�BT Business has launched a virtual guide - Get fit for mobile working - to serve businesses fishing gear the problems encountered by some of the UK's 14 one thousand thousand mobile workers. The guidebook is intentional to avail mobile workers to avoid the back up, neck and arm problems that toilet arise as a final result of working in unfamiliar environments with a poor posture.
Official figures shew that game, neck and arm problems are the most common occupational illnesses in the UK. Over a fifth part (20.6%) of BT employees' sickness absence is caused by such illnesses. However, newly published research carried out by BT Business shows that less than half (46%) of mobile workers are receiving guidance about staying safe when working on the move. Furthermore, a one-fourth (25%) of workers are unaware that all businesses are legally responsible for their health and safety wherever they are working, whether or not they are in the office.
To usher workers in that respect is no reason to be suffering discomfort, BT Business has worked with Margaret Hanson, one of the UK's leading ergonomists, to publish a handy reference guide. Get fit for mobile working helps to identify common issues, their causes, and the solutions to ensure you steer clear of endorse, neck and arm problems both now and in the coming years. The advice testament be communicated internally to more than 100,000 employees at BT itself.
Dr Paul Litchfield, BT's Chief Medical Officer aforementioned "Mobile on the job can loose people by giving them more flexibleness over their time and more control over their jobs - both ar important in helping to make modern life less stressful. As with any technology, citizenry can get problems with mobile devices if they don't take note of simple, practical steps, such as those developed by BT Business, before they begin to use their equipment."
Recent years have seen an explosion in mobile working, and a demonstration of the benefits - 83% of us think compromising working brings competitive advantages in business sector, whilst 54% of managers believe flexible workers birth a punter quality of life.
Bill Murphy, Managing Director of BT Business said "Mobile and whippy working has transformed both business and personal lives. By observing a few general principles, workers posterior ensure they see all the benefits of mobile working, without any downside. Businesses need to be aware of their legal responsibility for the health and safety of employees, wherever they are working."
"There has been a lack of advice for employees around best practice mobile on the job, despite the explosion in mobile and remote working in the UK. This is why we receive teamed up with star ergonomist Margaret Hanson to produce the advice within Get fit for mobile working which we ar making usable to customers, and sharing with all BT employees.
Here are ten top tips from Get check for mobile working on how you can avoid mobile wretchedness:
1. Use the backrest of your president. Don't slouch forwards. Keep shoulders in line with your hips.
2. Hold your forefront so ears are above shoulders. Don't stick your chin ahead or bend or kink your neck.
3. Alternate between thumbs and fingers when typewriting on smartphones.
4. Don't rest wrists or forearms on the edge of desks.
5. Position items so you don't whirl your endorse; screens should be at a well-situated viewing tallness in social movement of you. Ensure your back is supported.
6. Exercise your hands, wrists and neck regularly.
7. Make sure there is nothing underneath your workstation that restricts your military posture.
8. Take regular breaks away from the keyboard and screen.
9. Don't hold the phone 'tween ear and shoulder - you're potential to get a raw neck.
10. Adjust settings on your software so that the image and text are large sufficiency for you to see comfortably.
The advice has been packaged in a handy, at-a-glance overview, as well as a elaborated report. See both at http://www.bt.com/getfitformobileworking
About Margaret Hanson
Margaret Hanson, Principal Ergonomics Consultant, has 15 age experience of providing advice and support to organizations on how to reduce the endangerment of soreness through the ergonomic design of workplaces and equipment. She has undertaken research for the Health and Safety Executive and the Scottish Government. She is a Fellow of the Ergonomics Society and a Chartered Member of the Institute of Occupational Safety and Health.
About BT
BT is ane of the world's leading providers of communications solutions and services operating in 170 countries. Its principal activities include the provision of networked IT services globally; local, national and international telecommunications services to our customers for use at home, at work and on the go; broadband and internet products and services and converged fixed/mobile products and services. BT consists principally of four lines of business: BT Global Services, Openreach, BT Retail and BT Wholesale.
In the year ended 31 March 2008, BT Group's revenue was �20,704 million with profit in front taxation and specific items of �2,506 1000000.
