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When the news came out last Tuesday that Bell Media was going to convert TSN Radio 990 into a French-language radio station as part of its acquisition of Astral Media, the response was overwhelmingly negative from the anglophone community, with most people not sure who to blame.
That hasn't stopped them from doing so. The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, which regulates radio stations and will hear Bell's application for the language switch at a hearing in Montreal on Sept. 10, has received more than 400 comments about it already, mostly from individual listeners. It's a flood so unusual that the commission has added a special link on its homepage just for this application.
Some people blamed Bell for its decision. Many blamed the CRTC itself for "forcing" Bell to convert the station into French. Others pointed to some sort of secret political conspiracy over language.
The truth is that there is a conspiracy at work here, but there's no evil mastermind sitting in a throne in a dark room cackling while he slowly pets his cat. It's a conspiracy of circumstance, and the positions of each party make sense when looked at in context.
The CRTC has rules governing concentration of media ownership, which set limits on the big mergers and acquisitions in the broadcasting industry that seem to have accelerated in the past few years as each major player gobbles up more assets in order to better compete with the others. Those rules say that one company cannot control more than three commercial radio stations in a market with fewer than eight, and no more than four in a market with eight or more. Additionally, no company can control more than two commercial radio stations in one market on one band (AM or FM). Because markets are as much about language as geography, English Montreal and French Montreal are considered separate markets.
With Bell's proposed $3.38-billion acquisition of Astral Media, the merging of 84 radio stations across the country with Bell's 33 existing stations will mean violating this rule in six markets, including Montreal's English market. Eleven stations in those markets would have to be sold or shut down for a combined Bell-Astral to stay within the limits.
In Montreal's English market, Astral Media currently owns CJAD 800, Virgin Radio 95.9 (CJFM) and CHOM 97.7, while Bell owns TSN 990 (CKGM). The only other English-language commercial radio station here is 92.5 The Beat (CKBE), owned by Cogeco.
But rather than sell one of the four stations it would own, Bell has decided to apply to the CRTC to allow it to switch markets, from English to French. There, Bell owns no stations, and Astral has only FM stations (NRJ 94.3 and Rouge FM 107.3).
The key word there is "apply". The CRTC is hearing the request in September and hasn't made a ruling yet. The only thing the commission has done is set reasonable limits on how many radio stations in a market can have a common owner. And even then, one could argue the limits should be restricted even further in a place like Montreal, where two language markets sharing the same frequencies means fewer stations in each, and Bell could end up owning three of the four English-language commercial radio stations in Montreal while staying within the CRTC's rules.
So with this move – and Bell's larger acquisition of Astral Media – at the application stage, there are plenty of things that could happen in the coming months that might change Bell's plan and save TSN Radio. Here's a few of them:
The Competition Bureau could reject the Astral purchase. Charged with reviewing large mergers and acquisitions of all types, the bureau is looking at this purchase in terms of its effects on the market. If it determines that this could threaten consumer choice and lead to anti-competitive practices, it could challenge the deal in front of the Competition Tribunal. The bureau hasn't stood in the way of such media acquisitions recently, though its last ruling, about Bell and Rogers Communications Inc. buying Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, warned that it is "actively reviewing" concerns about concentration of media ownership there. The Commissioner of Competition, Melanie Aitken, has not been shy to go after Bell and Rogers for their telecom practices. But she steps down from her job in September.
The CRTC could reject the Astral purchase. It's unlikely, considering recent history, but the commission could decide that the entire deal does too much harm to the broadcasting system and reject it outright. (Such a decision would be costly for Bell, which would have to pay a fee of $125 million or $150 million to Astral, depending on when the deal falls through.) Or it could set conditions on the deal so onerous that Bell decides not to go through with it.
The CRTC could issue an open call for applications. Normally, when a frequency becomes available in a large market where there is strong competition, the commission makes an open call for applications for that frequency, and chooses the best one. When 88.1 FM became available in Toronto last year, the CRTC issued a call and got 22 separate applications for use of that frequency. In Calgary, a similar call prompted 12 applications, including seven for one frequency.
The last open call in Montreal was a year ago, when an application by Cogeco to reactivate AM transmitters on 690 and 940 to set up subsidized all-traffic stations led to objections from competitors that they wanted a chance to apply for those frequencies. In the end, the CRTC received five applications, including one from Bell to change the frequency of TSN 990 to 690, which would allow them to increase their coverage area. The commission approved that application (the switch is expected to happen this fall), as well as two others, while it denied the other two because no acceptable frequencies were available.
The losers in this race could argue that Bell isn't applying for a licence amendment, but instead is shutting a station down and starting another in its place. They could demand that another open call for applications be issued, particularly because 690 is such a desirable frequency, at which point Bell's application would have to compete with other proposals for use of that frequency. In that case, Bell says in its application, it might reconsider.
The CRTC could deny the language switch. While saying yes to the larger acquisition of Astral Media by Bell, the commission could simply say no to Bell's application to change TSN Radio into a French-language station and order it to sell the station instead (or shut it down if it can't find a buyer).
The CRTC could issue an exemption. The commission's rules on media ownership are guidelines, and have been broken in the past in exceptional circumstances. Last year, when Cogeco bought Corus Entertainment's Quebec radio stations, the commission granted an exception to the rules allowing Cogeco to own three FM stations in Montreal (CHMP 98.5, CKOI 96.9 and Rythme FM 105.7). In exchange, Cogeco promised to set up a province-wide radio news service. Since then, 98.5 has rocketed to No. 1 in the ratings, and Cogeco boasts that it's the most listened-to station in Canada.
But for such an exemption to be granted, Bell would have to make a strong case. It would have to argue that TSN does not compete directly with CJAD, and that there's an overriding public interest in it owning all four stations, one that would not be served by one or more of those stations being sold. The fact that TSN 990 is a money-losing operation would help that case, but the fact that Bell would own four of five stations in the market, as well as the No. 1 television station, would work against it.
Of these possibilities, the open call for applications seems most likely based on previous experience. And Bell could respond with the same application to replace its English sports station with a French one.
Like the Canadiens' chance of win a Stanley Cup next season, the chance of TSN 990's existence beyond next year looks grim. But that shouldn't stop people from believing in miracles.
The CRTC is accepting comments about Bell's application until Aug. 9. They can be filed through the commission's website at crtc.gc.ca. All comments, including contact information, are on the public record.
Online: Direct link for filing comments


