text:
"Happy New Yerrrrrrr!!!!" Peace & Blissing From The Kool Skool!
To all the people who have been supporting The Kool Skool we wish you a Happy and safe New Years!!!
Labels: Peace
http://thebeatdetective.blogspot.com - "These Are Some of Our Favourites"
http://thebeatdetective.blogspot.com is a production based blog and part of http://www.dailydiggers.com keeping Beat Digging alive and well in the U.K.
Check out the dope new trailer for the upcoming film KING OF THE BEATS NYC here. Featuring Casanova Rud, Ultramagnetic MC's TR Love & Moe Love, Bronx Producer, MoneyBoss Minnesota and from the Beatnuts Psycho Les..
For some of The Kool Skool's other favoutites check here
Labels: B-Boy, B-Boy Breaks, BREAKS FOR DAYS BEATS FOR WEEKS, Daily Diggers, Hip-Hop, London, Old School, These Are Some of Our Favourites, UK Hip Hip
THE KOOL SKOOL "Remix Pressure" Radio Show (Listen/Free Download)
*THE KOOL SKOOL "Remix Pressure" Radio Show* - Listen/Free Download HERE
DJ Shucks One The Idiot hosts a rare Remix only special The Kool Skool Radio Show originally recorded Itch FM on 26/12/04. This episode features music by: Doctor Dre, Grandmaster Flash & The Furious 5, Howie B & DJ Krush, Funky Four + One More, Eric B & Rakim, Stetsasonic, Mantronix, Roxanne Shante, Run D.M.C., MC Lyte, Audio Two, Big Daddy Kane, MC Shan, Queen Latifah, K-Solo, Rodney-O & Joe Cooley, E.P.M.D., Ultramagnetic MC's, King Sun, Public Enemy, Compton's Most Wanted, Lord Finesse, Ice Cube, Busta Rhymes, M.O.P., 50 Cent, Eazy-E, Tupac, The Game, Capone, Biggie, Tupac & Gangstarr. Includes the BREAKS FOR DAYS BEATS FOR WEEKS rare Kid Dynomite Remix of Big Daddy Kane "Set It Off"
Exclusive to Sensei.fm
Labels: 50 Cent, BREAKS FOR DAYS BEATS FOR WEEKS, EPMD, id, Itch FM, King Sun, L.A., LL Cool J, Old School Hip-Hop, Pete Rock, Run-DMC, Shucks One, The Kool Skool Radio Show, Tuff City Records, Zulu Nation
"F**K THA BUFF!!!!" Getting Rid of Graffiti (Rare 1992 Book Scan)
Top: Karm(tu,cd), Cena, Clas, Rece, Kue, & others Pedestrian Subway
Bottom: Kis42
It has been said before that a healthy Graffiti scene reflects a cultural city. London had in the past a very vibrant and unique Graffiti style, in the 70's with a fashion Skin Head and Punk graffiti and later the "New York Graffiti". To outsiders it would appear that those days are long gone. Nowadays with mandatory 18 month Prison sentences, wipe clean panels and texting the local council will get a buff team out within 24hrs, will it ever be the same?
Getting Rid Of Graffiti - 1992 Rare Technical Textbook on the Removal of Graffiti
This book is an Industry insiders book looking at the various techniques, all the photos are from London and from about 1988.
Dressed to Kill
Above: Cak1
Above: Poze, Scan1 and others in a classic pissy Estate Stairwell
Bottom: Yardies Crew, Mobism, Scrawl, Jay, Cade and others
Top: Freek DVA with traditional London style Throw-up
Middle: Justice, Imase, Rave, Cal, Hive, Live and others in Talgarth Road Pedestrian Subway
Bottom: Unknown
"Now lemmie take trip down memory lane..."
Event, Dize, Era, Car One, Fear, Prime and others in Covent Garden Tube?
Above: Buses used to ALL look like this
Below: Keep SAS and others Trackside
Labels: B-Boy, Graffiti, London, London Hand Styles, Old School Graffiti, Old School Hip-Hop, Rare, UK Hip Hip
John Pilger's - The War You Don't See *MUST SEE DOCUMENTARY*
War Jounalist Action Figure
Disclose.tv - the WAR you don't see , John Pilger 1 of 6 Video
The War You Don't See
John Pilger investigates the media's role in war. He traces the history of 'embedded' and independent reporting from the carnage of WWI to the current wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Labels: Anti-War, Democracy, Documentary, New World Order, No War, Politics, Surveillance, Turn Off Channel Zero
Jasiri X-tra
Labels: Conciousness, Conscious Music, Hip-Hop, Jasiri X, Nation Of Islam, New Hip-Hop, Paradise (X-Clan), X-Clan
The Kool Skool's Shucks One Interviews Jasiri X
For years now, day by day, the sinister Corporate mentality has infiltrated this revolutionary form of expression. MC's, turned Studio Gangstas spitting the word "N****a" like an adjective, and where the only use for women in the genre is for pouring Champagne on!!!" Recently, however there has been a subtle shift back towards towards the more, Conscious aspect of Hip-Hop culture, and Pittsburgh based MC Jasri X has worked hard to build within that movement, putting him up as a important, fresh voice in the rebirth of Conscious Hip-Hop.
Jasiri X has taken the position of an upright beach-head against the tide of 10% ignorance programming. Being a maverick is not an easy place to be, stuck between a rock and a hard place, Jasiri X is defying the Status quo, refusing the path of the least resistance, standing firm for his beliefs. Jasiri X has gained much attention for his "This Week With Jasiri X", a critical look at the mainstream media and Current Affairs in a Hip-Hop fashion, co-Produced by Paradise Gray aka "the Arkitech" of X-Clan. X-Clan was one of the original Conscious groups, known for blending Funk breaks, with thought provoking rhymes, and Pan-African thought. Jasiri X is also working with Paradise Gray on the Grassroots organization 1Hood with Hip-Hop Activist Davey-D.
Jasiri X is also a vocal supporter, and card carrying member of the Nation Of Islam, sometimes referred to as "The Lost And Found Nation of North America". The N.O.I. has been surrounded by much controversy, though behind the inflammatory headlines, it has undeniably done much to improve the mental, and spiritual state of the African Diaspora worldwide, and has had a enormous influence on the Hip-Hop generation in general.
This industrious MC granted us a few moments of his time to discuss his recent signing to Wandering Worx Music, his many projects, the right wing so-called "Tea Party" movement, his influences, books, Knowledge of Self, Buffoonery in Rap, and the apparent image Assassination of The Black Male in the media. 2011 is guaranteed to be big year for him, and we were grateful to get an idea of the man behind the X, and what makes the modern Conscious MC.
Shucks One: Ok, lets start with the foundations, what set you on this road, what made you want to use MCing as a way to communicate to the world?
Jasiri X: Gaining Knowledge of self, once that happens you realize the importance of using your talents to uplift and help our community.
Shucks One: Who were the MCs that inspired you as a youth?
Jasiri X: KRS-ONE, Nas, Wu-Tang, Rakim, X-Clan, Slick Rick, Public Enemy, Kool G Rap, Big Daddy Kane, Biggie, A Tribe Called Quest, and Mobb Deep.
Shucks One: Many of the people who visit The Kool Skool are true heads who know their history, and are knowledgeable with more obscure artists. Were there any artists that might be a bit forgotten by time, but had a big impact on you, that people might not be familiar with?
Jasiri X: Great Question! One of my favourite albums of all time was "Slaughterhouse" by Masta Ace, I think it's a classic but it often gets overlooked.
"Slaughterhouse" by Masta Ace
Shucks One: How would you describe your role in the scene? Are you a "Conscious Rapper", some MCs have problems with that title as it separates them, are you just an MC?
Jasiri X: I'm definitely a Conscious MC I want to be separated from what passes as Hip-Hop nowadays. I think the term is used very narrowly and you could argue on certain levels MCs like Jay Z and 50 Cent can be classified as conscious.
Shucks One: Elders of the Hip-Hop movement I have interviewed discuss the fact that the original concept of Hip-Hop was the importance of Unity, that everyone was involved in the "party". Where has that Unity gone? Is it still there, and how are you trying to manifest that in a modern age?
Jasiri X: It's there on some levels, regionally you have seen artists come together and have national success, but what usually gets in the way is money and shady business practices. We're definitely trying to bring it back but ironically the most difficult community to find unity in is the so called conscious community.
Paradise Gray aka "the Arkitech"
Shucks One: You have been working with Paradise Grey aka "the Arkitech" of the group X-Clan, how did that come about, and how important is it for you to have a working relationship with the Conscious community?
Jasiri X: I found out he lived in Pittsburgh and it blew my mind, like the Arkitech from X-Clan lives down the street? Finally I got a friend to take me to hi studio a few weeks later we drove to the Millions More Movement together and form a strong bond. From there we started organizing in the community before we started doing music together that came later. I think it's important to have a working relationship with the Conscious community but equally as important to have working relationship with the hood.
Shucks One: How important is it for you to use this art form as a vehicle of change, or at least a forum of discussion.
Jasiri X: It's why I do music. To do it for any other reason is vanity.
Real Gangstas by Jasiri X
Shucks One: In your song "Real Gangstas", you point out that we are bombarded by "Hollywood Gangsters", Rappers throwing up Gang signs and the eons of Gangster characters in films. In your opinion is that by design?
Jasiri X: Absolutely, one a simple level sex and violence sells. On another level the prison industrial complex is the biggest business in America so to make criminal behaviour cool guarantees a full house and more money.
Shucks One: Humans are incredible beings, and are capable of many ways to express our positive aspects. To some people it feels like much of modern popular culture is geared towards only expressing and promoting our lowest attributes, Lust, Violence, Greed and Ego. Do you have any thoughts on that?
Jasiri X: I agree 100%! Everyday we're being dumbed down by the mainstream so people only seem to think on those low levels. Sadly most people don't even read anymore. So unless someone teaches you how to express yourself on a higher level how will you learn?
Silent Night (Do Rappers Watch the News?) By Jasiri X
Shucks One: I have been observing recently how many of the "Golden Era" Conscious MCs are becoming more "Thugged Out", and have toned down their upright message. You get the impression that as the culture digressed in the early 90's to "40's & Timbo Music", then just all out "Gang Set Rappers" and the recent "Swagger Rap" styles, that the Golden Era MCs feel they are trying to find a position to play. I have heard some say they have moved on, or don't want to be "Party Wreckers", meaning they are always appear to be the bearers of bad news almost. Is that a cop out in your opinion, or, just a fact of life?
Jasiri X: Both, it's a cop out because it shows that they never truly believed the message they were presenting in the first place, but the reality is it's a music business and there is no pension for these rappers. So some are just trying to feed they're families.
