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Lee Hays | |
Died | August 26, 1981 | (aged 67)
Genres | Folk |
Associated acts | Almanac Singers The Weavers |
Lee Hays | |
Died | August 26, 1981 | (aged 67)
Genres | Folk |
Associated acts | Almanac Singers The Weavers |
Lee Hays (March 14, 1914 – August 26, 1981) was an American folk-singer and songwriter, best known for singing bass with The Weavers. Throughout his life, he was concerned with overcoming racism, inequality, and violence in society. Hays wrote or co-wrote "Wasn't That a Time?", "If I Had a Hammer", and "Kisses Sweeter than Wine", which became Weavers' staples. He also familiarized audiences with songs of the 1930s labor movement, such as "We Shall Not be Moved".
Lee Hays came naturally by his interest in folk music since his uncle was the eminent Missouri and Arkansas folklorist Vance Randolph,[1] author of the bestselling Pissing in the Snow and Other Ozark Folktales and Who Blewed Up the Church House?, among other works. Hays' social conscience was ignited when at age five he witnessed public lynchings of African-Americans.
He was born in Little Rock, Arkansas, the youngest of the four children of William Benjamin Hays, a Methodist minister, and Ellen Reinhardt Hays, who before her marriage had been a court stenographer. William Hays's vocation of ministering to rural areas took him from parish to parish, so as a child, Lee lived in several towns in Arkansas and Georgia. He learned to sing sacred harp music in his father's church. Both his parents valued learning and books. Mrs. Hays taught her four children to type before they began learning penmanship in school and all were excellent students. There was a gap in age of ten years between Lee and next oldest sibling, his brother Bill. In 1927, when Lee was thirteen, his childhood came to an abrupt end as tragedy struck the family. The Reverend Hays was killed in an automobile accident on a remote road and soon afterward Lee's mother had to be hospitalized for a mental breakdown from which she never recovered. Lee's sister, who had begun teaching at Hendrix-Henderson College, also broke down temporarily and had to quit her job to move in with their oldest brother in Boston, Massachusetts.
The period immediately following his father's death was so painful that Lee Hays could not bring himself to talk much about it, even to Doris Willens, the writer he selected to be his biographer.[2] His brothers, both recently married, sent him to Emory Junior College in Georgia from which he graduated in 1930 at sixteen (but already over six feet tall and looking much older than his years). He traveled alone to enroll at Hendrix-Henderson College (now Henderson State University) in Arkansas, the Methodist school that his father and siblings had attended, but the expense of their mother's institutionalization and the effects of the Wall Street Crash of 1929 meant that college tuition money was not available for Lee. Instead he moved to Cleveland, Ohio, where his oldest brother, Reuben, who worked in banking, was now located. Reuben found Lee a job as a page in a public library. There the rebellious Hays embarked on an extensive program of self-education, in the process becoming radicalized:
Every book that was considered unfit for children to read was marked with a black rubber stamp. So I'd go through the stacks and look for these black stamps. Always the very best books. they weren't locked-up books, just books that would not normally issued to children—D. H. Lawrence, a number of European novels. Reading those books was like doors opening. Don't forget that the fundamentalist South was a closed, fixed society. The world was made in six days; everything was foreordained and fixed in the universe. . . . This was the time of the Great Depression . . . the whole country was in the grip of a terrible sickness, which troubled me as it did everyone else. And I didn't understand it until I started reading Upton Sinclair and the little mag[azines]. . . Somewhere along in there I became some kind of Socialist, just what kind, I have never figured out.[3]
In 1932, Hays moved out of his brother's house into a room at the Cleveland YMCA, where he stayed for two years. Hearing about the activities of the radical white Presbyterian minister Claude C. Williams, a Christian Marxist, who had become converted to the cause of racial equality and was trying to organize a coal miners' union in Paris, Arkansas. Hays decided to return to Arkansas and join Williams in his work. He enrolled at the College of the Ozarks, a Presbyterian school that allows students to work in lieu of tuition, intending to study for the ministry and devote his life to the poor and dispossessed. There he met a fellow student, Zilphia Johnson (later Zilphia Horton), another acolyte of Williams, who was to become almost as important in Hays' life as Williams himself. An accomplished musician and singer, Zilphia had broken with her father, who was the owner of the Arkansas coal mine that Williams was trying to organize, and had become a union organizer herself.[4] Hays moved in with Williams and his family: "I got to be his [Williams'] chief helper for quite a while", he later wrote.[5] From 1934 to 1940, writes Doris Willens, "Williams was the dominant figure Hays' life—a surrogate father—a man of the cloth but with a radical difference".[5] The following year, Williams was dismissed by the elders of his Paris, Arkansas, church for being too radical (i.e., for fraternizing with blacks) and was subsequently jailed, beaten, and almost killed when he tried to organize an interracial hunger march of tenant farmers in Fort Smith, Arkansas, near the Oklahoma border. His life was only saved because his activities attracted newspaper publicity and the attention of northerners. One of these was Willard Uphaus, a professor of divinity at Yale University, who had recently been appointed executive secretary of the National Religion and Labor Foundation, and who became Williams' admirer and supporter.[6] After his release from jail, Williams moved his family away from Fort Smith to Little Rock to get them out of harm,s way. Hays dropped out of school in order to follow them, living on odd jobs for a time. He then went to visit Zilphia, who had married Myles Horton, a founder and the director of the Highlander Folk School, an adult education and labor organizing school in Monteagle, Tennessee.
At Highlander, Zilphia Horton directed music, theater, and dance workshops. During miner's union meeting in Tennessee, she recruited Hays as a song leader: "When Zilphia got up and said, 'Brother Lee Hays will now lead us in singing', I damn near dropped through the floor. There was no backing out; I had to take the plunge and I've been doing it ever since."[7] Later, he wrote that "Claude [Williams] and Zilphia [Horton] did more to change and shape my life than any people I can recall."[8]
In her drama classes at Highlander Zilphia borrowed the techniques of the New Theater League in New York, which encouraged participants to create plays out of their own experience, which would then be staged at labor conferences. It was a revelation for Hays to see how the arts could serve to empower people for social action.[9] He decided to go to New York and study playwrighting himself.
Armed with a letter of introduction from Claude Williams and Willard Uphaus, Hays became a resident at a student program at New York City's progressive Judson Memorial Church. There, he and a friend, Alan Hacker, a photojournalist, raised funds to make a documentary film about the plight of Southern sharecroppers and about efforts at Highlander and elsewhere to organize the Southern Tenant Farmers Union (STFU), one of the first racially integrated labor unions in the United States. In preparation, Hays and Hacker took classes with photographer Paul Strand, among others. They shot the film in Mississippi at an experimental Quaker-run cooperative inter-racial cotton farm. Even so they were harassed by local planters and their scripts and notebooks were stolen and had to be recreated from memory. The film, America's Disinherited, which due to limited funds was quite brief, premiered at the Judson Church in May 1937 and was shown in schools and other venues (a copy is now in the film archives of the Museum of Modern Art).[10] It demonstrates the use of singing in building a movement: "The turning point in the film is when an image of clenched black and white hands is followed by one of biracial strikers marching and singing 'Black and white together / We shall not be moved'".[11] Shortly after it was completed, Alan Hacker died of an illness he had contracted during the filming.
During this period Hays also wrote a play about the STFU, Gumbo (a word used by the sharecroppers for their soil), which was produced at Highlander.
In 1937, when Claude Williams was appointed director of Commonwealth College in Mena Arkansas, a labor organizing school, he hired Lee Hays to direct a theater program. The school newspaper, the Commonwealth Fortnightly, announced that:
Lee Hays, a native of Little Rock, will join Commonwealth's faculty at the beginning of the fall quarter ... to teach Workers' Dramatics and to supervise Commonwealth's drama groups.
The announcement noted that as former assistant to the drama director at Highlander Folk School and a member of the Sharecropper Film Committee which produced America's Disinherited: "Lee [Hays] brings with him to Commonwealth valuable experience and ability."[12]
While at Commonwealth, Hays and his drama group wrote and produced numerous plays, of which one by Hays, One Bread, One Body, toured with considerable success. He also compiled a 20-page songbook of union organizing songs based on hymns and spirituals. Playwright and fellow student Eli Jaffe,[13] said that Hays "was deeply religious and extremely creative and imaginative and firmly believed in the Brotherhood of Man." Waldemar Hille, the dean of music at Elmhurst College in Chicago, who spent Christmas of 1937 at Commonwealth, thought that Hays was the most talented person at the college and was particularly enchanted with the folk songs and singing he encountered there.[14] But by the next year, however, another observer noted that the "brilliant" and hitherto energetic Hays appeared "disheveled" and was "sick all the time". Doris Willens, his biographer, speculates that Lee's physical and mental states were possibly a response to the ongoing tribulations of his mentor and of Commonwealth College.[15]
Long subject to the virulent hostility of its neighbors and in dire financial straits, the embattled school was riven by internecine struggles between its more radical members and the more moderate socialists on its board. In 1940 the board expelled the avowedly Marxist Claude Williams for allegedly allowing Communist infiltration and for being excessively preoccupied with the issue of racial discrimination, and soon after, the institution was disbanded.[16]
Orval [Faubus] was a grass-roots populist in his early days, and worked at the Highlander school. He was in charge of the sanitary facilities, and he kept it beautiful; he even put curtains up in the windows of the two-holer we had. But what he was best at was shoveling it out, a function which had to be performed periodically. He really put his back into it. Now he's in the Arkansas State House, performing the same function.
As the clouds gathered around Commonwealth College, Hays headed north to New York, taking with him his collection of labor songs, which he planned to turn into a book. But a short stayover in Philadelphia with the poet Walter Lowenfels and his hospitable family turned into a long visit. The German-born Lowenfels, a highly cultured man and a modernist poet, who was fascinated by Walt Whitman and edited a book of his poetry, became another surrogate father to Hays, influencing him deeply. (Together the two men later wrote, perhaps Hays best song, "Wasn't That a Time?") Under Lowenfels' influence, Hays also began to write modernist poems, one of which was published in Poetry Magazine in 1940. He also had pieces, based on Arkansas folklore, published in The Nation, which led to his forming a friendship with another Nation contributor, Millard Lampell.
Arriving in New York, Hays and Lampell became roommates. They were soon joined by Pete Seeger, who like Hays was also contemplating putting together an anthology of labor songs.[17] Together the trio began to sing at left-wing functions and to call themselves the Almanac Singers. It was a somewhat fluid group that included Josh White and Sam Gary and later Sis Cunningham (a fellow Commonwealth College alumna), Woody Guthrie, and Bess Lomax Hawes, among others. The Almanac's first album, issued in May 1941, was the controversial Songs for John Doe, comprising six pacifist songs, two of them co-written by Hays and Seeger and four by Lampell. The songs attacked the peacetime draft and the big U.S. corporations which were then receiving lucrative defense contracts from the federal government while practicing racial segregation in hiring. Since at that time isolationism was associated with right-wing conservatives and business interests, the pro-business [18] but interventionist Time Magazine lost no time in accusing the left-wing Almanacs of "scrupulously echoing" what it called "the mendacious Moscow tune" that "Franklin Roosevelt is leading an unwilling people into a J. P. Morgan war" (Time, June 16, 1941). Concurrently, in the Atlantic Monthly, Carl Joachim Friedrich, a German-born but anti-Nazi professor of political science at Harvard, deemed the Almanacs treasonous and their album "a matter for the Attorney General" because subversive of military recruitment and morale.[19] On June 22, Hitler unexpectedly broke the Hitler-Stalin non-aggression pact and attacked Russia. Three days later, Franklin Roosevelt, threatened by black labor leaders with a huge march on Washington protesting segregation in defense hiring and the army, issued Executive Order 8802 banning racial and religious discrimination in hiring by recipients of federal defense contracts. The army, however, refused to desegregate. Somewhat mollified, nevertheless, labor leaders canceled the march and ordered union members to get behind the war and to refrain from strikes; copies of the isolationist Songs for John Doe were destroyed (a month after being issued). Asked by an interviewer in 1979 about his support of the Hitler-Stalin Pact, Hays said: "I do remember that the signing of the Hitler-Stalin pact was a very hard pill to swallow. . . . To this day I don't quite follow the line of reasoning behind that one, except to give Stalin more time."[20] According to Hays's biographer, Doris Willens:
