A Brief History of Nothing

According to his official biography, Charlie Nothing “was not born, did not go to school, did not die,” and his main instrument is the dingulator. Obsessive record collectors may recall his name from the 1967 LP The Psychedelic Saxophone of Charlie Nothing, one of the only non-guitar records released on John Fahey’s Takoma label. Contemporary listeners might know Nothing from his powerful performance of dingulation, as he calls his music, in Chicago at the 2005 Two Million Tongues Festival. Featuring a roster of difficult-to-categorize musicians, it was the ideal venue for this difficult-to-categorize performer. Josephine Foster, who was also on the bill, describes him as being like “the incarnation of Ubu Rex” and says, “Charlie seems to lose himself deeply in the raw spirit of performance.”

In the years between 1967 and 2005, you might have crossed paths with Nothing at any number of places. Perhaps it was in a New York loft in the mid 1960s, when he gave a series of performances that had grown out of the drug scene and the jam sessions around his house. Nothing’s first band included himself on sopranino sax, a classically trained Indian tabla drummer and a young Japanese woman who recited litanies of everyday items such as “underarm deodorant, soap, green shoes, pink shoes, lipstickâ?¦”

Next came the First Uniphrenic Church and Bank Band, a group that included a young, pre-Blondie Debbie Harry in what must have been some of her first vocal performances. Besides playing the Village Gate, the Uniphrenic band put on a series of Friday night concerts in a friend’s Manhattan loft, where everything, including the toilet, was decorated in always-fashionable black. The loft concerts were extremely popular–perhaps it was the music or maybe it was the free beer–but the fire department eventually shut them down.

Nothing then moved on to Los Angeles, where he performed at an arena show with Frank Zappa; joined and then quit the cast of Hair; and performed a flute concert at the Los Angeles Museum of Modern Art. The museum curator assured Nothing that there would be no restrictions on his performance, so the concert took place in the men’s room after hours for an audience of two.

After his stint in Los Angeles, Nothing went north to the Bay Area, where he lived in a squat in the back of a Haight-Ashbury sandal shop and played love-ins, North Beach jazz clubs and similar venues of the era. Nothing recorded The Psychedelic Saxophone of Charlie Nothing during this period. The album featured saxophone improvisation accompanied by concert gong, conga drum and a banjo ukulele that was borrowed from Tiny Tim for the occasion. Nothing also drew the cover art. Not surprisingly, it never cracked the Billboard Top 100, but it did attain some cult success in Europe among aficionados of free improvised music.

Nothing eventually settled in Santa Cruz, California, where he became a beekeeper and an expert in the removal of stinging insects. He did not perform from 1984 until 2004, feeling he had “evolved past the entertaining-monkey-jumping-up-and-down-on-the-stage stage.” But Nothing was not artistically inactive. He published books (under the name Charles Martin Simon), created art in many different media and even sent a tape of music to Ronald Reagan. The White House replied with a nice letter that opened: “Dear Mr. Nothing, The President appreciates your support…”

And he built dingulators, of course, a class of instrument he invented. At first glance, a dingulator has superficial similarities to a steel-bodied National-style guitar. The number of strings varies, up to as many as 21, but seven or eight strings is typical. Dingulators have raised frets akin to those on a sitar, and each one is unique. Classic examples tend to have scrolls and curlicues reminiscent of a Gibson Style 0 guitar or perhaps a Gibson H-4 mandola. They are made from old cars.

Why cars? “Cars have the right kind of steel,” Nothing explains. “Cars have got very soulful steel.” But the steel has to come from older cars: “Metal on new cars, whether it’s American or foreign, is just not up to quality.” Nothing’s current project is to make a dingulator from a 1965 VW Karmann Ghia. There is a political message in his artistic recycling. “It’s a sword-to-plowshare kind of thing,” he says. “Cars to guitars.”

Dingulators have steel strings and friction pegs. Their tuning is variable, organic and evolving. “The ideal would be to never tune them, to just find where they are going and go with it,” he says. “But sometimes I do make adjustments.” Nothing is a highly skilled artisan and welder. The form of each dingulator is hand-drawn in chalk directly onto the metal.

Foster says, “Dingulators remind me of African instruments; they are folk-art masterpieces.” The African influence is probably real. Talking about the origin of dingulators, Nothing demonstrated his favorite kalimba, which had a broken tine that produced a note with a deep, rich buzz. That one buzzing note had the sound he liked and saved the otherwise unremarkable instrument from the trashcan.

What does a dingulator sound like? “They are tuned percussion to animate and punctuate his spoken-word diatribes,” Foster explains. Another point of reference might be Hans Reichel’s early, pre-daxophone, modified-guitar recordings; Derek Bailey’s music also comes to mind. Nothing, though, is unfamiliar with both Reichel and Bailey, so it seems that dingulation evolved on its own.

