Difficulties and obstacles are a part of life. Some people experience them in middle age, others when they are in their old age. There is no shortage of people who have faced various difficulties from a very young age. These people go on to have strong personalities and develop a drive that helps them stand up to any obstacle that stands in their way. Kique Gomez, a singer and one of the top 10 contestants on “The Voice”, is a person who has been through some tough spots.
Born and raised in a Cuban family, Kique had a great childhood and immense support from his family when choosing his career. When he auditioned for The Voice, he was quick to be selected by the judges but chose Gwen Stefani as his mentor. He blossomed under her mentorship and emerged as a skillful singer and musician. He has been singing renditions of many great songs, making them his own, and the crowds at the show love him for it.
He is very active on social media and shares his clips behind the camera and all the work put into making the show. When he was selected to be in the top 10 singers on the show, he contracted the coronavirus and had to perform via a pre-recorded tape. Although a strange experience, Kique was very thankful to the “The Voice” team, who made it possible for him to sing for the judges regardless of the circumstances.
Kique mentions in his numerous interviews how he was nervous going into the shooting because they had to record it before the show, and he didn’t have enough time to revisit and practice his performance. Regardless of that, he gave a stunning performance and impressed the judges, who were genuinely concerned about his health. Gwen appreciated his commitment to singing, even though he was sick.
In one of his interviews, Kique reminisces, “When I got [to the studio], I was unfamiliar with the space, there’s no crowd, there are no people, it’s just me and the cameras and the lights. It was really, really weird and different. I felt like I didn’t have the energy from the crowd, obviously, that you want, but at the end of the day, I’m forever grateful to NBC that I was able to still perform even with COVID”. The feel of the stage and the crowd made Kique sing his heart out to the people and enjoy his performances. In his message after the show, he mentions this and appreciates the hospitality and love he got from the judges and the audience at the show.
He wants to go on to release the song “Hey Ya,” originally by the Outkast, in his rendition in the future when he can. This will surely garner him attention from studios for future endeavors and give producers a chance to really see his talent and work with him to make more music. Kique wants to make a name for himself in the music industry and make it his primary income source by creating good music for the world. With his raw talent, that goal will soon become a reality.
Click here to follow Kique on Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter to stay in touch with his activities.
Thank you very much, https://redxmagazine.com


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If you are playing from sheet music, you can make your life easier by preparing your sheet music or songbooks ahead of time. Get some plastic sleeves that you can put a page of music into and place each sheet in a sleeve. If you own a book, you can cut the pages from the book and insert the ones you need into the sleeves. Under the Helmholtz Octave Designation System, a name applied to the octave which extends from c 5 in the third octave above the treble clef staff to b 5 in the fourth octave above the treble clef staff. 72 reviews of Skip' s Music " Came here for the jam session and had lots of fun and met other cool guitarists.
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domain: hobby


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Neighborhood meetings set on Borgfeld, Big Country projects
Updated 11:00 pm, Saturday, March 16, 2013
Community meetings are slated next week on two upcoming road projects in Bexar County.
On Tuesday, Bexar County Public Works will conduct a meeting at 7:00 p.m. at Kinder Ranch Elementary School regarding construction starting in May on Borgfeld Drive, from Timberline Drive to U.S. 281. The $10.7 million project covering 2.7 miles will widen Borgfeld, add ditches and improve culverts.
The second meeting is Wednesday at 6:30 p.m., at Big Country Elementary School, regarding a $6 million project starting this summer to improve 2.15 miles of streets in the Big Country neighborhood. Streets to be affected are Blue Mesa, Fort Wyne, Black River, Hatchet Pass, Jarbo Pass, Cache Path, Yuba Trail, Two Wells, Fish Springs, Olney Springs, Potter Valley, Crescent Peak, Mud Lake and Muddy Peak.
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domain: news


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This week we are 80 shows old!!! Blimey that is a lot of shows eh? We have started doing an event page for the show each week on Facebook now and with some feedback and suggestions from our beloved Podophiles we actually have 3 tunes on this show chosen by some of you guys & girls!!! How magnificent is that?? Make sure you add yourself to the next event page so you can tell us how great we are, or slag us off or just suggest songs/bands for us to play. Also with this week we have bunged on a serial sci-fi drama we made a while back for you to listen to and wonder what the heck we are doing... ENJOY!!
Bands on this weeks show are -
Post Mortal Possession
We end the show with a silly Sci-fi project we worked on which you can see more about here-
All music used with the kind permission of the bands. All copyrights belong to the bands.
Some sound effect/music sources came from -
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domain: entertainment


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With an episode titled “Born This Way,” Glee is paying homage to Lady Gaga April 26. In a 90-minute episode, New Directions will perform her latest smash hit.
That week (the show’s second episode back from hiatus), Mr. Schuester teaches the club a lesson about self-acceptance and embracing what makes us unique.
Thus the parallels with Gaga’s anthem for those very themes:
While it makes sense that the show will have a finger on the pulse of the music world, some fans say it needs a new direction (pun intended) in its writing.
The perceived pursuit of hot tunes to shoehorn into episodes, rather of focusing on characters and writing that made the show a hit, is a frequent criticism.
Do you agree? Or do you love the hit Glee music tie-ins?

domain: artistic


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The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that at least 450 million people worldwide live with unmet mental health problems. Additionally, one in four people will experience psychological distress and meet criteria for a diagnosable mental health disorder at some point in their lives. This data speaks to the need for accessible, effective and equitable global mental health care. Available mental health resources are inequitably distributed, with low- to middle-income countries showing significantly fewer mental health human resources than high-income countries. The need to proactively address this care-need gap has been identified by WHO and various national organizations, including NBCC International (NBCC-I). NBCC-I’s Mental Health Facilitator (MHF) program addresses the global need for community-based mental health training that can be adapted to reflect the social, cultural, economic and political climate of any population, nation or region.
As the counseling profession continues to build an international community, the need to examine cultural competence training also increases. This quantitative study examined the impact of the Diversity and Counseling Institute in Ireland (DCII) on participants’ multicultural counseling competencies. Two instruments were utilized to examine participants’ cross-cultural competence before and after the study abroad institute. Results indicated that after the institute experience, participants perceived themselves to be more culturally competent, knowledgeable about the Irish culture, skilled in working with clients from Ireland, and aware of cultural similarities and differences. Implications for counselor education and supervision, and future research also are outlined.
Increases in diverse clientele have caused counselor education to enhance its focus on multicultural pedagogy, using the Tripartite Model (TM) to impart multicultural learning. While knowledge and awareness are important, it also is important to enhance skill development in counselors-in-training. Counselor educators have a unique opportunity to blend knowledge and awareness with skills learned in counseling techniques courses by incorporating microskills training in the multicultural classroom. Additionally, other theories, such as Relational-Cultural Theory (RCT), can be used as a framework to merge the TM and microskills. This article includes an overview of RCT, a brief history on microskills training and a case study to integrate the two concepts for use in counselor training. The reader should begin to see how microskills, RCT and the TM can serve to enhance skill development in the multicultural classroom.

