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One thing I love about mid-to-late-60's music is its unpredictability.
After listening to hundreds of new releases over the last couple of years, I've learned that most of the music today is despicably predictable. I can't tell you how many times I was able to predict chord changes, instrumentation, vocal effects and builds the first time I heard a song. If you've heard one tune by Lana del Rey, you've heard them all. The same is true for most of the big names in the business: they're more like reliable brands than creative endeavors. They may do slow songs, mid-tempo songs and fast songs; they may stick a piano in there instead of a guitar; and they all love to start songs in relative quiet before suddenly but predictably jacking up the power. The lyrics are safe, cliché and primarily consist of slogans that will eventually serve as ads for banks, jewelry and car insurance.
It would be virtually impossible today to put "Revolution #9" and "I Will" on the same album. The labels wouldn't have it and the indies don't have the resources or equipment to pull off something like "Revolution #9." In the second half of the sixties, though, new approaches became the norm. Musicians were constantly experimenting, looking everywhere for new sounds and styles, breaking rules and shattering expectations.
There are few albums that shatter a listener's expectations as much as Ogdens' Nut Gone Flake. I promise that if you have never heard it before, your first time through will be accompanied by several "What the fucks?" Most of those who have never heard it will likely be American, for the album did absolutely nothing in the States (except for my weird and obsessive father who spent years searching for the original release in the tobacco tin and finally found one from a seller in Bath only to find the disc was warped). On the other side of the pond, it held on to the #1 spot on the album charts for six weeks. Like The Move, Small Faces never really caught on in the USA. Most Americans only know "Itchycoo Park," which reached #16 on the Billboard charts (The Move only reached #93 with "Do Ya," released after they technically ceased to exist and before Jeff Lynne fucking ruined it with strings in the ELO version).
So, who's got it right with Ogdens', the Brits who embraced it or the Yanks who ignored it? The Brits, of course! Now, as I said, you might not believe me if you listen to it once. You'll hear a bizarre mix that includes two cockney bashes, a remake of a single that failed to chart and a fairy tale about a guy who's looking for the other half of the moon and is helped by a fly whom he transforms into a giant fly to carry him to a mad guru, all in a weird, kaleidoscopic mix of soul, psychedelia and musical theatre.
Have I got you hooked yet? No? Well, then, do what I do before a review: listen to the album three times before you pass judgment. I guarantee you that after the third spin, the tunes will stick in your head, you'll smile at the audacity of it all and you'll find yourself rooting for Happiness Stan to complete his quest. And you'll love the fucking fly! Guaranteed!
Ogdens' is labeled a concept album, but the concept is pretty much confined to the fairy tale on side two; side one consists of individual tracks that have no apparent thematic connection. Still, there is a definite sense of unity to the whole despite the lack of an identifiable theme and the diversity of the music styles. Whether it's the unity of a band working hard on a complex recording project in close quarters over a period of several months, or the combination of energy and commitment you hear in all the tracks is a cause-and-effect debate for historians. What I want to emphasize is that the unity is not the accidental result of the era in which Ogdens' was created. It should not be dismissed as a period relic: there's much more going on here than psychedelic indulgence.
Ogdens' Nut Gone Flake opens with the title track, an instrumental based on "I've Got Mine," their second single release that failed to chart in the UK way back in 1965. That failure had more to do with publicity breakdowns than the quality of the single, because by all rights it should have been a hit, if only for Steve Marriott's killer lead vocal. On Ogden's, this R&B number is transformed through phasing, energetic panning and plenty of reverb into a mood piece strengthened by the entry of strings in the second "verse" and Kenney Jones' free-flow bashing on the drum kit. Ian McLagan does a fabulous job on the piano, maintaining the core beat to allow Kenney to go wild. I've described it as a mood piece, and the mood it creates is one of curiosity. It's not a big "ta-da!" opener like "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band," but a subtle understatement that is thoughtfully arranged and does a wonderful job of defying expectations and piquing one's interest. Like nearly all the tunes on Ogdens' it sticks in your head for days.
Speaking of defying expectations, how about opening the album's beautiful, soulful love song with a mock version featuring coffee-house acoustic guitar, handclaps, stilted background singers and a cheesy, sleazy lead vocal somewhere between The Beatles' "You Know My Name (Look Up the Number)" and The Bonzos' "Look at Me, I'm Wonderful?" This bit of self-parody is part of what makes Ogdens' such a delightful record, but the campiness never interferes with their ability to deliver superb music played with professional excellence. "Afterglow (Of Your Love)," once they arrive at what people know as the single, is an absolute knockout. You can't go wrong with Steve Marriott singing in his most passionate R&B style, and he has one hell of a band supporting him in this endeavor. Ian McLagan's work on the keyboards (organ and what sounds like a touch of modified harpsichord) is outstanding and the rhythm section of Ronnie Lane and Kenney Jones provide more than enough drive. The harmonies are first-rate, and the waves and crashes of sound certainly foreshadow the heavier rock Marriott would do with Humble Pie.
If there is a link between the songs on side one, it's probably "never do the same thing twice." "Afterglow" is followed by the sensuously psychedelic sounds of "Long Ago and Worlds Apart," an intriguing song combining expected and unexpected chord combinations by Ian McLagan. The song combines the best of melodic rock with the best of hand-clapping bluesy, laid-back rock in an amazingly complex but unified composition. The instrumentation and lead vocal are drenched in the fashionable effects of the time, leaving Ronnie Lane's bass clear and untouched—a very good thing, because the bass part could have probably been released as a solo track to ravenous applause. The harmonies and playful enthusiasm flow in abundance here, and I remain fucking amazed at how they could have packed so much complex yet coherent music into a little more than two-and-a-half minutes.
And Ogdens' just keeps on getting better! Marriott goes cockney (his natural voice) on "Rene" to tell us the story of a dockside hooker with a firm non-discrimination policy, international influence and group discounts. Described in the Wikipedia article as one of two "psychedelic cockney knees up" songs on the album, "Rene" is a combination of tongue-in-cheek wink-wink intrigue in the verses and pour-another-pint singalong in the choruses. There's more than a touch of musical theater here, as if Steve Marriott had decided to temporarily reconnect with his Oliver roots. Whatever the genre, style or origins, Marriott and Lane were wonderfully talented songwriters and "Rene" is a hoot. Anyone who can work Kuala Lumpur into a line and make it work is a fucking genius in my book:
She's Rene, the docker's delight, and a ship's in every night
Romping with a stoker from the coast of Kuala Lumpur
Love is like an 'ole in the wall
A line-up in the warehouse—no trouble at all
If you can spare the money, you'll have a ball—
She'll have your oars out!
Wisely shifting gears, "Song of a Baker" has been repeatedly identified as a song that influenced the heavy rock movement that dominated the early and mid-1970's, largely due to Steve Marriott's burning lead guitar work, the heavy and energetic drumming from Kenney Jones and the oomph in the harmonized lines. You can definitely imagine how the song would sound with the upgraded recording technology used by bands like Led Zeppelin and Humble Pie. I'm not a fan of the heavy rock era (Robert Plant's voice is like fingers on a chalkboard to me), but I love this song. The relatively lo-fi sound helps dampen what I usually hear as a tendency towards over-dramatization in the heavy rock era's vocals and instrumentation, leaving behind a very well-constructed and superbly played number that kicks ass. It was a brilliant decision not to allow Steve Marriott to sing this song, as I think it would have become way too over the top. Marriott delivers the superb harmonic lines and Ronnie Lane gives us a suitably understated vocal that works perfectly in the mix:
Steve Marriott got his knickers in a twist when Immediate Records released "Lazy Sunday" as a single, feeling it was a novelty song that didn't deserve the status that should have been afforded Small Faces' more serious work. He has a point, but goddamn, this is a fun little number that Marriott sings with cockney enthusiasm and the professionalism of a musical stage trooper. The arrangement is cheerfully kitchen-sink, as the band throws in bells, rolling waves and all manner of sound effects. The mood shifts back and forth between music hall bash and Sunday afternoon stillness, and despite the appeal to the average bloke, the arrangement reflects both complexity and thoughtfulness. It's a great way to end the incredibly diverse but never discordant side one:
Side two is devoted entirely to the fairytale journey of "Happiness Stan." Unlike their botching of the plot to A Passion Play, Wikipedia does a decent job summarizing this story:
The plot of the fairy tale is that Stan looks up in the sky and sees only half the moon; he sets out on a quest to search for the missing half. Along the way he saves a fly from starvation, and in gratitude the insect tells him of someone who can answer his question and also tell him the philosophy of life itself. With his magic power Stan intones, "If all the flies were one fly, what a great enormous fly-follolloper that would bold," and the fly grows to gigantic proportions. Seated on the giant fly's back Stan takes a psychedelic journey to the cave of Mad John the hermit, who explains that the moon's disappearance is only temporary, and demonstrates by pointing out that Stan has spent so long on his quest that the moon is now full again. He then sings Stan a cheerful song about the meaning of life.
If that sounds childish and silly to you, then you're an uptight loser who has forgotten how to play and pretend. It's not childish—it's child-like. Marriott and Lane (credited composers on all the songs; McLagan on three, Jones on one) made a commitment to the genre and stuck with it. As I have repeated ad infinitum in other reviews, commitment is the key to artistic success, and Small Faces are to be applauded for not trying to load "Happiness Stan" with any heavy adult-like meaning. It's a charming fairy tale, and has more of an impact because it remains a fairy tale. You can read the full lyrics on this page at Robbie Rocks.
The music, by the way, is certifiably ab-fab.
Interspersed among the six tracks that form "Happiness Stan" is a narrative read by Professor Stanley Unwin, a British comedian famous for his gobbledegook known as "Unwinese," which he uses with great relish in relating key developments in the story. This was a brilliant decision for several reasons: one, he has a jolly grandfather voice that is very comforting and playful; two, he takes care of a lot of narrative details that would have been boring in song form; and three, the gobbledegook adds to the playfulness of the piece, much like the work of Lewis Carroll and (at times) James Joyce. Adults listening to him may cry out in frustration, "This is nonsense!" Children, on the other hand, will understand his wordplay almost instantly. So, again, if you're an anal, arrogant prick, you may react with disdain to language like this:
Now after a little lapse of time,
Stan became deep hungry in his tumbload.
Oh, after all he struggly tricky out several milode,
and anyone would suffer under this.
So suddenly he dood a deep thoucus,
out with his lunchy bag,
just about to do a little nibbload of his mincy meaty, when…….
If you're open-minded and playful, you'll giggle with delight and not only will you understand it, you will become more absorbed in the story.
After we're all seated comfortable, too square on our botties, the music begins with the song, "Happiness Stan." Living deep inside a rainbow, he interprets the world through colors . . . and when he looks up into the sky one night hoping to see a big fat moon, "black has stolen half the moon away!" The track opens with dreamy harp, which transforms to harpsichord when the quaint, drawing-room main theme begins. The beat shifts to heavier rock in the last passage, where Stan has made his astonishing discovery; Ian McLagan's organ appropriately sets the mood of mystery. The following video is taken from the only "performance" (mimed) of Ogdens' Nut Gone Flake, from the BBC show Colour Me Pop. It will give you a feel for the piece, the band and Unwinese:
After the narration, Small Faces just has to kick some ass, which they do quite well in the joyous rocker, "Rollin' Over," where Stan sings about the excitement of starting a noble quest. My absolute favorite piece comes next: "The Hungry Intruder." Stan has paused his quest to have a bite to eat, and just as he's about to dig in, he hears a faint voice, which, to his amazement, is coming from a tiny fly. Let me get something straight: I hate fucking flies. One item that made it to the top of my packing list when I moved to France earlier this year was my bug zapper, a sort of tennis-racket with battery power that zaps the crap out of any insect that dares enter my space, and flies and spiders are at the top of my public enemies list. But gosh, the fly in "The Hungry Intruder" is so disarmingly polite that it almost makes me feel ashamed about my role as insect executioner . . . almost. The theatrical dialogue here is superbly performed and rather touching:
(Fly) Here am I
Tiny Fly
May I share your Shepherd's Pie?(Stan) What is this strange voice I hear?
(Fly) Here I am
Look This Way
In the landscape on your tray(Stan) There's no need to ask a silly question
If I were you I hope you'd do the same
There's no doubt I'd help a hungry fly out
To see you in a fix it's really such a shame(Fly) I'm so hungry
I could die
And no one needs a living fly(Stan) My name is Stan
I'm on a quest
Take your fill,
Take nothing less!
I'll never make it to Stan's level of consciousness, but then again, I've never met a fly with manners.
After lunch, the fly asks Stan if there's anything he could do for him. Stan explains his quest, and the fly mentions someone who could help. The fly explains he would gladly take Stan to this person if he wasn't so dinky, and Stan uses his magic powers to transform the fly into the insect version of a 787. Hey, it's a fucking fairy tale! The narrative merges into "The Journey," a suitably psychedelic number that takes the pair to meet the man with the answers, Mad John. The song here has the feel of English folk translated for modern sensibilities as Traffic would do later with "John Barleycorn." John is described a strange hermit to be avoided by all good children, and the lyrics that close the piece enlighten us with a powerful lesson, as all good fairy tales should:
So here was a wise one who loved all the haters
he loved them so much that their hate turned to fear
and shaking from behind their curtains the loved ones would hear.
Stan buys in to the fear to some degree, and approaches the cave with trepidation. To his delight, he receives a hearty welcome:
All whitely hair, scintilating beard and dangly,
well the beard must have been 24 years old,
to grow it and grow it, all night lode, what!
And he was glowing, with a friendly light, oh dear, joy,
and a voice full of the Cockney Cockney Cockney,
all joy of life and living, eminate from the cockload of his heartstrings.
Called to see you man ha, what's been your hang-up man hu,
I waiting seven whole days for ya,
not still worried about this scintilating moon and dangly, huh, hu?
Mad John shows Stan that during the time Stan has spent on his quest, the moon has taken its natural course and has phased into the full moon. This "struck him like a smacker o' blueidy," setting up the other lesson of the tale in the closing piece, "Happy Days Toy Town."
Life is just a bowl of All-Bran
You wake up every morning and it's there
So live as only you can
It's all about enjoy it 'cos ever since you saw it
There aint no one can take it away.
The music to the finale returns to cockney music hall, clearing away any sense of heaviness that might have appeared had Small Faces decided to imbue the piece with ponderous significance, as many other psychedelic artists of the time attempted to do in their work. Fuck the search for meaning! Let's have some fun!
It's also the perfect ending to a record that combines deeply satisfying music with the awareness that music, at its heart, is something to be enjoyed. The great works of rock combine great lyrics with great music, and the artists who have created those works realized that music at that level of ambition still has to entertain as well as enlighten. The Beatles certainly understood that in the creation of Sgt. Pepper, The Kinks achieved that balance several times and Small Faces pulled it off in Ogdens' Nut Gone Flake—a playful, lyrical, melodic and rocking tribute to the human imagination.
Related Articles:
- Stephen Peter Marriott (1947-1991). . . . (stevegwilcox.wordpress.com)


