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Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Grrr...stand up to bullies
Extremely displeased by bully boy tactics.
I checked my email this morning to find an email from Blogger saying that links had been removed 'Blogger has been notified, according to the terms of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), that certain content in your blog infringes upon the copyrights of others.'
Now, I cannot actually check the article concerned, which was an interview with James Allan of Glasvegas, because it was removed. Yes, not just the mp3 (which I had believed that I had removed, given that I allowed my account to lapse with the file hoster concerned, as I felt that they had seriously let me down a few months back) but the whole interview, which frankly speaking, I consider to be MY intellectual property.
I would like to say that I do not blame Glasvegas for this. They're a great band, James Allan was a charming interviewee and his sister and manager Denise remembered that he had promised me a place on the guest list when they played Edinburgh last month. However, I do feel that removing mp3s of demos that the band had made available for free on their website is somewhat unjust. Yes, I posted them, they were free. Added to which, james Allan had commented that before many of the songs were out, fans seemed to have learned the lyrics to the songs from blogs.
Until a few months ago, the first three singles from the band (recorded prior to their signing with big record company, I won't name it here,) were available to download from a well-known online retailer. You now cannot buy them from said retailer. Now, if the band chose to do that, that is their choice. BUT: if you have previously enabled things to be either downloaded for free or to be downloaded, then withdraw that, people will distribute them ILLEGALLY, and if they were once available to buy -guess what, the band won't make the money that it might have done!
Back when I interviewed the band in January, James Allan was very modest, and even with the signing frenzy that was happening, didn't seem to have let it go to his head. From what I saw onstage last month in Edinburgh, he still hasn't. As well as coverage in the NME (three covers this year, I think), what has helped them was the coverage in blogs like this. Oh, and bizarrely, people like me who played them to their students in aesthetics, and the students went and bought the album and singles.
There are those who see all copying and distribution of music as being the same as walking into the shop and stealing multiple copies. I beg to differ. Whilst I have had to cut down on music buying of late (there's, y'know, bills to pay, and there is a recession coming -sorry, but the Emperor isn't wearing any clothes, this is not scaremongering), I have bought pretty much everything by Glasvegas I could lay my hands on. Including buying a copy on vinyl even though I'd been sent a promo CD and buying a copy of the LP for brother Seconds' birthday. I might also add that when I reviewed the album in September I stipulated at the end of the review 'Don't copy this, go and buy it.' Short of going and buying thousands of copies of the album and giving it to strangers in the streets, I don't think I could have done more to promote the band.
So why the hell am I being made to feel like a common criminal?
Like I say, this is not a rant at Glasvegas, but at people who feel that they can use bully-boy tactics and scaremongering. As I've mentioned before, I co-run what is Scotland's newest and smallest record label. I hereby declare that I will never, EVER hound people who promote the bands whose records we release. And may I be struck down if I do.
Glasvegas' album is out now. It's brilliant, go and buy it. And go and buy the Aberfeldy single, it's brilliant too.
If you are the sort of person who is trying to concentrate on internet crime; here's a tip: deal with the real criminals: people who exploit others. Not bloggers who do this out of love of writing and music. The web police are no more than manifestations of George Orwell and William Gibson's worst nightmares come to life.
After that rant, there's only one thing I could possibly post:
Crass -'Do They Owe Us A Living?' mp3
I had been going to post 'Police and Thieves' by the Clash, until I remembered that it is on a label with big scary lawyers (well, very likely).
Oh, and I will post the review of the Mogwai/F*ck Buttons/Errors gig tomorrow, it was brilliant).
50 comments:
- So It Goes said...
Eloquent and yet savage at the same time. Ed, you excel yourself in your writing. As you may remember, I posted 'Police And Thieves' when the same thing happened to me, only not on the scale of this intrusion into your rights. Makes you want to pack it all in. You know what I say? Fuck 'em. You're brilliant.
P.S. In on Saturday?
Continue the blog please - as im sure you will however knowning that there is people out there that proberbly have never read the blog who seem to get kicks out of fucking people over is terrible. Its basically the big man bullying the small man.The fact the actual post its self has been taken down is a disgrace on blogspot.com's behalf -In my view...
- Ed said...
Hi guys - thanks for your support which means a lot. I did briefly consider chucking in the blog, but not standing up to bullies allows them to continue.
- Nuzz Prowlin' Wolf said...
Some people. Stay Free! and Keep On Blogging In The Free World! The last three albums I bought; Glasvegas, The Gaslight Anthem and Primal Scream, I'd already got from blogs a lot less scruplious than yours and mine, when it comes to sharing music, before I bought them. Fuck 'em, owe us a living too fucking right, the amount the 'music biz' has had out of me over the years, doesn't bare thinking about; It's payback time.
- Ed said...
Cheers npw!
- Davy H said...
Ed, to be honest I think you're being overly charitable to the band, with the best of intentions I know. This can't be happening without them knowing about it, surely?
It seems to me that they need you and others like you to grow, then once grown, take the silver dollar and all the lawyers that go with it and look the other way whilst this kind of act is perpetrated in their name.
I'd like one of your 'modest' friends from the band to come on here and explain himself, frankly.
Meanwhile I'd assume they approve of all this, since they appear not to be looking for another record company (and lawyer pool).
Oh my friends punk is dead, dead, dead; stone dead.
- Ed said...
After reading this, I'm actually tempted to email the manager and ask for an explanation.
Cheers for the support, though!
- Davy H said...
Good idea. You might also try contacting Blogger and asking them to restore your writing - Adam had something similar happen with Wordpress and they did oblige.
- Ed said...
I did try with Blogger -I got sent exactly the same email as before, word for word as Mrs. 17 Seconds points out.
Y'know, if I had posted the entire album before release then that would have been one thing, but this feels dangerously close to being stabbed in the back. Sure, I didn't kid myself that they were friends or anything, but I didn't expect to see a band that I had supported when they were small do this.
Mrs. 17 Seconds: 'Never mind 'forget your dad he's gone' forget your morals, they've gone.'
As ever, my darling wife has the last word!
Yeah, I'd also like to know how much, if anything, Glasvegas had to do with this.
Just out of curiosity, Ed: If they were involved in creating this hassle, would you still listen to their music and would you still enjoy it? I'd be interested to hear your thoughts.
In the meantime though, get back to reviewing and giving coverage to those bands who appreciate it, Ed! I'm sure heaps of bands/labels are very grateful for your support. I've had emails from bands telling me how thrilled they are that 17 Seconds have reviewed their album/gig and posted an mp3 of their new single.
Best wishes,
Love the blog, I've been a long-time admirer (aka regular lurker), and you've got me into a number of excellent bands (Sons & Daughters, The Darling Buds, Specials, Wah! in many forms, etc etc). Keep doing what you do above all else.
I've noticed this kind of episode happening more with other blogs, too (A Plague of Angels, for example). You were fortunate to receive some kind of notice, it seems, as the practice of summarily deleting entire blog posts seems to be standard practice in these situations.
