Sabtu, 08 Oktober 2011

Roger Williams, Pianist Known for Sentimental Songs, Dies at 87

showRoger Williams, the pianist whose exuberant versions of songs known as "Autumn Leaves" and "Born Free" became successful recordings in the late 1950's and 60's and continued acting in concert in 80 years, died Saturday at his home in Los Angeles. He was 87. The cause was complications of pancreatic cancer, his former publicist, Rob Wilcox told The Associated Press.

Seven singles by Mr. Williams did on the Billboard Top 40, perhaps the best known of which - and that brought him fame - is "Autumn Leaves". During his long career he recorded over 100 albums, including "Roger Williams plays her favorites," and "the best pianist Popular".
Mr. Williams "virtually transformed the piano into a harp," wrote Joseph Lanza, a music historian in 1994 in his book "Elevator Music", adding that "cultivates a style of dramatic raids from classical to jazz the country to soft rock and roll. "

She performed on stages across America, from Carnegie Hall to the Hollywood Bowl, and led for many years at the MGM Grand and the Tropicana in Las Vegas. Nine presidents, including Harry S. Truman and George W. Bush, took him to the White House to provide soothing sounds for guests.

Certainly, "Autumn Leaves" was one of the most welcoming, with its cascading arpeggios reminiscent of falling leaves. Mr. Williams instrumental version of the song 1940, originally known as "Les Feuilles Mortes" ("Dead leaves"), with music by Joseph Kosma and lyrics by Jacques Prevert French (Johnny Mercer wrote the lyrics to English) was No. 1 on the Billboard singles chart for four weeks in 1955 and remained in the Top 40 for 26 weeks.

Accompanied by the orchestra and chorus, Mr. Williams captured the extent of the African savannah with his cover of the 1966 film "Born Free" about a lion raised as a pet in Kenya, and item # 7 in the decade of record 14 weeks in the Top 40 in 1966. His other Top 40 hits were "Wanting You" (1956), "La Mer" or "Beyond the Sea" (1956), "Almost Paradise" (1957), "Up" (1957) and "Near You" which reached Top 10 in 1958.

In 1960, Mr. Williams was honored with a star on the Walk of Fame Hollywood.

When he appeared in the New York Philharmonic in 1970, Robert Sherman of the New York Times wrote about her "sumptuous piano settings" and that "kept his large audience captivated" by playing an old favorite after another. "The concert of the promise of" Easy Listening "," Mr. Sherman concluded, "remained faithful."

Despite his musicality was evident even as a child was not always Roger Williams.

Louis Jacob was born in Omaha Weertz October 1, 1924, and grew up in Des Moines, the only son of Frederick and Dorothea Weertz. His father was a Lutheran pastor who had been a professional boxer, and his mother was a music teacher. (Only after the founder of Kapp Records, David Kapp, a contract was signed in 1954 which changed its name, at the insistence of Mr. Kapp.)

"I could play" Home Sweet Home "on the harmonica when I was 3 years," said Mr. Williams The Daily Mirror in 1955. By the time he was in high school had jurisdiction on 12 other instruments. "Everything but the oboe and bassoon," he said, "but I finally settled on what I liked -. The Piano"

Mr. Williams graduated from Idaho State University in 1949, earned a master's degree in music at Drake University in Des Moines, a year later and then came to New York to study at the Juilliard School, where the renowned pianist Teddy Wilson jazz took him under his wing.

Mr Wilson insisted, he competed on "Talent Scouts" Arthur Godfrey in 1952, and won. That led to the reservations of many nightclubs and Kapp's first album, which sold very well. Then came his single, "Autumn Leaves".

What followed was a winding path through many of the most nostalgia inducing, the melodies of the last half of the 20th century, including "A Time for Us", "The Impossible Dream," "On a Clear Day "," Hello, Dolly "" Raindrops keep Fallin 'On My Head "and" Lara's Theme "from" Dr. Zhivago ".

He is survived by two daughters, Laura Fisher, Caramel, California, and Alice Jung, New York, and five grandchildren.

Mr. Williams was unabashed about his penchant for sentimentality.

"If the lyrics of a song says, 'I love you', then I mean exactly that when I play the notes," he told The Christian Science Monitor in 1970. "The public, live or at home, can detect if an artist really means what it touches. By the way to choose music to warm up and I know I can convey. I know."
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Jumat, 07 Oktober 2011

Ides Of March' Star Ryan Gosling Charms Us Again...What's New?

showIn case you had not noticed, let me state the obvious key: "Ides of March" star Ryan Gosling and Horowitz own MTV News' Josh is in the midst of a major bromance. Do not believe me? When the two met recently to discuss the political drama Ryan (today), there was a certain amount of catching up and asked that the chemistry was palpable.
Josh. "Ryan, it's good to see you, my friend, how are you?"

