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Vampire slots have 5-reels and 18-lines, with a progressive jackpot, free spins, bonus rounds, and wilds, and this game may be just what the fang man ordered if youre thirsty enough!
Vampire online slots wagering.
Youll see coin sizes range from .02 to 5.00 credits. Youll have the chance to play up to five coins per line to make an impressive betting range from .36 credits to 450 credits per game, when all paylines are active.
Vampire Progressive Slots Jackpot & Pay Table.
Vampire progressive slots offer a high-dollar jackpot, when you get five Jackpot symbols on a payline, you win its progressive jackpot.
Vampire slots is full of scatters and crafty wilds, and youll only need one or two symbols on a payline to start the payout madness; paylines will payout from left to right.
Vampire Online Slots Wild Symbol.
Vampire slots Wild symbol is the Gargoyle Wild symbol and is both a wild and a regular symbol, depending on where it lands on the reels:
- The Gargoyle Wild will substitute for all framed symbols (i.e. not the bar or "Any" symbol).
- The Gargoyle Wild will double the payout on any winning combination it is a part of.
- If it lands on the first reel, the Gargoyle Wild symbol turns into a regular symbol on a quest for bigger payouts according to the pay table.
Vampire Slot Scatter Symbols.
Vampire progressive slots Scatter symbols: Be on the look out for the four different scatters offered, as each does something a little different (explained below).
Standard Scatter: As a traditional scatter (and because it calls itself Scatter), this standard scatter symbol pays where it lies on the reels at the end of a game. The more symbols you have, the higher payout youll receiveand you only need two to get paid.
Heres how it breaks down; and keep in mind the payouts are multipliers of your total amount wagered:
- 2 standard Vampire game Scatters = 2x.
- 3 standard Vampire game Scatters = 5x.
- 4 standard Vampire game Scatters = 20x.
- 5 standard Vampire game Scatters = 100x.
Orange Bonus Symbol: Orange Gravestones are the mark of the Cemetery Bonus. Youll need at least three hitting the reels from left to right to activate it.
Green Bonus Scatter: Green Coffin symbols can only mean good things. Find out when you get three or more from left to right.
Free Spin Scatter: What youd expect from a Free Spin scatterfree spins:
- 2 Green Coffin Free Spin Scatters = 2 free games.
- 3 Green Coffin Free Spin Scatters = 4 free games.
- 4 Green Coffin Free Spin Scatters = 6 free games.
- 5 Green Coffin Free Spin Scatters = 8 free games.
Vampire slots Free spins will play automatically, particularly if youre playing in AutoPlay mode.
Vampire Progressive Slots Crypt Bonus Game.
Multiply your total bet up to 20x (thats 9,000 credits on a max bet!) when three or more bonus Coffin scatters hit the reels from left to right. A new screen will load:
- The object of the Crypt Bonus game is to find multipliers totaling 20x.
- There is even a coffin that contains the 20x multiplier to make it short and sweet.
- The Crypt Bonus game ends when you hit that magic multiplier or you open an empty "Finish" coffin.
Vampire Slot Cemetery Bonus Feature.
Vampire slots "Cemetery" Bonus is triggered when three or more Gravestone scatters that fall adjacently from left to right on the reels, then a cemetery will load onto a new screen:
- The object of the Cemetery Bonus game is to awaken the plots that have the highest hidden multipliers.
- As you click on the graves a hand will reach out of the ground clutching a colored orb that corresponds to a multiplier.
- Red is 20x your wager-aim for that!
If you happen to click a grave that reveals the Finish sign, a cruel laugh will let you know the game is over (but you still get to keep what you earned so far).
Both Vampire slot Bonus Features will award an additional multiplier depending on how many symbols activated the feature:
- Three Bonus scatters give 1x your feature winnings.
- Four Bonus scatters will double feature winnings.
- Four Bonus scatters will take your feature winnings and multiply them x5.
Play Vampire progressive slots for Halloween or any time you feel the need to feed!
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Paws of the Wolf-Runner are a pair of unique boots that are enchanted with the power to enhance the wearer's speed and athletic ability.
Both effects are 10 points constant on self:
The Mead Hall MassacreEdit
After completing "The Skaal Test of Wisdom" quest, the Nerevarine discovers that there has been an incident of extreme violence at the Thirsk Mead Hall in the Felsaad Coast region. Svenja Snow-Song, the sole survivor, requests that the Nerevarine hunt down The Udyrfrykte, a mystical beast that is responsible for the massacre. Skjoldr Wolf-Runner is among the dead. These boots are on his body.
Community content is available under CC-BY-SA unless otherwise noted.

subset: commoncrawl


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State troopers gear up for weekend effort
State troopers are stepping up patrols for impaired drivers across Georgia this weekend to try to curb traffic deaths.
The enforcement effort will include regular patrol, concentrated patrol in problem areas and road checks throughout the state, Georgia State Patrol Lt. Paul Cosper said.
"That poor choice that people make changes lives in a second," Cosper said of impaired driving.
In a vehicular homicide, not only is a life lost, but the lives are forever changed of the victim's family, the impaired driver and his or her family, Cosper noted.
The enforcement effort is part of the National LifeSaving Weekend, which officially kicks off the annual enforcement campaign for the Christmas and New Year's holiday periods.
The effort starts Friday to draw attention to the national "Lights on for Life Day," in which troopers across the country are expected to keep headlights on during the day.
The idea is to draw attention to the dangers of drinking and driving, Cosper said.
Cosper urged residents to be responsible and not drink and drive. He also urged those throwing holiday parties where alcohol is served to ensure that any guests who become impaired either spend the night or are given a ride home.
Impaired drivers may be reported to GSP by calling Star G-S-P (*477).
The Christmas holiday travel period begins at 6 p.m. Wednesday and ends at midnight Dec. 28.
More than 2,900 accidents, nearly 1,500 injuries and 19 fatalities are projected for the period by the GSP and the Crash Reporting Unit of the state Department of Public Safety.
The 2007 final count for the same period was 3,039 accidents, 1,158 injuries and 18 fatalities.
The New Year's holiday travel period starts at 6 p.m. Dec. 31 and ends at midnight Jan. 4.
Projections of accidents, injuries and fatalities for that period have not been estimated yet.
To contact writer Becky Purser, call 923-3109, extension 243.


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Take some funk & soul, rhythm & blues, stage theatre & dance, a tablespoon of life, mix them all together and you've got KASANO. He's a singer, songwriter, recording artist, dancer, and an actor born in Lusaka, Zambia and mostly raised in Minnesota. The consummate entertainer states that his musicality and inspiration grew from his father, who was a guitarist in Zambia. He infuses stage presence with fluidity, power, and a promise to take no moment for granted.
KASANO has been seen on stages in and around the Twin Cities, performing as a member of the Actor's Equity Association and dancing for a number of local dance companies in the Minneapolis area. Even with training and skills, he still believes that a show is not a show unless you can feel it. Maya Angelou once said, "People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." The way we feel can change our states of mind. Those memories then become chapters in our lives. The feelings we experience are what color and fill in the story. In return, it lays etched in our hearts forever.
About KASANO...
and THE VYBES...
Aaron Rosell
Seth Lienard
Becky Shaheen


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Creating a personal health record (PHR) for yourself or a loved one can ensure better healthcare. The medical information in a PHR provides a single reference that helps you and healthcare providers make better decisions about disease prevention and medical treatment.
Keeping the PHR up-to-date can streamline medical appointments and may prevent unnecessary or duplicate tests or prescriptions.
To use the H2U Health Trackers
join H2U today!
Already a member?
log in to access member only resources.
For a PHR to be helpful, the information needs to be reviewed and possibly updated each time you see a doctor, fill a prescription or go to the hospital.
To supplement this record, you may want to take the Personal Health Assessment and keep the two reports together. By tracking your blood pressure, glucose levels, weight and other health statistics, you'll be even more in charge of your own well-being


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KIPP Austin Public Schools Teacher Selected to NOAA's Teacher at Sea Program
May 31, 2018
Austin, Texas Teacher to Set Sail on Gulf of Mexico Research Cruise
Geoffrey Carlisle, an 8th grade science teacher at KIPP Austin College Prep in Austin, Texas, will sail on June 7 to assist scientists on a 14-day survey of groundfish populations in the Gulf of Mexico. Carlisle will participate in this cruise as part of NOAA's Teacher at Sea program, which bridges science and education through real-world research experiences.
"Carl Sagan once said, 'It is suicidal to create a society dependent on science and technology in which hardly anybody knows anything about science and technology,'" quotes Carlisle. "Through my experience with NOAA, I can better educate my students about how scientific research is conducted, and the impacts this research has on our daily lives."
Carlisle will board NOAA Ship Oregon II in Pascagoula, Mississippi, and will work with scientists daily as they conduct an ongoing population survey of groundfish in the Gulf. Carlisle is writing a blog detailing his experience—photos from the blog are free and available for use by media with proper credit.
"NOAA's Teacher at Sea Program gives teachers the professional opportunity of a lifetime with a chance to participate in cutting edge science, on the ocean, working side-by-side with world-renowned scientists," says Jennifer Hammond, the program's director. "Teachers describe this authentic research experience as transformative and one that allows them to bring new knowledge and excitement back to their classrooms."
Now in its 28th year, the program has provided nearly 750 teachers the opportunity to gain first-hand experience participating in science at sea. This year, NOAA received applications from nearly 300 teachers, and chose 35 to participate in research cruises. These educators are able to enrich their curricula with the depth of understanding they gain by living and working side-by-side with scientists studying the marine environment.
NOAA's mission is to understand and predict changes in the Earth's environment, from the depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun, and to conserve and manage our coastal and marine resources. Join us on Facebook and Twitter.
For more information:
NOAA Fisheries Homepage: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/
NOAA Teacher at Sea Homepage: http://teacheratsea.noaa.gov/
Geoffrey Carlisle blog: https://teacheratsea.noaa.gov/#/2018/Geoffrey*Carlisle/blogs


