Get cash from your website. Sign up as affiliate

Monday, February 28, 2011

“Trevor Bayne NASCAR's next big star? - ESPN.com”

“Trevor Bayne NASCAR's next big star? - ESPN.com”


Trevor Bayne NASCAR's next big star? - ESPN.com

Posted:

Updated: February 23, 2011, 12:24 AM ET

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Late Sunday night, sometime between winning the Daytona 500, playing a game of H-O-R-S-E and riding a skateboard in the infield of NASCAR's most famous track, Trevor Bayne pulled out a piece of paper and wrote: "What do I need to do to not let the mountains get too high, but just stay focused?"

Below that, the youngest driver ever to win the sport's biggest race wrote, "What do I need to pray for?"

Stephanie Bayne found the note on the counter in her son's motor coach early Monday morning before going to Daytona USA to start the beginning of a whirlwind day for the boy she brought into this world 20 years and a two days earlier.

"What an amazing question after a win like that," she said proudly.

Amazing, and unbelievably mature.

If you knew Bayne before he stunned the NASCAR world with his dramatic and totally unexpected victory at Daytona International Speedway, you wouldn't be surprised. If you don't know him, it's time you do.

He may be the sport's next big star.

[+] EnlargeTrevor Bayne and Carl Edwards

Matthew Stockman/Getty Images/NASCARDrivers Trevor Bayne idolized growing up -- Carl Edwards included -- congratulated the 20-year-old in Victory Lane at Daytona.

The real deal, as team owner Eddie Wood calls him.

But were it not for a strange twist of fate and a huge amount of faith, Bayne may never have been in position to take the legendary Wood Brothers back to Victory Lane and become an overnight household name.

Let's backtrack. Bayne left the comfort of his parents' home in Knoxville, Tenn., at an age (15) when most kids are just thinking about getting their learner's permit, and he moved alone to Mooresville, N.C., as part of his master plan to become a Sprint Cup driver.

It's not a move a lot of parents would make, but one Stephanie and Rocky felt was best for their son's racing future.

"I spent a lot of time going back and forth [between Knoxville and Mooresville]," said Rocky, who at the time owned a race team in the Mooresville area some 235 miles away. "But there were a lot of times he did spend time alone, and it was hard.

"But he was very responsible."

And there were plenty of people helping out.

"I didn't have my driver's license yet," Trevor said with a laugh. "So my crew chief would actually come pick me up and take me to the shop and then drop me off at night."

But a few not-so-funny things happened along the way to stardom. Two weeks before Dale Earnhardt Inc. signed Bayne as a developmental driver in 2007, Dale Earnhardt Jr. announced he was leaving for Hendrick Motorsports the following season.

After a 2008 season that saw Bayne earn six top-5s, two poles and a win in NASCAR's Camping World East series, the sponsorship and money was gone -- and so was the ride.

Then came a one-off Nationwide Series ride in the 2009 spring race at Bristol in a car that Bayne's father put together with the help of laid-off DEI employees and friends. Bayne qualified 26th and finished 23rd.

That led to a three-year Nationwide deal with Diamond-Waltrip Racing. But a lack of funding late in 2010 kept owner Michael Waltrip from acting on an option to guarantee anything for the following season and Bayne was left searching again.

A few days after parting with DWR in late September, Bayne was in a Roush Fenway Racing Nationwide car that he drove the rest of the season without financial compensation from team owner Jack Roush.

The payoff came when Roush convinced the Wood Brothers to let Bayne make his Sprint Cup debut at Texas, replacing 1988 champion Bill Elliott. Bayne didn't disappoint, finishing 17th and having the best passed-to-being-passed ratio in the field.

That led the Wood Brothers to sign Bayne for 17 Cup races this season while he drives a full Nationwide season for Roush.

Starting to get the picture? Had the stars not aligned, had things worked out as planned at DEI or DWR, Bayne's amazing Sunday may never have occurred.

[+] EnlargeTrevor Bayne

Chris Graythen/Getty ImagesTrevor Bayne smoked the Goodyears after putting the famed Wood Brothers Racing Ford back in Victory Lane.

"Things don't happen like this to people," Rocky said. "For everything to align like it did, God had his hand in it. I know Trevor believes that."

Bayne does believe. Behind that boyish Hollywood smile that should make sponsors and young girls drool is a God-fearing kid who says a prayer before meals and doesn't hesitate to give thanks in triumph or failure.

As Carl Edwards said after finishing second on Sunday, "I think the world is going to like him a lot."

What's not to like, particularly if you're NASCAR trying to capture that elusive 18-34 demographic? Bayne is a daredevil who likes to snowboard, skateboard and jump from the staircase in his Lake Norman condominium onto the couch -- at least until he broke the furniture's legs, which he welded back on himself.

He's a self-taught guitar player who loves the Pittsburgh Steelers and eats primarily fast food. He drove his pickup truck from Charlotte to Daytona while most drivers were on private jets, and before Sunday he spent countless hours trying to build a social media following on Twitter.

"[I] was at 6,000 fans before this week," Bayne said. "Now it's at 21,000 overnight. I told everybody, 'Man, all I had to do was win the 500? I could have done that a long time ago if I would have known that's how I had to get followers.'"

Bayne's following actually is over 27,000 and growing, but who's counting?

And who wouldn't want to follow him when you read fresh tweets like this?

• "Just saw a guy with a gnarly afro in the gas station. … Now I'm wishin I lived in the disco days."

• "My cheeks are already hurtin from smiling so much!! 3 days of media here we come!!!"

