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Friday, September 29
Yes, it's that time again. Hope you enjoy this month's mix (or at least some of it).
Left-click [HERE] to start the procurement process...
[Some temporary bandwidth issues with some of the other files at the moment. Please keep trying.]
01) The Pipettes/Guess Who Ran Away With the Milkman?
02) Prophet Omega/The Right Thing
03) Citizens Here and Abroad/Accelerator
04) The Sunshine Underground/Panic Attack
05) The Magic Numbers/Take a Chance
06) Nightmare of You/I Want to Be Buried in Your Backyard
07) The Research/I Bet if We Kissed
08) Hooray for Earth/Take Care
09) The Format/The First Single
10) Bjorn Norestig/Hello Inside
11) Pilot Speed/Barely Listening
12) Beck/Think I'm in Love
13) The Legends/Another Sunday
14) Can Joann/Indecision's Way
15) Mark Mallman/Death Wish
16) Nightmare of You/Dear Scene, I Wish I Were Deaf
17) The Veils/Under the Folding Branches
18) Pete Yorn/Splendid Isolation
19) Plajia/Sleeping
20) Superheroes/What's Going On?
21) Shiny Toy Guns/Starts as One
22) Levy/Mint
Despite saddling themselves with a name that suggests some sort of unholy Al Gore/Robert F. Kennedy Jr.-led oompa band, Hooray for Earth really just want to... you know... rock you. Granted, they want to do it from odd angles and in between showings of Jackass #2, but don't underestimate their ability to simultaneously charm your pants off and pummel you stupid with their music-making.
These four guys from Boston just unleashed their self-titled debut on an unsuspecting populace, and they describe its sound thusly: "Blur, Nirvana, and Enya breaking things at a video arcade in hell." Another reviewer put it slightly differently, pegging the band as "the missing link between the Magnetic Fields and Andrew W.K.." Okilee-dokilee then... that clears THAT up.
Actually, the Nirvana/Andrew W.K. comparisons might not be entirely inappropriate. Opening track "Simple Plan" offers up a handy-dandy blueprint - thrashing drums, guitars so crunchy and distorted they sound as though they've been filtered through a wood chipper, lead singer Noel Heroux's sometimes-droning/sometimes-striving vocals (also distorted, Starflyer 59-style), and, perhaps the group's secret weapon, synthesizer lines so succulent they'll remind you of boobs. And bubblegum. And summer. And boobs and bubblegum in summer.
So, with all apologies to Enya, let's call this "grunge-pop." At its best, it's catchy, anthemic, and just plain fun - the musical equivalent of jamming a firecracker in your best friend's ass-crack just to see what happens.
Hooray for Earth's debut CD can be purchased on iTunes or right [here].
Hooray for Earth on MySpace. Hooray for Earth at a venue near you...
Sep 30 7:30P/Harpoon Octoberfest/Boston, MA
Oct 3 8:00P/NYC Cd Release @ The Annex/New York, NY
Oct 11 9:00P/TT The Bears/Cambridge, MA
Nov 9 8:00P/Lit Lounge/New York, NY
Nov 10 8:00P/AS220/Providence, RI
Dec 15 9:00P/El 'N' gee/New London, CT
Dec 16 8:00P/The Plan @ Great Scott/Allston, MA
[MP3] "Simple Plan"
[MP3] "Heartbeat"
Thursday, September 28
For better or worse, singer/songwriter Amos Lee has been called the "male version of Norah Jones." Whether that translates as praise or damnation obviously depends on your personal feelings for (or against) Ms. Jones. But that description is clearly meant to suggest that Lee's work thus far in his young career fits comfortably into the same smooth/clean/calculated/controlled/accomplished box that Jones works so well within. In this context, to be all-inclusive and non-threatening is a huge part of the game-plan - with the selling of boatloads of records the ultimate goal.
Amos Lee's sophomore full-length, Supply and Demand, will be released by Blue Note Records on October 3. As was the case with his debut, it's difficult not to name-check Bill Withers and James Taylor while listening to Lee's particular brand of soulful folk. Carefree, easy-goin' tunes like the title track cast him as a tie-dyed, Haight-Ashbury busker circa 1970, while slower cuts like "Careless" evoke some of the same angels-on-high ache that Bobby Womack and Marvin Gaye were so natural at channeling.
[I loathe Jay Leno, but Amos Lee will be performing the single, "Shout Out Loud," on The Tonight Show tonight (Thursday). So tune in with about five minutes left in the show for that (and then watch Conan).]
[Apparently, that same song will be featured tonight on the new ABC show Six Degrees at 10 PM.]
See Amos Lee's October concert dates below. Visit his MySpace page to see more.
Oct 12 8:00P/Variety Playhouse/Atlanta, GA
Oct 13 8:00P/Music Farm/Charleston, SC
Oct 14 7:30P/Cannery Row/Nashville, TN
Oct 16 8:00P/Orange Peel/Asheville, NC
Oct 17 8:00P/Attucks Theatre/Norfolk, VA
Oct 19 8:00P/Cat's Cradle/Carrboro, NC
Oct 20 8:00P/Recher Theater/Baltimore, MD
Oct 21 8:00P/9:30 Club/Washington , DC
Oct 24 8:00P/Town Hall/New York, NY
Oct 27 8:00P/Stone Pony/Asbury Park, NJ
Oct 28 8:00P/Iron Horse/Northampton, MA
Oct 29 8:00P/Somerville Theatre/Boston, MA
Oct 30 8:00P/HG Showcase Lounge/Burlington, VT
[MP3] "Supply and Demand"
[MP3] "Careless"
The Magic Numbers will release their second album, Those the Brokes, on November 6. You will find the first single a couple inches or so below...
Oct 9 8:00A/Melkweg/Amsterdam
Oct 11 8:00A/Debaser/Stockholm
Oct 16 8:00A/Le Boule No/Paris
Oct 19 8:00A/Lido/Berlin
Oct 21 8:00A/Atomic Cafe/Munich
[MP3] "Take a Chance"
Wednesday, September 27
At just 22 years of age, Aaron Schroeder already has a bit of the wanderlust about him. For the moment, at least, he's cooling his jets in Washington State - albeit some 200+ miles southwest of that once white-hot musical mecca, Seattle.
Schroeder released his first full-length effort, Southern Heart in Western Skin, earlier this year. At nine songs and 29 minutes, it truly is the musical equivalent of a Southern gentleman - with no intention of overstaying its welcome or overtaxing your attention span. This is charmingly low-key folk-pop with just a touch of twang - which explains why Schroeder lists Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, the Mountain Goats, and Silver Jews as some of his artistic touchstones.
Southern Heart in Western Skin can be purchased for a mere $7 at PayPal and for $7.99 at both CD Baby and Amazon. And more music will be on the way shortly, as Mr. Schroeder is already hard at work on his next record. I look forward to sharing some tunes from that one with you just as soon they're available. In the meantime...
[MP3] "Antlers"
[MP3] "Dead Rabbits"
[MP3] "Sky Ain't Blue" [demo]
[MP3] "Streets of Fear" [demo]
The first Tori Amos song I ever remember hearing was "God" off of her second "proper" album, Under the Pink. I didn't like it. There was something just a little too intense about it. It scared me.
So, when a friend approached me not long after with a copy of Ms. Amos's FIRST "proper" album, Little Earthquakes, my instinct was to run as though fleeing fire. But I didn't. Instead, I reluctantly accepted the disc, reluctantly slipped it into my CD player, reluctantly strapped on my trusty headphones, and reluctantly settled in to listen to the thing with the very lowest of expectations.
To say that those expectations were exceeded would be the ultimate of understatements. As it happened, I only had time enough that day to listen to the first five tracks before scampering off to class. Now, a full 12 years later, I still consider that particular stretch of music to be pretty much perfect - intensely intimate and vulnerable, yet empowering. Intense (there's that word again), yet fragile. Sometimes, Amos pounds her piano to a pulp; other times, she just barely breathes on its keys. Either way, Earthquakes is a bona fide masterpiece - one that was highly influential in the years leading up to the whole Lilith womyn "thing."
I can't say that I've liked anything Tori Amos has put out since that time nearly as much (though Under the Pink bears much fruit with repeated listens and Scarlet's Walk seems a lot stronger to me now than it did when it first came out). For whatever reason, her lyrics gradually strayed toward the hysterically esoteric (especially on Boys For Pele), and she began to downplay the lilting strings and layered vocal freakouts that were so crucial to Little Earthquakes. 2005's The Beekeeper, to my ears, was easily her least interesting effort to date - a record so middle-of-the-road and mundane I could barely soldier through to the end.
Yesterday saw the release of A Piano: The Collection - a five-disc box set that collects a goodly number of Amos's b-sides, remixes, covers, and "classic" tracks. Devoted fans will no doubt gobble this up with abandon - even if they've previously procured this music through... um... "alternative" means. As with any collection of this size, there are, to be sure, some diamonds to be discovered. But most of it's coal. Which won't matter one iota to tenacious Tori-philes. They love their Faerie Queen. They love her nursery-rhyme non-sequiturs. They love her big-gulp, trill-alicious singing. They love her borderline-pornographic live piano playing - writhing and gyrating as though her stool were a stove set to "SCORCH." But, perhaps most of all, they love the fact that Tori Amos's music is an acquired taste - "anchovies," as opposed to "potato chips." Anybody can love potato chips. Only a select few can say they're fond of the fishies.
[MP3] "Siren"
[MP3] "Blue Skies"
[MP3] "Honey"
[MP3] "A Case of You" [Joni Mitchell cover]
[MP3] "The Happy Worker"
Tuesday, September 26
This one darn near slipped right past me. I'd heard that Metric's Emily Haines had a solo album coming out at some point, but I didn't realize it was happening today (in the U.S.).
Knives Don't Have Your Back is being attributed to Emily Haines & the Soft Skeleton. The latter would seem to consist of Sparklehorse's Scott Minor, Broken Social Scene's Justin Peroff, Stars' Evan Cranley, and Metric's Jimmy Shaw. Most likely, these fellows contributed to the project individually, as the songs on Knives consist primarily of Emily's deeply reverbed voice and haunting piano playing. As she writes on her MySpace page: "When I was a little kid, I would creep downstairs to the piano and write rudimentary songs about imaginary places. I'm told the first song I ever wrote was a love song to a cranberry tree."
In other words: Don't expect this record to sound particularly Metric-like.
The song below will give you a pretty good idea of the album's general pace and mood. The aformentioned piano playing tends to be simple yet trenchant, and there's a fragile beauty to these tunes that's just perfect for cool autumn evenings.
Emily Haines has the following show upcoming...
Oct 1 8:00P/Kool Haus - See Vous Play (CBC Radio 3)/Toronto
[For another track from the new CD, visit Fingertips.]
From the LP Knives Don't Have Your Back, 2006 >>>
[MP3] "Crowd Surf Off a Cliff"
From the LP Cut in Half and Also Double, 1996 >>>
[MP3] "Eau de Toilette"
Monday, September 25
Though they've only been around for a few years now, I've already read a number of negative things about the British band Razorlight. Some center on lead singer Johnny Borrell. The suggestion seems to be that the guy's a bit of a prick. I have no idea if this is the case or not, but it would hardly be a novel concept. The line between self-confidence and self-importance is always a fine one - especially for preening lead singers. And let's be honest: it can be amazingly entertaining to watch them teeter along that line - and even more entertaining to watch them fall off it. (Quick, somebody hook Pete Doherty up a safety net. Nah, never mind... too late.)
The other knock against Razorlight seems to be that they sound quite a lot like quite a lot of other bands. How shocking! Drum them out of the musicians' union! But while you're at it, drum Radiohead out for sounding a bit like Nirvana on "Creep." Drum Coldplay out for sounding like Bends-era Radiohead. Drum Keane out for sounding like Coldplay. Etc. Ad infinitum. Is it really any great surprise that a lot of today's groups sound alike - considering that so many of them grew up in the '80s listening to the Clash and the Cure and Joy Division and U2?
