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Sabbath Moments: Finding Balance in Your Life
In order to better serve Christ, the Church and the community, deacons first must draw strength by growing closer to God through prayer and the sacraments. Lightstock
To help avoid burnout, spend time with God every day
Deacon Daniel Lowery 0
The challenges many deacons experience in achieving and sustaining balance in their lives frequently has been noted. Indeed, according to a recent study by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate at Georgetown University, some 31 percent of deacons report that they experience difficulty in this regard.
All too often, responsibilities associated with the deacon's personal faith journey, his family, his secular work and his ministry compete for attention. As a result, a deacon can pingpong between two seemingly incommensurate personae: on the one hand, his identity as a married man with a family who also labors in the secular world; on the other, his identity as a deacon. Most married couples seem to manage this tension reasonably well, due in no small measure, I suspect, to the forbearance of deacons' wives. We know in terms of work, however, that some deacons seek professional positions in the Church in order to ease the cognitive and emotional dissonance they sometimes experience.
However, others despair and can experience ministry as unfulfilling. As noted by Deacon James Keating in his book "The Heart of the Diaconate" (Paulist Press, $12.95), "A temptation for the deacon is to make his own complex vocation easier by simply situating himself more firmly with one or the other camp, priests or laity." This is unfortunate, since the Fathers of the Second Vatican Council had hoped for the diaconate to serve as a sign of God's presence in the secular world.
This concern about the health of a deacon's work-life balance is important for several reasons, not the least of which is the potential for burnout, which may be more common than we think. It is broadly accepted, as well, that a deacon needs a deep interior life. This can be difficult to achieve when he is running continuously from pillar to post. With respect to ministerial service, a newly ordained deacon may think that he can do it all, but most of us discover otherwise in very short order. Quality in ministerial service is at least as important as quantity or sheer breadth of service, and it can be very difficult, indeed, to ensure quality, let alone presence, when a deacon is overwhelmed by competing demands.
Forming a Plan
To address these kinds of conflicts, deacons often are told to give priority to God first, to their families second, to their jobs or professions third and, only fourth, to their diaconal ministries. This advice certainly is well-meaning, and it makes sense at a certain level, but it is problematic nonetheless, and not just because it sanctions an artificial kind of mental compartmentalization.
More seriously, prioritization schemes of this sort fail to recognize that a deacon is a deacon by virtue of who he is rather than by what he does. The diaconate is a 24/7 vocation. The permanent deacon is no less a deacon, in fact, when he is with his family or when he is laboring in his secular job than when he is standing at the altar on Sunday morning. Given this, the deacon's commitment to radical availability applies, ideally, as much to his wife and his children and to those who employ him as it does to those who encounter him in ministerial service.
How, then, can a deacon achieve and sustain balance in his life? If the kind of prioritization scheme noted above is suspect, how do we proceed? Consider what might be called "Sabbath moments" as an alternative. The Jewish Sabbath (or Shabbat) is observed from a few minutes before sunset on Friday evening until a few minutes after the appearance of three stars on Saturday night. This time of rest recalls the creation story in Genesis — an account that imagines God resting on the seventh day. It also recalls the gift of the Torah at Mount Sinai, when God directed the Israelites to set the seventh day of the week aside and keep it holy. Shabbat is best understood as a joyful day — a day in which observant Jews are freed from the labors of everyday life, a time of rest in which they can pray and spend time with family. On the Sabbath, Jews are invited to restore their right relationship with God, on whom all depends, and their right relationships with one another as well.
Understanding Sabbath Moments
Sabbath moments can come in all shapes and sizes, and they certainly can include the following: aspirational prayer (for example, short prayers such as the Jesus Prayer, which are repeated throughout the day); lectio divina and other forms of sustained prayer and reflection; retreat experiences of various kinds; and the faithful observance of the Sabbath in keeping with the Third Commandment. More broadly, Sabbath moments include time with family and friends and the pursuit of other satisfying interests and avocations.
Consider two ways in which the disciplined practice of Sabbath moments can help deacons cope with the dissonance that often accompanies a conflicted life. First, a deacon's spiritual development requires an ongoing appreciation of God's presence in his life. A deacon cannot be radically available to others as a deacon unless he first makes himself present to God. Recall Psalm 46:11: "Be still and know that I am God!" Knowing God requires prayer. Knowing God requires Sabbath moments. In his book "The Sabbath" (Farrar Straus Giroux, $14), renowned Jewish rabbi Abraham Heschel described the Sabbath as a "sanctification of time." As deacons, we are invited to sanctify time when and where we can. In Sabbath moments, we make ourselves available to God.
Second, the kind of radical availability to others to which we are called also requires Sabbath moments. In "The Deacon Reader" (Paulist Press, $24.95), Deacon Keating writes: "Availability takes on the character of hospitality. The deacon begins to be a man who allows others in need to lay a claim upon him. … This type of character is formed by a steady commitment to prayer, rest, study and time with spouse and family, and by a realistic knowledge of the limits one's marital and parenthood status puts on the deacon's ministry to those in need." Keating wrote in "The Heart of the Diaconate" that a "man who is consumed by distractions will be of little help to parishioners who look to clergy to guide them out of a consumerist, materialist and experientialist culture." The key, however, is to embrace this kind of downtime sacramentally (for example, as Sabbath moments) rather than as an abandonment of one's post or an absence without leave.
Not a Cure-all
Can Sabbath moments provide a measure of coherence in what, nonetheless, will remain a very busy life? Perhaps, but only to the extent that this understanding is incorporated into a deacon's way of being in the world. It takes disciplined practice. Irrespective of the outcome, however, this approach to living one's vocation is superior to the prioritization scheme more typically prescribed in deacon formation programs because it recognizes that a deacon is a deacon by virtue of who he is. He is one person, not a hodgepodge of mental silos. (We should also note that the kind of prioritization scheme noted above does not appear to be working particularly well for many deacons. Sequential prioritization schemes do not serve us well.)
Will this solve all of the challenges deacons face in trying to balance their lives? Certainly not. As noted by Deacon William Ditewig in his book "The Emerging Diaconate" (Paulist Press, $24.95), we lack an applied theology that fully integrates our understanding of marriage and the diaconal vocation. Considerable work is needed on this topic. Additionally, we lack an applied theology that integrates a deacon's work in the secular world and his vocation as a permanent deacon. We have an increasingly viable theology of the diaconate, and a more robust understanding of work has emerged over time as well, most notably within the framework of the Church's social justice tradition.
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We still lack, however, a conceptual bridge that can help a deacon fully realize his identity as a member of the clergy who remains, nonetheless, fully engaged in the world of secular institutions. Lacking an integrating theology of this kind, some deacons will continue to struggle with dual identities. More work also is needed with respect to this concern.
Still, a commitment to Sabbath moments can serve deacons well. A vibrant prayer life, time to recreate — time to truly re-create oneself — with family and friends, and time to focus on other satisfying interests and avocations should be recognized as essential aspects of a deacon's life. These kinds of Sabbath moments can engender a sense of integrity in a deacon's busy life — an integrity that some now find elusive.
DEACON DANIEL LOWERY was ordained in 2013 and serves as president of the deacon community association for the Diocese of Gary, Indiana.
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Made from whole grain brown rice, this is the gluten-free pasta you were waiting for. Never mushy or grainy and with a wonderful al-dente texture, you can finally have a delicious dish of wheat-free pasta without sacrificing neither taste nor texture. This gluten free brown rice elbow pasta is perfect for making gluten free mac and cheese, casseroles and soups.


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For robust, dedicated push-to-talk communication, look to the VX-450 Series. Choose from three analog portable radios: the VX-451 (without display) and the VX-454/VX-459 (with display). Water submersible and available with HazLoc consideration, it's built for use in harsh conditions and hazardous locations. With enhanced interoperability, the VX-450 series offers comprehensive signaling options including: MDC1200®, DTMF, deeper and richer 2-tone options, as well as 5-tone capabilities.
The Vertex VX-450 Series includes the VX-451, VX-454 and VX-459 radios.


Choosing what kind of hydroponic grow lights you will use for your grow system is one of the most important decisions you will make as a hydroponic grower. Photosynthesis, the process by which your plants will process nutrients and grow, relies entirely upon the availability of quality light. Choose the right light, and you will enjoy a faster harvest and a bigger yield time after time. Choose poorly, and you will most likely see your plants struggling.
Here are the four most common hydroponic grow lights used in modern gardens, and the benefits of each.
Fluorescent Grow Lights – Fluorescent lights are typically used in smaller or amateur gardens, and are extremely limited in their usefulness. Since they only produce white light and are low intensity, they can't deliver the range of light needed for most plants to grow to their potential. They are therefore only really useful on seedlings and clones. Since they do not give off much heat, they can be placed as close to the plant as you'd like, but most hydroponic professionals recommend a distance of between four to six inches. Fluorescent grow lights are typically very inexpensive, but their bulbs must be replaced frequently, which can add up to much more cost over time.
High Intensity Discharge Grow Lights – Because they offer a broader range of colors on the light spectrum, and thus more closely imitate natural sunlight, High Intensity Discharge (HID) lights are much more appropriate for general hydroponic growing. They do, however, produce a great deal of heat, which may require purchasing cooling fans to keep your plants safe.
There are two kinds of high intensity discharge lights: metal halide grow lights and high-pressure sodium grow lights. Metal halide lights can emit light on the blue end of the spectrum, and are more ideal for the vegetative stage of plant growth, while high-pressure sodium lights emit light on the red end of the spectrum and are more commonly used for the flowering stage. High-pressure sodium grow lights are also ideal for use on fruit bearing plants and vegetables.
LED Grow Lights – A LED (Light Emitting Diode) light emits illumination through processing a current in one terminal and out another, forming a simple semiconductor.
LED lights have a number of practical advantages over more common grow lights. Because they produce such little heat, they have little risk of burning your plants; they do not require you to additionally purchase cooling fans. LED grow lights require a larger up front investment, but since they can last between seven to ten years before you need to replace them and use a fraction of the energy of other kinds of lights, they can actually save you money in the long run. Some studies even show that LED lights are even more effective for hydroponic gardens.
LED lights are typically offered in a variety of colors to use at appropriate stages of vegetative growth. There is also available a green LED light, which is "invisible" to plants, and would therefore allow you to observe and maintain your hydroponic garden without interrupting your plants' photoperiod.


