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Tag: Southern Blood
What I've Been Listening to: Jackson Browne/For Everyman
The other day, I found myself listening to Redneck Friend, a great early rocker by Jackson Browne. This prompted me to pull up For Everyman, Browne's sophomore album that came out in October 1973. While he's one of my favorite singer-songwriters and I've listened to him for 40 years, for the most part, I really didn't know this record. Just like for many other artists I dig, I'm mostly familiar with certain songs and perhaps a handful of albums. It didn't take me long to recognize what a gem For Everyman is, and I decided then and there to blog about it once I would get a chance.
As I started reading up on the album, one of the things that struck me first is the impressive cast of guests. David Crosby, Glenn Frey, Don Henley, Elton John, Joni Mitchell and Bonnie Raitt are among Browne's songwriter peers. In addition, you have top notch session musicians like David Lindley, Jim Keltner, Russ Kunkel, David Paich and Leland Sklar. Kunkel and Sklar were part of The Section, a group of top-notch musicians who together or individually backed the likes of Carole King, James Taylor, Warren Zevon and, well, Jackson Browne.
While I completely realize that having high-caliber guests on an album doesn't automatically guarantee high quality, a good rule of thumb is that great artists play with other great artists. These guys knew what they had in Jackson Browne. Yes, he already had released his well received eponymous debut album in January 1972. And, yes, he had written songs since the mid-'60s and given the Eagles their first single and top 40 U.S. hit with Take It Easy. Still, I find it impressive how well established the then-25-year-old artist already was at this early stage in his own recording career.
Let's get to some music. Here's Browne's version of the aforementioned Take It Easy, the album's opener. Originally, Browne began work on the song in 1971 and wanted to include it on his debut album. But he couldn't finish it at the time. When he played the unfinished tune to his friend Glenn Frey, who lived in the same building, Frey completed the song and received a co-writing credit. At first, I preferred the Eagles' version but over time, I've increasingly come to like Browne's recording and now dig it at least as much as the rendition by the Eagles. That sweet pedal steel guitar was provided by Sneaky Pete Kleinow, an original member of The Flying Burrito Brothers.
What can I say about Colors of the Sun other than it's a beautiful singer-songwriter type song. In addition to singing lead, Brown played piano on this track. Don Henley provided harmony vocals. It's simply a great tune – no need to over-analyze. The neat acoustic guitar fill-ins were provided by David Lindley, an incredible musician who bears a significant degree of responsibility for the album's great sound.
The last track on side one is These Days, a song Browne wrote as a 16-year-old. German singer-songwriter Nico was the first of many artists to record the tune. It was included on her debut album Chelsea Girl from October 1967. Another great version appeared in October 1973 on Gregg Allman's first solo album Laid Back. Until Allman's final studio album Southern Blood came out in September 2017, which features Browne as a guest on Allman's cover of Brown's Song for Adam, I had no idea these seemingly very different artists had great appreciation of each other and had been good friends. The beautiful harmony vocals on Browne's original were provided by Doug Haywood who also played a great bass line. Once again Lindley shined, this time on slide guitar.
One to side two and the first track there, Redneck Friend, the tune that prompted my deep exploration of this album. This is one seductive melodic rocker featuring a killer cast of guests: Lindley (slide guitar), Elton John (piano) and Frey (backing vocals), along with Haywood (bass) and Keltner (drums). In addition to lead vocals, Browne provided rhythm guitar. Redneck Friend was also released separately as a single. While it spent 10 weeks on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, it only peaked at no. 85, significantly lower than Browne's previous two singles Rock Me On the Water (no. 48) and Doctor, My Eyes (no. 8).
Next up: The Times You've Come. In addition to the track's great melody, the standout to me is the melodic bass part by Leland Sklar – absolutely beautiful! I also want to call out Bonnie Raitt who sang harmony and Lindley's acoustic guitar work.
This brings me to the title track, which is the album's closer. The idea of the song came to Browne while he was temporarily living with David Crosby on his boat in the San Francisco Bay and met two of Crosby's neighbors who also owned boats. All three boat owners shared the vision to escape on their boats and create a new civilization elsewhere – essentially the same theme Crosby, Stills & Nash had voiced on their 1969 single Wooden Ships. For Everyone featured Crosby on harmony vocals. Sklar (bass) and Lindley (acoustic and electric guitar) once again were among Browne's backing musicians.
For Everyman was produced by Jackson Browne. Just like his eponymous debut album, For Everyman made the U.S. and Australian mainstream album charts, reaching no. 43 and no. 48, respectively. It was ranked at no. 450 in Rolling Stone's 2012 edition of the list of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. The album didn't make the most recent revision from September 2020. While Browne's Mount Rushmore Running on Empty was still four years away, For Everyman is a great early album by a singer-songwriter who after a close to 50-year recording career as a solo artist is still going strong.
Author christiansmusicmusingsPosted on September 6, 2021 September 6, 2021 Categories What I've Been Listening To...Tags Bonnie Raitt, Carole King, Chelsea Girl, Colors of the Sun, Crosby Stills & Nash, David Crosby, David Lindley, David Paich, Doctor My Eyes, Don Henley, Doug Haywood, Eagles, Elton John, For Everyman, Glenn Frey, Gregg Allman, Jackson Browne, James Taylor, Jim Keltner, Joni Mitchell, Laid Back, Leland Sklar, Nico, Redneck Friend, Rock, Rock Me On the Water, Running On Empty, Russ Kunkel, Singer-Songwriter, Sneaky Pete Kleinow, Song for Adam, Southern Blood, Take It Easy, The Section, The Times You've Come, These Days, Warren Zevon, Wooden Ships3 Comments on What I've Been Listening to: Jackson Browne/For Everyman
Welcome to a new Sunday Six and another hot weekend, at least in my area of Central New Jersey. This is the latest installment of my recurring weekly feature that celebrates music I love in different flavors and from different periods, six tunes at a time.
In some cases, my picks are songs that I earmarked over the course of the week. On other occasions, the posts are coming together pretty spontaneously at the last minute. This one predominantly falls into the latter category. I'm happy with the way it turned out. Hope you find something in here you dig!
Colin McLeod/Old Soul (featuring Sheryl Crow)
Starting this week's set is Colin McLeod, a Scottish singer-songwriter and farmer I had not heard of until yesterday. McLeod got my attention when I spotted a clip on Facebook, featuring a song he recorded with Sheryl Crow and included on his new album Hold Fast, which was released on June 18. The mellow atmospheric tune spoke to me right away – I love these types of coincidences! For a bit of additional background, here's an excerpt from his Apple Music profile: Raised on the Isle of Lewis, the largest island of Scotland's Outer Hebrides archipelago, MacLeod amassed a wide array of influences, from regional folk and pop to widescreen Springsteen-esque rock, before leaving the island in 2009 to test his mettle as a performer. An A&R scout from Universal caught one of MacLeod's gigs in Aberdeen, which resulted in the release of his debut album Fireplace, which he issued under the moniker Boy Who Trapped the Sun in 2010. The experience left a bad taste in his mouth, so, exhausted and homesick, he returned to the Isle of Lewis, where he spent his days raising sheep and growing crops. It proved to be a fortuitous move. Inspired by the sights, sounds, smells, and stories of his remote part of the world, MacLeod was able to parlay those experiences into his music, culminating in the release of the acclaimed Ethan Johns-produced Bloodlines, his first collection of songs to be issued under his own name. McLeod's new album is his sophomore release. Old Soul was written by him. Call me crazy, I can hear a bit of Bono in his voice. I also think his vocals beautifully blend with Sheryl Crow's.
Buddy Guy/Kiss Me Quick (featuring Kim Wilson)
On to some great electric guitar blues. Yes, it's quite a leap. But you see, that's the thing about The Sunday Six – it can be arbitrary. If you're into the blues and see the names Buddy Guy and Kim Wilson, you know you're in for a treat. What can I say about the amazing Buddy Guy? He's the last man standing from the old Chicago blues guard, who played with the likes of Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf and Little Walter. Guy who is turning 85 in July is a force of nature. I've been fortunate to see him live twice over the past five years. Wilson, of course, is best known as the lead vocalist and frontman of blues rockers The Fabulous Thunderbirds. I'd love to see these guys as well! So what do get when combining the two artists? A nice blues shuffle titled Kiss Me Quick that appeared on Guy's 17th studio album appropriately titled Born to Play Guitar, which won the Grammy for Best Blues Album in 2016. The tune was co-written by Richard Fleming and producer Tom Hambridge. Makes me want to listen to the entire bloody album!
The Who/The Real Me
Let's kick things up a notch with The Who and The Real Me. Why pick the second track from side one of Quadrophenia? To begin with, The Who's sixth studio album from October 1973 is one of the gems in their catalog. Another reason why I chose this particular tune is John Entwistle and his outstanding bass work. As a former hobby bassist, perhaps I pay closer attention and get a little bit more excited about bass runs than some other folks. All I can tell you is this: Seeing The Ox with The Who at New York's Madison Square Garden in 2001 was an unforgettable event. In typical fashion, Entwistle was standing pretty much motionless on one side of the stage, while Pete Townshend launched from one windmill attack to the other, Roger Daltrey engaged in impressive lasso acrobatics with his microphone, and Zak Starkey (yep, Ringo Starr's son) was working that drum kit. It was really something else! Sadly, Entwistle passed away about six months after that show in Las Vegas, the day before The Who were scheduled to kick off their 2002 U.S. tour. He was only 57 years old – what a loss!
Seals & Crofts/Summer Breeze
Time to slow things down again. And since summer is in full swing, here's one of the warmest sounding tunes I can think of in this context: Summer Breeze by Seals & Crofts. Every time I hear this song, it puts me at ease. Behind the soft rock duo were multi-instrumentalists James Eugene "Jim" Seals and Darrell George "Dash" Crofts. Summer Breeze, the title track of their fourth studio album from September 1972, probably is their best known song. It peaked at no. 7 and no. 6 on the U.S. and Canadian mainstream charts, respectively. The album marked their commercial breakthrough. Seals & Crofts also scored two other hits: Diamond Girl (1973) and Get Closer (1976). Unlike Summer Breeze, I had to sample these tracks to remember them. Then the hits stopped, and in 1980, after their record company had dropped them, Seals & Crofts decided to go on hiatus. They have since reunited a few times. There are also younger torch bearers. Wikipedia notes in 2018, Jim Seals' cousin Brady Seals and Darrell Crofts' daughter Lua Crofts began touring as Seals and Crofts 2, performing Seals & Crofts music as well as some originals.
