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Monday July 25, 2016
Baylor: Interim head coach Jim Grobe will make $1.25 million this season, per a report from Brett McMurphy of ESPN.
Seattle Seahawks: GM John Schneider and the franchise have agreed to a new five-year deal locking him up through 2021. Schneider, who has been with the organization since 2010, will be one of the highest paid general managers in the NFL.
Attention Coaches: Do you want to look and feel better, lose weight, bench press 315 again, or be more active in your kid’s life? Our Coaches LEAN AND MEAN Workouts are intended to give you rapid results, in the shortest amount of time. Period.
FootballScoop: We have tweaked our homepage a bit, adding a list of our most popular articles over the past 10 days and a great new section below that called the Timeout. Enjoy.
Independence (JC – KS): Independence CC has hired Sylvester Hatten, a former player and graduate assistant at the University of New Mexico, to coach the offensive line.
Alabama A&M (FCS): Fayetteville State (D-II) offensive line coach Keith Wagner has joined the staff and will coach the offensive line. Prior to joining the Fayetteville State staff this spring, Wagner spent four seasons coaching the offensive line at North Carolina A&T (FCS).
Wake Forest: Terrell Dallas has joined the staff as a recruiting assistant. Dallas is a former running back at The Citadel.

domain: news


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Attorney General Mark R. Herring has warned state election officials that their new definition of what constitutes a valid photo ID, as proposed by the State Board of Elections, would likely lead to unconstitutionally unequal treatment of voters. “The language as drafted by the Board of Elections could cause confusion at the polls, lead to unequal treatment of voters in violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment, and potentially prevent qualified voters from casting a ballot,” Herring said in an email today. The attorney general’s assessment was part of the regulatory review to ascertain that proposed regulations are in compliance with the law. The board is scheduled to meet Wednesday to further discuss the new definition following a 21-day public comment period on the issue, which has sparked comments from hundreds of citizens.
In June, just weeks before Virginia’s new voter ID law went into effect, the elections board had determined that expired but otherwise valid forms of identification permitted under the new mandate will be accepted at the polls.
But following concern from the sponsor of the legislation – Sen. Mark D. Obenshain, R-Harrisonburg – the board decided to reopen the public comment period for an additional period and explore whether the agency has legal authority to determine what forms of ID are valid.

domain: law


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Two Shenandoah Valley landmarks have been added to the National Register of Historic Places. Rockingham County’s Plains Mill was built in 1847 and remained in operation for 138 years. Meanwhile, both Confederate and Union forces visited Rockingham’s Melrose Caverns during the Civil War. Many of those soldiers left their names on the cavern walls.
The results marked the first time in 11 years that Barbie hasn't held the No. 1 spot in the annual toy survey.
The 88th annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade stepped off in NYC, officially ushering in the holiday season.
Thanksgiving is a royal pain in the U.S. drain.
Think you've had a rough Thanksgiving? It could always be worse.

domain: history


The start of the 2014-15 hockey season finds 26 BCHL grads on National Hockey League rosters.
All of them spent at least one year in the junior A circuit.
The list is headlined by Chicago Blackhawk Duncan Keith, a former Penticton Panther.
Ryan Johansen, who just inked a three-year $12,000,000 deal with the Columbus Blue Jackets, also spent a year in Penticton.
Ex-Vernon Viper/Langley Hornet Mike Santorelli saw his Toronto Maple Leafs lose their Wednesday night opener 4-3 to Montreal.
The Leafs also employ ex-Victoria Grizzly Tyler Bozak. The Benn brothers, Jamie and Benn, are Grizzly grads with the Dallas Stars.
Longtime NHLer and former Kelowna Spartan Willie Mitchell has found a new hockey home, jumping from the Los Angeles Kings to the Florida Panthers. Ex-Nanaimo Clipper Jason Garrison also switched jerseys, traded from the Vancouver Canucks to the Tampa Bay Lighting last summer.
Ex-Chilliwack Chief Shawn Horcoff is settling in with Dallas after years with the Edmonton Oilers.
Edmonton’s young-gun defenceman Justin Shultz is a former West Kelowna Warrior.
Other notables include Kyle Turris (Ottawa, Burnaby Express), Milan Lucic (Boston, Coquitlam), Travis Zajac (New Jersey, Salmon Arm) and Beau Bennett (Pittsburgh, Penticton).
Find the full list at bchl.ca


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The Edict of Caracalla, also known as Constitutio Antoniniana, was a document issued in 212 granting all free inhabitants of the Roman Empire (except peregrini dedicti1) rights Roman citizens. The name of the edict comes from Caracalla, meaning Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, Roman emperor credited with the document.
The catalog of the rights of Roman citizens consisted of:
- Right to vote (ius suffragii);
- The right to serve in the Roman legions (ius militiae);
- Election to state office (ius Honorum);
- Right to appeal to the public if the judgment rendered by a court seemed unfair (ius provocationis);
- Ownership (ius census).
The rights of Roman citizens, including the Edict of Caracalla, were originally reserved only for citizens of the city of Rome. From 89 BCE they were awarded to all free inhabitants of Italy. Citizenship was also held by the Romans living in colonies, cities outside Italy and provinces, and the rulers of allied countries. At the time of the promulgation of the edict, some of these powers, such as ius suffragii, were of purely historical significance. Provocatio ad populum (appeal to the people on the death sentence) has been replaced by an appeal to the emperor.
The emperor justified his move with religious arguments (gaining the favour of the gods). The then historian Cassius Dio attributed to the edict only fiscal motivations (the extension of taxes imposed on Roman citizens to the majority of the population without exempting it from existing benefits). However, it should be remembered that Dion was extremely hostile to Caracalla and could have deliberately coloured his message.
Another purpose of the edict is the need to increase the number of men who can join the army. Only soldiers with full citizenship could fight in the legions.

domain: politics


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Brecon Beacons Ambassadors
Nick Stewart introduces an innovative scheme in the Brecon Beacons that involves local tourism businesses championing the uniqueness of the National Park
The Brecon Beacon Ambassadors Scheme aims to provide visitors with an insight into what makes the park so special.
Selected 'Ambassadors' are usually owners of local businesses who have undergone several days of training to help them share with visitors the distinctiveness of the Park's wildlife, history, cultural heritage and geology.
While the National Park Authority staff (such as the wardens you might see out on the hills) are the official representatives, the Ambassadors are informal advocates of the area. Examples of Ambassadors include Punch Maughan, Glynmeddig Bunkhouse, Sennybridge, Ceri Scott Howell, Coity Bach Cottages, Talybont-on-Usk, and Keith White, Brynhonddu B&B, Abergavenny.
The idea of the scheme is that by learning about the special qualities of the destination such as the wildlife, history, cultural heritage and geology, the Ambassadors are able to enhance their visitors’ understanding and appreciation of the place they are holidaying in. It’s all about the experience: getting under the skin and appreciating the special and distinctive qualities of the Brecon Beacons. In tourism circles, it’s part of what is known as creating a ‘sense of place’ – a sense that where you are is different to everywhere else. It’s done through the use of local food for example, the use of local arts and crafts in decor and the telling of true stories or myths and legends specific to the area.
There’s a serious conservation aspect to training up tourism Ambassadors too. Since they have attended days of training to give visitors a better understanding of the Brecon Beacons National Park, in this way it’s hoped that tourists will leave - and come back - as keen supporters of the protected landscape.
Ambassador businesses range from accommodation providers to pub landlords to walks and other activity-based businesses. The Brecon Beacons National Park Authority has gone further than this though by laying on a subset of the Ambassadors training specifically for taxi-drivers. Aptly named the ‘National Park Knowledge’ – a name that might make anyone who knows anything about London black cab driver training smile – these taxi drivers can give visitors more than just a ride to their destination. If you fancy more than your usual salt-of-the-earth cabbie type chat whilst on holiday, using a National Park Knowledge driver will reveal some interesting nuggets of information as you journey en route to your destination.
Subjects National Park Ambassadors cover include ‘Sense of Place’, ‘Customer Care’ and something delightfully called ‘Park in Your Heart’ which gives a trot through 480 million years of geology and wildlife as well as topics like how climate change might impact on the Brecon Beacons – and how tourism businesses and their guests can help to mitigate these changes through the use of public transport for example.
There are always more keen budding Ambassadors than there are places on courses which says something about the enthusiasm and appetite of local businesses to learn about and promote sustainable tourism wrapped up with giving their customers richer, more distinctive experiences.
Details of the Ambassadors scheme can be found on the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority’s website: http://www.breconbeacons.org

domain: geography


With 'Time's Echo' Boston Globe classical music critic Jeremy Eichler explores the music of memory
Here & Now‘s Robin Young speaks with Boston Globe classical music critic Jeremy Eichler about his new book “Time’s Echo: The Second World War, the Holocaust and the Music of Remembrance.” In the book Eichler examines works by Strauss, Schoenberg, Britten, and Shostakovich.
The cover of “Time’s Echo” by Jeremy Eichler. (Courtesy of Knopf)
Book excerpt: ‘Time’s Echo: The Second World War, the Holocaust and the Music of Remembrance’
By Jeremy Eichler
Excerpted from “Time’s Echo” by Jeremy Eichler. Copyright © 2023 by Jeremy Eichler. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
This article was originally published on WBUR.org.
Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.


