Serato Icon: "Z-Trip"

There are few DJs that work as hard as Zach Sciacca aka Z‑Trip.

On the road or in the studio. In front of thousands of fans or alone on the side of a mountain, Zach is always working at his craft and trying to be the best he can be. His passion is music, no matter what the style. Always trying to innovate and find new ways of blending tracks and constructing sets. It's this passion and dedication that has led him to become one of the worlds premier DJs.

"I'm constantly living on no sleep. I'm constantly living on deadlines. I'm also constantly trying to outdo my shows and myself, get better and pay attention to what's coming in. There's a lot of processing.

"I wake up every morning ready to go on some, whats next? What can I do? How can I learn? How can I absorb?"

Rather than on stage, in the heat of the moment, it's the time away from the spotlight where Z‑Trip finds his inspiration.

"Being up on top of a mountain, or being, you know, in some remote place. Getting in touch with nature, getting in touch with yourself and clearing your thoughts. Its very therapeutic.

"I found that snowboarding for me was the one thing where I had this physical thing that I was doing but I could get lost you know. Listening to music, I could just get lost in it.

"You just start going on this journey and it's because you took yourself out of the everyday and put yourself into a different situation that forces you to think outside the box.

"It's just one of those things where for me, breathes inspiration."

Zach craves music and is a DJ who doesn't want to be put in a box. His hunger for so many different styles and his talent to mix it all together is what defines him.

"I love house music, I love electro music, I love all kinds of music. I want to know as much as I possibly can about every style of music.

"The bigger the risk, the bigger the reward. I don't want to sound like everybody else. There's too much great music out there to just play it safe.

"I want a reaction, good or bad, I just want a reaction."

Preparation is only the beginning. It's once Zach gets on stage that the real work starts.

"I grew up watching Djs put in the work and mix records live and I'm trying to take that a step further. I'm trying to get all the different pieces of songs; acappellas, instrumentals. I'm trying to mix things together, mix 8 bars of this and then bounce out!

"It's one half spontaneity, one half preparation. I want be up there sweating, putting in work. I want people to see that i'm up there working. I want moments when I stop and hear the crowd give me that energy back. I want that!

"There was a moment where I was a little reluctant to jump from analog to digital. Once I did make that jump, I started to realize that it's infinite. The possibilities are endless and I can actually manipulate this music even more than I could in the past. It gave me a whole second breath of fresh air that I didn't even realize."

Check out New Music from Steve Cantrell "The Spiderman Theory"

Check out the new single for Steve Cantrell's and David Luke's upcoming project titled 

"Thoughts After Second Thoughts" 

Due Jan. 21st, 2013

Follow Steve Cantrell on Twitter @Steve_Cantrell

Michael Dunn, Florida Man, Invokes 'Stand Your Ground' Law After Shooting Black Teen

Florida’s controversial ‘Stand Your Ground’ law is back on the national stage after the murder of yet another unarmed, black teenager.

Michael Dunn, a 45-year-old Florida resident, is invoking the controversial law after a recent confrontation turned fatal, The Orlando Sentinel reports.

According to authorities, 17-year-old Jordan Russell Davis, a black teenager, and several friends were confronted by Dunn, a white man, who pulled alongside the teens' SUV in the parking lot of a Jacksonville, Fla., gas station. Dunn asked them to turn their music down, and after an exchange of words, he fired between 8 and 9 shots at the vehicle, several of which hit Davis, causing his death.

Dunn was arrested on Saturday and charged with murder and attempted murder. His lawyer said that her client acted "responsibly and in self defense."

During a telephone interview with ABC 25, Dunn’s daughter Rebecca defended her father, saying he did not intend to kill anyone and was responding to a threat.

"He got threatened and had to do what he had to do, and it's sad, so sad," Rebecca Dunn said. "A terrible tragedy on both sides. It really is. I don't know. What are you going to do in that situation? You don't know what you are going to do. He just reacted."

Dunn’s self-defense claim falls under Florida’s "Stand Your Ground" law, which was the same claim used in the defense of George Zimmerman, the man accused of murdering 17-year-old Trayvon Martin earlier this year.

Davis was a student at Samuel W. Wolfson High School, a magnet school in Duval County. He will be buried in his hometown of Marietta, Ga. His family plans to start a foundation in his honor for at-risk youth who have been the victims of tragedy.

