bfreemanbooks.com

Do you have your summer reading list ready?  If you don’t have any of Brian Freeman’s books on your list, you need to make a few changes.

Brian Freeman is an International Best Selling Author with his books selling in 46 countries and 20 languages.  And five of his novels are set right here in Duluth.  His first book, “Immoral,” introduces us to the famous Duluth Police Department’s Detective.  Lt. Jonathan Stride struggles to capture a serial killer on the streets of Duluth.

He’ll be in the Twin Ports through the weekend at book signings in both Superior and Duluth.  His latest novel, “Spilled Blood” isn’t a Stride novel set in Duluth, but a stand alone set in Southwestern Minnesota.  Brian promises that Jonathan Stride will return to Duluth in another book next year.

If you want to go check out Brian’s book signing on Saturday in Superior or Sunday in Duluth you can check out the locations on his website: bfreemanbooks.com or on his Facebook fan page.

In case you missed the interview this morning, here it is:

Tony Hart

On my way home from work yesterday I noticed a plume of black smoke rising over Superior, and at first I thought it might be another angry ex-wife, but I quickly realized it was coming from the oil refinery. So what caused that big puff of black smoke? Find out after the jump.

Dave Podratz is the plant manager and he explained to me it is very similar to the hot water heater in your house, it, like the oil refinery, has a relief valve and when unwanted pressure builds up, the relief valve lets that pressure out.

With your hot water heater the pressure would be released in the form of water on your basement floor, at the oil refinery the pressure is released in gas vapors through the “closed flare stack”. You’ll often see a fire burning on the flare to burn off small amounts of gas vapors, which is normal.

Yesterday they had a larger than normal relief event which resulted in some black smoke being produced in a very short amount of time, the plant quickly reacted and added steam to the flame, which quickly made the smoke disappear and reduced the flame size.

Basically the safety system in place at the refinery worked as designed and at NO time was anyone at the plant or in the surrounding community ever in danger. Dave and his crew work very hard to operate a safe and clean operation and what happened yesterday is a rare occurrence.

(Photo by Dimas Ardian/Getty Images)

Mayor Don Ness is doing his part to plant 5oo new trees in the city , declaring today May 17th as Arbor Day in the city of Duluth.

According to The Northlands News Center A Forestry Specialist is working with the city to map out where to plant the trees throughout Duluth.

I love the trees we have on our our block, they are not very big yet, but I hope we are in our house long enough to see them thrive and drape over our street someday.

If you are interested in having a tree planted on your block you need to contact Buildings and Grounds Maintenance in Duluth. Just one more way to beautify our city for years and generations to come.

The guy, who has the name Michael in reports about the story, would give a “Date Response Form” for women to fill out after spending some time with him. To say the least; this guy is either really awkward, really dense, or both. One lucky recipient of the questionnaire decided to forward it on to Deadspin, so the world could know what Michael wants to know from his women.

Here’s the survey, in all its glory. Enjoy, and be sure to leave a comment below!

deadspin.com

deadspin.com

Gary Gershoff, Getty Images

Laurieann Gibson’s name is familiar to little monsters. She served as the creative director and choreographer for Lady Gaga‘s Haus of Gaga before parting ways with the Mother Monster last fall. But working for Gaga was not Gibson’s “last chance,” as she is dropping a single of her own, dubbed ‘Last Chance.’

The multi-talented artist, who co-directed Gaga’s ‘Judas’ video and who also worked with Nicki Minaj on her controversial Grammy 2012 performance, is trying her hand at music, and ‘Last Chance’ is her debut track.

The song is heavily processed, with Gibson’s voice Autotuned out the wazoo. It can loosely be described as a club banger, but in all honesty, it’s not very good. Sorry, girl.

Gibson clearly has a talent for artisanship and showmanship, as her videos and stage shows have proven time and time again. But the singing is best left to her former employer and current one!

Perhaps ‘Last Chance’ is a “one and done” scenario for Gibson. Or maybe she is following her dreams. If anything, she has worked alongside some of the biggest stars in the biz, so she likely picked up a lot from them, which she can utilize moving forward in her own career as she steps out from behind the scenes.

[button href="http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/earshot/laurieann-gibson-lady-gaga-nicki-minaj-single-song-music-324632" title="Listen to Laurieann Gibson 'Last Chance'" align="center"]

Source: PopCrush.com

(Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

A Canadian company was apparently able to get their hands on some of Justin Biebers DNA and it is for sale to rabid J.B. fans!

Somehow a company called Celebrity Gene were able to get some locks of Justin’s hair, extracted the DNA and have made pendants out of them.

How nice, what a great gift to give to the girl that has everything. I bet that Paul McCartney is relieved that this type of technology did not exist back when he was with the Beatles.

