Track-by-Track: Kylie Minogue - Aphrodite

In some ways, Kylie Minogue has had the quintessential pop career. She's gone from cheesy pop to indie artiness and back again. Aphrodite winks knowingly at her 80's past while at the same time moving things forward. It's very much the "carefree pop album" we've been promised. It's not perfect, but there are certainly glimpses of pop perfection throughout.

1. All The Lovers - The best-possible Kylie comeback single I could've hoped for. It's exactly the type of music I love from her. Shimmering and otherworldly, this is pure euphoria. Gorgeous. 10/10

2. Get Outta My Way - An obvious second single, and more uptempo and commercial than the opening track. Still, the melody is one of the strongest on the album (especially the chorus) and the production is suitably huge. 10/10

3. Put Your Hands Up (If You Feel Love) - Another highly commercial dance track, but not quite as strong as the last one. The chorus is catchy, for sure, but lacks the staying power of the last two tracks. Still, it sounds great played loud. 9/10

4. Closer - I didn't love this on first listen, but it's grown on me immensely. It's an odd little powder keg of a song, more a sonic vignette than a proper pop track. The hypnotic production is quite something. There's a great tension throughout. 9/10

5. Everything Is Beautiful - About as pop as pop gets, this is all about the melody -- and it's a good one. I wouldn't be surprised if this is a (very successful) single. It's got that polished sound to it. 9/10

6. Aphrodite - Completely different than anything else on the album, this hard, 90's-influenced dance track is pretty spectacular. The hook alone packs more of a punch than any of the other tracks. I can't help but think that this is the comeback single she should have released several years ago. 10/10

7. Illusion - One of the weaker tracks. The best part of it is the catchy synth hook that plays at the beginning and repeats throughout. The rest of it is pleasant, but slightly forgettable. 8/10

8. Better Than Today - A midtempo, new-wavey stomper that relies on a strong melody and a huge 80's influence. It's one of the best songs on the album and would make a terrific single choice. 10/10

9. Too Much - The last perfect song on here, it's a synth-heavy, aggressive track with shades of Calvin Harris (who worked on this) and several different melodies throughout. The chorus is slightly bonkers, but in the best way possible. Probably the most current-sounding song on here. 10/10

10. Cupid Boy - A hypnotic, high-pitched electro track. It's pretty throughout, but gets a little lost in the shuffle. I love how the chorus builds into a wall of synths, though. 8/10

11. Looking For An Angel - Opens with a string section, which carries on throughout the track. It's a very wistful, lush sound with vocals that hearken back to some of Minogue's 90's work. It's another song I didn't like so much at first, but I've really come around to. 9/10

12. Can't Beat This Feeling - Old-school, cheesy dancepop. It's certainly a reminder of where she started, though compared to the rest of the album it's slightly underwhelming as a closing track. I like the retro synths, but it's all a bit frantic. 7/10

Album Grade: 9.1/10

Harvey Milk

Harvey Bernard Milk (May 22, 1930 – November 27, 1978) was an American politician who became the first openly gay man to be selected to public office in California, when he won a seat on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. Politics and gay activism were not his early interests; he was not open about his homosexuality and did not join in civic matters until around age 40, after his experiences in the counterculture of the 1960s.

Milk moved from New York City to settle in San Francisco in 1972 among a migration of gay men to the Castro District. He took advantage of the rising political and economic power of the neighborhood to promote his interests, and ran unsuccessfully for political office three times. His theatrical campaigns earned him growing popularity, and Milk won a seat as a city supervisor in 1977, part of the broader social changes the city was experiencing.

Milk served 11 months in office and was liable for passing a stringent gay rights ordinance for the city. On November 27, 1978, Milk and Mayor George Moscone were assassinated by Dan White, another city supervisor who had freshly resigned but wanted his job back. Milk's election was made possible by and was a key part of a shift in San Francisco politics. The assassinations and the ensuing events were the result of enduring ideological conflicts in the city.

View This Site : Fashion News, Chicago Movers

Martin Luther King, Jr.

Martin Luther King, Jr. (January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968) was an American clergyman, activist, and prominent leader in the African American civil rights group. His main legacy was to secure progress on civil rights in the United States, and he has become a human rights King is recognized as a martyr by two Christian churches. A Baptist minister, King became a civil rights protester early in his career.

He led the 1955 Montgomery Bus Boycott and helped establish the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in 1957, serving as its first president. King's efforts led to the 1963 March on Washington, where King deliver his "I Have a Dream" speech. There, he raised public consciousness of the civil rights movement and recognized himself as one of the greatest orators in U.S. history. In 1964, King became the youngest person to get the Nobel Peace Prize for his work to end racial segregation and racial discrimination through civil disobedience and other non-violent means.

By the time of his death in 1968, he had refocused his efforts on ending scarcity and the Vietnam War, both from a religious perspective. King was assassinate on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee. He was posthumously award the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1977 and Congressional Gold Medal in 2004; Martin Luther King, Jr. Day was recognized as a U.S. national holiday in 1986.

View This Site : Fashion news, Chicago Movers

New Foursquare Badge: World Cup 2010 & Dog's Best Friend

"Gooooooooooooooooaalllll! Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!

We hope you're enjoying World Cup 2010 as much as we are!"

