This weekend my father-in-law announced that he had purchased Garth Brooks tickets for an upcoming trip to Vegas. Being in the business I knew what he was going to say next. “They were only $125, but I had to go through a ton of hoops to ensure I wouldn’t scalp them.”

 Half of the family thought it was great to be a fan and be able to put in effort and purchase tickets at a very reasonable price. The other half of the family was outraged that you couldn’t resell the tickets or have the option of paying more to purchase through an aftermarket ticket agency.

I guess it comes down to the how you view the price of entertainment. Do you think that fans should be rewarded for their loyalty and effort they will put into seeing a show or is the customer with the bigger wallet entitled to buy the best seats?  For me it falls somewhere in the middle.

I have no issues with people spending more for a product that they really want. My job is to educate as many fans as possible that they can buy seats through the venue first and that we have programs available to reward loyal fans for their efforts.

If you want to get the best seats here is how you do it: Buy season seats, your seats will be guaranteed for every show. Next best option Inner Circle Membership, this allows you to buy tickets  three days before the general public. We also have a free email list that allows you to purchase one day before the general public. Lastly there is the general public on sale. If none of those get you the seats you want, then find an aftermarket ticket seller.

Top 200 Singles of 2009

Here is a list of the top 200 songs from 2009…

1. Courtney John – Lucky Man
2. Estelle & Sean Paul – Come Over
3. Screw Driver & Inner Circle – Never Give Up
4. Daweh Congo – Straight Up Conscious
5. Sean Paul – So Fine
6. Michael Franti and Spearhead – Say Hey (I Love You)
7. Luciano & Easy Star All-Stars – With A Little Help From My Friends
8. Luciano, U-Roy, & Easy Star All-Stars - With A Little Dub From My Friends (Version 2)
9. Chali 2na, Damian Marley, and Stephen Marley – Guns Up
10. John Legend & Buju Banton – Can’t Be My Lover
11. Daweh Congo - Ghetto Skyline
12. Ziggy Marley & Willie Nelson – This Train
13. YT, Million Stylez, Mr. Williamz, Blackout Ja, Jah Knight, & Iverse - Champion Sound
14. Willie Nelson & Asleep at the Wheel – Fan It
15. The Decemberists – The Rake’s Song
16. Alborosie – No Cocaine
17. M. Ward – Stars of Leo
18. K’Naan & Chubb Rock – ABC’s
19. Norah Jones – It’s Gonna Be
20. Elephant Man – Dance and Sweep
21. The Avett Brothers – I And Love And You
22. Daweh Congo – One Day
23. K’Naan & Damian Marley - I Come Prepared
24. Michael Franti & Spearhead - Rude Boys Back In Town
25. Laden – Time To Shine
26. Queen Ifrica – Lioness On The Rise
27. Brother Ali – Fresh Air
28. Wilco – Wilco (The Song)
29. Michael Rose, Menny More, & Easy Star All-Stars – A Day In The Life
30. Kid Cudi – Day ‘N’ Nite (Nightmare)
31. Julian Marley – Boom Draw
32. Buju Banton & Third World – Sense Of Purpose
33. K’Naan – Take A Minute
34. The XX – VCR
35. Serani – Playing Games
36. Major Lazer, Jovi Rockwell, & Mr. Vegas – Can’t Stop Now
37. Tarrus Riley – Herbs Promotion
38. Michael Franti & Spearhead – Soundsystem
39. M. Ward and Zooey Deschanel - Never Had Nobody Like You
40. Ziggy Marley & Toots Hibbert - Take Me To Jamaica
41. Willie Nelson & Asleep at the Wheel – Sweet Jennie Lee
42. Daweh Congo – Steppin
43. Yim Yames – My Sweet Lord
44. The Avett Brothers – January Wedding
45. George Strait - El Rey
    
