Sure it’s only spring now, but the 2009 summer concert season is right around the corner, and some amazing artists have already opened up ticket sales! Check em out and plan your summer before they sell out completely!

• U2: With their new album, “No Line on the Horizon,” poised for an easy No. 1 debut, Irish rockers U2 have unveiled the initial dates for a massive stadium tour they’ve dubbed “U2 360˚.”
  Find Tickets and Prices Now!”
• No Doubt: For the first time in five years, ska-rockers No Doubt will hit the tour trail, visiting amphitheaters and arenas from coast to coast:
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• Jonas Brothers: The Jonas Brothers are getting ready to trek through the US this summer, have scheduled an Aug. 12 drop date for their third album, “A Little Bit Longer.”
  Find Tickets and Prices Now!”
• The Fray: The Fray has mapped summer tour dates behind the band’s hot-selling new studio album, which topped the US album chart after hitting store shelves last month.
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• Ozomatli: Multi-cultural rockers Ozomatli head out on the road this month after spending a little time in the studio coming up with fresh material for a possible new studio album:
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• All American Rejects: Pop-rockers All-American Rejects have lined up a spring push behind their latest studio album, “When the World Comes Down,” which surfaced late last year.
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• Lady Gaga: The pop star’s “Fame Ball” trek gets underway March 12 in San Diego with stops in 23 major US markets before finishing up April 11 in Palm Springs,CA
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• Kelly Clarkson: Kelly Clarkson has released a handful of scattered tour dates that have her playing fairgrounds and grandstands throughout the US.
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• Lollapalooza: Jane’s Addiction, Depeche Mode, and Beastie Boys are being tapped to perform this Aug. 7-9 at Chicago’s Grant Park
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No other sport (if you can call it a sport) can assemble so many egos – or idiots if you wish. At the poker table everything is allowed, and some of those playing poker consider being a prick as part of their winning strategy. Some even make John McEnroe look like a renaissance man with impeccable manners. Let’s look at the top idiot poker players.

1. Tony G Hates Russia in a poker tournament

2. Scotty Nguyen Drunk Rampage at WSOP

3. Phil Hellmuth Outplayed and Outrageous

4. Mike Matusow and Sharam Sheikhan Beef

1). The Mayans and Aztecs believed that the Cocoa Beans originated from Paradise and would bring wisdom and power to anyone consuming them.

2). Emperor Montezuma of Mexico partook a Chocolate drink before entering his harem. This gave rise to the notion of Chocolate having aphrodisiac properties. The Italian adventurer Giacomo Casanova was another fellow who subscribed to this notion. There is some truth to the idea though, since Chocolate contains hundreds of chemicals including the feel-good stimulants - Caffeine, Theobromine, and Phenyethylamine.

3). Even though Chocolate is high in fat, it does not appear to raise blood cholesterol.

4). Chocolate is a great economy booster. Annual world consumption of cocoa beans averages approximately 600,000 tons per year. Consumers worldwide spend more than $20 billion a year on Chocolate.

5). Chocolate was such as a prestigious luxury that the French Ruler, Louis XIV, also known as the “Sun King”, established a court position entitled Royal Chocolate Maker to the King.
6). In 1907, the iconic Milk Chocolate Hershey’s Kisses were introduced. They are one of the most successful chocolates and Hershey produces approximately 20-25 million per day in a variety of flavors.

7). Chocolate has long been heralded for its value as an energy source. Think of it this way: a single chocolate chip provides sufficient food energy for an adult to walk 150 feet; hence, it would take about 35 chocolate chips to go a mile, or 875,000 for an around-the-world hike.

8). The smell of chocolate may increase theta brain waves, resulting in relaxation.

9). Chocolate increases antioxidant levels in the blood while the flavanoids in chocolate may help keep blood vessels elastic.

10). Placebo-controlled trials suggest chocolate consumption may subtly enhance cognitive performance. As reported by Dr Bryan Raudenbush (2006), scores for verbal and visual memory are raised by eating chocolate. Impulse-control and reaction-time are also improved.