That the pact gave Stalin more time was the story then put out; millions around the world didn't buy it [in part because of Stalin's 1939 attack on Finland] and at that point lost faith in the Soviet Union . . . (Many others had lost faith earlier, during the Moscow purge trials.) But as a disciple of Claude [Williams], Lee in 1940 held firm with those who continued to believe that America and Britain were maneuvering not to defeat Nazi Germany, or rather, not just yet, but first to turn Hitler to their desired end of destroying the Soviet Union. ....
In short, 1940 was a bad time to say a good word for "peace." Worse, the only other voices opposing the war emanated from the extreme right, particularly America Firsters, a group suspected of harboring the hope that Hitler would eventually triumph . . . . Whatever uneasiness the Hitler-Stalin pact churned up, Lee hoped to submerge by throwing his vast energies into the service of the dynamic Congress of Industrial Organizations [(CIO)] — the challenger to the fat and lazy and bureaucratic old American Federation of Labor. A singing labor movement, that was the goal. If you got the unions singing, peace and brotherhood had to follow. It seemed so clear and simple.[21]
The Almanacs, who now included Sis Cunningham, Woody Guthrie, Cisco Houston, and Bess Lomax Hawes, discarded their anti-war material with no regrets and continued to perform at union halls and at hootenanies. In June 1941 they embarked on a CIO tour of the United States, playing in Detroit, Chicago, and Seattle. They also issued several additional albums, including one, Dear Mr. President (recorded c. January 1942, issued in May), strongly supporting the war. Bad publicity, however, pursued them because of their reputation as former isolationists who had become pro-war "prematurely" (i.e., six months before Pearl Harbor). As key members, Pete Seeger, Cisco Houston, and Woody Guthrie joined the war effort (Seeger in the army and Guthrie and Houston in the Merchant Marine) the group disbanded. Hays was rejected from the Armed Forces because of a mild case of tuberculosis; and indeed, he felt sick all the time, missed performances, and developed a reputation for being a hypochondriac. Even before this, Seeger and the other Almanacs found Hays difficult to work with and so erratic that they had asked him to leave the group.
When the war ended, however, a group of songwriters gathered in Pete Seeger's in-laws' apartment in Greenwich Village and founded People's Songs, "organized to create, promote and distribute songs of labor and the American people".[22] They elected Pete Seeger president and Lee Hays executive secretary. In his new position Hays found some of his old energy returning. He wrote to friends, old and new (a new one was Fred Hellerman, later of the Weavers), whom he thought might be interested. He brought in his old friend Waldemar Hille to be music editor of the People's Songs Bulletin and solicited songs and stories from Zilphia Horton, who sent in her new favorite, "We Shall Overcome". In its first year every issue of the People's Songs Bulletin featured a new song by Hays. One, written with Walter Lowenfels after a disastrous accident in a coal mine contained this verse:
Do you know how the coalminers die
To bring you coal from the earth?
They die by the hundreds and they die by the thousands
And that is what your coal is worth.
Bernard Asbell,[23] a member of People's Songs, who in 1961 wrote the best-selling book, When FDR Died, recalled:
When I think of that period I think of Pete and Lee. Lee and Pete. Lee's deep bass singing "Roll the Union On". He and Pete are the two guys who made folk music serve political purposes. .. . Lee was the one with the sense of history, who tied it all together. He was the one who brought the sharecroppers in, and the union songs based on hymns. His images inspired us... convinced us that the Left was the great continuum of the American tradition, or at least that it was part of the mainstream of the American tradition. Lee thought in terms of events, history; he saw large, and that rubbed off on the rest of us. He was the philosopher of the folk music movement. He stretched the canvas. And he was funny—and God, we needed that. There wasn't much humor around.[24]
Although the first year of People's Songs was very successful, once again his co-workers found Hays "difficult" and indecisive. At a board meeting in late 1946, Pete Seeger proposed Hays be replaced as executive secretary with energetic young friend of his, Felix Landau, whom Pete had met during his army days in Saipan. In retrospect, Pete confessed "I think it was a mistake. Lee's perceptions were probably truer than mine."[25]
Crushed, Hays returned to Philadelphia to stay with Walter Lowenfels and family. From there he began contributing a weekly column to the People's Songs Bulletin aiming to educate younger people about Claude Williams and the labor and civil rights struggles of the 1930s.
In 1948, People's Songs put all of its efforts into supporting the 1948 presidential campaign of Henry Wallace on the Progressive Party ticket. Not long after Wallace's decisive defeat, People's Songs went bankrupt and disbanded. A spinoff, however, People's Artists, showed somewhat more vitality.
The Thanksgiving after Wallace's defeat, People's Songs decided to put on a fundraising Hootenanny that included folk dances from many lands. A group of People's Artists, comprising Seeger, Hays, Fred Hellerman, and Ronnie Gilbert, worked up a musical accompaniment to the dances, which they called (in the "One World" spirit of the Progressive movement) "Around the World". It featured an Israeli song, the Appalachian "Flop-eared mule", and "Hey-lally-lally-lo" from the Bahamas. The audience went wild.[26] In 1949 the new quartet began appearing at leftist functions and soon they were featured on Oscar Brand's WNYC radio show as "The No Name Quartet". Four months later they settled on a name: The Weavers.
If it wasn't for the honor, I'd just as soon not have been blacklisted.
People's Artists sponsored the concert given by Paul Robeson and classical pianists Leonid Hambro and Ray Lev in Peekskill, NY, that sparked the Peekskill Riots on September 4, 1949. The Weavers were present. Hays escaped in a car with Guthrie and Seeger after a mob claiming to be anti-communist patriots attacked the cars of audience and performers after the show.[27] Hays wrote a song, "Hold the Line", about the experience, that the Weavers recorded on Charter records with Robeson and writer Howard Fast.[28] If I Had a Hammer", written with Pete Seeger and also recorded on the Charter label, dates from this embattled period.[29]
A few months later, in December, The Weavers began an incredibly successful run at the Village Vanguard. One fan, Gordon Jenkins, a bandleader who had had numerous hits under his belt and was a director of Decca records, returned night after night. Born in Missouri, Jenkins was especially entranced with Lee Hays' folksy stage patter, laced with colorful Ozark anecdotes. Jenkins convinced his reluctant fellow executives at Decca to record the group. Jenkins backed them up with his own lush string orchestra and huge chorus, but tactfully and with care, so as not to obscure the words and musical personalities of the groups' personnel. To everyone's surprise, The Weavers, who seemed to fit into no musical category, produced billboard hit after billboard hit, selling millions of singles. However, the Korean War had begun and the red scare was in full swing. In September 1950, Time magazine reviewed them this way:
Last week a group of four high-spirited folksters known as the Weavers had succeeded in shouting, twanging and crooning folk singing out of its cloistered corner into the commercial big time...
After the war the four met in Greenwich Village get-togethers, and decided that their voices, plus Pete's banjo and recorder, and Fred's guitar, made just the right blend. Sponsored by Red-tinged People's Songs, they got enthusiastic but unremunerative backing from fellow travelers who have long claimed folk songs as their particular province.[30]
In 1950, Pete Seeger was listed as a probable subversive in the anti-communist pamphlet Red Channels and was placed on the entertainment industry blacklist along with other members of the Weavers. Lee Hays was denounced as a member of the Communist Party during testimony to the House Committee on Un-American Activities by Harvey Matusow, a former Communist Party member (he later recanted).
Their records dropped from Decca's catalog and from radio broadcasts, and unable to perform live on television, radio, or in most music venues, The Weavers broke up in 1952. Subsequently, Hays liked to maintain that another entertainer, called Lee Hayes, spelled with an "e", was also banned from entertaining because of the similarity of his name. "Hayes couldn't get a job the whole time I was blacklisted," he claimed.
Hays spent the blacklist years rooming with the family of fellow blacklist victim Earl Robinson (composer of "The House I Live In", "Ballad for Americans", and "Joe Hill"), in a brownstone in Brooklyn Heights. He wrote reviews and short stories, one of which, "Banquet and a Half", published in Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine and drawing on his experiences in the South in the 1930s, was the recipient of a prize and was reprinted in the U.S. and Britain.[31] In 1953, Hays' mother, whom he had seen only once since her entry into custodial care, died. In 1955 he was subpoenaed by the House Committee on Un-American Activities: he declined to testify, pleading the Fifth Amendment. 1955 was also the year of a sold-out Weavers Carnegie Hall reunion concert. The Weavers had not lost their audience appeal—the LP of the concert (The Weavers at Carnegie Hall) issued two years later by Vanguard, was one of the three top-selling albums of the year. This led to a tour (made difficult by Hays' invalidism and anxieties), another album, and more tours, including one to Israel.
If [Benedict] Arnold was successful, we would have had a set of horse-faced rulers, but that might be preferable to what we have now.
In 1958, Hays began recording a series of children's albums with The Baby Sitters, a group that included a young Alan Arkin, the son of a family friend of the Robinsons. After the great financial success of Peter Paul and Mary's cover of "If I Had a Hammer" in the mid-1960s, Hays, whose mental and physical health had been shaky for years, lived mostly on income from royalties.
In 1967, he moved to Croton-on-Hudson, New York where he devoted himself to tending his organic vegetable garden, cooking, writing, and socializing. He wrote to a friend that in his new surroundings he had no idea how to earn new money but that, "Having a listed number with no fear of Trotskyite crank calls is a huge relief".[33] At the insistence of his old friend Woody's son, Arlo Guthrie, however, he did appear, playing himself as a preacher at a 1960 evangelical meeting, in the film Alice's Restaurant (1969), based on Arlo's hit song of that name.
Hays, who had always been overweight, had been diagnosed in 1960 with diabetes, brought on by alcoholism, depression, and the use of a strong drug, a condition the doctors thought he had probably suffered from, along with TB, for many years previously.[34] This led to a heart condition and he was fitted with a pacemaker. Both his legs eventually had to be amputated. Younger friends, among them Lawrence Lazare and Jimmy Callo, helped to take care of him.
His bad health notwithstanding, Hays performed in several Weavers reunion concerts, the last of which was in November 1980 at New York City's Carnegie Hall. His last public performance with the group took place in June 1981 at the Hudson River Revival in Croton Point Park. Two months later he was dead. The documentary film The Weavers: Wasn't That a Time!, for which Hays had written the script, was released in 1982.
Near the end of his life Hays, wrote a farewell poem, "In Dead Earnest", inspired perhaps by Wobbly organizer Joe Hill's lyrical "Last Testament"[35] but with an earthy Ozark frankness:
In Dead Earnest
If I should die before I wake,
All my bone and sinew take:
Put them in the compost pile
To decompose a little while.
Sun, rain, and worms will have their way,
Reducing me to common clay.
All that I am will feed the trees
And little fishes in the seas.
When corn and radishes you munch,
You may be having me for lunch.
Then excrete me with a grin,
Chortling, "There goes Lee again!"
Twill be my happiest destiny
To die and live eternally.
He died on August 26, 1981 from diabetic cardiovascular disease at home in Croton, and, in accordance with his wishes, his ashes were mixed with his compost pile.
The irrepressible Williams was later booted from the Presbyterian church on a charge of "heresy".This man has suffered terribly in his own life in the pursuit of his work with exploited people. I would not want to deny him one atom of credit for what he has done. Yet at the same time that I respect his devotion and admire his fortitude I deeply question his judgment and responsibility. Like many Southern radicals he wants to make much of the race issue. I consider this a tactical blunder of the first magnitude. I have word that at the present time he is more or less espousing the cause of those negro factionalists in the union who claim that their race is being discriminated against. I have watched the union operate in a rather intimate fashion, and I think these charges are without foundation, and arise from a desire for greater power on the part of certain colored leaders. … Perhaps I am prejudiced and impossibly bourgeois. — Quoted in William H. Cobb, Radical education in the rural South: Commonwealth College, 1922–1940 (Wayne State University Press, 2000), p. 190.
Joe Hill's Last Testament
My body? - Oh! - if I could choose,
I would to ashes it reduce,
And let the merry breezes blow
My dust to where some flowers grow.
Perhaps some fading flower then
Would come to life and bloom again.
This is my last and final will.
Good luck to all of you, Joe Hill.


