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New Hampshire Fisher Cats v. Connecticut Defenders - Otis M. Awareness
Road trip! I took a quick jaunt up to Manchester, NH today for some AA ball. The Fisher Cats are the Blue Jays, the Defenders are the SF Giants. And, yeah, YOU'D BETTER DEFEND CONNECTICUT! (Connecticut was once voted 'US State You'd Most Like to See Eliminated' by several of my friends and family.)
I saw the Defenders when they were the Norwich Navigators when I was in Portland last year. So I was kind of rooting for them. And they won, 3-0. Their pitcher, lefty Patrick Misch, totally stymied the Fisher Cats. He had 6 strikeouts, but know what? I don't think K's are as meaningful at the AA level, because those kids'll swing at anything. At any rate, he held 'em to two hits through six.
Ismael Ramirez took the loss for New Hampshire. Guess those rosary beads weren't much help. OH, SNAP!
The park was... functional. I don't have a problem with that. I'm not one of those fans that needs schmancy. What I do find stupid is the name: Merchantauto.com Park. Are you kidding me? Do they really think people are calling it that? That instead of saying, "I'm going to a Fisher Cats game tonight", people say, "I'm heading over to Merchantauto.com Park after work" ?
Let's talk about something else.
1. LaBatt's beer at the park! Isn't that nice?
2. I love love LOVE the "I Just Made an Awesome Defensive Play" poker face. How can it be that when an infielder leaps and snares a smoking line drive all Pokey-like, he just tosses it in for a little around the horn without breaking stride? How can they not turn cartwheels or clap their hands or do the Cabbage Patch? Cool as hell.
3. How can there be more than one ceremonial first pitch? I understand that little Jenny and Jeff should both get the honor, but wouldn't that include the ceremonial second pitch? This is really getting out of hand.
4. The Rules and Regs often use the phrase "family friendly" at ballparks. Whose family? Obscene language is cause for ejection most times. Geez, my family always used profanity in front of the kids. Usually we just giggled. I think the people most bothered by swear words are adults.
5. Speaking of which, if two women go to the ballpark and one of them says to the other, "I fucked my husband last night", can she get kicked out?
6. I don't think I saw a single non-white person at the park today. It probably shouldn't bother me, but it does. It's creepy.
4.29.06: Paw @ Ottawa - You Can't Do That On Television
Ottawa WINS 5-2
Matt Ginter gives up 3 runs and 10 hits in six innings.
That Australian guy that was in the Boston system... John Stephens. He got the win for Ottawa.
I obviously was not at this game and cannot really comment further on it. I'm a little tired, Frau Blucher.
"I fucked Tim Naehring"
Many years ago, I worked as a soda jerk at McCoy stadium. In one of the ladies' rooms, someone had written in bold black marker "I Fucked Tim Naehring". It was there forever, at least one summer if not two. There was something so giddily proud about that statement that made me love it. And it was credible... I fully believed that the person who wrote it was so moved by having fucked Tim Naehring that they wanted to share it with as many facility-using ladies as possible.
I mean, just look at him.
Elijah Dukes scouting report from Cal Leaguers.com
"Comments:
Physical speciman with five tool potential. Built like Carl Crawford. Huge broad shoulders and upper body down to a tapered waist and strong chiseled legs and thighs. Incredibly strong in the forearms and wrists. Off chart athleticism. Raw offensive tools. Generates plus BS and lift.
Ball explodes off bat. Contact inconsis. now. Doesn't pound mistakes like he should. Very good raw power plays mediocre currently due to unrefined approach and some swing issues. Doesn't have much of a plan with anything soft or on the outer half. Pulls off and lunges too often, it's a testament to his strength that he is still able to force the ball thru the IF with his hands only and is strong enuf to check some pretty developed swings.
"Struggles with the little things @ this point, moving runners over and putting the ball in play in critical situations. Very good runner, runs up on toes. Plays very hard. Defensive tools raw as well but have a chance to be solid avg to + across board.
Routes are rough at this point, speed to outrun mistakes. Plus arm strength needs
to be harnessed. Will always have a rawness to his game which will make his skills play a bit below his tools and there are apparently some serious makeup issues ( I have seen nothing, plays as hard as anyone in the league), but the overall package is solid..."
4.28.06: P. Red Sox v. D. Bulls - The Man Who Looked Like Ralph Nader
Durham WINS! in ten 3-2
Marc Deschenes? Brill once again. Had a no-hitter going through 5. And you know what? He's kind of dirty and sweaty and has Massachusetts hair but he's got piercing blue eyes and maybe I'm falling in love with him. The ladies love a good pitcher.
Twenty-two year old right hander Edwin Jackson pitched for Durham. He also held Pawtucket scoreless through 5 and dazzled all the stupid jerks who kept talking about the pros and cons of satellite television and all the screechy kids who were blowing bubbles incessantly in the stands. The ladies love velocity.
Everyone knew Hansen was gonna show up and pitch. I wasn't expecting much, but he was throwing BB's, if the pitch speed sign is to be believed. (I have my doubts about its accuracy.) Everything was fine until Mike Holtz showed up and couldn't get anybody out in the ninth. Walked a guy, hit a guy, gave up two hits. Way to go, Holtz. Finally, Bausher got hustled in and allowed a game tying run, but ended the inning with a defensively nifty 1-2-3 double play.
Extra innings: Bausher again, not terribly sharp, and the Bulls get the run they need. Hansen should have gotten the win, but Big Ruiner Holtz blew that chance.
Elijah Dukes was not in the lineup. I found out later that he'd been suspended for an unnamed clubhouse incident. I also read that when he was 20, he was arrested for assault when he threw a remote control at the mother of his children. DAMN. No wonder they stomped the piss out of Pawtucket.
Enrique Wilson went 2 for 4 with a double and the game tying RBI in the 7th. He seems more out of place in Pawtucket than Hee-Seop Choi, but not in a good way. Is he ever going to play in Boston? No. As Chuckie said, I don't know much but I know that.
For the record, this was probably the best Pawtucket home stand I've ever been a part of, mostly because the Durham Bulls have some seriously talented yet mental players. Can't wait until they return in... oh my god, they're never coming back!
How far a drive is it to Durham?
I still hate Tom Caron.
4.26.06: PAW v. DUR - The Angelic Upstarts
Durham WINS 6-2
This was the Delmon Young game in which he repeatedly beat the umpire over the head with a shillelagh.
Jon Lester has been bitter and snitty about his pitch limit. Unfortunately, he's throwing a lot of pitches in early innings and so generally departs in the 2nd and 3rd. He was visibly pissed when he was lifted after 3 1/3. Don't blame RJ, it's an organizational thing. He only gave up one run, a solo shot by major appliance Elijah Dukes. Cla Meredith picked up the reins for a few. Mike Holtz followed, and then Charlie Zink threw the ball all over the place. Zink has a new handsome boy haircut and I didn't recognize him right away.
Jason Hammel started for Durham. Unfortunately, I remember precious little about his appearance. Snarling ball of fury Miadich closed it out. Seriously.
Regarding D. Young: Um, what? It was the first inning. How could he be that pissed off over being called out looking? Pawtucket catcher Corky Miller claims there were no words exchanged. It was startling.
Bulls catcher Shawn Riggans had some shitty luck in this game. The adorable blonde receiver got pegged HARD two times. The second time I can report that his teammates in the dugout laughed really, really hard at his agony. This was one of those hard shots when the umpire busily dusts the plate off while the catcher walks around saying "FUCK ME GOD DAMN IT" until the pain subsides to a manageable level. Get well soon, kid.
4.25.06: Pawtucket v. Durham Bulls - Seddon and Shut Up
Durham WINS! 4-0
Jimmy Serrano went 7 for Pawtucket, giving up 3 earned runs. Tim Bausher got flaky in the 9th and gave up the 4th run.
Slim killer Chris Seddon's lefty game was tight. He went 6 with 3 K's and one walk. He was also a lot of fun to watch. JB Miadich pitched the 9th and is evidently a psycho on meth. I'm talking chest heaving, veins popping, 95-mile-an-hour stuff. He vaguely resembles Jason Shiell, only less dumb-looking. I could not find a JB Miadich, but I did find "Bart" Miadich. Okay, dude.
Offensively, Pawtucket had a few scattered hits. The lovable Hee-Seop Choi had a nice double for himself in the 4th. Outfielder Tyler Minges was 2 for 4 with a double. And Rodney Nye had a pair of singles and deftly handled a Fernando Cortez bunt attempt in the 5th. Right on, Rodney! I also think I jinx Jeff Bailey, who's a decent hitter except when I'm present.
Holy crap, Elijah Dukes. The guy is built like a brick shithouse and went 3 for 4. The top of the lineup is: Darnell McDonald, BJ Upton, Delmon Young, and big boy Dukes. Crazy.
Separately:
1. Welcome Corky Miller, our favorite AAA hooligan! Love the burns.
2. Machado dropped to 9th in batting order.
3. It's not real gold!
they get lucky sometimes
I was watching the Marlins / Cubs game the other night and the Marlins were ahead 3-0. Little fellers. I thought it was funny that one of the team leaders was Dontrelle Willis, all of 24 years old. I had to stop watching when the relief started blowing it...
I've always had a problem with losing team empathy. Ever since I was a kid. It's confusing. I'm rooting for the home team but I don't want the visitors to lose. I even felt bad for the Cards in '04. I'm not kidding. It's almost unbearable sometimes. I probably feel worse than some of the players do.
Remember Daniel Cabrera's disastrous start against Boston earlier this year, walking in runs and falling apart like a Chinese motorcycle? Unbearable. Terrance Long's stunned face as he struck out looking against that sweaty bitch D-Lowe in the '03 ALDS? Awful. Florida losing... what was it, 25-8? 25-3? At Fenway in '03, I think, when they went through 3 starters before getting out of the first inning. And then big bad Todd Walker hit a ball that pinged the pitcher in the head and he dropped like a sack of wet cement. Poor Jack McKeon. I wasn't even that mad when Grady Little apologized.
If I haven't been able to shake this at my advanced age, I can only assume it's uncurable.
Pawtucket lost last night, but it was a cool game. More on that later.
4.23.06: Paw v. B-Bisons - Shut the door so I can leave.
Pawtucket hoses Buffalo down, 7-0!
Matt Ginter was a ghetto superstar, pitching 8 innings while facing only 25 batters (do some quick math, girlfriend). One of the two hits was Andy Marte's and I am bitter about having missed his performance. See you this summer, Marte!
Dan Denham was damn dismal for Buffalo, pitching 4 innings and giving up 6 earned runs on 9 hits. He also walked 2.
Luke Allen report: Luke Allen hit a 2-run homer. Tyler Minges did the same, but let's face it: only his mother cares. Luke Allen is not a DJ. Oh, and Luke Allen has screws and plates in his face. Watch out for those wayward infield ricochets!
Ron Calloway hit .450 last week. What the hell do I know?
Durham Bulls will be our next guest. I'll be at three of the games, god help me.
Do you ever dream of me? Do you ever see the letters that I write?
Sean McAdam makes me stop spinning the radio dial when I hear his voice. Sean McAdam makes me do dirty, secret things like listen to WEEI.
I heard SA on the way into work yesterday and someone wondered aloud whether the Marlins should change their name if they move to Portland because technically, there are no Marlins in Portland.
McAdam said, "There's no jazz in Utah!" Brilliant.
How many times can you e-mail someone before you start looking like a stalker?
Schmoston
For the wreck, these pictures are so, so pretty.
Do you remember those cheesy little Red Sox player pins they sold at Cumberland Farms in 2004? Well, I bought almost all of them and collected them in the special pin-collecting folder helpfully provided by the Boston Globe. And at this point I have only a handful left. Today I wore Ramiro Mendoza. Before that I brazenly wore Keith Foulke because I Will Always Love Him. By the time June hits, it'll most likely be Scott Williamson or Mark Malaska.
In 2005 they had player pendants instead, which even I had to admit were heinous and tacky. Word on the street is some of the less popular players can be purchased cheaply at Job Lot these days. For the gal who has everything: a John Halama necklace. Sweet.
Boston won today, which was nice, but I secretly think it would be neat if Toronto won the division.
4.22.06: Paw v. Buffalo Bisons (CLE) - The Two Mrs. Chois
First and foremost, I gotta say the PawSox are a bitchin' organization. All the fans that hung around in spite of the dismal weather got a FREE ticket to Tuesday's game. Classy. And damn, yo, it was cold. I was shivering so hard that I couldn't hold my binoculars straight. It also didn't help that the game lasted 3 1/2 hours. Nine innings. When the Bisons' manager had what seemed like his 50th beef with the ump, one fan shouted, "Come on! It's COLD!"
Pawtucket WINS! 6-2
"Here are tonight's starting line-ups" :
PAW BUF
Stern CF Gutierrez CF
Minges LF Inglett DH
Pedroia SS Garko 1B
Choi DH Insufferable Prick Cooper LF
Bailey 1B Merloni 3B
"Allen" RF Gautreau 2B
Nye 3B Francisco RF
Durrington C Flores SS
Machado 2B Diaz C
RHP Deschenes LHP Sowers
Macho Marc Deschenes was totally tuff on the hill, kicking off with a 12-up, 12-down first four. Hail, yeah. He gave up a pair of singles in the 5th to Stupid Fat Cooper and Lou Merloni (hoo, boy, the fans creamed themselves over that one). Sixth inning was uno, dos, tres with one K (his third and final). Tim Bausher gave up 2 singles and hit a batter in the 7th and 8th. Got my first look at clubhouse smarty-pants Craig Breslow in the 8th / 9th and he is a physical oddity I can only describe as knobby. The Bausher-inherited runners Diaz and Gutierrez scored in the 8th.
And now for something completely different: Buffalo pitching. A slender, trembling reed named Jeremy Sowers threw the ball with his left hand for 4 2/3 innings, giving up 4 runs. Awww. His relief was a six-and-a-half-foot limbsy hothead named Brown who wasn't a whole lot better. Finishing off the game was righty Hyang-Nam Choi, who really needs to work on his mean face.
Pawtucket O-Fence - Adam Stern stole approximately 40 bases and was 2 for 3. Naw, for reals, he had 4 stolen bases in 5 attempts. Crazy! First baseman Jeff Bailey was the mule of the game with 4 freaking K's. Dustin Pedroia had 2 walks and a double and is quite the little infielder, but let's face it. He's short. The world does not need another Eckstein.
The Bisons? I guess Joe Inglett was helpful with his 2 singles.
The Movie Star and the Rest:
1. I got to see Hee-Seop Choi! You look at him and you think, this guy does not belong in the minors.
2. Luke Allen Report: Luke Allen is burly and was a flailing mess at the plate last night. I'm assuming he doesn't do well against lefties, even if they haven't yet gone through puberty.
3. If you're wondering why the hell Trent Durrington was catching last night, join the club. It could quite possibly have been some kind of talent showcase. It's times like these I find myself frustrated by my limited baseball knowledge. It's also times like these when I want to just call McCoy stadium and ask for Ron Johnson and ask him myself. I mean, why not? Would they patch me through? Why can't I call and ask him? Maybe I'll write him a letter.
4. It was awfully cold last night. The vendors were selling hot chocolate instead of soda.
5. When pitchers are out there in 35 degree weather with little short sleeves on, is it to prove how tough and inured to the elements they are? Because no one's going to think any less of you if you put on a light wrap.
6. Abe Alvarez was charting the pitches last night and I almost felt bad for him. He looked really, really bored and cold.
7. Andy Marte didn't play last night, damn it.
8. I never liked Lou Merloni, but I reckon he's got a bright future in used car sales in Natick or Norwood or something.
I'll be at the park Tuesday and Wednesday night. See you there!
The vicious dirtbags at Nestle have gone and bought out Libby... or at the very least Juicy Juice, who made some of my favorite little juice boxes. And now I can't buy Juicy Juice any more. I'm already extremely limited when I go to the grocery store so this isn't really helping. Why, Libby, why?!
Apple and Eve, hang in there. Boycott Nestle!
Congratulations to Phil et Noelle the Volitile. I'm looking forward to a baby born with jet black hair, fierce love of humanity, and healthy hatred for the cool kids. I'm gonna be an auntie!
PS I hope it's a girl.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'M SORRY!"
I have a 3-game debt that I have to pay, so here goes. I'll make it quick.
4.18.06: Pawtucket @ Durham Bulls - Durham WINS! 9-6
The Durham Bulls are Tampa Bay's franchise team, and accordingly, they have some sizzling prospects there. Delmon Young, BJ Upton, Elijah Dukes. Rah, rah, rah.
Starter Matt Ginter gave up 6 of the runs.
4.19.06: Pawtucket @ Durham - Pawtucket WINS! 6-0
Jimmy Serrano started for Pawtucket. Choi and Buckley homered.
4.20.06: P@D - w: DUR 8-3
White-hot Buckley goes yard again, but all for naught. Lester started the game but don't get all weird and start thinking he blew it again. He pitched well. Blame the relief corps. More specifically, blame knucklehead Charlie Zink for giving up 3 runs in the 5th.
The International League web site looks exactly like the MLB web site. This is not a good thing. It's cluttered and flashy and not at all helpful.
Abe Alvarez goes tonight. Let's get Pawtucket out of the cellar. I have a ticket for the game tomorrow and I HAVE TO get out of work early enough to make the 6:00 start.
Cambridge & Columbia
I worked in Cambridge today and on the way home on the Pike we went past the park. It looked so cool from the highway and for a second, I got it again.
Then the car went under the bridge and all I could think of was how many times I've walked over that bridge after getting off at Kenmore and how the throngs of fans always elicit honks from the traffic below.
And now I wonder if I take it all for granted.
Ron Calloway will be 30 this year!
Do you want to make more Ron I. Calloway? Sure, we all do!
Ron Calloway is a left-handed outfielder. He was a bench guy on the Expos in '03. (Wow, remember the Expos? That was pretty funny.) He got his first hit that year during his first major league at-bat offa Greg Maddux.
RC was in the Mets system last year, playing for the AAA Tides.
Ron Calloway can't really hit.
This entry was written by Jenny, Grade 5.
Pedro Martinez am, is, was, are and be my eternal Red Sox hero. I will miss him in Boston forever. He deserved more ceremony, damn it.
Felicidades, Rey de Lanzadores.
Wow, I hadn't heard that.
Wait a minute... is that Loretta's first homerun? On any level? Really? Because I haven't heard that like a thousand times in the past 24 hours.
come back little raven and bite my face
At last, a Boston game that held my interest. I had to listen to it on a brokedick radio at work. I knew if the Red Sox lost, I'd be pissed. The old sick and disgusted feeling from seasons past started creeping in during the 9th and I missed the audio of Lowrider's walkoff. My boss kind of asided it to me about 6 minutes after it happened. Like, oh! By the way!
It's good to see a player becoved Nomar-style on a red jersey day. Very good game. Pawtucket's back on Saturday!
By the way, Dustan Mohr may be unable to connect with a baseball on a meaningful level, but don't let his poncy bat fool you. He's big and mean and red-eyed and will decapitate you for whiskey money.
4.17.06: Pawtucket @ Charlotte: Last chance for love
6-4 Charlotte
Paw starter: Deschenes
Char: Hideo Nomo
Loss gets hung on Orange Bumatay, who gave up 3 runs in the 6th, plumping up his ERA to 6.75. International Man of Mystery Luke Allen had an RBI double in the 4th.
Charlotte reliever Chad Bentz gets the win.
I'd also like to add that I don't know if I'm doing something wrong, but I'm disappointed that I can't find a lot of International League game coverage on the internet. I promise that I am going to try harder to provide accurate and informative and readable game summaries. I hired one person to attend home games when I can't do it. I'm not going to be able to do all the games, but I'll try and get as many as a can. And I'll also try to be a little more organized. I'd like to reinvent the box score, too. Yeah!
I'm unprofessional and amateurish and I plan on keeping it that way. We'll see how it goes.
4.16.06 Pawtucket defeats Charlotte 10-3
The loose-limbed Abe Alvarez does it again. Much like Jesus Christ on this day, the bats rose from the dead. Big thanks and a tip o' the lynch lid to E. Wilson, Popeye Machado, and Hustlin' Willie Harris (who I think I love already) for hitting home runs.
