First things FIrst, the riding was all good and they pulled some sweet lines but I cant take a dude seriously when he’s wearing one white and one black sock….I mean like not even for a second.

Awhile back, a friend posted this on his facebook page, and I thought it was great.  This bass player John Montagna, who does a nice rendition of Paul McCartney’s Live And Let Die . Check it out.

Muslim Seven Year Plan Shows Potential for Flexibility and Cooperation within Islam

By Shireen Qudosi

Written for Green Prophet

On November 4, 2009, UK-based the Alliance of Religions and Conservation (ARC), in working with the U.N., hosted 200 representatives from nine major world religions spanning over 60 different religious organizations.

Baha’i, Buddhists, Christians, Hindus, Jews, Muslims, Shintoists, Taoists and Sikhs all gathered at London’s Windsor Castle with a united environmental agenda.

In an era of increasing religious divide, a once little thought of topic known as “the environment” was able to bring together ancient faith groups to discuss a modern solution.

And with Islam at the forefront of today’s news, Muslim leaders proved Islam’s ability to adapt and meet new needs.

Under the newfound coalition toward eco-commitment and a Muslim Seven Year Plan, Medina, Islam’s second most important city after Mecca, is to serve as a model green city.  This move is critical since Saudi Arabia is essentially, for better or worse, presently the pillar of the Arab nations.

Medina, “The City of the Prophet”, is a strategic start pointing that has the capacity to really launch a green campaign in neighboring territories.

The Seven Year Plan was presented by the Sheikh Ali Goma’a, Egypt’s Grand Mufti, who has already introduced the plan into his own city of Dar Al Iftaa.  Some key initiatives of the Seven Year Plan include:

• Develop and implement a “Green Hajj”.  With 2-3 million people visiting Mecca during Hajj alone, transforming the experience into an environmentally-friendly pilgrimage will reap immediate benefits.
• Construct a “green mosque” and introduce this model for other Islamic buildings worldwide.
• In the first phase, develop 2-3 green model cities; in the second phase, adapt ten other Muslim cities to implement the model.
• Integrate eco-awareness into Islamic education.
• Publish “green Qurans”, printed on paper procured from sustainable wood.
• Create a specialized TV channel focused on Islam and the environment.
• Create award and prize systems for excellence in this field.

The ultimate goal here, as with other faith groups, is to radically redefine faith-based relationships with the environment.  While the “greenie” movement is still seen as a secular front by a number of conservative groups, the world’s oldest religions with a following in the billions will be able to bring much needed attention and authority to an issue that has predated our recognition of it.

Faith groups also realize the inherent relationship they have with the environment.  Islam’s Sufi Muslims have long been known to have a deep reverence for nature.

However, despite regional shifts toward eco-awareness, ARC Secretary General Martin Palmer accurately points out the difficultly in Islamic groups face in changing what are essentially government policies.  As Palmer states, essentially Muslims groups will be “saying to Islamic governments that this is how you should act Islamically.”  Palmer also astutely notes that implementing green changes are possible if they can be proven to be Islamic in nature.  In anticipation of this obstacle, plans are in effect to functionally launce the Muslim Association for Climate Change Action (MACCA).

With 1.5 billion Muslims worldwide, the Seven Year Plan not only paves the way for increased interfaith cooperation, increased dialogue, but will also have a considerable environmental impact.  With faith as the new foundation of a green movement, critical eco-issues have a new audience and a new life force that has the potential to quickly propel the issue forward – providing not only increased awareness but effective and long lasting solutions to a growing number of environmental concerns.

Tools ‹ Fans On The Run|Blog — WordPress.

Labels on sides one and two of Wing’s Wild Life LP. 1971.

2nd December – Hamburg, Color Line Arena
3rd December – Berlin, O2 World
9th December – Arnhem, Gelredome
10th December – Paris, Bercy
16th December – Cologne, Koln Arena
20th December – Dublin, The O2
22nd December – London,The O2 Arena

London ticket details.
Tickets available from Monday 26th October:
Box Office: 0844 856 0202
24hr Credit Card Hotline: 0871 230 1103
www.ticketmaster.co.uk

10th December – Paris, Bercy
Pre-Sale stars: November 3rd, 9am
Pre-sale Link:www.livenation.fr
Good Evening Europe 2009

General Sale: Starts 6th November 10am
0892 930490
http://www.eventtravel.com/cms/event_datetour.aspx?td_id=1253

paulmccartney official website
credit

Children in Need Rocks the Royal Albert Hall – 12th November 2009

Every year, BBC Children in Need creates magic moments that raise huge amounts of money for disadvantaged children, and this year the UK’s finest musicians hope to help raise more than ever with a spectacular show at the Royal Albert Hall.