As to Glasvegas: I saw them at this year's Great Escape in Brighton, they were really good, highlight of a fantastic weekend. I became a fan and bought the singles I could find of theirs. I went to see them at a signing session soon after, singles in hand to be signed, and they laughed along with their huge bevy of bouncers (who demanded to check what was being signed) about how I was going to put them on Ebay. It was an embarassing way to treat a fan (I'd already told them I'd loved the gig) and, perhaps, a sign that they were being absorbed by The Industry.
Purely anecdotal, I know, and you've clearly had better experiences with them (in interview/with management); but after this you'd have to have a pretty thick skin not to be wary of being so effusive in praise of them in future.
(Apologies for anonymity, I'll sign up at some point!)
- best, Ian
i dunno one appearance on soccer a.m. and glasvegas they think they're the rolling stones! don't get upset by lawyers, bunch of fuckin' vampires who feed on society and put nothing back.
Better watch what you say about playing the tracks or you might get the PRS on your case as well. What happens to bands when they get signed by majors? As I, like others who have commented believe that the band must know that this is going on and if they don't, they better find out as this kind of behaviour doesn't make them any new fans.
- entrailicus said...
I know it will dismay you all to hear that one of my K-Tel compilations (and the entire post) has gone the same way.
another regular reader supports you :)
Personally, Glasvegas don't do it for me. But you can't blame the band for this really, as soon as most bands sign a typical record deal they're no longer in control of their catalogue, its distribution or the copyright of the catalogue.
Just as a myriad bands have found.
"They said, we'd be artistically free, when we signed a bit of paper. They meant, let's make a lot of mon-eee, and worry about it later ..."
cheers, Craig
- david said...
Well maybe not the last word..........
All of this typifies the hypocrisy running rampant throughout the 'music business'.
Every single person who's ever wrote a song/started a band is delighted when people hear and enjoy their music. How many bands put up their first tracks on Myspace for free and are delighted when they reach their first thousand downloads? Huge numbers. I played in a number of (startingly unsuccessful) bands, but they all had one thing in common - we did it because we loved doing it.
But when a little bit of success comes along, it all changes and becomes 'business'. And it becomes less and less to do with the musicians and all to do with parasites making money out of it.
I'm quite comfortable about putting my cards on the table - I download music all the time. Lots of it. Everyone knows you can rip tunes from Myspace in seconds (including the bands). Who cares? The answer to that is the record companies/music business. That's all really. Who protests the loudest about downloading? U fcking 2! How much money does King Bono of Ireland need ffs.
Sorry about the rant Ed, but it's been building up for a long time. If you want to make music, go ahead and do it. If you're any good, people will PAY to come along and listen to you doing it. They might even buy the t-shirt. In reality, the recordings are only a way to let people hear how good you are at your job, which is going out and playing music.
People like WeePop lovingly create beautiful artefacts that I will buy and treasure but the Sony's etc of this world simply want your money for putting in the correct order a number of 1's and 0's.
Well, I've had enough. I've been ripped off for years and years by record companies. Revenge is sweet.
Rant over.
- Ed said...
Guys, thank you all for your support. Think I will contact the band and try and get an explanation.
Keep in rocking in the free world, while you can...
- adam said...
From the little bit I've read about it (having had two different posts locked up, and two fileden accounts deleted, because of DMCA notices) is that it seems to exist primarily to protect providers like blogger, wordpress and fileden and so on - if they receive a notice about hosting protected material, and they comply with the notice instantly, they are immune from further action in relation to that breach. That means that they comply, without question, to any and every notice they receive, and the notice could come from anybody, it has to say that the person responding has authority from the copyrightholder to do so but how anyone would know is beyond me, it is not necessarily anyone with an interest in the ownership of the material but anybody who can be bothered.
And the other thing that pissed me off about this, along with the point that you've made about your rights to your intellectual property and your media text that you've gone to the effort of creating yourself, is that this is an American law, I have no say at all in the rights or wrongs of it, no vote, nobody to write to or lobby even in my individual and ineffective way, no say at all whatsoever. It would be interesting whether a case might come up where a blog or such hosted by a UK company playing music from a UK band on a UK label got hit from somewhere with a DMCA notice and what could be done about it. From what I've been able to find looking around online I imagine there is an equivalent piece of legislation in UK law as the European directive asking for it across the EU has been around for quite a while, but I can't find any reference to the UK legislation if it exists.
DMCA allows an almost automated response with a guaranteed result and stops, completely stops, the prospect of their being any dialogue between people who legally 'own' music and people who want to support and publicise and, to be honest, usually eulogise about it. It's dumb dumb dumb, and in fact the only thing I can think of to say in its support is that some people have used it to stop the McCain campaign posting YouTube videos with songs they didn't get permission to use on them.
- Ed said...
Adam - interesting point about the McCain campign trail; as it won't surprise any regular readers to know I do not want McCain or Palin *involuntary shudder* to win the US election. I think the use of songs in stuff like that is open to far more abuse than the likes of a humble mp3 blog with an average of 300-400 hits a day supporting a band.
In reply to Gav's comment earlier; I'd certainly still listen to Glasvegas if I found out that they'd had a hand in the notice, but it's ot beng melodramatic to say that it would leave a nasty taste in my mouth. I'm glad that it's meant something to your artists that they've been featured on this blog. Particularly hlpful to have that when I've been hit like this!
I first found out about Glavegas on this blog and have since spent a fairly obscene amount of money on them! Glasvegas should be eternally thankful to bloggers like yourself Ed, who got the word out in the first place. I sincerely hope that the band have nothing to do with this but if they do fuck 'em and thir label cos I wont be spending money on the Christmas album!
- Ed said...
Thank you anonymous, have been very touched, as I have said by the support, and your comments about getting into them through this blog certainly support what I was doing.
There has been a very touching post over at Song, By Toad (http://songbytoad.com) looking at this article and its' disappearance.
- david said...
Sorry about the rant Ed but...y'know.
Just don't post anything by Mogwai or you'll find yourself getting another visit sharpish.
- Ed said...
Ach, it's always good to see you round these parts. will keep you posted on anything happening...
- a Tart said...
Chin up dear Ed, the love we make is greater than the love they take and all that, ... however badly I misquote the Beatles, we do blog out of love for music and create a common love for what moves us, excites us, invigorates us. That force can't be stopped ya know ;)
a Tart
- Ed said...
Cheers, tart! More weird and wondeful music around these parts soon...
- JC said...
Hi Ed
I find all this really quite fightening, sad and pathetic.
I think its important to establish if the band and/or their management had any degree of compliance in this....I really hope they didn't.
