Another month just passed and we can't believe we are hitting the middle of spring on Sunday already. The first month of the blossoming season has ended and we are excited to share the review and see which destinations our travelers loved this month, how many itineraries our destination specialists have designed, what blog posts were most loved by our audience, and more. So let's find out what this month was like and how it compares to the previous one!
Trans-Siberian tours - the once-in-a-lifetime adventure and unforgettable journey across Eurasia will be a story to tell.
Trans-Siberian - Small group Trans-Siberian railway adventures remain the unique summer ventures allowing you uncover many beautiful places in Russia and Mongolia.
Travel specialists are talking to travelers each day, finding out their travel preferences and desires and then planning the perfect trip to Europe for them. The design of the flawless itinerary takes time and a non-stop communication with the traveler to ensure that the trip will be the one he or she will never forget. Our team of specialists have prepared 1,146 itineraries this month and are currently designing the next one as we write.
Whilst working on the perfect itineraries and sharing our travel expertise on the blog, we also designed a few new tours showing even more of Europe. Firstly, we continued to extend the list of tours to Benelux with a new addition Gems of Belgium and Luxemburg - a private 10-day tour of all the must-sees of six cities in the two parts of Benelux and a first-ever tour to Luxembourg we've designed. On the same list, you will also find another newbie - a fully customizable private tour to Belgium - the Essence of Belgium allowing you to traverse the historic streets and winding canals of the major Belgian cities. However, if you prefer the sunnier destinations then our new listing to Malta is the perfect choice for your trip to Europe. Whilst we are on the subject of tours to hot European Islands then we should also mention a brand new private 8-day tour to Corsica - the corner of sun-kissed heaven in France.
A new list of programs that require a separate paragraph is, of course, our newest European Cruises. The new European Cruises are special as they combine our excellent customizable land tour program with the best cruise lines on the main rivers in Europe - Danube, Rhine and Seine. So when you go on the new river cruise in Europe you spend time with a private guide and driver exploring the top cities and then board the modern vessel, enjoying small group tours during your program and ending it on a high note - going on private tour in your final destination following the disembarking.
This month our favorite feedback was by Bruce who traveled with us to see Russian Northern Lights. If you want to be featured in the next month in review, don't forget to tell us how your trip went!
Taking everything into account, the first month of spring was intense in terms of designing new programs and creating tailored itineraries to the best places in Europe, however, the top destinations remain the same as the last month with Russia, Scandinavia and Trans-Siberian topping the charts. Bring on, April!
Learn more about us, read about Firebird Tours.


Marigold is a Contemporary style condo community located within walking distance of elementary and middle schools in the Cypress Village region of Irvine, California. Built in 2013, Marigold is comprised of 242 luxury units with floor plans that feature spacious living areas. Residents enjoy living at Marigold because of the amazing amenities, the many hiking/biking trails, the award-winning public school system. It's also a short distance to freeway access, coffee shops, fitness centers, grocery stores, golf courses, Irvine Spectrum, Fashion Island, the Orange County Zoo, and the John Wayne Airport. This community offers attached garage parking, in-home laundry hookups, a swimming pool, and spa.
Range $507 - $520 /sq.ft.
Whether you are contemplating purchasing or selling your condo in Marigold, it is imperative that you hire the right Irvine Real Estate Expert that can exceed all of your expectations. When you work with The Ryan Case Team, your every need will be met with the greatest attention to detail. We are intimately familiar with Marigold, and you will not find a more qualified Irvine Real Estate Agent to help you achieve your goals.
As a seller of a Condo or Townhome in Marigold, your unit will be front and center on our top ranked website. This gives you maximum exposure above what a normal Irvine Realtor would provide, as our highly trafficked website will help us to sell your property in less time, at the highest possible net to you! After all, the same way you found us is how your next buyer will!
Listed once again as of April 11th at 8:48am, this home was originally listed on April 10th in 2019. The property is being listed at a price of $995,000 , the same as its original list price. This 3 bedroom, 2 full baths, 1 half bath residence is located on Scented Violet, an excellent location in .
With a total floorspace of 1,948 square feet, this spacious home comes in at $510.78 per square foot. That's 0.00% higher than the neighborhood average. There are also 2.00 garage spaces available for parking.
Listing provided courtesy of Kevin Kim at Landmark Real Estate.


The Freedom Tower needs your vote to secure preservation funds that are available to only a few key landmarks in the nation. Known as the Ellis Island of the South, MDC's National Historic Landmark Freedom Tower is a finalist in the Partners in Preservation 2018: Main Streets campaign. Landmarks that express our diversity as a nation are being considered for a share of a $2 million preservation fund. Grants will be awarded based on the number of votes a landmark gets. The Freedom Tower is one of 20 national sites in the running.
You can vote for Freedom Tower once a day, every day, though October 26!
If our Freedom Tower wins, MDC will use the award to continue renovations at the Freedom Tower and the Museum of Art and Design, which includes the Cuban Exile Experience exhibit. Our Education Room will be transformed to provide complimentary, age-targeted educational opportunities.
Well-known to the many locals who actually passed through its doors and to those who have come after them as immigrants into Miami, the Freedom Tower in Downtown Miami provided provided medical, housing and financial support to Cuban Refugees from 1962 to 1974. At one point, it also housed Miami's first newspaper. The iconic building, now owned and operated by MDC, is a museum space, housing exhibitions that speak to Miami's unique role as a cultural crossroads and a home for diverse populations.
Haven't been to Freedom Tower lately? In order to encourage voting, Freedom Tower is holding an Open House on October 20th featuring a full lineup of culture, music and art. Admission is free, RSVP required.
You can vote for Freedom Tower once a day, every day, until October 26!
Those who vote, may also enter a sweepstakes for a chance to win a trip to our nation's capital at the close of the campaign.


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Rays Trade John Jaso to Mariners for Josh Lueke
By Erik Hahmann Nov 27, 2011, 7:30pm EST
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ST. PETERSBURG - APRIL 24: Catcher John Jaso #28 of the Tampa Bay Rays takes a pitch against the Toronto Blue Jays during the game at Tropicana Field on April 24, 2010 in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by J. Meric/Getty Images)
According to Mark Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times, the Rays have traded catcher John Jaso to the Mariners for right handed reliever Josh Lueke and a player to be named later.
Lueke appeared in 25 games for Seattle last season, his first at the big league level. His ERA was 6.06 but his fielding independent numbers FIP (3.24) and xFIP (3.79) were much better. He posted excellent K/9 numbers in the minor leagues and has plus control as well. His arsenal includes a 93 mile per hour fastball, a split fingered fastball and a curveball.
Jaso leaves the Rays after two very different seasons. In 2010 he was a bright spot, posting a .372 on base percentage in 404 plate appearances. Last year didn't go nearly as well as his OBP plummeted down to .298 and injuries limited him to just 89 games. His defense has always been an issue, and with the Jose Molina signing nearly complete there wasn't room for the two of them. The Rays head into the 2012 season with Robinson Chirinos, Jose Lobaton and, presumably, Jose Molina as the only catchers with major league experience.
This move helps to strengthen the Rays for 2011. Lueke has a dark side, however. After he was traded to Seattle by Texas in the deal for Cliff Lee in July of 2010 the Seattle Times published reports of a criminal past.
Josh Lueke, 25, a 6-foot-5, 220-pound right-handed relief pitcher in Class AA, faced rape and sodomy charges in Bakersfield, Calif., last summer, but later pleaded no contest to a reduced charge of false imprisonment with violence. Lueke was sentenced to 40 days in prison, but was freed with time already served after agreeing to the plea bargain.
Extended details of the incident can be found here. The Rays must have great trust that character issues like these are a thing of the past for the young man.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Hi, my name is Sarah Hunsaker.
I'm privileged to be the principal of St. Mary's Catholic School. I welcome you to visit our school and explore our website often. My goal is enabling you to use our resources and tools to engage yourself in your child's education process. I invite any comments or input you have and look forward to helping your child learn and grow!