In the end, all I much care about is that I like the four songs I'm offering up below. I guess, when it comes down to it, I don't require artists to be the most original or "new" thing on the block. TV on the Radio seem pretty original to me. And I can't stand them. Fiery Furnaces? Likewise. There's nothing wrong with having a comfort zone, and there are solid chunks of the Razorlight canon that obviously fall into mine. So sue me. Call me a prick. Drum me out of the MP3 bloggers' union. I could use the free time.
From the their self-titled LP, 2006 >>>
[MP3] "In the Morning"
[MP3] "Fall to Pieces"
From the LP Up All Night, 2004 >>>
[MP3] "Vice"
[MP3] "Golden Touch"
We'll start things off today by shining a little spotlight on Chicago's the Saturday Nights. Led by songwriters Paul Foreman and Finn Swingley ("Finn Swingley" - how cool a name is THAT?), these guys released their debut CD, Queenslandicus, earlier this year. You can purchase it directly from their website [here] - either as a $5 digital download or a $10 disc. (It is also available from iTunes.)
The three songs below should give you at least some idea what to expect from the rest of the album. "Stranded" has a classic, timeless sound to it (think: Big Star at their most straightforward and gorgeous). The songwriting here seems deceptively effortless, right down to the utterly charming bridge. "There is a Sign" starts with some drunken drums and Foreman's swoony croon before shifting into higher gear with a combination of "ooh-ooh" backing vocals and a sweet 'n' juicy guitar solo that erupts out of yet another perfectly executed middle eight. Finally, "Julianna Convince Me" amps things up with a wall of ferociously fuzzed guitars and a swampy backbeat that just wants to keep kicking you in the chest till you're dead. (If the rumor is true that Jack White purchased the 7" single of "Stranded" and "Julianna," one can only guess that he found special kinship with the latter track.)
Check out the Saturday Nights' MySpace page. And see and hear them at the following venues...
Sep 29 9:00P/Local's Only/Indianapolis, IN
Oct 11 9:00P/Schubas/Chicago, IL
[MP3] "Stranded"
[MP3] "There is a Sign"
[MP3] "Julianna Convince Me"
Paul Foreman also makes music with a fellow by the name of Carl Saff in a project dubbed the Warmth. They do their own version of "You Crafty Devil" (which is the final song on Queenslandicus), but, for my money, "Motown Stars" is the true standout here. (One can almost imagine Morrissey singing that chorus.)
[MP3] "You Crafty Devil"
[MP3] "Motown Stars"
Friday, September 22
Last Friday, I put up a couple songs by the band Drugscene. This Friday, I'm putting up songs about drugs. Makes some sort of sense, yes?
Of course, Nancy Reagan implores all of you to "just say no." But I'm pretty sure she's talking about the drugs, not the songs. So feel free to indulge yourselves...
[MP3] The Verve/"The Drugs Don't Work"
[MP3] Juliana Hatfield/"Choose Drugs"
[MP3] Pulp/"Sorted for E's & Wizz"
[MP3] R.E.M./"So Fast, So Numb"
[MP3] The Perishers/"Pills"
[MP3] The Rolling Stones/"Mother's Little Helper"
Thursday, September 21
This song has been bouncing around for a while now, but I figured that a few of you may have somehow managed to miss it. Which would be a pity, seeing as it's kind of swell.
I've been a fan of the Legends ever since I heard the song "There and Back Again" from Up Against the Legends. At the time, I assumed that this was indeed a full band at work, but it turns out that it was pretty much masterminded by Johan Angergard from the very beginning. Seeing as he's also a member of Acid House Kings and Club 8, it would seem that Mr. Angergard is the poster-boy for "prolific." You go, boy.
From the LP Facts and Figures, 2006 >>>
[MP3] "Lucky Star"
Wednesday, September 20
The Brunettes are Jonathan Bree and Heather Mansfield. They are from New Zealand and played hobbits in the first and third Lord of the Rings movies. (One of the statements in that last sentence is false; I'm not telling you which.)
What does the Brunettes' music sound like? Well, take it from their website: "... Boy/girl melodrama pop inspired by '70s New York punk and '60s girl groups." Well... sounds good to me; count me in.
But wait... there's a twist. The Brunettes are creating their "melodrama pop" in Auckland, New Zealand, which apparently features a scene "of opiate-infused garage rock 'n' roll." Who knew? I mean, Amsterdam, sure, but AUCKLAND? Learn something new every day.
Elsewhere on the Brunettes' website, their music is described as "bubblegum." Yeah, maybe, a little. But if so, it's bubblegum that's already been chewed by somebody else - somebody with rotten teeth and breath like a stench. Maybe that's what I find so charming about these two. No matter how pristine and calculated the song arrangements are, there's something undeniably ragged about the execution. Like they've planned it that way. Like maybe they record their vocals after a long night of devil-be-damned carousing. Cigarettes. Booze. Opiates. Apparently, Auckland is home to all of these and more. Sounds good to me; book my flight.
It may well be that the Brunettes are on the verge of breaking through here in the States. Their next album is due to be released sometime before the end of the year, and they're looking to tour here in the spring of '07 (after previously touring the U.S. with the Shins and Rilo Kiley). One guesses that the Brunettes' MySpace page will eventually tell us the wheres, whens, and such like.
In the meantime, there are these...
From the LP Mars Loves Venus, 2004 >>>
[MP3] "Bestfriend Envy"
[MP3] "You Beautiful Militant"
From the LP Holding Hands, Feeding Ducks, 2002 >>>
[MP3] "Talk to Jesus"
By now, everybody and his brother knows that Arab Strap have called it quits. Their final release, Ten Years of Tears, will be released October 23 and include b-sides, rarities, live tracks, etc. They'll also be going on tour one final time.
Here are the October dates...
23-Oct-06 COPENHAGEN, SMALL VEGA
24-Oct-06 ARHUS, VOX HALL
25-Oct-06 LUND, MEJERIET
26-Oct-06 BERGEN, GARAGE
27-Oct-06 OSLO, BLAA
28-Oct-06 STOCKHOLM, FRITZ CORNER @ DEBASER
30-Oct-06 ROTTERDAM, Rotown
31-Oct-06 BRUSSELS, ORANGERIE
From the LP Ten Years of Tears, 2006 >>>
[MP3] "Rocket, Take Your Turn"
Tuesday, September 19
UK-based Fields are a tough band to pigeon hole. Is their music shoegaze? Folk? Both? And, if folk, what KIND of folk? Pastoral? Psychedelic? Both? And what about indie pop? Surely there's a bit of that in there as well. But again, what KIND? Sufjan indie pop? Arcade Fire indie pop? Both? Neither? All of the above? Good grief.
Well, however the hell you want to label them, these four Brits (and one Icelander) create quite the agreeable amalgamation. The truth is, "all of the above" probably is the best answer to the above questions. Folk/indie pop is the overriding combo (and let's make that Arcade Fire indie pop; just listen to those verses accelerating into the choruses on "Charming the Flames"). Fields have a way of lulling the listener into a misguided sense of reverie, only to pull the rug out with a sudden (but subtle) throttle-up of drums and/or voices.
And those voices are key. The leads are alternated between Nick Peill and Thorunn Antonia, but the overall effect is reminiscent of some creepy cult singalong around some haunted-forest campfire. Are these people hippies or Druids? Are they roasting marshmallows or sacrificing animals? Both? Neither? All of the above? Good grief.
Fields' first full-length CD should be out sometime this fall. Keep an eye on their MySpace page for updates.
Where Fields can be seen and heard in the days and weeks ahead...
Sep 28 8:00P/The Legion/London
Oct 2 8:00P/Mercury Lounge/New York, NY
Oct 4 8:00P/Troubadour/Los Angeles
Oct 5 8:00P/Popscene/San Francisco
Oct 8 8:00P/Zodiac/Oxford
Oct 9 8:00P/Custard Factory/Birmingham
[MP3] "Charming the Flames"
[MP3] "Song for the Fields"
[MP3] "Brittlesticks"
Monday, September 18
Isobel Campbell - erstwhile of Belle and Sebastian, the Gentle Waves, and her recent collaboration with Mark Lanegan - has a new solo album coming out in November called Milkwhite Sheets (V2 Records).
Here's a taste...
[MP3] "Cachel Wood"
[Visit *Sixeyes for another track from the upcoming album.]
Pilot Speed is the new name for the band formerly known as Pilate. They're already a fairly big thing in their native Canada (though lead singer Todd Clark is originally from New Zealand), having released an EP (For All That's Given, Wasted) in 2001 and their first album (Caught By the Window) in 2003.
When they were still going by the name Pilate, the group released their second full-length, Self Control for Life's Speed, earlier this year. Now, to match their new moniker, they've re-titled the album (Into the West) for an imminent American release. Look for it on iTunes this Tuesday, and in stores (as near as I can tell) on October 3.
As for Pilot Speed's sound... we can start by saying that singer Clark often sounds like a dead ringer for Remy Zero's Cinjun Tate. In fact, Into the West's almost-too-delicate "Alright" recalls that band's contribution to the Garden State soundtrack, "Fair." If I have any criticism of Pilot Speed and their new album, it's that the proceedings are perhaps a bit too staid - a bit too tame. Only a few of the tracks serve to pick up the pace (including standout single "Barely Listening"); the rest of them - though impeccably executed - tend to recede into the background a bit.
Still, there's no shame in producing a very solid and very pretty record - Coldplay have pretty much made a career of it. And you shouldn't be surprised in the least to hear a Pilot Speed song on an upcoming episode of the OC (or on the next Zach Braff movie soundtrack).
Pilot Speed have the following shows upcoming. They'll also apparently be touring the U.S. later in the year, so check out their MySpace page for further details on that.
Sep 22 8:00P/Grant MacEwan Community College/Edmonton, AB
Sep 23 8:00P/University of Victoria/Victoria, BC
[MP3] "Barely Listening"
[MP3] "Knife-Grey Sea"
I'm an absolute sucker for nostalgia; have been from the beginning (ha). But when it comes to unapologetically embracing the past, the NYC-by-way-of-the-UK band the Primms put me to shame.
For one thing, the lads have borrowed a certain affectation for substituting their band name for each of their own last names. Thus, the lead singer becomes Andy PRIMM; the drummer: Rob PRIMM, the guitarist: Gav PRIMM, and the bass player: Adam PRIMM. Clever, eh? Of course, some of you may be old enough to remember another group that implemented that little trick. Hint: rhymes with "Zamones."
As for their music, it seems that the Primms are determined to prove Santayana's famous saying false - for it seems that they both remember history (the history of rock 'n' roll, anyway) AND are condemned to repeat it. Or, at the very least, "compelled" to repeat it.
Just listen to the guitar riff and drum thump that open "Sacrifice" and you may find yourself reminded of a certain American band from the Pacific Northwest that made a great noise circa 1991. Hint: rhymes with "Zirvana." And the Primms' singer's semi-tortured croon on "Do You Know the Future?" may or may not put you in mind of another singer (Brian... um... "Zolko") and his band (er... "Zlacebo"). (Okay, that one doesn't work. At all. So screw it. Brian MOLKO. Of PLACEBO. There. The cat's out of the bag. But curiosity killed the cat. And imitation is the highest form of flattery. So let's cut the Primms some fair share of slack, shall we? Even the Zamones and Zirvana had their influences.)
Call me a casualty of cloudcuckooland, but I like these guys just fine. I envy them their youth. Their energy. Their obvious love and respect for their elders. And they're young'uns yet, so the best, it's safe to say, is yet to come.
You can catch the Primms' live show at any of the following times and places...
Sep 21 9:30P/Pianos -- residency/New York, NY
Sep 23 11:45P/The Middle East/Boston, MA
Sep 28 9:30P/Pianos -- residency/New York, NY
Sep 30 4:00P/Rusty Rudder (Acoustic Afternoon Performance) -- DBMC/Dewey Beach, DE
Sep 30 11:00P/Rusty Rudder -- Dewey Beach Music Conference/Dewey Beach, DE
Nov 3 9:00P/CMJ Showcase/New York, NY
[MP3] "Sacrifice"
[MP3] "Do You Know the Future?"
Friday, September 15
Another Friday. Therefore, more mindless, dance-y rock.