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Jim Gazzolo column: No more hype, just reality
Published 1:02 pm Thursday, October 5, 2023
Nobody said it was going to be easy.
Rebuilding a broken college football program doesn’t happen overnight or even in one season, unless you are in Colorado.
Yet for every Buffalo story there are many more Nebraskas, UCLAs and even Florida States to be found.
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It takes time to build, patience and even a bit of luck. That’s not an excuse, it is a reason, an explanation of what happens when you don’t have a head coach last more than three years in coming up on a decade.
Recruiting classes get forgotten, good players transfer and losses mount. Trouble and problems always seem to follow trouble and problems.
It has happened at McNeese State before, it’s just been some time. Look at the record book: the Cowboys have gone through this in their past and come out of it. That’s the cycle of sports.
None of this is what McNeese State football fans want to hear, and none of it will be accepted by all. Just stating facts.
Granted, there isn’t one of us ever figured this team would start the season 0-5, yet here we are, a winless football team that had much higher — looking back too high — of expectations.
We all get the blame for some of that, for buying and selling the hype. We wanted to go right from flunking out to straight A’s without doing any of the homework. It is what we now all have grown to expect.
Unfortunately we overlooked the shape this football program was in, how bad things really were and how far it had fallen. There are a lot of people to blame for this, but that is all in the past. One person who is not at fault is Gary Goff, the guy brought in to change things.
It’s like your in-laws, you didn’t marry them but you are stuck for better or worse with the group. Goff got stuck with a mess created by others. That doesn’t get him off the hook for this season, it is just another explanation, a statement of fact.
There are those ready for another quickie divorce, one that gives the Cowboys another new start. There may come a time when that trigger must be pulled, but now is not it. Now is the time for us to step back, re-evaluate our own expectations and understand what is fact and what is fiction.
McNeese is a young football team, that’s a fact. We had all hoped they would grow up quicker and learn faster. We wanted them to go from 0 to 60 without even checking the engine.
Cowboys fans have certain expectations and believe McNeese is a special place, which to them it is. But this generation of players don’t understand the history. They weren’t even born the last time the Cowboys won a postseason game.
That is the fact.
In today’s world of college sports, when the going gets tough the first reaction of a lot of players is they get going … into the NCAA transfer portal. It is happening throughout college sports and, while some programs benefit, others suffer.
The entire Southland Conference is trying to figure out this new world and only Incarnate Word seems to have a handle on it.
Goff, in his second year, says he believes his formula will work even with the changing landscape. That remains to be seen, to be honest and state the facts. But you can’t bring a guy in to rebuild your house and kick him out before most of the material even gets on site.
At some point some a coach is going to have to be given the time to get this program headed in the right direction. It will be painful, like this season is becoming. It will be at times ugly and there will be questions about what is going on.
But you have to give it time. You have to give it at least three years to see if this direction is the right one. You can’t give up before you even get started.
Otherwise we will find the program right back to where it was at the end of the 2021 season.
And if you aren’t willing to give Goff at least three seasons, if not his full contract including two rollover years, then who is going to want to come here next?
The reason McNeese attracts any interest from coaches is its history and fans who stand behind the program. Lose that and all might be lost.
Of course, you can’t rebuild forever. At some point in time you have to win.
When that becomes impossible we will all know, and that’s when change is called for.
We aren’t even close to that yet.
Jim Gazzolo is a freelance writer who covers McNeese State athletics for the American Press. Email him at firstname.lastname@example.org


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The South African DIY and building materials chain Builders is expanding into Kenya. The retailer has announced the opening of a store in The Waterfront Karen shopping centre in Nairobi. Boasting a retail area of around 10 000 m², the store will also include a garden centre.
Opening the store in Nairobi is expected to boost expansion into East Africa. It is the ninth Builders outlet outside South Africa. The retailer is also represented in Botswana, Mozambique and Zambia.
With its distribution channels Builders Warehouse, Builders Express, Builders Trade Depot and Builders Superstore, Builders forms the Massbuild Division of the South African retail group Massmart.
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2017 Mercedes-AMG GT C coupe expands line-up
A new entrant to the already-elaborate Mercedes-AMG GT lineup was revealed at the Detroit Auto Show last month. Named the AMG GTC coupe, the new car is essentially the hardtop version of the existing GT C roadster. The GT C coupe slots in between the hardtop-only GT S and GT R.
The new GT C coupe uses the same 4.0-litre bi-turbo V8 unit as the rest of its family. But in the GT C, it produces 550 hp and 680 Nm. Mercedes has updated the power outputs of all AMG GT variants as well. The standard GT now produces 469 hp while the GT S cranks out 515 horses. The range-topping GT R dishes out 577 hp which slots the new GT C coupe right below it. Along with the seven–speed dual clutch gearbox, this powerplant propels the GT C coupe from 0 to 100 kph in 3.7 seconds and onwards to a top speed of 315 kph.
The GT C coupe serves as a more civilised alternative to the bonkers GT R as the new car gets many of the goodies available with the range topper. Rear-wheel steering, adaptive damping, and an electronic limited slip differential are a few of them. Visually, the GT C coupe looks a lot like the GT R as it flaunts the new Panamericana grille and the flared arches of its mental brother. The grille is also available with the lesser models as well.
Mercedes hasn’t announced the pricing of any models yet, but we estimate somewhere around Dhs 750,000 in the UAE. The GT C will initially be available exclusively as a pricier Edition 50 model, which includes 50 coupes and 50 roadsters. Buyers will get a unique Designo Graphite Grey Magno colour, AMG forged wheels, black chrome trim, and a few more exclusive options. Expect it to become available in the GCC sometime in the summer.


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Saturday, October 5, 2013
Manchester City vs Everton
Everton aim to continue their strong recent Premier League record against Manchester City when they visit the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.
The visitors have won nine of the past 12 league meetings between the two, with City triumphant just twice during that time.
The Etihad has been a happy hunting ground for Everton of late too, with three wins and a draw from their last five visits to the ground.
They will make the journey this term in good spirits, with genuine hopes of adding to their recent run.
City, under new manager Manuel Pellegrini, have had a mixed start to the season so far, winning three, drawing one and losing two of their opening six league matches.
Their most recent league outing ended in a surprise 3-2 defeat at Aston Villa, while on Wednesday they were comprehensively beaten 3-1 at home by Bayern Munich in the Champions League.
They are the Premier League's top scorers this season with 14 so far, but they have been susceptible to conceding soft goals and currently sit seventh in the table, five points adrift of leaders Arsenal.
Pellegrini's side have lost a league-high number of points from winning positions (six), a figure that is in stark contrast to last season, when they dropped just seven points from winning positions across the entire campaign.
However, they will take comfort from the fact that they have found the net in 53 successive home Premier League games in a run going back to November 2010.
Everton are also under new management this season, with Martinez coming in to replace the departed David Moyes.
His new side have started strongly, boasting the only unbeaten record in the division thus far.
After three draws from the opening three league games, Martinez's side have won their last three games to climb to fourth in the table, three points behind Arsenal.
Were they to win on Saturday, it would represent the first time the club has won four successive league games since March 2008.
Their latest victory came in Monday's 3-2 win over Newcastle United at Goodison Park, with on-loan Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku scoring twice either side of a Ross Barkley strike.
That brace took Lukaku to three league goals for the season and in his last six Premier League appearances, and the Belgium international has averaged a goal every 37 minutes he has been on the pitch.
Everton will be without England international midfielder Gareth Barry, as the terms of his season-long loan deal from City dictate that he is ineligible to face his parent club.
Meanwhile, Martinez hopes Darron Gibson (knee) and Kevin Mirallas (ankle) will shake off their respective knocks in time to be included.
David Silva returned to action for City on Wednesday but long-term absentee Martin Demichelis remains out with a knee injury, as does former Everton man Jack Rodwell with a muscle problem.