Ever look at a flower and hate it?
I love Bill Haselman. I was really happy when Lynn Jones stabbed himself in the eye and Hass got to coach first base. I loved him in Pawtucket, too. And when I saw him today doling out tender and encouraging ass-pats to baserunners, I got to thinking. Shave his head. Yeah... shave it. And iron up a dupe Josh Bard jersey. Think about it. Who'll know the difference when he's all geared up? See? Instant experienced knuckleball catcher! Then just stick Ino or Jim Rowe or somebody out on first and say Haselman has a pulled trilateral rotator quad sprain that needs intense icing.
I'm looking forward to seeing Jermaine Van Buren in Boston. Dinardo can't pitch more than five innings, so I'm hoping Van Buren'll come out and play on Monday!
All my Easter plans were shot to hell today just because I forgot my locker combination. But good baseball! There was a NL game on the Atlanta Braves channel that was pretty good... saw the original two-faced reliever Alan Embree doing the Georgia devil / blue-eyed pixie thing for San Diego. And, uh, whoa, Mike Remlinger? Oh, Atlanta, you make it hard for me to hate you.
Since my brother's moving to the Bay Area, I'm thinking about flying out with one of my plane tickets and catching some A's games. They're visited by Boston in late June but I dunno. I think it might be more fun to see them play the Angels or something.
And as far as going to Rochester... Scranton-WB is so much closer. Mid-August tentatively.
4.15.06 Pawtucket @ Charlotte: More Lester Fellatio
Charlotte wins, 7-4
The Pawtucket Times has a terrible web site. Pawtucket is spelled "Pawtuckett" in at least one place. Furthermore, the Charlotte newspaper has precious few words for their AAA team. Could it be because they don't really play in Charlotte? Or even in North Carolina, for that matter?
Lester blew it all over the place again, giving up 5 runs in 2 1/3 innings. Am I worried about this? No. I watch the ripples change their size, but never leave the stream. I don't sweat losses like I once may have. New guy Luke Allen homered at one point.
Who is Luke Allen, you and I ask? How should I know? He doesn't exist! The linked article talks about his PCL time a little bit (Brad Mills knows him well) but there's fuck-all else about him on the internet.
Oh, wait, one thing. We have the same birthday. Me and him and Clemens.
I may have implied in an earlier post that I saw big, fat Walter Young playing first base for the Padres in ST. The first baseman in question was not in fact Mr. Walter Young, but the eerily similar- looking Mark Bellhorn.
Just kidding! It was Eric Young, another bench fatty. I apologize to any parties suffering emotional damage as a result of my misleading post. Go Pads!
Be kind. Don't go to Dunkin' Donuts tomorrow.
4.14.06 Pawtucket @ Charlotte: Good Friday or GREAT Friday?
P-Sox win, 5-4
Brainy McBreslow gets the dub, even though he only pitched 2 innings. Tim Bausher was outstanding in his relief work, in spite of having a blister-like blister the other night! I think he pitched 3 1/3. And know how I was wondering aloud about Hee-Seop Choi? Hit a home run. So did Jeff Bailey.
Hope they start hitting for real now.
The List: 2002
Here're the rankings from '02:
1. Nomar Garciaparra
2. Brian Daubach
3. Trot Nixon
4. Jason Varitek
5. Shea Hillenbrand / Johnny Damon
6. Derek Lowe
7. Manny Ramirez
8. Tony Clark / Casey Fossum (whoa)
9. Pedro Martinez / Cliff Floyd
10. Lou Merloni
11. Rey Sanchez / Tim Wakefield / Doug Mirabelli
12. Ricky Henderson
13. Carlos Baerga
14. John Burkett
I see your sister in her Sunday dress.
I was thinking that since I'm going to be all alone on Easter that I might go see the Norwich Navigators. It's a little more than an hour away, I think, and I've never been. Well, Good Golly Miss Molly, they don't exist anymore! They've been replaced by the "Connecticut Defenders" !
Neither team's playing Easter anyway, but the Seadogs are! I kind of want to go, but probably not enough to get up that early and drive the 2.3 hours.
I'll play it by ear, I guess.
for us, these are the days
Do you remember '03, the postseason, when Lilly was on the A's and Todd Walker, Adrian Brown, and coupla other Sox Staffers spelled out "LIL-LY" on the backs of their jackets when he was pitching? And everybody was so disgusted and talked about how bush that was?
Ted Lilly in very Neil Young-like fashion said he thought it was funny. And so did I.
Every time he knots up Boston hitting I think, Lilly is ice cold. He looks so benevolent but he is poison.
Who is this weird kid with the 'burns pitching for Toronto? Tallet?
Pawtucket won 5-0 today. Matt Ginter pitched 5 strong and Enrique Wilson hit a two-run homer. And that's the end of that homestand. God, they go by so fast.
By the way, what happened to Kason Gabbard? Is he still in Portland? And when can I expect to see Choi?
Pawtucket v. Roch 4.13.06: Durrington's Starting to Happen.
Last night while I was watching some educational programming my brother called me from Pawtucket. And I'm all, You're still at the game? And he's all, It's the Top of the 16th.
Pawtucket lost 4-3, yes, but that's okay. Outfielder Trent Durrington pitched 3 innings last night. Phil told me that he didn't clock higher than 74-ish. Before that, third baseman Rodney Nye stymied Rochester with his rusty little knuckleball for two innings. Why doesn't shit like this ever happen when I'm there?
Deschenes started for Pawtucket, Dennys Reyes for the Red Wings.
And Brooke is a total crybaby.
I don't know, Malaska.
Sources tell me that Mark Malaska had a rough spring and is considering quitting baseball.
I'll believe it when I see it. If it's true, uh, thanks, dude.
I don't hate the Yankees anymore.
Well, not really. I will never stop hating Alex Rodriguez. And Jason Giambi... bleeeaaghgh. But how can you not love the Sexy Space Alien? Or have mad respect for Torre?
I wasn't even really that upset when Damon crossed over. Of course, it sucks to lose such a great leadoff hitter, but there you go. I don't blame him for doing it.
My brother is a Yankees fan, but he's been that way since he was very small. He says it's because when he was a ked, the New York announcers seemed so exciting that he couldn't help but root for the Yankees. He's mostly good and rational about it, but I do have to hear about how disgusted he is with Red Sox fans. And you know what? There're a lot of disgusting, stupid, ugly Red Sox fans out there. It's easy to hate on Yankees fans, but come on. Try and objectively look around you and think about it. Walk past the Cask and Flagon on game day. Or take a ride on the Red Line to Quincy Adams after a game. And what about all those URI meatheads during the postseason? Or "Yankees Suck, Jeter Swallows"?
Next month I'm going to Yankee stadium for the first time with my brother and I'll be rooting for the A's, but only because I'm an A's fan. It's gonna be fun.
So, should I just drive there or what? Park and ride? It's a day game... I'd appreciate any tips / suggestions.
By the way, the Dropkick Murphys SUCK. They used to play at Lupo's and stuff all the time and all the Boston skins would come down and act like assholes. I guess they've progressed musically but... they suck. Fire up one of their old CD's and you'll see what I mean.
I also hate Wally the Green Monster. Just stop with that.
IT'S NOT REAL GOLD!
Pawtucket v. Rochester 4.11.06: The Real Minnesota Twins
The Rochester Red Wings have a new pitching coach! His name is Stu Cliburn, and he is manager Stan "Van" Cliburn's twin brother! Adorable!
This game was going on while I was a state away pigging out on a Cuban sandwich and drinking 38 Schilling Scottish Ale so here's what I know. Pawtucket won on a 2-run Jeff Bailey HR and that's the sum of the offense. 2-0.
My favorite Pawtucket lefty Abe Alvarez had a no-hitter going until the top of the sixth... Alex Romero led off with a double. Breslow pitched the last two innings and obviously did not allow a run.
Boof Bonser started for the Red Wings. He's big, durable, and may languish in the minors for all eternity unless he starts busting out.
As far as Alvarez, we all remember his crappy spot start in '04. His pitching in Pawtucket is good to excellent, but can he start in Boston? It must be hard to be in that position... sometimes you must feel like you're going to die in AAA.
Once again I'm thinking about going to Rochester at some point this summer for a Pawtucket game. I seem to remember it being... 6.5 hours away? I've always been a Twins fan and I'd totally be up for this. August 7-9 they'll be there. Hmmm.
I forgot to mention that yesterday's Red Sox home opener was sponsored by Verizon. Sometimes I hate MLB.
Sometimes just a kitten.
The skinny Jesus guy on the bridge with the sandwich board and the tracts is a spy.
Good game today. Sort of quiet and subdued, but good.
If you are relying on me to tell you what happened, then God help you.
I will say that Beckett's first inning was deja-vu all over again, walking in a run just like Lester last night in Pawtucket. Unlike Lester, Beckett settled down. Thanks for that.
Before the game started, a little Jimmy Fund kid in a wheelchair was rolled out to sing the national anthem. I do not know about the other park attendees, but I had a hard time keeping my composure. The same could be said for Foulke, but he was fighting back laughter, not tears. I love Foulke, but damn, he is a grade-A redneck asshole.
Mark Loretta's at-bat song is "Lowrider". Get it? Mark... Low-retta? Low...rider? Lowrider did nothing offensively today, unlike my handsome new boyfriend Mike Lowell.
As for Pena... Trot woulda had it. Trot would have ripped his glove arm off and held it up with his other arm to catch it if he had to. I know you know that. Don't make excuses.
Afterwards, we went to Watch City Brewery in Waltham. Vee and I are calling for a moratorium on your stupid fucking Coach / LV / Kate Spade / Vera Whatserface pocketbooks. You really need to stop with that shit.
Pawtucket v. Rochester Red Wings 4.10.06: Hey, Nineteen - Henry Bonilla!
5-0 Rochester
This may have been the most sparsely attended PawSox game I've ever attended, not that you'd know it from looking at my section. See, when a lefty pitches, I sit on the first base side to get a better look at the hands and face of the pitcher. But the thing I forgot about? Large parties of children sit on that side. That's prime Group Outing area. I thought I had a nice, quiet seat until the bottom of the first, when an entire middle school filled out all the seats around me. And, Lord, they are UGLY at that age. Bastard Kids!
Lester started but didn't last long. He wasn't throwing strikes. 2 1/3 innings, 3 walks, three hits. I do believe he can only get better. And the offense... two hits, both singles.
Got my first look at reliever Mike Holtz, a man about whom I know nothing. He did well for himself.
Obviously, Rochester's pitching was better. Josh Rabe had a great night, going 3 for 3! He also participated in the seldom-seen double steal with teammate Jason Bartlett in the 2nd inning. They made it look so easy, too.
The miscellany:
-Bullpen watch - Tim Bauscher was trying to light a bat on fire. He did get it to smolder. I guess that's what passes for entertainment during those long, cold games.
- When Delcarmen was taking the mound and getting a few warmup pitches in, they played a My Bloody Valentine song. I don't know the title. It was so incongruous that I may have to call the park tomorrow and ask to speak to a manager.
- Huckaby just gets right in there and drops his batch in the dirt. I've never seen another catcher get down like that.
- I noticed at the opening game that the players on both teams were giving the umps a load of static. The same thing happened tonight to a stronger degree. If I'm not mistaken, the International League umps are on strike and the guys I've been seeing are replacements. So are they just really shitty at calling games or do they just not get any respect because they're not exactly pros?
They're not very good at calling games. I don't know much, but I know that. If they keep it up, they're gonna get jumped in the parking lot. I'm not saying it's right, I'm just saying they need to be a little more careful.
- Jim Thome could possibly be dumber than Shea Hillenbrand. No joke, folks.
- Opening Day at Fenway tomorrow!
The All-Ugly Nine
Papelbon said on the radio yesterday, "It's really not that big of a deal."
Do you not believe him?
Also, am I supposed to feel sorry for Derek Lowe? And why is it such shocking news that he's a fuckup? I think everyone has known he's a basket case for years now. They don't print that stuff in the paper, but it gets around. Believe me.
Pawtucket Red Sox v. Indianapolis Indians 4.6.06
Winner: Pawtucket, in dramatic fashion, busting a 9th inning tie with a ground ball / shabby relay to home plate score. Yeah. 3-2. Thanks, Machado.
A lot of new kids playing ball this year, which means I'd better study up. My close friend and favorite Pawtucket pitcher Abe Alvarez started the game, which was great. Indy countered with a lefty of their own, Tom Gorzelanny. And he was pretty solid after a shaky first.
I didn't score the game, because I... well, I didn't have a writing instrument. I was too busy wrangling all the hats and scarves and mittens and blankets and boots to make sure I had one. So I don't have much to add other than that "Amazing Grace" played on bagpipes makes me well up.
Couple of things: Every time I see those old Pawtucket rats in their grubby caps and afghans I think... that is going to be me someday. I'll be the little old raisin lady with the pom-pom hat and the torn seat cushion. And I'll smell bad to boot.
I sat near Manny Delcarmen's parents and let me tell you. His mom is adorable. She was wearing his varsity jacket. They were so excited when he pitched, and they had every right to be. Delcarmen was great. DelCarmen. Whatev.
My seats were really, really good, but I don't think I like sitting behind a net. It makes me a little cross-eyed.
Here's to the season's progression and warmer days and Jermaine Van Buren and never paying for parking.
Newsflash:
I like the San Diego Padres.
And it has almost nothing to do with the the former Red Sox players on the team.
I'm thinking about using my free plane tickets to go to San Diego. Who wants to come with me?
We are not your batting practice.
Whew. Everything went well today, although only nine people showed up. Sometimes I feel like we're a gypsy baseball team, roving from field to field, moving under cover of night and trying to avoid high school kids and meatheads and pseudo-authority figures demanding permits.
Some guys from an adjacent field sent over a representative to see if we wanted a little action. We agreed, and the next thing you know these five hulking he-men were taking the field. Believe me, their skill levels were a country mile beyond ours, and before it got too dark to play they were ahead 6-0.
It doesn't take a genius to figure why they wanted to scramble with a bunch of scrubs such as ourselves. I'll grudgingly admit that it was good practice for us, but if those gorillas think they can use us like that every Sunday, they have another thing coming!
Quick shout-out to Armando and Sons Meat Market in Pawtucket. I thought it'd be a darling little butcher shop in my neighborhood. I was not prepared for the crowds and the insanity and the hot, hot meat cutters. They have a cafeteria, too!
It won't be the same without you. Please come.
The time has come to say 'fair's fair'.
It seems very early to me. I'm not... fully awake but here's the pitch. We're having a baseball team kick-off barbecue THIS AFTERNOON at 2 and my phone rang this morning and let's just say I have to go out and buy, like, EVERYTHING. That includes a hibachi.
I called the manager of the team ( I like to call him Skipper ) and made it very clear that he needed to have a heart and go out and buy at least ONE THING!
Am I being a martyr about this? I hope so. This'll get me some serious Altruism Points.
I know what's gonna happen. Five hungover people are going to show up and we're going to have all this leftover crap and I'm not sure that I've ever used a hibachi before. But, hey, let's play some ball!
How do we sleep while our beds are burning?
New Hampshire Fisher Cats v. Connecticut Defenders...
4.29.06: Paw @ Ottawa - You Can't Do That On Telev...
4.28.06: P. Red Sox v. D. Bulls - The Man Who Look...
4.25.06: Pawtucket v. Durham Bulls - Seddon and Sh...
4.23.06: Paw v. B-Bisons - Shut the door so I can ...
Do you ever dream of me? Do you ever see the lette...
4.22.06: Paw v. Buffalo Bisons (CLE) - The Two Mrs...
The vicious dirtbags at Nestle have gone and boug...
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'M S...
Pedro Martinez am, is, was, are and be my eternal...
4.14.06 Pawtucket @ Charlotte: Good Friday or GREA...
Pawtucket v. Roch 4.13.06: Durrington's Starting t...
Pawtucket v. Rochester 4.11.06: The Real Minnesota...
The skinny Jesus guy on the bridge with the sandwi...
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South Dundas
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About CNW
LTE: NDP 'did not provide enough change'
October 26, 2015 Editor Opinion 1
SDSG New Democratic Federal/Provincial Riding Association Past President Brian Lynch. (Newswatch Group/File)
I am disappointed by the federal election results on October 19 which saw the NDP reduced to third-party status in the Liberal sweep.
The 78 day marathon, expensive election was always about a desire for major change from the heavy-handed, anti-democratic Harper Government.
By the end of the campaign with strategic voting in play more Canadians decided that the Trudeau Liberals were the real agent for change. The cautious NDP platform did not provide enough change now for many progressive Canadians who left the NDP for the Liberals on election day. The niqab issue also hurt the NDP in Quebec. It will now be up to the Liberals, who have a history of broken promises, to deliver on their promises to build a better Canada.
Tom Mulcair's commitment to a balanced budget on August 25 & his opposition to raising income taxes on Canada's wealthiest 1% gave the Trudeau Liberals the opportunity to present themselves as the real agent for change. Support for the NDP declined from a high of 37% on August 24 to 19.7 % on election day. Moving the NDP to the mushy middle has been a disaster in this campaign as it was for the provincial NDP campaign in the June 12, 2014 election in Ontario.
Going forward, the federal NDP must rethink its failed strategy and decide what it stands for. I believe that Canada's NDP, as a progressive social democratic party, should challenge the status quo, address the issues of income inequality and tax fairness, work to create a green economy that serves everyday Canadians, promote the expansion of the Canada Pension Plan, universal child care, and pharmacare, lead the campaign for proportional representation, and continue to advocate for the repeal of Bill C-51.
President, SDSG NDP Riding Association
Thumbs Up (6)Thumbs Down (7)
Newswatch COVID-19 Digest: Tuesday January 12, 2021
Burn permits up 108% to cover cost in South Stormont
Newswatch COVID-19 Digest: Saturday January 16, 2021
Newswatch COVID-19 Digest: Monday January 11, 2021
#elxn42
SD&SG
SDSG Riding Association
LTE: Making the case for a Long Sault roundabout
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1. the action of consenting to receive or undertake something offered.
So what can we take from that.. in the sense of nurturing our own personal happiness?
Self-acceptance! Self-acceptance is so important. None of us are perfect – indeed far from it. But it is incredibly important to accept ourselves as we are warts and all, particularly in this day and age with the drowning influence of Social Media. It is no good constantly focusing on the lack, faults, or weakness we see in ourselves – it does not help at all and in fact can be incredibly destructive. Particularly when we are making unrealistic comparisons. Often we are comparing ourselves with artificial images or lives projected by others and we find ourselves feeling let down or inadequate. This is hugely energy depleting and offers zero benefit to our wellbeing as in the process we are simply over looking all the wonderful things about ourselves and our lives. Of course if you know you have to deal with something, make some personal improvements, by all means deal with it, better yourself and I believe there is always room for improvement in all of us but do not dwell on it too much. Do not torture yourself mentally if you struggle, or fail, this is all part of life.. mistakes happen and failure is normal, we cannot possibly succeed at everything all of the time. The key is to learn from our failings but not to torture ourselves for them.
Accept yourself as you are – as you were made and as you are meant to be. Self improvement, self maintenance is always important but underneath we need to accept who we are and just work on being the best version of ourselves possible. Like I've mentioned in previous posts, there is no limit to what we can learn, similarly there is no limit to how we can improve ourselves. Personally I believe this to be an ongoing 'work in progress', so self-acceptance is vital. And it will certainly make you feel happier! Happier about yourself and therefore happier in life.


