#rhythm: stager

[tsunagite]

Rhythm gayming miscellaneous stuff

[krispyweiss]

Rewind: Huffamoose - Huffamoose (1993)

If there was any justice in the music universe, Huffamoose’s 1993 self-titled debut would’ve been picked up by a major and become, if not a huge hit, a beloved cult favorite.

Instead, it just languished.

Released on 7 Records in 1993 and not made available for streaming until sometime during the pandemic, Huffamoose is nevertheless as revelatory - and relevant - in 2023 as it was 30 years ago.

It was hard to find even then, and Sound Bites bought every copy he ever saw - four in all - to allay fears his CD would fail or it’d get left behind at a party. And the blog took Huffamoose everywhere, turning on everyone he knew to the sounds of one of the ’90s’ greatest, unique, releases. Even Huffamoose didn’t sound like Huffamoose when the band’s major-label debut, We’ve Been Had Again, arrived in ’97 with inferior remakes of “James” and “I Wanna Buy You a Ring.”

Sound Bites can still remember the moment he first heard Kevin Hanson’s guitar and the thwack of Erik Johnson’s drums as the opening track “Everybody Else” first crossed his ears.*

Nobody takes me for granted/nobody gets one over on me/I’m a new man and my new problem/is everybody else, songwriter Craig Elkins sings in a laconic manner sweetened by Hanson’s harmonies.

So it goes for nearly an hour as Elkins spills his cynicism and sorrow over Hanson’s jazzy runs and the taut rhythm section of Johnson and bassist Jim Stager, whose work continues to reveal itself as a jazz-rock master class hundreds of listens down the line.

I need to stop the cycle now before it’s too late and my children catch it, too/I need to let her go and move on with my life/but I can’t/forget/her face/in the mirror, Elkins sings on “Mary,” one of a handful of heartbreakers set among more playful fare like the stream-of-consciousness dream that is “Song about Nothing” and the celebratory swing of “I Can’t Turn Around.”

Throughout it all, the band cooks as Elkins’ acoustic guitar provides intros and rhythmic padding for his bandmates’ more-aggressive playing.

It ends - save for a reprise-laden hidden track - with the elegiac majesty of “Sacred Ground,” a latently powerful song suitable for funerals and weddings (seems incongruous, I know) that finds Elkins singing:

This is what we are all here for/we are all here for/we are standing on sacred ground/there is nothing greater/there is nothing more/than this/is what/we/are/all/here/for

Its a mystical ending to a magical album that somehow, and unjustly, cast its spell on only a relative few. It’s not too late to change that - and with streaming, it’s now possible and highly recommended.

*Sound Bites was honored to tell Hanson this very thing when he and Mrs. Sound Bites traveled to Philadelphia in 2018 for the album release party for … and that’s when the golf ball hit me in the head, which immediately became - and remains - the blog’s second-favorite Huffamoose LP.

Grade card: Huffamoose - Huffamoose - A

9/17/23

[2dkapsddr]

June 19th, 2024 - Phigros, Arcaea, PIU Phoenix, Rotaeno

read the news this morning that territory battle, in addition to being removed from its original performai games, would be removed from phigros as well in the coming update. looking to make the most of it before it's removed though, i tried to phi all its difficulties and got the HD down while half asleep, as well as giving the AT some attempts to see if i could somehow do it!! i couldn't do it consistently, but i did way better than i thought i would... hmm.... could i actually get this?

between and after those plays, i also grinded out some more PMs in arcaea to deplete my stamina and also get in some more progress in my Quest for Perfection . got FTR PMs #99 and #101 on Lights of Muse (FTR-8+, MAX-9) and MERLIN (FTR-8+, MAX-6) respectively, but obviously i had to do something special to commemorate my 100th FTR PM. so what did i do exactly? why, i PM'ED MEDUSA (FTR-10) ON THE SPOT!!!! MAX-36 PURE MEMORY, 10 PM #2, AND FTR PM #100!!!!!!

warmup was over after that, and it was time to go through with my day plans to meet a friend at the (other) arcade and play some pump!! a lot of pump!!! but since all i had played earlier were mobile rhythm games and i needed to warm up my legs first, i obviously started with som- naw jk LOL i went IMMEDIATELY for the 20s and claimed allll the clears i could get LMFAO (and after clearing these two in particular (86 S20 SS+ and Papasito S20 AA+), i got Advanced Lv.1 title!!! finally!!! no more intermediate bronze!!!!)

