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Last night I attended a terrific gig that in years to come will surely be spoken of in hushed tones. Dragonforce ended a three-show residency at the tiny Barfly and rocked the motherfuggin' place to its very foundations. Opening act Mendeed, a young hardcore-tinged metal band, were so good that I'm prepared to overlook their Scottish origins and offer them immediate 'honorary Englishmen' status. But Dragonforce, Jesus... Dragonforce. Those songs, the sextet's boundless, beer-fuelled energy... the audience and their plastic swords, maces and battleaxes - all squeezed into a venue the size of a large shoebox. Excuse me as I wipe away a tear.
It's always sad when one of your fave bands calls it a day. Truth told, I'd no idea that 3 Colours Red had decided to split till receiving an emailed invite from guitarist Chris McCormack to their final London show. Given my friendship with Chris (I've known him since his Forgodsake days), I've followed 3CR from their earliest days. I caught their debut show, opening for someone I now forget at the Garage in September 1995, looked on proudly as they opened for the Sex Pistols at Finsbury Park, and again at the Electric Ballroom in February 1999 when they were joined onstage by Steve Jones and Glen Matlock on 'Anarchy In The UK.
So last night was a bittersweet experience. It was pleasing to see Chris' brother, ex-Wildhearts bassist Danny McCormack, looking fit, healthy and motivated again after his much-publicised chemical problems, and playing a kick-ass support slot with the reunited The Yo-Yo's. 3 Colours Red have always been a silly bunch - guitarist Pete Vuckovic had shaved off his beard and put it up for sale at the merch stall; last thing I knew some silly sod had offered £36.24 for it. No accounting for taste. They played a concise hour of their best songs, sending a packed Islington Academy absolutely bonkers. Their biggest hit, Beautiful Day, was dedicated to Chef from South Park for keeping them out of the Top Ten in 1999, but the vibe was one of cheerful resignation. I, for one, will miss 3CR a lot.
It's been so long since Palace played Sheffield Wednesday, I'd forgotten how vocal their fans can be. They're absolute loonies, but respect is due for the size of a midweek turnout, and the volume generated on behalf of a relegation-bound team. Last night's game finished 2-0 to the Eagles, the result lifting us into the Top 10 of the table. It's a start, at least.
Mustn't type too loudly. Yes, I'm hungover again. Yesterday evening I went up to Sanctuary Records to discuss 'Reflections', a new two-CD anthology on Brummie hard rockers Shy that I've had a hand in assembling. After an amusing interview for the sleeve notes, vocalist Tony Mills, bassist Roy Davis and new keyboard player Joe Basketts joined the Sanctuary mob in the local boozer, several dry white wines resulting in my almighty headache. It was good to see the fellas again; Mr Mills is a still bit of a dry old stick but exceedingly good company. Took home a load of excellent releases, including a finished version of the Uriah Heep six-disc set 'Chapter And Verse'. It looks bloody excellent - well worth all the hard work in putting it together. Was chuffed to plug a gap by picking up the only Black Sabbath album I don't own on CD, the immortal 'Heaven And Hell', plus three interesting-looking re-issues from John Entwistle. Also pocketed Venom's four-CD box 'MMV', with a great sleeve essay from my old boozing buddy Malcolm Dome.
What a 'kin excellent show I saw last night. For quite some time Nightwish have been one of my favourite bands, but their headlining performance at a sold-out Hammersmith Apollo took them to new levels of genius. The sound was amazing, the band played (and Tarja sang!) out of their skins, augmented an array of lasers, pyrotechnics and even two confetti cannons. They're planning to spend all of next year writing and recording a follow-up to the million-selling 'Once', but this was a show nobody will forget in a hurry.
My old mates Paradise Lost delivered an impressive opening spot, and thank God vocalist Nick Holmes hasn't cheered up any. "Good to see the place has filled up," he deadpanned, "just as we're finishing." I must find some time to post the story of my trip to Jerusalem with them on the 'Shades Of God' tour. One of my all-time favourite assignments.
Still fuming over Palace's feeble display against Preston yesterday. If we can't beat a team that only has nine men for the last 25 minutes, there's no way on this earth that we're good enough to be promoted - with or without the injured Andy Johnson. To top it all, I missed Clinton Morrison's injury time leveller in a bid to beat the queues for a ticket for the Crewe game. Bah. Sort it out, Dowie. You're supposed to be a deity.
What better way to end a gruelling week than a Budgie gig? Burke Shelley and chums were in deafeningly fine form at the Underworld last night. 'Napoleon Bona-Part One' and 'Part Two'... what a truly fabulous pair of songs. In fact, I'm off to play 1975's 'Bandolier' album right now.
Thursday 22nd September
Yesterday involved a trip to the Borderline, one of my fave London venues, for the return of Leaf Hound a long-lost and quite wonderful doom-tinged hard rock band back from the dead after splitting up in 1971. The ever-improving Pig Iron warmed up the crowd nicely, before Pete French (who later fronted Atomic Rooster) and his revised line-up let rip with some enjoyable brand new material, intermingled with vintage gems like 'Freelance Friend', 'Stray' and a version of 'Growers Of Mushroom' that tempted Cathedral's Lee Dorrian to the front for a freak-out.
Wednesday 21st September
It was back to Selhurst Park last night for Palace's slender victory over Coventry in the second round of the Coca Cola Cup. A somewhat dire game was turned by a stunning solo goal from substitute Marco Reich, a new arrival who's played for FC Cologne, Werder Bremen and, er, Derby County. With Andy Johnson injured and Clinton Morrison rested, it was a young, makeshift side. But I wonder how much longer Iain Dowie can possibly keep faith with hapless (and goalless) striker Wayne Andrews. Let's face it, Oliver Reed was not a teetotaller, Brian Johnson doesn't speak the Queen's English, Dawn French is not a bikini model, I am not a brain surgeon... Wayne Andrews is not a professional footballer. End of.
On a far more poigant note, former Damageplan/Pantera drummer Vinnie Paul has given a moving interview to Guitar Player magazine. It contains some fascinating comments regarding the much-mooted Pantera reunion ("if you were married to somebody for 15 or 16 years and they treated you the way we got treated, you don't go back to them"), and the senseless shooting of his brother Dimebag Darrell ("it's ruined my life and taken away so much joy and happiness from so many people. I guess what I'm trying to find is an answer for why this happened. There has to be an answer, and I hope it comes out someday"). Tellingly, Vinnie also adds: "Dime will live on forever, though, just like Jimi Hendrix and Randy Rhoads." Amen to that.
Received an excellent album in today's post. Coheed And Cambria are an excellent nu-prog outfit from America, and the unfeasibly titled 'Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV: Volume 1. From Fear Through The Eyes Of Madness' may well turn out to be among the best CDs of 2005. A hotch-potch of Rush, Pink Floyd, King Crimson and Black Sabbath, it even has a song that sounds a little like the mighty It Bites. So good are the songs, it's almost possible to forgive them for being influenced by The Police (ugggh).
Palace lost to Cardiff City yesterday, though from the radio commentary our second half performance should have brought at least a draw. It's terrifying to think that we've not won an away game since Birmingham City - last October.
What an amazing quote from Freddie Flintoff in the Evening Standard. In a 'refreshed' state after a 17-hour bender, England's hero was overheard stating: "The most exciting thing about winning the Ashes is that I'll be awarded the freedom of Preston, my home town. I can drive a flock of sheep through the town centre, drink for free in 64 pubs and get a lift home with the police when I'm inebriated. What more could you want?"
With the victory cheers of hundreds of thousands of cricket fans still ringing in my ears, it was away from Trafalgar Square and off to Palace's away game against Reading; the latest showdown with former manager/living deity Steve Coppell. Stevie's teams always play with passion, and with Andrew Johnson limping off just before half time after scoring an amazing equaliser, yet another last minute leakage condemned us to defeat. With a twice taken (and missed) penalty from the home side, it was certainly an exciting game, but I'm praying the injury to our shaven-headed talisman isn't serious. We looked pretty ropey without him.