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Dedicated fans at the center of Redskins-Cowboys rivalry
September 25, 2011 nickeilerson Leave a comment
[READ ARTICLE IN THE WASHINGTON TIMES]
Chad Costa is a perfectly friendly guy, but he has a penchant for getting booed when he cuts his grass. His neighbors don't take kindly to the burgundy-and-gold signs and flags splayed across his front yard, nor do they think the American Indian logo tattooed on his ankle is particularly attractive.
Costa's 15-year-old daughter, meanwhile, proudly wears a "Dallas Sucks" T-shirt to school in hopes of recruiting fellow fans, but no one around their home in Frisco, Texas, ever seems to think very highly of her cause.
About 1,300 miles northeast, in the nation's capital, Mike Jelencovich strolls down the street wearing a baseball cap that draws glares from passers-by. Many of his friends can't stand the sight of that hat, whose single blue star belies its owner's Maryland roots. By most accounts, he is also a well-intentioned guy, but sometimes he thinks he might be the most hated man in town.
While on opposite ends of the spectrum, Costa and Jelencovich have one thing in common: Their defiant devotion to their football teams epitomizes a rivalry that never wavers, no matter how it plays out on the field. Their dedication will be out in full force when the Washington Redskins pay a visit to Cowboys Stadium in Dallas on Monday night.
Cowboys and Redskins fans are far removed from the glory years, when greats such as Bob Lilly, Roger Staubach, Dexter Manley and Joe Theismann ruled the gridiron with equal parts skill and nastiness. From 1971 to 1996, 18 out of 26 NFC championship games featured either the Cowboys or the Redskins. They met twice in conference championship games – with the Redskins winning both.
Since that period, the two teams have combined for a total of four playoff wins.
Even if the rivalry might have lost some verve on the national scene, it remains as strong as ever in Dallas and D.C.
"I think the fans in this area keep the rivalry alive regardless of what their record is," said Jelencovich, 35, a Cowboys fan who owns a pair of restaurants in D.C. "Even when the Redskins are out of it, Redskins fans will show up [at my bar] just to cheer against the Cowboys. Their hatred for the Cowboys is just unreal."
Growing up just outside the District, Jelencovich has long witnessed the ceaseless scorn of locals toward his beloved team. His dad gave him a Dallas Cowboys helmet when he was 3, sparking a lifetime of maniacal allegiance that has lent him a permanent sense of otherness amongst neighbors.
Yet in a city known for holding the largest concentration of Cowboys fans outside Dallas, Jelencovich is anything but an outcast. Anyone who has walked the streets of D.C. knows the city is teeming with enemy supporters, some of them displaced Texans, some of them bandwagon jumpers.
The theories floating around this curious irony abound. Some attribute it to the transient nature of the city, which attracts travelers whose sporting loyalties are already grounded elsewhere. Others see the Redskins' regrettable status as the last professional football team to integrate its players as another factor (many older fans remember the team's fight song originally belting out "Fight for old Dixie" rather than "Fight for old D.C."). Others simply view it as a stubborn act of nonconformity.
"I think a lot of the Cowboys fans in this area are just anti-Redskins fans," said Sunshine Hogette, a lifelong Redskins devotee from Front Royal, Va., who declined to provide his real name. "They pick the Cowboys as their team just to irritate us. There is a strong base of Cowboys fans here, but a lot of them like the Cowboys just to go against us Redskins fans."
As the founder of the largest Dallas Cowboys fan group in D.C., Jelencovich stands near the forefront of the Cowboys rebel base. Started five years ago, the group currently boasts about 600 members, many of whom have been congregating every Sunday at one of his restaurants, Mezza Luna, to cheer on the Cowboys. Crowds average about 200 blue-and-silver-clad fans every week, but that total always spikes when the Redskins come into the picture.
"The support for the Cowboys in D.C. is unbelievable," Jelencovich said. "It's overwhelming."
Casual observers might assume the atmosphere in Dallas to be considerably more tepid. After all, the Cowboys enjoyed a recent period of domination against their Washington counterparts, winning 13 of 14 meetings from 1998 to 2004. Instead of fearing matchups against Super Bowl-winning teams headed by John Riggins and Art Monk, Cowboys fans have recently looked forward to games against a franchise that has cycled through seven head coaches and just three winning seasons during the 12-year tenure of owner Dan Snyder.
Fans of both teams, however, assert that such a one-sided outlook on the rivalry is misleading. Hatred for the Redskins still runs high in Big D, where burgundy and gold sightings are not overlooked by the city's proud fan base.
"I've done a lot of work in the Dallas-Forth Worth area, and I've worn my Darrell Green jersey and walked the streets, and I promise you I'm not seeing any apathy when I'm down there," said Ken Meringolo, a contributor to Redskins blog Hogs Haven. "They definitely care. It's a juvenile thing to suggest we care about it more than they do."
Nick Stewart, 22, a Dallas resident who describes his support for the Cowboys as a lifestyle, says that while many younger Dallas fans now view the Philadelphia Eagles as a bigger rival, antipathy toward the Redskins endures. Much of that, he says, stems from the rivalry's competitive nature. After all, the final margin of the past nine contests between the two teams has averaged less than a touchdown, and the Monday night record is even at 7-7.
"Every year, no matter how good the Cowboys are, you go into a game against the Washington Redskins and it's a battle," Stewart said. "It goes down to the wire, no matter how bad either team is. That's why I don't think the rivalry is in decline. If you're a true Cowboys fan, it's always a big game, no matter what the record is for either team."
With Washington riding high on a 2-0 start and Dallas reeling from injuries, many Redskins fans believe Monday night presents a prime opportunity to reinvigorate the rivalry even further. A win might change Dallas fans' perceptions of their division foes – no longer the team they are supposed to beat, but the team they need to beat.
"There were a couple of years there where I would walk in the store and they would just kind of look at me and roll their eyes and not even say anything," Costa said. "Whereas now, they're starting to initiate it. The last two years, we didn't beat them in Dallas, so they still think they own us.
"They still have that cockiness, but that will change if we beat them Monday night. And I think we will."
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Richa Chadha begins shooting for Panga in Bhopal- Cinema express
Richa Chadha begins shooting for Panga in Bhopal
Kangana Ranaut, who plays the lead in the film, began shooting for it in the first week of November
Last seen in Love Sonia, Richa Chadha started shooting for Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari's Panga, yesterday in Bhopal. The film, based on kabaddi, marks the first association of the actor with the Bareilly Ki Barfi-director and eighth with Pankaj Tripathi, with whom she has worked in films like Gangs of Wasseypur, Masaan and the upcoming Shakeela biopic.
About the film, Richa says, "I'm excited to join the team. Panga is a very exciting project for me as it's unlike anything I have done before. I have always wanted to be a part of a sports film."
Kangana Ranaut, who plays the lead in the film, began shooting for it in the first week of November. Panga also stars Jassie Gill and Neena Gupta in important roles.
Richa Chadha Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari Panga


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UnicornGo.io Join our telegram Мы в телеграме
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Pandarium review
Thread starter CryptoGuru
CryptoGuru
The community has already CryptoKitties and CryptoDoggies. But pandas were not there yet. Developers of the Pandarium game decided to correct this deficiency.
They created a game with cryptopandas. These animals do look rather cute by the way, but it's hard to call them "graphics masterpieces".
However, not everyone is concerned with design. Let's talk about the game's concept.
The main thing that a panda should be able to do in Pandarium is to dance. Animals fight each other not in a brawl, but on a dance floor. Quite a peace-loving option for those who do not tolerate wars and violent conflicts. And, frankly, it's hard to imagine pandas fighting.
Everyone who gets into the Pandarium WhiteList will get a panda with a "gene 0". This is the "basic" version of an animal. All attributes (and there 12 of them - from muzzle form to body colors), will have a minimum value of "1".
How can they be improved? The fastest and easiest way to do this is breeding. The better the panda with which the animal with "gene 0" will be mated is, the higher "quality" of their offspring will be.
And here we come to one of the Pandarium project's main problems. The fact is that in the first months after the Pandarium's launch, pandas with "gene 0" will be able to mate only with each other or with animals that have "gene X". These are the so-called "founding fathers" of Pandarium, which will have good stats in every attribute. Such pandas can be obtained only on the Pandarium's private Pre-Sale, there will be only 4096 pandas with "gene X".
Because of this, those players who invest the most money in the project, will have huge starting advantage. In the modern economy this, of course, does not surprise anyone. But will the game, whose developers aim firstly on quick profits, gain wide popularity is a big question.
Pandas can learn 12 differnrent dances. You can always look in the "Dance Matrix" which dance suits your animal better. For example, a panda whose best parameters are "eye color" and "pattern 1 color" is most suited for hip-hop.
By the way, it is not quite clear what the "pattern color 1", "pattern color 2", "pattern shape 1" and "pattern shape 2" mean. These names look ridiculous. Of course, it is not a major Pandarium's drawback. But the developers could spend a little more time and bother themselves with proper names for panda's stats.
While the platform Pandarium is not launched yet, it's hard to talk about the gameplay and other game properties. Beta-test starts in mid-April, and then it will be possible to evaluate the graphics of Pandarium in detail. In the meantime, it's obvious that the project has both advantages and disadvantages.
Likes: Roman
Orange Company
Something tells me that Pandarium is a clone of CryptoKitties at best, and there are no original ideas.
It is still impossible to evaluate the graphics, because the platform is in the alpha-test only. But for those images that I saw on the web, the UnicornGo graphics is better, and I like unicorns more.
Everyone talks about a new Pandarium project. I also decided to look at it. I read White Paper and haven't understand how users will be able to receive revenue. It is only said that Pandarium adheres to the "Scandinavian model" (the owner sets the final price for the panda and that's it). I would like to have more opportunities, as, for example, in UnicornGo, where you're immediately told about the opportunity to sell land or a unicorn and receive money.
I think that Pandarium will be interesting only for those who missed the CryptoKitties mania and never before heard of crypto-animals. I do not understand how such a project can be of interest to those who have already tried CryptoKitties or its "clones". After all, the essence of the game in Pandarium is to buy a panda, wait until it mates with other pandas, get another animal and hope that it will win some tournament. What is the point of this game is not entirely clear.
UnicornGo style


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Montreal's Newest Expensive Foodstuff Is This $125 Wagyu Sandwich
Plus, Schwartz's is jumping into the airline food game, and other restaurant news to know
by Tim Forster@timothyjforster Nov 13, 2019, 1:54pm EST
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A post shared by Boucherie Grinder (@boucheriegrinder) on Oct 23, 2019 at 8:30am PDT
GRIFFINTOWN — You may have heard about the $100 dumpling (infused with cognac) and the $800 salad with gold leaf and caviar, both sold semi-recently in Montreal establishments. Now, there's a new expensive item in town for people with money to burn, as Notre-Dame West's Boucherie Grinder (not to be confused with gay app Grindr) has introduced a $125 wagyu beef sandwich to its menu. It's served in the style of a Japanese katsu sando — breaded in panko breadcrumbs, fried, and sandwiched between two slices of milk bread with tonkatsu sauce. Relative to the aforementioned dumpling and salad, the wagyu sando seems like a slightly better way to spend an exorbitant sum of cash — it's recommended to be shared between two and four people, too, mitigating the price tag. If you must, it's available on Saturday evenings only. It's not listed on the menu, but just ask.
Inside Pastel
Randall Brodeur/Eater Montreal
OLD MONTREAL — Air Canada's enRoute magazine recently dropped its annual ranking of Canada's Best New Restaurants — McGill Street restaurant Pastel was the only Montreal restaurant to make the cut this year, coming in at number eight, although the top spot went to Quebec City restaurant Arvi.
PLATEAU/IN THE AIR — Antonio Park started doing it with Air Canada a few months back, and now iconic deli Schwartz's is getting into the business of airline catering. Per a press release, that Montreal smoked meat will be served a variety of Sunwing flights, although it'll be served on a pretzel bun, instead of the classic rye (possibly for ease of preserving the bread), with mustard and — sacrilege — mayonnaise.
ALL OVER — Headed up by David Ferguson of Petite-Patrie restaurant Gus in conjunction with the Old Brewery Mission, the Socks for Bubbly charity drive is back this year from November 18 to 24. Donate a pair of new, warm socks at a participating restaurant, and you get a glass of bubbly in exchange. The restaurants involved include all Joe Beef venues, all Les Enfants Terribles locations, Monkland Tavern, Restaurant Su, and several more.
Notre prochaine personnalité est nul autre que le grand chef Ricardo Un gros festin visuel dès le 27 novembre
Posted by Grévin Montréal on Wednesday, October 16, 2019
DOWNTOWN — Montreal's pre-eminent museum of slightly creepy wax figures, the Grévin, is currently molding a figure of notable Quebec chef Ricardo — his unmoving, waxy likeness should go in at the end of November.
MILE END — Bernard Street Korean restaurant Omma is now Gaja — Quebec business records indicate that there was an ownership change, which would be the reason for the name change. The Ontario Street Omma is still named Omma, and is under the same ownership as before (so, the former owners of the Bernard Street restaurant are running it).
OLD MONTREAL — Greg Buda, the man behind renowned New York bars Blacktail and Dead Rabbit, is coming to Montreal. He'll be doing a guest shift November 20 (Wednesday) at Parliament in Place d'Youville, and will be pouring out Cuban-inspired drinks from Blacktail. Parliament's menu will also throw in some Cuban vibes for the evening.
VILLAGE — Cocktail contest Made With Love is back for its 11th edition — the Montreal regional final will go down at the Olympia on November 25 (Monday) from 6 to 11 p.m.
Sunwing introduces new on-board menu options inspired by Schwartz's Deli [NewsWire]
Canada's Best New Restaurants [enRoute]
Socks for Bubbly [Official]
Grinder Viandes & Vins
1708 Rue Notre-Dame Ouest, Le Sud-Ouest, QC H3J 1M3 (514) 439-1130 Visit Website
124 Rue McGill, Montréal, QC H2Y 2E5 Visit Website
Schwartz's Deli
3895 Boulevard Saint-Laurent, Le Plateau-Mont-Royal, QC H2W 1X9 (514) 842-4813


