Search Episodes (Friends with benefits)

Getting Health Benefits from a Sweetener!

Added 02/09/12
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Sailors and Marines work for the benefit of others

Added 01/25/12
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Friend With Benefits

Added 01/23/12
11 Views

Friend With Benefits

Added 01/23/12
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Schuyler Fisk - "What Good Is Love": SXSW 2012 Showcasing Artist

Added 01/23/12
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Schuyler Fisk - "What Good Is Love": SXSW 2012 Showcasing Artist

Added 01/23/12
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The Pace Report: "The 2012 NEA Jazz Masters Cememony Highlights"

Added 01/21/12
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The Pace Report: "The 2012 NEA Jazz Masters Cememony Highlights"

[LESS INFO] 2 VIEWS | ADDED 13:32:12 01/21/12
One of the most important jazz events took place at Jazz at Lincoln Center during the week of APAP last week. The 2012 National Endowment for the Arts held their 30th anniversary of the Jazz Masters Ceremony and Concert to a sold-out crowd. The event pays tribute to the architects of jazz music both living and deceased. More importantly, the NEA gives the current inductees as well as music programs and centers all over the country, grants and funding to continue the legacy of providing the community jazz programming and education to keep the music viable to public. Including this year’s inductees, the NEA has celebrated the work and lives of 128 jazz musicians, awarded more than 2,400 jazz grants, and given over $32 million dollars over the last 30 years. A very important feat for the music that very seldom gets the notoriety or praise like other American black music such as hip-hop, soul, and the blues. This year’s 2012 NEA Jazz Masters inductees include: Sheila Jordan, vocalist and educator; Von Freeman, tenor saxophonist and bandleader; Jack DeJohnette, drummer and pianist; Jimmy Owens, trumpeter, educator, and advocate; and Charlie Haden, bassist and bandleader. The festivities kicked off this year in regal fashion as Rocco Landesman, Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts gave the opening comments about how rich the NEA’s tradition of celebrating and commemorating of America’s only art form. 2007 NEA Jazz Master Ramsey Lewis and last year’s inductee Wynton Marsalis, artistic director of Jazz at Lincoln Center, also gave opening comments of the historical implications of the 30th Anniversary of this year’s jazz masters ceremony. NEA Jazz Master Phil Woods along with alto saxophonist Grace Kelly played “Things To Come” composed by former NEA Jazz Master Dizzy Gillespie. The two were backed by the stellar Jazz at Lincoln Orchestra lead by Wynton Marsalis. Drummer Jack DeJohnette was inducted by his mentor and fellow NEA Jazz Master Muhal Richard Abrams. Abrams helped Jack as a teen study and play both the piano and drums while growing up in Chicago, Illinois. Through Abram’s Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians, Jack developed a love and passion to play both classical and jazz music which helped him decide to play music professionally. In the mid-1960’s Jack decided to move to New York City where he played with the late Rashied Ali in the John Coltrane Quintet. He got his first taste of success when he joined saxophonist Charles Lloyd in his first quartet where he played with a young pianist named Keith Jarrett. During the late 1960’s into the 1970’s, Jack backed and recorded with the likes of Miles Davis, Sonny Rollins, Special Edition, New Directions, and his long association with the Keith Jarrett Trio with bassist Gary Peacock. Today, Jack is still very active and just released his latest disc “Sound Travels” on the the eOne Music label. NEA Jazz Master Benny Golson gave the induction speech of 2012 inductee Von Freeman. Freeman, who couldn’t make this year’s ceremony due to illness, was given some praise and adoration by his sons Chico and Mark Freeman, who gave his induction speech. Earle Lavon Freeman, Sr, was born in Chicago, Illinois where he’s been a musical icon for the last 70 years. Von comes from that elite class of Chicago tenor saxophonists like Gene Ammons, Clifford Jordan, and the late Johnny Griffin. During the 1950’s he and his brothers George and Bruz were the house band at the famed Pershing Hotel in Chicago. Von played with a slew of great local musicians that included Jimmy Witherspoon, Sun Ra, and Andrew Hill. In 1972 he recorded his debut recording “Doin’ It Right Now” produced by Rahsaan Roland Kirk. Currently Von plays weekly at the New Apartment Lounge and Andy’s Jazz Club in Chicago. Bassist and bandleader Charlie Haden has given the world of music and jazz his unique blend of originality and heart. Since he made his way on the bandstand during the late 1950’s, Haden has been a trailblazer and relentless musician always striving to take music to the next level as well as always create new forms of roots music. From his days with saxophonist Ornette Coleman’s group, the quartet recorded the landmark recording for Atlantic Records, “The Shape