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HIV Medicine After Barcelona Conference: Interview With Howard Grossman, M.D.
September 6, 2002
Howard A. Grossman, M.D., is a leading HIV physician who has practiced HIV medicine in New York City since 1987. He is also Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine at Columbia University and Associate Attending Physician at St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital. With his associate and a physician assistant, his clinic works with approximately 850 people living with HIV. AIDS Treatment News interviewed Dr. Grossman on August 16, 2002.
ATN: Let's start with new regimens. How do you approach treatment options today? For example, what do you think of tenofovir [Viread®], both for treatment-experienced patients, and for those starting antiretrovirals?
Grossman: It has been poorly communicated to patients that our great desire would be to put everybody on therapy when we first find out they were infected, if we had therapies that were not toxic, easy to take, and long-lasting. But given the fact that we don't, we settled on the 350 T-cell count as a general guideline for starting antiretrovirals. It keeps bearing up in study after study that it is a pretty good place to set that line.
But when you start looking at much less toxic drugs like tenofovir, or at somebody who could take a triple nucleoside regimen that does not have really bad toxicity, and might be able to take that treatment for years, it reopens the question of when to start. Nothing is set in stone in HIV medicine. No question is forever closed.
ATN: What are doctors combining tenofovir with?
Grossman: Tenofovir with abacavir [Ziagen®] and 3TC [Epivir®] is a good regimen, all once-a-day. Or tenofovir with ddI [Videx®] and 3TC, although some people worry that you might be more likely to develop a K65R mutation, which could affect other nucleoside analogs. Or use a non-nucleoside that does not have major side effects. Less toxic regimens re-open the question about when is the best time to start antiretrovirals.
ATN: For the non-nucleoside, would you choose efavirenz [Sustiva®], for someone who does not have a big problem with the mood changes or other mental effects?
Grossman: I like efavirenz, but we are using more nevirapine [Viramune®]. I think with once-a-day therapy, morning dosing works better than nighttime dosing. Most patients are more likely to forget to take a dose at night.
ATN: You haven't had viral breakthroughs with nevirapine?
Grossman: No, we have seen good efficacy. And a number of studies at the Barcelona international conference showed pretty comparable efficacy between nevirapine and efavirenz. The problem is that Boehringer-Ingelheim has not done the studies. Those at the international conference were done by private investigators, and not supported by Boehringer Ingelheim. The company dropped the ball on getting answers to the questions.
ATN: I had the impression that people were choosing efavirenz as their first choice.
Grossman: I don't think that is necessary. Efavirenz is certainly a fine choice for people who can tolerate it, and I do have lots of patients on it. But again, with once-a-day, I think that morning dosing works better.
ATN: What do you typically combine with nevirapine in a starting regimen?
Grossman: Often I put people on nevirapine, 3TC, and tenofovir. With this regimen few patients will have major side effects. There can be problems, but not as much as with other drugs.
ATN: And with nevirapine, it's the rash, and you have to watch the liver enzymes?
Grossman: Right. And nobody can tell who is going to have the acute hepatic syndrome. Today that is totally unpredictable. But it is rare. There have only been a handful of cases reported of acute hepatic necrosis. This seems to be an unpredictable, rare, and very acute syndrome that has happened in some people with very high CD4 counts.
The liver toxicity that is more common is an asymptomatic rise in liver enzymes that occurs in the first 6 weeks of treatment. If people develop elevated liver enzymes and symptoms, they can stop the drug and the symptoms disappear. And if they make it past the six weeks they probably won't get this problem. That is why Boehringer-Ingelheim has recommended that people starting Nevirapine get their liver function tests done every 2 weeks for the first 6 weeks. [Note from The Body's editor: According to Viramune's prescribing information, patients should be "monitored intensively during the first 12-16 weeks of therapy." It also indicates that monitoring should be done at "frequent intervals," though no exact schedule is dictated.]
ATN: Any other thoughts about regimens for starting antiretroviral therapy?
Grossman: I strongly believe in once-a-day therapy. I consider it the big breakthrough of the last year and next year.
It is being accepted in a reverse of the usual way. Usually in HIV, the first people to develop new strategies are investigators and academics. In this case, however, the investigators have been holding back on once-a-day therapy. But it has caught on in a huge way in the community. For the doctors in the trenches who have patients who are difficult to treat, it has been a no-brainer that once-a-day is the way to go.
In Barcelona there were two posters about patients preferring once-a-day therapy. Both were studies sponsored by Bristol-Myers Squibb, which has a big stake in promoting once-a-day. But many of the research physicians have been holding back.
For my patients it has made a tremendous difference. We offer once-a-day to everybody who has a possibility of taking it -- even if that means changing their regimen, because I think it makes such a difference in terms of increased adherence, increased efficacy and patient satisfaction.
At Barcelona I presented a poster on once-a-day, looking at the first 50 patients we treated, and it was successful. But there was not much information at the conference about qd [once-a-day] therapy.
There was interesting information about ritonavir/saquinavir. One poster compared it vs. indinavir/ritonavir, both twice a day in this trial [P. Cahn and others, abstract #WeOrB1265], and the number of adverse events, change in LDL cholesterol, and change in triglycerides, was lower in the ritonavir/saquinavir group. Yet they did just as well virologically.
Another poster looked at switching patients from another protease inhibitor regimen that failed to a ritonavir/saquinavir protease inhibitor regimen [J.G. Baril and others, #WePeB5902]. This retrospective chart review of 12 patients found generally good results.
But so far I have not had good success with once-a-day protease inhibitors. I had a couple patients on amprenavir/ritonavir once-a-day, and a couple patients on saquinavir/ritonavir once-a-day, but that takes lots of pills. When we get newer protease inhibitors, like atazanavir and GSK908, once-a-day PIs will become practical.
There was also a followup to the Kaletra (lopinavir/ritonavir) once-a-day vs. twice a day trial in treatment-naive patients [J. Feinberg and others, #TuPeB4445]. Now they are reporting at 72 weeks, and there was no significant difference between the arms in virologic suppression.
But in this study, trough levels on the twice-daily Kaletra regimen cluster very close to 100 times the IC-50 [meaning that the lowest drug level in the blood, usually just before the patient takes the next dose, is about 100 times the amount needed to inhibit 50% of the virus] -- a good place. Trough levels on once-a-day have much more variation. Some patients are much closer to the IC-50.
I tried this Kaletra regimen in 5 patients who were not treatment-naive, and we measured their lopinavir trough levels after 2 weeks, and all 5 were below the IC-50. So I took everybody off once-a-day Kaletra. While the trial seems to be achieving good results, I am not sure that it is expandable beyond naive patients. I don't think people should try this outside of a study.
ATN: What do you think about continuing antiretroviral therapy in heavily treated patients who cannot control the virus with any currently available drugs?
Grossman: I have advanced patients who have a viral load over 750,000 copies -- they are definitely not controlling the virus. I think they still get some benefit from the drugs. But their T-cells are too low to show if there is a response. Usually if they do not have overwhelming side effects, I recommend that they stay on the drugs.
I think from Steve Deeks' data a couple years ago and some other studies, that patients get some benefit from antiretrovirals even if the virus is resistant and cannot be well controlled with the drugs.
ATN: On lipodystrophy, what are you seeing? What drugs or combinations seem to be associated more with the problem?
Grossman: I see both fat accumulation and fat wasting. Fat accumulation is sometimes hard to diagnose. I use what I call the pinch test. If the patient says they are getting a big stomach, I ask if they can pinch it. If you can pinch it, it's probably not lipodystrophy, but just fat. Lipodystrophy is visceral fat -- it is deep, and hard, and different from the subcutaneous fat you get because you are eating too much, or not getting enough exercise, or getting older. This is one way to help people feel more comfortable.
But I also see many patients with fat accumulation that is lipodystophy. Often the prominent belly, if it is muscular, is not as big a problem for them as facial wasting is for many people.
In the gay community some people have eroticized the lipodystrophy look -- facial wasting, prominent cheekbone, veins showing everywhere. But a collapsed-in face is usually much harder for people to deal with than a big abdomen.
And doctors who do not ask patients to take their clothes off in the office may not see it. I know many doctors who don't.
While there probably is some HIV-related lipodystrophy, and some related to the nucleoside analogs in general, clearly we are seeing something different now than in the past. You sit in a room with 400 patients, and look around, and think, "This is unbelievable."
If you live in New York, or San Francisco, or West Hollywood, or probably Philadelphia, where many people walk on the street, you see it. If you live in places where people travel in cars, you don't see how pervasive it is.
