It was one of those scorching summer days in Los Angeles, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers were on a makeshift stage somewhere in the warehouse district, playing their new single, "The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie," over and over to a bunch of extras.
The video's director -- a petite 21-year-old underground rapper named Kreayshawn -- sat a few feet away, dwarfed by a bank of monitors.
"Some might think we were crazy to put all our faith in a 21-year-old girl who doesn't have very much experience at all for the first video on our first record in a number of years, but we just want to let her freak fly and let it happen," explained Flea, the band's celebrated bass player.
A month later, the video was scrapped. I found this out in true Hollywood fashion -- through my hairdresser, who works at a salon a few steps off the boardwalk on Venice Beach.
"Yeah, they were playing on the rooftop of the building next door, and all my friends were texting me to come down. It was like a free concert," she said incredulously.
Sure enough, the Red Hot Chili Peppers' official video for "Rain Dance Maggie" features the quartet performing high above the Venice boardwalk, while a colorful cast of characters come running once they hear the music. It's pure, low-budget genius from veteran director Marc Klasfeld, who captures the Chili Peppers in all their SoCal glory.
Frontman Anthony Kiedis struts and preens against a backdrop of waves and assorted beach crazies. A blue-haired Flea bobs along nearby, while Chad Smith keeps time, occasionally banging on his cowbell as the song progresses. The video is also a great showcase for the band's newest member, 31-year-old Josh Klinghoffer, who replaced the group's beloved guitarist, John Frusciante, after he left (for the second time) in 2009.
While his bandmates exhibit strong, in-your-face personalities, Klinghoffer is endearingly sweet -- almost shy. You'll never catch him tearing off his shirt on stage, or wearing a tube sock on his privates -- something his colleagues were prone to doing in the late 80s.
"Not that I would refuse anything in a situation, because I'm open to most things," says Klinghoffer. "But there's no way that would happen. I draw the line at shirt removal."
"I'm With You," the Red Hot Chili Peppers' 10th studio album -- and first in five years -- hit retail outlets Monday, August 29.
CNN spoke with the three-time Grammy winners during a break in shooting their music video for "The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie" -- the first incarnation.
CNN: It's been five years since your last album, but that included a two year hiatus.
Flea: After the last tour, we had the privilege of taking a two year break, which was just outstanding!
I had the privilege of playing with great people (Patti Smith and Thom Yorke among them), going to college for a year and working on my music school (the Silverlake Conservatory of Music in Los Angeles). And now, having had all those other experiences, I'm feeling extra, extra superfragicalically excited to go do the Red Hot Chili Peppers thing.
CNN: Anthony, what were you up to during your break?
Anthony Kiedis: Writing songs, recording songs, surfing, chasing my son around, breathing. Strumming a ukulele. A little thing called life.
CNN: During your hiatus, did you ever think that the band wasn't going to get back together?
Chad Smith: I had thoughts that we might not continue, especially when John (guitarist John Frusciante) said, "You know what? I don't want to play anymore. I just want to do my own thing." We totally respect that. I'm very happy that he's happy and he's doing what he wants to do.
But there was a period where it was like, "OK, what are we going to do? Are we going to audition guitar players again? We've done that before. That was a nightmare."
We really didn't audition anyone. We just said, "Josh, come on down. Let's play." Josh is in our family. He's toured with us (Klinghoffer was the second guitarist on the last two legs of the band's "Stadium Arcadium" tour in 2007).
Kiedis: He's a drummer, a keyboard player, a bass player, a guitar player and a songwriter. And a damn good-looking chap.
CNN: I hear he took a week to tell you whether or not he wanted to be in the band.
Kiedis: I think it was closer to two, which was a good thing, a very good thing -- because he was thoughtful about it, and I don't think he wanted to join us for any of the wrong reasons.
Klinghoffer: It was a massive decision. It's a massive change of lifestyle.
I'd been working on a project that I'd formed for a while and had to consider all the angles of joining a band that was already established. They're a huge band. I'm not replacing in any way, but kind of stepping into the position that was held by one of my closest friends. An amazing person. All those things to think about. The first day we started playing, it just sort of musically made sense. I've known them for over 10 years, and I love 'em all, so it just sort of worked.
CNN: They didn't haze you too badly when you joined the band, did they?
Klinghoffer: No, no, no. People keep asking though, so don't give them any ideas.
CNN: Just how many guitarists have the Chili Peppers had over the years?
Smith: Let's see, how many guitar players. Hmm. (Strokes chin) You know the movie "Spinal Tap" -- the exploding drummer? It's a bit like that. I don't know. Five, six.
I've lost count, but we've been fortunate to have great musicians in our band. Each one has brought something special to the group and we're very grateful for that. This is a new chapter. It's the same name, but it's a different band.
Flea: Things sound a lot different. Sounds great. Sounds vibrant. It sounds alive. Sounds like it has a feeling of excitement, and exploration, and love, and warmth, and violence and explosion that you want in rock music.
CNN: What can fans expect to hear from the new album?
Kiedis: It's all new songs. We wrote songs that we love. We wrote a huge amount of songs and we whittled it down to our favorites, so hopefully there's a little something for everyone in there.
CNN: Josh took a couple of weeks to make a commitment to the band. Are you ever sorry you made that commitment?
Kiedis: No! What else am I going to do? You gotta pay for the surfboard somehow. I like writing songs, and I wouldn't really know who to write them with if not for my band. I like the commitment.
Flea: We're putting out the record, making new videos, doing the whole thing. We're just gearing up to rock the inner depths of the world on our tour.
CNN: Chili Peppers are back?
Flea: Chili Peppers never went away.
Comment: I'm very very glad of this! Red hot chilli peppers are back! They're a great band and they're great musicians too. I'm so happy to see this! They should come here to Guatemala!
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Malaysia's first openly gay pastor to marry
Malaysia's first openly gay pastor has chosen Wednesday, coinciding with the country's Independence Day, to get married to his American partner in New York, barely a month after same-sex marriage became legalized there.
"It means a lot to be married that day, to honor my country and people in Malaysia," said Rev. Boon Lin Ngeo, who also goes by his pen name O.Young or Ouyang Wen Feng, in a telephone call from Kota Kinabalu, the capital of Malaysia's Sabah state, during a visit there last week.
He said the date was chosen to remind others that "we need to keep fighting for our rights and be independent from all kinds of oppression."
The two plan to make it legal at New York's City Hall at noon with the actual wedding ceremony on another date. A Chinese-Malaysian, Ngeo also plans a Chinese wedding banquet in the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur next year for family and friends.
