White woolly, rounded 1 in. leaves and furry stems, soft as chamois, steal the show here. Though the tiny white blooms are insignificant and should be sheared off to maintain an appealing bushy, yet compact form, Ballota sparkles against deep greens and bronzes. Acquiescent to drought, salt spray and high winds, it begs good drainage and protection from excessive winter wet. This illuminated Mediterranean mint makes an excellent choice for borders, banks and rock gardens and was once prescribed by Dioscorides as an antidote for the bite of a mad dog.
A fabulous Dan Hinkley introduction, from a 1998 Sichuan Province collecting trip, False Bugbane sports slender spikes of dainty white flowers poised above dapper heart-shaped leathery foliage with a marooninfused lacquer-like sheen. The low growing evergreen rosette slowly forms a splendid undemanding ground cover that is further enhanced by intriguing venation, softly toothed foliar margins and purplish brown petioles. Beesia deltophylla belongs to the Buttercup family and is well-suited for the woodlands or underneath high canopies, where it glimmers amid companions such as Corydalis, Cyclamen or Ferns and revels in moist but not soggy compost-enriched soil.
This fetching winter-hardy tuberous Begonia has lots to toot its horn about. The mounded, gleaming green clump presents attractive, large angel-wing leaves sporting red veins, branched stems with cardinal-hued nodes and exquisite panicles of yellow-centered white flowers. A perfect companion for fellow shade dwellers like Pulmonarias and Impatiens omeiana, 'Alba' appears late spring, requiring mulch in cold winter locales and slightly acidic, well-drained moisture-retentive soil.
Though the polished triangular foliage resembles the species, it was the masses of deep pink, nearly 12 in. long flower clusters, pirouetting with a dancer's grace that caught Dan Hinkley's keen eye during a 1997 Japanese expedition. Draped on slender pendulous stems, the richly hued flowers, highlighted by lavender accents, deliver a splendid nonstop performance from June until fall; later warm pink seed heads provide a midautumn encore.
Relishing well-drained soil and bright shade, this delicate-looking hardy Begonia is a sterling choice for a container or for massing as a bedding plant.
Blooms June – early October.
This natural beauty sports a just-blown-in appearance, forming a big billowy mass of small white daisy-shaped flowers and tasteful linear gray-green foliage. Innumerable yellow-eyed 'asteroides' shoot straight up on tall sturdy stems that seldom need staking and assert a strong vertical element. Cold hardy 'Snowbank' can be associated with Helenium 'Rubinzwerg', Kniphofia 'Yellow Cheer' and Helianthus 'Dakota Queen' for a big boisterous late season gathering.
Lush heart-shaped, 5 in. wide dark green foliage plus wiry branched stems waving tiny intensely blue flowers with yellow eyes beg you to think "forget-me-not". This solidly colored verdant departure from its variegated cousins brings tasteful leafy texture to shady borders or woodland gardens.
Size: 12" – 15" high x 2' 0" wide.
Size: 15" – 18" high x 2' 0" – 2-1/2' wide.
Not all variegated plants can boast the sophisticated beauty displayed by this British introduction's lovely foliage. It features felted, heart-shaped, pale green leaves, each emarginated with an irregular, rich cream-colored swath. Delicate sprays of starry blue flowers dance above on graceful stems, offering a soothing yet vibrant presence in a shady spot.
Awash in a mercury-like effulgence, broad heart-shaped leaves are etched by light green veins creating the most dramatic crackled ceramic pattern. 'Jack Frost's highly refined silvered persona offsets bronze, green and gold foliage, while sky-blue flowers add a playful lift.
A native of the American West, Wild Hyacinth's slender spikes of dark blue flowers are brightened by a clutch of yellow stamens as they rise from straplike basal foliage. Unlike most bulbs, 'Blue Danube' relishes moisture and will even tolerate clay, providing it gets plenty of sun. Its ethereal starriness naturalizes superbly in the wild garden with Geranium 'Katherine Adele'.
Highly touted by Graham Stuart Thomas, who once referred to it as "a picture of poise and beauty," this vigorous, clump-forming Campanula hosts a multitude of imposing one-sided spires, packed with creamy white bells from top to bottom. Prominent calyces clasp 2 in. long, nodding blooms, which elegantly illuminate the handsome, long-petioled heart-shaped leaves below.
Endemic to the meadows and open woodlands of the Polish Alps and Italian Dolomites plus a region in Norway, this exquisite, seldom offered alpine beauty is named for the unique hairy fringe that extends from nodding porcelain-blue flower tips. Bearded Bellflower's delicate blooms prance on erect, nearly leafless stems, rising from narrow, lance-shaped pale green foliage. Sustained by a large perennial taproot, the small rough-textured basal rosette begs lime-free, not-so-rich, well- drained soil in the rockery, scree garden or a raised bed, where it may be short-lived but happily reseeds.
Size: 8" – 15" high x 8" wide.
Featured in showy rounded heads, pastel-hued flowers surmount stocky upright stems loosely attired with small sessile leaves. Each long-lasting cluster houses up to 15 small blooms, described by deep mauve tips, aged pale blushed petals and newer more saturated amethyst-pink ones for a distinctive 2-toned effect. Large long-petioled foliage—hairy, toothed, and ovate-shaped—forms a verdant slowly spreading basal clump that relishes even moisture and exhibits more heat tolerance than most glomerata species. Seldom offered and easily cultivated, 'Caroline' can be associated with pink-blooming Persicaria 'Dimity'.
Large, waxy dark violet-blue flowers hang like lanterns on 3 to 4 ft. stems above glossy basal foliage. We plant this quick colonizing offspring of Campanula takesimana among other vigorous perennials such as Kniphofia 'Bressingham Sunbeam' at the front of the border.
Though its name conjures visions of tumbling snow, this sublime and reliable perennial manifests glistening masses of large, bell-shaped snowy white flowers in well-formed clusters. The lovely, long-lasting summertime blooms are bolstered by stout branched stems and tidy, pointed midgreen leaves. Tailor-made for a cottage garden or mixed planting, 'Avalanche' becomes a refreshing counterpoint to warm-hued blossoms on a hot afternoon.
Blowsy branching heads of soft pink bellflowers crown sturdy stems lined in pointed leaves, and with Boltonia 'Snowbank' nearby create a perfect duet for harmony and support. We love this plant just as much in winter when we pull back the mulch to see its crisp, fleshy white buds slumbering away the cold months.
You can't see the foliage for the flowers in this soft puff of pale lavender-blue. We initially encountered this lovely dwarf Blooms of Bressingham selection of C. lactiflora nearly 30 years ago in a garden designed by Beatrix Ferrand, and we're thrilled to have it available again. Conical panicles are packed with dainty bell-shaped blooms above a compact lush-looking medium green mound. For foliar contrast and a classic combination of blue and white, 'Pouffe' can accompany Francoa ramosa.
A diminutive leafy mound of soft-looking fresh greenery with toothed margins cushions enchanting outward facing pure white, clustered bell flowers that bees and hummingbirds adore. Selected by revered plantsman Alan Bloom, 'White Pouffe's well-groomed compact character can be easily nestled into the frontlines of a border or atop a wall next to Phlox 'Mini Pearl' for foliar contrast and pearl-hued blooms.
This elegant Campanula forms a tidy mound of deep green evergreen rosettes that hugs the ground. Stiff, flowering stems, in no need of staking, rise midsummer, displaying a multitude of ridged, creamy chartreuse buds. The abundant, snow-white, star-shaped flowers, each accented by three curled white anthers, are perfect for the white garden, especially against Phlox 'David'.
This pre-glasnost Yugoslav émigré is a deservedly popular ground cover. Starry sprays of frosty white bells cover a low mat that can venture over walls or colonize a rock garden.
This favorite of ours conjures images of a brilliant sky. The star-shaped blue-violet flowers open to reveal a white center that contrasts sharply with the deep green foliage. In a crevice or trailing over a rock wall with Geum 'Beech House Apricot', 'Stella's colors will contrast stellarly.
Size: 6" – 8" high x 20" wide.
Not one person has passed by this plant in our garden without stopping to admire its extraordinary bell-shaped cherry-red flowers, which are neatly edged in white. Brightened by pale, purple-spotted throats, they can extend over 3 in. If the timing is right, onlookers will also notice the unusual ridged buds, fastened by long, narrow green calyxes. The ample-sized, pendulous blooms and buds are especially striking against the backdrop of somewhat triangular, serrated green leaves.
Size: 2' 0" – 2-1/4' high x 2-1/2' wide.
It's hard to imagine how on earth 'Kent Bells' could be improved upon but that's exactly what happened when this first-rate Campanula punctata and trachelium hybrid was introduced. Not as tall, more compact and slow to spread are all good reasons why 'Sarastro' should be invited into your garden, but then add glistening 2 in. dark violet-blue bells and it becomes simply indispensable.
Named for the Austrian nursery where it originated, this exceptional Bellflower boasts sturdy, 20 in. spikes laden with floral pendants that don't need staking, and look downright gorgeous alongside yellow flowering Centaurea ruthenica.
Size: 18" – 20" high x 18" – 2' 0" wide.
Gracing American gardens since the 1800s, this rarely offered, endangered Campanula fashions an attractive gray-green rosette of crinkled, arrow-shaped leaves, each with a rounded base, a somewhat fuzzy surface and long petioles. The dainty floriferous display of soft blue, flared bells borne on one-sided, upright racemes belies its rugged character.
A sun tolerant, clumping perennial, Campanula sarmatica's quiet charm can be admired along a border's edge or atop a wall accompanying Diascia 'Coral Canyon'.
If fairies lived in flowers, they would certainly call this Korean Campanula home. White with hints of lilac on the outside and spotted maroon on the inside, the 2 in. lanternlike flowers lighten even the darkest of days. With reddish stems and large deep green basal foliage, this perennial spreads easily and can be grown in full sun on the coast.
Profusions of showy violet-blue flowers, their delicate layers of petals opening widely, embellish strong leafy stems above a neat mound of jagged-edged basal foliage. An excellent choice for the rock garden, tuck 'Bernice' in a crevice with gray-leafed Salvia 'Bee's Bliss' nearby.
Everything about this fantastic subalpine Chinese native is BIG! Enormous bulbs stockpile their stamina for nearly seven years before launching 10 to 15 ft. tall, hollow black-infused flowering stems, loosely clad in glossy leaves. An elegant gathering of pendulous, 10 in. long creamy white, trumpet-like blooms with reddish purple-streaked throats and a delectable fragrance crowns the energy charged treelike stalks.
Below, handsome thick, heart-shaped foliage that measures about 10 in. across and 18 in. long forges a large green basal rosette. The Giant Himalayan Lily possesses a long lasting dramatic stance, even in autumn, when decorative fruit capsules transmute warm chestnut hues and split open, pouring their countless silky seeds upon the garden.
After flowering the plant sadly perishes, but smaller bulbs ensure an extraordinary encore in a couple of years.
Size: 15' 0" high x 2' 0" wide.
Shrouded in a blue mist from midsummer until frost, these woody, shrublike perennials proclaim an Asian heritage and Verbena relations. Aromatic and paired, the deciduous foliage is attired with dense clusters of tantalizing whorled flowers enhanced by showy extended stamens. An excellent choice for a shrubby bed, mixed border or open bank, their cool colors complement the warmer tones of late season blooms. Prized by bees and butterflies, sun-loving Caryopteris tolerates some drought and demands good drainage.