ATN: What are you using for it? What regimen changes, or treatments?
Grossman: Clearly d4T and the protease inhibitors seem to be the bad drugs. Which one causes more, whether it happens mainly with one or the other or is worst with both, we are not sure. My response has been to avoid both, until researchers figure out what is going on. We start almost nobody on protease inhibitors -- unless they come in with a virus with the K-103 mutation, due to transmitted resistance to non-nucleoside drugs. Otherwise I don't touch the protease inhibitors, and I stay away from d4T. Why take that risk for patients when we have other choices?
ATN: On resistance testing, what is new that people should be thinking about?
Grossman: Sax at Harvard showed that in places where resistant virus is common, as in most of the major cities in the U.S., resistance testing before beginning treatment becomes cost effective [P.E. Sax, #MoPeB3129]. In cost for good outcome, it is comparable to other medical treatments that are well accepted.
We started doing resistance testing before treating people who were chronically infected -- which goes against conventional wisdom. But I think there are enough mutations in the community from AZT, and some of the non-nucleoside and protease inhibitor mutations, that will hang around years after somebody is infected with a resistant virus. This makes it worthwhile to test for resistance, if they were infected in an area with a fairly high prevalence of resistant virus (around 7%). I test them before starting therapy to see if we come up with any antiretrovirals we should avoid.
After patients are on therapy, we test everybody who fails. I do both genotyping and phenotyping, because in many patients the picture is complex. You get enough discordance between the genotype and phenotype that having both kinds of resistance testing can be very useful.
ATN: Do you use the new ViroLogic service that combines both?
Grossman: Yes, the Phenosense GT. Virco has a good test too, but I like the amount of data ViroLogic has on their report. And now they are doing their experimental replicative capacity test as well, looking at the "fitness" of the virus.
ATN: What do you think of the fitness test?
Grossman: I am going to try it and see. At this point [August 2002] we are just looking to see if it is useful or not. There need to be prospective studies.
ATN: What else should patients know about using antiretrovirals?
Grossman: It is very important to come back to the doctor for testing when starting certain drugs. With the nevirapine regimens, for example, the company recommends clearly that people get their liver functions tested every two weeks in the first 6 weeks on therapy. We must be careful and catch serious toxicities early.
Many patients who start antiretrovirals are used to seeing the doctor every three months. When you start these meds, you need to follow up with the doctor much more frequently at first. Unless the practitioner specifically makes the appointments, patients may not show up again for three months. And in addition to safety, we really want to see viral responses at 4 weeks and 8 weeks and 12 weeks [after starting antiretrovirals].
Especially when someone starts taking antiretroviral medication, I think they should be seen two weeks after they start, to make sure they are doing it right, if nothing else. If they are taking the drugs improperly for months, the chance of developing resistance is high.
ATN: Is there anything else you would like to add on antiretroviral therapy?
Grossman: The tenofovir data is excellent. The 48-week data from Gilead's trial where it was added to failing therapy had remarkable results [A.L. Pozniak and others, #WeOrB1266]. People maintained their decrease in viral load after 48 weeks, even though their initial baseline therapy had failed to maintain undetectable virus. And Gilead finally released their data in treatment-naive patients, which also shows good efficacy. I am very willing to use tenofovir for first-line therapy. I think it makes so much sense.
On T-20, people need to understand that it takes 30 minutes to mix this drug, which is injected twice a day. You have to put a little bit of fluid in and shake it very carefully, a little bit more and shake very carefully again; you cannot get any bubbles, you cannot bruise the drug because otherwise you denature the protein. It is very complicated to mix, and almost everybody gets injection-site reactions. In studies they found only a 3% drop-out rate due to injection-site reactions; but these were desperate patients who were highly treatment experienced and failing pretty much their last regimen, and T-20 was their last chance.
I am not sure what will happen when T-20 comes into wide use. People need to know that while it is a good drug it is certainly not a wonder drug, and it will be very difficult for those people who take it. The company is well aware of that. But the press has not covered how long it takes to mix it; I have not read that anywhere. People need to know that taking T-20 will have an impact on their lives, and they need to think about how they will handle this. You cannot use a mixer or anything that speeds up the process.
New data show that both of the day's doses can be mixed in the morning, with the afternoon dose left in the refrigerator. This, at least, will make it a bit easier for those who take it.
ATN: On superinfection -- people with HIV getting infected again with another strain of HIV -- are changes needed in counseling people?
Grossman: There were two cases at Barcelona -- the one from Bruce Walker that got all the publicity, and another one from Geneva that was even more impressive because of the testing they did. Clearly both of these people became superinfected with another virus, even though they were doing well with their STI (strategic treatment interruption) regimens, being patients who had been picked up during seroconversion. They suddenly had a burst of virus, and it turned out to be a different virus than they had before. When scientists looked back at their stored samples, the second virus was not there. In the Geneva case the man had been to Brazil and had unprotected sex, and three or four weeks later he had the burst of virus -- and that virus was one typically found in Brazil, not one typical for Geneva [S. Jost and others, #ThOrA1381].
I think it is very worrisome. We were trying to come up with some more personalized sex guidelines for people in the early 90s -- rules that would help people have more protected sex, but that were also more reasonable and individual. So we said, if both of you were positive, maybe it did not matter as much that you use a condom. But I think people got carried away. In New York, San Francisco, Paris, and Los Angeles, many people are not using condoms anymore at all! Many bathhouses are not giving them out; they are not around. We are seeing a rise in new HIV infections across the board in men, especially young men, and we are seeing a rise in other STDs. It is amazing to me how little younger men know about STDs these days. We have been so focused on HIV that we have forgotten to teach about good old syphilis, gonorrhea, warts, etc.
And clearly there is a risk of HIV superinfection even if you are both HIV-positive. It may not be a huge, high risk, but the risk is that you could get a second HIV virus and do worse medically.
The implications for vaccines are tremendous, because it means that even a well-controlled person who has good CTL immune responses and good responses to the initial virus can be infected with another HIV.
ATN: What about oral sex?
Grossman: The HOT (HIV Oral Transmission) study, out of San Francisco, is following over 200 men who have sex with men and are believed to have no risk except receptive oral sex [K. Page-Shafer and others, #TuPeC4872]. So far they have found no recent HIV cases.
Clearly there have been reported cases. But this is a large study and seems to show that though it does happen, the rate is low. Over the years, Europeans and Australians have focused their prevention messages totally on unprotected anal intercourse, and their HIV incidence rates have dropped tremendously. We gave the mixed messages that we don't know about oral sex, we are not sure, and we've totally confused everyone. As a result, our incidence is high. I think people get frustrated and say, "Nothing is going to protect me, I might as well just do what I'm going to do." Focusing on unprotected anal intercourse is where I think we should be.
An epidemiology study in San Francisco found continuing increases in unprotected anal intercourse, including with multiple partners [S. Gibson and others, #MoPeC3430]. There was a big increase in rectal gonorrhea, and a huge increase in early syphilis -- 17 cases in 1997, 10 in 1998, 29 in 1999, 47 in 2000, and 140 in 2001 [figures from the abstract]. HIV incidence also increased greatly, although it may have peaked in 1999.
ATN: Overall, what do you think will be most important from the Barcelona conference for treatment of patients with HIV?
Grossman: The main messages from Barcelona were:
Copyright 2002 by John S. James. Permission granted for noncommercial reproduction, provided that our address and phone number are included if more than short quotations are used.
Copyright 2002 by John S. James. Permission granted for noncommercial reproduction, provided that our address and phone number are included if more than short quotations are used.
This article was provided by AIDS Treatment News. It is a part of the publication AIDS Treatment News.


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Think of this listing as a light critique as opposed to my full critique you can find listed on my Music Xray profile page. I love hearing true talent and extraordinary songwriting. I listen to everything I receive and offer brief comments as per my professional opinion. Should I hear something for which I know of an opportunity, you will hear from me immediately although this is not the primary focus on this listing.
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"I am a veteran songwriter and producer and can offer you constructive and honest feedback on the commercial viability of your song in today's market. Additionally, if I hear something I completly love I may have an opportunity for it or will be able to shop the song for you."Getting insightful professional critiques is very important before submitting your song to real competitive pitches. Think of it as target practice
submission price: $45.00
All songs will be reviewed confidentially and will receive a personal, detailed critique based on Emotional Impact including Lyrics - Impact of words, phrasing & clarity of content - Title Review - Ability to attract listener pertinence to the song; - Technical Evaluation including Structure - Composition, Elements & Arrangement; - Writing Mechanics - Grammar quality & Rhyme structure and last but not least Marketability! Holly will also be screening song writers submissions for upcoming collaboration projects. You will be notified after your review if Holly feels your voice, music and writing talent is a match for opportunities for TV, Film, Album Placement, Licensing and Publishing. All music genres accepted including Lyric Only critiques.
