M Is FOR MASHUP - September 17th, 2014
MYSTERY BOX Won By Rhythm Scholar from U.S.A.
By DJ Useo
Well, the judging was mighty close for the entries to win the AudioBoots MYSTERY BOX contest. If you read my
previous column on the contest
( www.suprmchaos.com/bcEnt-Wed-082714.index.html ), you'll know I first judged all tracks on a one-to-ten scale. Then I judged all 31 tracks that got a ten out of ten rating on a one-to-one-hundred scale. That made it easier to assess who deservedly won the prizes. All 31 got a score of 93, or higher. Some were only a point apart, meaning the winner actually got a perfect score of one hundred, with the runners-up getting 98, 97, 96 & so on.
Can you imagine the amount of critical observation I had to muster to rate the entries in such a manner? I listened to them with brutal ears. I looked at the tracks in mixing apps to determine how the production was handled. All the tracks were mixed so well, it ultimately came down to judging the final production as the determinative factor. I also awarded points for "appeal", which is actually rather subjective. The final scores for all 31 tracks are posted in the
AudioBoots MYSTERY BOX forum thread here
( audioboots.com/forum/index.php?p=/discussion/339/win-the-mystery-box-for-augusts-best-mashup )
So, once it was decided the winner was Rhythm Scholar, we dropped the MYSTERY BOX in the mail where he received it MANY, MANY days later. What an interminable wait. Akk! He won with his mix of Eric B & Rakim vs The Eagles, Phil Collins, Elvis, James Brown & Bob Seger. ( He even entered two versions! ) Once he got the package, I posted the contents in the same thread mentioned above. There was an Applebees' gift card, a WHO cd box set ( new ), & a lot of other assorted items. I wanted to really load the box with expensive goodies, but it was actually still quite nice as is. My plan is spend six months lining up even better prizes, & then do the contest again next year.
The runners-up got no prizes aside from extra recognition, so I leveled & mastered all 31 tracks ( not that they needed it, much ) & released them as a zip file mashup collection. It has the tunes, plus all the art, & a good number of useful MYSTERY BOX-related text files. You can find
the link to obtain the zip file here
( www.groovytimewithdjuseo.blogspot.com/2014/09/audioboots-mystery-box-mashup-album.html )
The album is going gangbusters so far. A nice reward indeed. Drop me a line if the link gives you problems. I'm happy to add a mirror link, & it looks like it might be necessary. It's just too bad that me & Chocomang are the forum moderators, so we weren't eligible for the album or the box. I would'a liked those prizes just fine myself.
There're tracks from so many excellent home producers. There's ones from JoanCaramba, DRA'man, Voicedude, Assal, Boots Leg Pharm, Michmash, & tons more. Actually, there wasn't one bad track in the entire contest. No track posted got less than a 9 score, initially. I hope you like the album. The 31 tracks are so fantastic, with superb blends of tons of artists & songs you already know.
Mix Of The Week
"Retro 80s Mania - (by Jesus Cadena)…" delivers the goods! You'll bask in dancey nostalgia as Mr. Cadena ( aka VIPfm Mashups ) displays his deejay mix skills. A half hour of joy to be
found here
( hearthis.at/3FpJcVjt/retro-80s-mania-by-jesus-cadena/ )
Mashup Tip
Play your track a lot before you release it. There's no hurry, & you may notice something you want to change.
Useo's Latest Thing
"DJ Useo September 2014 Club Mashup Podcast" is my new full-length mashup podcast. I'm doing these hour & a half shows every other month now, instead of monthly, despite their popularity. I'll tell you why next month. In the meantime, you get incredible shows like this one that focuses on club mashups by the newer mixers. The show is one of my best, I think. It even features the new 3-minute original music theme "Chooseo Useo" from DmR of AtoZ.
Listen, or download here
( soundcloud.com/dj-useo/september-2014-club-mashup-podcast )
Podgornio, The Mashup Psychic Predicts
Lassie will rescue a mashup tomorrow when it falls into an old well down in Deadrock canyon.
Recommended Reading
from Bruce
Lola Okolosie: Teenage kicks? Today's young people are too focused on the future (Guardian)
As a teacher, I can see the rise in 'generation sensible' - and no wonder with all the pressure young people face.
Jay Bookman: Ga. GOP sees voter participation as a threat, and acts accordingly (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
This week, Secretary of State Brian Kemp announced a major investigation into voter-registration fraud allegedly perpetrated by the New Georgia Project, a group that has already registered some 85,000 new voters for the November election. The project is focusing its efforts on minority and other underrepresented groups, most of which tend to vote Democratic, but Kemp, a staunch Republican, rejects any claim that his investigation is partisan.
