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Plaza of the Americas

January 17th, 2012 · No Comments

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(text from marker)

Latin American Studies

Established in 1930 as the Institute of Inter-American Affairs, the UF Center for Latin American Studies is the nation’s oldest academic program dedicated to the interdisciplinary study of the Americas. The Plaza of the Americas was dedicated at the center’s first conference in February 1931, and 21 live oaks were planted, one for each of the republics of the Americas at that time. Through the center, UF has strengthened Florida’s ties with Latin America by recruiting international students, diversifying the curriculum and collaborating with institutions in the region. Its work spurred the development of one of the leading Latin American libraries and gained early and continuing financial support from the U.S. Department of Education.

The University of Florida Digital Collection includes the Digital Library of the Caribbean. The Digital Library of the Caribbean (dLOC) is a cooperative digital library for resources from and about the Caribbean and circum-Caribbean. dLOC provides access to digitized versions of Caribbean cultural, historical and research materials currently held in archives, libraries, and private collections.

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Tyler Cowen: Be suspicious of stories (TED Talks)

January 9th, 2012 · No Comments

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Who Needs an Airplane

December 7th, 2011 · No Comments

“http://www.ted.com Strapped to a jet-powered wing, Yves Rossy is the Jetman — flying free, his body as the rudder, above the Swiss Alps and the Grand Canyon. After a powerful short film shows how it works, Rossy takes the TEDGlobal stage to share the experience and thrill of flying.”

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Doug Davis’ C O U N T R Y M U S I C C L A S S I C S

July 14th, 2011 · No Comments

As always, we thank Doug Davis for sharing his newsletter and allowing us to share it with you on Traveler’s Tales.

Doug Davis
Owner/Publisher/Manager/Editor/

Writer/Gopher/Chief Cook & Bottle Washer

Friday July 15th, 2011

Check Out Our Website At:

www.countrymusicclassics.com

STORY   BEHIND   THE   SONG

It only took Waylon Jennings nine years to nail a number one record after signing with RCA Victor records.

Waylon said he had written the song five years earlier. But the record almost didn’t work.

According to Waylon, he was in the studio working on an album and decided to record the song but after the first take, didn’t like it.

He said, ”the song had a tricky kind of meter to it and it just wasn’t working so I said let’s throw it out. But my drummer, Richie Albright, didn’t want to. He kept saying we should try it just one more time and it worked. If it hadn’t been for Richie, that song would have never made it.”

Waylon’s RCA version of “This Time,” entered the country music charts April 27th, 1974 and was in the number one slot the week of June 22nd.

It was his 30th charted song and his first number one. The single was on the charts for 13 weeks.

Waylon Jennings placed 96 songs on the country music charts between 1965 and 1991.

He died in 2002 at the age of 64.

^^^^^^^^^^

A T  T  E  N T I O N:     R A D I O     S T A T I O N S:

Our short form daily radio features, “Classic Country First” and “Story Behind The Song” are now available to radio stations.

Both features are available  at no charge.

For information, email me at classics@countrymusicclassics.com

^^^^^^^^^^

QUESTIONS    AND    ANSWERS

QUESTION:   I heard on the radio that Bill Anderson was doing something at The Grand Ole Opry. Isn’t he already a member?

ANSWER:     Bill Anderson celebrates his 50th anniversary as a member of The Grand ole Opry tomorrow night (July 16th).  He made his first appearance on the Opry stage a few weeks before his 21st birthday and was a member less than three years later.

QUESTION:   The radio guys were talking about the man who killed Stringbean being let out of prison. Do you have any information?

ANSWER:      John A. Brown, one of the two men convicted of killing Stringbean and his wife years ago, is coming up for parole on July 19th. So far, there has been very little opposition to his being released.  Jennifer Brinkman, who is connected with victims’ rights board suggested if you would like to protest the release of John A. Brown, you can send her an e-mail at jennifer.l.brinkman@tn.gov and just let her know you oppose it and why. Those of us who knew String and Estelle will never fully get over the brutal way in which their lives were taken from them. One of the killers has died while incarcerated. The other should never be allowed to go free. Please take a minute to e-mail this lady, and urge your friends to do likewise. The amount of opposition to his parole kept him behind bars last time. It needs to do so again.