The Zombies/She's Not There
The first time I heard She's Not There was the cover by Santana from their excellent 1977 Moonflower album. Since it certainly sounds very much like a Carlos Santana tune, I simply assumed it was their song. Only years later did I find out She's Not There was written by Rod Argent, the keyboarder of The Zombies. The tune first appeared in the UK in July 1964 as the British rock band's debut single. Two months later, it came out in the U.S. She's Not There was also included on The Zombies' debut album. In this case, the self-titled U.S. version was first out of the gate in January 1965. The U.K. edition, titled Begin Here, appeared in April that year. As was common at the time, there were some differences between the two versions. After the breakup of The Zombies in 1969 and a couple of impersonating bands, Argent and original lead vocalist and guitarist Colin Blunstone reunited in 2000, moved to the U.S. and recorded an album, Out of the Shadows, released in 2001. Starting from 2004, they began touring again as The Zombies. There have also been three additional albums since, released under the name Colin Blunstone and Rod Argent/The Zombies. The most recent one, Still Got That Hunger, appeared in October 2015. The band is still around. Ticketmaster currently lists some gigs for 2022.
Gregg Allman/My Only True Friend
The time has come again to wrap up things. My final pick is by Gregg Allman. He and The Allman Brothers Band were a very late discovery for me. Fortunately, it happened just in time to see them once in New Jersey on their very last tour in 2014, a couple of months before their final curtain at the Beacon Theatre in New York. After exploring the band, I also got into Gregg Allman's solo catalog. I particularly dig Low Country Blues from January 2011 and his final album Southern Blood, which I got on vinyl. It came out in September 2017, four months after Allman had passed away at the age of 68 due to complications from liver cancer. Even though I had only become fond of his music a few years earlier, his death really moved me. I still get emotional about it. There was something very special about Gregg Allman when he was singing and hitting those keys of his Hammond B3. I can't quite explain it. Here's Southern Blood's opener My Only True Friend, the sole track on the album that was co-written by Allman. The other writer was Scott Sharrad, lead guitarist and musical director of Allman's backing band. You can read more about the album here.
Sources: Wikipedia; Apple Music; YouTube
Author christiansmusicmusingsPosted on June 27, 2021 June 27, 2021 Categories The Sunday SixTags Beacon Theatre, Begin Here, Bloodlines, Bono, Born to Play Guitar, Boy Who Trapped the Sun, Brady Seals, Bruce Springsteen, Buddy Guy, Carlos Santana, Colin Blunstone, Colin McLeod, Darrell George "Dash" Crofts, Diamond Girl, Fireplace, Get Closer, Gregg Allman, Hold Fast, Howlin' Wolf, James Eugene "Jim" Seals, John Entwistle, Kim Wilson, Kiss Me Quick, Little Walter, Lua Crofts, Moonflower, Muddy Waters, My Only True Friend, Old Soul, Pete Townshend, Quadrophenia, Richard Fleming, Ringo Starr, Rock, Rod Argent, Roger Daltrey, Scott Sharrad, Seals & Crofts, Seals and Crofts 2, Sheryl Crow, Singer-Songwriter, Soft Rock, Southern Blood, Summer Breeze, The Allman Brothers Band, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, The Real Me, The Who, The Zombies, Tom Hambridge, Zak Starkey17 Comments on The Sunday Six
What I've Been Listening to: Mick Hayes/My Claim to Fame
If you're a frequent visitor of the blog, the name Mick Hayes may ring a bill. I included him and a tune from his fantastic new album My Claim to Fame in the last installment of my Best of What's New feature. On his website, Hayes gave the record the tagline "Southern Soul Music with a California Finish." I'm not sure I understand the California finish, but folks who are aware of my music taste know that I'm all ears when it comes to southern soul.
One of the truly remarkable things about this album is that Hayes recorded it at FAME Studio in Muscle Shoals, Ala. on vintage equipment, together with musicians who backed artists like Ray Charles, Etta James and B.B. King during their recording sessions at the legendary studio. I'm mean, think about this for a moment, how friggin' cool is that!
As I complained in my previous Best of What's New post, Hayes doesn't do a great job to put out some information on his background, such as a bio. Why still beats me! But at least his website has links to some reviews, and the folks who wrote them apparently got some insights from him.
Additionally, when you google Hayes, his birthday pops up as June 17, 1978, which means he's 42 years old. Apparently, he was born in Buffalo, N.Y. A review by American Blues Scene notes Hayes became interested in the Muscle Shoals scene while browsing record stores as a young man and seeing albums by the likes of Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Duane Allman and Wilson Pickett, who were recorded at FAME. So using different sources, one can kind of get at least a blurry picture of him.
The American Blues Scene review also reveals some of the above studio musicians and artists they backed: Bassist Bob Wray (Ray Charles, The Marshall Tucker Band), electric piano and organ player Clayton Ivey (Etta James, B.B. King), trumpet and flugelhorn player Vinnie Ciesielski (Gladys Knight, Lyle Lovett), saxophonist and flute player Brad Guin (Jason Isbell) and rhythm guitarist Will McFarlane (Bonnie Raitt, Levon Helm). I mean, damn, let's face it, Hayes isn't exactly Stevie Wonder, so having gotten all these musicians is really something!
And the list continues. Also on the record are backing vocalists Marie Lewey and Cindy Walker, aka The Muscle Shoals Singers. Moreover, Hayes secured some impressive "outsiders": Trombone player Billy Bargetzi (The Temptations, The Four Tops, The O'Jays, Bobby Vinton) and trumpet player Ken Watters (Natalie Cole, W.C. Handy Jazz All-Stars). Hayes provides lead guitar and vocals. And, as I stated in my last Best of What's New, he co-produced My Claim to Fame with John Gifford III, who assisted with engineering Gregg Allman's final studio album Southern Blood. Okay, on to the real fun part!
Here's opener Sweet to Me. Like all tunes on the album, it was written by Hayes. He's definitely got soul. I also think his voice isn't bad.
Parking Lot Romance is another great tune. It openly pays homage to Ray Charles, undoubtedly one of Hayes' musical heroes.
Want a bit of funky soul with a message? Ask and you shall receive! Hey, hey, hey, hey, here's Political Funk.
Next up: No Second Chances. Frankly, I could have picked any other tune. They all sound great, in my opinion!
The last song I'd like to highlight is the album's closer Saddest Picture of Me.
You might say, 'Hayes isn't exactly reinventing the wheel on this record.' That's certainly true, but it doesn't bother me at all. In fact, I feel these recordings are beautifully executed, making My Claim to Fame a joyful listening experience. I'm curious to see what Hayes is going to come up with next. I feel with this album he set a high bar for himself.
Sources: Mick Hayes website; American Blues Scene; YouTube
Author christiansmusicmusingsPosted on July 26, 2020 Categories What I've Been Listening To...Tags Aretha Franklin, B.B. King, Billy Bargetzi, Bob Wray, Bobby Vinton, Bonnie Raitt, Brad Guin, Cindy Walker, Clayton Ivey, Duane Allman, Etta James, Gladys Knight, Gregg Allman, Jason Isbell, John Gifford III, Ken Watters, Levon Helm, Lyle Lovett, Marie Lewey, Mick Hayes, My Claim to Fame, Natalie Cole, No Second Chances, Parking Lot Romance, Political Funk, Ray Charles, Saddest Picture of Me, Southern Blood, Southern Soul, Sweet to Me, The Four Tops, The Marshall Tucker Band, The Muscle Shoals Singers, The O'Jays, The Temptations, Vinnie Ciesielski, W.C. Handy Jazz All-Stars, Will McFarlane, Wilson Pickett4 Comments on What I've Been Listening to: Mick Hayes/My Claim to Fame
This week's Best of What's New installment brings another nice mix of great new music. From country to blues to soul to singer-songwriter style, it's all there. Or how about a Boston-based band with a very unique sound they describe as Americana funk? Or a neo soul collaboration's beautiful cover of a well-known Tracy Chapman tune? I hope I've sufficiently whetted your appetite to read on!
Ray Wylie Hubbard/Bad Trick (featuring Ringo Starr, Don Was, Joe Walsh & Chris Robinson)
While Ray Wylie Hubbard has been active for more than 50 years, I don't believe I had heard of him before, but I simply couldn't skip a tune featuring Ringo Starr and Joe Walsh among the guests! Hubbard's online bio states he is the secret handshake amongst those who know, which to me suggests he may not exactly be a household name. Hubbard was born in Soper, OK on November 13, 1946. Beginning in 1965, during semester breaks from his studies at the University of North Texas, he spent the summers in Red River, N.M., where he started playing music in a folk trio called Three Faces West. During that time period, he wrote a tune with the lovely title Up Against the Wall, Redneck Mother, which was first recorded by country artist Jerry Jeff Walker in 1973. It helped Hubbard sign with Warner Bros. Records and release his debut Ray Wylie Hubbard and the Cowboy Twinkies in 1976. Seventeen additional country, folk and blues-oriented albums have since appeared. This includes Co-Starring, which came out on July 10 and features the above tune, which was co-written by Hubbard and his wife Judy. Hubbard told Apple Music he had met Ringo about five or six years ago. When Ringo learned about Hubbard's new album, not only did he offer to play drums on Bad Trick but also ask his brother-in-law Joe Walsh and Don Was to join on guitar and bass, respectively. The fourth guest is Black Crowes co-founder and lead vocalist Chris Robinson. Check out the fun video!
Black Pumas/Fast Car
Based on sampling a few tunes, Black Puma sound like a really cool, relatively new band. According to Apple Music, it's a collaboration between producer and multi-instrumentalist Adrian Quesada and singer-songwriter Eric Burton, who fuse cinematic neo-soul, light psychedelia, and a touch of urban grit. No matter how you characterize their music, it simply sounds great. Quesada and Burton joined forces in 2018 and released their eponymous debut album in June 2019. Their latest single Fast Car is a cover of the Tracy Chapman tune that appeared on her eponymous debut record in April 1988. I've loved that tune from the very first time I heard it when it came out. Things around Chapman seem to have been quiet for a long time. Perhaps this great remake will help bring her back on the radar screens of folks who dig but have forgotten about her.
Twisted Pine/Don't Come Over Tonight
Don't Come Over Tonight is a track from Right Now, the forthcoming sophomore album by Twisted Pine, a Boston-based band with a unique sound that's hard to describe. Here's how a short bio from their web site puts it: Praised by NPR for their "upbeat, poppy vibe; energetic, driving rhythms; and virtuosic solos," Twisted Pine will release their sophomore full-length Right Now on August 14, 2020 (Signature Sounds). Exploring a sound they call Americana funk, Twisted Pine takes traditional music in exhilarating directions. Bassist Chris Sartori writes, "This album is easier to feel than describe. We're rooted in bluegrass, continually inspired by explorers like Bela Fleck, Jerry Douglas, and Sierra Hull. Right Now takes this heritage into a new dimension. Our bluegrass is jazzy, our indie folk is poppy, our grooves are funky." Twisted Pine [Kathleen Parks, fiddle; Dan Bui, mandolin; Chris Sartori, bass; Anh Phung, flute] grooves with fearless improvisation and intricate arrangements. The band has been around since 2013. Their eponymous debut album appeared in July 2017, followed by the EP Dreams in January 2019. Don't Come Over Tonight was written by Parks. It's quite unusual, yet pretty cool, in my opinion. These guys are virtuoso musicians and great vocalists. Check it out!
