text:
Q: Why is this integrability condition needed for uniqueness in the continuity equation? I am reading about the uniqueness problem for the continuity equation $\partial_t \mu_t + div_x (b \mu_t)=0$ in the lecture notes by Ambrosio (here: https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/maths/research/events/2016-17/symposium/workshops/ambrosio.pdf) and the article by Di Perna-Lions "Ordinary differential equations, transport theory and Sobolev spaces". Now, the lecture notes start by reviewing the classical theory and showing that if $b \in L^1 _t (W^{1, \infty} _x)$ then it's all good, you have existence and uniqueness. There's a remark later on (beginning of page 9) where they point out that you can actually consider $b \in L^1 _t (W^{1, \infty} _{loc})$ and $\frac{|b|}{1+ |x|} \in L^1 _t (L^\infty _x)$ and the theory still works.
Then they continue the exposition ALWAYS requiring some conditions on $|b|/(1+|x|)$. Now the question is: why do you need that $1+|x|$? What goes wrong if you don't consider that second condition? Apparently everyone from the paper of Di Perna and Lions is using this assumptions, but I can't see where you're using it.Apparently it has to do with the fact that, under that assumption, the ODE
$$ \dot{\gamma} (t)= b(t, \gamma(t)) ; \qquad \gamma(0)=x$$
has a unique solution in the pointwise sense.

A: A heuristic explanation:
If $b$ grows faster than $1+|x|$ (for example, is of size $(1+ |x|)^{1+\epsilon}$), then the trajectories can escape to infinite (or come in from infinity) in finite time.
Consider the ODE
$$ \dot{x} = |x|^{1+\epsilon} $$
For positive initial data, we can write this as
$$ \frac{d}{dt} x^{-\epsilon} = - \epsilon $$
So an initial value of $x = 1$ will escape to $\infty$ in time $t = 1/\epsilon$.
Thinking of the continuity equation as modeling some sort of transport phenomenon, having particle trajectories that can move from finite regions to infinity (and vice versa) in finite time obviously poses an issue for uniqueness, since your prescription of initial data only tells you about what happens on every finite region, but not about what happens at infinity, where there is a potential pool of additional particles.
I suspect a lot of the theory can be reproduced with slightly weaker weights that are still non-integrable (maybe something like $|b| / (1 + |x| \ln(1+|x|))$ being bounded). And $1+|x|$ is a reasonably broad condition that allows some growth at infinity for which you don't get too bogged down in detailed worries about the asymptotics.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus release date confirmed? Specifications, design, price of iPhone 6s successor
Apple's iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus are expected to be cheaper than their predecessors, the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus.
By Raymond Ronamai @raymondronamai
July 23, 2016 17:03 IST
Amazon Prime offers best deal on iPhonesREUTERS/David Gray
Hype on Apple's upcoming flagship device, that's being called the iPhone 7, is beginning to gain momentum with its release date drawing close.
The Cupertino giant has a history of maintaining utmost secrecy on its devices until their launch but that doesn't stop leaksters from revealing details, including specifications and pricing.
Apple released its current flagship, the iPhone 6s, in September last year, so it is natural for fans to expect the next-generation device to be announced at around this time.
As expected, leakster Evan Blass aka @evleaks has claimed in a Twitter post that the iPhone 7 will be unveiled on Sept. 12.
Though the official date has not been disclosed to be Sept. 12, it is almost certain that the device will see the light of day during the month.
Apple is expected to release two variants — the iPhone 7 with a 4.7-inch screen, and the iPhone 7 Plus with a 5.5-inch screen and a dual camera. The variants are expected to share the rest of the features, including hardware and software.
According to reports that have surfaced so far, the iPhone 7 may resemble its predecessor both in design and size. It is expected to be powered by an A10 chip, runs iOS 10 operating system, houses a 2GB/3GB RAM, and mounts a camera with OIS (optical image stabilisation). The 3.5mm headphone jack seen in the iPhones thus far is expected to be replaced by a lightning jack.
Interestingly, a report has claimed that the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus will be cheaper than their predecessors. MobiPicker has reported citing a Chinese tipster that the iPhone 7 will be priced at 5258 Yuan (around $802) for the 32GB model, 6088 Yuan (around $924) for the 64GB, and 7088 Yuan (around $1075) for the 256GB variant, as compared to 5,288 Yuan for the 16GB model of iPhone 6s.
The 32GB iPhone 7 Plus is expected to be priced at 6088 Yuan (around $924), 6888 Yuan (around $1045) for 128GB model, and 7888 Yuan (around $1197) for 256GB, as against the price of the 128GB iPhone 6s Plus that is priced at 7,788 Yuan.
Chinese nationals made crores duping 40,000 Indians, stealing personal info in Delhi; busted [details]
WhatsApp Web users must drop everything for this; your phone number could be exposed
Blockchain decoded: Crucial pillar for Industry 4.0 and dire need for adoption [Explained]
Samsung Galaxy S21, S21+, S21 Ultra are here | 10 things you must know

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


So much happening round these parts -- kidding.
Work has been -- capitalizing on the fact I'm salaried and on call 24/7/365. Let's just say that.
So much so my pancake flipping skills lead to an "incident". Pretty sure Rubin will need therapy for that, definitely. Meanwhile, how the heck did I flip a pancake 2 feet from the stove?!
Prepare protein of your choice -- in the spirit of compromise, I used lean ground beef sautéed with onions and mushrooms.
Plate polenta. Spread tomato sauce. Add protein. Top with cheese.
Monday night group run with a post run cocktail. It was my first time doing both, the run group is super nice, very organized, everyone is friendly, and The Royale was just what I needed. Laid back vibe, complete with twinkle nights, and a fire pit.
Highlight of my days in the field, besides finding roadside attractions -- eating out. What made it ten times better? The fact it was FREE pie day.
Of course, I celebrated the real Pi Day -- with pie. And a brownie as back up. In case I didn't like the pie. I ate them both. I do not regret my life choices.
Ever had this? Surprisingly flavorful and refreshing. Zero calories.
Brunch. There is nothing better than having friend(s) who share your love of food. Nothing. Unless they like Champagne too, then we are basically soul mates. Fact.
The FREE sample machine at Sams was refilled -- crisis averted. It is literally the best part of my trip. Because I like gifts. Send gifts.
Found this gem -- here. My quest for a dairy free existence surges on. Delicious, smooth, so rich.
Latest outfit -- my quest to not shop folded when key items of my wardrobe all decided to fall apart, at the same time. Awesome.
Thankfully, my quest for debt-free and upcoming trip to France is keeping my spending in check. Sorta.
Cooked any new dishes lately?
Do you get sucked into spending way too much at Target too?


text:
Rutgers looks to get edge over in-state rival
09/08/15 11:36pm Kaylee Pofahl
Photo by Shirley Yu |
Senior forward Katie Champion looks to gain scoring momentum after tallying her first goal of the season against Virginia last week.
Out of four Division I field hockey programs in New Jersey, there's only room for one at the top.
The Rutgers field hockey team looks to prove itself to not just be the only Big Ten program in the Garden State, but the state's very best when it hosts Monmouth Wednesday afternoon.
The Scarlet Knights (2-1) enter the contest with retribution in mind.
Falling to the Hawks last year in a close 3-2 game despite a late offensive rally and trailing 3-4 in the all-time series, the Knights are keen on correcting the past with their in-state foe.
"We have history with Monmouth. … I think that we're ready to show them what our game's like now," said junior defender Sofia Walia. "We're ready to be consistent throughout the game and come out stronger and just be reckless and relentless."
Despite a tough loss to No. 9 Virginia on Sept. 4, Rutgers currently leads the Big Ten in goals-per-game thus far, bolstering a 3.67 average. The Knights opened the season with a pair of dominant wins over Bucknell and Ball State, and the team totaled 11 goals in just three games.
Despite early victories, Rutgers is prepared for a battle and know that a win on Wednesday will not come easy.
"Monmouth's gonna be a tough game. I think the team's really looking forward to hosting them here at Rutgers," said head coach Meredith Civico after the loss to Virginia. "They know it's gonna be a game, they want to play consistent hockey so that's really gonna be the focus — come out, compete, get better than they were this game."
The Hawks are not without their own early successes. After falling to Bucknell in their season opener, Monmouth has since collected back-to-back wins at home against Lehigh and Villanova. The Knights and the Hawks currently share the same record, and Monmouth has only one less goal in the season.
Despite these similar numbers, it cannot be overlooked that the Big Ten and the MAAC play very different types of hockey.
In the National Field Hockey Coach's Association 2015 rankings, five of the teams in the top 20 are members of the Big Ten.
No teams from the MAAC made the list.
With a formidable opponent in Monmouth and even tougher ones looming on the schedule as the season continues, it is crucial that Rutgers sticks strongly to the game they know best — its own.
The matchup with Monmouth will play a vital role in building strong momentum for the Knights as the ball gets rolling with the season — with bragging rights as an enjoyable perk.
As members of the country's most elite conference, Rutgers is ready to show its next opponent what Big Ten field hockey is like.
"We're not letting them get a touch on the ball," said senior forward Katie Champion. "It's our game. We're gonna come out and we're just gonna do it."
For updates on the Rutgers field hockey team, follow @TargumSports on Twitter.
Kaylee Pofahl


Give it a fluff and make it pretty!
I started out by inserting wire hooks into the tops of the styrofoam balls, I sealed them in with some hot glue. This is what you'll use to hang your pomanders with ribbon, burlap, twine, whatever your heart desires!
I used 3 varying shades of yellow tissue paper that I picked up just to give the flowers more 'dimension' and to make them look maybe a little more realistic. I mixed the colors all together as I applied them to the styrofoam balls.
I hung the pomander from our kitchen light fixture while I applied the flowers so I could see all the way under it (and so the flowers would get smushed if I laid it on the table.) I did use hot glue to affix the wires / flowers into the styrofoam for extra security.


text:
Refugees Risk Perilous Sea Voyages for Better Lives
By Chris Hall
Soaking wet and standing in the only clothes they have. When BMS World Mission's Ann MacFarlane sees refugees arrive after a perilous boat journey to southern Italy, they are in a shocking state.
The boats keep on coming. People desperately searching for a better life, reluctantly leaving their homes hundreds of miles away because to stay is not an option.
They have given thousands of dollars to someone they don't know and who doesn't care about them. They have risked their lives but have no guarantee that it will be worth it.
MacFarlane, serving with BMS in the southern Italian city of Reggio Calibria, regularly goes down to the port to meet the refugees and migrants who have been rescued and to help them by providing warm clothing, hot drinks and bottled water.
When they are picked up, some refugees have been at sea for 10 days in flimsy boats that don't have outboard motors and have started to sink. Many migrants have not eaten for a week.
When MacFarlane sees them, they are often dressed in nothing more than a vest top and shorts; they have no shoes and no other possessions.
MacFarlane has seen babies arrive wearing no diapers and scarcely enough on to keep them warm.
More than 100,000 people have made the journey across the Mediterranean Sea from Libya to Italy in the last 12 months. Around 2,000 have died during the crossing.
Despite seeing hundreds of migrants over the last five years and hearing countless terrible stories about their journeys, MacFarlane has not hardened to their situation.
"It is still heart-breaking," she says. "I don't think you can ever get used to it."
At the beginning of October, MacFarlane was taken aback when she saw two pregnant women who had arrived from Syria. One was eight months pregnant, the other nine.
The next week, when she was visiting her daughter-in-law at the hospital, MacFarlane asked about the two women and discovered that both had lost their babies.
The desperation of these pregnant women to escape to Europe is common. MacFarlane met a family from Syria who had paid $20,000 to travel to Italy. The wife was five months pregnant and was travelling with four children.
Their boat was sinking when they were picked up by the Italian coast guard; they were still wet when MacFarlane met them, saltwater still drying on their clothes. She asked them why they had come.
"We either stay there [Syria] and die, or try to get away," the husband said.
The city they came from was regularly bombed, the children couldn't go to school, and it was not safe to move around. They had no option but to leave.
Some migrants can't come with their families. It has become common in the last year for children as young as 12 to make the journey on their own.
Their parents are desperate to get them somewhere safe, where they have a greater chance of a better life.
Refugees of all ages are a regular sight around Reggio Calibria.
"Everywhere you turn, they're at street corners, they're at traffic lights, they are begging for money, they're looking for food," MacFarlane said. "The situation here is really quite tragic. It's just miserable for them. It's really very bad."
The province is very poor with high unemployment, so they are limited in what they can do to assist refugees.
"These people are coming with the hope of something better," MacFarlane said. "There is no work here, there is no social security … lots of people are showing sympathy for them, but there isn't anything here to help."
After MacFarlane and others from local churches and agencies give them food and clothing, the refugees are often sent on buses to be processed in other towns and cities in the province.
Many escape and try to travel on to countries where they can get more help and possibly work.
Although the United Kingdom, France and Germany used to be popular choices, the top destinations now for most refugees are Sweden and Norway.
MacFarlane often wonders whether the help she is giving is enough.
"Jesus said we should be like salt," she said. "We should be making a difference. I don't know how much of a difference we are making. It seems a drop in the ocean. The need is so great."
Chris Hall is the editor of BMS World Mission's Engage magazine. A version of this news article first appeared on the BMS website and is used with permission. You can follow Chris on Twitter @chrishallnewb and BMS @BMSWorldMission.
BMS World Mission Chris Hall Refugees
Refugees Aren't Statistics; They're Children of God
By Julie Pennington-Russell
| July 5, 2018
Croatian Baptists Provide Sanctuary to Iranian Refugees
By Tihomir Kukolja
Pope: 4 Verbs Guide Christian Response to Migrants, Refugees


There are three questions that most men will ask themselves before they wholeheartedly commit themselves to a woman.
These questions have nothing to do with love because love is a given. I don't believe a majority of men will marry, or commit to a woman, if they don't really love her. I'm not saying that it doesn't happen because I'm sure it happens all the time.
The kind of commitment that I'm referring to is the kind that makes a man want to turn in his "player card" and go "all in".
I'm talking about the questions that a man will ask himself before he emotionally, not rationally, commits his all to a woman.
These are the questions that men use as a measuring stick to determine is she is "the one".
This is a true statement on so many levels!
A man's mother is his sounding board.
Every man (at least most) wants his mother to be proud of him.
He wants her to approve of his actions and decisions.
He wants her to know that she raised a man that can make it on his own. And, that he can execute sound judgment.
This means that most men will not "bring home to mama" somebody they know she will not approve.
He's not going to embarrass himself by bringing home "just any ole thang".
This means that only the "cream of the crop" gets to meet mama!
Now, I'm not talking about a coincidental meeting where the couple is out and the guy may say, "Hey, let's run by my mom's house so I can pick something up". That was just an accidental meeting with no real meaning.
No, I'm talking about the kind of meeting that usually lasts for an extended period of time; something like a family dinner or, family get together where the woman KNOWS that something is at stake.
It's the kind of occasion that puts butterflies in both of their stomachs!
These types of occasions don't happen everyday…and they don't just pop up out of nowhere. They are usually planned, and they're a BIG deal.
When a man decides he wants to introduce a woman to his mother or, that he wants them to spend an extended amount of time together, what he wants to see is how they will connect. How will they get along. And how much his mother approves or, disapproves, of his choice.
Mothers have a sixth sense about people.
They know who and what is good for their sons.
Men know this and most will trust their mother's judgment without question.
Yes, men want their dads to be proud too.
But it is usually mama's approval that determines who gets his heart and, who get's the boot.
If mama ain't happy with her then, most likely he ain't gone be happy with her!
Believe it or not, before a man will allow himself to get emotionally tied to a woman who he's involved, he will often ask himself questions about what kind of mother would she make.
This question is one that addresses a woman's character. Her "heart". It relates to who she is as a person and, as a woman.
How does she keep her house?
Will she help raise my children to be "good people"?
Most men would not want to be in a serious and committed relationship with someone that they think will be a "bad" mother.
There's too much at stake!
A man wants to know in his heart that in the event something should happen to him, his children would be in good hands after he's gone.
Now, I'm not talking about the type of guy that could care less who he impregnates. I'm talking about MOST men; the average guy that is looking for a lifelong partner who will be the mother of his children.
Men want to be in positive and committed relationships just like women. It may not seem so but, it's true.
And we also want to know that the woman who we decide is good for us will also be good for our children. Even if the children are not even born yet.
Men understand that fathers are the provider. The protector. The one that lays down the law and will "tan that tail" when they need to.
Men also realize that mothers are most often a child's first teacher. She's the one who can turn a house into a home. And she's usually the one who will kiss the child's pain away after daddy has "tanned" the child's tail.
And when a man get's involved with a woman, the question of if she will make a good mother will always be somewhere in his mind.
Sometimes it takes a lot of prodding for a woman to get her man to "talk".
That's not to say he doesn't' want to communicate his feelings or, that he doesn't care about her. And it doesn't mean he's not emotionally invested in the relationship.
Sometimes it just means that he does not trust her enough to let her know his innermost feelings.
He does not want to expose himself to what he knows could be a vulnerable situation.
Now, I know that's not true.
No relationship can develop into its full potential without the involved parties risking a certain amount of vulnerability.
But what I know to be true and what men actually do are two different things.
Most women have no problem opening themselves up to express their feelings.
For men it can be a little harder.
It takes time for us to open up.
A man wants to know that what he tells a woman will be held in the strictest confidence. He wants to know she is loyal to him and, will not spread his "secrets".
He wants to know he can trust her.
And to a man trust means, "Can I tell her ANYTHING with full confidence that she will not judge, condemn, or blab it to her friends".
If a man does not think he can trust a woman then, he won't commit to her.
He may do EVERYTHING else, but he won't commit…FULLY.
Women talk. I know that's a generalization but, it's also a truth.
Men don't talk; at least not at the outset of a relationship.
If a man thinks that a woman can not control her urge to "share" then he won't trust her with his "secrets" (feelings, emotions, etc.)…and he won't trust her with his heart.
When a man finds a woman that he can "bear his soul" without hesitation, he knows he has found a "a keeper".


It's all GRAMMYs everything on episode 13 of The Outspoken Siblings Podcast!
Monté & Toni break down this year's nominees and discuss who should win and who will win on music's biggest night!
Will Beyoncé earn another jewel in her crown or will Adele's reign continue?
Is Chance The Rapper's breakthrough year enough to fend off hip-hop heavyweights Drake and Kanye West?
Can Solange's "Cranes in the Sky" steal a win from Rihanna's "Needed Me"?
The Sibs try to make sense of the endless possibilities. Unpack episode 13 and let us know what you think.


text:
FCC Moves To Undo Net Neutrality Despite Public Opposition
https://ia801507.us.archive.org/18/items/20171128RameshSrinivasan/2017_11_28_Ernesto_Falcon.mp3
FEATURING ERNESTO FALCON – Just days before Thanksgiving the Federal Communications Commission published its plan to repeal rules protecting so-called "net neutrality." FCC chairman Ajit Pai who was once a lawyer for the telecomm giant Verizon, has championed the rollback writing in a recent Wall Street Journal op-ed that net neutrality rules are a, "burdensome regulation," that have, "failed consumers and businesses alike."
The 5-person panel will vote on the rule change on December 14 and the decision is expected to be 3-2 in favor of undoing net neutrality. One of the commissioners voting against it is Jessica Rosenworcel who wrote her own op-ed in the LA Times saying, "There is something not right about a few unelected FCC officials making such vast determinations about the future of the internet."
On Monday about 200 tech companies including Twitter and Pinterest sent a letter to the FCC urging the agency to preserve net neutrality.
For more information visit www.eff.org.
Ernesto Falcon, Legislative Counsel with the Electronic Frontier Foundation.
Chocolate City: A History of Race and Democracy in the Nation's Capital
New Book Imagines Human Society 'After The Internet'


Yes, you can resist overspending, get out of debt, and still live high on the hog. Think it's impossible? Meet three women who've learned to live below their means — and discover some secrets for how you can too.
The fact is, my spending just doesn't line up with my hopes and dreams. And I've got lots of excuses as to why. My big one: As a working mother of toddlers, I can't muster the willpower to give up anything that makes life a little easier — like the minivan, our weekly housekeeper, or my twice-a-month date night with my husband. What's more, I'm just not a thrift store and Spaghettios kind of gal.
But Jonni McCoy, founder of miserlymoms.com, says I have it all wrong. "Being frugal doesn't mean being a cheapskate," she says. "You can eat well, dress cool, and still be saving money at the same time." And in fact, if you make financial choices that leave you feeling too deprived, you'll never stick to your budget: Nobody stays on any starvation diet for long.
The secret to learning to live well on less is to figure out your top priorities (the safari fund, the college savings account) — and put your money there first. "You need to have a very clear, single purpose for why you're making changes to the way you spend your money," says McCoy. By zeroing in on that one motivation — whether it's staying home with your baby or traveling around the world — you can keep your resolve to walk past the coffee shop and find the energy to switch to a cheaper cell phone plan. Along the way, you'll find smarter ways to spend less on things you want (keep the date night, but choose a more affordable restaurant; keep the housekeeper, but spend less on cleaning products), and to cut out things you don't really need. In the end, living with less can make you feel richer, not poorer, says Mary Hunt, founder of debtproofliving.com. "When your values are guiding your spending, you'll no longer feel that insatiable need for more, more, more," she says.
Still skeptical? See what these three women found when they learned to live with less. Then read on for lots of easy tips for spending and saving smart.
What she cut: Car payments. Rent. Vacations.
What she got: Out of debt. A new career.
When Kathy Finney finished graduate school, she had a fabulous apartment and a drop-dead wardrobe — and close to $100,000 in credit card debt and student loans. "I just spent what I wanted," she says. Kathy studied for a career in public health — not a high-income field — and was on the edge of bankruptcy. "I was spiraling out of control," she says.
Then, in 2002, she met and subsequently married Tobias, a man who "puts the 'F' in 'frugal,'" says Kathy. They both wanted a stable family life, free from the romance-killing stress and guilt that come with big debt. So, together they made some tough choices. They downsized to one car, keeping Kathy's paid-off seven-year-old Saturn — even though Tobias, at 6 foot 4, barely fits inside. For years, their only vacations were camping trips and visits to family. Meanwhile, Kathy started tracking her cash. "I was spending $5 here and $10 there and thinking it didn't matter. But it really added up," she says. Kathy realized she was spending around $100 a month just on Fuse drinks, so she started buying them in bulk at Costco, cutting that expense in half. She also started to question what it means to pinch pennies. "People are embarrassed to be frugal. We've been trained that it's not cool to be cheap," says Kathy. "But why should you pay full price if you don't have to?"
You shouldn't, she concluded, and promptly started tracking sales and coupons at her favorite stores. She became a self-taught authority on style steals and, in 2003, started sharing her secrets through her blog, thebudgetfashionista.com. Soon, the blog became a full-time job for Kathy, attracting advertisers, spokesperson gigs, book deals, and TV spots. Between Kathy's blog and Tobias's job as an art director, the couple now earns more than $200,000 a year. They've paid off her debts and are maxing out their retirement accounts. Kathy's struck by the irony of her good fortune: "My turnaround happened because of my blog, which wouldn't have ever happened if I didn't get myself into an enormous amount of debt," she says. Still, for all of her success, Kathy scrimps and saves religiously. "Once you've had the bill collectors calling, you don't ever want to go back there," she says. "That's what drives me. I don't ever want to owe anything to anyone again."
What she cut: Eating out. Dry-cleaning bills.
What she got: A new barbecue grill; lots of dinner invites. A better night's sleep; a sense of pride and control.
Christina Ksoll has a bachelor's degree from Harvard, an M.B.A. from Kellogg, and a healthy six-figure income — so it seems like she'd be the last person to pinch pennies. But soon after this financial services professional turned 40, she realized she needed to stop believing that a man would come into her life to take care of her. "I know I have to take care of my own future," says Christina.
Step one: better emergency planning. Since Christina has no partner whose income she could rely on if she were seriously injured, she realized she needed better (and more expensive) insurance. Step two: envisioning her dream retirement. "I see myself in a house out west, on a mountainside," says Christina. To get there, she realized, she'd need to do more than max out her 401(k) — which she was already doing. Christina needed to save more and spend less. A lot less.
Over the next 18 months, Christina cut her spending in half. First, she learned to cook, bought a grill, and started inviting friends over instead of dining out several times a week. Yearly savings: a little more than $5,000. When Christina does go out to dinner, she heads to restaurants that take coupons. And she keeps a six-pack of soups at work for days when she doesn't have a business lunch.
Christina also cut back on clothing expenses by hunting bargain sites like overstock.com and smartbargains.com for suits — imperfect fits are adjusted by her trusted tailor. And to save on dry-cleaning bills, she asked for — and got — a 10 percent frequent-customer discount.
Unlike many single people who shun warehouse stores because they don't need a dozen rolls of toilet paper, Christina makes bulk shopping pay off. "Instead of paying $1.99 each for paper towels, I'll buy eight for $3.99, keep four, and give the rest to the animal shelter," she says. She does splurge on her true loves — her dogs, Brady and Louie (dog walker: $35 a day), and an occasional brownie ($2.75 each) from her favorite bakery. Christina stays on track by envisioning that dream retreat in the mountains. "The path to get there," she says, "does not include St. John suits."
So far, Christina's plan is working. She's cut her annual spending by at least $16,000, most of which is going into high-yield savings accounts. Because protecting herself and her future are such important goals, Christina says, every step has been an adventure: "I feel like I'm sprouting feathers of financial confidence every day."
What she cut: Air-conditioning, car payments.
What she gained: Time with her kids. Vacations to Germany and Rome.
In 2000, Jennifer Drake, pregnant with her first child, left her job as a loan processor and started working from home. The family's household income fell by half. "It hurt," she admits, "but I wanted to be home with the baby." Jennifer and her husband, Duane, 34, a network administrator, also wanted to stay out of debt. But they weren't willing to give up trips to Europe every few years, which feed their shared passion for history and help them reconnect. "If I couldn't travel and do the things I love, I wouldn't feel like I was enjoying my life," Jennifer says. That meant cutbacks. To make it work, she wrote out a budget, which she tracked carefully — right down to needless expenses like overdue-library-book fees. Then Jennifer started setting challenges for herself: Keep the heat off until November 1. Hang out the laundry instead of using the dryer for a week. "After a few days, each change just became part of my routine," she says.
Along the way, Jennifer joined frugal-families.com, where she learned the ins and outs of cutting back from seasoned savers. Following their advice, she slashed her utility bills by banning air-conditioning in the summer (except on the hottest days) and using a wood stove in the winter. After Jennifer had her second baby, she became a thrift-store connoisseur, seeking out name-brand kids' clothes. And she saved $100 to $200 a month on groceries by using grocerygame.com, an online service that tracks coupons and grocery store specials around the country. To find free craft supplies for homemade gifts, Jennifer started using freecycle.org, a Website where people from all around the country post items online that they no longer need — and are willing to give away for free. Meanwhile, she and her husband sold their new cars and bought used ones, saving $600 a month on car payments.
To stay focused on the future, Jennifer deposits $575 at the start of each month into an account for expenses like vacations, gifts, and car repairs. That leaves her with far less disposable cash for everyday purchases, forcing her to spend carefully if she wants to come in under budget. As a result, when vacations and the holidays roll around, Jennifer can pay for everything in cash. "It's a huge relief to know that the money is there," she says.
Last year, Jennifer went back to work full time — so luxuries like air-conditioning and the dryer have returned. But living with less has become a permanent part of her family's life. Jennifer loves the freedom and choices that come with money in the bank. What's more, she's learned that life is less harried when material possessions don't run the show. "Life is simpler when you don't have so many bills to pay," Jennifer says. "It's a bad habit our society has gotten into, to need everything instantly. It's good to finally be off that train.
"You don't need to spend a lot of extra money for high-end skin creams," says David Bank, M.D., a dermatologist in Mount Kisco, NY. All major manufacturers, including lower-priced brands, develop and test their products in state-of-the-art laboratories and use the same set of active ingredients — such as Retin-A, copper, alpha hydroxy acids, or vitamin E. A $150 bottle of moisturizer with copper will work about the same as a $15 one. The difference: More expensive brands may spend more on fragrances and preservatives, as well as packaging and marketing. You may prefer their aroma, but they won't improve your skin any more than a similar cheaper product.
If a $30 cashmere sweater seems too good to be true, it probably is, says Pat Slaven, a textiles expert at Consumer Reports, who found that higher-priced cashmere sweaters typically used better yarn and a tighter knit than bargain cashmere. The result: stronger sweaters more resistant to tears. To avoid rip-offs, stick with big department stores like Macy's, where they test fabric quality.
You're not getting taken to the cleaners when you choose a pro dry cleaner over do-it-yourself home dry-cleaning kits, says Slaven. These products are fine to rid your suit of, say, cigarette-smoke smell. But only a dry cleaner can give clothes that good-as-new look.
If you're paying for both Internet and an unlimited long-distance plan, you could save $20 to $40 a month by switching to Internet phone service (called voice over IP or VOIP). Companies like Vonage and Skype offer unlimited long distance via the Internet for around $25 a month, compared with $40 to $50 a month for landline plans.
OFFER TO PAY IN CASH. Many retailers will be willing to knock off between 3 percent and 4 percent. Try: "Can you do a little better if I buy today and pay in cash?"
ASK WHEN THE ITEM GOES ON SALE, then see if he can pre-sell it to you at that price.
FIND A MIDDLE GROUND. If you want that plasma TV for $1,000 but the store manager says that he can't go lower than $1,200, offer to split the difference at $1,100.
LOOK FOR FLAWS WITH THE ITEM, point them out politely, then ask for 20 percent off.
TRY TO PUT TOGETHER A PACKAGE DEAL. If the sofa costs $800 and the end table costs $400, can you get both for $1,000?
ASK FOR FREEBIES. If the manager isn't budging on the price, ask her to throw in free installation or delivery.
Instead of spending hours browsing dealerships for the best buy, fax or email dealers a letter specifying the exact car, color, and options you want, inviting them to fax back their best price. Then ask the dealers who offer you the three lowest prices if they can do a little better.
You're nearly guaranteed a successful experience because haggling is expected. These are great places to practice your bargaining strategies.
The retail price on jewelry is marked up between 300 percent and 1,000 percent, so retailers have a lot of room to give you a good price while still making a profit.
You'll get the biggest discounts on floor models. Look for fixable flaws, like a missing knob or slight dings, for even deeper discounts.
New models arrive every few months — meaning that the seller needs to get older versions off the shelves fast. Ask them to throw in extended warranties, spyware installation, or cables for free.
You can't walk into a big department store and ask them to sell you a pair of Levi's for $10, but you can request free tailoring or alterations, and a discount — try for 10 percent or 15 percent off — if there are flaws, like makeup marks, a button missing, or pulls.
More than 4 million people now belong to the Freecycle Network (freecycle.org), where they list items they no longer want or need, like TVs, bicycles, and even craft supplies. And they're not selling them — they're giving them away for free!
Ever notice that little box that says "coupon code" when you're shopping online? Before you purchase anything on the Internet, take a quick look at coolsavings.com or currentcodes.com, which list thousands of coupon codes, many at major merchandisers. Coolsavings.com also allows you to register for notifications about coupons or deals and receive daily emails. Or check The Budget Fashionista (thebudgetfashionista.com) for a database of current sales, as well as online coupons, at major retailers.
Boost the value of coupons through grocerygame.com, which tracks sales and specials at grocery stores around the country. For $10 every eight weeks, a list of instructions, customized to your store and location, is emailed to you, telling you when to use which coupon where. So if you use a $1-off coupon on an item that's on sale for $1, you'll get it for free!


Cerebral palsy is a nervous system condition that has a variety of causes, one of them being birth trauma. In many instances, a child being born with cerebral palsy is a bit of a medical mystery. Deeper investigation is usually required in order to point out the root cause. In some scenarios, there are problems with the development of the child while they are in the womb. Developmental challenges can include intrauterine infection and radiation exposure. A child may also become asphyxiated before they are born. In many cases, asphyxiation occurs when the child is choked by the umbilical cord. A lack of oxygen to the brain puts the baby at a greater risk of being born with a serious medical condition. Doctors must intervene in order to stabilize both mother and child. Another major cause, and the cause that we will be discussing, is trauma or difficulty during the labor and delivery process.
There are times when a traumatic birth is unavoidable. When there is a particularly large baby or when the mother is unhealthy are some common examples. There are other instances when a birth injury is the result of doctor negligence. Doctors have a duty of care, which means that they are responsible for their patients' safety and wellbeing, as far as it depends on them. Physical brain injury is one factor that can cause cerebral palsy in a child during birth. Your doctor may not have acted in the best possible manner, which may have resulted in your child sustaining a head injury during labor.
Shaken baby syndrome is one potential cause of cerebral palsy after the child has been born. It is a type of child abuse, and is the result of intentional shaking of the baby. Shaking a child can cause brain damage, since they are more physically sensitive right after birth. When children are not handled correctly by doctors, nurses and hospital attendants, they may sustain a brain injury. The symptoms of shaken baby syndrome include hematoma, hemorrhage and cerebral oedema. Unfortunately, the mortality rate is around 25 percent. If no one was there to see the mishandling of the infant, then it may be difficult to prove liability in these situations, but it is something to consider when there are no other suitable explanations for cerebral palsy.
Cerebral palsy is a lifetime condition, and treatments have many dimensions. As the child and the child's brain develop, the cerebral palsy will affect them differently. The disease is non-progressive (doesn't get worse) but it does change as the child changes and grows. Since many of those who are diagnosed with cerebral palsy typically are bound to wheelchairs for the duration of their lifetimes, physical therapy may be beneficial in teaching them how to function in everyday life. Cerebral palsy is primarily a condition that directly affects the brain and indirectly affects the movement of limbs. This condition should not be confused with a paralytic disorder, since these are caused by trauma or disease of the spinal cord.
If your child was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, then there may be legal steps that you can take. Zinda Law Group is prepared to listen to your case. Our firm frequently investigates cases such as this in order to determine if there was any negligence or other liability that contributed. Cerebral palsy, since it is a lifetime condition, will require prolonged medical treatment. Extensive medical treatment will mean extensive medical bills. Our Dallas personal injury attorneys are committed to our clients, so that they can receive the largest amount of compensation possible.


The candymakers are now trying to track down David Beckham's son after a puzzling turn of events.
In Japan, the art of "kumi ame" or "assembled candy" has been around since the Edo period (1603-1868). This type of sweet was first made by craftsmen, who used special techniques to create the saintly face of Okame and the large-ear-lobed head of Fukusuke (symbols of good luck) on the side of hard, round candies. The face of Kintaro, or "Golden Boy", one of the heroes of Japanese folklore, was also moulded into the candy during the period, leading many to call this type of sweet "Kintaro Ame", a name which still sticks today.
Now, of course, these cute little chunks of moulded sugar are available all around the world, with the technique used to personalise sweets for all sorts of ocassions, from weddings to birthdays and even business events.
One of the companies still keeping the tradition alive in Japan is a small business in Nagoya called "My-Ame". Despite having less than ten employees, the small company still receives a large number of orders from prominent businesses who want a taste of their beautifully handmade candies.
▼ Recently, they created treats for attendees at a panel discussion event held by Instagram founders Mike Krieger and Kevin Systrom.
My-Ame first gained attention worldwide through one of their videos, which has been viewed more than 5.5 million times, largely because it became a hit with the ASMR (Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response) community, who feel tingling sensations on the skin when watching the attentive preparation of food like this.
The growing popularity of My-Ame has stretched much further than they could have imagined, as the small business could hardly believe their eyes when they received a message via their Instagram account from a customer in England called Brooklyn Beckham. Brooklyn wanted to know whether the company would do up an order for an individual customer, as opposed to a business order, and after some discussion via direct messaging, it was decided that a candy with the initials "BB" on them would be made.
▼ My-Ame immediately went to work, crafting a black-and-white sweet according to the customer's requirements.
The minimum order of 3,500 sweets was quickly produced, and to avoid burdening the customer with excessive customs tariffs and import taxes, they shipped off an initial box of 500 to the U.K. address supplied, using Express Mail Service (EMS).
As always, the company was eager to please their customer and hoped they would receive some confirmation that their product had been collected at the other end. According to EMS records, the package arrived safely at its destination on 28 March, five days after it had been dispatched from Japan.
The company sent another private message to Brooklyn, asking whether he had received the package. Despite their frequent communication in the lead-up to the delivery, now the message was left unread. After a couple of days, the company sent him another message, saying they were worried about whether the package had been received or not. Still, no answer.
So if you're reading this, Brooklyn, please check your private messages and send a reply to the company as soon as possible! If you're busy and need some help sorting out the matter, feel free to get in touch with us here at SoraNews24. We're more than happy to help devour those cute little candy pieces for you!
Follow Oona on Twitter and Instagram for more updates on celebrity candy crushes.


The game is made from the now defunct Visceral games who made one of personal favorites Dead Space. The game was first released early February 2010. The game is a third person hack and slash adventure. Similar to Devil May Cry and Ninja Gaiden. The story you play as Dante who has to fight through the nine circle of hell to save his beloved Beatrice from Lucifer. The game is loosely based on the Divine Comedy book unfortunately I've not read the book so I'm not to sure how much of the story it follows.
Presentation was spot on from the cut scenes doing them as animation to the sound and level design everything is well done. With everything coming together to show a good atmosphere and world building.
I played the game on the zealot difficulty and I found the difficult just right and scaled correctly. I never found the game was cheap. Some of the enemies can be spongy at time but that's only handful of time.
I think this is a curse of the time of but in certain situation the camera angle made it difficult to see certain collectables.
I would say this an above average game. Not a bad game not a great game just in the middle of the park. I do think if the game managed to an additional two or more sequels or these issues would of been ironed out. If you not played Devil may Cry or Bayonetta. I would recommend playing them first. However If you a fan of action games and looking for a short 6 – 10 hour campaign game Dante Inferno is a fun game with good story, good soundtrack and well balanced learning curve.


text:
Q: problems with pyinstaller and sys.exit() I am trying to create a .exe file from my python script and I am having several troubles. It is not recognising sys.exit(x) calls and it is prompting them such errors. The error it prompts is the next one:
sys.exit(2)

   SyntaxError: Invalid syntax

Does anybody know the source of that error? Is there any other option which works?
edit
import requests # The REST Client
import json # For serializing and deserializing JSON
import sys
import urllib3
import getpass
import getopt
import argparse
import csv
import datetime
import os.path
import re
for opt, arg in opts:
    #print "*arg* " + opt + " : " + arg
    if opt in ('-h', '--help'):
        print "****************************************************************************************************"
        print "Uso: Fortimanager.py -i <hostname ip[:port]> -v <vdom> -u <username> -p <password> -f <archivo.csv>"
        print ""
        print "  Los datos hacen referencia al  FortiManager "
        print ""
        print "  En caso de no especificar hostname, username y/o password se solicitaran "
        print ""
        print "  -i: hostname o IP del FortiManager, puerto por defecto: 443. "
        print ""
        print "  -a: adom a utilizar, por defecto adom=root "
        print ""
        print "  -p: dejando la opcion en blanco se solicitara el password sin mostrarse en pantalla"
        print ""
        print "  -f: dejando la opcion en blanco se solicitara el nombre de fichero"
        print "      El formato de fichero tiene que ser: User,Pass,Resource,DstInt"
        print "      Las columnas han de tener encabezado con los nombres mencionados"
        print "***************************************************************************************************"
        print "Ejemplos:"
        print "  python Fortimanager.py    "
        print "  python Fortimanager.py -i 192.168.1.99 -a myAdom -u admin -f politics.csv"
        print "  python Fortimanager.py -i 192.168.1.99 -u admin -p password"
        print "  python Fortimanager.py -i 192.168.1.99:8443 -u admin -a myAdom"
        print "***************************************************************************************************"
        sys.exit(2)


Find error or want add more details informations for "Doug's Windows & Doors"? - Contact us!
Doug's Windows & Doors full data: finance, accounts, vacancies. Download bank accounts, tenders, credit history, taxes and fees Doug's Windows & Doors.
Doug's Windows & Doors is Australian proprietary company. This firm was registered on 2001-11-21 and was issued with the 177618408 ACN. Its Australian Business Number is 59691162143. Since 2001-11-21, the company is headquartered in Victoria. The previous headquarters were located in 1 Firebrace St Horsham VIC 3400. Doug's Windows & Doors was registered for the GST on 2001-11-21. In total the company used 1 trading name. Category of Doug's Windows & Doors is a Windows: Aluminium. We found 0 trademarks that mention this company.


text:
Moors For The future I'm looking for...
Conservation work
Practical upland conservation
Research and monitoring
Building an evidence base to underpin our work
Inspiring people to love and look after the moors
Working across boundaries
Landscape scale working unhindered by ownership boundaries
Benefits of our work
Enhancing habitats
Providing homes for a wonderful array of wildlife
Improving water quality
Healthier moors provide cleaner water
Reducing the risk of wildfire
Healthy, well-functioning blanket bogs are less likely to burn
Preventing carbon loss from peat
Space to breathe and play
The moors play an important part in health and wellbeing
Reducing the risk of flooding
The unique plants on the moors slow the flow of rain off the hills
Reports and other useful documents
Enjoy the Moors
Get the best out of the moors
Free audio downloads to help you explore the moors on a guided walk
Protecting yourself and the moors
Enjoy and protect the moors whilst staying safe
Special plants and animals to look out for on your moorland visit
Find out about the wealth of knowledge stored locally
Be fire aware
Find out how you can take action to reduce the risk of wildfire
Citizen science surveys and sightings
Recording plants and animals whilst you are out and about
Why Tony and Jane choose to volunteer with us
Teachers and educators
Educational resources and help for teachers
The development of Moors for the Future
Meet the people who make up Moors for the Future Partnership
Find out about the organisations who make up our partnership
The latest news and media from our team
Sign up to The BOG Standard
MoorLIFE 2020 news
Get Involved /
Volunteering with Moors for the Future Partnership provides an opportunity for people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds to learn new skills, have fun, get closer to nature and make a real difference to the future our iconic upland moorlands.
Jane's story
Jane Price, who lives in the Peak District, volunteered for our Community Science Project.
Wanting to work in conservation she took early retirement from the NHS. "Volunteering is a brilliant way to get experience and to find out if conservation is for you."
Learning new skills, taking part in science and getting satisfaction from taking part and knowing that your work is contributing valuable information about the moorland habitat are among the benefits.
"It is something that gives you a buzz," said Jane who has been involved in surveying specific types of bumblebees. She learned to identify different types of bees and improved her observation skills, and enjoyed working together in a team.
By getting close to nature, and learning how to observe and identify the different species Jane has noticed that it has changed the way she sees the moors.
"It has helped me see the moors in a different way and be much more observant about my surroundings."
Data collected and recorded on the national irecord website is shared with conservation organisations at local, regional and national levels.
For Jane meeting new people has been one of the highlights of volunteering. It has also helped her gain valuable experience that led to her taking a casual research and monitoring post, which then led to her getting a part time job with the Partnership as a conservation works officer.
Meet our volunteers – Tony
Tony came to us as a volunteer eight years ago. After volunteering for four years, he applied for a job where he has since been involved with around 20 different projects.
Tony's story
"I love the South Pennines and Peak District moors. Even on the coldest, wettest days when the wind is howling, they are still magic places. The moors want you to know who's in charge and it's always them" says Tony Rogers, a Moors for the Future Partnership research and monitoring officer.
"I've been on these moors in everything from a thin t-shirt to 6 layers and I've enjoyed every moment! In fact, the wilder weather days can be some of the most memorable if you go properly prepared".
"It's really special to have been part of some of the conservation projects from the beginning and to witness their progress over the years. It really gives me a sense of attachment to these moors as we work to bring them back to health".
Tony has been involved with the Kinder Edge sphagnum moss planting project since 2015, and this one has been a particular favourite. This project experimented with the different 'forms' that sphagnum moss can be applied in. Because of the lack of sphagnum local to Kinder, the sphagnum has to be grown or 'propagated'.
However, propagated sphagnum doesn't always come in mossy plant form. It can come in bead form (that look like peas) where each bead can have several different types of sphagnum moss in it. Sphagnum can even come in slime form!
"It is cutting edge research looking into which forms of sphagnum will grow better where. Being part of such change-driving research is amazing and I get excited by each new set of results that come in".
Tony carries out the research as part of a team of staff and volunteers.
"The staff are really knowledgeable and I've learnt a lot working with them over the years; the enthusiasm of the volunteers is inspiring. They don't have to do this, but they do and they love it and that keeps you smiling".
Sometimes Tony isn't in a group and ventures out onto the moors alone (with a dedicated buddy checking on his safety!). With no teammates to keep his morale up during bleak weather or long hikes he has to keep up his own spirits. But that's not a difficult task for Tony.
"I never feel alone on the moors because there's always something happening! There's so much to see, hear and feel. Birds to listen to, mountain hares to watch, and occasional bilberries to taste. You might be separated from humanity, but you're in the midst of countless wildlife communities. Although, sometimes I do wonder how I'm going to get my fingers to work when the wind chill is particularly severe!"
Tony has been hill walking all his life, but working for the Partnership has allowed him to experience the moors in a different way.
"It's a real privilege to get to the wilder places away from the footpaths that people rarely have the opportunity to see, and to be there with a purpose, helping to return this special landscape to its former glory".
When considering his life plans, Tony sometimes wonders when he'll retire.
"This job is way too good for my mind and fitness to think about retirement yet. I guess it will happen one day but I don't see retirement on the horizon any time soon, even from the top of Kinder!"
Opportunities for young people to get involved with the National Park
Moorland Indicators of Climate Change Initiative
A UK-wide project giving secondary school students the opportunity to take part in real-world climate science
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text:
Recommended gig
Sion Russell Jones, Brigyn & Little Arrow at St John's Church, Canton, Cardiff on Saturday 10th November 7.30pm. Tickets available from: http://www.wegottickets.com/event/189421.
.... All reviews on newsoundwales are the personal opinions of the reviewer. We are not responsible for your listening enjoyment and cannot guarantee that you will share our views. Buy the music, go to the gigs, listen and make your own mind up
Top 50 Albums of 2011
Newsoundwales has trawled through the past 12 months and made a selection of our top 50 albums of the year. Perhaps not a classic year for music, but there were some exceptional recordings and an ever growing array of Welsh artists who are beginning to make their mark throughout the UK and beyond. The selection is varied but all are recommended and have, in differing ways, given us hours of aural pleasure during 2011.
1. Destroyer - Kaputt
http://youtu.be/puu3IvKnSb4
2. PJ Harvey - Let England Shake
http://youtu.be/5tFBo1QunlA
3. Jonathan Wilson - Gentle Spirit
http://youtu.be/-hYiY1vOOVw
4. Low - C'mon
http://youtu.be/wXgc0I0zsYs
5. Gruff Rhys - Hotel Shampoo
http://youtu.be/usGdERPWoPU
6. James Vincent McMorrow - Early in the Morning
http://youtu.be/29zK3hdQC48
7. Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues
http://youtu.be/FPZi07zckWA
8. Laura Marling - A Creature I Don't Know
http://youtu.be/j-TMl5oCRjk
9. Wild Beasts - Smother
http://youtu.be/qUJYqhKZrwA
10. Zervas & Pepper - Somewhere in the City
http://youtu.be/RoyD7PWETWw
11. The View - Bread & Circuses
http://youtu.be/R3OpXan8CD0
12. Elbow - Build a Rocket Kid
http://youtu.be/NItwaz0nLJA
13. Anna Calvi - Anna Calvi
http://youtu.be/4KVVCHeHKXM
14. Y Niwl - Y Niwl
http://youtu.be/hLZPdHn0RQo
15. Noel Gallagher - High Flying Birds
http://youtu.be/kFx_IniNjfE
16. Metronomy - The English Riviera
http://youtu.be/sFrNsSnk8GM
17. The Soft Hearted Scientists - Wandermoon
http://youtu.be/QpLpVnQFWYw
18. Bon Iver - Bon Iver
http://youtu.be/0KrmxavLIRM
19. Ed Sheeran - +
http://youtu.be/c4BLVznuWnU
20. Wibidi - Tiger Baby
http://youtu.be/2UhGZDdi9MQ
21. Baby Dee - Regifted Light
http://youtu.be/X1-LTGCgzuM
22. Ben Howard - Every Kingdom
http://youtu.be/UzzCthKw_C0
23. Jonny - Jonny
http://youtu.be/0yhaEch_Iuc
24 . Noah & the Whale - Last Night on Earth
http://youtu.be/fbGUEelmzxo
25. Iron & Wine - Kiss Each Other Clean
http://youtu.be/0aV9YmaZZTU
26. The Civil Wars - Barton Hollow
http://youtu.be/A-DB2btV2oQ
27. Al Lewis - Ar Gof a Chadw
http://youtu.be/mGnz_FjqA5s
28. Gillian Welch - The Harrow & the Harvest
http://youtu.be/qkjBZlcB66M
29. Jamie Woon - Mirrorwriting
http://youtu.be/BvsfGhEqnXE
30. James Blake - James Blake
http://youtu.be/MVgEaDemxjc
31. Misty's Big Adventure - Family Amusement Centre
http://youtu.be/FJSZN1DS9_A
32. King Creosote & Jon Hopkins - Diamond Mine
http://youtu.be/M-Lr0igwLIY
33. Los Campesinos - Hello Sadness
http://youtu.be/_ku_ZMPJ5M0
34. Florence & the Machine - Ceremonials
http://youtu.be/HGH-4jQZRcc
35. The Decemberists - The King is Dead
http://youtu.be/iNr4imfMUeE
36. Texas Radio Band - Bluescreen
37. Marianne Faithfull - Horses & High Heels
http://youtu.be/8YQdjL8nwW0
38. The Antlers - Burst Apart
http://youtu.be/QNcSy_jPMcM
39. The Waterboys - An appointment with Mr Yeats
http://youtu.be/HHSPSL64R-8
40. Ffred Jones - Welsh Whiskey Society
http://youtu.be/vM7dO3NJqBM
41. Christopher Rees - Heart on fire
http://youtu.be/7Y_-1ehqAx4
42. Jeffrey Lewis - A turn in the dream songs
http://youtu.be/aDINJ7BvjyQ
43. Jam with Robina - Dark Recollections
http://youtu.be/z1Js_3ZCd3g
44. Lykke Li - Wounded Rhymes
http://youtu.be/vZYbEL06lEU
45. The Unthanks - Last
http://youtu.be/4IrA9HqPNlM
46. Radiohead - King of limbs
http://youtu.be/cfOa1a8hYP8
47. H Hawkline - Strange uses of ox gall
http://youtu.be/rYsT-UDfXtI
48. Rebecca Pronsky - Viewfinder
http://youtu.be/phsxNmYqefk
49 . Arctic Monkeys - Suck it and see
http://youtu.be/TlYJKfunfC0
50. Bombay Bicycle Club - A different kind fix
http://youtu.be/oDuif301F-8
Los Campesinos! - Hello Sadness
Hot on the heels of relationship break ups this album isn't quite "Blood on the tracks" nevertheless it is exploring darker and more intense territory than previous releases. This is the band's fourth album and they have a definite sound of their own that is instantly recognisable, mostly due to lead singer Gareth's lyrics and vocal style. The subject matter may be heartfelt, but is never maudlin or self indulgent. In fact at times the music sounds liberated and cathartic. " By your hand " is classic Campesinos with its cleverly constructed melody and lyrical twists. In an alternative universe this would be a top ten hit. Los Campesinos are growing and demonstrate that the best bands need time to develop and fulfil their potential. They could yet be as big as bands such as Noah & the Whale, although to their credit you suspect that isn't something that registers on their radar.
Wibidi - Tiger Baby
If you like subtlety, obscure lyrics and mellow music then don't buy this album. If on the other hand you like clarity, killer rhythm tracks and a general good time this is the album for you. Yet another off shot of the Super Furry Animals, Wibidi burst onto the scene over the summer and recently undertook a national tour of Wales. On stage it is clear that the band are up for a good time and seem genuinely enthused to be performing. Much of the album is up tempo with the occasional reggae vibe. Lead single " What gets you home at night " should get deserved airplay and "I hate Nazi bastards" pulls no punches with its smouldering diatribe against intolerance. There are some 1970s influences with the odd snatch of Bowiesque saxophone and there is also a cover of T.Rex's "Life's a gas" which serves as a reminder of just what an underrated song writer Marc Bolan was. Buy this album and play it loud.
Texas Radio Band - Bluescreen
You could have been forgiven for thinking that the Texas Radio Band had gone away to have babies never to be seen again. Certainly leaving 4 years between albums is a high risk strategy. However, they have come back with a solid and varied album well stocked with some killer tracks. There is always going to be the Super Furry's comparison largely due to some vocal similarities and this is most evident this time around on ' Bicentennial Man' . However, elsewhere their own character takes shape and shines through. ' Telescope ' is a mellow, drifting beauty and ' See what you're saying' is a 70s glam fest bonanza. Life is that much better with the Texas Radio Band making music again.
www.texasradioband.com
John Cale - Extra Playful EP
Cale is newly signed to the Domino Records imprint ' Double Six'. This tater EP is refreshing and jam packed with ideas and serves as a timely reminder that he is still capable of producing music that is as vital as players a third his age. Tracks such as Hey Ray are playful and often surreal with some of the most intriguing lyrics you'll hear this year:
The Russians are coming - no they're not
The French are coming - ooh la la
The Italians are coming - whoopee
The Americans are coming - oh shit
The British are coming - not again!
Amongst the other songs What ya mean by that is the stand out illustrating his more sensitive side and often overlooked vocal ability. If this EP is anything to go by then next year's album could just kick start the long overdue John Cale renaissance. Now that would be a nice 70 th birthday present!
Bright Light Bright Light - A Disco Moment EP
Neath's very own Rod Thomas has certainly evolved over the past few years from ukulele folk to the full blown electro pop of his new venture Bright Light Bright Light. This new EP is incredibly polished and manages to pull off that Pet Shop Boys trick of making pop music that sounds current, is extremely infectious and danceable at the same time as being emotive and bitter sweet. Bright Light Bright Light's debut album should finally see the light of day early next year. The future's bright, very bright.
Laura Marling - A Creature I Don't Know
There was a moment of extreme hyperbole this year when Laura Marling was introduced at one of the summer festivals as 'one of the greatest folk singers of all time'. Give the girl a break she is only 20 and this is only her third album! It is rather good though and further evidence that she is a genuine talent. That gentle falsetto flip; that synchronised guitar vocal interplay are helping to establish her own identity and distinctive sound. The opening track The Muse has an unfortunate resemblance to the blankety blank theme. However, that aside there are some truly spine tingling moments such as Sophia and Salinas . No she is not he new folk messiah, but she is very, very good and getting better.
Paper Aeroplanes - A Comfortable Sleep EP
Paper Aeroplanes are gradually establishing a strong reputation as a live band with a growing catalogue of memorable, well crafted songs sung to perfection by Sarah Howells. This EP is a strip backed production featuring 4 new songs. The highlight is most definitely " Tuesday " with its strong heart felt narrative and perfectly matched arrangement. The EP is due for release 15 th September.
Jonathan Wilson - Gentle Spirit
If you shudder at the thought of a debut album in excess of 70 minutes long released by an artist so obsessed with music of early 1970s laurel canyon that he recorded it on original analogue equipment from the period then maybe this album isn't for you. However, if you are happy to sit back and absorb mellow grooves that drift into blissed out jams then this could be one of your favourite albums of the year. The starting point is most definitely California rock 1968-1972 which was well past its prime before Wilson was even born. In lesser hands this could have become mere mimicry if it weren't for the incredible musicianship, excellent song writing and sense of melody. Although the tracks are long with few less than 6 minutes very few outstay their welcome. Neil Young is obviously a key influence and the epic closing track " Valley of the silver moon " travels perilously close to " Tonight's the night ". Elsewhere however, Wilson's superb guitar playing and excellent production is close to perfection reaching its zenith on " Desert Raven ". I doubt you will hear a more beautiful track this year. Yet further evidence, if any were needed, that Bella Union is the zeitgeist label of the moment.
Lowri Evans - Dydd a nos
Browsing in record stores on holiday recently, in a Welsh-speaking part of north Wales, I noticed that Lowri Evans' fourth album Dydd a nos (Day and night) was one of this summer's best-sellers. Released in June in Wales, Dydd a nos has now been released UK-wide (on 8 August). It will be promoted on a tour of festivals and other venues throughout the UK. The album, on Sain's Rasal label, comprises six tracks in Welsh and four in English. The sound is commercial and catchy; Lowri's vocals warm and charming. A range of musical styles are referenced by her accomplished band, from jazz to country. For instance, cello and pedal steel guitar set the mood, respectively, on Rhywbeth gwell na hyn ? (Something better than this) and How do you do? Other highlights include the uplifting Pob Siawns (Every chance) and The Only Woman . Overall, the album settles into a likeable radio-friendly groove: just the thing for a relaxing Welsh summer holiday.
(Reviewed by Stephen Nottingham)
Misty's Big Adventure
The Family Amusement Centre
This much delayed album was finally released following pledges from fans of the band and yes we put our money where our mouth was in order to hear this album. Misty's Big Adventure have always managed to combine dark humour, political commentary and great pop music. There is plenty of that in evidence here such as " Mickey Mouse " which is subversive pop at its very best. Elsewhere " Queen Betty " deals with the loss of a relative and could easily have been cheesy, but manages to avoid this to be poignant and touching and sounds like a lost Madness classic. The album also features a guest monologue from Sir Patrick Moore on " General Confusion " who apparently bought fish and chips for the band after the session had finished. Misty's Big Adventure are the closest thing in 2011 we have to the Bonzo Dog Doo-dah Band and as such should be treasured.
Misty's Big Adventure, The Family Amusement Centre from Grumpy Fun on Vimeo.
Sibrydion - Uwchben Y Drefn
Fourth album from the band from Waunfawr and the first since their breakthrough English language album 'Campfire Classics'. Rather than pursue easy bucks the band have returned with a Welsh language album of well produced genre hopping. From from the opening salvo of " Drosty Byd I Gyd " where the Pistols meet the Rubettes, to the phone in the air beauty of " Codi Cestyll ". At times the band drift perilously close to sounding like an 80s S4C show band such as " Cadw'r Blaidd O'r Drws ". The sort of track which is more fun to play than listen to. That being said Sibrydion are fast overcoming the SFA comparisons and forging their own path. A great Welsh band? Not quite yet, but they're getting there.
Destroyer - Kaputt
Dan Bejar is probably best known in this country as part of Canada's New Pornographers. However, he has recorded and released much more material as vocalist with his other project Destroyer. Kaputt is the band's 9 th album and has been short listed for this year's Polaris Prize, Canada's equivalent to the Mercury's. Dan Bejar's vocal style has been described by Rolling Stone Magazine as 'Glam folk' but on this album it's more like Glam folk meets 80s electro pop. Possibly not good on paper, but the result is a thing of great beauty with Bejar's unique vocal style and unorthodox lyrics matched with strong melodic mellow electronic pop. This apparent mismatch might irritate or confuse some, but given time its magic seeps into your soul. Highlights are the title track Kaputt and Song for America that with its "who knew" refrain is probably the most accessible track here. If that isn't enough there is a stunningly gorgeous 20 minute near instrumental The Laziest River that closes an album that has already guaranteed itself a high placing in our top 50 albums of 2011.
Soft Hearted Scientists - Wandermoon
Much delayed new release from one of Wales' finest bands who set their stall by stating that " psychedelia may be the greatest cultural achievement of humanity ". That's up for debate, however, there is no doubting that this band are progressing organically and in the process producing some truly wonderful music. Gentle melodies, rich vocals and intriguing lyrics. There is always a danger that musicians who are obsessed with 60s psychedelia will simply emulate their heroes and end up sounding like a pale imitation. However, with this album, The Soft Hearted Scientists demonstrate that such inspiration can work wonders by taking the elements from a bygone age and gradually evolving their own sound which is instantly recognisable and enchanting. I sincerely doubt you will hear a more magical track than " Tornadoes in Birmingham " or a more beguiling one than the title track " Wandermoon " this year.
Iridescence - Iridescence
Liam Davey and Graham Shimell formed Iridescence in 2010 after meeting on an arts course in Cardiff. This eponymous six-track EP of self-penned material is their first recording. Liam plays acoustic guitar, classically and percussively, while Graham has an impressive vocal range. Their cited influences include Bjork, Rodrigo y Gabriela and The Smiths. They move between two modes on this EP: Muse-like rock ( Overkill and Nightmare Epiphany ) and a slower, acoustic sound ( How Sad I Was ). The best track here is the dreamy Languor and Ecstasy , featuring classical guitar, warm vocals and spacious background electronica. It is one of two tracks with words by symbolist French poet Paul Verlaine (1844-1896). I lied about the six tracks, by the way. There's a bonus seventh - a fine acoustic cover of Led Zeppelin's Friends . More a work in progress than the finished article, Iridescence display consummate musicianship and, when in literary acoustic mode, are an interesting prospect.
Houdini Dax - You Belong To Dax Darling
Yet another Welsh act from the ' seemonkeydomonkey ' stable; a label that is definitely making its mark and establishing a house style. Unlike some of the other acts on the label, Houdini Dax are still in their teens. What strikes you is how tight they are as a band with superb guitar work. What works well here is the variety of the music, the arrangements and their sheer energy and enthusiasm. There is room for growth especially on the vocals and song writing - more hooks please! Overall, yet more evidence of how strong Cardiff's indie band scene is in 2011.
Daughter - His Young Heart EP
Some of you may have seen Daughter when she supported John Grant in Cardiff recently. On the face of it you may well ask do we really need yet another young female singer with an acoustic guitar singing songs of angst and heartbreak? The answer is a resounding yes when the songs are as good as this. The lead song on the EP " Landfill " is the most beautiful break up song since Bon Iver's Skinny Love full of loss, anger and hurt. If you like Laura Marling then track down this EP on iTunes. You won't be disappointed.
Sarah Jarosz - Follow Me Down
The popularity of country music may ebb and flow but it never goes away. The recent success of Scott McCreery on American Idol demonstrates that in the States, it is as popular as ever. Alongside the more commercial red neck variety there is a healthy supply of authentic roots music being made. One of the best of the new singers is Sarah Jarosz who has just released her sophomore album 'Follow me down'. Although she works within a traditional musical form, she is not afraid to experiment as evidenced here by the superb and haunting cover of Radiohead's " The Tourist ". Her abilities as a songwriter are growing and she has stretched herself to produce songs that belie her 20 years such as the flighty, jazz tinged " Come Around " and the tender " My Muse ". Sarah Jarosz is a special and rare talent whose best is yet to come.
Zervas & Pepper - Somewhere in the City
This is the debut album from songwriters Paul Zervas & Kath Pepper who are Cardiff based, although if you had told me they were from Laurel Canyon and this album was recorded in 1971 I would have believed you. The songs are sun drenched, powerfully melodic and contain harmonies to die for. Wearing their influences clearly on your sleeve isn't always advisable and there is no escaping the band has been influenced by artists such as James Taylor, the Eagles and CSN. However, with the likes of Midlake and Fleet Foxes referencing UK acts from the late 60s why shouldn't a band from Wales emulate their American influences? This is not, however, a mere tribute act. Zervas & Pepper have some strong material and songs such as " Running solo " and " Somewhere in the city " are well constructed, strong on melody and perfect for radio. Zervas & Pepper are not too dissimilar to Paper Aeroplanes who are currently in the ascendancy. I see no reason why Zervas & Pepper shouldn't follow in their slip stream on the upward trajectory.
Omega66 - Nools and High Horses
Dance music is notoriously fickle and so fast moving at times that tracks recorded today can sound tired and dated tomorrow. There are also very few bands that have managed to operate sustain success in the dance field for any length of time with most of the success and rewards being enjoyed by producers, DJs and promoters. Despite this, Omega66 have battled on and as a result have become Cardiff's finest exponent of funk and dance pop. Admittedly a few of the tracks here do sound a tad dated. However, these are outweighed by the ridiculously catchy ' Celebrity Burn Out' and the title track " Nools and High Horses " both of which could be hit singles with the right amount of airplay. There are also signs of development and a move away from pure dance music with the Bootsy Collins / Air mash up of " Magic Notion " and a stunning vocal on " Unbreakable one ". A fine, solid dance infused album with much to recommend itself to Welsh dance music aficionados.
Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues
When the Fleet Foxes first started out and there was a growing SXSW buzz their myspace influences were listed, tellingly, as Crosby Stills & Nash, Judee Sill and the Trees Community. As their reputation quickly spread these were replaced with more generic and less revealing ones. Listening to 'Helplesness Blues' you can clearly hear how those artists have had such an impact upon their music. The Plains/Bitter Dancer is pure CSN and at times you wonder whether Robin Pecknold is yet another of David Crosby's long lost love children. There is little musical development from their debut, more of an enhancement and more depth. Songs such as Sim Sala Bim and Lorelai have glorious harmonies, lush pastoral instrumentation and intriguing lyrics. If you are a fan of late 60s folk rock you will love this album.
Christopher Rees - Heart on Fire
Some might find the genre hopping of Christopher Rees something of a challenge. However, you have to admire his ambitious vision and with a result as fine as this, it is definitely worth any confusion it might cause amongst his audience. On this occasion he is living the Stax dream having teamed up The South Austin Horns. Rees wrote all of the material and helped arrange the music. The resulting sound is authentic and powerful. Singing against an ensemble such as this can be a tall order and on some songs, such as In the Middle of the Night, he doesn't quite have the power house of a voice to match the band in full flight. However, elsewhere on songs such as Warm by the Fire where the horns are more muted or Unstoppable with its rich Hammond organ and a guitar part the Steve Cropper would be proud of the balance is perfect. Exactly where all of this style changing will take Christopher Rees is something of a mystery. However, the process is certainly taking us on a fascinating and fulfilling journey of musical discovery.
Jamie Woon - Mirrorwriting
Jamie Woon came fourth in the end of year sound of 2011 poll losing out to Jessie J. Hearing this album you can kind of see why. His music is subtle and takes time to penetrate, something the attention span of the mass music buying public might struggle with. Mirrorwriting is an impressive debut by any standards and deserves the time it might take to fully appreciate its worth. The sound, crafted almost entirely by woon himself, is a master stroke with depth subtlety and at times sheer beauty. The backing on
Night Air alone is magical, add Woon's haunting vocal and you have a masterpiece. Perhaps the song that will achieve the widest recognition is Shoulda a simple, restrained and powerful song of regret with a perfect melody. Although the sound is consistently high the best songs are front loaded and towards the end attention wanders off as the standard dips and veers towards uninspiring chill out. If Woon can continue writing songs as fine as Night Air and Shoulda he looks set to leave the likes of Jessie J way behind producing music that rewards repeated plays and has longevity at its core.
The Method - Dissident Dancers
A damn fine and impressive album of yet more 60s tinged psych rock from See Monkey Do Monkey records. Many of the tracks here wouldn't have sounded out of place alongside the likes of the Seeds or the 13 th Floor Elevators on a nugget compilation and the title track ' Dissident dancers' comes perilously close to of Paul Revere & the Raider's ' I'm not your stepping stone' . There is always a thin line between pastiche and homage and the Method just about manage to keep to the right side and preserve their credibility. The lead singer does at times have an uncanny resemblance to Alex Turner and the band need to work on getting more variety with their material. However, they have a great sound, full of energy and they are a bundle of adrenalin live. Overall this is a debut album full of potential and promise.
Ffred Jones - Lions in the Dark
This new single from Ffred Jones serves as an excellent calling card for his forthcoming album due out later this year. Having played throughout Wales for the past few years he has gradually established a strong reputation which is beginning to pay dividends. "Lions in the Dark" is more introspective and emotional than some of his previous work and indicates a positive development in his song writing. It also helps to highlight his assured and confident finger style guitar playing.
Barefoot Dance of the Sea/Evening Chorus (Double 'A' sided 7")
This is the debut single from both bands and is released on Bubblewrap Records; increasingly Wales' most interesting and rewarding label. Barefoot Dance of the Sea were formed out of the remnants of the Hot Puppies and their song "513 Miles From Aberdeen to Cardiff" is sweet and poignant with a lilting melody and glorious harmonies; perfectly charming. Evening Chorus give us "Decisions" which starts quietly and builds to a crescendo giving their extensive line up a chance to shine. All told this is an excellent value single highlighting two of the best new bands to have emerged from Wales this year.
The Keys - Bitten by Wolves
(review by Stephen Nottingham)
Once, a critically acclaimed band called Murray The Hump recorded three John Peel sessions before hanging up their guitars. A decade later, in 2010, they resurfaced as The Keys with a mini-album Fire Inside . The new long-player by the Cardiff-based band, Bitten by Wolves , on See Monkey Do Monkey Recordings, sees them spearheading the Welsh psych-rock revival. The Keys - Mathew Evans (vocals and guitar), Gwion Rowlands (guitar and vocals), James Bell (bass), Tomos Lewis (drums) and Carwyn Ellis (keyboards, vocals and percussion) - distil the essence of 1960s visionary music and track its route to the present (from Spirit to Spiritualized). They self-produce, using analogue rather than digital technology, to produce a distinctive soundworld of swampy reverb guitar, voodoo percussion, dirty rhythms and garage aesthetics. We encounter retro pop ( Teacher's Daughter ), the ghost of Hendrix ( Everyone Loves You ) and trip onwards ( When You're Young ) through the keyhole to a realm of time-travelling chaos ("that was now this is then"), where wolves howl in The Valleys.
The View - Bread & Circuses
Any band that seeks to develop and mature their sound is likely to alienate critics and fans along the way. This seems to be the case for the View who have come into some flack in some quarters for this their 3 rd album. That's a shame because this is a very good album and there is the whiff of potential greatness in the wind. Producer Youth has given the band a much richer sound, with swelling choruses and polished vocals these songs should move the band from indie crowd pleasers to sell out arena tours. From the power pop opening of ' Grace ', the evocative melody of ' Friend ' to the phones in the air anthemic closing track ' Best lasts forever' ; this album is jam packed with potential singles. If the band can keep developing at this rate they could yet be one of the great British guitar bands.
Lleuwen - Tân
Reviewed by Stephen Nottingham
Lleuwen Steffan has forged a singular path with her fusion of Welsh folk and jazz. She sang with multilingual jazz group Acoustique in 2003, released a jazz-infused album of Welsh hymns in 2005 (Duw a Wyr / God Only Knows), and followed this in 2007 with a record of self-composed songs, Penmon, named after her home in Anglesey. For her new album, on the Gwymon label, Lleuwen has branched out and immersed herself in Breton culture - learning the language and performing in Breton theatre plays while living in Carhaix in Central Brittany. Tân means fire in both Welsh and Breton. It's a metaphor that runs through the album, on which Lleuwen collaborates with Vincent Guerin. They co-produce and play all the instruments; singer Lleuwen on guitar and Vincent on double bass (his preferred instrument), while they take turns on zither, drums, kitchen pans and, seemingly, anything else to hand. The record is characterized by a freedom and lightness of touch. Lleuwen contributes eight songs in her native Welsh-language and four in Breton. The poignant song Lludw (Ashes) was co-written with Guerin, while a War Varc'h d'ar Mor (Ride The Love Horse) has lyrics by the Breton poet Lan Tangi. Tachwedd (November) and Mab y Môr (Son of the Sea) are especially beautiful, with Lleuwen's soulful voice at its best against subtle and highly sympathetic accompaniment. This sounds like the start of a productive musical collaboration.
Marianne Faithfull - Horses and High Heels
Marianne Faithfull has the perfect example of a voice that portrays a life that has been lived to the max. A life that saw her going from being a sweet innocent convent girl to Mick Jagger's girlfriend and ultimately to being homeless in Soho within the space 10 years. It took her the best part of a further decade to rebuild her life before returning in 1979 with Broken English ; the mother of all comeback albums. She has always been at her best when interpreting other people's songs and this album is no exception. Horses and High Heels isn't exactly a return to her best form; however, there are a number of songs here that perfectly match her lived in voice. The opening salvo of the Gutter Twins ' The Stations' is more or less faithful to the original and she adds little to make it her own. Much better is ' That's how every empire falls' where every word is articulated to perfection and every ounce of emotion and pathos is dragged from the depths of her soul. Her take on Lesley Duncan's ' Love Song' sounds like a Pink Floyd mash up and if nothing else serves to demonstrate what a fine song it is and will hopefully bring the much neglected Lesley Duncan to a wider audience. At times pedestrian, at times frustrating and at times mesmerising; this album perfectly echoes the life lived by one of rock's finest female singers.
So the question is do we really need yet another CSN&Y inspired singer to take himself off to a deserted location, Bon Iver style, and return 6 months later with an album of epic soul laid bare acoustic songs? On the evidence of this debut from Dublin's James Vincent McMorrow, the answer is a resounding yes. Already a huge success in his homeland and nominated for the Choice Music award his album is finally released in the UK. The operative word seems to be songs and vocals that are crafted i.e. McMorrow has spent time developing his vocal style and learning how to write songs that match the quality of those that inspire him. The result is that some may find the album slightly too polished and lacking a certain authenticity. However, the standard of the songs and the quality of McMorrow's voice should overcome this nagging doubt. The album begins with ' If I had a boat' which is brilliantly structured building to a vocal climax that alone is worth the purchase price of the CD. The rest of the album doesn't quite match this level although songs such as ' We don't eat' and ' And if my heart should somehow stop' come close. This is an album that demonstrates huge potential and promise.
Teddy Thompson - Bella
Teddy Thompson has to be one of the most frustrating singers around. Musically he is honing his song writing skills and producing some fine cowboy tinged middle lane rock songs. However, the subject matter of his lyrics is holding him back from being a truly great artist. The album begins well with songs such as the recent single " The one I can't have " and " Delilah " has a great melody lifted by some soaring strings. However, lyrically he just seems unable to move away from his low self esteem or his inability to find a girl. On ' Over and Over' he declares:
" Some time ago I came up with a plan, shit on myself so no one else can "
This takes self-deprecation or perhaps I should say self-defecation to a new low! Five albums in Thompson's self- absorption has just about reached saturation point. Let's hope he either finds a partner he is happy with or failing that starts singing about something other than himself for all our sakes. Perhaps a song about his best friend Rufus Wainwright's new baby, who has DNA from Leonard Cohen, Loudon Wainwright and Kate McGarrigle might be a good place to start.
Jam With Robina - Dark Recollections
Most bands face a real dilemma with their sophomore album. Do you replicate the first, change direction or try and find a natural progression? Pontypridd's Jam with Robina have pulled no punches and gone for a grandiose Lord of the Rings style concept album full of mysticism and storytelling. If you handed me this CD and said it was by a hidden treasure from the late 1960s by a folk rock band from Canterbury I wouldn't have doubted you. On paper it could have been a grand failure, but it actually works extremely well. There is some fine guitar work, excellent vocal harmonies and solid song writing. The album begins with a spoken introduction ' prologue ' before launching into ' Forbidden Wood' a tale of mermaids, crystal balls and it has to be the first song I have ever heard that mentions snooks! "Lunatic" has a beautiful melody and is one of the many songs that are haunting or perhaps I should say that will tarry! This is an audacious and ambitious album that should help move Jam with Robina from 'pleasant folk duo' to serious contenders.
Gruff Rhys - Hotel Shampoo
When we were less than enthusiastic last year about Gruff's experimental collaboration with Tony da Gatorra we came in for some flak for questioning the emperor of Welsh indie music. However, with this album he has produced a glorious collection of songs that drip with warm pop loveliness. He is a master of pop genres and he demonstrates this by switching, with apparent ease from infectious Latin beats on Sensations in the dark to 60s pop with Christopher Columbus . Many of the tracks here are potential singles and if anything the material is as good, if not better, than the last SFA album. Last year the emperor had no clothes and we told it like it was. We are glad to say in 2011 he is fully dressed and looks resplendent in his hotel robes.
This is a new project featuring Euros Childs and Norman Blake from Teenage Fanclub. On paper this was promising and intriguing. In reality it ranges from perfect pop to undeveloped nuggets. By all accounts the pair spent time listening to late 60s psychadelia before recording the album. However, judging by the results it sounds as though they had been listening to early 70s McGuiness Flint and Ronnie Lane's Slim Chance. The album starts well enough with some glorious harmonies and gentle rolling melodies such as Candyfloss and You was me . Elsewhere the band 'rock out' on Wich is wich a song that wouldn't have sounded out of place on a Status quo album circa 1971. As the album progresses frustration sets in. An example of this is Cave dance which starts out as a very promising 60s pastiche only to deteriorate into a sludgy 10 minute 'epic'. So this is definitely a mixed bag that probably should have been edited down to an EP and more time spent developing and honing the ideas. Despite all of this there is real chemistry here and hopefully this will be an ongoing project rather than a one off.
Y Bandana - Y Bandana
The eponymous début album from Y Bandana is a lively affair. Seasoned performers, despite their teenage years, this energetic Caernarfon band are attracting young fans across Wales to their live shows. The twelve self-penned Welsh-language songs on their Copa label release Y Bandana suggest a sound knowledge of their parents' record collections; band members Sion Owens (bass), Robin Jones (drums), Tomos Owens (keyboards) and Gwilym Rhys (lead vocal and guitar) cite The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix and Arctic Monkeys among their influences. There is plenty of variety on offer. Highlights include first single Cân Y Tân, the anthemic guitar of Siwgwr Candi Mêl, the Madness-infused Wyt Ti'n Nabod Mr Pei?, the jaunty-punk of Rheda Am Dy Fywyd, and the sing-along Anturiaethau Sali Mali. The short electronic instrumental P.R.@ may be less successful, but points to a willingness to experiment. Y Bandana are musically accomplished, write catchy tunes, and have good instincts when it comes to backing vocals; they all sing harmoniously throughout and close with the humorous a cappella of Be Nawni?
Kadesha - Take One EP
We first featured Kadesha a few years ago in our new artist category. Since then her song writing and vocals have matured and with Colum Regan now in the producer's chair the quality of these recordings is a marked leap forward. The EP contains 5 songs all of which are commercial and would not sound out of place on daytime radio 2. Kadesha's sound naturally leans towards laid back, mellow folk. However, bolstered by Regan's production, on songs such as ' Whatever makes you feel happy' the music is more up tempo and driven and this could point towards her future direction.
On hearing the first few bars of the opening instrumental ' Rider to the sea' you can tell that Anna Calvi is ambitious, uncompromising and hugely talented. She has been dismissed by some as a PJ Harvey copyist and Florence sound-alike. However, this is no Brit school MOR graduate taking the easy path to success. She has some genuinely innovative and challenging material that bodes well for her longevity. Whereas much has been made about the merits or otherwise of her voice, it is her guitar playing that is perhaps the most striking aspect to the album. It is confident, self assured and immediately establishes her as one of the best and most distinctive new guitar players around. With standout tracks such as the swaggering ' I'll be your man' and the climatic ' Love won't be leaving ' she should win over more than she turns away.
CD Reviews 2011
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I'm sure I skipped a few key steps in the flow chart.
P.S. This was my day today.
Christel, did you create that flow chart, or did you find it elsewhere? It is very well done, and contains some humor that sounds very much like you.
I love this. how fun is this, well and sad.
I referred your blog for inclusion as part of the TUDiabetes blog page for the week of March 21, 2016.
LOL!! Brilliant and funny. Thanks!
Yes! Yes!Yes! I LOVE IT!! Absolutely hysterical! I find very little humor in print that grabs the reality of the T1D life, let alone a small slice of the day, and skeweres it to the wall so delightfully! Thank you Cristel!
Brilliant! Didn't realise I do all that several times per day! Have shared on facebook.
Fantastic .. what a fabulous work .. brightest possible smile on my face, Christel 🙂 .. cannot resist to share, at least on facebook. Merci!!
Being the Dad of some with diabetes I never really understood what it meant to have it. Thanks so much for showing it in a way my engineers brain could get it.


text:
Power sources get flexible
By Chemistry World2011-04-07T09:35:00+01:00
A high energy density, non-toxic battery for malleable electrochemical applications
US scientists have designed an ultra-thin, flexible battery with the highest charge capacity reported for thin film cells. The battery can also be charged at a lower voltage than lithium ion batteries.
Flexible batteries offer advantages over more rigid systems as they can be incorporated into many modern devices, from powering up limb prostheses to detection systems for cracks and strains in concrete structures, for example. But electrochemical energy sources for the batteries are plagued by toxicity, the risk of explosive flammability and physical bulkiness.
Daniel Lowy from FlexEl, a company in Maryland that develops rechargeable batteries made from thin films, and Martin Peckerar from the University of Maryland, and colleagues, have developed a thin galvanic cell that is safe to use and non-toxic because it doesn't corrode in electrolyte media.
The team made the cathode by blending RuO2?nH2O nanoparticles and activated carbon with a supporting electrolyte made of zinc and ammonium chloride, and a perfluorinated polymer binder. The resulting paste was spread out on a flexible and conductive current collector (a graphite film). A thin zinc sheet served as the anode and the whole assembly was packaged between sheets of flexible plastic.
The flexible power source is made of a zinc anode on top of a RuO2.nH2O/activated carbon cathode surrounded by packaging and sealing materials
'While the usefulness of RuO2 as an electrode material in supercapacitors is well documented, its use in galvanic cells has almost been neglected because of its perceived high cost,' says Lowy.
To test the corrosion resistance of the cell, the team used different electrolytes of varying pH. They found that using a moderately acidic electrolyte prevented the electrode materials and package sealing materials dissolving, while enabling the electroactive reactions to proceed close to equilibrium. When they tested the life cycle of the battery, they found that the cells undergo over 400 charge-discharge cycles. 'We can maintain up to 85 per cent of the capacity over 300 cycles. Over the next 100 cycles, the capacity decays gradually to 20 per cent of its initial value,' says Lowy.
'The galvanic cell's electrochemical performance exceeds that of lithium ion batteries,' says Mojtaba Mirzaeian, an expert in electrochemical energy storage at the University of Strathclyde. He finds it interesting that using a ruthenium oxide-based cathode can be applied to developing a hybrid energy storage and power supply system.
'The mechanical flexibility and malleability of our cell will have a positive impact on miniaturisation. Imagine, for example, an ultra-thin battery moulded to the case of a laptop! Clearly, this will enable more room for the electronic payload,' adds Lowy.
Carl Saxton
Link to journal article
A novel high energy density flexible galvanic cellMartin Peckerar, Zeynep Dilli, Mahsa Dornajafi, Neil Goldsman, Yves Ngu, Robert B. Proctor, Benjamin J. Krupsaw and Daniel A. Lowy,?Energy Environ. Sci., 2011, 4, 1807DOI:10.1039/c1ee01075a