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Stage Thirty-Two: North Queensferry to AlloaPosted by Spencer at 11:58
I can see clearly now the rain has gone... Nope,
actually, my sight is a bit blurry from too much red wine last night. The rain has gone though. Nick and Susan have the luxury of a leisurely Saturday morning. Nick starts checking out the horses on the internet, which Susan tells me is his Saturday ritual.
But I have to get on the road and make the most of the weather. So it is out of the house and past the flash cars on the corner, before getting a bus into Haymarket Station. Again there is a train almost immediately to North Queensferry. For a tiny station in a small village it seems amazingly well served.
Not that I am complaining. Back we judder across the railway bridge, the road bridge looking as elegant as ever in the morning sunshine.
The road winds sharply downhill to JamesTown, a farily flyblown, rusty industrial looking little place. Here I take a road back under the railway and then negotiate a couple of roundabouts to get the B road to Rosythe.
This runs parallel to the A 90 to start with and I meet an elderly man with a dog who has crossed a wee bridge across the main road. I say hello and he ignores me steadfastly. Just as, come to think of it, the young guy at the roundabout who was the only other person I have seen not in a car since leaving the station.
Oh well, I walk on, it is back uphill for a while and then the road starts to descend and I can see the start of Rosythe. I pass a sign declaring that it is a garden city, which surprises me.
On I go. The road is busy and gets a bit roundaboutious, but once I negotiate that I am walking by some playing fields and a golf course as I head into Dunfermline.
I pass a rook on the ground behaving like a carrion crow. Completely urbanised and unworried about the cars or me passing by a few meters away. That is something I don't remember seeing before though it is common enough in crows., particularly in London.
On a bus shelter someone, who seems to be called Daz, has expressed their opinion. "Famen is over," it reads, "Why don't they go home." Where is the "famen" over? In Poland, Pakistan or perhaps Iraq? In England even? Daz does not elaborate.
And so on up the hill to Dunfermline. I reach a final roundabout by the railway line and get confused. The footpath disapears but the viaduct holding up the railway to my right is fenced off so I shrug and go under the arch by the roundabout.
Big mistake. This takes me to a dual carriageway with fast cars, the central reservation and the edges thick with spiny shrubs. I beat a retreat but at least have seen a footbridge.
So I go past the fenced off bit of the railway viaduct and find the bridge. Might be better signed that, Dunfermline council!
After that there is a steep climb up to the centre of town but at least I am past the traffic. And the centre is pleasant with some historic buildings and I get glimpses of view south down side streets. I almost stop in Marks and Spencers for refreshment but I spot an independent cafe that looks promising so go there for a cappuccino and a bite to eat.
After that I am keen to get on but decide I have to go back down the hill a little bit to see the ruined abbey, the great church and the remnants of the royal palace. Dunfermline was once the capital of Scotland and it is a pleasant suprise. There are some really interesting looking gardens too but I resist the temptation and head on out of town to pick up another disused railway.
After trudging through a housing estate I find it. This one, like so many others, has been turned into a cycle track. However unlike the other ones I have used on this journey it has been metalled. I set off in what is now warm sunshine and quite soon I start to get pains in my shins. Not unusually for me, unofortunately but I wonder if three days on the trot of tarmac has had a bad effect.
They tend to greet me anyway so clearly not all Fifers are as miserable as the old man with his dog this morning.
I am in the country and there are sometimes good views down towards the Firth to the south or over the Ochils rising to the north. The only towns and villages nearbye are small: Gowkhill, Carnock, Oakley.
That and the fact that there is a Youth Hostel in Stirling. I have spent a lot of money on B&Bs and Hotels already on this trip so that was a factor.
Anyway, tarmac or no the way my leg is hurting I am glad not to be climbing that escarpment today. At least this route is flat even if the surface is punishing.
And it is punishing. Every step is hurting. I decide to stop at the next seat I see. Unfortunately this route is not like the one from Northampton to Market Harborough where there were seats every couple of hundred meters. I go for miles without seeing one or anything that would do instead apart from the grass verge. At last I find a seat and take some ibroprofin.
I had been resisting this. When my dodgy knees play up I am happy enough to swallow ibroprofin because I know that exercise, however much it hurts, actually helps. I doubt this is the same for the shin splints and if I take pain killers it will mask the pain and maybe make me push on further than I should.
I hope to make Alloa today but I can probably get a bus from Clackmannan if need be.
After a bit to eat some water to drink and the magic ibroprofin caplet, I set off again. Hobbling now, it has to be said.
There is a long bend in the cycleway and then a straight all the way into Clackmannan. And as I come down it I get a glimpse of something in the far distance. I think it might be Stirling Castle and the binoculars confirm it.
The gateway to the Highlands is in sight, even as I seem to have worn my legs out.
An even more welcome sight is Clackmannan, over some fields to the south west, with an impressive looking tower dominating a hillside.
Hobbling painfully I pass some old works where kids play gleefully. According to the map the trail stops outside Clackmannan but the old railway continues. Can I carry on or not? Just as I reach the end of the metalled track I am overtaken by a couple of cyclists. There is an opening though the path ahead is grassy. They continue. A good sign. So I begin to follow them.
But then I see them stopping up ahead as the vegetation rises. They seem to be considering it. And then deciding it is no go, they turn back.
Well, I cannot afford to have to backtrack, so reluctantly I turn and take the footpath along a road into Clackmannen. I don't go all the way in but take a road off that leads through some woods and over a river. Then there is a path to Alloa.
More tarmac, unfortunately. They build their paths to last round here. But it is pleasant and good to not be on the main road which I can see a little way away. The path takes me to a very new and modern housing estate and there I lose it. The way marked on the map seems to lead to a private cul de sac and looking for it to the North I find myself shunted off towards a giant Morrisons.
Oh well. With some difficulty I find my way out of the car park and then on the road to the centre of Alloa. I am on the main road for a bit but then there is a side street.
Then I pass Recreation Park, the grounds of Alloa Athletic. Then a world of roundabouts, modern warehouses and more superstores and I am at the station.
There is a train waiting and, despite the pain in my leg I run, or at least hobble quickly and just catch it for the short journey to Stirling.
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words: Michael Brooks
As technology continues to have a bigger role in everyday life, the strain it can have on relationships becomes exceedingly apparent. Cincinnati rockers Smut understand what that kind of detachment from reality can do and even try to make some sense of it. "Video Cell", the lead single off their upcoming album End of Sam-soon, is quintessential noise pop about romance in the 21st century. Guitar lines linger over the track like a fog machine, drifting between a muddled beauty and a relentless fuzziness. The sonic template is spectral and hazy, creating the perfect backdrop for lines like "she listens to the dial tone like a lullaby". Tay Roebuck's shimmering vocals stick out like a neon sign in a dimly lit room, complimenting her bandmates out-of-focus instrumental with something tangible. Roebuck's voice is captivating and the track showcases her versatility as she alternates between an effortless warble and a piercing scream seamlessly. "Video Cell" is as catchy as anything else you're likely to hear in 2017, it just happens to be obscured in an infinite abyss of reverb drenched guitars.

subset: commoncrawl


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Email: email@example.com
Programme: Creative Music Practice - PhD
Start date: October 2014
Mode of study: Full time
Research title: Following Witches: Entanglement of bodies in the politics of free improvisation
Prof Peter Nelson
Breathing, spitting and speaking through Saxophone. Amplification and distortion of signals travelling through Saxophone.
Preferring group improvisation with friends. Too much sweat on stage is bad. Often playing along machines that make loud noises. Saxophone blends in.
Experimenting with a PhD in Creative Music Practice. Hoping to submit a box full of materials telling stories on how male practice idioms are boring. How Saxophone can be touched in different ways. Constructing thoughts making us think more about how we make bodies (non/human) and appropriating these into our political system. Is there a way to resist this?
Making music using objects, Saxophone, electronic things, DIY microphones that do not work. Lately discovered speaking through Saxophone is quite good fun.
Free improvisation is sounding in real time. A performance that is in constant exchange with the space, people, objects, culture, history, politics. Writing/researching free improvisation requires a text equally performative and in process as the performance of sounds itself.
A Feminist Manifesto for free improvisation. Understanding the making of bodies (human and nonhuman). This research focuses on an attempt to resist patriarchal structures in free improvisation, from practice to knowledge. The institutionalisation of free improvisation allowed a practice that once claimed to be 'outside of the institution' to become an important neoliberal actor within. Schools of thought around free improvisation circle predominately around male practices. Relying on dichotomies on mind over body, practice over instrument, research over practice. Quantification and research outcomes of a practice that once claimed to resist political oppression.
This research is a multitude of voices and bodies speaking along political activism. Presenting important actors that 'stage free improvisation', including male-centred practices of playing the saxophone. Muscle over instrument. Strict regimens of practice routines establishing a physical and mental superiority over the instrument and other people. Can we resist this bodybuilding attempt? Feminist improvisation rather argues for an erotic exchange of bodies inside a momentary performance space. Muscles are less important than spit.
"The Erotic as Power" [Audre Lorde] looks at the relationship of non/human skins touching. A metal body [saxophone] touching a wet human tongue. Focusing on wet, liquid substances travelling through tools. Spit dribbling down Saxophone's body. Her body hooked to human body. Microphones observing and amplifying the sounds emerging from inside.
I am working on ways of writing and thinking giving content to experiences in free improvisation. Offering a way of thinking about the materialisation of practice onto bodies. Tightly tied into body politics and the current political state.
Saxophone is a character speaking. Her voice and her feelings when spit dribbles down her tube. When her body is hooked to mine. Whose voice speaks when? Scholarly ideals are not followed. Rather, I am working on complex assembling process of making a free improvisation body.


