That One Moment In ‘Home Alone’ That Explains EVERYTHING

Mar 6, 2015

Did you ever watch the movie ‘Home Alone’ and wonder out loud or on social media how come when the McCallisters get to the airport, and the gate attendant counts their tickets, that number of tickets is exactly equal to the number of family members present? Where was Kevin’s ticket? Did the McCallisters forget to book Kevin’s ticket? Did they do it on purpose? Did they really not want him to go in the first place?

In the beginning of the movie, when Kevin spills his milk, and everyone gets all upset, watch what his dad throws away while cleaning up…

A-HA!

H/T Distractify

This magic trick is aDOORable

Mar 6, 2015

Magician Rahat is very simple, but also extremely clever. He previously set up a single door standing in the middle of the park, and has it close by remote control. What happens next might, in the words of one surprised man, will make you think of ‘the black holes my wife was talking about.’

Watch the first four minutes of Conan O’Brien in Cuba

Mar 6, 2015

After 53 long years, America has started to lift the economic blockade on Cuba. Conan O’Brien was one of the first people on television to jump on the opportunity, and made a special in the island country.

Watch the first four minutes of Conan O’Brien’s one-man mission to meet the Cuban people and make some friends.

You can’t skip this GEICO ad, because it’s already over

Mar 6, 2015

GEICO really has done the unthinkable – getting people to watch, and enjoy, ads about insurance. They have hit another home run with this latest online ad. Many ads on YouTube and other video services give you the chance to skip it after five seconds. But this commercial is so short, it’s over before you have the chance to even skip it.

Here’s the extended cut of the ad, showing what happens next.

http://youtu.be/pvcj9xptNOQ

MOTOWN THE MUSICAL is coming to Toronto

Mar 5, 2015

In the 2015/16 season, David Mirvish will present 14 shows in Toronto, consisting of seven shows in the Mainstage Subscription Series, three in the Off-Mirvish Subscription Series and four shows off-subscription. One of the big shows will be the Broadway smash hit MOTOWN THE MUSICAL.

It began as one man’s story… became everyone’s music… and is now Broadway’s musical. MOTOWN THE MUSICAL is the true American dream story of Motown founder Berry Gordy’s journey from featherweight boxer to the heavyweight music mogul who launched the careers of Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Smokey Robinson and many more.

MOTOWN THE MUSICAL is Broadway’s record-breaking smash hit that tells the true story behind the beat that changed minds, touched lives and took the world by storm. MOTOWN THE MUSICAL shows how these legendary artists and so many more created the soundtrack that transformed America. With over 40 classic songs such as “My Girl,” “What’s Going On,” “Dancing in the Street,” “I Heard It Through The Grapevine” and “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” this explosive Broadway event is the next chapter of Motown’s incredible history – and an experience you’ll never forget.

You can get tickets here.

Kenny Lattimore to Release “Anatomy of a Love Song” on April 14, 2015

Mar 5, 2015

Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter Kenny Lattimore announces the release of his new album, Anatomy of a Love Song, on April 14, 2015 on Sincere Soul Records/eOne Music.

Lattimore’s first single, “Love Me Back” impacted at Urban AC radio last week and was the most added song at that format. The song is available on iTunes beginning today. Listen to the track here.

Lattimore’s music reflects the best of all worlds as it combines the timeless sounds of traditional R&B with a unique contemporary flair to create a universal sound that transcends boundaries and appeals to audiences of all ages, races and genres. His body of work, which includes hits such as “Never Too Busy” and the Grammy nominated “For You,” has garnered two Gold-selling albums, the NAACP Image Award for Best New Artist, and nominations for Soul Train Awards and Stellar Awards.

In addition to Kanye West sampling Lattimore’s “Lately” in his song “I’m In It,” from his #1 album Yeezus, a diverse array of artists including Musiq Soulchild, Rachelle Ferrell, Ray J, Nancy Wilson, Heather B, Michael Lington and Brian Culbertson, have sought out his talents for their own projects. He performed the duet “Love Will Find A Way” with Heather Headley for Disney’s The Lion King II: Simba’s Pride. He and singer Chante Moore recorded the Marvin Gaye/Tammi Terrell duet “You’re All I Need To Get By,” which was selected as the theme song for the BET show The Family Crews.

“Love Me Back” can be purchased here.