QUESTION:   There was a song about “White Silver Sands,” which was quite popular back in the 70’s. Do you know who had that record?

ANSWER:     “White Silver Sands” scored a # 5 hit for Sonny James in 1972.

QUESTION:   My cousin says that Lorrie Morgan is actually Loretta Lynn’s daughter. Is that true?

ANSWER:     Although she was born Loretta Lynn Morgan, Lorrie is  NOT Loretta’s daughter.

QUESTION:   Why isn’t Buck Owens in the Hall of Fame?

ANSWER:      Buck Owens was inducted into The Country Music Hall Of Fame in 1996.

QUESTION:    My mom has some old records on the Abbott label by a singer named Billie Jean Moore, but she sounds like another country singer but I can’t figure out just who?  Is that actually someone else?

ANSWER:       Billie Jo Spears recorded for Abbott under the name Billie Jean Moore in the 1950’s.

^^^^^^^^^^^^

Your comments, suggestions, gripes, etc. concerning this newsletter—are welcome. Email to:Classics@countrymusicclassics.com

^^^^^^^^^^

NUMBER  ONE  ON  THIS  DATE:

1948
Bouquet of Roses – Eddy Arnold

1956
I Want You, I Need You, I Love You – Elvis Presley

1964
My Heart Skips a Beat – Buck Owens

1972
Made in Japan – Buck Owens

1980
You Win Again – Charley Pride

1988
Fallin’ Again – Alabama

^^^^^^^^^^^^

TODAY IN COUNTRY MUSIC HISTORY

compiled by Bill Morrison

Sarie Wilson of “Sarie and Sally” born 1896.

Cowboy Copas born “Lloyd Estel Copas,” near Muskogee, OK 1913.

Dolph Hewitt born West Finley, PA 1914.

Rod Brasfield debuted on the Grand Ole Opry 1944.

Linda Ronstadt born Tucson, AZ 1946.

Hank Williams’ hometown, Montgomery, AL had a “Hank Williams Homecoming Day” 1951. Over nine thousand people showed up for the celebration.

Blue Miller born “William Mueller,” “The Gibson/Miller Band,” born Detroit, MI 1952.

Mac McAnally born Red Bay, AL 1957.

Marty Robbins released “Please Don’t Blame Me/Teenage Dream” 1957.

Columbia Records released Marty Robbins’ “Ride Cowboy Ride/Five Brothers” 1960.

Marty Robbins released “Girl With Gardenias In Her Hair/In The Valley Of The Rio Grande” 1967.

Bill Justis died in Nashville 1982.

Columbia Records released Johnny Cash from his recording contract after 28 years 1986.

Aaron Tippin married Thea Corontzos at Trinity Orthodox Church in Nashville 1995.

MCA released “The Best of Freddy Fender” 1996.

Sony released “David Allan Coe Live: If That Ain’t Country…” 1997.

Arista released Diamond Rio’s “Greatest Hits” album 1997.

Hal Southern, age 79, died from diabetes 1998. Hal wrote the Tex Ritter hit “I Dreamed of Hillbilly Heaven.”

Collin Raye’s “I Can Still Feel You” went to #1 in 1998.

George Strait released his “Honkeytonkville” album 2003.

Courtesy Bill Morrison: http://www.talentondisplay.com/countrycalMAR.html


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Line of Duty Death: Hernando County, Florida Sheriff’s Deputy John Mecklenburg

July 3rd, 2011 · No Comments

Deputy John Mecklenburg

Hernando County Sheriff’s Deputy John Mecklenburg

EOW 07-03-2011

Relayed via the Hernando County, Florida Sheriff’s Office,“It is with great sadness that the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office announces the in the line of duty death of Deputy John Mecklenburg who was killed early on the morning of July 3rd. Deputy Mecklenburg was attempting to apprehend a suspect who was actively placing innocent lives at risk. During the pursuit, Deputy Mecklenburg was involved in a very serious traffic crash on US 41, just south of County Line Road. Please keep the Mecklenburg family in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.”

