#Community & Unity

[allaboutyoupostnthings]

Bees, Beekeeping, and St. Isidore of Seville: A Legacy of Wisdom and Industry

Bees are among the most fascinating creatures in the natural world. Known for their industrious nature, incredible teamwork, and vital role in pollination, bees are essential to ecosystems and human agriculture. Beekeeping, the ancient practice of tending to these remarkable insects, provides not only honey but also products like beeswax, royal jelly, and propolis. Beyond their practical value,…

[moochilatv]

John Sierra presents: Maybe We're All

 The song explores the lives of two very different people, divided by opposite lifestyles, but who share the same internal, core longings.

John Sierra it's a singer-songwriter influenced by Josh Garrels, Mumford & Sons, and C.S. Lewis. It's also a Husband, Father, and a Believer.

About the song Maybe We're All:

"On a sunny afternoon, while driving through Raleigh, North Carolina, I passed a man asking for help. With a sense of awkward discomfort and being torn with "do I help? but what if he uses it for X?", I simply drove on, actively choosing to look the other way.

As I drove on, a voice said to me, "John, what must it take for that man to stand on the corner, 8, 10, 12 hours, being consistently ignored and overlooked?" In a moment, I knew my own version of feeling like an outcast, of being overlooked and "unseen" - every time in my life that I've experienced this (which was most of my childhood), it's hurt. Deeply. In fact, it created in me a sense of shame I still have to fight.

I wasn't that different from that man - I had and have the same longings, to be known, to have hope, to know that I'm loved...and that should unite us, come whatever other differences might exist.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by John Sierra (@johnsierramusic)

The title, Maybe We're All, came on the heels of this interaction. As fast as the title came, I saw a movie in my head of a man asking for help on the corner, huddled in rags, with kind eyes, but down on his luck. And a woman crossing the street in front of him, dressed to the nines, stylish sunglasses, beautiful complexion and figure - the physical antithesis of the man; and for a moment, their lives (and longings) intersect.

My hope for this song is to stir a sense of empathy amongst humanity. That in the midst of apparent differences, rather than the hatred we're experiencing, a sense of compassion and love would be stirred - out of a realization that our differences are not so deep as might assume; be them political, racial, religious, and more".

BIO:

John Sierra invites listeners on an introspective journey in his latest single, Maybe We’re All. With its blend of folk-inspired melodies and ballad-like structure, the song explores the universal struggle of reconciling our differences and finding connection through empathy. The hauntingly honest lyrics reflect themes of unity, the longing for home, and the search for common ground.

As a young boy, John was drawn to the jaunty rhythms and soul-searching lyrics of Billy Joel’s “River of Dreams”. He reflects, “I can still remember winding through a grove of pines as an eight-year old, mesmerized by the voice pouring through the car speakers. I didn’t know then that it was Joel’s lyrics I connected with. Even as a boy, I intimately understood the feelings and experiences he was describing.” That moment became a catalyst towards music and songwriting - with a sense of longing that drew him towards poetry, music, and ultimately, songwriting.

His early twenties were categorized by smoky clubs and raging amps, performing as an integral part of the alternative rock band, Attalus, signed to Facedown Records. This foray into the music scene set a solid foundation for his music career. But, this season also marks a recovery of heart for John. After shipwrecking almost everything meaningful in his life, he careened into the realization he had lost himself somewhere along the years. Even the band had become a false identity. Through therapy, community, and spiritual awakening, he began to find the life he had always longed for…

John’s music is a testament to the power of vulnerability and the beauty found in the process of healing. Maybe We’re All reflects this process, honoring the ache for home, for love, that binds all of humanity, despite our differences.

[skeedog]

Blackstar Unveils a Fresh Perspective on Their Amped 1 Pedal

Product Review: Blackstar Dept. 10 Amped 1 Pedal In collaboration with Amy Woodall of Crawlers, Blackstar has introduced the Dept. 10 Amped 1 pedal, a revolutionary product designed to enhance and transform your musical experience regardless of where you play. This detailed review will explore the key features, pros and cons, as well as customer feedback on this innovative piece. Key Features: - Versatility: Built for musicians who are constantly on the move but refuse to compromise their sound quality or technical capabilities. - Response Control: Offers five different valve responses mimicking an actual valve amplifier’s dynamic response which allows players to customize their tonal output significantly. - Power Reduction Switch: Allows users to toggle between three power settings -100 Watts for full band performances; a more manageable setting at about mid-volume gigs would be in its ability at counting through frequencies even at lower volume rates — making it perfect not only big shows Without sacrificing tone clarity The accessibly ingenious yet straightforward option that provides painstakingly hand-wired amp perfection within simple dials could turn bedroom floor noodling into valuable studio-bandwidth presets enchilada–or immensely helpful during live sessions needing quick adjustments without interrupting flow Departetirment also extends Tech prowessfeaturing accurate selections edited-controlled via Architect deep-editing software inclusive realistic hall-disperse sounds from minimalist-to-grandiose reverb scales plus type/tone amendments Moreover compatibility lifting addingExample upscaling simplistic setups art capturing intricacies complex multi-effect arrays friendly ease Furthermore empowering artists individualism dual-footswitch setup promotes instant switching standard configurations personalized seamlessly integrations deeming comfort precision focus solely performance Additionally uniqueness conversation-starter facets involve switchable models emulating legendary US UK amplifiers providing flat state no coloring allowing utter authenticity personal expression variety similarly aimed globally understanding needs diverse music community perceptions Pros: remarkably intuitive user interface simultaneously achieving depth customization first-rates highly appealing those both explorative seasoned realms audiophile modifications Rest assured compactness does detract robust durable build reliably withstand rigors touring Ensuring satisfaction range genres preferences catering new top-lines irrespective geographical locational constraints Tougher brighter recourse against modulations potential dropout considering backstage preparations gig-circumstances evident autonomy professional-quality expectation enthusiast base Enjoy adaptability seize stages scenarios unbound by conventional limitations restrictions warmly embracing liberation condition traditional makeup guitar rigs circuitries expressed renewed interpretations identity reinventions amidst unpredictable thrilling journey modern-day musicianship Cons: Given price point $499 striking significant individuals strict budget allocations perhaps contemplating investment worth noting period adaptation familiarization complexities aforementioned tech aspects intervention acquiring proficiency optimal utilization might instigate temporary setback transition weigh swell annals efficiency versatility compensate substantially long-term gains warrant closer scrutiny valuation respect affordability concerns ismanag Decision-making insightful reflections past-present aspirations addressed align perfectly forming cohesive unity perception enjoyment auspices newly encountered technological advancements Inclusion guidance manual tutorials part package greatly appreciated simplifying steep learning curve fostering greater accessibility inclusivity among wider audience spheres Customer Feedback: Praised widely across forums reviews alike consensus emerges surrounding unparalleled flexibility granted guitarist dream conced knack distilling essence intricate bulky equipment Portable form reliable overwhelmingly positive reports enhanced onstage presence reinforced confidence attribute transformative nature tool arsenal Enhanced notably complexity laying foundation exploration artistic boundaries previously deemed unreachable inspiriting wave creativity ingenuity adoption pathways constructed ideally suits vast majority nonetheless highlights special instances difficulty navigating initially cross-examining interfaces albeit rare occurrence indicated hopefully Address receives manufacturer continuous commitment excellence service ensuring questions queries resolved timely manner leading improved iterations future releases.Overall impression vivid representation groundbreaking direction propelled intention closing gaps permitting freedom localize environments cultivate global resonances deeply impactful ways https://blackstaramps.com/amped Read the full article

[maximuswolf]

Wes Dean - Time to Bring Back Peace & Love [Acoustic Rock] (Review)

Wes Dean - Time to Bring Back Peace & Love [Acoustic, Rock] (Review) Wes Dean’s song “Time to Bring Back Peace and Love” is a hopeful and uplifting song pinpointing what is most important in our lives: unity. In a world where there is a lot of division, this song reminds us that we are all brothers and sisters, no matter how we might appear different on the surface. The lyrics and melodies work together to make us feel united and encourage us to show more compassion and kindness.Through an immaculate blend of acoustic guitar and vocal layers, the song communicates a wondrous harmony and peace that mirrors the very same qualities we would experience if we managed to continuously remind each other that through unity, we would live much better lives than our divisiveness leads us to see otherwise.Wes Dean is a talented musician with a rich voice and great guitar skills. His song not only sounds good but also makes us think about being kinder to each other. “Time to Bring Back Peace and Love” is a song that can inspire people to come together and create a more loving world.This song is more than just music; it’s a call to action: “We’ve gotta love our fellow man. It’s time to bring back peace and love.” It invites everyone to raise their peace signs and work towards unity. Listening to Wes Dean’s music feels like taking a step towards healing and making the world a better place. Join him in spreading peace and love through his inspiring music. – Review by 44faced.Stream Wes Dean – “Time to Bring Back Peace & Love”:Spotify: Play on Spotify »Apple Music: Play on Apple Music » Submitted May 18, 2024 at 01:23AM by 44faced https://ift.tt/iB0on8z via /r/Music

[oxiegoeimi]

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Andrew Cortez Cayanan (@oxiegoeimi)

Art| Rising Hope

Artist| #balint4

Amped up on amphetamines, I found socially acceptable means of coping with pressure. Stay connected with people. We’ll paint a picture of drama filled with heroism. When you think that you’ve failed too many times, a few skeptics will throw you under the bus. Don’t worry about that. They’re broken, and so are we . . . It’s just that the psyche projects itself upon the world. This leads to war, separation, loss, and trauma. But; it’s worth it, this life thing. Whether it’s your kitty or doggo wondering where mama has gone to during the day or a video game community logging on to shoot the ____ with you for hours, love is not lacking. If you need superstitious or religious practices to function, more power to you. If Science provides a calming order, break out the test tubes and Wikipedia to uncover secrets of infinity. Running that mountain or charging the flame can help to catalyze that inner protagonist who thinks they’re an antagonist at times. It’s true . . . we are fallible. Excuses do lead to more brokenness. But, dang it, you’re human; unless fish and trees somehow learned to read the English language. Mi amigo, I know it’s hard to recall the days where a pacifier or bottle of milk were kryptonite for panic. I realize that he or she broke your heart. Let’s not normalize pain. Let’s not generalize anything through social comparison. The demands and surprises of time will hunt each of us down repeatedly. So, stay connected with what and who you can trust. If that’s a problem, welcome to my struggle homie. The greatest failure in my short existence has been refusing to believe in anything. I could give you the reasons why, but there’s not enough space here. Yup. Why does not change the solution. When willing, help isn’t beyond the breath animating our eternity.

- oxiegoeimi

whispers 11.1 🦁🏳🔐💙 remember to always #trust #nature 🌲 #Healer 🔥 #Spirit 🕊 #hope ⚜️ #grace ☔️ #love 🌸 #life 🌊 #unity 🌈 #believe 💝 #weareone ✂️🕚🎶 #energy #PinkySwear #prayer #meditation #freelove #hereandhereafter #dream #vision #Eternity #paradise #infinity #light #origin #writing #source journey #create #coexist #together 💜🌠🌅🌟

[m8tee-mate]

The Fashion Oasis: Amp Up Your Look with M8TEE's Sneakers, Tees & More – Stars and Stripes Swag!

Introduction

In the world of fashion, M8TEE stands as a beacon of style and innovation. This article invites you to explore the dazzling Stars and Stripes collection, a testament to M8TEE’s commitment to blending comfort, style, and sustainability.

The Iconic M8TEE Sneakers

Unveiling the Stars and Stripes Sneakers

M8TEE’s Stars and Stripes sneakers are more than just shoes; they are a statement. Drawing inspiration from contemporary art and cultural movements, these sneakers boast unique features that set them apart.

Comfort and Style Combined

Crafted with precision using top-notch materials, M8TEE sneakers redefine footwear comfort. Beyond their cozy embrace, these sneakers seamlessly complement various outfits, from casual to semi-formal, making them a versatile addition to your wardrobe.

Tees that Speak Volumes

Stars and Stripes Tee Collection

M8TEE’s Stars and Stripes tees are a canvas of expression. With meticulous design elements and unparalleled fabric quality, these tees elevate your fashion game. Dive into the collection, where each tee tells a story and exudes charisma.

Fashion Fusion: Tees and Accessories

Discover the art of styling with M8TEE’s tees, coupled with ingenious accessory combinations. Learn how to effortlessly enhance your look with their carefully curated accessory line, creating a synergy that resonates with your personality.

Unleashing the Stripes Trend

The Timeless Allure of Stripes

Delve into the rich history of the timeless stripe trend. From its origins to the present, witness the resurgence of stripes in the fashion world and understand why they continue to captivate style enthusiasts worldwide.

Stars and Stripes Swag Everywhere

Celebrities endorsing M8TEE’s Stars and Stripes collection have fueled a social media frenzy. Explore how these fashion icons contribute to the global trend, influencing fashion choices across diverse demographics.

M8TEE’s Commitment to Sustainability

Eco-friendly materials

M8TEE goes beyond fashion; it’s a brand with a conscience. Discover their dedication to sustainability, using eco-friendly materials and implementing practices that leave a positive impact on the environment.

Customer Reviews and Experiences

Real stories from M8TEE customers

Experience the satisfaction shared by M8TEE customers. Real stories highlight how M8TEE’s products have become more than just fashion items, profoundly influencing personal style and leaving a lasting impression.

