Get strict quality controlled & customised Oxy fuel & gas cutting machines from Pierce Control Automation. Each CNC cutting machine with oxy gas fuel is loaded with features to strike a balance between flame adjustment, heat absorption & cutting speed.
Oxy fuel gas cutting machines are used to achieve the highest level of precision in industrial applications. With the use of pure oxygen, the combustion process results in very high temperature which helps in making the process very fast. These systems are suitable for all types of metals and can help create any type of shape.
There are several gas profile cutting machines available in the market now which will be apt for your budget, technical requirements & maintenance costing structure. Pierce Control Automation has been exporting machines worldwide since decades. It dedicatedly caters to its customers by arranging for viewing a machine in operation firsthand. Seek our assistance to make your process cost effective & quality efficient.


377774_327037123986665_476651244_n – A Canvas To Describe Feelings..
A Canvas To Describe Feelings..
Previous The Universe Is Within….
Feelings In The Form Of Art.
The World Through My Lens!!
Make the most out of your every phase in life.
Never give up. Rise like the Sun every day, and brighten your life.
The morning beauty can calm even the souls flooding with tensions.
A refreshing flower reflecting the beauty of nature.
Winter is here, andeven the leafless branches are longing for some warmth.
Every morning no matter how blurry it looks.
Observe nature, and life will introduce to beautiful fantasies.
Everything rests in the roots. Never forget them.
Don't let anything trap you. Face your fears right in the face.
And this mess of branches, leaves and little flowery buds can take your eyes on a peaceful trip.
Have you ever looked at the moon? Try it, you will feel a magical chemistry with it.
Life often gets blurry, but never get distracted.
Feel the mornings, they are beautiful.
Look around with heart, & you will find beauty all around.
Remember, beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder.
Be the little lamp that can enlighten the darkest rooms.
Find beauty in every little thing around.
Bloom and shine, while you are alive.
And the sun rays, wind and everything around beautifully kiss the flowers that shine everyday.
Be bold and beautiful like nature.
Look at the plants and they will whisper to you in countless ways.
Love Wins Over Everything Else!
Don't Get Drown, Trust God!!
utahan15 on Read Me & Feel Good !!
roninjax on Read Me & Feel Good!
A personal collection of memories, observatons and an occasional opinion from an epic journey along life's rambling, rugged and remarkable road.


The 2018 SU Awards Season has come to an end! We would like to say a huge congratulations to all nominees and winners of the SU Awards Season including Students, Staff and Athletic Union members. Your achievements are central to our mission as an SU and we hope to celebrate even more of these achievements next year. A huge thank you to all of those involved in the Awards Season from people who nominated to SU and University staff - we couldn't have done any of it without all your support! For a full summary of the 3 awards evenings please see here.
Thank you to all the staff and students that attended the Student Led Staff Awards on the 16th May in Commons Atrium. It was wonderful to see such support for the achievements and committment of staff at Bath Spa this year.
Thank you to all Sport Teams that attended the AU Awards Dinner on 18th May, it was a fantastic night and congratulations to all winners.


Description The Earth is currently in a period of rapid climate change and the anthropogenic release of carbon dioxide (CO₂) is widely considered to be the primary cause. Forests are an important part of the global carbon cycle and their ability to mitigate atmospheric CO₂ levels is increasingly being recognized. Forest carbon projects generate carbon offsets either through the application of specialized forest management practices, or through the protection or restoration of deforested or degraded land. The ability to quantify accurately the amount of carbon that would be sequestered by forest carbon project activities is critical to their success. A variety of forest carbon modeling techniques exist and use a variety of methods for data acquisition including forest inventory data, remotely sensed data, or ground measurements. However the accuracy of these modeling techniques varies, making their standard application difficult. This thesis contributes to the understanding of forest carbon quantification by comparing forest carbon estimates derived from a ground-based technique with forest carbon estimates derived from three forest carbon modeling techniques: Canadian Forest Service Carbon Budget Model (CBM-CFS3), Vegetative Resource Inventory Biomass Equations, and Private Woodland Planner. Both differential and least squares mean statistical analyses were conducted to determine which modeling technique estimated forest carbon closest to estimates derived from the ground-based technique. The hypothesis that framed this research was that CBM-CFS3 would be the most accurate modeling technique. However results indicated that forest carbon estimates from PWP are closest to those derived from the ground-based technique. Results derived from CBM-CFS3 are farthest from the ground-based technique. The results from this project suggest that an ideal forest carbon quantification technique incorporates field sampling with broad-based model estimates. Current research in forest carbon modeling techniques shows a trend towards more accurate and efficient estimates, which will allow project developers to better measure forest carbon stocks, improve forest conservation, and generate greater economic opportunities. These improvements will also increase the effectiveness of forest carbon projects and their role in mitigating the effects of climate change.


text:
import React, { PropTypes, Component } from 'react';

class ExtrasTableRow extends Component {
  static propTypes = {
    name: PropTypes.string.isRequired,
    info: PropTypes.string.isRequired,
    price: PropTypes.any.isRequired,
  };

  static contextTypes = {
    onDepartureValueChange: PropTypes.func,
    onReturnValueChange: PropTypes.func,
    returnEnabled: PropTypes.bool,
    extrasDeparture: PropTypes.object,
    extrasReturn: PropTypes.object,
  }

  _onReturnValueChange = e => {
    this.context.onReturnValueChange(this.props.name, parseInt(e.target.value, 10));
  }

  _onDepartureValueChange = e => {
    this.context.onDepartureValueChange(this.props.name, parseInt(e.target.value, 10));
  }

  _renderReturnSelect = () => {
    if (!this.context.returnEnabled) {
      return null;
    }
    const selectedValue = this.context.extrasReturn[this.props.name] || 0;
    return (

        <select value={selectedValue}
                onChange={this._onReturnValueChange}>
          <option value="0">0</option>
          <option value="1">1</option>
          <option value="2">2</option>
          <option value="3">3</option>
          <option value="4">4</option>
          <option value="5">5</option>
        </select>

    );
  }

  render() {
    const selectedValue = this.context.extrasDeparture[this.props.name] || 0;
    return (

        {this.props.name}
          {this.props.info}

        {this.props.price}

          <select value={selectedValue}
                  onChange={this._onDepartureValueChange}>
            <option value="0">0</option>
            <option value="1">1</option>
            <option value="2">2</option>
            <option value="3">3</option>
            <option value="4">4</option>
            <option value="5">5</option>
          </select>

        {this._renderReturnSelect()}

    );
  }
}

export default ExtrasTableRow;

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Q: Can I use Laravel 5 to clone a select box and still use form model binding? (Please excuse the multifaceted question!)
Basically the question is; how can I use Laravel 5 functionality to clone a select box, save that data, and( as a bonus) when returning to the form have the data displayed using form model binding. So if there is one work experience "group" (being company and position) or many they would all be displayed correctly.
I created a form with fields as below:

{!!Form::label('positions_list', 'Work Experience:')!!}
{!!Form::select('positions_list', $positions, null, ['id'=> 'positions_list', 'class'=>'form-control','multiple'])!!}

{!!Form::label('companies_list', 'Company:')!!}
{!!Form::select('companies_list', $companies, null, ['id'=>'companies_list','class'=>'form-control','multiple'])!!}

Add Another

and am using jquery clone to allow the user to add in new sets of positions and companies
function cloneMe(thisDiv)
{
$(thisDiv).clone(false).insertBefore(thisDiv+"-placeholder:last")

}

Visually this seems to work as it does clone the boxes. However I am using Select2 to create a "tag" effect ( from Laracasts-23  'Syncing Tags'!) and if there is already data selected in the dropdown ( effectively a "Tag") when I click to clone the boxes that data is carried across into the new cloned field.
How do I clone in such a way that the selected item is not carried across? I have tried to use jquery such as:
.find("input").val('').end()

but am having no luck (I have tried select instead of input in the above as well)
I am sure that what I am trying to do is actually fairly common but just struggling to find a way to do it. (I also tried cloneya but that seemed to conflict with Select2.)
If you have suggestions on how I can improve my question please let me know.
Thanks in advance!
Mhluzi

A: I solved my issue by targeting each individual select :
$('.positions').select2("destroy");
$('#workexperience').clone(true).insertBefore("#workexperience-placeholder:last")
.end();
$('.positions:last').removeAttr("selected")
.val([])
.end();
$('.positions').select2(
{
placeholder: 'Current or last position',
maximumSelectionLength: 1,
tags: true
});

Not very elegant but it works for me.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Q: 3 different math books, 2 different physics books are arranged on a bookshelf. In how many ways can they be arranged if no 2 math books are together? The book gave the answer as $12$.
This is how I approached it:
We need the arrangements in the form
math - physics - math - physics - math
or else two math books will be adjacent. So, we choose $2$ positions for the two physics books to be placed and multiply it by $2!$, since either position can have either book. Next, we see that there are three remaining spaces for the math books, so we multiple by $3!$ giving us:
$$ 2 \times 2 \times 3 \times 2 \times 1 $$
However, since we chose the positions once for the physics books, and then another for the math books, we must divide by $2$ so we don't double count.
Does this seem correct?

A: I think you overcomplicated it a little bit.
Your argument that the arrangement should be
$$
MPMPM
$$
is correct, $M$ standing for math books and $P$ standing for physics.
Now you could basically look at the number of permutations between the $3$ math and $2$ physics books. Which gives
$$
3!\cdot 2!=12
$$
different arrangements.
You can think of this last step as "we know that the books will be in this order $MPMPM$" and this is not changed by swapping two math books for example.
We can in a way decompose this into two parts
$$
M\ \ M\ \ M
$$
and
$$
P\ \ P
$$
and look at the number of ways the individual parts can be arranged and then using product rule to reassamble them.
P.S: I don´t really understand your last paragraph about overcounting. Would you elaborate on it a bit?

A: There won't be able double counting in this case but you seem to have made a simple error, you have put $2$ for each physics book but once one is in place, there is no choice for the other.  Starting from the left, your choices at each stage are $3, 2, 2, 1, 1$ and hence the answer if $12$.


