I’ll believe it when it finally happens. But the news that Congress might actually stop production of a high-tech, job-generating and, most of all, high-profit…
Posts Tagged ‘Connecticut’
Jacob M. Appel: A Culture of Liberty
July 22nd, 2009 |
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The right to remove an unwanted conceptus from one’s uterus, and to choose one’s intimate partners, and to end life on one’s own terms, are each threads in the same social blanket.
Supreme Court Guts American System of Justice
July 21st, 2009 |
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The New York Times is providing important coverage of the U.S. Supreme Court’s May 18, 2009 decision in the case known as Ashcroft v. Iqbal:The lower courts have certainly understood the significance of the decision, Ashcroft v. Iqbal, which makes it …
DSO/Keller Williams/Francis | 07.11 | NYC
July 20th, 2009 |
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Words by: Bill Clifford | Images by: TheBeachConcerts.com
Dark Star Orchestra/Keller Williams/Pete Francis :: 07.11.09 :: Beach at Governors Island :: New York, NY
 Beach at Governors Island :: New York, NY by Brian Walter |
Since its transfer to the state of New York in 2003, Governors Island, off the southern tip of Manhattan, has been undergoing a gradual transformation into an arts and recreation district. The former Army Post and then Coast Guard installation now hosts a National Monument, walking tours of the island, arts exhibits, film festivals, and yes, even concerts. The 2009 concert season got underway on Saturday, July 11, with a triple bill at a newly designed, man made concert site dubbed The Beach at Governors Island.
Saturday’s lineup included opening act Pete Francis and Barefoot Truth performing together, as well as co-headliners Keller Williams and Dark Star Orchestra. The venue, located on the north side of the island up the East River and facing the lower Manhattan skyline, provided a spectacular view, despite the overcast skies. A unique setting, it was far more akin to a giant sandbox – with trucked in Long Island sand – than a beach, which was situated behind a paved, asphalt pit in front of the stage.
Pete Francis achieved fame as a member of the New England rock act Dispatch, between 1996 and 2004. Recently however, he’s taken on a bit of a mentoring role, leading the talented Connecticut-based acoustic quartet, Barefoot Truth. Together they ran through a collection of solo Francis material and Barefoot Truth songs in an all to short but sweet set.
 Keller Williams :: 07.11 :: Beach at Governors Island |
Barefoot Truth is a different band with Francis on electric guitar. While Francis doesn’t hog the spotlight, he does augment the band’s sound, amping the energy level up a notch. The mellow, reggae vibe of “Eagle Front,” for instance, began slow and easy but built to a rousing rocker. “Broken Home” is an up-beat, acoustic sing-along, though in this setting it was a bit overdone, as the fine vocal harmonies, rolling keys and warm Weissenborn lap guitar of Barefoot Truth were scarcely audible under the amped-up electric. Nonetheless, these guys did get the crowd to “bubble up, closer to the stage,” with Francis’ encouragement, and certainly turned on some new fans to their music. With or without Francis, Barefoot Truth is an up and coming band worth keeping your eyes and ears open for.
Keller Williams very much embodies the spirit of the Grateful Dead in his music. He’s clearly a student and serious fan of the band, and in all his years of steady touring, never has he played the same song the same way. He’s diversified his act by performing with any number of musicians in one musical incarnation of a band or another. Today it was Williams solo, surrounding himself with an arsenal of instruments to loop sounds and create a performance piece on the fly.
Williams has always been a personal favorite, though having seen him perform a number of times, his solo act is getting a little tired. Such as his story/song about a “Doobie In My Pocket;” though it always gets a great reaction from the hippies in the crowd, and he always updates and localizes it; it’s just been played out a bit.
 Keller Williams :: 07.11 :: Beach at Governors Island |
Williams has always been a festival and jamband favorite, as well. So, when he broke out a cover of the Phish’s “Birds of a Feather,” with looped bass and harmony guitars, it brought a huge cheer from the phans. Looping the harmony guitar, he added a solo where it sounded as though the guitar itself was singing.