Shucks One: A lot of people are asking where has the fun and intellect gone in Hip-Hop? You watch videos by these middle aged Ice Grilling Platinum Rappers, waving pixilated automatic weapons in their out of town Mansions, filling the trunks of their super cars with duffle bags of freshly minted bank notes and the blatant devolutionary role of women in the culture. What is the purpose of all of this on the grander scale of things? Are you concerned of the effect that this is having on the image of African American men not just in the US, but world wide?
Jasiri X: Of course I think it's purposeful to use black man as the scapegoat for this falling economy and society. Also to keep the prisons packed because they make so much money from incarcerating our people. Lastly it keeps the black man from never learning his true self and power as the Original Man, Maker, Owner, Cream of the Planet Earth, God of the Universe.
This Week With Jasiri X
Shucks One: One of the things about how you market your music is the utilization of the self-sufficient use of tools of YouTube, etc.
You are particularly famous the weekly online Hip-Hop news program "This Week with Jasiri X". How did that idea start and how has the feedback been for that project?
Jasiri X: It started because we wanted to first come out with a new song each week, but being an artist with a message we wanted to touch on relevant topics. Secondly we saw how these right wing media outlets were spinning the news to fit their narrative and we thought we can do the same thing accept show the truth. The feedback has been incredible and it definitely has grown much bigger than we ever imagined.
Shucks One: At a time when many artists are trying to become "independent", you have just signed a deal with Wandering Worx Music. What are you hopeful that the Record Label can do for you, that you can't already do for yourself through the independent route?
Jasiri X: I hope they can introduce me to a wider audience especially being they are based in Canada. Plus my album is a lot different from the videos I've been doing so it will be interesting to see the response to it.
Shucks One: Obviously like many MCs you do sometimes ride over popular rhythms, but you also have a back catalogue of your own music, who does your impressive beats?
Jasiri X: I have been blessed with some great producer. Rel!g!on is one, he produced my album and is part owner of Wandering Worx. Cynick Lethal produced my most popular videos "What if the Tea Party was Black?" and "Republican Woman" also King Sym who did a majority of Season 2 and a few tracks on Season 3 including are Season Premiere, "The Only Color That Matters in Green".
Palin Packin'
Shucks One: Your new song and video "Republican Woman" is hilarious! You have been openly critical of the "Tea Party Movement" in the past, how much of this "Movement" is down to racial fear of President Obama and scapegoating, and how much of it is manufactured descent, and if so who benefits?
Jasiri X: I think all of it is manufactured because it's so well funded by billionaires like the Koch Brothers, who are using these foolish people to push policies that enable them to keep more of their money. It benefits these huge corporations who are making record profits at the expense of the poor people of the earth.
"Revelationz 1"by REL!G!ON
Shucks One: You featured on the producers REL!G!ON album entitled Revelationz 1, which is an excellent album and has a collection of progressive heavy weights like NY Oil, Chuck D (Public Enemy), Planet Asia, Moka Only and others. How did you hook up with REL!G!ON, and do you plan to work with him in the future?
Jasiri X: I was introduced to him by NYOIL. He would email me beats and I would turn them around pretty quickly. He liked quality of my songs and my work ethic so he said let's do an album, the result is "Ascension" which should drop on Wandering Worx in 2011.
Shucks One: Who would be your dream top 5 Producers you would like to work with?
Jasiri X:
1. DJ Premier
2. Kanye West
3. Just Blaze
4. DJ Toomp
5. Jake One
Shucks One: What about your top 5 MCs you would like to do a collabo with?
1. Nas
2. KRS-One
3. Raekwon
4. Immortal Technique
5. Lauryn Hill
Shucks One: I watch a lot of so-called "Knowledge DVDs", that is documentaries from the conscious angle, but read books from all genres History, Metaphysical, Conscious etc. I was personally concerned when recently someone said in their lecture "I'm doing this knowledge, I'm watching these DVDs", as in, that is the be all and end all of seeking knowledge. What would you say is the importance of reading books, not just as an MC, but as someone seeking Knowledge of Self?
Jasiri X: You can't truly gain knowledge of self without reading. Plus I encourage all MCs to read because words are our weapons and the more words you know the better rhyme you can write.
Shucks One: If you could suggest 5 books that your fans should read, what would they be and why?
1. Message to the Blackman- Elijah Muhammad has produced some of the greatest leaders we've known.
2. The Isis Papers- Dr. Frances Cress Welsing breaks down racism and hidden symbols, you'll never see the world the same.
3. Dark Alliance –Gary Webb shows how the US government sold crack cocaine to fund an illegal war.
4. The 48 Laws of Power. by Robert Greene and Joost Elffers –helps to see how through deception the powers that be stay in power.
5. In The Name of Allah: A History of Clarence 13X and the Five Percenters - great history lesson by Wakeel Allah.
5a. Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki and Sharon Lechter - best book on money I've ever read and I majored in Economics.
"JUST A MINSTREL" by JASIRI X Ft. Isada Tariq and Living Proofe.
Shucks One: In your video "Just A Minstrel" you have a snippet of Bamboozeled by Spike Lee. That is an amazing movie, since that movies release, it was almost ignored, and he has almost disappeared. How easy is it for the Major Label system to bury more enlightened, and challenging ideas? As an underground artist, how concerned is it for you that its difficult to reach a wider audience with your art?
Jasiri X: It's harder now because with Youtube, Facebook and Twitter they don't have the same amount of control over who hears what. The best way to not be buried by a major label is not to sign with one lol. It's more difficult to reach a wider audience for me because I don't have a million dollar budget. That's why sites like yours are so important to my success.
Shucks One: Maaaaan! T-Pain and Sean Hannity???!!!! That is crazy! Actually painful would be a better way to explain it. For those people who might not be familiar with who Sean Hannity is, can you explain who he is, and why did you feature that clip in the "Just A Minstrel" video?
Jasiri X: Sean Hannity is one of the biggest haters of President Obama and a right wing racist. He has a show on Fox News where he parrots the republican talking points and hates on any black man that has an intelligent opinion.
Shucks One: I have talked to many in the older generations of Hip-Hop, they have discussed the problem that now when you are critical of anyone, or anything in Rap culture you are being a "hater" or suggest that you are jealous of other peoples success. How would you respond to that? Are modern successful Rappers beyond criticism, or does it more express a shift in how we measure modern success?
Jasiri X: I think when people say "You're a Hater" it means they can't rationally argue against the truth you've spoken. Sadly we do live in a time where we put money over art so if something makes money we feel like if its criticized it because the person is jealous because they're not making as much. It shows how much the art has been commercialized.
"American History X" By Jasiri X
Shucks One: In your song Universal Ruler, you say; "I wear my X proudly, was lost but God found me", you allude to your receiving of an "X", and are a very vocal representer of The Nation Of Islam. For you what is the significance of your X, and for those reading this who are not aware of its attributes, what does it mean?
Jasiri X: The significance to me is it represents a body of knowledge that saved my life and totally raised my understanding of the world around me. That's why my logo is an X with an eye in the middle because getting my X opened my eyes. For those that don't know it represents the unknown. We don't know who our ancestors were because they were stolen and made slaves. Their names were taken from them, so when we come into the Nation we learn our last names are those given to our ancestors by the slave master. They're not our names so we take the X to say our real names are unknown.
Shucks One: How does your role in the N.O.I. fit in with your music? Is it complimentary, or are there challenges, how has your music been received within the Mosque?
Jasiri X: It's definitely complementary; I don't know any other spiritual leader that sees Hip-Hop in its proper context other than the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan. Wise people see the influence of Hip-Hop and how it can be used as a tool to free the minds of our people.
Minister Louise Farrakhan at the annual N.O.I. Saviour's Day
Shucks One: Obviously in the past there were many rappers sampling Minister Farrakhan and professing the N.O.I., but not so much anymore. In fact you are probably the only N.O.I. MC I can think of at the moment. Why do you feel MCs you see at Savior's Day and other events not more vocal about their affiliation in their music?
Jasiri X: Real Talk some rappers believe that declaring their affiliation with the Nation of Islam will hurt their career and in my experience that's simply not the case. I think some get scared and think that if they say they're with the Nation they'll lose their white fan base, but I've never had an issue with it. I'd be a punk if I was afraid to stand with the the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan, when he saved my life.
Shucks One: You appear to be so busy making music, videos etc, how do you find time to fit in your normal life, and is there any advice you could give to up and coming artists?
Jasiri X: I've been getting better at managing my time but I would say to any up and coming artist that if you want success in any field your gonna have to be willing to sacrifice time to do that.
Shucks One: When we see the release of "Ascension" the new Jasiri X album and what can we expect?
Jasiri X: Great production and lyricism. Real Hip-Hop!
X Lives
Shucks One: Where do you see yourself in a year from now?
Jasiri X: Hopefully doing the same thing I'm doing now but with a wider audience.
Websites etc:http://jasirix.com
http://twitter.com/jasiri_x
http://facebook.com/jasirix
http://www.youtube.com/user/jasirix
http://www.myspace.com/jasirix
Many thanks to Big DO for putting us on the Jasiri X. Please check out THE BEST HIP-HOP BLOG hands down purehip-hop.blogspot.com
Labels: Conscious Music, Conspiracy, Interviews, Islam, Jasiri X, KRS One, Minister Farrakhan, Nation Of Islam, New Hip-Hop, Old School Hip-Hop, Paradise (X-Clan), Shucks One, The Kool Skool, X-Clan
Paper Makers (Graffiti Blackbook Art) Flickr Pool
Paper Makers (Graffiti Blackbook Art) Flickr Pool Featuring Slick L.A., Eros, Geser 3A, Steam 156, Merc, 14 Bolt, Shucks One ID & more
LONDON BLACKBOOK 1985 - 2010.
A4 Softback
Limited edition, only 1,000 printed.
Features rare and unseen sketches and characters from over 200 of London's most influential and diverse graffiti artists including Elk, Zomby, Drax, Mode 2, Cazbee, Goldie, Teach, Coma, Vibes, Neas and Met plus many more.
Available to buy from 11th November at the launch night plus www.londonhandstyles.com and Chrome and Black, East London.
Check out http://strictlylondonbound.blogspot.com
Labels: Graffiti, Graffiti Blackbook Art, L.A., London, London Black Book, Old School Graffiti, Old School Hip-Hop, Paper Makers, Shucks One, Slick Dissizit, UK, UK Hip Hip
Who were Raw Breed? An Introduction to Early 90's Timbo Era Chorus Rap Part 1
Raw Breed Album Sleeve
In 1993, The Kool Skool's DJ O Double Ess picked up an album, called Lune Tunz by a group called Raw Breed, and also their 12" Open Season. It was one of the many one hit wonders (or almost hitters) that really reflect the early 90's, Onyx inspired Timbo Era (shouty-shouty) Chorus Rap, complete with chunky weeded out beats and "Muggs-style" whiney samples. EPMD, The Soul Assassin associated groups, Lord Of The Underground, Double XX Posse, Das Efx, and even the revamped "thugged out" LL inspired groups like Original Flavor, Brokin English Klik, Top Quality, Rough House Survivors, The Legion, Shades of Culture, and a (4th & Broadway signed) Mobb Deep to name just a few.
