Thursday, December 13, 2012

Movie fiction or Hollywood secret?

Over the years we have seen many movies neglect the fact that it takes energy to get around. From the movie "Red" starring Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman, and John Malkovich where they seemingly drove to over 3-4 states on one tank of gas. To the remake of "Red Dawn" where gas was only used for explosions. The real question is are the writers just neglecting the fact that it takes some type of fuel to transport from place to place or have they figured out the secret and don`t want to share. I noticed while watching the movie "Looper" for the the third time that the cars were recycling the exhaust from the cars with a combination of solar panels.

This made me start to wonder is this what they do to make cars go to extreme lengths? Think about it when is the last time you saw a picture of a celebrity at a gas station and filled up. Even though with hydraulic fracturing there is no need for any of these systems it is always a mind teaser to think Hollywood is more then smoke and mirrors. Fossil fuels will always be the main way to feed your need for speed but there is nothing wrong with making every drop go farther. As movies progress hopefully writers and directors will finally figure out that you can keep a person into the story a little more with just one refuel scene.

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Crystal Good - Affrilachian Poet

Crystal Good is a writer poet. Quantum Christian. Tunk player. Libra charmer. Underdog cheerleader.



 
 

Affrilachian Poet and native West Virginian Crystal Good reads "BOOM BOOM," a poem reflecting on strip mined mountains and women who take off their clothes for money. Good says, "I see the mountain as a woman. This poem is about strip mining as much as it is about gender. A heavy equipment operator working on an above ground mine site is doing what he feels he has to do -- sometimes life doesn't give us many options and sometimes the consequences of few employment options are more than we expected. It's hard for a stripper to reclaim her reputation -- it's impossible to put back a stream or a mountain top once it's gone." 




As a member of the Affrilachian (African-American- Appalachian) Poets, she has been a featured poet/speaker at several universities and colleges. “Valley Girl” is her first book of poetry. The poems explore themes in quantum physics, Appalachian culture, gender equality, and mountaintop removal. She is dedicated to growing opportunities and the quality of life for West Virginians with the hope of spreading the perseverance of a Mountaineer across America. Crystal Good lives in West Virginia with her three sons.

More Videos

To order a copy of Valley Girl, contact Good at crystaldawngood@gmail.com .

Monday, November 12, 2012

Oprah Seeks Trademarks For Organic Foods

Oprah Winfrey is reportedly getting into the organic foods and products business.  According to online filings for the US Patent and Trademark Organization, several applications for “Oprah’s Organics” were filed late last month. The filings are to use the name for bath soaps, sunscreen, massage oils, hair products — and also for organic salad dressings and frozen vegetables, soups, beverages and snack dips.

Applications for “Oprah’s Farm” for a beverage and catering service and “Oprah’s Harvest” were also submitted for this fall. The addresses for the applicant’s include the Wilshire Boulevard addresses of Winfrey’s business and the Chicago address of Winfrey’s Harpo Inc., offices.

Winfrey already owns hundreds of acres in Maui, which include a large farm and a bed and breakfast. The trademarks were filed for Oprah’s farm on Maui to enable the farm to grow and distribute produce on Maui and throughout the Hawaiian Islands. (New York Post, 11/11/2012)


Tuesday, November 6, 2012

EARTH DOG RETURNS TO SAVE THE ENVIRONMENT

New User-Friendly E-Book Format with Auto-Narration to Appeal to Children of All Ages

Earth Dog today became available as an app in iTunes and as an eBook, titled: “The Earth Dog Story.” “The Earth Dog Story” was first published in 1992, then in 1996 in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Energy as apart of their Environmental Out Reach Program with Weekly Reader. Now, the popular children’s environmental super-hero is making his comeback in app and eBook format with auto-narration, to appeal to children of all ages.

Earth Dog’s mission is to teach kids to be good stewards of their planet and take charge of their environmental future by advocating for a cleaner, healthier world. The eBook leads towards future key environmental themes, including CLIMATE change, clean air and water and wildlife conservation.

The story chronicles Earth Dog’s transformation from a junkyard dog into an Environmental super-hero dedicated to the task of fighting pollution. Earth Dog educates young people around the world about environmental issues affecting our planet. He teaches problem solving skills through understanding and cooperation. The environment is the #1 concern amongst students in the classroom today. Every kid wants a dog, and they’ll love Earth Dog!

