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This adorable vintage illustration from 1963 shows a navy or black brocade cocktail dress with a bustier type bodice and gathered skirt with a folded over-skirt or apron. It has a simple concept that appears more complicated than it is. By using current patterns, it's possible to copy this dress on your own.
The bodice is a simple shape, with a horizontal neckline that has a small notch in the center. By using a similar fitted bodice, and adding that "V" notch in center, the same shape can be created. Black satin ribbons trim this bodice edge, create the straps, belt and edge the overskirt as accents. A tiny bow is also seen at center front.
The skirt pattern you use can be gathered, semi-circle or "A" line. What gives the distinct look is an overskirt that has a center front opening with front edges folded back. This can be draped over the under skirt and sewn to it around the waist line seam. You can see with this design that the overskirt hem is trimmed up at the sides with black ribbon too. The center back edges of this drape are left open, without a back seam and bound in the black satin ribbon. Ribbon could be used for the hem edge as well.
Both of these dress patterns are a good place to start if you don't have your own bustier dress pattern.
Simplicity 1690 is remarkably similar to this vintage dress, and could be used to make the copy. The vintage overskirt is longer than this pattern, so it may need to be lengthened.
New Look 6457, view "A" has the basic pattern elements. It would need to have the overskirt draped. If you try that method, use muslin or scrap fabric so you can get the right look without using your fashion fabric. It can be a flat width of fabric the same length as the under-skirt. Fold back the front edges and trim up that angle as shown in the illustration. Leave the over-skirt open down the back like an apron, so it doesn't need to have a seam or zipper.
To create your own over skirt, using a gathered or "A" line skirt pattern, follow this tutorial. I used small scale patterns to create this, so it will look different than a true pattern you make using full sized patterns.
Because the over skirt folds back, it will need to be fully lined in the same fabric. This will mean that two complete over skirts will be cut from the fashion fabric. Be sure to try a sample layout to estimate your yardage for this so that you have enough fabric for the skirt.


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🍹All day I dream about ice tea…with you🍹 Continue reading
🎄👜What's in my bag?: The Christmas Edition 👜🎄
"What on Earth do you have in here?"
These are words that I have heard countless times. People are often surprised at how heavy my bag is when they offer to place it on the vacant seat next to theirs, or when I'm carrying the shopping and they offer to carry it.
Once I bumped into someone with my big, heavy bag, and they said (and I quote) "I wish I could throw your bag in the bin." 🤦🏻♀
I prefer the question over the comment, because it allows me to show you what exactly it is that I have inside this "heavy", and as I like to call it, "Mary Poppins" bag.
🎄👜Welcome to What's in my bag? : The Christmas Edition 👜🎄
Since it's the Christmas season, I like to carry around either a red, or green handbag. The handbag I am currently using is a red one from Colette, one of my favourite handbag stores.
Doesn't look like a big bag, right? But there's a reason for why I call it a "Mary Poppins" bag. It can honestly fit everything I need! I can't believe how much can fit into this bag. Here are a few items I like to take around with me during the Christmas season:
1. I love Zoella's 2016 Christmas We 3 Beauties cosmetic bag trio. The glitter bag below is my favourite! This Christmas I've placed the mini Snow'ella body mist, the winter wonderhand hand cream, the snow soft lip balm, and a Rimmel lipgloss, inside. I love the scent of Zoella's 2017 Christmas range products. They smell like Christmas, and who wouldn't want to smell like Christmas? I carry them everywhere! 2. Zoella's These are a few of my favourite things bag. Inside it I have a hand sanitizer, wipes, tissues, my tinker bell mirror, my haircomb, hair tie, bobby pins, and some paw paw ointment. 3. Another We 3 Beauties Cosmetic bag.💄However, I use this one for my fitbit charger, portable phone charger, illuminator lens, and a bluetooth button. I bought this little earphones case on eBay! Isn't it the cutest? I usually place them inside my tinker bell case, but I thought I would change things up this Christmas season 🎄❤
4. My wallet. I'm currently using a red wallet that was gifted to me a few Easters ago!
5. My diary, a pen, a book to read and a Christmas puzzle book. I love reading and I love a good puzzle! I use my diary (that my amazing friend gave to me for my birthday earlier this year) to keep organised. There's a lot to remember! I don't want to forget any birthdays!
The book that I had in my bag whilst taking these photos was A Royal Christmas Wedding. I have now finished the book, and I can honestly say that it has become one of my Christmas favourites! I highly recommend it to all who love a good Christmas-romance story 😊 6. Minties, and/or mints
7. If there's enough room I add my vitamin water, and a few biscuits in case my sugar levels drop.
8. Sometimes I like to pop in the nail polish I am currently wearing.
Just in case it comes off, I can simply reapply. I am currently wearing my red Snow White nail polish, and my red glitter Jordana nail polish. There you have it! These are the items that fill my Mary Poppins-like bag 😊
I hope that you enjoyed this post! Tell me what's inside your bag in the comment section below. I'm curious 😜 Is your bag heavy? Does anyone comment on how heavy your bag is? Share below!
🎄Lots of Love and Merry Wishes,
🎵🎶Christmas playlist🎶🎵
🎶🎵 "Deck the halls with boughs of holly,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Tis the season to be jolly,
Fa la la la la, la la la la"🎶🎵 Continue reading
📷📸🤳Christmas Photo Checklist🤳📸 📷
Say cheese…📸 Continue reading
🎄 🎥 Christmas Movie Checklist 2017 🎥 🎄
🎄🎥 On the first day of Christmas, my movie choice will be…🎄🎥 Continue reading
🎄🥂✍🏻📋 Christmas Bucket List 🎄🥂 ✍🏻📋
I'm making a list, and checking it twice…. Continue reading
TV Thursdays -A Vampire Diaries Special
"On the ground where we first met?" Continue reading
Wish you were here…
Dear D,
Happy 26th year! We miss you in the Earth's atmosphere 💜 Continue reading
Roses are red, Violets are blue…
I'm about to hit the hay as they say, but before I do, I wanted to wish every single one of you a very Happy Valentines Day! I hope that your day was filled with a lot of love and … Continue reading
"Happiest place on earth" – Travel Tuesday
There's a place I have always wanted to go. They call it the Happiest Place on Earth….. Continue reading

subset: commoncrawl


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Charlotte, NC
I am an active: art promoter, artist, and photographer.
I began learning about photography at the age of 13, continuing with that passion for capturing the perfect image for the next 27+years. Transforming from a studio photographer to capturing the essence of life and nature. The overall concept of my image galleries is God's gifts and That which was made from God's Gifts. Today I have a very eclectic portfolio of images that transcends many styles and subjects. In an ever evolving mission to capture that "one image" that defines the essence of who I am.
If you would like to read the back stories behind Chris Flees's photography and digital art feel free to visit his blog at http://cf-art-blog.com
Like our work? Don't forget to join our weekly mailing list. Our latest works, special promotions, and coupon codes are emailed to our valued customers and followers every Sunday. We hate spam as much as everyone else so we 'do not share' your information with anyone. You can unsubscribe at any time.
© 2012-2018 C Flees Photography
About C Flees Photography
C Flees Photography is pleased to announce our partnership with FineArtAmerica/Pixels. We feel that this partnership is in the best interests of our valued customers. They are industry leaders for home and office decor. The FineArtAmerica/Pixels network offer a satisfaction guarantee that is second to none. The satisfaction guarantee: "if you are not absolutely satisfied with your purchase, for any reason, simply return it within 30 days for a full refund". No hassles and no headaches.
This partnership allows us to offer you a wide variety of printing options. If you are looking for that special artwork for your home or office that is: framed, on canvas, acrylic or metal we have you covered. If you're looking for a unique greeting card that allows for a custom message inside we can do that. Even if you are looking for a custom: iPhone/Galaxy case, Throw Pillows, or a Duvet Covers* we have them as well. All at affordable prices.
We are constantly adding new artworks to our website. If you are looking for something particular and do not see it on our website, e-mail firstname.lastname@example.com with your request. We currently have over 50,000 images awaiting processing and posting to our site.
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Finally, we would like to say "Thank You" for your patronage. After all, the reason we have been successful over the last 4 years is due to our relationship with you, our valued customers.


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Tomorrow begins the Easter Triduum, the highest point of the Catholic liturgical year. It is also the shortest liturgical season of the Church calendar. This three-day celebration of the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ marks the end of our Lenten journey (liturgically speaking; our Lenten fast does not end until Holy Saturday) and […] Read More
First Comes Love, Then Comes Marriage …
First comes love, THEN comes marriage, THEN comes baby in the baby carriage … I am continually amazed at the things that I read … and not always in a good way. As the title goes … First comes love, then comes marriage, THEN comes baby in the baby carriage … there are reasons for […] Read More
Hananiah, Azariah and Mishael
Hananiah, Azariah, Mishael – who are they?? This posed a mystery for me as I heard these names repeated during the Liturgy of the Hours. The names come from chapter 3 of the Book of Daniel in the context of praising the Lord. I would imagine even those who don't pray the Liturgy of the […] Read More
The Problem with Surrogacy
Everyone is screaming about their rights. Straight couples, gay couples: it doesn't matter. They believe they have a "right" to happiness, a child will make them happy. So, ipso facto, they have a "right" to a child. This "right" is to be gained no matter the cost; no matter the "rights" that have to be […] Read More
Synod on Marriage and Family, Gays and God's Word
"I see you love gays more than God's word!" That was the FB private message I received from "Facebook User" last Monday night. Hmmm … I didn't need to ponder too long before I realized who it was. Looking back in the string of comments, I noted that I had had previous conversation with this […] Read More
Why I Love Confession
I love Confession. It is perhaps the greatest benefit of being Catholic. Before I became Catholic, I couldn't comprehend why it was necessary to confess one's sins to a priest in order to be forgiven. Why couldn't I just talk to God myself? Confession is not just a stumbling block for non-Catholics; it's a stumbling […] Read More
Teach Your Children Well
As I prepare to begin my third year teaching an 8th grade CCD class, the lyrics of the Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young song, "Teach Your Children Well," pop into my mind. Teach your children well Their father's hell did slowly go by, And feed them on your dreams The one they picked, the one […] Read More
Surrogacy Is Big Business … But Is It Moral?
Surrogacy is big business! A simple Google search on the term "surrogacy" returned 1,150,000 results in slightly over a quarter of a second. Several targeted advertisements promised payments to egg donors and surrogates up to $36,000. Another ad targeted homosexual couples seeking a child, touting their clinic's success with dual embryo transfer where each embryo […] Read More
Reflections on the Sign of Peace — Acknowledging Christ in the Other
This reflection began back in January when I read the following Minute Meditation, one of the daily email feeds available from AmericanCatholic.org. Acknowledging Christ Eye contact is more than a polite gesture – it is a simple yet meaningful acknowledgement of Christ in the other. — from Tweet Inspiration There is so much truth packed into […] Read More