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I'm on a plane (again), so I'm going to make this one short and sweet (I have a few episodes of House of Cards to catch up on). I was on a CEO Super Business Panel on Monday and one of the questions we were asked was, "What was one 'win' that you were most surprised by." And the first thing that came to mind was that it is surprising how few wins there actually are in business.
Building a business is really hard and there are a hell of a lot more challenges every day then there are successes. Success comes in spurts and it's important to celebrate each small victory, before you get knocked back down. The key is to keep getting back up, keep moving, and making sure you have better quality problems.
"Victory is won not in miles, but in inches. Win a little now, hold your ground, and later, win a little more." – Louis L'Amour
Look, extraordinary success and mediocrity look a lot alike for a long period of time. In businesses, this is about a 5-7 year stretch. You have to stay focused and work through the grind in order to earn the right to have that geometric growth. Those overnight successes? It took them 5, 7, 10 years to get where they are. You're just hearing about them now, when they've hit their geometric run. What you didn't see was the long nights, time away from family, stress, and challenges. But as hard as all of that is, I guarantee you ask any of those business leaders and they will tell you that despite the challenges, they were fortified by their goal, their passion for the project, and ultimately their growth. No one would endure the challenges of building a business, if there wasn't a bigger why, a bigger reason, behind it. Though, I do think entrepreneurs and business leaders might all be a little bit masochistic, since most of them would also say, they are just having fun!
So what can leaders do? Have an incredible support system, constantly work on their emotional fitness, and have a great attorney.
Emotional fitness is so critical to the success of leaders. Without it, many great leaders may have given up and companies like GE, Facebook, Tesla and many many more would not exist. I practice increasing my emotional fitness every day through meditation, my gratitude journal, affirmations, and never letting fear stop me. Here's a quick article on how to master emotional fitness.
And I am beyond blessed to have such an incredible support system at home, particularly my wife, Sarah. I could not do what I do, nor would I be who I am today without her unconditional love and support. She effortlessly takes care of our children, our home, our family's health, vacations, various schedules and activities, and still finds time to serve on several committees at our companies. She is the calm to my storm. Whether it's friends or family members, make sure to surround yourself with people who understand and support the crazy, challenging, and often complicated path that you're on.
Yes, being a business leader and building a business is hard, but I wouldn't have it any other way. Business is nothing more than a conduit for personal growth. Bring on the challenges – it just means I'll grow that much faster!
P.S. Another question at the panel was, "Where is there an opportunity for entrepreneurs to expand or approve upon." My answer? Travel. Could someone please invent teleportation?


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Cushions : Lobster Pot
Lobster Pot, a tongue in cheek print, designed and handmade by Jenny Sibthorp from her farm studio in Dorset. An ode to one of Jenny's favourite crustacean friends, this design has developed since Jenny launched her eponymous business and is one the most recognisable of her designs. Bright red and jolly, this design would sit perfectly in any home, or beach hut. Particularly for those of you who have a penchant for the seaside.
Screen printed onto natural Lancashire linen, this design is proving to be one of Jenny's most popular. Each cushion is handmade in Jenny's farm studio in Dorset, in a choice of sizes and is available with or without a duck feather insert. See below for sizes:
- 30 x 40 cm (12 x 16") £35 with inner, £30 without
- 40 x 40 cm (16 x 16") £45 with inner, £40 without
- 60 x 60 cm (24 x 24") £80 with inner, £75 without
Each cushion can come with a luxurious duck feather insert and is fastened using an envelope back, with a woven label sewn into the centre of the back of this cushion and a mallet stamped leather logo sewn into the right hand seam.
Washing instructions: Machine wash at 30 degrees/hand wash setting using a gentle detergent


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Cambridge English Teacher are hosting an interesting free webinar; 'Success in Business English'. This would be a great thing for all of our business English teachers to attend.
The Webinar is being given by James Schofield who has taught Business English in Asia and Europe and now works as a senior consultant for Siemens in Munich. He has written course books for various publishers and also writes short stories for Business Spotlight.
The webinar takes place on the 27th February at 15:00 (GMT) you can sign up for this and other Cambridge English Teachers webinars on their website. (You will need to register as a guest first).


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ALBUQUERQUE – Thanks to players coming out to buy tickets, the Powerball® jackpot for Wednesday's drawing has jumped to $485 million.
New Mexico Lottery CEO David Barden said Powerball sales in New Mexico have more than doubled in the past week, from $400,000 to $940,000.
"It's been a year since the jackpot has been this high and people are in the mood to dream big," Barden said.
Earlier today, the jackpot was at $450 million.
Players in New Mexico have until 8 p.m. MT Wednesday to buy a ticket for the drawing, which takes place at approximately 8:59 p.m.
Powerball Fun Facts
If Wednesday's jackpot lands in New Mexico, it will break the record $206.9 million jackpot won by a pool of nine Powerball players from the Roswell area in September 2008.
In the past six years in New Mexico, 18 Powerball tickets have paid prizes of $1 million and $2 million. The state's most recent Powerball millionaire is Romana Saavedra of Las Cruces. Last week, Saavedra claimed a $2 million prize from the game's Nov. 29 drawing.
The record Powerball jackpot is $590.5 million. It was won in May 2013 by a player in Florida.
How to Play Powerball
Powerball is played in 47 lotteries. Players choose five numbers from 1 to 59 and one Powerball number from 1 to 35. Players can also ask for a "quick pick," a set of numbers chosen randomly by the lottery's gaming system. Each wager costs $2.
In addition to the jackpot, there are eight prize levels from $4 to $1 million. The game's Power Play® option multiples non-jackpot prizes and will double the $1 million prize to $2 million automatically. Power Play costs an additional $1 per play per drawing.
The odds of winning a Powerball jackpot are approximately 1 in 175 million. The overall odds of winning a Powerball prize are approximately 1 in 32.
Legislative Lottery Scholarships
The New Mexico Lottery has raised $632.9 million for education in New Mexico. More than 97,000 students have attended college on Legislative Lottery Scholarships, of which 43,400 students have already earned their college degrees.
More information about Legislative Lottery Scholarships is available at www.nmlottery.com.
PLAY RESPONSIBLY For responsible gaming information call 1-800-572-1142 or visit nmcpg.org
Lottery headquarters: 4511 Osuna Rd. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87109
Mailing address: PO Box 93130, Albuquerque, NM 87199
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As the years have gone by I find that my tastes and sensibilities change as my knowledge base grows. Things that were top of the line a few years ago are no longer acceptable. There is a constant evolution here at Tritonworks, but wanting to provide good products to our customers backed with solid customer service and most importantly good communication are always a constant.
Russ EllisLast Updated 01/18/19 - Added a highly decorated Albion Baron and a Armour Class Baskethilt to the Trident section.


