Choosing the Perfect Products for CBD Benefits

One of the industries that has come a very long way over the past few years is the CBD industry. There have been many changes that have had a positive impact both on the industry and for consumers. This includes increased research being carried out, positive press coverage that has raised awareness, and legislative changes that have helped make CBD products far more accessible to those looking to enjoy its benefits.

Another of the things that we have seen in the industry is a huge expansion of product options, with something to cater to all needs and preferences. From CBD drops and capsules to CBD gummies products, there are many different options that you can choose from. This makes it far easier for people to find the perfect product for their needs, preferences, and pocket. In this article, we will look at some tips to help you to choose the perfect product.

How to Make the Right Choice

Whether you want to improve your sleep patterns, lift your mood, reduce anxiety, or ease pain, CBD products can help you. However, it can be very helpful to find the right product for your needs if you want to enjoy maximum benefits. Some tips to help you to make the right choice are:

Look at Finances

One thing you need to remember is that the cost of CBD products can vary based on the type you buy as well as on where you buy from. So, you need to think about your budget and look at how much money you can afford to spend on your CBD products. Once you have taken stock of your finances, you can then look at the pricing of different products options to see which of these is going to be the best one for you based on pricing.

Consider Suitability

Another important thing you must do is to look at the suitability of the products, as there are different options for different needs. You will find everything from drops and capsules to edible products and more. So, take a look at the types of products you feel will be most suited to your preferences and lifestyle, and you can then determine which of these is most likely to be the right ones for you. With plenty of options available, you can easily find one that is perfect for your needs.

Check Out Reviews

One of the other things you should do is to look at reviews that have been left online by other people who have tried the same products that you are considering. When you look at the experiences of others, it becomes far easier for you to make informed decisions with regard to which products you should go for. You can find out about the effectiveness of the products as well as the quality and safety.

These are some of the key things to keep in mind to help you to choose the right CBD products. 

How To Create The Perfect Home Cinema Set-Up

There is nothing quite like seeing a great film on the big screen. Incredible movies can transport us into entirely different worlds, give us a fresh perspective, and allow us to feel the pure emotions of the characters involved.

Of course, the way we watch films can play a big part in how all of that comes across. Watching on the big screen in a packed cinema can be a thrilling experience and arguably brings the action to life in a much more effective way than a small TV, phone or tablet. However, if you’re a real movie buff, is it time you brought the cinema experience home with you?

Right Location

Creating a quality home cinema environment can be a huge amount of fun and there are plenty of products out there to help you bring your dream to life. Doing it properly involves much more than simply buying the right kit though, as you will also need the right location for the set-up within your home.
You could potentially make some tweaks to your living room to move forward, but another option may be to create a dedicated space. A spare bedroom might come in handy, while you could even convert a loft. What about an extension too? These projects can be expensive, but there are options you can consider such as remortgaging for home improvements.
For example, the UK-based mortgage adviser Trussle gives guidance on both buying a home and the remortgage process. In terms of the latter, it references how you could remortgage for home improvements, with the money coming from the equity in your home. It adds that the step can be a good idea in some situations, as an extension may prove cheaper than buying a bigger property.

Talking Tech

Once you have the perfect setting for your home cinema, it is time to talk technology. A great projector will be vital and there are plenty of options out there right now. For instance, What HiFI? has compiled a list of top projectors and it references the likes of the Epson EH-TW7100. The 4K projector is described as both “well-judged and affordable”.

Another essential item is quality furniture, as you will want to be comfortable as you settle in to watch your favourite films. A company like Coleccion Alexandra UK could help in this regard. The site details how its Cosmopol range can feature many fabrics, while there is also the option to create chains of seats.

Finally, no cinema room would be complete without that classic snack – popcorn. Again, there are plenty of popcorn makers available these days and Good Housekeeping has pulled together a full guide. It suggests that the best system for a home theatre is the Great Northern Popcorn Foundation Tabletop Popcorn Machine.

The Big Screen at Home

Many movie fans would love to create a home cinema and there are plenty of options they can consider these days.

Hopefully, the ideas mentioned above will set you on your way to creating the perfect big-screen experience in your own property.

Create Your Perfect Soundtrack With Royalty-Free Music

There was a time, not so long ago, that the idea of making your own movie (be that a short for a college project or a full-length movie) would have been almost unthinkable. The costs and time to conduct such an undertaking would have made the concept of dead in the water before you’d even begun.

However over the past few years the associated costs with making a top quality production have dropped significantly. Firstly the equipment needed to make a project that looked big budget, even though the camera technology being used is still relatively cheap, became universally available.

This meant that an aspiring filmmaker could shoot their films with low cost cameras, or even their phones, and the results would still be acceptable and that meant that the success of your vision was not bound by technical restraints, only by your own imagination.