The often over looked Teenage 1st Mobb Deep Album (fresh from La Guardia School)
Double XX Posse "Eat em' Up Sugar Ray!"
The point is although some were definately better than others, record labels were literally farming out groups like Raw Breed with no information, after getting New York Hood Mixtapes and College radio shows rotation, would simply disappear. Recently, I was talking to Waxer from Disco Scratch about the many hot underground records from the "Mid-School", that never get play by the many "Old School DJs", who seem to only play all the most played out "This Is Rap" compilation songs of that era. Thanks to the internet and the Hip-Hop story diggers out there, these groups live again.
Raw Breed Inner Sleeve Members of the band
About 4 years ago I got the Raw Breed album on CD for about £1 in a closing down record shop and stuck it in a "to listen pile" and forgot all about it. Obviously the album has dated (especially some of the "Jam-erican chatting"), and although you probably wouldn't want to listen to the whole thing in one sitting, it definately has some decent tracks on it.
Open Season 12' Cover
B side track RAMPAGE OUTTA CONTROL featured fellow Boogie Down Bronxters Melle Mel, Ultra Magnetic MC's Kool Kieth and Godfather Don
As some of you out there might not know, in the old days, people would just study the covers of Hip-Hop records, studying, the clothes, landmarks, Credits, label info and especially the shouts-outs to snoop out more about a group. So here is a very brief (ropey) Inspector Shuckel's geeky audio and visual breakdown of little tadbits of info gleaned from the cover...
1. They are from the Bronx
2. At least one of them is wearing so much Desert Storm 1 camo he had better had been in the Army
3. Collage Fraternity Shouts suggest some of them were in collage when they recorded this (with at least two of them being Mature students)
4. D-Squared from B.D.P Co-Produced some of the tracks
5. Even though it is well produced, more than a few of the drum tracks are straight up Beat Jacks, Ultra, Double XX Posse, and Jungle Brothers amongst others
6. The fact that Kool Keith and Godfather Don from Ultra and Melle Mel are on it meant that they were well connected/respected as Ultra was still at its strength at the time. (One of them related to Kool Kieth?) The only other Ultra collabo I have ever heard of was with Dutch fast rap/Tuff Crew Beat Jacker King Bee
So that's about as much I could work out. Anyone out there know anymore? When I first started interviewing Hip-Hop artists before the internet I used to call on a few people who really new their shit! Calling Dr. Werner Von Wallenrod, Kid Dyno, DJ Aiden "Orange" Leacy & Aroe!!!!
Rabbit Stew video????
Werner Von Wallenrod.blogspot.com IS THE BEST UNDERGROUND RAP INFO BLOG HANDS DOWN!!!
He goes into proper detail with interviews with people like The Legend of Newcleus - Cozmo D, Kurupt of the DoggPound, Kwame', even Awesome Dre one of the first Rapping Gangstas, funny reviews and videos. If you haven't seen it yet go there now!
Hail the Words of Isis - An Interview with (Isis The Queen Mother Rage) LinQue of X-Clan
http://www.lin-que.com
Twin Hype with his "Twin" classic
Who is this? Check out The Kool Skool's "You Got The Juice Now..." Juice The Movie - Cameo Role Focus
Labels: B.D.P., Bronx Hip Hop, Double XX Posse, EPMD, Hip-Hop, LL Cool J, Mid School Rap, Mobb Deep, Raw Breed, Timbo Era Chorus Rap, X-Clan
Illuminati Hollywood Insiders: "Beneath the Surface" *Fascinating Look At Movie Symbolism* (Documentary Video)
"Eye'm Reloaded!"
Illuminati Hollywood Insiders: Beneath the Surface By Michael Wynn
Beneath the surface follows the career of movie writers such as: James Cameron, Roland Emmerich, David Goyer, and Michael Ferris. It also examines Illuminati symbolism in movies like: Avatar, 10000BC, 2012, The men who stare at Goats, Sherlock Holmes, Surrogates, Jumper, and The Crow 2. Further, it analyzes predictive programming, the mayan calender, global warming, the supernatural, mythological retellings in movies.
http://www.hollywoodinsiders.net
Interesting interview with Michael Wynn on Red Ice Creations here
Check out the Eye Am That I Am Blog
This blog documents the proliferation of the so-called "Eye of Ra", Pyramids, Suns and other loose Occult imagery in modern society.
Labels: Egypt, Ignorance, Kemet, Metaphysics, Michal Tsarion, Occult, Red Ice Creations, Revalation, Symbolism, Synchromysticism
Tizer One, Pref ID & more "Seven Stories" Prints Available NOW!!!
"No Idea" by Tizer One ID
As we have mentioned earlier, the mighty Rare Kind Gallery has put together 7 London based artists to produce a new print each. The artists include Tizer One ID, Pref ID, David Samuel, Alfa, Garry Milne. Daddison, Celine Choo. The prices vary between £30 - £45 and limited, more info @ The Rare Kind Gallery
Labels: Graffiti, id, London, Pref, Rare Kind, The Art, Tizer One ID, UK, UK Hip Hip
Rare Nas Illmatic Promo Must See (Video)
Rare Nas Illmatic T.V. Promo slot
"Cuz I'm an ace when I face the bass,
40 side is the place that is giving me grace,
Now wait,
another dose and you might be dead,
And I'm a Nike head,
I wear chains that excite the feds
And aint' a damn thing gonna change" - Nas "Halftime"
Labels: DJ Premier, L.E.S., Large Professor, Nas, Old School Hip-Hop, Pete Rock, Queens Rap
"Portraits De Cite'" A French Hip-Hop City Photos From The 1990's (Book Review)
Portraits De Cite' (2008)
French Hip-Hop City Photos from the 1990's
With work by: Bakir Ziani, Richard Hort, Ambroise Mendy, Jean-Paul Gentile, Abdel Ben Massaoud & Mohamed Boughamni
On a recent trip to France I found this in a book shop, they really celebrate a varirty of French people representing Hip-Hop culture. Here are some of the highlights.
Raiders Caps
From an outsider, the French Hip-Hop scene has always looked amazing. In the 1990's Movies like La Haine, Graffiti Books like Paris Tonkar,groups like NTM, Assasin, Iam, MC Solaar, DJs like DJ Dee Nasty, Crazy Fast Camel (DMC Finalists); Graffiti Writers like Tran, Nasty, Color, Kay One GT (and his French Hip-Hop shop in London) and U.K. legend Mode2 (moving to Paris); and the many French B-Boy/B-Girls making a huge presence in the International Hip-Hop scene.
Headspin
Obviously France is a huge country, so the market is enormous and so can support a proper functioning Hip-Hop industry. Unlike the U.K., the French government also passed a law forcing French Radio Stations to play a large percentage of French Language music. This in turn has created a large selection of French Hip-Hop artists, and labels to sign them.
B-Boys
In the 1990's French Hip-Hop only Radio stations like SkyRock and others supported this progressive movement, and many local councils all over France have laid on big budget community Hip-Hop Events that feature B-Boy, Mcing, Dj and Graffiti. It is common for French Artists to do collaborations with high profile MC's like Nas, CNN, Wu-Tang, the late Guru and many others, French Graffiti Mags can be bought in the smallest village News Agents, and B-Boys who travel the country and world doing showcases. It would be useful for the UK scene to take note and learn from our French Family!
Grasshopper Style
Power Moves
Paris Tonkar from Paris Tonkar on Vimeo.
Also to see The Kool Skool's Review and info on "Paris Tonkar"
Paris Tonkar is about to release a new Graffiti Magazine more info below
Paris Tonkar now has a Blog
Paris Tonkar Flickr
Paris Tonkar on Vimeo
Yo Pegasus!! Yo Tasek!!
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Immigrants, Unemployed Gained Most In ACA Exchanges' First Year
Jon Fleshman via Flickr
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Immigrants saw the steepest gains in health insurance coverage in 2014, the first year for enrollment on the Affordable Care Act's exchanges and Medicaid's expansion, according to a New York Times analysis of census data. Hispanics accounted for nearly one third of the increase in adults with insurance. A smaller percentage of blacks gained coverage, according to the Times, because most poor blacks live in states that chose not to expand Medicaid.
By job, the unemployed saw the greatest increase in coverage, followed by workers in fields like agriculture, food services construction and retail. According to the Times, the law's implementation in 2014 reversed a trend:
By the end of that first full year, 2014, so many low-income people gained coverage that it halted the decades-long expansion of the gap between the haves and the have-nots in the American health insurance system, a striking change at a time when disparities between rich and poor are growing in many areas.
But some who enrolled that first year still struggle to afford their premiums.
Alberto Torres, 50, a driver for a garment company in Los Angeles who could not afford insurance before the law, had signed up for a plan in 2014 for $41 a month. But this year his monthly premium jumped to $106 — too much, he said, for his meager salary.
Read the full report:
Immigrants, the Poor and Minorities Gain Sharply Under Health Act
Access to Care Affordable Care ActobamacareMedicaid Expansionminority healthHispanic health
Many Dislike Health Care System But Are Pleased With Their Own Care
Farm Contractors Balk At Obamacare Requirements
Is Indiana's Alternative Medicaid Expansion Working?


Krastova gora is situated in Rodopi near the village of Borovo; it is famous for its healing effects on the people, pilgrims at Christ's cross, who come to visit and spend one night at Krastov top.
The Bachkovski monastery called 'Uspenie Bogorodichno' (The Assu) is the second biggest monastery in Bulgaria; it was found in 1803.
The miraculous bridges are a rock phenomenon known also by the name of the Rock bridges. It is situated in the Western Rodopi on Golyam (big) Persenk top.
Chepelare is a winter resort in the Rodopi mountains with a ski zone called Mechi chal, which is the longest and one of the nest tracks for Alpine skiing in Bulgaria. It is situated near the Pamporovo resort.
Pamporovo is the warmest ski resort in Bulgaria; it is situated in the inner parts of the Rodopi mountain. The ski season starts in December and continues till the end of April.
The Devil's throat is a cave near the village of Trigrad in the Trigrad gorge in the Rodopi mountain.
The Yagodinska cave is situated in the Rodopi mountain and it is three-storeys high. The cave is unique with plenty of stalactites, hangings and cave pearls.
'Svoboda' top is situated north from the village of Davidkovo, 1,943 m above sea level. A Tracian sanctuary, believed to be the biggest sanctuary of Dionisius, is situated on 'Svoboda' top.
Uhlovitsa is a cave in the 'Sini virove' region near Smolyan in the Rodopi mountain.


The last CMARC event was great! Only one problem... It was overway too fast and there was not enough time to meet and network with other folks. If you'd like an opportunity for more networking, join other members at Olde Mecklenburg Brewery on Wednesday, June 13th - the eve of the next event.