If they turn out to be as appalled as the rest of us, the least they can do is give you a replacement interview....
I couldn't be so level-headed if this had happened to me....
Have you thought about highlighting this practice with a sympathtic investigative journalist?? The way you've been treated is the sort of theing that sometimes gets Sunday broadsheets foaming at the mouth.
Please keep us informed of progress please....
- Ed said...
I am still waiting to hear back from the band's management, I will of course keep you informed, and thanks for the support!
- So It Goes said...
I received my first DMCA today and as a result, TK will be gone within the week. I don't want to play this game any more.
- Ed said...
Steve, please don't go; we cannot let these people win.
- Simon said...
I've been a musician for a long time. Perhaps the fact that I've not made much money from it affects the way I feel, but I'm not interested in wringing out any profit from my works. The only thing I've ever strove to protect was my ownership of the...creation. I wouldn't want somebody else to make money out of my works, but mostly I want to make sure that anybody hearing those works know they were by me, created by me. If I could tattoo my works or watermark them in some permanent way that nobody could remove I'd be happy. Don't make money out of my works without giving me any but if you want to share those works with anybody who's willing to listen all the better. If I didn't want people to hear what I've done I'd never have stepped out of the bedroom.
What I'm saying I guess is that all exposure is good exposure. I'm old fashioned I guess in that money isn't what it's about. Speaking as a blogger and musician I don't see any clash between the two.
I'm waiting for the industry to see what a good thing this network of people is. But it's more interested in protecting profits. Most of which don't go to the bands anyway...
- Ed said...
If we're going to point this out to the industry we'll need all the help we can get. Anyone interested in helping??
- Jim said...
Well, that's just pish. Not much else I can add, sorry this happened to you Ed and I can only hope that it all gets sorted out, one way or another.
The ironic thing might be that for a good few years I was one of those full album posting people and never really had any hassles like a lot of blogs whose intentions were better than mine.
- david said...
If I thought there was any way of helping I'd be glad to Ed BUT..
it's really about a few powerful people trying to squeeze the last drops of profit out of a dying model isn't it?
I'm not sure Columbia or anyone else thinks you or any other blogger has a major impact on record sales. Anyone who's messed around on the internet knows exactly where to get zipped files of any album they want, and it's certainly not from blogs. In fact I honestly agree with you that blogs like 17 Seconds simply help publicise what bands are doing - a 21st century version of the John Peel Show if you like.
Action from the likes of Columbia is only designed to strike fear into the hearts of the naive, and convince them they'll be prosecuted if they dare to download anything. It's not really anything to do with logic.
Viable new models have been proposed - give away the music free, make the £££'s from advertising, tours, merchandising etc - but the music business won't give up its cocaine accounts easily.
I'm with you Ed, as I'm sure SiG, Song By Toad and countless others (including active musicians) are, but just where do you go from here?
The DCMA may be unjust and possibly illegal, but if it's enough to frighten Google it's going to be difficult to counter. Sadly.....
- Ed said...
Jim - still trying to sort it out, have heard nothing back from the powers that be
David - It may be a hard battle, but I cannot let this go down without attempting, in some way at least to try and take them on...
- barbelith said...
please excuse my language (and apologies to alan moore) but
who watches the fucking watchmen?
- Agnes said...
You certainly have every right to be shitty - they're YOUR WORDS, that's what gets me! You and the other bloggers who've been affected have a lot of support out there though, and I hope you keep going. If us bloggers chuck it all in, then they've won, and that's crap.
I too am curious about your feelings about Glasvegas now - I know you believe they're not at fault and by all accounts they've been pretty good to you, but I reckon if I'd supported and promoted a band on my blog and then this happened to me, I'd find it hard to listen to their music again without being left with a pretty bitter feeling.
- Ed said...
barbelieth - good point, they certainly cannot be trusted to regulate themselves.
Agnes -thanks for your support too. Have to admit, over the last few days, I've not felt inclined to listen to them. Maybe it'll come back to me, but if they don;t know what their record company are up to, they ought to know...
- Planet Mondo said...
I got blog-busted last week as well - I think Prince being in the mix may have been the clincher - I've had a rant about it here..
But in summary I'll keep in blogging 'til the buggers pull the plug
- The Lemur said...
Another fellow blogger and first-time visitor submitting support and full agreement and understanding. I was lead to this post by the writer of Acid Ted and Vinyl Villain after posting a review on my blog The Lemur Blog
Several times and still continuing my posts have been deleted although never with any notification from Blogger, the DMCA act or the RIAA, leaving m,e very confused over not finding or reaching a certain post. Let's see this as a test wether this will pass unnoticed or if strong reactions will follow. I have shared Daddy's Gone after a ridiculously celebrating text in mostly Swedish, including a link to Amazon.com to buy the album.
I'm seriously considering buying myself my own domain name and server to decrease the risks of shutdown by Blogger and disappearing posts.
The Lemur is fully on your side!
- Ed said...
Thank you, kind sirs. Apparently those links that i thought were dead weren;t, but they were the demos, not property (I thought) of Columbia. May
- Ed said...
I was going to say (before I pressed send) that I believed that the links were dead. Not happy that the interview was removed, but grateful for support.
- Hooli said...
Same thing happed to me last week at Hooligan's Lament.
Put a lot of work into a post, got an email same as yours.
As was the case with Fence, a simple message in the comments section would have sufficed. As I did then, I would have removed whatever was offensive.
No question.
Now, I will probably lose interest.
Not sure I can be bothered wasting two thirds of my week writing something and promoting the music I love just for someone to wipe it out.
- Highlander said...
appalling treatment all round. Most of the other comments have pretty much covered anything I might add.
But I will say that however clever Google think they are, they haven't yet (as of writing) deleted the cached pages of the Glasvegas interview post. I wonder how that "complies" with the DMCA notice they have been served?
I have added the link above but if that doesn't work then search Google for '17 seconds glasvegas interview' - your interview should be the first link and the Cached page is linked accordingly underneath.
I have also copied the text and mailed it to you in the event the cache is refreshed. At the very least you will have your own work back.
- Ed said...
Hooli - please don;t give up, these sods must not be allowed to win.
Highlander -thank you very, very much...
- Filmore Mescalito Holmes said...
Yeah, that's some serious crap. Don't let the man get you down.
- Ed said...
Spread the word comrade, spread the word!
- Hooli said...
Cheers Ed.
Like Highlander, I too have just found all my posts untouched and unaltered via Google Reader.
In case anyone is unfamiliar - open Google use the drop down on 'more' and select Reader.
In the reader homepage click add subscription and paste the URL of your blog - bingo!
I didn't know this until someone told me - now at least I have the archive of my posts that I stupidly didn't keep before now.
Please pass on
- Ed said...
Fantastic - in case it ever happens again -and I still need to repost the Glasvegas interview -i will note this. Cheers!
- Ed Halbert said...
well i seriously do believe you should continue.
- Ed said...
Cheers, looking back at this I'm glad i did...


