•5 Simple Steps To Protect Yourself Against Identity Theft
Are you the victim of identity theft? According to Joanna Crane of the Federal Trade Commission's Identity Theft Program, 80% of the victims who call the FTC say they have no idea how it happened.
Furthermore, an FTC survey reported that 4.6% of those polled reported that they had been a victim of identity theft within the past year. Additionally, according to a recent General Accounting Office report, it is estimated that as many as 750,000 Americans are victims of identity theft every year....
•A Classic Toy For The Ages
Throughout the years the toy market has seen many toys come and go but few have the staying power and the unique history of the Teddy Bear. Let’s explore this unique story of this classic toy and a piece of American heritage.
It was November 1902 and our president at the time, Theodore Roosevelt went on a hunting excursion to Mississippi. The trip was business and pleasure: He was there to try to settle a boundary dispute between Mississippi and Louisiana and a hunting excursion for the...
•A Classic Toy, By Accident
With the popularity of Internet shopping, classic toys that were hard to find, have now started to find a whole new audience. These classics, which sold very well after they were introduced, never seem to go out of style and can still bring a smile to any child’s face.
Let’s step into the past and take a look into the history of one of these classic toys.
In 1943, a Naval engineer accidentally knocked some springs off of a shelf while he was working on a meter designed to monitor horsepower...
•A.K.A. Duos In Pop Music
Pop music in the 1960's produced several top recording duos dotting the music charts and influencing future song writers and groups to this day. Let's explore a few successful duos from the 60's that also recorded as lesser known names before they hit it big as the names they are known as today.
An early release by duo that called themselves Tom & Jerry in 1957 did not fair well, although the duo did manage to crack the top 100 on the music charts. But subsequent releases proved to be...
•Album Cover Art-Part One
In 1939, Alex Steinweiss was employed at Columbia Records as the first art director for the company and decided to spruce up and repackage vinyl records. We all know the result, album cover art has become an important part of music and pop culture. (Prior to Steinweiss's creative influences, records were generally stored in plain, undecorated packaging).
For collectors, album cover art can sometimes be as valuable as the vinyl record it holds. For instance, one of the most famous album covers...
•Album Cover Art-Part Two
Album cover art software allows you to explore this pop phenomenon
In the last article, we discussed some of the elements of album cover art and I would like to continue the discussion with some more details and an album cover finder that is a must for any fan of album cover art.
As I stated previously, many famous artists have been commissioned to design and produce album covers. For example, the Rolling Stones and pop artist Andy Warhol are famous for the cover art on the Stones' album...
•Alex Steinweiss - Creator Of Album Cover Art
At age 23, the "Godfather" of album cover art, Alex Steinweiss accepted a job to design promotional materials for Columbia Records. What would happen next would revolutionize the music industry, specifically vinyl records, when he invented the illustrated album cover. A rather obvious, but brilliant, idea was to create a titillating graphic package that would, not only protect the record, but advertise the artist and the music contained therein (prior to this, records were sold in plain,...
•Bands Known By Initials
In rock `n' roll history there have been many bands whose moniker and names were shortened and universally recognized by abbreviated lettered names. Let's explore some popular initial nicknames of bands.
Creedence Clearwater Revival (also known as CCR) began churning out classic rock `n' roll singles shortly after the John Fogerty led band formed in 1967. With their "swamp-rock" sound and style, the group amassed seventeen top 40 hits like "Bad Moon Rising," "Green River," and the wedding...
•Behind The Scenes With Mr. Completely-Canadian Rockers Share Their Thoughts
Hailing from the blue-collar town of Campbell River, British Columbia, Canada, is a working man's rock and roll outfit called Mr. Completely. Their critically acclaimed self-released debut CD entitled "Twice on Sundays" has been well received by audiences who love the group's blend of classic rock, blues rock and emotional pop.
In an interview with Jamie Robertson, the energetic lead singer, we detail many of the elements that make Mr. Completely the dynamic rock and roll band that they have...
•Children Can Learn With Classic Toys
Have we lost our children in a hypnotic video game trance? Have they become “drones” to the “video age”?
Sometimes it may seem that way as many children spend hour upon hour in front of a video screen, pressing buttons or jockeying around a joystick. But it is up to the parents of children to say enough, let’s find some educational alternatives. However, it wasn’t that long ago when we were kids….we had real toys….classic toys.
Let’s step into a time tunnel of sorts and recall some of the...
