Crush Drums & Percussion Kits Up For UK Debut

Posted on July 15, 2013 by Frostie

We know a lot of musicians read Frost so we thought we would bring you this article that caught our eye, and look at that drum! We want.

Sound Technology Ltd is proud to announce it has been chosen to exclusively distribute Crush Drums and Percussion in the UK and Republic of Ireland.

Founded in the USA in March 2010, Crush Drums & Percussion is a young, driven company created by drummers for drummers. In the two years since its official public launch, Crush has built an impressive reputation and established itself as a leading brand in the US stores.

Terry Platt, CEO and Co-founder of Crush commented, “We are truly honoured that Sound Technology will take the lead in growing the Crush family of dealers and drummers in the UK. Sound Technology’s obvious commitment to excellence fully embodies our vision for the types of partners we want representing our instruments. We have many drummers sending us messages through our website and social media sites requesting Crush Drums in the UK. With much appreciation to Sound Technology we are on our way!”

“Crush is a brand that fits well with our strategy,” says David Marshall, Managing Director of Sound Technology Ltd. “It is a quality product, made by people who care about their craft. We are extremely proud to be representing the brand in the UK.”

Prepare to see the Crush product range in UK stores from July onwards. The line includes strictly Limited Edition kits, through to the stunning Sublime Series, and best-selling Chameleon Series. Drummers already behind the brand include Jay Postones of British band Tesseract – described as ‘fu@@ing immense’ by Kerrang – and Rocky Gray currently of We Are The Fallen and the muscle on the likes of Evanescence’s multi-million selling Fallen.

30% rise in suicidal calls to Mind Infoline

Posted on July 15, 2013 by Frostie

Sad news from Mind;

Mind, the mental health charity, today expressed alarm as new figures from its national telephone service show a 50% call increase within twelve months. The number of calls rose to over 68,000 in 2012/13^[1], from 46,000 in 2011/2012.

The Mind Infoline has seen a corresponding shift in the nature of calls, with people presenting more acute and complex problems, many stemming from severe financial worries. This is reflected in a concerning 30% rise in calls relating to suicide: In 2012/13 there were 1,546 calls from people who had experienced suicidal thoughts, had taken steps to end their own life, or had concerns about a loved one, this was up from the 1,185 contacts received the previous year.

In response to the worrying figures, Mind acknowledges the increased need for its services, and urges people not to wait until they hit crisis point before getting in touch. As the charity announces the appointment of a new celebrity ambassador, TV presenter Anna Williamson, it hopes she will help raise crucial awareness through her role to ensure no one has to face a mental health problem alone.

Anna Williamson, who this week starts her new summer role offering viewers advice on ITV’s This Morning, has battled severe anxiety and panic attacks for many years. She now talks openly about her experiences and the vital first step of asking for help. Anna will play a key role as a Mind ambassador, encouraging others to seek support as soon as they need it.

Anna Williamson said: “I know just how scary it can be to start the conversation – worrying what friends or colleagues will think. But I also now know that opening up is the key to getting better. Since I first shared my own experiences, I’ve heard from so many others in the same position. It’s easy to forget you’re not alone, that actually 1 in 4 people experience a mental health problem every year.

“I am passionate about raising awareness and thrilled to be joining Mind as an ambassador. Through my new role I’m determined to let people know its OK to ask for help.”

Paul Farmer, CEO for Mind says:

“Today many people face the stark reality of severe financial pressures, be it through employment worries, benefit cuts, increased cost of living, or a lethal combination of all three. It’s therefore no surprise that people need Mind more than ever. We urge anyone who needs our support to pick up the phone and to do it today.

“We know that when people in the public eye speak out, it inspires others to seek help. We are delighted to have Anna Williamson’s support and are confident her honesty and candour will strike a chord with many others across the country and prompt them to get in touch.”

