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Building Rapport in Relationships
Rapport is about making a two-way connection between people. It is the foundation for any relationship. When it comes to building rapport, size doesn't matter. You can develop rapport on a one-to-one basis or with a group of thousands. Great leaders understand the value of rapport in persuading people to adopt their suggestions and in directing their behaviours. Follow these principles to establish rapport:
Seek connection. Get to know the other person. Take a genuine interest in her. Find out who she is and where she comes from. Uncover what she enjoys doing at work and at play. The more you know about someone – including background, attitudes and values – the more points you have for finding where you connect.
Reflect back what you observe. Notice how she breathes and match your pattern to hers. Pick up on the key words and favourite phrases she uses in her conversation and subtly build these into your own.
Pay attention to the way she likes to handle information. Is she a detail person or does she talk about the big picture? When you speak, replicate her patterns in yours. Adopt a similar stance to hers in your gestures, expressions and postures.
Give her the benefit of the doubt. Believe that whatever she intends to convey is for the good, even if her words and actions may not always seem to support this belief. By treating her as if her heart was in the right place, you're more likely to establish rapport than if you don't.
Treat the other person's resources with respect. Time, energy, favourite people and money are important to people.
Stay in the flow. Rapport is a process not a state. You may fall in and out of rapport several times during the course of a conversation or meeting. Indeed, you may want to break rapport at certain times such as when you have a task to complete, need to speak with someone else, or just want to end the conversation. But like switching on and off a light, you can reconnect whenever you need or want to.
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Before last night, thanks to the bankruptcy of Dutch bank DSB Bank, the U.S. men's speedskating team's 2010 Winter Olympics were thrown into question. Without DSB as a sponsor, how would Olympic athletes -- many of whom struggle financially until after the gold medals are won -- make the trip? How would the speedskaters compete? And without the skaters, how would the U.S. fulfill its patriotic and sort of silly biannual need to be the most-medaled Olympics country in the world?
Into this crevasse of uncertainty stepped a true American hero. His name? Stephen Colbert, who signed U.S. speedskating sponsorship papers live on his broadcast Monday night:
As you'll see in the video, Colbert invited speed skating legend Dan Jansen and U.S. speed skating director Bob Crowley onto the set, where he discussed the ramifications of the DSB sponsorship before offering to officially sponsor the speedskating team. With that, Crowley produced the papers, Colbert signed, and voila: Colbert Nation -- a fake place invented by a satirical right-wing television comedy show host -- will now have a sponsorship spot at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. Who said the American dream was dead?
Eamonn Brennan is a Chicago-based writer, editor and blogger. He is the editor of Yahoo! Sports's college basketball blog The Dagger and a contributor to Inside The Hall. Follow him at his personal site, eamonnbrennan.com, or on Twitter.

subset: commoncrawl


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The Cubs beat the Colorado Rockies 7-6 last night in exciting fashion, coming back twice, weathering a blown save from Kerry Wood and nailing down that always elusive 10,000 victory in franchise history.
Aramis Ramirez hit a two-run homer in the ninth to take a 6-5 lead, a homer that cost Rockies closer Manny Corpas his job. Kerry Wood got two outs in the bottom of the inning before the Rockies struck to level the match. But have no fear, Ryan Theriot drove home pinch runner Mike Fontenot in the 10th and Carlos Marmol kept the lid on the thing for the save. It's the kind of thrilling Rocky Mountain high that takes the edge of those 70,000 losses.
Today Jason Marquis goes against Aaron Cook from the perpetually sunny Denver a place that boasts 300 days of sunshine a year and a place that currently is under the threat of thunderstorms. Let's hope the rain stays away.
And as I mentioned, I'll try not to
, like WXRT's Lin Brehmer.
and liftoff. Let's go.
First inning
Mike Fontenot leads off against righty sinker-baller Aaron Cook as the Cubs go for seven straight. Fontenot singles to center to break up Cook's perfect game. Theriot gounds up the middle. The previously slumping Tulowitzki makes a diving stop, flips to Clint Barmes, who bare-hands it and throws to first all in one motion to turn quite the nifty double play. Derrek Lee grounds back to the pitcher to end the top half of the first.
Yes, "My Friend is at the Game" (lucky friend) on the message board, it looks like the sun is threatening to make an appearance at Coors Field. White Sox hero Scott Podsednik, Scotty Pods, leads off for the Rockies and gets ahead 3-0. Podsednik singles to left on a 3-1 pitch. Glenallen Hill in the first base coaching box for the Rockies, or, as Harry Caray used to call him "Glenallen Allen." Barmes pops out to Lee in foul ground. Todd Helton takes a strike and Podsednik steals second. Len Kasper says Podsednik is a perfect 4-for-4 on the year in stolen-base attempts, to which Amanda Kaschube, sitting a few desks away, replies, "He
perfect. Good call."
Helton bloops a single to right, driving home Podsednik with the game's first run.
Matt Holliday takes a called third strike on the inside corner. He disagrees with the call from home-plate umpire Ed Hickcox but doesn't hang around to argue. Garrett Atkins rips a double to the left-field gap. Felix Pie cuts it off to keep Helton from scoring. Lou Piniella's a-stirring in the Cubs dugout and is now consulting a big loose-leaf notebook. Brad Hawpe flies out to center and the Cubs and Marquis escape any further damage.
Rockies 1, Cubs 0
Second inning
Ramirez fouls a ball off his front shin and goes down. He's OK but then strikes out swinging and still looks to be in some pain as he walks back to the dugout. Kosuke Fukudome draws a walk. DeRosa walks, too. After two straight walks, Geovany Soto swings at the first two pitches and pops out to first.
Pie jumps on the first pitch hits it sharply off the second-baseman's glove and into shallow center; Fukudome hustles home from second to tie the game.
Marquis rolls out to first to end the top half, but the Cubs get their equalizer.
Cubs 1, Rockies 1
Tulowitzki pops out to Theriot behind second base. Catcher Chris Iannetta flies out to right. The pitcher Cook grounds a single up the middle. Podsednik bloops one to shallow left. Mark DeRosa makes a long run, lays out and nearly makes a great catch but the ground knocks the ball out of his glove and Podsednik ends up on second. Cook to third. Those guys will have to wait another day as Barmes flies out to right to end the second.
Cubs 1, Rockies 1
Third inning
Fontenot fouls off two pitches and then takes a called third. Brenly thinks the pitch was high. Theriot grounds out to short. Lee bounces out to Helton and the Cubs go down quietly and quickly.
Oh, please -- the Cubs will be flying a flag at Wrigley for the next week to commemorate that 10,000 victory. Helton flies out to Pie. Holliday lines one to left but right at DeRosa. Two balls and two strikes to Atkins and he ... fouls it back. Atkins eventually pops out to Soto near the first-base dugout.
Cubs 1, Rockies 1
Fourth inning
Ramirez grounds out to short on the first pitch. Fukudome drives it deep to left but not deep enough. Holliday gloves it. DeRosa strikes out swinging and this game is just flying by.
Marquis strikes out Hawpe swinging. Tulowitzki draws the first walk given up by Marquis. Iannetta bounces into a 4-6-3 double play, with much emphasis on the 3 as Derrek Lee digs the ball out of the dirt to complete the deal.
Cubs 1, Rockies 1
Fifth inning
Soto lines right at Holliday in left for the first out. Pie, the last guy in this game to get a hit, bunts for a hit but foul. Pie pops up near third and the shortstop Tulowitzki takes it away from the third baseman Atkins. Marquis bounces out to second and Cook's retired 10 straight.
Cook grounds out to short. One pitch, one out. Two young Cubs fans are asleep in the stands. I don't blame them. Not much action in this one. Podsednik reaches again on a single to right. Podsednik takes off for second and Barmes grounds out to short. The only play at first. Despite Podsednik's peskiness, Marquis gets out of it, striking out Helton swinging.
Is Marty Brennaman is on to something? A Cubs fan/reader from Denver reports some poor behavior from Cubs fans at last night's game:
"I was at the Cubs vs. Rockies game last night at Coors Field, and I was very disappointed at the behavior of the majority of Cub fans that I could see in my section. From the guy who was cursing loud enough for everyone within 15 seats to hear and turning around after the Cubs made a play to flip everyone off, or the other guy who refused to sit down from the fifth to seventh inning just to annoy everyone sitting behind him, or the guy who was taking a towel and snapping it at a group of girls who were not amused; it was a poor representation of Cubs fans last night. At least, I hope it was a poor representation.
Just had to get that off my chest."
From my experience this is a problem at all sporting events, not just those attended by Cubs fans. People in general are just obnoxious, especially when alcohol is involved.
Cubs 1, Rockies 1
Sixth inning
Fontenot breaks his bat lining out to second. Theriot strikes out swinging. Lee bounces out to third, Atkins to Helton. And Clint Hurdle could use some sunscreen.
More shots of children sleeping in the stands. What is this, a daycare center? Holliday draws a leadoff walk. Atkins hits it to th gap in right field where Fukudome runs it down. Hawpe takes a called third on an inside pitch and is just standing there in the box. Beat it, buddy. Tulowitzki flies to right and onward we go in this thrill a minute.
Cubs 1, Rockies 1
Seventh inning
They dusted off some Natalie Merchant song for the Fan Cam. Oh, wait, I get it: 10,000 Maniacs for 10,000 wins. Groan. I hope to never hear another word about the 10,000 win. Ramirez flies out to Amanda's boy, Scotty Pods, in center. Fukudome flies out to right. DeRosa chases a sinker away for strike three. Grab your gloves and hats and get back out there.
Iannetta leads off the seventh with a solo home run to left. A towering shot that just cleared the wall.
DeRosa thought he had a shot at it. Cook reaches with his second hit of the day, a scratch, check-swing single down the right-field line. Kevin Hart warms in the Cubs' pen. If Marquis doesn't get a call he takes about a 10-minute walk. Get on the mound. Podsednik bounces it back through the box off Marquis and right towards Ramirez, who makes a bare-handed pickup and throws out the runner. Cook takes second on the play. Barmes bounces out to Ramirez. Cook holds at second. Helton grounds to Fontenot on the outfield grass to end the eighth.
