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«Dear friends, may no adversity paralyze you. Be afraid neither of the world, nor of the future, nor of your weakness. The Lord has allowed you to live in this moment of history so that, by your faith, his name will continue to resound throughout the world». These are the words Benedict XVI would have said at Cuatro Vientos, in Madrid, during the vigil of the World Youth Day. These words, indeed, had never been said by the Pope, whose speech has been blocked by a tempest that stroke Cuatro Vientos. But it is in these words that the sense of the World Youth Day, and the future of Christianity, is included.

Madrid. One million and a half of young people gather together to meet with the Pope. Can it be considered the triumph of Catholicism in Spain? Zapatero – a self confessed agnostic – profoundly changed the mood of Spain during the eight years of his administration. Quick divorce, gay marriages, decriminalization of abortion, no limits in-vitro fertilization had been some of the main points of Zapatero’s policy. Spain went under an unprecedented laicization. Religions had to be out of the public life, and that is why a few young people began the so-called war of chapels, making irruption in the University Chapels at the moment of the consecration.

In fact, Spain is still a profoundly Catholic country. The evangelical movement – as John Allen put it – is still strong there. Catholic religion is part of the Spanish history, and nobody seems to forget it when the pasos pass through the Spanish towns during the Good Friday, or in occasions of the several and Catholic feasts that held in Spain. On the other hand, there is a hard challenge to face for the Spanish Church: to encourage the faith and strengthen it, because the agnostic, atheistic, anti-Catholic movements are becoming strong and well organized.

During the first day of the Wyd, a group of indignados attacked a procession of faithful: eight of them had been arrested. Who are the indignados? The movement was born after an hatred anti-piracy legislation of Zapatero administration. The legislation was just a symbol: there is the 40 per cent young unemployment in Spain, and the economic crisis radically changed young expectation for the future. This generation view in the free download one of the last rights they can have, when they usually are obliged to accept a job under the level of their skill or – even worse – not to work at all. At the beginning, indignados did not have a manifesto. When the manifesto arrived, it was evident to many that indignados movement had been infiltrated by ideas different from the original ones. Indignados manifesto was coloured with anticlericalism, seeing the Church as one of the powers that suffocate the young generation. Now that the national elections are up to come, there is a movement of young people that does not want to stay with the Partido Popular, nor with the Partido Socialista, and that refuses the Church.

The news is that Rodriguez Zapatero, head of the Partido Socialista and premier until November, 20th, tried to fight his fall of prestige by meeting the Pope. No surprise for the official meeting, which is part of the duties and the ceremonial of the head of a National Government. It was more surprising that he was present at the arrival of the Pope, even if it would not have to be there. During the flight, the Pope affirmed that  «the economy cannot function as a self-regulated economy. Man must be at the economy’s centre, which is not profit but solidarity».

When Zapatero and the Pope officially met, they talked about economy again. There were no tensions  during the meeting. Actually, the first four years of the Zapatero administration were indeed tense ones for Church-state relations. The prime minister’s social reform agenda inevitably angered the Church. The country’s bishops, led by  Cardinal José María Rouco Varela, responded with verbal broadsides, such as accusing the government of allowing «the elimination of half a million children» with the abortion reform. They also took the extraordinary step of barging further into the political arena by leading mass marches against gay marriage.

But in the last three or four years, relations have improved. The government has not followed through on electoral promises such as a euthanasia law and a reform of the religious freedom law (which, for example, means that those being sworn into public office do so in front of a crucifix). The «dignified death» bill which has replaced the euthanasia proposal has still riled the bishops, but the government reportedly pulled back from presenting the latter due to pressure from the Church. Abandoning the religious freedom law may be more due to other priorities, such as the economy, and that’s why Zapatero withdrew it after meeting with Benedict XVI. Is the Catholic Spain going to resurge?

The secularization movement that shaked all of Europe now is seeming to show its limit. In Hungary, a party of Catholic inspiration won the election and promoted a new Constitution founded on Christian roots. In Finland, Timo Soini, a Catholic nationalist leader, gained the 12 percent of the poll in Finland. Where the secularization was more aggressive, there a Catholic spirit as able to survive.

It happened in Madrid. In a country shocked by the economic crisis, Catholic resisted just like the Escorial, the big-fortress monastery where the Pope held two speeches, to the young members of religious orders and to the young Catholic teachers. El Escorial is a symbolic place for Spain. There King Charles V died. He retired  at El Escorial after having reigned and made of Spain the biggest kingdom in the world.

The last big Catholic king decided to leave is crown, and to pray the rest of his life. Many think of him as a saint. A few remember that he did reinforce his kingdom, but – in order to do it – he had to make wars and securing loans from several banks. When he left his crown, the kingdom was already in bankrupt. So, he decided to retire, and to pray.

Zapatero is now going to retire, and probably he will not go to pray. Many catholics see in its failure the symbol of what will be of the humanity if the values are exchanged with the profits, and when the individual rights become more important than the right of a community. The message the Pope gave to the young people is to «say ‘yes’ to God, build on the rock, and do not listen to promises of artificial and passing paradises». More than one million and a half people was ready to listen to it. The Christianity – evangelical, strong in its identity, brought on from the bottom – is probably now. Madrid signed in some way the evangelical turn of the Church. Is it the beginning of the resurgence of religion in Europe?

3 Responses to Spain, an evangelical World Youth Day. On the ruins of World Economy.

  1. Micaela scrive:

    Ottimo articolo, grazie Andrea

  2. Janet Baker scrive:

    None of this information seems to be making it into the Catholic press here in the US. I hope to keep in touch with this blog. We are suffering, too, but not as Spain or apparently other places in Europe, nor do we have any apparent ‘movement’ toward a Catholic political presence. We are herded into the Republican camp by their so-called pro-life position (no one is anti-divorce, which in my opinion is essential), but their economic position is not Catholic, either, in my opinion, but protestant. Thank you for this article. There is so much to learn, and so little time.

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Anomalous Scaling of Stochastic Processes and the Moses Effect. (arXiv:1704.05818v1 [q-fin.ST])

Wed, 19 Apr 2017 19:42:17 GMT

The state of a stochastic process evolving over a time $t$ is typically
assumed to lie on a normal distribution whose width scales like $t^{1/2}$.
However, processes where the probability distribution is not normal and the
scaling exponent differs from $\frac{1}{2}$ are known. The search for possible
origins of such "anomalous" scaling and approaches to quantify them are the
motivations for the work reported here. In processes with stationary
increments, where the stochastic process is time-independent, auto-correlations
between increments and infinite variance of increments can cause anomalous
scaling. These sources have been referred to as the $\it{Joseph}$ $\it{effect}$
the $\it{Noah}$ $\it{effect}$, respectively. If the increments are
non-stationary, then scaling of increments with $t$ can also lead to anomalous
scaling, a mechanism we refer to as the $\it{Moses}$ $\it{effect}$. Scaling
exponents quantifying the three effects are defined and related to the Hurst
exponent that characterizes the overall scaling of the stochastic process.
Methods of time series analysis that enable accurate independent measurement of
each exponent are presented. Simple stochastic processes are used to illustrate
each effect. Intraday Financial time series data is analyzed, revealing that
its anomalous scaling is due only to the Moses effect. In the context of
financial market data, we reiterate that the Joseph exponent, not the Hurst
exponent, is the appropriate measure to test the efficient market hypothesis.