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Tagged: ROOT SPORTS
Mariners All-Access from ROOT SPORTS
This week on Mariners All-Access from ROOT SPORTS, in honor of PLAYBALL WEEKEND at Safeco Field and across Major League Baseball, a show dedicated to Little Leaguers and childhood baseball memories.
Wiffle Ball® – Learn how the Mariners got introduced to the game, how the Wiffle® Ball came to be and why the Mariners as an organization are committed to distributing 100,000 Wiffle Balls to kids throughout the Northwest.
Baseball Outside the U.S. – Little League isn't just played in the United States. We'll hear from some of the Mariners international players on their earliest memories of the game and the expectations that came with growing up in baseball-loving countries.
Player You Wanted to Be Like – Discover which players the Mariners wanted to be like growing up.
Who taught you to throw – For most players it was a simple game of catch in the backyard that planted the seed of becoming a Big League player. Hear the advice they got and learn who taught them to throw a baseball.
What did you break – You weren't supposed to play baseball in the house, but inevitably it happened and something got broken as a result. Find out the results of Mariners playing baseball in the house.
You'll also learn about the baseball cards collected by Mariners players, favorite baseball movies, best treats after Little League games and more. Plus, Take Me Out to the Ballgame as performed by several Mariners including Nelson Cruz and Felix Hernandez — on kazoo.
Mariners All Access airs:
- Sunday 12:00 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.
- Monday 6:00 p.m.
- Tuesday 11:00 p.m.
- Wednesday 1:00 a.m.
- Thursday 6:30 p.m.
- Friday 3:00 p.m.
Mariners Mondays – Taijuan Walker Impresses
On this week's Mariners Mondays on ROOT SPORTS Taijuan Walker shows why he's one of the most promising young pitchers in baseball.
On May 29, Walker turned in one of the best starts of his career with a 2-1 win over the Cleveland Indians. He gave up just two hits over eight innings, did not walk a batter and struck out eight for his first victory at Safeco Field. A two-run homer by outfielder Seth Smith was all the offense the Mariners would need to give Walker his second win of the season.
Two months later, Walker was even better as he tossed a one-hitter at Target Field for a 6-1 win over the Twins on July 31. It was his first complete game in 29 Major League starts and it was a crucial bounce-back for Walker, who had yielded 19 runs in his previous four starts. Nelson Cruz and Jesus Montero both homered to give the Mariners a 6-1 win. The game was also the Major League debut of Ketel Marte, who batted leadoff and played second.
Mariners Mondays airs every Monday night on ROOT SPORTS through March leading up to the season opener on Monday April 4 at Texas.
Mariners Mondays – Great Finishes
There's nothing quite like a walk-off win. Or getting the "W" with the last at-bat of the game. On the February 8 episode of Mariners Mondays on ROOT SPORTS we'll relive some of those late-innings heroics from the 2015 season.
There were 21 games last season that the Mariners won on the last at-bat or as a walk-off. One of them was a 10-inning game at Tampa Bay on May 26. The Rays led the Mariners 1-0 until the 8th inning when Kyle Seager connected for a grand slam. But when the Rays answered with three runs in the bottom of the 9th, Kyle had to do it again, with a solo homer in the 10th to seal the victory.
For sheer enjoyment, there may not be anything more fun than a walk-off.
April 19, the walk-off came in regulation play when the Mariners defeated the Texas Rangers 11-10. The Mariners needed to overcome two five-run deficits to do it, but Nelson Cruz came through big with 5 RBI, including the game winner in the bottom of the 9th.
On May 8, the Mariners needed extra innings to best the Oakland A's 4-3 when Logan Morrison delivered a solo home run on the first pitch of the 11th inning.
It was another extra innings affair on July 26 when the Mariners beat the Blue Jays 6-5 in 10. The hero was Franklin Gutierrez, who drove an 0-2 pitch over the wall in left-center field. Cruz's bat also played a role when he tied the score 5-5 in the 7th with his 25th homer. Defense was also a highlight of the game as the Mariners turned a triple-play in the 4th inning.
Mariners Mondays airs every Monday night on ROOT SPORTS through March leading up to the season opener on Monday April 4 at Texas.
Mariners Offseason and Spring Training Programming
If you can't wait for the baseball season to get started, you're not alone. With that in mind, our radio (710 ESPN Seattle) and television (ROOT Sports) partners have confirmed their programming plans for the Mariners offseason as well as Spring Training.
Here's a handy list so you don't miss a minute of the action.
HOT STOVE SHOW ON 710 ESPN SEATTLE (all live)
CACTUS LEAGUE REPORT ON 710 ESPN SEATTLE (all live)
Beginning January 4, ROOT SPORTS NW will carry "Mariners Mondays" from 7:00-10:00 pm. Each show will feature 2-3 of the best Mariners games from the 2015 season. A total of 12 shows through March 21.
ROOT SPORTS Earns Emmy For Its Coverage of Mariners Baseball
ROOT SPORTS Northwest was awarded two Emmys at this year's 52nd Annual Awards Ceremony for the Northwest Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS).
In the category of "Sporting Event/Game – Live/Unedited – Program/Special", ROOT SPORTS was honored for its game coverage of Mariners Baseball. The crew specially recognized by NATAS included:
Jon Bradford, Executive Producer
Sarah Hilsendeger, Production Manager
Curtis Wilson, Senior Producer
Liz Serrette, Operations Manager
Mark Engelbrekt, Senior Director
Pike Parker, Producer
Doug Herbison, Director
Lacey Cameron, Director
Andy Urlacher, Audio Specialist
Steven Hurd, Production Associate
Stu Vitue, Editor
Carl Severson, Editor
A second Emmy for "Graphic Arts" was also awarded to ROOT SPORTS this year, accepted by Richard Ealom.
"Congratulations to ROOT SPORTS Northwest for earning two Emmys this year, the fifth consecutive year it has been recognized by NATAS," said Randy Adamack, Mariners Sr. Vice President of Communications. "The production quality of Mariners Baseball games on ROOT SPORTS ranks among the very best in baseball, both locally and nationally, which is a tribute to the hard work, pride and creativity of the staff."
In 2015, ROOT SPORTS produced and distributed 161 of the Mariners 162 regular season games, as well as 16 spring training game telecasts, the most in team history.
ROOT SPORTS Northwest is the home of the Seattle Mariners, Seattle Seahawks, Seattle Sounders FC, Portland Timbers, Gonzaga Bulldogs, Big Sky Conference and Mountain West Conference. The network reaches 3.4 million households across five states, including Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and Alaska, and delivers more than 350 live events each year – all of which are available in high definition.
Mariners All Access
This week on Mariners All-Access on ROOT SPORTS – we talk hitting with Nelson Cruz and go one-on-one with Mariners Hall of Famer Jamie Moyer.
Cruz and Blowers 1-on-1 – Mike Blowers sits down with Nelson Cruz to talk hitting and approaches to different situations at the plate. Hear how he changes his swing as needed and how often he actually tries to muscle one out of the park.
Cruz 5 HR in 5 games – Nelson Cruz has been as hot as Seattle's summer. We take another look at the homers he hit during the recent five-game streak.
Nelson Cruz and Angie Mentink in the cage – There's no denying the strength in Nelson's hands and upper body, but see how he really generates power as Cruz takes us inside the batting cage and breaking down his stance.
Moyer 1-on-1 – Jen Mueller sits down with Jamie Moyer during his Hall of Fame weekend festivities and gets his thoughts on pitching today, Felix Hernandez and how he might pitch to Nelson Cruz.
Happy Anniversary Felix – It's been 10 years since Felix Hernandez made his Major League debut. Discover what the King remembers about that day and the months leading up to his first big league start.
Mariners All Access Airs:
- Sunday noon, 7:30pm
- Monday 6pm
- Wednesday 6:30pm
- Friday 1pm
An Emmy for ROOT SPORTS' Mariners Games
Congratulations are in order for ROOT SPORTS. Over the weekend, the Mariners television partner, won a local Emmy Award.
The category was Sporting Event/Game – Live/Unedited – Program/Special. Also nominated was ROOT'S Big Sky Football broadcasts, the Seahawks game production, and the Albert Lee Appliance Seafair Cup hydro races, produced by KIRO TV.
This is the fifth consecutive year ROOT SPORTS has won a local Emmy in the category, and the second win for Mariners baseball. (ROOT also won in 2013.). ROOT has earned two Emmy Awards for college football, and one for Portland Timbers Soccer broadcasts.
The ROOT SPORTS Mariners baseball crew includes Jon Bradford, Executive Producer; Sarah Hilsendeger, Production Manager; Liz Serrette, Operations Manager; Curtis Wilson, Senior Producer; Mark Engelbrekt, Senior Director; Mike Pike Parker, Producer; Doug Herbison, Director; Lacey Cameron, Director; Andy Urlacher, Audio Specialist; Steven Hurd, Production Associate; Stu Vitue, Editor; Carl Severson, Editor.


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Gateway Sound
Commercial studios have been the mainstay of recorded music for decades. But what happens when the very foundations of the music business are shaken to the core? How are studios surviving in the face of streaming music, slumping sales, and cheaper, easily accessible recording technology? "Gateway Sound" explores how engineers, musicians, and music-industry veterans are redefining what a recording studio can be. Although the film prominently features key players on the St. Louis recording scene — such as Smith/Lee Productions — "Gateway Sound" provides a much wider perspective, including interviews with legendary producers Steve Albini, Steve Lillywhite, and Vance Powell and performers Richard Fortus (Pale Divine, Guns N' Roses) and Kristeen Young.


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Harvard University has incurred $2 billion in investment losses and spending despite raising $1.2 billion from donations, Bloomberg reported.
Colleges raised a record $41 billion in fiscal year 2016, and Harvard was the university that collected the most donations.
Recent Stories in Culture
"Fundraising totals show how the richest colleges' appeal to wealthy donors can help offset weak endowment returns," the article states. "U.S. college endowments declined 1.9 percent on average."
"Congress is considering a bill requiring donors to wealthy schools set aside a portion of their gift for financial aid or risk losing their tax deduction," Bloomberg said.
Thirty-six percent of Harvard's operating revenues have come from distributions from the university's $35.7 billion endowment.
"When investment earnings for colleges are down, they're also down in portfolios for wealthy individuals and foundation and donor-advised funds," said Ann Kaplan, director of the survey from the Council for Aid to Education. "When one of these sources loses wealth, generally on the whole, they all lose ground at the same time."


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For the first time, the NMMA is organizing a U.S.A. Pavilion at the 2019 Sydney International Boat Show, August 1 5, to showcase the best U.S. boat builders, equipment manufacturers, marina developers or other businesses that provide products and services to the recreational or tourism boating markets.
Australia consistently ranks as one of the industry's top export markets. Currently, Australia remains a strong export market unaffected by the trade war and retaliatory tariffs. And, with a Free Trade Agreement in place, exporting to this vibrant boating market is a viable option for any number of U.S. companies.
To read more please go to the original article.


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Latest News
Who's that wizard behind Mickelson?
Phil Mickelson rolled one silky practice putt after another, pausing from time to time to talk with the grey-haired, black-clad man watching him with hands stuffed in his jacket pockets, a putter tucked under one arm.
Everyone watching Mickelson warm up for the Quail Hollow Championship pro am Wednesday knew him, of course. That's why they were there, to see stars and along with them, some golf. The other guy? What other guy?
The other guy was Dave Stockton. Back in the day, the 1970s and '80s, he won a bunch of tournaments on the PGA Tour, including two PGA championships. And then he gathered up 14 wins on the Champions Tour. And when the years finally threw too many bogeys at him, he took on a fulltime job as a wizard.
He exorcises the demons from putters, chases away the bad habits that can accumulate and replaces them with putts that love the cup.
One day last year, Stockton recalls, Mickelson asked his caddy Bones MacKay whom he thought might help him with his short game. His putting had been less than satisfactory. MacKay recommended Stockton. Mickelson called and set up a meeting.
They worked on his putting for two days and the result was immediate and spectacular - a win in the Tour Championship, a dominating performance in the Presidents Cup matches and a victory in China. In all of the tournaments he had played in 2009 before seeing Stockton, Mickelson had made a total of only 13 putts of 20 feet or longer. In the Tour Championship, he made nine in four days.
Mickelson has sung Stockton's praises enough to attract other players. J.B. Holmes was 166th in putting last year. He worked with Stockton and in consecutive weeks early this year, he ranked No. 1 in putting in the Northern Trust Open and No. 2 in the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am.
Stockton's sons David Jr. and Ronnie are also instructors, Ronnie focusing primarily on the LPGA. Among the family's clients along with Mickelson and Holmes are Anthony Kim, Hunter Mahan and, beginning this week, Sean O'Hair.
They've had six winners this year, including Mickelson in the Masters and Yani Tseng in the Nabisco Championship, an LPGA major.
How does a man teach a superstar like Mickelson?
"It's like working with trout," said Stockton. "They already know how to swim. I'm just another set of eyes. We have no set way of teaching. We don't use cameras. We don't give them things that will tie them up.
"Everybody's different. It's not about mechanics. A lot of people have good mechanics. It's all about feel. It's not about being perfect. I've worked one day with Sean O'Hair and he's back to when he was a kid. Same with Phil.
"It's not that difficult. There's a ball there, there's a hole there, knock the ball into the hole. Putt like you did when you were a kid."
He picked up a putter he's promoting, a Taylormade model called "Ghost." In his hands, it looked like a wand.