"Woof! Woof woof 10 checkins @ dog runs

woof woof woof 30 days woof woof! Woof!"

menarik permainan foursquare setelah beberapa badge located base yang harus di unlock di tempat yang sudah ditentukan contohnya badge-badge terbaru "PK & JG 2010", "Alli After Dark", "Dew Super Fan", "Northside" dan "Louis Vuitton Insider". efek yang kurang baik dari badge located base tersebut adalah cheating alias tipu-tipuan check-in buat sekedar mengejar badge unik, ini yang sudah terendus pihak foursquare termasuk @dens seperti yang dilansir di twitter-nya.

indonesia menjadi salah satu basis jumper yang seringkali mendahului pengguna foursqauare yang sesungguhnya berhak meng-unlock terlebih dahulu dan ini membuat iri para pemain bule dan menjadi salah satu pembicaraan di negeri mereka. terlepas dari isu ini kali ini pengguna indonesia gak perlu lagi buat ngedapetin dua badge terbaru hari ini yakni "world cup 2010" dan "dog's best friend" yang bisa di unlock di begeri kita.

badge pertama yang dapat di-unlock bebas cukup dengan check-in di mana saja plus shout dengan kata-kata "Zzzzzzzzzzzzzz" atau "Gooooooooooooal!" akan langsung mendapatkan badge spesial "world cup 2010". gabungan check-in dan shout ini gak harus dilakukan pada saat ada pertandingan, jadi saat ini juga bisa, menurut @dens "Zzzzzzzzzzzzzz" itu berarti "that's a vuvuzela!". ini hampir mirip yang pernah ada saat unlock badge "bing turf home" dan "lakers-celtics nba badge"bedanya kalo "bing turf home" di unlock dengan mendukung negara yang berlaga saat bertanding. sepertinya badge "world cup 2010" ini buat memenuhi keinginan pengguna foursquare yang gak mau beresiko jadi jumper buat mendapatkan badge "super fan" dan "south africa exlporer".

badge kedua yang baru diterbitkan yakni "dog's best friend" yang juga unik dan dapat di unlock pengguna indonesia dengan cara khusus juga. badge bergambar kepala "anjing" ini hanya dapat didapatkan dengan check-in 10 kali di venue/ lokasi dengan kategori "dog run" selama periode 30 hari ini. ingat ini bukan tag tetapi kategori, coba search dengan kata kunci "dog run" apakah ada venue di daerah sekitar anda berkategori itu...? kalo di amrik contohnya di sini atau kalo di bogor ada di sini trus jakarta di sini, surabaya di sini.

update, badge "dog's best friend" ini ternyata berlaku surut artinya kalo hari ini check-in lagi di tempat yang ada kategori "dog run" sudah 10 kali atau lebih maka tinggal melengkapi sekali check-in dan akan langsung dapet. silahkan liat yg di sini.

silahkan mencoba unlock kedua badge baru itu... happy check-in....

Kylie Minogue - Aphrodite

"Can you feel me in stereo?"

As a prelude to my track-by-track review of Kylie's new album tomorrow, I'm going to highlight one of my favorite songs from Aphrodite. It just so happens to be the title track, a self-power anthem with one hell of a chest-beating chorus. It was my instant favorite when I first heard the album megamix, and really sounds like nothing else on Aphrodite. I wanna be able to say I know exactly what works here, but it's really everything combined that makes this a standout. The production is flawless -- a true Stuart Price masterpiece. From the staccato, Rhythm Nation-esque drums to the layers of synth that bubble up unexpectedly throughout, the instrumental would be impressive on its own. Add to that a melody to die for and an aggressive, playful vocal from Minogue, and you've got one of 2010's best pop songs. It's always a letdown when it ends.

Kylie Minogue - Aphrodite by alienhits

(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Preorder the album here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

Wright brothers

The Wright brothers, Orville (August 19, 1871 – January 30, 1948) and Wilbur (April 16, 1867 – May 30, 1912), were two Americans who are usually credited with inventing and building the world's first winning airplane and making the first controlled, powered and sustained heavier-than-air human flight, on December 17, 1903.

In the two years afterward, the brothers developed their flying machine into the first sensible fixed-wing aircraft. Although not the first to build and fly trial aircraft, the Wright brothers were the first to invent aircraft controls that made fixed-wing powered flight possible.The brothers' primary breakthrough was their invention of three-axis control, which enabled the pilot to steer the aircraft effectively and to maintain its equilibrium.

This method became ordinary and remains standard on fixed-wing aircraft of all kinds. From the beginning of their aeronautical work, the Wright brothers focused on unlocking the secrets of control to overcome "the flying problem", rather than developing more powerful engines as some other experimenters did.

Their careful wind tunnel tests shaped better aeronautical data than any before, enabling them to design and build wings and propellers more effective than any before. Their U.S. patent 821,393 claims the creation of a system of aerodynamic control that manipulates a flying machine's surfaces.

They gain the mechanical skills necessary for their success by working for years in their shop with printing presses, bicycles, motors, and other machinery. Their work with bicycles in particular partial their belief that an unstable vehicle like a flying machine could be prohibited and balanced with practice.

View This Site : Fashion News, Chicago Movers

Richard Nixon

Richard Nixon (January 9, 1913 – April 22, 1994) was the 37th President of the United States from 1969–1974 and was also the 36th Vice President of the United States (1953–1961). Nixon was the only President to resign the office and also the only person to be chosen twice to both the Presidency and the Vice Presidency.

Nixon was born in Yorba Linda, California, USA. After completing his scholar work at Whittier College, he graduated from Duke University School of Law in 1937 and returned to California to practice law in La Habra. Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, he joined the United States Navy, serving in the Pacific theater, and rose to the rank of Lieutenant leader during World War II.

He was selected in 1946 as a Republican to the House of Representatives representing California's 12th Congressional district, and in 1950 to the United States Senate. He was selected to be the running mate of Dwight D. Eisenhower, the Republican Party candidate, in the 1952 Presidential election, becoming one of the youngest Vice Presidents in history.

