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Saturday, June 25, 2011
SpinTunes #3 Round 1 Review: Mike Lombardo
As I have previously indicated, I will attempt to judge the songs on their own as much as possible - not the musicianship of the competitor, not the vocal or instrumental skill, not the production quality or recording quality, just the song. I won't look negatively, for example, upon bad singing - unless the singing is SO bad that I can't understand the words or hear a discernible melody, etc. Great instrumental skill, vocal work, or production can only help you as a bonus, but lack of it will not hurt you, as long as the level of musicianship is adequate to communicate the song to me.
Over the course of my career as an "internet musician" I have had the pleasure of getting to know many of the competitors in this contest, both personally and professionally. I know that some of you are professionals, some of you are very dedicated amateurs and hobbyists, and some of you are just looking to have fun. The same thing applies: Your professional background, or lackthereof, will not, in and of itself, impact your score. Obviously a professional artist is going to be able to write and produce a much higher quality song in the given time than someone who is just getting started, and that is ok. I intentionally avoided reading bios or researching the entrants - I'm just listening to the song. Of course, nothing takes place in an vacuum. I won't pretend I haven't worked with / shared the stage with some of you. One of the most valuable things I learned at school was the ability to separate the song from the person, and I'll be applying that here.
I have listened to each song through twice while looking at the lyrics. The first time, I'm just listening to the song as a work. When it's done, can I sing the chorus back? Is it memorable? Does it feel too long, too short, awkwardly paced? Is this something that someone with no musical knowledge whatsoever would enjoy if they heard it on the radio? (Like it or not, radio play has always been the metric of what the wide majority of the non-musical population enjoys. This a powerful metric of the overall appeal of the song, but for certain challenges, may not be applicable for obvious reasons.) Then I will go back and listen a second time paying attention to the technical aspects: melody construction and contour, phrasing, lyrical stresses and rhyme schemes, chord progressions, forms, etc.
As far as criticism, most of the other judges will be reviewing the entire song as a whole so I'll focus on one or two tips I feel would improve the work.
One final note: I don't know what I'm talking about. If I say something you disagree with, so what? I'm probably full of shit. On to the reviews.
Governing Dynamics - Alive Again
This is a funny entry from Travis. An appropriately strong chorus for this tune. This is a case in which production can affect the delivery of the song: He has included parenthetical text in his lyric, which is tough to communicate - you can't count on your listeners having the lyrics sheet in front of them. He has panned those vocal lines slightly off axis which works ok with headphones on, but will be lost in larger spaces, cars, and any situation where music is mono-summed. To increase the effectiveness, I'd say try a change in vocal EQ for those lines as well - try low cutting around 250 or 300 hz to lose some of the fullness which should contrast nicely. The only reason I call so much attention to this element is because the parentheses go a long way to developing the mindset and behavior of the character that he is singing about. My only other suggestion is that the vocal "oohs" before the second verse are unnecessary and pause the story where it doesn't need to be paused. I think the song is much better paced with the omission of this section.
A solid entry.
Gold Lion - In The Afterlife
This is a spritely blues rock tune, which is a very exciting style to see especially from someone of this competitor's age. Blues is generally not associated with a 'happy' style but this seems to pull it off nicely with uptempo, solid guitar backing. The tune is based on a modified 16 bar blues form which is a form that shows a pretty solid understanding of the genre. It is a clever idea and has a solid, repeatable hook in the chorus/refrain section. I am ok with the talking/sound fx section in the middle but I really think a second verse would have strengthened this song a lot more than the syllabic filler of "sha la la." With the addition of a second verse, this could be a fun tune for live performance with a full band.
A charming concept.
Dr Lindyke - Wake Me When It's Over
Ah, Dave we meet again. Despite some friendly competition in the past, is is always a pleasure to hear the confident piano/vocal stylings of Dr Lindyke. This is a great tune from Dave, but I'm not sure it's happy: As someone who has played at hundreds of catholic funerals, it has that same feel about it: "We're all telling each other this is a happy occasion, he's in a better place now, chin up, etc etc" but it's not hard to see that no one actually believes that. Bittersweet, calming, absolutely. Not completely sold on 'happy' though.
I'm not quite sure I understand the form here - there are three opening verse-like sections which are all pretty different, which leaves the ear going: "And, chorus...oh wait, no that's not the chorus." Beginning this third verse section with the title REALLY makes the listener feel like this is the chorus, especially with the percussion entrance here, but he actually holds off on the chorus until the fourth section in. If you want to keep all of these sections in your song, try moving one of them 'down' in the form until after the first chorus to give it a more accessible structure - this would have been confusing without lyrics in front of me.
The chorus melody is strong and solid, and while instrumental sections are usually viewed as a cheap way to fill songwriting real estate, it actually worked very nicely here, considering the reflective tone of the song. Strong piano playing carries through to the final cadence. (If your last line is "It's never over," consider not playing that final I chord and instead just leaving that line hanging there. It could be very effective.)
While not the best fit for this challenge, with a little polish this song is a strong addition to any songwriter's catalog.
Alexa Polasky - You Will Never Die
This tune has a strong 80's indie rock feel to it, which does not surprise me considering I know Alexa is a fan of Driftless Pony Club.
After the first chorus, I was pleased to hear the initial guitar riff come back. I think this would be even more effective if the drums dropped out there for 2 bars or so. This is a very strong chorus, especially with the additions of the harmonies on the second time through, and the drum arrangements throughout the whole tune. This is some of the best guitar playing and songwriting I have heard from Alexa so far. The vocal FX are a bit strong for my taste and can obscure some of the clarity of the lyrics - try running the vocal effects off a separate buss so they can be panned to the side or EQ'd separately.
The final section had a major feel to it which was a bit surprising after the minor, modal feel of the entire song, but given the repetition of the line "it only gets better" (why isn't this your title?) this is a very strong device and a good choice here - a great example of when to 'break' the rules. This song clocks in at over 5 minutes but it didn't feel too long to me.
This is a great entry. I would love to hear it on stage with a full band.
The Offhand Band - All Over
This relyricing of "Get Back" comes in at just under three and a half minutes, and while Alexa's tune didn't seem long at five, this seems long, probably due to the repetition of the hook. I'm not sure how much McCartney is to blame for that, but "Get Back" seemed like a somewhat random choice for this entry. That being said, the song does its job and tells the story efficiently. My only gripe is that the change of heart in the second verse seems to come about a little too abruptly - we've just established the situation that he's in a few lines ago. Get Back was the only Beatles single to be credited with another artist, and the Preston-style EP playing here gets the job done. Even though the original tune repeats ad infinitum, I could do with one less chorus here, or combine it with the keys solo at the end, since it's not really adding anything to the song by repeating again.
Although I can't give full weight to springboarding someone else's song for a songwriting contest, Beatles fans will appreciate this "part 2"ish tale of JoJo.
Matt Walton - We're All Going To Die
Ah yes, we've managed to make it six whole songs into the round before a ukulele shows up.
This entry felt like it was poking some fun at the Ben Kweller-esque "sensitve guy" songs which is a tactic that I very much welcome. Form-wise, it's a good chorus, but it occurs three times with the same prechorus before the first two, and no prechorus preceding the last one. This feels kind of lopsided to my ear - some ways to 'fix' this would be to lose the second prechorus, or write another set of lyrics for it. Omitting it the second time seems like a better choice given the lyrical content of verse 2 and how well it would flow right into the chorus again. I appreciate the tone and point of this song very much. Another verse outlining increasingly ridiculous deaths would make this a surefire youtube success.
It's quaint, entertaining, and doesn't overstay its welcome.
Brian Daniell - Cubbies Will Win
Is that a mandolin I hear? This is exciting. Some great bass playing here as well, although at some time this made it a bit tough to hear the lyrics. This is a fresh and pleasant musical flavor and a funny idea for a song. I rather liked the premise especially with the addition of the sports joke. Execution-wise, the only word of advice I would offer is that it's hard to parse the exchanges within a single line- "Did I die?" "yes, you died" as being spoken by the two characters. This change of speaking point is pretty tough to do in song, be wary of it.
A fresh, enjoyable entry.
Byron Blocker & The Offbeats - She's Dead
I really liked a lot of the imagery in this song, particularly the first verse. My one lyrical criticism is that the line "She made it hard to live without suffering" is repeated almost ad nauseum but the narrator has really done nothing to say what exactly she did or why his life sucked so much with her. Some may find this insignificant but I think it's an integral part of taking the listener with you to the place of being happy that she's dead. Vocally and stylistically this was very well done, however, and there's a few interesting rhymes that made this fun to listen to.
Edric Haleen - I Hope You Die
Edric once again manages to cram an impressive word count into less than three minutes. This hilarious tune shows some serious Weird Al influence on top of his usual musical theater style. The last few seconds really develop the story and hint at a larger plot outside of the song. I really would have liked to have heard the last line sung instead of spoken. As usual, Edric's work is excellent, with this being a great example of his lyric setting prowess, and I don't have much to say.
Charlie McCarron - Grandma And Grandpa
Pulling a risky move here, McCarron submits a gimmick-free, humor-free, 'serious' song to the competition. It's a strong song, and a good vocal delivery easily carries the plot through some minor lyrical setting issues. The vocalized section after the last chorus really rounds out the song. Although I tend to shy away from 'extras' like that, it's very effective here. One thing that really would have made this song come together for me would have been executing a 'colored' chorus - using one of the several very good lines here at the end of each section, which would gain more meaning as the story progressed. "Grandma leans back in his lap, and takes in the stars" would be a great choice for this.
Spencer Sokol - Keeping Calm
Nice folky feel on this entry. I could go for a little more clear definition in terms of the different repeated sections of this song. There wasn't much that I would have been able to sing back after hearing it once. I sense some very clever lyrical expression here but some of it is so cryptic that I can't really tell what the overall message is as well as I'd like. There is some interesting imagery but I would definitely have trouble determining that it's about death if I didn't have the lyric in front of me. The vocal performance becomes more confident as the recording progresses - this is usually a sign that another take or two will land you right in the sweet spot. (Also try turning up the guitar in your recording headphones just a tad.) The line "be still" gets the most repetition and I would think about using that as the title, as well.
Luke Brekke, Esquire - Cannibal
This is kind of like Monster Mash only about cannibals. I thought a lot of people would go with the zombie route so this is fresh. I could definitely go for a bit more lead vocals as the organ is kind of overwhelming to my ear when trying to make out the lyrics - listen in particular to the beginning of the verse. Also worth trying: Running ALL the vocals, lead and bg vox through a single bus with compression. This helps keep the doubled BGV's from overwhelming the lead, even though they are more multiple. The other thing I would have liked to hear from this entry is a steady time or beat at some point. It sounds established at some point but it is inconsistent at best. Some smoothing out of the connective tissue between sections of this song would really move it along nicely as well. I feel like this is a good start and good idea from Luke, and with some more refinement could turn into a great addition to the catalog.
"BucketHat" Bobby Matheson - No Worries
Bobby is back with his unconventional orchestration and quirky yet frank lyrics. The opening line is already funny. The first verse is great at establishing the rest of the song, and the instrumentation follows well. Bobby always pays clear attention to the sections and form of his songs. I really would have loved some percussion here - he does a great job keeping the rhythm driving but drums or at least shakers would have picked it up even more. This has a Jimmy Buffet / Garth Brooks bar anthem feel to it. On paper, the lyric looks massive but it doesn't feel to long or crowded upon listening.
Alex Carpenter - The Day I Died
Alex Carpenter is a well-established pop writer and he will be a formidable competitor throughout this entire competition.
It is nice to hear Alex back on electric guitar - it really supports his voice well. The first two stanzas establish a very strong pace, mood, story, and melody. Him talking actively to his diary as the last human left alive during the zombie invasion kind of has a Wilson the Volleyball feel to it and it works well to hint at the desperation of the situation.
Going into the final verse would have been a great place to drop all the instruments out except for an acoustic guitar to really accentuate the finality of the story at this point. This song is well-paced, without much unnecessary fluff or dragging, but long enough to make the story arc feel natural. My two cents: Delaying the last two lines of the chorus by two beats each (I've held out long enough, it's time for giving up) would result in having the words 'held' and 'time' on the downbeat of the bar and I think it would really strengthen the second half of the chorus, which seems like it's struggling to follow the catchy singable opening half of the chorus. This is definitely one of the strongest entries this round, but those familiar with Alex's career won't find this a surprise considering his extensive experience.
Inverse T Clown - Caroline Is Dead
This is a great vocal performance. The harsh non-rhyme of the first two lines is somewhat softened after hearing the entire first verse and learning that it's a through-written rhyme scheme. The sharp four half diminished passing chord is Coulton's calling card and is well applied here. Another weird-al-ly entry. This song borders on having too many words but it doesn't seem extremely burdened given the delivery.
It's almost as if Inverse is counting on the listener having prior knowledge of the back-story of the Caroline character.
Jutze - I Love The Dead
The fun part about these challenges is seeing what out-of-the-box solutions people come up with. Undertaker / gravedigger is definitely an interesting route that I wouldn't have thought of. This is a funny, quirky tune with lots of entertaining wordplay. With the slight exception of the "six feet under" line, nothing seems too forced. The last line seems a bit out of place and maybe just repeating "I love the dead" again as a tag would be a better cap to this very enjoyable song.
Godz Poodlz - Wake At The Sunnyside
This boppy beat has a Paul and Storm meets Backstreet Boys sound. The registered trademark symbol in the lyrics is a funny little joke that is lost without the written lyric in front of the listener. Part of what made this so fun is that I could almost imagine this song being used in a really bad promotional TV commercial for a funeral home. This suspicion is overwhelmingly confirmed once we get to the Major Credit Cards lyric. My only constructive criticism is that, aside from the modulation, little is done to break up the somewhat receptive sound, and even the modulation doesn't free the ears all that much.
Tally Deushane - My Dead Goldfish
This is a pretty interesting idea for a song, given the challenge, and the line "but I only wanted you for a week" is very funny, almost laugh-inducing so and I think trying to rework this as the closing line of the chorus would be a very successful idea. Melodically, it can be a bit repetitive and a little more variation is desired. Plot-wise, all we get is that the goldfish was "needy." We never find out why - maybe replacing one of the repeated sections with a second verse going into some humorous explanation would be something worth looking into.
Ethan Ivey - The Four-Year Itch
This song started out sweet and then took a turn. And then took another turn. And then took another turn. This triple twist was pretty well-executed, however the last section felt a bit too long for my taste - maybe a line or two being dropped could be the difference here. I feel like one less stanza would make this feel much lighter and snappier. There are some truly funny moments and some mildly appalling moments. I would love to hear this song done in barbershop quartet format.
Matt And Donna - Lady On The Gray
Absolutely everything - piano part, melody, vocal delivery, style, horn lines, production - screams Ben Folds - in a good way. Given this reviewer's chosen genre, that statement should not be taken lightly. The storytelling was a little less than clear, but maybe that's intentional given the subject matter. The one thing that I really can't let pass without mentioning is the background vocals - the bottom part sings the notes A and C. The C calls over an A major chord, and it really should be a C# to avoid clashing quite strongly with the piano part. Overall, however, this was a very enjoyable entry.
Ross Durand - No Taxes
Cramming both a penis joke and a religion joke into the same chorus is a big plus for me, I won't lie. I much enjoyed the guitar playing on this as well. I really wanted the last chord of the verse to be VI- rather than IV, given the progression leading into it. This is a very good idea and a pretty good execution, but I think changing the second and third chorus sections up to include more jokes instead of repeating the same ones three times would take this song from very good to excellent.
Menage'A Tune - Isn't It Nice
The 'box of chocolates' lyric at the end of verse 2 is a nice cap and it would be neat to hear this at the end of each verse. This song relates a somewhat harmless but satisfying childhood scheme (or is it really harmless? is the song about death? in that case it's pretty scary.), and the vocal delivery has a kind of "told you so," struggling to hold in laughter quality to it, which added to the listening experience. This seems like a good addition to a children's entertainer's catalog. It is the slightest bit draggy, which might be aided by a very small tempo increase, maybe only 4 or 6 bpm.
Glen Raphael - When You're Dead
I appreciate the stylistic effort here, especially the spoons. When recording this type of vocal production, it's best to have a piano scratch to help you maintain pitch. Key establishment fades in and out and this song's impact would be much stronger if it had a stronger pitch center, and the tools of harmony and melody then start pulling their weight. For the most part I can hear the progression that is being implied, but it's difficult. Despite this, I was able to enjoy the groove and the premise. My only other gripe is that the section about the mortgage and the chores seemed 2 lines too short and felt a little off kilter. I definitely think this is a great approach to the challenge.
Doom SKITTLE - A Better Place
I'm not sure the pacing was the optimal approach for this challenge - at least to me, the only 'happy' part was the final line, and even then it really didn't feel happy at all, mostly due to the melancholic nature of the accompaniment. The lyrics make sense on paper but are kind of scattered in delivery. The lyrics read with hints of a southern baptist poetry which is pretty interesting and I think definitely adds to the atmosphere of the story.
Wait What - Death: Everyone's Doing it!
Funny title! A song about death in the style of a children's song, while perhaps slightly overdone, is hilarious. This song packs a lot of entertaining content, but it feels unnecessarily long. Going through with a fine-toothed comb and picking the funniest lines would improve the 'density' of the song. The rap is funny as well, although it feels kind of shoehorned in. Excellent concept.
Steve Durand - Die Happy
Excellent production and instrumentation. Usually that wouldn't impact my rating but this style really requires the kind of brass performance present here. This is a very authentic shot at this style. It's light heated... I could have gone for a slightly more humorous approach but I really enjoyed this entry nonetheless.
Jason Morris - Burning For You
What a disturbingly creepy entry! The shining upbeat production masks its truly grisly plot. The combined prechorus/chorus section is very well constructed and definitely builds appropriately. Jason is an experienced player and producer, and I don't have much negative to say about this entry, especially given the time constraints. I really wanted to hear that tambourine come in on the chorus. There, how's that?
Caleb Hines - Haven't You Ever
The first makes me wonder "where's he going with this?" and builds excellently into the chorus. Caleb presently surprised me with the very successful execution of this great idea. Instrumentally and compositionally this is a wonderfully crafted little song. I really liked the five minor chord on the chorus, and the rhyme scheme is appropriately pleasing. I don't feel the change in the last chorus was necessary, it was funny enough as it was, and changing to "I'm dead" doesn't really add anything to the song's comedic value, in my opinion.
Bryce Jensen - Thank You
Despite some lyrical setting issues, this lyric is pretty well done and another great execution of what may seem like an overly simple idea. There's nothing wrong with the length or the pacing, per say, but another verse or bridge section would be a welcome addition here to provide some more 'real estate' for jokes. I really enjoyed listening to this entry.
Pat And Gweebol - Baby Go To Sleep
The carefree nature of this song makes the tragedy of its subject matter quite surreal and dreamlike. Perhaps this was intentional to highlight the drug-induced haze. This is a quaint little piece, not overly inventive or original but executed well and doesn't overstay its welcome. It seems like, at times, the bass part and the piano part were not in agreement about the chord progression or perhaps inversions being used. It's not overly distracting, but it definitely sounds like 2 things going on rather than the solid support that a bass guitar generally provides when it's playing on a piano-centric arrangement. The vocal performances in this song are well above average and go a long way to improving the listener's reception of the song.
The Boffo Yux Dudes - Marked For Death
This feels more like a spoken word performance piece set over music rather than a 'song' but it is entertaining nonetheless. Given this format, the repeated chorus seems a little but unnecessary. The BYD have managed to cram a ton of lyric into just over 2 minutes and that might alleviate some of the bulging nature of the lyric. The vibe I am getting is Monster Mash meets poetry jam. It's a solid idea, but it could become a great idea with some more refined characters.
Young Stroke aka Young Muscle - My Name Is Death
Hip hop and rap are generally pretty rare genres in songwriting contests and for that reason I welcomed this change of pace. This portrayal of Death brings to mind the family guy character. The rhyming style is authentically early 90's NYC/ east coast hip hop rap scene, and the pacing is pretty good for the most part. There are some moderate mis-settings and some breaks in the flow but overall this is a great entry. A few of the rhymes seem a bit forced and I would have liked to see more complex internal rhyme happening, but to be fair, more complex internal rhymes weren't really prevalent in this style of hip hop until the late 90's and might not sound genuine with this track.
Chris Cogott - Drag Me Down
Some great prosody in the chorus section here, and overall great production on this simplistic but very enjoyable tune. Those not heeding the opening lines will miss out on most of the 'backstory.' This song's execution sits right in the sweetspot between too much of a storytelling burden and being frustratingly ambiguous. Other than some slightly tired rhymes, I have little to say in terms of criticism.
Happi - The Next Part Of Life
This wins the award for most intellectual and philosophical entry hands down. I found myself listening multiple times and following the lyrics - this is definitely not fluff. If you haven't heard this track, give it a listen: It is a bold and confident presentation of some very interesting lyrics. There are few minor lyrical mis-settings here as well but it's an excellent dense, well-flowing rap. The track builds well and is paced well. The dead stop on the refrain line is very effective. The bridge section is thrash-y and heavy -- try easing up on the master compression a bit to give this section a lot more teeth. This is an excellently constructed and executed lyric.
Emperor Gum - Frequency
The pacing is quite slow on this entry but I'm ok with it because it mirrors the events of the plot and the listener can sense the protagonist's frustration.
The prechorus chord progression might not be the most appropriate for the lyrical content. However the chord progression of the ending section is cinematic and fitting. While I see how this can be classified as a 'happy' song, it definitely left me feeling more of an eerie grisly chill than joy. But I think that's part of the fun. I see the radio connection but I think the lyric contains a more appropriate title for this song.
Jon Eric - Birthday
This song really has the feel of a traditional folk song that has been passed down for generations around campfires, both in content and execution. The pacing of the story for the first two verses is excellent. I'm not sure about the third verse, as it really doesn't match the tone or timelessness of the rest of the song. Try ending the third verse on a half cadence rather than the one chord. I really like the lyrical construction of the chorus and I think this is a fine song, definitely something to be proud of.
Hudson And Day - Silly Baby
The lyrics of this song are frustratingly difficult to make out, and I really wish I could hear them better to absorb the interplay between the two vocalists. While the piano holds down the harmonic setting of the song, at times the vocals are out of time and some of the harmonies aren't really meshing nicely with the chord progression. The story seems purposely ambiguous as to time and place, but it definitely feels like a Sam Spade, Fosse's Chicago type setting. That being the case, this is an interesting start to a neat idea and I feel like a lot more could be done to develop the concept. I would stick with this post-spintunes and really put some time into neatening it up, because there are a lot of possibilities for this song and it has the potential to be very dramatic and interesting.
4 comments:
Actual constructive criticism??? Are you SURE you're a judge, Mike? Excellent work.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousJune 26, 2011 at 2:15 AM
Very nice and intuitive review; *very* nail on the head. Agreement. And it's exactly what we are going to do. :) Neaten. Thanks. :)ReplyDelete
Thanks Mike, I really appreciate your thoughtful feedback.ReplyDelete
And don't worry, I am NOT using a ukulele for round two.
BTW, Since you spent a lot of time giving us VERY welcome feedback, I guess I should explain the structure a little bit since it's a bit different, as you point out. Our concern here wasn't so much adhering to a familiar structure as it was to pull the listener into a progressively happier mood. We never want to revisit that earlier sadness, so at no point do we "go backwards" as you would with a verse-verse-chorus-verse-bridge-chorus kind of structure.ReplyDelete
Instead, we break the narrative into two parts... the "sad" mood at which we start, and the "happy" mood to which we're going. We start exactly as you observe, with the reassuring platitudes that are always heard nearing death. These are specifically the reassurances of a terminal patient to his family. The first verse merely sets the stage and says "I'm ok with this". The second verse is an final admonition to celebrate prior to his passing on. Together, these comprise the first half of the song.
"Wake Me When It's Over" is the pivotal line. It's almost a separate song from this point forward... I certainly think it feels that way, and don't mind starting it there. This is the point at which we go from the "church" feel (intentionally reminiscent of Elton John's "Shine On Through") to something more lighthearted, so we throw in a Latin rhythm. This second half is of three parts... an intro ("party!"), a verse about why and how to spend your lives ("think of me"), then a third about your eventual death ("join me, it's fun"). The instrumental provides a bit of a breather and musical variety -- it doesn't work to butt those two sections together, and we really didn't have anything that needed saying there, story-wise -- but we don't use the "Wake me..." verse for that, but reprise the "Celebrate..." verse with the new, upbeat rhythm. We used the word "Celebrate" twice in the earlier verse, so that's the sentiment we're attempting to invoke in that break.
The hope here is that we progressively move you from sad to happy, then happier. That's basically it. As to whether the song as a whole is "happy"... meh. I figure that the important bit of that definition is where the song leaves you, not where you started. "Happy" covers a lot of ground. We're not going for "ha-ha, that sure was a kneeslapper" humor, but rather a "gee, I'm OK with this death thing" brand of peace and contentment. If we got anywhere close to that we feel we did our jobs.