Rockies 2, Cubs 1
Eighth inning
I'm thinking Ronny Cedeno can sort this one out. Plus, the Rockies are 6-5 leading after the seventh, as we saw last night. Soto lines the first pitch into left for a leadoff single. Here's Cedeno to pinch run. C'mon, Lou, let the man hit. Pie singles to center. Cedeno had to hold up and couldn't take third. Two pitches, two hits. Daryle Ward will hit for Marquis and will not bunt. He takes ball one outside and two and three. Three balls. Ball four was called a strike by Ed Hickox. That looked low from my vantage point, a 1,000 miles away and watching on an old TV. Full count pitch is way outside and the bases are loaded. Fontenot fouls off the first pitch. Fouls off the second pitch.
He bounces to second. Ward is forced at second, Fontenot beats the relay throw to first and Cedeno scores to tie it up.
Pie at third, Fontenot at first and one out for Theriot. Theriot lines right at Helton, who steps on first for the double play.
Cubs 2, Rockies 2
Kevin Hart on to pitch for the Cubs. Henry Blanco will catch him and hit ninth. Cedeno will play second. Holliday hits it to the right-field gap and hustles into second with a double. Atkins grounds out to short; Holliday, running on the crack of the bat, gets to third. The Cubs will walk Hawpe and take their chances with Tulowitzki, who had been struggling but hit a three-run bomb last night.
Tulowitzski hits a tailor-made DP ball to second. Theriot drops Cedeno's flip and everyone's safe. The go-ahead run scores.
Runners on first and second for Iannetta. WGN's little graphic says runners on second and third. I had a minor profanity-laced panic attack there, wondering what just happened and what I missed. Iannetta fans. Ryan Spilborghs hits for Cook.
Spillborghs rips one past Ramirez to score Hawpe.
Podsednik grounds out to first to end this.
Rockies 4, Cubs 2
Old and new Rockies closer Brian Fuentes enters the fray. Lee sends it deep to right where Hawpe grabs it on the run and crashes into the wall. Looks like he twisted his ankle on the padding at the base of the wall. Walk it off. After some attention from the trainer, Hawpe's going to stay in the game. Ramirez strikes out and nails the catcher's arm with his backswing. The Cubs are going down in the ninth but taking out the Rockies in the process, one by one. Fukudome chases three pitches out of the zone and this one's over.
Final: Rockies 4, Cubs 2
That's loss No. 9,466 for the Cubs, a rather mundane get-away day affair in Denver. More importantly, this year they're 15-7 and on their way to the nation's capital. Thanks for reading everyone. See ya.


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More than 1,200MW of wind power capacity was installed in the United States in the third quarter of 2011 alone, bringing new installations through the first three quarters of the year to 3,360MW, according to the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA). The U.S. wind industry now totals 43,461MW of cumulative wind capacity through the end of September 2011. Of this total, more than 35% of all new generating capacity has been installed within the past four years.
"Within the international standards, the prescribed design life is 20 years," says Mike Derby, land-based R&D team lead (acting), Wind and Water Power Program, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). "Certainly, there are some that are older than that."
According to Derby, the first wind turbines, ranging from 40kW to 100kW, were installed in the early 1980s. "Modern large, utility-scale wind turbines for commercial production of electric power are considerably younger than those turbines," he says. "The latest generation started being deployed in the mid-2000s."
Annual operations and maintenance (O&M) costs for wind turbines, which include insurance, regular maintenance, repair, spare parts, and administration, are estimated between 3% to 5% of the total cost of installation (click here to see Fig. 1). A different estimate indicates that costs equal 20% to 25% of the cost per kilowatt hour produced over the 20-year lifetime of the turbine. If the turbine is still relatively new, the costs are estimated to reach between 10% to 15%; however, this percentage may increase to at least 20% to 35% by the end of the turbine's life cycle. Costs for repair and spare parts, in particular, increase as the turbine ages. According to the "2010 Wind Technologies Market Report," released in June 2011 by the DOE and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, "Despite limited data availability, it appears that projects installed more recently have, on average, incurred lower O&M costs than older projects in their first several years of operation, and that O&M costs increase as projects age."
Performance Data
Many of the same processes used to reduce O&M costs in industrial plants apply to wind power projects. However, the variable environments of both inland and off-shore wind turbine locations, as well as the height of the turbines themselves, pose unique challenges. On October 31, Sandia National Laboratories released the first findings from its Continuous Reliability Enhancement for Wind (CREW) database. Although the data is considered "directional" rather than "actionable" because of its small sample size — current data covers three seasons and 58,000 turbine-days of data of wind turbines at or above 1MW in size — the dataset provides a "useful initial view of the U.S. fleet's operational and reliability performance."
Among the goals of the project are to benchmark reliability performance, identify technology improvement opportunities, and enable O&M cost reductions. "The data from the CREW database is expected to go to the owner/operators primarily," says Derby. "It's the same model that's used for the gas turbine industry and other power generation."
According to Derby, plants report their reliability statistics in return for specialized reports about how they're doing relative to other generators.
Notwithstanding 19,000 turbine-days of unknown time, attributable to the pilot status of the program and associated beta time, the wind farms reported overall performance in line with expectations. Operational availability, which includes a generating factor of 78.5% plus a reserve shutdown of 16.3%, totals 94.8%, and capacity factor equals 33.4% (click here to see Fig. 2). On a national basis, according to the 2010 Wind Technologies Market Report, the average operating capacity, or capacity factor, for wind projects has grown steadily over the past 30 years to reach a 34% capacity factor in 2010.
Reported downtime includes unscheduled maintenance at 3% and forced outage/unavailability at 1.8%. Scheduled maintenance accounts for 0.5%. "There are really two categories — planned maintenance and unplanned events," says Derby.
Newly installed wind turbines fall under manufacturer warranties, so the manufacturer specifies required service and maintenance. In addition, next year, AWEA will publish its Operations and Maintenance Recommended Practices Manual, which will be distributed to its members and made available for sale in its online store.
Generally, the entire wind system, including the tower, storage devices, and wiring, should be inspected at least once a year. Routine maintenance also includes: changing the gear oil, coolants, seals, brake pads, and filters; greasing the bearings; adjusting sensors and actuators; and visually inspecting the blades, tower, and electrical connections. Although the turbines have a life expectancy of 20 years, many of their components do not. Preventive maintenance includes the replacement or refurbishment of these components.
Unplanned stoppages requiring maintenance, according to Derby, occur under fault conditions. "If you have some kind of a failure in the system — for instance, a bearing failure or maybe a gear tooth breaks — that's an example of unplanned maintenance," he explains.
In addition, condition monitoring is emerging in the wind industry. This method, which uses high-tech multiple sensors in the turbine, massive data collection, and sophisticated analysis to track the condition of individual turbine components, is already being used in more mature energy generation industries, such as oil and gas, coal, and nuclear. It has also been used in industrial applications in the aircraft, military, and processing sectors. In recent years, more sophisticated online monitoring systems have been introduced to wind turbines, the most common of which are vibration monitors and fluid contamination monitors. "Condition monitoring is typically done in large power plants where you only have one system serving an entire 100MW plant versus a 100MW wind system that would require 50 such systems that have to be monitored in order to determine if the turbine components are operating properly," says John Dunlop, senior technical programs manager, AWEA.
Studies by the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) indicate a 47% reduction in overall maintenance costs when using predictive maintenance techniques. When deciding to use any of these condition monitoring systems, however, an end-user should consider the cost of installing and commissioning these systems versus the usefulness of the information.
According to Andy Milburn, gear and bearing consultant, Milburn Engineering, Inc., Seattle, data collection can lead to data overload. "There are so many sensors on the gearboxes and the turbines themselves that owners and operators are getting too much information," he says. "There's so much information that they're ignoring it. It's hard for them to pick out what's important and what's not. There's good information in there, but it's not being disseminated in a way that people can handle."
Inside the Box
Within the wind energy system, certain components may require more critical O&M care than others. Individual components are known to be more prone to failure, are essential to turbine operation, or are more expensive or time-consuming to repair. Although there are variations among components by manufacturer, configuration, and operating environment, certain items, such as generators, power converters, and gearboxes, have been singled out as failure prone by particular studies.
Excluding "other," the CREW findings list the top three contributors to turbine unavailability as rotor/blades, electric generator, and balance of plant (BOP), as shown in Fig. 3 (click here to see Fig. 3). Surprisingly, in this study, the gearbox failures, which, in other studies, are estimated to cause 30% of wind farm O&M costs, don't rate in the top five.
A separate study conducted by the German Wind Energy Measurement Programme tracked the performance of around 1,500 wind turbines in Germany for 10 years (1997 to 2006). The German study's findings pointed to electrical equipment as the cause of most stoppages, with approximately 5.5 incidents every 10 machine-years (click here to see Fig. 4). However, these problems are resolved fairly quickly, and the turbines are back online in less than two days. In the same study, gearboxes account for only about 1.5 incidents every 10 machine-years, but the outage time logs in at more than six days.
A smaller but more recent database from the agricultural commission of Schleswig Holstein, Germany, which tracked 5,800 turbine-years, indicates similar failure rates for the various components, but significantly longer outage periods per failure. In the case of gearboxes, the average outage period was 14 days.
To address the perceived problems with gearbox reliability, in 2009, the DOE launched its Gearbox Reliability Collaborative (GRC). The department designed and conducted field and dynamometer tests to evaluate, validate, and develop gearbox analytical tools and models. The effort also established a database of gearbox failures. "We engineered a gearbox so that the DOE owned the intellectual property for that and instrumented it so we could try to understand what was happening to the inside of a gearbox as it was being loaded," says Derby.
Although the newer gearboxes don't yet match the 20-year lifespan of turbines in general, there have been some technological advances made that improve their reliability. However, there are still reasons for gearbox failures specific to wind turbines (see The Gearbox Problem).
"They're doing better than they were in the past, but the longevity at this point is unknown for the newer turbines," says Milburn, who has been working with gears for 35 years, the last 10 of which have been focused on gearboxes in wind turbines. "Right now, bearings are the biggest problem. In the old days, they had lots of gear problems, but those have mostly been solved. Now, they're more application problems. The bearings are being exposed to loads and conditions that no one has seen before."
