Cirque du Soleil has become a trusted brand for theater-goers seeking fresh and unique entertainment. Known the world over for their innovative fusion of circus acrobatics and dramatic theater, the Canadian entertainment company created 19 different productions over the years which were shown in over 271 cities. With such demand and popularity, Cirque du Soleil is continually working on something new to keep their audience coming back for more.
Their all new show titled Banana Shpeel will be premiering at the Chicago Theatre in November. This is Cirque du Soleil like you’ve never seen before!! It’s their own take on vaudeville which will blend comedy, music and dance into something new and exciting. The story centers around a struggling actor named Emmett who meets Shmelky, a cruel producer who enjoys power and control a bit too much. Emmett ends up falling for the beautiful Katie and encounters a variety of characters including the mysterious “Banana Man”.
Written and directed by David Shiner, Banana Shpeel looks to be another hit for the company which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. I absolutely enjoyed their Vegas show “Love” which is based around newly remixed Beatles songs. And I can’t wait to see this new show. I’m very intrigued about this Shmelky character and this so called “Banana Man”. If I had to guess, the banana guy will probably turn out to be the one to help Emmett find his happy ever after with Katie. But whether my guess is right or wrong, it doesn’t matter because the show is much more than just a storyline. One thing you can count on with Cirque du Soleil shows is the “wow” factor. This is no ordinary night at the theater. They want to expand your world and bring you something that you’ve never experienced before. Their creative use of music and visuals hava always impressed me over the years. And I’m sure Banana Shpeel will deliver in the same tradition.
Find out more about the new show on the Cirque de Soleil website.
With all the various cooking shows that are constantly shown on the Food Network, culinary schools across the country have experienced a surge in interest in recent years. Whether you’re a foodie or a weekend grillmaster, having a great meal is always an important part of one’s day. There’s so much depth and variety in the realm of cooking that one can always learn more. And these food related shows have opened our eyes to all of the wonderful goodness that can be created in our own kitchen.
Cooking classes offered at local schools and even higher-end grocery stores are a good place to start for those interested in expanding their repertoire in the kitchen. But what I’ve noticed recently is the rise in popularity of vacation packages built around gourmet cooking classes. As a matter of fact, I just learned about one being held at the Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel on October 16th and 17th.
Since my wife loves working out new recipes and interesting dishes in our home, I thought she’d might like a weekend getaway that would feature fine dining as well as tips and instructions from a professional Chef. The weekend cooking school in Branson is hosted by Chef Nathan Read and attendees get to enjoy and feast in his restaurant and learn how to prepare the meals the following day. Looking at the itinerary, I’d love to learn more about the Berkshire Pork Porterhouse as well as Bison Short Ribs. There’s an art to grilling meat and keeping things tender and juicy and I’m sure Chef Nathan would have helpful tips for me in that regard.
Now, I’ve been to Branson years ago and had a blast. I took in a couple shows and I remember checking out some of the neat museums in town including the Roy Rogers museum and Hollywood Wax museum. And the Hilton in Branson is located conveniently in the heart of the historic downtown district. While the summer months are typically the busiest, there are still tons to do in the fall. Besides working with Chef Nathan, I’ll personally take the opportunity to enjoy a relaxing weekend away from the kids.
Have you seen the brand new 2010 Chevy Camaro? After being off the market for seven years, the iconic sports car is back, redesigned and looking better than ever. As your typical “family man”, I’ve been relegated to driving the kids around in a minivan the last few years. My innate desire for speed has sadly been neglected. So, I would oh so love the chance to drive a powerful new sports car like the Camaro. That’s why I recently entered Charter Communications’ Camaro Sweepstakes for a chance to win this slick lookin’ speed machine.
Just like cars, I like my internet super FAST and as it so happens, Charter offers one of the fastest broadband connections in the nation. And not only are they giving away a great sports car, they’ll also give you a $100 gift card if you bundle 3 Charter services together such as digital phone, internet and digital cable.
I think it’s pretty cool that Charter continues to come up with these neat little giveaways for their customers. I remember them giving away laptops a few months back and last year, a brand new Hybrid car was up for grabs. Charter has also embraced social networking and openly interacts with their customer base. Whether you connect with Charter on Facebook or tweet with Charter on Twitter, it’s great to know that they are actively seeking your feedback. That’s pretty rare in this day and age where customer service has gone the way of the dinosaur.