The pendant costs about $120.00 Canadian and is available  starting May 28th 2012. Yep

For more information click here

Dan Kitwood, Getty Images

A while back, we told you about the Jewish girls’ school in Brooklyn that instituted a Facebook ban for its students, saying using the social media site violated its religious tenets.

Now an elementary school in Australia is following suit, but its demand that kids delete their Facebook pages has an entirely different reason: it’s an attempt to wipe out cyber-bullying.

Leonie Hultgren, principal of Harlaxton State School in Toowoomba, Queensland, said in a newsletter that children must obey Facebook’s rule stating no one under 13 is permitted to sign up for an account. It’s not uncommon for kids to lie about their ages to circumvent that policy, but Hultgren said any of her charges who did so would face expulsion.

Falsifying one’s age to gain access to Facebook is not only against the law, she wrote, but “there has been some considerable Facebook traffic that either bullies a child of this school or in some cases denigrates some staff and the school. Either of these circumstances warrant the school becoming involved.”

Some parents are outraged at the new policy, but child psychologist Michael Carr-Gregg applauds it, saying Hultgren’s stance is “directly related to the lack of supervision of very young people who do not have the skills, knowledge and strategies to manage their digital behavior.”

[The Age]

Youtube

All of the questions seem so easy on game shows when you’re watching them from home. I’ve watched shows like Jeopardy and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire many times with friends or family members who seem to always know the “right answers”. Sure, when you’re on the show there is extra pressure and things might not be as simple as they seem from your couch – but I think this was more of a “brain fart” rather than game show stress at work.

Zach, a college student from Reed College, was in the final round on Wheel of Fortune, presented with a puzzle that was only missing two letters. He had the first word figured out, but that second word – it proved to be his undoing. Check out the video below and be sure to leave any comments in the box below!

slightlyeverything, flickr

Dating is tough, and interpersonal communication can be even tougher. But the electronic age has brought with a whole new layer of angst — it seems nothing is more perplexing to a man than talking to a woman via text message.

A recent survey conducted by TSB Magazine, an online dating advice and men’s interest site, asked participants to review some of the most traditionally frustrating or confusing aspects of dating, approaching women, and romance, and then choose which issue was paramount.

Fully a third of men said confusion about when to send a text to a woman and what it should say was the most frustrating aspect of a budding romance, while others cited more traditional concerns like approaching women, having an in-person conversation and the awkwardness of an end-of-date kiss.

Of course, not everyone even had the chance to get that far — the survey also included the choices “having women see you are a friend, not a love interest” and “hitting it off with a woman only to have her shift her interest to someone else,” which garnered 10 percent and 6 percent of the votes, respectively.

[PR Web]

Capital FM

Jessie J recently stopped by Capital FM studios in the U.K., and while there, the bubbly songstress dished on her next career move. Since she’s still enjoying the success of her debut album ‘Who You Are,’ the number one item on Jessie J’s professional agenda as of right now is to perform with Beyonce.

When asked about what her next career move will be, Jessie J didn’t speak of recording a new album or hitting the road to perform more — Ms. J is a dreamer, so it comes as no surprise that she spoke of her dream collaboration, which is “to sing with Beyonce.” They haven’t spoken about singing together, although Jessie has met the very “nice” vocalist. (She hasn’t met Blue Ivy, though, comically saying, “I’ve not met the baby. I think that that’s their thing.”) But now that the idea is out there, maybe Bey will accept this sort of proposal?

Beyonce doesn’t tend to do a lot of collaborations with other pop songstresses (minus Lady Gaga), and usually gravitates to rappers for features to offset her sultry R&B vocals. However, Jessie J would make a good song partner for Beyonce, since she can belt it out with the best of them and has that edgy, soulful quality to her voice.

During her Capital FM interview, the adorable Jessie J, who revealed she now has arthritis in her left foot after breaking it last year, also dished on performing at the radio station’s Summertime Ball on June 9, 2012.

“I can’t wait,” she gushed. “I’m looking forward to being sandwiched between Justin Bieber and Katy Perry. That’s quite a good sandwich.” She also spoke about sometimes getting teary-eyed during performances, saying, “I’m quite an emotional girl. I wear my heart on my sleeve.” Additionally, Jessie J confirmed that she’d never date a fan because “it would get a little strange,” adding that most of the people the openly bisexual songstress dates haven’t heard of her.

[button href="http://www.capitalfm.com/artists/jessie-j/news/exclusive-webchat-capital/" target="_blank" title="Watch Jessie J's Interview With Capital FM" align="center"]

Source: PopCrush.com

Forbes

Justin Bieber isn’t No. 1 on the Forbes Celebrity 100list — that honor goes to Jennifer Lopez – but he is on the cover of the issue.