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What more needs be said about Cowboy Bebop?
I think it's one of the more well-trod stores in the animated realm, and deservedly so. Spike, Jet, Fay, Ed, Ein are all memorable and legendary in their own rights. The stories & their arcs flow out, about & in-between each other. It's truly a story of legend.
My review, while 5 stars, is simply more to the Crunchyroll community, to whom I at

domain: artistic


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December 12, 2018
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Hayley Cooke
Alexandria, Va. – Things got hairy this November as more than 15,000 people put down their razors to join No-Shave November, a month-long campaign which raises awareness and funds for cancer prevention, education and research. The more than $1.5 million raised this year will benefit Prevent Cancer Foundation®, Fight Colorectal Cancer and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
No-Shave November began in 2009, two years after Matthew Hill passed away from colorectal cancer. His eight grown children and their partners founded the Matthew Hill Foundation in his memory and kicked off No-Shave November to raise money for cancer-fighting nonprofit organizations. During the month of November, participants are asked to forgo their hair removal routine and grow it out for those who can’t, in honor of many cancer patients who lose hair during treatment. They are also encouraged to donate what they’d normally spend on grooming supplies, and to reach out to their friends and families for donations.
“No-Shave is a brilliant catalyst to get people talking about cancer,” said Carolyn Aldigé, Founder and CEO of the Prevent Cancer Foundation®. “The Prevent Cancer Foundation is a proud supporter of No-Shave November and we are honored to be a beneficiary of the event for the fourth consecutive year. To all participants and donors, we thank you for helping us in our mission of saving lives across all populations through cancer prevention and early detection.”
Donations for No-Shave November will be accepted through the end of 2018. To donate, visit no-shave.org/donate.
About the Prevent Cancer Foundation®
The Prevent Cancer Foundation® is one of the nation’s leading voluntary health organizations and the only U.S. nonprofit organization focused solely on cancer prevention and early detection. Founded in 1985, it has catapulted cancer prevention to prominence and fulfills its mission through research, education, outreach and advocacy.
To learn more about No-Shave November, visit no-shave.org.


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Johnny Leonard Returns To Daytona With Unfinished Business DAYTONA BEACH, Fla (February 8, 2006) - - Cape Coral, Florida native Johnny Leonard heads into the 2006 ARCA RE/MAX Series opener at Daytona International Speedway this weekend looking...
Johnny Leonard Returns To Daytona With Unfinished Business
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla (February 8, 2006) - - Cape Coral, Florida native Johnny Leonard heads into the 2006 ARCA RE/MAX Series opener at Daytona International Speedway this weekend looking to finish what he started in 2005 before being wiped out in a vicious accident approaching halfway.
"We were heading towards the front when another car in front of me got turned and I had no where to go," recalled Leonard who finished tenth in the ARCA RE/MAX Series points standings last year.
Despite the bad luck last year, Leonard's Affordable Roofing Racing team thunders into Daytona with a 2005 Chevrolet Monte Carlo bought from Richard Childress Racing which has proven time and time again in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series circuit to produce great restrictor plate cars.
"The car that we are using this weekend is the backup to our Talladega car from last year and that was a good car. We've been working hard to prepare this car and I think we'll have a good chance of qualifying and running well all weekend. Usually on these restrictor plate tracks it's all about luck. I hope I have a lot of luck on Saturday.
Johnny has two prior starts at DIS (Daytona International Speedway) with a career best finish of 15th after starting 33rd in 2004. Returning for a third straight season as crew chief for Daytona, Bobby Dick will lead the team's efforts.
After qualifying 23rd in last years event (50.006 seconds, 179.978 MPH) Leonard has a feeling that his equipment is better which will aide him in the starting grid. "Last year we had a 2002 Pontiac, this year we'll have a 2005 Chevrolet. The packages and bodies are completely different and for the good. In Talladega we qualified 11th with the sister car, so I'm hoping to qualify right in that range this weekend."
"It's important to be as close to the lead draft as possible," continued Johnny. "That's the only way we are going to be seen and have a chance of making a name for ourselves, we plan on doing that."
The No. 13 Affordable Roofing Racing team is still seeking a title sponsor for this weekend's race, but the team will continue to press forward with or without the additional backing. "We're really doing everything we can to find some additional funding for this team," added Leonard. "We have some good cars, some really good motors, but any financial assistance would aid this team to new heights.
Despite no primary sponsorship for the event, the team is excited to have pme (Pro Motor Engineering), Leading Edge Racecars, G-Force South and Suspension Systems as associate sponsors for the RE/MAX Series opener, which officially kicks off the 54th season of ARCA competition.
"I'm thankful for the people and companies that have stepped up to help our effort for Daytona, I hope we can give them a finish they would be pleased with."
The team opted to skip the December open test session at Daytona International Speedway but that doesn't faze Leonard or his team. "Even though we didn't test at Daytona, I know that we have a good car and engine for the race and we'll be okay, I have total faith in my crew."
Following Daytona, the Affordable Roofing team will prepare for Nashville before turning the reins over to the Mark Gibson Racing stable to take over Leonard's program from the remainder of the 2006 season.JLeonard is expected to run in a minimum of ten events under the Affordable Roofing Racing-Mark Gibson Racing banner. The duo will work together in Daytona and Nashville by consulting on setups and driver input before officially uniting as one for the first short track event at Salem Speedway in Salem, Indiana in April.
"I'm very, very happy about working and be associated with Mark Gibson this season," said Leonard. "I trust Mark and I know that he will do what's in the best interest of my racing career. I am looking forward to the 2006 season."
Rolling into Daytona, Leonard, a former Florida late model driver has 33 ARCA RE/MAX Series starts to his resume with a career best finish of ninth at Nashville Superspeedway (August 2005) while holding two additional top ten finishes at Pocono International Raceway (July 2005) and Toledo Speedway (September 2005). He also has a career best superspeedway qualifying effort of seventh at Kentucky Speedway (July 2005) followed by a career best short track time trials effort of eighth at Lake Erie Speedway (August 2005).
The ARCA 200 is the first of 23 events on the 2006 ARCA RE/MAX Series schedule. Practice begins Thursday, February 9th with a morning and afternoon session planned. Qualifying is on tap for Friday, February 10th with the race set to take the green flag Saturday, February 11th. The Speed Channel will air the event live beginning at 4:00pm EST.

domain: sports


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Washington, DC: Congressional Republicans reacted angrily today at accusations of abject incompetence and political irrelevance from both within and outside the party. Republican leaders denied their perceived lack of any direction for the country in terms of ideas or policies was actually their "greatest strength."
House Minority Leader, John Boehner, attacked his party's critics by suggesting, that while they are accurate in their assessment that "the Republicans could all go home for the next year and nobody would notice," their very words showed demonstrate "a lack of vision for the future."
"They like to say that Republicans in Congress are about as useful as t*ts on a bull," stated Boehner. "However, I am here to tell you today that t*ts on a bull would be VERY useful. In fact, they would be amazing! Can you imagine, American family farmers would see their profits double overnight just based on milk production. Then there are the revenues generated by tourist dollars as farmers from around the world would flock to see the bull with t*ts. What a great day for the American farmer. Then there is the fortune to be made by selling these t*ttied bulls on the open, free, international market. I WISH Republicans could be that useful to the American economy.
"Then there are the naysayers who suggest that even having the Republicans take part in Congressional committees and inquiries makes just about as much sense as taking a piano on a camping trip. They like we say all we do is slow things down and make even the simplest decisions a laborious process. Well, all I can say to this is 'yes.' Having Republicans on a committee is like taking a piano on a camping trip, or even carrying a car door through the desert so you can lower the window to keep cool. You see, Republicans believe in a America where the hard way is the right way. A place where the tough road is the chosen road. A place where not only do we seek out challenges, but make them even more challenging than they need to be. I imagine that our liberal friends across the aisle would fill their camping bags with water, food, first aid supplies, perhaps even an extra blanket or emergency radio. But not the Republicans. No, Republicans, all real Americans, would lug that heavy piano out into the woods along with them. Why? Not because it is easy, but because it is hard. That is what makes this country great, and we are proud of it. If a Democrat camper would slip and break is ankle, his liberal friends would either carry him back to safety or call for emergency support just so he could go to a hospital and strain our already overwhelmed health care system. But, not the Republicans, we would all just stand around playing little ditties on our piano until our friend died of infection, thus saving the insurance industry thousands. This is what it is to be an American."
Boehner concluded his remarks with a demonstration that he could, indeed, find his "ass with both hands and a funnel." "I'm not even in the shower," Boehner praised as he used the funnel as a makeshift trumpet to toot out "It's a Grand Old Flag" with his own flatulence.
Republican campaign strategists praised Boehner's efforts, and suggested that the Republican Party "was a victim of its own success." One high ranking strategist said, "Most Americans understand the Republicans have screwed up just about everything there is to screw up. So, they are not really surprised to see the Republicans left with nothing else to do than stand around looking stupid and getting themselves ensnared in corruption scandals."
In other news, Republican leaders announced the new theme for their 2010 election campaign. According to high ranking sources, "Incapable or Doing Any More Damage," will resonate with voters and lead to significant gains in both the House and Senate.