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Archive for the ‘Chapter 6’ Category

Thanks again for telling

Sunday, October 26th, 2008

Holy shit! Page two hundred! The end of chapter six! The end of Book Two! I’ve done it and TOTALLY in time to get copies of Book Two ready for the Alternative Press Expo! FUCKIN’A!!!!

OK so Chapter Seven won’t begin until at least after APE is over. And even then I’m still working out what Chapter Seven will cover and how to begin it, plus I have a shitload of homework to work on, so that’ll add to any delay in starting Chapter Seven. Oh and this also means I’ll be switching back to a two-updates-per-week deal versus the three I had going on with Chapter Six. I’m sure you’ll understand. :)

It was nice

Monday, October 20th, 2008

Eight days overdue.

I feel like my life is falling apart. I almost had a panic attack in class today.

I need a break from my life.

Friday, October 17th, 2008

Nothing special here. Other than that I have two more pages left!! (^_^)

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Wednesday, October 15th, 2008

I get the feeling that this isn’t exactly how women generally would react to their would-be rapist. But then again, I never really considered Anne to be your average female.

Three more pages left! Are you excited?!?! I know I am!!!

Excuse me for a

Monday, October 13th, 2008

Huzzah! Four more pages to go! And I even have the next page drawn up so I expect it to be ready for Wednesday. :)


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Church Lowers Age Requirement for Missionary Service

Church Lowers Age Requirement for Missionary Service

News Release

In a move to expand the opportunities for young members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to serve full-time missions, Church President Thomas S. Monson announced that, effective immediately, men may now begin serving at age 18 and women at age 19.

The previous age for beginning missionary service was 19 years of age for young men and 21 for young women.

The announcement was made during the opening session of the Church’s 182nd Semiannual General Conference, broadcast worldwide from Salt Lake City, Utah.

The Church anticipates that lowering the age requirement will significantly increase the number of missionaries who will serve by expanding the options for when they may begin their service.

“I am not suggesting that all young men will — or should — serve at this earlier age,” President Monson said. Rather, he said, the option is now available based on individual circumstances, as well as upon a determination by local Church leaders. (Read President Monson's full remarks.)

President Philip Howes of the Australia Sydney Mission expressed his delight that missionaries can serve at a younger age. "Their service can now occur withot interruption to university courses, enabling our young people to move more expeditionsly into a career," he said.

“We are thrilled by this morning’s exciting announcement by President Thomas S. Monson,” Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said at a press conference following the announcement. He referred to a mural in the room that illustrates Jesus Christ’s instruction to His apostles to preach to all the world. “We are expanding our efforts to give more young men and women an opportunity to participate in that divine commission.”

Church leaders are emphasizing that the change does not suggest that all missionaries should or will serve at an earlier age than before. The change simply provides an option for young people to begin their missionary service earlier, if they are prepared to do so.

“No young man or woman should begin his or her service as a missionary before they are ready,” Elder Nelson said. “Over the past decade permission has been given for young men from 48 countries to serve at age 18. This experience has been very positive. ... We’ve found that these missionaries are capable and qualified to serve.”

Since the founding of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1830, over 1.1 million Latter-day Saint men and women have served full-time missions in countries throughout the world. Missionary service is a priesthood responsibility and expectation for young men in the Church, and young women are also encouraged to serve as they feel moved to do so.

The most immediate effect of the change will likely be an increase in the number of full-time missionaries serving. In the coming months, many young men and women who have been anxiously waiting for the months or years to pass so they can serve full-time missions will be able to begin that experience sooner.

Regarding lowering the age requirement for women, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained that while it is not an obligation for young Latter-day Saint women to serve missions, “those who do serve are stunningly successful and we enthusiastically welcome your service.” He said, “Personally, I am absolutely delighted if this change in policy allows many, many more young women to serve.”

Currently 58,000 missionaries are serving, and that number has been increasing in recent years and will likely rise significantly with this change. Elder Holland said it is likely that additional missions will be needed around the world and many missions will have more missionaries serving in them.

Elder Holland also explained that missionaries will be asked to enhance their pre-mission preparation prior to entering the Missionary Training Center (MTC) and that time spent in the MTC will be reduced by approximately one-third for all missionaries. That change will help accommodate an overall increase in missionaries.

In addition to impacting future missionaries, the change, which is effective immediately, will have an impact on many of the other 14.5 million members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, including the tens of thousands of mothers and fathers who will send their children on missions. In speaking to them, Elder Holland said parents need to help their children prepare for missionary service.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' missionary program is one of its most recognized characteristics. Mormon missionaries can be seen on the streets of hundreds of major cities in the world as well as in thousands of smaller communities. The missionary effort is based on the New Testament pattern of missionaries serving in pairs, teaching the gospel and baptizing believers in the name of Jesus Christ.

Missionaries receive their assignment from Church headquarters and are sent only to countries where governments allow the Church to operate. Missionaries do not request their area of assignment and do not know beforehand whether they will be required to learn a language. Missionary work is voluntary. Missionaries fund their own missions — except for their transportation to and from their assigned mission — and are not paid for their services.

Style Guide Note:When reporting about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, please use the complete name of the Church in the first reference. For more information on the use of the name of the Church, go to our online Style Guide.


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Relief Society Marks a Milestone through Birthing Kits Donation

Relief Society Marks a Milestone through Birthing Kits Donation

News Story

Relief Society, the women’s organisation for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints throughout the world, celebrated the 171st anniversary of its inception in March.

Hundreds of women across Australia celebrated the milestone by participating in various service projects in their local communities.

They joined more than six million women in Church congregations worldwide in honouring the establishment of the Relief Society.

Relief Society began on 17th March 1842 in Nauvoo, USA. Today, its work continues in building faith, strengthening home and family, and providing relief.  This is reflected in its motto, “Charity Never Faileth”.

Latter-day Saint women join its ranks beginning at the age of 18, mingling with women in all stages of life.

Amongst the Australian service projects, members in Adelaide and Perth observed the anniversary by assembling and then donating 1200 birthing kits to new mothers in developing countries.

The 171st Anniversary called for “a meaningful service project,” said Jan Addis, Adelaide’s Firle Ward Relief Society President.  “A really important part of the work of Relief Society is to provide relief and give compassionate service, not just as we celebrate this milestone but right throughout the year.”

“Often the needs we meet and the help we give are focused within our own community, but for our anniversary project we looked at broader humanitarian concerns,” she said.

“We felt that the 200 birthing kits that we created would benefit women who are in great need of supplies and education. The women in our ward (congregation) were very interested and happy to be involved.”

While the Adelaide birthing kit project was conducted on a ward level, nearly 100 members of the Relief Society of the Perth Southern River Stake gathered in Thornlie to pack 1,000 birthing kits as part of their service project.

The Relief Society members in both cities were supporting the work of the Birthing Kit Foundation (Australia), an organisation dedicated to improving conditions for women in developing countries who give birth at home, often on dirt floors.