It’s another major magazine profile that bridges the gap from boy to man for the singer. While most Beliebers don’t care about the financials that are detailed in this story, it reveals that the Biebs is a very savvy (and wealthy) businessman.

Here’s the quick math. Since debuting three years ago, the ‘Boyfriend’ singer has sold 15 million albums and grossed $150 million over 157 tour dates in two dozen countries. His film ‘Never Say Never’ nabbed $30 million in opening weekend box office receipts. His ‘Someday’ fragrance raked in $60 million during its first six months. Add that up, and he’s earned about $108 million in the past two years.

In the social media sphere, he shakes out like this: 21 million Twitter followers, 43 million Facebook fans and 740 million ‘Baby’ YouTube video views, the most ever for one clip. Interestingly, a Twitter employee said that in 2010, three percent of the company’s infrastructure was dedicated to dealing with tweets related to the singer!

All that activity translates to plenty of money for him and his business managers to play with in the investment world. The Biebs is a venture capitalist who drops money into upstarts and products he likes. His manager Scooter Braun also stated firmly that he won’t let his client get involved in something unless he is into it. Smart strategy.

Bieber has been dumping millions into private tech start up companies and holds stakes in a dozen or so companies. The sleuths at FORBES verified four: messaging platform Tinychat, social curation app Stamped, gaming outfit Sojo Studios and Spotify.

The Biebs isn’t paid to endorse these products. He invests his own capital into them and most haven’t even promoted his involvement. So it’s not like he tweets about the products and uses his image to sell them a la Kim Kardashian – he directly funds them.

For his part, Bieber understands the financial and long-term value of being connected in the digital age, even if privacy and mystique are casualties.  ”It used to be there was a mystery to the artist,” says Bieber. “Now there’s, like, no mystery — the fans want the connection, they want to see you Instagramming at a coffee shop in the morning.”

Forbes

Forbes

Forbes

Forbes

Watch the Justin Bieber ‘Boyfriend’ Video

Source: PopCrush.com

Larry Busacca / Michael Loccisano / Jason Merritt, Getty Images

The gloves are off and the claws are out in the reality singing show wars!

Singer John Legend, who will unite with Kelly Clarkson on the newly launching ABC show ‘Duets’ (which will pair established, A-list judges with upstart contestants), took a shot at new ‘X Factor‘ judges Britney Spears and Demi Lovato. He said that they can’t sing, making their appointments to the show’s panel questionable.

“You know it’s interesting. It should be very interesting. I don’t have much to say,” Legend stated to E! “It’s interesting when people you know who are judging singing competitions when they aren’t really singers. It’s interesting.”

Zing! Tell us how you really feel, John!

For her part, Clarkson, who won ‘American Idol‘ during its maiden season, was excited that the ladies-who-can’t-sing-according-to-John-Legend are boarding the show. “I’m excited for both of them. I’m a big fan of both of them. Both of those girls are super sweet,” she said. Aw! It’s all love emanating from Clarkson.

She continued, “I think it’s fun for them, too, to just be more out in the public eye again. I think those two are two you really want to root for and you really want them to succeed, so I think that’s exciting.”

Clarkson also addressed the mutually beneficial and symbiotic relationship between the new judges and the show, and the fact that ‘X Factor’ underperformed in Season 1. She pointed out that Spears and Lovato would give it the star power it desperately needs, saying, “I think that show really needs it. I don’t think everybody latched onto that show like they thought they would.”

Let’s see how ‘Duets’ and ‘X Factor’ fare…

Watch John Legend + Kelly Clarkson Talk to E!

Source: PopCrush.com

Youtube.com

It may seem like the DJ’s at Mix 108 have some sort of foot fetish with the recent stories about flip flops and ugly celebrity feet.  But we don’t.  Promise.  Well, all of us with the exception of Tony Hart.

We’ve all heard of arm wrestling, right?  How would you like to take part in the latest craze, “Toe Wrestling?”

Punishing your piggies for bragging rights at the World Toe Wrestling Championship may set you back, seeing as though they’re held in the U.K.  And yup, you guessed it.  It’s just like arm wrestling.  But with your feet.

The police arrived on the scene shortly before 4pm and were seen looking at the debris, including a pile of ash were an apparent fire had been lit, the door to the house opened and the officer was seen talking to someone through the screen door.

As of around 5pm this afternoon the the truck had been moved, but the signs and the pile of junk remain.

This has to be one of the most insane things I’ve ever seen and it is unfortunate that kids were exposed to this, while I was on the scene several kids were seen walking around and taking pictures with their smart phones, but I guess it’s true what they say:

“Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned”

All Photos by Tony Hart

YouTube

I’m still waiting for one of my three kids to amaze me with some sort of musical talent.  Unfortunately, they must have my musical genes.

