tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-162202682024-03-07T17:37:24.068-06:00Secondhand Smoking JacksI don't need no sympathy. I won't cry and whine. Life's my light and liberty and I'll shine when I wanna shine.Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10901973780238251138noreply@blogger.comBlogger3027125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16220268.post-79723016538045374392012-07-23T22:29:00.002-05:002012-07-23T22:29:20.320-05:00RIP Sally RideHer partner of 27 years will not get her social security survivor's benefits. Shameful.Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02567967427556481084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16220268.post-58414606625458113882012-07-13T17:09:00.003-05:002012-07-13T17:09:44.641-05:00Brian May talks about performing with AdamBrian May doesn't like folks to copy from his blog, so I won't clip anything. But go <a href="http://brianmay.com/brian/brianssb/brianssbjul12a.html#13" target="_blank">here</a> to read Brian's glowing comments about the band switching into a higher gear in their performances with Adam. I'm a little verklempt.Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02567967427556481084noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16220268.post-43185073660788120242012-07-13T01:14:00.001-05:002012-07-13T23:12:00.112-05:00Wherein Adam sings the bejeebers out of I Want To Break Free . . .Inspired by the lyrics, his tuchus makes the same declaration and his pants comply:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/fYlOnKAgj-4" width="560"></iframe><br />
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Gorgeous up-close video by riddle601b.<br />
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This was at the Hammersmith Apollo theater in London, July 12, 2012 in their fifth concert together. Queen and Adam have only one more scheduled concert on Saturday. My fingers remain crossed that they will do shows in the U.S. though nothing has been announced yet. Reviews have been stellar; Brian, Roger and Adam all seem to be having a blast; Queen fans seem satisfied; and Adam's fans are thrilled.<br />
<br />
And here's how they've been doing Bohemian Rhapsody, including a non-holographic contribution from Freddie:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/bi8Lag-ESTQ" width="560"></iframe><br />
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If your leather laced-crotch pants give out mid-show, what do you wear? Sparkly zebra pants, of course. <br />
<br />
But I think my favorite song of these shows has been consistently Who Wants To Live Forever.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Ra7jAPak9I8" width="560"></iframe>
<br />
<br />
Video from Suz526.<br />
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And my second favorite is the opening medley, including The Seven Seas of Rhye and Keep Yourself Alive. Skip ahead to 1:45 in this video:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/wKhI5F4IvkE" width="560"></iframe>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02567967427556481084noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16220268.post-59154998715206419622012-07-04T12:58:00.003-05:002012-07-04T12:59:11.239-05:00Queen with AdamAdam is in the midst of a handful of shows with Queen. Here's Who Wants to Live Forever from their first show in Kiev from a few days ago.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/BaxwifvHmk4?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
Kiev was the first of six scheduled shows. Still hoping that they decide to add a U.S. show to the schedule.Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02567967427556481084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16220268.post-71092896342733359952012-05-22T15:57:00.005-05:002012-05-22T23:00:03.373-05:00Pop history is made - Trespassing debuts at #1Adam's album, Trespassing, will debut on the charts at Number 1 for pop albums this week, according to <a href="http://www.hitsdailydouble.com/sales/salescht.cgi" target="_blank">Hits Daily Double</a>. This is the first time that an openly gay musician has achieved this feat. History is made.<br />
