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This step was my favorite part of this diy hood range cover! This is perfect for homes that can’t vent to the outside.
Mineral Creek Brewery – Start To Finish E-herms Basement Electric Brewery Build – Home Brew Forums Home Brewery Home Brewing Equipment Home Brewing
More info about building your own can be found at this link:
Diy vent hood brewery. This is our 1×2 frame pieces on top right before we screwed them into the fan. Ideally, the hood will extend a bit outside the bounds of the top of your kettle. Made of premium 430 grade brushed stainless steel, classical.
Hight quality stove vent hood: Make sure to caulk and fill the nail holes you created when building the hood. A map created and maintained by brewers using the electric brewery can also be seen on this google map.
Build an indoor vent hood. Custom building this vent hood cost us somewhere in the range of $175 dollars!!! Our range is in the center of our house, so there is no way to vent it outside.
One of the most challenging aspects of my recent kitchen renovation was tackling my range hood. Then measure and cut the top pieces and affix with the brad nailer and nails, as the photo shows. Also attach the corbels to mdf and nail to the wall, as shown.
Then i just float the bowl in the wort as i boil. For the longest time i just used a fan blowing over my boil kettle. Both ends mitered at 25.6 and beveled at about 14 degrees off square make sure and measure yours on this step as they may be slightly different!
The hood needs to be large enough to capture the steam and also you need sufficient airflow to move the steam collected out of the hood before it spills out of the hood. The builder was going to charge us some crazy amount in the range of 3,000 dollars just for the custom vent hood cabinetry! Yes, you can easily add a stylish range hood to your kitchen with that old fan you have sitting around!
Measure, cut and nail on a simple mdf frame on the face of the range hood cover. This is a video to my vent hood build for my homebrewtalk.com diy project thread. (if it can hold up to weather it should handle the steam of a brew day)
I cut down two matching pieces of wood that would become the sides of the vent hood. The vent is electric and most all kitchens have a plug above the stove for a microwave or vent hood like this one. For this project, we used benjamin moore oil based white paint.
At the top i nailed in a 1×2 that i was going to use to secure these pieces into the ceiling: It's made from 1×10 pine boards for the outside and 3/4 plywood for the top. In order for my idea to work, i realized that the old range hood had to go because we needed to have access to the switches from the bottom as opposed to the front.
As you can see, i left some space (the thickness of the boards i was using) at the front of each piece. Get a tutorial for how to create a custom ductless range hood. Building the cover for my hood vent completely changed the look of this room, giving me the modern feel that i wanted, and allowing other decorative elements to stand out (btw this is a great white hood if you don’t want to diy your own).
When you decide that you’re ready to brew inside the comforts of your home, you will need to find a way to exhaust the condensation from your boil. You can see this in the pic below (although it’s a little blurry). The front board needs a 45 degree bevel cut on each end.
Fill in all the nail hole, let dry and sand smooth before painting. 99% of this hood range was made from scrap lumber. Our existing one was also original with the house (aka nearly 30 years old) so we were definitely due for an upgrade!
A box design works best, because it can accommodate both the brew pot and hot liquor tank. One hundred and seventy five dollars! I've wired the ss bowl so it hangs about 2 inches below the mouth of the plastic duct.
These 3 things have gone a. Then sand the nail holes so that there aren’t any rough patches on the hood. Put the intake as close to your brew kettle as possible, to draw the steam in directly before it dissipates into the room.
It isn't even a hard diy! Cut a 1×6 to size to trim out the front of the frame hood cover. Diy custom ductless range hood.
This takes ~99% of the vapor outside via my normal dryer vent and any condensation in the duct will drip into the bowl, not the wort. Below are some of their testimonials. The electric brewery design is used in over 60 countries by homebrewers, commercial breweries, brew on premise shops, brew pubs, restaurants, industrial and entertainment corporations, and distilleries.
Most ventilation hoods are set at about 6.5 ft (2 m) above the. Cut and install 1×6 stained wood board to range hood cover frame. And the two side boards need a 90 degree end and a 45 degree bevel end.
Next, we plan to mount a floating shelf on the window wall, and i know this minimal hood vent will balance out a little. That's my favorite kind of project. More on that in a minute!
I also started painting the cabinets and got about half way done. The unit dimensions 29.3 w x 18.3 l x 36.3 h, adjustable. I then went ahead and added the faux crown molding, you can read all about that here.
Once the diy range hood is completely smooth, paint the hood to match the other cabinets in your kitchen. This piece of trim on the stove, was put in place under the vent hood to cover those open seams and overall made the range hood look much more finished after caulking. Once all of the trim is up make sure you go and fill in all the holes with wood filler and do a light sanding to them before staining.i also use a wood conditioner before staining, it really helps absorb the stain.
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The bigger the dog the better
My most recent dog sitting experience was house sitting over the last two years for an employer of mine, taking care of 3 golden retrievers and a cat with medical needs for up to a week at a time. I did this while in graduate school. But I have a long history of taking care of animals.
My mother is a veterinarian and worked from home as I was growing up. I always went on ...
What Becky would like to know about your dog
Whether they are fearful of other animals or people. How often they are used to being let outside. If they have any dietary restrictions.

domain: pet


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Romance is a Bonus Book Episode 1 Recap
Eun-Ho (Lee Jong-Suk) arrives at the Dan-Yi’s wedding celebration. She looks stunning and Eun-Ho tells her that. Eun-Ho will be playing the piano when the bride enters. The groom enters but when it is Dan-Yi’s turn she is nowhere to be found. She has run away from her own wedding ceremony, Eun-Ho drives in the hope of finding her. He is less worried about her and more angry at her because he practiced really for his piano performance. Dan-Yi is hiding in his car and Eun-Ho gets a shock when he finds her. He then receives the call from the groom who knows that Dan-Yi is in his car (from CCTV). The groom asks him if they are in a relationship to which they deny. Eun-Ho tries to console Dan-Yi, who is worried about her mother (she fainted). Also, the amount of money her mother spent on the wedding even though her family is broke. Meanwhile, Eun-Ho is consoling Dan-Yi his cars gets towed away.
Eun-Ho takes her back but in present (time jump) she wishes she had not gone back. Dan-Yi is looking for a new job but gets rejected during her interview (and for some reason, it was a cue for a dance musical). She is working part-time and she has been a divorcee for a year now. After another interview, she gets chewed by the female interviewer because of her past successes. Elsewhere, Eun-Ho working as a professor (second job) seems to be really popular with female students. Dan-Yi is working as a house-maid for Eun-Ho but apparently, he has no idea that his maid is Dan-Yi. Eun-Ho hired the maid on Dan-Yi’s recommendation but he is not happy with the “maid’s” work. Eun-Ho’s main job is chief editor of a publishing company and he is surrounded by some weird characters at his work. His company is hiring new recruits, Eun-Ho is not happy with his bosses recruitment philosophy.
You May Also Like: Encounter Episode 16 Recap
Later at home when Eun-Ho is trying to print something he finds Dan-Yi’s resume in his printer. Meanwhile, Dan-Yi is living in her rundown house (illegally) alone away from her ex-husband (cheated on her) and daughter. Next day, the house is torn down by the owner and she has nowhere to go now. She has trouble even commuting to her job interviews and she has to send money to her daughter (medical expenses). She goes to Eun-Ho’s house but he not there and he has changed the password to his house lock. Eun-Ho is busy braking heart of his “girlfriend”. His girlfriend who is getting married to someone else splashes water on his face and tells him that he has no idea what love is. Dan-Yi is walking around holding a flower pot (other belongings) like Mathilda (older version) from Leon The Professional. Eun-Ho doesn’t call her back even after seeing a lot of miss calls from her.
The Knight in a Shining Armor
Eun-Ho finally gives her a call and tells her that he called late because he was getting dumped. When he asks her about the resume she tells him that she is looking for work but no one is hiring her. A drunk old man tries to molest her but she is saved by a young man Seo-Joon. He acts like her boyfriend and chases the old man away. Seeing her barefooted he give her shoes he has, it turns out they are her shoes (one she lost and other she threw away). It starts to rain and he gives his umbrella to her and she gives him her flower pot (spring onions). She ends up at Eun-Ho’s home looking worn out. Dan-Yi tells him she will stay at his house for one night. Eun-Ho is worried about her and thinks about calling her husband.
Apparently, he doesn’t know that she is already divorced. Next day, she tells him that she will be his housekeeper as she doesn’t have anywhere else to go. She also tells him that she is already divorced but he doesn’t believe her. After Eun-ho leaves for work she finds the recruitment documents from his company. Dan-Yi continues to live in Eun-Ho’s house without his knowledge. Next day, she applies for the job and Eun-Ho is surprised to see her application.
Another Noona-Dongsaeng romance after Encounter, this looks less Melodramatic than the Encounter. The first episode was all right had some laughs here and there but not much. I can’t really make my opinion about this one until I get to see a few more episodes. It looks promising but most K-Dramas start that way, the middle and end will decide the entertainment value and total quality of the drama for me.