The Moving Image

As the cost of quality filming equipment, and online editing tools, have reduced so have the misconceptions around films and shows made by individuals outside of the traditional studio systems.

The increase in demand for UGC (User Generated Content) has led to an explosion of shows, usually broadcast via social media channels, available for the public to enjoy. No longer are viewers left with only terrestrial national or regional channels to view material.

This is a refreshing change in the mode of production that means that if you have great ideas, and the patience and determination to make them a reality, then it’s just possible that you could garner a strong following to watch the films and shows you produce.

The Perfect Soundtrack

A great film, or TV show, is not complete without a strong soundtrack. That soundtrack could come from individual tracks recorded, or purchased, to back your film or in the form of SFX (Special Effects).

These are crucial, not just from a technical perspective, for instance you may have not been able to record the sound you required on the day of your shoot, but also to make your production feel like the real deal.

Some look to use mainstream music to back the visuals in their movies, perhaps electing to use a well-known song in their soundtrack. However there are two major issues with going down this route.

Firstly the costs of securing the license for a mainstream track are very high indeed, they could end up as expensive as the entire budget of making your movie. And as well as the resultant cost, it’s incredibly difficult to find the relevant publishing house that owns the rights to a given track.

Another option that far too many filmmakers adopt is to use the music without permission or clearance. This is not a path you should follow. Failure to secure permission for a track will most likely result in a very large financial penalty, or worse. Also, if your movie or short film is posted on a social media channel you could soon find yourself the subject of a DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright notice) notice and then the fun really begins.

If you receive such a notice your social media channels are most likely to suspend, and delete, your post and if you commit such an offence on multiple occasions, you could be banned entirely from the likes of Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

Professional Results on an Amateur Budget

However there is an alternative at hand. Due to the massive demand, and output, created by UGC content there have been a number of sites who have opened that offer competitively priced royalty-free music services that will resolve these issues.

Royalty-free music traditionally means music, and SFX, that is available for your use for a flat fee. This means that you can get your hands on a near limitless amount of high-quality music and SFX for a fraction of the cost of paying for the license for an existing chart topping hit.

These providers offer mammoth liberties that offer music and special effects which will be ideal for any situation or scene in your films. The range available is truly vast and in many ways that will make your film far more original than just using a song that frankly we’ve heard far too many times over the top of your quality visuals.

The tracks provided are of the highest quality, usually by aspiring artists who are looking for the exposure they can secure from being used on soundtracks, advertising, social media posts etc.. and these are all helpfully placed in databases that are easy to search and inexpensive.

The Perfect Marriage of Sound and Vision

When you decide to make a film or show you do so because you want to bring your singular vision to an audience, be that large or small. Therefore you are looking to make your vision stand out from the rest, and the marketplace is huge.

So in that way royalty-free music and SFX services give you the security of finding and using bespoke solutions to your soundtrack needs. Using what is available on these sites will help you create a perfect soundtrack to the visuals you produce and the possibilities are frankly endless.

So what are you waiting for?!

Guide to Online Coupon Codes & Perfect Keto Discount Deals

We’ve all been there.

You’re about to complete an online purchase –the shoes you’ve been eyeing, the electronic gadget that was just released, or perhaps a delivery order to fill your grumbling stomach — and you see the“Promo Code” box, or whatever the equivalent is on your site of choice.

Sometimes, you have a code handy. Perhaps it’ seven why your there in the first place. But other times, you don’t have a code, and yet, you want one.

If you’re reading this, you’ve likely searched a maze of websites looking for your next code to save a few — or more — bucks. If so, you still may find some new tidbits within.

And if you haven’t been involved in the world of online couponing, well, welcome. Enjoy this Coupon Code Day site guide and start saving immediately!

The Basics

Let’s quickly touch on the basics, just to get everyone up to speed.

There are a variety of types of coupons and discounts you’ll find, from free shipping (a common one among online merchants)to percentages or dollar amounts off. You’ll learn how these types of codes are typically structured; for instance, anything with “FREESHIP” in the code will likely be free shipping, of course.

Some of the sites that you might find these codes on will spell out what they’re supposed to be fore next to the code, but other times you’ll need to use your couponing intuition.

Of course, the easiest way to find out for sure what the code is for is copying and pasting (or screen shotting the code if it isn’t able to be highlighted in your browser) directly into the form on the checkout site for your preferred merchant and be sure to hit “submit” or“apply.”

Verifying that the coupon has been accepted

In most cases it should be very clear what,exactly, your discount is, and if the code is rejected, you’ll see that communicated clearly as well.

It depends greatly on the website, but there is usually a breakdown of the pending sale that includes the dollar amount saved.If it was easy to grab your promo code and input it, consider trying a couple additional codes to see if you can find one that saves you more money.

For instance, free shipping may not always be the best deal available, especially if you have to convince yourself that you need just one more sweater or pair of jeans or whatever to meet a required minimum. (Side note: pay attention to minimums, as many sites will require you to meet a minimum subtotal of your purchase before the coupon will be applied.)