Nothing can be in-your-face confrontational, especially in his explicitly political songs, but there are more facets to his music. As he demonstrated the voice of each individual dingulator, Nothing improvised music of great beauty, passion and intensity. He plays completely in the moment and is sometimes possessed by musical spirits. What are Nothing’s musical influences? “Everything,” he says. “I’m influenced probably as much by the stuff I don’t like as the stuff I like. So I’d have to say I’m influenced by everything.” One of the things Nothing doesn’t like is Muzak. You can believe him when he promises, “Dingulation will never be on Muzak!”

In 2004, Nothing realized he was, in fact, “a monkey jumping up and down” and he began performing in public again. After playing small venues in the Santa Cruz area, he began to receive invitations to various music festivals, including the Pauze Festival in Ghent, Belgium, and the Two Million Tongues Festival in Chicago. There was, however, one problem with launching this new phase of his career: Dingulators aren’t particularly portable. To get around that obstacle, Nothing has started work on a smaller travel version. He’s building a dingulator with a removable neck that can be stored in the body, making a compact and indestructible steel carrying case. All dimensions were carefully planned to meet international airline requirements for carry-on luggage. It remains to be seen if the airport bureaucracies will be able to cope with dingulation.

Acid Reflux Recovery Diet And Recipes

Charles Stewart Richey

Curing oneself of the condition called acid reflux can be accomplished by using natural, healthy methods. I suffered from this condition for years, taking harmful, expensive PPI drugs (proton inhibitors), which only masked the symptoms. These drugs, not only had myriad side effects, but became ineffective over time. I was forced to find another answer. I wanted to cure myself without the use of drugs. My doctor was no help. He didn’t have a clue about natural healing and nutrition. After a great deal of research I discover that with the proper use of herbs, health store items, meditation, exercise and diet, one can heal themselves of acid reflux.

The first thing that I learned is that acid reflux, sometimes called gerd (gastro esophageal reflux disease), is not a disease at all. Contrary to what the medical community would have us believe, it is simply a condition, brought on by poor eating habits. Besides eating the wrong foods, not chewing food properly is probably the root cause of this ailment.

The Acid reflux condition would not exist without a damaged esophagus and a weakened LES (lower esophageal sphincter). If the condition is to be eliminated, healing the esophagus must be the first order of business.

During this reflux recovery period, eating anything which could irritate or damage the esophagus, must be avoided. Things like poorly chewed chips, crackers, cereal or any hard foods with sharp edges are culinary culprits – they cause little lacerations to develop in the esophagus. Until the lacerations have had a chance to heal, spicy foods, such as acidic tomato products, hot peppers, raw garlic and raw onions should also be eliminated from the diet. They just further irritate the condition. Smoking and drinking alcohol relax the LES, allowing stomach acid to splash up into the esophagus, thus impeding the healing process.

The key to acid reflux recovery is to eat only mild, easy to digest food until the esophagus has healed. Eat early, giving yourself at least three hours of sitting or walking time before lying down. Eat slowly and chew your food completely. Last, but not least, try to eat in a relaxed, pleasant and stress free environment.

I have listed a few of my favorite recipes that I enjoyed during my own recovery period. They can be made quickly and easily. Try doubling these recipes so that you can reheat them later in the week…..less time in the kitchen. Remember that cooking from scratch, instead of relying on convenience foods, is a better approach to good health, in general. It’s also nice to know what you’re really eating.

For breakfast, I believe that fresh fruit is the best way to go. I especially like melon and papaya. For lunch I eat more fruit like apples, bananas and, perhaps some almonds, or walnuts. It’s better to eat many little healthy meals during the day. I try to buy only organic fruits, however, sometimes when I am rushed, I purchase “ready to go” containers of mixed fruit at the grocery store. Try to stay away from pineapple, as I find it hard to digest.

How about starters in the evening? Serving vegetables raw is the ultimate healthy way to present them.

Try creating a beautiful platter of crudité (crew di tay) better known as elegant rabbit food. Serve it with a savory tofu dip. Use cauliflower, broccoli, English cucumbers, radishes, green & yellow zucchinis, Belgium endive, carrot sticks, whole small mushrooms, or whatever appeals to you. Cut the vegetables in bite size pieces for dipping. The Belgium endive is a natural edible scoop for dipping. Just cut off the ends and peel off the leaves.

Make the tofu dip by putting one package of soft or silken tofu in a food processor or blender, adding garlic powder, cumin, paprika and chopped chives or parsley for flavor and color. Season with salt & pepper to taste. Add a little fresh squeezed lemon juice if the mixture is too thick. Process until smooth and creamy. If you are in a rush, ready made dips and raw vegetable platters are available in the produce sections of most supermarkets, but make a concerted effort to eat only organic, if possible.

I hope that you enjoy the following dishes. Even though I have cured myself of acid reflux, I still serve these recipes on a regular basis. I prefer food slightly under cooked. Feel free to adjust the cooking times and seasonings according to your own taste.

Bon appetite!

Sautéed White Fish On A Bed Of Mashed Potatoes

This recipe is for one serving. Increase the ingredients for additional servings as needed.