I was struggling to help a student who was struggling to recall continent versus country versus state versus city. I wanted to share with you how he mastered the concepts and was able to retrieve the associated vocabulary words in 20 minutes! We used: a) Google Earth; b) gestures; and c) pencil and paper.
First, like many young students, he needed to understand how he personally fits into the schema that names locations from close (his city) to a bigger "gestalt" (the world.) Using Google Earth, we honed in on his home, zooming out to see that his house and his neighborhood are part of the city of Baltimore. We continued to zoom out until the Maryland state boundaries became obvious. We continued out until he could see the United States of America (which we changed to USA so he would not be confused with the "state" level.) Then we could see North America and the other continents, then the world. He was in awe and wanted to zoom back in. We did this several times, with me emphasizing the labels for each level: "world/earth/globe, continent, country, state, city" and vice versa. Then, I had him join me. We gestured a small circle (city) and expanded the size of our circle for each term until we were laughing at how huge the world/earth/globe was.


Fiberglass Insulation Local Experts is going to be here for all of your requirements concerning Fiberglass Insulation in Villisca, IA. You're looking for the most advanced modern technology in the field, and our crew of trained contractors will provide just that. We make certain that you receive the very best services, the best price tag, and the very best quality products. We can help you make choices for your venture, reply to your questions, and organize a meeting with our contractors once you contact us at 888-669-2230.
Fiberglass Insulation Local Experts focuses primarily on customer care to ensure you will be ultimately happy with our labor. You should be happy with the job we accomplish, and we do our best to satisfy all of your preferences and objectives. When you've got questions, we've got advice. We are there to serve you. We prepare for your own concerns and questions, and we'll settle them whenever you call. You should come up with the right decisions for the project, and we know the way to help you to do that.
At Fiberglass Insulation Local Experts, we understand that you need to stay within budget and save cash whenever you can. But, saving cash should never mean that you lose excellent quality on Fiberglass Insulation in Villisca, IA. Our initiatives to save you money are not going to give up the quality of our services. We use the highest quality solutions and supplies to ensure that the work can stand up to the test of time, and help you save money in ways that do not modify the high quality of the mission. It will be attainable since we know the way to save your time and funds on products and work. Contact Fiberglass Insulation Local Experts when you want the highest quality solutions at the best price. You can easily get in touch with us by dialing 888-669-2230 to start.
Fiberglass Insulation are available in Villisca, IA.
It is important to be knowledgeable when it comes to Fiberglass Insulation in Villisca, IA. You shouldn't go into it without understanding it, and you want to understand what you should expect. This is the reason we make every attempt to make sure you are aware of the process and aren't facing any unexpected surprises. You can begin by discussing your job with our customer support associates when you dial 888-669-2230. We'll review your concerns and questions whenever you call and help you get set up with an appointment. Our company can show up at the appointed time with all the needed materials, and will work together with you during the entire process.
Whenever you are arranging a venture regarding Fiberglass Insulation in Villisca, IA, there are many great reasons to prefer Fiberglass Insulation Local Experts. Our company has the greatest customer support scores, the highest quality materials, and the most effective and powerful money saving practices. We appreciate your needs and goals, and we're here to serve you using our expertise. When you want Fiberglass Insulation in Villisca, get in touch with Fiberglass Insulation Local Experts by dialing 888-669-2230, and we will be more than happy to help you.