46. Bounty Killer – Corrupt
47. Mayer Hawthorne – Maybe So, Maybe No
48. Michael Franti & Spearhead – A Little Bit Of Riddim
49. Dave Matthews Band - Funny The Way It Is
50. Jay-Z & Mr. Hudson – Young Forever
51. Monsters of Folk – Say Please
52. Julian Marley & Damian Marley - Violence In The Streets
53. Tarrus Riley – Human Nature
54. Spoon – Writing in Reverse
55. Phoenix – Lisztomania
56. Andrew Bird – Oh No
57. M Ward – Rave On
58. Yim Yames – All Things Must Pass
59. Modest Mouse – Satellite Skin
60. Edward Sharp and the Magnetic Zeros – Home
61. Slaid Cleaves – Cry
62. Phish - Backwards Down The Number Line
63. Graham Wilkinson, Hayes Carll, and Lloyd Maines – Ragamuffin
64. The Itals – Let Dem Talk
65. Sean Kingston – Fire Burning
66. Black Eyed Peas - Boom Boom Pow
67. Black Ryno – Real Stingers
68. Romain Virgo – Alton’s Medley: Breaking Up / Ain’t That Loving You / My Willow Tree
69. Jah Cure – Sticky
70. Pearl Jam - The Fixer
71. Vybz Kartel - Life Sweet
72. Q-Tip – Even If It Is So
73. Black Eyed Peas - I Gotta Feeling
74. Capleton – Acres
75. Miley Cyrus – Party in the USA
76. Mariah Carey – Obsessed
77. Suga Roy, Conrad Crystal, Barrington Levy, & Beenie Man – She Call Mi Phone
78. Passion Pit – Sleepyhead
79. The Swell Season – Feeling The Pull
80. George Strait – Arkansas Dave
81. Chino – Never Change (From Mawning)
82. Sean Paul – Press It Up
83. Queen Ifrica - Coconut Shell
84. Lyle Lovett – Loretta
85. Beres Hammond - Can’t Say I Never Tried
86. Chali 2na - Comin’ Thru
87. Grizzly Bear – Two Weeks
88. K’Naan – Wavin’ Flag
89. Beirut – The Shrew
90. Willie Nelson & Asleep at the Wheel – Right or Wrong
91. Metric – Sick Muse
92. Robert Earl Keen, Jr. – Flyin’ Shoes
93. Regina Spektor – Eet
94. Bon Iver – Blood Bank
95. Soja & Rebelution – Here I Am
96. Conor Oberst & the Mystic Valley Band – Nikorette
97. John Fogerty & Bruce Springsteen – When Will I Be Loved
98. Julian Marley & Stephen Marley - Things Ain’t Cool
99. George Strait – Living For The Night
100. Frankie Paul & Easy Star All-Stars – Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds
101. Graham Wilkinson & the Underground Township - Boys and Girls
102. Major Lazer – Cash Flow
103. Zee Avi – Bitter Heart
104. Etana & Alborosie - Blessings
105. Willie Nelson & Asleep at the Wheel - I’m Sittin’ on Top of the World
106. Jay Z & Alicia Keys – Empire State Of Mind
107. Danny Malone – Basement
108. Black Eyed Peas – Rock That Body
109. George Strait – Easy As You Go
110. Jay-Z – D.O.A. [Death Of Auto-Tune]
111. Suga Roy, Conrad Crystal, & Gyptian - Jah Jah See Dem
112. Danny Barnes – Pizza Box
113. Major Lazer – Bruk Out
114. Robert Earl Keen, Jr. – The Rose Hotel
115. Soja, Tamika, & Gentleman – I Tried
116. Casual Sax - Baby I’m Black (From The Waist Down)
117. Courtney John – I Want To Get Next To You
118. Major Lazer – Pon De Floor
119. Rhett Miller – I Need To Know Where I Stand
120. The Low Anthem - Charlie Darwin
121. Beres Hammond - See You Again
122. Micachu & the Shapes – Golden Phone
123. Queen Ifrica – Keep It To Yourself
124. Bob Dylan – Beyond Here Lies Nothin’
125. Son Volt - Dynamite
126. N.A.S.A., Spank Rock, M.I.A., Santogold, & Nick Zinner - Whachadoin?