In Malaysia, a predominantly Muslim nation, sodomy and "carnal intercourse against the order of nature,"-- under which homosexuality falls -- are prosecutable under Penal Code 377. Offenders face imprisonment of up to 20 years and a whipping. Islamic Sharia laws in Malaysia also criminalize homosexuality.
The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia declined a request by CNN to comment on gay marriage, with the public affairs spokeswoman calling it "a very sensitive issue and not a common lifestyle."
The marriage is the second for both Ngeo, 41, and his fiancé, Phineas Newborn III, 47, a Broadway producer and performer as well as progeny of two generations of jazz musicians whose name he bears. Newborn has a daughter from his previous marriage; both men's prior marriages were with women and ended in divorce.
"A lot of gay people, because of prejudice and discrimination, hide themselves in a heterosexual marriage because of social pressures, family pressures," Ngeo said. "So they lead a double life. That's no good to anyone. There are a lot of straight people who have been hurt by this discrimination."
Ngeo said he had believed his wife was sent as an angel of God to get rid of his homosexuality. "We were good friends, but something was missing," he said.
In 1998, two years into his marriage, Ngeo went to the United States to study sociology and religious studies at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. "It was an eye-opening experience," he said. "I began to look at Christianity from new perspectives and the Bible from new perspectives and realized there are many theologies out there, many theologians, relatively different understandings of the Bible from Christian fundamentalism."
Another formative milestone was when Ngeo went to New York in 2001 to pursue his Ph.D. in sociology at City University of New York. There he attended the New York City congregation of Metropolitan Community Churches (MCC), which was founded in 1968 as a ministry that welcomed gays, bisexuals and transgendered people.
"It was a very empowering experience for me to be in a church, and I didn't have to deny my sexuality," he said. "I could be very honest with myself, with all church members and also with God."
Queer theology took its place next to liberation theology and feminist theology, he said. "Christian fundamentalism is just one school, not the only one."
According to Rev. Dr. Patrick S. Cheng, a gay theologian and member of the MCC theologies team who had been assistant pastor when Ngeo was struggling to come out, queer theology has developed since the 1950s. In his new book, "Radical Love: An Introduction to Queer Theology," Cheng argues that radical love, "a love so extreme that it dissolves our existing boundaries," including "gay" vs. "straight," "male" vs. "female," lies at the heart of queer theology.
"Given that theology literally means "God talk," Cheng explained, referring to its Greek etymology, "queer theology can be defined as queer (that is, lesbian gay, bisexual, transgender and queer) people talking about God."
"It is presumed that we have nothing to say about Christianity and/or the Christian tradition is opposed to our very existence," he added in an email.
Queer theology has increasingly appeared within the curricula of U.S. divinity schools, including the Chicago Theological Seminary, Episcopal Divinity School where Cheng taught a course this summer, and Harvard Divinity School, which is expected to offer a course next year. Durham University and the University of Birmingham in the UK also offer such courses.
When Ngeo came out to his wife in 2001, he recalled her saying that she had known. "She encouraged me to come out, to live my life, and she's been very supportive, and we remain very good friends until today."
Ngeo did not come out publicly until 2006, a year after his divorce, with the publication of his book, "Is Now the Future? An Asian Gay Man's Coming Out Journey."
The following year, Ngeo, newly ordained in New York, helped Joe Pang, a youth pastor, found the Good Samaritan Metropolitan Community Church in Kuala Lumpur. Pang was barred from the ministry of his Baptist church after revealing he was gay.
"We don't call ourselves a gay church," Ngeo said. "It's a Christian church that welcomes everyone."
Their church remains unrecognized by the Christian Federation of Malaysia, which comprises the country's three main Christian groups: Council of Churches of Malaysia, the National Evangelical Christian Fellowship and the Roman Catholic Church.
CFM's chairman, Bishop Ng Moon Hing, speaking not on behalf of the group but in his capacity as Anglican Bishop of West Malaysia, said in an email, "I believe everyone has his own right to do anything he wishes as long as that does not contravene the law of the land and the law of God (according to the faith he belongs).
"For my Church, we do not endorse same-sex marriage or gay ordination, but we love gay people just like any other humans. We will continue to pray for this gay pastor and his so-called gay church that one day they will see the orthodox teaching of their faith. The Anglican Church in West Malaysia believe the Bible teaches the sanctity of marriage of one man-one woman as husband and wife in a family."
Ngeo said he does not believe Christianity is against gays. "It's just the interpretation of some Christian fundamentalists," he said. "The Bible has been used to justify homophobia in the same way it has been used to justify slavery or the persecution of those who disagree with the church."
Ngeo said a literal interpretation of the Bible was dangerous. "You're making it an idol. You need to know the historical context of the Bible," he added.
Now an author and editor of 25 books -- among them "God Loves Gays," "Gays Love God" and "Our Stories," a collection of coming-out stories by ethnic Chinese -- Ngeo is finishing his dissertation for a doctorate in theology at Boston University. (He has yet to complete his doctorate in sociology.) He'll be teaching a course in women and gender's studies at CUNY as well as "Introduction to Gay, Lesbian and Transgender Studies" at Saint Peter's College, the only Jesuit college in New Jersey.
David S. Surrey, professor and chair of the sociology and urban studies department at St. Peter's, said the course was very popular and among many Ngeo has taught at the school. "His student reviews reflect on his strong teaching and his inclusion of all groups in the discussion," Surrey wrote in an email.
"It means a lot to be married that day, to honor my country and people in Malaysia," said Rev. Boon Lin Ngeo, who also goes by his pen name O.Young or Ouyang Wen Feng, in a telephone call from Kota Kinabalu, the capital of Malaysia's Sabah state, during a visit there last week.
He said the date was chosen to remind others that "we need to keep fighting for our rights and be independent from all kinds of oppression."
The two plan to make it legal at New York's City Hall at noon with the actual wedding ceremony on another date. A Chinese-Malaysian, Ngeo also plans a Chinese wedding banquet in the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur next year for family and friends.
In Malaysia, a predominantly Muslim nation, sodomy and "carnal intercourse against the order of nature,"-- under which homosexuality falls -- are prosecutable under Penal Code 377. Offenders face imprisonment of up to 20 years and a whipping. Islamic Sharia laws in Malaysia also criminalize homosexuality.
The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia declined a request by CNN to comment on gay marriage, with the public affairs spokeswoman calling it "a very sensitive issue and not a common lifestyle."
The marriage is the second for both Ngeo, 41, and his fiancé, Phineas Newborn III, 47, a Broadway producer and performer as well as progeny of two generations of jazz musicians whose name he bears. Newborn has a daughter from his previous marriage; both men's prior marriages were with women and ended in divorce.