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Regionals, Classic Conference: Rock's Greatest Backing Band Tournament Continues!
Play continues in our tournament to determine—once and for all—rock's greatest backing band ever.
The first two rounds have been completed. The attached grid shows where we stand as the Regionals round is played out: backingband-tournament-64
Feel free to think ahead to coming Regional battles as you begin work on the present conference match up. Meanwhile, tournament play for the Classic Conference has begun. Four backing bands remain: The E-Street Band vs Crazy Horse and The Spiders From Mars vs The Silver Bullet Band.
Regionals: Classic Conference
Because the selections from this point forward are so crucial to future generations' understanding of rock history, play will follow a different course of action in this round. Before any voting can take place, Townspeople are encouraged to post comments and YouTube clips of the backing bands you support in this round. You may begin launching your campaigns now. After a day or two of lobbying and counter-lobbying the polls for this conference's regional round will open. We don't want any rash votes on Day 1 that you may regret on Day 3 of discussion. Dig?
UPDATED: POLLS NOW OPEN THROUGH MIDNIGHT ON SUNDAY, JANUARY 22, 2012!
Regionals, Classic Conference: The Silver Bullet Band vs The Spiders From Mars
The Spiders From Mars (74%, 28 Votes)
The Silver Bullet Band (26%, 10 Votes)
Regionals, Classic Conference: The E-Street Band vs Crazy Horse
Crazy Horse (62%, 32 Votes)
The E-Street Band (38%, 20 Votes)
Add comments Tagged with: battle royale, fun and games, once and for all
59 Responses to "Regionals, Classic Conference: Rock's Greatest Backing Band Tournament Continues!"
Happiness Stan says:
Okay, I'm familiar with the Spiders, obvously, but Bob Seger has only ever had about one hit single over here and I'm in the mood to be swayed. Anybody fancy rising to the challenge of initiating me to the work of the Silver Bullet Band?
See what you think of Bob's answer to your general question:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfUCrUEe7V0
I know this doesn't necessarily speak for the Silver Bullet Band, but it says something for America.
I'll keep looking for a good live clip featuring the Silver Bullet Band.
alexmagic says:
Building on Stan's question, I'd like to hear from anyone thinking about voting for the Silver Bullet Band to know how serious a defense the Spiders need in this round, because this feels like it should be complete dominance for the Spiders, but I'm well aware that we have seen Martians fall to single cell organisms in the past.
My vote in the Crazy Horse/E-Street showdown is up for grabs. I'd like to see some evidence of Crazy Horse in action behind/alongside Neil, since that is where E-Street excels.
Here you go: how many bands can get the guy wearing some kind of bird mascot suit out of his seat?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_D4eUWBAE_A
Not a whole lot of footage is given to the Silver Bullet Band, but you've got to admire the Rockist Stance of the bassist and guitarist at the 2:05 mark, the brief shot of the tambourine player, and the Sege's egging on his axemen before resuming his vocal duties.
A minute later one of the axemen follows his leader's foot-on-monitor stance. That's a sign of support that not all backing bands are trained to provide. Then, watch how the axemen step back with Bob in perfect coordination while the tambourine man steps forward to provide backing vocals.
How many of rock's unfulfilled fashion ideas, by the way, can one musician pull off at once? Tambourine man's got shades, a scarf, some sort of kimono worn open to allow himself to be bare chested…shoot, he's even got his jeans tucked into his boots, one of THE WORST fashion ideas ever (and clearly a future post in our Rock's Unfulfilled Fashion Ideas series).
Along with all that, in Classic Conference play, the Silver Bullet Band is accompanied by classy women backing singers and probably the most enthusiastic crowd ever recorded on film. It's hard to hear the band over their applause.
2000 Man says:
The Spiders have my vote for Width of a Circle from Santa Monica 72 alone.
Crazy Horse did the Rust Never Sleeps album live, and Neil released it as a studio album. That's impressive. It could easily be considered Neil's best album (I don't think I'd argue the point, even if I disagreed that day), so I think Crazy Horse is pretty impressive on that one.
The E Street band has stamina, I'll give them that.
misterioso says:
I have to assume that link is to the killer version of Hollywood Nights. I cannot fathom the dearth of classic-era live Seger footage. How is that someone with his enduring classic rock popularity has never put out a live video collection or concert from his "golden age"? It seems like free money waiting to be collected.
I'm agnostic on the Spiders/Silver Bullet Band question, but Crazy Horse kills the E Street band, simply for being able to keep up with whatever warped thing comes out of Neil Young's head. The E Street Band can muster up a good head of steam, but Bruce is never going to throw them a curveball–it's all straight down the middle. Neil Young is one of the ultimate "junkball" guitarists and any band that can adapt to that wins in my book.
hrrundivbakshi says:
Bob Seger jams econo! Seriously, how can you not have a soft spot in your heart for the Seeg after watching that interview clip. We'll have to watch and listen to see how well the SBB back up his philosophical priorities.
Interesting analogy. So Crazy Horse is like the backup catcher whose sole purpose is to get behind the plate whenever the ancient knuckleballer takes the mound. I like that.
I have not yet come close to making up my mind on this match up. I much prefer the music of Neil Young and Crazy Horse, but individually I am usually astounded by how boring the band members' contributions sound. (Maybe I need to overlook the stats, the way I would the .196 batting average of that knuckleball catcher.) On the other hand, it's hard for me not to fact in the Rock Superpowers of the E-Street Band, despite the fact that I'm no great fan of their individual playing styles.
Also, both lead artists suffer greatly in their ability to rock when not backed by their steady backing bands, but Young at least has another style available to him when he goes with those country Gators. I'm not sure if that in any way reflects on Crazy Horse, who do well with whatever Young gives them.
I don't know if this clip helps or hinders the claim for Crazy Horse, but it amuses me: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfgN3XQQB_Q&feature=related
I Believe that I threw in the Spiders name into the hat. But now I wonder if it's legit. The real question is this: is it fair to include the name of a "made up" backing band?
Can we get a ruling on this?
I'd also like to hear from those thinking of supporting the SBB. The Silver Bullet Band is a decent, nondescript, hard working band. They seem like Regular Joes. It would be perfectly enjoyable to sit down with them and enjoy a few beers (or lines of blow in the case of that tambourine player) and talk about the time one of them had a few too many after the show in Phoenix and got locked out of his room in his underwear or something. The SBB has had their fun in this tournament, but frankly, it the Messengers were better known, the SBB wouldn't have made it out of the first round.
The Spiders from Mars not only support Bowie perfectly, but they do so with much more personality than the SBB, and with about a third of the people on stage.
Crazy Horse vs the E Street Band is a much tougher call. Bostonhistorian has made compelling case for Crazy Horse (although to be fair, I don't think they've had to contend with the most warped musical things comes out of Neil Young's head). Part of Crazy Horse's appeal is their rank amateurishness. They seem ready to fall apart at any moment but they somehow keep it together. And for all of their simplicity and relative lack of chops, they definitely sound unique.
The E Street Band perfectly supports their leaders vision. And I think Bruce drills them with a James Brown-like fervor. They are very self sacrificing and are well aware that they are there in service of the machine. And as someone else mentioned, they have amazing stamina. Bruce is a master at that most important yet often overlooked facet of rock stardom: myth making. He presents his band as a gang and expects them to play the part, and to step up when he directs the spotlight their way. Think of the gang vocals around a single mic. Name another band that can amass a Rock and Roll Iwo Jima that big, with that little effort.
I've got to keep mulling this one over.
The last Bob Seger interview I read in Rolling Stone showed a guy really reluctant to cash in like that. He only just released a two disc greatest hits collection, his rationale being that his fans had already purchased greatest hits volume 1 and 2, so why get them to buy it again? Most of his early albums remain out of print, there's no Seger box set. I'm not sure if that's good or bad, but he doesn't seem to want to let his record company exploit his fan base. More power to him.
Yeah, the warped thing didn't sound right after I posted it. Crazy Horse didn't have to deal with Trans, et al. I was thinking more of the live Neil who switches things up on a whim and whose soloing is, well, warped.
The E-Street Band's ability to execute the Rock 'n Roll Iwo Jima may have been a deciding factor in Nils Lofgren's decision to defect from Crazy Horse (if he was ever a full member – I don't know how that worked) and join Miami Steve and company. Crazy Horse fans at the tournament are ALL OVER Nils. Some of the banners being displayed cannot be repeated on a family blog.
Right, and that's why Rust Never Sleeps is so amazing. It's recorded live but presented as a regular release. Parts of it sound like only Neil really knew where he wanted to go, but Crazy Horse never lost any footing.
Maybe that's a really apt name for his backing band. Only a crazy horse could take a rider like Neil where he's trying to go.
funoka says:
Made up or not — the Spiders have a distinct identity and . . .it's too late now, anyway.
Personally, I am employing a quasi-quantitative approach in voting.
Estimate all the hours in the past 10 years you've voluntarily listened to Ziggy or Aladdin Sane . . . and then add up all the hours you've actually put a Seger album on by choice in the past decade.
For me it's probably 50 hours for the Spiders to zero for SBB. I might have Night Moves and that live album on CD, but they sure are dusty.
Well, no. Releasing and re-releasing the same material ad infinitum is one thing (can you hear me, Elvis Costello?), releasing entirely new old material is another. I should think the fan base would not feel exploited buying Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band Live 1978 dvd (say). It's not like buying a remastered version of Night Moves with a "Night Moves 2012" as a "bonus" track. As for the early Seger records, they should be available. I assume there are legal issues.
mwall says:
I've always found the E Street Band to be plodders; the excitement is in the drama of solos and what gets laid on top of the songs at any given moment, but not in the rhythmic interplay. Am I alone in this? Easy competition for them so far, given their advantageous seeding, but I just don't feel that they bring the rock and roll.
Yes, I too find their rhythm section plodding. You're right, the key for them is when that steam-powered train finally hits a wall and The Boss or The Big Man top it off with a hair-raising solo.
