Latest news with #Birnbaum
New York Post
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Photographer revives iconic NYC album covers on Instagram
New York City's streets hide legendary rock 'n' roll moments you never knew were there — until Steve Birnbaum brings them back to life. The Big Apple-based photographer and filmmaker is the brain behind @TheBandWasHere — a viral project that resurrects iconic album covers right where they were shot decades ago. Birnbaum tracks down where famous band photos were snapped, then goes back to those exact spots to re-create the shots — album covers, promo pics, you name it. 9 Steve Birnbaum hunts down the exact spots where iconic photos were taken decades ago — then re-creates them today, like this homage to Don Hunstein's 1963 cover shot for 'The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan.' Olga Ginzburg for NY Post His feed is a roll call of NYC rock legends like the Strokes, Talking Heads, Blondie, Ramones, Bob Dylan, and Simon & Garfunkel — all brought back to life right where the magic originally happened. Think Bob Dylan strolling on the same chilly Greenwich Village sidewalk in 1963, or the Ramones posing outside that gritty East Village wall in 1976, all perfectly framed as they are today. But his collection doesn't stop there. He also has iconic images of the Notorious B.I.G., Bruce Springsteen, The Doors, Cyndi Lauper, Madonna, Taylor Swift and more. What excites Birnbaum most is reconnecting New Yorkers with the invisible soundtrack of their daily lives. 'It's crazy how much you walk the streets and go past things … so many of us walk by where Stevie Nicks once twirled or where Debbie Harry once stood … and don't even notice.' Birnbaum's nostalgia-powered hustle taps into our obsession with 'then-and-now' culture and that classic NYC pride to hold on to the past — especially the golden eras of music that helped define the city's identity. 9 Birnbaum has spent years sleuthing out legendary photo shoot spots — digging through old interviews, tour clues and Google Maps. Here, his re-creation of Patrick Morgan's 2007 shot of Amy Winehouse. Steve Birnbaum/@TheBandWasHere His feed — he counts Blondie's Chris Stein, Smashing Pumpkins' Billy Corgan and SZA as fans — is a living museum of rock 'n' roll history, proving that while skyscrapers sprout and neighborhoods morph, the soul of NYC music still lingers — if you know where to look. But don't mistake this for a quick snap-and-post hustle. Birnbaum calls himself 'a music historian' and makes it his ultimate priority to honor and credit each album cover's original photographer. He's spent years chasing down the exact locations of legendary photo shoots, piecing together clues from old interviews, concert tour dates and band itineraries and even scouring Google Maps for hours. 9 Birnbaum has spent years sleuthing out legendary photo shoot spots — digging through old interviews, tour clues and Google Maps — like for this re-creation of Danny Fields' 1977 Ramones cover for 'Rocket to Russia.' Olga Ginzburg for NY Post 'I do challenge myself and I try to find photos that would just be tough to do,' he said. He even studies the original photographer's angle and often finds himself crouching, contorting or lying on the ground to nail the shot. Birnbaum's journey began with personal memories — family albums and snapshots from his youth — but quickly evolved into a full-blown passion project after the seismic shift of 9/11. 'There was a cover of the Village Voice,' he recalls, 'where an artist photographer held up a picture of the World Trade Center just after the attacks. That inspired me artistically.' 9 Birnbaum's feed is a who's who of NYC rock legends — the Strokes, Talking Heads, Blondie and more — all resurrected where the magic first happened. Olga Ginzburg for NY Post What started as a quiet personal archive snowballed into a vibrant chronicle of pop culture and music history, all anchored to the very streets of New York. To uncover these sites, Birnbaum dives deep — and sometimes, a tiny detail can be the key. 'When I was looking for the original location for the shot of the Greatest Hits album from Simon & Garfunkel, I noticed Paul Simon was holding something that looked like an egg-shaped container for L'eggs pantyhose from the 1980s,' Birnbaum recalled. 'But it turned out to be my biggest clue to finding where Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel stood in the photo.' 9 Simon and Garfunkel's Greatest Hits album, released in 1972. Steve Birnbaum/@TheBandWasHere He said walking by an Upper East Side park 'triggered my memory.' 'He was holding onto part of a fence at 7 East 94th Street,' he said. 'I was able to track down the location, which I never thought would still be around. There wasn't a lot to go from, but it was that little piece and detail.' 