View This Site : Fashion News, Chicago Movers

Ollie Wride - HeadRush

"I need you forever and ever"

A huge thanks to PPG for introducing me to Ollie Wride. Like her, I found it very difficult to select a song to feature today, as all of his are quite good (go to his soundcloud page to listen to all seven songs). I settled on HeadRush because it's the most polished-sounding of the demos. Not only that, but it's a staggering piece of 80's dance pop. Ollie Wride has one of those octave shattering voices like Mika and Eric Nally of Foxy Shazam. It's an instrument perfect for the genre (a mix of glam, pop and dance) that he sings. This is, quite simply, my favorite kind of music. And to be able to perform it competently, you need personality. From what I've gathered so far, it seems that Wilde's got the energy, style and ideas to craft very interesting pop music. His influences (Queen, the Buggles, Scissor Sisters) are among my all-time favorite artists and I am beyond excited to hear what he comes up with when he's ready to produce an album. There is a ridiculous amount of potential here. To be this good when you're just starting out is kind of mind-blowing.

HeadRush by Ollie Wride

(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Listen to more here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

Marilyn Monroe - Actress

Marilyn Monroe (June 1, 1926 – August 5, 1962), born Norma Jeane Mortenson, but baptized Norma Jeane Baker, was an American actress, singer and model. After spend much of her childhood in foster homes, Monroe began a career as a model, which led to a film contract in 1946. Her early film appearances were minor, but her performances in The tarmac Jungle and All About Eve were seriously acclaimed. In a few years, Monroe reached stardom and was cast as the foremost lady in such films as Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, How to Marry a Millionaire, The Seven Year Itch, and Some Like It Hot.

The typecasting of Monroe's "dumb blonde" persona limited her career forecast, so she broadened her range. She studied at the Actors Studio and shaped Marilyn Monroe Productions. Her dramatic presentation in Bus Stop was hailed by critics, and she won a Golden Globe Award for Some Like it Hot.

The final years of Monroe's life were marked by illness, personal problems, and a standing for being unreliable and difficult to work with. The situation of her death, from an overdose of barbiturates, have been the subject of conjecture. Though officially secret as a "probable suicide," the possibility of an accidental overdose, as well as the possibility of homicide, have not been ruled out. In 1999, Monroe was ranked as the sixth most female star of all time by the American Film Institute.

View This Site : Fashion News, Chicago Movers

Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln served as the 16th President of the United States from March 1861 until his murder in April 1865. He successfully led his country through its most internal crisis, the American Civil War, preserving the Union and ending slavery. Before his election in 1860 as the first Republican president, Lincoln had been a country lawyer, an Illinois state legislator, a member of the United States House of Representatives, and twice an unsuccessful applicant for election to the U.S. Senate.

As an outspoken opponent of the growth of slavery in the United States, Lincoln won the Republican Party nomination in 1860 and was elected president later that year. His tenure in office was engaged primarily with the defeat of the secessionist Confederate States of America in the American Civil War. He introduced measures that resulted in the removal of slavery, issuing his Emancipation Proclamation in 1863 and promoting the passage of the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution.

Six days after the large-scale surrender of partner forces under General Robert E. Lee, Lincoln became the first American president to be assassinated. Lincoln had closely supervised the winning war effort, especially the selection of top generals, including Ulysses S. Grant. Historians have concluded that he handled the factions of the Republican Party well, bringing leaders of each faction into his cabinet and forcing them to assist.

view this site :Fashion News, Chicago Movers

Howcast Video, How To Unlock Your World With Foursquare

Scissor Sisters & Kylie Minogue - Any Which Way (Live at Glastonbury)

I'm not the only blogger posting this, but I thought it merited a mention anyway, as it's really a slice of pop heaven. I can't imagine any other two artists complementing each other as well as these guys do. They truly put on a show, elevating the song in the process. It always amazes me -- even after all of these years -- what a dynamic live performer Kylie is.

New Foursquare Badge: Wedding Gift "PK & JG 2010"

"Special congrats to Paul & Janelle, the first "kind-of met through dodgeball, but not really" wedding! Show this badge to Teddy Salad for free drinks at Barcade FOR LIFE!"

inilah mungkin yang pertama foursquare membuat edisi khusus badge yang dipersembahkan bagi pasangan "paul & janelle" yang melangsungkan pernikahan di new york, pasangan "dodgeball" tersebut dihadiahi badge "pk & jg 2010" dengan inisial nama kedua mempelai oleh staf foursquare yang acaranya dilangsungkan di "montauk club" broklyn dan dihadiri oleh dennis crowley yang telah menjual dodgeball tahun 2005 lalu ke google.

bagi yang hadir di acara pernikahan tersebut dan melakukan check-in di "montauk club" pada saat berlangsungnya acara akan mendapatkan souvenir badge "pk & jg 2010" di akun foursquare-nya.

menarik sepertinya dan bagi yang pengen merit atau melangsungkan wedding party kayaknya harus ngajuin ke foursquare buat minta dibikinin badge spesial, sayang kalo ketahuan para jumper banyak pengunjung pesta dari indonesia yang remote doang ya? he he...