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Author: Katherine Longshore
Category: Young Adult
Release Date: 1-28-14
The year is 1911. And at The Manor, nothing is as it seems . . . Lady Charlotte Edmonds: Beautiful, wealthy, and sheltered, Charlotte feels suffocated by the strictures of upper-crust society. She longs to see the world beyond The Manor, to seek out high adventure. And most of all, romance. Janie Seward: Fiery, hardworking, and clever, Janie knows she can be more than just a kitchen maid. But she isn’t sure she possesses the courage — or the means — to break free and follow her passions. Both Charlotte and Janie are ready for change. As their paths overlap in the gilded hallways and dark corridors of The Manor, rules are broken and secrets are revealed. Secrets that will alter the course of their lives. . . forever. – Goodreads
Manor Of Secrets introduces two girls who are in very different circumstances in life. Even thought their socioeconomic status is quite different, they both feel tied down by their social limitations. While Janie fights to move up in rank and gain independence, Charlotte curses the expectation that she must marry, and wishes for independence, as well. The difference, of course, is that Janie is determined not to let her limitations define her while Charlotte must find her voice. While I enjoyed the world and the historical setting, I felt that I wanted a little more depth to the story. Some plot points were a little rushed so that it ended up feeling a little too engineered. However, there was a plot twist toward the end that took me by surprise, and I really liked what the author did with the love interest and the ending, which was both satisfying and had a historically appropriate ‘girl power’ feel to it.
Manor Of Secrets is an entertaining, light historical for fans of Downton Abbey or anyone who might be new to historical fiction. The world building is good, and it is not bogged down by volumes of political detail of the time. The friendship between the two girls, while a bit unlikely, was still very positive. The plot moves quickly and has enough twists and turns to keep you engaged. It also has the added advantage of being appropriate for all ages of YA readers, so it might might a wonderful parent/child read or book club choice.
I received this galley in exchange for my honest review.

domain: library


Driving a car comes with tremendous responsibility. Understanding the laws of the road and being a courteous and cautious driver helps to ensure that all motorists on the Tennessee roadways make it to their destinations safely. Car accidents can and do happen, even with the most diligent of drivers. One couple is hoping that justice is served after they were struck by an off-duty police officer.
The woman says that they never saw the cruiser coming until it was too late. As they were pulling out of a parking lot, the off-duty deputy struck their vehicle, flipping it over. An email that was sent from the officer to the City Manager acknowledges that the cop was speeding, but the couple was cited for failing to yield. For speeding, a verbal reprimand was given.
A news team dug deeper into the deputy’s history and learned that this was not the first time he had been involved in an accident. He was previously employed with another Tennessee county law enforcement agency where he was reprimanded for five accidents. The preventable accidents caused his privilege of a take-home vehicle to be revoked. The officer’s previous employer found him to be dangerous enough to ask for his resignation or consider terminating him. The man resigned and then found a job in his current position.
When car accidents happen, motorists assume that police need to be called to the scene to assist the injured. The officer in this case is blamed for causing this accident by the elderly Tennessee couple that he struck. With the aid of an attorney, those in similar circumstances can get help in investigating an incident to determine whether grounds exist for legal recourse. A successful civil lawsuit could result in an award of monetary damages to help with medical costs and other financial losses.
Source: wsmv.com, “Off-duty officer involved in crash previously disciplined 5 times for driving incidents”, Alanna Autler, Dec. 14, 2017


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Got the cover art for THUNDER yesterday, so today's six sentences are celebrating! Tentative release mid-November, two weeks after LIGHTNING's release at the end of October. Both are sexy paranormals for Decadent Publishing's hot 1 Night Stand series.
Sean stood on her doorstep, his soaked T-shirt molding sculpted pecs and abs, his drenched hair flattened over his brow. Rain poured down as he fiddled with his iPhone, a bemused expression on his face. Behind him, jagged arrows of lightning tore the dark sky. He glared at the screen, glanced at her in confusion, then back at the screen.

domain: literature


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Boris Johnson is “a part-time Prime Minister”. That’s Jeremy Corbyn’s new line. Having debuted it at last week’s PMQs, he energetically reprised it at this week’s.
Three times in six questions, no less. Mr Johnson, the Labour leader snapped, was “a part-time Prime Minister” who couldn’t be bothered to visit flood-hit areas, had been slow to act on the coronavirus, and had failed to turn up on Monday for an Urgent Question about Priti Patel.
Each time Mr Corbyn said it, Tory MPs groaned and howled. As well they might. Because it was dreadfully unfair. A cynical distortion of the truth. A shameless misrepresentation of Mr Johnson’s conduct. He hasn’t been slacking off.
He’s just been self-isolating.
That’s all. Self-isolating. Leading by example. Showing the public how it’s done. Calmly demonstrating to an anxious nation that yes, you can still hold on to your job – and not forfeit any of your pay – without leaving the house.
There is no suggestion, of course, that Mr Johnson has caught the coronavirus. But that’s not the point. The point is, he was showing leadership. Acting as a role model. Practising what he may end up having to preach.
It can’t have been easy for him. Throughout the recent parliamentary recess, Mr Johnson came under intense pressure to visit victims of flooding. And you can be sure he would have liked nothing better than to accede.
Yet, despite what must have been almost overwhelming temptation, the Prime Minister stuck valiantly to his task, and remained in self-isolation at Chevening – determined to show the public that, no matter how boring and lonely it may be to spend a whole week cooped up in a 115-room grace-and-favour country house and its 3,000-acre grounds, the pain can, and must, be borne.
In short: Mr Johnson was acting for the greater good. And this is the thanks he gets.
Mr Corbyn also laid into Ms Patel, who was sitting on the Government front bench for the first time since the bullying allegations began. Mr Johnson stoutly defended her. “The Home Secretary is doing an outstanding job,” he blared, “and I’m sticking by her!”
These exchanges, however, did little more than demonstrate the effects of the most addictive drug in politics: partisanship. All of a sudden, the Left are up in arms about allegations of bullying – having been curiously quiet when they were made against John Bercow. Meanwhile the Right – who were up in arms about Mr Bercow – have apparently decided that alleged bullies deserve the benefit of the doubt after all.
Not that either side would accept this characterisation.
“We’re not partisan. We’re just loyal. They’re the partisan ones!”
“No we’re not! You are! You just can’t see how partisan you are, because you’re so partisan!”
“You’re calling us partisan? Talk about a lack of self-awareness. Which, by the way, is typical of your lot!”


Despite its increasing attention for audiences, journalism studies remains an inherently production-focused discipline. Consequently, studying the perspective of audiences tends to automatically start from questions relevant for and benefitting the news industry. In this introduction, we argue for a more radical audience turn that pushes journalism studies forward beyond normative and industry concerns, and starts from the perspective of audiences themselves. We formulate four constructive starting points for advancing the audience turn in journalism: 1) further decentering journalism by also focusing on non-news and employing non-media centric approaches; 2) broadening who counts as audience by including audiences considered commercially unattractive; 3) shifting the focus from what counts as news use to what is experienced as informative; and 4) positing audiences as active agents. However, such a radical audience turn also creates fundamental dilemmas for journalism studies, raising questions about the field’s object of study, the spaces and contexts of news use considered, and the objectives of journalism studies as a field. With this special issue, we call for further reflections on how news and informational needs may be conceptualized from an audience perspective and how to theorize what this means for journalism’s role in society and everyday life.


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[Ballets Russes] [Nijinsky, Waslaw. (1889-1950)] Bolm, Adolph. (1884-1951) & Revalles, Flore. (1889-1966)
Souvenir Serge De Diaghileff's BALLET RUSSE 1916 Tour Program - SIGNED
An original 1916 souvenir program from the first American tour of the Ballet Russe, with full-color illustrations of costumes by Leon Bakst, photographs of the dancers, signed by principal dancers Adolph Bolm and Flore Revalles. Bolm has signed below a photograph of himself firing a bow as Prince Igor; Revalles has signed below a photograph of herself in an oriental costume and dated Baltimore, November 14, 1916. The program contains many full-color illustrations and photographs, including a photograph of Nijinsky in Spectre de la Rose and Bakst's Nijinsky as Faun, ballet descriptions, an itinerary, and 2 pages of ads. Pages are of thick ivory uncoated paper, cover is thick mottled grey paper, with embossed gold lettering and an attractive illustration of Nijinksy in Scheherezade. 36 pp. Heavy edge wear to the covers, which are detached from the pages; internally in very good condition overall. 9 x 12 inches (23.5 x 31.5 cm).


