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APPLETON, WIS. - “The International Difference” is the theme for the 31st Annual Lawrence International Cabaret. Cabaret, an occasion to celebrate life through music, dance, and cuisine from around the world, takes place at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, April 15 in the Lawrence Memorial Chapel.

The 2007 Cabaret is set to be one of the biggest Cabarets with over 80 performers and 17 performances from every continent. Popular dances such as the Sub-Continental dance, the belly dance from the Middle East, the Tango, and Japanese Taiko Drumming are back, while new dances such as the Daizu dance from China and the Ganh Lua (Vietnamese Harvest Dance) will make their Cabaret debut.

A dinner at Lucinda's, located in Colman Hall, follows the performance. The dinner menu presents a variety of delicious dishes from around the world including delicacies from the Middle East, Asia, Europe, and Africa.

Tickets to the Cabaret performance are $6 for adults and children under 6 are free. Dinner and Cabaret tickets are $13 for adults, and children under 6 are free. Tickets are available beginning April 6 at the Lawrence University Box Office, located in the Music-Drama Center, or by phone at 920-832-6749.

I do love me so hip hop remixes, the reinterpretations are always fascinating. Here are a couple that have recently caught my attention by the likes of Pistol Pete, Quarterbar, Ratatat, and Copy. Enjoy.

::: Clipse - Wamp Wamp (Pistol Pete Remix)
::: Birdman & Lil Wayne - Stuntin Like My Daddy (Quarterbar Remix)
::: Beanie Sigel & Jay-Z - Glock Nines (Ratatat Remix)
::: Lil Flip - Game Over (Copy Remix)
::: Timabland, Jay-Z, and Justin Timberlake - Laff At Em (Give It To Me Remix)

Buy these albums at Insound and get 10% off your order if you enter the secret code “SpringGoodness” at checkout. Hooray for discounts. You can get the Ratatat Remixes Volume 2 at their live shows.

[Current Macktronic Contest.]
[Gold Robot Records on myspace.]
[Buy music from Insound.]
[Find/Listen/Download music at The Hype Machine.]
[Photo credit goes to superagent003.]

Tags: mp3, music, jay z, birdman, lil wayne, beanie sigel, quarterbar, pistol pete, ratatat, lil flip, copy, justin timberlake, timbaland, remix

Mark Caro of the Chicago Tribune brings us some unexpected statistics from Netflix that show less-watched and less-awarded films now beating out better-known ones for renters and buyers. “Box office success doesn’t mean it’s going to have a lasting critical appeal, and even an Academy Award is no guarantee,

Have you joined the hundreds of people who have entered my 2nd Annual Livin’ La Vida Low-Carb Blogiversary Giveaway Contest yet? If not, then you are definitely missing out on a golden opportunity to rack up on some of the nicest prizes you’ll ever be able to win from a blog I can assure you of that! I sought out the best of the best because YOU DESERVE IT!

Our generous Grand Prize donation–that Vermont Castings deluxe grill–could not have been made possible without the fine folks over at CFM Corporation. Do me a favor and send a THANK YOU e-mail to the Grills Category Manager Tim Kuhn for being willing to provide such an amazing prize for my contest celebrating my second anniversary at the “Livin’ La Vida Low-Carb” blog.

But as nice as that grill is, only one person is going to win it! Never fear, though, there are tons more prizes that await you if your name is drawn for them at the end of the month. You can see some of these outstanding giveaways by clicking here, here, and here. There ain’t no chintzy prizes in this contest and I’m so happy to give you a real chance to win!

Yo, I’m not done sharing all the prizes with you yet! Here’s some more:

TWO-NIGHT CABIN STAY IN THE SMOKY MOUNTAINS

Catch a “Glimpse Of Heaven” on vacation in the mountains

Special thanks to one of my readers named Cheryl who owns a Smoky Mountain cabin rental company, you and your family may be going on vacation in a luxurious cabin located near Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg, TN called “Glimpse Of Heaven.” This cozy two-night stay with an absolutely gorgeous view of the Great Smoky Mountains will be going to one of you just for entering my contest. Keep in mind this cabin is very popular and may be booked up for 2007, but you can discuss the dates you are available with Cheryl. In the meantime, go visit HeavenlyCabins.com to learn more about these incredible cabins and contact Cheryl directly by e-mail if you have any questions or would like to place a reservation to stay in their amazing facilities.

