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The Final Rule published Thursday, Jan. 7, in the Federal Register by the U.S. Department of Labor with regard to "Employee or Independent Contractor Classification" uses an "economic reality" test to determine a worker's status. It is currrently scheduled to become effective March 8, 2021.
The Final Rule considers whether a worker is in business for himself or herself (independent contractor) or is instead economically dependent on an employer for work (employee).
It identifies two "core factors":
The Department of Labor says it is emphasizing these factors "because they are the most probative of whether workers are economically dependent on someone else's business or are in business for themselves."
Three additional factors also were identified, though they are less probative than the core factors:
A legal update published by Seyfarth Shaw says that it remains to be seen whether President-Elect Joe Biden's administration will permit the final rule to take effect, whether it could be rejected under the Congressional Review Act and whether certain state attorneys general might seek an injunction against the rule.
In addition, Seyfarth notes that "the independent contractor standard under other federal laws and some state laws also need to be considered for compliance. Nonetheless, the DOL's new rule provides clearer guidance for companies on independent contractor classification under the FLSA."
Comments filed by Seyfarth partners Camille Olson and Rich Lapp on behalf of business, human resource and other organizations (including the Coalition for Workforce Innovation and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce) are referenced 54 times throughout the Final Rule. CWI's comments are cited 23 times. America's Newspapers is a member of CWI.
Olson, who serves on the America's Newspapers board of directors, noted that newspaper newsroom relationships with freelancers are cited as indicative of the independence of the worker on the last two pages.
Olson explained: "The Final Rule is a balanced approach and a modern interpretation of the economic realities test for independent contractor status under the federal wage and hour law. Recall that under 213(d) of the FLSA, newspapers also have a specific exemption from the FLSA's obligations to pay minimum wage, overtime and recordkeeping for newspaper carriers who deliver newspapers or shoppers to the ultimate consumer. That exemption is also incorporated into some state wage and hour laws."
The two newsroom examples cited in the Final Rule:
(5)(i) Example. An editor works part-time for a newspaper. The editor works from home and is responsible for assigning and reviewing many articles published by the newspaper. Sometimes she also writes or rewrites articles. The editor is responsible for determining the layout and order in which all articles appear in the newspaper's print and online editions. She makes assignment and lay-out decisions in coordination with several full-time editors who make similar decisions with respect to different articles in the same publication and who are employees of the newspaper.
(ii) Application. The editor is part of an integrated unit of production of the newspaper because she is involved in the entire production process of the newspaper, including assigning, reviewing, drafting, and laying out articles. This factor points in the direction of her being an employee of the newspaper. This conclusion is further supported by the fact that the editor performs the same work as employees of the newspaper in coordination with those employees. The fact that she does not physically work at the newspaper's office does not outweigh these more probative considerations of the integrated unit factor.
(6)(i) Example. A journalist writes articles for a newspaper on a freelance basis. The journalist does not have an office and generally works from home. He submits an article to the newspaper once every 2 to 3 weeks, which the newspaper may accept or reject. The journalist sometimes corresponds with the newspaper's editor regarding what to write about or regarding revisions to the articles that he submits, but he does not otherwise communicate or work with any of the newspaper's employees. The journalist never assigns articles to others nor does he review or revise articles that others submit. He is not responsible for determining where his article or any other articles appear in the newspaper's print and online editions.
(ii) Application. The journalist is not part of an integrated unit of production of the newspaper, indicating independent contractor status. His work is limited to the specific articles that he submits and is completely segregated from other parts of the newspaper's processes that serve its specific, unified purpose of producing newspapers. It is not relevant in analyzing this factor that the writing of articles is an important part of producing newspapers. Likewise, the fact that he works at home does not strongly indicate either status, because the nature of the journalist's work is such that the physical location where it is performed is largely irrelevant.
View the Final Rule published in the Federal Register


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(AFP) – Rafael Nadal pronounced himself fit and ready Sunday to produce some magic to entertain "suffering" tennis fans around the world as they cope with the coronavirus pandemic.
The Spanish great, who can move past the injured Roger Federer's 20 Grand Slam titles with victory at the Australian Open beginning February 8, kicks off his season representing Spain at the ATP Cup from Tuesday.
He will take to the courts of Melbourne Park after completing 14 days of quarantine in Adelaide, where he was allowed to train for up to five hours a day before an exhibition on Friday against US Open champion Dominic Thiem.
"For me personally, preparation has been positive," said Nadal.
"I have been able to practise around two hours per day in Adelaide. Some days a little bit more, two hours 15, two hours 20. That's it.
"I did, I think, the things that I had to do to be ready. Now is the moment to start playing and practising with other colleagues and let's see what's going on."
Most players are now out of quarantine and the world number two is keen to get the focus back on tennis, although his thoughts are with those in lockdowns around the world.
"When we arrived here, we have this quarantine. But I think that's over. Is the moment to start talking about tennis," he said.
"That's why we came here: to play tennis, to try to give to the fans around the world and to the fans here in Australia.
"For some of the people who are suffering a lot at home, we try to have good entertainment for them. The only way to make that happen is to go on court, try our best."
He leads Spain in the ATP Cup, desperate to make amends after being beaten in the final at Sydney last year by Novak Djokovic's Serbia.
Strange situation
Nadal, who doesn't usually play the week before a Grand Slam, said it was a different experience this year, with the tournament cut to 12 teams from 24 and all games in Melbourne immediately before the Australian Open.
"It's a very unusual situation for most of us. Most of you that are around tennis know I never play the week before a Grand Slam," he said.
"So is a little bit new and is a strange situation. But here I am, the same like the rest of the team, to try our best in every moment.
"Because we are a team, and a good team, with great players, we have different options. Everybody's ready to play, and to play with very competitive level."
Spain start their campaign against home nation Australia, who are without Nick Kyrgios but led by the in-form Alex De Minaur, who won the season-opening Antalya Open this month.
The two teams met in the ATP Cup last year with De Minaur pushing Nadal hard in an engrossing three-setter.
"It was an emotional match, not great for me, but emotional one," Nadal said of that clash.
"He's young, he's improving every year. I think it's going to be a tough battle for all of us playing against a great team like Australia."
Source: AFP

subset: commoncrawl


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Set of 4 Acrylic Glasses
A glass for all seasons--in sparkling clear acrylic!
Beatriz Ball's new stemware has the look of traditional mouth-blown glass, but is rendered in practical and durable acrylic. The brilliantly clear Venice All Purpose from our VIDA Collection is distinguished by its light-catching rippling texture and extreme versatility. A sensational stem that holds up to 14 oz of your favorite wine or beverage of choice. Pair with 2217 VIDA Venice Tumbler Acrylic Clear to increase the serving options.
Sold as set of four stems, adds a lively touch to any setting.
Great casual stemware designed and priced for everyday enjoyment. Ideal for poolside and patio parties, or glamourous tailgating, these pieces are perfect for entertaining with style year 'round, both indoors and out. Made in China exclusively for Beatriz Ball.


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brazilian // baile funk // hip hop
Baile, bossa and a healthy dose of straight-up bounce.
brazilian // baile funk // hip hop
U just red my mind!!!! I was just going to suggest this artist to you. Please, help to spread his name. I tried to buy the CD at a store in Brazil, but no one knew about him (I almost break into tears..!)
Quanumm has great stuff…
Try Romanowsky if you like this kind of stuff..
LaLe from Argentina
yay baile, and yay Quannum.
(his singing reminds me of los lobos…)
i love the bass.
check Maga Bo
// move it to http://soobrosa.blogsome.com/ //
Thanks for posting this. Looks like I'll have to add this album to my shopping list.
good stuff. reminds me of some of tom ze's recordings. if you haven't heard it yet, you've definitely got to get your ears on a copy of his album, "jogos de armar"–a modern masterpiece of brazilian sound sculpture (both trad and rad) and quirky songwriting.
peace from http://www.solesides.com – thanks for mentioning Curumin. It's an awesome album.
This is great! I agree, very reminiscent of Tom Zé and maybe Nação Zumbi. Funky, yes … but sounds nothing like baile funk. I think labeling it as such may be misleading to some listeners. But thanks for the great sounds.
I agree, I don't really hear any baile funk in Curumin, but I love him just the same. SP has a great music scene!
the "Guerreiro" song seems so derivative…. he manages to lift joe cocker, stevie wonder and marvin gaye all at the same time. The verse is *exactly* like "feelin' alright", the chorus sounds just like that stevie wonder song, mmm, I'm blanking on the name, sorry….that other song, "Tudo Bem Malandro" is better though; more original… I hope it's more reflective of the rest of his album
I have fallen in love. Thank you so much for suggesting this artist!
Great album! Does anyone know where 2 get the lyrics in english? Or is someone bored enough to translate them? ;) If so please mail 2
its brillaint! heard it on the radio and i was like, who the hell is this!! I got to have it! now i got a few songs, finally! the song samba japa you got to listen, its so cool!
greetz from amsterdam
I saw this band play at the Barbican in London. They have a great sound, great songs, and they are all good musicians that can really play. And when they covered Stevie Wonder's 'You havn't done nothing', they made it special, like their own song.
His album's got some really great stuff. I may not understand what he's saying, but his songs "Samba Japa" and "Vem Menina" are smooooooth. I think his influences include Stevie Wonder and Tom Zé.


