GRMLN— Jangly Guitars and Backbone

Born in Kyoto, Japan and raised in Southern California, 19-year-old Yoodoo Park is the man behind indie rock outfit GRMLN.  In the summer of 2010 in between sessions on his surfboard, Park began recording guitar-driven dream-pop in his garage to soundtrack the journeys in his car. Park chose the name GRMLN to echo the feelings of otherworldliness and disconnect he felt during those summers. Currently a student at the University of California Santa Cruz, Park pens songs there when he's away from his makeshift recording studio and his live band, in which he plays with his brother. Entitled Explore, Yoodoo's debut EP is just that: a young artist inspired by the scenery of his coastal surroundings, discovering and developing his singular voice to create a wistful palette of blues, greens and golds.

On Explore, Park pairs clean, jangly guitars and strong backbones of bass with his yearning, muted vocals that employ reverb to soften, not distort. GRMLN's sound may be unmistakably Californian, but there's a sense of nostalgia that pervades Explore, hearkening back to Park's roots in Japan, where he still spends every summer. Tracks like album opener "Relax Yourself (Dolphin Cry)" and the smoothly slow-burning "Live.Think.Die" encapsulate the wistful aesthetic of Explore, with twinges of shattered heartbreak and melancholy tales of wasted youth darkening the album's summertime mood.

"Patio" brings Explore to a close on a restless note with one of the album's most soaring melodies, bolstered by haunting harmonies that build a feeling of despair lingering on far after the album's final minor key. Explore is a bittersweet portrait of a young man, making music to catalogue his memories as they slip away with every passing California sunset. GMRLN will release his Explore EP on October 23rd with Carpark Records.

Star Trek Titan: Fallen Gods

Though the United Federation of Planets still reels from Andor’s political decision that will forever affect the coalition, Captain William T. Riker and the crew of the U.S.S. Titan are carrying out Starfleet’s renewed commitment to deep space exploration. While continuing to search the Beta Quadrant’s unknown expanses for an ancient civilization’s long-lost quick-terraforming technology— a potential boon to many Borg-ravaged worlds across the Federation and beyond— Titan’s science specialists encounter the planet Ta’ith, home to the remnant of a once-great society that may hold the very secrets they seek. But this quest also takes Titan perilously close to the deadly Vela Pulsar, the galaxy’s most prolific source of lethal radiation, potentially jeopardizing both the ship and what remains of the Ta’ithan civilization. Meanwhile, Will Riker finds himself on a collision course with the Federation Council and the Andorian government, both of which intend to deprive Titan of its Andorian crew members. And one of those Andorians— Lieutenant Pava Ek’Noor sh’Aqaba— has just uncovered a terrible danger, which has been hiding in plain sight for more than two centuries...

Michael A. Martin has covered a lot of ground as Star Trek author, penning tales spanning from TOS, Enterprise and Deep Space Nine to Titan, Section 31 and The Lost Era. Now he continues his impressive run of Trek novels with Star Trek: Titan: Fallen Gods, out today from Simon & Schuster. Here’s the official description of the adventure:

Though the United Federation of Planets still reels from Andor’s political decision that will forever affect the coalition, Captain William T. Riker and the crew of the U.S.S. Titan are carrying out Starfleet’s commitment to deep space exploration. While continuing to search the Beta Quadrant’s unknown expanses for an ancient civilization’s long-lost terraforming technology— a potential boon to many Borg-ravaged worlds across the Federation— Titan’s science specialists encounter the planet Ta’ith, home to the remnant of a once-great society that may hold the very secrets they seek. But this quest also takes Titan perilously close to the deadly Vela Pulsar, the galaxy’s most prolific source of lethal radiation, potentially jeopardizing both the ship and what remains of the Ta’ithan civilization.

As time grows short for both Titan and Ta’ith, Riker confronts the most vexing ethical conundrum of his career: Will he execute a politically motivated order forcing the Andorians aboard his ship to leave against their wishes… or will his loyalty to his crew compel him to jeopardize his entire career by defying Starfleet Command?

