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Fletcher Group
Building Recovery Ecosystems
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Composed of financial, technical, business, and treatment experts, the Don Ball Technical Assistance Center plays a key role within the Fletcher Group by providing organizations, communities, counties and states with unrivaled guidance and support.
A Wide Range Of Assistance
We offer a wide range of technical assistance, from Blended Funding, Construction Financing, and innovative Payment Methodologies to Telehealth, Case Management, Harm Reduction, and Peer-Driven Support as well as Trauma-Informed, Mental Health, and Medication-Assisted Treatments. (See brief descriptions of each category below.)
Customized Approach
When it comes to effective treatment and recovery, one size does not fit all. Our efforts always reflect a respect for and deep understanding of local conditions, needs, and expectations. Customized Support may include evaluations and assessments, interviews, focus groups, external stakeholder engagement, and comprehensive reviews of policies, procedures, and data.
Cutting-Edge Tools
We develop and disseminate the latest cutting-edge tools and learning resources. Oexperience in building innovative Recovery Ecosystems, in particular, can be a real game-changer by drawing and coordinating funds and resources from previously fragmented sources who are often keenly aware that a lack of collaboration with others is hindering their effectiveness.
We apply the latest recovery science, epidemiological data, next-generation strategies and evidence-based practices to optimize all your prevention, treatment, and recovery efforts. For a basic understanding of our guiding principles, please check out our Best Practices Overview.
Nearly 20 Different Categories Of Assistance
BLENDED FUNDING
Blended Funding is in fact the only means currently available to leverage the wide range of funds and resources needed to house clients in one location surrounded by all needed treatments for a time period sufficient to enable full, lasting recovery.
Blended Funding not only facilitates innovative partnerships with federal, state and local governments. We help gather at the same table a wide range of enlightened stake-holders including those from law enforcement, the court system, social services, health services, housing programs, faith-based organizations, and both for-profit and not-for-profit private organizations as well as socially-aware entities from the private sector.
An Unprecedented Business Model
The Don Ball Technical Assistance Center within the Fletcher Group solves two riddles at once by addressing both the business model and the treatment model of recovery housing. Our innovative business model provides construction start-up financing as well as funds to cover ongoing daily operations. Our Technical Assistants also provide guidance regarding planning and zoning engagements, political support, facility construction, and service contracts with a variety of entities including HUD, law enforcement, and local health and social services.
HOUSING CREDITS
The Fletcher Group offers a wealth of experience in leveraging low-income housing tax credits and other federal funding streams to build, support, and sustain effective recovery housing.
What You Don't Know Can Hurt You
The Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) was authorized through the federal Tax Reform Act of 1986 to encourage private equity investments in affordable rental housing. The equity raised can be used to construct new properties, acquire and renovate existing buildings, or refinance and renovate existing affordable housing properties financed through other federal housing programs. These investments reduce the need for costlier methods of financing, such as bank loans, thus substantially lowering the cost of financing LIHTC properties. As such, LIHTC can play a crucial role in creating, preserving and expanding the supply of recovery housing, particularly in rural communities.
Numerous Opportunities
LIHTC funds more housing units than any other federal housing programs, but it is just one of many programs that can help you enhance your prevention, treatment and recovery efforts. An example is the highly effective "Recovery Kentucky" program upon which the Fletcher Group's innovative "Recovery Ecosystem" model is based. Scores of different partners participated in the building of 18 Recovery Centers throughout the Commonwealth of Kentucky, including those partners listed below.
Appalachian Regional Commission–Tasked with POWER Grant recommendations and administration
State and Local Health Departments–Tasked with promoting collaboration and support for early intervention
Operation UNITE–Founded by Congressman Hal Rogers, host of "Rx Summit," the nation's largest annual opioid and Rx drug conference
Kentucky Community Technical College System–Oversees the state's distance learning and workforce development
State Housing Authorities–Instrumental in providing sustainable financing (LIHTC, Section 8, etc.)
Criminal Justice System—Including corrections, parole, probation, and drug courts
FAHE – Oversees the financial analysis and development of capital funding for recovery center construction
The Don Ball Foundation
State Housing Authorities
HRSA
University of Kentucky Center for Drug and Alcohol Research
Kentucky Injury Prevention Center (KIPRC)
NIDA Healing Communities Grant
Kentucky Community Technical College System (KCTCS)
For more information about the Fletcher Group's origins in Kentucky, check out Recovery Kentucky.
FACILITY CONSTRUCTION
The Don Ball Center offers unmatched Technical Assistance when it comes to planning and funding the construction of Recovery Housing. We're adept at every step in the process, from land acquisition and zoning issues to sustainable, self-sufficient funding of daily operations.
Start-Up Fully Paid With No Mortgage
Through strategic use of tax credits, the "Recovery Kentucky" program where we cut our teeth opened each of it 18 Recovery Centers as completely paid-for facilities, without a mortgage. The Kentucky Housing Corporation provided each project with funding from Low Income Tax Credits, the Affordable Housing Trust Fund, and HOME Investment Partnership loans. Several projects received additional funding from banks, local communities, and government agencies.
Sustainable Operating Funds
In the case of centers built by Recovery Kentucky, operating costs were funded through a collaboration of the Department for Local Government and the Department of Corrections (DOC), Housing Authority Section 8, and services money received from the Community Development Block Grant program, with per diems paid for clients referred from the DOC.
Ongoing Housing Costs
The Kentucky Housing Corporation and two other local housing agencies administer project-based vouchers to the centers for semi-private rooms, providing an HUD subsidy to clients meeting the low- to no-income requirement. These funds help cover the costs of running the program, maintaining building upkeep, and paying for repairs.
A Model That Works
Talk with us about applying the same model within your state or region. Building a truly effective "Recovery Ecosystem" may be easier than you imagined.
CONTRACTING WITH CORRECTIONS
Developing cooperative agreements and contracting with corrections facilities, such as drug courts, jails and prisons, is another key to creating an effective "Recovery Ecosystem."
The Savings Are Real
The use of illicit drugs and alcohol contributes significantly to the soaring rate of incarceration in the United States. According to Bureau Of Justice Statistics, two-thirds of Federal and State prisoners and probationers could be characterized as drug involved. Jail overcrowding, costs of prisoner care, drug offenses, and the growing number of mentally ill in the prison system pose huge challenges to local governments.
Alternatives to Incarceration
Those same government agencies naturally seek alternatives to imprisonment in order to reduce jail overcrowding and associated costs. Because research indicates that treatment can reduce the substance abuse and criminal activity of substance-involved offenders, drug courts are increasingly endorsing treatment alternatives.
The Time Is Right
Drug courts are in fact driving modification of traditional treatment paradigms and the development of more effective strategies. And while drug courts can influence and inform their communities about their participant populations, the responsibility for financing, managing, and allocating treatment services generally rests with others, thus creating new opportunities for recovery programs to cooperate and contract with drug courts and corrections facilities.
Unrivalled Expertise At Your Service
Because of our prior experience in the field, our Technical Assistants are uniquely qualified to help you develop rewarding, sustainable relationships with local courts and corrections facilities—the kind of relationships that can ensure your organization's sustainability, reputation, and the continued good work that you do.
PAYMENT METHODOLOGIES
All healthcare organizations—from health plans and hospitals to physicians and employers—are rapidly transitioning to Value-Based Care and alternative reimbursement models. This unprecedented change is creating new opportunities even as it dictates new tools for a new way of working.
It's All About Value
Alternative payment methodologies, including value-based payments, promise to play a key role in the future of all healthcare programs, especially those addressing addiction and homelessness. And though the merits of improving quality of care while lowering costs can't be argued, the journey itself can be daunting.
Your Guide And Mentor
With years of experience on both the payer and provider sides of healthcare, the veteran experts at the Bon Ball Technical Assistance Center are uniquely qualified to help you develop the governance and staffing needed for a new era of value-based reimbursement. We're uniquely qualified to not only provide the tools you'll need but to also help you chart the path forward to greater efficiency.
Customized To Meet Your Needs
With your unique challenges and organizational goals foremost in mind, we'll work with you as both a process strategy advisor and a hands-on, tactical resource, helping you embrace change and optimize workflow as you leverage the most advanced technology.
The social enterprise model has a proven track record in providing mentorship and hope to those men and women who've served their time and are ready to start anew. By enabling support, structure, skill development, and paying jobs, social enterprise is the key to people transforming lives, reuniting families, and rebuilding communities.
The return on investment has been well documented: Society accrues a $2.23 benefit for every dollar invested in social enterprise programs. That return includes things like increased income, less reliance on government programs, and taxes paid when a person is given the chance to work.
Beyond the numbers, there's also a powerful "ripple effect"—what happens to families, communities, workplaces, and ultimately to society when people's lives are so transformed that they dedicate themselves to helping others.
A Better, More Inclusive Society
Just as your clients need effective support and coaching to fulfill their potential, your organization may need guidance when it comes to building bridges with the private sector. Our unique experience in working with socially aware employers and faith-based initiatives can be invaluable as you work to create the hands-on business training, employment, and leadership opportunities so crucial to complete and lasting recovery.