so with my brand new, shiny silver title in hand and a bunch more 20s to clear until i reached Advanced Lv.3 to take on 21s, i pushed on and got a bunch more even cooler S20/D20 clears!!! Stager D20 (funnie) AAA+, CHAOS AGAIN S20 AA+, Utopia S20 AAA+ (peak btw), Gargoyle D20 AA+ (i can do better dw), Blazing S20 AA+ (one of my old early S19s before it was moved up!), Kasou Shinja -Short Cut- S20 AAA+, and Ghroth D20 AAA to wrap up the session! (Level 20 rating: <13,000 -> 18,975, 7,025 (10-11 more 20 clears) away from Advanced Lv.2!)

really good session overall, buuuut it was back home after that to unwind and relax... but i also played some Rotaeno on the bus to make extra story progress and cleared Inverted World (IV Lv.13)!

a little more arcaea progress: Ascent (FTR-9+, MAX-22) as FTR PM #102, and a hard clear on World Ender (BYD-11) on my third try (coulda been my first...) as part of Axiom of the End!!!

ending it off with a bit more rotaeno: got an AP on Journey With You (IV Lv.11) and a really good sightread S+ on Rush E (IV Lv.12+)!!

BONUS: footage of my Gargoyle D20 clear recorded by my friend who was there today :]

[theclutchinessisreal]

undefined

What have I been doing with my boring life...

[melisa-may-taylor72]

Record Mirror- 08-25-1984

Ministry Of Works

Did you know that Freddie Mercury wants to make a reggae record? And that Roger Taylor would be selling flowers if he wasn't in Queen? Read on for more fascinating facts

MAYHEM IN Munich! Freddie Mercury is cavorting with a scantily dressed transvestite and it's only three in the afternoon. Are you man or woman enough to read on? Then swallow your vitamin pills and follow me.

Queen are limbering up for their forthcoming tour in Germany and to celebrate another single rising majestically up the charts, they're holding a little press bash in Munich's P1 club. A place even more decadent than the South Finchley Whiskey A Go Go.

The ghost of Adolf Hitler probably wanders around here on dark nights, as The Fuhrer used to store his paintings and other plunder in the club and the building next door. Unfortunately there's nothing left around today.

Instead, the club has gems of another kind. A selection of Queen's videos including the notorious 'Body Language' — and champagne and wine flowing like Niagara Falls.

The cabaret is Freddie's own idea: a group of well passed it drag artists, so outrageous in G strings and lingerie that they make Divine seem as tame as Marjorie Proops. Freddie's more than willing to join in when one of the girls does a rendition of 'I Want To Break Free', but the rest of the members of Queen look on shyly from the comforts of the bar. Everybody, but everybody is here to witness the event, including a film crew from the US air force, tramping around in full combat gear making a nuisance of themselves.

Freddie's doing well considering he's in quite a lot of pain. He remains tight lipped about the full details but he injured his leg after an incident in a club. A physiotherapist has been pummelling at it nearly every day.

"This c+ + + kicked me," says Fred. "I'm hoping my knee will be ready in time for the tour, but it's still giving me a lot of trouble. It might mean I will have to cut down on some of my more elaborate gorgeous stage moves."

FRED'S ALSO been hobbling around a Munich recording studio putting the finishing touches to his first ever solo album which should be out in January. Gadzooks, could this be the start of a split with Queen? Is it true Limahl's going to take over?

"Not at all. I've wanted to do a solo album for a long time and the rest of the band have encouraged me to do it. Some of them are even featured doing a few bits and pieces to help me out.

"There are a lot of musical territories I wanted to explore, which I couldn't really do with Queen. I wanted to cover such things as reggae rhythms and I've done a couple of tracks with a symphony orchestra. It will have a very rich sound."

Fred's also done some work with Michael Jackson, but he still doesn't know when this is going to see the light of day. They've done a selection of tracks together in Michael's home studio. For a while, Fred was even in the running to do 'State Of Shock'.