Michael A. Martin's solo short fiction has appeared in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction. He has also coauthored (with Andy Mangels) several Star Trek comics for Marvel and Wildstorm and numerous Star Trek novels and eBooks, including the USA Today bestseller Titan: Book One: Taking Wing; Titan: Book Two: The Red King; the Sy Fy Genre Award-winning Star Trek: Worlds of Deep Space 9 Book Two: Trill— Unjoined; Star Trek: The Lost Era 2298— The Sundered; Star Trek: Deep Space 9 Mission: Gamma: Vol. Three: Cathedral; Star Trek: The Next Generation: Section 31— Rogue; Star Trek: Starfleet Corps of Engineers #30 and #31 ("Ishtar Rising" Books 1 and 2); stories in the Prophecy and Change, Tales of the Dominion War, and Tales from the Captain's Table anthologies; and three novels based on the Roswell television series. His most recent novels include Enterprise: The Romulan War and Star Trek Online: The Needs of the Many.

His work has also been published by Atlas Editions (in their Star Trek Universe subscription card series), Star Trek Monthly, Dreamwatch, Grolier Books, Visible Ink Press, The Oregonian, and Gareth Stevens, Inc., for whom he has penned several World Almanac Library of the States nonfiction books for young readers. He lives with his wife, Jenny, and their two sons in Portland, Oregon. 

Expectation Escalation

How many of us, as creative artists, are regularly paralyzed by the seemingly overwhelming tasks in front of us? The biggest obstacle to surmount is also the biggest asset we have... our conceptual nature! We tend to see the greatness of the finished product in our minds, but we're unable to understand or deal with the smaller chunks of tasks required to get there. It's this inability to define the "next thing" that causes us to shut down, completely discouraged by how impossible it is to do anything worthwhile. I call it "expectation escalation"—comparing everything we do to the best thing we've ever done— and "comparisonitis"— comparing everything we do to the best things anyone has ever done. (I'm guilty of both on a regular basis and it freezes my creative possibilities when I allow it.) Because the world tends to be driven by results, we are pulled right along with it. Process loses all value and we get swept up into the current of "what have you done for me lately?" We want greatness, but we're not always willing to pay the price for it. So what is the price of greatness? 

Patience.

We forget that nothing happens all at once. No great work of art, entrepreneurial venture or feat of architecture appears spontaneously out of thin air. Each required months or even years of experimentation, learning, crafting and even blood, sweat and tears. This is in addition to the years of training each artist had to forgo and undergo in order to simply begin such a project. The thing to remember is that we are not going for the quick pay off. If the goal is to use your creativity as a means to get rich quick or to be famous... best wishes! But please know that you will eventually find yourself right back in the place of the beginner, desperately looking for meaning in what you make. If, however, you pay the price to develop disciplines and discover who you truly are as an artist, then you have something sustainable and meaningful to say. Art and life... is about improvisation, discovery and awe. It is about leaning over the edge and staring deep into the abyss. It's about staring into our own inadequacies and, just as we think we might come up short, finding the answer that we need was there all the time. As we create we not only reveal a reality, we reveal ourselves. It is important that we not allow expectation escalation and comparisonitis to suffocate us. 

UPBEAT Radio's Profile

upbeatradio's Profile

Irreverent. Informative. Hilarious. Entertaining… and Cool. That is and will always be the vision. UPBEAT Entertainment News Syndicate plans to "redefine" Internet talk radio fueled by raw enthusiasm, and has joined a very supportive media group for a long"episodic run" at creating a diverse following. Internet Radio is quickly becoming the medium of choice for many professional broadcasters. Local as well as national television and radio networks have begun streaming on the Internet. From informational to entertainment, this form of broadcasting reaches a larger audience than any other form of broadcasting in history. 

We were recently picked up by CBS Radio, TuneIn as well as ClearChannel Digital and iTunes and now reach WELL OVER 10.5 million listeners! The number continues to grow.

