2015 Canceled TV Shows

In the past month or so there have been a number of articles published about the upcoming TV season and canceled shows. All of those articles reveal to you the canceled shows as well as all of the shows that have been renewed. In doing that I thought that those pieces were really overdoing it. Making lists too long, can become confusing, and when reading about too many shows it's easy to forget and or confuse what was canceled and what was renewed. A case of too much information.

Here is the definitive lists of only what was canceled. If there's a show not listed, then you can safely assume it's coming back for another season.

Most of these canceled shows were 1 or 2 seasons, with a few exceptions, and although American Idol is canceled it will air new episodes and complete its run this fall. Two shows that I thought were good and had potential were About a Boy and Selfie, and another show The Mindy Project may get picked up by another network.

There are other networks and many other shows, in fact just too many to cover. The focus of this article is on the major networks and the shows that they have canceled.

If you follow a show closely and it's not covered here...just google it!

ABC

1. Cristela

2. Forever

3. Resurrection

4. Revenge

5. Selfie

6. The Taste

CBS

1. Battle Creek

2. CSI: Crime Scene Investigation

3. The McCarthys

4. The Mentalist

5. The Millers

6. Stalker

NBC

1. A to Z

2. About A Boy

3. Allegiance

4. Bad Judge

5. Constantine

6. Marry Me

7. One Big Happy

8. Parenthood

9. Parks and Recreation

10. State of Affairs

FOX

1. American Idol

2. Backstrom

3. The Following

4. Glee

5. Gracepoint

6. The Mindy Project

7. Mulaney

8. Red Band Society

9. Utopia

10. Weird Loners

Florence + the Machine - How Big, How Blue, How...Boring - Review

The follow-up to the world-wide smash hit success Ceremonials is finally here. Florence and the Machine returns with their highly anticipated new album How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful.

Florence Welch reveals in various interviews that she wrote and recorded most of the album last year with producer Markus Dravs. She went on to say that she chose Dravs to produce because she loved his work, and she likes the way he is able to balance electronic and standard instruments.

"He's good with big sounds, and I like big sounds,"

"With Markus, I wanted to make something that was big but that had a gentleness to it, that had a warmth, that was rooted,"

"I think that's why we went back more to the live instruments. Something that was band-led almost."

...Florence Welch's comments on Markus Dravs

Florence describes the new album as an exploration of trying to learn how to live, and how to love in the world rather than trying to escape from it. How Big How Blue How Beautiful, the first song Welch penned for the album showcases what, to her is a very special horn arrangement. Unfortunately it drones on and on...far too long!

"The trumpets at the end of that song that's what love feels like to me, an endless brass section that goes off into space" - "And it takes you with it. You're so up there. And that's what music feels like to me. You want it just to pour out endlessly, and it's the most amazing feeling."

Taking a closer look at what you'll get should you buy this album, there are 11 tracks and to date 4 have been issued as singles. The first single “What Kind of Man” is average at best. The second single issued, should never have been issued or even included on this album. “St. Jude” is awful, and I can't imagine why someone thought it had potential as a single. The only thing that clunker is good for is curing insomnia! The third single is better “Ship to Wreck” but you may tire of hearing it too many times. The fourth single “Delilah” is the strongest track on the album and one everyone should like. The last track “Mother” is also good, but the rest of this album is dull, and yet noisy. If you do buy it, chances are you'll only play it a few times before you lose interest. I'm already looking forward to the next album and hoping it'll be better.

One of the problems artists encounter after they become wildly successful and popular is that they often lose touch with what got them there and confuse their own importance with that. They think of personal self development and trying new things and sometimes that's not what an expecting audience is hungry for. With that in mind, I think fans will be a little disappointed with this new album. A self indulgent trip that will appeal more to a female audience, and the big difference between this album and Ceremonials is that, this album will not appeal to everyone. All that noise...and all that brass etc. may be Florence's cup o' tea, but that doesn't make it the flavor of the day! Rate this album at 2½ Stars

How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful = Boring and Noisy = Rate this album at 2½ Stars

How Big How Blue How Beautiful Track List:

1."Ship to Wreck"
2. "What Kind of Man"
3. "How Big How Blue How Beautiful"
4. "Queen of Peace"
5. "Various Storms and Saints"
6. "Delilah"
7. "Long and Lost"
8. "Caught"
9. "Third Eye"
10. "St Jude"
11. "Mother"

News Update: Florence + the Machine announce tour dates.

Tickets for all dates will go on sale to the General Public June 12^th at 10 A.M. through ticketmaster.com and livenation.com, and by phone: (800) 745-3000.

A Pre-Sale for American Express Card members will begin 10 A.M. June 9^th – 10 P.M. June 11^th.

