text:
<?php

namespace ONGR\ElasticsearchBundle\Tests\Unit\DSL\Aggregation;

use ONGR\ElasticsearchBundle\DSL\Aggregation\FiltersAggregation;

/**
 * Unit test for filters aggregation.
 */
class FiltersAggregationTest extends \PHPUnit_Framework_TestCase
{
    /**
     * Test if exception is thrown when not anonymous filter is without name.
     *
     * @expectedException \LogicException
     * @expectedExceptionMessage In not anonymous filters filter name must be set.
     */
    public function testIfExceptionIsThrown()
    {
        $mock = $this->getMockBuilder('ONGR\ElasticsearchBundle\DSL\BuilderInterface')->getMock();
        $aggregation = new FiltersAggregation('test_agg');
        $aggregation->addFilter($mock);
    }

    /**
     * Test GetArray method.
     */
    public function testFiltersAggregationGetArray()
    {
        $mock = $this->getMockBuilder('ONGR\ElasticsearchBundle\DSL\BuilderInterface')->getMock();
        $aggregation = new FiltersAggregation('test_agg');
        $aggregation->setAnonymous(true);
        $aggregation->addFilter($mock, 'name');
        $result = $aggregation->getArray();
        $this->assertArrayHasKey('filters', $result);
    }

    /**
     * Tests getType method.
     */
    public function testFiltersAggregationGetType()
    {
        $aggregation = new FiltersAggregation('foo');
        $result = $aggregation->getType();
        $this->assertEquals('filters', $result);
    }

    /**
     * Test for filter aggregation toArray() method.
     */
    public function testToArray()
    {
        $aggregation = new FiltersAggregation('test_agg');
        $filter = $this->getMockBuilder('ONGR\ElasticsearchBundle\DSL\BuilderInterface')
            ->setMethods(['toArray', 'getType'])
            ->getMockForAbstractClass();
        $filter->expects($this->any())
            ->method('getType')
            ->willReturn('test_filter');
        $filter->expects($this->any())
            ->method('toArray')
            ->willReturn(['test_field' => ['test_value' => 'test']]);

        $aggregation->addFilter($filter, 'first');
        $aggregation->addFilter($filter, 'second');
        $results = $aggregation->toArray();
        $expected = [
            'agg_test_agg' => [
                'filters' => [
                    'filters' => [
                        'first' => [
                            'test_filter' => [
                                'test_field' => [
                                    'test_value' => 'test',
                                ],
                            ],
                        ],
                        'second' => [
                            'test_filter' => [
                                'test_field' => [
                                    'test_value' => 'test',
                                ],
                            ],
                        ],
                    ],
                ],
            ],
        ];
        $this->assertEquals($expected, $results);
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Q: Python script writes gibberish to file Here's a script I am using to receive syslog and append it to a text file:
# Receives packets on udp port 514 and
# writes to syslog.txt

from socket import *

# Set the socket parameters
host = "myhost"
port = 514
buf = 1024
addr = (host,port)

# Create socket and bind to address
UDPSock = socket(AF_INET,SOCK_DGRAM)
UDPSock.bind(addr)

# Receive messages
while 1:
    data,addr = UDPSock.recvfrom(buf)
    if not data:
        print "Client has exited!"
        break
    else:
        print "\nReceived message '", data,"'"

        # This will create a new file or overwrite an existing file.
        with open("C:\syslog.txt", "a") as myfile:
            myfile.write(str(data))

# Close socket
UDPSock.close()

Scripts works fine and text is appended to file. I see it and it's read well. However, the moment I close python, that txt file data is translated to gibberish text. Any ideas why? Am I supposed to do something else before appended socket data to a file?
Thanks.

A: You're not parsing the syslog packets.  Syslog is a protocol; it's not just plain text.  Data characters are most likely ending up in your file, which may be tripping some automatic character detection.

A: This might straight do what you want to achieve (parsing the syslog protocol and dump it):
http://pypi.python.org/pypi/loggerglue/0.9

A: I was going to suggesting doing open("C:\syslog.txt", "at") instead of open("C:\syslog.txt", "a"), but re-reading the python dox, text is the default (unlike with C, where my memory says that binary is the default which leads to issues when running on windows).
My other suggestion would be to put a plain text header at the top of the file when you first create it; not sure what you're using to read the file after, but Notepad and Wordpad use some heuristics to figure out what UTF-8 or other encoding is being used, and I've definitely seen cases where this fails badly.  (Search wordpad BOM guess)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Jóhann Örn Sigurjónsson and Jón Emil Björnsson form two man atmospheric/post – black metal band Dynfari, which was formed in the fall of 2010 and is now releasing its second album Sem skugginn. We drove up to their rehersal place in Hafnarfjörður, and met with them and asked them questions about music, metal, clichés and life.
Jón Emil: I started out learning on classical guitar, and when i went in college at Selfoss, i met Jóhann and we and my uncle which had the similar taste of music and started jamming mostly Death metal like Autopsy and Death.
Jóhann: I started playing the bass when I was 16 years old, but the first band I played in was a death metal band in 2009, that was called Sacrilege. Jón Emil joined that band a few months later. We started playing together and forming our band, Dynfari, a year later, we had same ideas about music creation and that was great. We had a great time playing in Sacrilege, but it didnt evolve into being something more somehow. We started right away to plan recordings for Dynfari, which we of course financed ourselves.
Jón Emil: We were so fortunate to work with Árni Zoega, he is such a great musician, he helped us with the first album from A- Z. He is known in the scene here in Iceland, and he recorded our album and we are so grateful for our debut to be in his hands.
Are you guys educated in music, or self taught?
Jóhann: I am completely self taught, but I of course think its very important to seek education in music for whatever music you then create. I learned from the internet a lot. I mainly play the guitar now, but I started out as a bass player. But that is kinda funny because I don´t even own a guitar, I just borrowed one.
Jón Emil: I learned from a teacher on classical guitar as i said earlier, which helped of course be musician and so on, Then i kinda began playing drums when we started with Dynfari mostly because we were only two, though i look at it as my second instrument. But now i am a student in an Icelandic music school FÍH, studying percussion.
So what about other instruments?
Jóhann: Well, I also played the electric organ on our album that is soon out, and of course I am the vocalist in our band. I am not afraid of playing various instruments, my grandfather gave me a harmonica recently and we are thinking about playing that on our next album, we are experimental. In our eyes, its not that interesting to form a black metal band, and only play black metal all the time because that has been done, times million. We dare to do things differently and we want to create something new, even though we play black metal in that sense.
So black metal in Iceland, what bands are there?
Jón Emil: The Icelandic band Sólstafir, which have the roots to it, but they are just one of few that we could talk about. Well, my sister has a child with their guitar player, so my connection to this band is on a personal level.
Jón Emil: I listen to everything, basically. My roots lie in the old stuff though, the desert 70´ts rock and so, we could talk about music for months if you would have time for us. We both listen to all sorts of music.
Dynfari will always be our first band, but you never know in what musical direction we will be heading towards. I mean, we are not playing black metal constantly on practices, we also play around with all kinds.
Some people say its not music, only noise. What can you tell me about prejudices towards the music?
Jóhann: Its mainly based on ignorance, I´d say. We are very well aware that this music is not everybody´s cup of tea. Music is of that kind, some like and some don´t and that is it´s very nature. There are very strong feelings portrayed in music that is that loud, and I feel that its very hard to record music like ours properly because its not that accessible in a way.
Jón Emil: Exactly, you would not hear music like ours on the radio on daily basis ….
Jóhann: Our songs are not going to be played in between news programs on Bylgjan, local radio station, that is for sure.
You definently look the part, you both life the lifestyle of being metal guys. Are you going to change that?
Jón Emil: No, its a lifestyle, its like being a hippie or have dreadlocks.
Jóhann: I think it is a statement, being a male with long hair. I can feel the pressure here in Iceland, I mean boys should cut their hair. But this is very natural to me, we were born to be this way, its a cultural thing to cut the hair in my opinion.
You both come from the south, Selfoss, that is not the capital of dark music is it?
Jón Emil: I really don´t know, I don´t think so.
Jóhann: Well, maybe there are some Metallica cover bands around or something, but I really doubt that there are bands in the hiding from there playing anything heavier. We have never even played in Selfoss, there would never be anyone that would even show up! Well maybe our family members but that´ts it. Well actually we did get an invitation to play with a couple of other bands on a gig that was supposed to be held in Pakkhúsið, the youth center, but it was cancelled. We recorded demo´s there with Sacrilege in 2010, but yeah, that´s basically it for us in relations to Selfoss.
So, what do you guys do in life, other than making music?
Jóhann: I am a student, in the University which takes a lot of my time. Other than that, I like to read, play computer games, and play music. I recently was diagnosed with autoimmunity, which has taken a toll of my time in life. I take steroids when I get sick, and other medications as well all year round.
Jón Emil: I lived out in the country site, and was a carpenter. But moved to Reykjavík recently so i could go in school here and focus more on music.. So in life, yeah, my life is mainly about music.
Jóhann: It is just out now, we will play on our release concert on November 17th, in Gamli Gaukurinn. We are very happy about the album. The only thing bothering us was a mistake at the pressing plant, when the album was pressed the last song, supposed outro was made first on the album. We would of course want to play abroad, we are only two in the band and usually we have two more with us for live gigs. Hjálmar, my cousin, usually plays the bass with us and Jón Þór, a superbly skilled guitar player, plays the guitar, we rent the rehearsal studio together with his progressive metal band, Daedra.
Jón Emil: We have been assigned with this Italian record label, and the album is coming out in 1000 copies all around the world, which is a big step for us because our first album came out in 50 copies.
What about your fans, have received fan mails?
Jóhann: Yes we have gotten messages from Japan and Hong Kong, then there is a guy from Columbia that is working for a Chineese record label is very supportive and wanted to help us because he really likes our sound. But yes, I think people that listen to this kind of music, know who we are here in Iceland so we are happy to play for them on our release concert.
We drove off wishing that we would be able to hear more of their music, excited to attend their realease concert. We wish them all the best for the future of metal music! Dynfari release concert of the album Sem Skugginn published by Aura Music/ Code666 Records, on November 17th at 21:00 oclock at Gamli Gaukurinn. The night will start out with a listening party, followed by a Dynfari concert at 22:00 oclock. Warm up bands are Hindurvættir from Akureyri and Auðn.


text:
package net.runelite.client.ui.overlay.components;

import com.google.common.base.Strings;
import java.awt.Color;
import java.awt.Dimension;
import java.awt.FontMetrics;
import java.awt.Graphics2D;
import java.awt.Image;
import java.awt.Point;
import java.awt.Rectangle;
import lombok.Getter;
import lombok.Setter;
import net.runelite.client.ui.FontManager;

@Setter
public class InfoBoxComponent implements LayoutableRenderableEntity
{
	private static final int SEPARATOR = 3;
	private static final int DEFAULT_SIZE = 32;

	@Getter
	private String tooltip;

	@Getter
	private final Rectangle bounds = new Rectangle();

	private Point preferredLocation = new Point();
	private Dimension preferredSize = new Dimension(DEFAULT_SIZE, DEFAULT_SIZE);
	private String text;
	private Color color = Color.WHITE;
	private Color backgroundColor = ComponentConstants.STANDARD_BACKGROUND_COLOR;
	private Image image;

	@Override
	public Dimension render(Graphics2D graphics)
	{
		if (image == null)
		{
			return new Dimension();
		}

		graphics.setFont(getSize() < DEFAULT_SIZE ? FontManager.getRunescapeSmallFont() : FontManager.getRunescapeFont());

		final int baseX = preferredLocation.x;
		final int baseY = preferredLocation.y;

		// Calculate dimensions
		final FontMetrics metrics = graphics.getFontMetrics();
		final int size = getSize();
		final Rectangle bounds = new Rectangle(baseX, baseY, size, size);

		// Render background
		final BackgroundComponent backgroundComponent = new BackgroundComponent();
		backgroundComponent.setBackgroundColor(backgroundColor);
		backgroundComponent.setRectangle(bounds);
		backgroundComponent.render(graphics);

		// Render image
		graphics.drawImage(
			image,
			baseX + (size - image.getWidth(null)) / 2,
			baseY + (size - image.getHeight(null)) / 2,
			null);

		// Render caption
		if (!Strings.isNullOrEmpty(text))
		{
			final TextComponent textComponent = new TextComponent();
			textComponent.setColor(color);
			textComponent.setText(text);
			textComponent.setPosition(new Point(baseX + ((size - metrics.stringWidth(text)) / 2), baseY + size - SEPARATOR));
			textComponent.render(graphics);
		}

		this.bounds.setBounds(bounds);
		return bounds.getSize();
	}

	private int getSize()
	{
		return Math.max(preferredSize.width, preferredSize.height);
	}
}


Correction for 'A facile method for synthesizing CuS decorated Ti3C2 MXene with enhanced performance for asymmetric supercapacitors' by Zhihu Pan et al., J. Mater. Chem. A, 2019, DOI: 10.1039/c9ta00085b.
The authors regret the misspelling of the name of one of the authors (Xiaohong Ji) in the original manuscript. The corrected list of authors for this paper is as shown above.


text:
Common names: Eastern cottonmouth, cottonmouth moccasin, water moccasin, moccasinWright AH, Wright AA. 1957. Handbook of Snakes. Comstock Publishing Associates. (7th printing, 1985). 1105 pp. .Agkistrodon piscivorus piscivorus was formerly  a venomous pitviper, one of three subspecies of Agkistrodon piscivorus, with different geographic distributions, found in the southeastern United States. However, recent taxonomic changes do not recognizes any subspecies of cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus) as a valid taxa.

New Taxonomy
The eastern cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus piscivorus) was once classified as a subspecies of the cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus). However, DNA based studies published in 2008 and 2015, revealed no significant genetic difference between the eastern cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus piscivorus) and the western cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus leucostoma) and synonymized the two subspecies (with the oldest published name, A. piscivorus, having priority). The resulting taxonomy does not recognizes the eastern cottonmouth (A. p. piscivorus) as a valid taxon. Several subsequent reviews and species accounts have followed and supported the revised taxonomy. Information on this snake can be found in the Agkistrodon piscivorus article.

Description

This subspecies reaches 20–48 inches (51–121 cm) in length on average but has reached 74.5 inches (189 cm). The colour is mainly dark, and the body heavy. However younger specimens have red to brown crossbands, with a lighter brown background. The crossbands are spotted and speckled, and the tail sulphur coloured. The patterning darkens with time with many older adults being completely black.

The scales are keeled and dark broad stripes on the face disguise the eyes, which cannot be seen when viewed from above, and have a vertical (cat's-eye) slit like pupil. The eye is separated from the nostril by a deep facial pit.

Geographic range
The United States in southeastern Virginia, the Atlantic Coastal Plain and lower Piedmont of North and South Carolina, including the banks, peninsulas and islands along the Atlantic coast, and west across Georgia (see map).

References

Sources

 Florida Museum of Natural History: Eastern Cottonmouth

piscivorus piscivorus
Reptiles of the United States

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Can't go wrong with this classic: lovable pig does his best to avoid a smokehouse fate with the help of his barnyard and arachnid friends. This is an easy book to begin the chapter-book phase of reading to your kids. It's engaging enough to hold attention, has a storyline that avoids being too complex, and there are comedic geese.
Diving into the Harry Potter series is probably best with kids that aren't too young for a couple reasons: 1. There are some complexities to the story that require more attention; 2. Rowling's wizarding world could be a touch scary; and 3. Once you begin the series, your kids (and you) won't want to stop reading. And, they'll likely be deeply distressed that you're a family of Muggles.
The gist of this delightful story is that in the 1930s, Mr. Popper dreams of the poles (both North and South). And yet, for all his dreaming, he's a stationary individual who never travels anywhere. This all changes, naturally, when Popper ends up with one penguin (as a result of his letter to a polar explorer) and eventually, as the story unfolds, a whole penguin family. Tough to go wrong with a premise like that. But more than being simply an engaging, easy to follow story, Mr. Popper's Penguins results in a moral dilemma for Popper: a life of wealth and fame derived from his celebrity penguins or the well-being of his penguin friends. A read that begs for some cocoa to go with it.
Think Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, except instead of a candy factory, it's a library. And instead of Mr. Wonka, it's Mr. Lemoncello…who's just as quirky and fun as ol' Willy. A group of kids are locked into Mr. Lemoncello's new, state-of-the-art library and have to work together to unravel a series of clues that will allow them to escape and win the game. The book is jammed with trivia, provides enough clues to keep you and your kids guessing, and is a fun read start to finish.
Books read and looking for a recommendation on some games? Check out four of our favorite card games or a great board game.
Picture Pexels; Used via Creative Commons license.


Are You Sure You Are Solving a Problem?
If you've ever talked about starting a company, that is the first question you always hear. It's a simple question, but implies that companies are built from ideas – moments of inspiration where you see something no one else has seen. In reality, that is almost never true. Almost every kind of business model has been tried at some point in history. With 7 billion people on Earth, chances are that there are a few people with the same ideas that you have.
What, then, are great companies built on? There are billion-dollar companies being started right now, somewhere, by someone who is most definitely not a billionaire yet. What is their secret?
Even video game companies are solving a problem – they help you avoid being bored and make you happy. Some of these might not seem like problems because they have been solved so well by these companies, but if that company disappeared the problem would reappear. Not all problems are created equal, as problems can range from minor inconvenience to life threatening. You can often tell the difference by understanding how much a person is willing to pay to make the problem go away. For example, someone might be willing to pay $0.99 for a mobile game to entertain them for a few hours, but they would pay thousands of dollars for a new chair that relieves their back pain.
Almost all problems have solutions that already exist but can be improved. For example, in the early days of the internet the biggest problem was how to find anything. Yahoo solved this problem with their directory. Then Alta Vista, et al, solved the problem more effectively with search engines. Then Google solved the problem even more effectively with a more advanced search engine. I expect sometime soon that there will be an even better solution, continuing the cycle of solution improvement and company creation.
If you can solve a difficult problem in a way that is cheaper, easier or better than existing solutions then you create value and can make money. The more acute the problem and the more valuable the solution the more money you can make in solving the problem.
But wait, you say, what about Snapchat and Facebook? They were started by teenagers and solve no obvious problems, yet have become huge! Well, the irony of life is that you don't need to be aware of a problem (or how big it is) in order to solve it. In many cases, companies that are overnight successes hit upon problems that no one else was aware were problems (or that could be solved). No one understood a huge problem with existing social networks until Snapchat provided an alternative, surprising even the Snapchat team themselves. You can get lucky in this way, but it's rare.
It is easier to formulate your marketing messages and sales pitch. Instead of trying to explain what your company does, you can explain the problem and how you solve it.
It is easier to identify your key customer segments by ranking potential customers by how much they suffer from the problem. You can avoid a lot of wasted time in exploring various customer segments.
It is easier to measure your performance by choosing metrics that indicate how well you are solving the problem. If you are trying to save people money on buying cars but the average customer only saves $5, then you are not effective in your business.
After you choose your problem, I suggest posting it somewhere prominently in your office. Reminding everyone on your team, day in and day out, what problem you are solving will bring focus to everything you do.
This entry was posted in Products, Strategy on January 29, 2014 by Sean.
Definitely agree with this. 100%. But whenever I preach about this, Twitter comes up. And I am stumped. Any thoughts on how to respond?
At first I had the same problem, but now I think Twitter solves the One-to-Many communication problem very well. Prior to Twitter, there was no way for celebrities (both large and small) to talk to their fans. Nor was it possible for people to spread what a single person said to everyone they know. Twitter solves that perfectly.


As soon as we arrived in Carlsbad, California, our first stop was the market to stock up on fresh eats for the week. If you've ever been to Southern Cali, then you know how incredibly sweet and delicious the fresh fruit is in the this part of the country. I thought, what better way to stock up of fruits for the week than to go pick it yourself! Carlsbad has an amazing strawberry company that lets you come pick their ripe, sweet strawberries to your heart's content. There are acres and rows as far as the eye can see! The strawberry fields were like a kind of heaven. Each berry was juicier and sweeter than the last. I ate more than I was able to take home and my hands and face were sticky from the yummy goodness. I haven't picked strawberries since growing up on our family farm and I was overwhelmed with nostalgia!
Scroll below and check out this adorable chambray off the shoulder romper set! This is the CUTEST find of the summer and you are going to FLIP OUT when you see the price! It is on clearance for $20 a piece!! (A complete steal!) Both pieces are fabulous worn together or separate. I'd dare say it is the best $40 you could spend this summer! I'm telling you, do not miss out on this.
Hat | My Fave Wide Brimmed Panama Hat… OR for a more country look, try this super cute hat for $9!
More adventures coming your way soon! And don't forget to check out the incredible Nordstrom Anniversary Sale HERE before it's over! Don't miss this once a year opportunity, seriously!


Never sacrifice data security in the name of costs savings.
Low-cost VDI vendors tend to skimp on the very things needed to ensure data security. The biggest shortcoming is usually in providing "shared cloud", where your data sits on the same server used by other companies. Only providers offering "private cloud" – where your company has its own unique server – gives you the protection you need against modern security threats. Beyond private cloud, always scrutinize things like antivirus, back-up and restore hardware and methodologies, etc. These things cost money for vendors to provide, but they are crucial to ensuring that your data is secure.
Be sure to secure the VDI admin capabilities needed for IT to address everyday problems that your users might encounter.
With the right admin module in place, your IT team will have visibility into each user's VDI, allowing you to quickly identify and fix the typical issues that people in your organization may face. Getting your users back up and running swiftly keeps them happy and allows your IT team to focus on other important matters. Failure to ensure that your VDI services offers these admin capabilities means your IT team is flying blind and user productivity suffers while you try to diagnose and fix the problem.
Know where your data will be located.
Many companies are recognizing the need to ensure that their data is stored within specific legal jurisdictions, thus protecting the company against litigation and regulatory issues that could arise in some locations. Making sure that you know where your data is located, and getting that in writing, helps to protect vital interests of your company.
Be sure that the service provider has the expertise and experience needed to fully support your needs related to implementation and ongoing support.
Implementing VDI requires significant expertise, and companies seeking a lower price often fail to realize that they may need to hire or develop internal expertise to be able to implement and manage the service. Learn precisely what the vendor will do to implement your VDI and provide ongoing support, and confirm the role you and your team will need to play.


For those who don't know me, I ran for CSM11 and thanks to the wonderful support of all you capsuleers wa sthe most voted for candidate (in terms of ballot appearances) and came overall third in the selection process after MrHyde and Aryth. I pulled out of the running after voting had ended last year due to poor health that I spent the following 6 months dealing with, because I didn't want to be on the CSM if I could not commit to it fully. I will not be running again this year (though I have not ruled out ever running again) as partly due to that reason I have not been as involved in the wider state of the game as I would like to keep my knowledge suffieciently up to date to be a valuable member of the CSM, and I have no intention of applying to a position knowing I cannot commit myself too fully.
That said, I still care immensely about the CSM and have been overjoyed with how well CSM11 have done and want to support it and it's visibility moving into the transition phase from CSM11 to CSM12. Mid-2016 I started a CSM podcast in an effort to increase visbilty and communication betwene the sitting CSM and the communnity, however it faded into the background as I was still recovering from my health issues and was generally struggling to manage all the projects I wanted to do. Well before this I did a long-form interview with James Arget for CSM8 in an attempt to go more in depth with a candidate than the usual 20-minute quickfire or group affair that other groups tend to do when interviewing the CSM.
As we move into the final third of CSM11's term and the transition to CSM12, I intend to do as many interviews as is reasonable in the style of my James Arget one, modelled on James Lipton's inside the Actors studio to get a deeper understanding of the candidates who are willing to talk to me. I am not going to commit to attempting to interview every candidate, and I do not expect every candidate to necessarily want to do such an interview, but I hope there will be a few. Further, I am currently working behind the scenes to potentially start the CSM podcast up again, with a goal to make it a semi-regular show, rotating through groups of sitting CSM members to assist in CSM-player communication and CSM visibility.
TL;DR If you're running for CSM12 and would be interested in being interviewed in a long-form style by me, please get in touch. I'm also working on starting the CSM Podcast running again.
When You get the podcast up, please evemail me the link and I will add it to the sticky.
Would love to do an interview once they get started.
Hi there. I'd love to be part of your interviews. Thanks.
Update: Due to the stellar work of other individuals I don't feel the need to do the interviews, however the podcast is still on, next recording in a week.


text:
Top Ten Favorite "Retro" RPG Games
Posted August 21, 2015 by Michelle in Top Ten, Uncategorized / 7 Comments
I am super excited about sharing this feature with you. In October I made a top ten halloween list and my son loved it so much he suggested I do it all the time. So I couldn't say no to such a great idea from my super smart 10 year old. So here it is, each month or a few times a month I will give you a list of top ten things from books to movies to everything in between. I hope you will enjoy my top ten.
Do you play video games as a kid? I was a RPG fan, I had the Nintendo systems for most of my life until I got older and got the PS2. All of the games I played as a kid were RPG (besides games like Super Mario, those I loved too). I was reminded recently of how much I miss playing those games, my son received the Wii U from the awesome Santa and also got a retro game from him. It was one of my favorite games as a kid and I was so excited to have it again to play…hahaha my son was so excited to be able to play it. 😉 Just kidding, Santa really bought it for me. So I thought what a great Top Ten, I am going to share my FAVORITE role playing games when I was young. This was a hard list to make because the last 4 I wasn't sure who I wanted at number 1, I was so conflicted but with a push from my son we figured it out…I think. So are you ready to go retro?
My Top Ten Favorite "Retro" RPG Games
Please note one or two might be a little newer but are still "retro" to me 🙂
These three games I remember some of it but not all, I did complete all of them. Secret of Mana was a great game and the game play was a lot like Chrono Trigger. Breath of Fire and Lufia were more like the game Dragon Warrior.
Super Mario RPG was so different from any other Mario game but with the idea of still saving Princess Peach. I really liked this game and played it 3 times. I am hoping this is one of the game the Wii U will get also however I might be wrong but I think they already have it.
Sadly as much as I played more of Final Fantasy this was one of the only games I never finished. 🙁 I had such a hard time with the last coupe of bosses that I sort of bailed out but the graphics were GORGEOUS!
Dragon Warrior was one of the first RPG games I played and pretty much was the game that got me into RPG. I will always remember those pesky blue slimes sitting in the middle of the screen taunting you. The game a a few follow up games but soon it it became unavailable for purchase in the US. This was a VERY popular game in Japan.
Chrono Trigger is another game that I wish I could play right now. This game wasn't like your standard RPG game, it gave a totally different spin on things but keeping with the RPG game style. This was and always will be one of my favorites that I will pray one day goes to the Wii U. I completed most of the RPG games, the end of this game made me cry because I hated to have it end.
Earthbound is the game that my son got for christmas. I wish I had more time to play it because the music in this game is like an acid trip. The graphics are super cute but tend to get all warped and the colors seriously makes you feel as if you were on drugs.
I had a hard time picking between Kingdom Hearts and Link. Link will always be my love but Kingdom Hearts was such a fantastic game and it was all about Disney and since I am a forever fan of Disney this was such a fun game to explore and travel to all the stories. My favorite was Halloween town.
I do love the first link game of the NES but Link to the past had so much more, it reminded me of the old flat screen RPG games were you move a little person around but the movement was more grid like than flowing. Plus if you hit the chicken with your sword enough a flock of chickens (are they called a flock?) will attack you and it's hilarious. 🙂
Have you played any of these games? What was your favorite retro game to play.
Have a great day and Happy Gaming!
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7 responses to "Top Ten Favorite "Retro" RPG Games"
Great list and this is a fun post!! As a kid we didn't have a game console (not even Atari – so now you know how old I am lol). So I didn't start playing video games until I met my husband. For our Xbox I've played Dragon Age, Fable, and Tales of Vesperia. These were fun but since we have to take turns playing I gave up on video games. Now I just read and watch everyone else play.
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Oh great list! I am a big kingdom hearts and final fantasy fan as well. When I was a kid I played a lot of Mario and Pokémon. We got a nintento 64 and the first gameboy and we had a lot of games. I hardly ever finished any games though and Kingdom Hearts was one of the first games I actually finished. I own FF and FF-2 and a few of the later games, but only finished FF13 till the end. I think that might be my favourite FF game. I also have played a few Zelda games, but they were too difficult for me at the time, I always got stuck somewhere, partly because of the puzzles and partly because of my bad knowledge of english at the time. I had to follow someone "without being seen", which is pretty damned hard when you don't know what that means, lol.
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I can't wait for the new Kingdom Hearts, I feel like I have been waiting forever. I am a big Mario fan, my kids have a lot of the games, Mario Kart is my favorite but I HATE the rainbow bridge.
FF is very hard and you need patience and I don't have any for that game. lol
I will be a forever fan of Zelda and want the new one.
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I haven't played most of these because we never got the Super Nintendo, but I have played Link to the Past (along with most other Zelda games) and loved it! My favorite is Link's Awakening though, the music in Zelda games is gorgeous but the Ballad of the Windfish would be on my life's soundtrack if I had one. Kingdom Hearts is definitely one of my favorite games of all time, and it's one of the few games I will play over and over and never get bored with it. Earthbound was one of my boyfriend's favorite games. FF X-2 was a lot of fun too, until i get stuck..as I always do in FF games. The dressspheres are something they need to bring back, because I want to be all classes lol
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My game console was Atari but after that it was Nintendo, I think I have always had it. I will have to look up the soundtrack because I love game soundtrack music.
Kingdom hearts is fantastic and I can't wait for the new one to be released however I wish they would rerelease the other two as well. Since I haven't played them in forever.
Earthbound is available on the WiiU, the music for that is great. I remember almost everything from that game 🙂
Same problem with FF I never finish them because they get way to hard and I get way to frustrated lol
I am obsessed with The Legend of Zelda! I have almost every installment that has ever been, except for the Nintendo DS versions! I just ordered The Wind Waker for the WiiU and I am SO excited to get it and play my brains out! Your other picks are awesome too; I adore Mario anything as well! Happy gaming! 🙂
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I am DYING to play Wind Waker told my kids they can get it for me for Christmas 🙂 I did plan the DS version it was fun just like the old game play style. The WiiU has this Zelda which I want to get. Mario is awesome I wish the WiiU had this game in it's retro game section. I would love to play it again.

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The UWA Medical School has the only longitudinal mentoring program in Australia, whereby all medical students have a clinical mentor involved in the student's professional development for the duration of the course. This program has been a popular feature of the student experience for many years from MBBS to the new MD course.
Clinical mentors are usually qualified medical doctors who altruistically dedicate some of their time to meet with medical students so that a productive mentoring relationship can develop. Just as it is essential for a medical graduate to know how to diagnose or treat an illness, they need to graduate with the professional skills that are required as an intern and beyond. The qualified doctors' role as a mentor is to help ensure that their students have addressed and reflected on many of these areas in their professional development throughout the MD course and beyond.
Since the MD course commenced, students have the opportunity to nominate those mentors who they feel have been outstanding for a Dean's Letter of Commendation. This year, Professor Brendan McQuillan, Head of the Medical School, presented these awards at the annual Clinical Mentor evening held in the newly refurbished Medical and Dental Library.
The Medical School wishes to thank all the clinical mentors for their dedication and altruism in supporting the professional development of the next generation of doctors.
If you are a qualified medical doctor and interested in assisting with the professional development of tomorrow's doctors, the Medical School is always looking for new clinical mentors. Please contact Ms Deborah Chapman, PPD Administrative Officer, for more information.


A vector type with units of measure built on top of XNA's Vector3. Not complete, the point is mainly to show how to use generic units of measure to adapt an existing type.
The snippet demonstrates how to write a general power function that has correct type involving units-of-measure. The function uses numbers represented using types. The snippet is mainly an example of what can be done (not recommended for the real world).


Surely the Secretary is right to emphasize results (something taxpayers should surely expect) and at reasonable cost. From where I sit, in Washington, it sounds like a good idea. It is not, as Madeleine Bunting suggests, sending shivers down the spine of development experts. On the contrary many aid and development aficionados see it as an official finally demanding outcomes and not just reports of money disbursed.
The fear about an insistence on results arises from confusion about what "results" are. A legitimate typical concern is that aid bureaucracies pressed for "results" will resort, more than already is the case, to projects that provide inputs that seem add up to easily measured "wins" (bednets delivered, books distributed, paramedics trained, vehicles or computers purchased, roads built) while neglecting "system" issues and "institution building". But bednets and books and vehicles and roads are not results in any meaningful sense, and the connection between these inputs and real outcomes (healthier babies, better educated children, higher farmer income) goes through systems and institutions and is often lost. Meanwhile when donors try to "build" institutions and "fix" systems directly they often do even worse. For decades, donor money for institution building has financed expensive consultants to work with beleaguered deputy ministers and district managers, and paid fees to a country's mid-level bureaucrats to show up for "training" in procurement or tax administration. For decades this 'capacity building' has escaped the discipline of asking: To what end? With what measured outcome?
Let us define results as measured gains in what children have learned by the end of primary school, or measured reductions in infant mortality or deforestation, or measured increases in the hours of electricity available, or annual increases in revenue from taxes paid by rich households in poor countries – or a host of other indicators that ultimately add up to the transformation of societies and the end of their dependence on outside aid. For a country to get results might not require more money but a reconfiguration of local politics, the cleaning up of bureaucratic red tape, local leadership in setting priorities or simply more exposure to the force of local public opinion. Let aid be more closely tied to well-defined results that recipient countries are aiming for; let donors and recipients start measuring and reporting those results to their own citizens; let there be continuous evaluation and learning about the mechanics of how recipient countries and societies get those results (their institutional shifts, their system reforms, their shifting politics and priorities), built on the transparency that Secretary Mitchell is often emphasizing.
I believe it is these things that Andrew Mitchell had in mind when he urged DfID to take a close look at piloting the delivery of aid via the Cash on Delivery approach I and colleagues have proposed at the Center for Global Development. Because DfiD is an outstanding development agency (of major bilateral donors, the UK is among the best in our recent QuODA assessment) I have no doubt it can meet the challenge and – yes—define ex ante what results are worth aiming for, and what results are being achieved.


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de Castille (Sancho en castillan, né v. 1036 à Zamora et mort en 1072 près de Zamora) est un roi de Castille du .

Biographie

Le roi Ferdinand (Fernando en castillan) divisa son royaume, avant sa mort, entre ses cinq enfants : Sanche (Sancho en castillan), l'aîné des fils, reçut la Castille ; le second fils, Alphonse (Alfonso en castillan), reçut le royaume principal, le León, et Garcia, le troisième fils, reçut la Galice. Les filles, elles, reçurent pour l'aînée, Urraque, la ville de Zamora et pour la seconde, Elvire, la seigneurie sur la ville de Toro.

Sanche hérite également des « Asturies de Santillana », région située à 25 km à l'ouest-sud-ouest de Santander tandis qu', son cadet, reçoit les Asturies.

Une lutte fratricide oppose les enfants de Ferdinand. Sanche, soutenu par le bras armé du Cid, fait exiler Garcia à Séville. Il écrase ensuite l'armée d'Alphonse qui trouve refuge auprès du roi vassal musulman  de Tolède. Sanche entreprend alors de conquérir Zamora, ville de sa sœur aînée Urraque, et y trouve la mort en 1072, sans doute assassiné par un traître (« homme d'arme à l'instigation des habitants de la ville »). Alphonse revient et reprend la couronne de León, auquel il adjoint celle de Castille sous le nom d'.

Notes et références

Liens externes

Personnalité espagnole du XIe siècle
Sanche Castille 02
Sanche Castille 02
Souverain assassiné
Personnalité politique espagnole assassinée
Date de naissance incertaine (XIe siècle)
Décès en 1072
Décès dans la province de Zamora
Le Cid


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Amherst native crowned Miss New York 2017
Gabrielle Walter talks pageants,dreaming & tax law
By: Ashley Rowe
Amherst native Gabrielle Walter says she never could have expected to be crowned Miss New York.
Fresh off her victorious night in Staten Island, the 24-year old is now back home in Western New York and ready to "take this title and run with it."
"I am so lucky and honored to represent the great state of New York," Walter told 7 Eyewitness News.
Walter, a University at Buffalo Law School student, has a busy year ahead. She will spend the summer articling with Connors LLP in Buffalo, while also fulfilling her duties as Miss New York and preparing for the national pageant, Miss America, in the fall.
Walter will also be building her community platform, titled DreamUp New York, which works with disenfranchised children to identify their dreams and brainstorm concrete steps to make them a reality.
"When you get this title, you not only have a crown and sash, but you have an opportunity to make a difference in other people's lives."
Looking beyond Miss America, Walter says she hopes to pursue a career in tax law.
"I took a tax class this past semester and I enjoyed it. Tax affects so many aspects of our lives, our financial decisions, our incomes, and what we do with the money we generate."


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Q: How would I rigorously prove I can paint all lines of integers n? Three counters, A, B, C are placed at the corners of an equilateral triangle of side n. The triangle is divided into triangles of side length 1. Initially all lines of the figure are painted blue. The counters move along the lines, painting their paths red , according to the following rules:

*

*First A moves, then B, then C, then A, and so on in succession.

*On each turn, each counter moves the full length of a side of one of the short triangles.

*No counter may retrace a segment already painted red, though it can stop on a red vertex, even if another counter is already there.

Show that for all integers n > $0$ it is possible to paint all of the segments red in this fashion.
I know there must be three base cases for n=1 n=2 and n=3. I'm just not sure how to prove this without giving any drawings. The induction hypothesis would be n=k and the induction step would be n=k+3. How would I give a proof for this?

A: There's nothing wrong with drawings, especially not for the concrete cases of $n=1$ and $n=2$. Perhaps for the induction step $n\to n+2$, a drawing should only be used to accompany a worded proof.


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Donate>
Why Donatello was necessary to the Renaissance?
Why Donatello was necessary to the Renaissance? Donatello was among biggest Italian Renaissance artists, kept in mind particularly for his sculptures in marble, bronze, and wood. His toned figures were a few of the very first given that antiquity to represent anatomy properly– though some late works were somewhat overemphasized– and to recommend a sense of uniqueness.
How did Donatello affect early Renaissance? Donatello was kept in mind for his excellent command of sculpture. Among the primary carvers of the Italian Renaissance, Donatello was a master of both marble and bronze and had a comprehensive understanding of ancient sculpture. Donatello likewise established his own design of relief called schiacciato (" flattened out").
What did Donatello produce throughout the Renaissance? Donatello (1386– 1466) A carver who transformed the art in Florence throughout the early Renaissance. Born as Donato di Niccolo Bardi, he was an apprentice in the workshop of Lorenzo Ghiberti, and helped Ghiberti in developing the well-known bronze doors of the Baptistry of Florence.
How did Donatello affect history? The experience provided Donatello a deep understanding of decoration and timeless kinds, crucial understanding that would ultimately alter the face of 15th-century Italian art. His association with Brunelleschi most likely affected him in the Gothic design that can be seen in much of Donatello's early work.
Why Donatello was necessary to the Renaissance?– Related Concerns
What is motivating about Donatello?
How did the Renaissance get its name?
Why is Raphael crucial to the Renaissance?
Why was anatomy popular throughout the Renaissance?
Is Michelangelo a Renaissance male?
What made Donatello's David uncommon?
How did Michelangelo affect the Renaissance?
What did Donatello think in?
Why is Donatello the very best artist?
Why was Donatello's sculpture of David considerable?
What were the most crucial outcomes of the Renaissance?
Exactly what was the Renaissance?
What is Renaissance in easy words?
Who is the youngest Renaissance master?
Who is the perfect Renaissance artist and why?
Who is Raphael in the Renaissance?
What design did Raphael utilize?
What is the Renaissance objective of precision?
How did Renaissance art impact science?
What is the main concept of the story Michelangelo?
Exist 2 statues of David?
Donatello's work was extremely affected by the revival of interest in the sciences, mathematics, and architecture that was happening in Florence. This consisted of making use of one point viewpoint to produce a brand-new type of bas-relief for architectural works and an accurate physiological accuracy for his figures.
" Renaissance" originates from the French word for "renewal." According to the City University of New York City at Brooklyn, extreme interest in and discovering classical antiquity was "born-again" after the Middle Ages, in which classical viewpoint was mainly neglected or forgotten.
Why is Raphael so crucial? Raphael was among the most gifted painters of the Italian Renaissance. His work is appreciated for its clearness of type and ease of structure and for its visual accomplishment of the Neoplatonic perfect of human magnificence. He was likewise a popular designer throughout his life time.
We can see from Donatello's sculpture of David– with its mindful representation of bones and muscles and a naked figure– that the research study of human anatomy was tremendously crucial for Renaissance artists. These artists attempted to reveal their audiences that they comprehended systems of muscles underneath the skin.
The essential Renaissance male, Michelangelo continued to shape and paint up until his death, although he progressively dealt with architectural tasks as he aged: His work from 1520 to 1527 on the interior of the Medici Chapel in Florence consisted of wall styles, windows and cornices that were uncommon in their style
Donatello's David was extremely ingenious when it was produced, as it was the very first recognized free-standing naked statue developed given that antiquity and the very first unsupported standing operate in bronze that was cast throughout the Renaissance.
Michelangelo had an enormous impact on the renaissance. He was a master at both painting and sculpting, he likewise was a designer, engineer, and poet. Throughout his day he was unequalled in his painting and sculpting abilities.
Donatello was among the leaders of the humanist motion. Humanism is a belief system that values people separately and jointly and values people from each viewpoint possible for people. This appears throughout Donatello's work.
Donatello was among biggest Italian Renaissance artists, kept in mind particularly for his sculptures in marble, bronze, and wood. His toned figures were a few of the very first given that antiquity to represent anatomy properly– though some late works were somewhat overemphasized– and to recommend a sense of uniqueness.
Donatello's bronze statue of David (circa 1440s) is well-known as the very first unsupported standing work of bronze cast throughout the Renaissance, and the very first freestanding naked male sculpture made given that antiquity.
The Renaissance caused considerable outcomes. It caused a shift from the middle ages to the modern-day age. This duration saw completion of the old and reactionary middle ages spirit, and the start of the brand-new spirit of science, factor and experimentation. The hands of the monarchy were reinforced.
The Renaissance was an impassioned duration of European cultural, creative, political and financial "renewal" following the Middle Ages. Usually referred to as happening from the 14th century to the 17th century, the Renaissance promoted the rediscovery of classical viewpoint, literature and art.
The Renaissance is a duration in the history of Europe starting in about 1400, and following the Middle ages duration. "Renaissance" is a French word significance "renewal". The Renaissance was viewed as a "renewal" of that knowing. The Renaissance is frequently stated to be the start of the "modern-day age".
Raphael Sanzio, the youngest of the 3 excellent High Renaissance masters, gained from both da Vinci and Michelangelo.
Leonardo da Vinci was the perfect Renaissance male, the best Universal Genius, who, to name a few things, was a painter, mathematician, engineer, designer, botanist, carver and anatomist.
A leading figure of Italian High Renaissance classicism, Raphael is best understood for his "Madonnas," consisting of the Sistine Madonna, and for his big figure structures in the Palace of the Vatican in Rome.
Raphael not just mastered the signature strategies of High Renaissance art such as sfumato, viewpoint, exact physiological accuracy, and genuine emotionality and expression, he likewise integrated a specific design kept in mind for its clearness, abundant color, uncomplicated structure, and magnificence that was clearly his own
Almost every Renaissance artist desired direct viewpoint– a method of developing a precise impression of area that might match the brand-new naturalism then being used to human figure. Orthogonal lines are parallel to the ground airplane and return from the photo airplane.
The printing press enabled details to be dispersed to a broad audience. This assisted to spread out brand-new clinical discoveries too, permitting researchers to share their works and gain from each other. The Scientific Technique was additional established throughout the Renaissance.
Response: They provide expression to the style that like assists humans in their challenging effort to rise to the divine. In 1534 Michelangelo returned after a quarter century to fresco painting, performing for the brand-new pope, Paul III, the substantial Last Judgment for completion wall of the Sistine Chapel.
After 500 years, Michelangelo's David is still plainly acknowledged as a work of art moving the advancement of Renaissance art in Florence. Presently, there are 3 statues of David– one genuine and 2 reproductions– that preserve Michelangelo's visionary sculpting.
Check Out Complete Short Article https://cementanswers.com/why-donatello-was-important-to-the-renaissance/ .
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You are here: Home » Blog » News » SAMC Hawaii inducts seven
SAMC Hawaii inducts seven
Three award recipients and four honorary award recipients from the 8th TSC are inducted into the Sgt. Audie Murphy Club on Richardson Field, March 21. Two SAMC Certificates of Appreciation also were awarded to individuals for collectively volunteering more than 200 hours of community service with the SAMC.
Story and photos by
Staff Sgt. Gaelen Lowers
8th Theater Sustainment Command Public Affairs
SCHOFIELD BARRACKS — After a long and rigorous process of hand-selection, recommendations and qualification boards, seven noncommissioned officers from the 8th Theater Sustainment Command and the 311th Signal Command (Theater) were inducted in the prestigious ranks of the Sgt. Audie Murphy Club, March 21, at Richardson Field, here.
The SAMC is a means of recognizing these NCOs who have contributed significantly to the development of a professional NCO Corps and a combat-ready Army.
Sgt. Audie Murphy was one of the most decorated Soldiers of World War II.
"Selection as a Sgt. Audie Murphy member is a reward for noncommissioned officers whose leadership, achievements and performance merit special recognition," said Command Sgt. Maj. Allen Braswell, guest speaker for the ceremony and the senior enlisted leader for the 516th Sig. Brigade. "Special recognition, in my view, is expected performance versus meritorious performance of duties."
An example of expected performance is a leader that guides and counsels a troubled Soldier regularly and takes responsibility for his actions, Braswell continued, but meritorious performance goes above and beyond the call of one's duty and scope of responsibilities.
"The NCOs who merit special recognition are the ones who sacrifice countless hours of personal time to teach, coach and mentor a Soldier," Braswell said, "the NCOs who care enough not to lose sight of a Soldier's problems regardless of how long or hard the road is to solving it."
In addition to the inductees, SAMC Certificates of Appreciation were also awarded to two young members of the community for collectively volunteering more than 200 hours of community service with the SAMC of Hawaii.
SAMC Inductees
The following are the newest members of the SAMC.
Sgt. 1st Class Malcom Fleming, 57th Military Police Company, 8th MP Brigade
Sgt. Debroah Hammett, 58th MP Company, 8th MP Bde.
Staff Sgt. Maruquel Barnes, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 8th Theater Sustainment Command
Honorary Inductees
Command Sgt. Maj. Keith Davis, Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 25th Infantry Division
Command Sgt. Maj. Donald Wilson, 307th Expeditionary Signal Battalion, 516th Sig. Bde., 311th Sig. Command (Theater)
1st Sgt. Henry Wilkins, 45th Sust. Bde., 8th TSC
Master Sgt. Matty Smith-Clayton, 8th Special Troops Battalion, 8th TSC
Certificate Awardees
Miss Serenity Cynthia Thomas, 8 years old
Miss Nevaeh Marie Thomas, 7 years old
Tags: 45th Sustainment Brigade, 8th Military Police Brigade, 8th Special Troops Battalion, 8th Theater Sustainment Command, career development, noncommissioned officer, Sergeant Audie Murphy Club
SAMC Hawaii inducts four, continues tradition of excellence
8th TSC inducts newest SAMC members, honors spouses
Sgt. Audie Murphy Club inducts five
25th ID candidates vie to enter SAMC
SAMC, 25th CAB run, create support for wounded warriors
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Archive | March, 2012
Shark Sandwich Presents: The Concert Experience
True Tales and Misadventures From Concerts!
People love live music. That's a music fact. For the sake of this column I'm strictly talking about concerts. Concerts are a huge deal. It starts from the second you hear about it. It's a band you love and you are going. Your mind starts buzzing with logistical and statistical calculations that an M.I.T professor couldn't possibly factor. When do tickets go on sale? Who's going to go with me? The pre-internet days involved possible camp outs or early morning gatherings for the popular concerts, and there had better not be line tickets involved!
I've seen many concerts in many different venues from back rooms of restaurants, small clubs, arenas and up to stadiums. I've been going to see bands for a long, long time and will continue too for as long as I can. there's is just something really cool about an artist you dig being in the same room you are, no matter the size of the room, and playing their songs for you.One thing concerts do is create memories that will last. So, what I'd like to do is recap some of the events of my concert past that still stand out.
The first concert I ever went to was The Psychedelic Furs at the Fox Theater, 1987 St. Louis, Missouri. I was so excited as this was my first concert experience. It also happened to fall on the last day of school, my sophomore year. At the high school I attended it was custom for the students to celebrate the last day after school with water balloon fights, shaving cream fights, and various other shenanigans. I had a job at a local grocery store and had to report to work as soon as school let out, so I missed out on the fun. My sister and three of my friends were also attending this concert.
The center of activities for the water balloon fights was a park in town that you could drive through. Some of the students had trucks and other kids would ride in the back and throw balloons from there (it was the eighties!) One of my friends riding in the back of one of these trucks decided that he would stand up the throw a balloon. The trip to the hospital to cast up the resulting broken arm, delayed our trip to the concert.
While driving us to the concert my sister made an ill advised left turn across a concrete median which resulted in four teenage boys laughing hysterically, and me getting punched for it. We were trying not to miss the opening band the Mission U.K. We made the concert to hear the last note of the Mission's set and catch the long strands of their long British hair as they left the stage.
I bought my first ever t-shirt at this concert. I was so excited to wear it out and show people that I had been THERE man! The first real place I wore it was to Six Flags where it promptly got faded from the chlorine in the Raging River ride. Not faded all over, just in a thick stripe that ran right down the middle of the front. The Furs were awesome though!
The best concert I ever saw without a doubt was R.E.M. The Green Tour 1989 at the old St. Louis Arena. R.E.M. were touring the "Green" album in the Spring of 1989. I had managed to get tickets on the floor. R.E.M. were still basically rising stars and still widely considered an "alternative " band that had scored a few hits. They were also a crackin' live band that could rock out with the best of them. For this tour they brought a visual aspect with them, a huge drive in sized screen and several projectors. The projectors projected everything from a standard stage patter dialogue " Hello, Your city here, It's nice to back! Please look around and see where the exits are in case of emergency." To artsy ephemeral and vague collages. The effect was magnificent.
The best memory is at the end of "Turn You Inside Out" a cool video of fish were swimming on the screen while the song was rocking and I just looked up and saw that an entire arena was as one. I remember thinking to myself, "Wow, R.E.M filled The Arena!" I would go on to see R.E.M. several more times and they never disappointed.
The coolest thing to happen at a concert happened at the Red Hot Chili Peppers concert at the American Theater, St. Louis, 1991. The opening bands were to little known bands at the time, Pearl Jam and Smashing Pumpkins. Pearl Jam were a virtual unknown band, their album "Ten" hadn't been out long so no one really knew who they were. They played first.
They were doing pretty good, the music was good, the energy was high. This lead singer was a force though. He had the crowd in the palm of his hand. Of course we all know that I'm speaking of Eddie Vedder, but at the time, little was known about this band.
The American Theater (currently named the Roberts Orpheum) was an old vaudeville "orpheum" style theater. My tickets were in one of the side boxes level with the balcony seats. At the bottom of the box was a lighting rig bar thing that ran the entire curved length of the balcony to the other side. (This bar will come in handy in a later story!)
During the final song of their set Eddie Vedder climbed the speaker stack on the opposite side of the stage and grabbed onto this bar and climbed out over the audience by his hands shimmying over the floor section while the rest of the band laid down a grunge groove. Eddie went all the way across the theater! Dude had some upper body strength! He ended up right below our box. He was now out of room and needed a plan. He looked down, all the people in the floor section were just gazing at him like "What the hell are you going to do now?"
Then he looked up at me, I was leaning over our box waiting to see what his next move would be. He looked at me like "Uh, I'm stuck dude!" So I reached down to grab his hand, then looked back at my friend with a panicked look to say "We might have to lift this dude up!" Eddie took one last look over his shoulder waved the floor crowd over, they all came over and Eddie fell into their arms in full on rock god style that was probably way better than being hefted up by two college boys. I didn't know at the time that Pearl Jam would blow up to become huge. Smashing Pumpkins and the Chili Peppers rocked it as well. But the only t-shirt I bought that night was Pearl Jam's.
The funniest moment at a concert ever was witnessed at a Reverend Horton Heat show at the Blue Note, Columbia, MO. 1993. The Reverend's blend of high octane Texas punk rockabilly was big with the college kids of the early nineties. The Reverend would draw a good crowd, and still continues to do so! RHH's shows were high energy drunken blasts of The Reverends fiery guitar, fierce wails, stand up bass boogie, and a blazing drummer named "Taz." I went to this show with a couple buddies.
The Blue Note was my favorite concert venue. It was also an old converted theater. The venue had a floor section and a balcony section. Most importantly, being in a college town it had cheap beer. At an RHH show it was customary to be inebriated. Because it made the music better, wink wink!
Well, the Rev got to rockin' during one song and let loose a blazing guitar solo, the band locked in, Taz was going berserk on his drum kit, The Rev's fingers were working up a firestorm on the frets. The music was building and building. The Rev let out a blistering howl "YEEEEEOWWWWWW!!!" and kind of looked at his guitar like, "Damn, I just amazed myself!" At the exact moment of this triumph one of my buddies, who had just purchased a pitcher of beer (for himself), was so worked up by the frenzy he threw the entire contents of the pitcher straight up into the air! I don't think a single person on the floor section didn't get sprayed. Most of the audience just looked at us and kind of accepted that the awesomeness of the moment warranted such a display (the boys.) The other part seemed a little miffed (The girls.) From then on, every time my friend went to the bar we jostled him, " You're not getting pitcher are you, I didn't bring my rain coat!"
Now, since it's been established that I hail from the St. Louis area I bet you're wondering have I ever seen the legendary rock icon Chuck Berry live in concert. And the answer to that is yes. The people in St. Louis are privilege to a once a month show that the master puts on at his partially owned local restaurant/club Blueberry Hill. Chuck plays in the small "Duck Room" that holds only 350 people. This is amazing thing since Chuck still draws in the thousands at other festivals and events he plays outside St. Louis.
Chuck was well into his seventies at the time I saw him. He can't hit all the notes he used to, and the ole' hands get a little sloppy on the strings but Chuck is still the ultimate showman. Those hits will always sound good. So seeing Chuck should be a bucket list item for all of you. If you are lucky, like I was, Chuck will agree to a meet and greet after the show. Are you kidding me? A chance to meet the guy who influenced the Beatles AND the Stones? A true rock n' roll pioneer? Yes please.
So everyone got into a line, on the stage, as Chuck was in the tiny dressing room off stage right. We were advised to keep it short and keep the line moving. I got really nervous. I was about to meet Chuck freakin' Berry! What am I going to say? Am I going to be able to say anything? Would I turn into the kid from "A Christmas Story" rattled by Santa and just blurt out "I want a football." I didn't want to fall on my knees and proclaim him a rock god! I didn't want to seem crazy. I just wanted to be cool and have Chuck like me. I couldn't blow this chance, it had to be perfect.
The line was getting shorter so I moved to the back of the group of friends I was with, I wanted to be last to get that extra second of genius time.The line moved closer and then it was my turn, my friend in front of me came out with a huge smile on his face and gave me the thumbs up. I went in shaking all over. Chuck was seated in a chair, he looked up at me. Keep it together man! So I spoke "Hey Chuck, can I just shake your hand and say thank you for the music." And Chuck said, "Sure you can young man." And the hand that wrote "Roll Over Beethoven" "No Particular Place To Go" "Rock N' Roll Music" "Maybellene" and shaped rock history reached out to shake MY hand! We shook hands nodded and I turned and walked out feeling like I had just conquered the earth.
I walked up to my friends who were all smiling and laughing as they had just met Chuck Berry as well. I couldn't wait to tell them how I had just shaken his hand! "Dudes, I just shook Chuck Berry's hand!" "I know! So did I !" said my friend who went in right before I did. "Did you get his autograph too?"
The smile left my lips, "What? No! I didn't know he was signing autographs!" My friend just gave me that look,"Didn't you hear us talking, we were all going to get autographs, and you were supposed to get the pen back, that's why I gave you the thumbs up." I was so worried about meeting the legend that I totally ignored and didn't hear everyone else making the plans! We did not get the pen back. If Chuck Berry wants your pen, Chuck Berry can have your pen because he did the "Duck Walk" you know. And the man is the very definition of Rock n' Roll.
The year 2000 was another unlike any other year I had had since my rock god dreams died and I was now a full fledged member of the working class with a job and responsibilities. The band Too Much Joy was scheduled to make a stop at a club called "The Side Door." Being a big fan of this band and having seen them a few times I decided to check them out again.
So my friend, the thumbs up fellow from the Chuck Berry show, and I set off for the show that evening neither one of us having been to the venue before. We did not have pre- purchased tickets to get in. Here's what we knew about the place:
1. It was called the Side Door.
2. It was attached to a restaurant.
We arrived at the restaurant and walked in and looked around. All we saw were people eating, no stage, no lights, no crowd, no t-shirt stand. We knew we were in the right place. Any normal sane person would have asked a staff member as to where the music club was, we did not. My logic to this dilemma was that the venue was called the "Side Door" for a reason. There must be a side door!
So we walked outside around the corner to the alley. There was a side door with a band loading equipment in through it. "Eureka!" So my friend and I climbed over the various detritus that littered the alley and stumbled through the darkness toward the single light bulb that lit the doorway. "This place isn't very well lit for a club" I said. My friend agreed. We walked into the club and there was a stage, speakers, lights, merch stand, we had made it and all was good.
It was determined that we needed a beer before the show started. So my buddy trudged off to acquire two beers. He came back a few minutes later with one beer. He had a huge smile on his face and was cracking up. I asked what gives about my no beer situation. He laughed and told me that we needed a wrist band to buy beer, this being an "all ages" show and to get a wrist band you had to pay to get in at the FRONT of the club that was accessible from the restaurant through a curtain that we did not see on our first try! We had successfully snuck in and didn't even realize it.
Too Much Joy never disappoint live. And this show was no exception. When they came out before they started they said they were "underwhelmed" with the entrance and asked if anyone in the audience would introduce them properly. A guy raised his hand so they let him up onstage and they walked off. The man then grabbed the mic and said with much enthusiasm "You can have too much time, You can have too much gas, you can have too much money, you can have too much fun, but you can never have…TOO MUCH JOY!!! The guy jumped off stage and the band bounded out clearly satisfied and ready to rock. At their "Encore" they walked off the stage and realized there wasn't a dressing room or anywhere else to go so they just ducked behind the speakers for ten seconds, then walked back onstage. Awesome! To quote their theme song,"To create, you must destroy, Too Much Joy!" Indeed.
Way back in my college days a couple of my buddies were going to see Megadeth. They had an extra ticket so I went with them. The concert took place a the aforementioned American Theater in St. Louis. The show was a pretty normal rock show, although the opening act was a little known band a the time called Stone Temple Pilots.
After the obligatory encore, Dave Mustaine and the rest of the Megadeth boys did the chorus line rock bow at center stage that every band does. The crowd was going nuts. the drummer got caught up in the frenzy and threw his drumstick into the crowd. The first stick went into the floor section. He pointed to the balcony, wound up and tossed the other stick into the first few rows of the balcony. The resulting scrum was just like when a foul ball is hit at a baseball game, people were grabbing and wrestling for the drumstick. The stick bounced out of the crowd and landed on a metal grate that lie below the lighting rigs that ran below the balcony (remember from the Pearl Jam story above?) A guy reached over the balcony to grab the stick but couldn't reach it. So he climbed over the balcony and stood on the metal grate and picked up the stick. He victoriously waved it around to the crowd with everyone cheering! Then he fell through the grate.
Fortunately, he was holding onto the railing with his other hand. His buddies grabbed onto him and were able to lift him up to safety. He never let go of the drumstick, and once safely onto the balcony began waving it around as the crowd cheered. Mustaine stood onstage took this all in then stepped up to the mic and said, " What an a**hole!" Then flashed the guy a thumbs up sign, laughed and walked off stage. Crowd went nuts again.
Keeping it in the world of metal, I have been obsessed with the band GWAR since I first saw them on MTV eons ago. There were two things about them I loved, they had a theme with costumes and gore and they were humorous. Bonus points also because they were metal! For those of you that don't know, GWAR wear cartoonish monster outfits onstage. They also have character names like Oderus Urungus, Ballzac the Jaws of Death, Nippleus Erectus, and other R-rated names! When they perform live they mock kill things and stab each other spraying fake blood and guts all over the audience. It's all done in fun and it's very humorous, but mostly it's a riot!
Fortunately, my friends in college were also into GWAR so when they came to town we were ready. In fact we were so hyped up by their appearance, we took the whole day off to celebrate. We skipped our classes, and had ourselves a BBQ complete with brews and Boones Farm wine. We partied it up, ate our BBQ, and actually had to make several beer runs! On one of these beer runs I asked to try some of the Boones Farm, as I had never had any before this instance. It was strawberry flavored and pure deliciousness! So I drank the whole bottle! My friend looked into the backseat saw that I had polished off the bottle chuckled and asked,"Dude, did you drink that whole thing?!" I just bleerily smiled and nodded yes. GWAR was coming and it was going to be awesome!
We got to the show, the opening band played. They were an industrial metal act called Bile. I guess they were O.K. I was pretty tipsy at this point. GWAR was up and I had waited several years to finally see them. I was now moments away. Finally, the lights dimmed and the animatronic monster head on stage started speaking! The "extras" (crew members and stage hands also dressed in costumes) ran onstage. GWAR came out and started playing the first song. I fell face first onto the floor.
My friend rolled me over, "Aaaarrree yyyooouuu oooookkkkk?' His words drawn out and echoing off my brain. "Yab, I dink fro!" I tried to stand up and just fell over again. GWAR was letting it loose onstage, but all I heard was "BLUUUUZZZZZZZ!!!! "Man, you are so wasted bro! "My friend said to me "Whab? Me NOOooo wade, GWAB!! RULEZ!" I tried to get up again, no dice. "I'm taking you to the car right now," my friend said and hoisted me up. At this point I realized he was right. It took every ounce of concentration I had to put one foot in front of the other to get to the car.
I woke up when the door opened and the light from the car painfully blinded me. I was confused and disoriented. I quickly regained my bearings, "What's up, we gotta get back inside and catch the rest of the show dudes!" My friends just looked at me, "Show's over man. It was awesome!" I had missed it! Then I found out that the members of GWAR had taken off their costumes and were in the lobby after the show meeting their fans. GWAR returned a year later to the same club I made sure I stayed sober (enough) to enjoy the show and become drenched by the spraying of blood on the crowd. This is also the one and only time in my life I drank enough to pass out. Long live GWAR!!!!
(Shark Alert! If you're grossed out by fake blood and fake props, and cartoonish violence you should probably skip this video!)
Whilst attending college I had a job at a local grocery store. I made friends with my co-workers and spent many evenings hanging out with them. We had a co-worker, James (named changed to protect the innocent!) who wasn't really a party, hang out at clubs kind of guy. He was straight A getting, heading to Harvard for grad school bright future kind of guy. We all liked him and would always ask him to come along, but he never did. The weekend before he graduated, and the last day he worked at the store he gave into our peer pressure and agreed to come out with us to the King Missile concert.
We took him to the club and bought him a few beers and he seemed to loosen up. We were working our way through pitcher after pitcher of brew and he was keeping up with us pretty well. Then we realized that maybe he wasn't keeping up. He started yelling and stumbling. King Missile came on and he repeatedly yelled for their hit "Detachable Penis" after every song. After a while you could tell the band and the crowd were having enough of him. At the venue, the aforementioned Blue Note, there was a pool table at the top of the balcony. So we drug James up there to get out of the way and enjoy the concert and play some nine ball.
James continued to drink. The show ended and we walked down the steps to leave the venue. James leaped from the steps and grabbed onto one of the chandeliers hanging in the lobby and swung from it. Luckily it held and we got him down. This however drew the attention of the bouncers. James also noticed the bouncers and decided he wanted to fight and walked up and poked the biggest one in the chest with his finger, " Hey, I wanna fight!" The bouncer just looked DOWN at him. We rushed over and I got between the bouncer and James, " Uh, sorry about that it's the first time he's ever drank, it's not going so well, we got this." I said and we left.
We decided James needed food. There was an all night diner in town that all the college kids went to after the bars shut down. It was packed and the only table we could find was right across from the restrooms. This being a weekend night in a college town the restrooms each had a line waiting. A girl promptly jumped line and tried to enter the girls' room. It was locked. She beat on the door with urgency, but it was too late. She threw up all over the door and floor in front of the restrooms!
As the poor fellow who worked there had to clean up this mess James decided he needed to use the restroom. He did not want to walk through the mess and chose to go outside. We thought nothing of this, and didn't really blame him for wanting to avoid the mess. A few minutes later we heard a knocking on the window by our table and looked out to see James standing there waving, then a wet stream rolled across the window and James yelled, "DETACHABLE PENIS!"
We threw down some money enough to cover the bill and ran outside to get James and escape before the cops were called. We dropped him off at his dorm and never saw him again.
When the Beastie Boys brought their "Hello Nasty" tour to St. Louis' arena which currently goes under the name of Scottrade Center. I did not have tickets. Two reasons for that, while I like the Beastie Boys I did not like them enough to buy a pricey ticket. Two, I had to work very early the next day. At the last minute my friend and his brother convinced me to go to fill their extra ticket. I believe the clincher was not charging me for the ticket.
The opening act was A Tribe Called Quest and they killed it. They flat out out-performed the Beasties that night. I wasn't even a fan of theirs, but I have been since that night. But the event that stands out was after the show while everyone was leaving the arena. There was some sort of construction going on and part of the hallway area was blocked off. Our group was walking out with everyone else and everyone stopped. We stood there for a few moments, and every so often I'd feel a shove on my back. After the third time I turned around and grabbed the teenager behind me, "Don't push me again!" He said, "I'm not pushing, I'm getting pushed!" I looked back and a massive bottleneck had formed right where we were from the limited space available. An escalator was depositing people right into the middle of it. I could see the push waves coming up the crowd! this was about to get ugly fast. I grabbed my friends and made a beeline toward the blocked off empty space. We reached the barricades and pushed them back, other people caught on and did the same. The crunch let up and the crowd started to funnel out again, crisis averted. But now thanks to the Beastie Boys, I have claustrophobia! But, yes I would go see them again and actually pay this time!
I've seen U2 so many times I can't count them anymore, O.K. it's only been four times. First time in 1987, Bono runs out wearing Cardinals jacket totally pandering to the STL crowd as the Cards were in the World Series. Unfortunately, the Cards lost. I skipped the Zoo TV tour, as I thought the whole concept was ridiculous. I also didn't want to be at the top of the stadium they were playing wondering if the rumor that a concert was going on below was true! I did catch the Pop-Mart Tour at the Trans World Dome in 1997 though, and it was ridiculous.
In 2001 The boys from Dublin scaled it back and toured arenas. Their scheduled stop in St. Louis came the night after Weezer played a smaller arena nearby with their opening act Tenacious D, featuring actor Jack Black. It also occurred in November. Two months after 9/11.
We were fortunate enough to get general admission floor tickets. Due to the Beastie Boys experience I was not keen on being in a crush of people. So we headed towards the back of the floor area to kick back against the sound and light booth barricade. We had plenty of room and were still fairly close to the action. The opening band was the mighty Garbage! Featuring the completely sexy Shirley Manson. So bonus for me! After Garbage played my sister looked up at the one walkway that people on the floor section were allowed to use to get refreshments or use the restroom. "That's JACK BLACK walking down the steps!" she yelled. I looked up, " That's not Jack Black why would Jack Black be doing milling around the crowd in St. Lou… HOLY CRAP, THAT IS JACK BLACK!!!" and sure enough J.B. was calmly descending the steps unnoticed toward the floor section. But as he reached the floor people started catching on, heads began to turn, fingers pointed. J.B. sauntered around the floor section almost as of he were lost. In typical mid-western politeness people just sort of parted the way for him. I never saw him again after that.
A few moments after that a group of people came from the stage area and were let into the space behind the barricade we were leaning on. There was a small platform back there, that I had originally thought might be for handicapped access. I turned around to see what was going on and I was face to face with Rivers Cuomo from Weezer. I acknowledged him with a nod, he nodded back. I gave a quick glance and saw that everyone from the band except the drummer were there. I gave the elbow to my friends and whispered who was behind us. We all just played it cool to avoid a rush of hand shakers and autograph seekers.
U2 gave a powerful performance that night. America had just gotten punched in the gut, and Bono was here to heal us. Going to a U2 show is almost like attending church, the spirit is going to move you at some point. During"Where The Streets Have No Name" The names of the people killed on 9/11 from the planes to the N.Y.P.D. and the N.Y.F.D. started to scroll across a screen then the projection spread out over the crowd. And there wasn't a dry eye in the place, even Weezer were tearing up. U2 used this effect again when they played the Super Bowl a few months later. After the show I overheard one of the Weezer boys say, "That was way better than I thought It would be!" Another responded, "Totally wasn't cheesy at all, very well done."
I skipped the 360 Tour because it was also ridiculous. I would like to add that both Bono and Jack Black are way shorter in person than they look.
A few years ago a friend and I went to see Big Star play an outdoor festival in St. Louis called "Taste of St. Louis." It's basically a festival where local restaurants put up booths and you can sample their menus. The festival usually books musical entertainment. This particular evening had Big Star, followed by The Roots, and then local hero Jay Farrar and his band Son Volt closing out the night. Great bands, odd lineup, what are you gonna do? We figured we'd check out them all.
It's hard to be disappointed by the music of Alex Chilton. Big Star played and they were great. It was a typical hour long festival set. So we waited after they played for the Roots to come on when my friend ribs me, " Hey, there's Alex Chilton." I look over and Alex is standing not ten feet away talking to some people. Now, I'm a huge Chilton fan. His song "Thirteen" knocks me out every time I hear it. I also fall to my knees and worship "The Ballad of El Goodo."
I had knowledge that Alex is a bit of a curmudgeon sometimes, and could be "difficult" to be around. So I weighed the consequences in my mind as to whether or not to go over and say hello. The temptation won out and my friend and I walked over and said hello. Alex turned out to be lovely fellow and even chatted with us for a few moments.
Two things stuck out though. Firstly, I complimented him on "El Goodo" and his response was, "I'm still not happy with that song the way it turned out." Uh, O.K. It's perfection personified but, whatev bro! Second he asked me how the Cards were doing. I thought this was cool because Alex is from Memphis, TN. where the Cardinals have a Triple A affiliate team. So I assumed A.C. was Cards fan too! I informed him that by winning their game that day that the Cards had made the playoffs! "That's cool, I'm a Braves fan though," said Alex. "Whaaa…?" did Alex Chilton just say what I thought he said. A Braves fan? Does Alex Chilton do that stupid tomahawk chop?
Alex passed away about a year later, I have forgiven him for being a Braves fan, and highly recommend you search out his music.
Also if you get a chance to ever see The Roots, run don't walk. They will blow you away. And anything Jay Farrar touches is gold.
Other highlights briefly:
Seeing DEVO!
The B-52's/Toad the Wet Sprocket on a Riverboat.
Seeing The Pixies twice. Once with legendary punk band Pere Ubu as the Opening act.
Anytime I can witness local STL legend "Beatle" Bob dance about at a show.
Sonic Youth playing an entire feedback laiden song with nothing but amp knobs outdoors at the Sandstone Amphitheater in Kansas City opening for R.E.M. and thusly scaring away the gathering storm clouds.
The Pogues rauckus version of "Honky Tonk Woman"
The two person mosh pit during the Caterwaul show at Club 1227. Only one person knew it was a mosh pit, resulting in hilarity.
The Outfield playing to maybe 150 people at the local county fair. "This is our first time in Hillsboro!" Poor fellas.
Attempting to buy Josh Homme, and the members of Kyuss a beer and not having any money!
Seeing Husker Du play a overly loud, angry, and sloppy show at the legendary Mississippi Nights club in St. Louis in 1987, turns out they broke up the next night at the Blue Note in Columbia, MO. when Bob Mould threw his guitar down and walked out.
All three times I got to witness The Dead Milkmen.
Wilco's perfect opening set for R.E.M.
Bob Dylan and Elvis Costello. Dylan's set was the best live mix ever. Costello can do no wrong. The opener Amos Lee putting on a way meatier live show than his recordings would indicate.
Tom Verlaine opening for The Church. Tom friggin' Verlaine. have you not heard "Marquee Moon?"
The opening video montage from the Jesus and Mary Chain that ended with Malcolm Mc Dowell's sociopath Alex character's close up. Then launching into some awesome feedback.
The live action play of the "Greendale" album while Neil Young and Crazy Horse played it in it's entirety.
Alice in Chains opening for KISS in 1996. Long live Layne Staley!
Last year's epic Joy Formidable concert at the Luminary Center For the Arts, effects and pedal hopping display by wunderkind Ritzy Bryan. Buy their album and go see them live now!
Midnight Oil twice, those boys could put it down.
Seeing Bo Diddley.
Cy Curnin of The Fixx doing the most awesome rock move ever. He put his hands together with the index fingers and thumbs making a diamond shape that started around belt buckle height then raised his hand up over his head and released the awesomeness into the air! Badass.
The Fixx are also was responsible for coolest rock move ever, group edition. While walking off stage they froze in place for a few minutes then right on cue resumed moving again. Double Badass.
Watching Mojo Nixon throw an absolute coniption fit because the stage lights went out on the opening act, The New Duncan Imperials.
MC 900 Ft. Jesus working the decks.
Spilling beer twice on the same guy in front of me at Bruce Springsteen. Twice ya'll.
The nearly vertical hand stand Money Mark laid on his keyboard during "Sabotage" with the Beastie Boys.
Watching the audience blankly stare at Rollins Band as they gave an intense and heavy performance, then give the Butthole Surfers show complete with rifle fire (blanks ya'll!) the silent treatment at the very first Lollapalooza tour in Chicago, then stand at attention while Ice-T came onstage. But before Ice brought out his controversial metal band Body Count, he harshly chastised the audience for their lack of interest in the first two acts. Good on ya' Ice!
My Bloody Valentine's mesmerizing nine minute wall of noise coupled with a psychedelic visual from the back screen that was pure trancendence.
My friend absolutely twisting my arm to go see The Information Society during the "Club MTV" tour stop at Six Flags and watching the most amazing food fight ever break out that involved the whole audience. We also sat through Was (Not Was) and determines that they were weak. The fact is they are not weak and I absolutely love their stuff, check it out.
Ted Nugent playing "Stranglehold" and "Free For All."
Robyn Hitchcock's song about Gene Hackman. "Don't talk to me about G-E-N-E-H-A-C-K-M-A-N!"
Giving the members of Thelonious Monster free beer the day after their concert from the service station I worked at. Then to realize some twenty years later that the recovering addict that is Dr. Drew's right hand man on the "Celebrity Rehab" show is Bob Forrest the vocalist from Thelonious Monster! Sorry I enabled you dude! (Editor's note: I did not really give them "free" beer. I paid for it!)
Social Distortion at Club 1227 back in the day. The mosh pit was so intense all you could see were the four bouncers on the stage.
You'd think that I would have been part of the two most infamous St. Louis concert events ever. The Guns n' Roses riot of 1991 at the brand new Riverport Amphitheater, or the Kings of Leon bird dropping incident from, oddly enough, the same venue. But I was not at either event.
So I hope you've enjoyed my recalling various concert adventures. I'm sure you all have good stories of your own as well. Come back next time and we'll dive onto some good music to check out. Until then here's a primer! Just click the link and when it pops up hit play all. Enjoy!


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Q: How to solve $\int_0^{+\infty} \frac{x\mathrm{ln}x}{(1+x^2)^2}dx$? here is the integral:
$$\int_0^{+\infty} \frac{x\mathrm{ln}x}{(1+x^2)^2}dx$$
What is the best way to  solve it? I was thinking of by parts but I did not find exact result then, if there is substitution in the denum, it does not "cover" $\mathrm{ln}x$ and I don't get more-less table integral (or similar).
Are there easier ways?

A: HINT:
Enforce the substitution $x\to 1/x$ and watch the "magic" ensue.

If you would like to proceed less efficiently, integrate by parts with $u=\log(x)$ and $v=\frac{-1/2}{1+x^2}$.  Then, use partial fraction expansion to write $\frac{1}{x(x^2+1)}=\frac1x-\frac x{x^2+1}$.  Be mindful that the integral is improper and that evaluation of the terms involved in the integration by parts scheme do *not * individually converge.  Rather, their sum converges.

A: $$\int_{1}^{+\infty}\frac{x\log x}{(1+x^2)^2}\,dx \stackrel{x\mapsto \frac{1}{z}}{=} -\int_{0}^{1}\frac{z \log z}{(1+z^2)^2}\,dz$$
hence the value of the integral is simply $\color{red}{\large 0}$.
The absolute convergence of the original integral follows from
$$ \forall x>0,\qquad \left|x\log x\right|\leq \max(1,x\sqrt{x}).$$

As an addendum, it might be interesting to know what is the area that gets "canceled out", i.e. what is the value of the integral
$$ I_1=\int_{0}^{1}\frac{z}{(1+z^2)^2}(-\log z)\,dz \stackrel{\text{IBP}}{=}\frac{1}{2}\int_{0}^{1}\frac{z}{1+z^2}\,dz=\color{red}{\frac{\log 2}{4}}. $$
Integration by parts (IBP) here is performed by taking $\frac{1}{2}\left(1-\frac{1}{1+z^2}\right)=\frac{z}{2(1+z^2)}$ as a primitive of $\frac{z}{(1+z^2)^2}$, in order to ensure the existence of $\lim_{x\to 0^+}\frac{1}{2}\left(1-\frac{1}{1+z^2}\right)(-\log z)$.

A: hint
By parts, it becomes
$$\Bigl[-\frac {\ln (x)}{2(1+x^2)}\Bigr]_X^{+\infty}+\int_X^{+\infty}\frac {dx}{2x (1+x^2)}$$
with $t=x^2$,
we find at the end
$$\frac {\ln (X)}{2 (1+X^2)}-\frac {1}{2}\ln (\frac {X}{1+X^2})$$
$$=-\frac {X^2\ln (X)}{1+X^2}+\frac {\ln (1+X^2)}{2} $$
Now compute the limit when $X\to 0^+$ to find zero.


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Q: How to launch the battery applet in ubuntu manually? THe The title says it all. :\ i want to know the command to launch it so that i can use it with window managers that don't automatically load it.

A: gnome-power-applet. :| wasn't hard to find.