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And let's reform [taxes] based on a very simple principle: Warren Buffett's secretary should not be paying a higher tax rate than Warren Buffett. It's a simple principle.
Ok, so why doesn't Obama take the obvious path of cutting Warren Buffett's secretary's taxes?
I swear, Obama's answer to desegregating the South would've been to ban drinking fountains completely and not let ANYBODY ride in the front of the bus.
[SBA day 38]


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ASPIRE is a quarterly magazine published by PCI in cooperation with the associations of the National Concrete Bridge Council. The editorial content focuses on the latest technology and key issues in the Concrete Bridge Industry.
Issue link: http://www.aspiremagazinebyengineers.com/i/297009
The famous Japanese Shinkansen railway network started operating in 1964 and has been progressively i m p r o v e d w i t h t h e o b j e c t i v e o f operating at a speed of 300 km/h (186 mph) or more. Since the Shinkansen's b e g i n n i n g , m a n y c o u n t r i e s h a v e implemented high-speed rail (HSR) as an easy link between cities. The first section of the French TGV opened to traffic between Paris and Lyon in 1981. The operation of the 345-km-long (214- mile) Taiwanese HSR, which runs most of the time on viaducts at 300 km/h (186 mph), started in 2007. Today, HSR has become a reality in Asia, Europe, and North America, resulting in the construction of large infrastructures that are designed for dense and heavy rail traffic at speeds never before reached. Since its creation in 1981, the French TGV developed throughout France. T h e S o u t h E u ro p e – A t l a n t i c ( S E A ) line is currently under construction between Tour and Bordeaux, with the anticipation of daily operation at 350 km/h (217 mph). As part of this system, many bridges had to be built according to various construction techniques and the latest refinements of the available technology in the field of prestressed concrete bridges. Design of Railroad Bridges The design of railroad bridges has many unique considerations when compared to the design of road bridges: • The loads are sudden and heavy. • The regular distribution of heavy concentrated loads running at v a r i o u s s p e e d s m a y g e n e r a t e substantial dynamic effects, which cannot be ignored. • Horizontal forces generated by the moving loads, due to track curvatures or swaying on the rails (nosing effect, also known as the coning action), as well as acceleration and breaking forces, cannot be neglected. • The bridge design is unavoidably impacted by the rail-structure i n t e r a c t i o n w h e n c o n t i n u o u s welded rails (CWR) are used, which have be evaluated according to the International Union of Railways (UIC) code. This last consideration is of fundamental concern during the design of HSR bridges. The track type, as well as the configuration and mechanical properties of the structure, govern the combined response of the structure and tracks to • deflections and displacements of the superstructure under vertical and horizontal loads, • differential deformations between r a i l s a n d s t r u c t u r e d u e t o temperature and acceleration or breaking forces, • variable horizontal forces generated along the rails, and • stresses in the rails, which cannot impair the track strength and profile. Available Concepts Due to the main design considerations previously mentioned, Taiwanese HSR bridges generally consist of a box cross section about 13 m (43 ft) wide that provides space for two tracks and catenary supports. General design rules for railroad bridges significantly differ from those of road bridges. For example: • Heavy loads and corresponding dynamic effects cause the bridge to be designed for a span length-to- depth ratio of 12 to 14. • The rail-structure interaction favors the design of short spans. Long, continuous spans require rail expansion devices that impact the behavior of the train on the track. This is why Taiwanese HSR viaducts, which are located on flat areas, mainly consist of sections made of simply supported box girders. This means that the Taiwanese HSR viaducts have • short span lengths, and • many piers and many bearing devices, but no rail expansion devices. High-speed trains may also have to cross large and deep valleys. In such cases, pier spacing and span lengths have to be increased. This also requires that the superstructure be continuous and rail expansion devices are unavoidable. For example, the HSR system near Avignon, France, required two unusual HSR bridges made of 100-m-long (328- The Taiwanese high-speed railway running on a long series of viaducts. Photo: VINCI Construction Grands Project- France. by Jacques Combault, Finley Engineering Group Inc. Design and Construction of Segmental Bridges for High-Speed Rail 18 | ASPIRE , Fall 2013 P R O J E C T Book_Fall13ASPIRE.indb 18 9/6/13 12:05 PM


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We've got our first appointment with the new ob this morning. At the risk of jinxing myself, this is the least stressed I've felt before an appointment in a long, long time. I'll let you know how it goes.
edited to add: I loved the new practice and everything looks good -- better than good. Gosh, before you know it, this is going to turn out to be a blog devoted entirely to rainbows, unicorns and adorably fuzzy wuzzy widdle kitties.


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I'm terribly prolific, I know.
Back to the show …
Rainn Wilson, Claire Danes (Photo by Bryan Bedder/Getty Images via http://www.viewimages.com)
Rainn Wilson & Claire Danes present the award for Best Featured Actress in a Play.
Laura Finkelstein & I have spent many a Friday morning dissecting Wilson's Thursday evening performance in "The Office" & I'm sad to be seeing my office (pun intended) buddy go.
Whoa, lost myself there for a sec, but am shocked back to reality by the thin frame of Danes & am wondering how she has managed to carry the stunning diamond bracelet she is sporting across the stage.
Winner: A very understated Jennifer Ehle, wearing a simple, diamond tennis bracelet. No earrings. Classic, long, sleeved/bodest dress suit. Very elegant.
61st Annual Tony Awards At Radio City Music Hall – Show (Photo by Bryan Bedder/Getty Images via http://www.viewimages.com)
Performance by the cast of Mary Poppins
I had forgotten how modest Mary is. She is completely covered. Gloves & all, no adornment whatsoever. I guess when traisping about with chimney sweeps your best best is to keep it simple & your skin protected.
A Year in Plays Montage (9:09pm-9:11pm)
Did you know that 12.3 million tickets to Broadway performances were sold this year? Well now you do; it's a new record!
Liev Schreiber, Cynthia Nixon (Photo by Bryan Bedder/Getty Images via http://www.viewimages.com)
Best Director of a Play
Cynthia Nixon – the Emmy-winning "Sex and the City" star who has appeared on Broadway regularly since 1980, and who won the 2006 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play for Rabbit Hole presents with Liev Schreiber – filmmaker, performer, and past-Tony winner who is a nominee for his current performance in Eric Bogosian's (another Obie grad, class of '76) Talk Radio.
The Coast of Utopia is now tied with Spring Awakening at 3 Tony's a piece.
Nixon was looking stunning. With such beautiful skin, she is one of the few who can carry off such a deep neck-line sans a necklace. I'm not able to see her earring very well behind her signature red hair. I'll be sure to update tomorrow anything that I may have missed.
Eddie Izzard is up next, he's not my cup.
Who Were They Wearing?
Keyshia Cole
Tichina Arnold
Julie Christie
Jennifer Hudson
Jamie-Lynn Sigler
Jennifer Garner
Roselyn Sanchez
Hilary Swank
Natasha Bedingfield
Sarah Michelle Gellar
Heidi Klum
At the 8th Annual Latin Grammy Awards
Mary Elizabeth Winstead
Halle Berry
Britney Spears
Kristin Cavallari
Anjelica Huston
Jessica Alba
Ali Larter
At the 59th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards
Hayden Panettiere
Serena Williams
Serena Williams
Kelly Carlson
At the 61st Annual Tony Awards
Follow JCK on Twitter: @jckmagazine
Follow JCK on Facebook: @jckmagazine


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Contact Us
Today's enterprise must optimize engagement and the experience of "always-on" mobile users. The SAP® Intelligent Notification 365 mobile service can help. This cloud-based mobile service delivers a single communication interface for multiple channels. By tapping the right channel at the right time, it streamlines engagement, improves app open and conversion rates, and optimizes notification costs.
Click here to read the SAP Intelligent Notification 365 Push Service - Solution Brief.


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Feedback: What did you think of this show?:
Guest: Dr. Paul Dear, creator of the N-Prize, was the special guest for this Friday Space Show program. Visit www.N-prize.com to learn more about the N-Prize competition. We started our discussion with Dr. Dear explaining to us how he created the N-Prize competition, what it's all about, the rules, the existing entries, and other facts and details related to it. Dr. Dear originally posted the idea on the creative and crazy idea site, www.halfbakery.com. While discussing the N-Prize and making a satellite that weighs between 9 and 19.99 grams that can actually do something useful, lots of listeners phoned Dr. Dear to talk about this contest and his ideas. Several of the callers have entered the N-Prize contest and talked some about their projects. Don't miss these discussions. We talked extensively about using the N-Prize for student projects and why that would be a good idea. You will want to hear this discussion. We also talked about the creative process used by Dr. Dear to come up with ideas such as N-Prize and, while Dr. Dear has a great sense of humor and does not take seriously that which many of us cherish, his approach, attitude, and methodology are nothing short of inspiring, motivating, and success oriented. Listen to what he has to say about work in the lab, N-Prize, or any creative and discovery process. Also listen to what he says about failure. I believe this to be a very important Space Show program as not only is it wildly entertaining, but Dr. Dear offers us the path to a larger public involvement in space development and an outstanding approach to science, experimentation, and idea generation. If you have questions and comments about the N-Prize or from listening to Dr. Paul Dear on this program, please send them to firstname.lastname@example.com. Put "Space Show" in your subject line. Also, visit the N-Prize Google discussion group, http://groups.google.com/group/n-prize. Both of these addresses can be found by clicking Contact on the N-Prize website.


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This is a part of my blog that I wanted to make interactive for my readers. No matter if you're located in LA, New York City, New Jersey, Italy, Croatia…wherever in the world and you discover an amazing cocktail that you feel deserves recognition, I want YOU to tell ME about it!
Drinking an insanely good #cocktail that you want me to know about? Write your own short post including the details below. Email it to me at email@example.com. I'll feature it on my site!
Name of drink
Ingredients in drink/Description of drink
Why it's so special/why it's worth drinking
Name of place where you got it & location details
Price if available
I know a lot of times when you're out, the picture you're taking of a drink could be kind of grainy or blurry - that's okay. The whole point of this is knowing that not everyone is going to have a professional Canon camera. As long as you can get some good shots of the drink that we can clearly see, it's all good!
Feel free to also hashtag #thegildedbellini on Instagram for anything brunch or cocktail related you want to be seen! :)