For Children in Need 2009, Gary Barlow and Take That are adding to the magic by inviting Paul and an all-star line-up of rock and pop’s finest, who in total have amassed over 50 UK number one hits, to take part in Children in Need Rocks the Royal Albert Hall. [...]

Images taken from site- funny how seeing children with the name makes you think hmm actually I do like that especially with some older names.

Stephen

Tulip Grace

Triplets- Lachlan, Harvey & Oliver.

Boys- Keidis, Jordan, Isaac, Tyson, Marley, Eamon, Elliott, Beau Regan, Macca, Jakoby, Zidane, Cruz-antonio, Jasper, Benny, Jay, Baxter James, Dash, Rorey, Dante, Lewis, Preston, Xavion, Jonah, Cullen, Eden Dominic, Jamerson, Victor, Clay, Dar-Rel, Talon, Roman, Julian, Ronan, Rowan, Kaneel, Theodore, Edward, Noa Diesel, Lucian, Oscar, River, Milo Michael, Angus, Kenny, Heath, Dominic, Benji, Suad, Klay, Albion, Truce, Rebel, Maximus, Stephen, Alfonso.

DC took several years to hear about the whole “Paul’s dead” controversy but this 1970 Batman cover proves that they would have been all over it way sooner if they weren’t, you know, huge dorks who did not talk to girls or read the actual newspaper.

McCartney records Ram. New York City. January through March 1971. (Including some pretty poor quality fan photos.)

Macca’s image used to sell subscriptions to a magazine called Careers Today. 1968.

昨日だったか会社帰りにCDショップへ行ったらビートルズのリマスター盤が売っておりました。自分は買いませんでしたが、まあいつかぼちぼち気に入ったアルバムについて購入すると思います。何から買うのか、そしていつか全部集めるつもりでいるのか等は未定ですが、まずは「HELP」なんかを考えますが、でも本当に余裕があった時に買うという感じになりそうです。

そしてこれはお約束ですが好きなメンバーは誰かという問題ですが、私はポールです。バンドメンバーの中で彼が一番クレイジーだと思うのがその理由なのですが、あと多作でハードワーカーというところも気に入っています。彼の若い頃の姿は写真や古いフィルムでしか見ることが出来ないですが、まずまずポールは若い頃から生意気そうな顔してますね（笑）気が強そうで、そしてどこかしら冷たい感じがする、いや、冷たさがにじみ出てるところがいいなぁと。一部ではcuteなんて話も出ているようですが、私はこいつのことを冷たい奴としか思ったことがないですね。でもそれがいいんですよね、レフティーというのもクール。あと「Magical Mystery Tour」、このTV Showは最高大好き。あと最新作は買ってないから判らないけど、Firemanは相当大好きです。

Letter published in August 29, 1970 issue of Melody Maker.

On August 29, 1985, Macca purchased this letter at a Sotheby’s auction for €10,000—a small consolation for having lost the Northern Songs catalog nineteen days earlier.

I’m the saddest little music scribe y’ever did see, ’cause tomorrow’s Beatles Day, and I ain’t got no Beatles.

It’s not fair. All my other critic buddies received copies. They’ve been frothing over the remasters for weeks up and down Facebook and in and out of my Hotmail. Sometimes they “accidentally” forward me their real-time revelations in breathless superlatives: “OMG, ‘Please Please Me’ just baked my fantasies into a melodic pecan pie, using the harmonica’s new clarity as whipped cream! Destination: Delish!”

Even my mom scored the monaural box, and she hasn’t whistled past a music department since Bonnie Tyler stopped releasing albums on cassette. She got in on some “First Flush of Beatlemania” discount given to anyone of age who’d purchased the records new or screamed themselves into orgasmic comas from nosebleed cocoons at any of the band’s shows. Now she talks like an audiophile. “I’m glad they were reissued in mono,” she sniffed when the discs arrived, massaging her rusted MARRY ME MACCA button. “They have a warmth and intimacy missing from the more aggressive sonics preferred by today’s uneducated ear.”