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Guest poem sent in by Vivian
(Poem #1916) Away With Rum
We're coming we're coming. Our brave little band On the right side of temperance we now take our stand. We don't use tobacco because we do think That the people who do so are likely to drink. [Chorus] Away, away, with rum, by gum, With rum, by gum, with rum, by gum, Away, away, with rum, by gum, The song of the Salvation Army. We never eat cookies because they have yeast And one little bite makes a man like a beast. Oh, can you imagine a sadder disgrace, Than a man in the gutter with crumbs in his face? [Chorus] We never eat fruitcake because it has rum, And one little slice puts a man on the bum. Oh, can you imagine a sorrier sight, Than a man eating fruitcake until he gets tight? [Chorus]
Franklin P. Adams' "Prohibition" inevitably brought this to mind. Here, the song tweaks the temperance movement (there are versions with "Temperance Union" rather than "Salvation Army") for going to intemperate extremes, but the underlying message is that anything that seems like a pretty good idea in the first place (in the specific case, immoderate consumption of alcohol can lead to disastrous results) when taken to its logical extremes can be absurd and even violent. When I first learned this song, I understood the words to the chorus as "Away, away with rum, buy gum" (rather than "by gum"), possible because we sang the final chorus as: Away, away with gum, buy rum With gum, buy rum, with gum, buy rum, Away, away with gum, buy rum, The salvation song of the army." Which brings me to the next point: Like many folk songs, this is a kind of oral poetry that gives license to its "users" to invent verses and variations of their own. A collection of these - some of them quite funny - can be seen at http://www.whitetreeaz.com/awayrum.htm. Vivian [Links] The guitar chords are here: http://www.thetabworld.com/Bikel_Theo__Away_With_Rum_guitar_chord_printable.html Biography: Austrian-born character actor, folk singer and musician (1924-) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theodore_Bikel Bikel's website: http://www.bikel.com/

subset: commoncrawl


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Happy bank holiday weekend everyone, we hope you are enjoying the long weekend. Sit and relax with our latest blog post where we look at the influences behind the latest tropical trend that has gained popularity in the last few months.
We share our top tips on how to incorporate the tropical trend into your interior, and share our best tropical themed buys with you all.
Read our top 3 tips on how to incorporate the tropical trend here.


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Q: My son's request for a birthday cake each year is a yellow box mix with canned frosting. I would prefer to make something from scratch to celebrate his birthday this year. Do you have any a good yellow buttermilk cake recipes with a tasty chocolate frosting that will satisfy his tastes and my desire for a truly homemade cake?
—Laura Henze, Lemont, Ill.
A: My first thought was, sure, I can get you a yellow buttermilk cake recipe. I turned to Debbie Moose, a Raleigh, N.C.-based food writer and author of "Buttermilk: A Savor the South Cookbook," for a recipe. Debbie didn't have one but she made an important point that I think you need to consider.
"It is his birthday. Make him what he wants,'' she declared.
Moose suggests you bake something else to serve with the box cake. No, not the homemade alternative, as much as that is what you desire, but something different and less open to direct comparison. For the danger is that the harder you push that homemade cake, the harder he'll shove it back at you.
Nudge him instead toward your idea of quality.
I inadvertently learned that lesson myself years ago when I started stir-frying dinner as a teenager in Madison, Conn. Up to that point, "Chinese" food at my house meant store-bought cans of meat, vegetables and sauce or occasional forays to the big city for takeout. My father raged against my Sichuan-style dishes, moaning the addition of garlic and chilies and the lack of a gloppy sauce. When I went off to college, he went back to his canned stuff. And didn't like it; his palate had grown accustomed to what I had been doing. The cans stayed in the cupboard unopened.
Debbie suggested pairing that box cake with these red velvet cupcakes, which are made with buttermilk, cocoa and a beet juice dye. She thinks he just might go for it.
"It's something red and kind of goofy,'' she explains.
Give it a shot, Laura. At the very least, you'll find something on the birthday party table that you can enjoy.
Magie's Naturally Red Velvet Cupcakes
Makes 24 to 30 cupcakes.
This recipe in Debbie Moose's "Buttermilk: A Savor the South Cookbook" comes from Mage Lanz, an artist and former food blogger based in Sunnyvale, Calif.
For the beet juice dye:
1 beet, sliced
1/4 cup white vinegar
1 cup water
For the cupcakes:
3/4 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 3/4 cups sugar
5 large egg whites, at room temperature
1 1/2 cups buttermilk, at room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup each: cake flour; all-purpose flour
3/4 cup non-alkalized cocoa powder (don't use Dutch processed)
1 teaspoon each: baking soda; baking powder, salt
1/4 cup beet juice dye
For the frosting:
12 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
3/4 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
2 cups powdered sugar
1.To prepare the beet juice dye, but the beet, vinegar and water in a saucepan. Place the saucepan over medium heat, bring the liquid to a boil, then reduce the heat and slowly simmer it down until there's about 1/4 cup left. Strain out the beet and let the liquid cool before using. The juice will keep up to a month, covered and refrigerated.
2.To prepare the cupcakes, place paper liners in approximately 30 muffin cups. Beat the butter and sugar together with an electric mixer or stand mixer until the sugar is dissolved and the texture is light and fluffy. Add the egg whites one at a time. Beat until the texture becomes almost like frosting. Then beat in the buttermilk and vanilla.
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3.In a separate bowl, sift together the flours, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Gradually beat the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until the batter is smooth. The texture and consistency should be something like chocolate mousse. Stir in the beet juice dye.
4.Spoon the cake batter into the muffin tins. Bake in a 375-degree oven for 15-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of 1 cupcake comes out clean. Do not overbake. Let the cupcakes cool to room temperature on a wire rack before frosting.
5 To prepare the frosting, using an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese, butter and sugar together until smooth and fluffy. Put the frosting in a quart-size reclosable plastic bag, cut off a corner and pipe spirals of frosting onto each cupcake. Keep the frosted cupcakes refrigerated, tightly covered, until serving.
Do you have a question about food or drink? E-mail Bill Daley at: firstname.lastname@example.com. Snail mail inquiries should be sent to: Bill Daley, Chicago Tribune, 435 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago 60611. Twitter @billdaley.