This shrubby perennial is valued for its ability to handle a dry site, but definitely proves itself indispensable when masses of its deep blue-violet flowers put on a spectacular show. Enveloping stiff upright stems, the richly colored blooms are long lasting in the garden and in arrangements as well. Handsome, grayish green felted leaves emit a pleasing medicinal scent as they cloak Common Bluebeard's looser, more open profile.
From the ruins of Europe and the chalky cliffs of Dover to your garden's refuge, this age-old Mediterranean perennial is second-to-none for long showy summertime bloom. Clothed with glaucous and paired, stem-less blue-green leaves that the Sicilians once savored in their salads, the handsome bushy clump entices us with minute, deep carmine-red fragrant florets densely arranged in domed, cut-flower-perfect terminal clusters.
Whether it's situated on slopes, amid stone walls, terrace cracks or the border, the boldly colored Red Valerian can endure most conditions except damp shade, and especially thrives in alkaline soil with little or moderate moisture. A good pruning ensures a repeat bloom, maintains a pleasing shape and prevents self-seeding.
Of all the garden worthy thistles, this intensely colored Cirsium is the most coveted. Elevated on upright, branched leafy stems, the densely packed dark crimson flowers have a tidy symmetrical appearance, while beckoning pollinating insects and birds or enhancing cut arrangements. Prickly narrow cut green leaves form a slowly spreading clump that appreciates moisture and works well in a natural-style planting, especially when associated with other opulent blooming perennials like Papaver 'Patty's Plum' or Astrantia 'Moulin Rouge'.
Size: 4' 0" high x 20" – 2' 0" wide.
While calling this chipper pincushion-like flower "blue" is a bit of a stretch, its saturated heather purple color is sure to please. The vivid nectar-rich blossoms are a pollinator's delight, sojourning on upright slender stems that rise from narrow green leaves laced with a subtle silver sheen.
This twining, dainty member of the Campanula family reveals a quiet beauty and hidden treasures. Inside each nodding, urn-shaped china blue flower is a remarkable tapestry of color: dark purple veins and maroon bands with orange at the base. Appreciative of a cool, well drained site, the upright gray-green clump eventually trails, and should be planted in a raised position above a wall or along garden steps so that you can admire the cloistered bloom colors.
Size: 20" high x 20" wide.
While its name does little to conjure a pleasing image, this demure perennial's charm is easily conveyed. Populating the cool, moist streamsides and woodlands of Japan and northern China and closely akin to the Primula genus, Cortusa makes a pretty detail in a shady rock garden.
The dainty umbels are poised on 9 in. stems, spotlighting pendant, bell-shaped rosy purple flowers with white-ringed centers above a low growing, downy soft clump of broadly rounded, incised leaves.
Size: 9" high x 10" wide.
As it translates, "cabbage-like, heart-shaped foliage" is accurate but misses the big picture, and we mean big. Handsome, crisp green leaves, each measuring 12 to 14 in. long and wide, form a 2 to 3 ft. mound. A single stem nearly 3 ft. tall hosts a giant spray of tiny flowers, a loose haze of filigree in Paleolithic proportions. When cut, the fragrant blossom works like Baby's Breath. Dynamic as a specimen or background plant, Crambe adds high drama, even humor, to any situation.
With henna-imbued green sword-shaped blades and richly tinted burnt reddish umber blooms, this floriferous Crocosmia celebrates salsa-style colors. The narrow-leafed elegantly arching clump gives way to dark mahogany buds and lavish quantities of starry, open-faced yellow-eyed flowers. Locate near companions such as Kniphofia 'Wol's Red Seedling' and Geum 'Blazing Sunset' and enjoy the sizzle.
Dainty sprays of carmine colored flowers are a pleasing counterpoint to upright green foliage and bronzy green stems. A red-streaked yellow throat centers the open, pale tomato red face, while the outside of the petal is flushed with a richer red. The real jewel of 'Carmine Brilliant's crown, however, may be the stunning flower buds, which have a mustard colored band, a deep brick red tip and crimson-purple calyxes.
Lifted above upright, narrow apple-green blades on sturdy branched green stems, a plethora of trumpet-shaped sunny yellow blooms with cream-colored throats radiate good cheer for gardeners and hummingbirds alike. 'Honey Angels' is a compact well-groomed Crocosmia aurea and Crocosmia pottsii hybrid that can be staged amongst Agapanthus 'Back in Black' and Aster 'Prince' for a lively late season tango.
This Crocosmia is full of promise as vivid orange buds, nestled in dark calyxes, begin to open. A vigorous clump of olive-green blades, warmly tinted in bronze hues, gives way to sprays of large, outfacing flowers, colored a sherbety yellow-orange on the inside and backed with deeper peach shades. Position beside blue blooming Aconitum and relish the spirited union of complementary colors.
Size: 3-1/4' high x 2' 0" – 2-1/2' wide.
This dazzling Alan Bloom creation is applauded for its sultry presentation of deep scarlet star-shaped blooms, which glow like embers on artfully arching stems. Flowering a little later and longer than 'Lucifer' with tidy, more compact green pleated foliage, 'Emberglow's nodding tubular flowers deliver flashy accents to Aster 'Monch' and Helenium 'Sahin's Early Flowerer', while the decorative fruiting stalks are prized in cut arrangements.
Above a sea of bronze-toned foliage, dark purple calyxes highlight 'Emily Mckenzie's wide-open, yellowish orange flowers, and dramatic maroon markings decorate their pale orange centers. To enhance the stunning carousel of color, pair this robust beauty with Aster 'Bill's Big Blue'.
Back in 1905, Dutch plantsman E. H. Krelage developed this aptly named Crocosmia that premiers medium-sized yet copious deep crimson-scarlet blooms with tangerine highlights, yellow throats and maroon calyces. Dark buds unfurl the dazzling display above narrow, straight sword-shaped green leaves, and wield a red-hot union when accompanying Aconitum 'Arendsii' or Eryngium 'Blue Glitter'.
Relatively new on the scene, 'Limpopo' embellishes any late summer vignette when its tight clusters of wide-open, pretty coral-hued flowers with sunlit yellow throats unfurl. Pointed, green foliar blades form a dashing upright clump that offsets the uniquely colored blooms and their arching bronze-toned stems.
Size: 2-3/4' high x 18" wide.
Bred in 1887 by French nurseryman and hybridizer Victor Lemoine, 'Météore' showers the garden with large warm-hued flowers. Broad rounded petals have red-streaked, burnt orange backsides, while a cinnabar throat and cozy orange and amber colors enhance the interior. And if the abundant lively blooms aren't reason enough to usher this Crocosmia into your garden, there's more—tangerine-tinted buds, purple calyxes and a verdant clump of sword-shaped upright leaves.
Hailing from the Dutch nursery Langedijk, this floriferous hybrid Croscosmia closely resembles Crocosmia masoniorum more so than its other parent, Crocosmia paniculata. Blade-like ribbed green leaves forge a tasteful forest, unleashing remarkable upturned sprays of toasty yellow-throated red blooms perched on narrow arching stems. A top-notch addition to cottage gardens, borders or coastal plantings, 'Mistral's flowers bewitch the butterflies and emblazon perennials such as Dahlia 'Bishop Of York', Monarda 'Jacob Cline' and Helenium 'Zimbelstern'.
A fantastic relatively new Bob Brown introduction, this distinctive Crocosmia bears the name of its native haunts, South Africa's Okavango River. Big broad green blades launch a flashy display of large peachy orange flowers, reminiscent of summertime fruit, crowded together on staunch stems. In addition to their luscious hue, the easily enjoyed outward facing blooms feature broad rounded petals, yellowish throats and extended stamens. 'Okavango' can be planted near Agapanthus 'Storm Cloud' for a lively floral presentation.
This selection will make your mouth water with smoky bronze foliage, butter yellow flowers, and dark chocolate calyxes. The strong upright leaves add a linear dimension to the border, and contrast beautifully with finer textured plants such as Salvia reptans.
With blooms larger than most other Crocosmias, 'Star of the East' evokes images of an illuminated sky and boasts slightly nodding, 3-½ in. flowers, which are indeed star-shaped and brilliant. Well above green swordlike foliage, amidst burnt orange buds and clay-colored calyxes, each choice flat-faced bloom shines brightly with dusky orange on the outside, soft orange inside, and a cream-colored center.
Deemed one of the best sunshine-colored Crocosmias, 'Voyager' boasts large 2-½ in. flat-faced bright yellow flowers whose slightly rounded petals curl back with age. The positively cheerful blooms ride a green sea of vigorous upstanding blades that are ideally sized for a border's midsection.
This prized Crocosmia puts on an extraordinary floral presentation. Freesia-like at first glance, two rows of large, closely nestled blooms are upright and open-faced, perfectly poised for viewing. Enhanced by prominent decorative stamens, the vibrant orange petals backed in golden melon hues rise above attractive ribbed green blades, while orchestrating an ebullient symphony with Helenium 'Zimbelstern' and Anemone 'Andrea Atkinson'.
The prized outcome from years of breeding this genus, David Tristram's 'Walberton Yellow' puts on an extraordinary floral presentation. Freesia-like at first glance, two rows of large, closely nestled blooms are upright and open-faced, perfectly poised for viewing. Enhanced by decorative stamens, the sunny yellow petals backed in golden melon hues rise above attractive ribbed green blades, while orchestrating an ebullient symphony with Helenium 'Bishop' and Anemone 'Andrea Atkinson'.
A joy in their own right, copious rounded shiny dark green leaves embellished with intricate silver markings make a lovely fall and wintertime display. Lolling on slender stems, a colorful flood of enchanting blooms ranging from soft pinks to rich carmine shades add further enticements. This long-lived AGM winning perennial is undaunted by dry shade, appreciates an annual mulch and spreads slowly to form a substantial clump.
Size: 6" – 8" high x 2' 0" – 3' 0" wide.
Fanciful, pretty-in-pink flowers dress up this Cyclamen's marbled, glistening greenery. Interplant 'Rose Pearls' with the white blooming Cyclamen hederifolium and a marvelous autumn vignette is yours for the viewing.
With dainty pink blooms poised above, a silver effulgence splashes across the surface of each polished, prominently veined leaf in a unique fashion, sometimes concealing any sign of greenery, while rich wine hues warm the undersides. Place 'Silver Leaf Pink' beneath Elaeagnus 'Quicksilver' to enhance the elegant frosty display.
Prized for its fragrant dark purplish pink flowers, this variable widely dispersed European denizen hosts a gleaming bed of round silver patterned leaves with violet-imbued undersides. Cyclamen purpurascens adores moderately moist well-drained sites plus deciduous leaf litter, especially from Beech trees, and imparts endearing summer color to a woodland setting.
Size: 2" – 4" high x 12" wide.
No, its not the blue, oh-so-vividly blue flowers, but the narrow, oblong basal foliage that inspired this Himalayan native's common name. While the older, rough-to-the-touch bottom leaves show distinctively raised veins, the upper, thinner ones alternate as they cloak the branched stems.
Profuse gentian blue blossoms, resembling those of its cousin forget-me-not, crowd uniquely coiled open sprays, which elongate as the older blooms fade. With an upright bushy habit, Cynoglossum nervosum has specific soil needs: not too dry or overly rich, but always well drained.