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still sorting things in the craft space... this basket is for my unfinished projects. I made these a few months ago and wanted to create a banner out of them but just haven't gotten around to it yet. I thought they looked pretty all piled up in the basket. I used some old pillowcases that had holes in them... if you ever see an old pillowcase or doiles with holes in them, don't pass them by... they are perfect for art because you won't feel guilty cutting them up.
Here are some journals waiting to get put away in the craft room... they make me smile. I love when they are all jumbled up like this.
Hope you are warm... it is freezing cold here. xo Heather

subset: commoncrawl


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Welcome to Hyperion Records, an independent British classical label devoted to presenting high-quality recordings of music of all styles and from all periods from the twelfth century to the twenty-first.
Hyperion offers both CDs, and downloads in a number of formats. The site is also available in several languages.
Please use the dropdown buttons to set your preferred options, or use the checkbox to accept the defaults.
In opera, her appearances have included Pamina (Die Zauberflöte) and Susanna (Le nozze di Figaro) at the Metropolitan Opera, New York and Pamina, Marzelline (Fidelio), Micäela (Carmen) and the title roles in Rodelinda and Theodora at the Glyndebourne Festival. Her many roles at the English National Opera have included Contessa (Le nozze di Figaro), the title role in Alcina and Anne Trulove (The Rake's Progress). At the Welsh National Opera she created the role of Sian in the world premiere of James MacMillan's opera The Sacrifice and, for the Scottish Opera, she has sung the title role in Semele, Adina (L'Elisir d'Amore), Zerlina (Don Giovanni), Susanna and Ilia (Idomeno). She has also appeared with the Dallas Opera, Stuttgart Opera, Royal Danish Opera, at the Göttingen Handel Festival, at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris and on tour with the Salzburg Festival.
Equally in demand on the concert platform, highlights have included appearances with the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Levine, the Berlin Philharmonic with Rattle, the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra with Gergiev, the Dresden Staatskapelle with Ticciati, the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra with Chung, the Accademia Santa Cecilia with Adès, the London Philharmonic Orchestra with Jurowski, the Budapest Festival Orchestra with Fischer and the New York and Vienna Philharmonic Orchestras with Harding.
For Hyperion Lisa Milne has recorded songs by Haydn, Ireland and traditional Scottish folksongs, as well as Vivaldi and Handel with The King's Consort.