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Come and meet us at the EdX's The Conquest of Space
About this course
Space exploration plays a major role in the history of humankind. The cultural, political and sociological repercussions are extraordinary, and the amount of resources dedicated to space exploration is enormous. This aerospace course is a first step for those interested in learning more about the history of the space and the impact of space exploration on our daily lives.
Each week we will focus on a major chapter in the history of space exploration accompanied by an introduction to the relevant technical topics to fully understand these historical developments. During the seven weeks of the course, we will follow the technical, political and cultural contexts that lead to the birth of the space age, uncover the evolution of space exploration from competition to cooperation in the Apollo and post-Apollo era and finally, analyze current trends in space exploration.
By successfully completing this course, you will acquire the critical tools to understand the key events and developments of the Space Age. You will learn to solve basic technical and engineering problems of space travel, rocket propulsion, space systems, and human space flight.
Course image: Rosetta at Comet (landscape) / Copyright: ESA/ATG medialab; Comet image: ESA/Rosetta/Navcam.
What you'll learn
- The history of space exploration and its cultural, political, and scientific impact
- Fundamentals of aerospace engineering, including how to move in space and how rockets work
- The key aspects of space systems and the space environment
- Current trends and future projects in space exploration


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Kitchen Construction & RenovationsAllbrite Interiors, Inc.
Allbrite interiors Inc. Renovates kitchens in the same manner as bathrooms renovations, both cosmetically and full renovation. We can remove all cabinets, flooring, walls and ceilings. Bring the room to today's electrical code requirements and today's electrical needs and demands. Replace plumbing lines with new shut-off valves. Insulate walls and ceilings to help with soundproofing as well as temperature comfort. Install new floors, cabinets and countertops. Or we can perform a cosmetic renovation of your choice depending on your budget and need.
Like every other service we offer, the customer always has the option to supply all, some or none of the materials and we can guide our customers to a variety of dealers and suppliers in the NYC area that have proven to be able to deliver affordable quality products in a timely fashion.
We have licensed Plumbers, Electricians, Architects and Interior decorators ready to help us with your project as needed. You can also introduce us to your subcontractors if that's your preference.
Kitchen Renovation Projects Gallery
How Can We Help You?
Our team is professional and reliable, and we will work within your constraints. Allbrite Interiors Inc. is a family owned and operated interiors residential renovation company with references in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens. Contact us today to schedule your no-cost estimate and consultation.
From the Blog:
Best New York City Interior Painting Services
Allbrite Interiors provides professional interior painting services to apartment owners throughout the Manhattan, Queens, Bronx, Brooklyn areas of New York City and beyond. From your kitchen to your bedroom and everything room between, we can enhance the interior of...read more


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by Kazuo Ishiguro
Reviewed by Janet:When fourteen-year-old Josie chooses Klara to be her AF (Artificial Friend), Klara uses her acute powers of observation and empathy to become the friend that lonely Josie needs. Reliant on solar power herself, Klara makes a bargain with the Sun for help when Josie's illness becomes serious. Slowly revealing his near-future world, but never fully explaining it, the author draws the reader into this intimate exploration of love, friendship, sacrifice, and what it is that makes each of us unique and special.


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SpaceX is going to try to launch its CRS-6 International Space Station resupply mission again today at 4:10 PM ET, after having to scrub the launch yesterday due to adverse weather conditions. Weather today looks mostly favorable, with NASA reporting a "60 percent chance of acceptable conditions" for the target window at the Cape Canaveral launch site in Florida.
The launch today, if it goes off, will feature the Falcon 9 rocket transporting the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft to orbit, where it will rendezvous with the ISS to delivery a cargo of supplies (including an Arkyd 3 satellite). For SpaceX, it also represents a second chance to attempt recovery of the reusable first stage of the Falcon 9 rocket, using their autonomous drone barge landing platform.
We'll have updates as they come in, and will keep our fingers crossed that weather conditions hold out for the launch this afternoon.
UPDATE: The rocket is away! The next big step is attempting recovery of stage one of the Falcon 9 rocket.
UPDATE 2: Dragon has successfully separated from the second stage Falcon 9 rocket.
UPDATE 3: The webcast has ended, but we're still awaiting word regarding the landing barge attempt of the reusable first-stage rocket.
UPDATE 4: SpaceX CEO Elon Musk shared the following, indicating that the attempted recovery of the reusable stage one rocket failed – the rocket landed on the autonomous barge, but it impacted too hard to survive to be used again. Still, the attempt will likely provide lots of useful data to inform the next try.
Here's an image shared by SpaceX of the Falcon 9 first stage rocket approaching the barge (aka Just Read the Instructions) prior to the hard landing.
Musk says the stage landed mostly intact, but then tipped over after landing. This should be good news for future attempts:


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Any smoothie that's basically described as a cookie gets my vote. This gingerbread oatmeal smoothie definitely applies. it's packed with hidden vegetables, healthy fats and plant based protein while still tasting like a cookie. What could be better?
This is a go-to for winter time when I'm loving everything pumpkin, peppermint and gingerbread. It's an easy morning solution to breakfast or a post workout fuel too.
I love steaming and freezing my cauliflower for smoothies. Like in my basic green smoothie recipe. It adds creamy texture while amping up your smoothie with added fiber and b-vitamins. Plus you can barely taste it when you toss in spices and sweet bananas.
Serves: 1
Prep time: 5 minutes
1/3 c oats
1 frozen banana
1/2 c steamed cauliflower
1 tbsp coconut butter
1 scoop vanilla protein powder
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ginger
1/4 tsp cloves
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/2 c almond milk
1. Blend all ingredients until well combined.
2. Slurp!
Cookie themed smoothie recipe have you craving the real deal? Check out my chocolate covered oatmeal breakfast cookie recipe or these chunky monkey cookies.


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To the fauxminist women for Trump, I'm so done with y'all.
I've never felt so betrayed, horrified and disappointed by a group of people in my life. Today, I feel like you slit my soul's throat with your knife of privileged indifference.
In particular, of the white women who voted in this election, 53 percent checked the ballot for one of the most sexist, misogynistic, bigoted men in the history of American politics, leaving our reproductive rights and large swaths of American people in grave danger.
Perhaps I've been living under a rock for the last few years, or perhaps I've been operating under the guise of misplaced faith. But here I am, the day after, and I want to scream at this pain and betrayal I'm feeling.
But really, perhaps, I'm the fool who believed in you.
I should have known when, after months of Donald Trump dragging Muslims, Latinos, the disabled and so many other minority groups, you only talked about this man's issues when he came for your own. When he spoke on Megyn Kelly's period, or when he said he could "grab 'em by the pussy" about a rich, beautiful, White television host. We stood with you then, as sisters in the struggle against patriarchy and rape culture, even as you secretly stood against us, preparing yourselves to vote for him.
But even those comments from him were not enough to disgust enough you to turn away from a candidate grounded in Whiteness with a capital W. By Whiteness, I don't mean people who are white. I mean Whiteness in the sense of White Nationalism. In its most pejorative sense – in supremacy, in privilege, in thinly-veiled references to returning to a time when Black and brown people did not have your jobs or live in your neighborhoods.
When America was "great."
Are you so threatened at even the idea of giving us a seat at the table that you felt it was preferable to turn down the path of the complete erasure of anyone who does not look like you?
It's clear you only care about yourselves. And worse, you don't see yourselves as part of the problem.
We've been fighting with so many of you for so long for you to diversify what "feminism" means. I'm sure you've heard the term "intersectionality," and yet, for a century, it seems like you have been either openly rejecting it or pretending it doesn't exist. Either way, you are not including us.
Take, for example, your march to Susan B. Anthony's grave, in what is the perfect metaphor for the problem with this election. Thousands of women from both sides of the political spectrum lined up to place "I voted" stickers on her grave. You championed her as a shining example of White women who fight for equality. And yet, if you were to look into her past, you would see that she was vehemently opposed to supporting Black people's right to vote.
She famously said, "I will cut off this right arm of mine before I will ever work or demand the ballot for the negro and not the woman."
Like so many feminists in this election and so many more before it, the choice defaulted to Whiteness, above all else. Whiteness at any cost.
And so, here we are, dealing with a disaster you have created. And you're out here celebrating your victory, having put Hillary Clinton, that "Nasty Woman" in her "place." You're talking about "law and order," "safety for your family" and how "she's a liar."
And yet you put the biggest liar of all in the highest of offices, all while simultaneously lying about your support of him.
You showed out for White supremacy and yet you have the nerve to ask us to work with you. To "cooperate" and "accept" our fate, like the good little minions you think we should be.
You ask us to respect this president-elect, whose entire platform is disrespecting us.
Girl, bye.
I'm ashamed of you today. And I'm ashamed of myself for believing in you.
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These Realty TV Favorites Are Joining The Cast Of Zeus Network's 'Baddies East'
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Halle Bailey Is 'Minding Her Business' And So Should We


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Research in the Gray Lab focuses on computational protein structure prediction and design. We develop computational tools to predict the structure of antibodies, glycans, membrane proteins, antibody–antigen complexes, protein–protein complexes, and protein–mineral-surface complexes. Recently, the lab has ventured into machine learning and deep learning and we are looking forward to diversify our research. As a member of the RosettaCommons we also co-develop the Rosetta biomolecular modeling suite.
Read more about each of our focus areas below:
Protein-Protein Docking
Protein–protein interactions are central to biology. High-resolution structures of protein complexes provide insight to the molecular mechanism of function. While structures can be determined experimentally, such methods have limited throughput and are not viable for all proteins. Thus, we develop computational tools to model protein–protein interactions, as an alternative approach.
Antibody Modeling
The advent of next-generation sequencing has enabled the feasible determination of numerous antibody sequences. While this information is useful, structures are necessary for understanding antibody–antigen interactions, and traditional methods cannot determine the structures of all sequenced antibodies. To bridge the sequence–structure gap, we develop a computational structure prediction method: Rosetta Antibody.
Antibody-Antigen Docking
Determining the antibody–antigen binding mode is necessary for the rational design of vaccines and the development of antibody therapeutics. Experimental methods can be used, but are limited by their throughput and expense. As with protein–protein docking, we develop antibody–antigen specific computational docking methods to provide an alternative to experimental approaches.
Carbohydrates compose the most abundant class of molecule on the planet, yet a structural understanding of their role in biomolecular pathways is limited. Carbohydrates pose unique modeling challenges in sampling, scoring, and nomenclature, relative to the modeling of peptides. We have recently developed RosettaCarbohydrate, a new framework for modeling saccharide and glycocongugate structures to overcome these challenges.
Membrane Proteins
Proteins embedded in cell and organelle membranes constitute 30% of proteins and are targets for 60% of drugs. However, knowledge of their structures is sparse. Our goal is to develop tools to investigate the structures and interactions of proteins in the membrane toward understanding their role in human health.
To better treat biomineralization diseases or design novel biomimetics, we must first understand the interactions of proteins with mineral surfaces. Toward this end we have developed RosettaSurface, an algorithm designed to broadly sample conformational space and identify low-energy structures. We are also working on thermodynamically-rigorous simulations to predict free energies of binding peptides to surfaces.


