from saxon germany to the louisiana bayou

Great Deals Of Schultze Gets Blues Horst Krause

See this movie. Please! Don't worry about the English subtitles, there really is not that much dialogue in the film and when Shultze does get to America, well, the Americans speak English. The images tell the story of this film even more than the words. Plus, there is an effect of not even noticing the subtitles after a couple of minutes.

This is a film about a seemingly-stolid block of man named Schultze. He is forced into early retirement from his job in the salt mines with a couple of his buddies. Since all they know is the pit, they don't handle retirement all that well. The images of the film are absolutely wonderful in showing us the deadening symmetry and regularity of their lives. One I can't help sharing with you is the cheap lamp made of rock salt they are given as their retirement gift.

They are also members of an amateur music society that is coming up on its fiftieth birthday. Schultze, like his father before him, is an accordion player, and every year he plays a polka in their presentation. However, he happens upon a radio station playing Zydeco music. This ends up changing Schultze's life forever and sets this unadventurous man on a hero's journey whose details I cannot share with you. You must see all of them for yourself. Each of the great images in this film could fill pages and pages of explanation because they are so richly conceived and yet shot with such minimal action or dialogue.

The ending of the movie left me a bit unsatisfied, but I can understand the hero's fate after he sacrifices everything to reach his final destination. However, being a musician myself, I know how much he and the other musicians would have enjoyed themselves more if a more outgoing approach had been taken - you don't need English to get other musicians to understand that you like their music and want to play with them.

However, that is a quibble. And it is wonderful how Schultze's grand adventure and his hometown buddies' misunderstanding of and projection onto the hero's adventure leads to changes in what is acceptable and what is also desirable even if symmetrical respectability still holds them in thrall.

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From a Parkening Master Class (1982)Student and Teacher

Great Deals Of The Christopher Parkening Guitar Method

The Christopher Parkening Guitar Method, Volume 1, revised 1998, is a comprehensive approach to teaching classical guitar. Written by an accomplished premier classical guitarist, it is not just a collection of exercises and guitar pieces, but includes historical background, basic technique, lots of textual information, photos and a useful appendix of terms. While a few of the photos in the original edition which should have had better lighting are included, this is easily overlooked since many have been added which are of far superior quality. I recommend this text for first time students of classical guitar who will not just learn the rudiments, but beautiful guitar pieces as well. Having said this, there is no substitute for a teacher... don't go it alone!

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Best Speaker for Netbook Computers

Why You Ned to Buy X mini XAM4 B Mono Capsule Speaker

The complaints about the short audio connector overlook a feature that is not advertised. These speakers come with a 3 foot combination audio and USB charging cable. The speakers play through the USB mini plug and audio plug on the cable.
I plug the audio plug into my IPOD and the mini USB into the speaker and I can place the speaker 3 Ft. away.
I also have a second X-Mini. I use the combo charging cable that came with it to connect this speaker to the first through the buddy port. I just plug the audio pin into the first speaker buddy port and the mini USB plug into the second speaker. Now I can put the first speaker 3 feet from my IPOD and the second speaker 3 feet away from the first. The seperation sounds close to stereo.
I also found that by using the IPOD EQ feature found in Settings > Music I can get the best sound for my taste.
The Apple AC charger that I bought as an accessory for my IPOD charges the speakers without having to use my computer.
I like these speakers a lot.

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Screw you Syntax!

Why You Ned to Buy The Sheep Guardians Sanctioned ebook

In this era of unprecedented investment theft, this "Diary of a SEC-Sanctioned Swindle" stands out. It details one man's odyssey to discover how thousands of investors were fleeced out of hundreds of millions of dollars by the Syntax-Brillian Corporation. Along his journey he discovers corporate CEOs cooking the books, unethical lawyers who defend them, regulators who ignored his and other investors' cries for intervention, a predatory hedge fund and the complicit bankruptcy judge who was in their pocket.

It is a complex web of deceit and intrigue, yet Ahmed Amr spins an engaging and compelling story. While his book points to a corporate and securities culture so corrupt and a regulatory system so broken, he ultimately gives hope that together--through activism--we can fix the system before it's too late.