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Sometimes when another person is aggressive the natural inclination is to engage the fight, defensively counter-attack, or retaliate. But realize that when you are aggressive back, you are likely participating in the abusive cycle and need to come to terms with your contribution and how to get away. What causes someone to become flared-up, leading to abuse is explored too.
Narcissism is the selfish and self-centeredness preoccupations that some individuals choose or fall into being. Narcissistic individuals in relationships usually feel that the nonnarcissistic person should do all their biddings, take care of all their wants and needs and should organize their life around them. This type of entitlement becomes the rule of the relationship.
People who have power are not always people who you can trust the most. Isn’t that an odd thing to say? We’ve been raised that we need to be obedient or compliant with authority. If you had parents who tried to get you to comply with good things for you and the family, they may have used their power and authority over you as a persuasion. But as a consequence you might be very vulnerable to individuals who have power.
Learn to see the red flags of abusive relationships so you can be wise and ready to exit before harm comes. First, consider the ideal relationship, when everyone is googoo eyed with the in-love gooshy feelings. This is the time of idealization and fusion of hearts and oneness. The second phase is when everyone becomes expressive of individual traits and being different from the other person. During this time, abuse is likely to begin and can be detected.
Experiencing a Narcissistic Rage or the unending slave-like attitude you adopt when trying to appease or please someone who is a Narcissistic Personality will change who you are. When you wake-up from this slave-like, oppressed position, you will barely recognize yourself. Moreover, you may even find you are suffering from a type of PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) associated with the Narcissist’s style of abusing you.
Cruelty comes in all forms in relationships between bosses and employees, husbands and wives, parents and children and in any situation where one person thinks it is their right, their fun or their pleasure to be cruel, dominate, manipulative or oppressive to another. Join Dr. Carol Francis in one discussion of these situations and how to escape.
Wonderful to be a giver or a person who enjoys pleasing others. In fact, doing so often creates a wonderful bond or feelings of neighborly compassion. However, if a giver is directed toward individuals who are manipulative, untrustworthy, unable to create a mutual exchange or are abusive, narcissistic, self-centered,—then you have a big problem.
Control can be gained by abuse, pulling away or artificial praise. If you are trying to get love, romantic equality, sexual mutual pleasure, sharing of responsibilities, then you need a partner that is also able to share, compromise and lovingly share. Narcissistic individuals, for the large part, can not provide those healthy shared team-like functions.
Dr. Carol Francis describes the various reasons or causes for conflicts and disharmony in relationships that are related to merely being out of sync with each other. One is overworked and another is energetic, for example. Often arguments, conflict or disconnected disharmony will occur and might lead to something more complicated than merely being out-of-step with each other.
Sometimes religion, religious creeds, and religious moralizing are used to manipulate the abused to remain harnessed or trapped in the marriages, families or kidnapping circumstances. Guilt or feeling sorry for the abuser or even feeling it is “God’s will” to be long suffering or be bravely dealing with the pain is used as a noose to keep abused individuals attached.
What does a relationship with a narcissistic individual look like? One-sided! Consider if you are the trophy of the other person, their eye-candy, their servant, etc. It can be confusing when the narcissistic individual is kind–consider that their kindness is more about what they need to give you and what they feel good about giving and how it benefits them.
If you have recognized your narcissistic tendencies and wish to become more loving, responsible to others, and mutual in your teamwork, this series walks you through a few doable exercises. Practicing these exercises will be what trains your brain and your emotional muscles into a new way of expressing your personality and functioning in your relationships.
What roles have you assigned to your partner, unconsciously and consciously? When these expectations match, the relationship is solid and pleasant. When expectations and needs and wants do not match what your partner can meet or wants to meet that is when you will have conflicts and disappointments in the relationship.

domain: sociology


Nautique is an unmatched premium aquatic herbicide that provides effective control of aquatic weeds in canals, ditches and laterals.
Nautique should be applied via a drip or metered pump application system. Rates are based on flow (CFS) and site conditions (plant species, plant density, water quality conditions, etc). For optimal weed control throughout the season, Nautique should be applied as soon as submersed weed growth begins or when weeds begin to interfere with normal delivery of water (clogging of lateral head gates, suction screens, weed screens, and siphon tubes). Nautique applications should be repeated every 2 - 4 weeks based on site conditions. To achieve desired weed control, a minimum exposure period of three hours is recommended during each Nautique treatment.
Nautique can be applied as a surface spray, directly into the canal over the top of actively growing plants. In static and slow-flowing waters, Nautique may be applied diluted or undiluted, whichever is most suitable to insure uniform coverage of the target application area. Application rates of 0.7 ppm to 1.0 ppm are typically selected for aquatic weed control.
A SePRO Technical Specialist will work directly with your district to help design an aquatic weed treatment program that incorporates Nautique Aquatic Herbicide, and other tools to keep your water moving.
SePRO Technical Specialists will help you design an aquatic weed treatment program that meets your management objectives and complies with applicable regulations.


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There's a new Sally Rooney novel coming this year
2021 is shaping up to be a pretty amazing one.
If you're a fan of books or a fan of TV you will be familiar with Sally Rooney, the woman behind Normal People which was a hit both on and off screen.
Not only was Normal People one of the most talked about books but it was one of the most talked about TV shows over lockdown 2020. It is responsible for bringing Paul Mescal into our lives.
But that's not all, Rooney was nominated for an Emmy for her work on the TV adaptation of the show, which was broadcast on the BBC in 2020. And now, she's just announced her third novel to be released later this year.
It's titled 'Beautiful World, Where Are You,' and it's looking set for a September release.
Normal People and Rooney's first novel Conversations with Friends were both international successes in their own right, so we have no doubt that this next addition to the book shelf will be a hit too.
"Beautiful World, Where Are You tells the story of Alice and Eileen, two best friends nearing their thirties in different places and on very different trajectories," reads the blurb.
"As the summer approaches, they exchange emails about art, friendship, the world around them and the complicated love affairs unfolding in their own lives. They say they want to see each other again soon. But what will happen when they do?"
Publisher Alex Bowler said: "Sally’s new novel is a book of friendship and sex, art and faith, power and love. It absorbs you once again in the inner lives of characters with brilliant minds and aching hearts, while marking the next creative leap from a singular writer. The book scintillates with intelligence, empathy and, yes, beauty."
And yes, we can't wait to read it.


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Katie Crutchfield—the soulful voice behind her artist moniker, Waxahatchee—says she “never got ahead of herself.” Since her 2012 debut, American Weekend, the artist has purveyed the traditions of her titular inspiration, her undeniable Southern roots in Alabama’s Waxahatchee Creek. Her tried-and-true off-kilter country took on new meaning with Saint Cloud in 2020, Crutchfield’s first musical endeavor from the clarity of sobriety.
Videos by American Songwriter
To commemorate the first anniversary of the highly-acclaimed album, Johnny Eastlund directed a ticketed livestream performance event that Waxahatchee filmed in Kansas City last month. On March 29, Waxahatchee released a deluxe edition, Saint Cloud +3. The new version tacked on a trifecta of covers from their anniversary show—the original 11-track album including Lucinda Williams’ “Fruits of my Labor,” Bruce Springsteen’s “Streets of Philadelphia,” and Dolly Parton’s “Light of a Clear Blue Morning.”
On social media, she revealed that the band tracked “Fruits of my Labor” while in the studio recording Saint Cloud. Williams’ enduring influence reveals itself as Crutchfield’s rusted twang aligns with Williams’ original from the 2003 album World Without Tears. She also performed this tune during her 2017 Out in the Storm tour.
The Parton and Springsteen covers came into fruition over the past few months, “just for fun.” The 1977 hit, “Light of a Clear Blue Morning,” poignantly resonates in the wake of an ongoing pandemic and economic crisis. Penned on Parton’s way out of the Porter Wagoner Show, the triumphant tune looks to brighter horizons as a way out of the dark. In lieu of its original full-bodied instrumentation, Crutchfield breaks down the ever-relevant lyric lines with intimate, acoustic recitation.
Crutchfield takes on the Grammy Award-winning track, “Streets of Philadelphia,” with incredible trans-genre poise. Without faltering her characteristic vocal delivery, the artist manages to capture the spirit of 1993 within Springsteen’s initial production for Philadelphia—a mainstream film starring Tom Hanks that deals with the HIV/AIDS crisis sweeping the United States during that time.
Listen to Crutchfield’s cover of Springsteen’s “Streets of Philadelphia” below. Download or stream the deluxe edition of Waxahatchee’s fifth studio album, here.


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Casa da Quinta do Tanque
Rectangular building with a small chapel located near the right and monumental portal on the left. Facades of three floors with arquitravado body and top entablature (consisting of frieze and cornice) and double pilasters. Noble facade, ripping, on the ground floor, six smaller Windows and central door framed by masonry. The chapel features a straight Dick portal with small niche on the lintel, decorated in talk only interrupted with simple windings, surmounted by semicircular shot with Bell fake. Inside the chapel stands the fundeiro altarpiece with blind niches on the sides, the tiling pattern and coverage of barrel vault. The classification covers the sculptural group of São Cosme and São Damião, late 18th-century House, located at Chapel attached to the House, and whose authorship is attributed to Joaquim Machado de Castro.
- Difficult external parking
- Typical houses & Relevant buildings
Monuments near Casa da Quinta do Tanque
Casa na Rua Visconde Seabra
Rural house with a richly decorated gate.
Casa dos Castilhos
Former family home built by count São Joaquim, a wealthy Brazilian.
Igreja Paroquial de Nossa Senhora do Ó
Baroque parish church of longitudinal plant. The Chapel is of large dimensions.