Some of what seems to us today like science fiction will be routine in the future, perhaps even in our lifetimes. Yet much of what makes us human—relationships, hope, grief, denial—will remain unchanged. In adopting new technology, how do we find the right balance and ensure that we not only address immediate problems but solve them in ways that will stand the test of time?
Do We Transform Technology? Or Does It Transform Us?
Technology is created to solve a problem or improve performance. But, as we all know, technology can also change behavior and even create new problems. Those of us involved with health records are keenly aware of the broad context in which information can be both used and misused. When it comes to individually identifiable health information, including demographic data, medical histories, test results, insurance information, and other information used to identify a patient or provide healthcare services, you best know what you're doing.
Many Futures To Plan For
Because we live at the beginning of a new era, we will, for the foreseeable future, be forced to live with fragmented, partially dysfunctional technologies that are continually improved, augmented, or replaced altogether. Technological innovation has already helped reduce wait times, prolong life, and assist physicians in diagnosis. But that's just the beginning. Those making the most of technology will have to plan for the future not just once, but continuously.
Invaluable Help Every Step Of The Way
The Don Ball Technical Assistance Center is fully equipped not only with the latest prevention, treatment, and recovery technology. While helping you to adopt, adapt, and refine new technologies, we can also help you think clearly about where you want to go and how to get there, particularly in terms of safety, security, and regulation. As the pace of change accelerates, our expert guidance can make the difference between you serving technology and technology serving you.
Telehealth, also known as Telemedicine, refers to remote clinical services that use electronic communications and software to facilitate health care without the patient and healthcare provider having to meet in person. Traditionally used to treat patients in distant, inaccessible locations, Telehealth is now practiced in a wide variety of healthcare settings.
Remote Is No Longer Remote
Telehealth promises to address some of the most challenging problems of our current healthcare system: access to care, cost-effective delivery, and distribution of limited providers. To do so, it currently uses consumer technologies like the SmartPhone and Tablet apps that allow consumers to capture and share their own health data.
Mobile Apps To The Rescue
"mHealth" stands for "Mobile Health" and applies to the medical use of mobile phones and other wireless technology. The most common application is to educate consumers about preventive healthcare services. "e-Health" is another commonly used term. It refers to electronically managing, transmitting, storing, and recording information used to treat disease, make payments, and keep records.
The Benefits Are Numerous
Adopting the latest Telemedicine initiatives can help your practice achieve numerous benefits. You can lower costs, drive up efficiency, provide patients with better access to services, and facilitate the continual contact that can keep patients plugged into your program.
The Challenges Are Numerous, Too
Although the benefits are significant, the advent of m-Health, e-Health, and Telehealth pose significant challenges to administrators—challenges the Fletcher Group is adept at solving. Payment is one such problem. What might be called "payment parity"—reimbursement for Telemedicine services comparable to those of in-person services—can be problematic. Misdiagnosis can be another problem, but with even more serious consequences. That's why teaming with the Don Ball Technical Assistance Center can be so valuable. We can help you introduce new efficiencies while preventing the kind of mistakes that can disrupt, impede, and even compromise the excellent service and outstanding reputation you have worked so hard to achieve.
One criteria alone spells success or failure for social enterprise programs—the ability to train and find meaningful employment for those in recovery. That success depends in turn on the ability to accurately assess the vocational interests, passions, predispositions, knowledge, and skills of the potential employee. Without an accurate assessment, all parties involved—employer, employee, and those bringing the two together—run the risk not only of momentary disappointment but of a negative "Ripple Effect" that can damage the efforts of everyone involved and all those who follow.
A Proven Track Record
The numerous highly successful social enterprise programs facilitated by The Fletcher Group testify to our accuracy in assessing the skills and aptitude of those we've returned to the workforce. It doesn't hurt, of course, that we've been there throughout the training and preparatory stages as well, teaching the people we assessed to acquire skills, set goals, plan careers, and fulfill their potential as fully functional members of society.
Experience Matters
Question: Can your personality determine your choice of career, your position within a hierarchy, and your ultimate level of success? And is it true, as others say, that the more you're able to express your personality at work, the higher your career satisfaction? Questions like these pervade the vocational assessment community, but as in all things lived experience rules. And the Fletcher Group has plenty of it, thanks to the many innovative partnerships and collaborations that characterize we're known for. The expertise we've accumulated and continually updated over many years and many projects ensures the kind of accurate, in-depth career assessment that can lead your clients to understand both their strengths and weaknesses so that they can make the best career choice possible. Wise choices, made one person at a time, with the help of our Technical Assistance, can do much to enhance the effectiveness of whatever social enterprise program you may be administering.
Drug overdoses have dramatically increased over the last two decades, with deaths increasing more than four times between 1999 and 2017. In 2017, more than 70,000 people died from drug overdoses, making it a leading cause of injury-related death in the United States. Of those deaths, roughly 68 percent involved a prescription or illicit opioid. If anything, the epidemic has worsened in recent years. Of particular concern is illicitly manufactured fentanyl, which is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine.
Women May Be The Most At Risk
The prevalence of opioid use disorder (OUD) has also risen dramatically among pregnant and parenting women, more than quadrupling from 1999 to 2014. A contributing factor in pregnancy-associated deaths, opioid use among pregnant women has also generated a corresponding rise in neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) as well as a dramatic increase in children entering the child welfare system. Many states have identified pregnant and postpartum women as a priority population for SUD recovery efforts, yet gaps remain in care.
The Don Ball Technical Assistance Center has developed a wide range of tools, processes, and practices to help organizations like yours deliver effective SUD treatments. As a result of long-term partnerships with law enforcement, health departments, and community-based organizations, we are nationally recognized for developing highly effective, evidence-based prevention and recovery strategies. We never stop working to better understand the epidemic and identify effective ways of preventing opioid overdoses and opioid-related harm.
The Best Tools—Communication And Collaboration
Without timely, high-quality data, public health officials and other decision-makers have no way to understand the extent of the problem, to focus resources where they're needed, or to accurately assess program effectiveness. The data acquisition skills provided by the Don Ball Technical Assistance Center can play a key role here. Combined with our ability to form partnerships between disparate agencies and institutions, we can lend you a major hand in coping with this nation's most significant epidemic of the century.
Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) is commonly misunderstood as simply substituting one drug for another. The truth is that controlled levels of Methadone, Naltrexone and Buprenorphine complement counseling and behavioral therapies by relieving withdrawal symptoms and psychological cravings. MAT and MAR (Medication-Assisted Recovery) have no adverse effects on a person's mental capability, physical functioning, or employability and may be taken safely even for extended periods of time.
Widely Prescribed
Medication-Assisted Treatment is provided in a wide range of prevention, healthcare, and social service settings and is increasingly endorsed by drug courts as an effective treatment for opioid use disorders.
The Fletcher Group partners with the Hazeldon Betty Ford Foundation to provide training and technical assistance, including COR-12 Counseling, for recovery residents using MAT as part of the programming. This allows us to address any and all MAT issues you may have, including practice management, legal and regulatory requirements, patient screening and assessment, treatment protocols and planning, appropriate types of treatment (maintenance and/or detoxification), certification and licensing through SAMHSA Continuing Medical Education (CME) Courses, opioid pharmacology, patient monitoring,and strategies for managing challenging patient situations. We can also provide guidance on the use of Medication-Assisted Treatment for alcohol abuse.
World-Class Tools
When administering Medication-Assisted Treatment, physicians and other health care professionals face a clear challenge: How to minimize the potential for misuse of these important medications without impeding the patients' access to needed medical care. Our Technical Assistance Center offers Best Practices webinars, online courses, and face-to-face workshops to train the diverse behavioral health workforce needed to meet the nation's needs, including laypersons who care for patients in a wide variety of settings.
No one is immune to trauma. It impacts individuals, families, and communities by disrupting healthy development, adversely affecting relationships, and contributing to mental health issues, including substance abuse, domestic violence, and child abuse.
TIC and PIE
Trauma Informed Care (TIC) recognizes, acknowledges, and promotes sensitivity to trauma's effects by applying a holistic, person-centered treatment approach that acknowledges all the biological, psychological, neurological, and social impacts of trauma. TIC treats the whole person, taking into account past trauma and the victim's resulting coping mechanisms. Psychologically Informed Environments (PIE) complement TIC in serving patients dealing with complex emotional and psychological needs.
When providing Technical Assistance for Trauma-Informed Care, the Don Ball Technical Assistance Center adheres to five basic principles: 1) Safety, 2) Transparency and Trustworthiness, 3) Choice, 4) Collaboration and Mutuality, and 5) Empowerment.
Being trauma-informed has numerous advantages. The creation of a safe physical and emotional environment can benefit not only clients and their families. It can also improve staff morale by setting the table for a pro-active approach that fosters understanding and empathy as well as professional competence and confidence.