I’m not holding my breath until they give me some sort of viral video-worthy material either.  But if these were my kids, I would have them practicing their autographs and planning where my indoor pool would go.  Someone better get them an agent!  Could these kids be any cuter?

Photo courtesy of Duracell

Mom and Dad be careful about leaving those spare batteries just laying around, they could be a health hazard to your young child.

Everyone knows how kids have a fascination with putting things up their nose, into their ears or even their mouth. And E.R.’s across the country have seen an increase in baby and toddlers coming in across the country because of batteries.

Many Dr.’s believe the small shiny ones are fascinating to the kids and one thing leads to another. What is even more dangerous is If kids swallow the small coin batteries, because the parents may not even be aware that they had swallowed them.

For more information on this click here:

Photo courtesy of YouTube

Mariah Carey showed once again that she refuses to share the spotlight with anyone. A reporter for the T.V. show EXTRA found that out the hard way, as she proceeded to show a total dis-interest in another famous pop star.

You may have heard of her…Britney Spears. Brit-Bit has confirmed that she will be a judge on the new Season of X-Factor and is being paid handsomely to boot. Mariah almost seems offended by the question, and let’s him know it. Maybe she feels ripped off that she is not taking home the $15 million dollar pay out for telling people they have no talent!

Jason Merritt, Getty Images

Major League Baseball may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Adam Lambert, but the singer stopped by the MLB Fan Cave in New York one night before the release of his new album ‘Trespassing‘ to perform nearly half the record.

Lambert’s mini-concert emphasized the up-tempo songs from the album, with performances of the title track, ‘Cuckoo,’ ‘Kickin’ In,’ ‘Broken English,’ ‘Shady’ and ‘Never Close Our Eyes.’ He also sang the biggest hit from his debut, ‘Whataya Want From Me.’

Lambert told MLB.com about what inspired his songwriting process on ‘Trespassing’: “I wrote about things I know, things that are real to me and my life. I wanted to give fans a little more insight into who I was as a real person. At times in the writing process, I kind of challenged myself to go back to a time before ‘American Idol‘ and imagine, ‘OK, where was I before all this craziness? Where was I? What made me want to become a singer? What makes me, as a listener, go, ‘That’s a good song.’ I noticed that was the stuff that kept pulling me into songs, that kind of funky swagger.”

Check out some fan-shot videos from the event of Lambert performing some of the new songs live for the first time.

Watch Adam Lambert Perform ‘Cuckoo’

Watch Adam Lambert Perform ‘Broken English’

Watch Adam Lambert Perform ‘Kickin’ In’

Watch Adam Lambert Perform ‘Shady’

Watch Adam Lambert Perform ‘Never Close Our Eyes’

Source: PopCrush.com

Photo courtesy of Adamlambert.com

Exciting new releases this week, so break out the man-scera Adam Lambert is back with  Trespassing.

I have been very open about the fact that when Adam Lambert was on American Idol I was not a fan of his at all. Sorry to all his very passionate fans, but his screaming was annoying.

He must have got the message because he has toned it down nicely and actually shown that he has some real music chops.

Check out the list below with some highlights of some other  new releases this week. Quite a variety from Tenacious- D to Glee .

1) Lisa Marie Presley “Storm & Grace”- Oh boy here we go again with her trying to sing. good luck with that!

2)Santana “Shape Shifter” (instrumental album; only one song features vocals from Santana’s lead vocalists, Andy Vargas and Tony Lindsay)-Great background music for the summer BBQ’s's.

3)Tenacious D “Rize of the Fenix” (their first album since 2006)-You gotta love Jack Black!

4) Various artists ”Glee: The Music, Season Three — The Graduation Album”-On every Glee fans list!

5)Various artists     “Occupy This Album” (featuring Crosby & Nash, Devo, Jackson Browne, Tom Morello, Debbie Harry)-Old School Classic Acts!

About 1,000 positions remain for next month’s marathon events – scheduled for June 14-16. Join the Grandma’s Marathon volunteer team and help make the race’s 36th annual celebration an event to remember.

Volunteer positions include areas such as traffic and spectator control, water station assistance, medical services, course entertainment, race packet pick-up and finish area activities.

Service organizations, large groups and individuals are all welcome and encouraged to participate. Each volunteer receives an official T-shirt, refreshment tickets and an invitation to the Grandma’s Marathon Volunteer Party on Sunday, June 24 at Grandma’s Sports Garden.

To volunteer, complete and submit the online form at GrandmasMarathon.com. Call (218) 727-0947 for more information.

(Info from Grandma’s Marathon Press Release)