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May - June - PDX Flash at Compound Gallery, Portland OR.
June - July - "New Western Medicine Show" - Collaborations with Kevin Hennessy at Ironwood, Denver, CO
February - May - Installation at BorderMX Contemporary Arts Center, Mexico City, MX
July - August - Solo at Blackbird Gallery, Las Vegas NV.
September - Solo at Field Day, Oakland, CA
May - July - A Southern Migration - Collaborative Show & Installation w/ Angy Wills, Arca Gallery, Mexico City, MX
March - Mural Installation Collaboration w/ Angy Wills, GURU Gallery, Mexico City, MX
January - Night of the Hunter. Anniversary show at Antler Gallery, Portland, OR
July 13 - August 12 - PangeSeeds' The Great West Coast Migration Tour. Visiting..
-Seattle, Roq La Rue
-Portland, Grasshut Corp.
-SF, Spoke Art Gallery
-L.A., LeBasse Projects
-Sacramento, Milk Gallery
May 25th - June 15 - Solo at Antler Gallery, Portland Oregon
March - April - Translating A Wild Unknown - Solo at Vertigo Gallery, Mexico City, Mexico
December - "5 year show" Breeze Block Gallery, Portland Oregon
November - "Celebrating the Universe" Blackbird Studios, Las Vegas, Nevada
July - "Friendship Rituals" Solo at Together Gallery, Portland Oregon
June - "Alone Time" - Mural Installation, Breeze Block Gallery, Portland Oregon
April - Hatos, Nakameguro, Tokyo
January - "Family Quilt 3" at Together Gallery, Portland Oregon.
October - "Life in the Coffin" Ecdysiast Studio, Portland Oregon.
July - "The Great Outdoors" at Pony Club Gallery, Portland Oregon.
June - "Diorama Drama" at Pony Club Gallery, Portland Oregon.
April - "The Dregs" at The Side Door, Portland Oregon.
February - "100 Bones" at Ecdysiast, Portland Oregon
October - "Family" at Launch Pad Gallery
September - "Hunter Gatherer" Solo Show at Breeze Block Gallery, Portland, OR.
April - "She's Crafty" at Lyrik, Portland OR.
February - "100 Bones" at Breeze Block Gallery, Portland OR.
October - "Darks, Lights, and Colors" at Pony Club Gallery, Portland OR.
September - With Alyson Bennette at Ecdysiast Studio, Portland OR.
March - "11:11" at Pony Club Gallery, Portland OR
April - "On Duty" at Breeze Block Gallery, Portland OR


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Sega's 7th Dragon is a series of dungeon crawler RPGs similar to Etrian Odyssey and Class of Heroes. The original 7th Dragon was on DS, then the futuristic 7th Dragon 2020 appeared on PSP. Recently, 7th Dragon 2020-II was released in Japan, also exclusive to the PSP. Here's a collection with more than 50 screenshots of this Japan-only handheld RPG.
For more news, media, and insights on games like 7th Dragon and many others, look for PlayStation JapanStyle, our monthly look at gaming in its Graceland.


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If you've been working on upgrading your app from iPhone 4 & iPhone 5 to iPhone 6 and 6+ you've probably enjoyed a bunch of fun new challenges. Whether its understanding the screen size (now with downsampling!) or figuring out how the layouts and canvases change there's all kinds of fun things to figure out.
(Ed note: If you are in the process of relaying out I recommend these two posts – iPhone 6 Screen Sizes Demystified & Designing from iPhone 5 to iPhone 6 and 6+. I wrote the second one.)
Right when you think you've solved them and you can hang up your stylus and head to the bar you get a call from the submission team.
"We need all of the screenshots in all the new resolutions!" They say.
Crap! You've already built these bad boys in iPhone 5 res and made layer comps for each of your 5 screens but now, you need to make two completely new sizes? And for every screenshot!?
Good news:
First, while the layout and pixel density changes between the two new phones and the old phone, the aspect ratio of the screenshots don't. So if you aren't using actual screenshots for your screenshots (IE you are making fancy designed images with your product pitch on them) you only need to rebuild them once for iPhone 6+ resolution (reminder thats 1242×2208) then save them at the alternate resolutions. (Note: This only works if you are ok with having the same screenshots for different devices.)
And you don't even need to do all the resizing manually. I've made a handy script that will take your iPhone 6+ screenshots and save them for iPhone 6 and iPhone 5!
You'll be done in no time.
Here it is and here's how to use it.
QUICK LINK -> Download the action here.
(Before you dive in you should know how to use actions. If you don't, they are super ridiculously simple and it will likely take you less time to learn how to use them then it will to do this single process manually once. Here's a good overview.)
1. Create (or recreate) your screenshots in iPhone 6+ resolution (1242×2208 – Yep its big!).
2. Create individual layer comps for each screenshot. (I prefer to name mine 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 so the person importing them knows the correct order.)
3. Save your PSD.
4. This action uses the default Layer Comps to Files script so be sure your settings are what you want them to be (I suggest .jpg at quality 8, but I haven't done a ton of testing. If you have a better setting preference please comment.)
5. SAVE A COPY of your PSD. When we use this PSD we will end up losing some resolution, so you'll want to keep your original full resolution file. Do this by saving a copy from the Save As dialog.
6. Download and open the action here.
7. Open the Actions folder (if it isn't in your workspace you can open it in "Window < Actions"
8. Click on "Save Appstore Screenshots"
9. Click the play button.
10. Sit back and relax while the Action runs.
11. Check your destination folder and ensure everything worked correctly. 🙂
If everything worked you should have all of your layer comps as 1242×2208, 750×1334 and 640×1136 like these:
iPhone 5
iPhone 6
iPhone 6+
Everything will be in the same folder, each image will be labeled with the appropriate number for sequencing in the AppStore and will also be labeled for which phone it is made for.
Celebrate by snagging yourself an amazing Ghostly Ruler or Katy Perry Prismatic Refraction Glasses. 🙂
Hopefully it all worked for you! Hit me up @aten or @merchbar if you have any questions, ideas or troubles.


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Under the command of chef Eric Roeder, Bistro Vendome did some French dishes better than any other place in town: steak frites, sauces of all description. But brunch was always the best reason for visiting Vendome, and even though Roeder is gone and the restaurant is now firmly in the hands of chef Jennifer Jasinski and manager Beth Gruitch-Verucchi (yes, the same team that owns and operates Rioja across the street), brunch here remains a thing of beauty.
To start with, the space itself is a beauty: Bistro Vendome holds down what I believe is one of the best -- if not the best -- locations in the city. Tucked away in a semi-private courtyard just off the hustle and bustle of Larimer Square, Vendome is like a hideaway, a secret garden just ten steps off the main drag. In the summer, there's a great patio filled with flowers. In December, there are cold sculptures and Santa outside, while the inside warmth steams up the windows of the small bistro. But beyond that is the beauty of the food. On a recent Saturday, I had good croissant, gallons of excellent French press coffee, and lacy crepes stuffed with shrimp and cream cheese, topped with a shrimp sauce fatted with avocado. The frites were different from Roeder's and not as good -- thick-cut, herbed, salty and glazed with sugar syrup. But the service was excellent, with the crowds in the dining room ebbing and flowing as late morning turned to late afternoon.
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After my experiences at Brasserie Ten Ten, though, what I appreciate the most about Bistro Vendome is its unabashed French-ness. The kitchen clearly makes no attempt to dodge or shortcut the canon; there's rabbit sausage in the cassoulet, Pernod along with the striped bass and mussels in the loup de rivière, and sweet wine poured over the moules. This is an honest attempt at re-creating the Left Bank bistro cuisine of Paris -- and as a snob and a jerk and a classicist, I love it.


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Regal Hong Kong Hotel
This high-rise hotel works hard to match the sheer splendor of its views over Hong Kong with lavish, distinctive décor. Vast expanses of marble, glittering chandeliers, and elaborate Baroque styling create a memorable look from the moment you arrive — complemented by exceptional facilities including a sleek rooftop pool, award-winning Cantonese cuisine, and spacious, sumptuous guestrooms. Regal Hong Kong Hotel's enviable location in one of the city's most dynamic districts means great shopping, eating, and sightseeing are on your doorstep.
- 481 rooms and suites with magnificent views of Victoria Harbor and the city skyline
- Enjoy award-winning Cantonese cooking and contemporary Italian cuisine
- Feel on top of the world with a dip in the rooftop pool
- Perfectly placed for exploring lively and bustling Causeway Bay
- 20 multi-purpose function rooms perfect for conferences, meetings, or events
- Upgrade to the Executive floors for complimentary extras including cocktails and a mini-bar
Wake up to breathtaking views of Victoria Harbor and the Hong Kong skyline in one of the 481 guestrooms, all decorated in plush Baroque style with rich fabrics and glimmers of gold. With 10 different room categories, you have wonderful choices to suit your needs. Upgrade to one of the Executive Club Rooms or suites for a range of exclusive privileges, including complimentary airport transfers, in-room WiFi, local calls, a mini-bar, pressing service, and access to the Executive Club Lounge where breakfast, snacks, and cocktails are served free of charge throughout the day. For a special occasion, choose a suite that comes with a separate living room, a bathroom with a Jacuzzi tub, and a pillow menu.
Regal Hongkong Hotel offers 24-hour room service and an attentive concierge team to help you make the most of your stay. Bringing little ones? Take advantage of the hotel's childcare services and head out for a night on the town to experience Hong Kong's nightlife.
Whether you're looking for casual international dining or award-winning Cantonese cuisine, you'll find all of this and more in the hotel's four restaurants and elegant patisserie.
Alto 88 – Exquisitely presented contemporary Italian cuisine and fine wines are paired with breathtaking views of Victoria Harbor at this elegant restaurant.
Regal Palace – Come here for authentic yet high-end Cantonese cuisine and traditional dim sum in a contemporary setting. Try Chinese specialties including abalone and sea cucumber, or splurge and order the restaurant's award-winning stir-fried lobster topped with Shanghai crab meat.
Café Rivoli – Head down to Café Rivoli for breakfast, lunch, and dinner buffets of Asian and international cuisine. This laid-back space also serves a weekend afternoon tea buffet and an extensive á la carte menu featuring everything from pad thai and wonton soup to burgers, pizza, and apple crumble.
Tiffany Lounge – The hotel's soaring, marble lobby lounge with mirrored pillars is an elegant place to relax with a cocktail, snack, or high tea.
Regal Patisserie – Only those with serious restraint can walk past the gourmet cakes and pastries created by the Regal HongKong Hotel's onsite patisserie, which also serves salads and sandwiches for lunch.
Plunge into the rooftop pool, take in the panoramic views of the harbor and park from the sun deck, or hit the gym and try the state-of-the-art training equipment. If you're traveling for work, there's an extremely well-equipped business center, plus 20 function and conference venues that can accommodate up to 400 people, serviced by a professional meetings and events team.
The green spaces of Victoria Park are just around the corner and are an oasis of calm — ideal for peaceful strolls and sunrise Tai Chi. Shopping and entertainment at Times Square are a short walk away, and if you're a racing enthusiast, you'll love having Happy Valley Racecourse on the doorstep. In just 15 minutes, you can drive to the crescent sands of Repulse Bay, one of the finest beaches in Hong Kong, or visit The Peak, famous for spectacular views of the city skyline.
Regal Hong Kong Hotel
Just steps from the bustling shopping and entertainment of Causeway Bay, yet near the natural beauty of Victoria Park and Victoria Harbor, Regal Hong Kong Hotel delivers the best of both worlds.
what3words Address
Hong Kong International Airport is 24 mi / 39 km away, and 40 minutes by car.
Causeway Bay MTR Station is just a three-minute walk from the hotel.
The hotel offers airport and city shuttle buses, making it easy to explore central Hong Kong.


