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It's a new year. what now?
|Posted on January 3, 2012 at 11:10 AM
The Christmas decorations have been taken down, the party hats and whistles swept away. The family is headed home and resolutions have been made. Collectively, we tell ourselves that this year will be different. This is the year that we are going to lose weight, exercise more, quit smoking, drink less, pray more, fix whatever is broken in our homes and in ourselves. Then the sense of deja vu sets in. Isn't this the same thing we said last year?
Resolutions, as they say, are meant to be broken and the only difference between a true resolution and an empty promise are actions. For a great example of a promise not backed by actions look no further than the gym. January 1st always brings with it a swell of gym memberships. One who goes to the gym regularly can always spot the newbies. They walk around looking perpetually confused and choose machines at random, not knowing what they do or how they work. They engage in stretches and exercises not seen in any video or found in any magazine.
The lack of planning and educating oneself about how to effectively begin an exercise routine inevitably leads to frustration and then failure. Like turtles trying to reach the ocean, only a persistent few make it past the sand. The rest shrug their shoulders and say "'maybe next year'". One can hardly blame those who do give up. We as a society are constantly being told to shape up, get up and move, and eat healthy while we shop at megamarts that offer countless convenience foods and snack aisles. We are bombarded with advertisements for pills that will make us slim and machines that claim we will look like Brad and Angelina even if we look like Danny Devito and Rosie O'Donnell.
The reality is that most of these machines, even when used properly did not deliver the results promised. The diet pills only worked as long as one was willing to take it with a bland breakfast and a "nutritious" shake at lunch and dinner. The disappointment is akin to ordering a mouth-watering steak and only getting parsley. The difference is that parsley will not leave a bad taste in your mouth.
Breaking resolutions is not only relegated to to crash diets and lofty fitness goals. Every year parents tell themselves that they'll spend more time with their children only to have this goal undermined by a demanding work schedule. Couples who resolved to fix their marriages found that a new year did not necessarily mean a new start for them. So what does it mean then when we make promises to ourselves and don't keep them? Does it mean that we have failed ourselves when this happens, or is a better question whether or not these goals were realistic to begin with?
Resolutions are not a bad thing. They can be followed through. Where they become problematic is when they are made not by our inner-selves, but arbitrarily mandated by a date on a calendar. New Year's resolutions in particular have a built-in failure mechanism because of when they are concieved; most of them are made in the week following Christmas, a time that is generally too busy to think through and carry out decisions that may effect us throughout the year. To put this another way, a resolution is a gift you give to yourself to positively affect your life and the lives of others. Trying to do this in the midst of a season based around the idea of only giving to others makes this nearly impossible.
For a small percentage of the population, the strength-in-numbers approach to setting a goal on the first of the year works. For the rest of us, maybe another strategy is in order. For someone just beginning at the gym, it can be intimidating trying to figure out where to start. This is where matching the goal with the action becomes important. Was the goal to lose weight? Focus on cardio equipment, walking or running tracks, or swimming and worry about the rest after you have familiarized yourself better. Enlist a friend who has a similar goal or consult with a trainer to help you with your fitness goals.
Are you not spending enough time with your family because you work too much? Maybe something as simple as learning how to say no could fix that. If saying no is not an option, or the requirements of your job force you to choose between work and family, you may have to consider a complete reevaluation of your priorities. Again, a decision such as this requires careful thought and focus that is hard to achieve during the holidays.
The key in these scenarios is that small steps are made in order to make the resolution attainable. Rather than looking at the big picture, it makes more sense to ask if you've looked at the obvious, and go from there. By doing it this way the actions required to achieve each step is not so great that it feels impossible. PRN of Kansas has had a great year because of our volunteers who resolved to be part of the future through medical research. We hope all of you have a great 2012 and that you fulfill all your resolutions both great and small!
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Michigan Work Accident Lawyers: Experienced Legal Help for Injured Workers
Employees have rights to receive workers' compensation benefits if they are injured on the job. It's the law.
If you have been injured at work or are suffering from a work-related illness, you should contact an attorney immediately to learn more about your rights. You should also call immediately if your benefits have been terminated.
Employers know the law in this area and may try to avoid paying you the benefits you deserve. You should have an experienced lawyer on your side, protecting your rights.
The attorneys of Mancini Schreuder Kline PC have over 100 years of collective experience in workers' compensation matters. We know how to navigate through the legal tangle of workers' compensation, disability insurance claims, Social Security, coordination of Medicare demands and other health care claims.
We are respected for the depth of our knowledge and for the successes we have achieved for our clients. Other lawyers regularly consult us for advice on complex workers' compensation cases.
To learn more about our workers' compensation practice, please review the following pages:
- Types of work injuries: With over 35 years of experience, our firm has handled all manner of injuries/disabilities, both physical and mental
- High-risk occupations: Industrial laborers, tradesmen, drivers, lab technicians, medial care providers and others can have careers ruined with an injury or disability. Workers need our expertise.
Founding partner Charles Mancini has extensive experience in workers' rights and labor law. Attorney Roger Kline is a leader in advocating for injured workers. Our entire legal team is dedicated to helping injured workers obtain workers' compensation and benefits from all applicable sources.
Recently Injured? Denied Workers' Comp Claim?
No matter what stage of the process your claim is in, we can help. We will coach you through the process of notifying your employer, making a claim, working with your doctor and dealing with conflicts. We can help you avoid mistakes that can result in having your workers' compensation payments terminated before you are able to return to work.
To arrange a free initial consultation with one of our Warren workers' compensation attorneys, please call Mancini Schreuder Kline PC at

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December 11, 2018, 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM @ Mount Vernon City Library
Winter is the perfect time for exploring lowland hikes closer to home. Local author and hiking authority Craig Romano will be at the Library sharing some of his favorite hikes from his new book, Urban Trails: Everett, including trails on Camano and Whidbey Islands. Signed books will be available for sale, just in time for holiday gift giving. Cash or check only, please. Craig Romano is an award-winning guidebook author, outdoors writer and photographer, ardent conservationist, and Northwest trails and hiking expert. He hikes, runs, paddles, and bikes and has written about these passions for more than two dozen publications, including; Seattle Met, Backpacker, Paddler, Northwest Runner, AMC Outdoors, Northwest Travel, and Outdoors NW. He writes weekly content for Hikeoftheweek.com and is the author of more than 20 books.