As of now, CMARC volunteer Steve Hoffman has reserved a few tables in the lounge, or we can go outside if weather permits, but if you are looking to do some more networking with industry colleagues, please shoot Steve an email to let him know you are coming! It's going to be a fun evening and we look forward to seeing you soon.


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Home > Insights > Blogs > EnergyInsider > Federal Court of Appeal Finds That BC Pipeline May Be Subject to NEB Jurisdiction
Federal Court of Appeal Finds That BC Pipeline May Be Subject to NEB Jurisdiction
Posted inBritish Columbia|Canada (Federal)|Facilities
On July 19, 2017, the Federal Court of Appeal released its Decision in a case related to the National Energy Board's (NEB) jurisdiction over the proposed Prince Rupert Gas Transmission Project (PRGTP). The Court reversed an earlier NEB Decision holding that the NEB had no jurisdiction over the PRGTP. Instead, the Court found that there is a prima facie case that the NEB does have jurisdiction, and referred that question to the NEB for a full review.
The PRGTP is a proposed 900km natural gas pipeline that will deliver gas from Hudson's Hope, British Columbia (near Fort St. John, British Columbia) to a proposed liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility near Prince Rupert, British Columbia. The LNG facility is called Pacific NorthWest LNG and it is to be owned by a consortium led by Petronas. The PRGTP is currently being regulated by the Province of British Columbia and received an Environmental Assessment Certificate in November 2014.
On July 25, 2017, Petronas announced that it will not proceed with the Pacific NorthWest LNG project (see here). Presumably, that decision puts the future of the PRGTP in jeopardy, as this LNG facility was the sole customer for the pipeline. However, notwithstanding that the fate of the PRGTP is now unclear, the Federal Court of Appeal's Decision about how the NEB should assess its own jurisdiction over pipeline projects is interesting.
As we explained in an earlier post, Michael Sawyer's October 2015 Application to the NEB had asserted that the PRGTP should be subject to the regulatory jurisdiction and review of the NEB. Effectively, the challenge advanced by Mr. Sawyer is another example (similar to challenges related to Northern Gateway and Energy East, as discussed in a prior post) where pipeline opponents are appealing to both provincial and federal authorities in efforts to oppose projects.
Mr. Sawyer argued to the NEB that the PRGTP should be subject to federal jurisdiction despite the fact that it is wholly located in British Columbia. Mr. Sawyer asserted that the PRGTP will be operated together with TransCanada Pipelines' NOVA Gas Transmission Limited System (NGTL). He relied on the test set out by the Supreme Court of Canada in Westcoast Energy Inc. v. NEB and asserted that PRGTP will be operated with NGTL as a "single federal undertaking" and is therefore subject to federal jurisdiction. The project proponent (TransCanada) disagreed, and asserted that the PRGTP would be a local work that offers intra-provincial gas transportation service under a different arrangement than NGTL.
The NEB considered Mr. Sawyer's Application on a preliminary basis, under section 12 of the NEB Act. The NEB followed its established practice of evaluating whether there is a prima facie case made that jurisdiction exists before referring the case to a full hearing on the jurisdictional question. In the NEB's Decision dated November 30, 2015, the NEB declined to find a prima facie case that the PRGTP would form part of a federal undertaking and be subject to the NEB Act. The NEB considered the arguments made (there was no formal evidence presented) and indicated that it was not persuaded that the PRGTP and NGTL system will be functionally integrated and commonly managed and controlled such that they would be operated as a single "enterprise". Therefore, the NEB denied Mr. Sawyer's Application without proceeding to a full hearing as to whether the NEB Act applies.
The Federal Court of Appeal disagreed with the NEB's analysis and conclusion, on a number of bases.
The Court found that the NEB had gone too far in its review of the positions of the parties on the preliminary (threshold) review of the jurisdictional question. The Court found that the NEB should simply have concerned itself with whether there was an "arguable case" (a prima facie case) as to whether the PRGTP is subject to federal jurisdiction. If such a finding was made (and the applicable standard is quite low), then the case should proceed to a full hearing about whether the PRGTP is subject to federal jurisdiction. Instead, the NEB dismissed the case after having improperly evaluated the substance of the materials presented and weighing the evidence on its merits.
Importantly, the Court also found that the materials presented to the NEB did indeed support a prima facie finding that the PRGTP should be subject to federal jurisdiction. Applying the test from Westcoast Energy Inc. v. NEB, the Court found that the PRGTP appears to be functionally integrated with federally regulated works (including the NGTL system) that would also be part of the planned supply to the Pacific NorthWest LNG facility. As noted by the Court, the PRGTP would not be built without the federally regulated North Montney Mainline (and vice-versa). This supports an arguable (prima facie) case that the PRGTP is functionally integrated with a federal undertaking and subject to the NEB Act.
The Federal Court of Appeal's Decision is careful to state that the Court is not making any final determination about jurisdiction. Instead, the Court simply holds that there is a prima facie case that the PRGTP is subject to the NEB's regulatory jurisdiction. With that finding, the Court of Appeal allows the appeal, and sends the jurisdiction question back to the NEB, to be determined through a hearing "on a full record, on tested evidence, and on notice to the Attorneys General." However, given the apparent cancellation of the Pacific NorthWest LNG project, the PRGTP may not proceed and the full hearing about the NEB's jurisdiction over this pipeline may no longer be needed.
The Ministry of Energy Proposes Accelerated Treatment for New Projects to Support Critical Transmission Infrastructure in Southwestern Ontario
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Insecurity: UNILORIN enforces new stickers on commercial vehicles
By NAN
The Management of the University of Ilorin has officially unveiled new stickers designed to identify commercial vehicles operating on its campus.
University of Ilorin (UNILORIN)
It will also enable the authorities monitor vehicular movements within and outside the campus.
Prof. Tajudeen Ajibade, the Dean of Students Affairs, who presented the stickers on Wednesday to the operators, said the new stickers would help in protecting the students and other commuters plying the campus against insecurity ravaging the nation.
Ajibade explained that the action becomes necessary because management has noticed strange vehicles on campus coupled with the alarming rate of kidnapping in the country.
"The University administration felt it's necessary to come up with this idea for ease of identification of registered vehicles on campus.
"There are strange vehicles on campus. So, we have introduced the stickers for our students to know those buses that are working for the university and those that are not,'' he said.
The Dean said that in addition to safeguarding students from being kidnapping and other related dangers, the University would commence vehicle inspection and check the roadworthiness of vehicles to figure out unregistered buses and those that are not fit for the University campus.
"We will go on vehicle inspection very soon. Those that are not road-worthy will be thrown out and those that meet with our standards will be allowed to stay,'' he said.
Ajibade warned students not to board any vehicle without the new stickers for their safety.
According to the Dean, speed-breakers constructed on the campus roads have assisted in reducing road accidents in the University.
He advocated for more speed-breakers and Zebra Crossing signs on major areas on the campus roads.
In his response, Mr Isa Bello of the National Union of Road Transport Workers appreciated the efforts of the University's management in improving the security status of the Campus.
He observed that the issue of kidnapping is terrifying and commended the institution for taking such measures.
Bello further said the stickers presented would also improve the security of the school and those of the vehicle operators.
On his part, the Chairman, Tricycle Association, Unilorin Branch, Mr Yakub Ibrahim, advised the students to be careful and ensure that the board approved the tricycle for the university.
Tajudeen Ajibade
Unilorin
Why industrial crises may persist this year, by NASU
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BudgIT identifies 460 duplicated projects in 2022 budget
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Show me your friend!
Brethren, whenever I chance upon beautifully crafted words, words of wisdom, words on marble, I am immediately attracted to it; I become like the honey bee which is forever attracted to beautiful flowers.
Team Delta wins 12 gold medals as athletics begins tomorrow
Nasarawa Wins First Gold, Taraba Shock Edo In Volleyball Defending champion, Team Delta, has taken the lead at the ongoing sixth National Youth Games in Ilorin by winning 12 gold medals on day two of the competition. After gathering five gold and two bronze medals in the Artistic gymnastics event on day one (Thursday), Delta…
Delta hits 28 gold as Lagos wins medals in swimming
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Team Delta contingent gets rousing welcome in Asaba
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Kevin Falcon refused to build medical school in Surrey when he was Health Minister
November 29, 2022 at 11:02 am Politics, Provincial
Yesterday, Premier David Eby announced action to build a medical school in Surrey, a project that Kevin Falcon refused to build when he was Health Minister.
In 2008 and 2009, the Fraser Health Authority and Simon Fraser University pushed Falcon and the B.C. Liberals to open a medical school in Surrey.
The CEO of the Fraser Health Authority said in 2008, "there is a real shortage of doctors and a medical school in this jurisdiction would be very complementary to that objective."
But instead of saying yes to the medical school, Falcon kicked the can down the road. He said in 2009: "I don't have even the most elemental knowledge of what it would cost and what's involved… I would need to see the business case."
Over the following year and a half that Falcon served as Health Minister, he refused to move forward on the project. He also refused to act when he was in charge of the government budget as Finance Minister in 2011 and 2012.
At the same time he was refusing to build the Surrey medical school, Falcon was failing on his promise to "provide every British Columbian who wants a family doctor with one by 2015." Instead of getting all British Columbians a family doctor, the shortage got much worse.
The new medical school is the latest in a series of actions by David Eby and the B.C. NDP to tackle the doctor shortage. Last month, B.C. reached a historic deal to attract and retain family doctors. On Sunday, Eby announced he is tripling the capacity of the program to license internationally trained doctors to practice in Canada.
B.C. NDP Caucus Chair Jagrup Brar:
"If Kevin Falcon had approved the Surrey medical school 13 years ago when he had the chance, British Columbia would be much better off now. Instead, he prioritized tax giveaways for his wealthy friends while he refused to build the medical school and made aggressive cuts to hospitals. Kevin Falcon's record shows he would make the doctor shortage worse, not better."
View the full article from the original source


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Posted by AmadeuS on June 15, 2019
Posted in: AMRShow APPROVED, Music, New Releases, Newsfeed, Reviews.	Tagged: Aor, aor heaven, Melodic Rock, Music, New Releases, news, renaissance, Rob Moratti.
Brand new album called "Renaissance" is coming up on June 21st from ROB MORATTI along with great melodies, singing and a fantastic guitar playing.
10 melodic blasting tracks will stick into your ears for longtime and makes you feel that the next upcoming years have found already their soundtrack.
AOR HEAVEN states:
"When it comes to songs, melodies, harmonies and range – as many know – Rob Moratti is in a league of his own. The songs on "Renaissance" are astonishing as ever. Filled with his trademark harmonies and memorable chorus's that will capture the listener and engrave your soul. Working alongside with some the best songwriters and performers in the genre such as Torben Enevoldsen on guitars, Fredrik Bergh on keyboards, Stu Reid on drums and Tony Franklin on the Monster Bass."