of Jazz to Come.” But in 1969 Haden would record one of the most ambitious jazz recordings of the time. “Liberation Music Orchestra” was a record that fused the social themes of the times as well as free jazz that spoke volumes in the jazz community. The music was arranged and composed by Carla Bley and the orchestra has been recording sporadically over the last four decades. In addition to Haden’s orchestra, the three-time Grammy Award winner also fronts Quartet West. Charlie couldn’t attend the jazz masters ceremony due to his recovery from a recent surgery. His daughter Patra read his acceptance speech and acknowledged his many accomplishments on Charlie’s behalf. Vocalist, musical visionary, and NEA Jazz Master Jon Hendricks gave one of the most poignant speeches for his friend and contemporary, vocalist Sheila Jordan. Hendricks praised her accomplishments as a vocalist as well as keeping the vocal tradition alive by teaching the next generation of vocalists. Jordan, a Detroit native, comes from a great tradition and legacy of musicians that have made great and important strides in the world of jazz music. She developed her vocal style while singing in a local group named Skeeter, Mitch, and Jean. But it was her drive and determination that got her to move to New York City where she decided to throw herself into the thriving music scene. When she moved here she learned music theory and harmony by bassist Charles Mingus and pianist Lennie Tristano. Pianist George Russell discovered and recorded her on his “The Outer View” recording in 1962. Sheila made history by recording the first vocal record for Blue Note Records titled “Portrait of Sheila.” Throughout her career she’s recorded and performed with the Steve Kuhn Quartet and Harvie Swartz. Today she continues to teach jazz vocal workshops as well as perform all over the world. Trumpeter and educator Jimmy Owens is having a stellar 2012 so far. His latest IPO Recordings release “The Monk Project” celebrates and focuses on the compositions of pianist Thelonious Monk. In his 50 years in the business, the 68 year-old musician has been on the front lines for the betterment for working jazz musicians. As a board and active member of the Jazz Foundation of America, part of Jimmy’s lifework has been to help musicians seek funding for medical expenses, legal assistance, housing, and steady work. He founded the Musicians Emergency Fund due to the lack of support from the arts community and serve as a means to never negate the lives of many musicians that haven’t had the support or the able means to survive. Musicians that have benefited from this generous program were Odetta, Fats Domino, Clark Terry, Freddie Hubbard, Cecil Payne, and Sweet Georgia Brown. In addition to his dedication to the JFA, he’s also been a supporter and advocate for the Local 802 of the American Federation of Musicians here in New York City. It’s Jimmy’s drive and passion that he’s fought State Politicians to repeal the 8.25% admission tax for clubs and major venues and to take those funds and contribute them to the AFM’s pension fund.This and his dedication to education in jazz music is why he’s been honored as one of this year’s NEA Jazz Master Inductees. Jimmy, who hails from the Bronx, New York, was exposed to jazz music when he was kid when his parents played the music. He wanted to play the trumpet and one of his first teacher’s as well as mentor, Dr. Donald Byrd, got him to take the instrument and studying it seriously. Over the years he’d back and play with some of jazz music’s leading innovators and icons. Musicians like Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Lionel Hampton, Clark Terry, Dizzy Gillispie, and the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra. Today he still teaches as well as serves as a mentor to many of today’s current jazz musicians and composers. Some of highlight performances of the evening included two separate duo performances including NEA Jazz Masters bassist Ron Carter and flutist Huber Laws in their rendition of “Little Waltz”/”Memories of Minnie.” Also, Jazz Masters vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson and pianist Kenny Barron’s rendition of Dave Brubeck’s “In Your Own Sweet Way.” The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra under the direction of Wynton Marsalis did an outstanding job in arranging tributes throughout the concert to NEA Jazz Master Horace Silver featuring Dave Liebman, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Candido Camero, and the new trumpet sensation Ambrose Akinmusire. The Benny Carter and Frank Foster tribute also turned a lot of heads featuring saxophonists Frank Wess and Benny Golson. I must add that the National Endowment for the Arts have dedicated to the works and mission to keep the jazz legacy alive via the grants they award every year. Also, they’ve been in tune with the jazz community via journalists, the musicians, and the many jazz associations to help educate and get the word out about America’s only original art-form. The NEA has more info for fans to reach out into their community to support the arts. For more info please visit them on the web at arts.gov.

