If you have not yet checked out the new Windows Live site, its now time.  Days ago Microsoft updated the site and its now more social than ever.  The new home page tells you what your friends are up to and shows you some headlines from the news.  The new profiles tell your friends what you’ve been up to and you can also add some your favorite things, for example you can add your favorite movies, music artists, and books.  Also, the new Windows Live Photos is a great place to store photos, with 25 Gb of storage.  In addition to all these great things on the web site, Microsoft has updated the Windows Live Essentials, which is a bundle of software that helps you manage your e-mail, photos, videos, your blog, and more.  I must say that the new Windows Live is great, but what I like the most is being able to access my Hotmail from Windows Live Mail, upload photos with the Windows Live Photo Gallery, and being able to post to my blog with the Windows Live Writer.  These tools are very helpful with managing my day to day activities on the internet.  I highly recommend to all my readers to check out the new site at http://home.live.com/!

Yesterday, I went to see Collective Soul and Live perform at the Congress Theater in Chicago on Milwaukee Street. This concert had to be one of the best shows that I have been to, ever! I had a little trouble at first because I wasn't able to print my ticket anywhere before the show. I finally did get in after they found my name on a list of people who bought tickets for the show. When I walked in there I wasn't thrilled with the fact that it was standing room only and it was very warm inside. However, I found a spot and waited for the show. When the opening act came out, I was fortunate enough to meet a couple of women who asked me who it was on stage. I didn't know but it turned out to be the former lead singer of Tonic.  Since I was by myself the women took me in as their fourth person and I hung with them and the guy they were with.  Meanwhile the guy from Tonic performed well and the few people that were paying attention applauded. When Collective Soul came on, the crowd got more and more packed in. The heat started to rise in the theater and before I knew it, I was in a constant state of sweating. Collective Soul delivered some of their best hits and the crowd and I were yelling and going crazy.  It was pure bliss.  After the lead singer from Collective Soul told everyone, "Tell your friends you saw Collective Soul", they left.  Even though my legs were tired of standing, I wanted more Rock N' Roll as I waited for the final performance, Live.  I thought at that point I had seen the best part of the night but then Live came on and continued what Collective Soul started.  Only by the time they came on, the crowd got even more packed and more crazy and the temperature in that theater only went up.  Live performed and I was very surprised how awesome they were.  I can definitely say that I am now a hard core Live fan!  Overall, the evening was packed with high energy, great music, a die-hard crowd, and the kind of heat that can only be enjoyed at great concert.  I highly recommend seeing these two if possible.  Great show!  Below is the only decent picture I was able to take all night with my camera phone of Ed Kowalczyk of Live.