Ryan: "Well, thank you."

Josh: "Why is it wrong?"

Ryan: "You always think I'm mad I'm happy I'm relaxed ...."

Josh. "I'm just trying to figure our dynamic Even after all these wonderful moments we have had, yet ..."

Ryan: "Do not try to pigeonhole."

Josh: "It's all or nothing."

Ryan: "Is everything all the time."

Is everything all the time? When Ryan so casually throws around these deep lines like that, makes us wonder if it's no secret, writing "The Notebook 2" in his loft in New York. While wearing a shirt ...

Click play on video above to see the, uh, interesting exchange between Ryan and Josh, and be sure to review "The Ides of March" in theaters.

Will you see "The Ides of March"? Sound off in comments and on Twitter!
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Game 2011 Playoffs.5: Tigers at Yankees

show
(Note: tonight is a combined Coleman/Kevin In Dallas post, kind of like the Verlander/Fister Game 1 start–hopefully with better results).
On March 31st, Curtis Granderson hit an insurance home run in the bottom of the 7th off of Phil Coke (who was brought in to just face Granderson), while Austin Jackson went 1-4 and Alex Avila went 0-4 in a 6-3 Tigers loss.  JV took a no decision.  After 166 games in 189 days, we’re right back where we started.
JV (most likely) will not factor into the decision tonight, but Doug Fister will in a rematch against Game 1 Part 2 opponent Ivan Nova, who just 3 months ago was demoted to the minor leagues, while Fister suffered on last-place Seattle.
Fister gave up 6 runs in 4 2/3 innings, but didn’t pitch as badly as that sounds.  He started off well, putting the Yankees behind consistently in the count–the first time through the order, 6 of 9 Yankees were caught looking at first pitch strikes.  Expect the Yankee hitters to take a more aggressive approach tonight.
(Speaking of aggressive approaches:  Delmon Young swung at 11 first pitches in his first 13 ALDS plate appearances).
Nova pitched well, allowing 2 ER over 6 and then gave way to the Yankees bullpen.  The Tigers will have to hit him harder tonight, or at least make contact–Cabrera, Martinez, Jackson, and Raburn all had swinging strike 3s against Nova.  But Nova will not be so nova to the Tiger hitters the 2nd time through.  And perhaps tonight’s earlier (8:07) start will throw him off.
It would help for the Tigers to capitalize early.  Tuesday’s first inning Granderson grab was the 2nd consecutive game the Tigers failed to take advantage of an early bases-loaded situation.  In fact, the 14 times in the regular season that the Tigers had the bases loaded with less than 2 outs in the first or second inning, they ended up with a .091 BA and .182 OPS.
It would also help for Austin Jackson to get on base,  and maybe Don Kelly in the 2nd spot will provide a spark, or at least avoid the GIDP or failed sacrifice problem that has hurt Detroit.
(Leyland has indicated a Kelly to RF/Inge to 3B defensive shift is likely later in the game).
If the Tigers do strike early, Yankee manager Joe Girardi has indicated that he is willing to use Rivera for 2 innings, and will have CC Sabatia available in the bullpen.  No Verlander for Leyland though, and probably no Alburquerque either.  Leyland is set to go with Fister, Coke, Benoit, and Valverde. If Fister doesn’t make it far enough into the game, Max Scherzer will be the guy.
Tuesday night’s debacle was the most watched LDS game since 2007.  The Tigers have one more chance to show the baseball-watching world what they are really made of.  As Brandon Inge said, “it’s hard to beat us 2 games in a row.”
Stat to remember – Game 3 Winners (Tigers) have won 83% of the last 23 LDS.  Time to pick a winner.  Have fun everybody.  Let’s play ball!
Player of the Pre-Game: Alex Avila
Has Iron-Man Alex finally worn down? Avila has yet to have a hit in the postseason, and has in fact struck out 6 times in 15 plate appearances, a rate almost twice as high as his regular season rate.  Batting between Cabrera-Martinez-Ordonez and the hot Peralta, Avila could swing the course of the game with a timely hit.
Today’s Hmm-Let’s-Try-This Lineup:
  1. Austin Jackson, CF
  2. Don Kelly, 3B
  3. Delmon Young, LF
  4. Miguel Cabrera, 1B
  5. Victor Martinez, DH
  6. Magglio Ordonez, RF
  7. Alex Avila, C
  8. Jhonny Peralta, SS
  9. Ramon Santiago, 2B
source:detroittigersweblog.com
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Selasa, 04 Oktober 2011

Meet the new iPhone 4S

You can finally lay all that speculation to rest because here it is! Apple's set its latest iPhone family member free, and out into the wireless wild for your future consumption. Pictured above is the new dual-core A5 processor-equipped, dual CDMA / GSM iPhone 4S -- awash in Siri-enabled voice control. You can snag this black or white update on October 14th in 16GB, 32GB and 64GB configurations for $199, $299 and $399, respectively. Click through the gallery below to get intimate with Cupertino's latest smartphone refresh.
Show full PR text
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Senin, 03 Oktober 2011

Knox appeal: How was her fate decided?