British Telecommunications plc (BT) is a wholly-owned subsidiary company of BT Group plc and encompasses virtually all businesses and assets of the BT Group. BT Group plc is listed on origin exchanges in London and New York.
BT
More info
Sunday, 7 September 2008
Thursday, 28 August 2008
Roxio Launches Creator 2009
Top-Selling Media Suite with Integrated Online Services Makes it Easier
than Ever for Families to Create and Share their Digital Lives
SANTA CLARA, Calif., Aug. 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Roxio(R), a
division of Sonic Solutions(R) (Nasdaq: SNIC), the leader in digital media
computer software, today launched Roxio Creator(TM) 2009, the latest variant of the
company's market-leading suite of photo, picture, and music authoring,
burning, and on-line sharing applications. Creator 2009 introduces a range
of pioneering audio features, integration of family-friendly online
services, and advanced support for High Definition (HD) video. Creator 2009
also offers a sleek workflow that enables consumers to finish a
broad range of media institution, editing, sharing, and management projects
more efficiently. Taking the guess out of evolving technologies and
complicated formats and enabling users to take full advantage of all of
Creator's capabilities, Creator 2009 offers conduct links to informative
tutorials and how-to articles that provide steering and creative
inspiration. Roxio Creator 2009 is useable today at http://www.roxio.com
for $99.99 and will be introduced former next month in retail stores
worldwide.
"Whether it's the desire to edit hours of footage from a special family
case, create a personalized pic slideshow of exotic travels or compose a
perfect music playlist, consumers only want a straightforward solution that
enables them to quickly and effortlessly create, preserve and enjoy their
personal media content," aforesaid Vito Salvaggio, vice president of consumer
products, Roxio division of Sonic Solutions. "We listened to our customers
and with Creator 2009 delivered a suite that is not only when powerful, but also
easy enough for family members of all skill levels to attain great
results."
Roxio Creator 2009 introduces a motley of new features and
enhancements to help both families and digital multimedia system enthusiasts
unionize their digital world and express themselves through piquant
movies, powerful multimedia stories and originative projects.
Roxio Creator 2009 Highlights:
Online and Mobile Sharing
Users will apprise the engineer access to Roxio Online, a new digital
storytelling platform that enables families to turn their photos and videos
into engaging slideshows that can be shared and enjoyed on PCs, DVDs, TVs,
a range of hand-held devices, and popular social networking sites. For added
convenience, Roxio Online can buoy be accessed from inside Creator 2009's
product rocket launcher and is available from within applications such as
VideoWave(R), CineMagic(R) or Media Manager. The Roxio Online service is
available through a free subscription. Consumers nates unlock extra
creation and sharing capabilities by upgrading to Roxio Online's agiotage
service.
Ease-of-Use
The redesigned Creator 2009 product rocket launcher provides flying access to
all the tasks and creation tools available inside Creator. Whether it's
redaction video, creating a pic slideshow or burning an audio CD, Creator's
friendly and interactive excogitation makes it easy to quickly carry out a disposed
task. Also easily accessible are a variety of helpful how-to articles and
video-tutorials intentional to guide consumers through the creative process.
Beyond the piles of new workflow enhancements that make up projects
easier to finish, Creator 2009 also features SyncIt!(TM), a new screen background
applet that automatically converts digital files to best-loved formats for
viewing on mobile devices, smart encryption technology for the spry
authoring of HD video recording, and enhanced multi-core processor support for the
up-to-the-minute CPUs.
Life in High Definition
Families and others can now create stunning HD projects using footage
from AVCHD camcorders and favorite HD programming from TiVo(R) and other
DVRs and burn it in HD, using DVD burners, onto standard DVDs for playback
on a Playstation(R) 3 and early Blu-ray Disc players. This technology
provides consumers with an affordable alternative to enjoy up to 60 minutes
of video in HD. For even more impressive results, consumers crataegus laevigata choose from
a diversity of new high definition menu themes and easy add them to their
final productions. Enabled by a High-Def/Blu-ray Disc Plug-in, consumers
toilet burn HD video to Blu-ray Disc, and enjoy more than three hours of HD
movies on their HDTV exploitation any Blu-ray Disc set-top player.