Women and Trauma
The Don Ball Technical Assistance Center traces its roots back to 1993 when Don Ball—philanthropist, congressman, and founder of nationally known Ball Homes—established the Hope Center in Lexington, Kentucky to combat the underlying causes of homelessness among women. The lessons learned there were soon applied in 18 recovery centers built under Governor Ernie Fletcher throughout the Commonwealth of Kentucky. As a result of that long history, we are particularly sensitive to the treatment needs of women.
Those struggling with mental health problems are not alone. Mental illness is treatable, help is available, and practical steps can be taken towards full recovery.
Four Keys To Recovery
The Don Ball Technical Assistance Center follows four guiding principles in assisting those treating the mentally ill:
Health First—First and foremost, all decisions and treatments must support the patient's physical and emotional wellbeing.
A Safe Home—Treatment without a safe, stable place to live is unlikely to be effectiveness.
Purposeful Activities—All daily activities should be deliberately designed to foster independence, to develop the capacity to earn a living, and to generate all the fundamental resources required to fully participate in society.
Community Involvement—Emphasis should also be given to the nurturing of relationships and social networks that provide support, friendship, love and, most critically, hope.
The Don Ball Technical Assistance Center works with a wide variety of organizations and treatment practitioners to enhance their ability to deliver effective evidence-based mental health services, including both prevention and recovery. Our wide range of interactive tools, resources, and treatment options can play a critical role in helping those in need complete their journey to recovery.
Our work always reflects a keen appreciation for the families of those in recovery who are unfortunately prone to stress, guilt, shame, anger, fear, anxiety, grief, and isolation. Their health and wellbeing cannot be ignored. Neither can the importance of resiliency and flexibility. What works for adults may not work for younger or older patients. Our Technical Assistance is always respectful of individual beliefs, local practices, cultural mores and linguistic needs as well as historical healthcare disparities that affect access and outcome.
Case Management is an integral component of any healthcare delivery system. Indeed, the responsibilities of the professional Case Manager seem to expand daily in response to rapid and relentless changes in our healthcare system.
Many Balls To Juggle
Case Managers must master a variety of disciplines ranging from collaborative assessments and care coordination to advocating and facilitating new services to meet complex patient needs. They must be ever mindful of patient safety, stigmatizing language, legal and regulatory changes, and quality of care as well as the bottom line—the cost-effectiveness of everything done in their name.
Three Guiding Principles
The Don Ball Technical Assistance Center keeps three principles foremost in mind when providing Technical Assistance to Case Managers:
Client-Centric: Our efforts must, first of all, complement yours through partnerships that are close, collaborative, and flexible.
Self-Care: Whenever possible, our efforts should support self-determination and self-care.
Holistic: The term can mean different things to different people, but invariably involves an appreciation of all parties involved and all potential consequences, the goal being a comprehensive solution that stands the test of time.
We can help you identify and address the knowledge, skills, and other key competencies needed to ensure that your Case Management processes are well-targeted, community-oriented, and seamlessly integrated within a wider strategy of integrated care. Bt letting us help you prioritize, facilitate, and coordinate services, you'll be able to institute the kind of Best Practices that can efficiently and cost-effectively meet all the complex needs of your patients.
COMMUNITY-BASED CARE
To say that healthcare should be community-based goes without saying. It is from communities that those in recovery come and it is to those same communities that they later return in hopes of a better life.
Our Unique History Of Community-Based Care
The roots of the Fletcher Group go back to Kentucky where Don Ball first served under Governor Ernie Fletcher as the state's Housing Director. Together they applied a uniquely innovative "Community As Method" approach to the creation of the highly successful "Recovery Kentucky" program. That underlying commitment to community involvement that was so instrumental to the program's success still marks everything we do.
Know Where You Are
Our unique history dictates that The Don Ball Technical Assistance Center apply a community-based approach to all that it does. We can help ensure that genuine community input is reflected in all aspects of your program, from policy-making and staff training to planning and communications.
"Community Task Forces" Lead The Way
We also believe that individual recovery relates directly to the patient's social environment—the community the patient comes from. Recovery can succeed only by recognizing all the direct and indirect relationships between that environment and the client's illness. The same can be said of community-based interventions. Because community buy-in the fist step in developing the knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and skills that influence community and individual health, we give considerable effort in each project to the development of an effective "Community Task that can engage stakeholders in all stages, from planning to execution.
PEER-DRIVEN SUPPORT
Having succeeded in their own journey to recovery, Peer Support Specialists often excel at helping others travel the same path. Doing so also helps the Peer Support Worker. By staying in close contact with those in recovery they are far less likely to relapse. Peer-Driven Support has an additional imporant benefit—it tends to extend treatment beyond the clinical setting to everyday situations and relationships.
Our Unique Experience
The Fletcher Group began cutting its teeth years ago with the Recovery Kentucky program inaugurated by Kentucky Housing Director Don Ball and Governor Ernie Fletcher. From the get-go, Recovery Kentucky applied a peer-driven approach with individuals given a safe place to live during the first critical stages of recovery. To this day, Recovery Kentucky administrators are assisted by Peer Mentors whose prior experience often proves invaluable.
Plenty Of Work To Do
Peer Support Specialists can excel inside the program by leading recovery groups, providing training and mentoring, administering programs and agencies, and supervising other peer workers. They can also work with the public to build community relationships, advocate for people in recovery, develop resources, and educate both policymakers and the general public.
Our long experience with a wide variety of Peer-Driven Programs indicates that Peer Support Specialists, though highly qualified in many respects, may benefit significantly from training in other core competencies. In addition to explaining how Peer Support Specialists can add value to your program, we can also help supervisors understand how best to maximize their contribution.
Why Invest In Technical Assistance?
Why is Technical Assistance so effective at helping organizations like yours increase capacity and improve performance? For starters, the information conveyed by Technical Assistants is relevant, meaningful, and immediately applicable. Expectations are known and reinforcement is immediate. Deeply respectful of their audience's intelligence, Technical Assistants also take pains to develop teaching styles that make the most of everyone's time. Just as important, administrators like yourself are freed from the burden of creating Do-It-Yourself training programs when your time and energy can be much better applied on the mission-critical activities you've been expressly trained to excel at.
Why the Fletcher Group?
TA sessions can vary widely in duration, topic, form, and structure. But the Don Ball Technical Assistance Center knows from experience that, to ensure maximum effectiveness, all programs and sessions should be marked by the following eight attributes.
1. Collaborative. Our Technical Assistants work in close partnership with your staff to identify underlying needs and long-term goals.
2. Systematic. Our TA Professionals work in a methodical, comprehensive, and systematic manner to leave no stone unturned.
3. Targeted. Fletcher Group TA's first determine which areas within your organization have the greatest need and where our assistance will have the greatest impact, then target their efforts on those strategic areas.
4. Customized. Technical Assistance must in all cases be tailored to the unique needs, structure, and style of each organization.
5. Adaptive. Fletcher Group Technical Assistants flexibly adapt throughout the engagement in accordance with the client's needs.
6. Asset-based. Technical Assistance is most effective when it identifies, engages with, and leverages the assets, resources, and relationships unique to your organization.
7. Accountable. To ensure accountability, we encourage formalized mutual agreements in the form of a "Memorandum Of Understanding" and an "Official Work Plan" that outlines specific actions and responsibilities.
8. Results-Driven. Fletcher Group Technical Assistants not only do their best to enhance your organization's performance. We also set in place methods for quantifying those improvements so that your team has documented proof of your return on investment.
GET TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
Do you need help creating rural Recovery Housing that's effective, affordable, and sustainable? Click the blue button below to learn more or click the red button to fill out our online TA Request Form.
Click the green button below to help us better understand your recovery housing needs.
Read past issues by clicking below:
January 2023 Grant-Writing
December 2022 Faith-Based Partnerships
November 2022 Gratitude
October 2022 New Tools!
September 2022 "I got a job!"
August 2022 Our Learning Center
July 2022 Summit Recap
June 2022 Our Research
May 2022 The Social Model
April 2022 Contingency Management
March 2022 Social Workers
February 2022 SMART Recovery
January 2022 Technical Assistance
December 2021 Year In Review
November 2021 Employment
October 2021 A New Era
September 2021 Rural Recovery
August 2021 Recovery Housing
July 2021 Overcoming NIMBYism
June 2021 Fighting Stigma
May 2021 Mental Health Month
April 2021 Telehealth
March 2021 Women's History
February 2021 Black History
January 2021 Vaccination Tips
December 2020 Holiday Tips
November 2020 Recovery Capital
October 2020 Native Americans
September 2020 Recovery Month
August 2020 NAS
July 2020 Survey Results
June 2020 Social Justice
May 2020 Social Distancing
April 2020 Pandemic Challenges
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Click the button below to access valuable information and resources for staying safe, healthy, and balanced during this challenging time.
Resident Quotes
"I was a chronic user of heroin. I was homeless and had lost my family. The recovery center helped me get sober and stay sober for 16 months."
RESIDENT PHOTOS
The Fletcher Group
601 Meyers Baker Road
London, Kentucky 40741 Phone: 606-657-4662 Web: https://www.fletchergroup.org/


