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1 2
- Aliases:
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- 3805 N. Broadway, Lake View
This Lakeview diner dishes up comfort food from around the world, with options like the Greek-inspired Sparta burger and Southwestern Meatloaf, among soups, wra... READ MORE
This Lakeview diner dishes up comfort food from around the world, with options like the Greek-inspired Sparta burger and Southwestern Meatloaf, among soups, wra... READ MORE
At any hour of the day, this Lakeview eatery is dishing up classic breakfast fare, club sandwiches, burgers and lots of coffee. The menu has so many options tha... READ MORE
The kitchen at this Lincoln Park location of the popular local pizza chain, which has four other outposts in the city, cranks out an expansive menu focusing on ... READ MORE
A Chicago favorite since 1950, this Lakeview location of the locally owned-and-operated chain (yes, there really was a Leona) serves gargantuan portions of Ital... READ MORE
With only six tables and 22 seats altogether, carryout or delivery may be your best option at this cozy Italian spot in Lakeview. (Fortunately, La Gondola del... READ MORE
Located in the former Joey's Brickhouse space, the second La Gondola location serves the same Southern Italian fare as the original Ashland Avenue location -- p... READ MORE
The vision of Chef Michael Kornick (of MK and DMK Burger Bar) for this Lincoln Park seafood spot is decidedly simple: a cozy little "joint" with a friendly vibe... READ MORE
The folks behind Pizza Metro on Division Street have opened this BYOB sit-down spot in Lincoln Park focusing on Roman-style square pizza and other Italian speci... READ MORE
The philosophy of this eatery is "surprisingly gluten-free." While the menu is 100 percent gluten-free, if customers can't tell, all the better. Choose between ... READ MORE
This new American brewpub features a spacious beer garden and several house beers on tap. READ MORE
Chef Rodelio Aglibot (of Sunda fame) joins former co-workers Aeron Lancero and Paul Lee to bring seasonal Asian, Italian and American flavors to the suburbs. Ch... READ MORE
Specializing in Thai fusion, this Andersonville sushi bar backed by the owners of Sisho Japanese Restaurant serves traditional noodle dishes in addition to the ... READ MORE
Taking up two storefronts and 10,500 square feet of restaurant space that formerly housed Chen's, this new Lakeview barbecue restaurant serves up American and A... READ MORE
This neighborhood bar is the place to grab a quick beer or bite, or to sit and enjoy the game on one of eight televisions around the bar. Bar food like pretzels... READ MORE
Mista moved down the street to a new space with more seating, wood tile floors and a larger outdoor patio in late 2011--but still offers the same stone-oven pre... READ MORE
This Lakeview BYOB restaurant is a meat lover's dream, grilling large cuts of Argentinian beef topped with chimichurri. Appetizers and entrees include deep-frie... READ MORE
"Sushi Mike," a.k.a. Mike Ham, the former sushi chef at Hama Matsu, who has developed a following by chatting up diners and creating custom sushi on the spot, h... READ MORE
Located three blocks south of Wrigley Field, this Mexican restaurant has been a popular destination before and after Cubs games for more than 30 years. The wait... READ MORE
With good sushi in modest surroundings, Wrigleyville's Shiroi Hana doesn't take reservations and is usually busy, especially on the weekends. Choose from hot en... READ MORE
Alec Yannoulis, the man behind this small Lakeview Neapolitan-style pizzeria and gelateria, trained with a well-known local pizzaiola and ate his way around Ita... READ MORE

subset: commoncrawl


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I am helping my brother and his wife take their first trip to Europe next month. I know, and I told him, expensive, crowded and last minute. But he has the opportunity for a backstage visit at CERN some weekend in June. Plan is for a 7-9 day trip to include London or Paris with 2 night visit to Geneva. Hotels are running about $500 a night and up. Less expensive and nice seems to be sold out. Would like $200 a night or less, if possible.
Was wondering if some city in France would have public transport to CERN and Geneva airport.
Any ideas much appreciated. thanks in advance.
Please help with hotel (maybe in France?) to visit CERN next month
5 Replies | Jump to last reply |
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There are innumerable cities in France from which you could get to Geneva and then to CERN. If they're going to be in Paris, they can get tickets from there to Geneva by plane or train (www.voyages-sncf.com) - the earlier you buy tickets, the cheaper they are.
Not sure where hotel prices are $500 a night and up - London? Paris? Geneva? Certainly there are countless hotels in Paris for less than that - there are loads of Paris hotel threads right here on Fodors with suggestions. -
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Sorry for the confusion. Have just started looking for hotels in Paris. It is Geneva that has such high prices. They will probably fly to Geneva on low-cost airline as train prices are already quite high.
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For more basic accommodations that would easily fit your budget, I can suggest either the Holiday Inn Express Genève Aéroport or, on the french side and even closer to the CERN the Novotel Genève Aéroport (accor hotels). The HI Express rates normally include buffet breakfast which is very adequate, and also has free to/from airport shuttle every 20 minutes.
The Novotel is in Ferney-Voltaire (France), also very close - not sure if they have airport shuttle but strongly suspect they might. Both of these have access to public transit. In fact, for the HI Express (in Switzerland), you are entitled to a free transit unlimited use pass for the duration of your stay; but you have to ask for it at the reception, it is not automatically offered to you. Very convenient if I may say so! It is factored into the taxe de séjour which you pay for at the hotel anyways (2 or 3 swiss francs per day approx.) It is valid on buses, trams, and in-city train segments. -
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Forgot to add, I have stayed a few times at the HI Express, and despite the fact that it is next to the airport, noise has never been an issue, quite surprisingly, probably due to the fact that it does not lie underneath the flight path to the (only) runway.
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James Gandolfini's "Enough Said" Unveils New Trailer: Watch Here!
Giving moviegoers plenty to get excited about, iTunes Movie Trailers just debuted a teaser for "Enough Said."
The forthcoming flick stars the late James Gandolfini along with Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Catherine Keener, Toni Collette, Ben Falcone, and Eve Hewson.
Per the synopsis, "A divorced and single parent, Eva spends her days enjoying work as a masseuse but dreading her daughter's impending departure for college. She meets Albert - a sweet, funny and like-minded man also facing an empty nest. As their romance quickly blossoms, Eva befriends Marianne, her new massage client. Marianne is a beautiful poet who seems 'almost perfect' except for one prominent quality: she rags on her ex-husband way too much. Suddenly, Eva finds herself doubting her own relationship with Albert as she learns the truth about Marianne's ex."
"Enough Said" will be distributed by FOX Searchlight and is slated for limited release on September 20th.


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US Treasury launches $18 bln AIG stock offering
NEW YORK, Sept 9
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NEW YORK, Sept 9 (Reuters) - The Treasury Department on Sunday said it has launched a public offering of $18 billion of its common stock in American International Group Inc.
AIG has indicated that it intends to purchase up to $5 billion of the common stock held by the U.S. Treasury in this offering at the initial public offering price, the department said in a statement.
Treasury will also grant to the underwriters in this offering a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional $2.7 billion in common stock from Treasury to cover any over-allotments.
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Watch Miley Grind On Santa's Lap And Earn A Place On The Naughty List (VIDEO) – Celebuzz | |
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Crikey, she has to have the absolutely worst sense of style and grace. An absolute train wreck of bad fashion choices and hair decisions.


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December 13, 2013
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Looking for San Francisco's Bill de Blasio? His Name is Ed Lee - Dec 12
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Save Our Unions Dispatches from A Movement in Distress
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Latino Immigrants Played Key Role in Obama's Red State Victories
by Randy Shaw' Nov. 14' 2008
Among the most overlooked stories this political season was the major impact of Latino voters in Barack Obama's red state victories. While Latinos' 67% support for Obama has gotten some attention, the media has largely overlooked the fact that Latino immigrants backed Obama by a 78% margin, and their support was critical in the Democrat's narrow victories in Indiana, North Carolina and Virginia. The
Immigrant Policy Center
has released a new analysis of Latino immigrant voting, which deserves the widest possible attention for revealing the importance of the immigration issue in key swing states. The Center's analysis confirms that comprehensive immigration reform must be a priority for President Obama's first year in office, and that Latino immigrants are ready to push the issue.
The Immigrant Policy Center released the following analysis this week:
Latinos weren't the only group that flexed its muscles this past Election Day. New Americans — naturalized citizens and the U.S.-born children of immigrants who were born during the current era of immigration that began in 1965—make up another important demographic group that demonstrated its ability to swing an election. While complete data on New Americans is not yet available, exit polling among Latinos and Latino immigrants tell two important stories.
First, Latino immigrants voted for Obama at a higher margin than native-born Latinos. While Obama made an impressive gain among native-born Latino voters, capturing 67% of the Latino vote compared to Kerry's 56% in 2004, the records were smashed with Latino immigrant support coming in at a whopping 78%. What charged the immigrant vote? Immigration.