Superior Audio and Music
Headlining the newfangled audio capabilities of Roxio Creator 2009 is
Audiobook Creator(TM), an advanced technology that converts an entire
audiobook into a single file with preserved chapter markers, making it easy
for on-the-go readers to enjoy their deary book on iPod(R), iPhone(R) or
other portable players like the Creative Zen(R). Until straight off, users were only
able to convert audiobook CDs into stacks of case-by-case chapter files,
making it difficult and often frustrating to manage on a portable device.
Creator's already impressive audio capabilities are enhanced by the new
Beatmatching(TM) feature which enables users to create music compilations
of perfectly synchronized cross fades for groovy sounding company mixes that
are ideal for special occasions and gatherings.
In support of the set in motion of Creator 2009, Roxio is extending
MyMoments(TM), its educational portal that offers consumers a wealthiness of
digital media resources including how-to videos, instructive tutorials and
blogs. Included in the latest additions is Extreme Digital Makeover(TM), a
web-based video series dedicated to helping users make the most of their
digital lives. To view the series or to check how you could become a
makeover candidate travel to: http://www.roxio.com/go/digitalmakeover.
Pricing and Availability
Roxio Creator 2009 will be available in retail stores worldwide this
month and is available today directly from Roxio at hypertext transfer protocol://www.roxio.com
for $99.99. The High-Def/Blu-ray Disc circuit board will be sold as a
downloadable component from roxio.com for $29.99. Roxio will offer the
High-Def/Blu-ray Disc plug-in for free for customers wHO purchase from
roxio.com through September 30, 2008.
For enthusiasts who want even more capabilities and control, Roxio is
cathartic Roxio Creator 2009 Ultimate for $129. The Ultimate version
includes everything available in Creator 2009 and, in addition, includes
the High-Def/Blu-ray Disc plug-in and a comprehensive set of audio and
backup tools, which would cost over $300 if purchased singly.*
About Roxio
Roxio, Sonic's consumer products grouping, develops a range of
award-winning digital media creation, management, preservation, sharing,
and enjoyment applications for home and business users under the Roxio
brand. Roxio products offer the perfect blend of informality and power, enabling
consumers to accomplish professional results from their photo, television, and
music projects with minimal campaign. Roxio's flagship applications,
Creator(R) for the PC and Toast(R) for the Apple Macintosh, are the
best-selling products in their respective categories in North American
retail.
Roxio's parent company, Sonic Solutions (NASDAQ: SNIC;
http://www.sonic.com), enables the creation, management, and enjoyment of
digital media content through its Hollywood to Home(TM) products, services,
and technologies. Sonic's products image from the advanced authoring
systems secondhand to bring on Hollywood DVD and Blu-ray Disc titles to the
award-winning Roxio-branded photo, video, music, and digital-media
management applications and services. Sonic's patented technologies and
AuthorScript(R) media engine ar relied upon by leading technology firms to
delimit rich media experiences on a broad array of consumer electronics,
mobile devices, set-top players, retail kiosks, and PCs. Always an
innovator, 193% has taken a leading persona in portion professional and
consumer markets make the successful modulation to the new high-definition
media formats and, through the Qflix(TM) platform, Sonic is shaping new
models for the digital distribution of Hollywood entertainment. Sonic
Solutions is headquartered in Marin County, California.
Forward Looking Statements
This press loss may control forward-looking statements that are
based upon current expectations, including the launch, distribution, and
market acceptance of Creator 2009. Actual results could differ materially
from those projected in the forward looking at statements as a result of
assorted risks and uncertainties, including those discussed in Sonic
Solutions' annual and quarterly reports on file with the Securities and
Exchange Commission. This press vent should be read in conjunction with
Sonic Solutions' to the highest degree recent annual report on Form 10-K, Form 10-Q and
former reports on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which
contain a more detailed discussion of the Company's business including
risks and uncertainties that may affect future results. Sonic Solutions
does not take in charge to update any innovative statements.
Sonic, the Sonic logo, Sonic Solutions, Roxio, the Roxio logo, Roxio
Creator, Creator, Toast, VideoWave, CineMagic, SyncIt!, Audiobook Creator,
MyMoments, Extreme Digital Makeover, Hollywood to Home, AuthorScript and
Qflix are trademarks or registered trademarks owned by Sonic Solutions in
the United States and/or other countries. All other society or product
names ar trademarks of their several owners and, in some cases, are
used by Sonic Solutions under licence. Specifications, pricing and pitch
schedules are subject to change without notice.