• "Say what! I'm blown away at how amazing God's plan is! 500 winner. Can't believe it!"

Bayne isn't the hard-drinking, womanizing rebel one NASCAR official recently reminded us the sport was born on and needed to get back to. But he is a breath of fresh air the sport desperately needs.

Perhaps it was no coincidence that on the day NASCAR marked the 10th anniversary of the death of its fallen hero, Dale Earnhardt, this totally unexpected new hero emerged.

Maybe hero is a bit strong. Expectations have killed many young stars before their careers got off the ground. But Bayne knows that, which is another reason to believe he'll survive where others have been swallowed up.

"One thing I haven't really talked about is keeping our expectations realistic here," Bayne said as compliment after compliment was tossed at him during Monday's Champion Breakfast at Daytona USA. "We won this race and that sets the bar high, but if we would have finished 15th we would have been happy.

"If we … go to Phoenix and [don't] win, and finish top 15, we still have to remember to be excited about that because we're still learning. A lot of new pieces have come together, so I think we've got to keep that realistic and just race right now."

That's all Bayne really wants to do -- like Dale Earnhardt and others who became great before him. It's why Bayne was willing to forego the high school experience, get his degree online and live alone in North Carolina, away from family and friends.

It's why Wood Brothers Racing truly believes he can be "one of the great ones."

Maybe there is something to this thing called fate. How else do you explain that the kid who grew up idolizing Jeff Gordon -- Bayne had posters of the four-time champion all over his bedroom wall and once posed for a picture with Gordon on pit road at Bristol as a 6-year-old -- earned the respect of veterans when Gordon allowed him to be his drafting partner for most of the 150 miles of Thursday's qualifying race?

"

[I] was at 6,000 fans before this week. Now it's at 21,000 overnight. I told everybody, 'Man, all I had to do was win the 500? I could have done that a long time ago if I would have known that's how I had to get followers.'

" -- Trevor Bayne talking about his exploding Twitter account

How else do you explain that, in a No. 21 car mirroring the red-and-white paint scheme Spartanburg's David Pearson drove to the famous 1976 Daytona 500 victory over Richard Petty, a kid born in Spartanburg returned the car to Victory Lane?

How else do you explain all the other coincidences at DEI and DWR that put Bayne in the 21?

And like Pearson, arguably the best driver the sport has seen, Bayne has worked hard for everything he's earned.

"We never bought a ride," said Rocky, who owns a small service maintenance company in Knoxville. "It was all based on talent and his ability to drive a race car."

If all this was not the result of fate, then surely it's faith.

"I remember one night he came home," Stephanie recalled of a conversation with her son when he was 13 or 14. "He said, 'Mom, today I heard a sermon. … Today I realized I'm not in control of my life. God is in control.'

"Not long ago he said, 'You know, when you expect something, that's when you can become disappointed. So I think it's not about laying out expectations, but just being realistic and striving for goals but not expecting anything."

Yes, there will be steep mountains for Bayne to climb going forward, but you get the feeling he will stay focused. He isn't rushing to switch from running for the Nationwide title to the Cup title, even though his driving style may be better fitted for Cup, as we saw with five-time defending champion Jimmie Johnson.

"They drive more like a short-track car, and he's a great short-track driver," Rocky said. "I wouldn't count him out of winning another [Cup] race."

Those who know Bayne wouldn't count him out of anything.

"I had a meeting earlier this week and we were talking about what is the goal of Trevor Bayne as a brand, as a person," Bayne said. "It started out to be the best race car driver, but that's changed over time. It's not to be the best race car driver, to be the most marketable or to be the best at anything.

"It's just whatever it's gonna take to build that platform. It seems to be going pretty good so far, so we'll try to stay on that path."

If you don't know Bayne, you really should. He says he's just a "normal kid," and he is.

He also may be the sport's next big star.

David Newton covers NASCAR for ESPN.com. He can be reached at dnewtonespn@aol.com.

This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php
Five Filters featured article: Collateral Damage - WikiLeaks In The Crosshairs.



image

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Sunday, February 27, 2011

“Mead kids adjust to life in Wyoming Governor's Mansion - Star-Tribune”

“Mead kids adjust to life in Wyoming Governor's Mansion - Star-Tribune”


Mead kids adjust to life in Wyoming Governor's Mansion - Star-Tribune

Posted:

[fivefilters.org: unable to retrieve full-text content]

It's a really fun place to go skateboarding," Pete said ... Newspapers around the nation trumped up the story and dubbed Eleanor the "girl governor." "I received many letters sent from Mexico and fashion news from Paris, [and] several offers of marriage ...

image

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Saturday, February 26, 2011

“Avril still a Sk8er Girl - Independent Online” plus 1 more

“Avril still a Sk8er Girl - Independent Online” plus 1 more


Avril still a Sk8er Girl - Independent Online

Posted:

[fivefilters.org: unable to retrieve full-text content]

Avril Lavigne skateboards in her garage. The 'Sk8er Boi' hitmaker is so busy with her career she barely has time to go out and show off her skills, so instead she has cleared a space in her home to enjoy her hobby. She admitted: "I sometimes ...

image

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Trevor Bayne NASCAR's next big star? - ESPN.com

Posted:

[fivefilters.org: unable to retrieve full-text content]

Behind that boyish Hollywood smile that should make sponsors and young girls drool is a God-fearing kid who says ... Bayne is a daredevil who likes to snowboard, skateboard and jump from the staircase in his Lake Norman condominium onto the couch ...

image

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

“Video: Ken Block unveils new livery for WRC Fiesta, Monster Girls - Autoblog” plus 1 more

“Video: Ken Block unveils new livery for WRC Fiesta, Monster Girls - Autoblog” plus 1 more


Video: Ken Block unveils new livery for WRC Fiesta, Monster Girls - Autoblog

Posted:

Ken Block and the Monster World Rally Team's new Ford Fiesta RS WRC and livery reveal plus 2011 event program.