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Gary Numan: Replicas live 5/15/16 at Metro
Gary Numan is on the road for a limited amount of special dates where he does a three night residency at clubs performing a different album each night from the early part of his career. The albums he is performing are the final Tubeway Army album, Replicas, plus the first two Gary Numan albums, The Pleasure Principle, and Telekon. The three albums comprise the "machine era" of Gary's long and ever-evolving career.
Sunday night was the first of the three nights and the show began with a one-woman electronic act named I Speak Machine. This lady played electronic soundscapes while a film played . She sometimes sang and she had a full rack of various electronic gadgets to manipulate sound with. It was very much like a movie soundtrack played live. The film only played for the first portion of her set and the rest she just played her music with no visual accompaniment. It was interesting and she had a good voice.
Gary Numan and his band performed Replicas for this first show of the residency. Gary was joined with a full band that included a drummer, keyboard player, guitar and bass players and Gary sometimes manned a second guitar for certain songs. The show started with the opening track of the album and the crowd was blinding by intense strobe lights. It was immediately apparent that a full band in a live setting added a harder edge to this 36 year old material and gave it a new layer of "oomph". The material sounded as fresh now as it did over three decades ago. Numan was quite a musical pioneer back then and his music was easily a precursor to the industrial and electronic music that became in the later half of the 1980's.
As the band played, Gary writhed around the stage, posed, stomped around and really gave an intense performance. To see that kind of energy in a 58-year-old musician is awe-inspiring and he had more stage presence and energy than musicians half his age. His voice sounded amazing and in the vocal department it was like time stood still. The band he has assembled really breathes new life into songs he's been performing for decades, so much so that it actually makes the studio albums seem a little watered down in comparison. As great as Replicas is, hearing it played from start to finish by Numan and his band was an amazing treat.
When the band finished the Replicas material they immediately performed another half-dozen or so songs from the other two albums of this era before leaving the stage. Over 80 minutes had passed at this point and the band played the material to perfection and the crowd loved every minute of it, giving big rounds of applause between songs. After a few minutes off stage, the band returned and closed the show with an acoustic number, "Jo the Waiter" before ending the evening with "Here In The Black" which is from Numan's latest album, Splintered, which just so happens to be one the best albums of his career. After the show the band took a bow and Gary thanked the audience before leaving the 1000+ people in attendance completely satisfied, many of them talking about how they can't wait for the next night's performance.
Check out additional photos from this show here!
Gary Numan: The Pleasure Principle live 5/16/16 at Metro
Savage Beliefs movie screening and performance 4/14/16 at Martyrs'