New Foursquare Badge: Alli After Dark, Party with Dew Athletes

"Looks like somebody LOVES partying with Dew Athletes. 2 Alli After Dark parties in one week - Well Done!"

kalo postingan sebelumnya tentang badge "dew tour super fan" kali ini foursquare bersama "dew tour" mengeluarkan badge yang lain yakni "alli after dark badge" masih dalam rangka memeriahkan acara "dew tour".

cara unlock badge "alli after dark badge" masih seperti sebelumnya dengan follow terlebih dahulu halaman "dew tour di foursquare" lalu melakukan check-in sebanyak 2 kali di tempat acara "alli after dark party" yang sudah direkomendasikan pihak "foursquare" dan "dew tour" salah satunya adalah di "the greatest bar" atau di "game on!" atau di "red sky restaurant and lounge"

happy check-in dan jangan lupa follow saya di @tamtomo2

update 16 desember 2010:
- badge alli after dark dan dew tour superfan aktif kembali meskipun di thropy case koleksi badge ada tanda retired
- venue yang bisa dicoba buat unlock alli after dark: The Greatest Bar dan Red Sky Restaurant and Lounge di daerah Boston

New UberTwitter Beta Version v.0.9747 Is Very HOT!

anda pengguna twitter yang rajin sekali berkijau melalui aplikasi ubertwitter di blackberry? saatnya mencoba versi beta ubertwitter v.0.9747 yang dapat di donlod secara ota di browser blackberry di alamat http://http://ubertwitter.com/my_dev/download.php

yang perlu diperhatikan setelah mendonlod aplikasi ini ikuti juga untuk me-restart perangkat blackberry dan mengganti "permisssion" ke "allow" semua.

ada yang beda di versi baru ini? Wow... bener-bener berubah... dari mulai icon shorcut yang baru "huruf U warna hijau dan gambar burung warna biru" sampai dengan tampilan di aplikasinya.

fitur yang berubah adalah di layanan buat twit yang lebih dari 140 karakter, saat ini selain twitlonger juga tersedia pilihan tmi.me atau tanpa layanan sama sekali.

ada juga layan instapaper buat menyimpan tweets apabila pengen dibaca di lain waktu, sebelumnya buka akun dulu di http://instapaper.com untuk mendapatkan username dan password yg harus diisikan di ubertwitter.

fitur lain yang baru terlihat seperti adanya fasilitas "mute user", "retweets of me" dan ada "uber channels" yang berisi daftar tweets yang sudah dikelompokkan dalam kategori tertentu dan dibuat uber twitter contohnya seperti arts & entertainment, sport dan tech & science.

fitur "mute user" digunakan apabila pengen gak melihat tweet teman tertentu dalam waktu yang ditentukan tetapi tanpa unfollowing, ada pilihan untuk memasukkan berapa hari pengen gak liat tweets dari teman tersebut. fitur "retweets of me" berisi kumpulan twit kita sendiri yang di retweet oleh teman di twitter, ini sama dengan yang ada di twitter versi web.

fitur lain yang baru adalah pilihan tweet disertai video, gambar/ foto dan lokasi yang berada di sebelah kanan atas pada sat membuat tweet baru.

fitur yang lain silahkan mencoba dengan tampilan baru yang wow.... atau kalo gak nyaman dan merasa blackberry jadi panas menyengat di versi baru ini.. silahkan balik lagi ke versi lama v.971 dengan cara donlod di http://www.ubertwitter.com/bb/download.php barangkali pihak developer uber twitter memperbaiki bugs yng menbuat perangkat bb menjadi panas....

Renee Zellweger Address

Renee Zellweger
Hollywood Actress

Birth Name: Renee Kathleen Zellweger
Birth Date: April 25, 1969
Birth Place: Katy, Texas, USA
Height: 5' 5"
Sex: Female
Nationality: American
Profession: actress
Education: Katy High School
University of Texas at Austin
Father: Emil Zellweger
Mother: Kjellfrid Zellweger
Brother: Drew Zellweger
Grand Father: Dorothy Emil Zellweger
Grand Mother: Emil Zellweger

Renee Zellweger's Address, Mailing Addresses, Fan Mail, Contact Addresses:

Renee Zellweger #1:
Renee Zellweger
John Carrabino Management
5900 Wilshire Boulevard
4th Floor
Suite 406
Los Angeles, CA 90036
USA

Renee Zellweger #2:
Renee Zellweger
c/o Nanci Ryder
BWR
9100 Wilshire Boulevard
6th Floor
West Tower
Beverly Hills, CA 90212
Phone: 310-550-7776 

Renee Zellweger #3:
Renee Zellweger
Creative Artists Agency
9830 Wilshire Boulevard
Beverly Hills, California 90212-1825
USA

 *** End of Renee Zellweger Address ***

Track-by-Track: Miley Cyrus - Can't Be Tamed

Ah, teen pop. I approach these albums with lowered expectations but am often happy when they offer more than I expected. Miley Cyrus has been quite consistent this way, no matter the genre. The music is always better than it has to be, and you get the sense (whether right or wrong) that she's actually got some say in what she performs. In other words, it's convincing. It probably doesn't hurt that she's getting the best writers and producers. Still, Can't Be Tamed is a solid pop album, another to add to her solid pop career.

