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Super C (NES) with James & Mike
Mike Matei / May 14th, 2013
May 14, 2013 at 12:18 pm
rasmus är en tönt…
May 15, 2013 at 3:01 pm
Vem fan är Rasmus?
Alice Jims
May 18, 2013 at 6:25 pm
Start working at home with Google! It's by-far the best job Ive had. Last Wednesday I got a brand new BMW since getting a check for $6474 this – 4 weeks past. I began this 8-months ago and immediately was bringin home at least $77 per hour. I work through this link, http://qr.net/Jobs100The Kaleidoscopic God
May 15, 2013 at 11:51 pm
…Antar att detta är Rasmus konto?
May 16, 2013 at 3:31 pm
Hatar Rasmus!db1998
May 22, 2013 at 6:03 am
Vad många svenskar det var här då, haha!
May 14, 2013 at 12:31 pm
Awesome James and Mike, super C and contra were both great games~RichterBelmont
May 14, 2013 at 12:44 pm
Impressive bullet dodging action! Such a great game. This was a lot of fun to watch. I'm all for some unedited gameplay videos.
May 14, 2013 at 8:49 pm
I second thatBelligeron
May 14, 2013 at 1:02 pm
It was really cool to see you guys play through a whole game in one run without editing. Hopefully you guys do more of that. You guys both did very well. I would love to see you play through the TMNT games!
May 14, 2013 at 11:49 pm
hell yes TMNT 3 action would be boss status
May 17, 2013 at 6:25 pm
i agree but to me i think that you should bring back the overanalyisers
November 17, 2013 at 9:43 am
tmnt 2 is far too repetitive. tmnt 3 is just as bad. tmnt 1 is only 1 player and just not fun. the snes games are a bit better and varied
May 14, 2013 at 1:02 pm
Great! Beat this game with a friend some years ago.MadHitz
May 14, 2013 at 1:04 pm
You guys are awesome Contra players! I remember beating this game one time without the code as well…..one of my greatest gaming achievements! Also Mike, I had a friend as well who would just shut off the game system when I started beating him too badlyDur
May 14, 2013 at 1:09 pm
The invincibility power-up "B" stands for Barrier I believe! Awesome play-through, I hope you guys do more with other great and challenging games!
May 14, 2013 at 11:17 pm
You should do Life Force next.Reputator
May 14, 2013 at 1:11 pm
You should hold a contest for someone to spend a day with the Nerd playing games like this.
May 14, 2013 at 6:31 pm
I totally agree!frostare
May 14, 2013 at 1:12 pm
Yeah! Spread gun is the shit! It comes after the homing amulet in Touhou as my favorite weapons.
Death dropper or whatever Area 3 boss is called… yeah, easiest boss in Contra history
Oh shit, that whole ordeal was intense! I hope to see you guys do this again with another game!sdbrown84
May 14, 2013 at 1:18 pm
May 14, 2013 at 1:23 pm
Loved this. Need to see more of these!Madie
May 14, 2013 at 1:29 pm
that was stressful even to watch
May 14, 2013 at 1:32 pm
God I loved this video, this is exactly what I've wanted to see from you guys…just raw 2-player gameplay footage, it's so sweet! Makes me wish you guys would perhaps do a livestream show, just you guys playing games having fun, would be great to watch.
Thanks for all the great work.
May 14, 2013 at 1:34 pm
Definitely a hard game to talk as you play.
You should play Zombies Ate My Neighbors and talk about what movies the enemies come from, what the stages names come from and why throwing six-pack of cokes on zombies kill them.FinallyGAF
May 14, 2013 at 1:35 pm
Great Video. Now do Skyrim 😉hughjazz44
May 14, 2013 at 2:11 pm
If I recall correctly, the "R" power-up is for Rapid Fire. As in, you can press the B button faster and you can fire more bullets than normal.
Great video guys!Pinda-kaas
May 14, 2013 at 2:46 pm
That was fantastic! Great work guys!
This was a lot of fun to watch! Make more unedit full game video's !vitekr
May 14, 2013 at 2:57 pm
Do Contra 3 on SNES next. Its for the manliest men only!jedisprite
May 14, 2013 at 4:04 pm
Great Vid!!!Jahson Linares
May 14, 2013 at 5:00 pm
I still haven't beaten this game…arthurD2
May 14, 2013 at 5:03 pm
i couldn't stop watching 😀
May 14, 2013 at 5:25 pm
I think this unedited full coop playthroughs are a great idea James! Please do more if you have the time 🙂 I was never a fan of "Let's play" video, but this one I totally enjoyed!likalaruku
May 14, 2013 at 5:40 pm
Mike looks really tired :pMitsukara
May 14, 2013 at 6:02 pm
I really enjoy watching this kind of playthrough. Heavily edited videos can be more focused, which has advantages, but getting to see the whole game played through is a special kind of fun and relaxed entertainment all it's own. I for one would love to see more like this, if you do any.Decoy
May 14, 2013 at 6:03 pm
Wow, intense video. I really enjoyed hope you will do something similar again!
And nice AVGN quotes by the way 😉
May 14, 2013 at 6:22 pm
Gotta do turtles in time next
May 14, 2013 at 6:22 pm
Thanks for the inspiration, I'm gonna play the arcade version on my 360! 😀
May 14, 2013 at 6:27 pmStick
May 14, 2013 at 6:59 pm
Easily one of my favorite games and certainly one of the best. This was a lot of fun to watch. I'd like to see more like this. Another great 2 player game is General Chaos on Genesis. I played that one to death.Hanglyman
May 14, 2013 at 7:23 pm
I thought having it whole and unedited was reasonably entertaining, even though you guys didn't talk very much. I'd never seen the game before, so it was kind of fun to watch you go through the whole thing, and a half hour is short enough to not get boring.DarkSouske
May 14, 2013 at 7:40 pm
Damn guys I was sweating right there with you on that final boss level/fight. I'm all for you guys doing more play throughs with no edits. Keep it up!
May 14, 2013 at 8:09 pm
15:45 if you start the video here and listen without video it sounds like you guys are having a six-way with Fraggles.uberrainman
May 14, 2013 at 8:38 pm
You guys are much better at this game than me, I couldn't ever beat it. Fun video to watch, would watch more full playthroughs.Valis77
May 14, 2013 at 8:53 pm
James and Mikes First Let's Play.Bobby1001
May 14, 2013 at 9:03 pm
Excellent playing.Rick
May 14, 2013 at 9:03 pm
NICE!! I love Contra and that was fuckin' intense! 😀 by the end, my heart beating (or not) with yours! Loved it!oscuro
May 14, 2013 at 9:04 pm
Wow same deal for me. I mastered this game as a kid and even to this day its one of the few nes games I can beat start to finish with no cheats or extra lives. Me and my dad used to play this all the timeAaron1375
May 14, 2013 at 9:40 pm
Shit dudes, that was intense…almost got a panic attack watching you two play that!
May 14, 2013 at 9:48 pm
Good job boys! Ya that last boss in Super C is way too easy. Just gotta stand right next to him and shoot diagonal. Occasionally shoot up to hit the blue things.oscuro
May 14, 2013 at 10:02 pm
Yeah at the end there I was jumping too when you guys were dying. I knew all the parts you guys were going to die at too the same places I always die like that stupid wall on the last level.Joker83
May 14, 2013 at 10:11 pm
Classic, I like this formula. Amazing ending too- you guys should play more games and make more videos like thisJeffrey Herbert
May 14, 2013 at 10:17 pm
I love watching you guys play bad games. But sometimes it's nice to see you play a GREAT game. I've been trying for months to beat Super C without dying. Something always goes wrong. Level 6 is a crap shoot. And by the way, it's called a 'free man'.EthanWolfcat
May 14, 2013 at 10:54 pm
Was fun! =) I could watch more of these!Arc Nova
May 14, 2013 at 11:09 pm
Fantastic episode, guys! And great job on beating Super C without the extra lives. It's a feat I've yet to match. I definitely agree that trying to carry on a conversation while playing a difficult game is a LOT harder than it looks. I don't think a lot of people appreciate just how difficult it is to split one's concentration like that.
And I like the new logo, too! I'm looking forward to the next James & Mike Play! 🙂
May 14, 2013 at 11:25 pm
The "H" referred to around 12 minutes is an R, it's for rapid, you can fire faster than normal
May 15, 2013 at 12:24 am
So great video guys!!!
You remember me when I play with my brother years ago, please continue with more videos like this!
Youre the best!
Regards from Mexico City!The Kemosabi
May 15, 2013 at 12:50 am
That was awesome! Really fun to watch! I hope you guys do more like this.Anthony33
May 15, 2013 at 1:03 am
Awesome, guys. As much as I love the reviews, tributes and Nerd videos, the ones you do with Mike are some of my favorites. Ah man, Mike almost made it. Too nerve racking hehe. That's why I would replay games like that with Game Genie haha.Eric Pilon
May 15, 2013 at 1:37 am
Mike is a power-up hog.AbsoluteDeicide
May 15, 2013 at 1:43 am
That was awesome. You guys have impressive teamwork. I could never beat this because I suck at the top down levels. Please do more of these.Donny
May 15, 2013 at 2:21 am
undeniable proof that james is superior to the rip off artist irrate gamer, that chump had to use game genie invincibility to beat it with someone, big fan of your show james, nice work mike, can't wait till avgn movie comes out!
May 15, 2013 at 2:23 am
I laughed so hard when Mike yelled out, "You killed me you fuck!! …no I don't blame you, James." I just couldn't stop laughing. But man oh man, awesome fucking job on this! I can't believe you guys did it. And it came right down to the wire too! With the damn pea shooter!! Nice fucking work!! You guys have GOT to do more of these videos. I love watching Long Plays, Let's Plays, and Speedruns online. Its like all these games I can't afford or don't have the skill or time to play, I get to enjoy vicariously.
Would love to see more vids of this type.
May 15, 2013 at 5:22 am
You should check out Game Informer's Super Replays, too, if you haven't already. Overblood is a classic.Jim Bo
May 15, 2013 at 2:31 am
The "S" weapon is Shotgun, not Spread! LoL!
May 15, 2013 at 11:39 am
No it's not. It's spread. Not only officially, but that's what we all called it growing up.Justin Kwapich
May 15, 2013 at 3:09 am
I like the no cut. Prefer it, for sure. By the way guys… the "R" takes whatever weapon you have and increases it's speed (and #of bullets fired for Spread).
May 15, 2013 at 3:16 am
Super C, i'm so dull even if i started gaming in the old days. Back than, i really completed like 30% of what i had.
Seeing this was like INSPIRATIONAL, even if at the end i almost shat myself in fear. xDSnejku
May 15, 2013 at 3:49 am
Great going! This game is all balls and no bullshit and you did it!
May 15, 2013 at 4:04 am
cool video of you guys playing super c!super.ca.i.n
May 15, 2013 at 5:28 am
B stands for BARRIER.
May 15, 2013 at 5:50 am
nice going, it's been awhile since i played that one, brought back some old memories of me and my cousin playing it over and over
May 15, 2013 at 7:05 am
only Contra game I own is Contra Hard Corps on the GENESIS
May 15, 2013 at 9:50 am
Contra Hard Corps is amazing. Hard as hell, but amazing nonetheless. By far, my favorite Contra. Mega Turrican was also awesome, and had a lot in common with Contra games (#cough#Stealibg from Alien#cough")
May 15, 2013 at 8:38 am
fuck, that was intense.Griff
May 15, 2013 at 8:55 am
hey James/Mike, did any of you ever play Contra Shattered Soldier on the PS2?pili
May 15, 2013 at 9:26 am
nice job soldier'sIkki666
May 15, 2013 at 9:47 am
It was great! You should try more of these unedited gameplay videos! And what a great game!19Szabolcs91
May 15, 2013 at 11:27 am
This was some intense shit. Really makes me want to play this one, too. I only ever played the first one (Arcade version), the one on Game Boy and Rebirth on WiiWare (you should definitely try the latter, it's awesome).
May 15, 2013 at 12:13 pm
watched this 3 times already i think im ready to beat this game now lol Ill comment and let you know how i did! I think you should make more videos like thisDrJekyll
May 15, 2013 at 12:26 pm
Lol Super C
For my first job I worked a whole year in a grocery store that was called " Super C "
( stands for Super Choix (Choice in french ))
May 15, 2013 at 12:30 pm
Damn you guys got awsome skills at these kinds of games.Jel-K
May 15, 2013 at 12:33 pm
Good game, good playersRobban.swe
May 15, 2013 at 1:23 pm
Wow this was awesome. You should do another video and play Turltes in Time on the SNES!
May 15, 2013 at 1:43 pm
Cool new splash/logo for James & Mike Play.. very 70/80's retro vibe..Wrathknight
May 15, 2013 at 1:47 pm
great job guys. sadly i had never played this Contra game as a kid, the main one i remember playing was Contra 3: The Alien Wars for the SNES. that game was aewsome for the SNES but was really hard as usual, you guys should do that one next.mondogekko
May 15, 2013 at 2:08 pm
Great one! Always nice to see games beaten, remembering how they've beaten me as a kid. And in many cases still do.DrJekyll
May 15, 2013 at 2:22 pm
Anyone of you noticed how in the middle of the fight james figured out a dead angle in the projectile pattern ? XDTom111
May 15, 2013 at 2:25 pm
More unedited gameplay videos! This was awesome! I really enjoyed watching this all the way thru!Tim Ryan
May 15, 2013 at 3:45 pm
The James & Mike Play videos have fast become my favorite content you two have ever put out. Even with all the modern advancements with online multiplayer, it still cant beat being side by side a buddy, trying to take down a game together. Great stuff guys!
May 15, 2013 at 4:03 pm
Unedited gameplay videos= AWESOME 😉Robert R.
May 15, 2013 at 4:05 pm
Amazing gameplay… especially James taking out the final boss with a peashooter!
May 15, 2013 at 4:29 pm
This was frigging sweet!!!! I would love to see you guys do a a video like this for the TMNT games !!!!!
May 15, 2013 at 4:33 pm
this video was GREAT, please do more! those enemies, which were like two mouths on a tumor, reminded me of the Flying Polyps from Lovecraft mythos. at least how they are depicted in some drawings. creepy shit!lockshockbarrel84
May 15, 2013 at 5:51 pm
That was great.More please. Seeing James and Mike play is real fun. Next time maybe you should do this with a game that allows a little more "philosophizing" 🙂boyestar
May 15, 2013 at 6:04 pm
You can Super-charge the 'F' gun when you hold down the B-button wich gives a bigger bullet that goes through enemies and burst into a bigger explosion.. Anyway nice vid guys !! And Gratz on the baby James !pyroman512
May 15, 2013 at 6:08 pm
Next time get the "R" for rapid power ups. They are stackable and make you fire faster without affecting your current weapon. So you can have a really fast spread gun for exampleKeydsimon
May 15, 2013 at 6:31 pm
That was very fun actually ! It's simple, but it works great. I loved the tense ending.Nintendomaniac
May 15, 2013 at 6:48 pm
The game should have been called "Contra II" instead of "Super C". It would have gotten a lot more recognition. Many people probably didn't even realize it was a Contra game when it first came out. Imagine if "Mega Man II" had been called "Super M" instead…wouldn't have been as well known and popular.scback
May 15, 2013 at 7:12 pm
Very cool. Would definitely watch more done the same way!JT
May 15, 2013 at 7:48 pm
With just one big long run of the the camera throughout the game you could really feel the intensity, but i think that if you guys do this again you should have some sort of commentary afterwards at the end.knick dubbya
May 15, 2013 at 7:52 pm
hahaha "AW SHIT! I WAS WATCHING YOU FUCK!" Great video i remember playing this game with my dad all the timekarel1
May 15, 2013 at 8:07 pm
That. Was. IN-FUCKING-SANE! I mean it was not just off the charts, but off the fucking Chain! Man, I have NEVER ever seen such Gamesmanship, than what was demonstrated by the both of you two tonight. My heart was actually beating a mile a minute watching you two go! I have never seen someone finish a whole game WITHOUT a continue and without a code!
And what a finish!
James and Mike take a bow because you two delivered ALL the Goods. Do more videos like this, Please!Ryan Schaffer
May 15, 2013 at 9:56 pm
Very intense. I was cringing at times
May 15, 2013 at 11:43 pm
That was great. You guys should do a full playthrough of Megaman 2 without dying more than once. To play 2p co-op just switch off everytime you beat a level or if you die.Shane Warren
May 16, 2013 at 3:12 am
great video guys. i like this, it's something new and you guys should make more of them.fcabanski
May 16, 2013 at 3:22 am
It's interesting to see a play through without editing? But Mike looks tired in this video?Matthew Kuchler
May 16, 2013 at 3:41 am
Incredibly enjoyable video – brings back memories from years ago before a kid in my neighborhood stole my copy! You guys know you can charge the fire weopon, right? And the 'R' power-up adds rapid fire to your current weopon, though with spreader it diminishes the angle of the bullets. I try to find the happy medium where it's as fast as possible while maintaining the 5-bullet spread. Keep up the great work!crystallinesheen
May 16, 2013 at 5:40 am
I just registered to comment, long time fan though. This was fun to watch! I was wondering how ya'll were gonna make this work, but I had totally forgotten how short this game was. Brought back some memories, seeing ya'll play took me back to when me and my childhood buddies were tackling this awesome game back in the day. Do more of these!
May 16, 2013 at 5:44 am
Also would like to comment on the cringe-worthy status! I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. This was a great showcase for ya'lls gamer skills. James, what a way to pull that one off at the end, bet you were sweating bullets!Olivania
May 16, 2013 at 9:07 am
00:32 – "It's harder because not everybody is as familiar with it…" – That makes a whole lot of sense. XD Otherwise, great video. 🙂
May 16, 2013 at 9:13 am
Imagine if there was friendly fire and the enemies could pick up the gun upgrades too! X.XWakameSake
May 16, 2013 at 10:15 am
More pleaseAnyExpression
May 16, 2013 at 10:34 am
This is the best video you guys have done in a long time.
May 16, 2013 at 11:51 am
I actually found that very enjoyable and also both your reactions when you died were hilarious.
May 16, 2013 at 12:16 pm
Awesome vid. Keep em coming!adder_doner2
May 16, 2013 at 12:30 pm
Was a pleasure to watch this, have watched 2 times and played once more to listen to while I worked. More like this please!DenOndeBoss
May 16, 2013 at 2:15 pm
That was great guys! Would love to se more of these "play-throughs" in unedited edition! :o)
Keep it up!