This is the story of how a junkyard dog, once content with just chasing cats and eating out of trash cans, had an experience that changed his life forever. From a pup with no direction, Earth Dog became an Environmental Superhero. Earth Dog’s future Adventures & Contest make math, science and reading fun for kids of all ages. They join his adventures to save the Earth by finding creative solutions to pressing environmental problems. Kids can even submit their own ideas, which may be selected for use in future Earth Dog episodes. New features available in this Earth Dog Book include professional narration and digital artwork for each scene. By combining the original text and artwork of Earth Dog with features that entertain and promote reading, this Earth Dog Book appeals to readers of all ages.

For more information

The Earth Dog Story

Email: infoearthdog@gmail.com

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Rolling Stones 'Gloom & Doom' Fracks

"Gloom and Doom," the Stones' first new song in six years (off their latest greatest hits compilation, GRRR!).  The Rolling Stones are are singing about zombies and fracking.  “Doom and Gloom,” their first new new single in six years, was released last week.

Around minute 2:25, there are lyrics on hydraulic fracturing:
“Fracking deep for oil, but there’s nothing in the sump/There’s kids all picking at the garbage dump/I’m running out of water so I better prime the pump/I am trying to stay sober but I end up drunk …”
We like the song.  Very strong backbeat.  And rocking guitar.  Don't know if the Stones are that informed about fracking though.


Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Rebuild The Dream Village - Chicago


Prince and Van Jones Team Up Promote Sustainable Communities

Rebuild the Dream is a movement for inventive and community-based solutions that can fix our economy from the ground up. Rebuild the Dream is collaborating with the legendary Prince, at his upcoming shows in Chicago starting September 24, to lead the way to more vibrant and sustainable communities.

Van Jones
In the Rebuild the Dream Village, on-site at the United Center, you can be part of the celebration. Thousands of people will join artists, entrepreneurs, innovators, and local leaders to share in community-based engines of grassroots power, environmental action, and economic growth.

Be a part of it: Volunteer in the Village, join a meetup, or connect with the concert community ahead of time.

 

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Cloud Atlas





"Cloud Atlas" ia a movie directed by Andy and Lana Wachowski that explores how the actions of individual lives impact one another in the past, present and future, as one soul is shaped from a killer into a hero, and an act of kindness ripples across centuries to inspire a revolution. The movie is based on the 2004 novel Cloud Atlas, the third book by British author David Mitchell. With six storylines (ranging from the 19th century to the post-apocalyptic future), actors like Tom Hanks and Halle Berry in multiple roles. 

The movie, like the novel consists of six stories that take the reader from the remote South Pacific in the nineteenth century to a distant, post-apocalyptic future. Each tale is revealed to be a story that is read (or observed) by the main character in the next. All stories but the last are interrupted at some moment, and after the sixth story concludes at the center of the book, the novel "goes back" in time, "closing" each story as the book progresses in terms of pages but regresses in terms of the historical period in which the action takes place. Eventually, readers end where they started, with Adam Ewing in the Pacific Ocean, circa 1850.

The Pacific Journal of Adam Ewing
Pacific Ocean, circa 1850. Adam Ewing, an American notary's account of a voyage home from the remote Chatham Islands, east of New Zealand. The next character discovers this story as a diary on his patron's bookshelf.

Letters from Zedelghem
Zedelgem, Belgium, 1931. Robert Frobisher, a penniless young English musician, finds work as an a composer living in Belgium. This story is saved in the form of letters to his friend (and implied lover) Rufus Sixsmith, which the next character discovers after meeting Sixsmith.

Half-Lives: The First Luisa Rey Mystery.
Buenas Yerbas, California, 1975. Luisa Rey, a journalist, investigates reports that a new nuclear power plant is unsafe, with the help of Sixsmith who as a respected nuclear physicist has become a whistleblower. The next character is sent this story in the mail, in the form of a manuscript for a novel.

The Ghastly Ordeal of Timothy Cavendish
United Kingdom, early 21st century. Timothy Cavendish, a vanity press publisher, flees the brothers of his gangster client. He gets confined against his will in a nursing home from which he cannot escape. The next character watches a movie dramatisation of this story.

An Orison of Sonmi~451
Nea So Copros (Korea), near future. Sonmi~451, a genetically-engineered fabricant (clone) server at Papa Song's diner (a proxy for large fast-dining chains), is interviewed before her execution after she rebels against the totalitarian society that created and exploited her kind. The next character watches Sonmi's story projected holographically in an "orison," a futuristic recording device.