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MEXICO CITY/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Grappling with tumbling auto sales and weak economic growth, Brazil wants to renew an auto quota pact with Mexico that is set to expire in March, a move that could stoke trade tensions.
A treaty between the two nations and auto manufacturers, which sets quotas on how many light vehicles Mexico and Brazil can sell each other, expires in March.
Auto trade between the two was then supposed to be fully liberalized, but Brazilian officials are now looking to extend the pact to avoid unlimited competition from Mexico.
"Our position is that Brazil must seek to renew the agreement while seeking adjustments in that agreement," Brazilian Trade Minister Armando Monteiro told Reuters in an interview.
Asked if one option might include reduced quotas, he said: "I would not rule out that possibility but I would prefer to say that something that I do not see is the chance of increasing the quotas."
A source familiar with the situation earlier told Reuters Brazil wanted to avoid a return to free trade on autos "because right now, the conditions aren't right for it".
Another source said Brazil wants a broader treaty with Mexico that would allow free trade between the two Latin American peers in areas where Brazilian goods are more competitive, citing Brazil's $1.2 billion trade deficit with Mexico in terms of cars and auto parts alone.
Brazil would look to renew the car quotas while such a broader free trade treaty was negotiated, this source said.
Mexico, which last year passed Brazil to become the biggest auto producer in Latin America, says it wants the existing pact to run its course, and to be able to freely export vehicles to Brazil from March.
Brazil this week invited a Mexican government delegation to a meeting in Brasilia between Feb. 20 and 25 for talks to revamp the treaty.
"I'm ... going to put everything on the table so that we can return to free trade," Mexico's Economy Minister Ildefonso Guajardo said on Tuesday. "To have credibility, first you have to respect your accords."
Brazil sees unrestrained Mexican exports as a big threat to its domestic auto industry. A car sold in Mexico can cost as little as half the retail price in Brazil, where high taxes, transportation bottlenecks, powerful unions and trade protections have hurt competitiveness.
Data from the International Monetary Fund shows that Brazil is the most closed major economy in the Americas. Mexico has, by contrast, signed dozens of free trade deals in the past two decades.
Brazil's economic growth ground to a halt last year and many economists believe the country will fall into recession in 2015. The country posted its first annual trade deficit in 14 years in 2014.
The auto industry, which contributes a quarter of Brazil's industrial production, has become a persistent headache for recently re-elected President Dilma Rousseff.
Targeted stimulus since 2012 gave sales a temporary boost, but the market contracted by the most in a decade last year as the government pared back the tax breaks to improve its fiscal accounts.
Neighboring Argentina, which recently bought as many as nine in 10 Brazilian cars sold overseas, also imposed severe trade restrictions after a drop in foreign reserves, dragging Brazil's auto exports 40 percent lower to about 335,000 vehicles, the lowest since 1999.
Brazil remains one of the world's five biggest auto markets, with decades-old factories run by Fiat Chrysler (FCAU.N), Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE), General Motors (GM.N) and Ford (F.N).
The industry has struggled to improve productivity, which hit a decade-low last year as output dropped 15 percent to 3.15 million vehicles. Domestic sales fell 7 percent to 3.5 million vehicles.
Meanwhile, Mexico's auto sector has flourished in recent years, with new plants sprouting up across the country as manufacturers look to benefit from the country's proximity to the U.S. market, and because of the nation's cheap wages and myriad free trade agreements.
Boosted by strong demand in the United States and Canada, Mexico auto production rose nearly 10 percent to a record 3.22 million vehicles in 2014, while exports increased 9.1 percent to an all-time high of 2.64 million vehicles.
Car makers including BMW (BMWG.DE), Kia (000270.KS), Audi (NSUG.DE), Honda (7267.T), Nissan (7201.T) and Mazda (7261.T) have all either begun production in Mexico or announced plans to start manufacturing there.
Additional reporting by Alonso Soto and Adriana Barrera; Writing by Gabriel Stargardter; Editing by Simon Gardner and Kieran Murray, Martin Howell and Andrew Hay


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What a funny little word, isn't it? A word that expands into a whole universe of stars and black holes. Especially dark ones.
You've had enough to drink. She doesn't know when enough is enough. There isn't enough money to do this. Love isn't enough.
Or in disguise: You can never be too kind. Never say never. You could do this better. Can you stop? (please)
It started with the day I came back from getting the results to a difficult exam. Back in those days, in the country I grew up in, compulsory public education finished with grade 10: that meant kids had to take an exam to prove their worth right in the middle of high-school. Ridiculous, if you asked me then – and I still think so. One had to pass a couple of entry exams to go to high-school anyway, and there would be another series at the end of it to get the "baccalaureat" (very much in the French tradition). That middle-exam series only added extra pressure and, in truth, it was one of the mechanisms which the communist regime used to ensure people didn't have much time for free thinking ('cause they would start getting ideas that the system was not quite right, right?) There were two such exams scheduled at the end of grade 10, and they were specific to the program of the respective high-school (some schools focused on sciences, other on languages, or arts, or medicine… very regimented to being with). At my school, I had to do a math exam and a physics exam. My grandfather was a well-known tutor of math who gave excellent instruction to countless kids grade 5-12. I was his only (and quite favourite) granddaughter. I owe him every bit of math that I know – and I know a lot! Throughout the year, we'd had our lessons in a group and all of us were doing well.
The exams were difficult, as they usually were at that stage. Only 60 would be able to promote to grade 11 – those who didn't… well, they'd have to get a job (which was almost impossible without connections) and try again next time, and ONLY for evening classes. I was good at physics though not excelling: still, I got a 7.5 or so (out of 10). The math exam, I had taken extra care with: not only I was confident I did everything well, but I provided a double way of solving some of the exercises, and my writing was organized and truly impeccable. I was not surprised to see I got a full 10. Altogether, my over 8 average mark pushed me into the successful candidates. I was proud of myself and for no small reason.
So, big smile on my lips, I went to my grandfather and I announced my victory. He looked at me and said: Daniela did better. (Daniela was another student from our math lesson group) I said: what? What do you mean? He said: Daniela got over 9 average. I said: that's irrelevant. Daniela is not in the same high-school; and by the way, how much did Daniela got in math? 9.4, he said. Well, I got a 10 in math AND I made it to grade 11 – shouldn't this be enough for you?
He never answered that question. The smile faded from my lips gradually, my self-confidence stood fighting. In two years time, I would flunk the very difficult entry exam for the Architecture School: not the preliminary drawing exams (in spite of my Dad telling me I can't draw well enough), but the geometry exam – my best subject. Both Dad and Granddad told me openly they were ashamed with me. I waited another year, tried again: guess what, I flunked the drawing. And then I did something they thought was crazy. I registered for the entry exam of the Math course at the University. Those were the hardest math exams ever. Dad and Granddad felt funnily proud I'd choose that, but they didn't get me at all. I couldn't care less if I made it into that program, I didn't want to be a math teacher, just wanted to see if I could get a passing mark: and I did. I got over 5 average for math international Olympics questions. Right that moment, I knew I would pass the entry exam for the architecture school the following year.
Long story short, I finished architecture school and went on to Cambridge for my Masters degree. My grandfather had died in the meanwhile, but my father was secretly delighted. After immigrating to Canada later on, I spent another seven years over a doctorate only to see my academic teaching dream dripping like sand through my fingers as I sat down to write my thesis: at 40, I had become pregnant with my third child. I gave birth to the child and raised her along with my other two teenagers, while crying my head off and writing the doctorate. I was made to feel a not good-enough mother for crying over such a pathetic career meltdown. PhD under my belt, I accepted to teach drawing and geometry to college students who wouldn't come to class and who wouldn't do their homework, despite my best efforts to engage them. I was sacked when I refused to pass those students.
Nothing I've done was considered enough. They planted this idea in my head at a time when I was young, happy and confident. They did not celebrate my successes. They made me feel little and insignificant. They told me it's my fault for this and this and this. I had to take the blame, whether it was my owning or theirs. They trapped me in this funny game and, ever so slowly, I became "they". My self-confidence was nowhere in sight. I started to tell myself my dreams don't matter; what use is to try this, I don't know enough to make it work; I started to feel guilty when thinking of celebrating me simply because some of them thought that's selfish. When I came to the full realization of this, I was (might I dare say, rightfully) angry. My love turned to hate. I wanted them gone, out of my life, but some just wouldn't disappear. It was as if invisible murky threads made them cling to me, and I was trying in vain to clip and cut and push aside. Nightmarish, really.
Eventually, I took on a minimum wage job as an assistant in a Kumon centre where the enthusiastic and actually lovely owner would gently prevent me to teach – I was there only to welcome students and to grade their papers, not to instruct them: that was her job. I felt not good enough. Everything was pointing to giving up, so I willingly gave up that job too. "The kids will miss you…"
Days came and went, as I tried to fight my returning depression. Something very deep inside, in the dark hole of my guts, said you're not a total quitter. Luckily, I had learned to notice the colours around me, the light, the music, and every now and then a ding of a text from good friends asking how I am. "You're the best mom in the entire world, I can't stop loving you!!!" And those diplomas on the wall in our home-office… tacky, I know. I have a more than patient editor at a famous university press waiting for me to finish the manuscript of a book from my thesis. Why would I do it when there's no academic career at the end of it? Or is it… could it be? Does it matter.
And one day… I understood. Out of the blue. That happy, confident girl is still alive in me – maybe not kicking much, as she's felt down lately… well, for about 30 years, on and off. She is not that young, but man, does she have some other good stuff up her sleeve. She's used her time well. She has accomplished many things just by forging on. She's raised three great kids, she's taught some others, she's cooked a few good meals, she's been a friend. She has a good group of "they" who love her truly. When she wants to, she's fantastic! It really isn't all the work of her dear magic wand…
OK, enough with this! Did you get the message?