Meanwhile, these New American Latino voters made a difference in districts we've never detected their presence in before. In unprecedented fashion, they provided the critical, extra push for Obama in
North Carolina and Indiana
, without which victory would have been impossible in those states; and played a significant role in winning
. These findings suggest that immigrants are having a tsunami impact beyond the Sunshine and Rocky Mountain states and throughout the country.
A preliminary analysis conducted for the Immigration Policy Center (IPC) by Rob Paral and Associates explores the electoral power that was exhibited on Election Day by Latino New Americans and shows:
Indiana and North Carolina Latino New American Voters Helped Push Obama to Victory.
* In
North Carolina
, Obama won by approximately 14,000 votes and received the votes of nearly 26,000 more Latino New Americans than McCain—nearly double the margin of victory.
* In
, Obama won by roughly 26,000 votes, and received the votes of nearly 24,000 more Latino New Americans than John McCain. The additional votes that Obama received from Latino New Americans who chose him over McCain equals
more than 90% of his margin of victory
Virginia's Latino New American Voters Amounted to a Fifth of Obama's Margin of Victory.
* In
, Obama won by roughly 156,000 votes, and received the votes of approximately 35,000 more Latino New Americans than McCain. The number of additional votes that Obama received from Latino New Americans who chose him over McCain was equal to
one-fifth (more than 20%) of his margin of victory.
Immigrants Voted for Obama Largely Due to Their Concerns About Immigration.
Interviews conducted by Bendixen & Associates among Latino immigrant voters just before the election found that "a rise in discrimination against Hispanics because of the tone of the immigration debate contributed to the rejection of the Republican nominee for President."
Based on this voter analysis, the Immigrant Policy Center concludes "President-elect Barack Obama and the 111th Congress cannot afford to disregard the needs and future of the fastest growing part of the American electorate without facing a backlash in 2012. These stunning election results represent a clear mandate to work towards enacting reform that restores the rule of law, renews confidence in America's immigration system and realistically tackles illegal immigration."
In assessing the prospects for comprehensive immigration reform, two points are increasingly clear.
First, it will be far easier for Congress to enact a reform measure in 2009 than in 2010. Legalization advocates recognize that the economic crisis, health care reform, and the drive for a new energy policy will take precedence, but there is a place for immigration reform by next fall.
Second, success requires the entire immigrant rights movement to mobilize its base. Not all House and Senate Democrats support legalization. I think Nancy Pelosi will make sure that the measure passes the House, but winning majority support in the Senate (and avoiding a filibuster) will require pressure campaigns targeting swing politicians.
To read more about the New American Electorate click here.
Randy Shaw is the Editor of Beyond Chron and the author of the newly released,
Beyond the Fields: Cesar Chavez, the UFW and the Struggle for Justice in the 21st Century
(University of California Press)
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K'NEX brings monster truck madness to their playroom. Complete with a buildable body shell, working suspension and chunky tires, this Monster Jam set let your little mechanic recreate El Toro Loco in all its fury. Shop the full line of K'NEX toys at Kohl's.
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- 6"H x 2.5"W x 6"D (packaged)
- Ages 5 years & up
- Model no. 57018
- Promotional offers available online at Kohls.com may vary from those offered in Kohl's stores.


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NCAA Basketball Recap With Tuck and O'Neill
Tuck and O'Neill review last nights Duke/Kansas, Michigan State/Kentucky game.
Next LeBron? Wiggins, Parker Play it Cool
Hype, I don't mind. Overhype? It's insulting to the intelligence. And if it's overhype for the purpose of driving a megabillion-dollar machine for sneaker companies and TV networks, then it can be unfair and destructive. If Andrew Wiggins is
Plant The Spear: Wake Forest
Famous Jameis and the Noles continue the march to Pasadena
FSU Hopes To Avoid Trap Game Versus Wake Forrest
Earlier this morning on SportstalkFlorida Mornings, Eric Lopez talked to Brandon Mellor the Managing Editor of Seminoles.com this morning. The two recapped the FSU Miami game from last week and looked forward to FSU's match up with Wake
Texas A&M Suspend Kenneth Marshall For Possession Of Drugs
Texas A&M suspended redshirt freshman defensive back Kenneth Marshall after he was arrested for possession of marijuana and prescription pills, according to the Bryan-College Station Eagle
Wisconsin's Borland Expected To Play Saturday
Chris Borland missed most of Wisconsin's Oct. 19 win over Illinois after tweaking a hamstring
Wyoming Hires Dave Christensen As New DC
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Well versed on Coleridge's last portrait
He is arguably the Westcountry's most famous son – people around the world know and love the poetry of Samuel Taylor Coleridge – now the last known portrait of him is about to go under the hammer for an estimated at £15,000 to £20,000.
Not only is the work remarkable for being the final portrait of the Romantic poet – it is known that Coleridge took such a shine to the Belgian artist he wrote a poem for him which ends:
"Well hast thou given the
thoughtful Poet's face!
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Yet hast thou on the tablet
of his mind
A more delightful portrait
left behind –
Even thy own youthful
beauty, and artless grace,
Thy natural gladness and
eyes bright with glee!
Kayser! farewell!
Be wise! be happy! and
forget not me."
However, despite the enthusiasm outlined in the poem, Coleridge was apparently less effusive about the portrait itself which he did not really like – partly because it made him look old, and partly because his friends persuaded him it lacked finesse.
Writing to the engraver E F Finden, Coleridge wrote: "A likeness, certainly, but with such unhappy Density of the Nose & idiotic Drooping of the Lip, with a certain pervading Woodenness of the whole Countenance, that it has not been thought Guilty of any great Flattery by Mr Coleridge's Friends."
The portrait – which is a pencil drawing sketched at a live sitting in London in 1833 by the young Belgian artist, J Kayser – is to be sold at Bonhams sale of books, maps, manuscripts and historical photographs in London on November 12.
Although another drawing of the famous poet was made before his death in July 1834 for a published engraving, the original has never been traced – making this the final surviving portrait. It is only one of three known Coleridge portraits to remain in private hands.
In all, there are 28 lots associated with Coleridge and his family in the sale which Bonhams say is likely to be the last opportunity admirers will have to acquire major pieces associated with the poet.


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Kristi Heim: The World in China
Seattle Times reporter Kristi Heim explores a changing China on the world stage.
August 21, 2008 12:20 AM
Lost in the heart of China
Posted by Kristi Heim
Outside National Stadium, I met a man from Reno who brought his 79-year-old father to the Olympics. He said one day his father was on the subway by himself when he struck up a conversation with a local Chinese man. This total stranger then spent the whole day guiding the guy's dad through Beijing, visiting museums and even paying for his lunch.
Yesterday Steve Kelley and I got lost in a hutong, one of Beijing's famously narrow alleys winding through a warren of ancient single-story houses. Turned out to be one of the best moments of the trip, as Steve writes in his column today. We were adopted by a couple in their 80s, invited inside family homes and shown wedding pictures, and introduced to one of Zhou Enlai's security guards.
It started when the hutong we were following dead-ended at the Qianjin Guesthouse. Zhang Guangrong, the 20-year-old son of the proprietor, offered to help us find our destination, but we decided it was more interesting to explore the hutongs with him. This is one of last remaining parts of the original city that hasn't been demolished and replaced by skyscrapers. I had written about the pre-Olympics construction boom displacing old neighborhoods and their cultural heritage. Residents said this neighborhood isn't entirely safe from destruction, either. Meanwhile it's an oasis of calm and quiet, with pomegranate trees, red peppers drying in the sun, ancient doorways protected by stone lions, and elderly people out for a stroll.
One of them was Song Zhilin, who saw us and piped up "welcome," in English. I started chatting with her and she offered to let us take a look at traditional "siheyuan" or four-sided courtyards in the area. I heard her tell Zhang that her husband, Li Tieniu, 87, had worked for Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai. She led us through her neighbors' courtyards, one beautifully preserved for more than a century that housed four generations of the Ren family.
At last we stopped at her own house, just two small and dark rooms. Above the bed were various framed black and white photographs, and Li proudly took down one of himself in the military in the 1940s, and another of Zhou Enlai. Though the couple's house was modest, Li was happy to have Americans in it. After all, the man he so admired helped make such an exchange possible. Far from the fanfare of the Olympics, here was the real heart of China we were lucky enough not to miss.
Aug 24, 08 - 07:30 AM
Closing ceremony: Chinese youth culture and a double-decker bus to London
Aug 22, 08 - 11:06 PM
An Olympics beyond gold medals: one alternative view
Aug 22, 08 - 08:46 PM
Three countries borne by one athlete
Aug 22, 08 - 06:23 AM
A patch of green in a sea of gray
Aug 21, 08 - 11:50 AM
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Blog Archives
Perfecting Perfection: Big Big Train's English Electric Full Power
Set in stone. Chiseled, carved, done. Or, at the very least, set in digital stone.