text:
http://www.totalrecall90s.com/
Find us on Reverbnation
Listen to my music here
SAMMIES 2019 Nominee★ Cover Band/Tribute Band ★
David Carl — backup vocals, keyboards, lead guitar
Jeff Kwiatek — drums, percussion
Nathan Shields — backup vocals, bass
Tony Bataska — harmonica, rhythm guitar, vocals
totalrecallalternative@gmail.com
Jeff: I can't name one, and even if I did, it would be different every week. Tony: This question is impossible to answer. David: As far as a song that always puts me in a good mood when I hear it and never skip it, I'd have to say "Rock With You" by Michael Jackson. Nathan: "Kashmir" and "Bohemian Rhapsody" are two of my all-time faves.
Jeff: Authentically-performed '90s alt-rock.
David: As close to the album as we can get it, completely performed live by a four-piece with never any backing tracks.
Nathan: A lot of fun!
Tony: Jeff and Nate were in a band called Automatic Rival, that I opened for a number of times. When A.R. ended, they asked if I was interested in jamming. Then Jeff and David had a mutual friend that introduced them, and he joined. Almost seven years later, the original lineup is in tact, and we are a strong band in part because of that.
David: I thought I was done playing in bands when Jeff asked me to come check out a practice. Ha!
Jeff: In Sac, I would probably have to say playing at the Crest Theatre as part of the Everclear tour in 2015.
Tony: Agreed on the Crest with Everclear.
Jake: Two come to mind. Neither venue will be named, but both were early on in the band's existence, and the crowds were thin. That's putting it nicely.
Tony: I know exactly which two you are talking about.
David: One other show was the time we were headed out to the Bay Area, and both front tires on our van blew out at separate times, and by then all the tire places were closed. We burned through band funds to get a hotel room, food and then replacement tires in the morning (in addition to missing the show!). Something like that can end a band, but we made it through it.
Tony: When I worked at Tower Records in 2000-2001, I was more of a music snob. Now, I'm not embarrassed to like any song I like. If it moves you, in whatever way, there is no need to be embarrassed. We play a couple cheesy songs, like "All Star" by Smash Mouth or "She's So High" by Tal Bachman, but if the crowd gets into them, they can be a lot of fun to play.
David: A lot of my iTunes library is songs that begin "The Original Broadway Cast of..."
Nathan: I get teased for liking Creed, but I think it's just because Scott Stapp is kind of a douche.
Jeff: I think it was an oldie. Maybe "All I Have To Do Is Dream" by The Everly Brothers, or "My Girl" by The Temptations.
Tony: On guitar, I believe it was "Come As You Are" by Nirvana.
David: I taught myself guitar by going through the entire Beatles catalog in middle school.
Nathan: Probably either "Black Magic Woman" by Santana or "Aqualung" by Jethro Tull.
Tony: Anybody know the booker at Harlow's?
David: We've done tribute nights in the past (Foo Fighters, Third Eye Blind, we even played the Weezer Blue Album in its entirety)—since we have a whole decade from which to choose, we could very easily do more (Green Day/Blink 182/Nirvana/Pearl Jam, etc.) in the future if people would like that.
Nathan: Continuing to expand our song catalog and fan base.
Jeff: I believe (someone, correct me if I'm wrong) we were just trying to think of names that sounded '90s-ish. I couldn't even tell you some of the ones that didn't make the cut.
David: A '90s movie about remembering things seems like a perfect cover band name for some '90s music nostalgia.
Tony: Honeyspot, the Brodys, Ryan Hernandez, Chris Twomey, Hans Eberbach, James Cavern.
David: Deathray, Sex 66, Jackpot, The Ghetto Moments... OK, so I don't get out to many shows these days...
Nathan: Probably The Nickel Slots.
Jeff: Not surprising, but many of the drummers from the '90s: both of the Daves from Pearl Jam, Matt Cameron (Soundgarden), Jimmy Chamberlain (Smashing Pumpkins).
Tony: Noel Gallagher (Oasis), Neil Finn (Crowded House), Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters), Muse, Nirvana and Pearl Jam.
David: As far as my personal style of playing guitar goes, it's probably some amalgam of David Gilmour, George Harrison, Slash, Johnny Greenwood and Billy Corgan.
Nathan: P-Nut (311), Tony Kanal (No Doubt), and Flea (Red Hot Chili Peppers) are a few of my biggest musical influences.
Tony: The Beatles and Nirvana inspired me to learn guitar and bass in middle school, but my mother and grandfather originally inspired me to take piano lessons at a young age.
David: My dad plays guitar, and watching him as a little kid made me want to do it, too.
Nathan: Like David, my dad also plays guitar. My first experience playing music was on my church's worship team with my parents.
Tony: Like what you like, and be understanding that others might like something different, and that is OK.
David: The irony is not lost on me that I play in a cover band, performing other peoples' music, and one of my favorite quotes by Ralph Waldo Emerson in Self Reliance is: "Imitation is suicide."
Nathan: "Be excellent to each other."—Bill and Ted


