The Soundscapes - Here's When

The Soundscapes playing live during the Make Music New York 2007.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hv_PdfYt0MA&hl=en

New York - The Big Apple

Sometimes known as "The Big Apple" or "The City That Never Sleeps", New York is both the most populous city in the USA, as well as a leading center of business, commerce, finance and media. The city, which is often referred to as "New York City", in order to distinguish it from the state it is in (also called "New York", but often referred to as "New York State"), as of 2004, had an estimated population of 8,104,079. The city is part of a large metropolitan area, and the combined city/metropolitan population exceeds 18.7 million.

New York City is made up of five boroughs (each of which currently corresponds to a county in New York State), and hence another nickname of the city is "The Five Boroughs". The five boroughs are: The Bronx (Bronx County), Brooklyn (Kings County), Manhattan (New York County), Queens (Queens County) and Staten Island (Richmond County).

There are many famous buildings and sights in New York, especially in Manhattan. Some buildings to look out for, include the Chrysler Building, the Empire State Building, the Flatiron Building and the United Nations Building. When you visit New York, you'll also want to be sure to see Central Park, Times Square, Chinatown, Little Italy and of course the Statue of Liberty. Additionally, there are many wonderful museums in New York, some truly excellent shopping, some of the world's best theater in the Broadway area, not to mention the neighborhoods of Greenwich Village and SoHo which are well known for the artists and bohemians among their residents.

Bulova 1875 - A Brand New Business

An immigrant, Joseph Bulova, came to New York and opened a jewelry store. It is said that Bulova "forged an enduring legacy of creativity and excellence, becoming an industry leader", (Bulova Corp,) Mr. Bulova possessed a blend of old-world craftsmanship and new-world innovation. He was relentless in his quest for products that pleased the people and gave him, as well, a sense of pride.

Bulova is one of the few companies in the world to experiment with new products. They are also one of the few to use untried technologies. They are credited with not being afraid to use imaginative marketing technologies. And all this started with his first business in 1875. He actually started a marketing revolution with his first national radio spots in 1926. This commercial reminded all listeners that "At the tone it's 8 P.M. B U L O V A. Bulova watch time". Fifteen years later he produced the first television commercial which proclaimed that "America runs on Bulova time". This was heard at the beginning of the Brooklyn Dodgers-Philadelphia Phillies game on July 1, 1941.

In 1916, they started making desk clocks and fine pocket watches. These items sold abundantly. They made them affordable to the masses. Until this time, only those with means could have a wrist watch and/or a pocket watch. Because of the great convenience of the wristwatch, Bulova began producing them as their primary product. Bulova concentrated on wristwatches and by the mid 1920's the company became the world leader in wrist watch sales.

After more than 130 years, Mr. Bulova's reputation continues in a legacy of products that addresses the changing needs of a broad spectrum of consumers all around the globe. Bulova remains committed to upholding a legacy of excellence for years to come. It is still one of the world's most recognized brands and has an international reputation for design, style and technology.

Hello from New York City (6) - Checking out Coney Island and (amazingly Clean) Harlem

So I am sitting here back in my office and I want to bring our last 2 days in New York City to paper. Considering that the weather forecast for Saturday was pretty bad (rain and maximum temperatures of 13 degrees C), the day turned out much nicer than expected.

Surrounded mostly by Caribbean retail outlets, we got a headstart by walking down Flatbush Avenue in the heart of Brooklyn. At Avenue U we grabbed a bus to the west end of Coney Island and started walking along the boardwalk.

When you come from Toronto you associate the term "Boardwalk" with a nice upscale residential neighbourhood, mature trees, manicured lawns, Victorian houses, well maintained playgrounds, tennis clubs etc. Well, the boardwalk in Coney Island is just a little different.

Essentially it is a very wide beach with a wooden boardwalk, made up of 5 sections of wooden planks laid down in a different orientation, probably 15 to 20 m wide, that is surrounded by a large number of low rental apartment buildings. There are huge parking lots for school buses, and all the buildings are closed off with high fences so residents and visitors only have access through the main streets to get to the boardwalk.

Then you reach the main drag around Key Span Park, home to the Brooklyn Cyclones minor league baseball team. Just a bit further east is the Astroland Amusement Park where the more than 75 years old "Cyclone" roller coaster is still giving kids a thrill. Right in front of it are a few huts with food, including the famous "Nathan's Hot Dogs" ("Since 1916", the taste wasn't actually as famous as you might think..), and various fast food and amusement booths ("Shoot The Freak - Live Human Targets" paintball).

The area to the west of this park had a bit of a desolate feel, but from the Amusement Park on eastwards towards Brighton Beach we started to see more pedestrians strolling about, people sitting down and reading on benches... By this time the weather had warmed up nicely and the locals were enjoying the outdoors.

We headed up from the Brighton Beach boardwalk into the local neighbourhood, also called Brighton Beach, or more informally "Little Odessa", due to the large number of Russian Immigrants. The stores, delis and hairdressing shops underneath the elevated subway tracks were humming with shoppers, a very lively neighbourhood.

Then we decided it was time to explore Harlem. Encouraged by our Greeter's comments yesterday, we figured Harlem these days was safe enough to go and explore on our own without any fear for our safety.

Sure enough, just like moles we popped up at Broadway & 145th Street and walked all the way south to 103rd Street and Harlem sure felt pretty much like any other neighbourhood in NYC. The historic apartment buildings looked like they were in pretty good shape, the streets were quite clean, lots of local Black and Latin residents were ambling around on the streets or hanging out with friends in front of buildings, the whole area seemed quite well kept and did not have a dangerous or dingy feel to it. At 3333 Broadway we were awestruck by a public housing project consisting of 5 huge apartment block towers, up to 35 stories high, and we tried to figure out just how many thousands of people would be living in just this one complex. Along this stretch we actually saw lots of older apartment towers, but viewed from the street, everything looked pretty orderly.

