What can be said about U2 that is not common knowledge? The 22 Grammy awards – the most ever won by a band, enroute to the 12 albums and 145 million records sold, or the watershed Live Aid concert which put U2 and Bono on the map and on the way to becoming a major force for philanthropy through music. 

U2

Today, U2 is not just a rock band. It is an institution of musical wizardry, with magic powers way beyond those of your ordinary garden-variety rocker.

A U2 concert is a seminal event. How Bono, The Edge, Larry Mullen Jr. and Adam Clayton reach out and grab individual hearts and minds in the sea of fans at their concerts is a story all by itself. 

The perfect example is the currently on-going 360° tour by U2, supporting their latest studio album No Line on the Horizon. The 2009 leg of the tour has wrapped up, but the next year’s schedule is already laid out for well into fall 2010. 

So much advance planning becomes necessary because of the enormous amount of logistics, equipment and technical know-how that goes into setting up every single concert. It took them 2 years to come up with the production design. The U2 360° tour support staff for each concert travels along with the band in 180 trucks.

The end result of this vast enterprise is that the band – which is truly center-stage with fans surrounding them from all sides – is able to reach out to every single one of their fans during each show. A giant spider-like 170 ft tall steel structure looks down on the stage, and tucks out of sight all the usual tech gear and scaffolding that spoils the visuals.

U2 360° Tour

There are moving bridges which allow the band to move in-between two inner and outer rings of fans and reach out to everyone, with a 360-degree vertically expandable LED video screen and 12 manned cameras to capture all the movement without losing audio and video, and display the show from every angle to every corner of the stadium.

Naturally, with such an expansive setup, the performance and the songs need to be just as good. Read More »

What are the top New Year's Eve travel destinations in the USA?

New Year’s Eve is just around the corner and the entire world will be celebrating with fireworks and oversized clocks counting down the last few minutes of 2009. Where will you find the best New Year’s Eve parties and most unique celebrations in the United States? Check out these top New Year’s Eve travel destinations in America.

Top 5 New Year’s Eve Travel Destinations in America

Fireworks at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom

5.  Orlando, Florida

Orlando is a great place for families to celebrate New Year’s Eve together.  The amusement parks will be packed, but Disney World, Sea World and Universal Studios are each sure to give you your money’s worth in terms of fireworks displays and celebratory parades.  Do, however, consider spending the night in a very nearby hotel if you want to avoid spending the first several hours of 2010 sitting in traffic.

Floats in the Rose Bowl Parade

4.  Los Angeles, California

What makes Los Angeles stand out as one of the top New Year’s Eve travel destinations is not the celebrity residents, but rather the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade that coincides with college football’s Rose Bowl.  The parade comes complete with floats made of roses, marching bands and a celebrity Grand Marshal that leads the way.  After the parade, you’ll find an over the top party at hundreds of world class nightclubs all over Los Angeles, and of course, a spectacular fireworks display at midnight.

New Year's Eve On Bourbon Street

3.  New Orleans, Louisiana

You’ll find the New Orleans locals heading to Frenchmen Street for New Year’s Eve, but Bourbon Street is sure to be overflowing with partying tourists.   No matter where you get started, you’ll want to be at Jackson Square by midnight to see the ball drop.  This year, the Sugar Bowl teams (Florida Gators and Cincinnati Bearcats), alumni and students will also be in New Orleans for New Year’s Eve, which is sure to add to New Orleans’s infamous party atmosphere.  Expect dancing in the streets, impromptu brass bands parading through, eccentric costumes, and tailgate style madness.

Las Vegas, Nevada

2.  Las Vegas, Nevada

It’s no surprise that Las Vegas is a top New Year’s Eve Travel Destinations.  Sin City is notorious for knowing how to throw a good party, and New Year’s is no exception.  The strip is pedestrianized for one giant outdoor party, complete with fireworks, sound and light shows.  Of course every casino, nightclub and hotel in Las Vegas will be offering specials and over the top parties of their own.  And who knows – maybe you’ll ring in the New Year with a jackpot win!

Times Square - a New Year's Eve tradition

1.  New York City, New York

Of course, the most famous New Year’s Eve event in the world is the celebration in New York City’s Times Square.  Dick Clark’s big ball drop is watched by a million people in the flesh, and a billion more on television.  Yes, that means you’ll have to fight an unbelievable crowd, but star-studded musical performances, pyrotechnics and the sheer notoriety of the event put New Year’s Even in Times Square on many “must do once in your life” lists.

Photo credit: Bob Jagendorf, d4rr3ll, erinbrace, Gary J Wood, eyeliam, Paul Mannix on Flickr

This is my neighbors house with the soft glow of electric sex gleaming in the window. My neighbor, apparently, won a Major Award, and frankly I covet it.

Said something about mind power.

I dread the day they take it down. I imagine I’ll hear the sound of “Taps” being played, gently.

Yes, these are all quotes, some paraphrased, from A Christmas Story. If you don’t know what I’m talking about click the link – and then buy the movie. That’s right, don’t rent it, own it.

So how are the lights in your neighborhood?

Photo by Whit Honea

For more family-friendly travel photos visit DeliciousBaby’s Photo Fridays.

Hello, and welcome to the Internet. Now go out there and see the world:

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