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Altar Of Plagues - Mammal (2011) - Tides was a great album, but this album brings a little more to the table. Some of it might be too much, though. Particularly, "When The Sun Drowns In The Ocean" might be a big skipper on the disc, because there's not really much metal to it, just some chanting and a few other atmospheric pieces, which is not to say that this isn't atmospheric progressive black metal with post metal influence, because it is.
Most of this disc is dominated by the atmospheres, yet progressive black metal riffs and drumming come into play also, further enhancing the sound on their older albums. Also, the production is much better on this album than on their older releases. As a progressive black metal and post metal fusion band that excels in both regards, this 4 track 52:00 album might be just what you're looking for. 51:59
Anaal Nathrakh - Passion (2011) - Anaal Nathrakh has always been a rarity in the sense that they seamlessly mix black metal and grindcore together so effortlessly. Of course, screaming your head off in the middle of great guitar melodies with lots of blasting on the kit is not necessarily what I would consider a task requiring much effort.
Still, the band has progressed further from their last album, keeping those great clean vocal choruses and Dimmu Borgir style eccentrics intact. Most of the album sounds as you would expect it to, which is very fierce, except when there are musical interludes or long intros like on "Drug Fucking Abomination." (The longest song on the disc at 7:46)
For the most part, this album will not disappoint fans, and is just what they were expecting. Despite the rumors, Demi Lovato (Former Disney Channel Star) is nowhere to be heard on this disc, so I am assuming that the track with her is bonus content, or was taken out altogether. Regardless, the band has put out a swell release with just one track I would have to consider a definite skipper, "Tod Huetet Uebel" which has screaming so over the top and damn near feminine, that I would have to immediately cast it off as one of the worst songs in the band's catalog; and one of the worst almost deafening tracks I've ever heard.
Don't play this one at full blast, you might lose your hearing for sure. 35:00
Black Label Society - The Song Remains Not The Same (2011) - This is the most lackluster, "I don't really give a shit" release of the year. Black Label Society made a triumph with their last album "Order Of The Black", but this new one is nothing more than a bunch of extremely sad acoustic versions of songs that were fine being heavy, and some gospel in there to boot. Just like Elvis Presley, Zakk Wylde has now also covered "Bridge Over Troubled Water." Not to mention, "The First Noel" which nobody wanted to hear covered by Zakk Wylde anyway. Remember that it's 9/10 piano driven ballads, and there's barely any guitar theatrics on the album.
If you like southern soul and stuff from "Book Of Shadows" which I actually liked myself, you might like this. "Parade Of The Dead" and "Riders Of The Damned" have both become sorrowful ballads, for example. Add "Darkest Days" plus the two bonus ballads from "Order Of The Black" and you've got a southern man's "Drinking My Sorrows Away" album. Don't forget about the Christmas song.
You know, I can't even consider this a metal album. It's not one by any means. It's like I said before, "The kind of thing you play when your woman's left you, your truck's broken down, your bossman's fired you, and you can't get a disability from Uncle Sam either, so the only thing you've got is a six pack of beer left in the fridge and this album, which you've been playing for weeks now."
It's one sad song of the south. Listening to this album is like the equivalent of cutting onions. You could make the happiest man in the world want to shoot himself after a few minutes of tracks 2-9. Yeah, that's most of the album. Still, if you like southern soul, it's here for you. I think it's the worst thing I've ever heard from the band, personally. 41:00
The Devin Townsend Project - Deconstruction (2011) - The main course is finally here, after three years of waiting, the infamous "heaviest album from Devin Townsend in years" has finally been released to the masses.
Well, what do you want me to say about it? If you liked SYL and Devin's solo work, as well as his previous Devin Townsend Project albums, then there is no earthly reason why you wouldn't enjoy this penultimate release. "Ghost" will arrive next month, and it's an ambient album. A sort of "after dinner mint" for the set.
In this third paragraph you're probably wanting me to tell you what to expect from this album. I can tell you that it's by far the man's best work in several years, mixing valid and bold lyrical points together with comedy in a few areas. (The title track, for example.) There are nine tracks on the album, and it's clocks in at around 70 minutes. Yes, it's heavy. Yes, it's technical. Yes, it's completely bat-shit crazy over the fucking top and insane. There's a myriad of things going on this album, and it's one that you might just need to go through again to fully appreciate. Yes, it could be the best album of the year. I've never heard quite anything so bombastic in all my life.
So, am I supposed to tell you the who the guests are, and how well the "drum kit from hell" software is performing on this one? What about the guitar riffing? What about the...
No. Not this time. I can't spoil the surprise and spill all the beans. Some of these songs are stand-alone pieces in their own right. I'm just going to give it the old 666 on the rating's scale, and say "this is one of the best albums I've ever heard in my life" and "I'm exhausted from just listening to it." Go get it as soon as you can. This one will be talked about for a long time to come. I see topping this one an impossible feat, and I now have my doubts for Z2, but you never know...
It's an essential metal album, I mean to say... It's an essential album for music in general. 70:45
Also Recommend : Ocean Machine (1997), Terria (2001), Accelerated Evolution (2003), Synchestra (2006), Ziltoid The Omniscient (2007), Addicted (2010)
Hate Eternal - Phoenix Amongst The Ashes (2011) - Hate Eternal definitely didn't do anything mind-blowing on their last album, 2008's "Fury and The Flames." On this release though, there are actually some rather interesting technical riffs that are just that. Although, the band is hampered down by their constant need to repaint over the same color, with the same color.
Say you paint a house yellow. It looks good for a few weeks, months, years perhaps...but eventually the paint job gets weathered down by nature, and the paint starts cracking or peeling. A couple years later, and your house needs to be re-touched. So, if you do it the Hate Eternal way, you're going to recolor over your house with the same exact color of paint, but maybe add a few things here or there. Maybe you'll paint the door some obscure blue color, or you'll highlight the windows in green. Problem is...you've still got a house with a yellow paint-job. Just because your door is some off the wall blue, and your windows green, pink, or purple, or whatever, doesn't mean that somebody's going to look at your house and say "Hey, that's unique."
For the most part, people are just going to walk by and say, "Do you see what that idiot did to his house? He's trying to be different, but it's still that ugly yellow color. I mean, that was fine for a while, but I think it's time the guy did some real remodeling."
The bottom line here is, there's only a blue door and some green windows on this album. Take out those, and you've got the same old bland Hate Eternal sound which has been copied the world over, including by the band themselves in this case. There's really not much here to amaze someone, but it's still yellow. If you like that sort of thing. Everyone else just needs to go back and listen to the new Obscura.
Jesu - Ascension (2011) - I remember reviewing another Jesu disc earlier last year. Well, I'm guessing that this one is their big 2011 release, and not a retread - so let's see just how these post metal / drone masters have fared this time around.
First off, most of the songs this time around are really bright. I thought I'd mention this because much of the music this band releases can sound very depressive, and rather rough at times. Calling the album "Ascension" really feels right, because this sounds like Jesu has reached a lighter place musically. Some of you might even be surprised to hear some experimenting on the disc, such as tracks like "Sedatives" which sounds like major alt rock in the vein of R.E.M. or mid-era Smashing Pumpkins.
For the most part, the album is not an abandonment of the Jesu sound, and the post-metal/drone heads that loved the past albums will certainly love this one as well. There's no real harsh metal elements to speak of, other than a "scream portion" in "Broken Home." Since I am expecting the album title to be in sarcasm, given some of the song titles, even the bright sound of the album is probably just a ploy in itself. Regardless, the band has gone musically with the same "if it ain't broke" style that they've done time and again, and even though things might sound brighter and a tad more experimental, nothing really has changed. I could find little fault with this disc, and it was relaxing to play as I cleaned and straightened things up a little. 61:00
Krallice - Diotima (2011) - One can expect it to be the same all the time, right? Things change for a reason, and most of the time it's so they don't repeat themselves. Krallice has now included death metal vocals to their mix, and a little more "umph" in the drumming area to make things sound much more like death metal. Even the melodies aren't as sweet as they once were, and they sound much more anthemic, sometimes even evil. The whole disc will begin to sound like an artsy death metal album, with oversized track lengths.
The disc is 68 minutes long, but none of the space is wasted as Krallice still has an uncanny ability to make great atmospheres as much as they used to in their old days, yet the added production value and death metal edge will surely have fans talking. Yes, one many get the impression that Krallice switched because they didn't want to sound like 80 million other progressive black metal bands, or probably because 2009's "Dimensional Bleedthrough" sounded just like their debut. Regardless of the reason behind this change, death metal fans might now want to check them out.
Yes, this isn't the same Krallice you knew and loved, get over it. Some of the riffs still sound in the vein of their old material, but this isn't exactly awful either. In fact, many have been really pleased by it. The progressive melodies and tight playing are still there, and the drums are definitely a major part of this band now. Yeah, it's not all black metal, and it's not all death metal...but it works and it might get them a bigger fanbase, I suppose. Just give it a listen, it won't kill you, trust me. There are several albums that sound much worse than this this year. 68:00
KMFDM - WTF?! (2011) - While KMFDM may not be the most metal thing there is, they have used several elements of metal in their music, and are still the "ultra heavy beat" as they've claimed in their 31 year reign of having been arguably the first band in the world to combine elements of industrial/electronic music and rock/metal together.
Sadly, the newest release of the group falls a little short. The band decided this time to go with a much more old school and simplistic sound, and that's all that they've accomplished. 2009's "Blitz" was probably the best release from the band in some time, and feeling big headed they decided in 2010 to re-record two of their classic singles, "Godlike" and "Light."
Also, they released a best of and worst of compilation respectively, on top of a remix album of Blitz, called "Krieg" which offered some more metal elements and collaborative work that Sascha happened to be so fond of that he thought he'd use them on this album. Let's not forget about "Day Of Light,"(2010) which is probably one of the most lackluster and throwaway singles from the band that I've ever heard from the band. The new single "Krank" was also released earlier this year with some extra remixes and some more remixes of "Day Of Light."
As for this disc, it's got little going for it. The production is really low-key and it makes the whole album sound like it was recorded in the 90's. There are few tracks here to like, and even the few bits of guitar and such that are used here aren't to my liking. Sascha's voice is still strong, and Lucia still carries a great scowl and singing approach respectively, but the songs are far too basic this time around.
"Blitz" had an underlying concept of Anti-Christianity for the most part, but this one sounds like a bunch of stuff just thrown together, and if it was a musical collaboration between several other musicians, then I'd love to hear how the band would've done it themselves. Clearly the formula is not one to be tampered with, since 2002's Attak forward to 2010 (Krieg) have been good discs for the most part with this one the most disappointing release in years. I can only count about 4 songs on the disc as being enjoyable including the single, with the rest like I've said - coming up rather short.
I am sure that 2012 will see a remix album of possible better quality coming up soon. 2007's "Tohubavohu" was also not my favorite, so perhaps this is just another slip up. (But at least that album had a few tracks that I really liked on it. These are so/so at best!) 50:00
I Recommend Instead : Naive - Hell To Go (1994), Nihil (1995), Symbols (1997), Adios (1999), Attak (2002 HIGHLY RECOMMEND) WWIII (2003 HIGHLY RECOMMEND), Hau Ruck (2005), Blitz (2009)
Otep - Atavist (2011) - For once I can actually say that I haven't heard one line of Otep Shamaya rapping on this disc. As a matter of fact, it's one of their most serious and brutal albums to date, sans a few tracks. This band has been around for at least ten years now, so they're not going anywhere, and things seem to keep getting better with every release. I used to hate this band profusely until I gave all of their releases my full attention. I found most of them to be decent and interesting in a few places. Of course, Shamaya still reads from literature and poetry "Baby's Breath," (which is about a murder) and the band still uses what really are good atmospheres during the readings, (does anyone even notice that this woman actually has a good reading voice?) so I wish that people would stop giving the band so much flack.
First of all, "Atom to Adam" shows that they certainly are coming a long way. Of course, there are still the moans of a completely destroyed woman in here, as well as some decent singing in places. "We Dream Like Lions" shows off her singing ability, but I didn't like it because it was a break from the heaviness.
I think the musicality of the band is definitely getting better and the riffs have improved a bit, not to mention the drumming, which is pretty damned good. If the vocals are the only thing to kill this album, well that's a pretty low blow to the other musicians on this disc; because at least they're actually playing some interesting riffs in a few places, and always experimenting "Stay" so that's something worth noting. Yes, everyone loves to hate them, but they've got some musical talent. 50:00
Pestilence - Doctrine (2011) - Yes, this is my first dose of Pestilence, (feel free to hit me in the head now) and the only thing I can find to like on this album is the great progressive death metal sound, with a vocal touch comparable (and I even heard some cynic/atheist) to Chuck Schuldiner. I always liked Chuck's vocals, but this guy is all over the place.