1. Liberty Walk - Ushers in her new phase of Gaga-esque dance pop with a chanty verse, big chorus and some great processed drums. I'm not sure if it's the perfect album opener, but as a declaration of intent it's pretty damn good. 9/10

2. Who Owns My Heart - Delving even further into dance/club sounds, this is another strong, melody-driven song written about the pitfalls of fame. The chorus is as instant as it gets, but the pulsing beat stays with you. 9/10

3. Can't Be Tamed - It seems to have split listeners' opinions down the middle, but I still think it's a flawless 2010 pop single. Sure, it follows trends, but it's tight, performed well and has a great middle eight. 10/10

4. Every Rose Has Its Thorn - As with her Cyndi Lauper cover a few years ago, this shouldn't work. But it turns out that Cyrus's raspy vocals fit the song perfectly. The production cheapens a bit after the first chorus, but it's still a strong version of the song. 9/10

5. Two More Lonely People - Combines a galloping beat with a sugary pop melody to stunning effect. The surging middle eight is all too fleeting. It's exactly the kind of song I'd like to see more of in the U.S. 10/10

6. Forgiveness And Love - A slow, Beatle-esque ballad. It's an odd choice for Cyrus (almost too grown-up?), but the melody's nice. Never really gets beyond "nice," but that's okay. 7/10

7. Permanent December - My favorite song on the album, an anthemic club track that's got more vocoder on it than an army of Katy Perrys. But it doesn't matter when the chorus is so good. In fact, in this case the stupid lyrics don't even matter. Get this on the radio! 10/10

8. Stay - The strongest ballad on the album, it's a gentle, piano-led track that's similar in sound to Cyrus' own Goodbye. 9/10

9. Scars - A rockier, uptempo track, though it gets a little lost in the shuffle for me. It's adequately sung and produced, but not very original. 7/10

10. Take Me Along - Got a little bit of Coldplay grandeur to it, with an extended piano intro and some anthem-in-waiting choruses. Unfortunately, it doesn't quite gel. Feels too serious without a serious melody to support it. 7/10

11. Robot - A big, aggressive rocker with a vitriolic chorus sung by what sounds like a hundred Mileys. Usually these "angry about fame" tracks fall short, but the sound here is so massive that it works. It's all about that high note in the chorus, though. 9/10

12. My Heart Beats For Love - A hymnal closing ballad with the trademark Tedder-drums (though I don't think he produced this). The melody's quite good, if a bit repetitive. 8/10

Album Grade: 8.7/10

The Statue of Liberty

The Statue of Liberty , officially titled Liberty Enlightening the World, dedicated on October 28, 1886, is a monument commemorating the centenary of the signing of the United States Declaration of Independence, given to the United States by the people of France to represent the friendship between the two countries established during the American rebellion. It represents a woman wearing a stola, a radiant crown and sandals, trample a broken chain, transport a torch in her raised right hand.

Standing on Liberty Island in New York Harbor, it welcomes visitors, immigrants, and recurring Americans traveling by ship. Frederic Auguste Bartholdi sculpted the figure and obtained a U.S. patent for its structure. Maurice Koechlin chief engineer of Gustave Eiffel's engineering company and designer of the Eiffel Tower engineered the interior structure. The pedestal was intended by architect Richard Morris Hunt. Eugene Viollet-le-Duc was responsible for the option of copper in the statue's construction, and for the adoption of the repousse technique, where a malleable metal is hammer on the reverse side.


The statue is made of a covering of pure copper, hung on a framework of steel with the exception of the flame of the torch, which is coated in gold leaf. It stands atop a rectangular stonework base with a foundation in the shape of an irregular eleven-pointed star. The statue is 151 ft (46 m) tall, but with the base and foundation, it is 305 ft (93 m) tall.The Statue of Liberty is one of the most familiar symbols in the world. For many years it was one of the first glimpses of the United States for millions of immigrants and guests after ocean voyages from around the world.

White House

The White House is the official house and principal workplace of the President of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was planned by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical style. It has been the residence of each U.S. President since John Adams. When Thomas Jefferson moved into the house in 1801, he extended the building outward, creating two colonnades that were meant to conceal stables and storage.

In 1814, during the War of 1812, the mansion was set ablaze by the British Army in the Burning of Washington, destroy the interior and charring a lot of the exterior. Reconstruction began almost instantly, and President James Monroe moved into the partially reconstructed house in October 1817. Construction nonstop with the addition of the South Portico in 1824 and the North in 1829. Because of crowding within the executive house itself, President Theodore Roosevelt had nearly all work offices relocated to the newly constructed West Wing in 1901.

Eight years later, President William Howard Taft extended the West Wing and created the first Oval Office which was eventually moved as the section was expanded. The third-floor attic was changed to living quarters in 1927 by augmenting the existing hip roof with long shed dormers. A newly constructed East Wing was used as a reception area for social events; Jefferson's colonnades linked the new wings. East Wing alterations were finished in 1946, creating additional office space. By 1948, the house's load-bearing external walls and internal wood beams were found to be close to failure.

New Foursquare Badge: Dew Tour Super Fan

"Congrats! You're 1 stop away from Dew Athlete Status. Show this badge at the Alli Shop and snag yourself a free pair of shades and make it official!"

kalo badge sebelum ini wujud pernghargaan bagi dunia musik indie, kali ini berhubungan dengan olahraga terutama action sport. foursquare bekerja sama dengan penyelenggara "dew tour" yang dilangsungkan dibeberapa tempat di amrik sana mengeluarkan badge "dew tour super fan". ada tiga bidang yang diperlombakan mulai dari bmx, freestyle motocross dan skateboard dan diselenggarakan di beberapa tempat berbeda seperti di boston, chicago, portland, salt lake city dan las vegas. liat selengkapnya di situs "dew tour".

badge "dew tour super fan" dapat diunlock dengan cara terlebih dahulu follow halaman "dew tour" di foursquare di alamat http://foursquare.com/thedewtour kemudian mendatangi venue tempat penyelenggaraan di 2 tempat/ venue yang berbeda tetapi dengan syarat salah satu adalah venue official yakni di "dew tour at td garden" serta tempat yang lain yang dapat didatangi seperti di "greatest bar" atau liat di situs "dew tour".

