Wednesday, November 20, 2013
Friday, November 15, 2013
Gibson Guitars Admits Illegal Woods
We missed this last year when they 'fessed up. Luckily, we found the story reported on CNN, a variety of "tree-hugger" magazines & web-sites, and this particular version direct from Ultimate Guitar's Industry News section.
Nashville, TN - USA:
Gibson have admitted to using illegal wood imported from Madagascar in its guitars, and has been fined $350,000.
The company based in Nashville is renown for its designs, but knowingly violated the Lacey Act which requires firms to ensure their timber is legally obtained. Instead, despite knowing that its imports might be illegal, Gibson ordered further timber stocks which would become fretboards for guitars, mandolins and banjos.
The company was raided by federal agents one year ago. At the time, CEO Henry Juszkiewicz insisted their timber came from a certified supplier, and made a claim for more than $300,000 for their losses in stock. The court case has since proven otherwise, and Gibson has withdrawn its claim.
"As a result of this investigation and criminal enforcement agreement, Gibson has acknowledged that it failed to act on information that the Madagascar ebony it was purchasing may have violated laws intended to limit overharvesting and conserve valuable wood species from Madagascar, a country which has been severely impacted by deforestation," said Assistant Attorney General Moreno in response to the settlement.
According to the World Bank, the illegal timber trade is worth $10-15 billion every year, and conservations groups say that too little is done to enforce trade laws which protect the forests affected.
Soooo.....what are YOUR thoughts on this case? Are you still OK buying or owning a Gibson guitar? Were they fined enough (or too much)? What if you discovered a Gibson (or any guitar) YOU own was made from illegal woods?
We look forward to YOUR comments!
--------------------
Nashville, TN - USA:
Gibson have admitted to using illegal wood imported from Madagascar in its guitars, and has been fined $350,000.
The company based in Nashville is renown for its designs, but knowingly violated the Lacey Act which requires firms to ensure their timber is legally obtained. Instead, despite knowing that its imports might be illegal, Gibson ordered further timber stocks which would become fretboards for guitars, mandolins and banjos.
The company was raided by federal agents one year ago. At the time, CEO Henry Juszkiewicz insisted their timber came from a certified supplier, and made a claim for more than $300,000 for their losses in stock. The court case has since proven otherwise, and Gibson has withdrawn its claim.
"As a result of this investigation and criminal enforcement agreement, Gibson has acknowledged that it failed to act on information that the Madagascar ebony it was purchasing may have violated laws intended to limit overharvesting and conserve valuable wood species from Madagascar, a country which has been severely impacted by deforestation," said Assistant Attorney General Moreno in response to the settlement.
According to the World Bank, the illegal timber trade is worth $10-15 billion every year, and conservations groups say that too little is done to enforce trade laws which protect the forests affected.
-------------------
We look forward to YOUR comments!
Friday, November 1, 2013
"The Iron" by Henry Rollins
(ed note: This essay, by Henry Rollins, originally appeared in Details Magazine. Visit Henry Rollins on-line at http://henryrollins.com)
I believe that the definition of definition is reinvention. To not
be like your parents. To not be like your friends. To be yourself.
Completely.
When I was young I had no sense of myself. All I was, was a product
of all the fear and humiliation I suffered. Fear of my parents. The
humiliation of teachers calling me “garbage can” and telling me I’d be
mowing lawns for a living. And the very real terror of my fellow
students. I was threatened and beaten up for the color of my skin and my
size. I was skinny and clumsy, and when others would tease me I didn’t
run home crying, wondering why.
I knew all too well. I was there to be antagonized. In sports I was laughed at. A spaz. I was pretty good at boxing but only because the rage that filled my every waking moment made me wild and unpredictable. I fought with some strange fury. The other boys thought I was crazy.
I hated myself all the time.
I believe that the definition of definition is reinvention. To not
be like your parents. To not be like your friends. To be yourself.Completely.
I knew all too well. I was there to be antagonized. In sports I was laughed at. A spaz. I was pretty good at boxing but only because the rage that filled my every waking moment made me wild and unpredictable. I fought with some strange fury. The other boys thought I was crazy.
I hated myself all the time.
Friday, October 25, 2013
Julia Knight: "Chasing Nashville" series on LIFETIME
SDML students and Lexington, KY native Julia Knight is on the new LIFETIME Channel series, "Chasing Nashville". Get a quick look here as she performs one of her songs:
http://www.mylifetime.com/shows/chasing-nashville/video/full-performances/season-1/episode-1/enough-for-me-to-be
http://www.mylifetime.com/shows/chasing-nashville/video/full-performances/season-1/episode-1/enough-for-me-to-be
New Articles SOON
Just a quick note that we're ramping things back up and will have new articles and interviews (and much more) soon.
