NFL Now - Stream 4 Free

The NFL has merged their NFL Now program into their NFL Mobile app in what they call an effort to simplify delivery of their digital content. The real reason is that they failed to attract enough users to maintain this as a separate app.

The NFL Now will continue to feature content from the NFL Media, along with offerings from all 32 teams. There will be a live show, giving the latest news and information, keeping fans up to date on everything NFL that will be an alternative to the NFL Network. This program will also offer “GameDay Blitz” on Sundays. Other live programming includes “The Rich Eisen Show” and “Fantasy Live.” You will also get the latest press conferences, special events including the upcoming 2016 Draft Live.

If you want access to this show, and don't want to pay or use the NFL mobile app, this is the link to gain access to stream it live for FREE!

http://wikitv.eu/nfl-network/

For all football fans, this program is merely an extra supplement to the NFL Network programming. I don't think it's better, it's merely something extra.

Sia - This Is Acting - Review

What do Adele, Rihanna, Beyoncé, Katy Perry, Shakira, and Icona Pop all have in common? Answer: They all were offered the tracks that make up Sia's new solo album.

This Is Acting is Sia's seventh studio album. She says that the success of 1000 Forms of Fear, and it's hit single "Chandelier" encouraged her to continue releasing new material for herself.

The album's title and concept come together like this..."I'm calling it This Is Acting because they are songs I was writing for other people, so I didn't go in thinking 'this is something I would say'. It's more like play acting. It's fun." Sia explains that when she's writing songs for others that she puts herself in a frame of mind that is like the person she is writing for, in other words play acting.

So, when the top-tier artists turn down or reject a song that she thinks would play well on the radio, Sia will keep those for herself, and that's exactly how Sia's new album came together.

Sia says of the songs on her new album..."I feel like they're hits, but nobody wanted them" - "So I thought, 'Let's see, as an experiment, if I'm right.” These are the tracks that make up her latest solo album, essentially a collection of rejects. All of the tracks were intended for others except for "One Million Bullets.”

If after all of that you're wondering why should you even bother buying or listening to an album full of songs rejected from today's top stars, I'd just say that their pass is Sia's gain. There are several tracks here that should be singles. The best tracks here are “Bird Set Free” - “Unstoppable” - “Reaper” - “Move Your Body” and you could pick others as well. It's an album of songs collected over a couple of years time, and these tracks are all really strong. It's hard to imagine why they weren't picked up by those artists, but for sure this is a very strong album with many great songs.

For those unfamiliar with Sia, she fits the genre of Pop, Electro-Pop, and R&B Soul. Her look doesn't fit her sound or expectations, but this is a really great album, and is already her most successful to date. Check it out. You'll be glad you did.

Rate this Album a strong 3½

Birdy - Beautiful Lies - Review

Birdy flew high with her debut album five years ago. She has since struggled to maintain altitude. With her third album, she is trying to establish herself as a singer/songwriter and not just a cover artist. She''s young, talented, and only 19. Her third album is being called a “coming of age” album. With that in mind I'll just say that it’s definitely an adult-oriented production that tries to mimic Adele.

Most of the songs here are slow moving ballads with dominant vocals and piano. The songs are about growing pains and survival. Birdy's warble style vocal fits the torchy slow tunes she delivers.

Birdy herself, describes the album as Japanese-themed, but this album only gets there with the cover art. "It's an album about finding the light in the dark and becoming more confident with oneself," - Birdy

The albums best tracks are “Keeping Your Head Up” and “Wild Horses.” The rest is slow going and forgettable. It would be hard to imagine someone playing this disc over and over unless they are clinically depressed.

It seems as though Birdy has flown off the pop radar landscape and is veering towards a career as a dinner club/lounge act.

This album will disappoint most, but as she is still so young maybe she'll rebound with something better next time out.

Rate this 2½

Free Tax Prep & E-File -

Tax time is here. In reality, it's been upon us for a while, but the dreaded tax deadline is near. In fact, today you could start counting down the days till you absolutely have to file or face some penalty. Ten days to go.

More and more people are opting to prepare their own taxes these days with the easy to use, do it yourself software. Some will get their friend of a friend or some so-called tax guru buddy of a relative or neighbor etc!

This post aims to brighten your day and give you a better all around option. If you individually or you and your family combined earned $62,000 or less, you can get your taxes prepared and filed electronically for FREE! No strings attached and you can do this every year!

The United Way's Free Tax Preparation Service is available to EVERYONE! All you need to do is go to their website and find a local branch and look up or call to find nearby local tax clinics.

Call and schedule your appointment today to take advantage of the United Way’s Free Tax Preparation program. Their Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program has professionals, and trained volunteers who will file your taxes. These volunteers are educated and skilled. Their knowledge will help you take advantage of any and all possible credits available to you. Your taxes can be filed using direct deposit, and you could have your tax refund in or around 7-10 days, or you can opt to get your refund the old fashioned way, in the snail mail.

Be good to yourself and be good to others I always say...now be a good friend, and pass along this OutRiderr (good) news to any and everyone you think might appreciate saving a few hundred bucks getting their taxes prepared. Ch-Ching!

Share this link below

http://www.unitedway.org/myfreetaxes/

Questions: 1-855-698-9435

Rachel Platten - Wildfire Review - 3 Stars

The new year starts off great here with Rachel Platten's "Wildfire." This album is pure pop-rock, and will get your year off to a good ol' Rockin' start. All of the songs are strong, and well crafted. Several could be singles.

The only fault with this album is the re-issuing of "Fight Song." This track is already a year old and is now just a distraction that interrupts an otherwise very good album. Obviously it's included here to boost sales, but in the end this inclusion could hurt sales. Anthemic songs such as "Fight Song" are always better left off of an album and instead let to be singles. Those songs, no matter how good become annoying and the fact that this song in particular is already a year old, may put some off. If you can get past the"Fight Song" the rest of the album is really enjoyable and should establish Rachel as an emerging artist that you'll want to watch grow.

Most of this  album is wrapped around ideas that range from hope to uplifting, and the self empowering. The positive centric messages will remind you of Katy Perry.

I'll rate this effort at 3 Stars and would have rated it higher except for the year old "Fight Song" on a new release really put me off here.

The best tracks here are "Stand by You"  "Beating Me Up" and "Lone Ranger." 

With Wildfire you get 12 tracks that clock over 40 minutes and 4 of those could be memorable singles. So my advice to you is get your copy today without delay.

Rock On!

#WILDFIRE

David Bowie – Blackstar – Reviewed 4½ BlackStars

David Bowie – Blackstar – Reviewed 4½ Blackstars

The Starman delivers! I'll Rate this effort 4½ Stars. The production and instrumentation make this album. Lyrically Bowie is cryptic and leaves us wondering. His vocals are aged, but not bad. It is so close to perfection but...

Blackstar is light years away from today's pop landscape. It is atmospheric and very dark. An intriguing work of art, and that lends to the thought that this album is just that, a work of art. It has interesting percussion that fits these songs perfectly, but none that are new. It's the arrangements and fills that are unique. The album features 7 songs, 5 are new and 2 others have been re-recorded. The songs are all great and they are arranged well on this album. Though there are fewer songs than typical albums, these are all excellent, well produced tracks and the album still clocks over forty minutes.

It would be unfair to describe this as an experimental album. It is more to the point of Bowie doing what he wanted to do on his own terms rather than someone else's.

It belongs in a genre of its own, one called Bowie.

Ground control to Maj. Bowie your mission is complete, you are free to go now.

Get this masterpiece through Amazon here Blackstar Album 

Check out the accompanying videos for these songs from the album below.

 Blackstar

 Lazarus