Ken Block and the Monster World Rally Team are upping the ante for 2011 with a bigger and broader schedule of races and events. In addition to taking on more WRC rounds this year in the all-new Monster Energy Ford Fiesta RS WRC, Block will also be competing in Summer X Games, Gymkhana GRID, and select RallyCar rallies and RallyCross events in the United States.

"2011 is going to be really big for me and the Monster World Rally Team," says Block "We're doing more WRC races this year, kicking off the Gymkhana World Tour, racing in Summer X Games, filming Gymkhana 4, plus hitting up a lot of other rally-related events worldwide. We even have a few top-secret projects in the works. I'm a lucky bastard to be doing all this, it's going to be an amazing year!"

Teasing the season, MWRT is releasing a three-part video series. The first of the clips reveals the all-new 2011 Monster Energy Ford Fiesta RS WRC with its freshly updated livery. The Fortum Ski Tunnel in Torsby, Sweden set the background for this clip while the Monster Girls provided some additional eye candy.

In the second clip, being released February 9th, Block candidly answers questions posed by fans on Facebook, ranging from his favorite moments of the 2010 season, to what he's looking forward to in 2011 and what his personal expectations are of himself during his second year of WRC development, as well as what it's like to be going into a brand-new chassis.

The last clip focuses solely on what the fans are pining for: snow-slinging, sideways action of Block in the Fiesta WRC for the first time ever during his pre-Rally Sweden test. This final clip will be released on February 10th.

In addition, Block and the Monster World Rally Team are also pleased to announce three new sponsors for the 2011 season. Joining Monster Energy, Ford, DC Shoes, Pirelli, Dirt3, Spy Optics, Hoonigan, Ryno Organics and Alpinestars will be Mobil 1 Extended Performance, Traxxas and GoPro.

The Ken Block and Monster World Rally Team 2011 schedule:

WRC Rally Sweden: February 10-13
WRC Corona Rally Mexico: March 3-6
Goodwood Press Day: March 17
WRC Vodafone Rally de Portugal: March 24-27
WRC Rally Argentina: May 26-29
Weston Festival of Speed: June 3-5
Goodwood Festival of Speed: July 1-3
X Games 17: July 25-30
WRC ADAC Rally Deutschland: August 18-21
WRC Rally Australia: September 8-11
WRC Rallye de France: September 29-October 2
WRC RACC Rally de Espana: October 20-23
SEMA 2011: November 1-4
WRC Wales Rally GB: November 10-13
+
Select RallyCar events
Select RallyCross events
Gymkhana World Tour Australia
Gymkhana World Tour Los Angeles
Gymkhana World Tour Austria
Three top-secret events to be announced

About Ken Block: Ken Blockʼs rally career began in 2005. His skill and car control became quickly apparent and Block aptly nabbed Rookie of the Year in the Rally America Championship. Since then, Block has continued to race in the series, boasting a healthy number of podium appearances, as well as X Games medals. In addition to his performance in the car, Block has been a driving force in shedding light on the sport within the United States. Block co-founded DC Shoes, a worldwide leader in performance skateboarding shoes and a renowned action sports brand. His keen branding and marketing acumen not only elevated DC to their current eminent status, but has allowed Block to achieve global fame as a national rally driver through his wildly successful viral video campaigns. Ad Age named his "Gymkhana TWO" the No. 4 Viral Video of 2009 and his "Gymkhana THREE; Part 2 Ultimate Playground; l'Autodrome" the No. 6 Viral Video of 2010. In January 2010, he signed with Ford to campaign the Rally America series and the World Rally Championship, being the first American to do so.

About Monster World Rally Team: Created and assembled by Ken Block, the object of the Monster World Rally Team is to redefine the race-team archetype. The team is driven not only to win, but to also market motorsport through innovative, creative and interactive ways. The team is supported by Monster Energy, Ford Motor Company, DC Shoes, Mobil 1 Extended Performance, Traxxas Pirelli Tires, the Dirt3 videogame, Spy Optics, Hoonigan, Ryno Organics and Alpinestars.

Follow us at www.monsterworldrallyteam.com

This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php
Five Filters featured article: Collateral Damage - WikiLeaks In The Crosshairs.



image

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Avril still a Sk8er Girl - Independent Online

Posted:

IOL news Avril Lavigne001

AP

Avril Lavigne skateboards in her garage. Photo: AP

Avril Lavigne skateboards in her garage.

The 'Sk8er Boi' hitmaker is so busy with her career she barely has time to go out and show off her skills, so instead she has cleared a space in her home to enjoy her hobby.

She admitted: "I sometimes skateboard at my house. This might sound really strange and bizarre, but I skateboard in my garage."

While Avril has little time to skateboard, the 26-year-old singer has recently taken up surfing, which she enjoys because of the similarities to her other hobby.

She said: "I've started surfboarding a little bit. Surfboarding is like skateboarding, only there's a longer board."

Though the pop star enjoys daredevil hobbies, she insists she is "well behaved" and her pre-performance preparations are quite boring.

Speaking at a fan Q&A event at the Apollo West End cinema in London, she told BANG Showbiz: "Before a show I like to do yoga, I'm very well behaved, and I like to drink tea."

The blonde star has been interacting with her fans via twitter recently, however, she admits she is still unsure how the micro-blogging website works.