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Michael Cunningham was raised in Los Angeles and now lives in New York. His first novel A Home at the End of the World was published in 1990. and his second Flesh and Blood in 1995. His work has been published in the New Yorker and Best American Short Stories 1989.
At first blush, the structural and thematic conceits of this novel'three interwoven novellas in varying degrees connected to Virginia Woolf'seem like the stuff of a graduate student's pipe dream: a great idea in the dorm room that betrays a lack of originality. But as soon as one dips into Cunningham's prologue, in which Woolf's suicide is rendered with a precise yet harrowing matter-of-factness ("She hurries from the house, wearing a coat too heavy for the weather. It is 1941. She has left a note for Leonard, and another for Vanessa."), the reader becomes completely entranced. This book more than fulfills the promise of Cunningham's 1990 debut, A Home at the End of the World, while showing that sweep does not necessarily require the sprawl of his second book, Flesh and Blood. In alternating chapters, the three stories unfold: "Mrs. Woolf," about Virginia's own struggle to find an opening for Mrs. Dalloway in 1923; "Mrs. Brown," about one Laura Brown's efforts to escape, somehow, an airless marriage in California in 1949 while, coincidentally, reading Mrs. Dalloway; and "Mrs. Dalloway," which is set in 1990s Greenwich Village and concerns Clarissa Vaughan's preparations for a party for her gay'and dying'friend, Richard, who has nicknamed her Mrs. Dalloway. Cunningham's insightful use of the historical record concerning Woolf in her household outside London in the 1920s is matched by his audacious imagining of her inner lifeand his equally impressive plunges into the lives of Laura and Clarissa. The book would have been altogether absorbing had it been linked only thematically. However, Cunningham cleverly manages to pull the stories even more intimately togther in the closing pages. Along the way, rich and beautifully nuanced scenes follow one upon the other: Virginia, tired and weak, irked by the early arrival of headstrong sister Vanessa, her three children and the dead bird they bury in the backyard; Laura's afternoon escape to an L.A. hotel to read for a few hours; Clarissa's anguished witnessing of her friend's suicidal jump down an airshaft, rendered with unforgettable detail. The overall effect of this book is twofold. First, it makes a reader hunger to know all about Woolf, again; readers may be spooked at times, as Woolf's spirit emerges in unexpected ways, but hers is an abiding presence, more about living than dying. Second, and this is the gargantuan accomplishment of this small book, it makes a reader believe in the possibility and depth of a communality based on great literature, literature that has shown people how to live and what to ask of life. (Nov.) FYI: The Hours was a working title that Woolf for a time gave to Mrs. Dalloway.
'The Hours is a book which heightens the perception of the reader. Cunningham's craftmanship is overwheming.' Robert Farren, Sunday Independent * 'An extremely moving, original and memorable novel' Hermione Lee, TLS * 'Engrossing, imaginative and humane.' Richard Francis, Observer
Clarissa Dalloway certainly is a popular lady nowadays, with a recent movie and now a new book based on her life. She is, of course, the heroine of Virginia Woolf's 1925 novel about a day in the life of a proper but uninspired wife and the tragic event that changes her. In this new work by Cunningham (Flesh and Blood, LJ 4/15/95), that day's events are reflected and reinterpreted in the interwoven stories of three women: Laura, a reluctant mother and housewife of the 1940s; Clarissa, an editor in the 1990s and caretaker of her best friend, an AIDS patient; and Woolf herself, on the verge of writing the aforementioned novel. Certain themes flow from story to story: paths not taken, the need for independence, meditations on mortality. Woolf fans will enjoy identifying these scenes in a different context, but it's only at the end that the author engages more than just devoted followers with a surprisingly touching coda that stresses the common bonds the characters share. Given Woolf's popularity, this is a book all libraries should consider, with an exhortation to visit Mrs. Dalloway as well.ÄMarc A. Kloszewski, Indiana Free Lib., PA