Prayers to his family, friends, colleagues and department.
Matthew 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

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→ No CommentsTags: Current events · Law Enforcement · Line of Duty Deaths · Tributes to Fallen Heroes

This Week in Internet Censorship: Arrests of Twitter Users and New Filtering

July 3rd, 2011 · No Comments


Pakistan

In Pakistan, where substantial online and offline censorship already exist, reports have emerged that users of the ISP Mobilink must add proxy 10.215.2.32 port 3128 to browse the Internet, resulting in censorship of key words and phrases in search engines, as well as several individual web pages, mostly related to Balochistan.

According to Shahzad Ahmad at the OpenNet Initiative, “Mobilink’s new filtering system will directly affect a large portion of Pakistan’s online community, which comprises 17 percent of the country’s population, or around 28 million people.”

Ahmad also notes that there is “no public knowledge of new legislation” that would have caused Mobilink to implement the new filtering.

Kuwait

Two Kuwaiti citizens, Nasser Abul and Lawrence Al-Rashidi, are to be tried for criticizing members of the royal families of neighboring states Saudi Arabia and Bahrain on Twitter. According to a Reuters report, both men will remain in detention until a hearing is scheduled and will likely face charges of harming Kuwait’s interests and defamation.

Earlier this year, Bahrain arrested several bloggers and social media users, possibly as a result of content posted on Twitter. The country has also blocked access to individual Twitter accounts.

Though bloggers have previously been arrested in Kuwait, this is the first known case of the country arresting individuals for content posted on a social networking site.

China

According to numerous online reports (including one from the International Business Times), Google+–Google’s new social networking site–was blocked by Chinese authorities within 24 hours of its beta launch.

Various accounts have since emerged contradicting the reports, with some Chinese residents stating that they can access the new site. One blog post, from Shanghai resident Brian Glucroft, states that Google+ remained unblocked as of 8:30pm local time on July 1 (8:30am EDT/5:30am PDT), but that access to the site was “slowed.”

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Dylan Elise

July 2nd, 2011 · No Comments


In 2007, at the time of this performance at the Tauranga National Jazz Festival in New Zealand, Dylan Elise was 16 years old.

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Sturgeon on the Suwannee

July 1st, 2011 · No Comments


Sturgeon

Sturgeon

The 1999 Florida Legislature provided funds for studies of native sturgeon and sturgeon aquaculture. Several research groups have been contracted to conduct studies ranging from refining food requirements of sturgeon in hatcheries to determining habitat and food requirements of gulf sturgeon in panhandle river and bay systems.

Living with Sturgeon

Gulf sturgeon can be found in several rivers throughout Florida, including the Suwannee River. Learn about encounters that boaters have had with these large jumping fish, and how you can minimize your risk of impact.

Conservation and Legislation

State of Florida Mangement Plan for Gulf sturgeon site description of rivers bays and estuaries and Florida’s Sturgeon Production Working Group (Florida State Statute 370.31).

General Information on Sturgeon

Common facts on sturgeon

Research

Read about sturgeon research grants and the Hillsborough River Project, a telemetry study of habitat use and success of hatchery-reared gulf sturgeon.

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Force Seizes Marijuana in Kandahar

June 29th, 2011 · No Comments

Compiled from International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Releases

WASHINGTON, June 28, 2011 – A combined Afghan and coalition security force discovered 992 pounds of marijuana in the Panjwa’i district of Afghanistan’s Kandahar province today, military officials reported.

The force also found rocket-propelled grenade propellant and three chest rigs.

In operations in Afghanistan yesterday:

– A combined force captured a senior leader of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan and detained two others in Kunduz province’s Kunduz district. The leader tried to disguise himself as a woman by wearing a burka.