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Third Grade | Earth and Human Activity
Third Grade | Earth and Human Activity
This kit introduces third grade students to some of the natural disasters which affect our world. Lightning, earthquakes and tornadoes are three of the natural disasters we see occurring in our world and devastating lives on a daily basis. This kit allows students to explore these phenomena with real, interactive activities that encourage everyone to participate. Students will build a seismograph to measure earthquake activity, as well as have an opportunity to invent weather related hazard protections. Students will also be asked to write a sales pitch selling the advantages of a basement for tornado protection. A short assessment will be given at the end to measure each students understanding of the topics presented. This kit contains enough materials for twenty five to thirty students or can be customized for a home schooled student.
Purchase Price of kit for classroom of 30 students: $335.00
Home school parents: This kit is included in the Third Grade subscription.


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Mail, Contacts & Calendars Preferences on Your MacBook
The Mail, Contacts & Calendars pane of your MacBook's Systems Preferences window is a central location for adding, editing, and configuring your Internet, iCloud, and local network accounts for e-mail, Address Book contacts, and calendar information.
Note that accounts appear automatically in this pane when you create them in many applications. For example, creating a mail account within Apple Mail also automatically adds that account to the list in the Mail, Contacts & Calendars pane.
To add a new account, click the New Account button and then click the account type in the list at the right side of the pane. System Preferences displays a custom assistant that will lead you through the setup process for that specific account.
After you've configured an account, it appears in the list at the left. Click an account in the list and you can specify whether that account will be used with Apple Mail, iCal, FaceTime, and iChat. You can also change account information by clicking in the desired field and typing the new information, or delete the selected account entirely by clicking the Delete Account button.


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The Full 90
Full 90 Mailbag: Where does the D.C. United loss rank in Sporting KC history?
There have been a few days for reflection after Sporting Kansas City fell hard by three goals to D.C. United. Not surprisingly, it's been the main topic of conversation for this week's mailbag. Could the heavy loss be a stepping stone? Are more changes coming to the lineup? Who does KC miss most from its MLS Cup-winning squad last year?
Let's open it up and see what we've got.
@TheFull90 What are the worst 5 losses in Sporting (post Wizards) history? Methinks D.C. game has to be on the list.— John Hail (@jhailos) August 25, 2014
While it obviously sucks to lose a late-season match to a conference rival — much less having said rivals pop you in the mouth for good measure — I'm not sure the 3-0 loss to D.C. United was bad enough to crack this list of post-rebrand losses:
1. Houston 2, Kansas City 0 (2011 MLS Eastern Conference final)
One of the biggest gut punches in franchise history. The stakes, the anticipation, the team's quality — It was all there, and Carlo Costly ruined it.
2. Seattle 2, Kansas City 1 (Aug. 6, 2011)
The Sounders scored two goals after the 90th minute to hand KC the first league defeat at Sporting Park. Two goals after the 90th minute. Two.
3. Cruz Azul 5, Kansas City 1 (March 19, 2013)
After a solid first leg in Kansas City, it all well and truly fell apart in Mexico City. This was a whopping, plain and simple.
4. Houston 2, KC 1 (Two-leg 2012 Eastern Conference Final)
Second verse, same as the first. Sporting dug a hole on the road and couldn't get out — no matter how many shots they took.
5. Richmond 2, Kansas City 0 (July 12, 2011)
There are still fans I know who refuse to talk about this game. Major disappointment.
The only thing that could sneak this loss into a list such as this would be the fact that it's the biggest margin of defeat at Sporting Park in league play. But, I can't see it up there above those five games.
@TheFull90 Do you think Sporting use the loss to DC as a stepping stone to get better or are injuries and all the change catching up to them— Michael Tavis (@MichaelTavisJR) August 26, 2014
This game should be a chance for a bit of reflection from the coaching staff — can KC play its customary high line with its current pieces? — and a reminder that this league can be brutal.
Every team in contention for the Supporters' Shield has a bad loss on its resume.
Seattle got beat 5-0 (by New England) and Real Salt Lake lost 4-0 (to Seattle) in May. The mighty Los Angeles Galaxy got dropped 4-1 by Columbus two weeks ago.
D.C. United thumped Dallas 4-1 in April, but were beaten 3-0 by both Salt Lake and Columbus.
In a league with this much parity, these games just happen sometimes.
Considering how wacky the score lines have been with a few good teams, it's quite remarkable that the last time (before Saturday) that Sporting lost by more than two goals was on June 23, 2012 in Philadelphia. That's 795 days and 77 MLS games between losses by more than two goals.
What's more, Kansas City's defense has had just TWO league matches with more than two goals scored allowed by its defense (both 3-2 losses in 2013) in between that Philly loss and last Saturday.
Now, as for the other part of your question. While the injuries have caught up with KC a bit, I think this specific game comes down to disorganization. For whatever reasons, KC's defenders — including three starters from the MLS Cup final — couldn't keep their shape against a very good opponent.
They've lost runners this year and been beaten for pace at times, but collectively haven't had an off day like that in a loooong time. I'm willing to give them a mulligan for this particular game.
@TheFull90 How do you think Vermes will configure his starting 11 based on the train wreck against DC? Any emphasis on the right back spot?— Austin Hornbostel (@adtr_austin) August 25, 2014
After the game, Vermes did hint that changes could be coming. Which seems ironic considering it was the first game this season that Vermes used the same lineup for two consecutive games.
"I don't know if it's games off because of tiredness. It's games off because of performance. If guys aren't playing well, they're not going to play. Tactically, those guys' decisions were absolutely horrendous."
On Sunday, Vermes sent Kevin Ellis — the backup defender at all four spots — down on loan to Oklahoma City Energy FC. This seems to be counter to what he said on Saturday unless you think he might have sent Ellis down for a 90-minute tune up to get his fitness level up to slot into the lineup on Friday night. (Though, he did play 90 minutes in Nicaragua last week — so maybe that theory doesn't hold water.)
But if Vermes is going to make changes to the back, Ellis is the logical candidate to rotate in. Now, should he come back, who does he replace?
Take your pick.
Igor Juliao is having a tough time with the dual-responsibilities of a fullback in Vermes' system. Matt Besler and Aurelien Collin both picked a terrible time to both have a bad night. And we discussed whether Seth Sinovic was a little overused last week in this space.
I think, if it happens, it'll be Besler or Collin for the simple fact that Vermes aimed his comments directly at them.
@TheFull90 when does "Igor is only 19" wear out, if ever. #AskTheFull90— Brëtt Miröki (@JocoGent) August 25, 2014
At this stage, pundits and fans alike are starting to ask this question. It doesn't matter what they (we) think the answer is. It matters when Vermes will make that determination — and he's not shown many signs of wavering at this point.
@TheFull90 Which is the bigger worry at Sporting Park right now? The team's play Saturday or the fireworks performance?— Corey Anglemyer (@canglem) August 25, 2014
I'd say fireworks. Bad results happen, but a rogue firework can put out an eye — or worse.*
*If you are unaware of this issue, the pregame fireworks on Saturday went rogue as two shot directly into the crowd. No one appears to have been injured.
@TheFull90 Early submission: How in the world does DC go from last year's mess to now likely East winner?— Ryan Schneider (@ryan_schneider) August 24, 2014
After a dismal season, United is second only to Seattle in the Supporters' Shield race. How? They've managed to do the complete 180 basically by acquiring good players other teams found too expensive to keep around.
On Saturday, United got excellent performances from defenders Bobby Boswell and Sean Franklin (acquired in the first stage of the re-entry draft after being let go by Houston and Los Angeles, respectively), midfielders Chris Rolfe (picked up in a preseason trade with Chicago) and Davy Arnaud (a trade from Montreal), and forward Fabian Espindola (snagged in stage two of the re-entry draft after New York didn't pick up his extension).
Those guys were all deemed surplus at their last teams, but they are vital to D.C. because they know the rigors of an MLS season and (as we saw Saturday) how to win big games on the road. It's hard to argue with given the success they've had so far.
@TheFull90 What's behind Sporting Kansas City's success not only with starting goalkeepers but also with fostering depth?— Jon Arnold (@ArnoldcommaJon) August 26, 2014
Smart team building and good general managing.
Vermes installed a system (the high press) with this team that is more than just a formation, it's an identity. For the last five years, Sporting KC has played generally the same way with the same system. Not just the first team either, the reserves play that way and so does the academy.
So, when called upon, players outside of the first team know exactly what is expected of them — especially players like Eric Kronberg, Lawrence Olum, Kevin Ellis and Jon Kempin who have been inside this system for a while.
That system/identity has also allowed KC to add specific players to fit the system — Oriol Rosell, Benny Feilhaber, Aurelien Collin, Andy Gruenebaum, Seth Sinovic — and Vermes has given those players time to adapt to what is expected (superb fitness, mostly).
Another factor, also a credit to Vermes, is that playing time is (generally) merit-based. After tearing up the USL Pro last year and impressing in training sessions last year, Vermes threw Dom Dwyer into the regular rotation. A year later, Dwyer is the team's leading scorer and threatening Preki's single-season scoring record. This happened before with Rosell, Roger Espinoza, Matt Besler, Chance Myers and others.
And, if need be, KC has been willing to move more-senior players to make room for someone who is up-and-coming (a la trading Jack Jewsbury to Portland to free up playing time for Graham Zusi).
Salt Lake and Kansas City are very similar in this team building/management. It's a major factor why both teams consistently spend time at the top of the table no matter how deep they have to go on their bench.
@TheFull90 Which player loss from last years team is bigger, Myers or Uri? #AskTheFull90— Deron Graham (@derongraham) August 25, 2014
@TheFull90 How much is this team missing Uri vs. missing Nagamura?— Greg Boege (@SombraAla) August 26, 2014
Based off the last few weeks, KC is missing all of them equally. The defensive shape has been off without Rosell, the defensive line disorganized without Myers and the midfield has been fairly weak without Nagamura.
However, I think the team misses Nagamura the most right now — if only because he's the one player of that group the team can actually get back this season.
Olum and Jorge Claros are both serviceable replacements in the defensive midfield. Juliao (yes, still a teenager) has a lot of issues but also a lot of room to grow — and maybe Ellis or Jacob Peterson can pinch in.
But it's been proven so far that KC really doesn't have long-term answer for the two-way midfield spot.
There were a few interesting questions that just didn't quite make the cut. So, here are the quick answers: Fruit on top if it's Greek yogurt, on the bottom if it's mixed in; Dwyer will be fine; I'm not brave enough to ask Bruce Arena that; supersoakers wouldn't work that well underwater; and you probably don't want to hear the birds and bees talk from a guy who has logged over a hundred hours on a football video game.
To reach Charles Gooch, send email to firstname.lastname@example.com. On Twitter @TheFull90.