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Free Press readers write
Veterans Ball honors vets with a night of fun
When a plan goes together so well, it may be divine providence. It can also reflect kind people in a caring community pulling together.
Lenoir County�s First Annual Veterans Ball was held for a sold out crowd at the ballroom of Kinston�s Hampton Inn on Saturday night, Jan. 12. Active military, veterans and their guests came from near and far, representing all six branches of the armed forces, men and women aged 25 through 95. Wars were represented from World War II, Korean conflict, through Iraq and Afghanistan. Our honored came with one mission � FUN. By the time the doors opened at 5 p.m. Rick and Jane Vernon began the first of their fabulous repertoire of songs, and the dance floor began hopping, and stayed occupied throughout the night. It appeared the mission was accomplished, as Betty Moore stated, �The entertainment was wonderful, the food was wonderful, everything was wonderful!�
The live entertainment included music to shag to, country, belly-rubbin�, Elvis�s �Return to Sender,� and Patty Paige�s, �Tennessee Waltz...� Guest requests were also satisfied, as Kinston DJ Shon Bruingon took over mid-evening while dance moves such as �Electric Slide,� �Cupid Shuffle� and an array of past and current hip hop, R&B and other favorites were enjoyed. There were prizes and gifts for all, souvenir photographs taken by Michael Taylor of Williamson�s Photography, awards for youngest and oldest veteran present, and the couple married the longest. All present engaged in voting for the king and queen representing this year�s ball.
One gentleman told me, �If your purpose was to honor us, I believe everyone in attendance feels you have done that, and everyone I�ve talked to say they�re having a great time and are looking forward to next year�s ball!�
I know I can brag I got to dance with some honorable veterans and one an especially handsome pilot I�ve come to adore. He asked if he could address the crowd and charmed us all with his love for life, his experiences in World War II and how he credits his mama�s prayers for redirecting his steps at treacherous times. Last month at the Veterans Challenge Community Meeting we gave him presents and sang �Happy (95th) Birthday� to him. When all the votes were tallied at the concluding hour of the Veterans Ball, my favorite pilot, Guy Skinner, and his beautiful friend, Peggy Vandiford, were crowned the 2013 Lenoir County Veterans Ball King and Queen! How royal they appeared indeed!
It was Jennifer Howard�s inspiration for Veterans Challenge of Lenoir County to host a Veterans Ball and I delighted in seeing her and her Marine husband enjoying themselves at it. I am also so proud this county was so supportive. I would like to ask our residents to frequent and support the following businesses and thank the people responsible: Linda Jones and Kinston�s Hampton Inn for being so generous in permitting us the ballroom and being so gracious; Rick and Jane Vernon for being so giftedly talented and superb human beings; the monetary donations of William C. Stallings of Stallings Plumbing, Heating & AC of Kinston; and Dr. Kenneth LeRoy Klein of East Carolina Dermatology and Skin Surgery of New Bern; the prizes, gifts and extra services of The Free Press, TACC9, Kinston DJ Shon Bruingon with Entertainment Xpress; Chef and the Farmer; CoreyCo Roofing; Brown�s Treats; O�Reiley�s; Walgreen�s; Smith�s Caf�; Corporate Resources; Cubbie�s; Olympian Restaurant; Main Moon; Living Waters International Ministry; Papa John�s Pizza; Sherry Wilner Massage Therapist of Bear Town BodyWork, New Bern; and Charles Anderson of Select Food Service.
Please also give an extra word of appreciation to our awesome volunteers: Jennifer Howard, Lansing Ray Allen, Norma Brown Sutton, Charles Sharpe, Lou Jones, William Coffin, Marissa Wade, Terry Carmon, Linda Tripp, and Merry Faith Palazzo. Thank you one and all, and may God heap extra blessings on you each in 2013 and beyond! Jennifer and I have already been making plans toward Lenoir County�s Veterans Ball, Jan. 11, 2014! (In all we do at Veterans Challenge and in Lenoir County) �Let next year make this year look like the pregame.�
Debby Guthrie, Director
Veterans Challenge
Friends, concerned strangers get dog back
Our miniature schnauzer Lefty who went missing on Jan. 17 was returned home safely today, Jan. 31. We would like to publically thank Mr. Gray Thompson of Deep Run who found Lefty and cared for him until he learned from The Free Press ad that we were looking for him.
We would also like to thank Dr. and Mrs. Briley, Nancy Keel, and the rest of the �Bunco Ladies� as well as our other friends and neighbors who have been so kind in expressing their concern, and for helping to get the word out concerning Lefty.
We are so grateful for loving friends and the concern of strangers. Never underestimate the power of prayer, patience and persistence.
Wayne Jarman


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Partner Search Sources
Meet our NRM&D Resources
Africa Biodiversity Collaborative Group (ABCG)
The Africa Biodiversity Collaborative Group (ABCG) comprises seven U.S.-based international conservation non-governmental organizations (NGOs) with field programs in Africa. ABCG explores emerging and high priority African conservation issues, shares lessons learned, and seeks opportunities for collaboration.
Associates in Rural Development (ARD)
Through innovation and leadership, ARD, Inc., helps people across the world create the essential conditions for successful economic development. Since it was founded in 1977, ARD has led more than 600 projects in Africa, Asia, Europe, Eurasia, Latin America and the Caribbean. These projects have helped countries respond to a range of environmental, social, and institutional challenges. ARD has 43 field offices around the globe, in addition to its main office in Burlington, Vermont, and its branch offices in Washington, D.C., and San Francisco, CA. ARD is a wholly owned subsidiary of Tetra Tech, a leading provider of consulting, engineering, and technical services worldwide
Asociación de Promoción Iniciativas Ecologicas (APIE)
Organización dedicada a la formación, asistencia, protección y estímulo de la sociedad civil para generar actividades que promuevan el mejoramiento de la calidad de vida de todos los ciudadanos.
American Wildlife Foundation (AWF)
Through education and involvement, the American Wildlife Foundation is dedicated to teaching people to care for and about the environment. The interests of AWF are worldwide; its focus is on the local communities.
Bureau of Applied Research in Anthropology (BARA)
BARA's mission is to place anthropology at the service of contemporary society, prepare the next generation of professional anthropologists, advance knowledge of the human condition, and address the pressing issues of local communities.