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XLiveLess For GTA IV
Latest version of the tool that will allow you to use any of the 100% saved games within GTA IV and the latest patch (22.214.171.124), this will also allow for any of the trainers, car spawners and all other similar things to work. There is one catch though (a good one, although not everyone will agree), this will disable online multiplayer to Prevent any cheating online. This will also allow for modifications to work within GTA IV, as by default most mods won't work in GTA IV apparently.
You will need XLiveLess or a similar tool to use any modifications in GTA IV.
XLiveLess – small replacement of the xlive.dll with no online support
XLiveLess Notes:
* run LaunchGTAIV.exe instead GTAIV.exe to prevent "drunk" camera
* Plugin saveToGameFolder not included in this beta version
XLiveLess Main features:
* complete replacement of the xlive.dll (original dll isn't required)
* all online functions are disabled (to prevent cheating in multiplayer)
* removed all anti-debugger checks
* all game variables are made unprotected and can be accessed and changed by the trainers, control centers and other tools
* in-built asi-loader (no need to replace original files)
* asi-loader searches for .asi files in the root game folder and .asi and .dll in the 'plugins' folder
Additional features for GTA IV version 184.108.40.206-220.127.116.11, 18.104.22.168, EfCL 220.127.116.11-22.214.171.124:
* removed savefile check (you can load save file made by any offline XLive user)
* removed files.txt check (integrated replacement of FileCheckFix and MagicPatch)
* restored access to the system debugger in the critical error menu (removed loading of WER.dll)
* enabled write access to memory in code and .rdata segments (no need to call VirtualProtect from a .asi)
* disabled RGSC (since update 6, RGSC moved to the paul.dll)
* moved 'savegames' folder (see below).
Additional features for Red Faction: Guerrilla:
* removed savefile check
XLiveLess Installation:
* unpack the file xlive.dll into the game folder (don't forget to remove the asi loader if there is one)
* to turn on debug logging, unpack the file xlive_d.dll into the game folder and rename it to xlive.dll
Additional notes on savefiles:
* savefiles are now located in the folder:
(for Windows Vista) %USERPROFILE%\Documents\Rockstar Games\GTA IV\savegames\
(for Windows XP) %USERPROFILE%\My Documents\Rockstar Games\GTA IV\savegames\
NOTE: don't forget to copy savegames to the new location
Plugin support:
* Added plugin API (xliveless.h and xlive.lib)
Special thanks to Rick and Seemann.