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Pacquiao Vs. Bradley Results: Ridiculous Decision Demands Investigation
By Fraser Coffeen@FCoffeen Jun 10, 2012, 3:00pm EDT
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LAS VEGAS, NV - JUNE 09: Manny Pacquiao reacts after his fight against Timothy Bradley at MGM Grand Garden Arena on June 9, 2012 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Getty Images)
In the wake of the Manny Pacquiao vs. Timothy Bradley fiasco, all eyes are exactly where they should not be - the judging. Instead of talking about Pacquiao's excellent performance (his best since Miguel Cotto) or Bradley's perseverance in staying alive and still going for the win in the late rounds, we are stuck talking about the complete sham of a decision that left Timothy Bradley the winner.
With a bit of hindsight, I remain of the same opinion I had last night - those scores were indefensible, and Manny Pacquiao won that fight. Yet two judges gave the win to Bradley, based partly on giving him a round where he was clearly wobbled.
Why did this happen? There are a lot of theories out there, but here are the main three ideas:
1. The point of view of the judges. This is the most generous, as some have opined that the judges closer to Bradley's corner were influenced by his corner and their angle on the action to give the fight his way. If that's the case, it's a severe problem that must be addressed.
2. Incompetence. Are these judges just inept at their jobs? This is actually a feasible option, which is a shame. As Jim Lampley said post-fight - judging is a tough job, but it shouldn't be this tough. If this really is due to ineptitude, then these judges need to never judge again.
3. Corruption. Boxing has a long, shady history, and so a lot of people are calling foul and claiming the fix was in. The immediately announced rematch and the rematch clause built into the contract seems to add to this argument.
All three of these options are, quite simply, unacceptable. And at the end of the day, the fault for this lies squarely on the shoulders of the Nevada State Athletic Commission. It is their responsibility to make sure fights in Nevada are conducted properly, and no matter why it happened, Timothy Bradley taking that win is not proper.
If the NSAC truly care about their jobs, it is their responsibility to promptly launch an investigation into this outcome. Figure out why this happened, and correct the problem so that it does not happen again. Will that happen? Almost certainly not. Instead, we'll get, at best, a few words of explanation and no action taken, but probably not even that.
The NSAC should be ashamed of last night's outcome. And they should take action based on what we saw. Anything less shows that they are just as incompetent or corrupt as the judges.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Producing Dusty Drums in FL Studio
by Ryan Sasinowski 26 Dec 2012
Difficulty:BeginnerLength:LongLanguages: Englishالعربية/عربيMelayu
Break beats, for those unfamiliar with the term, are the parts of old records where the drums would play by themselves. These would become a crucial part of hip hop. These provided the backbone to many songs, if not albums in the early years. This was before producers started chopping up the individual drum sounds in the breaks to re-arrange them into their own patterns.
These days, break beats are still a large factor in music. Less in hip hop, however they are used in Industrial music, Drum and Bass, even Dubstep. Don't believe me? Here's the classic break "Amen Brother" by The Winstons. First at normal speed, and then sped up:
Sounds a little familiar, right? One of the things a lot of techno producers use are really fast drum loops. Some of these drum loops, at least to me, sound very much like sped-up break beats. This is a drum loop that comes standard in FL Studio.
Sounds a lot like a sped-up version of the break example I played, doesn't it?
Since my background is mainly hip hop, I'm going to focus this tutorial mainly on how to get your regular, out of the box drums sound like a dusty break off an old record. I'll also show you how to get the same effect with a virtual drumming plugin, as well as show you how to save your loops for further re-use, how to slice and save the breaks for creating your own patterns, and how to save the effects chain as a mixer preset to re-use at the click of a button.
Here's an example of what we'll be creating. The first part is a standard drum loop, comprised of three standard FL Studio drum sounds with no effects, and then the second half with this method implemented.
Pretty sweet, right? Okay, let's get started.
Part 1: Regular Drums
First, you're going to need to get these plug-ins. They're all VSTs, and they're all FREE. We are going to need:
TB TimeMachine
Classic Delay (Optional)
iZotope Vinyl
So download all of these, and put them in your VST Plugins folder. The usual location is something around the lines of: Computer > C > Program Files > Vstplugins.
Once you have all of those installed, it's time to open up FL Studio. We have to get the program to recognize the newly installed VSTs. To do so, got to: Channel > Add One > More.
This will bring up a dialogue box. At the bottom, click "Refresh," then "Fast Scan."
This will show you your new VST plugins in red. Use them in good health. Moving on.
Now comes the really fun part. Program your drums in the sequencer.
My version of FL Studio is defaulted to have just the four tracks. Yours may vary. I've left up the Browser up to show you that the drums I'm using in my example are nothing special.
This is how the drums sound right now:
These are basic, day one drums. The first ones some of you probably ever used. Since developing this technique, I have revitalized my drum collection, being able to breathe new life into old and boring sounds.
Tip: If you haven't used the Swing tool in your projects that much, this is a prime time to get a feel for it, as it really adds that humanistic character that all the old breaks have. After all, they were being played by live people. Try it out. Even at a low percentage of 3 or 6%, you can hear the difference.
The drums you see above have a 53% Swing added to them. Here is what the drums sound like with no added Swing, and then Swing added in:
Also, don't forget about customizing the velocity of your hits. Again, we're going for that human feel. I know this program has several humanizing presets, but as I don't use them, and prefer to do any of that myself, I'll leave that up to you.
In the individual channels for each drum sound, make sure each is being sent to a mixer track. It's important, trust me. It also wouldn't hurt to label them as well.
Now, what you're going to want to do, is route all of your drums in the loop to a Send channel. This is achieved by going through each drum track in the mixer, and right-clicking the little yellow arrow on Send 1.
Like the name would suggest, we are sending the sound from the original channel to another one. The reason we're not going to just add all the effects to each channel is because:
tt would take up way too much CPU, slowing the program down, and
this way, it will effect the entire kit, and we can tweak each sound individually if need be.
A quick side note would be to label your Send channel. Minor detail, I know, but trust me, labeling tracks will be a godsend for when you start doing this more and more. It'll just be a good habit to use if you want to avoid a major headache.
This is where experimentation really comes into play, the effects chain. The example I provide is what I found to work for me personally. However, you are more than free to try your own settings, and try to find the sound you're looking for. The best part is, there's no wrong way for how to do this, even with the order of the plugins. Just shifting the order of the same plugins can generate a completely different effect.
I'll explain these as we go along.
The first is TB TimeMachine.
It is, in essence, a bitcrusher. This automatically gives drums a more diminished sound, as the title suggests. However the results can be harder to hear on cleaner drums. So, like I said earlier, it's good to experiment.
The setting I'm using for this one is the 12-bit preset. It degrades the sound subtly, while leaving us with a still cleanish signal.
How our loop sounds:
Next is Fruity Reeverb.
We want this to give the drums a space, much like a real kit has. We want a subtle effect here however. If it overpowers, it kind of makes it too obvious. The key here is subtly. While many of the original breaks may have been recorded in a live setting, very few of them sound echoey. The setting we'll use here is just going to be the default.
Then, we're going to use the Fruity Compressor. I put it after the reverb so that it would harness the sound, and affect everything in the mix. Like I said before, some breaks may have been recorded in live settings. The reverb gives the break a live feel, but the compressor will be used to sort of control how much echo we hear.
You can use the image to match the settings. If you have trouble getting the precise number you're going after, you can hold down the Ctrl button for the best results. This should work with everything, by the way.
Here's how our loop sounds:
It may sound harsh by itself, but trust me, it'll sound great in context. We want the compressor here to act more like a safety net, and make sure all the sounds are even, and it sounds a bit more uniform. You can definitely hear the reverb being compressed, and the dynamic is being squashed. That's being done intentionally here. Again, it'll sound better with more effects.
Next is RIAA.
This thing is simple, and crazy at the same time. It has two functions with the Mode knob, and it can be tricky. The knob easily jitters to either setting, and it can be a bit annoying.
What this plugin does is make any sound you have sound like a record. It seems to give everything a muddy sound, but in a good way. I tend to keep it in Regular RIAA mode. No need to add any gain. In fact, I've actually had to turn my kick down because of how much this thing added to them. I didn't think that was possible.
Now, because of the bass frequencies this plugin adds, I had to lower the kick down to only 45%. (Seriously, it packs a punch.) I also had to lower the level of the plugin on the mixer channel to 45%.
Then, it's Imperfection.
I leave it on the Imperfection preset, but definitely give the others a whirl.
Next, time for Classic Delay.
Admittedly, you don't really need this. I had it on here, but thought the effect was overpowering the original sound. A Delay plugin creates a thicker, layered sound. You may want to use it, and that's fine. I used the Clean Digital preset in this instance. I decided to keep the plugin in the chain just in case.
How our loop sounds with the Delay added:
And finally, it's time for iZotope Vinyl.
I can't tell you just how much use I've gotten out of this one since I've gotten my hands on it. This was always my go-to tool when something had to sound vintage. The only difference between this and the other plugins is that in order to get it, you have to give them your email address, and I know some people don't like that. I guarantee this to be one of the most useful plugins you'll have in your arsenal if you dig that vintage sound.
Anyway, for this plugin, I start with the 70s Single preset. Then I start to tweak the settings. I start by turning the year up to 1980 for more bass presence. Turn down the Mechanical Noise, as well as the Electrical Noise. Then turn the Wear to 50%. This is what really degrades the sound the more you turn it up. Adjust the Dust and Scratch settings to your liking. I generally leave the Scratch at 0.2 dB, and put the Dust at 6.7 dB.
So there you have it, kids! How our loop sounds:
Sounds pretty great, doesn't it? Like I said, by all means, experiment with the sounds and presets for every plugin here. You never know what you're going to come up with. And hey, the sounds you create may just become your signature production trick.
Part 2: Mixer Presets
If you're happy with the sound you have created, you may like to save it as a Mixer preset. This way, you can simply drag it over to the Mixer channel and all the same effects in the chain will show up exactly as before with the same exact presets. This is very simple.
When you're satisfied with your overall effect, go to the upper left corner of the mixer to a drop down arrow. Then go to: File > Save mixer track as.
A new dialogue box will pop up. Notice where it says it's saving to.
The preset we will create is going to be stored by default in the Mixer presets folder. This is located on the Browser right above Packs.
Name your preset as something you're likely to remember it by. For this project, I'm going to call mine "Dusty Break." Then hit Save.
Once this is done, open the Mixer Presets folder. See, our preset is right there.
It'll be a good idea to test it. Go into an unused channel and drag the preset over to it. Toggle between that new channel and our break channel. The FX should look identical.
And there you have it, how to preserve your FX chain for later use.
Part 3: Virtual Drummers
These can be quite effective tools. They are just what the name suggests, a virtual drumming machine. These can be used to create realistic drum patterns that sound like someone is actually playing them live. They also have the capability of having each channel be routed to its own Mixer channel, whereupon individual effects can be added.
If you don't have this software, don't worry about it. I just intend to show that the same effect can be also utilized here.
For this example, I'm going to use EZdrummer.
Open the software, and let it load.
Then delete all the other Sequencer tracks, and assign EZdrummer to Channel 1.
Hit the Open Mixer button in the EZdrummer interface.
Go to the first channel in the mixer. It should be labeled as "Kick." Right click where it says "Trk 1" and a list of routing options should pop up. At the bottom of that list is the option for "Multichannel." Select it.
Because we assigned EZdrummer to Channel 1, this routing option will put each of these drum sounds on their own channels in the Mixer. Go ahead and label each Mixer Channel with the names of the drums being routed. The names for each channel can be found in the Drummer Mixer.
Sequence your drum pattern in the Piano Roll for EZdrummer.
Now that you have the drum sequence that you're happy with, it's time to tweak the routing. Since you labeled your Mixer tracks, the Room channel should be on Insert 7. This is essentially what we did in Part One, where we put all the drum sounds to a Send. We're going to solo this channel.
The reason behind this method of only affecting the room sound, is that on those old records that had the break beats, most of those songs were recorded almost live. So all the elements of the song were in a room together and recorded that way. What we hear on those breaks were basically the room sounds. And that's why we're just utilizing the room sound of our break beat here.
So now, on this channel, we're going to add the same FX chain to this channel. Remember the Mixer preset we created in Part 2? Well all we have to do is drag it over to the Mixer channel.
And there you have it. It couldn't be simpler. Now, I will say, the preset may not sound as great on these drums as they did on the other ones. That's normal. Presets are merely a starting point. There is no magic button. This is where you experiment to find the best sound.
One thing I want to point out is that with EZdrummer, I'm using the default kit here. There are different kits you can use. I am a big fan of the Vintage Rock kit. These sound like the old records even more. The examples I've shown are done without any FX added, so you can hear the difference in sound kits. Check them out:
Here's the drum pattern played with the default kit:
Here's the drum pattern played with the vintage kit:
Part 4: Loops for Posterity
Now that you know how to create custom loops, it's time to save them so you can customize them and use them over and over again in the future. You get a great sound that has that vibe you were going for, and you won't need to worry about any legal issues.
Once you're happy with the way your loop sounds, it's time now to save it for future use. Basically, you can save it anywhere, but let's say we want to have a folder in FL Studio where we'll store this and many others in the future. Go to: File > Export > Wave file. (Ctrl + R shortcut) This brings up this dialogue box:
For most people, I think it defaults to save to Projects. We want to create a folder that shows up in FL Studio when we open it. So we have to create that. Click on the Up One Level button on the dialogue box.
Clicking it will bring you to the Data folder. Click onto the Patches folder.
The Patches folder has several sub-folders in it. These are what appear in the Sequencer. You could create your loop folder here if you wanted. I like staying organized, so I'll put mine in Packs. This is where I browse for sounds anyway, so it'll be easy for me to find. Like I say, it's all entirely up to you about the particulars. This is just how I do it.
Click on the New Folder button, and then name it as you will. I'll call mine "Sas' Break Loops."
This way, they'll all be there for when I want to dissect each loop for individual sounds. But more on that later.
Name your loop as something you'll remember. You might use the date. Again, all entirely up to you. After you've named it, click OK.
See. There's a new folder in the Packs folder. Open it. And voila! Our loop is there.
So that's how you save all the loops you made into a custom new folder. Moving right along...
Part 5: Kits from Loops
Now that we have some saved loops, what do we do with them? Well, we could just use them as straight-up loops. But what I enjoyed doing is cutting up the breaks and using each drum hit to create my own patterns, so that's what we're going to do here. We're going to create our own kit.
There are many ways to do it, but we're going to be really quick and dirty today. We're gonna do it all inside FL Studio. And in here, there's a couple ways to do it. However, we're just going to look at Edison today.
In a Mixer Channel, insert Edison. The channel isn't important. It can be the Master Channel. To insert Edison, go to any channel on the Mixer. In an available FX slot, insert Edison.
With the Edison interface up on the screen, open up the folder you saved your loops in. Find the loop you want to dissect, and drag it into Edison.
With your sample loaded, figure out which specific drum hits you want for your kit, and highlight them with the cursor. I'll use a kick for my example.
Now, what I like to do, is edit the hit before I trim it down to size. You might trim it down and then export it. Again, all up to you. So what I'm going to do here, is Highlight the kick and then I want to make the selection Fade Out so it sounds smooth and natural, versus a very abrupt end. It can be done in the individual channels, but I'd rather spend the time crafting the music while the idea is still fresh.
So now, with the kick hit highlighted, I'm going to make the sound Fade Out. I'm going to accomplish this by hitting the Fade Out button. Very technical, I know. With that done, the kick hit should look something like this:
You can do further editing here if you'd like. I.e. using a Gate, compressing, EQing, etc. For the sake of simplicity, I'm just going to do a quick fade out for my example.
Now that that's done, we have to separate this sound from the sample so that that the entire loop doesn't export. To do this, we keep the kick highlighted and we go to: Edit > Trim. (Shortcut: Ctrl + Del)
Now we have our hit all by itself. Time to export it. To do this, we're going to hit the Save As... button. Located here:
When the dialogue box comes up, we have to decide where we're going to save the sounds in our kit. Much like the last section, we're going to want to create a folder for our kit. Click the Up One Level button until you come to the FL Studio # folder. It will have these folders in it:
We should probably create a folder in a similar place as we did in the last section for simplicity's sake. So, as I'm sure you all remember, the route from this point is: FL Studio # > Data > Patches > Packs.
Create a folder for the kit you're going to assemble. Name it as something you'll remember. Since this hit is a kick, I can call this "Dusty_Kick_001." This tells me that this is a dusty kit I'm working with. As for why I have three spaces for additional sounds, I like the possibility of adding hundreds of sounds to a kit.
So now, when we go to open our drum kit folder, we see our sound we made in it.
You can also create sub-folders for each drum sound so you're not going through a long list for everything.
So now, you can go back to the original loop in Edison and get to work on the rest of the drum hits. To do this, it's very simple. In Edison, go to: Edit > Undo History > Load ___.
Your loop is most likely named something different than mine, but that's how you get Edison back to that stage. Now, you just edit and export.
Part 6: Experimentation
This is the best part. You can take unlimited sounds, and combine them for your custom sounds. I've been wanting to do this since the days of Kanye's first record when I first heard that insane Snare/Clap he used to use on a bunch of tracks. That was one of his little signatures that told you he did the beat.
This is easy. Take a few kicks at a time, and layer them on the same hit on the Sequencer. Mute some of them to see which ones sound really good together. Tweak the velocities and panning to create a real unique sound. Then, simply adjust the amounts of beats per bar on the Sequencer, add effects if you wish now, or hold on until editing.
Export the sound to a folder of your choosing, then edit it like before. Add effects until your heart's content. Go crazy.
This is something I've been dying to work out for years and years of just loving the hell out of those gritty New York beats from the Nineties. Like I've said throughout this tutorial, nothing here is set in stone. The great thing about music is that some of the best achievements have happened from experimenting, or simply by pure accident.
I'm glad that producers in other genres love these breaks as much as I do. Some people might be hesitant to use samples because of copyright reasons. But with this method, you're making your own sounds, and you get to make them (hopefully) sound similar to the breaks you would normally use.
I hope you learned something from this tutorial. I really had a fun time figuring this method out for myself over the years of trying. I'm very happy with the results. And hey, if you make a kick-ass track that incorporates a break you created, share a link to it below! It's always welcome! Happy creating!
Ryan Sasinowski
Ryan Sasinowski is an amateur Musician and Graphic Designer. He does freelance video work, and helps out with the Theater department at his former high school.