The foundation provided the strict hygiene guidelines for assembling the birthing packs as it does for all community groups wanting to support its aim of reducing childbirth-related deaths.

An estimated 385,000 women die annually in childbirth, many from infections acquired during labour.

The kits contain a plastic sheet, soap, gloves, sterile scalpel blade, cord and gauze squares, and are principally designed for home birthing in remote and rural areas where the maternal death rates are much higher.

“As well as providing the kits, the foundation trains local women in the recipient areas to assist in safe childbirth delivery which has an enormous impact,” said Adelaide’s Jan Addis.

“We found it really uplifting knowing that an initiative like this is literally life-saving; we felt connected with women across the globe.”

“It was also good to remember that among Relief Society’s six-million-strong membership throughout the world, many similar service projects took place in conjunction with the anniversary.”

Elder M. Russell Ballard, a member of the governing council of Twelve Apostles has said, “Latter-day Saint women, strong in faith and testimony, have truly been given the errand of angels.  Every sister in this Church who has made covenants with the Lord has a divine mandate to help save souls, to lead the women of the world, to strengthen the homes of Zion and to build the kingdom of God” (Daughters in My Kingdom, p. 25).

Relief Society is one of the oldest and largest women’s organisations in the world.

Style Guide Note:When reporting about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, please use the complete name of the Church in the first reference. For more information on the use of the name of the Church, go to our online Style Guide.


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Sydney's Temple Hill Shines with 140,000 Christmas Lights

Sydney's Temple Hill Shines with 140,000 Christmas Lights

News Release

It has been a feature of Christmases in Sydney for 22 years, and now it is even better. This year, the Australian headquarters of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the Mormons) in Carlingford features 140,000 Christmas lights, a huge life-sized Nativity scene, “The Life of Jesus Christ in Art” exhibit, newly added original local art and a new video of the life of Christ.

Since 1990, what has come to be known as Temple Hill has been transformed from its former role as a boys' home to award-winning gardens and the Church's well-loved Christmas display. In December, the grounds become one of the most recognised of Sydney's attractions and are visited by thousands of people.

Two years ago, the Nativity scene underwent a major renewal and now includes a huge image of the Christus, one of the most significant statues in Christendom. It was originally sculptured by Danish artist, Bertel Thorvaldsen, in the early 1800s, and still remains in the Copenhagen church where Tasmania's Princess Mary was married to Prince Frederik of Denmark.

As part of the Christmas offerings, a unique international art exhibition, including the works of Bloch, Hoffman, Anderson and Rane, is on display at historic Buckland House, now part of the Sydney Church grounds. The exhibition, valued at thousands of dollars, features world famous paintings of the life of Christ, from before his birth to his Second Coming. Appearing for the first time, the exhibit includes a small collection of original local art by Australian Artists.

The new video used at the art exhibit is taken from two of the Church’s newly produced, high definition Life of Jesus Christ films.  The films bring to life the biblical accounts of Jesus’ life and ministry and were filmed at a movie studio in Utah’s desert. The studio’s sets were designed to look like ancient Israel.  So far 38 videos have been produced with more planned or in production.

Located at the corner of Pennant Hills Road and Moseley Street, Carlingford, the spectacular lighting display and Nativity is available to be viewed every night throughout December from dusk until dawn. The Life of Jesus Christ in Art exhibit is open seven days a week from 7 to 10pm. Parking is available on the Church grounds and on Moseley Street.

Style Guide Note:When reporting about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, please use the complete name of the Church in the first reference. For more information on the use of the name of the Church, go to our online Style Guide.


text:
Insurance companies that write Director and Officer's (D&O) and Errors and Omission (E&O) insurance are debating what the future holds in the way of class action litigation against their policy holders.

Writing in Business Insurance, Dave Lenckus outlines the pros and cons of whether insurance companies such as Liberty Insurance Underwriters could be hit hard should the subprime crisis begin to impact companies outside the financial services sector.

One school of thought, according to Lenckus, is that "errors and omissions liability litigation could envelope companies that facilitated home purchases by subprime risks who eventually defaulted," and by extension, directors and officers at non-financial services sector that shareholders think failed to disclose how they would be affected by the credit crisis.

He cites as examples appraisers, "fee hungry" mortgage brokers, and real estate agents who participated in putting home buyers into subprime mortgages they could not afford.

There may also be, as Lenckus puts it, an unknown number of "widget manufacturers" which bought various mortgage-backed financial instruments as investments that must now be devalued. This will impact the company's bottom line and provide an impetus for shareholder suits.

Even companies that did not invest in subprime instruments may be vulnerable. Companies that turned to other investments still face lower values, because the subprime mess has weakened the bond insurers that covered the issuers of those instruments.

Even the economic downturn could create a D&O liability threat, experts say.

"Toll Brothers Inc., a Horsham, Pa.-based builder of luxury homes that did not have a lending operation, already is defending against such a claim. Investors charge that they were misled by Toll's assertions that its business model was immune to the credit crisis. Demand for the builder's homes did shrink, however, and its stock price nosedived."

Other experts, however, say that, apart from those hundreds of people who have been arrested by the FBI in the last few months for various forms of mortgage fraud, shareholder victims will mostly blame the companies that created the problems rather than the directors and officers or the employees that carried out corporate orders. So far, plaintiffs are doing that, principally targeting the financial institutions.

The subprime mortgage situation, by most accounts, is expected to cost financial institutions as much as $400 billion in credit losses and write-offs of subprime mortgage securities.

Lenckus quoted Kevin LaCroix, a partner with OakBridge Insurance Services L.L.C. in Beachwood Ohio as saying "The question for underwriters is, "How far afield will this spread?"

In setting rates for D&O and E&O policies, insurers weigh current rather than expected losses, so any expectations for future losses would not be factored into the rate calculations and rates for these policies are falling as much as 15 percent for companies outside the financial services sector. But underwriters are asking applicants a lot of questions about their exposures to mortgage-related risks and restricting policies to existing coverage by "beefing up the pending and prior claims provisions in renewed policies."

But reality has hit home for financial sector companies, including real estate companies, which are looking at 100 to 200 percent premium increases and trouble finding coverage.


text:
105 Ways to Give a Book

Poetry Friday: Speak To Me (Again)

Speak To Me (And I Will LIsten Between The Lines)I posted this poem a year ago, but it’s time to mention it again. I don’t know that I can verify that it captures the feel of an urban school, but I do know that it really captures the feeling of third graders. Feeling pride in an eighth birthday. Worrying about losing a best friend to another girl in the class. Daydreaming. Saving a seat at lunch. Each poem is told from the point of the view of one of the kids in the class, most of whom are African American. Oh, and the illustrations are also perfect.

So here’s a poem from Karen English’s book, Speak To Me (And I Will Listen Between The Lines).
The Reading Boy [Malcolm]

Omar came on Monday
We liked him quick because he can read
As good as the teacher

Tyrell looked at him long and hard
As the river of words flowed out of his mouth
On one breath
The reading boy

Lamont asked to change his seat
To the one by the reading boy
Who sang the words off the page

Teacher asked him a question
And everyone listened
He is the one who reads.
Last year I noted how this particular poem felt even more relevant after seeing an article in the Washington Post Magazine about a third-grade teacher who started at a D.C. school, and realized that none of her students could read yet. In my suburban community, we obsess (it seems) about our kids reading the “right books.” It seems even more ridiculous when you look across the river at a community that needs to read, period.