liat jadwal acara di situsnya: allisports.com

happy check-in and follow me on @tamtomo2

UPDATE 16.DESEMBER.2010:
- badge dew tour super fan aktif kembali meskipun di halaman trophy case badge foursquare ada label retired
- venue buat unlock badge ini di bulan desember 2010:  "greatest bar" dan "dew tour at td garden" di boston
- untuk unlock badge "Alli After Dark" liat caranya di http://bit.ly/a8HTo1

New Foursquare Badge: Northside Loves Foursquare

Congratulations on covering so much ground during the Northside Festival! You can hold your head high on the L train.

satu lagi badge baru diterbitkan foursquare dalam rangka northside festival yang diselenggarakan di beberapa tempat di new york. banyak band indie yang main di festival tersebut selain para film maker dan para seniman yang memeriahkan festival northside yang digelar selama 4 hari mulai tanggal 24 sampai tanggal 27 juni ini.

untuk mendapatkan/ unlock badge "northside" ini cukup mendatangi/ check-in di 3 venue/ tempat yang berbeda termasuk venue konser, art gallery, indiescreen, dan beberapa bar/ rseto yang ditunjuk pihak northside festival buat mengedapetin badge ini. list lengkap ada di situs northside festival. atau kunjungi aja venue: the charleston, brick theater dan house of yes.

sayang badge "northside" ini hanya bisa di unlock di amrik aja... bagi yang di indonesia mungkin berharap ajang seperti javajazz atau jakjazz ngeluarin badge serupa juga...

follow me on twitter/ foursquare: @tamtomo2

My Other Gig

The link's been hanging out in my blogroll for awhile now, but for those of you interested in fantasy and sci-fi young adult books, I post a couple times a month on The Spectacle, a blog run by writers of the genre. This week we're talking about movie adaptations, and today I posted a review round-up (similar to this blog's Pop Blitz) of movies.

Also, I did an interview with them a couple of months ago about my upcoming book, Skyship Academy.

Second World War

World War II, or the Second World War, was a global military clash lasting from 1939 to 1945 which involved most of the world's nations, including all of the huge powers, organised into two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis. It was the most widespread war in history, with more than 100 million military personnel mobilised.

In a state of "total war," the major participants placed their complete economic, industrial, and scientific capabilities at the service of the war effort, erasing the difference between civilian and military resources. Marked by significant action against civilians, including the Holocaust and the only use of nuclear weapons in warfare, it was the deadliest clash in history. The war is generally accepted to have begun on 1 September 1939, with the invasion of Poland by Nazi Germany and following declarations of war on Germany by France and most of the countries of the British Empire and Commonwealth.

China and Japan were already at war by this date, whereas other countries that were not initially involved joined the war later in answer to events such as the German invasion of the Soviet Union and the Japanese attacks on the U.S. Pacific navy at Pearl Harbor and on British overseas colonies, which triggered declarations of war on Japan by the United States, the British Commonwealth, and the Netherlands. The war ended with the whole victory of the Allies over Germany and Japan in 1945.

First World War

World War I was a military clash centered on Europe that began in the summer of 1914. The hostility ended in late 1918 in western Europe and by 1922 in eastern Europe. This clash involved most of the world's great powers, assembled in two opposing alliances: the Allies and the Central Powers. More than 70 million military workers, including 60 million Europeans, were mobilized in one of the major wars in history. More than 15 million people were killed, creation it also one of the deadliest conflicts in history.

The war is also known as the First World War, the large War, the World War, and the War to End All Wars. The assassination on 28 June 1914 of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, the heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary, is seen as the instant trigger of the war, though long-term causes, such as imperialistic foreign policies of the great powers of Europe such as the German Empire, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Ottoman Empire, the Russian Empire, the British Empire, France, and Italy played a major role.

Ferdinand's killing at the hands of a Yugoslav nationalist resulted in Habsburg ultimatum against the Kingdom of Serbia. Several alliances that had been formed over the past decades were invoked, so within weeks the major powers were at war; as all had colonies, the clash soon spread around the world. The clash opened with the German invasion of Belgium, Luxembourg and France; the Austro-Hungarian invasion of Serbia and a Russian attack against Prussia.

Sia - Bring Night

"Chase your shadow 'til the sun goes down"

I had very little interest in Sia when she released her first album of downtempo pop. But now that she's reinvented herself as a dance/funk diva, I'm all in. Her new album's a great summer listen, especially the first half. It's similar in sound to both Noisettes' and Gossip's most recent albums. Like those artists, Sia's got a terrific, soulful voice and combines elements of rock, funk and electronica to create a polished, yet earthy, mix. Bring Night is one of the album's highlights, with deliriously catchy chanted verses and a surging, explosive chorus. It's all wrapped up in under three minutes. Gotta love a taut pop song. No filler. I'd recommend checking out her cover of Madonna's Oh Father as well (the album's last track). I've always loved that song. Kudos to Sia for not picking an obvious cover.