Both my husband and I remember New York City very differently. We had both been there more than 10, 15 years ago, and New York City had a distinct edge, tons of graffiti, dirty streets with lots of litter, people occasionally giving you some questionable looks.

The contrast between then and now is amazing. We have literally ridden subway trains, buses and ferries all over New York City, and we were hard pressed to find candy wrappers in any public vehicles, streets were clean, as a matter of fact we saw tons of cleaning crews cleaning up street debris. And most importantly, we always felt safe and comfortable, and we were out sometimes in public transit until close to midnight.

Now that doesn't mean that crime doesn't exist, as evidenced by the little incident on the Staten Island bus on Thursday, but overall, in our opinion at least, New York City seems to have lost a lot of its grime, dirt and threatening air, and we did indeed explore huge areas of Queens, Brooklyn, Harlem, Staten Island and Manhattan, so I figure we have gotten a pretty good overview.

Further south we checked out the Campus of Columbia University and had a nice little dinner in a Mexican restaurant on Broadway, called Nachos. Broadway south of Columbia University has a very upscale feel to it, with lots of designer store windows, French-inspired bistros, whole or gourmet food outlets. Some parts with outdoor patios almost have a Parisian feel to it.

Later that evening at dusk we took a bus down to Columbus Circle where we were awed by Time Warners Corporate Headquarters, which are flanked on the right by the glitzy Trump International Hotel & Tower. Then, after a little walk through southern Central Park, past the glitzy lit up Tavern on the Green (soups from $15 and up....), we were off to pick up a few souvenirs, and we finally managed to find the Ed Sullivan Theatre, where David Letterman entertains his global audience with his late-night sarcasm and wit. Wading our way through a throng of people (mostly tourists) we finally got on a subway near Times Square that was crammed with late night party goers.

About 45 minutes later we plopped into bed, exhausted, from another day with about 4 to 5 hours of urban trekking.

La Mafia Americana [1/9]

Nel periodo compreso tra il 1901 e il 1913, circa 1,1 milioni di siciliani emigrerà dallisola, un numero pari a poco meno di un quarto della popolazione sicula dellepoca. Di questi, circa 800 mila sbarcarono negli Stati Uniti, e ovviamente non mancavano tra loro, gli uomini donore. Già dall800, la maggior parte dei delinquenti in fuga che lasciavano la Sicilia, puntava verso il nord america. Ad attrarli, le notizie di un mondo pieno di opportunità e possibilità di guadagno giunte nel mediterraneo grazie al commercio degli agrumi, che legava Palermo a New York sin dal 1870. Un siciliano che emigrava, soprattutto se già criminale, era abituato a guadagnarsi da vivere sulla strada, scegliendo la fazione più forte. Gli USA di inizio 900 avevano in comune con la Sicilia, una società dove il potere clientelare e la legge del più violento, avevano la meglio nei confronti di istituzioni dallesiguo spessore. Per trovare lavoro nei quartieri, ci si rivolgeva al boss di turno e gli stessi, agganciati ad esponenti politici spesso del partito democratico, procuravano voti in cambio di una ampia interpretazione delle libertà imprenditoriali . Scambiandosi favori e lavoro, senza economie nelluso di bande di delinquenti, leader senza scrupoli costringevano i lavoratori a subire il frutto di una dilagante corruzione tra malviventi e poliziotti, e brutali violenze senza tutele o diritti. Le condizioni di vita per tantissimi saranno terribili, dove fame, malattie e stenti, mieteranno ...



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ridpXxMn30A&hl=en

MANU CHAO - DESAPARECIDO (LIVE)

Recorded live at the Prospect Park Bandshell 8/7/06, BROOKLYN, New York.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6u6l8VC6LXo&hl=en

Free Brooklyn Foreclosure Listings - Great Benefits of Buying and Some Smart Ways to Search

Owning a property in New York, one of the largest cities in the world is every home buyers dream and now with free Brooklyn foreclosure listings available at highly affordable prices you can turn that dream into a reality.

One of the five boroughs of New York, Brooklyn maintains a distinct culture and unique architectural heritage which make it an ideal place for owning a property through free Brooklyn foreclosure listings. Some other benefits of buying a foreclosed home in this city include:

o Brooklyn Community Development Corporation (BCDC) -Through planning and implementation of various programs like Brooklyn Community Empowerment Project, and the Neighbourhood Retention and Preservation Program, the corporation promotes social, economic and civic improvements for its residents.

o Diverse employment opportunities - Brooklyn has a varied job market in the services, retailing and construction sector as well as in support services such as accounting, personal supply agencies and computer services firms which has made it one of the fastest growing economies in the country which makes it a great place to own a property through free Brooklyn foreclosure listings.

o Museums - The Brooklyn Museum is the nation's second largest public art museum, includes in its permanent collection more than 1.5 million objects, from ancient Egyptian masterpieces to contemporary art. The Brooklyn Children Museum, the world's first museum dedicated to children, is the only New York State institution accredited by the American Association of Museums which makes it an ideal choice to buy a home through free Brooklyn foreclosure listings for your family.

o The Brooklyn Subway- Brooklyn is well served by public transit. Eighteen New York City Subway lines, including the Franklin Avenue Shuttle, traverse the borough and nearly 80% of Brooklyn residents use the subway.