USAID Biodiversity & Forestry Seminars
USAID's Biodiversity and Forestry Team hosts "extended team meetings" open to anyone with a professional interest in forestry and biodiversity conservation. This tradition has evolved into a Fall and Spring seminar series. At each seminar, a speaker (or speakers) presents an issue of interest, followed by a question and answer session. Seminars focus on broader topics that are thematic or technical in nature, rather than specific projects supported by USAID. Meetings are held on the first Thursdays of February, March, April, October, November, and December from 9:30 am - 11:00 am, unless otherwise noted, in the USAID Information Center, located on the mezzanine of the Ronald Reagan Building, 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC.
Chemonics is an international development consulting company that helps governments, businesses, civil society groups, and communities promote meaningful change so people can live healthier, more productive, and more independent lives.
Conservation International (CI)
Conservation International's mission is to conserve the Earth's living natural heritage, our global biodiversity, and to demonstrate that human societies are able to live harmoniously with nature.
Center for International Development and Conflict Management (CIDCM)
An interdisciplinary research center at the University of Maryland. CIDCM seeks to prevent and transform conflict, to understand the interplay between conflict and development, and to help societies create sustainable futures for themselves.
Development Alternatives Inc (DAI)
DAI's mission is to make a difference in the world by helping societies and economies become more prosperous, fairer and more just, safer, more stable, more efficient, and better governed.
DevTech, an international consulting firm, specializes in providing technical assistance to governments and civil society on the major means to stimulate economic growth and combat poverty, operating over a wide spectrum of cultural and political conditions, from the highest levels of government to the operational level in the field. DevTech's clients include government agencies in the United States and around the world, consulting firms, and multilateral development banks.
ECODIT is an organization dedicated to working with governments, businesses, and local communities to promote environmental protection and sustainable development around the world.
For more than 40 years in 100 countries, EnterpriseWorks/VITA (EWV) has worked to combat poverty by helping small producers and other entrepreneurs build sustainable businesses that create jobs and increase productivity, market opportunities and incomes. EWV achieves this by expanding access to appropriate technologies, technical assistance, knowledge and finance.
Extractive Industries MEHA Forum Project
The MEHA forum is intended to be a means of sharing both positive and negative lessons of individual mining projects across Africa. It is meant to provide a voice to local communities, industry and governments alike regarding projects and initiatives that can collectively improve the performance of the mining sector vis-a-vis environmental and social impact.
Fair Trade Federation (FTF)
The Fair Trade Federation (FTF) is an international association of businesses and non-profit organizations that are fully committed to fair trade. Members strive to sell 100% fairly traded product and to create positive employment opportunities for economically- disadvantaged artisans and farmers worldwide.
Forest Stewardship Council
The Forest Stewardship Council was created to change the dialogue about and the practice of sustainable forestry worldwide. This impressive goal has in many ways been achieved, yet there is more work to be done. FSC sets forth principles, criteria, and standards that span economic, social, and environmental concerns.The FSC standards represent the world's strongest system for guiding forest management toward sustainable outcomes. Like the forestry profession itself, the FSC system includes stakeholders with diverse array of perspectives on what represents a well-managed and sustainable forest. While the discussion continues, the FSC standards for forest management have now been applied in over 57 countries around the world.
Forest Trends
Bridging traditional divides and promoting market-based approaches to forest conservation.
FRAME is a peer-to-peer network of Natural Resource Management practitioners, facilitating knowledge transfer and relationships building, enabling members to grow best practices around development challenges.
FEWS-NET Famine Early Warning Systems Network
The Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET) is a USAID-funded activity that collaborates with international, regional and national partners to provide timely and rigorous early warning and vulnerability information on emerging and evolving food security issues. FEWS NET professionals in the Africa, Central America, Haiti, Afghanistan and the United States monitor and analyze relevant data and information in terms of its impacts on livelihoods and markets to identify potential threats to food security.
GLOBAL Fish Alliance
The Global FISH Alliance promotes sustainable fisheries and aquaculture practices through the application of a system-wide approach that balances economic, environmental, governmental, and social components essential to enhancing livelihoods and biodiversity. Supported by the U.S. Government and partners, G-FISH brings together government, private sector, and civil society to work collaboratively on specific fisheries around the world.
GLOBALWATERS (GLOWS) Global Water for Sustainability
GLOWS is a consortium financed by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) working to increase social, economic, and environmental benefits to people of the developing world through clean water, healthy aquatic ecosystems and sustainable water resources management.
Global Environmental Management Education Center (GEM)
The Global Environmental Management Education Center (GEM) is a center for world class curricula and outreach education services in natural resources and environmental management.
Integrated Management of Coastal and Freshwater Systems (IMCAFS)
IMCAFS features two separate but collaborative programs. The IMCAFS-SUCCESS program (Sustainable Coastal Communities and Ecosystems) and IMCAFS-GLOWS program (Global Water for Sustainability).
Integrated Pest Management (IPM CRSP)
Integrated Pest Management and information technology specialists at North Carolina State University are helping developing countries use the Internet to manage old pests and to guard their borders against new pests.
Headquartered in Chantilly, Va., Engility provides government services in engineering, professional support and mission support to customers in the U.S. Department of Defense, Federal civilian agencies and allied foreign governments. Launched in July 2012 as a spin-off company of L-3 Communications, Engility's 2012 revenues are estimated to be about $1.6 billion.
Katoomba Group (Ecosystems Marketplace)
The Katoomba Group is an international network of individuals working to promote, and improve capacity related to, markets and payments for ecosystem services (PES). The Group serves as a forum for the exchange of ideas and strategic information about ecosystem service transactions and markets, as well as site for collaboration between practitioners on PES projects and programs.
Land Tenure and Property Rights (LTPR)
Land tenure and property rights (LTPR) refer to rights that individuals, communities, families, firms, and other corporate or community structures hold in land, water, forestry, wildlife, and, in some cases, mineral resources.
Natural Resources Information Clearinghouse (NRIC)
The Natural Resources Information Clearinghouse has developed online resource libraries about USAID's natural resources projects that include documents produced by these projects, and links to related Web resources.