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- San Leandro USD
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San Leandro Adult School Wins Leaders in Education Award
CONTACT: Keziah Moss, Director of Community & Employee Engagement, (510) 667-6202, firstname.lastname@example.com
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For more information about the San Leandro Adult School and the culture of educational excellence building across SLUSD, please visit the website at www.slusd.us.

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Thursday, October 13, 2016
4:15 p.m. in Science 3821
Refreshments at 4:00 p.m. in the Computer Science Commons (Science 3817)
Kyle Rector, Assistant Professor of Computer Science at The University of Iowa, will talk about accessible computing for all.
One in six people have a disability, whether hidden or apparent. It is important for designers to create technologies that are accessible to people of different backgrounds. After outlining the research that Rector and others have conducted in computer science to improve access and wellness for people with disabilities, the talk will focus on two research projects: 1) Eyes-Free Yoga, an accessible yoga exercise game that provides auditory instructions and feedback for people who are blind or low vision, and 2) Eyes-Free Art, a system that allows people who are blind or low vision to explore 2D paintings using audio techniques. A discussion of future research opportunities in accessibility and computer science will conclude the presentation.


text:
Weekend Recipe: Chicken + Sweet Potato Soup
In the summer, I love salads but in the winter, I love soup. Doug jokes that most of the soups I make are so thick, I could eat them with a fork. I suppose this makes them more of a stew, but I'm not too worried about semantics -- I love them all! Either way, as the snow fell fast this weekend, I put this one on the stove to simmer and was pleased with how it turned out. Like it's predecessors, this one was thick and satisfying and made enough for three days worth of lunches.
- 2 pounds of chicken breasts
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 3 peeled and cubed sweet potatoes
- juice of 1 lime
- 3 cloves minced garlic
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
- 1 bag of baby spinach
- 1 can chopped green chili's
- Place chicken, broth, sweet potatoes, lime, garlic, chili's and salt in a stockpot over medium-high heat.
- Bring to a boil, then cover and simmer for an hour over medium heat.
- Scoop 2 cups of the potatoes and 1/2 cup of the broth into a blender (or use an immersion blender, which is what I did) and puree.
- Pour back into the soup pot and add spinach. Simmer for about 10 minutes or until the spinach is wilted.
- Enjoy!
[This recipe was adapted from Danielle Walker's "Against all Grain"]


text:
Rosy Fairhurst, author and former associate vicar at St Mary's, will be running a workshop on Wednesday 13 March, 7.30-9.30pm in the Crypt, to help people go deeper with the issues she raises in her book.
Uncovering Sin invites us to view sin as something to be understood, rather than condemned, a diagnostic rather than a judgement. It argues that only as we allow our darker places to come into the light can we truly re-integrate the part of us there so that we can be healed, more fully saved, and come to appreciate our deeper identity and calling.
During the workshop Rosy will explore some of the pictures and illustrations that the book uses too.
All welcome - no need to book - although an idea of numbers would be helpful. So an e-mail to firstname.lastname@example.com saying you're thinking of coming would be useful.
You can get hold of a copy of Uncovering Sin here or on the St Mary's bookstall. Copies also available on the night.


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Frontier hits top spot on WiiWare with season switching sequel.
2nd November 2009, Cambridge, uk. Frontier Developments Ltd. ('Frontier') today announced that LostWinds®: Winter of the Melodias for WiiWare™ has topped the charts in both Europe and North America claiming the No.1 spot for Nintendo's innovative download service.
David Braben, Frontier's Chairman and Founder, said: "The hugely positive response there has been to Winter of the Melodias is really heart warming, and the team really appreciate this as it justifies all the effort and care they put into it."
As the 100th title released on WiiWare in Europe LostWinds: Winter of the Melodias retains the charm and brilliance of the original while expanding on the story and pushing the Wii's capabilities further than most other titles. lw:wotm's beautiful graphics – showing both the lush green hills of summer and shimmering winter wonderland environments of Mistralis – have captivated players of all nationalities.
The eagerly awaited follow-up to last year's best selling, award-winning WiiWare launch title has received high praise across the board in Europe and North America with ign stating "It's not simply the best WiiWare title on the market, but one of the best Wii games full stop!"
With production values to match the very best Wii disc titles, LostWinds: Winter of the Melodias is out now to download directly to the living rooms of millions of families in Europe and America for the price of 1000 Wii Points, exclusively via Nintendo's WiiWare service.
LostWinds: Winter of the Melodias once again puts the power of the wind in the palm of your hand, as you experience Toku and Enril's new adventure to save Toku's mother, lift an ancient curse and thwart the evil Balasar. The elemental powers of Enril the Wind Spirit are used to protect and guide the young boy Toku - power his jumps and glides, suspend and smash new enemies, and explore all-new expanses of the stunningly presented, magical land of Mistralis.
Pricing: 1000 Wii Points. WiiWare is accessible through the Wii shop channel.
See http://lostwinds.frontier.co.uk for more details including video footage, information about the game and the WiiWare service, screenshots and registration for priority information on the game and exclusive content.
Media Enquires and review code requests to: Alison Beasley, Lincoln Beasley pr E: email@example.com M: +44 (0) 7966 449130 T: +44 (0) 1608 645756
About Frontier Frontier are the developers behind RollerCoaster Tycoon® 3, which was a usa #1 game and is part of the second biggest selling pc game franchise of all time, and Thrillville™, which was theusa's #1 original kids game in 2006, as well as LostWinds® which was a best-selling WiiWare launch title in 2008 in both Europe and The Americas and was awarded that year's 'Best New ip' award at the Develop Games Industry Excellence Awards. LostWinds: Winter of the Melodias © 2008, 2009 Frontier Developments Limited. All rights reserved. 'LostWinds' and 'Frontier' and the Frontier logo are registered trademarks of Frontier Developments Limited. All rights reserved. 'Winter of the Melodias' is a trademark of Frontier Developments Limited. All rights reserved. Nintendo trademarks used under license. WiiWare is available only through the Wii console. All other trademarks and copyright are acknowledged as the property of their respective owners
The Events of LostWinds: Winter of the Melodias Little time has passed since the events which unfolded between Toku, Enril, Deo and Magmok in "LostWinds". Notéa's sudden return from an expedition brings with it saddening news. Whilst searching for the ruins of the Melodia City Toku's mother, Magdi, has mysteriously disappeared. The only clues to her whereabouts lie within the tattered remains of her treasured journal. As repayment for saving his life, the ancient Guardian Magmok pledges his assistance to Toku and Enril as they head up into the mountains in search of Magdi. Toku and Enril arrive at Summerfalls Village, a picturesque location that has been beset by an eternal winter. Even more worryingly, its people now live in fear of ferocious monsters who hide in the snow. Fearing the worst, and with the chilling cold taking its toll, Toku and Enril seek the help of Sonté the Spirit of Seasons. Sonté's season changing powers will provide the key to unravelling the plight of Summerfalls, and Toku and Enril come to realize that Magdi's immediate fate has been entwined with that of the ancient Melodia people centuries ago by the shadowy hand of Balasar. As events continue to take unexpected turns Toku and Enril venture onward. wielding their new powers with care and in the face of potentially fatal dilemmas, Toku and Enril are plunged into a race against time to save not only the life of Toku's mother but also the future of Mistralis…