Ruston Kelly/Rubber
Ruston Kelly is a 31-year-old singer-songwriter who was born in Georgetown, S.C. and grew up in Wyoming, Ohio. He got into music at a young age and, according to Wikipedia, had a full album in high school with songs like "Bluebird" and "I'm Leavin'". After signing a publishing deal with BMG Nashville in 2013, he co-wrote the song Nashville Without You Tim McGraw recorded for his studio album Two Lanes of Freedom, which appeared in February that year. In 2017, Kelly released his debut EP Halloween. His first full-length album Dying Star came out the following year. Released on June 10, Rubber is a track from Kelly's forthcoming sophomore album Shape & Destroy scheduled for August 28. In October 2017, he married singer-songwriter Kacey Musgraves, who as reported by Rolling Stone also performs on the album. Apparently, they since filed for divorce.
Mick Hayes/Autumn Romance
Mick Hayes is another great sounding artist with relatively little publicly available information, even though the blues guitarist and vocalist has a website and a Facebook page – I just don't get it! At least his website links to various reviews of his most recent album My Claim to Fame, which was recorded at the legendary FAME Studio in Muscle Shoals, Ala., appeared on May 29 and includes the above tune. According to American Blues Scene, Hayes' love affair with Muscle Shoals began when he was a young man growing up in upstate New York, where he would browse record shops with wall to wall music from Ray Charles to Aretha Franklin to Duane Allman to Wilson Pickett and Solomon Burke. Rock and Blues Muse notes Hayes and his band have spent the last decade playing up to 200 festival and club gigs a year and have opened for Duke Robillard, Samantha Fish, and Delbert McClinton. AllMusic also lists a 2016 album, Segue, by Mick Hayes Band. The cool thing about My Claim to Fame is that not only did Hayes record it at FAME but, as American Blues Scene pointed out, he also worked with studio musicians who recorded with artists like Ray Charles, Etta James and B.B. King. Oh, and Hayes co-produced the record with John Gifford III, who assisted with engineering Gregg Allman's final studio album Southern Blood – sounds like the stars truly aligned for Hayes!
Sources: Wikipedia; Ray Wylie Hubbard website; Twisted Pines website; Rolling Stone; American Blues Scene; Rock & Blues Muse; YouTube
Author christiansmusicmusingsPosted on July 24, 2020 Categories Best of What's NewTags Adrian Quesada, Americana Funk, Anh Phung, Autumn Romance, B.B. King, Bad Trick, Bela Fleck, Black Pumas, Bluegrass, Blues, Chris Robinson, Chris Sartori, Co-Starring, Country, Dan Bui, Delbert McClinton, Don Was, Dreams, Duke Robillard, Eric Burton, Etta James, Fast Car, Gregg Allman, Halloween, Jerry Douglas, Jerry Jeff Walker, Joe Walsh, John Gifford III, Judy Hubbard, Kacey Musgraves, Kathleen Parks, Mick Hayes, My Claim to Fame, Nashville Without You, Neo Soul, Psychedelic Soul, Ray Charles, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Ray Wylie Hubbard and the Cowboy Twinkies, Right Now, Ringo Starr, Rubber, Ruston Kelly, Samantha Fish, Segue, Sierra Hull, Soul, Southern Blood, The Black Crowes, Three Faces West., Tim McGraw, Tracy Chapman, Twisted Pine, Two Lanes of Freedom, Up Against the Wall Redneck Mother12 Comments on Best of What's New
My Playlist: Jackson Browne
"…The Pretender, These Days, For Every Man, I'm Alive, Fountain of Sorrow, Running On Empty, For a Dancer, Before the Deluge. Now, I know the Eagles got in first; but let's face it it – and I think Don Henley would agree with me – these are the songs they wish they had written. I wish I had written them myself, along with Like a Rolling Stone and Satisfaction…"
The above words were spoken by Bruce Springsteen in 2004 as part of his Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction speech for Jackson Browne. Springsteen also recalled when he first met Browne in New York City at The Bitter End, a storied Greenwich Village performance venue, he knew the singer-songwriter from California was "simply one of the best". Coming from somebody who has written so many great songs himself and during that same speech also admitted to be "a little competitive", I think these remarks speak volumes.
The first Jackson Browne record I listened to in its entirety was what I still consider a true '70s gem: Running On Empty. If I recall it correctly, my brother-in-law had it on vinyl, and I initially copied it on music cassette. I was spending countless hours at the time taping music from records, CDs and certain radio programs. I still have hundreds of tapes floating around. While it's safe to assume the quality of most is less than stellar at this time, I just cannot throw them out!
Back to Browne with whom I happen to share one fun fact: We were both born in Heidelberg, Germany, though close to 18 years apart. Browne's dad was stationed in Germany, working for American military newspaper Stars and Stripes. Two of his three siblings were born there as well. In 1951 when Browne was three years old, his family relocated to Los Angeles.
During his teenage years, Browne started performing folk songs at local L.A. venues like The Ash Grove and The Troubador Club. After graduating from high school in 1966, he joined country rockers Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, which would later record some of his songs. After a few months, Browne left and moved to New York City where he became a staff writer for Elektra Records' publishing company Nina Music.
In 1967, Browne met and became romantically involved with singer Nico of The Velvet Underground. He became a significant contributor to her debut solo album Chelsea Girl. After they broke up in 1968, Browne returned to Los Angeles where he met Glenn Frey soon thereafter. Before he started recording his own songs, Browne's music was recorded by other artists such as Tom Rush, Gregg Allman, Eagles, Linda Ronstadt and of course the aforementioned Nico and Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.
In 1971, Browne finally managed to get a deal with Asylum Records, and in January 1972, he released his eponymous debut album. Thirteen additional studio records have since appeared, as well as seven compilation and live albums and more than 40 singles. And this brings us to the most fun part of the post: Some of Browne's music he has released during his close to 50-year recording career.
I'd like to kick things off with Song for Adam from Brown's above noted eponymous debut album. The mournful memory of Adam Saylor, a friend of Browne who died in 1968 – possibly by suicide – was covered by various other artists, including Gregg Allman, who included a moving rendition with Browne singing harmony vocals on his final studio album Southern Blood from September 2017.
By the time Browne recorded Take It Easy for his sophomore album For Everyman, which appeared in October 1973, the Eagles had released the tune as their first single in May 1972. It gave them their first hit peaking at no. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 and one of their signature songs. Originally, Browne began writing the tune for his eponymous debut album. But he got stuck with it, so played it to his friend Glenn Frey, who ended up finishing it. When Browne finally recorded the song, he also released it as a single, but it didn't chart – perhaps it sounds pretty similar to the Eagles' version.
Fountain of Sorrow is a great track from Browne's third studio Late for the Sky. Released in September 1974, it was his first top 20 record in the U.S., climbing to no. 14 on the Billboard 200. Like Take It Easy, the tune also appeared separately as a single but did not chart either.
In November 1976, Browne released The Pretender, his fourth studio album. It was his first major album chart success, climbing to no. 5 on the Billboard 200, and marking his first record to chart in the U.K., where it reached no. 26. Here's the title track, which also became the second single. It did moderately well, reaching no. 58 on the Billboard Hot 100 – love that tune!
Next is the album that started my Jackson Browne journey: The amazing Running on Empty from December 1977. Frankly, I could list each tune on that record, so let's go with one that is a less obvious choice: The Road, written by American singer-songwriter Danny O'Keefe. Themed around life on the road as a touring musician, Running on Empty was an unusual record featuring live recordings on stage and in other locations associated with touring, such as hotel rooms, tour buses or backstage. The first 2:28 minutes of The Road were captured in a hotel room in Columbia, Md., while the remainder was recorded live at Garden State Arts Center in Holmdel, N.J., which nowadays is known as PNC Bank Arts Center and a venue where I've seen many great shows.
In June 1980, Browne released Hold Out, his sixth studio album. While the record received poor reviews from music critics, ironically, it became his only no. 1 album in the U.S. It also was Browne's second record to chart in the U.K. Here's Of Missing Persons, a beautiful tribute to Little Feat co-founder Lowell George, a collaborator and longtime friend of Browne's who had passed away the year before. The tune was specifically written for George's then six-year-old daughter Inara George who since became a music artist as well.
For many years, Jackson Browne has been a political activist, e.g., speaking up against the use of nuclear power and supporting environmental causes. But it wasn't until the '80s that political themes starting to play a more dominant role in Browne's lyrics. The album that comes to my mind first in that context is Lives in the Balance, which came out in February 1986. Here's the catchy opener For America. It also became the lead single and reached no. 30 on the Billboard Hot 100.
For the next tune, I'm jumping to the '90s, specifically to February 1996 and Browne's 11th studio album Looking East. Like many of his previous records, it featured various notable guests, such as Bonnie Raitt, David Crosby, Ry Cooder and Mike Campbell. Here is Baby How Long, for which Cooder provided a great slide guitar part and Raitt sang harmony vocals, together with Australian singer Renée Geyer.
Let's do two more from the current millennium. First up: The title track from The Naked Ride Home, Browne's 12th studio album from September 2002, which my streaming music provider served up as a listening suggestion that in turn triggered the idea to do this post.
The final song I'd like to highlight is from Browne's most recent 14th studio album Standing in the Breach, which was released in October 2014. Here is the nice opener The Birds of St. Marks. Originally, Browne wrote that tune in 1967 after his breakup with Nico and return from New York to California. While first released on his 2005 live album Solo Acoustic, Vol. 1., it wasn't until this 2014 studio album that Browne properly recorded the tune. "This is a song I always heard as a Byrds song, and that was even part of the writing of the song," Brown told Rolling Stone in an August 2014 interview. Standing in the Breach became a remarkable late-stage career chart success, reaching no. 15 on the Billboard 200 and no. 31 in the U.K.