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Great hat for the price was an extra to get free postage but love it!
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12/2 "Jesus Changes Our Stories #5 – The Bleeding Woman's Story"/
Title: The Bleeding Woman's Story
Texts: Matthew 9:20-22; (Mark 5:24-34; Luke 8:43-48; Lev. 15:19-33)
In a Nutshell: Desperation of a loved one is a difficult thing to watch and even worse to experience, yet it is an effective motivator for doing something thought to be impossible. The woman subject to bleeding risked the only thing she had left in effort to be healed, her reputation. Today's culture focuses on the healing but Jesus clearly focuses on the faith. Jesus wants to change your story, but more importantly he wants you to demonstrate faith in Him.
Ice Breaker: What event, thought, opportunity stopped you from "business as usual" in your life and made you take a more serious look at a relationship with Jesus Christ?
- Read Matthew 9 again. What is the contextual point (what to know) of this chapter? Mt. 9:6 And what is the contextual application (what to do) of this chapter? Mt. 9:37-38
- Read Mark 5:24-34. What details does Mark include that Matthew left out?
- Thinking about the context of Jesus being led by a Synagogue ruler to a dying daughter's bed side, describe the level of anxiety/urgency/frustration you sense in this text?
- How would the woman which was bleeding be viewed by the crowd, or even more importantly by the Synagogue Ruler in light of Jewish law? (Lev. 15:19-33)
- Does it seem strange that Jesus doesn't know who the one was that touched him? (Consider Matthew 9:4)
- If you were the Synagogue Ruler how would you view Jesus' interaction with the woman?
- Put yourself in this woman's world and context. (e.g. bleeding, broke, ostracized, near the Synagogue Ruler, etc.) Does it seem strange that the woman admitted that she was the one that touched him and what type of suffering she had experienced for 12 years?
- Do you think there could be a change in" your story" if you stepped out in greater faith?
- While this story is about a physical healing and trying to touch Jesus' garment, what other context might be a more contemporary challenge for growing your faith in your life in December of 2012? (E.g. economic challenges, family conflict, moral convictions, etc.)
- Have you ever known a church context which seemed to discourage people from stepping out in greater faith?
- How can your CARE group encourage each other to step out in a radical faith in Jesus?
Some Resources:
Matthew 9:20 cross references:
Title: King Herod's Story -
Text: Matthew 2:7-23
Questions: Was Jesus born in the Inn's stable or a house? (Mt. 2:11; Lk. 2:7) How might bits and pieces of the information in Mt. 2:7, 11, 16 explain why the Wise men went to a house instead of a stable?
Parents with your children: This is a great opportunity to talk to your children about leaders that lie, are selfish, and lawless. Contrast the attitudes between the "3 Kings" from the east from King Herod. How would Jesus expect you and your children to deal with a narcissistic friend, teacher, "king"? Focus on the Family - Responding to Narcissism


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I know, I know, this hotel doesn't look real, but I promise it is! I feel so lucky to have stumbled across this adorable Parisian hotel and even luckier that we got to stay here for two nights during our trip to Paris in October. It is everything you could ever dream of for your first trip to Paris. The staff are incredibly friendly and helpful, the beds are comfortable, the location is perfect and the decor, oh the decor! The floral wallpaper and gorgeous chandelier had me sold without even looking at the prices ( the best part is, the hotel is really affordable).
The hotel is located in the Marais district which in my opinion is one of the best locations in Paris. Just steps outside of the front door of the hotel you will find adorable cafes and restaurants as well as some of the best shopping in the city. You are close to the metro stations and just a short walk from Notre Dame. The most incredible department store is only a half a block away and is definitely worth the visit (It's called Le BHV Marais if you want to look it up). The only downside is the size of the rooms. They are definitely small for American standards but are manageable. The hotel is family run, small and cozy. I swear it felt like we were the only guests the entire time.
They even serve breakfast in the world's most adorable breakfast room! It only costs around 15 euros and the food is delicious.


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View All Calendars is the default. Choose Select a Calendar to view a specific calendar. Subscribe to calendar notifications by clicking on the Notify Me button, and you will automatically be alerted about the latest events in our community.
December 20, 2018, 5:30 PM @ Town Hall Selectmen's Conference Room
December 20, 2018, 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM @ School-Pierce
Pierce School Site Council Meeting - School Curriculum Subcommittee member(s) will be in attendance for a discussion of the Pierce School Improvement Plan.
December 20, 2018, 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM @ Town Hall Selectmen's Hearing Room


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I made all kinds of excuses. I had to go in to get more beverages. I was going in to bring down the desserts. I had to help my sister with the dishes. Then I would climb the two staircases to the main floor of my sister's house and gaze out the window. For from that vantage point, I had a perfect view of my big brother's face.
I had forgotten how it felt to see him. After all, in the 27 years since he moved to Houston, I've only seen him a handful of times. When his first son was born. When I visited one Christmas when his sons were toddlers. When he came "back home" with his wife and kids. When he served as my daughter's godfather. When my dad began to falter. And when my dad died, three years ago this month.
Each time he'd make the journey, I'd try to get a good look at the boy-turned-man who I once thought was "all that" and more. The boy I took bags of potato chips to each day at lunchtime when he was in the eighth grade. The same boy I wrestled with and argued with when we were small. The boy who drove me to high school but then made me walk in alone.
But he was three years older, so I felt lucky to just tag along for the ride. He was three years cooler, too, I figured. We shared a friendship most brothers and sisters never have. We even went on double dates and out with friends together as we got older.
But then he got a job far away, married a girl from "back home" and started his family. Each of his three kids was a miracle, but they are all grown now. His beautiful daughter even has her father's chocolate eyes.
And yet, whenever he visited, I could never really get a good look at him. You know, the kind of look reserved for those we love the best.
So when I went upstairs during our reunion, I lingered there. For the window above my sister's kitchen sink was a straight shot to my brother's face. From there, I studied his features.
At 54, his dimples are deeper than I remember. Remarkably, he's still as slim as a reed. He keeps his hair short these days because of the Houston weather and his favorite side job of refereeing. His skin is more tanned than when he lived in Ohio. But he's still so handsome, and his eyes, well, they still twinkle like I remember. His laugh has not changed, for it comes quickly and heartily.
The sad part was I only got to see him for one day during this visit. I remember how I used to spy on him when we were small, watching him from afar. I'm sure he sometimes wanted his "baby sister" to just get lost. But my time with him was never long enough. Just like now.
His plane left last Wednesday. That day, as I pictured him flying back home where he now belongs, I thought back to the day he left Ohio. How his car drove down the road, the taillights getting smaller and smaller. And how I held his picture and studied his smile.
When we said goodbye just days ago, I whispered, "You were my first real friend." He squeezed me even tighter, like he was trying to remember me, like I had been trying to memorize him earlier.
When I was looking at his face out the window.


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Anti-Aging Regenerative Medicine
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If you desire comprehensive, evidence based medical approach to the aging process, our preventative-aging program is truly the way to go. In this competitive society (as the cowboys say) "you not only gotta be good- you gotta look good." We devote a full day with you, through extremely thorough performance testing, biomarker measurements, physical examination, and comprehensive blood analysis; we determine your functional age and how old you really are.
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Best Kidney Transplant Centers In The United States For Living Kidney Donation To CKD And Dialysis Patients/
With over 100,000 patients on the Kidney Transplant Waiting List, the idea of waiting for 5 to 7 years or more for a Kidney Transplant can be daunting for most Chronic Kidney Disease and Dialysis patients. However, when a Chronic Kidney Disease or Dialysis patient receives a Kidney Transplant from a Living Kidney Donor, the wait time for a transplant is potentially shorter and the transplant can be scheduled. This allows for donations to take place when the recipient is in good health and when it is convenient for both the donor and the recipient, such as summer vacation or winter break. Also, long-term kidney survival is markedly improved among patients who receive a Kidney Transplant from a Living Kidney Donor as compared with patients who have a Deceased Kidney Donor. The following are a list of Transplant Centers that have been known to have a very good track-record for Living Kidney Donation for Chronic Kidney Disease and Dialysis patients:
University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB): 50 years after conducting its first Kidney Transplant Surgery, the University of Alabama at Birmingham leads the way when it comes to Living Kidney Donation. With a world-renowned Kidney Transplant Team and creative Living Kidney Donation Programs, UAB has helped thousands of patients successfully receive their Living Kidney Donor. UAB holds the record of the longest Living Kidney Donor Transplant Chain in the world with well over 88 total transplants performed in the single chain and a goal of 100 Living Kidney Transplant from the same Chain Donation.
Johns Hopkins University: As a world-class institution, Johns Hopkins was the first to perform a Kidney Transplant operation in Maryland in 1968. Ever since then, the University has sought to perfect treatment solutions to help patients with High Antibodies receive Kidney Transplants from Living Kidney Donors and most recently was the first Transplant Center in the U.S. to be approved for Living Donor HIV-positive to HIV-positive Kidney Transplants. It continues to trail-blaze procedures that make Living Kidney Donation an option for older patients as well as Donor-Recipients with different blood types.
University Of California Los Angeles (UCLA): While the University Of California Los Angeles has one of the longest Kidney Transplant Waiting Lists in the nation (7 to 10+ years wait time) it has pioneered new options to help limit wait times via Living Kidney Donation. One of its most impressive programs is the Voucher Donation Program which allows Living Kidney Donors to donate ahead of their desired recipient's need so once their loved one, friend or stranger recipient needs a transplant, they have a voucher to go to the top of the list and receive one much sooner. This allows the Living Kidney Donor to donate while in good health and the recipient to know that they will receive a kidney much faster when they need it in the future.
Recommended Reading: Petition To Update Rules To Help Boost Kidney Transplants For CKD And Dialysis Patients
If you do not have anyone who is willing to serve as your potential Living Kidney Donor or your possible donors are not eligible, then click here to join the KidneyBuzz.com Find A Kidney Donor Program to help improve your chances of connecting with possible altruistic (selfless) Living Kidney Donors.
Recommended Reading: A New Resource To Help Increase Possible Living Kidney Donors
Where are you listed? Would you recommend your Transplant Center to others? Why or why not? Share your experience and insights with the nearly 72,000 Friends who have liked KidneyBuzz.com on Facebook (click here). Also, follow the over 250,000+ monthly individual viewers who visit KidneyBuzz.com regularly for the latest daily news and information which teach those with Chronic Kidney Disease, Dialysis, Kidney Transplant, Diabetes, and Hypertension how to better manage and improve their lives. Catherine MacKenzie (Dialysis Patient) said, "What a great site. I thought I knew quite a bit about CKD after suffering for 26 years but I've learned a lot since finding KidneyBuzz. I'm awaiting my 2nd transplant but will be checking into your site regularly."


