By Syed T. Ali
Heyoka at the Aztec Theater, was absolutely stunning. The audience packed the theater and spread into the photography/security area. |
By Lisa Sullivan
Read full here. From the opening notes you know this album is going to be unlike anything you've heard before. The record starts out almost mournfully with Thunderdreamer, soft flute underlying lyrics that decry the fate of the Native Americans. But then, suddenly, the song turns into an all out rock jam reminiscent of Styx with heavy synthesizers and soaring vocal melodies. Just as is the case with the first song, this is true of the entire album; the musical styles are all over the place and completely unpredictable. This creates a highly unique texture that makes this project a true joy to behold. As with other major bands that came onto the scene in the mid-70s, the sounds of Heyoka are much bigger than the five members. This is arena rock at its best, shredding guitars, driving bass and dumbeats, and intricate interwoven layers of keyboards and flute. Not to mention the amazing vocal range of Michael Grothues, who, sadly, passed in 2012. His range is amazing, carrying many songs in traditional rocker formula and then soaring to heights that only could be reached by the likes of Geddy Lee or Rik Emmett. The other players are equally talented with Gerardo Ramirez on drums and keyboards, Dito Garcia and David Alcocer II on guitars, and Pat Hood on bass. Together they form a true powerhouse. |
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The World of Coca-Cola is a ninety-two-thousand-square-foot attraction less than a mile from Coke’s headquarters, in downtown Atlanta. Taste It, an all-you-can-drink soda exhibit featuring more than a hundred flavors, lies near the entrance to Perfect Pauses Theatre, where Coke’s television commercials play on a continuous loop. Outside the Vault of the Secret Formula, a seven-foot-tall polar bear stands guard three hundred and sixty-three days a year, hugging children, posing for photographs, and even, on occasion, starring in marriage proposals. Each year, a million people pay as much as sixteen dollars a ticket to meet Coke’s “most beloved character,” a fluffy suit of synthetic white fur with a human inside, pulling strings to form a saccharine, glass-eyed grin.
June 19: Congressman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) today hosted a ceremony in Comfort, Texas, to honor local World War II veteran and Doolittle Tokyo Raider Lieutenant Colonel Richard “Dick” E. Cole. Cole is one of just two surviving members of the Doolittle Tokyo Raiders. More than 200 local residents attended Friday morning’s ceremony to honor Lt. Col. Cole. Congressman Smith presents Lt. Col. Cole with a flag flown over the Capitol in his honor and a bronze medal replica of the Congressional Gold medal. Congressman Smith: “Thanks to everyone for joining us to honor Comfort resident Lieutenant Colonel Richard “Dick” Cole and the proud legacy of the Doolittle Tokyo Raiders. It is understandable that only a city park would be big enough to hold everyone who would want to come to a special occasion like this. “The Doolittle Tokyo Raiders exemplify courage and patriotism. Their actions in 1942 are read about in books, seen in documentaries, and discussed in classrooms. “The attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 destroyed many of our Navy ships and injured and killed many Americans. But it did not break our determination to defend ourselves and protect our freedoms. About four months after the attack on Pearl Harbor, an all-volunteer effort that involved 80 men and sixteen B-25 bombers struck military targets in Japan. Col. Cole was Doolittle’s co-pilot in aircraft #1, helping to ensure the mission was a success. “As one of just two surviving Doolittle Tokyo Raiders, Lieutenant Colonel Cole is both a local and a national treasure. The House of Representatives passed a resolution last year to honor the outstanding heroism, valor, skill, and service of the World War II members of the Doolittle Tokyo Raiders. Earlier this year, the House presented them with the Congressional Gold Medal. Unfortunately, Col. Cole was not able to make it to D.C. for the presentation. So we decided to bring the ceremony to him. “The debt we owe our military men and women can never fully be repaid. And for that we are most grateful. Thanks go to Col. Cole for his service and congratulations to him on this well-deserved award.” Lieutenant Colonel Richard E. Cole graduated from Steele High School in Dayton, Ohio and completed two years college at Ohio University before enlisting in the Army Air Corps in November 1940. He completed pilot training and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in July 1941. He participated