"Maybe I'm Amazed Contest"

Following the huge success of last year’s Band on the Run competition, we are very excited to offer fans another chance to win a host of Macca goodies with the brand new ‘Maybe I’m Amazed Cover’s Competition’ in celebration of the upcoming release of McCartney & McCartney II on June 13th/14th.

Whether you’re a part-time guitar twiddler, a karaoke crooner or a serious music maker in a band, all are welcome! Just film your cover of Paul’s track ‘Maybe I’m Amazed’, upload it to YouTube and follow the simple steps below to enter. Then get all of your friends to ‘like’ your video. The video with the most ‘likes’ wins! Good luck!

Follow the steps below for your chance to win:

Steps
1. Record your own cover version of Maybe I’m Amazed.
2. Visit Paul’s YouTube Channel www.youtube.com/paulmccartney
3. Log in and submit your video response to the official Maybe I’m Amazed music video. Located here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvCSGeCgz0k (follow the instructions in the video)
4. Get as many of your friends to like the video in order for it to win!
5. The winner will be the video with the most likes.


Dates:
The competition starts on the 26th May 4pm. (GMT)
Only videos uploaded to YouTube and submitted to the competition between these dates will be valid. (please don’t submit videos that have been already uploaded onto YouTube)
The competition will close for new entries: 16th June 4pm. Votes will still count until the competition fully closes on the 23rd June 2011.
Competition Ends: 23rd June 2011 4pm

Prize:
The winner will recive a deluxe edition prize including: ‘McCartney Deluxe Edition’ ‘McCartney II Deluxe Edition’ ‘Band on the Run Deluxe Edition’

"Randy 'Macho Man" Savage"

May 20th:

Pro wrestling superstar Randy "Macho Man" Savage died after having a heart attack while driving his Jeep Wrangler, Fox News confirms.

The accident happened in Seminole, Fla.

A source tells Fox News that he "suffered a heart attack while driving and hit a tree...."

Most every boy has been a wrestling fan. I was certainly one. From Lou Thesz who Louie Tillet called Lou Tezz because Louie was French; to Freddie Blassie who referred to his counterparts as pencil-neck geeks; to Farmer Powell who lost every match in his career; to the Assassins who featured the dreaded "Hangman Hold" and who were from "parts unknown" and who concealed their faces via masks-yeah, I was a big fan.

So goodbye to Randy Savage, a wrestling legend. And a hero to many young boys.

P.S. And whatever happened to Gorgeous George, Ray Gunkel, Chief Little Indian, Dick the Bruiser, and the Torres Brothers.

P.S.S. And whatever happened to Haystack Calhoun, a svelte 601 lbs.

"Ringo"

The interviewer claimed the fills on "She Said;She Said" and "Tomorrow Never Knows" were the best ever by a drummer. Let's add "A Day in the Life."

The following song was inspired by a comment from Peter Fonda. "I know what it's like to be dead!"



P.S. She Said and Tomorrow are from Revolver.

End of an Era as Vegas Casino Closes"

Las Vegas marks the end of an era this week as one of the US gambling mecca's last original "Rat Pack" casino-hotels, the Sahara, finally closes its doors.

Opened in 1952, the Sahara hosted everyone from Elvis Presley and Jerry Lewis to Frank Sinatra and the Beatles in the 1950s and 60s, and their photos still decorate the walls above the reception.

But in recent decades Vegas saw an explosion of mega-sized casino resorts which left the "small" Sahara struggling to fill its 1,700 rooms at the end of the famous Strip.

The death knell was sounded in March, when its owners since 2007, SBE Entertainment, announced that the casino-hotel complex with its more than 1,050 staff was no longer a viable business....

"But you know, I've been in this business for 50 years, time's up," he said, recounting anecdotes about Elvis and Clint Eastwood -- who made "The Gauntlet" here in 1977.

He also doesn't mince his words about the Sahara's latest owners.

"These are the worst we've ever had. They came in here from California and they are very arrogant. It took them about three and half years to take this hotel right down to the ground," he said.

"These people should be ashamed to themselves," he added....

"Jerry Lewis Retiring From Telethon"

Say it ain't so. But I guess it's time.

Jerry Lewis was my favorite comedian when I was a youngster. I remember making the trek via the bus line to see his movies at the Fox Theater.

I never saw the Lewis-Martin movies until after they split up. Viewing them on Saturday Night at the Movies on the tube in the 60's. Back when there were only 3 channels. NBC, CBS, and ABC. In Charleston there were only 2. It's hard to imagine that today, because there are literally hundreds on cable and satellite.

My great Aunt Mad never liked Jerry-said he was too silly. That's funny because she was silly. "Pull my finger" she would say as we were riding down the highway in her 57 Chevy Bel-Air.

