June Ramblin’

From the Monty Python movie “Life of Brian”, What have the Romans ever done for us?

Just a reminder that you have only three more full days to enter my giveaway. Rules are on the sidebar, but basically, from now through July 3 at 11:59 EDT, every time you comment to a post, assuming you haven’t commented already to that specific piece, gives you a chance at some prizes, including a complete DVD box set of The Dick Van Dyke Show and a Michael Jackson greatest hits CD.


Speaking of Michael Jackson: in honor of the anniversary of his death this past week, the full-length video of Thriller, performed with Legos.


I KNEW there was a way to post something on Twitter and have it show up on Facebook, but couldn’t suss out the instructions. This really helped me. And, in fact, it was one of my Facebook friends who provided the link.


Author Rebecca Skloot has interesting info about her best-selling book The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks on her website, including audio, video, and an excerpt.

Her name was Henrietta Lacks, but scientists know her as HeLa. She was a poor Southern tobacco farmer who worked the same land as her slave ancestors, yet her cells—taken without her knowledge—became one of the most important tools in medicine. The first “immortal” human cells grown in culture, they are still alive today, though she has been dead for more than sixty years.

Here’s a link about the book being discussed on PBS Religion & Ethics Newsweekly

Nice tribute to 7’7″ Manute Bol, noted as a basketball player, but noteworthy because of his humanitarian causes, who died last week at 47.

I’ve always liked U.S. Senator Robert Byrd (D-WV), who died this week at the age of 92. Even as his politics evolved, from his brief flirtation with the KKK to civil rights supporter, from Vietnam hawk to Iraq dove, his love of the U.S. constution remained steadfast. He died at 92 this week, and here is an appreciation.

This may make sense only if you know football; I mean, American football: Unsportsmanlike Conduct Jesus.

A singalong version of Always Look on the Bright Side of Life, a song originally from the Monty Python movie “Life of Brian.” That always reminds me of my favorite segment of the film, What have the Romans ever done for us?

Neil Gaiman defends libraries.

visit4info – The Place for TV Adverts and Funny Video Clips from the UK

The Apollo Party I’m Missing

The evening will begin at 6:30 p.m. with a star-studded red carpet, followed by the Benefit concert and awards ceremony at 7:00 p.m. and culminating with a grand tented after-party, the Apollo Supper Club.


I’ve never been to the legendary Apollo Theater in New York City, although it’s only about 160 miles from where I live. “Legendary” gets thrown around too often, but the Harlem venue with a somewhat muddled history prior to 1934, when it became “Where Stars are Born and Legends are Made” from Ella Fitzgerald to Stevie Wonder, James Brown and Lauryn Hill.

So somehow I get this printed invitation in the mail to go to this event honoring The Queen of Soul, and the late King of Pop. Seems like a once-in-a-lifetime thing. And I haven’t been to Manhattan in quite a while.

Wait: what’s that? $1000 a head! Guess I WON’T be going after all. But what would I have gotten for my money?

Marc Anthony and JLo getting some award named for the great acting couple? Chase bank getting an award? Jamie Foxx hosting? Meh.

The invitation was a great piece of information for me.

The Chairman of the Board for the Apollo is Richard Parsons, former head of Time Warner, since mid-2009 head of Citigroup.
The board includes familiar names such as music producer Quincy Jones and historian Henry Louis Gates, Jr., the latter probably better known by most of America for getting arrested at his own home last year. Then there’s business tycoon Ron Perelman, honorary co-chair with Quincy of the benefit committee, who seems to court controversy wherever he goes; I know him best as the guy who almost destroyed Marvel Comics.

Some acting couples on the benefit committee, such as Angela Bassett & Courtney B. Vance and Kyra Sedgwick & Kevin Bacon; Baconologists, please note. Also, Bill Cosby and his wife Camille; director Spike Lee, and his wife Tonya Lewis; Denzel Washington, and his wife Pauletta; Marcia Gay Harden; and a musician who’s played at the Apollo, Smokey Robinson.

But what if I had MORE money to spend? What would be my options?

