Music: Country Music USA: This Week's Top 20 List

Suzanne Alexander & Kellie Pickler on the set of Top 20 Country Countdown. 

Photo by Julee Cobb.

Kellie Pickler is the special guest on this week’s Top 20 Country Countdown. She stopped by to chat with Suzanne Alexander about her new album, 100 Proof, which hit stores January 24, while Nan Kelley counts down the week’s Top 20 videos. If you missed the Friday night premiere, check the schedule for re-airs throughout the weekend.

On the chart this week, the Top 4 remain unchanged, with Scotty McCreery keeping his stronghold on the top spot. Luke Bryan trades places with Chris Young to round out the Top 5. Kenny Chesney’s latest video, “Reality,” debuts on the countdown this week, coming in at No. 20.

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Great American Country News & Notes (Jan27,2k12)

email newsletter; article by music journo, Sarah Wyland

— reposted here by MusicMan and Country Gal,

refWrite Backpage music columnists

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This Week’s Chart:

1. Scotty McCreery – “The Trouble With Girls”
2. Taylor Swift – “Ours”
3. Kellie Pickler – “Tough”
4. Katie Armiger – “Scream”
5. Luke Bryan – “I Don’t Want This Night To End”
6. Chris Young – “You”
7. Reba McEntire – “Somebody’s Chelsea”
8. Miranda Lambert – “Baggage Claim”
9. Casey James – “Let’s Don’t Call It A Night”
10. Toby Keith – “Red Solo Cup” 
11. Jake Owen – “Alone With You”
12. The Band Perry – “All Your Life”
13. Sara Evans – “My Heart Can’t Tell You No”
14. Eric Church – “Drink In My Hand”
15. Blake Shelton – “Footloose”
16. Jason Aldean – “Tattoos On This Town”
17. Zac Brown Band – “Keep Me In Mind”
18. Lee Brice – “Woman Like You”
19. Justin Moore – “Bait A Hook”
20. Kenny Chesney – “Reality”

GAC’s Top 20 Country Countdown premieres every Friday night at 9/8c with re-airs throughout the weekend. Click here for a complete schedule.

Vote daily for GAC’s Top 20 Country Countdown »

Browse GAC’s All-Star Top 20 Photo Gallery »

Music: Cumbia: Colombian-originated genre is absorping today's h+ tech support of its typifying instrumentalziations, and more

You can download an audio of this list @ radikalsunflowers

This list of songs centers on the ethnomusical tradition of Cumbia from Columbia, South America. 'Cumbia' is a musical tradition that is very much still in development, and it is internationalizing.  Always at work absorbing various ethnic musics that were commingling indigenously in Columbia, and then further afield in the Carribean and Lartin America, and now in the English-speaking cultural zones with h+ tech support, it also presented the commingling of languages used where its rhythms, tonalities, and typifying instrumentalizations were h+ly valued. I first heard the word "Cumbia" in Harry Belafonte's song that uses the words "Cumbia, my Lord, cumbia,"  which I had always taken to mean simply "Come by here, my Lord, come by here," especially given its prayer-like quality in that song.  My instinct was to reach for it on YouTube, but all entries for it had been taken from the Tube's public offering and labelled "Privatized."  So, instead enjoy the mixes offered by Andrés Digital on Mixcloud under the heading Tropical Fever, and mastered by Mix Master Moss on Cumbia Trends.

Tropical Fever by Andrés Digital on Mixcloud

1 – Babylon King – Indidginus ft. Teba
2 – Personal Jesus – Johnny Cash – Gooffee Remix
3 – Fever – Grodio ft. Nini Martini
4 – Komba – Buraka Som Sistema ft. Kaysha
5 – Tak-te-ting (‘ed gone) – Marflix Original Mix
6 – Intentalo (Me Prende) – DJ Erick Rincon
7 – El Canto Del Mariachi – Dj YaCk Ft Dj Eriasu
8 – One Step – Dj Alan Rosales & Dj Sonic
9 – When Johnny Comes 3ball – Dj KlaC
10 – La Marimba Costeñota – DJ Kury Ft Tetris

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— reposted here by Musikos, refWrite Backpage music columnist