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An Eyewitness to the Syrian Rebellion: Father Frans in His Own Words
Much more on Father Frans van der Lugt's view of the Syrian rebellion — and of coverage thereof in the media — including extensive translated quotes from three articles that Father Frans published in Dutch and an interview in French. My new contribution to The BRICS Post here.
- April 19th, 2014
- Tags: Father Frans van der Lugt, Syrian Rebellion


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A Letter to Me
by Joel Brens Papas of Preemies, Founder
Dear Joel,
I realize at this point you haven't quite had the chance to process this life changing moment. My guess is you'll be relying on your adrenaline from racing to the hospital to see your wife and brand new baby boy. It's okay to cry. Those tears might have some sadness to them but are full of happiness and relief. Both mom and baby are stable. At the end of the day, that's all you ever really asked for.
This wasn't what you drew up or hoped for as a first time parent. Your early days as a dad will be stark in contrast to dads who experienced a "normal" or full term pregnancy. Please do not let that harbor bitterness within. The moment has arrived, and all you can do is make the best of your circumstances.
Within a few hours reality will slap you square in the face. The constant beeping noises and alarms in the NICU will take some getting used to, but in time you will get adapt to the environment. In some strange ways it will become a comfort. It's okay to feel uncertain, or scared, or even a bit angry. Nobody ever wants to be thrust into the NICU, unfortunately nobody ever has a choice.
This may seem like asking too much, but in order to better prepare yourself for when you take your child home, you have to learn to let go of fear. That's a tall order considering the complete lack of control you feel right now. You'll learn soon that asking questions to the NICU staff, understanding what plan for continuity of care they are giving, becoming an advocate for your son, and getting involved will tremendously help you get a little of the control back.
These are a few tips and things to consider moving forward:
-Most importantly, you are NOT alone. There are a great deal of other dads out there who are struggling just like you are. Seek these people out in the future as relating to others will prove to be most therapeutic.
-Be kind and gracious to the NICU staff. They work so very hard on helping to get your child healthy enough to come home. I cannot stress enough how much having a good relationship with those responsible for caring for your son can make.
-With that in mind, you have to learn to trust these people. At some point you have to go home and leave your son in the NICU. It's incredibly difficult to do, but its necessary. You can always call in and check up on your child if you want to.
-Need a break? Take one. Stress is not a good thing to bring into the NICU. Clear your head every now and again.
-When you finally bring your son home, take it one day at a time. I can't, and won't for that matter, tell you to not stress out about development. It's something that most parents, (and every parent of a preemie) worry about. But don't let that cloud the ability to enjoy little things.
-Take a million pictures. On days you are having a tuff go of it, or your patience is waning, take a look at all of the pictures to remind yourself of how far you've come. Your son is truly a miracle!
You are going to be an amazing father! Keep up your faith, your hope, and take a moment every day to hug your child and let him know he's your everything.
Sincerely, A friend
To learn more about Papas of Preemies, you can visit their website, connect on Facebook, or email them at email@example.com. To view the original blog, it is also available on their website.


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Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House
from AU$1 ~ to AU$2 Australian Capital Territory > Attraction
A national icon of superb design and historical significance, Old Parliament House in Canberra is home to the Museum of Australian Democracy. As the first and only museum dedicated to telling the story of Australian democracy, the museum offers a range of innovative exhibitions, tours and activities for all ages.
Be inspired by amazing stories of ordinary people who actively fought to shape today's society, discover where Australia has come from and get involved in where the country is headed.
Forty five minute guided tour available at 10.45 am, 11.45 am, 1.45 pm and 2.45 pm daily.
Cafe Carpark Coach Parking Conference/Convention Facilities Interactive Centre Lockers Public Toilet Restaurant Shop
Art & Culture Family Food & Wine History & Heritage
Australian Capital Territory


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Jamie Hewlett: Inside the Mind of Jamie Hewlett Hardcover TASCHEN Edition
Enter the mind of the artist behind Gorillaz.
Jamie Hewlett: Inside the Mind of Jamie Hewlett
Artist Jamie Hewlett is easily considered one of the most energetic figures of contemporary pop culture. Hewlett emerged in the mid 1990's as the co-creator of the zeitgeist-defining Tank Girl comic book. In 1998 Hewlett and then-roommate Blur frontman Damon Albarn created the unique cartoon band, Gorillaz. Hewlett and Albarn have recorded four studio albums and have mounted breathtaking live spectacles. Gorillaz has sold over a mind boggling twelve million copies combined. The virtual band consists of four animated members including 2-D, Murdoc Niccals, Noodle, and Russel Hobbs. It is widely believed that the cartoon characters along with the fresh eclectic melodies helped skyrocket the band to success.
This hardcover TASCHEN Edition, Jamie Hewlett: Inside the Mind of Jamie Hewlett, is Hewlett's first major monograph. The book illustrates his thrilling creative journey with over four hundred pieces of his artwork. Through stories, characters, strips and sketches, readers and viewers can trace Hewlett's exceptional capacity for invention and celebrate a polymath artist. From the iconic Tank Girl to live-action animations with the multi platinum virtual band, Gorillaz, Hewlett has undoubtedly left his creative footprint in pop culture history. Jamie Hewlett: Inside the Mind of Jamie Hewlett will be available for purchase on November 29, 2017 for $59.99 USD. You can visit comicshoplocator.com to find a comic book shop near you.


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Status: Closed
Know more about this business than we do? Cool! Please submit any corrections or missing details you may have.Help us make it right
Chocolate and Sweet Ideas045980ATTR:HOME-MADE
The Red Bank Chocolate Shoppe offers high quality homemade chocolates. When you walk through our door, you can experience the aromas of homemade caramel, crushed nuts and almond butter crunch. Choose from our large selection of caramel turtles, nut clusters, truffles and pretzels. We have pre-made gift boxes and trays that are perfect for family, friends and clients. Make sure to try the Red...
Visit our second location in Avon-By-The-Sea at 700 Main Street.
Open Wednesday- Saturday 11am - 5pm and Sunday 12pm -4pm.
Be the first SILive.com user to add photos or videos of Red Bank Chocolate Shoppe
Awesome chocolate and they feature some creative and delicious inventions. They also make beautiful gifts like a champagne bottle dipped in chocolate and the perfect something for baby and bridal...
Fabulous assortment of delicious candies. I sent a package to my Grand kids and Sandra was extremely helpful. Go there!!
Since 2000 the company has been providing Retail - Candy.
Red Bank Chocolate Shoppe can be found at White St 17. The following is offered: Candy & Sweets. The entry is present with us since Sep 9, 2010 and was last updated on Nov 14, 2013. In Red Bank there are 2 other Candy & Sweets. An overview can be found here.