According to Milburn, the most common problem with gearboxes in wind turbines is bearing inner race axial cracks (Photo 1). Problems with micropitting, surface temper (Photo 2), and inclusions on the gear tooth are also still occurring on megawatt-size turbines.
As an example of engineering away a problem, recent turbine designs have eliminated the gearbox by using a low-speed, large-diameter synchronous generator. However, results of studies of the performance of these direct-drive turbines are mixed. The Dutch Offshore Wind Energy Concepts (DOWEC) study compared projected reliability for six design strategies for 5MW machines and found that the failure rates will increase by approximately 20% for innovative variable-speed and direct-drive designs. Northern Power Systems, in its design study for an innovative direct drive wind turbine, concluded that unscheduled maintenance costs will decrease by 60% with their design because of the elimination of the gearbox.
Help Wanted
Until all failures in wind systems can be engineered away, there will be a need for wind turbine technicians. There are no technical or physical barriers for wind to supply at least 20% of U.S. electricity by 2030, according to the DOE; therefore, the organization estimates there will be 80,000 O&M jobs by that year. As the latest generation of wind turbines is launched, the skills required of maintenance technicians will increase in scope, particularly in the areas of diagnostic, control, and power electronic systems.
Currently, the North American Board of Certified Energy Professionals (NABCEP) does not offer certification on systems larger than 100kW. "It evaluates the skills of individual workers and typically has been focused primarily on small turbine installations," says Dunlop.
However, many additional programs are available. Most turbine manufacturers, for example, offer comprehensive training for their own technicians as well for the site owner's personnel. In addition, AWEA directs a program that offers its Seal of Approval to technical training programs. "Our approach, with the cooperation from the training institutions across America, looks at the programs themselves," says Dunlop. "The Seal of Approval program is based on skills that were extracted from our operators. We pushed them pretty hard to provide us with the minimum skills that they would expect a graduate of a technician training program to have. It addresses all of the aspects of how those skills are taught, in the classroom as well as the hands-on portion."
Medford, Ore.-based wind systems service provider UpWind Solutions offers its 170 technicians a combination of manufacturer-provided and independent training. "We've got technicians that have been through the electrical training programs," says Guy Dees, director of operations at the firm's Sweetwater, Texas-based operations office. "Other technicians have gone through technology schools — one-year or associate's degrees."
In addition, the firm employs veteran technicians, with equal or more experience than Dees, who has been involved with wind energy since 1998 and with UpWind Solutions since 2008.
The company provides full-service O&M for utility-scale wind projects. "To make the projects work, especially sites in remote areas, we bring on promising individuals from local areas and provide them with OEM training or different types of industry training that's available out there," says Dees. "Our technicians work on everything from BOP to major component replacement and everything in between."
Therefore, most of the company's projects are long term. "We work on day-to-day maintenance activities, preventive maintenance, and troubleshooting," says Dees. "Our technicians travel across the United States and do everything from catching up on maintenance schedules to large-scale retrofits. It just depends on the location and the work warranted."
These long-term contracts make the work "recession proof," according to Dees. Despite the recent lull in new installation, particularly in 2010, UpWind Solutions remains busy. "Our business is not tied to development or construction of new turbines," says Dees. "Our business is all about operations, and we're still operating the turbines that were installed during the heyday."
SIDEBAR:The Gearbox Problem
According to Andy Milburn, gear and bearing consultant, Milburn Engineering, Inc., Seattle, gearboxes in wind turbines are prone to failures stemming from their application in wind energy systems. The following are the most common problems:
Highly variable load and speed: Wind is an intermittent energy source. It alternates between gusting and still. Therefore, the load that these gearboxes are trying to transmit is a lot more variable than it is in a plant operation. "There are some applications where the load in plants is pretty variable," says Milburn. "But I think wind turbines are probably the worst of the lot."
Low gearbox safety factors: The drive system in wind turbines is designed to be compact. "They try to make things as small as they can, so that means the safety factors that they're using are low compared to a typical industrial application where they don't have to be too concerned about weight," says Milburn.
Flexible foundation: Typically, a plant gearbox and motor are mounted on a large concrete foundation or a steel structure that's bolted to a concrete foundation. "Up in the nacelle, we don't have that luxury," says Milburn. "The nacelle is flexing and the rotor itself is causing lots of loads in the whole structure. This causes misalignment between the generator and the gearbox."
Periods of no rotation: The gearboxes operate only around 30% of the time, so they are often idle. "Most rotating machinery doesn't like to sit at rest," says Milburn. "They run into problems with lubrication then."
Operating as a speed increaser: Wind system gearboxes operate as a speed increaser instead of a speed reducer. "Most gearbox applications use a high-speed motor that drives something that's turning slower," says Milburn. "In this case, you're taking the blade that's rotating slowly, and you're increasing the speed up to the generator speed. So that has some affect on things in terms of lubrication."
Extreme operating environment: The turbines have to operate in extremely cold or extremely hot settings. Although the gearbox is in a nacelle and protected from rain it can still be subjected to extreme temperatures.
High operating temperature: Manufacturers are resistant to adding large radiators to wind turbines. "They allow these gearboxes to run pretty hot, and that means the oil viscosity gets low," says Milburn. "When they're rotating slowly, you don't get a thick oil film between bearings and gears, so you get metal-to-metal contact — and that's a problem."
Design details: Design flaws may cause failures, even if they occur slowly over time.


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[WARNING: This story contains spoilers for the ending of The Dark Knight Rises.]
In case you haven't heard, Joseph Gordon-Levitt - who will, to a certain generation, forever be remembered as that kid from Disney's Angels in the Outfield - is on his way to becoming one of Hollywood's most in-demand leading men. This summer's The Dark Knight Rises, however, marks the most high-profile role of his career thus far.
By the film's end, his role as Gotham City cop John Blake is revealed to be Christopher Nolan's version of Robin (as was rumored beforehand). Having faked his death, Bruce Wayne bequeaths the coordinates of the Bat Cave to Blake, who is literally rising in the film's final shot (hence the Dark Knight rises). Therefore, all signs indicate - in Nolan's take on the Batman mythology, at least - that Blake is the heir apparent to Batman's role as Gotham's protector.
Making an appearance on ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live, the star addressed rumors that he might reprise his role in a potential sequel. Here's what he had to say:
"I don't think [the ending of 'The Dark Knight Rises'] is necessarily a set-up. I think it is the great ending for that trilogy. Even if you go back to 'Batman Begins,' he's talking about how Batman is more than a man, it's a symbol, and a hero can be anybody and we all have heroes inside of us."
Gordon-Levitt also recently told The Hollywood Reporter that he had "no idea" where the Batman franchise would go from this point but revealed that his criteria for choosing future projects would remain unchanged.
"I always choose scripts the same way. If it's a great script and a great filmmaker, then I'm interested."
The above comments may not be definitive regarding the star's future involvement in the Batman series, but Gordon-Levitt does indicate that he would entertain the possibility of donning the cape and cowl if Warner Bros. manages to secure a filmmaker of Christopher Nolan's caliber to continue the story from The Dark Knight Rises.
There's little doubt that the actor - who has turned in memorable performances in films like Brick, (500) Days of Summer, Inception and 50/50 - is up to the task of carrying a Batman film. Gordon-Levitt's star is continually on the rise, with both Premium Rush and Looper due for release within the next few weeks. It seems inevitable that some studio will hand him the lead in his own franchise. After all, Jeremy Renner currently has high-profile roles in three.
The question remains - what does Warner Bros. have in mind for their DC universe? With recent rumors that Ben Affleck is in talks to helm Justice Leauge, the studio is clearly keen on competing with Marvel's movie universe (which just secured Joss Whedon to a three-year contract), and Batman is a critical part of that (along with Man of Steel's Superman). Given the way Nolan ended his trilogy, the studio could either reboot the Batman franchise or find someone to move ahead with Nolan's vision. In any either case, they need to decide sooner rather than later if Justice League is to move forward. Keeping Gordon-Levitt onboard may be a wise move, considering the phenomenal success of Nolan's trilogy, but attracting the talent involved could be tricky. Plus, there's the question of whether or not audiences would ultimately want to see a Justice League film without Bruce Wayne.
Do you think Warner Bros. should try to keep the continuity of Nolan's Batman films in play (with Blake in the Batsuit), or is it time to bring another filmmaker's vision of Gotham City to life and re-introduce Bruce Wayne? Let us know in the comments.
Premium Rush hits theaters August 24th, 2012, followed by Looper on September 28th.
Sources: Jimmy Kimmel Live & The Hollywood Reporter


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|Pediatric Updates: Acute Care Rx: Infections, Sedation, and More
From Staph to snakebites, this targeted module covers common topics such as antibiotics, sedation, and analgesia, plus a variety of unique topics to keep you informed:
-Antibiotics: antimicrobials for staph infections, dosing guidelines for vancomycin, and outcomes of early transition from parenteral to enteral antibiotics for complicated infections.
-Sedation & Analgesia: pharmacogenetics of codeine use in sickle cell disease, perioperative pain management after spinal surgery, and dexmedetomidine for procedural sedation.
-And More: anticoagulation, antidotes/toxicology, medication interactions with anti-epileptics, antihypertensives for pulmonary hypertension, and new snake antivenoms.
$85.00 - Learn more & order: Pediatric Updates: Acute Care Rx: Infections, Sedation, and More
|Pediatric Updates: Acute Care: Clinical Cross-Section 2019
Slice through a wide variety of pediatric acute care topics and age ranges in a single module with evidence-based content that includes: community-acquired pneumonia, sepsis, stroke, Kawasaki disease, rhythm disturbance, ECMO, tube feeding, refeeding syndrome, abdominal compartment syndrome, pneumothorax and pleural effusions, testicular and ovarian torsion, sexual assault, and forgoing life-sustaining medical treatment.
$85.00 - Learn more & order: Pediatric Updates: Acute Care: Clinical Cross-Section 2019
|Pediatric Updates: Acute Care: Musculoskeletal
Make no bones about it: this focused module offers acute care providers some of the best in current musculoskeletal literature! Grow your knowledge with topics like bone and joint infections, dislocations, fractures, malignancies, compartment syndrome, and complications following surgical treatment for idiopathic scoliosis.