This morning I'm proud to be an Englishman. Mrs L and I were among the lucky 35,000-odd ticket holders to witness yesterday's climax of the Ashes Test Match series. What drama. Singing 'Jerusalem' was a stirring experience. It was great to remind Glenn McGrath of his prediction that the convicts would win the series 5-0 when he fielded in front of us at the boundary, but he took the abuse in good spirit. Despite a few scary moments when I feared it might go pear-shaped (dropped catches, toppling wickets, Bell's latest embarrassing innings), a heroic debut Test century from Kevin Pietersen secured a tense, hard-fought draw that saw the fabled Little Urn returning home. As I type this, I'm watching the team's victory parade. Pieterson has just boarded the open-top bus armed with a jug of evil-looking booze. A bleary-eyed Flintoff, who by all accounts has been up all night, still looks so paralytic that his breath alone would probably leave anyone unable to walk a straight line. Attaboys.
P.S. Dame Edna, Rolf Harris, Joe Mangle, Nicole Kidman, Angry Anderson, Robyn Doreian, John Farnham, Germaine Greer, Clive James, Harold Bishop... your lads took one hell of a beating!
Congrats to UFO's Pete Way for interrupting his latest Waysted tour to tie the knot to the lovely Rashida at the end of last week. Frankly, I'm amazed that he made it down the aisle at all given that Spike of The Quireboys was acting as his best man. Now there's a combination to strike mortal terror into barmen (and registrars) everywhere. Anyway, well done Pete.
Yesterday saw a fine 2-0 win for Palace over ex-Eagle Peter Taylor and his Hull City team. The game was fairly nondescript except for the goals, my most vivid recollection being the Jumbotron cutting away to show footage of torrential rain at The Oval. Obviously, delay to the Test Match only served to enhance England's chances of winning back the Ashes. Fittingly, it received the biggest cheer of the day!
For the second day in a row, I spent yesterday attempting to work but glued to the telly/radio coverage of the Test Match. By the end of play, the Aussies had their noses in front. Have been playing Status Quo's 'Rain', 'The Rain Song' by Led Zeppelin and quite a bit of Thunder in the hope that the good ol' English weather will play a part in this nail-biting climax, especially as Mrs L and I have tickets for the final day's play on Monday. (I knew that Puddle Of Mudd album would come in useful someday - now where did I put it?!).
Gov't Mule returned to London last night. Once again Allman Brothers guitarist Warren Haynes and company provided some wonderful entertainment, save for a short interval spending three solid hours on the Mean Fiddler stage. It was great to hear them play 'Thorazine Shuffle', which they overlooked on their debut visit. Their encore, a rearranged version of 'All Along The Watchtower', was another quite magnificent moment. However, coming back just five months after their UK debut in April may have been premature. This crowd was smaller, and although the set was a good 20 minutes longer, some of the extended jamming became a little tiresome. That's just my own personal opinion, but I'm sure I wasn't the only one capable of living without the six-minute drum solo.
Yesterday saw the start of THE BIGGIE. The Fifth Test in the Ashes series: England vs Australia, with the home side needing just (just?!) a draw to secure a glorious triumph. Sadly, because the Aussies already have the Ashes in their power, a tied game would be good enough for the convicts. In typical count-your-chickens-before-you-shoot-yourself-in-the-foot fashion, it's been leaked that England have booked Tragalgar Square for a victory celebration. How dumb and presumptious. At the end of the first day, it was pretty much neck and neck.
In the evening, I got the train up to the Mean Fiddler for a quite stupendous show from Swedish metal-progressives Opeth. I'd seen them six or seven times before, but this was the finest concert they've played in the capital to date. Guitarist/frontman Mikael Åkerfeldt was in charge of the sold-out crowd from the off, ignoring the blast furnace conditions and charming the Fiddler with some hilarious, self-mocking song intros as the newly expanded five-piece bewitched as all with a quite jaw-dropping performance. Following a pre-show interview, Åkerfeldt and I had a transpotter-like discussion about our mutual love of vinyl. Seems that the bugger's list is more extensive than my own. But then as we both agreed, there are far more harmful things that we could be addicted to.
For fear of lapsing into an apopleptic rage, I won't comment on England's shameful World Cup qualifier defeat against Northern Ireland last night. However, considering I missed out on three killer gigs - Driver By Truckers at the Garage, Nile and Hate Eternal at Koko and Skid Row at the Electric Ballroom - to sit at home and drink myself stupid watching such an abhorrent spectacle, well... words almost fail me. My only pleasure was watching Iain 'God' Dowie as a BBC pundit, losing his cool to leap around the studio as David Healy struck the winner.
A great weekend concluded with last night's visit to the Astoria. Within Temptation were the headliners, Cathedral supplying an all too brief (27 minutes?!) opening set. Within Temptation didn't exactly play a marathon show either, but Sharon den Adel's voice is truly stellar, and their 75 minutes housed some wonderful songs. Nice version of Kate Bush's 'Running Up That Hill', too. My biggest concern was the cropped hair and wildly exaggerated shape-throwing of the male members of the band. I'm aware that den Adel and guitarist Robert Westerholt are a romantic item, but there were moments when WT's presentation seemed... well, how can I put this?... a bit on the gay side.
P.S. Can't wait to hear 'Aerial', Kate Bush's first new studio album in 12 years, on November 7.
Saturday 3rd September
Gosh... ain't the human body an amazing creation? This morning I got home from Iron Maiden's after-show party just as my two boys came down for breakfast, and after checking the emails and a quick doze in the chair I was ready to commence drinking again in preparation for England's World Cup qualifier against Wales (later won in unconvincing fashion by a solitary goal). The Maiden show was akin to a religious experience. Having secured front balcony seats (proceeds benefitting MS-stricken ex-drummer Clive Burr, I happily shelled out my £60), gazing down onto the stage and at the riotious crowd before them at times felt like being perched on the rim of an erupting Krakatoa. In all my years of visiting Hammersmith Odeon - my first gig there was Whitesnake in 1979 - I'd never heard a crowd anywhere near as noisy. And I'm sure I wasn't alone in being emotionally choked when Burr was wheeled out onto the stage towards the show's end. I applaud his bravery, and Maiden's loyalty. Wisely, there was no addressing of the Ozzfest debacle from the stage, in fact when Bruce Dickinson accidentally incited boos by mentioning the band's jaunt to America, he just as quickly silenced them. And afterwards, all was harmonious at the post-show soiree. Respect goes to guitarist Adrian Smith, the last Maiden-ite left standing at the bar (well, perched precariously against it) as the sun rose on a new day.
Friday 2nd September
As the music industry grows ever more respectable, lunchtime press receptions appear to be dying out. F**k it, if you've just finished your contribution to a new issue and want to blow off a little steam then a visit to the Borderline to hear Hawkwind's new album, 'Take Me To Your Leader', and the guzzling of some freebie white wine is just what the doctor ordered.
That's exactly what I did yesterday, and better still the band even got up to perform a few numbers!
Heading home I dropped into Fopp Records at Leicester Square, a store that often has a good selection of cheapo CDs. In my inebriated state I picked up David Bowie's 'Reality' and 'Lifeblood' by the Manic Street Preachers for £3 apiece. Bowie's album is listenable yet unexciting, but with the latter I might as well have deposited three pound coins straight down the drain. Can there be a more tired, dirge-like and desperately middle-aged band anywhere in the country?
Thursday 1st September
The British climate generates much amusement, but I'd rather live here than anywhere else in the world. It's incredibly sad to switch on the news and see people still being rescued from the roofs of their houses in New Orleans - four days after the deluge caused by Hurricane Katrina. And they're the lucky ones; with a possible deathcount of thousands and no electricity or food, plus 20,000 sheltering in the city's Superdome stadium, the situation is getting worse. Some say New Orleans will never recover, though at the very least it'll take many months to restore power and hygene. Having visisted this most charistmatic of cities twice - with George Thorogood & The Destroyers in 1999 and in the company of Ted Nugent two years later - I can only express my sympathy. Also to House Of Lords keyboard player Gregg Giuffria, who only 12 months or so after his studio was destroyed by fire saw his Biloxi Hard Rock Casino flattened by the hurricane. And when one considers the 1,000 people crushed to death in yesterday's Baghdad religious stampede... well, I'm lucky that my biggest concern is whether I'll finish my Magnum sleeve notes on time.