127. Elephant Man – Nuh Linga
128. Levon Helm - Tennessee Jed
129. Eminem – Crack A Bottle
130. Ziggy Marley, Jack Johnson, & Paula Fuga - Cry, Cry, Cry
131. Jay Farrar & Benjamin Gibbard – California Zephyr
132. Boycott Blues – Got Beef? (Food Coma)
133. Snoop Dogg – I Wanna Rock
134. Willie Nelson & Asleep at the Wheel - Won’t You Ride in My Little Red Wagon
135. N.A.S.A., Kool Keith, & Tom Waits – Spacious Thoughts
136. Max Romeo & Easy Star All-Stars – Fixing A Hole
137. The Lemonheads – Waiting Around To Die
138. Conor Oberst & the Mystic Valley Band - Air Mattress
139. Neil Young – Johnny Magic
140. Ziggy Marley, Rita Marley, & Cedella Marley – I Love You Too
141. Queen Ifrica - Daddy
142. Cunninglynguists – Never Come Down
143. Mavado – So Blessed
144. Mos Def & Talib Kweli – History
145. B-Real & Damian Marley – Fire
146. Willie Nelson & Asleep at the Wheel – Corrine Corrina
147. Anthony B & Horace Andy – Enter The Kingdom of Zion
148. John Legend – Can’t Be My Lover (Curtis Lynch Remix)
149. Bruce Springsteen – Outlaw Pete
150. Sizzla – Black Man In The White House
151. Willie Nelson & Asleep at the Wheel – Bring It on Down to My House
152. Wasp - Unfair Officer
153. Sugar Minott & Easy Star All-Stars -When I’m Sixty-Four
154. Bitty McLean – Fall In Love (Rub A Dub Mix)
155. Taken By Trees – To Lose Someone
156. Willie Nelson & Asleep at the Wheel – Hesitation Blues
157. U-Roy, Bunny Rugs, & Easy Star All-Stars – Lovely Rita
158. Daweh Congo – Daybreak
159. Coconut Records – Any Fun
160. Serani – When It’s Cold Outside
161. Telekinesis – Coast Of Carolina
162. Mavado – On The Rock
163. Bill Callahan - Jim Cain
164. Kirsty Rock & Easy Star All-Stars – She’s Leaving Home
165. Noah and the Whale – Blue Skies
166. Daweh Congo – Joy Brings Pain
167. Fanfario – I’m A Pilot
168. Mavado – Money Changer
169. The Dry Spells – Black Is The Color
170. David Guetta & Akon – Sexy Bitch
171. Animal Collective - My Girls
172. Taken By Trees – My Boys
173. Tribal Seeds – The Garden
174. Norah Jones – Chasing Pirates
175. Jay Farrar & Benjamin Gibbard - These Roads Don’t Move
176. Matisyahu – Struggla
177. Black Eyed Peas – Meet Me Halfway
178. Buju Banton – Rastafari
179. Juvenile – Gotta Get It
180. Groundation – Beating Heart
181. 10 Ft Ganja Plant - 10 Ft. Ganja Plant and Weed
182. Mishka – Stay By My Side
183. Raekwon & Lyfe Jennings - Catalina
184. Bebel Gilberto – Chica Chica Boom Chic
185. Pitbull – I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho)
186. Phoenix – 1901
187. Bramma – Da Body Deh
188. Kid Cudi - Make Her Say
189. Mayer Hawthorne – Just Ain’t Gonna Work Out
190. Flo Rida – Right Round
191. Raekwon, Inspectah Deck, Method Man, & Ghostface Killah – House Of Flying Daggers
192. Matisyahu – Smash Lies
193. Timbaland & Justin Timberlake – Carry Out
194. Chezidek – Border Line
195. Bebel Gilberto – Sun Is Shining
196. Gregory Isaacs – Fools Fall In Love
197. Oba Simba – The Herb
198. Robert Glasper – Butterfly
199. B.B. Seaton – Life Goes On
200. Johnny Clarke with Soothsayers meet Red Earth Collective – Bad Boys
201. Sean Paul & Keri Hilson – Hold My Hand [I'll Be There]