"I was out of town at the time so Mick did it instead," he says. "I don't mind at all. I'd like to release something with Michael because he is a really marvellous person to work with. It's all a question of time because we never seem to be together at the right time. Just think, I could have been on 'Thriller'. Think of the royalties I've missed out on.

"Michael has been a friend of ours for a long time. He's been to our shows and enjoyed them. We make a great team."

One of Fred's songs 'Love Kills', is being used on the soundtrack of the reactivated 'Metropolis' film and he hopes to make a 20 minute video using four or five of his own songs.Freddie and all the members of Queen have a long standing appreciation of 'Metropolis', which originally came out in 1927. Their stage set, in the shape of a futuristic city, has been inspired by it.The lighting rig measures 74ft by 50ft and the original design was so heavy they had to change it because it was in danger of bringing theatre roofs down. What a way to go, crushed by your own equipment.

AFTER THE European tour. Queen will be taking the whole shebang down to South America, headlining a 10 day festival in Rio. The place they will be playing is an amphitheatre down by the sea that can seat 300,000 people a night. It all makes Castle Donington seem like just another night at the Marquee. A local radio station in Rio held a survey to see who the most popular bands were and then some local promoters went out and booked them for the extravaganza. Naturally, Queen came out top.

Queen will also be doing some shows in South Africa. This is more than just a little bit controversial. Especially with the memory of Nelson Mandela still very warm.

"We've thought about the morals of it a lot and it's something we've decided to do," says Brian May. "This band is not political, we are not out to make statements, we play to entertain anybody who comes to listen. The show will be in Botswana in front of a mixed audience."

The band wanted to play Russia but the authorities objected. This situation might change now though, considering that Iron Maiden have been let into Poland to wreak havoc. *

"The Russians still think we're very decadent," confides Roger Taylor. "We want to play China as well, and Korea. John and I spent a holiday in Korea and it's a fascinating place. They're finishing work on the Olympic stadium for the next games!

Perhaps the Ruskies heard about Roger's high living on Ibiza. He's bought a house there and enjoys powerboat racing. Play time is over for the time being, though. After their two year break. Queen have been working more than 12 hours a day rehearsing.

"It's strange how rusty we are, and so we're trying to blow the cobwebs away," continues Roger. "It's taking a lot of work. Usually we rehearse until about nine and then we eat together and decide what we're going to do in the evenings. The clubs here are really fun. Something to cater for every taste or perversion.

"On the tour we'll be playing a lot of the old material and we'll be giving the audience what they want. A lot of the music I hear in the charts today doesn't interest me. I just can't see how anybody can get excited over Spandau Ballet. It doesn't send shivers up my spine. I like listening to Bruce Springsteen."

They might be old stagers, but Roger claims that tickets for Queen's British shows sold oul in three hours flat and they could have easily played another 12 nights here.

"We still have the rock and roil gypsy mentality," he says. "Even after 12 years without a line-up change we still really enjoy the buzz from playing live and the fact that we have hit singles. Some bands in our position might take it all in their stride, but we're still like kids, we get very excited.

"You've got to have a laugh haven't you? If Queen wasn't any fun, then I'd jack it all in and go and sell flowers."