1. You Are The One
2. Let Me Be The One
3. Best of Me
4. Lift You Up
5. Hold On To Love
6. I Let You In
7. It's Time To Go
8. Many Come Home
9. I Don't Want To Wait Forever
10. It Hurts To Be I Love
Produced by Rob Moratti, Mixed by Rob Moratti and Torben Enevoldsen and Mastered by Rob Moratti.
The album will be released from AOR HEAVEN and you can have a "bite" here below.
AMRShow APPROVED 9.5 /10
Rob Moratti, the Solo Artist, the Voice of Final Frontier and the former Voice of Saga.
Rob Moratti is a genuine and true original. With an astonishing range, he's carved such a unique style blending the finest elements of melodic and progressive rock.
He started his career professionally in the early 90's as lead vocalist and songwriter of the band Moratti; entering the new millennium with Final Frontier. They immediately were well received making an impact on the airwaves of Japan and in Europe. Rob's future went forward with Final Frontier, soaring out four incredible melodic pieces. Over the years in spite of all the changes in the music scene, Rob's perseverance and passion stood strong. His fate is so undeniable it captured the attention of multi-platinum selling and legendary progressive rock band SAGA. In 2008 the official announcement was made that Rob Moratti would become the new voice of Saga and at the age of 42 Rob's destiny would evolve.
Today his solo career has taken off quite well. Now in 2019, the singer is about to deliver his strongest solo record ever titled "Renaissance" which marks his first release with AOR Heaven.
Rob also has worked with many power house musicians that have been part of his solo career like Reb Beach of (Whitesnake/ Winger), Tony Franklin of (Blue Murder / Firm), Brian Doerner of (Saga) and Ian Crichton of (Saga).
robmoratti.net
RAIN or SHINE – NEW DEAL, NEW ALBUM coming up &NEW Single out….
Posted in: AMRShow APPROVED, Music, New Releases, Newsfeed, Reviews.	Tagged: Melodic Hard Rock, Melodic Rock, Music, new album, New Releases, news, perris records, Rain or Shine, tom mathers.
Greek, Athens based, melodic hard rockers RAIN OR SHINE have signed a deal with Perris Records for their next album called "The darkest part of me" set for release on FEBRUARY 15th.
01 THE DARKEST PART OF ME
02 TOP OF THE WORLD
03 NEW LOVE
04 WHERE ARE YOU NOW
05 AROUND THE CORNER
06 SHOT OF LIFE
07 WE ALL BACK DOWN
08 BACK ON TRACK
09 INTO THE STORM
10 WE ONLY LIVE ONCE
The first single called "TOP of the World" out of the album is already available on YTube.
Perris Records States:
"Perris Records president Tom Mathers is proud to announce the signing of Rain Or Shine to their release of their second album called "The Darkest Part of Me", out on the 15th of February, 2019. The 1st single "Top Of The World" will be released digitally worldwide on February 1st, 2019. Fans of Bon Jovi, Europe, Winger, Nickelback & Giant will enjoy this melodic rock release. Steve S.R. the vocalist had this to say about the deal "We proudly announce that we signed a record deal with Perris Records for the release of our second album "The Darkest Part of Me". It's been an awesome journey creating this album and we can't wait to hear your feedback on it."
Rain Or Shine "The Darkest Part of Me" consists of melodic hard rock tunes with the 80's melodic rock feel. Up-lifting songs, melodic catchy ballads and huge choruses.
The album kicks off with the selftitled track which bring the brand new sound of ROS and pulls the listener to a well crafted theme followed by a great solo from Steve.
"Top of The world" takes over with the spirit of a melodic rock party and a neverending happy headbanging.
"New Love" & "Where are you now"
midtempo, strong and heavy enough to lead to the next track.
"Around the Corner" – brings the feeling of a fresh melody which you could listen to all day long on loop.
"Shot of Life" – midtempo with catchy riffs, great chorus and a fine solo guitar to complete the idea of how melodic rock should sound nowdays.
"We all back down" – And the rock 'n' roll party goes on…..enough said 🙂
"Back on Track" – a modern ballad will makes you sing along as you listen to….
"Into the Storm" – in my opinion could be called "the track that Gotthard never wrote back in the day"….!
"We only live once" – Last track on the album is a fine ballad and the best way to lead to the end of a great record for my taste.
Well, as final word, I'd say that in a year which have started soooo promising ….. RAIN OR SHINE will surely be part of the top releases with this record.
AMRShow APPROVED: 9.25 /10
*PREORDER HERE
Rain Or Shine is a melodic hard rock band based in Athens, Greece and was formed in 2013 by Steve S.R. and Andy R. McCormick. Steve S.R. is the lead singer, plays the guitars, bass and keyboards in the project and also works as a producer and a mixing engineer. Andy R.McCormick plays the drums and the percussion. They both have been involved in several bands such as "Wild Machine", "Perfume", "Sex-Rated", "Embrace Fire" and "Backstage Love" just to name a few and performed on a series of live events with great success supporting names such as "Skid row", "Gilby Clarke", "Tigertailz", "Devildriver", "DRI", "Rotting Christ", "Septic Flesh", "Crash Diet" etc. Steve studied classical guitar at an early age. At the age of fourteen he started playing the piano with a view to improving his knowledge in music theory. At the same time, he was practising electric guitar and bass. It was only a matter of time before he wrote his own songs and began recording his ideas. That motivated him to study sound engineering and work on his mixing skills. He's been mainly influenced by band such as Bon Jovi, Giant, Winger and more modern acts such as Nickelback, Sixx A.M. etc. Andy R. McCormick started studying piano and guitar, but soon stopped and took drum lessons at the age of 13. He played in numerous cover bands mainly in metal/rock genre. His main influences were Led Zeppelin, TOTO, Tower of Power, Steven Wilson just to name a few and definitely John Bonham, Jeff Porcaro, Tommy Lee, Steve Gadd, Vinnie Colaiuta, Gavin Harrison are still his main drum influences. In 2013, Steve and Andy got into the studio to start recording their debut album "Seize the Night". Steve composed, produced and mixed all of the songs and the album was mastered by Chris Snyder at Online Stockholm Mastering. It was released in April 2014, digitally, along with a lyric video of the single "Seize the Night". Later, Rain Or Shine released a video performing an acoustic version of the song "Believe". The album was later re-released in physical form by Lions Pride Music in April 2018. It received great reviews by several blogs and webzines. In 2016, they once again got in the studio for the recordings of their second album called "The Darkest Part of Me". Steve composed, arranged, produced and mixed the album for the following two years and it was finally mastered by John Mcris at Soundflakes Studios in June 2018.
Rain Or Shine are:
Steve S.R. – Vocals, guitar, bass,vocals and keyboards,
Andy R. McCormick – Drums
DeVicious – 2nd album out in March….
Posted by AmadeuS on January 6, 2019
Posted in: AMRShow APPROVED, Music, New Releases, Newsfeed, Reviews.	Tagged: Aor, de vicious, deVicious, Germusica, Melodic Rock, Metalpolis, Music, reflections.
DeVicious is an international Hard & Melodic Rock band with home base in Germany. After the success of their debut album "Never Say Never", released in August 2018, the band didn't want to take a break and went straight back into the studio to record their second album "Reflections".
Founded in 2016 in Karlsruhe, Germany by longtime friends for over 20 years, DeVicious was able to get the Serbian powerhouse vocalist Zoran Sandorov as a steady member into the band. The group consists of Alex Frey (bass, song-writing, production), Radivoj Petrovic (lead guitar), Denis Kunz (keyboards), Lars Nippa (drums), and singer Zoran Sandorov aka Mister Sanders.
On "Reflections" DeVicious follows into their own footsteps. Fans of the band will continue to love their catchy melodies and thriving grooves. "Reflections" is not just a copy of "Never Say Never". The new album contains more riffing, more rhythm and more punch without losing focus on the melodies and the DeVicious trademarks. Producer Alex Frey unlocked all the energy of singer Zoran Sandorov and created a musical environment that supports his powerful range. The second single "Never Let You Go" is a duet with none other than renowned singer Åge Sten Nilsen (AMMUNITION, WIG WAM) from Norway.
DeVicious is better than ever and the band is looking forward to play the new songs and the hits of their debut album live on the road. A tour with AMMUNITION starting March 1st is booked and the band is already confirmed for the HEAT Festival, the Indoor Summer Festival and the Rock & Loc Festival in Germany.
Make some room on your 2019 TOP releases because this album is literally ON F – I – R -E ….
AMRS APPROVED : 9.75/10
1. Long Way Home
2. Never Let You Go (feat. Åge Sten Nilsen)
3. Understand
4. Desire
5. Hungarian Girl
6. Flying
7. Saturday Night
8. We're Dying
9. Run Together
10. Feel The Heat
11. Manhattan Memories (bonus track)
Zoran Sandorov – Vocals
Radivoj Petrovic – Guitar
Alex Frey – Bass
Dennis Kunz – Keyboards
Lars Nippa – Drums
WEB: https://www.devicious.band
BLOOD RED SAINTS – NEW Album on FEB.22nd….
Posted in: AMRShow APPROVED, Music, New Releases, Newsfeed, Reviews.	Tagged: blood red saints, lee revill, Melodic Hard Rock, Melodic Rock, Music, news, pete godfrey.
2019 brings the release of the third album by British rockers Blood Red Saints.
The album, released through AOR Heaven is entitled 'Pulse' on February 22nd, 2019 and sees the band modernising their sound whilst still retaining the big choruses. Guitarist Lee Revill is the man tasked with mixing and engineering the album as well as
co-producing alongside Pete Godfrey.
"Pulse" features 11 tracks all written by Revill/Godfrey and the album has a more contemporary edge, trying to push the boundaries of Melodic Rock. Songs such as "Cross to bear" and "Crash into me", edge into radio friendly territory whilst "I'm your Devil" has a more raw punky feel. The title track "Pulse" is all about the chant and should be a great live number, "Animals" and "Message to God" being full on rockers.
The band says: "This album is more personal, dealing with life events of the past year but still maintaining a positive stance, everybody brought their best to this recording, no compromises, no excuses, simply the best 11 songs we could write and we are proud of the results, after all, without music and fun, what is there?"
AMRS APPROVED: 8.5/10
1. Believer
2. Animals
3. Cross To Bear
5. I'm Your Devil
6. Crash Into Me
7. Pulse
8. Message To God
9. Warrior
10. What Have We Become
11. Bring Me To Life
VIANA – 2nd album out on JAN. 25th…..
Posted in: AmadeuS Melodic Rock Shows, AMRShow APPROVED, Music, New Releases, Newsfeed, Reviews.	Tagged: adam ernst, Alessandro Del Vecchio, Anna Portalupi, Aor, brian cole, Escape Music, forever free, francesco marras, john roth, Melodic Rock, Music, news, Reviews, stefano viana, terry brock, Viana.