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Gail Huff, the wife of Massachusetts Senator Scott Brown, will be at the Massachusetts Republican office on Route 9 in Framingham tonight kicking off the Women for Brown phone bank.
She will be joined by state representative candidate , a Republican, challenging Tom Sannicandro to represent Ashland and precincts 8, 13, 14, 16, 17 and 18 in Framingham in the State House.
The public is invited to the Republican office at 1671 Worcester Rd, Suite 300 at 4:30 p.m.
Today is also state's primary election. Both Brown and Fetherston are running unopposed in the primary on the Republican ballot.

domain: politics


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Savabeel three-year-old Ray's Girl (NZ) bounced back to winning form yesterday at Riccarton taking her first stakes victory in the $50,000 Listed Ekraar at Linwood Park Canterbury Stakes (1600m).
The 19th stakes winner for Waikato Stud's Cox Plate winning sire Savabeel(pictured) , Ray's Girl (ex Natural Rhythm) was unplaced in her stakes debut in the Listed Fordell O'Leary Fillies Stakes and ran a tough second at her last start to Misstrum (Stratum) in the Listed Soliloquy Stakes.
Yesterday's race saw a top performance from the Rudy Liefting trained filly, coming from off the pace with David Walker in the saddle and producing a big turn-of-foot to race past her rivals to win by just under three lengths.
Bred and sold by Waikato Stud, Ray's Girl was a bargain purchase, picked up by Bosher Farms at the 2011 Karaka Select Sale for just $6,000. Raced by Harold Bosher, the filly has won two of her seven starts for just under $50,000 in stakes.
A brother to Ray's Girl was purchased by Tony Cole at this year's 2012 Karaka Select Sale for $22,000.

domain: news


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Spring means your garden is waking up and it needs nourishment. The third week of March is the best time to fertilize established roses, lawns, and small fruits such as blueberry, raspberry and strawberry plants. As the plants awaken and the days lengthen, the foliage tells you that these plants want food now.
However, not everyone needs to be fed right now. Do not fertilize tender plants such as newly planted roses, hardy fuchsias, summer blooming bulbs and shrubs like lilies, dahlias and hydrangeas, or plants that surprised you and survived the winter such as phormiums and sedums.
March is also the month to evaluate your front landscape and put together a plan for some curb appeal. You don’t need to be selling your home to invest in a better front view. A welcoming front entry, colorful flowers and a cared for landscape does more than just raise property values. There is intrinsic satisfaction waiting for any homeowner or apartment dweller that is welcomed home with a bit of beauty.
THREE STEPS TO CURB APPEAL
Step one: Focus on the front door.
You don’t need to own your own home to liven up your entry. Even the darkest basement apartment can benefit from a portable pot of living plants. Add some life to the dark side with foliage plants that stay evergreen all year long and don’t mind the full shade. Acuba, Fatsia japonica, variegated ivy or the magnificent large leaves of an Acanthus or Bear’s breeches are all plants that will live for years in a pot despite a lack of sunshine. In the summer months, you can add shade-tolerant annuals such as impatiens, lobelia, begonias and coleus. White and light-colored bloomers stand out in the shade.
Next, consider painting the front door a vibrant accent color or at least light up the space with a fresh coat of white. A new doormat, upgraded light fixtures and dusting the cobwebs from the corners will turn any first impression from poor to positive.
Step two: Wake up the welcome walk.
Many homeowners rarely use their own front door – so it is easy to forget about the overgrown plants, slippery sidewalk and other hazards that make the walk to the front door less than welcoming. Take the route your guests must use and then determine if walkways need pressure washing or if there are overgrown plants in need of pruning.
A great design idea to widen a narrow walkway is to add pavers alongside the existing walkway creating more surface area. Installing outdoor pathway lights is another bright idea to improve curb appeal. Don’t forget about the impact of blooming plants as you rethink your front walk. Pots aren’t just for the porch. Set a trio of container gardens into the planting bed, keeping the pots level by setting them on top of stepping stones or a grouping of pavers. Pots in beds raises the blooming plants closer to eye level and creates an instant focal point in a boring landscape. The deep blue, deep red, rich purple and other highly-glazed and shiny pots sold at local nurseries are frost and crack resistant, and can be left outdoors all year long to add structure and color.
Step three: Control the chaos with some repetition.
Adding curb appeal to your front landscape can be as simple as repeating a plant, color or form in at least three spots. Fill different sizes and shapes of containers with the same variety of purple petunia, repeat the rounded form of a clipped boxwood or repeat an evergreen signature plant such as Nanina (Heavenly Bamboo) or Dwarf Alberta Spruce. You can group the same plant material in clusters of three to five, in a staggered hedge, in the center or corner three different beds or even as the focal point plants in container gardens.
The reason that repetition works to calm the chaos in a front yard landscape is because it gives the eye a familiar place to rest when your home is viewed from the curb or street. Repetition is like a melody that reappears throughout a song or the patterns that Mother Nature designs when rolling hills, fields of wild flowers or ocean waves repeat to calm and delight the human senses.Marianne Binetti has a degree in horticulture from Washington State University and is the author of several books. She can be reached at binettigarden.com.

domain: design


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How Long Does It Take to Hike 7 Miles?
If you enjoy the great outdoors and love exploring nature, you might be wondering how long it would take to hike a distance of 7 miles. The truth is, the time it takes to hike 7 miles can vary based on several factors, including your fitness level, the terrain, elevation change, weather conditions, and the amount of rest breaks you take along the way.
On average, an individual with moderate hiking experience and fitness can expect to cover a distance of 7 miles in approximately 3 to 4 hours. However, it is important to note that this estimate can vary significantly depending on the factors mentioned earlier.
Let’s explore some key factors that can influence the time it takes to hike 7 miles:
- Terrain: The type of terrain you’ll be hiking on plays a crucial role. If the trail is mostly flat and well-maintained, you can cover the distance faster. However, if it involves steep ascents, descents, or rugged terrain, it will naturally slow you down, requiring more time.
- Elevation Change: Hiking uphill or downhill affects your pace. Ascending a mountainous trail will take longer due to the increased effort required, whereas descending can be faster but still demands caution.
- Fitness Level: Your fitness level determines how quickly you can hike a certain distance. If you are accustomed to regular physical activity and have good cardio endurance, you will be able to maintain a faster pace.
- Weather Conditions: Extreme weather conditions such as heavy rain, snow, or excessive heat can impact your speed and overall hiking experience. Slippery trails, strong winds, or intense heat may add extra time to your hike.
- Experience: Experienced hikers who are familiar with the trail and have good hiking skills and techniques tend to complete the distance in less time compared to beginners.
It’s essential to consider these factors before estimating the time it will take you to hike 7 miles. It’s also important not to rush and enjoy the journey while being mindful of your capabilities and limitations. Remember to stay hydrated, take regular breaks, and wear appropriate clothing and footwear for a safe and comfortable hiking experience.
In conclusion, when considering how long it will take to hike 7 miles, expect it to take around 3 to 4 hours on average. However, always take into account the various factors that can affect your hiking pace. Ultimately, the goal is to savor the natural beauty, connect with nature, and make lasting memories during your hike rather than merely focusing on completing the distance in record time.

domain: hobby


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I took these pictures late Saturday afternoon. I snapped this one just before eating dinner because I just loved how the sun was shining through the clouds and how you could see the rain falling on the left side of the picture:
Obviously, there was a thunderstorm building up but I didn’t realize how big or how fast until after I had gotten done eating. When I went to return my dishes into the kitchen, I looked out back and now saw this:
And, just a little bit later, we got a quarter of an inch of rain (with a little thunder) here at the house. It was a pretty sight and for a weather geek like me, it was fun to watch!
I hope you enjoy these pictures as much as I do. Thanks for looking and I hope you have a great rest of the day!


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Description: June Bisantz at Live Doxy, Nagoya Japan, on tour with the Chet Baker Project, Spring 2012.
photo, Harrison Judd
japan the chet baker project nagoya japan
Our mission is to inform jazz fans and alert them to local concerts, while improving audience attendance and building active jazz communities in nearly 250 cities worldwide.
Photo of Jason Marsalis by Daniel Sheehan


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Heart disease is the number one cause of death in this country. But it is also one of the most preventable. The choices you make every day – what to eat, how you respond to stress, whether or not you exercise – affect how much you’re at risk.
Baylor Scott & White Denton Heart Group is a comprehensive source of advanced cardiac care. Click on a condition below to learn more about some of the conditions we treat.
An arrhythmia is a disorder of the heart rate (pulse) or heart rhythm, such as beating too fast (tachycardia), too slow (bradycardia), or irregularly.
Congenital heart disease refers to a problem with the heart’s structure and function due to abnormal heart development before birth. Congenital means present at birth.
Diabetes is a lifelong (chronic) disease in which there are high levels of sugar in the blood.
A heart attack occurs when blood flow to a part of your heart is blocked for a long enough time that part of the heart muscle is damaged or dies.
Blood pressure is a measurement of the force against the walls of your arteries as your heart pumps blood through your body.
When blood cholesterol is high, it forms plaque and causes inflammation. The plaque builds up in the walls of arteries (blood vessels that carry blood from the heart to the body).
Peripheral vascular disease (PVD) is a slow and progressive circulation disorder. Narrowing, blockage, or spasms in a blood vessel can cause PVD.
A stroke happens when blood flow to a part of the brain stops. A stroke is sometimes called a “brain attack.”
Varicose veins are enlarged twisted veins. Varicose veins can happen anywhere in the body but are more common in the legs.