Head on over to Charter.com/camaro to find out more about registering to win the 2010 Camaro 2SS.
Isn’t it time to find your bliss? With all the gloom ‘n doom about the lagging economy and President Obama’s health care plan, we all are in need of experiencing some good old fashioned bliss. Do you even remember the last time you ever felt that way? I know I don’t. Well I guess it doesn’t help when I stare at my ugly furniture each and every day. My ripped up ol’ ottoman doesn’t really help me in achieving my bliss.
As a matter of fact, LG, the maker of the sleek new smartphone called Bliss suggests that we should lose the ugly and follow our bliss. Why hold on to something that brings us down everyday? Let’s set ourselves free of these “stumbling blocks” so that we can make room for some joy. And to help us along in our journey to find our bliss, LG has recently set up a FaceBook page for us to share our photos and videos of our “ugly” objects and get a chance to win a brand new LG Bliss phone.
The contest is pretty simple to enter since it’s on FaceBook and we all know that everyone including their grandma has a FB account. And while you’re on the LG Bliss page, be sure to browse through the “Gallery of the Utterly Ugly”. There are already some outrageous examples of some ugly items!! yikes! Share your own photos of what you think is ugly and who knows, you might just become one of the 55 winners in the contest. The contest ends November 6th so get your photo posted on the LG Bliss Facebook Fan Page today. Photos can range from outdated fashions or furniture to low-tech electronics and even weird looking plants. Oh and put away that photo of your “freaky looking” Uncle Larry. No photos of people will be accepted. Also photos of violent, indecent or illegal activities aren’t acceptable either. More details are available on the LG Bliss facebook page.
Now that it has been a couple years since the changeover from Court TV to truTV, the network has proven beyond any doubt that it had made the right decision. I, for one, have been very impressed with how much the programming has improved since the switch. Their current primetime lineup is increasingly drawing viewers away from the other major networks by broadcasting quite an assortment of entertaining and compelling shows like Black Gold, Forensic Files, The Smoking Gun Presents and Party Heat. One of TruTV’s specialties is showing intense and dramatic real-life video clips through shows like Speeders and one of my personal favorites, Most Daring. Most Daring is probably the ultimate in “caught on tape” shows featuring the most incredible, life-threatening moments involving ordinary citizens. These are the moments that gets your heart-pounding and your jaw-dropping. the videos range from daring rescues to freak accidents to inspiring moments of bravery.
Here’s a video clip from the show that took place at a dirt bike racing event. The “holy crap” moment arrives pretty quickly when a biker plows straight into another biker at top speed. The moment happens in a flash and the video has to be slowed down and replayed several times in order for the viewer to full grasp what just happened.
Thankfully the crash wasn’t fatal but as you can see from the video, the outcome could’ve just as easily went the other way. What’s even more amazing to me is the fact that these moments were even captured on video. Most of these incidents happen at a blink of an eye and to have someone witness the event AND have the camera rolling is a major feat in itself.
The dirt bike video is just one of thousands that have been shown on the TruTv series. I love watching the show and I sometime catch myself with my mouth ajar or sitting at the edge of my couch while viewing some of this stuff. It’s THAT good. In fact, these types of visceral reactions among viewers of TruTV are pretty typical nowadays. They call it the “TruTV effect” and the network even has to caution its viewers due to some reacting too severely to these dramatic videos. And it’s not hard to realize the greater impact these videos have on people just for the simple fact that they’re from real-life events. The network slogan sums it all up pretty clearly – when the stories are real, the effect is actual. very true, indeed.
I recently came across a mysterious website called Red Chair Confessions. The site doesn’t contain a whole lot of information at this time but its got the blogosphere a buzz with theories. Currently the site features a youtube video titled “Forgive Me Father” and not much else. I have to say that the video clip is very well done with some pretty decent production values which seems to indicate that there’s more to all of this than just a simple promo for a website. So what’s this all about? and what’s with all the secrecy? I suppose it’s a way to garner attention and from the look of things, it’s definitely working. The storyline in the video doesn’t really give us much in terms of clues. Obviously there’s another part to the story which will probably appear in the next week or so. I’m intrigued on what drove the lead character in the story to seek out the confessional at church. Could it be something sinister like some sort of noir-ish murder mystery? or maybe they’re planning on a comedic punchline involving watermelon and a sledgehammer. Maybe she’ll fess up to an addiction to watching the Wendy Williams show. oh the horror! but who can blame her, Wendy Williams is such a trainwreck. anyway, I can’t wait for the next installment of Red Chair Confessions. stay tuned.