text:
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. Romans 1:16 (NASB)
But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. Philippians 3:7-11 (NASB)
I pray that you will begin to understand how incredibly great his power is to help those who believe him. It is that same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God's right hand in heaven, far, far above any other king or ruler or dictator or leader. Yes, his honor is far more glorious than that of anyone else either in this world or in the world to come. Ephesians 1:19-23 (TLB)
Oh the precious words God's spoken to me,
Full of comfort, peace, and a way to be free.
He's offered His promises, without hesitation,
I am washed clean through His justification.
Salvation comes through belief in this God,
A personal God with me who will trod,
Down a pathway of joy or a road filled with woe,
He stands ready to help as together we go.
There's only one Name in which to believe,
He gave His life, you need simply receive.
The God of the universe and Lord of all,
Jesus Christ saves—accept His call.
He'll walk alongside, through thick or thin,
Though suffering loss, with Him you win.
The Victor of all, He overcame death,
Before and beyond, He's near at last breath.
But now, thus says the Lord, your Creator, O Jacob,
And He who formed you, O Israel,
"Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name; you are Mine!
2 "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
And through the rivers, they will not overflow you.
When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched,
Nor will the flame burn you.
3 "For I am the Lord your God,
The Holy One of Israel, your Savior;
I have given Egypt as your ransom,
Cush and Seba in your place.
4 "Since you are precious in My sight,
Since you are honored and I love you,
I will give other men in your place and other peoples in exchange for your life.
5 "Do not fear, for I am with you;
I will bring your offspring from the east,
And gather you from the west.
6 "I will say to the north, 'Give them up!'
And to the south, 'Do not hold them back.'
Bring My sons from afar
And My daughters from the ends of the earth,
7 Everyone who is called by My name,
And whom I have created for My glory,
Whom I have formed, even whom I have made." Isaiah 43:1-7 (NASB)
'Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.' Isaiah 41:10 (NASB)
And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NASB)
How Firm a Foundation.....