Hot Red Carpet Trend: Lace!

Added 01/12/12
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Hot Red Carpet Trend: Lace!

Added 01/12/12
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Nolan Gould (Modern Family) StarCam Interview

Added 01/11/12
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Benefits of buying local by Nadine Grzeskowiak

Added 01/06/12
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Chick Loses A Fortune Over Dumbest Question Ever

Added 12/09/11
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AFL-CIO Launches 'Share Your Story' To Document Unemployment C...

Added 12/07/11
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AFL-CIO Launches 'Share Your Story' To Document Unemployment Crisis

[LESS INFO] 1 VIEWS | ADDED 15:00:23 12/07/11
The AFL-CIO launched a new website on Tuesday designed to capture the stories of the unemployed in their own words. The website, Share Your Story allows site visitors to upload their stories and pictures to the site, providing a human face to the issue of unemployment, which politicians talk a lot about, but don't seem nearly as interested in doing something about. Many of the stories on the site are like those of Pat from San Jose: > I was a Communications worker for just under 20 years. After I was "surplused" in 1995 I went to work at a non-union job in the same industry which later became Worldcom followed by positions in two other companies. After the dot com bust in 2001, finding a full time job was hopeless. Apparently the rules had changed and I did not have the education to continue doing the work I had done for 25 years. The past 10 1/2 years have held sporadic, temporary and part time positions, most in retail which paid very little and I have now been unemployed for about a year. This track record, along with the fact that I am now 61 years old doesn't offer much for a resume. My thought is to apply for Social Security (a real oxymoron) if the powers that be will allow it. My retirement fund has all but vanished in the wake of what has happened. I don't know what plan the 1% has for us--maybe they expect that we will simply vanish the way our money did on Wall Street. Janet from Texas questions the whole system: > I have two masters degree and am all but dissertation for a doctrate in social work. I worked, consistently for the first 30 years of my adulthood and am now unemployed. I am living with friends because I cannot get unemployment. I cannot get unemployment because I quit my last job. I quit my last job because they were not paying me. I am suffering, in chronic pain, because I have no health care coverage. I am substitute teaching to try to cover my expenses so if a permanent job comes through, I will still have a car to get there. My question to you, as I stand in front of a classroom of young people: I am supposed to tell them to get a high school degree and go on to college because...............why? She is far from alone in being a hard-working person who played by the rules and was still left out in the cold by the system. Even more heartbreaking are stories like that of Marge from Illinois: > I am writing to say what a profound negative impact joblessness has on a family. My son in law is in the building trades industry. Due to lack of activity he has been laid off for the last two years almost as much as he has worked. This has placed much stress on their young family and marriage. In fact the stress has gotten to the point where my son in law is back to drinking heavily which has led to their separation. I might add that they have two young sons. One is six weeks old. So I have a very strong opinion that we need to do what it takes to extend unemployment benefits. What will families do if they have absolutely NO income? And more than that we need to get the economy back on track. What is wrong with Congress that they are more concerned about seeing someone fail or getting their way than to look out for the good of the people who elected them? I am still hopeful that those members of Congress who have real values will stand firm and do what's right! AFL-CIO's release urges everyone to participate: > You need to check out this website, right now. It’s a powerful reminder of the real faces behind America’s sobering unemployment statistics. It has real pictures and stories from job-hunters and impacted people from all walks of life—from your state and from every state. I hope you’ll take a minute to look at these powerful stories, share them and add your own. If Congress fails to act by Dec. 31, extended unemployment insurance will expire for millions. We never forget these are real people who face the prospect of going hungry and getting thrown out of their homes soon after the holidays if Congress fails to act. Many of us have been there before—or have friends and family who have. Even though obstructionists in Congress are willing to ignore our joblessness crisis, we refuse to let these stories get brushed under the rug. Click here to see and share the stories and faces behind America’s joblessness crisis. Then, share our website on Facebook and Twitter and forward this message to all your friends. These stories and pictures won’t just live on a website. We’ll share them with the media, hand-deliver them to Congress during our massive day of action on Dec. 8 and promote them widely on the Internet. If callous members of Congress think they can sit back and allow unemployment aid to expire while they play political games, they’re wrong. With your help we’re going to force them to see this crisis head-on—with real faces of real people who are jobless and struggling in this brutal economy. See these stories, share them and add your voice. In Solidarity, Manny Herrmann Online Mobilization Coordinator, AFL-CIO P.S. It’s not just people who are unemployed right now who have stories to tell. Millions of others do, too. Maybe you’ve been jobless in the past and relied on unemployment benefits to get through. Or you’ve seen firsthand how much unemployment hurts your community and America—and how much unemployment aid helps. Or maybe you can write a brief statement of support for the jobless or urge Congress to act—even in just one to two sentences. Together, we’re creating a visual display of the impact of unemployment that will be too powerful to ignore. See and share stories and statements in your state and across America. Then, add your own.