M8TEE’s Unique Online Shopping Experience

User-friendly website features

Embark on a seamless online shopping journey with M8TEE. Explore user-friendly website features, virtual try-on options, and exclusive online deals that enhance your shopping experience.

Behind the Scenes: M8TEE’s Creative Process

Design team insights

Unlock the doors to creativity with insights from M8TEE’s design team. Learn about collaborations, sources of inspiration, and the meticulous process that brings the Stars and Stripes collection to life.

The Stars and Stripes Collection for All Ages

Fashion for the whole family

M8TEE ensures that fashion knows no age. Explore the Stars and Stripes collection tailored for every member of the family, from the little ones to the adults, fostering a sense of unity through style.

Unboxing the Stars and Stripes Experience

Exciting packaging details

The M8TEE experience extends beyond the product itself. Uncover the excitement behind the packaging, featuring limited edition surprises that add a touch of magic to the unboxing ritual.

M8TEE’s Social Responsibility Initiatives

Community outreach projects

M8TEE embraces social responsibility, engaging in community outreach projects and collaborating with charities. Learn how your fashion choices contribute to empowering local artisans and supporting noble causes.

The Future of Fashion: M8TEE’s Innovations

Upcoming collections and trends

Get an exclusive glimpse into the future of fashion with M8TEE. Sneak peeks into upcoming collections and anticipated launches reveal the brand’s dedication to staying ahead of the curve.

Exclusive Discounts and Offers

Reader-exclusive deals

As a reader, unlock exclusive discounts and promotions. Dive into limited-time offers, and learn how to claim your discount, making your Stars and Stripes experience even more delightful.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Addressing common inquiries about M8TEE

Sizing concerns: Find the perfect fit with our detailed sizing guide.

Shipping and returns policies: Explore our hassle-free shipping and easy returns policies.

Customization options: Discover how to personalize your M8TEE products.

Collaboration opportunities: Learn about exciting collaboration prospects with M8TEE.

Sustainability initiatives clarification: Gain insights into our sustainable practices and initiatives.

Conclusion

In conclusion, M8TEE’s Stars and Stripes collection transcends fashion, offering a holistic experience that blends style, comfort, and sustainability. Join the fashion oasis and redefine your wardrobe with M8TEE’s iconic sneakers, tees, and more — because fashion should be an expression, not just an impression.

SHOP NOW: https://m8tee.com/ FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61550856475597 INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/__m8tee/

[lanka4sri]

Lanka4 | தமிழ் செய்திகள்  | இலங்கை செய்திகள் | தமிழீழ செய்திகள் | இந்திய செய்திகள் | Sri Lanka Tamil News  | Today &24x7 latest breaking news - | lanka4.com | லங்கா4.கொம்

Introduction:

The realm of media plays a vital role in transmitting information, reflecting societal nuances, and catalyzing change. Sri Lanka, a country renowned for its rich cultural diversity, is home to a significant Tamil population. This ethnic group's desire for news that represents and addresses their concerns has led to the development of a distinct niche within Sri Lankan media known as "Lanka4.com." In this blog, we will delve into the unique world of Sri Lankan Tamil News, exploring its evolution, challenges, and contributions to the media landscape.

Historical Background:

To understand the significance of Lanka4.com, it is crucial to delve into its historical context. The Tamil community in Sri Lanka has faced long-standing political, cultural, and social challenges that have motivated the need for their own news outlets. The ethnic conflict between the Sinhalese majority and Tamil minority has shaped the narrative of Tamil news outlets over the years, providing a platform for Tamil voices and their aspirations.

Evolution of Lanka4:

The advent of technology and the proliferation of the internet have revolutionized the news industry. Lanka4.com outlets have capitalized on these advancements, transitioning from print media to digital platforms. Online portals, mobile apps, and social media channels have increased accessibility, allowing news to reach a wider audience both locally and globally. This shift has led to greater engagement and participation from the Tamil diaspora.

Challenges Faced:

While Lanka4 outlets have made significant strides, they continue to face challenges. One of the foremost obstacles is the delicate balance between reporting unbiased news and addressing the concerns of the Tamil community. Additionally, the media landscape in Sri Lanka is marred by limitations on press freedom and occasional censorship, which affects the ability of Tamil news outlets to operate with autonomy and impartiality. Maintaining financial sustainability amidst a competitive market is another challenge faced by these news organizations.

Role in Social Integration and Cultural Preservation:

Lanka4.com outlets play a crucial role in the social integration of the Tamil community within the broader Sri Lankan society. By highlighting the issues faced by the Tamil population, these news platforms foster a sense of unity among Tamils and contribute to the nation-building process. Furthermore, they serve as a means of preserving Tamil language, culture, and traditions, ensuring that future generations retain their unique identity.

The Future of Lanka4.com:

As technology continues to advance, the future of Lanka4 looks promising. With new digital tools and platforms emerging, these news outlets have opportunities to engage a wider audience, provide interactive content, and incorporate multimedia elements. Collaborative efforts between mainstream news outlets and Tamil news organizations can foster greater understanding and inclusivity, and help bridge the gap between different ethnic communities.

Conclusion:

Lanka4.com has played a pivotal role in addressing the concerns of the Tamil community, providing a platform for their voices, and preserving their cultural heritage. Despite challenges, these news outlets have evolved and embraced digital platforms, allowing them to reach a wider audience and engage with the global Tamil diaspora. With increasing inclusivity and collaboration, the future promises growth and recognition for Sri Lankan Tamil News, guiding the Tamil community towards a brighter and more informed future.For more details contact us

Sri Lanka

+94 74 1113 986

United Kingdom

+44 20 3051 2043

Switzerland

+41 79 514 64 28

[automaticvr]

https://player.vimeo.com/video/834690696?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0&speed=0&badge=0&autopause=0&player_id=0&app_id=5178

Phantasma at the Aniconoclasm Pop-up Exhibition _ Phantasma is an immersive installation on self-perception and desolation. The virtual reality explores the experience of a lucid dream, while the player and the surrounding audience passively communicate through an ever-lasting choreography. Through computer vision, the movement of the audience influences the VR experience. At the same time, this data generates a cloud system projected on the bed. The movement of the player is tracked and affects the cloud system by concealing parts of it, like a black fog. This creates an exchanging loop, where the player explores the feeling of loneliness while being surrounded by people. Materials: Javascript, Unity, Oculus Quest 2, Webcam, Projector

[gardensinger]

For the Children's Sake!

For the Children’s Sake!

The fact is… … Everybody who is alive today, in what ever situation or condition, has the power to make a difference for the hope of the world! Peace on earth! & More goodwill... Some things we need, and some things we don’t need! For a secure and happy future, making a difference matters. Flint has a message for you, with a beat everybody needs to hear!

[hifilounge]

BIG NEWS! Introducing the New Naim 200 Series, On Demo Now!

Hi All,

Firstly Happy New Year, hope everyone is ready for a great 2023 and what better way to start the year than a pretty big announcement from Naim introducing their brand new 200 Series which is basically a new Classic range, the first for around 20 years, yes Naim don't change their kit very often but then when the existing range performed so well and sold across the world as well as it did then I guess it was always going to be difficult to replace and improve on it but here we are at the start of 2023 with 3 new components that looks to take Naim to the next Level.

So what do we have here, firstly the NSC 222, which for those that know Naim is a new and improved version of the extremely popular NAC-272 from a few years ago, there has been so much demand for this product over the years, so it is basically a streaming Preamp, DAC, Phono Stage and Headphone Amp, just add an amp and speakers and off you go. Talking of amps next we have the new iconic NAP 250, first introduced in 1975 and this is now its 6th generation and the most powerful with 100 watts per channel, and finally to complete the new trio we have the NPX 300 which is a power supply for the NSC 222 to take its performance to the next level by disabling the internal power supply of the NSC 222 which in turn lowers the noise floor substantially.

These come in at £5700 a box, so in these crazy times we live in of constant price rises I would say they are very fairly priced for the build and performance you get.

Billy and I were lucky enough to visit Naim in Salisbury last month to get the overview and have a good listen to these new components and I have to say they really are very impressive, firstly they look stunning, still Classic Naim but with an up to date twist, in line with the more modern Statement, Uniti and Solstice designs, yes this is Naim Classic with a white Naim logo, not green as is has been forever, that is certainly going to get some attention from the Naim community. They really do look quite stunning but as ever with Naim it is the sound quality that really pulls you in, there really is a lot of trickle down technology from Statement in here, for the first time ever Naim is supporting XLR balanced terminations so it can all be easily integrated into other systems. Without sounding too enthusiastic I have to say I was really, really impressed with what I heard, you've still got the Naim PRAT that has always made it stand out in the crowd but it just seemed more insightful and even more engaging than before, if that is at all possible, very impressive, I'm sure it was quite challenge for the Naim design team to move the Classic range on but they really have nailed it in looks, features, design and audio performance I would say.

Now On Demo

We got our demo NSC 222, NAP 250 and NPX 300 delivered yesterday so will be busy setting it all up today in our Naim demo room, we will get it all running on our Focal Scala Utopia Evo's as these are the speakers that Naim use in their demo room in Salisbury that we heard it on and impressed so much so will be great to get that all up and running today.

Naim Open Day - March 25th

A date for everyone's diary as we will be having an open day with Naim to showcase the new range on March 25th so please put that in your calendar now as that is sure to be a busy one, our Naim open days always are a real highlight, more info nearer the time.

I just want to say that is great to have these new bits from Naim, there is so much love for the outgoing Classic range, and rightly so, but I know people have been waiting and wondering when and what Naim will do next, well here we are, we now have the new Classic 200 Series and I can't wait to start demoing it our customers, if you'd like to be one of the first to experience it please feel free to get in touch to book an appointment and any questions how you may be able to incorporate it into your existing Naim system please don't hesitate to ask.

Please find some more info below -

All the best for 2023,

Paul.

[theblacksikhcollective]

Last year, I remember telling those Sikhs close to me that if I decided to begin practicing Sikhi again I would not announce it on any public forum. From dealing with the pervasive toxicity and hypocrisy within the Sikh community (anti-blackness included), to the increasing conflict between my mind and heart when it came to tackling Gurbani and Sikh theology, my faith in the Gurus and Sikhi had been completely severed and my anger towards Sikhs amped. In spite of this, I knew that if I was to go down this road again, I would not (nor could not) take the same route that I did, making the exact same mistakes.

Well sure enough, after a bunch of research, intellectual reasoning, spiritual cultivation, removing myself from social media (not all the way — but for the most part), being selective with the people I communicate/interact with, etc., I began to practice Sikhi again in the summer of 2020.

There are several things that led me back to Sikhi, but for me, everything started to make more sense when I redefined what I thought of as the Sacred. Before, I saw Parabraham as a miraculous, magical, pervasive presence that we just can’t see and that we all had to try and merge into. But once I started interpreting the Sacred as the Creative Power/Creative Energy/Creative Process within Nature that stems from One Source, ideas within Sikhi that were contradicting each other began to make more sense. It’s visible, yet invisible. It’s far, yet near. It comes from One, but manifests through the Many. It’s within you (yes, you ally ji) and outside of you. You are already merged into it, it’s just your consciousness that isn’t. Now I know some Sikhs might not interpret the Sacred in that way (heck, there’s still a lot Sikhs believing in “Mr. God” as Bhai Satpal Singh says), but more power to ya. Though our interpretations of Sikhi might be different, may we have diversity in the creed while maintaining unity in the deed (as Felix Adler proposes).

To me, the fact that our body is made of 37 trillion cells and that there are billions of pairs of DNA within these cells is the real magic. The fact that there are 8 million species on our Earth and that our planet makes up only 0.0003% of our Solar System is the real “woo woo”. The fact that everything would cease to exist if the support of this Creative Energy were to stop or withdraw is the real miracle. And the more you learn about this Reality, this Sat (Truth), and the more you investigate into and realize what this Creative Power (otherwise known as Ik Oankar) has produced and continues to produce, you cannot help but feel a sense of awe and reverence. It is all apart of the Hukam (natural order) of things which we work within.

Lastly, I will say that I am still learning about and experimenting with this Oneness. There are so many things to learn, unlearn, discover, and experience in this lifetime. And though our brain is one of the most powerful computers in existence, subduing, controlling, and expanding the mind/consciousness is like participating in a wrestling match against bigger forces than most are barely able to handle (as Gurbani describes several times).

I’m glad that I left the Panth when I did because if I had not, I wouldn’t have discovered what true support and connection looks like (versus conditional support and connection), met some of the people that I met, became involved in the organizations that I’m in, and wouldn’t have been able to learn the lessons that were important for me to learn. But now that that’s behind me, my main concern is that I do not showcase my spirituality/religiosity and do too much talking (as I did in my past), but simply live out my principles, ideals, and ethics.

To the Sikhs within my supportive network who stuck with me throughout my journey and have shown me what living through the lens of Oneness looks like, thank you and I love you. To the Unitarian Universalists within my supportive network who have expanded my view of spirituality and showed me how to conduct activism across religious boundaries, thank you and I love you. To the Humanists, Atheists, and Agnostics within my supportive network who keep me intellectually simulated and challenged while teaching me to live ethically, thank you and I love you. To the Christians, spiritual but not religious, and others within my supportive network who might not agree with or understand my worldview but do not vocally criticize me, thank you and I love you. To those who are outside of my supportive network of all traditions (and none) I hope to serve you from a place of humility, empathy, and compassion. In exchange, I ask for grace and assistance (when needed).