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Fitness Vacations
Apple Vacations has announced dates for this 12 months's WinterSun Dwelling Based mostly Journey Agent Trade Exhibits and Seminars. With our help and steerage on what the U.S. vacationer needed, Punta Cana is now one of the hottest vacation spots in the Caribbean. Even though it's an all inclusive resort, which is a great way to go along with kids…when they need ice cream or to play mini-golf, you don't have to achieve for the wallet, you possibly can simply say yes…the meals was incredible.
Datuk Seri Lee Ee Hoe, director of Apple 99 Improvement Sdn Bhd, the property growth arm of Apple Vacations, mentioned the corporate is expanding its footprint in Malaysia and is looking forward to collaborating with Marriott Worldwide Inc. The customer base of Apple Holidays is all encompassing – there are college students, single visitors, families, outdated couples or newlywed.
In 1997, just after celebrating our one-millionth passenger arrival in Cancun, Apple Vacations noticed a possibility in a comparatively young trip vacation spot referred to as Punta Cana. At time of booking it was never disclosed by the consultant taking the reservation that Apple Holidays, AM Resorts & Secrets Resorts had the proper to provide you any Category 5 lodge they see fit even if it permits kids.
Apple Vacations is likely one of the nation's largest and most respected trip corporations. E-book with Apple and revel in quite a lot of added values like room upgrades, golf discounts, worth-priced wedding ceremony packages and more! The only way this recipe may very well be easier is if the apple dumplings have been boxed in a retailer, brought home, then heated.
We have been now instructed that we have now purchased spherical journey transportation which means that they are going to pay for the taxi to the ferry after which ferry again to Playa del Carmen and we shall be liable for finding our own experience to the Cancun airport.