Being that my mom was part of an initial fair-weathered wave that had split by Rubber Soul, when the ex-Fabs got “too weird,” I implored her to at least sell me the remaining titles since she wasn’t going to listen to them anyway. “How much?” I asked, unveiling my bankbook. I thought maybe she’d decline money and haggle it down to a lunch or two or a few more regular phone calls. But to my surprise she jabbed a stiletto under my bottom lip and seethed through a hateful clench, “How much you got?” I opted to pay my rent instead.

Desperate, I called my man at Capitol. First I finessed past a wily secretary feigning the worst French accent I’d ever heard. When I trapped her on her sloppy conjugation, she tried to convince me the label had outsourced its publicity department to India. Calling her bluff, I demanded digits. She gave me a toll-free number that connected me directly to Jim in Billing at the Bozeman Gazette. When I called back, she pretended to be speaking through a thick mustache. “I dunno, I just empty the wastebaskets, they don’t tell me nothin’ around here,” she said.

Finally, I got through to Terry. “Capitol Records, Publicity, this is Terry,” Terry chirped.

“Terry! My knizzave!” I clucked. “I’m calling about –”

Terry cut me off. “I’m sorry. Did I say ‘Capitol Records, Publicity’? I meant ‘SlapZappy’s Pest Control.’”

“Aw, dude,” I whined. “You didn’t gimme this much grief on that gloomy post-Heather McCartney.”

“Our office hours are 8 a.m. to the moment you called. If you know your party’s extension, please press ‘pound’ now.”

“Don’t do me like this, brah. It’s the Beatles!”

“Oh, my God, I’m about to get sideswiped by a gas truck! AAAAAHHHHHH!”

The line went dead.

I rang Apple but ended up talking to a youngish girl mostly about giraffes. “Yeah, giraffes are cool,” I said, attempting a patient segue. “But I’m calling about the Beatles.” “Beeeetles?” she asked, confused. “Yes,” I replied. “They’re a rock band.” “Oh!” she said. “My dad’s in a rock band, and my mom did a movie with Ben Affleck.” Great — I’d been given the private cell of Gwyneth Paltrow’s kid.

Next call: Yoko Ono, who chuckled, “No, I don’t even have copies yet, if you can believe that.” I didn’t. In the background I could hear her late husband hit that glorious “cry-hy-hy-hy” in a sparkling “This Boy.” “What’s that?” I demanded. “I rented Backbeat,” she stammered. “Oops — muffins are done!” CLICK.

Well, shoot. What am I gonna do with all this pent-up gush? Waste it on the Season 5 boxed set of The Office? Sweet-talk a strumpet out of her gin-stained tee? Commend a local pizzeria? Where will I go with my effusive words of love?

Above: Front and rear covers of the Japanese “My Love” single. Below: A list of other McCartney/Wings releases from inside the fold-out sleeve.

Beginning a week of all Beatles posts (as if that’s different from any other week) as I wait for the arrival on my doorstep of the inevitable disappointment that will be the fabs mono box.

First installment: Backlash: Burning Beatles records in Waycross, Georgia. 1966.

Transcendental meditation
Dismissed by cynics, applauded by medics, transcendental meditation is nothing if not controversial

‘It was a great gift,’ said Sir Paul McCartney earlier this year. ‘For me it came at a time when we were looking for some stability towards the end of the crazy ’60s. It’s a lifelong gift that we can call on any time.’

At a press conference for Change Begins Within (an initiative that hopes to get one million children involved in transcendental meditation, or TM, put together by Twin Peaks director David Lynch), Macca’s fond enthusiasm was somewhat at odds with the general malaise that soured the Beatles’ meditation retreat back in 1968. After the fab four followed Maharishi Mahesh Yogi (the man credited with introducing the Indian-Himalayan meditation technique to the West) to Rishikesh, India, John Lennon dismissed him as a charlatan. Though he apologised for his youthful outbursts later, it seemed impossible that a Beatle-tarnished reputation could ever be wiped clean.

Not so. By the mid-’70s some 40,000 Americans per month were reportedly signing up for classes, many of whom found the simple, schedule-friendly techniques so beneficial that they practise it to this day. David Lynch, a practitioner since 1973, has said that a mere fortnight of twice-daily practice was all it took to reduce the angers and anxieties that controlled his life at the time. ‘Those negative things started lifting,’ he said recently. ‘It sounds strange, but I appreciated and enjoyed the doing of things more.’ It’s not just the ageing hippies who talk it up, either. Empirical evaluations have shown that the technique can have an effect on human physiology, reducing stress levels significantly and even having some positive effect on heart diseases. Even the science bods are recommending it now.