text:
Category Archives: Media
Conservatives, You Lost the Right of Moral Outrage Long Ago
Under the current administration, there has been no lack of turmoil, controversy and/or outrage. If the day ends in "y," then Orange Foolius has either said something to insult an ally, tweeted some bullshit racial move to appease his racist base or otherwise shown himself to be a grade A buffoon. Still, this last weekend was one that was special, and it spells out something that conservatives should have learned a long time ago…you have lost the right at moral outrage.
For the second time in his pitiful embarrassment of a tenure in office, Orange Foolius declined to attend the 2018 White House Correspondents' Dinner, a staple of the scene in DC since 1921. In that dinner, the President and his staff join the journalistic corps and MEMBERS OF BOTH PARTIES to celebrate journalistic activities and a free press. Except for a handful of times (1930, 1942 and 1951, when it wasn't held), the dinner has gone off without a hitch. Fifteen Presidents, starting with Calvin Coolidge in 1924, have shown up for the festivities, with only Ronald Reagan (1981, after his assassination attempt), Jimmy Carter (1978 and 1980) and Richard Nixon (1970, 1972, 1974) passing on the affair.
The entertainment for the WHCD has changed over the years. When the dinner started, there were singers between the courses. That developed into a post-dinner show which, in the past, featured entertainers such as Bob Hope, Frank Sinatra, Danny Thomas, Benny Goodman and Duke Ellington gracing the stage of the Hilton in DC (the traditional host of the WHCD). Since 1983, however, the host of the evening has been a comedian, with Elayne Boosler, Stephen Colbert, Al Franken (pre-Senator days), Jon Stewart and Jay Leno (among others) taking the mic.
What hasn't changed about the night is the format of the program. Whoever was the host would essentially serve as the emcee of a roast, with the various politicians and journalists gathered together both receiving their due course of abuse. For those of you that aren't comically inclined, a "roast" is where a group gathers to allegedly fete a person, but instead tell off-color jokes, imitations and innuendoes as the night goes on. At the end, the person who has served as the butt of the jokes gets up and gets their revenge, using the same roasting style on the folks who have spoken before him. It is an extremely funny night of entertainment, hence the success of the Friars' Club roast that dates back to 1950, the Johnny Carson and Dean Martin roasts in the 1970s/80s, and the Comedy Central roasts over the past 15 years that have featured comedian Denis Leary, actress Pamela Anderson and a certain candy ass that can't show up to the WHCD.
Orange Foolius, with the vehement war he wages against anybody that wants to tell the truth about his indiscretions, criminal acts and outright subversion and corruption in running for the office in 2015, decided that he wouldn't attend last year's WHCD, instead running a "counter-program" of a political rally among sycophants, deviants and deplorables – you know, the GOP – in Pennsylvania. Fast forward the clock a year and, to be honest, it isn't a surprise that he did it again, only this time in Michigan. What was the surprise was the idiotic reaction of conservatives and the GOP in the face of what has been the gist of the WHCD since its inception.
Comedian Michelle Wolf, an outstanding young comic with a tongue that would eviscerate an alligator, was the emcee for the post-dinner gathering and she spared no barbs. Without the usual subject of the roast available, it fell on the White House staff of the asshole who decided not to show up to face the slings and arrows. What seems to have piqued the irritation of the snowflake GOP and conservatives is this EXACT JOKE (quoted verbatim) that Wolf told:
And, of course, we have Sarah Huckabee Sanders. We're graced with Sarah's presence tonight. I have to say I'm a little star-struck. I love you as Aunt Lydia in "The Handmaid's Tale."
Mike Pence, if you haven't seen it, you would love it.
Every time Sarah steps up to the podium, I get excited because I'm not really sure what we're going to get: you know, a press briefing, a bunch of lies or divided into softball teams. "It's shirts and skins, and this time, don't be such a little bitch, Jim Acosta."
I actually really like Sarah. I think she's very resourceful. Like, she burns facts, and then she uses the ash to create a perfect smoky eye. Like, maybe she's born with it; maybe it's lies.
It's probably lies.
And I'm never really sure what to call Sarah Huckabee Sanders. You know, is it Sarah Sanders? Is Sarah Huckabee Sanders? Is it Cousin Huckabee? Is it Auntie Huckabee Sanders? Like, what's Uncle Tom but for white women who disappoint other white women? Oh, I know: Aunt Coulter."
Now, first off, the ENTIRE JOKE is pretty damn tame when it comes to roast material. Consider that, in a Comedy Central roast, one of the top jokes was about how one of the roasters enjoys picking up truck stop transvestites…you'll see Wolf's was a love tap in comparison. But the way that most took the comments were that they were focused on Sanders' LOOKS.
There is no way in holy hell that there was anything in those comments that could have targeted Sanders' appearance in ANY MANNER. Yet conservatives acted like Wolf walked up to Sanders and performed one of Orange Foolius' favorite acts in her face. The White House Correspondents' Association, the folks who HIRED WOLF TO EVISCERATE THE ROOM, issued a wimpy ass mea culpa and have indicated they are considering altering the program in the future. This is utterly fucking ridiculous.
Perhaps what the WHCA was upset with was that Wolf took THEM down a few notches with her commentary:
Wolf: "There's a ton of news right now issues a lot is going on and we have all of these 24-hour news networks and we could be covering everything. Instead we're covering three topics. Every hour is trump, Russia, Hillary and a panel full of people that remind you why you don't go home for Thanksgiving.
You guys are obsessed with Trump, did you used to date him? Because you pretend like you hate him, but I think you love him. I think what no one in this room wants to admit is that Trump has helped all of you. He couldn't sell steaks or vodka or water or college or ties or Eric, but he has helped you. He's helped you sell your papers and your books and your T.V. You helped create this monster and now you're profiting off of him. If you're going to profit off of Trump, you should at least give him some money because he doesn't have any. Trump is so broke –"
Audience: "How broke is he?"
Wolf: "He grabs pussies because he thinks there might be loose change in them. Like an immigrant brought here by a parent who didn't do anything wrong, I got to get the fuck out of here, good night. Flint still doesn't have clean water."
FYI, folks…comedy is not pretty, as Steve Martin used to say. And these jokes didn't even break skin in the context of a "roast." For conservatives to grab their pearls and look for the nearest fainting couch is pretty damn hypocritical of them considering the bastard that they elected in 2016. You remember him? The one who grabs women by the pussy, who calls foreign nations "shitholes," who has said pretty much every objectionable thing you can say about minorities, foreigners, women (do you REALLY want to relitigate the Rosie O'Donnell history, GOP?), Gold Star parents, veterans (remember that "I like people that weren't captured" comment about John McCain?)…and the list goes on.
Then there's the constituency…need I say more than this:
Conservatives, GOP? YOU have given up any right to the moral objection when YOU elected this shitstain to represent your party. YOU have given up your right to ANY outrage over what is said about someone because YOU don't even police your own. YOU have shown that you have no MORAL CODE NOR CONDUCT, therefore YOU have no place to raise your voice one iota in commentary on the subject.
Whether the WHCD will be altered in the future – or, if the incoming president Oliver Knox shows the makeup of a spineless cephalopod and ends the historic tradition – is anyone's guess. But don't criticize someone like Wolf who shows up and DOES THEIR JOB and pull your support for the very thing you claim to prize – the freedom of speech and of the people to comment on their leadership. And conservatives and GOP trollops who claim indignation about Wolf's commentary? Why don't you start with your own, first at the top and then work your way down to other slime bags and their commentary (trust me, Rick Santorum is one that needs gagging on a daily basis). Then you MIGHT start making ground back to having some semblance of morality.
3 Comments Posted in Entertainment, Government, Media, Politics, Uncategorized Tagged Al Franken, Ann Coulter, Benny Goodman, Bob Hope, Calvin Coolidge, conservatives, Danny Thomas, Dean Martin, Denis Leary, Donald Trump, Duke Ellington, Elayne Boosler, GOP, Jay Leno, Jimmy Carter, Johnny Carson, Jon Stewart, Michelle Wolf, Mike Pence, Pamela Anderson, Republican Party, Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Stephen Colbert, The Handmaid's Tale, WHCD, White House Correspondents Association, White House Correspondents Dinner
Where Do We Draw the Line? All Things Are NOT the Same
The events of the last month or so – hell, if you want to be serious, it's dating back to the 1990s – have opened the door of Pandora's Box. Whether it is in the world of relations between men or women or even something as small as what constitutes a joke, it seems we want to eradicate the impropriety, even the ability to laugh at ourselves. If it delves into a needle of a person's appearance, a stereotype, or a myriad of other situations, it seems as though it has become verboten. This has caused me to wonder a few things: just where do we draw the line? And that led to my second thought: all situations are not the same.
A couple of months ago, I saw one of my favorite films of all time. Mel Brooks' Blazing Saddles was on AMC (and unedited at that!) and I laughed my ass off all the way through it. The performances were priceless in the film, from Cleavon Little's streetwise (and black) Sheriff Bob to Gene Wilder's drunken Waco Kid, there wasn't a dull moment in the film about a black man assigned to be a sheriff for a racist town. There was also a litany of jokes about Mexicans, Indians, blacks, Jews, and a host of others that would be considered "inappropriate" today.
Imagine my surprise when I heard Brooks discuss the issue in an interview soon after. In an interview with the BBC, Brooks commented that he could probably have done Young Frankenstein, but Blazing Saddles could never have been made. "Never 'Blazing Saddles,' because we have become stupidly politically correct, which is the death of comedy," Brooks stated to the BBC. But Brooks' groundbreaking and legendary comedy isn't the only piece that might be "wrong" to watch today.
AMC was also the home of another cinematic classic I viewed recently. The original M*A*S*H, with Donald Sutherland as Hawkeye Pierce and Elliott Gould as Trapper John McIntyre, depicted the Korean War with all its warts. It is arguable that there were enough things to twist the panties of today's sensitive souls, with just the name of one of the characters ('Spearchucker' Jones), the usage of drugs and treatment of women by…well, virtually everyone…to get outrage going.
You think this was just something from the 70s? Another favorite film of mine is Doctor Detroit, a middling 80s comedy starring Dan Aykroyd as a nebbish college professor who, when plied with alcohol, drugs, and sex by a bevy of beauties (that included his future wife Donna Dixon), becomes a chiropractor/crime lord (and the women's pimp) to not only save them but his college. In the 90s, it was Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, the story of an inept detective chasing a transgendered (and very sexual, if you're to believe one scene) former football player. The 21st century hasn't changed this brand of comedy, or did you miss the Harold & Kumar series?
The movie industry in 2017 has been ravaged by the accusations of some of the most powerful men in Hollywood and the long-rumored "casting couch." This trend caught one of the most powerful men in Tinseltown, Harvey Weinstein, who was alleged to have attempted to use his position as a "make or break" player in the movie business to have sexual relations (sometimes even forced) with women looking for their big break. Add in other alleged situations such as actor Kevin Spacey, director Brett Ratner and hip hop legend Russell Simmons, and now actor Jeffrey Tambor and it all is coming to a head.
This same year the same accusations have rocked the media and political professions, some proven, some "paid off." Former Fox News president the late Roger Ailes, Bill O'Reilly, now Charlie Rose…all have been alleged to have committed some form of harassment of women. In politics it dates back even further to the peccadillos of John Kennedy and Bill Clinton. For it to come around to today's incidences, with both Al Franken and Roy Moore being castigated for their actions, isn't surprising. And remember, more than a dozen women – and a rape allegation of a 13-year old – are awaiting the person who sits in the most powerful seat in the land (remember right after "grabbed them by the pussy" on the Access Hollywood bus?) To this day, he has never answered for those transgressions.
I am reminded of when I was back in my radio days. At that time, the biggest name in the game was (and arguably still is) Howard Stern. Stern's programs routinely featured (and still does) in-depth discussion of sexual actions, women's anatomy, the derision of the handicapped, and basically set the format for "morning show" radio (the "morning crew" days). As someone who worked in those days, the different "morning show" crews were constantly trying to gain the edge over each other with who could put up the sleaziest, sexiest, most outrageous morning show, making the most fun of the most people that are in existence. And you know what? The audiences LAUGHED ALL THE GODDAMN WAY with them. (And if you want a look at what it was like for a woman in the music business, check out Lita Ford's autobiography Living Like a Runaway for all the gory details.)