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Update 10:58 pm: Screenshot from Hits Daily Double. This is a prediction of what Billboard charts will show tomorrow.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggoAvEJi9X9NnScQ74P7YmY7cYwE-4_fMCjhoKQCtdK3_agEXfq1cUaJPAUEZ-dFy6WuPHpdnyPZjZbnhufAK3YbRufhrs6_Ofxqb5MPefrCsOu0avTPaEX90Wn1WucQt62ycu/s1600/Screen+shot+2012-05-22+at+10.56.25+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggoAvEJi9X9NnScQ74P7YmY7cYwE-4_fMCjhoKQCtdK3_agEXfq1cUaJPAUEZ-dFy6WuPHpdnyPZjZbnhufAK3YbRufhrs6_Ofxqb5MPefrCsOu0avTPaEX90Wn1WucQt62ycu/s640/Screen+shot+2012-05-22+at+10.56.25+PM.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02567967427556481084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16220268.post-63037940552864817042012-05-15T21:36:00.000-05:002012-07-13T19:31:34.470-05:00Adam's new album Trespassing is here!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7f4r320LqPz-aTrQWvCruWvBds4D4uBhv6ASf_AOgl37M789BmjS9ghMtFh3kmvWYiKZ9cHQowUSm4d9wA6m3_gn4GrT0Mf17YAjRBxnJ5aTu01eXJOQSJ8FzIjeYdZkOaSn7/s1600/TSPSG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7f4r320LqPz-aTrQWvCruWvBds4D4uBhv6ASf_AOgl37M789BmjS9ghMtFh3kmvWYiKZ9cHQowUSm4d9wA6m3_gn4GrT0Mf17YAjRBxnJ5aTu01eXJOQSJ8FzIjeYdZkOaSn7/s320/TSPSG.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
It's outstanding. I love every song except the title track, but if I had to pick favorites, they'd be:<br />
<ul>
<li>Shady, featuring <a href="http://nilerodgers.com/blogs/planet-c-in-english" target="_blank">Nile Rodgers</a> (bass player for Chic, back in the day) and Sam Sparro - disco funk you might not realize you are craving, but you are;</li>
<li>Broken English - haunting, unusual slow groove with electro touches;</li>
<li>Chokehold;</li>
<li>Pop That Lock - 2:32-2:39 might be my favorite seven seconds of the album;</li>
<li>Underneath - ballad beyond;</li>
<li>Naked Love - if summer were music, it would sound like this.</li>
</ul>
The three bonus tracks (Runnin', Take Back, and Nirvana) on the deluxe version of the album have a different, darker, more rock-ish flavor, and I'm madly in love with them.<br />
<br />
Buy it at <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Trespassing-Deluxe-Adam-Lambert/dp/B006MVJ2L4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1337135637&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Amazon</a> (physical CD) or <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/trespassing-deluxe-version/id518854512">iTunes</a> or on <a href="http://www.myplaydirect.com/adam-lambert/?cid=lg:4l4&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=adamofficial.com&utm_content=store%20page" target="_blank">Adam's web site</a> (where you can get it on vinyl).<br />
<br />
<b>Update 5/16/12</b>:<br />
<br />
Tweet from Adam's proud dad (who was a DJ during his college days):<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC7j-pgBrAYTSc7sJt1ZUshvFZEUefoJwGt0IcFno7Y8utvefcCg8jHaWoVAW9GYIU2t5w8TPCBCeJLoveYVP_xXTy_Eu5zKK-XTYk8ZnlFhFYmvrc8039M_-F0r8_FXc8shX8/s1600/Screen+shot+2012-05-16+at+8.02.48+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="62" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC7j-pgBrAYTSc7sJt1ZUshvFZEUefoJwGt0IcFno7Y8utvefcCg8jHaWoVAW9GYIU2t5w8TPCBCeJLoveYVP_xXTy_Eu5zKK-XTYk8ZnlFhFYmvrc8039M_-F0r8_FXc8shX8/s320/Screen+shot+2012-05-16+at+8.02.48+AM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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Awwwwwww.</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And the Rolling Stone 4-star review:<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"> </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So here's the great pop album everybody was hoping Adam Lambert would make, ever since <a href="http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/adam-lambert-wild-idol-20090625?cnn=yes" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #004276; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">he ran wild</a> on "American Idol" three years ago. </span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">It wasn't just </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><a href="http://www.rollingstone.com/music/videos/adam-lambert-reacts-to-his-rolling-stone-cover-omfg-20090610?cnn=yes" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #004276; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Glambert</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">'s dynamite-with-a-laser-beam voice that got him into our national knickers: It was his warmth, his humor, his burlesque bravado.</span></span></blockquote>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"></span></span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;">His 2010 debut, "For Your Entertainment," was a typical "Idol" quickie -- decent, but it needed more personality.</span></blockquote>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;">