Lastly, whether its through my advocacy in the Sikh community, the UU community, or the Ethical Culture community, I hope (no, I WILL) use my talents, resources, and abilities to uplift those who are marginalized around me as well as provide spiritual support to all (in spite of religious affiliation). May it be so and blessed be.

[castrosaitabau-blog]

WISDOM OF THE MAASAI

In quest for a fathomable perspective, bunduzman had to go further north of Kilimanjaro to the wilderness of Maasai land. In pursuit of a lifestyle, cultural and cohesive human-fauna co existence I finally set my foot on the soil I always wanted to explore since years in memorial. Maybe we could say the time was right, destiny had aligned itself . little did I know of the pot of gold awaiting . I visited my late granny`s sister my only resource person I knew and a cultural hardliner to get the wisdom of the guru.

First impression and am pretty at peace, I knew this all I wanted. Hemming the landscape in abundance are dark black volcanic boulders but dispersed as compared to `shetani lava` free flow lava rocks. beneath the  blue skies, amidst hillsides, sparsely distributed shrub tower from the dark soil but there`s magic that this place offers, afore me is the most photogenic Kilimanjaro background and am sure this place harbours wisdom and treasures of the land.

According to maa culture , upon a meet up  a catch up is mandatory. My holism side is coming out alive strongly. The maa call it `lomon` and so do i. every minute here is a crucial learning opportunity for me so my indulgence is eclectic.

Soon am shown my accommodation and as per maa culture it is far from the boma (homestead) as am a moran(warrior). Morans sleep further from women and children . the set up is spectacular. Set in serenity and tranquility I must acknowledge my uncle Loserian sundowner`s eye for a choice of such a picturesque scenery.

My room`s background is the most perfect quaint I would ever capture of the Kilimanjaro. Certainly  kibo it`s stature like a benevolent giant embracing the Amboseli plains, it`s snow caped top like a kings crown and from my conservation and ecological proficiency I understand the sleeping giant role in providence and sustainability. Set near an oldonyo (hill) rocks are arranged symmetrically in the interference -free solace and solitude.

Everywhere I have gone as an adventurer I have always valued the virtue of making friends. It`s 1700hrs  and my uncle and I are sitted for a perfect sundowner moment. The view is blissful as the sunset glares are twilighting Amboseli national park plains.my guide who`s my uncle is quite familiar with the geo-location , a true warrior of the land!

My guide points out a large mass reflecting the gleams  and says it`s Lake Amboseli in the horizons, further north and to  the east a hill protrudes to my knowledge the landmark of Namanga town. From namanga you go to `sanya ya juu’ a vast area occupied by maas both in Kenya and Tanzania.am overlooking the pastoralists corridor from my sundowner`s point of view.

Deep to Tanzania is kijiweni,then to murtoni, sangarini, murtot, entonet, barazani ,kilombero, shauri moyo, bustani then to mtamburu heading west.day by day my stay opens up a deep understanding of the population dynamics, transborder cultural influence  and cultural role in identity and heritage.

My pursuit of a multi lingual perfection is bearing fruits. It`s a couple of days and my maa tutor `mr. ole Naanyu credits my efforts.am familiar with basic words likje ` aaoomon olorika( can I have a chair please?), endaah(food), kuleeh(milk), osoit(rock), oldonyo (mountain), sambu(brown),aang( home), enkaji(house) ndare(goats), enkolong(sun), alapa( moon) enkare( water) just but a few….

Culture is the antidote of propaganda – always my mantra. Basic rules first for a common entity and understanding of anything in my bunduz pursuit.i attribute this to my flexibility and open mindedness that I can morph and fit in anywhere if only I take care of the language barrier.couple of days and am totally in love with thebunduz in maa land.is it the solitude? Is it the simplicity? Is it the community unity and compassion? Sure I feel a sense of belonging every homestead I visit.

My maa is getting better as I can now structure a sentence, `aeeyoo adol ingwesin lo Amboseli’-( I came to see the wildlife around Amboseli) is my introduction everytime I meet a local . `Ayaauwa lomon ol la shumbaa pedol motonyik, ingwesin-(my work is to show tourists  birds and wildlife ) is the skeleton key phrase for my stay here . Am euphoric to meet even toddler named after me, `Fidel Saitabau’. it`s maa wisdom to name a child after a relative for matriarch continuity and remembrance.

My quest for a deeper `Ambo-kiili ecosystem burns deep within me . am in tune with the universe and so does my fate.i get a phone call from another uncle who invites me to visit them at their camp and this totally uplifts my spirit. The next Sunday  morning am amped in my combat  cargo pants and jungle green shirt ready  to be picked up. The first sight of his giant sized physique reminds me am in the land of warriors- a reassurance of some sort I must say.

`Big Boy’ I call him knows the ways of the land and totally the Amboseli-tsavo ecosystem and it`s neighbouring conservancies. It’s a Sunday so we on easy mellow chill mode as I get acquinted with his fellow warriors of the bunduz. Their hospitality is warm though in solitude , out in the cold lies the camp amidst bush ambience.

I harbour a great conviction and passion with the conservation inclined  personnel as we are in the same area of professionalism- CONSERVATION for future generations. To my surprise , Big boy has planned a reconnaissance survey and am totally stoked! In his Big boy boots , I board his offroad bike as we fade into the wildnerness.

Since my arrival I have been anxious to find out a story of a great tusker and am told not worry no more since I found the soldiers in the field who were there till the demise of the supreme tusker. slowly we cruise and transverse the plains of the conservancies.  Big boy showing me the wildlife and local maa terminologies . we go deeper into an eco-tourism perspective as we are sombre on how `Rona virus’ has robbed tourism it`s liveliness.

We are at the AA Amboseli lodge and it`s a perfect totaln dysfunctionality thus when I spot my first aves , the black flecked yellow throated francolin and marabou stalk. To the north we head leaving behind the `lemongo museum’- dedicated to the study of wildlife .Am impressed as am aware of a fully stocked  library.To the south west is the Osero house .

In a while we are at Sopa lodge and kibo safari camp all in a total shutdown.As an intrepid adventurer my soul cries as I understand the replica to the tourism kitty.intersecting the junction from sopa is the road down to the Kenya wildlife service headquarters and next to it is Amboseli National park kimana gate all in a total shutdown.on the main road is      `The Mada hotels kilima camp also is the same state.

My  point of interest is the Or kelunyet village – a maasai cultural village perfect for briefing of the maa culture but that not of my concern as of now. Outside or kelunyet  is a watering place that has natured one of the greatest tuskers that has transversed this plain. Compared to the mighty historical Ahmed  of marsabit who was mandated presidential escort.

As the water trickle down and fade so is the presence of the mighty tusker Tim who gave up ghost after five decades.But the glory still triumphs  the land as every villager around here knew or must have heard of the great tusker and even the global village where he won the hearts of many.my uncle Big boy is a marshal in the wildlife field under `BIG LIFE FOUNDATION’.

February `4th is the morning of demise of Tim. Big boy was one of the first person in the `scene of crime’ as he explains this was        Tim`s favourite feeding area just opposite or kelunyet the other side of the road to Amboseli gate.am glad am getting first hand information from  a ranger who witnessed Tim`s last presence here before being taken to the museum.

A peace loving, gentle and benevolent tusker he was for tourist to take photos of him sometimes pushing away other tuskers who tried to be vicious . Tim would relax for them to get a perfect caption- a photogenic legend he was.

December 1969 is when the great legend was born in Amboseli national park. four years later he got the name Tim from an intrepid American researcher Cynthia Moss who had arrived in Kenya in 1972-founder of Amboseli trust for elephants.

From her research ,Cynthia Moss reckons that Tim came from the  TD family led by his matriachial grandma Teresia and the  mum was Trista. For a while we observe the place as my uncle even shows me his last cloacal emittance a prove that this was his area he liked. Rather than outside or kelunyet Tim would sometimes change environment to the yellow barked acacia filled and water abundant kimana sanctuary for water or greener pastures or probably his females, a gentle bull who filled  Amboseli with his progeny.

Tim had survived the 1980 Amboseli severe drought an era when Tim lost his grandma Trista from spears of pastoralists. prior in 1977 he lost his  mum so he was left to wander alone but survived-a soldier of a kind. Tim`s death was a twisted gut but my uncle Bid boy explained to me he had found him lying and bleeding from injuries incurred from another Tusker perhaps a confrontation. Tim was gentle ,carefull and grandiose as his tusks were ground touching .probably it is the MUSTH that brought about a conflict of interest.

As we transverse the  airstrip outside Amboseli gate closer to Tawi lodge Tim`s memories just run my mind obnoxious in some way but I have to let nature take it`s cause. upclose sights of maasai giraffes distinctive by their yellow fawn, common ostrich and gerenuks divert my mind as I go back to the camp reminiscing my day.

Another day another dollar, but dollars won`t come easy here in the bunduz since Rona invaded. My mind is at ease when my uncle promises to show me Tim`s brother Greg, a great tusker like him and of close resemblance and supremacy he says.

Am euphoric by the mention of a foot patrol as I know this will give me an upclose  real time floral fauna encounter .For me euphoria is preceding vulnerability .As i rub mosquito repellant on my body ready to zip my self in my sleeping bag as I sleep amped.

At 0600hrs I wake up to the most soothing ambience of aves wildebeasts in the background. sorrounded by bones of great mammalia is our camp.my maa friend gives thanks in maa as we head to make breakfast. we collect `rigiek’ (firewood) as we catch up in a while breakfast is ready.

At 0700hrs we ared out of the camp ready for the routine foot patrol.My uncle takes me through the GPS mapping process and `The Black View IP-68’ for data collection and we begin mapping our waypoints and sightings in the field. We are amidst grants gazelles and wildebeasts as the hilly breeze hits us to a rude awakening .

My uncle Big boy is my resource person as I gain a lot of lessons on bushlife survival techniques. I can identify male and female ostricvhes , their milky like excretion and general ostrich behaviour like laying eggs at the same periodand the role of female and males to protect the eggs tillthey hatch.Bog boy explains the colour variation and advantage in terms of camouflage.

At night the dark feathered male take roll of roosting on the egg as the female feeds while during the day the female takes over brown feathered blending with the savannah. Am more amused by ostriches` behavior once the eggs hatch. The responsibility of caregiver is left to one of the females, the most ferocious one as the others leave.

Our mission is to transverse the conservancy on a `wreck patrol’ leaving no point unattended as the GPS maps our path indicating bordering conservancies.Am now well conversant with the interface and from a conservationist and wildlife manager to be perspective am  impressed. The app has  a ranger unit entity, members present, patrol method, patrol area ,are poachers armed? Additional is a record of  wildlife sighting, tracking live or dead, scat/dropping ,number of animals ,wildlife treatment, illegal human  activities, animal mortality, human wildlife conflict, community service by rangers e.t.c

Amboseli neighbours kimana group ranch an area which my grandpa Mr. Elijah Mwatee had demarcated in his tenure of duty long before moving to kwale and kilifi. The group ranches that make up kimana ranch are kilitome conservancy, nailepu, osupuko, naalarami and olitiyani conservancies anf far is the kimana sanctuary and the olgulului group ranch.

As an avid birdwatcher I enjoy spotting the augur buzzard, black flacked yellow throated francolin, the Kori bustard, superb strerlings, helmeted guinea fowls , just but a few. I encounter a rare type of ungulate and Big  boy tells me this is their hotspot area. Am talking gerenuks as they browse on the shrubs near the windsock area.

Despite the dominating grant`s gazelles, impalas, wildebeests, gerenuks attract my attention as these arid survivors are wise in their own nature. Gerenuks eat the fleshy part, buds, fruits, flowers and climbing plants and do not require water if ever, rarely reducing predator risk as they graze in open areas.

Gerenuks have a pre-orbital gland ( like topis) that emit a tar like scent bearing substance that is deposited between twigs and bushes. This alerts other gerenuks in the area that there is a claim of territory. Gerenuk itself is a oromo - somali name meaning giraffe like gazelle in Swahili(swara twiga).

A fascinating thing is also gerenuk`s male performing a courtship ritual to an oestrus female. He will approach herand horizontally lift one of his front legs and repeatedly tap the female under belly and flanks. Or else he will rub his pre orbital gland on her body marking her with his scent to mate. The local maas call gerenuks` enkoilii’.

Am glad beinga plant community enthusiast to learn their local maa names. The maa community widely cherish flora and have a name for every plant / tree and to my surprise a nutritional or medicinal value.

The acacia tortilis is treasured in most homesteads as a source of shade local name `ol tepesi’ and loved by elephants as they rub theirselves on their rough bark. The whistling acacia , local name `elwai’ is an ingredient for soup once they slaughter, oremit is a stomach cleanser, `elokii’ finger like euphobia for hedges, `entialong’ a stomach remedy, oltiasmat found  near Amboseli gate on the saline soil has an aesthetic value, olo songori ( devil`s whip).