Given below are some smart ways to search for free Brooklyn foreclosure listings:

o Brooklyn County Clerk's office - Visiting the office of the county located in downtown Brooklyn for information about foreclosures in the area is the best way to access free Brooklyn foreclosure listings.

o Brooklyn Classifieds - Looking through various local newspapers like the Brooklyn View, Brooklyn Paper, New York Times and The New York Post is also a smart way to locate information on foreclosures.

o Online Brooklyn foreclosure market - Another great and comprehensive source of free foreclosure listings is to search through the various online real estate and bank sites for foreclosures available in the city.

Arcade Fire - Ocean of Noise

music video for Arcade Fire - Ocean of Noise



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LZx7RZEoLg&hl=en

Understanding the New New York DWI Laws

Yesterday I was first up in Ithaca City Court (first come first served), with four DWI cases in various stages of disposition. Judge Rossiter began the morning by announcing to a full Courtroom (240 cases on her docket) about the new New York DWI legislation that was a coming.

On November 18, 2009, Governor Paterson signed into law, Governor's Program Bill Number 204, The Child Passenger Protection Act, also known as Leandra's Law, it passed by the wide margin of 58-0.

New York State now joins 35 other states that make it a class E felony for first time DWI offenders driving with children as passengers. Class E Felonies carry State prison terms of 1 to 4 years, and 5 years of probation.

This new law also makes Ignition Interlock Devices Mandatory for first time DWI offenders. This is something the Court must impose for a period of at least 6 months. Illinois just put this into their law in 2009, and many other states are following suit.

Specifically under the new law:

1. First time DWI offenders (the per se violation of a BAC.08 or higher and/or common law DWI) or Impaired by drugs (DWAI drugs) driving with a child (16 years or under) may be charged with a Class E Felony. In the past, DWIs were only charged as Class E felonies after a second DWI was committed within a 10 year time period.

2. Mandatory Driver License Suspension (pending prosecution) for people so charged. This is no different than the law in it's current form.

3. Courts MUST order an ignition interlock device on all those convicted of DWI. There is a minimum 6 month time period for Installation and maintenance of the device on any vehicle owned and operated by those convicted of DWI.

4. The Probation Department within each respective county will monitor, issue regulations, and oversee these Ignition Interlock Devices, and their usage. Reading between the lines that means Probation Supervision is a likely possibility ( 3 years for a misdemeanor DWI, and 5 years for a felony DWI) for those convicted as well.

5. Drivers who cause serious physical injury (the threshold for serious injury is not very high) to children 16 or younger will be charged with a Class C Felony, punishable by up to 15 years in State Prison.

6. Drivers who cause the death of child may be charged with a Class B Felony, punishable by up to 25 years in State Prison.

7. Drivers (who are also parent, guardian, or legally responsible for a child) charged with any DWI or DWAI drugs while "that" child is a passenger will also be reported to the Statewide Central Register of Child Abuse and Maltreatment. Child endangerment charges are another likely scenario as well as being held as an unfit parent or legal guardian.

The good news, this year I have not had any DWI cases where my clients had children 16 years or younger as passengers in their cars. Although I did refer a DWI case with a NY driver traveling through another state who did have his children asleep in the back seat of his car. If that same case played out here, with this new legislation in place, it would be a potential nightmare on so many levels.

In that situation, the Office of Children and Family Services would be involved, and those parents would be facing criminal court and family court, and an open Pandora's box of problems. Charges of Child maltreatment, Child neglect, and Child abuse may add to all the other issues facing first time DWI offenders.

Inspect The Roof Flashing In Your Manhattan Home Or Building

There's more than a few things to do when you're looking to get settled down into that new home in New York and if you've put down a fair amount of money on the purchase, you'll need to include a home inspection in Manhattan as one of the costs. It only makes sense to want to know if there's anything that you should know about concerning the new place, and a thorough home inspection will be able to provide you with an overview that should put your mind at ease.

And if you find the right inspector for your home inspection in Manhattan, you should be able to tag along and pick up a few tips on the kinds of things that you should be looking for, particularly if you're a first time buyer. One of the things that it's good to get to know a bit about is the metal flashing that you find on the roof and around the pipes and chimneys in your home.

This flashing usually comes in a bright aluminum flexible sheet. It comes in a variety of styles and colors, and it's best to buy the flashing in the width that is as close as possible to the width that you need to cover. The reason for this is simple. Although all flashing can be cut to size, it's usually quite hard to cut it to width. As well, there are different types of materials that flashing is available in beyond the standard aluminum.

Copper flashing comes in rolls of different gauges, but more often than not it is 12 inches wide. While it is generally much more expensive than aluminum, copper is the material that is quite often used to match up decor. For this reason, it is sometimes used on older homes although in most cases the aluminum will do. Generally, flashing is most often used in roofs to seal gaps between the roofing materials and other materials. One of the problems that you'll encounter with flashing is the rust.

When this happens and water has over time been allowed to rust and damage the flashing material, water will get a free passage to the interior of the home. When you spot any rust, use a good wire brush to get rid of it and then a metal paint to inhibit its return. If the rust has already eaten its way through the flashing, you should be able to patch the spot up with roofing cement that you can get at most home renovation stores. Regardless of the repair product that you use, the important thing is to make sure that the water cannot leak in and under the patch.

Olympian Civil Home and Building Inspections (866) 476-2056

Copyright © 2008 Olympian Civil Home and Building Inspectors,

2008 All Rights Reserved

ALL OF ME is a Wild, WILDE Ride by Lori Wilde!