</span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;">"<a href="http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/adam-lambert-storms-the-dance-floor-on-new-lp-20111128?cnn=yes" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #004276; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Trespassing</a>" delivers, with a mix of tinsel disco-club sleaze and leather-boy love ballads. While he excels in a radio cheddar bomb like "Naked Love," he gets deeper in slow jams like "Underneath" and "Outlaws of Love." But all over "Trespassing," Glambert sings everything like Zeus in a thong.</span></blockquote>
<b>Update 5/18/12:</b> Let's enjoy some more reviews, shall we?<br />
<br />
<a href="http://citybeat.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Adam-Lambert-Irish-News.pdf" target="_blank">John Kearns</a> for CityBeat in the UK:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
The album is artistic dynamite, oozes decadent charm and sheer talent from every pore . . . [The] celebratory songs such as Cuckoo and Pop That Lock are the aural equivalent of being kissed by a thousand cherry lip-glossed supermodels all at once. . . Broken English is a track that boasts a soaring death-defying vocal and beautifully evocative and plaintive lyric. </blockquote>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://www.chron.com/life/article/Lambert-s-Trespassing-is-fierce-and-flashy-3557619.php" target="_blank">Joey Guerra</a> for the Houston Chronicle:</span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #474747; line-height: 22px;">This is fierce, fun dance music, lifted high into the heavens by Lambert's supernatural range . . . </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #474747; line-height: 22px;">The album's first half is a beat-per-minute celebration, all sex and clubs and smoky disco haze.</span> </span></blockquote>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://gawker.com/5910970/adam-lambert-as-faggy-as-he-wants-to-be" target="_blank">Gawker</a>:</span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Adam Lambert's consistently electrifying second album, <em style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Tresspassing</em> (out this week), is that freedom [to be at peace with queerness] set to music. It's freer than anything I've heard since the drag queen Sylvester disguised himself all over again in baritone <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVyjMHg7qQ4#t=2m42s" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #d75148; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">at the conclusion of his "Dance (Disco Heat)."</a> . . . Lambert is one to mix it up, too, as he often unleashes a hair-metal yowl that harkens back to yet a different era of masculine/feminine fluidity. . . There's almost nothing here that a straight dude could get away with singing. On <em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Tresspassing</em>, Lambert is here, queer and it sure sounds like he's used to it. It's a boon to his art.</span></blockquote>
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</span>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02567967427556481084noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16220268.post-25687546286503305672012-04-10T22:50:00.004-05:002012-04-15T21:50:50.058-05:00Adam performed at the New Next Now AwardsAdam closed the show at the New Next Now Awards that aired on Logo last night. This is the title song on the new album, Trespassing, that will be out May 15, 2012. It's MJ crossed with Prince crossed with Queen, with a decidedly funky groove. It might be the second single off the album, but it hasn't been announced yet.<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color:#000000;width:520px;"><div style="padding:4px;"><embed src="http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:uma:video:logotv.com:757191/cp~id%3D1682477%26vid%3D757191%26instance%3Dlogo%26uri%3Dmgid%3Auma%3Avideo%3Alogotv.com%3A757191" width="512" height="288" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" base="." flashVars=""></embed><p style="text-align:left;background-color:#FFFFFF;padding:4px;margin-top:4px;margin-bottom:0px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12px;">Get More: <a href="http://www.logotv.com/video" style="color:#439CD8;" target="_blank">Watch Reality TV, Video and Movies</a>, <a href="http://www.logotv.com" style="color:#439CD8;" target="_blank">Logo TV</a></p></div></div><br />