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When looking for math activities, information, or new ideas I have a few "core" people I follow.
Here is the short list:
Bill McCallum: http://commoncoretools.me/author/wgmccallum/
Donna Boucher: http://mathcoachscorner.blogspot.com/
Dan Meyer: http://blog.mrmeyer.com/
Marilyn Burns: Math Solutions
Whenever I think of arguments, I think of Mark Bradshaw. Although there are other reasons I connect Mark with argumentation, he shared a great little resource for writing argumentative essays called They Say, I Say: The Moves That Matter in Academic Writing by Gerald Graff and Cathy Birkenstein. Based on the premise that good writers enter existing conversations, They Say, I Say provides students with the "moves" needed for writing argumentation and scaffolds the process using templates with the goal of demystifying academic writing.
Most of you know me as the math girl and that is absolutely true, but....before I was the math girl, I was the word girl. I like to joke that I am a word"smith" but it isn't a joke.
My husband is a word guy. He challenges his high school students often by exposing them to new vocabulary. A couple weeks ago he read an article about the importance of using quality vocabulary with babies. He was all in. Between reading to our granddaughter and using big vocabulary words with her, she is on track to being a reader.
I, on the other hand, am the math girl. I love it and I hope some day so does our grand daughter. I too will read her lots of books, but we will also be working on those math skills.
Here are just some ideas of how we will be doing that:
It would come as no surprise if you instantly recognize the 'In This House…' saying. Word choice may vary slightly, but the message is consistent. And while I admire the underlying meaning, I realized the little word "do" was the most significant. It suggests action…not we "wish," not we "want," not even we "desire." "We DO!"
Effective communication has proven to be a problem throughout recorded history. For example, many years ago the United States experienced diplomatic problems with Panama about the Canal Zone, which resulted in civil disturbances and riots. Just when it appeared that an agreement had been reached between the two countries, diplomacy again fell apart because each side differed as to the meaning of a single word (Monson, 2010). This word was 'negoicar.'
Journey to an imaginary pool where a series of tasks determines your swimming strength followed by the awards ceremony. Some of us would earn the "deep water" badge due to our extensive knowledge of several strokes and the ability to perform them with grace and ease.
Imagine that you are a pig farmer. Before you take your pig to market for sale, you want the fattest pig possible. However, weighing the pig everyday will not make the pig fatter. In order for the pig to gain weight, you have to feed the pig a healthy and appropriate diet. The same is true for reading fluency.
"It's not complicated, faster is better!" If you believe the AT&T commercials faster is always better and for years we have taught math using that same theory! We taught procedures and gave daily timed math facts tests to ensure students would become faster and faster at "doing" math. We celebrated two things; the correct answer and arriving at it quickly or automatically. Through our efforts a small segment of our population was congratulated and made to believe they were our best and brightest. They were true mathematicians! But for a much larger group of people we proved just
As I travel and walk-through classrooms, I have the opportunity to observe small group math time. Often, I am asked by administrators and teachers about making this time effective and conducive to student learning. Here are four tips to getting the most out of your small group math time.
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Scott Brown doesn't rule out New Hampshire Senate run
Brown speaks at New Hampshire National Guard event
Former U.S. Sen. Scott Brown says his political career is on hold but didn't rule out another run for office during an appearance at a New Hampshire National Guard conference.
WMUR-TV reports the Massachusetts Republican wouldn't comment on a possible run for U.S. Senate in New Hampshire. But he says "nothing is off the table."
That's similar to a statement Brown made earlier this month when asked if he would consider challenging Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire in 2014.
Brown has been out of office since January after losing an expensive and bitter re-election battle against Massachusetts Democrat Elizabeth Warren.
Members of the New Hampshire National Guard Enlisted Association and the National Guard Association of New Hampshire attended Saturday's conference in Manchester.