Thanx for hanging out with us!
Thanx for hanging out with us!
Monday, February 25, 2013
Scales the New Way
-- Tim Fowler
timfowlerguitar.com
In this lesson we are going to breakdown some scales and help you learn some new tricks to help you gain mastery of the fretboard.
Most people learn scales in positions(see reference). This is a convenient way to learn scales, and they are relatively easy to memorize and move around. The drawback of playing scales in positions is that it is easy to get stuck in a position or a scale form, they all different shapes, and it can limit your playing, whether you are reading or improvising. In the following examples I am going to show you some ways to get out of standard positions and give you a system of building scales that will open your eyes. This will help you gain fretboard mastery, open your ears to new possibilities, and can lead to becoming a significantly better sight-reader.
timfowlerguitar.com
In this lesson we are going to breakdown some scales and help you learn some new tricks to help you gain mastery of the fretboard.
Most people learn scales in positions(see reference). This is a convenient way to learn scales, and they are relatively easy to memorize and move around. The drawback of playing scales in positions is that it is easy to get stuck in a position or a scale form, they all different shapes, and it can limit your playing, whether you are reading or improvising. In the following examples I am going to show you some ways to get out of standard positions and give you a system of building scales that will open your eyes. This will help you gain fretboard mastery, open your ears to new possibilities, and can lead to becoming a significantly better sight-reader.
Friday, February 15, 2013
Cultural Icons
-- David "Skinny Devil" McLean
originally published at Tinfoil Music
Friday, 26 June 2009 13:00
I'm old enough to remember....
I remember the day Elvis died. I was playing at a friend's house. Paul R. Living in DC at the time. We were in the basement and his mom came down stairs in tears. "It's the End of an Era. The King is dead." was all she said. I didn't know what king she was talking about, I was just bummed because she sent me home - it was time to mourn. I walked home and my mom explained...
originally published at Tinfoil Music
Friday, 26 June 2009 13:00
I'm old enough to remember....
I remember the day Elvis died. I was playing at a friend's house. Paul R. Living in DC at the time. We were in the basement and his mom came down stairs in tears. "It's the End of an Era. The King is dead." was all she said. I didn't know what king she was talking about, I was just bummed because she sent me home - it was time to mourn. I walked home and my mom explained...
5 Tips for Being a Better Live Musician
5 Tips for Being a Better Live
Musician
- Paul Felice
There are many facets to being a
professional musician, and wise folks quickly realize that having
multiple revenue streams, skill-building and promotional
opportunities is key to being successful in the business. Among the
most important of these is live performance.
Live shows promote your band image,
create connections, have a relatively high hourly rate of pay, hone
your skills and... well they're a heck of a lot of fun!
As with any endeavor, some approaches
are clearly better than others when making a foray into your local
coffee shop, bar, club or concert hall. Every situation is different,
and as you gain experience you'll begin to gain a feel for what works
best at a particular time and place.
That being said, there are a few basic
guidelines that artists should really keep in mind at all times. Your
best live shows will be the ones where your audience wants to know
more about you, feels comfortable approaching you, and shows their
appreciation for your performance.
Friday, February 1, 2013
"Artists at the Edge: Tonya Kay (part 1)
-- David "Skinny Devil" McLean
originally published at Tinfoil Music
Friday, 08 February 2008 06:47
It's probably fair to say that Tonya Kay is currently best known for her appearance as "Creature" on the TV show "Who Wants to be a Super Hero" (Sci-Fi Network) or NBC's "America's Got Talent". Or perhaps it's due to 3 years with STOMP or touring as a dancer with Panic at the Disco. Or maybe it's the recent appearance in the Trace Adkins music video for his song "I Got My Game On" or in the Progressive Auto Insurance TV commercials as a gremlin.
Or perhaps you've not heard of Tonya at all, but suddenly realize that you've seen her everywhere.
Tonya Kay is a fascinating woman. Dancer, musician, stunt-woman, actress, writer, director, producer, environmental activist...the list goes on. To sum it up, she is a one-woman cyclone of creativity, always at the brink and always in motion, boldly dancing at the chaotic but cutting edge of art.
It begins years ago when this 4 year old little girl from southern Michigan started taking tap dance. She spent a few years doing local musical theater and then, at the ripe old age of 15, snagged her first professional gig in Detroit, performing in "The Music Man" (and still managed to be valedictorian of her class). She hasn't stopped moving since. In addition to the above-listed credits, Tonya toured with country music legend Kenny Rogers, danced with the Broadway production of the Rugrats, wrote & directed Xtreme Rhythm Theatre to rave reviews, Mark Goodman's Tap Company (LA), played "NitroGrl" in the CBS show "NUMB3RS", a stint with Deca Dance Hip-Hop Theatre (NYC), the favorite "target" of knife-thrower Jack Dagger, internet-TV host, popped up in a Rob Zombie video, has been seen across the country cracking whips, flag dancing, & stilt-walking, produced an instructional video "How to Spin Poi with Tonya Kay", and much, much more.