"A lot of gay people, because of prejudice and discrimination, hide themselves in a heterosexual marriage because of social pressures, family pressures," Ngeo said. "So they lead a double life. That's no good to anyone. There are a lot of straight people who have been hurt by this discrimination."
A lot of gay people, because of prejudice and discrimination, hide themselves in a heterosexual marriage
--Rev. Boon Lin Ngeo
--Rev. Boon Lin Ngeo
RELATED TOPICS
Ngeo said he had believed his wife was sent as an angel of God to get rid of his homosexuality. "We were good friends, but something was missing," he said.
In 1998, two years into his marriage, Ngeo went to the United States to study sociology and religious studies at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. "It was an eye-opening experience," he said. "I began to look at Christianity from new perspectives and the Bible from new perspectives and realized there are many theologies out there, many theologians, relatively different understandings of the Bible from Christian fundamentalism."
Another formative milestone was when Ngeo went to New York in 2001 to pursue his Ph.D. in sociology at City University of New York. There he attended the New York City congregation of Metropolitan Community Churches (MCC), which was founded in 1968 as a ministry that welcomed gays, bisexuals and transgendered people.
"It was a very empowering experience for me to be in a church, and I didn't have to deny my sexuality," he said. "I could be very honest with myself, with all church members and also with God."
Queer theology took its place next to liberation theology and feminist theology, he said. "Christian fundamentalism is just one school, not the only one."
According to Rev. Dr. Patrick S. Cheng, a gay theologian and member of the MCC theologies team who had been assistant pastor when Ngeo was struggling to come out, queer theology has developed since the 1950s. In his new book, "Radical Love: An Introduction to Queer Theology," Cheng argues that radical love, "a love so extreme that it dissolves our existing boundaries," including "gay" vs. "straight," "male" vs. "female," lies at the heart of queer theology.
"Given that theology literally means "God talk," Cheng explained, referring to its Greek etymology, "queer theology can be defined as queer (that is, lesbian gay, bisexual, transgender and queer) people talking about God."
"It is presumed that we have nothing to say about Christianity and/or the Christian tradition is opposed to our very existence," he added in an email.
Queer theology has increasingly appeared within the curricula of U.S. divinity schools, including the Chicago Theological Seminary, Episcopal Divinity School where Cheng taught a course this summer, and Harvard Divinity School, which is expected to offer a course next year. Durham University and the University of Birmingham in the UK also offer such courses.
When Ngeo came out to his wife in 2001, he recalled her saying that she had known. "She encouraged me to come out, to live my life, and she's been very supportive, and we remain very good friends until today."
Ngeo did not come out publicly until 2006, a year after his divorce, with the publication of his book, "Is Now the Future? An Asian Gay Man's Coming Out Journey."
The following year, Ngeo, newly ordained in New York, helped Joe Pang, a youth pastor, found the Good Samaritan Metropolitan Community Church in Kuala Lumpur. Pang was barred from the ministry of his Baptist church after revealing he was gay.
"We don't call ourselves a gay church," Ngeo said. "It's a Christian church that welcomes everyone."
Their church remains unrecognized by the Christian Federation of Malaysia, which comprises the country's three main Christian groups: Council of Churches of Malaysia, the National Evangelical Christian Fellowship and the Roman Catholic Church.
CFM's chairman, Bishop Ng Moon Hing, speaking not on behalf of the group but in his capacity as Anglican Bishop of West Malaysia, said in an email, "I believe everyone has his own right to do anything he wishes as long as that does not contravene the law of the land and the law of God (according to the faith he belongs).
"For my Church, we do not endorse same-sex marriage or gay ordination, but we love gay people just like any other humans. We will continue to pray for this gay pastor and his so-called gay church that one day they will see the orthodox teaching of their faith. The Anglican Church in West Malaysia believe the Bible teaches the sanctity of marriage of one man-one woman as husband and wife in a family."
Ngeo said he does not believe Christianity is against gays. "It's just the interpretation of some Christian fundamentalists," he said. "The Bible has been used to justify homophobia in the same way it has been used to justify slavery or the persecution of those who disagree with the church."
Ngeo said a literal interpretation of the Bible was dangerous. "You're making it an idol. You need to know the historical context of the Bible," he added.
Now an author and editor of 25 books -- among them "God Loves Gays," "Gays Love God" and "Our Stories," a collection of coming-out stories by ethnic Chinese -- Ngeo is finishing his dissertation for a doctorate in theology at Boston University. (He has yet to complete his doctorate in sociology.) He'll be teaching a course in women and gender's studies at CUNY as well as "Introduction to Gay, Lesbian and Transgender Studies" at Saint Peter's College, the only Jesuit college in New Jersey.
David S. Surrey, professor and chair of the sociology and urban studies department at St. Peter's, said the course was very popular and among many Ngeo has taught at the school. "His student reviews reflect on his strong teaching and his inclusion of all groups in the discussion," Surrey wrote in an email.
Ngeo said the toughest opposition he's faced is not from "religious bigots or straight people, but gay people who have internalized homophobia."
COMMENT: I think this is a thing without sense because god make us to married men and woman not men and men and either bad if we are talking about a pastor so I think this man is totally lost in his own world and about he think.
NEWS:
Los Angeles (CNN) -- It was one of those scorching summer days in Los Angeles, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers were on a makeshift stage somewhere in the warehouse district, playing their new single, "The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie," over and over to a bunch of extras.
The video's director -- a petite 21-year-old underground rapper named Kreayshawn -- sat a few feet away, dwarfed by a bank of monitors.
"Some might think we were crazy to put all our faith in a 21-year-old girl who doesn't have very much experience at all for the first video on our first record in a number of years, but we just want to let her freak fly and let it happen," explained Flea, the band's celebrated bass player.
A month later, the video was scrapped. I found this out in true Hollywood fashion -- through my hairdresser, who works at a salon a few steps off the boardwalk on Venice Beach.
"Yeah, they were playing on the rooftop of the building next door, and all my friends were texting me to come down. It was like a free concert," she said incredulously.
Sure enough, the Red Hot Chili Peppers' official video for "Rain Dance Maggie" features the quartet performing high above the Venice boardwalk, while a colorful cast of characters come running once they hear the music. It's pure, low-budget genius from veteran director Marc Klasfeld, who captures the Chili Peppers in all their SoCal glory.
Frontman Anthony Kiedis struts and preens against a backdrop of waves and assorted beach crazies. A blue-haired Flea bobs along nearby, while Chad Smith keeps time, occasionally banging on his cowbell as the song progresses. The video is also a great showcase for the band's newest member, 31-year-old Josh Klinghoffer, who replaced the group's beloved guitarist, John Frusciante, after he left (for the second time) in 2009.