domain: psychology


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What stands out in your mind as the biggest issue affecting the natural products industry in 2015? Supplements safety is likely a major contender.
2015 saw a push from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to stop companies from selling certain ingredients like BMPEA; HBO’s Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel tried to raise questions about “dangerous workout supplements”; Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Dick Durban (D-IL) attempted to use the Department of Defense 2016 bill to limit the military’s access to supplements; and Senator Claire McCaskill (D-MO) questioned the sale of certain “dubious dietary supplements.” What’s more, the year rounded out with several federal agencies announcing sweeping actions “to stem the tide of unlawful dietary supplements being sold to consumers nationwide.”
While some efforts were based on true and pressing need, many were not; they grabbed the media’s and consumers’ attention, but have not had a clear impact on safety, experts say.
Unfortunately, many actions falling into this category were those belonging to the person who made the most concerted effort to “rein in” the supplements industry throughout 2015: New York Attorney General (NYAG) Eric Schneiderman. His actions were arguably the most aggressive, the broadest and the deepest felt in the natural products industry this past year.
For nine months, his investigation was responsible for occupying the most time and attention of industry companies and interested groups. As more and more negative headlines broke, some even attributed fluctuation in supplements sales at some stores as shoppers’ response to his accusations.
Given the huge effect he made on this industry, WholeFoods Magazine believes he is the 2015 Person of the Year. But the story doesn’t end there. The efforts of several individuals in setting the record straight about his probe into this industry are incredibly deserving of our attention and gratitude. While many believe Schneiderman missed the mark on improving supplements safety and furthering transparency, these individuals contributed to it by giving consumers complete and accurate information about the industry, products and testing methods in question.
This piece will chronicle Schneiderman’s actions and highlight what the industry has to learn from the individuals who were most vocal in taking down his claims.
Problem One: Methodology and Transparency
Schneiderman’s initial cease-and-desist letters to GNC, Target, Walmart and Walgreens were based on DNA testing of herbal extracts, a methodology that was refuted by experts. While groups like the American Botanical Council (ABC), Austin, TX, did not criticize the technology itself, they raised a red flag saying it is thoroughly inappropriate to base a legal investigation off this method when it is used alone on most finished herbal products, especially those that are extracts.
Using the tool in this manner, says Mark Blumenthal, ABC’s founder and executive director, “almost ensures that it’s going to have negative results or at least doubtful results.” On the other hand, DNA testing of herbs can be useful before extraction, for certain supplements and along with other established analytical methods.
Pointing out this subtlety was an important contribution of ABC very early in this discussion and helped shape the dialogue about the limitations of this type of testing for botanical extracts. Of note, in 2011 and 2013, ABC released extensive peer-reviewed articles about the benefits, features and appropriateness of using DNA-based analytical methods for botanicals. “It’s another useful tool in the toolbox,” Blumenthal states.
This wasn’t the only problem experts found with the methodology: the testing lab at Clarkson University in Potsdam, NY, had no expertise in botanicals testing, and ABC pointed this out. “You are relying on the expertise of people who doubtfully had any expertise at all in this particular area,” Blumenthal states.
As Schneiderman’s investigation evolved, it appears that the AG agreed with Blumenthal about the inadequacy of the testing lab. Seven months later, he announced that DNA testing of devil’s claw, this time by the esteemed New York Botanical Garden, showed evidence of mislabeling throughout the marketplace.
Blumenthal was also very critical of the Clarkson results from a statistical standpoint, namely an 80% failure rate. His group noted early on in this discussion that the investigators should have taken a step back, recalibrated their machines, checked for contamination and sought verification from a second or even a third lab to confirm the test, using proven compendial methods.
The NYAG’s office did neither any of these things nor backed down from his investigation into this industry. Rather, he escalated his efforts, as is evidenced by the nine-month timeline presented in this piece. Moreover, the complete results of his tests have never been made public, despite consumer outcry for them. For all these reasons, numerous industry voices believe there is a true danger to Schneiderman’s investigation of the supplements industry. “Is that the way we want our public officials to act?” Blumenthal asks. “He’s basically running an ends-justifies-the-means operation, and we were critical of that because we don’t think that’s responsible or ethical.”
This is a dangerous precedent, many feel. “At this point, we believe they know that they were wrong, and they deflected the issue to say, ‘It doesn’t matter what the results of those tests are. What matters is that this is an industry that has problems,’” says Loren Israelsen, president of the United Natural Products Alliance (UNPA), Salt Lake City, UT.
Meanwhile, the UNPA made a huge contribution to the conversation by collecting more than 500 samples of the original products to organize its own legitimate testing of the products in question and making the results public through members of its science and technology group.
The NYAG’s office believes its investigation has made shoppers safer (see sidebar on page 22). Interviewees disagree.
Israelsen points out that the very GNC products that Schneiderman forced off shelves in New York are already back on the market, without any changes to the formulations. “If Schneiderman’s results were correct, that never could have or would have happened, which means that the results have to be wrong. And, not a little bit wrong; completely wrong,” he states.
In agreement is Daniel Fabricant, Ph.D., CEO and executive director at the Natural Products Association, Washington, D.C., who says, “I don’t think he was out, in any way shape or form, to [improve consumer safety].”
If the NYAG was concerned with safety, says Fabricant, he would have selected more critical issues to deal with and would have filed lawsuits against unscrupulous companies selling illegal products. “The AGs should be there to deal with real consumer threats and real issues,” he believes. “Are there high-priority issues like spiked supplements that FDA and FTC can’t get to because of resources? If there’s a manufacturer or distributor in the state of NY with those sorts of issues, that would be an excellent use of resources by an AG.”
Had Schneiderman consulted one of the groups interviewed for this piece about where to begin an investigation on supplements safety, they likely would have pointed him to some of the known trouble areas—not the herbs and companies he targeted. Instead, the NYAG’s team picked out herbs without much in the way of adulteration issues like valerian root, ginkgo biloba, garlic, echinacea, ginseng, St. John’s wort and saw palmetto.
Meanwhile, in the September probe of devil’s claw, the NYAG’s office went after an herb that is far from the top of the popularity list, and then cited it for being “mislabeled” because it simply has two recognized species that can be substituted under the same common name.
Says Blumenthal, “He could have really done something significant in the matter of targeting real problems that are currently happening in this industry.” Herbs like ginkgo and garlic, he believes, do not qualify.
Steve Mister, president and CEO of the Council for Responsible Nutrition, Washington, D.C., agrees, stating, “[Consumers] didn’t need to be protected against those products. Those products were safe from the get-go.”
Very similarly, Fabricant points out that the NYAG’s office went after companies that were not risky and have never had a problem complying with federal good manufacturing practices. What these retailers all did have are big names yielding big publicity, though. Says Fabricant, “What it says to me is that we need to do a lot better job communicating the value of third-party certification to really clarify the fact that companies are not only compliant, but some firms take steps to go above and beyond to be even more transparent and add value that way.”
As for what interviewees would have placed squarely in the AG’s target, Mister says he would have recommended Schneiderman look at products that contain illegal drugs, anabolic steroids, synthetic stimulants—“things that are clearly illegal and pose a real safety concern for consumers.”
Mister adds that Schneiderman could even have gone to FDA for advice about which lawless companies deserve prosecution for illegal supplements, having done legitimate testing of its own using validated methods. “These are people who are knowingly violating the law,” says Mister.
Conversely, Mister says that the interagency (involving FDA and others) sweep of illegal dietary supplements was a far more effective strategy for improving safety. (see page 8). “They went after companies that had an open disregard for the law, rather than go after mainstream companies in a calculated attempt to try and get lots of publicity for the AG,” Mister says.
Israelsen says he would have told the NYAG about “manufacturing systems, quality systems and certifications…a lot of effort has gone into that on the part of FDA and legitimate industry players.” The reason being, Israelsen says, is so that he can better understand the full spectrum of dietary supplement safety, which includes identity, safety and profile of ingredients coupled with a high-quality manufacturing process (like, say, that of GNC) paired with a well-constructed label and proper substantiation.
DNA Testing in the Limelight
There may have been a very tiny silver lining to the NYAG’s actions: it re-emphasized that companies should always have the issues of adulteration and quality control front of mind. Says Blumenthal, “There’s no question that he’s influenced this industry in a way that is probably tectonic, which on some levels can be considered a positive thing.”
He says his group and its partners at the American Herbal Pharmacopeia have tried for years to increase awareness that intentional product adulteration needs to be addressed. He calls it “the number one problem in the herbal industry. Not just in the United States, but also internationally. It’s a global challenge.”
While ABC has made headway, he says that Schneiderman very easily got the word “adulteration” on the front page of The New York Times above the fold and, more importantly, made many company executives reevaluate their testing protocols.