Solo no more - NYPOST.com

Solo no more— NYPOST.com

Listen to Audio: Joe Manganiello True Blood

Listen to Audio: Joe Manganiello True Blood

We just call him "Joe"... but Joseph "Joe" Michael Manganiello born December 28th, 1976) is a classically trained American film and theatre actor. He holds a BFA in acting from the Carnegie Mellon School of Drama. He played Flash Thompson in the original Spider-Man film series, and was known for his recurring roles in television on ER, How I Met Your Mother and One Tree Hill, before landing his breakout role as werewolf Alcide Herveaux on the HBO television series True Blood for which he has garnered both popular and critical praise. In 2011, Manganiello was voted "Favorite Pop-Culture Werewolf of All Time" by the readers of Entertainment Weekly. He has since split his time between True Blood and feature films such as the Steven Soderbergh-directed hit Magic Mike and the all-star ensemble, What To Expect When You're Expecting. Aside from his work in film and television, Manganiello is active with several charities including Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC and the Los Angeles

Deidre Hall— How Does She Do It?

I had the unique opportunity to interview one of my mentors/inspirations on my radio show, The UPBEAT Entertainment News Syndicate Radio... Mom, Actress, Producer, Author, Comedienne and Genuine Person... Deidre Hall. I met Deidre when I was an artist/illustrator... she was so incredibly supportive that I have to confess, it gave me the profound belief and support to reach higher and never ever stop. I loved her book and the energy it exudes... How Does She Do It [originally titled Does This Mascara Make My Ass Look Big]... is insightful, funny, witty and helpful. Unlike other books of this nature, How Does She Do It allows you to feel connected to so many woman who have also searched for a sense of confidence and motivation on a number of levels, both internally and externally.

So, how do those gorgeous women you see on television keep it all glued together, year after year? How in the world do they still look eerily like they did when you watched the show in the eighties with your Grandma? Deidre Hall, best known to many as the ever-patient, impossibly good Dr. Marlena Evans for more than thirty years on NBC's Days of Our Lives, is obviously having fun with this. Along with co-author and longtime pal Lynne Bowman, Hall is sharing beauty secrets, personal stories and professional tips gleaned from decades in front of an unforgiving camera lens. They start with "What Beauty Is and Why It Matters," moving right on through how to get the sleep you need, how to stand, how to move, apply makeup, dress, style hair, groom hands and feet. There are so many candid and comprehensive discussions of permanent makeup, hair removal, plastic surgery and cosmetic dentistry, weight loss, and even great notes on fragrance. Expect to find some truly pro-level techniques you didn't already know, along with a different twist on things you thought you already knew, all wrapped in a surprisingly charming package from one of television's most beloved legends.

Deidre Hall and Lynne Bowman open up in this truly impressive book with an endearing look at their own Moms, [both clearly beautiful women in their own right], and the message conveyed is abundantly clear: Beauty is absolutely timeless, priceless and subjective; it's the creative tools that have changed. To that end, Hall and Bowman go into detail about many of the beauty methods available in all areas today. They present the levels of the beauty preparedness one must have as something akin to the US Terror Alert Scale. If you find yourself laughing in agreement and recognition, prepare to do so throughout the entire book. Their sense of humor and self-deprecating attitude is made manifest as they detail many areas of beauty tools and treatments, such as: Sleep, posture, makeup, lighting, shopping, skin care, permanent makeup, hair care, plastic surgery, exercise, weight loss, dental work, and fragrance. 

Each of these specific dynamics is given a healthy treatment; no stone or eyeshadow palette is left unturned as Hall and Bowman spice up the book with pictures and anecdotes from their own careers and quest for the ultimate beauty tips, tricks and tools in each field of beauty they cover. As in their first book, the overall tone is not at all pharisaical; my favorite line, for example, is, "The girl who put down the books and slept will also look way better at the exam, by the way." Hall and Bowman make it so precisely clear that they are both sharing all of their long-earned knowledge in each of the areas. It's clear they are just as enthusiastic to learn and experiment as much as we, the readers, are. Deidre Hall and Lynne Bowman are scintillating and the friendship these women share with each other and with everyone else is one that feeds and nurtures our souls as well as our psyches.

An innovative brand/style that is so much more than beauty book... it is indeed a journey taken by two close friends, told with warmth, affection, compassion, humor and deeply personal observations... and when the topics get a tad bit serious, insights from professionals are infused into the lessons. The advice is candid and to the point but delivered as though you are sitting at the kitchen table having a cup of coffee and exchanging crucial information learned from the ladies. Everything from hair, make-up and exercise to simple tips on eating right and how to be the best "you" that you can possibly be. Trust me, if you read it, you will absolutely adore it! Bowman and Hall's suggestions aren't just fun to read; they REALLY DO work.