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Good News for Fleets, Yet Problems Still Loom
By Jane Clark October 30, 2018 November 14th, 2018 Fleet Management, Technology
Last week, FleetOwner posted an article, State of private fleets in 2018: Part I, which details how the future looks quite positive for private fleets. The article notes that the number, volume and value of shipments continue to rise with no end to growth expected in the near future. This is certainly great news for both fleet owners and those of us in the truck leasing and rental industry.
Citing insights from the National Private Truck Council's annual Benchmarking Survey Report, which discusses the challenges and opportunities that private fleets face, the FleetOwner piece definitely notes the biggest challenge as the driver shortage. That's nothing new but there was a section of this impressive article that really struck me as something much larger than simply the well-known driver shortage situation.
Walmart, Inc has a private fleet of 6,500 trucks. The company pays its drivers an average of about $86,000 a year and has enjoyed a turnover rate below 10%, something nearly unheard of in the industry. But this international mega-business is now finding it difficult to attract new drivers. As most private fleets have realized, current drivers are "aging out" with many retirements looming. The average age of the driver is 55 and that is just untenable.
We've often heard that one of the main reasons it is difficult to attract younger drivers is due to the salary level, yet Walmart pays well above the average national salary of just under $45,000 annually. So what is standing in the way of applying for a job that pays nearly twice the nation's annual salary? Walmart understands. It's why they are taking, according to the article, "to the national airwaves to attract more drivers to fill vacancies and improve the image of a career behind the wheel of a big rig."
And this need to create a new perception exists for the industry as a whole. We all know that we don't just have driver shortages; we have diesel technician shortages which affect every business whether it's a private fleet or a for-hire carrier. I cover these issues often in my IdeaXchange blogs. Just last month, I discussed how it was vital that we start "Spreading the truth about tech jobs." I spoke about the need to change what is an obsolete perception that transportation jobs are low-tech jobs. The need to do this starts well before young job seekers graduate from high school. It starts with educating parents, teachers, and school counselors how our industry has changed.
Yes, we still use vehicles that have engines, wheels, and steering columns, but today's trucks are as different from yesteryear's as today's iPhones are different from Princess landline phones. Today's trucks are amazing technological vehicles and it seems as though each month brings a new feature or application that would have seemed impossible as little as a decade ago.
All of us in the industry need to work to promote how high-tech the business has become in order to attract a generation that was spoon-fed technology at the earliest ages. In my IdeaXchange blog, I cited a press release that suggested we use the term "new collar jobs" instead of "blue collar jobs." I agree. Only when transportation is seen as a "cool" vocation will we be able to attract people in the numbers needed.
See how you can spread the truth about tech jobs.
The future looks great for the private fleets but shortages of drivers and technicians are still of major concern. Maybe it's a matter of perception.
Jane ClarkNationaLeaseprivate fleetstech jobs
Companies Are Betting on Blockchain

