Playing for a Change is a group of international musicians that are on a mission. They want to change the world and they see music as means to that end. If you want to learn more about their music and mission, I recommend going to their website: Playing For Change.
This is a review of a concert they put on in Petaluma last Friday.
There were about 10- 12 musicians. They played music from Africa to New Orleans. Every song was a showcase of talent. The singing, the instrumentation - all was over the top. It was impossible to sit through anything. The music pulled you onto the floor in front of the stage where most attendees spent the entire night.
The venue was small and I would put the crowd at less than 150 people. Most were in their 40's or 50's but there were plenty of teens. I brought some with me and they called the concert "outstanding."
By the end of the night, everyone was in a frenzy. They finished with their signature song "Stand By Me." and then a old Blues singer from the south sand "Amazing Grace." I would go again tonight if they were playing.
I give it 4 stars out of 4.
Jim
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Saturday, October 30, 2010
FedEx-Kinko's
This is a review of the FedEx-Kinko's online print service.
Theoretically, you can email a document to a print center and it will be ready for you to pick-up at a later date.
I have used this service three times. Here are the results.
The first time, I sent in a document near the airport in Cleveland. My plan was to pick it up on Sunday, Labor Day, and then drive the hour to a client that I was working with. My business partner told me about this service and he was using it to get his own printing done. He was also picking his up on Labor Day.
When I got to the airport Kinko's on Monday, they had a big sign on the door saying they were closed for the holiday. I called my business partner and he didn't have the same problem. Apparently, different Kinko's sites have different policies. I checked my confirmation email from Fedex-Kinko's and they did give me a date for pick up. It was the Tuesday after Labor Day. It was my fault for not catching this. They could have made it easier to notice. They gave me a date, not a day. Additionally, there was no mention about them being closed on the holiday' no warning. Finally, since my business partner's Kinko's was open on the holiday, I wrongly assumed mine was.
The second time I tried to use this service, I fought with it for about 45 minutes before finally calling the site and saying, "I give up." It seemed like every thing I entered was accepted wrongly. If I back spaced to change one thing, the site changed everything else, like defaulting to the more expensive "color" option. The FedEx office said, "Oh, sorry about that. We are working on the website." It would have been nice to know before I wasted my time.
The latest time was this Friday. I got everything entered and then got an error message that simple said there was an error processing my order. Once again, all that time was wasted. So I called the site and then emailed in my documents. It was about noon. I got an automated response saying that they got my order and someone would be calling me. No one called. I called them on Saturday and they are closed for the weekend. So now I am just hoping that my order will be ready when I fly into town on Monday.
I give this service 1 star out of 4.
Jim
Theoretically, you can email a document to a print center and it will be ready for you to pick-up at a later date.
I have used this service three times. Here are the results.
The first time, I sent in a document near the airport in Cleveland. My plan was to pick it up on Sunday, Labor Day, and then drive the hour to a client that I was working with. My business partner told me about this service and he was using it to get his own printing done. He was also picking his up on Labor Day.
The second time I tried to use this service, I fought with it for about 45 minutes before finally calling the site and saying, "I give up." It seemed like every thing I entered was accepted wrongly. If I back spaced to change one thing, the site changed everything else, like defaulting to the more expensive "color" option. The FedEx office said, "Oh, sorry about that. We are working on the website." It would have been nice to know before I wasted my time.
The latest time was this Friday. I got everything entered and then got an error message that simple said there was an error processing my order. Once again, all that time was wasted. So I called the site and then emailed in my documents. It was about noon. I got an automated response saying that they got my order and someone would be calling me. No one called. I called them on Saturday and they are closed for the weekend. So now I am just hoping that my order will be ready when I fly into town on Monday.
I give this service 1 star out of 4.
Jim
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Glee - Rocky Horror Picture Show
Okay, I have never seen this show before. However, I am a fan of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Tonight, Glee is doing the RHPS.
Here is my review: The show is not something I would normally watch any other time but the songs from RHPS are really well done.
Jim
Here is my review: The show is not something I would normally watch any other time but the songs from RHPS are really well done.
Jim
Sunday, October 24, 2010
A Review of the movie - Hereafter
People clapped when it ended.
I'm not sure why.
One of the opening scenes, the one in the trailer with the tsunami, is very impressive.
Additionally, I spent most of the movie being in love with the beautiful French woman.
However, I found that it was a little slow in places. I understand the need to take your time when developing characters but this spent a little too much time.
This movie is food for fans of Eastwood (like me); fans of the subject matter (like me); fans of Matt Damon (like me) and fans of beautiful women (like me). Still, it didn't quite work for me. I think I may have been hoping for answers that weren't really forthcoming.
I give it 2.5 stars out of 4.
Jim
I'm not sure why.
One of the opening scenes, the one in the trailer with the tsunami, is very impressive.
Additionally, I spent most of the movie being in love with the beautiful French woman.
However, I found that it was a little slow in places. I understand the need to take your time when developing characters but this spent a little too much time.
This movie is food for fans of Eastwood (like me); fans of the subject matter (like me); fans of Matt Damon (like me) and fans of beautiful women (like me). Still, it didn't quite work for me. I think I may have been hoping for answers that weren't really forthcoming.
I give it 2.5 stars out of 4.
Jim
Thursday, October 21, 2010
The Social Network
This is a movie about the man that developed Facebook.
I went into it with high expectations. After all, this movie had received nothing but rave reviews since weeks before its release.
I wasn't disappointed. I found the story to be captivating and the acting was superb. I give it 3 stars out of four.
One of the measures of a movie, at least for me, is how long it stays with me. I found myself recalling scenes several days later. I might even see this again.
Go see it.
I went into it with high expectations. After all, this movie had received nothing but rave reviews since weeks before its release.
I wasn't disappointed. I found the story to be captivating and the acting was superb. I give it 3 stars out of four.
One of the measures of a movie, at least for me, is how long it stays with me. I found myself recalling scenes several days later. I might even see this again.
Go see it.
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