Drugscene calls Hollywood home and makes... well... mindless, dance-y rock. Did you already hear this music back in the '80s? Yes, you did. Were Drugscene listening to the Cure and Billy Idol in those days? I'd be willing to bet they were.
Some upcoming Drugscene shows >>>
Sep 20 10:00P/Club Moscow @ Boardners (Residency)/Hollywood, CA
Sep 27 10:00P/Club Moscow @ Boardners (Residency)/Hollywood, CA
Sep 29 10:00P/Hear Gallery - Club Cigarettes & Alcohol/Los Angeles, CA
Oct 14 10:00P/THE ROXY/Los Angeles, CA
[MP3] "Coronation"
[MP3] "Be My Dancer"
Wednesday, September 13
The Clock Work Army is a trio from San Diego. They have an EP out now on Banter Records called A Catalyst for Change. You can purchase it through their MySpace page.
"The Day We Woke Up Without Mouths" may be one of the band's "poppier" songs, what with its "cute," skittering synthesizer line and handclappy background. But don't be fooled; there's danger here - especially as perpetuated by lead singer Emily Neveu. She's that scary aunt you had with the wild, bird's nest hair, the killer-clown lipstick, and the unfiltered cigarette forever perched between fingers and lips. She's the aunt you prayed would never be asked to babysit you, because you just KNEW that her soothing lullabies would inevitably turn into bitter, gin-fueled freakouts. And if she wanted to play the "Got Your Nose!" game with you, you'd damn well better have the number of a good plastic surgeon on speed-dial.
Feel free to check out The Clock Work Army's MySpace page. But be forewarned: Auntie's hemorrhoids have been itching something awful lately, and she'd like to tell you all about it....
[MP3] "The Day We Woke Up Without Mouths"
Prophet Omega is the one-man show of Joe Magistro, who's based in the burrough of Brooklyn and has an album coming out on September 19. That album is called The Natural World and is being released through Astralwerks.
"The Right Thing"'s rolling-thunder drums and simple, filthy guitar licks evoke '60s garage rock at its most simple and straightforward. A breath of fresh air.
Be sure to visit Prophet Omega's MySpace page.
[MP3] "The Right Thing"
No Wait Wait is a four-man band operating out of Duluth, Minnesota. They released their second album, About You, through Chairkickers' Union Music on Tuesday.
Musically-speaking, "Don't Give Up (On Your Man)" features dark, lurching verses that carom into choruses that - while slightly lighter - do little to alleviate the bitter, angry tenor of singer Marc Gartman's message. One gets the distinct impression that the song's title isn't so much a suggestion as a demand.
And yes, No Wait Wait have a MySpace page.
[MP3] "Don't Give Up (On Your Man)"
I still remember the first time I heard Arcade Fire's Funeral. The experience was, in a word, "discombobulating." I had become so accustomed over the years to settling for albums containing just two or three worthwhile tracks (at best), that to discover one that brought me wall-to-wall ecstasy seemed almost a first-of-its-kind experience.
In fact, I would have had to go back a full seven years to find the last time I had so "lost" myself in a full-length CD. That CD was OK Computer, and, in that case, I had at least been primed for the possibility of a transcendent event by my on-going adoration for The Bends.
Before THAT particular experience, I would have had to set the wayback machine to 1992, when R.E.M.'s Automatic for the People was occupying all of my time and attention. It was then that I finally, finally got around to investigating that band's early works, and they were nothing short of a collective revelation. Murmur, in particular, remains a unique and exquisite aural experience, and I can't help but envy all of those prescient pioneers who jumped the R.E.M. bandwagon long before it became cool to do so.
Even now, 25 years after releasing their first single, R.E.M. and their early recordings retain a certain cachet in the music business. All of those early recordings were released by the now-defunct I.R.S. Records, but Capitol has gone ahead and broken into the I.R.S. vault, sifted through the one EP and five "official" albums of the period, and released And I Feel Fine: The Best of the I.R.S. Years (1982-1987). The collection is divided into two discs of 21 tracks each. As one might expect, the first CD collects the more "traditional" stuff - singles and popular album tracks. The second offers up the ephemera - live performances, alternate takes, and a personal favorite from each of the band members (including long-retired drummer Bill Berry).
As is usually the case with these things, the second, "bonus" disc is likely to appeal only to the most serious of R.E.M. fans. And even that presents something of a problem in this case, as the truly serious will have already collected these tunes and performances over the years, by one means or another. Thus, the sticker on the package proclaiming "10 unreleased tracks!" - while technically correct - will be scoffed at by the many who have been trading bootlegs and outtakes amongst themselves since well before any of the Arctic Monkeys breathed air on Earth.
[On the plus side, the full set seems to be selling for just $14.99 (U.S.) at Amazon.com, so that ain't a bad bargain.]
I heartily encourage anyone who hasn't heard much of R.E.M.'s early stuff to strap on a good pair of headphones, crank up the volume till you can barely stand it, and settle in for the ride. One way or another, it's bound to move you.
[A quick note: the songs below are my own mix and have nothing to do with the official release - though you'll find many of the same songs on both collections. Also, some of you sharper-eyed folk may notice that I neglected to include any tracks from Murmur. No doubt, your instinct is to scream, "Blasphemy!" I can only assure you that this was a conscious choice - made because I find that particular album to be so of-a-piece that to tear any of the leaves from the tree is to strip it of the very things that made it beautiful to begin with. Or something like that.]
To acquire the tracks below, please left-click [HERE].
01) Radio Free Europe [Hib Tone single]
02) Can't Get There From Here
03) So. Central Rain
04) I Believe
05) The One I Love
06) Ages of You
07) Driver 8
08) Pretty Persuasion
09) Carnival of Sorts (Box Cars)
10) White Tornado
11) Femme Fatale
12) Begin the Begin
13) These Days
14) Fall on Me
15) Welcome to the Occupation
16) Exhuming McCarthy
17) Disturbance at the Heron House
18) Green Grow the Rushes
19) Strange
20) Cuyahoga
21) Wendell Gee
22) It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)
23) Superman
Tuesday, September 12
It's been all doom-and-gloomy around here lately - weather and otherwise - so I think I need to find me some sort of Rocky Mountain high. Or to fly like an eagle or... you know... something.
Not too long ago, I was thumbing through Rolling Stone's special 1000th issue and stumbled upon the following quote from David Bowie, circa the mid-'70s: "The cultural leaders used to be Humphrey Bogart, James Dean, and Elvis Presley. Now it's John Denver."
Why, the nerve of that snotty little punk, I thought - disparaging poor, dead JOHN DENVER like that! And why? Because John Denver didn't dress in drag (as far as we know) or sleep with Mick Jagger (as far as we know)? Because John Denver seemed as wholesome as Wonderbread, looked like Cousin Oliver from The Brady Bunch, and was constantly thanking God for making him a Country Boy? Well, my word, I thought. Wouldn't Mr. Bowie, of all people, have some understanding of the concept of TOLERANCE?
And let me tell you something directly, Mr. Thin White Dupe: You may have been "The Man Who Fell to Earth" (also: "Sir Roland Moorecock," "Jareth the Goblin King," "Julian Priest," and "Pontius Pilate"), but when God (aka "George Burns") came down to Earth looking for a human representative, who did he choose? That's right: JOHN DENVER.
(And do I also have to remind you that John Denver starred in two - not one, but TWO - TV specials with the Muppets. And you just know that he and Miss Piggy were doin' the back-bacon thang behind Animal's drum kit, so don't even think about calling the man a prude.)
Now, if you don't mind, Mr. Ziggy Stardunce, why don't you do us all a great big favor and drag that pale, androgynous ass of yours back to Mars, where it belongs. (And take your creepy Spiders with you.)
Okay, I'm done ranting at Bowie for now; now I'd like to talk to YOU. I'm sure that many of my loyal visitors (there are five of you now) weren't even BORN in the '70s, let alone know the music of that great visionary, JOHN DENVER. Just know that the man made singing about mountains and eagles and other suchthings immensely, intensely cool. (Hell, even his duet with Placido Domingo was darn purty, so long as you weren't listening too closely. Or at all.)
Truth is, John Denver is one of the voices of my youth - right there alongside Karen Carpenter, Jim Croce, and recent (and highly deserved!) Emmy winner Barry Manilow. So, yes, I truly do recommend that you download these tracks, crank 'em loud, crank 'em proud, and settle in for some peaceful, easy feelins. Who knows? You might just find yourself feeling that Rocky Mountain high I was referring to earlier. (Though, if you don't think the songs themselves are gonna be enough to get you there, feel free to engage in the ganja - just to sort of help things along.) (But only if you're 18 or older.) (And have cataracts.)
[MP3] "Annie's Song"
[MP3] "Looking for Space"
[MP3] "Fly Away" [w/Olivia Newton-John] [Mr. Bowie best not start talking smack about Ms. Olivia, either.]
[MP3] "Take Me Home, Country Roads"
[MP3] "This Old Guitar"
Monday, September 11
Brooklyn-based Favourite Sons will release their debut album, Down Beside Your Beauty, September 12 on Vice Records. Only together a couple of years now, they already seem to possess the sort of chemistry that some bands take years to develop (and some never do).
Much of this chemistry may be readily explainable, as four of the guys played together previously in the Philadelphia neo-psychedelic outfit Aspera. They have now been joined by former Rollerskate Skinny frontman Ken Griffin, whose voice and pockmarked-heart-on-cirrhotic-sleeve lyrics serve as the group's soul and centerpoint. That voice, actually, is something of a wonder - gliding effortlessly from growly-baritone mode to something more akin to a sad, sweet croon.
Musically, Favourite Sons are just as supple. Almost all of the songs - from one angle or another - tend to take on the sort of '70s sienna tones that in another artist's hands might be described as "honeyed." Here, they often just seem weary. Worn-out. Washed-out. But not dead yet.
Indeed, the band doesn't sound anywhere near dead on songs like "No One Ever Dies Young" and "Hang On, Girl." Here, the riffs and rhythm section rise from whatever deep pit of disappointment and despair the singer previously dug himself into. And, for his part, the singer sounds grateful to have been saved.
Finally, it occurs to me: somebody should have told these guys that there's a natural consequence for producing a debut record this impressive.
You can only go down from here.
Favourite Sons will be playing the following shows in the very near future. I'm guessing they'll be great.
Sep 12 8:00P/Sound Fix In Store/Brooklyn (Williamsburg), NY
Sep 14 12:00P/KEXP's Cheryl Waters' Show/Seattle, WA
Sep 14 8:00P/Chop Suey/Seattle, WA
Sep 16 8:00P/Café Du Nord/San Francisco, CA
Sep 18 8:00P/Spaceland/Los Angeles, CA
Sep 19 8:00P/Safari Sams/Los Angeles, CA
Sep 22 8:00P/Mercury Lounge/New York, NY
[MP3] "Hang On, Girl"
[MP3] "Down Beside Your Beauty"
It's difficult to know how seriously to take a band like Ima Robot. There's the name, to begin with. (Though, come to think of it, Radiohead's a pretty silly name, too, now isn't it?)
But there's also the music - which mixes in so many bits of so many styles that you've almost got yourself a gumbo. Not a BAD gumbo, mind you - just a bit thin. The ingredients? Well... you'll need to start with some chopped power-pop. A cup of punk. Thicken with addition of new-wave roux. Drop in dollop of electro-pop. Garnish with glam.