Sloosha's Crossin' an' Ev'rythin' After
Hawaii, post-apocalyptic distant future. Zachry, a tribesman living a primitive life after most of humanity dies during "the Fall," is visited by Meronym, a member of the last remnants of technologically-advanced civilization. This story is told when the protagonist is an old man, to seemingly random strangers around a campfire. (Wiki)




Monday, August 6, 2012

Revolution - Electricity Analysis

In this Fall's new NBC TV series "Revolution," every single piece of technology - computers, planes, cars, phones, even lights - has mysteriously blacked out forever. "Revolution" is also about family that ultimately must re-establish the United States of America. All the while, they explore the enduring mystery of why the power failed, and if - or how - it will ever return.  Our interest is in examining how and why the electricity stopped functioning.

First it could not happend by accident. Some nefarious technology definitely cause the total global outage. Wow.  What a weapon.  But something went wrong.  Kind of like the first nuclear bomb test when the scientists were not sure that it wouldn't ignite the entire atmosphere.  They set it off anyway.  Fortunately the entire atmosphere did not ignite.  In the case of the electricity neutralization weapon, it screwed up 'electricity.'  Let us speculate about how this could be done.

We suspect the neutralization process somehow involved magnetism.  For to produce electricity you have to spin copper around a magnet or a magnet around copper.  Eliminate magnetism and you would eliminate the possibility of producing electricity.  How is magnetism created?  It is theorized that magnetism is produced by electron spin.  So we suspect that some scientist created a weapon that could neutralize spin, thus neutralizing magnetism, and the possibility of producing electricity.  And mahybe electron spin is  not needed for the atom to continue to otherwise function properly.  But we are amazed that anyone would 'ignite' such a weapon, because if it had damaged atoms, all matter would collapse.  Or otherwise the material world would cease to function properly.

Finally, various electromagnetic pulses (EMP) would not neutralize electricity on Earth forever.  Thus our electron spin neutralization theory is a better explanation than an EMP. (NBC)

Thursday, August 2, 2012

Batman Air Vehicle Would Not Work

The Bat is a prototype helicopter-type air vehicle that Wayne Enterprises was developing for the Department of Defense.  It has a helicopter rotor beneath the craft that would not provide lift.

The problem is no air can pass through the blades to provide lift via the Bernoulli Principle.  It would never get off the ground.  Moreover, it doesn't have a tail rotor to offset the torque from the main rotor.  There are some kind of rotors in the front left and right of the aircraft, but they appear to be pointing in the wrong direction to serve as stablizing rotors.

Nice look for the movies, but would not work in the real world.

Thursday, July 19, 2012

Emmys 2012

Here are the nominations for the 64th Annual Emmys, to be telecast Sept. 23 on ABC:

Best comedy
The Big Bang Theory
Curb Your
Girls
Modern Family
30 Rock
Veep

Best drama
Boardwalk Empire
Breaking Bad
Downton Abbey
Game of Thrones
Homeland
Mad Men

Lead actress in drama
Kathy Bates, Harry’s Law
Glenn Close, Damages
Claire Danes, Homeland
Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife
Michelle Dockery, Downton Abbey
Elisabeth Moss, Mad Men

Hugh Bonneville, Downton Abbey
Steve Buscemi, Boardwalk Empire
Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad
Jon Hamm, Mad Men
Damian Lewis, Homeland
Michael C. Hall, Dexter

Best competition reality show
The Amazing Race
Dancing with the Stars
Project Runway
So You Think You Can Dance
The Voice
Top Chef

Best comedy actress
Zooey Deschanel, The New Girl
Lena Dunham, Girls
Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie
Tina Fey, 30 Rock
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep
Melissa McCarthy, Mike and Molly
Amy Poehler, Parks and Recreation

Best comedy actor
Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock
Don Cheadle, House of Lies
Louic C.K., Louie
Jon Cryer, Two and a Half Men
Larry David, Curb Your Enthusiasm
Jim Parsons, The Big Bang Theory

Best supporting actress, comedy
Mayim Bialik, The Big Bang Theory
Kathryn Joosten, Desperate Housewives
Julie Bowen, Modern Family
Sofia Vergara, Modern Family
Merritt Wever, Nurse Jackie
Kristen Wiig, Saturday Night Live