• http://www.deidrehall.com
• https://www.facebook.com/DeidreHallFanPage
• http://bowmanhall.com/

Molly Ringwald Novel— Very Savvy

When it Happens to You is a smart, fresh, on-the-mark "novel in stories". In eight interrelated tales, Ringwald offers a savvy look into personal relationships in today’s society. While the stories feature contemporary themes, they come across as both modern and timeless. The main characters, Greta, Phillip, and Charlotte, are your typical American family, experiencing the same trials and triumphs that happen to families across the globe everyday. Yet experiencing these through the lens of heartbreaking and redemptive stories makes us understand their daily struggles and temptations. Much like in the Paul Haggis movie Crash, the tales and the characters are interrelated, which I totally loved and think is a major reason why this novel works. The stories could stand alone as sharp and tender life lessons, but when presented as a collective whole, the book truly stands out.

The novel comes full circle as it starts out with Greta, Phillip, and Charlotte embarking on an evening drive to watch the Harvest Moon. The conclusion of this first story serves as an appropriate allegory for the surrounding tales as each brings to light a new character to be examined, pondered, and savored. In the context of Ringwald’s quiet yet powerful language you find yourself fitting the pieces together like a puzzle, discovering how this person connects to either Greta or Phillip or Charlotte. While the basic premises are very elemental and something we can all relate to as we endure the human condition together, the linguistic usage by Ringwald is at once both charming and tragic. Embedded throughout are little nuggets of hope and surprise, and while each character’s soul is exposed with a harsh lens, there are no judgments passed. It is up to the reader to decide how they want to feel about that person. Sometimes you will feel anger. Sometimes you will feel sadness or pity. But you will not be apathetic to anyone by any means.

This book would be perfect for reading groups because the messages it brings are universal and can be related to by anyone. It is really a great conversation starter because it draws on contemporary hot-button issues such as infertility, infidelity, and transgenderism. There is no debate that this book is definitely a winner. Pick up a copy of it once it officially hits the book shelves and experience for yourself the literary talents of Molly Ringwald!

Paws— Bash Out Infectious

PAWS bash out infectious, lo-fi, garage pop-rock that can quickly shift from cute melancholia to an unnerving territorial roar. On top of the pulsating fuzzy noise the three-piece produce, sit dreamy melodies that bare the bones of their author. Lyrical topics slide between sarcastic self-analysis and, onto more so than often, brutal home truths. Phil, the band's resident lyricist sums the album's themes;  "All of the lyrics are pretty much a documentation of the past 2 years. A lot of crazy things have happened in our lives - some good, some horrific. I'd like to say that there is a strong feeling of positivity and hope running throughout this record, light piercing through some distinctly dark times. We're playing in this band to keep going and stay alive."

PAWS rose out of the demise of a living room recording project, that after losing a member, was renamed and redirected into a raw nerve of DIY punk/garage that's vibrant yet familiar and built on the traditions of English pop from Buzzcocks to Yuck. The band has spent its tenure opening for the likes of No Age, Wavves, Happy Birthday, The Babies, Harlem, Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti and Black Lips and that DIY spirit pops up in the fact that they've done so in spaces as diverse as bathrooms, skate parks and a particularly difficult show on the top of a double-decker bus.

True to its name, Cokefloat! is, as the band puts it, "like a sugar high...with the sugar comedown." Recorded with Rory Attwell (of Test Icicles) at Lightship95, a floating recording studio located on a boat moored at Trinity Buoy Warf in East London, the album has managed to capture the punch of the band's live shows. Listeners can practically hear the energy vibrate out of the speakers and feel the band's smiles radiate through the ruckus with their stories about love, insecurities, self-alienation and paranoia. Wrapped in artwork designed by comic artist and friend of the band Jessica Penfold, the album is the perfect audio allegory for its namesake. Slurp it up. Feel the buzz.

http://soundcloud.com/fatcatrecords/paws-miss-american-bookworm/

True Blood Preview: Season 5, Episode 8 - Somebody That I Used To Know

True Blood Preview: Season 5, Episode 8 - Somebody That I Used To Know

Is Bill just playing like he's actually "evolving"? Or is he really into this anti-mainstreaming Lilith act? It seems like Eric's ready to go but Bill wants to stay. Meanwhile, it looks like Tara's ready to show down on someone. And we may get to see Alcide finally face off with J.D... and Alcide may FINALLY claim Sookie as they are SO SCORCHING HOT together... with  Drama!