One 4oz filet of white fish (orange roughly, sole, turbot, flounder, etc)

One med. Potato

Steamed green vegetable such as broccoli, spinach, peas or asparagus

Parsley or chives for garnish

¼ tbsp unsalted butter, olive oil or Pam

We will start with the potatoes because they take the longest to cook and they tend to retain their heat the longest. The fish and vegetable take only minutes to cook. )

Peel and cube potato. Place in cold water to cover. Bring to the boil, and then simmer until fork tender. Drain, leaving just enough cooking liquid for mashing or whipping. You may also use the vegetable broth (recipe below) instead. Add salt to taste. Hold in a warm place.

Season fish with salt and pepper to taste. Place non-stick sauté pan over med high heat. Add butter, oil or spray with Pam. When not quite smoking, add fish. Cook two minutes, turn and cook other side for two minutes, or until the filet is light brown and cooked through. If the filet is very thin, one minute on each side may be enough. (You can broil or bake the fish if desired)

Serve fish on top of mashed potatoes, surrounded by the steamed vegetables. Garnish with chopped parsley or chives.

Vegetable Broth

This broth is very alkaline and rich in minerals. It can be served as a simple soup, or used as a stock (as above) for cooking. Cook and save the potatoes and beets to use as a vegetable side dish or to add to soup.

2 cups red skinned potato peelings

3 cups celery stalk

2 cups celery tops

2 cups beet tops

1 small zucchini or yellow squash

2 cups carrots

One small onion

Sprig of parsley

2 ½ quarts distilled water

Chop all vegetables into very fine pieces. Place in water and bring to the boil. Simmer for 20 minutes. Strain & refrigerate for future use.

Note: By cooking pearled barley in the finished broth with the addition of chopped vegetables, one can prepare a healthy soup for a first course.

Pasta Primavera

Primavera means “spring” in Italian. This pasta dish offers a great opportunity to use all the wonderful fresh spring vegetables at your disposal. However, you can make this dish anytime of the year by using whatever fresh vegetables you can find at your food market. I have chosen a mixture of vegetables that I happen to love, for this recipe. You can use these or replace them with your favorites. During the reflux healing period, try to stay away from tomatoes, raw onions and raw garlic. I have included garlic in this recipe (*see note regarding roasted garlic). If you can tolerate a little garlic, then make sure to cook it well at a low temperature, without browning it. If you want to be a bit daring, you can add the optional cup of heavy cream. You may substitute parsley for the basil and the penne regatta for fettuccini, or another pasta. The whole family can enjoy this classic pasta dish.

1 cup sliced mushrooms

1 cup sliced carrots

1 cup baby peas

1 cup sliced asparagus spears

1 cup snow peas or sugar snaps

2 cloves garlic finely chopped or roasted

1 lb. penne regatta

1 tsp. salt

3 tbsp extra virgin, first cold pressed olive oil

½ cup shredded basil

½ cup Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese

½ cup heavy cream (optional)

Place a steamer basket in a pot with a small amount of water and bring to the boil. Place vegetables in basket, cover and steam until tender (about 4 minutes). Rinse under cold running water to stop the cooking and preserve the color, and drain.

To a large pot of boiling water, add salt and the penne regatta. Cook uncovered according to the instructions on box, preferably al dente.

Meanwhile in a large sauté pan, heat the olive oil. Add the garlic and cook at a low flame for a couple of minutes (do not brown). Add the steamed vegetables and optional heavy cream and raise the heat to medium. Cook just enough to heat.

Drain the pasta and add to the sauté pan and mix well.

Sprinkle with Parmigianino Reggiano, and shredded basil. Heat the dish thoroughly and serve. If the dish needs more salt, use extra cheese instead, at the table. Serve this dish with a heart of romaine salad with lemon chive dressing (recipe below)

Note: It takes more than two cloves of roasted garlic, for this recipe. On a sheet of aluminum foil place two heads of garlic and cut the stem end off with a knife. Drizzle a little olive oil over them and wrap tightly. Bake in a 400 degree oven for one hour. When cool enough to handle, squeeze out the roasted garlic, into a bowl, discarding the shells. Mash well with a fork.

Another use for roasted garlic is my version of pesto sauce. I use walnuts instead of pine nuts, which I find indigestible, with the roasted garlic and basil. Use whatever proportion you like and drizzle first pressed, extra virgin olive oil into the blender. If your sauce is too thin, adjust with more walnuts, basil and garlic. If it is too thick, use more olive oil. This is all a matter of taste. Serve with your favorite pasta. I prefer linguini or fettuccini.

Lemon chive salad dressing

This is a simple, yet classic vinaigrette for green salads. Use heart of Romaine, Boston or Bipp lettuce. Make this dressing and hour or so before serving, in order that the chive flavor is fully incorporated. Remember to toss well before serving. The advantage here is using lemon juice, instead of vinegar. I find that lemon juice becomes alkaline after being ingested.