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It's MORNING EDITION from NPR News. I'm Steve Inskeep.
And I'm Renee Montagne. An explosion described by the State Department as a terrorist attack shook the U.S. embassy in the capital of Turkey, Ankara. The American ambassador says a Turkish security guard was killed and at least one other person was seriously wounded. Turkish investigators are exploring the possibility that it was a suicide bombing. Joining us now from Istanbul is NPR's Peter Kenyon. And Peter, what do you know? What is the latest information about this explosion?
PETER KENYON, BYLINE: Well, the blast occurred, Renee, earlier in the afternoon local time at a security checkpoint just outside the embassy proper. Turkey's interior minister says it was a suicide attacker. If that is confirmed, the death toll would then rise to two, including the bomber. U.S. Ambassador Frank Ricciardone pushed his way through a swarm of police and journalists not long after the blast. He confirmed that one Turkish security guard had been killed and a woman seriously wounded, also a Turkish citizen. The State Department says it's cooperating fully with Turkish officials who launched an investigation.
MONTAGNE: Peter, many U.S. diplomatic missions around the world are heavily fortified and for very good reason, because there have been these attacks. What about the embassy there in Ankara?
KENYON: Yes. That is well-fortified, although unlike, for example, the U.S. consulate here in Istanbul, the embassy is on a busy main thoroughfare in Ankara. The entrance, however, is off the main street, on a side street, which has much less traffic. I was just in the embassy a week ago. The visitors entrance is a stand-alone security checkpoint that is not connected to the building itself. The blast ripped a hole in the outer wall of that checkpoint. But based on what can be seen from the outside, I think you'd have to say the security of the embassy proper was not compromised.
MONTAGNE: And what are people there in Turkey saying about who or what group may have been behind this attack?
KENYON: Well, it's very early, of course. But the interior minister here in Turkey is already pointing at a little-known left-wing splinter group. It's called the People's Revolutionary Front. He's offering no evidence for that so far. There have been explosions at diplomatic missions here in Turkey in the past, most dramatically in 2003. There were a series of bombs in Istanbul that year, including synagogues, a bank and the British consulate. And some 67 people died, including the British consul general that year. In this case, in addition to this left-wing group that's under suspicion, Turks are always on guard for Kurdish militant attacks. Some wonder if this isn't another effort to derail nascent peace talks underway between Turkey and the Kurds, a la the shooting of three Kurdish activists in Paris recently.
There's also concerns about Syria-related violence spilling over into Turkey, and always worries that Islamist militants linked to al-Qaida or some other group might refocus on targets in Turkey at some point. Again, the investigators are just beginning to sort through the evidence, and this is speculation at this point.
MONTAGNE: And quite a range of groups there, though.
KENYON: Yes, there's no question about it. Turkey lives in a volatile, tense neighborhood, and although it likes to say it has zero problems with the neighbors, there's plenty of problems in the neighborhood.
MONTAGNE: Well, just briefly, could this bombing have repercussions for the Turkish-U.S. relationship?
KENYON: Well, there have been a few rough spots in the U.S.-Turkey ties. Turkey, for instance, imports quite a bit of oil and gas from Iran, which is under sanctions. But on the question of terrorism and on many of the major geopolitical issues, the two countries are very tight. The ambassador's statement reflected that today. He was talking about Turkish-American friendship. So unless there's some very unusual development, such as Turkish nationalists somehow showing up as suspects - and there's been no evidence of that, I should add - I think, if anything, this will bring the two countries a bit closer together.
MONTAGNE: Peter, thanks very much.
KENYON: You're welcome.
MONTAGNE: NPR's Peter Kenyon in Istanbul, Turkey, giving us the latest on today's bombing at the U.S. embassy in the Turkish capital. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.


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Advanced Micro Devices has a new CEO, Lisa Su, who will now try to stabilize a company that's attempting to diversify into new markets outside PCs and servers.
Su will replace Rory Read, who has stepped down from the post. Su solidified her position as the second-in-command to Read when she was appointed chief operating officer in June.
AMD has struggled financially in recent years but has had some bright spots with its chips now going into the Xbox One and PlayStation gaming consoles. The company is trying to hold on to market share in its bread-and-butter PC market but has reshaped its server road map around ARM processors. AMD is also making custom chips for clients as it tries to reduce its reliance on the declining PC market.
Nobody was expecting the move so quickly, but Su's very qualified for the job, said Nathan Brookwood, principal analyst at Insight 64.
"It's a good move, but I don't understand the timing," Brookwood said. Read could still have done a lot more for the company as CEO, he said.
Read has brought a level of stability to AMD since he was appointed CEO in 2011, with the company having a few quarters of profits under his reign. But AMD also has a history of unceremoniously changing CEOs. The company booted Dirk Meyer from the position in early 2011, and appointed outsider Read, a former Lenovo executive, later that year. This time, AMD found Read's successor within the company.
Su has a tremendous amount of technology depth and has spent her career in the semiconductor industry, Brookwood said.
"She understands the issues of semiconductor companies far better than Read," Brookwood said.
AMD is going through a multi-phase strategy to stabilize the company, get its product road maps in order and grow in new markets. Read introduced a culture of delivering products on time, and Su led the execution of timely development and delivery of chips. One success was delivering the complex chips for Xbox and PS4 on time.
Su was already associated with the growing parts of the company, such as semi-custom processors and embedded chips for the "Internet of things," said Dean McCarron, principal analyst at Mercury Research.
"The task at hand is to keep that momentum going," McCarron said. He also said the appointment came a bit earlier than expected.
AMD faces challenges in high-margin server chips, where it has a small market share compared to Intel. AMD is bringing the emerging ARM architecture into its x86-dominated server chip portfolio. The first ARM servers with AMD's chips are due early next year.


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Washi Tape Inspiration: Pin For A Chance To Win
If you're a seasoned crafter, then chances are you've worked with washi tape before. If you've just started your creative journey, then believe me, it's only a matter of time before you're hooked on these small, sticky crafting essentials. Due to its popularity, functionality, and aesthetic appeal, we decided to investigate and learn more about what makes this particular type of tape so appealing. Plus, we want to offer our beloved readers a chance to win their very own bundle of beautifully patterned washi tapes. Just pin your favorite washi tape design, share the link with us, and you could win! Details to enter the contest will be at the bottom of the post.
A Quick Washi Tape Lesson
Available in a wide range of patterns, colors, and designs, washi tape is easy to apply to most projects. Placing a few pieces of bright tape will make a mixed-media project instantly pop, while utilizing tape with a more dramatic design can add a whole new layer of depth to a collage. Best of all, this tape is surprisingly resilient. Washi tape is pretty strong (it's very similar to masking tape) and depending on its use, it can be very long-lasting.
Washi tape originated in Japan, but because it has become so popular, it is now made all over the world. Washi comes from two Japanese words: wa, which means Japanese, and shi, which means paper — so the literal translation is "Japanese Paper." It was originally made from the bark of native Japanese trees, such as the gampi tree, the mulberry tree, and the mitsumata shrub, but now is more commonly made from natural fibers like hemp, bamboo, wheat, or rice. As a biodegradable material, it's a great, eco-friendly alternative to plastic tapes.
Colorful and Creative Washi Tape Project Ideas
The beauty of washi tapes is how easy to use they are. You can add layers and depth to nearly any project with just a strip of washi tape, and with so many colors and pattern options, it's very easy to personalize something based on your own unique tastes. For those interested in art journaling, you know that the cover is a very important aspect of the project. In this Art Journal Books Project, a few well-placed strips of graffiti washi tape create a textured, color-blocking effect in a matter of seconds. Paired with a layers of white acrylic paint, various shaped pieces of chipboard, and a few stamps, the end result is a creative journal cover that's sure to keep you inspired.
Another inventive way to use washi tape is with this Vintage Washi Tape Box Project. Perfect for holding small treasures, tiny treats, or little crafting essentials, these altered paper mache boxes can be just about anything you want them to be. Depending on the occasion or event, you can select the washi tape of your choice and create stunning party favors that everyone will love.
Do you own a business? Are you a freelance crafter — a party planner, a writer, a part-time florist? The business world doesn't always have to be black and white! Especially if you're using patterned washi tape. This fun little DIY Business Cards Project will show you how to make beautiful personalized cards that will keep you fresh in the minds of all your current and potential clients. All you need is some card-stock, a few kraft-colored index cards, and a few strips of artfully placed washi tape.
Washi tape is a great accent for a home décor piece; it can be the small element that ties a whole room together. This Mixed-Media Love Canvases Project will give you a step-by-step tutorial on how to create unique and personalized wall art using a bright colors, stamps, and a few strips of patterned washi tape. The best part about this project is that it can easily be altered. Rather than using small canvases you could go with something larger or 3-dimensional and you could create your own color palette to better complement any space in your home, office, or workshop.
Pin Your Favorite Washi Tape:
The results are in, these are the Top-Ten most popular washi tapes that we carry. Now we want to know which tape will reign supreme!
We're giving away a three washi tape bundle to one random winner! For your chance to win simply follow the instructions:
- From the images featured below "Pin" your favorite.
- Share a link to your newly created pin on the blog comment section below (get your link by opening your pin and copying the URL).
- Tell us why that particular washi tape is your favorite.
*Contest is open to US residents only, and expires June 30th, 2014.
Want to See Even More Washi Tape Options?
We hope you're brimming with new project ideas after reading our post! If you want to jump-start all your creative endeavors, visit us at The Shoppe. We have over 200 beautiful, colorful, and absolutely stunning patterned washi tapes — some available at deeply discounted prices. Explore our collection and find everything you could ever need and want to supplement your mixed-media projects, art journals, and whatever else your imagination can come up with.
Click here to visit our washi tape collection.
Congratulations to Our Washi Tape Winner!
C. C. McQuain
Posted: Thursday, June 19th, 2014 @ 12:11 pm
Categories: Contests and Giveaways, How-To Project Tutorials.
Tags: DIY, Giveaway, How-To, Inspiration, Mixed Media, Projects, Washi Tape, washi tape project.
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Earthquakes are powerful natural events that can unleash almost unimaginable forces, literally pulling the ground out from under your feet. Many quakes have been in the news recently; two especially powerful recent earthquakes in Chile caused tragic death and destruction. In this article in the Daily Beast, geoscientist Erik Klemetti educates us about the science of why and where earthquakes happen, and he explains why scientists are not especially alarmed about this current spate of quakes.
When he's not writing about earthquakes, Dr. Klemetti, an assistant professor of geoscience, teaches and researches on volcanism and magmatism, both modern and ancient.
"Every rock tells its own story, and that is what geologists do: unlock the history recorded in the rocks," says Klemetti. "That is how I like to teach geology — by looking at the process that created the rock and then the effect of that process on the physical and chemical characteristics of the rock. In that way, geology tells us not only about the dynamic events that have created the Earth, but also how they will change the planet far into the future."
Klemetti is especially intrigued by volcanoes. He examines volcanic processes by looking at historic information recorded in lavas and ash, and by following modern-day volcanoes in real time. A well-known expert in the field, he writes a popular blog for Wired magazine called Eruptions and tweets @eruptionsblog.
Currently, Klemetti is engaged in active research projects at Lassen Peak in northern California, at Mineral King in the central Sierra Nevada, and at the Okataina Caldera in New Zealand. He encourages students to join him in his research. "I have had my students work with me on these research projects, which have led to presentations at major geology meetings and co-authorships on research papers. My students at Denison are bright and motivated. They are working on a level that is rare for undergraduates."