Tech Beat— A Fine Line

by Andy Marken, CEO, Marken Communications

"He owns Pan-Am. He owns Congress. He owns the Civil Aeronautics Board. But he does not own the sky." —Howard Hughes, "The Aviator," Warner Bros, 2004

One of the biggest frustrations in working at Xerox's PARC (Palo Alto Research Center) or Bell Labs had to be having out-of-focus images of what new ideas, technologies, products were going to be here in 10 to 20 years while working with materials that were introduced five years ago. At the same time, the board of directors and stockholders were constantly hammering on you to instantly deliver the next breakthrough innovation NOW! The stress has been even worse the last few years because budgets were cut across the board and everyone was forced to do more with less. The funny thing is though, the approach/process management had for developing new ideas and turning them into products/services didn't change that much during the financial crisis.

You could be depressed with where we are, where we're going and how we're going to get there. It takes events like the TED (Technology Entertainment, Design) conference to give you a sanity check and renew your optimism. The great thing is you can catch the best of TED online such as Peter Diamandis' Abundance presentation this year.  

Suddenly you realize "Hey! We've made quite a bit of progress and we CAN meet tomorrow's challenges!" It makes you proud to be in the technology industry. It makes you want to go out and innovate… something. Despite giving technology changes a lot of lip-service, the challenges still exist— finding the right talent, encouraging risk-taking/collaboration, organizing innovation. [We're not completely certain that it's possible]. 

The one thing that has returned is our investment in advancing technology and making true innovation a part of the company's strategic planning activities is correlation. Research and development spending rose 9.3 percent in 2010 and promises continued growth in the years ahead. The financial crunch in 2008 and 2009 had a decided impact on research and development investments and the results that appeared recently. Because new products are the fuel for company growth, many companies cut other areas before research and development, like staffing and marketing. [source— Booz & Company www.booz.com/] We've gotten over that business phase of growing by "buying" into new markets with mergers and acquisitions focusing more and more on producing organic growth with new products/services and new customers in existing markets.  

What we've seen in recent years is that simply throwing money at research and development doesn't produce innovation. In fact, the consistent innovators spent less on research and development and more on developing/managing the process:

The big difference, according to people who study these sorts of things— Booze, McKinsey and others, is that there was a clear set of strategic corporate goals  clearly articulated, focused direction. The first priority on every company's goals list is a solid gold hit. The big difference is true innovators want a clearly superior product in terms of performance and quality. Low on the priority list are cheap goods or the volume of new products [source— Booz & Company www.booz.com/]. You'll notice that few organizations placed having the cheapest product, getting there first or making very sure it was going to be a successful product at the top of their lists.

This sounds simple enough, but the true test is when senior management only gives lip-service to the first four of their "goals" and holds the innovators accountable/responsible for the goals at the bottom of the list. You know, "Yes…but..." 

Punk Band Angels Heart— Free Release

Los Angeles punk band Angels Heart will give away free digital downloads of their brand new album, Tattoos & Cigarettes, using a very unique fan-friendly application/widget. With screaming guitars, classic cars, tattoos, and cigarettes— Los Angeles-based outfit Angels Heart has taken the punk rock tradition and crafted it all into something entirely original. Amplified by founder and frontman Bryan Joseph (Vocals, Guitar, Songwriting) and Jeff Ott (Lead Guitar, Backing Vocals), the band has commanded attention not only in their home state of California, but across the nation. Their first album, Sixty-Eight Cutlass, has enjoyed huge success among punk followers, and fans now have a chance to download the new full-length record, Tattoos & Cigarettes, for free.