What to do if the coupon isn’t working

Well, the first thing is obviously to make sure that it was input correctly, especially if you had to type it manually from a screenshot because copying and pasting wasn’t an option.

The second thing to check is what was mentioned above: is there a minimum purchase required? If so, and if you still think you’ve met it, check and make sure that the subtotal (before tax and shipping)is an adequate amount. If you were looking at the grand total, then get back in there and find some more merchandise to hit your minimum.

Final Thoughts

There are plenty of coupon sites out there, and plenty of codes that do (and do not) work.

Trial and error are your best friend here;there’s no reason to not try a bunch of codes. It can be frustrating, of course, as merchants often change their codes — for obvious reasons. But try a few different things in a few different ways and you’ll likely be rewarded.

Happy couponing!

Universal Classic Monsters: Complete 30-Film Collection First Time Ever on Blu-ray!

FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, A LANDMARK COLLECTION SHOWCASING THE LEGENDARY MONSTERS IN MOTION PICTURE HISTORY

UNIVERSAL CLASSIC MONSTERS: COMPLETE 30-FILM COLLECTION AVAILABLE ON BLU-RAY ON AUGUST 28, 2018 FROM UNIVERSAL PICTURES HOME ENTERTAINMENT

Universal City, California, August 22, 2018 – Thirty of the most iconic cinematic masterpieces starring the most famous monsters of horror movie history come together on Blu-ray™ for the first time ever in the Universal Classic Monsters: Complete 30-Film Collection on August 28, 2018, from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. Featuring unforgettable make-up, ground-breaking special effects and outstanding performances, the Universal Classic Monsters: Complete 30-Film Collection includes all Universal Pictures’ legendary monsters from the studio that pioneered the horror genre with imaginative and technically groundbreaking tales of terror in unforgettable films from the 1930s to late-1950s.

From the era of silent movies through present day, Universal Pictures has been regarded as the home of the monsters. The Universal Classic Monsters: Complete 30-Film Collection showcases all the original films featuring the most iconic monsters in motion picture history including Dracula, Frankenstein, The Mummy, The Invisible Man, The Bride of Frankenstein, The Wolf Man, Phantom of the Opera and Creature from the Black Lagoon. Starring some of the most legendary actors including Bela Lugosi, Boris Karloff, Lon Chaney Jr., Claude Rains and Elsa Lanchester in the roles that they made famous, these films set the standard for a new horror genre and showcase why these landmark movies that defined the horror genre are regarded as some of the most unforgettable ever to be filmed.

Universal Classic Monsters: Complete 30-Film Collection includes a 48-page collectible book filled with behind-the-scenes stories and rare production photographs and is accompanied by an array of bonus features including behind-the-scenes documentaries, the 1931 Spanish version of Dracula, Featurettes on Bela Lugosi, Boris Karloff, Lon Chaney Jr., and Jack Pierce, 13 expert feature commentaries, archival footage, production photographs, theatrical trailers and more. The perfect gift for any scary movie fan, the collection offers an opportunity to experience some of the most memorable horror films of our time.

The Universal Classic Monsters: Complete 30-Film Collection includes Dracula(1931), Frankenstein (1931), The Mummy (1932), The Invisible Man (1933), The Bride of Frankenstein (1935), Werewolf of London (1935), Dracula’s Daughter (1936), Son of Frankenstein (1939), The Invisible Man Returns (1940), The Invisible Woman (1940), The Mummy’s Hand (1940), The Wolf Man (1941), The Ghost of Frankenstein (1942), The Mummy’s Ghost (1942), The Mummy’s Tomb (1942),Invisible Agent (1942), Phantom of the Opera (1943), Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man (1943), Son of Dracula (1943), House of Frankenstein (1944), The Mummy’s Curse (1944), The Invisible Man’s Revenge (1944), House of Dracula (1945), She-Wolf of London (1946), Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948)Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man (1951), Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954, and includes a 3D version), Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy (1955), Revenge of the Creature (1955 and includes a 3D version) and The Creature Walks Among Us (1956).

 

BONUS FEATURES:

  • Behind-the-Scenes Documentaries
  • 3D Versions of Creature from the Black Lagoon and Revenge of the Creature
  • 1931 Spanish Version of Dracula
  • Featurettes on Bela Lugosi, Boris Karloff, Lon Chaney Jr., and Jack Pierce
  • 13 Expert Feature Commentaries
  • Archival Footage
  • Production Photographs
  • Theatrical Trailers

 

CD Review: A Perfect Circle “Eat The Elephant”

A Perfect Circle
Eat The Elephant
Producer: Dave Sardy, Billy Howerdel, Maynard James Keenan
Original Release Date: April 20, 2018
Number of Discs: 1
Length: 57:07
Label: BMG

Our Score: 5 out of 5 stars

As a fan of lifetime fan of “A Perfect Circle”, I have been waiting for the band’s fourth album to be released for the last fourteen years. The band started as a side project for Tool front man Maynard James Keenan but has always seems to stay relevant over the years. I think that it is because their music is very real and the lyrics brings up some major social, political and religious issues that it resonates with fans. I will go into it more below but this is an album that has built up for years. It is not going to win you over in one quick distracted listen. If you give this album a chance and really listen to it without distractions it is pretty freaking amazing and I can’t get enough of it! You can tell this was a real labor of love from the band and hardcore fans should dig it!