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7 key tech innovators you've never heard of
Unsung heroes behind the gear and gadgets we use every day
Real genius is often slow to develop. No one would have guessed that Albert Einstein would become the foremost mathematician of our age when he flunked out of French class (but not calculus, as everyone assumes), or that Richard Feynman - who was known to visit topless bars in his youth - would help invent the atomic bomb.
Intelligence sometimes has to germinate and grow before it reaches its gestation, and before the rest of us mere mortals can fully appreciate an insanely high IQ.
In technology, this process seems to take even longer. Bill Gates, a horn-rimmed dweeb who snuck into his dad's office to play games on a supercomputer, went on to invent both DOS and Windows, and founded Microsoft.
Steve Jobs, the Apple co-founder, started out as a phone prankster before he dreamed up the iPhone. But you probably already know about those guys. Here's a few lesser-known geek geniuses, along with what they did that makes them so technologically special.
1. John Von Neumann, Stored-Program Architecture
Serving as a consultant in 1944 on the EDVAC computer - which used binary numbers instead of the more common decimals - Von Neumann was the first proponent of a stored-program architecture, where memory, I/O and storage are separate from the CPU. This early design for interconnected components is used in just about any electronics device - from your smartphone to a desktop PC. In fact, system designers are still realising the benefits of the Von Neumann architecture. Recently, Apple released a new Mac Pro that allows you to remove a tray that holds eight memory slots for easy access.
2. Alan Turing, Turing Test
This story behind this London mathematician is one of major success and high-profile failure. In 1945, according to Britannica.com, the National Physical Laboratory in London recruited Turing to invent the first stored-program digital computer. His design was deemed too complex for current engineering methods so the NPL created a less complicated version. In 1948, the Royal Society in Manchester instead built the first digital computer, beating Turing to the punch.
Turing left the NPL and went on to invent the Turing Test, which is still used in computing as a way to determine whether a computer can think like a human. Turing went on to invent other computing theories, but his story ended in despair: found guilty of homosexuality (then a crime in England) and sentenced to "gene therapy" he eventually committed suicide.
3. Jack Kilby , Microchip
Jack Kilby invented the first microchip at Texas Instruments in 1958. About the size of a paper clip, the first chip had just one transistor to store data - modern microchips have billions of transistors - and fit on a small piece of germanium placed on top of a glass sheet. Kilby showed that a sine wave could undulate across the microchip, ushering in a new age of electronic innovation. The microchip led to the first computer processor and all sort of gadgets - from 60-inch HDTV sets to the GPS receiver in your car. Someday, a microchip will be implanted in your body, making quick grocery trips even faster.
4. Grace Hopper, Compiler
In 1959, everyone thought a computer was just for doing simple maths and nothing more. Grace Hopper, a US Navy Admiral, had other ideas. She invented a compiler, which translates mathematical code into machine language. Think of it as teaching your dog to write English: she figured out how to make a computer think beyond basic numeric calculations. Later, she developed the foundations for what would eventually become COBOL (common business-oriented language), one of the most common programming languages in business.
Although Hopper was wrongly attributed as coming up with the term "bug" (no one knows who first thought of the term) she did invent the word "debug" which is far more helpful anyway - it means to get rid of errors in a computer program.
In 1969, the Data Management Processing Association awarded Hooper with the 'Computer Science Man of the Year' accolade, presumably because they weren't sure a woman would ever qualify. She also has the distinction of retiring from the Navy twice. After her first retirement, the Navy re-instated her because they couldn't figure out how to debug a payroll system. She retired again at the age of 80.
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John Brandon has covered gadgets and cars for the past 12 years having published over 12,000 articles and tested nearly 8,000 products. He's nothing if not prolific. Before starting his writing career, he led an Information Design practice at a large consumer electronics retailer in the US. His hobbies include deep sea exploration, complaining about the weather, and engineering a vast multiverse conspiracy.
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News September 11, 2013
Support for Catholic Relief Services: A Statement of the Administrative Committee of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops
Catholic Relief Services (CRS), the U.S. bishops' overseas humanitarian aid agency, is deeply committed "to Church teaching in fulfilling its mission of mercy," the U.S. bishops' Administrative Committee said in a September 11 statement the first day of its annual fall meeting in Washington.
Catholic Relief Services (CRS), established in 1943, is the international humanitarian agency of the bishops of the United States. Last year, CRS served more than 100 million people in 91 countries. Through CRS, the Catholic Church in the United States helps the poorest of the poor around the world in response to the call of the Gospel, based on the teachings of the Church and following the example of our Holy Father. Its service around the world makes us all proud.
Sadly, in recent weeks some groups have raised questions about this extraordinary witness to the Gospel of life. They have raised allegations about CRS' adherence to Church teaching and its identity as a Catholic institution.
In light of this, and based on thorough investigations into the concerns, we wish to assure the Catholic faithful that CRS fully and faithfully adheres to Church teaching in fulfilling its mission of mercy. In particular:
- It is and has been CRS' policy never to distribute or promote artificial contraceptives or abortifacients or to promote abortion.
- All of CRS' life-saving work to provide food and clean water, to fight malaria and other diseases, to promote education, and to help the poor find ways to support themselves and their families fully conforms with Catholic teaching.
- CRS has a very strong training program for all of its nearly 5,000 staff around the world. In 2012, it expanded this program to include an agency-wide tutorial, "Protecting Life", that informs staff of the Church's teaching on the sanctity of life, contraception and abortion and explains CRS' requirement that they uphold this teaching in their work.
- CRS has a careful vetting system to ensure that its activities and partnerships with other groups or governments are forms of cooperation that do not violate Catholic teaching. As CRS' work necessitates collaboration with a broad network of partners in complex environments with a regularly changing focus, this system is constantly reviewed and updated. The agency welcomes questions and concerns offered in a spirit of Christian charity. If any weaknesses or problems are found assessment and action are undertaken to correct the problem.
- CRS represents the Catholic community of the U.S. at the invitation and with the support of local Church leaders in 91 countries around the world. CRS' activities must be acceptable to those local Churches, follow their policies and the policies of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. If questions or concerns are raised by the local Church in any of the countries served, they are addressed and resolved.
We want to make it clear that those making these public critiques, albeit, we hope, in good faith, do not speak for the Catholic Church and we advise the Catholic faithful to exercise caution and consult the CRS website for clarification before endorsing or giving credence to the groups' critiques. At the same time, we do urge the Catholic faithful to continue to support Catholic Relief Services. The U.S. Catholic bishops stand firmly behind CRS in its commitment to promote and defend human dignity and the sacredness of every human life from the moment of conception until natural death, and at every moment in between.
Source: USCCB.org