text:
Another nice sex blog pops up. Vixxie from Prurient Obscenities wrote in to call it to my attention. Just a couple excerpts from her Thanksgiving post will give you the yummy flavor:
Happy Thanksgiving Day! The food has been started, and so has TheGirl, much fun was had molesting her as she attempted to do the dishes. It's absolutely wonderful to discover new things that she enjoys, like butt pinching. (Who knew?)
I am also very thankful that when I woke up this morning, TheBoy was on my left, TheGirl on my right, and I was warm, and happy, and much loved. That TheGirl got up, early for her, in order to watch the Thanksgiving Day parade with me. The the other night, when she was going to spend the night away, she ended up coming back to sleep here, "because it's home".
Shorter URL for sharing: http://www.erosblog.com/?p=555


text:
Totoro is a cartoon character from the famous Japanese animated movie My Neighbor Totoro. It has been around since the 1980s, but it's still a nice theme to choose for a party until today. The animated classic by Studio Ghibli reminds us that we must nurture the kid inside all of us. Totoro is everyone's favorite lovable forest spirit.
Here are some cakes inspired by the cartoon.


text:
Chanel: Mademoiselle Privé exhibition
For Janes fascinated by the work of French designer Gabrielle 'Coco' Chanel, we have some very exciting news for you! London's Saatchi gallery is currently host to Chanel's new Mademoiselle Privé exhibition.
The free exhibition features the first and only jewellery collection designed by Coco herself, dating back to 1932. The diamond encrusted jewellery pieces are individually worth in excess of £1 million and they play a starring role in the exhibition, devised to open up the world of Haute Couture to Londoners.
The showcase is pretty huge in scale, spanning over two floors of the Chelsea gallery, it will take you on a journey through Coco's career right up until the present day. The unmissible experience begins even before entering the gallery, with a beautiful garden filled with British autumnal flowers designed by Chelsea Flower Show winners Harry and David Rich.
Inside, the gallery is divided up into lots of different sets that bring Chanel's story and career to life. From the original hat shop where Chanel's career first began to a factory-like room which portrays the conception of Chanel No5, to the totem room which celebrates Chanel's signature pieces.
Although it is only open for three weeks, Chanel's Mademoiselle Privé is a must-see for Janes interested in beauty and luxury. It will provide you with an in-depth insight into the brand, and affirm the reasons why it is still a favourite in the competitive fashion industry today.
Mademoiselle Privé opens on October 13, admission is free of charge and the gallery is open for viewing everyday, 10am – 6pm.
If you head to the exhibition, don't forget to tweet us your thoughts! @tweetjanes


text:
Charles Freeland
Essential Protocols
The candles line the shelf like soldiers, change the atmosphere of the room by increments until I no longer recognize it. I no longer even wish to be alive. Eulalie says this is typical and warns that she will listen to only three-fourths of a lament before she starts whistling something under her breath. But I know this is just the sort of thing she will not do because she is afraid of hurting other people's feelings. At least she is known for possessing this quality among those who have never met her, who have only heard rumors while patrolling the taverns downtown where rumors turn up in unheard of numbers. They breed like pestilence and follow their own instincts until there are several different versions vying for the same space, trying to supplant one another using every conceivable device. Including asbestos-lined gloves. And portable washstands. Tickets to the tram that no longer runs. Eulalie speculates out loud that I have spent too much of my time in contemplation, as if there is something wrong with ignoring the houseplants at your elbows, refusing to pick Styrofoam cups off the ground. We get involved at our own peril, and when the mind re-evaluates its surroundings, there is a sense of having accomplished something without ever having to get out of your chair. This is why Eulalie runs her teeth around the outside of my ear whenever she catches me off guard, whenever she has finished whatever it is she does in her studio. She wishes to remind me that my body has made its own declarations and will probably continue to do so despite what I have to say in the matter. In fact, as far as it's concerned, the mind and the mouth attached to it (on occasion) are not members in good standing. They don't have the same rights, aren't allowed to follow the same essential protocols, as say the ankles, which are completely trustworthy. They know a good thing when they stumble on it. Eulalie blows each candle out one by one as if it were a ceremony and those of us fated to observe it must remain satisfied with the aroma of the smoke that wafts by, that reminds us of times from the past when we too were part of a cult. And those who wished to liberate us seemed dense as mules. They had no pupils through which to see, nor tongue fit for the proper lapping up of the manna.