$85.00 - Learn more & order: Pediatric Updates: Acute Care: Musculoskeletal
|Pediatric Updates: Pharmacology: 2018 Current Concepts
Stay current on prevention and management of a variety of pediatric conditions, as well as the latest recommendations for antimicrobial stewardship. Topics include the effects of obesity on pharmacokinetics and medication dosing, management of neonatal infections, headaches, allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis, antibiotic and vaccine allergy, recurrent skin and soft tissue infections, adolescent contraception, and maternal medication use with breastfeeding.
$85.00 - Learn more & order: Pediatric Updates: Pharmacology: 2018 Current Concepts
|Pediatric Updates: Pharmacology: 2019 Current Concepts
This pharmacology module includes broad range of topics including medication safety, antibiotic stewardship, herbal/complementary treatments for GI complaints, epinephrine for treatment of anaphylaxis, hypertriglyceridemia, and oral contraceptives. Other areas of interest include updated recommendations for the Hepatitis B, mumps, and human papillomavirus vaccines as well as infectious disease topics including pharmacotherapy for staphylococcal infections and prescription of fluoroquinolones.
$85.00 - Learn more & order: Pediatric Updates: Pharmacology: 2019 Current Concepts
|Pediatric Updates: Pharmacology: Abused and Controlled Substances
From neonates to teens, from primary to acute care, this module explores a variety of abused and controlled substances to benefit APRN learning and support patients and families. You'll learn about a wide range of topics, including neonatal abstinence syndrome, opioids, cannabis, and hallucinogen use disorders, stimulant abuse, inhalants, poisoning, and more.
$85.00 - Learn more & order: Pediatric Updates: Pharmacology: Abused and Controlled Substances
|Pediatric Updates: Pharmacology: Psychopharmacology: 2nd Edition
All new content! Use PNCB's follow-up to our bestselling psychopharmacology module to strengthen and expand your knowledge. This module is supported by a respected AAP text (purchased separately with a discount) that offers practical guidance for prescribing and/or monitoring psychopharmacotherapy for children and adolescents. Module topics include ADHD, depression, OCD, anxiety-related disorders, autism, and more. Contraindications, U.S. boxed warnings, adverse effects, drug-drug interactions, toxicities of different agents, and off-label use of select medications are addressed.
Note: The reference for this module is a single textbook, Pediatric Psychopharmacology for Primary Care, sold separately by AAP. It is not included with this reduced price module, and you will receive a discount (off of non-member price) when purchasing the textbook. The questions are not linked to peer-reviewed articles as in other PNCB modules. Click on 'Learn More' below for additional information.
$35.00 - Learn more & order: Pediatric Updates: Pharmacology: Psychopharmacology: 2nd Edition
|Pediatric Updates: Primary Care: 2018 Current Concepts
Refresh and expand your knowledge on current management for this collection of health concerns spanning infancy through adolescence. Topics include syncope, vaccine hesitancy, gastroesophageal reflux, acne, sleep disorders, violence, self-injury, and ADHD in adolescence, as well as safe sleep and skin-to-skin care in healthy term infants.
$85.00 - Learn more & order: Pediatric Updates: Primary Care: 2018 Current Concepts
|Pediatric Updates: Primary Care: 2019 Current Concepts
This wide-reaching module brings you recent respected articles for issues seen in primary care settings. Get an update on risk reduction for sudden infant death, transgender issues, supporting the grieving child and family, chronic/recurrent abdominal pain, enterovirus infections, community acquired pneumonia, meningococcal disease, hepatitis A, B, and C, Marfan syndrome, deformational plagiocephaly, primary care for children with CHD, and precepting NP students.
$85.00 - Learn more & order: Pediatric Updates: Primary Care: 2019 Current Concepts
|Pediatric Updates: Primary Care: Newborn Care and Derm Hot Topics
Babies, breastfeeding, bed bugs and more! This module zeroes in on two key areas of primary care: general newborn care and frequent dermatology concerns. Learn more about newborn topics including hip dysplasia, skin-to-skin care, safe sleep, SIDS, umbilical cord care, birth injuries, group B strep infections, and fostering a breastfeeding-friendly office practice. Dermatology topics include infantile hemangiomas, melanocytic nevi, tattooing and piercing, atopic dermatitis, bed bugs, and pediatric cellulitis.
$85.00 - Learn more & order: Pediatric Updates: Primary Care: Newborn Care and Derm Hot Topics
|Pediatric Updates: Primary Care: Procedures
Whether you perform these procedures or want to expand your knowledge for providing pre-procedural education or post-procedural follow-up care, this module covers a range of procedures performed in a variety of pediatric outpatient settings. Topics include legal and professional considerations, wound care, skin closure techniques, management of musculoskeletal injuries, eye examination, foreign body removal (from ears, nose, eye), tympanometry, cerumen removal, epistaxis, tooth avulsion, and more.
$85.00 - Learn more & order: Pediatric Updates: Primary Care: Procedures


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Off topic chat. Pull up a chair.
Forum Game : Take a word, leave a word
What iOS games are you playing right now?
The U.S Tax System explained w/simplicity
NFL Discussion thread
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Adobe Photoshop App Now Available for iPhone
If there's ever been a more necessary place for good photo-editing, it's probably for cell phone camera pictures, which almost always need improvement. Adobe plans to help with its new Photoshop.com for Mobile app for the iPhone, which became available today.
The free app lets iPhone users adjust the pictures on their camera roll with relative ease. What you can do with the app is limited compared with full-featured Photoshop, but the average user who wants to crop, rotate, or change the exposure on iPhone photos will find something to like here. When you're done editing, you can save the photos on your iPhone or upload them to your account at Photoshop.com.
Photoshop.com for Mobile certainly isn't the first photo-editing app for the iPhone, as notable apps PhotoForge and EffectsLab came before it. But, the Photoshop brand is a trusted one that will attract numerous downloads--especially because the app is free. Here's the iTunes Store link.


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Telling the dyno what gear ratio you happen to be in is not going to change the measured tq. There is not even a correct way to calculate drivetrain loss accurately. We have the ability to enter the gear ratio, but this is only used to generate a tach signal on diesels, or cars that are a pain to get an accurate rpm pickup from the usual methods. I am only intimately familiar with the dyno we have, but I know it is not possible to calculate real-world hp/tq from whp by knowing the gear ratio of the transmission. It would be like saying "FWD drive cars have 10% drivetrain loss" which is not always true especially between different car manufactures. If there is in fact dyno software that will manipulate the measured tq. and correct it based on a ratio input from the operator, it would be at best a very rough estimate.
Modified by Dubmekanik at 3:05 AM 10-19-2009


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Anyone with a love of history would be hard pressed to find a better holiday destination than the city of York. With wonderful architecture amongst the cobbled streets, the opportunity of a boat trip on the River Ouse and museums for rainy days, there is no shortage of attractions in York. A popular city, however, is usually an expensive one, so why not consider renting a spacious apartment or a townhouse? Rental properties are cheaper than hotels, and you and your family will be more at ease.
Be sure to take a walk along The Shambles, voted Britain's most picturesque street in 2010. Dating back to the fifteenth century, it is brimming with tourist attractions, shops and restaurants. All but the youngest children will love the interactive shows and special effects at York Dungeon, where there is even a Gladiator Arena. In wet weather, why not explore the Yorkshire Museum? Its geological and archeological collections cover prehistoric to medieval times, and some of the galleries have interactive displays. Looking for panoramic views of the countryside surrounding York? Try Clifford's Tower, or the Central Tower at the magnificent York Minster. The Bedern Chapel at the Minster has a unique collection of stained glass dating back eight hundred years.
Make a beeline for the Jorvik Viking Centre, a recreation of a Viking city from a thousand years ago with displays of over eight hundred artefacts that were discovered during excavation. In fine weather, head to York Maze, reputedly the largest maze in the world, or spend some time on Retrace York, a free trail where you make rubbings around the city walls. On a rainy day, why not visit the National Railway Museum? Entry is free, and the collection includes royal carriages, a Japanese bullet train and a replica of Stephenson's Rocket. What's more, there are science shows, craft activities and storytelling for children. When tummies start to rumble, try the Stonegate Teddy Bears and Tearooms, a tearoom with a special collection of bears.
There is no doubt that York is an ideal holiday destination for the whole family, and accommodation in the city doesn't have to cost a fortune. Renting a flat in the city centre or a house on the edge of the countryside is the perfect low-cost option. We can offer you excellent value with our great range of rental properties. Why not take a look, and spend a few minutes reading our customer reviews? You're sure to find just the right accommodation to suit your family's needs. The money you save will help you to enjoy York's attractions to the full and make your holiday one to remember.
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Will Allen: Growing Justice in Food Deserts
Meet 15 extraordinary people transforming the way we live.
Will Allen has the charisma of a professional athlete—which he was. He has the organizational skills of a business executive—and he was that, too. He's also winner of a MacArthur "Genius" Fellowship. Since 1993, he's done what he loves best: returned to his roots as a farmer. But not just any farmer. "Social justice is wrapped around everything that we do—every step that we take every day is about social justice and food justice," Allen says.
Allen is founder and CEO of Growing Power, two acres of greenhouses growing food fertilized with worm compost or with fish waste from the low-cost aquaponics system that he designed. It's located on the outskirts of Milwaukee, in a part of town burdened with low income, and without full-service grocery stores.
Providing fresh food in an urban food desert is a big part of what Growing Power does. But it also is involved in more than 70 projects and outreach programs across the country and around the world. One of them, Growing Power Chicago, is run by Allen's daughter, Erika.
Selected by YES! reader Regina Siegel: "I feel this is one of the most important issues today, and he has the answers right there in his home-made systems."
Another, Feed Denver, is a research and education center for urban and sustainable agriculture and one of Growing Power's 15 regional outreach training centers. Lisa Rogers, executive director of Feed Denver, says that Allen has a way of talking about growing food that makes sense. "I was able to approach it just as a human being who eats food," she says. "I could actually start growing produce and jump into the 'Good Food Revolution' and try and make a real change in the community."
