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Thursday, October 24, 2013

What Happens When a Hardcore Rock Band Doesn't Pay Its Sound Engineer?

This song is supposed to be a hardcore rock song. And though it has the punching anger throat sounds of any respectable hardcore rock song, it so obviously doesn't have anything else that quite resemble the music of core hards. Instead, the song is mixed with an EDM dance track. That's because the band didn't pay its engineer.

Moms: Wounded sons weren't targets in NV shooting

This undated photo provided by Chandra Landsberry shows Sharon and Michael Landsberry. Police said Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2013, the student who wounded two classmates and killed Michael Landsberry and then himself on a Nevada middle school campus in Sparks, Nev., was 12 years old. Police also lauded the actions of Landsberry, a 45-year-old math teacher and former Marine, who they say tried to stop the rampage before he was fatally shot in the chest. (AP Photo/Courtesy of Chandra Landsberry via The Reno Gazette-Journal) NO SALES; NEVADA APPEAL OUT; SOUTH RENO WEEKLY OUT

This undated photo released by the Nevada Air National Guard shows Sparks Middle school math teacher and former Marine Michael Landsberry, 45. Authorities say the student who opened fire on a the Nevada middle school campus, wounding two students and killing Landsberry, got the weapon from his home. Washoe County School District Police said they are still working to trace where the gun was bought. Police said a Sparks Middle School student was the lone shooter and turned the weapon on himself. (AP Photo/Nevada Air National Guard)

Community members gather to pay their respects to Michael Landsberry, a 45-year-old eighth-grade math teacher, soccer coach and former Marine who was killed by an eighth-grader at Sparks Middle School on Monday, Oct. 21, 2013 in Sparks, Nev. The 12-year-old student who opened fire on the middle school campus, wounding two classmates and killing Landsberry, before he turned the gun on himself, got the weapon from his home, authorities said Tuesday. School District police said they are still working to determine how the boy obtained the 9mm semi-automatic Ruger handgun used in the Monday morning spree at Sparks Middle School. The boy's parents are cooperating with authorities and could face charges in the case, police said. (AP Photo/The Sacramento Bee, Hector Amezcua) MAGS OUT; LOCAL TV OUT (KCRA3, KXTV10, KOVR13, KUVS19, KMAZ31, KTXL40); MANDATORY CREDIT

Children and a parents take a photo of a memorial with candles at Sparks Middle School on Monday, Oct. 21, 2013 in Sparks, Nev. The 12-year-old student who opened fire on the middle school campus, wounding two classmates and killing a teacher before he turned the gun on himself, got the weapon from his home, authorities said Tuesday. School District police said they are still working to determine how the boy obtained the 9mm semi-automatic Ruger handgun used in the Monday morning spree at Sparks Middle School. The boy's parents are cooperating with authorities and could face charges in the case, police said. (AP Photo/The Sacramento Bee, Hector Amezcua) MAGS OUT; LOCAL TV OUT (KCRA3, KXTV10, KOVR13, KUVS19, KMAZ31, KTXL40); MANDATORY CREDIT

Sparks Mayor Geno Martini addresses reporters during a news briefing Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2013, at Sparks police headquarters with the latest information about a Sparks Middle School 7th grader who shot two students and killed a teacher before shooting himself in the head the day before with a semi-automatic handgun police believe he obtained from his residence. (AP Photo/Scott Sonner)

SPARKS, Nev. (AP) — The parents of the two boys wounded by a seventh-grader who fatally shot their teacher before turning a semi-automatic handgun on himself said Wednesday they don't believe their children were targeted in the schoolyard rampage.

Police were interviewing dozens of students who witnessed the shooting as investigators continued to try to unravel the mystery of what motivated the shooter, whom they still have not identified two days after he took his own life on an asphalt basketball court outside Sparks Middle School.

Hundreds of students and others gathered at a candlelight vigil on the school lawn Wednesday night to pay respect to their wounded classmates and beloved, fallen math teacher Michael Landsberry, a 45-year-old ex-Marine who coached basketball and soccer and was known by all as a big fan of Batman.

Sparks police Lt. Erick Thomas said investigators still don't know whether the shooting spree 15 minutes before the start of school Monday morning was random or targeted specific individuals.

But parents of the two 12-year-olds recovering from gunshot wounds said they don't think the boys were singled out. One said her son was trying to help Landsberry when he was shot in the abdomen with a bullet that exited his back.

"We do not believe he was in any way the target in this shooting," Jenifer Davis told reporters outside Renown Regional Medical Center, where she said her son Mason was "doing well ... in good spirits, although saddened by the loss of his friend, Mr. Landsberry."