Now, before I drive this culinary metaphor completely down the disposal (yeah, I know; too late), let me also tell you that Ima Robot hail from Los Angeles (entirely appropriately), and that they were founded and are still led by didn't-want-to-die-just-a-cry-for-help haircutted singer Alex Ebert and guitarist Timmy "the Terror" Anderson. Their second record, Monument to the Masses, will be released tomorrow (September 12), and I have a feeling the kids are gonna eat it up with a spoon (ahh, that fucking metaphor again).
Finally, it might be noted that these guys previously toured with Hot Hot Heat. I'm here to tell you: it just as easily could have been the Faint. Or Hard-Fi. Or, as Ima Robot themselves have been wont to mention: Panic! at the Disco. All of which is to say: their music is slick. Sassy. Super-slick. Mad-ass sassy. It is also superficial. Stupendously, silly-ass superficial. But the hooks are humongous. The choruses are colossal. And their youthful exuberance may well go a long way toward softening even the hardest of indie hearts.
If you'd like to hear some Ima Robot songs that are not offered here, you'll want to go to their MySpace page.
If you'd like to catch one of Ima Robot's live shows in the not-too-distant future, you'll need to go to one of the following places, at one of the following times...
Sep 12 8:00P/Safari Sam's/Los Angeles, CA
Sep 16 9:00P/Mezzanine/San Francisco, CA
[MP3] "Disconnect"
[MP3] "Happy Annie"
Sunday, September 10
What with the success of so many retro, '80s-styled, British-influenced bands in recent years, it seems entirely appropriate that Rhino Records has been re-releasing a number of discs from the Cure canon. It's also no coincidence, I'm sure, that the band just turned 30 this year. Heavens to Betsy! What must Robert Smith's cosmetics bill be THESE days?
Now, if you'll permit me, a little personal story: Many years ago, while driving with a friend, a Cure song came on the radio. With a voice teetering between anger and dread, she asked, "Is this the Cure?" Upon being informed that it was, she promptly responded, "I can't STAND the Cure! It isn't even MUSIC!"
Well, music it most certainly is. But I'm quite sure my friend's view at the time has been shared by many over the course of the Cure's career. For some, maybe it WAS the cosmetics. Or maybe it was just the gloomy-doomy downer-ness of so much of it. You had the goths calling the Cure popsters. You had the popsters calling the Cure goths. What a goddam mess. Is this what it's like for Dashboard Confessional? (We can only hope.)
Yet, quite obviously, there have always been plenty of disillusioned, disenfranchised, and just plain depressed teens and young adults who have understood the Cure and their particular vibe to the very core. These were the people who breathed in every lachrymose lyric and gorgeously mordant minor chord, seemingly convinced that these things might just ultimately reveal the path to personal salvation - a path that didn't lead up to the light, but further down into the all-consuming, all-concealing dark. (But... Heavens to Betsy! What must these poor, sad-soulled creatures have made of "Friday I'm in Love"? The heart shudders to wonder.)
Surely, for these hardcore hangers-on, 1989's Disintegration served as both the summit and terminus of the Cure's coolness. Just before that time, however, when the frontman/future Edward Scissorhands inspiration was but a mere pup of 28, the band released the far more sprawling, far less-focused, yet far more accessible (for the most part) Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me. Well, guess what kids? Thanks to the aforementioned Rhino Records, it's back again to work its happy/sad black magic. It has, of course, been digitally remastered, though only those with 20/20 hearing (and is this even possible on our iPod-dominated planet?) may be able to detect much difference from the original incarnation.
So, what else do you get for your $19.97 (U.S./Amazon)? Well, you get a whole 'nother CD, for one thing. Unfortunately, pretty much half of the tracks are by-the-numbers, instrumental demos. Beyond that, you get a handful of alternative mixes, none of which comes particularly close to eclipsing its official twin. Finally, there are a couple of live tracks of less-than-perfect sound quality that I seriously doubt even the most ardent Cure aficionado will find indispensable. One will also find the requisite booklet, which features, alas, not a track-by-track synopsis by Robert Smith, but a general essay by... well... somebody not directly in the band. Oh, but it DOES have lyrics. Yee-ha. Whoop-de-doo.
Clearly, then, the main attraction here is the original album itself, which remains a fascinating puzzler. On the one hand, the band is clearly taking some Talking Heads-esque leaps with their "signature" sound here - playing around with rhythms and instrumentation. On the other hand, you'll find such intensely straightforward and satisfying classics as "Just Like Heaven" and "Why Can't I Be You?" here as well. A mixed bag, in the end? That's always been MY take. But for those who breathed in every lyric and mordant minor chord... this ranks as one of the Cure's absolute classics. The final word, as always, is yours...
[MP3] "All I Want"
[MP3] "Like Cockatoos"
[MP3] "Icing Sugar" [alternative mix]
Dark Side of the Cop is the electronic - and largely experimental - project of Marco Panella. His self-titled debut album is premised on a couple of unquestionably unique and eccentric conceits. For starters, he set out to execute a modern-day re-imagining of the Beverly Hills Cop soundtrack (thereby answering the prayers of the millions of us who could never get enough of Glenn Frey's "The Heat is On" and the Pointer Sisters' "Neutron Dance"). Of course, this was never meant to be a literal, track-by-track remake, but rather an effort to wed the Detroit-cop-fish-out-of-water-revenge-comedy-in-Beverly Hills plotline with moody, anti-"Axel F Theme" electronic textures and slight hints of '70s-era, California-styled songwriting. Talk about a concept album....
But that apparently wasn't enough for Mr. Panella. He was also intrigued by the infamous/ambiguous Dark Side of the Moon/Wizard of Oz synchronization concept. So this, too - in some way - is meant to pervade the spirit of the music and mood. Ultimately, of course, it is up to the listener to see where, when, and how well these somewhat intellectual conceits work with the music itself. The songs below should provide you with at least some small starting point in that endeavor.
You can visit Dark Side of the Cop's MySpace page and download one of the other best tracks on the album, "Love Me From Above."
You can purchase the album itself at Auger Down Records.
[MP3] "Shaky Little Rules"
[MP3] "Childhood"
Saturday, September 9
If yesterday's Everclear post wasn't quite your cup of tea, perhaps a bit of lush-yet-understated, country-inflected pop from New York's Hem will be more successful in transporting you to your special place. These three guys and a girl just released their second album of 2006, Funnel Cloud, on Nettwerk Records. (No Word From Tom, a collection of b-sides, rarities, covers, etc., came out in February.)
Funnel Cloud expands a bit on the band's previous sonic palette (on 2001's Rabbit Songs and 2004's Eveningland). Still, fans should have no problem recognizing the low-key proceedings, extensive-but-unobtrusive instrumentation, and the smooth, lyrical vocals of singer Sally Ellyson. In part because of those vocals, Hem are often compared to Cowboy Junkies, but I personally find Ellyson's voice "lighter" than Margot Timmons' - which is neither a good nor a bad thing... just a different thing.
[Hem's MySpace page.]
[MP3] "I'll Dream of You Tonight"
[MP3] "Reservoir"
[MP3] "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"
Friday, September 8
Who woulda thunk it? Some 11 years after breaking into the grunge/pop-punk buzz bin with "Santa Monica" and Sparkle and Fade, Everclear is still alive and kicking and kicking out the jams. Their new album, Welcome to the Drama Club, will be released September 12 on Eleven Seven Records.
Of course, Everclear has always been the creative domain of Art Alexakis - relying on his songwriting and deep personal well of woes (failed mariages, bankruptcy, drug dependency) to build songs chock-a-block with musical and emotional crescendoes. Now 42, the singer is still at his best when spitting venom at any number of enemies - whether personal or political. First single "Hater" has already drawn much attention for its religion-baiting, "Hater Jesus" music video.
Vocally, Alexakis still has all the range of an arthritic snail. And his song structures haven't changed a whole hell of a lot over the years, either. If one hears an Everclear tune, one immediately KNOWS it's an Everclear tune. That can be a good thing; brand recognition and all. But obviously it can be interpreted from the negative end of the spectrum as well; heard one Everclear song, heard 'em all.
So... Welcome to the Drama Club isn't likely to earn Everclear many new fans. But the old diehards should be neither surprised nor disappointed by what they find there. That may be small comfort for the band, but it's exactly things like comfort and familiarity that keep a rock outfit rolling into their second decade of existence.
From the LP Welcome to the Drama Club, 2006 >>>
[MP3] "Shine"
[MP3] "Glorious"
From the LP Slow Motion Daydream, 2003 >>>
[MP3] "Blackjack"
From the LP Songs From an American Movie, Vol. 1, 2000 >>>
[MP3] "Wonderful"
Friday, September 1
Okey-dokey then, here's my best effort at a Best of August mix. I'm in too lousy a mood (have been for forever now) to present this with much fanfare. But I'd like to think the songs are better than my current disposition. Feel free to agree to disagree.
[Also note: Unlike most of my Best Of mixes, this one runs past 80 minutes and thus will not fit on a traditional CD-R disc. I am confident, however, that you will be able to listen to the tracks and jettison the requisite number to make yourself a "personalized" (and perfect) mix. Edit away.]
At your leisure, please left-click [here] to collect the collection.
01) The Beautiful South/There is Song
02) The Killers/When You Were Young
03) The Hussy's/Tiger
04) Razorlight/In the Morning
05) Funky Nashville/Hitch a Ride
06) The Features/Wooden Heart
07) Ima Robot/Happy Annie
08) Paul Brill/Paris is On
09) The Damnwells/Heartbreaklist
10) The Cloud Room/Hey Now Now
11) Thom Yorke/Harrowdown Hill
12) Outkast [w/Janelle Monae]/Call the Law
13) The Legion of Doom/Crazy As She Goes
14) Peter, Bjorn and John [w/Victoria Bergsman]/Young Folks
15) The Needles/Dianne
16) Cosmic Rough Riders/Just a Satellite
17) Sing-Sing/Feels Like Summer
18) Richard Buckner/Town
19) Ben Kweller/Penny on the Train Track
20) Lady & Bird/Suicide is Painless
21) LD & the New Criticism/Unpaid Endorsement
22) Kashmir/Rocket Brothers
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This blog is about documenting the Singularity, which means bringing to your attention some of the normally unnoticed news items that may, in fact, be harbingers of the "knee of the curve," the beginning of the end or the end of the beginning. Just imagine these headlines as part of a retrospective after the Singularity has undeniably occurred. Let's do some 20/20 foresight here, people.
NYT - May 21, 2009, by Saul Hansell
What would you do with a $40 Linux computer the size of a three-prong plug adapter?
Marvell Technology Group is counting on an army of computer engineers and hackers to answer that question. It has created a "plug computer." It's a tiny plastic box that you plug into an electric outlet. There's no display. But there is an Ethernet jack to connect to a home network and a U.S.B. socket for attaching a hard drive, camera or other device. Inside is a 1.2 gigahertz Marvell chip, called an application processor, running a version of the Linux operating system.
All this can be yours for $99 today and probably for under $40 in two years.
"There's not much in there," said Sehat Sutardja, Marvell's chief executive and co-founder, just a few chips and the sort of power supply used to charge a cellphone battery. Because this computer uses chips designed for cellphones, it uses far less power than chips designed for regular computers.
Read more>>
Follow me on Twitter. Technological Singularity and Futurism is updated often; the easiest way to get your regular dose is by subscribing to our news feed. Stay on top of all our updates by subscribing now via RSS or Email.