text:
Making a difference for children
Setting out to empty a cupboard full of fabric became a life changing moment for grandmother, Yvonne Pattinson.
A home seamstress all her life Yvonne couldn't resist using up the material by making pretty outfits for little girls.
This led to a friend involved with an orphanage in Myanmar asking for as much clothing for these children as Yvonne could make.
Urged on by her daughter Deborah, then an officer with the Queensland Police Force, Yvonne joined the Brighter Future 4 Kids Foundation (which supplies new shoes and socks to primary school children) to make clothes for children throughout Queensland's rural and outback areas, and across the Torres Strait islands, and Papua New Guinea
Three years later and Yvonne with her modest team of local ladies has supplied more than 2000 delightful, attractive, quality shorts, dresses, shirts, skirts and carry bags to children ranging from toddlers to 10 year-olds.
The demand is now so great Yvonne needs to expand her small team of seamstresses.
"They don't have to be professional. In fact when I started out I just asked for people to join me to sew or just to have a cup of tea and a chat," she said.
"In fact two of the ladies who come along each week, don't sew, but they are a great help with ironing.
"Nor does anyone who can volunteer to sew with us, have to leave home.
"I'm happy if someone makes one skirt or one pair of shorts a month, or even longer.
"If some sewers can come together in a small group, I can show them the ropes and we supply everything they need."
Yvonne's local team meet once a week in a Sunshine Coast community hall.
Here the ladies cut and remake uniforms supplied by Terri Irwin of Australia Zoo, Commissioner Andrew Colvin of the Australian Federal Police, the Queensland Police and the Australian Border Force teams.
Having made most of the clothing for her family, including suits for her husband, and surf gear for a son; her daughter Deb's bridal gown and the four bridesmaid gowns, Yvonne has a keen eye for design and knows how to make a pattern.
She has found inventive ways to use the donated stock.
Shirt sleeves become pinafores.
Heavy police pants become durable shorts while lighter pant legs make small, wraparound skirts, accessorised with rick rack or colourful embroidery.
"Shirt fronts with their pockets make great carry bags," explained Yvonne.
Strong lanyards from a conference she attended in Cairns are used as the bag handles.
The news of Yvonne's clothing program continues to spread and besides stacks of uniforms and fabrics, she now has "boxes and boxes" of new denim pants, donated by a shopkeeper.
"We have used around 600 already, many are cut back to shorts and then the lower legs are used to make a young girl's wraparound skirt.
"We also received several large 50m rolls of new fabric, so we are not short of material, just sewers and elastic."
This is a No Zip Zone, all of the clothing for children features elastic and some buttons, designed to be easy to make and easy to wear.
Jenny Rookie, one of the sewing team said she is constantly amazed at the inventive designs Yvonne has created.
"The back of a shirt, including the yoke, make lovely wraparound skirts," she said.
The delivery of the clothing to the communities and children who can most benefit is simple and effective.
"We make, then hand over to whoever has provided the uniforms and they deliver to the area of most need.
"I know some went to the children in Vanuatu following the last cyclone, "Yvonne said.
To reach her goal of supplying more than 100,000 items of clothing each year to kids in need within the next five years, Yvonne is calling for helpers particularly in South-East Queensland.
"But I can supervise volunteer sewers across Queensland," she said.
As part of the Brighter Future 4 Kids Foundation and with the support of patrons including Commissioner Katarina Carroll of Queensland's Fire and Emergency Service, and Australia Zoo's Terri Irwin, along with her daughter, Deborah Platz, who is now the Deputy Commissioner Crime Operations of the Australian Federal Police, along with charitable groups including the Country Women's Association, Yvonne is setting out to reach her goal.
Oh, and did Yvonne clear out the cupboard?
"Not likely. I now have two spare bedrooms full."
NOTE: That there's a need for clothing for our young children is well documented by the Australian Council of Social Services (ACOSS) with last year's report revealing one in six Australian children under the age of 15 lives in poverty.
Can you help?
Email firstname.lastname@example.com or
call Yvonne 0413 133 791 or
Glenn Ferguson 0412 555 018.


text:
Buying Christmas Gifts - Shopping for Presents and Staying out of Debt When You're on a Tight Budget During the Holiday Season
Posted by Jhun Nonato on Friday, December 10, 2010 Under: Christmas
by Felix McDougnan
Although most people enjoy the spirit of giving at Christmas time, it is also a fact that Christmas shopping can be a significant financial burden for many. This is especially true for those who have a large family or a large group of friends who regularly exchange Christmas gifts.Christmas shopping can also be a financial problem for those who feel compelled to purchase expensive gifts for each person on their list. However, there are ways to deal with the financial burden which often results from Christmas shopping.
One of the ways to deal with this financial problem is to set a budget beforehand. Another way to deal with the financial stress of Christmasshopping is to shop throughout the year instead of all at once. This article will discuss the importance of setting a budget for Christmasshopping as well as how Christmas shopping can become less financially taxing by spreading out the Christmas shopping throughout the year.
However, if these same people plan to shop throughout the year they may find they are able to purchase gifts for one or two individuals on their list each month with the money that is left over in their monthly budget. This strategy of spreading out the Christmas shopping throughout the year makes the financial burden of Christmas shopping significantly less difficult.
You could always take an envelope and add a percentage of each one of your paychecks during the year but if you save this way you will not be earning any interest on the money you are putting aside. Additionally, you may be tempted to use some of the money for small purchase or emergencies which arise during the year.
Once you have your list of gift recipients there are a couple of ways to go about establishing a budget. Perhaps the simplest way is to decide how much you plan to spend on Christmas shopping and divide this amount by the number of gift recipients on your list. This will result in a budget in which you plan to spend the same amount of money on Christmas gifts for each person on your Christmas list.
About the Author:
Felix McDougnan has written many articles about financial and budget matters and is a consultant as well. He also adores the holiday season and writes about suggestions for xmas presents. You can stop by his xmas presents blog at one of those links.. This article,Buying Christmas Gifts - Shopping for Presents and Staying out of Debt When You're on a Tight Budget During the Holiday Season is released under a creative commons attribution license.
In : Christmas
Tags: "christmas gifts"


text:
Have you seen a lot more empty seats around the workplace these days? While the cold and flu season is a heavy contributor to workplace absences this time of year, more workers are using sick days in winter to take care of post-holiday shopping or visits with family.
In fact, 29% of workers have admitted to playing hooky from the office, citing errands and plans with family and friends among the top reasons for calling in sick when they were well, according to a CareerBuilder survey of more than 2,600 employers and 4,300 workers.
While employers reported heightened absenteeism around the holidays, the prime time of year when companies say employees call in sick is in the first quarter:
- January through March – 34%
- April through June – 13%
- July through September – 30%
- October through December – 23%
Most unusual excuses
When asked to share the most unusual excuses employees gave for missing work, employers offered the following real-life examples:
1) Employee's 12-year-old daughter stole his car and he had no other way to work. Employee didn't want to report it to the police.
2) Employee said bats got in her hair.
3) Employee had a headache after going to too many garage sales.
4) Employee said a refrigerator fell on him.
5) Employee was in line at a coffee shop when a truck carrying flour backed up and dumped the flour into her convertible.
6) Employee said a deer bit him during hunting season.
7) Employee ate too much at a party.
8) Employee fell out of bed and broke his nose.
9) Employee got a cold from a puppy.
10) Employee's child stuck a mint up his nose and had to go to the ER to remove it.
11) Employee hurt his back chasing a beaver.
12) Employee drank anti-freeze by mistake and had to go to the hospital.
13) Employee was at a bowling alley and a bucket filled with water crashed through the ceiling and hit her on the head.
"While outrageous events are known to happen, frequent absences and over-the-top excuses can start to bring your credibility into question," said Rosemary Haefner, Vice President of Human Resources at CareerBuilder. "Many employers are more flexible in their definition of a sick day and will allow employees to use them to recharge and take care of personal needs. This is especially evident post-recession when employees have taken on added responsibilities and are working longer days. Your best bet is to be up front with your manager."


text:
Search PXDRIVE
pxdrive.com -> Gavin Henson
|Gavin Henson Page: 1
Athlete Welsh rugby union player Gavin Henson picture(s) (pic) and photo gallery.
Full name: Gavin Henson
Born: February 1, 1982 Bridgend, Wales, USA.
Height: 1.84.
Weight: 95.
Nickname: henson.
Gavin Henson biography (bio):
Gavin Lloyd Henson is a Welsh rugby union player who plays for the Ospreys regional side in the Celtic League and Heineken Cup, and the national team. He attracted much media attention in the 2004-2005 rugby season, in which he was part of a Wales team which achieved a long-sought Grand Slam in the Six Nations Championship. He has also played for the British and Irish Lions, touring in 2005 to New Zealand.
Henson has played in a variety of positions including fly-half, fullback and inside centre. He usually plays on the Welsh team as inside centre. His relationship with girlfriend Charlotte Church, with whom he is expecting his first child, is well covered by the media in the United Kingdom. He appears in adverts for Nike Pro and for one of the Wales rugby sponsors, Brains brewery.
Gavin Henson's father, Alan Henson, captained Heol-y-Cyw and Maesteg, so rugby was in the family. Gavin played rugby for his school, Brynteg Comprehensive, in Bridgend, South Wales. Despite his Bridgend origins, he joined Swansea RFC at the age of 18. He was promptly the International Rugby Board's "Young Player Of The Year" in 2001. During which time he had started paving the way to his international career by signing for the Wales A team. He made his international debut for Wales during June of 2001 in a Test against Japan, coming off the bench. He then started his next match, at fly-half in a game against Romania in September. In November of that year he played for Wales A against Uruguay, scoring his first try in an international.
In 2003 regional rugby was launched in Wales, and Henson now played for the Ospreys. He made his debut for the Ospreys off the bench on September 9, 2003 in a match against Ulster, scoring two tries and kicking both a penalty and conversion to score 15 points. He was elevated to fly-half for the subsequent match against the Newport-Gwent Dragons, scoring 14 points from kicks in that game as well. 2003 also saw Henson return to the international field for Wales. He played twice, though he was on the bench for another two Tests. He was capped against both the All Blacks and Romania.
Henson came to wider notice in 2004 with a series of excellent performances in Wales' autumn internationals against New Zealand and South Africa. Henson became a firm part of the Welsh starting lineup, and after playing at fullback in the second Test against Argentina and the first against South Africa, he remained in the centres for the remainder of the season.
He remained on the team for the 2005 Six Nations championship. In Wales' opening fixture in February, at home to England, Henson gave an effective performance culminating in a successful 44m penalty kick and much media attention.
Back in his club side, Henson was part of a team which took the Celtic League cup: in the deciding match (Ospreys v Edinburgh, 26 March 2005), he scored 24 of his side's 29 points.
In the (northern hemisphere) summer of the same year, Henson was a member of the Lions tour of New Zealand. He was "devastated not to be playing" in the first Test. When he did get selected for the second test he was unfortunately injured and could not play in the final test. A groin injury delayed his return to club rugby in the autumn of the year. Within months of his Ospreys return, Henson was cited (reported following a game for events during it) for kicking and elbowing an opponent in a game against Leicester on December 19, 2005. He was found not guilty of the kicking offence, but guilty of the elbowing. He was initially suspended for ten weeks and two days: this period was reduced on appeal to seven weeks. Following this suspension and a single game at club level, he returned to international rugby against Ireland but did not shine.
In October 2005 Henson's My Grand Slam Year (ISBN 0-00-721686-6), was published. Comments about the Lions tour and remarks about other players ensured rapid publicity and Henson had to apologise to his team-mates.
He was recently ruled out of the 2007 Rugby World Cup by Wales coach Gareth Jenkins, failing to prove his fitness after an Achilles tendon injury.
Off the field:
A romance with Cardiff singer Charlotte Church, a tabloid favourite, ensured this interest endured. He appears in adverts for Nike Pro and for one of the Wales rugby sponsors, Brains brewery. It was announced on March 1 that Henson and Church are expecting a baby.


