Feature Song of the Day = 'Till Im Gone' by Elke

Today's feature song is Till I'm Gone by 5-piece Australian indie-electro band Elke. I have posted songs by Elke (and by their side project band Dolphins)before on this vlog, but I will give a bit of info nonetheless...They are from Brisbane, Australia and they started out as a weekend recording band back in 2007, and band members first names are Zack, Joel, Dave, Jim, and Jesse . Till I'm Gone comes off of their Blue Dream Lover EP, which was their first body of work, and it was on ITunes store, but upon a current search it appears that ITunes (the US-store anyway) has taken this EP off their database?? If you want a little more info on the band you can check out their Myspace page HERE, and even find some free and legal mp3 downloads at their Unearthed page HERE.

Brief Book Review for 'Creating Money' (1988) (book by Author's Sanaya Roman and Duane Packer)

Book = Creating Money: Attracting Abundance (1988)

Authors = Sanaya Roman and Duane Packer

5/5 Stars ***** 

Ok, so I just finished reading this book, titled Creating Money by authors Sanaya Roman and Duance Packer for the 6th time!! I read somewhere that advertising company research over the years has revealed that if you are exposed to a commercial or an idea/set of ideas 5-6 times or more that the ideas and their underlying assumptions/suggestions start to absorb subconsciously in the viewer/reader. That is exactly why I have read this book for the 6th time (all in the last 2 years), as it really contains so many new beliefs about money and abundance and how all that works in life that I now choose to have as my own thoughts and beliefs. I am also writing this review in the hopes of inspiring at least a few of you to at least check the book out and thus have a real opportunity to change some things, as well as to shake loose some of the more unhappy rigid structures/patterns in your live's. Now, don't get me wrong here, this book isn't going to guarantee you will get rich or anything so common like that. What this book might do, and has done for me, is help you begin to think of money and material abundance as well as spiritual abundance in new ways that can help you to evolve out of your old life-long patterns/habits surrounding money and everyday living (particularly those that you would deep down love to change). So there is my sales-pitch if you can call it that, but I must say that this book is really just a beginning, as there is a lot of work to be done to re-program your own deep-seated beliefs and stubborn patterns, and it requires that you actually be open to new ideas and new possibilities instead of thinking that you already know it all. For me, it has been a long process, but I have started to see small changes here and there, and in real life, and in my own experience that is how it seems to work, small forward steps here and there that add up to larger changes over a period of time. So, with all of that said, I highly recommend this book to all of you who are open to expanding your reality and to opening up to new ideas. I believe that William Shakespeare said it best: "There are more things in heaven and earth...Than are dreamt of in your philosophy." -Hamlet Act 1, scene 5, 159–167

Click here to check out Sanaya Roman and Duane Packer's website for more information about them and their works.

#30 of VJ Samsonite's Top 100 80's Dance Hits Countdown: 'Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car' by Billy Ocean (1988)

Welcome back once again to the Top 100 80's Dance Hits Countdown (by VJ Samsonite). Today we are presenting #30, and the song is  Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car by British singer/performer Billy Ocean. Billy Ocean was born in Fyzabad, Trinidad in January of 1950, and moved with his family to Romford, Essex, England with his family at the age of 8. Now most of you will definitely remember this song from the late 1980's, and I specifically have a memory of drinking fruit punch Kool-Aid at a friends house and watching Billy Ocean's music video for this song on MTV, ahh..the memories. This song was a #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, the Australian Charts, and the Hot R&B Songs chart. It would peak at #3 on the UK charts. One other interesting fact about this song that I had totally forgotten is that it was featured on the soundtrack of the 1988 teen adventure movie License to Drive, which featured 80's-duo Corey Haim and Corey Feldman, who were still basking in the success of the previous year's 1987 cult classic The Lost Boys. In fact, I think I even have a License to Drive keychain, and have no idea how I would ended up with it, but I figure I must have acquired it in a Disneyland trip that year, you know, when they were still doing Star Tours and Michael Jackson's 3D Captain EO...those were the days. In fact I wonder if I could even find a copy of License to Drive today, I bet it would be difficult to locate one. Well, enough reminiscing for now...stay tuned for #29! Apparently the original video is good, but YouTube has disabled embedding so this one will have to do.