subset: commoncrawl


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Josh Dean – Odd Jobs
December 22, 2012
Josh Dean tells the story of taking a plane ride over Alberta with a very quiet passenger.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Entry filed under: Odd Jobs. Tags: .
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Industrial Mechanization Facilitating Better Quality at Faster Rate
It was in the not so distant past that man used to accept that earth was the core of the universe and that people were the consequence of something heavenly. It is truly intriguing to observe that man now has aced the force of innovation and principles the planet with it. The greatest profit of the progression of engineering has been offered to the modern segment. Mechanization, mechanical autonomy, technique administration, and numerical administration are the different procedures that have taken commercial ventures in practically their primitive structure and impelled them towards greater victories. At the time we come to measure the biggest preferences of this automation, we are left with a considerable few of them. Certain profits include consistency, easier control, waste reduction, tuning with business infrastructure, financial profit and lessening of manual labor.
It is remarkable that usage of business mechanization gives cost funds identified with link end and elective investment funds likewise are available through speedier approval. This computerization and system administration enormously lessen the prerequisite for human tactile and mental necessities. For the most part entangled modern mechanization forms and frameworks may be machine-driven. Two major points of interest of business mechanization and system administration are the hyperbolic push on adaptability and compatibility inside the handling strategy. Administrators have discovered that in this advancement, upkeep is decreased are discernibly expanded by receiving mechanical computerization results as a critical part of their venture.
Let us take a chance to take the illustration of the Concrete Pump Stations in this respect. The aforementioned stations could be best portrayed as a kind of mechanical assembly that is built to move and transport cement from one place to a different one. Expediting the technique of transporting a substantial measure of cement in a short time of time was the essential expectation of imagining the stated pumping mechanisms. The working of the aforementioned relies on the procurement of power. This is what demarcates the sort of the machine and what sort of liquid could be transported with the assistance of it. Long ago, the aforementioned machines needed an important measure of fuel to run and additionally transformed much smoke and clamor. Then again, on account of the progression in innovation, one will perceive that now there likewise are stations that construct utilization of renewable wellsprings of vigor. Most recent models of the aforementioned mechanisms have been planned to make the most extreme utilization o sun oriented power wherever it is accessible effortlessly. There are more than enough focal points which may be accepted with the utilization of sun based force. The most basic benefit is that the value that is brought about on power is decreased. The utilization of the aforementioned gadgets have likewise accelerated the development procedures all over and made the work much more secure.
Regarding the matter of the ecological element, specify of a different sort of machine must be made. The magnetic drive pumps and the biodiesel business offer a crucial normal objective -accomplishing more secure, less sullied surroundings. By wiping out the turning mechanical seal of the aged radial devices, the previously stated attractive ones have killed the shot of liquid holes of exceedingly unsafe chemicals throughout the exchange. There is a pack of other propelling explanations behind mulling over the vocation of the aforementioned pumping mechanisms inside the biodiesel creation strategy. Mechanical growths and years of requisition dexterity partner degreed have ensured an always broadening acknowledgement of the aforementioned machines all around. This has brought about a dependable, productive requisition. The aforementioned machines are recognized to be the hardest and most secure machines to handle the liquids which are gooey or inflammable in nature.


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VDO Dayton
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Jon Embree talks about Yuri Wright's commitment to Colorado: "He touched a hot stove"
Colorado football coach Jon Embree talked Wednesday about getting an official signing day commitment from Yuri Wright, a four-star cornerback from Don Bosco Prep in New Jersey who was expelled from school recently for a slew of sexually explicit and racially offensive twitter messages.
And Woody Paige on Wednesday discussed what Wright's signing means to the CU program.
And Embree didn't back away from it.
"I didn't have any reservations," Embree said. "Being the father of a couple of boys in a similar age range, I understand he made a mistake. But that's not a reason to bury a kid."
Embree said he discussed Wright's situation with CU chancellor Phil DiStefano and athletic director Mike Bohn.
"I told him that part of my job as a coach is to be a mentor and to teach African-American boys how to be men. And when they make a mistake, it's my job to try to help pick them up. Because too often, they don't have anybody to show them the way."
Embree said he talked to Wright soon after he was expelled from school.
"He was crying. I told him, he had a lot of friends before the incident, and then none after. I told him that's how it works."
Embree said he tries to be available to help the kids he recruits — including those who decide not to enroll at CU.
"I'm glad I wasn't 17 years old in the '80s, we didn't have cellphones and whatever. But that train's left the station. That's part of growing up, is learning those lessons. At the same time, it's not a reason to not allow a kid an opportunity to improve himself.
"It has nothing to do with football. We had some highly-rated kids we didn't take, because character-wise it's something I didn't want in this program. Last year too."
Embree said his decision to recruit Wright, after other schools, including Michigan, removed their offers, had little to do with only wanting to win.
"Yeah, I have to win games or I'm not sitting here. But at the same time, there are 105 kids in that locker room and I have to help them become men. It never once crossed my mind not to help this kid, whether he came here or went somewhere else."
Ultimately, Embree hopes Wright's controversy becomes a teaching moment for his players.
"I told them, don't tweet anything about girls, don't use the 'N word' and don't say anything about your teammates.
"That was the most disappointing thing about what he did, use the 'N word.' Unfortunately, it's a generational thing — they say it likes it's saying 'homeboy.' But I don't think they truly understand the connotations of that word, they don't understand the struggles of African-Americans who had to overcome an attitude around that word.
Embree added:
"He touched a hot stove. I'll be surprised if he touches it again."
- CU's latest: Updated football recruiting list
- Controversy: Yuri Wright brings baggage to CU
- Woody Paige: Twitter mistake can be teaching tool
Find Nick Groke on Twitter @NickGroke
And reach him at email@example.com


text: Shop Cake Decorating Tools & Equipment Cake Lace Pavoni Silicone Lace Mat - Decor Strip 5 Back to Cake Lace Pavoni Silicone Lace Mat - Decor Strip 5 £8.99 No ratings yet Qty 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Add to basket Key Features Versatile Free Standard UK Delivery on Orders Over £30 Terms & Conditions Share Product DescriptionProduct InformationRatings & ReviewsDelivery & Returns Product DescriptionYou can create really delicate edible lace using this lace mould. It's the ideal solution for edging a celebration cake with. Product InformationProduct Dimensions: Full mould measures: 390mm (L) x 80mm (W) Ratings & Reviews Reviews Unfortunately there are currently no reviews for this product yet! Leave Your Thoughts Unfortunately reviews are not permitted to non-registered users. Please Log in to leave your review or ask us a question. Delivery & ReturnsStandard Delivery Standard delivery costs £3.95 Your order will be delivered within 2-3 working days of receipt. You will receive an email confirming despatch of your order after which the order will be delivered within 48 hours of despatch from our warehouse. International Deliveries Unfortunately we do not offer international deliveries at this time Returns Please refer to our Returns and Refunds page for more information New Recipes, Straight to Your Inbox Get the latest special offers, competitions, recipes, news and Baking Mad views directly to your inbox! You Can Change Your Mind at Any Time - See our Privacy Policy for Details. Become a Member Get free entry in to our regular competitions Have a chance to become our baker of the month Help other bakers by rating and reviewing recipes Become a member