*Based on SRP
More info
than Ever for Families to Create and Share their Digital Lives
SANTA CLARA, Calif., Aug. 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Roxio(R), a
division of Sonic Solutions(R) (Nasdaq: SNIC), the leader in digital media
computer software, today launched Roxio Creator(TM) 2009, the latest variant of the
company's market-leading suite of photo, picture, and music authoring,
burning, and on-line sharing applications. Creator 2009 introduces a range
of pioneering audio features, integration of family-friendly online
services, and advanced support for High Definition (HD) video. Creator 2009
also offers a sleek workflow that enables consumers to finish a
broad range of media institution, editing, sharing, and management projects
more efficiently. Taking the guess out of evolving technologies and
complicated formats and enabling users to take full advantage of all of
Creator's capabilities, Creator 2009 offers conduct links to informative
tutorials and how-to articles that provide steering and creative
inspiration. Roxio Creator 2009 is useable today at http://www.roxio.com
for $99.99 and will be introduced former next month in retail stores
worldwide.
"Whether it's the desire to edit hours of footage from a special family
case, create a personalized pic slideshow of exotic travels or compose a
perfect music playlist, consumers only want a straightforward solution that
enables them to quickly and effortlessly create, preserve and enjoy their
personal media content," aforesaid Vito Salvaggio, vice president of consumer
products, Roxio division of Sonic Solutions. "We listened to our customers
and with Creator 2009 delivered a suite that is not only when powerful, but also
easy enough for family members of all skill levels to attain great
results."
Roxio Creator 2009 introduces a motley of new features and
enhancements to help both families and digital multimedia system enthusiasts
unionize their digital world and express themselves through piquant
movies, powerful multimedia stories and originative projects.
Roxio Creator 2009 Highlights:
Online and Mobile Sharing
Users will apprise the engineer access to Roxio Online, a new digital
storytelling platform that enables families to turn their photos and videos
into engaging slideshows that can be shared and enjoyed on PCs, DVDs, TVs,
a range of hand-held devices, and popular social networking sites. For added
convenience, Roxio Online can buoy be accessed from inside Creator 2009's
product rocket launcher and is available from within applications such as
VideoWave(R), CineMagic(R) or Media Manager. The Roxio Online service is
available through a free subscription. Consumers nates unlock extra
creation and sharing capabilities by upgrading to Roxio Online's agiotage
service.
Ease-of-Use
The redesigned Creator 2009 product rocket launcher provides flying access to
all the tasks and creation tools available inside Creator. Whether it's
redaction video, creating a pic slideshow or burning an audio CD, Creator's
friendly and interactive excogitation makes it easy to quickly carry out a disposed
task. Also easily accessible are a variety of helpful how-to articles and
video-tutorials intentional to guide consumers through the creative process.
Beyond the piles of new workflow enhancements that make up projects
easier to finish, Creator 2009 also features SyncIt!(TM), a new screen background
applet that automatically converts digital files to best-loved formats for
viewing on mobile devices, smart encryption technology for the spry
authoring of HD video recording, and enhanced multi-core processor support for the
up-to-the-minute CPUs.
Life in High Definition
Families and others can now create stunning HD projects using footage
from AVCHD camcorders and favorite HD programming from TiVo(R) and other
DVRs and burn it in HD, using DVD burners, onto standard DVDs for playback
on a Playstation(R) 3 and early Blu-ray Disc players. This technology
provides consumers with an affordable alternative to enjoy up to 60 minutes
of video in HD. For even more impressive results, consumers crataegus laevigata choose from
a diversity of new high definition menu themes and easy add them to their
final productions. Enabled by a High-Def/Blu-ray Disc Plug-in, consumers
toilet burn HD video to Blu-ray Disc, and enjoy more than three hours of HD
movies on their HDTV exploitation any Blu-ray Disc set-top player.