Photo of Leaf of Golden Monkey from Adagio Teas by A Girl With Tea, Photo © A Girl With Tea, CC BY 2.0.
Golden monkey, also called by its Chinese name jin hou, is a tippy black tea that originated in Fujian province in China.
According to the Harney and Sons Guide to Tea, Golden Monkey is made from the da bai or "big white" varietal of the tea plant, one typically used for white tea. Canton Tea Co, however, reports that this type of tea is from the Xiao Cai cultivar. The tea is made from one leaf and a bud, in contrast to the standard plucking of the top two leaves and a bud. The harvest is timed to allow the buds to grow as large as possible while still remaining tender.
This tea tends to have a sweeter flavor and lower astringency than most black teas, owning to its lower tannin content. Its aroma is typically fruity, with tones of cocoa. The fruitiness is often compared to peach, apple, or dried fruit such as raisins.
Although it is a black tea, the tips in its dry leaf have a golden color, hence the name. The name may also originate from a golden rim around the liquor in the brewed cup. Golden monkey tends to be more expensive than a typical black tea due to its high concentration of tips or leaf buds. It is also tends to have more caffeine than other similar black teas, as the tips are higher in caffeine.
According to James Norwood Pratt, this tea originated in Tanyang (Panyong) village in the Minbei region, and was developed for export to Europe. Sometimes this type of tea is marketed as Panyong congou or Panyong wang, referencing its town of origin. These Panyong teas however are a broader category, also including teas that do not have as much golden tip.
We classify teas in the panyang congou category if they are not marketed as golden monkey, or if they are teas from this region in this style that do not have a golden color and/or consist mostly of tips.
Golden monkey is distinct from golden needle tea, a black tea made exclusively of buds, and is also distinct from Yunnan gold, a similar tea from Yunnan province. Yunnan gold shares some qualities in common with Golden monkey, but has a distinct aroma and flavor, and is often described as having a peppery quality.
Sometimes companies market teas from Yunnan province as Golden Monkey, usually without providing any information as to style or varietal; in the absence of any further information, we usually list these teas as Golden Monkey, but they may be mis-labelled Yunnan Golds. Uncommonly, the term "golden monkey" is also applied high grades of Keemun that is rich in golden tips and has a similar appearance.
1. Michale Harney, Harney and Sons Guide to Tea, 2008.
2. James Norwood Pratt, Tea Dictionary, 2010, pp. 119.