Angels Heart will be giving away free high resolution digital downloads of the new 14-song unreleased record, Tattoos & Cigarettes. Here’s how it works: fans enter the "daily deal" contest via the band’s Facebook page before September 4th, 2012. When entries total 10,000, those who have signed up will get free access to the high-res new release. Additionally, the band is formally releasing Sixty-Eight Cutlass at one song per week until September 4th, building up to the Tattoos & Cigarettes giveaway. Having forged a dedicated following and audience respect from early demos and touring, the newest batch of songs from the band is a highly anticipated collection that will not disappoint current and new fans of the music project. For listeners interested in a preview, the first single from Tattoos & Cigarettes, Under the Black Light, is currently available for preview and immediate download atwww.angelsheart.com

Tattoos & Cigarettes features guest appearances from punk rock icon Brooks Wackerman of Bad Religion (Drums) and Gregg Sartiano (Bass, Production). Keeping the do-it-yourself work ethic and soul of punk music alive and well, the entire project is masterminded by pioneer of rock music education, Bryan Joseph. Beyond his musical accomplishments, Joseph was the creator and founder of the first national rock and roll summer camp Power Chord Academy (PCA).

Angels Heart creates and performs energetic, quality music steeped in an entrepreneurial spirit. They’re bringing some excitement back to the often-stale online music distribution method. Like PCA, Angels Heart is not only about creating, it’s about inspiring other people to create and express themselves. Angels Heart is not asking people to "like" their page and listen to one-way communication; they are rewarding people for participating in the growth of the band with the intimate gift of their art and talent. The band does not shun social media and the new face of the music industry— instead, they are forging it into a more fan-friendly platform that reflects their progressive views of harnessing technology and forming relationships with listeners.

Punk music has always been about rebellion. By carving their own niche and creating an original fan-driven format for music distribution, Angels Heart has already made their mark and will continue to lead. Today’s music business is largely uncharted waters. Bands that understand the changing nature of the industry, and proactively innovate rather than complain, are those who will rise to the top.

To learn more about Angels Heart, download free music, and sign up for the "daily deal," visit: http://www.angelsheart.com, http://bit.ly/NALZ3A  and follow them on Twitter at: http://www.twitter.com/angelsheartrock

MOOZAR.com— Helping Musical Artists

MOOZAR.com has created an easy way for artists to be "rewarded" for their efforts... on line. The "reward button" can be placed anywhere on the web for the artist's work to be shared. This system creates a direct way for music fans to financially "reward" an artist when and where they appreciate the artist's tracks on Facebook, YouTube, Soundcloud and most places it's listened to and shared. An example of the entire set-up can be found here: http://reward-my-music.com/526 Music is shared; and the reward link should be shared as well! Moozar on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/M00ZAR

What is special about the notion of a reward? When you place a reward on Moozar you'll help non mainstream artists to grow and continue making music you like, enabling them to set up a gig, produce an EP, or buy new instruments ... Best of all, the artist gets the money you donate via the reward without having to sell a thing. But what is the Moozar Reward worth to the artist? Aren't you profiting from their music?

With a service like Moozar you are helping musicians outside the industry to find another means to make money. The reward is something controlled by the fans, with the money going directly to the artist for nothing more than their music being heard. An artist can be rewarded for a video seen on YouTube that is watched on Facebook or by streaming their album via Soundcloud. You have probably even thought about contributing something to these artists in the past, but the question has been how. What about copyrights? Moozar has no effect on copyrights. There are no downloads, no sales. The "reward" is nothing more than a financial gesture... just like giving a busker a coin from you pocket.

The Dark Knight Rises— But Does He Fall?

It has been eight long years since Batman vanished into the night, turning, in that instant, from hero to fugitive. Assuming the blame for the death of D.A. Harvey Dent, the Dark Knight sacrificed everything for what he and Commissioner Gordon both hoped was the greater good. For a time the lie worked, as criminal activity in Gotham City was crushed under the weight of the anti-crime Dent Act. But everything will change with the arrival of a cunning cat burglar with a mysterious agenda. Far more dangerous, however, is the emergence of Bane, a masked terrorist whose ruthless plans for Gotham drive Bruce out of his self-imposed exile. But even if he dons the cape and cowl again, Batman may be no match for Bane.