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You don't have to be a soccer fanatic to know that a hat-trick in soccer is a pretty big deal.
Scoring a hat-trick, or watching your favorite player score a hat-trick is one of the best feelings and for some players, the best moment of their career.
But just because you have heard of a hat-trick doesn't mean that you know what one is. Alternatively, you might know what a hat-trick is but be puzzled by the unique name given to this achievement.
If you fit into either of these categories then you're in the right place. In this guide, we're telling you about absolutely everything you ever need to know about hat-tricks. So if you want to find out more about hat-tricks, keep on reading.
What is a Hat-Trick?
First things first, let's take a look at what a hat-trick is. If you already know, and simply want to find out why it is given this name, skip onto the next section.
In soccer, a hat-trick is a great achievement for a player and something that most strikers and attacking players will want to achieve at some point in their category.
While it is hard to achieve, the idea behind a hat-trick is very simple, all the player must do is score three goals throughout a single soccer game.
For a player to score a hat-trick, it simply has to tick three boxes: 3 goals by 1 player in 1 game. As long as you tick these three boxes, then the player has scored a hat-trick.
Despite common misconceptions, a hat-trick does not require the three goals to be scored consecutively. Likewise, it doesn't require the player to score the goals with a specific part of their body, or within a set amount of time (as long as it is within a single game).
Goals can be scored by different players in-between, but if a single player scores 3 goals in a single game, then they have achieved a hat-trick.
Why is it called a Hat-Trick?
If you already knew what a hat-trick was, then the chances are that this is why you are reading this article. For a lot of people, the name 'hat-trick' seems like a strange thing to attach to this achievement, so let's take a look at why a hat-trick is called a hat-trick.
This might come as a surprise, but the reason that a hat-trick in soccer is called a 'hat-trick' comes from a different sport, and that sport is cricket. Back in 1858, a cricket player was awarded a hat after they managed to get 3 players out with 3 consecutive throws.
After this ground-breaking achievement, the cricketing world adopted the name 'hat-trick' for this achievement. A few years later, the soccer world adopted this term too and awarded it to a player that scores 3 goals in a single game.
Cricket is one of those sports that is difficult to understand unless you actively follow it, so let's take a quick look at why this original hat-trick was viewed as such a great achievement.
In a cricket game, one player will throw the ball towards a set of wooden stakes aiming to knock the 2 pieces of wood that balance on the sticks off.
A player from the opposing team will stand in front of these stakes with their bat, ready to hit the ball with the cricket bat and defend the stakes. If the thrower successfully knocks the wood off of the stakes then the opposing player is out and another member of their team picks up the bat.
This might seem quite easy, but the opposing players are usually very experienced in playing cricket, so their hit of the bat will rarely miss the ball. Due to this, it is even rarer for a player to hit the wood off of the stakes three times in a game, let alone three times consecutively.
The term 'hat-trick' in soccer was not introduced by soccer executives, in fact, it actually became a popular term as players and fans began to refer to a player scoring 3 goals as a hat-trick. Over time, the term caught on and became commonly used, which is why a hat-trick is still called a 'hat-trick' today.
While it is much easier for a soccer player to make three goals in a game than it is for a cricket player to get three players out with three consecutive throws, soccer fans noticed this achievement and believed that it should be given a name to reward the player for their success.
Is there a Prize for a Hat-Trick?
As we have already mentioned, a hat-trick is an achievement. Most achievements have an award attached to them, so you might find yourself asking, 'Is there a prize for a hat-trick?'.
In short, the answer is no. There is no official prize given to a player that scores a hat-trick, and there is no physical prize given to the player by the soccer board for this achievement.
While a hat-trick is observed as a huge achievement, the prize of scoring one is a sense of pride that the player can enjoy. From that moment on they can go on knowing that they can score a hat-trick, and once they have done it once, the chances are that they will do it again.
The achievement of a hat-trick does not become any less great the more times you score one. Of course, the first time will always be special, but every single time that you score a hat-trick the sense of achievement is incredible.
While there is no official prize for scoring a hat-trick, if a single player scores a hat-trick in a game then it is a tradition that that player will get to keep the ball used in that match as a reminder of their achievement.
The Perfect Hat-Trick
You might be reading this, asking yourself, 'is there something better than a hat-trick?'. The short answer is yes, and this achievement is known as "the perfect hat-trick". While the normal hat-trick simply requires you to achieve 3 goals in a single game, the perfect hat-trick is a lot more precise in what you must do to make this achievement.
While a hat-trick is an excellent achievement, the perfect hat-trick is even better. This is because a perfect hat-trick requires the player to actively think about the parts of their body they use to score the goals.
As soccer players are not allowed to touch the ball with their hands at any point in the game, apart from the Goalkeeper, of course, they only have three parts of their body with which they can score a goal. This is their left foot, their right foot, and their head. This might seem like an easy thing to do, but any soccer player will know that it is not.
Everybody who plays soccer will have a dominant foot with which they can control the ball easily and score goals more accurately. The dominant foot works in the same way that people have a dominant hand which makes them either left or right-handed. So for a striker, ticking the box of their dominant foot is usually an easy thing to do, depending on the opposition's defense.
The perfect hat-trick becomes difficult as you have also have to score a goal with your weaker foot and your head. A lot of players will try and train up their weaker foot so that they will be able to use it, but successfully using it to score goals is a lot more difficult than you might expect.
Similarly, scoring a goal with your head is also difficult as it can be hard to control the ball and successfully hit it into the net.
But a lot of the difficulty of scoring a perfect hat-trick does not come from having to use your weaker limbs, instead, it comes from mentally choosing to not use your dominant foot.
It is a player's instinct to hit the ball with their dominant foot, so while a regular hat-trick can be scored without thinking, a perfect hat-trick requires the player to actively choose to hit it. It is because of this extra level of difficulty that a perfect hat-trick is considered a bigger success than a regular hat-trick.
Famous Hat-Tricks
So now that you know all about the hat-trick, why it is called the hat-trick, and also the perfect hat-trick, let's take a look at some examples.
While a hat-trick is a big deal to the soccer player, it is even more exciting for the fans watching, which is why a lot of fans will remember the hat-tricks that they watched being scored. But some hat-tricks stand out from the rest thanks to the speed and the number of times that a player has scored one. So let's take a look at what they are.
According to the Guinness World Records, the fastest professional hat-trick that has ever been scored took place in 1964. This hat trick was made by Tommy Ross when he was 18 years old and playing for the Scottish team, Ross County. In a speed that has still yet to be beaten, Tommy Ross managed to score 3 goals within just 90 seconds. This speed is almost unbelievable and has yet to be beaten to this day.
However, there are some hat-tricks that have come surprisingly close. Notably, the hat-trick that Sadio Mané scored in 2015 for the English team, Southampton, is often called one of the fastest hat-tricks in history. He achieved this hat-trick in just 2 minutes 56 seconds, so it is understandable why this achievement is so often discussed.
But which player has scored the most hat-tricks in history? Well, if you are a big fan of soccer, you probably will already know that this achievement belongs to Pele.
Despite his retirement in 1977, Pele still stands head and shoulders above any other soccer player with a record 92 hat-tricks beneath his belt. Closely behind him stand Ronaldo and Messi who have both scored more than 50 hat-tricks while still at the height of their career.
So if you didn't know anything about hat-tricks before reading this guide, you definitely know now as we have told you everything that you need to know about this achievement.


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iVolve is an Australian company that provides technology and tools to small to mid-tier miners and contractors, which enables them to ramp up their efficiency in an increasingly competitive market. Our ability to access real-time data from mobile assets allows our customers to make informed decisions in both day-to-day operations and strategic planning.
In 1995 iVolve founders, David Eagles (CTO) and Kim Parascos (CEO) set out on their own to build an industrial consulting company, specialising in process control systems servicing the ports industry.
In the early 2000s, the creation and launch of the first Nexis device enabled entry into the world of mining operations. The Nexis, an innovative Wi-Fi mesh networking device, was designed specifically for the rugged environment of mining and addressed a significant gap in the market.
The sophistication of this product was the ideal platform for extracting data directly from heavy vehicles, which paved the way for the launch of the iVolve Fleet Management System, then known as PAMS, in 2008.
In the past decade, iVolve has gained a strong foothold in the mining industry. The key to this success is a commitment to the intelligent application of technology with the goal of simplifying customers' days. Customers at all levels of the operation can reach and exceed their targets because they get the information they need, when they need it, in an easy to consume format.
Recognising the importance of export to the business, iVolve opened their first international office in Boulder, Colorado to support North American distributors in late 2017. With expats from the Brisbane office heading up the team in Boulder, the great iVolve company culture transcends borders as iVolve builds the North American business, working closely with our partners and customers.
iVolve is proud to be an Australian business success story, recognising that great products come from a great team. iVolve works hard to maintain a positive team culture in an environment where employees are supported to achieve their best work. The iVolve team is dedicated to three core values: simple, intelligent, and committed.
Adding o its fleet management capability and reach
Focus the key to mid-tiers developing technology projects
Ivolve has developed specialised hardware for machine interfacing.
ROI achieved in under 1 year
A complete rethink of the way people access and use FMS systems.
Read the case study


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"The Fate of the Fraser"
"The Fate of the Fraser", today's feature story on The Tyee, is the first in a series that will run on Wednesdays. The article focuses on the author's experience as a participant in the Sustainable Living Leadership Program, a journey down the Fraser River that brings together the theory and practice of sustainable living and community stewardship. Author Colleen Kimmett writes, "Our purpose was to see first-hand how British Columbians live and work on the Fraser, and gain a better understanding of how people, land and rivers are connected."
The Fraser is part of a system extending far out into the Pacific. When salmon farms first arrived in the 1990s in the Broughton Archipelago, they seemed like a good economic solution for the depressed communities there. But over the next decade, scientists started to see links between fish farm operations and deadly sea lice infestations among wild salmon populations…[read the full article]


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It's another quiet week, but if you have ECBs from Black Friday, you need to roll them — or lose them.
So, here are the best kosher deals that I see at CVS this week, with thanks to Barbara from Clipper Girl for putting these together. Be sure to visit her blog for the full match-up.
If you're new to bargain shopping at CVS, read my How to Shop at CVS Tutorial.
Clear Shampoo -$4.99
Buy One Clear Shampoo, Get One Free Clear Conditioner
Look for $3/1 Clear Shampoo or Conditioner from "Magic Coupon Machine" (CVS price scanner)
= $.99 each after coupon and sale
Colgate Total Advanced or Sensitive Pro-Relief – $3.99
Buy One, Get $3 ECB (Limit 2)
Use $1/1 Colgate Total Advanced Printable Coupon
Or use $.75/1 Colgate Total Toothpaste Printable Coupon
= As low as FREE after coupon and ECB
Select Blistex Lip Balms – $.99
$1/2 Blistex Product from 12/2 SS Insert
= $.49 each after coupon
As low $2.50 each after coupon and ECBs
Are you planning a CVS run this week? What's on your list?