domain: biology


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Chingy-One Call Away(down 5 positions)
St. Louis' Howard "Chingy" Bailey seems cartoonish and insubstantial but his Jackpot CD is one of the biggest hits of the last year. One Call Away is Chingy's third hit. A lot of the credit for Chingy's success should go to Alonzo Lee and Shamar Daugherty, also known as Trak Starz. Trak Starz(not to be confused with Trackboyz, who also produced music by St. Louis artists including Nelly's Air Force Ones and J-Kwon's Tipsy) wrote and produced most of the songs on Jackpot, including Right Thurr and One Call Away. On One Call Away, they use Chingy the way he should be used, as a colorful, goofy supporting player. One Call Away's main appeal is its catchy chorus, with Jason "J. Weav" Weaver suavely singing "you can call if you wanna bump over me." Trak Starz created a sound that's smooth, with a steady hand clap beat and easy guitar sound, but also has good texture with a bass drum sound and percussion that sounds like a woodpecker pecking. Chingy roams around the verses in an entertaining, innocuous way, sounding like Eminem in a clowning mode. Most of One Call Away's lyric is surprisingly sweet. Chingy describes meeting a woman in a bank, starting a relationship slowly and respectfully and not being afraid to show affection in front of his homeboys. The lyric suddenly turns stupid on the third verse as Chingy announces that he's a player, offers her a "puff on a blunt" and "a pint of Hen" and threatens "if you got an attitude, I could treat you like a hoe." Just as suddenly, he returns to the song's general theme of being the guy who's there for her, rapping "just be true and there's nothing I won't do for ya." Chingy's contribution is mixed but mostly appealing. He largely fills space until One Call Away gets back to the chorus' charming hook.
Beyonce-Naughty Girl(up 4 positions)
Beyonce Knowles continues her impressive run with Naughty Girl, the fourth hit from her Dangerously In Love CD. Naughty Girl apparently won't match Crazy In Love and Baby Boy, which went to #1 on the pop charts, but after a dip with Me, Myself and I, it brings Beyonce back near the top of the top 40. Naughty Girl was produced by Beyonce with Scott Storch who did Baby Boy, Pink's Family Portrait, Justin Timberlake's Cry Me A River and Christina Aguilera's Fighter and Can't Hold Us Down. Naughty Girl doesn't have a lot of heart but it sounds good. Like Baby Boy, Naughty Girl uses exotic sounds to give a good but not great song more edge. Beyonce and Storch constructed a sensual sound that matches Naughty Girl's come ons. Over a brittle beat, Naughty Girl repeats a tense riff with icy synth interjections for additional tension. Backing vocals join Beyonce for whispered enticements. Naughty Girl is obviously inspired by Donna Summer's Love To Love You Baby, which Naughty Girl liberally quotes. It's always a bit of a tease when a pop star claims she's available for sex. But Beyonce is different from Summer. Summer always seemed to believe the fantasy that she wanted to sleep with you. On Naughty Girl, as usual, Beyonce seems somewhat distanced and calculated. She makes it clear that she's a tease. A mediocre rap (including a line about wanting a naughty girl not a good one and one about wanting a relationship not a one night stand) by Houston's rising star Lil' Flip emphasizes that Naughty Girl is a performance, not a depiction of a real erotic encounter. But Beyonce's juxtaposition of seduction and reserve still works. Beyonce does a very sexy vocal. Beyonce does a pretty good sales job, kind of sounding like she means it when she sings about "feeling sexy" and wanting to "hear you say my name." But while saying "the rhythm's got me feelin' so crazy", she's leaves no doubt that she's in control and she'll decide if "I just might take you home." Though it's product from an artist who makes it clear that she makes her decisions with her brain, not her hormones, Naughty Girl is charged and alluring.
Jessica Simpson-Take My Breath Away(up 7 positions)
Jessica Simpson's cover of Take My Breath Away wasn't originally on her In This Skin CD but, taking advantage of Simpson's ever growing stardom, a new version of In This Skin, with Take My Breath Away and a cover of Robbie Williams' Angels, has been released. Take My Breath Away was written by disco king Giorgio Moroder(who's also back on the charts as Beyonce quotes Love To Love You Baby). It was originally recorded by Berlin and, partly thanks to inclusion on the Top Gun soundtrack, was their biggest hit. Take My Breath Away has been covered a bunch of times. It's a favorite of mediocre lounge singers for probably the same reasons that Jessica and her people chose it. Many people are familiar with Take My Breath Away from seeing Top Gun or hearing Berlin's version on the radio. Some probably have an emotional or romantic connection with the song. Take My Breath Away is a sturdy song which builds to a big finish and allows a female singer to do a big, dramatic performance. Simpson does a standard reading, pretty closely tracking the vocal by Berlin's Terri Nunn. Most of Simpson's singing is quite annoying. In the song's quieter first half, her voice is pinched, mannered and unappealing. She actually does better in the song's more challenging second half, holding her notes and stretching them out in a showy but fairly impressive way. Still, Simpson's singing doesn't add anything interesting or new to the original. I guess it's meant to show that Simpson can sing. She kind of can, but not any better than lots of contestants in local talent shows. The new version of Takes My Breath Away is pretty pointless. It has very bland elevator music style backing, with stiff drum machine beats and sterile synths. Like her edible body products, Simpson's cover of Take My Breath Away is a product meant to take advantage of Simpson's hot name, good looks and sexy/innocent image. Besides its familiarity, I don't see any reason for covering Take My Breath Away. It's an easy listening classic but it's also kind of a sappy bore. Take My Breath Away is filled with overheated romance novel imagery. It depicts lovers in a foolish game, "on this endless ocean" and knowing no shame. The singer returns to a "secret place inside" and watches "in slow motion" as he turns and says the song's title. The lyric also has crashed mirrors, fate, anticipation and guys seen "through the hourglass" and slipping away in time.
Cassidy featuring R Kelly-Hotel(up 1 position)
Cassidy is a young rapper from Philadelphia who got attention with his work on mix tapes. He's been championed by Swizz Beatz, who's worked with Eve, Busta Rhymes, DMX and many others, the producer of much of Cassidy's Split Personality CD. Like Nick Cannon, Cassidy has the good fortune to be assisted on his first hit single by the ubiquitous R Kelly. Kelly's appearance is nearly a guarantee of success. The downside of Kelly's presence is that he makes more of an impression than Cassidy does. Kelly does a relaxed but strong vocal on the chorus, easily making himself the center of attention. Kelly is his usual pleasure loving self. As on the Ignition Remix, Kelly enjoys an after party, inviting a "cutie" to use his room key. Cassidy's rap isn't amazing but he's fine. Like so many rappers, he mostly has sex on his mind. He tells us "if that girl don't participate, well then I'm gonna take her friend." But compared with some songs(like the recent, similarly themed Holidae Inn), Hotel is pretty benign. Cassidy promises the ladies he will do whatever he can for them. Hotel's acoustic guitar riff and light mood remind me of another song with a big R Kelly presence, B2K's Bump, Bump, Bump. Hotel is better than the cheerfully stupid B2K song but it's also pretty slight. Still, it's pleasant and sounds fine. With the guitar underlining Kelly's vocal and a classic sounding beat that resembles the one for Marvin Gaye's Sexual Healing, Swizz Beatz gives Hotel a smooth sound.
Velvet Revolver-Slitherbuy it!
Velvet Revolver was put together by former Guns N' Roses guitar player Slash, bass player Duff McKagan and drummer Matt Sorum. They tried different singers then got together with Stone Temple Pilots' Scott Weiland for Set Me Free, for the Hulk soundtrack. The guys got along and after STP broke up, probably because of Weiland's drug use, Weiland was available for a full time gig. Weiland was invited, even if that meant interrupting recording for Weiland's court dates and rehab stay. Slither indicates that Velvet Revolver's members are working pretty well together. Slither, from the band's Contraband CD, is no nonsense hard rock with a classic feel. Slash is Slither's star, making all sorts of exciting sounds. Slash plays a memorable, tough central riff that, along with Sorum's dependable pounding and Dave Kushner's chunky, driving rhythm line, keeps Slither racing forward. Slash's fun, showy solo is reminiscent of ones he did on songs like Sweet Child O' Mine. While he can be a jerk and a screwup, Weiland is a good rock singer. Weiland stays focused and shows his ability to do be tough and slithery. He doesn't have Axl Rose's flamboyance. After Slash's solo, you half expect Rose's piercing shriek and it's a bit of a disappointment when, instead, you get Weiland sounding a bit like The Cult's Ian Astbury in a bad mood. Slither might not reach the same transcendence as Guns N' Roses' best songs but it is tight, vibrant hard rock. On Slither, Weiland sings about someone who destroys him, keeps him under her finger and cuts the rope and brings him to his knees. Weiland still sees "pleasure in my mind" and a chance to "wash away the sins of you and I."
Outkast-The Way You Move(down 2 positions)
Outkast's popularity has grown the last few years. They made our top 50 with Stankonia's Ms. Jackson and The Whole World, from the Big Boi and Dre Present collection. Still, I thought Outkast, who seem more interested in doing what they want than in selling records, were a bit too weird to become big pop stars. So it's a bit of a surprise that Outkast are currently the biggest pop stars around. Outkast dominated the Grammy awards winning, among others, Album of the Year and The Way You Move immediately followed Hey Ya, which spent a bunch of weeks at #1, to the top of the pop charts. Outkast's huge success is especially remarkable since the duo seemed on the verge of breaking up when they released their two CD set, which is really two solo records. Andre 3000 and Big Boi are almost totally absent from each other's disc. Hey Ya is on Andre 3000's weird, silly, inconsistent but fun The Love Below, which doesn't fit under any musical label. The Way You Move is on Antwan "Big Boi" Patton's Speakerboxx, which has a variety of sounds but is mostly tight, danceable hip hop. The Way You Move is a great example of Speakerboxx's smart, state of the art sound. The Way You Move is brilliantly constructed. With its crisp hand clap like drum machine beats and Big Boi's remarkably adroit rap, The Way You Move is slick and efficient. It also gets a retro, human feel from real horns playing a catchy riff and Sleepy Brown's falsetto singing, which doesn't have the Marvin Gaye style sexiness he shoots for but does add warmth to a very polished song. Big Boi's incredibly quick rap deserves special credit. Among raps I've heard recently only Jay Z, on Change Clothes, is comparable in terms of being fast, relaxed and in control and Big Boi is even more impressive. He squeezes in a ton of words and never lets us see him sweat. Big Boi tells us that "Outkast is everlastin', not clashin'", expresses his love for all women, especially the "big girls", and admires a woman's move while the room watches his. In the last few months, Outkast has given us Hey Ya, one of the most fun singles of the last year and The Way You Move, one of the coolest.
The Offspring-Can't Get My Head Around You(up 2 positions)
Can't Get My Head Around You isn't as unpleasant and irritating as Hit That, the first chart hit from The Offspring's Splinter CD, but it reinforces the feeling I got from Hit That: The Offspring really don't seem to have anything else to say, musically or lyrically. Head Around You sounds like other Offspring songs, especially Gotta Get Away, a similar but better song. Head Around You is pretty fast. With Dexter Holland racing through his vocal and Noodles playing speedy, varied guitar parts, Head Around You gains decent momentum. Noodles nicely mixes up different hard rock lines. But besides being familiar, Head Around You isn't very appealing. The reason for that is singer Dexter Holland. Holland's vocal is so harsh and unlikable that you don't want to know what he's ranting about, you just wish he'd shut up. Head Around You's lyric also makes Holland seem kind of like a jerk. He can't understand why someone doesn't see the hole "inside your soul." He complains that "you've managed to bring me down too" and accuses the person of faking. Sounds like the person needs help, not an account of how their problems are hurting Dexter. At least, Can't Get My Head Around You is pretty short and its music is decent and energetic. But we've heard it before when Holland was less annoying.
Mario Winans featuring Enya and P.Diddy-I Don't Wanna Knowbuy it!
Mario Winans' family have been among the biggest stars in gospel music for more than two decades. Mario left that world to pursue a career in r&b. Winans has appeared on hits by other people, including P. Diddy's I Need A Girl Pt. 2, but I Don't Wanna Know is his first hit as a lead singer. Among the showy, heavily produced songs on the radio, I Don't Wanna Know's stark, subdued sound stands out. A big part of I Don't Wanna Know's appeal comes from its haunting, elegant backing track. I Don't Wanna Know uses a sample from Enya's Boadicea(which Fugees also used on Ready Or Not). I Don't Wanna Know works because Winans' sad, restrained singing matches the backing track. I Don't Wanna Know is best when the muted Enya sample matches Winans' simple, unshowy vocal. It's worst when P. Diddy shows up. Winans records for Diddy's Bad Boy label. That's the only explanation for using P. Diddy's rap. Diddy destroys I Don't Wanna Know's delicate sound. He sounds even more awkward, complacent and unmelodic than usual. Hopefully, Diddy's Broadway acting is smoother and subtler. I Don't Wanna Know's stark arrangement, with a big, simple beat and sadly atmospheric backing, brings Bruce Springsteen's poignant Philadelphia to mind. Winans' sincere reading of the title reminds me of James Ingram's sappy but sweet I Don't Have The Heart. I Don't Wanna Know presents Winans as sad and pathetic. Because a yes would be too painful, Winans can't bring himself to ask his girlfriend if she's cheating. If she's "playin' me", he'd prefer that she'd "keep it to yourself." P. Diddy doesn't have time for such delicacy. He says he knows "my love you abusin'." His strategy for keeping a woman is reminding her that he "put you in the SUV", and gave her so much ice, "I made you freeze." Except for P. Diddy's intrusion, I Don't Wanna Know works. I Don't Wanna Know makes Winans sound like a loser but it has a striking, appealing sound.
Yellowcard-Ocean Avenue(up 5 positions)
Members of Yellowcard met in high school in Jacksonville, Florida. On the title track from the Ocean Avenue CD, Yellowcard remind me of The Ataris, who had hits last year with squeaky clean, straight ahead rockers. Ocean Avenue is fast and well played but it doesn't have a lot of edge. Ocean Avenue also resembles songs by emo kings Jimmy Eat World, especially A Praise Chorus. But in comparison, Jimmy Eat World's genial raveups are very substantial. Ryan Key doesn't seem like a great singer but he does an appealing, upbeat vocal, with a bit of yearning, that fits with Ocean Avenue's perky, very youthful pop. Longineu Parsons' drumming maintains an energetic, quick pace but Ocean Avenue still feels lightweight. Ocean Avenue's only distinctive touch is Sean Mackin's frantic violin playing, which gives the song a nice, dramatic finish. Otherwise, Ocean Avenue is likable but a bit innocuous. Like The Ataris' In This Diary, Ocean Avenue shows a nostalgic sense that's a bit odd for a singer who's only in his mid 20s and seems younger. He was the one who told her "this was goodbye" when she beg him not to leave. Still, Key longs for a teenage relationship where he used to stay up all night and "sit and talk with you." He tells himself that if he could "find you now", "things would get better."
Trapt-Echo(down 13 positions)
Echo is the third chart hit from Trapt's self titled CD. Trapt's Headstrong was one of the biggest hits of 2003. Headstrong was fairly typical angry rock but it had a big, powerful sound. Chris Brown's vocal shifted in and out of rage mode with the suppleness of a decent rapper. Echo also shows signs Trapt may be more interesting than some hard rock bands. Trapt is less loud and furious than Still Frame, Trapt's other top 50 hit, and Headstrong. It has decent contrast. The verse has an open, dreamy sound that floats on a rotating keyboard riff. It's like a verse by Incubus(who also have a song called Echo) but Brown's anchored vocal makes sure it's not quite as spacy. Power chords soon come in, effectively adding heft without overwhelming Echo's searching feel. Trapt are hardly the first band to use the quiet/loud contrast that Nirvana and other grungers popularized and many 21st century rockers have copied. The fluid doodling that Simon Ormandy does before and during the verses is interesting but it sounds a lot like what he did on Headstrong. Brown doesn't scream on Echo like he does on other songs but he's still very serious. His singing doesn't communicate the lyric's joy and energy. Echo isn't that different from other serious midtempo rock but it sounds good. Echo has a personal, varied sound and it isn't too showy or overdone. On Echo, Brown accepts that he "can't change the past I hold inside" and decides to "let go of this pride" and "run away with you by my side."
Damien Rice is a critically acclaimed Irish singer/songwriter. Rice's 2003 O CD won him the Shortlist music prize, a new but fairly prestigious award given to the best non-mainstream artist of the year. While it's hard for me to believe that a record of fairly standard folk pop could be the best of the year, I agree that O is a good, ambitious record. Rice is clearly a Van Morrison fan. He shares some of Morrison's intensity and songwriting skills. Rice's sincere, personal songs are also reminiscent of David Gray's work but Rice's have a bit more edge. Cannonball is a good example of Rice's poetic, well crafted music. Rice's singing is strong but sensitive and idiosyncratic. His pained delivery makes it clear that his writing is deeply felt. Rice accompanies himself with heartfelt strumming. My problem with Rice is that he's too serious. His intensity sometimes comes off as humorless self importance. On Cannonball, Rice sadly and cautiously reflects on a lost relationship with a woman he can still "taste in my mouth." Rice "can't say what's going on" but armed with the newly gained knowledge "that you just don't know", he's apparently trying to find the courage to give it another try as she steps "a little closer."
I feel that Usher Raymond's music isn't quite good enough to justify its remarkable success. Nonetheless, Usher's impressive roll continues. Yeah!, a competently made and fairly exciting but unamazing and not very original dance song, spent a number of weeks at number one on the pop chart. Burn, the second single from the Confessions CD, returns Usher to the style that brought him many of his hits. Burn is a slow jam with a sensitive vocal. Before releasing Confessions, Usher ended his relationship with TLC's Chilli. Burn is one of Confessions' many breakup songs. Usher tells a woman that he doesn't want to leave her but "it's better for me to let it go now than hold on and hurt you." Though he claims it's best for both of them, he blames her because "I don't think you're gonna change" and admits he's doing it because "I'm hurting baby" and "there's so many other things I gotta deal with." Burn's twist is that by the second verse, they're apart and he's decided he's "made a mistake" and he'll "be burnin' 'til you return." Burn suffers by moving up the pop charts along with Mario Winans' I Don't Wanna Know, another slow, quiet jam with a wounded lover. Burn is well made but not as striking or original as I Don't Wanna Know. Burn, cowritten and produced by Jermaine Dupri and Brian Cox, sounds good. It has a crisp, unobtrusive beat. Burn's music and effects add flavor but stay inobtrusive and fit the song's sad, subdued mood. Usher's singing is pretty good. He shows emotion but doesn't go over the top. Still, Burn is a bit superficial and predictable and it's hard to be too concerned about Usher's dilemmas.