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11 – Cumbia Brasileira – Andrés Digtal Mash Up – BEP, Sergio Mendes, Ding Dong, Gorillaz, Los Rakas, Sean Paul, Busy Signal
12 – I’m in Love – Urbano vs. Dub Pistols – Lindy Layton and Rodney P
13 – Gota Frita – DJ Orion Edit
14 – Juanita – Bigote
15 – Cumbiamba 2011 – Rafael Aragon
16 – La Cumbia del Justino – Andrés Digital Remix – Grupo Socavon
17 – Hoy volvi a verte – El retutu – Los reyes de la Milanga Remix
18 – Under mi Sensi – Alguacil Cumbiakilla ft Mr. Vegas
19 – Lighters up – Caballo Latinozo Remix – Lil Kim & Tego Calderon
20 – Boom Wah Dis – Burro Banton – Hat + Hoodie Moombahton Remix
21 – Gracias – Munchi
22 – Jump In The Line – Harry Belafonte – Codes Remix
23 – Cubia – Jon Kwest
24 – Coño Pa – DJ Orion
25 – Paris Luanda – Sabo Moombahton Remix
26 – Ta Lista – Los Rakas – Sonora Remix
27 – Pijama – Mendez vs. Melo Remix
28 – Nice up di area – Grodio
29 – Sex Sax – Doc Adam Moombahton Drop The Lime Edit
30 – Shabba Not Petrol RMX – Hat + Hoodie – RFS Remix

Mix Master Moss

Movies: Academy Awards: Nominations for Oscar Awards 2012 are annnounced by Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

84th Academy Awards. Nominations

First the nominations, then a few notes after the list.

BEST PICTURE

The Artist
The Descendants
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
The Help
Hugo
Midnight in Paris
Moneyball
The Tree of Life
War Horse

DIRECTING
The Artist, Michel Hazanavicius
The Descendants, Alexander Payne
Hugo, Martin Scorsese
Midnight in Paris, Woody Allen
The Tree of Life, Terrence Malick

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Mubi (January24,2k12)

Written by David Hudson

— Reposted by Movieman, refWrite Backpage movies columnist

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ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
Demián Bichir in A Better Life
George Clooney in The Descendants
Jean Dujardin in The Artist
Gary Oldman in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Brad Pitt in Moneyball

ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Kenneth Branagh in My Week with Marilyn
Jonah Hill in Moneyball
Nick Nolte in Warrior
Christopher Plummer in Beginners
Max von Sydow in Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE
Glenn Close in Albert Nobbs
Viola Davis in The Help
Rooney Mara in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Meryl Streep in The Iron Lady
Michelle Williams in My Week with Marilyn

ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Bérénice Bejo in The Artist
Jessica Chastain in The Help
Melissa McCarthy in Bridesmaids
Janet McTeer in Albert Nobbs
Octavia Spencer in The Help

Read more ... click the t+mstamp below ...

Humour: Satire and self-satire: Writer's block or just a blockhead?

Mouse:  What shall we do tonight, Brain?
Brain: What we do every night, try to finish the article.

Hat Tip to Guilherme de Carvalho, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
Thanks to comics/cartoon artist, Marco Alésio


— Reposted here by Saturikos, refWrite Backpage humour columnist

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Arts: Architecture: Wood parasol over public space in Seville, Spain

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Source: tumblr.com via Albert on Pinterest

— Archibald, refWrite Backpage architecture columnist

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Sports: Dance: Football hero Tim Tebow wanted by Karina Smirnoff of 'Dancing with the Stars' TV show, during the football offseason

Tim Tebow to Join Cast of 

'Dancing With The Stars' ?

How would Tim Tebow's fancy footwork on the gridiron translate to the ballroom? "Dancing with the Stars" performer Karina Smirnoff wants to find out.

Smirnoff celebrated her 34th birthday on Saturday in Las Vegas, and told a reporter from People that all she wanted as a gift is for the Denver Broncos quarterback to join the cast of the reality show.

"All I want for my birthday is for Tim Tebow to dance on 'Dancing with the Stars,'" she said, shortly after Denver's season ended in an AFC Divisional playoff loss to the New England Patriots.

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Christian PostJan. 20,2k12) by Jeff Schapiro

— reposted here by Sportikos, refWrite Backpage sports columnist

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"He can run, jump, pass, throw touchdowns," she stated. "All [that] is missing is to see if he has the dance skills. That would make him an all-around athlete and someone that I would love to dance with on the show."

But the Broncos website says Tebow, an outspoken Christian, is six-foot three-inches and 235 pounds, so is he too big for dancing?

Karen L. Gates, owner of the Fred Astaire Dance Studio in Chagrin Falls, Ohio, doesn't think so. She told The Christian Post on Friday that professional male dancers are often thinner than Tebow is, and his height could also present a problem depending on how short his partner is, but it could be done.

Tebow wouldn't be the first NFL player to hit the DWTS dance floor, either. Former NFL running back Emmitt Smith and Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward have each won the competition. Other NFL players, like Jerry Rice, Jason Taylor and Warren Sapp, have finished in second place on DWTS.

Gates says football players have several advantages when learning how to dance, which include their athleticism and ability to memorize.

"They're used to the mental challenges and memorizing plays," she said, comparing it to memorizing dance steps. She also stated that Tebow has the additional advantage of being "popular" and "good-looking."