•Classic Toys Never Go Out Of Style
Who hasn’t heard the old saying….back when I was young? Times have changed and so have the toys our children play with. Video games now dot the landscape with violence and virtual worlds for our children to “enjoy”.
But something else has changed with this new age, the availability of classic toys. With the Internet, it is now possible to find the toys your grandfather or your father grew up playing with. These toys never go out of style. Let’s take a look at the history of one of these toys:...
•Collecting Vinyl Records
The demise of the vinyl record has become a statement all to common in the music industry. Vinyl records were supposed to be a dead music format a long time ago, but have persevered through many technological changes in the music industry.
In this day and age of ipods and digital downloads, where people can fit thousands of songs in such a neat little package, how has the vinyl record managed to compete; what is the allure?
Recent research reveals that teens enjoy the physical experience...
•Collecting Vinyl Records- A Passion For Sound
As CD sales sour, the music industry is evolving in a peculiar way. Music lovers' are turning their attention to the past, reverting back to vinyl records.
For some it is an enjoyable hobby, recapturing a part of their youth. Yet for others, collecting vinyl records is a passion, as they scour the online web sites, record conventions, garage and rummage sales and small resale shops to secure their favorite records and add to their collecting collage of vinyl.
However, if you were to ask...
•Dogs And Pets Provide Health Benefits
Do dogs provide health benefits? Believe it or not they do! Did you know that owning a dog and pet ownership in general, can help a person in many ways? Owning a pet can improve your mental wellness, reduce your visits to the doctor, improve your cardiovascular health and allow for faster recovery time from surgery as well as higher survival rates. Recent research suggests that dogs may be able to detect cancer on a person's breath! Lets' explore these amazing health benefits of pet ownership:...
•Entertaining Youngsters With Classic Toys-Play Doh
With video games dominating and transforming the landscape of our pre-teen children with a new virtual world for them to play in, it is refreshing to know that there are still classic toys available for our younger children to enjoy. Let’s look at one of these special toys:
There is a classic toy, invented by two brothers in 1955, that still captures the imaginations of our pre-school children and youngsters alike. That toy, or product is: Play Doh.
Originally a wallpaper cleaner invented by...
•Finding Quality Vinyl Records Online- It Is Easier Than You Think
While CD sales continue to plummet and music consumers go "digital," there is an audio format that has endured through all the other formats that were supposed to bring it to its demise. As we read about the resurgence in the production and sale of vinyl records (up ten percent from last year), some still assume that finding vinyl is a hard process.
And although the `brick and mortar' stores may be closing up shop, a new avenue for vinyl lovers has come to the forefront; the `online record...
•Gift Card "Rush" Will Boost Holiday Sales Figures
While online and retail holiday shopping sales have met or exceeded expectations for most retailers in 2005, there is another "rush" for all retailers to prepare for: gift card redemption.
According to Hitwise, an online intelligence service, the market share of U.S. Internet searches containing the words "gift card" was up 32% for the week ending December 10, 2005 as compared to the previous week. In fact, the National Retail Federation expects gift card sales to increase 6.6% this holiday...
•Historic And Controversial Album Covers-part One
When CD's were first introduced in the early 80's, they were the "next best thing" in the music world. Certainly an upgrade from cassette tapes, CD's conveniently packed the music and artwork into a neat, small package. But one of the major flaws is the lack of cover art you get with a CD, especially when you compare it to the vibrant, lifelike album cover art you get with vinyl records.
In this three part series about album cover art, we will explore some of the most legendary album covers...
•Historic And Controversial Album Covers-part Three
In our last of a three-part series about album cover art, let's again examine a few controversial album covers.
It seems that a major retailer in the U.S. wields a lot of power and influence. When "John Cougar Mellencamp" released his 1996 album called "Mr. Happy Go Lucky," a picture on the cover of Jesus and the devil had to be changed. Since it did not affect the music and he did not design the cover, Mellencamp obliged and changed the cover to appease the previously named major retailer....
•Historic And Controversial Album Covers-part Two
In part one of our article series (one of three) about famous album cover art, we discussed a couple of iconic Beatle album covers and some controversial album covers by other artists. Let's continue our discussion with part two of our series.
The Rolling Stones make our list for their 1968 album called "Beggars Banquet." It was the first cover not to feature a band photograph; instead the Stones' decided to use a picture of an unsightly, filthy bathroom with graffiti-laced walls. The...
•Internet Radio: A Free Format For All
The Internet has evolved and made many changes in our culture including personal MySpace pages, individual blogs, the way we trade information as well as the way the public finds and listens to music.