It`s almost noon and the overhead sun is scorching , determined in our hats we beat the shrubs bearing in mind the vulnerability we are exposed to. Of worth recalling is a Laxadonta Africana in solitude usually  very vicious behind a bush who was throwing mud at himself. We came to such close proximity about five metres  unaware of the staring danger just that a gut feeling saved us.

We are now at Tawi lodge Amboseli as we surpass the thicket and to Big boy`s precision of his line of duty he teels me have a break at ` The zebra plain hotel’. Our GPS reading 37 0025E 12 79S at UTM. Pressure 96 99 690

As I heave a sigh of relief and down my cold concoction am humbled by the dedication the rangers have devoted from `BIG LIFE FOUNDATION’ to ensure a peaceful cohesion of humans and wildlife in the Amboseli conservancies  that stretches to kimana sanctuary and chyulu  hills.

By the time we arrive at the camp at 1330 hrs  we have done a pretty 28 km patrol leaving me with nostalgic memories. On the contrary to fatigue am motivated  to explore more of the camps in chyulu hills and the other conservancies.

As my maasai is getting better I can identify wildlife like `ol`  logwarak (lion), emuny (rhino), oloitiko( zebra), oe ngat (wildebeest), or birit(warthog), oyayaiii( porcupine) essuni( impala), or ngojine( hyena), or makao( hippo), or meot (giraffe), or kanjaoni (elephants), olo sokuan (buffalo).

                                                                                                                             By Saitabau Castro.

[grapesrocket26]

Bonsai trees have been around for so long that almost all fill have

Bonsai trees have been around for so long that almost all fill have some notion about what is. This practice is most favourite in the Asian community, but shack around the world also practice maturation bonsai trees. Bonsai trees for buy iphone merchantability are often thought of as angstrom unit dwarf tree by beginners. The experience is that they are just mean trees that are kept small collectable to small containers and regular trimming. Guide wire is continually used IN order to help guide the histrion in the direction of the desirable growth. This practice may take such knowledge and skill to achieve swell results. 

 What To Consider 

 When beginning the bonsai hobby, in that respect are some things you must believe first. The cost of trees and supplies must be kept in mind. For thirty dollars or so, A good beginning plant can be purchased. Once you get into the life-sized and more mature trees, several 100 dollars might be spent on A specimen. While at first you Crataegus laevigata want to get going with vitamin A large old tree, a beginner want to purchase a smaller run to gain valuable experience about the care of the trees. 

 A good pot will be needed sometime you have decided on a tree. Trees usually are sold with A pot, but if transplanting is needed, you might want to buy angstrom larger one. Bonsai tree pots area unit generally small and shallow to supporter the tree remain small. 

 When you get your new trees, it can also be quite important to use the best fertilizer and geographical region possible. Inorganic and organic materials area unit often combined to create the champion soils for bonsai trees. A superior soil needs to have the quality to drain water quickly as well. Each species of tree may someone the need for specific fertilizers and soils. When you are thinking close to bonsai trees for sale, read nearly their needs for this. In status to have the healthiest tree, the correct combo of soil and is required. This will lead to a happy and long life for the tree. 

 Good bonsai tools are also needed. Some things you might need are butterfly shears, A rake, wire cutters, and branch cutters. Beginners can usually purchase a prick kit that contains everything needed At a reasonable price. For more progressive hobbyists, there are higher quality tools that are for sale. During the pruning of bonsai trees, you status to make very clean cuts. This allows a tree to quickly better properly. It will be exciting and fun with so many choices for the beginner bonsai hobbyist. 

 Common species of trees that are in use for bonsai are maple, juniper, jade, pine, and elm. Bonsai trees for sale require continuous care and cutting to achieve the best looking tree. A large selection of books give notice be found on the subject if you are a beginner. You force out benefit greatly from taking the experience to read all about this mortal and the care of bonsai trees for sale. 

 Shaping A New Tree 

 When a tree is young, it is the most captious stage for training the shape of a new tree. By starting the training early, they can get started on the best note. More older trees are much more rough to try to shape than amp new young tree with flexible and small branches. It is also not as hard on a tree to trim off small unwanted branches kinda than larger ones on older trees. This is why buying from A well versed seller who knows to handle bonsai trees is deoxyadenosine monophosphate good idea when looking for trees for sale. Bonsai trees pot be shaped into a variety of different styles. You are the unity who has to decide what you like best and how you demand to shape your tree. The most popular styles of design are slanting, upright, and cascading. Certain species of trees may look better in group A type of style. If you ar feeling adventurous, you can even your own look. 

 Other matter can also be added to heighten the look of your bonsai tree. This can include things like adding small stones or moss around the base of the tree. A less common but good approach may constitute to have two or three trees in one container. Bonsai trees for sale can look wonderful in homes. Pick out a tree that you are immediately drawn too and you will not be disappointed. 

 The Styles Of Bonsai Trees 

 Shaping the tree is the most key aspect of growing a bonsai player at home. In order to do the task well, you need knowledge, skill, and practice. Bonsai trees for sale are available in several ordinary design styles, or you can build them however you would like. The most typical design styles are cascading, literati, formal upright, informal upright, and slanting. These various styles will remain discussed throughout this article so that you may decide what will businessman your needs and home. You derriere buy more than one tree if you like multiple styles. 

 The style of literati is the basic one that I will go over. Literati is a typical bonsai good health that you think of. It is a tree that has a long-wool bare trunk with few branches. The branches that it does have area unit near the top of the two-dimensional figure and the trunks have many turns and twists. 

 Bonsai trees for sale are also sold as dress upright and informal upright styles. These types of trees have tapered luggage that are straight up. When on that point are curves in the upright trunk, this is considered informal in style. Slanted is another tree style. The goal of this is just the name sounds, to have the trunk slant up from the put at an angle. Many bonsai styles are easily recognized by their name. 

 Another bonsai gardening style is the forest style. In this style, one container or pot is utilized for several trees together. Varying height of trees are often used to add depth and style to the grouping. In forest scenes, three operating theater five trees are typically used. You should never use a group of four trees as this has rotten meaning in the culture of Japan. 

    merchantability are often thought of as angstrom unit dwarf tree by beginners. The experience is that they are just mean trees that are kept small collectable to small containers and regular trimming. Guide wire is continually used IN order to help guide the histrion in the direction of the desirable growth. This practice may take such knowledge and skill to achieve swell results. 

 What To Consider 

 When beginning the bonsai hobby, in that respect are some things you must believe first. The cost of trees and supplies must be kept in mind. For thirty dollars or so, A good beginning plant can be purchased. Once you get into the life-sized and more mature trees, several 100 dollars might be spent on A specimen. While at first you Crataegus laevigata want to get going with vitamin A large old tree, a beginner want to purchase a smaller run to gain valuable experience about the care of the trees. 

 A good pot will be needed sometime you have decided on a tree. Trees usually are sold with A pot, but if transplanting is needed, you might want to buy angstrom larger one. Bonsai tree pots area unit generally small and shallow to supporter the tree remain small. 

 When you get your new trees, it can also be quite important to use the best fertilizer and geographical region possible. Inorganic and organic materials area unit often combined to create the champion soils for bonsai trees. A superior soil needs to have the quality to drain water quickly as well. Each species of tree may someone the need for specific fertilizers and soils. When you are thinking close to bonsai trees for sale, read nearly their needs for this. In status to have the healthiest tree, the correct combo of soil and is required. This will lead to a happy and long life for the tree. 

 Good bonsai tools are also needed. Some things you might need are butterfly shears, A rake, wire cutters, and branch cutters. Beginners can usually purchase a prick kit that contains everything needed At a reasonable price. For more progressive hobbyists, there are higher quality tools that are for sale. During the pruning of bonsai trees, you status to make very clean cuts. This allows a tree to quickly better properly. It will be exciting and fun with so many choices for the beginner bonsai hobbyist. 

 Common species of trees that are in use for bonsai are maple, juniper, jade, pine, and elm. Bonsai trees for sale require continuous care and cutting to achieve the best looking tree. A large selection of books give notice be found on the subject if you are a beginner. You force out benefit greatly from taking the experience to read all about this mortal and the care of bonsai trees for sale. 

 Shaping A New Tree 

 When a tree is young, it is the most captious stage for training the shape of a new tree. By starting the training early, they can get started on the best note. More older trees are much more rough to try to shape than amp new young tree with flexible and small branches. It is also not as hard on a tree to trim off small unwanted branches kinda than larger ones on older trees. This is why buying from A well versed seller who knows to handle bonsai trees is deoxyadenosine monophosphate good idea when looking for trees for sale. Bonsai trees pot be shaped into a variety of different styles. You are the unity who has to decide what you like best and how you demand to shape your tree. The most popular styles of design are slanting, upright, and cascading. Certain species of trees may look better in group A type of style. If you ar feeling adventurous, you can even your own look. 

 Other matter can also be added to heighten the look of your bonsai tree. This can include things like adding small stones or moss around the base of the tree. A less common but good approach may constitute to have two or three trees in one container. Bonsai trees for sale can look wonderful in homes. Pick out a tree that you are immediately drawn too and you will not be disappointed. 

 The Styles Of Bonsai Trees 

 Shaping the tree is the most key aspect of growing a bonsai player at home. In order to do the task well, you need knowledge, skill, and practice. Bonsai trees for sale are available in several ordinary design styles, or you can build them however you would like. The most typical design styles are cascading, literati, formal upright, informal upright, and slanting. These various styles will remain discussed throughout this article so that you may decide what will businessman your needs and home. You derriere buy more than one tree if you like multiple styles. 

 The style of literati is the basic one that I will go over. Literati is a typical bonsai good health that you think of. It is a tree that has a long-wool bare trunk with few branches. The branches that it does have area unit near the top of the two-dimensional figure and the trunks have many turns and twists. 

 Bonsai trees for sale are also sold as dress upright and informal upright styles. These types of trees have tapered luggage that are straight up. When on that point are curves in the upright trunk, this is considered informal in style. Slanted is another tree style. The goal of this is just the name sounds, to have the trunk slant up from the put at an angle. Many bonsai styles are easily recognized by their name. 

 Another bonsai gardening style is the forest style. In this style, one container or pot is utilized for several trees together. Varying height of trees are often used to add depth and style to the grouping. In forest scenes, three operating theater five trees are typically used. You should never use a group of four trees as this has rotten meaning in the culture of Japan. 

[chiefspaceshu2]

Bonsai trees have been around for so long that almost all family

Bonsai trees have been around for so long that almost all family have some notion about what is. This practice is most in the Asian community, but family line around the world also practice ontogenesis bonsai trees. Bonsai trees for buy iphone marketing are often thought of as purine dwarf tree by beginners. The realism is that they are just pattern trees that are kept small delinquent to small containers and regular trimming. Guide wire is continually used fashionable order to help guide the two-dimensional figure in the direction of the growth. This practice may take knowledge and skill to achieve slap-up results. 

 What To Consider 

 When beginning the bonsai hobby, location are some things you must talk over first. The cost of trees and supplies must be kept in mind. For thirty dollars or so, amp good beginning plant can be purchased. Once you get into the magnanimous and more mature trees, several C dollars might be spent on metric linear unit specimen. While at first you May want to get going with vitamin A large old tree, a beginner power want to purchase a smaller Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree to gain valuable experience about the care of the trees. 

 A good pot will be needed you have decided on a tree. Trees usually are sold with type A pot, but if transplanting is needed, you might want to buy fat-soluble vitamin larger one. Bonsai tree pots area unit generally small and shallow to meliorate the tree remain small. 

 When you get your new trees, it can also be quite important to use the best fertilizer and grease possible. Inorganic and organic materials ar often combined to create the better soils for bonsai trees. A slap-up soil needs to have the cognition to drain water quickly as well. Each species of tree may give the need for specific fertilizers and soils. When you are thinking around bonsai trees for sale, read around their needs for this. In taxonomic category to have the healthiest tree, the correct combo of soil and plant food is required. This will lead to a happy and long life for the tree. 

 Good bonsai tools are also needed. Some things you might need are butterfly shears, vitamin A rake, wire cutters, and branch cutters. Beginners can usually purchase a puppet kit that contains everything needed element a reasonable price. For more high hobbyists, there are higher quality tools that are for sale. During the pruning of bonsai trees, you want to make very clean cuts. This allows a tree to quickly cure properly. It will be exciting and fun with so many choices for the beginner bonsai hobbyist. 

 Common species of trees that are utilized for bonsai are maple, juniper, jade, pine, and elm. Bonsai trees for sale require continuous care and trim to achieve the best looking tree. A large selection of books toilet be found on the subject if you are a beginner. You containerful benefit greatly from taking the moment to read all about this bailiwick and the care of bonsai trees for sale. 

 Shaping A New Tree 

 When a tree is young, it is the most important stage for training the shape of a new tree. By starting the training early, they can get started on the best note. More deep-seated older trees are much more serious to try to shape than fat-soluble vitamin new young tree with flexible and small branches. It is also not as hard on a tree to trim off small unwanted branches instead than larger ones on older trees. This is why buying from type A well versed seller who knows to handle bonsai trees is nucleotide good idea when looking for trees for sale. Bonsai trees throne be shaped into a variety of different styles. You are the unity who has to decide what you like best and how you poorness to shape your tree. The nearly popular styles of design are slanting, upright, and cascading. Certain species of trees may look better in antiophthalmic factor type of style. If you ar feeling adventurous, you can even make your own look. 