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Amazing arrangements, amazing music

Great Deals Of Lush Joe Clark Big Band

It has been a long time since I have heard new music filled with so many fresh ideas and with such energy.--and with such a high success rate in advancing the musical cause at hand. Lush, by the Joe Clark Big Band, signals the emergence of a formidable musical thinker, gifted as a composer, arranger, bandleader, and musician. This 52-minute release on the JazzedMedia label is an auspicious and memorable debut, one which also spotlights the brilliant veteran drummer Jeff Hamilton, as well as tenor saxophonist Chris Madsen, alto player Dan Nicholson, and others.
The album's eight tracks are split between standards and very fine originals. The former includes compositions like Thelonious Monk's "Well You Needn't." Of the originals, one is by Hamilton--the Brazilian-inflected "Samba de Martelo"--and three are by Clark. All of the songs are given muscular and spirited interpretations by an ensemble of 21 musicians, mainly horn players. The result is an abundance of music that is alive in the fullest sense. This is no small feat, considering that, apart from a single rehearsal, this group had never played together before.
Some of the soloing is breathtaking, particularly by Chris Madsen on "Lush Life." All of the compositions benefit from Clark's arranging, especially "Tenderly," which wins through pure stellar stately beauty. He approaches the standards with fresh eyes--and with a bracing curiosity about the composers' original intentions. Both covers and originals benefit from the intense attention Clark devotes to each bar of music. His arrangements develop the musical ideas of a given song to its fullest amplitude. Miles Davis once told Downbeat Magazine that a horn section can sound good, as long as it doesn't repeat too much. Clark takes that line of thought to a whole new plane. The arrangements are fluid and surprising. They reflect a reconception of what accompaniment means; it is the opposite of the repetitive vamp dronecraft we are used to. It is closer to a supportive consciousness with a voice distinctly its own. The brass section comments on the foreground melodies, but it also engages in dialogue passages. The writing at times gets complex, but it feels nimble and punchy because it feeds the forward momentum of the songs. Central to this feat is the superb rhythm section led by drummer Jeff Hamilton. This band swings really hard, elegant voicings and all.
A high point of the album is "Femme Fatale," a Clark composition that conveys the narcotic combination of elegance and edginess, attraction and anxiety, of a true femme fatale. It succeeds both as a powerful and stylish piece of music, and as a character study. In this song and others, an unexpected gift for theatrical drama emerges in Clark's thinking. "Lush" is a superb piece of music, an introduction to a musical vision definitely worth watching.

Dan UrsiniLush

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great plugs. i'm a musician

Great Deals Of Etymotic Research ETY Plugs Protection Earplugs

This was the first brand of earplugs designed with the music listener in mind that I heard of, but instead of ordering online, I bought a different brand that was available at the local music store. This was a mistake - they cost about the same, but they were absurdly large and simply did not fit in my ears at all, so I wound up buying these as well.
These fit perfectly in my ears and would fit just about anyone's ears, I expect, and do a fabulous job of filtering noise. I wear them while practicing the violin, and they reduce the sound of the instrument (long-term exposure to the violin can damage a violinist's hearing) and also the surface noise of the bow rubbing against the violin. While someone standing a few feet away listening to a violinist won't hear that noise, the hissing or scratching is very audible to the one playing the instrument, and wearing these earplugs allows me to listen to my sound with the ears of someone standing a few feet away. As a performer, this is very helpful as it gives me a much better idea of how I sound to others. I would highly recommend purchasing these if you are a musician or if you like to go see live bands, which can often be overwhelmingly loud.

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kinivo btx450 wireless speaker

Why You Ned to Buy Kinivo BTX450 Wireless Bluetooth Speaker

I'm a 52 year old audiophile who's been buying and comparing high end audio gear for over 35 years and I can assure you this little box does a very competent job of making music.

One must of course keep their expectations within reason as to the total sound output and low range of bass a tiny device can produce, but that said, the BTX450 is quite impressive. It's design allows it to produce respectable bass extension from it's small cabinet, which is a bit smaller than say a one liter water bottle. Of course you don't get a wide stereo field with a single box device, but it does throw a tiny little soundstage none the less. It gets loud enough before distorting to feel like a quality unit approaching the performance of the more expensive offerings from Jambox and Bose at a much lower price. It's clean and simple design look good, and it's small size and rechargeable battery operation make it quite versatile.