Early in The Dark Knight Rises, director Christopher Nolan's epic conclusion to his Batman trilogy, the ever-loyal Alfred Pennyworth confronts a crippled, withdrawn Bruce Wayne who has been living like a recluse in Wayne Manor since he gave up the Bat cape eight years earlier. "You're not living," Alfred says to him emotionally. "You're just waiting for something bad to happen." Then something bad— unbelievably bad— does happen in the form of the brutal and sadistic Bane who has come to a peaceful Gotham City to lead his own devious, evil version of the Occupy Movement, a revolution against the city's wealthy and powerful. Oh, and by the way he's brought an entire army of viscious killers, mindless terrorists and mercenaries with him. Alfred's worst fear comes true: the Batman will return to the streets for what, given the power of Bane... this may be his last battle.

Make no mistake about it, The Dark Knight Rises is a spectacular film, especially when one stops to consider the unprecedented performance of Heath Ledger as The Joker [The Dark Knight] looming over the film's success. But I believe that Nolan is a genius when it comes to telling a story and in The Dark Knight Rises, he DOES NOT disappoint. The visuals are extraordinary. The action sequences are dazzling, especially so since Nolan is "old school" and uses very little CGI— but relies instead on good old-fashioned stunt work. It will be hard to shake some of the images, whether it's the stunning midair plane hijacking that opens the film, Batman tooling through Gotham on his exceedlingly spectacular "toys"... or Bane blowing up a stadium during an NFL game. Kudos to ex-Steeler Hines Ward who makes the scene shockingly frightening as he runs for his very life.

But the real power of this final chapter is just how intelligently it melds references to and commentary on modern concerns while staying true to his comic book/graphic novel roots and including those touches and subtle nuances that diehards love... like the addition of Selina Kyle (the Catwoman, although she's never called that) to the cast of characters. Nolan and his brother Jonathan, a frequent collaborator, have written an audacious take on the Batman myth that draws from elements of Frank Miller's 1986 graphic novel, Dark Knight, and from the Bane-driven Knightfall series from the mid-1990s without copying them. They touch on real world fears of terrorism, collapsing economies and domestic extremism. Underlying the whole script is the greatest terror of all: that, someday, everything in our lives will spin completely out of control. "There's a storm coming, Mr. Wayne," Kyle purrs at one point. "You and your friends better batten down the hatches, 'cause when it hits, you're gonna wonder how you ever thought you could live so large and leave so little for the rest of us."

To lay out the storyline in too much detail dances on the edge of spoiler, given the significant number of twists, turns and surprises Nolan tosses in along the way. He never cheats, including enough clues to what's coming that nothing really comes completely out of left field. While I must say once again... there is no performance quite as wondrous as the late Heath Ledger's as the Joker— the cast's work is sterling from the A-List stars to the even the barely credited actors/actresses. Christian Bale was great as the Batman in the first two films but if it is at all humanly possible [and it obviously is]— he is even better in this film, adding nuance and shading that wasn't there before. Anne Hathaway provides some badly-needed zest and sarcastic wit (she gets most of the good lines) as Kyle. "Dark Knight" veterans Gary Oldman (Commissioner Gordon), Morgan Freeman (Lucien Fox) and Michael Caine (Alfred) are at the top of their games as one would expect.

Tom Hardy has the most difficult role as Bane since he was asked to speak all of his lines through a mask that makes him sound like Darth Vader without the heavy breathing. Even with this hurdle, he still manages to project a feeling that Bane may not be the completely mindless brute he appears to be. Keep an eye on the luminous Marion Cotillard (Inception, Midnight In Paris) who provides just the right measure of allure, smarts and mystery as wealthy philanthropist Miranda Tate. And Joseph Gordon-Levitt gives a wonderful performance as young police officer John Blake, who plays a massive role in the film. Clocking in at two hours and forty-five minutes— it is an extremely emotionally and intelectually draining film and you may find yourself yearning for an oxygen mask... but even the ride doesn't keep Nolan's Dark Knight Rises from being a superb bit of work from a truly visionary filmmaker and a marvelous final installment on a grand retelling of the Batman saga. What a masterpiece Nolan has created... see it on July 20th in iMAX theaters. If you don't, trust me, the thrill of the experience will be lost on DVD/Blu-ray.