Grand River Brewing in Marshall, Michigan, is housed in a 150-year-old building that is oozing with character and originally served as a merchantile store.
Live music is being performed in the background of this flightboard at Paw Paw Brewing Co. in Paw Paw, Michigan.
Brewing tanks can be viewed on a free hour-long tour of the Bells Brewery in Comstock, Michigan.
We've heard of the classic staycation. But have you taken a beercation?
If you are a lover of craft beer, you don't have to go far to visit dozens of breweries and sample hundreds of ales and lagers and stouts and porters.
Michigan is a paradise for those who love to visit microbreweries. Grand Rapids has been named one of the top beer cities in the U.S. by Insider, and in 2014 was named Best Beer Town by USA Today.
The state of Michigan is fifth in the nation in the number of breweries, microbreweries and brewpubs.
If you head out from the Region to Grand Rapids (aka Beer City U.S.A. per the city's Convention & Visitors Bureau), you're going to find a lot of breweries and brewpubs between here and there, in and around Southwest and Western Michigan.
This is a place where it's perfectly okay to worship your beer. If you get off of Interstate-94 at exit No. 1 once you are in Michigan, it will lead you to this former house of worship where you can step in and be part of the "congregation." Dating back to 1861, this brewery has been expanding in steps to include a beer garden and soon will have an expanded taproom. Stop and try their signature brew, Pontius Pilate IPA.
Greenbush has grown quite a bit since its beginning and now includes an Annex located across the street with a beer garden, which, in the busy tourist season, is overflowing with beer aficionados stopping for a brew and some bites. It's worth stopping as much for the food as for the beer, where you'll find an eclectic mix of dishes and specials — from brisket to gumbo to sushi.
Stop and enjoy a pint or get a growler to bring back home at this fairly young venture that came to be from some guy friends bonding over home-brew. The brewery hosts some quirky events — the Golden Crockpot Challenge, a Catan Tournament, an Ugly Sweater Night and Yoga in the Taproom and offers such brews as Bert's Breakfast Stout, Russian Imperial Stout and Michigan Copper Ugly Face India Pale Ale.
Set to move soon into a larger facility, the current taproom is tiny, intimate and cozy, and a great place to stop for a pint or a flight and a casual bite to eat. They have a number of classic and creative paninis on the menu, so it's ideal to work in for lunch or a lighter dinner along with your brew. You may even stumble into some live music being played on guitar or violin or even concertina.
This spot is fairly new to the craft brewery line-up and opened last year in a stunning vintage building, the J.H. Cronin Building. The 150-year-old building served as a mercantile store and has now been transformed into a brewery/winery/distillery. It's a second location to the original site in Jackson, Michigan. They've got a sizable menu - viewed digitally on a tablet - so plan on staying for a meal while you are there.
One of the craft beer originals in Michigan, Bells Brewing now is one of the big guys, with a brewpub and large-scale production site that both offer free tours. If you're interested mainly in seeing and hearing about how beer is made and doing a little free tasting, reserve a spot on a tour at the Comstock location. The tours accommodate up to 25 and give you a full history and rundown on their brewing process while peeking into some tanks to see the action. The tour lasts about an hour from start to finish. Fun Fact: Founder Larry Bell is originally from Chicago's south suburbs — Park Forest.
This brewery started back in 1996 with a lineup of British-Inspired beers, and its Kalamazoo Riverfront Brewery, Pub and Beer Garden is a fun place to hang all year — with corn hole games in the warmer months and an igloo in the winter months on the patio. BBQ, pizza, sandwiches and more are available on the menu.
What could go better with beer than old-school arcade games like Tetris and Galaga? This brewery has a game room for grown ups so you can have a little fun while you sip brews like Silver Foam Lager, Fish Ladder IPA or Here's Johnny Nirtro Brown Ale.
Part of an ongoing series of stories about where to take a beercation in and around the Region.