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Good location for sightseeing in Kyoto. Just 2mins from JR Kyoto Station.
The hotel has Pabulic bath, Gym, Lounge, and Restaurant & Bar.
SAKURA TERRACE THE GALLERY is a hotel which is located nearby JR Kyoto Station. It takes only 2 minutes on foot from Hachijo-guchi exit of Kyoto station to the hotel.
SAKURA TERRACE THE GALLERY was established in March 2015 with a concept "Staying like Living". It has 220 rooms in 2 buildngs, North wing and South wing.
This hotel is only for adults. Children under 12 years old is not permitted to stay this hotel.
The atmosphere of this hotel is not traditional Japanese or Kyoto style. But it is an open-air concept, nice and cozy with some modern arts and materials from wood, stone, and metal.
It depends on season, but 70% to 80% of the guests are foreign travellers (most of them are individual travellers because this hotel doesn't accept a gourp tour).
So, almost of all staffs speak fluently English. You won't have any problem with check-in, check-out, and getting information about Kyoto.
I stayed at a ROOF DOUBLE ROOM in North wing of this hotel, so I introduce about the room, amenity, public bath, facilities for your next trip to Kyoto, JAPAN!
Perfect location for sightseeing in Kyoto. 2mins from JR Kyoto station.
SAKURA TERRACE THE GALLERY is nearby JR Kyoto station(Hachijo-guchi exit). It takes just 2 minutes on foot from staton to the hotel.
Hachijo-guchi exit is at South side of Kyoto station, so it's quiet in night time conpared with Karasuma-guchi exit in North side.
The reception is at south-west corner of North wing of this hotel.
Since it is an open-air concept, you can go through the patio to the reception.
SAKURA TERRACE THE GALLERY doesn't have own parking lot. It's better to go there by public transportation.
Check-in is from 14:00, check-out is by 11:00. welcome dirnk for free (17:30-22:00).
You can check-in at the reception in North wing of SAKURA TERRACE THE GALLERY. Hotel accommoodation charge must be paid in advance.
There're self check-in and check-out machine amd safty deposit box as well.
There is a lounge space in front of the reception. And, gallery lounge, puplic bath gym and self laundry are in South wing, at the other side of the road.
Hotel reception continues to the patio which is public for guests. There are some fire pits to keep you warm in winter season.
All guests get a glass of beveage or alcohol as welcome drink for free. (17:30-22:00) I had a glass of sparkling wine and it was nice.
There're wide range of baverages, such as home roasted coffee beans, English tea, flavored tea, and green tea. You can enjoy all of them for free by yourself.
There're 220 guestrooms in North wing and South wing. All non-smoking.
SAKURA TERRACE THE GALLERY has 220 rooms in North wing and South wing. All guest rooms are non-smoking rooms(even at balcony).
There're 2 types of rooms both in North wing and South wing.
STANDARD x SIMPLE STAY ROOMS are perfect for business trip or anyone who with little time to spend in the guest room.
LUXURY x RELAX STAY ROOMS are for those guests wishing to have relaxing time in a room with spacious balcony.
There are King rooms, Double rooms, and twin rooms in both type. (No single room, but single use for double or twin room is available). STANDARD x SIMPLE STAY ROOMS are resononable than LUXURY x RELAX STAY ROOMS.
All rooms are considered spacious as compared to Japanese hotel standards.
Introduce inside the ROOF DOUBLE ROOM in North wing which I stayed at.
I stayed at ROOF DOUBLE ROOM(6F) in North wing of SAKURA TERRACE THE GALLERY.
ROOF DOUBLE ROOM (22㎡) is one of l LUXURY x RELAX STAY ROOMS, whichi has balcony(13-15㎡) and 160cm wide double bed. There are no sofa or couch in this room, but I made maycelf comfortable on bed or on thelong bench.
The bed has Simon's bed matless so it was very confortable to sleep. There are 2 types of pillows cushions, and warm blankets.
Reading lightes are on both side of bed. Unfortunately, there isn't electrical outlet around bed head or side table. It would be better if we can charge our mobile phone at bed side while sleeping.
I've heard that I could borrow an extentsion cord at reception deskm but I'm just wondering why they haven'y install outlets on the bed head or side tables.
There isn't a closet in this room but you can put your clothes on the wall with using clothing hanger. And there're a baggage rack, slippers for room and public space, shoehorn, and deodorizing spray for room.
Bags and blankets for public bath, and SAMUE(Japanese style relaxing wear).
There is a full-length mirrormillor on the wall. Humidifier with air purifier as well.
Flat screen TV is on the cabinet having board. Although there're no desk in this room, you can use this boaed as a small writing desk because it has a legless chair.
Hair Dryer, amenity for women(depends on room), bath salt(depends on room), electirc cattle, cups, and teas.
There are 2 deck chairs on the balcony. You can relax there in warm season.
Unfortunately, the view wasn't so nice even it was on 6th floor(highest floor of this wing). I have to say it's not resort spot.
Big bath tub, electric toilet seat with bidet functions, and bathroom vanity.
This is the bathroom of ROOF DOUBLE ROOM, in SAKURA TERRACE THE GALLERY. It is unified in monotone and seems to be stylish.
You can see bathroom vanity after sliding the door which separated the bed room and bathroom. Next to the vanity, there is an electric toilet seat with bidet functions.
There are some amenities like body wash towel, toothbrush, razor, comb on bathroom vanity.
Bath tub is big enough for 2 persons taking bath at the same time.
Shampoo, hair conditioner, and bath shower gel are products of PROVINCIA, which produced by famous Japanese cosmetic campany.
The aroma of lavender and almond made my stay comfortable and relaxing.
Public Baths with sauna, fitness gym, grallery lounge, restaurant & bar,self laundry, vending machine.
This is the dressing room for ladies. It's clean and spacious, has plenty lockers.
You should bring your own towel from your guest room, since there're no towel here. However, bath amenities such as shompoo, hair conditioner, clensing liquid, skin tonner, cotton swabs, combs, hair rubbers are prepared.
This is the public bath for ladies. Since there're many foreign guest, "the manners of taking Japanese public buth" is posted on the wall.
Hotel staff checks water quoality every 2 hours.
On top of big bath, there is a sauna here.
After taking the bath, you can relax at gallery lounge in South wing. Tea, juice, coffee are free(self-service). You can read some gude books and magazines about Kyoto written in English. It could be a communication space for guests.
Gym which has 4 tredmills is on the same floor of South wing.
Unfortunately, the public bath is located on South wing of this hotel, so you must across the road with towel if you stay at North wing. It'd be little bit hard on rain day or snow day, and during cold winter.
Vending machine and ice machine are on ground floor of North wing.
You can enjoy 40 different items at breakfast buffet.
You can enjoy breakfast at the restaurant if you have booked a breakfast plan.If not, you just buy the ticket at the reception. It costs 2300yen (tax included).
Luckly for bread lover, there're lots of variety to choose from bread corner, such as Rye bread, apple pastry, ciabatta, twist lemon, croissant, french toast, open-sandwich, and so on.
All menus are awesome, especially bread and veggies! I ate much more then usual and cherged energy for sightseeing in Kyoto.
The restaurant wasn't so crowded when I visited there. It was cozy and relaxing.
You can get cup for taking away room.
I stayed at SAKURA TERRACE THE GALLERY for the first time, and found it was exceed my expect. The location was so convenient to taking trains or buses.
To tell the truth, this hotel isn't so luxuary, but I love the style and concept of this hotel. Not only for sleeping, you could enjoy the time during the stay.
I am fully satisfied with breakfast buffe. It's not so cheap but reasonable becauce there are wide range of delicious gourmet, home-baked bread, desserts, and cafe.
I strongly recommend you to book a breakfast plan if you stay at SAKURA TERRACE THE GALLERY.
In conclusion, SAKURA TERRACE THE GALLERY is a very good hotel for foreign travellers who wish to stay like at home.
Freelance writer and blogger living in Aichi, Japan.
Love traveling, meeting new people, writing, taking pictures.
Has been writing for many website over 15 years.
Has experiences of taking part in press-trips sponsored by Tourism board.
copyright© Sophisticated Hotel lounge all rights reserved.