I do realize that this is a new age, a new era, but it is beginning to get a bit out of hand. Can anyone reading this tell me what they did 20 years ago? How about 30? Do you remember every interaction you've ever had with the opposite sex (or, in some cases, with the same sex)? Were they all innocent engagements with absolutely nothing memorable about them? Then ask yourself this: is there a possibility that someone else you were with that they remember the situation completely different than you do?
There needs to be some lines set out. In a court of law, there are differing degrees of murder – first degree, second degree, manslaughter, all the way down to legally allowing a person to kill another human being (self-defense, or "Stand Your Ground"). Sexual assault and harassment can go in the same ways as there are differing standards that could be set.
To compare the pedophilic acts of Moore to Franken's nobody comedy writer dream of getting to lock lips with a Hooters waitress who made it (and acting like a 15-year old virgin in the process of rehearsing it) is completely asinine. The actions of both men are a FORM of sexual assault. But to hold Franken up as "the same" as Moore – who allegedly fiddled with some 14-year-old child and cruised malls to score teenage girls as a 30-plus year-old man (and a District Attorney at that) – is outright lunacy.
And just what should be the punishment for these actions? In the case of those in Hollywood, their careers have been destroyed, their reputations in tatters, while the women haven't emerged any better for telling their stories. Franken may very well lose his seat in the U. S. Senate, while Moore should never be seated if elected next month. Is it worth destroying someone's very existence for something that happened when they were at a completely different stage in their lives?
I don't pretend to know the answers and, after reviewing everything, I myself am cloudier on the issue than when I started. But if we're looking for saints in our politics, we're going to have very empty chambers to decide the laws. If we're looking for saints in business, comedy, entertainment, and the news, then there's going to be a very bland life ahead for our progeny. Brooks said it best in that BBC interview when he said, "It's okay not to hurt feelings of various tribes and groups. However, it's not good for comedy. Comedy has to walk a thin line, take risks. Comedy is the lecherous little elf whispering into the king's ear, always telling the truth about human behavior."
We still have to find how far those risks can go, in comedy and other arenas in life, and, if they were violated long ago, what the appropriate punishments should be.
Leave a comment Posted in Entertainment, Government, Media, Movies, Music, Politics, Uncategorized Tagged Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, Al Franken, Bill O'Reilly, Blazing Saddles, Brett Ratner, Charlie Rose, Cleavon Little, Dan Aykroyd, Doctor Detroit, Donald Sutherland, Donna Dixon, Elliott Gould, Fox News, Gene Wilder, Harold & Kumar, Harvey Weinstein, Howard Stern, Jeffrey Tambor, Kevin Spacey, Korean War, Lita Ford, M*A*S*H, Mel Brooks, Roger Ailes, Roy Moore, Russell Simmons, Spearchucker Jones, Young Frankenstein
Volbeat Deserving Of "Next Big Thing" Status; Amaranthe Presents Unique Sound
One of the things I enjoy in my well-rounded life is some great music. There are things that I come across that I simply cannot stand (such as Taylor Swift's caterwauling…seriously, can someone give the girl a gift certificate to buy a voice?), but when I come across something I find great, I like to tell people about it. As my general preference is for harder edged rock, it will often go in that direction (but not always…).
Of late, there are several bands that I am very high on. Previously I told you about Halestorm and, if you want to get on that train, they should have a new album out towards the end of the year (meanwhile, jump on their ReAniMate 3.0 covers album). Here's two more that you should be considering: one is a major opener for one of the biggest tours of the summer and the other presenting a different sound, if you will, in the hard rock genre. As always, I don't claim to be on the band first, but I do think they've got some legs to them for the future!
Volbeat is a band out of Denmark that has been a 16-year "overnight success." Despite having great success in Europe with their mixture of rockabilly, hard rock, and punk – surprisingly, the band rarely embraces a hard-core metal or thrash sound – Volbeat was unable to penetrate the U. S. market to any great extent. That changed with their latest release, Seal the Deal and Let's Boogie, which debuted in the Billboard Magazine's Top Five Albums the week of its release last year. As we speak, Volbeat is joined by Avenged Sevenfold (on some stops) as the warmup acts for the massive Metallica "WorldWired" tour that is hitting stadiums in the U. S. and worldwide.
That they all are considered hard rock acts (Metallica delves into thrash metal and A7X crushes their more metalcore sound) demonstrates the diversity of the hard rock arena. Volbeat, as stated before, aren't your typical metalheads, incorporating sounds from across the spectrum into their particular brew. On earlier efforts, Volbeat's sound was more inspired by country music such as Johnny Cash (their effort previous to this, Outlaw Gentlemen and Shady Ladies, had a theme to it that gave you impressions of a Clint Eastwood spaghetti Western). With Seal the Deal, however, Volbeat has a sound more reminiscent of The Offspring than anything else.
The first song on the album, "The Devil's Bleeding Crown," was a very strong effort that just didn't seem to click with U. S. audiences when it was released as a single. It wasn't until the eponymous title track was released that some success occurred for singer Michael Poulsen, guitarist Rob Caggiano and bassist Kaspar Boye Larsen. "Seal the Deal" was a powerful piece of music that rumbled from the speakers, with the guitars provided by Caggiano being particularly notable. Since then, hard rock radio has been all over "Black Rose," which may outdo "Seal the Deal" in popularity.
Surprisingly, Volbeat can sound almost melodic with the music they create. Do not be fooled, however, they do have an edginess to their lyrics that can be surprising and, in some songs, imagery of Hell and the Devil are implied. There are tunes about darkness, redemption and "selling the soul" that some might not like. That would be their misfortune, because most of the songs have a finish where, if the protagonist doesn't emerge on top, they are at least fighting towards the future.
Along with the songs mentioned above, there are a couple other efforts that are noteworthy on Seal the Deal and Let's Boogie. "The Gates of Babylon" is a very good track from the album, but it is a cover song on the album that is even more surprising because of its quality. Taken from the Georgia Satellites (an 80s outfit that is highly underrated), "Battleship Chains" demonstrates that Volbeat takes their inspiration from a wide assortment of musical genres. The future is going to be fantastic for this band and, with the next couple of years, I can easily see them becoming a huge part of the music scene in the U. S.
Another great foreign act that has been chipping away at the walls in the U. S. (the metaphorical ones, not the ones some idiot wants to put up) is Sweden's Amaranthe. Another one of those multi-year "overnight sensations," the band actually started in 2008 and has been pretty much non-stop touring and recording since then. They had a bit of success in 2013 with the song "Drop Dead Cynical" from their Massive Addictive album, but they have found their stride with their latest release, Maximalism.
Pinning Amaranthe down to a "sound" is roughly like trying to give a cougar a bubble bath in a thimble. First off, the band encompasses some elements of EDM but loves to roll out a metal guitar assault to go over the hypnotic background. They can sometimes veer into the realm of "pop" music, which may offend some of those who are more hardcore, but they always seem to be able to bring it back to a more "hard rock" sound when necessary. That may be because of the triumvirate of vocalists that Amaranthe employs.
That's right…three vocalists. First there is Elize Ryd, who gives an ethereal quality to some songs when she's not rocking out with an unbelievable voice. Ryd gives credibility to the Amaranthe sound whether they are in their more experimental modes or they are driving the guitars down your throat. A nice meshing with Ryd WAS Joacim "Jake E." Lundberg, who had a voice that harmonized nicely with Ryd as they performed the "clean" vocals (Lundberg, after the release of Maximalism, left the band and was replaced by Nils Molin).
There's a reason I say "clean" vocals. The third vocal effort on the album is Henrik Englund, who provides the "death growl (a guttural vocal styling where it sounds like the beasts from Hell are emerging from your speakers)" or the "unclean" vocals on the record. While it may sound like it is a complete mess, Amaranthe has been able to put together songs that perfectly accentuate the stylings of each of their singers and, likewise, the other members of the band (Olof Morck on guitars and keyboards, Johan Andreassen on bass and Morten Lowe on drums).
Of particular excellence is "Boomerang," an effort that would have been perfect on pop radio had it not been for the crushing guitars and Englund's growling of his lyrics. A song about how someone tries to put another person down – but the person keeps coming back "like a boomerang" – it is an outstanding tune that epitomizes Amaranthe very well. Two other songs, "That Song" and "21" are also excellent, but most surprising is a ballad that demonstrates the abilities of the band quite well.
"Supersonic" is a tune that Englund takes a break from and let's Ryd and Lundberg exercise their vocal abilities on. Yes, it is a ballad – and everyone usually HATES a metal ballad – but it works for Amaranthe because of the dual vocals (not a duet – each vocalist has a lyrical segment written for them). Using some orchestral instrumentation along with the band's musicians, it may give some a comparison to Amy Lee and Evanescence, but "Supersonic" soars in its own right and serves as an excellent "palate cleanser" for an outstanding record.
You may not have heard of them yet, but they've got the potential – especially with Ryd's photogenic qualities and the power of the band – to be a breakout act, possibly even on the pop charts (bands always appreciate crossover success, not to mention their record companies). They'll have to get control of some of their personnel issues – not only from Lundberg's departure last year, but Englund replaced original "unclean" vocalist Andreas Solveström in 2013 – to fully realize their potential, but if they can record more albums like Maximalism, it will push Amaranthe into the stratosphere of the hard rock/metal world.
2 Comments Posted in Entertainment, Media, Music Tagged 21, Amaranthe, Amy Lee, Andreas Solvestrom, Avenged Sevenfold, Battleship Chains, Billboard Magazine, Black Rose, Boomerang, Clint Eastwood, Drop Dead Cynical, Elize Ryd, Evanescence, Georgia Satellites, Halestorm, Henrik Englund, Joacim "Jake E." Lundberg, Johan Andreassen, Johnny Cash, Kaspar Boye Larsen, Massive Addictive, Maximalism, Metallica, Michael Poulsen, Morten Lowe, Nils Molin, Olof Morck, Outlaw Gentlemen and Shady Ladies, Reanimate 3.0, Rob Caggiano, Seal the Deal, Seal the Deal and Let's Boogie, spaghetti Westerns, Supersonic, Taylor Swift, That Song, The Devil's Bleeding Crown, The Gates of Babylon, The Offspring, Volbeat
A Fine Line Between Disliking and Dismembering: Kathy Griffin Was Wrong
Recently it has become nearly impossible to pool the regurgitation that has emerged from The Resident's efforts in Washington D. C. The constant cesspool of filth that is spewed by him and his Confederacy of Dunces leaves many breathless in trying to keep up. Just as soon as one fuckup seems to be reaching its apex – let alone its conclusion – they seem to fire off another shit storm just to make sure that their idiocy stays in the public eye.
What can be even more of an embarrassment is the actions of those that support The Resident. The recent murder of two Good Samaritans in Portland by a white supremacist who seemed to be reciting The Resident's campaign platform while being arraigned for the murders is simply the latest in what is a vitriolic campaign of hate from the GOP. The Planned Parenthood shooting in Colorado in 2015…a figure looking like President Barack Obama hanging from an interstate overpass in 2014…multiple instances of Obama being burned in effigy…calling former First Lady Michelle Obama an "ape" or that she is transgender…these are but a few of the examples of the vile lengths that the GOP has gone in depicting the 44th President of the States of America and his family.
For the most part, progressives have stayed away from some of these statements…that was until yesterday and "comedian" (my emphasis…I've personally never liked her work) Kathy Griffin's desire to make her voice heard.
Griffin, who has been able to parlay her supposed "D-List" status into a moneymaking endeavor (she even had a show on cable television called My Life on the D-List that followed her every move), tries to come off as an "edgy" comic that is "pushing the boundaries," something that is difficult to do when you host New Year's Eve with Anderson Cooper on CNN (about the most "unedgy" thing you can do). Now, when I think of this type of comedy, I am more in the lines of the work of the late George Carlin or even Sam Kinison, two men who rode the edge in search of the joke (and always hit the mark with their efforts). So what Griffin did yesterday is not only "not funny," it puts her in the same closet as those vermin who dip to the depths that some on the right do.
We won't justify Griffin's actions with a photo here, but I will attempt to explain it. In an unflinching shot, Griffin – with absolutely no inkling of "making a joke," smiling or otherwise trying to show a comedic aspect of her action – holds up a mask that is intended to be the head of The Resident. The mask is smeared in red "blood" as Griffin holds the head by the hair in her hand, as if she has decapitated The Resident herself and is presenting the prize to the people.