With the first sprinkles of rain dropping at 8:15 p.m., Williams broke it down to a solo guitar showcase. A self-proclaimed Deadhead, his covers of the Grateful Dead’s “Attics of My Life” > “Deep Elem Blues” was a sweet prelude to the DSO set yet to come and got the audience singing in unison and cheering along. He closed out the set with two fan favorites. On “Kidney In a Cooler” he sang about “purple teeth, in little America,” and was joined by Rob Koritz of DSO on drums, as well as a trumpet solo from Louis Gosain, his sound man in the back. His face was quite animated as he closed his set with “Celebrate Your Youth,” playfully egging on a young crowd.
Whether you catch DSO recreating a specific historic Dead performance or simply playing their own original show (comprised of material from the Dead catalog), you’re always in for a fond recollection of the music of the Grateful Dead. For many younger fans, DSO is as close as they’ll get to a Dead show.
 DSO & Keller Williams :: 07.11 :: Beach at Governors Island |
As a fan who considers himself dedicated to original music, I’ve always struggled to find an interest in seeing and hearing a cover/tribute band. However, as a fan of the Grateful Dead who has seen that band both with Jerry Garcia and after Garcia’s passing, I personally get far more enjoyment from a Dark Star Orchestra show than I do from RatDog or Phil Lesh & Friends or even The Dead. While I wasn’t old enough in the seventies to have taken in a Dead show at that time, I have listened to live recordings from that era, and I always walk away from a DSO performance with the distinct impression that says, “Now that’s the way a rock concert is supposed to be done.”
Though DSO had set up its gear and instruments between sets, there was an extended break between Williams and DSO which cut into the momentum Williams had established, but DSO wasted no time in bringing it back up, singing “Happy Birthday” to Sara, their merchandise booth host, as fans gathered on the asphalt in front of the stage.
With lightning and a downpour eminent, DSO choose to run though a classic set of up-beat, anthemic Dead tunes, charging straight ahead with a driving “Feel Like A Stranger.” From the opening notes, the music was lively and the tempo was fast paced and got the crowd moving and shaking their asses. Vocalist/guitarist Rob Eaton is, if you’ll pardon the pun, a dead ringer for Bob Weir vocally. Dig out your old recordings and tell me it’s not so. With vigor he sang the words, “You know it’s gonna get stranger/ so let’s get on with the show!” bringing a rousing cheer from the crowd of roughly 2000. “Ramble On Rose,” sung by John Kadlecik doing the Garcia parts, created a similar effect when he sang, “Just like New York City.” I closed my eyes and listened to the music play as it segued seamlessly into “Cassidy,” where vocalist Lisa Mackey singing Donna Jean Godchaux’s parts really took me on a trip. That was at least until a deep and bellowing blow horn of a ferry awoke me.
 DSO & Keller Williams :: 07.11 :: Beach at Governors Island |
“We’re going to bring out our friend, Keller Williams,” said Eaton, and Williams sauntered out with a guitar in hand and a beaming smile. It’s no secret that Williams grew up a Deadhead, following the band from venue to venue. It was fascinating to watch him sing and play “Eyes of the World” with a full band behind him, his head shaking from one side to the other as he strummed his guitar. While he’s not exactly a vocal match for Garcia, what he lacked in similarity he more than made up for in a passionate delivery. It was obvious watching and listening to him that he truly was in his element. Thinking about this performance several days later, I yearn to see him line up a full time band of his own.
DSO rambled through a few more classic New York City tunes mid-set. “Dancing In The Streets” had fans grooving with each other and the line “Up In New York City, all we need is music, sweet, sweet music,” brought a holler from the feisty crowd. Though it was a slight downer in tone, “Liberty” was a fitting song choice with Lady Liberty looking on just east of the island. “Women Are Smarter” and “Cosmic Charlie” both got fans waving their hands in the air, while “Truckin” was a sing-along favorite. After a short “Drums,” the rest of the band came back on stage and told us that lightning was on the way and they had to end the set a bit early. They closed the evening with a fitting, soulful and harmony rich “We Bid You Goodnight.”
