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Posts Tagged 'Music'
The Friday Writers' Bloc: June 27th, 2008
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Michael-Bradley's Pick
1. Crystal Antlers – A Thousand Eye
Fun psych rock straight out of Long Beach, CA. Produced by Ikey Owens-keyboardist of the Mars Volta, this song is the 3rd song off their 3rd but self-titled EP- Crystal Antlers. Ikey seemed to be able to harness CA's balance of rocking grooves and psych tangents in an edible song size, in such way The Mars Volta have rarely been able [surely consciously though] to do. I first started hearing these guys on the local hours on indie 103.1, but seems like the press has spread.The Crystal Antlers seemed to just have blown up all over the place in the past few months. Now Pitchfork can have a love affair with a new Crystal [Castles]. You can very well catch them in a city near you too, while they travel their butts off: http://www.myspace.com/crystalantlers
2. Monotonix – Body Language
I never really heard much of these Israeli rockers until I became re-obsessed with videothing.com and their daily documentation of the Fuck Yeah Fest Tour (including the Crystal Antlers) as they travel around the country in a vintage school bus fed on vegetable oil. These guys seem to rock harder then anybody live (you must go to videothing.com and see Monotonix destroy North Carolina), frequently pouring garbage on each other, throwing the nearest garbage can on the drummer, pouring beer all over band members while performing, and the lead singer's propensity for spreading his ass cheeks to both the audience and his microphone. Performance aside though, these guys rock-blending 70's Zeppelin-like fuzz with noise rock and a punk outlook. It's pronounced HUMMUS.
3. The Mae Shi vs. Miley Cyrus – See U Again
I wrote about these guys recently-but this really deserves it. I dare you to listen to this song, and not listen to it again. I dare you. This song is thoroughly stuck in my head. That's the contagious factor of a good pop song. These spazz-punk-pop rockers one-upped Miley Cyrus, perfecting her own pop ballad (she didn't write it right, it was totally some 40 year old ghost writer?). The arpegiating keyboard loop in the background – the perfect amount of auto-tune. The digital unwinding in the middle is the perfect reminder that this actually the Mae Shi. Brilliant. Now if only I could keep a lid on me singing "I'm just being Miley" in public….
Jonathan's Picks
1. Colby O'Donis – She Didn't Go, She Did Leave
I promise you this song is not nearly as awkward as its title. In fact, it's actually quite good thanks to a slightly syrupy, dark, synth-heavy beat contributed by Timbaland. While O'Donis' debut single "What You Got" certainly grabbed the attention of many in the pop and R&B communities, it also managed to garner the attention of Billboard's Hot 100 and U.S. Pop charts, peaking at numbers 14 and 15 respectively. "She Didn't Go, She Did Leave" seems less likely to do so: though the Internets were filled with rumors that the awkwardly titled track would be O'Donis' follow-up single off his forthcoming album, Colby O, this week the infinitely more pop-friendly "Don't Turn Back" was released as O'Donis' newest single, leaving "She Didn't Go, She Did Leave" to remain merely an Internet and record pool release. Whether or not it will appear on the album is unknown. Now, I have to admit I don't really like the idea of O'Donis — he looks like a fourth Gotti brother (he is from Queens, after all) and could easily have played a starring role in the YouTube sensation "My New Haircut" — but his non-threatening sound and baby-faced look have helped the 19-year-old land a deal with Akon's Konvict Muzik imprint, and an impressive first single. Although it may not be released, "She Didn't Go, She Did Leave" is actually a better song in that it relies less on pop appeal and more on its own unique sound. Oh, and it doesn't have Akon on it. So that's always a plus.
2. Fabolous – A Milli Freestyle
So I guess this pick is a little bit unorthodox since it's really not an official track of any kind. Regardless it's good, and that's what matters. Fabolous jacks the beat from Lil Wayne's second single, "A Milli," off Weezy's new album, Tha Carter III, and pretty much just goes to town on it. It's worth mentioning that right now most people are probably hearin' and feelin' Jay-Z's subtle, yet clearly big boss-like, spin on "A Milli" with his one-upping (actually, make that his one thousand-upping) "A Billi" freestyle. And I'm feelin' that too in a big way. But getting much less attention is Fabolous' take on the original track. I'm not really a big Fabolous fan when when it comes to actually rhymin' — he's often a little soft in terms of any real lyricism — but I gotta give him his due on this freestyle. So I don't really know what happened with him, but for some reason he just kinda blacks out on this one. (Maybe he actually did black out?) In any case, it's as if the "F-A-B-O…" character died and came back to life as a serious rapper with some serious verbal chops. So leave the preconceived notions at the door and give the improved Fabolous a chance. Cuz I'm impressed.
3. Fabolous Feat. Jay-Z and Uncle Murda – Brooklyn
I'll be honest, I was gonna choose something else new for my third pick, but listening to, and then writing about, that Fabolous freestlye got me thinking about one of my favorite (and somehow largely unappreciated outside of perhaps a single borough of New York City) hip hop tracks from the last few years: Fab's "Brooklyn" off his highly-anticipated, but follow-though lacking, 2007 album, From Nothin' To Somethin'. With an intro by NYC's legendary Funkmaster Flex (whose website is like a visual representation of his voice) and an absolutely FILTHY beat from producer Versatile (wait, who?) that brilliantly incorporates a sample from Biggie's infamous MSG freestyle, the song just can do no wrong. I'm not saying any of the verses are flat-out slayers, but that's about as good as you're gonna get from Fab, and Jay-Z spittin' about Brooklyn…..well, let's just say you can't go wrong with that either. I'd never heard of Uncle Murda until this track, and I'm not exactly overwhelmed by his wits or skillz, but it's no shock he'd be the weakest of the three. Be sure to catch the outro on "Brooklyn," where Fab breezily name-checks each Brooklyn neighborhood (Bed Stuy, Bushwick, Fort Green, Red Hook, etc) by rhyming each individually. This song deserves recognition, dammit.
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Do TV Commercials Ruin Good Songs? (Yeah, Pretty Much)
This week I was planning to write about Chicago pop-experimentalists, Walter Meego (the cool guys in the glasses), whose first studio album, Voyager (Sony 2008), was released last month. (Yes, Walter Meego is actually two people. No, neither one is named Walter or Meego). Unfortunately, an unexpected monkey wrench was thrown smack into the middle of my best laid plans.
Here's what happened: I was watching some soccer on TV over the weekend when a new Heineken commercial promoting their idiotic "Beertender" home mini-kegerator came on. I guess it might not be so idiotic if Heineken didn't taste like unfiltered Dutch canal water. But it does. So as far as I'm concerned it's idiotic. Anyway, the song featured prominently in the "Home Bars" ad spot in question (watch the ad here) brought an instant scowl to my face. "Those Heineken beer-Nazi sonofabitches," I said to no one but the television, "they jacked my fucking song — already." The song was Walter Meego's "Forever," which just happens to be my favorite Walter Meego song. (Listen to it here).
Now, it was ruined. Forever. "Forever" was ruined forever. Or so I felt. My favorite song from a relatively new and largely unknown experimental pop group (what the hell is experimental pop anyway?) had been reduced to nothing more than another cheap cog in the beer world's mega-marketing wheel of death and societal detriment. Weren't alternative/indie musicians like Walter Meego supposed to tell advertisers to fuck off when asked to use their songs anyway? What gives?
At first I wished that I had just never seen the commercial. That would've made everything okay. Unfortunately my Men In Black "Flashy Thing" has been broken for years. (Except when it comes to finding my keys). So that option was out.
The Friday Writers' Bloc: June 20th, 2008
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Michael-Bradley's Picks
1. Liars – Plastic Casts of Everything
This is the opening track off the the noisey New York rockers Liars' latest and self titled album. This album terrificly just drudges along, with robust smears of melody and rhythm. Even though I've heard comparisons to newer noise rockers Health (who I admit share some styles occasionally [less so in this album]), this album reminds me more of SF punkers Flipper, in their sludgy sounds. Plaster Casts of Everything is a great opener, setting up momentum that carries through the whole album.
2. Sebadoh – Not a Friend
This may not be the best song to be singing by a friend. But i can't help myself right now, so I apologize in advance….. Sebadoh is a wonderful band from the 90's with a sort of post-punk sensibility, that are really important for the development of lo fi and indie music. Their soft analog distortion used on the guitar is part of that patented Sebadoh sound that had me hooked early on. Bakesale is I think their finest album, where I think their style really came into it's own- mixing between real rocking songs, to quieter jams like Not A Friend. The open writing style of Sebadoh's lyrics are really refreshing. Sometimes it's nice to have a singer talk to you in the way you would to them. The final track off this album, Together or Alone can just melt me down.
3. Suffocate For Fuck Sake – Blue Lights and Sunshine
Woah, right? Either you're incredibly interested, or you've already moved on. Suffocate For Fuck Sake is a really great band I just discovered from Sweden. This clearly won't be for most, but I suggest giving the song a whole play through, cause you're not going to find stuff like this on the radio. They go from quiet and beautiful post-rock pieces with clips of Swedish talking sound bites (anybody want to translate), to some really heavy stuff! Post-Rock has been a genre that always bothered me. Bands like Explosions in the Sky and Mogwai always just frustrated me. Maybe I could just not appreciate their minimalism, but I found them totally boring. Their music never went anywhere. I always thought Post-Rock would be amazing if you use it in parts, while not being afraid to blast through others. I started finding a few bands like *Shels [sic] [http://www.myspace.com/shels], who did that, but was never satisfied with the results. UNTIL, i heard SFFS, and their brief titled first album "Blazing fires and helicopters on the frontpage of the newspaper. There's a war going on and I'm maching in heavy boots." They've found the perfect match of Post-Rock and heavy-[something] for me! Don't be afraid of the scream.This album is mind blowing. Interesting fact is that they are the poster child of music globalization. Swedish band, with a label and publisher in Mexico? Pretty cool.
Jonathan's Picks
1. John Legend Feat. Andre 3000 – Green Light
I like John Legend. I've liked him since I first heard "Used to Love U" back in 2004. And I continued to like the man and his music through his first two albums, Get Lifted and Once Again. In fact, the first time I heard "Ordinary People" and "Again," I think I was ready to add them to the pantheon of all-time great love songs. (Or at least all-time great lovers quarreling songs). I never minded the fact that Legend seemed basically stuck in one gear all the time, never venturing far from his R&B/Soul sound, even when it meant some of his material sounded borderline repetitive. But the man is a crooner. He's old-school like that. And I like that about him. So when I heard the first single off Legend's upcoming third studio album, "Green Light," I was confused. Something like: "Wait, this is John Legend? Really? Wow, dude's really going in a different direction on this one, huh?" And that he is. "Green Light" is a catchy uptempo synth-fest, which still allows Legend to get on his love story tip, yet sounds unlike anything he's ever done before. And this new, loosened up John Legend is brought out of his shell by a jocular (and literally laughing at times) Andre 3000, whose guest verse appears to slip away from him towards the end, only for him suddenly reveal he's been freestyling the whole time. Jokester. But Andre's "throwaway" line directed at Legend as the track rides out really says it all: "Sometimes you gotta step from behind that piano!" He definitely did.
2. Lady GaGa Feat. Colby O'Donis – Just Dance