- Holly Steele
submission price: $25.00
Calling all songwriters. We have a number of major opportunities for songwriters out there including chart topping and award winning producers looking to work with new writers as well as international artists looking for songs. Don't worry about genre as a great song is just a great song and the artist/producer can steer the genre.
- Chris Woods - Owner Manager - Alignment Management
submission price: $10.00
Everything I've ever achieved musically, whether it's landing a tv placement, or getting signed to my publisher, I owe a big part to the guidance of mentors. I know from personal experience that sometimes a critique can take a good song and make it a great one.
I would love to listen to your music and provide some real-world feedback. Though I won't do any sugar-coating, know that I will listen carefully and respectfully. To me, there is nothing better than a well-crafted song and hats off to you for sharing a bit of yourself. :-) Excited to hear it!
Savvy Giersch studied songwriting at Berklee College of Music and is now a published songwriter at Round Hill Music. She has achieved success with Rebecca Stella's number one song "Give Me That O", Noah Schnacky's debut single "Miami to LA", and many other various independent projects. She has had multiple placements in shows on ABC, CBS, and Bravo.
- Savvy Giersch / So Savvy Music
submission price: $20.00
As a writer for Gloria Gaynor, D:Ream, Taja Seville and many others I understand what makes a HIT song. As a publisher I also know what does not make a HIT song and that is because I have also had many songs that just didn't get picked. Why? Well by analyzing them afterward I realized where I (or my writers) had gone wrong - too long, too slow, cheap words, or trying to be too clever. There's a million reasons but no excuses. Let me hear your song and I will give you an honest, and I mean brutally honest (but fair) critique of your work.
- Timothy Hegarty CEO - Songmaster Publishing ltd / SyncnyS
submission price: $20.00
In-depth album critique from a literary perspective, by music industry professional Annexx Omega. A featured writer on several highly respected hip hop blogs such as hiphopperiod.com, muzikfanatic.com dblcin.com, stateofhip-hop.com, and more, Annexx has more than 20years experience in the music industry. Having worked hands on all levels of this ever expanding industry, Annexx can offer insight into your music and ability to be marketed.
- Annexx Omega / The Fraternity Music Group LLC
submission price: $5.00
Rekids Record Label is looking for electronic dance music of quality and originality. We are looking for upcoming artist to release on our label, so please submit your best original work for consideration.
Rekids has quickly become one of the most respected underground labels around - releasing cutting-edge, electronic music that is effective off the dance-floor as well as on it. Some of the key artists represented by the label include Nina Kraviz, Mr. G, Luke Solomon, Spencer Parker, Toby Tobias, James Teej and of course Radio Slave himself.
submission price: $15.00
Send me only your best song. I will give you input on songwriting and production along with performance. Advice will be extremely specific and not vague ;) If you are still working on the song, I will give you tips on how to sharpen it up and get it tighter. If it's super strong already and something that speaks to me, I will consider for label opportunities for my label Blanket Fort.
I am a platinum selling producer and songwriter. I started Blanket Fort last year as a label to help up and coming artists release their music without tying them down to ridiculous contracts.
I also promise that for every criticism I have, I will also find positives that you can build on moving forward. Thanks!
- Sterling Fox / Blanket Fort
submission price: $10.00
I looking forward to hearing your original songs and helping you make it the best it can be! Please submit your song(s) for a critique.
I am looking to both critique artists as well as find new talent for our roster. If your music knocks my socks off, I'll have one of my A&R managers reach out to you to discuss future possibilities! We are a Christian record label, and we're here to help Christian artists feel comfortable - not to make a buck off of them. We simply use the submission fee to avoid being flooded with countless submissions that we'll never get to. We want musicians who are serious about their music.
We believe in developing relationships with our artists. When we work with you, we learn about you, what you like, and what your goals in music are. As one of the largest, independent Christian labels in the nation, we're looking to change the Christian music industry with YOUR music! We sign artists from ALL genres of Christian music and even non-influential instrumental music. Being a composer myself, I just released an orchestral rock soundtrack that's currently being played on sports radio nationwide! The opportunities are endless!
- Christian Matthews | Owner & Executive Producer - Atlas Fire Music
I'll give you written feedback on:
- Big Hit Factor – can it sell and/or go viral?
- Songwriting – lyrics, phrasing, title
- Technical – structure, composition, elements, arrangement
- Performance – Phrasing, dynamics and clarity
- Production – major-release broadcast quality, distribution ready
submission price: $20.00
Submit your song to Eliot he will provide you with a professional critique to help take it to the next level. Whether it is tips on lyrics, arrangement or melody, he will give it several listens and offer constructive criticism on what can be done to make the best song possible. As lead vocalist and song writer for international pop group, Blessid Union of Souls, Eliot has an impressive track record of hit songs and a knack for hearing memorable melodies to catch the ear of music executives and fans alike. He has worked with artists of several genres including pop/rock, AC, country and R&B so submit your MP3 and let him help steer you in the right direction for your song.
submission price: $10.00
Many times Professional Reviewers receive submissions for just that... a submission, a star rating, while that's good, this limits reviewers ability to provide the submitter feedback that could drastically change the way the song is written, engineered, produced, etc. If you're never aware of the advice that could be given...you loose.
- Christopher Gagne - CEO/A&R - TriFecta Music Group, LLC.
submission price: $2.50
Reviewing the artist, critiquing the performance with a chance to be featured on our mixtape.
- Robert O'Brien - CEO - Hip Hop Monument
submission price: $4.00
submission price: $2.50
submission price: $5.00
submission price: $9.99
Ready, willing, and able to provide feedback on all aspects of recording and mixing. 25+ years studio experience with mix credits on recordings by Michael Jackson, Madonna, Mariah Carey, Rhianna, Kylie Minogue, Erasure, Enrique Iglesias, Lisa Stansfield, and many more.
- Tom Carlisle / Mix Engineer
submission price: $10.00
I will personally critique and help you tweak/fix your song and/or production.
So many of your submissions may not be getting selected for simple things, but you wouldn't know unless someone physically sat down and told you what it is and how to correct it. Well I am here to help you do that. I will critique all genres of music and help you make it more "sellable", whether it is lyrics, melodies or tracks, I will help take your music to another level. This will be a 2-way conversation and not just me telling you what to do, but you and I both working together. Let's turn your music into something great!
- Kandi Robinson / Creative Director & CEO - The Audio Plugz
submission price: $10.00
We are looking to build new relationships with the next generation of songwriters and producers by listening and give very constructive critiques of their music. Please submit your best track(s) for consideration and feedback.
Cortez Farris is a Multi Platinum Engineer & Producer. Cortez worked for many years at the world famous Hit Factory Recording Studios in New York City, and has worked as a Music Producer and Engineer on projects around the World. He is the Founder & Head Mentor at AMMPP.
Credits: Michael Jackson, Alicia Keys, Whitney Houston, Black Eyed Peas, Mary J Blige, El DeBarge, Paul Simon, The Neptunes, Lil' Kim, Method Man, and Damian Marley
- Cortez Farris Founder/ Producer/Engineer/Mentor - AMMPP.com Management/Robotcity Studios
submission price: $5.00
Looking for Professional Feedback From Music Industry Professionals? We are a team of Affiliates designed for Artist Development, Artist Managements and Opportunities unlike any other! We are made up of Gold Recording Artist, Record Labels, Booking and Managements, Recording Studios Professionals, & Entertainment Show's and lastly SKII Production Motion Media Independent Movies. Experienced with working alongside many current Mainstream Music Artist. This team of Affiliates is the #1 Stop shop for all Undaground Music Artist Needs and Opportunities.
Directly associated with Universal Records we can give you the Feedback necessary to Progress to higher levels in the Music Industry!
- Lady M - Creator/Producer - Da Undaground Radio
submission price: $20.00
I specialize in Country Music. I have 15 years radio experience, and helped launch Taylor Swift's career with Big Machine Records. I served as her manager from 2006-2008. I now have a management and marketing business in Nashville. Only submit if you want an honest opinion and evaluation
submission price: $1.00
Hey all, This a dropbox for submissions if you want to collaborate or make use of my services as a producer or mix engineer.