Yeah Yeah Yeah-Maps(up 12 positions)
Fever To Tell, Yeah Yeah Yeahs' first full length CD, has been a critics' favorite but it's not very commercial. Surprisingly, a year after the CD's release, the New York band has achieved some mainstream success, including a lot of MTV play. Maps is not very representantive of Fever To Tell. The first 70% of Fever To Tell has the raw, edgy, punky sound that originally gave Yeah Yeah Yeahs their reputation. I find that music interesting and exciting but I don't know how much I like it. With her ranting and shriek, Singer Karen O is a compelling figure, sounding a little unhinged and like she wants to make us uncomfortable. Nick Zinner creates an exciting, driving sound with an arsenal of jagged guitar riffs. Things calm down on Fever To Tell's last few songs. Y Control is my favorite and the least wild of the CD's other rockers. Modern Romance and hidden track Porcelain are stark with subdued vocals. But Maps is Fever To Tell's real standout. It has an epic quality. Maps is unhurried but it's moved along by Brian Chase's simple pounding and Nick Zinner's processed guitars. Zinner's varied, evocative guitar sounds give Maps texture. A bass sound periodically scrapes along Maps' bottom before exploding with a climactic U2-like fury. Maps' uncluttered, haunting soundscape heightens the poignance of Karen O's uncharacteristically unmannered vocal and Maps' concise lyric. Swearing "they don't love you like I love you" Karen O, sounding a bit like Chrissie Hynde, pleads "wait" and "don't stray."
Norah Jones-Sunrise(down 1 position)
Especially in a downloading world where sales are down, Norah Jones is a goddess of the music business. Her debut Come Away With Me CD has sold more than eight million copies in the US alone. Feels Like Home, her followup, sold one million copies the week it came out and two million in its first month. The consensus regarding Feels Like Home is that it's fairly cautious. Jones is apparently most comfortable in a mellow mode. It does seem like there's more going on in Feels Like Home than there was on Come Away With Me, which was well played and sounded good but, at its worst, had a polite, boring, elevator music quality. On Feels Like Home, some of the songs have an alt country feel but Jones' music still generally fits somewhere between jazz, lite pop and country. Feels Like Home is a bit more confident and personal. As before, the saving grace of Jones' music is her supple, quite amazing voice. Jones' singing nicely carries Sunrise, one of the best things she's done. Jones shows confidence in eschewing a big beat and letting Sunrise's arrangement stay muted. Good, quiet playing twists around Jones' voice. Sunrise has an unshowy jazzy looseness with a mandolin and an unobtrusive, throbbing bass. Jones even plays a good little piano solo. Sunrise has Jones' typical modesty but it's also warm and relaxed. Like much of Jones' music, Sunrise is easy listening but it's not pandering and button pushing. Sunrise is charming. It sounds like Jones and friends are having good, if subdued, fun. Sunrise, written by Jones with bass player and boyfriend Lee Alexander, is about a couple spending a relaxed day in bed with a broken clock stuck at 9:15. Jones shows mild surprise that "we've made it through another day."
Avril Lavigne-Don't Tell Me(unchanged)
Avril Lavigne, at 19, is apparently already entering the mature period of her career. Under My Skin, Lavigne's followup to her 10 million selling debut Let Go CD, must be one of the most anticipated records of the year but its first single met a fairly lukewarm initial response(though it's slowly climbed up the chart). For her new CD, Lavigne stayed away from Let Go's hitmakers The Matrix and Clif Magness. Under My Skin's writers and producers include ex-Evanescence co-leader Ben Moody and Canadian husband and wife pop stars Raine Maida(from Our Lady Peace) and Chantal Kreviazuk. Don't Tell Me was written by Lavigne and her guitar player Evan Taubenfield and produced by Butch Walker, formerly of Marvelous 3(one hit wonders for 1999's Freak Of The Week). On Don't Tell Me, Lavigne and Walker eschewed the youthful, rousing, in your face confidence of Lavigne's #1 hits Complicated and Sk8er Boi. Lavigne doesn't even get to do a really cathartic wail like on her other #1, I'm With You. On Don't Tell Me, Alanis Morissette's influence is even more obvious than usual. My guess is that Lavigne's audience liked Let Go's Morissette style angst but don't want her to be Morissette. Showing a reluctance to continue being the voice of feisty early teens, Lavigne's retains her intensity on Don't Tell Me without the perkiness of her previous hits. While it's less exciting than some of Lavigne's hits, Don't Tell Me is charming. Lavigne's idiosyncratically Canadian pronounciation, passionate singing and seriousness still mark her as an individual. Adults have derided the fact that, despite her punk posturing, Lavigne's music is more pop than punk. That ignores the fact that Lavigne resonated with kids as a distinctive, self assured role model. Don't Tell Me's music, with guitars and drums crashing in on the chorus, is generic pop rock. But Lavigne's heartfelt delivery, strong singing and personal phrasing make Don't Tell Me's typical youthful anguish fresh. As she has before, Lavigne projects big emotions in a way that makes her sound like a real teenager. Don't Tell Me's lyric depicts Lavigne as a sad but strong young woman. Lavigne is "upset" but she decides she's better off alone than with a guy who tried to get "into my pants." She tells him that he shouldn't try to tell her what to do and say and that she had told him she wouldn't "give it up" to him.
Black Eyed Peas-Hey Mama(unchanged)
Where Is The Love, which featured Justin Timberlake's good, unshowy vocal on the chorus, was one of the biggest hits of 2003. Where Is The Love has a majestic quality. It sounds like classic r&b. The subsequent singles from the Elephunk CD have been significantly less substantial. As someone who knew Black Eyed Peas from Where Is The Love and Request Line, their Macy Gray collaboration, I've been surprised by Shut Up and Hey Mama, the silly followups to Where Is The Love. Both have a lightweight, chattery quality and give a lot of prominence to new Black Eyed Pea Stacy "Fergie" Ferguson. Fergie doesn't bring a lot of soulfulness or substance. But lead Pea William "Will.I.Am" Adams, who produced and cowrote Hey Mama and Shut Up, has to be held responsible for Hey Mama's dopeyness. Hey Mama is an knowingly stupid song with not much on its mind beyond asking a woman to "move your booty." With lines like "don't wanna squeeze triggers, just wanna squeeze tits" and "we drop bombs like we in the middle east", Hey Mama is moronic but basically harmless. The rappers' unrelenting perkiness sometimes gives me a headache. The other side of the song's empty headedness is that Hey Mama is unpretentious. Hey Mama is just about having a good time. With steady, good percussion, Hey Mama has jittery energy and good spirits. I don't find Hey Mama as irritating as some people do but it is pretty damn annoying.
AFI-Silver and Cold(down 9 positions)
Before their latest CD, AFI never had a big radio hit but their Sing The Sorrow CD has given them three chart hits. Silver and Cold isn't as good as Girl's Not Grey but it's better than The Leaving Song, Pt. 2. AFI worked up some energy and excitement on Girl's Not Grey's impassioned chorus. The rest of AFI's music seems more boring. Silver and Cold has a big sound but it's very serious and a bit stiff. Davey Havok's voice is sincere but his howl shows no subtlety or modulation. With big, impassioned vocals, Silver and Cold's chorus has an anthemic appeal. But Havok's writing is wildly overdone. He sings "you, in somber resplendence, I hold" and "as a rapturous voice escapes, I will tremble a prayer." Silver and Cold is apparently a love song and it has an appealing sweeting. But any joy is overwhelmed by pounding drums, thick guitars and Havok's hysterical, agitated singing. Silver and Cold's emotion seems appealingly real but it's presented in an overwrought package.
Nickelback-Someday(down 11 positions)
Nickelback are back with The Long Road CD, making the same kind of ultraserious, overblown, cliched arena rock that brought them the megahit How You Remind Me. On Someday, Chad Kroeger and friends stuck to the formula that worked. Someday isn't quite as bombastic as How You Remind Me but it's otherwise incredibly similar. You can sing "this is how you remind me" and other parts of that song over portions of Someday. The appeal of Someday, and Nickelback's music in general, is lost on me. Kroeger's voice is so stiff and humorless that he's just a bore. He intones his thought about his relationship playing out "like a paperback novel" with gravity and emphasis to make sure you catch the brilliance of his simile. Someday's music and playing are coldly competent but lack any surprise or originality. Familiar hard rock riffs repeat over and over again. On Someday, Kroeger asks a partner to stay in a screwed up relationship, promising he's "gonna make it alright."
Lenny Kravitz-Where Are We Runnin' ?buy it!
Dig In, from Lenny Kravitz' 2001 Lenny CD, was a pretty perfect piece of psychedelic rock. It was tight and fun. It showed its influences but sounded fresh. Where Are We Runnin', from Kravitz new Baptism CD, is a lot like Dig In but not as perfect. Where Are We Runnin' isn't as developed as Dig In. It's really just a couple of guitar riffs. In some ways, Where Are We Runnin' is just an uninspired classic rock pastiche. As on many Kravitz songs, Sly Stone's anarchic spirit is present. But, especially when Kravitz does a spoken part, the odor of BTO's stale 70's hit Takin' Care Of Business is there too. The start of each verse also resembles ZZ Top's Sharp Dressed Man. Where Are We Runnin' isn't very original but it is mostly enjoyable. Where Are We Runnin' is an unpretentious retro rocker. It doesn't have the attitude of some Kravitz songs. Like Dig In, Where Are We Runnin' has a big, buoyant beat. It also has a fun, fuzzy metallic guitar sound. Where Are We Runnin' is a little like Are You Gonna Go My Way. It doesn't have that song's energy but it also doesn't have that song's sense that Kravitz is showing off that he can replicate his guitar heroes' moves. Where Are We Runnin' is short, simple decent guitar rock. On Where Are We Runnin', Kravitz decides that a life "chasin' the money" in the fast lane is "cloggin' up our soul" and that "we need some time to clear our heads."
The Vines-Ride(down 3 positions)
The Vines debut CD, Highly Evolved, arrived with a lot of advance buzz, much of it created by an adoring British music press. The CD was pretty good but except for Get Free, its exciting single, Highly Evolved was a bit disappointing. The band's rep was further dented by reports of intraband squabbling and silly, self important rock star behavior by Vines leader Craig Nicholls. Ride, the first single from The Australian band's Winning Days CD, is a good effort to get back on course. Ride has an excitement similar to Get Free's. It's also nicely focused. Nicholls came up with a killer guitar riff for Ride. Along with drummer Hamish Rosser, who joined the band on the Highly Evolved tour, Nicholls creates a driving sound that always keeps the song moving forward. Nicholls builds intensity in ways including shifting from his lone voice to harmonies doing the same vocal line in a bigger way. Ride is tight, with no waste, but it still has time to mix things up with a good stomping bridge and a decent guitar solo. Nicholls' raw vocal hints at his wild stage persona, giving the sense that he's uninhibited and always pushing himself. On Ride, as usual, Nicholls' love of Cobain shows(Ride's momentum and ever uncoiling energy reminds me of About A Girl). But Ride also has a personal feeling. The Winning Days CD has gotten mixed reviews but its single is pretty clearly terrific. Ride's minimal lyric has some psychedelic trippiness about "colors through your loaded mind." But the message is basically that Nicholls doesn't want to "hate alone" so he wants her to "ride with me."
Kimberly Locke-8th World Wonder(up 1 position)
Kimberly Locke is the third American Idol contestant to make the top 50. Locke was eliminated when Clay Aiken and eventual winner Ruben Studdard made the finals but she has defeated Studdard on the charts. 8th World Wonder is a bigger pop hit than Studdard has had so far. Nothing about 8th World Wonder, from Locke's debut One Love CD, changes my opinion that American Idol is making pop music blander. Most of American Idol's successes have been competent but innocuous, appealing to the most middle American viewers by being inoffensive and familiar. Unlike Kelly Clarkson, who has tried to add a bit of edge to the squeaky clean American Idol prototype, Locke sticks with the show's safe sound on 8th World Wonder. 8th World Wonder reminds me of one of Shania Twain's lite pop hits though, to her credit, even at her most cloying and manipulative, Twain is never this boring. Locke's singing is very colorless. It's remarkable that Locke, an African-American, conveys even less soul than Clay Aiken, perhaps the whitest guy in the world. 8th World Wonder was produced and cowritten by Shaun Shankel, whose credits include work with easy listening favorites Michael Bolton and Amy Grant. There's nothing distinctive or interesting about 8th World Wonder's music. Shankel uses drum machines, synths and rock guitars but makes sure nothing gets too loud or challenging. Eight World Wonder's writers have Locke playing the swooning, adoring girlfriend. I know that a romance's early days can be intoxicating but 8th World Wonder really makes Locke seem like an idiot, raving about how amazing the guy she's known for seven days is. 8th World Wonder's lyric is overblown trying, with thunder and rising water, to achieve some sort of biblical force.
Alanis Morissette-Everything(up 1 position)
Time(she turned 30 this spring), therapy and a new boyfriend have calmed Alanis Morissette. So-Called Chaos, Morisette's fourth studio album, has less rage and more introspection than her early records. Morissette seems less interested in being provocative. She also seems fairly uninterested in gaining new young listeners. She's apparently resigned to mostly selling records to longtime fans and baby boomers. Everything, So-Called Chaos' first single, isn't particularly surprising or exciting. It's pleasant listening. Everything has a spacy rock intro that sounds a little like Soundgarden's Black Hole Sun. Everything then settles into a fairly standard rock arrangement, with a steady beat, that has some variation. The chorus has a warm, layered sound with a simple, ringing guitar riff. Morissette's voice is fine and pretty open. Everything has a leisurely pace. Everything's sprawling recitation is reminiscent of Thank U, from Morissette's second record. The thanks go to her boyfriend, rather than Thank U's more random list of targets. Morissette appreciates how he sees all her sides. He digs the good things in her(she's wise with a kind soul and a brave heart). He doesn't pretend her bad side(she's moody, withholding and passive aggressive) doesn't exist and he even loves some of her darkness. I'm not that interested in Morisette's self explorations but Everything is very genial. It has a giving tone. Musically, Everything isn't very ambitious but it's inoffensive and goes by easily.
Audioslave-What You Arebuy it!
A year and a half after its release, Audioslave's debut CD is still yielding modern rock radio hits. What You Are is the fifth top 50 song for the band formed by Rage Against The Machine's musicians and Soundgarden's singer. All the chart hits been solid, ranging in quality from decent to very good. What You Are is unremarkable but fine. It's another showcase for Chris Cornell's quite incredible voice. Cornell's doesn't show much of a sense of fun but he's got quite a set of pipes. Cornell floats along easily with a pensive vocal on the verses. On the chorus he shifts, seeming effortlessly, into a full voiced howl that sounds like he's ripping up his throat's lining. Audioslave's musicians, who played flamboyant, charged music with Rage Against The Machine, have proved surprisingly competent as Cornell's dependable, unshowy backing band. What You Are has more sturdy music. Brad Wilk supplies a steady beat. Tom Morello rumbles quietly and effectively under Cornell on the verses then plays big, arena style power chords on the chorus. He only really musses things up on a short, pointedly unmelodic solo which isn't much but does supply a little variety. What You Are is workmanlike, listenable mainstream rock. Cornell's shifts in intensity reflect the lyric's content. The verses are a resigned recitation of all the things he did for his girlfriend("when you asked for for light, I set myself on fire", "when you wanted blood, I cut my veins"). The chorus reflects the release and exultation of being free from someone who always "wanted more."
Finger Eleven-One Thing(down 6 positions)
Finger Eleven are a band from Burlington, Ontario, Canada whose music usually fits within the alt-metal category. They made their latest record with Disturbed producer Johnny K. Bands generally establish their cred with a few hard rock hits before they have their big rock ballad hit but Finger Eleven's first song to get substantial airplay is a "hold up your lighters" song. I'm not a big fan of rock ballads so I don't love One Thing, the single from Finger Eleven's self titled third CD. One Thing is very familiar resembling, among others, Poison's Every Rose Has Its Thorn. One Thing is too drab and earnest for me but it is an effective rock ballad. With a spare sound of spooky synths, simply whacked drums and sensitive acoustic guitar, One Thing has the emotional power people want. Scott Anderson's singing is a bit boring but very sincere. Considering the context, he and the song don't get too showy or emotive. I don't understand why rock fans are suckers for mushy, ultraserious ballads but they are and the sappy One Thing isn't the worst.
John Mayer-Clarity(down 5 positions)
Clarity is the second chart hit from John Mayer's Heavier Things CD. Mayer is a good natured, fairly skilled performer who has modest ambitions of making meaningful music but doesn't quite know how to do so. Clarity puts Mayer's ambition and modesty to good use. It's seriously made, enjoyable and not self important. Clarity goes farther into jazz than Mayer's previous singles. Clarity starts fairly well with a crisp drum machine beat and a looped piano line. Things improve and a nice momentum develops as Clarity's vibe loosens. ?uestlove from The Roots plays good, relaxed drums. Horns, including Roy Hargrove's trumpet, give Clarity some color and give the chorus a big sound. Mayer can't help but sound like a white guy and "ooh-ooh-ooh"s betray his easy listening leanings but Mayer's vocal is pleasant enough. Mayer does his typical restrained guitar doodling but Clarity has enough interesting things happening that it doesn't have the tentative feel of some of Mayer's songs. Clarity has substance but it's also breezy and likable. Clarity's lyric is a bit New Agey but nice and well suited to the song's relaxed mood. Mayer tells us that he's normally a worrier who "weighs three times my body." One morning, he's surprised to feel "a calm I can't explain." Clarity is about hoping the feeling "will last forever" or preparing to, at least, "pretend that it somehow lingered on."