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Intel's Core i7 870 & i5 750, Lynnfield: Harder, Better, Faster Stronger
by Anand Lal Shimpi on September 8, 2009 12:00 AM EST- Posted in
- CPUs
New Heatsinks and Motherboards
LGA-1156 processors use a different heatsink than both LGA-1366 and LGA-775 chips.
Lynnfield and its cooler
As the numbers would imply, the LGA-1156 heatsink has a larger footprint than LGA-775 but smaller than LGA-1366.
From Left to Right: Retail LGA-1366 Cooler, Retail LGA-1156 Cooler, Retail 45nm LGA-775 Cooler
The retail LGA-1156 is actually much closer to the 45nm LGA-775 retail cooler than the LGA-1366 retail HSF:
As you'll see later on in the article, the retail cooler isn't very good for heavy overclocking. Power users will want something a little bigger:
The Lynnfield/P55 launch is huge. Virtually every single motherboard manufacturer has a P55 board available. Prices range from ~$110 - $300 depending on the number of bells and whistles.
Gigabyte's ultra high end UD6 (left) and Gigabyte's lower end micro-ATX UD4 (right)
Gigabyte's high end UD6 comes with 6 DIMM slots like its X58 brethren.
Micro-ATX is increasing in popularity and we actually have some good options this time if you're trying to build a smaller Lynnfield system. Combined with Lynnfield's excellent idle power (the lowest of any quad-core we've ever tested), this could make for an unusually potent HTPC.
A closer look at Gigabyte's micro-ATX P55M-UD4
The only thing we're really missing is a good mini-ITX Lynnfield board. But perhaps the manufacturers will wait until we have on-package graphics before going down that route...
One More Time: New H55 Boards Next Year
As I subtley implied at the end of the last section, Intel is bringing on-package graphics to Nehalem starting in Q4 of this year:
The 32nm Nehalem shrink, codenamed Westmere, will be available with a 45nm Intel graphics core on the processor's package. This graphics core is an evolution of what's currently in the G45 chipset and not Larrabee (although eventually that will change). From what I've heard, this is actually going to be Intel's first reasonably good integrated graphics core.
With the graphics on-package, there needs to be an interface from the processor socket to video output located on the motherboard. As you can see from the P55 motherboards that are launching today: none of them have this video out. Granted there aren't any CPUs out to take advantage of it either.
No DVI/HDMI/VGA out...yet
Early next year (or maybe even late this year) we'll see a new breed of LGA-1156 motherboards with video output, designed for use with these Westmere IGP parts. Rumor has it that these motherboards will use Intel's H55 chipset.
Lynnfield early adopters need not worry, 32nm quad-core processors won't be out for at least a year.
343 Comments
View All Comments
nikrusty - Wednesday, November 18, 2009 - link
With this article Anandtech is Harder, Better, Faster Stronger.
Seriously AWESOME ARTICLE! It cleared many of my doubts FLAT OUT! Now I know i5 is the way to go especially becoz I dont care about overclocking and just want good gaming performance...nothing screamingly extreme. Budget + Performance always keeps you level headed. -
shiro - Wednesday, October 21, 2009 - link
what is that monster hoop of death heatsink that's on page 3? lol -
Eeqmcsq - Saturday, September 19, 2009 - link
I asked a similar question in one of the other articles, so pardon me if this sounds repetitive.
According to the Turbo charts, the slowest Turbo speed is higher than the stock speed. Why is that? For example, why not just make the 750 a stock GHz of 2.8 GHz instead of 2.66GHz? -
Eeqmcsq - Saturday, September 19, 2009 - link
Argh, please ignore. Replied using the wrong Firefox tab. -
The0ne - Tuesday, September 15, 2009 - link
Clear up what you're trying to show on the graphs please. You're getting more FPS at max setting than at min settings? Label the graphs like you did with the others please. With the others I can just look and understand what you're doing. With these, I'm scratching my head. -
The0ne - Tuesday, September 15, 2009 - link
Ah, turbo mode represented in FPS >.>' -
kkara4 - Monday, September 14, 2009 - link
over at bittech.net, they are saying that it is more worth it to go for the i7-920, if we are considering anything above the i5. this is a conflicting story, since anand is recommending the lynnfields. anand or anybody else for that matter could you please see their articles and tell me what they have done wrong? (or perhaps you guys failed to see something). Your article explains things in great technical detail which i can understand since i have studied microprocessors, hence i am more inclined to go for lynnfield. anyway if someone could cross check that would be good -
mapesdhs - Tuesday, September 15, 2009 - link
If I've understood Anand's analysis correctly, the conclusion is that,
for application mixes which involve a lot of single and/or dual-threaded
codes, and assuming one is not interested in high-end SLI/CF setups
or hard oc'ing all 4 cores all the time for tasks like video encoding
or animation rendering, the 750/860 are better buys because they
will internally push 1-core and 2-core clocks to a higher rate than
occurs with the 920 via the Turbo function, giving better results
than the 920, and of course the 750/860 are cheaper solutions
(although the 860 price is similar to the 920, the mbd costs less
than an X58, from what people say).
So it depends on what you want to use your system for. No interest
in CF/SLI? Running games that don't hammer 4 cores? An i5 750 or
i7 860 makes more sense. Using apps that don't use more than 2 cores?
Again the 750/860 is more logical, especially from a cost viewpoint.
This ties in with the other advantage of the X58 platform, ie. the
upgrade path to 6-core and 8-core CPUs. If this is something that
holds no value to you, then P55 makes more sense.
As always, it depends on what you want to use the system for. The
attraction of the 860 from a more general point of view is that it
also offers good quad-core performance when one does use all 4 cores
without sacrificing the traditional higher-clocks possible with
single or dual core setups when one is only using 1 or 2 cores. It's
the best of both worlds, at least for out-of-the-box functionality
However, if one does intend to use all 4 cores almost all the time
(I do) with a strong overclock, then the 920 is a better choice
because of the voltage issue and (IMO) the 6/8-core upgrade path.
Likewise, high-end multi-GPU setups work better with X58.
Given that general usage of a PC rarely uses more than 2 cores, this
is why the 750 and 860 are such attractive options.
As for the 870, despite its 1/2-core speed advantages, the price is
too high IMO. For that kind of money, a 920 makes more sense, paired
with better cooling if one has such a spare budget, or buy a better
GPU setup which, for gaming, is where the real bottleneck lies.
Anand, please correct me if I'm wrong with the above.
PS. As always, real-world pricing issues can make a mess of on-paper
technical conclusions. Also, although many games/apps don't exploit
more than 2 cores now, this is likely to change in the near future as
multi-core coding becomes more pervasive in the industry.
mapesdhs - Monday, September 14, 2009 - link
Re your comments about an X58 advantage being the ability to use
later 6 and 8-core CPUs...
I've been planning to build an i7 920 system for video encoding, so
a max oc on all cores is useful to me; from the article I thus infer
the X58 is a better choice.
However, if I did buy such a setup instead of an i5 or i7 860, what
would the cost tradeoff be do you think when the 6-core CPUs arrive
with respect to upgrading? By that I mean, for total processing
throughput, do you reckon a 6-core upgrade would be significantly
cheaper than simply buying a second i7 920 setup? (gfx not an issue)
If not, then the ability to use 6/8-core CPUs later in this context
is somewhat lessened, something that would apply to animation
rendering aswell (ie. extra complete systems perhaps more cost
effective in increased overall throughput compared to upgrading to
more cores). Any ideas? Also, unless the applications used can
exploit more than 4 cores, the later 6-core CPUs won't help. I have
about 1500 hours of material to convert to DivX. Each file is about
40 to 45 minutes (documentary), so converting multiple files on
multiple systems at the same time is very doable.
Given the above, I'm looking forward to more details on how a max
oc'd i860/i870 compares to a max oc'd 920.
At present I'm just using a 6000+ setup to work out the appropriate
format/conversion paths.
PS. May I suggest you don't bother replying to those moaning in such
an obviously ludicrous manner about the Turbo mode being active? I
have the distinct impression their posts are designed purely to
irritate. Please don't encourage them. Anyone with any sense will
read the article and understand the salient points you've highlighted
about Turbo mode being an integral function of the chip.
Milleman - Sunday, September 13, 2009 - link
I would say that i5 750 and Pehnom II X4 965 is fully comparable. AMD just have to adjust the pricetag and the price/performance will be on par. Looking at the Gaming rig performance, both i5 750 and Pehnom II X4 965 are well enough for gaming pleasure. I wouldn't shell out my bucks for the more expensive Intel top models. It's such a waste of money, unless you are working with huge video and image editing processes.


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We all know it can be tough to change a deeply ingrained habit, but behavior blog Psychology Today highlights a study explaining why exactly it's so damn hard.
A study conducted by researchers from the Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuroimaging at University College London put participants in a situation in which they had to play referee making a sports call—judging if a tennis ball is in or out. The participants made the call by lifting their finger from a pressed key on a keyboard. If they didn't lift their finger, that meant they'd stick with the default choice, and the default varied between "in" and "out" per participant. The results:
As my shopping habits (and the researchers) predicted, participants were more likely to stick with the default when the decision was difficult. It didn't matter whether the default was in or out. If they couldn't make a confident choice, they essentially chose to do nothing. And as the researchers point out, this tendency led to more errors.
So next time you're trying to make a change, figure out what your current default is, and remind yourself exactly why it isn't working. Then look for ways to change your default (clean out your fridge, set up direct deposit) so you don't have to fight the old default as often. And feel free to be your own cheerleader when the going gets rough. Look for the first evidence (a pound lost here, a dwindling credit card statement there) that what you're doing is paying off. The status quo is seductive, and we all need a little encouragement to lift our fingers off the keyboard.
The article points out that these findings also help explain why people are so eager to try things like diet fads—these formulas feel scientific, so they define a new default that we feel like we can trust. It's worth keeping in mind next time you're having trouble kicking an old habit. Photo by quinn.anya.
Why Habits Are Hard to Change (And Printers Hard to Buy) [Psychology Today]