There's something I want to say that applies to both my second and third picks: there was a time when "pop" music (aka "popular" music) meant that the music itself was easily accessible and enjoyable to the average listener. But it absolutely did NOT mean that the music had to simplistic, dumbed-down, or mediocre, and it did NOT mean that it was to be made largely by talentless artists with no skills or ideas of their own. The Beach Boys and The Beatles were a far cry from the modern-day no-talent-ass-clownery of Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan. Thus, I want to highlight two new "pop" singers who bring a little more to the table. First, Lady GaGa. Horrible name aside, this 22 year old New York City lifer and downtown scenester actually possesses far greater talent than our average pop singers of today. The girl went to NYU's Tisch School of the Arts at age 17 and Tisch isn't like a record company — they don't just let anybody in and hand 'em a mic. You gotta have more talent than 99 percent of the population, and Lady GaGa (sorry, but my god I hate that name) certainly has talent — the girl's got a powerful and clear voice built for tearing down arenas and stadiums (in a good way). Her lyrics are fun, playful, and poppy to be sure, but they're also slightly wacky and even a little edgy (gasp!) at times. "Just Dance" is the first single off her debut album, and it features rising male pop star Colby O'Donis. It's just funny because I've never noticed that O'Donis had a weak or lousy voice before –and he doesn't, really — but he is COMPLETELY outgunned and gets COMPLETELY shown up by the overly talented newcomer, Lady GaGa. So just try to forget about the clothes, the hair, and the makeup. That isn't the point of pop music. Instead just remember the voice.
3. Keke Palmer – Bottoms Up
An even more interesting case of a new pop singer with a little too much actual talent is Keke Palmer, who's still known mostly for her roles as a child actor in films like Akeelah and the Bee and Jump In!, though now seems to be transitioning into the music world. Now I haven't seen either of those movies, so I have no idea if she can act. (I bet she can). But damn can she grab hold of song and take it for a ride under her control. And it's not just that Palmer can actually sing well, it's that she easily flits back and forth between her singing and some shockingly convincing rapping, which somehow (I have no idea how, seriously) manages to avoid sounding the least bit awkward or forced. "Bottoms Up" is clearly just a fun party track with a better-than-it-has-to-be beat before anything else — the title says it all –regardless of how you interpret the type of "bottoms" Palmer is encouraging us to raise. But here's the thing: Palmer's still young. How young, you ask? Very young. So now I ask that you take a good listen or two to "Bottoms Up" before running over to "the Google" to find out just how old the lovely and talented Ms. Palmer actually is. After hearing the song for the first time months ago and doing that very thing, my jaw practically hit the floor. Her self-confidence on the mic and her natural command of the song is utterly incredible for anyone Palmer's age, so if this girl doesn't become a star now, she damn well should be one someday.
JustJake's Picks
1. Fiona Apple – Extraordinary Machine
This weeks picks are from my two favorite females in pop (I guess that's what it's called). This first one is the title track off Fiona Apple's extraordinary 2005 album, Extraordinary Machine. Time and again, I keep coming back to this album which has proven that it deserves every bit of credit that it got when it was released. Under the tutelage of superproducer Jon Brion, Apple broke new ground on this record, not only for her but for female pop stars in general. This song, by far my favorite of hers, is just one example of the album's quirky-beautiful arrangements and Apple's subtly-perfect timing.
2. Joanna Newsom – Bridges and Balloons
Another opening track to a strange, sensory, and groundbreaking album, "Bridges and Balloons" is a fantasy and a journey. I haven't really figured out where Newsom and her nymph-like voice is taking us, but it's somewhere quiet, fluid, and pretty. Her harp is a flurry of beautifully constructed melodies and is the true star of Newsom's music, although many don't get beyond her voice. Her style can seem queer or even creepy, but after watching her captivate an entire opera house, with standing ovations to boot, I will defend her magic and its power, however odd they may appear.
roswellmueller's Picks
1. Vampire Weekend – Oxford Comma
I'll start off by saying that I do not like Vampire Weekend. While I can sort of understand their appeal, I just really am not impressed in any way by this album – the exception being Oxford Comma. For the life of me I can't decide why I like this song, I just know that I can't get it out of my head and have kept it on my commuting playlist for weeks now. It might be the irritatingly catchy lick at the center of the song, or the simplistic drumming reminiscent of Ringo at his most unimaginative, I'm not sure. I just hope I either get sick of the song, or it stops getting stuck in my head sometime soon.
2. Maps & Atlases – The Ongoing Horrible
A month or so ago, Mr. Michael-Bradley put up Maps & Atlases – Trees, Swallows, Houses on Quick Hits. Now, I've never listened seriously to math rock but this record completely sold me, unbelievable musicianship. An early favorite (probably because it's the most accessible from an outsider's perspective) is "The Ongoing Horrible." Lacking the frenetic pacing of the albums other tracks, the song highlights Maps uncanny ability to create intricate harmonic landscapes through crisp, meticulous technique and complex rhythmic structures.
3. Peter Gabriel – That Voice Again
I'm currently in the midst of a nostalgia binge, reverting back to some of the old chestnuts from my childhood. Specifically, the period where my parents' music was still the only stuff I was listening to (I'll spare everyone the Kenny Loggins and Gordon Lightfoot my dad was partial to around this time period). But, it should come as no surprise that Peter Gabriel was in heavy rotation for as long as I can remember being able to recognize the music that was playing around me. Either by osmosis or on its musical merits, which are considerable, "So" remains one of my favorite touchstone albums to return to every now and again.
Carman's Picks
1. Lizzy Mercier Descloux – Sports Spootnick
The story of Lizzy is pretty cool actually: hot French chick comes to New York in the '70s, befriends Patti Smith and Richard Hell, and records cool mutant disco. Mambo Nassau, her second album, was a departure from the sparse sounds of post-punk disco (like the ESG and Bush Tetras I posted before) that she helped establish with her debut album Press Color. Instead it was a globetrotting pastiche of world music that sounded like the Talking Heads on acid. Interestingly enough, it was recorded at the same studio in the Bahamas where Tom Tom Club recorded their debut album and Wally Badarou contributes synths to both Mambo Nassau and the Heads' Speaking in Tongues.
2. Alice Coltrane – Sita Ram
Alice Coltrane is an unusual and incredibly influential figure in the jazz world whose impact cannot be minimized by the enormous shadow cast by her husband. Not only was one of her main instruments of choice rather unusual (harp), she was one of the primary figures in developing fusion by introducing Eastern spirituality to the music and also emphasised the organ (much like Larry Young and Jimmy Smith, but in a different way) as a lead instrument. On top of all that, her free jazz leanings not only continued to the idea of spotaneous spirituality and expression that John showcased, but also made emphasized the peaceful and meditative qualities of the style with her gorgeous string arrangements. Universal Consciousness, the album from which this cut appears, is her finest of these early records.
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The Early Favorite for "Mixtape of the Year" Has Arrived
If the album art at left seems vaguely familiar to you, that's because you've seen it before.
The newest mixtape from D.C. native Wale (probably the best rapper the general public somehow still doesn't yet know about) is indeed an homage to his favorite TV show, Seinfeld — the original show about nothing.
The only thing wrong with Wale's logic is that his mixtape is actually about something. A lot of somethings, even. He tackles one tough topic after the next on The Mixtape About Nothing, (racism, the music industry, love, growing up, artistic integrity to name a few) which should come as no surprise considering that before turning his attention to music full-time Wale played football at Virginia State. So just don't call him a backpack rapper — cuz he ain't one. But don't call him a thug either, cuz Wale is about as far from a brainless thug as you'll ever find in the rap game.
And that's part of what's great about Wale. You can't pin him down as a "type," paint him into a single-genre corner, or put him in a record company box. He's too smart for that shit, and far too versatile (both lyrically and stylistically) to ever be defined as just one type of MC. Yeah he wears tight jeans and neon Nikes, but he's still a street struggler who fought his way to record deals with Mark Ronson and Interscope. And sure he may call a girl "bitch" and his boys "nigga," but that doesn't mean he thinks "Obama" is some country in Africa either.
In a musical era where marketing and branding seem to come before beats and rhymes, most rappers are turned into virtual caricatures of themselves by providing (and encouraging) a specific self-image for their audience to hold on to…..
The Friday Writers' Bloc: June 13th, 2008
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Jonathan's Picks
1. Wale – W.A.L.E.D.A.N.C.E
If you aren't yet familiar with Wale, you will be soon — not least because I'll be writing about him next week — because he's been primed to blow up for two years now, inching closer and closer to stardom. Having revealed that I'll be bringing you a piece on Wale next week, I won't reveal too much about the Washington D.C.-born, ex-college football playing MC in today's picks. But what I am revealing is the year-old gem, "W.A.L.E.D.A.N.C.E.," which first appeared on Wale's 2007 mixtape 100 Miles & Running, and says a lot about the artist by itself. For one, it shows Wale's a lyricist, not just a rapper — his intelligent wordplay covers a wide array of subjects from music and sports to pop culture and fashion. But perhaps equally important is that this track displays Wale's musically courageous and adventurous nature: he chose to rap over the French electro-pop group Justice's international dance hit, "D.A.N.C.E.," rather than a typical Hip Hop beat. That takes some balls. S for now, enjoy the song, and look forward to hearing more next week.
2. Nas Feat. Keri Hilson – Hero
Look, there isn't much to say about this song. It's too damn good. "Hero" is the second single off Nas' (highly-anticipated would be an understatement) upcoming, though still untitled, album set to drop a month from now. Produced by hitmaker of the moment, my man Polow da Don (aka King of the White Girls — sorry still love that nickname), "Hero" just bangs so hard despite it's "softer" style R&B chorus sung by the up and coming Keri Hilson (see pick three). I expect this will actually be among the most radio-friendly of the cuts off the upcoming album, even though Nas spits his usual fire and Polow's beat knocks harder than most (and I don't care if he made it with GarageBand), it's got mass appeal and is not as inflammatory as several other Nas tracks off the untitled album I've heard recently. But Nas' flow is flawless and Polow came and "did his muhfuckin' job," as Jay-Z might say…..so just, damn.
3. Keri Hilson – Energy
Keri Hilson is someone in the music industry you can actually root for. She's legitimately multi-talented (a real singer and real songwriter) and has spent years paying her dues by working "behind the scenes" in the industry. And it doesn't hurt that she's, um, rather attractive…..you know, physically. (She recently played Usher's love interest in his "Love In This Club" music video). After seven years of writing songs for other artists such as Britney Spears, Mary J. Blige, Ciara, Chris Brown, Usher, and Timbaland, as well as singing background vocals on some of them, Hilson has started to get out in front more and more, as a featured guest on Timbaland's smash singles, "The Way I Are" and "Scream." Now it's her time to shine, with a debut solo album, entitled, In a Perfect World, slated for release later this year. And it looks as if all that dues-paying will pay off, as the album is executive-produced by Timbaland himself, has cameos by Justin Timberlake, Snoop Dogg, and Ludacris, and will feature tracks produced by Polow da Don, Danja, and The Runawayz, who produced Hilson's first single, "Energy" an honest R&B-Pop crossover track with plenty of substance to go with its style. It will be interesting to see if Hilson can carve out her own place on the music scene when In a Perfect World drops since she's a product of hard work and patience rather than yet another manufactured record company mannequin. If her prior work and first solo single are any indication, I'd say she's got a great chance.