The "Good Food Revolution" is Allen's term for what he's trying to accomplish. "I think it's reached that stage that it's now a revolution," he says. For all that high-flying rhetoric, Allen remains grounded. He is "a kind and humble person … who really wants to get people involved. And he is the kind of guy who has his hands dirty," says Anupama Joshi, co-author of Food Justice and director of the National Farm to School Program at the Center for Food & Justice.
The time is right, Allen says. "We've got more people hungry than ever before, even middle-class folks, so now is the time to take action, and actually go out and develop the infrastructure that produces this locally grown sustainable food system."
Laura Kaliebe contributed reporting to this article.
How to grow a local food revolution.
The Spring 2009 issue of YES! Magazine, featuring Will Allen.
It all begins with food: How to restore the health and wealth of inner-city communities.


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The Best of 2017 (Feature)
First of all, hello, and welcome to Decibel Geek. For the uninitiated, we are a hard rock/heavy metal website and weekly podcast. Decibel Geek began as a weekly podcast presented by hosts Chris Czynszak and Aaron Camaro and has consequently grown into what you find here today. Alongside the weekly issued, absolutely free podcast episodes, our website features photo galleries from live events around the world as well a direct feed to our YouTube channel, DBGTV. Our website team encompasses some 40 authors and contributors…Read More


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There are promising new developments in the murder investigation into the brutal murders of the Houston lesbian couple Crystal Jackson and her girlfriend Britney Cosby. Cosby's missing SUV has been discovered, reports the Houston Chronicle.
A 2006 Kia Sorento, owned by Britney Cosby, who was killed along with Crystal Jackson, was found [March 17] in a vehicle storage lot in the 13500 block of Conklin in Houston, said officials with the Galveston County Sheriff's Office, who are investigating the deaths. ... A Houston Police Department officer who was at the storage lot working on an unrelated investigation found the car. ... The SUV previously had been recovered from [a] parking lot.
Crime scene unit technicians have reportedly recovered "blood evidence" from the vehicle, adds BuzzFeed.
The bodies of Crystal Jackson and Britney Cosby were discovered behind a convenience store dumpster in nearby Port Bolivar on March 7. Authorities say Cosby died from blunt force trauma and Jackson was shot to death. The couple had been together for two years. Both women were 24-years-old.
Britney Cosby's father has been arrested in connection with the homicides. James Larry Cosby is accused of tampering with evidence—"specifically tampering with human corpses,"reports CBS Houston. Police suspect that Cosby killed his daughter and her girlfriend in the house that he shared with them. Police also believe that Cosby had an accomplice "based on video surveillance." Prosecutors expect to upgrade the charges to capital murder in several weeks. The recovered SUV may yield evidence that will expedite the charges.
This is an awful story on so many levels. My thoughts and prayers to the families.
You May Have Missed:
Police Suspect Accomplice in Murders of Lesbian Couple
Funerals for Slain Lesbian Houston Couple
Police Arrest Father of One of the Women Killed Near Houston
No Arrests in Brutal Murder of Lesbian Houston Couple
Police Search for Suspect in Murder of Lesbian Houston Couple
Reward Offered for Houston Slaying Victim's SUV


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The welcoming phrase that serves as the title to the 18th volume in our Live at the World Cafe series puts you the listener in a very good place indeed. As we move to our new World Café studio these songs will always remind us of what will forever be the "old World Cafe."
The following promotion is intended for viewing in the 49 continental United States (including Alaska but excluding Hawaii) and the District of Columbia only and will be construed and evaluated according to United States laws. DO NOT proceed in this site unless you are: (1) a legal U.S. resident, (2) 18 years or older at the time of entry, and (3) accessing this site within the continental United States (excluding Hawaii).
World Cafe® National Sweepstakes
These rules govern the World Cafe® National Sweepstakes (the "Sweepstakes"), which shall begin at 12:00 a.m. Eastern Time ("ET") on 08/15/2011 and end at 11:59 p.m. ET on 09/15/2011 ("Entry Period").
Eligibility: The Sweepstakes is open only to legal residents of the 49 continental United States (including Alaska but excluding Hawaii) and the District of Columbia who are 18 years of age or older at time of entry. Anyone who has, since February 15, 2011, been employed by or performed services (including, but not limited to, services as consultants, independent contractors, or interns) for Station WXPN(FM), Philadelphia, PA ("WXPN"), The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania, in its capacity as the licensee of WXPN; National Public Radio; visitphilly.com; or the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation (collectively, the "Sponsors"), and each of their respective parent, subsidiary, and affiliated entities, and their advertising and promotional agencies (collectively, the "Sweepstakes Entities"), and members of their households, whether or not related, and immediate families (spouses, parents, siblings, children and each of their respective spouses, regardless of where they reside) are not eligible to enter or win the prize. This Sweepstakes is subject to all applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations, and is void outside of the contiguous United States and in any jurisdiction where prohibited or restricted by law. Entrants are required to provide truthful information and WXPN will reject and delete any entry that it discovers to be false or fraudulent. WXPN will disqualify any entry from individuals who do not meet the eligibility requirements and will also delete any entry as required by law.
How to Enter: To enter, visit WorldCafe.npr.org online and follow the links and instructions to enter the Sweepstakes during the Entry Period. Complete the online entry form by submitting your first name and last name, complete mailing address, city, state, zip code, telephone number, date of birth, call sign of the radio station where you listen to World Cafe, and a valid email address, and click on "enter". At the time of entry, entrants shall be assigned to one (1) of three (3) geographic regions (each, a "Region") based on their mailing address; the states comprising each Region are listed below. Only one (1) Grand Prize will be awarded for each Region.
Region 1: CT, DE, FL, GA, IN, ME, MD, MA, MI, NH, NJ, NY, NC, OH, PA, RI, SC, VT, VA, D.C., WV
Region 2: AL, AR, IL, IA, KS, KY, LA, MN, MS, MO, NE, ND, OK, SD, TN, TX, WI
Region 3: AK, AZ, CA, CO, ID, MT, NV, NM, OR, UT, WA, WY
Entry Limit: One (1) entry per person or per valid email address permitted during the Entry Period. Entries will be deemed made by the authorized account holder of the email address submitted at the time of entry. The authorized account holder is the natural person who is assigned to the email address by an internet access provider, online service provider or other organization that is responsible for assigning an email address or the domain associated with the submitted email address. Multiple participants are not permitted to share the same email address. Entries submitted may not be acknowledged or returned. Use of any device to automate entry is prohibited. Proof of submission of an entry shall not be deemed proof of receipt by WXPN. WXPN's computer is the official time keeping device for the Sweepstakes.
Grand Prize Drawing and Winner Notification: Decisions of the Sponsors with respect to the Sweepstakes are final and binding. On or around 09/19/2011, WXPN will select at random from among all valid entries received one (1) potential Grand Prize winner and three (3) alternate winners in each of the three Regions. Odds of winning a Grand Prize depend on the number of valid entries received in each Region. No purchase is necessary and the winner need not be present or listening to win. Each potential Grand Prize winner will be notified by WXPN by email and by telephone on or around 09/19/2011. If a selected potential winner cannot be contacted within 48 hours of notification, that contestant will forfeit the prize and an alternate winner (in order of selection) will be notified and subject to the same 48-hour standard. Once a Grand Prize winner is successfully notified, that Grand Prize winner must execute and return the required Sweepstakes Winner Affidavit of Eligibility and Liability and Publicity Release within three (3) days of notification of selection. If a potential winner cannot be contacted, fails to sign and return the required affidavit of eligibility and/or liability/publicity release within the required time period, is found not to meet the eligibility requirements, or is otherwise found not to be in compliance with these Rules, or if a prize or prize notification is returned as undeliverable, the potential winner forfeits the prize. Upon request, each winner may be required to provide valid government-issued photo identification and provide his/her complete address, date of birth and phone number to claim a prize.
Grand Prize: A total of three (3) Grand Prize trips to Philadelphia, PA to attend the World Cafe® 20th Anniversary Celebration Weekend will be awarded in the Sweepstakes to each Grand Prize winner. The Grand Prize Winner may bring a guest, who must be 18 years of age or older as of the date of the Grand Prize drawing. Each Grand Prize shall include: (i) (a) prize certificate(s) valid for two (2) round-trip coach-class airfare to Philadelphia from a major airport near winner's residence (determined by Sponsors in their sole discretion) OR (b) two (2) round trip train tickets to Philadelphia from a major train station near winner's residence (as determined by Sponsors in their sole discretion); (ii) three (3) consecutive nights' hotel accommodations for the winner and his/her guest (single standard room; double occupancy, room and room tax only) at a hotel of Sponsors' choice; (iii) $200 in gift certificates for meals at restaurant(s) of Sponsors' choice; (iv) two (2) City Passes for admissions to local attractions; and (v) admission for two (2) to the World Cafe® 20th Anniversary Celebration Weekend events on 10/28/2011 through 10/30/2011. Each winner is solely responsible for all other taxes, baggage fees, transportation to and from the airport or train station (if applicable), gratuities, other meals, and all other incidental expenses not listed specifically in these rules. The Approximate Retail Value ("ARV") of each Grand Prize is between $1,500 and $3,000, depending on the travel expenses from point of origin. Total ARV of all three Grand Prizes is between $4,500 and $9,000. The actual value of the travel portion of each Grand Prize may vary depending on city of departure, dates and times of travel, and airfare fluctuations and hotel charges at the time of travel bookings. Actual value of the Grand Prize awarded may be lower or higher at the time it is fulfilled. Any difference between actual value and stated approximate retail value will not be awarded. World Cafe 20th Anniversary Celebration Weekend Grand Prizes provided courtesy of visitphilly.com; and the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation.