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Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Step Out for First Appearance of the Year — to Thank Canada
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex make their first royal outing of the year — to thank Canada for hosting them during their holiday getaway
By Simon Perry
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry stepped out in London on Tuesday after returning from their nearly two-month hiatus from royal work — to thank Canadians for hosting them on their getaway.
The royal parents spent most of their time off in Canada, where they were having what sources close to them said was a much needed break with baby Archie. After making a stop at the Hubb Community Kitchen (one of Meghan's first royal causes) to wish the women a happy New Year and "get an update," a spokeswoman said, they headed to Canada House in London, where they met Janice Charette, High Commissioner to the U.K., to show their appreciation for what the couple's office said was "the warm Canadian hospitality and support they received during their recent stay."
Harry and Meghan, who wore a toffee wool sweater by Massimo Dutti, a brown satin midi skirt by Massimo Dutti and matching velvet pumps with a camel coat by Reiss, were all smiles as they arrived at Canada House. They met with Charette in the "British Columbia Room," which they chose because they stayed on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, during their family break with Archie.
RELATED: David Foster Reveals He Set Up Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's Holiday Getaway in Canada
Chris Jackson/Getty
On the way into Canada House the couple met some of the employees who were standing outside. Harry asked them if they'd all had good holidays.
"He said it was raining a lot of the time in Vancouver," says Jamie Weare, from Ontario — but one of her colleagues pointed out Harry laughed so he may have been joking.
Tim Rooke/Shutterstock
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
Dinendra Haria/Anadolu Agency via Getty
"Meghan said it was beautiful," Weare adds. "They seemed really relaxed and happy."
Adds her colleague Sumira Osmin, "They are just beautiful and just their aura…they are always so positive and very friendly."
They also used the occasion to view a special exhibition by Indigenous Canadian artist, Skawennati and chat with members of the High Commission team who support the partnership between the U.K. and Canada.
"Today's visit provided an opportunity to discuss some of the common priorities and values shared by Canada and Their Royal Highnesses, such as a commitment to conservation and fighting the challenges of climate change, supporting the economic and democratic empowerment of women and girls, and encouraging young people and youth leaders in Canada and across the Commonwealth to actively engage in the social, economic, and environmental challenges of their generation," Charette said.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry
DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP via Getty
Harry, Meghan and Archie spent Thanksgiving and Christmas on Vancouver Island, where they had valuable time with Meghan's mom Doria Ragland and close friends who came to visit them at their remote vacation home.
It was there that the couple posed for their family Christmas greetings and an adorable photo — taken by Meghan — of proud dad Harry and little Archie were captured.
The palace confirmed that the royals were "spending private family time in Canada" during the holiday season. While out for a hike on New Year's Day, they helped a young couple struggling with a selfie stick by taking their photo.
Aaron Chown/PA Images via Getty
"We took a little picnic out and we were finishing up and trying to get some selfies with the nice backdrop when a woman came up to us and asked if we wanted her to take our photo," Asymina Kantorowicz, 29, told PEOPLE.
RELATED: Archie's New Photo with Prince Harry Has a Sweet Hidden Message — and a Surprise Photographer!
Prince Harry and son Archie
Sussex Royals
The couple are now planning the rest of their year, which will see them continue setting up their new foundation that will be the vehicle for much of their charity work, and are looking ahead to the latest Invictus Games, for wounded, sick and injured service members and veterans, which takes place in the Netherlands in May.
Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more!
The last public event that each royal took part in was when Harry attended the inaugural Onside Awards in London on Nov. 17 and Meghan's appearance at a Remembrance Day event on Nov. 10.
By Simon Perry @SPerryPeoplemag