The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors won't accept private funds to offset nearly $10,000 spent to investigate President Barack Obama's residency status.
Legal infighting among Maricopa County officials in recent years has cost taxpayers at least $28 million, a figure that will likely grow.
Maricopa County is appealing a federal judge's order for the county to pay more than $1 million to settle a claim by Supervisor Mary Rose Wilcox.
Maricopa County officials have approved a budget which includes millions of dollars for employee bonuses.
The Arizona sheriff known for his hardline stance on illegal immigration has gone months without using his most controversial law enforcement tactic.
Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio's lawyers face a Friday deadline for responding in court to the U.S. Justice Department's civil rights lawsuit against the sheriff's office.
A judge has ruled that the remaining lawsuits against Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio and ex-county Attorney Andrew Thomas and their deputies will go to trial between May and December of 2013.
A former assistant Maricopa County manager fired in December in a gifts scandal involving several employees in his department has filed a notice of claim against the county.
Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio has filed his nomination petition signatures to run for a sixth term.
The Arizona Supreme Court has declined a request by a former Maricopa County prosecutor to let her continue practicing law until the court rules on an appeal of her disbarment.


Of the top 100 largest advertising spenders in 2008, none of them made it onto this list.
You can read the full back-story and download the report here (it's worth it) as well as enjoy the report below (if you have any issues viewing it, you can check it out directly from SlidShare as well).
View more documents from PSFK.


The ShuleYangu Campaign Alliance for the Protection of Public schools is composed of stakeholders from the Government, Public and Private sector working together to protect schools against illegal land-grabs, support Government to issue title-deeds to public schools and support communities to own their schools. The Alliance seeks to have 10,000 public schools issued with title deeds and 5,000 schools fenced across the 47 counties.
As part of our commitment to report to the public our activities, funding streams and impacts Shule Yangu has become a publisher on the International Aid Transparency Initiative (IATI) through its host Transparency International Kenya.
Our first data-sets will be available latest November 2019 and a link to the IATI site will be published.


After opening our new Chen Chinese Cuisine Restaurant on Randall Road in Lake In The Hills early last spring, we've now extensively remodelled and reopened our location on Rt 14 in Crystal Lake. We welcome you to visit both of our locations.
Owner Ming Chen, main operator of the iconic King Wok restaurants is pleased to bring a more updated and contemporary asian dining experience to the communities of Lake in the Hills and Crystal Lake. Chen Restaurant offers a casual and modern dine-in experience, plus full carry-out, delivery and catering services.
Chen Restaurant is the culmination of over 25 years of commitment, initially establishing King Wok as the area's premier Chinese restaurant. The Chen family looks forward to providing you with the same quality dining experience that has established King Wok as a true local landmark.


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Q: Mac asking for multiple "login" keychain app passwords but won't accept them I have a 2012 MacBook Pro. My husband reset the password for iCloud and iTunes and now I cannot get access to my computer. I can put in the password at login then nothing but a black screen with popups saying "login" keychain for multiple apps like calendar, messages, address book, etc. The password for iTunes and iCloud is not being accepted.

A: If you mean annoying popups such as:

X wants to use the "login" keychain. Please enter the keychain password.

you need to type your correct keychain password (usually it's the same as your login password, unless you've changed it).
It happens, because different mentioned services (see the list via: sudo launchctl list) trying to access your credentials which are encrypted and stored using Keychain (e.g. in ~/Library/Keychains/) and your login.keychain file is encrypted with different password than specified.
It's not likely you can fix it without specifying the right password, however you can try the following options (which can give you some clues):

*

*You may want to disable specific services from accessing your keychain, e.g.

*

*sudo launchctl list

*sudo launchctl stop <job label>

*Run Keychain Access from Utilities and invoke Keychain First Aid from the menu to verify consistency of your keychain configuration.

*Run Disk Utility and invoke Repair Disk/First aid in case there is any temporary glitch (from corruption of the file).

*Check your ~/Library/Keychains/login.keychain, such as size, the last modified date and time (which can lead you to specific changes on that date) or any potential backups in that folder or somewhere else (login.keychain).

*Try unlocking your keychain file from the command line:
$ security unlock-keychain ~/Library/Keychains/login.keychain

Using -p you can specify the password on the command line, so if you have list of potential valid password, you can write small brutal-force script.
Try the same on older login.keychain files if you've to verify that it worked.

*Try dumping the content of keychain from the shell, e.g.

*

*Try security dump-keychain command which can be used to dump the contents of a keychain.

*Try keychaindump command which can read keychain file by hunting for unlocked keychain master keys located in the memory space of the securityd process, and uses them to decrypt keychain files.
$ sudo ./keychaindump ~/Library/Keychains/login.keychain
[*] Searching process 16 heap range 0x7feec8c00000-0x7feec8d00000
[*] Searching process 16 heap range 0x7feec8d00000-0x7feec9000000
[*] Searching process 16 heap range 0x7feeca000000-0x7feeca400000
[*] Found 4 master key candidates
[*] Trying to decrypt wrapping key in ~/Library/Keychains/login.keychain
[+] Found master key: XYZ
[+] Found wrapping key: XYZ

*Try the EnCase's dumpkeychain application, which works similar as above, see: Examining Mac OS X User & System Keychains.

*Restore your ~/Library/Keychains/login.keychain file from Time Machine or somewhere else, and unlock it manually (security unlock-keychain <file>).

*In Keychain Access Preferences try Synchronize login keychain password with account, however if you're not remembering your password, it rather won't help.

*The last resort would be to do Reset Default Keychain in Keychain Access Preferences which would revert it to factory defaults and create a new empty "login" keychain and your current default keychain will be moved aside, but not deleted. That means all remembered passwords are gone unless you've some of them remembered in the web-browser, but you can start storing them from scratch.

A: Picking apart a failed keychain can be really problematic and fraught with persistent pop ups demanding passwords. You also run the risk of locking that account online with all the failed log in attempts.
Do you have a backup of the system from before the damage was done? If so, copying any new files (spreadsheets, photos, etc...) off the drive and wiping and reinstalling is often easiest.
If that's not an option, consider starting a backup. That will give you peace of mind that no matter what you try, you'll not lose any more files and data.
I would read how to make a new admin user - but don't delete any users yet, and if that is something you care to try - you can start backup and secure the files even if you need to wipe the account and just restore the files.
If you don't think you're up to making a new admin account - seek help - first from AppleCare or a local Apple store and/or someone that's tech savvy / local technician as fixing this will require some tools that could inadvertently lose your data.

A: I had something very similar happen today on a virtual new install of Yosemite. I usually leave my MacPro running so I was surprised to see it was turned off this morning. I turned on the computer and logged in and checked some email and then logged out to run some errands.
When I returned some aspects of the login screen looked a bit off, but didn't pay to close attention.  Login generated the series of pop up keychain access requests. I clicked cancel everytime and noted the following sequence of requests subjects: First little pig said, "give me access to CalendarAgent" second wanted "com.apple.iCloudHelper.xpc"  ; next pig wants "minilauncher keychain login; next pig says, "give me access to MessageAgent; next wanted "accountsd" that was the miss spelling; next wanted "cloudd";; loop starts again.
I forced shutdown and did a "SafeBoot" no annoying piggies, but some anomiles and could get System Prefs for Display to function properly no option to rotate.
I checked the Security Prefs and the firewall was on, I unlocked and made some adjustments to apps allowed to access, I was surprised to see that iTunes was blocked, changed to allow and then turned Firewall on and locked it. Went back to display but no joy.
Did a shutdown command under black apple. Let machine sit for a while. Unplugged MacPro power cord waited, replugged and did a normal startup.
Login screen seemed somehow more normal. Signed in; went to display pref and reset to my standard settings for a dual monitor one landscape/ one portrait at different resolutions.
Computer seems to be working normally. I didn't really do anything other than the SAFEBOOT which does do some background tests and some resets/adjustments.
My best advice is to never give in to any requests you don't understand or seem out of place. First try SAFEBOOT, then a reset of PRAM, and a reset of the SRM which is the unplug from power.