In some circles, this would be promoted as a "performance art" or a "artistic statement," but if Griffin meant it in this manner, she grotesquely missed the mark. Outrage from not only conservatives but also from those that Griffin thought she was representing – those left of center – came from all corners of the globe, sending a scurrying Griffin to Twitter to apologize for her actions. In a video Griffin stated, "I sincerely apologize. I am just now seeing the reaction of these images. I'm a comic. I crossed the line. I move the line, then I cross it. I went way too far. The image is too disturbing. I understand how it offends people. It wasn't funny. I get it."
First – some people have made this argument and couldn't be further from the truth – this in NO WAY represents the thoughts of many who disagree with The Resident. While you can have philosophical, political, and methodical differences with a person or politician, it should NEVER approach the realm of even advocating for the death of another person. I can dislike you with the intensity of 1000 suns, but that doesn't give me the right to suggest that your death solves the situation.
Second, this reinforces in the minds of the right that they are being "persecuted," something that energizes their stance. Griffin's supposed "comedic statement" gives those on the right a hook to hang their "martyrdom" on, that they are the ones being disrespected or threatened with various methods of execution from an angry horde of progressives (besides the fact it is often the conservatives screaming to "bring the torches"). It fuels their fires of hatred…by having that same fuel used against them, a twisted bit of psychology if ever there were one.
It is certainly a fine line between comedy and tragedy, such as the old woman who slips on a banana peel and falls. Many might find that funny, but wouldn't find it as hilarious if that same old woman broke her neck and died after slipping on the same banana peel. You can attempt to do edgy, even controversial, comedy, but there's a line between pointing out the absurdities of life and/or politics and moving into the arena of advocating for the physical intimidation or, even worse, death of someone you don't agree with.
Many on the right often overstep this boundary. The left used to be able to keep their heads above the water on this instance and refuse the temptation of such absurdities, but the current administration seems to have brought the disease created by conservatives to the progressive side. It is something that cannot be allowed to continue.
You can disagree – loudly and vehemently. You can advocate for their imprisonment – including a special island where they can rot. You can question their humanity – because many of their works are from an evil demon rather than any person with a shred of concern for their fellow man. You CANNOT, however, incite physical violence or advocate for your opponent's death. There are some lines we must maintain as an intelligent species, otherwise we are but animals who simply have advanced linguistics and tools.
Griffin's apology is hopefully heartfelt. She's not going to escape the ramifications of what she's done – say goodbye to that cushy New Year's Eve spot on CNN with Cooper and probably a slew of stand-up gigs for the near future, not to mention sponsorship deals – and that is the way it should be. Free speech is a beautiful thing, but there are also consequences when that "beautiful thing" is exercised in a manner not acceptable to the common man.
Leave a comment Posted in Entertainment, Media, Politics Tagged Anderson Cooper, Confederacy of Dunces, Donald Trump, George Carlin, Kathy Griffin, Michelle Obama, President Barack Obama, Sam Kinison, Washington D. C.
Protests Only Work When It Hurts…
It's funny the things that will come up when you're in the process of moving. During me and my wife's latest move from the foothills of North Carolina to the Gulf Coast of Florida, I happened across probably one of the more disappointing moments from this year (at least until possibly the election in November)…
Now, the seats weren't fantastic – in fact, they were at the other end of the arena from where the stage was situated. But they were square on with the stage and would have offered a great opportunity to see much of the crowd enjoying the show from Bruce, one of the legendary performers in rock history (I could tell stories about seeing him in 1980 for a six-plus hour show, but we'll save that for another time). My wife and I were eagerly anticipating the show as it had been many years since either of us had been able to see "The Boss" in action.
Then the North Carolina General Assembly and asswipe Governor Pat McCrory got their panties in a bunch.
In February, the Charlotte City Council passed an ordinance extending protections to the lesbian/bisexual/gay/transgender (LGBT) community. A part of this ordinance – and the issue that sparked the most controversy – was the provision for allowing people to use the restroom of their gender identity, rather than that of whichever sex they were born. In essence, the ordinance allowed those who were in the process of shifting from one sex to another to use the restroom of that other sex (male transgendered individuals could use female restrooms and vice versa).
The response by McCrory and the GOP-dominated North Carolina legislature (which has been gerrymandered to make it virtually impossible for a balanced legislature to occur – witness the THREE TIMES that the federal government has called the state's legislative districts unconstitutional) was immediate. Convening a special session of the General Assembly (one outside the normal working times of the legislative body), McCrory and his henchmen pushed through HB2, a bill that was so overreaching in its aim it was destined for the "unconstitutional" bin almost from the start.
Not only did that bill immediately set that "all people" had to use the restroom of the birth sex, but it also removed the right for minorities and the LGBT community to sue through the state court system for discrimination. It included a provision that prevented individual cities from enacting their own laws that differentiated from state statutes. With many Democratic representatives protesting by leaving the voting floor, the statute passed through the General Assembly with only about 12 HOURS of overall discussion.
This was the end of March and, within days, the impact was felt. Several local productions in theaters around the Tar Heel State reported that the rights holders to significant stage productions (plays) were pulling their approval for performance over the bill. The streaming provider Hulu pulled the production of a program they had set for airing out of North Carolina over the bill and PayPal suspended expansion of its operations center in the state. This was but the tip of the iceberg, however.
Many entertainment artists have also pulled out of shows that they were scheduled to perform, including "The Boss," Pearl Jam, Boston, Bryan Adams, Ani DiFranco, Ringo Starr, Nick Jonas and Demi Lovato and Cirque du Soleil. The real thunder came down, however, over the past couple of months, first with the National Basketball Association's removal of the 2017 NBA All-Star Game from Charlotte. Then, just yesterday, the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) removed SEVEN championship games or playoff sites from the state, citing the law as the reason. All totaled, the loss of business regarding all of these repercussions could total to as much as half a billion dollars by the year anniversary of HB2's passage, with the NBA All-Star Game accounting for about $100 million of that total, and could even impact future business in the state.
The reason this came back to me was not only a result of the move. Finding that ticket stub for an unused concert was simply the catalyst for a reply to model Kate Upton's Twitter hissy fit over athletes not standing for the National Anthem. Of course, over the weekend was the opening weekend of the National Football League season (and the 15th anniversary of 9/11, just coincidentally) and, following in the footsteps of San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick's continuing protest against inequality in the United States, some players either did not stand for, knelt in protest or displayed the "Black Power" salute as the National Anthem played. This bunched Upton's panties, who stated, "This is unacceptable. You should be proud to be an American. Especially on 9/11 when we should support each other."
The continued attention being drawn to what has now become a movement (hey, if a subject catches the nation's attention for more than two years – yes, it's been that long since the death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, widely considered the spur – it is a movement) is only done when a protest has an impact. Kaepernick has been vocal in the past regarding the issues of black people in the United States and their treatment at the hands of law enforcement, but no one was paying any attention to what he was saying. It wasn't until his act of defiance of not standing for the National Anthem – and attention was drawn to the fact that he was doing it – that there became a national conversation (admittedly sometimes not about what Kaepernick wanted to talk about, as with Upton's attempt at using her First Amendment rights by silencing Kaepernick's, but still there was discussion).
For a protest to have an impact, there are a couple of things that it should have. It has to have some financial teeth, some fiscal bite, that pushes some to reconsider their positions (it also has to have a side that understands those fiscal implications – apparently North Carolina Republicans are morons if they issue this response). Along with that, it should have some emotional impact on people. There were plenty that were upset over Springsteen's decision to not perform in North Carolina, just as there are more than likely many upset that Demi Lovato didn't come to North Carolina or that LeBron James won't be making an appearance during the NBA All-Star Game in the state. A protest only works when it hurts, either physically or emotionally. That is what makes a protest enact the change that comes about (eventually) with issues.
I'm putting those unused Bruce Springsteen tickets back in the desk as a reminder to myself for a couple of reasons. One, something has to be lost (in some cases) for a protest to have its desired effect, and Two, there is the ability to protest at all levels, from the richest of us all to the poorest. It will be some time before the protests of the actions in North Carolina and the national discussion of inequality are adequately addressed, but hopefully it is sooner than later.
Leave a comment Posted in Business, Entertainment, Government, History, Media, Movies, Music, Politics, Religion, Sports, Uncategorized Tagged 2017 NBA All-Star Game, Ani DiFranco, Boston, Bruce Springsteen, Bryan Adams, Charlotte City Council, Cirque du Soleil, Colin Kaepernick, Demi Lovato, Ferguson, Florida, Gulf Coast, HB2, Hulu, Kate Upton, LeBron James, MIchael Brown, National Anthem, National Basketball Association, National Football League, NCAA, Nick Jonas, North Carolina, North Carolina General Assembly, North Carolina GOP, North Carolina Republican Party, Pat McCrory, PayPal, Pearl Jam, Ringo Starr, San Francisco 49ers, The Boss
Freedom of Speech Only Goes So Far…
Earlier this week, former Boston Red Sox pitcher and ESPN baseball commentator Curt Schilling offered up on his Facebook account an anti-transgender meme that has been making its rounds on the internet. In this particular meme (I'll refrain from putting it on here because…UGH!), a rather unattractive man is wearing female clothing with the quotation beside him, "LET HIM IN! To the restroom with your daughter or else you're a narrow minded, judgmental, unloving, racist bigot who needs to die!!!" Schilling shared the meme and, after a moment's thought, deleted it, but not until after some people had screen-captured what he'd done.
To take it a step further, Schilling then stepped to his personal blog and tossed more gasoline on the raging fire. To give him credit, Schilling didn't shy away from his personal beliefs ("There are things I have deeply held beliefs in, things that are core to who I am, things I am passionate about…whether you like that…or not is completely up to you."), but he also had to know what was coming (more on this in a moment). That "other shoe" that Schilling might have been expecting came on Wednesday night when his employer, ESPN, terminated his contract, stating simply "ESPN is an inclusive company. Curt Schilling has been advised that his conduct was unacceptable and his employment with ESPN has been terminated."
This wasn't the first time that Schilling had stepped down this path. He was suspended after first Tweeting a meme that compared Muslims to the 1930s Nazis and, once ESPN kicked him off the broadcasts of the Little League World Series, followed up with a defensive post to another blogger that cost him the remainder of the Major League Baseball season (despite the factor that the post also defended the person who replaced him, former U. S. Olympic softball star Jessica Mendoza, against comments the blogger made). And this doesn't count what other memes that Schilling shared over his Facebook feed.
Opinion over what Schilling has shared over his social media – this week and previously – takes an interesting course, one that requires some thought before making a statement. Plenty of people believe that Schilling was simply "saying what a lot of us are thinking. Apparently you can't have an opinion at ESPN if that opinion isn't a liberal opinion." Others believe that Schilling will be quite happy on the unemployment line (probably not; Schilling's video game company, 38 Studios, filed for bankruptcy protection in 2012 and Schilling has sold off personal memorabilia to cover his expenses), saying, "Who would want to work for a company that would punish you for telling the truth?"
There are those that take the other side. "Schilling's freedom to say what he wants hasn't been denied; the government has not punished Schilling for what he said," one person stated. "ESPN, however, has the right terminate his employment."
That is the key point that many are missing with this situation. Schilling has all the "freedom of speech" rights in the world. The government cannot come after him and tell him "you can't say that, Mr. Schilling, otherwise we will have to put you in jail." It is one of the tenets of the First Amendment that allows everyone the right to speak out about…well, whatever they feel are the injustices of the world.
