Harry Potter HBP: Mature and Magnificent

Hey World Family,
Falcon here feeling surprisingly chipper considering her serious lack of sleep (must be the 26 cans of Red Bull I consumed over the course of the previous evening; just kidding, you know Falcon doesn’t do that stuff…Mountain Dew Throwback works just fine). I promised you a review of Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, and you are getting it. May I simply say that it is the best Potter film yet, and was magnificently realized on screen. The acting, effects, compression of the telling, and the montages (very brief) were extraordinarily well executed.

SPOILER FREE

The cinematography of this film is stunning; literally. There are moments when image and sound come together to produce an experience rarely had; I cannot wait for the IMAX 3-D of some of those same sequences.

There are some surprises in here even for book readers and these are pleasant ones, rather than unexpected gaffs as in some other films (I refer to, of course the middle child of Peter Jackson’s adaptation of The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers where around 80 minutes into the film Aragorn goes off a cliff with a significant portion of the essence of the story right along with him). There are gentle and subtle surprises for readers throughout where the story has a different depth for those who have read the series. These are successful and make the overall unfolding that much more enjoyable.

As serious as the tone of this film is, there is comic relief in the form of slightly inebriated characters, love and crushes, and character Ron’s unusual techniques of defending the goals in Quidditch. His older brothers’ joke shop is a treat, and no one should eat those chocolates left on the bed!

The maturity of the young characters was shining through in fine performances by the ensemble of young people cast. Lavender is delightfully psycho, Seamus is growing up, but still as lovable as ever; Ginny is particularly enchanting, growing into a Hogwarts Eowyn, with strength, perseverance, and courage for two. The trio have come completely into their own, and their character portrayals have depth, light, and humor in the correct amounts when called upon. Draco Malfoy is tortured, frightened and forceful throughout, and Helena brought back Belatrix as demented and clever as ever. The young Mr. Fiennes makes a deliciously Omen-like young Tom Riddle, as does the adolescent actor, but the biggest, most impressive performances were those of Jim Broadbent (one of Falcon’s favorite actors ever) and Michael Gambon’s Dumbledore. They twist and turn together on screen and alone, and Gambon has now reached a performance level with Dan Radcliffe’s Harry on screen that fans had so hoped for several films.

There were tears last night (some of them cried as we had to sit through an excruciatingly long list of preview trailers, some good, some frightfully bad like 2012-sidebar: when will folks who have no understanding of Native American traditions and calendar systems ever stop trying to entertain us with their vapid ignorance of the facts? Yes, Mayans are Native Americans, thank you. Just venting…) and there will be even more today as younger fans take in the new film for the first time. Everybody show some love and be tolerant of those who need to grieve. Remember, many fans started reading this series when they were 8, 9, 10; being 18, 19, and 20 now means they grew up with the tales, so character stress may reflect on their own. It’s cool; allow them to express their feelings without ridicule or teasing.
All scenes are held reverently in the film, and all should stay for the credits at the end for a special experience.

This film is close to perfect. There are some things Falcon personally wishes were in that may make an appearance in a future Potter film in retrospect…but overall, this is a fine piece of filmmaking. In a summer weak on substance of any kind in blockbusters (smaller films have been good), this is an excellent diversion and worth every penny.

Peace…and get some sleep (smile)
Falcon and Dove

Harry Potter gets praise from Vatican; UPDATE:2,000 Midnight Shows Already Sold Out Tonight!

Hello World Family,
Falcon here with some stunning news: the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano gave Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince the proverbial two thumbs up, liking the adolescence love as appropriate and that good versus evil as clearly defined. They think it is the best Potter film yet, and they are not alone. The film is receiving high praise from many unexpected corners and the words Oscar nomination are even floating around.

As of 4pm, Movietickets.com reported that 96% of all tickets sales on their site is for HP: HBP! Fandango is selling tickets at an unreal speed per minute. By the end of the day, Harry Potter 6 may be in the all-time top five films opening for these sites.