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Puerto Rico Electricity:
FEMA and HUD Have Not Approved Long-Term Projects and Need to Implement Recommendations to Address Uncertainties and Enhance Resilience
GAO-21-54: Published: Nov 17, 2020. Publicly Released: Nov 17, 2020.
Highlights Page:
(PDF, 1 page)
Accessible Version:
(PDF, 52 pages)
Frank Rusco
ruscof@gao.gov
In 2017, hurricanes knocked out Puerto Rico's electricity grid and caused an 11-month blackout—the longest in U.S. history. Efforts are underway to rebuild a more resilient grid.
FEMA has worked with Puerto Rico to assess grid damage, estimate costs, and more. FEMA recently committed about $10 billion to fund grid recovery but has not approved any long-term grid projects or given local entities clear information about how projects will likely be funded.
Two years after funds for grants were appropriated, the Department of Housing and Urban Development hasn't outlined eligibility or application information for these grants.
Hurricane Maria Damaged Power Lines in Puerto Rico in November 2017
What GAO Found
As of October 2020, 3 years since the hurricanes destroyed much of Puerto Rico's electricity grid, neither the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) nor the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) had approved long-term grid recovery projects in Puerto Rico. In 2019, GAO made four recommendations to FEMA and HUD to address identified challenges in rebuilding the electricity grid in Puerto Rico. As of October 2020, FEMA had fully implemented one recommendation and partially implemented two others, while HUD had not implemented its recommendation. Specifically, FEMA established an interagency agreement with the Department of Energy (DOE) to clarify how the agencies would consult on recovery efforts. FEMA had taken actions to partially implement recommendations on improving coordination among federal and local agencies and providing information on industry standards. However, further steps are needed, including finalizing guidance on FEMA's process for approving funding for projects. Regarding HUD, it has not addressed GAO's recommendation to establish time frames and requirements for available funding.
Damaged Power Lines in Puerto Rico in November 2017 after Hurricane Maria
Until HUD and FEMA implement GAO's recommendations, uncertainty will linger about how and when federal funding for long-term grid recovery will proceed. In particular, it is uncertain how available funding sources will support measures to enhance grid resilience to hurricanes, such as smart grid technology. FEMA officials told GAO that additional funding sources could be used for resilience measures but that this would not be determined until specific projects are submitted to FEMA for approval. Moreover, although FEMA finalized a $10 billion cost estimate for grid repairs in September 2020, several steps remain before FEMA approves funding for projects—a process officials said they were drafting. HUD funding could supplement FEMA funding but, as discussed above, HUD has yet to establish conditions for using these funds and has not established time frames and a plan for issuing this information. According to HUD officials, they plan to publish requirements in the first quarter of fiscal year 2021, but this depends on other factors, such as input from other federal agencies. Further delays in publishing the conditions could contribute to delays in Puerto Rico's ability to initiate grid recovery projects.
Why GAO Did This Study
In 2017, Hurricanes Irma and Maria damaged Puerto Rico's electricity grid, causing the longest blackout in U.S. history. It took roughly 11 months after the hurricanes for power to be restored to all of the customers with structures deemed safe for power restoration. Since electricity service has been restored, local entities have undertaken the longer-term task of more fully repairing and rebuilding the grid. GAO reported in 2019 on challenges hindering progress in rebuilding the grid and recommended that FEMA and HUD take actions to address these challenges.
This report examines the status of efforts to support long-term grid recovery in Puerto Rico, including actions taken by FEMA and HUD to implement GAO's 2019 recommendations. For this report, GAO assessed agency actions; reviewed relevant reports, regulations, policies, and documents; and interviewed federal and local officials.
What GAO Recommends
GAO previously made three recommendations to FEMA and one to HUD to provide needed information and improve coordination to support grid recovery. Both agencies disagreed with GAO's characterization of their progress made addressing these prior recommendations. GAO continues to believe additional actions are needed to fully implement these recommendations.
For more information, contact Frank Rusco at (202) 512-3841 or ruscof@gao.gov.
Find Recent Work on Economic Development »
Targeting Federal Funds:
Information on Funding to Areas with Persistent or High Poverty
GAO-20-518: Published: Jul 16, 2020. Publicly Released: Jul 16, 2020.
National Flood Insurance Program:
Fiscal Exposure Persists Despite Property Acquisitions
GAO-20-508: Published: Jun 25, 2020. Publicly Released: Jun 25, 2020.
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Economic Trends, Status of the Tuna Canning Industry, and Stakeholders' Views on Minimum Wage Increases
Priority Open Recommendations:
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el Procesamiento de Préstamos para Desastres Fue Más Puntual, Pero Mejoramientos en la Planificación y la Evaluación del Programa Piloto son Necesarios
GAO-20-369: Published: Feb 7, 2020. Publicly Released: Mar 9, 2020.
Small Business Administration:
Disaster Loan Processing Was Timelier, but Planning Improvements and Pilot Program Evaluation Needed
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Commerce Has Stopped Efforts to Implement Loan Guarantee Program
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Puerto Rico Electricity Grid Recovery:
Better Information and Enhanced Coordination Is Needed to Address Challenges
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Recuperación De La Red Eléctrica En Puerto Rico:
Se Necesita Mejor Información y Coordinación para Enfrentar Desafíos
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One Story Workshop Day Two: W-H-O ARE Y-O-U?
On our second day of workshop in the gorgeous and air-conditioned Center For Fiction, we talked about literary identities – from the page to the internet.
We ate falafel and tabbouleh after morning workshops with Marie-Helene Bertino & Will Allison, and then headed to the Proust floor to hear Paul La Farge's talk on the uses of persona in literature. There, he surveyed a dizzying number of writers with multiple literary personas – from Fernando Pessoa to J.M. Coetzee, assessing the artistic advantages and ethical consequences of creating these identities.
It's old news that writers invent characters for their stories, but what happens when writers create authors – imaginary characters with distinct writing styles, personal histories, appearances? These invented writer characters are called heteronyms (a term invented by Pessoa, who wrote under a whooping 81 different heteronyms, autonyms, and alter egos).
This not only fascinating from a theoretical standpoint, but useful from a craft perspective. La Farge offers the creation of heteronyms as a remedy for writers block and an untapped source of inspiration. "Tired of your voice?" he asks. "Try on a new one." Concerned that no one will care about your writing? Invent a new literary persona (or seven). As long as you keep your writing rooted in reality, these heteronyms will be able to deliver some emotionally resonate truths.
After a short break, we headed downstairs to do One Story author Laura Van den Berg's "The Ingredients Exercise" with the ever-lovely Adina Talve-Goodman (One Story's Managing Editor). We wrote three words on an index card, swapped cards with neighbors, and had fifteen minutes to create a scene using all three words. My words were OCD, beach, and running, and I wrote of two teenage bullies in Atlantic City (~*4evr thirteen). Other writers got meta on us and included the index card in their stories. Since the hardest thing about writing is often getting started, the three words constraint gave us a box to expand around quickly, forcing us to get specific and concrete fast.
We broke for dinner and met back up around seven to share some chilled wine and cheese, Brooklyn lagers and butter cookies. We laughed with (and sometimes at) our hilarious Social Media Panel – Seth Fried, Emma Straub and Julia Fierro, who encouraged timid writers to develop an internet presence despite any anxieties. They too felt strange after their first blog posts and virgin tweets.
As Seth joked, "Since literary fiction has the cultural pull of ventriloquism," social media can help give people a taste of a writer's personality and build a community of supporters. "Keep it inclusive instead of divisive," Seth urges. "Don't alienate people. Build a big tent online and let your work move people. Don't try to move people through the internet." Stay posi, keep it cool with the politics, and don't be that guy who only tweets about his book tour and how many books he's sold.
In order to preserve privacy and cultivate a genuine persona, post about personal tastes – art, music, books you've loved – instead of posting pictures of your new lover or your poor seventeen-year-old (you're killing us, Mom). Your internet presence should reflect a wide range of your personality and interests, not just your professional life. Julia was able to connect with more people by sharing her identity as not just a writer, but as a mother, knitter, etc. Round out your personality across platforms, but do make sure to have one landing place where people can find quick factual information about you and your book too.
As always, be genuine. And true to who you are: as a person, and a writer.
This entry was posted in Events, From the Trenches, One Story News by Kirsten Saracini. Bookmark the permalink.