It has also raised visibility about the possibility of DNA testing for botanical testing. UNPA, in fact, hosted a two-day summit devoted to the topic in early November. Israelsen said experts tried to answer the question of whether DNA testing is really ready for prime time, and what are its strengths and weaknesses.
Israelsen said it was important for the industry to “vet this very carefully” with the help of “some of the best minds in the world on this” so that companies could have some consensus on the science. “If the industry reacted to say DNA testing is not legitimate in all cases, that would be construed as we’re anti-science and we don’t know how to test products and that we’re trying to deflect the issues,” he states. He believes the UNPA conference represents the most careful examination of DNA testing on botanicals that’s been done to date.
The key conclusions drawn, says Israelsen, were that, “Yes, there’s strong interest in it. Yes, there’s more to learn. No, it’s not ready for prime time. Those that adopt it should do so with great care and understand its limits. They also need to understand that if you don’t control the conditions under which you do the testing, the chances of a mistake go up significantly.”
These may be viewed as “positives” in a way, BUT—and that’s a colossal-sized BUT—those interviewed here say the NYAG should have gone about his investigation completely differently. Says Blumenthal, “Schneiderman’s investigation forced a conversation within the industry that is useful to have. But there are so many other ways that that conversation could have been initiated.”
Communication Is Key
It’s unlikely that the NYAG, or most mainstream media outlets, will correct the record on what supplements experts believe are huge errors. Israelsen points out that there’s a true danger to this, since “others that take an interest in this will have an incorrect record to start with, and it only gets worse from there.”
To prevent this from coming to fruition, everyone interviewed for this piece reported that dealing with this crisis was the single most time-consuming endeavor their group dealt with in 2015. Israelsen goes so far as to say his group “communicated more actively and more frequently and with more depth on this than any other issue that we have ever addressed.” The efforts of all those interviewed for this piece shaped the conversation in terms of explaining the limitations and problems with Schneiderman’s investigation.
Starting days into the crisis, for instance, CRN was a strong voice pushing back with scientific evidence for why the test results were wrong. “I believe we were relentless in representing the industry’s view and making sure the consumers and the media knew there was another side out there, that they weren’t getting the whole story from the AG’s office,” states Mister.
Mister says CRN worked around the clock to make this happen. “The staff at CRN took this personally and we were so tenacious to make sure someone was going to cover the industry side to this and the AG got it wrong,” he states.
Groups served as experts for the media, and many responded in writing to negative news articles. For instance, the American Herbal Products Association, Silver Spring, MD, responded to more than 20 media outlets within a week of the initial cease-and-desist letters.
There was also a concerted effort to reach out to state AGs, which is critical given the power and reach the Schneiderman’s actions. While there may not be a direct cause-and-effect relationship, Fabricant believes the NYAG’s investigation has “inspired other state AGs.” In October 2015, for instance, the Oregon state AG Ellen Rosenblum brought a lawsuit against GNC for supposedly selling spiked supplements.
With an eye on the future, several trade associations say they are working with state AGs in new ways on the industry’s behalf. CRN, for instance, has reached out and built relationships with other state AGs to “give them good information about the industry and answer their questions.”
The fruit of this labor is coming to bear, as several AGs are now using CRN as a resource. For instance, on the morning of the interview for this piece in mid-November, CRN had already received two inquiries that day from AGs regarding industry issues. “We’ve built really strong relationships with some of these AGs,” Mister says. “It’s had the effect of reassuring them that this industry has quality players in it, and that we’re regulated by the federal government, and that we want to do what’s right for the consumer.”
The reach of state AGs is somewhat scary since they have subpoena power, the power to levy large sanctions on companies and the ability to prosecute criminals, Mister points out. AGs that don’t use these tools properly to protect consumers can do a lot of harm.
But this doesn’t mean the industry needs to avoid AGs altogether or see them as adversaries.
“On the one hand, it’s a very serious matter when an AG decides to target your company,” says Mister. “On the other hand, there are ways to constructively engage with those AGs before an investigation. And there are ways not only for us, but also for our companies to engage with these state AGs during an investigation so that it doesn’t have to be so adversarial.”
To this point, CRN hosted a webinar in December to offer members information about how to deal with state AGs if one were to come asking for information with a letter of inquiry.
Viewpoint From the NYAG’s Office
WholeFoods Magazine held a brief interview with the NYAG’s office. Here is what Damien LaVera, communications director, had to say about the investigation.
That is why the office started investigating the herbal supplements industry and conducted DNA barcode testing on popular herbal supplements sold by GNC, Target, Walmart and Walgreens…In September, the office sent cease-and-desist letters to 13 manufacturers of Devil’s Claw supplements, which are marketed to arthritis sufferers…NYAG reached an agreement with a 14th manufacturer, Nature’s Way, in which the company publicly committed to employ DNA barcoding across its herbal products line and ensure that its devil’s claw products are manufactured and labeled properly.
Our efforts have also significantly increased awareness over the need to enhance oversight over the herbal supplements industry. On February 4, 2015, in response to our investigation, Senators Richard Durbin and Richard Blumenthal called on the FDA to launch a nationwide investigation of the supplement industry.
We are also leading a bi-partisan coalition of 14 AGs with Indiana AG Greg Zoeller calling for a Congressional inquiry into the herbal supplements industry. In June with AG Zoeller, our office sent a letter urging the FDA to enhance its oversight of the dietary supplements industry.
Moreover, Rend Al-Mondhiry, CRN’s regulatory council, joined about 80 assistant state AGs as a panelist at the National Association of Attorneys General Fall Consumer Protection Meeting in St. Louis, MO. “She was asked to come and present the industry’s side of the issue,” Mister explains. “When you do things like that and you show a willingness to engage and have dialogue with the state AGs, that builds your credibility with them. And they realize this is not an industry that is trying to avoid scrutiny.”
And, one cannot forget improving relationships with the NYAG. Fabricant and the NPA forged a smart relationship with the NYAG early on in the crisis to ensure accurate information about the industry was provided and available to Schneiderman.
On May 11, Fabricant and Schneiderman issued joint statement representing a distinct change in the NYAG’s verbiage: “While no single test or technology alone can provide complete confidence to consumers, we support the application of DNA barcoding technology as part of a multi-faceted approach to assuring authenticity and identifying substitution. This includes testing herbal/botanical ingredients prior to extraction in circumstances where DNA Barcode is available for the relevant species.”
Of note, six months later, Fabricant reported that NPA leadership is still meeting with the NYAG’s office. This underscores some of the group’s unique abilities to navigate the political landscape, especially given that two former FDA officials (Fabricant and Corey Hilmas, M.D.) work for the group. Says Fabricant, “I’m not going to say what we did yielded a perfect result and that we got everything we wanted, but I certainly think we had an impact and we’ll continue to.”
Fabricant believes meeting with the NYAG’s office is well worth the effort. “A lot of times what happens in these scenarios is that people start out and they don’t know about the other side. They don’t know about the industry. They don’t know what it is they’re actually interested in, so we’re able to educate them on many things about the industry—what it is and what it isn’t,” he states.
NPA has been very politically active during the crisis on a number of fronts, including spearheading a grassroots movement, demanding transparency from Schneiderman’s office. Within days of the initial cease-and-desist letters, NPA called on all industry members and consumers to email, call and tweet the NYAG’s office, and demand that he release the study data. A microsite was established with easy tools for consumers to use to make these communications. These efforts generated thousands of emails to the NYAG in support of dietary supplements.
“We also hit him on social media, which I think is important for the industry,” Fabricant states. “It’s truly one of the first times we’ve seen social media play a role in terms of advocacy and political operations.”
While as of press time, the NYAG has not made any actions directly questioning industry products after the devil’s claw letters, it would be a mistake to think that NYAG’s office has forgotten about dietary supplements. “I don’t think we’ve seen the end of this,” Mister stated.
For instance, there’s some unfinished business regarding the original cease-and-desist letters sent to four retailers. GNC responded immediately and worked with the NYAG to get the original products back on the shelves. But the other retailers—Walmart, Target and Walgreens—have not reached a settlement with the AG. These stores simply stopped selling the products named in the letters in New York. “At some point, we might see some sort of a settlement,” Mister says.
More unfinished business could happen in a similar vein as we saw with devil’s claw. This herb is certainly not the only plant with two or more species recognized as being substitutable under the same common name. Could Schneiderman find other herbal supplements with similar “mislabeling violations”?
Israelsen says that the NYAG’s new collaboration with the New York Botanical Garden might also give clues for what could be coming down the pipes in the future. He says that the New York Botanical Garden had conducted testing on devil’s claw not long before the September letters were sent. One might guess that some of the other herbs they have investigated recently could be a roadmap that Schneiderman may follow.
Says Israelsen, “I really hope that rather than just loading up the same letter and changing the names to a new plant, they recognize that they still need to understand how botanicals are regulated and the commercial practice and documentations that go along with it.” WF
Published in WholeFoods Magazine January 2016