by TJ AndersonFinding the right time to sell and/or buy a Nashville home is a tough juggle — I know that all too well personally and professionally.You’re weighing out your own schedule, the way
A Closer Look At What A Nashville Light Rail Could Look Like
by TJ Anderson
When the news came through in April that East Nashville would be the first location for a potential light rail transit system here, the response was mixed. Some locals celebrated it as a strong solution to Nashville’s traffic woes. Some East Nashvillians worried that it’d clog up Gallatin Pike further by limiting driving space. Others argued that self-driving cars would solve our traffic problems long before the first rider stepped onto a light rail.
It’s still way, way too early to know what the results of a Nashville light rail system would be — the transit funding referendum won’t even happen until May 2018. But now, we can at least get a better idea of what the proposed rail would look like.
A report issued last week by the Nashville Metropolitan Transit Authority gave some more visual insight into what Mayor Megan Barry and others have in mind for both the initial run in East Nashville, and beyond.
The imagery might at least assuage some East Nashvillians’ concerns about a light rail shrinking the driving space. But as a piece in The Tennessean points out, lots of challenges are clear, even with these potential first steps, from dealing with right-of-way issues to accommodating sidewalks.
If you’re a visual thinker like me, you still might find this slideshow from Nashville Business Journal helpful in wrapping your head around how our city’s hoping to move forward with mass transit, as we continue to grow.
The mixed response
Still not sure how you feel about the light-rail possibility? Months after the announcement, there’s a lot to dig into, and very little consensus.
For anyone who's perplexed by the possibilities, here’s a little more reading, to get a sense of the pros/cons being tossed around:
The Tennessean: “Real estate professionals believe the plan would boost property values and lead to new investment in the surrounding neighborhoods as mixed-use transit-oriented developments are located along the routes.”
Nashville Business Journal: “James Moore, director of transportation engineering with the University of Southern California, argues that cities focused on building light-rail systems rather than bus rapid-transit systems are not only costing themselves millions of dollars, but they are pouring money into a system that will not be successful, potentially causing those cities to ‘hover at the edge of bankruptcy forever.’”
What do you think? Could you see yourself voting for/supporting the light rail proposal? If it comes about, do you think you’d ride it? Would a light rail line influence where you wanted to buy a home in Nashville? I’d love to see your feedback.
And if you need help finding a new home in Nashville — on a proposed light rail line or otherwise — please let me know. Call or email TJ Anderson Homes, tell us a little about what you’re looking for, and we’ll get to work.
TJ Anderson is a Nashville Realtor with Benchmark Realty who's helped countless clients both buy a home and sell a home in Nashville, Tennessee. He blogs about Nashville regularly, from Nashville-area....
Latest Blog Posts
by TJ AndersonAfter more than a year of construction, the new Madison Park Community Center, just north of Nashville, opened to the public on May 31, giving Madtown residents another reason to love
by TJ AndersonMilkshakes with an entire slice of cheesecake as a garnish. Ice cream cones hiding in giant tufts of cotton candy and candy crunchies. I’m not afraid of an over-the-top Nashville
by TJ AndersonIt’s still largely a seller’s market here in Nashville real estate, and it has been for some time. Which can sometimes make buying a home in Nashville a little more complicated,