"From what we've learned from others at the scene, Mason's first instinct was to intervene and he did all he could to help Mr. Landsberry," she said. "It is my understanding that he was trying to help Mr. Landsberry at the time he was shot."

A parent of the other boy, who was shot in the shoulder, declined to be identified or speak with reporters but said in a statement released by the hospital, "We do not believe our son was a target in this shooting."

Some in the crowd of more than 400 at the vigil on the school lawn in the working class neighborhood about 5 miles northeast of Reno clutched babies and others held Batman balloons with their candles as they sang, "Let There Be Peace on Earth."

"We pray for a world where guns and children don't go together — where violence is not the first or second or third way children think of to solve problems," said Julia Rubin of Reno's Temple Sinai. "We pray after we have mourned and comforted each other we can take steps to address the root cause of violence and gun used by children throughout our country."

Spanish Springs Presbyterian Church Pastor Howard Dotson led students in a pledge to "be a peacemaker."

"There is nothing glorious or sexy about guns," they repeated after him.

Investigators have confirmed the 12-year-old shooter acted alone, Thomas said, but little else since Landsberry was killed while trying to talk the boy into turning over his weapon.

"We're still investigating how this all happened. We are investigating the motives, all the facts and circumstances that both led up to it and were involved in it," Thomas told The Associated Press on Wednesday.

"It's a very complicated investigation as far as the number of witnesses and the seriousness of the crime," he added.

Thomas, the lead investigator in the case that also involves Reno police and Washoe County School District police, said he couldn't comment on some reports from fellow students that bullying may have played a role in the shooting.

"I can't release any information on any provocation or anything like that," he said.

Adding to the mystery surrounding the case is the fact that police have refused to release the shooter's identity.

The Reno Gazette-Journal published an editorial on its front page Wednesday calling for police to immediately identify the 12-year-old so the circumstances that led to the shooting might be better understood. To do otherwise was a violation of state law, the newspaper said.

Media organizations, including The Associated Press, have filed formal public record requests for the boy's name.

Sparks City Attorney Chet Adams said Wednesday he believes Nevada law exempts information concerning juveniles from public records laws. But he said that even if it didn't, police have not completed their investigation or "generated any document that would be considered a 'record' subject to dissemination."

"Moreover, releasing the requested information will hinder the (Police) Department's ability to thoroughly investigate the incident and draw accurate findings about Monday's events," Adams said in a statement.

Thomas confirmed the investigation extends to the boy's home, where he apparently obtained the gun — something police acknowledged could lead to prosecution of his parents or other adults if they knowingly made it available to the boy. He said he couldn't provide any information as to whether the gun was locked up.

"We're continuing to investigate the weapon and where it was obtained and how it was obtained," Thomas said.

___

Associated Press writer Michelle Rindels in Las Vegas contributed to this report.

Associated PressSource: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2013-10-24-Middle%20School%20Shooting/id-45a95c8ba5b74544997a4980a5820132
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BBM bests 1 million installs in its first day on Android

BBM for Android

We're getting our first look at the popularity of the recently released BBM for Android. Fresh out of the gate, the Google Play listing has placed the app in the 1 million to 5 million category. Those are total installations, and not "current" installs, so you've got to keep those numbers in context. Still. More than 1 million installs — and potentially as many as 5 million (we've got an e-mail in seeking more specific numbers) in a day is nothing to sneeze at.

Additionally, BBM's garnered more than 87,000 star reviews on Google Play — with the vast majority a full five stars.

A pretty big caveat, though — remember that there's a waiting list. So you can install the app, but you might not be able to use it just yet.

It's also worth keeping in mind that BBM doesn't work on nearly 30 percent of existing Android phones. BBM runs on Android 4.x, which as of the beginning of October made up 69 percent of active devices, according to the Android platform versions chart.

But either way, it's pretty damned impressive for BlackBerry — and for what many of us consider a dying platform.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/i2Ve0sYVrEo/story01.htm
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"Bratty" Katy Perry Had A Lot of Growing Up to Do

It's okay, you don't have to fight it: We all have crushes on Katy Perry. Not only is the "Roar" singer gorgeous, funny and talented, but she seems like she's having more fun than Rihanna, Lady Gaga and Taylor Swift put together. With her latest album, Prism, out now, she seems like she's doing fame right. And maybe, as she reveals in the new issue of W, it's because she started out doing it wrong.
Source: http://www.ivillage.com/katy-perrys-w-interview-russell-brand-john-mayer-prism/1-a-550448?dst=iv%3AiVillage%3Akaty-perrys-w-interview-russell-brand-john-mayer-prism-550448
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VP Biden: Country on cusp of mental health changes

BOSTON (AP) — Vice President Joe Biden says the country is on the cusp of what he called "remarkable changes" in the treatment of mental illness.