9 Birnbaum studies every angle of the original shot — whether the photographer crouched, tilted or shot from below — and isn't afraid to contort, crouch or lie flat to get the perfect match. Olga Ginzburg for NY Post But often it's a mix of intuition and persistence, plus knowing and loving NYC's vast neighborhoods. 'You have to be crazy at this at times,' he laughed. 'New York's been tough.' The city's rapid transformation — from the Lower East Side to Chinatown to towering new developments — forms a bittersweet backdrop to his work. Each photograph captures a moment frozen in time, but many of those moments are fading as buildings vanish or get repurposed. 'As much as I love New York, it really has changed a lot in the last five, 10 years,' he said. 9 In a fast-changing, digital world, Birnbaum's work hits a nostalgic nerve — reviving the golden ages of music that shaped NYC's soul. Olga Ginzburg for NY Post His photos, often taken with his iPhone or DSLR camera, serve as time machines, revealing the unseen layers beneath the city's concrete and steel. For Birnbaum, that's the true joy of his work. 'I do consider myself a music historian in regard to the photographs,' he said, noting he's proud to preserve NYC's rich musical legacy — one photo, one street corner at a time. 9 Snapped mostly on his iPhone, Birnbaum's shots — like this 1981 Mick Jagger still from the filming of the Rolling Stones' 'Waiting on a Friend' video — act as time machines, peeling back the layers of NYC's concrete jungle. Steve Birnbaum/@TheBandWasHere 9 'It's crazy how much you walk the streets and go past things,' he said. Olga Ginzburg for NY Post It's also a reminder that no matter how much New York changes, its soul never fades. 'I want people to look up and say, 'Hey, I'm standing where music legends once stood,'' he said. 'That connection, that history, is so important.' 5 NYC locations for legendary albums Led Zeppelin: 'Physical Graffiti,' (1975), 96 St. Marks Place, New York, NY, 10003 Bob Dylan: 'The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan,' (1963), middle of Jones Street, 50 feet from West Fourth Street, New York, NY, 10014 Ramones: 'Rocket to Russia,' (1977), back alley off First Street behind John Varvatos (formerly CBGB), 315 Bowery, New York, NY 10003 Neil Young: 'After the Gold Rush,' (1970), northwest corner of Sullivan Street and West Third Street, New York, NY, 10012 Simon & Garfunkel: 'Greatest Hits' (1972), 7 E. 94th St., New York, NY, 10128
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump Lashes Out at Reporter Over Question About Putin ‘Disrespecting' Him
President Trump mocked a Washington Post reporter who asked him if he felt disrespected by Russia's Vladimir Putin. Speaking to journalists aboard Air Force One, Trump took exception to a question from the Post's White House reporter Michael Birnbaum. 'Is President Putin disrespecting you by attacking Ukraine when you're trying to make peace there?' Birnbaum asked. 'What did he do?' Trump asked in response. 'Well, he's attacked Ukraine,' Birnbaum answered. 'Is he disrespecting me?' Trump replied, before asking: 'Who are you with?' After Birnbaum identified himself as a Post reporter, Trump shook his head dismissively. 'You've lost a lot of credibility,' Trump said, before quickly moving on to take questions from others. Trump snubbed the question about Putin after attacks struck multiple parts of Ukraine over the weekend, killing 14 and injuring dozens more, according to Kyiv. A missile blitz on Saturday came hours after Trump said the Kremlin leader was 'doing what anybody would do.' One missile hit in Dobropillia in the eastern Donetsk region, destroying an apartment building. As emergency services rushed to the scene a second projectile hit. Eleven people were killed. Three more people died and seven were injured after a drone attack in the city of Bohodukhiv, in the Kharkiv region. Russian assaults on Ukrainian targets have picked up again after Trump temporarily pulled the plug on intelligence-sharing between Washington, D.C. and Kyiv. He also suspended military aid to Ukraine following his disastrous Oval Office meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. 'This is what happens when someone appeases barbarians,' Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk wrote in an X post after attacks over the weekend. 'More bombs, more aggression, more victims. Another tragic night in Ukraine.' Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to meet with Ukrainian officials in Saudi Arabia this week. Zelensky has said he has put 'realistic proposals on the table.' He too is expected in Riyadh Monday, officially, to meet crown prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
The Unexpected Tip That Helps With Arthritis, According to a Rheumatologist