The same could be said of Crazy Horse's rhythm section, but their sludge is somehow integral to Young's sound. There's never a point when I seriously think Neil Young would sound any better with a "pro" rhythm section, as witnessed by that Steve Jordan-produced album that I believe only BigSteve likes, Landing on Water, or something like that.
"The same could be said of Crazy Horse's rhythm section, but their sludge is somehow integral to Young's sound."
Well put. They would probably win hands down if this was a contest for the "most plodding back up band", but somehow, they have managed to turn what should be a deficit into their biggest asset.
I think I've posted this before, but in case anyone's on the fence about the Silver Bullet Band check out this clip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOYppTlU42U
According to Wikipedia all of Crazy Horse played on Trans (and Ralph Molina toured with the Trans Band – the first time I saw NY, and excellent they were despite the "challenging" material), although it's not clear which bits they played on or who played on what.
And if anyone thinks the percussion guy is no match for The Big Man, think of the possibilities of the E-Street Band facing off against the Silver Bullet Band in the next round:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdkVsnZk2MI
Lots of sweet Mandancing, too, from the SBB. Let's see Crazy Horse pull off anything but that Thick-Legged Rock Squat (aka The Snuffleupagus) they're known for while Neil launches into a solo.
I figure Seger would be OK with a DVD release of Silver Bullet Band videos and performances, but he'd demand that it be released in full screen format, not wide screen, "because the fans deserve to see the whole screen, not some bars on the side, if they're paying full price."
tonyola says:
It is surprising how little good-quality "classic" live Seger video there is out there. The only vintage performance of "Katmandu" (one of Bob's best rockers) that I could find is this lousy and terrible-sounding clip. I've never seen Seger live, but even with this crappy evidence, it looks like he knew how to put on one hell of a show.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvbqGubZmgo
[Eliciting another hearty chuckle on my end of the computer screen.]
Right, I was expecting to find a few "amazing" Midnight Special clips. Maybe there was bad blood between Seeg and Wolfman Jack?
But Bob Seger for the most part is a decent, nondescript, hard-working guy who seems like a Regular Joe himself. That's why he and the SBB mesh so well. Unlike Bruce Springsteen, Bob is unpretentious and tends to avoid big epics and message songs. I've always said that had Bruce done more bong hits and taken more acid rather than drink beer in his youth, he would have ended up being a prog rocker – think Jon Anderson driving a forklift and carrying a union card.
I understand your reasoning here Funoka. But I might take another approach. The Silver Bullet band is so rock with a capital R, so widely known, so iconic. I don't know a single dude in that back-up band but they are most decidely "dudes." They might get my humor vote.
And if you add up all the times you've heard "Like a Rock" in a commercial … or asked for a Silver Bullet … I bet Seger's back-up band wins out.
BigSteve says:
Pince nez: Steve Jordan plays on LoW, but it was produced by Young and Danny Kortchmar.
I don't think it's better than a Crazy Horse album. These songs work better in this setting, and Young wouldn't ask the Horse to do anything but what they do. They only do that one thing, but it's a great thing and no one else can do it. Compared to them, the E Street Band is a jack of all trades.
I think it comes down to this. Crazy Horse is a great name. The E. Street Band — with the word BAND in it in case someone got confused, is lame.
Plus Tonight's the Night — while not officially having Crazy Horse on the cover — has that band in seriously fine form, following an incredibly coked-up and stoned Neil Young. I doubt the E. Street Band had to ever record under such sad circumstances. Now that's a band that has its front man's back.
A Coor's Silver Bullet, that is.
Come on, man! Any band with a dude in it who can simultaneously shake EIGHT FREAKING MARACAS — and full-size ones at that — has my vote.
Side note: there is so much bootleg footage from DC's old "Cap Center" out there. I wonder who, if anybody, actually "owns" it? They used to train multiple cameras on the band and put up a full-on live broadcast for the folks in the cheap seats — I mean, for every show — before jumbotrons made that de rigeur. It was quite special. Point is: who's got all the footage?
Wonder if Bob gets royalites from Coors?
I forgot that the Spiders put out this album without Bowie, which I used to own along with Mick Ronson solo record.
http://www.5years.com/spidersalbum76.htm
This kind of stuff never failed to disappoint me when I would buy it.
It is my understanding that Neil recorded a bunch of songs for Trans with Crazy Horse, then went back and redid everything, leaving very little of the original tracks. I could be wrong.
He seems like a decent guy. I enjoyed that clip.
k. says:
Seger and the Silver Bullet band I never cared much about. I like the Spiders on the studio albums and I think they hung in with Bowie's Glam look.
I'll have to find some prime E Street clips (see, Machinery, how it looks without the word "Band") and I love the whole Crazy Horse thing, so I'll have to look at the clips and then decide.
"E Street" sounds like like an early 90s English rave inspired band with rap leanings.
If I'm not mistaken, on the Tonight's the Night album, Crazy Horse only plays on "Come on Baby Let's Go Downtown." The rest is that ragged group with Ben Keith, Jack Nitzsche, Tim Drummond, and future E-Streeter Nils Lofgren.
Expanding on the "E Street Band presented as a gang" idea, here the clip of Springsteen doing Rosalita in '78: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qFdcHo7Z7w
Everyone is locked in and kicking ass, everyone is exchanging knowing (but not smug) smiles at how much ass they are kicking, everyone has a nickname. This is the perfect realization of Springsteen's vision of a big old school rock and roll revue updated for the then current times. I'm sure that there is not one single spontaneous action taking place on that stage but the fact that they can all execute the Boss' orders so exactly, and make it seem natural while doing so, makes them tough to beat. I'm not saying that Crazy Horse can pull off an upset here, but they're going to have to work awfully hard to do so.
The band aside, my favorite part of this video is the woman at 2:30 who gets on stage but then has no idea what to do. Rather than kiss the Boss' cheek like the two previous women who made it onto the stage, or sing a bit of the song (Bruce considerately moves over a bit to make room at the mic), she elects to yell "hey!" into the mic before being leaping back into the crowd.
My second favorite part is the woman at 2:45 who makes her way to the stage in what has to be the most passive stage crash of all time, only to touch the hem of the Boss' garment before melting back into the crowd.
Great supporting points. I will open the polls a bit later today. This will be an especially tough battle.
Oats says:
I don't think YouTube is the right vehicle for me to make Crazy Horse's case. They are not really about the mach schau, notwithstanding the foot-stomping and Neil's goofy guitar faces. They do have their schtick, and Neil of course is a crazy taskmaster is his own weird way, but they have way less of the drill-seargent-plus-charges vibe of the E Street Band and other bands in this tournament. I get a little hippie-idealistic when talking about Neil, but I do believe there's a freedom, man, in the sound of the Horse that you can't get anywhere else. Plus, they're not playing behind the beat, they're inside the beat. Far out.
Actually, most of Tonight's the Night is Billy, Ralph, Ben Keith and Nils. Crazy Horse plus guests, minus Danny (dead) or Poncho (not in the picture yet). "Lookout Joe" is from the Time Fades Away tour, with Nitzsche, Drummond, Keith and others. And I was able to write this without Wikipedia today!
Well said, Oats, not only that, but I think that not only are they inside the beat, they actually are the beat. Neil is the man, but he's more reliable with the sludge behind him in my book.
Also, I've heard enough Bruce to last me a very long time (about half a dozen songs, probably), so listening to more of him isn't going to sway me.
Impressive! And there goes my belief that that album is my favorite among the ones Neil did with Crazy Horse. Goes to show you how much attention I paid to anything but that album's gatefold capabilities.
But Stan, this isn't a referendum on Bruce or his songs. This is about a cocktail of talent, support of an artist's vision, and mach shau which demonstrate that the band backing said artist is Rock's Greatest Backing Band ™.
Thank you, and the same is true for Neil Young and his songs.
Glad I put the 'if I'm not mistaken part in.' I thought I looked this up yesterday, but I was confused by the fact that only that one song is credited to Crazy Horse. Discogs has the full credits:
http://www.discogs.com/Neil-Young-Tonights-The-Night/release/1439814
Hi CDM, I understand that, I didn't put it very well, though. The clip I posted a couple of rounds ago of the Orse sludging behind Ian McNabb, sounding exactly as if they were backing NY, demonstrates for me their total reliability, and I would listen to them no matter who they were backing quite happily. NY's records with the Orse are so much better than those without (probably with honourable exceptions, although I can't think of any I prefer) that they clearly bring a good deal to the party besides sludge, and support the vision while never, ever getting in the way. The E Street Band sound to me as though they are all waiting for their turn to play an interminable solo, the egos are clearly there on display, and in my opinion get in the way.
Since I'm not gonna outdo "Rosalita" from '78, I'll try a different route and put up a recording studio from 2009.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3ZMfPXgd_M&feature=related
A laid back, chummy vibe for one of Bruce's mature NPR (AARP?) songs. The base player stays on 1 note for half the song and a role for Little Steven not far removed from his Sopranos character. One odd note; not a bottle to be seen in any part of the studio, not even water.
meanstom says:
I've got nothing against Crazy Horse but the E Street Band is getting hosed! There as much a part of the show as their leader. Where are our friends from Backstreets when we need them?
I voted for the E Streeters, but I would be very surprised if they made it competitive with this demographic.
Me too, BigSteve. It was a tough choice for me, because a few people made a stronger case for Crazy Horse than I thought could be made.
I like both artists, but Neil's made lots of great music without the Horse. Bruce's records without the E Street Band are pretty blah. News today is that we'll soon get to hear what they sound like without Clarence.
I ended up going with the E Street Band as well but that was a very tough choice. (the toughest since the Blue Caps vs the Rock and Roll Trio in round 1).
Looks like the Backstreets crowd needs a map to find us. We're over here, guys! You can even reach us from Asbury Park.
The E Street Band, made lazy perhaps by their advantageous early seeding, is on their way home it seems, having been dispatched by a band that can bring the rock.
It's looking that way. The Crazy Horse vs Spiders From Mars match is going to be possibly the weirdest mix of style in the tournament.
[CENSORED] New Evidence That ZZ Top Really Did Tour With Livestock (or That They Were Really Committed to Continuing This Hoax)