Poetry Friday round-up is over at HipWriterMama.

TadMack said...

Ooh, amen, sister - how can anyone worry about what kids are or aren't reading when there still are some who don't even have that option presented to them?! A little relevance, please!?

AMY S. said...

yeah, we're trying to figure out our grade level configurations at my very high risk school, and a third grade teacher almost cried as she described the challenge of teaching 28 children. She said a third of them are still reading on a first grade level.

This is a really great poem from a fantastic book, though. I feel it totally captures the energy of the kids at my school. Even my tough edged fifth grade boys read it over and over.

Sara said...

I'm going to find this book. I want to hug that "reading boy"...and Lamont, who wants to sit near him.

Charlotte said...

I remember this one from last year, and how I liked it...thanks again!

Mary Lee said...

This sounds like a great new book for my collection!

Kelly Fineman said...

Great poem choice, and a sad reminder of how we're letting so many of our kids down.

I'll have to look for the book.

Cloudscome said...

What a touching poem. In just a few words she sums it all up. We have this book in our library and I love it.

It ought to be a crime that we tolerate this inequity for our children.

Judy said...

I worked in an inner city school where 85% were on free or reduced lunch, 25% were identified as having special needs and another 25% had English as a Second Language. In the program at the school almost every child made at least a year's growth in any given year, but we still did poorly on the standardized testing. And the City administration blamed the teachers. Can someone explain how teachers can have kids at level by third grade when so many of them come in with no basic skills... some not even knowing what a crayon IS, much less how to use it? I can sympathize with Amy S's teacher friend.

It IS a great poem, and I will look for the book to read the rest.

Andrea Beaty said...

MotherReader said: It seems even more ridiculous when you look across the river at a community that needs to read, period.

Amen to that!
Andrea Beaty


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Sunday, December 18, 2011

the christmas song

Making the simple complicated is commonplace; making the complicated simple, awesomely simple, that's creativity.
Charles Mingus (1922 -1979) musician and composer

there's nothing sweeter live music, especially when it is unexpected and delivered by talented street musicians - this fine fellow was creating a festive holiday atmosphere amidst the construction and bustle on a street corner near cleveland's busy west side market. what a joy to hang out, listen and chat between songs - his repertoire was filled with several of my favorite holiday songs.

friday turned out to be a jazzy sort of day. hours later f and i topped off our evening at one of our favorite local restaurants - which now is hosting live jazz every friday and saturday night -- the best part, is the restaurant is walking distance from our house!

today's mingus quote - it is wise advice and good mouse medicine for everyday life - wouldn't you say?

jason kendall on sax with his version of the christmas song (aka chestnuts roasting on an open fire).

the song, which has become a christmas classic was written in 1944 by mel tormé and bob wells. the song was first recorded and released in 1946 by nat king cole. according to the portal bmi reports that is the most preformed christmas song - and to think it was written on a blistering hot summer day!

John Hayes said...

That's a beautiful & true Mingus quote! Wishing you all the joys of the season :-)

Gary said...

This is my favorite Christmas song and the lovely version you included here really sets the mood.

Rubye Jack said...

These photos give such a psychological sense of place. They're great. How cool to live so close to a restaurant that features jazz.

Daisy said...

A wonderful quote mouse! And music.

Steve Reed said...

I do love that quote. And that's a great photo of the street musician. Are you supposed to put coins in his prosthetic leg? That's the most creative use of a prosthesis I've ever seen!


WARC-Truncated: length

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Latest News > Sales & Lettings

  • Kintyre, Exchange Quay, Paul Shiels

Manchester’s Exchange Quay sold in £51m deal

Exchange Quay in Manchester is understood to have been sold to an unnamed buyer in a £51 million deal.

European real estate management and investment firm Kintyre acted as an agent in what is said to be its first UK completion.

The company, which manages 110 assets in Germany worth €800m, launched its UK presence earlier this year with a London office.

A spokesperson for Kintyre has confirmed to Move Commercial that the office building in the transaction is Exchange Quay, and says the firm “acted in an agency capacity with a family office acquiring the asset with a view to adding value through the implementation of their business plan over the next few years”.

Following the deal Kintyre’s founding partner Paul Shiels (pictured), who is heading up the company’s London office, says: “This is a really exciting time for Kintyre and we’re delighted to be expanding into the UK market.

“Having developed so much knowledge and expertise, our team is primed and ready to put it to work in the UK and we currently have a solid pipeline of c£200m of transactions across all sectors, including retail, office and residential.

“It is a fantastic opportunity and we look forward to building a strong and successful working relationship with our partners and using our experience to grow and enhance the business within the UK.”


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4 Things To Check Before Moving To A New Neighbourhood

by 13 Sep 2012

Deciding to move to a new neighbourhood is a big decision and there are many reasons for doing so. Maybe work commitments have lead you to a new location or you have decided to move closer to relatives. Whatever the exact reasons there are certain things that you need to do before moving to a new neighbourhood. One of the most important things that needs to be taken care of is checking out what a new neighbourhood is actually like, before you commit to moving in.

But what exactly do you need to check? Read on if you are unsure of just what needs to be checked.

The Quality Of Local Schools

This applies mainly to people who are already parents or to those who are considering becoming parents in the future. When moving to a new neighbourhood you need to make sure that the local schools are of sufficient quality for you children. Education is so important and you want to make sure that your children will receive the best education they can.

Take some time to ring up local schools in the neighbourhoods that you are looking at to find out what they are actually like. You should be asking about things like reviews, whether there is extra help available and if there are opportunities to get involved in any extracurricular activities.

The Transport System

How good the transport system is in a new neighbourhood is definitely a question you always need to find out the answer for. How easy is it going to be for you to get to work? Are there regular buses for your children to get to school or college? Are the sort of questions that you need to be asking. You always need to make sure that you think of how easy a trip would be in all types of weather conditions. For example if it is cold during winter do you really want to walk 25 minutes to the nearest bus stop?

If you are not planning on using public transport and are going to drive to work instead, you should still take the time to see how bad traffic can get in a neighbourhood.

Crime Rates

Crime rates are not 100% accurate as there are some crimes that go unrecorded. However they do give a pretty good picture of a neighbourhood. You should be able to gather some pretty insightful statistics to what sort of crimes are committed in a neighbourhood. Sites such as Neighbourhood Scout or City Data are brilliant for this purpose. However you need to bear in mind that all areas have some level of crime that just cannot be avoided. You will be able to tell whether the crime rate is above the national average or not pretty easily.

What’s the actual place like?

It’s all well and good to ring up schools and check the crime statistics but nothing gives you a better impression of a neighbourhood than visiting it in person. You should drive and walk through a neighbourhood during the day and at night to get the best picture of what the place is actually like.

You should try to determine how near to places such as shops you are, as you don’t want to move to a new area to find out you are miles away from the rest of civilization.

Doing all these things will help you to get the best impression of what a neighbourhood is like. This can help you to decide whether you want to move to a certain area or not. The last thing you want to do is commit to living somewhere that you really dislike.