Prize Conditions: Specific dates of travel, air carrier(s), and hotel are at the sole discretion of Sponsors or their designee(s). Sponsors are not responsible for changes in scheduling of any element of Grand Prize travel. Travel arrangements must be made through Sponsors or its designee(s). If a Grand Prize winner cannot travel on dates specified by WXPN, the winner may be disqualified and, time permitting, an alternate winner may be selected in the sole discretion of WXPN. Grand Prize may be subject to availability of individual components. The prizes are expressly limited to the dates and item(s) listed above and unless otherwise expressly specified, do not include taxes, gratuities or any other expenses. All other costs and expenses not specifically stated herein, including but not limited to those of, taxes, meals, tips and ground transportation to/from the airport and/or to/from the hotel, are solely the responsibility of each winner. Grand Prize winner and guest will be required to provide valid U.S. Federal or state government issued photo ID at time of travel. The names and dates of birth provided in all required documents must exactly match the names and dates of birth as they appear on the photo IDs to be presented by Grand Prize winner and guest at the time of travel. Each winner and guest must travel on the same itinerary with the same departure date and return date. No changes will be made to travel details once any element(s) of the travel arrangements have been booked except at Sponsors' sole discretion. All travel tickets issued in conjunction with Grand Prize may not be eligible for frequent flyer miles or any other promotional benefit. Sponsors will not replace any lost or stolen tickets, travel vouchers or certificates or similar items once they are in the possession of Grand Prize winner. Each Grand Prize winner may be required to present a valid credit card upon hotel check in to cover any incidental expenses incurred during their stay. Prior to traveling, each Grand Prize Winner must sign and return to WXPN the Sweepstakes Winner Affidavit of Eligibility and Liability and Publicity Release and the guest must sign and return to WXPN the Sweepstakes Winner's Guest/Travel Companion Liability and Publicity Release. If a selected prize related event is unable to take place as scheduled, for reasons such as cancellation, preemption, postponement or unavailability, or for any reason beyond the control of the Sponsors, the Sponsors' sole responsibility to the winner(s) will be to award the remaining available portion of the prize and no substitution or compensation will be provided for the unawarded portion of the prize. Each prize is non-transferable and may not be substituted, and there is no cash equivalent for prizes, except that the Sponsors may, at their sole discretion, substitute prizes or cash of equal or greater value.
General Conditions and Limitations to Liability: Payments of all taxes are solely the responsibility of each Grand Prize winner. Each Grand Prize winner will be required to complete and submit an IRS Form W-9 with the winner's full Social Security Number or the equivalent. Failure to submit a complete W-9 or equivalent will result in forfeiture of the prize. Prize winnings of $600 or more will be reported to the IRS. By entering the Sweepstakes, each Grand Prize winner grants permission to be interviewed by the Sponsors and to have his or her name, biographical information, voice, photograph, videotape or other recording, and/or likeness used in any advertising or broadcast material relating to the Sweepstakes by Sponsors for a period of one (1) year without additional financial or other compensation, and, where legal, to sign a publicity release confirming such consent prior to acceptance of the prize. Prior to awarding any prize or prize certificate, each Grand Prize Winner and his or her guest must sign a liability release, agreeing (i) to release and hold harmless the Sweepstakes Entities, and each of their respective officers, shareholders, directors, employees, agents and representatives and all of their successors and assigns (collectively, the "Released Parties") from and against any and all claims or liability arising directly or indirectly from the prize and participation in the Sweepstakes; and (ii) that the Released Parties shall have no liability and will be held harmless for any liability, loss, injury or damage, including, without limitation, personal injury, death or damage to personal or real property, to entrant or any other person or entity due in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, by reason of the acceptance, possession, use or misuse of a prize (including any travel or related activity or attendance at a performance) or participation in this Sweepstakes. If for any reason this Sweepstakes cannot be executed as planned, including, but not limited to, as a result of infection by computer virus, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical failures, or any other causes beyond the control of the Sponsors that corrupt or affect the security, administration, fairness, integrity or proper conduct of the Sweepstakes, or if the Sweepstakes is compromised or becomes technically corrupted in any way, electronically or otherwise, WXPN reserves the right to cancel, terminate, suspend or modify the Sweepstakes. If the Sweepstakes is terminated before the original end date, WXPN reserves the right to select the winners by random drawing from among all eligible non-suspect entries received as of the termination time/date or otherwise modify the procedure for selecting winners. Released Parties shall not be liable to a winner or any other person for failure to supply a prize or any part thereof, by reason of any acts of God, any action(s), regulation(s), order(s) or request(s) by any governmental or quasi-governmental entity (whether or not the action(s), regulation(s), order(s) or request(s) prove(s) to be invalid), equipment failure, terrorist acts, earthquake, war, fire, flood, explosion, unusually severe weather, hurricane, embargo, labor dispute or strike (whether legal or illegal), labor or material shortage, transportation interruption of any kind, work slow-down, civil disturbance, insurrection, riot, or any other cause beyond Sponsors' control (each a "Force Majeure" event or occurrence). Released Parties shall not be liable to a winner or any other person for cancellations, delays, diversions or substitutions or any act or omissions whatsoever by the air carrier(s), or other transportation companies, hotel(s), or any other persons providing any of these services and accommodations to passengers including any results thereof such as changes in services or accommodations necessitated by same, or loss or damage to baggage. WXPN, in its sole discretion, reserves the right to disqualify any person tampering with the entry process or the operation of the Sweepstakes website. Failure to comply with the rules of the Sweepstakes may result in an entrant's disqualification and/or forfeiture of any prize or prizes. If WXPN makes a good faith determination that an entrant has cheated or committed fraudulent activity in connection with a Sweepstakes, WXPN reserves the right to disqualify that entrant from entering and/or winning future Sweepstakes and to prosecute and seek damages to the fullest extent permitted by law. If due to circumstances beyond the control of WXPN, any competition or prize-related event or travel is delayed, rescheduled, postponed or cancelled, WXPN reserves the right, but not the obligation, to cancel, terminate, suspend, or modify the Sweepstakes and shall not be required to award a substitute prize. The Sponsors are not responsible for (i) typographical or other errors in the printing, the offering or the administration of the Sweepstakes or in the announcement of a prize or (ii) entries not received due to difficulty accessing the internet, service outage or delays, computer difficulties and other technological problems. In the event that a prize or prize certificate is mailed to the winner, it will be with the prior written consent of the winner and therefore, winner assumes the risk of its loss. The Sponsors are not responsible for the safe arrival of a prize or prize certificate.
Disputes: Each entrant agrees that: (i) any and all disputes, claims and causes of action arising out of or connected with this Sweepstakes or any prizes awarded shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action, and exclusively by the appropriate courts located in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, U.S.A.; (ii) any and all claims, judgments and awards shall be limited to actual out-of-pocket costs incurred, including costs associated with entering this Sweepstakes, but in no event include attorneys' fees; and (iii) under no circumstances will entrant be permitted to obtain awards for, and entrant hereby waives all rights to claim, punitive, incidental and consequential damages and any other damages (other than for actual permitted out-of-pocket expenses) and any and all rights to have damages multiplied or otherwise increased. SOME JURISDICTIONS DO NOT ALLOW THE LIMITATIONS OR EXCLUSION OF LIABILITY FOR INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, SO THE ABOVE MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU. All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of these Official Rules, or the rights and obligations of the entrant and Sponsor in connection with the Sweepstakes, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, U.S.A., without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules (whether of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, U.S.A. or any other jurisdiction), which would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, U.S.A.
Official Rules and Winner List: For a copy of these Official Rules, send a self-addressed stamped envelope (VT residents may omit return postage) for receipt by 09/15/2011 to "World Cafe® National Sweepstakes Official Rules," c/o WXPN Promotions, 3025 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104. For the names of the prize winners send a self-addressed stamped envelope (VT residents may omit return postage) for receipt by 11/15/2011 to "World Cafe® National Sweepstakes Winner List" at the same address. The Official Rules and the Winner List (when completed) shall also be available online at WorldCafe.npr.org.
Sponsors: The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania, owner of WXPN(FM), 3025 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104; National Public Radio, 635 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20001; and visitphilly.com; and the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation, 30 S. 17th Street, Suite 1710, Philadelphia, PA 19103.©2011 The Trustees of the University. All rights reserved.
From NPR Music and WXPN, hear a live mix of roots rock, folk, country and more.
Made possible by XPN Members, and Comcast.
XPN Free at Noon at World Cafe Live.
A co-production of WXPN and NPR Music.
Starting out as a typical '90s garage-punk outfit, Fastball went through the normal basement practices and nearby venues in Austin. While building local buzz, they caught the attention of some record execs, and soon they had a deal with Hollywood Records. They changed their initial name from Magneto USA to Fastball (after their favorite porno), released their debut, and began touring the U.S. However, the band was still something of a side-project for all three members. Joey Shuffield, Miles Zuniga, and Tony Scalzo were all working part-time up until the release of their breakthrough album in 1998, All the Pain Money Can Buy.
Suddenly, Fastball was a household name. The catchy single "The Way" was heard on radios all over the country. Teens and adults alike were flocking to stores for cassettes and CDs, and sales reached the million mark at the end of the year. Fastball hit the road for world tours and TV appearances with two Grammy nominations under their belts. Audiences around the globe fell in love with the Fastball's alt-country and '70s balladry.
Since that time, Fastball has been recording, performing, and collaborating with artists including Al Anderson and Bowling for Soup. Each of their subsequent four albums have stayed true to their infectious pop-rock sound. Their latest album is no exception, yet it also shows how much the band has evolved since those late-night garage practices. Little White Lies was produced by Miles Zuniga and C.J. Eiriksson (Blue October, Jack's Mannequin) and mixed by Bob Clearmountain (Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, David Bowie). Fastball wowed audiences with some of their new songs from the album at the SXSW Festival this past March, and they have a nation-wide tour scheduled to support the release. After over a decade of shows and music, Fastball are proving that quality guitar rock will never lose its appeal.
Fastball is in town to play the Tin Angel on Thursday night, May 7.
Website: fastballtheband.com
MySpace: myspace.com/fastballtheband
Recent Release: Little White Lies
Release Date: April 14, 2009
Label: MRI/RED Distribution
Origin: Austin, TX
Song Clips:
Little White Lies | The Way
When you come to XPN's Free At Noon Concerts, bring a can of food to support Philabundance, Delaware Valley's hunger relief organization. We have drop-off boxes to collect canned goods for the needy. Current priority items include: canned pasta, chili, beef stew, tuna, mac & cheese, ready to eat cereal, pork & beans/ baked beans, green beans, corn, fruit cocktail, creamy peanut butter and/ or grape jelly (plastic containers only), and boxed sugar. Thanks!