Speaking at a forum in Boston on Wednesday, Biden said that as a result of President Barack Obama's health care law, more people have access to care for mental illness. The law bars insurance companies from denying coverage due to preexisting conditions like bipolar disorder.

Biden was joined by Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and former U.S. Rep. Patrick Kennedy. The event marked the 50th anniversary of President John F. Kennedy's signing of the Community Mental Health Act.

Sebelius said there's still work to be done to eliminate the stigma around mental illness. She said the stigma can be a barrier to treatment.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/vp-biden-country-cusp-mental-health-changes-010852912.html
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Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Tom Hardy to Play Elton John in "Rocketman"

He's a living legend that's still making new music and now Elton John will get his own big screen biopic called "Rocketman."

According to Variety, Tom Hardy will star as the iconic piano man and will begin filming next fall.

Directed by Michael Gracey, the movie will follow his life story beginning from childhood and will feature many of the 66-year-old's hits, which he plans to re-record.

According to FilmDistrict CEO Peter Schlessel, "We are confident that Tom will embody the physicality and spirit of Sir Elton. This, in conjunction with the creative team led by Michael and Rocket Pictures, will provide the foundation for something that will be a unique cinematic event.”

Source: http://celebrity-gossip.net/tom-hardy/tom-hardy-play-elton-john-rocketman-948302
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Syria chemical disarmament on track but peace talks in doubt

Damascus (AFP) - Syria is set to hand over a detailed plan for the destruction of its chemical arsenal by Thursday, days ahead of a UN deadline, the international watchdog said.

But prospects for a peace conference, which the world body is trying to convene in parallel with the disarmament process, looked dim after key opposition leaders spurned efforts by Western and Arab powers to persuade them to attend.

And on the ground violence raged unabated, with a rebel attack on a gas pipeline causing power outages across Syria and a deadly car bombing and shelling hitting Damascus.

The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons said on Wednesday that the Syrian government was expected to hand over its disarmament plan within the next 24 hours.

The plan is the next step for Damascus under the terms of a US-Russian deal to head off military strikes on Syria which calls for all its chemical weapons and production facilities to be destroyed by mid-2014.

"We expect Syria's initial declaration of its chemical weapons programme within the next 24 hours," spokesman Michael Luhan told reporters in The Hague, where the OPCW is based.

President Bashar al-Assad's regime has already handed over an inventory of its chemicals, weapons and facilities, and a joint UN-OPCW team has been in Syria since the start of the month inspecting and destroying them.

The team has now checked 18 of 23 declared sites in Syria, destroying production equipment at almost all of them, Luhan said.

But parallel efforts by the United Nations to convene a peace conference in Geneva next month have run into resistance from the opposition, who are insisting on a raft of preconditions.

Leaders of the National Coalition -- the main opposition umbrella group -- insisted they will not attend unless regime change and Assad's departure are on the table.

A meeting in London Tuesday between opposition leaders and 11 governments from the Friends of Syria group produced little more than a joint statement that Assad should play no future role in government.

Damascus retorted on Wednesday that no foreign party could be involved in deciding the country's leadership.

"The Syrian people will not allow any foreign party to impose itself ... in choosing a government, or in determining its powers and tasks," the foreign ministry said.

It said the government was ready to attend the planned Geneva conference to "try its best to ensure its success without any preconditions or any foreign intervention."

'No negotiations if Assad departure not on table'

The opposition is due to meet at the start of November to finalise its position on the Geneva talks.

But Coalition head Ahmad Jarba showed no signs of readiness to compromise.

"The only thing we are willing to negotiate is a transfer of all power and then the departure of the mass killer (Assad)," he said.

On the ground, rebels shelled two of Damascus's main squares on killing five people and wounding at least 22, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

A car bomb hit a checkpoint in a western suburb of Damascus, causing multiple casualties among the troops manning it, the Observatory said.

And an attack by rebels near the capital caused a power outage across Syria, state news agency SANA quoted Electricity Minister Emad Khamis as saying.

An AFP journalist in Damascus said he could see from a distance a huge fire blazing near Damascus International Airport, which is located near the affected power station.

He also confirmed power was out in the capital.

The Observatory reported outages in several areas, including Aleppo in the north and Homs in the centre.

"It is likely this was a large-scale operation planned well in advance," said Observatory director Rami Abdel Rahman.

In September, a similar outage was caused after a high voltage power line was sabotaged.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/key-syria-talks-open-london-080543809.html
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