1 lemon juiced

Sea salt (pinch)

3 tbsp. extra fine sugar

6 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil

6 tbsp. minced chives (you can’t have too many)

Freshly ground black pepper

Combine lemon juice, salt and sugar in a mixing bowl. Whisk until the sugar and salt are dissolved. Continue whisking in the olive oil, chives and several grinds of pepper. Keep whisking until dressing is emulsified.

(Note: You can make this dressing for two by reducing the lemon juice to two tbsp. and the other ingredients by 1/3.) Keep left over dressing in a jar in fridge for future use. It will keep for about a week.

Savory Lentils with Texmati Brown Rice

1 lb of organic lentils (2 ½ cups), rinsed

8 cups water or stock

1 onion, chopped

3 cloves of garlic, chopped

2 carrots, sliced

2 stalks celery, chopped

1 bay leaf

2 sprigs of thyme, or ½ tsp dried

Organic Texmati brown rice (follow instructions on package)

To a large pot bring water and lentils to a boil. Add other ingredients. Reduce to the simmer, partially covered. Cook until tender (about 20 to 30 minutes), stirring occasionally and adding more liquid as needed.. Remove the bay leaf and thyme sprigs. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Serve over organic Texmati brown rice. Garnish with chopped parsley. Serve with a light green salad, dressed with the lemon chive dressing above.

Baked Chicken Breasts on Mushroom Caps

with steamed broccoli and new potatoes

6 chicken breasts (either bone in or halves with skin on)

1 tsp dried thyme

Olive oil

6 large Portobello mushrooms (or enough smaller mushrooms to cover the bottom of the baking pan)

1 tbsp minced garlic

Salt & pepper to taste

2 cups dry white wine or dry vermouth

¼ cup fresh chopped parsley

Place rack in center of oven and preheat to 400 degrees.

Into a lightly oiled baking pan, large enough to hold chicken breasts, arrange mushrooms gill side down. Sprinkle with minced garlic, salt & pepper. Pour wine over mushrooms. Place chicken breasts skin side up over mushrooms and brush with olive oil.

Bake uncovered about 20 minutes, until the breasts are golden brown. If the wine has evaporated during the cooking process, add a little more (for those of you who can’t tolerate alcohol, keep in mind that it burns off during the cooking process, leaving only the flavor).

Baste the breasts with the pan juices and turn over. Cook until breasts are completely done and springy to the finger, about 15 minutes more.

With a slotted spoon, place the chicken and mushrooms on a platter, mushrooms on the bottom and breasts on top, skin side up. Skim off excess fat and spoon juices over the chicken. Sprinkle with parsley.

Serve with steamed broccoli and boiled new potatoes. (Substitute brown rice for potatoes, if desired)

Stir fried shrimp and vegetables

Served over millet, brown rice or quinoa

3 tbsp Canola oil

1lb. raw medium peeled shrimp

2 cups broccoli florets

2 cups sliced mushrooms

4 scallions, trimmed and chopped

2 tbsp Garlic, minced

2 tbsp fresh ginger, minced

1 cup cold vegetable broth (see recipe above), mixed with 2tbsps, cornstarch

1 package of organic millet

Into a hot wok or sauté pan pour oil until just smoking

Add vegetables and stir constantly to cook al dente

Add shrimp and continue to stir until just turning pink

Add broth and cover for a couple of minutes until shrimp is almost done

Uncover and add cornstarch mixture, stir until thickened and turn off heat

Serve over millet cooked according to package instructions

Season to taste with tamari light soy sauce

Note: This dish must be done very quickly, as you don’t want to over cook the shrimp or the vegetables. I have chosen Millet because it is an extremely alkaline grain. It is neutral in taste and will absorb the flavors of this dish. You may substitute brown rice instead.

For more information on how to heal acid reflux the natural way, go to: http://www.refluxgoneforever.com

Anana Presents: Music From Israel

Are Your Tailgating Skills Ready For the Fall Season?

The Fall is officially here, ushering in the season of the color-changing leaves, cooling weather, cheering football fans, and the irresistible aromas of tailgating parties. There is no better way to spend your weekends during this colorful season than preparing and eating deliciously traditional dishes with your friends and family in a parking lot, out of a truck bed, or on someone’s driveway.

The classic pre-game tailgate party, as any football fan knows, has grown up over the years. While it is perfectly acceptable to fire up the grill and cook the simple pleasures of a hot dog or hamburger, the tailgate spread has evolved into somewhat of a feast. Extravagant cocktails, gourmet menus and outrageous desserts are now a part of the tailgating experience. Competition-worthy chili, brisket and ribs, seafood boils, fajitas, and even turducken make it to the pre-game.

Tailgating also respects regional foods. Professional tailgaters from around the nation who travel with their teams will confess of grits in Atlanta, bratwurst in Green Bay, cheesesteaks in Philadelphia, crabs in San Francisco, buffalo wings in Buffalo, and gumbo in New Orleans. Whether the tailgate is college or professional football, NASCAR, or a rock concert, tailgating is limited only by your imagination and cooking skills.

