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CICERO'S BLOG
What in the World is Going on at Cicero's
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Blue Moon Paints the Town Orange
Six Row Brewing: History in a Bottle
Left Hand Brewing: No Stranger to Beer School
Hop Slam! Another Awesome Firkin Beer School
Deschutes Brew Parachutes into the Lou
Kenny's Window Journal
Kenny's week in the window
The First Pour: Stone IPA
The First Pour: O'Fallon Wheach
The First Pour: Stone Arrogant Bastard
How to "Friday" 101: See Beth Bombara at Cicero's
Adam Arcuragi and The Lupine Chroale Society | Death Gospel Harbingers
Scarlet Tanager | Soaring above St. Louis
Givers & I Went to a Show | For the Betterment of Mondays
Stone Brewing: Rock Star of Beer
Categories Select Category Beer Menu (37) Beer School (22) Cicero's General (2) Music Venue (15) Nostalgia (1) Uncategorized (16)
Archive for the 'Music Venue' Category
Posted: August 17, 2011 in Music Venue
Tags: Beth Bombara, Jes Kramer, Nee, St. Louis local music, The Pistolbrides
Getting emails every single day from "hot new" bands can be a bit harrowing; sure, every band has their story and has their sound but how many of them are going to stand up to the big guys? Which bands will warrant multiple listens, and not just because you can't decide whether you like them or not, but because with each repeated listen you find something else you like or some awesome element you might have missed on prior listens? Music trends are much like clothing trends – things that were old become new again, which is fine…sometimes. Right now the trend in indie rock is, somewhat unfortunately, folk-tinged indie rock. 90% of these bands sound like one another, a cheap version of whoever it was that inspired them or perhaps a strange amalgamation of Top 40 cutesy-pop with banjo or 12 string-twang indie rock that just doesn't work for anyone. It's easy to check the delete button in my email box when I read lines like "authentic roots record" or "a sweeping journey across coasts and five cities into fleeting highs and empty houses" without even checking the band out. Why? Because it's garbage, beautiful fluff to lull me in to a false sense of security, telling me that I'll absolutely adore this band because it's so much different from that other band. But it's not.
Beth Bombara
Why am I telling you all of this? Because I'm going to attempt to use my beautiful words (and the praising words of others) to tell you that there is something better out there. A folksy artist who isn't pinned down under the booted foot, the heavy genre titled "folk", or hell, even indie-folk. What makes Beth Bombara so different? Her difference. Yep. I know that sounds silly but I've also been guilty of brandishing strange genres and creating crude associations but Bombara's the real deal. For years I've heard several of my local St. Louis music cohorts sing the praises of Bombara, but no one even comes close to singing those as well as the actual Beth Bombara. Her voice is rich, lush and so full of texture you'll need an extra Wheach from the Cicero's venue bar to wash it down. I've been guilty of only casually listening to Bombara but am now the proud owner of all three of her albums; the acoustic album Abandon Ship (2007), the full band recording of the album Beth Bombara and the Robotic Foundation (2009) (which happens to be my favorite), and her latest, from 2010, Wish I Were You. Sure, I got on the boat a bit too late – but I at least caught it. And listening to the maturation and progression of Bombara as an artist has been the lifesaver that drug me aboard.
Bombara's vocal talent is arresting and easy to detect as it's the most exposed element in the recording(s). But what really shines, especially upon those repeated listens, is how Bombara crafts her songs. Every song feels meticulously constructed but sung and strummed with such ease, an organic and comfortable progression can be found in every song. Those natural elements are what wraps the listener up, like their favorite blanket, as they listen from album to album.
Lucky for you, Beth Bombara is a local gem. Even luckier? She's playing at Cicero's on Friday night with a stellar line-up to boot. St. Louis' precocious and brilliant Née will bring her own brand of unique and fun, dance-worthy tunes, featuring an equally outstanding vocal charm. Also on the bill for Friday's exceptional show are The Pistolbrides and Jes Kramer. Bring $8 to Cicero's at 8:30p on Friday and you'll walk in knowing that your money was well spent and your Friday got a massive upgrade featuring beautiful voices and a crack at something great and new.
About the Author – Jennifer Metzler has been going to rock and roll shows all over St. Louis from an early age. She recalls some of her first ever shows as rollicking good, jam-packed, sweaty and perfectly dim-lit shows while standing on the Cicero's venue floor. When not rocking out at shows, writing about music or listening to the newest breakout band, she's writing about hockey, watching hockey, or screaming and throwing a remote across the living room in regards to, you guessed it, hockey. If you see her at a show, Cicero's or anywhere around St. Louis, feel free to say hello!
Posted: July 24, 2011 in Music Venue
Tags: Adam Arcuragi, Death Gospel, La Blogotheque, SXSW, The Lupine Chorale Society
Genre slinging and coming up with a catchy, funny and notable new genre are done all too easily in the musical realm anymore – gone are the days of simply labeling some as rock, pop, country or hip-hop. However, of all the genres being bandied about one that intrigued me recently was "Death Gospel". Gospel music, in it's own right, can be catchy, obviously spiritual and uplifting, though with the connection of the grimness and sorrow of death, a clearer definition was necessary. While the genre Death Gospel conjures up negative connotations of death and life spent underground, Arcuragi and his backing band, The Lupine Chorale Society are out to extinguish the sads by bringing Death Gospel to life in the form of celebratory rollicking Americana folk-rock. Arcuragi's songwriting is precise and exacting, the backing vocals provided by guest collaborators and members of The Lupine Chorale Society. The celebration of humanity isn't just contained in records – the presentation of Adam Arcuragi and The Lupine Chorale Society in a live setting is a ceremony to be witnessed best live. La Blogotheque was lucky enough to capture one of these festivities in a New York Flea Market in 2008 and the band has been gaining ground (and fun) since. Find the video at the bottom of the interview, or better yet come to Cicero's tomorrow, Monday, July 25th to witness the fun and beauty of Arcuragi's Death Gospel in person. I caught up with Arcuragi through email recently and asked him about the genre, recording and the success of their SXSW 2011 outing.
Where did you get your musical start and how did that start translate to the projects you're currently working on/that became you [Adam Arcuragi] and The Lupine Choral Society?
Adam Arcuragi: This incarnation of the band started with Andrew playing slide guitar with me in a version of the band in New York. Then we met Jack in Atlanta. Matt was Jack's roommate. Harrison knew Jack from Greensboro, NC and Henry just happened to have been on the same high school track team as the band's manager.
Your recording for I Am Become Joy has laughter and conversation from the actual recording process left in it – was this recorded in analog form? Also, what made you choose to keep that intimacy in tact on the record?
AA: No, we did not record to tape for that album. In terms of the intimacy idea, I don't think we thought of it as intimacy. I think you have different timbers that you favor from record to record and the sound we focused on and played with was the human voice and how it blends with other voices. I think it is also safe to say that the laugh at the beginning is one of the most positive sounds ever recorded.
In an interview from 2 years ago, you'd said that if you'd "taken more time some songs would've got fixed" but that if everyone had their say due to being a consummate artist that everything would have been fixed or picked at – do you think that if everyone had their say the recordings would possibly suffer for the listener? What do you think would have been left of the songs or, furthermore, the record?
AA: "Fix" is a bad choice of words. I don't mean to imply that there is a platonic ideal of a song out there in the aether. I should have said that you can always tinker with a recording. So in a situation like making a record it is nice for me to have some constraints to help me not just be some tourist gawking at all the possibilities.
The ridiculousness of genre identifying knows no bounds in today's ever-evolving musical realm and I know several have asked, but please explain the definition of "Death Gospel" that you've labeled yourself with. Do you feel this descriptor sets you apart from others or maybe piques the curiosity of possible show attendants? Why or why not?
AA: It is funny you should ask that because just the other day my manager got an internet alarm and sent me a link to what ends up being a page on Wikipedia about Death Gospel. We're still not sure who put it up but they did it scientifically. (Find the link here.)
You were deemed a "breakout band" from this years SXSW by quite a few notable names and publications. Has that put any extra stress on the band? How has it affected the bands attitude and work ethic, either positively or negatively?
AA: No, the band doesn't feel any pressure. I can say with a high degree of certainty that it hasn't gone to their heads. They are still really in a really nice groove. They're my pageant babies making momma proud.
It's been said, and is extremely evident in photos and videos, that your live act is entertaining and more than an atypical show on any given night. Given the fun-loving attitue of the band and the music you perform, how, in your own words, do you think you make your shows more fun and entertaining?
AA: We have a great mix of talented people that are totally complimentary in both style and personality. It has become a joy and not a chore and really affords us the weird pleasure of hitting a point where we are both comfortable and excited.
About the Author – Jennifer Metzler has been going to rock and roll shows all over St. Louis from an early age. She recalls some of her first ever shows as rollicking good, jam-packed, sweaty and perfectly dim-lit shows while standing on the Cicero's venue floor. When not rocking out at shows, writing about music or listening to the newest breakout band, she's writing about hockey, watching hockey, or screaming and throwing a remote across the living room in regards to, you guessed it, hockey. She also loves to talk to her cats, walk around the duck pond judging duck hair-do's and collect vinyl records. If you see her at a show, Cicero's or anywhere around St. Louis, feel free to say hello!
Posted: July 18, 2011 in Music Venue, Uncategorized
Tags: Bright Eyes, Deathcab for Cutie, Feist, Los Campesinos, Patsy Cline, Regina Spektor, Scarlet Tanager, St. Louis
Photo by Susan Logsdon
It's no short order to mix the influences of six people while creating your own unique niche and create a lasting stamp on your hometown crowd. Upon my first time ever hearing of Scarlet Tanager I was stunned; I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I heard bits and pieces of several artists, old (I mean older than me, 1950's and 60's groups) and new but before I could put my finger on one artist they sounded like they would effortlessly drift to another sound or influence. Somehow this group kept their influences intact without completely ripping them off and they owned their sound. From the vocals to the rhythm section and beyond, this would be the group that restored my faith in local music. This sextet was indie pop and everything great about pop music, with a bit of homegrown twang, in general.
Scarlet Tanager is one of St. Louis' most well-kept secrets and most precious gems, as Susan Logsdon sings in her wistful, dreamy aural arena and her five band mates (including her husband, brother and sister-in-law) create the perfect mix of warm 60's charm and the best elements of all that is right in indie pop. Scarlet Tanager explores themes relevant to nearly anyone but no one captures their light as well as Susan and the gang. If Susan's brutally honest lyrics sung in her outstanding vocal gamut ranging from soft lulls to full bodied croons doesn't nab your attention the musical palette of the musicians assisting her certainly will. To paint a better picture of what you've been missing out on, I took it upon myself to introduce you to St. Louis' 'most-satisfying-to-listen-to' up and coming band.
Describe your sound in your own words. What kind of music does Scarlet Tanager play?
Michael Logsdon: Indie Pop is probably the best description. We're just trying to play the type of music we enjoy. We have a lot of influences but trying to balance out influences with our own personal sound and six band members can be difficult. Susan comes from a singer/songwriter background but we're eclectic, we try to bring a lot of 50's type of pop in to the mix, too.
Every band has influences beyond what the audience may hear; what are influences of yours that may or may not be obvious to audience ears? How do any of those influences affect your sound and how do you mix those to fit that eclectic and unique style?
Susan Logsdon: My influences definitely include Patsy Cline and her 50's pop sound. I also really like Feist and Regina Spektor. Bright Eyes and Deathcab for Cutie are influences, too, for the both of us [Michael and I], I think.
ML: Yeah, I definitely include Bright Eyes but I also really like Los Campesinos and like to include them as an influence that you can hear in Scarlet Tanager, like with the group vocals and just lots of energy. There's something primal about just singing your guts out on stage like that and I also really like to include vocal harmonies. It's funny because when Susan starts to come up with a song she'll come to me and tell me she's got a new one. I'll listen to it and then I'll hear something in it that she maybe didn't consciously mean to do, but it still sounds like her or like Scarlet Tanager, very unique and then I'll add my influences. It's neat because having six people from different backgrounds keeps it interesting. Jordan (keys/vocals) comes from a theatre background and is really good with harmonies, Josh is kind of a rocker, you know. We just have to keep each other balanced, we make sure that the sound or our style doesn't get out of hand and that nothing just comes out of left field.
SL: No, we all get along, we're a very democratic band. Everyone has such good insight and it keeps us all contained. It's really cool and a lot more fun to get everyone's opinions on things before we move on and complete projects.
How did you get your start? And how or where did you meet the whole crew of band members?
ML: I think I like my side of this story better [laughs]. In college I played in a band called Roses at Your Feet. A Greenville buddy of mine led me to Susan when he was talking about "girls who do awesome music" and Susan went to Greenville. I thought she was great and it was intimidating! She came to see my band's show and my friend Jason introduced me to her and all I could really say was "I heard your music! That's you!" After the show we all went out to Denny's and I just laid it on thick – I figured I had no chance of bombing because I wasn't sure I'd see her again but I kept telling her that I was a fan of her and her music. Like, I was a fan of hers before I'd even met her. We started Myspace messaging each other and she came back and we started dating. She even wrote a song about me and that was in 2006.
SL: [laughing at Michael] Yeah, I thought he was…hot stuff. That's the first time I've ever said that [continues laughing]! There was a lot of shameless flirting between the two of us. I made fun of him a lot but it must have worked because we messaged one another all summer and then started dating. But this is the first band that I've ever been in and he's [Michael] has always been there for me and Josh, my brother. And Josh and Jordan are married to each other, too, so that's really nice to have as a support system as a band and family.
ML: As a band, though, Scarlet Tanager has been together for about a year. We started assembling all the parts a year and a half ago out in West County. There was always a lot of music around us, like when we were in college at Greenville [Susan and some of my friends] and Carbondale [where I was] music and good musicians weren't hard to find.
SL: We found Matt through church and Dustin from Greenville, but he was also in Michael's band. Josh was getting serious with Jordan and we wanted to ask her to come join us. So, that was great how it worked out.
ML: It came together so quick that deciding on what we wanted our sound to be was hard. We kept asking ourselves what we wanted this to be. Every song sounded so different and we were trying to find some cohesion. After a few practices and meetings with one another, we came closer to our sound.
SL: Micahel played keys on a few songs, then he'd go play the guitar and Josh would play acoustic. It got hard to picture Scarlet Tanager without an acoustic. Our first show was filmed and after watching it felt that Josh's talent on acoustic was being wasted. The guitar (electric) sound came to fit our sound, that 60's pop tone just fit naturally.
Can you tell us about the forthcoming album? This will be your first record and you seem to be doing all of the work on your own, very DIY.
ML: The new album has definitely been a long time coming. Since we started we've wanted to record. For the past almost year we've done our own recordings. We won some studio time with Jupiter Studios and Josh and I have recording experience but this was a bit out of our zone [at Jupiter]. We took to doing home recordings in the garage and we fix it up and it sounds great. We decided to do the recordings and try to set a date for songs and production and recordings done. Fingers crossed we'll be all ready and done by the show! The album is very representative of Susan and who she is. Susan is homemade; she's just great at everything and is a natural at everything she does. Susan is working on the artwork and is screen printing all of the albums, she's done the planning for it.
The mixing for the album was done by Josh and I. He and I split the duties and each took a few songs to get the whole album done. The mixes were coming out a little different but it was great because we'd bounce ideas off of each other and come up with some really good stuff. But then one night I was driving home listening to a song I was going to mix and I came up with this great idea for a music video. I sat on the idea for a week because I was a little embarrassed but I threw the idea out there and then we all talked about it, made a storyboard and got scenes and the video completely forumulated.
Wow, a music video, especially DIY, is a huge undertaking! What can you say about the video and where/when will it be available for viewing?
SL: The video was a crazy project, lots of fun! It started as a simple idea but the whole thing just took on a life of its own. Our garage was taken over by the puppets and the sets for the puppets, outfits – we made over 30 outfits for the puppets.
ML: It's for what's probably the quirkiest song on the album and came up with the idea for the video with puppets and having a puppet for each member of the band. We set a deadline of 2 weeks for the video to be shot and produced, made – the whole thing, we wanted to do it in two weeks. We worked on it every night for about a month and a half until it was done but it was great because it brought everyone in the band together, all working on something for the group. The video will be premiered at the CD release show on Friday (June 24th) and will also go up on YouTube, Vimeo our Facebook, everywhere.
What's next for the band?
SL: We don't have a manager but we've definitely talked about it. We've done all the work, obviously all the work for the album but also booking and scheduling all of our own shows. We'll do the work for booking like emailing venue managers and bookers but this is our dream.
ML: Yeah, this is it for us – what we've always wanted to do. It's one of those things where if this doesn't work then we'll have kids, but this is what we want to do now. This is something we've worked so hard for and something we love doing and we're looking to do whatever it takes for us to get to that next level.
Join Scarlet Tanager on Wednesday, July 20th at Off Broadway along with Tone Rodent and My Gold Mask. Doors at 8:30p and show starts at 9p.
Original interview can be found at Starla at the Show and Music of the Hour, published June 22, 2011.
The Ettes | Wild and Unbelievable Rock and Roll
Posted: June 5, 2011 in Music Venue
Tags: The Ettes
Hearing names like "Coco", "Poni" and "Jem" used nonchalantly, as nicknames, typically conjures up thoughts of cartoon characters or maybe roller derby players – not rock and roll musicians. Based out of Nashville, Tennesee, The Ettes have put a much sexier edge to your regular idea of punchy garage-bands. This once a quartet, now a trio with a new bass player, has seen it all and cataloged it in their fun, raucous, satisfying mix of punk, rock and a little bit of that Nashville twang – with much rougher edges, that is. Be sure to clear your calendar for Saturday, June 11th as The Ettes come to Cicero's to deliver their rock talent, sure to make you dance, clap, scream and sweat in a heap full of fun. Lindsay "Coco" Hames, lead guitarist and singer, filled me in on some of The Ettes fun, including Drew Barrymore extending an invitation to be on her film, Whip It, soundtrack and sharing bills with some stellar musical companions.
You had a track ("Crown of Age") appear on the Whip It soundtrack; how does getting feature on a soundtrack usually work? Does the film producer or film's music person come to or…? Explain the process.
Drew [Barrymore] approached me personally actually, at one of our shows at SXSW. I am picky about what our music gets used for, but I love Drew, and I loved the film. We were out with Juliette Lewis around that time too, and Juliette was in the film, it was kind of a no-brainer, in terms of how great all the people involved were.
As a former derby girl, I have to ask…what did you think of the film using one of your tracks as a "derby" girl type of anthem? What did you think of them using your song to correlate to roller derby?
We Ettes are massive derby supporters. Derby girls are rock and roll, so we always get along. Hard working, great sense of humor, constantly covered in bruises… we're pretty much the same, but they're on wheels! I thought that was a great derby anthem. It's a song about living and learning, so what a good scene to use it in, the climactic sort of moral victory for Ellen Page's character. It's less about "derby" than it is about human emotion, really, so it works for me on several levels.
You've shared the stage with some pretty massive names in rock and roll; how does it feel to headline your own gigs?
Funny thing is, we started OUT headlining our own gigs. They were just tiny gigs, is all. There's just a difference between playing a massive arena for 6,000 screaming girls and playing a 500 capacity club where people are listening intently… we play the same, I've noticed, for 2 people or 20,000, whether we're headlining or not. We're always respectful when we're supporting other headliners, but I think we've got a lot of personality, ha. I think we treat every show we play as a headlining show.
Your newest album, Wicked Will, is set to be released August 2nd. Can you tell us a bit about this album? How does it differ from your last? How was the recording process?
I love Wicked Will. It's got some really amazing bangers on there, as well as some creepy country songs, which are some of my favorites to write. We almost always go to Toe Rag because — as a three piece — dynamics are important, space between sound, elements of sound. No one gets that better than Liam. I want my vocal to sound the way I sound, Jem's bass leading the music, and I want that kick drum in my face. There's plenty of that!
Do you have any favorite types of venues or cities that you like to play?
The tour we did with the Dead Weather last year had us playing at a bunch of venues we hadn't played before, some of which turned out to be my favorites ever. I gotta love me some Cain's Ballroom, and the show in Albuquerque was amazing. We've been on the road for a solid 7 years (like… 7 years without a break, at all!) so we've played just about everywhere. Anywhere where the music is loud and the people are paying attention, it's a great time.
What's been the most insane thing to happen to you while on tour?
Totally impossible to answer. Too many wild and unbelievable things. It's a game, really, that way, on the road. Other touring friends will tell some totally insane story from the road, and we'll nod our heads and go "mm hm, one of those" because it all happens, all the time. I have a scar on my shoulder I do not appreciate from a fan who bit me in the Black Forest in Germany last year. It's all right though, she was just expressing her enthusiasm, I can't blame her for that.
In terms of the set list, with a new album coming out does it change the way you structure your sets? How so?
Well we get excited about playing newer stuff, because it's new and exciting to us. And potentially (likely) a stronger representation of who we are now. But we've gone to plenty of other shows as fans, we know people want to hear their favorites, too. It changes every night. We play to the crowd. You want it? Ask for it, you just might get it!
Communipaw | More than a Name
Posted: May 26, 2011 in Music Venue
Tags: Aqueduct, Communipaw, Ester Drang, Field Music, New Jersey, Scarlet Tanager, St. Louis, The Otto Modest
Upon a lazy Wikipedia or Google search of "Communipaw", you'd find that it's a community within Jersey City, NJ and one of America's earliest European settlements, however, upon closer inspection Communipaw is a folk rock band from New Brunswick, New Jersey. Their quality lo-fi sound is accompanied by a contrast of fragile vocals, gritty, twangy guitars and straightforward drumming. With one listen of their songs "The Morning Hours" (found on their Facebook page) and "I Admit" this typically pop-rock filled brain was intrigued; the band conjured up memories of beautiful western sunsets and recalls the sounds of Ester Drang (circa Infinite Keys), Aqueduct and some of the aspects of Field Music. Communipaw's music is the strangest and most beautiful mix of stripped down folk while still being full, lush and full of hopeful from the strumming of the guitar to the harmonies created. Communipaw treads water in multiple genres, but few bands do so with such stealth and success. The quartet stitches together the longing and bittersweet using Brian Bond's vocals and the hopeful, transparent and tenacious package contained in the guitar work and syncopated drumming.
Come to Cicero's on May 31st to see Communipaw exhibit their brand of dynamic rock; show starts at 8p and Communipaw will be joined by The Otto Modest and Scarlet Tanager (both St. Louis local bands). This show is sure to please your ears and open you up to some great new music. I caught up with Communipaw in anticipation of Tuesday's show and here's what they had to say.
Describe your sound in your own words.
Folk rock.
How did you get your start, both as a band and individually, as musicians?
We were all more or less a part of the same scene in New Brunswick, NJ. One of our mutual friends used to run a show house that unfortunately got shut down in May of 2007. So to mark the final show there Brian (singer/songwriter) and I (keith – drums) played an impromptu set together. We were joined not long after by Dave who plays bass. We've played with two other guitarists, including Brian's brother PJ Bond (who left the band to explore his own solo music [def give him a listen – he's great!]). Justin our current guitarist joined the band the spring of 2010 and has been with us for most of our touring.
How do you go about self-releasing the albums? Can you explain, in detail, the process of self-releasing and how you feel this may be a benefit to you? Are there any downfalls to this method?
Self releasing a record can be a lot of pressure, but we don't think too much about it. We've self-released all three of our records and honestly i don't really think it occurred to us to do it any other way. We record all of our own music so there's no real monetary overhead in making records – it's just the investment of materials once we decide to put a record out. We did put a lot of thought into packaging our latest release, Big Blue, though. We wanted it to look different from our other records and thought that it should outwardly reflect the work we put into the music. We decided to package each CD with a handwritten lyric booklet and a photo collage poster, all in a gift box with a hand-stencilled graphic and some yarn. The record has this great homemade craft-y look and we're really excited about it.
With regard to labels, it's great that we're pretty much financially independent and all the money we make from cd sales can be recycled back into making more CDs, but it's a drag fronting all that bread up front. A record label can offer you promotion, and while we love being involved along every step along the creative trail, I guess it would be nice sometimes to be able to focus on fewer elements.
What do you do in preparations for touring? Do you set up the tours yourself?
We're lucky enough to have a booking agent in our friend Jeff Meyers with Beartrap booking, so most of what's left for us is picking the books we'll be reading. Musically we're always changing things, playing songs in new ways, and most of those changes come in the middle of the tour as result of us playing night after night.
What kind of music do you guys listen to while on the road/What's on your iPod?
We're been going through kind of an obsessive Dylan phase lately – mostly Blood on the Tracks. Neil Young, Wilco, George Harrison, Roy Orbison, S.M.O.G. + Bill Calahan, a lot of jazz – all fixtures for us. Lately we've been digging Tame Impala, Cass McCombs, Roy Harper, 50s and 60s gospel music and are always previewing records on that NPR Music app.
After touring as much as you do and to all the different places you've been – do you collect a lot of albums from bands you're playing with, like local type bands? Are there any smaller or local bands anywhere that you'd like to make people aware or or recommend?
We're always trading records with bands we share bills with. it's like a form of communication and idea sharing. We've been really fortunate to play with a lot of really great bands – right now we're on the road with this sunny boy/girl sixties-pop-ish band called Destry – we've been opening for them and playing as their backing band for the last two weeks, so you should definitely try to peep their record Waiting On an Island!
U.S. Royalty | Going Beyond Musical Labels
Tags: Bad Brains, Big Hassle Publicity, Cicero's, Fugazi, Henry Rollins, U.S. Royalty, Washington D.C.
Washington D.C. has a rich history in music and many alleged and self-imposed music connoisseurs are quick to spout out names like Bad Brains, Henry Rollins, and Fugazi all in one breath. However, D.C. bands strive to cast away the punk rock, emo and post-hardcore genre. U.S. Royalty is one of those bands working hard to prove their worth in the D.C. market, go beyond atypical genre labels and take their brand of blues-tinged, modern-American soul filled rock and roll. U.S. Royalty rolled through Cicero's last week making new fans at every guitar stroke and drum beat. Here's what singer John Thornley and drummer Luke Adams had to say prior to the show when I had a chance to catch up with them.
How'd you start the band?
John Thornley – My brother and I started writing songs together and teamed up with Luke and Jacob to start fleshing out the songs as a full band. We were rehearsing in a pink trailer in st marys county MD. Then started traveling to test the songs out on the road. Our first album is a culmination of those first 2 years traveling America and figuring out what we our sound is.
Explain your sound in your own words.
Luke Adams – Sweaty American rock n roll
What types of venues are your favorite to play? After being out on the road so often I'm sure there are favorite cities and/or venues to play, care to share which ones are your favorites and why?
LA – We like venues and crowds we can interact with. The closer they can get to the stage, the better. Shubas in Chicago and Pianos in New York have have always provided us with a good time.
Who are some of your musical influences? Many people point out that it's easy to point out that you draw a lot from Fleetwood Mac's sound, but what is your personal take on it?
JT – From a production standpoint it was a conscious decision. Leading up to the recording of the album we hadn't been able to get recordings that captured what we envisioned our sound to be. So when recording the album we were taking cues from some of their albums since we listened to them all the time anyway. Theres a close, warm quality to the sound. And we wanted to mix that with a sort of sweeping sphagetti western sound.
You've released your first full length album this year in January. How did the recording process come together? Did you learn anything from recording your first full length album? What can you impart to new or up-and-coming bands going through the same thing/recording process?
JT – We didn't use a producer. We worked with Gus Oberg who is a great engineer. He really helped us hone the sound we were looking for. We are really starting to enjoy the recording process now that we have more of a handle on it. I would say for other bands, not to wait for all the right pieces to fall into place. That may never happen. Just write, ,perform, record and out of that keep what makes you happy. That's all I can say at this early point in our career.
How is the tour with Third Eye Blind going? What's the craziest thing that's happened on this tour?
JT – Going really well. The band and crew are great to be around. The audience has been really responsive, considering alot of these people haven't heard us.
GreyMarket | Taking Intimacy to a Whole New Level
Posted: March 29, 2011 in Music Venue
Intimacy during rock 'n' roll shows isn't easily created. Many factors play into the effect: the size of the venue, the fans and their eclectic mix of attitude and beer coursing through their veins and, most importantly, the artists on stage pouring their hearts out through song—laying it all out while raking fingers across guitars, pounding their drums, singing into the mic with eyes closed. Tampa's GreyMarket spilled their hearts out for fans at Cicero's on Friday, March 25, establishing a personal relationship with those in attendance, then leaving them in a dreamlike haze, anticipating more music to come.
It's rare that a duo can command such regard and can fill a room with an encompassing and grandiose sound. Thanks to technology and a keen set of ears for programming, what at one point may have only been noise is turned in to beautiful accompanying music for guitarist/vocalist Cave McCoy and drummer Michael Gargiulo. Fully adorned in their semi-formal garb of black, white, and gray shades, the duo took to the stage and opened with a new song, "Mother of All Bombs." After setting themselves up on a high note and making one hell of a first impression, the pair moved into a trio of songs plucked in order from their 2008 album Some Orbits Will Never Decay. The merge of twinkling guitar and keyboards, propelling rhythms and explosive lights, only added to the aura of GreyMarket's special brand of massive yet intimate music.
"Cascade (Down the Rabbit Hole)" was a firm and powerful number; the Alice in Wonderland–themed rollick had fans both old and new, as well as McCoy himself, erupt in to a show of hands clapping, arms flailing, bodies breaking out in kinetic dance, and the guitarist rushing out on to the venue floor, leaving it all out for others to thrive on. The show was packed with ferocity from the beginning, and in the end the two left pieces of themselves stuck to attendees like rock 'n' roll confetti on sticky, sweaty skin. As everyone, including the band, thought it was over, they were surprised with a bit of extra time in which they treated everyone to "I'd Wait Years," also from SOWND, as an encore. After McCoy crooned "I'd wait years for you" repeatedly in his decadent tenor, he and Gargiulo left the stage and joined those in attendance. The pair were genuinely appreciative to those who approached them, willing to shake hands and open to discuss music.
If you missed this show, you should be kicking yourself right now; see some of what you missed on their website, www.greymarketband.com. While listening online won't create the same magic exhibited at Cicero's on Friday night, it will give you a taste of the magic of GreyMarket. Oh…and watch this space for a return visit in July. | Jenn Metzler
"Mother of All Bombs"
"Hey, Mr. Spaceman"
"Make Sense"
"Cascade (Down the Rabbit Hole)
"Wings (Made of Steel)"
"I'd Wait Years"