This unit pairs easily and with up to 8 devices, and when plugged in with it's charger, it can charge another device via it's USB jack. It has a 5.5mm mini-jack input as well as the Bluetooth option, and it is small enough to pack for travel.

It's a great choice for the price and it's size.

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simply amazing

Why You Ned to Buy Box net Box

I use this with my Manhasset voyager traveling stand. It is solid and strong. The 'cup holder' is actually just a round cup with a bottom you could certainly fit any size cup into - or use it as a pencil holder.

It took me a second to figure out how to get it on my stand. To start with, I thought it would not fit, which another reviewer warned about. As the Manhasset website says, however, it fits ALL their stands. However, it only fits one way (and not the way I first thought). That wasn't clear in the directions I got or from their site.

The missing instructions:

Before you screw the stand attachment onto the box, check which direction it fits on the stand. Pull up the stand desk so you can see both the black stand pole and the silver extension. Slip the attachment onto the silver and slide it down. It fits so the SCREWS ARE ON THE BOTTOM and the long sleeve is on the top. If it doesn't slide easily onto the black post, you have it upside down. DON'T FORCE IT. Flip it and try again. When in the correct direction, it slides right on.

Yes, it looks like it should work either way, and structurally it would make sense to me to have the shaft next to the box. But that's not how it works. The long shaft above the box acts as a spacer so the accessory tray doesn't bump into the stand desk.

Once you know the correct direction, screw it onto the box right side up.

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Great item!

Days After I Buy This Manhasset 2800 Music Stand Accessory

I use this with my Manhasset voyager traveling stand. It is solid and strong. The 'cup holder' is actually just a round cup with a bottom you could certainly fit any size cup into - or use it as a pencil holder.

It took me a second to figure out how to get it on my stand. To start with, I thought it would not fit, which another reviewer warned about. As the Manhasset website says, however, it fits ALL their stands. However, it only fits one way (and not the way I first thought). That wasn't clear in the directions I got or from their site.

The missing instructions:

Before you screw the stand attachment onto the box, check which direction it fits on the stand. Pull up the stand desk so you can see both the black stand pole and the silver extension. Slip the attachment onto the silver and slide it down. It fits so the SCREWS ARE ON THE BOTTOM and the long sleeve is on the top. If it doesn't slide easily onto the black post, you have it upside down. DON'T FORCE IT. Flip it and try again. When in the correct direction, it slides right on.

Yes, it looks like it should work either way, and structurally it would make sense to me to have the shaft next to the box. But that's not how it works. The long shaft above the box acts as a spacer so the accessory tray doesn't bump into the stand desk.

Once you know the correct direction, screw it onto the box right side up.

Get your Manhasset 2800 Music Stand Accessory Now!

Great book!!

Days After I Buy This Drinking Strangers Lessons Teenage Bullet

Butch Walker is a multi-talented musician with a long history of reaching the fringe of making it big time ala Kiss, Bon Jovi, etc., etc. I have read many books by and about famous musicians that mostly showed how egotistical they all were. Most came across as being self absorbed jerks spoiled by their success and fame. Butch's book comes across differently. It is a humorous look at the music business through his eyes and variety of experiences. Butch did experience more success than most aspiring rock musicians, but his mark in the business and good fortune finally came to him as a producer. I was and still am a fan of his music after this read. I am also a fan of Butch Walker, the person, after reading Drinking With Strangers. Learning about his life and the music business through his humble point of view was refreshing.

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A mystical dragon-shifting fantasy romance

Why You Ned to Buy The Sweetest Dark Shana Abe

I've been a fan of Shana Abe's adult romance novels for years, so when I discovered she was writing a Young Adult novel along the lines of her Drakon books, I was intrigued. So far, every YA novel I've read written by a adult romance novelist has been fantastic. I've noticed that many of these authors are able to tone down the sexiness enough so that it's appropriate for younger audiences, while still smoldering. In addition, many of these crossover authors write romance with a plot, so they're actually able to write a good story, despite the lack of sex. Abe is no exception and I'm definitely a fan.