Current tour dates:

March 6 – Jakarta, Indonesia – Java Jazz Festival 2015
March 7 – Jakarta, Indonesia – Java Jazz Festival 2015
March 8 – Jakarta, Indonesia – Java Jazz Festival 2015
March 28 – Washington, D.C. – The Howard Theater
April 19 – Las Vegas, NV – City of Lights Jazz and R&B Fest
May 9 – Elkhart Lake, WI – Jazz on the Vine
June 12 – Napa, CA – Brian Culbertson’s Napa Valley Jazz Getaway
June 13 – Napa, CA – Brian Culbertson’s Napa Valley Jazz Getaway
Oct. 24 – San Juan, PR – 9^th Annual Capital Jazz SuperCruise

MusiCounts Announces the 10th Recipient of the MusiCounts Teacher of the Year Award

Mar 5, 2015

jjj — Photo Credit: Mark Dayton Photography

MusiCounts is thrilled to announce that Steve Sainas of Terry Fox Secondary School in Port Coquitlam, BC has been named the 2015 MusiCounts Teacher of the Year Award recipient. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the award, which recognizes the dedication of music teachers in Canada who help keep music education alive. Sainas will receive $10,000 plus a $10,000 contribution to his school’s music program. In addition, he will experience VIP treatment throughout JUNO Week, attending the Chairman’s Reception and the JUNO Gala Dinner & Awards, and will walk on the red carpet at The JUNO Awards Broadcast.

MusiCounts, Canada’s music education charity associated with The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) and the Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA) is helping to keep music alive across Canada. MusiCounts’ mission is to ensure that children in Canada, regardless of socio-economic circumstances or cultural background, have access to music programs through their schools and communities. This is achieved through the Band Aid Program, the TD Community Music Program, the MusiCounts Teacher of the Year Award, Scholarships and other music education initiatives. Since MusiCounts’ establishment in 1997, nearly $8,000,000 will have been awarded to help support music education in Canada. These funds have benefitted over 700 schools and communities from coast to coast, supported over 330 post-secondary music program graduates and honoured 10 extraordinary music teachers through the MusiCounts Teacher of the Year Award.

Multi-Platinum selling group MAGIC! has shown their support by contributing $100,000 towards MusiCounts programs, which includes the sponsorship of the 2015 MusiCounts Teacher of the Year Award. The team at MusiCounts is truly grateful for the group’s generosity.

“With 2015 marking the 10th anniversary of this award, Steve Sainas represents all of the qualities of a music teacher that led to its creation a decade ago,” said Allan Reid, President & CEO, CARAS/The JUNO Awards & MusiCounts. “He has created a program that uses a forward-thinking approach to music education that engages students on a very deep level. Bestowing this honour to Steve would not be possible if it wasn’t for MAGIC!’s generosity. If it wasn’t for the music teachers in their own lives who provided them with formative experiences in music, they may not have followed the path that has led them to choose music as their career.”

“We were quite impressed to learn about the incredible program Mr. Sainas created for his students,” said Nasri, lead singer of MAGIC! “My older brother is a school teacher and we often talk about the benefit of music on young minds. It’s an educational experience that no child should miss out on. Teachers like Mr. Sainas help to ensure that thousands of children will get to reap the benefits of that experience.”

A Port Coquitlam legend, Sainas has been a music teacher for 28 years, both in the community and working with young people in the English and Music classrooms, as well as with special needs students in Terry Fox Secondary School’s Learning Centre. In 2000, he developed a largely self-funded project, the Rock School and Recording Arts Program, which encourages participation at all levels, including career path preparation. The classes welcome at-risk youth, the severely learning disabled, the physically disabled and the gifted. Every student in the program is provided with professional musical instruments and recording equipment. Outside of the classroom, Sainas is an accomplished musician, having performed and recorded in a wide variety of genres, and for the past fifteen years he has led an award-winning blues act, Mud Dog.

“I am deeply honoured to be receiving this prestigious award and feel privileged to be able to pay forward to my students the gift of music that I received all those years ago in Mr. Charles Russ’s grade 8 guitar class… a gift that introduced me to my passion for music, inspired me to teach, and gave me the confidence to pursue my dreams and aspirations,” said Sainas. “I wish to express my most heartfelt gratitude to MusiCounts, MAGIC! and everyone who actively supports music education.”

The Charlatans (UK) To Release Their Acclaimed Album Modern Nature In North America on April 21st

Mar 5, 2015

One of my all-time fave bands – The Charlatans UK – Tim Burgess, Mark Collins, Martin Blunt and Tony Rogers – release their twelfth album, Modern Nature on BMG Chrysalis on April 21st in North America.