A: I came across this same issue on El Capitan, and had already searched and tried all suggestions on here.
My solution was to disable FileVault under System Settings > Security & Privacy and everything works fine again.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
A Dramatic Look Back at Two and Half Years of Husk
by Katie Abbondanza May 23, 2013, 6:14am EDT
Share All sharing options for: A Dramatic Look Back at Two and Half Years of Husk
[Photo: Praneendra Kuver]
Charleston, these are the very last moments of claiming the world's only operating Husk. Tonight, 549 miles away from the original "celebration of Southern ingredients," Sean Brock and the Neighborhood Dining Group's Husk Nashville will open, yanking the limelight off the Holy City, if only for an evening. Over in Tennessee, they'll have a Husk with a guitar in its logo in place of the shovel, hot chicken on the menu (perhaps) and a slew of their own approved Southern providers, like the Chattanooga-based soda purveyors Double-Cola.
In November 2010, when Husk started serving, the Post and Courier reported the inaugural evening was "smooth as silk." Brock was coming off a recent James Beard victory for best chef Southeast, and he told the paper, "I wake up nervous every day. Nervous is good. Nervous means you're alert."
A nervous Brock translates into a successful one, the world would soon learn. The avalanche of praise came swiftly after that much-hyped first night, with Brock launching to celebrity status and lots talk about the Importance of Husk. Here's how it all went down:
Nov. 8, 2010: The Beginning Husk aims to serve 150 on their first night, and Brock is worried they're being "ambitious." Here's the menu from the evening, complete with nods to the chef's Tennessee ties:
Dec. 29, 2010: Cheers to the Bar In the very early days, the cocktail program was pulling in much of the press. Over at T Magazine, they note, "Exquisite small-batch varieties are served in glasses made from recycled wine bottles, each with a "punt" in the bottom, which creates a kind of "moat" for the amber liquid." With the kicker, "It's a pretty neat experience." [T Magazine]
Jan. 12, 2011: A Look at Husk's Core City Paper's Robert Moss cuts through the hype and the fried chicken skins, but ultimately decides, "For me, the final judgment comes down to this: Each time I've gone home after a meal at Husk, I couldn't stop thinking about the food and — despite having put away a full array of appetizers, entrées, desserts, and miscellaneous tidbits like deviled eggs and jerky — still wanted to go back immediately for more." [CP]
Also that month: Southern Living declares it the best restaurant of 2011.
Feb. 8, 2011: A Blessing from The New York Times Five months after Husk's opening, Sam Sifton raves about McCrady's and writes, "It's comfortable on the Husk bandwagon." Additionally observing, "Mr. Brock makes a mean shrimp and grits...." [NYT]
March 2011: The Quotable Brock On Charlie Rose Brock says cooking is the "only thing I have ever thought about." [Eater]
September 2011: The Seal of Approval from BA Andrew Knowlton deems Husk the best new restaurant in the country in Bon Appétit. The golden quote: "He's trying to re-create the food his grandma knew—albeit with the skill and resources of a modern chef. As a result, he (and Husk) has become a torchbearer for an honest style of home cooking that many of us never truly tasted until now." [BA]
February 2012: The Backlash GQ's Alan Richman rants against The House of Brock, ending his review with a now-famous line, "Husk is proof that a restaurant isn't about what comes in the back door; it's about what goes out the kitchen door."
Richman, however, is charmed by the lettuce wraps. "Brock's crispy pigs' ears with pickled cabbage in lettuce wraps was the most inspired use ever of a dubious foodstuff heretofore best employed as a chew treat for dogs." [GQ]
July 2012: Husk Gets Fashionable The "Fresh Prince's" vegetable tattoos star in Vogue, as the magazine's Jeffrey Steingarten becomes enamored of Brock's seeds and greens. "...although I normally turn a deaf ear to whatever any salad may be trying to tell me, I complied, and it was extremely delightful. I might even say that it was the first salad that had ever truly moved me—actually accelerated my pulse. Can I find a salad such as this in my Manhattan?" [Vogue]
August 2012: Total Saturation Is this the height of Brock mania? His dishes (as in, the actual plates) are in Dwell and he's filmed walking with pigs. City Paper contemplates the post-Husk era, asking "where do we go from here?" [CP]
Oct. 14 2012: Tennessee Bound It quickly becomes obvious where it's heading: to Nashville. The Beard winner says Charleston will remain home, but Husk is multiplying. [The Tennessean]
December 2012: Lists, Lists, Lists The now always-packed destination seems to have the best of everything, from fried chicken to Southern food, depending on which media outlet is taking a look. City Paper's Stephanie Barna admits she parted ways with the restaurant. "I hate to say it, but I think I broke up with Husk. Despite enjoying many visits there, I gave it up to the tourists in 2012. ... I'm going to have to put it back on my list for 2013 and see how it's changed over the course of the year." [ECHS]
January 2013: Brock on TV The Charleston-based chef is in jet-setter mode, seemingly tweeting from all over the world and showing up on an episode of The Layover. In a voice-over, Anthony Bourdain announces Brock is "probably the most prominent chef of the New South." Weeks later, he appeared looking surprisingly-serious as a judge on Top Chef, during an episode filmed in Alaska. [Travel Channel]
March 2013: Beard 2.0 Brock is a finalist for a James Beard Award for outstanding chef for his work in both restaurants. He tells Southern Living, "My name was the first one called and I almost threw up. Those are emotions you never knew you had." [Eater, Southern Living]
More Progress Bon Appétit circles back to Charleston, and trumpets Brock's domain as the third most important restaurant in the nation. Additionally, his photos of Nashville show up on Vanity Fair's Food Porn blog, revealing fatback and new haunts in his adopted city. Plus, many shots of hot chicken. [BA, VF]
May 2013: The Future The chef gets beat out for a Beard award, but the Twitter star's 20,000+ followers witness he's already in full-time Husk Nashville mode. The opening date is set for May 23, and The Tennessean speculates, the restaurant "could help enhance city's culinary landscape." [The Tennessean]
Around midnight today, he tweeted this shot of the pass in his new kitchen:
The pass @husknashville [Photo: @hseanbrock]
With the opening of a new Husk in just hours, it feels more like the passing of the pig's ear. But despite all this crazed nostalgia and talk of Nashville, those famous ears will still be served today on Charleston's own Queen Street. With benne seeds, no less.
· All Husk Coverage [-ECHS-]
· All Sean Brock Coverage [-ECHS-]
76 Queen Street, Charleston, SC 29401 843 577 2500
Husk the First
76 Queen Street Charleston, SC 29401