Feel free to share the video with your friends as well as post your own theory about this whole thing!
The second season of truTV’s Black Gold kicked off last night with a lot of changes. The first season featured three competing rigs vying to be the first among the group to hit oil. But this time around, the show focuses solely on the crew of Rig 28 with a huge dilemma. They need to find oil in 50 days or end up losing the lease on their plot of land. Basically, if they don’t hit crude, the crew will lose their jobs and cost the company millions of dollars. The pressure is definitely on and viewers will be riveted in watching to see if the hardworking roughnecks will make the deadline. I like the fact that the new season will be focusing on one rig this time around since it’ll allow us to get to know the crew members and dig a little deeper into what makes these men tick. I mean, really, can you imagine CHOOSING to be out in the 110 degree heat, working on a 15-story rig and getting all muddy like that?
The new season’s opener which premiered August 19th, introduced a newbie to the rig named Cheston. Cheston is a great addition to the show since viewers can see through his eyes how hard it is to learn this job. The veterans really don’t want to be bothered with a new trainee or “worm” as they call ‘em and so we get to see Cheston having a real tough time figuring out what he’s supposed to be doing. Check out this video clip of his on the job training.
To make matters worse, daytime driller Pee-Wee doesn’t want the newbie around and is actually gunning for him to get fired. Hopefully Cheston will be able to survive this trial by fire especially since viewers will be drawn to this underdog. I, for one, can identify with Cheston because we’ve all been there at some point in our lives. Whether we’re a new kid at school or working our way up the corporate latter, we know how it feels to be the lowly peon. So Cheston should hang in there and not take all the abuse personally. I don’t think it matters who it is, every worm on the rig would have to go through this “rite of passage”. They’ve obviously got to earn their right to be on the rig. Not everyone is cut out for this type of work. It’s labor intensive, physically draining, hot, dirty and I’m pretty sure it’s smelly too. I can’t imagine going through what Cheston’s going through on the job but I could see myself getting the same expletive-filled “employee review” that he got in the following video clip.
But beyond all the in-fighting and name calling, the show should be an eye-opener for the nation. As a country filled with gas-guzzling SUVs and minivans, most folks don’t think twice about the fuel that they pump at their local gas station. The show gives us all a rare glimpse beyond the gas pump and into the lives of these roughnecks that are simply trying to provide for their families while helping supply our nation with some crude.
Oh, and one other neat little tidbit I’d like to point out is concerning the pipe supplier on the show. His name is Michael Patrick McConaughey who happens to be Matthew McConaughey brother. The two even appeared together in a movie titled “The Newton Boys” back in 1998.
Anyway, Black Gold is definitely a “must see” in my book. And when a show like this is run by the geniuses behind “Deadliest Catch” and “Ice Road Truckers”, you just know there’ll be some heart-pounding drama on hand. To get a taste of what the show is about, be sure to check out the truTV’s Black Gold trailer up on youtube.
Watch for new episodes of Black Gold every wednesday night at 10pm on TruTV.
My niece’s birthday is coming up and I’ve been scrambling to find something unique for her. I recently learned through my son that she has been re-discovering old school hip-hop music which I thought was pretty amusing. This is the stuff that I grew up with in junior high with artists like Run-DMC, De La Soul and LL Cool J. They all bring back memories of my younger days with me lugging around that old Panasonic Boombox with the five-band equalizer and dolby cassette deck. man, those were the days! Anyway, I found a cool online retailer called Hip Hop Bling that offers some great jewelry that my niece would absolutely love especially now with her new found obsession. They’ve got a wide range of styles and designs from the tasteful and restrained to the all out bold and eye-catching “Bling Bling” including some outrageous diamond encrusted Grillz. I just can’t wait to see her face when she opens up her gift that I got for her this coming weekend!