For the ever-growing number of Big Big Train devotees (now, called "Passengers" at the official Facebook BBT page, administered by everyone's most huggable rugged handsome non-axe wielding, non-berserker Viking, Tobbe Janson), questions have been raised and discussed as to how BBT might successfully combine and meld English Electric 1 with 2 plus add 4 new songs.
How would they do it with what they're calling English Electric Full Power? Would they make it all more of a story? Would the album become a full-blown concept with this final version? Where might Uncle Jack, his dog, or the curator stand at the end of the album? Actually, where do they stand in eternity?
The members of BBT have already stated that EE as a whole calls to mind–at least with a minimum of interpretation–the dignity of labor. Would the new ordering and the four new songs augment or detract from this noble theme?
Somewhat presumptuously, many of us Passengers proposed what we believed should be the track order, and I even took it upon myself to email Greg last spring with a list. Well, I am from Kansas, and we're not known for being timid–look at that freak, Carrie Nation, who dedicated her life to hacking kegs and stills to bits, or to that well-intentioned but dehumanizing terrorist, John Brown, who cut the heads off of unsuspecting German immigrants.
And, then, there's the fact, for those who know me, that I can produce track lists like I can produce kids. No planning and lots and lots of results.
Or, that other pesky fact, that I'm so far into BBT that I could never even pretend objectivity. [Or, as one angry young man wrote to me after I praised The Tangent, "your head is so far up Andy's @ss, you can't even see sunlight." Cool!; who wants to spend tons of time writing and thinking about things one doesn't like? Not me! As Plato said, love what you love and hate what you hate, and be willing to state both. Guess what? I love BBT and The Tangent! And, just for the record, I've never even met Andy in person, so what was suggested is simply physically impossible.]
Admittedly, maybe I'm such such a fanboy that I've gone past subjective and into some kind of bizarre objectivity. You know, in the way Coleridge was so heretical that he approached orthodoxy. Or, maybe I'm just hoping that Greg and Co. will ask me to write the retrospective liner notes for the 20th anniversary release of EE Full Power. I'll only be 66 then. Who knows? Even if I'm in the happy hunting grounds (I'm REALLY presuming now), I could ask the leader for some earth time. . . .
If you've read my bloviations this far, and you're still interested in my thoughts on English Electric Full Volume, well, God bless you. A real editor would have removed the above rather quickly.
Back from the Blessed Isles of soulful prog realms. . . .
In my reviews of English Electric 1 and 2, I stated that these albums were the height of prog music perfection, the Selling England By the Pound of our day. I wouldn't hesitate to proclaim this again and, perhaps, even more vocally and with more descriptives.
At the risk of turning off some of my friends, I would say that EEFP is even superior to its 1973 counterpart. How could it not be, really? Selling England is now an intimate and vital part of the prog and the rock music traditions, and it has been for forty years. Add that album and hundreds of others to the integrity, dedication,and purposeful intelligence, imagination, and talents of Greg Spawton, David Longdon, Andy Poole, Dave Gregory, Nick d'Virgilio, Danny Manners, and Rob Aubrey. Putting all of this together, well, of course, you'd demand genius.
You'd expect genius.
And, you'd be correct.
It's the height of justice that Jerry Ewing of PROG awarded Big Big Train with the Prog Magazine Breakthrough Award.
That breakthrough started with that meaningful paean to British and western patriotism in Gathering Speed, reached toward sublime spheres in The Difference Machine, found a form of edenic Edenic perfection in The Underfall Yard and Far Skies (it's hard for me to separate these two albums for some reason), and then embraced transcendent perfection in English Electric 1 and 2. Each member who has joined the original Greg and Andy has only added to the latest albums. Nick, the perfectionist drummer; Dave, the perfectionist guitarist; Danny, the perfectionist keyboardist; Rob, the audiophile. And by perfectionist, I don't mean it in its modern usage, as without flaw, but rather as each having reached his purpose.
I don't think this point can be stressed enough: these guys are perfectionist NOT against each other but with, around, near, above, and below each other. They are a unit of playful perfectionist individuals who become MORE individual, not less, in their community.
Looking at the history of art from even a quasi-detached and objective viewpoint, I think we all have to admit, this is more than a bit unusual.
Breakthrough, indeed, Mr. Ewing. Breakthrough, indeed.
Greg and Andy don't become less Greg and Andy as the band grows beyond what they have founded, they become more Greg and more Andy. In the first and second wave of prog, how many bands are known for only getting better and better with each album? Those that did are certainly the exceptions. One of the most important differences of this third wave of prog is that the best only get better, even after twenty years of playing. Exhaustion and writers-block seem to be of another era.
BBT exemplifies this trend of improvement in this movement we now call the third wave of prog. And, not surprisingly, when BBT asks artists to guest with them, they invite those with similar trajectories–Andy Tillison and Robin Armstrong to name the most obvious.
Again, if you've made it this far in this review, you should be asking–hey, Birzer left out David Longdon above, what the schnikees?
Yes, I did. So, let me now praise famous Davids (with apologies to Sirach). I've not been shy in past writings (well, over the last four years) to note that I believe David is the finest singer in the rock world at the moment. He has some rather stiff competition, of course, and I reject the notion that he sounds just like "Phil Collins."
No, David is his own man and his own singer. I do love and appreciate the quality of David's tone and voice. He possesses a beautiful and talented natural one, to be sure. Nature or God (pick your theology) gave this to David in abundance, and he's used his own drive and tenacity to bring his voice to the height of his profession.
But, what I love most about David is that he means every single thing he sings. These aren't "Yeah, baby, let's do it" lyrics. These are the lyrics of a bard (Greg's lyrics are just as excellent, of course, as I've noted in a number of other articles; these are two of my favorite lyricists of the rock era–rivaling even Mark Hollis).
Longdon can make me as happy as one of my kids running to the playground on the first day the snow thaws ("Let's Make Some Noise"); he can make me want to beat the living snot out of a child abuser ("ABoy in Darkness"); and he can make me want to start a novena for a butterfly curator.
In no small part, Longdon has a voice that makes me want to trust and follow him.
Put David and Greg together, and their lyrical abilities really knows no known bounds. They are the best writing team, to me, in the last fifty years. I know most would pick Lennon/McCartney, but I'm a firm believer that "electrical storms moving out to sea" trump "I am the walrus."
So, what about this third manifestation of English Electric, English Electric Full Power? Well, all I can state with some paradoxical certainty, Spawton, Longdon, and five others, have now shown it is possible to perfect perfection. I'll use perfect here in its proper sense: not as without flaw (though that would apply as well) but as having reached its ultimate purpose, as I noted above.
EEFP is still very much about the dignity of labor, and, as such, it has to deal with the dignity of the laborer, that is, the fundamental character of the human person in all of his or her stages.
The song order of EEFP, consequently, follows this natural logic.
The opening track, a new one penned by Longdon, celebrates the joys of innocence. David has said it was his goal to invoke the glam rock of his childhood. For me, it invokes the rock of my mother's college days. A shimmering, pre-Rolling Stones rock.
The video that the band released just makes me smile every time I watch it. The video also confirms my belief that these six (and Rob, the seventh member) really, really like each other.
Rather gloriously, "Make Some Noise" fades into one of the heroic of BBT tracks, "The First Rebreather." This makes "The First Rebreather" even better, especially when contrasted with the innocence of track one. After all, in The First Rebreather, the hero encounters beings from Dante's Fifth Circle of Hell (wrath).
The second new song, "Seen Better Days," begins with a strong post-rock (read: Colour of Spring) feel, before breaking into a gorgeous jazz (more Brubeck than Davis) rock song. All of the instruments blend together rather intimately, and David sings about the founders and maintainers of early to mid 20th century British laboring towns, while lamenting the lost "power and the glory" as that old world as faded almost beyond memory. The interplay of the piano and flute is especially effective.
The third track, "Edgelands," begins immediately upon the end of "Seen Better Days," but it's short. Only 86 seconds long and purely a Manner's piano tune, it connects "Seen Better Days" with "Summoned by the Bells." If at the end of those 86 seconds the listener doesn't realize the creative talents of Mr. Manners, he's not thinking correctly.
The fourth new track, "The Lovers," appears on disk two, after "Winchester" and before "Leopards." The most traditionally romantic and folkish song of the four new ones, Longdon's voice has a very "Canterbury" feel on this tune, and the tune provides a number of surprises in the various directions it takes.
What's next for BBT?
Thanks to the delights of social networking, we know that Danny's kids are concerned that he doesn't look "rock" enough (he needs to show them some Peter Gabriel videos from Gabriel's last studio album), and we know that Greg's middle name is Mark.