text:
DAN MAY
OHIO BOUND!
After a two-year absence, we're heading back to the Maritime Museum of Sandusky for a show on Saturday, November 6th. Such a unique place to see a show. Surrounded by boats and nautical memorabilia. Yep. We'll be riding a positive…
SELLERSVILLE SHOW RESCHEDULED
Thursday, August 26th is the make up date for the May 7th Sellersville Show that was cancelled due to illness. Feeling better and looking forward to it! A little bit of a delay, but it'll be worth the wait to…
LIVE AT THE SELLERSVILLE THEATER
After 475 days without playing to a live and in-person audience, Dan and the band will be playing at the Sellersville Theater on May 7th. It's a streak we are happy to put behind us. The Theater is taking optimal…
LIVE ONLINE CONCERT FROM MORNINGSTAR STUDIOS
The band and I will be streaming our second live show from Morningstar Studios this Sunday, Feb. 28 at 7:30, and you can be right there with us.
How can you watch?
FACEBOOK - If you have a Facebook account…
My live online concert from The Sellersville Theater is now available to watch in its entirety at your leisure. It will be like you were there with us! What a great night it was, and such wonderful feedback from the…
ONLINE CONCERT
SOUNDBOOTH SESSIONS - Very excited to be getting back on stage for an upcoming show. Join me live on Facebook from the beautiful Sellersville Theater on Saturday, August 1st at 9 pm. In addition to singing you some songs, I'll…
CABINS AND MOUNTAINS
I've had the opportunity to play some very interesting venues during the time I've been doing this singer-songwriter thing, and my next show is one that definitely ranks right of there at the top of the "out of the ordinary"…
SELLERSVILLE THEATER SHOW!
Dan returns to the friendly confines of the Sellersville Theater on Friday, July 5th. The day after celebrating our country's birthday, come join Dan and celebrate music and life in the comfort of the lovely Sellersville Theater. Fabulous sound, fabulous…
CONCERT UPDATE - SATURDAY, APRIL 27
Dan will be playing Live in Concert at Sessano at Raven's Claw in Pottstown, PA, Saturday, April 27. Cabaret performance includes songs and readings from Dan's Book, "Adventure's in Grocery Shopping." With special guest singer-songwriter Claudia Terry. For tickets and…
PODCAST APPEARANCE
ROAD WARRIORS - Here is a link to my appearance as guest on the podcast "Tales of the Road Warriors," hosted by musician/interviewer Hal Aaron. It was a nice chat with Hal and we got into some detail going from…
PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER PLUG
EXTRA, EXTRA, READ ALL ABOUT IT - A very nice plug for my January 5th show in Philadelphia Inquirer by music writer Nick Cristiano.
"DAN MAY - A former opera singer who beat long odds against cancer, Dan May…
SOLD OUT SHOW at The Locks
MUCHAS GRACIAS - To all of you fine folks who came out to our Sold Out show last night (Jan. 5) at The Locks. It was great to share an evening of song with you. And I appreciate your support…
© DAN MAY 2010
Dan May - Down The Road 3:54
Dan May - A Thousand Angels 3:17
Dan May - Shades of Grey 4:21
Dan May - Jupiter Rising 3:50