Jay Bookman: Fox News attempts a blatant rewrite of history (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
Fox News is using the anniversary of Sept. 11 to once again peddle nonsense about "a prophetic warning from then-President George W. Bush" about the dangers of leaving Iraq too soon. The implication of course is that we would not be facing these challenges in the Middle East if Bush's policies had been maintained.
Amanda Mannen, Amanda Davenport: 5 Ridiculous Myths You Probably Believe About Schizophrenia (Cracked)
It's not that Hollywood doesn't portray mental illness -- movies love to include schizophrenic characters. It's just that they're usually serial killers. Unfortunately, since most people don't know anyone who has schizophrenia (at least, as far as they know), this means a lot of what you think about the disease is bullshit.
Danny Dorling: "How the super rich got richer: 10 shocking facts about inequality" (Guardian)
The gap between the super rich and the rest of us is spiralling out of control, with Britain's 1% grabbing more than their counterparts anywhere else in Europe.
Jolene at 33 rpm (YouTube)
"The record player also has some really cool features, too. Like being able to slow down the music you listen to. While in most cases, slowed down music just sounds like, well, slowed down music, in the case of Dolly Parton's "Jolene," something extraordinary happens. It is like the song transforms and is suddenly sung perfectly, just a bit more depressing and with a guy's voice instead." - Neatorama
"? - (1000th Video!)" (YouTube)
"WheezyWaiter has been on YouTube a long time -years, in fact. This is his thousandth video! But why is there a question mark in front of the Title? It's because he's been planning this video for some time, and the question mark is crucial for asking Chyna to marry him. Yes, it's a proposal, and it's darn cute." - Neatorama)
David Bruce: Wise Up! Baseball/Softball (Athens News)
Pitcher Bobo Newsome was having a rough time in a game. His St. Louis Browns were down, 15-0, against the Philadelphia Athletics. A teammate told him, "They're hitting you all over the lot. You won't win today." Mr. Newsome replied, "A pitcher can't win ball games if his team can't get him any runs."
David Bruce's Amazon Author Page
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David Bruce has approximately 50 Kindle books on Amazon.com.
"Doug's Most Shared Facebook Post" Today
wrote:
took the day off.
has retired.
Reader Suggestion
Michelle in AZ
From The Creator of 'Avery Ant'
from Marc Perkel
BartCop
Hello Bartcop fans,
As you all know the untimely passing of Terry was unexpected, even by
him. We all knew he had cancer but we all thought he had some years
left. So some of us who have worked closely with him over the years are
scrambling around trying to figure out what to do. My job, among other
things, is to establish communications with the Bartcop community and
provide email lists and groups for those who might put something
together. Those who want to play an active roll in something coming from
this, or if you are one of Bart's pillars, should send an email to
active@bartcop.com.
Bart's final wish was to pay off the house mortgage for Mrs. Bart who is
overwhelmed and so very grateful for the support she has received.
Anyone wanting to make a donation can click on this the yellow donate
button on bartcop.com
But - I need you all to help keep this going. This note
isn't going to directly reach all of Bart's fans. So if you can repost
it on blogs and discussion boards so people can sign up then when we
figure out what's next we can let more people know. This list is just
over 600 but like to get it up to at least 10,000 pretty quick. So
here's the signup link for this email list.
( mailman.bartcop.com/listinfo/bartnews )
Marc Perkel
Selected Readings
from that Mad Cat, JD
In The Chaos Household
Last Night
Hotter than yesterday - 78° at 3am.
UN Messenger of Peace
Leonardo DiCaprio
Leonardo DiCaprio's movie roles have made him an international star, but his long and little-known commitment to preserving the global environment has led to his new role - as a U.N. Messenger of Peace.
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced on Tuesday that the 39-year-old American actor will join 11 other prominent world figures who advocate on behalf of the U.N. as Messengers of Peace including Stevie Wonder, Michael Douglas, George Clooney, Brazilian author Paulo Coelho, primatologist Jane Goodall and conductor Daniel Barenboim.
Ban told a news conference that the Dicaprio "is not just one of the world's leading actors" but he has "a longstanding commitment to environmental causes."
Ban said DiCaprio's first act as a Messenger of Peace will be to address the climate summit he is holding next Tuesday on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly's annual ministerial meeting, which 120 world leaders are expected to attend. Ban said the aim is to promote commitments to curb greenhouse gas emissions and pave the way for a global climate agreement in 2015.
Leonardo DiCaprio
NLRB (Finally) Rules Against
CNN
The National Labor Relations Board ruled against the CNN cable television network on Monday in an 11-year-old labor dispute, ordering the network to rehire or compensate about 300 former workers.