Lori Wilde's ALL OF ME is a Wilde wild ride and a fabulous, thoughtful, yet fun read! Pop this one in your tote and take it to the beach or you will wish you had. Having Jillian Samuels and Tuck Manning with you, will make your day! Jillian is a lawyer and finds herself headed to Salvation, Colorado, after leaving her job when the new boss turns out to be someone from her past she would just as soon stays in her past. Add to that her long time mentor, Blake Townsend, has died and it is more than she can take, feeling once again abandoned, and so decides that all she needs to do is find a place to start over. So when Jillian inherits a lovely cottage in Colorado from Blake, she decides to take it and that this is as good a place to start over than any other. Getting out of Houston is what is important to her now and the name of the town, Salvation,is a good omen. She can easily pass the Colorado bar exam and set up a quiet practice in those glorious mountains and leave Texas and all the bad memories behind. Unfortunately, Jillian doesn't know that with the house comes a man who is living there already.

Following a sabbatical from being a successful career as an architect to care for his wife, Aimee, who is dying, to say Tuck Manning's life goes through a devastating change is being kind. He decides after his wife's death that spending his time in this cottage on the lake that meant so much to them, in the quiet, decent town of Salvation is just what his torn apart world needs. Prior to Jillian's showing up, Blake, who was Aimee's dad, had deeded the house to Tuck. Tuck in turn gave the deed and paperwork to an elderly lawyer in town. Unfortunately, the deed was never filed and the lawyer can't find it. When Jillian shows up on his doorstep, he isn't budging as the last thing he needs is yet another change and upheaval in his life! Besides, the place means too much to him. Jillian also feels the same way as the cottage has come to mean a new start and "salvation" for her torn apart past.

Both Tuck and Jillian seem to have legitimate claims on the house so they decide to share the cottage and live like roommates until they can iron out the mess and find out who the house really belongs to. Neither of them could possibly foresee the path their lives are about to go down next, or that it will be together in far more than a "roomy" way. Both Jillian and Tuck have been hurt. Jillian has lived a life where no fairy tales come true and studying law was right for her with its cut and dried, overall detached emotional practices. Tuck, even after two years hasn't found what he needs to come to terms with losing Aimee and the cottage they spent many good times in is certainly not something he wants to let go of.

However, neither Tuck nor Jillian can ignore the changing feelings and chemistry they begin to feel as the roommates await the lawyer's findings. ALL OF ME is the fourth in a series by Lori Wilde, I found out, but it certainly stands well on its own. I think from what I have read that going back and reading the first three books would certainly give a reader a long history of the characters and how the Wedding Veil Wishes books became such a popular series! An enjoyable read and much more to it than I thought when I first saw this book. I was pleasantly surprised as I became caught up with the depth of the characters and cared about what happened to them. Kudos to Ms. Wilde for what for me will be the first, but for most just another, of her wonderful, well written novels.

New York car fire

On vacation in NY, and saw this car on fire on Madison Ave. and 40th St.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajp5EgM4Sv0&hl=en

Official Music Video for Alex Lambert's "I Didn't Know" on If I Can Dream

Official music video for Alex Lambert's long awaited single "I Didn't Know" filmed in New York City.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNebmSqsVSY&hl=en

Brooklyn Real Estate Agents And Apartments For Rent

Looking for a place to live in New York City? If so, join the crowd. New York's five boroughs are home to millions of people - and if you try to navigate the crowded streets on the first of any month, the lines of moving trucks make it seem that half the city is packing up and heading across town.

When it comes to hunting for real estate or finding an apartment to rent, then, New Yorkers have their hands full. One of the most popular boroughs today is Brooklyn, which by itself rates as one of the largest cities in America. New Yorkers seeking a home in Brooklyn have a wide choice of Brooklyn Real Estate Agents (if they're buying) and Apartments for Rent to choose from.

In New York City, looking to purchase a single-family home or apartment to fill the needs of a growing family or a growing lifestyle is a tough task. The best way to hunt for real estate in New York is with Brooklyn Real Estate Agents. Why? Simple. As we've already established, looking for a place to live in a major city like New York is tough. It gets harder when you're looking for a place to purchase. Chances are good that you've created a laundry list of things that you need in your new place: three bedrooms, a yard for the dog, central air conditioning, a dishwasher, or enough space for a grand piano. When you open the newspaper on Sunday morning, however, the options are overwhelming: there are literally thousands of listings in tiny print, each giving only the faintest bits of information.

With the assistance of a real estate agent, the job of searching through those ads for the one that actually will work for you becomes much easier. Real estate agents have advanced tools and sources of information that allow them to search for appropriate properties efficiently and effectively. Plus, many real estate agents will take it upon themselves to drive you around from property to property - a service that is of great value in a city like New York. Using a real estate agent in your search will help you narrow your options and make smart decisions.

If you're not up for buying a property yet, Brooklyn offers a wide variety of apartments for rent. From small, budget-friendly studios to four-bedroom family pads, there is something for everyone in the Brooklyn rental market. Here, you can live your life in comfort while you build up the savings you will need to purchase a home or apartment of your own.

In the land of Brooklyn Real Estate Agents and Apartments for Rent, there is a lot if information floating around - and it's your job to find a way to filter it to find the place of your dreams. Good luck!

Be A Great Teacher

As a criminal lawyer whose specialty was representing kids, Sheila Joseph knew better than anyone just how bad the education system in low-income communities could be. Hearing about New York's Teaching Fellow's program, Sheila decided to take a couple of years off from law and try to make a difference in kids lives before they needed a lawyer. She went to work in East Jamaica, Queens at a school that was about to close. That year an inspiring principal turned it around, requiring students to go to school 12 months a year and raising their test scores as a result. But the next year, under a new principal, the school tumbled back to the lowest-performance in the borough. Through the Fellows Program, she learned about starting a charter school. It was a long and complicated process, but because of her perseverance and commitment, East New York Prep was created. On September 5, 2006, the school opened its doors for the first time to 110 kids who comprise the class of 2014. Their principal, Sheila Joseph, and the dedicated teachers she's recruited, intend to see each one live up to their full potential. Go to www.eastnyprep.org to learn more.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nnbtr1cL8rY&hl=en

Review of New York New York Hotel and Casino

New York New York Hotel & Casino is located in Las Vegas, Nevada. A visit to this casino is close to an actual visit to New York City, complete with the Statue of Liberty and the Brooklyn Bridge. This resort facility replicates the New York skyline, including the Empire State Building. The lower floor of the casino is surrounded with small shops like one would see if in the City itself.