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Funny Girl 50th Anniversary Edition
About: I had an exciting opportunity to design this box set to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the 1964 Broadway musical Funny Girl.
The art on the LP and the outside of the box is a direct reproduction of the art that appeared on the original packaging.
I created a series of patterns and illustrations to compliment the iconic Funny Girl logo and used them throughout the 48-page book and the rest of the package. The booklet also features a newly-written essay by Streisand's longtime A&R executive Jay Landers, and restored photos from the original production.
Here is a video of someone unboxing the package.
Get it on Amazon.
Designed at Meat and Potatoes.
Meat and Potatoes' Client: Capitol/UMe
Role: Art Direction and Design
Creative Direction: Todd Gallopo


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RTIwala Explains: Infosys was started by Narayan Murthy, Nandan Nilekani, N.S. Raghavan, S. Gopalakrishnan, S.D. Shibulal, K. Dinesh, and Ashok Arora, all of whom were former employees of Patni Computer Systems.
July 7, 1981, marked the birth of an NYSE listed global consulting and IT services company, Infosys. From a capital of US$ 250, Information Systems aka Infosys has grown to become a US$ 10.4 billion company with a market capitalization of approximately US$34.50 billion.
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India is now perceived as an economic giant to reckon with, bursting with brilliant software engineers and ambitious entrepreneurs. All thanks to a fateful morning of January 1981 that led to the birth of a company that has out passed all barriers and today is the 2nd largest Indian MNC IT services company. It was the fateful morning of January 1981 when Narayan Murthy and six software engineers sat in his apartment debating how they could create a company to write software codes. Six months later, Infosys was born. Infosys co-founder N S Raghavan's house in Matunga, North Central Mumbai, was its registered office. It was then known as Infosys Consultants Pvt. Ltd. Today it is known as Infosys Limited, after it went public limited company in June 1992.
The spices of struggle, day in and day out at Infosys
When they began moving ahead with Infosys, the founders took a firm decision that their wives would not be involved in the running of the company. There was no luxury, only struggle, day and night. They had no car, no phone. There had been days when Murthy did not have any money in his pocket, but he had dreams. The first years of Infosys were not smooth. Murthy, Nilekani, Dinesh, Shibulal, and Gopalakrishnan were into writing codes. However, they wanted to make an impact and make their presence felt in the American market. So, Infosys got its first joint venture partners in Kurt Salmon Associates. But the joint venture collapsed in 1989, leaving Infosys in the lurch.
"We had nothing after eight years of trying to bring up a company. Those who studied with us had cars and houses," says Gopalakrishnan.
When Infosys listed on NASDAQ
It is said that Infosys began getting big breakthroughs from the US market. How? The initial foray of Infosys into the US market was through a company called Data Basics Corp as a 'body-shop' or on-site developer of software for US customers. Later, Infosys formed a joint venture with Kurt Salmon Associates to handle marketing in the United States. Even today, Infosys derives about two-thirds of its revenue from the United States, serving corporate clients like Reebok, Visa, Boeing, Cisco Systems, Nordstrom and New York Life.
Infosys is the largest publicly traded IT services exporter in India, providing services to 315 large corporations, such as GE and Nortel, predominantly in the USA. It was the first Indian company to list on the NASDAQ stock exchange in 1999.
1981-2002: An Aeon of Traditional Headways at Infosys
Going by the records, most of the biggies in the realm of Indian corporate have had their fair share of hardships, to begin with. The story of Infosys is no different. Since its inception in the year 1981, there has been a considerable amount of changes in the company's core functioning body. Further, let us go through the various appointments and attritions behind an indomitable brand of the Indian IT era.
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The company has visibly remained traditional in its managerial approach until recently. The fact that one of the founders himself headed the company's operations as the Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Narayan Murthy, since the beginning. It was only when Murthy decided to step down in the year 2002 after his 21-year long tenure as the top executive that Nandan Nilekani, one of the co-founders took up the top job at Infosys. By then, the company recorded a revenue worth $400 million.
Although Murthy stepped down as the CEO, he continued as the Chairman and Chief Mentor to the company till the year 2011. However, the year 2003 marked a key milestone in his more than three decades -old career, owing to the Ernst & Young World Entrepreneur of the Year award.
2002-2007: An Era of Globalized Dominance of Infosys
As Narayan Murthy passed on the Chief Executive office to co-founder Nandan Nilekani, Infosys' revenue already stood at $500 million in the year 2002. This year also saw a major diversification by the company in the form of Progeon, Infosys' BPO arm. What followed was a string of global business centers in Netherlands, Switzerland, and Singapore. Moving on, the next couple of years saw major expansions and diversification in terms of the company's new subsidiaries in China and Australia in tandem with Infosys Consulting Inc. being launched.
On the company front, numbers suggest that the company grew remarkably marking a six fold growth in a mere 5 years of Nilekani leading the company's growth and executions. The year 2006 happened to be one of the very eventful ones for Nilekani, given that he was honored with Padma Bhushan, one of the most coveted civilian awards of the country.
In the same year, he was named as the Businessman of the Year by Forbes Asia and was also named to be among the youngest entrepreneurs to join 20 global leaders on the World Economic Forum Foundation Board. The year 2006 saw Narayan Murthy retiring from the company's core body but continue as Chairman Emeritus and a mentor to the IT giant. By this time, the company had reached a revenue mark of $2 billion and an employee strength of over 50,000, under Nilekani's leadership.
At 62, Nandan Nilekani has time and again proved his excellence in business decisions and timely innovations, not just for Infosys but the country as a whole. The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), widely known as Aadhaar, was his brainchild. Although Mr. Nilekani decided to step down as the CEO in April 2007, he went on to spearhead the Aadhaar initiative on the UPA Govt.'s invite in 2009.
(2007-2011): An Era of Multifold Manpower of Infosys
The year 2007 recorded quarterly revenue of over $1 billion as the latter half of the financial year saw Kris Gopalakrishnan, one of the seven founders of the company, succeed as the top executive. Under Gopalakrishnan's leadership, Infosys crossed the $4 billion revenue mark and has been growing further since. By 2009, the employee base was approximately doubled up at a whopping 1,00,000.
Accordingly, Nilekani stepped down as Infosys CEO, only to be soon designated as the Chairman of UIDAI by the then UPA Govt. in 2009. Undoubtedly, the introduction and execution of Aadhaar for a 125 billion population is one of the highest benchmarks for any corporate honcho across the globe.
(2011-2014): The Harbinger of Strategic Developments at Infosys
Owing to the company's traditional management approach, 2011 saw yet another co-founder turned CEO in S.D. Shibulal., who was also the Managing Director back then. This year also saw Narayan Murthy's retirement as the Chairman as he handed over his office to K.V. Kamath, one of the few non-founder members of the top management at Infosys. The following year witnessed an unmatchable achievement on the company's part as it found it's placed in Forbes's World's Most Innovative Companies. Another feather in the IT giant's hat was it's listing on the New York Stock Exchange, that happened the same year.
It was under Mr. Shibulal's leadership that Infosys Edge (an IP-based business platform focused on multiplying business value for the clients) won the prestigious Business Innovation Award by NASSCOM in the year 2013. The National Association of Software and Services Companies or NASSCOM is the apex body of the $154 billion IT Business Process Management industry.
It was during this period that the term Infosys 1.0 and Infosys 2.0 were coined by the CEO, which referred to the first and second 12 years of the company respectively. Shibulal is majorly known for his expertise in strategic partnerships and client acquisitions which form the backbone of any major business entity across the globe. In April 2014, the then MD and CEO, Infosys was in talks with the board regarding his exit from the latter, which was declared officially on June 12, 2014.
(2014-17): The Beginning of an Innovative India through Infosys
The exit of Shibulal witnessed a noteworthy reshuffle at the Infosys' top level management with the company hiring its first non-founder MD and CEO, Dr.Vishal Sikka. Now 50, Sikka is a Ph.D. alumnus from Stanford, USA. Under Sikka, the company grew its revenues to an exhilarating INR 50,000 crores plus, during the financial year 2014-15. The year 2015 was of strategic importance to the IT major due to its new acquisitions on the block. California-based e-commerce technology platform Skava, Israel-based software service company, Panaya Inc. and Noah Consulting, a leading provider of advanced information management consulting in Texas, USA were taken over by Infosys as a part of Infosys' major expansion goals.
As part of Sikka's undisputed ascendancy, Infosys began its journey towards molding and backing Indian start-ups which are unquestionably what India. socioeconomic realm yearns for. The first step towards this was the $250 million 'Innovate in India Fund' announced by Infosys in the year 2015.
Being the first-ever non-founder CEO at Infosys, Sikka was hired to be compensated at $13 million with ESOPs worth $9 million, annually.
Moving ahead, Sikka's compensation became one of the key reasons that have reportedly not gone down well with the founder turned lifetime mentor of the company.
Going by the reports from trusted sources, Sikka's management style and the hefty compensation offered to him were the key issues leading to his untimely resignation in August'17. Meanwhile, Mr. U.B. Pravin Rao has been appointed as the interim MD and CEO, Infosys till the time Nilekani succeeds in his pursuit of finding the right fit as Sikka's replacement.
Owing to the current hullabaloo at the Infosys' top management, the company's Board of Directors and the major stakeholders have insisted on bringing back the 'ultimate game changer', Nandan Nilekani as the Non-Executive Chairman.
"I am really happy to be back at Infosys and hoping to spend the next few months or as long as I'll be here to contribute to the future of Infosys,"
-Nandan Nilekani
(Inputs by Gehna Kundra)
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The Top 100 Albums Of 2015
Gone are the days when I would painstakingly – and sometimes painfully – describe each and every record included on my annual Top 100 list. One year when I was housesitting for Quiggs and Sebastian I spent 14 hours straight on their couch hunched over my laptop. Meanwhile their two dogs sat at my feet begging me to take them on a hike. Instead I let them roam the back yards for a few minutes. I was too enveloped in the process.