– Several insurgents were killed during a combined operation that targeted a mid-level Taliban leader in Nimroz province’s Khash Rod district. Several insurgents tried to engage the security force from elevated positions. An air weapons team killed three and two others were killed on the ground. The force confiscated and destroyed several assault rifles.

– A combined force detained several people with suspected Taliban ties in Zabul province’s Qalat district during a search for a Taliban organizer who obtains and moves weapons for insurgents.

– In a separate security search in Kandahar province’s Zharay district, a combined force detained a suspected insurgent.

– A combined force found 705 pounds of wet opium in Helmand province’s Washer district, and detained several people.

– A combined force killed an insurgent and detained another person in Ghazni province’s Deh Yak district while searching for a Taliban organizer who supports roadside and suicide bomb operations there. The force noticed the insurgent, armed with an assault rifle, attempting to flee. After an engagement ensued, the force killed the man.

– A Haqqani terrorist network leader and two suspects were captured by a combined force in Paktika province’s Mata Khan district. The leader was responsible for roadside bomb and ambush attacks targeting Afghan security forces.

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“ThunderCats” Roar on Cartoon Network Friday Nights

June 29th, 2011 · No Comments

via press release:


Hour-Long Special Premiere Event Airs Friday, July 29 at 8 p.m. (ET, PT)

ThunderCats, one of the most beloved cartoons of the 1980s and a continuing cultural force, comes to Cartoon Network in an all-new contemporary reimagining of the iconic animated series. Set as an epic tale, ThunderCats tells the story of a hero’s journey to fulfill his ultimate destiny. The series begins with an hour-long special premiere event on Friday, July 29, at 8 p.m. (ET, PT). Following the premiere, the show will air regularly on Cartoon Network Friday nights at 8:30 p.m. (ET, PT) beginning August 5.

Thunder, Thunder, ThunderCats! Ho!! On Third Earth, the kingdom of Thundera is being threatened by the evil sorcerer Mumm-Ra, and Lion-O, the young heir to the throne, embarks on a great quest to take his rightful place as king. The unlikely champion must work with his faithful comrades Tygra, Cheetara, Panthro, WilyKit, WilyKat, and his loyal pet, Snarf, who join him on his journey to save their world from darkness. From Warner Bros. Animation (WBA), ThunderCats is executive produced by Sam Register (Teen Titans, Ben 10, The Looney Tunes Show), with Michael Jelenic (Batman: The Brave and the Bold, Wonder Woman) and Ethan Spaulding (Avatar: The Last Airbender) producing.

To celebrate the premiere, ThunderCats will have a significant presence at Comic-Con International: San Diego. A panel scheduled for 3:30 p.m. on Friday, July 22 in room 6A will include an exclusive screening of the hour-long series premiere. Producers Michael Jelenic, Ethan Spaulding and art director Dan Norton will participate in a subsequent panel discussion and answer questions from fans. Coinciding with Comic-Con, Cartoon Network will also air nine episodes from the classic ThunderCats series over the weekend of July 23. Boomerang will also host a classic ThunderCats marathon on July 16 and 17 and air the series every day at 5 p.m. starting Monday, July 18.

Cartoon Network digital adds to the ThunderCats experience with online content including the free game, “Thundera Run,” launching on CartoonNetwork.com July 18. Additionally, a free “Party Pack” from Warner Bros Animation will be available for download and will include everything a true fan needs to host the ultimate ThunderCats viewing party.

Cartoon Network (CartoonNetwork.com), currently seen in more than 99 million U.S. homes and 166 countries around the world, is Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.’s ad-supported cable service now available in HD offering the best in original, acquired and classic entertainment for youth and families. Nightly from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. (ET, PT), Cartoon Network shares its channel space with Adult Swim, a late-night destination showcasing original and acquired animated and live-action comedy programming for young adults 18-34.

Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company, creates and programs branded news, entertainment, animation and young adult media environments on television and other platforms for consumers around the world.

“ThunderCats” (C) Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. “ThunderCats” and all related characters and elements are trademarks of and (C) Warner Bros.

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