text:
Subject: CFP: 2. European Agent Systems Summer School (EASSS 2000)
From: Matthias Klusch (firstname.lastname@example.com)
Date: Thu Jun 15 2000 - 13:42:59 MET DST
+++ Please take our apologies if you receive this message more than once. +++
+++ We'd appreciate it if you distribute this call to colleagues who might be interested in. +++
Call for Participation
European Agent Systems Summer School
Saarbruecken, Germany, August 14 - 18, 2000
EASSS'2000 is organized by AgentLink (http://www.AgentLink.org/) -
Europe's IST-funded Network of Excellence for agent-based computing
- and hosted by DFKI GmbH (http://www.dfki.de/) and Universitaet des
Saarlandes (http://www.uni-sb.de/Welcome.html.en). The school will
consist of a mixture of introductory and advanced courses.
The courses will be presented by leading experts in the field and
cover the full range of theoretical and practical aspects
of agent-based computing.
C1.1: Foundations of Intelligent Agents
Michael J. Wooldridge
University of Liverpool, UK
C1.2: Foundations of Multiagent Systems
Yves Demazeau
Leibniz/IMAG, France
A) Basics
C2.1: Logical Foundations of Agent Systems
Wiebe van der Hoek
University of Utrecht, Netherlands
C2.2: Problem Solving and Planning
Klaus Fischer
DFKI GmbH, Germany
C2.3: Coordination, Communication and Collaboration
Franco Zambonelli
University of Modena, Italy
C2.4: Learning Agents
Sandip Sen
University of Tulsa, USA
C2.5: Interface Agents
Elisabeth Andre
DFKI GmbH, Germany
C2.6: Mobile Agents and Security
Christian Tschudin, University of Uppsala, Sweden
Volker Roth, FHG, Germany
C2.7: Agent-oriented Software Engineering
Jan Treur
Free University of Amsterdam, Netherlands
B) Applications
C2.8: Industrial Applications of Agents
Van Parunak
ERIM Center for E-Commerce, USA
C2.9: Intelligent Information Agents
Matthias Klusch
DFKI GmbH, Germany
C2.10: Behavior-oriented Control of Physical Agents
Thomas Christaller & Hans-Ulrich Kobialka
GMD, Germany
C2.11: Societies of Artificial Agents and Social Simulation
Paul Davidsson
University of Karlskrona-Ronneby, Sweden
Invited Evening Talks
* Wolfgang Wahlster and Jörg Siekmann
DFKI GmbH, Germany
* Sarit Kraus
Institute for Advanced Computer Studies,
University of Maryland, College Park, USA
Details of the programme will be given on the EASSS'2000 home page at
Last but not least, there will be a warm-up event on the 15th of
August in an informal environment. Please check the information on how
to register for the summer school below.
The summer school will be open to anyone from research and industry. A
registration fee will be levied to cover costs. Some support will be
available for PhD students wishing to attend the summer school; see
below for details. The fees are as follows (accommodation not
(in EUROs) | early | late |
| (before 14th July) | (after 14th July) | on site
Students | 150 | 175 | 200
Academia | 300 | 350 | 400
Industry | 450 | 600 | 700
Registration can be done on-line or by postal mail;
please visit the EASSS'2000 home page http://www.dfki.de/easss/
for to obtain details and registration form.
Student accommodation is available at the Jugendgaestehaus (JGH)
Saarbruecken (Meerwiesertalweg 31, 66123 Saarbruecken, Germany, Phone:
+49-(0)681-33040, Fax: +49-(0)681-374911). Rooms for two or four
persons are available. Please mention EASSS'2000 when making your
Further options for accommodation can be found via the EASSS home page
(http://www.dfki.de/easss/). To make reservations, please contact the
hotels directly. With the hotels listed on the web page EASSS'2000 has
special arrangements which guarantee special prices and a certain
amount of rooms, again mention EASSS'2000 when you make your
reservation. It is strongly recommended to make hotel reservations as
early as possible.
Some financial support is available for full-time PhD students
registered at universities that are members of AgentLink.
This support is intended to cover the cost of registration, student
accommodation, and some subsistence. Some additional support to cover
travel (to certain limits) may also be provided. Because of restrictions
with respect to time, students are obliged to make the travel arrangements
on their own and claim for refund on their scholarship after the
summer school. However, it is strongly recommended that students
get the forms for applying for scholarships and read the conditions
under which and to which degree funding is possible, *before* they do
any booking. PhD students should apply for this support by writing to:
Gerhard Weiss
Institut fuer Informatik
Technische Universitaet Muenchen
Arcisstrasse 21
D-80290 Muenchen
The application should arrive no later than Tuesday 13th of June 2000.
Each application should contain:
- full name and full contact details of the student;
- estimate of travel costs to and from the summer school (students
will be expected to use the cheapest reasonable travel available,
staying over the Saturday night if necessary to get cheap air
- a brief description of your PhD research, and a statement of no
less than 500 words explaining why you feel you should receive
- a signed letter from your PhD supervisor or head of department,
supporting your application and confirming your status as a full
time PhD student. This letter should carry the official stamp of
your institution.
Saarbruecken (http://www.saarbruecken.de/) is a charming city located
in the south-west of Germany on the border to France.
The city of Saarbruecken, the 1000 year old capital of the Saarland region,
has around 0.2 million inhabitants and a few attractive features, in
particular its geographical closeness to France, which is reflected
in the Saarbruecken culture and cuisine.
Saarbruecken is about 140 minutes by train from Frankfurt airport and
Luxemburg airport (http://www.dfki.de/easss/pics/SBlocair.gif) depending
on the time of the day. It is also possible to come directly to Saarbruecken
airport (http://www.flughafen-saarbruecken.de/) from a number of
European cities including Luxemburg and Berlin.
All courses of the summer school will be given on the campus of the
Saarland University where also the DFKI site resides.
This campus is situated in a wooded area outside the city centre of
EASSS'2000 will take place the week before ECAI'2000
(http://www.ecai2000.hu-berlin.de/) (Berlin, Germany). Travel from
Saarbruecken to ECAI'2000 by plane or train is straightforward.
Michael Luck, University Southampton, United Kingdom
Gerhard Weiss, TU Muenchen, Germany
Michael Wooldridge, University Liverpool, United Kingdom
Local Arrangements Board:
Klaus Fischer, DFKI GmbH, Germany
Matthias Klusch, DFKI GmbH, Germany
For information on
accomodation: firstname.lastname@example.com
phone +49-681-302-2656
fax +49-681-302-4142
programme : firstname.lastname@example.com
phone +49-681-302-5297
scholarships: firstname.lastname@example.com,
phone +49-89-289-22606
Dr. Matthias Klusch
DFKI GmbH
German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence
Stuhlsatzenhausweg 3
66123 Saarbruecken, Germany
Phone: +49-681-302-5297, Fax: +49-681-302-2235
http://www.dfki.de/~klusch/, firstname.lastname@example.com
This message was posted through the fuzzy mailing list.
(1) To subscribe to this mailing list, send a message body of
"SUB FUZZY-MAIL myFirstName mySurname" to email@example.com
(2) To unsubscribe from this mailing list, send a message body of
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(3) To reach the human who maintains the list, send mail to
(4) WWW access and other information on Fuzzy Sets and Logic see
(5) WWW archive: http://www.dbai.tuwien.ac.at/marchives/fuzzy-mail/index.html
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b25 : Thu Jun 15 2000 - 13:46:19 MET DST


text:
Dawn's Highway
Jim Morrison's legendary story from the album AN AMERICAN PRAYER and referenced in the song, "Peace Frog," is investigated in the documentary short film.
Many people have debated that Morrison either invented the story or embellished the elements of the experience. The film documents an accident from 1947 that perfectly matches Jim Morrison's story. Dawn's Highway, is it a myth or reality? The viewer can decide.
"Jim Morrison's story"
"The Doors, "Peace Frog"