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Showing only entries concerning chapter Part 1, B. VI. 1.. View all entries
The development of the European Union – Exercise 1
Page: 25 Chapter: Part 1, B. VI. 1.
Exercise: (added for illustration purpose)
There is a (not very serious) booklet with the title "Bluff your way in the EEC, EC, EU", in which both the words "EEC" and "EC" are crossed out. Using this title, please explain briefly the development from the EEC to the EU in legal terms.
The title of the booklet concerns the development of the European Economic Community (EEC), set up in 1958 and abolished (or, rather: changed in nature) in 2009. The EEC was set up as a novel type of international organisation through the EEC Treaty of 1957 (entry into force in 1958). The Treaty was repeatedly revised. The crossing out of the word "EEC" in the title of the "Bluff your way" booklet relates to the change of name of the Community through the Maastricht revision in 1992/1993. The "EEC" was renamed "European Community" (EC) and the European Union (EU) was set up. Especially in popular literature on the EU, it is sometimes stated that the EC, together with the two other European Communities that existed at that time (namely the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom)), was superseded by the EU when this new international organisation was set up through the Maastricht Treaty. In fact, given that it was published in 1995, the title of the "Bluff your way" booklet indicates as much by crossing out "EEC". However, this is not correct. Rather, the three Communities (EC, ECSC, Euratom) continued to exist when the EU came into being. As for the EC and the EU Treaties, they were also revised three times following the Maastricht revision.
From today's perspective, it can be said that the crossing out of the word "EC" in the title of the "Bluff your way" booklet relates to the Lisbon revision (2007/2009). Through this revision, the EC was integrated into the EU. It no longer exists under the name EC, which is now part of the EU. The former EC Treaty is now called the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU. It is the repeatedly revised version of the original EEC Treaty of 1957. (Note: the Constitutional Treaty – which never entered into force – would have put an end to this Treaty by integrating its contents into the EU Treaty. Note also: as for the other two Communities, Euratom still exists but the ECSC does not. It had been given a limited lifetime of 50 years and expired in 2002.)
[Relevant Charts: Chapter 2, in particular Charts 2/4-2/23]


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Our community continues to demonstrate unconditional support of our students and our school.
Our teaching staff is devoted to implementing best practices in order to reach every student.
Our students are putting their best foot forward and taking ownership of their educational goals.
With these three components, we can only expect great results!
Newark Tech has been recognized once again by the U.S. News and World Report Magazine as one of the Top High Schools in the Nation. We are now recognized as a Blue Ribbon High School by the United States Department of Education! These achievements were only accomplished through the resilience of our faculty and staff and each student's strong desire to learn. We anticipate another FANTASTIC school year!
Maya Angelou once stated, "Nothing will work unless you do". This mental attitude by the faculty and staff was truly evident last school year and will continue to permeate throughout the 2018-19 academic year. We look forward to another productive and exciting school year!


Traditionally, a lamb rack was coated with mustard, herbs, and breadcrumbs. It is then roasted and served with a wine sauce made with a flour roux, meat fat, and butter. The following recipe eliminates most of the fat, yet incorporates the basic flavor elements associated with the classic French recipe for a rack of lamb.
1 frenched Rack of Lamb - approx. 1 to 1-1/2 lbs.
½ oz. dried Porcini Mushrooms, soaked in ¼ cup water for ½ hour.
1Bring the lamb to room temperature and rub with olive oil. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
2Place the mirepoix in a broiler pan with an open rack. Add the sherry, red wine, and water to the pan with the mirepoix. Place the rack of lamb on the open rack. On the middle rack of a preheated 400 degree oven, roast the lamb fat side up for 15 minutes. Reduce the heat to 350 degrees and continue to cook for another 10 minutes. Insert meat thermometer in the thickest part without touching a bone. Cook to 145 degrees for medium rare, 160 for medium, 170 for well done.
3Remove the lamb and place on a platter allowing it to rest for 15 minutes. Strain the mirepoix and the remaining liquid in the broiler pan in a gravy separator.
4Strain the Porcini mushrooms and reserve the mushroom liquid without any sediment or sand that may have settled to the bottom of the container. In a sauté skillet, cook the bacon until crispy; remove the bacon and all but 1 Tbs. of bacon fat. Add the butter and sauté the Crimini and Porcini mushrooms on high heat for 2 minutes. Deglaze with the sherry. Add the mushroom liquid, the reserved defatted liquid from the broiler pan. Add the dried thyme. Continue to cook until liquid is reduced by half. Add the mustard, port, brandy and butter. Stir. Just prior to serving, add the reserved bacon pieces to the sauce.
5Cut the lamb rack between every 2 ribs and serve with the sauce.


The account is anonymously run and includes original tweets as well as retweets of Morgan students' funny content on their personal Twitter accounts. The tweets and memes revolve around well-known things among students. It's essentially an account full of inside jokes from The Morgan School.


Leighton Meester's character on 'Gossip Girl' may have been raised in the lap of luxury, but in real life, things on the home front have been far from perfect for the small-screen star.
According to RadarOnline.com, a Los Angeles judge has granted the actress's former friend Laurel Wiig a restraining order against Meester's mother and manager, Constance, who she has accused of making death threats. Constance, a former drug smuggler who gave birth to her actress daughter during a 10-year prison stint, is accused of threatening to "f**k up" and "hunt down and kill" Wiig.
"She is an addict and had made a threat to kill," Wiig described in court documents.
"Leighton Meester's mother has a history that seems as if it was scripted for a dramatic TV movie," RadarOnline founder and executive vice president David Perel tells PopEater.
Meester, who can currently be seen on the big screen in 'The Roommate,' admitted recently that she's dealt with the turmoil in her life by turning to music. "[I'm] writing music that speaks to me and is from my heart," she said, "and apparently, I'm really depressed."


text:
The Eight Most Insane Victory Celebrations of All Time
December 12, 2022 July 1, 2008 by David Wray
1 8. Tito Ortiz's grave-digger routine
2 7. Phil Baroni's soliloquy
3 (tie) 6. B.J. Penn can't stop kissing Matt Hughes
4 5. Cro Cop's Celebratory Overkill (begins at the 3:02 mark)
5 4. Krazy Horse's backflips and victory lap (begins at the 3:19 mark)
6 3. Mark Coleman's rope-fall
7 2. Jamie Varner's chicken-dance, "naptime" pratfall, and worm (begins at the 3:20 mark)
8 1. B.J. Penn consumes Joe Stevenson's fluids (11:49-11:51)
8. Tito Ortiz's grave-digger routine
We don't know how many times Tito must have practiced this thing in the mirror at home — but you have to admit it was pretty badass the first time you saw it. To be figuratively buried under the Octagon is the pinnacle of pwnage.
7. Phil Baroni's soliloquy
A CagePotato favorite. And we quote: "I'm the best! I'm the best eva! I'm the fuckin' best! I'm the man! I'm the man! I'm the man! [unintelligible], you're next! I'm the man! I'm the best eva! Eva! I'm the man! Yeaaaaahhh! Yeaaaahhhh! I'm the best! I told you."
(tie) 6. B.J. Penn can't stop kissing Matt Hughes
We could have sworn smooching was outlawed back at UFC 15, along with headbutting, small-joint manipulation and hair-pulling. But nevertheless, B.J. Penn leaned over and planted a big wet one on Matt Hughes after stealing his welterweight belt at UFC 46, then did it again once Hughes was able to get to his feet. As a repressed Christian farmboy, the incident may have brought up some latent desires in Matt that he wasn't quite ready to deal with.
(tie) 6. "B.J. Penn is leaving the building!"
Sometimes you get overwhelmed with emotion; sometimes you just really need to take a dump.
5. Cro Cop's Celebratory Overkill (begins at the 3:02 mark)
In terms of fighting ability, Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic vs. Bob Sapp was one of the biggest mismatches in K-1 history. Even though The Beast came out strong with his usual gong-and-dash, the outcome was inevitable, and Sapp was crying in the fetal position by the 90-second mark. When the fight was stopped, every Croatian within 500 miles of Saitama mobbed the ring; I've seen Super Bowl celebrations with less energy. Come on guys, you took down the biggest pussy in the world — it's not like you cured polio.
4. Krazy Horse's backflips and victory lap (begins at the 3:19 mark)
Charles Bennett celebrates victories the same way he lives life — dangerously. After knockin' out K.J. Noons at EliteXC: Destiny, Horse did a couple of his signature high-altitude backflips then calmly strolled out of the cage as Noons's team rushed in to tend to him. We're guessing he had a court appearance to get to.
3. Mark Coleman's rope-fall
After winning PRIDE's 2000 Open-Weight Grand Prix, "The Hammer" started bouncing off the ropes like Macho Man Savage gone retarded. Mark, we weren't laughing at you — we were sharing in your joy.
2. Jamie Varner's chicken-dance, "naptime" pratfall, and worm (begins at the 3:20 mark)
Sheer cartoonish brilliance. I think I saw Bugs Bunny do this once after kissing Elmer Fudd.
1. B.J. Penn consumes Joe Stevenson's fluids (11:49-11:51)
Even though Joe Stevenson doesn't seem like the "high-risk lifestyle" type, there's still something inherently revolting about licking another person's blood. But B.J. Penn — who, as we've seen before, has no control over his emotions after victories — slurps it down like Vlad Tepes. We wouldn't want to lick B.J. Penn's gloves when they're dry, let alone covered in gore. But then again, we've never been huge fans of oral staph…
Did we leave out your favorite insane victory celebration? Shoot us some links in the comments section.
Must-See: 2008's Best Knockouts; Dana White Benches 315 Pounds
Guy Mezger Airing Pride's Dirty Laundry


text: Q: A problem about polar coordinates of $\mathbb{R}^2$ In Bott-Tu's book, differential forms in Algebraic Topology, they used the angle function $\theta$ in $\mathbb{R}^2-\{0\}$, and its differential $d\theta$, how to understand them, since $\theta$ is not continuous in $\mathbb{R}^2-\{0\}$.