JustJake's Picks
1. Neil Young & Crazy Horse – Roll Another Number (2003)
Well, it's that time of year again. As I write this, more than a hundred thousand music lovers are gathering on a farm in rural Tennessee for a long weekend of live music, drug use, and more live music. In honor of Bonnaroo 2008, the mother of all modern music festivals, this week's picks are taken from live performances from festivals past. The first track is one of my favorite Neil Young songs and even though in 2003 he clearly was not in his prime, this song still roars with rust. Young headlined that year and played in front of about eighty-thousand strong. Many were underwhelmed by his set but I thought it kicked ass. If you ever wondered why they called him the godfather of grunge, this song should pretty much answer that question.
2. Yonder Mountain String Band – Holding (2004)
YMSB, the Colorado-based bluegrass jam band, is almost synonymous with Bonnaroo in my mind. The freedom and happy-go-lucky spirit in their music embodies what the festival is all about. This tune, closing the band's 2004 set is a cover of the great John Hartford's awesome tune "Holding." The song also happens to about trying to find pot, a perfect topic to close a Bonnaroo set with since that's what a lot of the fans would be doing afterwards. Just a fun song and you can get a good sense of the love that abounds.
3. James Brown – I Go Crazy (2003)
Yes, James Brown played Bonnaroo. He even brought along about a thirty piece ensemble with everything from four guitars, to two bass players, to four backup dancers, to the obligatory dude-who-covers-him-with-a-cape. And what a show it was. Brown, into is seventies, showed that he could still conduct the tightest of bands, dance like only he and Michael Jackson can, and sing with as much soul as ever. It's tough to hear in the live recording but his horn section was tremendous, all wearing matching rhinestone suits. Needless to say the crowd of music lovers was ecstatic. And that's what Bonnaroo's all about: great, eclectic music in a great, eclectic environment.
Carman's Picks
1. Bush Tetras – No More Creeps
This pick isn't too far removed from my ESG pick from last time. Just more bare and simple post-funk from the late-70s New York art scene that doesn't get a lot of attention given how influential and prevalent its style is now. If ESG is what LCD Soundsystem could be, just think of the Bush Tetras as what The Rapture aspire to be.
2. Carsick Cars – Zhong Nan Hai
I had this band described to me as "the Chinese Sonic Youth," so I'm sure you could picture how skeptical I was at first when I downloaded the album. Amazingly, it was about as spot-on as you could be. Hailing from that great hub of culture that is Beijing, Carsick Cars deliver a brand of indie rock that is the Yoof at their Geffen-era peak. A little bit of Sister-era SY and a good heaping of what were the better parts of Rather Ripped, and you have catchy and noisy indie rock that is great in any language. Naturally, they've opened up for Sonic Youth both at home and abroad, and lead-singer Zhang Shouwang is already a veteran of Glenn Branca's multi-guitar symphonies. Look them up on MySpace.
Download this week's Friday Writers' Bloc Playlist HERE
The Friday Writers' Bloc: June 6th, 2008
Download this week's Friday Writers' Bloc Playlist HERE
Jonathan's Picks
I've spent a lot of time over the last few weeks talking about remixes — their origins, their value, their potential — and how sometimes the remix(es) of a song are just better than the originally recorded version. Today I'm giving you three different examples of this idea, but by picking three different remixes of the same song: Jay-Z's "Change Clothes," (listen to the original version here) which was the first single off of his epic "last album," The Black Album. While I loved The Black Album on the whole, "Change Clothes" is among my least favorite songs on it, and I admit I was moderately horrified when it appeared as the debut single off icon Jay-Z's supposed farewell to Hip Hop. He's goin' out like THIS?? Naw. Can't be, I remember thinking. Well luckily, as it turns out, he wasn't goin' out at all.
1. Jay-Z – Change Clothes (The Pink Album Remix)
The Black Album is probably the most remixed album of all time due to the (intentional) release of an a capella version, which provided all of Jay's vocals with none of the Black Album beats behind them. This allowed everyone from top-flight producers like Just Blaze, to wannabes and Garageband users the same remixing ability. Though the most well-known of these remix attempts is undoubtedly Danger Mouse's The Grey Album (a mash up of Jay's Black Album and The Beatles' White Album), I've never bought into the idea that it was the best of the remixes. In my opinion, one of the best attempts (if not the best), is The Pink Album. For a long time after it first came out, the Pink Album remained a mystery work by an unknown producer (or producers) — though the Internets were ablaze with speculation (even Kanye West's name was mentioned) — but more recently the Pink Album has been clearly attributed to the team of Hasan Insane and DJ Mills (though which DJ Mills — there are multiple — is not as clear), as the former is now actually selling cuts off the Pink Album on his MySpace page. In any case, the album is great, and "Change Clothes" is definitely among the standout remixes, as the original version's Neptunes-produced pop appeal is toned down slightly by a new, smoother, Jay-Z friendly beat.
2. Jay-Z – Change Clothes (The Purple Album Remix)
The Purple Album is another great take on Jay-Z's Black Album, as it uses tracks and sounds taken exclusively from Prince's Purple Rain and creates almost entirely new beats with them. I either don't know or can't remember who's responsible for this one, there are just too many Black Album remixes to keep track, though DJ Quest and K12 both come up as possible candidates. Either way, mixing an already pop-oriented song with Prince certainly doesn't make it any more hood, but it most definitely makes it much better, and a hell of a lot more fun to listen to. This is one of those tracks that when you throw it on a party, half the people in the room (Jay-Z fans or not) will look at you and go, "Where the hell did you get this?" It's a completely different take on the Black Album, and one that I think works pretty gloriously. As long as you don't try to take it to seriously. Oh, and if Reasonable Doubt is the only Jay-Z album you listen to, you're not gonna like this one bit.
3. Jay-Z – Change Clothes (The Black Chronic Remix)
The Black Chronic is probably among the most understandable (in terms of knowing what it is you're hearing) Black Album remixes. Done by the Bash Brothers, it's actually more of direct mash up than a remix, taking the rhymes from the Black Album and laying them over all the sick beats from Dr. Dre's Chronic 2001 masterpiece. In this particular song, "Change Clothes" is mashed with the hard and heavy beat from Dre's "Fuck You," and it works out quite well. Unlike mixing the Black Album with a Prince album, mixing it with something that carries the street-cred and street-sound of a Dr. Dre album definitely turns "Change Clothes" into an entirely different song, transforming it from chart-friendly "hip-pop" back into a legitimate hip hop song. Funny thing is, it really does work too. Problem solved.
JustJake's Picks
This week's picks have been a long time coming. They are all from my hands-down, desert-island-choose-one-and-only-one, favorite group, The Band. Eric Clapton said about the group's seminal first album: "Back in 1968 I heard a record called Music from Big Pink and it changed my life and the course of American music." Legend has it that it's the reason he left Cream. But don't take Clapton's word for it, here are three picks (and it's hard to pick only three) off that record.
1. The Band – Long Black Veil
This song is simply tremendous. Written in the 1950's and originally recorded by country legend Lefty Frizzell, "Long Black Veil" is a haunting tale from beyond the grave that sounds as old as the hills. The organs, tubas, and harpsichord that The Band uses add to the song's strangeness and emotion without taking it out of dirt and grit that give it its soul. This album has very few songs on it that sound like anything that came before, but "Long Black Veil" serves almost as a reminder from The Band that it knows where it comes from and cares about its roots.
2. The Band – Chest Fever
As the story goes, Garth Hudson, The Band's organist, horn player, and musical guru originally had to tell his family that he was giving his fellow band members music lessons instead of playing in a rock n roll band. Hudson was raised as a serious classical musician and even jazz was blasphemous. His talents remain to this day and you can still find him making strange music on strange instruments, sounding part seafaring, part space exploring. Hudson was responsible for much of ornamental details and subtle touches in The Band's music that ultimately help give it its depth. While on tour, this song became Hudson's time to play around. For an idea of what that was like check out this grainy but amazing video from Wembley Stadium (1974).
3. The Band – I Shall Be Released
The last song on Big Pink, "I Shall Be Released" is one of three on the album either written or co-written by Bob Dylan, who The Band backed before striking out on their own. Richard Manuel was one of three amazingly talented singers in the group (Levon Helm and Rick Danko being the others) and his falsetto (and piano) on this track is both eerie and beautiful. The space stands out in this song almost as much as the music itself does; there's a pervasive sense of loneliness, as if the song were recorded in a giant empty cell.
Download this week's Friday Writers' Bloc Playlist HERE
This is the Remix!: When the Remix is Better than the Original (Part 2)
A couple weeks ago we were successfully able to determine that Diddy did not in fact invent the remix.
Thus, the dastardly album cover at left — by the way, is Diddy wearing leather pants? — represents a complete fallacy.
Shame on you, Sean.
There is, however, admittedly significant evidence pointing to Diddy's influence and accomplishments as a remixer — at least within the Hip Hop/R&B community. Many of the examples I gave of songs whose remixes turned out to eclipse their respective originals in terms of either quality, popularity, or both, are indeed the work of Diddy and his Hitmen production crew over at Bad Boy Records. So I'll definitely give him his fair share of credit for bringing us remixes of "Only You" from 112, "Fantasy" from Mariah Carey, and Usher's "I Need a Girl."
All three of these remixes far surpassed their original versions in their measure of street cred and mass appeal, if not in actual chart performance. Yet given today's differing musical climate, one hot with digital downloads, highly-targeted Satellite radio broadcasts, more music channels than ever, and the overall increased accessibility of music, I would wager that all three remixes would fair far better by Billboard's measurements today than when they were originally released. Simply put, more people would know about them, more people would hear them, and more people would be able to obtain them, giving the remixes a much broader reach.
In the television industry, viewers are often known simply as "eyeballs" — the more eyeballs your advertisements have on them, the more they are worth. The same should hold true in the music industry: the more "eardrums" a certain song attracts, the more valuable it becomes and the higher it rises on the music charts. For example, as of this writing Lil Wayne's "Lollipop" is the number nine song on iTunes' top downloads. Song number ten? The remix of "Lollipop" featuring Kanye West. Similarly, the album version of Usher's hit "Love In This Club" sits at number forty-eight. The remix, "Love In This Club Part II," sits at number forty-nine. In both cases the original versions were officially released well ahead of their respective remixes, so given enough time, it's entirely possible that the remixes will end up being downloaded as much, or more, than the original songs.
Okay that's enough outta me.
I promised a second installment of songs whose remixes eventually became more popular than the originals, so let's get to part two of this ever-expanding list:


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Louisiana to Consider New Standards for Teaching Science
Next month, Louisiana's state board of elementary and secondary education is expected to vote on new science standards.
A committee worked for six months to produce new standards for the state, which currently has some of the oldest science standards in the nation. The group voted nearly unanimously to approve the standards last week.
Under the new benchmarks, there are fewer standards per grade level with more opportunities for students to dig deeper into the subject. For example, there are 15 standards under the new framework related to 3rd grade science. Currently, the state has 62 "grade-level expectations,"or standards, for 3rd graders in science.
We recently talked to Karen Parrino about the new standards. She's been teaching for more than 25 years and served on a science standards work group made up of educators that examined the standards for students in kindergarten through 8th grades. She also served on the Science Standards Review Committee, which was comprised of classroom teachers, administrators, and college professors.
Parrino is one of the state's teacher-leader advisors who has helped to write curriculum. She teaches kindergarten at North Live Oak Elementary in Livingston and also runs a summer science institute for students in kindergarten through 3rd grades.
Parrino is certified by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards and teaches her students using a science immersion curriculum she created. In 2016, the Louisiana Science Teachers Association named her the state's Outstanding Elementary Science Teacher of the Year.
Below is a lightly edited version of our conversation.
What was the most challenging part of developing the new science standards?
We had challenges of different opinions like you always do, lots of discussions and lively discussions about what should be in the standards, what should not be there, but I think that added a lot to the thought process. We had a lot of time to dig deep and really refine the standards.
Since your current standards have been in a place since 1997, I imagine there was a lot of revision that needed to be done. Which area required the most work?
Basically, we really started from scratch. We wanted to make sure we had engineering practices throughout. We looked at different areas just to make sure that we had the best standards that we could possibly give our students in Louisiana. We wanted to use clear language and not be vague, and we wanted to make sure that we were grade appropriate. The work group broke off at times into small groups like K-2, 3-5, and then junior high and high school. At other times, we were looking at different things like vertical alignment. We got together as a large group and went through each standard by standard.
Looking at the new standards you developed and the old standards, what would you say is the biggest difference to the approach?
Students will be engaged, actively involved. They'll be doing science, not just getting worksheets or being taught from the book. It's going to change what learning science looks like in a science classroom. That's the biggest takeaway for me, and that's what I'm excited about.
Were you at all influenced by the Next Generation Science Standards?
We did look at Next Generation Science Standards and several other states that had adopted standards, and there were many things we liked about them.
Are some of the standards you developed unique to Louisiana?
Yes, the standards were written by Louisiana educators and experts for Louisiana students.
What are some of those unique standards?
There are a few about climate, things that are specific to our state as far as geographical features. We have a lot of coastline and low-lying areas that make our state unique.
How did you primarily get feedback as you were writing drafts of the standards?
Around December, we opened a portal up on the state department of education website. It was for parents, educators, any stakeholders to go in and comment on the standards. As part of the committee, we met and we went over every single comment, every statement, every concern, and we addressed it.
In some states, developing new science standards has been pretty contentious, but it seems like you were able to avoid controversy regarding topics such as climate change and evolution. How did you do that?
We looked at evidence, the best scientific evidence, and we went on that.
Photo: North Live Oak Elementary Students Alexis Monroe (left) and Lyla Achord (right) explore "snow" they created in Karen Parrino's kindergarten class. (Karen Parrino)
Related stories:

subset: commoncrawl


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New year, new start. Planning to spend less, save more or just want a clearer picture of what your money's up to? Whatever your plans for this year's finances, OnTrees will make your 2013 resolutions easy to keep.
Described as "the free and simple way to see all your finances in one place", OnTrees is set to be the next big thing in personal finance management. These kinds of services are huge in the US, with over 10 million people using similar platforms, but the phenomenon has just started to take off in the UK.
Since OnTrees launched in mid-November, thousands of people have registered and added accounts. They have also been featured by Apple as a top finance app in the UK App Store, as well as getting some great coverage across a range of publications:
"A new online service which enables consumers to access all of their bank accounts in one place." – The Telegraph
"With one log-in, users can track recent transactions across their accounts, see a breakdown of their spending and set up budgets and alerts to manage money more effectively" –ThisIsMoney
"This is an innovative and easy new way to keep track of your finances and we reckon it's going to be huge." – Pocket-lint.com's Website of the Day
"All your balances in one place can help with money management and budgeting… Oh, and it's free." – The Independent
OnTrees works by allowing you to track recent transactions across your bank accounts, see a clear breakdown of your spending into categories and set up budgets and alerts to manage your money more effectively. You can create your OnTrees account in seconds and connect your bank accounts in minutes.
Once you've added your accounts, your transactions will be sorted into categories so you can see where you're spending the most. These categories are displayed in helpful graphs and charts. Your spending will also be connected to the OnTrees budgeting tool where you can also set alerts to let you know when you're reaching your budget (and if you've gone over it!).
The other great thing about OnTrees is the Best Buy tables which are put together by financial website of the year, ThisisMoney.co.uk. These independent comparison tables make sure you're getting the best rates on the market from ISAs to fixed rate bonds.
The service was fine-tuned in a two week trial with Mumsnet and NUS members, who helped to develop the site's household spending tools and multi-account accessibility. Over 75% of trialists said that they would recommend it to a friend. Justine Roberts, CEO and Founder of Mumsnet.com said: "Mumsnetters who took part in the trial especially liked having all balances available in one place and being able to track transactions. The budgeting tool also went down well."
The site and app are both 'read only' which means that no one can use them to move money either in or out of your accounts (not even you!). Your details are entered via a SSL (Secure Socket Layer) so your data is always encrypted and OnTrees does not store any of your personal data. Security is a huge priority for the team at OnTrees, so feel free to get in touch with them for more information by calling 08444 069096 or emailing firstname.lastname@example.com.
It has often been said that a New Year's resolution is something that goes in one year and out the other. With OnTrees make sure that this doesn't happen.


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These stained glass windows are great for your church builds! These are digitally printed with the most durable ink available. These pieces are translucent allowing for light to shine through.
These windows depict important points in Jesus life : Birth, Baptism, Crucifixion, And Ascension.
These are printed on Genuine Lego pieces. They do not include the stands holding them up.
This product hasn't received any reviews yet. Be the first to review this product!


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I'm still working away on my #100days100blocks as well as my other swaps that I'm a part of right now. I finally finished everything in baby boys room, so now we're just waiting for the little man to arrive! We purchased a new recliner for his room, and I find myself going in there to just hang out and reflect on my excitement/nerves/joy about having another son in just a few weeks!
Here are some of the pretty projects that were shared last week:
Barb of Mountain Quiltworks shared this lovely quilt, and I can see why it is her favorite. So pretty!
Chris of made by ChrissieD shared this great laptop case that was made by her daughter!
Last by not least is this amazing quilt made by Afton of Quilting Mod!
An InLinkz Link-up


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The Maison Fromentin Leclapart has been a family tradition, since 1925. Four generations of winemakers have succeeded one another in operating with passion a first quality vineyard covering five hectares in the very heart of the Champagne region.
Our vineyard is located in Bouzy, classified "Grand Cru village", on the south hillside of the Mountain of Reims.
Our champagnes are created out of two grape varieties :
- A majority of Pinot Noir which gives power and long finish.
- The Chardonnay is synonymous with sophistication and finesse.


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Let's face it, businesses need technology. Imagine trying to do business as it was done twenty years ago, where would we be? In the late 1990s, the internet was slowly becoming the next great evolution in humanity and, it's now helped millions of people, as well as the planet. Now, businesses, especially those that require the #1 most popular field service software, are getting better results by relying on technology to help them run the day-to-day operations. In this article, we will be discussing what a field service management system is, and how a field service management software can help.
Business Technology and FSM
FSM is an acronym we've given to field service management. Field service management is the management of a company's resources. These resources include money, tools, equipment, technology, personnel, real estate, among others. A field service management software is used to implement all the above in one central system.
What this means is that a company can control all its resources when a project is located somewhere else. Through an FSM system, the company manager or CEO can see exactly how things are being used. For example, a real estate company is developing a twenty-story building in California, but the company is in Florida. Because this hypothetical project is on a bigger scale, there must be a system in place.
A field service management system for the example given above would allow the company to manage worker activity, schedule tasks in advance, can track inventory, can set a budget, and will be able to integrate all accounting software to be available on the cloud. We understand that not every business needs a field service management system, but there must be some sort of system in place, even if it's a simple spreadsheet.
The only thing that has kept humanity alive, thriving, and growing, has been innovation. Test after test, and failure after failure, allowed the lightbulb, airplanes, organ transplants, and many other breakthroughs to happen. They did not just happen randomly, but they occurred because someone, or even a group of people were keeping track of results and had a system to make things manageable. Currently where a company can do business anywhere in the world, if it wants to grow, it must use a field service management system.
In conclusion, this article discussed the topic of field service management, and field service management software. FMS is basically a system where a company and its members can work together to deploy resources, schedule workers, plan upcoming events and crucial tasks to be completed, and, it can all be cloud based. A field service management software can help companies who are out of their home markets to keep communication and task delegation fluid and visible for key personnel. The main thing that an FSM system does, is it allows mobility of the company, and can help you do the same.


