137 My Space

American artists have always felt free to speak their minds, even when their opinions touch on controversial topics. During the Vietnam War, the politically-conscious Edwin Starr sung out, “War, what is it good for?” to protest America’s place in the bloody battle. And leading up the 2004 presidential election, Green Day recorded ‘American Idiot,’ an entire album devoted to the dissatisfaction with George W. Bush’s presidency, and subsequently, the ever-changing America. Today, Polarity/1 is no exception.

Polarity/1, a multi-instrumentalist/arranger/composer/producer, was one of the early voices warning of the impending debt crisis, having composed most of the score and served as Music Supervisor for Danny Schechter’s feature-length documentary ‘In Debt We Trust’. Focused on America’s dangerous addiction to debt and the predatory nature of our credit and loan industry, the film predicted over two years ago the economic meltdown being experienced today.

Proudly speaking his mind through his music, Polarity/1 uses freedom of speech to express his opinions on America with five songs featured in the documentary. The music — “Free Money,” “Charge It,” “Winter In America (Chills To The Bone),” “I’m So Broke,” and “Free Money Blues” — touches on topics ranging from poverty, to homelessness, to drug abuse, all the while allowing his bold statements to shine through the various sounds of each track.

In traditional twangy blues style, complete with a woeful chorus of melancholy men, “Free Money Blues” tells the financial burdens of the average American. Listing off dream items like flat screen TVs and new video games, the track reveals the pain of Americans, stuck in an economy where the rich keep getting richer and the poor keep getting poorer. In Polarity/1’s strained voice, listeners can feel the frustration at life in America, where money is abundant, but among all people, somehow the dollars don’t add up right.

On the rock track “I’m So Broke,” Polarity/1 continues to wail about finances, forcing every listener to understand how it feels to have nothing in such a wealthy country. Commenting on the homelessness problem, he says: “What’s left in my pocket goes to keep me off the docket.” Screaming “I’m so broke” over and over, listeners are left to think about the current state of America, as they must try to find solutions that will balance out the distribution of wealth in the country.

Taking a turn to rap, “Winter in America” also deals with the issue of homelessness, though this time taking a more drastic approach as it describes the brutally cold weather that they must endure. Once again proving the seriousness of the situation, Polarity/1 introduces the problem of drug addiction facing poor young people, suggesting that the country is to blame, and not parents: “You tried to raise ‘em right, but before you know, they’ll be suckin’ on a crack pipe.”

Through all five tracks, Polarity/1 continues to reflect on the crucial issues facing Americans today, as those in poverty keep struggling to survive, while the government does little to help out. With such political music, it’s obvious that Polarity/1 is doing his part to change the face of America. And by listening to the music of “In Debt We Trust,” we are also invited to do the same. Enjoying the songs and its message is only the beginning, though. In a country where debt is quickly becoming the only thing we can trust, Polarity/1’s album functions as the ultimate personal question: What are you going to do to fix America?

All five songs are available for free download at http://www.reverbnation.com/polarity1

Dana Stone and Rick Washbrook meet in 1972 thats about 37 years ago at school in Aurora Ontario.   In fact Dana Stone was a student of Washbrooks later in his teens. They went on to being good friends through the years.

In there early 20’s they lived together with a band called the Stoves in London.  This is when Washbrook attended record production and engineering at Fanshaw Collage.  Dana Stone was sound man and publicist for the band.

Dana Stone himself is a Wonderful singer and writes well crafted songs. He has 3 CD’s out under his label. Has been in the music business all his life diving into many facets of the industry.

Washbrook booked most of his shows for the 23 years he played live or worked with an agent. But Dana was always there to advise him.

In 2006 Dana Stone decided to help Washbrook get his music out to the public and radio stations. They sure do make a good team. They have released 7 CD projects. The reviews on Washbrooks CD projects and his guitar playing are great and he has received many quotes.

Moe Koffman said.
“Rick Washbrook has what it takes to go to the top”

Liona Boyd says about his Tribute to Lenny Breau “A Gypsy’s Bed”.”A wonderful evocative and unique tribute to the genius of Lenny Breau.Washbrook creates a relaxing mood,great tone and feel”.

Guitar Player USA Jude Gold said.  “Washbrook plays beautiful guitar”

Washbrook expresses he is so thankful to Dana Stone for his kindred spirit and friendhip all these years.