After seven years in aqua, defensive tackle Paul Soliai will now don the red and black of the Atlanta Falcons after signing with them as a free agent today. Soliai was originally drafted by the Miami Dolphins in 2007 and has spent his entire career with the South Florida franchise.
In seven years with the Dolphins, Soliai has appeared in 99 games, starting 63 of them. Playing as both a nose tackle and a defensive tackle, Soliai has recorded 4.5 sacks in his career, with 160 tackles, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries. He's also defended 12 passes. He was selected to the Pro Bowl after the 2011 season.
After completing his rookie contract in 2010, Soliai was franchise tagged by Miami in 2011. After his Pro Bowl appearance, Soliai was signed to a two-year, $12-million contract. The contract he signed today is a five-year deal worth $33 million, with $14.5 million guaranteed.
The Dolphins signed former Houston Texans the cornerstone to the team's ability to play a hybrid 4-3/3-4 scheme. Currently, the Dolphins have Jared Odrick, A.J. Francis, and Isaako Aaitui on the roster, though none of them project as a nose tackle on a 3-4 defensive front.


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Major boost for south-west England as plans published for £1.6 billion A303 Stonehenge upgrade
The route for the £1.6 billion A303 upgrade near Stonehenge, a key part of the ‘South West expressway’, has been published by Transport Secretary Chris Grayling.
Linking the M3 in the south-east and the M5 in the south-west, the ‘expressway’ will upgrade this key route and improve journey times for millions of people. This major investment will support economic growth and tourism in an area where congestion and slow journeys have long had a negative impact on the region’s economy.
A tunnel near Stonehenge will remove the traffic blight on local communities and enhance the famous landmark. It will reconnect the 2 halves of the 6,500 acre World Heritage site which is currently split by the road, and remove the sight and sound of traffic from the Stonehenge landscape.
Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said: “This government is taking the big decisions for Britain’s future and this major investment in the south-west will provide a huge boost for the region.
Quicker journey times, reduced congestion and cleaner air will benefit people locally and unlock growth in the tourism industry. The scheme will also support 120,000 extra jobs and 100,000 new homes across the region, helping us build a country that works for everyone.”
The A303 upgrade between Amesbury and Berwick Down is a key part of the government’s £15 billion road strategy – the biggest investment in roads in a generation. The scheme includes the 1.8 mile-long tunnel, a free-flowing dual carriageway and a much-needed bypass north of Winterbourne Stoke.
Highways England chief executive Jim O’Sullivan said: “Highways England is committed to delivering a high quality, modern road on this vital route between the south-west and the rest of the country. The A303 and the World Heritage site has suffered from congestion for many years. This scheme will enhance, protect and restore tranquillity to one of the UK’s most iconic landscapes. We have listened to feedback from consultation and believe this preferred route will help improve traffic flow, reduce rat-running on the surrounding roads, bringing improvements to local communities and benefits to the south-west economy.”
A public consultation was held earlier this year which attracted considerable feedback from thousands of individuals and organisations. Following this and further engagement with local communities, heritage groups, archaeologists, historians and engineers, Highways England has modified the plans, including moving the position of one of the entrances to the tunnel to avoid conflicting with the solstice alignment. The route ensures the Stonehenge World Heritage site will be protected and enhanced for people from across the world to enjoy.
Secretary of State for Culture, Karen Bradley said: “Stonehenge has captured the imagination of people around the world for centuries and is a site of global importance. With over 1 million visitors a year it is one of the jewels in the UK’s crown and it is important that we preserve it for generations to come. This investment from the government will help make the visitor experience much more enjoyable and this is good news for local residents and businesses who will benefit from the new route. The government will also continue to work closely with key heritage bodies to ensure this scheme respects and protects the Stonehenge World Heritage site.”
The government is committed to upgrading all remaining sections of the A303 between the M3 and M5 to dual carriageway standard, starting with 3 schemes: one at Stonehenge, one between Sparkford and Ilchester and the third on the A358 between Taunton and Southfields.
The preferred route includes:
- 8 miles of free-flowing, high-quality dual carriageway
- A tunnel at least 1.8 miles long underneath the World Heritage site, closely following the existing A303 route, but a further 50 metres away from the monument, avoiding important archaeological sites and avoiding intrusion on the view of the setting sun from Stonehenge during the winter solstice
- A new bypass to the north of the village of Winterbourne Stoke
- Junctions with the A345 and A360 either side of the World Heritage site.
Details of the preferred route are available on the scheme webpage.