Where is the Clemens Center located?
The theatre is located at 207 Clemens Center Parkway, Elmira, NY 14901. Click here for directions.
As of September 1, 2013, the privilege of returning your tickets for an on-line credit at the Box Office will be reserved exclusively for Clemens Center members. Members must return their tickets to the Box Office at least 2 business days prior to the performance to receive an on-line credit for future use at the Clemens Center. All non-member sales are final. Service charges may be applied to returned, exchanged, upgraded or lost tickets depending on the type of request, so please inquire at the Box Office. Ticket returns cannot be authorized without tickets.
Anyone may exchange and/or upgrade tickets for another performance within the same show on a best available basis. All ticket exchanges must be done at the Clemens Center Box Office in person. Service charges may be applied to exchanged tickets, so please inquire at the Box Office. Ticket exchanges cannot be authorized without tickets.
It's best to buy your ticket as far in advance as possible to ensure a guaranteed seat. However, you can purchase tickets at the Box Office until curtain, based on availability.
Accessibility considerations for patrons with special needs have been incorporated into the Clemens Center facilities and services. Recent renovations ensure that access, seating and restroom facilities meet Americans with Disabilities Act requirements. For specific information, please call the Director of House Operations at 607-733-5639 ext 239.
There is a covered parking garage offering safe and convenient parking for events at the Clemens Center. The facility is city-owned and operated. Centertown Garage is located adjacent to the Clemens Center, between Clemens Center Parkway and Main Street.
There is a patron drop-off at the Clemens Center courtyard on Railroad Avenue, which runs along the train viaduct between E. Water and Gray Streets.
The Vestibule/Lobby usually opens 90 minutes prior to the show; the house opens 30 minutes before the curtain.
Restrooms are located on both levels of the lobby.
Yes, a complimentary coat check is always available for our patrons. It is located on the lower level of the Lobby.
It is management policy to begin performances at the advertised time. Late-comers will be seated at the discretion of the management.
What is your policy regarding cell phones and pagers?
Please silence your equipment before entering the theater.
Can I take food or drinks into the theatre?
Food and beverages are permitted for some performances in Mandeville Hall and Powers Theater. Please use care when bringing food or beverages into the theater. Your cooperation in this matter will help prolong the quality and atmosphere of the theater.
Please call the Director of Operations at 607-733-5639 x239. Keep in mind, though, that the Clemens Center is not responsible for personal apparel or other property unless the items are checked at the coat check in the lobby.
There is no "dress code" at the Clemens Center, so dress in a style that is comfortable for you.
Are the Clemens Center facilities available for rental?
The Clemens Center's state-of-the art facilities are available for rental. For more information, click here or contact the Director of Facilities at 607-733-5639 ext. 224.
Can I buy a gift certificate for the Clemens Center?
The Clemens Center offers gift certificates, and they can be applied toward any purchase at our facility. For more information, please contact our Box Office at 607-734-8191 or 1-800-724-0159 between the hours of 11:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
How do I become a member of the Clemens Center?
You may join the Clemens Center with an individual or business membership and enjoy the satisfaction of knowing you are doing your part to ensure the longevity of the region's premier performing arts center. In appreciation of your generosity, you'll receive many exciting benefits. Click here to review our membership categories and join at the level that is right for you.
Can I volunteer at the Clemens Center?
Volunteering is a wonderful way to supporting the Clemens Center while actually being a part of the action. From assisting with mailings duties to ushering, we greatly appreciate your gifts of time and talent in support of our programs. Contact the Clemens Center at 607-733-5639 to learn about volunteer opportunities.