Ok, yes, I'm being silly (though all of the above is true).
We do know that Big Big Train is working on a retrospective of their history, but with the current lineup. I don't think any of us need worry that this (Station Masters) will be some kind of EMI Picasso-esque deconstruction of Talk Talk with a "History Revisited: The Remixes." Station Masters will be as tasteful, elegant, and becoming as we would expect from Greg and Co.
After that, we know that BBT is writing a full-fledged concept album, their first since The Difference Machine. We know that the boys are in the studio at the very moment that I'm typing this (NDV included).
Perhaps most importantly, though, we trust and have faith that Greg and Co. are leading progressive rock in every way, shape, or form. EEFP is the final version of EE. At least for now. But, BBT is not just breaking through, it's bringing a vast audience, sensibility, and leadership to the entire third movement of prog. And, for this, I give thanks. Immense thanks.
When it comes to BBT, perfection only gets more interesting.
The Moral Law of Big Big Train
by Craig Farham
Music is a moral law. It gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, a charm to sadness, and life to everything. (Plato)
Is it possible that Plato was writing about Big Big Train's latest masterclass of musical wonder, English Electric, Part 2 (EE2)? Probably not, but two millennia before locomotives, social networking, digital recording, the global network, or austerity measures in his beloved city state, Plato certainly knew a thing or two about the power of oscillating waveforms to connect people.
Did the members of Big Big Train read Plato before embarking on their epic journey to morph their observations of contemporary and historical people and events into oscillating waveforms of power and beauty? Again, probably not. But EE2 certainly fits Plato's moral law to a tee.
Beautifully crafted from the opening piano chords to the final fade out of a single piano note, EE2 continues the journey begun on EE1, my album of the year in 2012, into the heart and soul of industrial England, its people, and the surrounding countryside. The album weaves tales of steam trains, ship-building, coal miners, a second chance at love, the custodian of a historical monument, the British landscape, and butterfly collections as a metaphor for life and death, with musical arrangements that range from sparse to massive, light-hearted to intense, but are always melodious and warm. The album has the same lush production and attention to detail as EE1, with exquisite use of brass band and strings beautifully complementing the electric instruments. The songs range in length from just under 4 minutes to nearly 16 minutes, and every song is exactly as long as it needs to be – no filler, bloat, or needless noodling.
The addition of Danny Manners as a full-time band member on piano, keyboards and double bass has lifted an already impressive ensemble another notch, and I'm delighted that the compositions on EE2 have given David Gregory more scope to develop his exceptional guitar solos. The rest of the band are also in fine fettle – Greg Spawton's basslines are on a par with those of Gentle Giant's Ray Shulman (and his compositional skills are equally impressive), Nick D'Virgilio's drumming is peerless (he recorded the drum parts for both EE1 and EE2 in three days…!), Andy Poole has stepped forward from the producer's chair to contribute backing vocal, guitar and keyboard parts, and Dave Longdon, who I think has the best voice in modern prog, contributes massively with his flute work and a wide array of sundry instruments, including banjo, keyboards, guitar, cutlery and glassware(!), in addition to his great songwriting. There is also a large cast of supporting musicians, including Dave Desmond, whose marvelous brass band arrangements are an integral part of the unique BBT sound, Rachel Hall on violin, and The Tangent's Andy Tillison on keyboards.
Although EE2 is the second half of a double album released in two separate parts, it stands on its own as a superb example of the vibrance of the new wave of progressive music, which is finally lifting itself out of the shadow of the so-called "golden age of prog" in the 1970s. To listen to EE2 on its own, however, is to miss out on half the fun. EE1 and EE2 should be seen as a single body of work, a superb collection of songs and an important milestone in the history of modern music.
English Electric by Big Big Train is a moral law that demands to be upheld. To paraphrase a comment I made on the BBT Facebook site, these are albums to cherish – I'll be listening to this music as long as my cochlear apparatus is capable of responding to their oscillating waveforms and connecting my soul to the universe…
[Dear Progarchists, thank you so much for letting us enjoy this four-day love fest of all things Big Big Train. It's been quite an honor. Craig's post--his inaugural post as an official citizen of the Republic of Progarchy, by the way--concludes our roundtable reviews of the latest BBT masterpiece, English Electric V. 2. To order it directly from the band, go to www.bigbigtrain.com/shop.--Yours, Brad (ed.)]
What's in a Name?: Quite a lot when it comes to Big Big Train
by John Deasey
Just looking at the artwork of EE2 and taking in the song titles is a pleasure all of it's own.
I savour the industrial art and the titles such as 'Swan Hunter, 'Keeper of Abbeys', Curator of Butterflies', 'East Coast Racer' ……
To those with a passing knowledge of English industrial heritage, it goes without saying we are back in the land of The Underfall Yard, back to The Last Rebreather and back to the land and communities that so shaped our country.
Big Big Train with this, the second part of English Electric, take us further into the arms of working fathers, loving sons and warm families to extract beauty from industry and agriculture like no other art I know.
With a gentle piano introduction along with a typical BBT signature motif that will be repeated, we are soon driven by Nick d'Virgilio's intricate drum patterns along the same tracks the famous Mallard steam train once flew. A stunning tour de force restlessly moves along evoking the men who rode the plates of this famous flying machine. The overall sound returns to the rich warm tones of The Underfall Yard, beautiful bass patterns underpinning a whole host of instruments including viola, tuba and cello.
David Longdon has never sounded better and the guitar fills from Dave Gregory are typically tasteful and restrained.
Big Big Train are masters at creating great soundscapes that swell and build and finally spill over into something quite beautiful. Think of the Victorian Brickwork ending where I defy anyone not to shed a tear as the guitar overplays the brass section to create a crescendo of beauty.
Well, at 9.24 into 'East Cost Racer' they only do it again, and do it better, and do it in such stunning style it really is hard not to find a tear escaping …..
If the album finished at the end of this 15 minute track I would be more than delighted – I would be ecstatic. But you know what ? The beauty just keeps on coming …..
Just as we've finished the great Mallard story we taken into the magical and harsh world of ship building at the Swan Hunter shipyard
A melodic and rather gentle opening, reminiscent of the whole feel of EE1, tells of the father to son continuity of such industries but with the sad caveat
Tell me what do you do
When what you did is gone
No one throwing you a lifeline
How do you carry on?
'Swan Hunter' is a stately track that has simple elegance in it's phrasing and tones and once again has a gorgeous build-up and release towards the end combining brass, guitars and vocals.
From the shipyards we move to the coal face with 'Worked Out' and again we have this magnificent connection with time, place, community and industry. Father and son, working together, regular shifts, routine, warm and generous folk who forged communities but realise ".. we had our day, our day is over"
Despite the subject matter there is a real drive to this track with some sublime moments where viola, cello and guitar inter-act to build a warm wall of sound. Flute interjections from David Longdon lead into a real jam type session where Dave Gregory adds subtlety and skill proving that a masterful guitar solo does not need a million notes.
After such an astonishing triumvirate of tracks, some space is needed and breathe needs to be drawn.
We are given this chance with 'Leopard' which, if I am honest, does not work for me just yet. As a breathing space though, it is perfect ….
The pace picks up again with 'Keeper of Abbeys' – a joyous and infectious track in the style of Judas Unrepetant with a drive, vigour and melody to die for which at 2 minutes in, goes places where other musicians must dream about. A typically sweeping refrain with soothing organ and cello sweeps into a section where you could be forgiven for thinking you had stumbled into a Greek taverna or a Russian vodka bar. Stoccatto guitars, flutes, viola and an incessant drum beat will have you tapping along infectiously then you are swept up unknowingly into the most beautiful choral-backed guitar solo you have heard which builds and builds into something far greater than I have words for.
The next track, 'The Permanent Way' is a real surprise.
Big Big Train have a knack of returning to refrains throughout their albums – think of the opening to The Difference Machine, or Evening Star for example
A pastoral opening about the farmer working in the fields soon gives way to a soaring re-working of Hedgerow which takes you by surprise on first listen as you are suddenly thrown back to EE1 and thinking 'Blimey – where did that come from !" It's stunning.
And then – wow – we suddenly have the fantastic soaring refrain from The First Rebreather.
This is like a celebration of everything that is so warm, honest and true about Big Big Train. They are making music they love and it shines through like the brightest light.
'The Permanent Way' is an encapsulation of everything that is so perfect about Big Big Train – recurring motifs, connecting with land and industry, streams, hills, high moors, dry stone walls, far skies, the mark of man.
I cannot recall music that so connects with time, place or community that this does. As I live in an old industrial town surrounded by beautiful countryside filled with relics of a bygone age it maybe resonates clearer for me as it seems the music was set to to the sights and sounds that surround me.