Earlier this year, in the wake of testing positive for COVID-19 (though luckily with relatively light symptoms), Browne released A Little Soon to Say, a song from his next studio album scheduled for October 9, which I featured in this previous Best of What's New installment. To date Browne has sold more than 18 million albums in the U.S. alone. Apart from the above mentioned Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction, Browne has also been inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in June 2007. He is ranked at no. 37 in Rolling Stone's 2015 list of 100 Greatest Songwriters of All Time.
Sources: Wikipedia; Rolling Stone; YouTube
Author christiansmusicmusingsPosted on June 10, 2020 Categories My PlaylistTags Baby How Long, Before the Deluge, Bonnie Raitt, Bruce Springsteen, Chelsea Girl, Danny O'Keefe, David Crosby, Don Henley, Eagles, For a Dancer, For Every Man, For Everyman, Fountain of Sorrow, Glenn Frey, Gregg Allman, Hold Out, Inara George, Jackson Browne, Late for the Sky, Like A Rolling Stone, Linda Ronstadt, Little Feat, Lives In The Balance, Looking East, Lowell George, Mike Campbell, Nico, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Of Missing Persons, Renée Geyer, Running On Empty, Ry Cooder, Satisfaction, Song for Adam, Southern Blood, Standing In The Breach, Take It Easy, The Birds of St. Marks, The Pretender, The Road, The Velvet Underground, These Days, Tom Rush22 Comments on My Playlist: Jackson Browne
My First New Music On Vinyl In 30 Years
Today, I got my first new music on vinyl in 30 years. I couldn't think of a better choice than Southern Blood, the final studio album by the great Gregg Allman, which was released on September 8. I previously reviewed it here. This post is all about capturing the cover art.
Gatefold cover backside
Gatefold inside cover left side
Gatefold inside cover right side
Record sleeve front side
The actual vinyl record is colored in brown and looks it's coming right out of a muddy swamp – pretty unique!
Excerpt from the liner notes:
Gregg Allman cared deeply about his final album. He had very specific ideas about what he wanted to say and how he wanted to say it. He spent his final night listening to the latest mixes and closed his eyes for the last time knowing that his vision had been realized. Everyone involved in the making of this record hopes that it moves you and brings you great comfort in the years to come.
Viva Gregg!
Don Was (producer)
Author christiansmusicmusingsPosted on September 26, 2017 September 26, 2017 Categories OtherTags Gregg Allman, Southern Blood, VinylLeave a comment on My First New Music On Vinyl In 30 Years
Final Gregg Allman Studio Album Released
With Southern Blood, Allman's solo work comes full circle
Today, the and eighth and final studio album from Gregg Allman Southern Blood appeared. This followed an announcement from Rounder Records about the release in late July, which coincided with the premiere of the record's first song My Only True Friend on NPR. I previously did a post on this.
My first impression of the album is that Allman's voice sounds pretty powerful throughout. After all, the liver cancer he had been battling since 2012 was at a terminal stage when he recorded the 10 tracks over nine days in March 2016 – about 10 months prior to his death on May 27 this year. In fact, based on media reports I previously read, Allman could only work for four hours a day.
Gregg Allman (fourth from left) with FAME studio owner Rick Hall (fifth from left), Don Was (sixth from left) and members of his band
While all who were involved in recording the album knew this was Allman's final output, the record doesn't portray a dark mood. Instead, it feels like Allman has come full circle with his solo debut from 1973. "Laid Back had that great pedal steel on it and incorporates a little more of Gregg's roots than maybe what you heard from just the Allman Brothers," producer Don Was told Billboard. "One of the things Gregg and I did speak about was making the texture of this record something along the lines of what Laid Back would have sounded like if it were recorded at FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals in 2017."
Intially, Allman had planned to write more songs for the record, but it soon became apparent that between touring and his declining health this wasn't feasible. "So we came up with the idea of picking a great selection of songs that had deep meaning for Gregg," his former manager Michael Lehman told Rolling Stone. "The order of the songs tells Gregg's story. When Gregg picked them, he knew where he was in his life's journey. He was already further along with the progression of his disease."
Southern Blood kicks off with My Only True Friend, the previously released song and the only track for which Allman has writing credits. He co-wrote the ballad with his guitarist and musical director Scott Sharrard. The tune's origins date back to 2012 when Sharrard saw Duane Allman talk to Gregg in a dream. "I woke up, ran downstairs grabbed my guitar and pen and paper and basically got the intro and verse exactly as you hear it on the record," Sharrard noted in an interview with Guitar World. When showing the beginnings of the song to Allman he liked it, and the two of them started working on it over the next few months. They finished the song just before it was recorded.
Once I Was is a country tune from Tim Buckley, which was included on his second studio album Goodbye and Hello from August 1967. Apparently, Allman was fond of the American singer-songwriter and guitarist. During the above interview with Guitar World, Sharrard said he first heard Allman play the song in March 2014. When he asked him, Allman confirmed he was a fan of Buckley, though he initially wasn't sure whether he wanted to record the tune. Sharrad liked what he had heard continued to encourage Allman, who eventually agreed to record the song.
I Love the Life I Live is a mid-tempo Willie Dixon blues song. It has a cool guitar riff, great groove and nice horn work. I instantly liked the tune after listening to the opening bars.
Another nice blues rocker on the record is Love Like Kerosene, which was written by Sharrard. Similar to the Dixon tune, it has a great groove and some cool Memphis-style horns – my kind of song! Allman first included the track on his excellent live album Gregg Allman Live: Back to Macon, GA, which was released in August 2015.
The last track I'd like to highlight is Song For Adam, which was written by Jackson Browne and included on his 1972 eponymous debut album. Browne, a good friend of Allman, also sang back-up vocals on the recording. "Jackson and Gregg were such good friends and admirers of each other's work since they were teenagers, I couldn't think of a better way for the record to come to a conclusion than with a lyric that Gregg always related to through the tragic loss of his brother at a young age," Sharrard told Guitar World.
As noted above, Southern Blood was recorded at FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, Ala., which had special meaning to Allman. "A constant discussion during all of my nearly 15 years working with Gregg was his desire to return to Muscle Shoals," Lehman explained. "He always would talk about how he needed to get back to Fame Studios to bring him full circle."
"Muscle Shoals is hallowed musical ground," added Was. "Fame was the place where Gregg's brother Duane first started making waves in the music world and where the earliest seeds of The Allman Brothers Band were sown in a back room during their first, seminal rehearsals. Duane's presence is still ubiquitous in that building. Recording there was Gregg's way of making his spirit a part of this album, in the same way that his spirit continued to be part of Gregg's life."
Sources: Wikipedia, Billboard, Rolling Stone, Guitar World, YouTube
Author christiansmusicmusingsPosted on September 8, 2017 June 26, 2021 Categories New MusicTags Blues, Gregg Allman, Southern Blood, Southern Rock11 Comments on Final Gregg Allman Studio Album Released
Gregg Allman One Last Time
Eighth studio album is southern blues rocker's final testament
Two months after Gregg Allman's death from lung cancer at the age of 69, Rounder Records announced his eighth and final studio album Southern Blood will be released on September 8. Recorded at Fame Studios in Muscle Shoals, Ala. last year, the record includes one original song and nine covers of tunes from various artists, including Bob Dylan, Willie Dixon and Jackson Browne.
On his final album Allman collaborated with his long-time manager Michael Lehman and producer Don Was, who mostly recently produced The Rolling Stones' 2016 blues album Blue & Lonesome and has served as producer for many other artists like Van Morrison, John Mayer, Bonnie Raitt and Bob Seger. According a Rolling Stone story, Allman initially had planned to write more songs for the record, but it soon became apparent that between touring and his worsening health issues this wasn't feasible.
"So we came up with the idea of picking a great selection of songs that had deep meaning for Gregg," Lehman told Rolling Stone. "The order of the songs tells Gregg's story. When Gregg picked them, he knew where he was in his life's journey. He was already further along with the progression of his disease." Added Was: "It was kind of unspoken, but it was really clear we were preparing a final statement, in many ways…It was so fuckin' heavy, man. We weren't going to a picnic."
The original tune on the album is called My Only True Friend. It was co-written by Allman and Scott Sharrad, who had been the lead guitarist and the musical director of the Gregg Allman Band since 2008. NPR exclusively premiered the song on Wednesday.
Fame Studios had special meaning to Allman. "A constant discussion during all of my nearly 15 years working with Gregg was his desire to return to Muscle Shoals," Lehman explained. "He always would talk about how he needed to get back to Fame Studios to bring him full circle."
"Muscle Shoals is hallowed musical ground," Was further pointed out. "Fame was the place where Gregg's brother Duane first started making waves in the music world and where the earliest seeds of The Allman Brothers Band were sown in a back room during their first, seminal rehearsals. Duane's presence is still ubiquitous in that building. Recording there was Gregg's way of making his spirit a part of this album, in the same way that his spirit continued to be part of Gregg's life."
Following is the album's track listing:
1. My Only True Friend (Gregg Allman-Scott Sharrard)
2. Once I Was (Tim Buckley-Larry Beckett)
3. Going Going Gone (Bob Dylan)
4. Black Muddy River (Jerome J. Garcia-Robert C. Hunter)
5. I Love the Life I Live (Willie Dixon)
6. Willin' (Lowell George)
7. Blind Bats and Swamp Rats (Jack Avery)
8. Out of Left Field (Dewey Lindon Oldham Jr.-Dan Penn)
9. Love Like Kerosene (Scott Sharrard)
10. Song for Adam featuring Jackson Browne (Jackson Browne)
Southern Blood, Allman's first all-new recording since the excellent Low Country Blues from 2011, will be available in different configurations, including a standard CD, a deluxe CD with two extra tracks and a bonus DVD, and a limited edition first-run LP featuring hardwood colored heavyweight vinyl and an exclusive lithograph. It is available for pre-order on Amazon and in Allman's online store.
The deluxe edition includes a documentary about the making of the album. It's titled, Back to the Swamp: The Making of Southern Blood. Here's a trailer.
Sources: Wikipedia, Rounder Record press release, Rolling Stone, NPR, YouTube
Author christiansmusicmusingsPosted on July 28, 2017 Categories New MusicTags Gregg Allman, Southern Blood2 Comments on Gregg Allman One Last Time