MODERN NATURE features eleven new tracks, including the limited edition 7” singles and 6 Music A List records “Talking In Tones” and “So Oh”, as well as the single “Come Home Baby”. The album was produced by The Charlatans and Jim Spencer and mixed by Craig Silvey (Arcade Fire, Portishead). The album features a cacophony of contributors from their three temporary drummers – Pete Salisbury of The Verve, Stephen Morris of New Order and Gabriel Gurnsey of DFA’s avant-disco group Factory Floor, to Kate Bush’s backing singers Melanie Marshall and Sandra Marvin, strings by Sean O’ Hagan and brass courtesy of Dexys’ Big Jim Paterson.

Q have already described the album as “ one the finest of their career”, while the Guardian have called it “a triumph”.

The album comes after a difficult year for the band following the death from brain cancer of their old friend and drummer Jon Brookes last year. The band were determined to carry on with the making of the album to honor Brookes’ memory.

Modern Nature will be available on cd, vinyl, deluxe cd and download. The tracklisting for the album is as follows; Talking In Tones/So Oh/Come Home Baby/Keep Enough/Tall Grass/Emilie/Let The Good Times Be Never Ending/Need You To Know/Lean In/Trouble Understanding/Lot To Say

The live shows in March will be The Charlatans’ first full UK tour since 2010. Pete Salisbury (The Verve) who plays on much of the album will be drumming on the dates.

Let’s leave the last word with The Quietus……

“In Modern Nature, The Charlatans have achieved that rare feat of making a gigantic step forward without losing what made them so special in the first place.”

Tour Dates:
Mar 03 Bristol, UK @ Academy Bristol
Mar 05 Manchester, UK @ The Albert Hall SOLD OUT
Mar 06 Manchester, UK @ The Albert Hall SOLD OUT
Mar 07 Leeds, UK @ O2 Academy Leeds SOLD OUT
Mar 09 Hull, UK @ Hull University
Mar 10 Glasgow, UK @ Glasgow Barrowlands SOLD OUT
Mar 11 Glasgow, UK @ Glasgow Barrowlands
Mar 13 Wolverhampton, UK @ Woverhampton Civic Hall
Mar 14 Leicester, UK @ O2 Academy Leicester SOLD OUT
Mar 15 Worthing, UK @ Worthing Pavilion Theatre
Mar 16 London, UK @ London Roundhouse SOLD OUT
Mar 19 Tokyo, Japan @ O-East Tokyo
Mar 22 Taipei, Taiwan @ Neo Studio
Mar 25 Osaka, Japan @ Club Quattro
Jul 24 Sheffield, UK @ Tramlines Festival

Digital Assets:
“Talking In Tones” Video:

“So Oh” Video:
“Come Home Baby” Video:

The Final Frontier: The Surprising Musical Origins of Star Trek

Mar 5, 2015

Who are the original music samplers? Sit back and let CBC Radio 2’s Tom Allen spin a yarn that explores one piece of music that was copied over and over again through classical history right up into the future.

http://youtu.be/aTaSjS1pwhQ

Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, Big Bopper plane crash may be re-examined

Mar 5, 2015

Following a performance on the tour at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa. on February 2, 1959, Buddy Holly chartered a small airplane to take him and Ritchie Valens, and The Big Bopper – J. P. Richardson from nearby Mason City to Moorhead, Minnesota, the next stop on the tour. The charter’s pilot, Roger Peterson, took off in inclement weather, even though he was not certified to fly by instruments-only. Following takeoff in the early morning hours of February 3, Holly, along with Ritchie Valens, J. P. Richardson, and the pilot, were all killed when the plane crashed shortly after takeoff.

Now, the National Transportation Safety Board may re-examine the accident, previously thought to be pilot error in the face of bad weather. From CNN:

The NTSB received a letter from aviation enthusiast L.J. Coon, a self-described retired pilot and aircraft dispatcher, asking it to look at other possible contributing factors to the crash. They include the aircraft’s weight and balance calculations (for passengers, baggage and fuel), possible issues with rudder panels and possible carburetor Induction icing, Coon told CNN in an email.

“You have gotten our attention,” the NTSB wrote in February, saying it would examine the information he provided, Coon’s email said.
“Buddy Holly plane crash may be re-examined” (CNN)

Here’s the 1959 Aircraft Accident Report. (PDF)