Robin Smith

@natromanxoff, @mephisto92, @moviestorian, @x5vale, @39-brian, @onegoldenglance, @crosmopolitan, @an-abyss-called-life, @his-majesty-king-mercury, @i-live-for-queen, @brian-39-may, @toomuchlove-willkillyou, @brimaymay, @sail-away-sweet-sister, @drummerqueenrmt, @old-fashioned-roger-boy, @briianmaay, @inui-mycroft, @deacytits, @iminlovewithrogscar, @drowseoftaylor, @brianmayislongaway, @balticlover, @astrophysicist-guitar-god, @miez-lakatz, @brianmayoucease, @jesus-in-a-life-boat, @aslongasthereismusic, @silapril, @sherrifanciesfriskyfreddie, @tenderbri, @brianmydear, @thosequeenboys, @millionairewaltz-carpediem, @painandpleasure86, @bribrifrenchfry, @xlucylennonx, @a-night-at-the-abbey-road, @inthedayswhenlandswerefew, @madformeddowstaylor, @queenrogertaylorfan, @let-roger-get-a-lunch, @queen-for-life, @rethought, @drivenbybrianmay @mymakeupmaybeflaking, @old-but-still-a-child, @let-roger-get-a-lunch, @warriorteam1924, @funnydressesweirdhairanddance,  @thefanhuman13, @yourtieddownmother, @hgmercury39, @brimi-stardust, @thefairyfellermercury,  @sailawaysweetbrimi, @sophiaintheskywithdiamonds, @holybrianmaywritingbear, @lydiannode, @39-yellow-daffodils , @ure-gonna-loveme-when-u-seeme, @kaykaybeachgirl, @foxmonkey, @deakysgurl, @redspecialandclogsandcurls, @briansrainbowsocks-deactivated2, @delilahmay39, @ohmybribri, @bless-the-queen, @everythingaboutfreddie, @doitforthevine67, @recordsoftheseventies, @rhysjoejoshtomfarisblog, @tenementfunsterwithpurpleshoes, @drummah-in-a-rocknroll-band, @beatlegirl1968, @maylorsqueen, @autumnscenemcyt, @gralto, @alittlepeoplemagic, @rainbowsockbrian, @frejudy, @drivenbybrimay, @yourlocalmusicalprostitute, @saik-ava, @omb-xx, @sassymaylor, @somekindofroger, @starlightmay, @freddiemercuryismylife, @sunshine112, @chrysochromulina, @glitteryloveravenue, @deakyislife51, @0-primejive-0, @just-a-skinny-lad, @bluewillowmom, @sassiesillie, @stesichoreanpalinode, @mrfahrenheitmercury @tayloredofqueen, @0-my-fairy-queen-0, @scandalacious @izzy-is-slightly-mad @39-volunteers-to-space  @zodiacaldust, @deakytaylor, @queenband70s, @deakyeveryday, @drivenbybrimay, @70smay, @brianharoldmay39, @everybandsnotqueen, @johns-diqi  @oneandthreeseventh

[spikey-boiii]

Tagged by @deliriousbookfreak 😊

A: AGE

16!

B: BIRTHPLACE

Good ol’ Ireland 👌👌

C: CURRENT TIME

21:10

D: DRINK YOU HAD LAST

Currently have a cup of peppermint tea

E: EASIEST PERSON TO TALK TO

Right now I gotta say @entethedragonduck ❤️

F: FAVOURITE SONG

The first that came to mind was Santa Monica Dream by Angus and Julia Stone (https://youtu.be/kVdWqHtTPkE) ? But Stager Things Have Happened by The Foo Fighters (https://youtu.be/CEIeb85DkCs) is also up there

G: GROSSEST MEMORY

Goung out the back to empty our food bin and finding THOUSANDS of maggots around the edge of the bin. I almost threw up.

H: HOGWARTS HOUSE

Hufflepuff! I used to be a die-hard Slytherin, but I think that’s just because I liked the edgy reputation that came with it. Hufflepuff all the way

I: IN LOVE?

*side eyes Tony*

J: JEALOUS OF PEOPLE

Not really. I’m not a jealous person at the best of times 😊

K: KILLED SOMEONE

Tis the season and all that 😉

L: LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT OR SHOULD I WALK PAST AGAIN?

I mean, I probably wouldn’t complain if you were to talk past again 😏

M: MIDDLE NAME

James Gray

N: NUMBER OF SIBLINGS

Two! And older sister and a younger sister

O: ONE WISH

Either to SEE TONY IRL I SWEAR TO GOD I NEED TO HUG THAT BOI or to have a healthier brain. Both are very good choices.

P: PERSON YOU CALLED LAST

I video called Tony, and before that it was probably my dad or something asking where he was when he was meant to pick me up.

Q: QUESTION YOU ARE ALWAYS ASKED

“Why tho”. I say a lot of very weird things that require a “why”. A close second is “Why are you being so quiet?” or “Are you okay?” because I’m quite a thoughtful person with a resting sad face.

R: REASON TO SMILE

@entethedragonduck ! Halloween! Really terrible puns ! Cool art ! (I just finished reading a graphic novel and I’m in LOVE with the art in it.) (Through the Woods by Emily Carroll if you’re interested). Stories that pull me in and are super intriguing! Writing nice music! Horror movies!