For those who love attending midnight shows, make sure that there are tickets for your local viewing, otherwise, you may get there and all the tickets could be gone. GO EARLY, and hang out with all the other costumed fans, and stay in groups if you are out late. Don’t go wandering around alone.

ABOUT THE CONTENT OF THIS FILM FOR YOUNG VIEWERS
Falcon mentioned this awhile ago, and it is time to now mention it again. This film is rated PG, and while the rating doesn’t reflect the caution, as a parent, I WILL!. Children under age 8 who have not read the books may be very surprised and disturbed by some of the content of this film. Personally, I don’t recommend taking a younger child who hasn’t read the books until YOU, the parents have seen the film. I don’t expect a lot of younger children at the midnight showings, but there will be at the matinees tomorrow. Please, talk to the younger children who may be attending with older siblings before they see the film. This goes way beyond the Cedric Diggory scene in Goblet of Fire. Give your children some leave to grieve. Older children may want to see this again, younger children probably shouldn’t for awhile. You know your child best; be the parent, and make the best decision for your child or children.

Falcon hasn’t done a lot of movie review writing this summer for one reason: a lot of them stunk! Those that didn’t will be mentioned in our Fall Film Preview (coming in August), as we begin the consideration for Oscar Season. Personally, Falcon thought some of the summer films were so bad, just mentioning them was more than they deserved…so I didn’t. There have been some great independent films and more to come, and again, we will cover those extensively in August.

This film HP: HBP is a crossroads film for the Potter franchise. With two more films to go (Deathly Hallows parts one and two), it is important with this film to set the tone. Falcon and Dove are doing the midnight thing and will report with a review for tomorrow’s opening day.

In the meantime, get your wands at the ready, House Colors on…enjoy your evening, and be safe.

Peace,
Falcon and Dove

Rodrigo y Gabriela Tour Updates/Workout Tunes

Hey World Family,
Falcon, here. There will be a couple of updates today; so much going on in the world of entertainment.

There have been some updates in the tour schedule of Rodrigo y Gabriela, so we wanted to pass these on to you ASAP.

This is the full schedule as we know it at the moment. Of course, the new album 11:11 will be out in September, so when it is, we will let you know;)

RODRIGO Y GABRIELA

July, 15 2009 08:00 PM - Jazz Festival, Gent, Belgium
http://www.gentjazz.com/

July, 17 2009 08:00 PM - Festival Les Suds (Old Arena), Arles, France
http://www.suds-arles.com/

July, 19 2009 08:00 PM - Lovebox ( 2nd stage), Victoria Park, Hackney, London
http://www.lovebox.net/

July, 21 2009 08:00 PM - Blue Balls Festival, Lucerne, Switzerland,
http://www.blueballs.ch/

July, 23 2009 08:00 PM - Paleo Festival (Chapiteau Stage), Nyon, Switzerland
http://www.2009.paleo.ch/

July, 24 2009 08:00 PM - Les 3 Elephants Festival (Main Stage), Laval, France
http://www.les3elephants.com/2009

July, 26 2009 08:00 PM - Secret Garden Party (Main stage), Cambridge, UK
http://www.secretgardenparty.com/2009

July, 28 2009 08:00 PM - Dolans Warehouse, Limerick, Ireland
Box Office 061 314483 & www.dolanspub.com

July, 29 2009 08:00 PM - School of Music, Cork, Ireland
www.cyprusavenue.ie

August, 1 2009 08:00 PM - Presqu’ile de Crozon Festival, Crozon, France
http://www.festivalduboutdumonde.com/

September, 4 2009 08:00 PM - Electric Picnic Festival, Stradbally, Laois
http://www.electricpicnic.ie/

September, 16 2009 08:00 PM - Terminal 5, New York City,
http://www.terminal5nyc.com/

September, 19 2009 08:00 PM - Temple Hoyne Buell Theatre, Denver, CO

September, 21 2009 08:00 PM - Moore Theatre, Seattle, USA

September, 23 2009 08:00 PM - Fox Theatre, Oakland, USA

September, 25 2009 08:00 PM - Orpheum Theatre, Los Angeles, USA


Falcon loves this pair; they are magnificent players and performers combining style, grace, and intensity gloriously. If you haven’t checked them out yet, just go to You Tube; they have a new video, and a ton of classics. Download a couple of tracks for the MP3, too. They are great inspiration for the workout.