Featured Song of the Day = 'First Base' by Convaire

Today's feature song is First Base, by Australian indie-electro-pop group Convaire. Convaire is a 4-piece band from Sydney, Australia which consists of John Towey (guitars), sisters Liz and Jane Slattery (keysboards) and Dan Talbot (bass guitar). First Base is a single, and it was released in December of 2010. According to their Unearthed Page HERE, they are set to release an EP in early 2011, and as a matter of fact they have the entire EP available as a free and legal download HERE, so be sure to check it out.  Also, be sure to check out their Myspace page HERE for more general band info.

Today's Featured Song = 'Fashion' by Grum

Today's featured song is Fashion, by UK electro-artist Grum. Grum (Graeme Shepard) has been active on the synth-electro music scene since 2007 and he originates out of Leeds, UK. Fashion comes off of his May 2010 debut album titled Heartbeats, which I would highly recommend checking out if you are into the synth-electro scene and are fond of artists like Cut Copy, Van She, The Presets, Miami Horror, and Tesla Boy.

Today's Featured Song = 'Faithful (Gloves China White Club Dub)' by World's End Press

Today's feature song is Faithful (Gloves China White Club Dub by Australian indie-electro band World's End Press. World's End Press originate out of Melbourne, Australia and Faithful (Gloves China White Club Dub) comes off of their October 2010 release EP titled Faithful, which incidentally can now be purchased on ITunes and Amazon. This group has a dance-electro sound that is refreshing and poppy. If you like what you hear, be sure to also visit their Myspace page HERE. Triple J Hottest 100 Vol 17

Renewable Energy Update: Did You Know You Can Get Free Solar on Your Home in Eight US States? (OR, CA,TX, MA, PA,CO, AZ, NJ)

There are now at least eight states in the US where you can get a free solar system to supply your home’s electricity at a lower rate than your utility does. The eight states of OR, CA,TX, MA, PA,CO, AZ, and NJ) now allow private companies to compete with their utilities that sell power by the kilowatt hour, through a “lease” or a power purchase agreement, or PPA. For more info check out the article HERE.

Brief Book Review for: 'The Golden City' (Author John Twelve Hawks) (2009)

 4/5 Stars ****
The Golden City is a novel by action/sci-fi author John Twelve Hawks. It was released in the USA in September of 2009, and it is the 3rd book in the Fourth Realm Trilogy. I highly recommend this series if you are a fan of sci-fi adventure books that have a fast pace and lots of action (eg Dan Brown books), because I can tell you by experience that you will not want to put this book down and will likely read the entire thing in one or just a few sittings. The 3 books in this trilogy follow a Harlequin-warrior named Maya and a Traveler named Gabriel, and many of the people around them as they fight an endless battle against a secret organization called the Tabula (aka the Brethren) who control the human population via most of the governments in the world, corporations, surveillance systems, financial transactions, and 1984-style Big Brother tactics. The whole lot of which is termed the Vast Machine. So they are the resistance fighting the never-ending struggle against this Vast Machine and those who seek total control and total force over all humanity. The themes are very similar to those of The Matrix, and they confront real life realities about many of the new technologies that have actually infiltrated our global society, the erosion of privacy and individual freedoms in the name of security, and of course what it all means from a somewhat schizophrenic point of view...its just a story kids....really...Check this trilogy out if you are into sci-fi, conspiracy thrillers, and lots of action.

Featured Song of the Day = 'Wilson' by The Salvadors

Today's featured song is Wilson by Adelaide based Australian indie-pop group The Salvadors. The Salvadors consist of first names only Tom ( vocals/guitar), Eddy (guitar), Jeff (bass guitar), Eugine (drums), and Cat (keyboards). The Salvadors certainly are making waves in Oz, and I recommend you check out this song as well as their others, which incidentally are available on ITunes and Amazon right now. Wilson is a more recent single, released in November, 2010. If you like what you heart I would also recommend that you to go to their Unearthed Page HERE for more band info as well as the fact that there are still some free and legal MP3 downloads by the Salvadors available on that page as well. Also, be sure to check out their Myspace page HERE. Everytime I hear the name Wilson, it makes me think of that Tom Hanks movie and the volleyball he names Wilson...I know, I know...just enjoy the song everybody. Misspent Youth Ep