At 39:00, there's not much here, but there is great playing throughout most of the disc. Even if you're a younger head and can't get through the vocals, there are definitely some great riffs, and drum work on this disc, as well as the staggering technicality.
Pestilence has been around for a long damn time, and even with their Meshuggic tendencies (and I DON'T use that term lightly) it still manages to work out well enough. But, if you just can't make it through the vocals, just skip them and other such bands I've reviewed this time that don't do well vocally. (Otep and Samael for example)
Personally, I think they are trying too hard to be Death, and are missing some of the necessary ingredients... 39:00
Score: 4/5
Poisonblack - Drive (2011) - Well, it seems that the band did have another one up their sleeves, and according to the jacket, it claims to be:
"The most grooving album of desperation from the Poisonblack."
So far, so good, I guess. It's got to be better than the shit slab they released last year, "Of Rust and Bad Ideas." Here I thought they were sounding more like Sentenced with the 2008 release, and then I'm slapped in the mouth by the band in 2010. Hopefully, this is more to what I'm looking to hear from the band. Either that, or Sentenced just needs to come back. Just call it: "The Resurrection Album."
The disc for the most part is a heavier, much groovier version of Sentenced. There, I said it. Sure, it's not perfect - but this is the closest goddamned thing I've heard to Sentenced in years. Is that not enough to make you go check it out yourself? The production quality is good, the riffs are nice and heavy, the guitar solos are great, and the vocal approach is just as good as it's always been. It's definitely not another drop in the bucket for these guys.
Yes, there is an "added groove" on the disc, but the lyrics are the same morose topics (with the exception of a few) and the melodies flow the same way that they would have done with Sentenced, even moreso this time around. Very depressing stuff.
Also Recommend: Escape Exstasy (2003), A Dead Heavy Day (2008)
Primordial - Redemption At The Puritan's Hand (2011) - Nemtheanga is no stranger to me. I anticipated their new album so much that I even asked him on myspace one year if he could tell me if the band was working on something new. I was a little shocked to see that he had replied to tell me that they were indeed working on what was to become one of the band's best releases, 2007's "To The Nameless Dead." Yes, go ahead and say it...
Damn, that was a good album.
Well, after something as brilliant as that, I had my doubts about this one. Nemtheanga is a household name now among black metallers and doomers alike, and he's done several projects since then, one of which I reviewed in the first ever review set. (Blood Revolt - Indoctrine)
Primordial comes on very strong with this album, which has a well produced and still very raw quality that displays the drummer's prowess perfectly, the riffs as they should be, and Nemtheanga's unbridled display of emotion in a way that I just haven't heard from many other bands out there. When this man sings about something, the sorrow just carries in his voice unlike any other vocalist I've heard to date.
The drums have always been a great part of the band, and they're still just as present and capable as ever. The riffs haven't changed or gone happy, and the emotion is all still there. Yes, nothing has changed in the band's sound, and I don't expect it to. The songs are still long and mighty, each one being over the 6:00 mark, and each one having an impressive intro as all great epics should. "God's Old Snake" though adds the black metal scowls that we've missed back into the Primordial sound, and they fit like a perfect puzzle piece.
Even Crowley makes an appearance here, with an excerpt from "The Pentagram." The album's basis is on the denial to accept the Christian church, basically. If the lyrics don't portray that, the song titles will. "The Mouth Of Judas" is another great song on the disc, so do check it out, along with the closer, "Death Of The Gods." The title track "The Puritan's Hand" is also not bad, but there are better on the disc.
All in all, Primordial have once again out-fucking-done themselves. Definitely get this disc and experience these amazing Irish black/doom-metallers for yourselves. The atmospheres created alone by these epic pieces will really submerse you. 63:00
I Also Recommend: Journey's End (1998), Spirit The Earth Aflame (2000), The Gathering Wilderness (2005), The Nameless Dead (2007)
Samael - Lux Mundi (2011) - Samael really worked their asses off trying to make an album that combines all of the band's best elements and showcases their sound perfectly. It's time to retire after this one, and I hope that they do. This disc is absolutely perfect in fully demonstrating their black metal/industrial sound, and combines elements of "Eternal", "Reign Of Light", and "Above" just perfectly.
This is more or less Samael's "Black Album," and it's going to be highly respected among their new fans as well as the old. Most of the songs are very catchy, with a very good lyrical base, Rammstein-ish playing, and mainstay elements which haven't changed since Eternal. Bombastic horns still dominate their sound, and most of the songs are anthemic marches, with the exception of a few, like the melodic "Shadow Of The Sword."
For the most part, the vocals are audible enough with a few language issues. Their lead vocalist has always had a bit of a problem with getting the words to come off his tongue just right, and it hasn't changed here. Despite the lack of solos or memorable riffs, it's still great anthemic black metal with hints of electronics (notice that I say hints as opposed to full on trance fuelled stuff like on 2005's Reign Of Light) and plenty of staying power.
It's definitely very catchy, even if the riffs are for the most part basic. I would give it a 5/5, but I cannot do that since it really is not an album that will simply amaze a person. But it should put smiles on the faces of Samael fans the world over. A definite return to form, and possibly the best they've put out in years. The best thing since Eternal (1999). 48:00
Also Recommend: Passage (1996), Exodus (1998), Eternal (1999), Reign Of Light (Personal Favorite 2005), Solar Soul (2007)
Arkan - Salam (2011) - Arkan is a middle eastern metal band that is parts melodic death metal and parts very familiar to bands like Lacuna Coil, and others of that genre. That being said, the female vocals are excellent in this release, the vocal harmonies working very well. There's also a guy that attempts a death metal vocal that winds up either sounding half-ass, or deathcore at best.
The band doesn't have any real amazing riffs, and their only real strength is in their melodic solos and good knowledge of traditional middle eastern instrumentation. So yes, you will hear a great deal of middle eastern acoustics and drumming in addition to the Farsi chanting. The male clean vocals are also used just a few times, but sound much better than the growls on this disc.
The bottom line for this album is that the female works much better with this band than the male does. His injection of death metal just sounds hokey, and it sounds like their female vocalist could carry the band better by herself. As I said before, there are parts of this album that really aren't metal at all, and are just middle eastern music. If that upsets you, then don't get this disc. While I still believe Orphaned Land and Melechesh to be some of the best middle eastern metal, Arkan is not a bad band, and certainly has promise.
It's not something that you must immediately check out, unless you really like female fronted melodic death metal bands with middle eastern elements. 43:00
Einheuser - Einheuser (2011) - If you're looking for a band with music that's well worth supporting, I'd have to recommend Einheuser. While I am not sure if this is their first album or not, the musical prowess that is displayed on the disc is certainly worth sinking your teeth into. The band plays a surprisingly good mix of black and progressive metal, sometimes influenced by thrash, and sometimes completely melancholy with a great clean male vocal. It's almost like two different bands on the same disc.
The tracks on the disc are very long, and with 56:00 of full playtime; the band puts all of them to use, creating both great soundscapes and brutal thrashers while still adding some enslaved style riffage, and some proggy hits on the kit. The production on the disc is definitely tolerable, and the guitar tone sounds a little old school as well. But the musical theatrics of this band are something to take notice of, and if you're into bands that don't stay in the box, this one is definitely for you. There's even a long instrumental track that proves just how talented the band is, "Smash The Altar" and of course a little instrumental "Ode To Slayer." 56:00
Feral - Dragged To The Altar (2011) - By the band name and description, you're probably already aware of what kind of music this band plays...black metal, right?
Wrong. Feral is a Swedish death metal band that plays some rather solid death metal. It's got plenty of groove and some good solo work, the drums sound exactly as they should, and the vocalist has one hell of a bark and scream. If you're looking for some good death metal, Feral won't put you in the wrong direction.
The disc isn't too long either. It's 46 minutes of straight forward, no clean vocals, no avantgarde silliness, and what some would probably term "grown man's metal" and what other's would term "meathead metal." It just applies to what brand of asshole you wish to be on the subject.
Furthermore, the band really does a great fucking job of bringing that traditional Swedish death metal sound to front, and even though the bark might eventually get on one's nerves, since it is heard so much so over all of the other instruments; most death metal heads won't really give a shit, and after all - this one is for those death metal heads. Knock back a few beers and crank this one. There's even a 3:00 instrumental outro. It's true Swedish death metal, for sure. 46:00
Inquisitor - The Quantum Theory of Id (2010) - You ever hate how an album intro can make something sound so damn interesting, and then be really weak or less than what you've already heard before? Well, that's what this is. It's avantgarde symphonic black metal, but it's very bland in that vein because these riffs are riffs that I've heard have been done far better by the bands that actually pioneered them.
Lets not forget that the vocals are so amateurish, it's pathetic. The guy just has a very annoying and basic scream approach that sounds more like screamo and less like black metal. Yes, there's avantgarde riffs and piano playing and drums the way you'd expect from any proggy black metal or proggy avantgarde album. The disc itself contains one intro and four main tracks, each being over 9 minutes. Some of these tracks do however; feature a healthy amount of experimentation, like "Die Welt Als Wille Und Vorstellung."
But for the most part, the Emperor riffs and Arcturus experimentation combined with Gojira style sweeps, can only go so damned far. Yes, there's some nice drum work, but it's nothing completely out of the ordinary. Inquisitor does what they do quite well, it's just not anything that will really stand up against some bands that are innovating much further than avantgarde. Scarcross and Blutmond for example, could be put into this category.
If you're looking for some symphonic black / death/ avantgarde that pushes the boundaries in some places and stays very normal for the genre in others, and sounds sort of screamo on the vocals...well, Inquisitor just might be your thing. It's slightly promising avantgarde black metal that tastes just a little undercooked, or might just be too overcooked to stand up against bigger slabs of beef released earlier this year, and those still to come.
Regardless, check it out. You might hear something that I don't. 41:00
Miasmal - Miasmal (2011) - Honestly, I was waiting for this one to end. It might seem like it's only 62 minutes of death metal, but it's going to feel like it's 62 hours of death metal. That isn't a good thing, because an album that drones on and on and on and on is nothing more than wasted expectations. Sure, they have a great old school sound, with solos flying all over the damned place, and some classic riffs you've heard a million times before, but what makes Miasmal special (if that could be the correct term here) is the fact that this recording sounds like is was made in 1991, not 2011.
Death metal fans might rejoice at this blast from the past, but for me, I thought the whole damn thing was much too late. I cannot count how many times I have heard this same thing again and again and again and again and again. This may be their first album, but I don't know if they'll put anymore of these out, because who really wants to hear something with no innovation or change to offer? Hair metal albums still come out, but I don't review them. Yes, there are people who will like this album because it reminds them of other bands that they already know and love, but it might just be easier to put on one of those older albums. 62:00
Pyrrhon - An Excellent Servant But A Terrible Master (2011) - Alright, Pyrrhon is actually a rather ingenious technical death metal band. They're quite something, but don't start out that way. Within the first few minutes I was about to cast the disc aside as fodder, and garbage that I've already heard hundreds of times over. But, as the disc continued, the band started to get more and more interesting, pulling out atmospheres and strange riffs, and going far beyond the call of normal technical death metal.
The album ends just as strange as it eventually becomes, and the whole thing is just altogether different and worth noting. While I don't care much for the core elements and what could be deathcore growls (although they might be death metal, since it is getting harder and harder to tell (perhaps that is a good thing) the technicality is not nailed down to only speed, and that seems to be the glue that makes this band work. The crazy time signatures and outlandish acrobatics of this band, not to mention the weird concept of the album about losing one's sanity in a chaotic universe, are what help to make this act stand out from the rest.
You've probably already heard much about this band from whatever metal sources you have, and yes they passed the exam and they are worth your money, especially if you're looking for a very odd trip. 45:00
Rainroom - ...And The Other That Was A Machine (2011) - This is another slightly bizarre act which melds progressive death and doom death together quite nicely. There's not a whole lot of doom elements in the beginning of the disc, it all sounds rather like proggy death metal with some bells and whistles and other things, but closer to the end; especially on the album closer - things get very dreary, very quickly.
Yes, there's a story behind this album. No, I've no idea what it is, so if you want to know, then do these guys a favor and pick it up. I'd have to recommend this one to fans of slow progressive death metal and doom death metal respectively. There's no Opeth style stuff here, it's much more towards atmospheres with some bizarre riff structures, as well as use of electronics in a manner that would have to be quite sparingly. Even though the album is about machines, few electronics and such are used on this disc. It's mostly guitars, drums, and vocals.
Don't expect a major speed up, or things to get groovy anytime soon. This is more like a relaxing sort of death metal, if such a thing can be said. You might find yourself really enjoying the atmospheres created by the band, but then wonder why in the hell things got so dark and drab at the end of the disc. Oh, well. I guess you can just go back to the first track and play the whole damned thing over again. It's worth checking out, but it's not for everyone. 43:00