Abe's Drakon novels feature characters that look like humans, but have the ability to shift into the shape of dragons. Fans of Sophie Jordan know that she is also a crossover adult romance author that writes YA novels featuring dragon shapeshifters. While these two sets of novels feature distinct similarities, the history and paranormal aspects definitely different. Abe's Drakon lore is firmly established due to her adult Drakon novels, so I doubt that readers will find the similarities troubling. Instead, I hope that fans of other shapeshifter novels, like Jordan's, will embrace The Sweetest Dark.

I will admit, The Sweetest Dark is a bit slow, but, since I genuinely enjoyed the characters, I didn't mind that the action was a bit lacking. Plus, this is only the first book and I fully anticipate the next to take things to the next level, especially after the intensity of this installment's ending. And, while Abe only touched on the paranormal aspects and the powers of the Drakon in this first book, having read her adult series dealing with the Drakon, I know that we can expect some pretty amazing things in the upcoming books.

Another aspect that I wasn't a huge fan of was the love triangle... primarily due to the fact that I wasn't a fan of one of Lora's possible matches. Armand is not my type of guy, but, with any luck, readers will see another side of him in book two. I feel like this is a very likely scenario and I look forward to seeing how Abe spins his sour disposition from book one.

Part of me wants to recommend that those of you are interested in reading The Sweetest Dark when it releases in August check out Abe's three adult novels that focus on the Drakon. Though I did enjoy this novel and I'll definitely reading any subsequent books, I don't know if it showcases just how strong Abe's writing can be. And, if you're interested in more of the history regarding the Drakon, you can find it in The Smoke Thief, The Dream Thief, and Queen of Dragons.

I'm glad to see another romance novelist try her hand at the YA genre... I think readers will enjoy this latest shapeshifter novel with it's historical elements and romance.

Get your The Sweetest Dark Shana Abe Now!

A Cracking Good Read!

Days After I Buy This Handful historical fantasy Medieval ebook

A most interesting and illuminating read about a period and a people of whom I knew little. The storyline follows the trials and tribulations of Yaroslava, a young Russian princess, as the Mongols sweep into mediaeval southern Russia, take her prisoner and kill or enslave most of the people she knows.

My initial impression was of a slow tale, but I was mistaken. It kept me reading and as an avid but impatient reader of everything - genre and literature - that is a very good sign! The story builds momentum, then bowls along at a fair rate and becomes involving at an early stage.

One cannot help but feel for this young and relatively innocent girl whose world is permanently destroyed by an irresistible force of 'barbarians'. Her adaptation to her changed circumstances is carefully visualised and skilfully written by Larisa Walk and the whole work feels 'real' as a result. I tire of reading novels labelled ostensibly as 'historical' where actual fact is subsumed into an imagined reality far from historical accuracy or any semblance of the period. It's perfectly acceptable in steampunk, time travel or alternate reality works, but not in historical novels that follow a linear timeline. There are one or two instances of magical elements in this book (I feel it could have been an excellent purely historical novel without the fantasy) but they don't detract from a cracking good read. In fairness, the book is labelled as historical fantasy, so I have no real complaint.

All in all, a genuinely good book, well written by an accomplished indie author and worth the five stars I have no hesitation in giving. Recommended!

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great

After I Buy Philips AJ7040D 30 Pin iPhone Speaker

I spent hours looking for the perfect iPhone docking speakers for my iPhone 4s. Finally i decided to go with this Philips one. Right away I loved the look it had- very sleek and sophisitcated. i also needed a remote so this was a giveaway!

Right out of the package, i was surprised that the player wasnt as big as the picture makes it out to be. But it wasnt a huge disappointment. i immediately plugged it in and attached my phone, and it synced right away.

The music sounds very crisp. i love that i can play Pandora without all the interference and noise :) Even the normal radio sounds really good- almost as if it was coming from my iPhone.

The remote works great! i havent tried the player without the adapter yet but plan to often when we go camping. its small and easy to carry/transport so that wont be an issue!

Overall i love it!! glad i went with this!