The Mindinfoline is a confidential telephone service providing information about mental health diagnosis, treatment, medication, local service provision and advocacy. Open from 9am – 6pm Monday – Friday, calls to the service are charged at a local rate and can be reached on 0300 123 3393.

The House of Peroni Launch Party

Posted on July 14, 2013 by Catherine Balavage

What: OPENING NIGHT AT THE HOUSE OF PERONI
When: 02.07.13 7PM
Where: 41 PORTLAND PLACE, LONDON. W1B 1QH

We had a ball at the opening of The House of Peroni. The music was great, the people were stylish, and the cocktails were different and stunning. They had Peroni beer in them and looked great too. The food was cooked by the Michelin-Starred Costardi Brothers, Christian and Manuel. There risotto was superb (and served in a can, a great touch) and I also loved their pea soup with mozzarella and croutons. The brothers are head chefs at the family-run Michelin-starred Hotel Cinzia in Vercelli. Their grandparents opened the hotel in 1967. Their food went down a treat and everyone was tucking in without any self consciousness as the food was so great. We even bumped into Antonio Carluccio. If he liked the food, it must be pretty good!

There was also great art, a favourite of mine was by Milan based visual artist Carlo Bernardini. The light artist works with optic fibre. His art is below. His use of light and space was amazing and you could not tell where the walls in the room were. Bernardini is an artist of exceptional talent.

We had an amazing night. Visit the The House of Peroni.soon for a great dose of Italian style.

Paris In Instagram Pictures Part 1

Posted on July 14, 2013 by Catherine Balavage

Paris is a beautiful and wonderful city. I took thousands of pictures while I was there but here is just a taste. We went on the Eurostar which should be done at least once in your life. From top bottom: the Arc De Triomphe, the view from the top, the Siene, the Louvre, posing with the Mona Lisa, the power of art as crowds go mad for the Mona Lisa, posing with the Venus De Milo, touristy but has to be done, Venus draws a crowd. Part 2 is here.

Have you been to Paris? Put your recommendations below.

Lady Gaga Reveals New Album Artwork For Artpop

Posted on July 13, 2013 by Catherine Balavage

Lady Gaga has revealed her new album artwork. Her forthcoming album, ArtPop, will also be released as an app which will go straight to smartphones and tablets. Gaga says this will “bring the music industry into a new age”

You can pre-order from the 1st of September for the 11th of November release.

Gaga’s website said:

“Built by TechHAUS, the technological branch of HAUS OF GAGA, the app itself is a musical and visual engineering system that combines art, fashion, and technology with a new interactive worldwide community – ‘the auras’,” explains the post, which doesn’t skimp on grand claims (or capital letters).

“Altering the human experience with social media, we bring ARTculture into POP in a reverse Warholian expedition.

Exploring Gaga’s existence as a cultural interface, the user will share in the ‘adrenaline of fame; as they build and share their own projects, chat with one another, and watch in real-time on a virtual globe as ARTPOP explodes onto the physical and virtual universe at once on November 11, our ‘BIG BANG!’ On this day, HAUS OF GAGA venges with forte to bring the music industry into a new age: an age where art drives pop, and the artist once again is in control of the ‘icon’.”

What do you think? Will you buy the album? Are you excited about the return of Lady Gaga.

New network launches to support young people inspired by recent sporting success

Posted on July 13, 2013 by Frostie

The Performance Sports Network launched online this week to help aspiring and dedicated individuals aiming to become professional sportsmen and sportswomen. Anyone can make a difference by supporting young athletes and can go a step further by offering sponsorship, opportunities and special deals through the network.

Young people are encouraged to request whatever support they need for any sporting goal they are trying to achieve. That might be for equipment, training space, mentoring, coaching advice or sponsorship and they can easily post a video to show their talents. Once a request is made others can respond by making an offer directly to the individual.

“As soon as a request is created they can begin receiving support and proposals from peers, coaches, experts, organisations and sponsors,” explained network founder Chris Davis.