Protection de l'Environnement, Suivi de la Qualité des Eaux du Fleuve Sénégal, Mise en route du Projet Navigation, Traitement des axes hydrauliques dans les 4 Etats
A non-profit, mission-driven organization delivering support to those most in need while building the technical skills and capacity of those people to help themselves.
Pact's mission is to build empowered communities, effective governments and responsible private institutions that give people an opportunity for a better life. We do this by strengthening the capacity of organizations and institutions to be good service providers, represent their stakeholders, network with others for learning and knowledge sharing, and advocate for social, economic and environmental justice.
Pond Dynamics/Aquaculture (PDA) Collaborative Research Support Program (CRSP)
The Pond Dynamics/Aquaculture Collaborative Research Support Program (PD/A CRSP) represents an international, multi-disciplinary effort to improve human nutrition through pond aquaculture research. The work of the PD/A CRSP benefits both domestic and international aquaculture.
Sustainable Agriculture and Natural Resource Management (SANREM) Collaborative Research Support Program (CRSP)
SANREM CRSP promotes stakeholder empowerment and improved livelihoods through knowledge-based sustainable agriculture and natural resource management systems. The program is managed by the Office of International Research, Education, and Development at Virginia Tech.
Soil Management (SM) Collaborative Research Support Program (CRSP)
Achieving food security in regions of the world where hunger and poverty are highest, and enabling its clients to do so without compromising the sustainability of agroenvironments.
SUCCESS CRC URI Sustainable Coastal Communities and Ecosystems
Launched in 2004, the United States Agency for International Development's (USAID) Sustainable Coastal Communities and Ecosystems (SUCCESS) Program is helping coastal communities in Latin and Central America and East Africa improve their quality of life and physical environment through good governance. SUCCESS also integrates across cross-cutting themes including gender, health and HIV/AIDS.
Provides environmental services, water/wastewater management, infrastructure services, security design, and outsourced technical services
Tourism Competitiveness
The Nature Conservancy (TNC)
The Nature Conservancy is a US charitable environmental organization working to preserve the plants, animals, and natural communities that represent the diversity of life on Earth by protecting the lands and waters they need to survive.
USDA Forest Service International Programs
USDA Forest Service International Programs promotes sustainable forest management and biodiversity conservation internationally. International Programs has three main staff units: Technical Cooperation, Policy, and Disaster Assistance. Both Technical Cooperation and Disaster Assistance work closely with United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Technical Cooperation, specifically, develops and manages natural resource projects overseas on a wide range of topics (i.e. fire management and forest health). There are two main disaster programs: Disaster Assistance Support Program (DASP) and the Disaster Mitigation Program. Funded by USAID's Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance, DASP trains and mobilizes personnel domestically to respond and mitigate foreign disasters, such as the drought in Ethiopia and the locust response in West Africa. The Disaster Mitigation Program, on the other hand, trains and provides technical expertice to partners overseas in emergency preparedness, response and disaster mitigation. Finally, International Programs's policy unit is actively involved in sustainability roundtables and international fora, which ensures that US position on global forest policies and agreements reflect the best interests of the country.
USFWS MENTOR Fellowship Program
Through the 2008-2009 Wildlife Without Borders Africa program, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) is addressing the need for action to curtail the illegal and unsustainable bushmeat trade in eastern Africa. The USFWS MENTOR Fellowship Program used a team approach to build the capacity of eight emerging eastern African conservation leaders to address bushmeat challenges and lay the foundation for implementing bushmeat solutions.
Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS)
The Wildlife Conservation Society saves wildlife and wild lands through careful science, international conservation, education, and the management of the world's largest system of urban wildlife parks. These activities change attitudes toward nature and help people imagine wildlife and humans living in sustainable interaction on both a local and a global scale. WCS is committed to this work because we believe it essential to the integrity of life on Earth.
Winrock International
Winrock International is a nonprofit organization that works with people in the United States and around the world to empower the disadvantaged, increase economic opportunity, and sustain natural resources.
World Resources Institute (WRI)
WRI is an environmental think tank that goes beyond research to find practical ways to protect the earth and improve people's lives.


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Bass Players to Know: Jack Bruce
Time to throw a little rock and roll into the series! This column features Jack Bruce, the classically influenced singing bass player from across the pond.
So who is Jack Bruce?
Widely known for his work with Cream, Bruce has had an amazing career both as a band member and solo artist. Hailing from Glasgow, Scotland, Bruce grew up in a musical family. He began life as a classically trained player, specializing in bass, cello and composition, and he briefly attended the Royal Scottish Academy of Music.
Following school, he moved to London and dove into the rock and blues scene where he soon met drummer Ginger Baker. During the early- to mid-sixties, he played with a number of artists including Alexis Korner, Graham Bond, John Mayall and Manfred Mann. After meeting Eric Clapton while playing with John Mayall, he along with Clapton and Baker formed Cream. Although they disbanded in 1968, they made a strong mark both locally and internationally with their fusion of traditional blues songs and amped up rock and roll.
Bruce then devoted time to his solo material, releasing Songs for A Tailor in 1969 and many subsequent records (including a new record to be released in 2014).
He's recorded and toured with plenty of other artists including Lou Reed, Frank Zappa, Robin Trower, Ringo Starr and this All Star Band, Mose Allison and Kip Hanrahan, to name some.
Bruce has been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award as a member of Cream, and continues to compose, record, and tour to support his records.
Let's Talk Style
As I dig into some of the deeper cuts, I realize that one word can be used to define Bruce's musical modus operandi: energy. This doesn't mean that every song is a heavy hitting up-tempo number (although many are), but that his bass lines are up front, deliberate and enthusiastic.
Sonically, his tone has a similar positive charge; Bruce isn't afraid to push the envelope (or the overdrive) in order to be heard. He tends to be more mid-range centric, which works well in a power trio and gives plenty of definition to the bass lines that carry the tune. He has less conventional taste when it comes to instruments, going from a Fender Bass VI to a Gibson EB-3 to a fretless Warwick, which further sets his style apart from other bass players.