subset: commoncrawl


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Sponsored by: Brakes Plus
Aug 18, 2010 10:42 AM by Bea Karnes, News First 5
Authorities are slowing the flow of the Arkansas River as they try to recover the body of a missing rafting guide.
Kimberly Appelson, 23, of Breckenridge was thrown from a boat near a rapid at the Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area on July 11. Dogs later picked up her scent but the water was too high to look for her there.
Six people have died in the area since 1990.
The state parks department is warning rafters that Wednesday's recovery mission will affect water flows on the upper part of the river, above Salida, and to check conditions before putting boats in.
The Browns Canyon area could be affected by early afternoon.
Users in the lower river corridor below Salida may also see lower flows on Thursday.
2 months ago


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The National Chicken Council says that because of less chickens being raised due to higher feed costs, there will be fewer chicken wings available for Super Bowl XLVII and they will be more expensive. As long as you can still get them, right?
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CONNEAUT LAKE – Conneaut Lake Park's annual drive-through light display, the so-called "Holiday of Lights," will not be happening this year. The trouble can be traced back to ongoing problems between the parks court-appointed Board of Trustees, and a group that calls itself Park Restoration, LLC, which leases the Beach Club and Hotel Conneaut. Park Restoration's Greg Sutterlin says his group recently submitted a proposal to run the light display, and was turned down.
"We asked the board, would we be able to do Holiday of Lights. They took forever to give us an answer and finally said no, you are rejected."
The board told Sutterlin he wasn't up to date with reports he was required to file in relation to his lease, but Sutterlin says that's not true. He called it "an excuse," and accused the board of having "hatred" for Park Restoration group.
It's not the first time the board has shut down Sutterlin's plans. Last winter, when Sutterlin submitted a proposal to manage the rides and midway attractions at the park, it too was rejected. Sutterlin says he has proposed many ideas which he felt could make the park money, which have been turned down. Sutterlin adds that financial records have not been released to his expectations, even though the park is some 800-thousand dollars in debt. He is accusing the board of mismanagement and calling for a complete resignation.
"The only way for this park to survive is for the trustees to resign."
A call placed to Jack Moyers, president of the Board of Trustees, was not immediately returned.
In the meantime, Sutterlin tells us there will be a limited light display near the Beach Club and along the lakeshore, but it won't be a drive-through attraction, as it has been in years past.
More local news at www.palive365.com.


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"The card design was perfect. Everyone we sent cards to raved about it. The paper quality was great and the price was fantastic."
"This design allows you to showcase a variety of photos. Love the blues for baby boy birth announcement. Personally didn't care for standard matte or pearlized. Opted for semi-gloss. Tiny Prints has the most AMAZING customer service. You can also order samples to see design and paper quality. I didn't realize that at first. I just wish the samples didn't take 2 wks to arrive, in my opinion too long hence why delivery received a 4."
"The cards came out wonderful. Excellent print quality and i got them delivered two days after I ordered! Would definitely use Tiny Prints again."
"I really loved this template. I was specifically looking for a design that had multiple photos with one very large to showcase our newborn photos. I favor timeless more traditional designs, and thought the details on this design to be perfect including the mixture of all caps and cursive fonts, the initial highlight on the right-hand side, and the ticket punch... Just perfect. My family LOVED this announcement. It will make the perfect keepsake."
"Making this card was so easy. I didn't even need to alter the photos I had, they came out perfectly printed. The process was straightforward and quality is gorgeous! So happy with how these turned out compared to others I've seen from various people!"


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Tracking Gold
By design, this is a world-renowned tracking facility. Studio A is optimized for "live" band tracking and Studio D features the sound of a Bill Putnam architectural design.
Rare Vintage
Unique vintage features you're not likely to find anywhere else – an echo chamber, plate and spring reverbs, tape machines, and a classic Neve 8038 analog console.
Digital Age
We offer the pinnacle in modern recording technology. With top of the line digital processing; great for mixes, electronic-based projects, and pristine voice-over recordings.
Mic Collection
A great recording starts with a great microphone, we have a large collection of rare and highly sought-after originals from AKG, RCA, Telefunken/Neumann, and others.


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Allagash Guide Inc.
292 River Road Norridgewock, ME US 04957
Allagash Guide Inc. offers fully guided canoe/kayak trips from May through October.
Payments Accepted:
Check or cash
Allagash Guide offers fully guided and outfitted canoeing, camping, fishing, and hunting trips. Visit Maine's famous Allagash Wilderness Waterway and other selected rivers, woods and forests in Maine and Canada. Join us for trips for all ages and abilities from 3 to 10 days. Canoeing in Maine, camping, fishing, and hunting trips, fully guided and outfitted by Allagash Guide. Canoe Maine's famous Allagash, St. Croix, Penobscot, St. John rivers. Join our guided hunts for Deer, Moose, and waterfowl.
Whitewater Kayaking
If you like the thrill of paddling down a narrow river gorge churning with the roar of whitewater, pushing hard through the frothy rapids,...
Whitewater Rafting
Maine is home to three big rivers—the Penobscot, Kennebec and Dead Rivers—that offer whitewater rafting trips for adventurers of all...
Canoeing is a traditional method of recreational travel in Maine, connecting paddlers to the rich history and culture found among the multitude of...
Lake Kayaking
You can choose from more than 2,500 lakes and ponds nestled among Maine's woods and mountains to plan a flatwater kayaking adventure. You can...
You Might Like
Special T Adventures Guide Service
Maine Guided Tours in the beautiful Moosehead Lake Region. Come on a fun journey with Special T Adventures and do some moose watching or...
Sebasco Harbor Resort
Nestled among whispering pines on the rugged coast lies a retreat of quiet comfort and rejuvenation where beauty and tradition abound. Tucked away...
Canoe the Wild
Fully outfitted and guided canoe trips in Maine 1-10 days-your choice. Let a Maine Guide show you the way. Canoe trips make for great Maine family...
Maine Path & Paddle Guides
3-10 day fully guided canoe adventures on Maine's premier rivers and lakes. Including the Allagash Wilderness Waterway, St John River, St Croix...
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Founded in 1953, now celebrating over 50 years with Master Maine Guide Chip and Maine Guide Lani Cochrane. Fully guided canoeing expeditions on...
MaineGuiding offers: Maine river trips on the Allagash, Machias, St. John, Upper West Branch of the Penobscot, East Branch of the Penobscot and...