With the festivities nearly over everyone's attention is quickly turning to the New Year: an opportunity to do things differently and to break out of old routines.
Fitting more physical activity into busy lives will be among the most common of the many commitments made for 2019.
According to government guidelines, adults need at least 150 minutes exercise a week but many of us struggle to build this level of physical activity into our busy lives – 39% of us don't, according to the British Heart Foundation.
Walking short, local journeys is a simple, free and easy way to boost your activity levels.
Here are some top tips to build more walking into your daily routine, as compiled by the team behind West Yorkshire Combined Authority's £60m CityConnect programme, aimed at encouraging more people to travel on foot or by bike.
Walk part of your journey. Whether you're heading to work, college, the shops or to see friends, why not walk part of the way? Walk to the train station, get off the bus a couple of stops earlier or park a bit further away from your destination. Remember it only takes about 20 minutes to walk one mile.
Enjoy a social walk. Whether it's getting to know your colleagues, making new friends or catching up with loved ones, walking is a great way to socialise. You don't have to climb a mountain, exploring your local area can be just as rewarding.
Set up a lunchtime exclusion zone. Discover new things by taking a 15 minute walk from the office in different directions at lunchtimes.
Take your meetings outside. Hold walking meetings with your colleagues or a client. A change of scene can inspire creativity and the chances are you'll all return to the office happier, healthier and more productive.
Borrow a dog. Does your neighbour, friend or someone in your family have a dog? Most dogs wouldn't say no to an extra walk each day or week, so why not offer to take them out. You'll get all the health benefits of having a dog without the commitment.
Make a pledge and stick to it. Whether it's to walk more, swap some of your train / bus / car time for foot time or to save some cash by shaking up your commute. Whatever the reason, while you're feeling motivated set yourself a target and then shout it from the rooftops. If your family, friends and colleagues all know what you're doing and why, they can help motivate you if and when you need it.
"Walking is good for the mind as well as the body - it can help reduce the risk of preventable diseases, inspire creativity, and reduce stress, as well as reducing travel costs and improving air quality.
Share pictures of your walking adventures, however big or small, with CityConnect on Twitter (@cityconnect1) and Facebook (@cyclecityconnect).
From route information to free adult cycle training, online challenges and support for businesses, find out how CityConnect can help you to cycle and walk more at https://cyclecityconnect.co.uk/makeyourmove/.


Last night Patrick and I attended our third Mickey's Halloween Party at Disneyland. (You can take a peek at the last two years here and here.) Unlike every Halloween since college, where I made a costume, this year I had to come to terms that I didn't have the time. That, combined with the fact I simply couldn't decide on what to be! So, I pulled out a costume from a few years ago, and one that has made the cosplay circuit a few items as well, my Marion Ravenwood from Raiders of the Lost Ark. While a repeat, I was excited to shoot the costume in Adventureland.
When we entered I was sad to see that the Indiana Jones attraction was down, however it ended up being a blessing in disguise! I asked one of the attraction's Cast Members if we could shoot photos in the queue while the attraction was closed, and she said yes!
A fun fact is that the truck in the queue is the same one used during the exciting chase sequence in Raiders!
Now, last time I wore this for Halloween, Patrick went as Indy, however, not much of that costume remains. Parts were borrowed from my dad (not easy to get our hands on now), while others were ill-fitting, thrifted garments that Patrick didn't keep after that year. Thankfully, I'm lucky, and Patrick is actually quite supportive of doing couples costumes, or at least having our costumes come from the same source material. So this year, Patrick came up with the brilliant idea of being Jock Lindsey, Indy's pilot from the beginning of Raiders, complete with pet snake, Reggie, and fully got into the part too, bless his heart. If you need a refresher on Jock, take a peek here.
We had a delightful evening getting treats and meeting characters, as the Halloween parties are swell times to meet characters who don't visit often, such as Maleficent and Hades, as well as a time to see what unique costume ideas fellow Guests come up with! The evening rounded out with the Halloween Screams fireworks show, before we hobbled back to our car after a long night.
Blouse: New Look Pattern 6892, slightly altered, hand-embroidered by myself.
Pants: New Look Pattern 6132, slightly altered.
Sash: 1/4 of a yard of fabric, trimmed up, sewn in ruching with snaps in back.
Shirt: Sears, hand painted by me.
Howdy, New Shoes!	Great Scott!
You both look so awesome! I love love loveee your Marion!! And omg, Patrick makes a great Jock.
I like how a Patrick has the snake and you have a stuffed animal..smart! Plus the brunette look is mist becoming!
How awesome that you got to take photos in the empty queue! As an Adventureland fan girl I am quite jealous! Great costume and super photos, I am always very impressed by your Marion blouse, that is a lot of embroidery! It was so worth it though! What a clever idea for Patrick to dress up as Jock, the pet snake makes it!
I love that even though this is a costume, you could so totally rock it any time of the year. It looks awesome on you, dear Janey! You both look great, I should say. Three cheers for dressing up!
Anyhow, great outfit! Well done!!!
Amazing work on your Marian. I was lucky enough to find a Bulgarian blouse maker to embroider one for me. I love your monkey! I have a much smaller one and would love to get one that is larger. Would you mind letting me know where you got yours? His vest is the perfect touch!
I actually found mine at a thrift store.