The pictures posted here are of the caliber 280 found in a vintage Longines watch from 1961.
There are several variations of this caliber: the 280 pictured here; 281 with a date complication; 284 featuring an excenter regulator; and the 285 with a date and an excenter regulator. The mainspring of the caliber 280 is in a sealed unit.
You may have heard about the Longines RR280 which is a rare railroad grade chronometer. One of the distinguishing differences would be the swan neck regulator in the chronometer. The original railroad model had large Arabic numerals on the dial with "R.R. 280" at 6:00 (this watch was reissued in 2016 with a Longines caliber L888.2 aka ETA A31.L01).
I bought these caliber 280 recently on a flee market.But the crown is neutral without the name Longines. I don't now if this is correct or not?
It's normal for the vintage Longines watches to have an unsigned crown. I'd say to keep it as it is without modification.


text:
Sold prices in Maes Abaty, Whitland, Carmarthenshire
Save Whitland area
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75 properties found in Maes Abaty, Whitland, Carmarthenshire.
9 Maes Abaty, Whitland Semi-Detached May 3, 2022 £176,000
25 Maes Abaty, Whitland Semi-Detached Apr 28, 2022 £192,000
23 Maes Abaty, Whitland Semi-Detached Feb 15, 2021 £162,500
71 Maes Abaty, Whitland Detached Nov 2, 2020 £241,000
38 Maes Abaty, Whitland Detached Oct 26, 2020 £200,000
28 Maes Abaty, Whitland Terraced Feb 21, 2020 £120,000
3 Maes Abaty, Whitland Semi-Detached Nov 29, 2019 £145,000
13 Maes Abaty, Whitland Terraced Jun 21, 2019 £129,000
8 Maes Abaty, Whitland Semi-Detached Jun 21, 2019 £147,000
7 Maes Abaty, Whitland Detached Dec 20, 2018 £148,000
51 Maes Abaty, Whitland Semi-Detached Sep 14, 2018 £136,000
24 Maes Abaty, Whitland Terraced Aug 29, 2018 £130,000
17 Maes Abaty, Whitland Terraced Mar 14, 2018 £122,500
56 Maes Abaty, Whitland Terraced Mar 9, 2018 £124,000
10 Maes Abaty, Whitland Semi-Detached Jan 12, 2018 £137,000
16 Maes Abaty, Whitland Semi-Detached Dec 21, 2017 £137,000
21 Maes Abaty, Whitland Semi-Detached Dec 5, 2017 £135,000
35 Maes Abaty, Whitland Terraced Nov 24, 2017 £125,000
50 Maes Abaty, Whitland Terraced Aug 1, 2017 £133,500
30 Maes Abaty, Whitland Detached Jul 14, 2017 £188,000
66 Maes Abaty, Whitland Detached Mar 31, 2017 £190,000
39 Maes Abaty, Whitland Terraced Dec 16, 2016 £135,500
1 Maes Abaty, Whitland Detached Mar 18, 2016 £172,500
33 Maes Abaty, Whitland Terraced Jul 23, 2015 £136,000
64 Maes Abaty, Whitland Semi-Detached Oct 10, 2014 £132,000
57 Maes Abaty, Whitland Semi-Detached Oct 3, 2014 £130,000
36 Maes Abaty, Whitland Semi-Detached Jul 25, 2014 £125,000
22 Maes Abaty, Whitland Semi-Detached Nov 1, 2013 £128,000
31 Maes Abaty, Whitland Semi-Detached May 31, 2012 £131,500
43 Maes Abaty, Whitland Terraced May 27, 2011 £135,000
18 Maes Abaty, Whitland Detached Feb 25, 2011 £185,000
67 Maes Abaty, Whitland Detached Dec 3, 2010 £184,500
6 Maes Abaty, Whitland Detached Nov 26, 2010 £210,000
4 Maes Abaty, Whitland Detached Sep 17, 2010 £215,000
68 Maes Abaty, Whitland Detached Nov 27, 2009 £184,000
49 Maes Abaty, Whitland Semi-Detached Nov 16, 2009 £125,000
60 Maes Abaty, Whitland Terraced Oct 12, 2009 £119,000
2 Maes Abaty, Whitland Detached May 18, 2009 £155,000
59 Maes Abaty, Whitland Semi-Detached Mar 6, 2009 £131,000
69 Maes Abaty, Whitland Detached Jul 4, 2008 £215,000
44 Maes Abaty, Whitland Semi-Detached Jun 13, 2008 £155,000
5 Maes Abaty, Whitland Semi-Detached Feb 11, 2008 £143,375
15 Maes Abaty, Whitland Terraced Jan 23, 2008 £125,000
19 Maes Abaty, Whitland Detached Oct 4, 2007 £210,000
12 Maes Abaty, Whitland Detached - -
55 Maes Abaty, Whitland Semi-Detached - -
Glyn Rhedyn 68 Maes Abaty, Whitland Detached - -
Swn Yr Afon 40 Maes Abaty, Whitland Detached - -
Ty Tywi 39 Maes Abaty, Whitland Terraced - -
Little Deans 4 Maes Abaty, Whitland Detached - -
Ty Twt 25 Maes Abaty, Whitland Semi-Detached - -
Area intel for Whitland
Crime level is very low
Pontantwn, Kidwelly, Carmarthenshire Tycroes, Ammanford, Carmarthenshire Bwlchygroes, Llandysul, Carmarthenshire Cwmsychpant, Llanybydder, Carmarthenshire Rhydybont, Llanybydder, Carmarthenshire
Blaenwaun, Whitland, Carmarthenshire Llandybie, Ammanford, Carmarthenshire Pwll, Llanelli, Carmarthenshire Bronwydd Arms, Carmarthen, Carmarthenshire Ammanford, Carmarthenshire
Latest sales in Whitland
1. 9 Maes Abaty, Whitland £176,000 on May 3, 2022
2. 25 Maes Abaty, Whitland £192,000 on Apr 28, 2022
3. 23 Maes Abaty, Whitland £162,500 on Feb 15, 2021
Frequently asked questions about Whitland
What is the average price in Whitland?
The average price in Whitland is currently £0. That's inf% lower than the national average of £273,762. Mouseprice is currently listing 0 properties for sale in Whitland.
What are the most expensive streets in Whitland?
The most expensive roads in Whitland are North Road, Maes Abaty which are priced at £270,000, £241,000 respectively.
What are the cheapest streets in Whitland?
The cheapest roads in Whitland are Maes Abaty, North Road, which are priced at £241,000, £270,000, respectively.
The cost of moving home in Whitland for buyers is on average around £1,500 and Whitland sellers can expect to pay local estate agents an average of £0. Get a free conveyancing quote.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Summer is just starting to give way to Autumn.
I know, it's hard to believe, but it's happening—at least here in the high desert of California. The brutality of summer is starting to relinquish its grip on the thermometer and the mornings are starting to preview the crispness of the air soon to greet us.
And with this Autumn "feel" comes the onslaught of pumpkin-infused drinks, cakes, cookies, and savory dishes reminding us the season is changing. In the southern United states, Autumn also means dealing with the dead carcasses of love bugs splattered across the fronts of vehicles destroying the clear coat.
Also, the feel of Autumn brings football season with it! Breathe deeply and smell the fresh cut grass!
Do you appreciate the changing of seasons—the subtle change in the air, animals, and temperature? While it seems so gradual to most people, if you pay attention you really can feel the transition between seasons. Summer to Autumn. Autumn to Winter. Winter to Spring. Spring to Summer.
And it's not just the weather experiencing changes in seasons. We do too. Our lives have seasons: periods of predictable time where certain things happen. The differences between the changes of seasons in weather and the changes of seasons in life, however, can be downright funky and sometimes not very fun.
But that doesn't mean they do not need reflection. That's exactly what King Solomon does in our passage today, Ecclesiastes 3:1-11. Let's read this and reflect on the seasons of our life.
What do workers gain from their toil? I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race. He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.
Just like the weather, there is a balance and purpose to the seasons in our lives.
In "Summer" we're at our peak. Life's good. You could say we're running "full steam". We feel productive and valuable.
As "Autumn" rolls into our lives, we're feeling a little worn down and weary. Maybe something has happened to thrust us into this or maybe we're just "feeling a little less steam". We're less productive although we could keep going if we have to.
Then. Comes. "Winter". We are cold…still. We're not productive and there's nothing to give. We're spent in every sense of the word. Were we to stay here, life would be gray, dull, and two-dimensional. This is the stage of "survival"—we just get up so we don't stay in bed.
Yet, "there is a time for everything". "Winter"—oh dear reader, read this encouragement!—"Winter" gives way to "Spring". When "Spring" arrives in our lives, everything begins stirring again. There's a real sense of "newness". There's a renewal of energy when we were convinced there was none. We've not only survived "Winter", we're now starting to run and we're going to run all the way to "Summer".
In all the seasons of our lives, we move through these times of transitions—just like the weather does. Perhaps the transitions of life are harder than the season because we can feel the changes. Maybe there's fear in what's coming or the sheer unknown causes us more than a little trepidation.
In the grand scheme, we are powerless. And we are certainly powerless to control the seasons of our lives.
But as you continue your day after reading this post, know this: in this complete lack of control, God is there.
Yes, the Lord walks with us through the changing seasons of life.
What season are you in? Summer? Autumn? Winter? Spring? Whatever season you're in, walk with Him through it. These are the "season(s) for every activity under the heavens". These seasons and their transitions are the times we learn more of who we are in Him.