(CNN) -- American Amanda Knox and her Italian former boyfriend, Raffaele Sollecito, won their appeals of their convictions in the killing of British exchange student Meredith Kercher. Here is a guide to the Italian appeal process.
On what grounds did Knox and Sollecito appeal their convictions for murder, sexual assault, possession of a weapon, interfering with a crime and theft?
The defense sought to discredit DNA evidence linking the two of them to the killing, in which British exchange student Meredith Kercher's throat was slashed. Her partially clothed body was found in the house she shared with Knox in Perugia, a central Italian university town.
Two experts argued that DNA evidence found on the knife used to kill Kercher and on her bra clasp was unreliable and contaminated by poor handling. Prosecutors in 2009 had said there were traces of Knox's genetic material on the handle and Kercher's in a tiny groove on the blade.
Amanda Knox pleads her case
'It's like living in a nightmare'
Kercher family lawyer: 'They are guilty'
Amanda Knox murder conviction overturned
Knox and Sollecito's defense teams have suggested Rudy Guede, who is already serving a 16-year sentence for the murder, could have been the sole killer.
The case against Knox and Sollecito
Who made the decision?
Eight jurors -- six members of the public and two judges -- decided the case. The judges take part and vote as part of the jury: their role is to guide but not to instruct the other jurors how to vote. The presiding judge, Claudio Pratillo Hellmann, who was also one of the jurors, read out the verdict.
What were the possible rulings in the appeal?
There were three possible outcomes for the defendants:
1. Verdict is upheld: In this case, Knox and Sollecito would have continued serving their respective 26- and 25-year jail sentences. However, prosecutor Manuela Comodi had called for their sentences to be increased to life.
Sollecito: Families are sacrificing
Knox trial explained
Amanda Knox: 'I was scared'
2. Verdict is overturned
3. Verdict is partially overturned, with a decrease in sentence (verdicts can be upheld on some counts but not others; this would result in a decrease in their sentences, which is what happened).
Does Monday's ruling mean the case is closed for good or could there be further appeals?
There will most likely be appeals by the prosecution. Both the defense and prosecution can take their case to Italy's highest court.
Both Knox and Sollecito returned to prison to complete paperwork and collect their belongings. But Knox was freed within an hour; CNN understands Knox will leave the country Tuesday morning.
Knox, 24, need not remain in Italy pending a possible appeal by the prosecution. After the ruling, the judge has 90 days to write a report on why the court reached its conclusions. The parties then have 45 days to file an appeal to the High Court, which then must schedule it, according to Luiss University law professor Nicola Di Mario.
So there'll be at least four months between the verdict and any possible High Court appeal. A High Court hearing would be very short and dependent on key technical issues and arguments, not a review of the actual trial itself, according to Di Mario.
Where would an acquittal of just Knox and/or Sollecito have left the case of the other?
That was the big question. The co-defendants appealed together, and while different verdicts could theoretically have been delivered for each of them, this was highly unlikely. A third person convicted of the murder, Rudy Guede, has already appealed to the High Court and had his sentence reduced to 16 years.
Can the defendants ever be tried again for the same crime?
After the case goes to Italy's highest court and assuming it does not overturn the appeals ruling, Knox cannot be tried again for the same crime under the "double jeopardy" rule.
What will happen if a possible appeal by the prosecution to Italy's highest court is successful after Knox has returned to the United States?
If Italy's highest court overturns the lower court's decision, it effectively revalidates the trial court's sentence, which means 26 years in prison for Knox.
Italy would then have to put in a request to U.S. authorities for extradition, and it would remain to be seen if that would granted or not. Deputy State Department spokesman Mark Toner told CNN: "Questions regarding Italian law and process are not ones we can answer. They need to be addressed to Italian authorities.
"The United States and Italy do have a bilateral extradition treaty, which has been in force since 1984. Questions about possible return to the U.S., extradition request, etc. are too speculative for us to be able to comment."
Does Italian law allow for any civil action by the defendants or by Meredith Kercher's family following a criminal case?
Yes, a civil action for damages took place alongside the original criminal trial. The family of Kercher sought $36 million in damages from the three co-defendants if they were convicted on the criminal charges. Their acquittal on the criminal charges frees them of civil liability as well.
Did the defendants face any other charges?
Knox also appealed an additional charge for which she was convicted: Defamation of Patrick Lumumba, the club owner whom Knox accused of killing Kercher. He was arrested but released after his alibi checked out. He later sued Knox for libel, winning 40,000 euros ($54,000) in damages. The appeals jury upheld that conviction and ordered Knox to pay Lumumba. It also sentenced her to three years in prison, but because she has already been held for four years, she was freed immediately.
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Andy Rooney Signs Off 60 Minutes One Last Time

Andy Rooney Signs Off 60 Minutes One Last Time | Andy Rooney
Andy Rooney
Landov
After 33 years and 1,097 essays, Andy Rooney signed off 60 Minutes for the last time Sunday night with a simple message to his loyal viewers who have tuned in week after week to listen to his words of wisdom.