Bruce's work in Cream, and especially his solo material, is unique in the sense that he has plenty of creative control – the music reflects his willingness to explore and compose. Most of the Cream material is written by, for, and around the specific players and instrumentation, allowing each of the players to show their talents and play off of one another. Session bass players and hired guns rarely have the luxury of this much musical freedom (since they're typically trying to please their employers), and Bruce's energetic style speaks to this method of music making. A handful of Cream songs center around revamped pentatonic-based lines; they're usually syncopated and composed with a hint of dissonance to add harmonic complexity. Other tunes pull from traditional blues patterns, such as the "box" or walking pattern, in order to create the framework of the groove.
Stepping out of Cream, Bruce's solo work is a fusion of rock, jazz and blues with nods to his background in classical composition. Transitions from one section to another are frequently marked by this classical string section approach, using voice leading and counterpoint to give direction. His personal catalogue is extremely diverse, he continues to maintain his signature tone and strong willed vocals, and knowing that he's written multiple hits that are still widely known today makes him a particularly unusual player.
Where Can I Hear Jack Bruce?
"Badge" by Cream
It's a fine time when the bass line gets to be the memorable hook of a tune and Bruce created a great one. In addition to the catchiness of the line, this particular song exhibits a number of musical characteristics deriving from classical string orchestration. Bruce's line interacts with and supports the melody while outlining the chord structure—a great example of "soprano-bass counterpoint." He also does a masterful job of leading the song from section to section. Take a listen to the quick descending line at the end of the verse; both the phrasing and note choice nod to a classical symphony.
Listen: iTunes | Amazon MP3
"Never Tell Your Mother She's Out of Tune" by Jack Bruce
Bruce taps into a number of different grooves by traversing between a funky root pedal, a walking blues pattern, and a descending hook with a triplet feel. Again, this is a great example of his tremendous energy; Bruce's midrange-heavy tone allows him to stand out in the mix and further propel his aggressive 8th note pulses.
Listen: iTunes | Amazon MP3
"Apostrophe'" by Frank Zappa
This tune has a compelling groove of funky, highly dynamic bass. While Bruce joins in with the head of the tune, he maintains a forceful drive throughout the "jam" and uses the full range of the neck to propel the song. He certainly pushes the limits of tone with an edgy and gritty overdrive; this brings the bass to the forefront of the mix and adds a certain "thickness" that fills out the sonic spectrum.
Listen: iTunes | Amazon MP3
How about you? What are your favorite Jack Bruce songs, compositions, recordings or performances? Please share in the comments.
Ryan Madora is a professional bass player and educator living in Nashville, TN. In addition to touring and playing sessions, she fronts an original music project, The Interludes and teaches private lessons. Visit her website to learn more about her music or to inquire about lessons.
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Share your thoughts
Very nice Ken…thanx for the read! "Greatest in the World" as quoted by Leslie West off the Album 'Alive and Kickin'. and my favorite quote to discribe the Bassist that showed me how to be me on Bass.
I think Leslie said "finest in the world"
Very nice Ken…thanx for the read! "Greatest in the World" as quoted by Leslie West off the Album 'Alive and Kickin'. and my favorite quote to discribe the Bassist that showed me how to be me on Bass
I would have included One Word by Tony WIlliams Lifetime
I love "A Question of Time" from 1989. It features some of the best fretless work I have ever heard.
Thanks Ryan, so far you have featured two of my all time favourites – Jack Bruce (the best of all time in my opinion) and Duck Dunn. Bob Babbitt is also a great player. Keep up the good work.
A need to know for sure!
Very Good coment only one thing maybe Jack Bruce is one of the JAZZ ROCK Fusion creators playing in Tony Williams Lifetime With Ansley Dunbar John Mac Laughling Alan Holsworth Gary Husbas


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Acts 28:1-15
"When Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage" (Acts 28:15).
This little verse humbles me. It makes me think. It makes me feel.
Here's Paul, the greatest apostle in the world. He's endured prisons in many cities, stripes above measure, the forty minus one stripes from the Jews five times, three times being beaten with rods, one stoning, three shipwrecks, a night and a day in the deep, thousands of miles of difficult travel, weariness, sleeplessness, hunger and thirst, coldness and nakedness, and perils from robbers, from his own countrymen, from the Gentiles, in the city, in the wilderness, in the sea, among false brethren.
He seems impervious to pain, indefatigable, and full of courage.
This is the impression we get of Paul, and yet he was human like we are. He did feel pain, he did get tired, and he did get discouraged. We just don't see it very often. It's almost as if he's the father and we're the children. My kids have no idea how hurt, tired, and cowardly I really am. As their father, I do allow them to see these sides of me, but I mostly show them how I can be hurt, tired, and cowardly and yet through the power of the Holy Spirit be able to do that which my Lord has commanded me to do.
And so I like Acts 28:15 because I find it's one of many scriptural speed bumps that makes me slow down and take notice of something I might otherwise have missed.
We're so used to reading stories of rugged individuals and Lone Rangers and stoic heroes that we forget that in the Body of Christ we are never alone and cannot do that which God calls us to by ourselves.
Again, here's Paul, a spiritual superhero in my eyes, someone I've been reading about and thinking about in slow motion now for most of two months. He seems larger than life, and yet when he sees the brothers in Christ from Rome, he does two amazing things: he gives thanks to God, and he takes courage.
It might seem like a small thing that Paul thanked God, but actually to give thanks is the biggest thing of all. They say that good things come in small packages, which I often find to be true. It reminds me of the one in The Lord of the Rings who was chosen to carry the One ring. It wasn't a dwarf of even an elf. It wasn't the returning King Aragorn, and it wasn't even the wizard Gandalf. Instead, it was the unlikely hobbit Frodo.
And so it is that giving thanks to God seems like such a small thing but is one of the biggest things of all. It's with good reason that the early Christians called the Lord's Supper in which Jesus fed them with the spiritual food which was Himself, the Eucharist, the "thanksgiving." In giving thanks, we acknowledge that something good we have received was not obtained by ourselves and was not something we were owed.
When is it that we thank people? When they give us gifts we don't deserve. We don't normally thank our bosses for paying us: we've earned what we're paid. We give thanks, sometimes as a formality, when we receive the obligatory Christmas or birthday gifts. But the best kind of giving thanks that I've found is the spontaneous, joyful, heartfelt thanks that comes from someone who recognizes me as a person. Mostly, of course, it's my wife, Jackie.