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A Classical Christian School Serving K-12 in the Greater Boise Area
The Ambrose School
The Ambrose School Story
What Makes Ambrose Different
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Overview of Boise Schools
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Ambrose Curriculum Guide on ClassicalU
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A Perspective on the International Baccalaureate
HomeAboutOverview of Boise SchoolsA Perspective on the International Baccalaureate
Our perspective on the International Baccalaureate Program and how it compares to classical Christian education.
Several Boise area schools including Northstar Charter and Riverstone International School use the International Baccalaureate (IB) program. Parents occasionally ask how these compare with classical Christian education. IB programs have high academic standards, as do classical Christian schools. The main difference is in the IB worldview. The IB program is typically recognized and preferred by liberal colleges because it combines strong academic standards with the progressive (liberal) multicultural view. The main difference between the two systems is that classical education bases itself in the traditional Western Christian ideal of Truth, Goodness, and Beauty. The IB pursues a postmodern view of tolerance and relativism.
Below is the mission statement of the IBO:
"The International Baccalaureate Organization aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect. To this end the IBO works with schools, governments and international organizations to develop challenging programmes of international education and rigorous assessment. These programmes encourage students across the world to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners who understand that other people, with their differences, can also be right."
From this mission statement, families can expect an approach that is not sympathetic with the Western cultural tradition of America's founding fathers (the position generally described as "conservative"). Of course, nothing in the IBO's statement is directly objectionable. As classical Christian educators, we want to understand other cultures and respect their people as image bearers; we want students to be caring, knowledgeable, and inquiring; and we want our students to be humble in understanding that other people can be right.
However, these phrases are euphemisms that mean much more than they say. They represent postmodern ideas that permeate the educational environment and reject a divine standard of Truth in favor of personal truth, God's goodness in favor of social relativism, and Beauty in favor of personal preference. What is really meant by the progressive mindset is that we cannot claim that a Western idea of justice is superior, for example, to the justice system from another culture that reveres human sacrifice. The IBO's values are more in alignment with the Humanist Manifesto which represents the moral system of progressives.
Classical Christian educators discuss the great ideas of human history and judge them based on their conformance to the standard of Truth outlined in Scripture and through reason. This is what develops our students' passion for Truth, and enhances their mental and verbal reasoning skills. This is also what offends many who believe in progressive ideals. The claim that Truth can be judged by a universal standard violates their value system.
Many major universities are philosophically committed to tearing down traditional educational absolutes because they reject America's Western cultural roots. At the same time, many of the country's finest colleges recognize students who have a "Great Books" type of education in the Western Classical tradition. We've found that colleges are quite impressed with graduates from classical Christian schools.
So what should a parent conclude? If you seek an education centered on the values of tolerance and relativism, without a common understanding of Truth, then the IB schools are probably the right choice for your family. If, however, you desire your student to be taught under the assumptions that built traditional Christian values, you may want to consider classical Christian education.
Why Choose The Ambrose School?
"Students today need more than knowledge. Our graduates stand apart in the wisdom, the character, the eloquence, and the servant-leadership they take with them for a lifetime."
The Ambrose School is an exempt organization as described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
The Boise Valley's K-12 Classical Christian School
6100 N. Locust Grove Road