The next generation of betting revolution is here, and it's in the form of the best betting apps. Whether you are a loyal spectator of horse racing or itching to bet on next presidential election of USA, you can't escape from the lure of mobile betting.
You can be a couch potato who loves to stick to the computer screen comparing odds or a connoisseur of live casinos, but in both the cases, don't deny the benefits of betting apps before trying some of them out.
How betting apps are transforming the gambling scene, you may ask. The following points will surely mitigate your curiosity.
With the advent of mobile gaming apps, you can bet from any corner of your city, whether you are having a cuppa at the roadside café or returning from office via metro.
Irrespective of your possession of android or an iPhone, you can put your stake on a game via best betting apps.
Don't you feel that this universal accessibility of games frees you from sitting at one place for a long stretch of time while betting?
Not only playing the games but downloading the apps gives you the liberty to play the games 24*7*365 days. Now add festive seasons and bank holidays into the list, and voila, it's like betting opportunity galore.
The betting apps worth to mention here flaunt huge selection of games, especially if you peek into the app of William Hill.
For an avid follower and gambler of the game of football, Willian Hill will surely come as a treasure trove. Not only football but its online poker, bingo, and casinos are quite a rage.
From where will you get such a convenience to access hundreds of games at the same time other than one of the best betting apps?
On the other hand, the Bet Victor app had brought quite a revolutionary feature into the online betting market. It is one of the first batches of betting apps that don't require the customer to open a separate account, to download.
The official website of Bet Victor has the direct download link from where you can get it on your smart phone.
Apart from the accessibility of handpicked games, the sleek user-interface is another USP for most of the top-notch apps.
Do you know that the Irish betting giant Paddy Power offers the advantage of Acca insurance with its mobile betting app? On the other hand, the cash out option of Ladbrokes app is one of its kinds.
So, in a summation, the best betting apps of the market have their own merits. But amidst this hullabaloo related to bonuses and freebies offered by betting apps, don't forget the fact that, it's not always more beneficial to download the app of a bookmaker rather than using its mobile site. Take for an instance the example of Skybet.
There is a very little difference between the functionality of Skybet's mobile website and its app. Both are sleek and flaunt the ease-of-use.
Furthermore, William Hill doesn't present any extra add-ons in its app. So, there is one point worth to remember here, and that is- the myriad of betting apps may very well confuse your mind.
Once you go through the reviews and compare the specs of both mobile site as well as app of a bookmaker, then only take the decision to download.
Do you know that the organized market for betting apps started back in 2001? From there, it has come a long way till.
While the apps from the previous generation were more basic in nature, the next generation of apps is becoming sleeker and smarter.
Are you a first-time bettor and feeling reluctant about betting via a mobile device? Don't worry, as an all-rounder app like Bet Fair provides with a lot of educative tips. Not only that, its speedy live streaming service is a fans' favorite.
There is a plethora of features and add-ons that come with modern-day best betting apps. From sleek user-interface (UI) to live chat rooms, from quick download speed to the ease of submitting/withdrawing money by a single click- you will surely be spoiled with choices.
So, don't stick out for only one app, when you can try out different ones. It's advisable for a first-time bettor to try out as many apps as possible with the help of free sign-up bonuses. Get your hands dirty and understand the true meaning of mobile betting.
The consumer can get to choose from a wide selection of apps and that too with surprising freebies. On the one hand, the bet365 app will present to you a fantastic sign-up bonus equivalent to your initial deposit.
On the other hand, it showers its patrons with the present of putting stake with free cash. The more you will read up about the choices available to you in the apps betting market, the more you will be flabbergasted about picking up the right one.
To catch more and more audience attention, each betting app is updating itself as well as adding a truckload of add-ons. There hasn't been a better phase to download a free app than now!
The site of Best Betting Apps is a goldmine for the new bettors when it comes to the listing of best mobile apps.
On the other hand, if you are from Africa, then the Complete Sports Nigeria is a name to reckon with, for compiling the assessments of cutting-edge mobile betting apps.
Whether you are crazy about horse racing or very picky about handicapping the winning pony in the coming Cheltenham festival, you can always put your stake on betting apps to cater to your every gambling need.
Downloading mobile betting apps is one of the fitting measures you can take, to bolster your gambling profession.
But the market is literally bustling with these apps and to pick up the most suitable one, you need to do your homework thoroughly.


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Crusaders Lose Steam, Fall To Upper Cape Tech In Football Action October 3, 2018
By: Kat Szmit
HARWICH – It was not the preview of the Thanksgiving Day Game that Cape Tech fans were hoping for when the Crusaders fell to the Upper Cape Tech Rams 27-20 in football action on Sept. 29. It was a game that started with promise when the Crusaders, on the strength of Zach Higgins and Archer Estinvil, took a 14-7 lead after the first quarter, with Higgins opening the game with a nine-yard score that followed a d...
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Perseverance Keeps Monomoy Girls Soccer Competitive Through Highs And Lows September 26, 2018
HARWICH – It's been a bit of a roller coaster week for the Monomoy girls varsity soccer team, which fell to Sturgis West and Nauset but sandwiched in a welcome victory against Martha's Vineyard. The Sharks played tirelessly against the Navigators on Sept. 20, but one well-placed goal was all it took for the visiting Sturgis team to claim victory in a hard-fought, physical outing. "We knew coming in it was g...
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Harwich Pickleball Tournament Puts The Fun In Funfest September 26, 2018
HARWICH – When the first Pickleball Funfest was held in 2014 it was a small but successful event that focused on the fun of the game. Five years later the Funfest has more than doubled the number of participants, but still holds at its heart how much fun it is to play the game. Pickleball has been dubbed by many one of the fastest-growing sports in the United States, with clubs popping up across the nation. Ca...
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Crusaders Stymied By Cougars 21-6 In Chippy Gridiron Game September 19, 2018
HARWICH – The Cape Tech Crusaders had the fire but lacked the unity needed to overcome the Tri-County Cougars on Saturday, falling in their home opener 21-6 as tensions rose on and off the field. Weather-wise it was a perfect afternoon for football, but not for the Crusaders, who struggled to make connections in game play and among teammates. The Cougars marched determinedly downfield en route to a first quart...
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Monomoy No Match For Nauset Warriors In 45-8 Loss September 19, 2018
EASTHAM – When the Monomoy Sharks traveled to Eastham last Friday night to face the Nauset Warriors there was a swirl of chatter about the potential outcome, but not many predicted the 45-8 drubbing the Div. 7 Sharks would suffer at the hands of their Div. 4 black-and-gold hosts. Bobby Joy scored three touchdowns in the outing, the first two seemingly in quick succession as Nauset finished the first quarter wi...
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Tee Off For Student Athletes In The Second Annual Monomoy Golf Tournament September 19, 2018
HARWICH – At Monomoy Regional High School, the All-Sports Booster Club does its best to support every athlete and each team, which means holding fundraisers that put the fun in raising much-needed money to benefit student athletes and the teams they play on. This fall supporters can tee off in the second annual Monomoy Golf Tournament at Cranberry Valley, a day of great golf for an even better cause. "It seems...
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Monomoy Triumphs Against Sturgis East In Rain-Soaked Field Hockey Action September 12, 2018
HARWICH – After a tough season opening loss to D-Y last week, the Monomoy girls varsity field hockey team was looking for a win and found it when they played to a 5-0 victory against Sturgis East on Sept. 10. As a steady, light rain fell across Harwich, the Sharks played host to the Storm, with Alison Barrett setting up teammate Amy Hinesley for the first goal of the game at 26:40 to put Monomoy ahead 1-0. Les...
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Monomoy Football Opens With Commanding 30-12 Victory Against Cape Tech September 12, 2018
HARWICH – The social media buzz was humming in the days leading up to Monomoy football's home opener Sept. 7 against Cape Tech, with fans from both camps boasting of potential victory. But after a short-lived bumpy start, Monomoy made it clear which was the team to watch as they battled to a 30-12 victory, Monomoy's first official win under new head coach Larry Souza. For the majority of the first quarter, how...
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Once A Shark, Monomoy Grad Garrett Sherman Is Now An Iron Man September 5, 2018
MONT-TREMBLANT, QUEBEC – Move over Robert Downey, Jr. There's a new iron man in town and it's none other than 2016 Monomoy graduate Garrett Sherman. No, Sherman won't be doing battle against bad guys on the big screen, but he did recently complete the Ironman Mont-Tremblant in Quebec, Canada, his first-ever iron man competition. Fans will recall that the day before Sherman's high school graduation he took on t...
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New Monomoy Field Hockey Coach Jen Estes Aims To Encourage Athletes September 5, 2018
HARWICH – When the Monomoy field hockey team kicked off its 2018 season with a scrimmage against Barnstable on Monday, it was their first competition under the tutelage of new head coach Jennifer Estes. While fans might recall her keeping books at past games, this season the former college player has stepped onto the sidelines and aims to inspire her student athletes on and off the field. By day Estes teaches ...
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Chatham's Anne Van Vleck Runs Falmouth Marathon For A Cause Close To Her Heart August 29, 2018
CHATHAM – Roughly a year ago Anne Van Vleck became the new chief development officer at the Housing Assistance Corporation on Cape Cod in Hyannis, a job focused primarily on fundraising. But just filing paperwork and making calls wasn't enough for Van Vleck, who saw firsthand the realities of finding affordable housing here, so she decided to take steps, literally, by running the Falmouth Road Race in support of ...
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For Monomoy's New Football Coach, Commitment Is Key August 29, 2018
HARWICH – Larry Souza is well aware of the revolving-door situation regarding head coaches and Monomoy football. He's been on the sidelines with three different coaches in as many seasons, which is why, as the program's fifth head coach since its inception, Souza is planning on sticking around for a good while. Football has been in Souza's blood for ages, his passion blooming when he first laced up cleats as a...
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For those who use PowerShell to do things in Azure you will know that occasionally there is a parameter that you need to get right but are unsure of the exact value that should be there. In the Azure Portal it's easy, you pick from a drop down menu where the required, pre-defined, values are and enter into the text box where it's a free form value. Last week I wrote about using PowerShell to get a list of all the data center values. So when you have to chose a location you know if the parameter value should be EastUS or East US. This week we look at another cmdlet that will get us a list of valid options, this time to get a list of virtual machine sizes.
For the cmdlet to create a new virtual machine configuration asks for the size. But what do I put in there? Big? Large? DS3_v2? 8 Cores and some memory please?
New-AzureRmVMConfig -VMName "BradVM" -VMSize "HELP ME PLEASE"
Of course we will want to login with Connect-AzureRmAccount to get started. The cmdlet Get-AzureRmVmSize will list all the sizes, except it wants a parameter…the location. Why does it want a parameter for the location? The answer is quite simple, different data centers have different hardware and therefore sometimes (not always) offer different virtual machine sizes. New VM sizes will roll out to anchor data centers like EastUS/EastUS2/WestUS (in the US) and then roll out to other data centers as the capacity is added to the remaining data centers. You will notice that older VM sizes, like the Basic VMs are available widely. So if you need to know the proper parameter for the location, head over to last week's post or read on to see some other examples.
You can also supply that parameter at runtime.
What if you don't want to go run this every time you need to look up a VM size? Once you see the options you can tell that they are pretty straightforward. Standard/Basic_VMSize is the basic format of the name. But it's helpful to know what is available and where it is available. So I thought, why not drop these out to a file so I can easily go filter by VM size or data center. I often have to figure out what VM size to recommend for customers and it is helpful to know what is available in the data center(s) that they are using. A few lines of PowerShell later and we are good to go!
Most of the time we only care about a couple of data centers. Let's say that you are building your main location in East US and East US 2 but you want to do DR in West US. You can use the first line of this script to filter down to just the data centers that you care about. Or you can comment out line 1 and un-comment line 2 to get the entire list. Just be aware that if you do this for all the locations it may take a little while. I also have a couple of lines at the beginning go reset some things as I was running the code over and over. If you are doing a run-once situation then those first two lines from my screenshot will be unnecessary.
Now you'll end up with a CSV file that can be opened in Excel, formatted as a table and is easily searchable and can be filtered.
Want to know which data centers have those giant, fancy M128 VMs? Easy!
You could filter the PowerShell output as well, but this just seems like a fun little project for a Monday afternoon.