This is my least favorite song of the ones I've heard snippets of from the new album, but I love it, so I'm looking forward to the album.<br />
<br />
The band is: Tommy Joe Ratliff on guitar; Ashley Dzerigian on bass; <strike>Byron Cooke</strike> Brian London on organ-sounding keys and musical director; Isaac Carpenter on drums (I think); Octavia Latrice and Keisha Renee singing backup vocals. I'm excited that there is no canned backing anything.<br />
<br />
Adam will perform on Idol in May sometime. And then, for extra credit, he's fronting Queen for at least four shows this summer: one in Moscow, one in Kiev (with Elton John), and two in London. (The whole Sonisphere festival has been canceled.) I have my fingers crossed for at least one U.S. Queen+Adam gig.Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02567967427556481084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16220268.post-81381427550445351892012-03-31T08:31:00.000-05:002012-03-31T08:31:39.959-05:00Animated wind mapNifty <a href="http://hint.fm/wind/">visualization </a>of winds across the country using date updated hourly. Click to zoom in. This is a "personal art project" of an anonymous person.Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02567967427556481084noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16220268.post-16419586105494561102012-02-12T07:41:00.001-06:002012-02-12T07:43:12.935-06:00ccprose on youtubePretty great <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/CCProse#p/u">stuff</a> for readers.Scooterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00319045516368609297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16220268.post-72648702733169236272012-02-04T06:51:00.000-06:002012-02-04T06:51:29.723-06:00Better Than I Know MyselfAdam's video for the lead single, Better Than I Know Myself, from the new album, Trespassing, premiered yesterday. Floofy Cuddly Sweater Adam Who Reads Books, Drinks Tea and Sweeps lives side-by-side with Angry Destructive Leather Adam Who Plays With Fire, Slugs Alcohol and Disrespects Books. You have to watch to the end for the reveal about where the two Adams really reside -- or maybe you'll know right off the bat.<br />
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<object width="575" height="324"><param name="movie" value="http://videoplayer.vevo.com/embed/Embedded?videoId=GBE431100121&playlist=false&autoplay=0&playerId=62FF0A5C-0D9E-4AC1-AF04-1D9E97EE3961&playerType=embedded&env=0&cultureName=en-US&cultureIsRTL=false"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><param name="bgcolor" value="#000000"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://videoplayer.vevo.com/embed/Embedded?videoId=GBE431100121&playlist=false&autoplay=0&playerId=62FF0A5C-0D9E-4AC1-AF04-1D9E97EE3961&playerType=embedded&env=0&cultureName=en-US&cultureIsRTL=false" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="575" height="324" bgcolor="#000000" wmode="transparent"></embed></object><br />
<br />
In the end, Angry Adam's medges save Sweater Adam. The message of the video is that a man cannot live by sweaters alone; he must have medges too.<br />
<br />
Both Floofy Adam and Angry Adam have perfect noses. And they both sing like crazy. <br />
<br />
Enjoy. Buy the <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/better-than-i-know-myself/id488250101">single</a> on Itunes. The album will be out March 20.<br />
<br />
The Queen rumors--that Adam is the new frontman for Queen--are greatly exaggerated. They are planning to do something(s) together, but Adam isn't giving up his day job--pop star in his own right--for it.Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02567967427556481084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16220268.post-9522702498280702012-01-21T09:02:00.000-06:002012-01-21T09:02:04.984-06:00Happy Birthday, Scooter!<marquee><br />
<br />
<blink><span style="background-image: url(http://i1018.photobucket.com/albums/af309/gumbogirl_mn/balloon-divider.gif); color: blue; font-family: inherit; font-size: 70px; padding-bottom: 40px; padding-left: 40px; padding-right: 40px; padding-top: 40px;"><span style="background-image: url(http://misc.inexistent.org/sparkle/sparkles/glitter3.gif);">HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SCOOTER</span></span></blink><br />
<br />