text:
Hubert Herr Cuckoo Clocks are made in Triberg, Germany. The Cuckoo Clocks carry the Quality label and Certificate of Authenticity. The company founded in the beginning of the nineteenth century is now world famous and ships clocks to over sixty countries. All the clocks are made in the traditional fashion using skilled craftsmen and hand carvers. Every piece in the Hubert Herr Cuckoo Clocks are made by hand, thus ensuring the highest standards in quality and appearance.
Hubert Herr Cuckoo Clocks From Germany
Triberg is a small town nestled on the edge of the Black Forest not far from the Swiss border. It’s a beautiful town with magnificent scenery, fresh air and crystal clear water. It’s inhabitants are welcoming and helpful. The accommodation is versatile and you can stay in the town or in one of the beautiful guesthouse set in the surrounding hills in Gremmelsbach and Nussbach. It is unique and can offer you tranquility or a vibrant night life.
The area around Triberg is fantastic for healthy walks and hikes in the Forest. One of the highlights of the area is the beautiful and highest waterfalls in Germany a wonderful feature of Triberg.
Smallest Cuckoo Clocks
Triberg showcases life in Germany in earlier times when tradition was important. The handicrafts industry which was and is an integral part of life in the Black Forest region of Germany. The smallest cuckoo clock in the world is made by hand in the Hubert Herr Cuckoo Clocks factory in this historic town. This is a fully functional clock that is shipped throughout the world.
Cuckoo Clocks Movements Explained
There are two types of movements when it comes to traditional Hubert Herr Cuckoo Clocks. The first one is referred to a one day movement. This means that when the cone and chain is extended it will operate the internal mechanism for twenty four hours. The next one is the eight day movement.This means that when the cone and chain is extended it will operate the internal mechanism for eight full days. Of course you don’t have to wait for the clock to stop. You can extend the time by lowering the cone weights at anytime.
All clock cases, carvings and clock movements in Hubert Herr Cuckoo Clocks are made in the factory in Germany by a master woodcarver.