I spend a lot of time on the computer and listening to music with my Amazon Echo, so one day last Fall, I asked to listen to Tool to my surprise I found no Tool music is available streaming anywhere at the time, so A Perfect Circle quickly came into my head. Once I started listening, I came across a new song called “The Doomed”, I believe this was in October/November of 2017 and I was immediately taken back to old school A Perfect Circle. I loved this track and I listened to it A LOT over the last few months. Then in January, another single dropped called “Disillusioned” and it was even better than the first followed by next month with “TalkTalk” that was released in February 2018. We are talking three hit singles here before the album was even released. So I feel like I have been in love with these new tracks for months now and I only have been enjoying the album more and more with easy listen.

I feel like “Eat the Elephant” works best when played through in one sitting. I feel like the songs wind and connect together in a way that makes the who listening experience very exciting. I can’t explain in words just how much I love the song “Disillusioned”. It is honestly one of my favorite songs currently. The lyrics “Time to put the silicon obsession down…Take a look around, find a way in the silence”. I just have to stop everything and listen when this song comes on. “The Contrarian” is also a real shocker. What a surprise following up track! I also need to give props to the fourth single that was released before the album was released “So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish”, it is such a hot track. I love the way it doesn’t let you take a breathe in. It just is perfect and really different from the rest.

Like I mentioned above, even though this is their first album release in fourteen years, the band feels like they haven’t missed a beat. When I shuffle all tracks from this band the new ones fit perfect in with the old. “Eat the Elephant” dates back to as early as 2008. You can tell it was a slow working progress but if you are a longtime fan of Maynard James Keenan, (me personally since 1995), we are trained to expect to have to wait for great things. I can say that I have never been disappointed with a Tool or A Perfect Circle album. This time around unlike with 2004’s “Emotive”, where Billy Howerdel had step into lead vocals for most of the album, this time Keenan performed all vocal parts and also wrote all lyrics.

Since we are a little late to reviewing this album, it has since debuted at number 3 on the US Billboard 200 chart, which is the band’s fourth album to debut in the top 4. A Perfect Circle may not be for everyone but I feel like it’s music stands out from everyone else and is not afraid to be different or to try something new. If you are lucky the band might be coming to a city near you with their accompanying tour throughout 2018, including North American dates in May, October, and November, and European dates in June and December. I have seen them live in the early 2000’s and it was definitely an experience. I can’t wait to see how these new tracks work live. Very excited for this album and for this upcoming tour. “Eat the Elephant” is a must have for A Perfect Circle fans! Definitely worth the wait! Now Maynard, get your ass in gear please on the new Tool album 😉

Track Listing:
1. Eat The Elephant
2. Disillusioned
3. The Contrarian
4. The Doomed
5. So Long, And Thanks For All The Fish
6. TalkTalk
7. By And Down The River
8. Delicious
9. DLB
10. Hourglass
11. Feathers
12. Get The Lead Out

Super Bowl LI: The Perfect Sporting Film?

Source: NFL via Facebook

You just couldn’t script it, could you? Bill Belichick’s New England Patriots, one of the most successful franchises in the history of the National Football League, produced the greatest Super Bowl comeback of all-time to beat the Atlanta Falcons back in February.

Trailing 28-3 at half time, Tom Brady led the Patriots to a phenomenal victory that will live long in the memory of football fans across the globe. If you want to create a dramatic sporting film based on real events, look no further than this game – it will go down in the annals as one of the craziest matches in Super Bowl history.

If truth be told, nobody saw it coming and that is what made it even better. Heading into the famous half time show, the Patriots and the great Tom Brady were down by 25 points. Only a fool would have claimed that New England were going to win from such a bleak position…

But they did. In true Hollywood style, the Patriots offense rallied and started to close the gap. On the other side of the ball, defensive co-ordinator Matt Patricia made a handful of tweaks to the system and the Falcons just couldn’t cope with the added pressure. A movie would have to go down the route of a favourite bouncing back despite facing major odds rather than a true underdog story; the Patriots were well fancied going into the clash.

To be honest, you wouldn’t even need to focus primarily on the first half at all. While some may be looking for eye-witness accounts from New England players, a greater emphasis on the storyline might work better.