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Drink-drive arrest after late-night A419 crash
By Daniel Angelini Adver_Daniel Reporter
POLICE arrested a driver for being over the alcohol limit after a crash on the A419.
Officers responded to calls about a two-vehicle road traffic collision on the southbound carriageway before Blunsdon at around 11.30pm on Thursday.
The incident involved a black Volkswagen Polo and a Peugeot. The ambulance and fire service attended while police temporarily closed the road.
The male driver of the Volkswagen was taken to hospital with minor injuries and arrested on suspicion of drink driving.
The two occupants of the Peugeot were taken to hospital as a precautionary measure with minor injuries.
The road was reopened at approximately 2am.


Located in Sarajevo City Center, ETN Hotel is a perfect starting point from which to explore Sarajevo. Featuring a complete list of amenities, guests will find their stay at the property a comfortable one. All the necessary facilities, including 24-hour front desk, facilities for disabled guests, luggage storage, valet parking, room service, are at hand. Each guestroom is elegantly furnished and equipped with handy amenities. Recuperate from a full day of sightseeing in the comfort of your room or take advantage of the hotel's recreational facilities, including massage. Convenience and comfort makes ETN Hotel the perfect choice for your stay in Sarajevo.


Below are the various NBR 14136 plug adapters we offer. Please select desired option for further details.
USA to Brazil Plug Adapter: Brazil NBR 14136 plug to USA NEMA 5-15R receptacle plug adapter with UL approval. Rated up to 10A 250V. Rugged molded construction.
Brazil to C5 Plug Adapter: Brazil NBR 14136 plug to IEC C5 receptacle plug adapter.
Brazil to C13 Plug Adapter: Brazil NBR14136 plug to IEC C13 receptacle plug adapter. Rated up to 10A 250V.


The many variations on the ranch included the raised ranch or split-level that added a second story to at least part of the house. Some had basements.
Why did they fall from popularity? Buyers want more space and often building up was more feasible on smaller lots than building out. Buyers, who became more affluent in the 70s and beyond, wanted homes of they considered more palatial in appearance. In some areas of the country, where land was at a premium, the design limited building opportunities.
Great for Boomers. With the baby boomers now entering retirement, there is increased demand for single-family homes that are smaller with minimal stairs. Even if they don't need one floor living now, they may find it handy for caring for parents were older seniors.
Family-friendly. The one floor styling of ranches is great for young families with young kids, where stairs pose a safety issue, they are often economical to heat and cool. As the Realtor® article points out, many buyers and every lived in a ranch the design seems fresh and new.
Mid-Century Dreams. Some buyers have once again fallen in love with mid-century modern design, so a ranch home is perfect. Some interiors may seem dated, but at that time, it was still common to include solid hardwood floors, fireplaces, casement windows and other stylistic elements. Current remodeling efforts can often restore some elements of the original home at a fraction of the cost of installing new hardwood and other features.
Right Fit For Contemporary Tastes. Many were open floor plan and require minimal remodeling to get them to look more modern by adding a structural beam. If the lot is big enough, they can also be built out from several places to increase the size of rooms or adding an additional bedroom, a porch, or more kitchen space. The homes look great with a wide variety of exterior surfaces. Whether they are built now or are from the past, they can be built on slabs, with basements, or with daylight basements. As one writer put it, ranches are like the "little black dress" of housing as they can be simple and informal or luxurious and sophisticated and dressed up or down.
Newly built ranches are likely to be in the builder stock in areas where land is plentiful, but for those looking for a home now, neighborhoods dominated by ranches tend to be walkable, have mature landscaping, and be near public transportation. Regardless of your age, a ranch could be the perfect home for you to renovate to meet your stylistic preferences. My experience indicates that many sellers who have homes like this often do quite a bit of preparation before putting them on the market, which means that you can have a move-in ready home is just the right amount of space.
Looking to for Louisville real estate? I'm Jessica Gaines Jarboe of Louisville Gaines Real Estate I love to work with ranches, so let me help you buy or sell one!