Beowulf: A theorical approach
Walter B. Ligon III
walt at parl.ces.clemson.edu
Thu Jun 22 13:51:52 PDT 2000
Well, yeah, but its the PCI interface I'm talking about. Robert Brown's
posting was really more to the point. Build a NIC that interfaces
driectly to the CPU and memory.
> > The problem right now really isn't in link speeds (though better
> > link speeds are good), its in how close/far the network interface is
> > from the CPU. COTS HW doesn't place a high value on direct access
> > to IO devices - there is a higher value on a standardized bus
> > interface to allow different system components to be integrated and
> > updated independently. A "supercomputer" can have the network
> > engineered directly into the node architecture. This is a huge
> > advantage. Luckily, this advantage has the most effect in only some
> > programs.
> If Infiniband does all that it is supposed to do, then it will rapidly
> become the network of choice, since it _does_ have support for direct
> (user-space) access to the comms, and has some nifty switches.
> Of course in the short term it will be limited by the CPU side
> interfaces being PCI, but that's only the same limitation as
> for Quadrics, Myrinet, SCI and so on.
> Once it becomes the standard for connection to storage it _should_ be
> cheap, and a standard component of any "server-class" commodity
> machine, whether IA* or other architecture. (IBM announced that
> they'll be selling their interface chips and switches just today).
> So, I expect that Inifinband will be engineered intimately into the
> node architecture of COTS hardware, and that will help a lot.
> It'll be interesting how long it takes before the Linux drivers are
> available !
> -- Jim
> James Cownie <jcownie at etnus.com>
> Etnus, Inc. +44 117 9071438
Dr. Walter B. Ligon III
More information about the Beowulf


text:
After using a recipe for castagnole that did not work out at all, I created a recipe that I think is perfect. The key to a good fried doughnut is the flour. Ordinary all purpose flour or cake flour will do. There is no need to use OO farina as suggested in some recipes. Also, do not try and bake these. You will just end up with sweet little bread rolls. Castagnole need to be fried and generously dusted with flavoured sugar. They are a speciality of the Romagna region in Liguria and I have made them using amaretto which is traditional.
I firmly believe in gut instincts and premonitions. And the more stories I hear, the more I believe. I can remember after Lockerbie, watching the news in New York. One person was interviewed saying they had gone right up to the door of the plane, and turned around. Their choice not to board saved their life. And who knows why that happened? A friend was on a flight and the woman next to her apologised for intruding but asked if she had recently had a miscarriage. My friend said yes and the person responded by saying she was sorry for her loss, and that she needed to know it was not her fault. What gut instinct was in play here? Or could the woman have been psychic? One will never know.
Last month I was reading a news report about a woman who had been swept off the rocks into the sea. She was alive but unconscious and her identity was unknown. It was an appeal to help try and find her family. A terrible feeling entered my body, and my heart sunk. I could not explain it but I felt a connection. Later that afternoon my cousin posted that her sister-in-law had died. It was the same person. And even though I had never met her, I was in tears. For my cousin, her husband and his family. It reinforced my belief that our death is our fate, and we cannot escape it. This makes it no less tragic as she has young children. But it is my only explanation for what is such an awful occurrence. Do you believe in fate, gut instinct and premonitions?
Click on the links for conversions and notes.
- 100 g flour, plus extra for dusting
- 2.5 mls baking powder
- 28 g xylitol
- 21 g softened salted butter, cubed
- 2.5 mls amoretto
- 1.25 mls vanilla extract
- 1 egg, lightly beaten
- 1 lime, zest only
- vegetable oil for frying
- vanilla sugar for rolling
- Place the flour and baking powder into the bowl of a stand mixer and mix to combine using a dough hook
- Add the xylitol, butter, amaretto, vanilla, egg and lime zest and bring together to form a dough
- As soon as the dough forms, turn out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until you can shape it into a ball
- Wrap the ball tightly in clingfilm and leave to rest for a minimu of 30 minutes at room temperature
- Divide the dough in half and roll each half into a ball
- Roll each ball into a sausage shape, 2cm thick
- Cut the dough into 2cm lengths then roll each piece into a small ball
- Once all done, measure 1cm of oil into the pan you will use for frying (I always use my wok)
- Heat to 170° Celsius and drop 3 to 5 balls of dough at a time into the oil, making sure not to crowd them, and maintaining the temperature of the oil between 165° Celsius and 175° Celsius
- Fry for 3 minutes, turning half way through, then remove using a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels
- As soon as you can handle the castagnole, roll them in the vanilla sugar and serve
View the previous posts on August 22:
- 2022: Roast Carrot Salad
- 2021: Walk In My Combat Boots
- 2018: Karoo Food
- 2016: Pistachio Honey Cake
- 2014: Black Cherry And Thyme Jam
- 2013: 5 Ounces
- 2012: Herb Crusted Pork Belly