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Posts Tagged 'Dean Wareham'
Echo Locate
Swearin' are tourin' and comin' to town
Lance NelsonI won't presume to have any insight into the relationship between Crutchfield sisters Katie and Allison, but it's hard to imagine there isn't at least a little competitiveness between the twins since they disbanded P.S. Eliot, the band they were in together, back in 2011 and re-emerged fronting Waxahatchee out of Philadelphia and Swearin' in Brooklyn, respectively.
And while Katie pulled well ahead in the critical acclaim department earlier this year with the electrified folk sounds of Cerulean Salt, Allison is making a late-year run with Surfing Strange – a heady, hyper, and hooky slice of melodic punk-rock fuzz that recalls the likes of early Superchunk. Two excellent records that are similar enough to be "RIYL" for one another, but different enough to not have to choose sides.
In the battle of who's coming to play Toronto first, though, Swearin' wins. Though both acts spent most of the year on the road criss-crossing America and Europe – often together – a local date for Waxahatchee still hasn't come together. Swearin', however, have just announced a Winter tour that will bring them and their tunes to the cozy Parkdale basement we like to call The Shop Under Parts & Labour on March 14; ticket info still forthcoming.
Stereogum has an interview with Swearin' while The San Francisco Examiner and Dots & Dashes profile Waxahatchee, who also play a Tiny Desk Concert for NPR.
And also worth noting is Great Thunder, a new project that brings Waxahatchee and Swearin' together, but not in the sisterly way – instead, it pairs Katie Crutchfield with Swearin' bassist Keith Spencer (who also plays in her band and is her boyfriend). They'll release a double album in Groovy Kinda Love on December 10 and you can stream it below. As for the Crutchfield sisters together, they covered Grimes for Rookie back in May.
Stream: Swearin' – "Watered Down"
Video: Swearin' – "Gold In The Dust Sack"
Stream: Great Thunder / Groovy Kinda Love
Stream: Katie & Allison Crutchfield – "Oblivion"
A whole pile of other shows were announced yesterday, starting with Phosphorescent, who are taking advantage of the fact that their latest album Muchacho is popping up on – and topping – no shortage of year-end lists and have announced more Winter dates; they'll be at The Mod Club on February 1, tickets $17.50. The Guardian also has an interview with Matthew Houck.
MP3: Phosphorescent – "Song For Zula"
It's a trans-generational dose of Austin psychedelia as The Black Angels, who released Indigo Meadow back in April, team up with 13th Floor Elevator mastermind Roky Erickson, whose last album was the 2010 Okkervil River collab True Love Cast Out All Evil, for a Winter tour that stops in at The Phoenix on February 11. Tickets for that are $27.50.
MP3: The Black Angels – "Telephone"
Stream: Roky Erickson – "I Walked With A Zombie"
New Jersey electro-artist/producer Com Truise has announced the February 18 release of a new mini-album entitled Wave 1 – stream one of the songs below – and a Winter tour that comes to Wrongbar on February 12. Exclaim has full dates and release details.
Stream: Com Truise – "Declination"
Band Of Horses are setting out on an acoustic tour to coincide with the February 11 release of their unplugged Acoustic At The Ryman set, and will be at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre on February 21, tickets $37.50 and $44.50 in advance.
MP3: Band Of Horses – "No One's Gonna Love You"
With their first new album in three years – Wig Out At Jagbags – ready for release on January 7, Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks are hitting the road with Philadelphia's Disappears and will be at Lee's Palace on February 22, tickets $26.50.
MP3: Disappears – "New Fast"
Lyric Video: Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks – "Lariat"
Xiu Xiu released their Nina Simone covers record Nina this week – stream it at USA Today – and have put together some Spring dates to support it. Look for them at The Garrison on March 9, tickets $10.
Video: Xiu Xiu – "You'd Be So Nice"
Stream: Xiu Xiu / Nina
Shearwater – who cover Xiu Xiu on their own new covers record Fellow Travelers – have announced their tourmates for their upcoming tour: On March 27 at The Horseshoe, they'll be joined by Death Vessel, who are finally releasing a follow-up to 2008's Nothing Is Precious Enough For Us in Island Intervals on February 25 – and Jesca Hoop, whose The House That Jack Built came out last year. Jonathan Meiburg of Shearwater penned piece about the covers album for The Talkhouse.
Video: Jesca Hoop – "Ode To Banksy"
Stream: Death Vessel – "Ilsa Drown"
The War On Drugs have come clean on their new album, entitled Lost In The Dream and out March 18. You can stream a new song below, read an interview with Adam Granduciel at The Line Of Best Fit, and make plans around their Spring tour dates which include April 14 at The Horseshoe and/or April 15 at Lee's Palace; probably not both. The band's own website and PR says 14th at The 'Shoe, so let's circle that one. Update: It's the Horseshoe, April 14, tickets $16.50.
Stream: The War On Drugs – "Red Eyes"
NPR has a video session with Darkside, who're at Lee's Palace on January 15.
Details are still vague, but The Line of Best Fit reports that the new St. Vincent album will be out on February 25.
Pitchfork has details on a new record from Brooklyn's The Men; the optimistically-titled Tomorrow's Hits comes out March 4.
Rolling Stone gets insight into the new Drive-By Truckers record, entitled English Oceans and coming March 4.
With this Fall's Emancipated Hearts expressly called a mini-album, it's technically accurate to call Dean Wareham's forthcoming self-titled, Jim James-produced full-length his solo debut. It's out March 11 and Consequence Of Sound has specifics.
Stereogum points out that The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart have quietly rolled out a video for the title track of 2011's Belong, serving as a pointed reminder that we're well overdue for new material from them.
Video: The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart – "Belong"
Kurt Vile chats with Tone Deaf, Houston Press, and FasterLouder, and reacts to being named one of GQ's "Men Of The Year".
The 405 and Metro Active have interviews with Sonic Youth's Lee Ranaldo.
NPR has a Tiny Desk Concert and Daytrotter a "stand behind whatever piece of furniture you like" session with The Dismemberment Plan.
Drowned In Sound meets Local Natives.
The AV Club gets a little more information from The Walkmen about their "extreme hiatus", which begins after their show in Philadelphia tonight.
Tags: Band Of Horses, Black Angels, Com Truise, Darkside, Dean Wareham, Deat Vessel, Disappears, Dismemberment Plan, Jesca Hoop, Kurt Vile, Lee Ranaldo, Local Natives, MEN, Pains Of Being Pure At Heart, Phosphorescent, Roky Erickson, Stephen Malkmus, Swearin, Walkmen, War On Drugs, Waxahatchee, Xiu Xiu
Monday, November 4th, 2013
Lost Boys And Girls Club
Rumours of a third Dum Dum Girls album are Too True
James OrlandoOf all the throwback, garage-rock bands that surfaced over the last few years, it's been Los Angeles' Dum Dum Girls who've been most likely to both break away from the pack and out of the stylistic pigeonhole. Besides having by far the best visual aesthetic, formidable melodic sensibilities, and Dee Dee Penny's uncanny Chrissie Hynde-alike vocals, they had songs that were more sophisticated than their peers' by half. Penny made no efforts to hide her fondness for classic British indie rock or prevent their influence from imbuing her own compositions, and by doing so her slow, melancholic numbers are as stirring as the rockers.
As a result, the breadth of the Dum Dum Girls sound has grown immensely over the course of two full-lengths and a handful of EPs without ever abandoning their girl group in a garage roots and so the announcement of their third album, alluded to in a Stereogum interview last week, is exciting news to those curious what they'll do next. The new full-length will be called Too True and be released on January 28 of the new year. Pitchfork has all the specifics that there are to be had right now, and there's a first video available to watch.
Video: Dum Dum Girls – "Lost Boys And Girls Club"
Stereogum and NPR talk to Eric Pulido about stepping up to become Midlake's new frontman. Their new album Antiphon is out this week and they've got a new video for the title track.
Video: Midlake – "Antiphon"
Wall Street Journal is streaming The Coincidentalist, the latest album from king of the desert Howe Gelb, which is out as of this week.
Stream: Howe Gelb / The Coincidentalist
NYC Taper is sharing a recording of Sebadoh's stop in New York last week; the band have also offered an interview to The Village Voice and made a new b-side available to stream via Stereogum. They're going to be at The Horseshoe on November 8.
Stream: Sebadoh – "No Wound"
Albert Hammond Jr talks to PopMatters ahead of his solo show at The Phoenix on November 10. He's also released a new video from the AHJ EP via Complex.
Video: Albert Hammond Jr – "Carnal Cruise"
Grizzly Bear are streaming another of the bonus tracks that will appear on the Shields: Expanded edition coming out November 12.
Stream: Grizzly Bear – "Listen and Wait"
Stereogum and Rolling Stone talk to Wayne Coyne of The Flaming Lips about their new Peace Sword EP, out digitally now and physically on November 29. You can hear one of the new songs via Rolling Stone and check out an in-studio Tame Impala cover for good measure.
Stream: The Flaming Lips – ""
Video: The Flaming Lips – "Elephant" (Tame Impala cover)
Detroit duo Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. are coming back to town for a headlining show in support of their new record The Speed Of Things on March 14 at The Hoxton; English electronic artist Chad Valley will open up.
MP3: Dale Earnhardt Jr Jr – "Vocal Chords"
MP3: Chad Valley – "Fast Challenges"
Wye Oak talks to Spin about the directions their third album, coming in 2014, is taking. Apparently that includes less guitars, which makes perfect sense since Jenn Wasner is such a terrible guitarist </sarcasm>.
Neko Case and company got in the seasonal spirit when recording a Hallowe'en Tiny Desk Concert for NPR; she's also interviewed by The Boston Globe.
Rhett Miller talks to Rolling Stone about keeping it loud and loose on the next Old 97's record and teaming up with some Decemberists for his next solo record. He also chats with Jambands.
And as for The Decemberists, Colin Meloy tells Rolling Stone he's been writing new material for the band while attending to his solo pursuits.
Will Sheff of Okkervil River chats with Drowned In Sound.
The Rumpus interviews Dean Wareham.
Merge Records has announced details of their 25th anniversary subscription series, which will run throughout 2014 as the Or Thousands Of Prizes box set. And to mark the occasion (as well as the occasion of Hallowe'en last week), Superchunk have released a new Misfits cover.
Stream: Superchunk – "Children In Heat"
Tags: Albert Hammond Jr, Chad Valley, Dale Earnhardt Jr Jr, Dean Wareham, Decemberists, Dum Dum Girls, Flaming Lips, Grizzly Bear, Howe Gelb, Midlake, Neko Case, okkervil river, Old 97s, Rhett Miller, Sebadoh, Superchunk, Wye Oak
Love Is To Die
Warpaint put their warpaint back on with Warpaint
Chris CunninghamConsidering how busy they were leading up to and around the release of their 2010 debut album The Fool – five Toronto shows in the span of 18 months, for example – it was eminently understandable that Los Angeles' Warpaint would want to take some time off before getting back at it.
But three years is quite long enough, thanks, so news of their second album is welcome indeed. The record will be called Warpaint, but don't look for any title track as the song "Warpaint" already showed up on The Fool, though I suppose there's no rule that you can't write more than one song of the same name. Hell, they could call every song on the album "Warpaint" if they like, so long as they're as reality-bendingly mesmerizing as everything they've done so far, and from the first new song that's been made available to stream – definitively not called "Warpaint" – they will be.
Pitchfork has details on the album – co-produced by the band and Flood and mixed by Flood and Nigel Godrich – which is out January 21 in the new year, while The Fly talked to drummer Stella Mozgawa about how the sessions went. In addition to the new song stream, there's a trailer for something of the same name – the song, the album, a video, a documentary, it's not clear – by director Chris Cunningham, who documented the band at work over the last two years.
Stream: Warpaint – "Love Is To Die"
Trailer: Warpaint – "Love Is To Die"
Clash and The Irish Examiner talk to Midlake v2.0, who are streaming their new album Antiphon at NPR ahead of its official release on November 5.