So Jerry is gone even tho he will sing "You'll Never Walk Along" on this year's telethon. I will miss him.

P.S. And goodbye to Harmon Killebrew. Whose battle with cancer is over. Hammering Harmon hit over 500 homers in his career. Say hello to the Babe, Lou Gehrig, and Roberto Clemente for me. And Dizzy, Pee Wee, Jolting Joe, and Johnny Weismuller.

"World's Best Pizza"

What is it about pizza that makes us love it so much? Is it the savory cheeses, the pliable crust or the aromatic sauce? Perhaps it's the customizable nature of the treat. Each pizza is different; across the country -- the world, even -- foodies get to compliment their pies with the toppings they most love. You can call it an Italian creation, an American staple or even a Brazilian standby, but one thing's for sure: we all crave pizza. But where should you expect to taste the best slice?

#6 Rome, Italy

#5 Chicago

#4 Osaka and Hiroshima-this one is a surprise.

#3 Sao Paulo, Brazil

#2 New York

#1 Naples

There was no mention of Dominos, Little Caesars, Papa Johns, Pizza Hut, California Pizza Kitchen, or Jet.

"What's New"

It's been a week since I posted anything. The world is in a state of flux-as usual. I just read an article where two former bus drivers lost their savings in a Ponzi scheme and are having a hard time just paying the mortgage.

"I've been looking for jobs but I'm too old, nobody wants to hire you at this age so it makes it rough -- I drove a bus for 35 years, so what am I supposed to do now?"

Frances Wills, 67 years old and also a former bus operator, has 75 cents to her name and can't pay rent after losing her $156,000 retirement fund.

"I can barely pay for my home or even the utilities bill -- and I live in a mobile home."

Sad.

And the housing market is still the same. One of the network news shows claimed a four bedroom two story house in Atlanta and in a nice neighborhood costs a meager $50,000. Three years ago the house would have commanded $240,000.

Damn.

And the sports world? The L.A. Dodgers are now being managed by ML Baseball allah the NBA and the N'awlins Hornets. Couldn't believe the empty seats in Chavez Ravine the other night(s) when the Braves paid a visit. They are experiencing a record low attendance this year. And, yet last night, the San Francisco Giants had a full house while hosting the Bravos from Hotlanta. How quickly things change, eh?

Strange.

Enough depressing news. Happy Easter.

Damn.

"Blondes Have More Fun" or "Miss Clairol"

 

Does she or doesn't she? Only her hairdresser knows for sure. This is a picture of my liberal sister who hails from San Francisco by way of Atlanta Ga.

"Another Food Biz Article" When the Customer is Wrong

It's one of the oldest adages of the retail world: "The customer is always right."

Of course, very often the customer is wrong. Every day customers behave in ways that make the lives of waiters, cashiers, customer service reps and other retail workers miserable. And in many cases, these customers don't even realize how annoying they're being.

To rectify this, we've decided to talk to the people on the other side of the cash register to find out what sort of customer behavior gets on their nerves. To kick things off, we got some veterans of the restaurant industry to dish on their secret pet peeves and give some advice to diners.

Great Expectations:

Think about the last time you cooked dinner. How long did it take? Forty-five minutes? An hour? More?

Trust the Chef:

"Everybody has a degree in something or other, but when they get to a restaurant, everyone thinks they have a doctorate in cooking," he says.

Don't Snap at the Waiters:

Everyone knows it can be frustrating to try to get your waiter's attention during a busy dinner shift, but there's a right way and a wrong way to flag down your server.

"Raise your hand or make eye contact; don't snap [your fingers] and don't wave," says Dublanica. And don't even think about physically grabbing a waiter as they walk by, especially if they're carrying something.

Closing Time:

"Don't come in five minutes before closing," pleads Dublanica. "The guys in the back have been there for 12 hours."

Likewise, Trombly singles out patrons who "stay really late when they're clearly the last people there."

And, of course, there are comments from this article:

I've been in this business for 30 plus years, and have seen all the good and bad in humanity. Yes, there is good in all of us! But, I have to say in all this time the worst most abusive customers are people of color. Sure, you have 1 or 2 once a year that break the trend, but for the most part its the same story. I hate to say this, because I am not a racist, but it is what it is.

Just because you get offended by hearing this fact doesn't mean its not true, and that real people (the majority of us) should not be able to voice our opinion. I really wish this were not the case. FYI I'm NOT white either; I'm Asian.

"When I'm 64"

The following is from one of my subscriptions on youtube:

This video is the first rehearsal of some of the younger nedding09s. They are hoping to enter for the Mathew St Festival which takes place in Liverpool in August. Everything has been recorded on just one microphone so some of the instruments are not as balanced as they could be as through a mixing desk. I'm in there somewhere keeping a low profile.