domain: food


iPhone X Wireless Charger, Turbot 3-Coil Qi Wireless Charger Stand Pad for iPhone 8/8 Plus, iPhone X, Samsung Galaxy Note8, S8/S8 Plus/S7/S7 Edge/S6 Edge Plus, LG G6 and All QI-Enabled Devices
- 【QUICK RESPONDED WIRELESS CHARGER】: Simply place your Qi-enabled device on the qi charger and start charging with QUICK RESPONSE. Without bothering of wires and NO need to plug in the cord.
- 【3 COILS OF SENSING AREA】: 3 coils provides LARGER SENSING AREA and free alignment on qi wireless charger for your phone to charge in both vertical and horizontal positions. 3 coils gives you a better charing experience than 2 coils.
- 【SUPPORT ALL QI-ENABLED DEVICES】: Compatiable for iPhone 8/8 Plus/iPhone X, Galaxy Note8/S8 Plus/S8/S7/S7 Edge/S6/S6 Edge, LG G6, Nexus 4/5/6/7,Nokia Lumia 1520/1020/920/928,MOTO Droid Maxx / Mini / MOTO Turbo 2,HTC Droid DNA, Blackberry Z30, SHARP SH-07D/SH-04D/SH-02D, Sony Xperia Z4v/Z3v and all QI-Enabled Devices.
- 【STEADY PHONE HOLDER】: With the non-slip rubber feet on the bottom, the wireless charging stand will stay steady on the table and it will hold your phone firmly due to the non-slip mat in the front. Designed in 60 degree for you to enjoy movies or answer video calls while charging, free your hand from holding the phone for a perfect viewing angle
- 【LED INDICATOR LIGHT】: Intelligently shows the charging status, Blue for power on and Green for charging. If the charging circuit is overload, both colors will flash alternately for reminding
Qi Charging Devices compatibility list: , This qi charging stand works with fully Qi-Enabled devices: -iPhone 8/iPhone 8 Plus/iPhone X -Galaxy NOTE8/S8 / S8 Plus / S7 / S7 Edge / S6 / S6 Edge / S6 Edge Plus -Nokia Lumia 920 / 1020 / 928 / 1520 -HTC 8X, HTC Droid DNA, HTC Rzound, HTC Incredible 4G LTE -Moto Droid Turbo, Motorola Moto 360 Smart Watch, Moto Droid Maxx, Droid Mini -Google Nexus 4 / 5 / 6 / 7(2013) -LG G6, LG D1L, LG LTE2, LG G2 (Verizon) -Blackberry Z30 (Verizon) It also works with device equipped with a QI-Enabled Receiver(Not Included): -Galaxy S5 / S4 / S3 -iPhone 6 / 6 Plus / 6S / 5C / 5S / 5 / 4 / 4S -Nokia 720,Nokia 820 , Nokia 6 -LG G4, LG G3 and other Android devices Charge Your Phone Anytime Anywhere Built-in 3 coils offer a larger sensing area and bring a great convenience to use this qi wireless charger in the office since you don’t have to plug in or pull out the USB connector again and again when answering phone calls. Also, there will be no messy c
List Price: $ 45.99
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Originally posted 2017-10-05 12:02:08. Republished by Blog Post Promoter


text: The strategy to observe geophysical and biochemical processes in the world oceans will be subjected to significant changes within the upcoming years by complementing current point sampling campaigns at certain time instances with permanent possibly cabled observatory stations. This is underlined by the outcome of the ESONET study, an EU funded project, which states a strong need for permanent observation stations in the Open Ocean and coastal waters to monitor the health of the oceans around Europe and detect potential environmental hazards. As these stations will be connected with the main land via submarine cables or via satellite communication systems it is possible to collect scientific data in real time and also to interact with the instrument to control the sampling process. Here the concept of interoperability becomes a necessity as the inventory of sensors is changing permanently due to the scientific demands and maintenance and service needs. Additional to that there are marine sensors in particular for measuring biochemical parameters where only experts are able to identify, connect and interpret the signals of the sensors. When setting up the new, costly infrastructure of marine sensor networks it is advisable that the sensor data can be detected and interpreted also by people from outside the research community to ensure an optimal use and a widespread availability to public institutions and private companies. In the context of hazardous events like Tsunamis waves the necessity is obvious as immediate, real-time information is crucial for efficient disaster management. Moreover, if we provide formal semantics on the sensor, the signals could also be understood from machines. This would gives us new opportunities with the sensor networks, e.g. identify "foreign" sensors, automatically interpret signals from own and foreign sensors, plausibility controls for the quality of the data, etc. This paper connects the actual needs for the construction of marine sensor networks with the technologies that are available from the Web community to outline a general scheme for implementing interoperability in Marine Geosensor networks and systems.

domain: geography


text:
Saman Ekanayake has been appointed as the Secretary to the President.
The appointment was made by the newly-elected President Ranil Wickremesinghe.
Ekanayake previously was the Secretary to the Prime Minister when Ranil Wickremesinghe was serving as the Premier until Gotabaya Rajapaksa stepped down from the presidency.
He has also served as the Secretary to Prime Minister three times before that, between 2015 and 2019 when Wickremesinghe was in office as the Premier.
Acting President Ranil Wickremesinghe says that the absence of a proper investigation into the 2019 Easter Sunday terror attacks implies that the issue has not been fully resolved yet.
In a special statement, Acting President Wickremesinghe explained that when he took over as Prime Minister earlier this year the economy had collapsed, with power cuts lasting five hours a day.
In the two months since then, power cuts had been reduced to three hours a day, fertiliser has been provided to the farmers and the gas shortage in the country has been solved.
While the month of July would be a difficult period for the supply of fuel, Wickremesinghe revealed that stocks of diesel have been secured and will be distributed while from 21 July. Additionally, stocks of petrol will also be distributed.
He also said that steps have been taken to provide relief to those who are struggling due to the economic pressures. Loans taken by paddy farmers who have planted fields less than two acres have been cancelled, he said. Further, in view of the drop in world oil prices, fuel prices in the country have also been reduced.
While highlighting the steps taken so far, the Acting President explained that negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) were nearing conclusion, and discussions for assistance with foreign countries are also progressing.
He also said that due to the incomplete nature of the investigations into the Easter Sunday attacks, he is requesting the assistance of the UK Government and their intelligence services.
He highlighted that the current political crisis in the country is due to the Executive Presidency, and said that the 19th Amendment would be re-introduced which would address many concerns of the public.
The Acting President proceeded to explain that there were elements within society that are attempting to disrupt the peace in the country. He stresses that these elements would be prohibited from disrupting the country’s progress.
Wickremesinghe further said that the government will offer solutions to peaceful protesters who had legitimate concerns.
Acting President Wickremesinghe called upon the political parties in the country to put aside their differences and urged them to come together and form an All-Party Government which would allow the country to recover from the economic crisis.
Leader of the United National Party (UNP) Ranil Wickremesinghe was sworn in as the eighth Executive President of Sri Lanka a short while ago (21).
The six-time Prime Minister was sworn in before Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya at the Parliamentary Complex at 10:00 am today.
Wickremesinghe was elected the President following a secret ballot held in Parliament yesterday (20), which he won by a majority of 134 votes.
Acting President Ranil Wickremesinghe has directed the security forces to investigate incidents where individuals are engaged in exerting undue pressure through social media, which would affect the election of the next President.
He pointed out that there were reports on influential social media posts shared that would hamper the legislators’ ability to vote freely during the elections to select the successor President.
Ranil Wickremesinghe has been elected by Parliament as the eighth Executive President of Sri Lanka.
Parliament convened at 10am this morning (20) under the patronage of Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywarden to vote for the election of Sri Lanks’s next President.
Acting President Ranil Wickremesinghe, Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna Parliamentarian Dullas Alahapperuma and National People’s Power leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake were nominated for the position.
A total of 223 MPs out of the 225-member parliament cast their votes, out of which, four were declared invalid. Meanwhile, two members namely MPs Selvaraja Gajendran and G.G. Ponnambalam abstained from voting.
Wickremesinghe garnered a total of 134 votes, while MP Dullas Alahapperuma managed to collect 82 votes and MP Dissanayake secured 03 votes.
International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said yesterday that Sri Lanka is a warning sign to countries with high debt levels and limited policy space.
Georgieva made these remarks at the hybrid meeting of the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors held in Indonesia.
The war in Ukraine has intensified, exerting added pressure on commodity and food prices. Global financial conditions are tightening more, than previously anticipated. And continuing pandemic-related disruptions and renewed bottlenecks in global supply chains are weighing on economic activity, she said.
"As a result, later this month we will project a further downgrade to global growth for both 2022 and 2023 in our World Economic Outlook Update. Moreover, downside risks will remain and could deepen -- especially if inflation is more persistent -- requiring even stronger policy interventions which could potentially impact growth and exacerbate spillovers particularly to emerging and developing countries. Countries with high debt levels and limited policy space will face additional strains. Look no further than Sri Lanka as a warning sign," she said.
Emerging and developing countries have also been experiencing sustained capital outflows for four months in a row. They now suffer the risk of reversing three decades of catching up with advanced economies and instead falling further behind.
Colombo Fort Magistrate Thilina Gamage issued an order barring any faction from entering or gathering within a 50 meter radius of the Bandaranaike Statue located in Galle Face, Colombo.
Sri Lanka Police told the court that there is a possible attempt being made to cause harm to the statue.
The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation has reduced fuel prices, effective from 10.00 pm today (17).
Accordingly, the price of a litre of 92 Octane petrol has been reduced by Rs.20 to Rs.450.
The price of 95 Octane petrol has been reduced by Rs.10 and will be sold at Rs.540 per litre.
Meanwhile, the price of a litre of Auto Diesel was reduced by Rs.20 and will be sold at Rs.440, while Super Diesel was reduced by Rs.10 and will be sold at Rs.510 per litre.
The Education Ministry today decided to extend the school holidays until next Sunday (24) and the schools will open on Monday (25).
A discussion was held on this matter at the ministry with the participation of the additional secretaries, including the Ministry Secretary, National Institute of Education (NIE) Director General, directors and provincial directors of education through online.
The decision was taken based on the current fuel crisis, transportation difficulties and the views of trade unions.
Earlier, the ministry had decided to reopen the schools from on Thursday (21).
Acting President Ranil Wickremesinghe has decided to implement an urgent relief program to provide fuel, gas and essential food items to the public who are struggling due to the pressures of the ongoing economic crisis.
The decision was reached following discussions held with Ministers and Members of Parliament earlier today (16).
In addition, it has been decided to use additional money for this purpose from the relief budget that will be presented in August.
The Acting President advised to expedite the implementation of the food security program, while special attention was also paid to providing fuel and fertilizers regularly and promptly.
During the discussion, plans were also made to prepare the necessary environment for businessmen to run their business without any inconveniences.
Meanwhile, Acting President Wickremesinghe said that the plan handed over by the peaceful protesters has been recognized as a good plan and added that he will inform the activists about the measures being taken to fight corruption.
The bus fares will be reduced by 2.23% with effect from midnight today (July 19) in line with the recent fuel price reduction, the National Transport Commission says.
Accordingly, the minimum bus fare will move down to Rs. 38.00.
On July 17, the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) reduced the fuel prices and Lanka IOC also slashed its prices to mirror the Ceypetco rates.
The price of a litre of Petrol (Octane 92) went down by Rs. 20 and Petrol (Octane 95) by Rs. 10 per litre. Meanwhile, Auto Diesel prices were reduced by Rs. 20 per litre and Super Diesel by Rs. 10 per litre.
Former President and the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) Maithripala Sirisena says that the current situation of multiple candidates being proposed as Presidential Candidates could cause for a rift within the Parliament.
Speaking to News 1st, the former President stated that no matter whoever may win out of the three candidates proposed, it would create a divide, and the best possible alternative is for the Party Leaders to discuss and propose a single candidate for the Presidential election.
He further stated that this divide within the Parliament would end up being an issue for any Government that is yet to come.
However, the former President said that the Sri Lanka Freedom Party has not yet taken a decision in this regard, and will come into a consensus after the nominations are handed over.
The former President also added that although there were requests, he will not be contesting for Presidency, and will support an existing candidate.
Page 5 of 367