Second album called "FOREVER FREE" from the Italian guitarist, songwriter and producer STEFANO VIANA is set for release on January 25th, on ESCAPE MUSIC.
Stefano Viana has already caused a stir with his first album "Viana" (2017) which received very positive reviews. Following his passion with enthusiasm Stefano contacted singer and producer Bryan Cole (Giant, Steel City, solo artist) and started to work on new material. The music was recorded in a studio like in the "good old days" and this has made a great impact on the end result as the musicians have bonded and made a richer sound.
The new album features some great musicians such as Terry Brock and Francesco Marras and also boasts the talents of great American guitar player John Roth from Giant, Winger and Starship.
Including 10 strong tracks with no filler, this album offer just great melodic hard rock played with passion and flair.
AMRS APPROVED : 9/10
1- Forever Free 4:15
2- In the name of Love 3:55
3- Heart of Stone 5:26
4- We can't choose 3:38
5- Who do you think you are 4:39
6- Live Free or Die 4:15
7- Do you Remember 4:59
8- Friday Night 3:39
9- I Wanna tell you 4:19
10- We will never say goodbye 4:47
Bryan Cole – Lead Vocals / Backing vocals
(Giant, Steelcity, Marc Scherer and Jennifer Batton "Battlezone" and solo artist)
Stefano Viana – Guitars
Terry Brock – Backing vocals (duet on "Do you remember")
Anna Portalupi – Bass (Hardline, Terry Brock)
Adam Ernst – Drums
Francesco Marras – Guitar
Pasquale India – Keyboards
Special Guest: John Roth (Winger, Starship), lead guitar on "Heart of Stone" and "Forever Free" and second solo part "Do you remember"
Mixed and Mastered by Alessandro Del Vecchio
Produced by Stefano Viana & Bryan Cole / vocals produced by Terry Brock
2018's TOP 20 Melodic Rock Releases …and not only! (by Lino "AmadeuS" R.)
Posted in: AmadeuS Melodic Rock Shows, AMRShow APPROVED, Music, New Releases, Newsfeed.	Tagged: age of discovery, Aor, beggars gold, Bonfire, breath of ages, cold star dancer, Creye, ecstasy, eternal flame, firmo, Gianluca Firmo, hank erix, heartwind, Houston, illuminati, jerome mazza, johan kihlberg's impera, King Company, Kissin'Dynamite, mass, maverick, Melodic Rock, michael schinkel, Mick Devine, Midnite city, Music, nitrate, nothing but trouble, outlaw son, queen of hearts, real world, rehab, rock is alive, Sapphire Eyes, signal red, smoke on the mountain, temple of lies, Ten, there goes the neighbourhood, Tony Mitchell, under the radar, universe, universe infinity, victory, when 2 worlds collide, White Widdow.
2018 is coming to an end and here's the YEAR's TOP 20 as it was seen by
AmadeuS Melodic Rock Show host 🙂
Keep it MELODIC!
– Lino "AmadeuS" R. –
1- Jerome Mazza – Outlaw Son
2- Nitrate – Real World
3- Universe Infinity – Rock is Alive
4- Mass – When 2 Worlds Collide
5- Heartwind – Higher and Higher
6- Hank Erix – Nothing But Trouble
7- White Widdow – Victory
8- Bonfire – Temple of Lies
9- Creye – ST
10- King Company – Queen of Hearts
11- Kissin' Dynamite – Ecstasy
12- Maverick – Cold star dancer
13- Sapphire Eyes – Breath of Ages
14- Tony Mitchell – Beggars Gold
15- Michael Schinkel's Eternal Flame – Smoke on the mountain
16- TEN – Illuminati
17- Signal Red – Under the Radar
18- Midnite City – There goes the Neighbourhood
19- Johan Kihlberg's Impera – Age of Discovery
20- Firmo – Rehab
Lion's Share – Complete catalog available digitally for the first time….
Posted by AmadeuS on November 20, 2018
Posted in: AMRShow APPROVED, Music, Newsfeed.	Tagged: emotional coma, entrance, fall from grace, Lion's Share, Metal, Music, news, two.
Swedish heavy metal band LION'S SHARE is making its first five albums available on streaming services and digital service providers today, November 14.
The albums "Lion's Share" (1995), "Two" (1997), "Fall From Grace" (1999),"Entrance" (2001) and "Emotional Coma" (2007) have all been remastered by Mike Lind (www.noterious.eu), giving them a new life. These new releases join LION'S SHARE's catalog titles already online — "Dark Hours" (2009) and "EP"(2018). The cover artwork has been touched up, and in most cases completely redone by Carl-André Beckston (www.noterious.eu).
The LION'S SHARE catalog features appearances by current and former members of Megadeth, KISS, King Diamond, HammerFall, Symphony X, Yngwie Malmsteen, Candlemass etc.
Mixers include top engineers such as Jens Bogren (Arch Enemy, Opeth, Symphony X, Amon Amarth), Niklas Flyckt (one-time Grammy award winner and four-time nominee) and Ronny Lahti (Roxette, Europe, Glenn Hughes).
To get a feel for future live set-lists, the band encourages fans to make their own "Best of LION'S SHARE" Spotify playlists, and tag/name them We Are: Lion's Share.
Follow LION'S SHARE on:
http://www.lionsshare.org
https://lionsshare.bandcamp.com
https://open.spotify.com/artist/4yIytMmJ2tx30YdMAMkDSo
http://www.facebook.com/lionsshareband
http://www.youtube.com/lionsshare
https://www.instagram.com/lions_share_band/
TEN – New music video available….
Posted in: AMRShow APPROVED, Music, New Releases, Newsfeed.	Tagged: Dann Rosingana, Darrel Treece-Birch, esoteric ocean, Gary Hughes, illuminati, Max Yates, Melodic Rock, Music, news, Steve Grocott, Steve McKenna, Ten.
The British Melodic Hard Rock band TEN unveiled the new music video from their brand new (14th) studio album entitled "Illuminati", which was released on the 9th of November, 2018 via Frontiers Records.
Hot on the heels of last year's "Gothica", UK hard rock stalwarts TEN/Gary Hughes are returning with a new album, "Illuminati"! The album promises to be one of the hallmarks of their 22+ years career, where fans will easily spot all the trademark textures and flavours they have come to expect from TEN, with a consistent and solid spark of creativity throughout. "Illuminati" continues to build upon the rich legacy that the great British rockers have established in their 20+ year career.
"Illuminatii" was produced by Gary Hughes and mixed and mastered by Dennis Ward. TEN's longstanding professional association with Dennis has been ongoing since he mixed their 2011 album, "Stormwarning" and has always guaranteed albums with stunning sound and production.
Order here: http://radi.al/TenIlluminate
Song Samples: https://www.tenofficial.com/illuminati
1. Be As You Are Forever
2. Shield Wall
3. The Esoteric Ocean
4. Jericho
5. Rosetta Stone
6. Illuminati
7. Heaven And The Holier-Than-Thou
8. Exile
9. Mephistopheles
10. Of Battles Lost And Won
Produced by: Gary Hughes
Gary Hughes (Vocals)
Dann Rosingana (Lead Guitars)
Steve Grocott (Lead Guitars)
John Halliwell (Rhythm Guitars)
Darrel Treece-Birch (Keyboards)
Steve McKenna (Bass)
Max Yates (Drums)
Connect with TEN:
http://www.tenofficial.com/
https://www.facebook.com/TenOfficial
https://twitter.com/TENOfficial_UK
Violet Janine – New single released & New deal …..
Posted in: AMRShow APPROVED, Music, New Releases, Newsfeed.	Tagged: Basse Blyberg, bmp records, Daniel Palmqvist, Ian Brunnberg, Janine Nyman, Mano Lewys, Melodic Rock, Music, New Releases, news, queen of rock, Tony Weseth, Violet Janine.
Swedish Melodic Rockers VIOLET JANINE released their new single called "Queen of Rock" which is available on Spotify and You Tube. Meanwhile the band signed a new deal with BMP Records Sweden for their forthcoming record.
facebook.com/violetjanineofficial
www.violetjanine.com
FIRMO – Rehab (Review) – 9.25/10
Posted by AmadeuS on October 13, 2018
Posted in: AMRShow APPROVED, Music, New Releases, Newsfeed, Reviews.	Tagged: Aor, firmo, Gianluca Firmo, Melodic Rock, Music, news, rehab, Street Symphonies.
Gianluca Firmo (FIRMO /Room Experience) made his first apparence worldwide as the mastermind of Room Experience's back in 2015.
2018 is the year of Gianluca Firmo's start to a new solo journey under the name FIRMO. The album is called "Rehab" and set for release in October 19th via Street Symphonies Records.
His solo work offers fresh melodies and wellcrafted lyrics which will stick in your mind and make you sing along once you've heard it.
A no fillers record goes from the uptempos and full of energy such "A place for judgement day" / "Heart of Stone" / "No prisoniers" / "Rehab" / to a soft alternative "Unbreakable" and finally to midtempo/slow tracks "Cowboys once, Cowboys forever" / "Until forever comes" / "Everything" / "Didn't wanna care" keeping the listener sticked to every note and every word coming out of the player.
I could write much more about this album, but you better discover yourself the rest.
One thing is sure, Gianluca FIRMO deliver a modern melodic rock record which will be on the players for a longtime in the years to come.
AMRS APPROVED : 9.25 / 10
01. A Place For Judgement Day
02. Heart Of Stone
03. Shadows And Lights
04. Maybe Forever
05. No Prisoners
06. Didn't Wanna Care
07. Unbreakable
08. Don't Dare To Call It Love
09. Cowboys Once, Cowboys Forever
10. Rehab
11. Until Forever Comes
FIRMO IS:
Gianluca Firmo: Lead & Backing Vocals, Keyboards
Davide "Dave Rox" Barbieri (Raintimes, Room Experience, Wheels Of Fire, Charming Grace): Backing Vocals
Mattia "Noise Maker" Tedesco (Vasco Rossi, Gianluca Grignani, Candies For Breakfast): Guitars
Nicola Iazzi (Hardline, Candies For Breakfast): Bass
Daniele Valseriati (Tragodia): Drums & Percussion
Paul Laine (The Defiants, Danger Danger): Backing Vocals
Mario Percudani (Hungryehart, Hardline): Guitars
Stefano Zeni (Wheels Of Fire, Room Experience): Guitars
Carlo Poddighe: Guitars
Pier Mazzini (Danger Zone): Keyboards
Andrea Cinelli: Piano
Alessandro Moro: Sax
WHITE WIDDOW – New official video single released…..
Posted in: AmadeuS Melodic Rock Shows, AMRShow APPROVED, Music, New Releases, Newsfeed.	Tagged: Aor, aor heaven, Ben Webster, Enzo Almanzi, gavin hill, Jules Milllis, Melodic Rock, Music, new album, New Releases, news, victory, White Widdow, Xavier Millis.