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NOTICE: Many events listed here have been canceled or postponed due to the Covid-19 emergency. It is best to call ahead or check with organizer's websites to verify the status of any local event.
|Other Tour Dates (1)
|Dec 19
|Annie Moses Band
|Walhalla Civic Auditorium Walhalla, South Carolina
The Annie Moses Band is unlike any ensemble in America today.
This seems like a rather bold assertion. But the more you break it down, the truer it rings.
First, this is a family outfit, whose members include parents Bill (composer/arranger/pianist) and Robin (lyricist/vocalist) Wolaver and their children: Annie, Alex, Benjamin, Gretchen, Camille, and Jeremiah, in ages ranging from twenty-four down to ten.
Second, their background is in classical music. The older siblings trained in the Pre-College Program at the renowned Juilliard School of Music; the youngest are well on their way to similar distinction. All have studied with renowned instructors; most have earned performance awards that testify to the depth of their artistry.
Together, as the Annie Moses Band, they combine all their attributes: love for one another, prodigious talent, as well as a creative curiosity that goes beyond the classics, beyond even music, and into the great questions of life.
Plus – not coincidentally – because each specializes in specific instruments, they fit together neatly as a unit. Just listen to their CD, Eden, whose blend of chamber strings, buoyant vocals, and infectious rhythms moved The Dallas Morning News to laud its "restless eclecticism and stunning virtuosity" and, more succinctly, The Tennessean to find it "mighty impressive."
Named for the kid's great grandmother, the story behind this band inspires as much as the music itself. Bill and Robin met as music students at Oklahoma City University. He was a classical pianist and jazz lover, she was a voice major raised on traditional music played back home in the Kiamichi Mountains of southeastern Oklahoma. Their tastes joined in popular song, and after their marriage they went to work as staff writers for Word Music in Waco, Texas.
After a few years, the Wolavers moved up to Word's national office in Nashville, where they began to raise their family. Robin, especially, was convinced that learning to play music was fundamental to the learning experience. "If I ruled the world," she insists, "all children would start their education with music. If you study it from ages three to twelve, your IQ is higher, you do better at math and science, and you go further. So we didn't ask their opinion; when each child was three or four years old, the lessons began."
And that was fine with the kids, each of whom showed a proclivity for a different instrument. Annie took to the violin because, her mother laughs, "it's high-strung." Alex, next in line, studied viola to avoid repeating his sister's footsteps. Benjamin followed on cello, being, as Robin observes, "a laid-back fellow."
But music proved to be more than an educational jump-start for the three eldest siblings. Each showed exceptional ability and dedication, beginning each morning with two hours of practice in their pajamas and following with lessons that rushed them into advance instruction at Vanderbilt University's Blair School of Music and, for Annie and Alex, at Cincinnati College's Conservatory of Music. They progressed quickly, and by 2000, Bill was writing arrangements for the earliest incarnation of the group, featuring the three eldest kids.
"It felt natural to us," Annie says, "even though at first we were doubtful about even telling people we were a family, because we wanted to be heard as musicians, not as a novelty."
The Wolavers moved from Nashville to the New York area after Annie, Alex, and Benjamin were admitted simultaneously to the Juilliard School of Music's Pre-College Program. They played in quartets, with Alex coached directly for a while by Itzhak Perlman. They also performed together at settings that ranged from dinner theaters to churches. Even at that stage they felt challenged to push beyond classical conventions.
"It was great to play for audiences that were filled with young people, middle-aged people, babies, grandmas, and grandpas who might listen to Martina McBride on the radio as they drove home," Annie explains. "It was about combining our study, the technique and ear training, with people's daily experiences." As Gretchen, Camille, and Jeremiah began their journeys down similar musical paths, a union with their older brother and sisters seemed inevitable. As Gretchen puts it, "Growing up and seeing them play put it in our minds: 'When are we going to start?'" Their emergence broadened the already eclectic range established that Annie, Alex, and Benjamin had established, down to Camille's interest in electronic instruments and Jeremiah's love for Bach and bluegrass — on the banjo. Guided by Bill's ambitious arrangements, all the parts fit together, improbably but harmoniously and, often, gloriously.
"Our goal is to span not only generations but also genres," Robin explains. "If you love heavy metal, that doesn't mean you can't love Bach or Mozart. The common denominator is, simply, good music."
They documented this belief on the road, with their first concert tour in the summer of 2002, bolstered by a rhythm section of bass and drums. They issued several recordings, the most recent, Through the Looking Glass, being issued in 2007 on the ManAlive label. Thus far, this is the definitive Annie Moses Band disc, in its echoes of passionate pop/rock (Were Do We Go From Here), dreamy electronic/acoustic balladry ("Through the Looking Glass"), classical rock ("Glory Giver"), and even a touch of celtic fusion ("Moffat Jig").
It is, admittedly, a long journey. But from these albums, as from concert tours that have taken them from the Alice Tully Hall and onto stages before upwards of 100,000 fans each year, one develops different views of what binds the world we inhabit to the one that inhabits us from within.
This family, then, is a metaphor for what matters in art and life. They are worth hearing. And once heard, they will not be forgotten.
Categories: Music | Classical | Jazz | Vocal | Inspirational | Rock | Pop
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Coast Guard Adm. Thad Allen, President Obama's pointman on the Gulf oil spill, has called the effort to contain the runaway Macondo well and keep its crude release off beaches and out of marshes "an insidious war."
But if the framing of the Deepwater Horizon accident and its aftermath has morphed from disaster rhetoric to war imagery, local officials say the shared BP and Washington response has suffered from a lack of situational awareness, racking up a long list of battlefield mistakes that is hampering efforts to keep tens of millions of gallons of gooey crude from coming ashore in the kind of "tarball attack" that hit Pensacola Beach Wednesday.
"You've got a militia sitting in this room," Gulf County commissioner Bill Williams told Coast Guard and BP officials in a combative meeting on Wednesday. "They can either be with you or against you."
IN PICTURES - Staff shots: Response to the oil spill on the Gulf Coast
The Coast Guard has admitted that it has failed to both anticipate and control the 2,500 square mile oil slick that's hiding in the waters off places like Perdido Key, Orange Beach and Plaquemines Parish, resolving to do better.
In recent weeks, the joint BP-Coast Guard Unified Command has created four regional command centers with the goal of pushing command and control down to spill level to better orchestrate the movement of boom and skimmers as the spill evolves.
Allen said Wednesday he hopes BP's replacement of Tony Hayward with Mississippi-born Bob Dudley as the spill response manager will improve communication and movement of resources.
"BP's decision to greater response organization for the Gulf ... is a very, very good decision," Allen said Thursday.
Earlier in the week Allen touted the success of the operation. "We have marshaled the largest response in our nation's history, and we have continued to adapt and evolve this response at every turn," he said.
But local officials say they've seen little improvement as their requests get bounced around, ignored or even opposed.
The main problem, they say, is the confusing command structure, which to them seems to have too many generals and not enough battlefield commanders, thus gumming up the ability of local leaders to react to approaching oil.
"How can you fight a war when you don't let the people on the ground make decisions," says Escambia County Commission Chairman Grover Robinson. "You're going to lose that war."
Mr. Robinson told the Monitor that requests for more help after a large swath of oil washed up on Pensacola Beach Tuesday night were initially rebuffed because central command in Mobile said they couldn't put certain kinds of equipment on a national seashore. But most of Santa Rosa Island is a public beach. "How could they not know that?" Robinson said.
In Plaquemines Parish, Mr. Nungesser blamed "government bureaucratics" for shutting down construction of a piece of a new protective berm structure over concerns they were dredging an area outside the allowed perimeter, possibly damaging the natural sand dunes. The delay came as northwesterly winds drove the spill toward the Chandeleur Islands. Two weeks ago, the Coast Guard temporarily shut down a barge pumping operation run by the state of Louisiana because the boats didn't have enough life vests aboard.
"We have told ... the Army Corps of Engineers and every federal agency that we are in an emergency situation here," Gov. Bobby Jindal said Wednesday. "This is a disaster for our state. Days count. Hours count. We cannot wait for more conference calls and meetings for discussions. We need to adapt to the situation on the ground...."
Many are pointing to the inadequacy of the Oil Protection Act of 1990, which didn't anticipate a Gulf disaster of this magnitude. President Obama has said "The buck stops with me" on response to the oil spill, but that has also set him up for criticism of a management style that tends toward careful deliberation, not rapid on-the-ground decisions.
"[The] effort has been bedeviled by a lack of preparation, organization, urgency and clear lines of authority among federal, state and local officials, as well as BP," the New York Times' Campbell Robertson wrote recently.
Part of the problem is having BP in charge of the purse strings, says Robinson. The struggling multinational has vowed repeatedly to pay all claims and costs, but the route of the money is far from clear in a constantly changing claims structure. Robinson said his county has had to go through three different claims processes to get paid for nearly $2 million in local expenses, but has yet to receive a check.
On the largely Republican-leaning Gulf Coast, the failure to ramp up both a symbolic and even real military effort to fight the slick has become, to many, indicative of a federal relief effort beholden to BP, even as the administration criticizes the oil giant.
"I'm just so frustrated because I can't get a straight answer, I can't see any sense of urgency yet in this administration," Sen. George Lemieux (R) of Florida tells blogger Ed Morrissey. "When I meet with the Navy and the Coast Guard, no one seems to be in charge. We're the greatest country in the world and we can't marshal the resources to suck up this oil before it gets on our beaches."
As a result, local communities and counties are starting to work outside the command structure to protect what Santa Rosa Island Authority member Tom Campanella called "sacred" beaches and marshes, some even risking jail in the process. But such battle rank dissension could just as well hamper, not help, the overall response.
The reaction from local officials is beginning to closely resemble reaction in Alaska to the Exxon Valdez disaster in 1989, as anger, depression, and a sense of inevitable doom struggle for outlets as the oil comes ashore.
"We're trying to explain to people this is going to be a long-term situation – the table is set just like in 1989. Everyone is very, very distracted, maximally disrupted, they're expressing anger," sociologist Steven Picou tells McClatchy newspapers.
IN PICTURES - Staff shots: Response to the oil spill on the Gulf Coast