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Before the rise of Candy Crush, there used to be another game which used to rule Facebook, it was called Farmville. The game brought the simulated experience of handling a farm over to the website and saw huge amounts of success. However, as the primary platforms for using Facebook changed from computers to smart phones, the game faded into obscurity ...Read More »
Review: Glimmer – A Luminous Alarm Clock App
Waking up on time for work in the morning can be quite a bit of a daunting task for some people, which is why there are just so many different alarm apps available in the Play Store. While some apps just function as a normal alarm clock, there are a few that manage to stand out from the crowd. The ...Read More »
Review: Cortana – Master Chief's Personal Assistant Now on Android
It's no big news that Microsoft is trying their best to break into the smartphone market for a very long time now. Of course, they do realize that the majority of the market is dominated by Android and iOS and it's not really easy to interest their users in Window phones overnight. This is why the company has been slowly ...Read More »
Review: Think – A Simplistic Yet Addictive Puzzle Game
One of my most favorite genres of Mobile games is Puzzle games. This mostly is due to the fact that most puzzle games on the Play Store don't really require a data connection and can be played anywhere at any time, provided that you have enough battery on your phone. This is why I was very excited to try out ...Read More »
Review: FIFA 16 Ultimate Team – Build the Team of your Dreams
When it comes to Football (or if you're an American: Soccer) games, there is one game that usually pops up and that's EA Sports' FIFA series. Each year, EA Sports churns out another game in the series with somewhat better graphics and updated team rosters. In an attempt to tap a previously untapped customer area, EA Sports mobile division has ...Read More »
Review: CounterSpy – A Mix Between Stealth and Platform Games
Stealth based games are not everyone's cup of tea but if done right they sure can be a lot fun to play. That being said, there are only a few good and proper stealth based games available on the Play Store. However, you can just seem to get lost in the games that employ a little stealth based element in ...Read More »
Review: SpinMe Alarm Clock – Wake up and Spin!
Waking up on time can be a bit of problem for most people and that's exactly why alarm apps are very popular on the Play Store. Every app has something different to offer and tries to bring some new, crazy way to ensure that you're not turning off the alarm in your sleep. While some of the ways such as ...Read More »
Review: Nobody Dies Alone – Play Multiple Endless Runners at a Time
Let's face it, endless runner games are, at this moment, dominating the Play Store. With almost all of us having a variant of an endless runner game installed on our devices, it's no wonder that every newly released game in this genre often sees high amounts of success. However, there are only a handful of endless runner games that actually ...Read More »
Review: Sing! by Smule – Time for some Karaoke
Let's face it, not many people can sing well but we all just love to try. That's why the invention of karaoke was one of the best things that could have happened for normal people like us. That being said, not everyone has the courage to step onto a stage and sing in front of people, even if its karaoke. ...Read More »


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Candita Net Dress - White
$44.00 Regular price
Made with a hand-crochet, net detailing, this dress has vacay vibes written all over it. With a slip and side slits, you'll want to get caught in the Candita Net Dress.
Fit: Runs true to size. Style has a shift like shape which can be body conscious. Size up if you prefer a more loose fit.
Content: 100% Cotton.
Weight: Light.
Details: Model is wearing a size XS.
More questions regarding fit and size? Email firstname.lastname@example.com for support.
All sale items are final sale.


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Sticky date best served warm with icecream and strawberries.
Disclaimer: Regine's Patisserie endeavours to ensure that the information on this website is current. Sometimes, changes are made to ingredients that Regine's Patisserie uses. You must always check the nutritional, ingredients and allergen information of the ingredients. You will appreciate that Regine's Patisserie accepts no responsibility for any loss or injury suffered by the person relying on information provided on this website which differs from the information on the ingredients of our product.


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Upholding the highest in industry excellence since 1973
Data-Matique is a leader in the precision sheet metal and CNC machining industry and one of the pioneers in the production of fabricated mechanical hardware for a variety of structures, parts and systems. Located in Garland, Texas, our clients include mechanical engineers and commodity buyers representing a vast range of highly technical industries such as entertainment lighting, banking automation, medical labs, aerospace and the military. Our products are custom produced using a wide mix of metal, plastic and other raw materials.
Data-Matique's diverse machining capabilities and varied resources offer our clients a true one-stop shop. Whether you are in the market for a single prototype or a production run, the experienced and dedicated machinists and craftsmen at Data-Matique will accurately produce your project on-time and within budget.
Ready to take the next step?
If you are ready to take your project to the next level, we invite you to contact us today and allow Data-Matique to consult with you and create a product that will exceed all expectations.
2110 Sherwin Street
Garland, TX 75041
(972) 272-3446
Customer Reviews
"For many years, we have been using Data-Matique as our preferred supplier for custom fabricated machine parts and assemblies. Regardless of the size project or the specifications we provide, the prototype Data-Matique produces is perfect every time."
Larry Denson
Materials Manager, Uniton LP
"Data-Matique is without question the number one resource for sheet-metal fabrications. They recently completed one of the largest projects in our company's history that involved fabricated parts for several of our machines."
RO Cabello
Materials Manager, Banctec Technologies


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Beyer, Charlotte ORCID: 0000-0002-2701-5443 (2017) "Their Mother Was Waiting For Her": Mother-Daughter Relations and Irish Identity in Deirdre Madden's One by One in the Darkness. In: Mothers and Daughters. Demeter Press, Toronto, pp. 234-250. ISBN 978-1-77258-133-1Full text not available from this repository.
|Item Type:
|Book Section
|P Language and Literature > PR English literature
P Language and Literature > PR English literature > PR111 Women authors
P Language and Literature > PR English literature > PR750 Prose
|Schools and Research Institutes > School of Education & Humanities > Literary and Critical Studies
|Research Priority Areas:
|Being Human - Past, Present & Future
|Depositing User:
|Charlotte Beyer
|Date Deposited:
|09 May 2017 11:51
|Last Modified:
|21 Feb 2019 11:54
University Staff: Request a correction | Repository Editors: Update this record


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Sony Pictures Television's on-demand service Crackle has signed an agreement with Brazilian operator TVN, which operates in the south of the country.
TVN clients now have access to the content portfolio, which includes Hollywood movies and original productions. It is available for all plans in the cities of São Leopoldo, Canoas, Cachoeirinha, Sapucaia do Sul and Esteio. As part of the launch, the first 1,000 clients subscribing to the service will pay a promotional price of R$ 20.90 (USD 6.8). The original price is R$ 29.90 (USD 9.7).
Crackle changed its business model at the end of last year from a free, ad-supported service to an authenticated service offered by Pay TV operators. Under this new model, TVN's agreement is one of the more than 25 agreements that Crackle has already signed with operators in the region, according to what VP and general manager José Rivera Font told NexTV News Latam last month.
TVN is a broadband and cable TV service operating in the metropolitan region of Porto Alegre in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, located in the south of Brazil.