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By Elisamarie Lefebvre. Kitchen Cabinet. At Sunday, January 26th 2020, 10:59:05 AM.
Maybe you’re looking for just a tiny bit of boldness to give your kitchen some personality. If so, consider taking a pointer from this fun and funky kitchen, which pairs white walls with emerald cabinets. The color pops, but isn’t so crazy that the owners will regret the paint job in a year’s time.
3D home design and modeling. As mentioned before it offers you 3D model. Whether you are designing a single room only or an entire house, this software will automatically make 3D model once you sketch your walls. After that, you can continue your design by placing furniture, adding cabinets, visualizing your design or simply painting the walls.
When you are looking for the best home design software, you may find yourself interested to try Home Designer Pro. This professional home design programs is especially designed for any one of you who becomes a serious DIY enthusiast. Here, you are offered with tools and features that are used by professionals when they are going home design, interior design, remodeling, cost estimation and outdoor living.

domain: design


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New Delhi: Liam J. Ryan, renowned author, property investment mentor, and business mogul, describes the property market as a combat zone where only those equipped with the right knowledge can thrive. In this fierce battlefield, it's not just about capital but grit and cunning that lead to victory. Ryan's own journey, a testament to perseverance and entrepreneurial ambition, reflects the challenges and triumphs of navigating this competitive landscape.
A Humble Tale of Entrepreneurship from Playground to Print
Liam J. Ryan's entrepreneurial spirit was evident even in his youth, as he embarked on a modest venture selling sweets at school. This early endeavor laid the groundwork for his innate business acumen, which later propelled him into the realm of property investing. As he delved deeper, Ryan uncovered untapped opportunities, setting the stage for a transformative journey in the property sector.
His vast experiences and insights culminated in the creation of “Bricks, Mortar and Other People’s Money,” an influential guide on property investments. The book quickly ascended the ranks, clinching a spot on the Amazon best-seller list. It not only chronicles Ryan's ascent from modest roots to entrepreneurial success but also offers readers a candid look into his wealth creation strategies. Reflecting on this journey, "Every challenge faced is a lesson learned, and every lesson learned is a step closer to success."
Dive Deep into Property Mastery with ‘The Property Millionaire Bootcamp’
Liam J. Ryan, in collaboration with co-founder Jay Munoz, presents "The Property Millionaire Bootcamp," a rigorous 3-day training experience tailored for those eager to delve into the property market. Attendees are furnished with a robust curriculum, offering a transformative journey and providing them with the tools, insights, and expertise needed to kickstart, nurture, and adeptly oversee their property ventures.
Rather than merely offering a temporary fix, the bootcamp is designed to change rising property enthusiasts into seasoned investors. It's a testament to Ryan's unwavering dedication to sharing his wealth of experience and insights in the property realm.
Setting the Stage for Global Expansion
Looking ahead, Liam J. Ryan envisions a world where his teachings and strategies transcend national boundaries. "We have just scratched the surface," Ryan asserts, emphasizing his goal to impact lives beyond the UK. His mission is clear: to scale his company's reach, democratize property investing, and make these opportunities universally accessible.
The co-founder of Assets For Life likens the property market to a complex puzzle, stating, “It doesn’t matter where you start, as long as you have the right pieces.” His journey, while already filled with accomplishments, is still unfolding. And as it does, he continues to offer invaluable insights and opportunities for those ready to navigate the intricate world of property investing.


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A few weeks back I was introduced to the band Common Wounds and from that point I’ve been hooked. At first I had only heard their song “Phantom Limb” but, that was enough for me to know that this was a band right up my alley. Their style of post-hardcore, part noise-rock and full on crushing rock is just what the rock world needs. The five songs that make up this fantastic EP, are hard charging, heavy and fully inspired songs. This is the type of record that when it ends, you immediately want to start it over. Common Wounds are the type of post-hardcore band that really gets it. They have the ability to mix the right amount of heavy with a side of emotional hardcore. Take the right parts of Fugazi and Rites Of Spring and add a bit of Helmet (Strap It On/Meantime era) and what you have is a recipe that Common Wounds have come storming out of the gate with. Each song on this EP, has a life of its own. There is a natural aggressive tone to it but, there’s also a bit of a melodic sensibility that gives the songs the space they need to explode. The production on this release is exceptional. Being able to hear the instruments with the right tones and having a mix that encapsulates the entire sound is the perfect harmony. It’s also very refreshing to hear a band like Common Wounds. There are so many bands out there that straight up copy their influences verbatim but, when you hear Common Wounds, it sounds inspired and fresh. I look forward to what Common Wounds have coming up and seeing this live. Do yourself a favor and take this EP for a spin!
It’s the beginning of 2023 and already a hard hitting banger of a release has been unleashed upon us! Arc Angles, one of my favorite bands I’ve championed since I started Audioeclectica have a new EP out called Daisy. It’s an unrelenting, pummeling force to be reckoned with. The in your face attitude that kicks in immediately will not only draw you in but might cause you to flip your desk or table and scream in a very therapeutic way.
The five songs on this absolutely direct and immediate release will stay with you for quite some time. The lyrics are thought provoking and interesting. The topics explored come with a depth and substance that many bands today, especially in the mainstream fail to recognize. Musically, there’s so much to delve into. Whether it be the odd time signatures, odd tunings, interesting melodies or the crisp and punch to the face mix (courtesy of Jawbox’s J. Robbins), the way everything comes together on Daisy is explosive as it is complex.
Arc Angles are a band that have taken the time to craft songs that play off their vast influences and have then created a sound that shines on it’s own merit. The way the record flows takes you on path that expands your mind both lyrically and musically. I love to hear a band challenge their listener to find little nuances in what they create to make the listening experience that much more special. Ever since I first heard these guys, it’s been a pleasure to listen to them evolve and further push the boundaries of what they are capable of. If this is the way we are going to start 2023 with, then I dare the rest of the music world to keep up with this!
A little over a month ago I introduced you to the band Faetooth. Their first single off their debut album “Echolalia” had just been released and what a treat that was. Now here we are on release day of their album Remnants Of The Vessel and HOLY HELL… What a debut record it is. The band is self-described as “fairy-doom” and it is most definitely a best of both worlds description. One one hand you have this thunderous and hard charging sound and on the other is this more delicate and dreamy style that echoes in the shoegaze realm with lush textures and soothing melodies and the occasional roar. Remnants of the Vessel is one of those debuts you will be talking about for some time.
Throughout the albums ten songs, you quickly realize that there is more to this band than meets the eye. The way the album flows it has a bit of a Neurosis vibe meets Chelsea Wolfe. The dark shrouded elements mixed with the glistening brightness adds to the tension of theses songs. When you listen you get pulled into quite a trance as the music guides and then the vocals and lyrics hit you. Something else about the way this album grabs you is the way Faetooth sinks their teeth into you bit by bit. When “that moment” comes, not only do they go in for the kill but they leave nothing left once they are done. Songs like “Echolalia,” “La Sorciere,” “Remains,” “Discarnate” and closing track “Saturn Devouring His Son” leave you utterly breathless. The sheer brute force that drives this album is on another level all together.
The musicianship among the four members is astounding. This band can not only play, they sure know how to write a song. I’m personally quite impressed that this is their debut album. After listening you’d think they’d been around for at least a few records. Faetooth are definitely not your run of the mill doom band. There is so much more and the deeper you delve into this album, the more you crave it.
Faetooth are without a doubt a band to watch out for. It’s been a minute since I’ve heard a debut album of this quality and precision. Do yourself a favor and sit down with this album and let it take you over. You won’t be sorry at the end. In fact, you are more likely to want to start it over once you reach the end because you are hooked and want more!
One of the best things about writing and running Audioeclectica is when I get an album sent to me that really peaks my interest. When this happens, I tend to get quite excited and listen to the album countless times and to find all sorts of nuances that make it even better. Recently, I received the new album, Bellevue by a band from New York called The Bobby Lees and it’s absolutely fantastic. It’s one of those albums that the more you listen, the more you enjoy it.
The Bobby Lees are an unhinged band with roots in punk, alternative, garage rock and I’d even say a tinge of folk. The 13-song album, which was recorded live in-studio, was produced by Vance Powell (Jack White, Chris Stapleton, The Raconteurs) and it’s stunning. When you listen to this band you hear something pure and honest that isn’t found in much of the mainstream music you’d hear today. So much so that the band found a champion in the legendary Henry Rollins, who brought them to the attention of Ipecac Recordings where Mike Patton and Greg Werckman signed them. The Bobby Lees are a four-piece that hail from Woodstock, NY, two women (Sam on vocals/guitar and Kendall on Bass) and two guys (Macky on drums and Nicholas on guitar), Sam is the band’s driving force – the songwriter/lyricist and the guide on all things Bobby Lees. The album is incredibly personal, written after a mental break while staying close to Bellevue (she uses the title as both a geographical point and also a reflection of her state of mind at the time).
Now with all that in mind, this album is an absolute kick to the nuts and punch in the face in a totally great way. There is an urgency and ferociousness within these songs that are not only a therapeutic journey but, also one that breathes life back into rock n roll. The album is 13 songs of hard charging unapologetic rock. What they deliver in 32 minutes is astonishing. The moment this album starts you can tell you are in for something that’s quite a trip. I could go song by song but my descriptions of the songs won’t do it justice enough. You need to listen to this album! There is an intelligence to this album too. The lyrics aren’t just personal they are introspective and deep. Then you add in the raw elements of the production and the chills that run amok over you with each listen will grab you and throw you against a wall with a sense of excitement that goes back to the days of CBGB’s and the craziness that ensued there.
The Bobby Lees have released an album that in 2022 is vital and necessary. It also has something that is missing that I’ve been talking about for a while now and that is a feeling of danger. Rock music has needed an injection of danger to it for a while and The Bobby Lees have found the right vein to tap into and let their music speak for itself. Do yourself a favor and take this album on a few spins and let it take over you. It’s one hell of a treat!
Heavy music knows no bounds. That’s one of the many things I love about heavy music. The fact that you don’t have to work in a set of parameters to create music that is intriguing, interesting, and that will absolutely decimate everything in its way. Throughout their years, KEN Mode has carved out their own niche among their peers. They done things their own way and it’s proved to be quite successful for them. Their new album NULL, is one hell of an album. Across the 36 minutes of pure aggression, vulnerability and ferociousness, KEN Mode has delievered the goods and then some. In their 20 years together they’ve incorporated elements from punk and hardcore to noise-rock and sludge to mold into an ever evolving sound.
NULL is the bands eighth studio album and they have taken everything they’ve done before and mixed it together to create an album that not only stands on its own merit but, also pushes the band to new directions for the future to come. NULL is an album that hits on feelings of anger, frustration and anxiety and then musically will knock your teeth out with the intensity and tension all of these elements create together. The album isn’t an all out assault. There is a real natural ebb and flow created to takes the listener on quite a ride in a short amount of time. KEN Mode is a band too that is never one to do the same thing. NULL pushes the band into almost avant-garde territory without becoming an “art project” rather it’s quite thought provoking and at times violent.
NULL is an album that isn’t afraid to take chances without being too weird for the sake of being “weird.” The methodical chaos found here is pure and KEN Mode have released an album that seems like only the beginning of what else is to come. In fact, this is only part one of a two part arc. So, when we get part two of this, I would bet that all hell will break loose. In the mean time, NULL is enough to satisfy long time listeners as well as new. KEN Mode are here, armed with a vengeance and throughout this album, you will feel it all.