FALCON AND DOVE WORKOUT

Yes, questions have swirled about what do Falcon and Dove listen to when we are hitting the gym, yoga, Pilates, weights, bikes, and trails.
Well, Dove has a list she will share with you later (she is in Chi-town this weekend), but I will give you some of my current motivators.

FALCON’S LIST

YES-of course, I am a solid YES fan so I love putting on some stuff from TALES, RELAYER, UNION, and THE YES ALBUM. Of course, YES cousins are great, too: CIRCA, JON ANDERSON, JON AND VANGELIS, ABWH, etc.

QUEENSRYCHE-any album will do, but the latest SOLDIER’S STORY is great on the trails

EVANESCENCE- Yes, they are great to listen to when depressed or in need of some psychological revenge, but are also great on the bike. Having been a dancer for many years, Falcon sometimes forgets to breathe correctly when exercising. Dancers know what I mean when I say this. If I am listening to female vocalists I enjoy and respect, I will often sing along and that keeps me breathing, not holding my breath against the exertion. HEART, STREISAND (yes, Barbra), ELLA, NANCY WILSON (jazz, Heart already mentioned), JANIS, JONI, PINK even CLANNAD is great to bike and hike to while singing. I don’t recommend this for others, but Falcon has had asthma since I was a kid, and I don’t take meds, I just do T’ai-Chi, avoid foods that trigger responses (dairy is the worst for that) and exercise, EVERY DAY! I have to do something active. At my age, it becomes even more important. I can tell you what happens when you don’t exercise…bad stuff can creep in. I can do curls with laundry soap, so take every opportunity you can get to stay or get healthy.

PREDATOR-highly inspiring; I talked about these guys last week. This is my new favorite CD to push me further.

EARTH,WIND, AND FIRE-they will get you up for anything! It doesn’t matter what I am doing, I can always get motivated with them. You have to get moving with them on the player.

STYX- these guys are for the weights. Tommy, Gowan, James and the gang keep me working through the burn

WES MONTGOMERY- cool down time; nothing like a little Wes…

ANDREAS VOLLENWEIDER- I can bike to most of his stuff, but my favorite is of course, DOWN TO THE MOON. I also like WHITE WINDS for a cool down

MOODY BLUES-yes, I love them. These guys are great for hiking in the woods and appreciating nature. Things just look more beautiful when they are on…

KILLSWITCH and SLIPKNOT-for immediately following Pilates class. For some reason, they are just a good addition to do the aerobic stuff I do to keep the muscles loose after the intensity of Pilates. These are my release guys, then a nice bath or shower.

CHIEFTAINS, JOHN MC CANN, TOMMY MAKEM, CAPERCAILLE, BROTHER-Falcon gets Celtic, Scot, and tribal when doing some T’ai Chi and body sculpting.

JAZZ for chillin’- when slowing down relaxing, and trying to stay cool in rush-hour traffic, jazz is the only way to go. Local artists like GEORGE BENSON, AHMED JAMAL, JOE NEGRI, are always nice. There are so many artists I listen to, it would be unfair to single out, but I also like ALAN PARSONS PROJECT for rush hour…er…um..hours. It goes on forever…

This is just a snapsot of the moment; it can change all the time and usually does. Music for dance is entirely different, and that is for another day;)

Stay strong, world family. Have a great week!
Peace,
Falcon and Dove

Concert news from BROTHER; CD/DVD, video release by PREDATOR

Hello World Family,
We hope everyone is having a great weekend (or beginning of the week for those already into Monday)...

