If I had to explain, you wouldn’t understand. Turn it up, and leave it up.
Ladies and Germs, this is CLUTCH.
29
May
12
Turn It Up Tuesday!
After decades of working in bands as a professional bassist in New York City, and touring all over the US, Canada and Europe, Eric Czar is finally stepping out from the shadows of sideman status; exploring his own voices as a composer and performer, and utilizing the unique timbres of custom made, 7 string fretted and fretless basses as, “Strangely evocative” lead instruments.
Eric believes the “Extended range” bass has much to contribute to the evolution of modern music. The feedback, testimonials, and press he has received thus far would tend to indicate the public agrees. They also serve as an ever growing testament to the influence Eric is having on players (and listeners) of all genres of music.
To date, Eric’s solo videos and recordings have all been done at home with little to no budget. Written and performed by Eric, and fundamentally experimental, his compositions draw inspiration from all genres Eric has entertained over the years; classical, rock, funk, jazz, and ambient.
As a result of Eric’s rapid growth in popularity and influence on Youtube, Facebook and other platforms, his goal is to remix and master the existing recordings so they are suitable for broadcast, sale and most importantly, enjoyable listening. Eric explains this is easily accomplished, thanks to the digital era. Eric plans to utilize a professional caliber studio and engineer, along with the equipment, resources and objectivity that is above what he has at home. He hopes to improve the overall sound quality and clarity of his recordings, with the intent of releasing them as digital downloads on iTunes, Amazon, CD Baby etc. in both CD and DVD format. Eric explains that the video performances will serve as an educational tool for players (reminiscent of the instructional videos that inspired him in his youth), and also provide insight to how this unusual music is written and performed.
Eric’s goal is to raise $3,500 to cover the costs of remixing, mastering, duplication of hard-copy CD/DVDs (featuring his own artwork) as well as some promotional costs.
Through this sponsorship/pledge drive process, Eric Czar hopes to finance what’s quickly become a documented source of inspiration for musicians and composers all over the globe. According to Eric, “I honestly didn’t expect my home videos to be this well received, but now that I see they are, I’m hoping to offer the best quality product that I can.”
FOLLOW THIS LINK to view Eric’s Kickstarter page, to read more about Eric and this exciting project, to see how many pledges have been received so far, and to view a short 2:39 sample video. Be sure to also check out the different incentives offered for the different pledge levels.
PS: When you visit Eric’s Kickstarter, click the green “Back This Project” button and read through the Q&A’s on the right side of the page. When you pledge, you provide a credit card number through Amazon Payments – however YOUR CARD WILL NOT BE CHARGED until Saturday June 23rd (a month from now) and even then, ONLY if the project has been successfully funded! You can pledge today and not worry about paying a dime for 30 days!
PPS: Facebook folks, please go to the comment page for this post and share this on Facebook. I’d like to get this information in front of as many people as possible.
Good Luck Eric!
22
May
12
Turn It Up Tuesday!
Let me apologize in advance for the time you may end up wasting on this site.
It’s a database of over 22,000 television theme songs and music.
Got a favorite show from your childhood or from many years ago? How about the theme from Dark Shadows, or The Man From U.N.C.L.E.? Maybe you liked Get Smart or Max Headroom? Perhaps Daktari, The Jackie Gleason Show or Wagon Train?
They’re all here, and many many more. Have fun!
15
May
12
Turn It Up Tuesday!
This week’s “Turn It Up Tuesday” revisits a band I featured back on April 12th, ZED. A few things have happened since that post.
I’ve exchanged several emails with the guys in the band, and we discussed the idea of starting a street team. This eventually led to a conference call where we discussed the idea further. I’m pleased to report that we’ve got the framework in place and launched ZEDHEADS.org, home of the ZED Street Team.
If the verbage (and promotional ideas) look familiar to some of you, it should. Rather than reinvent the wheel, I’ve recycled many of the things I used for the Joe Bonamassa Street Team back in the day. Thanks to “The Internet Archive Wayback Machine” (and some help from Jane Hall) I’ve been able to retrieve much of the material from the old JB Fan Website that’s been offline for years. I was kind of fun to go back and review that old website.