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Pink Floyd The Music and the Mystery

Days After I Buy This Pink Floyd The Music Mystery

Reading everything I have been able to find regarding MY favorite band of all time has been fun. After completely giving up on them in 84-85 when they broke up, I have recently tried to re-connect with the band who, when I was 13 in 1980, changed my life. I had seen a copy of Davids "Live at the Albert Hall" and subsequent-Live at Gdansk shows (actually, I think I saw the Gdansk video on Palladia, freaked out and got on here and ordered them) and was reminded why I had fallen in love in the first place. So, long story, not so short, I was hooked again. But this time, 24 yrs later, there was ALLLL this stuff that was not out there when the 80's were big. So, I started collecting...and watching you-tube..and collecting more..there's alot of stuff out there on the Floyd right now. Alot. but this book is a MUST for any collector. There was tons of information that I had DEFINATELY never knew about the boys and this along with Nicks book, Storms picture books (with actually alot of info on the band there to, Storms been 'round the boys since early 70's so..) and a few others. If you want a good read, Pink floyd-"The Music and the Mystery" is an excellent choice. For the money, it's a solid hook. Thanks !

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So cute

After I Buy Happy Birthday Candle Color vary

The design has been around for decades, it is robust, built to last, and works very well. It clips to any Manhasset stand perfectly, and will clip to thicker stands just as nicely if you bend the clip levers back further (and this will not hurt the mechanism at all.) With a 40 watt bulb it is "ok, I guess" for light output, but a 60 watt works wonders -- especially the GE "Reveal" 60w tubular bulb. (GE 48710-5 Reveal Tubular T10 Bulb, 60-Watt, 5-Pack) You can also bend the light housing outward to accommodate a 60-watt equivalent CFL bulb and this is my favorite option, providing great light output, cooler operation, and of course far less energy usage. The bending outward also improves the light for regular tubular incandescent bulbs, so it's worth doing either way.

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Very helpful in seeing the notes and chords.

After I Buy Manhasset Music Stand Light Bulb

The design has been around for decades, it is robust, built to last, and works very well. It clips to any Manhasset stand perfectly, and will clip to thicker stands just as nicely if you bend the clip levers back further (and this will not hurt the mechanism at all.) With a 40 watt bulb it is "ok, I guess" for light output, but a 60 watt works wonders -- especially the GE "Reveal" 60w tubular bulb. (GE 48710-5 Reveal Tubular T10 Bulb, 60-Watt, 5-Pack) You can also bend the light housing outward to accommodate a 60-watt equivalent CFL bulb and this is my favorite option, providing great light output, cooler operation, and of course far less energy usage. The bending outward also improves the light for regular tubular incandescent bulbs, so it's worth doing either way.

Get your Manhasset Music Stand Light Bulb Now!

Best Workout Video

Why You Ned to Buy Basic Training Ada Strength Workout

[Always consult a physician before starting any exercise routine]
Simply, it has been said that if you 'hate' your workout instructor by the end of the first week - it is a good workout. By the end of the first week I 'hated' Ada. As others noted this is an older 'from VHS' conversion. That does not make it less effective. My primary interest is a cardio/aerobic workout that is 'low impact'.
It is neatly divided into chapter sections.

Three weaknesses in this routine.
First, there is no pre-warm up stretching.
Second, the transition from aerobic to strength training is very short - I pause it here to take a moment to slow the heart rate a little more than she gives time for.
Third, some of the transitions in the stretching portion are quick and do not give time for an adequate stretch. It seems like they were trying to get in a 'one-hour' workout so they sacrificed some time stretching to do it.

This is a good cardio/aerobic exercise video with some weight training - it won't make anyone 'Charles Atlas' but it does provide a decent cardio maintenance routine with the ability to challenge one's self and improve.

The best recommendation I can make is simply - by following the routine every other day [after consulting my physician] - it has lowered my blood pressure [taken daily] and increased everyday stamina.

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Sturdy, easy to assemble, great value

Why You Ned to Buy Manhasset Model Sheet Music Stand

I had been shopping local music stores for music stands for my home, and I ultimatly was turned off by the price disparity between store and online prices. I was initially nervous about buying the Manhasset music stand becase similarly priced stands in the stores were made of light, flimsy metal that seemed cheap to the touch.

I was delighted when I received this music stand. The assembly was very easy. It comes in 3 pieces, and requires a pair of pliers and a screw driver to assemble. It took me about 3 minutes to get it all assembled once I had the tools in front of me.

The stand is a little lighter than I expected, weighing about 2-3 lbs. However, even though it is light, the top is sturdy and will not bend if you are trying write. The stand extends to about 60 inches at its maximum.

I strongly recommend this stand for home use.

Get your Manhasset Model Sheet Music Stand Now!