While his bandmates exhibit strong, in-your-face personalities, Klinghoffer is endearingly sweet -- almost shy. You'll never catch him tearing off his shirt on stage, or wearing a tube sock on his privates -- something his colleagues were prone to doing in the late 80s.
"Not that I would refuse anything in a situation, because I'm open to most things," says Klinghoffer. "But there's no way that would happen. I draw the line at shirt removal."
"I'm With You," the Red Hot Chili Peppers' 10th studio album -- and first in five years -- hit retail outlets Monday, August 29.
CNN spoke with the three-time Grammy winners during a break in shooting their music video for "The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie" -- the first incarnation.
CNN: It's been five years since your last album, but that included a two year hiatus.
Flea: After the last tour, we had the privilege of taking a two year break, which was just outstanding!
I had the privilege of playing with great people (Patti Smith and Thom Yorke among them), going to college for a year and working on my music school (the Silverlake Conservatory of Music in Los Angeles). And now, having had all those other experiences, I'm feeling extra, extra superfragicalically excited to go do the Red Hot Chili Peppers thing.
CNN: Anthony, what were you up to during your break?
Anthony Kiedis: Writing songs, recording songs, surfing, chasing my son around, breathing. Strumming a ukulele. A little thing called life.
CNN: During your hiatus, did you ever think that the band wasn't going to get back together?
Chad Smith: I had thoughts that we might not continue, especially when John (guitarist John Frusciante) said, "You know what? I don't want to play anymore. I just want to do my own thing." We totally respect that. I'm very happy that he's happy and he's doing what he wants to do.
But there was a period where it was like, "OK, what are we going to do? Are we going to audition guitar players again? We've done that before. That was a nightmare."
We really didn't audition anyone. We just said, "Josh, come on down. Let's play." Josh is in our family. He's toured with us (Klinghoffer was the second guitarist on the last two legs of the band's "Stadium Arcadium" tour in 2007).
Kiedis: He's a drummer, a keyboard player, a bass player, a guitar player and a songwriter. And a damn good-looking chap.
CNN: I hear he took a week to tell you whether or not he wanted to be in the band.
Kiedis: I think it was closer to two, which was a good thing, a very good thing -- because he was thoughtful about it, and I don't think he wanted to join us for any of the wrong reasons.
Klinghoffer: It was a massive decision. It's a massive change of lifestyle.
I'd been working on a project that I'd formed for a while and had to consider all the angles of joining a band that was already established. They're a huge band. I'm not replacing in any way, but kind of stepping into the position that was held by one of my closest friends. An amazing person. All those things to think about. The first day we started playing, it just sort of musically made sense. I've known them for over 10 years, and I love 'em all, so it just sort of worked.
CNN: They didn't haze you too badly when you joined the band, did they?
Klinghoffer: No, no, no. People keep asking though, so don't give them any ideas.
CNN: Just how many guitarists have the Chili Peppers had over the years?
Smith: Let's see, how many guitar players. Hmm. (Strokes chin) You know the movie "Spinal Tap" -- the exploding drummer? It's a bit like that. I don't know. Five, six.
I've lost count, but we've been fortunate to have great musicians in our band. Each one has brought something special to the group and we're very grateful for that. This is a new chapter. It's the same name, but it's a different band.
Flea: Things sound a lot different. Sounds great. Sounds vibrant. It sounds alive. Sounds like it has a feeling of excitement, and exploration, and love, and warmth, and violence and explosion that you want in rock music.
CNN: What can fans expect to hear from the new album?
Kiedis: It's all new songs. We wrote songs that we love. We wrote a huge amount of songs and we whittled it down to our favorites, so hopefully there's a little something for everyone in there.
CNN: Josh took a couple of weeks to make a commitment to the band. Are you ever sorry you made that commitment?
Kiedis: No! What else am I going to do? You gotta pay for the surfboard somehow. I like writing songs, and I wouldn't really know who to write them with if not for my band. I like the commitment.
Flea: We're putting out the record, making new videos, doing the whole thing. We're just gearing up to rock the inner depths of the world on our tour.
CNN: Chili Peppers are back?
Flea: Chili Peppers never went away.
COMMENT:
SO THE RED HOT CHILI PEPPER COME BACK AGAIN WITH HIS ROCK AND ALL THAT SONGS, THEY HAVE ALOT OF TIME IN THIS BUSINESS SO I THINCK THAT THEY WILL MAKE A GOOD JOB
(CNN) -- Fourteen of the 33 Chilean miners who were trapped underground for more than three months after a mine collapse in northern Chile will get lifetime pensions.
Chilean first lady Cecilia Morel met with the 14 miners Tuesday to deliver the news at a ceremony held in the town of Copiapo, near the site of the San Jose mine collapse.
Morel, who traveled to Copiapo on behalf of President Sebastian Pinera, said the miners will receive a monthly pension of 250,000 Chilean pesos, the equivalent of almost $540. The miners will receive this benefit for the rest of their lives.
"When the accident happened, we put all of the resources available to us to rescue you. We accompanied your families every moment and we could not abandon you to fate afterwards. This government is committed to be with you and help you as much as we can," Morel said in awarding the pensions.
The Chilean government chose the miners who will receive the lifetime pensions based on their health, age, and the opinion of the group of survivors, officials said.
The ceremony at the Atacama Regional Museum was also attended by Chilean Mining Minister Hernan de Solminihac. The minister said the government is also helping the miners who lost their job when the mine collapsed.
"Following the instructions of the president, we made a great effort to compensate more than 200 workers at the San Jose Mine so that they could receive this benefit before the first anniversary of the accident and we have fulfilled that commitment," Solminihac said.
Morel reflected on the ordeal that the miners have been through. "Now we see that they're all alive and well, but this trauma didn't happen in a vacuum. They became famous due to a disaster that is still negatively affecting them. That's why they need this help, which will be one more step towards their recovery," she said.
2010: Chilean miners named CNN Heroes RELATED TOPICS
Mining Accidents and Disasters
Chile
Copiapo
In spite of becoming famous after surviving the mine collapse, life hasn't been easy for the miners. Several are still unemployed. Others are surviving by selling fruits and vegetables on the streets of Copiapo, driving taxis or doing odd jobs. The most successful ones have gotten into public speaking, but the money and the opportunities are likely to dwindle as years go by.
Jorge Galleguillos, one of the survivors, said earlier this month that the good will from their country faded fast. "They love us more abroad. They congratulate us, they want to touch us and get a blessing from us. That's not the case in Chile. Only a few greet us with affection; many more say 'hi' with envy," Galleguillos said.