White Widdow released their first single out of the NEW album "VICTORY" coming up on OCTOBER 19th…..BE PREPARED!
Enjoy it & feel free to spread the word…..
KENNY LECKREMO – NEW album in October….NEW single available….
Posted by AmadeuS on September 28, 2018
Posted in: AmadeuS Melodic Rock Shows, AMRShow APPROVED, Music, New Releases, Newsfeed.	Tagged: 10 years, Aor, H.e.a.t., heat, kenny leckremo, Melodic Rock, Music, news, Rock, spectra.
The wait is over, KENNY LECKREMO (ex H.E.A.T) is back with a New SOLO album called "Kenny Leckremo's SPECTRA" set for release on OCTOBER 19th.
The first single out of the album called "10 years" it's already out and available in all major platforms. (check for more HERE).
HANK ERIX – "Nothing but Trouble" out in October ….
Posted in: AMRShow APPROVED, Music, New Releases, Newsfeed.	Tagged: Aor, hank erix, Houston, Melodic Rock, Michael Palace, Music, news, Rock, Rock 'n' Growl.
Hank Erix is the frontman of the Swedish AOR band HOUSTON. A band that have been a bright star in the AOR / Melodic rock sky over their last five releases. The band received the best AOR album 2010 accolade in Classic Rock Magazine and have appeared on several impressive festivals throughout Europe such as Sweden Rock and Download festival. Over almost a decade with HOUSTON, Hank Erix has made quite a name for himself in the melodic rock world and it's finally time for the release of his solo debut 'Nothing but Trouble'.
The album features songs that has been marinating for years and sees the band leader of HOUSTON taking a bold step forward from the expected Houston sound and sees Hank flexing his more hard rocking muscles. Tagging along with Hank Erix on this 1700cc motorcycle ride of an album are members of Therion, Degreed, Art Nation, Wildness, Kryptonite , Palace, Gutterdämerung & Adrenaline Rush.
From the opening hook-filled but hard-hitting riffola of opener 'Turn To Darkness' through to the brooding and Dokken-esque first single 'Fortune Hunter' and the final salvo of 'For The Restless and Young', Hank shows a darker and heavier edge while the trademark melody always remains.
As Hank reveals "they say that life is not about being who you are; it's about becoming who you want to be. After almost a decade with Houston I've learned a lot about myself and the music that I love. These songs are me, all me, singing my heart out for the world to hear and this album has been a dream of mine, something to cross off the bucket list if you will"
1. Turn To Darkness
2. Last Chance To Love
3. Fortune Hunter
4. Way To Go
5. Shadowdance
6. Affair Of The Heart
8. Freak
9. Giving Up On Love
10. For The Restless & The Young
Hank Erix – Lead & Backing vocals
Michael Palace – Lead Guitars & Backing vocals
Soufian Ma'Aoui – Bass
Daniel Johansson – Rhythm Guitars
Mats Ericsson – Drums
Micke Jansson – Keyboard / Synth
Additional guests:
Linnea Vikström – Lead vocals & Backing vocals on 'Affair Of The Heart'
Alexander Hagman – Lead guitar on 'Affair Of The Heart'
Sam Söderlind – Guitar solo on 'Last Chance To Love'
Michael Palace – Additional guitars on 'Last Chance To Love'
Victor Lundberg – Backing vocals on 'Shadowdance'
AMRS APPROVED 9.5/10


text:
Home Darjeeling news State of unreason
State of unreason
August 11, 2013 Darjeeling news,
Having given in to the long-running Telangana agitation for a separate state without explaining the basis of the decision, the Centre must now reckon with a spate of angry statehood demands. As Mamata Banerjee's 72-hour deadline to the agitating Gorkha Janmukti Morcha draws to a close, the turmoil in Darjeeling, for instance, shows no signs of abating. GJM chief Bimal Gurung resigned from the two-year-old Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) to lead a renewed struggle for statehood. Banerjee, in whose term the GTA accord was reached, has taken a tough line on agitators, using a range of methods to undercut the mobilisation. The GJM, which has now accused her of shutting down cable TV operations to sap the energies of the agitation, insists on dealing only with New Delhi. The Centre has another reason to worry as Bodo and Gorkha leaders consider a united front. This kind of regional coordination and joint strategising could pose a formidable challenge, especially because the UPA appears to have no considered answers to give them.
After all, it has not made clear the basis on which it is denying these demands, or laid out neutral, objective criteria by which various petitions are weighed. If the reason for carving out a separate state is administrative efficiency and better governance, giving a fresh start to regions currently ignored by a remote capital in a vast state, then Uttar Pradesh needs to be broken up too. If it is about helping an economically deprived area stuck in a prospering state, Vidarbha or Bundelkhand make the cut. If it is about the duration and tenacity of the struggle, or cultural distinctiveness, Gorkhaland certainly qualifies, as one of the oldest of such demands in the country.
It may take a second states reorganisation commission to study these matters. We need a rigorous analysis of how smaller states have thrived or fallen behind, while adjusting for historical legacies. We need to consider strategic repercussions, if any, and the fate of cities that are fought over by different parts of a state. To what extent can popular aspirations be satisfied by greater decentralisation and political autonomy rather than a harsh partition? The Telangana question could have been a moment to prepare this comprehensive study, one that could guide future decisions to redraw the map of India. Instead, the UPA made an impulsive announcement about a separate Telangana; then, panicked by the intensities of hope and resistance it had set off, it stalled for years. And ahead of the election, just as inexplicably, it sealed the deal. No surprise, then, that Gorkha and Bodo protestors are hoping the Centre's random, thoughtless approach can work in their favour too.
Tags # Darjeeling news
Darjeeling news
Labels: Darjeeling news


text:
Q: OneNote API: Create notebook without table of contents I can create OneNote notebook in OneDrive using https://graph.microsoft.com/v1.0/me/onenote/notebooks
This notebook is always created with default TOC. Is there any way I can create notebook without TOC or delete created default TOC?
This is needed because I want to upload earlier downloaded content (using OneDrive API) to this newly created notebook and that content has its own TOC. So this default TOC is not needed.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Today's custom patch interview features our wonderful customer , Dallas Thompson. I love the patch that we created for the SLATES. It's colorful , fun and vibrant! This custom emblem caught my attention right away , I knew instantly that I wanted to know more about the embroidered patch and who would be wearing them. I hope you enjoy my interview with Dallas as much as I did , it's short but sweet!
Custom Patch Interview with Dallas Thompson Patches by The/Studio:Introduce yourselves!Dallas Thompson: We are SLATES, a punk rock band from Canada. Patches by The/Studio: What is the story behind this patch? It's for our fan club.Dallas Thompson: We wanted something ridiculously awesome for the jean jackets of north America. Patches by The/Studio:Where did you adhere the custom patches to?Dallas Thompson:they better find their way onto some denim! Patches by The/Studio:What does this patch represent to you?Dallas Thompson:the great outdoors. Patches by The/Studio: Has anyone commented on your patches ?Dallas Thompson: the higher ups approve! Patches by The/Studio:How did you find out about us?Dallas Thompson:a friend of ours. After conducting this interview , I looked up the music of The SLATES and I was so impressed! These guys are so talented. I am quite the music enthusiast so I am always looking for new bands to listen, I think I have a new favorite band! Check out their music at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mj06KOmnBXE. Soon they will be your favorite band too!


Chairman Goodlatte, Ranking Member Conyers, and members of the Judiciary Committee, my name is Michael F. Cannon. I am the director of health policy studies at the Cato Institute. Founded in 1977, the Cato Institute is a non-partisan, non-profit, 501(c)(3) educational foundation located in Washington, D.C., whose mission is to promote the principles of individual liberty, limited government, free markets, and peace. To maintain its independence, the Cato Institute accepts no government funding.
Article II, Section 3 of the U.S. Constitution, to which every president swears an oath, commands that the president "shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed."3 Fealty to this duty is essential for maintaining our system of government and public order.
The law is a reciprocal pact between the government and the governed. Public order requires government to remain faithful to the law as much as it requires the citizenry to do so. If the actions of government officials lead citizens to conclude that those officials are no longer meaningfully bound by the law, then citizens will rightly conclude that neither are they.
Since he signed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) into law on March 23, 2010, President Barack Obama has failed to execute that law faithfully.
The president has unilaterally taken taxpayer dollars made available by the PPACA and diverted them from their congressionally authorized purposes toward purposes for which no Congress has ever appropriated funds.
He has unilaterally and repeatedly rewritten the statute to dispense taxpayer dollars that no federal law authorizes him to spend and that the PPACA expressly forbids him to spend.
He has unilaterally issued blanket waivers to requirements that the PPACA does not authorize him to waive.
At the same time he has declined to collect taxes the PPACA orders him to collect, he has unilaterally rewritten the statute to impose billions of dollars in taxes that the PPACA expressly forbids him to impose, and to incur billions of dollars in debt that the statute expressly forbids him to incur.
He has unilaterally rewritten the PPACA to allow health insurance products that the statute expressly forbids. He has encouraged consumers, insurers, and state officials to violate a federal law he enacted.
And he has taken these steps for the purpose of forestalling democratic action by the people's elected representatives in Congress.
President Obama's unfaithfulness to the PPACA is so wanton, it is no longer accurate to say the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is "the law of the land." Today, with respect to health care, the law of the land is whatever one man says it is — or whatever this divided Congress will let that one man get away with saying. What this one man says may flatly contradict federal statute. It may suddenly confer benefits on favored groups, or tax disfavored groups without representation. It may undermine the careful and costly planning done by millions of individuals and businesses. It may change from day to day. This method of lawmaking has more in common with monarchy than democracy or a constitutional republic.
A simple example of the president rewriting the PPACA is his redirection of nearly half a billion dollars that Congress appropriated for the law's Prevention and Public Health Fund toward the creation of federal health insurance "exchanges," for which Congress appropriated no funds.
The president has issued illegal subsidies to members of Congress for three years, and overruled career federal officials at the Office of Personnel Management by dictating that that agency would provide further illegal subsidies to members of Congress and their staffs for the purchase of health insurance through the PPACA's Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP) Exchanges.
Even though the Exchanges were not to become operative until 2014, this provision as written took effect immediately upon enactment.7 And because it immediately barred members and staff from the FEHBP, it also stripped them of the roughly $5,000 the federal Treasury pays toward the premiums of FEHBP participants who select self-only coverage, or the roughly $11,000 it pays on behalf of those who choose family coverage. President Obama quite literally and perhaps unjustly signed a law throwing nearly all members of Congress and congressional staff out of their health plans, and cutting their pay by thousands of dollars per year.
Instead, President Obama once again unilaterally rewrote federal law to give nearly every member of Congress and congressional staffer an illegal subsidy of $5,000 to $11,000 per year.12 Faithfully executing the law would have required the president to let the OPM's ruling stand, and let Congress address the matter through legislation.