Superior Audio and Music
Headlining the newfangled audio capabilities of Roxio Creator 2009 is
Audiobook Creator(TM), an advanced technology that converts an entire
audiobook into a single file with preserved chapter markers, making it easy
for on-the-go readers to enjoy their deary book on iPod(R), iPhone(R) or
other portable players like the Creative Zen(R). Until straight off, users were only
able to convert audiobook CDs into stacks of case-by-case chapter files,
making it difficult and often frustrating to manage on a portable device.
Creator's already impressive audio capabilities are enhanced by the new
Beatmatching(TM) feature which enables users to create music compilations
of perfectly synchronized cross fades for groovy sounding company mixes that
are ideal for special occasions and gatherings.
In support of the set in motion of Creator 2009, Roxio is extending
MyMoments(TM), its educational portal that offers consumers a wealthiness of
digital media resources including how-to videos, instructive tutorials and
blogs. Included in the latest additions is Extreme Digital Makeover(TM), a
web-based video series dedicated to helping users make the most of their
digital lives. To view the series or to check how you could become a
makeover candidate travel to: http://www.roxio.com/go/digitalmakeover.
Pricing and Availability
Roxio Creator 2009 will be available in retail stores worldwide this
month and is available today directly from Roxio at hypertext transfer protocol://www.roxio.com
for $99.99. The High-Def/Blu-ray Disc circuit board will be sold as a
downloadable component from roxio.com for $29.99. Roxio will offer the
High-Def/Blu-ray Disc plug-in for free for customers wHO purchase from
roxio.com through September 30, 2008.
For enthusiasts who want even more capabilities and control, Roxio is
cathartic Roxio Creator 2009 Ultimate for $129. The Ultimate version
includes everything available in Creator 2009 and, in addition, includes
the High-Def/Blu-ray Disc plug-in and a comprehensive set of audio and
backup tools, which would cost over $300 if purchased singly.*
About Roxio
Roxio, Sonic's consumer products grouping, develops a range of
award-winning digital media creation, management, preservation, sharing,
and enjoyment applications for home and business users under the Roxio
brand. Roxio products offer the perfect blend of informality and power, enabling
consumers to accomplish professional results from their photo, television, and
music projects with minimal campaign. Roxio's flagship applications,
Creator(R) for the PC and Toast(R) for the Apple Macintosh, are the
best-selling products in their respective categories in North American
retail.
Roxio's parent company, Sonic Solutions (NASDAQ: SNIC;
http://www.sonic.com), enables the creation, management, and enjoyment of
digital media content through its Hollywood to Home(TM) products, services,
and technologies. Sonic's products image from the advanced authoring
systems secondhand to bring on Hollywood DVD and Blu-ray Disc titles to the
award-winning Roxio-branded photo, video, music, and digital-media
management applications and services. Sonic's patented technologies and
AuthorScript(R) media engine ar relied upon by leading technology firms to
delimit rich media experiences on a broad array of consumer electronics,
mobile devices, set-top players, retail kiosks, and PCs. Always an
innovator, 193% has taken a leading persona in portion professional and
consumer markets make the successful modulation to the new high-definition
media formats and, through the Qflix(TM) platform, Sonic is shaping new
models for the digital distribution of Hollywood entertainment. Sonic
Solutions is headquartered in Marin County, California.
Forward Looking Statements
This press loss may control forward-looking statements that are
based upon current expectations, including the launch, distribution, and
market acceptance of Creator 2009. Actual results could differ materially
from those projected in the forward looking at statements as a result of
assorted risks and uncertainties, including those discussed in Sonic
Solutions' annual and quarterly reports on file with the Securities and
Exchange Commission. This press vent should be read in conjunction with
Sonic Solutions' to the highest degree recent annual report on Form 10-K, Form 10-Q and
former reports on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which
contain a more detailed discussion of the Company's business including
risks and uncertainties that may affect future results. Sonic Solutions
does not take in charge to update any innovative statements.
Sonic, the Sonic logo, Sonic Solutions, Roxio, the Roxio logo, Roxio
Creator, Creator, Toast, VideoWave, CineMagic, SyncIt!, Audiobook Creator,
MyMoments, Extreme Digital Makeover, Hollywood to Home, AuthorScript and
Qflix are trademarks or registered trademarks owned by Sonic Solutions in
the United States and/or other countries. All other society or product
names ar trademarks of their several owners and, in some cases, are
used by Sonic Solutions under licence. Specifications, pricing and pitch
schedules are subject to change without notice.