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Claudi II de Lorena (Joinville, 18 d'agost de 1526 - La Rochelle, 3 de març de 1573) va ser marquès de Mayenne i duc d'Aumale de 1550 a 1573.

Biografia
Va combatre a l'exèrcit del duc Francesc I de Lorena des de 1544, participant en el setge de Boulogne (1544), en la conquesta de Piemont el 1551 i en els combats del 1552 contra les tropes imperials que intentaven reprendre els Tres Bisbats. Hi fou fet presoner i no va ser alliberat fins al 1555. Va participar amb el seu germà Francesc de Guisa en la conquesta de Calais el 8 de gener de 1558. Gran munter del rei sota Enric II de França, va ser governador de Borgonya.

A la mort del seu germà Francesc de Guisa el 1563, fou considerat com el nou cap del partit catòlic. Va llançar les persecucions judicials contra Coligny per a l'assassinat del seu germà i va assegurar la tutela del seu nebot Enric de Guisa. Va formar part dels principals caps de l'exèrcit reial durant les segona i tercera guerres de religió i va tenir un paper determinant en la massacre de Sant Bartomeu. Va acompanyar el duc d'Anjou al setge de la Rochelle, on va morir.

Llinatge
Era el tercer fill de Claudi de Lorena, duc de Guisa i d'Antonieta de Borbó-Vendôme. Es va casar l'1 d'agost de 1547 amb Lluïsa de Brézé (1521 - 1577), filla de Lluís de Brézé, comte de Maulevrier, gran senescal de Normandia, i de Diana de Poitiers, el que va segellar l'aliança de la seva casa amb l'amant del rei Enric II de França. Va tenir onze fills:
 Enric (1549 -1559)
 Caterina (1550 -1606), casada el 1569 amb Nicolau de Mercoeur (1524-1577),
 Magdalena Diana (1554 mort jove)
 Carles I (1555 -1631), duc d'Aumale
 Diana (1558 -1586), casada el 1576 amb Francesc de Luxemburg (mort el 1638), duc de Piney
 Antonieta (1560 mort jove)
 Antonieta Lluïsa (1561 -1643), abadessa de Soissons
 Antoni (1562 mort jove)
 Claudi d'Aumale (1564 -1591), abat de Saint-Père a Chartres, dit el cavaller d'Aumale
 Maria (1565 -1627), abadessa de Chelles
 Carles (1566 -1568)

Referències

Casa de Lorena
Ducs d'Aumale
Marquesos de França
Persones de l'Alt Marne
Ducs lorenesos
Polítics del Gran Est

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


QUESNEL, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - June 27, 2016) - Prosper Gold Corp. ("Prosper Gold" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE:PGX) announces it has increased its previously announced non-brokered private placement (see news release of June 13, 2016) from up to $2,000,000 to up to $2,500,000 (the "Private Placement"). The Private Placement will increase from up to 2,000,000 units to up to 4,000,000 units of the Company (the "Units") at an issue price of $0.25 per Unit and up to 5,000,000 flow-through units (the "Flow-Through Units") at an issue price of $0.30 per Flow-Through Unit. The Units and Flow-Through Units will be issued on the same terms as those previously announced.
All securities issued pursuant to this Private Placement will be subject to a four month and one day hold period in accordance with applicable securities laws. The closing date for the Private Placement is expected to occur in July 2016 or such other date as the Company may determine. The net proceeds from the non-flow-through portion of the Private Placement will be used to fund exploration activities for 2016 and for working capital and general corporate purposes. The gross proceeds from the flow-through portion of the Private Placement will be used to fund exploration activities for 2016.


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Pudong estimated 10% GDP growth in 2021
english.pudong.gov.cn Updated:2022-01-13
Pudong New Area in East China's Shanghai reported an estimated GDP of 1.45 trillion yuan ($228.3 billion) in 2021, growing by about 10 percent year-on-year, said Hang Yingwei, head of Pudong, at the annual two sessions on Jan 11.
The gross industrial output value above designated size in Pudong totaled more than 1.23 trillion yuan, an increase of over 10 percent from the previous year. The total retail sales of consumer goods continued to grow rapidly last year, reporting a year-on-year growth of more than 15 percent to 5.5 trillion yuan.
In 2021, Pudong's foreign trade totaled 2.3 trillion yuan, an increase of over 10 percent year-on-year, while the amount of paid-in foreign capital saw an increase of more than 10 percent year-on-year.
Pudong's GDP is poised to maintain steady growth this year, and the area is striving to notch a year-on-year GDP growth of 6.5 percent.
Local authorities said that for the next five years, Pudong has set the goal of expanding its economic aggregate to 2 trillion yuan and its per capita GDP and per capita disposable income to more than 300,000 yuan and 100,000 yuan, respectively. Efforts will also be made to continue to enhance the area's cultural soft power.
Pudong New Area in East China's Shanghai reports an estimated GDP of 1.45 trillion yuan in 2021. [Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]


Holds the horizontal and vertical size classes, as well as the user interface idiom and the display scale.
This class holds the elements describing the user interface traits to use to render a view or view controller. This contains components like the size class for the vertical or horizontal orientations (which is either compact or regular) as well as the user interface idiom (iPad or iPhone form factor) as well as the display scale.
This is typically used by developers when implementing their own T:UIKIt.UIViewController as well by a handful of classes that are UITraitCollection aware, like T:UIKIt.UIImage and T:UIKIt.UIImageAsset.
The gamut to which these traits apply.
The specified display scale for this trait collection.
Gets a trait that indicates whether 3D Touch is or is not available, or whether its availability is unknown.
The specified horizontal size class specified for this trait collection.
Gets the environment layout direction.
Gets a string describing the preferred content size category.
The specified user interface idiom specified for this trait collection.
Gets the user interface style to which this trait collection applies.
The specified vertical size class specified for this trait collection.
Probes whether this UITraitCollection contains all the traits specified.
Static factory method to create a new UITraitCollection appropriate to the specified displayGamut.
Creates a new UITraitCollection object where only the display scale has been specified.
Creates a new UITraitCollection object where only the availability of 3D Touch has been specified.
Creates a new UITraitCollection object where only the horizontal size class has been specified.
Static factory method to create a UITraitCollection for the specified layoutDirection.
Static factory method to create a UITraitCollection with the specified UIContentSizeCategory.
Creates and returns a new trait collection by merging the trait collections that are contained in traitCollections.
Creates a new UITraitCollection object where only the user interface idiom has been specified.
Creates a new trait collection and associates it with the specified user interface style.
Creates a new UITraitCollection object where only the vertical size class has been specified.


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HomePosts tagged 'Becky Chambers'
New Books (January-February)
February 12, 2022 February 4, 2022 Civilian Reader New Books Adam Oyebanji, Adrian Tchaikovsky, Ally Wilkes, Anna Stephens, Becky Chambers, Chris Holm, David Dalglish, Elizabeth Hand, Gabrielle Zevin, Howard Blum, Jennifer Fawcett, Jing Tsu, Kimberly Unger, Lavie Tidhar, Lee Goldberg, Maggie Shipstead, Marika Cobbold, P J Tracy, Peter Spiegelman, Robin Peguero, Saeed Teebi, Tom Hindle, Will Dean, Ying Zhu
Featuring: Howard Blum, Becky Chambers, Marika Cobbold, David Dalglish, Will Dean, Jennifer Fawcett, Lee Goldberg, Elizabeth Hand, Tom Hindle, Chris Holm, Adam Oyebanji, Robin Peguero, Maggie Shipstead, Peter Spiegelman, Anna Stephens, Adrian Tchaikovsky, Saeed Teebi, Lavie Tidhar, P. J. Tracy, Jing Tsu, Kimberly Unger, Ally Wilkes, Gabrielle Zevin, Ying Zhu
Upcoming: A PRAYER FOR THE CROWN-SHY by Becky Chambers (Tor.com)
September 21, 2021 Civilian Reader Upcoming A Prayer for the Crown-Shy, Becky Chambers, Monk and Robot, Most Anticipating 2022, Novella, Sci-Fi, Tor.com
Next summer, Tor.com are due to publish the second novella in Becky Chambers's Monk & Robot science fiction series: A Prayer For the Crown-Shy. The first book in the series, A Psalm for the Wild-Built, was a great surprise and one of my favourite reads of the year. The cover for book two was unveiled recently, in addition to the synopsis:
A Prayer for the Crown-Shy is a story of kindness and love from one of the foremost practitioners of hopeful SF.
After touring the rural areas of Panga, Sibling Dex (a Tea Monk of some renown) and Mosscap (a robot sent on a quest to determine what humanity really needs) turn their attention to the villages and cities of the little moon they call home.
They hope to find the answers they seek, while making new friends, learning new concepts, and experiencing the entropic nature of the universe.
In a world where people have what they want, does having more even matter?
A Prayer for the Crown-Shy is due to be published by Tor.com in North America and in the UK, on July 22nd, 2022. I'm really looking forward to this one.
Also on CR: Reviews of A Psalm for the Wild-Built and To Be Taught, If Fortunate
February 20, 2021 February 16, 2021 Civilian Reader New Books Andrew J Graff, Andy Clark, Annalee Newitz, Becky Chambers, Betina González, Dan Frey, David Annandale, David W Brown, Elizabeth Knox, Gareth L Powell, Jen Silverman, John Gwynne, Jonathan Ames, Laurel Sills, Marlowe Granados, Mary Adkins, Matt Smith, Michael Carroll, Oliver Langmead, Paul Herron, Peter Mendelsund, Tasha Suri, Tim Seeley, TL Huchu
Featuring: Mary Adkins, Jonathan Ames, David Annandale, David W. Brown, Michael Carroll, Becky Chambers, Andy Clark, Dan Frey, Betina González, Andrew J. Graff, Marlowe Granados, John Gwynne, Paul Herron, T.L. Huchu, Gregg Hurwitz, Elizabeth Knox, Oliver K. Langmead, Peter Mendelsund, Annalee Newitz, Gareth L. Powell, Tim Seeley, Laurel Sills, Jen Silverman, Matt Smith, Tasha Suri, Aidan Truhen
Quick Review: A PSALM FOR THE WILD-BUILT by Becky Chambers (Tor.com)
February 11, 2021 February 11, 2021 Civilian Reader Review A Psalm for the Wild-Built, Becky Chambers, Monk and Robot, Most Anticipated 2021, Must Read 2021, Sci-Fi, Tor.com
A monk and a robot go for a wander in the woods(ish)…
It's been centuries since the robots of Earth gained self-awareness and laid down their tools; centuries since they wandered, en masse, into the wilderness, never to be seen again; centuries since they faded into myth and urban legend.
One day, the life of a tea monk is upended by the arrival of a robot, there to honor the old promise of checking in. The robot cannot go back until the question of "what do people need?" is answered.
But the answer to that question depends on who you ask, and how.
They're going to need to ask it a lot.
This novella was a great, pleasant surprise. It's quite a small story, but one that takes a look at some pretty big questions. Its two main characters are fantastic, and is a breath of fresh air in today's rather bleak times. I really enjoyed this. Continue reading →
New Books (August)
September 14, 2019 September 13, 2019 Civilian Reader New Books Becky Chambers, Christopher Brown, Darius Hinks, David Annandale, David Wragg, Doug Cooper, Edward Cox, Evan Currie, Felicia Day, Jonathan Greenberg, Jonathan Maberry, Joseph Schneider, Justin D Hill, Mary Adkins, Matt Ruff, Matthew Quirk, Mike Brooks, Mo Rocca, Nathan Makaryk, Rachel Harrison, Seanan McGuire, Téa Obreht
Featuring: Mary Adkins, David Annandale, Mike Brooks, Christopher Brown, Becky Chambers, Doug Cooper, Edward Cox, Evan Currie, Felicia Day, Rachel Harrison, Justin D Hill, Darius Hinks, Jonathan Maberry, Nathan Makaryk, Seanan McGuire, Téa Obreht, Matthew Quirk, Mo Rocca, Matt Ruff, Joseph Schneider, David Wragg
Quick Review: TO BE TAUGHT, IF FORTUNATE by Becky Chambers (Voyager/Hodder)
August 28, 2019 August 28, 2019 Civilian Reader Review Becky Chambers, Most Anticipated 2019, Novella, Sci-Fi, To Be Taught If Fortunate, Voyager
A stand-alone novella from the award-winning author of the Wayfarers series
At the turn of the twenty-second century, scientists make a breakthrough in human spaceflight. Through a revolutionary method known as somaforming, astronauts can survive in hostile environments off Earth using synthetic biological supplementations. They can produce antifreeze in subzero temperatures, absorb radiation and convert it for food, and conveniently adjust to the pull of different gravitational forces. With the fragility of the body no longer a limiting factor, human beings are at last able to journey to neighboring exoplanets long known to harbor life.
A team of these explorers, Ariadne O'Neill and her three crewmates, are hard at work in a planetary system fifteen light-years from Sol, on a mission to ecologically survey four habitable worlds. But as Ariadne shifts through both form and time, the culture back on Earth has also been transformed. Faced with the possibility of returning to a planet that has forgotten those who have left, Ariadne begins to chronicle the story of the wonders and dangers of her mission, in the hope that someone back home might still be listening.
I've been looking forward to reading this novella ever since I read the synopsis. I was not disappointed: this is an engaging, very well-written novella about exploration and the decisions and ethics that surround it. Continue reading →
Upcoming: TO BE TAUGHT, IF FORTUNATE by Becky Chambers (Voyager / Hodder)
May 19, 2019 Civilian Reader Upcoming Becky Chambers, Hodder, Most Anticipated 2019, Novella, Sci-Fi, To Be Taught If Fortunate, Voyager
Above you can see the North American and UK covers for To Be Taught, If Fortunate, the upcoming new novella by Becky Chambers. Chambers is the critically-acclaimed author of the Wayfarer sci-fi series. This novella is a stand-alone, and one that sounds really interesting:
To Be Taught, If Fortunate is due to be published in North America by Voyager (September 3rd), and in the UK by Hodder (August 8th). I'm really looking forward to reading this one.
Upcoming in 2017… Harper Voyager
January 7, 2017 Civilian Reader Upcoming Becky Chambers, Christopher Brown, Harper Collins, Mark Lawrence, Most Anticipated 2017, Nicky Drayden, Patrick Hemstreet, Ray Norman, Richard Kadrey, Voyager, Wesley Snipes
Tricky to find information about Voyager UK titles, unless they're already established authors (Mark Lawrence, Richard Kadrey, etc.). So, this post features predominantly titles published in both North America and the UK.
Featuring: Christopher Brown, Becky Chambers, Nicky Drayden, Patrick Hemstreet, Richard Kadrey, Mark Lawrence, Wesley Snipes
New Books (October)
October 29, 2016 August 23, 2018 Civilian Reader New Books A.J. Smith, Adam Roberts, Annie Hauxwell, Becky Chambers, Ben Aaronovitch, Benjamin Percy, Brent Weeks, Charles Cumming, Daniel Pyne, David Dalglish, Douglas Coupland, Elan Mastai, Ezekiel Boone, Gav Thorpe, Gavin Extence, George Saunders, Ian Tregillis, J.D. Oswald, James Islington, James Rollins, Jeffrey J. Mariotte, Jilly Gagnon, John Grisham, John Sandford, Joseph Knox, K.B. Wagers, Laura Hickman, Laurell K Hamilton, Laurence Scott, Liz Harmer, Marcus Sedgwick, Michael Harvey, Mur Lafferty, Nnedi Okorafor, Noah Richler, Oliver Harris, Paulette Jiles, Plutarch, Reed Karaim, Roger Zelazny, Ron Chernow, Ronald Wright, Scott Reardon, Tana French, Tracy Hickman, Will McIntosh, William C Dietz
Featuring: Ben Aaronovitch, Ray Bradbury, Ron Chernow, Douglas Coupland, Charles Cumming, David Dalglish, William C. Dietz, Gavin Extence, Tana French, Jilly Gagnon, John Grisham, Laurell K. Hamilton, Liz Harmer, Oliver Harris, Michael Harvey, Annie Hauxwell, Tracy & Laura Hickman, James Islington, Paulette Jiles, Reed Karaim, Joseph Knox, Mur Lafferty, Mike MacDonald, Jeffrey J. Mariotte, Elan Mastai, Will McIntosh, Nnedi Okorafor, J.D. Oswald, Benjamin Percy, Plutarch, Daniel Pyne, Scott Reardon, Noah Richler, Adam Roberts, James Rollins, John Sandford, George Saunders, Laurence Scott, Marcus Sedgwick, A.J. Smith, Gerard Stembridge, Gav Thorpe, Ian Tregillis, K.B. Wagers, Brent Weeks, Ronald Wright, Roger Zelazny
Above Image: Cover Crop of Bunker #19 (Oni Press)
Upcoming: A CLOSED AND COMMON ORBIT by Becky Chambers (Hodder)
March 15, 2016 March 13, 2016 Civilian Reader Upcoming A Closed and Common Orbit, Becky Chambers, Hodder, Most Anticipated 2016, Sci-Fi, Voyager, Wayfarers
A Closed and Common Orbit is the stand-alone sequel to The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet (which I have, but still need to read — hopefully soon). The series has been very well received by reviewers, and is often described as a perfect read for fans of Firefly, Joss Whedon's various projects, and Star Wars. I think both novels sound great. Here's the synopsis:
Lovelace was once merely a ship's artificial intelligence. When she wakes up in an new body, following a total system shut-down and reboot, she has no memory of what came before. As Lovelace learns to negotiate the universe and discover who she is, she makes friends with Pepper, an excitable engineer, who's determined to help her learn and grow.
Together, Pepper and Lovey will discover that no matter how vast space is, two people can fill it together.
The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet introduced readers to the incredible world of Rosemary Harper, a young woman with a restless soul and secrets to keep. When she joined the crew of the Wayfarer, an intergalactic ship, she got more than she bargained for — and learned to live with, and love, her rag-tag collection of crewmates.
Becky Chambers's A Closed and Common Orbit is due to be published by Hodder in the UK, on October 20th, 2016. Voyager is due to publish The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet in May 2016, and A Closed and Common Orbit in October 2016, in the US.
For more on Becky Chambers's writing and novels, be sure to check out the author's website, and also follow her on Twitter and Goodreads.


Great for a first time home buyer or an investor. This home features two bedrooms and 2 baths, huge storage room out back that is wired for electricity. *****new roof***** Don't miss out on this affordable home in a quiet neighborhood.


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The spring gala
Why is the Spring Festival Gala the show Chinese love to hate?
Feb 12, 2016 (WiC 313)
As most of Week in China's readers know, the world's most watched live TV programme Chunwan 春晚 or the Spring Festival Gala on CCTV is tightly controlled and scripted by the central government. So every year the show receives maximum scrutiny and a fair share of ridicule from tens of millions of netizens (see issues 96, 136, 172, 225).
It didn't use to be like this, though. During the early years of the Gala, which was first broadcast in 1983, it was loved by viewers because the programmes were actually entertaining, inspiring and unpretentious. It faithfully reflected the national mood during those years when China was recovering from the horrendous Cultural Revolution and embarking on the road to opening-up and reforming. I believe the early 1980s were the golden age of contemporary China.
However, with the tightening of ideological control by the Party since the late eighties, the Gala has lost its lustre, partly also due to the emergence of the internet and other entertainment platforms. Even still, out of pure habit and tradition, most Chinese families tune into the annual programme on Lunar New Year's Eve.
This year's Gala probably set a new record in terms of its awfulness (I haven't seen a single positive comment except those from official sources). There was hardly any entertainment and almost every item had to closely toe the Party line. Many viewers complained that it was like watching an extended version of Xinwen Lianbo 新闻联播, the daily primetime news programme on CCTV that strictly follows the Party's agenda.
With the theme of "Your and My China Dream, Building Prosperity All-Around" (my honest translation without exaggeration), the live programme started with a singing and dancing bonanza eulogising a happy year in a happy China. In case viewers couldn't understand the important policy achievements, the singers rapped out the following key points: the Tiananmen Square military parade showed off the country's military power, the anti-corruption campaign gained people's hearts, Beijing won a bid to host the 2022 Winter Olympics, the One Belt One Road policy is "infinitely brilliant", China's largest passenger airplane (the C919) was launched, its space exploration technology reached new highs, the renminbi was included in the IMF's Special Drawing Rights, and Tu Youyou won a Nobel Prize. The rap finished with the line "Our achievements in 2015 were all real!"
Similar themes ran through the five-hour show, which in turn generated a different type of bonanza in the social media.
Even before the show finished, various jokes started to go viral on WeChat and Weibo platforms. Here are just a few examples:
"North Korea's nuclear weapon technology is catching up with that of China's, whereas China's propaganda skill is catching up with that of North Korea;"
"As long as you can survive this year's Chunwan, there will be nothing you cannot tolerate in the coming year;"
"We must apologise to all previous years' Chunwan as this year should be the most lousy one ever."
My favourite two jokes were probably written by financial professionals. The first is a quip about the central government's new emphasis on supply-side economic reforms, and the second about the short-lived stock market circuit breaker:
"This year's Chunwan has all to do with supply (by the government) but nothing to do with demand (by the viewers);"
"We should demand to have CSRC Chairman Xiao Gang produce next year's Chunwan and ask him to introduce a circuit breaker system: if 5% of the viewers can't bear the programme, the live show should be suspended for 15 minutes for the viewers to calm down. When 7% of viewers say they can't take it any longer, then the show should be shut and wait for the next Lunar New Year's Eve to relaunch."
Another notable difference at this year's Gala: there were no foreigners participating at all. It makes me wonder if China is becoming more inward-looking.
A native Chinese who grew up in northeastern China, Mei attended an elite university in Beijing in the late 1980s and graduate school in the US in the early 1990s. Over two decades she has worked in the US, Hong Kong and mainland China, both in the media and with two global investment banks, where she has honed her bicultural perspective. If you'd like to ask her a question, send her an email at [email protected]
CartoonsMayhem in Mongkok
SportChinese spending spree shocks world football
China ConsumerLi Ning partners with tech firms in turnaround plan
Auto IndustryLuxury car sales slump, but domestic SUVs speed out of showrooms
EntertainmentSteven Chow comedy film is the big holiday period hit


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My Car Turned 10 Today! What Do I Do With It Next?
It's driven across the country, on race tracks and through rivers. It's not dead yet. There's no way I'm getting rid of it. What next?
byStef Schrader| UPDATED Oct 1, 2020 11:51 PM
Exactly 10 years ago today, I got my daily driver as a graduation present: a red 2010 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS. In that time, it has been absolutely impossible to kill—and not for lack of trying. Part of me wants to gun for million-mile hero status, and all of me wants to ship it to the Nürburgring. Point is, I've done enough oddball things with this car that I need to keep adding to the list. What should I do next?
So far, the Lancer has a pretty impressive list of accomplishments. It's rallycrossed, autocrossed and even done a local time trial. As soon as it was out of its break-in period, I took it on Harris Hill Raceway. When track days finally opened up at Circuit of the Americas, I ran the Lancer there, too. That's right: The most aggressively normal car on this website is the one that's been on a Formula One track. Go figure.
I'm pretty sure beating Jalopnik's then-editor-in-chief Matt Hardigree in a "rental car deathmatch" at Harris Hill led to my first automotive writing job. That's what I'm claiming, anyway.
I've used it to move a few times, filling up the car with everything from dirty car parts to multiple car-loads of every little thing that I didn't want to pay movers to haul.
Then there's its existing mileage—over 171,000 miles—which was helped along by a cross-country trip up for my ten-year high school reunion earlier this decade. It went down most of the Pacific Coast Highway and over the tallest pass over the Continental Divide. Most recently, it forded a river for laughs.
In the garage for its first track day at COTA. , Stef Schrader
The goal is to do as much as I can with this car that wouldn't need any major modifications or a roll cage precisely because this car is there. It exists. It runs. It's around. This car is worth far more to me than it would be to anyone else. Aside from being hit a few times, it's only ever had minor issues that were pretty easy to fix. It is the ultimate regular car and has the Regular Car Reviews episode to prove it, but I love using it to do unusual or unexpected things.
I have a short list of ideas of what to do next. It was supposed to go drag racing for a Jalopnik
video the week my dad died, and I still haven't checked that off the list. The oh-so-sketchy Mt. Washington Auto Road in New Hampshire is on there, too.
Just normal Lancer things., Thomas Endesfelder
It's never been out of the country, and it was only about a couple thousand bucks to ship it to Europe and back the last time I looked, so why not send it to another continent? Could I actually return with my car after a long cross-continent rally unlike certain other writers on this website? Who knows?
Surely there are some other absurd automotive bucket-list items I should do with my beloved, paid-for Lancer that I don't know about. Let me know in the comments. I've got a running list for when things get back to normal.
Stef Schrader


Small vegetable garden plans will help you make the most of the space you have. It doesn't matter that your backyard is small: you can still grow a beautiful vegetable garden that will feed your family.
Our very first garden was nothing more than a small backyard that had very little sun. We didn't need a lot of planning for that garden: we simply marked out the area with the most sun, and put a few pots of tomatoes, herbs and salads.
Light and sun are probably the first to consider with a small garden. The shadow cast by buildings often keep parts of the garden in the shade. It's important when you are drawing up your small vegetable garden plans to spend some time recording the light levels in all parts of the garden.
When you have limited space, you need to plan everything before you start implementing. Otherwise, you'll find yourself spending a lot of time and money for features you don't actually need or want.
I suggest you start with a journal: a paper journal made of a three ring binder and lots of paper you can scribble on.
That's where you'll start your small vegetable garden plans. You can grab this journal any time you feel inspired, go outside and start drawing your plans. To be honest, you'll probably go through lots of ideas before you settle down to your final plans.
Do you want raised beds? You can create small raised beds just about everywhere: in a border, next to the house, in your front yard, in the middle of your backyard, etc.
I created a square foot garden for myself. Pretty easy with this free garden planner.
How about a container garden? Plant herbs, fruits (strawberries) and veggies (tomatoes, peppers, lettuce, spinach, etc.) in pots you can keep on your porch or patio.
Here's a small container vegetable garden in an urban court, with tomatoes, peppers, zucchini and cucumbers.
A vertical garden might be all you can do if your space is really limited. Grow upwards instead of horizontal. Many vegetables can be grown this way: peas, pole beans, cucumbers, squash, melons and many more.
Once you have designed your vegetable garden you will be able to calculate how many of each vegetable variety you can grow. I like to keep a spreadsheet with sowing, planting and harvesting times to keep me on track.
This planting list is produced by GrowVeg.com, the planning software that we have used to create all our garden plans.
You could also draw up plans by taking some measurements, and then using graph paper to draw your garden plan out.
Our yard was completely enclosed and as the left wall faced south it tended to get the midday sun from 10am until about 4pm, so we managed to get a few ripe tomatoes.
Lettuce is much more forgiving in poor light, so containers with lettuces and mixed leaves work really well.
Sometimes you have a nicely sized backyard, but only have limited time for gardening. That's great too! Planning your veggie garden will help you in this case as well.


The participants in the ceremony included Chairman of Vietnam Society of Travel Agencies Vu The Binh; Editorial Director of Tourist Newspaper Nguyen Dai Bang and leaders VNAT's departments, representatives of tourism businesses and press agencies.
The event is annually organized by VNAT in order to select remarkable tourism events and overview achievements of tourism sector.
Speaking at the ceremony, Mr. Cuong appreciated the contribution of press agencies to the development of tourism sector. In recently years, great efforts of press agencies have been seen in introduction of natural and cultural potentials, friendiness and hospitality of Viet Nam people as well as negative impacts of tourism. Thanks to these efforts, administrative management has been renovated and service quality has been improved. He also hoped that press agencies continue to reflect the positive and negative tourism facts in order to improve tourism services, contributing development of tourism sector to be a key economic industry of Viet Nam.
1. In 2012, Viet Nam received 6.847 million international arrivals and 32.5 million domestic tourist trippers, gained revenue of 160,000 billion VND. In the context of economic recession in the world, it is a big success for the tourism industry to fulfill the target of 2012.
2. The success of National Tourism Year of the North Central – Hue 2012 under the theme "Heritage tourism" with nearly 30 culture, sports, tourism events being held throughout the year, bearing the characteristics of Northern Central provinces, especially Hue culture in harmony with Vietnamese culture.
3. Ha Long Bay has officially been recognized as the new natural wonder of the world, appreciating the outstanding value of Ha Long Bay, which contributes to attract domestic and foreign tourists to the site.
4. The International Tourism Expo ITE – HCM City 2012 from September 13 to 15, with the theme "Four countries - One destination." The event attracted the participation of more than 500 businesses, travel agencies, press media from over 30 countries and territories worldwide. After eight times organized, ITE – HCM City has become a professional and prestigious tourism event in the Greater Mekong Sub-region.
5. Viet Nam tourism chose new slogan and logo for period 2012-2015. Logo: a blooming lotus with five petals. Slogan: Vietnam – Timeless charm.
6. Three hotels in Vietnam have been named in the 2012 T+L 500 list following the selection of readers of the famous Travel + Leisure magazine. These are Sofitel Legend Metropole (Ha Noi), Park Hyatt (Ho Chi Minh City) and The Nam Hai (Hoi An City).
7. Viet Nam tourism sector organized effective promotion campaigns in key international markets as WTM (UK), ITB (Germany), MITT (Russia), JATA (Japan), EXPO (South Korea) ... contributing to the growth of international visitors to Vietnam in 2012.
8. Tourism sector has suceeded in building standard toilets in 50% of tourist sites.
9. Da Nang City, Binh Thuan and Khanh Hoa provinces made breakthroughs to become important tourist destinations of the central region and Viet Nam.
10. Vietnam Tourism Awards 2011 have been granted to 52 leading tourism businesses. The awards praise achievements of tourism businesses in order to impulse emulation, creativeness, honour value of trade brands, and improve competitiveness of tourism businesses.


Al has a Bachelors Degree in Business Management from City University of New York. He worked for 27 years as a Bank Officer for the largest regional banks in the USA. His last position before he took early retirement was a Senior Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer for a premier wealth management organization based in New York and its subsidiary in Connecticut.
Al is an Accredited Business Consultant sponsored by the Institute for Independent Business (IIB). He also holds several certifications in the Bank Industry including; Regulatory, Audit, Compliance and Finance.
Al has owned twelve varied businesses starting at the age of nineteen. His current consulting practice,Alto Leasing Corporation (founded in 2007) emphasizes Bank Industry regulations, compliance, audit, risk management and vendor management, including equipment leasing.
Our primary goal is to provide practical advise for small business owners. Assist them in establishing their business and growing their business in an efficient manner. Our motto is: "Don't lose sight of your vision".


'Mourne Sunset from Greyabbey' is a signed limited edition giclee print by Lucas Creative Art.
Greyabbey is a small village located on the eastern shores of Stangford Lough. In this photographic based digital piece, Ken Lucas has captured a spectacular view of the lough at sunset from this quaint village.


On Sunday, February 7, 2016, the Bay Area will become the mecca for the biggest entertainment event of the year. Not only is this the first time since 1985 that the Super Bowl will be hosted in the Bay Area but it's the 50th Anniversary of the Super Bowl – a really big deal for the National Football League and football fans everywhere.
Maybe you've heard about it?
On Sunday, February 7, 2016, the Bay Area will become the mecca for the biggest entertainment event of the year. Not only is this the first time since 1985 that the Super Bowl will be hosted in the Bay Area but it's the 50th Anniversary of the Super Bowl – a really big deal for the National Football League and football fans everywhere. The activities planned for this monumental week-long celebration have transit agencies and host cities in high gear preparing for the mass of people who will be visiting the Greater Bay Area. Come hear what our program guests and their agencies are planning for the main event!
In addition to the WTS Program, Levi's Stadium is offering a tour package that includes a 30-minute stadium tour, museum entrance, Super Bowl 50 pin, photo with the Lombardi Trophy and complimentary tickets for the Pac-12 Championship game on December 5th. The tour starts promptly at 4:00 pm and participants should meet a few minutes earlier at the stadium box office area.
For those just joining us for the program, the start time is 5:30 pm at David's Restaurant.
Plan your trip using the "Take Transit Travel Planner" accessed at 511.org or call VTA Customer Service at (408) 321-2300 for a personalized trip plan to the South Bay.
Directly served by VTA Light Rail. Parking is also available at nearby parking garage.


1. February 2018. Located right in the heart of Macau's bustling Senado Square, this 16th century baroque church is one of the peninsula's biggest hitters, with a steady flow of visitors swarming in and out throughout the day.


text:
<?php namespace Arcanedev\LaravelTracker\Models;

use Arcanedev\LaravelTracker\Contracts\Models\Path as PathContract;

/**
 * Class     Path
 *
 * @package  Arcanedev\LaravelTracker\Models
 * @author   ARCANEDEV <arcanedev.maroc@gmail.com>
 *
 * @property  int             id
 * @property  string          path
 * @property  \Carbon\Carbon  created_at
 * @property  \Carbon\Carbon  updated_at
 */
class Path extends AbstractModel implements PathContract
{
    /* -----------------------------------------------------------------
     |  Properties
     | -----------------------------------------------------------------
     */

    /**
     * The table associated with the model.
     *
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     */
    protected $table = 'paths';

    /**
     * The attributes that are mass assignable.
     *
     * @var array
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    protected $fillable = ['path'];
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


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Tokyo homeless kicked out for the privileged Olympics: Taking the knee and ignoring the locals and region
Kanako Mita and Sawako Utsumi
The Tokyo Olympics is to commence in front of privileged spectators. Hence, ordinary people in Japan and foreign spectators are banned from attending Olympic venues.
However, for the homeless in Tokyo, it is even worse. This concerns the homeless being told to leave prime areas in central Tokyo. Therefore, homeless people will become more marginalized to provide a facade for the political elites.
The Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike fully understands the reality of homeless people near the main Tokyo Metropolitan Government (TMG) building in Shinjuku. Hence, just like the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, they understand that their grand words sound empty if the homeless angle is too visible.
Lee Jay Walker says, "Ironically, some athletes will take the knee for politically correct symbolism. They will do this despite Northeast Asia having serious issues concerning North Korea, Tibet (China), and Xinjiang (China). Also, other parts of Asia, including Indonesia (West Papua) and Bangladesh (Chittagong Hill Tracts), have real issues concerning the persecution of the indigenous. However, to privileged athletes – just like the IOC, Suga, Koike, and companies who hold media rights – they will neither care about the homeless angle or the environment of Northeast Asia that makes the issue they are focused on seem like a picnic – this concerns ethnic cleansing and forced labor."
Thus privileged athletes are plying their trade in front of privileged elites who can attend venues at the expense of ordinary people in Japan, while the homeless (no knee for them) are forced out. Equally, the privileged – be they athletes or elites who can go to Olympic venues – don't concern themselves with the fact that the majority of people in Japan don't want the games because of the prevailing coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis.
The Asahi Shimbun reports that homeless people have been told to leave central areas of Tokyo, including the TMG building area of Shinjuku. This news agency reports, "Metropolitan government officials have entered the final phase of clearing the area of homeless people before the Opening Ceremony for the Tokyo Olympic Games on July 23."
The Shinjuku homeless problem is well known in Tokyo. Ueno to the Sumida River area also has many homeless people who are barely surviving in the capital city. Of course, homeless issues blight America, France, the United Kingdom, and other G-7 nations to an even higher degree. Therefore, it is galling that the homeless in Tokyo are being cleared from central areas for privileged elites- be they athletes or so-called VIPs.
In truth, the IOC, Suga, and Koike have ignored the wishes of the majority of people in Japan, who wanted the games postponed or canceled. Likewise, athletes taking the knee are ignoring more serious issues in Northeast Asia (Tibet, Xinjiang, and reports of food shortages in North Korea). Yet when it comes to the homeless, then they are marginalized whatever.
Hence, empty words of brotherhood, sisterhood, and humanity are all glossing the reality on the ground because the Olympics this time are solely for the privileged – irrespective of taking the knee or no knee!
https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14399513
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Chittagong Hill Tracts
HOMELESS KICKED OUT OF SHINJUKU
HOMELESS KICKED OUT OF TOKYO
http://moderntokyonews.com
http://moderntokyotimes.com
INEPT IOC
Inept Koike
INEPT OLYMPICS
Inept Suga
OLYMPICS AND KICKING HOMELESS OUT OF TOKYO
OLYMPICS AND PRIVILEGE
OLYMPICS AND TAKING THE KNEE
PRIVILEGED ATHLETES
PRIVILEGED ATHLETES AND TAKING THE KNEE
PRIVILEGED OLYMPICS
Sawako Utsumi
SHINJUKU HOMELESS KICKED OUT FOR THE OLYMPICS
TAKING THE KNEE
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So far we have a shareholder, Greg Brockwell that is "concerned" about the proposed merger of Sirius and XM. So grave was his concern that in a 24 day period, he conducted his analysis of the recorded documents surrounding the merger, sought out legal council, shared his opinions and conferred with this council, and decided to file suit.
Being from ________*, one would think that _________* would have many attorneys for Mr. Brockwell to discuss such concerns with. A shareholder with ________* shares in his account that is gravely "concerned" may even open up the local phone book to locate an attorney that specializes in class action suits. Somehow though, Greg Brockwell found himself speaking to an attorney across the country in San Diego, California. Jeffery P. Fink of Robbins, Umeda, and Fink LLP would somehow become the attorney for Greg Brockwell.
Now, there is likely a good reason that Mr. Brockwell obtained the council he did. He has experience in class action suits. Let me clarify....Mr. Brockwell as well as the firm he hired BOTH have experience in class action suits.
To be clear, it is quite possible that Mr. Brockwell indeed had concerns. There were investors in both equities that felt that the company they were invested in (be it Sirius or XM) should have gotten a better deal. BUT, given Mr. Brockwell's penchant for litigious action, one may have some pause as to the motives of Mr. Brockwell.
Why sue now? If Brockwell has been a "long time shareholder", could he not have expressed "concerns" over the cost of the Howard Stern deal? The Stern bonuses? Could he not have expressed concerns over management professing to be fully funded in the years prior to Mel Karmazin, and then diluting shares quite a few times? How is it that the move that generates the biggest news in SDARS and offers the potential synergies that this merger does suddenly generate "concern"? There are many questions, so it may be best to better understand the parties involved.
Greg Brockwell is a ___________* and resides in the upscale community of _________* _________*, about a thirty minute drive to __________*. His home is in a cul-de-sac, and has an assessed value of __________*. He lives comfortably in a modern 10 room colonial with 5 bedrooms, and 4.5 bathrooms constructed in 1997. The living area is 4,036 square feet, and they have finished 1,568 out of the 1,968 square foot basement. The home boasts a three car garage and sits on a quiet 1.3 acres of land. Driving through the neighborhood, I noted clean and attractive houses in the cul-de-sac, and also noted that the home is in a desirable location being only a few miles from Route _____*, the highway into _______*. The _______* drives nice upscale vehicles, and seems to be living the life of the upper class tax brackets.
I give these details, because they illustrate the lifestyle of Mr. Brockwell. This information is important because it contrasts so deeply with a "concerned" shareholder with ________* shares of Sirius Satellite Radio. Something simply strikes me as odd here.
All of these suits were brought on in part by Mr. Greg Brockwell. Why? In theory, he can not participate in the reward to any degree higher than the rest of the class. Why does someone with an upper class lifestyle buy a small stake in a company and then file suit? Why does someone who seems to have had numerous bad experiences investing in the market continue to invest in it? Does Mr. Brockwell simply have an uncanny ability to do this?
Why would someone with a primary residence worth over __________* go through such trouble over an investment that was likely less than _________*? How much was he realistically expecting Sirius stock to go to? Even at $20 the stock would only have a value of _________*. Does Greg Brockwell have the interests of the class in mind? Readers will have to come to their own conclusion. I simply have trouble making the level of Brockwell's "concern", the size of his investment, Mr. Brockwell's lifestyle, and the agreed upon settlement fit together. There seems to be a missing piece here. I do not know what it is, but I can tell you that given the history of the players involved that it makes me uncomfortable.
Now, given the history of Mr. Brockwell to file class action lawsuits, I myself have real questions as to whether or not he was indeed acting in the interest of Sirius shareholders. After all, shareholders who had concern about the share exchange ratio could have simply vote against the merger. Realistically though, the shareholder approval of the merger was essentially a foregone conclusion, and most who follow the sector (In theory this would include Brockewell) were well aware of this. Both Sirius and XM were still losing money, and the merger offers a potential that SDARS could reach viable profits sooner rather than later. Shareholders and the street alike were seeking a merger.
Given the level of "concern" outlined by Mr. Brockwell, and the frustration that the merger did not bring maximum value, what was he asking for? A ratio of 4 Sirius shares for each XM share instead of the agreed upon 4.6? Surely he would demand something of true "value" as the lead plaintiff representing a class of ALL SHAREHOLDERS. The sad answer is no. He did not seek a new ratio. He instead sought additional disclosures regarding the merger, and did so even before the proxy about the merger was published. What are these disclosures? Readers can learn more about what was sought in segment 4 "The Settlement".
* We have been informed through a third or perhaps a fourth party that the lead Plaintiff and/or his law firm, Ruf Law, do not want certain information published. Everything in the original story is public information and available to readers who wish to take the time to investigate on their own. In fact, there is public information that we did not publish. Until such time that we obtain additional details, we have decided to redact certain information from the story. We apologize for any inconvienience. We encourage readers to become familiar with as much of the case as possible, and seek advice from legal professionals so that you can make a fully informed decision with respect to this suit.
Perhaps a class action suit against Mr. Brockwell should be considered. I own more shares of SIRI than he does and believe he has devalued my investment with his frivolous suit. I will love to be the lead plaintiff in such a suit against Mr. Brockwell.
He is paid by opponents to file lawsuits. That is what he does for a living…file lawsuits and gets paid. Nice job. Must pay well based on his current lifestyle. How about a picture of Mr. Brockwell so we all can see what a human leach looks like.


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Adam Ayan masters Barbra Streisand's latest, and it debuts at #1!
Adam Ayan recently mastered Barbra Streisand's latest album "Encore: Movie Partners Sing Broadway", a duets album featuring movie stars such as Anne Hathaway, Jamie Foxx, Alec Baldwin, Melissa McCarthy, and others.
"Encore" debuted @#1 both in the UK, and on the Billboard 200 in the US. This marks Barbra's 11th #1 album, the most of any female artist, and the second #1 album Adam has mastered for her, including her last album "Partners."