Stream: Midlake / Antiphon
PopDose talks to Tanya Donelly about her Swan Song Series of EPs, of which there are currently three volumes with a fourth on schedule for release in the next week or so.
Under The Radar interviews Sebadoh, coming to town for a show at The Horseshoe on November 8.
Albert Hammond Jr talks to Rolling Stone and Washington Square News about matters both solo and Strokes; he's here in the former context at The Phoenix on November 10.
Brooklyn's Beach Fossils have made a date at The Horseshoe for November 17 in support of their new album Clash The Truth, from which they've just released a new vid. Tickets for that are $14.50 in advance.
MP3: Beach Fossils – "Shallow"
Video: Beach Fossils – "Generational Synthetic"
Spin is streaming another song from the Beachwood Sparks issue of their previously unreleased debut album Desert Skies, coming November 20.
Stream: Beachwood Sparks – "Watery Moonlight"
Le Blogotheque has posted a Take-Away Show with Charles Bradley, who returns to town for a show at The Kool Haus on December 12.
Stereogum checks in with Dee Dee of Dum Dum Girls about how their next record is coming along; it should be out early next year.
Rolling Stone talks to Josh Tillman about the next Father John Misty record.
Rolling Stone has premiered the new video from Okkervil River's The Silver Gymnasium and Spin has a second video for a remix of the same song done by Will Sheff's Lovestreams alter ego – you can also download said remix. There's also an interview at The Province and over at Gawker, Sheff has penned a tribute to the late Lou Reed.
MP3: Okkervil River – "Stay Young" (Lovestreams remix)
Video: Okkervil River – "Stay Young"
Video: Okkervil River – "Stay Young" (Lovestreams remix)
Also with a Reed eulogy worth reading is Dean Wareham over at Salon; Wareham opened up for the Velvet Underground reunion in the '90s while fronting Luna.
Drowned In Sound interviews of Montreal.
Under The Radar has posted an interview with Neko Case as well as an extra piece chock full of bonus material.
Tags: Albert Hammond Jr, Beach Fossils, Beachwood Sparks, Charles Bradley, Dean Wareham, Dum Dum Girls, Father John Misty, Lou Reed, Midlake, Neko Case, of montreal, okkervil river, Sebadoh, Tanya Donelly, Warpaint
Wednesday, October 23rd, 2013
We Looked Like Giants
Death Cab For Cutie celebrate Transatlanticism's 10th with naked baby photos
Peter Ellenby2013 marks the tenth anniversary of all kinds of things – the US invasion of Iraq, Lost In Translation, the passing of both Johnny and June Carter Cash – but also the debut of a television show called The O.C. which hand to god I have never watched but know of because it catapulted one of my then-favourite bands in Death Cab For Cutie from bubbling-under buzz band into bona fide (indie-scale) stars. Well their endorsement, plus the momentum of Ben Gibbard's other project The Postal Service, and also the release of the band's most beloved album in Transatlanticism. I personally preferred its predecessor The Photo Album, but a generation of indie kids came of age to this record and so its decade anniversary is almost certainly making a lot of people feel really old right now; my world and welcome to it.
In any case, it's a milestone that merits commemoration and the band's former and spiritual home of Barsuk Records is doing so with the re-release of the album on double vinyl, after several years out of print, and as a bonus have released the original demos for the record alongside it. The set of song sketches comes as a download with the LP or can be purchased on its own. Both versions of the record are available to stream right now at NPR before being officially released next week on October 29.
Entertainment Weekly and Consequence of Sound have pieces on why the album endures, and if you're more about living in the now than the past, Billboard reports that they're back in the studio working on their next record.
MP3: Death Cab For Cutie – "Title and Registration"
Stream: Death Cab For Cutie / Transatlanticism 10th Anniversary Edition
Another tenth anniversary of a much sadder note came to pass this week; the passing of Elliott Smith a decade ago this week. Tributes abound online, but Pitchfork has assembled an impressive oral history of the songwriter's career.
Spin has an advance stream of Widowspeak's new EP The Swamps, which sees official release on October 29. They're in town at The Silver Dollar on November 2.
Stream: Widowspeak / The Swamps
Paste talks to The Head & The Heart, in town for a show at the Danforth Music Hall on October 31.
Matablog has posted a new track from the forthcoming and inevitable deluxe edition of Kurt Vile's last album Wakin' On A Pretty Haze: Deluxe Edition (Post Haze), out November 19.
MP3: Kurt Vile – "Feel My Pain"
Tone Deaf chats with James McNew of Yo La Tengo. The deluxe edition of their latest album Fade comes out November 19.
Sub Pop is really emphasizing the "Pop" with the release of a Low/Shearwater split 7″ for Black Friday Record Store Day on November 29; the a-side will feature Low's already-released Rihanna cover, while the b-side unveils Shearwater's take on Frank Ocean. Proceeds go to charity, vinyl is limited to 3500 copies, and both tracks will be made available digitally.
Stream: Low – "Stay"
Pixies have released another video from their recent EP-1, which they're using to justify their show at Massey Hall on January 15.
Video: Pixies – "Andro Queen"
Electronic duo Darkside have released a new video from Psychic; they're at Lee's Palace on January 15.
Video: Darkside – "Metatron"
Brooklyn's Hospitality have announced a January 27 release date for their second album Trouble; check out a trailer for it and check out their 2012 self-titled debut if you don't know why they're a good band.
Trailer: Hospitality / Trouble
The reunited Dismemberment Plan continue to be a topic of discussion with MTV Hive, Stereogum, Paste, and The 405, and NYC Taper has posted a recording of their recent Terminal 5 show in New York.
Dean Wareham has released a video from his solo mini-album Emancipated Hearts.
Video: Dean Wareham – "Love Is Colder Than Death"
Jim James has put out another video from his solo record Regions Of Light and Sound Of God.
Video: Jim James – "State of the Art (A.E.I.O.U.)"
DIY talks to Kevin Barnes of Of Montreal.
Will Sheff of Okkervil River talks to The Guardian.
The Big Takeover and examiner.com interview Charlie Hilton of Blouse.
To celebrate their 20,000th Twitter follower, Superchunk have posted an acoustic version of "Breaking Down", which appears fully electrified on their latest I Hate Music.
Stream: Superchunk – "Breaking Down" (acoustic)
Aquarium Drunkard interviews the Kadane/Johnson/Bazan-powered beast that is Overseas.
Tags: Blouse, Darkside, Dean Wareham, Death Cab For Citue, Dismemberment Plan, Elliott Smith, Head & The Heart, Hospitality, Jim James, Kurt Vile, Low, of montreal, okkervil river, Overseas, Pixies, Shearwater, Superchunk, Widowspeak, Yo La Tengo
Let's Just Go To The Dogs Tonight
Review of The Dismemberment Plan's Uncanney Valley
Shervin LainezI will admit, first impressions of Uncanney Valley – the first album from Washington, DC's Dismemberment Plan since 2001's Change – was disappointment. And it's not that I came to it with excessive expectations. I counted myself a fan of the band at the end run of their existence, but mostly of their tremendously entertaining live performances with 2002's Death & Dismemberment tour with a then-unknown Death Cab For Cutie and their 2003 farewell show being very fond memories. But in the years of their absence, I came to appreciate how singular their blend of post-pop-hardcore-math-punk-art-rock was, and how no one ever really stepped into their oddly-shaped void in indie rock, or even tried. So comeback album? Yes, please.
So why disappointment? I'm not sure. Valley seemed to lack the manic energy, unpredictable creativity, and general weirdness that made the other records unique. It sounded like the Plan, but not the Plan I remembered. But it also still didn't sound like anything else out there, so it stayed in rotation and before long, its own merits – and not those of its predecessors – became what I focused on, and those merits were many. Yeah the tempos were a little slower and the energy probably measured at a few less joules, but top to bottom Valley was the work of a more mature and tuneful Dismemberment Plan.
Everything that makes the Plan the Plan – Travis Morrison's mile-a-minute delivery and off-kilter lyrical imagery, Eric Axelson's oddly funky basslines, Jason Caddell's creatively jagged guitarwork, and Joe Easley's heavily nimble drumming – are in place and show no signs of rust, though if I were in charge of the mix said drums would be higher in the mix. While the likes of "Mexico City Christmas" and "White Collar White Trash" tap into their darker sides, it's the more chipper "Waiting" and "Let's Just Go To The Dogs Tonight" that set the tone for the record. There's a relaxedness to the proceedings that might seem contrary to the nervous energy that infused their earlier work, but they wear it well. I as much as anyone should be able to appreciate that you in your 40s is not, cannot be, and should not be you in your 20s and Uncanney Valley is the sound of a band that knows that and is fine with it. The Dismemberment Plan circa 2013 might not be the same Dismemberment Plan circa 2001, but there's still no one like either of them.
NPR has posted an advance stream of the record, which is out officially next week on October 15. Wired, Filter, and What's On Tap have interviews with the band, and for the bonus round, the Plan stops in at The AV Club to cover Heart's "Barracuda", done straight but great because you do not fuck with "Barracuda".
Stream: The Dismemberment Plan / Uncanney Valley
Under The Radar and Yahoo! Canada talk to Kevin Barnes of Of Montreal about their new album lousy with sylvianbriar, out this week.
Elle has premiered the new video from Lissie's just-released new album Back To Forever, which is still streaming at Rolling Stone; she's at the Adelaide Music Hall on November 21.
Video: Lissie – "Sleepwalking"
Stream: Lissie / Back To Forever
Interview talks to Lee Ranaldo about his just-released new record Last Night On Earth; he and The Dust are at The Horseshoe on October 11.
With a week to go before the October 15 release of Emancipated Hearts, Dean Wareham has made the mini-album available to stream via Spin.
Stream: Dean Wareham / Emancipated Hearts
Refinery 29 talks to Cameron Mesirow of Glasser, whose new album Interiors came out this week. She plays The Drake Underground on October 13.
Pitchfork has an advance stream of Campfire Songs, the new acoustic EP from The Men, out October 15. They play The Horseshoe on October 20.
Stream: The Men / Campfire Songs
The Head & The Heart have given Rolling Stone the nod to stream their new album Let's Be Still, before it comes out October 15. Mother Jones has an interview with the band, who're at The Danforth Music Hall on October 31.
Stream: The Head & The Heart / Let's Be Still
Also out next week and streaming at NPR is Static, the second album from Cults. It brings them to Lee's Palace on November 25.
Stream: Cults / Static
Pitchfork checks in with Fiona Apple, whose tour with Blake Mills brings her to The Queen Elizabeth Theatre on October 17.
Consequence Of Sound has got a stream of a new Yo La Tengo song which will be released as a 7″ single on November 5 and also appear as one of the bonus tracks on Fade Deluxe when it comes out on November 19.
Stream: Yo La Tengo – "Super Kiwi"
Rolling Stone talks to Frank Black of Pixies about their plans to stay relevant ten years into their reunion. They've already had cast changes with the Roseanne-esque swapping of Kims on bass, are finally releasing new if underwhelming new material via a series of EPs complete with new video, and now another North American tour that kicks off in Toronto at Massey Hall on January 15, tickets ranging from $44.50 to $79.50, FIDLAR supporting.
MP3: Pixies – "Bagboy"
MP3: FIDLAR – "Got No Money"
Those who like a little more Danger Mouse in their Shins will be happy to know a second Broken Bells album is on the way; they just released a trailer for After The Disco, which is due out in January.
Trailer: Broken Bells / After The Disco
After releasing her debut Neptune City on a major and the follow-up Mondo Amore on an indie, it just makes sense that for her third album Slow Phaser, Nicole Atkins would start her own label and release it via PledgeMusic. She's soliciting donations now and with the two-month window, it stands to reason that the new album will be out sometime in early 2014.
NPR puts Superchunk behind a Tiny Desk and demands a concert.
NPR has a KCRW session with Jim James available to stream.
Tags: Broken Bells, Cults, Dean Wareham, Dismemberment Plan, FIDLAR, Fiona Apple, Glasser, Head & The Heart, Jim James, Lee Ranaldo, Lissie, MEN, Nicole Atkins, of montreal, Pixies, Superchunk, Yo La Tengo