To give thanks to God is to acknowledge Him to be God and the giver of every good gift. Paul could have been simply relieved when he found companionship, but instead he gives thanks. He knows that it is his Lord who has sent these faithful brothers in the Lord, the same Lord who once knocked him down and who had spoken to him in visions. It was Jesus, whom he once persecuted, who had sent these Christians. More than that, it was Jesus Himself who had come, because where the Body of Christ is, there is Jesus Christ.So I love this moving little scene. At first glance, I'm drawn to the series of miracles earlier in the chapter, where Paul shakes off the deadly viper and then heals Publius' father of a fever and dysentery. This doing miracles of could have given Paul courage and I'm sure they did. But it was the brethren, the fellow Christians, who truly encouraged Him. His miracles were done by the power of the Holy Spirit. But his brothers and sisters in Christ carried the Holy Spirit inside them to him, and by that Spirit carried Jesus Christ to Him.
And so we find that courage is the second response that Paul, the superapostle, has when
Jesus Christ comes to him in the form of other Christians. I'm sure many of you have heard or even sung this song: "Give me that old time religion, old time religion, old time religion, its' good enough for me! It was good for Paul & Silas, good for Paul and Silas, good for Paul and Silas, and it's good enough for me!"
Part of that old time religion is the thanks and courage that Paul received. How did he get it, again? From the other Christians who made a point to visit him. "Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world" (James 1:27).
The Church is the Body of Jesus Christ on earth today. You are the presence of Jesus Christ in people's lives today. Think about it.
Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to go and visit some other Christian today who needs Jesus Christ in his life. When you go, look for the thanks and the courage. It may not always be there in the person you visit. But who's to stop it from being in you?
Prayer: O Lord my God, for life and reason, nurture, preservation, guidance, education; for Thy gifts of grace and nature, for Thy calling, recalling, manifold recalling me again and again. For Thy forbearance, long-suffering, and long long-suffering toward me, even until now; for all from whom I have received any good or help; for the use of Thy present good things; for Thy promise, and my hope, of good things to come.
For all these things, and for all other, which I know, which I know not, manifest or secret, remembered or forgotten by me, I praise Thee, I bless Thee, I give Thee thanks; and I will praise, and bless, and give Thee thanks, all the days of my life.
What shall I render unto the Lord for all His benefits to me? Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory, and honor, and power. Amen. (Lancelot Andrewes)
Points for Meditation:
1. How thankful have you been for the presence of Jesus Christ in your life and for His gifts? How could you see to it that you are more thankful?
2. What are some ways you could encourage other Christians?
Resolution: I resolve to come as the presence of Jesus Christ to one other Christian today.
© 2014 Fr. Charles Erlandson


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Posting ID : A1068508142
Date Posted : 2015-08-19
Category : Sublet Temp Wanted
I am a mature (63) responsible, quiet, clean, female that does not smoke,
has no pets and lives an active, health-oriented lifestyle. I live in So. Oregon
and would like to spend an extended period (anywhere from two weeks to two months)
in Arcata. I plan to be in Arcata, without a car, and want to be close in, so as to walk/bicycle
everywhere. Looking for a peaceful environment.
Please contact me if you have a sublet, house-sit, or any situation that
would suit a short-term stay. Thank You.


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Lehigh women are ranked 18th in the first CollegeInsider.com mid-major poll after opening the season by splitting a pair of road games.
The Mountain Hawks were ranked 12th in the preseason poll, despite not being voted by the Patriot League coaches and sports information directors as the favorite to three-peat. American was voted first in the PL.
This is the first season for the women's mid-major poll after CollegeInsider.com established a men's poll in 1999.
Green Bay women are ranked first, followed by Arkansas-Little Rock, Gonzaga, Princeton and Old Dominion.
Lehigh hosts Princeton in the Mountain Hawks' home opener at 2 p.m. Sunday.
Lehigh also has a trip to Storrs, Conn., to face No. 1 UConn, which would be taking an 82-game winning streak into that game. That game is Saturday, Nov. 27.
UConn already owns a 117-37 win over Holy Cross in the season opener and just snuck by No. 2-ranked Baylor by a point on Tuesday for the 80th consecutive win, eight shy of the UCLA men for the most wins in a row by a college basketball program.
Navy has two votes in the mid-major poll, but American doesn't have any.
The Mids were picked third in the Patriot League preseason poll.
TOM HOUSENICK watches every move Lehigh's C.J. McCollum makes on the court, laughs at every joke by Lafayette coach Fran O'Hanlon and watches all the Divisions II and III coaches and players do it for the love of the game. Basketball makes the cold weather season go by fast. Already can't wait for late February and early March when each possession could result in a season ending or continuing on.
Wrapping up his ninth year at The Morning Call, STEPHEN MILLER is back for year No. 4 on the LVC football beat. He chronicled Central Catholic's state-championship run in 2010, watched Nazareth win its first LVC title in 2011 and saw the league crown tri-champions for the first time in 2012. He has also covered the Phillies, college football and a variety of prep sports while with The Morning Call. To stay updated on the 2013 LVC football season, check out the Varsity blog and follow him on Twitter @mcall_smiller.
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When you're a 43 year old single woman, the first thing people talk about is how you're probably having sex with everything that isn't tied down. People assume there is some string of lovers aged legal to retired, and ranging from truly single to married who are keeping the cell phone burning up with booty calls. Maybe that's true for some people. Probably mostly true for women on reality shows and tabloids, but certainly not for me.
Don't get me wrong, I'm totally hip with being in charge of my own sexuality and enjoying a healthy sex life, but part of being in charge means I also get to decline if I wish. Right now I find myself in the midst of a mindset where being alone just seems more desirable than tending to the sexual needs of a partner.
Folks call me crazy for that because these periods of chosen sexual solitude often extend more than a few days or even a few weeks. They can last months, but keep in mind, it's by choice. This is what I want, so no pity necessary.
Once when I had just turned 40, I had a partner tell me I was in my sexual prime; that I couldn't possibly be faithful because my hormones, paired with my angst of aging, wouldn't allow monogamy. His words. Not mine.
I get it, though. That's the stereotype about women of a certain age. It's no different from women assuming men this age have a midlife crisis. Thing is, it just doesn't happen to everyone.
Even though I'm not at all dealing with that hormonal onslaught in my life, I do feel like I'm certainly at the prime of my life emotionally.