FLORENCE + THE MACHINE

Fall Tour Dates:

October 11: Austin City Limits, Austin

October 13: Ak-Chin Pavilion, Phoenix

October 14: Viejas Arena, San Diego

October 16-17: Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles

October 20: Santa Barbara Bowl, Santa Barbara

October 21-22: Greek Theater, Berkeley

October 24: Portland Memorial Coliseum, Portland

October 25: Pepsi Live at Rogers Arena, Vancouver

October 27: Key Arena, Seattle

For UK and European Tour Dates and information visit their website.

Florence + The Machine Official Website

Top 20 Web App's You Should Know About

Whether you have migrated to cloud computing completely or are finding yourself heading in that direction, you'll want to keep doing the same things that you have always done when using your PC.

We all love websites that are useful, especially ones that help you be more productive, and even more so the ones that we don't need to sign up or register with. Listed below are a few you may have already discovered, and maybe a few you haven't. Some of the following do require a sign-up, but not all of them.

If you have reservations or worries about cloud computing, just keep this in mind, today's youth are already there. More than a million Chromebooks are now used in US schools, and that's just the beginning. Recently NYC Schools are committing to use Chromebooks, following in the footsteps of LA schools. Schools all across America are discovering their potential.

Everyday computer users are also finding, and enjoying the freedom with their new found mobility that comes with computing in the clouds.

It used to be, whatever you were doing on your PC, could only be done on that PC, which essentially kept your chained to your desk. Now you can open, edit, create, snap a photo or video share it, collaborate with others, post, chat, go shopping and do anything you want, no longer chained to that desk!

Even small businesses are going there, the concept is not new, the change you make might be. Whether you're on the go or not, you can have access to what matters most to you, when you take flight, and start living the high life in the clouds.

I've listed below some web apps that are useful. I did not include any Office Suites, because online office apps are already integrated with your email service.

The Top 20 Web Apps you should know about:
1. Converting files = http://www.online-convert.com/

2. Download Video from YouTube w/No Software = http://en.savefrom.net/

3. Photo Editing = http://pixlr.com/

4. Photo Editing = http://www.picmonkey.com/

5. Free E-Cards = http://www.free-e-cards-online.com/

6. Free E-Cards = http://www.all4love.net/

7. Create & edit Video = https://studio.stupeflix.com/

8. Create & edit Video = http://www.freemake.com/free_video_converter/

9. Turn Web page into a PDF = http://www.web2pdfconvert.com/

10. Evernote - Note Keeping & Taking = http://evernote.com/

You should take advantage of these Free offerings as well. The online storage offered here is more than enough for documents and forms, You would be wiser to utilize Flickr and Google Photos for all of your pictures and videos. They will take up more space than your documents and Google Photos now gives you unlimited storage. Flicker is useful also, but I'd only use it for a back-up they have a 2 Terabyte limit with their free offering.

*Extra. Free 15 GB Online storage - Copy = https://www.copy.com/

*Extra. Free 10 GB Online storage - Box = https://app.box.com/

11. Create & Send - Instant Invoice = http://create.onlineinvoices.com/

12. Free Logo Maker - GraphicSprings = https://www.graphicsprings.com/

13. Photo Editing = http://www.fotor.com/

14. Online YouTube Converter/Downloader = http://www.clipconverter.cc/

15. Online Vector Graphics Editor – Janvas = http://www.janvas.com/

16. Icon Maker – Make Favicons in an instant with = https://iconverticons.com/online/

17. Free Stock Photos = http://www.rgbstock.com/

18. Free Video Call With Up to 8 People = https://appear.in/

19. Simple Invoicing = http://invoiceto.me/

20. Remove Backgrounds from images = https://www.bonanza.com/background_burner

Now turn your web browser into a real lean and mean machine, add a folder to your bookmarks bar and make these web apps favorites listed in this folder and essentially your browser will replace the need to have installed software. Even better whatever you save to the web is easily accessible from any device any time. PC's crash, hard drives fail, and software that needs to be installed is expensive, not to mention that installed software always needs upgraded and often needs to be replaced.

How many versions of desktop software have you had to buy over the years? How many different versions of Windows or MS Office or anything else?

Enough is enough I say. Get cloud based, and you'll be happy you did. Fear nothing and don't look back!

Maybe you know of something useful to add if so, mention your ideas and suggestions in the comments below.

* My advice and recommendations are for personal and home use. Business needs are sure to differ and although many of them are also going mobile, there is still some need for OS's & other installed software for offline PC work stations.

The Drive-In Theaters - Yea, They're still out there!