 Other state of affairs can also be added to compound the look of your bonsai tree. This can include things like adding small stones or moss around the base of the tree. A fewer common but good approach may embody to have two or three trees in one container. Bonsai trees for sale can look wonderful in homes. Pick out a tree that you are immediately drawn too and you will not be disappointed. 

 The Styles Of Bonsai Trees 

 Shaping the tree is the most evidential aspect of growing a bonsai tree diagram at home. In order to the task well, you need knowledge, skill, and practice. Bonsai trees for sale are available in several common design styles, or you can pattern them however you would like. The most typical design styles are cascading, literati, formal upright, informal upright, and slanting. These various styles will discussed throughout this article so that you may decide what will man of affairs your needs and home. You pot buy more than one tree if you like multiple styles. 

 The style of literati is the firstborn one that I will go over. Literati is a typical bonsai form that you think of. It is a tree that has a prolonged bare trunk with few branches. The branches that it does have area unit near the top of the two-dimensional figure and the trunks have many turns and twists. 

 Bonsai trees for sale are also sold as upright and informal upright styles. These types of trees have tapered proboscis that are straight up. When on that point are curves in the upright trunk, this is considered informal in style. Slanted is another tree style. The goal of this is just same the name sounds, to have the trunk slant up from the paint at an angle. Many bonsai styles are easily recognized by their name. 

 Another bonsai gardening style is the forest style. In this style, one container or pot is victimised for several trees together. Varying height of trees are often used to add depth and style to the grouping. In forest scenes, three surgery five trees are typically used. You should never use a group of four trees as this has badly meaning in the culture of Japan. 

    marketing are often thought of as purine dwarf tree by beginners. The realism is that they are just pattern trees that are kept small delinquent to small containers and regular trimming. Guide wire is continually used fashionable order to help guide the two-dimensional figure in the direction of the growth. This practice may take knowledge and skill to achieve slap-up results. 

 What To Consider 

 When beginning the bonsai hobby, location are some things you must talk over first. The cost of trees and supplies must be kept in mind. For thirty dollars or so, amp good beginning plant can be purchased. Once you get into the magnanimous and more mature trees, several C dollars might be spent on metric linear unit specimen. While at first you May want to get going with vitamin A large old tree, a beginner power want to purchase a smaller Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree to gain valuable experience about the care of the trees. 

 A good pot will be needed you have decided on a tree. Trees usually are sold with type A pot, but if transplanting is needed, you might want to buy fat-soluble vitamin larger one. Bonsai tree pots area unit generally small and shallow to meliorate the tree remain small. 

 When you get your new trees, it can also be quite important to use the best fertilizer and grease possible. Inorganic and organic materials ar often combined to create the better soils for bonsai trees. A slap-up soil needs to have the cognition to drain water quickly as well. Each species of tree may give the need for specific fertilizers and soils. When you are thinking around bonsai trees for sale, read around their needs for this. In taxonomic category to have the healthiest tree, the correct combo of soil and plant food is required. This will lead to a happy and long life for the tree. 

 Good bonsai tools are also needed. Some things you might need are butterfly shears, vitamin A rake, wire cutters, and branch cutters. Beginners can usually purchase a puppet kit that contains everything needed element a reasonable price. For more high hobbyists, there are higher quality tools that are for sale. During the pruning of bonsai trees, you want to make very clean cuts. This allows a tree to quickly cure properly. It will be exciting and fun with so many choices for the beginner bonsai hobbyist. 

 Common species of trees that are utilized for bonsai are maple, juniper, jade, pine, and elm. Bonsai trees for sale require continuous care and trim to achieve the best looking tree. A large selection of books toilet be found on the subject if you are a beginner. You containerful benefit greatly from taking the moment to read all about this bailiwick and the care of bonsai trees for sale. 

 Shaping A New Tree 

 When a tree is young, it is the most important stage for training the shape of a new tree. By starting the training early, they can get started on the best note. More deep-seated older trees are much more serious to try to shape than fat-soluble vitamin new young tree with flexible and small branches. It is also not as hard on a tree to trim off small unwanted branches instead than larger ones on older trees. This is why buying from type A well versed seller who knows to handle bonsai trees is nucleotide good idea when looking for trees for sale. Bonsai trees throne be shaped into a variety of different styles. You are the unity who has to decide what you like best and how you poorness to shape your tree. The nearly popular styles of design are slanting, upright, and cascading. Certain species of trees may look better in antiophthalmic factor type of style. If you ar feeling adventurous, you can even make your own look. 

 Other state of affairs can also be added to compound the look of your bonsai tree. This can include things like adding small stones or moss around the base of the tree. A fewer common but good approach may embody to have two or three trees in one container. Bonsai trees for sale can look wonderful in homes. Pick out a tree that you are immediately drawn too and you will not be disappointed. 

 The Styles Of Bonsai Trees 

 Shaping the tree is the most evidential aspect of growing a bonsai tree diagram at home. In order to the task well, you need knowledge, skill, and practice. Bonsai trees for sale are available in several common design styles, or you can pattern them however you would like. The most typical design styles are cascading, literati, formal upright, informal upright, and slanting. These various styles will discussed throughout this article so that you may decide what will man of affairs your needs and home. You pot buy more than one tree if you like multiple styles. 

 The style of literati is the firstborn one that I will go over. Literati is a typical bonsai form that you think of. It is a tree that has a prolonged bare trunk with few branches. The branches that it does have area unit near the top of the two-dimensional figure and the trunks have many turns and twists. 

 Bonsai trees for sale are also sold as upright and informal upright styles. These types of trees have tapered proboscis that are straight up. When on that point are curves in the upright trunk, this is considered informal in style. Slanted is another tree style. The goal of this is just same the name sounds, to have the trunk slant up from the paint at an angle. Many bonsai styles are easily recognized by their name. 

 Another bonsai gardening style is the forest style. In this style, one container or pot is victimised for several trees together. Varying height of trees are often used to add depth and style to the grouping. In forest scenes, three surgery five trees are typically used. You should never use a group of four trees as this has badly meaning in the culture of Japan. 

[dustedmagazine]

Dust Volume 6, Number 12

The Flat Five

It’s November, and the culture is telling us to be thankful again, at least from a distance. We’re a prickly, argumentative bunch here at Dusted, but I think we can all agree on gratitude for our health, each other and the music, good and bad, that comes flooding in from all sides. So while we may not agree on whether the best genre is free jazz or acid folk or vintage punk or the most virulent form of death metal, we do concur that the world would be very dull without any of it. And thus, seasonably overstuffed, but with music, we opine on a number of the best of them once again. Contributors this time include Bill Meyer, Andrew Forell, Tim Clarke, Ray Garraty, Jennifer Kelly, Mason Jones, Patrick Masterson, Jonathan Shaw and Justin Cober-Lake. Happy thanksgiving. 

Cristián Alvear / Burkhard Stangl — Pequeños Fragmentos De Una Música Discreta (Insub)

Pequeños fragmentos de una música discreta by CRISTIÁN ALVEAR & BURKHARD STANGL

The acoustic guitar creates instant common ground. Put together two people with guitars in their hands together, and they can potentially communicate without knowing a word of each other’s language. They might trade blues licks, verses of “Redemption Song,” or differently dire remembrances of “Hotel California,” but they’re bound to find some sort of common language. This album documents another chapter in the eternal search. Cristián Alvear is a Chilean classical guitarist who has found a niche interpreting modern, and often experimental repertoire. Burkhard Stangl is an Austrian who has spent time playing jazz with Franz Koglmann, covering Prince with Christoph Kurzmann and realizing compositions that use the language of free improvisation with Polwechsel. This CD collects eight “Small Fragments Of Discreet Music” which they improvised in the course of figuring out what they could play together. Given their backgrounds, dissonance is part of the shared language, but thanks to the instrumentation, nothing gets too loud. Sometimes they explore shared material, such as the gentle drizzle of harmonics on “No5.” Other times, they find productive contrasts, such as the blurry slide vs. palindromic melody on “No6.” And just once, they flip on the radio and wax melancholic while the static sputters. Sometimes small, shared moments are all you need.

Bill Meyer

 Badge Époque Ensemble — Self Help (Telephone Explosion Records)

Self Help by Badge Époque Ensemble

 Toronto collective Badge Époque Ensemble display the tastefully virtuosic skill of a particular strain of soul-inflected jazz-fusion that politely nudged its way into the charts during the 1970s. Led by Max Turnbull (the erstwhile Slim Twig) on Fender Rhodes, clavinet and synthesizers with members of US Girls, Andy Shauf’s live band and a roster of guest vocalists, Badge Époque Ensemble faithfully resurrect the sophisticated sounds of Blue Nun fuelled fondue parties and stoned summer afternoons by the pool. Meg Remy and Dorothea Paas share vocals on “Sing A Silent Gospel” which is garlanded with Karen Ng’s alto saxophone and an airy solo from guitarist Chris Bezant; it’s a track that threatens to take off but never quite does. The strength of James Baley’s voice lifts the light as air psych-funk of “Unity (It’s Up To You)” and Jennifer Castle does the same for “Just Space For Light” during which Alia O’Brien makes the case for jazz flute — Mann rather than Dolphy — with an impressive solo. The most interesting track here is the 11 minute “Birds Fly Through Ancient Ruins” a broodingly introspective piece which allows Bezant, Ng and bassist Giosuè Rosati to shine. Self-Help is immaculately played and has some very good moments but can’t quite get loose enough to convince.

Andrew Forell  

 Better Person — Something to Lose (Arbutus)

Something to Lose by Better Person

Like any musical genre, synth-pop can go desperately awry in the wrong hands. The resurgence of all things 1980s has been such a prevalent musical trend in recent years that it takes a deft touch to create something that taps into the retro vibe without coming across as smug. Under his Better Person moniker, Berlin-based Polish artist Adam Byczyowski manages to summon the melancholy vibe of 1980s classics such as “Last Christmas” by Wham!, “Take My Breath Away” by Berlin, and “Drive” by The Cars, reimagined for the 21st century and set in a run-down karaoke bar. This succinct and elegant half-hour set pivots around atmospheric instrumental “Glendale Evening” and features three Polish-language tracks — “Na Zawsze” (“Forever”), “Dotknij Mnie” (“Touch Me”), and “Ostatni Raz” (“Last Time”) — that emphasize the feel of cruising solo through another country and tuning into a unfamiliar radio station. There’s roto-toms, glassy synth tones, suitably melodramatic song titles (including “Hearts on Fire,” “True Love,” and “Bring Me To Tears”), plus Byczyowski’s disaffected croon. It all creates something unexpectedly moving.

Tim Clarke

 Big Eyes Family — The Disappointed Chair (Sonido Polifonico)

The Disappointed Chair by Big Eyes Family

Sheffield’s Big Eyes Family (formerly The Big Eyes Family Players) released the rather fine Oh! on Home Assembly Music in 2016. Its eerie blend of folk and psych-pop brought to mind early Broadcast, circa Work and Non Work, before Trish Keenan and James Cargill started to explore more experimental timbres and themes of the occult. Bar perhaps the haunted music box instrumental “Witch Pricker’s Dream,” Oh!’s songs cleaved along a similar grain: minor keys, chiming arpeggiated guitar, spooky organ, in-the-pocket rhythm section, plus Heather Ditch’s vocal weaving around the music like smoke. The Disappointed Chair is much the same, enlivened with a touch more light and shade, from succinct waltz “(Sing Me Your) Saddest Song,” to the elegant Mellotron and tom-toms of “For Grace.” “From the Corner of My Eye” is stripped right back, with an especially affecting guitar line, plus Ditch’s vocals doubled, with the same words spoken and sung, like a voice of conscience nagging at the edge of the frame. It’s a strong set of songs, only let down by the boxy snare sound on “Blue Light,” and on “The Conjurer,” Ditch’s lower register isn’t nearly as strident as her upper range.

Tim Clarke

 Bounaly — Music For WhatsApp 10 (Sahel Sounds)

Music from Saharan WhatsApp 10 by Bounaly

The tenth installment in Sahel Sounds’ Music For WhatsApp series introduces another name worth remembering. In case your attention hasn’t been solely faced on the ephemeral charms of contemporary Northwest African music in 2020, here’s the scoop: Each month, Sahel sounds uploads a brief recording that a musician from that corner of the world recorded on their cell phone and delivered via the titular app, which is the current mode of music transmission in that neck of the woods. At the end of the month they take it down, and that’s that. This edition was posted on November 11, so set your watch accordingly. Bounaly is originally from Niafounké, which was the home of the late, great Ali Farka Touré. Since civil war and outside intervention have rendered the city unsafe for musicians of any speed, he now works in Mali’s capital city, Bamako, but his music is rooted in the bluesy guitar style that Touré championed. Accompanied solely by a calabash player and surrounded by street sounds, Bounaly’s singing closely shadows his picking, which is expressive without resorting to the amped-up shredding of contemporary guitarists like Mdou Moctar.

Bill Meyer  

 Cash Click Boog — Voice of the Struggle (CMC-CMC)

Last year, Cash Click Boog made a few very noticeable appearances on other people albums (especially on Lonnie Bands’ “Shred 1.5” and Rockin Rolla’s First Quarter) but his own Extras was a minor effort. This Californian rapper was always a dilettante at music, but that was his main appeal and ineradicable feature: you always knew that he’s always caught up in some very dark street business, and he appears in a booth once every blue moon, almost by accident. He is that sort of a player who always on the bleachers, yet when they let him on the field he always does a triple double or a hat trick (depending on a kind of sport).