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$9.60 $12.00
PennDragonfly is not just about collectible vintage sewing patterns and garments that give you that authentic retro look, though they certainly pass through here (rather quickly, I might add!). I like to focus on timeless patterns. My goal is to be your favorite shop for simple, utilitarian sewing patterns to help you build your everyday wardrobe. Warm welcome to sewists of all levels, including beginners and capsule wardrobe enthusiasts!
Keep in mind that sizing has changed over the years. I cannot emphasize that enough. Measure, measure, measure! I provide the back of the pattern envelope for you to review the measurements and specifications. The fit is up to you and solely your responsibility.
Tip for beginner sewists: Size numbers mean absolutely nothing with sewing patterns; do not correlate them to the sizes found in stores. Measurements are everything in the sewing world. There are fantastic online tutorials about measuring for sewing projects and I encourage you to review a few of them before purchasing a pattern.
I ship within 48 hours of your purchase.
It may be in my inventory, waiting its turn to be listed. I post new items as quickly as I can, but I always have hundreds more to list. I am happy to check my inventory for the pattern you seek.
I procure sewing patterns of all types and from all decades in my local area and while traveling. I did not buy these sewing patterns new in the store (some are older than I am!) and I cannot account for their entire lifetime. I do store them very carefully in an organized manner while they are in my possession. You will receive them in the same condition I received them.
All patterns sold in this shop are uncut. This means I opened the envelope and saw that the pattern and instructions appeared to be uncut (usually factory folded) and intact. I do not pull them apart to count each piece, especially with the older patterns. Truth be told, if I unfold a pattern, it is never going back in the envelope.
Envelopes may have stickers, handwriting, and show aging with normal wear and tear. I select my inventory based on pattern condition, not envelope condition. To me, these markings and creases are part of the pattern's history and they add vintage character. My simple requirement for envelope condition is that all of the necessary information is readable.
I list many patterns in multiple sizes, so the pattern that I used for the main photograph may not be the exact one you receive. If you are considering purchasing a pattern and envelope condition is important to you, please feel free to contact me for more detailed information about the specific pattern you are considering. I will be happy to share more detailed photos of any imperfections and provide more detail in our conversation.
All that being said, the patterns are sold as-is.
To read more about the story behind this shop, visit sewingpatternshop.com/about
1-3 business days
I'll do my best to meet these shipping estimates, but can't guarantee them. Actual delivery time will depend on the shipping method you choose.
Buyers are responsible for any customs and import taxes that may apply. I'm not responsible for delays due to customs.
But please contact me if you have any problems with your order.


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About Wired by Avalon
Wired eyewear is contemporary mens' styling geared for the modern minded. Featuring superb technology, design, and high- grade materials, the refined precision of Wired eyewear is pure perfection achievable through quality manufacturing. Innovative branding details inspired by mechanical and industrial design abound.
- Ultra Light-Weight
- Luxury-Sport Spring Hinge & Components
- Subtle Branding Details
- Signature Eyewear Case & Micro-fiber Cloth
CoolFrames Designer Eyewear Boutique is an authorized Wired by Avalon online retailer. All frames are guaranteed to be defect-free and authentic. We will replace any defective or damaged items to ensure 100% satisfaction. Our in-house optical lab can install custom prescription lenses into any eyeglass frame and many sunglass styles. We specialize in Essilor presciption lenses including Varilux Progressives, Transitions as well as Crizal Alize and Sapphire (Forte) Anti-Reflective coatings.