What many seem to forget, however, is that with the freedom of speech also comes the consequences of that freedom. For example, it is allowable to be able to burn the U. S. flag in protest (and to dispose of it, but that's another story), encoded by the U. S. Supreme Court decision Texas v. Johnson (1989). While you can go ahead and burn the flag, you also have to accept the consequences of what might happen if you do that; in some cases, there may be a major league ass-kicking that comes along with it…not condoning physical violence, but it is a potential consequence. In Schilling's case, he perfectly has the right to freedom of speech, what he forgot was the consequences part.
ESPN is a part of the massive Disney empire, which is the target of boycotts by one organization or another probably several times a day, 365 days per year. They try to minimize those issues by offending as few people as possible with the multitude of entertainment options that they provide (this is probably why they chuck the Disney girls who come up through their shows out before they go wild…look at the recent arrests of Debby Ryan and Kelli Berglund and let's not even get into Christina Aguilera and Britney Spears). Thus, when someone continually chafes their audiences through poking the proverbial bear with their social media actions (as Schilling has done here and in the past), there comes a point when ESPN can decide enough is enough and remove the problem by dismissing the person.
It isn't the first time that ESPN has done something along these lines. After a profanity-laced tirade at a roast for Mike and Mike hosts Mike Greenberg and Mike Golic in which she went off on Golic's alma mater Notre Dame by saying "Fuck Notre Dame, fuck Touchdown Jesus…and fuck Jesus," former ESPN anchor Dana Jacobson was suspended for a week from the ESPN airwaves after irritating the Catholic League. Commentator Stephen A. Smith was suspended for his comments on domestic violence and SportsNation host Max Kellerman earned a suspension for his comments on the same matter. These barely even broach the suspensions and/or firings that have been handed out by ESPN in its history for "freedom of speech" violations.
Freedom of speech is a guaranteed right under the U. S. Constitution, but it is only guaranteed when you are speaking about the government. You can criticize the President, Congress, our military actions (or lack thereof), our political directions and decisions or an array of other things and there isn't a thing that the government can do about it. They cannot come to the street corner where you might be ranting about these things, they cannot censor what you write on the subject and they certainly cannot arrest you for what you've said (within reason, of course…advocating for armed treason is one of those areas that they might have actionable cause).
When it comes into the private arena, however, the game completely changes. A company can (and does) look into your personal background, your social media (some companies nowadays ask for your social media names, at the minimum; state and federal legislatures are trying to prevent this) and monitor for where their employees might discuss the company. If this is a surprise to you, I've got a story that will emphasize the point for you from more than 15 years ago.
While working in the public sector, I worked with a gentleman who went into an online chatroom and discussed the company we worked for at great length. Needless to say, he wasn't exactly glowing in what he said about our company as he detailed out what he felt were problems that the organization had. Although he thought he had an online 'handle' (screenname) that would prevent him from being identified (they could trace ISP addresses, even back then), the company found out who it was and terminated him immediately, despite his protests of "freedom of speech" (this is an old refrain).
How many of us would be willing to lay our social media accounts in front of our employer and let them have a look at what we think and say? How many of us would be able to pass the scrutiny of such an examination that our employer wouldn't have to dismiss us out of protection of their organization? I'll be the first to say I'm probably not perfect as to some of what I've written on social media; I wonder how many people who read this can be that honest.
So it isn't the factor that Schilling's freedom of speech is being violated. It is a factor that Schilling didn't consider the consequences of what his freedom of speech might bring onto the company he represents. For those who contend that a "liberal company" is "silencing" a "conservative" thought, it isn't that at all; it is a business looking to protect its bottom line by eliminating a loose cannon that could cost it money, plain and simple.
Leave a comment Posted in Business, Entertainment, Government, Media, Politics, Sports Tagged 38 Studios, Anti-trangender, Boston Red Sox, Britney Spears, Catholic League, Christina Aguilera, Curt Schilling, Dana Jacobson, Debby Ryan, Disney, ESPN, First Amendment, Freedom of speech, Jessica Mendoza, Kelli Berglund, Little League World Series, Major League Baseball, Max Kellerman, Mike Golic, Mike Greenberg, Notre Dame, SportsNation, Stephen A. Smith, Texas v. Johnson, Touchdown Jesus, Transgender, U. S. Constitution, U. S. Supreme Court
"Cutting the Cord" If Only for A Day
I thought it would be an interesting experiment. I've read quite a bit lately about people who have been ditching their cable or satellite companies – "cutting the cord" as it is called – and just going with what can be found on their computer or other streaming services. For the last couple of years, I've owned a Roku 3 (a great Christmas gift from my lovely wife) and use it quite frequently, especially during the baseball season. As an experiment, I thought I would give it a day's trial, just to see if I could "cut the cord" for a simple 24-hour period. You might be surprised about a couple of things that occurred.
It is something that is happening more than you think across the United States and around the world. Estimates are that as many as 10% of U. S. homes are disconnected from traditional cable or satellite service. A 2014 survey by Mike Vorhaus of Frank N. Magid Associates for a trade conference estimated that 59% of U. S. households paid for a subscription video-on-demand (VOD) service and Netflix was 43% of that group. Finally, that same survey from Vorhaus noted that, among 18-34 year olds, television as the primary medium for entertainment was down to only 21%. Two years later, imagine where those numbers are…
My experiment, however, didn't get off to a great start. First of all, getting up in the morning and turning on the television was distinctly out. As I prepared my son's lunch for school, I absentmindedly hit the television in the kitchen for CNN. Just as quickly, I shut it off as I reminded myself what today's experiment was to be about. After I returned home, it was fortunate that I had some work to do and a doctor's appointment because I wasn't concerned about what was either on the television or what I was missing from the news. This was good and bad, in my opinion.
Being able to get your work done – especially for someone like myself who works from home – takes a great deal of discipline. Sure, part of the reason we do it is for the flexibility of the situation (my wife and I also save a great deal on child care), but to be able to look at what you have to complete from a work status and be able to achieve those goals while sitting in your abode is something that all people enjoy. The down side is that, yes, we do work from home so we can have a few extra niceties, such as the television on in the background; I especially like CNN because it isn't something that you have to concentrate heavily on and, in the cases of "BREAKING NEWS," it allows you to keep on top of what's going on in the world.
After the doctor's appointment, I tried to use one of the new features from CNN, CNNGo, which brings their live broadcast to your computer screen. As I halfway listened to the news that Speaker of the House Paul Ryan was "absolutely, positively NOT" going to be the GOP's savior at their convention in Cleveland (sure, Paul…just like you "DIDN'T WANT" the Speakership), it suddenly cut off and I brought up the window. Sure enough, I reached a situation that many do when they try to break away from their cable service.
To be able to access CNNGo (and, as I was to find out later with my son, to be able to access Disney Junior), you had to have an active cable service account. While CNNGo asked for several of the prominent carriers in the business – names such as Charter, Xfinity, DISH Network and others – they didn't come up with mine: Time Warner Cable. As such, I couldn't WATCH CNNGo on my computer – and my son could not watch Disney Junior through the Roku 3 later in the day – because the companies cannot come to a financial agreement so that CNNGo or Disney Junior can be offered on the computer or Roku (you can, however, access them through the Time Warner app that is available through the Roku…figure that one out). This is one of the reasons that pisses off many with the whole "cutting the cord" thing; in reality, you're not cutting the cord because, at the minimum, you have to at least have minimal cable service to be allowed access to certain channels, whether it is on the computer or through such a streaming device as a Roku.
After this revelation, the next problem arose as to the "break away" from the cable company. I sat back and watched, through Poker Central, some of the action from the Global Poker League on the Roku 3 during the afternoon and got a bit restless. Taking a look around, there were very few free streaming channels that you could find to actually watch any type of substantive programming (PBS is good for this and free, but fun isn't the first thing you think of with PBS). To be able to have any selection to be able to choose from, you had to have access to something like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video or Hulu Plus, each of which charge a monthly fee for access.
These three are the "power brokers" in the new streaming world ("streaming" being whether you watch on your cellphone, your computer or through a device like the Roku) and could have a seismic impact on the shape of the television world in the future. They have already had an impact on programming, beginning to offer their own scripted television shows that have garnered critical acclaim (at the expense of the traditional television networks). But would people actually move to a piecemeal system like this over the traditional cable system?
Some studies suggest that the bundled channel system that cable companies use actually save customers money rather than cost them more, and there's some evidence to suggest that they may be right. If your cable company offers a basic cable package for $20 per month (and that's about as base as it gets in many areas, pretty much offering the local channels and a few other stations like the Weather Channel, CNN, ESPN and others), that is normally what people will watch; where people get irritated is when they have 300 channels and nothing is on. With the streaming outlets, you pay somewhere along the lines of $9 a month for Netflix or Hulu (Amazon Prime is $99 per year), but you might have to pay $4.99 for this station to get access over your streaming device and another $4.99 to access another station…it begins to mount up if you have several access points.
Then there is the factor of live sports. Pretty much every sports league has some sort of live package where you can watch every game from the league (except the National Football League; at this time, the NFL Sunday Ticket package is still the domain of DirecTV, although you can pay to be able to watch, on a tape-delayed basis, the NFL games the next day). These packages can range in cost up to $129…if you put that together for baseball, basketball, hockey and hell, let's say the NFL comes around and does it too, it's over $500 per year. That's not counting any NCAA collegiate games, NASCAR, Formula 1, Indy Car, Major League Soccer, Premier League…you might be getting my point by now.
Then there's the monolith known as ESPN. Losing money left and right nowadays (as much due to the competition from outlets like Fox Sports, the CBS Sports Network, the NBC Sports Network and insane fees to the sports leagues for broadcasting rights), ESPN has been considering taking the route of Netflix into an "a la carte" service. According to a 2015 article from The Motley Fool, 40% of people would be willing to pay $10 per month for a "Netflix" version of ESPN. The problem is, the Fool states, that ESPN would need at least $15 per month from subscribers AT THIS TIME to maintain its current standard of performance revenues. This isn't even looking into the future, when the marketplace is further crowded and the bidding wars for rights fees for athletic events gets even more bloodthirsty.
By the time the Yankees game against the Toronto Blue Jays ended tonight on the Roku, it was time to end the "cut the cord" experiment. I had proved I could do it – there's enough out there and there is the capability to still watch what the television networks provide, if you're willing to wait in some cases – for at least a day, but any longer might be a stretch. Perhaps in a few years, when the streaming networks have become more like the cable companies and are actually offering "channel packages" and the cable companies have gone truly "a la carte" to allow their customers to choose ONLY the channels they want, then it would be good to try it again. Right now, I'll dance between the two worlds quite happily – and enjoy them both immensely.
2 Comments Posted in Business, Entertainment, Media, Movies, Sports Tagged Amazon Prime Video, Cable News Network (CNN), CBS Sports Network, Charter, CNN, CNNGo, Cutting the cord, DirecTV, DISH Network, Disney Junior, ESPN, Formula 1, Fox Sports, Global Poker League, Hulu Plus, Indy Car, Major League Soccer, NASCAR, National Football League, NBC Sports Network, NCAA, Netflix, New York Yankees, NFL Sunday Ticket, Paul Ryan, PBS, Poker Central, Premier League, Roku, The Motley Fool, Time Warner Cable, Toronto Blue Jays, VOD, Weather Channel, Xfinity