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A word remains to be said about one peculiarity of this new rationalism which at first sight appears strange and positively irrational. F. van Steenberghen speaks of the 'curious fact' [chose curieuse] that 'these bold and revolutionary spirits who did not hesitate to shatter the ideas they had received from their Christian environment should simultaneously have subscribed to a veritable cult of philosophical tradition', so that philosophizing meant to them above all 'to investigate what the philosophers thought about any particular question.' As may easily be seen, this is something which we might call highly contemporary, for this sort of purely historical examination of philosophical questions is much the fashion nowadays. However, to my mind there is nothing curious about it; it is what one would naturally expect to happen. For the very moment anyone engaged in philosophizing abandons the guidance of sacred tradition, two things happen to him. The first is that he loses sight of his true subject, the real world and its structure of meaning, and finds himself instead talking about something entirely different: philosophy and philosophers. The second is that he forfeits his legitimate hold on the solely binding tradition, and must therefore illegitimately and—it must be said—vainly seek support in the mere facts handed down to him, in whatever historical 'material' happens to be at his disposal, following the 'great thinkers' whom he has encountered more or less by chance, or occupying himself industriously with the opinions of other people.Here we must recall to mind the dictum of St Thomas, concerning this very matter, addressed in 1271-72 to Siger of Brabant, and since cited many times: 'The purpose of the study of philosophy is not to learn what others have thought, but to learn how the truth of things stands.' [1]
I think perhaps we may be led astray by one of the studies I value most: the study of the history of literature. I wonder (and I hope this is not blasphemy) if we are not too aware of history. Being aware of the history of literature—or of any other art, for that matter—is really a form of unbelieving, a form of skepticism. If I say to myself, for example, that Wordsworth and Verlaine were very good nineteenth-century poets, then I may fall into the danger of thinking that time has somehow destroyed them, that they are not as good now as they were. I think the ancient idea—that we might allow perfection to art without taking into account the dates—was a braver one.I have read several histories of Indian philosophy. The authors (Englishmen, Germans, Frenchmen, Americans, and so on) always wonder at the fact that in India people have no historical sense—that they treat all thinkers as if they were contemporary. They translate the words of ancient philosophy into the modern jargon of today's philosophy. But this stands for something brave. This stands for the idea that one believes in philosophy or that one believes in poetry—that things beautiful once can go on being beautiful still. [2]


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Airmont in Rockland County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Erected by The Historical Society of Rockland County.
Location. 41° 6.603′ N, 74° 6.603′ W. Marker is in Airmont, New York, in Rockland County. Marker is on S. DeBaun Ave. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 24 S. DeBaun Ave., Suffern NY 10901, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church (approx. ¾ mile away); Montebello (approx. 1.3 miles away); Cobblestone Farm (approx. 1.8 miles away); School of Living Historic Monsey Cemetery (approx. 2 miles away); Bayard Lane (approx. 2 miles away); Suffern's Tavern (approx. 2.1 miles away); This Cannon "Independence" (approx. 2.1 miles away).
More about this marker. Richard & Linda Harvey, sponsors
Categories. • Arts, Letters, Music • Notable Buildings •
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. This page originally submitted on June 3, 2015, by The Historical Society of Rockland County of New City, New York. This page has been viewed 413 times since then and 12 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 4, 2015, by The Historical Society of Rockland County of New City, New York. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
Editor's want-list for this marker. A wide shot of the marker and its surroundings. • Can you help?


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OfficeMax Launches Internet Affiliate Program
Page 1 of 1
OfficeMax launched the OfficeMax OnLine Affiliate Program in which participating sites can develop a new channel of revenue by referring customers to www.officemax.com.
OfficeMax said that more than 50 charter companies, including Excite, theglobe.com, iMall and GTE signed on as partners.
The company said its Affiliate Program creates sales opportunities for thousands of Web sites that provide content and services to the small business, home office and consumer markets. Affiliates earn an unspecified commission on every sales transaction generated through links from their site.
"This program displays our continued commitment to providing our customers additional convenient means of purchasing office products, business machines, computers, software and office furniture," said Michael Feuer, OfficeMax's chairman and CEO.
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The photographs of Jan Erik Waider seem to turn natural formations into abstract sculptures. His series Ice on Black captures icebergs in stark black and white photography. The textures, movement, and shape of the floating ice is surprisingly sculptural. The graceful masses of ice juxtaposed against the larger field of open sea nearly seem like a painterly decision. Waider is a graphic designer by trade, but his passion if for photography and the northern landscape. He specifically captures the majority of his photographs in and near Greenland and Iceland.
Author Archives: Danny Olda
Basik's Mystical Street Art
The street artist Basik has a singular style. Though often sparse in color, his murals don't lack in detail. The compositions seem extensively planned. No component is set without intention as if its precise creation were some sort of ritual. Basik's extreme attention to line is rare in the aerosol can wielding medium. He says of his work:
"I found human and animal bodies, especially hands and weird face expressions, very captivating. I started a research about lines, shapes and solid aspects of the colours. Subjects painted are often idealized and slightly surreal. Strokes become bones, while paint's matter turns into flesh. I love to make my works on useless and broken items. Painting becomes more intense and dramatic whilst the support gets a whole new dimension and dignity."
Printer Uses Bird Poop To Do Exactly What You Might Think
Artist and desinger Fabrizio Lamoncha works with more than a little bit of humor. His Pooprinter project statement begins with the quote "A common idiosyncratic habit in all birds is their inevitable punk nature to shit over our most precious belongings." The project is as innovative as it is gross. Lamoncha slowly prints an alphabet on large sheets of paper by using strategically placed perches and the birds own droppings. Check out the time-lapse video of the bird poop in action above and enjoy Lamoncha's toungue-in-cheek explanation the project:
"A group of male zebra finches underwent this experiment with rigorous commitment. The author/captor, taking the role of some kind of 1984´s Big brother, is providing the implementation guidelines for the transformation of this countercultural attitude into a marketable artsy product. The observation of this group of non-breeding birds in captivity and the experimentation with induced behaviors has been rigorously documented for this task." (via booooooom)
Tumblr Avatars Redrawn As Artful Portraits
Artist Steve Kim's series Perfect (2) draws from an unexpected inspiration. These elegant portraits are based on the avatars of Tumblr users. Kim sourced material from the blogging platform that attracts so many creatives. Avatars are often quickly executed and little thought over photographic portraits. Kim rededicates time to each photo in order to render each as a proper piece of art. Interestingly, each portrait's title is also the repective blogger's username.
Playful Installations Offer New Perspectives
Artist Katrin Sigurdardottir offers unexpected perspectives by way of her installations. For this first installation High Plane, Sigurdardottir set up two ladders in the gallery for visitors to climb. The ladders lead to a hole for the visitors to insert their heads. Once visitors peek through the holes they see they are at eye level with a miniature landscape. Pale blue islands seem to dot a white sea, the visitor looking from god-like perspective. However, the viewer also encounters another viewer peering through the other hole, reminded of their absurd size and situation. In another installation titled Boiserie, she sets up an entirely white parlor-type room adorned with period furnitutre. Mirrors mark the corners of the room which create an endless loop of reflections of the rooms interior. The mirrors, though, are interrogation mirrors visitors can use to look inside the room. The parlor is essentially only a set and roughly hewn from the outside.
Elmgreen & Dragset Turn The Familiar Into The Absurd With Their Installations
The installations of Elmgreen & Dragset are a special brand of humorous – they are absurd. The art duo blend installation art, design, and even performance to turn a skeptical eye toward the familiar. The duo often begin with familiar objects and situations of habit. A slight variation seems to make the situation absurd, the behavior required silly. For example, a series of crates presumably contain art either resting in precarious positions or are already ruined. A botched art delivery becomes a commentary on the value of art.
Indoor Clouds Created Tetsuo Kondo Architects
The architectural firm Tetsuo Kondo Architects makes creative use of a unique material: clouds. They carefully manipulate the humidity and temperature in buildings to create indoor clouds. This eventually creates three distinct layers within the room with actual clouds gathering in the middle. The firm uses the space to allow visitors to experience the cloud from below, within, and above. In a way clouds are architectural components of the natural world that serve several practical purposes. Tetsuo Kondo Architects pull these clouds inside not only as a strange material, but also as a symbol of the relationship between architecture and the surrounding environment. (Via Collabcubed)
Photo Mural Optical Illusions
The photographic murals of Mike Hewson don't exactly decorate the buildings they inhabit. Rather, the murals create surreal optical illusions, highlighting the buildings by nearly making them disappear. Hewson, creatively uses perspective to erase walls or even entire structures. In some of his work this reveals the buildings inside – its purpose being put to use. Other times, his work interacts with the building in order to recall an empty space or a space's potential. Hewson's murals hints not only at structures that we'd often take for granted, but our often overlooked relationships with them.