Galleguillos was one of four miners who traveled to Washington, D.C., in early August to open an exhibit about the mine collapse and subsequent rescue at the Smithsonian Institution.
Author Jonathan Franklin, who wrote a book about the miners called "33 Men" and who did extensive interviews with them, says recovery hasn't been easy.
COMMENT:They're taking lots of pills, they're heavily medicated. I think they really needed better psychological counseling and they feel best when they're together as a group. They might have differences.
Chilean first lady Cecilia Morel met with the 14 miners Tuesday to deliver the news at a ceremony held in the town of Copiapo, near the site of the San Jose mine collapse.
Morel, who traveled to Copiapo on behalf of President Sebastian Pinera, said the miners will receive a monthly pension of 250,000 Chilean pesos, the equivalent of almost $540. The miners will receive this benefit for the rest of their lives.
"When the accident happened, we put all of the resources available to us to rescue you. We accompanied your families every moment and we could not abandon you to fate afterwards. This government is committed to be with you and help you as much as we can," Morel said in awarding the pensions.
The Chilean government chose the miners who will receive the lifetime pensions based on their health, age, and the opinion of the group of survivors, officials said.
The ceremony at the Atacama Regional Museum was also attended by Chilean Mining Minister Hernan de Solminihac. The minister said the government is also helping the miners who lost their job when the mine collapsed.
"Following the instructions of the president, we made a great effort to compensate more than 200 workers at the San Jose Mine so that they could receive this benefit before the first anniversary of the accident and we have fulfilled that commitment," Solminihac said.
Morel reflected on the ordeal that the miners have been through. "Now we see that they're all alive and well, but this trauma didn't happen in a vacuum. They became famous due to a disaster that is still negatively affecting them. That's why they need this help, which will be one more step towards their recovery," she said.
2010: Chilean miners named CNN Heroes RELATED TOPICS
Mining Accidents and Disasters
Chile
Copiapo
In spite of becoming famous after surviving the mine collapse, life hasn't been easy for the miners. Several are still unemployed. Others are surviving by selling fruits and vegetables on the streets of Copiapo, driving taxis or doing odd jobs. The most successful ones have gotten into public speaking, but the money and the opportunities are likely to dwindle as years go by.
Jorge Galleguillos, one of the survivors, said earlier this month that the good will from their country faded fast. "They love us more abroad. They congratulate us, they want to touch us and get a blessing from us. That's not the case in Chile. Only a few greet us with affection; many more say 'hi' with envy," Galleguillos said.
Galleguillos was one of four miners who traveled to Washington, D.C., in early August to open an exhibit about the mine collapse and subsequent rescue at the Smithsonian Institution.
Author Jonathan Franklin, who wrote a book about the miners called "33 Men" and who did extensive interviews with them, says recovery hasn't been easy.
COMMENT:They're taking lots of pills, they're heavily medicated. I think they really needed better psychological counseling and they feel best when they're together as a group. They might have differences.
Gadhafi sons weigh 'victory or martyrdom' versus surrender
Tripoli, Libya (CNN) -- Two sons of Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi appeared to offer divergent and sometimes contradictory answers Wednesday to a question many of their countrymen are grappling with: Keep fighting or surrender?
"Victory or martyrdom!" a defiant Saif al-Islam Gadhafi told Rai TV, a Syrian television station, in a telephone call during which he called on his countrymen to rise up.
"Everyone should move now, begin to attack these gangsters," he said. "Attack everyone, day and night, until we clean this country from those gangsters and those traitors."
He added, "Wherever you see the enemy, attack them. They are weak, they have suffered lots of losses and they are now licking their wounds."
Gadhafi did not divulge the whereabouts of his father, but said, "The leader is fine. We are fighting and we are drinking tea and drinking coffee and sitting with our families and fighting."
Gadhafi said he was speaking from a suburb of Tripoli, where he had met with residents and found their morale was high. He also said he had recently visited the family's compound Bab al-Aziziya in Tripoli, an improbable statement.
"No one is afraid or frightened," he said.
COMMENT: THIS WAR FOR THE LIBYAN POWER SHOULD END SOON, BECAUSE THIS ARM PROBLEM HAS A LOT OF TIME NOW, SO WE HOPE THIS ENDS FAST SO LIBYA CAN BE IN PEACE AGAIN.
CNN) -- Doctors had never seen a case quite like it: An 86-year-old man showed up at the hospital with the handle of a pair of pruning shears stuck in his eye socket.
Amazingly, the man made it through this accident with his vision almost intact. His medical team, including surgeons who also treated Rep. Gabrielle Giffords after she was shot in the head in January, removed the shears and reconstructed the eye socket.
Leroy Luetscher of Green Valley, Arizona, had been working in his yard July 30 when the accident happened. He thinks he may have dropped a pair of pruning shears and fallen face-first onto the handle when he went to retrieve them. The handle drove into his eye socket and down into his neck.
"There was just blood all over," Arpy Williams, Luetscher's girlfriend, said Tuesday, according to CNN affiliate KOLD. "I saw this instrument in his face, and I just said, 'Leroy, honey, what have you done?' "
COMMENT: well this is a really extrange news and very ugly news because how a man can insert on his eye a prunning shear and it is very good to know that nothing happen because of the doctors that do a good not only good an excellent job. reconstructing tha eye of that man.
Amazingly, the man made it through this accident with his vision almost intact. His medical team, including surgeons who also treated Rep. Gabrielle Giffords after she was shot in the head in January, removed the shears and reconstructed the eye socket.
Leroy Luetscher of Green Valley, Arizona, had been working in his yard July 30 when the accident happened. He thinks he may have dropped a pair of pruning shears and fallen face-first onto the handle when he went to retrieve them. The handle drove into his eye socket and down into his neck.
"There was just blood all over," Arpy Williams, Luetscher's girlfriend, said Tuesday, according to CNN affiliate KOLD. "I saw this instrument in his face, and I just said, 'Leroy, honey, what have you done?' "
COMMENT: well this is a really extrange news and very ugly news because how a man can insert on his eye a prunning shear and it is very good to know that nothing happen because of the doctors that do a good not only good an excellent job. reconstructing tha eye of that man.
Uribe: Why Colombia is winning war on drugs
August 16, 2011 -- Updated 0049 GMT (0849 HKT)
Uribe: Colombia winning war on drugs
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
- Colombia's ex-president tells CNN in interview his country is winning war on drugs
- Alvaro Uribe Velez says FARC guerrillas killed his father but he does not hate them
- Uribe says young people must be discouraged from joining criminal groups in first place
Dublin, Ireland (CNN) -- Colombia's former president has said he believes his country is finally winning the war on drugs thanks to the robust policies his government took to combat left-wing guerrillas.