Original post on Huffingtonpost.com

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Obama In Cambodia Makes History As First President To Visit Country

 

Barack Obama , Barack Obama , Barack Obama , Video, Phnom Penh, Obama Cambodia, Obama Cambodia Trip, Obama Phnom Penh, World News

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia — Making history twice within hours, President Barack Obama on Monday became the first U.S. president to set foot in Cambodia, a country once known for its Khmer Rouge "killing fields." He left behind flag-waving crowds on the streets of Myanmar, the once internationally shunned nation now showing democratic promise.
Unlike the visit to Myanmar, where Obama seemed to revel in that nation's new hope, the White House made clear that Obama is only in Cambodia to attend an East Asia Summit and said the visit should not be seen as an endorsement of Prime Minister Hun Sen and his government.
Indeed, Obama's arrival in Cambodia lacked the euphoria of his greeting in Myanmar, where tens of thousands of people lined the streets of Yangon to cheer the first American president to visit a country that until recently had long been isolated from the West. "You gave us hope," Obama declared in Yangon.
In Phnom Penh, small clusters of Cambodians gathered in the streets to watch the motorcade pass by, without any of the outpouring that greeted Obama in Myanmar.
From the airport, Obama headed straight to the Peace Palace for a meeting with Hun Sen that later was described by U.S. officials as a tense encounter dominated by the president voicing concerns about Cambodia's human rights record. He specifically raised the lack of free and fair elections, the detention of political prisoners and land seizures, officials said.
Deputy national security adviser Ben Rhodes said Obama told the prime minister that those issues are "an impediment" to a deeper relationship between the U.S. and Cambodia. Rhodes said Hun Sen defended his country's record, saying unique circumstances motivate its policies and practices. Still, the prime minister expressed a desire to deepen ties with the U.S., Rhodes said.
Earlier in Myanmar, Obama addressed a national audience from the University of Yangon, offering a "hand of friendship" and a lasting U.S. commitment, yet a warning, too. He said the new civilian government must nurture democracy or watch it, and U.S. support, disappear.
The six-hour stop in Myanmar was the centerpiece of a four-day trip to Southeast Asia that began in Bangkok and ends Tuesday in Cambodia, where Obama will visit with Chinese, Japanese and Southeast Asia leaders in addition to attending the East Asia Summit with regional leaders.
Obama celebrated the history of what he was witnessing in Myanmar – a nation shedding years of military rule, and a relationship between two nations changing fast.

"This remarkable journey has just begun," he said.
In a notable detour from U.S. policy, the president referred to the nation as Myanmar in his talks with President Thein Sein. That is the name preferred by the former military regime and the new government, rather than Burma, the old name favored by democracy advocates and the U.S. government.
Rhodes said afterward that Obama's use of Myanmar was "a diplomatic courtesy" that doesn't change the U.S. position that the country is still Burma.
On his first trip abroad since his re-election earlier this month, Obama's motorcade sped him to the lakeside home in Yangon of longtime opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. He hugged her and lauded her as a personal inspiration. Suu Kyi spent most of the past 20 years in house detention at her home.
In remarks after their meeting, Suu Kyi echoed Obama's tone with an admonition of her own, one that could have been directed at her own ruling party as much as to the United States:
"The most difficult time in any transition is when we think that success is in sight," she said. "Then we have to be very careful that we're not lured by the mirage of success."
Rhodes said Obama was moved the visit with Suu Kyi at her home, and was pleased to see on prominent display a stuffed replica of the president's dog Bo in the house. Obama gave Suu Kyi the stuffed animal when she visited Washington earlier this year.
Crowds swelled at every intersection in Yangon, yelling affectionately for both Obama and his secretary of state, Hillary Rodham Clinton.
"You are the legend hero of our world," one banner read.
Obama spoke at a university that was once the center of government opposition, and his message was as much a call for Myanmar to continue in its promising steps as it was a tribute to democracy in general. He held up the United States as an example of its triumph and its imperfections.
Coinciding with the president's visit, the government of Myanmar announced further human rights steps to review prisoner cases and de-escalate conflicts in ethnic regions of the country.
But Obama urged even more, calling for a government where, as he put it, "those in power must accept constraints."
"The flickers of progress that we have seen must not be extinguished," Obama said in the address televised to the nation.
Rhodes said the president was moved by the throngs of people who lined the streets to greet him. The president made one unscheduled stop, at the Shwedagon Pagoda. After seeing the pagoda as Air Force One approached Yangon, then seeing the outpouring of support from people who worship the site, Obama personally decided to make the unscheduled stop, Rhodes said.
As Obama arrived in Cambodia, he was dogged by concerns from human rights groups that have cast Hun Sen as a violent authoritarian and voiced apprehension that Obama's visit will be perceived inside Cambodia as validation of the prime minister's regime.
Still, many Cambodians credit Hun Sen with helping the country emerge from the horrors of the 1970s Khmer Rouge reign, when systematic genocide by the communist regime left 1.7 million dead. Vietnam invaded and ousted that regime in 1979. By 1985, Hun Sen had become prime minister.
___
Kuhnhenn reported from Yangon, Myanmar.

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Check out the Pretty Sweet x Beats by Dr Dre Pill

The most anticipated skate video in years is Pretty Sweet from Girl and Chocolate, and its impending release is celebrated through a collaboration with Beats by Dr. Dre. The crew at Beats have taken its Pill Bluetooth speaker and finished the device in two Pretty Sweet-themed colorways, one in tonal black and the other in blue, white and red. In honor of the launch, the NYC Beats flagship in Soho is hosting a Q&A on November 18th with director Spike Jonze and the Girl and Chocolate skate team, moderated by DQM‘s Chris Keefe. The event starts at 1 p.m. EST, so be sure to check it out if you’re in the area.