For the past two years I've elected to pontificate only the records I think warrant further explanation. I hope you appreciate the effort. I could be out on the town getting loaded and having a great time right now — it's New Year's Eve — but instead I'm sitting on my couch trying to make this post as enjoyable as possible for the four people who still check this website daily in the hopes that I'll have posted something new and exciting.
Much like last year, several labels appear multiple times on this list:
Thrill Jockey – 5
Kranky – 5
Sacred Bones – 6
The Flenser – 5
Good job, record labels. You put out lots of albums I liked this year. Feel free to send me a bunch of free ones in 2015.
As for the rest of you, here's the list. Some sound samples are included, and most are not. You can seek these records out and buy them, you can download them from iTunes or Amazon, you can do whatever the fuck you do to consume music. Just make sure you respect the artists enough to pay for their work. Hell, I feel weird just posting single MP3s from less than 1/4 of these albums, but if I didn't do that you'd have no idea how awesome these records are. And they are all awesome.
And don't even thinking about pointing out any typos. I don't want to hear it.
You'll find no soundtracks on this list because that'll be a separate post I'll write sometime next week. Yes, the soundtrack for It Follows was pretty awesome, wasn't it?
The Top 100 Albums Of 2015
100. Lightning Bolt – Fantasy Empire (Thrill Jockey)
99. Jeff Bridges – Sleeping Tapes (Self-Released)
98. Glen Hansard – It Was Triumph We Once Proposed…Songs Of Jason Molina (Overcoat Recordings) – Although technically just an EP, I had to include this on my list because it's such a beautiful and moving tribute to Jason Molina. I didn't know Glen had recorded this until I saw him perform "Being In Love" on Letterman. [Listen to "Being In Love"]
97. Boris – Warpath (Fangs Anal Satan) – The other two albums they released this year, Asia and Urban Dance are slightly less interesting but still required listening for fans of Boris.
96. Kurt Vile – B'lieve I'm Goin' Down (Matador)
95. Tamaryn – Cranekiss (Mexican Summer) – I'd stopped paying attention to Mexican Summer for a while before I heard they were releasing a new Jefre Cantu-Ledesma record. From there it was just a short hop skip and a jump to discover Tamaryn. Now they're firmly back on my radar. Ordinarily I'd say Taramyn…um…isn't really for me, but there's just enough weirdness going on to make it worthwhile. [Listen to "Cranekiss"]
94. Our Love Will Destroy The World – Carnivorous Rainbows (Ba Da Bing)
93. Sightings – Amusers And Puzzlers (Dais Records)
92. Zu – Cortar Todo (Ipecac)
91. Bitchin' Bajas – Transporteur (Hands In The Dark)
90. Laddio Bolocko – Live & Unreleased (No Quarter) – Yes this is all older recordings (the most recent dating from 2000) but for me it was never-heard Bolocko recordings so it warrants entry here.
89. Dhampyr – Oceanclots (Acephale Winter Productions)
88. Ah Cama-Sotz – State Of Mind (Hands Productions)
87. Flying Saucer Attack – Instrumentals 2015 (Drag City) – Um, new Flying Saucer Attack!? New rural psychedelia? Yes please. [Listen to "Instrumental 4"]
86. Andrew Chalk – A Light At The End Of The World (Faraway Press)
85. Eartheater – RIP Chrysalis (Hausu Mountain)
84. Jim O'Rourke – Simple Songs (Drag City)
83. King Midas Sound / Fennesz – Edition 1 (Ninja Tune)
82. Destruction Unit – Negative Feedback Resistor (Sacred Bones)
81. Swervedriver – I Wasn't Born To Lose You (Cobraside) – The shoegazers' first studio album since 1997 did not disappoint. Sadly I didn't get to see them when they passed through LA recently, but I've spent a lot of time enjoying I Wasn't Born this year. [Listen to "Autodidact"]
80. Ilyas Ahmed – I Am All Your Own (Immune) – It's been three years since the last full-length from Ahmed. When I Am All Your Own came out it made me spend a night digging back through his discography and reacquainting myself with Century Of Midnight and Between Two Skies. He's so, so talented. [Listen to "Come On"]
79. Evan Caminiti – Meridian (Thrill Jockey)
78. Ufomammut – Ecate (Neurot) – God, it feels like FOREVER since the last Ufomammut album. And, yet, it also feels like no Evan's Top 100 list is truly complete without the inclusion of said Ufomammut album. Are they breaking new ground here? No, not really. Are they still pummeling my ear drums with their fantastic bombast? Of course they are. [Listen to "Temple"]
77. Natural Snow Buildings – Terror's Horns (Ba Da Bing)
76. Damo Suzuki & Mugstar – Start From Zero (Important)
75. Mark McGuire – Beyond Belief (Dead Oceans)
74. Kevin Drumm – Equinox / The Sea Wins (Self-Released) – I figure I'll put these two together because they were both digital releases and it's too hard to choose which one I liked more.
73. Six Organs Of Admittance – Hexadic / Hexadic II (Drag City)
72. Carlton Melton – Out To Sea (Agitated Records)
71. Bosse-De-Nage – All Fours (The Flenser) – It wouldn't be a true top 100 list without pretty much every record The Flenser released this year. [Listen to "A Subtle Change"]
70. Hey Colossus – In Black And Gold (Rocket Recordings) – Remember Hey Colossus? I used to post their stuff all the time in the early days of Swan Fungus. Then they fell off my radar for a few years, but they put out TWO records on Rocket this year and I'm so happy to have rediscovered their space-y kraut-y awesomeness. [Listen to "Hold On"]
69. Inventions – Maze Of Woods (Temporary Residence, Ltd.)
68. Amen Dunes – Cowboy Worship (Sacred Bones) – Maybe it's a companion piece to Love, maybe it's a standalone EP, but all I know is the Tim Buckley cover of "Song To The Siren" is fantastic.
67. Low – Ones And Sixes (Sub Pop) – Well, at least Jeff Tweedy wasn't involved this time. That's a step in the right direction for any band. [Listen to "No Comprende"]
66. Mount Eerie – Sauna (P.W. Elverum & Sun, Ltd.)
65. Rachel Grimes – The Clearing (Temporary Residence, Ltd.)
64. Yen Pox – Between The Horizon And The Abyss (Malignant Records) – It's been, what, 13 years since the last official studio album from Yen Pox? And, man, does this one not disappoint. If you dug Blood Magic, New Dark Age, or that collaboration with Troum, you'll love this album. It makes me wish Michael and Steven would have recorded a Mystery Sea CDr (is that series still going, by the way?) back in the day. When they're on, there are few artists creating dark ambient music who do it better than Yen Pox.
63. Landing – Body Diffuser (Vast Arc Hues)
62. Philip Jeck – Cardinal (Touch)
61. Mikal Cronin – MCIII (Merge Records)
60. Prurient – Frozen Niagara Falls (Profound Lore)
59. Black Wing – …Is Doomed (The Flenser)
58. James Blackshaw – Summoning Suns (Important)
57. The Body / Thou – You, Whom I Have Always Hated (Thrill Jockey)
56. Guapo – Obscure Knowledge (Cuneiform Records) – I remember back when this website was finding its way, and Black Oni, Five Suns and Twisted Stems were pretty much posted in their entirety in various Sunday Mix Tapes. I lost track of Guano for a while, and was so happy and excited when I heard about Obscure Knowledge that I pretty much dropped everything I was doing to seek it out. If you like what Zombi has done in a post-Goblin prog world, you'll love what Guapo have accomplished here. [Listen to "Part 1 (Radio Edit)"]
55. Circle – Pharaoh Overlord (Ektro Records)
54. William Basinski – Cascade (2062)
53. White Hills – Walks For Motorists (Thrill Jockey) – By White Hills standards, 2015 was a relatively quiet year. There was one full-length, a new installment in the Oddity series of limited-edition CDrs, another collaboration with White Pee and…is that it? Could that really be it? Damn. I'm used to like, 10 releases a year. Hopefully 2016 will bear more fruit for myself and all the other obsessive White Hills fans out there. [Listen to "No Will"]
52. Benoit Pioulard – Sonnet (Kranky)
51. Minsk – The Crash And The Draw (Relapse Records)
50. Pinkish Black – Bottom Of The Morning (Relapse Records) – Their best album to date. [Listen to "Brown Rainbow"]
49. Deradoorian – The Expanding Flower Planet (Anticon) – It's good to see Angel stepping out from the shadows in Dirty Projectors to do her own thing. When she opened for Chelsea Wolfe a couple years ago I was stunned by her voice and her songs ("Moon" in particular). There's a lot to fall in love with on this record, hopefully it'll prove to be a stepping stone on the path to a very successful solo career.
48. Helen – Original Faces (Kranky) – Liz Harris of Grouper goes shoegaze? Say no more, I'm sold. [Listen to "Dying All The Time"]
47. Father Murphy – Croce (The Flenser)
46. Oren Ambarchi / Jim O'Rourke – Behold (Editions Mego)
45. Trapped Within Burning Machinery – The Fifth Element (Black Voodoo Records) – Yes, it's a concept album based on the film of same name. Yes, it's also a great combination of doom, sludge and post-rock.
44. Eternal Tapestry – Lolo Pass Drifters (Thrill Jockey)
43. Envy – Atheists Cornea (Temporary Residence, Ltd.)
42. Ken Camden – Dream Memory (Kranky)
41. Implodes – Reverser (Gilead Media)
40. Steve Hauschildt – Where All Is Fled (Kranky)
39. Nisennenmondai – N' (Bijin Records)
38. Noveller – Fantastic Planet (Fire Records) – My God am I ever in awe of the sounds Sarah Lipstate can coax out of her guitar. It seems like with each successive record it's becoming more and more clear how remarkable her talents truly are, and Fantastic Planet might be my favorite full-length of hers yet. [Listen to "Pulse Point"]
37. Dead To A Dying World – Litany (Alerta Antifascista)
36. Windhand – Grief's Internal Flower (Relapse Records)
35. Laurel Halo – In Situ (Honest Jon's)
34. Esmerine – Lost Voices (Constellation)
33. Sumac – The Deal (Sige)
32. Beware Of Safety – Mabon (Self-Released)
31. Helm – Olympic Mess (Pan)
30. Forests – Dead Species (Self-Released)
29. Yellow Eyes – Sick With Bloom (Gilead Media)
28. Hey Colossus – Radio Static High (Rocket Recordings)
27. Sunn O))) – Kannon (Southern Lord)
26. Deafheaven – New Bermuda (Anti-) – One of the biggest frustrations of 2015 for me was the fact that I pre-ordered New Bermuda way back in July and my copy of the album STILL hasn't arrived yet due to manufacturing defects along the way. I've had to deal with just the digital download for the past 5 months, and the desire to throw the vinyl on my turntable and blast it has been overwhelming at times. Hopefully it won't take much longer for Kings Road to get their shit together. [Listen to "Brought To The Water"]
25. Sannhet – Revisionist (The Flenser)
24. Oneohtrix Point Never – Garden Of Delete (Warp Records)
23. Zombi – Shape Shift (Relapse Records)
22. Loscil – For Greta (Kranky)
21. Public Service Broadcasting – The Race For Space (Test Card) – One of the best recommendations of the year came from my buddy Andy, whose "You need to get on PSB right now" didn't truly hit home until I saw them perform at The Roxy back in April. Holy shit, if that was't one of the most mesmerizing and immersive concert experiences I've had in years…I didn't even take pictures or videos because it would have detracted from the experience. SEE THESE DUDES LIVE. NOW. [Listen to "Gargarin"]
20. Julia Holter – Have You In My Wilderness (Domino)
19. Cloakroom – Further Out (Run For Cover Records) – A debut album from a three-piece rock band from Indiana. I think Ian told me about this one because Matt Talbot from Hum was involved somehow, and I've been obsessed with that band since high school. That's probably as good a reference point would be for Cloakroom. They share a lot in common with Hum, from the guitar sounds (electric guitars are never quite clean) to the vocalist's wry attitude and slightly disaffected delivery. [Listen to "Paperweight"]