But anyway, back on topic. I’m really looking forward to giving the guys in ZED a hand. I absolutely love their music. It’s a brand of rock that truly bridges the gap between the classic rock of my era and today’s metal bands. Ever since I heard them on Youtube and bought their CD I’ve been hooked.
I was fortunate enough to preview the songs the guys have planned for their sophmore release, and they’re outstanding! ZED is heading back to the studio in about a month to start laying down tracks for their next album.
I also love these guy’s sense of humor. Check out this page on ZEDHEADS.org which features Youtube videos for each song on their debut album, “The Invitation.” The comments contained in the “Star Wars” scrolling text at the start of each song will give you an idea about just how much fun these guys are.
So yes, I’ve put my street team hat back on again – and it still fits! Let the fun begin.
Reprinted from Food Consumer.org and posted in it’s entirety in keeping with Food Consumer’s Terms Of Use. Copyright Food Consumer.org
By Dr. Mercola
Bee colonies around the globe are mysteriously disappearing, a phenomenon known as colony collapse disorder (CCD). Since 2006, it’s estimated that close to one-third of all honey bee colonies have simply vanished into thin air. Where are the bees going? What’s causing their devastating demise?
One forerunning theory is that genetic engineering of crops is involved, either through the genetically modified crops themselves or the pesticides and herbicides that go with them.
Monsanto, which is the world leader in this type of biotechnology, is likely none too pleased about the recent accusations hurled against their product, so they’ve taken matters into their own hands and purchased one of the leading bee research firms – one that, conveniently, lists its primary goal as studying colony collapse disorder.
If this isn’t the classic example of the fox guarding the henhouse then I don’t know what is.
Why Your Food Supply Depends on Independent Bee Research
It is absolutely crucial to the food supply that the dedicated application of research is allowed to continue surrounding colony collapse disorder. To get an idea of the magnitude of importance, the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC) estimates that without bees to act as pollinators, the United States alone could lose $15 billion worth of crops.i
Do you enjoy apples? How about beets? You’d better get your fill now, because without bees these, and the crops listed below, will disappear. In all, bees pollinate at least 130 different crops in the U.S. alone, including fruits, vegetables and tree nuts.
Almonds Sunflower Apricots Avocadoes Blueberries Boysenberries Cherries Citrus Cranberries Grapes Kiwi Loganberries Macadamia nuts Nectarines Olives Peaches Pears Plums/Prunes Raspberries Strawberries Asparagus Broccoli Carrots Cauliflower Celery Cucumbers Cantaloupe Honeydew Onions Pumpkins Squash Watermelons Alfalfa Hay Alfalfa Seed Cotton Lint Cotton Seed Legume Seed Peanuts Rapeseed Soybeans
Bee Research Goes to the Wolves…
Beeologics says their mission is to become the “guardian of bee health worldwide,” and states they are dedicated to “restoring bee health and protecting the future of insect pollination” with its primary goal to control the colony collapse disorder and Israeli Acute Paralysis Virus (IAPV) infection crises.” Monsanto bought the company in September 2011, just months before Poland announced it would ban growing of Monsanto’s genetically modified (GM) MON810 maize, noting, poignantly, that “pollen of this strain could have a harmful effect on bees.”ii
The ongoing blight of GM crops has been implicated in CCD for years now. In one German study,iii when bees were released in a GM rapeseed crop, then fed the pollen to younger bees, scientists discovered the bacteria in the guts of the young ones mirrored the same genetic traits as ones found in the GM crop, indicating that horizontal gene transfer had occurred.
Further, the newer systemic insecticides, known as neonicotinoids, have become the fastest growing insecticides in the world. Two prominent examples, Imidacloprid and Clothianidin, are used as seed treatments in hundreds of crops. Virtually all of today’s genetically engineered Bt corn is treated with neonicotinoids.
Bee colonies began disappearing in the U.S. shortly after the EPA allowed these new insecticides on the market. Even the EPA itself admits that “pesticide poisoning” is a likely cause of bee colony collapse.