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A freshman season to remember for Tigers' Nicholson
By CONOR NICHOLL
In many ways, Fort Hays State University freshman point guard Craig Nicholson encapsulated his career in Wednesday's 78-71 victory against University of Central Oklahoma.
Nicholson, easily the smallest player on either team at 5-foot-8, 160 pounds, played 36 minutes and collected 15 points with a career-high 12 assists against two turnovers. The assists tied for seventh best for a single game in Tiger history. Nicholson pushed the tempo, handled the ball versus the Bronchos' press and initiated the fast break.
"We've got to put a lot on him, and he has done a tremendous job accepting it," Tiger coach Mark Johnson said.
As usual, his parents and grandmother, part of a strong family unit, sat courtside. Christi Nicholson, Craig's mother, tracked her son's statistics.
"My mom is very active, and she is always all over my stats," Nicholson said with a smile. "She does stats during the game, too. She hates it when (FHSU) gets my stats wrong. I am like, 'Mom, calm down, it's not that serious.' "
After the game, Nicholson walked out of the locker room and wrapped his grandmother in a big hug.
He, his family and Johnson talked and joked for a few minutes on the court, a scene replicated after virtually every home game.
"I trusted Coach Johnson from the first time that he talked to me," Nicholson said. "He hasn't lied to me or anything, which is good. I trust him a lot. I just like it here. It's a great town and great fans and everything, and I love my teammates."
The strong family support, Johnson's coaching and Nicholson's ability has helped produce arguably the best freshman season in Tiger annals, in recent MIAA history -- and possibly nationally this winter. Nicholson averages 13.3 points and 7.2 assists per game and is shooting 40 percent from 3-point range for the Tigers (12-6, 6-4 MIAA). On Saturday, FHSU will host Missouri Southern State University (9-9, 4-6 MIAA). Game time is 4 p.m.
"Craig is one of the best freshmen to come into this league," Johnson said. "I think stats, he might be the best in the last how many years."
He is expected to win the MIAA Freshman of the Year and ranked second nationally in assists in the latest release of Division II statistics. As well, Nicholson is on pace to set the school record for assists per game.
"I am really big on (assists) this year, because I know that I've got guys that can score around me," Nicholson said. "That's all that I really focus on. I don't really even care about the points anymore, I am just focused on the assists."
The current mark is 6.6 per contest set in Raymond Lee's freshman year of 1982-83. Nicholson has received comparisons to Tiger point guard Dominique Jones, another quick, shorter point guard who earned All-American honors two seasons ago.
"They are kind of similar and definitely by the time that Craig is a senior, he is going to be a problem," senior Lance Russell said. "He is already a problem, but he is on his way. It's crazy for him to be a freshman, he is real good."
Nicholson played at Wichita Northwest and earned Class 6A first team all-state honors last season after he averaged 20.2 points per contest. Still, Nicholson played in the shadow of Wichita Heights' standout and McDonald's All-American Perry Ellis, now at University of Kansas. Some NCAA Division I schools looked at Nicholson, but his small stature scared off many schools.
"I had a chip on my shoulder since I was there and it got me far," Nicholson said.
Then, Johnson called Nicholson. The point guard said Johnson wasn't worried about Nicholson's height. Nicholson loved Fort Hays on his visit and committed the next day. He signed in the early signing period last year.
"You can't turn a place like this down," Nicholson said.
In the preseason, Johnson said he expected Nicholson to play a key role in an uptempo offense, a different pace than usual Tiger teams. FHSU has averaged 72 possessions a game compared to 67, 71 and 69 the last three seasons. Nicholson started slowly, but gained confidence in the first conference game of the season, a home win against University of Central Missouri on Dec. 5.
"When I knew that I could play to my potential, then I knew that I just had to keep working hard and the sky is the limit for me," Nicholson said.
He finished with 22 points and seven assists. Since then, he has tallied double figures every contest, has seven games with at least eight assists and a positive assist to turnover ratio in all but one game.
"As Craig's career evolves, I don't know if his stat line is going to get much better," Johnson said. "I don't think he is going to be a guy who is going to, all of a sudden, average 22 a game. I think his stats are going to be his stats.
"I think you are going to see a little bit of a bump as his career goes along," he added. "But I think he is going to be able to do other things, be more detailed in his defensive assignments, be a better defender than he is right now, take over more of a leadership role as time goes on. From a stat point, he is playing so well, there is only so far you can go."
This winter, Nicholson has improved in his decision-making, including finding the open teammate and knowing when to push the pace. Nicholson said he gets down on himself when he doesn't play well, but has worked on shaking off a poor performance. Plus, he has changed his diet and eaten more sandwiches to keep his body fresh for playing 30-plus minutes every night.
"Pretty much being smarter and not trying to force as much stuff," Nicholson said. "I hate when I turn over the ball. When I do that, I get down on myself a lot, but I just try to focus on not trying to go so deep, because I know I am small and can't see half the time, so I've just got to take what the defense gives me."
He watches other point guards, especially University of Michigan's Trey Burke and Los Angeles Clippers' Chris Paul.
"It's just how smart they play," Nicholson said. "They just do whatever they can to make the team win, and to get the teammates involved and always looking to pass first, and if they are open, then they will shoot it. They are not selfish and making certain they are the leading scorer or anything. They just want to win.SDRq


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Brightest Flashlight LED review
Brightest Flashlight LED turns your smartphone into a bright torch that comes in handy whenever you need an intense source of light for a brief time. The LED light works with the screen either blacked out or in viewfinder mode, which effectively acts as a zoom-in tool.
ProsInstant access: Once you put the Brightest Flashlight LED app icon on your home screen, you can switch on the LED by just running the app, without menus, without needless steps. The LED can be toggled on or off whether the screen is in black or viewfinder mode.
Works as advertised: Whether … Read more


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Main Content
Kick your Beavers pride up a notch with this Hyper Mascot tee from Nike. This comfy T-shirt features a felt applique of the Oregon State mascot on the chest. This adorable tee is sure to take your Oregon State Beavers pride to the next level!
- 50% Cotton/25% Polyester/25% Rayon
- Felt applique
- Imported
- Officially licensed
- Rounded hem
- Scoop neck
Special event items are produced by manufacturers only after the outcome of a game
or event. These are advanced sale items and will ship immediately after they are
received in our warehouse.
Manufacturer direct items are shipped directly from the manufacturer. These items
are not available for international or expedited shipping.
Customized items can be personalized with options such as your name, your favorite
number, and/or designs. Some options may be limited by league rules.


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Rottie pup taken from mom @ 3 1/2 weeks old?
by Sandee
Hi...We just got a male rottweiler at the time he was only 3 1/2 weeks old....the owner had to get rid of the puppies due to the mommie not nursing. He is now 7 1/2 weeks old.
Want to know more about Rottweilers?
I'd recommend these books as a great place to start (after this website of course!).......
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Young TV viewers have increasingly been moving to online platforms for some time. Twenty-seven percent of U.S. online 18- to-24-year-olds now watch five or more hours per week online. In addition, 29% of viewers 18 to 24 watch between one and four hours; 17% watch under one hour, and 28% watch no video online.
Heavy usage of online
programming drops among older viewers according to Forrester Research results, which show that among 25- to-49-year-olds, 12% watch five or more hours; 18% watch between one and four hours; 20% view
under one hour; and 50% watch no video online. Among older viewers -- 35- to-44-year-olds -- only 9% watch five or more hours per week.
Overall, more than 60% of young TV viewers
watch some programming online, with 22% of U.S. online adults watching at least some of their video entertainment on Netflix, and 17% from TV networks' own Web sites.
Forrester says
there has been an overall 18% hike in online viewing in the U.S. between 2012 and 2010. These results came from data of more than 60,000 North American survey respondents in April and May 2012.
Jim Nail, a media analyst at Forrester, writes: "This season's surprisingly low ratings have motivated even the major networks to adjust to a future of time-shifted and
multiplatform viewing -- one that challenges their grip on prime-time audiences."


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In keeping with the theme of a prior article on accessories, I have to ask: who doesn't like them -- the little additions that offer sparkle and color? Who wouldn't want to make use of something simple that might update a plain or lackluster outfit, thereby flattering the wearer? Consisting of many things, accessories have been called indicators of style. They are the aperitif, the dessert, the coffee at the end of a great meal. Religious, cultural, or ethnic in origin, they are an easy way to modernize a look. In mixing great timeless or heirloom pieces with those less costly or newer, one can create a flattering mein, in minutes.
Scarves - can add color, pizazz, or warmth to any outfit. Available in a multitude of fabrics, shapes, and sizes, these -- designer or not -- can be worn around the neck, as a belt, or they can be woven into or around a purse strap. If large enough, a scarf can double as a sarong. A pashmina can be draped about the body in a multitude of ways, thus accentuating or de-emphasizing certain areas.
Watches are not only functional but they can be fashionable and fun. With so many to choose from, a no-nonsense person can make a statement, with something stainless. Or while swimming or snorkeling, a waterproof watch may be worn. There are a plethora of colors and face styles to choose from. There are bracelet watches, and keepsake timepieces from other eras. Beautiful ribbon, in the color and fabric of one's choosing can also be substituted for a replaceable watch band.
Brooches or Pins these were long thought by many to be for the aged or the stuffy, but not so! A decorative pin can update the look of an outfit, thereby adding panache or class. Brooches and pins can hold clothing together. With their endless uses they may be used to replace buttons. They can become belt buckles, shoe sparkles, or why not use them to change the look of a purse or coat? Brooches or pins can also become focal points -- pendants for necklaces that need new life.
Ethnic beauties, we know that culturally, since the days of ancient Africa and India we have been drawn to nose rings, oft times for religious reasons. These are also lovely accessories. In bible days, the prophet Isaiah [3:18] spoke of women in Jerusalem wearing ornaments about their feet; thus anklets have long been worn. Toe rings aren't new either; both pretty up the lower extremeties.
Hats, eye glasses, footwear, gloves, handbags, totes, and purses all aid us to accessorize as well. So take another look at the items you own and those that you will acquire. While making use of them, you just might find yourself flattered!