It was a stellar evening until it wasn’t. As the rain began to fall at a steady pace, fans were ushered like a herd of cattle to the ferries. The water taxis that took fans from Manhattan to the island were huge ferries that hold as many as 800 at a time. But now, with the rain and lighting, they ferried us off the island on much smaller boats. With everybody horded into one spot and the loading docks wet, security and police stood in the way and ushered us one fan at a time onto the docs and the ferry, causing a lot of pushing and shoving. The storm was eminent prior to the concert and organizers should have had a better evacuation plan in place.
Though the exit plan could have been better, the live music gave fans a few hours to shake their tale feathers and meet new and old friends. While the views from the new venue were spectacular, I think many would have rather had natural grass under our feet rather than a litter box and parking lot. Nonetheless, we were treated to a concert with three fantastic bands in a decent venue.
Keller Williams tour dates available here. DSO dates here.
JamBase | NYC
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Michael Phelps won ESPY Awards
July 20th, 2009 |
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LOS ANGELES (AP) — Michael Phelps won a leading five ESPY Awards, including male athlete of the year, ending the five-year reign of Tiger Woods, who earned his record 22nd trophy Wednesday night.
The 14-time Olympic gold medalist also collected trophies for record-breaking performance, championship performance, and male Olympian while sharing the best moment award as [...]
50 Cent Slashes Price Of Mansion A Second Time – To $10.9M
July 19th, 2009 |
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FARMINGTON, Conn. — The price of the Connecticut mega-mansion owned by rapper 50 Cent has dropped again – to $10.9 million.
The 50,000-square-foot mansion is in the Hartford metropolitan area suburb Farmington. It was owned by box…
Michael Markarian: Obstructionist Lawmakers Harm Animals and the Economy
July 18th, 2009 |
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If they were truly concerned about the economy, self-described fiscal conservatives like Boehner, Bishop, and King should have been the first to line up today in support of the mustang legislation.
John R. Bohrer: Senator Cronkite
July 18th, 2009 |
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Walter Cronkite was a liberal and no, he didn’t have a problem with that. He was not afraid to express opinions when the situation called for it; he just insisted it be marked an editorial.
Senate ends judge’s questioning
July 16th, 2009 |
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President Barack Obama’s choice for US Supreme Court justice, Sonia Sotomayor, is facing a final day of questioning at her confirmation hearing.
The Senate Judiciary Committee is also calling witnesses to question them about her record as a judge.
Ms Sotomayor has so far avoided having the "meltdown" one of her critics said was needed to derail her confirmation.
A full Senate vote is expected in early August. Ms Sotomayor would be the first Hispanic Supreme Court justice.
During the questioning this week, Ms Sotomayor vigorously defended her impartiality as a judge.
On Wednesday, she was asked again to explain her comment that "a wise Latina woman with the richness of her experiences would more often than not reach a better conclusion than a white male who hasn’t lived that life".
And again Ms Sotomayor insisted that it was a rhetorical flourish gone awry.
She has also been careful in responses to questions about any major issue that could come before her as a justice, such as abortion and gun law.
Thursday’s hearing sees a variety of witnesses called, including Frank Ricci, a white firefighter from New Haven, Connecticut.
His case has figured prominently in discussion about Ms Sotomayor’s suitability to serve as a Supreme Court justice.
Mr Ricci was among a group of firefighters who took a promotion exam, only to see the results dismissed by city authorities after no African-Americans and only two Hispanics did well enough to win promotion.
Ms Sotomayor and fellow appeals court judges ruled that Mr Ricci and his colleagues had not been unfairly denied promotions, a ruling subsequently overruled by the Supreme Court.
After the hearings by the judiciary committee, a full vote in the Senate is expected in early August.
The Democrats have enough votes to block any Republican attempts to stop her confirmation.</p
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Bill Mann: Larry Kudlow — CNBC’s Answer to Glenn Beck
July 14th, 2009 |
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Every cable news network these days, it seems, wants to have a resident crackpot to draw an audience of gawkers, the masses H.L. Mencken…
July 14, 1868: Tape Measure Clicks In
July 14th, 2009 |
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1868: Alvin J. Fellows of New Haven, Connecticut, receives a patent for a spring-click tape measure. His improved design creates a useful and enduring tool.