*Based on SRP
More info
Monday, 18 August 2008
Download Venus Hum mp3
 Artist: Venus Hum: mp3 download Genre(s): Trance Folk Rock Discography:  Montana (Remixes) Vinyl Year: 2003 Tracks: 2  Hummingbirds EP Year: 2002 Tracks: 4  Venus Hum - (2002) Big Beautiful Sky Year: Tracks: 12 Nashville, TN, might non be the low station for a dreaming pop band to come together, simply the birthplace of American music was a prissy conform to for Venus Hum. Comprised of vocalizer Annette Strean and multi-instrumentalists Kip Kubin and Tony Miracle, the lead formed in 1999. Strean, world Health Organization grew up with a feller father in Whitefish, MT, found Nashville to be her cultural calling. She grew up tattle show tunes for fun, only her warmth for the Cure and Kate Bush pushed her creatively. Strean hide for bathetic films from the 50s, as well. Later, she designed her throw habiliment from vintage wearing apparel. Miracle had a similar sustain. He was locked into typical kinfolk suburbia in Cincinnati, OH, and sought comfort in England's new wave reign. Depeche Mode and the Cure allowed him to explore several electronic dancing acts of the '80s. Kubin was a Jersey small fry. A ally of his had a daddy wHO made his have keyboards, so Kubin by nature picked up the instrument. From in that regard, Strean, Miracle, and Kubin connected. Miracle set up Chessington Synth Labs Studio in his cellar, and Venus Hum created a plush, dynamical pop sound. Their self-titled debut appeared on Mono-Fi in leap 2001. Shows in and around Nashville were successful for Venus Hum. Lucky for them, electroclash producer/scenester Larry Tee took Venus Hum under his backstage. The banding appeared at Tee's Electroclash Festival in New York City during summertime 2002, and Stereolab asked Venus Hum to opened for them in Nashville. The Hummingbirds EP coincided with a joint U.S. turn with Sing-Sing that October. Six months later, their right uncut record album Large Beautiful Sky was released. After a series of problems that included issues with their label and nodes on Strean's vocal chords, Venus Hum went on a two-year abatement. During that time, Strean underwent physical and vocal therapy, Kubin became a movie maker, and Miracle recorded an album under the name Satellite City. In 2005, the trio reconvened and began recording together and severally; the results were the acoustic/electronic manipulations of their sec record album, The Colors in the Wheel, which arrived in summertime 2006. |
Friday, 8 August 2008
Sebastian Haemer
Artist: Sebastian Haemer
Genre(s):
Pop
Discography:
Der Fliegende Mann
Year: 2006
Tracks: 15
Newcomers revive men's fashion in Paris
Tuesday, 1 July 2008
Beware, Unnamed Movie Studios: Method Man Will Courageously Call You Out!