"What's That Your Doing?"

With Stevie Wonder!

Players chip in to save coach’s life after Clippers decline medical coverage

Seven years ago, former Los Angeles Clippers head coach Kim Hughes was diagnosed with prostate cancer, and the ensuing aftermath will change the way you feel about several NBA types significantly....

NBA players Corey Maggette(notes), Marko Jaric(notes), Chris Kaman(notes) and Elton Brand(notes) all chipped in to pay for expensive life-saving surgery for Hughes, after the Clippers organization (read: Donald Sterling, noted worst person in the world) declined to cover the costs....

Declined to cover the cost of a surgery that would save their employee's life. While playing rent-free in an often sold-out arena in America's second-biggest television market. Unyieldingly evil....

"Those guys saved my life," Hughes said. "They paid the whole medical bill. It was like $70,000 or more. It wasn't cheap...."

"It showed you what classy people they are. They didn't want me talking about it; they didn't want the recognition because they simply felt it was the right thing to do."

"Kent State"

Kent State plays St. Mary's tonight in the NIT. That's National Invitational Tournament. Which concludes in New York's Madison Square Garden after opening round tournament games across the country. Does anyone remember Kent State? 4 dead in Ohio.

"Prissy" Tyra Banks is shelling out $31,000 a year to spend just three weeks on campus for three years.

Tyra Banks has been attending Harvard Business School since last year.

Enrolled in the Harvard Owner/President Management Program, the model-turned-mogul, 37, is intent on building her business savvy. "It's pretty exclusive," she told CBS News.

Pricey too. Banks is shelling out $31,000 a year to spend just three weeks on campus for three years.

"But I feel like it is so, so worth it," she said. "In order for my company to grow and be the best, and to reach these women, and to serve them, I needed the best. So I went to the best." < $31, 000 has got to be chump change for her >

The ex Victoria's Secret stunner has been interested in going back to school since dropping out of Loyola Marymount University to purse modeling at age 17. "The day I put college on hold because I got discovered....was one of the most difficult decisions of my entire life," she said. < We are so proud of you for going back to school. >

So how do classmates react to the model-student? "I get mixed reactions," she said. "There are little facial expressions....The chin goes back, like, 'Really?'...it's like why is a model going to Harvard? But that's actually a good thing, because when people have low expectations, you're just constantly going, 'Ta-da!' And they're like 'Wow.' It doesn't take a lot to wow them." < Say hello to Professor Kingsfield for me. And, hopefully, when you get your grade, you will have earned it >

"Aflac"

Disability insurer Aflac Inc fired comedian Gilbert Gottfried as the voice of its iconic duck on Monday after a series of Twitter jokes about the earthquake in Japan, Aflac's most important market....

Aflac said it would start a nationwide casting call to find a new voice -- and noted that it was already using a different voice in the Japanese market, where it is the No. 1 foreign insurer.

Meltdown threat rises at Japanese nuclear plant

There are people who believe God is mad at the Japanese; God was mad in New Orleans; God was mad at the Haitians; etc. What are your thoughts?

McLobster rumor? Nah! McDonalds should add these five items.

McLobster rumor: The sandwich, which appears seasonally at some New England and eastern Canadian McDonalds, was supposed to go nationwide. The chain has tweeted that the rumors are false. But that's all right, there are more McDelicacies to be made. Here are the Top 5 items that we'd like to see added to the McDonalds menu.

"Jennifer Anniston Gets a Virus!"

Because nobody-and I mean nobody-reads my blog these days except for rockhead-go lubys-hoots and sometimes slippery, I've got to try anything to get more traffic, hence the title.

The following is a Jen Anniston commercial gone viral. Funny stuff! And don't you wish your significant other was hot like her?

"Professor honored at halftime tossed from game for heckling"

You gotta love this one:

The part-time professor was ejected from the game for verbally confronting a ref from his courtside seat after a foul call. Minutes earlier, Kasmir and his family had been honored at halftime for donating between $10,000 and $24,999 to the university.

"Basically, I told the ref he was the worst ref I'd ever seen and he wasn't worth the $1,600 dollars they were paying him and that was it," Kasmir said. "And then he ejected me from the game."

Senior Vice Provost Robert Chernark defended Kasmir in remarks to the school newspaper, The Hatchet. "He did get a bigger ovation when he was thrown out than when he was on the court for his donation," Chernak said. "Actually we started to play better afterwards, so maybe we need to make it a fan a game or something."

"Win It For Wes!"

Days after star basketball player and beloved student Wes Leonard died of a heart attack immediately following a high school game, Fennville returned to the court to play its first 2010 playoff game against Lawrence, a team which had passed on its own home court advantage to move the game to a larger, neutral site closer to Fennville.