JetMan, weathered a set back Friday when he had to cancel his flight last minute due to red tape and various safety issues.The FAA only gave Rossy the green light less than an hour before he was scheduled flight Friday.

Despite the setback Rossy did not give up and on Saturday strapped his Jet Pack back on and took to the skies for a five-mile and eight-minute flight. Rossy has in the past rocketed above the English Channel as well as Swiss Alps.

Rossy's custom-built jet suit weighs 120lb with a  79" wing span. It's four engines give it enough thrust to reach average speeds of 125mph .

JetMan Rossy, who flew fighter jets for 17 years in the Swiss Air Force soared 200 feet above the canyon rim reaching speeds of up to 190mph before opening his parachute and landing safely on the canyon floor.  .

1997: Chess grandmaster Garry Kasparov resigns after 19 moves in a game against IBM's Deep Blue

1997: Chess grandmaster Garry Kasparov resigns after 19 moves in a game against IBM's Deep Blue
by James Foytlin 

On May 11, 1997, a new world chess champion was created when grandmaster Garry Kasparov resigned after only 19 moves in a game against IBM's Deep Blue. The chess-playing computer was developed by scientists at IBM. This was the sixth and final game of their match, which Kasparov lost two games to one, with three draws.

Garry Kasparov, was a chess prodigy from Azerbaijan. At 21 Kasparov beat the reigning champ Anatoly Karpov to become the youngest world champion in history. Kasparov  complied a FIDE (Federation International des Echecs) score of 2800, and a winning streak of 12 consecutive world chess titles. At the time of the match with Deep Blue Kasparov was considered to be the greatest chess player of all time.

Early Chess-playing computers had little success playing against accomplished chess masters , but all that changed in 1985, with "Chiptest" developed by a Carnegie Mellon doctoral student named Feng-hsing Hsu . Hsu went to work for IBM, and in 1989 as part of a team led by developer C.J. Tan created a computer capable of competing against the best of the best chess players in the world. Thus the supercomputer, Deep Blue was born. Deep Blue could calculate 100 billion to 200 billion moves in the three minutes . The time allotted to a player per move in standard chess match.

Deep Blue first challenged Kasparov in 1996, but was no match for the grandmaster known for his remarkably unpredictable play.  Kasparov went on to defeat the computer by switching strategies mid-game. Deep Blue challenged again In 1997, however Kasparov abandoned his traditional swashbuckling style, taking  a more defensive approach. Unfortunately this played in the Deep Blue's strength's and Kasparov finally went down to defeat .

Happy Easter ,Pope: Humanity isn't random product of evolution

VATICAN CITY – Pope Benedict XVI marked the holiest night of the year for Christians by stressing that humanity isn't a random product of evolution.

Benedict emphasized the Biblical account of creation in his Easter Vigil homily Saturday, saying it was wrong to think at some point "in some tiny corner of the cosmos there evolved randomly some species of living being capable of reasoning and of trying to find rationality within creation, or to bring rationality into it."

"If man were merely a random product of evolution in some place on the margins of the universe, then his life would make no sense or might even be a chance of nature," he said. "But no, reason is there at the beginning: creative, divine reason."

Church teaching holds that Roman Catholicism and evolutionary theory are not necessarily at odds: A Christian can, for example, accept the theory of evolution to help explain developments, but is taught to believe that God, not random chance, is the origin of the world. The Vatican, however, warns against creationism, or the overly literal interpretation of the Bibilical account of creation.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110423/ap_on_re_eu/eu_vatican_easter_vigil_4

Who is John Galt ?

For the uninitiated Atlas Shrugged, the movie is the adaptation of Ayn Rand’s 1957 classic novel. The novel, which centers around railroad executive Dagny Taggart as she fights to keep her business a float as American society crumbles around her, and descends into deeper and deeper recession .

In the novel Rand dramatized her unique philosophy in an intellectual mystery story that integrated ethics, metaphysics, epistemology, politics, economics and sex. She considered herself primarily a fiction writer, but realized that in order to create heroic fictional characters, she had to identify the philosophic principles which make such individuals possible.

http://www.manhattanstyle.com/arts-entertainment/movies/who-is-john-gault/