Dr. Dog, Carrie Rodriguez, Annuals, DeVotchKa, Adele, Angel Taylor, Winterpills, Sharon Little, Ollabelle, Andrew Lipke, The low Anthem, Rodrigo Y Gabriela, Sean Lennon, Chris Smith, California Guitar trio, Joan Osborne, Disco Biscuits, Damien Rice, Cold War Kids, Marc Broussard, The Slip, Arlo Guthrie, Alice Smith, The Dears, Barenaked Ladies, and more...
WXPN Free at Noon Photo Gallery at Flickr
Click to visit our gallery for photos of the Free At Noon Concerts! Previous concerts include Hall & Oates, O.A.R., Citizen Cope, Old Crow Medicine Show, Kaki King and many more!
The World Cafe with host David Dye serves up an eclectic mix of music from blues, rock, and world, to folk, and alternative country with live performances and interviews with celebrated and emerging artists. This acclaimed program, distributed nationally to over 185 stations across the country through NPR Music, is produced by WXPN in Philadelphia.
David Dye is a longtime Philadelphia radio personality whose music enthusiasm has captivated listeners of World Cafe since 1991.
World Cafe and Dye have received numerous awards including: two NFCB Gold Reel Awards, Album Network's "Best Triple A Air Talent," four Philadelphia Magazine's "Best of Philly Awards," the Philadelphia Chapter of NARA "Hero Award" and numerous radio industry trade magazine citations.
From NPR Music and WXPN, hear a live mix of roots rock, folk, country and more.
Made possible by XPN Members, and Comcast.
Shemekia Copeland & Indigo Girls join us for the XPN Free at Noon show at World Cafe Live.
A co-production of WXPN and NPR Music.
Grammy Award winning rock duo Indigo Girls officialy began performing under the now famous moniker in 1985, signing their first record contract to Epic Records three years later. Now celebrating their 20 year career, Amy Ray and Emily Saliers remain as creative as ever. Though they are associated with a major label, they have always retained an independent feel with their warm and crisp acoustic guitars and intertwined melodic vocals. With an incredible career behind them, it is not surprising that a great deal of excitement is building up in anticipation of Poseidon And the Bitter Bug, expected to be released at the end of March.
Recorded in a short three-week period in Atlanta, the album intends to focus less on perfection and more on the rich mixture of textures explored. According to Ray "... it was very much an in-the-moment recording... we had to trust our instincts." Following the successful release of their 2006 album Despite Our Differences, the girls have a lot to live up to; however, circulating previews are already labeling the album as one of their best. Though they retain the very qualities of folk and Americana music that fans adore, they have embarked on new musical explorations by incorporating styles such as R&B. The album will also feature acoustic versions of all the songs in order to give fans an idea of how they sound without a back-up band.
Website: indigogirls.com
MySpace: myspace.com/indigogirlsmusic
Origin: Decatur, Georgia
Recent Release: Poseidon and the Bitter Bug
Release Date: March 24, 2009
Label: Vanguard
Song Clips:
Closer to Fine | Hammer and a Nail
The daughter of blues guitarist/singer Johnny Copeland, the young Shemekia Copeland was greatly influenced by her father's work. As a child she would often accompany him on tours, making her own mark in the blues circuit. The unfortunate turn in her father's health pushed her to embrace her incredible vocal talent and share it with the rest of the world. In 1998, the 19-year-old established herself as raving new artist with the release of her debut album Turn the Heat Up! The soulful intensity of the album was met with a great deal of enthusiasm and landed her several features in motion pictures. Her style, which integrates elements of blues, soul, funk and jazz, is rich and mind-blowingly powerful. Though she is not yet 30, the passionate singer has already won several blues awards, recieved a Grammy nomination, and opened for top acts such as the Rolling Stones, B.B. King, and Taj Mahal.
The incredible list of accomplishments hasn't quite struck the young artist. In fact, the humble Copeland continually strives to strengthen her singing and grow and an individual. Her fifth album, Never Going Back, is a powerful and soul-drenched compilation of tracks. While she remains true to her blues roots, she takes a step further in her career by experimenting with new styles of music and new approaches to singing (including a silky cover of Joni Mitchell's "Black Crow"). She is not afraid to step outside of her comfort zone; and as the album demonstrates, she does so with both grace and unbelievable power.
Prepare to be blown away by the future Queen of Blues, this Friday at noon!
Website: shemekiacopeland.com
MySpace: myspace.com/shemekiacopeland
Origin: Chicago, Illinois
Recent Release: Never Going Back
Release Date: February 24, 2009
Label: Telarc
Song Clips:
Never Going Back to Memphis
Listen to the Show Live
When you come to XPN's Free At Noon Concerts, bring a can of food to support Philabundance, Delaware Valley's hunger relief organization. We have drop-off boxes to collect canned goods for the needy. Current priority items include: canned pasta, chili, beef stew, tuna, mac & cheese, ready to eat cereal, pork & beans/ baked beans, green beans, corn, fruit cocktail, creamy peanut butter and/ or grape jelly (plastic containers only), and boxed sugar. Thanks!
Dr. Dog, Carrie Rodriguez, Annuals, DeVotchKa, Adele, Angel Taylor, Winterpills, Sharon Little, Ollabelle, Andrew Lipke, The low Anthem, Rodrigo Y Gabriela, Sean Lennon, Chris Smith, California Guitar trio, Joan Osborne, Disco Biscuits, Damien Rice, Cold War Kids, Marc Broussard, The Slip, Arlo Guthrie, Alice Smith, The Dears, Barenaked Ladies, and more...
WXPN Free at Noon Photo Gallery at Flickr
Click to visit our gallery for photos of the Free At Noon Concerts! Previous concerts include Hall & Oates, O.A.R., Citizen Cope, Old Crow Medicine Show, Kaki King and many more!
World Cafe launched on October 14, 1991. Distributed by NPR to more than 200 US radio stations and heard by nearly 600,000 listeners each week, World Cafe is known by artists, appreciative audiences, and the radio and music industries as an influential source for music discovery. The two-hour daily program features a mix of artist interviews with in-studio performances by both established and emerging artists. The music selection encompasses singer-songwriters, classic rock, indie rock, Americana, alt-country, blues, world music, R&B and soul. As the nation's most listened-to public radio music program, its impact on the careers and audience awareness of thousands of artists is immeasurable.
Sense of Place - The World Cafe team visits musical hotspots all around the globe for the show's "Sense of Place" series. In each city, the team captures the sights and sounds, records studio sessions with native musicians, and interviews musical influencers to present them to you on the air and online in a week long feature for each city. Check out past sessions, archived on World Cafe on NPR Music
Latin Roots - a bi-weekly series on World Cafe made possible by the Wyncote Foundation. Join the World Cafe as we explore the vast variety of music from Spanish-speaking countries and people. From the standards like cumbia, mambo and son to Latin rock and even reggaeton, we'll hear it all on Latin Roots.
World Cafe Nashville - Hosted by NPR Music's Ann Powers, World Cafe Nashville explores the local scene of the Music City and features studio sessions with up and coming artists in the area. Something's in the water - we're here to help share it with the world. Stream past World Cafe Nashville Sessions on NPR Music.
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Live performance and interview podcast featuring music and conversation from a variety of important musicians
World Cafe with David Dye has just polished off the track list for the 26th Volume in its incredible series of live recordings from XPN's signature program. Artists including Feist, Back Door Slam, Counting Crows, Levon Helm, Joe Jackson, and many others have contributed to this stellar collection.
Here's the complete track list:
1. Sheryl Crow - Love is Free
2. Counting Crows - Come Around
3. Wilco - What Light
4. Back Door Slam - It'll All Come Around
5. Eli "Paperboy" Reed - Stake Your Claim
6. Vampire Weekend - Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa
7. Joe Jackson – The Uptown Train
8. Ingrid Michaelson - The Way I Am
9. Kathleen Edwards - I Make The Dough You Get the Glory
10. New Pornographers - My Rights vs. Yours
11. Rilo Kiley – Dream World
12. Feist - 1234
13. Gary Louris - Omaha Nights
14. Levon Helm - Got Me A Woman
15. Ryan Bingham - South Side of Heaven
16. Mike Doughty - 27 Jennifers
17. The Black Keys - Strange Times
18. Nada Surf - Whose Authority
19. Sara Bareilles - Love Song
Producer Steve Lillywhite (U2, Dave Matthews Band, Peter Gabriel) will produce music sessions for the World Cafe at the world-renowned Avatar Studios in New York City.
Steve Lillywhite entered the music scene when he was 17 as a tape operator with London's Polygram Studios and has since been working in the industry for more than 35 years. Lillywhite has produced songs and albums with bands such as U2, Dave Matthews Band, Simple Minds, Peter Gabriel, XTC, The La's, and Morrissey. He has won Grammy Awards for Producer of the Year, Best Rock Album, and Album of the year for U2's How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb. Known for his ability to inspire artists, Lillywhite has been instrumental in shaping many career-making albums and songs.
World Cafe host David Dye celebrates St. Patrick's Day with Steve Lillywhite, whose most recent project took him to Dublin producing U2's No Line On The Horizon. With an inside scoop on the definitive Irish rockers' new record, Lillywhite explains how he and co-producers Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois each contributed to the album and gives his personal insight into certain tracks.
Website: u2.com
MySpace: myspace.com/u2
The Irish pop-rock band Bell X1 has brought its catchy riffs and smart lyrics to America in recent years, long after it had already become a reliable hitmaker in its homeland. The group was initially led by singer Damien Rice under the moniker Juniper, but Rice left the group and was replaced by vocalist/drummer Paul Noonan.
Bell X1 joins host David Dye for a special World Cafe Lillywhite Session from Avatar Studios. During its visit, the group discusses how the new album marks a departure from its predecessors, with changes in both production and personnel.
Website: bellx1.com
MySpace: myspace.com/bellx1
An underground favorite since their distorted art pop debuted in 1991, Mercury Rev sees reinvention as the key to their creativity. With the new album, Snowflake Midnight, the psych-rock vets embraced open-source technology, allowing them to experiment with audio effects designed by people across the globe.