Source: New England Patriots via Facebook

Shooting a movie based on the comeback could be relatively straightforward; open up with the Patriots heading into the locker room with the scoreboard in sight and dive in there with a Belichick speech littered with inspirational quotes and passion. If you want to grab attention right from the beginning, an opening scene like that would certainly fit the bill.

Who knows, we could be set for another equally dramatic event in 2018. Next year’s Super Bowl will take place in Minnesota and it wouldn’t be a huge surprise to see Bill Belichick and the Patriots, currently +600 in NFL betting odds with bet365, competing on the big stage once again.

As long as Belichick and Brady are at Gillette Stadium, New England will always be in contention and a film focusing on how both men have carried the Patriots’ dynasty in recent years would go down a treat with sports fans.

Last year’s Super Bowl was truly remarkable and New England supporters will never forget the comeback. Matt Ryan and the Atlanta Falcons have been criticised for choking but that is completely unfair to the Patriots; they deserved to win based on that second half effort.

When we look back through the history of sporting films, underdog stories tend to dominate so it is about time that we celebrated an era of success; the New England Patriots deserve a movie on Super Bowl LI – let’s hope that a film maker out there agrees.

 

Related Content

Why Tom Brady’s Career Would Make The Perfect NFL Dynasty Movie

Tom Brady” (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Keith Allison

Tom Brady and the New England Patriots just get better and better. On February 5th 2017, the 39-year-old produced one of the greatest Super Bowl comebacks to lead New England to a shock victory over the Atlanta Falcons. Nobody ever doubted Brady’s ability to put pressure on Atlanta’s defence in the second half but overturning a 25-point margin took him to a league of his own.

Being completely honest, you could definitely make an entertaining and dramatic film based purely on Super Bowl 51. But when you look back over Brady’s illustrious career, you see the entire story from college to draft day, from his Patriots debut to his first Super Bowl and to the present day; a five-time NFL champion. And it’s the stuff of cinema for sure.

When he was drafted by New England with the 199th overall pick in 2000, nobody expected Brady to achieve much at all, let alone win nine AFC Championship titles and five Super Bowl rings – we’ve all seen Draft Day after all… Time and time again, Brady has overcome diversity to prove everybody wrong, and that certainly makes for a great Hollywood story. In true underdog fashion, 31 other franchises passed on Brady in the NFL Draft. Even the Patriots opted to look elsewhere in the first five rounds.

In a way, Brady has been the Adam Sandler of New England; controlling proceedings from quarterback just as Sandler does in The Longest Yard. And while some may claim that Bill Belichick, Brady’s long-time head coach at New England, holds many similarities to the warden in that particular movie, his influence at the top has been a key reason for Brady’s success at the position.

An interesting point to consider is the timing of a potential Brady movie. Do you start filming now whilst he is still playing or focus on developing an idea and then produce the movie when he’s retired? For now, Brady will remain focused on helping New England in their bid to win a sixth Super Bowl crown. According to some reports, the Patriots have already filed to trademark “Blitz for Six” and fans may be set for more “Belichickian” terms and phrases in the coming months.

The Patriots have dominated American football in the USA in recent years and a film focused on main man Brady may be well received should New England succeed in their “Blitz for Six”. One documentary, Year of the Quarterback: The Brady 6″ has emphasised on the respective careers of those quarterbacks selected before the New England man in the NFL Draft that year but it is time for a film-maker to turn attention to the greatest quarterback of all-time.

You won’t see another story quite like this in sport and if New England, +550 to win next year’s Super Bowl in bet365’s American football betting markets, can secure another title, every media platform in the United States would be looking to film and broadcast the documentary. Tom Brady is now bigger than a football player. He is a global icon and his sporting successes could very well plateau him onto the big screen in the coming years.

Whether you like him or not, Tom Brady’s achievements deserve plenty of respect and you have to admire his hunger to succeed on the big stage. The “Brady or Joe Montana” debate is subjective of course, but the New England man is certainly a bigger star than Montana ever was, and a movie based around his entire football career could potentially go down as one of the greatest sports films to hit the cinema.

Fan of Hot Sauce?! Danger Sauce delivers the “The Perfect Blend Of Heat-N-Sweet”

As a fan of hot sauce, I am always searching for the next best thing. I have tried everything from the lightest mild to the craziest blow-your-ass-out hot! Personally, I like something in the middle. It needs to have a kick but also be able to enjoy and not kill myself. I recently came across one of the coolest products that that pretty much answers my prayers. The company is called Danger Sauce and their tagline says it all “The Perfect Blend Of Heat-N-Sweet”. This is really what I have been looking for in a hot sauce. It has a nice blend of heat, mixed with some sweet and finishing off with some more heat. So you are left feeling good but not rushing for a drink. Hot sauce should be enjoyed and I really enjoyed Danger Sauce’s product.