domain: travel


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Teaching at Saints and Sinners in New Orleans
Jess Wells is the author of 12 volumes, including the historical novel, A Slender Tether , coming soon from Fireship Press, and The Mandrake Broom (Firebrand, 2007). Wells was awarded a San Francisco Arts Commission Grant for Literature and she is a four-...
Causes Jess Wells Supports
Doctors Without Borders, Amnesty International, Friends of the Urban Forest, The Heifer Project, Forests Forever, NRDC


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DESCRIPTION:-Adobe Animate CC the final release version of the best multimedia authoringand computer animation software offered by Adobe.Adobe Animate CC allows you to export to video and graphic files create Html5 and also Webgl content,which is useful for creating advertising and commercial banners.This new version AdobeAnimate CC simplifies animation workflows and gives artists the ability to create more realistic and interactive content experiences.You can also download the previous version.This final release of Adobe Animate gives you improved effects to create realistic 3D experience with parallax effects zoom rotate and pan to create realistic depth in your animations.The timeline displays layers as well as depth panel.The Adobe Animate is here and better than ever.It allows you to create the illusion of depth in your animations by placing assets in different planes.Below are some noticeableenhacements improvments and new features which you all experience after.
ABOUT SOFTWARE TECHNICAL DETAILS::-
SOFTWARE NAME:- Adobe Animate
SOFTWARE SIZE:- 1.91GB
SOFTWARE INSTALLER TYPES:- OffLine Setup
SOFTWARE LICENSE:- Freeware(Safe & Secure)
REQUIRE OPERATING SYSTEM:- Window (XP/7/8.1/10/10.1 etc.)


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Flyte Life Super Greens
- Improve Overall Wellness*
- Promote Healthy Digestion*
- Delicious Apple-Berry Flavor Makes Getting Your Greens Enjoyable*
LIFE is an amazing super greens supplement designed to help augment a diet that is low in fruits and vegetables while providing your body with vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients to help it function more properly. All of us want to look good, feel good, have better digestion, and experience more energy throughout the day. Unfortunately, we often overlook simple dietary choices that can provide our bodies with the nutrients they need to function properly and help us achieve our training goals. Even with the best intentions, very few of us eat the recommended five to eight servings of fruits and vegetables daily. While veggies may not be our favorite foods, they help to keep our systems in balance and functioning properly.*
LIFE is a foundational product that supplies you with vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients that have powerful antioxidant properties. Cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli and kale have glucosinolates, compounds that break down into indoles and isothiocyanates (ITCs) and work collectively to maintain the immune system, act as powerful antioxidants and anti-inflammatories, and energize the body. Inulin, along with other dietary fiber, has been shown to promote regularity. It has been suggested that inulin and other fibers have potential health benefits that include maintaining colon health (as a prebiotic), increasing the absorption of minerals (particularly calcium), and promoting immune function.*
Suggested Use: Shake well before using. Take 2 tablespoons (1fl. oz.) daily as a dietary supplement. May be mixed in water, juice or any other beverage. Children under 2 years of age cannot digest honey and should not take LIFE. Refrigerate after opening.
Warning: Pregnant or lactating women, diabetics, hypoglycemic, and people with known medical conditions and/or taking prescription or OTC medication(s) should consult with a licensed physician and/or pharmacist prior to taking dietary supplements.
LIFE is safe for the entire family. However, your healthcare provider should be consulted for children under 30 pounds of weight.
Safety sealed with an inner bottle freshness seal. Do not use if seal is broken or missing. Store in a cool, dry place. Shake well before use. Refrigerate after opening. If not refrigerated use within 45 days of opening. KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN.

domain: food


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Shamshul Hoda, a close aide of gangster Dawood Ibrahim, was arrested by Nepal Police and Indian agencies in Nepal in connection with the Kanpur Railway accident that killed 150 people.
He has been arrested for trying to target the Indian Railway structure on behest of ISI and Dawood Ibrahim. As per the Indian security agency, he has been in contact with ISI to execute terror plans in the railways. He was operating from Dubai.
Nepal police and Indian agency arrested ISI agent Shamshul Hoda, who has links with one of the train blast accused: NIA Sources
— ANI (@ANI_news) February 7, 2017
Earlier, Motihari Police in Bihar had arrested three people who claimed responsibility for planting IED’s on railway tracks. These three individual even claimed that they were responsible for the Kanpur railway accident that killed 150 people in November 2016.
The official also described Huda’s arrest as a big breakthrough in the three cases that was handed over to the agency.
The three cases comprised a failed attempt to detonate an IED (improvised explosive device) on the Ghorasahan track in East Champaran district of Bihar; the suspected sabotage behind the Indore-Patna Express train accident in Kanpur on November 20, 2016, that killed 149 people; and the derailement of Hirakhand Express in Koneru in Andhra Pradesh on January 21 which resulted in the deaths of 41 persons.
The NIA official further said that the agency is in touch with the Nepalese authority to seek access for his questioning.
As per reports, Shamshul Hoda is the terror mastermind who heads the sabotaging of railway tracks.


Cranberry’s consistent goal of maintaining the highest credit rating while keeping taxes unchanged continues into 2022 – the result of prudent spending and careful planning that helped navigate the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Township’s proposed 2022 budget was rolled out during the November 18 Board of Supervisors meeting. It highlights the practices that have led to a Aaa Moody’s credit rating and the ability to keep taxes low and consistent.
All Township operations and staff expenditures are fully funded by revenue and not through a reduction of other expenditures or raised taxes. That allows the Township to look at expanding and improving other areas, including:
- Developing a stronger partnership with Cranberry Township EMS
- Continuing to support a fully staffed Police Department
- Helping with the Cranberry Township Volunteer Fire Company’s recruitment and retention efforts
- Replacing decades-old Collection Connection carts that have reached the end of their lifecycle
- Improving and upgrading the rear parking area at the Municipal Center
- Updating the Comprehensive Recreation and Greenways Master Plan that will outline improvements and additions in the Township’s Parks System over the next two decades
- Improving park offerings in the short-term, including resurfacing and equipment repair projects.
Elsewhere, the budget considers continued support of MS4 stormwater compliance. That includes improvements to the stormwater system in Fox Run and Sun Valley, as well as a review and upgrade of the sewer collection and water distribution system. These efforts are supported by the Stormwater Fee, introduced in 2020.
The budget also continues the high-quality maintenance and necessary upgrades of the Township’s infrastructure, including over 136 miles of existing roads, as well as further expansion on Freedom Road. Continued maintenance of the Township’s vehicle fleet and facilities is also included.
The Board voted to adopt the tentative proposed budget, which is now available for review. A vote on final adoption is scheduled for December 9.