I have tons of experience working with big artists, and I have always wanted to develop and work with new artists, So... The perfect match, submit your songs, we can talk about your music, see if we are on the same page and take if from there.
I am a Producer and mix engineer who has spent the last 7 years as Chief Engineer for Metropolis Studios as well as setting up my own studio and production company REK7.
- Sam Wheat - Metropolis Studios / REK7
submission price: $4.99
Think you have what it takes to be a top notch remixer in the music biz, Mike Rizzo is part of over 50 #1 Billboard Dance Artists. Let's have a listen
submission price: $10.00
New songs are being written every day, and new songs are needed every day! We are always looking for well-crafted tunes to pitch to radio, musical directors for film, and artists needing album cuts. Please send us your best tunes for consideration. We may suggest changes to improve the song, in which case you have already impressed us enough that we want your song to be the best it can be. We may also tell you that your song is ready to go and offer you a publishing contract. You'll never know until you submit! We look forward to hearing your work.
We've produced, recorded and published dozens of indie artists over 35 years in addition to working on projects for major Christian and secular publishers. We're seeking new talent willing to work and not afraid of success.
- Warren Ells - Owner - The Note Factory Studio
submission price: $5.00
If you have clean rap music that you want looked at, I will give you my honest opinion about the music the vibe the feel. I'll look at your lyrics and delivery etc. The rap industry is full of competition, so having something strong is key.
It makes it easier if you submit your lyrics typed as well so I can read them over too. Not required, but preferred.
Take care
- Producer Robin Blesch / WPMG ENT Ltd, WPMG Music & WPFG Studios
submission price: $5.00
submission price: $10.00
Please submit your music and artist details for a professional song critique and coaching on creating songs, EPs, albums or help with development. Amp U also offer plans for creating music as well as services such as vocal lessons, performance coaching, instrument lessons, and social media mentoring. We focus on Pop, RnB, Country, and Hip-Hop genres.
Birch Street Music's incubator division Amp U is a cutting-edge artist development program based in L.A., NYC, Nashville, Houston and Dallas, TX. Major record labels, managers, publishers and independent artists have utilized this program to nurture talent from studio to stage. Learn more at http://www.ampumusic.com.
- Alton Hawthrone / Birch Street Music & AMP U
submission price: $25.00
Nashville Publicity Group's Brian Mayes is available to review your song and offer critique. Current and former Nashville Publicity Group clients include Blessid Union of Souls, Collin Raye, Katelyn Tarver ("Big Time Rush"), Stryper, Jaci Velasquez, Kevin Max (of dcTalk), Tesla, Highway 101, Bob Carlisle, Trip Lee, Joanne Cash (sister of Johnny Cash), Pat Boone, Flame, Russ Taff, Sheldon Reynolds (lead singer of Earth Wind & Fire), JUMP5, Decemberadio, Mark Lowry, Petra, Everlife, The Imperials, Ann-Margret, Garfield's Fun Learning Series, VH1 Classic Presents and many more.
For a complete list, visit us online at www.nashvillepublicity.com.
submission price: $25.00
OutboundMusic will provide a detailed critique of your song, including an assessment of whether the song's production is radio quality. If your song really moves us and fits any of our multiple radio formats, we'll offer you a great distribution deal and radio placement.
submission price: $12.00
This opportunity is quite simple, and it's free. Send me your music, and I will provide brief, constructive feedback. Please keep in mind that I will be honest, so if I don't feel your music is ready, this is not something you'll likely want to post on your website. However, if my quote is positive, you can post the quote on your website with credit to me, in your press materials, etc. It looks very good for artists to have positive feedback from industry professionals.
- James Moore - Publicist/Promoter - Independent Music Promotions
submission price: $5.00
I will listen to your song and provide genuine feedback. I will share my favorite parts and not so favorite parts including suggestions for improvement where I see them.
I have been listening to and writing about all genres and sub-genres of music since 2011 so I accept all styles and types of music. I enjoy discovering new sounds, new combinations of sounds, and styles that don't fit into any current box the 2017 music industry stuffs music into. But I still dig the more traditional as well. Hit me with your best song!
- Joshua Smotherman / Co-Founder - Middle Tennessee Music
submission price: $25.00
So you've found the beat and written the lyrics to it. Now, You're paying for studio time to have it professionally mixed and mastered.
Ok! Where do you go from here?
We can help you move your music forward and in the right direction to increase your fan-base and improve your overall music sales.
Let us know when you're ready to get serious about your music.
- Dwaine D. Downton - CEO/Co-Founder - FTP Music Group
submission price: $9.00
Sometimes you hear a song and it hit you right between the ears, it sticks in your head and jumps up at you last thing at night, cleaning the yard, driving your car and you go "Damn that's catchy".
Well with thirty years in the business (Top Ten Writer / Producer and performer, including writing for the wonderful Gloria Gaynor) I have spotted songs well before they were polished into a hit. My friend played me a rough demo and wasn't sure about it. I nearly fainted, "That's Top Ten my friend" I told him.
I was wrong. It went to Number One in the UK for three weeks!
I hear hits. It's in my DNA. So let me hear what you have and I will give you my brutally honest critique. I will not blow smoke at you. I will tell you what I think and what could be done (if needed) to make it better.
Obviously if I love it then I will want to talk business with you too but that is for later.
OK the future is yours for the taking.
Musically yours, Tim H
submission price: $10.00
submission price: $2.00
submission price: $20.00
2039 Music Group, an independent distributor is looking for quality projects to distribute. If you have a completed project, a good marketing plan, and a good team we want to hear from you. We cover all online support and physical distribution for your music internationally.


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Libertarians from across North Carolina gathered at Mountain Lodge over the weekend to celebrate their political party's growth and strategize ways of advancing their causes of freedom and smaller government.
FLAT ROCK - Libertarians from across North Carolina gathered at Mountain Lodge over the weekend to celebrate their political party's growth and strategize ways of advancing their causes of freedom and smaller government.
"There's a great deal of dissatisfaction with the Democrats and Republicans in North Carolina and we're benefiting from that," said J.J. Summerell, chair of the Libertarian Party of North Carolina.
The number of registered Libertarians statewide grew by 50 percent in 2012, Summerell said, reaching 21,000. He attributed a healthy part of that growth to youth groups such as Students for Liberty, "which are spreading like wildfire on college campuses."
Summerell told about 60 Libertarians gathered for the party's 2013 convention that the party's goal is simple: to win one seat in the N.C. Senate and four seats in the N.C. House by 2020, by getting more county affiliates "up and voting" and by recruiting and training candidates.
"We only have 27 out of 100 counties really organized," he said. "We're trying to identify the pockets where we have the most support."
The convention sought to lay the groundwork for a party surge in 2020, with workshops titles such as "Communicating Big Ideas Outside Your Little Circle" and "How To Simply and Easily Fundraise the First $10,000 of Your LP Campaign."
On Sunday, Carla Howell, executive director of the Libertarian National Committee, used her 17 years of experience pushing tax-cut ballot initiatives in Massachusetts to train political novices in the tactics of staying on message. Libertarians are great at explaining what's wrong with big government, she said, but poor at "selling liberty."
"If you've been up there as a candidate pushing to end the income tax, or ending the war on marijuana or bringing the troops home, and you've been very vocal, they might start in talking about your proposals," Howell said. "Most times, that's not the case and you have to push your proposals and dominate the conversation."
The bolder your proposal, Howell advised, the more benefits there are to pitch to voters. She said even Republicans who promise smaller government usually support maintaining the status quo, so Libertarian candidates should draw contrasts with them whenever possible.
"If you're cutting the state income tax by 5 percent, versus if you're eliminating the state income tax completely, the number of dollars that goes into the pocket of each individual voter is something like $50 versus $2,000 or $3,000," she said. "You can't motivate someone to go to the polls for $50."
Two local Libertarian candidates were among the 25 people listening to Howell's advice on campaign tactics. Edneyville resident Shelby Mood, 33, plans on challenging Rep. Chuck McGrady for the N.C. House District 117 seat in 2014, while Flat Rock resident Seth Sams, 35, will oppose Mike Edney for his District 1 Board of Commissioners seat.
Mood said McGrady has "failed on protecting gun rights," offered "not one proposal on cutting taxes" and doesn't support school vouchers. Mood, a military veteran and Clemson University graduate, calls himself "a huge fan" of vouchers, which he says would give parents the freedom to choose which schools their kids attend.
"We need to put the power over education back in the hands of families," said Mood, whose wife and parents are teachers.
