Thursday, August 14, 2008

TV ON THE RADIO Benefit Performance for SFOTE "Laventille Bus" Fundraiser at Santos Party House (NYC) This Monday 8/18



SFOTE and Santos Party House are pleased to present a benefit concert with performances by Simply Fly (aka a little band called TV On The Radio), Dragons of Zynth and the Brooklyn Jumbies Drummers.

This special evening will benefit SFOTE's 2008 Educational Initiative, which provides children free sustainable transportation to and from school. 100% of the door proceeds from this concert will go to the busing system in Laventille, Trinidad.

SFOTE found that Laventille, an economically impoverished and crime-ridden area in Trinidad, had a particular problem: even though there is a free public school system, there is no public bus system. Because the cost of transportation is high ($2 each way per child), many children in the area eventually drop out of school because their parents are unable to afford bus fare for their entire family of children.

Tickets for the benefit show are $30 in advance and will be available via TicketWeb. After the band segment concludes, guests will be welcome to stay on for a special dance party featuring an array of guest DJs, including Tunde from TVOTR and more to be announced in coming days.

www.sfote.com/Santos.htm
www.santospartyhouse.com
www.myspace.com/tvotr
www.myspace.com/dragonsofzynth

For more information on SFOTE and this special benefit evening, please contact Nina Woolf at nina@sfote.org or (718) 233-3367

Saturday, August 09, 2008

Album Cover of the Month: Guns'N Roses "Appetite For Destruction"


This is the original cover to the debut Guns 'N Roses album that was initially banned by retailers due to the illustration being "too graphic." The artwork was replaced and placed on the inside of the packaging. However, there is a rumor that the upcoming remastered version of the album will be released as it was meant to be. well, it's about damn time...

NOTE: The album's original cover, is from the painting "Appetite for Destruction" by Robert Williams. He also did an album cover for Hip-Hop artist, KRS-One.

Sunday, August 03, 2008

NEW DJ MIX: Music For Artists At 2am



I just finished another Dance/House mix - this one a little more energetic than "Music For Artists at 3am Mix" (thus the name). Includes tracks from Hercules and love Affair, Kevin Saunderson, In Flagranti, New Order, Syclops and Health among others.

Get it the mix here.

If you would like the tracklisting, please contact me at rontronik@rontronik.com

Flint Seeks Sponsors For Police Surveillance Cameras; Some Question Whether It's Appropriate


Photo: Ryan Garza | The Flint Journal
Flint-based Asset Protection Specialists Inc. is seeking a loan from a state fund to buy a facility to make security cameras such as this one, which it installed at Jewell and Cecil drives. The city also is looking for sponsors of the cameras.

by Bryn Mickle | The Flint Journal
Sunday July 27, 2008, 9:00 AM


FLINT, Michigan -- Willing to spend $30,000 to put your name on a camera?

The City of Flint is looking for sponsors for surveillance cameras that will be mounted around the city to keep a watch out for crooks.

In exchange for cash, the city will plaster business names next to police logos on the pole-mounted camera boxes that sport a blue police light that flashes 24 hours a day.

Don't have $30,000? Depending on the size of the check, smaller logos and even people's names can be placed on the boxes similar to those found on a NASCAR racer.

The "Adopt-A-PODSS" program is part of an unique partnership between the city and Asset Protection Specialists, a private security firm in Flint.

Fliers with the company's name and city logo have been circulated touting the cameras and plans are underway to put a PayPal link on the city's Web site for camera sponsorship donations.

Police have been looking for a way to expand the program after being thrilled with the lone surveillance camera keeping an eye on things at Cecil and Jewell drives on the city's north side.

But given Flint's money problems, officials have been forced to get creative in finding a way to fund the $420,000 price tag for 14 more cameras.

While drug forfeiture money and grants should offset some of those costs, supporters hope businesses will step forward with tax-deductible sponsorship money.

Jesse Ford is all for a camera in his Hamilton Avenue neighborhood.

"We need one," said Ford, who lives near the spot where a man was shot to death in the street Tuesday night.

"I know they're expensive, but something needs to be done," said Ford.

Flint is not the only government entity to look to the private sector for help with surveillance cameras.

About a quarter of the $400,000 price tag for Flint Township's network of 24 police cameras was paid by businesses who wanted cameras on their property, with the rest of the cost coming from a business development authority.

Although sponsors for the Flint cameras won't have their pick of an exact location, the arrangement troubles the head of a Lansing-based government watchdog group.

"If it's such a good idea, why not use tax funds for (the cameras)?" said John Chamberlin of Common Cause.

Although cities commonly partner with private businesses for services, Chamberlin said they don't usually go to the extent that Flint is trying.

Chamberlin worries that areas with more cash may get preferential treatment, while poorer sections get less cameras.

The Journal could not reach Flint Police Chief David Dicks for comment on the plan.

But Steve Melish, financial manager for Asset Protection Specialists, said the company and city are looking for a mix of cameras throughout Flint.

So far, no one has stepped forward to sponsor a camera, Melish said.

An open house is planned in the weeks ahead to drum up interest, but a local Chamber of Commerce representative said it's in the hands of businesses to decide how much they are willing to spend on security measures.

"Everybody wants a safe business community. ... Fear of crime drives business away," said Steve Flynn, who handles membership services for the Genesee Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Saturday, August 02, 2008

John Carpenter's "The Thing" Stop-Motion Animated Remake with GI Joe Toys



The Gunseller sent me over to Joblo.com for this little treat. It's actually a music video for "Driving This Road Until Death Sets You Free" by Zombie-Zombie. Enjoy.

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