18. Khemmis – Absolution (20 Buck Spin) – Ian described these guys as Pallbearer with a better singer, and I don't think he's far off. [Listen to "The Bereaved"]
17. So Hideous – Laurestine (Prosthetic Records) – via Metal Injection: "Every aspect of the opening track "Yesteryear" is the epitome of what the group represents – chaos complimenting melodies, unapologetic black metal screams, and a ravishing orchestral backing. [Listen to "Yesteryear"]
16. Blanck Mass – Dumb Flesh (Sacred Bones)
15. Chelsea Wolfe – Abyss (Sargent House) – I'm such an unapologetic Chelsea Wolfe fanboy. When the Abyss pre-sale notification came through from Kings Road to my phone I was standing in line to board a plane. I literally held everyone up in my boarding group while I input my credit card info and ensured myself limited edition baby blue vinyl copies.
14. Anna Von Hausswolff – The Miraculous (City Slang) – When this album was streaming online around the time of its release it was on repeat in my car for days. It was the only music I heard for at least a week. Especially captivating and terrifying while driving across the city in the wee hours of the morning. [Listen to "Evocation"]
13. Jefre Cantu-Ledesma – A Year With 13 Moons (Mexican Summer) – This has been my go-to album when I'm writing since its release. To me, it's as good as anything Jefre's recorded since Love Is A Stream five years ago. Haunting, beautiful, blissed-out, gauzy…new wave? I mean, once the percussive elements kick in what else can you really call it? Usually I like to use the catchall "experimental" to describe music like this, but that might be to sell Jefre short. Whatever you call this, I love it an I keep returning to it.
12. Lana Del Rey – Honeymoon (Polydor) – Don't you fucking laugh at me. A friend of mine is writing a screenplay about a blacker-than-black, bloodied, fucked up relationship and I told him to listen to this on repeat while he writes. I, in turn, ended up listening to it a lot, maybe while basking in the warm glowing warming glow of too much Vicodin. [Listen to "Freak"]
11. Caspian – Dust And Disquiet (Triple Crown Records)
10. Godspeed – Asunder, Sweet And Other Distress (Constellation) – The last time I saw Godspeed perform they were working on a new piece that was simply called "Behemoth" at the time. That epic piece was fashioned into four parts for this album, and its near-40 minutes of build-up are just as impressive – the climax just as cathartic – as that monstrous jam I remember hearing a few years ago. This is one you have to hear from start to finish. Trust me, it's worth it.
09. Folkazoid – III (Sacred Bones) – For this one I'm going to use the "official" product description because it describes the album far better than I could: "For III, the band wanted to expand their sound while building an atmosphere with mainly monochords and reiteration. After recording and mixing the album on their own at their studio at BYM Records, they partnered with German electronic maestro Atom TM to flesh out the album's synth parts. Most of the sounds he provided were atonal electronic sounds, aiming for concrete frequencies and sampled organic glitches. (The Korg synthesizer Atom TM plays on this record was used by Kraftwerk on tour in the '80s). III is a four-part minimal sound voyage in which you can hear Föllakzoid's musical language developing into something more upbeat, obscure, and sharp, yet even simpler in terms of elements."
08. Jenny Hval – Apocalypse Girl (Sacred Bones) – Sacred Bones has been killing it for the past few years, and the record label has already released a few stellar albums to start 2015. First there's Jenny Hval, whose third (or fourth, depending on if you count Meshes Of Voices) studio album Apocalypse Girl thrust her onto my musical radar. This is one of the more visceral records I've heard of late, moving between heroics and vulnerability sometimes between two words. [Listen to "Kingsize"]
07. Vatnett Viskar – Settler (Century Media) – The perfect follow-up to Sky Swallower, with the blackness of the metal toned down to a more palatable level (for most listeners, I could give a shit whether they play black metal or just metal). Songs like "Colony" and "Impact" are absolutely punishing, but there are passages during "Coldwar" and "Settler" where fans might think they're listening to a completely different band. I imagine it will improve with each successive listen.
06. Bell Witch – Four Phantoms (Profound Lore)
05. John Carpenter – Lost Themes (Sacred Bones) – It's hard to believe that a composer who has been working since the '70s just put out his debut album this year, but I guess that's just how it goes. Of course the man responsible for some of the greatest 20th century movie music (Halloween, Assault On Precinct 13, so many others) could put together a collection of stunning compositions that are unrelated to specific films but still manage to capture the unease and disturbing qualities of some of those films. If you haven't heard Lost Themes yet and you're a fan of either Carpenter's movies or his soundtracks of those eras, you need this in your life.
04. Boduf Songs – Stench Of Exist (The Flenser) – Between this, the new Sannhet and a couple other records, The Flenser is one again proving that in 2015 they are one of the most relevant labels in the country. This one's full-on heartbreaking, druggy, abstract and dark in equal measure. Mat Sweet's vulnerable voice floating above minimal electronics makes for perfect late night come-down music. Dig it. [Listen to "My Continuing Battle With Material Reality"]
03. Panopticon – Autumn Eternal (Nordvis Produktion)
02. Zelienople – Show Us The Fire (Immune) – The first thought that passed through my head when I sat down to listen to this for the first time was how much louder the band sounded. I'm sure that sounds weird, but to me this is the most assertive Zelienople has ever sounded. Their cryptic, druggy, hazy drones have a bit more polish to them now, at times recalling Slowdive's creepier compositions (see: pretty much anything on Pygmalion). Every Zelienople record since Stone Academy has been considered for album of the year, which makes them one of the most successful bands in the past decade (at least in my eyes). I ranked Stone Academy #6 of 2006, His/Hers #20 in 2007, Give It Up #2 in 2009, The World Is A House On Fire #2 in 2012, and now if it weren't for the #1 pick this year Show Us The Fire would be tops in 2015. [Listen to "Doubt The Reasons"]
01. Kowloon Walled City – Grievances (Gilead Media) – I refused to listen to this one before it was released, because I wanted my first take come as I was being pummeled by my stereo (and not through some lame-ass headphones running to my laptop). Self described (I think?) "Smart music for dumb people," the four-piece from SF combine punishing noise with quite gripping, introspective lyrics. I think it was Aquarius who described this record as "Metal-Low" meaning slow, downer-rock. It's something that has really latched itself onto me because, honestly, 2015 was not the best year of my life for many, many reasons (none of which I've shared, for obvious reasons). Grievances resonated. Scott Evans' voice rising above the muck of de-tuned distorted guitars and somewhat-meditative, minimal drums traversed hopefulness and hopelessness. "Yeah, we've had better years." Here's looking forward to 2016. [Listen To "Your Best Years"]
8 comments
Thanks for the list, and the tunes, dude!
That's a coherent list – not entirely a surprise given what you've posted previously but more fun than most. Cheers for the trax too.
Excited to listen to these.
Brilliant list as always!
Glad to see Hey Colossus well represented. They've been a big part of my listening this past year.
Follakzoid came through DC & I was sorely disappointed in how many people showed up. Well out of proportion to the talent and intensity of those fellows. Also, I've already made a purchase thanks to the list. Year with 13 Moons had been sitting on a shopping list in my mind & your praise finally pushed me to purchase. Well done, sir! Looking forward to listening to more of these over the next few months.
Comprehensive list, thanks for sharing.
[…] in 2015, and Oathbreaker when Rheia was released last year. The former was ranked #18 on my Top 100 of 2015, and the latter ranked #7 on last year's list. So yes, I've enjoyed both acts very […]
[…] Element is an absolutely flawless record, and it was criminal of me to rank it as low as #45 on my Top 100 Albums of 2015 list. One would have to imagine if I re-wrote that list today — or if I re-ranked the Top 100 […]
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Armenia applied for observer status in GATT in 1992 and for GATT membership in November 1993. On the basis of that application a Working Party was formed on December 17, 1993, under the chairmanship of Mr. Don Kenyon - Ambassador of Australia to the WTO. Armenia has commenced the activities on accession to the GATT in early fall of 1994. Due to the transformation of the GATT to the WTO, Armenia's GATT Working Party was converted into WTO Working Party in 1995.
The first Working Party meeting on Armenia's WTO accession was held on 23 and 24 January 1996. During this meeting the Memorandum on Foreign Trade Policy presented by Armenia and Armenia's response to the questions of the Member States concerning the Memorandum were discussed. The Member States were satisfied with the work done by the Armenian party, and stressed the high quality of the Memorandum and responses to further questions on it. The well-prepared Memorandum as well as detailed responses to the Member States' questions played an important role in facilitating the subsequent stages of the accession process.
Starting from 1997 and thereafter frequent changes in the government and consequent changes of concerned officials, in fact, caused disruptions in the negotiation process itself as well as in domestic activities. This resulted in delays in the accession process, and created additional difficulties. In some cases additional requirements were demanded by the members due to the delays.
So far, seven Working Party meetings have been held in the context of Armenia's WTO accession (January 1996; September 1996; May 1997; December 1997 (informal); June 1999). June 2002 (Informal), 21st November 2002. The Working Party adopted the final report in November 2002, and then the General Council adopted the report in December, 2002. The membership of Armenia to WTO took place on 5th February, 2003.
As a result of the extensive activities, most of Armenia's WTO related legislation has been brought into conformity with the WTO disciplines, which allowed to complete multilateral negotiations and prepare the final Report of the Working Party, provided that bilateral and plurilateral issues are settled.
Trade in goods: In general Armenia's offer on market access for goods was quite liberal, with 15 per cent ceiling bound tariff rate. Tariff bindings are ad valorem, and there are no specific or compound rates. There are no tariff rate quotas on both industrial and agricultural products.
In its tariff offer Armenia expressed readiness to join in several so-called "zero-for-zero" and harmonization sectoral agreements negotiated among a number of governments in the Uruguay Round. Industrial items were bound individually, while a unified approach was used with respect to agricultural products by binding the tariffs on all agricultural products, except only few items, at a rate of 15 per cent.
Trade in services: Armenia submitted to the WTO members a comprehensive market-opening offer in services. In general, countries which have acceded to the WTO have undertaken commitments in a large number of sectors, unlike some original members of WTO.
Armenia became a Member of the WTO on February 5, 2003.