She said: "I don't know how to reply when someone twitters me, I'm still just figuring it out. And did I really spell Justin Bieber's name wrong on twitter at first, and then I changed it? Still trying to figure that out too." - BANG Showbiz

This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php
Five Filters featured article: Collateral Damage - WikiLeaks In The Crosshairs.



image

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

“Cruising to the head of the class: Massachusetts based longboard and skateboard shop gets on board - PRLog (free press release)”

“Cruising to the head of the class: Massachusetts based longboard and skateboard shop gets on board - PRLog (free press release)”


Cruising to the head of the class: Massachusetts based longboard and skateboard shop gets on board - PRLog (free press release)

Posted:

PRLog (Press Release)Feb 15, 2011 – UMass Amherst and other college longboarders aren't just skating by. A new alliance and program with ATHENAEUM, a totally new concept in retail skateboard and longboard stores, has them on a roll.

With easy phone and store access, college skateboarders can now save 15 percent on any product ordered with free overnight shipping within New England and most of New York and Northern NJ. With ATHENAEUM's planned national footprint and stores soon expanding to San Francisco, CA; Huntington Beach, CA; Miami, FL and Denver, CO, colleges throughout the country will have the opportunity to connect with pro skaters and top of the line longboard and skateboard components and snowboards.

Drew Frayre, UMass Amherst's Longboarding, notes, "We are pumped about this new partnership. Now we have a 'go to' source for the best in gear, advice and direction. Our members are dedicated to practicing new techniques, longboarding in a group, and teaching and learning techniques from each other."

Dane Webber, a professional rider for Loaded Boards, who co-manages the Hingham ATHENAEUM location, adds, "Our UMass program is a great start in directly connecting to the college community and we look forward to replicating it with colleges throughout the U.S."

He added, "Not only can I advise them on their components and then build their board, but I can give them a free ATHENAEUM t-shirt signed by me"

ATHENAEUM, a totally new concept in retail skateboard and longboard stores, opened its doors in late November at Hingham's Derby Street Shoppes and offers local skaters a new place to hang and connect with pro skaters and top of the lines decks and hardware.

ATHENAEUM opened its first store located in Boston 18 months ago. The new Hingham location is the beginning of an exciting growth plan for New England. Over the next few years, several stores are projected to open including San Francisco, CA; Huntington Beach, CA; Miami, FL and Denver, CO.

With professional riders at the helm, skaters, as well as their parents will be able to seek advice on their new set ups from riders they have come to idolize on popular media outlets like YouTube and Vimeo.

Professional Riders and Top Brands

The Hingham store carries a very large skateboard and longboard inventory normally only found at the online stores. More than 15 unique brands of skateboard decks including Plan B, Element, Girl, Foundation and Zoo York will be sold at ATHENAEUM. A huge longboard inventory including Landyachtz, Loaded, Never Summer, ABEC 11, Orangatang, Paris and Retro.

See more information on ATHENAEUM by visiting Twitter @ athenaeumstores, Facebook http://www.facebook.com/ athenaeumstores, or ATHENAEUM's website at www.athenaeumstores.com.

About ATHENAEUM:
With corporate headquarters in Boston, MA, ATHENAEUM reinvented the skateboard shopping experience by opening its first location in Boston, 18 months ago, exclusively carrying hard goods in quantities and selections only previously found online. From store layout to exceptional customer service, to its lounge inspired atmosphere with its own internet lounge and art gallery, video gaming systems and huge flat screen TVs in each store.

ATHENAEUM is not just a store, but also a hangout, a learning center and a social club for skaters of all ages.

This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php
Five Filters featured article: Collateral Damage - WikiLeaks In The Crosshairs.



image

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Monday, February 21, 2011

“Riverview girl set to compete in WPIAL wrestling tourney - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review”

“Riverview girl set to compete in WPIAL wrestling tourney - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review”


Riverview girl set to compete in WPIAL wrestling tourney - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Posted:

Cindy Moroney prefers lauding her daughter Megan's excellent grades and interest in veterinary medicine.

Conversely, Megan's father, Chris, declares his offspring is destined for the Marine Corps.

But Megan Moroney, a Riverview wrestler, is focused on the present.

The 5-foot-2 freshman will compete in the 103-pound bracket at the WPIAL Class AA individual wrestling championships Friday at Chartiers Valley.

Moroney (11-12) won more than half her matches this year via decision or pinfall.

"Aside from making sure she has places to change, I treat her like any 103-pounder," Riverview coach Joe Murphy said. "I even moved her up in weight against South Allegheny, and she only lost 5-0.

"WPIALs is going to be tough for her. There are no slouches."

Teammates Evan Scott (125 pounds) and Nick Delmonaco (215) also will compete at WPIALs. But inevitably, all eyes will be on the Raiders' other qualifier.

"I've always been aggressive. I got in fights with boys when I was younger and was always jumping into football games or skateboarding," Moroney said. "My friends that are girls support me (wrestling), but my guy friends don't want to see me get hurt."

The debate over females in wrestling -- a physically intimate, male-dominated sport -- recently has erupted.

Last Thursday in Iowa, 112-pounder Joel Northrup withdrew from his first-round state tournament match with Cassy Herkelman, one of two girls to ever qualify for the event. Northrup, a favorite for the title, cited religious beliefs. The forfeit made national headlines.

"The boys may try not to grab me in certain areas, but I don't think I should be treated any differently," Moroney said. "We're going out for the same purpose -- to win."

Locally, there's been a smattering of formidable female wrestlers.