In closing, I’ll leave you with this adorable quote: “All I really need is love, but a little chocolate now and then doesn’t hurt!” - Lucy Van Pelt (in Peanuts, by Charles M. Schulz)

Recently I became another statistic in the growing number of rent-paying tenants who are losing their homes due to their landlord’s pending foreclosure. I figured it best that I share the information I have found on the topic so that maybe at least one other person can be prepared for this financial nightmare. Even if you think you’re safe, I strongly recommend that you double-check anyway.

Begin by researching your landlord. Your landlord should be the legal owner of the house you are paying for, and this ownership is a matter of public record. If the bank has taken repossession of  the property, then this will be on file. Sites like http://www.rentalforeclosure.com/ can help you search for any recent proof of foreclosure proceedings using your address or your landlord’s name. but don’t rest easy on that search alone. You’ll also want to check your county property tax assessor’s website to see who the registered taxpayer is for the property you live in. Start asking your landlord questions if it’s not their name listed. Then check your county court house for any recent filings of a Change of Trustee OR Notice of Trustee Sale moving the property from your landlord’s name to the name of their lending institution. Again, these items are all public record, and can take some time to get updated, so check often.

Know your rights as a lessee. At this time there is no requirement that states that a landlord must notify you that they are at risk of foreclosure. This is something I strongly urge you to write to your local congressman about! It is unfortunate that in all of my research I could not find any legal recourse that I could take against my landlord with the exception of the option to take him to civil court for my security deposit and moving expenses, which would hardly be worth the time, hassle and costs involved.  Familiarize yourself with your region’s Landlord/Tenant acts which should have been provided to you with your lease. If you cannot find this information on your own, please leave a comment below and I will do my best to help.

Know your responsibilities to your landlord. In most cases, until the day that the bank assumes ownership of the property, your lease is still legally binding you to your financial obligation to your landlord. This means that unless you can legally break your lease, you are required to continue paying rent as long as they own the house and you are living in it. If they tell you otherwise, make them provide it to you in writing! And speaking of writing, if they give you a written offer of opting out of your lease prior to the foreclosure, make sure you provide them with written notice that you will be vacating the premises at least 30 days in advance, and leave the house in good condition as if you expect to get your deposits back. Goodness knows if they’ve been pocketing your rent, then they may just be the type to take YOU to civil court for breach of contract as well as damages for a house left “unrentable” just to squeeze a few more dollars out of you.

Know your options with the lender. With the rising rate of foreclosures, many lenders are realizing the dangers they are facing. Vacant houses mean no income for the bank, and even worse, a liability. Vacant houses attract vandalism, loitering, high maintenance costs, and many other forms of financial responsibility. This has caused some lenders to become more flexible with paying tenants even after they have taken possession of the home. One example of lender flexibility is a Subordination, Non-Disturbance and Attornment Agreement (SNDA). An SNDA basically states that while the Lender has controlling interest in the property, they will honor a continuing lease with the existing tenant under agreed-upon terms. In most cases where an SNDA is formed, the tenant simply sends their monthly rent directly to the lender once the house changes hands.

Know when to commit or quit.  Sadly, in many cases the best thing to do is to just walk away. Either the lender is unwilling to work with you, or the landlord waited far too long to give you an opportunity to work out an agreement before the eviction notice was given. I was able to find the greatest selection of short-notice rental properties in my area using good old Craigslist and in many cases the people managing the properties were willing to do short-term leases and even split the security deposits over the first two month’s rent. Either way, start shopping around for a new place the day you find out your current home is at risk. Create a backup plan and start pinching pennies. Hold out on your current place as long as you legally can, but know what your next move will be!

Please note that I am not a lawyer, legal adviser, or even a realtor. I am simply a tenant who did some homework and felt like sharing with the class. Each situation is unique to the individuals experiencing it, and a trained professional is always your safest option when seeking real estate or legal advice. 