We wanted to give you some great news from two trashing artistic talents: BROTHER and PREDATOR.

BROTHER has just released a classic on MP3- their very first CD, PIPE DREAMS.

There are some additional show dates as well:

Pipe Dreams downloadable:
“Pipe Dreams”, the first official BROTHER album, is now available for download. This album, currently out of print, features many of the band’s early a capella numbers, including Amazing Grace. Recorded in 3 days during the brothers’ street performing days this classic also has the earliest BROTHER bagpipe adaptations, traditional and original.
For BROTHER downloads go to http://www.brothermusic.com/broshop.htm

Upcoming Shows:
July 10 – 12
Colorado Irish festival
Clement Park
Littleton, Colorado
Fri: 6:30pm @ Bellco Celtic Stage
Sat: 8pm @ Jameson Pub Stage
Sun: 11:30am @ Bellco Celtic Stage
http://www.coloradoirishfestival.org/

July 15
River Rhythms
Pere Marquette Park
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
http://www.westown.org/westown/river+rhythms/default.asp

July 16
Evening shows
Concord Street Fair
Concord, New Hampshire
Details coming soon(promise)


New Journal Blog:
Includes live footage from Costa Mesa Scottish and Manheim Celtic Fling.
Go to www.Brotherjournal.blogspot.com

PREDATOR


PREDATOR is amazing. What really impresses me about this group is that they are lyrically strong and instrumentally fierce. They are precise yet unrelenting.

Check out their announcement:
PREDATOR

OUR CD-DVD SET IS NOW OUT!!!!

WE ARE DONATING A PORTION OF OUR PROCEEDS TO WOMEN IN DISTRESS FOR EACH COPY SOLD. ORDER IT HERE:
http://www.amazon.com/Predator/dp/B002233XIO/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1244517493&sr=1-5


Falcon needs to give these men high props. There is a video on their My Space page you must see, and get this CD as fast as you can! Yes, it is that good! If there is a category for progressive metal, they own it!

Guitarist Ken Bonfield releases Summer Tour Dates!

Hello World Family,
Falcon here with some summer concert news! His Royal Excellence Ken Bonfield emailed us this afternoon with some wonderful concert dates. AS you know, he will be in Pittsburgh July 22 with amigos Peter Janson (about to release a new CD) and Tim Farrell, who many of you saw at the Byham Theatre here in The 'Burgh on May 28.

We are so excited to be attending the House Party we can barely contain ourselves! Falcon is making some of her recipes from her cookbook, and all the food will be organic from our garden, Andy McAllister's (the scientist gone doc filmmaker) and from local farms.

Check out these tour dates below:

Montreal Guitar FestivalMontreal, QC, CA Fri Jul 03 09 08:00 PM

Montreal Guitar FestivalMontreal, QC, CA Sat Jul 04 09 02:00 PM

House Concert Pittsburgh, PA Wed Jul 22 09 07:00 PM


Echoes Living Room Concerts Chester Springs, PA Thu Jul 23 09 08:00 PM

Ten West Espresso CompanyMansfield, PA Fri Jul 24 09 07:30 PM

House ConcertDraper, UT Fri Aug 07 09 08:00 PM

House ConcertSalt Lake City, UT Sat Aug 08 09 08:00 PM

KZYX 90.7 FM Willits, CA Sun Aug 09 09 10:00 PM

1078 Gallery Chico, CA Wed Aug 12 09 08:00 PM

House ConcertDavis, CA Thu Aug 13 09 08:00 PM

Healdsburg Guitar FestivalSanta Rosa, CA Fri Aug 14 09 03:00 PM

Healdsburg Guitar FestivalSanta Rosa, CA Sat Aug 15 09 08:00 AM

Healdsburg Guitar FestivalSanta Rosa, CA Sun Aug 16 09 08:00 PM

TBA-MontereyMonterey, CA Tue Aug 18 09 08:00 PM

The Coffee Gallery BackstageAltadena, CA Fri Aug 21 09 08:00 PM

Here's some of what Ken said:
Just wanted to let you know about this summer's tour. I'm really excited to play at two of North America's biggest guitar festivals. I'll be playing a solo concert at the Montreal Guitar Festival Friday night, July 3rd at 8pm as well as playing mini-concerts for Kathy Wingert and Alan Carruth. I'll be getting my new high string guitar from Al this weekend and will post pictures when I return.