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The son of immigrant parents creates a vivid, affectionate, and gritty portrait of a complex city.
Born in America to Indian scientists who felt "torn between nation and vocation," Choudhury grew up in New Jersey, taken twice for stays in India. Those experiences planted a seed of yearning, and in 2001, after graduating from Princeton, he went back to Calcutta to work as a reporter at the Statesman. Although he had planned to stay forever, enduring two monsoons changed his mind: he returned home and enrolled in a doctoral program in political science at Yale. Calcutta's draw was seductive, though, and for his doctoral dissertation, he embarked on a yearlong study of the city. That study informs his literary debut, an insightful melding of family memoir, autobiography, and history that illuminates the politics, society, and culture of "dirty, disorderly, teeming" Calcutta. Until the 1970s, Choudhury writes, Calcutta was India's largest city, an impressive manufacturing hub in the nation's wealthiest state. But in the ensuing decades, the city declined drastically: silt piles made its river unnavigable, and unions killed manufacturing, leaving 45,000 acres of rusting factories. Yet what others deem "an urban hellhole" the author sees as a rich palimpsest of cultural memory, "an infinite regression of experiences of longing and loss." Besides describing Calcutta's thronging, cacophonous daily life, the author examines the dire consequences of British colonialism. "The lasting legacy of the British in Bengal was famine," Choudhury reveals. In 1943, 3 million starved to death. The British mandate of partition incited fierce religious wars between Hindus and Muslims, forcing Bengals from their ancestral land. His own family suffered in the upheaval; millions were uprooted, arriving as refugees in Calcutta. Colonial rule left India deeply demoralized, believing itself doomed to "failure upon failure": "failure to not spit and piss everywhere," "failure to cover our drains, to provide clean drinking water or clinics or schools or the basics of a dignified life."
A candid and often moving history of a city's dramatic past and roiling present.


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Strong Conclusions For Persuasive Essays
So much is at stake in writing a conclusion. This is, after all, your last chance to persuade your readers to your point of view, to impress yourself upon them as a writer and thinker. And the impression you create in your conclusion will shape the impression that stays with your readers after they've finished the essay.
The end of an essay should therefore convey a sense of completeness and closure as well as a sense of the lingering possibilities of the topic, its larger meaning, its implications: the final paragraph should close the discussion without closing it off.
To establish a sense of closure, you might do one or more of the following:
- Conclude by linking the last paragraph to the first, perhaps by reiterating a word or phrase you used at the beginning.
- Conclude with a sentence composed mainly of one-syllable words. Simple language can help create an effect of understated drama.
- Conclude with a sentence that's compound or parallel in structure; such sentences can establish a sense of balance or order that may feel just right at the end of a complex discussion.
To close the discussion without closing it off, you might do one or more of the following:
- Conclude with a quotation from or reference to a primary or secondary source, one that amplifies your main point or puts it in a different perspective. A quotation from, say, the novel or poem you're writing about can add texture and specificity to your discussion; a critic or scholar can help confirm or complicate your final point. For example, you might conclude an essay on the idea of home in James Joyce's short story collection, Dubliners, with information about Joyce's own complex feelings towards Dublin, his home. Or you might end with a biographer's statement about Joyce's attitude toward Dublin, which could illuminate his characters' responses to the city. Just be cautious, especially about using secondary material: make sure that you get the last word.
- Conclude by setting your discussion into a different, perhaps larger, context. For example, you might end an essay on nineteenth-century muckraking journalism by linking it to a current news magazine program like 60 Minutes.
- Conclude by redefining one of the key terms of your argument. For example, an essay on Marx's treatment of the conflict between wage labor and capital might begin with Marx's claim that the "capitalist economy is . . . a gigantic enterprise ofdehumanization"; the essay might end by suggesting that Marxist analysis is itself dehumanizing because it construes everything in economic -- rather than moral or ethical-- terms.
- Conclude by considering the implications of your argument (or analysis or discussion). What does your argument imply, or involve, or suggest? For example, an essay on the novel Ambiguous Adventure, by the Senegalese writer Cheikh Hamidou Kane, might open with the idea that the protagonist's development suggests Kane's belief in the need to integrate Western materialism and Sufi spirituality in modern Senegal. The conclusion might make the new but related point that the novel on the whole suggests that such an integration is (or isn't) possible.
Finally, some advice on how not to end an essay:
- Don't simply summarize your essay. A brief summary of your argument may be useful, especially if your essay is long--more than ten pages or so. But shorter essays tend not to require a restatement of your main ideas.
- Avoid phrases like "in conclusion," "to conclude," "in summary," and "to sum up." These phrases can be useful--even welcome--in oral presentations. But readers can see, by the tell-tale compression of the pages, when an essay is about to end. You'll irritate your audience if you belabor the obvious.
- Resist the urge to apologize. If you've immersed yourself in your subject, you now know a good deal more about it than you can possibly include in a five- or ten- or 20-page essay. As a result, by the time you've finished writing, you may be having some doubts about what you've produced. (And if you haven't immersed yourself in your subject, you may be feeling even more doubtful about your essay as you approach the conclusion.) Repress those doubts. Don't undercut your authority by saying things like, "this is just one approach to the subject; there may be other, better approaches. . ."
Copyright 1998, Pat Bellanca, for the Writing Center at Harvard University
Do you remember the last words spoken by your ex-boyfriend or ex-girlfriend, the final advice given in your senior year by your favorite teacher, the words spoken by your mother or father as you left for college? These important moments ended a passage in your life; thus, they took on heightened significance and resonated long after they were spoken. In the same way, a good conclusion continues speaking to and resonating with a reader long after he or she has finished reading it.
A good conclusion should
- Remind the reader of the thesis statement and answer the question, "So What?"
- Give the essay a sense of completion and closure
- Leave the reader with a final, lasting impression
- Make the reader glad that he or she read your paper
Several types of effective and memorable conclusions
The Simple Summary
If you choose this common type of conclusion, be sure to synthesize, rather than merely summarizing. Avoid a dull restatement of your major points. Don't monotonously restate your major ideas; instead, show your readers how the points you raised fit together and why your ideas matter. Also, try to avoid the phrase, "and in conclusion." This can insult the reader's intelligence: After all, if you've organized your paper well, it will be obvious that you have begun your concluding remarks.
The Frame or Circle Technique
Here, a writer circles back to the beginning, returning to the metaphor, image, anecdote, quotation, or example he or she used in the introductory paragraph. Echoing the introduction gives essays a nice sense of unity and completion.
The Panning to the Horizon Technique
This technique moves the reader from the specifics of a paper or essay to a larger, perhaps even universal, point. It redirects the readers, giving them something meaty to chew over. You can demonstrate the importance and broad significance of your topic by using an appropriate analogy, tying the topic to a larger philosophic or political issue, posing a challenging question, or encouraging the reader to look to the future.
The Proposal or Call to Action
Especially useful in a persuasive or argumentative essay, in this type of conclusion the writer makes a proposal and/or asks the readers to do something, calling them to action. It is frequently seen in sermons and political speeches.
The Concluding Story Technique
Here, the writer sums up the essay by sketching a scene or by telling a brief anecdote that illustrates the topic's significance. Often, this approach makes an emotional connection with the reader.
The Delayed Thesis Conclusion
In some essays, the writer takes an exploratory approach, perhaps dealing with a variety of proposals and solutions. The conclusion states the thesis almost as if it is a discovery, allowing the reader to make the discovery along with you. However, this can be a difficult technique to carry off. The thesis, even though it may go unstated until the very end, should nevertheless serve as the inevitable controlling force for the entire essay.
Teresa Sweeney & Fran Hooker, Webster University Writing Center, 2005