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


The path of teaching yoga has allowed me to understand what I truly believe in. My personal practice gives me structure to the building blocks of sharing the gift of yoga.
Empower yourself through yoga. Find your benefits of stretching and strengthening through my guidance of alignment and flow.


Note: Order Hickory High School Hermitage, PA merchandise in Bulk!
Hickory HS Hermitage, PA Coaches, Teams and Administrators can place group orders and receive bulk discounts! Get bulk quotes for HHS merchandise when customizing your order.


text:
Q: How to Debug Outlook Add-in in the Android app? Does anyone have any idea how to correctly debug an Outlook Add-in in the Android app? For some reason, my add-in works everywhere (Windows, Mac, iOS, and Web) except on Android and I have no idea how to collect some logs at least. I have a physical Android device, but I can't find any guides or documentation on how to debug it.
Here's the manifest for the add-in: https://attacksimulator-plugins.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/outlook/manifest-dist.xml

A: Using remote JavaScript debugging tools is the recommended way to debug web add-ins on mobile devices.
Below are some of the examples.

*

*http://vorlonjs.com/documentation/#introduction

*https://remotejs.com/ or https://trackjs.com/

*https://jsconsole.com/remote-debugging
If your application is based on Node.js, use Node.js debugging in VS Code


Large Rose Stud Earrings with Resin Cabochon Rosettes for Light Orange Summer Wedding. Colorful Bridesmaid Jewelry.
These orange rose stud earrings feature large resin cabochon rosettes with hypoallergenic posts and backs. These summery sherbet inspired large rose stud earrings are a beautiful shade of orange, with the garden roses in full bloom. This juicy summer shade and timeless rose silhouette makes these post earrings a perfect choice for everyday wear- and also ideal for your bridesmaids.


You can call us by Telephone, or Email us and we will send you by mail one or more copies of our order form, along with a copy of our sample form and ordering instructions.
But if you have to write out your order, make sure that you include the "Item No." of each product you wish to order from our catalog.
Followed by description of your email. Examples: "MI 75mm Howitzer M2", or "MI Have you shipped my order", etc..


This website and its content is copyright of KEOPSYS – © KEOPSYS 2011-2012. All rights reserved.
KEOPSYS is committed to ensuring that your privacy is protected. Should we ask you to provide certain information by which you can be identified when using this website, then you can be assured that it will only be used in accordance with this privacy statement.


Her husband, Thatcher Hoyt, was a Chicago steel-and-iron broker, and with their two daughters, the family spent part of each year in New Haven, Vermont, where Fergus founded the NLAPW's Green Mountain Branch. She regularly performed her works at Pen Women events and received prizes from the League. The Chicago branch endorsed her for president in 1932, but instead she served as national music chair for four years.
The first major Pen Women event Fergus organized was in Chicago in 1933, designed to coincide with the Century of Progress World's Fair. Five hundred people attended the concert at Hotel Stevens, which featured Ebba Sundstrom conducting a small orchestra from the Women's Symphony in the music of 13 composers from 11 states. The highlights of the concert were Gena Branscombe's Youth of the World for women's voices and excerpts from Mary Carr Moore's opera, David Rizzio. Fergus oversaw the countless arrangements, from writing publicity materials to ordering the drinks for the postconcert reception. The entire event cost almost $800, and she personally contributed $178 — a great deal of money during the Depression — to cover the gap after ticket sales.
This concert was merely the precursor to the 1934 April Biennial's music festival, a "Golden Jubilee" that honored leading composer Amy Beach's 50 years in music. Over the course of six days, 10 events with music took place across D.C. The Pen Women traditionally had tea at the White House, but Fergus wanted the visit to include a short concert. She began writing to Eleanor Roosevelt and her secretary in January. Due to her persistence, by April the First Lady had agreed that for the first time, women composers would perform in the East Room. The program featured music by Pearl Adams, Elizabeth Merz Butterfield, Frances Copthorne, Dorothy Radde Emery, and Beach herself.
As president from 1936 to 1938, Fergus traveled widely to visit branches. In January 1937, she reported she had made 25 trips and that her year would include travel to 17 cities; by May she had visited 31 states. In 1938, Fergus contacted the White House to arrange a third musicale, this time featuring another notable Pen Woman, songwriter Carrie Jacobs Bond. Mrs. Roosevelt declined because it was not possible to seat 400 people in the East Room, and she felt that 30 minutes was too long for the audience to stand comfortably.
The ceaseless activity during her tenure took a personal toll. Her 1937 Christmas card, which Fergus drew herself, featured a map of the United States marked with lines to indicate her travels, next to her two daughters holding a calendar to determine when they would "get Mama back." After her presidency, Fergus continued to be active in Chicago's musical scene and returned to Washington to perform her compositions.
Extra copies of The Pen Woman magazine are available here.


text:
How to embrace the single life, according to Twitter
Megan Murray
What are you free to do when you're not dating? Spoiler alert: a lot of amazing stuff.
For too long Christmas and the surrounding festivities have been the territory of couples (or so it feels at times). But now, Twitter says no more.
So if you're in need of a little reminder of the joys of singledom, Twitter has got your back with a new hashtag, #WhenImNotDating.
Hundreds of people have taken to social media to share tales of what they do when they aren't in a relationship. From relaxing with a long soak in the tub to building self-esteem, spending money that would have been destined for a partner's present to simply enjoying a free social calendar, the results are empowering and self-affirming.
While of course, all these positives and more can be enjoyed when you do have a partner, there's no harm in a little reminder of the importance of spending time on yourself – especially if your recent romances have been emotionally draining.
Scroll below for some of the bonuses offered up by the Twittersphere (and feel free to crack into that Terry's Chocolate Orange knowing that you're under absolutely no obligation to give away a single segment).
"The most exciting, challenging and significant relationship of all is the one you have with yourself." Carrie Bradshaw.
Here, here.
Images: Isaiah McClean
Megan Murray is a senior digital writer for stylist.co.uk, who enjoys writing about homeware (particularly candles), travel, food trends, restaurants and all the wonderful things London has to offer.


A 33-year-old man from La Mirada was found trapped under a truck on the 91 Freeway going eastbound on his motorcycle during rush hour. The first witness initially thought that the truck's bumper was loose, but after a closer inspection, he realized that there were human legs on the front end by the tires under the truck.
The California Highway Patrol indicated that the driver of the motorcycle sideswiped a vehicle, fell off the bike, and landed on the road. The driver of the truck was unable to stop timely and the truck ultimately landed on top of the motorcyclist.
The first witness exited his vehicle while in the middle of the freeway and joined others who came to help the motorcyclist who was trapped under the truck. The crowd of Good Samaritans gathered and used jacks to lift the truck and save the motorcyclist.
The crowd found the motorcyclist in a tremendous amount of pain with a tire on top of his leg and the rear axle on top of his lower back. Two jacks were used to save him. One was on the truck's front axle and the other was on the rear axle.
Ultimately, the Good Samaritans were able to free the trapped motorcyclist by pulling him out by his legs.


text:
Middle States Commission on Higher Education Announces Actions from Its March 2020 Meeting
The Middle States Commission on Higher Education has made public the accreditation actions approved at its March 5, 2020, meeting in Philadelphia. Included in those are non-compliance actions for St. Francis College and Evangelical Seminary of Puerto Rico, both of which were placed on warning.
The Commission also acted to continue probation for Davis College and Wells College.
Those four institutions remain accredited while in non-compliance. Federal regulations limit the period during which an institution may be in non-compliance.
To access all actions related to the March 5 meeting, please click here.
For information about specific MSCHE institutions, visit the institution directory to access a Statement of Accreditation Status (SAS). The Statement of Accreditation Status (SAS) is the official statement of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) about each institution's current accreditation status and scope of accreditation. The SAS also provides a brief history of the actions taken by the Commission.
Additional information for Commission policies and procedures, as well as links to the Commission actions for each institution can be found at:
https://go.msche.org/Public-Disclosures
Institutional Non-Compliance Actions
https://www.msche.org/non-compliance-and-adverse-actions/ (and choose the institution to download the letter sent to the U.S. Department of Education)
Tags: Davis College, Evangelical Seminary of Puerto Rico, Non-Compliance or Adverse Action, St. Francis College, Wells College
Categories: Accreditation, Commission Actions, The Commission


Have you heard the news about Management Reporter for Dynamics GP?
Management Reporter has been a trusted tool for Financial Reporting for quite some time, and will continue to serve you in the same way for as long as you wish. But if you want new functionality and state of the art Financial Reporting tools, you may want to explore other ISV options.
Mark Polino said it best, Management Reporter is like a Ford Crown Victoria. The Crown Vic has always been a great car, but at one point you realized that the Crown Vic would not have flashy bells and whistles like push-to-start or USB ports or Bluetooth. Eventually Ford stopped manufacturing the Crown Vic. That doesn't mean every Crown Vic on the road stopped running, it just meant that a new Crown Vic would never be produced.
For more information about the future of Management Reporter or other Financial Reporting options, contact Tidestone Solutions today! 207-761-2133 or info@tidestonesolutions.com.