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Watch real life barbie 21-year-old Ukrainian Valeria Lukyanova undergoes surgery to become real-life Barbie doll youtube videos makeup tutorial. See Valeria Lukyanova aka Valerija Lukjanova hot barbie doll modeling sexy white bikini on the white sand beach with blonde hair HD HQ picture. View Russian Ukrainian model hot big perfect Barbie doll makeup hair booty shorts HD wallpaper.
Month: April 2012
Nordia Cameron How to Apply Lip Gloss Makeup
Watch Nordia Cameron How to Apply Makeup : How to Apply Lip Gloss youtube makeup tutorial video.


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Smilemakers is one of the leading Cosmetic and Orthodontic Dental Clinics in the Southampton area, responsible for hundreds of fantastic new smiles every year.
At Smilemakers we understand that your smile is a big part of your identity, influencing both how you feel about yourself and how you may be perceived by others. Our friendly and highly trained team will listen to any concerns that you may have regarding your smile and provide a solution designed to suit you as an individual.
Smilemakers offers the full range of cosmetic and tooth straightening treatments (orthodontics), allowing us to explore all available options to give you the smile that you deserve.
Contact us to arrange a free of charge consultation or use the e-consultation below and our team of dentists will be happy to give you some advice on improving your smile.
Pat & Colin


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Through the course of the nuptials preparation, there are definitely a few 'parties' the bride looks forward to: the bridal showers and of course, the bachelorette party! Being a pretty low-key girl, I wanted to spend it with my closest girl friends doing just that: being low-key. My cousin and maid of honor just so happens to be getting married on September 1st, so we decided to make it a joint-affair, as we had the same goals in mind, and a lot of mutual invitees.
We started our day with brunch at my house with all the girls, followed by a couple hours at the beach, on might I say the most AMAZING beach day. The water was perfect, the temp was hot but the breeze kept you cooled off and the company was perfect. We then packed up our beach gear and headed east to the Holiday Inn where we'd catch the Nauticat for their Happy Hour Cruise. 11 gals included my mom and my aunt, loaded up and spent a beautiful couple of hours sailing on Grand Traverse Bay. Although we had to share the boat with other people, it certainly didn't matter with the incredible company we had.
After we reached shore, we had a quick hour to get cleaned up and head to dinner at Minerva's where one of my bridesmaids who couldn't make it called ahead to take care of my dinner and drinks, as well as to buy our table a bottle of Champagne. I'm telling you…value your bridesmaids because they really take care of you! After dinner we meandered down to our local dive the U&I and gathered together for laughs and cocktails.
It's so nice to step aside for a moment and appreciate the ladies who are standing with you and how much they do for you. I've never felt so pampered or taken care of by my girlfriends, and that's saying a lot because being so nice is nothing out of the ordinary for my friends. Thank you so much girls, who made my day so incredible!


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Rambling TV is a weekly series where I ramble/rant/rave about what I watched on TV this week.
The Walking Dead
I'm torn on this episode. It was hauntingly beautiful. The score was perfect, Morgan's transformation was legitimately frightening and the acting from both Lennie James and John Carrell Lynch was top notch, but ultimately, I feel like TWD is trying to manipulate me.
You may remember episode 4 of last season, arguably its worst, Slabtown, that focused on Beth. A background character who despite the lack of acting chops was pushed to the forefront to make us "care", then died a horrible death. That's what I feel like they're doing with Morgan, only he's more interesting and Lennie James is an amazing actor.
Morgan gets 90 minutes (A tad too long) for us to see his amazing journey, to get attached to Eastman and Tabitha the goat, only for them to die in a ridiculous fashion. Morgan adapts Eastman's philosophy. It's wrong, by the way. In the world they live in now, all life isn't precious. People like The Governor, The Claimers, The Wolves are out there raping and killing, and they don't deserve to live. Look at the wolfs Morgan let go in episode 2? They almost killed Rick. But still - we give a damn about Morgan. I always have. He'll keep this philosophy, even though it's doomed. He'll give us hope, that he can balance it...then he'll meet Lucille.
Any comic reader knows who Lucille is. And that's what I think Morgan's fate is. It's a damn shame, because James is such a good addition to this show, but they've set him up only to have him die a brutal death. I hope I'm wrong, but I doubt I am.
So we finally got to see the Gerhardt family in all their batshit glory. Whether it be threatening a police officer (Poor Lou got guns pulled on him twice in this episode) or burying a guy alive with steaming asphalt. These people are unstable. Oh, did I mention right before burying this guy, Dodd smacks around his daughter then yells "I wanted a son and I got four damn girls." Classy.
Peggy has totally killed somebody before this, right? Betsy essentially figured out the crime already, and Peggy was so nonchalant when she and Ed were crashing their car so it cannot be traced back to them. She's done something fucked up before.
Agents of SHIELD
This entire episode was focused on Jemma when she was away on the desert planet she was transported to. Interesting, right? A strong, capable woman like Jemma surviving on her own...oh wait no, they decided to give her a fucking astronaut boyfriend instead. I get it, I do. I figured she'd run into someone else that was stuck there, and I get why she's fuck the only dude there in a hopeless situation, but it's such a slap in the face to Fitz. She spent most of that episode talking to Fitz, looking at his picture, then seemingly dropping him. If Fitz gets shoehorned into this "Best friend who's really right for you but you don't notice" trope I'm going to be so pissed. He's a better character then that, and I would've seriously rather watched an hour of Jemma talking to herself then getting a fucking love triangle.