Now if you thought 'Hedgerow' on EE1 was a good album closer, wait till you hear 'Curator of Butterflies'
I cannot think I will hear any music more moving, relevant and genuine than this superb album for a long time.
That is all I can say. Simply stunning and beautiful.
A Peerless Evocation of English History: BBT English Electric Vol. 2
by Ian Greatorex
A joy to listen to and, as always, a peerless evocation of English history, both rural and industrial.
The musicianship is impressive and the arrangements for woodwind, brass and strings are excellent.
David Longdon's vocals are superb, so smooth and pitch perfect, but there are also many beautiful harmonies on this release.
BBT have an uncanny grasp of when and where to add the astonishing array of instruments being used; we have harp, violin, viola and cello; we have trumpet, trombone, euphonium, tuba and cornet; we have recorder and flute; we have piano, organ, mellotron and synthesizer; we have accordion, dumbek, cajon, marimba, vibraphone and tambourine; we have 6 and 12 string guitars, sitar and mandolin, banjo, bass and double bass. And even cutlery and glassware are played . It's no wonder they never play live!!!
So what do the tracks bring us:
East Coast Racer – an epic 16 min track about the railway industry. I love the way the music captures the 'feel' of the workers at their craft and the sense of the Mallard's speed. It's almost as though you are on the train itself, racing through the English countryside.
Swanhunter – a story about the community impact of the shipbuilding industry on the Tyne. A very mellow track with stunning harmonies and beautifully arranged brass band.
Worked Out – we move to the coalmining industry; step up the marimba and flute; unusually rocky guitar and keyboard solos.
Leopards – a song about love, people and change. This is my favourite track on the album. At under 4 minutes, short by BBT standards. Arise the violin followed by acoustic guitar. This upbeat song is beautifully soft and gentle and includes some more marvellous harmonies. A magnificent piece of music. In the '70s this would have been a great single.
Keeper of Abbeys – based upon a real-life guardian. An accordion intro draws one in nicely (I love the accordion!); there's a classic fast, folksy fiddling about in the middle section; and is that a sitar?….lovely stuff.
The Permanent Way – covering the everlasting and essential importance of people working on the land. A charming mix of song and narration; very atmospheric with some great mood changes.
Curator of Butterflies – with an exquisite piano opening and full of delightful melodies. This track has palpable emotional power and intensity (it's a bit of a 'hairs standing up on the back of the neck' moment for me). Making this the concluding track was a masterstroke…a perfect ending.
Another wonderful journey into the world that is Big Big Train. One senses on every track a meticulous attention to detail in what are dense arrangements. It takes a number of listens for the beauty of this album to be revealed. Rob Aubrey's production mix is superb with the 'cornucopia' of instruments all getting their fair share of the sound pie. A good hi-fi system or a set of quality headphones is essential. And don't download as mp3 files as this music demands lossless format only!
There are exceptional musical skills on display on EE Part 2 and the story-telling is worthy and beautifully told. From a purely objective point of view this is an astounding piece of work, just like Part 1 and I found it an emotionally compelling experience. I am in no doubt it will be a contender for the Prog album of the year. If you liked Part 1 and wanted more of the same then it's a huge understatement to say that this will appeal. Usually I like music that is both heavy and 'edgy' and explores the 'dark side' of human nature (I'm more an Oceansize man) but I was captivated by this album.
Music is an intensely personal experience and EE Part 2 pressed almost all of my buttons. However, I was hankering for something slightly different; a musical and lyrical progression of sorts. English Electric generally uses past events to discuss universal themes such as love; work; communities; unsung heroes; the importance of maintaining monuments of our past. I would really like the band to lyrically explore more contemporary social and political themes such as the internet age; globalisation; the aging population; business ethics etc. and hence produce an album that would naturally have a harder, 'edgier' feel. Of course they have the talent to do this and I believe this would attract a wider fan base by making their music more relevant to a younger audience.
None of my comments above can detract from the superb quality of this release. Lock the door, turn the off the lights and even close your eyes. Let nothing disturb you from enjoying the astonishing beauty of this album.
It just gets better. . . BBT EEv2
It Just Gets Better …
As great as EE Pt. 1 was, BBT might have exceeded its excellence with EE Pt. 2. The second half of this double album opens with the fantastic 'East Coast Racer', which is the only epic-length piece of the entire set. It's a doozy too, with a lot of great dynamics and enough change to keep it interesting over its entirety. It's my favorite piece of the EE set.
The next track, 'Swan Hunter', has a very melancholy feel, but also has some of the best lyrics on the album. This is one of the more emotional pieces on the album.
'Worked Out' follows, and has a more upbeat feel, and a great chorus. It also has a great instrumental break that includes some great flute playing and a Tull-like feel, and closes out with some good old fashioned proggy synth.
'Leopards' has a chamber music-like beginning before settling into acoustic guitar on top of some violin. It has a very lazy, easy feel too it, and gives me an image of lounging outdoors under a tree on a sunny and mild spring day.
The instrumental portion toward the end of 'Keeper of Abbeys' has an excellent mix of sitar and violin, and illustrates something at which BBT excels like no other – taking instruments not typically associated with music coming from England (e.g., the sitar here, the banjo on 'Uncle Jack') and integrating them into something that has an unmistakably English sound.
'The Permanent Way' reprises a few themes and lyrics from 'Hedgerow' and 'The Great Rebreather' and serve as a good reminder that EE Pt. 2 is part of a larger whole. In between there is some great proggy organ playing,
'Curator of Butterflies' closes out the album. Slow and mellow with a lot of string, it includes some nice guitar work to close out the song.
Overall, this is another outstanding effort, and will be at or near the top of many "Best of 2013" lists before it's all over. I might quibble with 'Curator' being the closing track instead of its predecessor, but that's a minor quibble to be sure. For me, this is at least as good as EE Pt. 1, and with the inclusion of 'East Coast Racer' at the beginning, I'd have to say its maybe a bit better. In either case, it's a must-own, along with its counterpart.
A Movie Soundtrack: BBT's English Electric V2
by Craig Breaden
Bedeviled or blessed, progressive rock's classic bands took it upon themselves to discover what can happen when rock frees itself from the restraint of the three-minute single. And because Procol Harum, Yes, Genesis, King Crimson, and ELP didn't merely see what would come out of jamming, but meticulously planned and executed album sides worth of material, there was an idea that these bands were making some sort of…progress. Codified as "prog rock," the body of work that emerged from the late 60s and early 70s continues to inspire failure and success in groups intent on recapturing the form, if not always the spirit, of progressive rock.
Forty-some years on, and thirty years after most of the original prog bands found that trimming their sound back to that three-minute (or so) mark could bring substantial commercial success, progressive rock is in the middle of a full-blown and full-length revival, international in scope and as layered and interesting as the first generation. Many of the musicians associated with prog today are less revivalists than rock veterans, pursuing for years their passion with little fanfare but with fierce fandom. One of their leaders appears to be Big Big Train.
A disclaimer: I am one of the few Progarchist writers who was not familiar with Big Big Train during the genesis of Progarchy, which owes its existence at least partly to the enthusiasm Big Big Train inspired in its editors. I tend to watch prog from the edges, my tastes running to the rougher cuts, the drones, freakouts and new music noise-fests. Classically-inspired keyboard soloing — noodling — isn't really my thing. I like the dirty-ness of art's residue, big messy riffs that fray at the edges with some punk abandon, like you might hear in King Crimson's "Starless" or Amon Duul II's "Archangels Thunderbird." In other words, I probably lean more towards the rock than the prog in prog rock. Which is why early listens to BBT impressed me with the musicianship I heard and the obvious dedication of the group, but left me wanting…something. Read the rest of this entry
Beyond Prog: The Authentic Voice and Art of Big Big Train
by Brad Birzer
To me, 'progressive' is a term which describes a genre of music. That genre emerged from the rock and pop music of the 60's and became fully defined in the early 70's. But what I think may be the sub-text behind your question is whether bands writing and performing music in the progressive genre need, by definition, to be striving for some sort of statement of originality in everything they do. I think not, but I am aware that many others take a more absolutist view of things and this has caused an endless debate. In The Music's All That Matters, Paul Stump makes some very interesting observations. Early on in the book, he correctly identifies that the main problem with progressive rock is its name (he calls it 'the most self-consciously adjectival genre in all rock'.) Another point that Paul Stump makes is about what unites the musicians of the genre. He says they have 'a hankering after the transcendent'. I really like that phrase as it can take on a broader meaning than 'progressive'. In Big Big Train, we combine our influences in a way, which is often original. But trying to do something different isn't the be-all-and-end-all. What we are really trying to do is to make extraordinary music.–Greg Spawton, Summer 2012
I must admit, I'm a little lost for words when it comes to reviewing the new release from Big Big Train, English Electric Vol. 2 (officially out today). And, as my wife, my kids, my friends, and my students can attest, I'm almost never at a loss for words. I'm sure there are times when they'd like me to be!