These insecticides are highly toxic to bees because they are systemic, water soluble, and very pervasive. They get into the soil and groundwater where they can accumulate and remain for many years and present long-term toxicity to the hive. They enter the vascular system of the plant and are carried to all parts of it, as well as to the pollen and nectar. Neonicotinoids affect insects’ central nervous systems in ways that are cumulative and irreversible. Even minute amounts can have profound effects over time. And the little bees are being exposed over and over again as pesticides become more necessary due to the inherent weaknesses of monoculture.
One of the observed effects of these insecticides is weakening of the bee’s immune system.
Forager bees bring pesticide-laden pollen back to the hive, where it’s consumed by all of the bees. Six months later, their immune systems fail, and they fall prey to natural bee infections, such as parasites, mites, viruses, fungi and bacteria. Indeed, pathogens such as Varroa mites, Nosema, fungal and bacterial infections, and IAPV are found in large amounts in honey bee hives on the verge of collapse. In addition to immune dysfunction and opportunistic diseases, the honey bees also appear to suffer from neurological problems, disorientation, and impaired navigation.
A bee can’t survive for more than 24 hours if she becomes disoriented and unable to find her way back to the hive.
Even butterflies are suffering… A decline in the North American monarch butterfly population has been linked to increased plantings of herbicide-tolerant GM crops, and overuse of the herbicide glyphosate, which is the key chemical in Monsanto’s Roundup.iv Glyphosate is killing milkweed plants, upon which monarchs rely for habitat and food.
GM Crops Lead to Monoculture…
Monoculture is the growing of just one type of crop on a massive scale. Where farms used to consist of multiple types of produce, pigs, chickens and cows, today you see mile upon mile of corn and soybeans… Monoculture farming practices have sadly resulted in a widespread shift away from sustainable family farms and locally produced foods, and toward industrialized agriculture, massive farming complexes, and confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs), all driven by large corporations whose chief motivation is maximizing profit.
Monoculture increases dependency on chemical pesticides, fertilizers, antibiotics and genetically modified organisms (GMOs). In fact, the use of GM crops like corn and soy (the United States leads the world in GM crop acreage, by the way) is the very definition of monoculture! Why is this an important point to remember? Because, ironically, Monsanto-owned Beeologics states right on their website that large-scale monoculture and pesticide use are key reasons why bees are dying!
“Assorted factors have been implicated in the reduced capability of bees to survive in recent years, including the dearth of resources and poor nutrition which are a key factor in bee and colony loss. Every doctor prescribes exercise and a healthy diet as preventive measures to disease. And every beekeeper knows that good forage over time is the ultimate cure. Bees, as a community, overcome almost all diseases easily when the weather is favorable and wild flowers bloom prolifically. However, in recent years, large scale monoculture has resulted in a lack of natural weeds, and all too often pesticide-laden crop forage.”v
It will be interesting to see how long this information remains on their site, or if Monsanto will realize the irony in these words and have it taken down… the problem, of course, is that now Monsanto will be able to massage any forthcoming “research” to make sure it exonerates their prized GM creations from having any role in CCD…
A recent Global Research article reports:
“Owning a major organization that focuses heavily on the bee collapse and is recognized by the USDA for their mission statement of “restoring bee health and protecting the future of insect pollination” could be very advantageous for Monsanto. In fact, Beelogics’ company information states that the primary goal of the firm is to study the very collapse disorder that is thought to be a result — at least in part — of Monsanto’s own creations.”
What Can You do to Help the Honeybees?
The documentary film Vanishing of the Bees recommends four actions you can take to help preserve our honey bees:
- Support organic farmers and shop at local farmer’s markets as often as possible. You can “vote with your fork” three times a day. [When you buy organic, you are making a statement by saying "no" to GMOs!]
- Cut the use of toxic chemicals in your house and on your lawn, and use organic pest control.
- Better yet, get rid of your lawn altogether and plant a garden. Lawns offer very little benefit for the environment. Both flower and vegetable gardens provide good honey bee habitats.