in the Doolittle Raid as Lieutenant Colonel Doolittle’s co-pilot in aircraft #1. He remained in China-Burma-India after the Tokyo Raid until June 1943, and served again in the China-Burma-India Theater from October, 1943 until June, 1944. Cole now resides with family in Comfort, Texas. He is one of just two living Doolittle Tokyo Raiders. Press Release from: http://lamarsmith.house.gov/ Photos by: http://votemattmccall.com/ Auman Elliott Burnett, 88 year old veteran was sitting at River City Donuts, on San Pedro Ave. and asked me about the "Smith College," Sweatshirt I was wearing. That got the conversation going between two individuals, two worlds apart. Burnett, was stationed in the Philippine Islands during the second world war. Either he could not recall, or did not tell much more about his service. He did tell me that he was a student at the University of Alabama, later the University of Texas, and The University of Mexico. Burnett, studied spanish language in Mexico, and later taught at the San Antonio College (SAC). "I met a woman in Mexico," Burnett told me. He told the lady that he was a protestant, and she was fine with it. Burnett, was filled with joy as he told me about the lady. He had a soft and youthful laugh. He asked me of my age, and laughed again when I told him that I hoped to live as long as he does. "I might die any day," he added. His satisfaction in life brought a metaphorical, "Tear to my eye," he seemed to value my curiosity, but in all truth, I was the one who valued the most from the encounter. From the bottom of my heart, Respect to a hero of another time. It is truly a world with a bloody history. The least to be done is honoring the fallen. We Celebrated the fallen at Unreal Studios today by flying all our flags at half-staff till noon. Decoration Day, also known as Memorial day is the day all fallen service men and women are remembered. ceremonious celebrations take place encompassing families friends and colleagues of the fallen. Lowered flags, visits to cemeteries and Public celebrations are common in the civilian world. To me, it means much more. The Origins of Decoration day go back to the civil war era in the United States. It actually traces back to the town of Columbus, Mississippi, Where over 2500 Confederate soldiers were buried in addition to 32 Union soldiers. Four Women of Columbus, Mississippi were paying their respects to the fallen confederates, and with a heavy heart, they could not resist decorating and honoring the fallen Union soldiers as well. The story of their gesture of humanity and reconciliation is now told and retold in Mississippi as being the occasion of the original memorial day, and with good reason too. Does this make feminism movements more important than patriotic and Manifest destiny movements? Today memorial day, and similar celebrations have become fronts for nationalist and profit-making ideals, that is what remains disappointing. Veterans living today will talk of contempt towards such celebrations and how the establishments ignore, or create obstacles for other living veterans. Unreal Studios is currently attempting to fund a project, that compiles such stories and testimonials from authentic sources. Interested parties can get in touch here. To me, Decoration day is much more, and it encompasses military culture, civil culture and global culture. Every service member has a story and usually the stories bring a lesson in good human character. My hopes are that the number of wars reduce in the 21st century, and more civilians learn the value and cherish the freedoms obtained through someone else's sacrifice. Most Importantly, remember the legacies left behind. Decoration Day has been celebrated since the end of the U.S. Civil War, but in other cultures similar celebrations exist. In Bangladesh, the celebration revolves for the fallen literate class, that lost their lives for language, and so many global celebrations, where the "feel," is identical. Within people of service, there is always a personal cause for what they do. Every cause has an effect. Every effect has infinite perspectives. May Decoration Day remind us all that there is much work to do, much to learn from the past, and we don't have time to wage worthless-to-humanity wars. With the sacrifices made, let us step into the next Golden Age.
(Slideshow) International Music Festival 2015 - Latina"Righteous men and scoundrels
Banded together to stop The Four They burned witches, they pounded nails Then The Fifth Horseman came and tipped the scales," -The Fifth Horseman Of The Apocalypse, Tom Morello - The Night Watchman |
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May 2016
AuthorSyed T. Ali, AKA Dtaws is a Bangladeshi Texan living in the Golden Age of Information. |