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Jõetaguse (Alutaguse), een dorp in de Estlandse gemeente Alutaguse, provincie Ida-Virumaa
Jõetaguse (Kadrina), een plaats in de Estlandse gemeente Kadrina, provincie Lääne-Virumaa

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No one can deny the popularity of caps and hats in American society. Many men collect hats with clever sayings and images. People use hats to participate in sports events and the spectators wear them to show support for the athletes. The business of logo themed hats is a huge enterprise for any event, band, sports venue or company. Getting their logo out on people's heads equals billboard advertising.
Dimensions: 9.75" x 2.75" x 4"


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Nearly 100 AS-level students enjoyed an afternoon of talks and workshops at Cardiff University as part of Chemistry Week 2015. The ChemNet event, Chemistry in Health, brought together the Schools of Biosciences and Chemistry and highlighted some of the many ways that these subjects work together.
Prof. Eshway Mahenthiralingam and Dr Joel Loveridge spoke about their research on the discovery of new antibiotics. Dr James Redman described his group's project on medical diagnostic sensors, and Prof Angela Casini rounded off the session with the story of her career journey through chemistry and pharmacy across Europe, highlighting the versatility of transition metals. These themes were then further explored during hands-on workshops, with students relishing the opportunity to talk with the researchers.
To illustrate how sensors can detect biomolecules, students used scanning potentiostats to electrochemically detect vitamin C in fruit juice. Not only did they learn how sensors can be used to diagnose disease, but they also explored the antioxidant nature of vitamin C.
Students enjoyed watching a liquid 'magically' change colour as it was poured from one beaker to another. This demonstration shows the formation of different metal coordination complexes and relies on small amounts of reagents being hidden in each beaker. In a second experiment named "golden rain", a stunning suspension of glistening yellow crystals appeared when two clear solutions were mixed together, this time due to formation of an ionic compound.
When asked after the event, students commented that they had learned about the links between chemistry and biology, the varied applications of chemistry and the diverse career options available to chemists.
The latest from Cardiff University.


Originally, in the 9 Worlds playtest, if you declared one of these sacrosanct, the other attribute was put in danger. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't wrap my brain around the rationale for this, especially since the sacrosanct attribute couldn't be lowered or raised by the outcome of the conflict.
Has this changed? If so, how? If not, why not? Just curious.
Excellent question, especially in light of my playtests to date. I have been re-evaluating this issue, and I'll try to explain.
In the original edition -- in fact, in the playtest as it is currently available -- when you declare the virtue your character will be using (Arete or Hubris), that virtue becomes sacrosanct. Why? My reasoning was this: Because your character "chose" his fate, fate couldn't resist. That is, fate couldn't punish your character for choosing a particular attribute. It guaranteed that he wouldn't perish by losing that attribute.
A while back, Spooky Fanboy suggested that this should be precisely the opposite for the same reason -- that by choosing one of the virtues, you're placing that virtue "on the line." In effect, risking it to get what you want.
Either explanation makes sense to me. I can see it working both ways.
However, a different issue has revealed itself in play (and subsequent rules changes) to make me rethink the entire issue.
When a player makes The Choice -- that is, when he chooses to use either Arete or Hubris for a given conflict -- he now stands to gain trump points (Valor OR Pride).
For example, let's say Alexander is arguing with Hades. He does this using Arete, as his talent for "real" rhetoric is astounding. There's nothing magical going on; even Zeus would approve of his use of logic and argument.
If Alexander wins the argument (i.e. the conflict) then he checks off a point of Valor for any of his relevant Muses used in the conflict.
But what if it took him several phases to actually win the argument to his player's satisfaction? In the "old" rules, the player could alter between virtues in each phase. The player could choose to start with Arete, then maybe pump up Hubris (because it wasn't sacrosanct), then switch to Hubris to draw more cards. Neat!
But in the new rules, we've got a problem if that happens. If a player enters a multi-phase conflict, and then switches his virtues, how the heck does the player decide whether to "check off" Valor or Pride on his Muses?
I suppose there are many possible solutions to this, but the simplest (and the one I'm going to use) is: You can only use one chosen virtue for the entire conflict. You must stick with that choice throughout the scene, whether it lasts one phase or several phases.
Now, this alone doesn't mean that the sacrosanct / jeopardy rules are irrelevant. I can still see them making sense. However, I think the rules should probably be tossed altogether. In the old rules, you could pump up one virtue while using the other, then switch to reap the benefit. Now, you can't do that. So, I think it's better to allow the player to modify any of his virtues as he sees fit.
There are two virtues Arete and Hubris which seem IIRC to have identical mechanical effects, just getting there for different reasons.
If I have a very high Arete and a very low Hubris (or vice versa) is there any reason (or rather, any reason not extensively contrived) as to why I would ever not use my Arete for everything (or vice versa)?
In other words, instead of having two attributes...is what I really have effectively 1 attribute with a descriptor (Arete/Hubris) attached to it.
The old system seemed to provide some motivation for dabbling in both and using both (by switching between to enhance effectiveness). Without that, what's the motivation for not simply concentrating on one.
"Strategically" speaking, there's no reason NOT to focus on one attribute. That is, there is little stopping you from doing the "most effective" thing. Yeah, if Arete's higher, then use it all the time. Furthermore, it will lead to you earning more Pride points more quickly, which make you that much more effective against the Big Bad Wolves of the cosmos.
However, I raise three counterpoints.
Second point: It's relatively easy to pump some tricks into your "lesser" virtue and then create a lock to make your character's virtues "equally" effective.
Third point -- remember, this is The Choice. It's narrativism. Choosing between Arete or Hubris isn't just color. Ultimately, it indicates where your character stands on authority in the universe. "Whose world do you want to live in? The one created for your or the one created by you?" If you choose the former, you'll tend to use Arete. If you choose the latter, you'll use Hubris more often.
Cool, thats more or less what I expected.
However, in the spirit of system does matter, I'm wondering if there isn't a way to reflect the trade off between these two options mechanically. Presumeably its a pretty significant choice for the character (akin to affirming or rejecting an entire world view).
Is there (or could there be), something that can ONLY be done with Hubris? No matter how excellent you are, Arete can never accomplish X. Similiarly something that can ONLY be done with Arete. No matter how much magical power you control, Hubris can never accomplish Y.
That way the choice is a harder choice for the player as well as for the character. Having a choice between "Flexibility and effectiveness" is rarely a powerful choice for the player. Having to choose "what am I going to give up in order to get something else" is more meaningful I think.
Doh, two things. I didn't mean that previous post to end so abruptly. I was going to say, "Does that answer is for you, Ralph? Not? Need something more?"
Yes, I think I covered this previously. There is a payoff that's quite different for each of the two virtues. However, it might take a while to achive.
Conversely, if your character decides to challenge the primacy of a world using Hubris, he wins a different prize. He challenges the primarch in an attempt to usurp the sitting primarch and become the primarch himself. If successful in the epic conflict (which will likely require copious Pride points!), then the character becomes primarch of the world. In effect, he redefines the Muse words for that world. Also, he may use the world as a Talisman, which is basically like another character/entity under his control. Note, however, that he now has lots of responsibilty and he is NOT immortal.
Whaddya think, Ralph? Does that cover it sufficiently? Or, is the payoff to climactic and too far down the road? I very much like the distinction between the two, but I haven't yet been able to test the workings of this in actual play.
I like that distinction too, but it probably is[/is] too far down the road, unless you expect players to be taking and championing worlds right and left.
But I'm not sure the distinction is distinct enough for it to be a trade off.
Consider: I go full bore Arete I can become Champion of a World. I go full bore Hubris I can become master of the the world. Ignoring for a moment, that becoming the primarch sounds much more fun than becoming the champion of a primarch, either way you're not giving up anything.
To put it another way, what should be tremendous soul searching, deep and abiding conviction for the character (arete vs hubris) mechanically is pretty much a flip of the Coin. Heads I go Hubris, do everything with magic and become a Primarch, Tails I go Arete, do everything by being really good at it and become a Champion. There's no real down side to picking one.
I'm thinking something along the lines of...If I go full bore Arete I neglect or down play (or even lose) Hubris. By doing so I gain in character effectiveness and I get closer to one of the cool ultimate rewards of play. Soooo...why would I choose not to. What is it about Hubris that I don't want to lose. I don't want to have to give up X to do that.
NOW that's a choice the player has to wrestle with "is it worth it".
I don't really grasp the nature of what makes Arete and Hubris different as a personal experience for the Archon, so I'll substitute a version of Law and Chaos just for illustrative purposes.
If I choose to go full bore Law I give up Chaos. I lose the ability to feel, to be frivolous, to feel passion and joy to empathize and feel sorrow. I become cold, logical, calculating, and efficient...and extremely powerful.
If I choose to go full bore Chaos I give up law. I have difficulty concentrating, can't maintain relationships. I feel powerful emotions but never for very long. I become capricious, volatile, unreliable...and extremely powerful.
If I choose to maintain balance, I get the best of both of these...but I give up ever becomeing extremely powerful.
See that's the sort of tradeoff I'm thinking of. Substitute whatever the characteristics of Hubris vs Arete are for the above. Or instead of behaviors and feelings (if they aren't particularly different between the two) substitute abilities, powers, special effects.
Can some one who is crazy maxed out Hubris even walk, or open a door. Have they given up so much of personal ability in favor of magic, that they can only act out of magic? I don't know. But I'm feeling that there needs to be something you lose when you choose to go extreme in one direction. Something that makes the choice more than just which ultimate reward do you hope to get.
I kind of rambled there cause I'm having trouble expressing exactly what I'm trying to get at, but hopefully that made some sense.
Yeah, it makes sense. I see what you're saying more so now. I have worked on a mechanic that does something very much like you're suggestiong.
Actually, it was a "finished" mechanic in the "old" version of the game. That is, once you resolved a Muse, you could receive a permanent bonus to Arete or Hubris.
But, with the new version of the game, Muses are resolved. They are judged, but I haven't yet figured out what/how that works. Clearly, this is the point at which I can do what you're suggesting. That's because once a Muse is "judged," it's clear which virtue should benefit. So, we can simultaneously grant some kind of balance-tipping change that, for example, increases Arete while descreasing Hubris by a like amount.
Also, in the older version, players could choose to earn that bonus, or instead acquire a Talisman.
Actually, you're hitting on the one thing last thing that I need to finalize for the game, and I haven't yet reached that solution. This came to light in our last playtest when one of the players earned 5 Pride checks, thus judging his Muse for the Hubris side of things. He therfore earned 5 points of Pride to use as trump. This was near the session's end, and we didn't yet decide what to do from that point.
For example, he might want to have a talisman rather than an attribute bonus. Or, maybe he does indeed want to permanently increase his Hubris at the cost of lowering his Arete.
Of course, I say this is the last frontier to solve for the game to finally be "complete," but inevitably some new issue will creep up as a result. This game design has been whack-a-mole that way as I try to nail it all down!