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Warning: I am going to be unabashed in my language and enthusiasm about my faith right now. Read on if you dare.
For the meantime, many of the names in this story are being changed, just to be safe.
Last night a remarkable thing happened.
But it could only have happened because of what occurred three years and nearly five months ago. And because of all that has come to pass since then- based on the choices my family and I have made and the choices other inspired people have made.
I tell you now, God is real. I think coincidences are real things that happen and I also know that this was not a coincidence. It was a miracle. The manifestation of God's merciful, loving hand guiding and nudging and arranging. And my family and I get to be both witnesses and tools in His hand.
In January of 2014, my wife, Annemarie, was diagnosed with kidney cancer. The cancer was found because she was pregnant and something seemed off to her, so we went to the hospital to have an ultrasound and other needful tests. And the pregnancy only happened because of lots of prayer, heartfelt conversations, and a decision to trust God. We felt revelation was leading us to have another child- and that revelation ended up saving Annemarie's life.
So after the surgery and recovery and finally feeling ourselves settle back into a new normal, I think we both had an epiphany: life is short. Death is real. It's not the end, but it's the end of this existence, so maybe we should go milk this existence for all it's worth. We were open for possibilities, my friends. And excited about what lay ahead.
Then I was laid off in July in a shameful way. I was angry. Anger motivates me and I decided to 'show them' by pushing my Instructional Design career as far and as fast as I could. I took courses. Built a network. Contracted for American Express. Took more courses and got certifications. Got a job at Bluehost to help revamp their training.
Then Amazon called. After a great interview cycle and trip, we got a job offer. We'd been warning the kids that this might happen and that we might take the job- necessitating a move to Seattle. We were surprised and thrilled. We talked and prayed. We were hesitant but excited. It was time to do new things- the whole family needed the experience. We felt Heavenly Father's approval. We took the job.
The family came up in June of 2015. After our offer on a house north of Seattle was basically ignored, we turned our attention south. We ended up buying a pretty new, lovely house in Black Diamond, about an hour south of Seattle. We are across the street from a lake. The street is a gravel road that extends north and south in front of our house- south into a deep forest of trees and hidden houses. That's important foreshadowing right there.
We settled in. My work was insane and hard and full of pressure and changing all the time. Annemarie homeschooled child 2 and 3 (boy and girl) while children 1, 4, and 5 all went to school. Child 6 was still too young for school so he stayed home.
As the new school year began in 2016, I hit an enormous home run that settled my job down a ton and made me start traveling a bunch. And Annemarie got kids into schools all over the place, with the oldest doing a mix of high school and college, and the rest of the kids in schools all over the map. She drives a lot these days.
Our daughter, Lily, ended up being the only kid going to the school that the school district expected her to go to. Cedar Heights Middle School. She takes the bus to and from school. She's having an overall good experience there.
Soon after the school year began, Lily started bringing a friend home, a tall, cheerful girl named May. May and Lily waited at the same bus stop in the morning and they became good friends. And then May was at our house nearly every afternoon, playing video games, goofing with the kids, and just being herself. We thought she was a bit of a nut and really liked her a lot.
One rainy Saturday in October, she showed up at our door wrapped in a blanket and shoeless. She said she'd been kicked out of her house by her mom. By now, her mom knew who we were, and an hour or so later, someone from May's house showed up with unmatching shoes.
We kept May with us that day, warming her and feeding her and comforting her. We didn't pry much. She cheered up fast and played. She ate dinner with us. We make a mean homemade 'Whatever Noodles & Cheese'.
A police officer showed up at 8PM, asking if she was with us, saying that her mother had reported her missing. Which is silly in light of the fact that we had a pair of unmatched shoes as evidence she knew where her daughter was. We talked to the officer for a while and we decided May would spend the night at our house, crashing in Lily's room on an air mattress. The officer said, "The more time she's away from that house, the better." Turned out that May and her mom, Fran, lived there out of her mom's friend's kindness. Fran's friend was the owner/renter (I dunno). But Fran's friend was addicted to drugs and the home was firmly on the radar of law enforcement. And May, it turned out, had been in foster care several times throughout her life, due to Fran's own struggles with alcohol and drugs. In fact, May had a brother who had been legally taken in by Fran's mother years before.
So May spent the night with us and came to church with us the next day. She liked it a lot. And a routine was born! She came over every Saturday with a bag of clothes and spent the day and night and part of Sunday with us. I started jokingly referring to her as 'weekend daughter.' She played and played and wrestled and got loud and played and more.
Our kids were champions. They didn't blink. They just welcomed their new weekend sister with no hesitation. We'd talked to them after the first weekend, making sure they understood what was happening as well as possible. But they didn't pry and didn't complain. Annemarie and I talked sometimes about what May's home life must be like. We got a look at it sometimes because one or both of us would walk May home on Sunday afternoons.
I felt a lot of empathy for her. I saw her ability to read a room really fast and the way she keys in on adults' moods instantaneously and recognized it. I do the same and have for as long as I can remember. And Annemarie was so good and gentle and warm with her.
Then May stopped coming. We asked Lily where May was and Lily said she thought May was sick. This went on for a couple weeks and Lily said she actually wasn't sure what was going on. She hadn't seen May in school for a while. We tried to get in touch with her, but only finally succeeded several weeks later when May replied to an email sent by Lily.
May had been taken out of the home after a drug raid. She was with a foster family.
Annemarie and I talked it over in I think sixty seconds. We were going to go get May and bring her into our home. Period. Annemarie made the call to Child Protective Services I believe on a Wednesday about 10 days before Christmas. We picked May up two days before Christmas. We weren't licensed foster parents, but were deemed 'Suitable Alternatives' due to our history with her. We figured we had an agreement with CPS and the case worker that they would help us get started down the road of becoming official foster parents.
May has been with us ever since. Annemarie supervised regular visits between May and her mom while Fran still lived in the house down the road. But finally Fran left that house and went to a women's shelter in Kent, about 20 minutes away. Annemarie supervised a few more visits with Fran.
Also, before all of this began, Annemarie took the LSATs and got a great score. She was offered a prestigious scholarship at BYU in Utah and she accepted, so we had plans to move there before Fall of 2017. CPS and the case worker knew that as everything unfolded. In fact, the case worker indicated he thought it would probably work out fine to have May come with us and she could come up to Washington regularly to see her mom. We were down with that.
May's health overall improved. We got a great loft bed to put in the girls' room and those two girls decked that bed and room out very impressively. Christmas lights and gossamer, guys. May decided to take lessons from the missionaries from our church. She prayed and studied and decided to be baptized. I baptized her on March 4th, learning that her full name was May Marie Call. Fran was there and was very emotional. She wasn't moving very well, using a walker, but she was so clearly happy that May was doing so well.
Then, while I was abroad, we got the unexpected and heartbreaking news that Fran had passed a few weeks later. We still don't know the cause.
After a few days of grief and quiet, May mentioned adoption. We were all for it. The case worker thought it was a great idea. Paperwork and the process are underway and are frustratingly slow. We know it will all work out, but we pray it works out quickly. One of the issues is that May's father has been out of the picture since she was 3 or 4. He'd been in prison for a while, and then basically fell off the map. Nobody at CPS or Social Services has any clue about his whereabouts and he doesn't seem to have a phone number. So the folks at CPS etc. began the process of filing a petition for termination of rights.
And May has us. But she misses her mother and is hurt by her father leaving.
Last Sunday, Sister Ballard came up to me and asked me if I would be able to help with the Young Women activity. They were going to go up to Seattle and talk to and feed homeless people in Pioneer Park with an organization called Mama's Hands. They needed a second Priesthood holder, so Sister Ballard asked me. Which is a little odd. I'm traveling a lot and the ward knows it. But Sister Ballard clearly was led.
I, after a moment of stark-raving fear because I work long days already and talking to people, strangers no less, at the end of my long day is not my idea of fun. But the quiet voice in me yelled, "Jared, you want to help people out so put your money where your mouth is." I said yes I could help.
My two girls, May and Lily, and I piled into my small Corolla. We picked up Destiny, May's neighbor from before who had recently been baptized, and met at the church. With those three and Aeris packed in the car, we drove up to Bellevue, met the rest of the group again and Denny Hancock, the man who runs Mama's Hands. I and the girls I'd driven up rode with Denny downtown. The big group split up and I took Lily and Aeris, hamburgers in tow, around the block to start handing out food. We talked to several people, got all the way back to the park, and handed another burger to a fellow sitting nearby his bike and shopping cart. We smiled and chatted a bit with him and then moved on.
By that time, my knee, which had recently had surgery, was pretty much done, so I looked for a place to rest.
That voice came again. "Fight the introversion. Talk to that guy with the bike."
So I asked if I could sit with him. He said yes. His eyes were clear and he seemed eager to talk. I asked if he had any family. He said, with a small grin, "I was.. pretty fertile as a younger man." He had several children with several women, it turned out. He said his last two were with his last wife (although I'm not sure if he said they were ever married). He pointed out that the last two were a boy, then a girl, and that the boy, Timothy Junior, had wound up being "signed over" to their mom's mother.
Something went off in my head. I grew more interested. He said, "And my daughter, May Marie…" and I didn't hear the rest because.. well.. you get it, right?
So I leaned in closer and got him talking more. I think I knew at this point exactly who this man was, but I had to be sure and I truly had no idea what on earth I was going to do once I got confirmation. And dear Father in Heaven could this truly be happening? Had I really just found May's father?
He spoke of his life and relationships, how he struggled with drugs of all kinds and spent a year here and a year there in jail. He mentioned a detail I remembered hearing from May, about when she and her mother lived in a car. Finally, he said, "And sad to say I got a letter from the social services about two months ago saying she'd passed." He mentioned that he thought he'd heard that the daughter he'd left all those years before was with family friends.
That was confirmation. I was on the edge of my rough concrete seat, beginning to shake. This was impossible. I asked him if he wanted to have his kids back. He quietly, with some shame, said he knew he couldn't take care of them. He just wanted to know they were happy and safe. Finally, I said, "Hey, they're all waiting for me over there. But I want to keep talking. Will you wait here for a minute? I'll be right back."
He said he would wait.
I stood. "My name's Jared Garrett. What's your name again?" I stuck out my hand.
"Timothy J. Call." He shook my hand.
I walked away, asking God how and why and what I should do. I pulled out my phone, talked to Annemarie, told her what had just happened. We both were stunned. I asked her what I should do. She said she didn't know. I said I was worried about hurting May, opening old wounds, but that maybe this would be really good for her. I admit I was also worried he might suddenly lay claim on MY daughter.
After talking to Annemarie, I was calmer, but still paralyzed. Didn't know what to do. I told Sister Bolles and Sister Metler what had happened. They were stunned. I said a prayer, more emotion and pleading than words, and went back to Tim and had him sit down across from me.
"Tim. Okay." Trust Father in Heaven. Say what He says. "I'm about to tell you something that is going to seem impossible. But it's real because Father in Heaven loves you and wants you to turn fully to Him. He wants you to put your life in order, Tim."
Tim leaned forward, interested.
I went on. "I know your daughter, May." I thought I should start small. I was fearful. Didn't know if I should reveal everything.
"You know my daughter?" He gulped and tears sprang into his eyes. "Is she okay?"
We talked for a minute and I told him she was okay. Told him she was with me and my family. That we loved her, that she was surrounded by love, that she had a sister and five brothers now.
He sprang to his feet. I did the same. He threw his arms around me and cried into my shoulder and I held him as tightly as I could, shaking, trying to stay upright, my chest and throat tight.
After a few minutes, I asked him if he could just wait one more minute because I needed to talk to my group, who was still waiting. I wanted to make sure I could reach him. He stayed standing, scrubbing his face.
I went to May, who was playing basketball with some people in the square. I sat her down. Pointed at the standing man. And trusting as much as I've ever trusted in Heavenly Father, I told her. "This is insane. It's the hand of God and He loves you so much. That man's your father."
She got quiet and hunched forward, hands on her mouth, eyes wide. After a minute, I asked her if she wanted to meet him. She did. She said, "I saw him earlier and thought he looked familiar."
I brought her over. "Tim. God loves you. This is a miracle. And this is your daughter."
They hugged. He cried and cried. He finally stepped away, studying her face. "You got my nose." His voice was small and he laughed. He gently pushed a lock of hair away from her face.
"I'm tall like you." May looked between the ground and Tim.
Tim and I exchanged numbers as the Young Women leaders, then the Young Women, surrounded us, hugging May, speaking tenderly to Tim, and bringing sweetness and goodness in palpable waves. Tim told May and me that if May wanted to be adopted, he approved. May said she did. He said, "I just want you to be happy."
Pictures were taken. Hugs never seemed to end. This must have been something like what the Day of Pentecost felt like. This is what being led not knowing feels like. This is beyond an honor or privilege, this is the power and manifestation of a Divine Father in Heaven who has a Plan for all and a Plan for each one of us. And plans inside of plans. And Who set in motion this to happen three years ago. Then sent the Spirit to whisper to Sister Ballard, "Ask Brother Garrett."
I grew quiet for the rest of the evening, during the ride to Bellevue, then driving home. I later found out that the Young Women leaders were praying and intending to fast for a miracle that would help the process of bringing May fully into our home.
It's early yet. I know it will work out. I'm still shaking.