The invention originated in Sheffield, England, historic center of England’s steel industry. An official city marker on an old factory there recounts that James Chesterman patented the spring tape measure [...]
US Supreme Court nominee states case
July 13th, 2009 |
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President Barack Obama’s choice for Supreme Court justice, Sonia Sotomayor, is due before a Senate committee that will question her fitness for the role.
Ms Sotomayor will be the first Hispanic to serve on the court if she is, as expected, confirmed in the post.
But Republican senators have indicated they will use the hearings to press her to explain past rulings and comments.
These include her remark that a "wise Latina" could reach better legal conclusions than a white man.
The hearings in the Senate Judiciary Committee are due to begin at 1000 local time (1400GMT), with opening comments by the 12 Democratic and seven Republican senators.
RISE OF SONIA SOTOMAYOR- 1954: Born in South Bronx to Puerto Rican parents
- Father died when she was aged nine and her mother raised her
- 1979: Graduates from Yale and serves as an assistant district attorney in New York County
- 1984: Moves into private practice, specialising in intellectual property
- 1991: George Bush Snr chooses her as a district judge
- 1997: Bill Clinton nominates her to the circuit court
Ms Sotomayor, 55, will then make a statement that is expected to recall her personal story of growing up in a poor New York neighbourhood to Puerto Rican parents, going to law school and rising to become an appeals court judge.
Senators are expected to begin questioning her on Tuesday in an attempt to find out more about her legal thinking. Both sides will also call witnesses.
Her critics have seized on some of her rulings, including one that white firefighters in Connecticut had not been unfairly denied promotions.
The Supreme Court last month overturned that decision, ruling by five votes to four that the firefighters had been unfairly discriminated against.
Balance unaltered
Some of Ms Sotomayor’s remarks have also provoked controversy, in particular in 2001 when she said: "I would hope a wise Latina woman with the richness of her experiences would more often than not reach a better conclusion than a white male who hasn’t lived that life."
Such comments, her critics say, suggest her decisions would stem from bias, empathy and emotion rather than strict interpretation of the law.
"She has criticised the idea that a woman and a man would reach the same result. She expects them to reach different results. I think that’s philosophically incompatible with the American system," Sen John Sessions, the senior Republican on the judiciary committee, told CBS television.
But Sen Patrick Leahy, who chairs the judiciary committee, insists that Ms Sotomayor is a "mainstream judge".
"She is a judge in which all Americans can have confidence. She has been a judge for all Americans and will be a justice for all Americans," he said.
Ms Sotomayor is expected to win confirmation to the nine-member Supreme Court that rules on key political and social issues, and is the final arbiter of the US constitution.
But as she would replace Justice David Souter, another liberal justice, the balance of the conservative-leaning court would not be significantly altered.
She would, however, be not only the first Hispanic justice but only the third woman in the history of the court.</p
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Your thoughts on same-sex marriage
June 16th, 2008 |
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New Hampshire is now the sixth state in the nation — alongside Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, Iowa and Vermont — currently providing or soon to provide marriage benefits to gays and lesbians. Meanwhile, the issue continues to be hotly debated in other parts of the country, such as California, where Proposition 8, a ban on same-sex marriage was passed last year, and the Obama Administration has come under fire from some in the gay community for what they see as a lack of action on this issue.
We want to hear how the issue of same-sex marriage is affecting you. What do you think of the ruling? Do you think same-sex marriage should be allowed? Have you participated in rallies for or against the issue? Share your stories, photos and videos.
Phil Bronstein: Wise Latina, Meet Ricky Ricardo…
Ricky Ricardo always got blindsided, then hustled by his ditzy wife. All she needed to do was apologize and maybe cry a little. Neither Sotomayor nor Senator Coburn seem like they’ll be doing any weeping.