Last season, Brittany Faust compiled a 13-13 record for Knoch but didn't compete in the postseason. She's now wrestling at Missouri Valley College.

Inevitably, male opponents face this conundrum: rough up on a girl, and you're a bully; lose, and you're emasculated.

Murphy understands both sides.

"I had one of my guys lose to (Faust) last year, and I just said if you keep thinking about it, it's going to affect you for a long time," he said. "Between coaches, it's understood you don't go out to beat (girls) up. There are some guys like that, but I haven't seen anyone trying to prove a point with Megan. They just want to take care of business and get off the mat."

Growing up, Moroney often followed the lead of older brother Marcus, now a 152-pound teammate.

Megan eventually wanted to wrestle, but her mother was reluctant.

"I wasn't going to let her join and then she did the crying thing, so I let her go to practice and figured, 'She'll quit soon enough,' " Cindy said. "Well, she didn't quit. She got tougher and tougher, and she loves it.

"Thing is, she's such a cute girl. You just won't see her wearing any dresses."

And so, in one year, the petite tomboy who enjoys watching Ultimate Fighting, became a varsity starter who can bench presses 10 pounds more than her weight.

Murphy has coached girls before. The Pertinaci sisters, Christina and Amanda, wrestled for Riverview the past couple seasons.

"The biggest thing I learned is the girls talked all the time and drove me bananas," Murphy said, with a laugh. "Megan is a bit more quiet. There's a difference in her attitude. She has a good toughness about her, and she puts in the work.

"She's only been wrestling a few years, so we'll have to see how the talent develops. If she works hard, she might be able to do something down the road."


This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php
Five Filters featured article: Collateral Damage - WikiLeaks In The Crosshairs.



image

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Sunday, February 20, 2011

“Cruising to the head of the class: Massachusetts based longboard and skateboard shop gets on board - PRLog (free press release)”

“Cruising to the head of the class: Massachusetts based longboard and skateboard shop gets on board - PRLog (free press release)”


Cruising to the head of the class: Massachusetts based longboard and skateboard shop gets on board - PRLog (free press release)

Posted:

PRLog (Press Release)Feb 15, 2011 – UMass Amherst and other college longboarders aren't just skating by. A new alliance and program with ATHENAEUM, a totally new concept in retail skateboard and longboard stores, has them on a roll.

With easy phone and store access, college skateboarders can now save 15 percent on any product ordered with free overnight shipping within New England and most of New York and Northern NJ. With ATHENAEUM's planned national footprint and stores soon expanding to San Francisco, CA; Huntington Beach, CA; Miami, FL and Denver, CO, colleges throughout the country will have the opportunity to connect with pro skaters and top of the line longboard and skateboard components and snowboards.

Drew Frayre, UMass Amherst's Longboarding, notes, "We are pumped about this new partnership. Now we have a 'go to' source for the best in gear, advice and direction. Our members are dedicated to practicing new techniques, longboarding in a group, and teaching and learning techniques from each other."

Dane Webber, a professional rider for Loaded Boards, who co-manages the Hingham ATHENAEUM location, adds, "Our UMass program is a great start in directly connecting to the college community and we look forward to replicating it with colleges throughout the U.S."

He added, "Not only can I advise them on their components and then build their board, but I can give them a free ATHENAEUM t-shirt signed by me"

ATHENAEUM, a totally new concept in retail skateboard and longboard stores, opened its doors in late November at Hingham's Derby Street Shoppes and offers local skaters a new place to hang and connect with pro skaters and top of the lines decks and hardware.

ATHENAEUM opened its first store located in Boston 18 months ago. The new Hingham location is the beginning of an exciting growth plan for New England. Over the next few years, several stores are projected to open including San Francisco, CA; Huntington Beach, CA; Miami, FL and Denver, CO.

With professional riders at the helm, skaters, as well as their parents will be able to seek advice on their new set ups from riders they have come to idolize on popular media outlets like YouTube and Vimeo.

Professional Riders and Top Brands

The Hingham store carries a very large skateboard and longboard inventory normally only found at the online stores. More than 15 unique brands of skateboard decks including Plan B, Element, Girl, Foundation and Zoo York will be sold at ATHENAEUM. A huge longboard inventory including Landyachtz, Loaded, Never Summer, ABEC 11, Orangatang, Paris and Retro.

See more information on ATHENAEUM by visiting Twitter @ athenaeumstores, Facebook http://www.facebook.com/ athenaeumstores, or ATHENAEUM's website at www.athenaeumstores.com.

About ATHENAEUM:
With corporate headquarters in Boston, MA, ATHENAEUM reinvented the skateboard shopping experience by opening its first location in Boston, 18 months ago, exclusively carrying hard goods in quantities and selections only previously found online. From store layout to exceptional customer service, to its lounge inspired atmosphere with its own internet lounge and art gallery, video gaming systems and huge flat screen TVs in each store.

ATHENAEUM is not just a store, but also a hangout, a learning center and a social club for skaters of all ages.

This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php
Five Filters featured article: Collateral Damage - WikiLeaks In The Crosshairs.



image

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Saturday, February 19, 2011

“Video: Ken Block unveils new livery for WRC Fiesta, Monster Girls - Autoblog”

“Video: Ken Block unveils new livery for WRC Fiesta, Monster Girls - Autoblog”


Video: Ken Block unveils new livery for WRC Fiesta, Monster Girls - Autoblog

Posted:

Ken Block and the Monster World Rally Team's new Ford Fiesta RS WRC and livery reveal plus 2011 event program.