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Dogs at photo shoots might be the cutest thing ever....look at that tongue!!
Keri + Morgan were such troupers...it started raining about 15 minutes into their shoot, and they kept going, just happy to be together and enjoying the shoot.
We started off at a boardwalk, and then ended up at the harbor...even, though it was raining, it was beautiful!
Caitlin Maloney is a wedding and engagement photographer serving Lansing, Detroit, Ann Arbor, Grand Rapids, Charlevoix, Traverse CIty, Northern Michigan, Leelanau, Saugatuck, Holland in Michigan, as well as Bristol, Newport, Jamestown, Providence, and Narragansett in Rhode Island.


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NDP's Patry bolts caucus to join Bloc
Yup, that Mulcair is a brilliant leader, isn't he, We need to elect him because only he can hold on to the NDP's Quebec seats.
Oh, wait. Remind me which federal party has seen the most defections in this current Parliament? Remind me which party has already lost 2 of its MPs from Quebec due to defections? Anybody remember how the BQ formed with a few disaffected PCs bolting under Mulroney, only to have them explode onto the scene in 1993?
On to the Clarity Act specifically, which was one of the reasons Mr. Patry cited, who the heck was advising Mulcair in the first place? Not only did his position alienate nearly every provincial section of the country, but also one of his MPs from the province in question as well. All he had to do was say something like, "we reject the divisive tactics of the Bloc, and are fighting hard for an inclusive country that brings together Canadians from inside and outside of Quebec."


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If you want to look your best at the beach or by the pool, you should probably get a professional salon waxing for your bikini area. When you're still wondering which one is best for you, find out more about each one and decide on your preferred type of waxing. The most important thing to take into account when choosing the right style is your bathing suit. The Bikini wax is the minimal choice for most swimwear, but if you plan on wearing a thong, you'll have to decide between the Brazilian and the Hollywood wax. Types of Biki... Read More


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11 Spaces
Top Coworking Spaces in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Networks is a business center and a co-working community in the heart of Sarajevo. We are based in an innovative building... More
Smart Office
Very modern looking coworking space. Located in the center of the largest city in BiH. Easy access to all important facil... More
Coworking Banja Luka
We offer an inspiring working atmosphere where you share your working day with people of similar interest. Free coffee an... More
Modern coworking space in a calm, chill and interesting neighborhood full of coffee shops near the town center. Space is ... More
Recent Reviews of Shared Office Space in Bosnia and Herzegovina
With one of the slowest Internet connections in Europe, Bosnia & Herzgovina does not have a well-developed telecommunications infrastructure due to its turbulent past. Sitting on the Balkan Peninsula cloaked in mountains and medieval villages with a countryside dressed in turquoise rivers and lakes, deep gorges and forests, it is a wonderland for those into outdoor pursuits of one sort or another from white-water rafting to mountain biking and hiking.
Prior to the Bosnian war telecommunications were established, but during the horrific years in the early 1990s facilities were trashed and the country divided into two entities. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development is sponsoring the restoration of its telecommunications network, but this is slow in happening.
Out of this dire situation it is amazing that the light of 4 young hungry entrepreneurs shone brightly at a Balkan startup competition in 2014 ran by USAID and BIZOO (both international mentorship programs aimed at early-stage startups for youth) with their unique business concept "Light Docs". The focus of the business is an online subscription-based support platform for local and regional businesses that creates legal documents. Another winner was YuTransfer, an online intermediary for international money transfers focused on transfers ex-Yugoslavian, North America and Australia that launched in 2015.
So when the slow Internet has you drumming your fingers on the tabletop, chill out with a glug of wine and stuff a "burek" (meat filled flaky pastry) into your mouth and masticate slowly.
To find a coworking space in Bosnia & Herzegovina, browse through our interactive map below.
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American seniors have traditionally been slower to acclimate to new advances in technology in comparison to the younger generations, such as Baby Boomers, Gen X'ers, and Millenials. However, a new study shows that while the movement by seniors into the digital world may be slow, it is surely progressing.
According to a recent study conducted by Pew Research Center, the number of senior citizens who regularly access the Internet has increased from 14% in the year 2000 to 59% in 2014. That is a six percent increase over last year's numbers alone!
Mobile Trends Among Seniors
As the internet and mobile devices continue to play an increasingly large role in connecting Americans of all ages to news and information, government services, health resources, and opportunities for social support, not only are senior citizens going online more regularly, but 71% of regular users now report to access the internet on a daily basis. As a result, over one quarter of senior citizens now own a tablet, an eReader, or both, while 18% own a smart phone that allows them to access the internet from any location.
Judging by these statistics, it doesn't look like anyone can say that today's senior citizens aren't making progress in adapting to the fast-paced world of new technology! However, no one expects the older generations to learn the tech-ropes all on their own. Most local schools, libraries, and Park District organizations offer classes that are geared towards seniors who would like to work on their computer skills.
Next Steps
- Read more on the ComForcare blog
- Continue the conversation online by following us on Facebook


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Today I have a card for you that not only fits in with today's Pretty Patterns sketch, but also fits in with MTME's Pretty Palette color scheme which is light pink, yellow and Kraft.
I used the digi stamp set Bee-Loved... it is one of my favorites! I cut most of the petals of the top flower down to the center and then rolled the petals over a pencil toward the center to make it more 3-d.
I also used a couple of MTME digi papers: wildflower, wistful musical and romance. Below is another angle of the card... I used pop dots to accentuate the lower flower and make it pop off the page a little.
I used copics to color the flowers...
and added some stickles on both of the flower centers to add a little shine.
Here is this week's Pretty Patterns sketch:
and here are the Pretty Palette colors:
I hope you will join us in both of these fun challenges! The Pretty Palette colors are posted every Sunday so look for a new color scheme then!
I also want to encourage you to stop by Lauren's blog for previews of the new release on July 1st! You won't want to miss it!
Other challenges:
PaperCrafting Journey: anything goes!