A tourist standing on the second floor balcony is treated to the view of the casino floor and the shops that border the casino tables and games. If you come to the casino from across the street, you can come over the bridge that crosses the Strip directly into the New York New York second floor.

The hotel amenities are first class with well-appointed rooms and extras, if wanted, like whirlpool baths. They do offer special packages if confirmed via the Internet or phone. It is worth the effort to arrange a package deal, as there could be a savings on the room rate for a several days' stay.

The casino offers a normal range of Las Vegas gaming and excitement. The other offers of the casino are a sports book and an old time Irish Pub. There is also a stage show with different entertainers throughout the year. The shops that border the casino floor offer a variety of items and food services. The ambience of the entire facility is intended to make the guest feel the vibes of a New York visit.

With its location in the heart of the Strip, the New York New York is convenient to any of the other Las Vegas attractions that a visitor wants to see while in town. As with most Las Vegas casinos, they do have special accommodations for VIP guests who are above average gaming enthusiasts. If a customer wants special treatment, the way to get it is to ask for it. Let the hotel know what you want; you may be surprised at how easy it is for them to arrange for your desires.

There are many unusual places to visit and stay in Las Vegas. The New York New York should be on any visitor's list of places to see while in town. Stop in for a bite to eat, a drink, and maybe a little table action. This casino is worth the visit for any tourist. The New York City feeling is remarkably real to all who stop by.

Green Materials and Landscaping in Austin

Using locally abundant natural materials is considered green, so were using local limestone on the front porch wall caps, the first floor vanity top, and in the landscape borders. Master carpenter Norm Abram visits Jarrell, Texas to see how the stone is quarried, while lead carpenter Tony Goss reinstalls the old wooden front porch columns on new bases that will resist rot better than the originals. Builder Bill Moore takes host Kevin OConnor to a local home center to show him several products that are not only green, but also widely available. Countertop contractor Chris Farris arrives to install the new recycled glass and concrete countertops in the kitchen, and Kevin travels to Brooklyn, New York to see how they are manufactured. Back at the project house, homeowner Michael Klug and landscape designer Adams Kirkpatrick show Kevin what they have planned for new green landscape highlights include native plants, minimal use of grass, and local limestone borders.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MPLDlNIAcs&hl=en

Flo Rida Ft Ne-Yo - Be On You [Lyrics]( 2oo9 )

First Lyrics Video. So might be a little off. New SongNew songNew songcent ti 07jul08 dnc records kanye west lil wayne jay-z akon timbaland rihanna t-pain ti ne-yo akon lil wayne rihanna linkin park 50 cent maroon 5 ice cube the game akon lil wayne rihanna 50 cent linkin park maroon 5 daddy yankee 07jul08 22jul08 hichem & iman gorilla zoe lil wayne akon t-pain maroon 5 50 cent rihanna nas linkin park madona britney spears shakira kelly rowland r.kelly daddy yankee don omar wisin yandel lil wayne nelly rick ross dj khaled fat joe trick daddy pitbull plies flo rida elevator low t-pain daddy yankee akon lil wayne t-pain don omar rihanna jay-z 07jul08 hichem & iman dnc records akon lil wayne timbaland linkin park rihanna soulja boy 50 cent 07jul08 hichem & iman dnc records tupac is alive ! brand new shit brand new lil wayne NEW SHIT JUST GOT OUT 2008 LEAVE A COMMENT IF U WANT THE SONG ! new lil wayne rnb4u Chris brown featuring the game g-unit juelz santana 50 cent timbaland ti tq i dont know soldier lil wayne t-paine akon azad hnnover berlin germany american movie clip music gta song 4 football rugby döhren best new neu yeni hakan sükür galatasaray sampion kurdistan pkk bloods new york washington harlem brooklyn american historie x sido augen auf halt dein maul sure situation alphabet gletscher Lil wayne lollipop Kanye West rap r&b t-pain official remix full length afropik.com afropik music lil wayne kanye west weezy lollipop remix rap r&b hip-hop world music indie unsigne ...



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvywtFbQaCE&hl=en

First Time Author Jamie Ford Scores With Hotel On The Corner Of Bitter And Sweet

Jamie Ford has made a name for himself in the literary world on his first try. Hotel On The Corner Of Bitter And Sweet is a remarkable, must-read novel. A love story, a family saga, a story of growing up in America during World War II, a story of America's shame-take your choice. You will find all this and more in Mr. Ford's novel.

The story alternates smoothly between 1942 when Henry Lee is 12 years old to the 1980's when Henry is dealing with the death of his wife from cancer. Opening in 1986 and set in Seattle at the Panama Hotel, the story tells of the discovery of junk to some, but treasures to others, found in the basement. Henry is able to find some treasures that once belonged to his friend and young love, Keiko.

The Panama had been in a part of town known as Japantown back in the early 1940's. Everything found was important to people. So that these people could try and prove their loyalty to America, they had burned all their treasured items and hid the rest.

American citizens, who were being forced to go to "camps" because our country feared these people, hid these things there. Oh, yes, these upstanding, hard-working, gentle citizens with no understanding of why they were targeted just happened to be of Japanese heritage! The internment of these people is a dark time in American history. What our country did was inhumane and embarrassing. Fear of the Japanese after Pearl Harbor's attack, prompted this action in that the government as they felt concern that this group of people might be considered a threat due to their ties to Japan.