Halls of Reflection is a dungeon whose entrance is located in Icecrown on the continent of Northrend in the World of Warcraft game. The level range for the normal dungeon is 75-80. The instance was released in the Wrath of the Lich King expansion. The dungeon contains 3 bosses. The end boss of Halls of Reflection is The Lich King.
Halls of Reflection was one of three dungeons that was opened up at the same time of the Icecrown Citadel, it was primarily to help boost players to be ready for the Lich King encounter. Although the third boss is the Lich King, you cannot kill him immaterial of what level the player is. When the Lich Kings health gets to 1 point, it will not go down to zero so if you was hoping for an epic piece of loot to drop, you'll be disappointed.
The first two bosses are situated in the middle of an oval room, you kill need to kill the trash one side then kill the boss, pause briefly then do the other size of the room.
Falric whilst appearing to be a melee boss, will use a number of spells to hurt players. Amongst the spells are fear which will reduce the ability of the players to cause damage and heal themselves albeit for a short amount of time. These debuffs can be removed but on the bright side, there are no adds to be killed.
Although like Falric, he'll look as though he's a melee boss, he will inflict pain and a lot of shadow damage on people. The debuffs he can cause can reduce a players health to 50% before it comes back to health. One of his spells causes damage over the whole group so becareful of all the players health. There are no adds to worry about on this boss.
Phase 1, simple tank and spank, making sure the adds that he sends don't kill anyone. The adds will come the ground and you need to kill them as quickly as possible otherwise people will die.
Phase 2, Lich King will run to the centre of the room. He'll start to fire ice balls at the group. Occassionally spectral equivalents of the players will be created and attack the group, the spectral images are bigger than the actual players so there's no mistaking the player from the add. Ranged dps, in particular hunters need to shoot the balls to stop them coming at people. If the balls hit you, you will fly off the edge.
Phase 3, The Lich King will resurrect the platform and start creating black holes in the ground, if you step into these black holes, you will go off the edge. Valkylls will fly in and take some off the edge, these Valkylls need to be killed before the player is killed. The tank is never attacked by the Valkylls, if you're soloing, you won't be attacked either. The Valkyll will just fly by their masters side.
Phase 4, a short dialogue will appear and Fordring will break freee from the ice and attack the Lich King. The Lich King will be unable to move or summon anyone and from that moment on, he's as good as dead. Even if you're super high level, this phase will take place, the Lich King will have 1 hp.
Thats it, well done, the Lich King is dead and you'll see a cinematic clip of what happened afterwards. If you missed it, it can be viewed by clicking on the water fountain in Dalarann.