My problem is this. The music is so very good, so very much beyond the bounds of normal description and descriptives, and I want in the worst way for the quality of my writing and my thoughts to do it justice. Frankly, I'm not sure I'm capable. Not being shy enough or humble enough, I will just jump in. . .
When I first heard The Underfall Yard, I thought music could get no better than this. Especially listening to Longdon's voice. Schnikees. Could that guy get any better? And, those lyrics. Who wouldn't want to visit the Victorian Brickyard, meet Mr. Delia, dive into that watery purgatory below Winchester Cathedral, or watch electrical storms moving away from England?
Then, I heard Far Skies Deep Time. Ok, they'd reached the top this time, for sure. They have to have done so. Where could they go after this? Again, such wonder. If I caught a plane to England, might I still be able to see Fat Billy just before he died on that beach, a bloated alcoholic with the waves calling him home? Or, how about that English girl who tore my heart out or that other one with the berry-stained lips? No, too late. But, maybe, just maybe, I can be reminded that if we only have love, we have enough.
Then, I heard English Electric Vol. 1. Ok, what to do was my first thought? Everything I'd known and believed about music was blown apart. Nothing had so moved me since I'd first listened to an advanced copy of Talk Talk's Spirit of Eden back in September 1988. Oh, Mark Hollis, where art thou?
I try to walk at least four miles a day. I've been doing this much of my life, and I find the time walking absolutely necessary to keep my mind focused when I'm writing, to de-stress when I need to de-stress, to listen to fiction on my ipod, and, especially, to have alone time with my favorite music.
Modern Rock at Its Finest: English Electric Vol. 2
by Frank Urbaniak
Reviewing Part Two of Big Big Train's English Electric presents an interesting challenge-should this be considered as a Magnum Opus song cycle that just happened to be released in two sections, or should we consider EE2 as a separate and distinct release?
The good news is that EE Part Two stands on its own as a great collection of incredible compositions, interesting lyrics, and outstanding performances with more 'space' to develop the songs than on EE1. The band is not afraid to wear its influences proudly on their sleeves-suggestions of Elbow, Genesis, PreFab Sprout, Radiohead and others appear and are gone in a flash, hinted at but never copied. The instrumentation is again diverse but is not a repeat of EE1, and there is more room for Dave Gregory to stretch and embellish the song's melodies, especially the sitar/guitar in Keeper of Abbeys playing counterpoint to the violin, Worked Out's Tull feel, and the biting melancholy of The Permanent Way. The production is impeccable and a delight through headphones, although there are moments I might wish for just a tad 'less' in the future.
EE Part Two continues to create a compelling argument for challenging the classification of BBT as 'prog'. The songs are so well composed and universal in themes that they could/should appeal to a wider listening audience. On the other hand, the 'proggers' who summarily dismissed EE1, perhaps favoring metal/experimental or one of the other prog sub classifications (typically meaning heavier), will be hard pressed to embrace this one as well. As an example, while Curator of the Butterflies is one of the finest ballads I have ever heard, the opening vocal 'she likes to walk' sound strangely like a Simon and Garfunkel tune, which won't win over the gang who prefer their prog a bit heavier.
The Permanent Way: The Music of Big Big Train
The long-awaited release of the second part of Big Big Train's English Electric does not disappoint. It continues the band's reverence and celebration of the unsung heroes of Great Britain's past, beginning with the first track, the epic "East Coast Racer". After a beautiful, elegiac opening featuring new member Danny Manners' piano, the listener is suddenly hurtling down a railroad track on the exhilarating 1938 record-setting run of the famous Mallard steam locomotive. True to its subject, this 15+ minute song speeds by in no time, thanks to the propulsive drumming of Nick D'Virgilio. His stick-work evokes to an uncanny degree the clackety-clack rhythm of a train running full-bore across the countryside.
Another excellent song is "Worked Out", a tribute to the millions of coal miners who labored underground to provide the fuel for the industrial revolution. It's quite a rocker with a catchy sing-along chorus. David Longden's "Leopards" is a nice change of pace, as the album turns inward to examine the conflicted emotions of two former lovers tentatively reconnecting. "Keeper of Abbeys" has one of the catchiest melodies ever written by the band, and it includes a hoedown featuring some delightful fiddle.
EEv2 Impressions
by Nick "Dr. Nick" Efford
If I'm honest, I was harbouring a secret wish for something rather different in tone from EE1: darker and more edgy, perhaps. Clearly, we don't have that here – but it would be churlish to feel disappointment at getting more of the same, given the sublime nature of EE1. And there's no doubt that Big Big Train have once again served up some wonderful music for us.
East Coast Racer is a suitably epic album opener that doesn't quite gel for me yet. There are several parts to it that I really like but I'm struggling to find the thread linking them all together. It is growing on me with repeated listens but is giving up its secrets slowly!
No such issues with Swan Hunter, which is much simpler and more direct. The affection and nostalgia infusing this track makes it a natural companion piece to EE1's Uncle Jack. The obvious lyrical connection is that both Uncle Jack and Swan Hunter concern members of Dave Longdon's family, but if you put to one side the lightness of the former and the more stately cadence of the latter then there are also some interesting melodic parallels to be found. I'm not sure if this is deliberate or not, but it added something to the music for me. All in all, a very pleasant piece, although not as memorable as the tracks that follow.
Worked Out is, I think, where this album truly sparks into life. The opening motif is pure pop and sounds like something Mike & The Mechanics might play, with Dave Longdon's voice uncannily matching the timbre of Paul Carrack's in places. Then it switches into 'prog wig-out' mode, first with a flute-filled passage that would make Jethro Tull proud, then with a driving closing section featuring some brief but very welcome synth soloing. Absolutely splendid stuff.


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Verizon wasn't done announcing some of its upcoming changes as earlier this morning, they had revealed a new $35 prepaid plan. This afternoon, they're announcing some changes to its customer's upgrade eligibility, which you could probably have guessed, isn't in the favor of the customer.
Subscribers who have contracts that will expire in January 2014 or later will have to wait an additional four months before they can purchase a new device at a discounted rate. This means that if you were hoping to pick up a new device through their 20-month upgrade cycle, you'll now need to wait the full two years before you're able to pick up a a new device, that is, unless you want to pay full retail for it.
That's not the only change Verizon is announcing today as those on a multi-line account will still be able to share their upgrades with other users associated with the account, but it will only be eligible for a new device within the same category. In other words, you can only use something like a smartphone upgrade for a smartphone if you want to share it with another person on your account.
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CFF Podcast Episode #4 – Coping with Being Different
Let's be honest. Living WAY below your means is tough enough, let alone how different it makes you from others. It's timely that Leo from Zen Habits released a post on Overcoming the Social Costs of Being Different right as we release episode #4 of The Chasing Financial Freedom Podcast. We should have had him on the show this week! Oh well, maybe next time.
This Week's Show is On Relationships
This week, Jason, from Dividend Mantra, and I talk about a subject that's near and dear to our hearts, coping with being different. It's not easy to be different and live in a different way than our friends and family do. It can even hinder our chances of finding/keeping significant others or additional friends. So, how do we do it? We find people that really care about us and are supportive of what we're doing and stick with them, that's how.
This stuff is really important to us. We're in it for the long haul and the decision to live below our means and value our time over money is something that we plan to stick with. That means, spending our precious time and money on relationships with friends who aren't supportive and knock us down for not going out and spending money just isn't a good thing for us. Could it be that this lifestyle is only for introverts? I wouldn't go that far, but I do believe you have to be willing to downsize your social group and focus on the truly meaningful relationships in your life. There simply isn't enough time and money to support 40 friends while saving for financial independence or starting a business with all you've got. Well, maybe there is, but Jason and I haven't figured it out yet.
Share Your Experiences in the Comments!
Listen to this episode to hear our experiences with our relationships over the past three and a half years, when Jason and I started down this "different" path. All we know is how it's affected our social lives and relationships. If you have experiences different from ours, which I'm sure you do, I'd love to hear them and I bet other readers would as well so let us know in the comments how you're dealing with being different.
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Thank you in advance!
Click here to leave an honest review of the podcast on iTunes!
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CareerBuilder's Talent Network offering incorporates a unique blend of elements to help employers connect with potential employees in a relevant and action-provoking way.
"Employers are preparing for economic recovery. We know that HR and staffing organizations need to do more with less and still need to deliver high quality candidates in an efficient way that works -without requiring an overhaul of their systems," said Hope Gurion, Chief Development Officer at CareerBuilder. "Adding a Talent Network gives employers an always-on solution working to find and deliver new talent to employers leveraging the best technology available."