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There's something about fall that makes a good cook think of sugar and spice, cakes, pies, and cookies and good things from the oven that have been missed during the summer months.
This doesn't mean that cookies aren't good all year around. These are full of delicious spices but also have a tangy, orange- lemon flavor and lots of raisins and nuts as well. Mrs. Miller's Spice Cookies 3/4 cup butter 1 scant cup brown sugar scant cup white sugar 2 eggs 1 cup raisins 1 cup chopped nuts 1 teaspoon soda 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon cloves 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg 1 teaspoon lemon extract 1 orange, grated rind and juice 3 or 4 cups flour
Cream butter with sugar, adding sugar gradually. Add eggs one at a time, beating after each one. Combine spices, baking powder, soda, and salt with 3 cups of flour and sift several times.
Add alternately to first mixture with orange juice, ring, and lemon extract that have been combined. Add as much flour from fourth cup to make medium dough , not too stiff. Fold in nuts and raisins.
Drop by teaspoonfuls on buttered cookie sheets. Bake at 375 degrees F. and wathc that they get golden brown but don't burn.


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Warner Bros is definitely in the Lego business these days. With a worldwide gross of $452.4 million since its February release, The Lego Movie proved itself to be the start of a viable franchise for the studio. So now, like everybody else, the studio wants to build a "universe" around the series. Conventional sequels are out. An approach of sequels combined with spinoff films is the new model. Just ask Marvel Studios, LucasFilm, Fox, and Sony- who are all trying, with varying degrees of success, to turn their geek properties into multi-tiered "cinematic universes."
We all ready knew a straight-up sequel to The Lego Movie was coming. But now comes word that a spinoff, based around Lego's Ninjago line, has been greenlit. Deadline is reporting that Ninjago will be directed by Charlie Bean, and it will serve as his directorial debut. Until now, Bean has worked in the art department for several projects over the years, and served as an executive producer for Tron: Uprising.
In a statement, announcing the film, Warners domestic distribution president Dan Fellman had this to say:
"Followingthe huge success of The Lego Movie, we are very excited to build on the Lego franchise. We know there are already Ninjago collectors who can't wait to see their favorite characters on the big screen. This promises to be a terrifically fun and thrilling entry into our Fall 2016 slate, with broad audience appeal."
Ninjago will be based on screenplay by Bryan Shukoff and Kevin Chesley.