21) drag the dot in the question number in between the 2 and the 1….then click on it.
28) drag the body of the delevery boy out and click on his liver.
37) click rapidly on the red button!!!
47) rub your mouse on the metal antenna really quick!
49) RANDOM: you have to click everywhere to get this one. the alien won't be in the same spot every time.
50) click on the machine 3 times!


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This week Awesome Stories brings your hemp reform.
This might be one of the biggest reforms to farming in the last 80 years. The 2018 Congressional Farm Bill, which included a provision that legalizes hemp in the U.S., was passed and signed by President Trump just before Christmas. As long as it is industrial hemp with THC levels under 0.3%, farmers can once again legally grow hemp in the United States. Although, states have the right to regulate or ban the use of hemp.
Hemp is an amazing plant that could have an enormous impact on farming and the environment. The plant, cannabis sativa, is one of the fastest growing crops and has been spun into fiber for about 10,000 years. It has a multitude of commercial uses for paper, textiles, clothing, biodegradable plastics, paint, insulation, biofuel, food, and animal feed. Promoters have long hailed the virtues of hemp as one of the most important crops for solving the world's problems around sustainability and health. With its fast growth, low water use, and varied uses, it might transform entire industries like paper, fuels, and construction. This Wikipedia article explores the history and many uses of hemp.
I'm fascinated by this plant and grateful that we have made it legal to grow again in the US. Some countries like France have been using hemp to make insulation and hempcrete building blocks.
May we continue to learn from nature, and thrive in harmony.
I had no idea of all of these health benefits.
I just happened to see a headline about the new law. It's definitely time to use help to replace trees and many other less sustainable options.
Agreed VK. I hope hemp is widely adopted in many industries.
You're welcome Camilla. I'm glad that CBD and chocolate help your daughter.
You're welcome Bernice. This could really shake up many industries.
I'm glad you mentioned the health benefits….that aspect was an eye opener to me when I learned about it.
Thanks Kirt. I like the health benefits, but am more excited by the potential reduction in environmental impact.
So pleased to read about this much needed reform of this remarkable versatile healing plant.. As well as it bringing all its other uses as I have know and you have mentioned… I have long said the only reason this plant was made illegal was that its healing benefits would be 'Freely grown' and not come from some Big Pharma whose chemical compounds can cause chain reactions so other drugs are needed to counter attack side effects.. Who mainly put profits before people.. CBD oil has had remarkable results in helping the illness you mentioned Brad and reducing cancer tumours. Something to think about.
Agreed Sue. Originally in the US, it was big oil and tree companies that shut out hemp. Thankfully, hemp can be grown again!
Yes and we have this CBD oil, Brad and we r using it. This plant is curing so many illness and good that the government has agreed and made it legal. Thanks for the informative share.
I'm glad you've seen good results with CBD oil. Hemp is a wonderful plant.
Yes and I agree totally with your words, Brad.
Thanks Tania. Hemp is awesome! To harmonious living.


text:
Sri Lankans demand justice for slain, abducted journalists
Originally published January 24, 2019 at 9:23 am Updated January 24, 2019 at 7:39 pm
BHARATHA MALLAWARACHI
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Sri Lankan rights activists, lawmakers and relatives of slain and disappeared journalists held a vigil over their abductions and killings, demanding the government expedite investigations.
Freddie Gamage, an organizer of the vigil on Thursday, said that despite being in power for four years, the current government "has miserably failed to fulfil its promise to punish those responsible for attacks on journalists."
President Maithripala Sirisena came into power in 2015, promising to end a culture of impunity and ensure justice to the slain journalists. Under Sirisena's predecessor, Mahinda Rajapaksa, dozens of journalists were killed, abducted and tortured. Some fled the country, fearing for their lives.
In some cases, military officers were arrested and released on bail.
Gamage said 44 journalists and media workers were killed between 2006 and 2015, during the Rajapaksa presidency. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, 11 journalists were killed in the same period, including five who were targeted for murder and whose cases remain unsolved.
"Investigations have been launched only into two or three cases, but so far those probes too have not been concluded and culprits have not been punished," he said. "All the other cases of attacks on journalists have been totally neglected by the authorities."
Ajith Perera, a lawmaker and government minister, lamented about the slow-progress of the investigations on attacks on journalists.
"None of those responsible for attacks on media have been punished. The government should be ashamed," he said.
In the past, the government has said the investigations are handled by police and that they will not interfere.
Separately on Thursday, Sandya Ekneligoda, the wife of abducted journalist Prageeth Ekneligoda, staged a sit-in protest in front of the president's office, demanding his administration bring to justice the perpetrators responsible for her husband's disappearance nine years ago on Jan. 24.
Ekneligoda, a journalist and cartoonist, wrote about corruption and nepotism and Rajapaksa's leadership of the military campaign against the Tamil Tiger rebels. He was abducted two days before a 2010 presidential election in which he actively supported Rajapaksa's rival. Several military intelligence officials have been arrested in connection with his disappearance but they have been bailed out.
Most of the killings and attacks on journalists took place during Sri Lanka's civil war, which ended in 2009, after the government troops defeated the Tamil Tiger rebels who fought for a separate state for the ethnic minority Tamils.
Both the government and the rebels were accused of killing and abducting critics.


text:
Available technologies:

- esnext

## Usage

Install the package:

~~~
$ npm instal --save-dev enb-esnext
~~~

Add the tech to your project's `make.js`

~~~js
var esnext = require('enb-esnext/techs/esnext');

module.exports = function(config) {
    config.node('bundle', function(node) {
        node.addTechs([
            [esnext, {
                source: '?.pre.js',
                target: '?.js'
            }]
        ]);

        node.addTarget('?.js');
    });
};
~~~


a time of worship, the word, and fellowship.
This is a beautiful time of celebration in singing and praise to Jesus Christ our Lord!
The morning sermon is a foundational message for the week. It is a continual theme that flows from week to week, keeping us abreast with what God is saying to the church.
Following service join us as we get to know one another as we share coffee and snacks during our Coffee "And" time.
a time of in-depth bible study and discussion.
exploration of the Word of God. Come with questions, come with ideas, and come ready to share!
We thoughtfully designed the programs to maximize your child's intellectual, spiritual and social development.
Games, crafts, and activites are the core of our Children's Church. As teachers our team aims to engage and encourage children to think and explore the word at church and at home.
Performs wedding ceremonies on site at our building - Lighthouse Christian Church - or off site at the location selected by the Bride and Groom.
Never is there a more difficult time than when a loved on is lost. Call us to guide you through and help hold service to honor the life of ones lost while celebrating the life gained in Christ Jesus.
Marriage counseling helps couples enrich the relationship together and with Christ at the center. Working to improve relationships and make thoughtful decisions about building and rebuilding lives.
Christ centered counseling with the goal of helping people overcome their problems, find meaning and joy in life, and become healthy and well-adjusted individuals, both mentally and emotionally.
Personal and group counseling for those struggling with all types of addiction. Counseling is provided by our Pastors, and licensed LCDP counselors.
Meetings begin at 5:30 p.m. on Thursdays.


text:
LINDSEY HINKLE TO PERFORM AT EDDIE'S ATTIC
Nashville, TN (December 6, 2022) - Multi-talented singer/songwriter and recording artist Lindsey Hinkle will be performing (along with Nick Hetzler and Kelli Johnson) at Eddie's Attic in Decatur, GA on January 6, 2023. The show is open to all ages and tickets can be purchased HERE! Some of the music industry's biggest names have also played Eddie's Attic's stage, including John Mayer, Sugarland, Indigo Girls, Sheryl Crow, Brandi Carlile, The Black Crowes, India.Arie, The Civil Wars, Justin Bieber and more. "This is not just a round, it's a jam session," Lindsey explains. "The best thing about this job is I get to see great songwriters for free!" About Lindsey Hinkle: Lindsey Hinkle is a self-taught musician known for her resonating lyrics that are filled with insight into the human condition, as well as haunting and penetrating vocals that seem to echo mercilessly inside your head. She has been writing and performing original material since age 13 and has opened for artists such as Keith Urban, Lady A, Sugarland, Little Big Town, Thompson Square, Drake White, Shawn Mullins, Marc Broussard, Jennifer Nettles, Sugarland, Darius Rucker, Indigo Girls, Kristy Lee, and Michelle Malone.
At age 17, Lindsey won the Eddie's Attic Open Mic Shoot Out in Atlanta, besting singer/songwriters with more than double her years worth of experience.
Atlanta's Creative Loafing Magazine, in reference to Lindsey winning the Eddie's Attic Open Mic Shoot Out, wrote:
"Young Alabama-based singer/songwriter Lindsey Hinkle triumphed over a field of exceptionally strong semi-finalists to win the concluding round.' 'Blessed with exceptional beauty and a voice to match, Hinkle expertly accompanied herself on guitar, performing original songs such as "Rainy Monday," with graceful lyrics and a wistful tone that would have been impressive from a composer twice her age."
In December 2021, Lindsey was mentioned in Billboard and People Magazine for co-writing Drake White's "Power of a Woman" alongside her lifelong friend Kelli Johnson. The song has had several millions of plays on Spotify alone since it's release in late 2021.
Lindsey cites Beth Hart, Patty Griffin, Sheryl Crow, John Mayer, Indigo Girls and James Taylor as her primary musical influences. Lindsey's style of both music and lyrics have often been compared to the stylings of John Mayer by industry critics and professionals.
Since the release of "Power of a Woman", Lindsey has decided to embark on her own journey recording, producing, mixing, and releasing her first full-length album that has been literally a lifetime in the making. She is hoping for its release by the fall of 2023.
Lindsey supplies vocals as well as live, recorded loops singing her own background vocals, percussion, and acoustic accompaniment on select songs. For more information, visit www.lindseyhinklemusic.com and follow Lindsey on Facebook, Instagram, Spotify and TikTok.
About Nick Hetzler: Nick Hetzler is a musician based out of Nashville, TN. He combines elements of Country/Rock/Pop/Americana/Blues into a diverse performance that is sure to please any crowd. Citing influences of Chris Stapleton, John Mayer, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Led Zeppelin, and many more, he brings grit and soul to every song he writes and sings. Be sure to follow Nick on social media to stay up to date on upcoming projects and see where he is playing next.
For more information, visit www.nickhetzlermusic.com.
About Kelli Johnson: Born and raised in North Alabama, Kelli Johnson was steeped in the rich musical heritage of Country, Bluegrass, Gospel, and Motown. With her rootsy twang, powerhouse vocals and Award-Winning songwriting, Kelli has an innate ability to create music that defies genre boundaries.
Kelli's music has been featured in national television commercials, independent films and recordings by major labels and independent artists alike.
As a songwriter, Kelli has written songs with Award winning writers such as Max T. Barnes, Byron Hill, Jerry Salley, Lance Carpenter, Charley Stefl, and Aaron Barker, and with major artists Craig Campbell, Riley Green, Brittany Spencer, and Drake White.
Drake White's album " The Optimystic" featuring 3 songs co-written with Johnson, debuted #1 on the iTunes County Album Charts! Album single "Power of A Woman", co- written with Johnson, was recently featured in Billboard and People Magazine.
Kelli also penned 3 tunes on The Voice Season 19 Worth The Wait's album "Vinyl Revival", as well as dozens of independent artists cuts.
As a performer, Kelli has opened for Sugarland, Restless Heart, Wet Willie, Rodney Crowell, Marty Raybon, and has toured with Grammy-winning artist John Berry. She has performed on Music City Roots, PBS, APT, The Dugger Mountain Music Hall Show, The Phil Mack International Country Music Show, and was a featured artist on Barry Waldrep's 2021 Tony Rice Tribute Album, alongside Vince Gill, John Berry, Marty Raybon, John Cowan, Emmylou Harris and more.
Kelli resides just outside Nashville, TN, where she continues to write and perform.
Lindsey Hinkle
Drake White
Eddie's Attic