I also wanted to remind you that I now have FlashPaks for sale on my website. FlashPaks are 2GB USB drives loaded with my first 3 CDs Mystic Morning, Homecoming, and Winternight, as well as 8 bonus tracks from an un-released CD, Harbor Town. You can order them with AIFF files for Macs or WAV files for PCs.

www.kenbonfield.com

Thanks, Brother. Have a safe trip, and we'll see you in three weeks!

Peace, World Family.
Falcon and Dove

GITHEAD: Free, Live Webcast tonight from Orchard tv.com

Hello World Family,
Here is something free and fun for tonight for anyone anywhere this evening.

Orchard Studios in Brampton, Ontario will have a free live webcast tonight at 8pm EDT. GITHEAD, featuring Colin Newman of WIRE and Malka Spigel of MINIMAL CONTACT.

Log on to orchardtv.com to watch and listen!

Remember, Orchard Studios does post a small sample of previous performances on their website, but there is nothing like seeing it live.

Have a good week, Brothers and Sisters!
Peace,
Falcon and Dove

Seven Days into Summer…

Hello World Family,

Falcon and Dove are here together to contribute to this blog post. What a week! Seven days ago was Father’s Day, and of course, Solstice, the first day of summer. We were trying to get the U.S. Open in between flooding raindrops (here in Pittsburgh as well), and hoping that Father’s Day would be pleasant, and the Cancer New Moon Monday wouldn’t bring any of the havoc we were told might erupt.

So let’s review: A late finish to the U.S. Open was only the beginning. Lucas Glover would be one of the few who had good news this week. PGA member Chris Smith’s wife was killed in an auto accident in Indiana, and his children in critical condition. Our prayers are with you.

A Metro accident in Washington D.C. also greeted the week, and made us tearful about the loss of 9 people over what looks like it could be a computer glitch.

Then, the stories of Father’s Day nightmare of children killed by their fathers and wives or girlfriend’s murdered over stress combined with guns and alcohol.

Then, June 24: FEMA came to town to access the extensive damage all over southwestern PA but particularly in the small towns of Jeannette and Turtle Creek from a slow moving storm system that did as much damage as a Category 3 hurricane in even less time.

In the meantime, pressure was building concerning the ACES bill in the House. We figured the vote would be on Friday, and it was. It passed the House; next stop, the Senate. This could bring great change to how we handle climate change and the industries it will impact.

Then came June 25: Farrah Fawcett’s passing was sorrowful, but not surprising. There had been documentary footage over the past several weeks getting us ready for the inevitable. What happened that afternoon however, was a shock to all but a very few. Michael Joseph Jackson, age 50 collapsed of cardiac arrest in a rented home with a doctor present, and was rush to LA country hospital, but died shortly thereafter. Opinions about Jackson are as varied as his musical material, but one thing is sure: this will be one of those times, whether one likes it or not, when someone asks you in later years where you were when you heard…you will remember.

I was fixing dinner. It was 5:23pm Eastern Time. My daughter had just gone upstairs to change after her internship, so she missed most of the initial discussion on the news. My mother asked me if I could see the television screen from the kitchen. I was turning the vegetables in the skillet, and leaned into see the graphics at the bottom of the screen, hearing Sally Wiggin’s voice announcing the breaking news. There was some footage from a helicopter in LA over the hospital, and information on cardiac arrest. I thought quickly,” that doesn’t sound good; arrest means not beating”. My mother asked, “Is he alright?!” It was a question with not a small amount of alarm in her voice.