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We are Dorothy Stearns-Holmes and Brant Holmes. We have donated foods and have had organized food drives to help families in our communities who struggle making ends meet, yet felt there was more to do to improve the future of these households. In September of 2011 we saw a segment on the NBC Nightly News about a remarkable organization in Portland, Oregon that was making a difference for struggling families, Birch Community Services, Inc. Both of us were truly inspired immediately. We then contacted the organization's founders, Suzanne and Barry Birch and thus began a relationship with two extremely special, gracious people.
In August 2012, we then made plans and traveled to Portland to Birch Community Services to meet Barry, Suzanne, their special staff and volunteers. We witnessed this extremely well-organized operation at work and participated in a replication seminar along with others who had the similar calling to replicate the Birch business model, procedures and protocol that is highly successful.
The next chapter of our very exciting and interesting journey – when Bentley Community Services, Inc. received in March 2013 its designation as an approved 501 (c) 3 charitable organization dedicated to providing food, basic necessities, household goods, clothing and adult education on an ongoing basis to struggling families in need. We welcome those who need a "hand up" rather than a "hand out" and are prepared to participate in the unique, Birch-based method of meeting needs while working towards restoring self-sufficiency. And, we invite our neighbors in the community to join us in this mission.
Dorothy & Brant


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Whether you play rummy online or at the kitchen table with friends, Rummy is definitely a social game. Online rummy tournaments have exploded in recent years, and it's not just because the Internet has, too. Right now, Rummy Royal has a unique type of online rummy tournament available for its players: the $777 Jackpot table tournament.
This special tournament challenges you to more than just win against your opponents, you have to win consecutively. With just four consecutive wins under your belt, you can take home prize money; keep on winning and that prize money just gets bigger–up to $777 in juicy cash bonuses for seven consecutive online rummy wins.
The $777 Jackpot table tournament features online Kalooki 51 and Kalooki 40 rummy games. Stakes are set at $7 and once you begin, you have 48 hours to complete your winning streak.
If you need some tips on how to play rummy online or just want to get the scoop on Rummy Royal, we've got the full Rummy Royal review for you. Please keep us posted on how you do!


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M.L.P. / Nike Filmmakers Bootcamp Logo
May 28th, 2009 by Larry
I wanted to show the process behind a recently completed a logo I did for Miami Light Project / Nike Filmmakers Bootcamp. It's a 4 week summer camp where Miami youth get to learn vital skills necessary to filmmaking. I wanted to illustrate a continuous strip of film spelling out the initials for Filmmakers Bootcamp, while incorporating equal parts of both sponsor identities. I did this by incorporating Miami Light Project's logotype (completely spelled out) and placing a simple Swoosh in the top right hand corner of the mark. It wasn't necessary to write "Nike" as well, as we are all aware of the equity already associated with the Swoosh.
More sketches after the jump
Category: Branding, Design, Miami, Our Portfolio, We Are the Process Comment: 1 Comment »


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Minor changes ôf design/ux for in iOS app
Budjetti €30-250 EUR
Changes in 6 screens for our mobile app.
Myönnetty käyttäjälle:
20 freelanceria on tarjonnut keskimäärin %project_bid_stats_avg_sub_26% %project_currencyDetails_sign_sub_27% tähän työhön
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In addition to our own website, there are other sites on the Web that provide interesting and helpful dental information. Because we are committed to improving the oral healthcare knowledge of our patients, we are providing the following selection of links to other sites you might find interesting and informative. We have grouped some of the links into various categories to provide quick access to the topics of greatest interest to you.
If you have a suggestion for a new link, please send us an email, as we are always looking for good resources to pass along to our valued patients and visitors to our website. We hope you find these sites helpful!
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Apparently it calls for 11 facts about me, answering 11 questions that Christine asked and choosing 11 people to receive the award from me.
11 facts about me
- I don't have any pets although in the past I've had rabbits, a hamster and a dog though not at the same time!
- I make good bread rolls.
- I'm a Daddy's girl.
- I can be shy/anxious.
- I tend to take over the living room with my cross stitch stuff (yes, even after I bought storage).
- I'm learning to drive.
- I'm trying to tone up a bit.
- I like to play on the xbox.
- I'm a bookworm.
- I'm self concious on how my fringe looks.
- I only buy threads if I need them for a project.
Christine's Questions
1. What is/are your favorite craft book(s)? I quite enjoyed working from Bean Bag Buddies and Learn to knit, I only have a few craft books.
2. What are your favorite craft magazines? The World of Cross Stitching, Let's Get Crafting Knit and Crochet.
3. What are your favorite craft materials ( ex. what are your favorite fabrics, yarns, threads)? DMC Threads, evenweave, cotton fabric, perlé threads.
4. Do you have a favorite gift that you made someone? What is it? At the moment it's the "Who? Me?" chart that has been framed and is on it's way.
5. Do you have a favorite handmade gift that you received? What is it? A snood knitted by Ed's mum. Speaking of which I never posted a photo of that.
6. What is your favorite room in your home and why? Living Room because it's just so homely and comfy.
7. What TV show can you not miss? I don't really have a TV Show that I can't miss.
8. Did you have a favorite toy as a child or have a favorite toy that belongs to your child? What is it? When I was little I had a very basic plush doll called Jack.
9. Which do you prefer? Mountains or the ocean? I really like both but I'm probably going to say ocean as I find it relaxing to just sit and look.
10. What is your favorite cookie? BN's
11. Where is your favorite place to shop for clothes? I don't have a favourite place to shop for clothes, I don't do much clothes shopping if I'm honest.
The 11 blogs that I've chosen to receive the award
Steph at Show and Tell.
Tiki at Tiki Stitches
Ewa at Cross Stitch and Other Musings
Katy at Just A Little Stitchin'
Ann at Stitchy Fingers
Rahenna at Crafty Rahenna
Emma at My Creative Corner
Kate at The Suddenly Kate Show
Gemma at Pretty Bobbins
Sarah at Sarah in Stitches
These are the questions I'd like the blogs I've chosen to answer if they are able to do so.
- Do you have a favourite craft? If so, what is it?
- What is your favourite colour?
- How many craft projects do you have on the go?
- Do you prefer a relaxing or an activity holiday?
- Is there a craft you haven't yet tried but would like to?
- Is there a piece of crafty advice that you wish you'd known when first starting out?
I reached 400 stitches on HAED Tiny Treasure Kitten 2 a few days ago and it's only just turned March!
|HAED Kitten 2 at 400 stitches


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How do you get to Alabama?
The quickest route is approimently 20 and a half miles or around 27 minutes.
5 people found this useful
Where is Alabama?
Alabama is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexic…o to the south, and Mississippi to the west. In the American South between Mississippi and Georgia.
What is Alabama?
Alabama is: - a US state - a river - a university - a group (tribe) of native Americans - a town in NY State - a military district in Louisiana - a confederate …cruiser, the CSS Alabama - a US Navy ship, the USS Alabama - a genus of moths - a book - a Beanie Baby teddy bear - a country rock band - a song by Neil Young - a composition by John Coltrane - an album by underground band CHN
What is the Alabama?
The Alabama is a battleship that is docked in Mobile Bay, Alabama. It was commissioned and served in World War II, with battles off the coast of England and Norway. It's most …active service was in the Pacific theater, with battles in the Mariannas and Guam. It earned the name "the lucky A" because it never lost a crewman due to enemy fire.
Where is Alabama at?
Alabama is a state in the United States of America. It is a southern state that borders Georgia, Mississippi, Tennesse, and Florida. It also borders the Gulf of Mexico.
What can you do in Alabama?
There are various kinds of attractions in Alabama lot ofhistoric places, Adventure places and venues to enjoy nightlife.There are lots of places for for family fun activities.…
What about in Alabama?
There are lots of things in Alabama. Humans, animals, drinks, food, land, homes, cars, businesses, bars, etc.
What is there to do in Alabama?
There are lots of things to do in Alabama like various adventureactivities near the river region like kayak rental, rafting andmuch more. Then you can play various kinds of sp…orts and can alsoparticipate in sports like baseball, golf. You can go to visitvarious places and different kinds of attractions and can do lotsof fun . If you are not tired of all this then you can watchvarious events organised within the city throughout the year. Socome to Akbama and enjoy all the things.
Why is Montgomery Alabama the capital of Alabama?
Montgomery is one of the most attractive city of Alabama .Have allthe historical monuments and many other other things to do.Most ofthe events are hosted in Montgomery
How many representatives does Alabama have in Alabama?
7 representatives & 2 senators with 9 electoral votes..
How do you get to Alabama from Los Angeles?
A college degree helps.
Is mobile Alabama by mesa Alabama?
There is no city in Alabama named Mesa. there are also no communities in Mobile,Alabama named Mesa, so the no, its not near Mesa
When was the uss Alabama sailed to Alabama?
The USS ALABAMA was not sailed to Alabama, but it was towed by two ocean-going tugboats from Bremerton, Washington to Mobile, Alabama from July 7, 1964 arriving in Mobile on S…eptember 14, 1964.
In Alabama
Why did they call the state Alabama Alabama?
Alabama was named after the Alabama River. The Alabama River was named after a tribe of Native Americans called the Alibamu.
In Alabama
What part of Alabama is Alabama state from?
Montgomery, AL
In United Kingdom
How do you get to Alabama United States from the United Kingdom?
Best way is to fly.
In Alabama
Where is Alabama A?
Good Post..Alabama is Located in the USA.I love to visit atAlabama.Montgomery Alabama is more popular and place in US.Thereare lot of natural places which are main attraction …point to thetourist.
In Uncategorized
When was Alabama called Alabama?
denny chimes