When Washbrook fell low in his mid 40’s after many years of performing, and lost many family members and his wife. Washbrook became very ill on many levels.

Washbrook says.

“It is Dana’s hand that reached out to board me on that sail boat… to get me away and be free and clean, encouraging a fresh positive new outlook towards my career and future. I am so great full to Dana. My heart is alive and you cant always say in life it’s because of an old friend.Good Friends are hard to come by. I am very fortunate to have him as a friend and be under his label “Dirty ICe Cream Music”.

Please visit Rick Washbrook’s web site for info, songs, bio, and photos. www.washbrookmusic.com

Contact Dana Stone at dirtyicecream@sympatico.ca

Contact Rick Washbrook at rwashbrook@hotmail.com

Music is beyond love. No one says yuck to music. It has been there since the world originated. European concerts and music festivals have always been in the air for quite some time. They are simply mind blowing. This immense love for music paved way to the various concerts happening in all parts of Europe. People enjoying their holidays love to be in one of this music live for more leisure and amusement.

As a result, the past and present decades were marked by immense number of music festivals. Now, this is never meant for rich people alone. You can grab the tickets in cheap rates through online. All you have to be aware is of advance booking. An exceptional characteristic of these Holiday carnivals is that the trainers, associates of world celebrated foursomes, time after time take part in the crowds they are preparing.

European concerts have stupendous performances and operas in fabulous settings. Other characteristics include the housing in sumptuousness or four star centrally established hotels. Other than music, the tickets also endow connoisseur banquets in a gregarious, relaxed ambience. There is no need to worry about sightseeing. Plenty of spots are ready to be visited by the people joining the operas.

Music alone will never bore the audience. The musicians change and there are friendly get-togethers with high-status concerts in Europe. The tickets include the opportunity of live music, concerts, training for part-time musicians with associates of principal Czech quartets. Indeed, there are additional buffets and parties to explore the liveliness.

Vienna is spotted as the magnificent musical city. Here too, there is good music concerts accompanied with the Schloss Laudon. You can meet the musicians individually with permission. There is less-priced ticket available here. Viable cuisines for different nationalities are encountered on ease.

It was in 2007, the first European festival took place. For the year of 2009, this event is to be launched in Munich. European music festivals usually are conducted during the summers. They are of course targeted on a unique crowd, the sole musical lovers. The superior occasions are provided for people of all modes. Almost certainly the most well-known music festival of all occasion is Woodstock which is the standard through which the rest are estimated.

United Kingdom music festivals are by and large extra music centered. Glastonbury Festival aims mainly at Guitar Bands as well as Rock n Roll. V Festival at the same time aims on the same mode of music with added stage shows and street party ambiance. The season for UK festival time is mainly during May to June.

United States of America’s Festivals is inclined to be further relied on special contributors for example the Warp Tour. The market for music never fades and instead they bounce back with more energy and liveliness. The reasons might be the busy life and people wish to hang out in musical concerts that are happening all over Europe in which they can perceive their famous stars on real.