Sams moved to Flat Rock from Asheville just over a year ago with his family and said he was "immediately bothered" by Edney's support of funding the Flat Rock Playhouse with 1 percent of the county's occupancy tax, an idea later dropped by the board. He also cited Edney's recent vote to keep the county's property tax rate as is, rather than dropping it by 1.36 cents.
A commercial printer, Sams said he wants to represent "the average working man" and fight for their freedom from governmental intrusion.
The county's Libertarian Party has adopted a platform mirroring that of the state party. It calls for privatizing public transportation, ABC stores, utilities and police and fire protection; abolishing zoning, forced annexations and sign ordinances; and deregulating daycare and nursing facilities, housing and adoption services.
To read the Libertarian Party of Henderson County's full platform, visit http://henderson.lpnc.org/?page_id=26


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Como indeed
On Friday I posted photos of George Clooney and Stacy Keibler out for dinner with Rande Gerber and Cindy Crawford, looking like they were saying goodbye for a stretch. Click here to see. I also wondered whether or not it was because George was heading for his usual summer destination, Lake Como.
Here they are arriving with friends today, Stacy's first summer as the mistress of the Como manor in what's probably the best outfit I've seen from her, like, ever. She still has a little over a year to go before matching Elisabetta Canalis's time as George's +1. What do you think? Will she make it?


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By now you've heard that the end of the world is allegedly near. According to the ancient Mayan calendar, life will cease to exist as we know it on December 21, 2012. It's a scary thought and while most of us roll our eyes at the mention of the supposed doomsday prediction, in the back of our minds, it's hard not to wonder "what if." Some are so frightened, NASA has been flooded with calls about the possible end to all humankind. Well, rest easy folks. The rocket scientists aren't buying into the hype and neither should you. Here we debunk the five scariest end of the world myths.
- As the Mayan calender predicts, the world will end on December 21, 2012. We may be looking at this all wrong. The Mayans used a very complicated system for logging days and years. During the 2012 winter solstice (which is now), the calender runs out, but experts say that's not an indication that all humanity will die. They believe the calendar will just start over again in 2013. Basically, time gets renewed.
- Earth's magnetic poles will shift, causing earthquakes, tsunamis, continents to break away, and whole cities to tumble into the ocean. Yes, there is evidence that the planet's magnetic poles do in fact move, but it's a process that takes millions of years. It certainly won't happen so quickly that we would actually feel it.
- The sun will explode. Solar flares on the sun are normal, but a major storm or disturbance would have a build-up that would have been detected. NASA has not found any evidence of it.
- An out of control planet will crash into the Earth. According to the Mayan beliefs, Planet X (aka Nibiru) is on a collision course with Earth. Yet NASA, with their crazy amazing telescopes and satellites, have not detected it yet. If it was really going to hit earth, they would have seen it by now.
- The planetary alignment that will occur for the first time in 26,000 years will lead to our doom. Some people actually believe that this lineup would expose us to evil forces out there. But NASA insists there is no "galactic alignment" in 2012. During every winter solstice, there is a type of alignment, but they don't affect gravitational pull or planet orbits.
What do you think of the Mayan doomsday prediction?
Image via NASA Goddard Photo and Video/Flickr


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by Jim Harris
Arnold Schwarzenegger, John Edwards, Mark Sanford, Elliot Spitzer, Rudy Giuliani, Bill Clinton, Newt Gingrich, John Ensign. No, this is not "AARP's Five Hottest Hunks of 2011," it's merely a partial list of American elected officials who publicly got caught cheating on their spouses. The complete list would take up this whole column, and probably the entire newspaper.
It seems like we've been electing these kinds of oversexed politicos ever since our democracy began. They give the term "public servant" a whole new meaning. You've heard of "It takes a village?" Some of these guys have FATHERED a village!
So why do we get so upset every time another one of them falls off the fidelity wagon? I think we could save ourselves a lot of exasperation by restructuring the government so that these horny toads could have their own special offices. Then we'd never be disappointed.
Here's how it would work: Congress would be divided into two bodies, the "House of Stalwarts," consisting of women, eunuchs, and men over 80, and the "House of Reprehensibles," more commonly known as the "Reprobates," which would consist of everyone else.
The President would be the leader of the Stalwarts, and live at the White House. The Vice President and his "First Lady (of many)" would live in the "Red Light House." He would be an advocate for vice. The Capitol building would be divided into a "Bright Side" and a "Dark Side." Flags on the dark side would always fly at full staff, and visitors would be cautioned to enter the chambers at their own risk.
Departments on the dark side would include the Department of Pretense, the Ministry of Subhuman Services, the Office of Homeland Impurity, the Department of Carousing and Bourbon Development and the Federal Bureau of Insemination (which would oversee the Labor Department).
Cabinet officers would include the Director of Porn Affairs, the Minister of Molestation, the Secretary of the Posterior, the Under Secretary (who could always be found under his secretary) and the Ambassador to Hooters.
There could be plaques on the walls of the Dark Side chambers commemorating some of the more ingenious excuses put forth by their most enterprising practitioners: (e.g. Jim McGreevey's "I am a gay American," or Newt Gingrich's "I'm passionate about America").
The Dark Side could award monthly scholarships to the out-of-wedlock children fathered by its members. A new federal holiday could be created — "Secret Fathers Day," honoring the unknown offspring of the governing elite. In fact, I have a little poem I wrote, which I think would be perfect for a Secret Fathers Day card.
"Dear Secret Dad,
The checks you send us monthly /Are very nice indeed;
But money isn't everything / There's something else we need;
Don't want to call the tabloids / or cause a great big fuss;
But Mom and I would love it / If you'd just acknowledge us."
And just think of all the possible twists on old campaign slogans. "All the Way with LBJ" would take on a whole new meaning. How about "Keep Grope Alive."
Let's face it. Without Oprah around anymore to publicly humiliate men who misbehave, they'll just run wild. By "institutionalizing" our randy representatives, we can keep an eye on them while simultaneously creating a government that's more inclusive and less judgmental. And by thus significantly lowering our standards, we can meet or exceed all of our expectations for the foreseeable future.


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What is qingy?
Qingy is a replacement for getty and login-managers like slim, kdm gdm and so on, using DirectFB to provide a fast, nice GUI without the overhead of the X Window System. It allows users to log in and start the session of their choice (text console, gnome, kde, wmaker, etc.). Running several X sessions is also possible.
How to get qingy?
First you need a working DirectFB. I'm recommending Uvesafb.
A package is available in the [community] repo. To install:
# pacman -S qingy
Several extra themes are also available. In [community] repo, there is an Arch specific theme:
# pacman -S qingy-theme-arch
A package of several various themes is available in AUR:
Replace *getty with qingy
To use qingy, you'll need to edit /etc/inittab.
c1:2345:respawn:/sbin/agetty -8 38400 vc/1 linux c2:2345:respawn:/sbin/agetty -8 38400 vc/2 linux c3:2345:respawn:/sbin/agetty -8 38400 vc/3 linux c4:2345:respawn:/sbin/agetty -8 38400 vc/4 linux c5:2345:respawn:/sbin/agetty -8 38400 vc/5 linux c6:2345:respawn:/sbin/agetty -8 38400 vc/6 linux
c1:2345:respawn:/sbin/qingy tty1 c2:2345:respawn:/sbin/qingy tty2 c3:2345:respawn:/sbin/qingy tty3 c4:2345:respawn:/sbin/qingy tty4 c5:2345:respawn:/sbin/qingy tty5 c6:2345:respawn:/sbin/agetty -8 38400 vc/6 linux
Qingy's author suggest to keep agetty on a console (here on console 6) as a safety measure as qingy is still beta software.
Because qingy uses tty0-9 insead of vc/1-6 so you need add tty to /etc/securetty :
# # /etc/securetty # console vc/1 vc/2 vc/3 vc/4 vc/5 vc/6 tty0 tty1 tty2 tty3 tty4 tty5 tty6 tty7
Configuring qingy
You can configure qingy by editing /etc/qingy/settings.
The default settings for X are fine so only edit them if you really know what you are doing.
# Full path to the X server #x_server = "/usr/bin/Xorg" # Full path to the 'xinit' executable xinit = "/usr/bin/xinit" # Parameter we should pass to the X server x_args = "-nolisten tcp -br"
I recommend to set
log_facilities = console, file
so you can look for errors in /var/log/qingy.log, too.
All other options are well explained.
Starting X
If you want to start X with qingy you need to edit your .xsession.
Here a default .xsession for qingy.