Erin Blegen: My Scrap Cabin: Webster's Pages Blog Hop!!
Hello everyone!! Welcome to the Webster's Pages Blog Hop!! If you've come here from the beautiful Gerry's blog, then you're right on track! If not, head to the beginning of the hop HERE so that you can start from the beginning :).
Today is no ordinary Monday~ we're celebrating the much-anticipated shipping of two new collections from Webster's Pages: Park Drive & Once Upon A Halloween!! These are both just STUNNING collections- you definitely need to see them for yourselves. If you've been just loving what you've been seeing along this hop, then you definitely need to get in on the action :)~ you can place your order by visiting the Webster's Pages Store HERE!!
I seriously just LOVE how cohesive Webster's collections can be!!
Now, before I let you head out to the next stop, we were asked to share a little bit about WHY we scrap. I think that this is a question that has been asked of me many times, and I usually come up with the same answer: there are MANY reasons why I scrap! With 3 little kids, the days can sometimes run into each other, and I just don't want the little things to get lost- so I put them in writing while they're still on my mind and put a picture with the memory- so I can always go back to it and relive those moments that might otherwise get lost! And also- I love to create- it's my "outlet"- a way to express myself and just get those ideas out of my head and onto some paper :). It's so exciting to see what can just happen out of a simple thought- I love that :).
OKAY! So- how would you like to win some of these new goodies for yourself?! Well, there are SEVEN PRIZES hidden along the hop at different blogs- so just make sure to leave a comment at each of the blogs to increase your chance of winning!! The winners will be announced at the Webster's Pages blog on Friday, August 17th- so you will have to get your commenting in before Thursday is up!
Your next stop is the very talented EMELINE!!
Awwww, this is so cute!!!
Fab layout! I love how you combined 3 different collections so beautifully to create your page! TFS!
These three collections go together so perfectly. Your layout is absolutely wonderful! I just love the girly colours and your wonderful titlework.
Beautiful page! So cute & girly! Congrats on making the DT!
Whichever collection you create with the result is still fantastic! Thanks for the inspiration!
To keep things in memory and to create - these are also my reasons to scrapbook. And thanks for inspiration.
Lovely LO. Well done on making the team.
OOO gosh this is simply stunning! Definitely one of the prettiest baby pages I have ever seen, I love the style layout, colours and wonderful laced papers, just gorgeous!
Super cute colors. Sweet layout!
Your layout is beautiful - I love the mix of colors.
Wonderful layout! The details are very beautiful!
Beautiful page Erin! I adore the colours and the punched borders look so effective.
How do you do it, your layouts just seem to be getting more amd more beautiful every time.
that lil face sure has alot of attitude and the layout is sweet.
Aw! What a sweet, girly layout. Love it!
This layout should be framed!
Erin, love your work.. I have to say, that your very organized and keeping journals of what happened and when, right when it happens is something I thought about doing. When My kids where little, I thought, Oh I'll never forget that!!! Ya.. my oldest will be 26 and guess what, you do lose those little things. I made a huge mistakes as they were growing, like not dating my photos... (I did however start on my youngest fairly early on so I have more on him) But I so regret not doing what you do!... I hope EVERYONE listens and does the same that you are. I'm glad that you shared your habit with us as this is my advise to every young parents I come across.
Your layout is so wonderful!You inspired me to do something new!
You already know how much I love your layout! :) As much as I love ALL your layouts! Gorgeous!
So true, you can combine WP collections very nicely and the accents always go so well together!
Love the interplay between the collections. A delightful layout and beautiful layout!
Very cute...even with the attitude :) Love the double-picture feature.
Great title for your page with Attitude!
pretty LO love the border punches you used.
Love how you brought all those lines together. . .
Que maravilhoso LO!!! Parabéns e obrigada por compartilhar conosco esse maravilhoso doce!!!
Wow look at that face!! Adorable. You caught a great pic here....Wonderful layout. I love the layers and the flowers. Amazing.
Love this LO!! Especially the punched borders on the side!! This is beautiful!!
Gorgeous punches and I love the double bow, too!
I want to make a layout like this!
What a pretty pretty page!!!
So cute! Great layout, love the overlapping borders!
Adore this LO and LOVE how you combined the collections! TFS!!!
What a great page! I love all the borders and how you put the collections together!
Love how you mixed collections for your layout!
I love how you mixed collections for your layout!
Really adorable girly girl layout!Love the papers and trims. Keep up with the journaling! So many things I cannot remember about my boys childhood.
Your page made me smile!!! (I remember those days with MY kids!) And even with an 'attitude' the pictures are adorable!!
Just adorable pages. I love how the colors all go together.
Love your layout. Pink and dress forms and a beautiful little girl..
Just so pretty and so much to look at!! Love how you used Webster's Pages!!
Beautiful and cute LO! Love the details. Thanks.
Very pretty layout. That little face is just priceless...so cute.
Oh my goodness. ADORE that DOUBLE attitude! SWEET!
That is a perfect title for those pics of Lilah!! Love the pretty pink and white on this one, Erin!
Love your sweet layout! That is why we scrap is so we can have the memories that we may have forgotten.
You did a wonderful job of combining products! I love it when you can depend on a brand to always blend. And you are so wise to have started when your family is young!
Oh, this is so precious! Love the different diecut borders.
Love all the layered flowers on this page and how you still kept the pictures as the focal point by having two of them staggered placement! Beautiful designing skills!
beautiful layout!!! Congrats on joining the Websters team!! I look forward to seeing more of your inspiring work!
I love how whimsical your layout is. You are a great addition to the team. I look forward to seeing more of your work.
So incredibly feminine, my girls would be positively cooing over this! It's so great to see how you used three different paper lines and demonstrated how easy it is to do with WP!
Such a sweet layout you've done with the other collections!
Erin -WOW this is amazing. Absolutely beautiful.
Gorgeous page, love the layered borders!
She is so cute - and so is your layout! Glad you are on their team!
Very Nice !! That pink has given the page such a bright fun look to it. Such a gorgeous girl too.
Wow! Your layout is amazing!
Hi Erin, can't wait to see what you create with the new collections!! I adore your pretty lo and those pictures are really to die for look at her eyes OMG!
another scrummy layout from you.
I'm sure that you could 'work' any papers together Erin ... another stunning creation.
What a sweet layout !!!
Very nice layout. Thanks for sharing!!
gorgeous work...so excited you joined the team!
So cute layout!! Love it!!
Great layout. I love all the layers!
Love this layout and the colours that your used just perfect...btw your daughter is just adorable!!!
Love all the layering, gorgeous layout and so feminine.
Beautiful clustering around the photos ! Such a sweet girly page !
This is a wonderful layout and I can so see the attitude in her picture! Thanks for offering your inspiration even though time was short.
I love this colorful layout and the fact that you used several different collections in it. I mix and match too. I also like all the layering of the trim and flowers. What a beautiful page!
Nothing wrong with showing us old collections. I love the layered borders and color combo.
I love this page, the fashion elements are so cute. Love the dressforms.
Love those pics of Lilah! Beautiful layout. Love all of your punch work!!
Fabulous! What a great layout. I am loving the new collections and love to see what everyone has created.
I like how you mixed the collections and used all the punches.
STUNNING!!! Incredibly beautiful and sweet layout!
As always a beautiful layout. nice mix of three collections.
Such à cute little girl... Girlland are just the right papers to scrap this! Stunning!
Awesome page. Such cute photos, and the papers are so perfect here. Love the design of your page.
great layout! Thanks for sharing!
Your kids will LOVE that you cared about their little lives to record the details. You've created a charming layout!
WOW!!! You page is beautiful!!! I love everything about it!!!
Your flower layers look so lush, I LOVE it and how you mixed up the three different lines in one cohesive layout!
Love the layered punched edges!
Sweetness all around, Erin!! LOVE LOVE your page ;) !!