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text:
"""
    A map-reduce that calculates the density for each
    of a set of tracks.  The track density is the average
    number of segments per segment for a track.
"""

from mrjob.job import MRJob
import track

# if YIELD_ALL is true, we yield all densities, otherwise,
# we yield just the extremes

YIELD_ALL = True

class MRDensity(MRJob):
    """ A  map-reduce job that calculates the density """

    def mapper(self, _, line):
        """ The mapper loads a track and yields its density """
        t = track.load_track(line)
        if t:
            if t['tempo'] > 0:
                density = len(t['segments']) / t['duration']
                #only output extreme density
                if YIELD_ALL or density > 8 or density < .5:
                    yield (t['artist_name'], t['title'], t['song_id']), density

    # no need for a reducer
    #def reducer(self, key, val):
        #yield (key, sum(val))

if __name__ == '__main__':
    MRDensity.run()

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Updated April 7, 2016: Use 'cit' instead of 'vitx', correction about identity functions vs idempotence.
In this article, a method for inserting vim into the middle of a unix pipe is presented. This method has several caveats, but it can produce extremely terse and powerful text transformations that leverage all of the knowledge you already have about vim. It can even work with augmentations found in plugins. The command below appears to work in my version of bash, dash, and zsh. A friend tells me that it also works on his Mac.
it        #  Select the inner tag block of the XML the cursor is over.
Ok I Will #  Since we're in insert mode, this just types 'Ok I Will'.
by doing the equivalent of opening vim, typing '/' for search, then typing brown, pressing enter, using 'dw' to delete a word, then typing 'red ' in insert mode.
by doing the equivalent of opening vim, typing 'vi"' to select everything inside matching quotes, 'x' to delete the selection, 'i' to enter insert mode and type 'abc'.
by doing the equivalent of opening vim, and typing a regex replacement that matches numbers and puts commas after them.
The following example takes advantage of the vim-surround plugin (tested with commit 2d05440ad23f97a7874ebd9b5de3a0e65d25d85c).
by doing the equivalent of opening vim, and typing '$' to move to the end of the line, and 'ds"' to remove the surrounding double quotes.
If you read the post on XKCD's StackSort Implemented In A Vim Regex, you're probably thinking "Now I can just pipe everything through Stack Overflow", and if so, you're not only correct but you're also a genius.
Which is the first answer to the first question to 'sort a list in bash' on Stack Overflow which was answered by ams.
Now, just pipe that straight into 'bash' without looking at it and call it a day.
One very serious caveat is that you cannot use this technique for processing data that can be infinite in length. Vim will always attempt to read stdin until it receives an end of file character, and if this never happens it will simply keep reading forever and use up all of your memory. In addition, you cant use CTRL C to kill this process because vim puts the terminal into an altered state. After testing this on my machine programs like sort seem to be intelligent when you run them on infinite sized inputs, in that they don't eat up all your memory and will instead just hang forever. In this case, Vim will just keep using memory and eventually start eating up swap space.
I experimented with a number of flags, but unfortunately, there was always at least one case where newlines were modified in some way in the output that did not reflect what was in the input. Special cases like empty input, input that is a single newline, or input ending in one or more newlines are problematic because of overzealous adding or removing of terminating newlines at the end of files.
As far as I can tell, the original command at the top can act as an identity function for every case except for an empty file (where an extra newline is added). The alternative using 'set noeol' seems to be cause unwanted changes for every input that does not end with a newline because it will always try to remove them.
stderr is used as an output to allow us to ignore the devistatingly annoying "Vim: Reading from stdin..." text that appears when reading from stdin. Please, if you ever design anything that runs from the command line, please allow a way to turn off all superfluous output. Even if you find yourself saying "Why would anyone want to do that?".
One unfortunate side-effect of putting the output through stderr and then re-directing it back to stdout, is that your output will now pick up any error messages that are printed to stderr. I didn't encounter any while testing this, but I did find that in an older version of Vim, that there are extra newlines output to stderr every time that Vim is run. Very annoying.
This will pipe the output through file descriptor 3 and ignore everything from stderr and stdout. I'm not sure how portable this will be and I'm unsure if there are any other negative side effects to using /dev/fd/3 (for example, a conflict with an internal use of fd 3). Use at your own risk.
When you enter vim, the terminal is put into raw mode where keyboard commands like CTRL +C can be handled directly by the program instead of being handled by the kernel. If you use the technique introduced here, and you have an error in one of the vim commands, it won't properly exit vim, and because we're starting vim without a UI, the terminal will hang foverer, and CTRL +C won't help you. This is annoying, but you'll just have to close the terminal.
Tools like AWK or sed are great for those simple hacky instances where you need to automate some form of text processing, but they often lack things that you could do in a few key strokes in Vim. Using the technique presented in this article, you can do anything in a unix pipe that you could do if you were inside Vim. This technique does not work for infinite length streams, and it has a few other caveats, but it should prove useful when you need a quick and dirty solution.