About CareerBuilder®
CareerBuilder is the global leader in human capital solutions, helping companies target and attract their most important asset - their people. Its online career site, CareerBuilder.com®, is the largest in the United States with more than 23 million unique visitors, 1 million jobs and 32 million resumes. CareerBuilder works with the world's top employers, providing resources for everything from employment branding and data analysis to recruitment support. More than 9,000 websites, including 140 newspapers and broadband portals such as MSN and AOL, feature CareerBuilder's proprietary job search technology on their career sites. Owned by Gannett Co., Inc. (NYSE:GCI), Tribune Company, The McClatchy Company (NYSE:MNI) and Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT), CareerBuilder and its subsidiaries operate in the United States, Europe, Canada and Asia. For more information, visit www.careerbuilder.com.
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Mitsubishi Motors Corp. lowered the price of its i-MiEV electric car in the U.S. by 21 percent to spur demand for a vehicle that attracted only a dozen buyers last month.
Asian stocks fell, with the equity gauge excluding Japan posting its first drop in eight days, as signs the U.S. economy is strengthening fueled speculation that the Federal Reserve will soon start tapering stimulus.
Japanese stocks rose, with the Nikkei 225 Stock Average climbing to an almost six-year high, as the yen fell to the lowest since May versus the dollar after data showed U.S. manufacturing unexpectedly accelerated last month.
Hitachi Ltd. unveiled an energy- storage system that the company said will support wind and solar power and allow users to sell electricity into deregulated markets such as California.
A Saab Automobile car rolled off the assembly line today for the first time in more than two years.
Fisker Automotive Inc., whose $103,000 plug-in hybrid car was driven by celebrities including Justin Bieber, filed for bankruptcy with plans to be acquired by a group said to include Richard Li, son of Hong Kong's richest man.
Nissan Motor Co. Chief Executive Officer Carlos Ghosn said consumers won't take to fuel-cell vehicles before the decade's end, joining Tesla Motors Inc.'s Elon Musk in questioning the future of hydrogen-powered cars.
Hyundai Motor Co., eager to move ahead of Honda Motor Co. and Toyota Motor Corp. in hydrogen- powered vehicles, plans a $499-a-month U.S. lease for its zero- emission Tucson crossover version that arrives in 2014.
Tesla Motors Inc. cars have caught fire after collisions more often than gasoline-powered vehicles, according to a Massachusetts Institute of Technology report rebutting assertions by Elon Musk, the electric-car maker's chief executive officer.
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG's bid to save its cars from potential extinction starts with hundreds of thousands of fine white strands snaking upwards in a production hall in rural Washington.
Analysts Discuss Electric Cars, Blackberry Torch, Retail


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Published: 06 July 2012
Sir Peter Blake, godfather of British pop art, has revealed his latest work on the stage of the Hippodrome Casino in Leicester Square.
Appropriately called The Hippodrome, it is a mural of more than 20 artists who have performed at the venue since its launch in 1900 as a circus variety theatre.
The 4ftx10ft canvas also features acts who starred at the Hippodrome during its renowned period as home of the Talk of the Town, including Dame Shirley Bassey, Judy Garland, Sammy Davis Jr and Sir Tom Jones.
It was commissioned by Simon Thomas, owner of the casino, which will be launched next week after a £40 million renovation.
Sir Peter, 80, right, best known for his cover for the Beatles album Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, said: "I thought there was no better way of recalling the history of the building than using images of the people who have appeared here and made it so famous.
"I was fascinated by some of the earliest acts when the Hippodrome was a circus."
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Photographer: KNXV
Copyright 2013 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Posted: 04/04/2013
PHOENIX - Sheriffs and high ranking officials say they are on high alert after a string of public leaders were murdered around the country.
Sheriff Joe Arpaio, known for the slogan "Toughest Sheriff in America" is watching his back.
Lisa Allen, Arpaio's Media Relations Director, says the sheriff has been the target of serious threats before but this string of killings has everyone on heightened alert.
Allen couldn't go into detail but said the sheriff has security and everything is being done to keep him safe.
Four public officials were shot and killed in the past two months alone.
In West Virginia, Sheriff Eugene Crum was shot at point blank range while having lunch in his car. It was in broad daylight. The sheriff was known for taking on drug dealers.
Just this past weekend, a Texas prosecutor and his wife were murdered at their home. Just weeks before that, the prosecutor's top deputy was shot dead near the courthouse.
In March, a Colorado prison chief was shot and killed at his front door.
The murders have also prompted the Pinal County Sheriff's Office to take action.
"We are in the process of making physical security improvements to the structure. The sheriff's security has not changed," PCSO spokeswoman Tamra Ingersoll said.
"What I struggle with is understanding the whys behind these recent murders," Sheriff Arpaio said in a written statement. The brazenness of these acts is confounding. Inside one year, two of my deputies were shot, one killed and one nearly killed, and now law enforcement officials across the nation seem to be targeted."
The Maricopa County Attorney's Office has asked employees to be aware of their surroundings.
"Given the nature of the cases we handle and the threats encountered on a regular basis, this office maintains a degree of security to guard against threats to prosecutors and employees," Jerry Cobb, Maricopa County Attorney's Office spokesman, said.
Copyright 2013 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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Flags were lowered to half-staff across South Africa and people in black townships, in upscale mostly white suburbs and in the country's vast rural grasslands commemorated Nelson Mandela.
Take a journey through the years to see the incredible life of former South African president Nelson Mandela, who led the struggle against apartheid in his homeland.
Still freezing across much of the state; find out how long the frigid air will stick around and how long before our next rain and snow chances return.
A family of seven escaped a house fire early Friday morning near 16th Street and Southern Avenue in Phoenix.
Eating nutritional foods is one of the best ways to reduce obesity. But following a healthy diet isn't always easy, especially for lower socioeconomic groups.
Ahead of the Mustang's 50th anniversary, Ford unveiled an all-new completely redesigned Mustang with more power, and better fuel economy.


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I can't see why an owner of either the Office 11 Corel released last year or any reasonably current version of Microsoft Office would bother paying the $150 upgrade price (Win 98 or newer required) for this bundle of WordPerfect, the Quattro Pro spreadsheet and the Presentations slide-show editor.
Nor can I see too many home users lining up to pay $300 for the full release, not when OpenOffice (www.openoffice.org) provides comparable utility and better Microsoft Office file-format compatibility for free.
What I do see: A suite that once dominated the market is slowly choking on its own irrelevancy. Aside from the people who will get this software bundled with their new computers, who will rush to buy WordPerfect Office 12?
Corel only suggests three new features on a "reasons to buy" handout, none of them remotely persuasive. First, the Workspace Manager merely makes it easier to switch among toolbar and menu layouts that last year's release offered.
The OfficeReady program, which lets you browse through a library of precanned word processing, spreadsheet and presentation templates, is hidden on the second CD-ROM and isn't installed by default. And since it can't be invoked from within WordPerfect, Quattro Pro or Presentations (all of which already provide shortcuts to choose from the same set of stationery), it seems unlikely to get much use.
The optional Wireless Office Suite, also buried on disc 2, requires you to use Microsoft Outlook -- yes, a core component of Microsoft Office -- to get such Blackberry-ish options as access to your calendar on a cell phone.
This release of Corel's suite is touted as offering improved Microsoft file-format compatibility, but I couldn't spot this in my tests.
Quattro Pro did fine overall, but WordPerfect didn't read two of 15 Microsoft Word files, and took as long as 50 seconds to translate those that it could read. The Presentations software was worst of all; its klutzy rendering of slides that layer background patterns, text and images left PowerPoints between ugly and unreadable.
WordPerfect Office 12 did even worse at saving files into Microsoft formats. A simple resume with a two-column layout displayed fine in Word 2003, but its hidden formatting codes appeared as visible text in Word 2000. A basic Presentations slide show appeared with incorrect margins in PowerPoint 2003.
Furthermore, until you change the settings in each application, the Corel programs will nag you to save an Office document as a Corel file, instead of making the polite, common-sense assumption that you'll want to stay with its existing format.
Corel's applications can also translate your work into HyperText Markup Language (HTML) and Portable Document Format (PDF), and a new Compatibility Toolbar makes this feature's presence much more obvious -- if you know to enable this option.
My advice is to use PDF, which precisely preserves the looks of your documents. Exporting any moderately complicated WordPerfect file into HTML is begging for trouble -- that resume's layout disintegrated in the process -- while publishing Presentations files in HTML with the standard settings shrinks each slide into a thumbnail image.
Taken on their own, the individual applications in WordPerfect Office 12 can have their moments.
WordPerfect, while it still lacks the now-common ability to select multiple bits of text for all-at-once editing, displays a surprising agility with text styles. As you scroll up and down its font menu, a large-type preview shows what the next few words in a document will look like in each typeface; pause over a font and the entire document changes to show what it would look like in that new style.