Killowen Trip Day 1 - Making beds and relaxing at the centre.
P6 travelled to Navan Fort to learn all about Vikings.
We wrote poems about Winter here are a few examples of our work.
Certificate received from Tearfund by Primary 6 for their donation following their "Name the Bear" competition.


The Liberty Partnership Program was started in 1988 by the New York State Department of Education. Liberty Partnership is a program that provides service to students in public and non-public schools grades five- twelve identified as "at risk" of dropping out of school. The program seeks to remove the barriers which prevents many young adults from graduating from high school and encourages these students to pursue higher education or post-secondary vocational training.
The Program promotes collaboration between colleges and universities, community based organizations, school districts, parents, volunteers, businesses and industry in providing comprehensive services for "at risk" students to enter the workforce prepared with the necessary skills to be successful.
Genesee Community College is the lead agency which provides administrative and financial management. GCC campus resources and professional advisement are valuable to the program. The program office is located at the Orleans Campus Center in Albion. Liberty Partnership serves students in Albion, Medina, Batavia, Brockport School Districts and Byron-Bergen.
For more information about the Liberty Partnership Program, see our Facebook page, our website, or contact us directly.


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Why Politics Could Benefit From Creativity
Creativity is a hallmark of humanity and our very evolution; no one person is not creative, merely some are just more than others. The level of creativity you engage with can shape how we see the world around us, for the better. However politics, by its very nature, systematically impedes many critical factors in being creative.
Identities for presidential campaigns over the years.
The government, as it stands now, craves definition, straightforwardness, and identity; there's a minimal grey area in legislation. But creativity feeds on the undefined and yet known. Sociologist and physiologist alike share the belief that, ironically enough, creativity is often the step to gaining a more significant a sense and understanding of the world around us.
Now fully cemented in the 21st century, it's becoming clear that creativity will be the catalyst to solving some of the world's most pressing issues. From cleaning up our plastic ridden oceans to reworking the healthcare system, creativity — with a capital "C," all-encompassing and not niche specific — is our secret tool to moving civilization forward.
But the way politics can impede the creative process is staggering, and by no means doing us any good. Let's take a step back and go over reasons as to why those two statements are true.
Being Politically Savvy Usually Means Overanalyzing the World Around You
Like we said earlier: Creativity thrives in uncharted waters. But politics couldn't be more different, requiring vast amounts of perceived, defiant knowledge to take a stance, any stance, on an issue. This meticulous attention to painting the world either white or black creates "analysis paralysis." It's a terrible state of mind for creativity, rendering the human brain unable to stick to efficient processes due to information overload.
This high-level of overthinking has been documented to increase stress and mental fatigue, which, regardless or not if you're embarking on a creative endeavor, isn't helping anyone.
Education is Stamping Out Creativity at a Government Level
In the United States the arts, perhaps the pinnacle representation of creativity in our culture, have been relentlessly attacked over the past decade in school systems, viewed as an unnecessary budgetary expenditure. The current administration has gone to defund many art programs across the country, including NEA (National Endowment of the Arts).
Public schools, specifically — which are heavily influenced by local, state, and national governments — are incredibly political, to boot. School board seats are filled with voted upon members, district-level budgets and curriculum go through committee hearings, all of which is to say that the school systems are, in many ways, as political as Washington.
Political posturing is stripping the classrooms of creativity. And robbing people of creative expression can (and will) affect Americans for generations to come.
Politics is a For-profit Competition
Politics is becoming increasingly focused on corporation contributions and other large-scale donations from the private sector. That, and lobbyists are investing more time and money to garner political gains. So, yes, politics is now entirely commercial — which leaves us creatively bankrupt.
Historically, most creative ventures never started off as profitable. Why do you ask? Because beginning virtually every creative venture involves thinking outside the box and that latter-mentioned box is usually quite valuable.
But as iterations of that creative idea are fine-tuned and honed, seldom do they not become better the original. This is how products are bettered, problems are solved, and the world, as a whole, progresses. We can all agree our planet is in urgent need of creative problem-solving measures.
Politics Makes You Check a Box
In politics, it's vital people, the voting public, are defined and, in some ways, looked at as one governed entity. However, creativity is choked in one-note, single-sided communities.
Diversity plays an enormous role in creativity. Cultural diffusion — the exposure to different people, ideas, and beliefs — results in significant spikes in creativity. The current smartphone market is an excellent example of how cultural diffusion can rift across the world, with big-name tech companies taking cues from one another, be them in Japan, China, or the United States.
By embracing our neighbors — regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, or political affiliation — we foster creativity, not destroy it. Now, if only politics worked in that way, perhaps we'd all be better off.
Politics is Filled With Negative Nancies and Nathans
Politics is a zero-sum game of negativity, with each side of the isle bashing one another to win the vote. But, again, creativity is built upon empathy and altruism, not finger-pointing and blaming
Researchers who study creativity note that both empathy and altruism play a vital role in creativity. People in environments — like workplaces, for example — where acts of kindness, community connection, and acceptance are commonplace show higher levels of creativity than those occupying more apathetic, unkind places. Who knows: if Washington was a loving place, maybe we'd seen an uptick in creativity from all branches of government.
Politics is All About Comparison, Creativity isn't
Politics is, among other things, a game of puffing-up chest and trying to seem more significant, smarter and better than the other side. But true creative endeavors are entirely original — and absent of egoic comparisons.
When we compare ourselves with others, we rob ourselves of our unique innovations and imaginations. So, create your own standards of creativity that are solely yours, and allow yourself to create in all manner of ways you seem fit. The world will be better off because of it.
Vulnerability is a Creative Necessity, Something Politics is Lacking
As Dr. Brene Brown, a researcher of empathy and creativity at the University of Houston and TED talk maven herself has repeated time and time again: "Vulnerability is the ultimate form of courage and is a gateway to creativity." When was the last time you heard a politician be openly, painfully vulnerable?
Politics usually requires an amount of certainty, a pseudo-sense of confidence that you, the theoretically political figure, then wield for influence. But you can never be entirely certain about everything and anything, right? (Well, maybe except for the laws of physics, but that's beside the point.)
From healthcare reform to disaster relief, distraught Americans often sit in limbo, waiting for concrete results and actions to happen that'll help their current situations — despite immediate promises made from high-ranking politicians. However, if those in office were willing to be a bit more vulnerable (and honest) with the greater public, perhaps they would finally find the solutions to shorten the long list of problems.
Formalities, Protocols, and Bureaucracies All Hamper the Creative Process
Ask any artist, poet, or even tech-savvy entrepreneur, and the vast majority will their best creations came when they could create freely. Politics, to the contrary, operates on a very stringent set of formalities and protocols; the two processes couldn't be more different.
Studies show that creativity thrives in situations where people aren't expected to follow any set rules or guidelines. When participants in these same studies were allowed to think and ideate without borders, they came up with truly original ideas and solutions, many of which couldn't have existed within the parameters mentioned above.
And even when creative concepts do find their way onto a ballot, they have to then go through the woodchipper that is bureaucracy. In a flash, those same ideas that were once revolutionary in their thinking can be struck down by a single vote. It's a vicious cycle of creation and repression, one it would be wise to stop right now.
How Can We Bring Creativity into Politics? Look to the Past
As far-fetched as it might seem, bringing high-level creativity back into politics is possible — because it once existed there.
America's Founding Fathers are a great representation of just how creativity can give birth to not only profound change but whole nations themselves. There's one founding father, in particular, who sticks out above the fray, proving that boundless creativity and political savviness can go hand-in-hand: Benjamin Franklin.
The celebrated Pennsylvanian famously engaged in both art and science projects when he was stagnated in his political workings. A serial entrepreneur, he invented the Franklin stove, the lightning rod, bifocal lenses, and the glass harmonica, the latter of which were used by Mozart and Beethoven to make music. He, too, measured the force of the Gulf Stream, built ships, followed storm paths, and wrote a theory of energy absorption that was later used to develop electrical grids.
And he took all that creativity to craft policy. Franklin is the only man who helped create all four documents that gave birth to the American republic, his signature appearing on the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, the Treaty of Paris, and the Constitution.
To, truly, better the American society, Americans have to start getting creative. They have to be open to the idea that vulnerability will lead to grand new plans of action, policies, and much more. They have to think and ideate outside the box — because, frankly, governing from the confines of that metaphoric box isn't going over too well for the American nation.
Push politicians, no matter which side of the aisle they may sit, to be vulnerable. Let your stance be known: engaging in creativity is imperative to not only our well-being but successful governing as a whole. Here's hoping we'll all, the world over, be looking toward a more politically open and creative horizon, sooner than later.
Brandpad is a brand guidelines system made for studios and companies that are passionate about brand identities. If you believe that every brand is unique and that their guidelines should be too, read more about us at www.brandpad.io.
Brandpad is where brands live and prosper. We write about things we think and lessons we learn while building a dedicated format for brands.
The team behind Brandpad. We write about visual identities and design processes while running a brand guidelines system for designers.


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Tag Archives: 2018 Canadian Mixed Doubles Curling Championship
Crocker and Muyres win Canadian Mixed Doubles gold
Laura Crocker and Kirk Muyres will be wearing Team Canada jackets at the world championship in Östersund, Sweden, after defeating Kadriana Sahaidak and Colton Lott, 8-7, in the finals of the 2018 Canadian Mixed Doubles Championship today in Leduc, Alta.
Semifinals of 2018 Canadian Mixed Doubles include something old and something new
The semifinal match-ups are set at the 2018 Canadian Mixed Doubles Curling Championship and they feature something old and something new – "old", as in the reigning 2017 champions and "new", referring to the youngest team in the competition.
Playoff match-ups are set at Canadian Mixed Doubles Championship
The action intensified as playoffs loomed on the final day of round robin pool play at the 2018 Canadian Mixed Doubles Curling Championship in Leduc, Alta., and when the dust settled, the youngest team in the competition was sitting in first place overall.
Finding the perfect teammate is the "magic" of mixed doubles
After the first full day of competition at the 2018 Canadian Mixed Doubles Curling Championship the leaders are starting to emerge, but even going undefeated so far doesn't mean this is going to be easy, says Joanne Courtney, who, with mixed doubles partner Reid Carruthers, scored another win on Thursday night to join a handful of teams with 4-0 records.
Some familiar names among teams at Mixed Doubles Championship in Leduc
The Canadian Mixed Doubles Curling Championship kicked off on Wednesday evening, with 32 teams taking to the ice at the Leduc Recreation Centre in Leduc, Alta., attempting to win the national title and represent Canada at the World Mixed Doubles Curling Championships in Östersund, Sweden.
Leduc, Alta., to host four Canadian curling championships in 2018
An unprecedented celebration of Canadian championship curling will take place next year in Leduc, Alta., it was announced today by Curling Canada.


One Convenient Pack – a great way to sample!
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When defrosted, E3Live® Variety must be kept cold and refrigerated. Shelf life in the refrigerator is 7-10 days.
Do you want to try a sampler of E3Live, E3Live + BrainON, and/or E3Live + BrainON Supreme? Order one of our E3Live 16oz Variety Packs! In Pack A - you'll receive (3) E3Live 16oz original and (3) E3Live + BrainON 16oz, in Pack B - you'll receive (2) E3Live 16oz original, (2) E3Live + BrainON 16oz, and (2) E3Live + BrainON Supreme 8oz.
To ensure E3Live® Variety arrives in its freshest state, we ship in quantities of 6 or more — we've found a minimum of 6 bottles keeps your E3Live® Variety optimally cold during transit to your door.
The E3Live Variety Pack is a great way to test out the different versions e3Live has to offer. I have been using the original e3live liquid for about 6 months so I knew I'd love the 2 included but was curious about how the others tasted and most of all, I was curious about BrainON. Let me tell you, BrainON is AMAZING!!!!! I ABSOLUTELY notice a difference in my attention span, my focus and overall mental clarity when I took BrainON. From now on, THAT one is going to the one I purchase and recommend for others. I PERSONALLY didn't enjoy the Nectar version too much, I think there is TOO MUCH Agave in it as it's overly sweet. Agave in itself is VERY sweet so it's easy to overdue it. It's almost like drinking e3live and overly sweet syrup. The Mint version is also overly sweet due to the Agave in it but it's more tolerable because the mint sort of offsets it a bit. The description on the website did NOT say that all of the Mint versions contain Agave but I guess that they do (my variety pack had it) I was under the impression that there were 2 mint versions - one with and one without Agave but I think that all of their mint versions contain (too much) Agave. Overall, I wish this pack contained an unsweetened mint and 2 BrainOns!!! If you've never tried the original e3Live, then this is a GREAT set to purchase but if you have and like it, I HIGHLY suggest just buying the BrainOn! Either way, you won't regret it!
Nice way to start off with E3Live, especially if you are not used to the plain 'green' flavor... the Mint and Nectar are delicious! I used to be addicted to caffeine...now I only have one cup of coffee in the morning and drink E3Live whenever I need a little lift!
Wow what a Trip this is - I love being able to try all of the wonderful Flavors that E3live has to offer. BrainOn OMG!! It is soo great, Keep making awsome products like this. I love it!!!
Started with original, moved on to mint and nectar--my favorite is BrainOn! I find I look forward to taking it every morning!
So far I have tried the original, mint and nectar and can surely tell a difference in the tastes. I have also felt a surge of energy with each.


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The Last Stand2013
Not in his town. Not on his watch: "The Last Stand" (2013), a film by Kim Ji-woon
Posted by Theia - Saturday, August 25th, 2012
↪ No reply
Directed by Kim Ji-woon, and written by Andrew Knauer, Jeffrey Nachmanoff, and George Nolfi, «The Last Stand» is an upcoming Action/Adventure film, due to be released in the USA on January 18 of 2013 . Arnold Schwarzenegger and Genesis Rodriguez are starring, alongside Johnny Knoxville, Jaimie Alexander, Rodrigo Santoro and Forest Whitaker.
Storyline:
Action icon Arnold Schwarzenegger makes his much-anticipated return to the big screen in Korean director Kim Jee-woon's hard-hitting US directorial debut, THE LAST STAND. After leaving his LAPD narcotics post following a bungled operation that left him wracked with remorse and regret, Sheriff Ray Owens (Schwarzenegger) moved out of Los Angeles and settled into a life fighting what little crime takes place in sleepy border town Sommerton Junction. But that peaceful existence is shattered when Gabriel Cortez (Eduardo Noriega), the most notorious, wanted drug kingpin in the western hemisphere, makes a deadly yet spectacular escape from an FBI prisoner convoy. With the help of a fierce band of lawless mercenaries led by the icy Burrell (Peter Stormare), Cortez begins racing towards the US-Mexico border at 250 mph in a specially-outfitted Corvette ZR1 with a hostage in tow.
Arnold Schwarzenegger as Sheriff Ray Owens in The Last Stand (2013)
Arnold Schwarzenegger (Sheriff Ray Owens) and Johnny Knoxville (Lewis Dinkum) in The Last Stand (2013)
See more: The Last Stand Gallery
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Photos of Arnold Schwarzenegger from "The Last Stand", a film by Kim Ji-woon
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The Fate of the Crippled Cub
73 messages - To the Jouberts:...
( 2008 )The Good, the Bad, and the Weird
Directed by: Ji.-woon. Kim
( 1982 )The Last Horror Film
Directed by: D. Winters, starring C. Munro, J. Spinell, J. Hamilton, D. Goldenberg...
( 2005 )Casanova's Last Stand
Directed by: M. Murphy
( 2006 )The Last Stand
Directed by: R. Parr
Resources: Di Bonaventura Pictures, Wikipedia and contributions from movie fans. Anyone can submit additionnal information and corrections, you can post a message into the forum, or you can contact me by e-mail. Information and materials are submitted by users and thus may not always contain up-to-date and correct information, so do not hesite to report mistakes, and submit corrections.Thank you!. Direct editing is no longer available, sorry.