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Dr, Margalit Lorber
Dr. Margalit Lorber is the head of the head of the HIV unit at Rambam hospital. She has been advising AIDS Task Force on professional issues and advocated for the rights of people living with HIV at every level.
Dr. Lorber also instituted a program at the Technion for medical students called "Becoming a doctor' that has earned wide recognition. She has also worked in Africa on HIV related projects with number of organizations including the Clinton foundation.
Margalit was a student and then colleague of Prof. Zvi Bentwich since she began dealing with AIDS and asserts that he and his late wife had a great influence on her path and commitment to this sector.
She brings to NALA her medical expertise, and vast experience in working to defend the rights of underprivileged segments of the population.


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Yesterday I asked the question, How much does it cost to pay attention? Though not all the responses are visible here, what surprised me most was the variety of ways people interpreted my (so I thought) simple query. Interestingly, most of them assumed a corresponding level of engagement beyond general observation.
Here's my own answer to the question: paying attention costs nothing–or very little. I'm not talking about diving headlong into every situation you can find. I'm simply talking about taking note of the little things in the world around you. Be observant. I've found that sooner or later, those details become helpful in making life run more smoothly.
For example:
- My company broadcasts personnel changes–new hires, promotions, organization changes–via email documents. We also have a searchable, online directory with title, reporting structure, and contact information for each person. Imagine my surprise when I overheard someone saying to a customer on the telephone, "I'm not sure where you got that information. I don't believe we have anyone by that name here." Knowing that we actually DO have someone by that name in one of our other offices, I was surprised that the person I had overheard 1) didn't know that and 2) that she hadn't tried to look it up. Had she not paid attention to the announcements? Had she not paid attention to the directory or the fact that we have one? Sure, she was eventually able to help the customer, but not without untangling his information on her own. Had she only paid attention, she would have at least known where to look. She could have asked her forgotten colleague and simplified the process.
- On the positive side, I have an uncle who takes in absolutely everything. Details that seem inconsequential "stick" somewhere in his brain and he doesn't even realize it. Colors, street names, storefronts, statistics–you name it, he stores it. Things that don't seem to matter at the time are planted in his mind and remain dormant until a need arises. He doesn't even know he plants them there, but more than once I've seen or heard him reconstruct a scenario in enough detail that he can make a connection to whatever situation is at hand. These mental associations–derived simply from paying attention–allow him to remember people's names and details about their acquaintance. Besides being helpful in his line of work, his paying attention really makes people feel special. Who doesn't need that?
Look around you. Listen and learn, and file those observations and lessons away until you can use them. You never know when they will help you connect the dots. Somehow, some way, those things will make your life richer. After all, in the words of John Belushi as Bluto from Animal House, "Don't cost nothin'."