This artice was written by Endre Rex-Kiss, freelance writer and guest blogger in topics ranging from finance, real estate and social media. This time he represents FidelisAM, a US based company providing tenant screening services. Connect with him on Twitter @erexkiss.

Should CFPB have more supervision over credit agencies?


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New work: China’s Demolition Economy

Workers break away bricks and concrete to find rebar and other metals for salvage in Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.

I’ve posted a new essay, “The Demolition Economy,” to the main section of my website. Taken over the course of a few months, and still continuing, the work examines the huge demolition infrastructure that moves from neighborhood to neighborhood as development and construction ventures pop up around China’s large cities. First the buildings are marked, then the mallets and heavy machines begin the destruction, and eventually small communities form to salvage any usable metal, wood, or bricks. When an area is exhausted, after being picked over for months, the whole machine moves to another location.

All content © 2005-2017 M. Scott Brauer
error: All images and text © M. Scott Brauer 2005-present


text:
Kylie Jenner’s beau Tyga ‘handcuffed and cited’

Rapper Tyga was cited in Los Angeles on Monday while filming a music video.

Kylie Jenner’s rumoured boyfriend Tyga was handcuffed and cited in Los Angeles Monday.

The 24-year-old rapper was in the South Central area of the city filming a music video for his single Make It Work when the incident occurred.

Officer Kim from the Los Angeles Police Department confirmed Tyga was issued a traffic-related citation.

“They were shooting a rap video in the area of 76th and Kansas,” the LAPD spokesperson told Us Weekly magazine. “LAPD air unit observed a vehicle drive away from that location and observed the vehicle driving recklessly. Los Angeles Police School Police officers conducted a traffic stop at Hoover and Florence where the driver was cited and released, for a traffic violation and the bodyguard was detained for further investigation for an unknown charge.”

According to TMZ, Tyga was driving a Rolls-Royce down the street with a few other guys in it. Six police cars were called to the scene, which resulted in the musician and his bodyguard being handcuffed against a fence.

Ultimately Tyga was released, but the outlet claims the star’s bodyguard was arrested for possessing a gun that is unregistered in the state of California.

Keeping Up with the Kardashians star Kylie, 17, was first romantically linked with Tyga last month. Romance rumours really started heating up when the pair reportedly visited Europe together near the close of October.

Tyga has a baby with ex-fiancée Blac Chyna, who is one of Kim Kardashian’s best friends.

It’s claimed Kim is unhappy he’s dating her little sister and she even cropped him out of a group photo posted on her Instagram account which was taken during French Montana’s birthday party over the weekend.

Apparently the reality star is convinced Tyga and Kylie are violating “the code” by dating in the wake of his August split with Blac Chyna.
Copyright: Cover Media 2014

Tuesday, 11. November 2014


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    With more than 30 years of experience, Jim Mulcahy is one of the leading authorities in California on franchise and distribution law. Jim is widely recognized for his ability to assist corporations in structuring solid franchise and distribution business solutions and in identifying potential conflicts before they arise.

  • Kevin A. Adams

    Kevin A. Adams

    An attorney with Mulcahy LLP since 2008, Kevin Adams handles a variety of franchise, intellectual property, unfair competition and vertical distribution matters. He has tried to conclusion many cases before judges, juries and arbitrators.

  • Douglas R. Luther

    Douglas R. Luther

    Douglas R. Luther is a litigator who helps companies and individuals navigate the laws of business competition. Since joining Mulcahy LLP, Mr. Luther’s practice has focused exclusively on franchise and distribution litigation and counseling.

  • Filemon “Phil” Carrillo

    Filemon “Phil” Carrillo

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Sonnox Restore review

  • £1404
  • $1995
TODO alt text

Our Verdict

For cleaning up your musical act, Restore is a first-class restoration plug-in package, knocking the spots off others we've tried.

  • Easy to get good results. Best noise reduction we've used. Well thought-out controls. Perfect for film or dialogue work. DeBuzzer is scarily effective.

  • Professional price tag.

Prior to the digital revolution, noise was a by-product of the physical media used to store music - remember the crackle of records and the background hiss of cassette? The transition to digital consumer formats banished such physicality-related artifacts, but noise is still very much a concern when recording.

Background hum and noise can contaminate recorded parts, and can be caused by dodgy cables or grounding issues, or electrical clicking from devices on the same mains circuit (kettles, fridges, etc). Video can suffer to the point where dialogue is masked by wind or motor noise from the camera and, of course, material transferred from tape or vinyl may very well still suffer from the artifacts mentioned earlier.

To combat noise problems post-recording, or to restore audio sourced from elderly formats, we can turn to noise reduction software such as Sonnox's Restore suite. It features three plug-ins - Oxford DeClicker, DeBuzzer and DeNoiser - which are designed to suppress clicks, pops, crackles, scratches, hums, buzzes and noise. Restore can work at up to 96kHz, and if you need to use more than one plug-in, Sonnox advises placing the DeClicker first, then the DeBuzzer and/or DeNoiser, depending on which nuisance elements are most prevalent.

Sonnox restore

DeClicker offers three sections, De-Pop, De-Click and De-Crackle, dealing with noise events of durations up to 10ms, 3ms and 0.4ms respectively. Each section has its own threshold and sensitivity controls, for dialling in optimal detection. Once this is done, DeClicker's algorithms distinguish between noise events and audio content, the former showing up as colour-coded dots on the graphical display.

With some types of material (eg, distorted guitars), the DeClicker can falsely flag up wanted audio events as clicks or crackles, but this problem is easily solved by utilising the Exclude Box function - a scalable box that you draw on the main graphical display to exclude events within a certain duration/level range from processing.

"DeClicker's algorithms distinguish between noise events and audio content, the former showing up as colour-coded dots on the graphical display."

Activate the DeClicker's Dialogue Mode and a bunch of extra controls pop up. This mode is designed specifically for dialogue restoration work, and works by separately categorising events as dialogue and non-dialogue, then enabling you to process them separately with two full sets of DeClicker controls. Thus you can use more aggressive settings on the non-vocal sections without adversely affecting the audibility of the vocal sections - very clever.

In practice, it's pretty easy to do. You set the voice threshold control much as you'd set that of a noise gate, so any audio events breaching it are processed with the Above Set parameters, and the others with the Below Set. To fine-tune the way the DeClicker categorises events, there are sidechained low- and high-frequency filters and a real-time spectrum analyser, not to mention a level profile chart, both of which appear at the bottom of the main window.

This mode can work magic on video footage, and despite being dubbed Dialogue Mode, it's suitable for other restoration situations where you need different settings for loud and quiet events.

DeBuzzer and DeNoiser

Sonnox restore

DeBuzzer offers hum and buzz removal, and operates using either a Comb filter for buzzes with many harmonics, or a more CPU-hungry Parametric response, for situations with fewer harmonics present. You can set the fundamental frequency of buzzes manually with the large Hz knob or by using the effective Auto mode, which quickly zeroes in on hum. You can set the sensitivity (to avoid over-zealous EQing), degree of removal in dB and much more besides.