</marquee>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02567967427556481084noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16220268.post-39543593104168851002011-12-16T16:50:00.001-06:002011-12-16T17:00:02.086-06:00New song from Adam: Better Than I Know MyselfAdam's new single, <a href="http://soundcloud.com/adamofficial/better-than-i-know-myself?utm_source=soundcloud&utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=blogger&utm_content=http://soundcloud.com/adamofficial/better-than-i-know-myself">Better Than I Know Myself</a>, is streaming here, legally and officially. This is the first single off his new, second album, Trespassing. The single will be available for purchase from iTunes, Amazon, etc on Dec. 20; the album will be released in March.<br />
<div><br />
</div><div>The song has a bit of a modern R&B flavor. It'll work on Top 40 radio and that should mean new fans. <br />
<br />
Update: My favorite thing are the counter-melodies and harmony embellishments in the final chorus. Stunning. </div>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02567967427556481084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16220268.post-43114785348097979992011-12-09T21:57:00.000-06:002011-12-09T21:57:15.621-06:00Minnesotans United for All Families<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jamie-mcgonnigal/ed-watson-derence-kernek-prop-8_b_1138376.html?ref=gay-voices&ncid=webmail3">This</a> is why later, eventually, someday, when-a-huge-majority-favors-it, is not good enough for legalizing same sex marriage. Today is already too late. Together 40 years, but denied the right to marry. In this season of giving, please consider giving to marriage equality organizations, particularly those battling state constitutional amendments to ban gay marriage. Example: <a href="http://www.mnunited.org/" target="_blank">Minnesotans United for All Families.</a>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02567967427556481084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16220268.post-44579199503261141352011-11-17T23:04:00.000-06:002011-11-17T23:04:32.545-06:00Biking down some stairsK and I took up mountain biking in July. It is the most fun thing that humans can do. I'm particularly fond of biking down steep, bumpy, tree-rooted downhills. I think I'm now addicted to the adrenaline rush from the danger. This has been an awakening for me; before July, I was afraid to ride my bike off a curb. <br />
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One of the "features" in my favorite trail is a curved, concrete staircase, with a steep drop off on the outside of the curve. The first couple times we rode this trail, I was too scared to bike down it.<br />
<br />
Here's K trying to bike down these stairs for the first time today:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzciR0tUKDW7aH4VUjDUjhGb3KMVJpZ6z5URUGjsKjP9CfFOEt_FnbOVXrRHbD5AY6FGjygMApi4gg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
I like the bike flying down the hill at about 00:48. He's afraid of heights, so he has avoided riding down these stairs for months.<br />
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This video shows my first ride down the stairs a couple months ago:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxtf-J6jqkv_BUkOQggrE1UPXtvfBNDoD8dwctekAm4RDI633hyt92_lWP5o9iLQ5ltRDQUmJ10xQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
The whooping and hollering is embarrassing, but it was a personal victory. It's not technically difficult to bike down these stairs; you just have to conquer the fear.Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02567967427556481084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16220268.post-51972611912076626362011-11-17T13:05:00.000-06:002011-11-17T13:05:32.020-06:00Legal Writing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA4nC3IG38i07SbrI6N_UthYr9BGaLdwakIR0igcS7JinaZeICF5waTPyvM5wF6P-evRgXDYPKFh4NUsUzTlAjvBps54gOWKa1DhFWf2qVV09dIIskt6NVF6W4mQWbZ3pIHZoK/s1600/PointMade.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA4nC3IG38i07SbrI6N_UthYr9BGaLdwakIR0igcS7JinaZeICF5waTPyvM5wF6P-evRgXDYPKFh4NUsUzTlAjvBps54gOWKa1DhFWf2qVV09dIIskt6NVF6W4mQWbZ3pIHZoK/s200/PointMade.JPG" width="133" /></a></div>To fulfill Continuing Legal Education requirements, I recently attended a seminar on legal writing. The speaker was <a href="http://legalwritingpro.com/bio/">Ross Guberman</a>. I highly recommend his seminar for all writers. Take it if you get a chance. He has written a book, <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/point-made-ross-guberman/1027578400?ean=9780195394870&itm=1&usri=point%252bmade">Point Made</a>, that I intend to read. <br />