One of the upcoming and most popular formats is Internet Radio. Let's discuss an Internet station, www.ilike2rock.net, who promotes, plays and exclusively features independent artists and their music.
Internet radio stations have been online for more than three years and offer listeners an...
•Laura Roppe- Country Music Star is Unleashed!
Apparently being the runner up in Kenny Chesney’s “Next Big Star Competition” in May of 2008 is just the springboard that Country Music’s next star needed, as Laura Roppe’s debut CD can attest to. The CD “Girl Like This” will soon take the country music scene by storm, as this engaging singer/songwriter is more than just country music ear candy.
For many years, her career in music had taken a back seat to a legal career, marriage and being a mother, but when the ‘music itch’ became too strong,...
•Lennon Asked To: "Give Peace A Chance"
He dreamt of world peace. He was an artist, poet and an outspoken voice of the hippie generation. He was an influential musician, a peace activist, an absent father and a devoted lover and husband. He abused alcohol and drugs, sneered at normality, yet took time off from his rock and roll career to raise his son. But most of all, he was a Beatle. He was and still is, John Winston Lennon.
Born in Liverpool on October 9, 1940, John Lennon was shot to death on December 8, 1980 by a fanatical...
•Mr. Potato Head - A Pop Culture Icon
There are few classic toys that have persevered and managed to survive the video onslaught that has taken over the children's toy market today. One of these toys, Mr. Potato Head, still entertains children as much as it did when it was first introduced in the early 1950's. Let's explore some of the history of this iconic and classic toy.
George Lerner enjoyed success as an inventor and in 1950 he designed the "first generation" of plastic face pieces that would ultimately become a toy for the...
•Online Holiday Shopping Sales Meet Record Breaking Expectations
As the dollar figures pour in and the numbers are tabulated and with business analysts predicting a record breaking online holiday shopping season, it appears the projections were right on target.
Although the final holiday shopping sales figures aren't in yet, preliminary reports from a wide spectrum of sources point to online sales that have met expectations and will make e-tailers, large and small, very satisfied with the results.
According to comScore, the latest "2005 Online Holiday...
•Project-43 Worldwide Talent United
Can a heavy metal rock group release a CD without having ever being in the same room together or to have never met face to face? Amazingly, it is being done; and quite remarkably. Project-43 is one of the first “Internet” groups to record, mix, produce and engineer a CD from three different countries and five locations around the world.
Meet Project-43, five exceptionally talented musicians from different parts of the globe. After band mates Charlie Wardick (who hails from the state of...
•Putting A Value On Vinyl Records - Part Two
In part one we discussed the most important element of vinyl record appraising, the condition of the record and LP jacket or sleeve and the methods used in grading a vinyl record. In this section we will explore other elements that factor into the value of a record.
Scarcity
Many, many millions of vinyl records are in circulation, with almost every household in the US, either having some vinyl records at one time or another. We even had a vinyl record `boon' from around 1955-1980. But, how...
•Putting A Value On Vinyl Records- Part One
One element of the ever changing music industry is that the sale of vinyl records has increased and that these audio treasures are still in demand. In our age of digital products and downloads, there are still millions who prefer the sound and experience of vinyl records. In this two part article, let's explore how a person can ascertain just how much a particular record is worth.
There are many factors and variables that come into play, whether buying or selling records. The `grading' of a...
•Radiohead-Blazing A New Digital Trail
With the British art-rock band Radiohead releasing their new album entitled "In Rainbows" as a digital download and sold it for whatever their fans volunteered to pay, is this going to become a new trend in the methods that bands supply their music to the public?
With CD shipments to retailers down 13% from last year, this innovative way to eliminate the middle man, the record label, has proved exactly where the music industry is headed. But there is a catch, the release is only available via...
•Roger Dean- Album Cover Artist And Designer
Ever since Alex Steinweiss designed album covers for Columbia Records in the 1940's, many famous artists and designers have also designed iconic and stylish album cover art. From famed cartoonist Robert Crumb, who designed Janis Joplin's "Cheap Thrills" album cover to Andy Warhol's contribution to the Rolling Stones' "Sticky Fingers" LP, many famous artists have put their talents to work and put an image to the music created by rock and roll bands and artists.
One such artist, Roger Dean, is...