text:
The University's very own rock aficionado John Covach and the Institute for Popular Music band, The League of Extraordinary Uncles. They will delight crowds with music from The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Byrds, The Cars, Elvis Costello, Linda Ronstadt, Motown, Stix, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, and much more. A number of faculty, staff, and students will join the band as guest performers. Don't miss this ultimate jam session.
Saturday, October 6, 2018 at 3:00pm to 5:00pm
Wilson Quadrangle, Meliora Village
Wilson Quadrangle, Rochester, NY 14611


text:
IN THE BEGINNING….
Pocketlabworks ought to know a thing or two about killer bass sounds. I mean its founder and president, Kevin Robertson, has had a lifelong passion for all things audio, not to mention he previously worked for amp legends Bob Gallien and Richard Krueger, on designing their world famous bass amp products.
Set up only a few years ago to develop music software and hardware products for smartphones, tablets and the likes, Pocketlabworks already has an impressive portfolio of iOS titles, which naturally include electric guitar and bass amp apps, plus some titles aimed at vocalists too.
Not content with developing just software, the company has also released the iRiffPort digital audio guitar connection, which allows you to plug your guitar directly into an iOS device.
Formally unveiled earlier this year at NAMM 2012, Pocketlabworks’ latest product is a custom branded bass and guitar amp app, which they’ve created in partnership with founding member and bass player of metal legends Megadeth, David Ellefson.
Launched today, the David Ellefson Rock Shop (DERS) app, is a universal iOS app featuring a series of virtual amps and speaker cabinets to play through and customise the sounds, along with a versatile music player, and handful of other features fans of Megadeth will enjoy.
ALL FIRED UP…
On firing up the DERS app for the first time, you’re greeted by a short personal video message from David. I won’t spoil it by giving anything away, but it’s a nice touch, although you can choose to skip it, which no doubt some will do after a few weeks of using the app.
Within a few seconds of the app loading, you’re then greeted by a splash page promoting Pocketlabworks’ iRiffPort. You can click a link to order one, and also click a button to disable this message.
Then depending if you’re using an iPhone/iPod Touch or an iPad, you’ll see slightly different versions of the app’s main interface. I’ve only experienced the app on iPad so far, so any visual descriptions I offer will relate to the experience on this device. There are no differences as far as features go between devices, there are just slight differences in the interface layouts to allow for the different screen sizes.
FRONT & CENTRE…
If you’ve already played with Pocketlabworks’ PocketAmp and PocketGK apps, the user interface of DERS will be instantly familiar, with main amp controls on the left side, and cabinets located on the right side.
As I’ve mentioned about these apps in the past, while the adjustable controls don’t look like traditional ‘knobs and dials’ on guitar amps, the fact they are clearly labelled large sliders, make them not only easier to see, but quicker to access.
THE FIRST SOUND YOU HEAR….
In the lead up to the launch of this app I’ve been fortunate enough to talk at length with both Kevin at Pocketlabworks, as well as David about his involvement with the app (and you’ll be able to catch my interview with him here in the near future).
It became clear to me early on, that this app was never intended to be some cheap branding/promotional exercise, where David had little input.
From the very first conversations about developing the app, David and Kevin have worked together closely on the features that David wanted in this app, but more importantly the sounds that the app produces.
Anyone familiar with David’s bass guitar sound, and indeed Megadeth’s sound, will know that over years he has developed a distinctly unique signature sound, and it was a priority for everyone involved that this was readily available within the app.
So the very first time you load the app, with your bass guitar connected, the default setting has been specially configured to sound like David’s signature tone, which is a clean, tight overall sound designed for playing punchy bass lines with a pick.
This signature tone actually has all the EQ set flat, and no other effects enabled. I mainly wanted to mention this, as this setting is not saved in the presets area, and each time you fire the app up, it recalls the last settings you were using, and not the signature tone settings. I actually went ahead and made a custom preset with these settings and called it ‘Junior’s Bass Sound’ (of course) just so I can quickly recall it whenever.
TIME TO CUSTOMISE…
Of course, David understands that we all like our own sounds, so all the amp settings are tweakable and you can save an unlimited number of custom user presets.
The bass amp section features adjustable 3 band EQ, plus Brite and Limiter effects which act similar to their function on Harke amps, which David uses on stage.
There’s also a modulation section including adjustable Chorus and Flange effects. The rate, depth, and slapback of these can be modified. There’s also a handy gate feature to help keep some of the wilder sounds you might come up with under control.
As far as cabinets go, you can choose between a 4 x 10” or 1 x 15” speaker box, which again, help you to sculpt your ideal sound even further.
As part of the app, David also wanted to include some classic sounding guitar amps. so also available are 3 fairly classic sounds including Clean, British, and Metal amps. The amps feature adjustable volume, overdrive gain, and 2 band EQ, plus similar Chorus and Flange effects, with the addition of a Reverb to help fatten solos. There’s also a noise gate feature, and a selection of two cabinets, one classic and one more modern sounding.
Now I’m not much of a guitarist (or bass player for that matter), but as an experienced sound engineer, the thing that stood out about the overall selection of amps on offer here is how full bodied they sound, from super clean, warm bass tones through to dark, heavily distorted power chords. The amps all respond well to different styles of playing too, and whether you’re just practising along to a song or even recording some demo tracks, the selection of quality sounds are going to be well up for the task.
WHATS IN A RIFF?..
The second key ingredient to the overall sound of this app is Pocketlabworks iRiffPort. Yes, you can use other interface products with the app, but from my experience with some of the analog solutions, you simply can’t beat the superior sound you get through a digital connection, like that offered from the iRiffPort. It’s a quality built product that not only features a headphone output, but also a line output that isn’t affected by changes to the headphone volume. As I’ve mentioned in the past, I’m still not so sold on it being white, but for what it’s worth, I guess it does make it easier to see in pile of black cables.
This is probably a good time to mention that iRiffPort also works perfectly with the Dave Mustaine Rock Prodigy app, who of course is also of Megadeth fame. If you haven’t checked it out yet, you can find more details out by clicking here.
Amps and cabinets aside, another excellent feature of the DERS app is the integrated music player, which provides access to the music stored on your iOS device. You have the option of selecting from single tracks or existing playlists to jam along to. The player also supports album art.
What really stands out on the player though is the Song Trainer feature.
In this mode, you can not only adjust the balance of the mix between your guitar and the song you’re playing along to, but you can change the speed of the song, without it affecting the original key. This feature is ideal for slowing songs down to work out and practise technically difficult performances.
But there’s more. You can also adjust the pitch of a song without it affecting the tempo, which saves having to re-tune your guitar to play along to a song that was recorded in a different key. David has already pointed out how handy this feature is if you plan on playing along to Megadeth’s 1986 hit album, Peace Sells… But Who’s Buying?, as it was recorded slightly lower than standard guitar tuning.
The other key feature of the Song Trainer, is the ability to manually set up a section of a song into a loop, allowing you to go over the specific section of a song repeatedly. Again, this is ideal for learning tricky solos and technically challenging parts of songs.
Whether you make use of these ‘training’ features often or not, it’s still nice to have them available.
Anyone that follows the latest things David is up to will know, like many artists, he has embraced social media in a big way. He has a dedicated Youtube channel called Rock Shop which features everything from behind the scenes footage of Megadeth on the road, through to music industry advice for young bands, and bass guitar workshops.
The Youtube channel is conveniently available directly from within the app, and provided you have net access (obviously), you can flick through the list of videos available and watch them without leaving the app (they actually appear when the cabinet is located).
In addition to the online videos, The Deck social area of the app also provides external links to David’s Facebook page, his official website, his twitter feed, and Google +. Each of these load-up through the iOS device’s web browser, which takes you out of the app when accessing them. OK, this is all content you can access without the app, but to have them all neatly integrated, really helps give the app a more personal touch. It’s something I’m sure fans will get as much use out of as they do the amps and music player.
Sure, there are already some great guitar apps out there for iOS devices, and some even include more features than what’s on offer here. (If you’re listening Kevin/David, how about an integrated guitar tuner and recording function sometime in the next update?) But none, offer the same charm and personality you get from the DERS app. Every aspect of this app has David Ellefson stamped all over it, from the look and feel, and his all-important signature sound, through to the way you can reach out to him via social media. Nothing feels out of the place or forced, and it all just works harmoniously together.
As I understand it, this is just the start too, as both Kevin and David aim to continue development on the app, bringing improvements and new features over time. Bring it on I say.
The David Ellefson Rock Shop app is available now for US$9.99. It is compatible with all models of iPad, iPhone 4/4S, and iPod touch 4th generation. For the best sounding result, it is recommended to be used along with Pocketlabworks’ iRiffport.
The official page – http://www.pocketlabworks.com/David-Ellefson-Rock-Shop.html[appext 514023297]


text:
DetailsThere's nothing quite as functional – or as beautiful – as nature's own building blocks. Often shaped and weathered by natural forces, each stone has its own unique look and feel.
Used as elements in a carefully planned landscape design, stonework can add an artful organization to your outdoor spaces. Creating sturdy walls, private patios, graceful gardens, and offering unlimited opportunities for your imagination to soar – with features like ponds, streams and waterfalls that can transform your property into a sylvan sanctuary.
From cover to cover, this delightful book offers hundreds of practical design ideas illustrated with colorful photographs and drawings, all divided into six sections.
Paths and steps – Find out how to build a rustic cobblestone walkway from rabble rock excavated during construction or a formal entry out of volcanic rock cut into bricklike pavers with a brilliant purple color.
Terraces, patios and garden spaces – Learn how to extend your living space by creating a flagstone patio for outdoor dining, a scenic retreat punctuated with irregular stones and natural plantings, or a poolside enclave with a fieldstone surface and matching retaining walls.
Walls – Discover creative ways to design natural boundaries that blend with your landscape, from simple dry stone walls to a more delicate presence with native fieldstone held together with mortar.
Pools, ponds and fountains – See how stone can give water its shape and form with the stone-like appearance of stamped concrete surrounding your pool or natural-looking ponds, streams and waterfalls you can design and build yourself.
Finishing touches – Find out how to surround your home with artful flourishes like the eye-catching textures of a garden border featuring a geometric collage of salvaged brick and variously flat stones in a variety of shapes and colors.
When you flip through this popular idea book, you'll be amazed at all the ways you can enhance your property with stonescaping designs. Whatever your budget or locale, it will inspire you to get creative with nature's most versatile building material.
- Additional Information
SKU FGN74070824 Table Of Contents Chapter 1: Paths and Steps
Chapter 2: Terraces, Patios and Garden Spaces
Garden Paths and Floors
Chapter 3: Walls
Dry Stone Walls
Chapter 4: Benches, Landscaping Features & Sculpture
Chapter 5: Pools, Ponds and Fountains
Streams and Waterfalls
Water Basins and Fountains
Chapter 6: Finishing Touches
Driveways and Transitions
Intro Back in the 1970's, it was fashionable to spend some time 'finding oneself' after graduating from college. So, not long after pocketing my newly minted bachelor's degree in English, I joined a landscaping crew instead of pursuing a more traditional career. While most of our duties seemed to revolve around pushing lawnmowers, we occasionally worked on more interesting projects, including a few that involved the use of stone. At the time, the material seemed to require a lot more labor than my 21-year-old mind thought it was worth, particularly on those very hot days when a truckload or more would show up on our job site, or when the client seemed overly particular about just how the stone should be placed.
Over the years, I've developed a keener appreciation for stone and the various roles that it can play in the landscape. Though carpentry has become my trade, and journalism my profession, stone has come to play a central role in my life. In Vermont, where I live, old stone walls abound, and quarries continue to produce slate, granite, and marble, just as they have for over two hundred years. The lakes my family swims in are notable for their rocky outcroppings and shale and cobble shorelines; a sandy beach is a rarity here. We fish from beautiful, boulder-strewn streams, hike on paths and ski on slopes that often seem to be carved from stone. Even our house pays homage to stone: its foundation is built directly onto bedrock. Walk down into our basement and you'll step onto the smooth ledge outcropping that passes directly beneath our home.
Besides underpinning our dwelling, granite ledges surround it. With them, we've created informal, low stone walls and borders for our gardens. From time to time, I walk out into the woods that surround our home with my pry bar and unearth new candidates, ensuring that our borders continue to slowly grow. We are, quite literally, surrounded by stone.
But we're ready to go a step further too. We have some informal flagstone paths that need attention, a gravel driveway that we'd like to redo, and a spot on our property that needs a proper retaining wall. And wed like to add on a new outdoor room, a place where we can gather and comfortably enjoy those balmy Vermont summer evenings.
Maybe you're like me, looking for practical solutions to particular landscaping problems. Or maybe you've seen a stunning wall or walkway somewhere that you think would look great at your home. Maybe you're putting in a swimming pool, and would like to make it look like a more natural part of your landscape. Or maybe your budget is more limited, but you still love the look and sound of water moving over rocks. The right kind of stone will help you achieve your goals; all you need are some ideas to help you figure out how you'll use it.
That's where this book comes in. Here you'll be presented with a range of practical and inspiring ideas for using stone in your landscape. Along with tried and true designs for inviting walkways and beautiful walls, youll see new ways of using stone in gardens and patio spaces. You'll discover ideas for creating graceful streams, waterfalls, or even simple fountains that will help transform your backyard into a private retreat. And you'll find a wide range of outdoor living spaces that family and friends can enjoy for years to come. As the examples in the book will demonstrate, there is a world of stone to explore; use this book to help get you started on the right path.
ISBN 978-1-56158-763-6 Video No Author Andrew Wormer Publication Year 2005 Dimensions 9 3/16 x 10 7/8 Pages 144 Photo color photos and Drawings drawings Other Formats No Cover Paperback Format Paperback
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MPs have recommended that the UK adopts an immigration system similar to the one used in Canada once the country has left the European Union.
Rather than a one size fits all approach, the All Party Parliamentary Group on Social Integration recommended that UK visas are issued on a more regional basis. Its report suggests that decisions on immigration should be brought down to the local level, allowing quotas to be introduced that are based on an area’s “economic and cultural needs”.
The report said: “Through the introduction of policies aimed at directing population flows to areas of the country which require higher levels of immigration or do not currently attract a great many immigrants, policymakers might minimise strain on public services and on community relations whilst bolstering regional economies.”
This is similar to the Canadian system, where regional authorities have the power to decide how many immigrants they need in their locality.
The report also recommends that people seeking to move to the UK from overseas should have to learn English. And it called for the Government to do more to promote an understanding of British traditions, cultures and laws among those seeking to migrate to the UK.
The committee’s chair, Labour MP Chuka Umunna, said: “It’s clear that immigration has impacted on different communities in different ways and the pace of change has alarmed many.”
There have already been a number of suggestions that different regions should be allowed to set their own post-Brexit immigration policies. London Mayor, Sadiq Khan, has spoken in favour of a special visa system for the capital to ensure sufficient skilled people from abroad can continue to work in the city.
Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has also called for Scotland to be allowed to set its own immigration policies, again to ensure free movement of talented people within the Scottish economy.