But Alvaro Uribe Velez told CNN that despite the murder of his father in 1983 -- and repeated attempts on his own life -- by FARC guerrillas, who for decades have controlled coca-growing regions in Colombia, he does not hate members of the group.
Speaking at a recent conference in Dublin, Ireland, aimed at tackling the root causes of extremism and terrorism, Uribe, who served as president from 2002 until 2010, added that young people must be discouraged from joining criminal groups in the first place.
"Colombia is winning," he said. "Colombia, at some moment, produced close to 1,000 tons of cocaine per year. In the last year Colombia produced 180. It is a very, very big amount still, but if you look at the trend you see that Colombia is in a very good part of decline. It is possible to win this battle."
FARC killed my father and FARC has killed many, many Colombians. Of course I am sad, I will never forget, but I cannot hate.
--Alvaro Uribe Velez
--Alvaro Uribe Velez
RELATED TOPICS
Under Uribe, the Colombian army and police repeatedly targeted FARC guerillas, thanks to $7 billion of financial support from the United States. There has also been a push to refocus government efforts on improving conditions in a bid to make organized crime and drug trafficking less appealing to peasants who live in marginalized areas.
Uribe said emotional reconciliation was important too. "FARC killed my father and FARC has killed many, many Colombians. Of course I am sad, I will never forget, but I cannot hate.
"As strict as we were against violence, we were generous to open our hands, to receive with generosity those who made the decision to reintegrate into our society.
"But the most important point is that, in the rule of law, you have to solve the economic, the social and the political agenda with the people living in democracy, not with those in arms."
The former president said the next generation held the key to his country's future. "How can we prevent youngsters from being recruited by organized crime? It needs education, technology, micro-lending and at the same time capital funds to reach the base of the pyramid. The new generations should not have the same nightmare of violence that my generation and others have suffered
This is good because one of the greatest power in drugs is winning the fight would make changes in the whole world because the biggest producer of drugs is making drugs to stop would make a beter world for lve
NEWS WEDNESDAY
Los Angeles (CNN) -- It was one of those scorching summer days in Los Angeles, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers were on a makeshift stage somewhere in the warehouse district, playing their new single, "The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie," over and over to a bunch of extras.
The video's director -- a petite 21-year-old underground rapper named Kreayshawn -- sat a few feet away, dwarfed by a bank of monitors.
"Some might think we were crazy to put all our faith in a 21-year-old girl who doesn't have very much experience at all for the first video on our first record in a number of years, but we just want to let her freak fly and let it happen," explained Flea, the band's celebrated bass player.
A month later, the video was scrapped. I found this out in true Hollywood fashion -- through my hairdresser, who works at a salon a few steps off the boardwalk on Venice Beach.
"Yeah, they were playing on the rooftop of the building next door, and all my friends were texting me to come down. It was like a free concert," she said incredulously.
Sure enough, the Red Hot Chili Peppers' official video for "Rain Dance Maggie" features the quartet performing high above the Venice boardwalk, while a colorful cast of characters come running once they hear the music. It's pure, low-budget genius from veteran director Marc Klasfeld, who captures the Chili Peppers in all their SoCal glory.
Frontman Anthony Kiedis struts and preens against a backdrop of waves and assorted beach crazies. A blue-haired Flea bobs along nearby, while Chad Smith keeps time, occasionally banging on his cowbell as the song progresses. The video is also a great showcase for the band's newest member, 31-year-old Josh Klinghoffer, who replaced the group's beloved guitarist, John Frusciante, after he left (for the second time) in 2009.
While his bandmates exhibit strong, in-your-face personalities, Klinghoffer is endearingly sweet -- almost shy. You'll never catch him tearing off his shirt on stage, or wearing a tube sock on his privates -- something his colleagues were prone to doing in the late 80s.
"Not that I would refuse anything in a situation, because I'm open to most things," says Klinghoffer. "But there's no way that would happen. I draw the line at shirt removal."
"I'm With You," the Red Hot Chili Peppers' 10th studio album -- and first in five years -- hit retail outlets Monday, August 29.
CNN spoke with the three-time Grammy winners during a break in shooting their music video for "The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie" -- the first incarnation.
CNN: It's been five years since your last album, but that included a two year hiatus.
Flea: After the last tour, we had the privilege of taking a two year break, which was just outstanding!
I had the privilege of playing with great people (Patti Smith and Thom Yorke among them), going to college for a year and working on my music school (the Silverlake Conservatory of Music in Los Angeles). And now, having had all those other experiences, I'm feeling extra, extra superfragicalically excited to go do the Red Hot Chili Peppers thing.
CNN: Anthony, what were you up to during your break?
Anthony Kiedis: Writing songs, recording songs, surfing, chasing my son around, breathing. Strumming a ukulele. A little thing called life.
CNN: During your hiatus, did you ever think that the band wasn't going to get back together?
Chad Smith: I had thoughts that we might not continue, especially when John (guitarist John Frusciante) said, "You know what? I don't want to play anymore. I just want to do my own thing." We totally respect that. I'm very happy that he's happy and he's doing what he wants to do.
But there was a period where it was like, "OK, what are we going to do? Are we going to audition guitar players again? We've done that before. That was a nightmare."
We really didn't audition anyone. We just said, "Josh, come on down. Let's play." Josh is in our family. He's toured with us (Klinghoffer was the second guitarist on the last two legs of the band's "Stadium Arcadium" tour in 2007).
Kiedis: He's a drummer, a keyboard player, a bass player, a guitar player and a songwriter. And a damn good-looking chap.
CNN: I hear he took a week to tell you whether or not he wanted to be in the band.
Kiedis: I think it was closer to two, which was a good thing, a very good thing -- because he was thoughtful about it, and I don't think he wanted to join us for any of the wrong reasons.
Klinghoffer: It was a massive decision. It's a massive change of lifestyle.
I'd been working on a project that I'd formed for a while and had to consider all the angles of joining a band that was already established. They're a huge band. I'm not replacing in any way, but kind of stepping into the position that was held by one of my closest friends. An amazing person. All those things to think about. The first day we started playing, it just sort of musically made sense. I've known them for over 10 years, and I love 'em all, so it just sort of worked.
CNN: They didn't haze you too badly when you joined the band, did they?
Klinghoffer: No, no, no. People keep asking though, so don't give them any ideas.
CNN: Just how many guitarists have the Chili Peppers had over the years?
Smith: Let's see, how many guitar players. Hmm. (Strokes chin) You know the movie "Spinal Tap" -- the exploding drummer? It's a bit like that. I don't know. Five, six.