<br />
He mentioned a book by a graphic designer/lawyer, <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/typography-for-lawyers-matthew-butterick/1027812820?ean=9781598390773&itm=1&usri=typography%252bfor%252blawyers">Typography for Lawyers</a>, by Matthew Butterick. He didn't really recommend it, but I pass it on because I know at least one of my blog brothers is interested in fonts. It discusses fonts at length; it also covers document layout and other graphic design topics.Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02567967427556481084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16220268.post-34006268101333577762011-11-07T21:25:00.002-06:002011-11-11T19:50:25.990-06:00Adam sang with Queen at the MTV EMAs yesterdayIt went like this:<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color:#000000;width:520px;"><div style="padding:4px;"><embed src="http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:uma:video:mtv.com:708184/cp~artist%3D3188063%26vid%3D708184%26uri%3Dmgid%3Auma%3Avideo%3Amtv.com%3A708184" width="512" height="288" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" base="." flashVars=""></embed><p style="text-align:left;background-color:#FFFFFF;padding:4px;margin-top:4px;margin-bottom:0px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12px;">Get More: <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/queen/artist.jhtml" style="color:#439CD8;" target="_blank">Queen</a>, <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/" style="color:#439CD8;" target="_blank">Music</a>, <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/video/" style="color:#439CD8;" target="_blank">More Music Videos</a></p></div></div><br />
Queen is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. MTV European Music Awards gave Queen a Global Icon award yesterday.<br />
<br />
I love Adam with Queen. He's not trying to copy Freddie, and his voice is big enough and he's theatrical enough to pull off Queen's music.<br />
<br />
Update 11/8: I should note that Freddie did not have a chance to sing this song live before he passed, though he recorded it. Also, after The Show Must Go On, Adam and Queen performed We Will Rock You and We Are the Champions. MTV hasn't posted video of that part yet.Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02567967427556481084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16220268.post-39151655199113495032011-10-18T06:46:00.003-05:002011-10-18T22:12:47.713-05:00Ryan Gosling<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0331516/">Ryan Gosling</a> = young Brando. It's partly the voice and the smoldering sensuality and the way he rocks a white undershirt, but there's something else too. I just learned of him, though he's been in many things in recent years. He was nominated for an Academy Award for Half Nelson. He's in Drive and Ides of March, in theaters now. He was also in Blue Valentine and the quirky Lars and the Real Girl. He won an MTV Movie Award for Best Kiss for The Notebook. I expect he'll win this award again for the kiss in Drive.<br />
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By the way, if you're thirsting for old school movie editing, with loooooooong shots, you want to see Drive. It's amazing how much fun you can have waiting for someone to blink.<br />
<br />
Update 10/18/11 9:55 pm: Of COURSE I wasn't the first person to notice Gosling's similarity to Brando. See, for example, <a href="http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2011/01/11/marlon-brandos-lasting-influence-on-ryan-gosling-christian-bale-james-franco.html">Gina Picallo writing</a> at The Daily Beast:<br />
<blockquote>Gosling is the most conspicuous of this latest bunch [of actors influenced by Brando]. As a boy, he deliberately disguised his Canadian accent to give it a little Brando bravado. Then there he was last month on the cover of New York magazine wearing a sexy frown, a tight white T-shirt and a toothpick, a la Stanley Kowalksi. In his harrowing relationship drama Blue Valentine, Gosling’s young working class romantic Dean would have fit right in on the docks next to Brando’s Terry Malloy in On the Waterfront.<br />
<br />
“You can’t help but be affected by him,” Gosling recently told The Daily Beast. “I think all of us are.”</blockquote><br />
And Michael Giltz <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-giltz/is-ryan-gosling-the-next-_b_60432.html">writing</a> at HuffPo.<br />
<br />