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How to Choose a Bike Helmet
Watch footage from an 80s-era Tour de France, and you'll notice that no one was wearing a helmet. Yet today it's rare to see a cyclist without one. Thankfully, there's been quite a shift in mindset, and most people agree that helmets are necessary.
But which one to choose? This article offers fit and style tips for novice and intermediate cyclists.
The helmet's primary function, of course, is to protect your head from impact. To do this, helmets feature a thick polystyrene or polypropylene foam liner underneath a hard plastic shell, which absorbs the shock of a collision. Fortunately, you don't have to worry about which bike helmets will keep you safe. All BIKE helmets sold in America meet the same CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission) standards.
Note that "BIKE" helmets are emphasized here. Helmets specifically designed for skiing, skateboarding, kayaking, or climbing should not be worn when cycling. The severity and types of impacts these helmets are rated for differ greatly depending on their intended sport. There are all-around helmets (like some models made by Bern) that may be used for BMX in addition to other sports, but these activities should be listed plainly in the product description or warranty.
Replace the helmet after a significant impact. Regardless of how it looks, there may be hidden damage that compromises the helmet's integrity. You should also replace your helmet every five years due to UV degradation and normal wear and tear.
Helmet Sizing
Higher-end helmets are usually available in multiple sizes that offer a more secure and comfortable fit. Less expensive helmets typically feature a universal sizing ring that fits a wide range of head sizes.
All helmets list the head circumference it's designed for. To determine yours, wrap a flexible measuring tape around the widest part of your head, about 1 inch above your eyebrows.
Most children's helmets fit circumferences between 18 and 22.5 inches.
Get The Right Fit
The helmet should be worn horizontally on your head, not tipped forward or back. Usually the front rim rides an inch or so above the eyebrows, though this can differ a little depending on design. The inner band should wrap comfortably around your head—not too tight, yet not so loose that the helmet easily shifts about.
The chin-strap assembly will form a "V" in front of and behind each ear. Make sure there's no binding or chafing. The strap should also not be worn tightly; you should be able to slide two fingers side by side between your chin and the strap.
Helmet Shape
Helmet shape depends on the manufacturer. If your head is oblong, for example, you might want to try a Giro helmet, whereas Bell helmets are often great for rounder heads. Try several styles to see which brand and specific model is right for you.
Road Bike Helmets vs. Mountain Bike Helmets
A bike helmet is a bike helmet, right? Well, not exactly. There are a number of design differences, depending on the type of cycling you're doing.
Road bike helmets tend to be very lightweight and aerodynamic. The texture is always glossy, so in case of a high-speed accident, the helmet will slide over the pavement instead of catching. To cut down on weight and air drag, these helmets also don't typically include visors.
Mountain bike helmets are a little bulkier, especially in back, where they're designed to protect your head from a backward fall. Shell textures vary, from smooth like a road bike helmet to a rougher, flatter surface. Lastly, mountain bike helmets often include visors, which offer some protection from sunlight and rain.
Helmet Prices
Gaze at a big selection of bike stores, and you'll see a range of prices from $30 to $200 and more. Why the difference? Usually the variance is due to weight and complexity of design. More expensive helmets are lightweight, with the lightest being made of carbon fiber. Pricier helmets also feature an intricate mold for improved ventilation and aerodynamic performance.
If you're just getting into the sport, stick with a basic model. But for those who are serious about shaving off every possible ounce, an ultralight road bike helmet might be for you.
All road bike helmets and most mountain bike helmets feature multiple large vents that create airflow to keep you cool.
Your helmet is the first thing a motorist sees. Black helmets are cool and stylish, but if you're mostly road biking, you might want to opt for a white or brightly colored helmet that's visible to oncoming traffic.
A Few Other Things
Make sure the helmet doesn't restrict your field of vision. Some helmets provide ponytail ports in back.An internal sweatband will help control perspiration.


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This article is more than 1 year old
BitTorrenters seek sanctuary in Pirate Bay
Legal takedowns boost traffic
Despite a series of law enforcement and other attacks on illegal file-sharing this year the number of people using the anti-copyright BitTorrent tracker Pirate Bay has almost doubled.
TorrentFreak reports that Pirate Bay has leapt from about 4.3 million users at the end of 2006 to more than 8 million at the end of this year. The number of files being tracked for download has risen to 915,000 from 576,000.
The Swedish site has added several new servers, mostly from Dell and HP, over the course of the year. Pirate Bay admins reckon they have capacity to double the number of peers tracked without further upgrades. More on their hardware here.
The Swedish site has attracted floods of file-sharing refugees from TorrentSpy, Demonoid, OiNK, eDonkey and isoHunt, which have all been either shutdown or neutered by legal action this year.
It all makes Pirate Bay a bigger target for the music, movie and software rights holders, who it makes a point of taunting. Swedish authorities have vowed to bring criminal charges against five people connected with Pirate Bay early in 2008.
In their end of year blog post Pirate Bay's operators are bullish about the prospect of a trial. "Let us assure you that we are not worried, we are laughing our asses off at it! Cause we are the future and resistance is futile," they write.
We should know by the end of 2008 whether that's hubris. ®


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Last month saw the release of Moody, Standard and Poor the second album from Brooklyn's Obits. Currently on a European tour to promote the record, three quarters of the band were polite enough to spend some time talking to Drowned in Sound prior to their London date, when we discussed such such important topics as the perils of touring, being indie rock royalty (or not), and the whereabouts of a good burger...
Is there a difficulty in finding a balance between working and being in a 'professional rock band', for want of a better phrase?
Rick Froberg: Rock bands don't make that much money unless they're bigger then we are, that's for sure. We get paid enough to augment our meagre salaries. Maybe pay our rent for a couple of months, if we're lucky. What keeps us doing it? Pure foolhardiness.
Greg Simpson: I worry about making rent.
Sohrab Habibion: Our drummer is the only one with a real job. The rest are all freelance.
RF: It's amateur rock. We get paid, but considering what we get paid, it's not much more then a garage band.
Does Sub Pop help you out in any way?
RF: If they want to go bankrupt they can.
SH: We have a really good relationship with them. I think that it's in our best interest to try to do what we do as best we can without asking for anything from them.
When you signed to Sub Pop were there any expectations as to what you should achieve? Did they make you buy flannel shirts?
SH: They actually gave us flannel shirts.
RF: I actually own some flannel shirts anyway.
GS: It was part of the package. When we signed on the dotted line they handed us some flannel shirts. They didn't fit well.
RF: I like flannels shirts.
SH: They didn't say you have to sell this many records, there's nothing like that. They genuinely like our band. They are happy that we do what we do. We do okay enough.
SH: A lot of what they put out does really well, like Fleet Foxes, which helps a band like us. It means they can say we'll do another record with you.
RF: Because we're solvent now.
The new album is called 'Moody, Standard and Poor'. Is that how you think of Obits?
RF: Unfortunately yes. It's also a double entendre. It's a reference to credit rating agencies in New York. There's Moody's and Standard & Poor's.
GS: It describes both our temperament and our personal state of affairs.
RF: It works on a lot of different levels.
It's quite a spacious record and much more laid back then your previous works, not just Obits but your previous groups as well. Was that a conscious decision?
RF: Space is a premium. It's like real estate in New York or London. You want space and you fill it up with stuff and it's not space anymore.
SH: I think for us writing music so that it's not a claustrophobic feel. It can be propulsive without being so compressed, not only in a sound engineering way, like a physical space where the ideas compressed. It's nice to have a little bit of room.
RF: The more you bury the individual voices of the things that are happening, I think rock and roll music is better if you can hear the humanity of the things, and if you have lots of things going on at once, a lot of overdubs and effects, then you're going to obscure those things.
It's also quite vintage sounding.
RF: We use old amps. GS: We just like old school stuff. RF: We don't live in 1968 or 1988. I don't think our music sounds like old music. We use a lot of those forms. We use simple chords progressions and things like that. We're not trying to reinvent the guitar.
GS: It just comes out that way. RF: It's like comfort food. We don't want fusion food.
SH: We live in a time where new things are exciting. For example, here there's a weekly music newspaper that comes out and tells people these are the things you should be paying attention to. We are just not a part of that culture. We don't follow those things. Our music is based around a really simple premise of making things we like. That's what we pay attention to the most; satisfying our selves. At our age and in our lifestyles, if it doesn't have value to us….
RF: You eventually give up on that.
GS: At least for me, I'm into mining what's really old and undiscovered. And I hear something new in that and think "Oh that's really cool".
RF: Music is a continuum; you can drop in at any point. All these things that you think are new have been done before.
SH: I was listening to a compilation of Indonesian guitar music from the 70s and there are ideas on there that are as contemporary sounding as anything I've heard. RF: There's only so much you can do. There are only 12 notes.
The album sounds quite timeless in a sense, like it could have been recorded or released at any point in the last forty years.
SH: The way we recorded the new album the instruments sound very natural. We'll see what it sounds like in ten years. For example, I listen to records I like that were recorded in 1982 and there's a certain recording styles, that date music and I have no idea what our music will sound like.
RF: You're at the mercy of whatever technological whims are happening at the time. A record from the 70s sounds really dry, a record from the 80s all the drums sound like cannon fire, the 90s is a blend of the two. Whatever the technology is, you're at the mercy of that.
GS: Even at clubs. The aesthetics of the sound people.
RF: I wish we could rent our own PA. We're having problems tonight. There's a grounding problem. We're getting shocked when we use the mics, so we're going to have to wrap a t-shirt around them. The club thing is interesting. We don't have our own soundman so we are dependent on a complete stranger's interpretation of what the balance our band should sound like, which is a really weird situation to be in. They're going to hear our band through a guy from Sydney who's been living in London for 11 years; his version of what our band is supposed to sound like. That's just weird.
You guys are also known for being in other bands. Do you find it annoying, the idea that you're sometimes considered indie-rock veterans? Do you feel it gives you an advantage?
GS: Only when there's one over zealous fan. They always gravitate towards Sohrab and yell Rick's old songs right in his ear. RF: Personally, I'm glad they like the songs but they're not going to hear them. Oh yeah, we learnt that song just for you.
SH: On the one hand people need a reference point. There are certainly a large number of people who have heard our group because of what Rick's done and I think that's a great coattail to ride on.
RF: It gives you a certain advantage. It's a double edge sword. Any band I was in, they always wanted to hear the band before. It's like "Well, you missed it". SH: If you're always expecting things you're already familiar with, you're setting yourself up to be disappointed. No matter whether the thing could be good or bad, you're expecting something else; it's just not a great way to experience the world. RF: That's one of the reasons we use old chord progressions and stuff like that. It's familiar. It helps people to be comfortable with things that are unfamiliar, that you have no control over.
SH: If you want to come to the show because of Rick's old band, that's fine. Just be willing to hear it for what it is.
RF: Or at least pay. You have to keep your eye on the bottom line. And your rider.
Have the support bands got to it?
RF: We're generous, we share with everybody.
SF: The band Fists who we're playing with are really cool.
RF: They drank half that bottle of whiskey. We're going to fist them later.
That's going to be the headline. SH: (laughing) We're going to fist them later.
Someone wanted me to ask you guys what the best burger in Brooklyn was.
GS: I would have to divert it to Manhattan and say Shake Shack. They don't have one in Brooklyn yet. They're opening one in Queens. Shake Shack is so simple. They sell burgers and hot dogs, and you can get fries and beer. That place is good. SH: There's a place in Williamsburg called DuMont that is supposed to be really good. RF: What's that really old place? The steak place?
Peter Luger?
RF: Yeah, Peter Luger. I bet you can get a good burger there. Johnny MacK.
GS: Yeah, Johnny MacK's has a good burger. As does 12th Street Bar & Grill. No-one's going to know where these places are. Where is your friend going? I don't know. He just wanted me to ask where the best burger in Brooklyn was, and why you guys are so rad.
Bass: We're not rad. Some of us are dads.
RF: Yeah we're rad. That's cool.
The new album Moody, Standard and Poor is out now on Sub Pop.
Grab a free track from here:


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Nokia Video Trimmer helps you shorten videos; shows up in the Store, but you can't download it yet
Nokia already has a plethora of apps available in the Nokia Collection, but the manufacturer isn't halting with what's currently available. Video Trimmer is an app we covered at the Lumia 1020 launch event, which enables consumers to conveniently shorten videos. All it takes is some magic and some sliding controls to cut down the duration to a single clip.
The app has now arrived in the Nokia Collection, albeit hidden, though you can at least look at it. That's the good news. The bad news is no, you can't download it, so consider this a teas post for this Friday when the Lumia 1020 finally goes on sale (You can see the app in action in our video below, it's worth the watch).
Video editing has long be sought after for Windows Phone devices and Nokia heard consumers loud and clear. While the app is fairly basic at the moment, presumably Nokia could continually add to it much like their Creative Studio app. We could invision Nokia adding filters and other wizardry to Video Trimmer to make a full on video editor in the future--seems like a natural step for them, no? Indeed, the fact that it is a separate app that can be independently updated from Pro Camera tells us that Nokia has plans for it.
Back to the app itself, once you're done altering the video, the end result can be saved to the device or uploaded and shared over WiFi or mobile data connection. It's a neat little app that will go well with the new Lumia 1020.
But what about other Nokia 92x devices? They too will get video editing with a future update, as we confirmed with the company in New York. It will evidently be a part of the Amber update that also brings Pro Camera support. That update will also bring stereo-audio recording, bumping the current mono mode that we have now. Nice.
You can try to download Nokia Video Trimmer from the Windows Phone Store on a Lumia 1020, though we're betting this is a look-but-don't-touch kind of thing for everyone else. Thanks, Jackniel, for the tip!
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Rich Edmonds was formerly a Senior Editor of PC hardware at Windows Central, covering everything related to PC components and NAS. He's been involved in technology for more than a decade and knows a thing or two about the magic inside a PC chassis. You can follow him on Twitter at @RichEdmonds.


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We are open 102 hours per week to give plenty of options for everyone to come and enjoy the facility! A complete list of hours can be found here.
Show All Answers
While we hope you choose to join Champions Club, you can also drop in and purchase a day pass any day of the week! Don't forget to complete your Liability Waiver online prior to dropping in.
We do not have any residency restrictions for Champions Club. However, we do offer a 20% discount to our residents. Check out our membership rates online here.
A complete list of our membership rates can be found here. Be sure to check out our discounts for Southlake residents and military personnel.
All Southlake residents receive a 20% discount on their membership fees. Check out our membership rates online here.
Learn More about memberships here.
Family is defined as individuals residing within the same household who are claimed on IRS taxes. Family memberships may have up to (1) additional individual, 16 years or older, designated on their family membership who is not claimed on their IRS taxes. Learn more about our memberships here.
Corporate rate passes are valid for employees of a Southlake business and churches verified by the City of Southlake commercial listing. For corporate verification, customers shall show proof of current employment through a pay stub dated within thirty (30) days of enrollment. Learn more about our memberships here.
Champions Club has over 82,000 square feet of fitness, aquatic and fun amenities! Check out our amenities page for a full list of what you can expect as a member of Champions Club.
Yes! Our Lil' Champs child watch is open Monday – Saturday 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. and Monday – Friday 3 p.m. - 7 p.m. Visit the Lil' Champs webpage for more information.
Yes! Champions Club has numerous opportunities to host parties, celebrations, reunions and other types of receptions and gatherings throughout the year. Check out our party packages or explore our rental opportunities.
Champions Club does not offer a discount for those who choose not to work out, swim or participate in a program while at the facility. All guests entering the facility must have a membership or purchase a day pass. See our membership rates and day pass rates.
We are looking for highly motivated and passionate individuals to join our team! We are hiring for part-time team members as well as contract instructors. Be sure to check out our current openings and if you don't see something you are interested in complete a Job Interest Card to be the first to know when new positions become available.
The Marq Southlake is our overall facility name. Phase I of the facility, which has been in operation since December 2015, is called Legends Hall at The Marq Southlake. Legends Hall includes our rentable event spaces and Senior Activity Center. Champions Club at The Marq Southlake is Phase II of the facility, and opened in April of 2019. As the active recreation side of The Marq Southlake, Champions Club features fitness equipment and studios, an indoor pool, a gymnasium and more.
We're here to help! Email Membership Services or call (817) 748-8955 if you would like more information.


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Over the last several months, we've seen several notable entries into the phablet market. Essentially, a phablet can best be described as a device that's larger than your typical smartphone, yet smaller than the average tablet. These devices – which boast a larger screen – are capable of making voice calls, neatly skirting the gap between the smartphone and tablet spaces.
Rumors have been circulating that Chinese manufacturer Huawei would be unveiling a new phablet at CES 2013 called the Mate. The device was recently confirmed at an official demo, when Huawei executive Richard Yu pulled the 6.1-inch Android-powered phablet out of his pocket at a store in Guangzhou, China.
While Yu showcased the device, it remains unclear exactly what specifications the large smartphone will offer, although we do know the 6.1-inch full HD resolution screen has a pixel density of 361 ppi.
In addition, the latest reports indicate the phablet will sport a 1.8 GHz HiSilicon K3V3 quad-core processor, along with a 4000 mAh battery. The Mate is also tipped to be 9.9 mm thick and carry a price tag that works out to about $480 here in the US.
One of the biggest drawbacks of any smartphone in the phablet arena? They are so gigantic and bulky that it can be next to impossible to carry one in your front pocket like you would a normal smartphone.
The upside? The giant screen certainly makes it easier for gaming or enjoying your favorite media.