Best supporting actor, comedy
Ed O’Neill, Modern Family
Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Modern Family
Ty Burrell, Modern Family
Eric Stonestreet, Modern Family
Max Greenfield, The New Girl
Bill Hader, Saturday Night Live

Best supporting actress, drama
Anna Gunn, Breaking Bad
Maggie Smith, Downton Abbey
Joanne Froggatt, Downton Abbey
Archie Panjabi, The Good Wife
Christine Baranski, The Good Wife
Christina Hendricks, Mad Men

Best supporting actor, drama
Aaron Paul, Breaking Bad
Giancarlo Esposito, Breaking Bad
Brendan Coyle, Downton Abbey
Jim Carter, Downton Abbey
Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones
Jared Harris, Mad Men

Best miniseries or movie
Game Change
American Horror Story
Hatfield and McCoys
Hemingway and Gellhorn
Luther
Sherlock

Outstanding variety series
The Colbert Report
The Daily Show With Jon Stewart
Jimmy Kimmel Live
Late Night With Jimmy Fallon
Real Time With Bill Maher
Saturday Night Live

Thursday, July 5, 2012

JOB: Greenpeace Video Producer - DC or San Francisco

SUMMARY DESCRIPTION:
The Video Producer position is responsible for the video production process, which includes pre-producing, writing, shooting, editing, budgeting and distributing web videos, coverage of Greenpeace actions and events, and promotional materials. With the Senior Video Producer, the two-person team also coordinates in-house technology upgrades and oversees freelance videographers as needed in various locations around the country.

The position requires proactive communications with other departments to drive relevant productions, to gather information and to schedule and produce appropriate visual and audio content in a timely and efficient manner. The Video Producer is a member of strategic planning teams that develop strategies for the use of videos in Greenpeace campaigns. The Video Producer -- working with the Senior Video Producer -- will be responsible for consistent quality and brand impact of Greenpeace video productions.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Produce content such as web videos, news packages, and promotional materials. Many projects include everything from writing, budgeting and pre-production through shooting, editing, web and news distribution, as well as post-production workflow management (for example transcribing, mastering, and asset management of source files).

Ensure high production values on all audio and video elements produced by Greenpeace USA in accordance with Greenpeace production guidelines.

Work creatively and collaboratively with the online, program, media and grassroots teams and other staff.

Think through and around video production process, developing realistic alternative strategies and approaches.

Hire and supervise external video consultants such as videographers, editors, producers, writers, and other video consultants as needed for pre- and post-production. Maintain and grow the database of external video consultants.

Write and maintain contracts with production vendors such as music licensing and stock footage companies.

Maintain and upgrade existing video production and post-production equipment.

Perform other duties as needed and directed by the Director of Visual Communications and Senior Video Producer.

REQUIREMENTS:

The following requirements (behaviors and characteristics) have been identified as key to success in the job. Successful candidates are expected to demonstrate these competencies.

Editorial Judgment - demonstrates judgment based on a thorough understanding of Greenpeace production guidelines, target audience, campaign and department objectives. Makes the right editorial decisions, taking account of conflicting views where necessary.

Creative Thinking - able to transform creative ideas into practical reality. Can look at existing situations and problems in novel ways and come up with creative solutions.

Planning and organization - able to think ahead in order to establish efficient and appropriate course of action for self and others. Prioritizes and plans activities taking into account all the relevant issues and factors such as deadlines, staffing and resources. Possesses strong attention to detail to ensure delivery of broadcast quality videos. Organizes equipment and completed videos in accordance with departmental best practices.

Communication - able to get Greenpeace news and promotional messaging understood clearly by adopting a range of styles, tools and techniques appropriate to the audience and the nature of the information.

Managing relationships and team working - able to build and maintain effective working relationships internally and externally. Works co-operatively with others to be part of a team, as opposed to working separately or competitively.

Resilience - manages personal effectiveness by managing emotions in the face of pressure, setbacks or when dealing with provocative situations. Demonstrates an approach to work that is characterized by commitment, motivation and energy.

Flexibility - adapts and works effectively with a variety of situations, individuals or groups. Able to understand and appreciate different and opposing perspectives on an issue, to adapt an approach as the requirements of a situation change, and to change or easily accept changes in one’s own organization or job requirements.