Nevertheless, shortly after legal scholars brought this feature of the law to the public's attention in 2011,17 the Internal Revenue Service proposed a rule that would issue those subsidies — and impose the resulting taxes — through federal Exchanges as well as state-established Exchanges.18 Congressional Budget Office estimates indicate that issuing subsidies in the 34 states that have refused to establish Exchanges would cost taxpayers roughly $700 billion in the first 10 years.19 The president is literally threatening to tax, borrow, and spend hundreds of billions of dollars, without congressional authorization, and indeed in violation of the express language of his own health care law.
The IRS proposed this rule with no apparent regard for the clear language of the statute. Despite public criticism and objections during the notice-and-comment period, the agency finalized its proposed rule in May 201220 yet cited neither any provision of the PPACA nor any element of the legislative history in support of its "interpretation" of the law.
The president has unilaterally and without authority altered the PPACA's effective dates by issuing blanket exemptions from both the PPACA's employer mandate and many of its health insurance regulations.
The Treasury Department claims its delay of the employer mandate's requirements is an example of the sort of "transition relief" it has provided when implementing past tax legislation.24 There are a number of difficulties with this rationale. Congress never granted Treasury the power to delay such regulatory requirements for an entire year. This is a more sweeping use of that power than previous uses. The employer mandate is an essential component of a broader regulatory scheme.25 Finally, there is no limiting principle to the Treasury's claim to power. If the president can delay the employer mandate for one year, can he delay it for 10 years?
The president has also unilaterally rewritten the PPACA's health insurance regulations and in the process failed to execute faithfully the Administrative Procedures Act.
The president laid out a procedure through which consumers and insurers could engage in illegal activity, and encouraged state officials to facilitate those illegal activities. That procedure conflicts not only with the statute but also with the president's own regulations implementing the statute. With this new procedure, the president imposed obligations on insurers who want to take advantage of this option, yet neither those conditions nor the authority to impose them are found anywhere in the statute or the president's regulations. In effect, the president sought to reinterpret the PPACA's provisions regarding "grandfathered" plans without going through the rulemaking process required by the Administrative Procedures Act.
By unilaterally suspending the PPACA's employer mandate and minimum-coverage requirements, the president has effectively declined to collect the penalties the statute imposes on those who fail to comply with these provisions.
In other words, the president announced he will not enforce the individual mandate against those who purchase these still-illegal health plans, even though the PPACA clearly requires him to do so.
Even more troubling, President Obama is threatening to impose hundreds of billions of dollars in taxes Congress never authorized on millions of employers and individual taxpayers.
If and when the president begins issuing Exchange subsidies in the 34 states with federally established Exchanges, those subsidies will immediately trigger taxes against employers and individuals in those states. A back-of-the-envelope estimate is that those illegal subsidies will trigger illegal taxes against 8 million individual taxpayers and millions of employers in those 34 states.28 Since those levies will only cover a fraction of the cost of the subsidies, however, the lion's share of the tax burden the president is unilaterally creating will be imposed on future generations in the form of hundreds of billions of dollars of additional federal debt.
As noted above, the total cost of these illegal taxes will reach $700 billion over the first 10 years. But since the president claims he can issue these subsidies in any state that does not establish the Exchange, he is actually claiming the authority to tax, borrow, and spend more than $1 trillion (in the event that all states refused to establish Exchanges) that the PPACA expressly says he cannot.
Underlying each of these instances in which President Obama has unilaterally rewritten federal law is an unmistakable desire to forestall democratic action by the people's elected representatives in Congress.
If the president had not raided the Prevention and Public Health Fund, then federal Exchanges might be even less prepared to offer coverage in 2014 than they are now, which almost certainly would have prompted Congress to reopen the PPACA.
If the president had not allowed members of Congress to remain in their health plans through 2014, or had not offered to provide them illegal subsidies thereafter, all observers agree Congress would have reopened the PPACA to maintain its members' compensation packages, and perhaps would have made other changes to the law.
If the president had not unilaterally waived the PPACA's unworkable employer mandate or various health insurance regulations, a revolt by employers and consumers likely would have spurred Congress to do so. Ezra Klein, another supporter of the PPACA, wrote, "This is a regulatory end-run of the legislative process. The law says the mandate goes into effect in 2014, but the administration has decided to give it until 2015 by simply refusing to enforce the penalties."29 In each case, Congress stood poised to enact into law the very changes that the president announced. Yet the president threatened to veto the codification of his own policies. A reasonable supposition is that he would not want the codification of his policies to complicate his ability to rescind them unilaterally at a later date.
If the president were to enforce the PPACA faithfully, by admitting he has no authority to issue Exchange subsidies or to impose the related taxes in states that refuse to establish Exchanges themselves, all observers again agree that Congress would have to reopen the statute for major revisions and possibly repeal.
At this point, it manifestly clear that President Obama is exercising legislative powers he does not possess in order to prevent Congress from exercising the legislative powers that only Congress possesses.
This president's failure — or any president's failure — to honor his constitutional duty to execute the laws faithfully is not a partisan issue. The fact that presidents from both parties violate this duty is cause not for solace. It is cause for even greater alarm, because it guarantees that presidents from both parties will replicate and even surpass the abuses of their predecessors as payback for past injustices. The result is that democracy and freedom will suffer no matter who occupies the Oval Office.
1 U.S. Const. art. II, § 3.
2 I also wish to thank Jonathan H. Adler, the Johan Verheij Memorial Professor of Law and Director of the Center for Business Law and Regulation at the Case Western Reserve University School of Law, for his assistance with this testimony.
3 U.S. Const. art. II, § 3.
4 Sarah Kliff, The Incredible Shrinking Prevention Fund, Washington Post, Apr. 19, 2013, at http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/04/19/the-incredible-shrinking-prevention-fund/.
5 The Importance of the Prevention Fund to Save Lives and Money, Sen., 113th Cong. (2013), (statement of Sen. Tom Harkin, Chairman of the Senate Health Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee).
6 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, 42 U.S.C. § 18032 (2010).
7 Robert Pear, Baffled by Health Plan? So Are Some Lawmakers, N.Y. Times, Apr. 12, 2010, at http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/13/us/politics/13health.html.
8 Jerry Markon, Problem Over Health Coverage for Capitol Hill is Resolved, Washington Post, Apr. 21, 2010, at http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/04/20/AR2010042005163.html.
9 John Bresnahan, Government Shutdown: John Boehner's private fight for Hill health subsidies, Politico, Oct. 1, 2013, at http://www.politico.com/story/2013/10/john-boehner-hill-obamacare-subsidies-97634.html.
11 Doug Badger, Congress IS Getting a Special Deal Under Obamacare, dougsbriefcase.com (Oct.1, 2013), http://www.dougsbriefcase.com/blog/congress-getting-special-deal-obamacare/.
12 Ordinary Americans who are suffering similar pay cuts as a result of the PPACA will receive no such relief. Michael F. Cannon, Congress's Obamacare Waiver, National Review, Aug. 6, 2013, at http://www.nationalreview.com/article/355176/congresss-obamacare-waiver-michael-f-cannon.
13 See Jonathan Adler & Michael Cannon, Taxation Without Representation: The Illegal IRS Rule to Expand Tax Credits Under the PPACA, 23 Health Matrix 1, 119 (2013), http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2106789; see also Brief of Amicus Curiae Jonathan Adler & Michael Cannon, King v. Sebelius, No. 13-cv-630 (E.D.Va. Nov. 27, 2013), https://object.cato.org/sites/cato.org/files/pubs/pdf/king_adler_cannon_amicus_brief.pdf, and attached.
14 The PPACA describes some of these subsidies as "premium-assistance tax credits," but they are tax reduction in name only. Functionally, they are government outlays.
15 I.R.C.§ 36B(b)(2)(A), (b)(3)(B)(i), (b)(3)(C), & (c)(2).
16 See Adler & Cannon, Health Matrix, supra; see also Adler & Cannon, Amicus Brief, supra.
17 See, e.g., Jonathan H. Adler, Cooperation, Commandeering or Crowding Out? Federal Intervention and State Choices in Health Care Policy, 20 Kan. J. L. & Pub. Pol'y 199 (2011).
18 Health Insurance Premium Tax Credit, 76 Fed. Reg. 50,931, 50,934 (Aug. 17, 2011).
19 See Adler & Cannon, Health Matrix, supra, at 138.
20 Health Insurance Premium Tax Credit, 77 Fed. Reg. 30, 377, 30, 377 (May 23, 2012) (to be codified at 26 C.F.R. pt. 1).
21 See Adler & Cannon, Health Matrix, supra; see also Adler & Cannon, Amicus Brief, supra.
22 Mark Mazur, Continuing to Implement the ACA in a Careful, Thoughtful Manner, Treasury Notes (Jul. 2, 2013), http://www.treasury.gov/connect/blog/Pages/Continuing-to-Implement-the-ACA-in-a-Careful-Thoughtful-Manner-.aspx.
23 Jonathan Weisman & Robert Pear, Seeing Opening, House G.O.P Pushes Delay on Individual Mandate in Health Law, N.Y Times, Jul.9, 2013, at http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/10/us/politics/house-gop-pushes-delay-on-individual-mandate-in-health-law.html.
24 Mark Mazur, "Letter to Rep. Fred Upton, Chairman of US. House Committee on Energy and Commerce", Jul. 9, 2013, at http://democrats.energycommerce.house.gov/sites/default/files/documents/Upton-Treasury-ACA-2013-7-9.pdf.
25 Michael F. Cannon, Delaying the Employer Mandate Requires Delaying All of ObamaCare, Cato at Liberty (Jul. 3, 2013, 8:50AM), https://www.cato.org/blog/delaying-employer-mandate-requires-delaying-all-obamacare.
26 Gary Cohen, "Letter to State Insurance Commissioners", Nov. 14, 2013, at http://www.cms.gov/CCIIO/Resources/Letters/Downloads/commissioner-letter-11-14-2013.PDF.
28 See Adler & Cannon, Health Matrix, supra at 192-193.
29 Ezra Klein, Obamacare's Employer Mandate Shouldn't be Delayed. IT should be Repealed, Washington Post, Jul. 2, 2013, at http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/07/02/obamacares-employer-mandate-shouldnt-be-delayed-it-should-be-repealed/.
30 Michael F. Cannon, Seneca Falls, and Selma, and Stonewall, Cato at Liberty (Jan. 24, 2013, 2:29PM), https://www.cato.org/blog/seneca-falls-selma-stonewall.


Discussion in 'General Banter' started by Brian4, Oct 24, 2012.
Was watching the new series of Wheeler Dealers last night on Discovery and they were rescuing an Isetta. Been stored in a guy's garage for 30 years. Did a full respray and retrim and a few other bits and bobs and eventually sold it to BMW who are going to use it as a show car.
There were some lovely cars on show when the wheelers turned up, Z1, CSL, E39 M3 and the old roadsters.