MIL-DTL-53030D (W/ AMENDMENT-1), DETAIL SPECIFICATION: PRIMER COATING, EPOXY, WATER BASED, LEAD AND CHROMATE FREE (20-DEC-2017)., This specification covers the requirements for a water based, air-drying, corrosion-inhibiting, epoxy type primer for pretreated ferrous and nonferrous metals. The primer is lead and chromate free and is compatible with chemical agent resistant aliphatic polyurethane topcoats. The primer contains no more than 340 grams/liter (2.8 pounds/gallon) of volatile organic compounds (VOC) and is hazardous air pollutants-free (HAP-free), as applied.


text:
WTT: Top 100 Albums of 2009 (60-51)
51. Thrice – Beggars
[Alt rock]
Myspace | Try It
Oh, Thrice. You've always been hit-and-miss for me, but on this newest album, you've gotten a magnificent hit, in my mind at least. Beggars isn't going to please everyone, especially big fans of their older work. This is not a post-hardcore album, in any sense of the term. What it is is the sound of a band who's grown up, matured, and realized they don't need – or want – to stick to any kind of formula or pattern. While this has more in common with their last few albums, I'd say it's much more clear-headed than those releases, and for a band who seems to have turned their back entirely on their past, that can only be a good thing.
52. Urthboy – Spitshine
[Hip-hop]
One of the oddest – as well as one of the most oddly consistent – things about my musical taste is that I don't like Australian music. Maybe there's just too much of a culture gap or something, but 80% of what I've heard from that country seems to consist of cheap, quasi-quirky imitation of other bands. Maybe they just assume no one is listening, so no one will notice. But enough about that – Urthboy is a wonderful Australian artist, which is something I always enjoy finding. Spitshine is his third album, and what hooked me in initially was the brilliant video for the brilliant track "Hellsong". Try to get it out of your head.
53. Black Moth Super Rainbow – Eating Us
[Psychedelic, electronic]
I guess this Pittsburg psych group must have gotten tired of making blissed-out releases which are essentially the sonic representations of drug trips, because on Eating Us, their fourth album with the name Black Moth Super Rainbow, they decided to actually make things that can be called songs. It's almost a pop album! Still, this is the BMSR we've all grown to know over the past decade, so don't be turned away if you're one of those odd folks with irrational fears of traditional pop structures in your music.
54. jj – jj n° 2
[Electronic, pop]
I'm going to be honest – I've got mad fuckin' respect for any band who can turn Lil' Wayne's "Lollipop" into a dream pop song. This media-shy group from Sweden did just that on their second album, and the results are surprisingly awesome. jj n° 2 is barely long enough to be called a full-length, and that – along, of course, with its ethereal sound and obscured lyrics – lends itself very well to repeated plays. This is the type of album you have trouble just spinning once.
55. Johnny Foreigner – Grace and the Bigger Picture
[Indie pop, alt rock]
I've heard some people refer to this band as 'noise-pop', and while I find this term to be downright vile, I suppose it is a fairly good description of what they sound like. Johnny Foreigner draws a lot of comparison to Los Campesinos!, except instead of the Sarah Records catalog sitting on their shelves, they have an overabundance of Touch and Go releases. Chaotic and sarcastic and, yes, noisy, but with a sweet and surprisingly innocent heart, this album throttles you along for roughly 30 minutes, leaving you unsure if you did a line of coke, or just ate a really big bowl of cereal with sugar poured on top.
56. Bishop Allen – Grrr…
[Indie pop, folk]
There are bands who keep doing the same album over and over, to the point where everyone gets bored, and the band stops mattering. Then there are bands like Bishop Allen, who find a formula that works and stick with it to the great contentment of their fans. There's certainly nothing in this release that hasn't been heard before, but this Brooklyn group isn't concerned with pushing boundaries or jumping on the newest trend. They just want to sit around with their guitars, piano, and maybe a ukulele or two, and do all they can to put a smile on your face. So far, they haven't dropped the ball on that one.
57. Sugarplum Fairies – Chinese Leftovers
[Dream pop, jangle pop]
This release was one of my mainstays of 2009. Sugarplum Fairies are a guy/girl duo from LA who make jangly, dreamy, folksy indie pop with a lazy-Sunday-afternoon feel to it (maybe I'm only saying that because of the track "I Hate Saturdays"). Some of this calls to mind the slower, mid-career work of the Velvet Underground, and I'm not sure how I could give them any higher praise than that.
58. Ghost – Freedom of Thought
[Hip-hop, trip-hop]
This UK producer released his second album in 2009, and it's a gloriously engaging affair, leaving you constantly unsure what exactly it is you're listening to. Sometimes it feels like a trip-hop album, sometimes hip-hop, and sometimes laid-back, loungey jazz. It's a varied album to be sure, but Ghost is such a talent that this doesn't sound scattered, but relaxed and assured of itself.
59. As Cities Burn – Hell or High Water
[Alt rock, prog]
It's always such a shame when a band finally finds the sound that works for them, only to break up a short time later. As Cities Burn spent a few years making middling, largely-uninspired post-hardcore records, their continued existence apparently fueled only by the fervent nature of the Tooth & Nail Records fanbase. Then in 2009, I checked out what turned out to be their final release on a recommendation from a friend, and was very pleasantly surprised. There's no more mindlessly appealing to their current fans done on this album; Hell or High Water is an album of focused, controlled prog-leaning alt rock that puts to shame their previous efforts (and most of their labelmates as well).
60. Roman Candle – Oh Tall Tree in the Ear
[Folk rock, alt country]
This charming little alt country band from North Carolina reminds me a lot of what I wish Wilco still sounded like, embracing the country twang and label without even a hint of hipster irony. Do you want banjos and stories of drinking, reminiscing with paroled convicts, and horribly failed relationships? You're in the right place.
From → Best of 2009, Year-End Lists
« WTT: Top 100 Albums of 2009 (50-41)
WTT: Top 100 Albums of 2009 (70-61) »


Pronar Slow-speed shredder is designed for pre-processing of all kinds of materials: municipal waste and construction, pallets, debris, residues felling of trees, roots, bulky materials.
An important advantage of the machine is its mobility, or the ability to quickly transported to any place. Road transport machine is done using a truck. The machine is equipped with a diesel engine with a capacity of 565kW. Shredding is done by two synchronously running shafts. Shredder have the opportunity to choose the control program depending on the type of feed material. Working parts are made of wear-resistant steel, which ensure long and trouble-free operation of the machine.