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"Amends" refers to Step Nine in the 12-step program invented by the founders of Alcoholics Anonymous in 1935. Each "step" is an action taken in order to become free of addiction. In Step Eight, members of a 12-step group make a list of all the people they have harmed and decide to make direct amends to them. In Step Nine, members make amends to all each person they identified, except if doing so would injure them or others.
According to the "Big Book" used in 12-step recovery groups, making amends means to set right past wrongs or to repair damage due to mistakes you made in the past. Drug addicts and alcoholics often have histories of harming other people through lying, stealing, embarrassing them, physical and verbal assaults, getting in trouble with the law and forcing others to cover up for them. Whenever possible, members must take practical action to repair what needs to be fixed. For example, if you stole money from a friend to pay for drugs, it is not enough to simply apologize. Instead, you need to pay back the money.
The "Big Book" says that members making amends "must not shrink from anything, even risking their reputations or going to jail." Step Nine can take a few days or many years to finish. Members often say working through Step Nine can be extremely beneficial and even life-changing, as they experience a new freedom from guilt, self-pity, uselessness and fear of interacting with other people they avoided for years.


"As an engineer, I am good with numbers and problem solving, so I've always chosen to do my taxes myself. But one of my recent investments was an oil and gas MLP (master limited partnership) and my standard tax software was not up to the task. I was using Excel to try to keep track of things, but could not figure out how to enter all the data from the K1s into my tax software. Google only confirmed that everyone else complained about the same problem—that my "Name Brand" tax software could not handle this!


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text:
Gebhard Fürst (Bietigheim-Bissingen, 2 december 1948) is een Duits geestelijke en bisschop van de Rooms-Katholieke Kerk.

Fürst leerde eerst Grieks en Hebreeuws tijdens de propedeutische vooropleiding van het bisdom Rottenburg-Stuttgart, alvorens hij met de studie theologie in Tübingen begon. Na afronding von zijn studie in Tübingen en Wenen trad hij in 1975 toe tot het priestersemenarie van Rottenburg-Stuttgart. Nadat hij eerst in 1975 tot diaken gewijd was, volgde in 1977 zijn wijding tot priester. Nadat hij zijn dissertatie over Johann Gottfried Herders hermeneutische Theorie der Sprache had geschreven, werd hij door Max Seckler in de fundamentele theologie gepromoveerd. In 1999 werd Fürst benoemd tot kapelaan van Zijne Heiligheid.

Op 7 juli 2000 werd hij door paus Johannes-Paulus II tot bisschop van Rottenburg-Stuttgart benoemd. Op 17 september 2000 werd hij tot bisschop gewijd.

Zie ook
 Overzicht van Duitse bisdommen en bisschoppen

Externe link
 Gebhard Fürst op Catholic Hierarchy

Fürst, Gebhard

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Review: Locrian – The Clearing & The Final Epoch
Locrian – The Clearing & The Final Epoch
When I got this album I had never heard of the band before and not heard any of their previous works, but the presentation of the band got me interested as soon as I read the words experimental, dark ambient and noise. I thought this could be interesting, as this kind of music, if it is done well, will take you on a journey into your own imagination. This is not music you only listen to, this is music you feel.
Locrian was formed as a band in late 2005 with André Foisy (Electric and Acoustic Guitars, Arp Avatar, Electronics) and Terence Hannum (Vocals, Synthesizers, Piano, Organ, Mellotron and Tapes) as the creative forces back then, the band first became a trio when Steven Hess (Drums, Electronics) was recruited. The album The Clearing has only been available on vinyl prior to this release and is now out on a 2CD/Digital album re-titled The Clearing & The Final Epoch, where the second disc contains previously unreleased material.
The Clearing:
This is an emotional rollercoaster and I know that this kind of music isn't for everyone, and Locrian's experimental music is probably something you will either love or hate.
It starts out with 'Chalk Point' a haunting, claustrophobic, eerie, atmospheric, dark soundscape that starts out with atmospheric noises that soon gets accompanied with a lonely piano. Slowly, slowly it builds up and ends up in a beautiful chanting melody. This is a voyage into the unknown – into one's own imagination and feelings. Chanting distant vocals, beautiful relaxing instruments that feels fluid and light, like they are dancing around each-other. All this together creates the most interesting music I've heard in a while. I was quite taken after the first listen to this great track and feel I have been left out on something amazing, not knowing about Locrian sooner.
The next track 'Augury In An Evaporating Tower' has a more industrial feeling, but still holds this haunting, dark feeling that is the core of every track on this album. Screams and violent drumming only adds to the futuristic, chaotic feeling. A distorted guitar blends in at the end, and I get this overwhelming 'left for dead in space imagery in my head.
Next track 'Coprolite' starts out with static noises but then gets accompanied by an acoustic guitar. This is yet another great voyage into one's own feelings and imagination. And I just realize what makes Locrian stand out in the experimental, atmospheric, drone genre: their tracks goes somewhere, it is not only repeated riffs going on for 15 minutes without progression, they have a core, a specific sound or instrument that carries the track, but something is added, taken away and mixed up throughout the tracks. This makes it interesting, relaxing and really enjoyable. And they have a unique sound.
Final track 'The Clearing' starts out with a repetitive note that forebodes something, but you don't know what it is. It builds up with other sounds that let your mind drift off. Distant screams and a lonely drum beat only add to the really dark unsettling soundscape. I think that if you were to describe insanity in music, this is how it would sound like: Chaotic, schizophrenic, ugly, confusing, calm, serene and beautiful.
The Final Epoch:
This bonus album continues in the same path as The Clearing, with eerie, dark moods, spacy ambience, playful guitars, screams and noise, but are much more drone-like, spacy and meditative. The Final Epoch really gives you a post-apocalyptic feeling. I feel this first track is much darker than any of the previous tracks I've heard on The Clearing album.
'On A Calcified Shore' starts out with a high-pitched note that had me turn down the volume some. The track has a futuristic aura and builds up very slowly. This is ambient drone at its finest in my opinion. It is minimalistic, but because of the addition of different sounds along the way I don't find it boring or too long (The track is 13:11 minutes long).
'Omega Vapors' continues in the same path as the previous track, repetitive droning notes and futuristic imagery.
'Falling Towers' mixes distorted guitars and ambient electronics in a dreamlike soundscape and I love how the bass enters and gives the song a boost.
'After The Torchlight' is really dark and haunting. The ambiance is too grand in this final track, I feel like I'm part of something bigger. The total relaxed state The Final Epoch has put me in is really pleasant.
What can I say after this trip? It is well composed and I feel there has been a clear vision of the end result and it feels complete. The dark atmosphere is the core through all of the compositions on The Clearing. The desperate screaming vocal that appears throughout the tracks, feels well placed and only adds to the dark haunting feeling. Beauty and rays of light appears and disappears within the dark haunting, claustrophobic, chaos. The Final Epoch is more drone-like and meditative and might be harder for the vast majority to grasp and enjoy. And because The Clearing was so amazingly good, The Final Epoch sort of leaves you wishing for more. That said, this double album made such a big impact on me and left me with a good feeling. As I had just been on a ride to unknown dimension and galaxies.
The Clearing & The Final Epoch by Locrian
The review was written for and first publiced on the Greek underground web magasine SubExistance: http://subexistance.com/reviews/locrian-clearing-final-epoch
Locrian, Review, Subexistance
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[…] one position. Locrian stole my heart back in 2012 with their album The Clearing/The Final Epoch (Review here), but I simply couldn't get into their last release, Return To Annihilation from 2013, how […]
Do the math... * åtta − = fyra