“THE ULTIMATE CHEF” PRIZE PACK FROM DEL MONTE

What an incredible prize I have for you compliments of our friends at Del Monte Foods! This “Ultimate Chef” prize features the brand new cookbook by Oprah Winfrey’s personal chef Art Smith, a bunch of Del Monte canned foods, cooking equipment, and so much more! Check it out:

Back To The Family cookbook by Chef Art Smith

Tons of Del Monte canned goods

A Todd English MIXXO

Hard Anodized Cookware for healthier cooking

Kids apron and chef hat

A gorgeous canvas tote from The Company Store

Yep, all of those prizes will be going to ONE LUCKY WINNER!!! Be sure to visit DelMonte.com for more information about our generous sponsor.

DIABETESMINE.COM T-SHIRT/KNOW YOUR NUMBERS BOOK
DIABETESMINE.COM T-SHIRT/KNOW YOUR NUMBERS BOOK

Amy Tenderich provides a diabetes two-fer prize

Fellow blogger and diabetes extraordinaire Amy Tenderich has donated prizes for two winners: a complimentary DiabetesMine.com T-shirt and an autographed copy of her brand new book Know Your Numbers, Outlive Your Diabetes. If you’ve never visited Amy’s blog, then you’ll want to drop by DiabetesMine.com for an engaging and fun blog about living with diabetes.

2 COPIES WEEKNIGHT GRILLING BOOK BY THE BBQ QUEENS
2 COPIES WEEKNIGHT GRILLING BOOK BY THE BBQ QUEENS
2 COPIES WEEKNIGHT GRILLING BOOK BY THE BBQ QUEENS
2 COPIES WEEKNIGHT GRILLING BOOK BY THE BBQ QUEENS
2 COPIES WEEKNIGHT GRILLING BOOK BY THE BBQ QUEENS

Two copies of “Weeknight Grilling”–one for you, one for a friend!

Do you remember my interview with BBQ Queen Karen Adler on my “Livin’ La Vida Low-Carb Show with Jimmy Moore” podcast last week? When I asked her which of her grilling cookbooks was the best for people who are livin’ la vida low-carb, she immediately said Weeknight Grilling With The BBQ Queens. So here we are giving 5 of you the chance to win not just one, but TWO copies of this fantastic book so you can keep one yourself and give the other away to someone else. Be sure to visit BBQQueens.com to learn more about them and check out PigOutPublications.com for a full selection of BBQ books to choose from.

$100 GIFT CERTIFICATE TO CARBSMART.COM

Low-carb retailer CarbSmart.com is a popular online store

Finally, we have an very lucrative prize from our friends at CarbSmart.com–a $100 gift certificate! You can spend it just like cash in one of the best online low-carb retail stores around. Look around and find some excellent products to help you along in your low-carb lifestyle. And if you missed my exclusive podcast interview with the founder and president of CarbSmart.com, Andrew DiMino, it’s worth checking out!

Do you think I’m done sharing prizes in the 2nd Annual Livin’ La Vida Low-Carb Blogiversary Giveaway Contest? Nope, not yet! I have at least one more post with a few more goodies to share that you could win! But you gotta get your entry to me to become eligible for a prize. Don’t miss out on your chance!

Just when it seemed the Marlins might have a relatively smooth shot of gaining approval for a $60 million state sales tax rebate to help round out the financing for a $490 million ballpark in Miami, local and state politics are overshadowing the process once again — for the sixth time in eight years.

A Senate committee vote on a bill to provide the rebate for the Marlins was postponed Tuesday morning after some senators floated the idea of instead making a $32 million lump sum cash payment each to the Marlins, Orlando Magic and Tampa Bay Lightning.

Our Tallahassee Bureau Chief Linda Kleindienst filed this to explain the latest political wranglings:

Miami-Dade politics and a budget squabble between the House and Senate have stalled a proposal to hand nearly $100 million over to three pro sports teams to build new homes or renovate the venues where they now play.

The plan to give $32 million apiece to the Marlins, Orlando Magic and Tampa Bay Lightning was scheduled for a vote in the Senate Transportation and Economic Development Committee on Tuesday morning. But the vote was delayed when it appeared there might not be enough support, even from Miami-Dade senators, to get the measure out of committee and there are signals that the House doesn’t like the idea.