2001:

Reggae & Ska Twin Pack: Inner Circle & Sugar Minott (2 CD)

Artwork: Dan Risely

A document from a financing, investment and advisory firm in New York has been released requesting a short-term loan of £7.5m to repay debts and keep the club running.

The document, available on the Holmesdale and BBS, also indicates that there are a number of ‘non-core’ player sales lined up for January and August with the intention of creating extra revenue.

While the player’s identities are not indicated, the value of one player is £4m – despite said player also having low wages. The low wages would, with a bit of guesswork, suggest that Victor Moses already has a new club lined up for August.

In addition to Moses’ potential departure, another player is also lined up for sale in August – valued at £1m. Another three players will depart in the January transfer window.

As weeks pass, the severity of the club’s situation becomes increasingly apparent. What is clear is that the club needs as much support at this time as possible – which means that it needs fans to attend games. This is a difficult situation for the club – but there is every reason for the fans to get involved and to try and at least soften the financial blow.

El compositor y guitarrista Joe South escribió la canción que hoy enfrentamos con sus versiones. Puede que su nombre no os diga nada, pero antes de escribirla, ya había compuesto para Gene Vincent, y más tarde ganó varios Grammys gracias a su espléndido y exitoso Games people play, versioneado después por multitud de artistas, desde Dolly Parton a Inner Circle, pasando por Johnny Cash & Lulu y Jerry Lee Lewis entre otros.

Joe South también fue músico de sesión de Aretha Franklin en su magnífico y premiado Chain of Fools y de Bob Dylan en el mítico disco Blonde On Blonde. Aunque él mismo se encargó de interpretarla como podemos ver en el video, (I never promised you a) Rose Garden se convirtió en un gran éxito pero no en la voz de su autor como veremos más adelante.

En 1970 la cantante Lynn Anderson fue la artífice de que se convirtiera en la canción más vendida por una artista country femenina y que este récord durase hasta 1997. Si hoy se recuerda a Lynn es fundamentalmente por esta versión (y viceversa) ya que no pudo igualar su repercusión ni en ventas ni en posiciones en las listas de éxitos, a pesar de tener una carrera extensa y fructífera.

El grupo donostiarra Duncan Dhu hizo una adaptación de la mano de Diego Vasallo a la que titularon Jardín de Rosas, que junto a Cien Gaviotas, Esos Ojos Negros y No Puedo Evitar (pensar en ti) conformaron un segundo disco Canciones (1986) que les llevó a vender cantidades indecentes de discos y a iniciar una carrera con un éxito que no les abandonaría hasta el final. Abajo tal como la grabaron aunque a lo largo de las siguientes giras la tocarían de forma más rockera y acelerada.

Great Teammates Help Each Other Be Great - TOGETHER!!

“Keep away from those who try to belittle your ambitions.

Small people always do that, but the really great ones

make you believe that you too can become great.”

— Mark Twain

It may have been popularized most recently by a past campaign from T-Mobile, urging subscribers to select who would be in their “circle of five” for calls, but it takes on a much deeper meaning than that.

Having an inner circle — a small tight-knit group of people you can trust — is important for anyone as they continue to evolve and grow, taking on added responsibility and new challenges every day.

I believe that your own inner circle is constantly evolving, and that each person you pick has their own area of expertise. For example, I’d talk to my best friend from Wallkill about girls. I wouldn’t talk to him about questions relating to the field of journalism.

Alternatively, while my father has no idea what the field of journalism is like, I feel I can bounce ideas off of him when it comes to employment-related issues, since he has lots of experience during his time in teaching and also co-owning a fast food franchise.

It’s important you don’t feel the need to “go it alone” when it comes to your personal finances. I’ve always operated under this belief, but I didn’t really give it much thought until I was reading a book on the topic earlier today. You should have a couple of people you trust — doesn’t necessarily have to be a financial planner — and can turn to before you make any important decisions with regard to your personal finances.