The remaining plug-in, DeNoiser, has three sections: Detect, Remove and De-Hisser. It's designed to remove constant broadband noise, such as tape hiss. Like other such plug-ins, it basically works by breaking the signal into many separate frequency bands and individually gating them according to the settings.

Sonnox restore

This works best when the plug-in knows the frequency curve of the noise (aka, noise profile), and the DeNoiser can automatically calculate this for you if required. To influence which frequencies are targeted most aggressively, you can drag points on the display to create a bias curve, eg, to remove more high-frequency noise. The Colour and Air knobs are simpler tools for tweaking the bass and treble response.

To deal more effectively with noise that's constant in its frequency response, you can play back a section featuring only background noise (eg, between songs on a tape), wait until the plug-in has discerned the noise profile, then hit the Freeze button to 'lock' its profile. As with any denoiser plug-in, extreme noise removal can result in the audio becoming dull and soft, and to this end, there's a Warmth knob that reintroduces some of the 'lost' harmonics. There's also a De-Hisser section that works independently from the rest of the plug-in, for more aggressive reduction of treble noise.

All three plug-ins enable you to audition the removed noise events using the Diff button (very handy for making sure you're not removing too much good audio), and they all have A/B functions and undo/redo.

Sonnox spent 18 months on R&D for Restore and it really shows. They've done an excellent job of crafting a well-rounded set of intuitive, versatile tools that's perfect for almost any restoration situation and capable of bafflingly good results - we were able to salvage some audio material that we previously assumed to have been beyond repair.

We used Restore to salvage material from old cassettes and vinyl, multitrack recordings on two-inch tape (that suffered from 'ghost noise'), and takes that had been infested with mains hum. We tried the plug-ins from iZotope RX (the Advanced version of which costs $1199) on the same material, and found Restore to be superior, both in terms of sonic quality and workflow (but note that RX also offers powerful spectral editing functions).

Though the price tag puts it out of the reach of the casual hobbyist, for anyone who does a lot of restoration, mastering or film work, Restore could well be a sound investment and perhaps even an essential purchase.

Check out our Sonnox Restore audio demos:

Noisy acoustic guitar

1. A clean recording of acoustic guitar
2. The same recording mixed with noise to create an artificially noisy recording
3. Denoiser applied to the artificially noisy recording

Guitar with hum

1. Recording of an electric guitar using a broken cable and suffering from severe mains hum
2. The same recording treated with DeBuzzer and DeNoiser

Get over 70 FREE plugin instruments and effects…
…with the latest issue of Computer Music magazine


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TG's Download 2011 cheat sheet

Download 2011 running times

Scroll down to, er, download TG's Download 2011 cheat sheet in a handy printable format, including full line-up and stage times, essential tips and band recommendations.

In this time of economic hardship we appreciate that not everyone wants to part with 20 clams for a bit of card with some running times on it. So in an effort to save you some cash and major headaches we've put together the Total Guitar Download 2011 cheat sheet.

It's two sides of A4, which if you're clever, you'll print out back-to-back and take with you. Inside you'll find some essential festival survival/packing tips, the top five guitar bands at Download and a full running order - with stage times - for all five arenas.

Download it, print it and share it with anyone else you think might want it.

To download, right-click on the link below and select 'save as', or 'save target as' (depending on your browser).

TG's Download 2011 cheat sheet including stage times

For more festival goodness check out TG's Top 10 festivals for guitarists and our 12 Dos and Don'ts of the festival season.


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Nikolai RIMSKY-KORSAKOV (1844-1908)
The Legend of the Invisible City of Kitezh - opera in four acts (1907) [180:36]
Tatiana Monogarova (soprano) - Fevronia; Vitaly Panfilov (tenor) - Vsevolod, Mikhail Kazakov (bass) - Prince Yury; Mikhail Gubsky (tenor) - Kuterma; Gevorg Hakobyan (baritone) - Poyarok; Marika Gulordava (mezzo) - Page; Gianluca Floris and Marek Kalbus (tenor, bass)- Notables; Riccardo Ferrani (bass) -Ballad singer; Stefano Consolini (tenor) - Bear-tamer; Alessandro Senes (baritone) - Beggar; Valery Gilmanov (bass) - Bedyay; Alexander Naumenko (bass) - Burunday; Rosanna Savola (soprano) - Sirin; Elena Manistina (contralto)- Alkonost; Mirko Dettori and Victor Garcia Sierra (tenor, bass) - Two men
Chorus and Orchestra of the Lyric Theatre Cagliari/Alexander Vedernikov
rec. Teatro Lirico di Cagliari, Sardinia, 2 and 4 May 2008
NAXOS 8.660288-90 [3 CDs: 64:07 + 61:12 + 55:17]