Bills that would give all nine of Florida’s professional sports teams a $2 million sales tax rebate over the next 30 years - $60 million apiece or a total of $540 million - have been moving through the House and the Senate this session. Those bills, however, would take recurring revenue from the state’s bank account while a cooled down economy is bringing in less tax revenue than the state had expected. Recurring dollars are used to operate state programs, including the court system, public schools and universities.

“That would have a huge fiscal impact on this state. I don’t think we can afford it,

I’ve been blogging about poker and other randomness for 3 years now. Each time I pull up Blogger to start a post, I amaze myself. I’m not amazed at my writing skeelz or other such nonsense - far from it in fact. Instead, I’m just amazed that I’ve stuck to my guns and not given up.

More times than I care to mention, I’ve pondered how to write my final post on these pages. For whatever reason, I’ve pushed those thoughts aside and instead worked on just writing what’s in my head. More often than not, what spews out is tarded, but that’s how I roll. No regrets.

On this journey I’ve learned a thing or two, which I think has helped me along the way. One of the most important things I’ve learned is that, though blogging is virtual, and allows people to be masked in a certain obscure persona, it is also very much real.

When poker bloggers win nice chunks of change, I get excited. When they reap the rewards of their hard work with deserving jobs, I am proud. Sometimes things happen that absolutely destroy me.

By that same token, at times we just plain piss each other off. We often don’t agree about certain situations and aren’t afraid to let it be known. Sometimes it is a valid point and other times we’re just letting off steam. At times we make mistakes, but more often than not, a lesson is learned along the way.

All the above are emotions normally reserved for family and/or friends. For what it’s worth, my list of family and friends has expanded beyond my expectations in the last 3 years. All because of a series of tubes, a silly game, and this here blog. Quite a family pot we have going.

That, my dear readers, is why I haven’t quit blogging. And as gay as all of the above sounds, I know it is why many poker bloggers continue to get their blog on as well.

That and the ad revenue *cough*.

If I have one regret from the last few years, it’s that I’ve sheltered myself in the world of poker blogs, when there really is a world of incredible writing out there. As I learn the ways of tekkmology, I’m starting to branch out and add RSS feeds of non poker blogs.

One blog that Raveen put me on, A Day In The Life Of An Ambulance Driver, has really had some quality stuff lately. I implore you to go read these two blog posts by Ambulance Driver. Truly incredible stuff.

On the lighter side, if you don’t read What Would Tyler Durden Do?, then get your ass over there and add it to your list. This guy says all the things we want to say about celebrities, but he’s funny. It’s toilet humor to the Nth degree, but sometimes that’s exactly what I need.

I’m looking for other truly stellar feeds that I should have on my list, so if you want to leave me a comment with things I should be reading, I would appreciate it.

Until next time, may the felt be with you.

Confucius Making a Comeback In Money-Driven Modern China. The article notes that there is some debate about what exactly “Confucianism” is. The original ideas of Confucius were a distillation of the traditional customs & rites of ancient China which he attempted to preserve and promote through his tumultuous times. The original canon was modified and interpreted by by his successors, Mencius & Xunzi, transformed by the rise of the Chinese Empire, and finally influenced by Buddhist metaphysics (Neo-Confucianism). Like many elite religio-philosophical systems Confucianism is extremely flexible & rich, providing precedent & justification both for service to the a autocrat as well as moralistic objection to his tyranny. After the first Chinese Empire collapsed because of its totalitarian tendencies, encapsulated by the amoral utilitarian Legalist philosophy, the ruling dynasty which succeeded that of the First Emperor buttressed their legitimacy with Confucian thought. Though the outer facade spoke with a gentle Confucian voice the state apparatus in some ways was more indebted to the blind efficiency of Legalism. The point is not the words one speaks, it is that adherence to the Way allows one speak with more authority, the voice of Heaven. I wonder if in the near future Chinese will view the genuine Communist period (i.e., between 1950-1980) as similar to the Qin dynasty, which was at is peak for only 16 years.