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Drontal Plus (praziquantel/pyrantel pamoate/febantel) Taste TabsThis page contains information on Drontal Plus (praziquantel/pyrantel pamoate/febantel) Taste Tabs for veterinary use.
The information provided typically includes the following:
- Drontal Plus (praziquantel/pyrantel pamoate/febantel) Taste Tabs Indications
- Warnings and cautions for Drontal Plus (praziquantel/pyrantel pamoate/febantel) Taste Tabs
- Direction and dosage information for Drontal Plus (praziquantel/pyrantel pamoate/febantel) Taste Tabs
Drontal Plus (praziquantel/pyrantel pamoate/febantel) Taste TabsThis treatment applies to the following species:
Broad Spectrum Chewable Anthelmintic Tablets for Dogs
Drontal Plus (praziquantel/pyrantel pamoate/febantel) Taste Tabs Caution
Federal (U.S.A.) law restricts this drug to use by or on the order of a licensed veterinarian.
Drontal Plus Taste Tabs (praziquantel/pyrantel pamoate/febantel) Broad Spectrum Chewable Anthelmintic Tablets for Dogs are available in three tablet sizes. Each size is scored for convenient oral administration.
Each Drontal Plus Taste Tabs Tablet for Puppies and Small Dogs contains 22.7 mg praziquantel, 22.7 mg pyrantel base as pyrantel pamoate and 113.4 mg febantel.
Each Drontal Plus Taste Tabs Tablet for Medium Sized Dogs contains 68.0 mg praziquantel, 68.0 mg pyrantel base as pyrantel pamoate and 340.2 mg febantel.
Each Drontal Plus Taste Tabs Tablet for Large Dogs contains 136.0 mg praziquantel, 136.0 mg pyrantel base as pyrantel pamoate, and 680.4 mg febantel.
ACTION: Drontal Plus Taste Tabs Tablets contain three active ingredients having different modes of action and spectra of activity. Praziquantel is active against cestodes (tapeworms). Praziquantel is absorbed, metabolized in the liver and excreted in the bile. Upon entering the digestive tract from the bile, cestocidal activity is exhibited.1 Following exposure to praziquantel, the tapeworm loses its ability to resist digestion by the mammalian host. Because of this, whole tapeworms, including the scolices, are very rarely passed after administration of praziquantel. In many instances only disintegrated and partially digested pieces of tapeworms will be seen in the stool. The majority of tapeworms are digested and are not found in the feces.
Pyrantel pamoate is active against hookworms and ascarids. Pyrantel pamoate acts on the cholinergic receptors of the nematode resulting in spastic paralysis. Peristaltic action of the intestinal tract then eliminates the parasite.2
Febantel is active against nematode parasites including whipworms. Febantel is rapidly absorbed and metabolized in the animal. Available information suggests that the parasite's energy metabolism is blocked, leading to energy exchange breakdown and inhibited glucose uptake.
Laboratory efficacy and clinical studies conducted with Drontal Plus Anthelmintic Tablets demonstrate that each of the three active ingredients act independently without interference. The combined tablet formulation provides a wide spectrum of activity against the indicated species of intestinal helminths.
Drontal Plus (praziquantel/pyrantel pamoate/febantel) Taste Tabs Indications
Drontal Plus (praziquantel/pyrantel pamoate/febantel) Taste Tabs Broad Spectrum Chewable Anthelmintic Tablets are indicated for removal of Tapeworms (Dipylidium caninum, Taenia pisiformis, Echinococcus granulosus, and removal and control of Echinococcus multilocularis) and for removal of Hookworms (Ancylostoma caninum, Uncinaria stenocephala), Ascarids (Toxocara canis, Toxascaris leonina), and Whipworms (Trichuris vulpis) in dogs.
DO NOT USE IN PREGNANT ANIMALS. Dogs treated with elevated levels (6 consecutive days with 3 times the labeled dosage rate) of the combination of febantel and praziquantel in early pregnancy demonstrated an increased incidence of abortion and fetal abnormalities.8 The effects of Drontal Plus Anthelmintic Tablets on pregnant animals have not
been determined.
There are no known contraindications against the use of praziquantel or pyrantel pamoate in dogs.
PrecautionsStrict hygienic precautions should be taken when handling dogs or feces suspected of harboring E. multilocularis. Infected dogs treated for the first time with Drontal Plus Taste Tabs Tablets and dogs treated at intervals greater than 28 days may shed eggs in the feces after treatment. The animal should be held in the clinic during this interval and all feces should be incinerated or autoclaved. If these procedures are not possible, the eggs can be destroyed by soaking the feces in a sodium hypochlorite (bleach) solution of 3.75% or greater.7 All areas where the animal was maintained or in contact with should be thoroughly cleaned with sodium hypochlorite and allowed to dry completely before reuse.
WarningKEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN.
Use Directions
DOSAGE: The presence of parasites should be confirmed by laboratory fecal examination. Weigh the animal before treatment. Administer the proper dosage as specified in the following table as a single oral treatment.
for Puppies and Small Dogs*
(2 - 25 lbs.)
for Medium Sized Dogs
(26 - 60 lbs.)
for Large Dogs
(45 lbs. and greater)
Body Wt.
No. of Tablets
Body Wt.
No. of Tablets
Body Wt.
No. of Tablets
2 - 4
26 - 30
45 - 60
ADMINISTRATION: Most dogs find Drontal Plus Taste Tabs Tablets palatable. The tablets may be offered to the dog by hand. Alternatively tablets may be given directly by mouth or offered in a small amount of food. Fasting is neither necessary nor recommended prior to or after treatment.
RETREATMENT: For those animals living where reinfections are likely to occur, clients should be instructed in the steps to optimize prevention; otherwise, retreatment may be necessary. This is true in cases of Dipylidium caninum where reinfection is almost certain to occur if fleas are not removed from the animal and its environment. In addition, for control of Echinococcus multilocularis, a program of regular treatment every 21 to 26 days may be indicated (see E. multilocularis section below).
ECHINOCOCCUS MULTILOCULARIS: Echinococcus multilocularis is a tapeworm species usually found in wild canids, including foxes, coyotes and wolves. The parasite has also been identified in domestic dogs and cats and is potentially a serious public health concern because it may infect humans.
The life cycle of the parasite is based on a predator-prey relationship as depicted.
The adult tapeworm is small (1-4mm) and resides in the intestinal tract of the definitive host (wild or domestic canids). Eggs from the adult tapeworm are shed in the feces. Rodents such as mice and voles serve as the intermediate host. Eggs ingested by rodents develop in the liver, lungs and other organs to form multilocular cysts. The life cycle is completed after a canid consumes a rodent infected with cysts. Larvae within the cyst develop into adult tapeworms in the intestinal tract of the canid. Eggs may be passed in the feces of the canid approximately 28 days later.
This parasite poses a serious public health problem because of the possibility for human involvement in the life cycle. If eggs shed by an infected canid are accidentally ingested, a highly pathogenic condition (Alveolar Hydatid Disease) results from development of the cyst stage in humans.
The original geographic distribution of E. multilocularis was primarily confined to northern areas of North America. Current evidence indicates migration of the parasite well into the continental
United States.3,4
Domestic dogs living in E. multilocularis endemic areas that roam freely with the opportunity to catch wild rodents are at risk of infection. Pet owners should be advised on how to minimize this risk. Proper restraint of dogs should be encouraged, along with regular treatment with Drontal Plus Taste Tabs Tablets, following the dosing schedule aforementioned and precautions indicated below. Additional information on the life cycle and epidemiology of this parasite is available in veterinary parasitology texts.5,6
DIAGNOSIS: Diagnosis of E. multilocularis in canids is difficult. The adult tapeworm produces no clinical signs of infection. Tapeworm segments (proglottids) are usually not observed in the feces. E. multilocularis eggs, observed using microscopic fecal examination procedures, are similar in appearance to those of common species such as Taenia pisiformis.
Assistance in the diagnosis of E. multilocularis may be available from a state veterinary diagnostic laboratory. Additional information regarding areas where E. multilocularis is suspected or has been confirmed may be obtained from area veterinary schools or the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta, GA.
TREATMENT: Dogs infected with E. multilocularis should be treated to prevent exposure of humans to infective eggs and to break the parasite's life cycle.
The dosage of Drontal Plus Taste Tabs Tablets for removal of E. multilocularis is the same as that indicated for the removal of the other tapeworm species listed on the label. Laboratory efficacy studies conducted with Drontal Plus tablets have demonstrated the recommended dosage is 100% effective.
Under condition of continual exposure to wild rodents, retreatment of the dog at 21-26 day intervals is recommended to prevent the shedding of infectious eggs.
EFFICACY: A total of 176 dogs and puppies with naturally acquired or experimental parasite infections were included in 4 well-controlled laboratory studies to establish the efficacy of Drontal Plus Anthelmintic Tablets. In addition, 103 dogs and puppies were included in clinical field studies conducted in 5 veterinary clinics at different geographic locations throughout the United States to further evaluate safety and efficacy.
These studies included dogs of various sizes, ages and breeds. Data from these studies demonstrated Drontal Plus Anthelmintic Tablets are safe and efficacious for the removal of the
parasite species indicated on the label when used as directed.
Results obtained in the laboratory and clinical studies indicate small numbers of hookworm or roundworm eggs may be passed in the feces for up to 7 days after treatment although the worms themselves were eliminated. A follow-up fecal examination should be conducted 2 to 4 weeks after treatment to determine the need for retreatment.
Palatability: Palatability studies with Drontal Plus Taste Tabs Tablets were conducted at 3 different veterinary clinics in the United States. These studies included a total of 151 dogs (65 males / 86 females) representing 34 different breeds with body weights ranging from 3.8 - 190 lbs. The tablets were offered free-choice to the dogs by their owners and over 89% of the dogs willingly consumed the tablets.
Adverse ReactionsNone of the 103 dogs treated with Drontal Plus Anthelmintic Tablets in the clinical field studies exhibited drug-related side effects. Of the 40 dogs treated with Drontal Plus Taste Tabs Tablets in laboratory studies, two dogs exhibited vomiting, one puppy exhibited bloody/mucoid stool and one puppy exhibited watery/profuse stool.
For product questions, to report adverse reactions, or for a copy of the Safety Data Sheet (SDS), call Elanco Product & Veterinary Support at 888-545-5973. For additional information about reporting adverse drug experiences for animal drugs, contact FDA at 1-888-FDA-VETS or http://www.fda.gov/reportanimalae.
ANIMAL SAFETY: Controlled safety evaluations have been conducted in dogs with Drontal Plus (praziquantel/pyrantel pamoate/febantel) Anthelmintic Tablets. Dogs receiving up to 5 times the label dosage (35 mg praziquantel, 35 mg pyrantel pamoate and 179 mg febantel per kg of body weight) for 3 consecutive days (3 times the label duration) showed clinical signs of vomition and non-formed stools. One dog receiving a 3 times labeled dose had elevated SGPT, SGOT, CPK and GGT readings (outside of normal range) at 6 days post-treatment. No additional findings were noted in hematology/clinical chemistry parameters nor were there any treatment-related histological lesions. Vomition was the only side effect observed when dogs received a single treatment of 61 mg praziquantel, 61 mg pyrantel pamoate and 305 mg febantel/kg with one dog having an elevated SGPT reading (outside of normal range) at 24 hours post-treatment which had returned to normal by 7 days.
STORAGE CONDITIONS: Drontal Plus Taste Tabs Tablets should be stored at or below 77 °F (25 °C).
Un-blistered whole or partial tablets should be stored in a tightly sealed container.
How SuppliedDrontal Plus Taste Tabs Tablets are available in three tablet sizes:
40 tabs/box for Puppies and Small Dogs
40 tabs/box for Medium Sized Dogs
30 tabs /box for Large Dogs
1 Andrews P. 1976. Pharmacokinetic Studies with DRONCIT in Animals Using a Biological Assay. Veterinary Medical Review. 2:154-165.
2 Campbell WC. 1986. The Chemotherapy of Parasitic Infections. J. Parasit. 72(1):45-61.
3 Hildreth MB, Johnson MD and Kazacos KR. 1991. A Zoonosis of Increasing Concern in the United States. Compendium for Cont. Ed. 13(5): 727-740.
4 Lieby PD, Carney WP and Woods CE. 1970. Studies on Sylvatic Echinococcosis, Ill. Host Occurrence and Geographic Distribution of Echinococcus multilocularis in the North Central United States. J. Parasit. 56(6): 1141-1150.
5 Georgi JR and Georgi ME. 1990. Parasitology for Veterinarians. W.B. Saunders Co. 118-138.
6 Soulsby EJL. 1982. Helminths, Arthropods and Protozoa of Domesticated Animals. 7th Edition. Lea & Febiger. 118-138.
7 Craig PS and McPharson CNL. 1988. Sodium Hypochlorite as an Ovicide for Echinococcus. Ann Trop Med. and Parasit. 82(2): 211-213.
8 Freedom of Information Summary (FOI) NADA 133-953 Vercom Paste (febantel and praziquantel).
Patent information at http://www.elancopatents.com
Revised: April 2022
Drontal, Taste Tabs, Elanco and the diagonal bar logo are trademarks of Elanco or its affiliates.
© 2022 Elanco or its affiliates
Manufactured for:
Elanco US Inc, Greenfield, IN 46140 U.S.A.
Approved by FDA under NADA # 141-007
|Customer Service:
|Technical Service:
|THIS SERVICE AND DATA ARE PROVIDED "AS IS". DVMetrics assumes no liability, and each user assumes full risk, responsibility, and liability, related to its use of the DVMetrics service and data. See the Terms of Use for further details.
Copyright © 2023 Animalytix LLC. Updated: 2023-11-27


text: Louise Mensch responds to allegations from David Jones Investigative Journalist | Research | PoliticsHome"Although I do not remember the specific incident, this sounds highly probable. I thoroughly enjoyed working with Nigel Kennedy, whom I remember with affection. Additionally, since I was in my twenties, I'm sure it was not the only incident of the kind; we all do idiotic things when young. I am not a very good dancer and must apologise to any and all journalists who were forced to watch me dance that night at Ronnie Scott's."


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Clear questions and runnable code
get the best and fastest answer
perl2exe - no more secretsby merlyn (Sage)
|on Feb 23, 2003 at 20:55 UTC ( #237943=perlmeditation: print w/replies, xml )
|Need Help??
As I've said at least a few times here, the perl2exe tool is not a way to hide your source code.
Now it's even come to the attention of the security community (reported in bugtraq, for example).
For details, see the report from net-security's page.
Please stop supporting perl2exe. Please use PAR for a complete installation package, or perlcc to simply compile the top-level program.
-- Randal L. Schwartz, Perl hacker
Back to Meditations