S: SONG YOU SUNG LAST

I think it was Gang of Rhythm by Walk Off the Earth (https://youtu.be/oHvl6z56zGc)

T: TIME YOU WOKE UP

Once at 8:30 and then again at 17:20 because I accidentally fell asleep at around 15:00 whoops

U: UNDERWEAR COLOUR

Red and black.

V: VACATION DESTINATION

Either the Czech Republic or Iceland, I think.

W: WORST HABIT

Being too polite. I apologise too much, I sort of stand awkwardly and smile when people are being assholes, I go out of my way to make life easier for someone who’s inconvenienced me, I’m literally the WORST.

X: X-RAYS

I had an x-ray on my leg when I broke it when I was 6 or 7 years old, and I had an MRI on my brain some time last year I think.

Y: YOUR FAVOURITE FOOD

Nut roast, probably. Delicious, vegan, autumnal, the ideal meal 👌👌

Z: ZODIAC

Libra by the old ones, Virgo by the new ones.

I tag @entethedragonduck, @theunconventionalking, @strawberry-loser, @dead-men-disco 😁

[herselfportrait]

ALBUM REVIEW: HOMESHAKE / HELIUM

(Written for The Line of Best Fit)

Since tapering off from Mac DeMarco’s live ensemble in 2014, Peter Sagar has brazenly pursued his own creative endeavour under the name of HOMESHAKE. Sagar’s first three records made a languid hop-skip-jump to praise as the band slowly acclimatised to a sound that strayed from the vanilla-skied salad days of the DeMarcian den. While that sleep-eyed, lilting and endlessly bored style has left its calling card, HOMESHAKE widen their scope for their fourth record, ‘Helium’: a statement of identity.

HOMESHAKE’s sound on ‘Helium’ captures the mood of our ears. With the meteoric rise of Bedroom Pop, a genre which effortlessly outpaces hi-fi production, ‘Helium’ takes on shades of its stripped-back sound. Yes, Mac DeMarco may sound slouched back, stoned – but HOMESHAKE, I can assure you, are laid down with their heads in another orbit altogether. The thirteen tracks are mish-mash of sixty-second stints smattered among songs that stretch no further than the magic three minutes. The album is an ode to minimalism: it sparkles assuredly, without feeling the need for sweeping gestures to achieve great effect.

If you like your helpings of synth thick with your HOMESHAKE, then ‘Helium’ will not disappoint. With all the finesse of a starter-block Casio synthesiser, ‘Another Thing’ is less a song and more of an experiment; an ‘I wonder how it will sound if I play it like this…’ kind of playtime. It patters along a looping road with the crash of a drum and tinny tap of xylophone that gives an endlessly fun, copy—and-paste beat. The spontaneity is what gives it its charm.

HOMESHAKE’s knack of building infectious tracks on simple layers of sound is at its best in ‘Just Like My’. It opens with an automated shimmer you might hear from an old toy you forgot to take the batteries out of. The staccato clicking of fingers and Stager’s silicon-sweet vocals are far away and unpolished, as if the track was just a dusted-off demo. It has a catchy, bluesy rhythm that is an unlikely earworm.

Far more than rolling out anti-pop delights like ‘Nothing Could Be Better’, ‘Helium’ also intends to set the scene. Beginning with ‘Early’, and flitting to ‘Heartburn’, ‘Trudi and Lou’ and ‘Salu Says Hi’, these short bursts take on a more reflective approach. Nocturnal, otherworldly and just downright surreal, HOMESHAKE can take you much further than their bedrooms. It proves that Sagar doesn’t even need to play his vocals – easily one of his strongest suits – to elevate ‘Helium’ to new heights.

We all know thirteen is supposed to be an unlucky number, but in their optimism HOMESHAKE have made it a treat. The final track is a secret one, best listened to in the moments between being awake and asleep. Sagar’s voice settles like silk on ripples of strings. It takes the best of dream-pop without being caged within it, drawing on its sensibilities without imitation. 

[goetzeus]

BVB Feiertagsmagazin w/ Roman Bürki  (03/02/17) - English translation

Nobby: Roman, you were injured for two months, longer than ever before in your career. First question: How was your rehabilitation and how glad are you to be back on the pitch?

