The pop/rock duo made their first recording, "The Swell Season", in 2006. This was just after the release of the Frames' sixth CD, "The Cost". Hansard and Irglová also appeared as working-class immigrants in the popular Irish movie, "Once", which was shown at the Sundance Film Festival in 2007. The following year, they won an Oscar, the Academy Award for Best Song for the movie's hit single, "Falling Slowly,". Hansard became the first Irish-born person to win in that category. Irglová became the first Czech woman to win an Oscar, and at age 19, she is the youngest person to win an Oscar in a musical category.
The Swell Season became famous as a result. The soundtrack recording, "Once: Music from the Motion Picture" went gold in February 2008. They went on tour and performed to sold-out crowds in many countries.
During the tour, Hansard and Irglová began dating. Hansard said, "I had been falling in love with her for a long time, but I kept telling myself she's just a kid". Hansard and Irglová also recorded a version of Bob Dylan's "You Ain't Goin' Nowhere" for the movie "I'm Not There" in 2007. In 2009, Hansard said that he and Irglova were no longer romantically linked, and that they are now "good friends."
Hansard and Irglová performed the song live on the Oscar broadcast at Los Angeles' Kodak Theater on February 24, 2008. When they went on stage to receive their awards, her acceptance speech was stopped by the orchestra's music cue to leave the stage. Host Jon Stewart asked her back to deliver her speech following the commercial break. Ceremony director Gil Cates said the early cue was an accident.
She said:
“Hi everyone. I just want to thank you so much. This is such a big deal, not only for us, but for all other independent musicians and artists that spend most of their time struggling, and this, the fact that we’re standing here tonight, the fact that we’re able to hold this, it’s just the proof that no matter how far out your dreams are, it’s possible. And, you know, fair play to those who dare to dream and don’t give up. And this song was written from a perspective of hope, and hope at the end of the day connects us all, no matter how different we are. And so thank you so much, who helped us along way. Thank you.”
Ted Stevens
Theodore Fulton "Ted" Stevens, Sr. (November 18, 1923 – August 9, 2010) was a Republican U.S. Senator from Alaska. He served in the United States Senate for 40 years from 1968 to 2009. He was the 87th President Pro Tempore of the Senate from 2003–2007. For his services as president pro tempore, Senator Stevens was named as only the third President pro tempore emeritus of the United States Senate. Even by Senate standards, Stevens was extremely effective at getting billions of dollars in federal funds for Alaska. He was so effective at it he was nicknamed "uncle Ted". The airport in Anchorage, Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport was named after him in 2000. Stevens was born in Indianapolis. In 2010, Stevens died in a plane crash in Alaska at the age of 86.
Stevens was born on November 18, 1923 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
In World War II Stevens joined the US Army Air Corps as a pilot. He flew transport planes in China supporting the Flying Tigers. He was awarded two Distinguished Flying Crosses, two Air Medals and the Yun Hai Medal by the Republic of China.
After serving in the Second World War, he went into law in Fairbanks, Alaska where he became a US Attorney soon after. When Dwight Eisenhower was president, Stevens worked in the Interior and helped to make Alaska a state. In 1968 he was appointed to the Senate, where he served for the next forty years. While in the Senate he was known for taking action for his own state: preserving Alaskan wilderness areas, protecting fisheries, and building the Trans Alaska Pipeline. He also helped set up the US Olympic Committee. In 2008 he was charged with major crimes related to corruption days before his reelection, which he lost to Mark Begich. He planned on trying to get his Senate seat back after he the charges were dropped, but he died in a plane crash in the Alaskan wilderness in 2010.
Joy of Giving Week
The Joy of Giving Week (JGW), planned for Sept 27 - Oct 3, 2009 as a national movement, aims at engaging at least one crore Indians in different ""acts of giving"" - "money, time, resources and skills"- spanning the corporate, NGO and government sectors, schools, colleges and the general public. The idea is to create a ""festival of philanthropy"" that can, over the years, become a part of the Indian ethos, with the Week being celebrated every year covering Gandhi Jayanti. The Week is designed as a ""public platform"" and is being co-ordinated by GiveIndia, a non for profit organization whose mission is to promote "Giving". GiveIndia has earlier initiated public giving activities like the Mumbai and Delhi marathons and runs the largest Payroll Giving programme in the country across 40 companies.
The "Joy of Giving Week" was launched in Mumbai on June 3 in front of the media and was covered by 22 news channels and over 40 publications and a press meet was scheduled in Chennai on June 30. And soon, the campaign would launched before media in Hyderabad and various other cities.
Several corporates, celebrities and organisations have already finalized their efforts towards awareness, volunteering and fundraising events that they will organize during the "Joy of Giving Week".
A brief outline on some of the initiatives that are taking place during the Week.
Aloch
Aloch is a small town in Shangla District, of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. It is the capital of Puran Tehsil, which is one of the divisions of the district.
Chakesar
Chakesar is a town and tehsil of the Shangla District in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. It is situated on the banks of the Indus River. The inhabitants are primarily employed in agriculture. On October 8, 2006, the region was severely hit by an earthquake.It is the capital of Chakesar Tehsil, which is a division of the Shangla District.
Besham
Besham (also known as Besham Qala) is the largest town and commercial centre of the Shangla District in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. It is also the capital of Besham Tehsil.
Besham's shops are open 24 hours a day due to its location on the famous Silk route which connects Pakistan with China. Besham shops are famous for its china and international goods. In summer this small town is the centre of international and national holiday makers who use this route to visit the Northern areas of Pakistan. Besham has a few good hotels including PTDC Motel, Besham Continental Hotel, Hotel Paris and many more. People in this small town are friendly and hospitable. There is a civil hospital which was upgraded to the Tehsil level.
Alpuri Tehsil
Alpuri Tehsil is a tehsil in Shangla District, Pakistan. Its capital is Alpuri, which is also the district headquarters of Shangla.
Bhag
Bhag () is a city in Sibi District in the Balochistan province of Pakistan. The city is the capital of the tehsil of the same name (Bhag Tehsil), and has an altitude of 90 metres (298 feet).
Atlanta Chiefs
Atlanta Chiefs was a soccer club which played in the United States. It played first from 1967 until 1972. It was reformed in 1979 until it folded in 1981.
Kansas City Spurs
The Kansas City Spurs were a soccer club which played in United States from 1968 until 1970.
Rochester Lancers
Rochester Lancers was a soccer club. It was based in Rochester, New York, United States.
Dallas Tornado
Dallas Tornado was a soccer club which played in North American Soccer League.
New York Cosmos
New York Cosmos was a soccer team which played in United States. The team stoppped playing in 1985.
Philadelphia Atoms
Philadelphia Atoms is a soccer club which plays in the United States.
Los Angeles Aztecs
The Los Angeles Aztecs was a soccer club which played in United States.
Tampa Bay Rowdies