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"A child deserves a mother and a father"
The above statement is now the preferred term when arguing against gay marriage. It's the go-to statement for lobbyists/ activists that fear backlash and reprisal. 'I'm not prejudice, I'm only thinking of the children'. Well, isn't that nice. You're thinking of the children like any honorable citizen would. You're often a member of a religiously affiliated organization, but you're untouchable now that a child's wellbeing is your main objective.
Of course, as we all know, gay wedding ceremonies double as transition ceremonies whereby one of the grooms/ brides to be spontaneously grows the reproductive organs of the opposite sex in order to fall pregnant during their same-sex engagement. The groom or bride does retain the form of their original gender as to not alter the definition of their same-sex marital status, and soon gives rise to the inevitable event that happens with every marriage: childbirth. Because if they didn't, their commitment would be deemed null and void and essentially pointless. Marriage after menopause? Pointless. Remarriage after the kids have left the nest? Pointless. Marriage where neither party wants children? Pointless. Marriage between two or more infertile peoples? Pointless. Marriage between two people of the same sex? You got it, pointless.
So what is marriage? Is it a commitment between a man and a woman? Is it a commitment between two people? Is it a commitment between one man and multiple women? Is it the commitment between one man and one child bride? Or is it the commitment between one woman and multiple men?
LOL, you obviously knew I was joking about that last option. What a joke that would be. That shit ain't legal anywhere, including the polygamous African and Middle Eastern regions of the planet (three cheers for the everlasting double-standards of the human race). Anyway, my point is that marriage differs and is as much a cultural practice as it is a legal one. It's a celebration of commitment to one's spouse(s) that's ultimately ratified by the government. Emphasis on the word 'government', not church, government. And if you're a citizen of a democratic nation, they work for you and uphold your rights (or are meant to).
But that begs the question: is marriage a gay right? It hasn't been recognized in the past, nowhere in modern history was same-sex marriage 'a thing' until 2003 when the Netherlands became the first country in the world to legalize it, Belgium next. So how can gays be so arrogant as to assume the longstanding tradition between a man and a woman extends to them? In my opinion, sexual orientation. Marriage is hard enough as it is if divorce rates are any indication, so why complicate if further by marrying someone who's not interested? Because a society that doesn't approve of nor recognize the LGBT community is a society where the LGBT community is forced into hiding, and while in hiding, they will marry those of the opposite sex and, in many cases, lead a double life. That in itself directly damages society. Also, for much of modern history, people didn't get it. Homosexuality was a deviance and ultimately a choice. Same-sex marriage didn't exist because society was ignorant and in the dark ages of understanding. Marriage is steeped in heterosexual tradition for that very reason: selfish ignorance.
With all those obvious points out of the way (obvious to the Netherlands, Belgium, South Africa, New Zealand, Canada, etc), here's another: Some will always believe that gay people don't make good parents, but I know they can, and I intend to be one despite the legality of my marital status. A wedding ring doesn't dictate the function of my reproductive organs nor does the government dictate my reproductive rights. There are multiple studies on the children of gay families that prove time and time again that they're just as well-adjusted and psychologically healthy as those of traditional families if given the chance, so the anti-equality bandwagon are going to have to find another weapon in their arsenal. Because if they truly care about the wellbeing of children, tackle the ice epidemic or start on a minority group who, statistics-wise, nurture a worse environment than gay people have ever shown to provide (African American, Australian Aboriginal, the poor and single-parent households, for example. Not very PC to mention, but if child welfare is their paramount, best start at the bottom and work their way up).
Believe it or not, I was a kid once. In fact, most of the LGBT community were. And for many of us, this hostile and negative environment really harmed our wellbeing and psychological health, which probably accounts for the disparity in suicide rates between us and our hetero peers (aka, friends and family). I know I would've loved to have been exposed to an LGBT-friendly environment, but was instead exposed to the onslaught of heterosexuality. Funny that I still turned out gay despite society's best efforts to make sure I didn't, which—to me—appears to be the anti-gay bandwagon's ultimate objective.
For some, life-long monogamy is an impossible achievement. But that doesn't make it any less wonderful, so it should be legal for those who choose to make it their goal, which—for a community still reeling from the HIV epidemic—can only be a good thing.
The LGBT community transcends all races, economic classes, cultural divides and borders, proving itself to be a product of mankind, NOT the Western World. And if the government wants to ratify monogamous commitment, it should be a right all citizens can strive for. So let's cut the lies and deception and foster a society where straight women don't fall victim to doomed marriages, where straight men aren't with women who can't stand the thought of being with them, and where a gay person can feel safe and comfortable enough to be honest with themselves and therefore more able to commit to a relationship they're biologically primed for.
"Civil partnership" is not a good compromise. It's a bureaucratic bitch-slap completely devoid of romance and reeking of the same double-standard bullshit that plagues the human race. And given the multitude of evidence proving the capability of same-sex parents, the fact LGBT persons pay tax and the fact gay marriage will help tackle the issue of infidelity by fostering an environment in which people marry for the right reasons instead of social expectation, same-sex marriage is a right that everyone should be entitled to. Children just aren't a good enough reason to deny it, especially when children aren't even the envisioned future for many of those in the LGBT community seeking to wed.
(I intend to make a blog post entirely devoted to LGBT parenting covering all sides of the argument, including my own personal misgivings at the thought of raising a child as a gay man. So make sure to subscribe if you wish to be notified of new blog posts)


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By Lauren Castner
Planned Parenthood has been around for almost a century, offering affordable healthcare to both men and women all over the U.S., and providing information to women so they can make informed choices about their healthcare. A wide variety of services is available, from gynecological appointments and cancer screening, to sex education and family planning options, to STI (sexually-transmitted infections) testing and vaccinations.
Funding for Planned Parenthood is currently being threatened at the national level. Like many health centers, Planned Parenthood receives federal funding from Title X. In existence since 1970, Title X was specifically enacted to provide funding for family planning services. The program aims to make contraceptives, information, and other family planning supplies available to anyone who needs or wants them. Title X gives priority to individuals from lower-income families. Its overall goal is to help families be happy and healthy and have positive birth outcomes. Although an amendment that would have eliminated all Title X funding was defeated in the U.S. Senate, it is still being pushed by conservatives while a compromise is negotiated by White House, Senate, and House leaders. In addition, a Republican-sponsored bill tied to an amendment to specifically cut federal funding for Planned Parenthood—the Pence Amendment—has passed the House and may be taken up by the Senate. Massachusetts Senator Scott Brown has not yet indicated how he will vote.
In response, Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts (PPLM) hosted a "Defend, Don't Defund!" rally last Saturday, March 19th, to gain support for continued funding from Title X. The rally was held in conjunction with other affiliates all over the country to generate a national day of action. In Boston, more than 600 people turned out in support of PPLM and continued Title X funding. They were able to sign postcards and petitions to send to members of their Congressional delegation requesting that they vote against the Senate bill. Among the speakers at the rally were Congresswoman Niki Tsongas, Congressman Mike Capuano, and Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll, PPLM CEO Dianne Luby, and other leaders in the women's health community. PPLM made a conscious effort to make sure that supporters were aware of all of the comprehensive services offered by Planned Parenthood, not just the controversial ones.
Even some four legged friends turned out to support Planned Parenthood!
Teen Voices' staff member Sarah Binning was in attendance and had some very positive things to say about what she saw! One thing she found very powerful was "the diverse audience. There weren't just women rallying for women, but men, girls and women of all ages, and even whole families. She felt that people all over Boston seemed to be receptive to the idea of the rally. For hours afterwards, as she was walking in different areas of the city, people came up to her and asked about her Planned Parenthood shirt and how the rally went. Sarah also told me about how united the rally seemed to be; bright pink posters and t-shirts enabled everyone in attendance to show support and present a united front.
What do you think about the proposed budget cuts to Planned Parenthood? Let us know in the comments section! To see what other young people have to say, check out this video on Youtube.
Special thanks to Tricia Wajda, from PPLM!