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Garden of Delight "Sailing with Us"
Broken Silence, 2011
With an acronym logo of G.O.D. where the O is skull, and with songs titled "Five pound Whore", "Motherfuckers", and "Heavy Metal Wedding" you may get some immediate first impressions without hearing a note. Lyrically, this does live up to a punk style, but musically things are much more varied. They have released some promotional material calling this celtic rock –pirate folk which gets one closer to the sound, but still not quite there. Yes, there is a Pogues/Gogol Bordello spirit to the proceedings, but the sound is so much more mid tempo and controlled than either of those bands. The lyrics vary from the sophomoric songs mentioned earlier to songs work better with the music. The band almost sounds like Jethro Tull at times, maybe crossed with Echo and the Bunnymen? Ultimately, this is a strange record. There is talent here, but it just may be that the individual members should fragment off into different bands with a better focus. But they have been around together for a few years, so perhaps they and their audience are more comfortable with this material than I am.
© David Hintz
Ted Russell Kamp "Get Back to the Land"
PoMo Records; 2011
I saw Ted Russell Kamp playing bass for Hierophant, the heavy band fronted by Shooter Jennings. Hierophant put on a wonderful show here in the Washington DC area that drove away a lot of people expecting Shooter to sound like his father Waylon. I would suggest that those people check out this album if they want the more Waylon Jennings country-rock sound they were seeking that night. Kamp has put out thirteen songs that may have Country-rock roots, but are pushed forward with nice intensity and conviction. Kamp sings all the songs and plays bass, guitars, organ, piano, trumpet and trombone. He does allow some room for seven other musicians assisting on drums, pedal steel and violin along with some of the instruments he plays. The arrangements and production are solid with clarity and precision showcasing the guts of the performances. It is small wonder that the members of Hierophant are capable of coming up with fine solo work, as Hierophant was truly THAT good. Kamp's solo record is one I will file right behind Hierophant for an alternative and quality listening experience beyond that style.
© David Hintz
Dan Mangan "Nice, Nice, Very Nice"
Arts & Crafts; 2009
Mangan is from Vancouver, although the first song reminds me of Montreal-based Arcade Fire in that it invokes that propulsive rural pop sound. Mangan continues in a folk-rock vein from the heartland in the manner of the Decembrists and many other bands working these days. He has an assured voice and there is often interesting instrumentation used to vary the mood and tone of each song. Although variance is often enough to interest me an artist, if you have the high skill level of songwriting and crisp execution as Mangan does, then you can really win me over. I believe this record can win over an awful lot of music fans from many different genres.
© David Hintz
Pokett "Three Free Trees"
Dust on the Tracks; 2010
Although from Paris, Pokett has a universal independent rock band sound that could be from America or the UK or most anywhere. They accomplish this with quiet, smooth vocals that remind me of Brewer & Shipley or Magna Carta, but a little lower key. Some songs have really intricate folk guitar, while others have steady electric rock moves. This is a decent record that may struggle to break out from a crowded field, but clearly offers a nice listening experience.
© David Hintz
Puta Madre Brothers "Queso y Cojones"
Rookie Records; 2011
Now my Spanish may not be very good, but even I have an idea of this title's meaning. And these guys quickly establish they have cojones. Not only is this a nice dose of spirited rock'n'roll, but there is a welcome original feel to it all. From Link Wray's "Rumble" to Eddie Cochrane to Sergio Leone to grunge production, there are a fascinating combination of influences and styles present. The two-guitar sound present in most songs couldn't be much different. One has a trebly classic old team garage lead guitar sound, while the other has a deep rumbling, grungy distorted rhythm. There is some rudimentary drumming and trippy vocals. It could be Los Straitjackets, but it is much more strange. Although they sound like they come rural Brazil or Central America, they are actually from the Melbourne area of Australia. But they are headed to Europe, so hopefully they have success in conquering the world with this offbeat and exciting brand of ethnic rock music. When a band can be original and catchy at the same time, they have tapped into something special.
© David Hintz
Nicky Swann "Matches & Dispatches"
Own label; 2010
This singer/songwriter varies her songs from folk to lounge to American country and often sounds more American than British. Although I love variety, I tend to separate the songs into the ones I like which turns out to be the more classic sounding folk songs vs. the rest. "Amy's Waltz" is a lovely song that could be easily be covered by any fine folk singer, although Swann's singing may outshine anyone else's attempt. Swann is helped out with some additional guitar and violin on several songs, which is just enough help to liven up the songs, while allowing simple folk arrangements to be the key component of the album. There is an interesting slow folky version of "I Want to Hold Your Hand" which worked better than I expected. There is some nice potential here, not fully realized yet, but this is a good start.
© David Hintz
John Shipe "Villain"
Involushun Records; 2010
Within seconds I am greeted with the line "Everyone's a critic, but I'm the one who did it. So why don't they all get out of the way?" Well, I would be happy to get out of the way, but your label sent this my way for a review, so here goes. This is singer-songwriter material, slickly recorded with nice production and arrangements with many instruments including strings. A song like "Some Hidden Things" is quite excellent and is the closest to the folk style. There are some country styles and classic light rock songs. All of this is competent and why not? Shipe has written 250 songs and released ten albums over his run. A couple of songs appeared on an AOF award-winning soundtrack for "Vicktory to the Underdog". Sounds good, but I had to look up AOF to find it was some film festival in Pasadena, California. Still, there is nice material on this album. Lyrics are complex enough to require more than one listen to try to pick out the irony. There are traces of bitterness, but more often than not there is some interesting thoughts present. Musically this does not overwhelm me, but it is smart and interesting.
© David Hintz
The Phoenix Foundation "Buffalo"
Memphis Industries; 2011
I tend to give extra credit for the bands from Australia and New Zealand in their attempts to expand their audience in Europe and/or the United States. The geographical challenges are obvious and there is always a crowded field in the music world on almost every continent. This New Zealand band has toured Europe on the strength of this album. And they have created a strong album with this, their fourth album. It comfortably fits into some of the contemporary pop/rock categories being created by the likes of Arcade Fire, Spoon, and many other bands on the average 20-something year old's IPOD. There is just enough variety to keep a skeptic interested. "Bailey's Beach is the most interesting song for me. It is a lovely little pop song with a folk feeling at times and a distant psyche vibe at others. This band is capable of creating a buzz among a whole lot of people if they find their audience.
© David Hintz
Nick Parker "The King of False Alarms"
Own label, 2010
This CD starts off far too slowly. It is singer songwriter material that seems to struggle with the ability to match vocals to something that grabs hold of a listener. There are moments, but they just do not fully come together. Fortunately, I kept listening and the song "Blackmail" had a nice pop melody with a subtle chiming acoustic guitar and a good violin part. There are some nice folky parts with nods to classic UK sounds at times that do lift the songs somewhat. This is decent and some may like it, but it did not resonate with me like many of the others I have heard recently.
© David Hintz
Meadowland "Harbours"
Oaks of Mamre; 2010
Meadowland has a full band sound with male and female vocals. It sounds like many of the bands working the indie rock circuit these days. I was initially worried that this might not arise to a level of interest when it began, but I soon changed my mind. They have a steady pace and a smooth sound that creates a contemplative atmosphere. "Bring to Me" had me involved and "Buttercups" reminded me of some of my favorite lighter folk-rock songs of old. The melodies are good, the acoustic guitar patterns are involving and the male/female harmonies bring it all home. The songs vary between folk-rock and light moody rock pieces, similar to a band like Midlake. And I had been resisting calling this Americana, since there was something more worldly about it. As it is, they are from Sweden, although with the English vocals, that would be almost impossible to guess. This is a fine album that showcases good songwriting and excellent arrangements. They are better than some of the bands getting raves in the major magazines. Hopefully they will capture some of these critical ears.
© David Hintz
Bravo Johnson "Come Taste the Sun"
Stone Junction; 2010
Bravo Johnson "The Crooked and the Straight"
Stone Junction; 2008
I received the last two Bravo Johnson albums at the same time, so we can focus on the new album and compare it to the old one immediately. Bravo Johnson is the singer/songwriter who plays guitar and all keyboards. He is assisted with a guitarist and rhythm section. The music is good independent Americana styled folk-rock. I like his vocal work, which is akin to the soft side of Neil Young. The vocals and music do remind me much of the American west coast scene in the late sixties. There is that California laid-back vibe as the rhythm section lays it down and the guitars snake in and out of the melody. This is quality material that is easy on the ear, but with plenty going on, which leads me to future listening.
The 2008 album is similar in style to the newer one with its nice evenly paced Americana folk-rock. I even sense a Mighty Baby type sound on some of the vocal-guitar patterns and sounds. This material does take me back, but fits in quite well with contemporary times. There is a bit more Byrdsian "jangle" in the older record and maybe some Flying Burrito moves, but it still has a good balance or rock music with the folk. I swear I even hear Led Zeppelin in one guitar riff. The key to Bravo Johnson's sound is the assured tempo of the delivery, especially on the newer record. He is fully capable of bringing out every nuance of his fine songs.
© David Hintz
The Sonnenhof Songs "…from the
therapy couch …from higher ground"
Own label; 2009
I have to admit that at first glance this review looked like a chore. This is a self-released double CD containing 33 songs recorded from 2001-2009 by a folk duo. The arrangements consist of a male and female voice, acoustic guitar and some guest bass guitar at times. Thankfully, this turned out to be a really fine record where it was enjoyable to listen to all 33 songs in a row. These two have a classic folk style that I do not hear nearly as often as I would like. The male guitarist/vocalist is from Scotland and he has a nice resonant world-weary voice with a good guitar style to keep things interesting. His wife is from Germany and has a strong voice that has some of the strength of Sandy Denny. She can pull it back at times which can really bring out the dynamics of the songs. This is not quite up to the heights of Michael Raven & Joan Mills, but it is close enough for me to want to listen further. What a pleasure it is to hear something that could have been made in 1972, but sounds fresh and invigorating in this century.
© David Hintz
Akron/Family "S/T II: The Cosmic
Birth and Journey of Shinju TNT"
Dead Oceans; 2011
This band has been one of my favorites since their debut in 2005 on Young God Records, the label that brought us early Devandra Banhart, Michael Gira albums (Swans and Angels of Light), and Wooden Wand. Akron/Family was a good fit with their off-kilter eclectic free folk music. Their albums began mixing psychedelic folk and rock with some heavier moves as well. A live Akron/Family show is a highly enjoyable experience with all kinds of fun sing-alongs and crazy songs mixed in with an occasionally recognizable song. They have been a three-piece for a while with one member retiring and both live and on this album they still have a lot to offer. "Island" has that folk approach like a more laid back Incredible String band while "Fuji I" and "Say What You Want to" are spirited psychedelic romps. As they have gone a bit more electric over time, they do sound like they fit more closely with the Flaming Lips than Devandra Banhart. "Fuji II" offers a light folk approach that is close to traditional as they get. There is a little something for everyone and these are some of the rare musicians that can vary their approach dramatically and still pull even skeptical listeners into their world. They remain an integral part of my musical world and I highly recommend them whenever I get the chance.
© David Hintz
The Bad Shepherds "By Hook or by Crook"
Monsoon; 2010
We have a three-piece with mandolin, fiddle/banjo and Uilleann pipes/bouzouki being the main instruments with vocals and guest double bass from former Steeleye Span member, Tim Harries. Simple enough to figure out what this will sound like, right? Well, yes it is. It sounds like traditional folk music with an Irish touch. But of course there is a twist to this record. The music of choice is cover songs with some traditional tunes medlied into the mix. And the intriguing part is that the cover songs are mostly punk and post-punk songs by the Sex Pistols, Ramones, Buzzcocks, Clash, XTC, Motorhead and the Smiths. I even had to look up "Sound of the Suburbs" a fine song I remembered, but had forgotten was by the Members. For someone like me who knows 1960's and 70's UK folk and folk rock AND knows punk rock so intimately, this should be a great match. Oddly enough, it is not nearly odd enough. The music is so straightforward folk, that Ewan MacColl purists may like it more than I did. Well, that may be stretching it, but this is very normal folk music. Still, this is an interesting idea that is not a bad listen and does confirm their position that punk songs were good songs. I would rather support a challenging odd concept like this as opposed to listen to some safe pop music. The more I think about this, the more I like it.
© David Hintz
The Slapstickers "Sonic Island"
Own label; 2010
Good dancing music is the order of the day on this record. It is somewhere in the ska/dancehall neighborhood and the 14 songs are all nicely paced dance numbers. There is a bit of heavy guitar, but mostly it is solid rhythms, brass and vocals carrying the songs. There are some keyboards and rhythm guitar as well as the sound is full, but not overpowering. The band is solid and it is pretty hard not to tap your toes along with this music. I do not sense there is anything here that will rival the fine songs of Madness, the Specials or the Beat, but this is well-executed music that is worth a listen if you like your ska music. And if you are really a fan, you will get a bonus DVD with this CD, which has a 90-minute documentary and some bonus footage.
© David Hintz
The Stagger & Sway "Break Til You Bend"
Working Stiff Records, 2010
I really do not like using the term "alt country". I do not mind when someone else uses it and I can usually understand its application. But it gives me the shakes every time I might think it is appropriate and I usually fall back on over-using Americana. Well, let us just say that both labels may apply here. And there is some nice rock moves and even some songs that are country without a whole lot of "alt" to them. The band has plenty of guitars, bass and drums and there is one guest musician playing lap steel and some nice keyboards. The songs are decent enough, but vary a little bit in style and the ability to grab the listener's interest. Nothing unusual in that, but the highlights are worth checking out. "Barrel Rolling" has one of the finer rolling drum rhythms and melodies that remind me a bit of the classic "Rawhide" theme. "Up and Go" has a nice country-rock rhythm and a nice chorus with some nice bridges, too. This is an interesting band that at its worst, falls into a comfortable easy going pattern that I equate with the negatives of country music, but at its best shows a flair for arranging an interesting song.
© David Hintz
Jack Bruce and the Cuicoland Express
"Live at the Milkyway"
Flaccid Parrot Records; 2010