If you're one of the 53.2 million adults in the U.S. living with arthritis (roughly one in five adults), you know first-hand how debilitating it can be. Playing the sports you love, walking up and down the stairs and even typing can all be painful, depending on where in your body you are experiencing joint pain. Due to the pain that arthritis can cause, the natural inclination can be to move as little as possible. But the reality is that being sedentary can make symptoms worse. , an associate professor of rheumatology at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and author of Living Well with Autoimmune Diseases: A Rheumatologist's Guide to Taking Charge of Your Health, says that one tip people with arthritis may not know is that movement is key. 🩺 SIGN UP for tips to stay healthy & fit with the top moves, clean eats, health trends & more delivered right to your inbox twice a week 💊 'In arthritis, exercise should be ideally incorporated as part of an integrated treatment plan,' Dr. Birnbaum says. He says that the type of exercise that can benefit someone with arthritis varies from person to person, depending on the type of arthritis they have and where they are experiencing pain. He adds that it should also be a type of exercise the person finds enjoyable. Before you start exercising, talk to your doctor about what type of exercise is best for you. Ever heard the phrase 'motion is lotion'? It means that movement acts as a lubricant for joints, which helps keep them flexible and prevents them from getting stiff. Movement increases the circulation of synovial fluid, which serves as a natural lubricant for the joints. Related: Dr. Birnbaum says that there are many different types of exercise programs for people with arthritis that include both aerobic exercise and strength training. For example, he explains that strengthening the thigh muscles helps alleviate pain associated with knee osteoarthritis. 'Walking can be an exercise program that provides aerobic fitness as well as providing opportunities for positive reflection and meditative thoughts,' Dr. Birnbaum says. He adds that other people might enjoy doing aerobic exercises in pools. 'The immersion into warmer water can be soothing and relaxing,' he says. Scientific research shows that aquatic exercises can be beneficial for people with osteoarthritis, helping to reduce pain. Related: If you have arthritis, Dr. Birnbaum says it's recommended to initially start exercising while being supervised by a physical therapist. 'This can ensure that exercise is performed in ways that provide maximal benefit. Physical therapists can also prescribe balance exercises that can help with osteoarthritis. Physical therapy is often done so that patients can ultimately feel more confident in designing exercise programs that they can eventually perform independently,' Dr. Birnbaum says. Related: While it's better to move your body than be sedentary, Dr. Birnbaum emphasizes that exercise should not feel painful. The saying 'no pain, no gain' does not apply here. Dr. Birnbaum explains that there is a difference between feeling sore and experiencing pain. 'During the initial stages of exercise, there might be some post-exercise soreness. This occurs due to deconditioned muscles and soreness can improve. However, if there is significant pain during an exercise, this is a warning response that the exercise is too intense or being performed [incorrectly],' he says. Avoiding doing exercise moves incorrectly is exactly why Dr. Birnbaum says it's recommended to work with a physical therapist when you start exercising. The physical therapist may recommend modifications to exercise moves to protect the joints and to avoid experiencing pain. If you have arthritis, talk to your doctor about working with a physical therapist so you can find ways to move your body without making your pain worse. With proper guidance and time, your symptoms are likely decrease more than if you're sedentary. Up Next: Dr. Julius Birnbaum, MD, MHS, associate professor of rheumatology at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and author of Living Well with Autoimmune Diseases: A Rheumatologist's Guide to Taking Charge of Your Health Arthritis. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Exploring Physical Activity and Arthritis. Arthritis Society Canada Effects of Aquatic Exercises for Patients with Osteoarthritis: Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis. Healthcare. 2022
Euronews
14-02-2025
- Business
- Euronews
Electricity firms demand new EU energy security plan at Munich conference