Beats By Dr. Dre SoHo
67 Greene St | Map
(between Spring St & Broome St)
New York, NY 10012

Event Date: November 18th, 2012 (Sunday)

Original Post from Freshnessmag.com
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Actor Brandon T. Jackson lands the lead role in CBS' "Bevery Hill Cops" Televisiton Series

Brandon T. Jackson has officially been cast as the lead character in CBS’ Beverly Hills Cop tv spinoff, Deadline reports. It’s rumored that Eddie Murphy, the star of the Beverly Hills Cop film,
recommended Jackson to play his son.

As previously reported, the CBS network has committed to producing a pilot, and is one step closer with Jackson lined up. The show will be produced by Sony Pictures Television, “The Shield” creator Shawn Ryan and executive producer Murphy. Murphy is also set to reprise his role as Axel Foley in a guest-star capacity with the focus of the series being the character’s police officer son.

Murphy starred as police officer Axel Foley in the Beverly Hills Cop trilogy of films in the 1980′s. In October 2011, the comedian spoke to Rolling Stone Magazine about his role in the project, explaining, “I’d do the pilot, show up here and there.” He went on to explain that the new series would be “starring Axel Foley’s son, and Axel is the chief of police now in Detroit.”

The series is designed to be “a buddy cop show” that would be “an hour-long crime procedural with strong comedic elements, and that Murphy will appear in the pilot and possibly a few special episodes throughout the first season.”

Jackson’s television credits include small roles in ”Raising Hope” and  ”Hail Mary.”  His film credits include Tropic Thunder, Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief, and
 Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son.

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Honda N-One – Performance Tuned Edition | By MUGEN

 

Sensing the growing appetite for microcars, Honda recently greenlighted its N-One edition for dealerships in Japan. Equipped with just enough room to fit four adults, the tiny four door comes with a 660cc three-cylinder engine, which guzzles less gas than some motorcycles on the road today. But if you’re looking for something with more “zoom,” at least in appearance, tuning house MUGEN created a line of body kits specifically for the N-One and N-One Premium. The outfit can be as simple as a floor mat and alloy racing wheels or as complex as a full body aero kit with LED fog lights and performance exhaust. There is also the added benefit of doing the installation yourself for a sense of accomplishment. The Honda N-One is available only in Japan at this time and starts at around US$ 14,4000.

Original post on www.freshnessmag.com

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Instagram – Website Profile Launched

 

Two years feels like two decades on the internet, yet in that short time Instagram has become the fastest growing photo-sharing platform. Since the acquisition by Facebook last September, it was only a matter of time before Instagram took a similar aesthetic route as its big brother. Although the revamped Profile website does not share any functionality with Facebook, this is likely to be the first phase of integration between the two social network giants. It is relatively straightforward to jump onto anyone’s Profile site–just type your friend’s username after instagram.com.

Original Post from www.freshnessmag.com

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R&B Celebs Tweet About President Obama's Re-Election

As America re-elected President Barack Obama to another four-year term of presidency, Twitter was abuzz with everyone voicing their reactions, and celebs weren’t exempt in voicing theirs. From those who were proud, to those not so proud (Donald Trump), Twitter feeds were busy last night as those in the R&B world joined in on the convo. Mariah Carey, Queen Latifah, John Legend and more expressed their happiness over another term for the president. 
 
Here’s what a few had to say:
 
Mariah Carey:  “Congratulations to our beloved President Barack Obama, our spectacular First Lady Michelle Obama & the adorable Malia & Sasha. We love you!" and “Incredible speech!!!!!! Watching in a room full of diverse people - all truly moved. Thank you America for President Obama - 4 more yrs."
 
John Legend:   :)
 
NeYo:  Perfect Tuesday!! Obama's still president and R.E.D. is out EVERYWHERE!!! Go get that quality music!!!
 
Ciara: Im So Happy I Can Say I Was A Part Of This! Ow!! #IBELIEVE!!
 
Rihanna: "Put one in da air for the Prez!!!! Our dear Obama!"
 
Queen Latifah: Couldn't be more Proud of my Country...Congratulations Mr. President!!! Now let's get back to being "These United States of America"!!!
 
Will.i.Am: All that travel, hard work and campaigning was worth it...and now its time to work even harder...
 
Jay-Z: Encore. bit.ly/RDle3B
 
Diddy: "It feels even better the second time around!!!!"
 
Congrats, Mr. President!

Read more: http://singersroom.com/content/2012-11-07/RB-Celebs-Tweet-About-President-Obamas-Re-Election/#ixzz2BYHvw5CG

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Kendrick Perkins Refuses To Coon For Chrysler Check out the [VIDEO]

Several members of the NBA’s Oklahoma City Thunder team participated in a commercial for a local Chrysler Jeep dealership.  Nick Collison, Reggie Jackson, Serge Ibaka all got together to sing the Norman Chrysler jingle, but Kendrick Perkins wasn’t having it.

“I’m not gonna sing that goofy song,” he says with the best mean mug ever. James Harden’s beardwould have been great in this.