If the back-up band has Vernon Reid (Living Colour) on guitar, Bernie Worrell (Funkadelic) on organ, and three drummers/percussionists that have worked with Tito Puente, Santana, and Dizzy Gillespie, I believe many music fans would be very interested regardless of who the front man is. Now put legendary bassist/vocalist Jack Bruce to stage center and you have one of the more intriguing line-ups I have seen. This is a two-CD set recorded live in Amsterdam in 2001. The tapes were set aside and finally digitally converted and mixed and released just last year. And I can report that it was well worth the effort. There is nearly two hours of music here featuring a very hot band that is long on percussion with the expected guitar heroics of Vernon Reid. This may not be Cream, but the percussion and guitar work is about as good as you could ever hope to get in this century. And there are Cream classics like "White Room", "Sunshine of Your Love", "Politician" and the fabulous "We're Going Wrong". It is fun to see this band tackle those classics with all the power, new rhythms, and an amazing psychedelic vibe on the latter. Jack Bruce's voice is still emotive and in good shape. He shows a bit of age, but hits all the high notes with a delicate grace and only pulls back a bit on the screams. His bass work is still first-rate as well. And the songs are all original songs that he has co-written with Pete Brown and Kip Hanrahan—no traditional blues song here. This is a nice discovery and if any of these great performers interest you, I do not think you will be disappointed with this concert recording. But keep in mind that it is a concert recording and I would love to hear cleaner, stronger instruments, but the mixing does show great care to obtain decent enough live sound.
© David Hintz
Marshall Lawrence "Blues Intervention"
Own label; 2010
Well, if the title doesn't tip you off as to the music herein (and of course it does), then the photograph of three different dobros or resonator guitars on the back is a giveaway. This is the blues with the rich metallic dobro sound. Laurence sings to all his guitar playing and has stand-up bass assistance and a bit of harmonica. So this is stripped down blues, mostly original aside from a few songs, traditional or Robert Johnson and so forth. He picks well, plays a mean slide and has a pretty decent voice, although perhaps it is a little too decent as it does not sound as whiskey-drenched or worn-down and dirty as many blues singer's voices end up. And he even tosses in some mandolin and banjo to throw a few curves. Although I hear a lot of blues and I find it hard to pick out something that stands out, this one does sound better than average with the quality playing and the more naked arrangements. It is a good sound and I would not mind hearing it a few more times.
© David Hintz
Earl Pickens & Family "Gathering"
Own label; 2010
This band previously released a complete reworking of U2's "The Joshua Tree" performed in their bluegrass/alt country style. That audacious move certainly garnered them some notice. But can their ten original songs released as a follow-up get the same kind of buzz? It will be difficult, but if people give this a fair listen, this band is easily capable of making a name for itself on the strength of its songwriting and comfortable playing. The first song "Time" has a subtle approach to some of the lyrical trickery between ending and beginnings of lyrics that Arthur Lee employed on Forever Changes. There is consistently a nice lyrical melody and rhythm throughout with plenty of the usual heartland stringed instruments supporting well on top of a nice rhythm section. They remind me of a good local band I follow called Stripmall Ballads and they have a sound close to many even more successful alt country acts, so hopefully they will not get lost among the high quantities of bands playing this style. The songs here are good enough to stand out from the pack.
© David Hintz
Eden Brent "Ain't got no troubles"
Yellow Dog Records, 2010
Eden Brent has that great torch singer quality working for her and on top of that, she leads the jazz-blues band with here skillful piano playing. The accompanying musicians turn in slick professional jobs in creating a smooth lounge blues set with heart. Although I prefer the slide guitar swampy style blues, it is nice to take in this version as a nice alternative. Brent has a sensitive yet gutsy voice that sounds a lot older than it is. She has a resonance similar to that of folksinger Karen Dalton, which is quite effective. Often, an instrumentalist who is lead vocalist has extraordinary skill at just one of those disciplines. Here, Brent seems top of the class at both the piano and singing. "If I Can't" even offers a rather straightforward folk song with voice and acoustic guitar, which gives a nice bit of variety. If you like this type of jazz-blues music, I would say this would be one of the better releases you would find. I always enjoy this type of music in a club setting and this record recreates some of those good feelings I have had there. That is no easy task, but it is accomplished here.
© David Hintz
Amos Lee "Mission Bell"
Blue Note Records; 2011
Amos Lee's fourth album is another fine testament to great songwriting. His style goes from straightforward folk such as "El Camino" to a light rock incorporating thick production with nice guitar sound in "Windows are Rolled Down". "Jesus" and "Hello Again" are wonderful songs as he shifts tempos and arrangements slightly song by song. What is consistent is his clear, reliable vocals and storytelling ability. This album may join Josh Ritter's most recent album as a couple of the best albums featuring the highest level of songwriting out there in the near-folk world. There is not much more to be said. There is no filler here, so most of these twelve songs should reach most listeners who give them a chance. I will be able to give his live a chance this April and am looking forward to that.
© David Hintz
O'Hooley & Tidow "Silent June"
No Masters, 2010
The duo in question are both female vocalists with the former also playing piano (very well). O'Hooley writes most songs with some help from Tidow along with a couple of arrangements. I was expecting another lounge jazz-folk sound from the look and the first notes, but am surprised when I am reminded of Mellow Candle. There is not the powerful full-out Mellow Candle sound, but with two female voices and high quality piano, it does resonant with some great memories in my head, stored after many listens to Mellow Candle's "Swaddling Songs". The traditional "Spancil Hill" has a rich arrangement and great Irish feeling to it. And they sound a little like the Unthanks, when they hit the more traditional notes here. However, the seven and one half minute "Hidden from the Sun" creates a magnificent epic soundtrack to some unknown movie with mysterious vocals, evocative piano, and a sharp violin and piano battle at the end. This may not be for everyone, but for something new and quietly exciting, this one may surprise. I think folk listeners who like creativity may not be surprised that much.
© David Hintz
Luke Powers "Hwy 100"
Phoebe Claire, 2010
Luke Powers blends country, folk and the blues in an agreeable manner on this album. I found his "The Ballad of the Minie Ball" to be the gem of this album with its classic "topical folk" feeling, although this topic is a historical story from the Civil War. "Wolfman" is a likable rock song as well. The album gets a little long for me with its 16 songs and the feel-good country rock style sometimes gets a little too locked in for my tastes. Guitar fans may be interested that Richard Lloyd from Television is on this record and I detect a few of his guitar solos a bit too buried in the mix. This is not a bad effort, depending on your taste.
© David Hintz
The Headlocks "Cuckoo Bird"
Own label; 2009
This one begins simply enough with a very modern "indie rock" feeling. At first, there is not much I cannot hear on hundreds of other albums released recently. As I listened further, more variety crept in like "The Round Up" which sounded like the Rolling Stones with some nice horn arrangement in the mix. I also enjoyed "Freeze the Frame" which had a nice hook to it. Ultimately they do a nice job of coming up some creative arrangements for their mostly roots-oriented songs. Perhaps my favorite example is "I Freak Out, too" which has a great funk-rock pace throughout with blasts of horns and guitar. There is a touch of folk here, but it leans more heavily on roots oriented rock with some R&B moves, too. And more often than not, they are successful in their efforts.
© David Hintz
Saoirse Mhor "Thursday Asks"
Own label; 2008
Saoirse Mhor is an Irish singer-songwriter. His eleven songs, comprised of originals, traditional, and covers, are acoustic based with a light folk-rock band accompanying them. Some are closer to straight folk outings with lighter touches on acoustic guitar and some piano. He has a nice sensitive voice, which carries the songs more than any instrumental prowess, although he shows nice touch on acoustic guitar. His original songs "The Gregory Girl" and the title cut are every bit as good as his decent covers of Shawn Phillips' "The Little Tin Soldier" or Neil Young's "Captain Kennedy". There is even a version of the old chestnut "Try to Remember" which I recall hearing from about 30 different artists when I was young. By album's end, it got a little monotonous in pace and tone, but there were not any overt problems here and some nice tunes. So I would place this in the lightly likable category, and it did leave me in a pleasant mood.
© David Hintz
Francesco Lucarelli "Find the Light"
Route 61 Music; 2010
We have a singer/songwriter from Rome who sounds more like he has spent the last 50 years in southern California. The sound is a near-perfect match for that light western Americana-rock sound that made Jackson Browne and many others famous. There is a western US connection with some of the players on this album, such as guitarist Jeff Pevar, bassist Kenny Passarelli (I did not know this fellow Denver-ite was still around—he's played with Joe Walsh, Dan Fogelberg and Elton John), and the legendary Graham Nash (on one song). So with players like this, you can expect the studio work to sound good and it does. There is great balance in the sound and a smooth transition between the dynamic changes in the songs. There are plenty of nice subtle backing vocals, which give songs like "After the Twilight" a nice dreamy sensation. Lucarelli has a good voice, some nice songs and took great care in the presentation here. This album could easily appeal to mainstream music fans, but will easily fill the needs of the fans of Poco, Flying Burrito Brothers, CSNY, and Jackson Browne.
© David Hintz
Ladysmith Black Mambazo "Songs from a Zulu Farm"
Proper, 2011
What more can you say about a world institution? This is an a cappella collective has been around in some form since 1960; and in its present form, since 1964. There are nine members and are still lead by founder Joseph Shabalala. This group continues to bring their quality male vocal work to recordings and stages throughout the world. Paul Simon may have helped them make a name for themselves, but they have continued to grow their audience long since "Graceland". On this outing, they deliver sixteen songs that cover the agricultural history of South Africa. There is a mix of traditional songs along with original music continuing this theme. Certainly this is an excellent topic as the band formed while the original members were living and working on a farm. I particularly enjoyed the vocal percussion effects on "Wemfana" (Bad Donkey). "Imbongolo" (The Donkey's Complaint) was also quite moving, and it completed their vocal discussion of donkeys. The skills are of such high quality, I can even listen to their Zulu styled version of "Old McDonald" all the way through. Not too many bands can pull that one off.
© David Hintz
Drive-By Truckers "Go-Go Boots"
ATO Records; 2011
It is so nice to see a major band release two albums a year apart. That just does not happen often these days, whereas in the 1960s that would be considered too slow a pace. The interesting back-story on this release is that the band recorded 25 songs in 2009 and 2010 and decided to release them on two records, "Go-Go Boots" being the second album. The band also decided to make 2010's "The Big To-Do" into the more rocking album of the two with the more rural country songs saved for "Go-Go Boots". I really enjoyed "The Big To-Do"[42] as did most other music critics and fans, but was skeptical of this release as I am a bit more averse to country music than most people. The good news is that it still has the high quality song writing you expect from the band. There is some rock and swing in the first few cuts on the album and the intriguing title cut. However, once the three Mike Cooley songs, Shonna Tucker song, and two Eddie Hinton covers kick in, the country music takes over. Some of it rocks, but much of it goes into a steady country pace. The band plays it well, as these musicians are extremely talented, but unlike the live shows with their display of different styles, this album just gets too comfortable and safe. But if you really like the slower songs and the Cooley songs (and many, many people do), perhaps you will like this one more than "The Big To-Do". Even a few of the Patterson Hood songs veer off toward country, but he still is the songwriter I turn to in this band such as in "The Thanksgiving Filter" with its addictive folk-rock rhythms. This is a high quality band that has earned the right to do it there way and music fans can choose a wide variety of styles in their albums or just see the excellent live show like I did a few weeks back and get a nice slice of the Truckers' varied history worked around the newer songs.
© David Hintz
Victoria Vox "Exact Change"
Obus Music; 2010
There was a lot of dead space for the ukulele between Tiny Tim and recent years where the tiny instrument was exiled in Death Valley. But Victoria Vox and many others have rescued this nice feel-good instrument from obscurity and let it even take the lead in delivering original folk music. Vox is assisted on piano, bass, and drums often and sometimes has a bit of guitar and keyboard help. Still the ukulele is ever present along with her playful voice. I saw her play a solo show at a folk club some time back, and she could carry the show solo if needed as her songs and voice are that good. There is one trick that I may have overlooked here if I had not seen it with my own eyes. She is credited on a couple of songs here with trumpet. However, it is also credited as "mouth trumpet" which would be confusing had I not seen Vox is pinch her lips together and do an uncanny impersonation of a trumpet with just her voice (Find the Youtube video if you need proof). It was amazing. But even without that impressive sound, she can really deliver nice folk and folk-rock songs with the best of them. She varies the pace well and changes moods as needed based on her lyrics. The live show is great, but this CD should easily hold your interest until she comes to your town.
© David Hintz
Various Artists [Samplers, EP's & Demo CD's]
Tina Lie "Twilight Hour" (Single, Siwu Music, 2010). Unfortunatly only one song. Norwegian roots rock - Fats Kaplin is listed among the back-up[34] - with promising Tina-Turneresque vocals. Don't fade away into the twilight hour please ...
Elle Osborne "Good Grief" (EP, Folk Police Recordings, 2010). 4 track EP preceding a forthcoming longplayer from this Lincolnshire singer and fiddler, ft. Scott Smith (banjo, lap steel, harmonica). These are folk based original songs (e.g. "Time of the Small Sun" draws on the Irish air "Sean O Duibhir a Ghleanna," delivered with fragile vocals and incorporating sound collages. Haunting...
Maini Sorri "Someday" (EP, Reya Music, 2010). Middle-of-the-road singer-songwriter pop that could have been something wasn't it drowned in violins and synths. The one Scandinavian song works better than the English language ones (which originally were written in Finnish as well).
Riccado Tesi & Banditaliana (EP, 2011). Not having heard anything from Italian accordionst Riccado Tesi on these web pages for a long time. With this Tuscan crossover band he has already three albums to his credit, these are two tracks from the forthcoming album "Madreperla" to be relased in March 2011. First, a joyous mediterranean song, second, an instrumental oriental/klezmir sounding track.
Various Artists "No Masters Co-Operative Twentieth Anniversary Sampler" (CD, 2010). The northern England song-writing co-operative formed by John Tams and Jim Boyes in 1990 is celebrating its 20th anniversary! This 7 track sampler introduces ist artist rooster from recent releases: Ray Hearne,[42] Jo Freya,[44] Coope Boyes & Simpson,[44] Chumbawamba,[42] O'Hooley & Tidow.[44]
Various Artists "100% Music Songwriting Contest" (CD, 2011). Promo CD introducing the 8 winners of the (French based) 100% Music Songwriting Contest, including US singer/songwriter Rachel VanSlyke and French The Thing, winner of the Acoustic and World music category, respectively.