#!/bin/sh exec <login-shell command> <window manager starter>
An example:
#!/bin/sh exec bash --login -c 'openbox-session'
The start of the window manager using a login shell is needed because qingy starts the X-session directly without the help of a shell. This causes issues like no umlauts in xterm and malfunction of control keys like "Home", "End", "Del" and so on in the terminal.
Adding a session entry
If you've changed the variable x_sessions or text_session in the config file of qingy replace the following paths with the path you've set.
Text mode session
Create a file /etc/qingy/sessions/<sessionname>.
The file name is shown as entry in the session list.
The file should be a shell script for an example have a look into /etc/qingy/sessios/emacs.
X mode session
Create the folder /etc/X11/Sessions/ and save a new script file into it. (see Text mode session)
The name of the file is shown in the menu.
Synaptic touchpad and keyboard issue
Qingy (and quite possibly other DirectFB applicationss) has some issues using Synaptics touchpad. Also the keyboard can behave strangely (like if each keys were pressed twice).
This can be solved by adding:
to /etc/directfbrc. If the file does not exist, create it. This will enable you to use your touchpad, however some extra functionality like tapping or tap-dragging might not work.


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Governor Deval Patrick unveiled more elements of his tax plans Thursday, including proposals to gradually raise the gas tax, MBTA fares, turnpike tolls, and Registry fees, plans he says will stabilize the transportation system long into the future.
Patrick's blueprints would also eliminate 45 personal tax deductions worth $1.3 billion annually, including deductions for T passes, college scholarships, and dependents under 12.
The new elements follow Patrick's announcement Wednesday of what is the core of his tax plan: raising the income tax from 5.25 percent to 6.25 percent while cutting the sales tax from 6.25 percent to 4.5 percent. The changes, if approved, would take effect in 2014 and would result in higher taxes for about 50 percent of residents, with the biggest burden on higher-income earners.
The new elements help bring into focus the sweeping ambition of Patrick's final two-year agenda.
But the plan carries some risk for the governor. While it could cement his legacy, it could also anger voters and reignite the once-powerful antitax movement in Massachusetts.
All told, Patrick's changes, which also call for the elimination of some corporate tax benefits, would raise taxes by $1.9 billion annually, money the governor wants to use to shore up and expand transportation systems and broaden education programs.
"If we want jobs, we have to invest," Patrick said in an interview Thursday, after promoting the plan on television and radio and in visits with business executives and lawmakers. "We are trying to think of a way to accomplish that that really moves the needle."
The governor's proposal to tie the gas tax to inflation would add a half-penny to the state's $.21-per-gallon levy, starting next year, and would trigger automatic increases in the future, as the cost of goods and services rise.
Patrick's plan also depends on increasing MBTA fares, as well as turnpike, tunnel and bridge tolls, by 5 percent every two years, beginning in July 2014. Registry fees would jump by 10 percent every five years, beginning in July 2015.
Administration aides argued the periodic increases are needed because, over time, inflation erodes the value of fares, tolls and fees. "We're just trying to keep their purchasing power constant," said Glen Shor, the governor's new budget chief.
Such regular hikes have been previously recommended by transportation policy specialists. But pushing for them now, along with the other tax changes Patrick is seeking, could strike commuters as a double whammy.
"I've been one who's written a lot about the need for new revenue for transportation," said Charles D. Chieppo, a former budget aide in the Romney administration. "Yet as much as I believe that, what the governor has proposed is so extravagant in my view it runs the risk of . . . inspiring a backlash."
Shor countered that even though Patrick's plan represents an overall tax increase, roughly half of taxpayers would see either a cut or no change in their taxes.
That is because Patrick is seeking to double the amount of earnings that are exempt from income taxes, going from the current $4,400 for a single person to $8,800. That means workers who earn $50,000 a year would pay income taxes on $41,200 of their income, exempting a larger share of their paychecks from taxation than workers who earn, say, $150,000 a year.
The goal, Shor said, is to push more tax burden onto higher-income earners and reduce it for those earning less.
"You increase the fairness of the tax system overall," said Noah Berger, executive director of the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center, a liberal research group.
But Jim Stergios — executive director of the Pioneer Institute, a conservative think tank — said Patrick's plans would hit many middle-class taxpayers, who are facing stagnant household income and rising federal payroll taxes. Individuals who make more than $50,000 a year and families who make over $60,000 a year would all see a tax hike under Patrick's plan.
"That's not the 1 percent," Stergios said.
Patrick aides argued, however, that the increases are relatively small for the middle class. For example, a family of four earning $60,000 would pay $91 in additional taxes each year, while a family earning $160,000 would pay $957 more.
The overall tax increase of $1.9 billion is the result of several changes to the tax code. Raising the income tax rate and cutting the 45 deductions raises $2.8 billion, while lowering the sales tax costs the state $1.1 billion. And eliminating three corporate tax benefits raises $194 million.
The list of 45 deductions that Patrick is targeting for elimination would affect a wide range of residents. They include deductions and other existing benefits for removing lead paint in a home and adoption fees, as well as capital gains on home sales.
Some said the call for higher taxes could reawaken the state's antitax movement, which has scored notable policy victories in the past but has been quiet in recent years.
One of those victories was passage in 2000 of a ballot question to cut the income tax from 5.95 percent to 5 percent. In 2002, the Legislature effectively froze the rate at 5.3 percent, while adding triggers that would lower rates further only if benchmarks were met.
Citizens for Limited Taxation, an antitax group that helped push the ballot question, said it is clear that Patrick is now trying to "tax the rich" disproportionately.
Representative Daniel B. Winslow, a Norfolk Republican, said Patrick's move could energize the GOP. He recalled how Republicans picked up seats in the House after the governor signed a sales tax increase in 2009.
Winslow said voters do not believe that state government has eliminated enough waste and fraud to warrant the infusion of $1.9 billion in fresh tax money. "A part of the problem is that there is a lack of confidence," he said.
Some business groups are also on edge.
The Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, which had initially released a noncommittal statement about Patrick's plans, expressed deeper reservations Thursday.
"The chamber has concerns about the potential impact of the revenue proposals on our economy and competitiveness," said Charles Rudnick, a chamber spokesman. "We are taking a hard look at the proposals, and consulting with our members, in light of these concerns."Michael Levenson can be reached at mlevenson@
globe.com. Follow him on
Twitter @mlevenson.


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I've found this forum through CLiki and after having taken a look at it I decided to register. I'm a casual Common Lisp programmer and I must admit that I like it a lot. I always thought that programming in CL is a beautiful experience.
I used CL only for academic purposes so I never made a huge project in it: but I'd love to dive into one.
My experience in application development is entirely in Java and PHP but I also used C for simple projects or code optimization.
Hope there is a place here for talking about cool lispy things .


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Malaysia Airlines will shed 6,000 workers as part of an overhaul to revive its damaged brand after being hit by double passenger jet disasters.
The staff reductions represent about 30 percent of its current workforce of 20,000.
Continue Reading Below
The airline will be taken completely under the wing of the government. The state investment company that owns 69 percent of Malaysia Airlines plans to take 100 percent ownership.
Investigators continue to scour the southern Indian Ocean for Flight 370 which veered far of course while en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing on March 8 with 239 people on board. In July, 298 people were killed when Flight 17 was blasted out of the sky as it flew over an area of eastern Ukraine controlled by pro-Russian separatists.


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Weekly Wire: the Global Forum
These are some of the views and reports relevant to our readers that caught our attention this week.
Tech Change
This Live Broadcast Is Brought To You By Bambuser: Streaming Video for Activists
"In the technological game of cat and mouse, where activists and governments seek to control the flow of information through digital devices, activists have a new card to play: Bambuser.
Information is power. And controlling the flow of information is important to the strategies of those who have power, and those who seek to take it away from them. Different tech tools have been taking center stage at different times – each with it's own features that make it the right tool for the right at the time. And right now, Bambuser is giving the upper hand to those want to stream video in real time. As described by CEO Hans Eriksson, Bambuser is what you get if "YouTube fell in love with Skype and had a love child." Compatible with 260 mobile phone models, Bambuser allows users to broadcast live from their mobile device. As footage is taken, Bambuser streams it directly to social network platforms, blogs, and the Bambuser site among others." READ MORE


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Chocolate shavings, for garnish, optional
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
Place the chocolate wafer cookies in the bowl of a food processor and process until fine crumbs. Add the sugar and butter and process until thoroughly combined. Transfer the crumb mixture to a 9 1/2-inch pie pan and press firmly onto the bottom and up the sides to form a crust. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, or until fragrant. Transfer to a cooling rack and allow to cool completely.