Experience Classicsonline

The Legend of the Invisible City of Kitezh and the Maiden Fevronia - to give the opera its full and cumbersome title - was the last of his stage works that Rimsky-Korsakov saw performed; the later Golden Cockerel ran into censorship problems and was not given until after his death. It is the composer’s greatest work in the genre and was probably expected by him to be his swan-song. Into it he pours all his fascination with nature and spirituality. It matters not that the plot itself, a curious mélange of Russian history and mythology, makes no real sense. We accept similarly nonsensical admixtures in the case of Parsifal. The comparison with Wagner is not at all inappropriate. Both works - neither were called operas by their composers - concern a protagonist who saves a spiritually dedicated people through a combination of divine intervention and trust in the healing powers conveyed by natural forces. The music, which unlike most previous Russian operas runs continuously and is through-composed, also recalls Wagner in places, particularly in the opening where the influence of the Forest murmurs from Siegfried and the Good Friday music from Parsifal is felt in writing of sublime delight. This is enhanced by the superbly refined orchestration that Rimsky provides.
This new recording makes the third modern recording of the work in the catalogue - the old Melodiya recording under Nebolsin from 1956 is in mono, disastrous in a work as finely textured in orchestration as this - all derived from live performances over the last fifteen years. Of those three recordings that from Fedoseyev on Koch Schwann is ruled completely out of court by the swingeing cuts which the conductor inflicts on the score, amounting to about an hour of music - that is, about a third of the total is missing. The performance of what is left does not begin to compensate for the massacre. The conductor in his booklet states that the excisions made for the Bregenz Festival production on which the recording is based “chiefly eliminated repeats, often in the large tableaux”. Even were that strictly true - and it most certainly is not - the wanton interference with the composer’s intended proportions would rule this version out of court despite some fine individual performances, the most integrated orchestral playing (from the Vienna Symphony Orchestra) and a very good recording.
The only real competitor to this set is therefore Gergiev, from his Philips series of Russian operas recorded live at the Mariinsky Theatre with his Kirov Opera forces, but a comparison of that recording with this Cagliari one reveals some surprisingly poor sound in St Petersburg with the voices dominating in a rather unresonant theatre acoustic. Nor is the balance of advantage in the performances as one-sidedly in favour of the Kirov set as one might perhaps expect. The orchestral playing from the Cagliari orchestra is very good in the atmospheric opening nature music, and is not at all disadvantaged by comparison with the Kirov forces. The players under Vedernikov sound well drilled, and at a marginally slower tempo make more of the showpiece interlude The Battle near Kerzhenets than the rather over-excited Kirov players under Gergiev. It is not clear what sort of warfare Gergiev has in mind, but surely horses never charged at this sort of speed.
Galina Gorchakova as Fevronia in St Petersburg sounds blustery and over-enthusiastic (in the wrong sense) by comparison with Monogarova here. At the time of the first performance Rimsky-Korsakov was criticised for his choice of a dramatic soprano to depict this “light, ethereal, disembodied” character. Mongarova produces just the right sort of tone. In the opening scenes her cries of Aou! display a beautifully shaded diminuendo as Rimsky requests, an effect that Gorchakova hardly hints at. Unfortunately with the entry of her future lover Vsevolod the emotional temperature is lowered, for Panfilov is much less heroic-sounding than Yuri Masurin at the Kirov. His over-precise phrasing lacks warmth, and when his fellow-hunters arrive he is almost drowned by the offstage chorus. In the brief closing scene, Hakobyan is not as firm as his Kirov counterpart.
The Second Act opens with a fair-tide scene which in some ways - particularly the sometimes startling juxtaposition of rhythms - anticipates the work of Rimsky’s pupil Stravinsky in Petrushka less than a decade later. Here in Cagliari the drawbacks of a live theatre recording are evident, with unrhythmic sounds of crowds milling and bustling around the stage obscuring the music. Gergiev overcomes this with his very forward reading which underlines the parallels with Stravinsky but at the same time loses some of Rimsky’s more subtle touches. Vedernikov here, with his more recessed sound, gets more light and shade into the music. The same sound allows more of the music to be obscured by the onstage noise, and his singers in the various small roles of market traders, buskers and beggars are less characterful than with Gergiev - although the fine voice of Dettori deserves a mention. The bear-tamer and the ballad-singer both sound much younger in St Petersburg, but the accompaniment to the ballad-singer’s third verse with its pizzicato strings is much clearer in Cagliari; it is quite inaudible at the Kirov. Vedernikov also appreciates the string imitations of the sound of the gusli in the links between the verses, where Gergiev’s players sound rather ordinary. Gubsky as the drunkard who assumes the principal male role in some of the closing scenes, although somewhat dry in tone, is every bit as good as the character tenor of Nikolai Putilin at the Kirov. Vladimir Galusin on the Fedoseyev set produces more ingratiating tone than either although he suffers most heavily from the cut text employed. The Cagliari chorus cope well with Rimsky-Korsakov’s ingenious and tricky choral writing, especially in the scene when the invading Tartars interrupt the reception of Fevronia into the city. Gilmanov and Naumenko as the two Tartar chiefs are more menacing and villainously impressive than the two rather woofy basses at the Kirov. At the end of the Act, as Fevronia prays for a miracle to save Kitezh, Gorchakova at the Kirov sounds somewhat backwardly placed on the stage. Monogarova here is far more impressively transported, and conveys the real feeling that her confidence in divine intervention might prove to be justified.
The opening of the Third Act clearly demonstrates Rimsky-Korsakov’s debt to Mussorgsky, with the choral writing in particular recalling the death scene from that opera. The basically bass voice of Hakobyan - in what is admittedly a rather low-lying baritone part - cannot avoid a sense of strain in his upper register here. On the other hand Kazakov is more dominating and noble as the Prince of Kitezh than Gergiev’s rather gritty Nikolai Ohotnikov. Although the Page of Gulordava is very feminine and is not at all distanced when she is supposedly up on a watchtower looking out on the devastation of the land, she sings most beautifully in her heartfelt lament. Again Panfilov rather lets the side down with his decidedly unheroic address to his soldiers as he leads them out to battle against the Tartars. In the second scene, with the prince killed in battle, it falls to Gubsky to take over as the leading male protagonist. His voice displays a considerable degree more strength in the first of his lengthy duets with Fevronia.
By the beginning of the final Act, with the Tartar invaders miraculously foiled, the dramatic action of the plot of Kitezh is effectively completed, as in Wagner’s Parsifal. All that remains is a lengthy series of resolutions between the principal characters including Panfilov as the prince, now conveniently returned as a ghost. After an impressive mad scene for Gubsky and a sort of transfigured Good Friday spell beautifully sung by Monogarova, we are introduced to Alkonost the bird of death and Sirin the bird of joy, both firmly sung here if without any hint of mystery, and re-introduced to Panfilov, who sounds somewhat refreshed by his new status as a ghost although his voice remains resolutely unheroic. The chorus sing with proper fervour in the final scene, and it is a reflection on the care with which this performance has been prepared that a clearly incorrect note in the choral soprano part (at track 9, 5:45) in the vocal score published in 1962 has been amended - a similar alteration is made by Gergiev and Fedoseyev. In this final scene there is a passage which could be dangerously anticlimactic, as Fevronia dictates a lengthy letter of forgiveness to Kuterma - Fedoseyev unpardonably cuts the whole of this section - but which in the right hands can be as effective as the similar scene of reconciliation in Janáček’s Jenůfa. Gorchakova for Gergiev is a little blustery here, but Monogarova is ideally simple and the result is most touching. Although at the very end the recorded balance in St Petersburg gives more presence to the chorus than here in Cagliari, the sound remains rather forward and blatant.
One major complaint about this set is the fact that there is no text or translation provided either in the booklet or online. This is simply unacceptable with a work as complex as this. Not complex in the plot; the basic synopsis which is provided gives enough information to supply this; but - to take just one example - the duet in the opening scene between Fevronia and her prince is not a conventional love-duet in which, to quote the booklet synopsis, “he is captured by her spirituality and love of nature. They sing a love duet…”. No, it is much more than that - their duet is a philosophical colloquy to rival that in Tristan, where Fevronia speaks of the way in which she feels drawn to God not through religious ceremonial but through a communion with the whole of the natural world. The music closely reflects every word that she sings. Without a detailed translation the listener is getting much less than half the story. This production is also available on DVD (Naxos 2.110277-78), and presuming that in that version it comes with full subtitles it would certainly appear that the viewer would at least be able to appreciate the subtleties of the score even if - as appears from the booklet photographs - the rather static-looking production itself might leave something to be desired.
There have been a number of studio recordings of the suite which Rimsky extracted from the opera stretching back to the early stereo Supraphon under Smetaček in the 1960s. These amply illustrate the richness and depth of the score in a way that these theatre recordings cannot match. To take just one example again: the opening scene for Fevronia begins with a series of birdsong imitations on various woodwind instruments - like Wagner’s woodbirds. These are generally not of recognisable species but their songs are repeated to underpin Fevronia’s words and act as a counterpoint to them. There is one passage for piccolo which sounds rather like an over-excited quail, and when this is heard without the voice it is clear in both recordings. When it recurs - in counterpoint with a clearly recognisable cuckoo call - one can clearly see it in the vocal score, but one cannot hear it at all. This simply illustrates the point that this is a score which cries out for a properly balanced studio recording with the balances carefully calculated. No live theatre recording will ever be able to match in sound even the recordings we have of the suites.
Nevertheless this is a work which should be in the collection of everyone who is interested in nineteenth century opera, romantic music, or Russian music of the period. It is quite simply - to employ a much over-used phrase - a neglected masterpiece. When you add it to your collection - as you must - you have only very limited options to choose from. At the cheap Naxos price you could well invest in this set as a stop-gap until a studio recording eventually appears, or purchase the DVD - which would at least give you the English subtitles which you really need to appreciate the complexities of the action.
Paul Corfield Godfrey

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Inside Vevo's new music video content play

Daniel Gumble

Video streaming platform Vevo has begun funding music videos in a bid to support emerging talent, Music Week can exclusively reveal.