The novel tells of Henry as a youth and his relationship with his parents. Henry grew up during wartime and experienced rationing, blackouts, battle reports and all that became a part of his daily life. His parents despised the Japanese because they had invaded China and the Lees were Chinese. Henry was made to wear a button that said he was Chinese. A student at an all white school, Henry was on a kind of scholarship in that his tuition was covered by the fact he worked in the cafeteria during lunch and was a janitor for the school after hours. Alone, bullied and viewed with contempt by the other students, Henry is thrilled when a Japanese American student enters the school and they become very good friends. Keiko's parents wind up in the internment camps, and she and Henry confide in one another and soon are very close friends. This is a relationship that angers Henry's father. It creates problems and great tension in Henry's home.

Henry's view of the war, his country, his parents, and even the world changed. Henry is drawn into the Japanese section of Seattle called Nihonmachi, or later Japantown. Leaving his area of Chinatown to go into Keiko's environment enables him to see things differently. In Japantown, Henry is seen to be part of the enemy group by its inhabitants. He experiences racism first hand once again but this time, not from the white students at his school but rather people who look very much like him.

A caring, but wiser, man, adult Henry is much the same as he was as a youth. He has just lost his wife to cancer and tells of how he even left work to care for her full time. Henry understands the relationship he had with his father and wants better for him and his son, Marty. This is not an easy task as Henry still deals with being a Chinese-American while Marty has never known anything but to be American. The chance discovery of items from the Panama Hotel inspires Henry to share the story of Keiko with his son. Henry hopes to improve their relationship as he explains their connection to jazz. When they were young, he and Keiko used to sneak out to local jazz clubs.

Henry is a good man and loved his wife but yet there was always a part of him that was linked inexplicably to the past and Keiko. He thinks that this link will help him reconnect with Marty. How Henry does this and how the things he finds at the Panama help bring the story to an honorable and realistic conclusion, truly shows the bitter and the sweet part of this man's life and this wonderful novel.

Top 10 New York Attractions

It's not easy to decide how to spend your time in the Big Apple.
With so many things to see and do, where do you begin? This top-ten list of must-see New York City attractions is a good place to start.

The Statue of Liberty

The Statue of Liberty is one of the most popular of all New York attractions and no trip to the Big Apple is complete without a visit to this iconic structure.
The Statue of Liberty, officially called Liberty Enlightening the World, was constructed from bronze and was given to the United States by France in 1885 as a symbol of freedom and to mark the centenary of America's Declaration of Independence.
Standing at Liberty Island, in the mouth of the Hudson River in the New York Harbor, it welcomes visitors as it once did for the thousands of immigrants who arrived in New York by boat. The Statue of Liberty has come to symbolize freedom, independence and American values and is an attraction not to be missed by anyone visiting New York.

Empire State Building

The Empire State Building is possibly the most famous skyscraper in the world and one of the greatest New York attractions. It's been in numerous Hollywood blockbusters and a defining symbol of the city. It was opened on 1 May 1931 and is a must-see for any visitor to New York City - just ask any of the 10,000 to 20,000 people who visit the building every day.

The observatory, located on the 86th floor, 1,050 feet (320 meters) above the city's busy streets, provides an unsurpassable view of New York City. It offers panoramic views from within a glass enclosed pavilion and from the surrounding open air promenade.
The building offers a variety of attractions for visitors; observatory tours 365 days per year, day and night, rain or shine provider breathtaking views of Manhattan and beyond. There are also, two restaurants, a sushi bar, three coffee shops, a drug store, a Hallmark card shop, a post office and two banks as well as the famous New York SKYRIDE virtual-reality movie theater and various art exhibits.

Times Square

Times Square is not really a square, it's more of a district, bordered by 6th Avenue and 9th Avenue and by 39th and 52nd Streets, and is one of the greatest New York attractions. Originally it was called Longacre Square, but in 1904, when the New York Times Company moved there, it took on the name we all know today. Shortly thereafter, in 1907, Times Square began its New Year's Eve tradition, securing the area's place in history.

Madison Square Gardens

New York City's Madison Square Garden is sometimes called "The Most Famous Arena in the World". It is a 20,000-seat arena located atop the city's Pennsylvania Station on 7th Avenue between 31st and 33rd Streets. Built in 1968, the current arena is the fourth in a line of Madison Square Gardens; the facility is home to the New York Knicks and New York Liberty basketball teams and the New York Rangers hockey team. In addition, the arena hosts over 600 events per year, including concerts, conventions, award shows, the NBA draft, and the Ringling Bros Barnum Bailey Circus.

United Nations HQ

The United Nations Headquarters is located on an 18-acre site along the East River in New York City. Home to the international organization, The United Nations, the striking glass-fronted "Secretariat" building dominates the New York midtown skyline. The building, opened in 1951, was instantly popular with tourists and continues to be one of the most popular destinations in New York City.

American Museum of Natural History

Located on New York City's upper west side, the American Museum of Natural history continues to be one of the world's most important natural history collections and research facilities. It has attracted world-class research scientists throughout its history and today attracts a wide range of visitors from all walks of life. It is a delight for guests young and old, and the sheer volume of exhibits means there's always something new to see.

Central Park

Central Park is Manhattan's back garden - in a city of high-rise apartments with a dense population, this 843-acre oasis is a place to take a walk, read a book, attend a concert, and much, much more. Over 25 million people visit the park each year, making it the most visited of any park in the United States. With four million trees, shrubs, and plants, representing 1500 species, Central Park has something to interest every visitor. In addition to the vast Great Lawn and other green spaces, the park boasts several artificial lakes, two ice-skating rinks, miles of hiking and bike trails, a zoo, a wildlife sanctuary and several children's playparks.