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Go to: Forum List•Message List•New Topic•Search•Log In•Print View
March for Our Lives, fake news!
Posted by: suncloud ()
Date: March 26, 2018 06:28AM
Yes, it's ALL FAKE! Crisis actors, all of them! Read about it here: Bullhockey.com.
Re: March for Our Lives, fake news!
Posted by: suncloud ()
Date: March 26, 2018 07:18AM
Just kidding. Not funny though, I know.
But for real, might be a good thing to have a few more common-sense gun laws. Like background checks for gun shows. And like regulating magazine capacity give potential victims a chance to escape or even overcome a shooter.
The issue is not the "right to bear arms". It's where do we draw the line? Does anyone think nuclear weapons should be freely available?!
Clearly, there's a line to be drawn somewhere. Duh.
As for the right to bear AR-15s just so we can all be armed in the event of a coming revolution against tyranny... Gandhi had a revolution - and no guns. Martin Luther King had a revolution - and no guns.
And these kids who grew up supposedly trained to evade a school shooter who's attacking them with an AR-15, these kids are having a REVOLUTION - and they're not using guns.
Deja vu for my own generation who grew up trained to hide under our desks during drills for a nuclear attack. Right. Well, we grew up and stopped a war. We had a revolution. It succeeded largely due to nonviolent action that included our own Vietnam vets. We'd had ENOUGH.
So hey war industry (and yes, these are the same weapons manufacturers who'll do anything to keep those gun sales going, no matter who buys them or who uses them to kill innocent civilians of any/every age group), and ALL those who unwittingly - or with full knowledge - are in complete support of those sales: A change is coming, because there's a whole generation of kids who grew up trained to evade a shooter, and they're not going for it anymore. They're calling BS, and they're saying:
Go to: Forum List•Message List•Search•Log In
Sorry, only registered users may post in this forum.


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Stewart J. Rahr Foundation: New York City Grants/
OVERVIEW: Established in 2010, the Stewart J. Rahr Foundation is the philanthropic vehicle of pharmaceuticals billionaire Stewart Rahr. The young foundation states three interests: youth, education and medical research.
FUNDING AREAS: Education & Youth, Medical causes, Jewish causes
IP TAKE: The foundation's grantmaking is just getting started, and in a recent year, the Rahr held some $114 million in assets and gave away more than $14 million. Rahr has a website and is open to applications.
PROFILE: New York University graduate, Stewart J. Rahr is the founder of drug wholesale business, Kinray, which was purchased by Cardinal Health in 2010 for $1.3 billion. As well in 2010, Rahr established the Stewart J. Rahr Foundation whose mission statement briefly reads: "Investing in our world's future... supporting our youth, education, and medical research."
A component of Rahr's philanthropy involves New York City, with education, youth, and health outfits receiving sums. Money has also gone to Jewish causes. In education, New York City grantees include George Jackson Academy, Baruch College Fund, PS8 PTA, Public School 003, and the Chapin School. Funds have also gone to outfits that support youth such as Keep A Child Alive, an Alicia Keys cofounded outfit which brings "dignified treatment, care and support to children and families affected by HIV," and the Joe Torre Safe at Home Foundation, which deals with domestic violence.
In health, New York City hospitals such as New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Hospital for Special Surgery, and New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation have been funded. Support has also gone to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and Gabrielle's Angel Foundation for Cancer Research. A large $10 million gift went to Make A Wish Metro New York and it's worth noting that the Rahr Foundation also has an interest in supporting children's health. Autism is another health interest and New York grantees include AABR, which serves "people with developmental disabilities and children with autism in Metro NYC."
Grants have also gone to Jewish outfits such as the UJA Federation of New York, Friends of the Israel Defense Forces, and Museum of Jewish Heritage. Funds have also gone to New York antipoverty outfit Robin Hood Foundation.
Grantseekers interested in support from Rahr can be begin by filling out a grant application form on the foundation's website. In a recent year, the foundation reported over $107 million in assets and gave out nearly $6.5 million.
Search for staff contact info and bios in PeopleFinder (paid subscribers only.)