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BridgeheadEdit Company
Popular Teas from BridgeheadSee All 10 Teas
Recent Tasting Notes
Thanks so much for the sample Sil!
this is a good chai. a little light on the spices, but that can be nice when you still want to taste the TEA and not just all out spice. I love how malty it is, and bold.
Milk and sugar required with this one. Oh sure I could make do without but where is the fun in that… ;P
Rating: 84
I'm all out of my favorite chai teas so this is my back up. That being said, it's still a good tea, just not my favourite. I'm almost out of this one as well, so that not only makes me sad, but happy because it means i'm working my way through all of the teas that I went crazy buying when i first got into steepster :)
Went for this one this morning largely because of indecision. I'm trying to get through any tea that i have that's in smaller quantities to make room for the few teas that are coming and so that I feel less like i have a monster cupboard on my hands. I needed something with a bit of flavour but wasn't up for being smacked around too much either. Though as it turns out, i might have needed a bit more smacking around as i not only forgot my buspass at home and had to go all the way back, but then managed to have someone spill coffee on me after going back to the stop…so yes…i went all the way back home. Let me tell you how much fun that is when you're carrying 5098234098 things. oh well…i vow to have a great rest of the day! :)
This was my breakfast tea this morning. Today is a beautiful Spring day and warm again' Temperature is going up to 61 degrees with NO SNOW not even a hint that it came by yesterday! What a trickster the weather can be at 5000 ft.
I've never had a Darjeeling, just read discriptions. I know millions have this tea regularly for breakfast or midday tea with milk and sometimes sugar.
I don't turn on my computer until later in the morning…but I take my Kindle Fire with me to the couch so I can check Steepster…and my cloth covered tea tray with glass pot covered with a paisley tea cozy from April Cornell (I like that they are reversable and $14 when they go on sale). I stay in my Big Brown Hooded Zippered Robe that makes me look like an old craggy monk… because I'm Retired! After 4 minutes steeping the liquid pour has become dark like coffee which is what I want! No insipid weak morning tea for Bonnie. Not bothering to drink this straight up I put a bit of cream into the tea and took a sip…toasty and lightly malty ending with a clip of tannin at the tip of my tongue to pop the flavor. Reminds me of Rome in the morning and me having a creamy perfect cappuccino. Bold, rich and beautiful in taste and color. I added a little sweetening and caught a lightening bolt of cream brulee with the maltiness. Very nice cuppa and not a thin tea but one that coats the mouth with richness. Perfect for breakfast. I finished the whole pot wanting more!
I'm not usually one for Darjeeling. I've tried five, this being one of them. This one is the finest one I've had. The taste is best described as fruity. The website describes it as apricot: I find it tastes like mulberries. The tea itself is quite fragrant, and extremely enjoyable. After being steeped, the tea itself smells wonderful, and has a really nice golden look.
In comparaison to what you find in the market, this Darjeelings is fine since it is a first flush (which is generally more interesting aromas wise but way more difficult to find a good one…) but it was quite bland and rough, don't know if it was old and/or badly preserved. The description says that it is a 'rare' tea? Well, it doesn't mean it's exceptionnal! Not bad but not exceptionnal.
It will do. I bought some this morning along with a great new cup for my tea at work, since I dropped my tea pot.
I was hoping for a steadfast standby for when I was wanting a plain cup of tea. Unfortunately, This tea was not robust, and rather flat. I steeped a second cup using water at a full boil but with not much improvement (earlier I was in a rush and my first cup was with hot water from the water cooler, which is better for greens). There is definitely a floral note to this tea, but it is lacking the depth I have become accustomed to.
My husband now declares me a total snob. Bridgehead, I love many things about you, but not this tea.