domain: entertainment


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San Francisco: January 12, 2014 – The San Francisco Contemporary Music Players‘ inaugural competition for high school composers, Compose Yourself, has announced the four jurors as well as an extended deadline to January 22, 2014. Larry Polansky, Deke Sharon, Elinor Armerand Cynthia Mei will review and select the finalists’ works. Full details.
Larry Polansky is a heralded composer, theorist, performer, editor, writer and teacher. Currently a professor of composition at UC Santa Cruz, he was the longtime Strauss Professor of Music at Dartmouth College, and also on the faculty of Bard College. As a composer and music advocate, he is known as the co-founder and co-director of Frog Peak Music (A Composers’ Collective), his widely published and performed compositional catalog including many works for just-intoned guitar, and his many musical collaborations. These include working with the Mills Center for Contemporary Music on the computer music language HMSL, and contributing to the widely-used program SoundHack. Larry’s writings on American music include works on James Tenney, Ruth Crawford Seeger, Lou Harrison, Beyer, and more.
Larry is the co-author of Music and Computers, a web-text published by Key Publications. He has premiered and recorded works by composers and collaborators that include Christian Wolff, James Tenney, Lou Harrison, Lois V Vierk, Ron Nagorcka, Kui Dong and more. He is the recipient of prizes including Guggenheim, Fullbright, and Mellon New Directions Fellowships, and he was the inaugural recipient (with David Behrman) of the Henry Cowell Award from the American Music Center.
Deke Sharon is an accomplished performer, arranger, and producer. Trained with an opera background as a young child, Deke has shared the stage with musicians from Ray Charles to LL Cool J to Pavarotti. He currently produces “The Sing-Off” worldwide (USA, Netherlands, China), and served as arranger, on-site music director and vocal producer for Universal’s “Pitch Perfect” starring Anna Kendrick (2012).
Deke founded the Contemporary A Cappella Society, and commissioned programs including the CARAs (Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards, ICCAs (International Championship of College A Cappella), BOCA (Best of College A Cappella Compilation), the first contemporary a cappella conferences (the A Cappella Summit), the newly formed Contemporary A Cappella League, and the online channel “Inside A Cappella.” He is also a prolific arranger, having arranged over 2,000 songs, with many of them in print worldwide with Hal Leonard/Contemporary A Cappella Publishing. His first book, “A Cappella Arranging” was published in 2012.
Elinor Armer has been associated with the San Francisco Conservatory of Music since 1969. In 1985 she established the Composition Department and served as chair for eleven years. She studied composition with Darius Milhaud, Leon Kirchner and Roger Nixon, and piano with Alexander Libermann. Recipient of numerous awards, fellowships and commissions, Armer has performed and lectured throughout the country, and her works are performed regularly in the United States and abroad. Armer is one of the co-founders of Composers, Inc., and a member of ASCAP.
Her compositions are published by J. B. Elkus & Son, a division of Subito Music Corporation. Among her best-known works is the eight-part fantasy Uses of Music in Uttermost Parts, written in collaboration with Ursula Le Guin. Her many references include the Elinor Armer Archive in the University of California-Berkeley Music Library and Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians.
Cynthia Mei is a veteran of the new music scene in the Bay Area, as founder and director of the Adorno Ensemble, whose commitment to fostering the creation and presentation of new music has included performances in galleries, via online radio and podcasts, and an innovative and interdisciplinary approach to music appreciation, the Kandinsky Listening sessions.
Cynthia currently manages community relations, fund-raising, and music education for San Francisco Classical Voice. Other positions have included: development director of Other Minds, and development director/administrator of California Summer Music. She has a Bachelors and Masters of Music from the Manhattan School of Music.
“This a highly illustrious and diversified Jury panel, reflecting a full spectrum of musical and pedagogical influences, experiences, and styles — perfectly aligned with the essence of the Compose Yourself competition,” says SFCMP Executive Director Rozella Kennedy. “With the deadline extended until January 22, we are receiving so many interesting submissions from young composers around the world. There will be an exciting selection of compositions for our wonderful panel to review!”


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INTRODUCTION: The annexation of the Golan Heights by Israel has resulted in Arab states at the United Nations General Assembly, led by Syria, asking the Security Council to declare the action null and void.
SV Algerian representative Mohammed Bedjaoui speaking in French.
SV China delegate seated listening.
SV Turkey representative Coskun Kirca, speaking in English.
GV Delegates listening. (2 SHOTS)
SV Djibouti delegate, Saleh Haji Farar Dirir, speaking in English.
GV Delegates listening. (3 SHOTS)
SV Democratic Republic of Yemen representative, Abdalla Saleh Ashtal speaking in English.
SEQ. 3: KIRCA: "Israel seems to be impervious to the concerns of even her closest friends They would like to remind Israel that one can reap only what one sows. Israel's fait accompli with respect to the Golan Heights fraught with extreme danger, and portends the most serious and highly destabilising repercussions in a volatile and fragile region."
SEQ. 5: DIRIR: "We call upon all peace-loving nations to vehemently reject the waves of aggression and expansionist movement from Tel Aviv regime, condemn all measures taken by its regime in the occupied Arab territories to change the demographic, geographic character and institutionalist spectre of these territories and declare them as null and void."
SEQ. 7: ASHTAL: "The Middle East today is more polarised and more militarised then ever, The military industrial complex in Washington is bartering oil for turmoil. Like the prospective American salesman, American foreign policymakers have reduced their options tot eh art of selling arms and creating a market for it. In the Middle East, the strategic consensus. The strategic consensus is but a smoke-screen -- Washington's real aim is to forge a strategic alliance with Israel, an alliance directed against the aspirations of the Palestinian people and the security of the Arab states."
Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
Background: INTRODUCTION: The annexation of the Golan Heights by Israel has resulted in Arab states at the United Nations General Assembly, led by Syria, asking the Security Council to declare the action null and void. The critics have also demanded that the annexation be rescinded. The Israeli parliament, the Knesset, approved the annexation on Monday (14 December). The UN has said their peace-keeping forces in the area would still subject Israeli forces to regular inspections, and they would consider any Israeli attempt to interfere a violation of the 1974 dis-engagement agreement.
SYNOPSIS: The Permanent Representative from Algeria, Mr. Mohammed Befjaoui, opened the afternoon session of the General Assembly debate on the Golan Heights on Tuesday (15 December). he said the annexation was an act of legislative piracy. He added that, if the Camp David Accord permitted this illegality, then the Accord itself was illegal. The Security Council, which met on Monday night (14 December), had already decided to defer action on Syria's resolution condemning the action. The Israeli Prime Minister, Mr. Menachem Begin, said in jerusalem that the decision had been taken without consulting the United States. The Syrians have called on the UN to impose sanctions, should the Israelis not reverse their decision. The annexation has been widely condemned since the announcement on Monday (14 December).
The Permanent Representative from Turkey, Mr. Coskun Circa, addressed the General Assembly.
The Permanent Representative from Djibouti, Mr. Saleh Haji Farah Dirir, spoke to the delegates.
Mr. Abdalla Saleh Ashtal, the Permanent Representative from the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen was next to address the Assembly.