So I've been wanting to make a motorcycle jacket for SO long...I finally bought some black denim when the fabric store was having their 40% off sale. Instead of keeping it classic, I used a Guatemalan tapestry to face the collar and patch the back.
I made the pattern from a 1960s motorcycle jacket I have...it's unlined, so it wasn't too hard. Still gotta work out some issues with the sleeves, but next I'm thinking of using velvet floral tapestry as the facing.
So chic! You had a great idea, I love this kind of unexpected mix!
What a genius mix of fabrics!! This is absolutely wonderful. The fit is perfect on you too.
This is gorgeous! Love the combination of fabrics.
Time is an illusion, lunchtime doubly so.
"Time is an illusion, lunchtime doubly so."
Feel free to stop by, say Hi and let me know what you think!
The shape of this is beautiful. I love the contrast of the color on the black, very unique and baller amazing o' doom lol.
This is awesome! Love the back!
Fanderpants! Boxers to Celebrate His New Book Deal!


text:
Q: a conjecture on the binary operation of multiplication Give a conjecture describing the values of $n$ for which all of the nonzero elements of $Z_n = {0, 1, 2, . . . , n − 1}$ have multiplicative inverses.
I am guessing the point of not having $0$ included is so nonprime numbers of $n$ will now have inverses, but I want to make sure this is the case.

A: It is not necessarily the case that all nonprime numbers less than $n$ have inverses.
Hint: $r\in\{0,1,2,\dotsc, n-1\}$ has a multiplicative inverse if there is some $s$ such that $rs-1$ is divisible by $n$, i.e., such that $rs-1 = kn$, or $rs-kn = 1$. What does that tell you about $r$ and $n$?


text:
Search results for "Sylvia Chang"
A woman seeking a quiet life in post-World War II British Malaya finds love and a common interest in gardening with a mysterious Japanese man.
Di qiu zui hou de ye wan
Luo Hongwu returns to Kaili, the hometown from which he fled many years ago. He begins the search for the woman he loved, and whom he has never been able…
A takedown of capitalist corruption and greed that's savvily packaged as a song-and-dance extravaganza.
Twin Dragons
Twins, separated at birth, end up as a Hong Kong gangster and a New York concert pianist. When the pianist travels to Hong Kong for a concert, the two inevitably…
The film tells the story of a retired and widowed Chinese master chef Chu (Si Hung Lung) and his family living in modern day Taipei, Taiwan. At the start of…
Mountains May Depart
The life of Tao, and those close to her, is explored in three different time periods: 1999, 2014, and 2025.
Fen bei ren sheng
Bold and unsentimental in its portrait of a young man who faces the destruction of the family he struggles to support, Shuttle Life (Fen Bei Ren Sheng) marks a finely…
Xiang ai xiang qin
A mother intends to relocate Grandpa's grave from the countryside to the city, where he could be re-buried with Grandma. However, her decision sparkles a conflict with Nana, Grandpa's first…
Wu Qingyuan
The Go Master is a 2006 biopic by director Tian Zhuangzhuang of renowned twentieth century Go master Wu Qingyuan, better known by his adopted name of Go Seigen. The film,…
American Fusion
Yvonne is a divorced middle-aged Chinese immigrant who thinks her life is over, and she is doomed to spend the rest of her days as a slave to her large…
Tropical Memories
Watch movies online Free movies online 123Movies Putlocker WatchSeries FMovies


After a six-hour search, authorities on Saturday recovered the body of a 21-year-old Gary man who appears to have drowned after disappearing while swimming with friends in a northwest Indiana lake.
The pontoon that Jeremy Dabney had rented with a group of friends on Pine Lake in LaPorte County, Indiana, was anchored about 275 feet from shore when they jumped in the water Friday evening, according to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.
While swimming back to the boat, Dabney struggled and slipped under the water as his friends tried to rescue him, conservation police said.
Dive teams searched with sonar equipment for about six hours until they spotted his body 30 feet below the surface around 12:30 a.m. Satuday.


text:
Home »	Articles » Album Reviews
Wadada Leo Smith / Ed Blackwell: The Blue Mountain's Sun Drummer
By CLIFFORD ALLEN
Since the Ornette Coleman Quartet's The Shape of Jazz to Come (Atlantic, 1959), the trumpet's historical bar in creative music has been set in great part by Don Cherry. Not that Cherry's way was the only way and, in fact, the work of Bill Dixon, Donald Ayler, Lester Bowie, and a few others certainly paved significant directions for the instrument's place and growth in the ensuing decades. But Cherry, even as his language was a condensed, rambunctious and decidedly expansive nod to Central Avenue bebop, inspired a reassessment of phrase and space, especially in the piano-less groups which flourished in the "free" Sixties.
Though Cherry and percussionist/frequent collaborator Ed Blackwell each made statements in their oeuvres more powerful than the BYG Actuel double-LP set Mu (recorded at Studio Saravah in Paris in 1969), these two records began to show a side of Cherry's work that many had not yet heard—specifically his embrace of non-Western music. Seventeen years later, Blackwell and trumpeter Wadada Leo Smith—another artist whose work has expanded the instrument's reach—waxed a series of ten duets for Brandeis University Radio in Boston, finally seeing release now as The Blue Mountain's Sun Drummer, on Smith's revitalized Kabell Records imprint.
Smith's sense of orchestration has always seemed entirely different from Cherry's, whether in a solo or group context. The phrasing of both sound and silence, ever natural, has always appeared utterly poised, pinched and cutting front-porch paeans to downriver ancestry wrapped into a massive, fluffed whole. But it would be difficult to look at this set of duos without thinking of Mu, even when conscious of the contrast between the pairings. Blackwell obviously plays quite differently with Smith, in a fashion that's certainly pared down from the lickety-split continual reorganization of rhythms encountered on Mu. That said, subtle gradations of circular rhythms and breathy imperfect stutters on "Seven Arrows in the Garden of Light" are a perfect example of how incredibly delicate and masterful his forms are. While Smith's approach to rhythm deals with an entirely different type of patterning—contrasts in short succession implying movement and building towards a curious sense of mass and structure—Blackwell's skeletal support provides an alternative, cyclical interpretation of rhythm units.
Of course, Blackwell's playing is full and nearly explosive at times, swaggering through "Buffalo People: A Blues Ritual Dance," on which Smith's unwavering, steely tone is both call and soliloquy, slicing across an easy, rolling swing. Slash and chatter become "Albert Ayler in a Spiritual Light," the most Mu-esque improvisation here, though the trumpet blasts are thicker and perhaps hotter. Comparison doesn't—or shouldn't—serve the Smith/Blackwell duets too much; they're clearly setting their own series of vibrations, what with the interspersed soul-poems and kalimba-rimshot fragments offering curious interludes among a singular, albeit subtly shifting brass and percussion dialogue. Whatever the reason for its nearly quarter-century absence from the available discography, it's fantastic to have The Blue Mountain's Sun Drummer present today.
Track Listing: Uprising; Love; Seeds of a Forgotten Flower; The Blue Mountain's Sun Drummer; Mto: the Celestial River; Don't You Remember; Sellassie-I; Seven Arrows in the Garden of Light; Buffalo People: A Blues Ritual Dance; Albert Ayler In a Spiritual Light.
Personnel: Wadada Leo Smith: trumpet, flugelhorn, mbira flute, voice. Ed Blackwell: drums and percussion.
Title: The Blue Mountain's Sun Drummer | Year Released: 2010 | Record Label: Kabell Records
About Wadada Leo Smith
Wadada Leo Smith / Ed Blackwell CD/LP/Track Review Wadada Leo Smith Clifford Allen Braithwaite & Katz Communications Kabell Records United States Ornette Coleman Don Cherry Bill Dixon Donald Ayler Lester Bowie Ed Blackwell The Blue Mountain's Sun Drummer
Flash Of The Spirit
By Chris May
By John Eyles
By Jack Bowers
Nothing Particularly Horrible: Live in Bochum '93
Campus Concert
By Peter Hoetjes
By C. Michael Bailey


text:
//******************************************************************************************************
//  LogFileReader.cs - Gbtc
//
//  Copyright © 2016, Grid Protection Alliance.  All Rights Reserved.
//
//  Licensed to the Grid Protection Alliance (GPA) under one or more contributor license agreements. See
//  the NOTICE file distributed with this work for additional information regarding copyright ownership.
//  The GPA licenses this file to you under the Eclipse Public License -v 1.0 (the "License"); you may
//  not use this file except in compliance with the License. You may obtain a copy of the License at:
//
//      http://www.opensource.org/licenses/eclipse-1.0.php
//
//  Unless agreed to in writing, the subject software distributed under the License is distributed on an
//  "AS-IS" BASIS, WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied. Refer to the
//  License for the specific language governing permissions and limitations.
//
//  Code Modification History:
//  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
//  10/24/2016 - Steven E. Chisholm
//       Generated original version of source code.
//
//
//******************************************************************************************************

using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Data;
using System.IO;
using GSF.IO;
using Ionic.Zlib;

namespace GSF.Diagnostics
{
    /// <summary>
    /// A method to read all of the logs in a single file.
    /// </summary>
    public static class LogFileReader
    {
        /// <summary>
        /// Reads all log messages from the supplied file.
        /// </summary>
        public static List<LogMessage> Read(string logFileName)
        {
            List<LogMessage> lst = new List<LogMessage>();
            FilePath.ValidatePathName(logFileName);
            using (var stream = new FileStream(logFileName, FileMode.Open, FileAccess.Read, FileShare.ReadWrite | FileShare.Delete))
            {
                try
                {
                    LogMessageSaveHelper helper;
                    int version = stream.ReadInt32();
                    switch (version)
                    {
                        case 282497:
                            helper = LogMessageSaveHelper.Create(); //VersionNumber: Compressed. With LogSaveHelper
                            break;
                        default:
                            throw new VersionNotFoundException();
                    }

                    using (var zipStream = new DeflateStream(stream, CompressionMode.Decompress, true))
                    using (var bs = new BufferedStream(zipStream))
                    {
                        while (bs.ReadBoolean())
                        {
                            var message = new LogMessage(bs, helper);
                            lst.Add(message);
                        }
                        bs.Dispose();
                    }
                }
                catch (EndOfStreamException)
                {

                }
                catch (ZlibException)
                {

                }

            }
            return lst;
        }
    }
}