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Nintendo's first run of DLC for Pikmin 3 is now available on the WiiU eShop. It consists of several new maps for the standalone "battle enemies" mode, which acts as a sort of challenge mode separate from the main story. Each map will run you $1.99 and can be played solo or co-op. As an added bonus, owners of the game automatically get a free map to whet their appetite for savage mob-killing of the local wildlife. Just sayin', if you think about it Pikmin is a pretty brutal, survival-of-the-fittest kind of game.
REDMOND, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Fantastic new challenges in the world of Pikmin 3 are only a download away. Starting today, new challenges in the "Battle Enemies!" mission type in Pikmin 3 can be purchased as downloadable content in the Nintendo eShop on Wii U for only $1.99. One stage is free, and is available via an automatic software update.
The pack of four stages is based on locations from the game's Story Mode and is crawling with tons of hostile creatures. Like all the other stages in Mission Mode, these new challenges can be played solo or cooperatively with a friend. High scores earned in this mode will be displayed on a global rankings leaderboard, encouraging friendly competition with other players all around the world.
To purchase the new downloadable content, Wii U users with broadband Internet access need to select "downloadable content" from the Pikmin 3 page in the Nintendo eShop and follow the instructions to confirm their purchase. Once purchased and downloaded, players can access the new stages from the Mission Mode menu in Pikmin 3 after the game has been restarted.
Pikmin 3 is the latest installment in the fan-favorite Pikmin series. Designed by Shigeru Miyamoto, the game finds three space explorers leading an army of adorable Pikmin on a quest to find supplies for their home planet. The new stages in "Battle Enemies!" mark the second set of downloadable content in Pikmin 3. Additional downloadable content for Mission Mode launched earlier this year in the Nintendo eShop.
For more information about Pikmin 3, visit http://pikmin3.nintendo.com.


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This briefing is sponsored by The Export Practitioner and Washington Tariff & Trade Letter.
In 2007 and 2008, major changes were made to the statute, regulations and executive order that govern reviews of foreign investments by the interagency Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. (CFIUS). Those changes may face significant tests in the near future. With the decline in the market capitalization of many U.S. companies and growing foreign holdings of U.S. dollars, a new wave of investments, mergers and acquisitions by foreign buyers, especially from China, India and the Middle East, may be coming. How will CFIUS balance the U.S. commitment to an open investment policy in the face of intensified national security concerns? This timely and valuable audio-conference briefing will give the participant an insider's understanding of the CFIUS process and what they must know to navigate successfully a foreign acquisition of a U.S. company. Their expert speakers were central figures in drafting the new CFIUS regulations and the executive order, as well as the guidance on national security reviews issued concurrently with the regulations.
Ted Posner is one of the speakers.
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Welcome! Need support, you got it. Or share you ideas and experiences.
In Reply to: Found old Eska for sale. Worth buying? posted by Johninaustin on January 14, 2004 at 07:49:03:
I have just been working on an 87 Sears 7.5 which is the same as the Eska, in principle. It had been used in salt water and not maintained well. I have had no problem working on it. Itis very straight-forward and there are parts available on the web.
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Otterbein continues to hold tuition at a 0% increase for the last four years while continuing to invest more in financial aid availability.
Otterbein is proud to be a participant in the national Yellow Ribbon GI Education Enhancement Program to help U.S. military veterans attend college and earn a degree. Yellow Ribbon eligible veterans (and their families) who apply and are accepted to Otterbein are able to attend tuition free.
The scholarship is awarded based on strength of academic performance. Full-time transfer students with 30 earned credit hours from their institution and who meet the GPA guidelines are eligible. Transfer students with less than 30 earned credit hours will be considered for the same scholarships, but their complete academic history will be used (high school GPA, class rank, ACT/SAT scores and college GPA). All students are eligible to file for need-based aid by completing the FAFSA form and requires a 2.75 GPA at the end of the student's second year of study for renewal.
Awarded to students demonstrating academic achievement, leadership, civic engagement and/or community service. This non-need based grant may be stacked with Otterbein Academic Merit Scholarship. May be renewed for up to eight semesters or first bachelor's degree if student maintains 2.75 GPA and enrollment status, academic plan and housing status remain unchanged. This award may be reevaluated for adjustment or replaced with other institutional or endowed aid.
Awarded to students who are graduating with their associate degree from Columbus State Community College with a minimum 2.75 GPA and are directly transferring to Otterbein to complete their bachelor degree. Students save on housing and meal plan costs by continuing to live at home while attending Otterbein. This scholarship is renewable as long as the student is enrolled full time and maintains a 2.75 GPA while at Otterbein.
We encourage you to apply for aid, regardless of your financial situation. Please do not assume you will not qualify for assistance. Last year more than 95 percent of our students qualified for assistance.
The following sites are helpful for searching for available scholarships:
ludes more than 600,000 scholarships worth more than $1 billion. FastWeb also offers expert advice and how-tos on financial aid, scholarships, selecting a major, choosing a career and more.
Connect now with the nearly $6 BILLION in available scholarship aid and $45 BILLION in federal and state grants.
Outside Scholarship Listing -Our office is posting outside scholarships on Facebook. We are notified occasionally of scholarships being offered. Go to our Facebook page and Like us to receive these and other important notices.


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CFT Graduate Flor Yousefian Tehrani to Present at 2015 AAMFT Conference
Irvine CFT PsyD graduate Flor Yousefian Tehrani's dissertation research has been selected as 1 of 10 featured Cutting Edge Research Presentations at the 2015 AAMFT National Conference in Austin, TX. This is a major honor to have her dissertation research selected as one of the top 10 cutting-edge studies in the field of Marriage and Family Therapy in the entire nation. She will present with CSPP faculty Dr. Jeffrey Jackson.
In their research, Tehrani and Dr. Jackson looked at the degree to which the past romantic experiences of each partner predicted their personality traits, how satisfied they were in their current relationship, and how committed they were to the current relationship. They found that helping premarital couples learn to feel more secure with one another will likely improve their chances of maintaining a satisfying and long-lasting relationship.
AAMFT and the California Division have been advancing the profession of marriage and family therapy for over 60 years. AAMFT-CA represents more than 3,500 licensed professional therapists in California who uphold the high training and practice standards of our international professional association.
We would like to congratulate Flor Yousefian Tehrani on her great accomplishment!
For more information on the doctoral Couple and Family Therapy degree please visit the CFT program page.


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My thought was to use the Random Generator thingy so it could be officially fair and legit, la la la.
I couldn't figure it out.
So I went old school and just wrote your names on a stash of hexies.
I asked my son to help me. He did it so fast, I almost didn't get a picture of it.
He wanted to draw the name and get out of here. LOL
ALLISON FROM NEW HAMPSHIRE is da WINNER!!!!!!!!
High 5's and Fist Bumps from Pooh.


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Back in January I spun and knit a pair of socks for a friend of my mother-in-law, which were these:
I had also agreed to knit a pair of handspun socks for his wife, and I finally finished spinning for them today. The yarn I spun for them is a 3-ply fingeringweight yarn from a Fries Melkschaap fleece:
I have a rough idea in my head for a pattern for a simple pair of stranded socks in two colours for this yarn, so I have to halve the yarn that I have here and dye one lot before I can get started, and that will probably be later in the week.
Meanwhile, I am still slogging along on a pattern for my goatshead socks, but I fear that the next project will have to take precedence since I am supposed to be getting 2 new fleeces in return. Most farmers are now shearing too, so I have to get a move on to keep my promise on this second pair of socks.
Monday, May 3, 2010
Gearing up for another pair of socks
Posted by The swamp knitter at 2:03 PM
Labels: fries melkschaap wool, frisian milksheep wool, socks, spinning
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Millions tuned into Malaysiakini, KiniTV
for GE14 results
Over 10 million Internet users followed the minute-by-minute
election coverage by Malaysiakini on the night of May 9.
Another 7.2 million watched KiniTV online, while many more got their news via
Malaysiakini's social media accounts and indirectly via its WhatsApp groups.
Advertise on Malaysiakini
Get your brand seen by top opinion shapers of Malaysia. Reach over 25 million page views on PC and 82 million on Mobile per month
Source: Google Analytics, April 2018
The People's TV
KiniTV is a multi-award-winning video platform. Recently nomineed for Best YouTube Channel at Influence Asia Awards 2015 held in Singapore
Get the latest Advertising Trends & Updates in the Market:
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Social Media
Over 4.83 million Facebook (EN/BM & CN) likes, over 1.4 million Twitter followers and 200K Instagram followers for Malaysiakini
Attracting English, Malay, Chinese & Tamil readers
Public Supports
Raised approximately RM1.8 million from our "Buy a brick" campaign
Awards & Recognitions
Putra Brand Awards 2015
The People's Choice Silver Media & Networks
World Bloggers & Social Media 2014
Social Media Excellence Media Industry
YouTube Silver Play Button 2013
KiniTV's 100,000 subscribers
National Sovereignty Medal 2013
Three received medals from Prime Minister were Malaysiakini reporters Nigel Aw, Lee Long Hui and Mohamad Azfar Afandi Zulkfley.
50 Movers and Shakers of the New Economy, 2000 | Media Pioneer Award, 2001 | Kancil Award for Year 2010, 2011, 2012 | Online Journalist, 2011 | Human Rights Award , 2012 | Press Freedom Award, 2000 | International Press Freedom Award, 2000 | 50 Most Influential Communicators, 2001 | 50 Stars of Asia, 2001
Some of Our Clients
Not Convinced Yet?
Allow us to help you understand more about our website traffic and readership.