Roman: Like you said this was the first major injury of my career and-

Nobby: Where was it?

Roman: (shows Nobby his hand) Here. You can still see it a bit.

Nobby: What was there?

Roman: The fracture. The hand fracture.

Nobby: What's the procedure for that?

Roman: I have a metal plate which stabilises things very well.

Nobby: Is it still in there?

Roman: Yes.

Nobby: If you punch someone with that now...

Roman: Well...

Nobby: A defender...

Roman: I'd rather not try it. (both laugh) I obviously still try to protect the hand as good as possible in my free time but I'm very happy to join the team again. It was tough to always just watch. Still, I had a very good time with the physiologists and all the other people who have cared for me.

Nobby: What's it like to be sitting in the stands and not being able to do anything? Strange, isn't it?

Roman: Very strange, yes. The Süd impressed me once more, having experienced it from the stands. It was actually the first time that I've watched a Borussia Dortmund match as a spectator. You want to help somehow but you're forced to... The worst thing was the away match against Real Madrid; I obviously would've wanted to be involved in that.

Nobby: I can imagine.

Roman: Yeah, I really had to pull myself together while I was watching it on tv.

---INTERLUDE---

Nobby: Well Roman, Leipzig is strong. They've been playing a strong season so far, they're rightfully second on the table but we have been undeafeated at home for 1 1/2 years. That's something we, you, should keep in mind at all times. How would you - you're kind of an "old stager" already - agitate against Leipzig? What would your tactic look like? Full on attack mode or... ?

Roman: I'm in fact one of the older ones in the team. We have a lot of young players that have to be guided. We will definitely find the right tactic to win the three points against Leipzig. And that's basically it, I don't want to spill too much. All I can say is that we're being prepared really well.

Nobby: It's the first match at home and an encounter between two top teams straightaway. How pumped are you for the match and do you already notice this kind of mood during training? Everyone being like "Yes, let's kick Leipzig's ass!"?

Roman: Yes sure! I mean, it's the first home match of the new year, of the second half of the season, and we're very excited to play in our own stadium in front of our fans again. We don't need any special motivation for that. Sure, the second in the table will be here and we'll do our best to win, to fight, but I think it's already enough of a motivation to play at home.

---INTERLUDE---

Nobby: The Super Bowl will take place on Sunday. The biggest sports event of the world second only to BVB home matches (laughs). Are you interested in American Football? Are you going to be watching the match?

Roman: Yes definitely! It's a bit of a weird time of the day for us but I certainly won't miss it.

Nobby: Who's gonna win? Do you have a favourite?

Roman: I watched the semi final and Tom Brady is in an impressingly good condition that's why I bet on him.

Nobby: With tomorrow's match the double fixture weeks will start again. We take part in all three competitions which we're happy about. How important is it to have a fit and most of all a large squad right now?

Roman: It's extremely important. I think that has also partially been the reason for our performance fluctuations. We have never been able to play with the same line-up, we could never establish a rhythm and I think it's very important for the second half of the season to have as little injured players as possible, to have the team in good shape and then I'm confident we can make a big jump ahead.

Nobby: What kind of impression does the team have on you? Is everyone excited, eager?

Roman: Yeah absolutely! There's a certain amount of tension, sure, aggressiveness, but also a healthy amount of ease. You always need that. And with the right tactical instructions from the manager staff I'm convinced we will be triumphant.

---INTERLUDE---

Nobby: Before Mario, you were the last person to take a seat in our Sparda-Bulli. How did you like it to tour around our city with Josef?

Roman: It was very enjoyable. I was lucky to have visited the big Christmas tree and the Christmas market. I really liked it a lot.

Nobby: Would you have thought that Dortmund could be so beautiful back then when you joined us?

Roman: I really didn't know a lot. I was in Freiburg and before that in Switzerland-

Nobby: It's also very beautiful there.

Roman: It's defintiely very beautiful there, too but here, with this stadium, it's - how do I say - a great tourist attraction. And the city is beautiful as well. There are a lot of things to admire, especially during winter; like I said I really like visiting the Christmas market.

Nobby: We truly do have some kind of football tourism by now, did you know that? A lot of people from England come here to watch Borussia Dortmund play.