text:
Best newcomer of 2016 - HalfDrop design studio
As the year is coming to an end, I can't help but think back on all the great events that happened in the design world. So many wonderful industry fairs with newcomers from all around the world. I've seen some products that caught my eye instantly and some that kept me thinking about them long after the event was over. But throughout all of these new concepts and ideas, one design studio has stand out for me. And the main reason for this is that it's not your typical design studio, it's a pattern studio that (to put it in their words) "create and define identity through fabric, colour and rhythm". You can see why I am so excited about this studio, right?? You know how I'm a sucker for a good concept story, a reason behind a product.
So without any further addition, I present to you HALFDROP, an amazing fabric design studio run by two amazing girls, that even have the same name. Peeked your interest? Grab your cup of coffee/tea and let's begin the interview.
Halfdrop is Romanian Design Brand that lives and breathes between two cities: Shanghai and Bucharest. It brings to life stories through fabric designs for interiors. It was founded by two Romanian Architects - Alexandra Lazarescu & Alexandra Petrache - as a place where passion & curiosity mixes up with hand drawings, printing techniques and digital illustration. The result? Amazing patterns, designs and most of all - collections!! Take a look here, there is quite a variety to choose from!
What made you decide to start Halfdrop?
Halfdrop: Halfdrop is the layout in which the motif is repeated halfway down the side in the vertical direction (the most frequently used repeat in textile design). Our name derives from this, as the most versatile and used layout when designing patterns, that has both dynamic and rigor, balance and movement.
Tell me more about your studio.
Halfdrop: The HALFDROP story started in the late months of 2015, challenging a great distance and time difference between Shanghai and Bucharest. We always had in mind to start a design project between the two of us, and we both adore fabrics. HALFDROP began as an intention rather than a brand, a common desire of creating things that can really make a difference when talking about interior decor.
We had a lot of time on our hands, testing, figuring out mistakes and improvements. But definitely, it was one of the most interesting times because beginnings are time frames devoid of rules. Until the actual need of finalizing the product we had in mind, or really defining what it would be exactly, we got to play with the "in-between", the "what if's", the "how would it look like if".
The key concepts that define the brand are balance, contrast and complementarity. These concepts define our work as a team as well, by using our differences and particular visions for our clients best advantage.
A little fun fact: The dresses that you see in the picture above, are designed by them too!
What sparked your passion for patterns and product design?
Halfdrop: Create the things you wish existed! We both have an educational background in art and painting, besides Architecture, so we have been as long as we can remember sketching this or that, analysing historical styles, periods and various forms of decorations and aesthetic principles. Besides, we grew up with our grandparents and Romanian traditional motifs, with their rhythm and structure. All there was left was to channel all of these into a thing we'd love doing: fabrics.
Where do you find inspiration for your patterns?
Halfdrop: We get inspired from absolutely every texture or repeat motif we find around us. More often than not, those textures are found in the built environment, in some facade texture, enclosure design, even decorative ironwork. It seems there is always going to be the architect's hand in our patterns and motifs. The various cultures encountered during both our travels also have a great impact. The various ethnic art, in any form, speaks volumes in term of geometry and colour.
Halfdrop style?
Halfdrop: HALFDROP's goal is to surprise you with a contemporary, full of energy design, based on original concepts. Our style is defined by experiences and constant alterations rather than a specific approach, the style itself will certainly shift with the things that will inspire us along the way.
There is a process that actually defines us, rather than what we call a style. We break a designed motif apart and make its pieces into something completely new, so we might say that Halfdrop patterns are reconstructed. More on the process here.
What was your biggest challenge so far for Halfdrop?
Halfdrop: Quantities definitely. When you can't order a large amount of fabrics/printed products, often you have to let go (at least for period of time), of a specific project or certain colour variations.
What is the best material to work with?
Halfdrop: Before the pillow, there was the fabric!
We prefer natural materials: cotton and linen, with weight and texture. The best material actually depends entirely on the pattern printed on it. The design and the textile support are always linked in our opinion.
Favourite colours to work with?
Halfdrop: Mustard yellow, grey, deep earth tones, pastels mixed with somber coal tones. Always include darker tints.
Favourite brand that you would like to work with?
Halfdrop: Marimekko. We love large scale patterns, and their colours.
Name 3 items of furniture /accessories you couldn't live without?
Halfdrop: Cushions (ha-ha surprising, no?), drapes and coffee tables.
Your favourite Halfdrop pattern?
Halfdrop: Shanghai20 - Tulips and Shanghai20-Yellow Diamonds.
Your top 3 tips when decorating with cushions?
Halfdrop: Always go for a large scale print for at least one of the pieces.
Less is never more, so go wild!
Select the colours from a large artwork in the room, or those decor objects whose presence can't be ignored.
So there you have it my detail lovers, peeking inside the brains of two brilliant Romanian Architects and their wonderful brand. I have to say, I love the story behind their concept, and I really like that their inspiration comes from the most unusual of places. I mean facade texture??? Love it!!
What's your favourite design of theirs? For me it has to be the Printables Collection - I'm completely fascinated by those designs - especially the RED DROPS and FOLLOW!
Thank you Halfdrop, for the wonderful interview and for sharing these beautiful photos. Until next time peeps!
* I have not received anything for writing this post. As you may know by now, I only write about products that I really love and think that you, the readers, can benefit from as well. So please, share this with your friends and support these wonderful artists, as they do deserve at least a shout out for their hard work. *
All images that are credited as '©Detail Movement', are done by Raluca Vaduva for Detail Movement. All rights reserved. All pictures that are not my own, I credit them to the best of my knowledge & research, to their online sources. I do not claim ownership over them in any way.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Gabriel Shahin
2006 BS Business Administration
W. P. Carey School of Business
Falcon Wealth Planning Inc.
Ontario, California
"Know that you will lose some friends, potential family and have people that might bring you down. Have conversations with loved ones to share the difficulty and time commitment this journey will take, as you will need support. Rough times are undeniable, but the journey is worth it."