Photo: WireImage
"I think they're prostituting the game. I won't mention any names, because some of these studios I'm planning on working with in the future." —Method Man on the state of comic-book movies [EW]
"I still see him as the same Mr. Koenig. I still have that thing in my mind that this is the same man we threw paper at, wrote on his shirt and put gum on his chair." —15-year-old Quraan Jones, a former middle-school student of Vampire Weekend's Ezra Koenig [MTV]
"I know in this day and age, when you meet men, they often want to be boys. They dress like boys. And it's very confusing. I can't offer any solution except to make a movie about it." —Illeana Douglas on her upcoming movie, Oh Joy [LAT]
"They called up and asked, 'Are you still interested in Dirty Harry?' I said, 'What happened to Frank Sinatra?' And they said, 'Frank Sinatra's got some problem with his hand and he can't hold a gun.' That sounded like a pretty lame excuse, but it didn't matter to me." —Clint Eastwood on landing his most famous role [MTV]
"That was a long time ago and the music is really okay. Some of it's a little melancholic and sweet. And some of it, I think, 'Well, that was a crazy person.'" —Debbie Harry on Parallel Lines [NYDN]
"I think they're prostituting the game. I won't mention any names, because some of these studios I'm planning on working with in the future." —Method Man on the state of comic-book movies [EW]
"I still see him as the same Mr. Koenig. I still have that thing in my mind that this is the same man we threw paper at, wrote on his shirt and put gum on his chair." —15-year-old Quraan Jones, a former middle-school student of Vampire Weekend's Ezra Koenig [MTV]
"I know in this day and age, when you meet men, they often want to be boys. They dress like boys. And it's very confusing. I can't offer any solution except to make a movie about it." —Illeana Douglas on her upcoming movie, Oh Joy [LAT]
"They called up and asked, 'Are you still interested in Dirty Harry?' I said, 'What happened to Frank Sinatra?' And they said, 'Frank Sinatra's got some problem with his hand and he can't hold a gun.' That sounded like a pretty lame excuse, but it didn't matter to me." —Clint Eastwood on landing his most famous role [MTV]
"That was a long time ago and the music is really okay. Some of it's a little melancholic and sweet. And some of it, I think, 'Well, that was a crazy person.'" —Debbie Harry on Parallel Lines [NYDN]
Tuesday, 10 June 2008
Ronnie Hawkins: Rock legend on both sides of border
If you are a fan of Bob Dylan and the Band, you might have heard the name Ronnie Hawkins quite a bit over the years, though you probably haven't heard much of his actual music -- the Canadian-based rocker has had little sales chart presence in this country.
Thanks to a new retrospective CD from Collectors' Choice Music, however, we get to sample Hawkins' key recordings from the late 1950s and early 1960s, and they prove to be as tenacious and colorful as what we've heard all these years from Robbie Robertson, Levon Helm and the other members of the Band.
How wild was Hawkins in the early days of rock?
Sonny Burgess, who recorded for the legendary Sun Records in Memphis, Tenn., in the 1950s, puts Hawkins right alongside Sun label mates Elvis Presley and Jerry Lee Lewis on a list of the three performers who "would really knock you out" on stage. Of Hawkins, he added, "He would do all kinds of crazy stuff. If there was a wall at the side of the stage, he'd run up it and turn a back flip off it, still holding the mike if the cord was long enough."
Aside from his frantic live shows, Hawkins also has become something of a rock institution in Canada because of his reputation for finding great young talent.
The five members of the Band came together in Hawkins' backup group, the Hawks, before being picked up by Bob Dylan in 1965 for his celebrated electric rock tour.
The musicians -- Robertson, Helm, Rick Danko, Richard Manuel and Garth Hudson -- then worked with Dylan in 1967 on the extraordinary "Basement Tapes" recordings before the quintet branched out on its own as the Band and made some of the most distinguished albums ever, including "Music From Big Pink."
The 23 selections on the new CD -- many of them featuring one or more future members of the Band -- cover an unusually wide range of styles, giving us the sense of an ambitious young man trying his hand at everything in hopes of building a better show.
The material includes old Carl Perkins and Chuck Berry songs, some Hank Williams country, the Gershwins' "Summertime" and even a bizarre, folk-protest song urging that California death row inmate Caryl Chessman's life be spared.
Ronnie Hawkins
"Mojo Man/Arkansas Rockpile"
Collectors' Choice Music
The back story: Hawkins was born in Arkansas on Jan. 10, 1935, two days after Elvis Presley's birth in nearby Mississippi. But he moved to Canada in 1958 after hearing from fellow Arkansas rocker turned country star Conway Twitty that Canada was starved for American rock 'n' rollers.
And sure enough, Hawkins was an immediate hit in Canada, where he still lives.
The new CD includes two Roulette albums, "Mojo Man" and "Arkansas Rockpile," that featured tracks recorded by Hawkins from 1959 to 1963.
While Gene Sculatti's liner notes point out some of the musicians who played on a few key tracks, it's a shame that the package doesn't include such basic information as songwriters and musicians. Fortunately, the session information is available on various Hawkins-related websites.
What the CD does give us is a winning look at the innocence, excitement and go-for-broke spirit that characterized rock's first decade. Despite Hawkins' lack of impact in the U.S., the collection makes a strong case for ranking him in the top tier of 1950s rock 'n' roll.