‘It’s practised by people of all levels of intelligence, of all ages, cultures and religions,’ explains Surendra Kumar, a teacher at the Creative Intelligence Consultancy in Dubai. ‘There are many reasons they come to us. Some just want to learn, others come for health reasons and many just want to be happy in life.’ Surendra is willing to travel to teach keen students – a kind of TM delivery service, if you will. In fact, he recently finished a TM course in Abu Dhabi, which was hailed a success by its participants.

A misconception commonly held is that TM has religious connotations – possibly cultish in nature. Again, this was an unfortunate by-product of the Maharishi’s association with The Beatles: George Harrison, in particular, was an enthusiastic advocate of Indian religions, and many observers jumped to conclusions. ‘It has nothing to do with religion,’ says Surendra with the air of a man who has had to deal with this line of questioning before. ‘It’s a peaceful mental activity that takes the mind to deeper levels of the thinking process. Though it was only introduced to the Western world 50 years ago, it’s as old as life itself.’ It is estimated that six million students have studied TM in that short space of time, a number that puts it slightly beyond the realms of cult status.

But, why TM rather than other forms of meditation? Put simply: people seem to find it easier. Whereas other techniques require you to blank the mind (often the largest hurdle for many students), or focus on a single aspect, TM uses a repetitive technique – a series of vocal vibrations or sounds, often with no meaning – to lull the mind into a peaceful state, ‘transcending’ the regular thoughts and conundrums that bombard us from minute to minute.

Unfortunately, the mumbo jumbo associated with TM is hard to avoid. Wondering what the effects of ‘bliss consciousness’ and ‘self-referral intelligence’ might be, we spoke to Arif Dawood, a participant on the recent Abu Dhabi course. ‘I’ve done several types of meditation and heard about TM a long time ago,’ he explains. ‘I would say it’s one of the easiest to practise and, although it’s too early to notice any major benefits, it certainly makes me feel very relaxed.’

If it’s so easy, why bother finding a teacher? Well, just as you might benefit from instruction in the gym, an experienced teacher can help shape the techniques to suit your situation. Whether you come to it as a student of relaxation, for health reasons, or even via an out-of-control Beatles obsession, one thing quickly becomes apparent: transcendental meditation may be as old as the hills, but in this frenetic modern world where instant results are imperative, you might find it’s a lifelong gift you wouldn’t wish to return.

For more information on arranging a TM course in Abu Dhabi, call the Creative Intelligence Consultancy on 050 207 0347 or email info@tm.ae. A website will soon be up and running at www.tm.ae

Time Out Abu Dhabi 30 August 2009

http://tinyurl.com/kupav7

3 Comments:
Posted by: Dr. Jean Tobin on 01 Sep ‘ 09 at 03:54
Thank you for this article highlighting the benefits of Transcendental Meditation. I’ve read quite a few articles on the subject and your treatment is more precise and fair than most. I wanted to share with your readers a summary of the research on TM. TM distinguishes itself not only in how easy it is to practice, when learned from a qualified teacher, (TM.org) but also in how effective it is when compared with other mental techniques. There has been so much rigorous research validating the benefits of TM in all areas of life. The majority of these studies compared TM to other practices or control groups. 350 peer-reviewed research studies were conducted on over 10,000 subjects who were practicing the TM technique. These studies included numerous randomized controlled trials, along with eight meta-analyses of 597 separate studies on the effects of meditation. The studies were conducted at Harvard Medical School, Yale Medical School, Stanford Medical School, University of PA, University of Kentucky, and more than 200 other independent institutions, and were done by 360 scientists from 29 countries. Learning TM was the best decision I ever made. It has improved my life in every possible way. Thanks again for bringing your readers attention to an important topic.

Posted by: kennyji on 31 Aug ‘ 09 at 18:37
This has to be the most intelligently written article so far assessing the value of the Transcendental Meditation technique for the average individual that I’ve come across. It sifts out the misunderstandings of a confused past and enlightens its readers to the practical benefits of this simple but effective technique for living a less stressed and more productive fulfilling lifestyle. Thank you.

Posted by: Archie on 31 Aug ‘ 09 at 15:21
I love TM and have been practicing it twice a day for over 35 years. It has enriched my life in ways that I never could have expected but would never want to have had to do without. Yes, it has been a lifelong gift that I wouldn’t return for anything in the world. Thank you, Maharishi.

Paul, Julian, Jane return from Greece, where He and the other three contemplated buying an island. 1967.

Lennon. probably in 69.

Sight and Sound. Summer 1970.