In a small bowl combine the rum, water and gelatin. Stir and set aside until gelatin has softened, about 5 minutes.
In a saucepan combine the milk, egg yolks, sugar and cornstarch and stir or whisk until thoroughly combined. Heat over medium-high heat until mixture comes to a boil and thickens, whisking constantly. Remove from the heat and add the gelatin mixture. Stir until smooth, then transfer 1 cup of the hot mixture to a clean mixing bowl and add the chocolate morsels. Stir until the chocolate is melted and the mixture is smooth. Transfer the chocolate mixture to the cooled crust and refrigerate, lightly covered, for 30 minutes. (Allow the remaining warm custard mixture to continue cooling on the counter in the interim.)
After 30 minutes have passed, add the heavy cream and confectioners' sugar to a medium mixing bowl and beat until stiff peaks form. Remove 1 cup of the whipped cream and add it to the remaining custard mixture. Fold to combine, then spread gently on top of the first layer in the pie crust. Top with the remaining whipped cream and refrigerate until thoroughly chilled and set, at least 4 hours and up to overnight.
When ready to serve, garnish the pie with chocolate curls and cut into slices. Serve cold.


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Environmental Law Centre - Overview
The IUCN Environmental Law Centre (ELC) has a long and proud history of achievements and a longstanding association with the City of Bonn, Germany, where it was first established back in 1970.
The ELC has grown from having one full time staff member in 1970, to being a professional international office with 15 highly skilled legal and information specialists. From humble beginnings, the ELC is today recognized around the world as a leading global centre of excellence in environmental law.
The Centre houses two extensive libraries, on Legislation, Treaties and Case Law, and Literature and Soft Law and is the headquarters for the UNEP, FAO, IUCN Management Unit for the joint initiative known as ECOLEX - the vehicle through which the three organizations provide web based access to their comprehensive holdings of environmental law information.
The ELC is a Centre that attracts fellows and interns from around the world and ELC fellows and interns enjoy the rewarding experience of working in an international office, based in a city that has demonstrated a strong commitment to the environment and to attracting international organizations and events. They also have the opportunity to interact with ELC staff and the many international experts who visit the Centre, and have access to the ELC library resources.
The ELC is a part of the rich network of environmental law expertise that comprises the IUCN Environmental Law Programme (ELP) and it works in collaboration with the whole of the IUCN family, together with many other partners from across the globe, in advancing environmental law, including:
Original URL was: iucn.org/themes/law/elc01.html


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Restoring the Lion's Pride – The Future of the Montreal Canadiens
by RGM81 aka Richard McAdam
When I was a young hockey fan, one of the first books I ever read about the Montreal Canadiens was Lions in Winter, written by Chrys Goyens and Allan Turowetz. When reading it, one cannot help but be overcome with a sense of aura and mystique about Les Glorieux. You read the tales of Maurice Richard, Jean Beliveau, Guy Lafleur, and Patrick Roy, and how these men led their teams to championship glory. The tremendous "élan" of the great Canadiens teams of the past put the club and the organization on a different level than their competitors; the Habs are not just another hockey team, they are much more than that. They are special. They are a cultural institution, within the province of Quebec and across Canada. The pomp and circumstance of the team's Centennial season was a great reminder of all of the dignity, grace, elegance, and pride with which the franchise carried itself for so much of its first 100 years.
Today, however, much of that reputation has been left in tatters. Numerous moves made in the past year at the organizational level have done much to tarnish the image of the Canadiens as a first-class franchise, while at the same time the on-ice product has resulted in the worst home record in the entire NHL. The organization and the team have both fallen from grace, as the circus atmosphere surrounding the Canadiens has been dialled up to the 3rd degree throughout the past twelve months. Much of this is hysteria created by certain quarters of the Montreal media, but even if all of that is stripped away, we still see the portrait of an organization that has made bad decisions and followed them up with panicked decisions, further exacerbating the problems and feeding into the negativity that the media hounds use to fan the flames of hysteria. It is a downward spiral that has alienated large segments of the fan base, who have gone through numerous stages of grief and ultimately arrived at a sense of ennui for the final quarter of the season. With the team's playoffs chances essentially nil by the start of March, the fans are already looking forward to the 2012-13 season and the organizational housecleaning which must transpire to restore pride in the Montreal Canadiens.
Before the on-ice product can be improved, the architects of the current squad must be removed as soon as the final horn sounds against the Toronto Maple Leafs on April 7th. For the first time in five years, the Canadiens will not be playing post-season hockey, and this is something which is unacceptable in an organization where the stated objective every season is to win the Stanley Cup. The Canadiens do not hang division championship banners in the rafters of the Bell Centre. Failing to make the playoffs is not something that the fans, the players, the sponsors, the media, and most importantly the organization find tolerable or acceptable. The pressure—both internal and external—to win now is permanent. It is for these reasons that general manager Pierre Gauthier absolutely cannot remain in his position after this season concludes, and it is for these reasons that he must be replaced before the planning begins in earnest for next season.
The NHL Entry Draft is the first major event where the Canadiens can begin the overhaul to regain their competitive advantage in the NHL and recruit the lions of tomorrow. The
amateur scouting team for the Canadiens, headed by Trevor Timmins, is not a part of the problem. Timmins did not trade Ryan McDonagh and Chris Higgins (both first round draft choices) to the New York Rangers, and while some may question (with the benefit of hindsight) some of his other first round selections, he has consistently been able to find quality players in later rounds that have turned into bona fide NHL regulars. He will have plenty of opportunity this June to improve the future of the Canadiens, as the team holds all of its picks for the first four rounds plus the 2nd round selection of the Nashville Predators.
As the team will no doubt finish in the bottom five of the standings it is in a prime position for a lottery selection, which means that there is a strong possibility the team could add either Nail Yakupov or Mikhail Grigorenko this summer. Both of these prospects are touted as being NHL-ready at age 18, and both would fill a major organizational need for the Habs. Many fans, the author included, are leaning towards Grigorenko, a 6'2" forward that can play either centre or right wing that brings size and strength to his game. Yakupov is another skilled playmaker, and while the Habs would be foolish to pass on him if he is available to them and Grigorenko off the board, his size places him in the same category as a more skilled Tomas Plekanec. The Canadiens fan base has clamoured for a generation now for a big centre that can control a game, and Grigorenko represents that opportunity. Indeed, if all goes according to the plan of some fans, Grigorenko will not be the only major acquisition the Canadiens make this summer at the expense of the Quebec Remparts.
Ever since the Canadiens organization cut off current head coach Randy Cunneyworth at the knees, he has been in a lame duck situation, merely playing out the season as he awaits to be replaced by someone acceptable to the Quebec language police. For Gauthier to make such as a statement as he did when he apologized—actually apologized to people—for hiring a unilingual Anglophone coach betrayed his new hiring and set him on an unwinnable course. Regardless of whether or not the season was already deemed lost in December when Jacques Martin was fired on the morning of an important game, to effectively slap a "best before June 2012" sticker on Cunneyworth was a move desperately lacking in class. When ranking low moves made by NHL executives this past season, this move ranks right near the bottom in a competition with Columbus GM Scott Howson throwing his team's captain Rick Nash under the bus at the trade deadline. It made Cunneyworth's performance as interim coach irrelevant in terms of his future with the club; in order to appease the media and a small segment of the fan base, Gauthier undercut his new coach and made it clear that there would be a new face behind the bench in 2012-13.
Cunneyworth, for his part, has done himself few favours in his short time as head coach. He has continued to give the utterly ineffective Scott Gomez prime playing minutes while limiting opportunities for his young players. The team has continued to squander leads and play terribly in front of 21,273 fans at the Bell Centre on a regular basis. The near-catastrophe against the Minnesota Wild at the start of March embodied everything wrong about the current coaching philosophy and roster issues facing the Canadiens this season. Though the Habs narrowly escaped blowing a 4-1 lead with a shootout victory, many fans were absolutely aghast at the meltdown in the final minutes of the third period. This is something that the Habs used to do to other teams. Cunneyworth, much like his predecessor, puts his young players in situations where they are doomed to fail, and in turn they are punished with less ice time. Even though Gauthier cast the die against his head coach months ago, Cunneyworth has done little to bolster his resume for future NHL employment.