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The Chalice and the Flame or There and Back Again
A sermon by Justin McCreary Preached at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Jackson, in Jackson Mississippi on July 7th 2013.
I drove nervously to Louisville, not knowing what I would find, never knowing what I would see. This was my first step into the national Unitarian Universalist church I was to be birthed from the womb of the UUCJ and take part on the national stage. And it was daunting, people moving everywhere, old friend and comrades, coming together, renewing relationships from years past. I could not know what to expect, I could not know what to see, I could not know what I would feel or even if I would be able to "Play well with others."
And with all the nervousness and fear that I felt walking into those first meetings I have to admit, it was a little boring. Registration started at noon on Wednesday and the line was very long, orientation was informative in the same way that the safety instructions on an airplane are. Very important but… well lets at least say very important. The Regional Welcome took an hour and a half to introduce people I'd never met in a room that sweltered in standing room only space, and I was worried about getting to the banner parade booth on time, to not only register my banner but buy one of the few banner carriers they had. Of course when working within a church that takes pride in it's polity I was not surprised, nor was I disheartened, for all orientations are boring but important, it is important to thank the people who helped put on events, and lines, no matter the size will always seem long.
We had been warned during orientation that it would be important to "give ourselves permission" to take breaks and to miss things… so in the honor of missing things I cut out early, walked to my hotel, and reapplied deodorant, because after running around in long sleeves all day and slow roasting in room 110 for the regional welcome I could smell myself, which, caused more anxiety for me than it was worth.
But therein lied the nervousness, I was making my first impression within this group that I would wish not just to fellowship with, but to be a part of. Finding friends and making contacts so that years pass and I will look forward to seeing those whom I had not seen in years. I had to curb my introversion, and be the person, you all know me, after a year and a half of connection and friendship, to be, the person you sent, while having to ignore the one who was trying to hide in the corner, and take a nap.
We waited for what seemed like hours in the hallway, for the banner parade to start, banner poles resting on the ground, The banner from my home church hung limp, moving when I did, but mostly motionless in the stagnant air of the hallway. I took some pictures, joined in on a little chit chat, then we started to move and once we started, everything moved fast.
By the time I made it into Plenary Hall an easy hundred banners had already past and many still snaking through. Bluegrass music played from a live band on stage and I…
I was met by cheers.
Not just a few woots and claps, but by a grand assembly of 4 and a half thousand people clapping and cheering, taking pictures, our faces were broadcast on the grand screens in the hall. I couldn't help but give into a wide smile that quickly broke into a broad grin as I carried the banner for the Unitarian Universalist Church of Jackson into the hall. I did not have to try to be excited at that point, I did not have to try to stay positive, and I did not have to try to fit in. As I snaked through the hall I couldn't help but feel the pride of being a Unitarian Universalist, and as I relinquished our banner, to be hung with the others, in the hall of banners, I could barely catch my breath.
In that first night many good things were said, many good songs were sung, and I was inspired but if you ask me what those things were and what songs they were I couldn't tell you. The rest of the night was a blur, and I returned to my room that night exhausted, and proud to have carried our banner through that explosive hall.
I called my wife then went to bed tired, knowing we would start early the next day. I was excited, well… I was tired but after the night before I was looking forward to 7:30 worship. I love worship, I love church services, I think it is never why I can be spiritual not religious, I love the religious aspect too much, the words, the songs, the prayers, and the gathering. The pomp and circumstance is my lifeblood, my comfort, my hope. So this week regardless of anything else I would do I would see how other UU's worship together. How, on a national scale, we can bring together those who believe in God as male and female, there and not there, true and false, Lord and Devil, Humanist, Pagan, Atheist, Christian, Buddhist, and the general "ah whatever," under one grand banner, or better said, under one flaming chalice.
I indulged in every worship experience they had, and as I left the week and began driving home, words echoed in my head…
Come come whoever you are
Worshiper, wanderer, Lover of leaving
Ours is no caravan of despair
Come, come again, come
We engaged the song on Friday morning. We had been talking about covenant, about what it means to call ourselves UU, what we promise when we wear the moniker. Because when we choose this identifying name we choose something else. I won't say we choose all the things that the UUA chooses but we make a choice and a promise. We sit in the chairs and listen, we sit in the chairs and experience, we sit in the chairs as worshipers, wanderers, and lovers of leaving. But we can only sit apart for so long before connection starts to build between us.
The added a refrain to the song… it is in the original poem but it's left out of the hymn…
Though we've broken our vows a thousand times come come again come…
That morning I thought a lot about vow breaking, I thought about the vows I broke that brought me to the Unitarian Universalist Church of Jackson. I thought again of the heartbreak that brought me in the door. And emotion welled up in me, corked like a bottle corked so that the pressure stays, I felt the pressure moving against the cork, pushing, and I fought to keep the cork in place. I must not have been alone in the auditorium because we were asked to share with our neighbor our personal broken vows… I was sitting alone, no one around me… so I thought about leaving the auditorium early… no one would notice, then Jennifer from Buffalo sat next to me.
And in 5 minutes we shared, we shared our heartbreaks and broken vows. It was open and easy because I knew I would never see her again. Then after a final chorus of "We've broken our vows a thousand time, come come again come," we left the auditorium, and I never saw Jennifer from Buffalo again, but I carried absolution, not from her, not from the church, but from myself.
But worship is many things isn't it, sometimes it is the academic articulation of cultic behavior that signifies we are a community, sometimes it is the Wild Rumpus from Where the Wild things are, sometimes it is just the time we spend between coffee and lunch, and sometimes it is the heart that breaks and needs mended. Regardless of what it is there is something that connects us within it, a covenant, a community, a vow. A vow that we will break a thousand times and more, yet we still come together, make our vow again and work toward the promises only equality can keep.
I couldn't help but notice the worshipers around me. Teenagers, young people, older people, people in the middle… It reminded me of the youth rallies I went to as an evangelical teenager, chapel service during college, and the worship we had during conferences. Hands raised in the air, eyes closed, hips swaying, some people in the isles dancing. There was a look of joy on all the faces. I stood listening to speakers and singing songs, we did a lot of standing, of course the chairs were so hard it was okay.
Worship was like a tide to be swept away in. I remember listening to the choir sing, and at one point it made complete sense that I should be standing and clapping… and thinking about the theological ramifications of being the first to stand I missed the opportunity that was tied to a specific feeling. I resolved that I would have to stop second guessing, I would have plenty of time to theologically deconstruct what was going on, but at the time I found it was more important to be a part of it, that if I were to go down to the river to pray I might as well jump in and let the waters wash over me in a new kind of baptism.
And what I realized as the choir sang, and as the singers sang, and we stood in the raging sea waving our hands and clapping, children of all ages dancing in the isles was that these people worshiped, sang, prayed, and danced differently than I had known them to in my evangelical history.
As evangelicals, we worshiped for salvation, because we were redeemed from being a part of this broken world. We sang to that same theme, of course we never sang and our hips seldom moved. But I remember the old hymn "This world is not my home I am just passing through," but that is not what I sing now.
And it is not what we sung there or that we sing here, we sang and danced because this world is our home, and yes very broken, but we have the opportunity to fix it. Our singing was not a song of salvation from Hell, but the action of redeeming Hell. We sang, and we sing because we can make a difference, we can change the world, fix the breaks, and heal the wounded. We do not worship as sheep hiding behind a shepherd, but human beings with the opportunity allotted to us by God to make this world heaven in its own right.
I left after worship to write. I penned the thoughts going through my head, a poem that I later read during the Open Mic Poetry Slam and did the other thing I had found blessing in all week, I did the thing I was encouraged to do the first time I visited the Unitarian Universalist Church of Jackson, We are told that if we really wanted to know what Unitarian Universalist's believe, we would have to ask every individual Unitarian Universalist, so I did.
The conversation is easy enough to start, there were only a few tables in public area and there were never enough tables to have your own, so, I asked, "May I share your space?" I was never turned down, and I would pull out a book, start to read, then wonder, what the people at my table believed. So I asked. And no I didn't start out with that question, I asked "How long have you been a UU? Is this your first General Assembly?" they would ask similar questions and I would tell them about me. There would be lots of sharing, one wonderful thing I have learned about UU's is that we are talkers. Over and over this played out, and I met UU's from all over the country.
I heard the stories over and over again, and I never got tired of hearing them because they were all different. One evening a woman rolled up in her power chair and sat with us. Turns out, she came to the UU through her husband sometime in the 1950's, he happened to be a GA Junky.
To define a GA junky, one who comes to every GA, and I mean EVERY GA.
When her husband died in the 1970's she just kept coming because she always had.
I sat down with a young man, 20 years old from North Carolina considering seminary, he was doing a survey for college credit. He was a lifer, meaning, he has been UU since childhood. We talked theology, politics, and life.
One thing I noticed was that everyone wanted to talk, everyone wanted to share their story, and to hear mine. I warned them all, that I was by myself so when I get the chance to sit and talk with people I tend to yammer their ears off. Of course I never ran into anyone who'd mind. Everyone loved to share their stories, and their stories were as different as ours.
People came to the UU and GA for so many different reasons, though we were all connected. We were connected by the flame on stage, and flame in our hearts that shines on the words, we do not have to think alike to love alike. The chalice that was lit inside me when I carried our banner into the auditorium that first night, burned without ceasing throughout.
When I was a kid I always looked forward to loved ones coming home from trips, whether it was my Dad for work, or Grandma on a cruise or bus trip. I looked forward to their return because I knew when they came home they would bring me something. A gift because a trip that I didn't get to go on was not right if I didn't at least get a gift out of it.
So I brought something home for you, it is the same thing I took with me, the same gift I received from this church. The gift when I first sat in the back of the church, worn out and broken. I bring the flame, I carried it first from Jackson Mississippi, I deposited it in Louisville KY, then I brought home the flame, the flame that burned first in our chalice, then the flame that burned in theirs. I carried the flame.
For what I realized in Kentucky, is the thing I have always believed when I stop to think theologically about the chalice about the flame that burns atop it. I realized that the International Convention Center in KY was a chalice and we were the flames that danced upon it. I realized that this building, the Unitarian Universalist Church of Jackson, is a chalice and we are the flames that dance upon it. I bring home a flame of renewal, a flame of hope, a flame of love. And I realized the flame did not originate in this building, or that building, the flame that I carried and that I still carry originated within me. So what if the chalice is bigger than this building or that, what if the chalice is Jackson, what if the chalice is Mississippi? And we are all flames that burn across it.
What if we leave here carrying this flame, our flame, and we don't go out to spread our flame but to help this place know, to help these people know, that they carry a flame, that it can burn ever so brightly, regardless of how dim it sets now. What if we feed the flame in others, we remove their blindfold and open them to the idea of unity, that love and hope and acceptance are universal? What happens then? What happens when we beat the swords into plowshares and we come to know the beloved community?
I left my old faith because they believed that only happens in death, but I believe it happens in life. I saw people worship in ecstasy not from the idea that they are saved from this life that they can make this life better. We are the tools to build a better world, but it is easy to get tired when we fight here on the front lines against those who limit human rights, but I bring the flame of renewal, the flame of hope, to be rekindled so that even though we don't think alike, we can still love alike.
Blessed be