QUALIFICATIONS:
  • Minimum of 3 years of video production experience.
  • Complete working knowledge of the entire production process, from pre-production through distribution.
  • Strong shooting skills (including basic lighting, and use of Sony XDCAM and Canon DLSR cameras).
  • Final Cut Pro expertise and creative editing skills.
  • Knowledge of additional software including Motion and/or After Effects a plus.
  • Familiarity with all steps in preparing videos for online delivery, including understanding of codec and compression options.
  • High attention to detail and handling of post-production workflow.
  • Ability to juggle multiple projects at once.
  • Ability to work well in a broadcast team environment, including talent, producers and directors, under strict time deadlines (videos are often produced and edited in the field, demanding extremely fast turnaround for news delivery).
  • Strong networking skills and familiarity with video professionals in other parts of the country a plus.
  • Willingness and ability to work varied schedules as necessary to complete projects.
  • Ability to travel to remote broadcast sites on occasion, as assigned.

BENEFITS:
Greenpeace USA values a healthy work-life balance and has flexible, family-friendly employment policies. Our competitive benefits package for full-time employees includes medical, dental, and vision coverage with low contributions from staff. We have options for pre-tax flexible spending accounts for medical and dependent care costs. Greenpeace employees enjoy generous 401K matching and time off for vacation, sick, personal, and parental leave. After five years, staff are eligible for a paid sabbatical. To encourage public transportation use and biking, we offer subsidies for staff who choose to bike or ride mass transit to work. Greenpeace is committed to the growth and development of staff and fostering a creative workplace culture. For more information, check out our benefits plan.

TO APPLY:

Please send cover letter and resume to resumes@wdc.greenpeace.org. Please include the following in your cover letter: a specific explanation of your interest in Greenpeace’s mission and the available position and how you found out about this career opportunity. Please use the email subject line: Video Producer Position – YOUR NAME. Application deadline is July 20th. No phone calls please.

Thursday, June 14, 2012

Costner Beats Baldwin Re Oil Clean Up Technology

A U.S. jury ruled on Thursday in favor of actor Kevin Costner in a lawsuit in which fellow actor Stephen Baldwin accused him of cheating in a multimillion-dollar deal to sell oil cleanup devices to BP after the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill.  The federal lawsuit brought against Costner by Baldwin and business partner Spyridon C. Contogouris claimed Costner cheated them by hiding details of a deal with BP before they sold their stake in the company marketing the oil-cleaning devices.

Baldwin and Contogouris had sought about $17 million from Costner and his business partner, Patrick Smith. The jury, which deliberated for less than two hours, made no award of damages.
Costner's attorneys argued that Baldwin and Contogouris were not entitled to any payments because they sold their shares in the company before the deal with BP was sealed.

Plaintiffs' attorney James Cobb had repeatedly accused Costner and Smith of lying about the nature of his communication with BP executives before they sealed the deal.

In the deal, BP agreed to make an $18 million deposit for the $52 million order for 32 oil and water separation devices. Baldwin and Contogouris claim they were duped out of part of BP's $18 million deposit.


Both actors once invested in Ocean Therapy Solutions, the company that acquired the rights to sell the oil-separating centrifuges. Baldwin said he was a major force in promoting the devices, which he hoped to showcase in a documentary about the April 20, 2010, Deepwater Horizon disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, the worst U.S. offshore oil spill.
BP never used the oil separators because the company sealed the blown-out Macondo well before they could be delivered.  The case is Contogouris et al v. WestPac Resources, LLC et al, U.S. District Court for Eastern District of Louisiana, No. 2:10-cv-04609.  (MSNBC)

Saturday, June 9, 2012

Hollywood Science


Hollywood writers and directors are turning to scientists to make their fantasies more plausible. That’s thanks to the Science and Entertainment Exchange, which launched in Los Angeles in 2008 with a $1.1 million grant from the National Academy of Sciences. With 800 scientists on its roster, the exchange has arranged nearly 500 consultations between California creative types and scientists.

The Science & Entertainment Exchange is a program of the National Academy of Sciences that connects entertainment industry professionals with top scientists and engineers to create a synergy between accurate science and engaging storylines in both film and TV programming.  In April, 2012, The Exchange celebrated its 450th consult. Past consults include films such as Apollo 18, The Avengers, Dr. Strange, Green Lantern, Iron Man 2, Thor, and Tron: Legacy, among others, as well as hit television programs like Castle, Covert Affairs, Fringe, The Good Wife, House, Lost and more.