Ever since Guy Carbonneau was fired in March 2009, the Canadiens have lacked a spirited personality behind the bench. While an outright caricature a la John Tortorella is not necessary, having a fired-up and provoking personality as a head coach can help a team get and stay motivated during important times in a game or a season. The Habs have also been without a coach that has a winning legacy at any level of hockey; Jacques Martin has a decades-long career without a single Stanley Cup Finals appearance, while Cunneyworth's record as a player and a coach is also devoid of championships. If the Canadiens are serious about instilling a winning mentality in their players, then they must turn to a proven champion to lead them as their next head coach. They must turn to their storied past one more time to help lead them to a brighter future. They must turn to one of the fiercest lions in the club's history, a man that defines winning, nothing else.
It is time for Patrick Roy to become an NHL head coach. Roy knows the game tremendously well, and was one of the most cerebral players of his era. He carried the Canadiens to Stanley Cup championships in 1986 and 1993 that they had no business winning, earning the Conn Smythe on both occasions. He continued that championship legacy after the Colorado trade. Following his retirement, Roy took up coaching in the QMJHL where he has led the Quebec Remparts to a Memorial Cup championship (2006) and consistently had the team near the top of the QMJHL standings. His continued commitment to winning has attracted interest from other teams, and Roy himself expressed in 2009 that he was interested in one day becoming an NHL head coach. It would only be fitting that Roy make his debut behind an NHL bench with the same team that made him a legend as a player. Yes, Roy does come with some drawbacks: his fiery temper and alleged ego may overshadow some of his players' on-ice exploits. But he has demonstrated himself to be savvy with the media, an effective motivator, and an engaging coach that gets the best out of his players.
Most interestingly of all for fans who are tired of "the system" of the Martin era, "Since taking the reigns [sic] in Quebec, Roy has preached nothing but offense. The Remparts offense has never ranked below 6th and has been Top 4 five times in the last 6 years. Despite his offensive propensity, Roy is no slouch on the defensive end. He may not focus as much of his attention towards defense as he should but he still has managed to have a Top 6 defense four times in his 6 years."[1] The Canadiens' legacy is predicated on fast and skilled players utilizing those talents, and it is time to hire a coach that can bring back Canadiens hockey to Montreal.
With Roy as the next head coach, an experienced general manager becomes all the more important. The next GM must provide Roy with the personnel that can be channelled properly and help the Habs rebound quickly from the disastrous 2011-12 campaign. There are a number of key contracts that must be renewed this summer: Carey Price and P.K. Subban are both restricted free agents that will command significant raises above their current deals. Price will likely expect a deal in range with his fellow elite goaltenders, and while Subban will not get a Doughty-like deal, his second contract will be hefty. To accommodate these deals the new GM must also find a way to purge the team of the toxic contracts that are infecting the team's payroll. Scott Gomez and Tomas Kaberle must not be part of next year's Canadiens. Getting the right people to join the Canadiens will be a top priority for the next general manager, thus making it critical that that person is an astute talent evaluator and master of salary cap management. We do not yet know what the financial landscape of the NHL will look like next season and will not until the new collective bargaining agreement is signed, but the next GM must be ready for whatever awaits.
Rather than looking to a great player of the storied past, in this area the Habs should look to a more recent member of the organization that has taken some time to hone his craft
elsewhere. Julien Brisebois has been the assistant GM in Tampa Bay for the past two seasons; prior to that he was involved in the Montreal organization for nine years. He knows the club's philosophy and he is familiar with many of the personnel here. Indeed, he is partly responsible for them being here. At a mere 34 years old, Brisebois is a hot commodity and could emerge as one of the best executives of the new generation of NHL leadership. He is a product of the "new NHL" that arose out of the lockout: he was the Canadiens' capologist for several years and he also spent time as the general manager of the Hamilton Bulldogs. He is intelligent and articulate, with a legal background that makes him a strong contract negotiator, and would make for an excellent successor to the disastrous Gauthier regime. The hitch may be in luring Brisebois away from Tampa, where he is being mentored by Steve Yzerman, though Yzerman himself "has publicly commented that he expects to lose Brisebois to another team looking for a general manager."[2] While it is always a risk to give an executive his first NHL general manager position in an intense pressure cooker like Montreal, Brisebois would be up to the task.
There is little reason to believe that the Canadiens cannot orchestrate a rapid turnaround from this annus horribilus and re-establish themselves as a legitimate contender next season. They have an all-world calibre goaltender, a solid defence corps that will be bolstered by a healthy Markov, and some forwards that are capable of potting 25-30 goals a season. The organization will need to lure some key free agents to replace the roster holes created by departing players (a list that will hopefully include Gomez and Kaberle) and it will need to protect its young assets with some veteran presence. There is a recent precedent for a lottery-pick team to rebound and have a fantastic season: in 2006-07 the Philadelphia Flyers finished with an astonishing NHL-low 57 points, only to come back in '07-08 and go all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals. Granted, the Flyers benefited from being able to trade a valuable commodity like Peter Forsberg to fast-track the rebuild. But with a new coach in place that puts a priority on offence, and a new general manager that can recruit talent that has the drive and passion to compete at a high level in Montreal, there is no reason to not believe that the lions of winter can roar once again.
[1] "Patrick Roy as Habs Head Coach?"26 Oct. 2011. Accessed 4 March 2012. http://www.centericenews.com/_/articles/patrick-roy-as-habs-head-coach-r68
[2] Jonathan Willis. "Is Tampa Bay Lightning Assistant G.M. Julien BriseBois Ready For The Big Chair?" Edmonton Journal 12 Feb. 2012. <http://blogs.edmontonjournal.com/2012/02/12/is-tampa-bay-lightning-assistant-g-m-julien-brisebois-ready-for-the-big-chair/>
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P.K. Subban and His Future in Montreal
about 6 years ago - No comments
by RGM81 aka Richard McAdam Throughout the summer of 2012, Montreal Canadiens fans waited with nervous anticipation for the announcement that the team had re-signed its star blueliner, P.K. Subban. With only a limited window of opportunity before a presumed lockout, other NHL clubs were racing to lock up their key on-ice personnel for as…
Nobody Left to Fire: Why Pierre Gauthier Must Go
about 7 years ago - No comments
by RGM81 aka Richard McAdam It feels like such a long time ago that the fans of the Montreal Canadiens could feel a genuine and lasting sense of positivity about their beloved club. When the season began many trumpeted that the team was on the cusp of reaching the upper echelons of the National Hockey…
Taxi for Cammalleri
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By Karine Hains aka Pheebs888 If the Montreal Canadians made the headlines for the right reasons during their 2009-2010 playoffs run, they are now making them for all the wrong reasons. An abysmal start to the season, a truckload of injuries, a big money contract given to an ageing and hurting defenseman, a coach firing,…
Jacques Martin's Firing Overdue
about 7 years ago - No comments
By RGM81 aka Richard McAdam The announcement of Montreal Canadiens' head coach Jacques Martin being "relieved of his duties" reached me while I was at the monthly Halifax card show. Oddly enough, CTV Halifax news anchor Steve Murphy (himself a collector) was the one that broke the news to the hall, having received the information…
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about 7 years ago - No comments
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about 7 years ago - No comments
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about 7 years ago - No comments
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about 8 years ago - No comments
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about 8 years ago - No comments
By Karine Hains aka Pheebs888 Redemption. The mere mention of the word often suffice to send shivers down collector's spine. Why you ask? Well, simply because pulling a redemption is by no mean a guarantee that you will get the card described on it. Think about it, you pull a card it's there in your…
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about 8 years ago - 1 comment
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There are too many poor people in New York State. We could try to increase their wealth through the same old same old methods of income redistribution, or economic development. Or we could try some innovative new scheme, like ... paying them to leave. Why not? Let's make New York State a better place to live by getting rid of its poor people.
So, the plan works like this: poor people register their intention to leave with New York State. The first tax year that they file taxes in another state, we pay them some reasonably large sum of money, like $5,000. If they stay away another year, we pay them $2,000, and then $1,000 and then $500.
Shocked? Does this sound like a horribly cruel scheme, designed to rip asunder the communities of poor people?
Consider, instead, getting rid of a different set of people: the rich. Let's do as the Working Families Party wishes. Only, instead of paying the rich to leave, we'll tax them if they stay. Let's increase the taxes of everyone earning over $250K by 1%, over $500K by 2%, and over $1M by 3%.
The Working Families Party calls this "fair". Yet they would undoubtedly howl in outrage if the exact same scheme was seriously proposed as I did in the first two paragraphs. Why is one thing fair when proposed for the rich, and yet outrageous when proposed for the poor?