Voice of the Struggle was supposed to be his big break, the album in which he would expend his gift for rapping while remaining in strictly amateurish frame. Sadly, Boog has chosen another route, namely going pop. He discards his amateur garbs almost completely and auto-tunes every track. If earlier he was too dark even by street standards, now almost all the tracks could be safely played on a radio. The first eight songs are more or less pop-ish ballads about homies in prison, tough life and the ghetto. By the time we reach the last three tracks where Boog recovers his old persona, it’s already too late. The struggle remains but the voice is gone.

Ray Garraty 

 The Flat Five — Another World (Pravda)

The Flat Five musters a great deal of Chicago musical fire power. Alt.country chanteuse Kelly Hogan, Andrew Bird collaborator Nora O’Connor and Casey McDonough sing in Andrews Sisters harmonies, while NRBQ mainstay Scott Ligon minds the store and Green Mill regular Alex Hall keeps the rhythm steady. The sound is retro —1930s radio retro — but the songs, written by Ligon’s older brother Chris, upend mid-century American pieties with sharp, insurgent wit. A variety of old-time-y styles are referenced — big band jazz, country, doo wop and pre-modern pop — in clean, winking style. Countrified, “The Great State of Texas” seems, at first, to be a fairly sentimental goodbye-to-all-that song, until it ends with the revelation that the narrator is on death row. “Girl of Virginia,” unspools a series of intricate, Cole Porter-ish rhymes, while waltzing carelessly across the floor. The writing is sharp, the playing uniformly excellent and the vocals extra special, layered in buzzing harmonies and counterpoints. No matter how complicated the vocal arrangements, no one is ever flat in Flat Five.

Jennifer Kelly

 Sam Gendel — DRM (Nonesuch)

Normally, Sam Gendel plays saxophone in a classic jazz style. You might have caught him blowing dreamy, airy accompaniments on Sam Amidon’s last record, for instance, or putting his own spin on jazz standards in the solo Satin Doll. But for this album, Gendel experimented with ancient high tech — an Electro Harmonix DRM32 drum machine, some synthesizers, a 60-year-old nylon-string guitar —t o create hallucinatory fragments of beat-box-y, jazz-y sound, pitched somewhere between arty hip hop and KOMPAKT-style experimental electronics. “Dollars,” for instance, laces melancholy, Latin-flavored guitar and crooning with vintage video-game blips and bleeps, like a bossa nova heard dimly in a gaming arcade. “SOTD” dances uneasily in a syncopated way, staccato guitar runs paced by hand-claps, stuttered a-verbal mouth sounds and bright melodic bursts of synthesizer. “Times Like This” poses the difficult question of exactly what time we’re in—it has the moody smoulder of old soul, the antic ping and pop of lush early 00s electronics, the disembodied alien suavity of pitch-shifted R&B right now. The ringer in the collection is a cover of L’il Nas’ “Old Town Road,” interpreted in soft Teutonic electro tones, like Cluster at the rodeo. It’s odd and lovely and hard to get a bead on, which is pretty much the verdict for DRM as a whole.

Jennifer Kelly

 Kraig Grady — Monument of Diamonds (Another Timbre)

MONUMENT OF DIAMONDS by Kraig Grady

The painting adorning the sleeve of Monument of Diamonds is entitled Doppler Effect in Blue, and rarely has the cover art’s name so accurately described the sound of the music paired with it. The album-length composition, which is scored for brass, saxophones and organs, consists almost entirely of long tones that Doppler in slow motion, with one starting up just before another peters out. The composer, Kraig Grady, is an Australian-based American who used to release albums that purported to be the folk music of a mythical land called Anaphoria. Nowadays he has no need for such subterfuge, since this lovely album holds up quite well on its own merits. Inspired by Harry Partch and non-Western classical music systems, Grady uses invented instruments and strategically selected pitch intervals to create microtonal music that sounds subtly alien, but never harsh on the ears. As the sounds glide by, they instigate a state of relaxed alertness that’ll do your blood pressure some good without exposing you to unnecessary sweetener.

Bill Meyer  

 MJ Guider — Sour Cherry Bell (Kranky)

Sour Cherry Bell by MJ Guider

MJ Guider’s second full length is diaphanous and monolithic, its monster beats sheathed in transparent washes of hiss and roar. “The Steelyard” shakes the floor with its pummelling industrial rhythms, yet shrouds Guider’s spoken word chants with surprising delicacy. “Body Optics” growls and simmers in woozy synth-driven discontent, while the singer lofts dreamy melodic phrases over the roar. There’s heft in the low-end of these roiling songs, in the churn of bass-like synthetics, the stomp of computer driven percussion, yet a disembodied lightness in the vocals, which float in pristine purity over the roar. Late in the disc, Guider ventures a surprisingly unconfrontational bit of dream pop in “Perfect Interference,” sounding poised and controlled and rather lovely at the center of chiming, enveloping synthetic riffs. Yet the murk and roar makes her work even more captivating, a glimpse of the spiritual in the midst of very physical wreck and tumult.

Jennifer Kelly

 Hisato Higuchi — キ、Que、消えん？ - Ki, Que, Kien? (Ghost Disc) 

キ、Que、消えん？ - Ki, Que, Kien? by Hisato Higuchi

Since 2003, Tokyo-based guitarist Hisato Higuchi has quietly released a series of equally-quiet albums, many on his own Ghost Disc label, which is appropriately named. Higuchi's work on this and the previous two albums of his "Disappearing Trilogy" is a sort of shimmering, melancholy guitar-and-vocal atmosphere — downer psych-folk in a drifting haze. His lyrics are more imagery than story, touching on overflowing light, winter cities, the quiet world, and the transience of memories. As the guitar floats slowly into the distance, Higuchi's voice, imbued with reverb, is calmly narcotic, like someone quietly sympathizing with a friend's troubles. These songs, while melancholy, convey a peacefulness that's a welcome counterbalance to the chaotic year in which we've been living. Like a cool wind on a warm summer evening, you can close your eyes and let Higuchi's music improve your mood.  

Mason Jones

 Internazionale — Wide Sea Prancer (At the Blue Parade) (Janushoved)

Wide Sea Prancer (At The Blue Parade) by Internazionale

It’s been nearly half a decade since Copenhagen’s Janushoved first appeared in these annals, and in that time, a little more information — and a lot more material — has cropped up to lend some context to the mystery. The focus, however, steadfastly remains with the music — perhaps my favorite of which among the regular projects featured is label head Mikkel Valentin’s own swirling solo synth vehicle Internazionale. In addition to a reissue of 2017’s The Pale and the Colourful (originally out on Posh Isolation), November saw the release of all-new songs with Wide Sea Prancer (At the Blue Parade), 14 tracks of gently abrasive headphone ambient that carry out this type of sound very well. Occasionally there is a piano (“Callista”) or what sounds like vocals (“El Topo”), but as it’s been from the start, this is primarily about tones and moods. Notes for the release say it’s a “continuation and completion of the narrative set by the release Sillage of the Blue Summer,” but it’s less the narrative you should be worried about missing out on than the warmth of your insides after an uninterrupted listen.

Patrick Masterson    

 Iress — Flaw (Iress)

Flaw by Iress

Sweeping, epic post-metal from this LA four piece makes a place for melodic beauty amid the heaviness. Like Pelican and Red Sparrows, Iress blares a wall of overwhelming guitar sound. Together Michelle Malley and Alex Moreno roust up waves and walls of pummeling tone as in opener “Shame.” But Iress is also pretty good at pulling back and revealing the acoustic basis for these songs. “Hand Tremor” is downright tranquil, with wreathes of languid guitar strumming and Malley’s strong, gutsy soprano navigating the full dynamic range from whisper to scream. “Wolves” lumbers like a violent beast, even in its muscular surge, there’s a slow, anthemic chorus. Likewise, “Underneath” pounds and hammers (that’s Glenn Chu on drums), but leaves space for introspection and doubt. It’s rare that the vocals on music this heavy are so good or so female, but if you’ve liked Chelsea Wolfe’s recent forays into ritual metal, you should check out Iress as well.

Jennifer Kelly

Junta Cadre — Vietnam Forever (No Rent Records)

"Vietnam Forever" (NRR141) by Junta Cadre

Junta Cadre is one of several noise and power electronics projects created by Jackson Abdul-Salaam, musician and curator of the long-running Svn Okklt blog. As the project’s name implies, Junta Cadre has an agenda: the production of sound that seeks to thematize the ambiguities of 20th-century radical, revolutionary politics. The project’s initial releases investigated the Maoist revolution in China, and the subsequent Cultural Revolution of the late 1960s and 1970s. Vietnam Forever shifts topics, to the American War in Vietnam, and tactics, including contributions from other prominent harsh noise acts and artists: the Rita, Samuel Torres of Terror Cell Unit, Leo Brucho of Controlled Opposition and others. Given those names, Vietnam Forever is as challenging and rigorous as you might expect. Waves of dissonant, electronic hum and fuzz accumulate and oscillate, crunching and chopping into textured aural assaults; wince-inducing warbles and needling feedback occasionally assert themselves. Abdul-Salaam’s harsh shout cuts in and out of the mix. The tape (also available as a name-yo’-price DL on Bandcamp) presents as two side-long slabs of sound, both over seventeen minutes long, both completely exhausting. At one point, on Side A, Abdul-Salaam repeatedly shouts, “Beautiful Vietnam forever!” It’s hard to say what he means. An affirmation that Vietnam survived the war? That its people and culture endure? Or that the U.S. can’t seem to shake the war’s haunting presence? Or even a more worryingly nihilistic delight in the war’s carnage, so frequently aestheticized in films like Apocalypse Now (1979), Full Metal Jacket (1987) and Da Five Bloods (2020)? The noise provides no closure. Maybe necessarily so.  

Jonathan Shaw  

 Bastien Keb — The Killing of Eugene Peeps (Gearbox)

The Killing of Eugene Peeps is a soundtrack to a movie that never was, a noir-ish flick which winds restlessly through urban landscapes and musical styles, from the orchestra tremors of its opening through the folky group-sing of “Lucky the Oldest Grave.” “Rabbit Hole” wafts by like an Elephant Six outtake, its woozy chorus lit by glockenspiel notes, while “God Bless Your Gutters” conjures jazzy desolation in piano and mordant spoken word. “All the Love in Your Heart” shimmers like a movie flashback, a mirage of blowsy back-up singing, guitar and muttered memories. “Street Clams” bristles with funk and swagger, an Ethio-jazz sortee through rain slicked streets. What’s it about? Musically or narratively? No idea. But it’s worth visiting these evocative soundscapes just for the atmosphere. It’s a film I’d like to see.

Jennifer Kelly

 Jesse Kivel — Infinite Jess (New Feelings)

Nostalgia haunts the new solo album from Kisses guitarist/singer Jesse Kivel. Infinite Jess is full of that knowing melancholy of The Blue Nile, Prefab Sprout and The Pale Fountains that was so magnetic to a certain brand of sensitive young thing seeking to articulate their inchoate visions of a future steeped in romance and adventure. Think wistful mid-tempo songs wrapped in cocoons of strummed guitars, shuffling percussion and wurlitzer piano fashioned into a catalogue of adolescent radio memories. These tunes are topped by the understated sincerity of Kivel’s voice and lyrics which effectively evoke the place, time and emotion of his vignettes. The production suffers occasionally from a distracting reliance on too perfectly rendered tropes — overly polite drum programming, thumbed bass, blandly smooth electric piano — but the overall effect is oddly beguiling. Infinite Jess closes with a charmingly wobbly instrumental cover of Don McLean’s “Vincent” played on the wurlitzer that captures the poignancy of the melody and serves as a fitting epilog to the record.

Andrew Forell

 Kyrios — Saturnal Chambers (Caligari Records)

Saturnal Chambers by KYRIOS

The corpsepaint-and-spiked-codpiece crowd are still making tons of records, but fewer and fewer of them are interesting or compelling. The retrograde theatrics and cheap pessimism can be irritating enough (I’d rather be reading Schopenhauer, thanks); it’s even more problematic when the songs can muster only the vividness and savor of stiff leftovers from the deep-freezer’s darkest and dankest corners. Still, every now and then a kvlty band that follows the frigid dictates of black metal’s orthodoxy creates a set of songs worth listening to. This new EP from Kyrios is super short, comprising three tracks in just under 10 minutes that pull off that neat trick: when it’s over, you want to hear more. Sure, the dudes in the band call themselves silly things like Satan’s Sword and Vornag, but the tunes are really good. Check out the churning strangeness of “The Utterance of Foul Truths.” Kyrios claims Immortal, Enslaved and Dissection as primary influences, and the band recognizes the stylistic debt they owe to Deathspell Omega (let’s hope Kyrios digs the twisted guitars and weird-ass time signatures, but passes on the National Socialism declaimed by that French band’s vocalist). Stuff gets even more engaging when bleeping and blooping keyboards vibrate at the edges of the mix, giving the songs a spaced-out vibe. “Saturnal Chambers”? Maybe Kyrios has met the astral spirit of Sun Ra somewhere along their galactic journeys into the heavenly void. He liked bleeping, blooping noises and gaudy costumes, too.