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ALUCOBOND© Color Guide
Alucobond Material is known for its color consistency. Coatings include the full range of finishes from 70% PVDF in both metallic and non-metallic to polyester.
The Alcan Composites coil-coating line, strategically located at the manufacturing facility in the heartland of America, offers the widest range of finishes and coatings available in the industry. More importantly, Alucobond Material is known for its color consistency. Paint finish technicians constantly monitor the system as aluminum is finished with the finest architectural coatings available, utilizing a reverse roller application process. Coatings include the full range of finishes from 70% PVDF in both metallic and non-metallic to polyester.
PVDF-2 Coat Finish
- Duranar®
- Ideal for architectural applications
- Suited for normal environments
- Contains %70 Kynar 500® or Hylar 5000®
- Meets or exceeds the performance requirements of AAMA 2605
PVDF-3 Coat Finish
- Duranar® XLE
- Ideal for architectural applications
- Suited for normal and aggressive environments
- Offers exotic colors as well as bright metallics using aluminum flakes
- Protective clear coat offers increased graffiti resistance
- Provides increased abrasion resistance
- Contains 70% Kynar 500® or Hylar 5000® resins
- Meets or exceeds the performance requirements of AAMA 2605
FEVE/FlUOROPOLYMER-2 or 3 Coat Finish
- Megaflon®
- Ideal for corporate identity applications and image programs
- Provides bright, vivid colors
- Attains higher gloss levels
- Meets or exceeds the performance requirements of AAMA 2605
PVDF MICA/PEARLESCENT-2 Coat Finish
- Ideal for architectural applications
- Provides metallic look without use of aluminum flakes
- Durable color coat contains mica/pearlescent pigments
Alcan Composites, Inc. offers a wide-range of specialized coatings including: Polyesters, Acrylics, Anodized – Clear, light bronze, medium bronze, dark bronze, black and champagne
Series A
Series A represents the most popular Alucobond Material colors and finishes – all in readily available sizes. The Series A finishes provide a contemporary appearance for many of the 50,000 buildings throughout the world upon which Alucobond Material is utilized.
For the best color consistency in metallic and mica paint finishes, consider and maintain panel directionality during estimating, fabrication and erection. It is advisable to order metallic and mica paint finishes at one time and in on width.
Series B
Series B finishes offer the rich colors and gloss that are readily identified as Alucobond Material.
Series C
All of these innovative colors and finishes are formulated for accuracy and consistency.
Select a Series C finish and add a spark of brilliance to your design.
Custom Colors
Let your imagination be our guide! The palette of coil-coated colors and finishes is endless. From subtle shades to bold, bright colors, our team will work with you to develop or match virtually any color or finish that strikes your fancy. If color match and consistency are critical to the success of your design, know that you can count on the Alucobond Material technical staff to provide responsive service and expert counsel.
Superior coatings and finishes have long been recognized as major strengths of Alucobond Material, the original aluminum composite material. Utilized on more than 50,000 buildings worldwide, Alucobond Material provides for projects that literally span the globe in terms of application, magnitude and environments. Selection of just the right coating for your particular need requires careful review and consideration of several key factors. Your Alucobond Material representative and the Alcan Composites technical staff stand ready to assist you in determining the appropriate coating selection.


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You are currently browsing the monthly archive for February 2010.
Join us for a Spring kick-off Rib Burn…or Rib-a-Palooza as we're calling it. Backyard style event – laid back primer for the season ahead!
Who: Green Leaf BBQ
What: 2010 Spring Rib-a-Palooza (Rib Burn Contest)
Where: 2054 East Canal Drive Turlock, CA 95380
When: April 3, 2010
How Much: $40.00
Judging Style: Backyard – Non Sanctioned
Fuel Restrictions: Non Nuclear powered BBQ's only…
Prizes: to 3rd place – 1st $200 & Trophy, 2nd $100, 3rd $50
Sponsors: The Rub Co., D-Dog's BBQ, Blue Star Seasonings
Details: www.greenleafbbq.com Click the Rib-a-Palooza.
Visit our website at: http://www.greenleafbbq.com for the sign-up details and rules to download.
Or visit the CBBQA website at:http://www.cbbqa.com to see the information and current sign-up lists as they are received by the teams.
For details or questions not answered by the info on our website, please email me at email@example.com
We've got 10 teams signed up as of today (Feb 21, 2010)


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| 0°C Belfast
Mount Everest climbing season began this week, with new rules requiring climbers to bring down their personal rubbish, and more security officials at the mountain's base camp.
Tourism Ministry official Maddhu Sudan Burlakoti said individual climbers going beyond the base camp will be required to bring down at least eight kilograms of their personal rubbish.
It is the latest attempt by the Nepalese government to clean up the world's highest mountain, which draws hundreds of Western climbers and a steady income for the local and national economy, but produces a lot of waste.
Until now, climbing teams were asked to bring down their rubbish or risk losing a 4,000 US dollar (£2,400) deposit - a rule which was not widely enforced.
More than 4,000 climbers have scaled the 8,850-metre summit since it was conquered in 1953 by Edmund Hillary and his Sherpa guide Tenzing Norgay. Over the years, climbers have left tons of rubbish on the slopes, and some have called it the "world's highest garbage dump".
Burlakoti said officials posted at the base camp would check climbers to make sure that each brings down food wrappings, tents, ropes, clothes, crampons, pegs and gas cans. It was not clear how climbers failing to comply would be punished.
The government is also opening up a contact office tent at the base camp with officials stationed there throughout the spring climbing season that begins in March and ends in May. They will offer help to climbers and resolve any problems between climbers and monitor the rubbish situation.
Last year, a brawl between Western climbers and their Nepalese guides on the mountain sparked safety concerns.
Nepal officials say the rules will protect the environment, better manage climbers and increase their safety, especially as their numbers grow.
Nepal has eight of the 14 highest mountains in the world.