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Seventy-three-year-old Denise Potter had hip-replacement surgery in May, but she boarded her Memphis church's bus Sunday and rode 600 miles to Charlotte, N.C., all the same, just to be in the same room as Michelle Obama.
Potter says she supports President Obama in part because she really loves his wife, and she knew the first lady would deliver a message well worth hearing in her opening-night speech at the Democratic National Convention. On Tuesday night, Potter wasn't disappointed. Several times during the searing 40-minute address, which included many personal anecdotes about Michelle Obama's life with her husband, Potter closed her eyes and wiped away tears.
She wasn't alone. In every corner of the Time Warner Center in Charlotte, all eyes and ears were focused on the woman many considered a possible presidential liability four years ago. What a difference three and half years can make.
On a night filled with moving tributes to the iconic Sen. Edward Kennedy, a rousing show of support from Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick, and the inspiring story of Julián Castro, the first lady was the undisputed star, as she reminded convention-goers and the country why her husband deserves four more years.
Obama drew "oohs" and "aahs" as she stepped on the stage looking striking in a sleeveless, deep pink dress with a shimmering pewter hem. The two-tone frock accented her rose-colored pumps and highlighted her perfectly coiffed bob and hip silver manicure.
"She was exactly what I expected and she's exactly why I love our president,'' said Potter. "She told me what I needed to hear about him and the next four years with the realness I needed to hear with it. She keeps it real and she keeps him real.''
Four years ago no one knew exactly what to expect from the former Michelle Robinson who hailed from the South Side of Chicago. On the 2008 campaign trail, Obama would often speak her mind in blunt terms and offered "all too real'' examples—bad breath and stinky socks—of her husband's personal habits at home. The Democratic masses weren't pleased. Obama heard her critics loud and clear and appeared to turn her persona around overnight. Months before her husband took the oath of office in January 2009, she'd deftly retooled her own profile and quickly found herself listed among the most popular political figures in Washington. Her instinctive political savvy helped her sidestep many of the political landmines several other first ladies have fallen victim to. By focusing her attentions on respectable but noncontroversial issues such as support for veterans' families and ending childhood obesity, she continued to build additional admirers and soon surpassed her husband's approval ratings.
"No matter how frustrated I got with government and the president at times over the last four years, I always liked Michelle,'' said Elaine Franken of Dallas.
"She seemed like the nicest woman and the most straightforward person in the White House at times," said Franken, 37. "At first I wasn't sure about her, but then one day I really began to admire how she carried herself and how she cared for her family and her girls.''
The Obama campaign always understood the importance of Michelle Obama and quickly admitted as its reelection push got underway that the first lady would be a not-so-secret secret weapon. The first lady's nearly 60 percent favorability rating was the most surefire way of reigniting passion for Obama in 2012, the campaign realized. Attendees on Tuesday night seemed to prove that theory right.
"I like Obama a lot but definitely wasn't as passionate about him as I was four years ago,'' said Charles Walton, 43, of Birmingham, Ala. "Things have not been as good as I thought they'd be by now. I came here to get the spirit and the excitement back for Obama, and on the first day of the convention I can say it's already back.''
Michelle Obama's ease in connecting her and her husband's humble beginnings, student-loan debts, and core values to the average American's woes and concerns resonated through the crowd Tuesday night like bolt of lightning. Attendees nodded their heads, wiped away tears, and leapt to their feet as she detailed the hard work of her father, who suffered from multiple sclerosis, and the sacrifices of Barack Obama's grandmother, who passed away shortly before he was elected.
"There was something so authentic about her and her message that I think it reminded me of why I voted for Barack in the first place,'' said Sheryl Lewis, 28, an Obama supporter from Boston. "What she said is what I want to hear more of and what the country needs to hear more of to understand where we are now and where we're going with Barack next. She told us he needed more time to fulfill his promises, and I believe her.''
Many in Charlotte believe hearing and seeing more from the likes of Michelle Obama, Deval Patrick, and Julián Castro are exactly what is needed for President Obama to win big in November. Listening to the passionate thoughts of those who know the president well can serve as an inspiring reminder of the hope and confidence they once felt for him not so long ago.
"So much negative has been said about this president that it is so easy to be confused about what he's doing or what he's done,'' said Hattie McClain, 54, a Democrat from Tulsa, Okla. "Michelle and Deval Patrick set us straight tonight. I want to keep hearing them because they can talk about the president in a way others can't. They can sell him to people in a way he can't do for himself.''


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10 September 2008--A series of flight tests by the U.S. Air Force late last month using a synthetic jet-fuel blend comes at an awkward time for the service. Part of a two-year-old program to integrate domestically produced, non-petroleum-based jet fuels into the Air Force's fuel supply, the tests included an F-22 Raptor, which underwent the first aerial refueling using a synthetic jet fuel, and an F-15 Eagle, which became the first fighter jet to fly at Mach 2.2 on synthetic fuel. However, the departures of two key supporters of the synthetic-fuel program have cast doubt on its future and the likelihood that the service will become as aggressive a promoter of the petroleum substitutes as it had stated in the past.
Much of the impetus for the certification and proposed adoption of synthetic fuels came from William Anderson, the assistant secretary of the Air Force for installations, environment, and logistics. But a little over a month ago, he resigned, citing a lack of support for his plans. Anderson's departure followed the exit of Michael Wynne, the former secretary of the Air Force who initiated the program and was forced out of office in June after security lapses were found in the Air Force's handling of nuclear weapons. The two officials had spoken widely about a goal to certify all Air Force airframes to fly on synthetic fuels by 2011 and to fly half of its North American fleet on a blend of domestically sourced synthetic fuel by 2016.
Skeptics have long questioned the service's ability to meet that latter goal, which hinges on enticing commercial partners to build production plants to supply the fuel. The alternative fuels pursued by the Air Force are intended to perform identically to ordinary JP-8 jet fuel, which is the kerosene-based fuel most commonly used in Air Force aircraft. The key difference with a synthetic fuel is its source. A vast number of feedstocks--including natural gas, coal, and biomass--can be converted into a usable fuel with a method called the Fischer-Tropsch process. In all its test flights to date, the Air Force has used fuel derived from natural gas. "We're hoping that our promise to purchase the fuel will be enough for a few companies to find financial backers and build a plant," says Tim Edwards, the head of fuels technology at the Air Force Research Laboratory, in Dayton, Ohio.
This past January, the Air Force issued a call for companies to build a coal-to-liquid plant on land leased by Malmstrom Air Force Base, in Montana. With a new acting secretary of the Air Force, however, the fate of this plant is up in the air, with no decision expected until the end of the year. Any delay in building a production facility would make it very difficult to meet the 2016 goal, say experts.
Synthetic fuels are not unknown in aviation; South African Airways has been flying on a synthetic jet-fuel blend since 1999. But there are only a handful of production plants in operation around the world, even though the ability to make synthetic fuels has existed for half a century. Given that the Air Force pays an extra US $660 million for every $10-per-barrel increase in the cost of oil, the idea of cultivating a domestic market for jet fuel has immediate appeal. "You just can't get away from the looming demand of China and India," says Richard Lawson, a retired four-star Air Force general and former president of the National Mining Association. "I think you can make a terrific case for helping the country to accelerate the development of any alternative source of energy if it reduces the risk that our needs for energy would come into conflict with others' needs for energy."
Synthetic fuels have long been considered more expensive to produce than petroleum-based jet fuels, and making them emits twice the amount of greenhouse gases as making ordinary jet fuels, according to an estimate from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, in Golden, Colo. To assuage concerns over the emissions associated with synthetic-fuel production, an energy law passed in 2007 included a provision mandating that the Air Force not purchase any alternative source of fuel whose environmental profile is worse than that of the fuels it uses now. A report published this year by a Defense Science Board energy-security task force expressed "strong concerns" about the viability of synthetic fuels, citing high production costs, a high level of initial investment needed from industry, and the untested nature of carbon sequestration, which would be a necessary component for any coal- or natural gas–based fuel to qualify.
But the fuels might be more affordable than people once thought. A 2007 report from the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), in Morgantown, W.Va., concluded that a $5 billion investment in a commercial-scale coal-to-liquid facility located near coal deposits would pay itself off with oil priced at just $61 a barrel, including the cost of equipment to capture and compress carbon dioxide for injection into a pipeline. The estimate does not include the cost of burying the carbon dioxide or transporting the fuel to its markets. (According to Daniel Cicero, the technology manager of the fuels division at NETL, a conventional petroleum refinery becomes economical with oil at about half that price.) At least two synthetic-fuel production facilities now being planned in the United States, by Rentech and Baard Energy, intend to capture carbon dioxide that is released during the synthesis process and use it in enhanced oil recovery by injecting it into nearby oil fields.
While the future scope of the program remains in limbo, the certification process continues apace, with test flights scheduled for this fall to collect data on coal-derived jet fuel. Before any flight test, the fuels are subjected to months of examination. An attractive fuel must have certain properties--among others, it needs to have an energy density similar to that of conventional fuels and thermal stability at the temperature ranges that aircraft face, in particular a similar freezing point. While Fischer-Tropsch fuels come close, blending them with conventional jet fuel lands them within the acceptable range for those properties.
Another aspect under test is "O-ring swell." Ordinarily, jet fuel causes certain connectors among aircraft parts to swell up, but Fischer-Tropsch fuels don't have that property. To make sure that no unexpected leaks appear when switching from one type of fuel to another, the engineers at the Air Force Research Laboratory carefully monitor the behavior of O-rings when they're in contact with synthetic fuels. "We spend all this time and money testing components that are a dollar apiece," Edwards says. "You wouldn't think it would be such a big deal, but there are millions of them across our aircraft. If it turned out that we had to replace all of them to use synthetic fuels, this program would be a nonstarter."
Going forward, the lab intends to test samples of more speculative and environmentally attractive sources for jet fuel, including algae and seaweed. If the Air Force backpedals from its synthetic-fuel push, commercial airlines--which have dabbled in biofuels--may be the only ones left to pick up where the Air Force leaves off.