“That doesn’t sound good, mom. It means he was not breathing when they found him.” The news came back to the WTAE studio and said they would update the situation when they had more information. They discussed one more blurb about the FEMA assessment from the previous week’s flooding, and then Sally’s eyes dropped. Mike sat beside her staring at the prompter. I knew what they were going to say. They were aware that what they were about to say would be the voice many people would remember, so they were trying to give it the caution and reverence that they thought it deserved. Then, Sally mentioned the website TMZ and said they were reporting that Michael Jackson had died. It was 5:28pm.

Falcon grew up with all the Motown sounds, and the Jackson 5 were a staple of the music scene. On Saturday mornings, we all watched the cartoons. I remember going to a concert when I was 8, and crocheting a purse to match the very carefully picked outfit I chose: lilac colored sandals with a heel, pale lavender pants, a multi hued shirt with pink, purple and apricot in the mix and a lilac apple cap to complete the ensemble. It was the 60’s after all. I had pictures on the wall like any young girl, although mine were probably a bit more varied than some of my contemporaries, including not only Motown faves, but Janis Joplin, Jefferson Airplane, Jazz greats Ella Fitzgerald, Nancy Wilson and George Benson, and some new bands from the UK called Yes and Led Zeppelin had just released their first albums the previous summer. I loved The Moody Blues, and thought classical music was pretty keen, too. Michel LeGrand and Andre Previn were just getting started. Stereo was the bomb! Little did I know my father would get me a really cool system just a year later called quadraphonic…

I am sure this kind of waxing nostalgic scene has been playing out all over the country, indeed, all over the world. People remembering their favorite songs, dancing, moon-walking, and even reflecting on the fundraisers Jackson contributed to over the years. His presence was felt in nearly every corner of the globe, and without his walk, there would have been fewer footsteps to follow for those yet to come, especially from the African American community in every genre of entertainment.

Michael’s story is a bit more complicated than all that, though. He was complicated, unpredictable, and frankly troubled. He clearly suffered from something that changed his perceptions of himself, and then impacted the way he communicated and related to others. It is likely that he would have carried that discomfort for the rest of his life.

To die at 50, possibly after a fatal interaction of prescription drugs is completely unacceptable. He was supposedly in good health, yet he had a hip injury, a fractured vertebrae, and apparently constant pain. Instead of being directed to any sort of integrative therapies that might have relieved (or dare I say, solved) his issues, he was directed to the ever faithful band aid of drugs that provide no curative assistance at all, and contraindications abound. All of the drugs mentioned in his medicine cabinet have some habit forming tendencies, and none actually help ANY condition they are prescribed to treat.

Before we go ONE STEP FURTHER in the health care debate, this needs to be said: The health care industry needs to start focusing on the needs of the patient as curative and treatment centered, rather than as symptom treating and profit margin centered. Want health care reform in this country? Start with taking the profit out of health care. Until that happens, it will constantly be in the collective interested of those who are vow to first ‘Do No Harm” to begin to address the mechanization of the industry before the needs of the patient. If that person is also surrounded by enablers, it becomes even more important to address the individual, not the industry. Integrative therapies need to become part of this conversation of health and wellness. Otherwise, this is nothing but a bad joke.

We just heard about Billy Mays (infomercial spokesperson) today, a Pittsburgh Native currently living in Tampa, dead at age 50. We have no idea at the time of this posting what happened, but foul play is not suspected. The question is: what killed him? I hope this is not another case of contraindicated drug interaction.

Heath Ledger didn’t die of a drug overdose; he took drugs that were prescribed to him by doctors in the amounts recommended. If individuals with the kind of money these guys have can get health care this bad, what do the rest of us hope to get? It’s time to stand up and demand that we begin to address the issues of health and wellness over disease and profit. How many lives could be saved if we became patient centered? Will we ever know? Will we get a collective spine and the courage to demand change?

Along with all the other prayers we are praying, this one has also been added to the list.

Peace,
Falcon and Dove