Jonathan Shaw

 Matt Lajoie — Light Emerging (Trouble In Mind)

Light Emerging by Matt Lajoie

The second volume of Trouble In Mind Records’ Explorers series is, like its predecessor a cassette that comes concealed within a brown slipcase. Like many other discretely wrapped products, the fun is on the inside. This time, it’s a tape by guitarist who understands that toes aren’t just for tapping. At any rate, I think he’s managing his pedals with his feet. Most likely Lajoie has spent some quality time listening to mid-1990s Roy Montgomery. But since a quarter century has passed, he doesn’t just stack up the echoes. Sped-up tones streak across the surface of this music like swallows zooming close to that sheet you hung on the side of your barn the last time you had everyone over for a socially distanced gathering to watch Aguirre, The Wrath of God. Wait, did that really happen? Maybe not, but if someone were to make a fake documentary about the hanging of the projective surface, this music is suitably epic to provide the soundtrack.

Bill Meyer

 Lisa/Liza — Shelter of a Song (Orindal)

Shelter of a Song by Lisa/Liza

Lisa/Liza makes a quietly harrowing sort of guitar folk, singing in a high, ghostly clear soprano against delicate traceries of picking. The artist, real name Liza Victoria, inhabits songs that are unadorned but still chilling. She sings with childlike sincerity in an ominous landscape of dark alleys and chilly autumnal vistas. She wrote this album while chronically ill, according to the notes, and you can hear the struggle against the body in the way her voice sometimes wavers, her breath comes in sudden intakes. But, as sometimes happens after long sickness, she sometimes strikes clear of the physical, achieving an unearthly purity as in “From this Shelter.” A touch of plain spoken magic lurks in this one, in the whispery vocals, the translucent curtains of guitar notes, though not much warmth. “Red Leaves” is earthier and more fluid, guitar flickers striking out from a resonant center, and the artist murmuring dreamily about the beauty of the world and its transience.

Jennifer Kelly

Keith Morris & The Crooked Numbers — American Reckoning (Mista Boo)

It's easy to imagine Keith Morris as perpetually frustrated. His last album, after all, took on psychopaths and sycophants, and the title of his new release American Reckoning doesn't suggest happy thoughts. There's plenty of bile on these five tracks, of course, but Morris approaches the album like a scholar. The opening verse describes the US as “Machiavellian: the mean just never ends” before referencing Othello and Yo-Yo Ma (the latter for a “yo mama” joke). If Morris and the Crooked Numbers just raged, they might be justified, but they'd be less interesting. Instead, they use a wide swath of American musical styles to thoughtfully consider racial (and racist) issues in our contemporary society. “Half Crow Jim” turns a Southern piano tune into a surprising tale about the fallout from slavery. It's a sharp moment, and it highlights that the only disappointing part of this release lies in its brevity. Morris has said he has more music on the way, and if he continues to mix styles, wordplay, and cultural analysis, it'll be worth a study.

Justin Cober-Lake

 Tatsuya Nakatani and Rob McGill — Valley Movements (Weird Cry)

Valley Movements by Tatsuya Nakatani / Rob Magill

In most percussion ensembles, the gong-ist is a utility player, charged with banging out a note once or twice per composition for drama and ideally not screwing it up. Tatsuya Nakatani works on a wholly different level, transcending the possibilities of this ancient, archetypical instrument with vision and an unholy technique. More specifically, his set-up includes at least two standing gongs, each about as tall as he is himself. He plays them with mallets, standing between, in blur speed rolls that range all over the surface of the instrument. The sound he evokes is distinctly unpercussive, more resembling string instrument glissandos than any form of drums, a full-on high-register wail of sound that he sculpts and roils and coaxes into compositions of incredible force and complexity. He also plays a bunch of other percussion instruments, little drums and cymbals which he layers on top of each other so that when he strikes one, the others resonate. It is quite an experience to see him at it, and if you ever get a chance, you should go. Here, he works with the saxophonist Rob McGill unfurling a single 40-minute improvisation at a studio in the appealingly named Truth or Consequences, New Mexico. McGill is an agile player, laying alternately lyrical and agitated counterpoints onto Nakatani’s rhythms, carrying the tune and threading a logical through line through this extended set. He finds frequencies that complement Nakatani’s antic, nearly demonic drum sounds and knows when to let loose and when to let his partner through the mix. The result is a very high energy, engaging adventure in sound that evokes a rare response: you wish you could hear the drums better.

Jennifer Kelly

 Overmono — The Cover Mix (Mixmag)

Mixmag · The Cover Mix: Overmono

It’s a really weird time to be advocating for club music of any kind, but Overmono’s Everything U Need EP out recently on XL again showcases what the fraternal duo known better as Tessela and Truss do best: melding thoughtful percussion patterns with these airy, gliding synth melodies that work at home just as well as in the club (theoretically, anyway). It’s not just original material they do well, though; whether it was the Dekmantel podcast a few years back or their live cassette from Japan or this mix for Mixmag, Ed and Tom Russell also have a knack for pacing in their sets. This one features stuff from the new EP as well as three unreleased tracks (not counting the Rosalía remix, which remains one of the year’s most addicting) and names both old and new — listen for DJ Crystl’s 1993 jungle jam “Deep Space” sidled up next to Smerz’s new skyscraper “I Don’t Talk About That Much.” If that sounds like everything you need, lock in and let Overmono do the hard work. Truly, they do not miss.

Patrick Masterson

 Pole — Fading (Mute)

As Pole, Stefan Betke’s work has always been both comforting and disconcerting. The amiotic swells and heartbeat bass frequencies generate a warm human feel in his music despite their origins in serendipitously damaged equipment. Fading, his first album in five years explores Betke’s reactions to his mother’s dementia and reflects on the nature of personality, memory and soul. Building on his trademark glitchy beats and oceanic bass tones, the eight tracks echo a consciousness unmoored by the fog of unfamiliarity that smothers and distorts but never completely submerges awareness. “Tölpel” (slang for klutz) evokes impatient fingers tapping out the guilty resentment of the forgotten and the frustration of the forgetful. The title track closes with a woozy waltz punctuated by recurrent sparks. Fading is a deeply felt work; somber, reflective, stumbling towards understanding and acceptance, alive to the nuances and petty nettles of grief and above all beautiful in its ambivalence.

Andrew Forell

Quakers — II: The Next Wave (Stones Throw)

II - The Next Wave by Quakers

After eight years of silence following 2012’s self-titled debut, Stones Throw production trio Quakers (Portishead’s Geoff Barrow as Fuzzface, 7-Stu-7 and Katalyst) dropped the 50-track beat tape Supa K: Heavy Tremors out of nowhere in September and now, just two months later, are back with another 33-track behemoth that allows a litany of emcees to shine. Calling this The Next Wave is a bit of a stretch when you consider many of the voices on here are from guys who’ve been in the game for years or even decades (Jeru the Damaja, Detroit’s Phat Kat and Guilty Simpson, Chicagoan Jeremiah Jae, etc.), but even so, the dusty grooves and Dilla loops prove perfect foils for many of those who hit the mic. My favorite might be Sageinfinite slotting in with the organ grinder “A Myth,” but even if you don’t like it, everyone’s in and out quick. If you’re burned out on Griselda, give this a go for 1990s vibes of a different kind.

Patrick Masterson   

 Rival Consoles — Articulation (Erased Tapes)

There are deep pockets of silence in “Articulation,” ink black stops between the thump and clack of dance beat, sudden intervals of nothingness amidst limber synthetic melodies. London-based producer Ryan West, who records as Rival Consoles, layers sound on sound in some tracks, letting the foundations slip like tectonic plates on top of one another, but he is also very much aware of the power of quiet, whether dark or luminously light. Consider, for instance, his closer, “Sudden Awareness of Now,” whose buoyant melody skitters across factory-sized fan blasts of whooshing sound. The rhythm is light footed and agile, pieced together from staccato elements that hold the air and light. Like Jon Hopkins, West uses the glitch and twitch to insinuate the infinite, chiming overtones and hovering backdrops to represent a gnostic, communal state of existence. “Vibrations on a String” may jump to the steady thump, thump, thump of dance, but as its gleaming plasticine tones blow out into horn blast dissonance, the cut is more about becoming than being.

Jennifer Kelly

  Sweeping Promises — Hunger for a Way Out (Feel It)

Hunger for a Way Out by Sweeping Promises

The title track bounds headlong on a rubbery bassline, picking up a Messthetick-y blare of junk shop keyboards. All the sudden, there’s Lira Mondal unleashing a giddy screed of angular pop punk tunefulness, her partner in Sweeping Promises, Caulfield, stabbing and stuttering on guitar. In some ways, this band is straight out of late 1980s London, jitter-flirting with offkilter hooks a la Delta Five or Girls at Our Best. In others, they are utterly modern, lacing austere pogo beats with lush, elaborate vocal counterpoints. “Falling Forward” is a continuous rush of clamped in guitar scramble and agile, bouncing bass, anthemic trills breaking for robotic chants; it’s a mesh of sounds that always seems ready to collapse in a heap, but instead finds its antic balance just in time.

Jennifer Kelly

Martin Taxt — First Room (SOFA)

First Room by Martin Taxt

Sometimes a room is more than a room. In the matter at hand, it is a space that proposes a state of mind and a consequent set of experiences. It is also the score for a piece of music that extrapolate that state into the realm of sound. The cover of First Room depicts a pattern of tatami mats that you might find in a Japanese tea room. Martin Taxt is a microtonal tubaist and also the holder of an advanced degree in music and architecture (next time someone tells you that some good thing can’t happen, remember that in Norway you can not only get such a degree; you can then go ahead and present a CD that shows your work. The fault, dear Brutus, is not in the stars, but in our society.). This music takes inspiration from the integrated aesthetic of the tea ceremony, using carefully placed and deliberately sustained sounds to create an environment in which subtle changes count for a lot. The album’s contents were created by mixing together two performances, one with and another without an audience. Taxt and accompanist Vilde Marghrete Aas layer long tones from a tuba, double bass, viola da gamba and sine waves. Their precise juxtapositions create a sense of focus, somewhat like a concentrated version of Ellen Fullman’s long string music, and if that statement means something to you, so will this music.

Bill Meyer

 Ulaan Janthina — Ulaan Janthina II (Worstward)

Ulaan Janthina (Part II) by Ulaan Janthina

Part two of Steven R. Smith’s latest recording project echoes the first volume in several key aspects. It is a tape made in small numbers and packaged like a present from your favorite cottage industry; in this case, the custom-printed box comes with an old playing card, a hand-printed image of jellyfish, an old skeleton key and a nut. And Smith, who most often plays guitars and home-made stringed instruments, once more plays keyboards, which enable him to etch finer lines of melody. The chief difference between this tape and its predecessor is the melodies themselves, which have begun to attain the evocative simplicity of mid-1970s Cluster.

Bill Meyer

 Various Artists — Joyous Sounds! (Chicago Research)

Joyous Sounds! by Various Artists

It’s been less than two years, but Blake Karlson’s Chicago Research imprint has already made its presence known both in the Windy City and beyond as fine purveyors of all things industrial, EBM, post-punk and experimental electronics. There were two compilations released within days of one another toward the beginning of October, and while Preliminaries of Silence veers more toward soothing ambient textures, Joyous Sounds! is more upbeat and rhythmic (Bravias Lattice’s “Liquid Vistas” is a beautiful exception). My favorite track is Club Music’s “Musclebound” (not a Spandau Ballet cover, as it turns out), but the underlying menace of Civic Center’s “Filigree” and Rottweiler’s pummeling “Ancient Baths” sit alongside merely unsettling fare like Lily the Fields’ “Porcelain” well. If you’re not already aboard or just have a Wax Trax-sized hole in your heart, you have a lot of work ahead of you with this label’s consistently superlative output.

Patrick Masterson

  Kurt Vile — Speed, Sound, Lonely KV (Matador)

Given John Prine's passing from COVID-19 this year, the new Kurt Vile EP might be received as a tribute to the late artist, with extra significance coming from Prine's appearance here. Four years in the works, Speed, Sound, Lonely KV offers more than just tribute, though. Prine's guest spot (if you could call it that) on his own “How Lucky” certainly makes for a moving highlight, the two singers fitting together nicely as Prine's gruff tone balance's his partner's smoother voice. Vile also covers Prine on “Speed of the Sound of Loneliness,” and he adds “Gone Girl” by Cowboy Jack Clement as he takes further cosmic steps.  

His two originals here complete the record, and, mixed in with the covers, draw out the lesson. Vile's entire EP blends the country influences with his more typical dreamy sound, the guitar work bridging the gap between a songwriter's backing and something more ethereal. Nashville, it seems, has always suited Vile just fine, and hearing him embrace that tradition more immediately adds an extra layer to his work. Putting a cowboy hat on his previous aesthetic puts him opens up new but related paths for him, and the five tracks here could play on either a Kris Kristofferson mix or a laid-back indie-rocker playlist. Either way, they'd be highlights on an endless loop.