•Sports Anthems
In between plays and during a timeout or with a score of some kind, stadiums who host sporting events have longed turned to popular music to get the crowd energized or to celebrate for the home team. Some players even have specific songs that are played when they make an appearance or great play. Music also provides an interlude and break from a baseball game when a stadium usually plays "Take Me Out To The Ball Game" for the seventh inning stretch. Let's explore some of the more popular...
•Stephen M. H. Braitman-Putting A Value On Your Vinyl Collection
The value of vinyl records is very subjective and certainly up for debate. There are many elements that go into ascertaining just how much a specific record or a whole collection may be worth. Do you use fair market value, replacement value or record price guide value? As I found out, it all depends on the circumstances, and the best way to achieve these objectives is to have your collection professionally appraised. I had the opportunity to speak with professional appraiser and music...
•The Tear Jar- An Explosion of Blues Music
Anyone who has ever listened to the “Blues” knows that it is more than just music, but an inspiration, an unfolding of the emotions that we all feel. From Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, Willie Dixon and many other influential Blues legends, to the more contemporary Blues artists such as Robert Cray, Eric Clapton and Stevie Ray Vaughan, Blues music has and always be a part of out musical heritage.
Capturing the essence and spirit that the Blues represent is a novel “Blues Musical” called “The...
•The Three Stooges-Classic Comedy Icons
Ahhhh…The Three Stooges…Classic slapstick comedy and an American tradition. Who hasn’t seen a Stooge classic film short? But, who were these men who brought their caustic brand of physical comedy into our living rooms and theaters?
We all know them as Curly, Larry and Moe, but when they first started in1922 they were with a vaudeville act called Ted Healy and his Stooges (which was originally called Ted Healy and his Southern Gentlemen).
The ensemble consisted of Ted Healy, brothers Harry...
•Tis The Season- A Look At The 2007 Holiday Shopping Season
With gas prices soaring, the value of the dollar falling and the stock market concerns of consumers, as well as the ongoing credit crunch in the U.S., what impact will these and other factors have on the 2007 holiday shopping season?
According to the Commerce Department, retail sales last month (October 2007) posted the weakest showing since last August, with just a minuscule 0.2% increase, as consumers continue to struggle with the slumping housing market and tighter credit conditions....
•Unique Wedding Gift Ideas
Are you looking for a non-traditional wedding gift? Do you want to elicit the oohs and ahhs of everyone?
Of course, you could go to the couple's gift registry and pick something from there, but then your gift wouldn't be unique.
Here are some tips to help you come up with some great unique wedding gift ideas, but first you must ask yourself these questions:
-what do you know about the couple? -what do they like? -where are they planning their honeymoon? -what is their lifestyle? -what's...
•Vinyl is Back - An Interview With Jeff Loos of Backtrack Records
Vinyl is back. From the ‘error’ by a Fred Meyer employee (where LP’s were ordered by mistake), major electronic retailer Best Buy’s stocking vinyl in select stores and mainstream recording artists releasing records gain, the resurgence is upon us.
And in the heartland of America, records are a hot commodity. I recently had the pleasure of speaking with Jeff Loos, owner of Backtrack Records, (www.BacktrackRecords.com) located in Lincoln, Nebraska. Backtrack Records has been selling vinyl...
•Vinyl Record Appraisals - Meet Record Appraiser and Historian Scott Neuman
Everyday it seems that we read about the resurgence in the sales of vinyl records. In fact, in a recently-released 2007 RIAA sales report, the American music industry sold 36.6 percent more Extended Play (EP) and Long Play (LP) records than it had in the previous year; increasing vinyl sales revenue by 46.2 percent.
And the world of collecting vinyl records is also reaping the benefits from this renewed interest in vinyl. But how does one place a value on these classic recordings, what is a...
•Vinyl Record Collecting Alive And Well
According to a recent report from eBay, the online auction giant, they sell more than three million vinyl records each year. It is also reported that eBay users buy and sell six vinyl records every minute (or an average of one every ten seconds). It seems the vinyl record, just a few years ago an afterthought as an audio format, is alive and well. So what is all the fuss about?
First and foremost, if you ask any record collector, it is the sound quality they love the most about vinyl. The...
•Vinyl Records- A Different Perspective
As we continue to see the sales of CDs fall, it is obvious that the distribution channels of music are changing. But there is no disputing that digital downloads are the new "norm" for many people to acquire their music, be it one ninety-nine cent download or an entire album. As I ponder these changes, I still think that the vinyl record, as prehistoric as it is, is gaining popularity as well as making new fans and believers that this is the best audio format that can be heard.
As a vinyl...
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