Brainerd Dispatch ©2013. All Rights Reserved.


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Men's basketball rules committee announces recommended rules changes
May 9, 2013, 6:31 PM EST
To say the least the block/charge call and freedom of movement were two hot-button topics throughout the 2012-13 season. More often than not there were complaints from fans and media alike regarding the current state of the game, and what should be done to clean things up.
With that in mind both the men's basketball rules committee announced their recommended rules changes on Thursday afternoon, with the block/charge call and the administration of the "elbow rule" being two areas of interest.
In regard to the block/charge call in men's basketball, the committee is proposing that a defensive player is not permitted to move into the path of an offensive player once he has started his upward motion with the ball to attempt a field goal or pass. If the defensive player is not in legal guarding position by this time, it is a blocking foul.
The current rule calls for a defender to be in legal guarding position before the offensive player lifted off the floor.
Far too often last season it seemed as if where the defender was on the floor (inside or outside of the restricted area in the lane) was the sole determining factor used by officials when making the call.
According to the committee the recommended rules change will provide the officials with more clarity when it comes to making the call while also improving freedom of movement, which is exactly what all involved with the game want to see.
As for the "elbow rule," the committee has recommended that officials be allowed to use their judgement when reviewing such situations on a monitor. Previously the rules didn't give the officials much leeway, which ultimately led to the calling of flagrant fouls that were anything but.
"The intent of the elbow rule has always been to protect the student-athletes and eliminate the rip move in men's basketball," committee chair and Saint Peter's head coach John Dunne said.
"There was a strong feeling in the men's community that some other types of elbow contact didn't deserve a flagrant 1, so we are allowing the limited use of the monitor to appropriately manage this play."
Also of note is the fact that the committee is recommending that officials be allowed to check the monitor in the final two minutes of regulation and overtime to review situations such as shot clock violations and determining who knocked the ball out of bounds in situations involving two or more players.
Officials will also be able to immediately review made baskets in the final four minutes to determine whether the shot was worth two or three points. During other points in the game officials would be able to signal to the scorers' table that they will look at the play in question during the next media timeout.
Frankly any move to make sure the officials get the call right, whether it's "crunch time" or not, is a good move. With the recommendations now made, the Playing Rules Oversight Panel will decide whether or not to approve the proposed rules changes on June 18.
And while there are no recommended changes in regards to the shot clock Thursday's moves are a step in the right direction. Will the changes cut down on physical play and lead to an increase in scoring? That will ultimately be determined by the players and coaches themselves.
Raphielle can be followed on Twitter at @raphiellej.
Assembly Hall in Bloomington, Ind. opened in 1971 and holds five national championship banners as well as serving as a winter home for 17,472 Hoosier fans each season. It's one of the most iconic venues in all of college basketball, but the university is looking to improve the condition of its longtime arena, according to…
Sunday's Pregame Shootaround: No. 13 Oregon visits Ole Miss
Dec 8, 2013, 11:00 AM EST
GAME OF THE DAY: No. 13 Oregon vs. Ole Miss, 5 p.m. (ESPNU) Marshall Henderson and the Rebels welcome the No. 13 Ducks into Oxford for an evening showdown between SEC and Pac-12 programs. Ole Miss won a pair of games in Brooklyn at the Barclays Center Classic to end November, but on Thursday suffered…
Last week, the Dayton Flyers made a surprise run in the Maui Invitational, defeating Gonzaga, outplaying Baylor before the Bears rallied late in the game to advance to the finals, and then concluding their trip in Hawaii with a win over Cal. The Flyers were picked to finish seventh in the Atlantic 10, but the…
Late Night Snacks: Two buzzer-beaters on Saturday? We got video!!!
Dec 8, 2013, 2:16 AM EST
GAME OF THE NIGHT: Colorado 75, No. 6 Kansas 72 Yup, that was awesome. We already wrote two columns off of this game. My take on Kansas is here. Raphielle Johnson wrote on Colorado here. THE OTHER GAME OF THE NIGHT: No. 17 Iowa State 91, Northern Iowa 82 OT We should just assume that…
Could No. 14 Villanova be the Big East's best team? They sure look like it
Dec 7, 2013, 10:01 PM EST
Just one week ago Jay Wright's Villanova Wildcats wrapped up a Battle 4 Atlantis crown that few people expected them to win. After taking care of USC the Wildcats beat Kansas and Iowa, resulting in their first ranking in more than two seasons. For a program that relies on so many young players, how Villanova…
No. 2 Arizona poised to grab top spot after holding off UNLV
Dec 7, 2013, 8:38 PM EST
With No. 1 Michigan State suffering a surprising home loss to North Carolina on Wednesday night, there were many Arizona fans who looked towards Saturday's contest against UNLV with excitement. The renewal of a series that delivered some great moments during the time when Jerry Tarkanian and Lute Olson roamed the sidelines was something folks…
Despite having multiple scoring options Virginia needs more from Joe Harris
Dec 7, 2013, 7:39 PM EST
With guard Keifer Sykes and big man Alec Brown leading the way, Brian Wardle's Green Bay Phoenix are expected to contend for the Horizon League title this season. That fact meant that Tony Bennett's return to his alma mater wasn't going to be an easy one, with his Virginia Cavaliers looking to rebound from their…
Florida point guard Scottie Wilbekin cleared to play on Tuesday
Dec 7, 2013, 6:59 PM EST
Turns out that the sprained ankle he suffered in Monday's loss at No. 12 UConn won't result in any missed game time for Florida senior point guard Scottie Wilbekin, as he's returned to practice and will play on Tuesday night against No. 6 Kansas. That's important news for the Gators, who faced the possibility of…
Kansas lost, but Jayhawk fans should be happy after the Colorado game
Dec 7, 2013, 6:30 PM EST
Dear Kansas fans: Do not start freaking out just yet. I know what happened on Saturday. I saw Colorado's Askia Booker hit that buzzer-beating, euro-stepping three to beat the No. 6 Jayhawks, 75-72. I saw the bench mob him at half court and Jimmy Dykes ask him questions on ESPN in the postgame that made…
Colorado needs game-winner to serve as a catalyst for Askia Booker (VIDEO)
Dec 7, 2013, 5:33 PM EST
After No. 6 Kansas scored the first seven points of the game, it would be difficult to blame any Colorado fans who managed to utter the words, "here we go again." In last season's meeting in Lawrence the Buffaloes were blitzed right out of the gates, and the end result was a 90-54 defeat that…
Chaz Williams continues to be a player to watch after UMass' 105-96 win over BYU
Dec 7, 2013, 5:07 PM EST
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – The game had been over for nearly 20 minutes, though, UMass senior point guard Chaz Williams clearly was not done dishing out the assists. He was the last to be seated at the postgame press conference, as he ventured over towards the table of Poland Spring water bottles, grabbed three extra ones…
Wisconsin was able to outlast in-state rival Marquette 70-64 on Saturday at the packed Kohl Center because they have more firepower. Although the No. 8 Badgers (10-0) and Golden Eagles (5-4) differ in the standings by a few games, they can both really defend and limit opportunities for their opponents to get good looks, but…
Missouri basketball may not have been in the limelight for very long on Saturday before the football team faces Auburn for the SEC Championship, but the basketball Tigers took care of business and had an impressive second half in their 80-71 win over No. 18 UCLA. Both Missouri and UCLA were undefeated entering the game…
Report: Aaron Bright to transfer from Stanford after the season
Dec 7, 2013, 2:20 PM EST
Yesterday, news broke that Stanford guard Aaron Bright dislocated his right shoulder and will miss the rest of the season. It's a big blow for the Cardinals, who are dealing with a lack of perimeter depth as it is and have been forced to use a bigger lineup. But here's the kicker for Bright: he's…
The Wisconsin Badgers and head coach Bo Ryan announced on Saturday morning that redshirt sophomore guard George Marshall has opted to transfer. The announcement of Marshall's transfer was released on the Wisconsin athletics website this morning. "George came and talked to me and he informed me that he wanted to pursue his options of playing…
Pregame Shootaround: Big Saturday of games highlighted by UCLA at Missouri
Dec 7, 2013, 11:00 AM EST
GAME OF THE DAY: No. 18 UCLA at Missouri (12:30 p.m., CBS) A matchup of 8-0 teams headlines Saturday's improved slate of college basketball games thanks to the end of the college football regular season. The Bruins are 8-0 under new coach Steve Alford and have yet to face an opponent the caliber of Mizzou…
After graduation claimed do-it-all point guard Pierre Jackson from last year's Baylor team, many wondered if Kenny Chery– a Junior College transfer from State Fair Community College in Missouri — could fill the void. Scott Drew was going to give Chery the keys to the car, but could he drive it? Chery answered that question in…