text:
Sorry I haven't been blogging recently, what with an end of term approaching and it being the time of year when we're trying to prepare for the Summer exam results, plan for next year, prepare for next year (once we've planned for it) and not being well for a week or two, the time has just disappeared since my last blog.
I've done some sewing, though not as much as I would have liked, as I've had a really bad head cold for the last couple of weeks, just not been able to shake it off. You know what it's like, you feel 'sort of" OK, so you go to work, but by the time you get home your head is pounding, you feel like your sinuses have been stuffed with cotton wool and your internal temperature gauge has left you in the lurch; so, for me, out come the Lemsip and early nights, preceded by hot baths and helped along with hot water bottles.
I'm one of those people who, when they're ill, just wants to sleep; curled up in bed, not on the sofa. So the sewing, reading, blogging and diet (more on that later) have all taken a nose dive recently.
Still, I think I'm finally getting there, so thought I would post an update on this project and let you see some pictures. Almost half done, hope to have it finished by this weekend.
I thought I would try something different this time for showing you my progress…
I've taken a picture at the end of each sewing session and created a slideshow of them to show a very basic animated progress. Hope you like it. Just click on the link below to view.
Dragon Slide show
In case you can't view the file, the latest picture is shown below.
That's it for now, will let you see how it goes over the next few days. Happy stitching!


text:
I really want to get back to blogging, even if it's just for song lyrics. I intended to transcribe "Run Away" and "Walking in the Rain" by Sunstroke Project (the group made popular by Sergei Stepanov/"Epic Sax Guy"'s performance in Eurovision 2010.)
Someone probably already did that in the past, but I find that some people still think "Run Away" has gibberish for lyrics.


text:
Hyundai Azera Limited
Hyundai Accent GLS
Hyundai Genesis 3.8
Hyundai Elantra SE
Hyundai Sonata Limited
With plenty of sedans on our lot right now, you'll be sure to find something that meets your needs, and your budget. Like the 2008 Hyundai Azera. It comes equipped with all the standard amenities for your driving enjoyment. Here's a great deal on a 2013 Hyundai Accent. If you're looking for something small and versatile, this could be the car for you! Step into the 2015 Hyundai Genesis. Feature-packed and decked out! Outstanding design defines the 2017 Hyundai Elantra. This car offers efficiency and affordability in a convenient four door package. Take control of this high value modern machine! And finally, climb inside the 2017 Hyundai Sonata. You'll appreciate its safety and convenience features! Our experienced sales staff is eager to share its knowledge and enthusiasm with you. We'd be happy to answer any questions that you may have. We are here to help you.


text:
When it comes to watches, kids today are more interested in the bling-bling rather than the tick-tock.
Regular wristwatches are losing favor among techno-savvy youths. If they wear a watch at all, it's seen as jewelry, and they use their cell phones, PDAs or other devices to find out the time.
Ian Brunette, 17, can only think of one friend who wears a watch. Neither he nor his friend Jessie Downs, 16, recalls owning a watch in the last few years, and said they would rather look at the digital time display on their cell phones than watch the old-fashioned little hand chase the big hand.
"For guys who wear watches, it's usually the Boy Scout types," Brunette said. "For girls who wear one, they are really the accessory types."
Brunette's observations are backed up by industry data compiled by Simmons Research.
Overall, sales are down for watches compared to just five years ago, but the trend is most noticeable among younger age groups.
In 2005, watch sales among 18- to 24-year-olds reached about $620 million, but that was down by 34 percent from five years earlier, when the same age group bought nearly $1 billion worth of watches.
Overall, adults spent $5.7 billion for watches in 2005, and that was about $1 billion less than what was purchased in 2000. It amounted to a 15 percent decrease in sales.
That's not to say no one is wearing watches these days. An informal survey of patrons at Savannah Mall this week showed about 35 out of 100 shoppers wore a watch on their wrist.
One shopper, 19-year-old Charity Zaidman, said she prefers her cell phone as a timekeeper because it adjusts with the time zone.
"I travel a lot for my job, so when I cross a time zone, I don't have to figure out what time it is; the phone just resets," Zaidman said.
For every youngster like Zaidman and Brunette, there are the traditionalists over 30 who prefer to look at their wrists before anything else.
"I usually wear a watch, and I actually have 30 or 40 at home," said Antonion Hall, who was buying two more timepieces at Dillard's on Friday. "I guess you could say I have a real watch fetish."
He sticks to brands that are less than $150 per timepiece. That's the market that was most popular among the younger generation and it's the segment that's losing the most ground.
Mike Thompson, editor of International Watch magazine, told USA Today that higher-priced watches are holding ground while lower-priced brands are lagging.
Brands that retail for more than $400 still do well. "But the bulk of watches are sold under that price," Thompson said.
Across the Dillard's watch department Friday was Filimon Valdez, who was looking at gold watches, which carried price tags in the mid-$200 range.
"It's just too much trouble to look at your cell phone," said Valdez, whose phone was clipped to his pants pocket.
Crystal North, the clerk at the counter, said she couldn't tell if there was a shift in the market, but she noticed that the high-priced brands are only popular with older buyers. She sees people her age across the way looking at more affordable brands such as Fossil, Kenneth Cole and others.
Those are the brands with colored faces, thick leather bands and gunmetal-black finishes.
"Young people really like the watches for fashion and not for time-telling purposes," said Peter Kasiq, behind the counter at King's Jewelry stand at Savannah Mall. "They are really interested in the bling-bling and the big faces. Sometimes they don't ask if it tells good time.
"They walk off and don't even reset the time. It's all about fashion."