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- Yoshinori Kitase unsure how many games Final Fantasy VII Remake will span
- Square Enix still developing Final Fantasy VII Remake as multiple parts
- Final Fantasy VII – A Symphonic Reunion official concert dated for June 9
- Inside Final Fantasy VII - A developer interview
- Final Fantasy IX for Nintendo Switch and Xbox One available today; Final Fantasy VII due out March 26
- "The Legend of Final Fantasy VII" book giveaway
- Final Fantasy VII's "On the Way to a Smile" short stories collection to be published in the West
- Cloud Strife amiibo figures due out on July 21
- Final Fantasy 30th Anniversary event: all the announcements
- Advent Children, Spirits Within set for blu-ray re-release
Nintendo is set to release a pair of amiibo figures featuring Final Fantasy VII's very own Cloud Strife on July 21, the company announced today during their dedicated "Nintendo Direct" stream.
As shown in the gallery above, one figure features the young SOLDIER in his 1st Class garment and equipped with the iconic Buster Sword, while the other features him in his Advent Children attire and equipped with the Fusion Sword.
Cloud is a playable character in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo Wii U and 3DS.
…Eagerly awaiting news on Episode Prompto.
Who else?
This place has been dry since the last FFXV article lol
Comment section are always lit. 🙁
Patrick Bateman
gonna be refreshing that BestBuy page steady. shit's gonna sell out in seconds!
Jesiah Grant
$10 These will function in some capacity for the switch version of FF7 Remake
Google is paying 97$ per hour! Work for few hours & have longer with friends and family! !sw340c:
On tuesday I got a great new Land Rover Range Rover from having earned $8752 this last four weeks.. Its the most-financialy rewarding I've had.. It sounds unbelievable but you wont forgive yourself if you don't check it
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you can pre order now 😉
Patrick Bateman
lol wishful thinking that the remake is going to switch.
Patrick Bateman
sadly not in Canada yet 🙁
Justice V
Pretty much what I was gonna say haha.
Justice V
Hasn't been much news lately. Except for Dragon Quest stuff, but I'm not too interested in that series. Not sure where everyone else went heh.
^All of this.
My Nintendo arrived a day ago and I haven't been able to put Breath of the Wild down. FFXV & Breath of the Wild best games I've had in ages.
If FF7 Remake is on the Switch, then that would be the most epic thing ever. Switch version would sell a fuck ton load! Imagine the FF7Remake Cartridge!
Joshua Woodward
These guys have no idea… Square- Enix has the Switch in mind for games. It's uncharted territory that Nintendo has opened up to third party devs, Nintendo has been known to be extremely selective in the past. They've made it known they're open to the third party devs, and it's going to be amazing! There has been a rocky relationship with Square and Nintendo, but I think that will be water under the bridge, and to be honest, that's probably why any Amiibo from Square- Enix based games have taken so long to move a final product.
i dont think ff7remake or ff15 can run on the switch personally. i dont see how the visuals could be scaled down, itd have to be a completely different visual style. like the crisis core visuals on switch. (there is a cool idea, Dirge of Cerberus, FF7 classic, and Crisis core on Switch)
Jesiah Grant
FF7 Remake is powered by unreal engine 4 which nintendo switch supports, FFXV runs on the luminous engine and is probably the first and only game that will use that engine since even square had such a problem with it lol they even dropped it for kingdom hearts 3 in favor of unreal. The switch should have no problem running ff7 remake since its supports the engine. FFXV considering Tabata hasn't touched a switch developer kit and spits that it can't support it says alot, any who not too sure about XV.
Jesiah Grant
Yeah they really don't aye, not even sure they know what engines the switch supports or what FF7 Remakes engine is. Read my response on the matter above, I'm sure it will help clarify anything they dont know.
Jesiah Grant
Yeah man breaht of the wild is so frickin good! If ff7 remake comes to switch ill get that instead of the ps4 coz I love my portable console and a cartridge of ff7 remake would be so damn awesome.
Jesiah Grant
Why not? whats stopping it from coming?
Jesiah Grant
You owe me a sandwich if im right
Ray Muñoz
Just because it supports the Unreal Engine doesn't mean it supports specific games that use too much power. You can't just take an engine that supports a certain console and port everything to it if the game is too intensive for it. A more drastic example of that would be suggesting porting FF7 Remake to mobile, because Unreal Engine 4 supports mobile. There is no way the switch will be able to handle the remake without drastic downgrades. As great as I hear Breath of the Wild is, graphically it is not on par with what FF7 remake will be, and even that had framerate issues on the switch.
Jesiah Grant
Breath of the wild was ported to the switch, if it was made from the ground up for the system I'm sure it would be a different story on frame rate issues. I'm pretty sure the switch is more console then mobile. Of course it wouldn't be the same graphically as say PS4 or PS4 Pro, but on that 720p screen in handheld mode it should still look pretty crisp. I guess only time will tell. I never said it would be equally in graphics as a stronger console I just said it's likely to appear on the console.
Patrick Bateman
The Nintendo Switch is both a console and a handheld, and as such can't have the power of a full, bulky console.
But it also means that elite, hardware-pushing third-party games like Final Fantasy 7 Remake aren't likely to come to the Nintendo Switch. That's why the Switch is getting Skyrim and not Fallout 4, even though the system probably could handle the latter once developers get used to optimizing for it. But high-end software on a system with relatively different architecture, average specs, and an unusual control system is a lot harder to optimize for than a plain ol' PS4. it's more likely to go to PC and Xbox One because those systems aren't that different than PS4, Nintendo's systems have been on a whole other level since the Wii, which is why we havn't seen a cross platform FF game on Nintendo since they pretty much stopped making them on the Nintendo lol ( there's obviously Nintendo Exclusive FF games out there, like the Crystal Chronicles series, and what ever FF Handheld game's been made on the DS/3DS, but I'm only talking about cross platform FF games )
FFVII COULD still possibly go to Switch eventually, but I'd be very surprised if it did.
Jesiah Grant
Power wise its more on par with xbox one I read, the divide isnt as big as it once was with wii and ps3. Alas ff7 remake is a timed exclusive so who knows when other consoles will be blessed with it. If the switch sells like mad like it has been I see many publishers wanting to develop/port their stuff to switch. Also epic games claims there are 20 japanese switch games being developed for the nintendo switch using unreal engine 4 so who knows what is among them.
Patrick Bateman
sales don't really mean much though when it comes to nintendo systems, Wii made huge profits with only a handful of games ( which is why it died pretty soon after, people still bought the system but after playing Mario Kart, Super Smash and Mario Brother's Wii edition so many times that system got old fast ) The Wii-U was a MUCH better system but didn't sell because people didn't want an upgrade to the Wii, they wanted something new and nintendo did a HORRIBLE job promoting the Wii-U, not to mention they gave up on the Wii-U so fast they didn't even give it a chance, a system won't sell if it doesn't have enough games. Most people will play a multi-platform game on Xbox or PS instead of the Wii-U because those systems are simply better and have better online capabilities, but with the Switch being a handheld as well i image they'll get more multi-platform games if the Switch can survive.
Now imo most people got the Switch because it had Zelda for launch with all the exclusive limited edition goodies and they've obviously teased the new Mario among others, but I bet if nintendo doesn't keep a steady flow of fresh new titles coming the Switch will end up like the other failures.
While it IS possible FFVII will go to the Switch, it's far too early to determine if it's even worth the hassle to make it, especially after the switches buggy launch, despite it being sold out everywhere ( just like the Wii was when it came out )
Jesiah Grant
Not sure if you have a vendetta against Nintendo's success or something. I'm a proud owner of a PS4 Pro which I got excursively for FFXV, one title is enough for me to warrant a system purchase just like people buying the switch solely for Zelda, yes Nintendo switch's catalog of games is short but what its been out for like 2 months? the PS4 has been around since 2013. Almost every console is plagued with some technical issues with select launch systems, the PS4 is no different (in the video below) haters gonna hate so can people stop riding the sony cock for a second, nothing is perfect a launch.
Patrick Bateman
lmao don't know why you gotta take it personally "Not sure if you have a vendetta against Nintendo's success" I like Nintendo, Zelda is one of my fav franchises along with FF, just not a fan of how they've been doing business these past years and their systems Given their previous recent systems that for the most part all started well I don't have my hopes up for the Switch lol. No need for this " haters gonna hate" shit, better to agree to disagree than get into anyone being on Sony's cock, I don't even own a PS4 chill lmao
Managing director of Google!, is explaining to users to start off "Work at home" method, that People have been doing for about one year now. These days alone, I generated close to $36,000 until now with no more than my home computer as well as some spare time, despite that i have a fulltime 9 to 5 job. Even everyone not used to this, can make $89/per h easily and the earnings can go even higher over time… This is how i started
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Jesiah Grant
So how do you play your favorite franchises? Yeah the wii u stunk (day one adopter here) but Nintendo has been killing it in the handheld department where some of the best games I've played are, you cant ignore that. Anyways I'll see you back on this post in however many years it takes for ff7 remake to land on the switch. I hope you enjoy your favorite franchises without a ps4 or switch man, gee that's gotta be hella tough. :/
we can be honest, 7 remake looks amazing/ considering the downgrade of DQ heroes 2 compared to the console version. which is an unreal 4 game i think , itd be difficult.
you guys asking every danmm game on the switch are delusional .
nintendo is out of the game, let it go.
Patrick Bateman
lol i'm enjoying my Breath of the Wild on my Wii-U, i skipped out on the first 5 versions of the DS ( since nintendo has a fettish of making the same handheld system with minor changes/sizes ) but got the latest version when Majora's Mask 3D came out so I'm not missing anything on the handheld. I'll enjoy FFVII on Xbox ( the Scorpio is apperently set to be even better than the PS4 Pro, and we're getting KH3 and got FFXV so i don't see why Xbox wouldn't get FFVII but you never know these days lol ) when it probably comes out, if not I'll totally grab the ( hopeful ) FFVII PS4 Exclusive Console. One way or another I'm playing this game so it's no skin off my dick.
Jesiah Grant
Lucky for you if you know how to hack both wii u and 3ds you'd of saved a heap of money since both of those systems are hacked to shit. I'm still annoyed nintendo never released the DS virtual console on the 3DS and just brought it over to wii u. We could of had almost every zelda on the 3DS digitally then. The 3DS is by far the best system to experience Zelda on, but I'm surprised you opted for an xbox being a FF fan o___O like none of the FF remakes are heading to that console (X/X2 & XII) an XV doesn't run as well on it plus the remasters of Kingdom hearts 1.5, 2.5 and 2.8. The Scorpio looks like end game in regards to consoles hopefully the price will be ok, I wonder what sonys retaliation will be.
Patrick Bateman
Fair, My Wii was hacked to shit until i converted my stuff to the Wii-U, haven't gotten around to hacking it yet but now that it's obsolete it's only a matter of time haha yeah i was a Sony guy right up to PS2, ( never owned a regular Xbox because aside from Fable and the old Halo's Xbox sucked balls ) but when PS3 came out it was heavily lacking games i cared about and any FF game that came out at the time was going to Xbox 360 so i stuck to that, plus all of my friends had a 360 and played Halo and Gears and what ever was out at the time.
My older sister got a PS3 and hated it so i got hers for free and played the few games I really wanted ( MGS 4, easily my fav PS4 game, and the first 2 KH Final Mixes before they started making them PS4 only, never cared for X/X2 so didn't bother with that, was pissed that 12 went to PS4 though and not PS3 ) Just gives me more incentive to get a PS4 down the road, and I'm really hoping that they make a damn FFVII Themed console!
Jesiah Grant
Oh man Ive never played mgs 4 (waiting for a remaster on ps4) but man mgs 3 in my opinion is one of the best games ever made. I gave up on limited consoles after getting ever zelda 3ds console im burned out on it all.
Managing director of Google!, is explaining to users to start off "Work at home" method, that People have been doing for about one year now. These days alone, I generated close to $36,000 until now with no more than my home computer as well as some spare time, despite that i have a fulltime 9 to 5 job. Even everyone not used to this, can make $89/per h easily and the earnings can go even higher over time… This is how i started
➽➽;➽➽ http://GoogleFinancialCashJobs383TopCapitalGetPaid$97/Hour… ★★★✫★★★✫★★★✫★★★✫★★★✫★★★✫★★★✫★★★✫★★★✫★★★✫★★★✫★★★✫★★★✫::::::!sr93c:….,…….
Damn, I can't decide which one to choose. The amiibo style matches better with the classic ff7 design, but I usually like the AC design more :'D first-world problems xD
Joshua Woodward
We're not asking for every damn game on Nintendo Switch. We're just asking for FF7 Remake! 🙂 All I was saying was SE is going to make games for the Switch, as to what they're going to make is still anyone's guess, E3 can't get here soon enough! As for the FF7 Remake, they haven't given us much to go on yet, other than play it first on PS4 (timed exlusive, pre-order instant access, beta with pre-order, etc.). Hell Mario Kart is going to Run 1080 and 60 FPS, 60 FPS on the handheld and when docked. Don't rule out the hybrid yet! HYPE.


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I just finished uploading the pictures I took during the trip to the UK. Nothing spectacular, and I didn't get rid of the bad pictures.
The UK travel type pictures are in here:
My brother's wedding photos are here:
Maybe I can get the Portland pics up soon.
*edit* Portland and Baby pictars are up!
|comments: 1 comment or Leave a comment


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This blog integration app produces little information bubbles or panels so readers see information about a topic while staying with the original article. Similar to the Snap plugin but without the ads. [Beta] URL: Panels.
A search, compare and sort engine that lists the top summarized results from the main search engines. Its a smart way to check/verify search rankings and authoritative search terms. [beta] URL: Triplify.
Bionic Books
A free web 2.0 accounting application for small businesses and start-ups. The service aims to make accounting easy to do, and something that you can learn as you need it. URL: Bionic Books.
A mapping plugin engine that adapts the rendering of your map by grouping markers in order to generate an ultra fast display for high data volume maps. Instead of waiting for thousands of useless pins to appear, try Mapeed. URL: Mapeed.
An easy way for you to trade your clothing, accessories, and books with others online. You can join groups, socialize, and get fashion, book, and green living tips. Rehash your belongings without spending a penny, all the while helping the environment. URL: Rehash.
A simple tool for posting small snips to Twitter. It lets you "quote" text on any web page. The nifty thing about TwitSnip is that it tries looking up the @user for the website and linking back to the source. URL: TwitSnip.
The name of the site is a play on RSS. Rososo is a simple, clean, guilt free way to keep track of your bookmarks. You can test out the site by adding bookmarks on Rososo before registering. URL: Rososo.
This word processing collaboration app combines the best of the old off-line desktop with the new possibilities of web-based software, where users work anywhere, any time, on any connected computer. [Beta] URL: TextFlow.
A simple visual dashboard that adds more power to Twitter, your other online identities and those of your friends. URL: PeopleBrowsr.
Tidy Favorites
Tidy up your favorite bookmarks and surf the web with this next-generation, user-friendly interface. Bookmarks are saved as thumbnails in which you can drag and drop the thumbnails to rearrange your preferences. URL: Tidy Favorites.
Social Mention
A social media search engine that tracks user-generated content. Results are aggregated from popular social media services, such as Flickr, Digg, and Twitter. URL: Social Mention.
A viral analytics platform for social network application developers. The Kontagent platform is built from the ground up to provide deep social data visualization and analysis that delivers actionable insights delivered via a hosted, on-demand service. The platform works directly with the Facebook API, and will soon support OpenSocial and the MySpace platform. URL: Kontagent.
A twitter search app that lets you browse the twittosphere by tags. URL: Tweetag.
A hosted, interactive collaboration tool for your mockups. Upload your mockups to a central location, give your clients a URL to view and review all of the mockups for any particular project. URL: Mocklinkr.
Feed Rinse
An RSS tool that lets you automatically filter out syndicated content that you aren't interested in. It's like a spam filter for your RSS subscriptions. URL: Feed Rinse.
Easy management for multiple Twitter accounts and brand monitoring. Splitweet allows the Twitter users to compose a list of accounts and distribute their tweets, choosing their release in one or more of their accounts. You can also follow your following tweets from all of your managed accounts in Splitweet. URL: Splitweet.
A mashup aggregator specifically geared to crisis and emergency information. CrisisWire released on November 13th, which just happened to coincide with the Santa Barbara fires (currently happening as of 1am PST 11/13/2008) and was used to find and relay information around the globe about the fires. URL: CrisisWire.
Feeling Polaroid nostalgia? Poladroid is a free Mac application (Windows version is in the works) that will turn any photo into a Polaroid-like image that develops on your desktop. Currently in beta. URL: Poladroid.
A personal shouting place that lets you stay in touch with your friends via short, quick messages. It works the other way too. And all you have to do is tell your friends (and the world) what are you doing at the moment. URL: koornk.
A content recommendation service that separates the signal from the noise and delivering the most valuable information from your most trusted sources. My6sense is more than a smart feed reader, it's your "digital intuition". [Alpha] URL: my6sense.
A tabbed search engine. Search Google, Yahoo, and other search engines all on one page. URL: Search.io.
A home page/start page that aims to speed up your internet experience. It acts as a meta-search, gathering results from Google, Wikipedia, and Youtube instantly as you type. URL: keyboardr.
A new way to browse topics on the web. We do this by linguistically analyzing web content to learn how people, places and things are connected to each other. Users browse those connections, see related articles, pictures and videos found anywhere on the web, without having to search. URL: Evri.
A worldwide community for creative talent and a fair and fun way of connecting those who have ideas with those who need ideas. Think of it as a new type of job board. URL: jovoto.
A social fitness network for detailed tracking, online accountability, and motivation. Whether you are trying to lose weight or get fit, it's time to start taking your fitness seriously. Track your workouts, monitor your diet, meet new friends, and reach your goals. URL: Gyminee.
A simple way to send payments via Twitter. To test it, start by filling in "Send @cesarhcjr twitpay $1 for fun" into the online form at Twitpay. URL: Twitpay.
Add your Twitter feed to your favorite calendar application and browse through your personal Twitter diary. URL: Twistory.
The "first true musical instrument created for the iPhone. Ocarina is sensitive to your breath, touch and movements, making it even more versatile than the original [instrument]. Unlike other musical applications, there are no pre-compiled riffs so musicians will find unlimited opportunities for self-expression. Advanced options allow you to choose between diatonic, minor and harmonic […]
A mobile phone group messaging and photo sharing tool. Users can post private messages to their friends or completely public. Storyz functions like threaded group MMS across web and mobile. The service converts photos and videos across handsets and web, and can be used on popular social network sites like Facebook, MySpace and Hi5. URL: […]
A web-based WYSIWYG website builder that lets you create a free web space with ease and no technical knowledge. [Beta] URL: Viviti.