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Bush & Taylor, P.C. Your Legal Voice.
Family Law
With family law, we know the importance of an attorney remaining sensitive to everyone involved. Our entire team of caring professionals can handle a range of domestic issues including paternity determination, child custody, divorce, legal separation and visitation in Suffolk and Virginia Beach. Domestic Litigation Practice Areas include:
If you're dealing with the possibility of large fines or time in jail, you need an experienced attorney with a track record for getting results. Justin Bush and Fred Taylor represent adults and juveniles in Suffolk and Virginia Beach that have been charged with felonies, misdemeanors and other offenses. Criminal Litigation Practice Areas include:
- Assault & Battery
- Bond Hearings
- Civil Forfeiture
- Driver's License Suspension
- Firearm Offenses
- Juvenile Delinquency
- Homicide
- Larceny
- Sex Crimes
- Traffic Violations
- Commercial Driver or Truck Driver Violations, to include over overweight citations and overheight citations.
- White-Collar Crimes
Justin Bush and Fred Taylor have significant experience at all levels in state and federal courts and on behalf of both plaintiffs and defendants. Our team is never afraid to go to trial, and we'll work tirelessly in your best interest. Civil Litigation practice areas include:
- Business Law
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Personal Injury
An accident can have long-lasting injuries, and the last thing you need is an insurance company that provides little or no compensation – especially when the suffering is at the hands of another party. Suffolk and Virginia Beach Attorneys Justin Bush and Fred Taylor will fight hard to make sure your voice is heard, and your financial and medical needs are met. Personal Injury practices areas include:


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Life is a journey - Sizzix Handmade Card
Hi crafty friends! Welcome back to my blog! I hope you're having a wonderful and creative day.
For today I have a card made with a new die set from the latest release from Sizzix, called Sizzix Thinlits Die Set 9PK - Open Road.
How pretty is this die? You can use it for a frame art, a vintage project or for a clean card. I chose the last one ;) My card is oh, so easy to make.
First, I chose the colored cardstock for the cute car and I die cut every piece using my beautiful Sizzix Big Shot Plus Machine Only (White & Gray). After I finished die cutting I started assembling the car.
Then, I chose a sentiment for my card and I stamped it on the bottom center of a white panel.
Next step was to mount the car onto my panel using some foam tape and I placed it in the center of the card.
I wanted a more finished look, so I drew with a black pen a frame on my panel and added some faux stitching lines. I glued a few clear sequins and my card was done.
I really love how it turned out.
I hope you like my card and you got inspired! Don't forget to check all the new dies from Sizzix because they are absolutely gorgeous.
And there is a new event at the Sizzix blog called Be Inspired New Home and they have also created some gorgeous FREE PAPER DESIGNS ((you need to enter your email address) which can be downloaded and printed to use on some New Home project makes.
If you love Instagram like I do, you can follow me using this name: @ralucavezeteu . I post almost every day new cards and different process photos so I hope I'll see you there, too!
Have a lovely day!
And thank you so much for stopping by,


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We don't mind sharing our secrets, and these superb suppliers of our great British (and one Spanish!) ingredients deserve some applause too. So let's hear it for...
Out-door reared pork - Andrew Baugh, Woodside Farm, Wellow, Nottinghamshire.
British Beef - Elliotts of Chesterfield.
Free-range chicken - Ruskington Poultry, Lincs.
Wheatflour - Heygate Flour, Market Downton.
Blue Stilton Cheese - Long Clawson Dairy, Leicestershire.
Free-range eggs - Hickling Pastures, Notts.
Chorizo Sausage - C&S, Nottm. Muy bien!
Vegetables & Fruits - Barrowcliffes, Nottingham.
Dry Cured Bacon & Gammons - We cure and bake our own.
Beer - 500 and Pale from Magpie Brewery, Nottingham. www.magpiebrewery.com


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My first memory of Mom as a working mother is from second grade. One of the kids in my class was sort of famous because his mom taught third grade in our school. The only kid who seemed more exotic than him was our own teacher's kid. We knew what his mom was like at school. Here was a kid who knew what she was like in real life!
With my younger brother starting kindergarten, my mother began substitute teaching that year, and this put me on a third tier of teachers' kids. No one had her full-time, but most kids had her at some point. That made her like a supporting actress, which made me almost cool.
The next year, Mom was a full-time teacher with her own class. She taught sixth grade, so while my friends were all too young to be her students, she was definitely a lady people knew. We could not go to the grocery store, ball park, or Mt. Juliet's one (at the time) fast food restaurant without someone stopping to chat with Mrs. Stivender.


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I'm all over the map when it comes to music. I listen to everything from Tool and Dropkick Murphy's to Terence Trent D'Arby and Johnny Cash. But my first musical and life influence will always be the one, the only – purple one himself – Prince. I've been a Prince fan since Controversy was released in '81. Marquesha Patterson, my friend and a fellow fifth grader, brought his copy of Dirty Mind to school for our Christmas party and I was hooked. Prince was the first person other than me that I wanted to be. And I had no idea – but at the time – he and I were the same height.
I own every Prince album, most of the videos, remixes out the ass, four concerts (yes even one with my mother for 2 of the 3 Purple Rain shows in Memphis) and I could be used as a lyric sheet if ever asked. Yes I'm THAT Prince fan. Sometimes, while I'm in Minneapolis, I drive by Paisley Park Studios just to see if he's in.
I'M such a Prince fan I have been writing in txt speech since b4 people texted.
I got a chance to meet Prince once…
…Well almost.
In 1998 Prince was doing what he called his "Hit and run " tour. I was in Huntsville Alabama playing the comedy club inside what then was the Holiday Inn. I arrived at about 5 and went to the show room to say hi to the owners. I was told that there wouldn't be a show that night but not to worry I'd still get paid (which is what I was worried about.) They told me the show had been cancelled because Prince was playing the arena directly across the street.
When I say directly I mean it was across the parking lot.
The next thing I heard was, "Yeah, Prince is actually in the hotel. Him and his whole entourage they're using the place as a kinda backstage area."
I dropped my bag and I think I might have peed a little.
Prince was in the building and I was wasting my time talking to the owner.
What the hell.
I said my see ya laters and dropped off stuff in my room before the search/stalking began. As I was getting out of the elevator I saw a tall, leggy man pushing a rack of white costumes around a corner. I, of course, ran after this guy to see if this was for the Prince shows and it was. Not Prince himself but the dancers' costumes. A sound emanated from me that was high pitched enough and on a special frequency that only dogs and other Prince fans could hear. I knew then that Prince was really somewhere in the building and I was going to find him.
As a performer I've done some huge gigs. The largest show I think I ever did was for about 5,000 people. That was opening for Keenan Ivory Wayans. I know performers hide if we can; not to be elusive, but because we need our space pre-show.
The purple one is notoriously the most reclusive performer around. I knew I wouldn't find him in the presidential suite even if I had the key to that floor.
He wasn't going to walk out the front door. He's fucking Prince.
I had to find his exit strategy. I'd been to this gig before and knew there was no underground parking. Just the main lot and 2 rear doors. I checked the first rear door.
Nope… too open…
They were basically a mirror of the front entrance. Way too open for a Prince escape. So I found the second rear door. Now that was more like it. It was just a small driveway in what used to be the main entrance before renovations took place years earlier.
That would be it.
That would be his way to the show and my chance to say hi and thank him for years of inspiration. Especially the songs D.M.S.R., She's Always in My Hair, and Head.
I didn't just want to hang around the door though. He had a huge security detail and they probably would have shooed me away for not being a hot chick.
I had to find a hiding place. Somewhere a 6'2″ 305 lb. guy wouldn't be noticed. There weren't too many options either. There was a wall and some giant 10′ topiary. That was it. That was all I had to work with. It was getting late and I knew there was no opening act, just Prince himself for at least two hours.
I had to plan. The bushes were my best bet. Actually… they were my only bet. A wall and some bushes.
As a few of you might know, I hate spiders and I was sure those bushes were full of those little bastards. But I wanted to see and meet Prince. Arachnids be damned. I took off one of my shirts, wrapped it around my arm, and beat the hell out of one of the bushes to shake free any potential biters. Then I stepped and fought my way into said bush. It wasn't easy… I tore my jeans and the other shirt I was wearing, but dammit, I got in there.
I was in that bush for about 15 minutes when a black limo backed into the driveway.
I began to shake.
So did the bush.
The door to the hotel opened and the first of three bodyguards appeared. Now, when I say bodyguards, I mean that in reality, they were three of the biggest what might be humans I had ever seen before.
Between them walked the man himself – Prince.
All 5'2″ of him dressed in white – no more than 10 feet from me.
This was the best day of my life.
I was going to say hi to my idol. He was the second biggest influence in my life, right behind my grandmother. For Catholics, it's like meeting the Pope. For Michael Jackson fans, it's like believing he didn't touch your kid.
It was a moment.
By then he was about 7 feet from me and I could hear his former names symbol jangling around his neck.
The bushes moved and he looked my way.
I screamed like a girl.
You know the scream I'm talking about. It's that high pitched Prince fan scream of songs from years past.
His bodyguards went into action. Guard Number 2 picked His Royal Badness up by the pants and threw him into the back seat of the limo; which had been graciously ripped open by Guard Number 1. It was an amazing feat of timing. They were flawless, they moved well, and they were well worth whatever he paid them.
As I was climbing out of the bush, the limo burned rubber out of the parking lot. I waved to Prince and his security in the back.
I'm not sure he saw me, but I like to think he did.
Maybe not while he was in the limo, but maybe while I was in the bush. I was just happy I'd gotten to see him since I wasn't able to go to his concert.
I told this story the next night on stage and the owner came up to me and said "Wow, you're really that big of a Prince fan?"
"I have the torn shirt and jeans to prove it," I said.
Later that month I got a package from the club owner. His friend was a photographer for the Huntsville paper and he'd covered the show. He sent me a close-up shot of Prince performing that night.
Sometimes I love my life.