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Digital Designers - Mid & Senior - Cummins&Partners - Sydney
Following our grand entrance to the Sydney market earlier in 2015 (we won Vodafone, don't you know..) cummins&partners are now in the process of building our digital team.
If you passionately believe in doing great work that changes behaviour and embraces the power of creativity, psychology & technology - we want to hear from you.
Prior agency experience, creative intelligence and a never say die attitude are all a must.
We're looking for talented digital designers at both the mid & senior level. If believe you have what it takes to mix it with some of the best creative minds this country has t offer - send us your folio and say hi.
Sydney based / competitive packages / email@example.com


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- Products
- Industries
- Customer Support
- Careers
- About
- In the field
- Contact
The NeXtgen patented washdown design continues the Arrowhead Conveyor tradition of high-quality, user-friendly, reliable equipment. This conveyor is ideal for any processing line where food safety is the primary concern.
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CNN's Brooke Baldwin to FL state Rep.: "Why is pornography worthy of a debate and not semi-automatic weapons?"
Report: Florida House declares pornography a health risk, declines to debate ban on assault weapons
From the February 21 edition of CNN Newsroom with Brooke Baldwin:
BROOKE BALDWIN (HOST): The bill's sponsor, Rep. Carlos Guillermo-Smith [(D-FL)] from Orlando. He took to social media after this whole thing went down and it was voted ultimately no, and he wrote this: "17 people in Parkland were just murdered with an AR-15 plus the Florida House just passed @RossSpano's HR 157 declaring porn as a public health risk. No. Gun violence is a public health crisis plus Spano blocked HB 219 banning assault weapons in his committee for two years." Rep. Caldwell, why is pornography a bigger health risk than semi-automatic weapons in the hands of a deranged individual?
REP. MATT CALDWELL (R-FL): Listen, we have got to focus on what's going to really make a difference. And having a blanket ban and you can say it was an assault weapons ban. People can read the bill and see that is was a blanket ban and we're not going to do --
BALDWIN: Rep. Caldwell, why is pornography -- Why is pornography a bigger health risk than a semi-automatic weapon in the hands of a deranged individual? Answer my question, please, sir.
CALDWELL: Listen, I believe -- and we shouldn't have weapons in the hands of deranged individuals.
BALDWIN: Why is that worthy of a debate? Why is pornography worthy of a debate and not semi-automatic weapons? Just answer me that.
CALDWELL: Trying to pull a bill -- trying to pull a bill out of committee is a political stunt. We don't do that. We've never done that the time that I've been in the House.
BALDWIN: Stop going back to your talking points, sir. Stop!
Florida House declares pornography a health risk, shoots down ban on assault weapons
8 ridiculous NRA defenses of the AR-15
After Florida school massacre, right-wing media call for more guns in schools (the school had armed security)


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My original plan was to drive to Saltwick Bay for photography closely followed by fish and chips. However the low tide was an eye watering and wellie flooding 2.4m so that was a non starter.
After a lot of investigation on google and OS maps I decided that I would visit a little beach south of Bridlington called Fraisthorpe. The beach is usually very sandy although it sometimes gets large debris washups when there are south easterly gales. There are also a lot of rocks and 2nd World War defences which provide interesting foreground interest.
The other thing I noticed was that the tide was quite leisurely in coming in so I wasn't racing to set up shots. It was all very relaxing and pleasant.
The final factor in the location's favour is the Cow Shed Cafe within 100 m of the beach. It has a licenced bar but also serves meals and the most wonderful coffee and cakes. It makes the whole photographic experience a delight.
Also see the Yorkshire Coast Gallery


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I recently escaped to New York City to reconnect with old contacts, and to get inspired by the urban landscape. In a partnership with Delta, I packed up my camera gear, sketchbook and pens, excited to hit the streets of Brooklyn and Manhattan. I hadn't been to New York in two years, but couldn't wait to be back in the pulse of the city--quite a shift from the sand and waves that have become my second home. The trip was a solid success, with new friendships, connections, and fun adventures all crammed into a short four days. I captured lots of fresh images for my accounts, explored some new neighborhoods, and an exciting visit to Vine Headquarters punctuated a great time in the city that never sleeps.
The flights were far too short, due to Delta's cool new feature, Free In-Flight Entertainment. I was able to sketch while enjoying tons of free options, making the two hours fly by. Typical in-flight nuisances like noisy kids, bumpy skies, and confined space vanished with free movies and TV shows at my fingertips.
My favorite evening of the trip was spent hanging out with two fellow Instagram photographers, capturing the dazzling and diverse beauty of the city. My two new buddies and I explored the crowded streets of Chinatown, the sights and smells calling our names. We feasted on Asian deliciousness in a hole-in-the-wall discovery, and snapped shots of the colorful sensory overload. We wandered through a festival in Little Italy, inhaling the flavor of the party, while dodging the elbows of the crowd. We hiked halfway across the Manhattan Bridge, and grabbed images of the breathtaking view, while deafening trains rattled past.
We visited the beautiful new World Trade Center train station, and were blown away by the striking white architecture, and moved by the triumphant statement of perseverance through tragedy. Shutters clicked as we all grabbed the opportunity to capture the sculptural gem, outlined by a clear black sky. My feet ached by the end of that day, but wow…the images and new friendships were more than worth it.
The flight home didn't disappoint, and my tablet again became a mini movie screen--a welcome break from running subway stairs and stomping the city streets for four days. My particular flights were on small planes, so be sure to bring your tablets, so you can score all of the same great entertainment freebies that Delta makes so easy to access and enjoy.
Inspiration lies everywhere--and this trip to New York filled me with a renewed appreciation of all that a gritty urban panorama has to offer. I am now back in the waves--but part of my heart lives in New York City.


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Despite being a 1995 birth year, Stoykewych has extensive junior A experience, having played two seasons already in the MJHL. Brayden Park is the lone returning blueliner for Penticton, so it's not really a surprise that GM and Head Coach Fred Harbinson acquired another defenseman. By subtracting a 20-year-old player in McCallum, it also gives Harbinson another roster spot if he wants to add a 20-year-old later in the season, without having to remove one from his roster.
To Penticton Vees:
D Paul Stoykewych (95)
To Winnipeg Blues:
F Jordan McCallum (93)
+ Future Considerations
Here's the Vees release about the deal:
Stoykewych, 18, spent the past two seasons in Winnipeg where he played in 131 career games with the Blues, picking up 10 goals and 60 points. Stoykewych was a member of the silver medal winning Team Canada West at the 2012 World Junior 'A' Challenge in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia; a roster that included four Vees. The rear-guard was named to the MJHL's All-Rookie team in 2012 after collecting 27 points in 54 games. Prior to the MJHL, Stoykewych played 43 games with the Winnipeg Wild in the Manitoba Major Midget circuit, where he compiled six goals and 18 points.
Stoykewych is committed to play for the Western Michigan Broncos in 2014, the same school where former Vees Sam Mellor, Thomas Nitsche and Mike Rebry are applying their trade. The Vees organization is thrilled to welcome Paul and his family to Penticton and the South Okanagan
Paul Stoykewych-Defenseman
Birth: Winnipeg, MB Date: 95-03-09
HT: 6'2 WT: 200 Shoots: Left
In two seasons with the Blues, Stoykewych tallied 10 goals and 42 assists in 109 games.
In return, the Blues acquire a 6'4, 190 pound forward in McCallum. Last season with the Vees, McCallum lit the lamp six times while adding four assists.
The 19 year old is excited about heading to the Blues."I was a little surprised about the trade, but after it all sank in I realized I'm going to a great organization, and with hard work and positivity, I will make this work out for myself and my new team."
It will be McCallum's first time in Manitoba when he arrives and is excited about a fresh start.
"I'm heading to a brand new organization, it'll be my first time in a billet home, as well as my first time in Manitoba. The new experiences will definitely be fun for me."
The Blues would like to welcome Jordan to the organization.
Winnipeg would also like to thank Paul for all his contributions to the club the past two seasons, and wish him all the best in Penticton.


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BWW Review: Servant Stage Brings JOY TO THE WORLD at The Trust
Perhaps you were not fortunate enough to know American television in the 1960's and 1970's. Perhaps you never experienced Ed Sullivan, or THE Glen Campbell GOODTIME HOUR, or THE SONNY AND CHER COMEDY HOUR, or THE Dean Martin SHOW, or, for the younger set, THE DONNY AND Marie Osmond SHOW. These were what we knew as variety shows, on which people would - gasp - show up and do performances, mainly singing their recent hits. The highlight of each year was the Christmas show, when different people would show up in beautiful costumes and, surprise, sing Christmas music. These shows were not story-line plays. They were not hour-long choral concerts. Some of the songs were secular; others were religious. In that era, people didn't object to religious Christmas carols being done en masse on network television.
If you appreciate the appeal of the old-fashioned Christmas special, then Servant Stage's JOY TO THE WORLD: A SERVANT STAGE CHRISTMAS is exactly what you need. It's an hour-long (with no commercial interruptions!) revue of most of the best seasonal music, both secular and religious. With everything from a WHITE CHRISTMAS segment to a lyrical and tasteful "reason for the season" reminder, with a rousing singalong on the way, it's a live Christmas show that's exactly what televised Christmas shows used to be. If you never saw a Christmas variety show back in the day, go. If you did, and you loved them, then also go.
It's at THE TRUST in Lancaster through December 21, with ample parking in the area, so you have no excuse for not going. Most particularly, you have no excuse not to see Brandon Cameron and Matthew Wilhelm sing and dance to "Happy Holiday" from WHITE CHRISTMAS (who says "Happy Holidays" is an unfair greeting, when they know this song?), or Sarah Poague and Laura Zaloom do a marvelous "Sisters" from the same movie? If Ric Zimmerman's never played Bob Wallace from WHITE CHRISTMAS, it's a loss to us all; his duet of "Count Your Blessings" with Julie Stone demands that privilege. And then there's the non-singing cameo by Oliver Zimmerman, who is the real star of the WHITE CHRISTMAS segment.
There are plenty of traditional carols: "What Child is This," "Angels We Have Heard On High," "Carol of the Bells," and a splendid "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day." The women's trio in "Carol of the Bells" is one of the best arrangements in some time, beautifully performed, and truly bell-like in sound.
The men's trio is equally strong on "Mary Did You Know," and the entire ensemble, though it performs together through various songs and costume changes, is at its best, as it should be, on a nicely arranged "O Holy Night."
Special kudos to pianist Jay Hoerr, who both sings at various times in the show (most notably in "Angels We Have Heard On High") and delivers a lovely piano solo of "O Come, O Come Emannuel."
Artistic Director Wally Calderon has made sure that this show's begun and kept looking a lot like Christmas, in no small part thanks to Ric Zimmerman's work with costumes but also thanks to some fine musical arrangements and a particularly talented cast.
Servant Stage is a faith-based theatrical company, but not a "preachy" one, specializing primarily in a ministry of family friendly but intelligent theatre and musical revues particularly reaching the less physically able (kudos for their nursing home performances) and the less financially endowed. It's remarkable that most of their talent is or has been professional, and they're a needed artistic asset to the Central Pennsylvania community. This writer is not inserting this as a sales pitch, but as a statement of absolute pleasure; quality professional shows are hard to come by affordably, especially if you want to take your entire family, and can be difficult to reach for the physically challenged. We are fortunate to have a theatrical company in the area dedicated to these projects.
JOY TO THE WORLD is at The Trust through the 21st; visit servantstagecompany.com or their Facebook page for information. Tickets are pay-what-you-will or what you can, as part of their commendable outreach work.