While most spend hours, if not days, preparing for the weekend’s tailgating festivities, it can be the side dishes that can turn any tailgate party into a success. One of the most popular and essential side dishes at any tailgating party are the chips and dip. From a simple, spicy cheese dip to an artichoke, spinach and herb dip, there are an endless variety of dips tailgaters can serve and enjoy.

The types of dip mix one chooses to serve can depend on the time it takes to prepare. Most tailgating chefs prefer dips that can be quickly prepared, yet take the taste buds on a joy ride to touchdown town. But most dips that taste that good are rich with unhealthy preservatives, MSG, and other additives that lead to health problems. Cedar Hill Seasonings provide a rich variety of delicious dip mixes and gourmet food seasonings that add flavor to any party, while using natural, healthy ingredients that add a balance to the menu.

Kick off the football season with some kick of your own. Made with the spicy fan in mind,  the Four Pepper Cheeseball mix provides a blast of chili flavor and is great with any type of chip or dipping veggie. Cedar Hill Seasonings was founded in 1986, based on a vision to produce all natural, gourmet food seasonings that set a new standard of excellence. Their customers find value and appeal in their product’s delicious taste and affordable pricing. From gourmet dip mixes at festive tailgating parties to special family dinners and casual get-togethers, Cedar Hill products are all natural, without any salt, additives, MSG, preservatives or extenders. They are truly “A Taste for All Seasons.”

Boot Camp for New Dads Shares Tips for Celebrating Father’s Day

â??Most fathers believe the less complicated, the better. Guys arenâ??t really interested in spending a lot of money on Fatherâ??s Day in general so oftentimes, they choose activities that are outdoors and free,â? noted Bishop.

 

Dads across the nation have shared their ideas for celebrating Fatherâ??s Day:

 

Take in a minor league baseball game.

No need for clubs or a golf cart – go Miniature Golfing.

Fire up the grill and give dad the spatula â?? a cookout with all dadâ??s favorite foods is just the thing.

Play Wiffle ball or get a backyard football game going.

Plan a picnic at the park or the beach. Be sure to bring baseball gloves and ball, Frisbee or football.

Take a family bike ride around the neighborhood or head for the nearest state park or trail.

Pack up the gear, some special snacks and go hiking.

Head for the nearest river or lake and go canoeing or boating. Or, watch the â??big boatsâ? while you stroll the ocean waterfront and enjoy ice cream.

Going bananas? Check out the monkeys and other exhibits at your local zoo.

Have a pizza party â?? order in or gather together and make it from scratch. Follow it up with (age appropriate) games like charades, Monopoly, Go Fish, etc.

Take in a show. It could be the newest movie in the theaters or a concert or an auto, boat or monster truck show â?? whatever dad enjoys.

 

Bishop continued, â??Gifts are nice but simply spending time together as a family is what many dads want on Fatherâ??s Day.â?

 

Tips, Advice, Instructions and more

Greg Bishop offers strategies from more than 200,000 new dads that have gone through the Boot Camp for New Dads program in his second book, Crash Course for New Dads: Tools, Checklists and Cheat Sheets. His first book, Hit the Ground Crawling, covers work balance, being a dad, caring for a new mom and much more. Both books are available online at www.DadsAdventure.com.

 

New Dads Learn What to Expect at Boot Camp Workshops

Dads-to-be will be better equipped to face the challenges and opportunities of fatherhood after attending a Boot Camp â??hands onâ? educational workshop. Men attend the class when they are expecting their first baby, and are joined in the workshop by â??veteransâ? who had previously attended and have returned with their two to four-month-old baby in tow. They are able to give the dads-to-be a realistic idea of what to do and what to expect when their first baby comes. For many men attending, itâ??s their first time holding a baby.

 

Boot Camp for New Dads

Now celebrating their 18th year, Boot Camp for New Dads is nationally acclaimed as the â??Best Practiceâ? for preparing men to be fathers and has been named a U.S. Navy Model Program. Boot Camp for New Dads has prepared more than 200,000 men for fatherhood over the years.

 

With more than 4.1 million births (National Center for Health Statistics), and approximately 1.5 million men becoming new dads every year, itâ??s more important than ever for fathers to realize that being a â??good providerâ? is only part of the very central role they have in their childrenâ??s lives.

 

For more information about Boot Camp for New Dads, visit www.bcnd.org, or to visit Dads Adventure, go to www.Dadsadventure.com. To arrange an interview with Greg Bishop, please contact sdubin@prworkzone.com, (781) 582-1061.