I've finally reached a point where I'm in complete control of my emotions and what I want from life. That control allows me to have more sexual freedom than ever before. I realize I do not need to be in the context of a relationship to have really great sex. I've also finally figured out that being up front with someone doesn't make me a "whore" or a "slut". I can just simply say "I want to be friends with benefits," or "I don't want any more than sex," and more importantly, I'm not afraid to say "I'm not at all interested".
To me, having the power to choose is the most freeing part of being my age. I'm no longer stuck in the confines of what I think relationships should be, but rather, I realize what they really are. I know that as long as everyone is up front about their involvement in a relationship, sexual or otherwise, no one gets hurt, no judgement is necessary, and everyone can go home happy.
All that being said, I'm an introvert. Isolation is like vacation to me. Too much social interaction throws me into a state of anxiety I'm only just learning to deal with. Anxiety is a new thing I've started being honest with myself and others about, and it, too, is often judged. I just no longer care if I'm judged, but I digress.
I'm learning to nurture myself, protect myself a little, and make sure I'm able to keep out of the muck of depression too much anxiety can throw me into. So, sometimes I just stay home alone.
I love sex. It's a very important part of life, but I've learned that for all the judgement people will throw you either for having or not having sex (people always have a damn opinion), few people really know how to handle their own sex lives. Many people have sex out of obligation. Some are doing it to feel loved, but few are really in enough control of their sex lives to realize whether they partake or decline is no one else's business—providing no one is getting hurt, that is.
So here I sit in what many would call a "dry spell," but what I call my "realignment period". I'm happy. I'm comforted. I'm recharging my battery so I can be the best me possible.
If there's anything being in my 40s has taught me, it's that I own me. No one's opinion about me or my sex life should be as important as my own. No one else owns my body or my sexuality. I thank feminism for helping me come to that realization.
It has been said (by Woody Allen-pardon, but he did have a point) that masturbation is "with someone you love." It should be. You should be the sexual partner you love the most, and when you need a moment to collect your sanity, you can enjoy some time with the one person you can never break up with: yourself.


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The Alliance is currently available only in the Dallas/Fort Worth and Austin market.
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Hey there, bookish friends.
Before I start posting my reviews, I figured you should get to know me a little better. The best characters are those with some depth and backstory, so here's a little about me and my reading preferences…
Favorite Author: Ernest Hemingway
Super original and totally unique, right? As cliche as it may be, I love Papa (the original Daddy). I first read Hemingway in high school (A Farewell to Arms) but didn't really become a true fan until I read his other works. I've also read quite a bit of historical fiction about his life (Paula Mclain's The Paris Wife, Ericka Robuck's Hemingway's Girl) which I find just as intriguing as his actual works.
Hemingway has a way of making the most simple things sound beautiful. I think modern writers often confuse successful writing with being ostentatious, but good writing isn't synonymous with just using big words. His prose is straightforward and vastly unadorned – two traits I try to mimic in my own style and voice. Plus, he loved cats and a good stiff drink, which is downright relatable.
Favorite Book: The Awakening by Kate Chopin
Similar to Hemingway, I remember reading this in AP English my junior year of high school and enjoying it, but not really thinking much about it. It wasn't until I reread it in college that I was able to really appreciate it. Now, I have a quote from it tattooed on my forearm.
I can't express how much I love this book. Written at the turn of the century, it delves into topics considered taboo at the time – female sexuality, feminism, identity, and self-expression. The risk Chopin took in crafting this story is admirable, as is the protagonist's journey to finding herself. Society's expectations of how a woman should live her life have absolutely evolved, but that doesn't mean there's no room for improvement. These themes transcend the limits of time.
Favorite Genre: Angsty Coming-of-Age Stories/Thrillers with Strong Female Characters
These couldn't be more opposite. On one hand, I love a wistful coming-of-age tale (Perennials by Mandy Berman, The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer), something that sparks a little reflection and nostalgia. On the other hand, the Nancy Drew in me loves a female-centric thriller (You by Caroline Kepnes, The Good Girl by Mary Kubica) – something I imagine being narrated by Lieutenant Joe Kenda. Other genres you'll find on my bookshelf include Historical Fiction, Stephen King Horror, Jazz Age Literature and Poetry, and Narrative Essays.
Favorite Place to Read: The Jersey Shore at dusk, in a chair, with my toes in the water
Hence, the featured photo. This is super specific, but preferably wearing an oversized sweatshirt with a hint of sunburn.
Book I Find Most Overrated: The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
Ironically enough, the book I find most overrated is America's signature coming-of-age novel. I've read this book twice now and still don't see what all the fuss is about. Truthfully, I find Holden whiney and spoiled. And I'm not taking away the book's merit – it's revered in classrooms across America for a barrage of reasons – but for me personally, his "alienation" comes off as disingenuous and irritating. I also feel like 80% of my male friends cite The Catcher in the Rye as their favorite book and scoff when I tell them I find it overplayed. To that I say – "People always clap for the wrong things."
I could go on about my reading habits but that's all for now, folks! This week, I'll be posting my reviews from January and finally get caught up here on the blog. Stay tuned 🙂


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Here's the latest casting news:
- Rob Lowe (Parks and Recreation) is set to star in writer-director Jake Kasdan's Sex Tape alongside Cameron Diaz and Jason Segal.
- Tim McGraw (The Blind Side) will join Brad Bird's Tomorrowland with George Clooney and Britt Robertson.
- Danielle Harris (Hatchet III) and Katharine Isabelle (American Mary) have joined See No Evil 2, starring Glenn Jacobs (aka Kane) and Michael Eklund, and directed by Jen and Sylvia Soska.
Hit the jump for more on each story.
First up from Deadline is news that Lowe will be making a Sex Tape with Kasdan. Diaz and Segal star as a married couple who make a sex tape to spice up their love life. Unfortunately, the recording makes its way into the outside world. It winds up in the hands of the mysterious and anxious CEO of Children's Toy Company (Lowe), from whom they must steal it back. Sex Tape also stars Jack Black and Rob Corddry.
THR reports that McGraw will make Tomorrowland his ninth feature role. The film, which starts shooting in Vancouver next week, "centers on a bright teen (Robertson) and a former boy-genius inventor (Clooney) as they embark on a danger-filled mission to unearth the secrets of an enigmatic place somewhere in time and space that exists in their collective memory as Tomorrowland." No details were given as to the nature of McGraw's role.