Image Credit: http://www.gothamgazette.com/iotw/affordhousing/doc1.shtml

It seems that everywhere I turn there are articles and news stories about how companies are rewarding their employees during these trying times in order to reduce stress and increase morale. But who provides these perks to the self-employed? Often we entrepreneurs are putting our every waking moment into our work in order to build our business and ensure our success. That can mean endless hours at the computer, non-stop phone calls, end countless worries, and financial stress. So here are some ways to take care of your #1 employee without taking out a small business loan:

1. Get a massage! Many massage schools offer student massages for a very low rate, and the students who are giving the massages are usually near the end of their education and have quite a bit of experience. You’ll find that a monthly, or even weekly student massage can help relax your mind and unwind your nerves, along with many other health benefits.
2. Move that body! If your work involves sitting in front of the computer all day long, then it’s more important than every to sneak a little exercise in! Make it a point to walk your dogs. Watch a tutorial or the news or your favorite webcast from the treadmill. Ladies, don’t forget your kegals too!
3. Fuel yourself for success! Talkers, have a cup of hot tea in the morning. Snackers, supply yourself with a small variety of healthy snacks. Avoid high sugar and caffeinated drinks as they can cause you to crash and burn.
4. What’s gonna work? Teamwork! Keep in contact with at least one other person in your field that understands the challenges you face. This can be either in person through friends and colleagues, or online through the many social networking tools. Just understand that this works both ways. Listen, share ideas, and ask for help when you are stuck. Just because you work alone, doesn’t mean you have to do it by yourself.
5. Call the shots! Set your own hours and change where to hold meetings and lunches. Pick your own favorite restaurants or coffee shops instead of always getting together in an office. A change of scenery or pace can make work more fun.

I’m sure there are dozens of other ways you can de-stress your day and I’d love to hear them so please leave ideas in the comments below!

I recently moved into a rental house and like so many others, found that once the smell of fresh paint wore off, the house had a few surprises for me. This included a refrigerator that no matter how much I cleaned it, still had a wet, musty smell inside as well as a lingering odor of cat urine in the family room. After trying many different products to get rid of the odors I was ready to chip in on a new fridge and replace the carpet. I was getting headaches from the fragranced air fresheners I was using and I could STILL smell the offensive odors underneath!

That’s when a friend of mine gave me a 2-pack of Fridge-It Cube odor eliminators. I thought she was joking when she said that these little purple cubes worked better at eliminating odors than any candles, powders or sprays. She explained that the fridge-it cube isn’t designed to cover up odors, it’s filled with activated carbon which is designed to trap the particles that make up offensive smells within the cube so that they are removed from the air completely and permanently. I did my homework and found this video which explains how activated carbon works to adsorb odor particles:

Armed with an education, I hung one cube in the back of my fridge near the air vent, and another underneath a side-table in the worst corner of my family room. Within an hour or so my refrigerator smelled like new! The family room took about a day to lose the odor since it was a larger space, but I was absolutely floored! These little purple cubes had saved me a lot of time, money, headaches, and hassle!

I followed the name on the cube and found that the Fridge-It cubes are available online at www.innofresh.com and are generally inexpensive at about $20 a six-pack. They have a whole line of odor absorbers for your home, pets, cars and more.

Like an illicit affair with a kinky lover, Strange Young Things has got a hold on me! Reminding me of everything I love in the blues, soul, and rock of a Black Crowes or Burning Brides live set, and all the energy and heart of a raucous punk show. Though they’ve been together and performing in the valley for many years, this year marks their major breakout in the local music scene. With a southwest tour in the works to promote their new album titled “Look What They’ve Done to My Champagne Music”,  I expect you’ll be hearing even more buzz about them blowing folks away wherever they go!

Strange Young Things is made up of Corey Gloden (Guitar, Vocals), Richard Polmans (Drums, Percussion), Patrick Kelly (Guitar, Vocals). They frequently play venues across Arizona and California, and put on a show that is larger than life everywhere they go.

Strange Young Things has just finished up in the studio and is set to release their 1st full length album this coming fall with a huge blowout CD Release party at Last Exit in Tempe, AZ on September 6th. The release party will also feature local celebs The Earps, Tramps and Thieves, and Dry River Yacht Club. For more details on the party, where you can find their CD, and other upcoming appearances, please visit the Strange Young Things on MySpace

The Jonas Brothers are a hit with the new album A Little Bit Longer

I recently got the new Jonas Brothers CD titled “A Little Bit Longer” and I love it! I’ve had it for two days, and i know all the songs by heart. All the songs are more mature, even though most are about love and breakups and such, like every other song out there lately. But the songs are good.