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IF CVNC.org CALENDAR and REVIEWS are important to you:
If you use the CVNC Calendar to find a performance to attend
If you read a review of your favorite artist
If you quote from a CVNC review in a program or grant application or press release
Now is the time to SUPPORT CVNC.org
As noted in a recent CVNC news item, this is not your father's string quartet. The image of the string quartet has certainly evolved in the past 30 years or so. Not very long ago, the string quartet, the "classic" concert music ensemble, was considered to be the epitome of old-fashioned, boring, and elitist music. Probably the greatest popular-culture depiction of this perception came in the early years of the TV show Saturday Night Live, where a recurring skit featured a group called The Dead String Quartet. Four ghostlike, doddering old persons barely had the strength to lift their bows and get out a single, creaky chord before they all slowly fell over their music stands and collapsed on the floor. Well, I guess you had to be there. About the same time that this extreme caricature was being broadcast, the Kronos Quartet burst onto the scene, and the image of the string quartet was changed forever.
In 1998, a newly formed string quartet with the enigmatic name of "Ethel" appeared on the scene in New York City. If part of their purpose was to break the traditional rules of string quartet playing, they first needed to be well versed in those rules. Each member of this remarkable group comes from a distinguished, "legit" background. Todd Reynolds and Mary Rowell, violins, Ralph Farris, viola, and Dorothy Lawson, cello, boast resumes that include stints with some of the great orchestras as well as a broad background in jazz, rock, and Broadway productions. The members of Ethel prefer to be referred to as a band, and they don't shy away from making a spectacle of themselves and their music. Lighting, choreography, special effects, and a general "show biz" feel, in the best sense of that term, permeate their performances, which have been described as a "tightrope act without a net." But, this is no undisciplined, three-chord garage band. More importantly, they are definitely not a group of classically trained musicians who "play at" different styles that are written out for them – something that usually falls flat and disingenuous.
Ethel made their first appearance in this area on November 16 at Duke University's Reynolds Theater as part of the Milestones 2004 concert series jointly presented by the music departments of Duke and UNC Chapel Hill. A relatively few, open-minded and open-eared hearty souls ventured out to be rewarded by a brilliant display of creativity, virtuosity, and just plain fun. Despite some of the descriptions I have read of some of their performances, this one was rather tame as far as effects and non-musical "distractions" are concerned. Perhaps they wanted to tread a bit conservatively in an unknown red state.
They were all amplified, but that was it as far as electronic effects. Their configuration was a bit unusual. Both violinists sat facing the audience on bar stools so they were nearly standing. The violist was on the audience's left and the cellist on the right, sitting on standard chairs. With the small crowd and the personality of the group, the entire evening had a very intimate feel. You could sense how it might have seemed more comfortable listening to them in a small club with a drink. But, make no mistake about it – they are consummate musicians with the chops and intelligence to play anything.
Most of the works that they play are from contemporary composers, many of whom are associated with groups like "Bang on a Can All-Stars" and other New York-based modern-music ensembles. This includes composers like John King, Evan Ziporyn and John Halle. It was in the opening work, John King's "Sweet Hardwood," that you immediately realized the incredible range of their musical background and the veracity of their styles. There is nothing quite as lame as hearing a classical ensemble attempt to play jazz, blues or pop-influenced music – why do you think they call it "Muzak"? Mere technical precision just does not cut it. And when was the last time you've seen the terms "string quartet" and "Mississippi delta blues" in the same sentence, let alone hearing a string quartet play it in an authentic manner? It is clear that Ethel does not play anything unless they truly understand, feel and, to some degree, have lived the music. This is clear from their interpretations of jazz greats Thelonious Monk and Lenny Tristano and Indian ragas, all of which also require great improvisatory skills.
The audience loved it, in part because the players were definitely having a blast. It may perhaps be unfair, but I couldn't help contrasting Ethel with the unfortunate evening with the Emerson String Quartet last month, where the latter group seemed as if they'd rather have been somewhere else that night, instead of playing at Duke....
Ethel played their program without an intermission and saved their wildest ride for near the end. "Cat O'Nine Tails" by John Zorn is said to be "in a variety of genres including jazz, rock, hardcore punk, klezmer, film, cartoon, popular and improvised music." This description doesn't begin to convey the mind-bending journey. I guess you can't argue with some who might label it as "gimmicky," but I don't consider that negative. The changes come at you like a roller coaster. The impeccable timing, control, and nearly inhuman technical virtuosity required to carry this off made it one of the most amazing performances I have ever heard.
Throughout the evening, violinists Reynolds and Rowell took turns introducing each work and giving the background. All of Ethel went out to the lobby after the concert to speak with the audience, sign CDs and bask in the adulation. Those who missed them will have to settle for experiencing Ethel through cyberspace, at http://www.ethelcentral.com/.


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Doing it myself!
May 15, 2016
I've had about five blogs written in the past few weeks, but none of them seemed right to post, or I missed the right time frame, or some other thing that got in my way of letting you read them. That doesn't matter, though, because it's all pretty much the same thing. Today, however, I've come to a conclusion on a few issues, and feel that they need addressed.
First and foremost, this giant monkey on my back. Short stories, submitted to publications, that aren't getting accepted. It happens, it's happened for years, and will continue happening for a long time. It's okay, because I expect it. What I don't expect, though, is no response at all.
Every now and again, it happens. Sometimes the publication goes kaput, and instead of letting everyone know, they just dissipate. That's annoying and rude, in my opinion, because sending out a mass email like many pubs have done, or simply posting to your homepage and/or Facebook feed that you're over with is pretty quick and easy.
Sometimes, they don't get your submission. If I email to ask, they'll tell me they have no record of it at all.
Other times, they just kind of fart around and don't help you. That's what I'm talking about right now.
Two pubs in particular have been keeping me on the hook for a few weeks now, and it's annoying. A lot of people are in the same position, so at least it isn't anything against me personally. They haven't updated their homepages, their Facebook feeds, nothing. Obviously, they are either kaput or have much better things to do with their time than fuck around with publishing stories about killer teddy bears and jilted android brides. (Hey, both of those sound pretty cool, actually. Anyone feel like taking a crack at them? I'll publish it here for $5!)
I was preparing to send query emails to both of them this morning, but then I realized something very important. Why bother?
Say you're out of a job. You've applied everywhere, and no one's biting, even after a few really promising interviews. So you go out, and just go store by store, grabbing an application at every place along the street, regardless of what it is. Yes, I know it's all done online now, but just go with it.
It's been a month, and you haven't heard from K-Mart, so you get ready to go over to the store and demand to speak with the manager, but as you're going out the door, you stop. See, K-Mart has been on thin ice for years, and they keep shutting more and more stores down every year. Why obsess over a job that you probably will lose in a few months even if you do get it?
That's how I feel. A lot of these publications are basically no better than K-Mart, and I'm a fool for worrying about them accepting my piece, even if they pay good money (they don't, by the way).
So I'm self-publishing. I resisted for so long, but it has to happen. I write because I must, as they say, and I'll keep doing it until I'm dead or run out of ideas. Yes, I'd love to make money from it, as it is what I went to college for. Every time I pay my student loan bill each month, I'm reminded of the fact that I'm paying all this money with little to no return investment. Unfortunately, I wasn't privileged enough to have parents or other entities pay my college tuition for me, and loathe the fact that I chose to go into this path.
But, I've got a great day job (I'm in an office now, doing work I actually enjoy for once). Things could be worse, and life isn't constantly kicking me in the nuts. I just want people to read my stories, be entertained, and walk away wanting more with a smile on their face.
So other things I've decided, as I said, are coming as well. Quite some time ago I was planning on posting free flash fiction on this here blog, but I backed out at the last minute. That's in another blog, so stay tuned. Also, big news about "In the Pale Moonlight", my novel you've heard me ramble on about so many times—I'm self-publishing that one, too.
I hate the daunting task in front of me that requires me to do 100% of the publicity, advertising, and fretting over things that take time away from me writing anything else, but it's got to be done. Trust me, though, you'll love what I have, and I'll love you more for being a part of it.