The National Academy of Sciences is an honorific society of distinguished scholars engaged in scientific and engineering research, which — under its Congressional charter — provides advice to the Nation on science and technology.  (Wash Post, 6/8/2012)


Monday, June 4, 2012

Kevin Costner & Stephen Fight Over BP Deal

Kevin Costner’s attorney claims his client’s fame is the only reason why a fellow actor, Stephen Baldwin, sued him over their investments in a device used to try to clean up BP’s oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

A trial opened Monday for Baldwin’s claims that Costner and business partner Patrick Smith duped him and a friend out of their shares of an $18 million deal for BP to buy oil-separating centrifuges after the April 2010 spill.

During opening statements, Costner’s attorney said his client played no role in Baldwin’s decision to sell his shares in a company that marketed the centrifuges to BP for $1.4 million. Baldwin’s lawyer told jurors that Costner and Smith spun a web of lies that cheated his client out of millions of dollars. (Wash Post 6/4/2012)

Saturday, May 19, 2012

The Tesseract - The Avengers


The blockbuster superhero movie, “The Avengers,” includes a fight over a fictional energy source known as the “Tesseract.” The Tesseract is an ancient artifact of unimaginable power. The Cosmic Cube appears in several films set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, in which it is called the Tesseract.  



The Tesseract is one of the most powerful artifacts in the universe. It holds great power that is almost unlimited. It has enough power to destroy an entire planet. The Tesseract has the capability to open rifts through space and time.



A tesseract is in principle obtained by combining two cubes. The scheme is similar to the construction of a cube from two squares: juxtapose two copies of the lower dimensional cube and connect the corresponding vertices. Each edge of a tesseract is of the same length. In geometry, the tesseract, also called an 8-cell or cubic prism, is the four-dimensional analog of the cube.



(Wikipedia)

Thursday, May 17, 2012

Compton To Catalina Program Launches

1st Trip A Complete Success

The Center for Environment, Commerce and Energy (Center) established a partnership with the Greater Union Baptist Church (GUBC) to operate an environmental tour called the “Compton To Catalina Program,” which takes students and other young people from Compton, California to Catalina Island. The Center and the California Center for Economic Initiatives (CCFEI) are also partnering under the Compton To Catalina Program to expose Compton youth to boat repair and to provide technical training services.


The Center initiated its Compton-To-Catalina Program on Saturday, April 21, 2012, which is the day before Earth Day. The program began with a press conference at the Greater Union Baptist Church in Compton, California. Participants then traveled to Long Beach, California to board the Catalina Express to make the one hour trip to the island. Once on Santa Catalina Island, the participants boarded the Emerald submersible to observe underwater life around the island. Finally, participants toured Southern California Edison's electricity generating plant at Pebbly Beach, the island's primary electricity generation source.

Long Version 

The purpose of the program is to expose young people from Compton to the Pacific Ocean and an incredibly beautiful island. People take it for granted that the vast majority of these kids never get on the water and many people live their entire lives without directly experiencing the Pacific Ocean even though they live within five or ten miles of it. We believe that such early exposure to this environment could lead to a lifelong environmental stewardship ethic.
The Compton To Catalina Program is being operated thanks to a grant from Southern California Edison.

GUBC recruits people to participate in the Compton To Catalina (CTC) Program. The Center makes arrangements for the tours and facilitates educational experiences for the students. Each is a daylong affair that includes transportation to Long Beach, where the tours originate. Participants have escorts at all times and activities on the island are arranged to maximize the environmental experience.

We utilize the transport services of Catalina Express. Passengers on board Catalina Express can expect to arrive in Catalina in about an hour from Long Beach. The Catalina Express fleet consists of eight high-speed vessels including four catamarans. The largest vessel in operation, the Catalina Jet has the capacity to carry nearly 500 passengers across the channel. Catalina Express offers up to 30 round trips daily

There are numerous activities available on Catalina Island, including: an Eco Tour Zip Line, hiking, biking, camping, swimming, snorkeling, diving, sightseeing, dining, shopping or relaxing, to name a few. Our main activities include a submersible ride to view submerged vegetation and fish species and an electricity power plant tour.


The Center, GUBC and CCFEI are providing important environmental and technical services to the youth of Compton, California. This partnership provides a rich environmental experience for participants. The Center will engage institutions and individuals to support the program.