 

National and International Locations

Boot Camp For New Dads locations include ALASKA (Anchorage); ARIZONA (Chandler, Flagstaff, Gilbert, Mesa, Phoenix, Scottsdale, Sun City); ARKANSAS (Jonesboro, Paragould, Springdale); CALIFORNIA (Apple Valley, Bakersfield, , Fresno, Garden Grove, Irvine, Laguna Hills, Madera, Merced, Mission Hills, , Oakland, Orange, Pomona, Port Hueneme, San Diego, Santa Ana, Santa Barbara, , S. Lake Tahoe, Travis, Valley Springs); COLORADO (Aurora, Boulder, Colorado Springs, Denver, Durango, Fort Collins, Fort Carson, Greeley, Longmont, Thornton, Wheat Ridge); CONNECTICUT (Bristol, Danbury, New London); FLORIDA (Brandon, Clearwater, Hollywood, Jacksonville, North Palm Beach, Orlando, St. Petersburg, West Palm Beach, Sarasota, Tampa); GEORGIA (Atlanta, Elberton, Gainesville, Marietta, Savannah); HAWAII (Pearl Harbor, Schofield); ILLINOIS (Aurora, Carbondale, Champaign, Chicago, East St. Louis, Evanston, Freeport, Geneva, Great Lakes, Highland Park, Libertyville, Moline, Oak Park, Rockford, Springfield, Urbana, Winfield); INDIANA (Anderson, Bluffton, Hammond, Indianapolis, Jeffersonville, Kokomo); IOWA (Cedar Rapids, Des Moines, Jefferson, Sioux City); KANSAS (Junction City, Topeka); KENTUCKY (Paducah); LOUISIANA (Covington); MAINE (Auburn, Augusta, Bangor, Brunswick, Ellsworth, Waterville); MARYLAND (Annapolis) MASSACHUSETTS (Beverly, Ipswich, Lowell, Nantucket, Plymouth, Weymouth, Springfield); MICHIGAN (, Ann Arbor, Bay City, Centreville, Iron Mountain, Ithaca, Kalamazoo, Niles, St Joseph, Ypsilanti); MINNESOTA (Brainerd, Duluth, Robbinsdale); MISSISSIPPI (Tupelo); MISSOURI (Jefferson City) MONTANA (Billings, Helena, Miles City); NEBRASKA (Kearney, Lincoln, Omaha); NEVADA (Las Vegas) NEW HAMPSHIRE (Manchester, Portsmouth); NEW JERSEY (Princeton) NEW YORK (Glens Falls, Little Falls, Mineola, Rome, Utica); NORTH CAROLINA (Burlington, Chapel Hill, Charlotte, Concord, Ft. Bragg, Greensboro, Monroe, Raleigh, Shelby); NORTH DAKOTA (Grand Forks); OHIO (Akron, Cleveland, Columbus, East Cleveland, East Liverpool, Garfield Heights, Lima, Lorain, Mayfield Heights, Middleburg Heights, Orange Village, Portsmouth, Toledo, Warren, Westlake, Youngstown); OKLAHOMA (Claremore, Oklahoma City, Tulsa); OREGON (Corvalis, McMinnville, Salem, Silverton); SOUTH CAROLINA (Columbia, Pickens, Walhalla); TENNESSEE (Chattanooga, Knoxville, Memphis); TEXAS (Amarillo, Dallas, Fort Hood, Longview, Lubbock, Plano, San Antonio, Texarkana, Waco, Webster); VERMONT (Barre, Brattleboro, Middlebury); VIRGINIA (Charlottesville, Chesapeake, Hampton, Richmond) WASHINGTON (Everett, Fairchild AFB, Longview, Olympia, Puyallup, Yakima); WEST VIRGINIA (Wheeling); WISCONSIN (Florence, Green Bay, Madison, Oshkosh, Watertown, Wausau); JAPAN (Atsugi, Yokosuka), ITALY (Sicily); UNITED KINGDOM [a.k.a. Hit the Ground Crawling] (Birmingham, Liverpool)

Related Green Bay Concert Articles

Buying and Selling Tickets Through Online Classifieds

When it comes to buying and selling concert, sports, or even theater tickets online, most people turn to turn to Stubhub, Ebay, or Craigslist.org. While all three of these sites have their advantages, a new classfied site dedicated to event tickets may offer the best and easiest way to buy and sell you tickets, Free Ticket Classifieds.

The internet has changed a lot about the way we carry out our normal business. Just 5 or 10 years ago the most popular way to get rid of your used junk was to have a garage sale, donate it to AmVets or Goodwill, or run a classifed ad in your local newspaper. While these may still be an effective solution to your problem, the internet has increased our pool of potential customers by reaching out across the world. So if you were trying to sell your can of ‘Billy Beer’ at a garage sale you’d be lucky to get . Now if you market that can to customers around the world, it is surely possible to get , , maybe even for that same can. More potential customers means more demand. More demand and the more you can charge for your item. This basic principal is why the popular sell-your-stuff online sites listed above have become so popular. However, it is also the reason why these services have limited use, especially when it comes to buying and selling event tickets.