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Former Tennessee All-American Todd Helton Charged with DUI
by Ben McKee - Mar 27, 2019
(Photo via 247Sports)
Former Tennessee All-American and Colorado Rockies star first baseman Todd Helton was charged with driving under the influence on March 18th in Knox County, according to court records.
Helton was cited for driving under the influence after he crashed his 2019 Ford F-150 pickup into a telephone pole according to the citation. No other vehicles were involved.
According to police, Helton told law enforcement that he had taken the sleeping aid Ambien about four hours before the crash. The officer that arrived to the scene spotted a "travel cup" in Helton's truck that smelled like alcohol.
In a statement released on Monday by Helton's attorney, Stephen Ross Johnson, Helton required emergency medical care. The five-time All-Star has since entered a treatment facility.
"Todd is currently in a residential treatment program outside of East Tennessee, receiving the care he needs," the statement read. "He realizes there are parts of his behavior that need to change, and he is focused on doing just that.
"While there has not been a final court decision about his citation, Todd is still taking action."
Tennessee head baseball coach Tony Vitello was asked about Helton's situation after the Vols' 6-5 loss to ETSU on Tuesday night. Helton is listed as a member of Vitello's staff on UT's website, but Vitello clarified that Helton has never been a salaried member of Tennessee's baseball team.
"Todd has not been a member of the coaching staff," Vitello said. "I know that was reported, and he's on the website because, with Coach Serrano's staff he joined on as Director of Player Development, which is an NCAA rule that you're allowed to have that position. But because of Todd's good will towards the program and his financial status, he was never on salary."
As for what's going on with Helton, Vitello made it clear that he supports the former Vol who he says he has a "personal relationship" with.
"Todd is a University of Tennessee first family member, but he's a member of the Tennessee baseball family too. So the first thing I did when I heard the news was to reach out and to see if he was okay," Vitello continued. "To my knowledge, he's safe. Apparently, ya know, he's dealing with some things. I know he was having trouble sleeping, because we do have a personal relationship. The last time I saw him was a few weeks ago. To me, he was doing good. I know he's been working out and is in good shape. But he was having trouble sleeping, so there's your Ambien thing.
"That's me being as honest as I possibly can be with y'all. We certainly have no intentions of turning our back on him because of what he's done at this place. We want to make sure, again, that he's safe and getting through things and getting what he needs."
Helton retired from Major League Baseball in 2013 following 17 seasons in the big leagues. He spent his entire career with the Rockies and was the first player to have his jersey retired by the organization.
This isn't the first drinking and driving incident Helton has been involved with, though. In 2013, he pleaded guilty to drunken driving in a Denver suburb.
In October, a Knox County judge dismissed a misdemeanor charge of leaving the scene of a crash that took place at a West Knox Country apartment.
Four years after his retirement from baseball, in 2017, Helton returned to Tennessee's baseball program as Director of Player Development. According to the school, in his volunteer role, Helton is responsible for maintaining alumni relations, assisting with on-campus recruiting, collaborating with UT's coaching staff, and helping Tennessee's current players make informed decisions about pursuing professional baseball careers.
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No. 23 Tennessee Baseball Slips Up vs. ETSU
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Ben McKee
Ben McKee is a graduate from the University of Tennessee and has a degree in Journalism and Electronic Media. He covers Tennessee football, basketball, baseball, and the Lady Vols for RTI, and he's also the host of the RTI Podcast. You can also hear Ben on the morning sports radio show "The Swain Event." He's the producer and co-host along with former Vol wide receiver Jayson Swain.


text:
CD/Digital releasesFree internet musicThematic series
Free internet music: Altus
by 5:4 January 8, 2018 • 11:56
written by 5:4 January 8, 2018 • 11:56
i'm going to start 2018 exploring an area that seems particularly appropriate and indeed desirable in January, in the wake of the financial blow-outs many of us will have made in the run-up and perhaps also aftermath of Christmas: free internet music. This sort of thing used to be primarily located within the purview of netlabels, and while these labels presumably fostered a sense of community, the narrow curatorial outlook demonstrated by the majority of them coupled with – in many cases – the poor standard of much of the music was perhaps responsible above all else for the downfall and/or abandonment of so many of them. Today, few really good netlabels still exist, something i hope to return to later in this series. Initially, and primarily, i'm going to focus on individual composers who have opted to make their work available online free of charge. Apropos: the term 'free' can be a contentious one, and in the case of Bandcamp – surely the predominant platform at present for offering music in this way – many artists avoid this terminology in favour of their "Name your price" option (which can, of course, be zero). Maybe it's just me, but as far as i'm concerned, if someone allows me to name my own price, that price will always be zero. So, with that in mind, everything i'll be featuring here is either simply free or offered under this more equivocal 'name your price' option.
i've decided to start with a composer who creates ambient music due to the fact that ambient is itself going to be a recurring theme on 5:4 throughout 2018. This year marks the 40th anniversary of Brian Eno's Music for Airports, which effectively provided a 'manifesto' of sorts for ambient (which already existed in a variety of nascent forms), so at various points in the year i'll be exploring the history and development of ambient music over the last 40 years.
Returning to free internet music, the issue of quality control (from the composer's or label's perspective) and its concomitant necessity for careful discernment (from the listener's) persists today, and is one that will feature in some of the music i'll be discussing in this series. It certainly applies in the case of Canadian composer Mike Carss, who under the name Altus has been creating ambient music for around 15 years. In that time he's produced a great deal of music, almost all of it available free online, though in more recent times he's charged a small amount for lossless downloads, while the lossy version has remained free. There's two things i think one needs to bear in mind at the outset when approaching Altus. His enthusiasm and, at its best, talent for ambient music are considerable, and i regard some of his work as among the best ambient i've heard. However, the compositional quality overall is quite wildly variable – a seemingly quintessential trait for ambient composers, it seems – though interestingly, in Altus' case this isn't manifested as poorer earlier work being trounced by more sophisticated later music. It's more complicated and unpredictable than that, so i'm going to offer here a guide to the most outstanding examples of his output.
i'll start with the piece that first really got my attention, The Sidereal Cycle, a four-part work released on the equinoxes and solstices from June 2012 to March 2013. Parts 3 (Orion) and 4 (Virgo) are perfectly fine and pleasant, while Part 1 (Cygnus) is more involving, but Part 2, Andromeda, is stunning. One of the things i love about it most is its sense of patience and timing. The 55-minute duration falls broadly into two sections, the first focused on a harmonic palette that wafts gently within a narrow range, but wafting such that it sounds rooted yet not dronal: there's not so much a 'tonic' as a number of related possibilities, all given equal emphasis. Within this narrow harmonic palette, various diatonic chords drift while individual pitches are extruded, some as simple extensions of the soft timbres that underpin everything, others as light twangs (possibly treated plucked string sounds) and, later, flute-like sounds. Altus allows this behaviour to continue – essentially unchanged, yet its results feeling continually different and new, yet another example of what i've called 'steady statism', which permeates almost all of Altus' work – for a long time, only after around 24 minutes beginning to feel that something else might be happening, that the music has something else yet to do. This is done in the most uncomplicated way, a slight simplifying or clarifying of the musical texture, paring it back to the most basic timbral components (no more twangs or flutes) until, a little over 28 minutes in, when the music seemingly starts to retreat and turn inward, emphasising lower registers and softer dynamics, with a subtle introduction of brass timbres. For a moment (around the 31-minute mark), the piece is suspended, reduced to a single drone pitch, whereupon the second section erupts, like a shaft of late afternoon sunlight penetrating gloom. Altus bases it on a simple repeating pattern of falling pitches, though with its fundamental harmony shifting at various points, each time making the pattern feel invigorated. As in the first section, this behaviour is also a steady state that persists for much of the latter half of the piece, only altering in the final few minutes, separating out into parallel octave lines of pitch that finally evaporate. It's an exquisitely-handled and -executed piece of music, and i love it both for being a superb and subtle demonstration of ambient principles as well as for being a blissfully beautiful, totally enveloping listening experience. It's available in FLAC directly from Altus, and in all formats (as part of the complete cycle) from Free Floating Music.
There's a great deal by Altus worthy of recommendation, and as i indicated above, this includes some of his very earliest ambient work. From 2003 to 2005 he created an album exploring each of the four elements, of which the first two, Fire and Water, are the best. The seven movements of Fire consist of more behavioural stases, some ('Spark', 'Scintillation (Part 2)') of a spritely disposition, the rest typically the product of warm string pads. All of these are archetypally ambient, by turns pulling at or being indifferent to our attention. But the 'Finale' is something else, progressing from surges of noise in the preceding track ('White Light') through a lengthy varied restatement of opening track 'Overture For Fire'. Musically speaking it's all incredibly simple, but the gently filmic nature of its cycling chord sequence plus the whiff of melancholy that pervades it (doubly unexpected in a movement titled 'Finale', and in a work inspired by fire) is surprisingly affecting, particularly when it gains extra weight in its latter half.
Water, fittingly, is a more meandering affair, though its best bits are again rooted in similar behavioural stases, treating them to variations of density, warmth and colour. Third movement 'Glacier' subjects a delicate three-chord sequence to gradations of chill, in the process demonstrating the kind of mileage obtainable from such basic materials, while 'Mesopelagic' partially breaks up its sequence into a mixture of smooth washes and energetic pulsations, resulting in a modest obscuring of the harmony that proves nicely disorienting. But it's penultimate track 'Hadopelagic' (the title referring to the 'Hadal zone', the deepest part of the oceans) that i find most potent, due to the way Altus retains a static behaviour while keeping it harmonically remote. Made up of a network of small swells, its use of pitch is largely polarised to high and low registers, which in conjunction with bands of pitch that don't so much complement as gently jar against each other, results in a soundworld of distant, rather alien beauty.
As the music i've discussed so far suggests, Altus is fond of composing thematic cycles, and one of his more recent examples contain some of his best music to date. In 2011 he began a 'Sleep Theory' series, which he describes as "tonally active yet hypnotic soundscapes". Again, the emphasis is on extended steady states, here exhibiting a restrained, restful demeanour that clearly invites a slipping in and out, somnolent engagement, akin to both Robert Rich's Somnium and Nordvargr's Sleep Therapy cycle but, unlike them, restricted to track durations of around 20 minutes (titled simply as a numbered sequence of "sessions"). The first two volumes, from 2011 and 2013 respectively, are both excellent.
On Volume 1, 'Session 1' harks back to Eno, with a small, surface level melodic idea cycling round and round over a hovering, middlegrounded cloud-chord. It's left to its own devices only for around eight minutes, but as is often the way in ambient music, this feels like so much longer ("hypnotic" is exactly the right word for it), whereupon Altus engages in gentle melodic variations, like absent-mindedly dragging a stick ever-so-slowly through water, producing minimal ripples. 'Session 3' evokes mid-70s Vangelis (circa Albedo 0.39), employing restrained but gnarly analogue synth timbres to weave another cycling harmonic design that appears to be slowly rotating in front of us. As in Andromeda, it turns inward at its centre, opening out again after in a slightly revised form. Both of these are pure loveliness – inviting interest and ignoring in equal measure (but more the former) – but 'Session 2' is the piece i've returned to most. More vaporous than the others, it operates like an abstracted seashore, communicating in softly crashing waves and surges, each one a glittering chord that's unique yet tonally related to all the others. Varying in weight between light splashes and robust billows, this has the effect of continually casting the otherwise static harmony into ever new lights and permutations.
Volume 2 is yet more impressive. 'Session 4' is a kind of souped-up iteration of 'Session 2' but with wider harmonic scope, and its swells interconnected and altogether more ecstatic. As far as sleep is concerned, for me 'Session 4′ has become my go-to waking-up music, a perfect piece of music to begin the day. When i wrote earlier about some of Altus' work being among the best ambient i've heard, this track was uppermost in my mind; the way it is so clearly focused on a repeating underlying sequence yet feels so new – and renewed – with each iteration is spellbinding. 'Session 5' acts as a nicely-judged 'come down', of a darker sonic hue, before the other highlight of Volume 2, 'Session 6' which, again as far as sleep is concerned, has become my go-to settling down music, an ideal way to bring the day to an end. Like a darker sibling to 'Session 4', there's a lovely sense of tiredness written into the music, emphasising melodic and harmonic descents and exhibiting a greater sense of restraint, though its cycling surges eventually become heavier as a weighty layer of bass is added. The second half of the piece loses this and infinitesimally starts to diminish, ultimately – in every sense of the term – drifting off. Both volumes are exquisite in their entirety, but the even-numbered 'Sessions' are real ambient masterpieces.
As for the rest of Altus' output, i would also recommend the two parts of The Time Collection, both of which date from 2015. The highlights of part 1, Ghost of Time, are 'Illusionary Progression' and 'Live for the Now', the former another Vangelis-like exercise in stirring a rich, analogue harmonic broth, diatonic but dense, the latter a gorgeous sequence of bass-driven surges coated in glittering froth and foam. 'Absolve the Past' is also worth mentioning, its repeating ruminations bearing a more introspective quality. Part 2, Time Forgotten, is less striking overall, but second track 'Memory Thief' is mesmerising, a return to the impressive patience displayed in Andromeda. Indeed, Altus almost seems to have created it in an entirely 'hands off' way, allowing his palette of sound elements to move on their own, colliding and blending entirely freely. The introduction of a soft, distant bassline turns it into one of the most lovely, unfussy modern chaconnes you're ever likely to hear, moving forward while seemingly forever fighting an urge simply to stop and hold position, transfixed by itself.
Beyond these treasures, i'd also flag up 2010's Black Tree Among Amber Skies (especially 'Dormant Skeletons' – one of Altus' most sombre creations – and 'Sodium Glow') and 2015's Komorebi, the highlight of which, 'Waver', is just delicious. And for something a little different, his 2008 album Macro is a fascinatingly contrasting experience, consisting of 22 tracks confined to just two or three minutes' duration. There are too many highlights to discuss them all, but 'Leaf in the Wind', 'Wood Grain' and above all 'Wave Rotation' are all wonderfully tantalising (the latter redolent of Future Sound of London), offering miniature windows into vast alien worlds.
AltusambientCanada
Steve Smith January 9, 2018 • 21:11 - 21:11
Thanks for this, Simon. I'm sure it's occurred to you, but there IS one important distinction on Bandcamp between "free" and "name your price" — "free" releases are not included on a purchaser's collection page, and thus the whole social-influence angle baked into Bandcamp is defeated. Even if you designate zero for "name your price," the release you've acquired will take its place in your collection, and will be reflected to your followers via those handy e-mail updates. That's important, I think.
5:4 January 9, 2018 • 23:15 - 23:15
i don't believe you're correct, Steve – at least, not anymore. i know that distinction between free and 'name your price' used to be there but it does't seem to be any longer, and i've not been able to find any information confirming either way on Bandcamp's help pages. i've double-checked in my own collection and while there do seem to be 'name your price = zero' items further back, among the more recent items (i.e. downloaded in the last 12-18 months), it only contains albums i either paid for or had download codes for, no 'name your price = zero' items at all. Furthermore, i've just tried it out, downloading something on a 'name your price = zero' basis – and, sure enough, it's not been added to my collection.
So as far as i can see, responding to 'name your price' with a zero amount doesn't any longer add the album to your collection. i think that's a shame.
5:4 January 11, 2018 • 14:42 - 14:42
Steve – having checked and digged further, i was right, it's definitely not the case any longer. With 'name your price' releases you do need to pay something in order for it to be added to your collection.
Gilles P. Brillon January 11, 2018 • 15:21 - 15:21
I've been following Mike Carss (Altus) for some years now and I truly believe he is one of the best if not THE best ambient music composer today. Bandcamp offers a multitude of artists and composers in the ambient genre, be it dark, atmospheric, drone etc…, but in my 16k+ collection, Altus is the only artist whose discography is permanently in my player.
His latest offering, Winter Embrace (15th Anniversary Edition) is a pure masterpiece. The music is exquisite and the sonic research is perfection. I posted on Facebook that Winter Embrace 15th is the album of the year. I wish him a long and fruitful life, so he could bless us with more of his beautiful music.
Anti-Spam Quiz: Mike who?