The queen of daytime television will be in Iowa in early December to campaign for Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama. It'll be Obama and Oprah making appearances in the early campaign states of New Hampshire, South Carolina and Iowa. On Saturday, December 8th, Oprah and Obama will stop in Des Moines and Cedar Rapids.
According to the campaign, the events will be "free and open to the public." Last week, Obama said Oprah would "highlight" some of the themes of his campaign and "reach some people who might not otherwise be thinking about politics."
Former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack, a key backer of Obama rival Hillary Clinton, has scoffed at the idea Oprah Winfrey would draw huge crowds at her events here with Obama. According to Vilsack, not many Iowa women get to watch daytime television because they're working. Winfrey made her support of Obama public earlier this year and hosted a fundraiser at her home in California, bringing in $3 million for Obama's campaign.


The Voices of South Africa Trust is a Non-Profit Organization founded and run by London-based Opera Singer Njabulo Madlala (originally from Durban). Each year they hold a competition and for the first time it will be held in Cape Town. The competition aims to give young South African opera students/singers, exposure to professionals from overseas. This year we have Elaine Kidd and David Gowland visiting from the Royal Opera's Jette Parker Young Artists Programme as well as Michelle Williams, Head of Casting of the English National Opera, and David Cowan, the Head of Music at Opera North. Kobie van Rensburg, the esteemed South African tenor will also be joining us on the panel.
You are invited to the Final of Voices of South International Opera Singing Competition. 10 out 25 selected young singers will battle it out for the main prize of the competition worth R60 000.
Each year, the Competition receives hundreds applications from hopefuls in every corner of South Africa and some Southern African countries. A select jury of opera professionals listens to every recording submitted and selects the best 30 singers for the Masterclasses and the Singing Competition.
After the semi-final, only 10 are chosen to compete in front of an audience.
(A few singers are also held in reserve, in case one or more of the selected candidates are unable to accept the invitation or due to illness).


To the west of the Bloechl Center and on the southwest corner of campus grounds is Mount Mary University's regulation soccer field. Visiting intercollegiate teams may use the Bloechl Center for changing and locker room needs, then travel a short distance to the soccer field.
Teams wishing to access the field directly should, from Burleigh, turn south on Menomonee River Parkway, then east on Tower View Boulevard. The field will be on your left. Fans should access the MMU Soccer Field via MMU's "horseshoe" entrance off Menomonee River Parkway. Seasonal bleachers are set from spring to fall so all can watch the Blue Angels in action.
To maintain the longevity of the MMU Soccer Field, the Blue Angel soccer team practices primarily on a more intimate side field, just to the east of the game field. While not collegiate regulation, this space is encapsulated by a row of arbors that provide a private environment to any sporting event. For potential renters, this option is ideal for youth games wherein a shortened field is utilized.
One feature that makes Mount Mary truly special is its beautiful sprawling campus in a relatively urban location. With that feature comes plenty of green space within the confines of campus. From club lacrosse teams to ultimate disc leagues, Mount Mary can rent out any of this space to suit your needs.


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Reba Nell McEntire (born March 28, 1955) is an American country music artist and actress. She began her career in the music industry singing with her siblings on local radio shows and rodeos. As a solo act, she was invited to perform at a rodeo in Oklahoma City, which caught the attention of country artist Red Steagall. He brought her to Nash… Read More
Stations With Reba McEntire
Reba McEntire Radio
Plays Reba McEntire along with similar artists like:
Trisha Yearwood, Dixie Chicks, The Band Perry, Aaron Tippin, Kenny Chesne…
Country Girl Attitude
Plays music by your favorite female country artists with the baddest attitudes.
The Band Perry, Carrie Underwood, Pistol Annies, Lorrie Morgan, Shania Twain, Ter…
Upbeat Country
Plays today's hottest upbeat country hits. No slow ballads or soft country here!
Miranda Lambert, Keith Urban, Craig Morgan, Reba McEntire, Bucky Covington, Brant…
00's Hottest Country Hits
Plays some of the hottest country tracks from the 00's.
Blake Shelton, Kelly Clarkson, Tim McGraw, Jason Aldean, Miranda Lambert, Taylor…
Dolly Parton Radio
Plays Dolly Parton along with similar artists like:
Reba McEntire, Celine Dion, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Olivia Newton-Joh…
Kenny Rogers Radio
Plays Kenny Rogers along with similar artists like:
Don Williams, Joe Nichols, Trisha Yearwood, Mark Chesnutt, Marty Robbins…
Wynonna Radio
Plays Wynonna along with similar artists like:
Reba McEntire, Hal Ketchum, Jack Ingram, Kenny Chesney, Alan Jackson…
Martina McBride Radio
Plays Martina McBride along with similar artists like:
Reba McEntire, Pistol Annies, Joe Nichols, Thompson Square, Ashley Monroe…
Trisha Yearwood Radio
Plays Trisha Yearwood along with similar artists like:
Reba McEntire, Rascal Flatts, Sawyer Brown, Ricky Van Shelton, Keith Urba…
From Reba McEntire
Is There Life Out There
The Greatest Man I Never Knew
Whoever's In New England
For My Broken Heart
He Gets That From Me


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Gig Reviews /
Gus G. live in London 2019
Submitted by selena on Sun, 01/20/2019 - 15:47
Highly acclaimed Greek Hard Rock/ Heavy Metal guitarist Gus G. released his new solo album "Fearless" in April 2018. It is the successor of 2015 album "Brand New Revolution" and marks the Firewind mastermind's first release since exiting Ozzy Osbourne's band back in 2017. He is been his guitarist for about eight years and despite has enjoyed his time with Ozzy, he was quite relieved to leave so that he can move forward with his personal career.
In his new album, Gus G. joins forces with vocalist/bassist Dennis Ward (Pink Cream 69/Unisonic) and drummer Will Hunt (Evanescence). He always had very good relations with both artists and both had collaborated with him in the past as well. And it's always amazing to see such great artists working together.
Witnessing his talents live was a great pleasure and honor for me. Gus is a phenomenal guitarist with incredible chops and a wild stage presence. It is impossible not to be moved by his energy. He is considered to be one of the reigning guitar virtuosos in the metal scene today and I couldn't agree more with that consensus.
There was an atmosphere of palpable excitement in the air as everyone was waiting for Gus to get on stage. His appearance on stage could only be compared to a tsunami. His lightning fast guitar work was precise like a machine. He's insanely talented and has to this day produced some of the most memorable riff/solos in the power metal genre. His performance was a non-stop, no-holds-barred demonstration of shred insanity packed with tremendous energy, as he navigated through the set list. I can only say that he is a truly talented musician and it was exhilarating to watch him perform music from his personal catalog.
Opening acts for the night were Andy James and Dendera.
Andy James is one of the world's newest and best shred guitarists, with amazing technique, phrasing and all around ability. I was shocked by his enormous talent! He has several acclaimed solo releases to his name as well as two successful albums with Sacred Mother Tongue and is a well-respected metal session guitarist. He played festivals and tours all over Europe and East like China and India.
Dendera is a heavy metal band from Portsmouth with two EPs and two albums under their belt. Full of explosive drums, massive riffs, truly epic vocals and a keen sense of melody, they have stamped their own authority on top of a classic metal vibe. I'm really enjoying their music, they are so talented and surely lead singer Ashley Edison knows how to keep a crowd entertained.
What a night to remember!
modern hard rock
Traditional Metal
Gigs Archive


For comments or suggestions: jhcreference@nehgs.org.
Processed by Stephanie Call, Schilder Assistant Archivist, made possible by a grant from the Schilder Family Fund. This collection has been digitized, made possible by a grant from the Trustees u/w of Herman Dana.
© 2019 Jewish Heritage Center at NEHGS, Boston, MA. All Rights Reserved.
Machine-readable finding aid created by Stephanie Call as MS Word document, March 5, 2009. Finding aid was encoded by Marvin Rusinek on February 17, 2010. Finding aid written in English.
Contains photocopies of four Hebrew letters endorsing Rabbi Rabinovitz, three of which were written by Rabbis Jacob Widrewitz, Ph. Klein and Joshua Siegel in New York in 1907. One is specifically addressed to Cong. Tzemach Tzedek and Agudas Achim of Chelsea, Mass. Also includes the photocopy of a Hebrew contract signed by ca. 50 members of the congregation in 1907, photocopies of two requests for funds from Poland, a photograph of Rabinovitz, an announcement of his son's wedding in 1925, and a special Resolution issued by the Board of Aldermen of Chelsea at his death. Also includes photograph of Rabinovitz & correspondence with Hannah Schiffres re: donation of materials (1981).
The collection is in English and Hebrew.
Located at AJHS, Boston, MA.
Rabbi Meyer Rabinovitz was a Rabbi in Chelsea, Massachusetts in 1865. He died in 1929.
The collection is arranged into a single series.
The collection is open to all researchers by permission of the Director of Collections and Engagement of the American Jewish Historical Society, except items that are restricted due to their fragility.
Identification of item, date (if known); Meyer Azriel Rabinovitz collection; P-367; box number; folder number; Jewish Heritage Center at NEHGS.
Copies of original material donated by Hannah Schiffres in 1981.
Click on a subject to search that term in the Center's catalog.
Click the box in the request column to learn more about viewing materials at the Jewish Heritage Center at NEHGS.
See collection Scope and Content Note.