The Drive-In Theater, like Apple Pie, Hot Dogs, and Baseball represent pure Americana. Fun for the whole family, and for friends and even dates. Movies combined with the outdoors while relaxing in your own car. This idea from long ago that still resonates with many today. Although its heyday has long passed, it is slowly becoming a popular thing to do again.

It all began long ago with the showing of Two White Arms the 1932 British Comedy Classic film that featured Adolphe Menjou in a story about a man who becomes bored with married life and pretends to have lost his memory so he can pursue other women. It had a different title for American audiences, that of, Wives Beware. The significant thing about this film is that it was the first film to be featured at a Drive-in Movie Theater. It was first shown in 1933.

The concept of a drive-in theater was patented by Richard M. Hollingshead, Jr. on May 16, 1933. His original drive-in theater opened a month later in New Jersey on June 6, 1933. Although his own drive-in theater only operated for three years, the idea spread across America, and at its peak there were more than 4,000 drive-in theaters in operation. His first advertising slogan was, "The whole family is welcome, regardless of how noisy the children are." At first, prices for admission was 25 cents for the car and 25 cents per person, but it was quite common to have specials of $1.00 per carload.

The idea of watching movies from your car on a large screen appealed to many. It was a common family night out, thing to do. It was the place to hang out and socialize more than anything else. In fact, the funny wise crack that circulated whenever there was talk of Drive-ins was, 'they show movies there, don't they,' as if to say that the features were not the main point of going. They became especially popular for dates, because of the privacy this setting provided.

If you have never been to one, the theaters are like large parking lots, where you drive in and find an open space in front of a large screen/wall that the film would be projected onto. With each space, you'd drive into, you would park on a small mound, something like a small hill. It put your viewing at an upward angle towards the screen, so that the other cars would not obstruct your view. When parked, there was a speaker for sound on a pole, and you would just hang the speaker from your door window. These drive-in theaters usually had playgrounds for small children and concession stands that sold food and drinks. The fun, food runs, and socializing always takes place between features, and the theaters usually had long breaks between in order to accommodate those at the concession stands.

The theaters usually showed double features, and some even offered triple features for the crowds that liked to stay late. The main feature was often shown first, and that would have been the big Hollywood hits of the day, the other features were the B-movies.

The peak period for drive-in theaters was the 1950's and early '60's, but as color television became more widespread, attendance at these theaters began to decline.

The unique experience of the drive-in theater lives on through classic car enthusiasts, nostalgia buffs, and the curious. It's a slice of vintage Americana personified that can't be missed. Although there are only around 400 of these theaters still in operation, you could probably find one not too far from where you live. These days, they show the modern flicks and the sound is broadcast to your car radio. You can expect to pay somewhere in the area of $20 for a car load today, but the fun and the experience is well worth it.

To my surprise, I recently learned that there may be another 200 theaters opening across the country in the very near future.

Although this experience is mostly associated with America, there are some drive-in theaters in other countries as well, including: Canada - Australia - Germany - India - South Africa & Spain.

Most people prefer indoor theaters with luxury seating, air conditioning, 3D and even 4D, enamored with all of today's technology, and amenities. While some long for the good ol' days of yesteryear, going to a drive-in, is an amazing experience. It's one you'll remember for a lifetime. Here's hoping you'll make some happy memories with your family this coming summer, and find a drive-in near you.

In the comments below, feel free to share your drive-in experiences and be sure to mention the theater, they could use the free mention.

Interesting fact: Shankweiler's Drive-In, in Orefield, Pennsylvania, is the oldest drive-in theater that is still going, and is now beginning its 82 season. So Cool! Long live the Drive-In's

Shankweilers Drive-In Theater

Google News – The Good, Bad, & Ugly

The Good - Google is giving all Android developers access to ARC. Google has released an app/browser extension called ARC Welder that packages Android APKs into applications for Chrome OS and other desktop platforms. Now converted apps can work even on Mac, Windows and Linux and any computer with the Chrome browser. Sweet!

Google Chromebook prices drop to $149. New Chromebook's from Haier and Hisense both have 11.6-inch display's, with 2 GB of RAM. These low cost Chromebooks run on the Rockchip 3288 processors. They can be bought at Walmart and Amazon now. Google is also offering an interesting iPad alternative with the Asus Chromebook Flip, a $249 laptop that you can be flip into a tablet. Worthy of note is, the more Chromebooks in the market, newer models should drive down prices of older models, and that should make them even more tempting.

Google is changing their Search algorithm to be more mobile friendly. Websites that feature pages optimized for smaller screens will be boosted in search results compared to those designed strictly for the desktop. This boost will only apply to mobile searches. Google says - "Now searchers can more easily find high quality and relevant results where text is readable without tapping or zooming, tap targets are spaced appropriately, and the page avoids unplayable content or horizontal scrolling."