Ken Block and the Monster World Rally Team are upping the ante for 2011 with a bigger and broader schedule of races and events. In addition to taking on more WRC rounds this year in the all-new Monster Energy Ford Fiesta RS WRC, Block will also be competing in Summer X Games, Gymkhana GRID, and select RallyCar rallies and RallyCross events in the United States.

"2011 is going to be really big for me and the Monster World Rally Team," says Block "We're doing more WRC races this year, kicking off the Gymkhana World Tour, racing in Summer X Games, filming Gymkhana 4, plus hitting up a lot of other rally-related events worldwide. We even have a few top-secret projects in the works. I'm a lucky bastard to be doing all this, it's going to be an amazing year!"

Teasing the season, MWRT is releasing a three-part video series. The first of the clips reveals the all-new 2011 Monster Energy Ford Fiesta RS WRC with its freshly updated livery. The Fortum Ski Tunnel in Torsby, Sweden set the background for this clip while the Monster Girls provided some additional eye candy.

In the second clip, being released February 9th, Block candidly answers questions posed by fans on Facebook, ranging from his favorite moments of the 2010 season, to what he's looking forward to in 2011 and what his personal expectations are of himself during his second year of WRC development, as well as what it's like to be going into a brand-new chassis.

The last clip focuses solely on what the fans are pining for: snow-slinging, sideways action of Block in the Fiesta WRC for the first time ever during his pre-Rally Sweden test. This final clip will be released on February 10th.

In addition, Block and the Monster World Rally Team are also pleased to announce three new sponsors for the 2011 season. Joining Monster Energy, Ford, DC Shoes, Pirelli, Dirt3, Spy Optics, Hoonigan, Ryno Organics and Alpinestars will be Mobil 1 Extended Performance, Traxxas and GoPro.

The Ken Block and Monster World Rally Team 2011 schedule:

WRC Rally Sweden: February 10-13
WRC Corona Rally Mexico: March 3-6
Goodwood Press Day: March 17
WRC Vodafone Rally de Portugal: March 24-27
WRC Rally Argentina: May 26-29
Weston Festival of Speed: June 3-5
Goodwood Festival of Speed: July 1-3
X Games 17: July 25-30
WRC ADAC Rally Deutschland: August 18-21
WRC Rally Australia: September 8-11
WRC Rallye de France: September 29-October 2
WRC RACC Rally de Espana: October 20-23
SEMA 2011: November 1-4
WRC Wales Rally GB: November 10-13
+
Select RallyCar events
Select RallyCross events
Gymkhana World Tour Australia
Gymkhana World Tour Los Angeles
Gymkhana World Tour Austria
Three top-secret events to be announced

About Ken Block: Ken Blockʼs rally career began in 2005. His skill and car control became quickly apparent and Block aptly nabbed Rookie of the Year in the Rally America Championship. Since then, Block has continued to race in the series, boasting a healthy number of podium appearances, as well as X Games medals. In addition to his performance in the car, Block has been a driving force in shedding light on the sport within the United States. Block co-founded DC Shoes, a worldwide leader in performance skateboarding shoes and a renowned action sports brand. His keen branding and marketing acumen not only elevated DC to their current eminent status, but has allowed Block to achieve global fame as a national rally driver through his wildly successful viral video campaigns. Ad Age named his "Gymkhana TWO" the No. 4 Viral Video of 2009 and his "Gymkhana THREE; Part 2 Ultimate Playground; l'Autodrome" the No. 6 Viral Video of 2010. In January 2010, he signed with Ford to campaign the Rally America series and the World Rally Championship, being the first American to do so.

About Monster World Rally Team: Created and assembled by Ken Block, the object of the Monster World Rally Team is to redefine the race-team archetype. The team is driven not only to win, but to also market motorsport through innovative, creative and interactive ways. The team is supported by Monster Energy, Ford Motor Company, DC Shoes, Mobil 1 Extended Performance, Traxxas Pirelli Tires, the Dirt3 videogame, Spy Optics, Hoonigan, Ryno Organics and Alpinestars.

Follow us at www.monsterworldrallyteam.com

This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php
Five Filters featured article: Collateral Damage - WikiLeaks In The Crosshairs.



image

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Friday, February 18, 2011

“Girl Talk is a master of musical mixes - Los Angeles Times”

“Girl Talk is a master of musical mixes - Los Angeles Times”


Girl Talk is a master of musical mixes - Los Angeles Times

Posted:

When Gregg Gillis, the biomedical engineer turned pop mash-up mad scientist known as Girl Talk, mixes together a mainstream hit like Rihanna's "Rude Boy" with a less well-known song such as Washington, D.C., post-punk band Fugazi's "Waiting Room," he's not doing it to force feed his favorite music to his fans.

He doing it because it makes sense, musically.

"I don't want to push anything on anyone," says Gillis.

"Part of the theme of the music is it's OK to be into anything, and there should be no rules," says the 29-year-old from Pittsburgh, talking on the phone from a tour stop in Raleigh, N.C. "But I am actively a fan of everything I sample. So if someone does get turned on to Fugazi because of my record, then I'm into it."

Everything Gillis samples runs a rather mind-blowing gamut. On "All Day," the latest Girl Talk magnum opus, there are 373 different song parts used, ranging alphabetically from a-ha's "Take on Me" to Zapp's "Doo Wah Ditty (Blow That Thing)," with everything from Willow Smith and Jimmy Smith and Jay-Z and Joe Jackson mixed in.

"It's always fun for me to hear people say, 'Wow, that's great party music,"' Gillis says. "But I still want to make music that's challenging to a certain degree on a compositional level. If you take a step back, it's a 71-minute piece of music that's linear with no repetition, really. Structurally, it's kind of out there. I want to try out a lot of things, but still be accessible to someone who's 50 or someone who's 15."