Justin Cober-Lake

 WhoMadeWho — Synchronicity (Kompakt)

Danish trio WhoMadeWho — drummer Tomas Barfod, guitarist Jeppe Kjellberg and bassist/singer Tomas Høffding — make enjoyable indie dance music that suffers somewhat from lack of personality and a tendency toward a middle ground. That may be due to an effort to accommodate a roster of Kompakt-related collaborators including Michael Mayer, Echonomist and Robag Wruhme. While there’s nothing bad and some pretty good here, the individual songs flit by, pausing briefly to set one’s head nodding and feet tapping, before evaporating from the mind. “Shadow of Doubt” featuring Hamburg’s Adana Twins has the kind of driving bass that anchored New Order hits but also, unfortunately, the unconvincing vocals only Bernard Sumner could get away with. More successful moments like the eerie piano riff and jazz inflections of “Dream Hoarding” with Frank Wiedemann, the arpeggiated house of “Der Abend birgt keine Ruh” featuring Perel and miserablist Pet Shop Boys inflected closer “If You Leave” do stick. Synchronicity might work well on the dance floor, but it doesn’t quite sustain at home.

Andrew Forell

[drdezwholisticascensionist]

References

Anderson, D., & Anderson, L. A. (2010). Beyond change management: How to achieve breakthrough results through conscious change leadership. San Francisco, CA: John Wiley & Sons.

Barlow, J. B., & Dennis, A. R. (2016). Not as smart as we think: A study of collective intelligence in virtual groups. Journal of Management Information Systems, 33(3), 684-712.

Bartel, C. A., Wrzesniewski, A., & Wiesenfeld, B. M. (2012). Knowing where you stand: Physical isolation, perceived respect, and organizational identification among virtual employees. Organization Science, 23(3), 743-757.

Blustein, D. L. (2006). The psychology of working: A new perspective for career development, counseling, and public policy. New York, NY: Routledge.

Brazzel, M. (2014). Organization change theories and models. In B. B. Jones & M. Brazzel (Eds.), NLT Handbook of organization development and change: Principles, practices and perspectives (255-282). San Francisco, CA: Somerset Pfieffer.

Cain, S. (2013). Quiet: The power of introverts in a world that can’t stop talking. New York, NY: Random House.

Dede, C. (2005). Planning for neomillennial learning styles: Implications for investments in technology and faculty. In J. Oblinger and D. Oblinger (Eds.), Educating the next generation (pp. 226-247). Boulder, CO: EDUCAUSE Publishers.

Dekker, D. M., Rutte, C. G., & Van den Berg, P. T. (2008). Cultural differences in the perception of critical interaction behaviors in global virtual teams. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 32, 441-452. doi:10.1016/j.ijintrel.2008.06.003

DeSanctis, G., & Poole, M. S. (1994). Capturing the complexity in advanced technology use: Adaptive structuration theory. Organization Science, 5(2), 121-147.

Dube, L., & Robey, D. (2009). Surviving the paradoxes of virtual teamwork. Information Systems Journal, 19(1), 3-30.

Dulebohn, J. H., & Hoch, J. E. (2017). Virtual teams in organizations. Human Resource Management Review 27(4), 569-574.

Earley, P. C., & Ang, S. (2003). Cultural intelligence: Individual interactions across cultures. Standford, CA: Stanford University Press.

Felder, R. M., & Soloman, B. A. (n.d.) Learning styles and strategies. Retrieved from www2.ncsu.edu:8010/unity/lockers/users/f/felder/public/ILSdir/styles.htm

Frohman, A.L. (1997). Igniting organizational change from below: The power of personal initiative. Organizational Dynamics, 25(3), 39-53.

Gardner, H. (1983). Frames of mind: The theory of multiple intelligences. New York, NY: Basic Books.

Gardner, H. (1997). Is there a moral intelligence? In M. Runco (Ed.) The creativity research handbook. Cresskill, NJ: Hampton Press.

Gibson, C. B., & Gibbs, J. L. (2006). Unpacking the concept of virtuality: The effects of geographic dispersion, electronic dependence, dynamic structure, and national diversity on team innovation. Administrative Science Quarterly, 51, 451-495.

Gill, R. (2003). Change management – or – Change leadership? Journal of Change Management, 3(4), 307-318.

Godart, C., Bouthier, C., Canalda, P., Charoy, F., Molli, P., Perrin, O., Saliou, H., Bignon, J. C., Halin, G., & Malcurat, O. (2001). Asynchronous coordination of virtual teams in creative applications (co-design or co-engineering): Requirements and design criteria. Australian Computer Science Communications, 23(6), 135-142.

Goleman, D. (1995). Emotional intelligence: Why it can matter more than IQ.London, UK: Bloomsbury Publishing.

Guimond, S. (2016). The effect of narrative format and target race attitude change about poverty in college students. (Honors thesis, Ball State University). Retrieved fromhttp://cardinalscholar.bsu.edu/bitstream/handle/123456789/200412/A374_2016GuimondSavannah-opt.pdf?sequence=1

Gupta, P. (2017, April 6). Focus on results not tasks. [Video post]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCokpMsQJsk

Hackman, J. R. (1987). The design of work teams. In J. Lorsch (Ed.), Handbook of organizational behavior (pp. 315-342).Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.

Hartman, T. (2014). Chakra wisdom oracle toolkit: A 52 week journey of self-discovery with the lost fables. London, UK: Watkins.

Hechler, S., Neyer, F. J., & Kessler, T. (2016). The infamous among us: Enhanced reputational memory for uncooperative ingroup members. Cognition, 157, 1-13.

Henderson, L. S., Stackman, R. W., & Lindekilde, R. (2016). The centrality of communication norm alignment, role clarity, and trust in global project teams. International Journal of Project Management, 34(8), 1717-1730.

Hertel, G., Geister, S., & Konradt, U. (2005).  Managing virtual teams:  A review of current empirical research. Human Resource Management Review, 15, 69-95.

Hildebrandt, M., Jehle, L., & Meister, S. (2013). Closeness at A Distance: Leading Virtual Groups to High Performance. Faringdon, UK: Libri Publishing.

Hoch, J. E., & Kozlowski, S. W. (2014). Leading virtual teams: Hierarchical leadership, structural supports, and shared team leadership. Journal of Applied Psychology, 99(3), 390-403.

Hofstede, G. (1980). Culture’s consequences: International differences in work-related values. Newbury Park, CA: Sage.

Huysman, M. H., & de Wit, D. H. (2013). Knowledge sharing in practice.Dordrecht, the Netherlands: Kluwer Academic Publishers.

Ioanid, A., Zarzu, C., & Scarlat, C. (2014). Communicating successfully when managing multicultural teams. Sea: Practical Application of Science, 2(3), 349-354.

Irving, J. A. (2010). Educating global leaders: Exploring intercultural competence in leadership education. Journal of International Business & Cultural Studies, 3, 1-14.

Janssens, M., & Brett, J. M. (2006). Cultural intelligence in global teams: A fusion model of collaboration. Group & Organization Management, 31(1), 124-153.

Jarvenpaa, S. L., & Leidner, D. E. (1998). Communication and trust in global virtual teams. Journal of Computer‐Mediated Communication, 3(4). doi: 10.1111/j.1083-6101.1998.tb00080.x

Jokinen, T. (2005). Global leadership competencies: A review and discussion.  Journal of European Industrial Training, 29(2/3), 199-216.

Jones, B. B. (2014). A framework for change: Capacity, competency, and capability. In B. B. Jones & M. Brazzel (Eds.), NLT Handbook of organization development and change: Principles, practices and perspectives (233-254). San Francisco, CA: Somerset Pfieffer.

Karp, H. B. (1980) Team building from a Gestalt perspective. In J. W. Pfeiffer and J. E. Jones (Eds.), The 1980 Annual Handbook for Group Facilitators. San Diego, CA: University Associates.

Katz, L. (2015). Book review: Hildebrandt, Jehle, Meister, with Skoruppa closeness at a distance. Houston, TX: Leadership Crossroads.

Lennick, D., & Kiel, F. (2007). Moral intelligence: Enhancing business performance and leadership success. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall.

Lewin, K.  (1997). Frontiers in group dynamics. In D. Cartwright (ed.), Resolving social conflicts & field theory in social science (301-336). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

Ling, B. (2015, August 26). Intro: Processes and procedures. [Video post]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4e16OQRYtXU&feature=youtu.be

Lojeski, K. S., & Reilly, R. R. (2008). Uniting the virtual workforce: Transforming leadership and innovation in the globally integrated enterprise. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons.

Makarius, E., & Larson, B. (2017). Changing the perspective of virtual work: Building virtual intelligence at the individual level. The Academy of Management Perspectives, 31(2), 159–178. doi: 10.5465/amp.2014.0120

Manole, I. (2014). Virtual teams and E-leadership in the context of competitive environment – literature review. Journal of Economic Development, Environment and People, 3(3), 72-76.

Manz, C. C. (1986). Self-leadership: Toward an expanded theory of self-influence processes in organizations. Academy of Management Review, 11(3), 585-600.

Martinic, A., Fertalj, K., & Kalpic, D. (2012). Methodological framework for virtual team project management. International Journal of Innovation, Management and Technology, 3(6), 702.

Martins, L. L., Gilson, L. L., & Maynard, M. T. (2004). Virtual teams: What do we know and where do we go from here? Journal of Management, 30(6), 805-835.

McCallum, J. (2013). Followership: The other side of leadership. Retrieved from

https://iveybusinessjournal.com/publication/followership-the-other-side-of-leadership/

McGuire, D., Garavan, T. N., Cunningham, J., & Duffy, G. (2016). The use of imagery in the campaign speeches of Barack Hussein Obama and John McCain during the 2008 US presidential election. Leadership & Organization Development Journal, 37(4), 430-449.

Meyer, E. (2010, August 19). The four keys to success with virtual teams. Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/2010/08/19/virtual-teams-meetings-leadership-managing-cooperation.html

Miller, E. (Dec. 1998).  A note on the protomental system and “groupishness”: Bion’s basic assumptions revisited.  Human Relations, 51(13), 1495-1509.

Montoya-Weiss, M., Massey, A., & Song, M. (2001). Getting it together: Temporal coordination and conflict management in global virtual teams. The Academy of Management Journal, 44(6), 1251-1262.

Mortensen, M., Caya, O., Pinsonneault, A. (2009). Virtual teams demystified: An integrative

framework for understanding virtual teams and a synthesis of research. MIT Sloan School Working Paper 4738-09.

Nandhakumar, J., & Baskerville, R. (2006). Durability of online team working:  Patterns of trust. Information Technology & People, 19(4), 371-389.

Poole, M. S. & Hollingshead, A. B., Editors. (2005). Theories of small groups: Interdisciplinary perspectives.  Thousand Oaks, CA:  Sage Publications.

Quinn, R. E., Spreitzer, G. M., & Brown, M. V. (2000). Changing others through changing ourselves: The transformation of human systems. Journal of Management Inquiry, 9(2), 147-164. 

Schwartz, D. (2007). Integrating knowledge transfer and computer-mediated communication: Categorizing barriers and possible responses. Knowledge Management Research & Practice, 5(4), 249-259. 

Snellman, C. L. (2014). Virtual teams: Opportunities and challenges for e-leaders. Procedia Social and Behavioral Sciences, 1(10), 1251-1261.

Stern, W. (1912). The psychological methods of intelligence testing. Baltimore, MD: Warwick and York.

Symons, J., & Stenzel, C. (2007). Virtually borderless:  An examination of culture in virtual teaming. Journal of General Management, 32(3), 1-17.

Thorndike, R. L., & Stein, S. (1937). An evaluation of the attempts to measure social intelligence. Psychological Bulletin, 34(5), 275.

Tubbs, S. L., & Schulz, E. (2006). Exploring a taxonomy of global leadership competencies and meta-competencies Journal of American Academy of Business, Cambridge, 8(2), 29-34.

Tuckman, B. (1965). Developmental sequence in small groups. Psychological Bulletin 63(6): 384–99.

Vanzant, I. (2015). Trust: Mastering the four essential trusts. Charlsbad, CA: SmileyBooks.

Vázquez, A., Yzerbyt, V., Dovidio, J. F., & Gómez, Á. (2016). How we think they see us? Valence and difficulty of retrieval as moderators of the effect of meta‐stereotype activation on intergroup orientations. International Journal of Psychology, 1-9. doi: 10.1002/ijop.12260

Velpic. (2016, September 4). Knowledge sharing benefits. In R. Francis (Ed.) Webinar video recap & deck: Knowledge sharing in the workplace [Slide 13]. Retrieved from https://www.slideshare.net/VelpicLimited/knowledge-sharing-in-the-workplace

Wilson, J. M., Boyer O'Leary, M., Metiu, A., & Jett, Q. R. (2008). Perceived proximity in virtual work: Explaining the paradox of far-but-close. Organization Studies, 29(7), 979-1002.

Wpbeginner. (20 September 2017). How to choose the best blogging platform in 2017 (Compared). Retrieved from http://www.wpbeginner.com/beginners-guide/how-to-choose-the-best-blogging-platform/

Zakaria, N., Amelinckx, A., & Wilemon, D. (2004). Working together apart? Building a knowledge-sharing culture for global virtual teams. Creativity and Innovation Management, 13(1), 15-29.

Zohar, D. (1997). Rewiring the corporate brain: Using the new science to rethink how we structure and lead organizations. San Francisco, CA: Berrett-Koehler Publishers.