text:
AMRI
Why do birds fly south? Well actually, it turns out they don't much - in the case of the Common Myna . . .
Kyle Ewart, Dr Richard Major and Prof Rebecca Johnson
Common (aka Indian) Mynas are a bit of paradox. Although these accomplished songbirds are popular pets worldwide (and symbols of undying love in India), they are reviled in Australia with the dubious distinction of being voted our most-hated bird. Presumably this is because of their invasive potential - they are one of only three bird species on the list of the top 100 global invasives. But how invasive are they?
The Common (Indian) Myna was introduced to Australia in the 1860s to control insect pests. Image: Corey Callaghan
© Corey Callaghan
Common Mynas are reported as having been introduced to Melbourne in the early 1860s to control insect pests; and subsequently to Sydney, Townsville, inland from the Gold Coast and Canberra. For nearly a hundred years their Australian populations were confined to those locations, and it is only since the 1940s that their distribution has expanded along much of the urbanised eastern zone of Australia. The timeline of this expansion is hardly what we would expect from an invasive dynamo.
Common Mynas are largely human commensals, frequently nesting in gaps in buildings. Image: Corey Callaghan
Perhaps because of their cohabitation with humans, negative impacts of Mynas on both people and native fauna are often stated, although there is remarkably little scientific evidence. But given their potential impacts and expanding range, it is important to find out more about the dispersal capacity of this species.
One way of measuring the effective dispersal of a species is to analyse the DNA of its constituent populations. If animals are moving between populations their gene pools will mix and homogenise, while isolated populations will have distinct genetic signatures. We used genetic techniques to test the accuracy of historical reports of Common Myna translocations and to determine their patterns of effective dispersal, with the overall goal of informing population management of this exotic species.
Samples were obtained from backyard trappers in 26 locations along Australia's eastern zone. Image: Stuart Humphreys
© Stuart Humphreys
Responding to our calls, volunteers trapped 462 Myna specimens from 26 sites between Cairns and Melbourne. We then compared their genetic signatures using 4156 variable markers across the genome. Our results demonstrated conclusively that populations occupying the original sites of colonisation remain genetically distinct from each other, and with the exception of the Gold Coast population, these populations were founded by translocation from the sources recorded historically. (The founders of the Gold Coast are a bit mysterious, but appear to result from a mixture of translocated birds from Melbourne and birds from a novel introduction.)
Location of sampling sites (yellow) within the current distribution of the Common Myna (grey) in Australia. Image: Corey Callaghan
Satellite populations in Victoria, and New South Wales have been colonised from Melbourne and Sydney respectively, and it was only on the New South Wales/Queensland border that we detected mixing of different genetic stocks. These "admixed" populations now have higher genetic diversity than their parent populations, and in theory this should improve their evolutionary potential.
Our study indicates that Common Mynas do not disperse effectively over long distances in Australia – "flying south" is not something they are prone to do; nor is "flying north", or "east" or "west". Ironically, Mynas relied on human transport to spread across eastern Australia, rather than using autopilot. We recommend that any population control should now be focussed on the slow-moving invasion front, rather than the largest population centres which also coincide with the largest human centres. In particular, merging of populations with different genetic stock, as is happening in northern New South Wales, should be discouraged to prevent genetic diversification.
Kyle Ewart (PhD Candidate, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney; and AMRI, Australian Museum)
Prof Rebecca N. Johnson (Director, AMRI, Australian Museum)
Dr Richard E. Major (Principal Research Scientist, AMRI, Australian Museum)
Ewart, K. M., Griffin, A.S., Johnson, R. N., Kark, S., Magory Cohen, T., Lo, N. and Major, R.E. (2019). Two speed invasion: assisted and intrinsic dispersal of common mynas over 150 years of colonization. Journal of Biogeography 46: 45-57. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/jbi.13473
Indian Myna Common Myna Ornithology
The introduced Common Myna's success is mostly a result of its opportunistic behaviour and aggressiveness towards other species, bullying them around food sources and out competing them for nesting sites.
Acridotheres tristis
Live at the AM podcast: 2018 Eureka Prizes launch
In this live recording of the launch of the 2018 Eureka Prizes, our panel explores the theme "Science for Humanity".
Our primary focus is on ecological applications such as species identification, individualisation, conservation and small population management.
Aviation wildlife strike
Conservation genomic projects
Unaccompanied Mynas: Sydney's Myna bird population too big to ignore
Addressing Sydney's growing Myna population is a case for backyard science – literally. The Australian Museum is calling for volunteers to set up traps on their Inner Sydney properties to help track the invasion.
AMplify episode 31: Live at the AM — 2017 Eureka Prizes Launch
A live panel discussion with former Eureka Prize winners, hosted by Robyn Williams.
AMplify episode 29: Live at the AM - Should We Fear Spiders?
What are the symptoms and treatments for spider bites? Is our fear of spiders evolutionary or cultural? Can Arachnophobia be cured?
AMplify episode 27: Live at the AM with Dr Helen Maynard-Casely
Instrument Scientist extraordinaire Dr Helen Maynard-Casely talks planetary bodies and why she's a scientist!


text:
require 'spec_helper'

describe Admin::EventSongsController do
  before(:each) do
    FactoryGirl.create(:event_configuration, music_submission_end_date: Date.today + 4.days)
    @user = FactoryGirl.create(:user)
    sign_in @user
  end

  describe "GET index" do
    it "loads all songs" do
      get :index
      expect(response).to redirect_to(root_url)
    end
    describe "as an admin" do
      before :each do
        sign_out @user
        sign_in FactoryGirl.create(:super_admin_user)
      end
      it "views the songs list index" do
        get :index
        expect(response).to_not redirect_to(root_url)
      end
    end
  end
end

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Easy Way to Stop Smoking (1985) by Allen Carr.
There's no doubt that Carr's method works. It's built on sound psychological principles, some of which he learnt from a medical handbook lent him by his son. This explained that the withdrawal symptoms experienced when quitting nicotine are more psychological than physical. Nicotine is a deadly drug, but only takes a few days to be cleared from the system. The moment you smoke your last cigarette you become a non-smoker. The problem is that addicts want to quit, but also want to carry on smoking. That gives rise to psychic tension, which leads them to light up another cigarette. Carr taught his readers that they didn't get a boost from smoking a cigarette, but that they lit up merely to relieve the withdrawal symptoms from the previous cigarette. Every time they did this they perpetuated the vicious circle. The benefits of smoking are illusory. It doesn't aid concentration and offers no more oral satisfaction than chewing gum. So long as you think that smoking provides desirable benefits you'll continue to smoke. Many fail because they overstress the difficulties of overcoming their addiction. This sets up a mental state that practitioners of autosuggestion refer to as 'contrary thought.' We want to quit, yet our subconscious mind tells us that we won't be able to stop. When this happens, and there's a clash between our will and our imagination, it's the imagination which always wins. According to Carr it's this fear, and our defeatist attitude, which keeps us smoking. We need to adopt a positive, optimistic outlook. Quitting is not punishment, it's the reward for giving up smoking. By following Carr's instructions, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain.
In theory the book alone should be enough, but in practice it clearly isn't, for Carr found it necessary to set up a chain of Easyway clinics. These are all run by ex-smokers, and are to now to be found in more forty different countries around the world. They claim a success rate of more than ninety percent, and have helped celebrities such as Richard Branson, Anthony Hopkins, Britney Spears and Charlotte Church. At the end of the book readers will find a discount voucher which they can use if they feel the need to attend a stop smoking course. The irony of this hasn't been lost on the publisher's of this book, which offers a sure fire stop smoking remedy, because they've added a tongue in cheek rider, 'you won't need it yourself – but you are welcome to pass it on to a friend.' Why don't they give their friend the book, which would be far cheaper?
Carr was able to give up his work as an accountant, because the royalties from his books, and the fees from his clinics, brought him a £120 million fortune. Unfortunately he didn't live long enough to enjoy his new found wealth, for he himself died from lung cancer, twenty-three years after he'd finally stopped his five-pack-a-day habit.


Cheer Essentials is a full service cheerleading gym in Hanover, Massachusetts. We offer public classes, camps, clinics & private lessons! In addition to our instructional classes, we are also home to Cheer Factor All-Stars, Hanover.
If you are a youth or high school cheerleading coach, Cheer Essentials can offer everything your team needs for a successful season.
Cheer Essentials is conveniently located minutes off of Route 3 in Hanover, Massachusetts.
Please email Alyson Rotondo for more information on our services or to register for classes and upcoming events!
Cheer Essentials Inc. is now located at 342 Circuit Street in Hanover, with over 12,500 square feet, we are now the largest cheerleading facility on the South Shore.
© copryight 2012. Cheer Essentials.


After 2 years of fighting to keep our spot near John Lewis at the top of Leith Walk, we have finally had to close our market stall. Breadshare has been trading since 2012 at the site and we had built a strong following of loyal customers who purchased their real bread from us every Saturday.
Unfortunately, the demolition and building works nearby have forced the council to order us to quit the site. Rest assured we are looking for an alternate place to hold our market stall. In the meantime you can still buy your favourite products from our Jane Street shop at the foot of the Walk.
Thanks to all of you who have supported our market over the past five years.