Sia - Bring Night by alienhits

(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Buy the album here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

Miley Cyrus - Permanent December

"I've been all around the world and they just ain't the same"

Yes, I am not too cool to post a track by Miley Cyrus. Fact is, when you're dealing with this kind of lightweight teen pop, the most important ingredients are the songwriters, production and that extra little spark in the vocals. As Disney's reigning teen queen, Cyrus gets the best that radio pop has to offer in terms of songwriting/production. Better yet, her vocals are instantly recognizable (even in the heavily autotuned track I'm posting today). I've always liked the huskiness of her voice. It's a little unexpected. I know that Katy Perry's all but won the summer pop anthem with California Gurls, but I'd nominate Permanent December as a brainlessly fun contender. It's way cheesy, yes, and heavily autotuned. But it's also undeniably catchy with a mammoth sound. The euro-club synths are a welcome change from past singles. In fact, the song would probably be as good without any vocals at all (remember what I said about the importance of production?). Then there's that sunroof-open chorus. A guilty pleasure, for sure, but an excellent one. (and for those mix-tapers out there, it goes perfectly with the Example track I posted on Monday)

Miley Cyrus - Permanent December by alienhits

(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Buy the album here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

New Update Twitter For iPhone, iPod Touch & iPad

twitter for iphone merilis versi terbaru v.3.0.1 sebagai dukungan terhadap iOS4 pada iphone terbaru termasuk juga mendukung 4's retina display yang diperkenalkan di iphone 4. yang pasti saat ini versi terbaru sudah multitasking yakni mengirimkan tweet dalam mode background atau switch out dari aplikasi termasuk saat mengupload foto dan video.

perbaikan lain selain multitasking dan dukungan iphone 4's retina display juga adanya perbaikan pada bug yang sering terjadi pada "stuck top tweets", jangan kuatir dengan masalah keamanan juga diperbaiki dengan adanya oauth untuk berhubungan dengan twitter ataupun hosting pihak ketiga pada saat nge-twit ataupun posting foto dan video.

seperti postingan terdahulu, twitter for iphone ini adalah nama lain dari "tweetie" yang diakuisisi twitter dan menjadi aplikasi official twitter di perangkat iphone, ipod touch dan ipad. fitur yang sudah ada sebelumnya seperti realtime search, top tweets, trending topics dan map atau peta terkini termasuk lokasi yang terdekat. fitur standard yang lain seperti direct message/ dm, share foto/ video atau link serta retweet.

pengen update versi baru twitter for iphone yang mendukung ios4? buruan ke itunes app store atau ke halaman bantuan twitter for iphone.

New Update Facebook For iPhone, iPod Touch & iPad

facebook, tangggal 19 juni kemarin merilis versi baru facebook for iphone v.3.1.3 yang juga kompatibel dengan perangkat sejenis seperti ipod touch dan gadget baru ipad. bahasa yang didukung selain bahasa inggris juga bahasa china, perancis, jerman, italia, jepang dan spanyol.

rilis versi terbaru ini dengan tambahan fitur baru yang menarik seperti dapat digunakan untuk memutar video yang diposting di facebook, melihat dan menulis wall suatu events dan untuk upload foto saat ini dengan ukuran lebar 720 piksel. fitur lama yang lain masih ada seperti facebook chat, look up a phone number, upload foto langsung dari perangkat dan yang lainnya.

beberapa bugs juga sudah diperbaiki seperti komentar foto yang tak dapat diakses, broken link album foto di news feed, tak dapat upload foto yang lebih kecil dari ukuran tertentu, status update yang tak terlihat di news feed, urutan birthday reminder yang keliru dan beberapa bugs yang lain.

buat pengguna perangkat iphone, ipod touch dan ipad dapat mengunduhnya di apple store atau buka juga page facebook for iphone.

screenshot versi sebelumnya bisa dilihat di sini.

A New Raptors Season Just Around The Corner

So like with many of you, the new Raptors season doesn't begin for me until draft night. Regardless if we have a pick or not, the NBA really doesn't seem all that real to me until we get the commissioner up on that stage and announcing names left and right.

Draft Night. There's nothing like it.

It only seemed like yesterday that Raptors Nation was caught up in a buzz of hysteria, wondering and/or debating as to who the Raps would pick up at the 9th slot. As we all now know, we ended up taking DeMar DeRozan. Though we still may not know how that pick will turn out, it was the build up to that pick that made last year's draft night so memorable.

Little did we know, but it turns out this year's draft will far eclipse the excitement and importance of last year's version. Raptors Nation realizes we're at a crossroads here. With Chris Bosh likely hitting free agency, a new era in Raptors basketball is likely to occur. What we end up doing with our 13th pick will have a huge impact on what kind of team we'll be looking at for the next 3-5 years.

So with everyone having their own opinions on who we should take, I'll hit you with the three players I feel like would be awesome additions to the Raptors.

With the 13th pick in the 2010 NBA Draft, the Toronto Raptors select...

Cole Aldrich


.
Okay, I'll just get it out of the way since I know some of you are thinking it. But no, he's not comparable to Hoffa. Whether it's on the message boards or during discussions with my friends, Rafael Araujo's name always comes up when Aldrich is being discussed. But truth be told, they're nothing alike.

This guy is a legit NBA center. Listed at 6'11, Cole has all the tools needed to survive in the league. He proved to the entire nation during his time at Kansas that he can be that guy that holds the paint down. He plays with a high motor, is an excellent rebounder, and blocking shots is a specialty of his - something we Raps fans aren't accustomed to hearing.

On top of that, he's a smart kid. He was named the Academic All-American of the year, which shows that he puts in the work needed to be successful both on the court, and in the classroom. I get it - he's not the sexy pick. He's not overly athletic. He has one of the ugliest looking shots I've ever seen. Nor will he ever probably be a 20 point scorer. But you can guarantee that he'll be a very solid rotational player who will put up 10 points, 10 rebounds, and 2 blocks throughout his career. Think of a Kendrick Perkins or a Sammy D. These are the kind of players you need to be successful in the NBA.


Paul George



Check it. This guy doesn't even have his own Wiki page yet. But you can bet by now, every single team in the lottery knows who Paul George is. He's got the height (6'8) and length of a SF, and the shooting ability of a SG. Combined with the ability to jump out of the gym with the simplest of ease, and you've got a very intriguing prospect. Just imagine him running down the court with the Young Gunz?