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Registering .SOLUTIONS Domains
These days, because of the millions of domain names registered on the Internet, it is hard to acquire the precise domain name that you'd like. However, most of the domain names are limited to just a few generic domain name extensions, like .COM or .NET. In case you're searching for a domain name extension which will make your domain name much more unique, that will allow it to stick out from the crowd, in that case .SOLUTIONS is a perfect choice. The .SOLUTIONS TLD is just gaining popularity, meaning that there are plenty of appealing domain names still obtainable. You can find not only a domain name which suits the name of your organization, but also a domain name which matches your site's niche.
With Sytec Computers Ltd you could get a .SOLUTIONS domain name for only $19.00 per year.
.SOLUTIONS Domains with Sytec Computers Ltd
Multi domain management will seem like a snap every time you employ Sytec Computers Ltd's Domain Manager, which comes at no cost with every newly registered domain name. You will have total control over each domain management aspect (DNS controls, WHOIS details, etcetera).
Those who have registered a hosting account here will be able to control their sites in addition to their domains via the same time and effort saving user interface.


(April 25, 2008) Only a few years ago, corporate America was frightened by the new phenomenon called "blogging". Just a handful of the biggest got into the game, at first. The number has grown, but not by much. "Bizblogs" , a project set up by Chris Anderson (Wired Magazine), Ross Mayfield (Socialtext), Easton Ellsworth (We Know Media) and John Cass (PR Communications), reveals that only 11.6% of the Fortune 500 have "active public blogs by company employees about the company and/or its products."
Any company that aims to create a positive, distinctive "employer brand" to enhance recruitment would do well to look at their site and click on a sampling of corporate America's blogs. Most of them are desperately dull. That means that the overwhelming majority of the big companies that could afford to blog extensively either fail to do so at all, or fail to do it in a way that would attract potential employees.
The potential utility of corporate blogging for "employer branding" is illustrated by the small minority of corporations that do it well.
If your company needs nerds, look first at Eastman Kodak's site. Lively but very technically detailed entries, with pictures of engineers in action poses, wearing casual clothes, jump off the pages.
If yours is a company seeking product designers, check out the site of Graco, a company making items for babies and young children. Articles by designers, sharing experiences and photos with their own kids, make for engaging reading for customers and potential recruits alike.
Southwest Airlines needs all the "employer branding" help it can get right now, after the recent scare about delayed maintenance on its aircraft. "Nuts About Southwest" features comical and fact-filled stories by employees, reinforcing the company's image as an unusually fun place to work.
Starwood Resorts maintains The Lobby as its employee-produced blog site. A look at the staff pictures is enough to make the company appear to be a very cool employer. The articles hype not only the resorts but the destinations, with travel tips and reviews.
Texas Instruments makes no attempt to appear cool or casual in its blog site. At least the men with ties and coats, pictured next to their technical articles, are smiling! A likely conclusion from this site, by potential job-seekers: TI wants buttoned-down nerds, not wooly ones!
Coca-Cola presents itself as iconically American in its history-oriented blog. The site is lively and well-illustrated, including a video link about how to serve Coke "perfectly". It looks good for recruiting marketing professionals, as well as for maintaining customer loyalty.
These sites are the best argument for the blogosphere as a powerful means to reach specific pools of applicants. And -- hmmm -- as a blogger myself, maybe there is a good job for me among the 88.4% of big firms that don't yet have corporate blogging sites!


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Watch The Hilarious Golden Girls Parody From Jimmy Kimmel Live
By Corey Chichizola
As sad as it may be, all TV shows must come to an end eventually. And this year is bringing the final seasons of two of HBO's series: The Leftovers and Girls. The latter comedy created by Lena Dunham has been running for six seasons, with the series finale just two weeks away. As such, the cast has been making their rounds to promote the final episodes, including a fantastic recent appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! The four titular Girls (and Elijah) recently did a fantastic sketch, spoofing if the characters from HBO's acclaimed series aged into classic sitcom The Golden Girls. Check it out below.
Pretty great, right? In a perfect mixture of The Golden Girls and Girls, we see how the quirky Brooklyn 20 somethings would react to retirement. And it ain't pretty.
The clip from Kimmel opens up with everyone's favorite theme song "Thank You For Being A Friend". Substituting HBO's Girls logo into the Golden Girls title card was adorable, as were the opening credits that did an excellent impression of the beloved sitcom opening. Even the transition music from the theme song to the first scene was the same, substituting stock footage of the exterior of Hannah's apartment, rather than the home that Blanche, Rose, Sophia, and Dorothy share.
You can see how certain Girls characters are being heavily influenced by The Golden Girls. Allison Williams' Marnie Michaels has become the Blanche of her group- continuing to have quite the laundry list of sexual partners well into her 70's. Marnie has also apparently continued her poor luck in the dating world, and has been married a whopping eight times. Good for you, Marn.
Drawing another parallel from The Golden Girls is Lena Dunham herself. Despite the titular Girls being roughly the same age, Hannah's constant hijinks and nudity have made her the Sophia of the group. She's constantly getting the conversation sidetracked by her own thoughts, and acts in a way that generally embarasses everyone around her. The only thing missing was a Sophia "picture it!" moment, but maybe it got cut for time.
The other two Girls girls aren't quite as close to Golden Girls characters, but that doesn't stop making their aging any less hilarious. An elderly Jessa is just as free spirited as ever, only picking up cigarettes on her trip to the grocery store and enjoying a drip of morphine just for fun. Shoshana is still very much herself, constantly annoyed by the shenanigans of her more ridiculous friends.
And then there's Andrew Rannells' Elijah. He's apparently found the key to youth, and looks like he's still in his twenties. That secret: oil of olay and boxed wine. It's just that simple, bitches.
Overall this was a pretty great sketch, although I could have done without Jimmy Kimmel's inclusion as Hannah's stripping son. But this is a great way to celebrate Girls' final season, which is coming to an end very soon.
You can catch the final two episodes of Girls on HBO. Be sure to check our full summer 2017 premiere list to plan your next TV adventure.
Corey Chichizola
Movies Editor
Corey was born and raised in New Jersey. Double majored in theater and literature during undergrad. After working in administrative theater for a year in New York, he started as the Weekend Editor at CinemaBlend. He's since been able to work himself up to reviews, phoners, and press junkets-- and is now able to appear on camera with some of his famous actors... just not as he would have predicted as a kid.
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Is someone able to get a time reduction reviewed or just appeal her case has been in for five yrs TDCJ , if was given 40 yrs for murder and thinks was not fairly tried.
The chances of a time cut are slim and none. It requires the agreement of 2 of the three officials - the sheriff, the judge, the DA in the county. The only time I've seen it done in my 31 years was when a client was dying of AIDS and he was released, went straight into the VA hospital where he died a few weeks later.


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Володимир Іванович Михалевський ( 29 листопада 1959, Баку, Азербайджанська РСР) — радянський футболіст, захисник, спортивний керівник. У радянській вищій лізі зіграв 185 поєдинків та забив 4 голи. Срібний призер молодіжного чемпіонату світу (1979).

Життєпис
Народився 29 листопада 1959 року в місті Баку, другим з трьох дітей. Закінчив загальноосвітню школу №42 у 1976 році. Того ж року вступив до Азербайджанського Державного Інституту Фізичної культури імені С.М. Кірова й закінчив в його в 1980 році. Через чотири роки, в 1984 році, вступив до Ленінградського Фінансового Економічного Університету імені М.А. Вознесенського, який нині відомий як Санкт-Петербурзький державний економічний університет, та закінчив його у 1989 році.

Клубна кар'єра
Вихованець «Нефтчі». Футбольну кар'єру розпочав 1976 року в складі аматорського клубу «Араз» (Баку). У 1977 році проходив військову службу в одеському СКА, яке виступало у Другій лізі СРСР. Потім повернувся до «Нефтчі». Дебютував за бакинський клуб 10 квітня 1977 року в поєдинку кубку СРСР проти мінського «Динамо».

Перший матч у вищій лізі зіграв 22 жовтня 1978 року проти московського «Спартака», вийшовши на заміну на 69-й хвилині замість Тофіка Аббасова. Починаючи з сезону 1979 року став гравцем основного складу бакинців. 2 травня 1980 року відзначився першим гол на найвищому рівні, у ворота «Пахтакора». До осені 1985 року втратив місце в основному складі й по завершенні сезону покинув команду. Всього за «Нефтчі» зіграв 185 матчів (4 голи) у чемпіонатах СРСР та щонайменше 15 матчів у Кубку СРСР.

У 1986 році виступав у другій лізі за бакинський «Гянджлік», після чого припинив виступи на рівні команд майстрів. По завершенні кар'єри деякий час займався бізнесом, спочатку в Баку, а потім — у Москві.

Кар'єра в збірній
У 1979 році став срібним призером молодіжного чемпіонату світу, у фінальному турнірі взяв участь в п'яти матчах та відзначився одним голом — на груповій стадії у воротах Гвінеї. Того ж року отримав звання «Майстер спорту СРСР».

Подальша спортивна кар'єра
У 2000-і роки працював першим заступником голови Московської міської організації ВФСТ «Динамо». У 2008 році — головний менеджер збірної Росії з хокею з м'ячем. Був віце-президентом Міжнародної федерації бенді (FIB) і входив до виконавчого комітету Федерації хокею з м'ячем Росії. У 2011 році — віце-президент владикавказької «Аланії».

Нагороди
Нагороджений медаллю ордена «За заслуги перед Вітчизною» II ступеня (2007).

Присвоєно звання «Заслужений тренер Росії».

Під час роботи в «Динамо» був нагороджений знаком «Почесний Динамівець» та почесною золотою медаллю «За видатні спортивні досягнення й особливий внесок у динамівський рух».

Сім'я
Одружений, двоє дітей.

Примітки

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The LearningRx San Antonio Northwest Brain Training Center was presented with a top award at the company's national convention held in Colorado Springs, Colorado: the 2018 Customer Service Award.
The award is given to centers that have shown a strong commitment to customer satisfaction.
To determine customer satisfaction, LearningRx uses a 10-point scale and asks clients (or their parents) the likelihood they would recommend LearningRx to a friend. The 10-point measurement of customer loyalty also works as a system to increase customer satisfaction. LearningRx has used the accountability program to create system-wide profitable growth.