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Technical Education Solutions
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About Us
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Online Store
Technical Education Solutions seeks to create the opportunity for training and education
provider organizations.
All of the training we provide is from a provider perspective and focuses on the actual performance of strategies, devices and software in the healthcare environment -
vendor fluff allowed.
Technical Education Solutions seeks to help organizations effectively use best practices to implement work flow and process improvements that leverage existing technologies.
Technical Education Solutions
Recent Feedback from our Events
"Valuable general knowledge conveyed as well as valuable specific information"
- Northwest Healthcare
"Excellent, Presenters were very knowledgeable!"
- Mercy Medical Center - Cedar Rapids, Iowa
"Very Good. Content very helpful."
- Guadalupe Regional Medical Center
"Excellent. I am so pleased with the information. I thank you very much"
- Massena Memorial Hospital
"Excellent. I would recommend this class to others"
- University of Maryland Medical Center
"Excellent. I would recommend this class to others"
- Regional Health - Rapid City - SD
Scheduled Events!
Monthly Classes on Medication Safety from leading Hospitals across the US and Canada.
Technical Device and Process Considerations for BPOC Success
Wednesday, March 27th, 2013 1:00 pm (ET)
Introduction to AutoIt: Building a Meditech EDM Tracker Auto Logon Routine
Wednesday, March 27th, 2013 11:00 am (ET)
MUSE International 2013
Technical Device Considerations for EMAR/BMV Systems Implementation
Encore Performance, May 28-31st , Washington, DC
UnSummit 2013
Downtime Summit
April 24 - 26th, 2013 Orlando Seaworld
Recent Events:
HIGH-RISK MEDICATIONS: The Impact of Barcode Technology on Patient Safety
UnSummitU - February 2013
BPOC: The real work starts AFTER implementation
UnSummitU - January 2013
Workarounds to Bedside Barcoding at the Point of Care (BPOC)
UnSummitU - November 2012
The Journey to Safer Administration of Breast Milk to Hospitalized Neonates
UnsummitU - October 2012
Continuous Quality Improvement Using BCMA Data
UnSummitU - September 2012
Infusion Management: Working Smarter, Not Harder
UnSummitU -
August 2012
BYOD: Mobile Computing Options for BPOC
UnSummitU -
July 2012
IV Barcode Workflow Systems: A Best Practice for the Near Future
UnSummitU -
June 2012
The UnSummit for Bedside Barcoding
May, 2012, Anaheim, CA
Technical Device Considerations for EMAR/BMV Systems Implementation
Encore Performance - February 2012
Bedside Medication Scanning at the Point of Care Year Five
MUSE, September 2011, Toronto ON
Technical Device Considerations for EMAR/BMV Systems Implementation
June 2011
UnSummit for Bedside Barcoding Way-Paver Award for Leadership in Bedside Barcoding!
April 2011, Louisville, KY
Bedside Medication Scanning, Challenges and Strategies for Success
HIMSS 2011 Annual Conference and Expo
February 2011, Orlando, FL
AIM Expo - Auto ID and Mobile IT Healthcare Track
November 2010, Chicago, IL
Challenges to Effective eMAR / BCMA Systems Implementation and How to Overcome Them Mike Wisz, August 2010
Faxing, Report Delivery, Downtime and Paperless Processes Oh My!
October 2010
Technical Device Considerations for EMAR/BMV implementation - Encore
October 2010
Challenges to Effective eMAR / BCMA Systems Implementation and How to Overcome Them Mike Wisz, August 2010
Positive Patient ID: Bar Coding Success at the Bedside
Healthcare IT News Webinar, Charles Still MBA, July 2010
Meditech Nurse Informatics & Home Health Forum
Charles Still, MBA June 2010 Quincy, MA
Challenges to Effective eMAR / BCMA Systems Implementation and How to Overcome Them Mike Wisz, May 2010
The UnSummit for Bedside Barcoding
Charles Still, MBA,
May 2010, Atlanta, GA
Lessons from the Bruised The Art of Selecting and Acquiring Hospital Applications
Elyse Nielsen, PMP, CPHIMS Anticlue.net April, 2010
Bar Coding and e/MAR Medication Safety: Pharmacy's Role; Edward Lanoue, RPh, March 2010
EMAR/BMV From a Provider Perspective
HIMSS International, Charles Still, MBA Atlanta, GA. March 2010
Technical Device Considerations for EMAR/BMV Implementation Webinar Charles Still, MBA March, 2010
So you want to be a MUSE Presenter; Tips Tricks and Thoughts on speaking at a MUSE Event. January, 2010
***Sold Out***
Bar Coding and e/MAR Medication Safety: Pharmacy's Role; Edward Lanoue, RPh, January 2009
***Sold Out***
Patient Safety through Bedside Medication Scanning
Webinar, Charles Still, MBA, November 2009
Health and Data Management Journal Web Seminar
Positive Patient ID: Bar Coding Success at the Bedside
October 2009
July 2009 Webcast: "Technical Device Considerations for EMAR/BMV" MuseWeb.org
***Sold Out***
Bedside Medication Administration and Verification Roadshow – Chicago September, 2009
May, 2009 - The UnSUMMIT on Barcode Medication Administration Tampa, FL USA
May, 2009 - "Technical Considerations for EMAR/BMV Systems Implementation" International MUSE Conference
Vancouver, BC Canada


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Narrow Search
Fifties Party Supplies
Fifties Costumes
Bop Made Easy With 50s Costumes!
Play out the authenticity of your fifties party by encouraging each guest to dress in a 1950s costume. Complete their 50s costumes by handing out sunglasses at the door or by including these 1950s costume items as part of their fifties party favors. Encourage those on the dance floor to get into the mood with fifties costumes poodle skirts available to slip on.
Adult Poodle Skirt & Poodle Scarf
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Your Price: $15.99 pkg/12Pink Poodle Scarf
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Starting at: $25.64 eachFabulous Fifties Costumes!
- Hold a sock hop and award 50s costumes items to the best dancers. Give a poodle skirt and scarf set to the girl and a pair of sunglasses and a white t-shirt to the boy.
- Dress each party worker in a 1950s costume. Imagine the thrill at being served ice cream sodas in personalized glassware that are brought to you by women wearing bobby socks and saddle shoes and other 1950s costume items - roller skates, anyone?
- Hold a 50's theme girl birthday party where the birthday girl wears a 1950s costume including (of course!) a child poodle skirt.