The best part is that he's actually already quite familiar with one of the members - DeMar DeRozan. Having been quoted from his twitter feed of loving the idea of playing with DeMar, a duo of DeRozan and Geroge would be the closest we could get to duplicating the Vince/Tracy duo next season.

The only drawback is that he did play for Fresno State, and no offense to them, but the competition Paul played against was obviously inferior to that of Division 1 teams. With that said, I do like his height, length, and the ability to shoot the long ball; especially if he's going to be playing with DeMar and Sonny. Hopefully he improves his handles, because we still lack that wing who can create.

Avery Bradley



Let's put it this way.

Worst Case Scenario: Juan Dixon

Best Case Scenario: Russel Westbrook

Avery Bradley represents the current NBA fad - the lightning quick and super athletic scoring combo guard. Think Derrick Rose, Russel Westbrook, Tyreke Evans, Brandon Jennings. The NBA is starting to see an influx of players who are too undersized to truly play the 2 spot, so are placed at the 1 to reek havoc. They're basically point guards who are given the green light to shoot the ball, and can take over at any point of the game. A pass first point guard? Pssh. Who needs that anymore? That's why John Wall is going #1. Teams want their PG to be amazingly athletic and have the ability to score the ball.

This is what Bradley thrives in doing. He can score the ball from anywhere on the court, has the quickness to break his man off the dribble, and the athleticism to finish at the rim. On top of that, he's been noted as perhaps the best perimeter defender in this year's draft.

So why could he potentially be at the 13th pick? Well like Aldrich (low ceiling) and George (played against weaker competition), Bradley too has his shortcomings. For one, Bradley had a very rough year while he played for the University of Texas. Being heralded as one of the top recruits in the country only a year ago, Bradley's stock has plummeted partly due to how the Longhorns put up a stinker of a season. On top of that, he was one of the worst finishers at the basket last year. You can imagine why that scares off some teams. Think of a Westbrook or Rose without the finishing ability..Yikes.

So with that all said, who do I want the most? Well I rank them like this:

1. Paul George
2. Cole Aldrich
3. Avery Bradley

With Turkoglu surely on his way out, I would love to bring in another wing who doesn't only happen to be taller than DeMar and Sonny, but also has better range. A future wing core of DeRozan-George-Weems is a nice thing to have moving forward. I also took into consideration that we could find a center through free agency or trade (Bosh for Bynum, Turk for Dalembert, etc.)

Of course, I should note that I also think out of the 3 players listed here, I think George is also the least likely to still be on the board come the 13th pick. If that happens, I hope we can take Aldrich at 13, and somehow obtain another pick in the first round, thus snagging Bradley. Picking up two players who pride themselves on the defensive end would be absolutely huge for this Raptors team.

Track-by-Track: Delays - Star Tiger, Star Ariel

As far as I'm concerned, Delays don't need to do anything to prove themselves. Releasing an album as brilliant and perfect as 2006's You See Colours qualifies them automatically for hall-of-fame status. Seriously, it's been almost half a decade and I'm still not over that one. Their other albums are great, too. Unfortunately, their new release doesn't quite follow suit. There are highlights, sure, but as a whole it's a bit of a muddled affair.

1. Find A Home (New Forest Shaker) - A subdued beginning to the album, this nocturnal chant of a song builds into something quite special towards the end. It lulls you into listening. 8/10

2. The Lost Estate - The album kicks into gear here, with the kind of uptempo anthem we're used to from Delays. It's one of the highlights, for sure. Even so, it doesn't come close to their very best material. 9/10

3. Shanghaied - A rockier, guitar-led track with some very odd, jerky verses. The chorus is definitely the best part, with limited use of synths and an aggressive vocal turn. 8/10

4. Rhapsody - A classic Delays midtempo, full with dreamy vocals and a peaceful, laid-back melody. The bridge is by far the best part. The chorus is, unfortunately, a little repetitive. 8/10

5. May '45 - Another uptempo, rockier track. All it lacks is a strong chorus/hook. The verses are great, as is the production. 8/10

6. Hold Fire - Begins with a minute-long, unnecessary intro, which segues into one of the album's slowest tracks. Unlike the opener, the melody here just doesn't compel me to keep listening. At five minutes, it kills the energy. Would be a great b-side, though. 7/10

7. Unsung - The obvious single, and the closest the album gets to the amazingness of the last three albums. It's still not one of their better singles, but it stands out here with its enormous chorus, bright synths and gorgeous vocals. 10/10

8. In Brilliant Sunshine - No offense to Aaron, who's got a perfectly fine indie-rock voice, but when you're a band fronted by a guy like Greg, why have anyone else sing the songs? Seriously, it bugs me to no end, and was my biggest problem with the last release. It's like when Queen would give a song to any non-Freddie band member. With Greg's choirboy vocals this might have been amazing. As it stands, it's a forgettable wall-of-sound uptempo number. 7/10

9. Moment Gone - Coasts along at the same tempo as Hold Fire, but the melody's much better. In fact, as far as Delays ballads are concerned, it's one of my favorites. The melody in the chorus is gorgeous. 9/10

10. Lakes Can Be Lethal - The turning point, where the album starts sounding less and less like what you'd expect from Delays. In a way, this is a transitional song. There's nothing particularly memorable. It's pleasant enough, but as the album's longest track, it's the weakest link for me. 6/10

11. Star Tiger, Star Ariel - Ups the tempo a bit (and definitely the guitars). This is much more of a classic rock sound for the band, and while it's not the direction I'd like them to take, it's a lot stronger than the last song. 7/10

Album Grade: 7.9/10