text:
Why Is This Funny?
The best way to fix the ficus sketch would be, I think, to instead make it an aloe plant.
You know, after #1 I sat down and tried to formulate an approach to an idea I've had for ages and couldn't figure out what was wrong. This framing has illuminated both the issue and the solution. Now I have to write the thing.
I've reviewed and shared this and post #1 so many times. Thanks for writing them!
Firstly, thanks for writing this and providing a space to think about comedy.
Regarding the ficus - A woman saying she's a ficus because her feet are roots and hands are fronds isn't funny. A woman who says she is a ficus because she's "easy to care for in an office setting" is funny. It also gives us the change in POV we need. This isn't about a woman who thinks she is a plant. It is about a woman who has chosen to be a plant because it is easier to exist as a plant in an office than a person in an office. That also changes the friends role from convincing her that she's not a ficus to accepting her decision that she is a ficus.
Her being a plant has a positive outcome on the office. Seeing her happy boosts morale. Do a short scene where "she seemed a bit droopy so I brought her over to the sunlight to perk her up." Have her dressed up as a Christmas ficus. Handwaive the whole eating and drinking aspect of being alive. Ending: have a drunken office party and have someone knock her over accidentallty. She'll respond with a whiny "Owww" and wince and gripe about how that really hurt.
The tag can be her sitting back at her desk with her office mates saying "...so that's how I pooped"
Great post, definitely helpful when looking back over the sketches I’ve written so far and identifying what does/doesn’t work about them. Good news: I’ve been doing some of this subconsciously and now am able to articulate it. Bad news: I’ve not been doing it as consistently or as well as I could have, which is something I can work on in the future.
With regards to “fixing” the sketch: a transphobe tries to mock a trans person with the classic bigots-only-have-one-joke of “I identify as [thing]” (in this case a potted plant). The mockery escalates (“no, I’m serious guys, looks at me [pours water on head, eats dirt, only gets nutrients from the sun]”) until it becomes clear to everybody around them that they’re using mockery as an outlet for their true feelings: they actually do identify as a potted plant. They break down and tearfully accept this by the end of the sketch.
I worry this comes off as a little close to the knuckle, but taken in the spirit it’s intended I think it works? I.e. transphobia often comes from a place of deep insecurity about one’s own identity/role, and transphobic arguments are often ridiculous and obsessive.
Do you outline before you write? And if so, what all are you figuring out in advance? What does your process look like?
I think the ficus sketch could be saved by making the game “A woman thinks she’s a ficus” into more of a final stinger, and instead focusing on something more relatable, like “a woman who talks about her house plant like it’s her child”.
Sketch could start with some women talking about their children: “Oh Jenny loves to draw just like her Mum”, before interrupting with the juxtaposition “Oh yeah, Fici loves to soak up the sun, just like me!”. The sketch could heighten as the woman insists that her plant really does take after her while doing more and more plant like things, eating fertiliser, etc. before culminating on the reveal that she actually is a plant. She takes her shoes off to reveal thick matted roots instead of feet, and her skin turns to bark while vines grow from her mouth and ears as her friends scream in terror. (One for the production team to work out)
This sketch feels funny to me because of the juxtaposition between parents who feel pride and a sense of relating to their kids, and someone is trying to claim the same feeling of pride towards a houseplant. There also plenty of room for absurdity as the sketch builds, at first it seems like the woman is speaking figuratively, but then, surprise, she really is a plant person.
This sketch is pretty silly, but I think there’s a grain of truth in the feeling of affection you can have towards houseplant. For a lot of people in their early 20’s especially, there’s a real sense of pride and affection you gain the first time you nurture a plant well, and you may even do some slightly things like naming and talking to it. This sketch feels like taking that feeling to its logical extreme.
The sketch would of course be named: “I’m a real plant person!” That’s unexpected meeting the inevitable, right?
I can't help but think that the ficus sketch could potentially work if she doesn't die at the end but instead her friends turn out to all be ficuses and she's the only actual human there. Like, maybe she's starting to lose it from a multi-year pandemic or trying to convince herself that she's a plant to avoid having to go to work or something.
But that'd mean withholding the point of view until the very end, which I'd imagine would make it kind of a long walk unless broken up with mini-twists (first thought: maybe her friends argue about various things she loves that ficuses don't do/have/eat and she tries to convince them that she's a rare pizza-eating ficus or something). I feel like I've seen sketches like this work, but at the same time, I probably find myself appreciating sketches like it less than the others that are more upfront about their point of view.
Do you generally find it better to establish the point of view early so that it can be better woven into a sketch, or does it not really matter so long as that kernel of truth eventually shows up?
Cool post !
I came up with this idea about the ficus sketch
Maybe the game could be : this girl who's cast as a mute plant in her school production takes her role way too seriously. The truth element would be mocking the actors that are so serious and into their work and character that they would die for it.
The heightening would be that : In a method acting fashion she starts rehearsing all the time at home, on the subway, everywhere. And her theater teacher is so awckward and fed up with her.
The surprise could come during the heightening : she actually steals the performance, becomes a star for this role that she reprises in all kinds of productions, makes the cover of Time (still as a plant). There could be scenes where she's now grown up and fails to communicate with her husband, still in character and it makes for a sad personal life even though she's wildly successful. While at the same time still receiving standing ovations in theater rooms, being wheeled around in a big pot.
And by the end eventually receives an oscar, she's wheeled on the stage. But the trolley bumps and she falls, shattering the pot. And, dramatically, as everyone in the room is shocked and silent, she's thrown off, not knowing how to act as a plant in this moment. She then whips out a gun and shoots herself to be in accordance with her plant nature in a broken pot. And the audience erupts in applauds and admiration.
My absolute favorite takedown of the "We Combined Random Two Things for clicks" sketch is Nick Wiger's "Gungan Style". An all-timer.
Ficus sketch idea: A woman is trying to avoid having the breakup conversation with her boyfriend. Her friends keep telling her that she can't put off talking to him forever. Nope! You can't break up with a ficus! They tell her he's sent her a dozen texts. Sorry, I can't respond, no fingers, only fronds! Her friends threaten to feed her some fertilizer. Well, that's still better than admitting to Jeffrey that she made out with his cousin!
Ficus sketch idea:
a new employee N is walking into the building with her Guide G. They bump into a woman outside who says "Hi, I'm Deb, your new HR. I’m just soaking up some sun, I need my sunshine"
The new employee asks for water, Deb says she doesn’t drink tap water, it’s bad for her cells.
Deb later offers her a liquid vitamin mix “it’s got potassium, nitrogen, and its really good for your fibers.” N asks “like it has fiber in it?” Deb brushes it off.
At lunch N sees Deb making a smoothie from what looks like dirt. Deb tells her it’s a cacao and quinoa or something.
The new employee is shown the conference room. Deb takes her shoes off. N asks if she should as well, and G says “no that’s just a Deb thing you don’t need to”
Deb walks to the front as though she’s approaching the whiteboard but keeps walking. She stands in a pot of soil. She takes off her headband revealing a little peanut plant on the top of her head. The look of confusion leaves N’s face and she says “oh, health nut.”
I think it lacks a punch, I don’t think her losing the confusion at the end is enough. the kernel of truth is that we all know a “health nut,” and I think juxtaposing plant behavior and health nut behavior is funny, like "huh yeah I guess we both need the same stuff."
Idea for fixing the sketch:
starts the same, but we have a coworker point out that being a plant is rediculous and unacceptable... As they are a cat. Escalates until everyone in the office is arguing they are different things and are not being supported by eachother. Manager looks on from an office and nods at how his team is really coming together because of clear support and communication.
Great post, love the insights on these for sure. Gotta throw my hat in the plant ring here, just for fun.
-Plants are a hobby a lot of people have picked up.
-Lots of people get the information on there chosen hobby online.
-Group of friends sitting around talking about the niche hobbies they have picked up over the last few years.
-Plant lady starts out with normal "I got into plants" talk, but everyone around her starts to realize she actually joined a forum of plantsona (fursona) enthusiasts and in currently living her best life as Ficus91.
-Perhaps it encourages everyone else to share the true hobbies they've all been enjoying just as niche and weird as hers
-Sams just been doing sourdough though.
Great read! I feel like this is a great explanation and really appreciate this.
Felt like the ficus sketch could be about social anxiety at party's but it didn't resonate with me very well. Could also see it going as she's not actually a ficus, she's a weed plant and high as hell and she's self conscious about how high she is.
I thought it would be a funny sketch. Relying on the plant person to go crazy with it.
Am I broken?
This was an incredibly interesting and thought provoking and made me reflect on my previous writings.
Although I did write a Ficus sketch but I'm not sure I followed the rules brought up in the post.