Deadline also reports that scream queens Harris and Isabelle will star in See No Evil 2, which sees the return of psycho killer, Jacob Goodnight (Kane). The sequel will pick up where the 2006 original left off, with Goodnight "rising from the dead in the city morgue to prey on unsuspecting medical students."


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The RSA says texting and driving is more dangerous than talking on the phone behind the wheel.
Over 50,000 people were caught with their phone while driving in the past two years.
On average, over 3,000 penalty points are issued in Kildare, every month, to motorists using phones while driving.
The Irish Daily Mail says many of these people were taking selfies or live streaming.
Brian Farrell from the RSA says it could be deadly:


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The International Space Station (ISS) is the largest peacetime engineering project in history. It is the result of a partnership between the space agencies of the United States, Russia, Canada, Europe, and Japan. The Station provides a stable platform for microgravity and space research as well as a springboard for future space exploration.
While the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) is the smallest ISS partner, its contribution to the program continues to be essential. The ISS structure itself could not have been assembled without Canada's Mobile Servicing System, a sophisticated suite of robotics that includes Canadarm2 and Dextre. Even with assembly now complete, these Canadian robots provide critical support to on-going station maintenance and spacewalks and for capturing free flying cargo vehicles.
On December 19, 2012, Chris Hadfield launched to the ISS with two crewmates on a Russian Soyuz rocket from Baikonur in Kazakhstan. He spent five months aboard the station on Canada's second long-duration space mission and served as ISS Commander for his last two months in space – a significant first for Canada.
Preparing for an ISS expedition is an enormous undertaking requiring the talents of hundreds of people from across the partnership. One important aspect of CSA's preparation for the Hadfield mission was to be ready to address any "contingency" that may have involved Chris. Such contingencies would have included any failure, medical issue or incident that could have led to injury, death, mission delay or early termination. It could also mean any off-nominal launch scenario, a ballistic (unusually steep) re-entry, an extended loss of communications with the crew, or even injury or illness of landing support personnel.
Development of a thoughtful and complete contingency action plan is the cornerstone of contingency preparation. Plans such as these are developed by ISS partner agencies well in advance of a launch.
CSA's contingency action plan covered everything from identifying who had authority to make specific decisions to defining the right people to communicate with counterparts at other agencies. The plan also designated a Contingency Action Centre at the CSA headquarters – a dedicated, secure area with suitable resources to work the contingency in real-time. The heart of the document was the definition of roles and responsibilities for each CSA employee designated as a contingency responder. Individual responsibilities were presented in a user-friendly and concise checklist format to facilitate prompt and appropriate actions during what would likely be a stressful situation.
It is worth noting that CSA's contingency action plan was not the plan for how to actually save the crew's lives on a bad day. That responsibility was entrusted to the crew members themselves, to the real-time operations teams in the various control centers, and to the recovery teams deployed in the launch and landing zones. Instead this plan was written to ensure good coordination with the other agencies, and to ensure that CSA's communications with the Canadian government, its international partner agencies, the media, the CSA's own staff and even the crew member's family, were timely, complete and accurate.
Well in advance of Hadfield's launch (about 18 months) with a draft contingency plan in-hand, the CSA team conducted the first of seven tabletop simulations (or "sims"). Some of these were led by NASA's Space & Life Sciences team, while a few CSA internal simulations were conducted and led by our own mission support team.
These tabletop simulations present hypothetical scenarios, developed to test the procedures and preparation of the team by exposing them to the thought-processes required on really bad days. Separated from the stress of an actual disaster, team members can calmly consider their options in a way they might not do otherwise. While sims don't anticipate every possible emergency, they can identify some of the most likely ones, thereby providing an opportunity to exercise the methodology and communications interfaces that often apply.
The authors acted as "simulation supervisors" for the CSA-internal simulations. After deciding upon a scenario with specific learning objectives, scripts were developed for each simulation. Events in each scenario were triggered by a simulation supervisor issuing "green cards." Each green card introduced a new failure or circumstance and were issued to participants as the simulation events unfolded.
This sequence of events tested the readiness of the team and allowed individual team members to exercise their designated responsibilities.
In addition to allowing team members to practice their roles and develop an operational mindset, simulations also educate the whole team on larger mission-wide issues. With everyone around the table hearing each step play out, each participant has the opportunity to hear and consider their colleagues' challenges. Even specialized issues such as protection of crew member's medical confidentiality can be presented. This broadens the team's perspective. Ultimately simulations serve as wake-up calls, correcting pre-conceived notions and perhaps illustrating how existing plans are lacking.
Although props or play acting are not necessary, one way to support the realism of the simulation is to speak as if it's really happening and not just hypothetical. The simple act of saying "I just" (did something) rather than "I would have", can help everyone stay in the moment. Simulations are often more effective when the players feel emotionally, not just intellectually, engaged in the action.
In addition to operational staff, the participation of CSA senior executives was vital to the success of these activities. Their involvement added to the realism and seriousness of the event. Despite busy schedules, the executives themselves got to experience firsthand what was involved before signing off on the contingency plan document.
At the conclusion of each simulation, a debriefing session was held with all participants. Lessons learned from that day were discussed by the assembled team and documented: what went right or wrong; what additional information and resources would have been useful; how might we have better coordinated amongst ourselves. The answers to these questions were then incorporated back into the plan, refining it through operational experience, long before the rocket engines lit.
Thankfully Hadfield's mission was a complete success. Chris landed safely with his two Soyuz crewmates on the Kazakh Steppe on May 13, 2013, completing an ISS expedition with few malfunctions and no major contingencies. In fact, the mission set records for both productivity and public outreach.
Nevertheless, if something had gone wrong, the CSA team was well-trained, confident and resourced to respond quickly and appropriately.
This process is iterative and allows for on-going improvements. Enhancing the quality of each simulation (e.g., scripting to test multiple mission requirements; detailed realism) pays dividends in identifying process improvements to feed back into the contingency plan.
Any business continuity plan can benefit from these same principles. While we always hope for the best, we also prepare for the worst. By developing the best possible business continuity plan, then testing and exercising that plan with tabletop simulations, a basic contingency management capability emerges.