Let’s start off by examing Craigslist. Craigslist is one of the most popular websites in the world with millions of visitors a day. Generally, the more exposure you can get for your tickets the better. However, with so many users and so many sellers the items you list can be burried within minutes in some of the more popular cities. In addition, with such large volumes of traffic Craigslist can’t possibly keep up with all the spam. The main problem with Craigslist for event tickets is their use of the generic ‘Ticket’ category and cities. For example, if I were selling tickets to the Bears vs. Packers game, I would need to post maybe 15 ads in order to reach all my potential customers- 1 for each city that might reasonably consider going to the game (Chicago, Rockford, Madison, Janesville, Green Bay, Milwaukee, Kensoha, etc.). Factor in the fact that these posts will likely get flagged and deleted by others trying to sell the same tickets at a higher price and that they will also be burried by all the Craiglist spam and Craigslist is not quite as desireable as once thought.

At Ebay, you won’t have to deal with many of the problems associated with Craigslist. The main problem with Ebay is that in an auction style format you have very little control over the price of the tickets. Although you can modify the ‘reserve’ to set a minimum level you will sell the tickets for, this will not do you much good if your auction ends close to the actual event you are selling. Perhaps the biggest inconvience of using Ebay is that you are required to complete the transaction several days before the event. While that can be an advantage, often times ticket prices increase as you get closer to the event and there are less tickets on the market. In addition, Ebay will offer nothing to those looking to make a last minute sale. Lastly, Stubhub offers up a boatload of problems to people looking to buy and sell tickets.

Much like Ebay, Stubhub requires that you sell tickets well in advance of the event. So if you decide to sell late in the game, Stubhub will be of no use to you. Perhaps the most troubleing part of Stubhub ticket fraud is a big problem. While Stubhub does have their so-called ‘Fan-Protect Gaurantee’, you moneyback after you already missed the event is not an appropriate consolation.

So what is one supposed to do to sell your concert, sports, or theater tickets? Well a new site where you can post free ticket classified ads has recently opened its doors – FreeTicketClassifieds.com. What is unique about Free Ticket Classifieds is that classified ads are sorted by the event or team, and not the city where the tickets are being sold. This makes finding tickets to that Bears – Packers game much easier than looking in the tickets section of every mid-western city. Perhaps what is the nicest about this new site is the fact that it is entirely dedicated to event tickets and each ad is reviewed to ensure the site is kept spam free. By focusing just on the event ticket niche Free Ticket Classifieds is able to control the quality and content of the site to ensure a rewarding experience for all.

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Buying tickets through online

When it comes to buying and selling concert, sports, and even theater tickets on the Internet, most people turn to turn to Stubhub, Ebay, or Craigslist.org. Although all three of these sites have their advantages, the new site on classfied event tickets may offer the best and easiest way to buy and sell your tickets, free ticket

<a rel=”nofollow” onclick=”javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview(‘/outgoing/article_exit_link’);” href=http://www.ticketfront.com >tickets</a> Deal type.

Internet has changed much of how we carry out our normal business. Only 5 or 10 years ago, the most popular way to get rid of the junk had to use your garage sale, donate it to Goodwill or AmVets, or start a classifed ad in the local newspaper. While this may still be an effective solution to the problem, the internet has increased our pool of potential customers, the coverage around the world. So if you are trying to sell his bank ‘Billy Beer “in the garage sale will have to be lucky to get $ 1. Now, if you market that can be customers in the world, it is certainly possible to get $ 5, $ 10, even 50 dollars for the same can. more prospects means more demand. great demand, and the more you can charge for your item. This basic principle, why the popularity to sell his material in the sites listed above, have become so popular. Nevertheless, this also the reason why these services are of limited use, especially when it comes to buying and selling event tickets.

Let us first examing Craigslist. Craigslist is one of the most popular sites in the world, millions of visitors a day. As a rule, you can get more for tickets, the better. However, many users and many vendors of the items you list can be burried in a few minutes in some of the most popular cities. In addition, with such high volumes of traffic Craigslist could not keep up with all the spam. The main problem with Craigslist in the case of tickets, is their use of generic ticket  <a rel=”nofollow” onclick=”javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview(‘/outgoing/article_exit_link’);” href=http://www.ticketfront.com >tickets</a> categories and cities. For example, if I was selling tickets for the Bears against the Packers game, I have to place ads, perhaps 15, in order to reach all their potential customers-1 for each city, which could reasonably consider going to the game (Chicago, ROCKFORD, Madison , Janesville, Green Bay, Milwaukee, Kensoha, etc.). Factor in that these positions are likely to get the flag and exclude others trying to sell the same tickets at a higher price, and that they will be burried all the spam and Craiglist Craigslist is not for everyone, as previously thought.

On Ebay, you will not have to deal with many problems related to Craigslist. The main problem with Ebay is that in an auction-style format, you have very little control over the prices of tickets. Although you can change the ‘reserve’ in order to establish a minimum level, you will be selling tickets for this will not be much good to you if your auction ends close to the actual event you sell. Perhaps the biggest inconvenience is the use of Ebay is that you need to complete the deal a few days before the event. While this may be an advantage, often times to increase ticket prices, as you closer to the event and there are fewer tickets in the market. In addition, Ebay will not want to suggest that last-minute sales. Finally, Stubhub offers up boatload of problems for those who want to buy and sell tickets.