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NSS College, Manjeri is a Govt. Aided Arts & Science College of Nair Service Society. The College is affiliated to University of Calicut and Accredited by NAAC with 'B' Grade and is one of the oldest institutions of higher learning in Malappuram District.
NSS College Manjeri
Category: Education
Address: Manjeri College (PO), Manjeri, Malappuram


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Save On These Sweet Deals
Relax, rejuvenate and make memories with our sweet specials for your next holiday.
Luxurious & Affordable
Lomani Island Resort shimmers with elegance, a boutique adults only Fiji resort created especially for lovers.
Speaking of which, "Lomani†is Fijian for "loveâ€. Set in the gorgeous Mamanuca group of islands, Lomani Island Resort has all the trimmings you'll fall in love with too: tropical gardens meticulously cared for under the towering coconut palms of the Malolo lailai island, miles of white beachfront sand, pristine lagoons, and crystal clear waters gently lapping at a mesmerizing shoreline.
Rejuvenation & Memories
The island was once home to a copra plantation, which explains the abundance of palms, frangipani, hibiscus and bougainvillea flowers. Raise your sights morning and night and you'll soak up stunning sunsets and sunrises that elegantly frame the sky. Glide into the ocean only footsteps away for bursts of exotic colours in the tropical marine life and coral. And allow yourself to float into the bewitching charms of tranquility and calm that emanate from the beautiful resort facilities.
A Beautiful Fijian Resort
Lomani is everything a beautiful Fijian resort should be. An adults only Fijian resort where rejuvenation is promised and memories are made. We guarantee a tranquil and romantic atmosphere ideal for those on a Fiji holiday seeking total relaxation. Love Fiji, Love Lomani. Love the adults only Fiji resort vibe of Lomani Island Resort.


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Bears Club Golf Villa
433 Via Del Orso Drive
Located at 433 Via Del Orso Drive in Jupiter, Florida, this Mediterranean style villa is one not to miss! This luxury golf villa tends to four (4) bedrooms, five (5) full bathrooms and one (1) half bathroom making it perfect for your family and visiting guests. Unique with its cobblestone walkways and high wood paneled ceilings, be sure not to miss all the details that make this estate so beautiful and different from all the rest. The outside of this house caters to a stunning large pool with a cascading spa and outdoor kitchen containing a bar, grill and refrigerator perfect for those hot summer nights.
The Bears Club Features:
- Wine Cellar
- Marble Flooring
- Detailed Crown Moldings
- Mahogany Wood Framed Windows
- Granite Counter Tops
- Custom Mahogany Wooden Cabinetry
- Pool and Spa
Address: 433 Via Del Orso, Jupiter, FL 33477
Property Stats:
Beds: 4
Bath: 5
Half Bath: 1
Half Bath: 1
SqFt: 4,907
Year: 2005
To get more information on 433 Via Del Orso in Jupiter, Florida please contact one of our dedicated Distinct Estates agents who will be glad to show you homes in Jupiter or in other parts of South Florida.
View All Homes for Sale in The Bears Club
This Bears Club - Listing Courtesy of: The Fite Group.
This Bears Club - Listing Courtesy of: The Fite Group.


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Some quotes from the video:
The right to worship, as one sees fit and the right to live one religious life as one sees fit is the most fundamental of rights. Why? Because it has to do with the most important relationship we could possibly have ... with God. And it reaches down to the deepest level of one's personhood. We speak of the person as inviolable. Well, what's the deepest level of the person, it's the person in relationship to God. And that's why religious liberty is absolutely fundamental. [...] Tyrants, both ancient and modern, first go after religious liberty. [...] Tyrants want dominate the mind and the soul [not just our bodies].


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President Trump today, at a press conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin, said he didn't see "any reason" why Russia would interfere in the 2016 election, in response to a question on whether he believed Putin or U.S. intelligence agencies.
Our thought bubble from Jonathan Swan in Helsinki: "I just have no words. As press in this room, we are all sitting in here speechless and stunned. Trump cast doubt over the U.S. intelligence community and endorsed Putin's denial. Trump was given an opportunity to denounce the meddling and he didn't; he just pivoted to lines about the missing server and Hillary's emails. While Putin spoke forcefully, lying, Trump nodded along. There's no way of sugar coating or spinning this."


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My erstwhile assistant, Christine Marino found this about an ad that displays two images, one for adults and another for children. Amazing.
Let's pray today for all victims of abuse, so we might better offer protection for them and for forgiveness and healing so that all may live in peace. Amen.


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Nature 'Round the Clock at Ramat Hanadiv
On Shushan Purim
Friday, 6 March 2015, from 9 a.m. -2 p.m.
Come be a Detective-for-a-Day in the Service of Nature!
Outfit yourselves with binoculars and a magnifying glass, with sharpened senses and a mobile phone in order to research, reveal and review the flora and fauna in the Nature Park.
During the day, there will be a host of activities to enjoy: guided tours, activity stations, and nature films and lectures.
You'll be able to follow the flight of songbirds, investigate underwater life, observe masses of wildflowers in the park, and savour hot pita bread straight from the tabun (traditional outdoor oven).
You'll receive a map for a self-guided tour, and all along the way you can stop at stations where you'll find special experiences awaiting, like visiting the Footprint Garden, the Solar Tree, and the experimental 'Divushema', or watching butterflies close-up or playing a fast game of Botanic Bingo.
With the help of our dedicated app, you'll be able to upload all your field reports from your mobile phone directly to the web -- contributing to the Nature Park's flora and fauna data base while having a great Purim day out at Ramat Hanadiv.
No prior knowledge is necessary, and there is no charge for taking part in the activities.
For further information, phone: 04-6298111


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This Chinese History Museum was officially opened by the Assistant Minister for Culture, Youth and Sports, YB. Alfred Yap Chin Loi on the 23rd October 1993. The building itself is historic and was built in 1912. It was used as a court by the Chinese community from 1912 to 1921.
The museum aims at portraying the rich and fascinating history of Sarawak's diverse Chinese groups. Most significantly, it endeavors to educate the present generation to appreciate the struggles and values as encountered and instilled by the early pioneers.
Visitors will acquire in-depth historical knowledge relating to the origin of each Chinese dialect group, their respective traditional skills and cultural heritage, and progress achieved throughout the years.
It is situated at the Kuching Water Front and serves as one of the spots for tourist attractions.
Opening Hours
Monday to Friday
9:00 am - 4:45 pm
Saturday, Sunday, Public Holidays
10:00 am - 4:00 pm
1st Day of Main Public Holiday, T.Y.T Birthday, Labour Day & Malaysia Day


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Barcelona don't want to draw Chelsea in Champions League, says Courtois
Thibaut Courtois has said Chelsea have no problems having finished second in Champions League Group C, despite the prospect of facing a seeded team in the last 16.
Chelsea were held 1-1 against Atletico Madrid on Tuesday, while Roma beat Qarabag 1-0 to leapfrog Antonio Conte's men into top spot.
The Blues will now likely face Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain or Besiktas as competition regulations mean that they cannot draw Roma or an English team in the next round.
Editors' Picks
- No longer a joke: Reborn Fred the symbol of new, more confident Man Utd
- Sensational Saka to the rescue as Arsenal survive scare in Liege
- Sign him up! Minamino to Liverpool for just £7.25m represents a perfect deal for Klopp
- Wantaway Pogba causing no issues at Man Utd as Solskjaer gets ready to reintegrate World Cup winner
The goalkeeper is aware of the task at hand for his side but knows that the European giants will not fancy meeting them.
"There are several English teams that have been finished in first position, so we can only play against Barca, PSG and Besiktas, but if you ask Barca if they want to face against Chelsea, they will say no," he said.
"We are a good team and we are going to try everything to get far in the Champions League."
The Spanish side, meanwhile, have come in third place and Courtois is a little sad to see his former club go out.
"Atletico are a difficult team to play, and we could have scored more goals but [Jan] Oblak had a great game, they are also dangerous at set pieces and they scored the goal for us," he said.
"It's hard for them, it's a team that has come a long way in this tournament in recent years, but if I'm honest, from my point of view as a Chelsea player, they can still reach the quarter-finals or semi-finals. In the group stage, you do not want to face Atleti.
"On the one hand it is better that they are out of the tournament, but I have many friends and it hurts me for them that they don't continue in the Champions League."
The Champions League round-of-16 draw will take place on December 11.


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As a "LA Transplant" by way of Massachusetts, I still have many places in this town that I have yet to fully explore, one of which is downtown. With the booming restaurants and trendy shops popping up I'm never short of amazed by the gems that are down there. This past weekend I was invited to check out the Artisanal LA event held at L.A. Mart. This event was a showcase of all the new food artisans that you didn't even know you loved. I was able to meet some truly inspiring people and taste some delicious new delicacies all under the roof of an awesome creative space.Below are a few of my new faves. Check them out for yourself!
The first booth that caught my eye was "Blooms In The Air", which boasted a gorgeous display of handcrafted paper flowers. If you're like me and have a "black thumb", these blossoms will bring joy to your home all year long.
Our friends from Soft Peaks Confections were there with their infamous macarons. I'm gonna let you in on a little secret. I've tried plenty of macarons in my day, some from Paris, some from Pasadena, Soft Peaks is still my number one pick.
I was so excited to see my pal Dwayne from Magee's at the event! Magee's is a staple at the LA Farmers Market, churning up fresh nut butters on the spot including Almond Butter, Cashew Butter, and of course, the classic Peanut Butters.
The Donut Snob is quickly becoming LA's guily pleasure. I mean who wouldn't want gourmet donuts delivered right to your door in the morning. Yeah, that can happen! With flavors like Salted Caramel, Razzy Lemon, and The Oinker (yes, that's a donut with maple glaze and bacon crumbles), who can say no?
I have to say that one of the highlights of the event for me was my conversation with Azure Antoinette, founder of The Aalchemik Collective. The messaging behind this poetic and prophetic brand is, "Never Ordinary. Always Brilliant." Promoting individuality and self awareness is their goal and the infectious confidence of Azure found its way into the veins of anyone who came up to her booth. If you ever need a pick me up, just listen to Azure and you'll feel like a million bucks.
I was thrilled to have the chance to meet Eric of Velvet Rope Bake Shop! We have been following each other via social media for quite some time and it was awesome to finally meet the mastermind behind these delectable Cake Truffles.
For more information about these vendors and Artisanal LA visit http://www.artisanalla.com/


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We come together from various church background and many walks of life. Together, we express our faith through worship, fellowship, education and service.
Communion is celebrated monthly
and open to all who believe in Jesus and seek reconciliation with God and neighbor. Children may partake of communion if a parent or guardian wishes for them to do so.
Pastoral counseling is available for short-term personal, relational, marriage, family and crisis counseling.
The Shared Ministry is at the center of our faith community. At Faith United Church of Christ we believe that we are partners with God and with each other in the ongoing life and work of Jesus in our world. Preaching teaching, and healing are not activities reserved for the pastor in this church---they are part and parcel of everyone's calling. The critical work of this church---from mission to education to stewardship to mowing the lawn and taking our the trash---is the stuff of our common life together. Shared ministry is also a process whereby the members and friends of Faith United Church of Christ, including the pastor, join in planning, programming, funding, and implementing of the ministries, services, programs, and outreach of our church.
YOU are most welcome to come and join our mission and ministry!