The NLRB agreed with a November 2008 ruling by one of its administrative judges that CNN improperly replaced a unionized subcontractor, Team Video Services (TVS), with in-house non-union staffers, claiming "anti-union" bias.
The board gave CNN 14 days to rehire the former TVS employees for "their former positions or, if those jobs no longer exist, to substantially equivalent positions."
It also told CNN to pay bargaining union employees for any adverse tax consequences that may result from the lump-sum reimbursements.
CNN
Voted Against Equal Pay
Republican Women
In an awful though not surprising move, Republican senators, including all four Republican women, unanimously voted against the Paycheck Fairness Act on Monday night. The law would make it easier for employees to talk about wages-and potentially help women learn whether they earn less than their male colleagues. It would also force employers to explain or justify why two similarly qualified workers earn different wages.
This is the third time since 2012 that Republicans have voted down the bill.
Pay disparities between women and men are a reality. Recent research suggests that in some industries-such as finance-women earn as little as 66 percent of men's wages. Overall women take home about 71 cents for every dollar men earn.
To pass the legislation, the Democrats needed 60 votes; they only got 52 (every Democrat voted in favor of the law). Some wondered if centrist or women senators would cross the aisle-they did not. Why not? Kelly Ayotte, a Republican senator from New Hampshire, said that she voted against the law because she worried it would prohibit merit-based pay-one of the main Republican gripes against the bill. She also criticized Democrats for opposing her amendment to the legislation.
Republican Women
Starring In Christian Film
Jessica Lynch
Former prisoner of war Jessica Lynch is enjoying her latest role, starring in a Christian movie currently in production.
But the West Virginia native is not sure if an acting career is in her future.
Lynch plays Beth Barlow, the president's daughter, in the JC Films production of "One Church."
"It's a lot of stress," Lynch told The Associated Press on Tuesday as she was heading from West Virginia to Rock Hill, South Carolina, to finish filming. "But I have to say I've had fun with it and it's an opportunity. I'm one of those people who says 'never say never' and you never know where life will take me."
President and screenwriter Jason Campbell of Morgantown-based JC Films said the drama explores the possible government takeover of churches.
Jessica Lynch
Compassionate Conservatives At Work
Three Governors
For some U.S. families, the winter can bring hard economic choices. Heat is a major seasonal expense for those living in cold climates, and many struggling to get by on government assistance or poverty-level wages often have to make a choice between paying the heating bill and buying food. State Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Programs, or LIHEAP, attempt to solve this dilemma by paying for heat so that there's more money left over for food in the winter months.
Three Republican governors-Chris Christie in New Jersey, Scott Walker in Wisconsin, and Rick Snyder in Michigan-are cutting heating assistance programs and thereby blocking residents from receiving increased SNAP benefits, the federal Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (also known food stamps).
As part of a nearly $1 trillion farm bill passed last February, federal lawmakers raised the minimum state heating assistance contribution from $1 to $20 per family in 16 cold-weather states and the District of Columbia. Now states must give residents at least $20 per year for home heating in order for the U.S. government to kick in money for food stamps-an average of $1,080 a year, according to Bloomberg News. "Heat and eat" provisions acknowledge that families often have to choose between buying food and paying heating bills-to pay the heat or eat, as it were.
Many people on both sides of the issue believed that most of the cold-weather states affected would opt-out of the funding. This would mean a reduction in benefits for 850,000 households-about 4 percent of food-stamp recipients-and result in over $8 billion in funding cuts for SNAP. This is one-third of the savings promised by the farm bill.
In most affected states, that's not how things played out. As of today, 13 states and the District of Columbia have agreed to pay the higher heating subsidy in exchange for the food-stamp funding or have said they will do so in the future. New Jersey, Michigan, and Wisconsin are the only ones who haven't. About 20 percent of the food-stamp recipients targeted by the new farm bill "heat and eat" loophole live in New Jersey, Michigan, and Wisconsin.
Three Governors
Season Opens In Japan
Dolphins
The first dolphins of the season were slaughtered on Tuesday in the small Japanese town of Taiji, campaigners said, commencing an annual cull repeatedly condemned by animal rights groups.
Activists from the environmentalist group Sea Shepherd have been monitoring a bay in Taiji, southwestern Japan, since the six-month dolphin hunting season began earlier this month.
"First pod of 2014-2015 being driven into cove now," the activists from Sea Shepherd, who call themselves "Cove Guardians", tweeted at 10:33 am (0133 GMT).
About an hour later, @CoveGuardians said: "First dolphin murder of the drive hunt season is complete as dead bodies are dragged to Taiji butcherhouse."
Dolphins
Euthanasia
Belgium
A Belgian man convicted of murder and rape is being put to death. Yet the country doesn't have the death penalty. Confused? Authorities have granted a request for assisted suicide by the man, who says he's a menace to society and can't live knowing that.