U.S. Release Date: 7/17/59
Running Time: 2:16
Rated: PG (Mild profanity, mild violence)
Cast: Cary Grant, Eva Marie Saint, James Mason, Jessie Royce Landis, Leo G. Carroll, Philip Ober, Martin Landau

Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Producer: Alfred Hitchcock
Screenplay: Ernest Lehman
Music: Bernard Herrmann
Studio: MGM

With the release of films like Psycho, Vertigo, and Rear Window, Hitchcock quickly earned the title, “The Master of Suspense.” North by Northwest furthers the notion behind this moniker and unravels a thread comprised of not only suspense, but also romance, comedy, and action. While most would agree that North by Northwest is not Hitchcock’s most mind-boggling effort, it is one of his most complete. Expansive in plot and broad in breadth, North by Northwest is a genre-bending, stylized journey that travels steady like a train—definite in its direction and confident in its destination.

Mr. Roger Thornhill (Cary Grant) is a busy Manhattan advertising executive, whose chiseled jaw and polished look perfectly compliment his frenzied, yet sarcastic, demeanor. After stealing a cab from a “Good Samaritan” and ordering his secretary to buy an expensive box of chocolates for his heartbroken ex, Roger attends a sit-down business dinner. However, when he leaves the table to send a telegram, two thugs hold him at gunpoint, force him into the back of a car, and take him meet a man named Lester Townsend (James Mason). Lester, and all else, mistake Thornhill to be a man named George Kaplan. Thornhill informs the mend that they are mistaken, but they persist. Soon, Thornhill tries the identity switch on for size, but he receives far more than he had bargained for—including his face on every paper – wanted for murder – and an amorous blonde named Eve Candle (Eva Marie Saint).

In viewing North by Northwest, it is entirely apparent why Hitchcock is push-pinned as one of America’s finest directors. Between the sarcastic comedy, the light sensuous romance, and the definitive action, it is obvious that Hitchcock knows what buttons to press, at the most opportune time. For instance, his camera work with the drunk-driving scene is utterly superb, while his choice of shot post-murder is entirely effective; both scenes bottle-up the tone of the piece like no other. Furthermore, Hitchcock’s placement of the opening credits – parallel to the buildings – are stupendous an undoubtedly an inspiration for David Fincher’s Panic Room.

Originally titled, “The Man on Lincoln’s Nose,” North by Northwest was a film that happened to be crafted around its Mount Rushmore climax. Nonetheless, North by Northwest is more famous for its crop-duster sequence, which even makes the non-agoraphobics fearful of wide-open spaces. Nevertheless, that is the beauty associated with North by Northwest; there is something to clamor over around each and every turn. Be it the erotic romance (between a machismo male and a fiery female), the pre-James Bond action/suspense, or the Hitchcockian token in which each set of number mentioned sum to 13, North by Northwest is one of the great films of the ‘50’s. (**** out of ****)

© Copyright Brandon Valentine 2006

I have to admit it. I’m addicted to Bulls**t. You may wonder why that is such a surprise, given that I blog for a living — but in this case, I’m talking about the television show featuring Penn & Teller.

In fact, the show reminds me of the same kind of attitude behind blogging. The pair built their reputation as skeptics, and apply their skepticism to a wide range of topics. The show combines humor, outrage, and their libertarian point of view into a wild ride that (almost) never fails to entertain. Most of the topics involve politics to some degree, and a few more than most.

And just like with blogging, those political points of view can annoy and even enrage the viewer. Tonight, we watched Penn & Teller’s deconstruction of Mother Theresa from the show’s third season. We also sat through their show on Big Brother, which reviewed the Patriot Act as well as surveillance cameras. Obviously, conservatives and Catholics might object to some of what the hosts have to say on these subjects, and we did. Even while objecting to it, though, we found it entertaining and enlightening — just like the best of the blogs.

The third episode talked about colleges, diversity, and speech codes. That entry featured our friend King Banaian of SCSU Scholars, the chair of Economics at St. Cloud State University. Conservatives would love this episode, and not just because Penn & Teller allow King to be the voice of reason. They punk Noam Chomsky and a race-baiting diversity specialist — no, wait, two race-baiting diversity specialists. They show how universities have become indoctrination centers for the Left. And they’re hilarious the entire time.

Most times they’re dead right, a few times they’re dead wrong, but they never fail to entertain — and to make the audience think. It’s confrontational, direct, and fearless … just like the best of the blogs. If you haven’t had the opportunity to see the show, which airs exclusively on Showtime, try buying the DVDs.

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