Despite the fact that the current NFL season is now over for Tebow, he has continued to make headlines in the days following the Broncos' defeat.

An NFL source told ESPN this week that Tebow played through considerable pain during the second half of Saturday's game, after he was hit in the third quarter. He reportedly tore cartilage on his rib, bruised a lung and had fluid buildup in his pleural cavity.

"I just wanted to show character. You just continue to fight and it doesn't change who you are, how you play, how you go out there, you should be the same at all times," Tebow said about being hurt, according to ESPN.

"That's what I wanted to show, it didn't matter if it was the first play or the last play or you were down by 42. I was going to be the same player and I was still going to give everything I have, because that's all I have to give."

John Elway, executive vice president of football operations for the Broncos, also announced on Monday that Tebow would be the team's starting quarterback going into training camp for next season.

Tebow went 8-5 as the team's starting quarterback in the 2011-2012 season, including the playoffs, after the team went just 1-4 under former Denver QB Kyle Orton. Some have wondered whether or not Tebow would start next season, and Elway's announcement quickly laid to rest any speculation.

"We know what kind of mentality Timmy has," Elway said during a press conference. "He's a great worker, and we know he'll work his tail off this offseason. We're looking forward to this offseason to be able to see him improve in (the mechanics of the passing game). I think he will make those improvements."

Tebow's job is safe for now, but in terms of some offseason fun it is still unclear as to whether or not DWTS fans will get to see him cha-chaing on the dance floor anytime soon.

The season premiere of "Dancing with the Stars" is scheduled for Monday, Mar. 19 at 8 p.m. ET.

Technics: Internet: How Pinterest got mimicked by Pinspire (aka Pin Spire)

TECH

 

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1/22/2012 @ 2:49PM |4,584 views

"Parasite" Phenomenon - 

Radical Copycatting of 

Pinterest

+ Comment now

Many successful websites and apps spawn a cluster of imitators.
After Instagram caught fire, mobile apps with various effects
and filtering techniques flooded the Apple and Android markets.
Some of them are quite innovative and cool – particularly
PhotoForge 2 and Wordfoto. None came close to matching
the Instagram growth juggernaut.

But perhaps the most brazen – and amusing – case of radical
copycatting I have ever seen is the way Pinterest has been
mirrored by an aggressive “parasite” over the past two months.
Pinterest is perhaps the biggest web phenomenon of this winter.
The site hit 11 Million unique users during one December week
alone. Alexa now pegs it as the 32nd most popular website in
the United States. Visitors spend more than 11 minutes on the
site daily, crushing Twitter on this metric by more than 50%.

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Forbes (January22,2k12)

Tero Kuittinen, is a Forbes Contributor

He covers mobile hardware, software and gaming. 
Twitter: @teroterotero

+ Follow on Forbes

— Reposted here by Techknowlb

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Pinterest is pure catnip for mature women. Wedding tips, babies 

in funny poses, mason jar decoration ideas, cake recipes and 

exercise slogans drive the site. The runaway success of 

Pinterest probably demonstrates how much most mainstream 

websites cater to male visitors. 
There had been some kind of 

unmet demand for a site 
combining hair-braiding advice 
with hedgehog babies in rubber 
boots. Pinterest filled this 
vacuum 

highly effectively.

And as the highest 

form of flattery, 

Pinterest is now 

shadowed by one 

of the purest parasites ever. Something called 

Pinspire copies the look, feel and functionality of Pinterest almost perfectly.

There is even what seems to be a very carefully calibrated
guerrilla marketing campaign – many of the new Pinterest
posts are now followed by a polite, complimentary note:
“Absolutely adorable! Can I pin this on my board at
pin spire .com?” These notes flatter the original pinner,
while directing traffic to Pinspire. They appear to be crafted
to land just on the right side of the line defining raw spam.
The spelling of these notes recently changed from “pinspire”
to “pin spire”, indicating possible evasion from
countermeasures.

And they are driving healthy growth of Pinspire. Alexa now 
ranks Pinspire as roughly the number 13’000 site in America, 
up from being number 100’000 in early January. This matches 
the ranking of established, high-quality niche sites like Silicon 
Investor, Gamerankings or Calculated Risk – sites that took 
years to build and required vast amounts of content to claw their 
way to the middle.

Pinspire rocketed to this level in less than three months – and 
requiring little or no original design or content work. Judging 
from the latest wave of Pinspire redirect notes on Pinterest 
right now, the parasite just might stage another growth burst 
in coming months. The youth of Pinterest is probably what 
enables the parasitic competition – many consumers are only 
now discovering Pinterest and thus do not have much brand 
loyalty. It will be interesting to see where this saga is heading 
next.