What is the Global Forum on Nicotine?
The GFN is the only international conference to focus on the role of safer nicotine products that help people switch from smoking. Safer nicotine products include e-cigarettes (vapes), oral tobaccos such as Swedish snus, and 'heat-not-burn' tobacco products. This is a rapidly evolving area, with many new non-combustible products emerging over the past ten to fifteen years.
The rapid development and use of safer nicotine products raises a number of challenging scientific questions about their safety, who uses them and why, and the impact on smoking. These products also raise challenges for governments who seek to understand what kind of policy and regulation is appropriate. The GFN examines the rapidly developing science in relation to nicotine and its use, including policy and regulatory responses.
public health experts, who need to advise populations about smoking, smoking cessation and safer nicotine products.
Who attends the GFN conference?
What is the conference theme this year?
The theme for GFN 2019 is "It's time to talk about nicotine". The conference will examine how attitudes towards the use of nicotine are changing and consider some of its more positive and potentially beneficial uses.
What makes the GFN different?
We bring together the many people who might otherwise not have the opportunity to speak with each other. Unique among conferences on nicotine and smoking, we ensure that consumer and consumer advocacy organisations participate as well as manufacturers. These groups are often excluded from other international meetings and events, despite playing a critical role in informing and shaping the debates around safer nicotine products and tobacco harm reduction.
Why focus on nicotine rather than smoking?
Smoking tobacco is the most harmful way of using nicotine. It is the tars and gases in cigarette smoke that are harmful to health. Many people find it hard to stop smoking because they find it hard to go without nicotine. Making available lower risk products helps people to switch from smoking and avoid the associated risks. This is known as 'tobacco harm reduction'.
How long has the GFN been in existence?
The first conference was held in 2014. This year marks the sixth annual GFN.
The GFN started in 2014 with 200 delegates from 26 countries. By 2018, it had grown to 500 delegates representing 50+ nations. All the conferences to date have been in Warsaw.
How can journalists register their interest in attending?
Media representatives can express interest in attending the event by filling a form here. Please include details of the organisation you work for or, if freelance, which organisation has commissioned you. The deadline to apply for media accreditation is 15 May 2019.
How is the GFN funded?
The conference is funded by registration fees and does not receive any sponsorship from manufacturers, distributors or retailers of nicotine products, including pharmaceutical, electronic cigarette and tobacco companies.
We aim to make the conference as accessible as possible. Our registration fees are offered on a sliding scale and start from as little as £129 for students, delegates from low and middle income countries, consumers and local participants.


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Epic: An Around-the-World Journey through Christian History
By: Tim Challies, Stephen McCaskell
Sale ends February 14, 2023
33 fascinating objects. 1 amazing story. Join author and pastor Tim Challies as he embarks on a three-year journey, taking you to some of the most unusual places in the world. From pulpits to paintings, the labor of monks to the martyrdom of missionaries, this film is an immersive travelogue introducing you to 33 key objects that tell the history of Christianity and complementing the Epic book.
Beginning with Jesus and the early church, Challies looks at:
The importance of graffiti on an ancient jail cell
The creedal significance of a carving on a museum statue
The enduring importance of ancient manuscripts and books
Along the way, you'll discover the story you're already a part of.
"Together we will listen to these voices of the past tell us the epic story of what God has done and continues to do in our world today." - Tim Challies
Contributor(s) Tim Challies , Stephen McCaskell
A pastor, noted speaker, and author of numerous articles, Tim Challies is a pioneer in the Christian blogosphere. Tens of thousands of people visit Challies.com each day, making it one of the most widely read and recognized Christian blogs in the world. Tim is the author of several books, including Visual Theology and Epic: An Around-the-World Journey through Christian History. He and his family reside near Toronto, Ontario.
Stephen McCaskell is an award winning filmmaker based in Manitoba, Canada. His documentaries have been watched by millions of people in over 120 countries around the world. He has travelled to more than 40 countries working with organizations like Samaritan's Purse, Tim Challies, Media Gratiae, Christianity Explored Ministries and Haven Ministries.
Case Weight (lbs) 7.53 lb


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Both sides of Route 128 in Wakefield reopened after truck fire
By Martin Finucane Globe Staff,November 20, 2014, 5:08 p.m.
Both sides of Route 128 in Wakefield were closed briefly late Wednesday afternoon due to a truck fire, State Police said.
At 4:37 p.m. State Police reported that that both sides of the highway were closed. At 5:01 p.m., the agency said in an official tweet that both sides had reopened.
The troopers said motorists should expect delays. WCVB-TV news helicopter footage showed a long string of slow-rolling headlights on the highway.
RELATED: Traffic updates


Join University of Illinois students for the Organizing Change Retreat, a two-day, off-campus experience at Eastland Suites in Urbana. Shuttle service, lodging, and food are provided.
This free, interactive retreat is open to all University of Illinois undergraduate and graduate students. You will learn practical concepts and skills about social change, identify what issues are important to you, network with fellow students, and consider how social change relates to your academics and future careers.
Whether you are new to the exploration of social justice or are a seasoned activist, the Organizing Change Retreat welcomes you!
Sponsored by University of Illinois Office of Inclusion and Intercultural Relations, University Housing, Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, University YMCA, and the YWCA of the University of Illinois. Paid for in part by the Student Cultural Programming Fee.