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K&B Innovation: Best New Tech/
One trend which is universally on the rise is the use of smart technology in every aspect of our daily lives. Kitchens and bathrooms are no exception- appliances and products alike are moving toward and integrated approach to consumer use. Being able to connect appliances with smartphones and tablets is only the beginning- and we've got 3 new products we think worth considering including in your upcoming kitchen or bath project.
Alexa Kitchen
Amazon's Alexa is already a staple in many homes, but there are even more reasons to use it on the horizon. Amazon has announced that it is now planning to add cooking capabilities to this already multi-functional technology. This mean that soon you will be able to use Alexa to instruct your appliances. No more searching for the proper button on your microwave or dishwasher- you will be able to simply ask for the setting you desire. This technology must be used in conjunction with equipped appliances, so major appliance companies such as Whirlpool, LG, Samsung and GE are all working towards launching Alexa integrated products.
Kohler Konnect Smart Bathroom Mirror
Kohler has just launched its new range of Kohler Konnect smart products, all aimed at integrating voice control into your kitchen and bathrooms. This mirror in particular has all sorts of neat settings- including brightness, mirror angle & magnification, microphones and speakers for starting your morning the way you like. One of the neatest aspects of this new product is that not only is it voice controlled, but it also recognizes individual voices and their associated preferences. So when you ask for "Start my morning", your favourite lighting and song will start up, while what your partner or child prefers will be activated by their individual voices.
Hiku is a smart device which addresses the age old problem of the grocery list. This smart tech is a fridge magnet which can scan barcodes and take voice commands, which then automatically uploads items to an app on your smartphone. This means you will always have your grocery list at your fingertips, whether you've had time to check the fridge or not.


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Due to the large number of members, AviationNetwork is able to purchase training services on a grand scale and to pass these favourable conditions on to its customers. AviationNetwork offers training arrangements, providing unrivalled all-round carefree packages, including accomodation and transportation. These training services comprise amongst others:
Classroom Trainings
Computer Based Trainings (CBT)


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Please Mr. President, stop scaring Seniors
Posted July 12, 2011on:
In an interview on Tuesday with CBS Evening News anchor Scott Pelley, President Obama claims he cannot guarantee that retirees will receive their Social Security checks August 3rd if Democrats and Republicans in Washington do not reach an agreement on reducing the deficit in the coming weeks.
The President said, "I cannot guarantee that those checks go out on August 3rd if we haven't resolved this issue. Because there may simply not be the money in the coffers to do it." He further went on to say, "This is not just a matter of Social Security checks. These are veterans' checks; these are folks on disability and their checks. There are about 70 million checks that go out."
Oh really! According to his Democrat party there is enough money in Social Security for the next twenty plus years. Even Harry Reid said that Social Security is not going broke. But now when Obama wants to raise taxes as well as the deficit he starts scaring Seniors so they will push the Republicans to do what he wants to do. Then he also is scaring veterans who are protecting this country.
Old and tired lies once again from the President. Stop scaring Seniors and our veterans Mr. President. Man up and take care of this
country's debt responsibly. You got us in this mess it's up to you to get us out of it. But don't raise taxes or the debt limit. Be responsible and quit spending our hard earned money.


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Pluripotent Cells Produce Hematopoietic Stem Cells and Natural Killer Cells
An innovative method produces hematopoietic stem cells (HSPCs) from human pluripotent stem cells (hESCs and iPSCs). Inducing hematopoietic differentiation of stem cells and treating them with an aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) antagonist promotes early human hematoendothelial development and may improve HSPC production from hESCs and iPSCs for clinical applications. In addition to AHR antagonism, disrupting all or part of the AHR coding and/or promoter region in a stem cell reduces or even completely eliminates AHR expression. The methods also treat hESCs and iPSCs to induce natural killer (NK) cell differentiation: results show that AHR antagonism increased production of NK cells (CD45+CD56+ cells) from human pluripotent stem cells.
Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Improvements
Using hESCs and iPSCs to develop transplantable HSPCs capable of long-term multi-lineage engraftment is a challenge. Previous attempts have used different stromal cell lines and agents such as dmPGE2 and Notch ligands, but in vivo engraftment of such cells remains limited. However, invitro analysis of this method showed that AHR antagonism increases HSPCs, thus showing promise as an important cell source for clinical applications such as hematopoietic cell transplantation. In addition, this technology may help to produce other therapeutic cells (NK cells, T cells, RBCs and megakaryocytes/platelets) from hESCs/hiPSCs.
- Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) antagonist promotes early human hematoendothelial development
- May improve HSPC production from hESCs and iPSCs for clinical applications
- AHR disruption can reduce or even completely eliminate AHR expression
- hESC and iPSC treatments induce both hematopoietic differentiation as well as NK cell differentiation
Phase of Development In vitro


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Food & Drink
After closing last year, this popular Edwardsville bar is coming back with a new name
The Back Bar will open in Edwardsville soon
Nearly a year after losing one of the most popular watering holes in Edwardsville, the bar's former manager plans to bring it back with a new name and updated look.
Marion Gilson, better known as "Mama Marion" around town, will reopen the back half of Laurie's Place soon. A 15-year veteran of Laurie's Place, Gilson has renamed the watering hole The Back Bar and hopes to open at 2 p.m. Dec. 7.
"When it was Laurie's, if were up front we would always say 'let's go to the back bar'," Gilson said. "I wanted to keep it simple. I wanted to keep it home."
The front half of the bar will become Source Juicery next year, co-owner Michelle Motley confirmed Thursday. Motely said moving into the former home of Laurie's Place will give them more room to grow and expand.
In the rear of the building, Gilson has already moved in and updated the space. She's painted the walls, revamped the stage and added new beer taps.
"It's going to be a new beginning," Gilson said. "It's a new beginning for me. I'm just bringing home back."
After two decades of bringing drinks and live music to Edwardsville, Laurie's Place closed on New Year's Day. The popular bar and gathering place, owned by Laurie Chavez, opened 21 years ago at 228 N. Main St.
At the time, Chavez declined to comment about the closure, but in a message to her Facebook followers, she said she planned to retire.
"I have met so many amazing people, made so many friends that have become like family to me," Chavez wrote Dec 9. "To the hundreds of talented musicians that have played my venue, I say thank you."
Gilson plans to bring live music back to the space when it reopens. A moving date for Soure Juicery is yet to be announced.