If you see him out and about, just let him be. "Please, just let me eat my dinner," the veteran TV personality, 92, said as he signed off, as he discussed the setbacks of the fame he acquired on the show.

CBS announced last week that Rooney was retiring from the news-magazine program, where he has read his self-penned essays on-camera since 1978.

"I wish I could do this forever," he said during Sunday's final essay. "I can't, though."

Although he's leaving the show, Rooney said he's not retiring from his job as a writer. And it's not just about the written word, he says.

"I probably haven't said anything here that you didn't already know or have already thought," he said. "That's what a writer does. A writer's job is to tell the truth."
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Sabtu, 01 Oktober 2011

Van Jones Praises Occupy Wall Street, Says Progressives Launching 'October Offensive' To Rival Tea Party

showFormer White House adviser, Van Jones, says that progressives are going to launch an "October offensive" to rival the tea party, in the spirit of the protests of Arab spring in the Middle East.

"Everyone should stay in their seats. October will be the turning point in regard to the progressive fight back. You can see it coming," Jones said this week on MSNBC, "The Last Word" with Lawrence O'Donnell.

"When Warren Buffett came out and said, look, we have to do something to raise taxes and do more for the United States, and you have these young guys who go around on Wall Street," said Jones, referring to members of Occupy Wall Street, who have been camping in Zuccotti Park in Manhattan's financial district for the past few weeks, "There is a generation of Americans who are looking around and saying, 'What is the American dream going to look like me? They will stand. " "You will see a drop in America, a fall of America, as we saw the Arab Spring," continued Jones. "You can see now with these young people on Wall Street. Hold onto your hat, we will have an offensive in October to recover the American dream and to rescue the American middle class."
SEE:

Jones, who served as Tsar President Barack Obama's green jobs until his resignation in September 2009, launched the Rebuilding the dream progressive group in June to focus on job creation and counter the influence of the Tea Party in American politics.

"We will build a progressive balance of power of the Tea Party," O'Donnell said Jones Thursday night.

Rebuilding the dream is organizing a conference in Washington, DC next week.

Jones also praised the Wall Street Occupy protesters in a blog on The Huffington Post this week.

Wall Street has been home to the greatest threat to American democracy. Now it has become home to what may be our best hope to rescue it, "writes Jones.

"A new generation has arrived on the scene of the crimes committed against our future. It is time for all people of good will to give our support to all young lung Wall Street squatting movement."
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Van Jones: It’s time for an “American Autumn” in the spirit of the Arab Spring

showCountless part of a continuum in Jones quixotic dream "to build a progressive counterweight to the tea party." Honestly, it seems almost charming that you plan to sell your program as a U.S. version Arab spring win the public to their cause. I have not seen a U.S. survey on the topic in a while, but last time I checked, people here were decidedly lukewarm about the protests in the Middle East. And that was before the riots recently in Greece, the August riots in London, and the spectacle of the Egyptian People degenerate into an assault on the Israeli embassy in Cairo.The grievances are different in each of these cases, but the broader lesson remains that the manifestations of popular discontent of the masses have tended to become quite bad lately. And if the lesson has not been fully digested, however, wait until the heroes of the revolution in Egypt to choose a more radical regime that had already cut. My hunch is that if Jones has never hosted a multitude of sizes Tahrir held protests, ending a commercial operating as de facto GOP campaign. On the other hand, perhaps electoral politics is irrelevant here. From left disappointed Obama, partly because the lion is not expected to be progressive and partly because it is on track to take the match into a total of next year clean-out. Somehow the Great Liberal alignment of 2008 has led to this and this. They tried to setup permanent Democratic majority from top to bottom choosing O, now let's try from the bottom up with the "Fall of America" ​​or whatever. I have to remain relevant in some way, right?

Anyway, that's a relief from an interview with Lawrence O'Donnell expect strong. The highlight others: Jones casually dismissing "this false invented things deficit" that Republicans are always yammering about. That's part of its ongoing attempt to convince a population that is $ 14 trillion debt that the main thing standing between them and prosperity is their unwillingness to turn people upside down and shake rich room in your pocket . Who knows? Perhaps the fall of America will be a great success and the new Democratic majority in Congress will restore the Clinton tax rates and spending for Medicare for all, as true warriors progressive choice. So yes it's going to be rich.
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