Gillis studied engineering at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland and worked doing sleep-science research in his early 20s while making experimental music on his laptop in the evening. "We worked on a lot of devices that would help you fall asleep or maintain sleep," he says. Now, of course, Gillis concentrates on keeping listeners very much awake. "It's the opposite, pretty much all the time," he says. "I'm working my hardest to keep them up."

Scientific discipline readied Gillis for the detail-oriented process of making music out of complexly interwoven digital samples.

"Music making to me is not the classic cliche of somebody sitting on the beach strumming a guitar, writing a new song after they broke up with their girlfriend," he says. "It's very meticulous and it involves way more trial and error. Going back to science, it's like fine-tuning these little ideas that will then go together to build something bigger. It's a detail-oriented process.

"The parallels are definitely there."

Early Girl Talk albums such as "Secret Diary" (2002) and "Unstoppable" (2004) used pop samples as part of a sonic assault that was often proudly abrasive. Starting with "Night Ripper" in 2006, however, the pleasure principle began to reign supreme in his work.

That album got its title from an old skateboarding T-shirt and because he was sitting in front of a computer at his job during the day and doing the same thing making music at night.

On stage, Gillis is "a guy playing a laptop," triggering samples in real time that may or may not correspond to how he does it on his records. "I tend to be more blunt during the live show. I lay off some of the more mellow stuff that's on the record. I want the record to be something that people can have fun and party to, but also that they can enjoy for years to come. In the live show, I like to do reinterpretations of things and jump around a bit. The show is like a big collage of everything I've done and what I'm currently working on."

"All Day" was released last fall on the Illegal Art label, and it's the first of Girl Talk's albums to be totally free.

It's a gratis download without even a pay-what-you-wish option, on the Illegal Art website.

Surprisingly, Gillis has never been sued for sampling other people's hits. He only half jokingly says that if he did have to clear all the samples on the album -- from Nicki Minaj's "Your Love" to Allen Toussaint's "Get Out of My Life Woman" -- he would have to charge "$1,000 for a copy of the album, or maybe $10,000."

He's never considered doing that, because it wouldn't be much of a working business model and because he stands behind the copyright-law doctrine of Fair Use, which allows artists to reuse source material if the work they create is "transformative."

"I believe it qualifies as Fair Use, and my label believes that and want to put it out there and push those buttons," Gillis says. "I like making the music because I grew up with hip-hop and I like hearing samples. But I also feel that it's not creating competition for the artists. Especially in 2011, where anytime there's a pop song on the radio there are remixes of it and fan-made remixes of it, on YouTube and everywhere else. There's a constant interaction. People are pretty positive about it. And they see that nobody's going to be not buying the music of any of the artists I sample because they heard it on my album.

"If anything, it's the opposite. I'm always hearing from kids on Facebook who are like: 'I've gotten so into the Electric Light Orchestra after I heard that sample you used.' I hear it every day. That's the way it goes down."

This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php
Five Filters featured article: Collateral Damage - WikiLeaks In The Crosshairs.



image

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Thursday, February 17, 2011

“Video: Ken Block unveils new livery for WRC Fiesta, Monster Girls - Autoblog”

“Video: Ken Block unveils new livery for WRC Fiesta, Monster Girls - Autoblog”


Video: Ken Block unveils new livery for WRC Fiesta, Monster Girls - Autoblog

Posted:

Ken Block and the Monster World Rally Team's new Ford Fiesta RS WRC and livery reveal plus 2011 event program.

Ken Block and the Monster World Rally Team are upping the ante for 2011 with a bigger and broader schedule of races and events. In addition to taking on more WRC rounds this year in the all-new Monster Energy Ford Fiesta RS WRC, Block will also be competing in Summer X Games, Gymkhana GRID, and select RallyCar rallies and RallyCross events in the United States.

"2011 is going to be really big for me and the Monster World Rally Team," says Block "We're doing more WRC races this year, kicking off the Gymkhana World Tour, racing in Summer X Games, filming Gymkhana 4, plus hitting up a lot of other rally-related events worldwide. We even have a few top-secret projects in the works. I'm a lucky bastard to be doing all this, it's going to be an amazing year!"

Teasing the season, MWRT is releasing a three-part video series. The first of the clips reveals the all-new 2011 Monster Energy Ford Fiesta RS WRC with its freshly updated livery. The Fortum Ski Tunnel in Torsby, Sweden set the background for this clip while the Monster Girls provided some additional eye candy.

In the second clip, being released February 9th, Block candidly answers questions posed by fans on Facebook, ranging from his favorite moments of the 2010 season, to what he's looking forward to in 2011 and what his personal expectations are of himself during his second year of WRC development, as well as what it's like to be going into a brand-new chassis.

The last clip focuses solely on what the fans are pining for: snow-slinging, sideways action of Block in the Fiesta WRC for the first time ever during his pre-Rally Sweden test. This final clip will be released on February 10th.

In addition, Block and the Monster World Rally Team are also pleased to announce three new sponsors for the 2011 season. Joining Monster Energy, Ford, DC Shoes, Pirelli, Dirt3, Spy Optics, Hoonigan, Ryno Organics and Alpinestars will be Mobil 1 Extended Performance, Traxxas and GoPro.