Wall Street

Wall Street, a narrow street in lower Manhattan between Broadway and the East River, was the first permanent home of the New York Stock Exchange. It was also the one-time headquarters for all of the major banks and brokerage houses in the United States. While the brokerages have since moved to other parts of New York's financial district, New Jersey, and Connecticut, the term, "Wall Street" is still synonymous with the US financial markets.

Brooklyn Bridge

Probably one of the most recognizable landmarks in New York City, the Brooklyn Bridge is the oldest suspension bridge in the United States and at 6016-feet long, one of the longest too. When it opened in 1883, after being under construction for almost 14 years, it was the world's longest suspension bridge. It spans over the East River and links New York's Manhattan and Brooklyn districts.
Over the years, the traffic across the Brooklyn Bridge has included horses, trolleys, elevated trains, and streetcars as well as pedestrians and automobiles but these days just cars, cyclists, and pedestrians are permitted.

Carnegie Hall

This beautiful and acoustically perfect concert hall, or more accurately, three concert halls, has been the host of over 50,000 events in its long history. Today it is completely restored and as beautiful as ever, Carnegie Hall welcomes visitors to three concert stages, a museum, and fascinating archives. In addition to watching performances, visitors to Carnegie Hall may tour the facility on guided tours, which include back stage, dressing rooms, and rehearsal halls.

Brooklyn New York - Pros and Cons of Living in the City

Brooklyn is one of the most famous cities in the five boroughs of New York. Second to Manhattan most would say it is one of the most well known. Living in Brooklyn is an interesting experience for many people. The city represents many things for many people. Brooklyn is a unique city. It is one that is full of culture and diversity. Wherever you go you are bound to see people of different races and ethnicities. There are a lot of pros and cons to living in Brooklyn.

Pros of living in Brooklyn

One of the pros to living in Brooklyn and any of the five boroughs for the matter is transportation. If you don't have a car transportation is abundant in this city. You can pretty much get to anywhere in the city by hopping on a bus or a train. You can even opt to take a taxi. This is very convenient for those who don't have a car. Unlike smaller cities, depending on the area a bus or train will come every 10 to fifteen minutes or so. Although time consuming to have to wait for public transportation, some say it is worth it. Compared to having a car it is more cost efficient. You can purchase an unlimited metro pass to take the buses and trains anywhere in the five boroughs of new york for less than $100 dollars. Some may think this is a lot. But when you compare it to the cost of fuel for your on vehicle it is not. Not only that but the cost of insuring a vehicle in New York is astronomical. For a older driver with a good driving record the cheapest you can get insurance for is maybe around $150 a month. For younger drivers insurance cost typically start at $300 plus a month. So if cost is what is important then public transportation is definitely the way to go. You'll get to where you need to go for a fraction of the price.

Cons of Living in Brooklyn

One of the cons to living in Brooklyn is definitely the crime. It is a big city and violent crimes are unfortunately inevitable. For the most part the really bad stuff happens at night and in certain areas. But in all honesty no one and no area is immune to violence. Another con if you are coming from a smaller city or state is that the people are not very friendly. Sure every once in a blue moon someone will smile or say hi walking down the street but for the most part everyone really just keeps to themselves and minds there business.

Flex Battle Wayne Vs Quiet Storm

(WATCH IT IN HIGH QUALITY) NEW YORK STAND UP!! BIYAAAAY



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-3IbGhw9AM&hl=en

Whole Wheat Bread - Bombs Away Live at the 2008 Afro-Punk Festival

Whole Wheat BreadLive at the 2008 Afro-Punk Festival in Brooklyn, New York. Visit www.afropunk.com for more information. The Annual Afro-punk Festival 2008. Held this year at the Brooklyn Academy Of Music Parking Lot. 5th July - 13th July 08. Live performances by over 40 bands. Performers The Ceasars, The Carps, J*DAVEY. KUDU. Rich Medina, The Dustbon Brothers, DJ Hard Hittin Harry, Rich Medina, Dirtbombs, Tamar Kali, Little Jackie, Sophia Ramos, Sophias toy, Game Rebellion, Bone Crusher, Whole Wheat Bread, Murs, Disaster Us, Voodo Fe, Echo Jinx, Proton, Sky Hy, Hollywood Holt, Shala, Lets Go To War, Janelle Monae, Millsted, The Smyrk, The Apes, Cipher, The five one, Disater Us, Echo Jinx, McRad No Surrender, Jen Militia and more...



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RG4pFrXOAvs&hl=en

Deep House Music: Metro Area - Proton Candy

The Cosmic Lounge presents Deep House Music: 'Proton Candy' by Metro Area. "Metro Area is Morgan Geist and Darshan Jesrani. After releasing a number of 12" EPs, they issued their first self-titled album (Metro Area) in 2002. The brainchild of veteran producers Morgan Geist and Darshan Jesrani, Metro Area was born out of the pair's somewhat dichotomous love for both the old moods of R&B, disco and boogie and the more cutting-edge sound of innovative house and techno. Metro Area brings back the soulful experimentation of the early club classics, mixing live and electronic instruments. Simultaneously, the mood and minimalism of more recent dance music forms creep into the mix: Detroit's cold futurism, Chicago's abstract track-modes, and the warmth of New York and New Jersey's deep house. After over a year of late-night sessions in New Jersey and Manhattan, Metro Area burst onto the scene in 1999 with their self-titled debut 12" featuring the cult smash "Atmosphrique." With an angular bassline underpinned by a grungy 4/4 disco beat and the most distinctive claps this side of 1977, "Atmosphrique" sounds futuristic and retro at the same time, and spawned myriad heated debates concerning the record's production date. Most of all, it left both DJs and dancers wanting more. However, the runaway success of Metro Area's MA 4 EP (released November 2001) surpassed all expectation, not least the duo's own. The feature track "Miura", a sinister, spare and pulsating antidote to the ...