For me, the person I trust the most and always ask about important decisions I’m pondering is my mother. She’s good at gauging my own tolerance for risk, willing to tell me when I’m wrong, challenges me to find more information I didn’t think of before, and will ultimately support me in whatever decision I decide to make. When I have questions about retirement plans and stocks, I turn to my uncle. I also have a co-worker who is going through the same downsizing at work that I am, and even though we’ve only known each other for a little more than a year we feel completely comfortable bouncing ideas off of each other.

I’ve also used a financial planner in the past, but it was just once. I definitely don’t consider him part of my “inner circle” for personal finance, but that’s not because I find him untrustworthy. If you believe your financial adviser is in your inner circle, and you two have that close of a bond, that’s great. Different strokes for different folks.

I urge you to look for confidants you can add to your inner circle today. Even if you’re religious and believe that you also have God on your side — as I do — it’s good to have a few people on earth you can call up and talk to as well.

What are your thoughts on having an inner circle? What are the benefits (and pitfalls) that you have come across in your journey?

Me and my brother..no pond just a hose!

I remember clearly one day when we were kids…we had some new neighbours who had only just arrived in New Zealand from the Pacific..As new migrants I guess it took a little time to understand and make the change, that they were now in a very mixed New Zealand setting instead of the one back in their own home land.

 Anyway, we were coming home from our usual Sunday with family at my Grandmothers, as we were driving down our street into our drive we noticed the new neighbours were out on the street riding bikes..not just any bikes..they were mine and my brothers bikes!!…Im not too sure what had happened previously but it would seem that this was quite an ok thing to do from where they had come from, and after a short rather awkward conversation..the bikes were happily returned.

A few weeks later..I remember being at the window of our kitchen washing the dishes, and I saw one of our new neighbours walking past on the street. He was dressed rather dapper, in some very trendy looking houndstooth check pants..the only reason I recognised them..was because they were my brothers..as was the shirt he was wearing..I remember yelling out to my brother..hey man..the bloody neighbours have got you clothes on..which explained why they had gone missing from the line a few days earlier….once again it was a short conversation about how we actually dont do that here..and the clothes were happily returned.

This incident was not so much malice, as much as it was just a learning that whats your is not always whats mine and making that transition when in a new country. We laugh about it now..and laughed about it at the time, and it was not only a lesson in different values, but also one where despite the fact these things had transpired, we were neighbours and had to live together so we had to try and make it work..Sounds a bit like a bad marriage!!

Neighbours, family ..we have little choice as to who we are born into and who we live next to. I heard someone say once..though I could have just said I made it up…”friends are the family we choose”..Friends and people in our inner circle, are the people who we consciously choosen to be in our lives for a whole raft of reasons. When your young, your friends are many and the pack seems to rule the day especially for those of us that stand for number ones.

As life goes on your friends diminish, and then one day you find from the pack, to the team, to the small hand full to the number you can count on one hand; your friends are the faithful few. For my own reasons life is equated a lot along the lines of  game of rugby, though that game could just about be anything. I wonder sometimes when the final whistle blows for me, how many will be in the stands cheering and clapping or sad at my departure…hopefully my kids and my grand kids, a few friends ; a significant other.

I remember working as an orderly a year out from University studies, and me and another orderly used to visit this old woman who was struck with a stroke..hardly anyone visited her or spoke with her..and it was our job to move her in the mornings and in the evenings..such was the vulnerability I sensed in her eyes, despite her body unable to move…I felt the need to forge a relationship with her that lasted the year I worked there. I always wondered where was her family and significant people she was connected to. We would sit with her and talk, and she would endeavour to acknowledge our being ther, quietly eating our lunch as we would talk about family friends, and life outside the hospital walls.

I guess today ,I am asking myself why certain people are in my world and why others arent. It’s important I think to acknowledge the people who are in your inner circle , and to let them know why they are there and what makes them special. To question the health of that relationship, what it contributes, or detracts and if it is a negative in your life ….what the hell they are doing there in the first place? If it is a positive, how can I nourish and service this relationship to keep it healthy and vibrant.