Danger’s Rotor-Wing Sauce A.K.A. Dangers Sauce was originally created for wings but honestly has been great on anything that I tried it on. I tried making  wings, chicken breast, ribs and even covered a nice steak with it and the results are the same. This is the perfect blend of heat and sweet flavors. Believe it or not, I also dipped vegetables and other sides dishes with it as well and it was flavor heaven. If you head over to their website, they have a ton of cooking ideas for their product  as well. I highly recommend the candied bacon…OH MY GAWD. I made some for myself and then had to run out of the store and buy a bunch more bacon to make more for my whole family to enjoy.

If you would like to try out this amazing sauce for yourself head over to their website or Facebook to contact them for pricing and details.  There must be thousands of different options for hot sauce but once again Danger Sauce has delivered the the perfect blend of heat and sweet and everyone needs to know about it! You will not be disappointed. Tell them that Media Mikes sent you and help spread the word.

Guitarist Andy Timmons talks about his new album “Theme From a Perfect World”

Andy Timmons has been performing on stages all over the world since the mid 1980’s most notably with the band Danger Danger, Kip Winger and as the musical director/guitarist for Olivia Newton-John. When not working in the studio or with one of his many projects Andy focuses on his group The Andy Timmons Band. The group has just released a new instrumental album titled “Theme From a Perfect World” and Media Mikes had the chance to speak with Andy recently about the albums creation, his creative process and the bands current U.S. tour.

Adam Lawton: What can you tell us about your bands latest album?

Andy Timmons: We started working on the record about six years ago. What happened was is we started working on “Theme From a Perfect World” and that sort of morphed in to the “Sgt. Pepper” album. That really took on a life of its own and we ended up finishing the Pepper record first. It took us a little bit of time to get back to this new record as we had been doing a bunch of live shows along with all of us being very busy outside of the Andy Timmons. We are here now after about ten years with a new batch of original material. That certainly was much too long of a stretch and we hope to correct that in the coming years.

AL: Can you tell us about the decision to do an all instrumental album?

AT: For me I think my uniqueness to music is my voice on the guitar. I have certainly done a fair share of music with vocals and such but I think guitar is what I do best and that’s really what I have spent my life doing. Instrumental music is a more pure and direct way of communicating especially if you are able to develop that connection on your instrument. With the guitar I think I am just scratching the surface really. Two of my heroes are Jeff Beck and Pat Matheny. Those guys really set a bench mark with their level of expression. There are a lot of great players out there but those two guys are at the forefront of people who raise the bar. That’s the path I am aspiring to and the band and I are just really trying to strike a deeper chord with our music as opposed to taking a more generic route.

AL: Is there a different creative process for you when writing instrumental music as opposed to lyrical
music?

AT: It’s all driven by the same muse. I am trying to create music that I love. I think the songwriting process or the guitar soloing process is really driven by that same desire. I want to create something that’s equal in quality to all the music I have taken in over the course of my life.

AL: The album has a deep melodic feel to it. Is that something that evolved over the course of making the album or was that something you consciously wanted to do?

AT: That has been sort of an ongoing growth/development. It’s been a natural progression for me. I think there have been some good songs on some of my earlier releases but what has always been in the forefront of my mind. Yes I wanted to write some good songs but I also wanted to play my ass off. With the maturing and growing process it’s clear that none of that means anything unless you have a great song. You want people to listen repeatedly and it to be something they want to hear multiple times.

AL: How do you think your songwriting has evolved since your early days with Danger Danger?

AT: It sort of has just evolved in the way it’s evolved. It’s hard for me to really speak much about that because I am so close to it. The inspirations and motivations haven’t changed that much. I do think I am getting better at reflecting the emotions that I want to get across. Not every moment on the new record has a deep meaning but there are a handful of the songs that are based around some very heavy life changing events. Everything was very much in the moment and a heartfelt document of what was happening at that time.

AL: Can you tell us about the bands current tour?

AT: This is the bands very first U.S. tour. It’s a bit crazy to hear me say that because we have been a band since 1988! It’s been an interesting trajectory for the band in that our career has sort of lived more in Europe and South East Asia. In the States things seemed a bit more daunting. We have all done higher level touring here in the states with other bands so the prospect of jumping in a band and potentially lose money didn’t seem that appealing. Doing that is fine in your early 20’s but not so much these days. Thanks to the internet and things like that people have been able to find more of our material which is great because we now are able to get out on the road here in the States. We will be out in the states for three weeks then we head over to Asia in November. We have December off and then in January we will be appearing at the NAMM show in California. I want to concentrate more on the U.S. at this point. We will still probably hit Europe sometime next year as well. There’s going to be several pockets of touring activity but Mike and I have a lot of recording we want to do as well. There’s going to be a much more ongoing creative process going forward.