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There is some kind of voodoo magic that moves across the high desert and Joshua Tree National park. The fusion of the bizarre beauty, the zany locals and the high desert chill make it hauntingly distinctive. The people that come here are running from something or to something, or maybe a little of both. It seems fitting that one of the most iconic music venues is located near the national park in a western movie film set called Pioneertown.
Myself, enjoying the downtown core.
Pappy and Harriet's emulates the comforting scents and sounds of bbq, beer and rock and roll. It is not uncommon to enjoy a stack of juicy ribs while watching a famous or up and coming band in this cozy and nostalgic saloon. The second you set foot in the unpretentious and understated bar/diner you feel as if you have entered another ether. It reminds you that music isn't only alive and well but that it continues to change and influence lives. The walls are draped in relics of musicians who have played there. This impressive list includes-The Arctic Monkeys, Robert Plant, Lucinda Williams, Peaches, Queens of the Stone Age and most recently-Sir Paul McCartney. It also hosts up and coming musicians who are going to be huge over the next few years.
Every Sunday the Sunday House Band plays for several hours to an adoring crowd of mostly locals. They play as a core and with intermingling guest vocals and other session musicians. I had the pleasure of witnessing this last week.
Drummer, singer, guitarist and fellow Canadian Stew Heyduk shared some words with me on what it's like playing this marvel of a venue each week. He has been playing in The Sunday Band for four years but the Sunday Band is 10 years strong. He describes the space as " a second home". This at home feeling certainly shared by the other musicians and audience members. Stewart grew up in Toronto but now resides in the Joshua Tree Park area. He loves working on his craft as a musician in the desert, it's "great if you like a peaceful place to be creative". The California stars are draped across the sky in Pioneertown, wild horses freely walk by and you truly feel like mother nature's son. The troubadour Stew describes one of his favourite experience at Pappy and Harriet's as "Standing about five feet away from Paul McCartney as he sang and played songs like "Love Me Do" and "I Saw Her Standing There". As a die-hard Beetles fan, it was described as something he will never forget. As he indicates " That was a wonderful gift Pappy and Harriets gave to me and a lot of people that night".
Kali Uchis- Isolation
The incomparable Kali Uchis' debut full-length album Isolation is nothing shy of extraordinary. The incredibly sensual Columbian artist just drips with talent. Isolation is a lush collage of soul and R&B. There is a slew of skill featured on the record including Jorja Smith, Bootsy Collins and Tyler the Creator. The production and songwriting quality is remarkably refined. It is her tranquilizing vocal ability however, that is the vehicle driving this beautiful beast of an album. This is the 2018 version of Erykah Badu's Baduizm, it's a one women celebration of finding her voice, and what a voice it is.
Khruangbin-Con Todo el Mundo
The difficult to pronounce and easy to love Khruangbin's album Con Todo El Mundo is a brilliant sophomore record. The Texas-based trio is an innovative and refreshing band that seem to be everywhere these days. From their viral KEXP recording to opening for Leon Bridges, they may very well be the band of 2018. They intertwine various elements of psych rock and funk to create a rich yet soothing sound. Their music is inspired primarily of funk music from Thailand. Khruangbin is actually the Thai word for aeroplane (or moving engine) which was the original name for the band. This album features the gospel and hip-hop background of drummer Donald Johnson. Con Todo El Mundo also contains musical influence from the Middle East, India, and Iran- specifically in the politically charged song and music video for "Maria También". Needless to say, there is a lot going on in this record which is apparent in the luxurious newness of it all. It is also somehow the ideal background album for a lazy afternoon. It's essentially the listener's perspective that will determine how they hear this music. It is like a subconscious choose your own adventure novel in the form of a generously orchestrated record, what a time to be alive.
Angélique Kidjo- Remain in Light
Almost 40 years ago the otherworldly Talking Heads released their groundbreaking Remain in Light. Kidjo, a vibrant and enormously talented Beninoise singer interpreted the album and gave it new life. The original album still holds up incredibly well, it is a musical landmark and easily one of the greatest albums ever made. Kidjo picked up on the Afrobeat undercurrent of the original record and exploded that influence to a fully fleshed Afrobeat carnival. This album is a shapeshifter, a mood elevator, and a room filler. There are so many musical elements occurring simultaneously, creating a tower of sound. Kidjo is a 58-year-old musician and actress who has been making impressive music for decades. This is such an important record and bold step in her career. Risks pay off, this is an album that needs to be cherished just like the original.
J Mascis- Elastic Days
J Mascis of Dinosaur Jr. has this rare talent for creating highly vulnerable yet completely badass music. It's as if the wonderful cracks in his voice invite you into his old rock and roll soul. This is his third solo album and arguably his best yet. It is a gentle yet powerful arrangement of folk-rock ballads. He has a unique ability to pluck one's most susceptible heartstrings while remaining void of cheese. The album is melancholic but doesn't feel sorry itself, it is an authentic reflection of the often sad world around us. Elastic Days is more sophisticated than his two previous solo albums, it's more mature and confident. In between belts of agony or poetic ramblings are earth cracking solos that Mascis is known for.
Noname- Room 25
Noname's follow up to her groundbreaking debut album Telefone is a fully realized body of work. Noname seamlessly combines spoken word, sultry bars, and complex musicality. The Chicago based artist weaves together lyrical imagery and thought-provoking poetry. Her music is ubiquitously fun, sad, impossibly smooth and somehow hilarious. She takes you on a neo-soul infused journey that investigates her internal dialogue and the way she perceives the world. Room 25 is gorgeously intimate, the way that Joni Mitchell's Blue is, it feels as if you're reading her diary and looking through her room. Noname manages to make that profoundly personal feeling sound groovy as hell.
Small Town Artillery
The is no other band quite like The Vancouver based Small Town Artillery. Their third album Don't Talk Away The Magic is a remarkable body of work. The genre-defying and brain-bending band orbit mostly around funk and rock and roll. Lead singer Tom Van Deursen is one of Vancouver's top guitar players and performers. Don't Talk away the Magic is like a musical mosaic from the pieces of a broken heart. Heartache has never sounded so good and been so fun to dance to. This deeply emotional record is electrified with rock and roll instrumentation and one hell of a horn section. Additionally, their performances are sticky and sweaty celebrations of being drowned in sound.
Thanks for this entirely new concept Kinfolk
There is a popular magazine titled "Kinfolk" which is available online and on print, it is based out of Portland, Oregon. Kinfolk, is a successful and aesthetically pleasing publication that reaches an audience that is typically against standard magazines. It appeals to a young, hip, smart, authentic and fresh crowd who would normally scoff at being told what to do by a magazine. Kinfolk's slogan is "Slow Living" and includes photographs, articles and interviews that celebrate the notion of a quiet, artistic and poetic lifestyle. The photographs involved normally focus on subjects such as: rustic brunch, women wearing linen, rosemary sprigs in apothecary jars, helmetless babes on one speed bicycles, whisks and spoons, extremely modern haircuts, people spending time outdoors in their best wool… you get the idea.These images are inexplicably beautiful, they're both inviting and isolating. They create a similar feeling of…
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The glorification of the tortured artist is terribly common and enduring. We have a fascination with the broken, drug-addicted, alcoholic, depressed and impulsive gifted person. The roots of this fetish are old and lost to the haze of the past, but what we do know, is that many great artists struggle profoundly. This is apparent in many people across the eras, yet it is exemplified in the life of Henry Marie Raymond de Toulouse-Lautrec, the renowned French post-impressionist and art nouveau painter. He was born in the late 18th century and was the victim of the severe effects of generational of inbreeding. He became heavily reliant on alcohol to numb the pain and died of an absinthe overdose at the age of 36. As well, Sylvia Plath was the depressed and talented poet and author most famous for the intensely emotional novel The Bell Jar. She died by suicide at age 30 by putting her head in the oven while her kids (the children of famous author Ted Hughes) were home. Ernest Hemingway the iconic author was rejected by the army due to his poor eyesight so he enlisted in the Red Cross Ambulance Corps. He dealt with a series of traumatic events that irrevocably changed altered his trajectory. He experienced extreme heartache and manic depression yet managed to work for several years as a wildly successful author culminating in the 1954 Nobel Prize for literature. By 1961 he later spiralled into a deep depression and died by suicide.
In a more contemporary example, Kurt Cobain, the genius songwriter, and revolutionary grunge musician was addled with depression and drug addiction before killing himself at age 27. It seems Cobain was particularly glorified in his depression and addiction by inadvertently inspiring a generation of people who equate sadness with coolness. The cohort of the "27 club" still haunts our cultural lexicon and consists of a graveyard of prodigious musicians that were silenced too soon.
Historically, there is definitely a correlation between darkness and art. Unsurprising, as most powerful art needs to contain conflict and tension which heightens our interest. We want conflict, we want to relate to something and we want to experience emotions in this world. Life is filled with pain and when somebody can make that beautiful we are provided with a momentary reprieve from that suffering. That being said, it's by no means random that we are drawn to the archetype of the broken artist. I use the term archetype intentionally to highlight their humanity; for ultimately they are people, and their suffering is real and tragic.
I have heard many people confide that they aspire to drink excessively and write great material just like Hunter S Thompson. I have seen people drown in years of drug addiction because they thought their songs needed a certain Keith Richards- esque edge. Yet, this quest for self-inflicted misery is both ridiculous and misguided. As members of the adoring public, we get to consume the material these artists eventually produce, which is often astonishing. What we don't see are the countless days filled with misery and the void of inspiration. Brian Wilson's album Smile could be easily consumed as a charmingly quirky album instead of a record of a psychologically traumatizing time in his life. It is extraordinarily difficult and rare to remain creative and motivated while dealing with vicious internal demons. It's even more difficult when you drown those demons in whiskey, garnish them in drugs, sleep infrequently, tour incessantly and eat poorly.
The commodification of depression and addiction is harmful and problematic towards mental illness. We fetishize the creative darkness but we don't actually want the brutal sadness. It's a superficial phenomenon that has conditions, while true tragedy is heavy and unconditional. Art is such a cathartic way to express pain and that is important. However, memorizing John Bonham's horrendous diet because you think it might make you play drums better isn't important. This reduces the pain felt by our beloved artists. It disrespects the complex field of mental illness which requires our astute attention and daily action more than ever. Romanticizing people who managed to produce brilliance whilst drenching their livers in wine is problematic because it is rare, and doesn't account for all the artists who got lost along the way. Additionally, this ideology is likely not doing your art any favours.
The following is a list of five female musicians that you should most certainly know about…
Kali Uchis
Karly-Marina Loaiza AKA Kali Uchis is a multi-talented soul singer and songwriter. The 24-year-old has created a homemade empire for herself. She has been nominated for two Grammys and has collaborated with an array of talented artists including Daniel Caesar, Jorja Smith, The Dap Kings, Tyler the Creator and Bootsy Collins. Uchis spent her early years in Columbia then moved to Virginia. She was living in her car at age 17 where she wrote songs and poems in her notebook. She had the audacity to start recording music in the said car and managed to put together an impressive demo. She later took that demo to no other than the iconic Dap-Kings which resulted in a career-altering collaboration on a tracked titled Killer that was featured on her debut full-length album. She has been fiercely independent her whole life and the majority of her family still lives in Columbia. She takes risks, is constantly working, plays multiple instruments including the saxophone and has a true earth-shattering voice. All of her music videos are worthy of short film awards, her style is timeless and her eloquence is mesmerizing. She is currently in the midst of an extensive tour, her performances are unsurprisingly incredible. Check out her latest single with the hip-hop genius Tyler the Creator and funk legend Bootsy Collins here.
Fatimah Warner AKA Noname is a Chicago born and bred hip-hop artist and poet. The innovative 26-year-old has been rapping and doing slam poetry since 2010. She collaborates with Chance the Rapper extensively, most notably on the gorgeous track Lost on his acclaimed second album Acid Rap. Noname's full-length album Telefone released in 2016 is nothing shy of brilliant. It is lyrically courageous, musically complex and ubiquitously garnished with her unparalleled flow. Rolling Stone Magazine called it the most thought-provoking hip-hop album of the year. She is currently touring across the US followed by a festival-centric summer. Her performance on NPR's Tiny Desk Series showcases her rapping ability and impossibly humble presence, check it out here.
Princess Nokia
Destiny Frasqueri AKA Princess Nokia is a New York-based amply skilled rapper. She is from African American and Puerto Rican descent and grew up in Harlem, New York. She pioneered the podcast The Smart Girls Club alongside Milah Liblin, which celebrates feminism and transparent conversation in a safe space amongst women. Her music is wonderfully distinctive, complex and refreshing. She identifies as a Bruja, queer and feminist, in her words, she isn't burdened but empowered by her complexity. She lost her mother at a young age to HIV and lived in an abusive foster system afterward. Her breakthrough album 1992 which came out last year "freed her soul" as she tenderly explains on her podcast. She admits to being fully lost in depression in the past but she encourages inspiration in replace on anger and sadness. She is constantly reinventing herself and exploring the depths of her personality. Her music is a true reflection of her radical mind and a slipstream of her captivating creativity. 1992 is blazingly gritty and beautifully unapologetic, check it out here.
Jamila Woods
Jamila Woods is the Chicago based R&B singer, songwriter, and poet. Her music is extraordinarily sophisticated, liberating and impossibly smooth. She is a graduate from the Ivy League Brown University. She collaborated with Chance the Rapper most on the song Blessings from his Grammy award-winning album Colouring Book. She also collaborated with Macklemore and Ryan Lewis on White Privilege II. Her debut solo album HEAVN (on Jagjaguwar Records) is a phenomenal record that crystallizes the arduous labour of struggle while simultaneously honoring freedom. It is a profound exploration of emotional resilience and sounds like sonic honey to boot. Her single Holy reveals her lyrical precision and musical aptitude, check it out here.
FKA Twigs
Tahlia Barnett, also known as FKA Twigs has certainly gained a well-deserved following along her musical trajectory thus far. She is a British Singer, songwriter, producer, dancer, and director. She is a true artist who is exceptionally skilled at various mediums. Her concerts are like performance art and her music is a transcending experience. She grew up as a trained jazz dancer which is certainly apparent in her music videos. At age 18 started producing her own music and found a team in London to work with. She worked as a backup dancer during this time, you can find her on Jessie J's video for Do it like a Dude. In 2014 she was experiencing self-depreciation and worked on an album through it which resulted in breakthrough debut record LP1 on Young Turks Records. She has directed most of her music videos and her adventurous, experimental and stunning talents are on display in these works of art. Her latest project was dancing beautifully to the latest Anderson. Paak track titled Till it's Over for the Apple Homepod speakers in a short film directed by Spike Jonze. It is nothing short of amazing, check it out here.
The latest Typhoon record Offerings is a haunting portrayal of tortured character experiencing the wrath of darkness. It completely commits to shattering the delicate hearts of those who appreciate the nuances of this complicated band. Typhoon is a generous buffet of talent with a total of 11 members who are all essentially prodigies at their instruments. The reside in the ever musically evolving city of Portland, Oregon. This is Typhoon's first full length record in four years and certainty their most complex. One would argue it's one of the most complex albums in general in several years. The 70-minute record doesn't reel out of its intensity for even a second.