I've lost count, but we've been fortunate to have great musicians in our band. Each one has brought something special to the group and we're very grateful for that. This is a new chapter. It's the same name, but it's a different band.
Flea: Things sound a lot different. Sounds great. Sounds vibrant. It sounds alive. Sounds like it has a feeling of excitement, and exploration, and love, and warmth, and violence and explosion that you want in rock music.
CNN: What can fans expect to hear from the new album?
Kiedis: It's all new songs. We wrote songs that we love. We wrote a huge amount of songs and we whittled it down to our favorites, so hopefully there's a little something for everyone in there.
CNN: Josh took a couple of weeks to make a commitment to the band. Are you ever sorry you made that commitment?
Kiedis: No! What else am I going to do? You gotta pay for the surfboard somehow. I like writing songs, and I wouldn't really know who to write them with if not for my band. I like the commitment.
Flea: We're putting out the record, making new videos, doing the whole thing. We're just gearing up to rock the inner depths of the world on our tour.
CNN: Chili Peppers are back?
Flea: Chili Peppers never went away.
COMMENT wow red hot chili pepers amaizing ive never heard them in my life but i now them they must be really famous i heard that they are performing a new song well i didnt heard it but i think thats wats happening.
The video's director -- a petite 21-year-old underground rapper named Kreayshawn -- sat a few feet away, dwarfed by a bank of monitors.
"Some might think we were crazy to put all our faith in a 21-year-old girl who doesn't have very much experience at all for the first video on our first record in a number of years, but we just want to let her freak fly and let it happen," explained Flea, the band's celebrated bass player.
A month later, the video was scrapped. I found this out in true Hollywood fashion -- through my hairdresser, who works at a salon a few steps off the boardwalk on Venice Beach.
"Yeah, they were playing on the rooftop of the building next door, and all my friends were texting me to come down. It was like a free concert," she said incredulously.
Sure enough, the Red Hot Chili Peppers' official video for "Rain Dance Maggie" features the quartet performing high above the Venice boardwalk, while a colorful cast of characters come running once they hear the music. It's pure, low-budget genius from veteran director Marc Klasfeld, who captures the Chili Peppers in all their SoCal glory.
Frontman Anthony Kiedis struts and preens against a backdrop of waves and assorted beach crazies. A blue-haired Flea bobs along nearby, while Chad Smith keeps time, occasionally banging on his cowbell as the song progresses. The video is also a great showcase for the band's newest member, 31-year-old Josh Klinghoffer, who replaced the group's beloved guitarist, John Frusciante, after he left (for the second time) in 2009.
While his bandmates exhibit strong, in-your-face personalities, Klinghoffer is endearingly sweet -- almost shy. You'll never catch him tearing off his shirt on stage, or wearing a tube sock on his privates -- something his colleagues were prone to doing in the late 80s.
"Not that I would refuse anything in a situation, because I'm open to most things," says Klinghoffer. "But there's no way that would happen. I draw the line at shirt removal."
"I'm With You," the Red Hot Chili Peppers' 10th studio album -- and first in five years -- hit retail outlets Monday, August 29.
CNN spoke with the three-time Grammy winners during a break in shooting their music video for "The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie" -- the first incarnation.
CNN: It's been five years since your last album, but that included a two year hiatus.
Flea: After the last tour, we had the privilege of taking a two year break, which was just outstanding!
I had the privilege of playing with great people (Patti Smith and Thom Yorke among them), going to college for a year and working on my music school (the Silverlake Conservatory of Music in Los Angeles). And now, having had all those other experiences, I'm feeling extra, extra superfragicalically excited to go do the Red Hot Chili Peppers thing.
CNN: Anthony, what were you up to during your break?
Anthony Kiedis: Writing songs, recording songs, surfing, chasing my son around, breathing. Strumming a ukulele. A little thing called life.
CNN: During your hiatus, did you ever think that the band wasn't going to get back together?
Chad Smith: I had thoughts that we might not continue, especially when John (guitarist John Frusciante) said, "You know what? I don't want to play anymore. I just want to do my own thing." We totally respect that. I'm very happy that he's happy and he's doing what he wants to do.
But there was a period where it was like, "OK, what are we going to do? Are we going to audition guitar players again? We've done that before. That was a nightmare."
We really didn't audition anyone. We just said, "Josh, come on down. Let's play." Josh is in our family. He's toured with us (Klinghoffer was the second guitarist on the last two legs of the band's "Stadium Arcadium" tour in 2007).
Kiedis: He's a drummer, a keyboard player, a bass player, a guitar player and a songwriter. And a damn good-looking chap.
CNN: I hear he took a week to tell you whether or not he wanted to be in the band.
Kiedis: I think it was closer to two, which was a good thing, a very good thing -- because he was thoughtful about it, and I don't think he wanted to join us for any of the wrong reasons.
Klinghoffer: It was a massive decision. It's a massive change of lifestyle.
I'd been working on a project that I'd formed for a while and had to consider all the angles of joining a band that was already established. They're a huge band. I'm not replacing in any way, but kind of stepping into the position that was held by one of my closest friends. An amazing person. All those things to think about. The first day we started playing, it just sort of musically made sense. I've known them for over 10 years, and I love 'em all, so it just sort of worked.
CNN: They didn't haze you too badly when you joined the band, did they?
Klinghoffer: No, no, no. People keep asking though, so don't give them any ideas.
CNN: Just how many guitarists have the Chili Peppers had over the years?
Smith: Let's see, how many guitar players. Hmm. (Strokes chin) You know the movie "Spinal Tap" -- the exploding drummer? It's a bit like that. I don't know. Five, six.
I've lost count, but we've been fortunate to have great musicians in our band. Each one has brought something special to the group and we're very grateful for that. This is a new chapter. It's the same name, but it's a different band.
Flea: Things sound a lot different. Sounds great. Sounds vibrant. It sounds alive. Sounds like it has a feeling of excitement, and exploration, and love, and warmth, and violence and explosion that you want in rock music.
CNN: What can fans expect to hear from the new album?
Kiedis: It's all new songs. We wrote songs that we love. We wrote a huge amount of songs and we whittled it down to our favorites, so hopefully there's a little something for everyone in there.
CNN: Josh took a couple of weeks to make a commitment to the band. Are you ever sorry you made that commitment?
Kiedis: No! What else am I going to do? You gotta pay for the surfboard somehow. I like writing songs, and I wouldn't really know who to write them with if not for my band. I like the commitment.
Flea: We're putting out the record, making new videos, doing the whole thing. We're just gearing up to rock the inner depths of the world on our tour.
CNN: Chili Peppers are back?
Flea: Chili Peppers never went away.