The Ken Block and Monster World Rally Team 2011 schedule:

WRC Rally Sweden: February 10-13
WRC Corona Rally Mexico: March 3-6
Goodwood Press Day: March 17
WRC Vodafone Rally de Portugal: March 24-27
WRC Rally Argentina: May 26-29
Weston Festival of Speed: June 3-5
Goodwood Festival of Speed: July 1-3
X Games 17: July 25-30
WRC ADAC Rally Deutschland: August 18-21
WRC Rally Australia: September 8-11
WRC Rallye de France: September 29-October 2
WRC RACC Rally de Espana: October 20-23
SEMA 2011: November 1-4
WRC Wales Rally GB: November 10-13
+
Select RallyCar events
Select RallyCross events
Gymkhana World Tour Australia
Gymkhana World Tour Los Angeles
Gymkhana World Tour Austria
Three top-secret events to be announced

About Ken Block: Ken Blockʼs rally career began in 2005. His skill and car control became quickly apparent and Block aptly nabbed Rookie of the Year in the Rally America Championship. Since then, Block has continued to race in the series, boasting a healthy number of podium appearances, as well as X Games medals. In addition to his performance in the car, Block has been a driving force in shedding light on the sport within the United States. Block co-founded DC Shoes, a worldwide leader in performance skateboarding shoes and a renowned action sports brand. His keen branding and marketing acumen not only elevated DC to their current eminent status, but has allowed Block to achieve global fame as a national rally driver through his wildly successful viral video campaigns. Ad Age named his "Gymkhana TWO" the No. 4 Viral Video of 2009 and his "Gymkhana THREE; Part 2 Ultimate Playground; l'Autodrome" the No. 6 Viral Video of 2010. In January 2010, he signed with Ford to campaign the Rally America series and the World Rally Championship, being the first American to do so.

About Monster World Rally Team: Created and assembled by Ken Block, the object of the Monster World Rally Team is to redefine the race-team archetype. The team is driven not only to win, but to also market motorsport through innovative, creative and interactive ways. The team is supported by Monster Energy, Ford Motor Company, DC Shoes, Mobil 1 Extended Performance, Traxxas Pirelli Tires, the Dirt3 videogame, Spy Optics, Hoonigan, Ryno Organics and Alpinestars.

Follow us at www.monsterworldrallyteam.com

This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php
Five Filters featured article: Collateral Damage - WikiLeaks In The Crosshairs.



image

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

“Cruising to the head of the class: Massachusetts based longboard and skateboard shop gets on board - PRLog (free press release)”

“Cruising to the head of the class: Massachusetts based longboard and skateboard shop gets on board - PRLog (free press release)”


Cruising to the head of the class: Massachusetts based longboard and skateboard shop gets on board - PRLog (free press release)

Posted:

PRLog (Press Release)Feb 15, 2011 – UMass Amherst and other college longboarders aren't just skating by. A new alliance and program with ATHENAEUM, a totally new concept in retail skateboard and longboard stores, has them on a roll.

With easy phone and store access, college skateboarders can now save 15 percent on any product ordered with free overnight shipping within New England and most of New York and Northern NJ. With ATHENAEUM's planned national footprint and stores soon expanding to San Francisco, CA; Huntington Beach, CA; Miami, FL and Denver, CO, colleges throughout the country will have the opportunity to connect with pro skaters and top of the line longboard and skateboard components and snowboards.

Drew Frayre, UMass Amherst's Longboarding, notes, "We are pumped about this new partnership. Now we have a 'go to' source for the best in gear, advice and direction. Our members are dedicated to practicing new techniques, longboarding in a group, and teaching and learning techniques from each other."

Dane Webber, a professional rider for Loaded Boards, who co-manages the Hingham ATHENAEUM location, adds, "Our UMass program is a great start in directly connecting to the college community and we look forward to replicating it with colleges throughout the U.S."

He added, "Not only can I advise them on their components and then build their board, but I can give them a free ATHENAEUM t-shirt signed by me"

ATHENAEUM, a totally new concept in retail skateboard and longboard stores, opened its doors in late November at Hingham's Derby Street Shoppes and offers local skaters a new place to hang and connect with pro skaters and top of the lines decks and hardware.

ATHENAEUM opened its first store located in Boston 18 months ago. The new Hingham location is the beginning of an exciting growth plan for New England. Over the next few years, several stores are projected to open including San Francisco, CA; Huntington Beach, CA; Miami, FL and Denver, CO.

With professional riders at the helm, skaters, as well as their parents will be able to seek advice on their new set ups from riders they have come to idolize on popular media outlets like YouTube and Vimeo.

Professional Riders and Top Brands

The Hingham store carries a very large skateboard and longboard inventory normally only found at the online stores. More than 15 unique brands of skateboard decks including Plan B, Element, Girl, Foundation and Zoo York will be sold at ATHENAEUM. A huge longboard inventory including Landyachtz, Loaded, Never Summer, ABEC 11, Orangatang, Paris and Retro.

See more information on ATHENAEUM by visiting Twitter @ athenaeumstores, Facebook http://www.facebook.com/ athenaeumstores, or ATHENAEUM's website at www.athenaeumstores.com.

About ATHENAEUM:
With corporate headquarters in Boston, MA, ATHENAEUM reinvented the skateboard shopping experience by opening its first location in Boston, 18 months ago, exclusively carrying hard goods in quantities and selections only previously found online. From store layout to exceptional customer service, to its lounge inspired atmosphere with its own internet lounge and art gallery, video gaming systems and huge flat screen TVs in each store.

ATHENAEUM is not just a store, but also a hangout, a learning center and a social club for skaters of all ages.

This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php
Five Filters featured article: Collateral Damage - WikiLeaks In The Crosshairs.



image

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now