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La temporada 1980-1981 de la lliga de futbol espanyola la va guanyar la Real Sociedad amb 45 punts i empatant a punts amb el Reial Madrid.

Equips participants

Classificació general

Resultats

Resultats finals
 Lliga de Campions: Real Sociedad
 Recopa d'Europa: FC Barcelona
 Copa de la UEFA: Valencia CF, Atlètic de Madrid, Reial Madrid
 Descensos: Real Murcia, UD Salamanca i UD Almería
 Ascensos: CE Castelló, Cadis CF i Racing de Santander

Màxims golejadors

Notes

Referències

1980
Lliga de futbol espanyola
Lliga de futbol espanyola


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Singer Jackson Browne says he's tested positive for coronavirus: report
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Singer-songwriter Jackson Browne says he has tested positive for coronavirus.
Browne, 71, best known for the 1977 song "Running on Empty," revealed his medical condition to Rolling Stone magazine.
He said he started feeling ill in recent weeks and got tested after he developed a cough and a slight fever. He has since been recuperating at his home in Los Angeles.
LADY GAGA POSTPONES RELEASE OF NEW ALBUM DUE TO CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC: 'IT JUST DOESN'T FEEL RIGHT'
"My symptoms are really pretty mild, so I don't require any kind of medication and certainly not hospitalization or anything like that," he told the magazine.
Browne said he thinks he may have caught the virus during a trip to New York City for the recent Love Rocks NYC benefit concert at the Beacon Theater in Manhattan. He told Rolling Stone that "several people" linked to the show have also tested positive but didn't identify them.
"Now, I wish I hadn't gone to New York and done this benefit," he said. "I think to myself, 'How much simpler would it have been had I just called in and said, 'No, I'm not going to travel on a cross-country flight and spend two days in New York with all these people that are singing all over the country.'"
Jackson Browne performs in Laguna Beach, Calif., Sept. 7, 2019. (Getty Images)
Browne said he has been at home for about 10 days.
CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE
"I feel lucky that I'm not really badly affected. I guess I've got a really strong immune system," he said.
In Monday, Dr. Deborah Birx, White House coronavirus response coordinator, told reporters that the New York City metro area has an infection rate of 1 in 1,000 for coronavirus, the highest in the nation. She said social distancing and self-isolation are particularly important for people in the New York area, or for those who've recently traveled to the New York area.


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Q: Executing controller action from Actor in Play Framework I want an Akka Actor scheduled to execute some controller action in Play 2.3. Is there any possiblity to make it without making WS request? I don't want to set application url anywhere in configuration.

A: You can schedule some action in Akka like this
  case object Refresh
  system.scheduler.schedule(5.minutes, 5.minutes, cacheActor, Refresh)

In the actor you can handle the Refresh message
def receive = {
  case Refresh => {
     //Refresh cache here
  }
  ...
}

As for the code in the Play controller, it might be a good idea to move the code in the Play controller to a place both the controller and the actor can access.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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THE HARBOUR VOICE
La Voz Hispana
Message from the Editor
The Oscars: More "Popular"?
By Ava Aschettino
The Oscars, THE most prestigious award show of them all, recently decided to introduce a new category, "Outstanding Popular Film," to the 2019 show. This category was introduced as a result of fans' belief that box office hits should be recognized for their success too; in the past, creative films that are more or less under the radar to many have been the only ones to receive accolades at the Oscars. This is the first time a new category has been introduced to the show since 2001 when the category "Best Animated Feature" was added to the rundown. The "Outstanding Popular Film" category will feature five box office hits released in 2018, and the nominees will be announced on January 24th, 2019. Although there have been many record-setting films released to the silver screen this past year, here are a few of my predictions for this year's newest category.
Black Panther (February 16, 2018): After returning home to his kingdom, Wakanda, after the death of his father, the Black Panther, T'Challa (Chadwick Boseman), is ready to assume the throne and begin his position as King. Upon T'Challa's return, he is challenged by a new enemy, Killmonger (Michael B. Jordan) for ruler of Wakanda. T'Challa teams up with his genius younger sister, Shuri, Nakia, Okoye, and CIA agent Everett Ross to save his kingdom, and the whole world, from the impulsiveness of Killmonger. This movie is not just another Marvel hit; it was the ninth-highest grossing film of all time, making nearly $1.35 billion dollars. The film's success is not only due to its intriguing storyline, but for being culturally revolutionary in its own right. Not only do I believe this film will be nominated, but I'm certain it will take home the Oscar.
Ready Player One (March 29, 2018): Set in the year 2045, the Earth has been heavily over-populated and characters such as Wade Owen live a life riddled with poverty. A virtual reality system known as "The Oasis" is invented to allow the millions in poverty to escape to a world of their choosing, where they can be whoever they want, wherever they want. This "game" soon becomes so much more to Wade, bringing love to his depressing life, but also highlighting the evil of the game. Wade, Evelyn, and their friends must find a way to protect the Oasis from being taken away from millions. Besides being a box office hit, this film should be recognized for its out-of-this-world futuristic technology, unlike anything seen before in theatres. I put off watching this film for months because it seemed too "sci-fi" and boring for my taste, but I was wrong. If you have not seen this film, know that Spielberg's incredible work will shatter all your expectations.
Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again (July 20, 2018): This musical phenomenon is not only a sequel to its 2008 predecessor, but also serves as a prequel. Years after Sophie's mother's death, Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) becomes pregnant with her first child and reflects back on her mother, Donna, and her life, as she looks for guidance. She asks her mother's two closest friends to fill in the gaps of her mother's life as a young pregnant woman. The movie alternates between young Donna (Lily James) and her experience as a young girl in love, and Sophie and her problems while opening a hotel in honor of her mother (Meryl Streep). While exploring Donna's past, the film also offers subtle hints about which of Sophie's three dads is her actual father. This film delights audiences with over a dozen classic ABBA songs that will have people of all ages singing along. Many are pleased by the sequel and claim it's the best musical since its predecessor. Ever since the movie hit the silver screen, many predicted it would snag a nomination in the new Oscars category, but fans will have to wait until January 24th, 2019 to see for themselves!
A Star is Born (October 5, 2018): A third remake of the 1937 classic, A Star is Born stars Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga. Jack (Cooper), a seasoned musician, discovers a struggling artist, Ally (Gaga), and helps kick-start her career. The two fall in love, but as her career escalates, his declines, as well as their relationship. Not only does this film feature a soundtrack with hits that landed the top spot on the music charts, but all the music performed by the characters in the film is performed LIVE. This film has not only received phenomenal reviews from critics, but audiences adored this movie as well. The film features some of Cooper and Gaga's best work, and it certainly tugs on viewers' heartstrings. Although the remake is unlikely to win in the category, the film and its leads are sure to receive nominations in other categories, and may possibly rack up numerous wins.
Bohemian Rhapsody (November 2, 2018): Written by band members of Queen, Bohemian Rhapsody depicts the life of worldwide sensation and lead singer Freddie Mercury. The movie shows the band's rise to stardom and provides viewers with a behind-the-scenes look at life on tour. This film also highlights Mercury's substance abuse and sexuality while paying homage to those who were ESSENTIAL in shaping Queen into the band it is known as today. Oh... and let's not forget 22 of Queen's top hits. Rami Malek (Freddie Mercury) gives the undeniable best performance of the year in this inspiring story that allows viewers to see the obstacles Mercury faced. The film has grossed over $500 million so far. Although the movie received some backlash from critics, fans poured into theaters. I personally believe that this film should snag the Oscar!
Here you'll find news within the world of film, television, music, and more.