Neural Networks are computer systems that, using algorithms, attempt to very loosely replicate the model of the human brain on a much smaller scale. These computer systems are able to process information received from external inputs, and can even learn to complete tasks. For instance, neural networks have been developed that can learn to identify certain aspects of images, such as hand-written numbers. From the information that they process, they are able to develop a certain group of characteristics for each number, allowing them to be identified.
These networks are often structured in different tiers of artificial neurons, which each perform different functions in the identification of different things. Signals travel into the network from an external input and through each of the network's tiers, until they reach the last tier where they are identified. For example, in the identification of hand-written numbers, the 28x28 pixels of the input image are processed by each tier of the network, with each tier identifying certain aspects of the input image. Then, the signals of the input image reach what is called the output layer, where the input image can be identified based on the identification of a series of features of the number's construction. In a similar way to how children's brains learn by recognition, these neural networks begin to learn based on the recognition of these input images. These systems often learn by what is called the 'delta rule'. By this method, neural networks make guesses at what the answer to the input image may be, and determine how they go forward based on how wrong their initial response was.
What are the practical applications of neural networks?
Neural networks give us the ability to find solutions to problems that could otherwise not be solved with conventional computational algorithmic methods. Their utility is enhanced by the fact that they do not need to be programmed because they are self-learning and acquire knowledge through the mistakes they make. For example, these deep layered neural networks can be useful in fingerprint recognition tests, thus giving neural networks a vast array of different uses from the recognition of criminals, to car and bank security processes. Neural networks have also been increasingly utilised in character recognition, with the growth of 'Palm Devices' and the use of these kinds of technologies in mobile phones. These networks have also been used as tools to predict stock market fluctuations thanks to their ability to process huge amounts of information extremely quickly. This gives neural networks the opportunity to process all the different factors that could affect stock prices rapidly.
The future of neural networks?
Neural networks, alongside artificial intelligence technologies, look set to continue their rapid growth in the near future. Artificial intelligence is hugely reliant on these brain-replicating networks, allowing artificial intelligence technologies to learn by themselves, without prior programming. A self driving car, for instance, would not require a pre-programmed navigation system, but instead would instead interact with its passenger and understand the desired destination. With the use of neural networks, artificial intelligence technologies would develop the ability to learn and reason in a way which mirrors that of a human. Such technologies may still seem incredibly futuristic, but neural networks will without doubt begin to play an ever increasing role in our daily lives.
Have a Neural Network Algorithm to share?
Any questions on Neural Networks?


Silly, funny, and outrageous, Toes in My Nose is the book that launched Sheree Fitch's career as Canada's premier nonsense poet. From Popcorn Pete and Mabel Murple to Zelba Zinnamon, these are some of the best-loved poems and characters in Canadian children's literature.
The twenty-fifth-anniversary edition is now available in paperback, with Governor General's Award-winning illustrator Sydney Smith hilariously portraying a neighbourhood of kids flying to the moon, playing banjo with orangutans, and bathing with submarines. Toes in My Nose will introduce a whole new generation to Sheree Fitch's magnificent feat of imagination.


So to answer the other question: should you read Memoir: A History? If you have any interest in memoirs, then yes. If not, then no. But any English major, writer, wanna-be memoirist or novelist, or prose reader in general would do well picking this short history up. Memoir: A History entertained me with precise details, clever anecdotes and concise histories for over 250 pages, handling a controversial medium with balance.
Which side does Ben Yagoda take? He doesn't. Yagoda points out the good memoirs and the bad ones. He points out their flaws, and their dubious history; he is fair throughout. You might think I'd hate this. I didn't, it made the book more honest, and feel more true.
But what about those arguments? Come back next week, when I'll apply what I learned from Yagoda's Memoir: A History to the modern, post-9/11 war memoir.
Here's my thought: It's weird that novel-lengthed fiction books must be memoirs, when most short stories are memoirs they are just called "fiction". It is two sides of the same coin, we all know that fiction is about the author, but the fiction element allows the author to break from the anchors of truth to tell a better story. Good review.


Reddit users were incredibly encouraging when he shared photos of his first attempts with make-up.
In the last few years male beauty vloggers like James Charles and Manny Gutierrez have become phenomenally popular on YouTube, gaining millions of video views and subscribers.
But back in the real world, men wearing make-up is still far from the norm.
So when Reddit user Terry Gardener decided to wear make-up in public for the first time, he turned to the website's MakeUpAddictionUK page to ask for other users' opinions on his first attempt.
"What is your opinion of men wearing make-up?" he asked, saying he's been interested in make-up for decades, but only recently decided to be more open about it.
In response, the beauty buffs of Reddit were unanimously encouraging.
In another thread, Terry shared photos of his first two attempts at a full face of make-up – he's also been posting on his Instagram page – and the compliments came pouring in.
Terry also asked for constructive criticism and fellow Redditers offered him advice such as trying a lip liner or lip gloss, using eyelash curlers and considering where to place his blusher, which he welcomed.
Compliments and helpful hints from a supportive online community – wouldn't it be amazing if the rest of the internet was as kind and non-judgemental as this?