COMMENT wow red hot chili pepers amaizing ive never heard them in my life but i now them they must be really famous i heard that they are performing a new song well i didnt heard it but i think thats wats happening.
(CNN) -- Fourteen of the 33 Chilean miners who were trapped underground for more than three months after a mine collapse in northern Chile will get lifetime pensions.
Chilean first lady Cecilia Morel met with the 14 miners Tuesday to deliver the news at a ceremony held in the town of Copiapo, near the site of the San Jose mine collapse.
Morel, who traveled to Copiapo on behalf of President Sebastian Pinera, said the miners will receive a monthly pension of 250,000 Chilean pesos, the equivalent of almost $540. The miners will receive this benefit for the rest of their lives.
"When the accident happened, we put all of the resources available to us to rescue you. We accompanied your families every moment and we could not abandon you to fate afterwards. This government is committed to be with you and help you as much as we can," Morel said in awarding the pensions.
The Chilean government chose the miners who will receive the lifetime pensions based on their health, age, and the opinion of the group of survivors, officials said.
The ceremony at the Atacama Regional Museum was also attended by Chilean Mining Minister Hernan de Solminihac. The minister said the government is also helping the miners who lost their job when the mine collapsed.
"Following the instructions of the president, we made a great effort to compensate more than 200 workers at the San Jose Mine so that they could receive this benefit before the first anniversary of the accident and we have fulfilled that commitment," Solminihac said.
Morel reflected on the ordeal that the miners have been through. "Now we see that they're all alive and well, but this trauma didn't happen in a vacuum. They became famous due to a disaster that is still negatively affecting them. That's why they need this help, which will be one more step towards their recovery," she said.
2010: Chilean miners named CNN Heroes RELATED TOPICS
Mining Accidents and Disasters
Chile
Copiapo
In spite of becoming famous after surviving the mine collapse, life hasn't been easy for the miners. Several are still unemployed. Others are surviving by selling fruits and vegetables on the streets of Copiapo, driving taxis or doing odd jobs. The most successful ones have gotten into public speaking, but the money and the opportunities are likely to dwindle as years go by.
Jorge Galleguillos, one of the survivors, said earlier this month that the good will from their country faded fast. "They love us more abroad. They congratulate us, they want to touch us and get a blessing from us. That's not the case in Chile. Only a few greet us with affection; many more say 'hi' with envy," Galleguillos said.
Galleguillos was one of four miners who traveled to Washington, D.C., in early August to open an exhibit about the mine collapse and subsequent rescue at the Smithsonian Institution.
Author Jonathan Franklin, who wrote a book about the miners called "33 Men" and who did extensive interviews with them, says recovery hasn't been easy.
Comment
They're taking lots of pills, they're heavily medicated. I think they really needed better psychological counseling and they feel best when they're together as a group. They might have differences. They fight over money sometimes but when they're together, they're like a band of brothers
Chilean first lady Cecilia Morel met with the 14 miners Tuesday to deliver the news at a ceremony held in the town of Copiapo, near the site of the San Jose mine collapse.
Morel, who traveled to Copiapo on behalf of President Sebastian Pinera, said the miners will receive a monthly pension of 250,000 Chilean pesos, the equivalent of almost $540. The miners will receive this benefit for the rest of their lives.
"When the accident happened, we put all of the resources available to us to rescue you. We accompanied your families every moment and we could not abandon you to fate afterwards. This government is committed to be with you and help you as much as we can," Morel said in awarding the pensions.
The Chilean government chose the miners who will receive the lifetime pensions based on their health, age, and the opinion of the group of survivors, officials said.
The ceremony at the Atacama Regional Museum was also attended by Chilean Mining Minister Hernan de Solminihac. The minister said the government is also helping the miners who lost their job when the mine collapsed.
"Following the instructions of the president, we made a great effort to compensate more than 200 workers at the San Jose Mine so that they could receive this benefit before the first anniversary of the accident and we have fulfilled that commitment," Solminihac said.
Morel reflected on the ordeal that the miners have been through. "Now we see that they're all alive and well, but this trauma didn't happen in a vacuum. They became famous due to a disaster that is still negatively affecting them. That's why they need this help, which will be one more step towards their recovery," she said.
2010: Chilean miners named CNN Heroes RELATED TOPICS
Mining Accidents and Disasters
Chile
Copiapo
In spite of becoming famous after surviving the mine collapse, life hasn't been easy for the miners. Several are still unemployed. Others are surviving by selling fruits and vegetables on the streets of Copiapo, driving taxis or doing odd jobs. The most successful ones have gotten into public speaking, but the money and the opportunities are likely to dwindle as years go by.
Jorge Galleguillos, one of the survivors, said earlier this month that the good will from their country faded fast. "They love us more abroad. They congratulate us, they want to touch us and get a blessing from us. That's not the case in Chile. Only a few greet us with affection; many more say 'hi' with envy," Galleguillos said.
Galleguillos was one of four miners who traveled to Washington, D.C., in early August to open an exhibit about the mine collapse and subsequent rescue at the Smithsonian Institution.
Author Jonathan Franklin, who wrote a book about the miners called "33 Men" and who did extensive interviews with them, says recovery hasn't been easy.
Comment
They're taking lots of pills, they're heavily medicated. I think they really needed better psychological counseling and they feel best when they're together as a group. They might have differences. They fight over money sometimes but when they're together, they're like a band of brothers
Facebook intends to launch its long-rumored music service next month with Spotify, MOG and Rdio as three of the company's launch partners, Mashable has learned.
The music and media platform will be announced at Facebook's f8 developer conference on September 22. It will allow users to listen to music from within Facebook.com. Evidence of Facebook's music platform first surfaced in the code of Facebook's video chat service.
According to two sources familiar with the matter, Facebook will not directly host or stream any music or media. Instead, it will rely on partners to provide the content. This is in contrast to Apple, Google and Amazon's strategy of hosting music content on their servers. Facebook's plan is to become a platform for media content in the same way it is a platform for applications and games.
One of our sources specifically mentioned three music services as launch partners: Spotify, Rdio and MOG. It's unclear whether Facebook has lined up other launch partners for its music platform or whether Facebook will open up its platform to other developers. One of our sources noted, however, that Facebook doesn't like playing favorites, so our bet is that Facebook will open up its music platform to other third-party developers.
We've also heard whispers that Facebook intends for this platform to go beyond music -- for example, it's possible that Netflix could stream movies through Facebook. However, we don't know if Facebook will go beyond the music platform announcement at f8.
i think that is very good that facebook is going to put out to market his own music platform. I think that many people would like to have this service , because facebook is a very good social network, and i think that this music service would be as good as facebook.
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