Breaking Bad's Season 5— A Dark Abyss

 
When last we saw middle-aged hit-man Mike (Jonathan Banks), Jesse Pinkman had to abandon him in a Mexican care facility while he recuperated from gunshot wounds sustained in Gus Fring’s violent coup d’etat of the Mexican Cartel. Now that Walter White has killed the king by blowing away Gus, who will Mike hail to? Not only that, but Walt and Jesse seem to have occasion to return to the junkyard that previously held their iconic RV, before it was crushed to bits! At least Mike seems to have calmed down by the time they all get there. Might they be looking for a new ride to re-start their operation once again? Not since Michael Corleone (Al Pacino) has one character's complete fall from grace been felt in a such a compelling way. And while Al Pacino's transformation in The Godfather took close to three hours, actor Bryan Cranston has had four seasons to explore the intricate nuances of a one-time high school chemistry teacher turning into a vicious, amoral drug kingpin.

Season 5 of AMC's Breaking Bad begins tonight, with Walter White (Cranston) moving further and further beyond redemption. This is Breaking Bad's final season and we can only "speculate" that the complexity of this cautionary tale will end quite badly for the one-time solemn and timid family man— now the meth czar of the American Southwest. Season 4 ended with Walter eliminating his chief rival, Gus Fring, via a brutal, explosion— one that literally blew off half of his enemies' face. It's a far cry from teaching kids the periodic table of elements in chemistry class. But desperation, sent Walt onto his dark and dangerous path. Diagnosed with terminal cancer in Season 1, Walter began cooking and selling meth to avoid financial ruin and to take care of his family. With 16 episodes remaining in the series, the only question is how much more will Walter's morals break apart. How bad can he get? "He's enjoying the power; he likes feeling like a player," Anna Gunn, the actress who plays Walter's wife and half-willing accomplice, told AP recently. And that's the hard truth of the matter. Initially, Walter turned to crime out of sheer necessity. Now he enjoys it. the rush of pure power that comes with a potentially horrifying price.

Shell's Arctic Oil Barge Faces Scrutiny In Bellingham

Shell's Arctic Oil Barge Faces Scrutiny In Bellingham

Are we actually surprised by this? Because Shell Oil seems to be facing an uncanny amount of problems, snags and various legal battles... not to mention Mother Nature. The REAL problem lies within the power of lobbying in Washington D.C. The American Petroleum Institute, headed up by good ol' "oil lover" Jack Gerard, has continued to toss BILLIONS at Senators and Congressman to further the Shell Oil Arctic "agenda.

It is rather ironic that not even Jack Gerard can buy the unbelievable power of nature itself. 

Climate change: ‘This is just the beginning’

We CANNOT continue to hide from this. The scientific community has reached a consensus that the build-up of heat-trapping emissions from burning fossil fuels and clearing forests is changing the climate, the result of which imposes significant risk to our well-being. Yet as conclusive as these studies are, we continue as a society to accelerate our emission levels putting us on a trajectory of temperature increases well in excess of the 2.0 C target established by the international community in the 2009 Copenhagen Accord. 

This shocking ambivalence persists in the backdrop of 2011 being a "real killer" when it comes to unbelievably hot temperatures and a record number of extreme weather events including droughts, catastrophic floods, and continual forest fires, including the worst ever in Texas. This alongside a recent study that showed how our current trajectory will inevitably lead to an unprecedented and permanent tipping point in the Earth's ability to provide ecosystem services. Why then, despite unequivocal conclusions, does society drag their feet in acting? Several studies have looked at this question and through doing so they tend to distinguish between those people who deny that climate change is a reality from those people who accept human-induced climate change as reality, yet are inactive in response. 

'True Blood' recap: Season 5, Episode 5, 'Let's Boot and Rally'

'True Blood' recap: Season 5, Episode 5, 'Let's Boot and Rally'

This episode was one hell of a ride! The horror genre regulars were cool with UPBEAT. We loved Tara in her bad-ass Fangtasia attire. Sookie really did deserve a laugh as her relationships keep piling up... hey, but with three smokin' oakin' hot men after her... what's to complain about? Just to set the record straight, we're on Team Alcide. Those abs and smoldering passion will definitely set us all on fire!

TRUE BLOOD, GAME OF THRONES On Tap For Comic Con 2012

TRUE BLOOD, GAME OF THRONES On Tap For Comic Con 2012

HBO renews 'Newsroom,' 'True Blood' - Entertainment News, Top News, Media - Variety

HBO renews 'Newsroom,' 'True Blood' - Entertainment News, Top News, Media - Variety