“As a football coach I see lots of kids who hope to make it as a professional. I know their chances are very small but I don’t believe this means they shouldn’t try. I believe that if anyone wants it enough they should have the best possible chance, regardless of their background. This network can provide everyone with access to experts, resources, opportunities and mentors to help and support them.

“We see how important Andy Murray’s backroom support is to him. Everyone from his coach Ivan Lendl to his mum and everyone in between has helped him succeed. We all need that sort of support – young children right through to college and university athletes,” Chris said.

“Very few of us may make it to Wimbledon or Wembley but there are lots of other opportunities in sport that dedicated training and learning open. It doesn’t have to be all or nothing. There’s an inspiring saying I like that goes something like ‘Aim for the moon and even if you miss you’ll end among the stars.’ This is true for people wanting to get involved in professional sports. ”

As well as acting as a portal for any individuals to find help, the network has regular opportunities for training and experiences open to members. “This is a performance sports network but there is nothing exclusive about it. We want to provide everyone with equal access to quality sporting help and opportunities, regardless of background, educational level or location.”

Why did Chris start the network? “Like most kids when I was a young I wanted to be a sports star. I played most sports and at times when I was doing really well I thought it might be possible to make it as a professional,” he confessed. “But it’s hard when you are growing and moving up through the age groups. I was a good bowler and played cricket for the county, but one year I grew a few inches and suddenly my run up had to change and my bowling really dropped off. That type of set back can be enough to put an end to those dreams if the right support system is not in place.”

The performance sports network offers unique services and support tools for members “We are always looking for partnerships to offer the best possible opportunities to members. We are currently initiating a scheme to give people feedback on their own sporting videos. Video analysis can be really powerful and a great training aid, but not everyone has access to it. We invite people to share their videos and we can put them in touch with people who can give them constructive feedback and support. We hope to develop this into our own Sports App,” says Chris.

Sports coaches, personal trainers, suppliers or performance experts can offer their own expertise, products, services and expertise to help dedicated individuals. “Maintaining a career in sport often leads to coaching and related careers such as fitness or nutrition. We give people involved in sport many ways to promote themselves, their products, services, skills, courses and expertise. We want to encourage more people to give something back and share their own experiences with the next generation,” said Chris.

The Performance Sports Network helps people to achieve their sporting goals, learn new skills, overcome obstacles and achieve more. It is free for young people, organisations, experts, mentors and potential sponsors to register.

Should You Go To Brazil? A Pondering On The Brazilian Wax.

Posted on July 13, 2013 by Catherine Balavage

There is a scene in Sex & The City where Carrie and her friends go to Los Angeles, Carrie goes to a new beautician for a wax who ‘takes everything’. Later, when the girls are discussing their shock about being ‘totally bald down there’, Samantha tells Charlotte that her husband Trey, who has been having some problems in the bedroom, might finally be able to consummate their marriage as ‘he probably hasn’t been to Brazil before’. After this episode, the Brazilian wax became hugely popular. But what is it, where did it come from and should women really be getting them? Let’s find out.

With a Brazilian wax all of the pubic hair is removed, front and back, by waxing. Ouch. Some people like to leave a thin strip of pubic hair, referred to as a ‘landing strip’.

The Brazilian wax, apparently, was first named by the J. Sisters salon in Manhattan in 1987.

According to Wikipedia, some people claim that the concept of the Brazilian came from a letter documenting in 1500 AD, which read: “…suas vergonhas tão altas e tão çarradinhas e tão limpas das cabeleiras que de as nós muito bem olharmos não tínhamos nenhuma vergonha” (English translation: “their private parts were so exposed, so healthy and so hairless, that looking upon them we felt no shame”).

Brazilian waxing is the most controversial form of waxing, Brazilian waxing is unpopular amongst some women (and men), especially feminists who claim the only people who like it are men who want their women to look underage. Which may be why it is hugely popular with porn stars.