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Oven-Roasted Cherry Tomatoes with
Balsamic Vinegar
Oven-Roasted Cherry Tomatoes with
Balsamic Vinegar
1 pint cherry tomatoes
EQUIPMENT: colander, clean kitchen towel, medium-sized bowl, baking sheet with sides, measuring spoons, cutting board, chef's knife, pot holders, spatula, serving dish
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
Put the tomatoes in a colander and rinse them in cool water.
Place the tomatoes in a medium-sized bowl and drizzle them with the extra virgin olive oil. Using clean hands, rub the tomatoes in the oil until they are all lightly coated.
Add the balsamic vinegar and salt to the bowl and toss the tomatoes again until they are coated. Place the tomatoes in a single layer on a baking sheet with sides.
Place the pan on the lower rack of the oven and bake the tomatoes for approximately
25 minutes, until they look wilted and their edges begin to turn brown.
While the tomatoes are roasting, remove the leaves from the lemon-thyme stems, pulling the leaves from the top down. They should slide right off the stems.
When the tomatoes are fully roasted, use pot holders to remove the baking sheet from the oven. Use a spoon to transfer the tomatoes to a serving dish. Sprinkle them with the lemon-thyme leaves. Serve immediately or at room temperature.
Serves 4
Sweet-Potato Puree with Buttermilk and Ginger
3 medium-sized sweet potatoes
EQUIPMENT: long-handled fork, microplane grater, cutting board, paring knife, chef's knife, food processor, liquid measuring cup, measuring spoons, medium-sized saucepan
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
Wash and dry the sweet potatoes, then pierce them with the tines of a fork. Place the sweet potatoes on the lower rack in the oven and bake them for approximately 45 minutes or until they are very soft. Remove the potatoes from the oven and let them cool enough to handle.
Peel the piece of fresh ginger and mince it with a microplane grater. You should have about 1½ tablespoons of grated ginger.
Put the ginger into the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade.
When the sweet potatoes have cooled, slice them in half and scoop out the flesh. Discard any brown spots.
Add the sweet potato to the ginger in the bowl of the food processor and puree the mixture, stopping to scrape the sides of the bowl periodically.
Add the buttermilk gradually so you can achieve the correct consistency. You want the potatoes to be smooth without lumps but not too liquidy. If the pureed potatoes are too dry, you can add a touch more buttermilk.
Add the maple syrup and process again to blend it in thoroughly.
Turn the potato mixture into a pan, and add just a light sprinkle of sea salt and about 4–5 turns of freshly ground pepper.
Reheat them over medium heat, being careful not to burn the bottom. Serve the sweet potatoes warm.
They are good with grilled meats.
Serves 6
Sautéed Green Beans with Ginger
A large bowl of green beans (about 1 pound)
EQUIPMENT: colander, cutting board, chef's knife, garlic press, paring knife, measuring spoons, liquid measuring cup, dry measuring cups, large sauté pan with cover, wooden spoon, serving bowl
Put the beans in a colander and rinse them. Trim off their stems.
Heat the extra virgin olive oil in a large sauté pan over medium-high heat.
Sauté the garlic and ginger in the oil for a few minutes until the garlic begins to brown.
Add the green beans to the pan. Sprinkle them with sea salt and stir them with a wooden spoon to distribute the salt.
Pour the wine or water over the beans, cover the pan, reduce the heat to medium, and cook for 5 minutes.
Remove the cover from the pan, reduce the heat to low, and simmer the beans until the liquid has nearly evaporated (about 3 minutes).
Transfer the green beans to a serving bowl, garnish with slivered almonds, and
serve immediately.
Serves 6
Oven-Roasted Okra Fries with Dried Herbs
3 cups okra
EQUIPMENT: dry measuring cups, measuring spoons, colander, cutting board, chef's knife, baking sheet with sides, pot holders, trivets
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees on the convection setting.
Wash and trim the okra, cutting the stems close to the pods while being careful not to pierce the pods.
Spread the okra in a single layer on a large baking sheet with sides, leaving space between the pods.
Pour extra virgin olive oil over the okra and toss it with clean hands to coat the okra
Sprinkle the dried herbs over the okra.
Place the pan in the middle of the preheated oven and roast the okra for 20 minutes or until the pods are crispy and brown on all sides. If you roast the okra on a conventional oven
setting, then turn the pods with a spatula halfway through the cooking time so they will brown all over.
Serve immediately, either plain or with Yogurt Ranch Dressing.
Cabbage, Walnut, and Cranberry Salad
Cabbage, Walnut, and Cranberry Salad
½ small-medium cabbage, cored
and shredded (6 cups)
EQUIPMENT: large pot for cleaning the cabbage, cutting board, chef's knife, large bowl, garlic press, dry measuring cups , liquid measuring cups, measuring spoons, serving bowl
Cut the cabbage in half and remove the core and outer leaves. Deposit the core and outer leaves in your kitchen compost bucket.
Soak the cabbage halves in a pot of warm water for
a few minutes to draw out any flecks of dirt or "critters."
Rinse the cabbage and store half the head in the refrigerator for future use.
Slice the
remaining cabbage into long, thin strips.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the shredded cabbage, chopped walnuts, and dried
Make the dressing by whisking together the extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, minced garlic, dried oregano, salt, and pepper.
Pour the dressing over the cabbage, walnuts, and cranberries, and toss the salad until all the cabbage is coated with the dressing.
Spoon the salad into individual salad bowls and top with leaves of the fresh oregano pulled from the stems.
Serves 6
Sautéed Greens with Garlic over Pasta
A large colander filled with greens of your choice
EQUIPMENT: colander, salad spinner, cutting board, chef's knife, garlic press, large sauté pan, measuring spoons, pasta pot, pot holders, wooden spoon
Soak and rinse the greens.
Chop the greens into bite-sized pieces and spin them in the salad spinner to dry them.
Mince the garlic.
Heat the extra virgin olive oil in a large sauté pan over medium-high heat.
Lightly brown the minced garlic in the oil, being careful not to burn it. Stir it occasionally with a wooden spoon.
Add the greens to the pan and stir them until they are blended with the oil and garlic. Cook them until they are tender and wilted, add the red-pepper flakes, and remove the pan from the heat.
Cook the pasta according to package directions. When it is done, carefully drain it in the colander, pouring the pan contents away from you to avoid the steam.
Pour the cooked pasta from the colander into the pan of greens.
Toss to combine.
Garnish the greens and pasta with Asiago cheese.
Serve immediately.
Serves 6
Oven-Baked Kale Chips with Sesame Seeds
24 tender kale leaves
EQUIPMENT: cutting board, chef's knife, salad spinner, clean kitchen towel, large bowl, measuring spoons, 2–3 baking sheets with sides, metal spatula, pot holders, serving bowl
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees on the convection setting.
Wash the kale leaves, removing and discarding the center stems.
Tear the leaves into pieces about two inches by two inches. Dry the leaves in a salad spinner and then blot them with a clean kitchen towel to remove excess water.
Put the kale pieces in a large bowl and pour the extra virgin olive oil over them. Using clean hands, rub the oil onto the leaves to coat them all.
Spread the kale pieces in one layer on the baking sheets with sides, making sure they do not overlap.
Sprinkle the kale lightly with sesame seeds.
Place the sheets on racks positioned in the center of the oven.
Set your timer for 6 minutes and check the leaves at that stage. With a single layer of leaves they should be done, but they may need to cook another minute.
The kale chips should look dark green and dry. If the kale turns brown, it becomes bitter.
Remove the baking sheet from the oven and slide the chips into a bowl using
a metal spatula. Lightly sprinkle them with sea salt and eat immediately. Yum!
Serves 4 (but I can easily eat all these myself!)


text: I had a Galaxy s2 skyrocket for a few months now and you know how there are two options when setting a homescreen? One is a static background and the other is a background that moves with you as you scroll through your homescreens. Well, my phone broke a couple of days ago and I got a replacement skyrocket yesterday, only this one does not give me the option to set a scrolling background. Why could this be? Is there any way to fix this? There are also other little changes in the phone, but none bother me as much as this. Any help would be greatly appreciated.


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Whether you need legal help with your divorce, your child custody and visitation plan, or a criminal offense, it is important that you are represented by someone who understands your needs, knows Virginia law, and will work diligently at your side for the best possible outcome.
At the Law Office of Lori A. Michaud, we believe that all of our clients deserve individual attention, a unique plan of action, and a comprehensive strategy for success. We know well that no two cases are alike and that the right option for one person may not be the right option for everyone.
So many of our clients walk through our doors and ask, is everything going to be okay? After listening to your story, we will give you an honest, straightforward answer to that question and then begin work on a solution to your problem.
We work for real people with real problems that touch at the heart of their lives.
Divorce and child custody are two very unique legal issues: both are extremely emotional topics and both have the potential to change many aspects of your life. Our family law professionals understand the uncertainty, stress, and confusion that often accompany these issues – and we are dedicated to providing you with both the answers you need and the know how to secure your rights.
Located in Virginia Beach and serving the surrounding Tidewater area, our law office handles a number of family legal issues regarding military personnel stationed at Fort Story, Camp Pendleton, Naval Air Station Oceana, and the Naval Amphibious Base, Little Creek.
Being charged with DUI or domestic violence in Virginia can be overwhelming, angering, and embarrassing. More importantly, being convicted of such a crime can have serious consequences, including jail time, heavy fines, a marred permanent record, possible loss of employment and a major impact on your family relationships. It is vital that you have an assertive, organized, and responsive legal representative as soon as possible after being charged with a criminal offense such as a DUI or domestic violence.
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An outstanding job on my case to have custody, visitation and support decided in my home state instead of Virginia after I separated from military service.- A.E.