- Become an amateur beekeeper. Having a hive in your garden requires only about an hour of your time per week, benefits your local ecosystem, and you can enjoy your own honey!
If you are interested in more information about bee preservation, the following organizations are a good place to start.
References:
- i National Resources Defense Council, Vanishing Bees
- ii The Raw Story April 4, 2012
- iii The Observer May 7, 2000
- iv The Organic & Non-GMO Report July 21, 2011
- v Beeologics Colony Health
- vi Pesticide Action Network Bee Campaign
- vii Foundation for the Preservation of Honey Bees
- viii American Beekeeping Federation
- ix Help the Honey Bees
Source: Global Research April 21, 2012
Dr. Mercola is the founder of the world’s most visited natural health web site, Mercola.com. You can learn the hazardous side effects of OTC Remedies by getting a FREE copy of his latest special report The Dangers of Over the Counter Remedies by going to his Report Page.
08
May
12
Turn It Up Tuesday!
Michael “Iron Man” Burks, July 30, 1957 – May 6, 2012.
A little entertainment for Friday morning. I liken this to Michaelangelo talking about his chisels and hammers and paint brushes. Very intimate and a very rare moment.
Enjoy!
Outrage!
What is going on? In the past few months GMO labeling legislation has been introduced in Washington State, Minnesota, Connecticut, Hawaii, and Vermont. In each state, the same frustrating story repeats itself. Legislators are optimistic, the bills seem to move quickly at first, they receive a record breaking amount of public support, and then they stall in committee and never move again, despite unprecedented numbers of calls and emails from citizens to legislators. A representative in Minnesota told us they expected “fallout” for supporting the bill, even though it didn’t pass. In Washington state an unprecedented coalition of anti-GMO wheat farmers and organic consumers were stymied by agriculture committee legislators, who, it turns out, had received money from Monsanto. In Vermont, legislators and Governor backed off from a California-style labeling bill, despite polls showing 90% of Vermonters supported the bill, openly admitting that they were fearful of a lawsuit from Monsanto and the biotech industry. It’s clear that Monsanto and the biotech bullies will go to great lengths to keep their stranglehold on our food supply, and unfortunately most state legislators are either intimidated by or complicit with Monsanto.
It is also clear that we are at a major turning point in this fight. More people than ever care about what is happening to our food supply. More people than ever want to see GMOs labeled. The energy is building!
Here’s what OCA wants to do about it:
Our Millions Against Monsanto Campaign plans to join forces with the Occupy Monsanto protests across the country the week of September 17th, 2012 to create the largest Days of Action for GMO Labeling ever! We want to raise the clamor for labeling to a fever pitch and you can help!
Here’s what we need:
More activists and more awareness in each state!
There are now 692,413 in our Millions Against Monsanto campaign! Let’s get one million by September 17th! In the months leading up to the Days of Action, we need you to gather petition signatures (PDF) and pass out leaflets at your local farmer’s market or natural food store. Summer is the perfect time to raise awareness about food.
Petitions (PDF)
Leaflets, Posters and other Educational Materials
Please contact us if you want any of these materials in quantity!
Reprinted with permission from the Organic Consumer’s Association.
Recently I was handed a new ride at work that has an input for my smartphone which enables me to listen to Pandora Radio all day long. One of the stations I listen to allot plays selections from this guy named Buckethead and everytime one of his tunes comes on I have to check to see who the heck it is making this hauntingly wonderful sound.
Brian Carroll aka Buckethead is someone I’ve occasionally heard of but have never heard anything he put out until recently. Even though he seems to hang out in the obscure fringes of rock, he actually has a pretty large reume that includes a four year stint with Guns and Roses and some collaborations with actor Viggo Mortensen. He even has his own signature Les Paul “Buckethead” model. Read all about this guy and his career here;
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buckethead
Here’s another tune that showcases his ability to shred, yet has a distinct delicate feel to it as it starts. And hey all you Ft. Wayne Bonamassa video fans…….this one has dancers too! Yippee!
I really like this guy……. bucket and all!
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