Model and Socialite Lisa B said that when she got a Brazilian at a salon in LA that “It was so painful I collapsed. I only fainted, but I was nearly carted off to hospital and I have vowed never to try it again.”

Other negatives are that it is a painful experience and if it is not done properly it can cause infection, prolonged bleeding or swelling of the area. It helps to take ibuprofen an hour before you have your Brazilian wax (this is what Madonna does).

The positives are that many women say it improves their sex life. If you get it done frequently then the hair will become weaker and the regrowth will become less as time goes on.

A Brazilian wax usually last between three to six weeks, but this depends on your hair regrowth rate. Some irritation may occur too, try some aloe vera on the irritated area. If you have ingrown hair (which will look like little bumps. They happen when the hair is not pulled out correctly. The hair curls back in on itself or grows sideways into the skin) you can buy beauty products that specialise in the improvement of ingrown hair. If you are confident you can even tackle the problem with some tweezers, just be careful.

The new rise in Brazilian waxing may be because of The Only Way Is Essex and the popularity of vajazzling, which was pioneered by Amy Childs.

Interestingly, New Jersey has banned the Brazilian wax for health reasons. This happened after two women in New Jersey were hospitalised after having the procedure.

If you want to have a Brazilian do so. Just make sure you go to a salon which is hygienic and knows what they are doing, take a painkiller before and make sure you are not prone to infection.

Made in Chelsea’s Andy Jordan and Louise Thompson attend charity surfing event in Cornwall

Posted on July 12, 2013 by Frostie

Surfing world stunned by Surf Challenge for Autism 2013

Fistral Beach in Newquay was brought to a standstill this weekend as a group of autistic surfers took to the water in the Wave Project’s Surf Challenge for autism 2013.

Top-level surfers including former UK champion Russell Winter and 2012 English national champion Hannah Harding were left speechless as they watched as 32 autistic competitors dazzle on the clean 3ft waves.

They were joined by around 1500 spectators who gathered in glorious sunshine at Britain’s most famous surfing beach to watch the display.

Pro surfer Hannah Harding commented: “People watching just couldn’t believe that these competitors had a disability. They were surfing to such a high standard, it was really great to watch!”

The event was funded by the Big Lottery Fund, and delivered almost entirely by volunteers. Around 70 people helped support the event, including celebrity couple Andy Jordan and Louise Thompson, from E4 show Made In Chelsea, and 16 serving Royal Navy officers and junior ratings from RNAS Culdrose.

The judges, the contest director and all the paid competition staff waived their fees, while Fistral Surf Hire Company gave out wetsuits free of charge. The event was also supported by Newquay Surf Lifesaving Club, which offered free use of its club house and surf boards.

Contest organiser Joe Taylor said: “It was just amazing that so many people came to help support this event to ensure that these young people with autism had their chance to shine. It was wonderful to see so much goodwill from local people, organisations and businesses.”

The contest was a truly international event, with competitors coming from Wales and even the Netherlands to take part alongside surfers from the UK. The overall winner of the contest was 13-year old Thomas Koppelaars, from Zaltbommel, in the Netherlands.

Speaking on his behalf, his mother Marjolijn Koppelaars said: “We’re just so delighted. This has been the best experience of his life.”

Second place went to 18-year old Robert Parton, from Swansea. The other two finalists were last year’s winner Robbie Turner, 16, from St Just and Joe Scammell, 10, from Liskeard in Cornwall.

Wave Project director Terry Stanton said: “This event shows just how relevant surfing is to disability sport. We really want to take the Surf Challenge forward now and make it even bigger and better next year.”

Big Lottery Fund’s Helen Bullough said: “Events like this are so important, not only in creating opportunities for people with disabilities, but also in challenging people’s perceptions of disability and what’s possible.

“It is wonderful that so many spectators came out to enjoy the event and make it such a success. Congratulations and thanks to all involved.”

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