Vevo has significantly increased its activities in the search for new music over the past 12 months. Its Dscvr initiative showcases a range of new artists by way of exclusive live performances, while Vevo Lift zeroes in on a selection of burgeoning acts, offering fans exclusive footage and content related to the artist in question.

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Mustang Evolution - View Profile: jimmy_beaner

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  1. drusmith
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    Love your car bro! Very nice Sonic Blue!
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    my email is or text mess me photos too 859-325-1262
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    can you send me pics of those 17x9 and 17x10.5. I have been looking at them and the price is not bad.....
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    soooo....i voted for you to make up for calling you brandon a little while back, hahaha. just teasin', you definitely have a hot GT, i love it and it was the best. good luck. hope all is well! have a good weekend.
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    sry about the thread thing so ur saying instead of doing the pi heads try the trick flow right?
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    hi my name is john i have a 96 mustang gt 4.6L 2V with 64,000miles only mods is a bbk cold air intake a short throw shifter and a set of flowmasters than came with the car i wanna look at throwing a set of heads on the car i saw a set at the power improvment set, are they a good choice or do they make ones that are better?
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    Hey jimmy, whats up. Its 6w5 (3.8mustang) I just happen to stumble upon this site and decided it was time for a change. Well, actually it was about that time. I posted this morning and as usual it turned into BS. Look in the off topic section and look at the post I made about the signature picts. It was quite childish, very offensive and I have decided not to do it any more. I know it probably happens here but I am here to learn about cars and trade advice not deal with the crap that they think is so funny. See you around here and I am going to get Taylor02gt to join here to or get his e-mail so we can still do the cruise. Is the 24-25 of April 2009 ok for you?

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Progressive/Experimental Review: Garden Music Project-Inspired By Syd Barrett’s Artwork

Release Date:  7th July 2014
Label: AR Garden Records

This is another of those artists/albums that I would probably not have come across by chance, but getting Garden Music Project with the album Inspired By Syd Barrett’s Artwork to review gives me the opportunity to broaden my horizons yet again.

This release by Garden Music Project also coincides with the eighth anniversary of the Pink Floyd founder members passing. The creator of the project is Adriana Rubio, who has a rare neurological phenomenon called synaesthesia. This is a condition whereby one sense can trigger one or more other sensory responses.  As an example, a synaesthete might hear sounds in response to a smell or see a certain number as a color. The album, Inspired By Syd Barrett’s Artwork, is probably best described as an “epic interpretation of Syd Barrett’s paintings, using synesthesia perceptions.

The music for Inspired By Syd Barrett’s Artwork, was written by Adriana Rubio and Alexander Ditzend. The Garden Music Project is a 4 piece band comprising, Alexander Ditzend (guitars, lead vocals), Stefan Ditzend (bass, saxophone), Nicolas Saganias (drums, percussion) and Fabrizio Gamba (keyboards, synths).
Inspired By Syd Barrett’s Artwork is a 12 track album with a total playing time of around 48 minutes, with the opening track, “Garden,” being the shortest at 2:46 minutes and “Coliseum,” the longest track on offer at 6:14 minutes.

The opening track to the album, “Garden” (2:46) certainly recalls very early Pink Floyd, with that laid back feel, bass melody, jaunty keyboards and then morphing into a psychedelic soundscape. Chunky keyboards, guitars, and a staccato vocal heralds the entrance into track 2, “Squares, Lines and Polygons” (3:00), which then switches into a melodic passage, returns to the intro theme and then into a jazzy section. The amazing guitar work in the last minute certainly ensures that the track is memorable.

“Isolation” (3:40) is another piece of music seemingly steeped in 60’s/70’s psychedelia, but the following track, “Transformation” (5:47) is well named, as it moves into another style. Introduced by a drumbeat and keyboard, prior to a spoken vocal, this track tries to “paint the scene” before there is another example of some stunning guitar work. At times, this track is almost discordant, but it just about works, as does the meandering saxophone around the 4 minute mark. This is an interesting track, almost jam-like at times but possibly outstays its welcome slightly in its almost 6 minute length.

“Bullying” (3:23) has train noises as an introduction which then builds into another “retro” psychedelia track before leaving the stage to “My Ladies” (3:41). This has terrific strummed guitar and a vocal provided in a sort of disconnected, deadpan manner. The electric guitar starts to soar away behind the vocals and there are classic little hooks here and there.

Classic keyboards and a retro sound announce “Leaving Home” (3:28) and the tempo is noticeably slower. More simple, but effective, guitar builds up during this track. More natural sounds, including thunder, rain and a ringing phone disguise the sudden dive into “heavy” psychedelia that is track 8, “Crime Scene” (3:36). There is a very atmospheric sound to this track, recalling the older police dramas from the USA.

The longest track on offer, “Coliseum” (6:14) has an eastern style at the outset with percussion and synths which slowly merge into a majestic passage, evoking thoughts of the “Christians versus the Lions” soundscape before there is a sudden sideways shift with the saxophone then recalling the Clint Eastwood western trilogy, a la “The Good, The Bad and The Ugly.” The track then reverts back to the eastern style starting point with a spoken voice in the background.

“Tour Bus” (4:25) is another slow builder of a track, sweeping from light to intense in a heartbeat. There are some amazing keyboards over a simple drumbeat around the 2:30 minute point. By the time this listener has reached this point, the same feeling that was apparent on the first listen has reappeared. The style has started to sound repetitive and the feeling of “newness” has gone.

The final track, “Self Portrait” (4:48) features more natural sounds and employs the same style of staccato lyrics. Spoken lines then give way to a very mellow saxophone passage which paints an interesting soundscape with the help of some excellently played guitar.

Having listened to Inspired by Syd Barrett’s Artwork several times, I find myself on the horns of a dilemma. Some of the music sounds as if it could have come from early Pink Floyd albums, but it doesn’t seem to be able to maintain that scenario. Some tracks try hard to succeed, but they don’t seem to quite get there. There are some stunning tracks on this album, but I found the second half of the album seemed unable to maintain the momentum of the first part. The lyrics are certainly interesting as they do reference this unusual complex linking of senses.

Inspired By Syd Barrett’s Artwork I found a bit of a mixed bag of tracks, but as usual, I urge people to listen to the album a few times. This is my opinion and I am aware many people will have a very different view of the album.

4/5 Stars

Key Tracks: Garden, My Ladies, Coliseum

Squares, Lines and Polygons
My Ladies
Leaving Home
Crime Scene (To The Memory of Dr Arthur Barrett)
Tour Bus
Self Portrait

Jim “The Ancient One” Lawson-Sr. Reviewer Prog Rock Music Talk

September 12, 2014

Review Provided By Prog Rock Music Talk

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