$15,000 Tier

2010 Spring Event Benefits

4 tickets to the 2010 Spring Benefit
Recognition on the Apollo marquee during June
Recognition on the Concert Program
Year-round Benefits

10 tickets to Apollo Amateur Night
Recognition in Apollo institutional media
10% group discount for the curator-led Apollo historic tour
10% discount on Apollo merchandise for employees

$25,000 Tier

2010 Spring Event Benefits

8 premium tickets to the 2010 Spring Benefit
Recognition on the Apollo marquee throughout June
Recognition during the Concert and in the Supper Club
Recognition on the Concert Program
Recognition on lobby and outdoor plasma screens
Year-round Benefits

Use of the Apollo Theater free-of-charge (production fees apply)
10 tickets to host one company night at the Apollo
20 tickets to Apollo Amateur Night
Custom marketing opportunities with the Apollo audience
Recognition in Apollo institutional media
Use of the Apollo brand in corporate literature
10% group discount for the curator-led Apollo historic tour
10% discount on Apollo merchandise for employees

$50,000 Tier

Annual Spring Benefits

12 premium tickets to the 2010 Spring Benefit
Preferred recognition on the Apollo marquee throughout June
Preferred recognition on the Red Carpet and during the event
Company logo on the Spring Benefit Invitation and Concert Program
Preferred recognition on lobby and outdoor plasma screens
Year-round Benefits

Use of the Apollo Theater free-of-charge (production fees apply)
20 tickets to host two company nights at the Apollo
20 tickets to Apollo Amateur Night
Recognition in Apollo institutional media
Custom marketing opportunities with the Apollo audience
Use of the Apollo brand in corporate literature
10% group discount for the curator-led Apollo historic tour
10% discount on Apollo merchandise for employees

$75,000 Tier – Diamond Salute Partner

2010 Spring Event Benefits

16 premium tickets to the 2010 Spring Benefit
Preferred recognition on the Apollo marquee during June
Preferred recognition on the Red Carpet and at the event
Company logo on the Spring Benefit Invitation and Concert Program
Preferred recognition on lobby and outdoor plasma screens
Diamond Salute Partner Benefits

Opportunity for senior executive to join the Apollo National Committee
Concierge purchasing service for 2010 Spring Benefit Events
Use of the Apollo Theater free-of-charge (production fees apply)
20 tickets to host two company nights at the Apollo
20 tickets to Apollo Amateur Night
Recognition in Apollo institutional media
Custom marketing opportunities with the Apollo audience
Use of the Apollo Theater brand in corporate literature
10% group discount for the curator-led Apollo historic tour
10% discount on Apollo merchandise for employees

$100,000 Tier

2010 Spring Event Benefits

20 premium tickets to the 2010 Spring Benefit
Industry-exclusive title sponsorship
Prime recognition on the Apollo marquee throughout June
Prime recognition on the Red Carpet and during the event
Branding opportunities during the Concert and Supper Club
Company logo on the Spring Benefit Invitation and Concert Program
Dedicated content on lobby and outdoor plasma screens
Year-round Benefits

Use of the Apollo Theater free-of-charge (production fees apply)
40 tickets to host four company nights at the Apollo
30 tickets to Apollo Amateur Night
Complimentary curator-led Apollo historic tour
Custom marketing opportunities with the Apollo audience
Recognition in Apollo institutional media
Use of the Apollo brand in corporate literature
10% discount on Apollo merchandise for employees

$150,000 Tier

2010 Spring Event Benefits

28 premium tickets to the 2010 Spring Benefit
Industry-exclusive title sponsorship
Prime recognition on the Apollo marquee throughout June
Prime recognition on the Red Carpet and during the event
Branding opportunities during the Concert and Supper Club
Company logo on the Spring Benefit Invitation and Concert Program
Dedicated content on lobby and outdoor plasma screens
Year-round Benefits

Use of the Apollo Theater free-of-charge (production fees apply)
40 tickets to host four company nights at the Apollo
30 tickets to Apollo Amateur Night
Complimentary curator-led Apollo historic tour
Custom marketing opportunities with the Apollo audience
Recognition in Apollo institutional media
Use of the Apollo brand in corporate literature
10% discount on Apollo merchandise for employees

APOLLO THEATER TO REMEMBER A KING AND CELEBRATE A QUEEN
2010 Annual Spring Benefit Concert and Awards Ceremony
Monday, June 14, 2010

Hosted by comedian, multi-platinum recording artist and Oscar-award winning actor Jamie Foxx, this year’s Concert & Awards Ceremony will feature the induction of two royal new honorees into the Apollo Legends Hall of Fame: the undisputed King of Pop Michael Jackson, and the one and only Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin.

The awards ceremony will continue with the Ruby Dee & Ossie Davis Arts and Humanitarian Award presented to superstar couple Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony. The Theater’s annual corporate award will be presented to JP Morgan Chase for its ongoing commitment to the Apollo and the Harlem community.

The evening will begin at 6:30 p.m. with a star-studded red carpet, followed by the Benefit concert and awards ceremony at 7:00 p.m. and culminating with a grand tented after-party, the Apollo Supper Club.

For more details, please click here to view the press release for the Apollo’s 2010 Gala.

To purchase tickets, please click here or call Nicole Judd at 212.531.5330.

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