Featured Song of the Day = 'I Look to You (feat. Kimbra)' by Miami Horror

Today's featured song is...I Look to You (feat. Kimbra) by Australian electro-pop-disco outfit Miami Horror. Yes, you have seen them on this vlog before, but this album is good and not that well known so I am posting another song from it. Miami Horror is a four-piece group out of Melbourne, Australia which has been active on the music scene since 2007 and consists of members Benjamin Plant (producer), Josh Moriarty, Aaron Shanahan, and Daniel Whitechurch. The group has released an EP titled Bravado (2008), as well as a full studio album titled Illumination (just released in August of 2010) from which today's song comes off of. Much of Miami Horror's music has been influenced by 70's and 80's dance-pop and electro-synth-pop, which makes for an interesting mixture going into the '10s. I Look to You features guest vocals from Australian singer/songwriter Kimbra who has a new album out titled Settle Down, so be sure to check out her Myspace page HERE for more info on her and her music.  Enjoy!

Brief Movie Review: 'The Kings Speech' (2010)

The King's Speech (2010)

5/5 Stars *****

Very well done movie, and I would be surprised if there aren't some Academy Awards in store here, and as I found out earlier tonight there already have been some Golden Globes awarded. I am pretty sure this is based on 'true events' and character portrayals of the British Royal family just pre-WWII. King George VI, who had a speech defect, and his trials with dealing with making lots of public speeches as well as the politics of an looming war with Germany. It is interesting how the little things, the small victories lead to larger ones, such as the development of the right leaders at the right times to ward off the complete dominance of Nazi-Germany in Europe. This movie has the highest quality acting I have seen in quite a long time, don't miss it!

#31 of VJ Samsonite's Top 100 80's Dance Hits Countdown: 'Good Times' by INXS and Jimmy Barnes (1987)

Now for #31 of the Countdown...Good Times by Australian rock collaboration INXS and Jimmy Barnes. INXS were a bigtime 80's rock band that arose out of Sydney, Australia in 1977 and who would achieve international success with many albums and songs in the 1980's and 90's. INXS as they were in the 80's consisted of members  Garry Gary Beers (bass guitar), Andrew Farriss (guitar/keyboards), Jon Farriss (drums), Tim Farriss (lead guitar), and Kirk Pengilly on (guitar/saxophone). For twenty years, INXS was lead by Michael Hutchence as their lead vocals, and no doubt the icon INXS's rock star image. On Novemeber 22nd, 1997 Hutchence was found dead in his Sydney hotel room, later to be ruled by the coroner's and autopsy reports as a suicide whilst under the influence of alcohol and drugs. Following the death of Hutchence the band didn't play publicly for a year or so, but then they started up again and continue to play to this day, although never quite the same. Jimmy Barnes on the other hand, was a Scottish born-Australian rock-singer and songwriter. According to his Wikipedia page, Barnes currently holds the title of the Australian rock artist with the highest number of hit albums. In 1973 Jimmy Barnes joined a band named Cold Chisel, until the early 1980's when he began his solo career. In 1986 Jimmy Barnes and INXS recorded 2 songs together, Good Times (which was a cover of the original 1968 release-song by the Easybeats), and Laying Down the Law, both of which would appear on the 1987 teen horror film soundtrack of a true 80's-movie classic (one of my personal favorite 80's movies), a little Joel Schumacher film called The Lost Boys. Good Times would reach #2 on the ARIA charts, #16 on the UK Singles chart, and #47 on the US Billboard Hot 100. Good Times was also used to to promote the national Australia Made series of concerts that took place between Boxing Day 1986 and Australia Day 1987. This is one of those pub favorites that simply cannot be left off of this countdown, and it is most definitely dance-able. So there is #31, now we are getting down to it folks, #30 is next and then the 20's is in...stay tuned.

Featured song of the Day = 'Since You Left Me' by Positive Motion

Today's featured song is...Since You Left Me, by island-reggae group Positive Motion. Now, I have yet to find an artist bio on Positive Motion other than the fact that they are based out of Pahoa, Hawaii. If you are looking for that information I don't have it as of yet, sorry. Do be sure, however, to check out their Myspace page HERE, and you can find this single and another one titled Table for Two, up on ITunes now. Enjoy!