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Pyr continues the science fiction tradition of annual, all-original short story anthologies with Fast Forward 2.
Review by John C. Snider © 2008
An alt-history assassin is sent to kill a princess on Mars; a young boy is plucked from poverty to tend genetically engineered plants that grow custom clothes; mysterious aliens wipe out earth's cities but show kindness to the survivors; a businessman has an unexpected encounter with natural beauty; scientists coax an unwilling A.I. to embark on a one-way mission to the stars; a virtual valet coaches an eligible bachelor in the art of wooing; a senior citizen must use his wits to earn retirement benefits in an orbital sweatshop; the Russian Mafia steal priceless seeds from an arctic vault; a space explorer encounters post-human survivors on a barely habitable planet; and an immigrant to America navigates the dangerous straits between honest journalism and the megahits-now-at-any-cost culture of the New Media. These and other stories are part of Fast Forward 2 (pub. by Pyr, Oct 2008, 360 pp, trade ppb, $15), the second installment in what Pyr (the science fiction imprint of Prometheus Books) hopes will be an ongoing tradition of annual anthologies of new science fiction short stories.
Pyr's first anthological foray – last year's Fast Forward – was met with critical acclaim and strong sales, and several of the included stories made the coveted "year's best" lists. Not bad for a publisher that didn't even exist four years ago, and another feather in the cap for Pyr's editorial director Lou Anders.
There's no theme to the Fast Forward series, other than excellence in storytelling. The stories in FF2 cover the spectrum of sub-genres, from near-future parables to far-future space opera, from post-cyberpunk to hard SF; from cautionary tales a la The Twilight Zone to uplifting vignettes that affirm the best in human nature.
With such a wide selection of styles and themes, it should come as no surprise that not every entry will appeal to every reader. At the very least, FF2 is like a Whitman Sampler; a little something for everyone, and if you find a story you like, it'll be from a writer with plenty of other work you can chase down later.
Standout tales include "Cyto Couture" from Kay Kenyon, "The Kindness of Strangers" by Nancy Kress, "An Eligible Boy" from Ian McDonald, :Mitigation" by Karl Schoeder and Tobias S. Buckell, and "The Gambler" by Paolo Bacigalupi. Fully 100 pages are devoted to the novella "True Names", a multi-layered origami of a tale by Benjamin Rosenbaum and Cory Doctorow, in which computer programs wage a virtual war over control of the real world. "True Names" is quirky and inventive, but its complexity may be off-putting from some readers.
Other contributors include respected veterans like Jack McDevitt, Mike Resnick and Pat Cadigan, as well as lesser-known up-and-comers like Paolo Bacigalupi, Chris Nakashima-Brown and Jeff Carlson. Seventeen writers in all provide fourteen stories that offer a peek at the literary diversity of current science fiction.
To top it all off, FF2 comes wrapped in vibrant artwork from John Picacio, one of the go-to guys these days for SF/F/H illustration. Kudos to Pyr and Lou Anders. Let's hope the Fast Forward series becomes a long-lasting yearly tradition.
Fast Forward 2 is available at Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk.
Links of Interest
- Lou Anders (podcast interview) [Oct 2008]
- Lou Anders (interview) [May 2004]
- Pyr Official Website
- Lou Anders Personal Website
Tags: anthology, fast forward 2, lou anders, pyr


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I love the X-Men movies as much as the next guy (and I love how they've kickstarted the modern superhero movement even more), but even I've gotta be a bit cynical, because a near-Avatar level production is pretty lofty for a franchise that's never surpassed $500 million at the box office.
Compared to the billion dollar blockbusters from Marvel Studios, whose superhero franchises started 8 years after Fox's X-Men, Bryan Singer's mutant adventures are barely successful. The cinematic series began in 2000 with the release of the first X-Men (which we've affectionately titled "Hugh Jackman's Pointy Stabby Fingers Fiesta"), and its since produced 5 misshaped sequels. The most profitable of which, X-Men The Last Stand, grossed $459,000,000 at the international box office, far less than its Marvel peers, but the highest in Fox's X-Men franchise.
Well, apparently Fox believes these Children of the Atom are capable of loftier figures with the latest sequel DAYS OF FUTURE PAST. Avengers figures. According to the film's star, James McAvoy…
"It's the second biggest production Fox have ever embarked upon, behind Avatar. So they're definitely going for it.
According to Bryan Singer's comments at this year's San Diego Comic Con, Fox is hard at work planning a massive cinematic universe for their superhero properties, which include the rights to Marvel's Fantastic Four and the every mutant in the X-Men universe. Fox also possesses the rights to superhero properties from other publishers, most notably Millarworld books (which is the name ascribed to Fox's Marvel consultant Mark Millar's indie works). I've always assumed that Fox's expanded universe would only involve their Marvel properties, but would they also embrace characters from different comic book origins, like Kick-Ass and Hit Girl?
And there's no hiding it… Fox is doubling down on X-Men because of Marvel Studios' incredible success with their Avengers monster campaign. We few fanboys at UTF have discussed the issue heavily (aided by a few shots of Old Crow Bourbon, the finest $7 whiskey in the world), and Fox has a real opportunity to produce something great.
After all, The Avengers were never THAT popular in the comic book world. Sure, I loved the team, and so did my friends, but they were a thoroughly vanilla team surrounded by more alluring, and dynamic guys like the Uncanny X-Men, X-Force, Starjammers… the rights to which belong to Fox. Could you imagine a cinematic universe that perfectly captures the awe and badassery of 80′s & 90′s X-Men?
Fox, the balls in your court.


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Research focuses on the descendants and ancestors of John Patrick Ryan and his wife Hannah Freeman, both of whom emigrated to the United States in the late 1880's. Anecdotal testimony indicates that they were motivated to make the move since the marriage was disapproved by both of their families. He was a bricklayer, later contractor; she, a homemaker. They lived all of their lives in Tarrytown, New York, where the children (it is believed) were domestics for the Rockefeller family. To complete the classic Irish stereotype, the next generation was heavily involved in law enforcement, in Yonkers and other Westchester communities. |
John Patrick Ryan 19 Broad Street Waterford, New York 12188 United States 518-237-0558 email@example.com |
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Designs by KN
practical. wearable. charitable
Crochet Patterns Knit Patterns
Knit with Crochet Patterns
Hat & Scarf Set
printer-friendly version
Skill level: Easy
Size: To fit wine bottle neck – Hat: approx. 2" high – Scarf: approx 10" long
Few yards worsted wt. wool, acrylic or wool/acrylic blend yarn in choice of colors (sample shown in Plymouth Yarns "Encore"):
Color A – red or green
Color B – white or cream
Set of four size 6 (4.25 mm) double-pointed needles (dpns)
Tapestry needle
One ½" pom-pom
Gauge: Not critical for this project
Pattern notes: Hat is worked in the round from lower rolled brim to top crown decreases. A pom-pom is sewn to the top for trim.
Scarf is made in alternating color stripes using the I-cord knitting technique (see Special Stitches).
When changing colors for stripes, drop old color over new color, then pick up new color from under dropped strand and work the new round/row as directed.
Carry unused color strands loosely up as you work. Do not cut colors until instructed to do so.
Special Stitches:
I-cord: Knit across sts on needle, do not turn work. Slide these sts to right end of same needle. Pick up strand hanging at left side of work and pull it to the right behind the work. Knit the same sts again. Repeat the same motions every row (after a few rows you will see the I-cord tube forming.)
Stitches/Terms: beginning (beg), bind off (BO), cast on (CO), decrease (dec), knit (k), knit two together (k2tog), needle (ndl), purl (p), repeat (rep), round (rnd), stitch (st)
Note: drop & pick up colors as instructed. Do not cut colors until directed to do so.
With dpns and Color A, CO 21, placing 7 sts on ea of 3 ndls. Join for circular knitting, being careful that sts are not twisted.
Rnds 1-5: K. At end of Rnd 5, join Color B (drop Color A but do not cut it.)
Rnds 6-7: With Color B, k. At end of Rnd 7, drop Color B (but do not cut it), pick up Color A.
Rnds 8-9: With Color A, k. At end of Rnd 9, drop Color A, pick up Color B.
Rnds 10-11: With Color B, k. At end of Rnd 11, drop Color B, pick up Color A.
Rnds 12-13: With Color A, k. At end of Rnd 13, drop Color A, pick up Color B.
Rnds 14-15: With Color B, k. At end of Rnd 15, drop Color B, pick up Color A.
Rnds 16-17: With Color A, k. Continue rest of hat with Color A (at this point cut Color B, leaving 6" tail for weaving in later).
Begin crown decreases:
Rnd 18 (dec rnd): *K5, k2tog, rep from * around (18)
Rnd 19 (dec rnd): *K4, k2tog, rep from * around (15)
Rnd 20 (dec rnd): *K3, k2tog, rep from * around (12)
Cut yarn, leaving 6" tail. Run yarn through sts on ndl and gather top to close. Weave in all tails.
Finishing: Sew pom-pom to top. Roll up brim. Place on top of wine bottle neck.
Note: at each color change, carry unused color strand loosely up inside of work (i.e., as the I-cord tube forms the loose strands will be encased inside the tube.)
With Color A, CO 4.
Rows 1-2: With Color A, work in I-cord technique (see Special Stitches above). At end of Row 2, join Color B, drop Color A (but do not cut it).
Rows 3-4: With Color B, work in I-cord technique. At end of Row 4, drop Color B, pick up Color A.
Rep Rows 1-4 until there are a total of 51 stripes (26 Color A stripes, 25 Color B stripes.) Bind off. Cut yarn and weave tails inside I-cord tube.
Finishing: Tie scarf loosely around bottle neck, as shown.
Copyright 2013, 2010 – Designs by KN – www.designsbykn.com
For personal or charity use only. Do not duplicate pattern for commercial purposes.
@1999 - 2014 Designs by KN
All patterns and photographs are the property of Designs by KN.