Cape Town Attractions

Cape Town Attractions

The Western Cape is a place of exceptional beauty with few areas in the world to rival it. Bestowed with two of Africa’s most dramatic landmarks, Table Mountain and Cape Point, the Western Cape is a floral paradise of rich fertile winelands, secluded bays, fine white sandy beaches and lush green coastal forests. Hugging the shores are picturesque villages overlooking some of the country’s finest beaches. In striking contrast to this, seperated by the Langeberg range, is the seemingly endless landscape of the semi-arid Karoo.

With its majestic Table Mountain backdrop, Cape Town is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. A harmonious blend of architectural styles reflects the tastes of dictates of the past as well as today’s more functional requirements. Between the high-rise office blocks, Edwardian and Victorian buildings have been meticulously preserved, and many outstanding examples of Cape Dutch architecture are found. Narrow, cobble stone streets and the strongly Islamic ambiance of the Bo-Kaap enhance the cosmopolitan ambiance of the city.

Cape Town shopping options,which most are within a walking distance from Cape Town Hotels, invite you to endlessly browse. Elegant malls such as the Victoria Wharf at the V&A Waterfront, antique shops, craft markets, flea markets and art galleries abound. Specialist boutiques offer an enticing array of unusual items not readily obtainable elsewhere. Gourmets and lovers of fine wines have a treat in store, with the Constantia Winelands producing some of the finest wines worldwide.

The Atlantic Seaboard, also known as Cape Town’s ‘Riviera’, stretches from the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront on the north shore of Table Mountain all the way down the west side of the cape peninsula to Hout Bay.

The Atlantic Seaboard includes the residential suburbs of Mouille Point, Green Point, Sea Point, Fresnaye, Bantry Bay, Clifton, Camps Bay, Bakoven, Llandudno and Hout Bay – all of which offer villas, guest houses and self-catering units with easy access to some of the world’s finest beaches, including the ‘there to be seen’ sands of Clifton, the unspoilt boulders of Llandudno and the glorious stretches of sand of Camps Bay.

• Green Point

The gay-friendly suburb of Green Point has fast become one of the trendiest residential areas in Cape Town, particularly since the development of the Cape Quarter – a shopping centre that regards itself as an experience and the essence of ‘Cape Town cool’ – found in the heart of Green Point. 

Green Point lies between the V&A Waterfront and Signal Hill on the Main Road en route to Sea Point. Green Point exudes a village feel with narrow villa-lined streets, sidewalk cafes and stylish shops. Green Point is a vibrant and lively part of Cape Town both night and day, particularly after dark when local pubs, clubs and cabaret restaurants serve as a popular hangout for locals and visitors. Green Point is close to the city centre, including Long Street, Company Gardens and a number of museums and galleries. It is also a perfect location from which to access the Cape Town beaches of Clifton and Camps Bay.

The centre of controversy around the 2010 World Cup, the Green Point Common serves also as the site for the Sunday morning market – one of the largest markets in the mother city with examples of traditional African art pieces, music and crafts. Don Beach Road is situated in less than 2,5 km from the Greenpoint stadium. And Sea Point’s promenade makes for an interesting early morning amble or late evening walk to view the locals and the sun setting over the sea.

• Sea Point

This vibrant suburb of Cape Town, just outside the city centre between Mouille Point, Green Point and Bantry Bay, has more than overcome its former reputation as a crime-ridden part of the mother city. Today Sea Point enjoys a bustling 24-hour cosmopolitan vibe that has drawn a number of city execs to settle in its beachfront high-rises.

In the other direction, lining the famous Sea Point promenade that draws locals and visitors for walking and jogging or just people-watching, are Sea Point’s luxury beachfront and self-catering apartments – popular with the young and trendy or those with small families.

The promenade runs the length of Sea Point’s beachfront, from Bantry Bay to Mouille Point and is a hub of activity, particularly in the early morning or late afternoons to watch the sun set right next to the waters of the Atlantic Seaboard. A number of children’s parks run alongside the promenade and there is a chlorinated swimming pool at the pavilion.

Reaching the trendy and there-to-be-seen beaches of Clifton and Camps Bay is an easy walk or drive, and the city centre and V&A Waterfront are minutes away. Sea Point is a suburb of Cape Town, just outside the city centre between Mouille Point, Green Point and Bantry Bay. Sea Point Main Road has a huge selection of shops, bars, clubs and restaurants and a slightly seedy reputation, although a concerted effort seems to be improving the situation.

Upper Sea Point, on the slopes of Signal Hill, is the site of expensive, large and sought after private homes while the other side of Main Road is lined with high-rise, luxury beachfront accommodation and apartments, the trendier part of Sea Point and a favourite with locals and visitors. Sea Point has a cosmopolitan vibe and its promenade is especially popular with walkers and joggers. Stretching the length of Sea Point beach it is great for sunsets and admiring the sea views, although if it is swimming you are after, head off to Clifton. The Sea Point pavilion does have a chlorinated, sea water swimming pool complex with two children’s pools and an Olympic sized pool.