Continuing to prove she is definitely pop’s new megastar who is here to stay, Lady GaGa released the video for her new single “Paparazzi” from The Fame today. The video, directed by acclaimed director Jonas Akerlund (who also directed Madonna’s Confessions Tour), is awesomely choreographed and is extremely entertaining. Take a look at the video below… ALL HAIL LADY GAGA!!!
Find more videos like this on LOVEBSCOTT.COM
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Lady GaGa’s Ultra-Cool Paparazzi Video
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Smoking Becomes More Expensive in Florida
As a Nurse Practitioner who has worked in Pulmonary/ Critical Care for the past several years, the news that Florida’s price for a pack of cigarettes is going up $1 effective July 1st is music to my ears! Today, in what will probably be one of the only positive actions of the hopefully short-lived career of Republican Governor Charlie Crist, legislation increasing the price of a pack of cigarettes by $1.00 was signed into law. Estimates indicate this should raise close to $900 million annually.
The funds will go to offset the costs of smoking-related illnesses currently being funded by Medicaid and help fund cancer-related research. The American Lung Association hailed the new legislation as a major victory in the fight to keep Florida smoke-free. Research suggests as costs of cigarettes increase, the number of new smokers decrease. In fact, if every smoker in the United States quit smoking, one out of every three hospitals could permanently shutter their doors! If you are a smoker–make the commitment to stop now! As someone with close to a decade of nursing experience, I can promise you, the road that lies ahead of you in-terms of your health is an awful and torturous one filled with major heart and lung disease. If you need help, visit the American Lung Association Web Site @ http://lungusa.org.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Phantom Sequel Opening on Broadway March 2010
Love Never Dies, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s sequel to The Phantom of the Opera that was previously set to open at the West End’s Adelphi Theatre in late October or early November, is now eyeing a London premiere “in March of next year, and on Broadway in the same season,” according to the composer, quoted in a Variety report from a press conference at the Eurovision Song Contest.
The original London cast will likely be led by Ramin Karimloo and Sierra Boggess, who have previously respectively played the title role and Christine in the London and Las Vegas incarnations of The Phantom of the Opera, according to a previous report. The creative team also includes director Jack O’Brien, lyricist Glenn Slater, choreographer Jerry Mitchell and music supervisor Gareth Valentine.
A recent casting notice offered this brief description of Love Never Dies: “In 1907 New York, the mysterious ‘Maestro’ who runs the theatre at Coney Island announces a one-off concert by legendary Parisian soprano Christine Daaé. Her arrival in New York with husband Raoul, Victome de Chagny and son Gustave, and their subsequent meeting with the ‘Maestro,’ bring the cataclysmic events of 10 years earlier at the Paris Opera crashing back into all their lives.”
Fighting HIV with Antibodies
Some very exciting HIV-related research surfaced today from the Childen’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Headed by Dr. Philip Johnson, a team of scientists have developed genetic therapy which has shown to be highly effective at stopping immune system destruction and disease progression to AIDS. Mice infected with HIV (and monkeys infected with SIV–which elicits AIDS in primates) had an enhanced gene inserted into a piece of muscle tissue, which began developing antibodies which successfully fought-off their HIV infection and protected them from developing AIDS.
In humans, HIV specifically targets CD4 cells, which are essential to immune surveillance. HIV uses an enzyme called reverse transcriptase to convert the CD4 cell into what amounts to an “HIV factory.” Once the cell becomes completely filled with HIV particles, it bursts, which both destroys the cell and allows the virus to circulate and infect other CD4 cells. Eventually, as CD4 lines become depleted and fall to a value less then 200, the individual develops AIDS, marked by lethal opportunistic infections.
Highly-active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) targets HIV from various approaches, most of which stop the virus from attaching to CD4 cells or from replicating once inside. Because HIV is easily susceptible to mutation, finding a vaccination has been very difficult; all vaccine trials thus far have failed. Once an individual becomes infected with HIV, their immune system develops antibodies which are ineffective at killing HIV. HIV tests react to the presence of these antibodies, which is diagnostic for HIV infection.
By developing antibodies which are effective at destroying the virus, scientists would essentially have a cure. But these data shouldn’t be interpreted as a sign of an immediate end to the pandemic. An AIDS vaccine isn’t “in the wings.” Years of work may lie ahead before a product is ready for human use. Nevertheless, the work is a ray of hope for a future. Let’s hope all the new medical discoveries indicate HIV’s days are numbered. Congratulations to this team of scientists!
Friday, May 15, 2009
Green Day Tour Coming to Orlando
Just as Green Day released their new album 21st Century Breakdown today, tickets to their upcoming world tour also went on-sale. Green Day Tour 2009 will be making stops in a plethora of cities across the globe, including a concert at Orlando’s Amway Arena at 8pm on Wednesday August 5th. To purchase tickets or for more information about Green Day Tour 2009, visit the band’s official Web Site @ http://greenday.com.
A Magnificent 21st Century Breakdown
Today, Green Day released their new album 21st Century Breakdown. All I can say about this album is, “WOW!” 21st Century Breakdown is an absolutely incredible follow-up to the band’s American Idiot, which many critics speculated simply couldn’t be topped. While I won’t crown the new album as superior to American Idiot, I will definitely say it matches in-terms of musicality and deepens the sound of Green Day beyond the typical punk-rock genre and definitely demonstrates tremendous growth in their musical style.
Along with the heavy guitar instrumentation expected for most rock bands, many of the songs also feature a strong piano accompaniment; strings can also be heard punctuated throughout some of the songs on the album. When non-traditional instruments are utilized, they serve more to strengthen the background music rather than serve as an over-indulgence or over-emphasized originality statement. From the first released single “Know Your Enemy” to “21st Century Breakdown,” every song on this album is masterfully crafted and almost perfectly executed.
There are many heavy-rock anthems and also some powerful ballads like “Last Night on Earth” and “Restless Heart Syndrome” which highlight the amazing musical range of the group. 21st Century Breakdown is the best album to be released thus far in 2009 and just might secure that award for the remainder of the year. 21st Century Breakdown is available now for digital download through iTunes and in retailers nationwide from Reprise Records. Below, the band discusses the production of 21st Century Breakdown:
Did You See Me Coming?
A very minimalist video for Pet Shop Boys’ new release “Did You See Me Coming?” from their new album Yes. Take a look: