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Home » Arena Rock » Disturbed, Three Days Grace On Fire In Philadelphia
Disturbed, Three Days Grace On Fire In Philadelphia
By Kristyn Clarke February 19, 2019 February 21, 2019 Arena Rock, Features, Hard Rock, Rock
Disturbed [© Matt Bishop Photo]
(TRR) – Last night, metal titans Disturbed and special guests Three Days Grace rocked a near-capacity crowd at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, PA. We can't help but feel that the Evolution Tour is the absolute perfect way, to sum up just how far a band like Disturbed has come in their career. The band's latest album release Evolution (Reprise/Warner Bros. Records) is their seventh studio album, and has more than proven that the band are showing no signs of slowing down. Each LP has further proven shown just how much the band has matured over the years.
But we have to note that looking back to the release of Disturb's debut album The Sickness back in 2000 they have also managed to maintain the same level of raw energy and aggression within their music and are able to show the world that if we all band together as a family and use music as weapon against all that tries to hold us down then we can overcome nearly anything life throws our way.
Once frontman David Draiman takes the stage, he immediately commandeers the audience and leaves us hypnotized from beginning to end. We were also thrilled that during the band's set on this tour long time band members bassist John Moyer and drummer Mike Wengren got some time to shine giving us two incredible solos and further showcasing their stellar musicianship. Of course, let's not forget to guitarist Dan Donegan who can shred with the very best of them blows us away every time.
It seems like over the last few years we have sadly witnessed an alarming amount of loss within the rock world with the tragic deaths of both Chester Bennington, Scott Weiland and of course Chris Cornell and only recently we just lost Pantera/Hellyeah legendary drummer Vinnie Paul and throughout their career Disturbed has shared the bill with all of these artists. We can't even begin to imagine their grief at losing their friends and fellow musicians in ways that may have been prevented.
During their set, Disturbed paid an amazing tribute to those taken from us too soon with a heartfelt performance of "Hold On To Memories" with various images from throughout their career flashing on the large screen behind the stage. The song was followed by a message from Draiman reminding everyone that help is out there and showcasing the phone numbers for both the drug abuse and suicide prevention hotlines. The band continued their moving tribute by relocating to a B-stage donned with small wooden benches and candles in the back of the arena to perform "A Reason To Fight" and "Watch You Burn."
The band then made their way back to the main stage to play a gorgeous rendition of their haunting cover of the Simon & Garfunkel classic "The Sound Of Silence" complete with fog effects and a flaming piano. It was without a doubt a visual spectacular. They then kept the visuals going with flames falling down from the ceiling lighting up the entire stage when they broke into "Indestructible" and "Inside The Fire" to close out the main set.
Over the course of the evening, we heard many fans in the audience around us reminiscing about their favorite memories of seeing both Disturbed and show openers Three Days Grace live, as well as, the early music of both bands. It made us truly realize just how huge of a music catalog there is for both of these bands. Many fans talking about their dream set list and we can say with certainty that they were not disappointed by either band on the Evolution Tour.
Three Days Grace [© Matt Bishop Photo]
The crowd was amped and ready to rock and Three Days Grace was the perfect choice to kick things off into high gear. Once they took the stage they never once slowed down and the crowd went absolutely wild for songs such as "Pain," "Break," "Animal I've Become," and of course their showstopper "Riot." We haven't seen that many mosh pits and crowd surfers in the Wells Fargo Center for years and gosh, was it a refreshing sight to see.
Both Three Days Grace and Disturbed did a wonderful job of engaging the audience and several times throughout their sets both bands ran right out into the crowd to get up close and personal with fans and we adore seeing that kind of connection taking place.
We overheard one guy in the audience in front of us complaining during Disturbed's set that Draiman's speech about those we have lost as being a downer and it made us want to throw him down in the mosh pit. People need to understand that more awareness needs to be made to these kinds of situations and we think that Disturbed is doing a fantastic job of doing their part and sending out the message to the masses. We were all incredibly moved, except that guy, we guess! Ah, well, you can't win em' all. The band's big focus was on ways to evolve and using music as a weapon to unite has always been a big theme for the band and it rings truer today than ever before.
What we took away from this show was Disturb's message of hope and unity and amazing stage theatrics and Three Days Grace's addictive energy. That's not to say that Disturbed has slowed down, but back in their younger days it was raw aggression and now it has become slightly toned down, but we feel that comes along with maturity as a band. There is a different type of intensity pouring forth from Disturbed. They continue to "evolve," hence the Evolution album and tour, and it is working out beautifully for them.
The Evolution Tour for us was like taking a walk down memory lane, especially with the early material from both bands and as Draiman pointed out – music is the fiber that connects us to certain points in our lives and we truly feel a sense of family and belonging while watching these two amazing bands perform. The show exceeded our expectations and was an incredibly moving and visually spectacular night.
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Tagged concert review, disturbed, Three Days Grace.
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SPEECH BY ER DR LEE BEE WAH, MP FOR NEE SOON GRC, AT THE 2ND READING OF THE HEALTHCARE SERVICES BILL IN PARLIAMENT Mr Speaker Sir, With the rise in demand for various healthcare services and the rapidly changing landscape in medicine, it is indeed timely that this Bill is introduced. This is especially with the growing number of elderly persons in our population which would increase the demand for certain services. I note that the Bill would introduce a services-based licensing regime to replace the one that is premises-based licensing.....
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Speech by Mr. Louis Ng Kok Kwang, MP for Nee Soon GRC at the Second Reading of the Healthcare Services Bill 2019 (Bill No. 37/2019) Introduction Sir, I stand in support of the Bill. The update is timely. In the 39 years since the Private Hospitals and Medical Clinics Act was enacted, the healthcare landscape has seen significant changes, including a shift toward digital and online services. At the same time, Singapore faces an ageing population and an increased prevalence of chronic diseases.....
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Speech by Mr. Louis Ng Kok Kwang, MP for Nee Soon GRC at the Second Reading of the Banking (Amendment) Bill 2019 (Bill No. 35/2019) Introduction Sir, I stand in support of the Bill. The amendments, which update the Banking Act have been through two rounds of consultations. The MAS has also published a detailed response to feedback received on the proposed amendments. I commend the transparency and rigour of MAS' consultation process. I am heartened that increasingly we see not just public consultations on Bills but also detailed responses to the feedback received.....
StanChart Marathon, Mynas in Yishun and Medisave appeals
Parliamentary Questions from Er Dr Lee Bee Wah on 6 Jan 2020 1) To ask the Minister for Culture, Community and Youth with regard to the massive traffic jams caused during the 2019 Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon held from 29 November to 1 December 2019 (a) on what grounds have the road closure and diversion plans been approved; (b) whether consideration has been given to the three other major events happening downtown that weekend; and (c) how does the Ministry intend to review and enhance regulations and requirements for such future events.....
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Here's how NASA will recover the Artemis I Orion capsule in the Pacific
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After pedaling his bike to the island's dunes in Melbourne Beach, Florida Institute of Technology Professor J. Travis Hunsucker saw the powerful Diana 1 moon rocket travel a fiery arc across the sky after midnight last month, flashing into a small dot on the top. Atlantic Ocean.
Now, the o*cean, assistant professor of engineering and marine sciences, told the amphibious transport fleet USS Portland in San Diego. On Sunday, he will help predict and analyze wave dynamics to guide NASA officials as they recover the Orion rocket's broken capsule after it splashed into the Pacific Ocean.
"It's like, whoa. I saw this vehicle drop from the horizon on our beach. We see these beautiful images of the moon's orbit. And then, you'll see it come into the well deck after four weeks," Hunsucker said, referring to the lower level of the ship that will be flooded to load the box sails.
"On the other side of the United States of America I saw the future of the same engineering article, reading it in the ocean," he said.
More:Artemis 1: NASA's Orion breaks records in mid-track for deep space travel
More:NASA: Artemis rocket 'eye-watering' power damage to Mobile Launcher at KSC
The 321-foot Artemis I rocket blasted into the sky on Nov. 16 from pad 39B at the Kennedy Space Center, lifting the undeveloped Orion capsule on an epic 1.3-mile trek looping twice around the moon.
Concluding the 25½-day mission, Artemis' Orion capsule will slow from a dizzying 25,000 mph – nearly a dozen times faster than a gun bullet – to 300 mph after entering Earth's atmosphere. The heat shield of the capsule must reach 5,000 degrees Celsius or twice the temperature of the molten lava.
After deploying a series of parachutes, NASA engineers predict the 11-by-16-foot capsule will slow to about 20 mph before falling to the ground and striking the surface of the sea in sight of the distressed recovery ship, 50 to 60 nautical miles from San Diego. coast
In the splashdown, Melissa Jones, NASA's Artemis descent and recovery director, said, "we're going crazy with the capsule," as pieces of cast iron that could sink deep into the ocean. This includes the space envelope of the front bay envelope ring, which protects parachutes and other soft goods during reentry.
"NASA has data on everything. And we'll also have a crew on the next mission. So this flight test is key for us to get the data back," said Jones.
Comprised of approximately 95 people, the Orion landing and recovery team includes on-board amphibious technicians piloting inflatable boats; NASA engineers and technicians from KSC and the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas; Air Force severe weather; and Lockheed Martin Space Operations personnel. A team of helicopters from nearby Naval Air Station North Island will provide aerial coverage.
Portland will approach the bobbing Orion and use different sensors to "check the smell" for hydrazine or ammonia leaking from the capsule, Jones said. Then Navy personnel pulled the lines to the Orion and flooded the ship's well with about 6 feet of seawater, a tow rope floating in space through a stern port lowered into a specially designed cradle.
Later, Portland will transport the capsule to a pier at Naval Base San Diego.
Jones said the primary splashdown site is located in the navy's lecture area — a move designed to keep recreational boats at bay. In August 2020, the private spacecraft will launch and launch the SpaceX Crew Dragon attempt after landing in the Gulf of Mexico near Pensacola with astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley.
The Orion crew module is designed to carry four astronauts to deep space on future missions within a habitable space of 330 cubic feet. Jones said Sunday that the recovery team is still driving to try to recover the three main parachute capsules for scientific analysis.
Jones said the recovery team had about six hours to collect samples and photos and conduct evaluations and collect evidence before towing the untreated casing into the well. This will include approximately 1½ hours of footage documenting the condition of the heat shield before it reaches anything inside Portland.
Three mannequins were equipped with Orion sensors for the purpose of testing. On the other hand, Artemis II launched four astronauts into a lunar rover.
Liliana Villarreal, who will direct NASA's capsule-recovery mission for that mission, said the Artemis II astronauts will be launched in open water from the Orion crater before the crew module is submerged in the Navy ship – and the astronauts must return to the ship's medical bay within two hours.
"It's completely different. We'll have a lot of equipment there to turn it off before we can do it," Villarreal said. "Interfaces with the suits are the crew that make us connect to disconnect the rate to get out of the vehicle safely."
Jones: The NASA leadership career was 'in my blood'.
Jones was born and raised in Oak Hill, a small Volusia County city of about 2,000 residents on US 1 just north of KSC and the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge.
Because of his family's deep ties to Cape, he suspects his NASA career is "in my blood." As a kid, he thought space travel was normal: "I kind of grew up thinking that walking into the front yard and looking up at the launch was normal, I guess."
"My grandfather was a security guard at KSC, and my grandmother worked in a gift shop. My father was a program manager at Titan. What kind of NASA inspector was my mother," said Jones.
While attending the University of Central Florida, Jones recorded receiving a phone call in February 2003 from his mother, Sue Hutchinson, who was standing at the 15,000-foot Radius Landing Facility waiting for the Columbia shuttle to return to Cape Town.
And he called me and woke me up, saying: "Get up and put my words." She herself had hung up. And he went out there the rest of the day, "Iones recalled.
Columbia tragically broke up during atmospheric reentry over Texas, killing all seven astronauts.
In January 2004, Jones joined NASA's Space Shuttle program as a contractor on its return flight mission, which ended with the successful launch of Discovery in July 2005. From 2007, he was born to engineer a lead orbiter for the shuttle.
Jones is NASA's first KSC-based recovery capsule: its Apollo-era counterparts are based in Texas at the Johnson Space Center in Houston.
"I'm really the first person who's ever done this job before — and we haven't done it in over 50 years. It's an honor to be chosen to do this," Jones said.
"The foundation of the space was laid by my family, and I will continue the legacy. And I hope my kids see that, and they also want to continue," he said.
Splashdown weather, waves are major factors
Hunsucker spent the days leading up to Sunday's breakdown working on a wave forecast along the coast of San Diego, where the Pacific swell can spread across a wide swath of the world from Alaska to the Southern Hemisphere.
Over the past four years, I have been examining Orion-recovery wave forecasting with the Johnson Space Center meteorology group, particularly NASA's recovery exercises, using toy capsules. A critical part of his job: Position Portland to minimize waves inside the ship's well.
"You have this 700-foot-long ship that's been hit by waves. It starts running. Inside the ship, it's well laid out. It also has waves that are generated by the motion of the ship," Hunsucker said. he said.
"My role is to understand how ocean waves affect the motion of a ship, how the motion of a well-decked ship affects waves, and in turn how well-decked crew modules affect them," he said.
NASA's Orion recovery team completed a three-day "final review" exercise at sea last week aboard the ship in Portland using a capsule mockup. Jones Johnson Space Center personnel said they will choose the site for Sunday's splashdown based on weather conditions and flight regulations that feature "sea state" requirements for wave action and "high winds" signals for the parachutes to function properly.
If conditions are favorable, Orion could alternatively splash as far south as the Catalina Islands near Los Angeles, NASA Flight Director Judd Frieling said during the briefing Monday. Or Orion could land "shortly" about 1,000 nautical miles south of San Diego. This trio of splashdown locations is described as a Plan A/Plan B/Plan C menu of options.
Balloons attached to a red box are prominent features of the crew's module system rolling among ocean waves, said Carla Rekucki, director of test lead with NASA's Ground Systems Exploration Program.
Hunsucker, who works under contract with Jacobs Technology, said the Portland capital also depends on the shape and direction of incoming waves. He likened the exercise to pushing a vehicle through a parking lot littered with sledgehammers.
"I think everyone hopes we land well on a calm, flat, calm day," Hunsucker said.
Watch it live on floridatoday.com
NASA's Orion capsule is expected to splashdown at 12:40 pm EST Sunday, Dec. 11. Live coverage on floridatoday.com starting at 11 am
Rick Neale is the South Brevard Watchdog Reporter at FLORIDA TODAY (for more stories, click here.) Contact Neale at 321-242-3638 or rneale@floridatoday.com. Twitter: @RickNeale1
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I want to replace a part of my Gcode.
I can't simply replace the F1800.000 because it is used in other parts. I only want to replace the F1800.000 with F90.000 in the lines with Z. The number behind the Z also changes.
So for the example. The first line has to change but the second line has to be the same.
Where's the mistake? It doesn't change anything. Do I have to change the search method?
Do I have to change the search method?
with the regular expression it also doesn't change what I want.
Is the Find and Replace that I use correct?
so I don't know if it is expected or just an error.
we can definitively say what is going wrong.
But your find/replace should work as well.
Thank you so much Claudia.


Today's play hasn't been conventional. We have been part of the audience of a talent show called "Do You Want To Be A Star?". During the recording, we have been witnesses of how a TV programme works and what's behind the cameras. It has been a really interesting experience!!!


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We learn how a small group of dedicated NSA insiders tried to prevent massive data security violations years before Snowden was hired by the NSA. Leading media refused to print their story under pressure from the Bush White House. Watch this program.


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Granger Smith's #1 "Backroad Song" Is No Victory for Texas Country
Trigger Random Notes 89 Comments
It was inevitable. Granger Smith's first major mainstream single "Backroad Song" was going to go #1. After being chosen last October as the first single from his upcoming album Remington, and then being selected to receive the "On The Verge" treatment from iHeartMedia, it would have been more of a story if "Backroad Song" had not hit #1. "On The Verge" is a program that guarantee's spins for a song across iHeartMedia's country music radio network, virtually cementing a song's #1 place.
It was a personal victory for Granger when "Backroad Song" officially hit #1 last week. Despite being a new name and a fresh face to many in the mainstream, Granger has been around regularly releasing records since 2004 in the Texas scene, scratching and clawing for attention, and splitting sides with his alter ego Earl Dibbles Jr. It's been a slow and steady march to the top for Granger, but he finally made it.
But what's the fun of getting to the top when you've compromised everything to get there? Despite some declaring the #1 for "Backroad Song" as a victory for Texas country, it is anything but. It was Granger's abandonment of Texas country and the values of that scene, and walking away from the decent songwriting evidenced earlier in his career that finally got him the commercial success he has clearly craved over the last few years.
In getting to #1, Granger ditched Thirty Tigers—the label/distribution company for many other Texas country artists including Randy Rogers Band, Jason Boland and the Stragglers, Aaron Watson, The Josh Abbott Band, and the Turnpike Troubadours—and went with the newly-minted imprint of Broken Bow Records (Jason Aldean, Randy Houser) called Wheelhouse Records. There's nothing Texas about Granger Smith's #1 except that Texas was the scene he left behind to get there. It's a shallow victory, if a victory at all; like proclaiming Kelsea Ballerini's #1's for purely pop songs at the top of the country charts as a victory for female artists.
And the song is terrible. "Backroad Song" is as Bro-Country and list-errific as they come. Bro-Country is dead, but helped by "On The Verge," it has seen a remarkable resurgence on the radio via Granger. And the use of Auto-Tune may never have been more egregious in a studio track than it is here. Anything that might be akin to what people think of when they think of Texas country was scrubbed from "Backroad Song" unceremoniously.
READ: Granger Smith is "On The Verge" of Becoming the Next Bro-Country Sensation
Texas country is in no way perfect, and certainly has a deep and rich history of many of its artists trying to sell out to gain more support for their careers and families, traveling to Nashville in pursuit of the bigger deal, and usually turning back around with a bad story to tell after a few albums. And yes, one of the defining elements of the Texas country sound is a softening of edges, and a sensible approach to country music instead of strong, ingrained roots and hard country honky tonk sounds. But "Backroad Song" is in an entirely different stratosphere, and neither it nor Granger should be mentioned in the same breath as the Lone Star State to distinguish him from the sound and influence of Nashville.
If you want to hear what Texas country sounds like, go listen to the aforementioned Thirty Tigers artists mentioned above, or artists like Wade Bowen and Stoney LaRue. "Backroad Song" is purely a machination of Nashville and Music Row from an artists looking to get popular at all costs.
Aaron Watson, Backroad Song, Broken Bow Records, Granger Smith, Jason Boland and the Stragglers, Randy Rogers Band, Stoney LaRue, The Josh Abbott Band, Thirty Tigers, Turnpike Troubadours, Wade Bowen
Holler and swaller!
brett colsen
It's all bought and paid for,,the song is never a factor in the equation. Same goes for Stapleton.
Gawd it's just the same song over and over and over again…
Like 10+
And the same song they are all ripping off is "God Gave Me You" by Dave Barnes. I swear every other modern country song on the radio has that vibe.
A couple of years ago my wife and I went to a concert in Nashville. The concert was Randy Rogers Band, Wade Bowen, Josh Abbott Band, & Stoney LaRue. It sold out. There was people at the door who couldn't get tickets. People were offering 2 to 3 times the face value of the tickets if someone would give their tickets up. Point being that was a win for Texas country and in my opinion real country music. Some schizophrenic clown from Texas who just happens to get radio play is not a victory.
Aside from Josh Abbot, that is a pretty damn solid lineup. I just can't stand Abbot the person and human being, guy seems like a total sleezeball.
BrettS
I saw that show too. Only in Tuscaloosa. It was damn fine. I believe they called it the " Four on the Floor" tour. They hit several places over this direction and along the east coast. I love all those bands with maybe Abbott being my least favorite. I've seen them all many times and every time I'm always the most impressed with Wade. He always is on point and sounds even better live then on albums.
I think this is called selling out?
Nice write up Trigg. Same story for the Eli Young Band and it seems that Sam Riggs has taken that route with his new album. Was actually disappointed about Sam Riggs there was some genuine talent show in his prior efforts.
Lots of great young talent in the Texas Music scene (William Clark Green, Shane Smith, Dalton Domino, John Baumann, etc) right now but it was inevitable that the Bro-country/EDM infection would spread down here eventually.
Yeah, the new Sam Riggs album is pretty damn depressing. Though, honestly I wasn't blown away by his first album either. Best stuff he ever put out was that EP from a couple years ago that had "Six Feet Under" and the like.
I counted about 2-3 decent songs on the new Riggs album, led by Second Hand Smoke, but that's about it. The rest of the album is all aimed at trying to get played between the FGL, Bryan, etc/ on Texas radio stations. Quite sad, because like you I think Riggs has some talent as a songwriter that we have only seen hints of.
Spencer H
I had never heard of Sam Riggs until this week, but I am really enjoying his new CD, with the exception of one or two songs. I love the fiddle and steel guitar that is present throughout his CD. I also feel like his voice reminds me a lot of Lonestar and his music reminds me of late 90s early 2000s country. I'll be the first to admit, though, that I don't mind a little pop in my country (to an extent).
Honestly, I love stuff from all over the Country/Americana board. I love stuff from the old greats (especially Willie, Johnny Paycheck, David Allen Coe, Johnny Cash, etc.) to current traditionalists like Whitey Morgan, Sturgill Simpson, Eric Strickland, etc. But I also enjoy a lot of stuff that's been played on radio (although it's been harder and harder to find good country at radio over the last couple years).
I guess my bottom line is that I do enjoy a lot of radio country, but at the same time I absolutely love more traditional-leaning country, which is why I am so thankful for sites like this that can point me in the right direction of good new music.
I really liked his previous stuff. I would never call "Outrun the Sun" pure hard charging country, but I thought it was very solid and true to itself both lyrically and sonically. He has great vocals and lots of talent on a variety of instruments (not many lead vocalists play their own fiddle), but the new album hasn't impressed me outside of a few songs. Very disappointing and frustrating.
Yeah, new Sam Riggs is awful.
Smith's sound has changed somewhat, but basically he is the same artist. He smoothed whatever little "edge" he had when he went to Nashville, but I honestly don't see a big change in him. You can call it selling out if you want, but let's remember that Granger Smith was never really a "serious" Texas artist. He was in the same company as some tool like Kyle Park or Casey Donahew, guys who basically made diet-Nashpop Country and sold it to the Texas audience by promoting their Texas "roots" and name dropping some Texas town in a couple songs.
Hell, prior to landing a record deal in Nashville, Granger Smith was probably better known as the dude who made the Earl Dibbles Jr. YouTube videos.
I can about guarantee he's STILL better known as Earl Dibbles Jr., and probably will be for the rest of history.
Yeah I have a lot of friends on fbook that are always sharing Earl Dibbles quotes. I would guarantee u that they have no clue who Granger Smith is.
I was going to bring Facebook into this as anecdotal evidence, I will now. 16 friends like Earl Dibbles Jr., five like Granger Smith. I think that means something.
That's right, Spoony. I love Dibble's FB page, and it has thousands of followers/likes. If you peruse his quotes, especially going back to the last couple of years, he has some hilarious stuff.
Backroad song is my guilty pleasure
Fuzzy TwoShirts
The music is great, I gotta come out and say it. I think the score is great, overproduced, but it wouldn't be so bad with a bit of proper arrangement. The melody to the verse is enjoyable, but the chorus is really dumb. Lyrics suck too.
That said, the problem isn't the content or quality of the song, it represents something bigger. The problem is a metaphorical throwing-under-the-bus of traditions, and more importantly, existing fanbases by artists who are pursuing the dollar.
Zac Brown did it, Gary Allan did it, and TBP did it. They all walked away from their existing sound, and they drove their fanbases away in droves. Sturgill could be next, if his HBO theme is any indicator.
We may have a deeper problem of musicians who are only here for fame and money, and the people who actually care about the art have been sidelines altogether. The sheer number of sellouts is overwhelming, and the manufacturing (and more importantly, marketing) has become more important than quality.
The music industry may well be overrun by interlopers who want the spoils the industry has to offer, and the people who built the industry may have to just wait until the inevitable implosion to try and rebuild.
Nadia Lockheart
And the follow-up to Joe Nichols' "Yeah" 2.0 isn't any better either.
"If The Boot Fits" (one of two songs Smith didn't write on his forthcoming album) has been announced his next single, and it is a straight-up, generic bro-country hook-up song.
I'll reserve judgement on "Remington" as a whole until after I've heard it, especially since Smith insisted there will be plenty of deeper cuts on the album. But when you already have this, "If The Boot Fits", and two other tracks from the "4X4" EP that I consider ranging from unnecessarily lame and schmaltzy ("Tailgate Town") to outright embarrassing ("Tonight") constituting four of the fifteen tracks…………………..it just isn't worth purchasing a full-length album to slog through that claptrap even if the other remaining eleven tracks are solid or at least enjoyable ("City Boy Stuck").
And you're right: this has no place in the same sentence as Texas country just like the Eli Young Band's horrendous recent EP and Pat Green's misguided "What I'm For" era before retracing his footsteps.
I was curious as to whether or not "If the Boot Fits" was written by Granger because it sounds so underwhelming. I feel like that's a track that Granger was forced to cut because it would be good radio fodder. I really hope it's not representative of his album either.
As much as I dislike "Backroad Song", at the very least I can admit it thematically fits right into his wheelhouse. Though Smith's back catalog is marked by its share of deeper songs he has, as a whole, kept it simple on his choice of themes and "Backroad Song" isn't really a deviation from that lyrically (though the "Ooooohhh ooooohhh oooohhhhs" and vague hip-hop cadence are stylistic deviations).
"If The Boot Fits" doesn't even achieve that. It SCREAMS written-by-committee
the pistolero
I carped to high heaven back in the day about Pat Green's Nashville output, but…Man. "Backroad Song" makes even the worst of that sound like the second coming of Jason Boland and the Stragglers in comparison.
"Tonight" is even worse than "Backroad Song". =P
At the very least, "Backroad Song" doesn't smack as particularly puerile in its lyrics and presentation. Just shamelessly milquetoast more than anything.
But with "Tonight", you could swap it out with something out of Cole Swindell or Chase Rice's catalogs, and you wouldn't even notice the difference. KC Lights? Check! Diamond plates! Check! Fireball (cited as "fire in a cup" in this case). Check! Getting horny over a country girl by the end of the second verse? Double check! And obviously doubling down on the "Put your hands up!" and "Whoa oh oh!" cadences! =P
Well that's just a shame. I'll be sure to stay far away from that!
BrandonWard
My God. As if having to hear the same old song regurgitated by a different artist week in and week out isnt't bad enough, please tell me I'm not the only one completely sick and tired of these stupid "lyric videos". When did this become the accepted norm for artist? I never wanted to think of 35 as being old, but I long for the days of a "classic" video in the vein of The Thunder Rolls. Then again, I guess it shows the simplicity of the artist when they completely misinterpret the concept of using a music video to tell a story.
I have seen multiple negative comments about lyric videos.
I have no problem with lyric videos whatsoever.
Probably because I care about going for length in my fecal stool much, much more than I care about music videos–of any kind.
Lyric videos are actually most helpful when reviewing songs, and you need to know exactly what the lyrics are when the vocals are muddled or unintelligible (or the audio quality is diminished)
Granger Smith does have a regular video for this song as well. One of the reasons I usually post lyric videos in my reviews is because I think it helps people focus more on the lyrics rather than the images, so they can reference the lyrics as they're listening to the song, etc. etc. I don;t especially like them or hate them, but for review purposes they are a better illustration to a song than a full action video, unless the full action video is worth a damn, which it usually isn't.
Simply put, lyric videos are the modern day equivalent of putting lyrics in the album booklet. With nobody buying physical copies of albums anymore, there's nowhere to find the "official" lyrics to songs except lyric videos.
Tezca
They also serve as a close caption kinda thing for those who may have hearing problems too.
This is one of the worst songs in country music history in my opinion given its success. 5-10 years ago I may have felt different about it. But to write a song like that today out of the blue is like getting on your knees and getting deep throated by the long dick of mainstream country music.
WhiskeyKiloRoute
LOL!! Well put!
There is absolutely nothing I can add to this post but to say, "Well said as always, Trigger."
Well, one thing: I think it would be interesting to see just who (other than Granger Smith ass-kissers ) is proclaiming this as some kind of victory for Texas country.
I saw a few posts either in the title or the verbiage that gave Granger or Texas country credit for the win. The point here was not necessarily to call those outlets out so I don't feel comfortable linking to them. I more wanted to clarify my perspective.
Oh, that's fine! I was just curious. I could probably guess at least a couple of them…
This song was on the EP released a few months ago. I'm curious to hear the other songs on the album to see if it is all like this. I've been a fan of Granger for a while. Hoping this is the exception on the album, but have a feeling it's probably not.
Following the footsteps of Brian Davis, another sellout to bro country.
FLYINGBURRITO2486
I saw Brian Davis open for Blackberry Smoke. Very weird choice for an opener. Their set was pretty bad. Met him after the show and can say he was a nice dude, but his show came off as a knockoff Brantley Gilbert.
We dis music award shows–until somebody we like wins.
We dis radio play lists–until somebody we like gets heavy rotation.
Aren't all who swim in polluted water tainted?
I say fuck'em all. It ought to be like Olympic boxing: if you have been played on a major media outlet 15 times or more–or won an ACM or CMA award–then, see ya. Buh-bye. Go play a nice game of hide and go fuck yourself.
ElectricOutcast
Off topic but what did you guys think of Jack Ingram's "Wherever You Are" as a song because it hit number one but what got me curious I found a few of his hardcore fans accusing him of selling out. I got his older stuff and I think it holds up with it.
FeedThemHogs
Great Song
I thought "Wherever You Are" was fine. Where Jack Ingram lost me was "Lips of an Angel."
Jake W
No it just sucks along with Casey Donahue and the aforementioned diet Nashville pop.
Two other thoughts here.
Firstly, in hindsight, Smith's Earl Dibbles Jr. alter-ego looks like a gift and a curse.
On one hand, despite the line between the artist Granger Smith and the running gag that is Earl Dibbles Jr. becoming ever blurred since Smith started pandering to hypertrends………….I still enjoy the Earl Dibbles Jr. character sketches and videos. They still hold up on their own even as Granger has decided to manifest the parody.
On the other hand, I'm most convinced the massive success of the Earl Dibbles Jr. act is what's most responsible for Granger getting greedy. It eclipsed his own success, and he apparently thought the only way to stand out independently from that as a serious artist was…………….not being an artist and pandering to the lowest common denominator.
That's the thing with alter-egos. When they attain the upper hand, they can greatly risk defining YOU entirely. Leonard Nimoy is a perfect example. Anyone who knows him well knows his personal life is replete with extraordinary accomplishments, marks of immense character and integrity and other compelling creative side projects including his empathetic photography. But the insane popularity of Dr. Spock has kind of held his legacy hostage to the extent he usually gets addressed as Spock instead of Leonard.
Secondly, why does Smith even feel the need to pander to these hypertrends in the first place?
It just seems rather odd to me to see someone who has been recording music for over a decade, and has been performing it even longer……………to suddenly, at age 36, wake up and think: "Oh no, time is running out! I got to get in on those KC light shinin', hot country girl wooing trends before it's too late!".
It's much more understandable when you see youthful up-and-coming newcomers rely on those cliches with their debut singles. That's forgivable. But what point does it serve those with established track records exactly? What, are we going to expect seeing Smith drop "Spring Break" EPs at age 40 next?
I mean, Smith has definitely paid his dues and if he simply wants more name recognition and money, no problem. More power to you. But I'm just questioning how his offerings from "Remington" are even going to fulfill that goal for him. Despite his established fanbase in Texas, I won't be the least surprised if "Remington" has a most woeful chart debut much like Canaan Smith and Kelsea Ballerini's albums because they'll see through the shallow facade. All while the likes of Blackberry Smoke and Joey + Rory are topping the country albums charts off of doing what they do best.
Yes, I think Granger Smith may have Earl Dibbles Jr. envy.
Perhaps when he had kids, he felt like he needed to do everything he could to provide well for them. Not that he couldn't do that already, but maybe that's the Devil's advocate perspective.
(sigh) That's actually a reasonable, sound consideration.
Having admitted that, though, I don't see his albums and singles under this new capitulation to mainstream trends covering the costs of childcare and kindergarten enrollment. That's going to come through corporate tie-ins through his tours and merchandise. Which, of course, may be why he felt the need to take the leap! =/
Convict Charlie
Before backroad song was even out aeg had picked up the rest of his tour for open dates. I seen him in a local club in October maybe 450 there. I know most of the major country fans in the area and I don't think I recognized ten people at the show. He did some good covers Garth, Keith Whitley if I recall, and George strait (run since I remember tweeting Anthony smith). Now he's booked for the local radio station show in June where there will be 20k there. the closer is billy currington who couldn't even sell out the other club that holds 1,500 last year.
Well, to play devil's advocate in turn, one could bring up Aaron Watson. He has a wife and kids too, and I'm sure he'd like to provide for them just like Granger Smith wants to provide for his family. And you see how radically different their respective approaches were. They yielded different results, to be sure, but I think Aaron Watson's approach probably worked out better when everything is taken into consideration.
Nash Fargoâ"¢
Seems to me there may be a lot more money in Dibbles than in Smith. Creating a "character" that people love is very difficult. Many have tried and failed.
If he was me, I would focus on Dibbles, and sprinkle the "good stuff" all thru the show, educating the fans, and tugging the hearts.
But then, I may be a little touched in the head 😉
Off topic- but I just want to say Nadia that I really enjoy reading your comments and I'm glad I get to.
I should be paying Nadia for the intelligence, depth, and insight.
I have seen Granger twice in concert, one time in college then the other was a few months after graduation. I liked his music then even though it was right when his music went from deeper sounding to what it is now. The first show had mostly the deeper songs with Earl Dibbles doing The Country Boy song, then the next show was all the new clichés and no more songs like Living Like a Lonestar, I'm Wearing Black and etc. It is a shame he didn't keep his original sound. I met him both times however and he is a great guy. Hopefully he will go back to his original sound soon as I can't even listen to the newer stuff.
Good for him hope he's getting that good money instead of that crap Texas money
PETE MARSHALL
I don't really care for this song and Granger Smith was 4th artist that have abandoned Texas country. Pat Green and Jack Ingram which they both came back to Texas Country, Eli Young Band put out couple horrible songs I heard they will go back to their roots on their next cd. Randy Rogers Band made 4 mainstream cd's but they kept it Texas country, Cross Canadian Ragweed made 5 mainstream cd's and kept it Red Dirt/Texas country, Sunny Sweeny made two mainstream country cd's with 1 top 10 hit and after she was dropped from Big Machine she came to Texas Country with her excellent cd "Provoked", and Josh Abbott Band had an Ep on Atlantic Records eh I leave it like that.
MOVE! THAT! BUS!
This is like putting out a disco song in 1982.
Doesn't somebody have to buy a song for it to go to #1? And you say this song is #1? If you ask me, the fact that some guy cut this song isn't half as scary as the fact that a lot of people bought it.
#1 on the country airplay chart, which only measures radio play. But it did go to #4 in country sales.
Ah! Thanks for the explanation. I feel a little better — it's been painfully obvious for a long time how dumb the gods of country airplay are. Still, the #4 sales figure is scary enough.
Studley Dudley
Love me some bro-country. Love Backroad Song. Go Granger.
Fact: back road song comes on. My little girl sings and is happy.
Bash it all you want but if it makes my little girl happy, it makes daddy happy.
Imagine how much happier she could be if she listened to REAL music Daddy ….
So you're saying I should take the joy away from a 5 year old because the song she likes isn't country enough for you?
Kids take what they're exposed to. Our five-year-old sings along with Reckless Kelly and Jason Boland.
Not at all Brian . By all means buy her a McDonald's hamburger once in a while if she likes the taste and it makes her and her daddy happy . But just about every burger house makes a much better tasting, and arguably more nutritious burger than Mickey D's . You 'll never know how much happier she may be until you let her taste them . We live what we learn .
I have a seven year old daughter, and she really loves Maddie and Tae's album. Just thought I'd mention it because it's nice to find something she likes that I also feel totally comfortable with her listening to, and that has some tracks I can enjoy as well. Might be worth checking out. 🙂
Amen , Stephanie . Maddie and Tae's album was one of my favorites in the past several years.
Don't worry …. she'll probably outgrow it. 😉
Shadow Z
What's more is that "Backroad Song" won't even help people get acquainted with Granger's early material (which I haven't heard but have seen others regard as decent).
That's the thing about these Texas sell outs, they're a whole new animal. Why, just the other day a buddy of mine asked if I knew who Granger was, since he's coming around to a venue near me. I say to him, "yeah, somewhat". And he goes, well how long could he possibly play? He's only got the one song!
Perhaps it's fitting that they can't go back. Maybe because the artist they used to be is dead.
Erik North
One other thing that truly bugs me about these "bro country" tyros, Granger Smith included, is the stereotypical cap so many of them wear; it's practically a fashion symbol, and a generic one at that. But I guess it's perfect to go along with generic songs about making out with women (usually blondes) that they call "Girl" even if they're over the age of twenty-one; dirt roads; pickup trucks; faux rap/hip-hop; and having traditional country instruments be barely noticeable under a wall of loud arena-rock guitars.
But the other thing about bro-country that's bad that few people talk about is how these guys, whether consciously or unconsciously, limit it to really terrible stereotypes and tropes about small-town Southern life–as if they all live like that down there, which I doubt is anywhere near accurate.
This is about as generic as it gets, I hate to say it, but bro-country isn't dead; it seems to be all too much alive and well, and reports of its demise, to use an old phrase, seem greatly exaggerated (IMHO).
Orgirl1
I've heard worse. However I'm definitely not digging the song by committee thing though, as usual. This is definitely bro but not as bad as "Burnin it down", etc. I thought it was ok until a model showed up. Where are Maddie and Tae when you need them.
Klancy
My biggest issue with him for the past couple years has been that his songs sound like the exact type of music he is making fun of with his alter ego.
Yeeeeeeup. I have said it before and will say it again: between Granger Smith and Earl Dibbles Jr., I still haven't figured out who's making fun of whom.
That chorus reminds me of Taylor Swift, "We are Never, Ever, Ever, Ever, Ever, Ever, Ever, Ever…"
You know the drill.
Oooh, but I hope he doesn't do the real video in his jammies…
ActivePuck
It's not the worst song I've heard but it's not good. I mean, is there a reason for this song to exist because it's got absolutely nothing to say and musically sounds like pretty much everything else.
I'm in the wrong business, I should have learned to play an instrument and moved to Nashville to become a session musician. It is probably the easiest job on the planet. Might be boring after a while but you don't have to worry about pushing yourself or anything.
David Macias
Just want to defend Granger on the "ditching Thirty Tigers" thing. He and his brother/manager were completely up front with us about their goals for this album, discussed whether those goals could be reached with us, really tried to work things out with us, but they decided they would be best served elsewhere, and they went out and found a deal that met their needs with our complete and utter blessing. They were a complete class act in how up front they were about everything, and we are really appreciative of the time that we worked with them, and I'm sincerely happy for the success that they are experiencing. I can't say that about every act we've worked with. You can think whatever you will about the music, but I can tell you that Granger and his team are excellent people.
Perhaps "ditch" was too strong of a word. I didn't mean to imply that there was any type of drama or bad blood with leaving Thirty Tigers. The overarching point was to illustrate that that #1 song was the result of things like the "On The Verge" treatment that really have nothing to do with what people consider "Texas country."
Granger Smith is just a country frat boy that only wishes he was a real country kid. Most of his fanbase is a bunch of morons that know nothing about country music, and can be spotted in public wearing camo head-to-toe, spitting cheap chewing tobacco, and driving around lifted piece of shit 90's Dodge Rams and 90's Jeeps that are covered in mud because they thought it'd be awesome to rip up someone's yard with their hunks of shit. In other words his fanbase is a bunch of fake wanna-be country kids, country frat boys in other words that think they are country because they wear camo and have a lifted truck. I saw some of his fans commenting on his facebook asking him to not start making "pop country crap" and keep doing real country music like "Backroad Song". No joke, I laughed for like ten minutes straight.
Backroad Song is one of the most generic songs I have ever heard. I'm sorry to say but I strongly believe this guy has NO TALENT and he's about as exciting as a piece of bread….no character at all. I would compare him to Cole Swindell, another talentless idiot that has no vocal range and no real type of talent. However, theres one difference, I actually like Swindell a little bit and would buy his albums, Smith I would not. I'm sick of seeing everyone say "bro country is dead". No, IT ISN'T. Remember, Florida Georgia Line is still around, and now with Granger 'country frat boy' Smith on a mainstream label, bro country is not going to die. Also keep in mind that there are many country newcomers that are making bro country, like that Southern Boy song with Jason Aldean in it and that worthless excuse of a song 'Fix' by Chris Lane.
Generic bro shit …. unremarkable voice with no character …..obligatory background chanting , no trad instruments , cut time un-danceable rhythm, WEAK melody , no narrative , no movement in the lyric , very little dynamic in the production .
ALL THE INGREDIENTS FOR A NUMBER ONE RECORD ON TODAY'S MAINSTREAM " country music " CHARTS.
BwareDWare94
He's such a limited vocalist it's unbelievable.
What's up with all the hate on people who wear camo or drive trucks?Or calling people hillbilly, rednecks, or country folks? I served my country and do other outdoor things which makes camo and driving a truck comfortable to me. I like my camo baseball cap, and the American flag on it. Does that make me less able to determine good music? How about critiquing the music instead of the stereotyping the fans?
For the rudeness, I am going to post Granger's new video Merica.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cb1b0tAR-3s&feature=youtu.be
Why? This is because 95 times out of 100, it makes you a poser who is simply trying to latch on to a trend. This is why.
I drove a truck long before bro country came along. I live in a farming town. Most people drive trucks around here. Been wearing camouflage since I joined the army in the 80s, though I wouldn't say it's an everyday thing. Been listening to country music since my dad played it in his car when I was a kid.
If your story checks out, then my quarrel is not with you. However, it is with all the trendy posers who only say they started listening to country music when it got cool about 6 years ago. Also, I have a problem with "trendies" who all of a sudden wear camo and dip and talk about hunting so they can feel trendy, not to mention buying a truck and getting their parents to pay for the lift kits. But if you are none of the aforementioned, then you are cool in my book.
Oh, and being you were in the army, hopefully you are not one of those who has a wardrobe full of 5.11 "tacticool" stuff and listens to Drowning Pool's "Let The Bodies Hit The Floor" ad nauseum…..Those kind of people are deserving of a throat punch too!
Nice review Trigg. The song reminds me of Old Dominion's first hit, Break Up With Him. Same sound and same groove with the lyrics. But, at least Old Dominion knew when to stop repeating the lyrics over and over.
Old Dominion is WAY BETTER than this clown. I don't hear Break Up With Him in this, but i will say one thing most big hits on country radio usually use the same formula, chords, and melody….it's very easy music to play and not much change is needed from song to song to make it a big hit.
Hey Earl Dibbles Jr. I mean Granger Smith. I understand your alma mater, Texas A&M, is in the SEC now. This does not mean that you have to make crappy bro-country music that SEC frat boys looooove listening to. Come on, man. Be original.
June 4, 2017	@ 3:07 am
Texas music is marred by people who cannot and will not ever leave the state and make money making music


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Tea and tranquility
Parties & Menus
The Sunset Pantry
Santa Monica Canyon Idea House
Gifts & Shopping
Winter in the West
A simple structure is a peaceful retreat in Santa Rosa
Lauren Bonar Swezey – October 5, 2004
When a mentor offered to give landscape designer Jeff Allen a Japanese teahouse that the two had built together, Allen felt he'd received a great gift. "My grandfather had just passed away, so the teahouse garden became a special place to honor my elders," he explains.
Allen situated the teahouse in a distant part of the garden so that visiting it would feel like leaving the outside world behind. Beech trees, a dogwood, and 'Yellow Wave' New Zealand flax screen it from the main house. Beside the teahouse is a large 'Kwanzan' flowering cherry tree. In summer, a nearby 'Golden Delicious' apple tree bears sweet fruit. A drift of acorus softens the edges of the steppingstone in the foreground.
The beam over the entry of the redwood structure is just 5 feet high, enhancing the sense of enclosure. (In Japanese culture, the low beam also induces a sense of humility, since you have to duck under it to enter the structure.) Inside, there's a bench scattered with colorful cushions that are as comfortable as they are decorative.
After a tough day, the teahouse provides the perfect respite, Allen says.
DESIGN: Anne-Marie and Jeff Allen, Allen Landscaping, Santa Rosa (707/526-3177)
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Congratulations to Redwings all star Matt Ernsting for being selected to the 2017 High School All-State Team. The game was played Monday, February 13th at the Edge in Bensenville.
The White team, with Matt, coached by Benet Hockey's own Coach Grzbek, was barely edged out by the Red team in the type of high scoring shootout, expected from these talented all stars.


This redemtion thing does work. I feel so much better now.
Last edited by plumberscrack; 12-17-2007, 06:51 PM.
Oh. So when do you start with the SIN part? It all looks reasonable to me . . .
Lately, I've actually made a few bucks without feeling guilty about it, but that doesn't seem so sinful, either.
BTW - I've never used a sectional machine - how much more of a PIA is it? I'm seriously thinking about getting a K-60 to start back into sewer cleaning because of it's all-round usefulness.
I,as a foreman,fired a guy for trying to flirt with my girlfriend.
More to come,gimme some time.
As a tract plumber,miles of ground work with no sand.
I Woussko have bayed (howled) for over 20 minutes non stop during the wee hours of the night only so as to harass my neighbors into throwing shoes out their windows.
I'm the old sicko **** howling hound of this forum.
Last edited by Woussko; 12-17-2007, 10:46 PM.
I harp on high water pressure as the evil monkey in the closet to promote sales.
That's the treasure of this forum.In no way do I have have to closet pose to a bunch of imaginary friends who I will never have to make myself accountable to.No keyboard commando here.
I have made mistakes.And because I am confident in my abilities I don't mind verbalizing my mistakes.
What dummies can't see is the loud mouth that boasts perfection is more than likely the one putting in the hack job.
I've used sharkbites and continue to use pex. I solder with oxy acetylene. I firmly believe Fergusons is screwing plumbers all over America. I sweat a mpt into the fpt shower unions. I'm not proud of this one but since we're confessing here; I poured quickcrete into every drain and pipe I could find when I did commercial HVAC when the plumber tore down my duct to make room for his pipe. I think that's about it. Sorry to dissapoint you folks.
Was this an ongoing thing with this guy and you'd had it.The concrete seams a little heavy.Why not just cut his pipe out and tell the job super take care of it.
the plumber tore down my duct to make room for his pipe.
I dealt with this guy on 3 other jobs. He was a total a$$hole. We had the same routine every time. Our ductwork went up first. He thought we had work around him, not the other way around. The 3rd job he through a fit and we almost came to blows. The super got involved, my boss got involved. On the fourth job, while we were out to lunch, he tore out out down about 50ft of tdc duct with a manlift(just remembered Adam). He got a slap on the wrist from the super. My helper came up with the idea of the quickrete. The job went on like normal and we never saw the end result but I know he was mad when his drains backed up.
Just talked to Adam about this and he jogged my memory; I've also coated the inside of someones truck with blue rectoseal. It perfectly matches the blue vinyl interior of Fords. I know, probably going to plumbing hell where I install galvanized pipe for the rest of eternity.
Were you in augusta, ga around 8 1/2 years ago?
Maybe...were you 6 weeks behind getting your ductwork hung?
Last edited by All Clear Sewer; 12-17-2007, 11:15 PM.


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The approval allows the K2 mission to continue exoplanet discovery using two of its four original reaction wheels, and introduces new scientific observation opportunities to observe notable star clusters, young and old stars, active galaxies and supernovae.
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Fruits Basket Season 3 Episode 3
Fruits Basket Season 3 Episode 3 Release Date And Spoilers
BySchulu Duo April 16, 2021 April 16, 2021
The popularity of Fruits Basket doesn't show signs of waning any time soon as many anime fans are tremendously excited about the new season. A remake of the original 2001 version, the 2019 version premiered in April of that year, subsequently followed by a second season in April 2020. And Season 3 of Fruits Basket…
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Syeda Sadia Hasan: "77% of the vulnerable non-poor people have fallen below the poverty line income due to the COVID-19"
Josep Carbonell - F Pere Tarrés
BRAC estimates that it will take at least two more years for an economic recovery with the combined effort of government and non-government organisation. . Source: BRAC.
We have talked with BRAC to know how Covid-19 has affected Bangladesh and its rates of extreme and new poverty.
For the first time since 1998, it's expected that poverty rates will go up as the global economy falls into recession due to COVID-19. Do you think that it will be a transitory trend until the pandemic will be under control?
According to the World Bank recent estimates, due to the COVID-19 crisis, global poverty rates will go up and it could increase around 9% in 2020. The ramification of health shock, coupled with the economic slowdown, will not quickly dissipate.
The effect will be seen, especially on the "new poor" who suffered joblessness and reduced income due to lockdown and subsequent economic slowdown. The vulnerabilities of these people were not considered before the COVID-19 crisis. BRAC estimates that it will take at least two more years for an economic recovery with the combined effort of government and non-government organisation.
Why has COVID-19 increased the number of people who are at risk of poverty?
The ensuing global lockdown due to the pandemic and slow down of economic activities in the first half of the year exacerbated the vulnerabilities of a class of people mostly from the informal and semi-formal service-oriented sectors who either lost jobs or succumbed to reduced income. These people who were not considered poor before the pandemic are now exposed to the harsh realities of loss of livelihood, sickness and food insecurities leading to the increase in the number of people at the risk of poverty.
What is the situation in Bangladesh?
Suppose we concentrate our focus on the poverty situation due to COVID-19 without delving into a discussion on health, according to a recently concluded joint rapid survey (Livelihoods, Coping and Support during COVID-19 crisis, 2020) of BRAC Institute of Governance and Development (BIGD) and Power and Participation Research Centre (PPRC), the two Bangladeshi research institutes, it is evident that with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic there was the uncertainty of livelihood and contraction in consumption due to income shock among the respondents both of urban and rural areas.
The initial impact was more severely seen among the urban poor. The global emergence of the class "new poor" is also seen in Bangladesh. They are the people who lived just outside the poverty line threshold, maintaining a subsistence livelihood based on mostly informal sectors. The research showed that 77% of this vulnerable non-poor group falling below the poverty line income due to the impact of COVID-19 crisis.
Also, from our field experience, we found that this "new poor" household has resorted to reverse migration (urban to rural) as they failed to maintain their expenditure in cities. Many of whom are without any savings or social capital. These people now have to be reintegrated to economic activity if we want to avoid worsening poverty situation.
Is the bangalee system prepared to fight against a growth of extreme poverty?
Poverty is heterogeneous, and the people hit hardest by poverty confronts a multitude of interconnected problems rather than facing one specific challenge. These people are often simultaneously struggling to cope with food shortages, poor health, social stigma, homelessness, and lack of essential services and prone to different shocks. In most cases, they don't have the skills, resources, or savings to respond to this kaleidoscope of challenges. These people are defined as 'ultra-poor'. Although Bangladesh has made significant progress in reducing poverty in the last few decades bolstered by various poverty reduction measures and programs by the government, development agencies and non-governmental organisations' successive drive, a section of people remained 'ultra-poor' (leaving below USD 1.9 per day).
The recent addition of the "new poor" into the scenario due to COVID-19 will be a step back in fighting extreme poverty.
What difficulties do you have to face in your daily task because of the pandemic?
In response to COVID-19, BRAC's initial focus was on prevention from the spread of the deadly virus through community engagement, behavioural change and mass campaigning. In parallel, BRAC assisted in strengthening systems, through providing information, volunteers and resources to government and civil society organisations. As BRAC realised that the economic impacts of the pandemic would be protracted, it has been focusing on livelihood restoration, developing a mid to long-term strategy for economic revitalisation of those living in extreme poverty. BRAC field staff were the one of the few frontline workers who worked beside government to fight the pandemic.
The year 2020 has been a challenging year for UPG programme. At the advent of COVID-19, BRAC and the programme temporarily suspended all field activities that required mass gathering. They took all the necessary steps to safeguard the staff as well as the participants. Additionally, they ensured that the necessary support was provided to those in need at the immediate outset of the disease. Maintaining maximum safety for the participants, community and the staffs, the programme made substantial customisations to its operational strategy and implementation method. The regular programme activities were halted and modified where appropriate to cope with the risks of the adverse situations for example, by switching to digital platforms, revisiting targets, making amendments in the modalities of operational activities.
How can people help you?
People need to be more sensitised about extreme poverty and the cycle of poverty. During the pandemic, we have observed how effectively the committee made of community representatives formed by the UPG programme have worked to mobilise resources to lessen the plight of the pandemic affected ultra-poor population. Similarly we believe it is not only local community but people of global community can work together. Peoples' concerted effort can alleviate extreme poverty; but it has to be channelled to the right people at and at the right time.
From your point of view, what steps do you propose the bangalee government must take to eradicate poverty? Were they on the right track before the pandemic?
Bangladesh Government, in its five-year plans (Currently 8th five year plan) and national social security strategy, has given the proper emphasis on how to tackle extreme poverty. What was required is that right targeting and reach to this vulnerable population and maintain sustainability of these efforts in a concerted way. Also, the government declared a hefty stimulus package, cash transfers to the extreme poor people to recover from this economic shock but the same question
of targeting resurfaced again. Here we think NGO like BRAC with its experience and expertise in effective targeting technique can support the government.
Looking ahead, how do you see Bangladesh in ten years? Are you optimistic?
Looking ahead, we are optimistic that we can fight back the extreme poverty. We have the tools, evidence and experience. We have to consider the "new poor" and approach their vulnerabilities with new lenses and customised intervention. This is where we will require additional resources but we are ready to take up the challenge.
Being a girl, a right without exception
By Mireia Recasens Lamuà
Defending Basic Income in Europe
By Sergi Raventós i Carme Porta
January: it's time for annual reports
By Antoni Lluch
Volunteering, more important than ever
By Jordi Balot
Empowering against energy poverty from a gender perspective
Xavier Baró: "Without access to education you can't guarantee a dignified job"


In this section, you can find out the latest news from the association as well as industry news.
Welcome to the official website of British Columbia Saw Filers Association. The membership of the BC Saw Filers Association is made up of a dedicated and progressive group of filers that focus on cooperation and education. In a spirit of openness, our aim is to encourage sharing knowledge and resources for the benefit of all involved in the saw filing trade.
Join our online discussion forum is a community where you can share your thoughts with other association members and find joib postings.
On behalf of The BC Saw Filer's association executive we are pleased to invite you to our upcoming conference in Kamloops, BC April 28- April 29, 2017 at the Coast Kamloops Hotel and Conference Center.
COPYRIGHT © BRITISH COLUMBIA SAW FILERS ASSOCIATION. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.


I just completed another cruise along the East Coast of New Zealand from Auckland to Milford Sound. Some interesting birds, with some interesting weather also.
Jan 30 – departed Auckland with rather dark, misty conditions in the evening. Of note were several Cook's petrels that came onboard, and after dark birds could be heard following the boat calling to each other. Also one white-faced storm-petrel came onboard, but unfortunately no little black and white stormies! Guess I should have been eating Lasagne rather than fillet steak!
Feb 1 – on the way down the coast past Portland Island and heading into Hawke Bay. Small numbers of white-faced storm-petrels, Buller's, flesh-footed, and fluttering shearwaters, Cook's petrels, and of course gannets.
Feb 2 – heading around Cape Palliser on the way into Wellington. Started to see a few albatross – white-capped, Salvin's, Buller's, and at least two different Gibson's types. Also one white-chinned petrel and one Westland petrel, and at least one giant petrel.
Feb 3 – spent the day on Motuara Island in the Marlborough Sounds and lucky enough to see a falcon on the island, apparently they have bred there this summer. Good numbers of the usual suspects, with several family parties of saddleback with the rather 'odd' looking juvenile 'jackbirds' (with little or no saddle present). Also one, possibly two reef herons in the area.
Feb 6 – Taiaroa Head and Dunedin. Awesome display by at least three Royal albatross sweeping around Taiaroa Head in the wind as we exited the Otago Harbour and then headed down the coast.
Feb 7 – heading south-west through Foveaux Strait towards Dusky and Doubtful Sounds. We encountered 30-40 ft seas and winds in excess of 50 knots so a little uncomfortable at times. The birds were having more fun than a lot of the passengers! Big numbers of sooty shearwaters and Buller's albatross, with lesser numbers of white-capped and Salvin's albs. Ones and twos of Southern Royal alb, Cook's petrel, mottled petrel, and fairy prion. One small dark petrel which fleetingly headed past the ship (no real idea what that one was?!), and one possible Antarctic tern seen at a distance. However, perhaps the most notable birds of the morning were two grey-backed storm-petrels. They were still feeding in the 50+ knot winds!
Feb 8 – back in Queenstown, saw a juvenile falcon flying over the central city and land in one of the tall conifers just up out of the centre of town. Pretty hard to miss with all the squawking it was making!


Travel to Portland Oregon for a really improbable City expertise. Clearly, these deals are topic to vary, so we recommend using Hopper, Google Flights, or another fare-watch app to monitor fare costs by way of the day. Economy Net Special awards are available solely on and could also be offered on select flights and dates for fewer miles than both the MileSAAver or AAnytime award degree.
Expensive and crucial gadgets like identification tickets for instance ought to be left at the hotel in their protected or the room secure when you have one; it's much simpler to get better your vacation in the event you only lose a few necessary belongings as an alternative of all of them.
Travel Safety suggestions and advice for boating or seaside holidays or holidays after all should involve water security and ideas for your youngsters to stick to. A younger youngster in a boat should at all times be restrained and if he or she just isn't, then held on the lap of the mum or dad in order that they aren't wandering near the perimeters of the boat.
Extra award tickets reinstated to the same account at the same time can have a $25 cost per ticket. Nationwide Geographic Travel shares its inspiring and authoritative digital content, together with trip inspiration, travel news, photograph galleries and extra with its @NatGeoTravel community of greater than 50 million folks.
Prospects traveling to or from Peru with amounts of cash exceeding $10,000 USD or its equivalent in local or foreign forex are legally chargeable for declaring such quantity at airport controls to keep away from sanctions and as much as the confiscation of the undeclared amount, as per Article four of Supreme Decree 195-2013-EF.


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Race Progress Update – Mike from our Academy Programme
End of Racing - Mike is a happy man!
You may remember back in June we wrote a piece on one of our lovely clients called Mike. A 65-year-old, complete novice to the track who went through our Academy Programme and was due to race later in the year in an Austin A35 – a car that we at CAT Driver Training had restored and race prepped. Well Mike has now completed his first (and second) race so we thought we'd give you a follow up on his progress and some insight into what a day at the races feels like, for those looking to make the same journey in the future. Let's dive in…
So, where was the race?
It was actually two races in one day at the BRSCC HRDC race weekend at the Castle Combe race track. The first race was 30 minutes and the second was 45 minutes and involved a pitstop. The pitstop was to allow for a driver change, however as Mike had chosen to do the entire race himself, he simply had to get out of the car and get back in again. In addition to the races, there was also the qualification round for each race.
Matt & Josh from Track Toys Racing
Pre-race requirements
One of the things that's rarely spoken about when we talk about race preparation is what a driver needs to do before he or she is allowed on the circuit to race. It's not just about getting your car and yourself ready, you also need to satisfy race officials and make sure you're exactly where they want you to be, when they need you to be there. That means presenting entry forms, attending the drivers briefing, getting yourself signed off as eligible to race, presenting your car and yourself for scrutineering and a whole host of other tasks, all of which cause additional stress when you're trying to get yourself into the right headspace for your race. Luckily Mike had members of CAT Driver Training on hand in addition to mechanics to ensure he was in the right place at the right time, and that his car passed the necessary inspections to allow it to be let loose on the track. "If it hadn't been for Colin, Jo and Matt & Josh (from Track Toys Racing), I wouldn't have even made it to the start of the race" says Mike.
The Race itself
Racing with the HRDC at Castle Combe
After a spin in the first qualifying session, Mike grabbed the bull by the horns and drove a faultless race. Track conditions were good and Mike finished 8th in his class (which is a points finish) and 21st out of the 29 in the feature race. "I'd never done a racing start before" said Mike, but he made a pretty good job of it, passing a number of cars straight out of the blocks by his second race. There were a total of 29 starters in the race covering a variety of classes. Of the 29, 11 of them were in the same class as Mike. It's worth noting that Mike was racing against a variety of much faster classic saloons including a Lotus Cortina, a Jaguar XK150 and a Mercedes Benz 220S. He was also up against experienced racers such as former British Touring Car Champion, Andrew Jordan. "The differentiator in the race is the pressure itself" said Mike. "You just don't get that when you're out on a track day".
Colin's advice for anyone participating in their first race is "100% safety, 100% finish" and by those standards, Mike more than met his objectives. He managed to knock an impressive 4 seconds off his lap time during the day and by the end of the second race, had truly found his inner racing spirit and was pushing the car to its limits. "Colin's advice was invaluable," said Mike. "Between races, he was advising me where I could gain more speed and take bends faster to improve my lap time." Mike was also keen to point out that he beat the Chris Rea in his Morris Minor 1000.
The next stop is the Silverstone Classic in just a few days time. Wish him luck!
Racing / Race Academy / Case Study / Castle Combe
From Track to Race with Mark & his Lotus Evora GT430
Wow! Where did the weekend go?


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Meriania tetramera é uma espécie de planta do gênero Meriania e da família Melastomataceae.

Taxonomia
A espécie foi descrita em 1980 por John Julius Wurdack.

Forma de vida
É uma espécie terrícola e arbórea.

Descrição
Arvoretas ou árvores 4-16 metros de altura; indumento tomentoso, ferrugíneo, tricomas ramificados- ou dendríticos-amorfos, geralmente caducos. Ramos subtetragonais a cilíndricos. Folhas isófilas ou anisófilas; pecíolo 1,5-4,5 centímetros de comprimento; lâmina 7 verde discolor, cartácea, elíptica, obovada ou ovada, base aguda a curto-cuneada ou curto-decorrente, às vezes arredondada.

Cimóides umbeliformes, 4-6 centímetros de comprimento, terminais, pêndulos; pedúnculo 0,5-2,2 centímetros de comprimento; brácteas e bractéolas espatuladas, arredondadas, margem revoluta, caducas. Flores 4-meras; pedicelo 1,5-3 milímetros de comprimento; hipanto 2,5-4,2 milímetros de comprimento, campanulado, não costado; torus glabro; cálice< irregulamente valvar, truncado ou lacínias irregulares, rígido-membranáceo, lobos externos obscuros; pétalas 6-11 milímetros de comprimento, róseas, membranáceas; estames subiguais em tamanho, anteras 6-7 milímetros de comprimento, cremes, oblongo-subuladas, poro terminal-dorsal, apêndice ascendente ausente, apêndice basal calcar 1,2-2 milímetros de comprimento, azulado, agudo; ovário parcialmente livre no interior do hipanto, 4-locular; estilete 13-17 milímetros  de comprimento, curvo no ápice. Frutos de 7-20 milímetros de comprimento (com pedicelo), porção fértil (hipanto+ovário) de  5-9  milímetros de comprimento

Conservação
A espécie faz parte da Lista Vermelha das espécies ameaçadas do estado do Espírito Santo, no sudeste do Brasil. A lista foi publicada em 13 de junho de 2005 por intermédio do decreto estadual nº 1.499-R.

Distribuição
A espécie é encontrada nos estados brasileiros de Bahia e Espírito Santo.
Em termos ecológicos, é encontrada no domínio fitogeográfico de Mata Atlântica, em regiões com vegetação de floresta ombrófila pluvial.

Notas
Contém texto em CC-BY-SA 4.0 de Baumgratz, J.F.A. Meriania  in Flora e Funga do Brasil.

Ligações externas
 Meriania tetramera no projeto Flora e Funga do Brasil
 Meriania tetramera no portal do Centro Nacional de Conservação da Flora (Brasil)

Meriania
Plantas descritas em 1980
Flora do Espírito Santo (estado)
Espécies citadas na Lista Vermelha de Ameaça da Flora Brasileira
Espécies citadas na Lista de Espécies da Flora Ameaçadas do Espírito Santo

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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Ramadan undergo changes due to COVID-19
A group of volunteers set up a table outside the Islamic Center of Albany to feed the community. (Source: WALB)
Published: Apr. 24, 2020 at 4:30 PM EDT|Updated: Apr. 24, 2020 at 4:32 PM EDT
ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) - With Ramadan starting for the Muslim community, they're having to make changes because of the coronavirus.
The daily prayer and nightly feast after fasting all day will now have to be at home with close family.
This would typically be done at the Mosque with close to 100 people from across south Georgia.
Mohammed Abdulmujeed, Vice President of the Islamic Center of Albany, said this is the first time ever not being able to gather for the holiday.
"We told our people just to stay at home because staying home is also worship in Islam," Abdulmujeed said.
Other members say they miss the community but this is for everyone's safety.
"There have been rough times in the religion in the past. This too will pass. It just encourages to enrich our faith," Brother Umar Abdalaquil said.
They also typically have a large celebration after the 30 days of fasting for Ramadan.
Right now, that is also on hold because of the quarantine.


I decided to buy this movie after seeing the preview for Patema Inverted on Amazon Prime. I hadn't seen an anime movie in a little while, and it looked to have great potential. Unfortunately, this movie was a pretty big letdown.
The premise of this movie is a bit hokey, if not comedical: It's boy-meets-girl with a 180 degree twist. The girl is from another world where gravity happens to be upside down, and this means she will fall 'up' if she isn't holding onto something, or standing on the inside roof of some sort of structure. While there is some mild romantic connotations, in general the story revolves around the connection between their worlds, and a dictator-type guy who is in control of his world.
To cut the story short – this film was a letdown on many levels: character design, story, music, effects, voice acting, and a general sense of being derivative. This film clearly was heavily influenced from the classic Ghibli great Laputa: Castle in the Sky, not just because of a similar premise, but also some similar scenes and even a handful of lines that were similar if not identical. I may be overthinking things, but even the name "Patema" seems oddly close to "Laputa".
I won't go into all the bad points, but I'll name a handful. First, the visuals were not nearly as polished as I expected for an anime movie of this type released in 2014. There was a strange blur effect used a few times that nearly gave me a headache, and little noticeable use of good quality CG. While some of the scenes were beautiful, they didn't compare to Makoto Shinkai-level quality (Voices of a Distant Star, etc). One of the songs played several times in the film was a super cheesy tune which is hard to describe, except that it sounds like lounge music from the 80s. I felt the character's visual design was overly generic and the voice acting also seemed B-quality. The ending, while interesting, also felt underdone.
If you have an opportunity to watch this film for free and have the time, go ahead and watch it – you might even enjoy it. But if you want to see a great viewing experience, see something like Summer Wars (reviewed by me here).


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SS Mahseer. The Third Passengear
When I was at sea it was not unusual for birds or insects to land on board ship even if the vessel was miles away from the nearest land. For the bird or insect taking a rest on the deck or railings, its arrival on board might well has been the difference between life or death. The birds were tolerated and looked on with great interest by all of the crew. The insects however were treated very differently particularly if they were large beetles. When these landed on board they were lucky to escape being crushed under the foot of one of the crew, particularly if they could get close enough to the insect before it flew off or scuttled away. Many sailors seemed to entertain a positive loathing for crawling insects particularly beetles.
One insect that I never knew existed and certainly never saw before I went to sea was the cockroach.
Now cockroaches are reputed to be one of the oldest insects in existence and are incredibly adaptable and able to live in the most extreme of conditions. They can live for long periods without food or water and reputedly can live up to a month without a head!
The ones I saw on Thos and Jno Brocklebank's cargo ships were generally small being between one to two centimetres long (adults). The babies and juveniles were the same colour as the adults but much smaller. I believe that adult cockroaches were capable of flight but rarely did so, preferring to crawl about mainly in the dark or when they were sure they would not be disturbed.
Having done a little background reading into the topic of cockroaches for this story I now know there are different types of cockroach. With the passage of time I cannot say whether the ones I saw on the ships I sailed on, were Oriental, German or brown banded. From memory the ones I became familiar with all seemed to be a uniform brown in colour and devoid of any banded markings.
It was a regular event on board ship, usually on a Sunday morning, for the third mate to go around all of the officer's cabins and the ship's accommodation with a flit gun spraying the insides of wardrobes, the backs of drawers and cupboards and any nooks and crannies not covered by the above. The insecticide of choice was I believe to be DDT which is now a banned substance in most of the World.
I suspect that to spray in the same manner today would cause a ship's safety officer to have apoplexy. I imagine that if any spraying were to take place even with a more benign insecticide than DDT, then the person doing the work would be required to undertake comprehensive training, do a safety audit, undertake a risk assessment, wear a bio hazard suit with breathing apparatus and be extremely conversant with the appropriate HAZCHEM regulations.
I'm not sure that the Flit gun approach was really all that effective because the theory we had on board at the time was that the cockroaches had become immune to DDT and actually thrived on the stuff, consuming it with a similar enthusiasm to a ship's officer drinking his first ice cold beer of the day.
Even though these small adaptable insects represented a health hazard it was accepted that no matter what you did it was highly unlikely that you could eradicate them from the ship entirely.
Colombo the Capital of Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) in the 1960's was a wonderful place to visit. It had gained independence and become a member of the British Commonwealth in 1948 so whilst it was an independent and therefore a "foreign" country, many people that I came into contact with spoke English and the traditions of the country and the way things were run had the feel of the UK about them.
A big advantage from a radio officer's point of view from being docked in Colombo for a few weeks was that we did not keep radio watches. It was not a holiday by any means as our days were fully taken up doing routine maintenance work. During my two deep sea trips on Mahseer, my Chief R/O, Harry Jefferson and I spent a great deal of time working on the ship's aerial system, in replacing faulty direction finder connection cables and repairing a broken bearing housing on the BTH radar scanner. However even with all of this maintenance work, the evenings and weekends were generally free, allowing us to go ashore, do some sightseeing or spend a pleasant evening at the cinema.
I remember that on one occasion after our evening meal on board, Harry and I decided to go ashore and see a film at a local cinema. I cannot remember now what the film was that we wanted to see. Its title is not central to this story.
At the port of Colombo, whether you were unloading alongside the wharves, or loading from barges when you were at anchor in the harbour it was not difficult to get ashore. Having disembarked shore side, whether via gangway or launch, a short walk along the quay brought you to the Customs hall which although permanently manned, rarely resulted in any sort of check being carried out. On exiting the Customs hall all you had to do to arrive very near to the city centre, was to walk up a slight incline to the dock gate and turn left onto the road where all of the local taxis congregated.
Now there was always a good selection of taxi's to choose from and for the very adventurous there was the Ceylonese version of the rickshaw. There was no orderly queuing by the taxi owners so it was dog eat dog whenever a prospective fare emerged from the dock gate. You were literally besieged and surrounded by the taxi owners touting for your business. So keen were they to obtain your money that they would often resort to grabbing you by the arm to pull you into their taxicab.
The taxis in question were an assortment of different types of vehicles; mostly British made but all without exception in an advanced state of dereliction. Morris Oxford's were the most common but there were other makes represented as well. Today you would see cars in a better state in a UK scrap yard waiting to be crushed.
On the night in question after the usual bargaining over the price of the fare, Harry and I selected what I think was an old Humber saloon.
This had been a very prestigious motorcar in its day but as I said, like all of the other taxis it was a little the worse for wear. Never the less it looked capable of driving the few miles we needed to travel to the cinema, so we climbed in.
Apart from the tired leather seats the two other things of note were the dusty smell of age and decay that permeated the inside of the car and the partition between the passenger compartment and the drivers seating area. This partition consisted of an carpeted lower section topped by a number of glass panels that could be slid shut so as to give the passengers some privacy. If I remember correctly there were a couple of hinged "Dickey" seats attached to the carpeted section. On our journey the glass windows had been slid open and both "Dickey" seats were hinged up and unoccupied. Harry as was his custom was enjoying his usual banter with the driver.
For some unaccountable reason, Harry's conversation dried up mid sentence and I turned my head towards him to see why he had stopped talking. He sat there, staring at the partition with a look of incredulity on his face. I turned in the direction of his gaze in order to find out what had captured his attention and what I saw in the gloom of the cab was enough to drive fear into most people. There on the top of the partition was the largest cockroach I have ever seen in my life or would ever wish to see. It was huge, in fact it was enormous. It was the grandfather of all cockroaches and must have been the cockroach equivalent of the amazing hulk. Its home or lair must have been within the bowels of the carpeted partition.
It wasn't just its size that was intimidating; it was the fact that it appeared to be taking a great deal of interest in our presence on the back seat. Maybe it was only curious to see who had woken it up from its slumber, maybe it wanted to hear our conversation a little better, but because it was so large, I had the distinct feeling that as it moved its antenna backward and forward that it was looking at us in the same way that I have often looked at the menu inside the window of a restaurant.
Although I was much younger than Harry, on that occasion his reactions were much faster than mine. Snapping out of his trance like state, he shouted "Bl..dy hell, driver stop the car immediately I want to get out".
I don't think the driver had any idea why we wanted to vacate the car so soon and Harry did not want to stay inside to offer any sort of explanation. As soon as the taxi pulled to a halt, both rear doors were flung open and we escaped as quickly as we could. Harry paid the driver the full fare for the journey to the cinema and he drove off probably muttering under his breath about the strange ways and habits of the British.
We didn't have to wait long before we caught another cab that took us on the rest of the journey to the cinema. The film was enjoyable as far as I can recollect and we returned to the ship later that evening without further mishap.
Now two things have puzzled me since that evening in Colombo. The first is where there is one cockroach there are usually many more in which event did we only see the baby of the family? Secondly did the taxi fare that Harry paid, include the price for the third passenger?
copyright © John Leary