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Shadowhawk reviews the prequel trilogy set in the dim past of Frank Herbert's Dune, when the Butlerian Jihad raged across the galaxy and mankind fought against the thinking machines for its very survival.
Frank Herbert's Dune and its sequels were among my formative reading during high school, at a time when I was dipping my toes into the waters of the wider science fiction/fantasy genre. In those short 3-4 years, I quickly devoured as much Tolkien, Feist, Clarke, and Asimov as I could, some of the greatest SFF authors of the last 100 years in my estimation. I talk about my love for Dune in a post entitled "Why I Love Dune?" on my blog, which you can read here. There's just something so magical and so deeply alluring about the book that I hold it as the best SF novel ever written. Whether its his characters, or his worlds, or his attention to detail that pulls you in, Dune is most definitely a masterwork of the genre, in every sense of the word.
Following the legacy of a legend like Frank Herbert is no easy feat. He created something so groundbreaking that recreating that magic is next to impossible. I've definitely, in about 10 years of reading, not come across another novel like Dune, which is a book on its very own special plane of awesomeness. But, his son Brian and noted SFF author Kevin J. Anderson took on the task with gusto and have written several novels in those same worlds, stories spanning thousands of years and looking at his worlds through a very different lens. The Legends of Dune trilogy is one such effort. The duo take on the half-forgotten mythology of Dune as they seek to explain how the world that Frank Herbert created came to be, why all forms of thinking machines have been outlawed, how the various specialist organisations such as the Spacing Guild, the Bene Gesserit Sisterhood, the Mentats, etc came to be. And the biggest question of all: what exactly was the Butlerian Jihad?
I've read these novels before, back in college about 4 years ago or so. Never finished the middle book for some reason, but did get around to reading the first and third in full. So, reading them over the last two weeks was mostly a nostalgia trip of sorts. Plus the fact that I kicked off my Dune-verse reading challenge, where I am aiming to read all of the novels in the setting over the coming 3-4 months. Anyways, that's that, so expect to see reviews of the other novels, by the Brian Herbert/Kevin J. Anderson duo (henceforth referred to as "the duo") and Frank Herbert alike, on the site in that time.
Reading these novels gives a very strange feeling to me as someone who has read the original double trilogy by Frank Herbert. His signature prose is, as I've said, not replicable, and the duo doesn't try to either, but at the same time it feels as if there is something lacking, a necessary magical component that makes the novels transcend beyond the words on the pages. I've listened to the audio versions of the first three Dune Chronicles novels and the magic is alive in that format just as much as it is in print. The bottomline is that the duo's writing isn't on the same level as the master. It is somewhat disappointing, given that they writing in the same world and exposing the mythology of the setting, as well as what constitutes its ancient history.
All the same though, these novels gave me my "Dune-fix", something I sorely needed after I finished reading Chapterhouse: Dune, the last Dune Chronicles novel penned by the master shortly before his death, back in twelfth grade. Being a prequel series set 10,000 years before the events of Dune there is an inherent epic quality to the trilogy, something very much akin to a greek tragedy, or what you might feel when reading The Iliad. Dozens of major and minor characters, frequently intersecting plot threads, all with a touch of fantasy to it.
The first novel, The Butlerian Jihad, sets out how this great conflict began in the first place. It introduces us to all the principal characters and shows human society as it is after nearly a thousand years of stalemated conflict against the power of Omnius, the great AI overmind which rules the Synchronized Worlds. The second novel, The Machine Crusade, is set almost two decades later and lays out humanity's continuing struggle against Omnius, while a war is fought in the shadows by those among the League of Nobles who see the Jihad as nothing more than the stepping stones to power. Of all the three novels, this has the most emotional and heartbreaking of endings as two characters I really grew to care about suffered the most ignoble of deaths. The third novel, The Battle of Corrin, is set once again after a large gap of years, years in which the Jihad has stalemated once again. After certain scientific advancements are made and with a devil-may-care attitude, humanity proceeds to end the threat of thinking machines once and for all, but they falter at a key moment and must redress that oversight several years later in a final battle.
The character list for these novels could fit in a booklet of its own, there are so many of them! Xavier Harkonnen, Vorian Atreides, Titan Agamemnon, Serena Butler, Viceroy Manion Butler, Omnius, Seurat, Erasmus, Zufa Cenva, Norma Cenva, Tio Holtzmann, Lord Niko Bludd, Selim Wormrider, Iblis Ginjo, Aurelius Venport, Tuk Keedair, Ishmael, Naib Dhartha, Abulurd Harkonnen, Quentin Butler, Jool Noret, Istian Gloss, etc. The duo weave together all these disparate personalities and attitudes into a cohesive whole that sometimes makes you wonder how they kept it all on the straight and narrow. Sometimes certain characters get ignored and don't show up until much later in the narrative, sometimes they show up with a high regularity, which often portends disaster of sorts.
Some of these names should be recognisable to anyone familiar with Frank Herbert's stuff, while some are obviously new, and even among the "familiar" names, there is plenty of new things you wouldn't have seen coming. Xavier Harkonnen of Giedi Prime's House Harkonnen is a junior officer of the League military when we first meet him. Very unlike his later descendant Baron Vladimir Harkonnen, Xavier is a devoted family man and a loyal soldier. Vorian Atreides is the genetic son of the Titan Agamemnon, who was a militant rebel in the days of the Old Empire before Omnius rose to power and has survived the millennium by preserving his brain, which can be installed in various cyborg bodies. Vorian is a high-level trustee of the Synchronized Worlds due to his parentage (Agamemnon preserved his sperm before making his transformation from human to cymek). Tio Holtzmann is the greatest scientist of the League, the man who designed the scrambler systems that destroy all gelcircuitry systems, the core hardware/software of any thinking machine. Serena Butler, Xavier's fiancee, gave her name to humanity's resurgent struggle against Omnius when the robot Erasmus killed her infant son Manion, named for her father. Selim Wormrider is the first human on Arrakis to ever ride a sandworm and it is he who changes Zensunni culture on the world and begins the age of the Free Men of Arrakis. Norma Cenva is the daughter of the Rossakian High Sorceress Zufa Cenva and it she who eventually invents the spacefolding technology, the work on which began in the years when she was Holtzmann's assistant. And so on. Its a veritable playhouse of characters!
It is through these characters and more that we see the Butlerian Jihad begin and end. Each and everyone of them has a place in this epic. Some such as the quartet of Xavier, Vorian, Serena and Iblis, as well as Norma and Erasmus are given plenty of screen-time. Others such as Zufa, Tuk, Jool and Abulurd are never really developed fully and are mostly relegated to the sidelines, which is another negative of the novels. Given how big each of these novels already are, I think more time could have been spent on them, to more properly bring out their personalities.
The goal of this trilogy, as I see it is, is two fold: to tell the story of the Butlerian Jihad and its resolution, and also to show how the various specialist schools developed out of that conflict. The duo do an excellent job of the former, but the latter isn't handled quite so well.
Vorian Atreides, given a painful life-extension medical treatment by his father, is the most central character in the novels as he is the only one of all of them who was there before the Jihad began and after it ended. The novels are almost his chronicles in that regard and the ebbs and flows of the Jihad are very much his own story as he sees family friends die all around him while he survives, becoming nothing more than a relic of the conflict in his old age, when Omnius is finally defeated after nearly a century of the Jihad. All the events that pop up over that time, whether its the slave revolt on Earth which ultimately results in a League attack that leaves it an irradiated nuclear wasteland, the League victories at IV Anbus and IX, the proliferation of the spice melange all across the League, the League disasters such as Poritrin and Parmentier, the cymek revolt against Omnius, the interference of the "brain-y" (pun intended) Cogitators who seek to negotiate a truce between all sides, and the ultimate battle on the primary Synchronised World of Corrin, it all gives off that epic feel that I mentioned earlier. And that's something that the duo definitely get right, even though some of the events didn't sit well with me, such as the fates of Ginaz Swordmaster Jool Noret or the interference of the Titan Hecate for example, but by and large, I really liked the narratives.
Watching the proto-Spacing Guild form was definitely a highlight of the novel, as was the formation of the Fremen culture on Arrakis. Norma and Selim are understated in the grand scheme of things, for their legends never filter down through the ages, but the novels do a great job of showing why and how they did what they did. Norma's experiments under Holtzmann, whether improving on his inventions or busying herself with complexities of his gelcircuity scrambler equations that he himself isn't aware of, are set out in a very thrilling way. Her trials and her sacrifices define who she is and her selflessness in everything she does is something that is shared only by Selim, Vorian Atreides and Xavier Harkonnen. Much as with Norma, we see Selim as a boy when we first meet him, but we watch him turn into a fierce leader who challenges his own culture and society, and ultimately achieves a nirvana of sorts, when he "merges" with Shai-Hulud, the Worm-God of Arrakis.
On the flipside, the formation of the Bene Gesserit and the Suk Medical School and the Sardaukar Imperial levies was something that was glossed over. The Sisterhood is created out of the remnants of the Sorceresses of Rossak, who are themselves a concept that seemed contrived to me. They have psychic powers of sorts, and are obsessed with breeding apparently, but they share very little with the later Sisterhood. The transformation from one to the other was handled rather unsatisfactorily for me. The Suk school itself isn't mentioned, and neither is its special conditioning, but we do meet Dr Rajid Suk and his descendant Mohandas Suk, who are fairly typical medical personnel, with little to distinguish them or to suggest why the greatest medical institution in the galaxy is named after them. The Sardaukar, the crack troops of the Padishah Emperor in the Dune Chronicles are never even mentioned or even hinted at that I could see. The topic of Salusa Secundus becoming a hell-hole of sorts does come up, but not why the planet gives rise to one of the most elite soldiery in the galaxy.
There is a lot more that I could talk about the novels, but that would be entirely too self-indulgent, which is why I touched on these few topics instead, topics which I thought merited more attention than any of the others I could have talked about. I am also told that my 3000-word plus reviews are somewhat of a slog for some readers, which is another reason why this review is so short in comparison!
Anyways, back to the trilogy, some closing thoughts.
If you are expecting the same magic as Dune, then frankly this trilogy is not where you should be looking. Just re-read the master's original work instead. Or the rest of the Dune Chronicles series penned by him. Legends of Dune is just not on the same level. That said, these are fairly decent books in their own right, and are the start of yet more books, one of which is the already released Sisterhood of Dune which is set in the aftermath of this trilogy. There are several other planned volumes as well and those should be quite enlightening. I really want to see Ixians and Tlulaxa and Sardaukar and Mentats take the centrestage!
As a fan of Dune-verse, I do recommend the novels. I wouldn't have finished these 650-950 page behemoths if I didn't like them, as some of my readers might well know given my ramblings on my blog. Interestingly, I think I just might get around to reading the huge Wheel of Time and A Song of Ice and Fire novels after all, or the works by Peter F. Hamilton which are all reportedly more than a 1000 pages. Now that's a hefty book, good god.
If you do decide to pick up these books, do drop me a line and share your thoughts!


Ginny began her career in the architecture and design field, but after volunteer teaching for a group of 2nd graders, she was quickly exposed to the reality of the Achievement Gap in Colorado and became a Teach for America corps member where she taught math to middle schoolers. She worked on staff at TFA on a diversity and alumni and community engagement project before joining Junior Achievement Rocky Mountain where she worked as Manager of Program Administration bringing volunteer business professionals into the classroom to teach students about careers and financial literacy. Ginny knew she had to join the CareerWise team to build on the vision of bringing career exploration, work-based learning, and financial literacy together so students can make informed decisions about the options they have for their own futures. She currently serves as Director of K12 Partnerships.