In this Lillywhite Session, Mercury Rev talks about discovering the sound for the latest record and the concept of a "Brain Waves Concert."
Website: mercuryrev.com
MySpace: myspace.com/mercuryrevmusic
By the time Vauxhall and I came around in 1994, Morrissey had already wooed the world both in The Smiths and with a few critically-acclaimed solo albums. His fourth solo effort was a bit of a return to the jangly Smiths style, but as Morrissey has proved over and over again since then, he just keeps perfecting it.
Lillywhite gave Vauxhall and I the lush sound for which Morrissey recordings had been begging. In an interview with host David Dye, Lillywhite talks about the creation of the album and ultimately what made Morrissey ask him back for two more.
The Pretenders released their new album called "Break Up The Concrete" on October 7, 2008. It is the ninth in the band's career and their first in 6 years. This time the bandleader Chrissie Hynde is collaborating with a new group of musicians. Recorded in 10 days, the result is a stripped down roots album, pure and raw, which highlights Hynde's timeless vocal sound. In 1978, Hynde formed The Pretenders, originally three Englishmen and an American woman, that emerged as one of the new wave's most commercially successful groups. Its focal point was Chrissie Hynde, the band's songwriter, lead singer, and rhythm guitarist, whose tough songs and stage persona put feminist self-assertion into her own distinctive hard rock. Their self-titled debut album was released in early 1980 and eventually climbed to number one in the U.K., achieving wide success in America as well. Although the long waits between LPs have dulled her group's once shining commercial career, Hynde remains an influential performer and songwriter. Hynde is also an outspoken crusader for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. The Pretenders were creative with the release of their new album Break Up the Concrete, and decided to give away every track as free downloads, one song each week leading up to the record's physical release, thus creating a buzz of anticipation that no Pretenders album has had in over a decade. The album marks a reunion with producer Steve Lillywhite.
Website: thepretenders.com
MySpace: myspace.com/thepretenders
Big Country was a Scottish rock band who reached their critical and commercial peak in the mid 1980s, though they continued releasing music throughout the 1990s to a devoted following. The band was noted for mixing their Scottish roots into their music and also for their unique guitar sounds. The band is best known for their lone US hit, 1983's "In a Big Country", but the album that song is drawn from, the Steve Lillywhite-produced The Crossing, is considered a great forgotten album of the 1980s.
In this interview, Steve Lillywhite discusses the recording of The Crossing.
The Strokes' rhythm guitarist, Albert Hammond Jr., recently joined World Cafe host David Dye for a Lillywhite Session recorded at Avatar Studios in New York City. Here, Hammond and his band perform four songs from his second studio effort, Como Te Llama?, with the help of famed producer Steve Lillywhite.
Hammond still keeps his day job in The Strokes, but two years ago took on the role of frontman, which he says took time to get used to. His music retains the guitar-driven style of his main band, but also incorporates Hammond's tender, bluesy vocals.
Website: alberthammondjr.com
MySpace: myspace.com/alberthammondjr
The La's only recorded one album, but the self-titled disc from 1990 features one infectious guitar-pop gem after another, including the classic, oft-covered hit "There She Goes." The group's main songwriter, Lee Mavers, notoriously fired multiple band members and producers because, according to Mavers, none of them got it. Steve Lillywhite came into the process later in the game, after The La's record label convinced him to finish the album. In an interview with David Dye, Lillywhite talks about the classic disc that Mavers never wanted released.
Doveman, the brainchild of Harlem-based keyboard maestro Thomas Bartlett, has just released a front-to-back cover of the Footloose soundtrack. While Doveman is normally a one-man act, Bartlett gets the multi-track treatment with Steve Lillywhite behind the boards at Avatar Studios for a unique Lillywhite Session.
Doveman's sophomore effort is a tribute to a friend who died at the height of the film's popularity. With Bartlett's understated delivery and beautiful piano work, he's crafted a heartfelt homage to the joys of youth. Stripped of those pop-infused dance tracks, the music has unexpected emotional depth.
Website: dovemanmusic.com
MySpace: myspace.com/doveman
On Peter Gabriel's third self-titled album, producer Steve Lillywhite made sense of the disparate elements that the sometimes-great second album could not. The 1980 release showcased a more song-oriented Gabriel, but also a bleak side of the former Genesis frontman.
In an interview with host David Dye, Lillywhite recalls laughing off the idea of recording an album with Gabriel, but both quickly found common ground in its musical direction. Music technology was moving quickly by 1980, and both men wanted to implement the new keyboard and sampling devices. While Gabriel would go on to make even better-selling albums, Peter Gabriel remains his finest moment.
Dr. Dog formed in 1999 in Philadelphia. Opening for My Morning Jacket in 2004 led to the beginnings of a commercial breakthrough - opening for other acts such as The Strokes and The Raconteurs. The group's fan base continued to grow with the EP Takers and Leavers and full-length debut We All Belong. Now they are headlining their own US tour for their newest album Fate.
Website: drdogmusic.com
MySpace: myspace.com/drdog
Crash is the second studio album released by the Dave Matthews Band in 1996. It has been certified 7 times platinum. Steve Lillywhite produced 3 albums the Dave Matthews Band released - Under the Table and Dreaming, Crash, and Before These Crowded Streets. Steve also produced an album for the band that was never officially released, The Lillywhite Sessions. Steve talks about working with the band for the second time and how he wanted to amp up their sound for this album.
With a sound combining the baroque psychedelic pop of the '60s, sacred harp singing, gospel, and folk music, Fleet Foxes joins host David Dye for the latest in World Cafe's Lillywhite Sessions series from Avatar Recording Studios in New York City. The band's members grew up on the music of their parents: The Beach Boys, Simon & Garfunkel, The Zombies, Love, and Crosby Stills & Nash.
Robin Pecknold and Skye Skyelset are backed by some of Seattle's best musicians, including past and present members of bands such as Pedro the Lion, Seldom, and Crystal Skulls. Through the support of friends, families, and credit cards, material for both the Sun Giant EP and Fleet Foxes' self-titled debut were recorded. Both showcase an inventive, unfailingly sweet sound that spans genres and eras.
Website: subpop.com/artists/fleet_foxes
MySpace: myspace.com/fleetfoxes
Bath, England's singer-composer-keyboardist Allison Goldfrapp began exploring music as a part of her studies as a Fine Art Painting major at Middlesex University, mixing sound, visuals, and performances in her installation pieces. While she was still in college, she appeared on her friend Tricky's 1995 debut Maxinquaye, which led to appearances on albums from other cutting-edge electronic artists, including Orbital's Snivilisation and Add N to X's Avant Hard. By the late '90s, Goldfrapp began honing her own compositions; one of her friends passed some of her demos on to composer Will Gregory. Finding much in common in their musical tastes and approaches, the duo took Allison's surname as the name for their collaboration. After signing to Mute in 1999, Goldfrapp delivered their debut album, Felt Mountain, in fall 2000. Felt Mountain went on to nearly universal acclaim and spawned several singles, including the Utopia Genetically Enriched EP, which arrived in early 2001. After spending most of that year touring, Goldfrapp spent most of 2002 recording and returned with Black Cherry in spring 2003. 2005 saw the release of the "Ooh La La" single and the full-length Supernature, both of which continued the disco and glam-rock influences of the duo's previous album. 2008's The Seventh Tree moved in a calmer, more acoustic-based, but just as sonically lush direction.
Website: goldfrapp.co.uk/
MySpace: myspace.com/goldfrapp
Steve explains how he got the job following Elvis Costello's footsteps - producing the next The Pogues' album If I Should Fall from Grace with God and their hit duet "Fairytale of New York" with Lillywhite's then-wife Kirsty MacColl.
Produced by the legendary Steve Lillywhite, She & Him inaugurates World Cafe's new Lillywhite Sessions series from Avatar Studios in New York City. David Dye hosts the duo with discussion of its debut album, Volume One, while Lillywhite offers his own commentary on the music.
Since their initial collaboration on a single for the soundtrack to the film The Go-Getter, M. Ward and actress Zooey Deschanel went on to record a full-length collection of her demos. Volume One seamlessly combines her syrupy-sweet voice with his simplistic yet stunning instrumentals. Through songs of love both lost and found, She & Him captures timeless sounds and rhythms.
Website: sheandhim.com
MySpace: myspace.com/sheandhim
In the span of three years, U2 delivered a one-two-three punch: Boy, October, and 1983's War. War begins with the legendary call to arms "Sunday Bloody Sunday." Its machine-gun guitar rhythms and Bono's passionate vocals set the tone for an album that took no prisoners. In an interview with host David Dye, War's original producer, Steve Lillywhite, talks about the creation of the landmark album.
Become a Member of WXPN and Pick up the 20th Anniversary CD Set!
Live recordings from Vampire Weekend, Beach House, David Gray, Fleet Foxes, Coldplay, Feist, Patty Griffin, Justin Townes Earle, Dave Matthews, and many others.
Pick up your copy now at the Online Store!
Live recordings from Ray LaMontagne & The Pariah Dogs, JP, Chrissie & The Fairground Boys, Best Coast, Jukebox The Ghosr, KT Tunstall, The National, Ra Ra Riot and many others.
Pick up your copy at the XPN Music Store online!
Live recordings from Free Energy, The Hold Steady, Dr. Dog, Citizen Cope, Charlotte Gainsbourg, The Clientele, and many others.
Pick up your copy at the XPN Music Store online!
Live recordings from Wilco with Feist, Fanfarlo, Tori Amos, Blitzen Trapper, Moby, Mayer Hawthorne and many others.
Includes live recordings from The Pretenders, Bell X-1, Bat for Lashes, TV on the Radio, The Walkmen, and many others.
Includes live recordings from Bon Iver, Calexico, Jenny Lewis, Aimee Mann, Ra Ra Riot, Ray LaMontagne, and many others. Now available in stores
Volume 26 is available online and in retail stores. Featuring Sheryl Crow, Wilco, Feist, Rilo Kiley, Counting Crows, and many others.
Be sure to pick up your favorite music heard on World Cafe at XPN's Amazon.com Music Store, or browse our picks. It doesn't cost you anything extra, and the benefits apply to any purchases made through Amazon, not just music.
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