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Q: How can I get an array of values or rows from my grid layout? I'm trying to convert my CSS-grid into a CSV. I found this thread showing how to form the data if I can get it into an array format: How to export JavaScript array info to csv (on client side)?.
Is there a way to select all of the div values in the grid table as an array? Or even better create an array of row arrays

.grid-table {
  display: grid;
  grid-template-columns: repeat(5, 1fr);
}

head1

head2

head3

head4

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item1

item2

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A: You can grab all the items using querySelectorAll and use getComputedStyle
to count the number of columns in each row. see this answer
var computedStyle = getComputedStyle(document.querySelector('.grid-table'))
var columnsCount = computedStyle.getPropertyValue("grid-template-columns").split(" ").length // in our case 5

var container = document.querySelector('.grid-table')
var columns = getComputedStyle(container).getPropertyValue("grid-template-columns").split(" ").length;

var items = document.querySelectorAll('.grid-table div');

var output = []
var row = 0;

items.forEach(function (item, i) {
    if (i % columns === 0) {
        if (output.length > 0) {
            row++ ;
        }

        output.push([])
    }

    output[row].push(item.innerHTML)

});

console.log(output)
.grid-table {
  display: grid;
  grid-template-columns: repeat(5, 1fr);
}

head1

head2

head3

head4

head5

item1

item2

item3

item4

item5

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item7

item8

item9

A: function getGridArray(rows, columns){
    let gridLocations = [];
    for(let i = 1; i <= rows; i++){
        for(let j = 1; j <= columns; j++){
            let position = {x:i, y:j};
            gridLocations.push(position);
        };
    };
    return gridLocations;
};

All you do is plug the number of rows and columns from your grid into this function. No variables needed. And since it returns an array it's easily chainable.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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Camryn Toney
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Kylee Alons, Mitchell Whyte Named ACC Swimmers of the Week
North Carolina's Aranza Vazquez and Louisville's Daniel Pinto were also named the conference's Women's and Men's Divers of the Week.
Georgia's Dalmolin, Harnish Headline SEC Weekly Awards
UGA seniors Jack Dalmolin and Courtney Harnish have been named the conference's Men's and Women's Swimmers of the Week.
Florida State Hits The Road For Matchup At Auburn On Wednesday
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Florida Women Host UNF On Wednesday For Senior Day
All Gator seniors, including the men, will be honored prior to Wednesday's meet at the Ann Marie Rogers Swimming and Diving Pool.
Texas A&M Women's Swimming Adds Seven To 2017 Roster
Texas A&M head women's swimming and diving coach Steve Bultman announced seven standout swimmers have signed with the Aggies and…
50 Freestyle Shoot-Out Highlights KMSC Pro-Am Saturday Finals
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Audrey McMurry Gives Verbal Pledge to In-State Texas A&M
Audrey McMurry of Keller High School and North Texas Nadadores has made a verbal commitment to swim for Texas A&M for 2017-18.
Camryn Toney Verbally Commits to Texas A&M
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2015 U.S. Speedo Junior Nationals: Day Two Race Videos
Watch all the winners from Day Two of the 2015 U.S. Speedo Junior National Championships in San Antonio, Texas, including Caroline McTaggart, shown above, who prevailed in the 100 free.


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Soh Yeong Roh
director | art center nabi
12.06.2019 | 18.00
Lebanese International University – Beirut campus
Amphitheater – Block D
Soh Yeong Roh received a BA in Economics at the College of William & Mary (1984), and an MA in Education at Stanford University (1990).
Self-taught in art and technology, Ms. Roh is said to have pioneered the new media art scene in Korea by founding Art Center Nabi in 2000. Her experience in the field goes back to 1991 when she served as head of Art and Technology Exhibition at Daejeon Expo. Seeing the possibility of digital technology transforming much of our lives, Ms. Roh began to explore how we could use the technology to serve humanity, which has become her lifelong mission.
Besides running Art Center Nabi, a powerhouse of media art with its lab and education programs, she serves as a board member at Advanced Institutes of Convergence Technology, Creative Commons Korea, and P.A.T.I., an alternative design school. She is also an adjunct professor at the Graduate School of Convergence Science and Technology, Seoul National University, and a visiting professor at the Department of Art and Technology, Sogang University.
<How I stumbled into Neotopia>
talk synopsis
Loneliness was the very start. We started making companion robots at Art Center Nabi. We soon realized that some level of intelligence is required to have meaning emotional connection. So we delved into artificial intelligence, using mainly the latest API's. We learned what pattern recognition technology does to our collective thinking and further, our consciousness. We also learned that technology is not the bottleneck(even 'stupid' artists like us could use it); rather, it was the lack of data.
The data is monopolized by platform giants like Google and Facebook. Thus started our quest to imagine and create Neotopia, where common people can participate in the making of a 'better' society, by fusing social imagination with innovation.


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Landes challenger Angela Lynn wants to talk
Patricia Borns
pborns@newsleader.com
WHITE HALL—It's been a long while – 2009, in fact – since anyone challenged Delegate Steve Landes for the House District 25 seat representing voters in areas of Albemarle, Augusta, and Rockingham Counties.
Now Landes' Democratic opponent Angela Lynn hopes to even a lopsided playing field by asking him to engage in a public debate.
Lynn, a former educator, small business owner and Federal Emergency Management Agency employee, said Landes hasn't given her a definite answer.
While an airing of the issues could be good for voters, it could be even better for boosting the visibility of the first-time candidate, a consideration for the Landes campaign.
"As in past campaigns I am confident my opponent and I will have an opportunity to appear together to discuss issues regarding the future of Virginia and the 25th District, which may impact our citizens," Del. Landes told The News Leader by e-mail.
What would Lynn have to say in a debate? The candidate answered The News Leader's questions on the year's top issues.
From an anti-pipeline position at the start of her campaign, Lynn has moved to a middle position more likely to appeal to the broad range of voters she needs to best a Republican opponent.
"I think it's not that simple," the candidate said. "Natural gas and the use of pipelines is something I would support. However, I am not in favor of the way the ACP has been handled at all. It hasn't been transparent enough."
Lynn agreed with the approach taken recently by Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA), who has urged the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to address public concerns, while staying neutral on the pipeline itself.
She chided her opponent for what she called a 'Well, it's a utility company, what can we do' approach. "There was no push back from legislators. It put all the responsibility onto the people to try to get this to be the correct route," she said.
Lynn said she would like to see legislation that reduces some of the power the utility company has gained to exercise eminent domain.
"Is it completely necessary to have this project, and if so, are landowners well compensated? The eminent domain piece has to be reintroduced again, and make it very, very rare," she said.
Lynn advocates sentencing reform to reduce the high rate of incarcerations for small crimes. "Incarceration is costly," she said. "It's also unfair when people are incarcerated for misdemeanors or mental health issues. It ruins their lives."
The candidate said she would like to see some of incarceration's costs redirected to programs that can make a permanent difference in drug addiction and mental illness.
Lynn supports the opportunity to expand state Medicaid coverage by tapping federal funds. The funds would reduce the state's burden from the 50 percent it currently pays for the program, to 10 percent, creating more health care for low-income citizens.
"There are 27,000 people in my district who are uninsured because they fall into the income gap," Lynn said. "With the influx of Medicaid dollars, we could have 30,000 jobs and $6 billion in additional economic output over eight years."
Lynn said she would favor a compromise approach similar to one attempted by Sen. Emmett Hanger (R-Mount Solon) that closed loopholes for waste in the Medicaid program while proposing private health coverage options.
Lynn also said Virginia needs more women's perspectives in Richmond.
"There are only 12 females in the House of Delegates. When you have a panel of all males voting on something like health care, it's not representative," she said.
The candidate cited the 2012 bill requiring a pregnant woman to submit to an ultrasound before an abortion, as an example. An attempt to repeal it failed this year.
"It's ridiculous and intrusive," Lynn said.
ELECTION REFORM
Virginia has been slapped with two lawsuits over partisan gerrymandering; packing African American voters into some voting districts to soften their impact in others.
Legislators redraw the voting districts every 10 years to account for changing demographics.
"Mr. Landes is on the committee that handles that," Lynn said, referring to the House Privileges and Elections Subcommittee, which this year struck down two bills attempting to reform the process.
Lynn said she wants to see redistricting handled by a nonpartisan or bipartisan election commission.
How would Lynn compete on education against the Chairman of the House Education Committee?
The candidate said she was on Albemarle County's Department of Social Service Advisory Board when the legislature cut state funding for the Virginia Preschool Initiative earlier this year. The program is targeted to at-risk four-year-olds, who could benefit most from pre-K support.
"We were scrambling to make sure pre-K would still be a program," Lynn said.
If elected, she said she will work to strengthen pre-K education.
For more information about this District 25 candidate, visit lynnforvirginia.com.