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They say that the best camera is the one you carry with you. I photograph a lot with my mobile phone, thousands of photos a year. And the simple reason is because I have the mobile camera with me all the time and that I really enjoy photography.
I am active on Instagram, where I publish my best mobile photos. One day I scrolled through my huge mobile photo gallery and came up with an idea about combining some of the best photos, and make some surrealistic art from them. I have been inspired by the band Imagine Dragons album art. And I kind of had that in mind while making my own images. The result is far away from the inspiration, like it always is, and maybe as it should be.
I combined 3-5 of my mobile photos in Photoshop. I also added a layer of graphic to make the images more interesting. The only thing that I used that was shot with a proper camera was a photo of the sky full of stars. That was shot with my DSLR with long exposure.
Even though the quality isn't the best in these images, I was surprised about what you actually can do with mobile photography.


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Martha Visser't Hooft
The Burchfield Penney Art Center is the institution of record for Martha Visser't Hooft. Holdings include 35 works in a variety of media (19 paintings, 6 drawings, 10 prints), a portfolio of 82 sketches, and a comprehensive archive relating to her life's work.
Martha Hamlin Visser't Hooft's family was deeply involved in the arts and sciences. Her father, Chauncey Jerome Hamlin, was one of Buffalo's most influential civic leaders and planners, an attorney known for his activism in museums. As President of the Buffalo Society of Natural Sciences, he was a major force behind building the Buffalo Museum of Science. Among many other achievements, he also served as president of the American Association of Museums and creator of the International Council of Museums. Her mother, Emily Gray Hamlin, was a social activist with interests that extended to the arts and philosophy. She was the first president of the Buffalo Chamber Music Society.
Martha studied art in Paris in the 1920s at the traditionally based Académie Julian, and explored for herself exciting new European developments, such as cubism and surrealism, Russian ballet, and modern music. Among the influential people she met in Paris was Boris Grigoriev, a Russian émigré artist. In 1926 she moved to New York to study briefly at the Parsons School of Design, before transferring to the John Murray Anderson School of Theater Design, which she loved.
After returning to Buffalo, Martha, her sister Mary, and her parents took a trip to Taos, New Mexico in 1928 to visit the important Buffalo-born patron Mabel Dodge Luhan and her husband, Pueblo Tony Lujan. The group rode on horseback to Blue Lake, a sacred Pueblo site. Martha visited on other occasions, meeting all the Taos artists, including Georgia O'Keeffe, Andrew Dasburg, and Frieda Lawrence. Mary eventually made Santa Fe her home. After travelling in the Southwest, Martha married Franciscus Visser't Hooft, a Dutch chemist, in 1928. She juggled raising a family of three children while continuing her art career, becoming one of the most highly regarded artists in the city.
Martha Visser't Hooft was one of the founders of the Patteran Society, which was created as a progressive alternative to the Buffalo Society of Artists in 1933. Edna M. Lindemann and J. Benjamin Townsend organized a solo retrospective of her paintings and drawings for the then-named Charles Burchfield Center in 1973. When her work was included in a Patteran Society exhibition at the Center in 1975, the artist stated: "In my paintings I create situation and images beyond the realm of the possible. I invite the mind and the eye into a totally new experience."
Through her association with the Contemporary Arts Gallery in New York during the late 1940s and 1950s, her work was exhibited internationally. In 1991 the David Anderson Gallery in Buffalo produced a major retrospective on Martha Visser't Hooft. To accompany the exhibition, an important, illustrated catalogue was produced by The Poetry/Rare Books Collection and The State University of New York at Buffalo, with essays by Robert J. Bertholf' and Albert L. Michaels, and commentary by the artist. About her work the artist wrote: "Painting to me is creating a bridge from the invisible to the visible." In Dr. Bertholf's catalog essay, "The Lyric Painting of Martha Visser't Hooft," he wrote:
…The same kind of contrast between the parts of the vision and the whole vision appear in the two paintings entitled Arrival from 1969 and Blue Shards from 1969. Arrival has a reddish orange background and Blue Shards has a bluish green background, but both present curved geometric shapes suspended in a field as if to be emblematic of parts of the imaginative version defined now by spatial dimensions. That the curved pieces remain separate and are not combined into a controlling figure is itself important because the pieces maintain a spatial definition to one another and create in the spread of their designs a contextual vision which is a radical version of reality.