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Buyers Guide to Airbrushes
Choosing the perfect Airbrush for your project
To begin airbrushing you to need purchase an airbrush, an air source such as a compressor, and an applicable airbrush paint. There are many different airbrushes and the wide selection can easily overwhelm beginners who do not understand terms like double action internal mix airbrush or single action. By doing a bit of research beforehand, buyers can find an airbrush that fits their artistic needs.
Before buying an airbrush, customers need to understand the different parts of the entire airbrush system. The airbrush itself is connected through a hose to an air compressor. This air compressor controls the air pressure that passes through the airbrush. The tip of the airbrush holds a nozzle that directs the flow of air and paint via a needle. Nozzles and needles come in different sizes depending on the paint application. For example, an artist doing commercial illustrations uses a very fine nozzle that emits little paint, while an airbrush artist whom sprays muruals whould use a larger nozzle that releases more amounts of paint. Wider nozzle sizes (0.35mm to 0.6mm) spray paint over a larger area than do smaller ones (0.15mm to 0.3mm).
Airbrush Types
All airbrushes use either a single-action, or double-action air/fluid control mechanism. Choosing the right one is a matter of personal taste or the airbrush application. For artists who just need coverage, the single-action airbrush is all they need. Those who prefer more detailed and controlled work often choose a double-action airbrush.
Single-Action Airbrush
The single-action airbrush uses the same basic spraying application found in spray paint cans. The artist pushes the trigger down to get the paint to spray through the airbrush, and how much comes out is controlled through a knob usually located near the tip of the airbrush. Because the air and paint mix in front of the needle, this type is sometimes called an external mix airbrush.
Single-action airbrushes are a great choice for beginners because they are so easy to control and maintain. They are less complex than double-action control method so are easier to control. The downside to this type is that it is not as precise as a double-action airbrush. If you do not require an airbrush extreme precision but for larger overall coverage then the single-action model is ideal.
Double-Action Airbrush
The double-action airbrush is a little more complex than a single-action, but this results in greater control. The artist pushes the trigger down to control the airflow, and back to start the paint flow. Pulling the trigger back results in a larger volume of paint being sprayed thus widening the spray pattern.Because the air and paint are mixed behind the needle, this type is called an internal mix airbrush.
One advantage of the double-action airbrush is the ability to shape and craft very fine lines. Freehand artists and t-shirt artists often select this type because of the added precision control. The downside to double-action models is that they are more expensive than single-action types and as you have full control over the paint flow they are more difficult to use.
Airbrush Feeds
The airbrush feed mechanism refers to how paint is mixed with the air. There are three methods: the gravity-feed, the suction-feed and the side-feed. The main difference between these two mechanisms is how much paint the airbrush holds before it needs to be refilled.
Gravity feeds have a colour cup on top of the airbrush, and use the principle of gravity to supply the airbrush with paint. The cup cannot be removed as it can with syphon-feed models. Some gravity-feed airbrushes have interchangeable cups that can be simply unscrew to allow larger cups to be fitted. Gravity-feed airbrushes are generally used for fine to medium detail work and have nozzle sizes ranging from 0.15mm to 0.4mm
The suction-feed method uses a bottle that is attached underneath the airbrush. The air pressure from the compressor syphons the paint out of the bottle and mixes it with the air flow. These airbrushes are suitable for artist's who need to chop and change between different colours quickly. The syphon-feed airbrushes are ideal for larger area coverage and come with nozzle sizes ranging from 0.35mm to 0.6mm.
Side-feed airbrushes have either a gravity cup or suction feed bottle which connects to the side of the airbrush. The cup or bottle can be rotated 360 degrees and locked into postion making them ideal for airbrush artist's working at difficult or extreme angles.
Budget vs Branded
We at Everything Airbrush often get asked the question of quality of airbrush to go for. The simple answer is buy the best airbrush you can afford. Below we explain some of the differences between Budget and Branded airbrushes.
Our Finespray range of airbrushes offer good value for money for airbrushers on a budget. They allow beginners to test the water with airbrushing before upgrading to a higher performance airbrush. Generally, due to the lower cost of these airbrushes, spares availability is restricted. Often they have rubber internal o-rings that are only suitable for use with water based paints.
Branded airbrushes like the ones produced by Badger, Sparmax and Harder & Steenbeck are leaders in their field and produce top quality airbrushes to suit all budgets. As the machining tolerances of Branded airbrushes are tighter than the budget range, they will produce more consistent and repeatable results. Branded airbrushes have a full range of spares available and a wide range of accessories to alter the performance of the airbrush.
Many Branded airbrushes use PTFE nozzle o-rings which means they are suitable for use with both water and solvent based paints.
Our advice would be to buy an airbrush that most suits your application. Budget airbrushes are useful for people to try out airbrushing as beginners before committing to investing in a more expensive model.
Click the link below to see our selection of recommended airbrushes based on application


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Crimes Against Magic is an action-packed, fantasy adventure that mixes the present day with flashbacks to fifteenth century France.
Nathan Garrett is a sorcerer and thief with no memory of his past. But when the barrier holding his past captive begins to crumble, Nathan swears to protect a young girl who is key to his enemy's plans. But with his enemies closing in, and everyone he cares about becoming a target for their wrath, Nathan is forced to choose between the life he's built for himself and the one buried deep inside him.
It's the first in a series of Urban Fantasy books called: Hellequin Chronicles.
Did you try the traditional route to publishing, i.e. querying agents/publishers?
I sent out the book to agents and publishers at the beginning of last year, and got lots of form rejections and a few 'we like, but not for us at the moment responses. At some point in the process, I just decided that I'd try it my way.
Do you belong to a critique group? Have they helped improve your writing?
I belong to Kelley Armstrong's online writing group. They're an incredible group of writers who are all willing to help anyone get better at their craft. Since I joined them in 2006, my writing came along in leaps and bounds. I don't critique as much as I used to, mostly due to time constraints, but if I need help on something, they're the people I go to.
What factors influenced your decision to self-publish to Amazon?
It was a combination of things. Firstly, control over my own book—when it was published, what the cover was and how much the book cost to buy. It was just something that I knew I'd regret not trying out for myself.
The other thing was that, from my time querying and waiting and wondering, I started to hear a lot from the industry about how much of a flux it was going through. They didn't seem to know where e-books fit, or how to deal with them. It appeared to me like there was the start of something very exciting happening in the publishing world, and I wanted to be a part of that.
Did you hire an editor to review your manuscript before publishing?
A good friend of mine who also happens to be an incredible editor, Emma Duncan, very kindly went through the book with a big red pen and corrected all of my terrible grammar. She knows more about grammar and than anyone I know. I've had a few others check it too.
What have you learned during your self-publishing journey?
I've learnt so much. But the one thing I've learnt more than any other is how fantastic my friends are. They were willing to give me time and effort to either help promote the book or give me advice about this brand new world I've found myself in. And having an awesome artist as a friend goes a long way to getting a great cover.
Besides Amazon, are there any other sites where your books are for sale?
For the moment, just Amazon. By the end of May, I'm hoping that it'll be available on B&N, itunes, Smashword and any others that I can't think of at the moment. As they're available, I'll update my blog with the details.
What kinds of marketing [twitter, facebook, blog, forums] are you involved with for promoting your book(s)?
Well, I've got my blog: http://stevejmchugh.wordpress.com/ and I have an author's page on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Hiddenrealmspublishing. I'm also on twitter: http://twitter.com/ and Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13608133-crimes-against-magic
Then there's Kelley Armstrong's forum: http://www.kelleyarmstrong.com/forum/index.php
I'm also doing a lot of interviews on various blogs, which I'll post links to on mine as they come up, and a few guest blog posts here and there. Basically, I'm everywhere and there's no escape.
Do you find it difficult to juggle your time between marketing your current book and writing your next book?
I'd really appreciate a few extra hours a day, that's for sure. But, for the moment at least, I seem to be managing okay. There's also the fact that I'm married with two (soon to be three) beautiful young daughters. I'm a father first, writer second and marketing guy last. So, far that seems to work out okay. And if anything changes, I'll get my eldest daughter to do all my publicity. She's already 7 going on 18, she'll be fine.
What advice would you give a new author just entering into the self-publishing arena?
As much as the old adage is 'don't judge a book by its cover', everyone judges a book by their cover. That's why publishers spend so much on getting a good cover. So, my advice is to get the best cover you can get for what you can afford to pay. A good cover will help so much. I've had so many people message me asking me about the book because they saw the cover and wanted to know more. It's marketing before you even released the novel.
What's next for you?
I was going to say sleep, but with a third daughter on the way in August, that's not happening anytime soon. I've got the sequel to Crimes Against Magic to finish: Born of Hatred, before I write book three: With Silent Screams.