Like the song “A little bit longer” sung by Nickolas Jonas, the youngest Jonas brother, is one of the most amazing songs I’ve ever heard. It’s about his having diabetes but its kind of written like a love song. Also, their song “Shelf” is very catchy, and yes, it’s a love song. Honestly, all of their songs are, or seem to be love songs. But they are all presented in a different way. The most well known song on their new album is “Burnin’ Up” Featuring Big Rob. It’s not on my list my favorite Jonas Brothers songs, but i do like it. This new album is totally, one hundred percent amazing. I like how they are kind of stepping out of that Disney Channel scene, and kind of making a name for themsleves.

Here’s a Jonas Fun Fact:The whole album was recorded on their tour bus! Isn’t that awesome?! I was surprised, yet not. I mean, they have been on tour non-stop for the past like 6 or 7 months. But anyway, I give two Thumbs up for “JB” and if I had more hands, I would give them three thumbs up for their new album!

The Jonas Brothers are currently on tour with Camp Rock star, Demi Lovato, and Punk Princess, Avril Lavigne! The concert tour is called the “Burnin’ Up Tour” be sure to check it out, I bet the concerts are gonna rock!

-Loula

For more Jonas Brothers check out the Jonas Brothers Concert Schedule for dates and tickets!

“Find. Watch. Snag. Support.” That’s the tagline for SnagFilms, and that’s exactly what they want you to do. SnagFilms is a different kind of movie website where you can watch full-length indie films and documentaries for free. Even better, they encourage their viewers to embed these movies into their own blogs. “Why?” you ask? Because each video is coupled with information about a charity that benefits from the increased viewership of those films, so by spreading the film, you are helping the charity! When you embed a widget on your web site, you open a virtual movie theater and become a “Filmanthropist.”

SnagFilms is currently in the Beta phase and already has over 255 films to choose from. Donate your pixels and support independent film!

The Jonas Brothers rock the camp in Disney’s hit smash summer musical Camp Rock!

Okay, so i have finally gotten the motivation to write about the Camp Rock movie starring the Jonas Brothers and Demi Lavato. To start off with, the movie was great in typical Disney style. There’s a girl with a dream, a boy with a big ego, friends there to assist the girl, and snobby rich girls who try and win the boy over. But the way they put the movie together was amazing.

Mitchie, played by Demi Lavato was the girl with a dream of being a singer, and Joe Jonas (as Shane) is the already-famous rockstar who over hears Mitchie singing and falls head over heals for her voice. The big thing in this movie was not the singing, or the quest to live a life long dream. But to find the girl behind the voice. Shane Gray goes on a search to find her. But has no success.

The rich snob that is trying to win Shane over is Tess Tyler (Meaghan Martin). She frames Mitchie and her friend Caitlyn(played by Alyson Stoner) so they wouldn’t be able to compete in the camp’s “Final Jam” concert, which keeps Mitchie and Caitlyn from winning the grand prize, and keeps Shane from finding the girl he was searching for. But Mitchie and Caitlyn find a way around that problem so they can still perform in the final jam.

Yes, I left out some major and minor details. But you get the idea. And yes, if you haven’t seen the movie and you are wondering, Nick and Kevin Jonas are in it, but not as much as Joe. And speaking of Kevin Jonas, his character(Jason) is a bit slow, or as a friend of mine put it “He is so ditzy its insane”. Nick’s character(Nate) is the complete opposite. He’s kinda like a control freak, always making sure their record deal is still in check after the dramatic attitude Shane is throwing around.

So, overall, this movie was amazing. I loved it 100%. Since the Jonas Brothers are in it, that makes it even better. What can I say, I’m a sucker for thick curly hair ;D Two thumbs up for Disney Channels Camp Rock!!

The Jonas Brothers are beginning their summer “Burning Up” concert tour with Demi Lovato starting on July 5th in Detroit, Michigan.