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Noise Control Engineering Journal
ISSN 0736-2501 (Print)
NCEJ is a peer reviewed Technical journal published every two months. The papers published in NCEJ cover general topics related to noise control engineering, ranging from fundamental research to applied case studies and histories.
Noise Control Engineering Journal was previously published as Noise Control Engineering.
Publisher: Institute of Noise Control Engineering
More about this publication?
- Information for Authors
- Submit a Paper
- Subscribe to this Title
- Membership Information
- INCE Subject Classification
- Ingenta Connect is not responsible for the content or availability of external websites
Volume 56, Number 2, 1 March 2008


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Symptoms of Rosacea
]]>Main Page]]> | ]]>Risk Factors]]> | Symptoms | ]]>Diagnosis]]> | ]]>Treatment]]> | ]]>Screening]]> | ]]>Reducing Your Risk]]> | ]]>Talking to Your Doctor]]> | ]]>Living With Rosacea]]> | ]]>Resource Guide]]>
Rosacea has a variety of symptoms and signs. They vary from one person to another. You may have only one or two of the following symptoms:
Flushing, redness —At first, you flush and blush a lot. It may look like a blush or sunburn, and gradually it becomes more noticeable and permanent. Your facial skin may get very dry.
Pink bumps or pimples —Small, red, solid bumps or pus-filled bumps, like acne, appear on your face as the disease progresses. This is sometimes referred to as "adult acne."
Red lines, small blood vessels on the face —You may notice small, thin red lines on your face, particularly your cheeks. These lines are called telangiectasia, which are dilated (enlarged) blood vessels just under your skin. Your skin may become slightly swollen and warm.
Redness, burning, and tearing of the eyes —You may experience redness, burning, tearing, and the sensation of a foreign body or sand in your eyes. Your eyelids may become infected, inflamed, and swollen. Some people complain of blurry vision. In severe cases of rosacea a person's vision may become impaired.
Nasal bumps —If rosacea is left untreated, some people (especially men) may develop knobby bumps on the nose or an enlarged bulbous nose—the so-called rhinophyma.
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Disorders website. Available at: http://www.niams.nih.gov/ .
National Rosacea Society website. Available at: http://www.rosacea.org/index.php .
Last reviewed February 2009 by ]]>Ross Zeltser, MD, FAAD]]>
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
Copyright © 2007 EBSCO Publishing All rights reserved.


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Wednesday, November 25, 2020
Illegal Israeli settlers uproot Palestinian olive tree
Matt Matthews
- October 22, 2016
Main News
Olive Trees
] [
] [
Settlers attacks
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The well-documented obstruction of the Palestinian olive harvest by Israeli settlers took a faintly ridiculous turn this week, as one farmer spotted illegal colonizers stealing an entire olive tree from his land.
Like many residents of Hebron, Raid Abu Saleh lives under constant threat of harassment and assault from his heavily-armed, ultra-Zionist neighbors.
"It was about 11 in the morning," he recounts, pointing to the perimeter of his land from within his modest grove of olive trees. "Three settlers came and they dug up one of my trees, and continued moving."
Raid says he was unable to do anything but snap a series of pictures: "Of course I didn't try to stop them. I was alone, and there were three of them, with their guns. Put yourself in my place."
The photos provided to the Palestine Monitor show a group of three male settlers, identifiable by their white shirts and
, as well as by their mere presence in the Israeli-controlled
H2 zone
of the city.
The view over Hebron's bitterly contested H2 sector from Raid's olive grove.
Making their way from Raid's land towards the barbed-wire perimeter of their home, the photos show two of the men are sharing the weight of what does indeed appear to be a sapling olive tree.
Actions like stealing a single olive tree seem almost petty in their victimization of Palestinians, but Raid places this violation of his property in the context of more serious crimes.
"They're not children," he says vehemently. "Everything they do is serious, everything they do is planned. The Israeli government wants to dominate this whole area, to make it theirs."
Raid's photo, allegedly showing settlers stealing his olive tree
The Hebron settlers have a particular reputation for personal attacks on the indigenous farmers and city residents, pelting them with soiled nappies, used toilet paper, and urine.
More seriously, they are responsible for what human
rights organization Bt'Selem
"almost daily physical violence and property damage" in the West Bank's largest city.
As Raid says, "these aren't even normal settlers."
Admot Yishai settlement, which houses far-right extremist families under the protection of an entire company of the Israeli Forces, is just yards from Raid's home on the top of Tel Rumeida hill.
Napalm bombings
lethal shootings
and the
stoning of Palestinian school-children
have all occurred around the settlement, with Israeli soldiers regularly storming through Raid's copse of 16 trees.
Raid is a native of Hebron, and as a child studied in a school which has now been taken over by the settlers. He says this harassment has been an annual occurrence all his life.
"So many times when we are harvesting the olives, they come and they try to steal the bags, to attack the trees," he continues. "So if you want to pick your own olives, you have to sneak like a thief on your own land."
Not only an invaluable source of fruit and oil for his family, Raid's olive trees are also a symbol of resistance to the smothering presence of fanatical colonisers in the heart of his city.
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