As our nation scrambles to find alternative fuel sources, we still have to continue to depend on our existing natural resources to meet current needs. So it’s fascinating to watch truTV’s Black Gold as the crew of roughnecks try to find the ever elusive Texas Tea. With the electric car industry still in its infancy, we are still a nation full of gas guzzlers. When are we going to turn the tide and curb our dependency on oil, I don’t know. But until then, we need to root for all those Texas roughnecks in hopes that they’ll end up finding an ample supply of the sweet crude.
Can you even imagine being one of those roughnecks working those long hours on the oil rig? From what I’ve seen, on-the-job-training is basically plopping a newbie on the rig and letting him loose. It’s a bit scary to see that since there seems to be a lot of hazards involved with the heavy machinery. But all the dangerous situations make for some riveting TV, that’s for sure. I can’t even begin to imagine what it would be like out on the rig. I’d probably be the bumbling idiot that’s constantly being yelled at by the crew chief. Since I’m no where near the blue-collar type, my employee review would probably be filled with expletives just like in this youtube clip.
Not only is this reality show addictive to watch but it also opens people’s eyes to what it really takes to drill for oil. People tend to take for granted the enormous amount of resources it takes to get the fuel to the gas pump. Hopefully Black Gold will enlighten viewers in that regard.
Plus, the creators of “Deadliest Catch” are the ones behind this show so you know you are in for a hell of a ride. The new season of Black Gold premieres August 19th at 10pm on TruTV. and then catch new episodes every wednesday after that. In the meantime check out truTV’s Black Gold trailer on youtube to get a glimpse of what the series is all about.
Have you ever wondered what your laptop is thinking as you use it day-in and day-out? Our laptops are silent warriors continually performing complex tasks for our benefit on a daily basis. We depend on these little hi-tech wonders and would be terribly lost if we had to face the day without them. Indulge me for a minute as I try to listen in on what my little HP Pavilion HDX 16t is saying about me.
My laptop:Boy, does this music blogger really run me through my paces. He’s got my hard drive filled with music and videos and is continually burning or ripping CDs, viewing videos on youtube and not to mention, blabbing away here on his blog. I’ve been with this guy for over a year now and he seems to always have something to do either on the ‘net or working on some other multimedia project. He has also amassed a huge collection of family photos on my hard drive and so he’s always fiddling with photoshop or creating pan and scan slideshows to share with family and friends. As you may know, editing photos or creating slideshows use a good portion of my memory but since I’ve got 4GB of DDR2 memory, I don’t choke or freeze up like some of my lesser rivals. I’m so glad he didn’t order me as a smaller netbook. I would have had a tougher time keeping up with all the multimedia work he does. The only thing I wish my music loving owner did back when he ordered me was to have specified the larger 18.4″ screen which is the HDX 18t model. Watching DVDs on the larger HD widescreen is always a plus in my book. But even so, I still look good in my titanium liquid metallic design.
Anyway, I’m glad to learn that my laptop doesn’t think of me as some sort of idiot and I hope he knows how much I appreciate him. I’ve owned several HP computers over the years and I’ve had nothing but great experiences with the brand. If you’re in the market for a new computer check out HP.com for some great deals. As a matter of fact – Get $500 off instantly when you purchase an HP HDX 16t with $300 coupon code NBN3248 + $200 Instant Rebate. Valid through 8/23 or while supplies last. Restrictions and exclusions apply.
My laptop: Boy, does this music blogger really run me through my paces. He’s got my hard drive filled with music and videos and is continually burning or ripping CDs, viewing videos on youtube and not to mention, blabbing away here on his blog. I’ve been with this guy for over a year now and he seems to always have something to do either on the ‘net or working on some other multimedia project. He has also amassed a huge collection of family photos on my hard drive and so he’s always fiddling with photoshop or creating pan and scan slideshows to share with family and friends. As you may know, editing photos or creating slideshows use a good portion of my memory but since I’ve got 4GB of DDR2 memory, I don’t choke or freeze up like some of my lesser rivals. I’m so glad he didn’t order me as a smaller netbook. I would have had a tougher time keeping up with all the multimedia work he does. The only thing I wish my music loving owner did back when he ordered me was to have specified the larger 18.4″ screen which is the HDX 18t model. Watching DVDs on the larger HD widescreen is always a plus in my book. But even so, I still look good in my titanium liquid metallic design.