Some of the inspiration for Offerings derives from lead singer and songwriter's Kyle Morton's experience with "losing it" which is certainly palpable throughout the emotionally generous record. Offerings is also motivated by various literature and films that Morton immersed himself in throughout the making of the album. Morton is especially enthralled in Fellini, Lynch and Nolan films along with a handful of books that he states made for a much darker album.
Offerings is divided into four movements; Floodplains, Flood, Reckoning and The Afterparty. It is based around a character experiencing unexpected chaos and eventually yields to his terrible destiny. Morton explains, "I wanted this character to be a journey, like Dante's Inferno. It kicks off with the track "Wake", where the character wakes up and he's shitting the bed and doesn't know what's going on."
Morton is also inspired by the likes of the brilliant Irish playwright and novelist Samuel Beckett whom he was reading heavily while writing the lyrics for Offerings. Morton states, "Beckett would call it a literature of impoverishment where he'd strip away as much as he could get a feeling of essence and scarcity; that's what I tried to do musically and lyrically here.
The character goes through a series of dystopian and eerily relatable experiences throughout the record. You follow this person through an intensive look at emotional turmoil and frustration towards the collapse of meaning during the age of information. It feels deliberately claustrophobic, creepy and severe. You can almost feel the walls closing in as you get lost in the layers of the story. The music is incredibly intricate and careful, not unlike the Icelandic masterminds Sigur Rós.
Offerings is rich with inspiration from other literate including the short story Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes which is one of Morton's favourite bodies of work. The protagonist of Offerings struggles with the sense of cognitive dissonance throughout the whole record. The seemingly last track " Sleep" is a profound portrayal of sacrificing oneself. This is followed with the secret track "Afterparty" that celebrates the sense of freedom and peace on the other side of this wild journey. To say the album flirts with death is an understatement.
Records like Offerings rarely come out and when they do they deserve the same meticulous attention to detail that went into it. Morton astutely states, "if I could write my one line review of the record, I think I would want people to say it's disturbing and unfortunately correct." Well Morton, you completely nailed it.
For those of you who may not know the term manifest is used commonly in certain communities as a way to describe the spiritual cultivation of things that will increase one's well being. Like many interesting words (such as existential) is it completely mugged of it's fundamental properties in our sloppy snapchatting society. The term manifestation is actually quite interesting and useful in our vocabulary.
Manifestation (noun)-An event, action, or object that clearly shows or embodies something abstract or theoretical.
mass noun The action or fact of showing something.'the manifestation of anxiety over disease'
As reality is often stranger than fiction I will use actual examples of this term that I have heard in recent history…
"Even though it's sold out, I am going to manifest tickets to Odesza." translation– "I am going to cruise craigslist for tickets and use money I made from tree planting."
" Can you manifest some bagels while you're out today?" translation– "can you buy me some bagels?"
" I am going to manifest true love this year." translation– "I am going to delete tinder."
(I wish I was kidding)
Some folks even say "manifest destiny" as a way to express that we can sculpt our dream life with the right headspace. This one is especially problematic due to the origins of the saying. Manifest destiny was a term commonly used in the 19th century that supported the American expansion from coast to coast. It encouraged western settlement, the war on Mexico and the removal of First Nations people. It is essentially the anthesis of imagining your amazing future, it's ignoring important and horrendous history.
There are even wildly published articles that encourage this misuse, for example…
The common thread in these examples is using a term that seems whimsical to obtain tangible things; money, objects, healthy relationships and even anything . This is challenging as the counter culture that subscribes to this particular concept of manifestation are often against material objects to the point of being condescending and elitist. We all seek out these particular examples (especially the "anything" one) and that unites us which is basically the foundation of what inspired this way of thinking in the first place. Why misuse a term to mask the fact that we have similar human desires?
You can live your dream life by making the necessary steps to do so. You can communicate effectively with you ex and if you both want to, get back together. You can make money and buy the things you want in so very many way in our society. Make no mistake about any of these examples though, you worked for them you didn't manifest them. If anything doesn't the idea of manifesting something remove the acknowledgment of hard work? Unless of course you have a generous trust fund that supports your life in which case you have privilege. Language is empowering and having an astute grasp on it it's infinitely useful. Using vague terms towards interesting topics just makes you sound like a shitty hippie, don't be a shitty hippie.
The Vancouver based Sam Tudor's Quotidian Dream is what Tudor calls his first album technically but third in actuality. Tudor is a young and brilliant folk musician who artfully obsesses over his homemade soundscapes. The 22 year old is wise beyond his years yet his music drips with youthful authenticity. The album is quite spectacular; it invites you into the dusty basement of Tudors psyche and makes you feel right at home. The ten song strong record is ambitiously emotional, vulnerable and complicated. Tudor experiments with generous lyrical metaphors and intense transparency. The album begins with the track New Apartment that immediately sets the tone in its wise songwriting paired by haunting musical backdrop. It features the shattering lyrics: washing up on a beach of carpet / you were drowned and you found the shore. Little things that keep you sober / keep them close when I'm far away. As the tide is moving lower / I think it's time for you to stay. This is followed by the brazen track Quotidian Boy that unabashedly investigates the facets of childhood difficulty. The album continues to generously explore the depths of the beautiful and tragic human experience. The final track Silver Lining Skies provides a sense of closure, making one feel that they're never alone in that awkward moment between birth and death.
Tudor grew up in a small town outside of Williams Lake and played music throughout his adolescence. He shared that "In the past I didn't know what I was doing sound wise. It was hard enough trying to make something that sounded good. I didn't have the mental energy to actually think about an album's aesthetic. I was just trying to make an album that didn't fall apart". This self-deprecation certainly paid off as Tudor learned to refine his particular brand, which is severely fragile and rare. He manages to pull off Andy Shauf-esque velvet melancholy that dances in depression. Tudor further explained " I am much more confident now and know how to record and write, so I can put more intention into the actual sound. That's why although this is my third record, it feels like my debut album".
Quotidian Dream does feel like a debut album in the way Ryan Adam's Heartbreaker is his debut album. It is triumphant declaration of musical catharsis that is waiting to be heard and not just heard but cherished. Tudor produced the album himself and mostly in his bedroom, yes he is obnoxiously talented. He is joined by an avalanche of local talent such as Harry Tudor on drums and percussion, Jasper Wrinch on electric bass, Nathan Turner on upright bass and Tegan Wahlgren on violin, viola and vocals. The musical landscape is rich and transporting which impossibly intuitive to the lyrical tapestry. Quotidian Dream is an uncommon invitation to the intimacy of one's honest internal exploration; there is nothing quotidian about him.
Courtney Barnett and Kurt Vile-Lotta Sea Lice
This one was highly anticipated by myself and many other desert loving, psych rock adoring and reverb attics that I know. I fell in love with Barnett's music three years ago at Pickathon- my favourite music festival on this godforsaken rock. She was spilling out witty and clever lyrics while simultaneously demolishing her guitar seemingly effortlessly inside a steaming hot barn around midnight. It was impossible to take your eyes off her. The audience seemed to avoid blinking in fear of missing this supernova who has now deservingly reached international success.
Vile is a truly distinctive artist that left the War on Drugs to pursue his illustrious solo career. His music grasps the melancholic void and executes this highly relatable yet obscure sensation into rock and roll lullabies. The two could not be more suited to play music together and fans lost it when they heard they wouldn't only record this album but follow it up with an extensive tour. They both have a knack for gracefully extended guitar freakouts, honing a particularly attractive brand of garage rock and gently delivering powerful lyrics. Lotta Sea Lice is a collection of old and new songs written by both. The single "Over Everything" gives insight towards how amiable and intoxicating this project is. The entire album plays like a dream that reels in and casts out of reality, it's ambiguous who wrote what, which is simply a testament towards how much the two compliment one another.
The War on Drugs- A Deeper Understanding
The ever so talented Adam Granduciel leads the dreamy, innovative and nostalgic Philadelphia based band The War on Drugs. The musical marvel spent generous amounts of time in the studio mulling and obsessing over his impressive material. The band's fourth studio album Deeper Understanding was highly anticipated as a follow up to their iconic Lost in The Dream released in 2014. A Deeper Understanding is a remarkable portrayal of complex expression, detailed instrumentation and the, if you will deeper understanding (I'm sorry) of musical catharsis. Granduciel takes you on a scenic walk through his moody, prophetic and infinite imagination. A Deeper Understanding is a tenacious sonic dreamscape that completely explores the depths of sonic possibilities, leaving no stone unturned. There is a lot going on in this work yet it's completely accessible which is likely why the band gets reduced to "dad rock".
Aerialists-Group Manoeuvre
Aerialists is the brainchild of Canadian folk sweethearts Adam Iredale-Gray (Fish & Bird) on guitar and Elise Boeur (Jenny Ritter) on the fiddle joined by Scottish harpist Mairi Chaimbeul (Darol Anger & The Furies) who began collaborating extensively at the prestigious Berklee College of Music. Their music is best described as "prog trad" implying an intentional contradiction while properly expressing a contemporary revision of traditional folk music. They are a genre bending, rule defying, brain shattering collection of wildly astute purveyors of sound. Their eclectic skills and intuitive instrumentation create an stirring tapestry of music dripping with range, emotion and history. Aerialists truly grasp the diversity and possibilities of folk music and it's various sub-genres. They are young people inspired by old music yet their sound is timeless.
Their first full length album Group Manoeuvre is a commanding collection of brilliant songwriting, evocative harmonies and imaginative arrangements. It is cunning, exhilarating and at times almost emotionally overwhelming. They are fully committed to their complex and difficult music. The hauntingly powerful vocalist Emily Millard is featured on the record; her voice is as intense as it is gentle which is impossibly well suited to the avalanche of sound surrounding her. Their arrangements are palpably meticulously sculpted and derive from their original compositions and traditional Scottish, Irish and Swedish fiddle songs. Iredale-Gray produced the album himself in his hometown of Main Island, B.C on behalf of his very own label Fiddlehead Records.
LCD Soundsystem- American Dream
There is no band quite like the avant-garde LCD Soundsystem. Front man James Murphy began the project when he was in his thirties and wrote the accidental smash hit "Losing My Edge" which pokes fun at mainstream artists which ironically made him a mainstream artist.Their eponymous debut title album received a Grammy for best electronic/dance album in 2005. This was followed by the exemplary Sound of Silver released in 2007 and This is Happening in 2010 and they essentially headlined every major music festival simultaneously. In April of 2011 the band sold out Madison Square Garden at a performance billed as their final one, which clearly wasn't.
LCD is like the choose your own adventure of bands as you can digest their music as rich feasts or light tapas and either way, it's delicious.Their music captures the evocative backbone of strong electronica and the tender resonation of strong songwriting. It's ambiguous towards what era they are most inspired by, their sound is a unique blend of 80s,90s and the future. American Dream is misanthropic dance music that speaks to the hips as much as the brain.It is a soundtrack for our current generation.It is vulnerable, manic, hopeful yet conflicted;just like us. It wavers between dreamy electronic terrain and gut wrenching belts of cynicism.American Dream speaks volumes to late capitalism and the unwillingness to conform which Murphy has mastered musically.
Queens of the Stone Age- Villains
Let me begin this my stating this potentially unpopular opinion- Queens of the Stone Age are my least favourite band that Josh Homme is in. I adore the Desert Sessions, Them Crooked Vultures and The Eagles of Death Metal. However, Queens of the Stone Age are my favourite mainstream modern rock band. I always take a while to warm up to a QOTSA album but when I do, which I always do I need to rethink that entire statement but I still land on the same consensus-these are the games I play in my head. That said, I strongly enjoy Queens of the Stone Age but I think Josh Homme should essentially be in the dirtiest, grimiest and most obscure band in the business. However, an album like Villains reminds me why this shouldn't and couldn't be.
QOTSA bridges the gap between metal heads and pop fans and everyone in between. Their music is intentionally radio friendly even though Homme is THE quintessential badass. Producer extraordinaire Mark Ronson is all over this record, the same Mark Ronson who produced Bruno Mars' Uptown Funk and Amy Winehouses' Valerie- he's a hit machine. Ronson's craftsmenship successfully pulled out the abundantly rich and complex soundscape that the band has mastered. The record is a condensed tale of inclusive disorderly rock. It invites all listener's into the magic of rebellious music without making them feel undeserving of the experience and that's what makes this band so special. Villains is arguably their most accessible album which further celebrates the band's wonderfully bizarre and friendly mandate.
Odd Future's front man Tyler,the Creator is an ever evolving musical marvel that is wise beyond his years yet the poster child for juvenile deliquence.It takes a rare kind of intelligence to challenge the norms of hip hop,fashion and manners. Tyler is often found making brash statements during interviews while keeping his sexuality and sobriety ambiguous.He is in the mecca of the mainstream yet authentically creative.This isn't accidental,the 26 year old started the rap group Odd Future ten years ago alongside sustaining a successful solo career,fashion label and a music festival.
Flower Boy is easily Tyler's most impressive album yet and one of the most exciting records of the year. It is a sophisticated,refined and cohesive arrangement of tracks that compliment each other.It is much more accessible than his previous work which evidently really works for him.His tendency to rub some people the wrong way has been due to exclusivity and seemingly gratuitous offensive lyrical content that lacks apology. As somebody who appreciates inaccessible hip hop I have always been fond of Tyler.That said,he has reduced his intelligence and talent in the past by running improvisational lyrics about cheese and highly produced content about stabbing Bruno Mars. He is been under fire for making blatantly mysongynisic and homophobic lyrics which he has always promoted as ironic.This is believable due to Odd Future being one of the few hip hop groups with two queer members and the fact that he is clearly intelligent. In lieu of this intelligence he recognized that being questionably bigoted is getting old and decided to execute the highly meditative Flower Boy.
The album is gentle,lyrically vulnerable and musically evolved.It delivers a diverse arrangement of hypnotic melodies and radical self exposure. It is sonic dreamscape that is relentlessly charming.It's fragile like a summer afternoon yet as real as the internal struggles he is finally revealing. It wavers between wildly triumphant to incredibly mellow. It certainly contains that unmistakable rough and rogue Tyler flair yet he has fine tuned his particular brand of mischievous. It is as if he is responding,but not apologizing to the feedback he has received through these liberated lyrics. Lil Wayne,Estelle and A$AP Rocky are featured on the record amongst an arsenal of underground artists.
On the track Forward he raps "Shoutout to the girls I have led on,for occasional head to keep my bed warm and trying they hardest to keep my head on straight" which is followed by "I have been kissing white boys since 2004". This has caused quite the internet storm towards questioning his sexuality,which we all know he won't clarify which makes him even more interesting to the masses.The gorgeous track Garden Shed plays like a daydream and encompasses that hip hop ease we miss in Digable Planets or Slum Village. My personal favourite song on the album Boredom is about the relatable paradoxical nature of desolation in the summer.
If you have ever questioned if Tyler,The Creator is rarely talented or just some entitled punk,Flower Boy definitely suggests it's the former.