A vegan since her teens and now well-known in raw foodist circles, Ms. Kay is a practicing pagan (& Chaote) and environmental activist who drives a modified car (2001 Jetta) that runs on waste vegetable oil. A prolific writer, Tonya has written almost as many articles/essays as she has been the subject of, on topics ranging from raw food to spirituality to environmental concerns to dance to health to teenage obesity to marketing.
She carved out a bit of time to chat. Below is part one of our 2-part interview. Afterwards, be sure to check out her official home on the web: www.TonyaKay.Com !
originally published at Tinfoil Music
Friday, 08 February 2008 06:47
It's probably fair to say that Tonya Kay is currently best known for her appearance as "Creature" on the TV show "Who Wants to be a Super Hero" (Sci-Fi Network) or NBC's "America's Got Talent". Or perhaps it's due to 3 years with STOMP or touring as a dancer with Panic at the Disco. Or maybe it's the recent appearance in the Trace Adkins music video for his song "I Got My Game On" or in the Progressive Auto Insurance TV commercials as a gremlin.
Or perhaps you've not heard of Tonya at all, but suddenly realize that you've seen her everywhere.
Tonya Kay is a fascinating woman. Dancer, musician, stunt-woman, actress, writer, director, producer, environmental activist...the list goes on. To sum it up, she is a one-woman cyclone of creativity, always at the brink and always in motion, boldly dancing at the chaotic but cutting edge of art.
It begins years ago when this 4 year old little girl from southern Michigan started taking tap dance. She spent a few years doing local musical theater and then, at the ripe old age of 15, snagged her first professional gig in Detroit, performing in "The Music Man" (and still managed to be valedictorian of her class). She hasn't stopped moving since. In addition to the above-listed credits, Tonya toured with country music legend Kenny Rogers, danced with the Broadway production of the Rugrats, wrote & directed Xtreme Rhythm Theatre to rave reviews, Mark Goodman's Tap Company (LA), played "NitroGrl" in the CBS show "NUMB3RS", a stint with Deca Dance Hip-Hop Theatre (NYC), the favorite "target" of knife-thrower Jack Dagger, internet-TV host, popped up in a Rob Zombie video, has been seen across the country cracking whips, flag dancing, & stilt-walking, produced an instructional video "How to Spin Poi with Tonya Kay", and much, much more.
A vegan since her teens and now well-known in raw foodist circles, Ms. Kay is a practicing pagan (& Chaote) and environmental activist who drives a modified car (2001 Jetta) that runs on waste vegetable oil. A prolific writer, Tonya has written almost as many articles/essays as she has been the subject of, on topics ranging from raw food to spirituality to environmental concerns to dance to health to teenage obesity to marketing.
She carved out a bit of time to chat. Below is part one of our 2-part interview. Afterwards, be sure to check out her official home on the web: www.TonyaKay.Com !
Monday, January 21, 2013
P.O.M. - ''Lost Contact''
--David "Skinny Devil" McLean
originally published at Tinfoil Music
Date: Tuesday, March 15 2005 @ 15:03:27 GMT
"Lost Contact" is the new full-length feature film by writer & director Andrew Crawford - a dark, brooding film that is an "...Absurdly comic and totally unpredictable...tour de force in 'no budget' filmmaking. Having all the looks of classic cult film noir, its photography is complemented by the witty, dry humor of its dialogue and the twisting plot lines...". The soundtrack for this film is equally unpredictable, and absolutely astonishing.
The music for "Lost Contact" was written, performed, & recorded by P.O.M., an intense and extremely gifted guitarist & composer who also tackles percussion and vocal duties for the soundtrack.
originally published at Tinfoil Music
Date: Tuesday, March 15 2005 @ 15:03:27 GMT
"Lost Contact" is the new full-length feature film by writer & director Andrew Crawford - a dark, brooding film that is an "...Absurdly comic and totally unpredictable...tour de force in 'no budget' filmmaking. Having all the looks of classic cult film noir, its photography is complemented by the witty, dry humor of its dialogue and the twisting plot lines...". The soundtrack for this film is equally unpredictable, and absolutely astonishing.
The music for "Lost Contact" was written, performed, & recorded by P.O.M., an intense and extremely gifted guitarist & composer who also tackles percussion and vocal duties for the soundtrack.
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