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text:
Love at First Sound, Sam Divine on How Defected Records Captured Her Heart
Author : Daisy Magana
Known as the First Lady of Defected Records, Sam Divine has been making crowds dance for the last 20 years. Her love for the dance floor has carried over nicely onto the airwaves where she's been presenting the label's radio show for nearly 10 years. How did she go from a fan to one of Defected Records' most recognizable faces? "You have to take risks, be knocking on doors, and have really really thick skin," says the self-taught DJ. Sam Divine's grit is a measure of success. Having unexpected time off the road, she shares how these disruptive times have helped her kick open the door to new habits. She also talks about the changing landscape of women behind DJ decks and the importance of forging your own path as an artist.
6AM In Interview: Love at First Sound, Sam Divine and Defected Records
6AM · 6AM In Interview: Sam Divine
The love affair between Sam Divine and Defected Records first started at the weekly parties the label was known for hosting at the Ibiza club Pacha. Since then she set her sights on being as present with the label as much as possible making sure she got as much facetime wherever, whenever.Divine's tenacity paid off big time. She's been with Defected Records for almost 15 years and also runs a successful imprint of her own (DVINE Sounds), but that's only the tip of the iceberg as with many success stories. Underneath it all lies dedication, determination and a hunger to keep pushing no matter what. "It takes time. 20 years [in] now, I can kind of look back and I'm pretty much at the top of my game, and I'm having so much fun doing. It hasn't always been easy… […] build your community because you have to be in this for the long haul," says Divine. "It doesn't happen overnight, but if you put your mind to it and you're really focused and determined, it's the same in anything in life, you can achieve what you set out to achieve."
Cut me open, and I bleed Defected.
You have to find what sparks a light. What's that flame For Sam Divine? Defected Records.
Kicking Habits to the Curb, A Renewed Approach to Life
Many artists pivoted when it became apparent that the pandemic's grip around the world was tightening. COVID-19 has changed the way the world lives. People have found "silver linings" amid loss and isolation. Adversity can open doors to opportunity. "Most of my friends were drinking gin at 12 pm and having a lovely time….thank god I don't like gin otherwise I would probably have been on the gin train as well," laughs Divine. "I did 100 days sober and it was incredible." The nightlife is breeding grounds for excessive drinking and substance abuse. Divine joins several other artists who are redefining and modifying their relationship with drinking.
It's amazing, music sounds different when you're sober
On DJing when sober, Sam Divine is among the many artists shifting behavior around alochol
"I'm going back to the places that before I'd either be pretty much hungover or rolling through from the afters in Vegas getting on a plane. It wasn't good for my body, but also mentally I took quite a battering because of it as well," Divine explains. "I did 100 days [sober], and it was a complete game-changer for me. I noticed everything was a lot clearer and I was sleeping better…better relationships. My relationship with alcohol actually coming out of those 100 days [changed]. I took alcohol completely off my rider." Through her strong will and with the support of those around her, she's creating healthier habits to suit her current lifestyle. Surrounding yourself with people who champion good habits will help you in the long run.
Life is for living, but it's about getting that balance—that's the harder thing. It's taken me 20 years of DJing and touring to actually now finally find a balance.
DJing is a steady grind over time
Being on the road takes a toll on the body and mind. So much so that it led Divine to a nervous breakdown prompting her to make some changes. She's recognizing healing as a journey of its own and its slippery slope. The pandemic magnified the importance of self-care, and she plans on carrying her newfound healthier lifestyle and stronger mindset into life in a post-COVID-19 world. "Music is hitting differently as well, and I'm very, very vocal about [sobriety] because it's too easy to get dragged back into it. Especially when we go back as well full-throttle everyone's going to be going crazy, where the first three months I go back, I'm actually going to do it sober…try to do it sober," she notes. "After you've not seen everyone for a year, right? 'Let's have a shot!' I'm going to try my best anyway," Divine says in a soft manner. "As I'm getting older, I'm kind of realizing that you can't just do that forever, you can't party forever. It's so important to look after yourself…get your vitamins, eat your Wheaties…"
Everything is a strategy and that's why a lot of DJs probably don't make it as well.
Learn to crawl before you walk, maintain a steady pace during your journey
Sam Divine Shows Up with Purpose
"There's always been a strategy. […] It's about making the right moves. You play the right parties, bring out the right music on record labels. […] It's important to have a lot of strings to your bow," explains Divine when it comes to building upon your wins. "I've got radio, a bit of presenting, production, DJing, my merchandise, my branding….All of these things when they come together and stars align that's kind of when you hit the sweet spot. That definitely took well over 10 years." Fresh-faced DJs are typically more eager and say yes to any gig that comes their way. They fail to realize (and accept) what's feasible both on a professional and personal level. Many overlook logistics and ignore their well-being. The body needs rest and rolling into gigs won't keep you in the game for long. Knowing when to say no is equally as important as saying yes.
It's been an incredible journey. For me, now, it's about traveling the world and meeting new people. I've made friends for life through DJing. […] There are so many amazing things that have happened in my life because of [it]. The most important thing that I probably would have told myself is to get that balance right. Probably not to party too hard—look out for myself a bit more.
Advice to her younger self, Sam Divine embraces her journey
Luck favors the relentless. From her early days as part of Defected Records' street team and working at a record store, it would all be a matter of divine timing before crossing paths with Simon Dunmore. "I just connected with Simon. He took a huge gamble…Everyone was probably looking and saying, 'What you're signing a female DJ?'," explains Divine. "It turned a lot of heads and people were talking about it because no other labels were championing female DJs at that point." This positioned her well helping her build a presence within the club circuit and organizing events of her own. She hosted the first party featuring an all-female line-up of 27 DJs 12 years ago. "I don't really think people knew it was a problem. We get used to seeing all-male lineups in festivals and clubs. We kind of got conditioned to that, to think that's just normal," Divine comments. "It's having these conversations that puts it in the forefront of people's minds. Over the next five years, we're going to see a huge rush in the market of female DJs. I think it's important for DJs like myself to be a good role model…prove that girls, you can do this. It is a slog. It hasn't been easy because it is a male-dominated industry. I've come across a lot of sexism, but we're stamping that out slowly."
House Music All Life Long
2021 is already looking brighter for Divine with some potential gigs on the calendar. She's also hosting "House Music All Life Long," Defected Records' new U.S. radio show Diplo's Revolution Channel 52 on SiriusXM. 23 million monthly listeners make up the label's loyal online radio community. "On a two-hour show, we can take people on a journey," Divine highlights. "It's amazing we're touching all four corners of the world. […] there's just so much good music around. We could fill it every week with two hours" For her, it all comes full circle. She's been listening to the Defected radio show for more than 10 years and presenting it for the last six years.
Read Next: Casting Dark Dancefloor Spells, Nicole Moudaber is a Techno Force
With the DJ market at its most competitive it's ever been, how can an aspiring DJ breakthrough? "It comes down to how you carry yourself and the music you play. You have to stand out and be unique. […] It doesn't come overnight. Everything comes through practice [just like] the best golfers and footballers. It takes years and years," advises Divine. "It's quite interesting in the music industry, everyone kind of sees this glamorous lifestyle and it looks all great but the background and the story…I started out in my mom's shed in the garden. [….] It took 10 years to get to [here]." It's not only about what you bring to the table (or decks), but also what people think of you. Make sure to treat everyone with kindness and respect because you'll need their support one day.
For Sam Divine, it's been a dream come true to sign with Defected Records. Together, they've been creating sparks on the dancefloor and show no sign of slowing down. Good thing Divine is always ready with a trusted pair of sneakers to keep her comfy while making crowds dance for hours on end.
Follow Sam Divine: SoundCloud| Facebook| Twitter | Spotify | Instagram
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Q: Draw NSShadow inside a NSView I'm trying to draw a NSShadow on the background of a NSView. I want to use it as a replacement for NSGradient, as I need to support Mac OS X Tiger. How may I do that? I know this must be pretty easy and I must be making some mistake.
Thanks!

A: The easiest approach may be to just set the shadow properties for the view's layer. If you have a NSView* named view, it'd be something like:
[[view layer] setShadowOpacity:0.5];

Setting the shadow opacity to something greater than 0 will make the shadow visible. The shadow drawn will be similar to the view's alpha channel, so whatever you draw in the view will have a shadow. There are several other shadow attributes that you can set, such as the blur radius. Take a look at the CALayer reference page for more.
If you must use NSShadow, then just set up a shadow before you do your drawing:
- (void)drawRect:(NSRect)rect
{
    NSShadow *shadow = [[[NSShadow alloc] init] autorelease];
    [shadow setShadowBlurRadius:3.0];
    [shadow setShadowOffset:NSMakeSize(0.0, 5.0)];
    [shadow setShadowColor:[NSColor colorWithCalibratedWhite:0.0 alpha:0.6]];
    [shadow set];
    // continue with your drawing...
}