Former Babys and Bad English vocalist John Waite is also part of the trek. Continue reading…

No. 22 The first resident at #22 Ramsay Street was stripper Daphne Lawrence (Elaine Smith)‚ and when she moved in with Des (Paul Keane)‚ wacky doctor Clive moved in. It became a love nest for Paul Robinson (Stefan Dennis)‚ who got it on there with wives Gail (Fiona Corke) and Christina (Gayle Blakeney). After the [...] The post Who Lived Where in Ramsay Street (Neighbours) first appeared on Nostalgia Central.

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First son Hunter Biden's new legal and public relations strategy is apparently to distance himself from his former friend and business partner Devon Archer by calling him "inmate." Biden is slated to testify before the House Oversight Committee regarding his and his family's shady overseas business dealings and Archer was...

Mark Farner came to the public’s attention as the primary vocalist‚ songwriter‚ and guitarist of Grand Funk Railroad. He hasn’t been part of the current lineup of the group for nearly 25 years. But the songs he wrote will always be on his setlist. They certainly were in 1989 when he was on the bill for “Woodstock: 20 Years After” in Carson‚ California. Now that performance has been officially released on DVD‚ CD‚ and vinyl with the catchy title of Rock ‘N’ Roll Soul: Live 1989. Accompanied by bassist Lawrence Buckner‚ drummer Mike Maple‚ keyboardist Mike Blair and second guitarist Arnie Vilches‚ Farner delivers a rocking 15-song set that’s guaranteed to bring back some salty memories. Following a spirited introduction by Woodstock veteran and counterculture icon Wavy Gravy‚ Farner and his band kick into “Are You Ready‚” a familiar opener for Grand Funk fans. Lots more Funk favorites are tackled — “Rock ‘N’ Roll Soul‚” “Footstompin’ Music‚” “Some Kind Of Wonderful‚” “Paranoid‚” and “Bad Time‚” which was the band’s last Top 40 single. At the same time‚ Farner’s solo ventures in Christian Rock had garnered considerable success‚ so the guitarist worked in four songs from his 1988 album‚ Just Another Injustice — “Airbourne Ranger‚” “Judgement Day Blues‚” “Come To Jesus‚” and John Beland’s “Isn’t it Amazing‚” which made it all the way to the second spot on the Contemporary Christian music charts. The best thing about watching this video is that‚ despite Farner’s questionable mullet‚ his vocals and guitar work are as sharp and dynamic as they were at the height of Grand Funk’s popularity in the 70s. “Must Have Been Love‚” which precedes “Bad Love‚” is a perfect example of Farner’s exceptional musical capabilities. Of course‚ the original Grand Funk frontman couldn’t forget his most beloved song‚ “I’m Your Captain / Closer To Home‚” and the performance on Rock ‘N’ Roll Soul: Live 1989 is nothing short of inspirational. Farner even manages to get the audience‚ who were there to see a number of acts‚ to sing along. “Heartbreaker‚” a Grand Funk entry from the group’s 1969 debut album‚ On Time‚ follows and pushes the intensity into overdrive. Farner and Grand Funk bandmates Don Brewer and Mel Schacher reunited in the 90s before the guitarist went his own way. Watching and listening to Rock ‘N’ Roll Soul: Live 1989 really makes you wonder how Grand Funk have been able to carry on as a touring outfit without Mark Farner. Fans can only dream the three come together one more time before the curtain finally comes down for good. ~ Shawn Perry  The post Mark Farner | Rock ‘N’ Roll Soul: Live 1989 – DVD Review first appeared on VintageRock.com.

In the frozen embrace of LuleÃ¥‚ where daylight dwindles to mere hours‚ plunging into icy seawater becomes a ritual. For Katariina Yliperttula‚ a dip before work is about more than braving the cold—it’s an invigorating thrill. “It’s like a happiness rush afterwards‚” she says‚ recounting her winter swims‚ a habit adopted amidst the dark months. The loneliness freeze While there are plenty of winter activities such as ice swimming‚ skiing‚ or strolling on frozen pathways to sustain many through the frigid season‚ the problem of loneliness persists. Pontus Wikström‚ chair of the winter bathing group Kallis LuleÃ¥‚ emphasizes the significance of a simple ‘hi’: “It means people who meet each other‚ don’t know each other‚ become a little happier.” Saying ‘hi’ to happiness Enter the “Säg hej! (say hello!)” campaign‚ a beacon of warmth in the city’s cold. This initiative nudges residents towards meaningful social interactions‚ advocating for a friendlier city through small but impactful gestures. As Ã…sa Koski from LuleÃ¥ municipality notes‚ “Being greeted by strangers makes people feel more seen and a bit more like you belong.” Chilling stats and warm intentions Statistics unveil the pervasive nature of loneliness‚ particularly among the young‚ prompting awareness in a place acutely conscious of this societal affliction. Micael Dahlen from the Stockholm School of Economics underscores‚ “Loneliness and isolation are huge problems any time of the year almost anywhere in the world right now.” Yet‚ amidst this push for friendliness‚ the city’s evolution brings both reserve and openness. Mee Young Yim‚ an American who moved to LuleÃ¥ over two decades ago‚ notes that even though people in the city are “mostly friendly‚” they don’t appear to be at first. “Everyone’s a bit reserved‚ but if you ask then people will help you.”  As the pandemic took hold‚ an ironic observation emerged: Swedes‚ known for their reserve‚ seemed quite prepared for social distancing. Journalist Lisa Bjurwald noted this in a satirical way‚ citing the Swedes’ predilection for a “remarkably wide so-called interpersonal distance.” This standard‚ established in daily life—from navigating supermarket aisles to waiting at bus stops—seemed almost like a social script‚ faithfully obeyed. The pandemic‚ of course‚ exacerbated this social estrangement‚ reflecting reduced greetings and heightened apprehension. Seyed Mohsen Hashemi‚ a student‚ observes the shift: “Before Covid‚ it was 50-50: some people said hi to each other. But after Covid people have become more scared to have contact with strangers.” Bridging cultural differences Hashemi‚ with roots in the Middle East‚ navigates cultural variances: “I come from the Middle East and people used to say hi to each other. It’s rude not to say hi to each other. But here if you say hi to strangers they will say: ‘He’s drunk’.” For individuals like Hashemi‚ surviving winter involves more than social gestures. Vitamin D‚ hobbies‚ and a few white lights installed at home create pockets of warmth. Ronja Melin‚ an illustrator‚ highlights the “Säg hej!” campaign’s significance: “You live in your own bubble quite a lot. To notice people is always important.” In LuleÃ¥‚ where darkness dominates‚ a simple ‘hello’ becomes a sign of belonging. The ‘Säg hej!’ campaign‚ like a flicker of light‚ seeks to thaw the chill of isolation and foster connections. LuleÃ¥ champions community and human relationships with a simple gesture‚ a ‘hello’‚ offering warmth to thaw the winter freeze.The post Breaking the ice: Swedish city combats winter loneliness with “say hello” campaign first appeared on The Optimist Daily: Making Solutions the News.

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Israeli fighter jets struck several targets in the Gaza Strip just minutes after a weeklong truce expired on Friday morning‚ resuming the war with Hamas.After more than 100 hostages were freed as part…