Therapy Dogs Help Kids Get Better

Added 12/02/11
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Expect 3X Costs If Gambling Funds Stadium Says Religious Group

Added 11/30/11
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Expect 3X Costs If Gambling Funds Stadium Says Religious Group

[LESS INFO] 0 VIEWS | ADDED 13:05:48 11/30/11
Brian Rushe of the Joint Religious Legislative Coalition says Minnesota will suffer three times as much costs if gambling revenue is used to finance a new Vikings stadium in Minnesota. I'm Brian Rushe, Executive Director of the Joint Religious Legislative Coalition and my comments today are much more about the financing of any stadium proposal than about a site. So thank you for the opportunity. We represent the Minnesota Council of Churches, the Minnesota Catholic Conference, the Jewish Community Relations Council and the Islamic Center of Minnesota and we're very concerned about the gambling that have been floating around to fund a stadium. Gambling comes with significant social costs. And my concern is that too often that term 'social costs' is sort of glossed over and not given as deep a concern as it warrants. The best studies that are out there about what happens to a community when you put a casino inside of it, is that the social benefits are modest. You've provided a convenience for people that they might not otherwise have had. But the social costs swamp it by about a three-to-one margin. And when I say social costs, I just want to take a minute to delineate what I'm talking about. so that there's some familiarity with the things you can actually, demonstrably, measure. Family discord, family violence, even divorce are things that can be measured as an outcome of an escalation of gambling. Theft, embezzlement, lost productivity at work can be measured. Police and court costs associated with all the social ills around gambling can be measured. Of course there's the direct treatment costs for addiction. There's this whole concept called 'distressed dollars' — those are dollars that are lost because they're borrowed from friends and associates and never repaid. What I want you to know, and I will provide written testimony next week, is that the costs exceed the benefit by about a three-to-one margin and I want this to be part of your calculations, not because we're against, we don't have a position per se about sports facilities. We think its part of the culture here. In fact, some people joke in our world that it's the true religion of the state and this is all about building a temple. But gambling is not a road we want to go down if we're going to be a mature people that govern for the common good. It's corrosive. It's damaging and any form that could be justified because it already exists somewhere else, to me is taking on the psychology of an addict. 'Let's do gambling because we already do it.' That's a horrible logic and I would just warn you not to go down that road. And I'd be happy to answer questions, but I will be providing written testimony on the sixth. Thank you madam chair.