Short Version 

Monday, February 13, 2012

2012 54th Annual Grammy Awards

A partial list of 2012 Grammy winners:

Album of the year:
Record of the year:
Adele
“21,” Adele “Rolling in the Deep,” “Own the Night,” Lady
Best new artist:
Bon Iver
Song of the year:
Adele Adkins and Paul Epworth (Adele)
“Rolling in the Deep,”
R&B album:
F.A.M.E., Chris Brown
Rap performance:
West
“Otis,” Jay-Z and Kanye
Pop solo performance:
You,” Adele
“Someone Like
Pop vocal album:
“21,” Adele
Traditional pop vocal album:
Tony Bennett and various artists
“Duets II,”
Pop duo/group performance:
Soul,” Tony Bennett and Amy Winehouse
“Body and
Short form music video
Deep,” Adele
: “Rolling in the
Long form music video:
Back and Forth,” Foo Fighters
“Foo Fighters:
Compilation soundtrack for visual
media:
Boardwalk Empire: Volume 1
Score soundtrack for visual media:
King’s Speech”
“The
Rap/sung collaboration:
Lights,” Kanye West, Rihanna, Kid Cudi and
Fergie
“All of the
Rap song:
Malik Jones, Warren Trotter and Kanye West
“All of the Lights,” Jeff Bhasker,
Rap album:
Fantasy,” Kanye West
“My Beautiful Dark Twisted
R&B performance:
Bailey Rae
“Is This Love,” Corinne
Traditional R&B performance:
You,” Cee Lo Green and Melanie Fiona
“Fool for
R&B song:
and Jack Splash
“Fool for You,” Cee Lo Green
Pop instrumental album:
Memphis,” Booker T. Jones
“The Road From
Country solo performance:
Taylor Swift
“Mean,”
Country duo/group performance:
“Barton Hollow,” The Civil Wars
Country song:
“Mean,” Taylor Swift
Folk album:
Wars
“Barton Hollow,” The Civil
Hard rock/metal performance:
Limo,” Foo Fighters
“White
Rock song:
“Walk,” Foo Fighters
Rock album:
“Wasting Light,” Foo Fighters
Alternative music album:
Iver
“Bon Iver,” Bon
Song written for visual media:
Light” (from “Tangled”)
“I See the
Recording package:
Suburbs”
“Scenes From the
Boxed or special limited edition
package:
the Edge of Town Story”
“The Promise: The Darkness on
Album notes:
Ballads & Beyond as recorded by the San
Francisco Bay”
“Hear Me Howling! Blues,
Historical album:
McCartney Archive Collection — Deluxe
Edition)
Band on the Run (Paul
Engineered album, non-classical:
Airplane”
“Paper
Best remixed recording, non-classical:
“Cinema (Skrillex Remix)”
Surround sound album:
Assorted Love Songs”
“Layla and Other
Instrumental composition:
Eleven”
“Life in
Instrumental arrangement:
Blue”
“Rhapsody in
Instrumental arrangement
accompanying vocalist(s):
Turn To (When Nobody Needs Me)”
“Who Can I
Gospel/contemporary Christian music
performance:
“Jesus,” Le’andria Johnson
Gospel song:
“Hello Fear,” Kirk Franklin
Contemporary Christian music song:
“Blessings,” Laura Story
Gospel album:
“Hello Fear,” Kirk Franklin
Contemporary Christian music album:
And If Our God Is for Us . . . ” Chris Tomlin
Latin pop, rock, or urban album:
Y Luz,” Mana
“Drama
Regional Mexican or Tejano album:
“Bicentenario,” Pepe Aguilar
Banda or norteño album:
Norte and Friends,” Los Tigres Del Norte
“Los Tigres Del
Tropical Latin album:
Cachao
“The Last Mambo,”
Engineered album, classical:
Elmer Gantry”
“Aldridge:
Producer of the year, classical:
Sherman
Judith
Orchestral performance:
Symphony No. 4,” Gustavo Dudamel,
Conductor (Los Angeles Philharmonic)
“Brahms:
Opera recording:
Adams, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and
Chorus
“Doctor Atomic,” John
Choral performance:
Eric Whitacre, conductor
“Light and Gold,”
Small ensemble performance:
Motel, Music From Slide,” Rinde Eckert and
Steven Mackey, Eighth Blackbird
“Lonely
Classical instrumental solo:
“Schwantner: Concerto for Percussion and
Orchestra,” Giancarlo Guerrero, conductor;
Christopher Lamb (Nashville Symphony)
Classical vocal solo
Didonato
: “Diva Divo,” Joyce
Contemporary classical composition:
“Elmer Gantry,” Robert Aldridge and
Herschel Garfein
New Age album:
Metheny
“What’s It All About,” Pat
Reggae album:
of Life,” Stephen Marley
“Revelation Pt. 1: The Root
Spoken word album (includes poetry,
audio books and storytelling):
Me (And of Course You Won’t),” Betty White
“If You Ask
Musical theater album:
Mormon”
“The Book of
Dance recording:
Nice Sprites,” Skrillex
“Scary Monsters and
Dance/electronica album:
Monsters and Nice Sprites,” Skrillex
“Scary
Children’s album:
and Small,” various artists
All About Bullies . . . Big
Comedy album:
“Hilarious,” Louis C.K.
Improvised jazz solo:
Chick Corea
“500 Miles High,”
Jazz vocal album:
Terri Lyne Carrington and various artists
“The Mosaic Project,”
Large jazz ensemble album:
Feeling,” Christian McBride Big Band
“The Good
Jazz instrumental album:
Clarke and White”
“Forever: Corea,
Americana album:
Ryman,” Levon Helm
“Ramble At the
Bluegrass album:
Krauss and Union Station
Paper Airplane, Alison
Blues album: “
Band
Revelator,” Tedeschi Trucks
Regional roots music album:
New Orleans,” Rebirth Brass Band
“Rebirth ofWorld music album: “Tassili,” Tinariwen