This change in Search is only for mobile Search, and does not in any way change how desktop Search works. This should prompt website developers to get their sites up to date and make them mobile friendly.

The Bad – The Wait! … and Wait and Wait...

Google is now offering cell phone service. Google’s Project Fi becomes available today, for users of Nexus 6, a Motorola smartphone that costs $649 (32GB of storage) or $699 (64GB) in the Google Play store. The roll-out today is only available for the Nexus 6. The basic service costs $20 a month. Users get unlimited - talk, text, Wi-Fi tethering, and international coverage. After that, it's a flat $10 per GB for cellular data while in the U.S. and abroad. Google's rollover plan is like no other! Customers will get credit paid back to them for the full value of unused data. No other carrier does that! Yet!

The Bad news here is just like their much anticipated new email system, (Inbox) their cell service is really just a news splash, it isn't available for everyone yet, and even worse you have to sign-up and request an invite. If you're like me, and have signed up for such an invite, then you might be waiting for a long time to come. Some speculate that availability for all may not be ready for another 2-3 years. Ouch! OMG!

The Ugly -

Google plans to release Chromebit — a computer “smaller than a candy bar.” Prices will be less than $100, and this will be available later this summer. It looks like a simple USB memory stick, and it runs their Chrome OS. Chromebit can be plugged into any screen and turned into a computer. Not bad, huh? Unfortunately, this only works with a WiFi connection, and there is no built in storage. So, essentially it's more like an internet stick. Without any built in storage space and no built in offline capabilities, it's pretty much a useless novelty item for gadget geeks. Nothing to get excited about.

And then there's Takeout. This Google feature lets users download archives of multiple products, including, Calendars, Gmail, Google Photos, Hangouts, YouTube, +1s, and more. It does not include Google Wallet. This feature launched in 2011 under its Data Liberation Front initiative, but it did not include Search until recently. In a nutshell, it means you can download an archive of every search query you have ever made. This may be good for some, but for others it may be too intrusive and creepy.

More Ugly...The Google Glass Smart Eye-wear, no longer available for the time being, will be making a triumphant return, according to the search giant's executive chairman, Eric Schmidt.

No matter what anyone says, this device is not a good idea. It scared people. People don't want to be seen and recorded without their knowledge. This product is doomed to fail, no one wants to be seen as a glasshole or by a glasshole. Eeks! Yuk!

More Ugliness is all of the forthcoming antitrust lawsuits from abroad, but that is news generally known and not worth delving into further at this time.

All in all, we like many things Google does, and many of their products, but not everything.

Ringo Starr - Is In The Building!

Oh my my, the Rock 'N Roll Hall of Fame gets it right this time! Finally, Ringo Starr gets the respect he's due, although it didn't come easy.

In his speech he said, “I was doing the press earlier, and somebody asked, “Why did you wait so long,” Ringo replied, “It had nothing to do with me — you have to be invited. Finally, I’m invited and I love it,” and knowing how to please a crowd he added, “I also got lucky that it’s actually in Cleveland.”

He went on to explain his discovery of early Rock 'N Roll through a radio station he listened to in Liverpool. This station played the American radio program with DJ Alan Freed’s broadcasts from Cleveland. Every Sunday at 4 o’clock in the afternoon, we’d listen to Alan Freed. He played Bill Haley, Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis, and that’s where we heard rock and roll music, saying also that, “Alan Freed introduced us to so many great records.”

Paul McCartney inducts Ringo Starr into the HOF and in his speech he spoke about the first time Ringo sat in with the Beatles, while Ringo Starr was still a member of another Liverpool group, Rory Storm & the Hurricanes. On one night in particular, Ringo filling in for an absent Pete best, played along perfectly with their version of Ray Charles - “What'd I Say,” and “I remember the moment, standing there, looking at John, then looking at George, and we were like, WTF is this?… What is this? That was the moment, and that was the beginning of the Beatles.” As Paul McCartney says...Ringo nailed it!

Closing out the ceremony Ringo was backed by Green Day, McCartney, Stevie Wonder, Dave Grohl, and everyone else in a super jam session of the songs, “Boys”, “ I Wanna Be Your Man,” and “With A Little Help From My Friends.”

Ringo's lengthy solo resume includes 11 top 40 hit singles, three of which were number ones. He's made 18 solo albums to date, and that doesn't include the many live albums and compilations. He tours regularly with his All-Star Band and just keeps going, using Tony Bennett and B.B. King as inspiration, he says as long as he can stand up and hold the sticks, he'll keep doing what he loves.

Congratulations Ringo, your inclusion into the HOF is long overdue.