For more info on Andy and the Andy Timmons Band you can visit http://andytimmons.com/

How to Choose Your Perfect Game for Free

Since the advent of online gaming, the industry has changed immeasurably. While it was once the case that “gaming” meant arcade style games you’d play in an entertainment venue or a console game, the term is now used to denote a variety of genres.

From mobile simulators and online casino games to virtual reality products, the gaming industry is now awash with options and that can make choosing the right game for you a tough task. Fortunately, as is often the way on the Internet, there’s a plethora of sites, services and apps out there that will help you find the best game for.

Read the Word of Others

Caught Reading” (CC BY 2.0) by  Jayel Aheram 

One of most effective ways to get a handle on the gaming market is to use a comparison site. Much like the ones you’d see in the insurance or travel industry, casino comparison sites not only provide reviews and ratings but direct links to the top operators in the industry.

For example, if you’re looking for a high quality online casino in Canada then a site such as Bonus.ca is your best bet.  When you’re searching for a place where money is a big part of your gaming experience it pays to listen to the words of others as it literally won’t cost you anything.

Indeed, when take a look at what sort of bonus offers you can pick up as a Canadian casino gamer by using a site such as Bonus.ca, you’re effectively using the collective experience of thousands to help you might the right choice.

Watch the Action Live

Twitch.TV offices” (CC BY-SA 2.0) by  docpop 

Another way to check out the top games in the industry is to head over to Twitch. The streaming service has long been the home of the world’s top gamers and through their streams you can learn about the finer points of the latest PC and console games on the market.

Whether you’re a World of Warcraft wannabe or curious about Call of Duty, Twitch streamers will give you real-time insights into the latest games on the market so you can find your favourites with ease.

Play for Free

Free Button” (CC BY 2.0) by  GotCredit 

The final way to find your perfect game without having to spend money is to play for free. When you search through the any app store you’ll now find that most of the leading games can be played for free.

Using the “freemium” model, app developers are now encouraging people to try their main features of their games for free before committing to them financially.

Of course, you can continue to play many of these games for free, but their structure is designed to make you purchase add-ons and credits. However, if you use this dynamic to explore the options available in the mobile world, then you’ll be able to find what you want without wasting money unnecessarily.

The gaming world is booming and that means you can now entertain yourself in a myriad of ways. Whether it’s gaming on the move, betting online or battling in a virtual world via your PC, there’s now more choice than ever and the best way to find what you’re looking for is to read, watch and play.

 

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Film Review “Pitch Perfect 2”

Starring: Anna Kendrick, Rebel Wilson and Skylar Astin
Directed by: Elizabeth Banks
Rated: PG 13
Running time: 1 hour 55 mins
Universal

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Get ready folks, the Bellas are back! And they’re just as ACA-funny as they were the first time.

It’s been three years since the Barden College Bellas captured their first collegiate a Capella championship. Now a three-time champion, the group, now led by the spirited Becca (Kendricks) has been asked to perform for the President. However, during a very elaborate aerial stunt involving “Fat” Amy (Wilson), something goes horribly wrong and soon the term “Muff-gate” has become part of the common lexicon. The resulting punishment strips the group of their title but allows them the chance to continue to compete in the World Championships versus groups from all over the world, including Germany’s current champions Das Sound Machine. With a few new voices in the group, will everything go as planned?

Fans of the first film will be pleased to learn that most of the original Bellas are back, with a few new voices to lead them. Among them is Emily (“True Grit’s” Hailie Steinfeld) a legacy whose mother (Katy Segal) is a Bella-legend and hopes to follow in her footsteps. Many of the returning characters are equally fun to watch, especially John Michael Higgins an director Banks as the smarmy hosts/commentators of the various competitions. Special attention to David Cross, as an eccentric a Capella fan who hosts “sing-offs” in his home featruing, among others, various members of the Green Bay Packers. The other main story follows Becca asshe continues to try to make it as a music producer. She gets her chance when she works with Snoop Dogg on his upcoming Christmas album. I must say here that when he’s crooning holiday classics, Snoop sounds a lot like the late, great Nat King Cole.

The script is fun, with many of the best lines going to Wilson’s “Fat” Amy, who considers David Hasselhoff the last great German singer and has been intimate with “three of the Wiggles.” The songs performed are familiar “sing-a-long” numbers and director Banks has a fine eye for capturing the excitement and exhileration of competition. If you enjoyed the first film, you won’t be disappointed with “Pitch Perfect 2.”

Book Review “Disney Princess: Perfect Princess Christmas”

Age Range: 3 – 5 years
Grade Level: Preschool – Kindergarten
Series: Disney Princess
Hardcover: 96 pages
Publisher: Disney Press
Release Date: September 9, 2014

Our Score: 3 out of 5 stars

“Disney Princess: Perfect Princess Christmas” features four Christmas-themed stories with our favorite Disney princess: Ariel, Aurora, Cinderella, Tiana. I am surprised but my daughter, who is two, was not terribly blown away with this. She loves Ariel and Tiana but still didn’t really latch on to this one. The stories are cute and certainly get you into the Christmas spirit. The illustrations are colorful and looks great. The book also comes with a free download of the Royal Christmas app for iPhone and iPad. Maybe we’ll try again next year and see if anything changes. I am sure others will love this book though.