Country album:
Antebellum

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

House of Lies



Hottest New Show On Cable

By Korben Dallas

Now that "Entourage" is off the air to prepare a movie for theater release, "House Of Lies" is my favorite program. Even beating out "Boardwalk Empire."  Don Cheadle is great in this type of role, which he showed in the movie "Crash."  His laid back roles do not do him justice.  Are you listening producers of the "Oceans Eleven" films?  I guess Don needed to have control of the product to really let his light shine.  He is the show's primary producer.

Don Cheadle stars as Marty Kaan, one of the country’s most successful and ruthless corporate consultants.  By day, Marty and his team are duplicitous, foul-mouthed, money-grubbing slimeballs and after hours they charge impressive steak-dinner and strip-bar tabs to the clients.  "House of Lies" is like a mix of other shows, including "Californication," "Entourage," "Shameless," "Weeds," and "Boardwalk Empire" (without the violence).  Marty talking directly to the screen is also utilized in a dynamic form, particularly when he freezes action and describes his 'victims' and uses graphics and pens to highlight his points.  It is a uniquely interesting device that adds to the coolness of the show.  We are fascinated by sharks, but we don't want to get in the water with them.



Marty’s team is peopled by an interesting supporting cast.  They are not as strong as the "Entourage" ensemble, but they are interesting caricatures — a Harvard nerd who crunches numbers (Josh Lawson), an overconfident dork (Ben Schwartz) and a pretty striver (Kristen Bell) who mistakenly seeks validation by being as naughty and tough as the guys. At home, Marty lives in a high-rise L.A. condo with his retired-shrink father (Glynn Turman) and his son, Roscoe (Donis Leonard Jr.). There is also Marty's gender-questioning fifth-grade son who auditions for the female lead in his private school’s production of “Grease.” Marty also has to cope with his batty ex-wife (Dawn Olivieri), a cruel competitor in the consulting game. They work out their issues with occasional bouts of hate-sex. (Wash Post, 1/6/2012, photo courtesy Wash Post)

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Sly Outdoes Original 'Thank You' With New 'Thank You'

By Environment Man

I never would have thought that anyone could or would try to top Sly & The Family Stone's "Thank You."  Then again, what better person to achieve it than the originator of "Thank You," Sly Stone himself.  In his 2011 release, "I'm Back! Family & Friends," Sly revamps "Thank You" and ramps it up at least 33%.  Everything is firing more potently.

The energy level is raised on the new version as to  render the original version as just an incredible Top 10 hit.  The new version lifts the 60's hit to a cult like status. In other words, there is 'the Stone sound,' but Sly got back on his game by elevating his own greatist hit, "Thank You."

Oh. And there is that unadvertised "Music Lover" at the end of the Dance To The Music Extended Version.  Sly has left a lasting legacy if this is to be his last disk.  Put out your best stuff while you're still alive, Sly.  Cause you know they are going to put it out after you are gone.