Soaring costs linked to rocketing gas prices after Russia's invasion of Ukraine and, more recently, suspected sabotage of undersea power lines have underlined the need for the EU to overhaul its decade-old European Energy Security Strategy, electricity companies have warned. 'With the threats faced by our sector, security of supply is becoming an urgent priority that policymakers and regulators must acknowledge,' president of the trade association Eurelectric Leonhard Birnbaum said today. Birnbaum was in Bavaria to present a study commissioned from consultancy Compass Lexecon as world leaders convened for the high-stakes Munich Security Conference against a backdrop of an incipient trade war and US moves to take control of negotiations with Russia to end its war of aggression. It was the first time the electricity sector has been present at the annual conference, Birnbaum said, with previous energy discussions having centred around oil and gas. 'We wanted to raise awareness that, actually, the critical carrier of energy in the future is electricity,' he said. 'We are just a small sideshow of the big geopolitical show,' added Birnbaum, who is CEO of the German electricity firm acknowledging that political discussions about the war on Ukraine were 'much more important'. 'Nevertheless, I think that just by being here and publishing the report in the context of the Munich security conference, we are able to elevate the acknowledgment that something needs to be done,' he said. As well as addressing the hybrid threat of physical attacks – meaning military action and sabotage – and cyberattacks, Eurelectric also reiterated the need to bolster power grids and increase flexibility of demand as more and more variable renewable generation capacity is brought online. 'I would argue that the cyberthreat is the more imminent threat for Europe than the physical threat,' Birnbaum told reporters. 'And hopefully that remains for quite a while.' The EU was already banking on a massive roll-out of wind and solar power as part of its strategy to reach net-zero emissions by 2050, and raised near-term deployment targets immediately after the Kremlin launched its all-out invasion and weaponised gas supplies. The European Commission is working on a plan to end all Russian fossil fuels imports by 2027, but a new energy security strategy was not listed in the 2025 work programme the Commission published this week. When contacted by Euronews, a spokesperson for the EU executive recalled that president Ursula von der Leyen had, however, addressed the issue in her mission letter to the EU's new energy commissioner Dan Jørgensen. The Danish commissioner has been tasked with adapting the current security framework to "the geopolitical context and the electrification of the EU's energy system" while paying "close attention to emerging risks, such as climate change impacts, cyber-attacks and critical infrastructure". The Eurelectric report also points to the issue of raw materials supply, which Brussels has already recognised in a Critical Raw Materials Act adopted last year. Growing trade tensions have added to the impetus to ensure supply chains of materials essential to the energy transition, notably the lithium used in car batteries. Renewables targets were raised in the EU's wartime plan to 'repower' the union, and call for a near doubling of deployed wind and solar by 2030. The industry association WindEurope warned this week that many European governments were still being too slow to grant planning permission to new wind farms, a problem the industry has long blamed for stalling deployment. 'Look how it's worked in Germany – they're now permitting seven times as much wind as five years ago,' the lobby group's CEO Giles Dickson said. 'And it's not cost money – they've just put three words 'overriding public interest' in their laws and made sure the courts apply them.' Eurelectric's Birnbaum was adamant the urgent need to bolster domestically produced energy would not mean a return to coal – the only fossil fuel that is abundant within the EU. 'It's just not going to happen – the economics and the innovation are clear,' he said. 'In the meantime, as long as we have them, those fossil [fuels] obviously provide resilience, but we will eventually be forced to have this resilience even without them.'
Bloomberg
14-02-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
European Energy Security Increasingly Threatened, EON CEO Says
The security of Europe's energy supply is more challenging than ever, EON SE Chief Executive Officer Leonhard Birnbaum said, pointing to attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure and cyber threats as examples. 'Energy, and power in particular, is being used as a weapon against us,' the German utility's Birnbaum said on a webinar on Friday as part of the Munich Security Conference. He mentioned the commercial weaponization of gas — with Russian flows to Europe being choked off — being followed by Moscow's attacks on Ukrainian energy facilities.