The Band was so fond of Hawkins that the group invited him to join such other "friends" as Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Van Morrison, Muddy Waters and Neil Young at the Band's 1976 farewell concert, "The Last Waltz." Pretty nice company.
robert.hilburn@latimes.com
Backtracking is a biweekly featured devoted to CD reissues and other historical pop items.
Thanks to a new retrospective CD from Collectors' Choice Music, however, we get to sample Hawkins' key recordings from the late 1950s and early 1960s, and they prove to be as tenacious and colorful as what we've heard all these years from Robbie Robertson, Levon Helm and the other members of the Band.
How wild was Hawkins in the early days of rock?
Sonny Burgess, who recorded for the legendary Sun Records in Memphis, Tenn., in the 1950s, puts Hawkins right alongside Sun label mates Elvis Presley and Jerry Lee Lewis on a list of the three performers who "would really knock you out" on stage. Of Hawkins, he added, "He would do all kinds of crazy stuff. If there was a wall at the side of the stage, he'd run up it and turn a back flip off it, still holding the mike if the cord was long enough."
Aside from his frantic live shows, Hawkins also has become something of a rock institution in Canada because of his reputation for finding great young talent.
The five members of the Band came together in Hawkins' backup group, the Hawks, before being picked up by Bob Dylan in 1965 for his celebrated electric rock tour.
The musicians -- Robertson, Helm, Rick Danko, Richard Manuel and Garth Hudson -- then worked with Dylan in 1967 on the extraordinary "Basement Tapes" recordings before the quintet branched out on its own as the Band and made some of the most distinguished albums ever, including "Music From Big Pink."
The 23 selections on the new CD -- many of them featuring one or more future members of the Band -- cover an unusually wide range of styles, giving us the sense of an ambitious young man trying his hand at everything in hopes of building a better show.
The material includes old Carl Perkins and Chuck Berry songs, some Hank Williams country, the Gershwins' "Summertime" and even a bizarre, folk-protest song urging that California death row inmate Caryl Chessman's life be spared.
Ronnie Hawkins
"Mojo Man/Arkansas Rockpile"
Collectors' Choice Music
The back story: Hawkins was born in Arkansas on Jan. 10, 1935, two days after Elvis Presley's birth in nearby Mississippi. But he moved to Canada in 1958 after hearing from fellow Arkansas rocker turned country star Conway Twitty that Canada was starved for American rock 'n' rollers.
And sure enough, Hawkins was an immediate hit in Canada, where he still lives.
The new CD includes two Roulette albums, "Mojo Man" and "Arkansas Rockpile," that featured tracks recorded by Hawkins from 1959 to 1963.
While Gene Sculatti's liner notes point out some of the musicians who played on a few key tracks, it's a shame that the package doesn't include such basic information as songwriters and musicians. Fortunately, the session information is available on various Hawkins-related websites.
What the CD does give us is a winning look at the innocence, excitement and go-for-broke spirit that characterized rock's first decade. Despite Hawkins' lack of impact in the U.S., the collection makes a strong case for ranking him in the top tier of 1950s rock 'n' roll.
The Band was so fond of Hawkins that the group invited him to join such other "friends" as Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Van Morrison, Muddy Waters and Neil Young at the Band's 1976 farewell concert, "The Last Waltz." Pretty nice company.
robert.hilburn@latimes.com
Backtracking is a biweekly featured devoted to CD reissues and other historical pop items.
Wednesday, 4 June 2008
Wesley Snipes - Snipes Bailed Ahead Of Tax Appeal
Hollywood actor Wesley Snipes has been granted bail as he appeals against his conviction for tax offences.
Last month Blade star Snipes was sentenced to three years in prison when he failed to file income tax returns between 1999 and 2001.
His legal team claims there were discrepancies in the prosecution's case and, in arguments for his bail, said he was unlikely to flee and had arranged a meeting with the internal revenue service (IRS) next week.
Lawyers added that their client posed no threat to the public.
District judge William Terrell Hodges described the arguments as "dubious" but agreed to bail the 45-year-old until June 3rd nevertheless.
In April Snipes was convicted of deliberately failing to file his tax returns, despite earning £38 million.
But he was cleared of more serious fraud and conspiracy charges.
23/05/2008 15:56:23
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