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North American Map – Physical Map of North America Zoom Map Description: The Physical Map of North America showing major geographical features like elevations, mountain ranges, deserts, seas, oceans, lakes, plateaus, peninsulas, rivers, plains, landforms and other topographic features. North American Desert, vast, irregular belt of inhospitable terrain that stretches north to south down the western side of the North American continent from southern Oregon and Idaho to northern Mexico.It roughly corresponds to the sheltered, and hence rain-starved, intermontane region lying between the soaring barrier of the Rocky Mountains to the east and the moist, fertile coast ranges.
Deserts in north america map. The continent s major deserts are associated with the intermontane basin and range province of the western united states northern mexico and the colorado plateau region of northern arizona southwestern colorado northwestern new mexico and southeastern utah. Sahara is an arabic word meaning desert or wilderness.
Deserts in north america map. Dreams are made in North America, a part of the world where it really feels like anything is possible.Our map of North America will help you plan the perfect trip. Star of a million movies and the birthplace of countless bright ideas, the USA feels more like a continent than a country, home to just about every imaginable landscape, including vast prairies, arid deserts and show-stealing beaches. The North American Deserts. North America has four major deserts: Great Basin, Mohave, Chihuahuan and Sonoran. All but the Sonoran Desert have cold winters. Freezing temperatures are even more limiting to plant life than is aridity, so colder deserts are poorer in both species and life forms, especially succulents. Deserts of the World Map of the North American deserts and arid lands showing the . Deserts of North America | This was a map that was on displa… | Flickr Map of Western North America showing the major deserts and arid . Geography for Kids: North American flags, maps, industries NORTH AMERICAN DESERTS. Colorado Desert | Climate & Facts.
Futuristic Theme Building with a restaurant, LA International Airport, Los Angels – CA. North America North America Maps Maps Deserts of North America. This was a map that was on display at the Desert Botanical Garden showing the deserts of North America. Anyone wishing to use this photo is welcome. It is just a "snapshot" of a framed map that was sitting out for public view. North America is the world’s third largest continent occupying an area of about 9,400,000 square miles. The continent has many deserts which receive less than 10 inches of rainfall annually. These deserts are largely situated between the Sierra Madre Oriental and the Rocky Mountain to the east and Peninsular, Transverse, and Sierra Nevada ranges to the west.
Overview. The following are three major hot and dry deserts in North America, all located in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico.. The Chihuahuan Desert is the largest hot desert in North America, located in the Southwestern United States and Northern Mexico. Its total area is 140,000 sq mi (360,000 km 2).; The Sonoran Desert is a desert located in the Southwestern United States. North American Desert Names & Subdivisions. Arizona Upland Desert: That elevated portion of the Sonoran Desert in southern Arizona characterized by Saguaro Cactus. Black Rock Desert: A subdivision of the Great Basin Desert located in northwestern Nevada just northeast of Pyramid Lake. Borrego Desert: The term Borrego Desert is an informal term, rather than an official one. In the north and central areas, the deserts are limited to interior areas in the rain shadow of the coastal mountain ranges. As one progresses south, a persistent high pressure system over the West Coast of Mexico pushes rainfall-producing systems away, leading the deserts to extend the whole way to the coast, south through most of Baja California.
World: Deserts – Map Quiz Game: Deserts primarily occur in two bands of latitude in the world. Moving both north and south from the equator, tropical air containing moisture slowly cools and drops its water in the form of rain. As the air continues to move away from the equator most of its moisture has already been dropped, and there is virtually nothing left by the time it reaches the. Map of the North American deserts and arid lands showing the Deserts of the World. us map, North American Deserts Map Maps Coal Plant Closings Epamap Deserts of North America | This was a map that was on displa… | Flickr. Geography for Kids: North American flags, maps, industries Maps of desert regions of North America showing only US and. Palm Desert / Indian Wells – 47-900 Portola Avenue – Palm Desert, CA 92260 760-346-5694 / Fax 760-568-9685 -www.LivingDesert.org DESERTS OF NORTH AMERICA Pre- & Post-visit Materials
A full page Google map showing the exact location of 12 deserts in Africa. TouristLink also has a map of all the deserts in World as well as detailed maps showing deserts in 956 different cities in World. Deserts of North America – Sonoran. Range. Located in Southern California, Arizona, and northwestern Mexico. Habitat Description. The Sonoran Desert is about 100,000 square miles (260,000 square km). It covers most of the southern half of Arizona. It also covers southeastern California, most of the Baja peninsula, the Gulf of California islands. The Atacama Desert is one of the most notable deserts in South America occupying parts of Peru and Chile. It is an arid plateau, stretching along a length of 1,000 km on the coast of the Pacific Ocean located to the west of the Andes mountains.
North America Main article: List of North American deserts Central Valley of California (which is divided into the Sacramento Valley in the north, and the San Joaquin Valley in the south) – this area has largely been transformed, due to irrigation canals, to an agricultural area. Major Deserts There are four major deserts in the United States. They are all located in the western portion of the country and are defined to be areas that receive less than ten inches of precipitation (rain, snow, etc.) a year.

domain: geography


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Getting a bit of a late start today due to various and sundry bits of fun. But we shall catch up soon enough. Today kicks off with Blaxploitation traditionally, so what better way to go than with a film that served as a tribute to that bygone genre? We’re going with Bones. And nothing says “tribute” and “sit up and pay attention” like casting Pam Grier. You know it’s true. And yes, it does star Snoop Dogg as the Big Bad long before he became a lion or even gave us a tantalizing glimpse of how he could single-handedly save daytime television.
It’s available on DVD from Amazon for just $6. Nice.


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Post Match Press Conference
Ole’s Post Match Press Conference | Everton 4-0 Manchester United
Hear from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer after Manchester United’s defeat to Everton at Goodison Park.
Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer apologizes for the heavy 4-0 defeat to UnitedApril 21, 2019
Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has said sorry to the club’s supporters after the heavy...
Tottenham Hotspur 0-1 Manchester United | Ole’s post match press conferenceJanuary 14, 2019
Here what Manchester United caretaker manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer have to sau after winning Tottenham Hotspur...

domain: sports


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The key to converting viewers into renters is professional home photography. That’s where I come in! From short term rentals to hosting events and more, browse my home photography gallery to get an idea of the type of magic we can create by merging our artistic visions of your home!
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7% tax added to all packages.
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Insectos constructores (Bug Builders) (Spanish Version)
Guided Rd. Level Q
Interest Level 3-7
Enter the world of bug builders! Bugs can build structures that are as complex as the ones that we build! Readers will learn about the amazing things tiny creatures such as silkworms and beetles can build in this inviting, Spanish-translated nonfiction title that features detailed photos, riveting facts, informational text, a glossary for vocabulary improvement, and a list of useful websites.
Fractions, Division & Geometry Grades 4-5 Spanish: 5-Book Set
Build mathematics knowledge and literacy skills with this 5-Book Spanish Set! Students will learn fractions while engaged in reading high-interest content.
California Early Years Spanish 6-Book Set
Changing California Spanish 6-Book Set
In this section you can find reviews from our customers, or you can add your own review for this particular product.
Customer reviews help other visitors to read feedback from users who have already purchased and are using TCM’s products.

domain: library


3D printing has been getting along just fine using assorted forms of plastic. If you want to get something 3D printed in metal, that’s possible, but it makes things much more complex and takes the process out of the realm of the hobbyist. That might not be the case for long though, as researchers at NC State have figured out how to 3D print structures using tiny liquid metal spheres, all at room temperature.
In a paper released today researchers at NCSU noted that, using a metal alloy composed of gallium and indium, they have been able to print free-standing structures from liquid metal. This is possible because of an oxide skin that forms around the liquid metal as it’s released from the placement syringe. This allows the metal to maintain its shape and form different size droplets (as seen in the video) without the structure drooping over or otherwise deforming.
Incredibly, the alloy (EGaIn) is room temperature while it’s being printed. This is a rather neat trick, but the melting point of that material is about 15.6 degrees C, so that makes sense. After coming in contact with oxygen in the air a gallium oxide skin forms around the material, giving it some structure. The skin is only about 1 nanometer thick and it clearly does not interfere with the droplets coherence to one another.
Galinstan metals, like the material used here, are ideal for the application because of their helpful properties — like melting point — but it could limit the future of this process as well. These metals are electrically conductive, which could be useful for some applications, but are also corrosive, which could cause problems when used with other metals. Finally, the materials tend not to be cheap, so for larger applications and future development the researchers will likely start to try out other materials. If this could be done with something cheaper and with less problematic properties it could have real potential, especially as droplet size is reduced. (Update: according to this paper EGaIn doesn’t appear to be too bad of a choice, though it’s likely not a scalable solution.)
Interestingly, as the oxide is what’s hardening and forming the structure that holds the liquid metal together, it’s entirely possible (likely even) that the material inside the skin will remain liquid. While the skin is quite thin, oxides can be both strong and tough, enough even to hold the 3D printed structure together. The formation would be self-healing as well, because if a crack were to form in the skin, it would expose inner material and rebuild the oxide coating.
The printing technique was announced (or a least co-announced) in a Reddit post in which one of the authors explained how it had been under wraps for years, that NC State holds the patents for it, and that there is no aim for a commercial release yet.
The process has been written up in a paper entitled, “3D Printing of Free Standing Liquid Metal Microstructures,” but it is only available with a subscription.


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ACCESS Open Minds has trained 132 clinicians, service providers, and team personnel at sites across Canada.
Currently, there are 14 ACCESS clinicians, 2 ACCESS lay health workers, and 10 ACCESS research personnel working at sites across Canada.
Since 2016, over 1,000 youth (and counting!) have been seen at ACCESS Open Minds sites across Canada.
The ACCESS Open Minds project is funded until March 2021.
Over 300 people — youth, family members and carers, service providers, researchers, members of community organizations, and policy-makers — from across the country form the first network launched under Canada’s Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research (SPOR), funded through a partnership between the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Graham Boeckh Foundation.

domain: sociology


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In your interest.
Online Personal Finance Magazine
No beating about the bush.
An economist has said that India needs to work on its governance, education system, human resource needs and competitiveness
India can emerge as the world’s second-largest economy in the year 2039, bigger than the US, if its GDP continues to grow at the rate of 8%-9%, says a senior economist.
Former senior advisor and a director at the World Bank, Harinder Kohli, said that India’s average per capita income would jump 22 times from $940 two years ago to $22,000 in 30 years from now, in that scenario. “India’s footprint in the global economy will go to more than 17% in 2039 from less than 2% in 2007,” Mr Kohli said, reports PTI.
But he emphasised that this scenario can become a reality only if the current economic growth momentum is sustained over the next three decades. “It (India becoming the world’s
second-largest economy) could happen if things go well,” he said.
Mr Kohli warned against India getting caught in the “middle-income trap”, similar to the experience of Mexico and Brazil.
This trap was explained as one when countries start stagnating after reaching middle-income levels and don’t grow to advanced country levels.
Countries getting into such traps are unable to compete with low-income, low-wage economies in manufacturing exports and are also unable to compete with advanced economies in high-skill innovations.
Mr Kohli said that when countries reach the middle-income group, they need to do a lot of adjustments, required a very different governance & education system, have to address human resource needs and improve competitiveness, among others.
At that stage, India needs to improve the quality of its workforce and address issues such as inequality in terms of per capita income between different States, and start working on those matters “now itself” as it takes a long time to produce results.
In addition, he said that to meet its growing energy needs, India will have to tap hydro, nuclear and other renewable energy sources in a big way.
Also, India has to understand that it cannot do well economically, if its neighbourhood is not friendly, said Mr Kohli.


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The next book up in the battle is Cheryl Strayed’s memoir Wild. Now I admit I’ve already seen the movie which is unusual for me because I usually like to read the book before the movie, but alas that’s not the case this time. It will be interesting, though, to do the reverse of what I usually do and compare the movie to the book instead of the other way around. One thing I do hope is that the book fills in some holes left ambiguous by the movie. There were particular scenes in the movie where I guess it was presumed you’d just know who people were and in which state things were happening. The flashbacks and flash forwards in particular weren’t all explained they just kind of happened so I’m hoping the book will make sense of those scenes.
Now, some of my friends have already read the memoir and loved it so I have pretty high expectations for this book. The last memoir I read was The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls and I absolutely fell in love with that book. I even considered breaking the rules of the Book Battle to re-read it because it was that good. But I stuck to the guns of the Book Battle and chose something new. And I must say I’m pretty happy with my choice even having just read the back cover of the book. It sparked my wanderlust. I’ve always wanted to go on a backpacking trip but have yet to do it. Perhaps this book will inspire me to take action and just go for it.
What’s next on your reading list?