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CV Fish Toy
From Creatures Wiki
The CV Fish Toy is a conversion of the Fishing Game fish from Creatures Village as a Creatures 3 and Docking Station toy agent. Creatures can play with it, and the hand can click on it and 'bring it to life', allowing it to swim underwater and flop around in air. It was available at Creatures @ CU7, but is now available at The Realm, as part of the "Creatures @ CU7 Agents" pack.


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If you are one of the Echo Park and Silver Lake residents who gets daily EveryBlock updates about new crime reports, don't panic. Today's email for the 90026 Zip Code contained reports of 41 new crimes, including a rape, murder and seven stolen vehicles. Tuesday's daily update was even worse: 166 crimes, including 69 thefts from vehicles. What's going on?
The data crunchers at EveryBlock are catching up with the 19,000 crimes that the Los Angeles Police Department has added to its public data base of crime reports viewable at LAPD crime maps. EveryBlock co-founder Dan O'Neil said the Chicago-based firm has gone through and scraped all the new crimes dating back to Jan. 1 from the LAPD site and added them to its own pool of crime stats, which The Eastsider uses for its Eastside Crime Watch. "We believe we have everything in there right now."
Good. Now all we have to worry about is our cars getting broken into.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Playing catch up with crime stats
2 comments:
- AnonymousJuly 15, 2009 at 1:33 PM
I am so glad you addressed this -- I was wondering WTF was going on!ReplyDelete
Aha! My apartment burglary was finally listed:ReplyDelete
Now I truly feel like a statistic :)
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