Valkyrie Movie Review - Plot
During World War II, Wehrmacht Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg (Tom Cruise) is severely wounded in Tunisia, and is evacuated home to Nazi Germany. Meanwhile, Major General Henning von Tresckow (Branagh) attempts to assassinate Adolf Hitler by smuggling a bomb aboard the Führer’s private airplane. The bomb, however, fails to detonate and Tresckow safely retrieves it to conceal his intentions. After learning that the Gestapo has arrested Major Hans Oster, he orders General Olbricht (Nighy) to find a replacement. After recruiting von Stauffenberg into the German Resistance, Olbricht delivers von Stauffenberg to a meeting of the secret committee which has coordinated previous attempts on Hitler’s life. The members include General Ludwig Beck (Stamp), Dr. Carl Goerdeler (McNally), and Erwin von Witzleben (Schofield). The Colonel is stunned to learn that no plans exist for after Hitler’s assassination.
After a bombing raid on Berlin, he lights upon using the plan Operation Valkyrie, which involves the deployment of the Reserve Army to maintain order in the event of a national emergency. The plotters carefully redraft the plan so that they can dismantle the Nazi regime after assassinating Hitler. Realizing that only General Fromm (Wilkinson), the head of the Reserve Army, can initiateValkyrie, they offer him a position as head of the Wehrmacht in a Post-Nazi Germany and recruit him into the fold. With the rewritten plan needing to be signed off by Hitler (Bamber), von Stauffenberg visits the Führer at his Berghof estate in Bavaria. In the presence of his inner circle, Hitler praises von Stauffenberg’s heroism in North Africa and signs off on the plan without fully examining the modifications.
At Goerdeler’s insistence, von Stauffenberg is ordered to assassinate both Hitler and SS head Himmler at the bunker Wolf’s Lair. At a final briefing, Colonel Mertz von Quirnheim (Berkel) instructs the committee members in how to use pencil detonators. von Stauffenberg also reaches out to General Fellgiebel (Izzard), who controls all communications at Wolf’s Lair, to cut off communications after the bomb blast. On July 15, 1944, von Stauffenberg attends a strategy meeting at Wolf’s Lair with the bomb in his briefcase, but with Himmler not present at the meeting, von Stauffenberg does not get the go-ahead from the committee leaders until the meeting is over. Meanwhile, the Reserve Army is mobilized by Olbricht, unbeknownst to Fromm, to stand by. With no action taken, von Stauffenberg safely extracts himself and the bomb from the bunker, and the Reserve Army is ordered to stand down, believing that the mobilization was training. Enraged, von Stauffenberg goes to the committee to protest the indecisiveness and blames the bungling of Goerdeler, who has been selected to be chancellor after the coup. When Goerdeler demands that von Stauffenberg be relieved, Beck informs him that the SS is searching for him and implores him to leave the country immediately.
On July 20, 1944, von Stauffenberg and his adjutant Lieutenant Haeften (Parker) return to the Wolf’s Lair. To von Stauffenberg’s dismay, he discovers that the conference is being held in an open-window summer barrack, whereas the plotters had intended to detonate the bomb within the walls of the bunker for maximum damage. While his adjuntant waits with a getaway car, von Stauffenberg leaves the briefcase at the meeting. With the bomb armed, von Stauffenberg leaves the barrack for the getaway car. When the bomb explodes, von Stauffenberg is certain that Hitler is dead and flees the Wolf’s Lair. Before shutting down communications, Fellgiebel calls Mertz about the explosion but cannot clearly convey whether or not the Führer is dead.
As von Stauffenberg flies back to Berlin, Olbricht refuses to mobilize the Reserve Army until he knows without a doubt that Hitler is dead. Behind Olbricht’s back, Mertz forges his signature and issues the orders anyway. With Operation Valkyrie underway, von Stauffenberg and his fellow plotters order the arrest of Nazi party leaders and SS officers and begin to take control of Berlin’s government quarter, which will allow them to command the entire Reich. Rumors reach Berlin that Hitler survived the blast, but von Stauffenberg dismisses them as SS propaganda. Meanwhile, Fromm learns from Field Marshal Keitel that Hitler is still alive. The General refuses to join the plotters, resulting in his arrest. When Hitler reaches the Reserve Army by telephone, the SS officers are released and the plotters in turn are besieged inside the Bendlerblock. The headquarters staff flees, but the ringleaders are arrested. Most are eventually tried and executed, while some commit suicide. Von Stauffenberg is executed by a firing squad.

Valkyrie Movie Review -Directed by
Bryan Singer

Valkyrie Movie Review - Produced by
Christopher McQuarrie
Bryan Singer
Gilbert Adler
Chris Lee
Written by Christopher McQuarrie
Nathan Alexander
Starring Tom Cruise
Bill Nighy
Eddie Izzard
Terence Stamp
Tom Wilkinson
Carice van Houten
Kenneth Branagh

Valkyrie Movie Review - Music by
John Ottman
Cinematography Newton Thomas Sigel

Valkyrie Movie Review - Editing by

John Ottman

Valkyrie Movie Review - Distributed by

USA/Canada
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
United Artists
Worldwide
20th Century Fox

Valkyrie Movie Review - Release date

December 25, 2008 (US)
January 22, 2009 (GER)
January 23, 2009 (UK)

Valkyrie Movie Review - Running time

120 min.

Valkyrie Movie Review - Country

United States

Valkyrie Movie Review - Language

English

Valkyrie Movie Review - Budget

$75 million (official) to $90 million (reported)