And Robert Butler, movie reviewer for the Kansas City Star from 1977-2011, <a href="http://www.seniorcorrespondent.com/articles/2011/09/22/ryan-gosling-the-new-marlon-brando.214827">writing</a> on the Senior Correspondent blog: <br />
<blockquote>Ryan Gosling is the new Marlon Brando.<br />
I feel not even a twinge of nervousness about that statement. It’s as obvious as saying that Earth circles the sun.</blockquote><br />
I am as late to this party as I was to the White Stripes party.Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02567967427556481084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16220268.post-35325797940005280282011-07-30T18:05:00.006-05:002011-08-02T22:19:04.885-05:00Adam Lambert - Outlaws of Love on Album #2Adam's second album (title unknown) will be out in November, probably. Last night, at a concert in <strike>Montreal</strike>Ste. Agathe, Quebec, he debuted a song, Outlaws of Love, from the new album. Video is courtesy of a fan. <br />
<br />
The lyrics are sort of stunning to me. He's gone two years trying to avoid being a mascot for gay rights. In interviews after his Idol season, he specifically described not wanting to be an activist; he just wanted to be a singer. In more recent interviews, he's expressed ambivalence. This song, written by Adam, addresses the political issue of gay marriage, while being intensely personal. Lyrics below.<br />
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<iframe width="640" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/8oJRuaH5FJ0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
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Lyrics:<br />
<br />
Oh, nowhere left to go<br />
Are we getting closer, closer?<br />
No, all we know is no,<br />
Nights are getting colder, colder.<br />
<br />
Hey, tears all fall the same,<br />
We all feel the rain,<br />
We can't change.<br />
<br />
Everywhere we go, we're lookin for the sun,<br />
Nowhere to grow old, we're always on the run.<br />
They say we'll rot in hell, but I don't think we will<br />
They’ve branded us enough, outlaws of love.<br />
<br />
Scars make us who we are, <br />
Hearts and homes are broken, broken<br />
Far, we could go so far,<br />
With our minds wide open, open<br />
<br />
Hey, tears all fall the same,<br />
We all feel the rain,<br />
We can't change.<br />
<br />
And everywhere we go, we're lookin for the sun<br />
Nowhere to grow old, we're always on the run.<br />
They say we'll rot in hell, but I don't think we will.<br />
They’ve branded us enough, outlaws of love.<br />
<br />
Everywhere we go, we're looking for the sun.<br />
Nowhere to grow old, we're always on the run.<br />
They say we'll rot in hell, but I don't think we will.<br />
They’ve branded us enough, outlaws of love.<br />
Outlaws of love.<br />
Outlaws of love.<br />
Outlaws of love.<br />
Outlaws of love.Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02567967427556481084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16220268.post-58621855554497527242011-07-10T05:56:00.000-05:002011-07-10T05:56:52.602-05:00Wow. Kids these days . . .YouTube seems to have become badly underpowered in the last month or so, so now videos take forever to load and can't play without interruption. It helps to lower the resolution to 240. It's worth the hassle to watch this, IMHO: <iframe width="640" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/61UYt2vv00E" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02567967427556481084noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16220268.post-4180647369787097292011-07-01T21:34:00.000-05:002011-07-01T21:34:02.910-05:00Happy Birthday, LJ!<marquee><br />
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<blink><span style="background-image: url(http://i1018.photobucket.com/albums/af309/gumbogirl_mn/balloon-divider.gif); color: red; font-family: inherit; font-size: 70px; padding-bottom: 40px; padding-left: 40px; padding-right: 40px; padding-top: 40px;"><span style="background-image: url(http://misc.inexistent.org/sparkle/sparkles/glitter3.gif);">HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LJ</span></span></blink><br />