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Sony Vaio T13112FXS
- Category: Notebook Computers
June 6, 2012
Editor's Rating
- Affordable price
- Large 500GB hard drive
- Above average battery life
- Solid performance
- Uncomfortable, unlit keyboard
- Subpar display quality
Ultrabooks are certainly not hard to come by these days, but the Vaio T13112FXS from Sony aims to be different. It has a sub-$800 price tag, a 500GB hard drive and a new Intel Core "Ivy Bridge" processor. While a really great deal, it does suffer from a mediocre display and an uncomfortable keyboard.
The notebook computer market is definitely a crowded one with the ultrabook niche quickly following suit. The new line of "Ivy Bridge" CPUs from Intel has spurred new growth in the notebook category, so this isn't the only laptop to come out recently. This is, however, the first ultrabook that we've reviewed with the new, third-generation Intel processor.
The design of the Sony Vaio T13112FXS remains in-line with previous Vaio S and Z models. It has an aluminum and plastic chassis that measures 12.7 x 8.5 x 0.7-inches (wdh) and weighs 3.4-pounds. It is definitely compact enough to slip into a backpack or briefcase without noticing it much. Just in terms of physical appearance, it looks a little different from other ultrabooks. The body has a trapezoidal design when you look at it from the front or back side. We did notice that when you open the screen, the hinge pushes down on whatever surface the laptop is resting on, which rises the entire laptop. We found this to be a bit odd and it could've been designed differently.
Sony includes an island-style keyboard with this new ultrabook, but it just doesn't feel right. The keys are extremely shallow and are almost flush with the deck's surface. This made for a fairly uncomfortable typing experience. The lack of a backlit keyboard also made us unimpressed. The multitouch clickpad, on the other hand, seemed to work well and is definitely large enough for multitouch gestures and navigating.
The 13.3-inch display has a native resolution of 1366 x 768-pixels, which is standard suit for ultrabooks. The display, however, seemed to lack in color quality as colors seemed dull and washed out. The brightness wasn't the problem, so we aren't quite sure what is. Sony coated the screen with a glossy-coating, so it suffers from reflections and problems in bright sunlight.
In terms of ports and connectivity, Sony doesn't leave anything out. You get one USB 3.0 port, one USB 2.0 port, HDMI-out, VGA-out, Ethernet, the usual audio ports and an SD memory card reader. There is also Bluetooth and 802.11n wireless connectivity. As with all ultrabooks, there is no optical disc drive included.
The internal specifications of the Sony Vaio T13112FXS include a third-generation Intel Core i5-3317U (1.7GHz) CPU, 4GB of RAM, a 500GB 5400RPM hard drive (w/ 32GB SSD drive) and integrated Intel HD 4000 graphics. The CPU and graphics see a definite bump in power compared to previous ultrabooks using Intel's second-gen setup.
When compared to these second-generation Intel powered ultrabooks, like the Dell XPS 13 we reviewed in March, there seems to be noticeable bump in performance. These low-voltage CPUs, however, still won't outperform the mainstream dual-core CPUs out there. Overall performance with this Sony Vaio T-series ultrabook was pleasant and had no hiccups during out testing. Graphics performance is still below the power needed for 3D gaming, but for the Internet, movies and the like, it does very well.
Battery life with the included battery tops out at 6-hours in our testing, which is about an hour longer than most other ultrabooks, including the Dell XPS 13 we mentioned previously.


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Matthew Stafford's national (ad) debut
August, 30, 2012
Kevin Seifert | ESPN.com
Receiver Calvin Johnson isn't the only Detroit Lions player getting national attention this preseason. Quarterback Matthew Stafford is starring in a new ESPN commercial that will begin airing Friday. Because we are also part of the large ESPN family, let we here at the NFC North blog be the first to give you a sneak preview. It's funny and offers multiple NFC North themes for those who give it the full 30 seconds.
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CLASSICS: Classics for Teens |
Pride and prejudice
Austen, Jane, 1775-1817. Acclaimed by one reviewer to be the greatest novel ever written, the story of Mrs. Bennett's search for husbands for her daughters is told with wit and charm. A must for lovers of good literature. |
Go tell it on the mountain
Baldwin, James, 1924-1987. First published in 1953 when James Baldwin was nearly 30, Go Tell It on the Mountain is a young man's novel, as tightly coiled as a new spring, yet tempered by a maturing man's confidence and empathy. It's not a long book, and its action spans but a single day--yet the author packs in enough emotion, detail, and intimate revelation to make his story feel like a mid-20th-century epic. Using as a frame the spiritual and moral awakening of 14-year-old John Grimes during a Saturday night service in a Harlem storefront church, Baldwin lays bare the secrets of a tormented black family during the depression. John's parents, praying beside him, both wrestle with the ghosts of their sinful pasts--Gabriel, a preacher of towering hypocrisy, fathered an illegitimate child during his first marriage down South and refused to recognize his doomed bastard son; Elizabeth fell in love with a charming, free-spirited young man, followed him to New York, became pregnant with his son, and lost him before she could reveal her condition. Baldwin lays down the terrible symmetries of these two blighted lives as the ironic context for John's dark night of the soul. When day dawns, John believes himself saved, but his creator makes it clear that this salvation arises as much from blindness as revelation: "He was filled with a joy, a joy unspeakable, whose roots, though he would not trace them on this new day of his life, were nourished by the wellspring of a despair not yet discovered." |
The good earth
Buck, Pearl S. (Pearl Sydenstricker), 1892-1973. A poignant tale about the life and labors of a Chinese farmer during the sweeping reign of the country¹s last emperor. |
The Canterbury tales
Chaucer, Geoffrey, d. 1400. A selection of eight stories with some words from the host and from Chaucer: The Miller's Tale, The Reeve's Tale, The Franklin's Tale, The Words of the Host, The Pardoner's Tale, The Nun's Priest's Tale, The Wife of Bath's Tale, The Friar's Tale, The Clerk's Tale, Chaucer's Farewell. |
The last of the Mohicans
Cooper, James Fenimore, 1789-1851. Set in 1757 amidst the French and Indian War, the novel tells the story of frontier scout Hawkeye and his efforts to conduct two daughters of a fort commander to safety. |
The red badge of courage
Crane, Stephen, 1871-1900. First published in 1895, America's greatest novel of the Civil War was written before 21-year-old Stephen Crane had "smelled even the powder of a sham battle." But this powerful psychological study of a young soldier's struggle with the horrors, both within and without, that war strikes the reader with its undeniable realism and with its masterful descriptions of the moment-by-moment riot of emotions felt by me under fire. Ernest Hemingway called the novel an American classic, and Crane's genius is as much apparent in his sharp, colorful prose as in his ironic portrayal of an episode of war so intense, so immediate, so real that the terror of battle becomes our own ... in a masterpiece so unique that many believe modern American fiction began with Stephen Crane. |
Two years before the mast and other voyages
Dana, Richard Henry, 1815-1882. This volume collects three sea-going travel narratives by Richard Henry Dana, Jr., that span 25 years of maritime history, from the age of sail to the age of steam. |
Oliver Twist
Dickens, Charles, 1812-1870 Oliver, an orphan in 19th-century London, falls into a den of thieves, but is finally rescued by Mr. Brownlow, a wealthy benefactor. In each of Barron's Graphic Classics, an English literary classic is transformed into a dramatic graphic novel with superb, atmospheric color illustrations and a finely-paced narrative. The tale—chosen from among important novels in the literary canon— will keep young readers fascinated from first page to last. |
The hound of the Baskervilles
Doyle, Arthur Conan, Sir, 1859-1930. In this, one of the most famous of Doyle's mysteries, the tale of an ancient curse and a savage ghostly hound comes frighteningly to life. The gray towers of Baskerville Hall and the wild open country of Dartmoor will haunt the reader as Holmes and Watson seek to unravel the many secrets of the misty English bogs. |
The three musketeers
Dumas, Alexandre, 1802-1870. First published in 1844, The Three Musketeers is the most famous of Alexandre Dumas's historical novels and one of the most popular adventure novels ever written. Dumas's swashbuckling epic chronicles the adventures of d'Artagnan, a brash young man from the countryside who journeys to Paris in 1625 hoping to become a musketeer and guard to King Louis XIII. Before long, he finds treachery and court intrigue—and also three boon companions, the daring swordsmen Athos, Porthos, and Aramis. Together the four strive heroically to defend the honor of their queen against the powerful Cardinal Richelieu and the seductive spy Milady. |