What do you think when you hear the word ‘vintage?’ Do you think antique? Something that’s older than you are? Maybe something that’s outdated, like a wall-mounted phone, a record player, that sort of thing?
Well, when it comes to watches nobody passed a law on the definition of the word, but accepted rules of thumb are 25 to 30 years old and older. (A good working definition for ‘antique’ is 100 years old and older.)
Will A Vintage Rolex Last A Long Time?
And so, with Rolex watches, a vintage watch may still be in very active service for its owner. For instance, a ‘vintage’ ref. 14060 Submariner produced in 1990 is an excellent candidate for a daily wear. As would Datejusts, Day-Dates, and just about any other model produced in the 1980s. To a lot of Rolex aficionados, it seems like a 30 year old watch is just getting worn in. Not worn out.
Just what is it about vintage watches? Why are they so cool these days? Is it that you can buy a great, solid, well-functioning watch at a fraction of retail prices? That’s obviously part of it. Like a car, much of the depreciation has been absorbed by the time the piece gets to you.
Birth Year Watch
Birth year watches are another hot commodity. With folks looking to honor their birth year, they’re looking more and more for a watch that was manufactured and/ or sold the year they were born. And a 30 year old watch is a perfect candidate, with much of its service life still in front of it.
Collectability is yet another angle. Consider the Paul Newman Daytona watch for its rarity, for instance. The venerable Rolex chronographs are beautiful in their own right, and bear the moniker of Cool Hand Luke himself. (It’s crazy to think these watches languished on jeweler shelves for years at a time back in the day, isn’t it?) And all one has to do is look at auction results from the last few years to see the price of such watches is heading north, not south.
And what about the story behind individual references. Consider the Submariner ref. 6538 Big Crown. this is the watch made famous with the undersized NATO strap tying the piece to the wrist of none other than James Bond himself. And you can have one too, if you want to sell your house.
So here’s the deal. Like land, they’re not making any more of those older vintage watches – unless you count the watches being made today. But… they won’t be vintage for another 30 years at least. Can you wait that long? Sure, buy up a few new Submariners and Daytonas, and maybe a Datejust or two. Stick ‘em under your mattress to be taken out in 2047.
Meantime, do yourself a favor and pick up a watch or two that were made back in the big-hair 1980s. We think you’ll be glad you did. After all, Bob’s has built their reputation on watches like that.


You’ve seen the photo. Now here’s the story behind the picture from the man himself.
Sam Kendricks captured a national title in the men’s pole vault at the 2013 Outdoor Track & Field Championships this past Wednesday. His title was the 13th individual national championship in program, and he earned All-America distinction.
The sophomore from Oxford, Miss., also combined with senior sprinter Isiah Young for 24 points to finish eighth in the team standings, the best in school history.
The photo above, courtesy of Josh McCoy, came on his winning pole vault at a height of 18-8.25 feet.
“The funny thing about that moment — that picture — is that I went through about five different emotions as I came dwon,” Kendricks said. “Josh McCoy snapped that one picture where I was like this, but I was only like that for an instant. And so I was celebrating, and then I was relieved, and then I hit the mat, and it was over.”
“With all my friends there and all the coaches, I really still don’t know how to feel. I’m excited. I feel proud to be a Rebel. I feel accomplished that I have done this. But at the same time, who can be fully satisfied with something like this. I went there and did what I knew I could do. I just happened to come out victorious in the competition. And right now, I’m looking toward the future.”
Kendricks said he never envisioned when he first started vaulting that all this was even a possibility, even to come to Ole Miss, even to jump higher than 14 feet. His grandfather, also Sam, has a flag pole in his front yard, and he moved it up from height to height while Sam jumped in high school, eventually to his highest jump, 17 feet. Sam said the flag pole didn’t go any higher, and his grandfather didn’t want to buy a new one. When he arrived home yesterday, he said he saw something that reminded him of the flag pole.
“I see a big banner that says, ‘Congratulations, Sam,’ and I see all my family standing in the front yard, but I also see something along the column next to the front door, and it’s a tape measure,” Kendricks said.
“And it goes up and up and up and up, over the balcony, over the second story, and onto our roof, and I realized my mom had climbed on the outside of the balcony and taped it at 18-8.25 feet, way above the second story of our roof.”
The immediate future Kendricks talked about is the USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships, which will be held June 20-23 in Des Moines, Iowa, where the top qualifiers will advance to the 2013 World Championships in Moscow, Russia, Aug. 10-18. There’s also the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, which Kendricks said he also thinks about. He is currently ranked second among Americans and seventh in the world this year with a mark of of 19-0.75 feet.
“I’ve never done anything on that scale before,” he said of representing his country. “Coming to college has been new experience after new experience. And just the possibility that I might be able to put USA on my chest is fulfilling.”
“I think every guy need to allow himself those dreams,” he said of Rio 2016. “And I hope that in the future I can still be a competitive vaulter, be healthy and be able to represent my country the best I can. The Olympic dream is always out there for a lot of guys, and for me, and I would be really happy if that came to fruition.”