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Home » Articles from The Washington Center » Only in D.C.: Tiny Desk Fest
Only in D.C.: Tiny Desk Fest
November 21, 2019 Mythea Mazzola
One of my favorite aspects of living in D.C. are the experiences that you can only have here.
There are so many opportunities for networking and meeting people who are influencing policy and society. There are also many entertainment venues and opportunities to experience the culture of D.C.
On October 1, I found out from a fellow intern that NPR would be opening up its office to the public to experience their famous Tiny Desk concerts live. NPR's Bob Boilen started Tiny Desk in 2008 -- a series where NPR invites artists of all genres and popularity to perform at Bob Boilen's very own desk. These performances are recorded and then shared via the NPR site and Youtube. These performances are a great way to see your favorite artists do stripped-down versions of their regular shows without all the noise you would experience at a regular concert at a bar or an arena. Traditionally, these performances are only attended by NPR staff and their guests. But NPR decided to organize a four-day festival called the Tiny Desk Fest and open their doors to the public for the very first time.
Bob Boilen's Desk
The Tiny Desk Fest was organized into four different nights from October 28 - 31. Tickets sold out within a half-hour from going on sale, even though attendees did not know who the performer for that evening was until they showed up for the event. Two of my fellow interns and I spent most of our lunch refreshing the NPR page in hopes of getting tickets, but only two out of the three of us were lucky enough to do so.
The first night of the festival included a performance from rapper Megan Thee Stallion, the second night's performer was Sheryl Crow, the third night's performer was D.C. native and rapper Wale, and the last included a performance from singer and producer Raphael Saadiq featuring R&B newcomer Lucky Daye.
When I first stepped into the NPR building (a 10-minute walk from TWC's Residential and Academic Building in NoMa) I was greeted by some Jack Daniels sponsored drinks and approximately 100–150 people buzzing about who the performer could possibly be for the evening. We took this time to browse the gift shop and I purchased a Tiny Desk pin and sticker to commemorate the event.
About 15 minutes before the performance, NPR staff guided the crowd into the elevators and up to the offices of NPR Music. Before the concert began, Bob Boilen introduced Saadiq and talked about how Tiny Desk has grown over the years and how artists will leave behind gifts for his bookshelf that sits in the background of all the Tiny Desk videos. Most recently, a lamp was left behind by R&B singer Summer Walker and now resides on the upper right shelf.
Singer and producer Raphael Saadiq performs at NPR's Tiny Desk Fest.
The performance itself included a guitarist, drummer, and Raphael himself on bass. Lucky Daye joined for two numbers and performed songs from his latest album, Painted. The songs included elements of R&B, funk, and rock. The last number featured a distinct riff from a tuba player. Before the song, Saadiq noted that his high school in Oakland didn't have a marching band and he was always inspired by the marching bands at HBCUs and wanted to include that sound in his music.
While in D.C. I highly recommend taking the time to embrace all the experiences that you can only have here.
Mythea Mazzola
After the performance, NPR Journalist Rodney Carmichael interviewed Saadiq in Studio One. Carmichael asked about Saadiq's inspiration for his most recent album, Jimmy Lee, as well as Saadiq's role as a songwriter and producer for famous R&B artists such as D'Angelo and Solange. Saadiq shared that this album was inspired by his brother, Jimmy Lee, and more specifically, Lee's struggles with addiction.
What makes Tiny Desk so special is the opportunity to experience music from your favorite artists or be introduced to a brand new artist in an intimate setting. While in D.C. I highly recommend taking the time to embrace all the experiences that you can only have here - there are many concerts, theatre productions, and seasonal events happening on any given week you just have to pay attention.
Images in this story via NPR.org.
Mythea Mazzola is a student at the University of Rochester where she double majors in Political Science and Business. She was a Fall 2019 intern at the National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC), a policy and advocacy organization that advances affordable housing access, strengthens the Community Reinvestment Act, increases home ownership and addresses other related issues.
More Content by Mythea Mazzola
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Back in August, I thought I had it all figured out. I knew what I was getting out of undergrad, what my nex...
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Protests continue in Armenia
Andrea Peters
Small-scale protests continue in the Armenian capital of Yerevan, after a week in which crowds of several thousand took to the streets to demand that the government halt a 16 percent increase in electricity costs. Some demonstrators remain camped out on the city's main thoroughfare, defying police orders to disperse, while others have moved over to nearby Freedom Square.
On Saturday, President Serzh Sargsyan announced a suspension of the price hike for consumers and said that the government would cover the increased costs amidst an audit of the energy provider, Electric Networks of Armenia (ENA). Sargsyan's announcement marks a temporary reversal of course for his administration, which had refused to accede to protesters' demands since the demonstrations first broke out on June 19. The aim of the audit, which will take three to six months, is to defuse popular anger in the short term and give the government time to prepare for further clashes with the population.
The proposed electricity price hike would have raised prices for consumers by 6.93 dram, increasing daytime rates to 48.78 dram (10 cents) and nighttime rates to 38.78 dram (8 cents) per kilowatt hour. In 2013, Armenia's median monthly salary was $342—the lowest of all the Caucasus countries and three time below the global average.
Those still out on Yerevan's streets insist that the suspension is not enough and want a permanent reversal of the rate increase. Other demands are unclear. On Sunday, Armenian Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan accused those remaining behind the barricades on Bagramyan Street of seeking "the creation of instability in the country" and wanting to push "our citizens towards a confrontation" on the basis of "unclear and futile ambitions."
Last Tuesday, police unleashed water cannons on peaceful demonstrators, injuring 20, and arrested 237 people, including journalists covering the events, in an effort to clamp down on the situation. Their efforts failed, and the crowds continued to grow. According to the Russian online news source Gazeta.ru, representatives from Armenia's intelligentsia circulated among the predominantly youthful protestors in an expression of solidarity. Smaller scale demonstrations occurred in Gyumri, where the Russian military has a major base, and Vanadzor, which is about 64 kilometers to the east of Gyumri.
Even as it issued an apology for the detention of media representatives, promising not to use water cannons and offering to meet with protest leaders, the government at first flatly rejected the demonstrators' demands, which the head of the Armenian police described as "unacceptable." As concern grew over what was being dubbed in the media as a possible "Electric Maidan," Sargsyan backed away from his initial hard line position.
The small land-locked country of 3.2 million, strategically located in the southern Caucasus and bordered by Turkey, Georgia, Azerbaijan and Iran, has an official poverty rate of upwards of 30 percent. Armenia's economy, devastated in the aftermath of the 2008 world economic crisis, is heavily reliant on remittances from Armenians living abroad, particularly in Russia. Over the past year, these financial transfers have collapsed by 56 percent, a result of the economic crisis hitting Russia. In early June, the International Monetary Fund predicted a zero percent growth rate for Armenia in 2015.
As tensions grew in Yerevan this past week, Moscow became increasingly concerned that the protests over the rate hike would take on an anti-Russian coloration. Much of Armenia's energy resources are controlled by Russian-owned firms. ENA, which had wanted an even larger hike of 40 percent, is a subsidiary of the Russian company Inter RAO. The possibility of Armenia nationalizing ENA has been raised as a demand in the present confrontation with the population. Inter RAO has denied rumors that it has plans to sell ENA.
Armenia is a key strategic ally of the Kremlin and a member of the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU)—an economic alliance that includes some post-Soviet states and was established under Moscow's domination. It was former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych's decision last year to sign a deal with the EEU and reject closer ties with the European Union that set off street protests in Kiev, culminating in the US-backed far-right putsch which resulted in his ouster.
Armenia is the site of one of Russia's major military bases, under the command of Moscow's southern Caucasus defense forces. Last week, officials of the two countries were meeting in Yerevan to discuss various infrastructure and financial arrangements for the facility, which is protected by a treaty agreement through 2044.
A June 29 article in Asia Times noted, "If Armenia is brought into the western orbit, Russia gets practically shut out of South Caucasus [sic], given the ambivalence in Moscow's equations with Baku and the unfriendly policies of the pro-Western government in Tbilisi. Equally, Armenia shares a border with Iran and a pro-western government in Yerevan and the consequent shift in the balance of forces impacts regional politics. Of course, if a regime change such as in Georgia in 2003 were to repeat in Armenia, it has security implications for Russia's North Caucasus, which is a restive region threatened by extremist Islamist groups, some which enjoy external support."
Some Russian media commentators have speculated as to whether the protests could turn into another "color revolution," and government officials have accused the United States of having a hand in the electricity hike protests in Yerevan. Igor Morozov, a member of the Russian Federation Council's committee on foreign affairs, expressed alarm that Armenia is going the way of Ukraine. "Armenia is close to an armed government coup. This will happen if the president of the country, Serzh Sargsya, does not learn the lessons of the Ukrainian Maidan and does not draw the corresponding conclusions."
In a form of gross hypocrisy, Washington and Brussels both voiced objections to the use of violence against protesters in Yerevan. Over the past decade, the United States has carried out a vast militarization of its police force, which regularly terrorizes protesters—as witnessed in Ferguson, Missouri last year—and brutalizes and kills innocent people. The European Union is currently carrying out an act of economic sociocide in Greece, demanding the imposition of austerity measures that will savage the population. Meanwhile in Ukraine, the Western-backed regime of President Petro Poroshenko has implemented massive hikes in utility prices, devastating the living standards of the already impoverished population.
Eastern EuropeEurope


The Eastern Goldfields 4WD Club is a group of responsible four wheel drivers who practice the "tread lightly" principle.
We run monthly day trips, long weekend camping trips, overnight trips, week long trips and the occasional big 5-week trip on top of our annual damper bake off.
Some vehicles (stock and highly modified) that club members drive include LC 200, Patrol, Jackaroo, Pajero, Triton, Jeep, Ranger, Prado and even an X-trail!
All are welcome. We also cater for beginners new to the 4wd scene.


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Sewer systems for Doylestown, Apple Creek
By CHRIS KICKStaff WriterDOYLESTOWN -- Houses within The Meadows subdivision will soon benefit from the efforts taken in 2008 to replace their sewer system.Throughout the year, Wayne County commissioners and sewer officials for the county worked to develop a plan for a new pump station to pump wastewater to the treatment plant in Doylestown.The treatment plant at The Meadows was outdated and malfunctioning, officials said, leading them to conclude the most cost efficient and environmentally friendly option would be to pump waste to the village.The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency also has found fault with the old plant, which officials said is the driving reason for the replacement.Wayne County Environmental Director Terry West said the deadline for the project is March 31, but he expects it will be finished sooner if the weather cooperates.The old treatment plant will be abandoned, he said. The project is expected to serve about 200 residents in The Meadows and is also expected to help keep their sewer fees down, once it becomes operable and expenses are paid."We won't have to maintain a treatment plant back there (in The Meadows). Once we get this upfront stuff paid off, hopefully we can keep their sewer fees at the same price," West said.The project is being coordinated by Underground Utilities at a cost of almost $700,000.Commissioners approved borrowing $360,000 in short-term, one-year bonds to finance the project. County Administrator Patrick Herron figured up to $500,000 of it could be covered with Ohio Public Works Commission money.A similar renovation will take place at the Eastwood allotment in East Union Township. Commissioners approved borrowing $140,000 to reimburse the engineering costs there.The new line serving Eastwood residences will include new customers, including some from mobile home parks, which commissioners said will be good because it will help with EPA compliance issues."We are actually solving a great number of problems with this project," said former Commissioner Cheryl Noah, earlier in the year.Efficiency and a lower cost are incentives Commissioner Scott Wiggam sees."It makes things more effective and efficient and, hopefully, will be able to hold down the costs," Wiggam said.Reporter Chris Kick can be reached at 330-287-1635 or e-mail ckick@the-daily-record.com.


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Autostrada A661 (niem. Bundesautobahn 661 (BAB 661) także Autobahn 661 (A661)) – autostrada w Niemczech przebiegająca z północy na południe stanowiąc wschodnią obwodnicę Frankfurtu, łącząca autostradę A5 z autostradą A3 w Hesji.

A661 nazywana jest również Taunusschnellweg lub Osttangente Frankfurt.

Zobacz też
 lista autostrad w Niemczech
 lista dróg krajowych w Niemczech

661