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</marquee>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02567967427556481084noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16220268.post-59848918528349572792011-06-25T12:09:00.001-05:002011-06-25T12:11:53.076-05:00Gov. Andrew Cuomo: HeroAs <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/26/nyregion/the-road-to-gay-marriage-in-new-york.html?_r=1&hp=&pagewanted=all">detailed</a> by the NYTimes, the road to the vote to legalize same-sex marriage in New York was paved with support from big-dollar donors as well as personal changes of heart stemming from family pressure. But at the heart, it was Gov. Andrew Cuomo's desire to make a meaningful difference, to have a legacy. This is what I wish we could have in a president. (To be clear, I knew when I voted in 2008 that Pres. Obama would not be that kind of a president.)<br />
<br />
Andrew Cuomo, you're my hero:<br />
<blockquote>There, in a speech the public would never hear, [Gov. Andrew Cuomo] offered his most direct and impassioned case for allowing gays to wed. Gay couples, he said, wanted recognition from the state that they were no different than the lawmakers in the room. “Their love is worth the same as your love,” Mr. Cuomo said. “Their partnership is worth the same as your partnership. And they are equal in your eyes to you. That is the driving issue.”</blockquote>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02567967427556481084noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16220268.post-81559271414282464652011-06-06T07:02:00.002-05:002011-06-06T07:05:52.951-05:00Discouraging Midwestern ValuesI guess barn-raisings are out of the question <a href="http://www.startribune.com/local/blogs/123067653.html">these days</a>. Obviously I don't know the whole story but one thing I've always admired about the MN, WI, SD, ND cultures is that whole everybody helps everybody else out kind of mentality. Hope that's not changing.Scooterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00319045516368609297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16220268.post-65062276747512485282011-05-28T06:12:00.006-05:002011-05-28T06:26:21.032-05:00The Revolution turned off forever yesterday<div>Too bad, thought it was a really cool <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2011/SHOWBIZ/05/28/gil.scott.heron.dead/index.html?hpt=T2">song</a>.</div>love johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04421390249117056672noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16220268.post-8185599441595115232011-05-17T11:18:00.000-05:002011-05-17T11:18:40.707-05:00Sad day for every baseball loverHarmon Killibrew <a href="http://www.startribune.com/sports/twins/122004519.html">has passed away</a> after a 5-month battle with esophageal cancer. He's much loved here. A street near the Mall of America (built on the grounds of the old Met Stadium where Harmon played) is named for him. The grounds of the new stadium, Target Field, is home to <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big_league_stew/post/Best-legends-statue-at-Target-Field-Kirby-Care?urn=mlb-233713">statues</a> of Twins greats, including Harmon.<br />
<br />
Cancer, you suck extra badly this week.Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02567967427556481084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16220268.post-70575512030950223942011-05-17T10:08:00.000-05:002011-05-17T10:08:25.939-05:00The People vs. Goldman SachsThe Senate Subcommittee on Investigations, chaired by Carl Levin (D-Michigan) and Tom Coburn (R-Oklahoma), recently released the results of their investigation into the financial crisis in a 650-page report, "<a href="http://levin.senate.gov/newsroom/supporting/2011/PSI_WallStreetCrisis_041311.pdf">Wall Street and the Financial Crisis: Anatomy of a Financial Collapse</a>". <br />
<br />
Matt Taibbi, Rolling Stone, <a href="http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/the-people-vs-goldman-sachs-20110511">summarizes</a> the report thusly:<br />
<blockquote>Their unusually scathing bipartisan report also includes case studies of Washington Mutual and Deutsche Bank, providing a panoramic portrait of a bubble era that produced the most destructive crime spree in our history — "a million fraud cases a year" is how one former regulator puts it. But the mountain of evidence collected against Goldman by Levin's small, 15-desk office of investigators — details of gross, baldfaced fraud delivered up in such quantities as to almost serve as a kind of sarcastic challenge to the curiously impassive Justice Department — stands as the most important symbol of Wall Street's aristocratic impunity and prosecutorial immunity produced since the crash of 2008.</blockquote>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02567967427556481084noreply@blogger.com0