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Trances of the BlastBy Mary Ruefle Wave Books, 2013
Reviewed by Benjamin Landry
I wasn't readily prepared to give Mary Ruefle another shot after her foray into "prose" in The Most of It (Wave, 2008). That book relied so heavily on puns and seemed so caught up in minutae as to compromise the serious authorial intention that, in my opinion, must be present to occasion a book (even the humorous book must be after something cohesive). But my friend Kevin insisted I should check out Trances of the Blast (I believe he used the term "badass"), and I have him to thank for the subsequent experience.
"Badass," indeed. The title signals that Ruefle has again gotten serious, as it evokes simultaneously the perilous stakes of forensics, the humming and oblivious electricity of living and—through the convention of the typo—our misguided attempts at making meaning out of the stuff we are given. The "blast" denotes, variously, productive and destructive moments of crisis, as dictated by the particulars of each poem. As I read, I was put in the mind of the Big Bang, the splitting of the atom, erotic coupling, even contemporary drone warfare.
Profusion is the order of the day with Ruefle, and she revels in even the broken and synthetic bits that crowd our consciousness. In "Q & A," the speaker imagines responding to the question, "We notice you use the word lonely / in many of your poems, why is that?" (104) with:
Because Siegfried's difficult way to
Brunhild passes over eighty-nine pages
of rubble, of sticks, of stones […]
of mortar, with empty shotgun shells and
chewed-up pens and barfed-up bits of dinner
and cigar butts and snack wrappers and
plastic bottles tossed from cars […]
This is a defense not of the destructive impulses that result in this hellscape, but of a narrative of devotion created from bric-a-brac. If the result is an expression of "loneliness" it seems so primarily to the audience. To the poet fashioning this world out of cast-offs, the materials themselves are, rather, charmed, in spite of what they signify.
Quite apart from their humorous currency, touches of the bizarre in Ruefle mask an undercurrent of disillusionment. This from the poet who declares, "how heavy is my happiness / that no sound on earth / can encompass it?" ("Müller and Me," 14). In the face of disillusionment, Ruefle finds the act of creation a palliative. In "Mimosa," for instance, she imagines introducing James Schuyler to his first century plant. It's a strange and oddly affecting scene, entirely cleansed of the hubris with which another poet might treat a similar invented scenario. Creation is also an act of fidelity: the speaker of "Jaroslav" conjures a devotional scene to the title figure, declaring in the end,
I don't know if we are ever really
finally torn from the spot,
but I remain on this earth
to grow at your feet, Jaroslav.
To be your buttercup […] (30)
Although a Ruefle poem often reads like a landscape done in neons, the notions behind it are usually familiar, even conventional, as typified by the romantic bridging of distances between the living and the departed in "Jaroslav." The poem immediately following it, "Goodnight Irene," includes such striking lines as "I think the clouds are very much turned on / Apparently birds are very much turned on" (32). The repetition of sexual cliché as applied to a quixotic series of subjects (tree, baby, Leadbelly, god, the question mark) flattens the power of sexual suggestiveness and points, ingeniously, to its opposite, mortality. Ruefle ends the poem with the question, "Why do you wish you were dead?" (33), hinting at the associations of la petite mort. Importantly, she implies that while we do not have a say in mortality, we do have profound control over how we live our lives. The body tries to cheat death through sex; what would our lives look like if that vitality were allowed expression in our most mundane pursuits?
Trances is by turns brilliant and arduous. At 110 pages, and with too many poems that register as light verse, the collection exhibits a lack of editorial discrimination (at one point, the speaker admits, "Right now I am writing / on the back of a bank statement" [16]; perhaps a degree of graphomania underlies Trances?). But there are miraculous poems in here, as well, including the tragicomic "Le Livre de Ma Vie," the delightfully surreal "Donkey On" and the touching narrative "Eric with the Light Brown Hair." Toward the end of Trances, we are given additional glimpses into the collection's title. In the title poem, the speaker articulates a poet's imperative to "explain yourself or vanish" (78). The speaker of "Sudden Additional Energy" notes, as she observes a certain promising star in a darkened sky,
Over the years several friends
have had their kitchens remodeled,
a big deal at the time, yet they
never mention it now. The more I
look at you, the more I see their
marble countertops, lying sleek
and mentionless and forlorn.
I wish you, little marble,
would be my countertop, and I would
never stop talking about you!
I'm not in any kind of trance
as I wish this, I've not stepped
out of time, nor am I one with it.
All that stuff was with the first
star […] (105)
It' s a frivolous expression, but an indication, nonetheless, of the extent to which Ruefle is in love with the world (despite her protests), even the outmoded marbles, the stuff of jealousy and gossip. She speaks to us from that trance, and we listen at our delighted peril.
Trances of the Blast is Mary Ruefle's tenth collection of poetry. She is also the author of a collection of prose poems, The Most of It, and a collection of erasures, A Little White Shadow. She is the recipient of Guggenheim and National Endowment for the Arts fellowships, and she teaches in the Vermont College MFA program.
Benjamin Landry is the author of Particle and Wave (Chicago, Feb. 2014). His reviews are forthcoming or have appeared in Agni, Boston Review, Coldfront, Lemon Hound and Pleiades, and his poetry has appeared in American Letters & Commentary, Crazyhorse, Denver Quarterly, The Kenyon Review Online and elsewhere. He blogs about poetry and reviews at www.benjaminlandry.wordpress.com, and he lives in Ann Arbor with his wife and daughter.


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No doubt that the crimes we fear are on the increase
CRIME falls to lowest level in 32 years! – blazened the headlines a few weeks ago, as the results of the latest Crime Survey of England and Wales were published.
"The authoritative Crime Survey of England and Wales estimates that eight million offences were committed – the lowest level since it started 32 years ago," wrote one supposedly serious newspaper.
Well that's all very nice, isn't it? We can breathe easy, knowing that crime is just a figment of our over-fertile imagination. No need to worry about phones being snatched as we walk down the street or a knife being held to our neck by a mugger.
Except, as anyone who lives in the real world knows, that "fall in crime" turns out to be almost entirely meaningless. You know the phrase "lies, damned lies and statistics". It could have been coined specifically to cover crime statistics.
Because the crimes that really worry us are the everyday crimes that affect real people – street muggings, house robberies and threats of violence. And when it comes to those crimes – the crimes that turn lives upside down and bring untold misery – the news is the very opposite of good.
A study of police statistics – which are themselves a huge underestimate of the true picture – shows that someone is mugged or robbed in England and Wales every three minutes.
The report by insurers LV= shows that, far from falling, street crime is soaring. Last year 1.8 million of us were victims of a street crime. That's a rise of seven per cent on 2012.
And these attacks are not just the night-time assaults in a dark alley which so many of us fear. A fifth of all street crimes take place in daytime – on Saturday afternoons (although 17 per cent do take place at night, when the pubs close between 11pm and 2am).
Remember – these figures are based on police crime figures, which hugely underestimate the real picture. So in truth, street crime is likely to be far more frequent than every three minutes. That's a sobering thought. So much for "Crime falls to lowest level in 32 years". As I was researching this article I came across a number of pieces on the same theme: why does the public have such an irrational fear of crime?
Needless to say, they all took at face value the supposed fall in crime. And they were written by those Lefty types who think that it's more important to care for criminals than to protect the law abiding.
As these figures show, there's nothing remotely irrational about fearing crime. In fact it's the only rational response to the way we allow criminals to operate with impunity.
If you're looking for a genuinely irrational response to crime,it's not the public's fear – it's how the authorities respond. Last week the Civitas think tank showed that only a quarter of the crimes that should incur a jail sentence actually lead to a prison term. Only a third of violent offenders serve time and only a fifth of burglars. And if you add those people who get away with a caution to those with convictions then the proportion given a custodial sentence for serious, indictable offences is even worse – just 19 per cent. That's what's irrational.
Remember – these figures are based on police crime figures, which hugely underestimate the real picture
Letting criminals who deserve to be inside walk the streets. No wonder street crime is rising by seven per cent a year. And no wonder so many crimes are committed by the same people when only 32 per cent of criminals with up to 14 previous convictions or cautions are put behind bars for a serious offence.
Is it any wonder there's a street crime every three minutes when so many judges behave as if their job is to mollycoddle hardened thugs rather than protect the public: judges like Peter Bowers, who praised burglars for their "courage" before letting a serial offender walk home from court.
"It takes a huge amount of courage, as far as I can see, for somebody to burgle somebody's house," he told burglar Richard Rochford. "I wouldn't have the nerve."
So instead of the spell in prison his repeated offending deserved Rochford was given a suspended 12-month term. In other words he was handed the freedom to commit even more crimes. Because the evidence is clear that suspended sentences breed crime.
MORE than a third of criminals given suspended sentences reoffend, committing crimes that wouldn't happen if they were in prison. Looking at the figures brings home the scale of the problem. In 2012-13, 32,000 criminals were convicted of a crime serious enough to deserve prison but were left free by judges to carry on offending. It's crazy.
The very crimes that people fear most – violent robberies and burglaries – are on the rise. Yet those responsible are given just one message by the criminal justice system: that we don't actually care.
The police make things even worse. Those notices telling us to take care of our possessions and to watch out for criminals are so defeatist. They signal that crime is inevitable and it's up to us to protect ourselves. Worse still, they mark out an area for criminals. They say: "This is your territory, not ours."
Street crime isn't a minor inconvenience. It destroys the fabric of society and puts the law abiding in the hands of the thugs. Instead of pretending it doesn't matter, the authorities need to listen. To us.