Official Premise: Now little girls can celebrate the holidays with the Disney Princesses! From crackling fires and snowy sleigh rides to beachside gatherings and New Orleans feasts, each princess does Christmas her own way. These four Christmas-themed stories star Ariel, Aurora, Cinderella, Tiana, and their family and friends as they deck their castle halls. With gorgeous illustrations on every page, plus a foil-stamped jacket, this 96-page storybook is sure to be an instant classic.

 

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Blu-ray Review “A Perfect World”

Directed by: Clint Eastwood
Starring: Kevin Costner, Clint Eastwood and Laura Dern
MPAA Rating: PG 13
Distributed by: Warner Bros
Release Date: June 5, 2012
Running Time: 2 hours 18 mins

Film: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: 1/2 out of 5 stars

The first film directed by Eastwood after he won his much deserved Oscar for “Unforgiven,” A Perfect World” is a great cat and mouse game pitting two of the best, Costner and Eastwood, at the top of their game. Costner is Butch Haynes, an escaped convict who, among his adventures, adds kidnapping to his list of charges when he abducts 7-year old Phillip “Buzz” Perry. As the two keep one step ahead of the law, led by U.S. Marshall Red Garnett (Eastwood) they discover they have a lot in common.

Thanks to a tight script by John Lee Hancock and Eastwood’s always steady direction, “A Perfect World” is an emotional roller coaster with Costner giving one of his best performances. The presentation is top notch, which is to be expected on Blu-ray. The only extra on the disc is the theatrical trailer. What a disappointment. Both Eastwood and Costner had won directing Oscars in the few years preceding and it would have been a treat to eavesdrop on two acclaimed filmmakers while they worked together.

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Synopsis: Academy Award winners* Kevin Costner and Clint Eastwood confront each other from opposite sides of the law in A Perfect World, an acclaimed, multilayered manhunt saga (directed by Eastwood) that rumbles down Texas backroads toward a harrowing collision with fate. Costner plays Butch Haynes, a hardened prison escapee on the lam with a young hostage (T.J. Lowther in a remarkable film debut) who sees in Butch the father figure he never had. Eastwood is wily Texas Ranger Red Garnett, leading deputies and a criminologist (Laura Dern) on a statewide pursuit. Red knows every road and pothole in the Panhandle. What’s more, he knows the elusive Haynes ? because their paths have crossed before.

 

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Book Review “A Perfect Haze: The Illustrated History of the Monterey International Pop Festival”

Author(s): Harvey Kubernik, Kenneth Kubernik
Hardcover: 288 pages
Publisher: Santa Monica Press
Release Date: November 1, 2011

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Before Woodstock, the summer of 1967 brought us the Monterey International Pop Festival. It was the first festival where thousands of hippies went to experience the summer of love. The book provides a really great insight into the event where you feel like you were there. There are such detailed documents including copies of telegrams, contracts, newspaper clippings, line-up posters, and other rare memorabilia from the festival. If you are fan of such music icons, such as Grateful Dead, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, The Who, Jefferson Airplane, and Otis Redding…than this is definitely a book for you, no question.

Besides all the amazing rare photos provided a great behind the scenes look at the festival, there are also many new interviews with musicians like Pete Townshend, Roger Daltrey and some members of the Jefferson Airplane and more! The book is split into seven chapters. What I enjoyed most is that it is a chronicle of each act that performed at the event. It is not just the authors telling us about the events. The first takes us through the preparation and leading up the event. The second chapter takes us through the events of the first night on Friday, which features music from Simon and Garfunkel and Lou Rawls. Chapter three focuses on Saturday afternoon with Canned Heat and The Steve Miller Band as a few of the acts giving their comments on the festival. Chapter 4 focuses on Saturday night with The Byrds and Jefferson Airplane for example. Chapter 5 takes us through the events of Sunday afternoon with detailed accounts from Ravi Shankar. Sunday night, the last night, is covered with biggest names like Buffalo Springfield, The Who, Grateful Dead and Jimi Hendrix. The last chapter takes us through “Monterey Pop: The Movie” and follows D.A. Pennebaker’s account of the festival and working on the film.

The photos in the book really captures the essence of this truly amazing event. I feel that the personal account of each night really draw you into the book and if you close you eyes you can see the bands and here there music. I think that is probably the goal for a book like this one. Whether you were there at the Monterey International Pop Festival that June 16-18, 1967 or whether you weren’t even born, this book is a great tribute to the event. It is a must purchase for fans of this era of music.