Even in Belgium, which has one of the broadest euthanasia laws in the world, the decision is raising eyebrows, with some saying it's proof of a failing justice and health system.
Belgium's justice minister approved Frank Van Den Bleeken's transfer to a hospital for euthanasia late Monday after doctors agreed his mental condition was incurable, making him the first detainee in Belgium to be put to death for psychiatric reasons.
Van Den Bleeken, who was found guilty of murder and rape in several cases, has been locked up for almost 30 years. He wishes to die because he has no viable treatment options left and cannot control his sexual urges, his lawyer said Tuesday.
Belgium has allowed euthanasia since 2002 for the terminally ill, but the vast majority of cases involve physical illnesses.
Belgium
770 Pounds
Colossal Squid
It was a calm morning in Antarctica's remote Ross Sea, during the season when the sun never sets, when Capt. John Bennett and his crew hauled up a creature with tentacles like fire hoses and eyes like dinner plates from a mile below the surface.
A colossal squid: 350 kilograms (770 pounds), as long as a minibus and one of the sea's most elusive species. It had been frozen for eight months until Tuesday, when scientists in New Zealand got a long-anticipated chance to thaw out the animal and inspect it - once they used a forklift to maneuver it into a tank.
Huge squid sometimes inhabit the world of fiction and imagination, but have rarely been seen in daylight. It's possible that ancient sightings of the species gave rise to tales of the kraken, or giant sea-monster squid, said Kat Bolstad, a squid scientist from the Auckland University of Technology led the team examining the creature.
The squid is a female, and its eight arms are each well over a meter (3.3 feet) long. Its two tentacles would have been perhaps double that length if they had not been damaged.
Colossal Squid
Fighter Jet Gift
Patriarch Kirill
Patriarch Kirill, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, was presented with an unlikely gift for a religious leader this week as he toured a factory in Russia's far-east - a single-seater fighter jet SU-35.
Kirill was presented with the jet after giving workers at the civilian and military aircraft plant icons blessed by himself, the church said in a statement on its official website on Tuesday.
The patriarch, with whom President Vladimir Putin has fostered increasingly close ties in recent years, addressed the workers on the importance of protecting Russia.
"Russia cannot be a vassal. Because Russia is not only a country, it is a whole civilization, it is a thousand-year story, a cultural melting-pot, of enormous power," RIA news agency quoted him as saying.
Patriarch Kirill
Forensic Sleuths
Richard III
King Richard III likely perished at the hands of assailants who hacked away pieces of his scalp and rammed spikes or swords into his brain as the helmetless monarch knelt in the mud.
So suggests a report, published Wednesday, that in dry forensic prose exposes the horrific demise of one of English history's most controversial monarchs.
It backs anecdotal evidence, made famous by Shakespeare, that Richard was unhorsed before he met his doom.
The study, published in The Lancet medical journal, used X-ray computed tomography (CT) for a microscopic analysis of a skeleton found in 2012 under a car park at a former church.
Richard III
Prime-Time Nielsens
Ratings
Prime-time viewership numbers compiled by Nielsen for Sept. 8-14. Listings include the week's ranking and viewership.
1. NFL Football: Chicago at San Francisco, NBC, 22.16 million.
2. NFL Football: Pittsburgh at Baltimore, CBS, 20.77 million.
3. "Sunday Night Pre-Kickoff," NBC, 16.69 million.
4. "Thursday Night Pre-Kickoff," CBS, 13.86 million.
5. NFL Football: N.Y. Giants at Detroit, ESPN, 13.73 million.
6. "Football Night in America, Part 3," NBC, 12.36 million.
7. "60 Minutes," CBS, 12.29 million.
8. NFL Football: San Diego vs. Arizona, ESPN, 11.52 million.
9. "Thursday Night Pre-Game Show," CBS, 10.63 million.
10. "America's Got Talent" (Wednesday, 9 p.m.), NBC, 10.52 million.
11. "America's Got Talent" (Tuesday), NBC, 9.83 million.
12. "Big Brother" (Sunday), CBS, 7.41 million.
13. "Miss America," ABC, 7.07 million.
14. "Big Brother" (Wednesday), CBS, 6.99 million.
15. "America's Got Talent" (Wednesday, 8 p.m.), NBC, 6.89 million.
16. "Big Brother" (Tuesday), CBS, 6.76 million.
17. "Under the Dome," CBS, 6.63 million.
18. "Unforgettable," CBS, 6.45 million.
19. "Sons of Anarchy, FX, 6.20 million.
20. "Blue Bloods," CBS, 6.15 million.
Ratings
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