Making conscious decisions around this can bring change that is far-reaching, and adding and removing people from your inner circle also build ones own sense of personal power, and growth. Power is a funny word, and it really is only used here in a context where it’s about what we allow and what we dont through our personal gates.

People pop in and out of our busy lives, some for a long time, some for a short time and some you wished the stay was

Oi..what are you doing in my Pond?

longer.Others you wished there stay was very brief. I guess the puzzle is, when you have people who continuously treat you badly and yet you keep them in your inner circle.. Or..those that love you and treat you with kindness that you keep out.  That just begs the question..as to WHY? We must learn to be a friend to oursleves and love ourselves, if we are ever to  be a friend or love another. A friend from another blog, that I read most days called “enriched living” asked me this question just last week..” who’s been swimming in your pond? “ …and  I think thats a good question to ask from time to time…! So I did!

This month’s music selection varies from twangy country to roots reggae to experimental jazz-hip-hop and dub. Robert Glasper’s Double Booked is chalk-full of creativity and musicianship.  Glasper, a pianist originally from Houston, Texas has performed with Erykah Badu, The Roots, Maxwell, and Mos Def. On this new album Glasper mixes hip-hop, jazz, and experimental music into a beautiful soundscape.

Conrad Crystal and Suga Roy have put together a fine album with help from some of reggae’s icons. The legendary Toots & The Maytals joins the duo on “God Bless You.” The singjay Gyptian performs “Jah Jah See Dem”  in tribute to Joseph Hill and Culture. The dancehall jam “She Call Mi Phone” features “king of the dancehall” Beenie Man and the amazing vocalist Barrington Levy. Deejays U Roy, Dillinger, and Big Youth join the fray while Reggae superstars Lee “Scratch” Perry, Max Romeo, Eek-A-Mouse, Marcia Griffiths, Dennis Brown, The Congos, and Inner Circle all lend their vocals. Even the amazing danechall duo Chaka Demus & Pliers makes an appearance on “Girl You Rock My World.”

The Stephen Marleyalbum Mind Control originally dropped more than a year ago. Now a newer acoustic version of the disc has been released called Mind Control Acoustic. The smooth beautiful track “Chase Dem” features Capleton layering rhymes through the original tune. Brothers Damian Marley and Julian Marley appear on the record as does rude boy Spragga Benz.

1. Robert Glasper – Double Booked [Blue Note 2009]
2. Conrad Crystal & Suga Roy – Suga Roy, Conrad Crystal and the Great Reggae Icons [Fire Ball 2009]
3. Stephen Marley – Mind Control Acoustic [Tuff Gong 2009]
4. Danny Barnes – Pizza Box [ATO Records 2009]
5. Corb Lund – Losin’ Lately Gambler [New West 2009]
6. Beres Hammond – Something Old, Something New [Penthouse Records 2009]
7. Morgan Heritage – The Journey Thus Far [VP Records 2009]
8. Drake – So Far Gone [Young Money/Cash Money 2009]
9. B.B. Seaton – Ready For The World [Soul Beat/Roots International 2009]
10. Various Artist – Joyful Noise [I Grade Records 2009]
11. Geoff Maldaur & the Texas Shieks – Texas Sheiks [Tradition & Moderne 2009]
12. James Hand – Shadow on the Ground [Rounder 2009]
13. Jack Johnson – En Concert [Brushfire Records 2009]
14. Serani – No Games [Phase One 2009]
15. The Soothsayers Meet Red Earth Collective – One More Reason [Red Earth Music 2009]
16. Del Tha Funkyhomosapien & Tame One – Parallel Uni-Verses [Gold Dust 2009]
17. Mike Zito – Pearl River [Eclecto Groove Records 2009]
18. Nitty Gritty Dirt Band – Speed Of Life [Sugar Hill 2009]
19. Various Artists – Riddim Driven: Clearance [VP 2009]
20. Lorenzo – Movin’ Ahead [Irie Ites 2009]