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LnUyDZq0FA&hl=en

Hey Arnold ep School Play PT 2

Hey Arnold! is an American animated television series that aired from October 7, 1996 until June 8, 2004 on Nickelodeon. The show stars 4th-grader Arnold, who lives with his grandparents Phil and Gertrude, proprietors of the Sunset Arms boarding house. In each episode, Arnold often helps a schoolmate solve a personal problem, or encounters a predicament of his own. Hey Arnold! takes place in the fictional American city of Hillwood. Craig Bartlett stated in an interview that the city on the show is based on large northern cities, including Seattle (his hometown), Portland, Oregon (where he went to art school) and New York City (from which many landmarks were borrowed).[1] Bartlett, having grown up in Seattle, bases many of the show's events on his own experience growing up in the city. The Pig War mentioned in the episode with the same title took place on the boundary between what is now the State of Washington and British Columbia. The overpass above Arnold's house is possibly the Alaskan Way Viaduct in Seattle. In many first-season episodes and later, the Brooklyn Bridge is seen as a prominent landmark in the city. Other episodes show an overview of Arnold's neighborhood, with the New York City skyline in the horizon, complete with the Empire State Building, Central Park and World Trade Center, suggesting that Hillwood could be a neighborhood in Brooklyn or Queens. Also according to a list of public elementary schools in New York City PS 118 is a school in St. Albans ...



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KABgV67EutA&hl=en

UNCLE MURDER

UNCLE MURDA GOT YOURSELF A GUN REMIX DISSIN NAS 50 CENT AND MOB DEEP



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTzXtuWR_rg&hl=en

Masta Killa Ft Streetlife & Prodical Sunn - Whatever

No Said Date!! (c)2004 Nature Sounds



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9uTB0BjDi4&hl=en

Small Black - "Despicable Dogs" - SXSW 2010 Showcasing Artist

Small Black is an emerging band from Brooklyn, New York. Their self-titled full length album will be out this fall. They describe their music on their myspace as Acousmatic / Tape music / Concrete / Pop.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zq_KgUT8gLc&hl=en

Cheap Holidays to New York, USA - Just Stay in New Jersey

For cheap holidays to New York USA try staying in New Jersey. The Econo Lodge in Jersey City is only $69.99 a night and the Red Carpet Inn just down the street is only $77.81. This is an alternative since Jersey City is only 1.8 miles from New York City. Taking a train across into Manhattan is easy and presto you are there in the Big Apple.

Hoboken and Union City are another two cities just across the river to the west of Manhattan. Staying in New York would be nice and there are some low cost accommodations for around $100, if you want a private room. The public transportation is more reasonably prices at under $9 for an all day fare than paying an extra $50 to $100 for a room in New York City, but that's just me.

Everyone has heard the jokes that New Jersey is the arm pit of New York, but don't let that fool you. The Giants play there and so do the Jets, so it can't be that bad.

If you must stay in New York, then may I suggest Brooklyn or the Bronx. There is a lot of history there along with being part of New York City.

It is true almost all of the major attractions are in Manhattan when it comes to New York City but that does not mean you have to stay there, just a visits is generally enough for most people to say I have been on cheap holidays to New York USA.

Made in NY Awards Celebrate Some Satellite TV Favorites

As everybody knows, the two places to go if you want to be a big name star or actor are New York and Los Angeles. On one had you've got Broadway and the artsy New York City scene, and on the other the glitz, glamour, and big bucks that come along with Hollywood. Either way, it can be a long hard uphill battle to make a name for oneself in either place. The same is true not only of actors, but of the people who actually make and produce all these great shows our favorite performers grow famous on. In order to properly honor those who stick it out on the crowded streets of New York, the annual 'Made in NY' awards have become a tradition. Now in their fifth year, the recent ceremony was held in the Gracie Mansion and presented by none other than New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg himself.

Many locations around the planet offer special incentives and tax breaks to filmmakers and television studios that set up shop locally, and New York City is no exception. The continuation of such programs not only brings renown and capital to the area, but increases tourism and prestige. Honored programs this year included not only the long-running comedy program "Saturday Night Live," a New York institution, but actress Angela Lansbury. Also honored were recent cancellations "Law & Order" and "As the World Turns." The former a New York City crime drama which ran for 20 seasons and the latter a daytime drama popular the world over since 1956, satellite TV viewers everywhere will certainly note the loss of these two New York classics. Not just for the chance to see his face on an HD TV screen instead of the regular old news, but in order to promote the New York television and film industry, Mayor Bloomberg himself made several guest appearances playing none other than himself during the 20 season of "Law and Order."

Not just the big time celebrities of satellite TV were honored at the award ceremony, but a variety of other industry specialists as well. Amongst them were Lee Daniels a director, HIS productions a commercial production company, WFT Productions a digital agency, Brooklyn Workforce Innovations a nonprofit, and many more. Each was celebrated not only for its contribution to the screen but its role in the great New York City community.

In recent years, many New York programs have been outsourced to other locations due to cost and time concerns. In a bustling city like New York it can be challenging and inconvenient to shoot long or complicated scenes without interruption by traffic or pedestrians. It has become an increasingly common practice to head to a nearby city or even a sound studio to record many city scenes, or even to do so in California. The upside is the convenience, but the downside tends to be the loss of that gritty New York authenticity that makes some of these classic programs so special to viewing audiences. Keep tuning into New York based satellite TV programming for many exciting years of NYC cinema and shows to come!