Roman: I didn't know that but I can imagine-

Nobby: Prices in England are quite high so it can be cheaper to fly over here-

Roman: You can see better football here, anyway.

Nobby: Exactly!

Roman: Win-win. (both laugh)

[newstfionline]

The Joy of Swimming

By Jane E. Brody, NY Times, May 14, 2012

As far back as I can remember, I have been more at home in water than on land. My father taught me to swim at age 3, and I’ve been an enthusiast ever since.

While most of my aquatic adventures have been relatively tame, a few have been remarkable. I’ve swum with piranhas in the Amazon, sharks and penguins in the Galápagos, schools of tropical fish off Papua New Guinea, an octopus at the Great Barrier Reef, and sea lions off the coast of Mexico.

I’ve swum in a glacier-fed lake in Canada, a frigid river in Alaska and a hot spring in the Antarctic. And for more than two dozen blissful summers, I swam twice a day from Minnesota to Wisconsin and back, challenging the current of the scenic St. Croix River.

Even some of my pool swims have been unusual, including one in an outdoor (heated) pool in Toronto, snow landing on my arms, and another in a square pool, 20 feet by 20 feet, in the lobby of a St. Louis hotel where I did “laps” (really circles) under the watchful eye of a lifeguard.

But however many of these tales I can recall, I’m no match for a fellow journalist, Lynn Sherr, author of a new book, “Swim: Why We Love the Water.” Ms. Sherr celebrates the culture, history and physical and mental rewards of this ancient sport, second only to walking as the nation’s most popular recreational activity.

Among Ms. Sherr’s eclectic collection of watery adventures was a four-mile swim at age 69 across the storied Hellespont (now called the Dardanelles), the channel dividing Europe and Asia Minor. She earned a medal for finishing in 1 hour 26 minutes 16 seconds.

“Swimming is my salvation,” Ms. Sherr writes. “Swimming stretches my body beyond earthly limits, helping to soothe every ache and caress every muscle. But it is also an inward journey, a time of quiet contemplation, when, encased in an element at once hostile and familiar, I find myself at peace, able--and eager--to flex my mind, imagine new possibilities, to work things out without the startling interruptions of human voice or modern life. The silence is stunning.”

A bit later in the book, she notes, “Swimming forces you to focus and sets the mood to meditate; it allows you to dream big dreams.”

Some of my best ideas have surfaced as I propelled myself through water, worldly stresses soothed by the steady rhythm of my strokes. The title of my last book, “Jane Brody’s Guide to the Great Beyond,” leapt to mind one morning while I swam at the local Y.

In an interview, Ms. Sherr said she especially enjoys “the Zen of swimming.”

“It fits so well into our lives today, countering the stresses and craziness of modern life,” she said.

One of my swimming buddies claims that her regular sprints back and forth across the pool keep her sane. Another, about 125 pounds overweight, says her daily swim keeps her alive, preventing the diseases that would otherwise accrue from obesity.

Still another, when pregnant with twins, sought the relative weightlessness of the pool to relieve the physical and emotional stress of imminent parenthood.

Although a lifelong water lover, I didn’t begin routine lap swimming until age 35, after I hurt my back; swimming was the only activity my doctor permitted as I recovered. Now a daily swimmer (albeit not a fast one--it takes me 38 minutes to cover three-quarters of a mile), I’m something of a fanatic who makes sure that wherever I go, there’s water I can swim in.

And as I learned from Ms. Sherr’s book, my passion for swimming has prestigious company, including Presidents John Quincy Adams, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt (who converted a White House laundry room into a pool), Gerald R. Ford and John F. Kennedy.

Swimming can be enjoyed regardless of age or infirmity, and it is especially ideal for those with arthritis or knee or hip joints worn down by decades of weight-bearing activities.

It helps to preserve stamina, cardiac and respiratory function, muscle tone and flexibility as one ages. When done aerobically, swimming helps to keep arteries more elastic and clear of calcium deposits.

In studies of older swimmers, Joel Stager, associate director of the department of kinesiology at Indiana University, has found preliminary evidence that swimming helps to maintain higher brain functions, an important benefit given the aging of the population.

Ms. Sherr, who recently became one of Dr. Stager’s study subjects, explained: “Active swimmers appear to have greater cell density and connectedness in the cerebellum, which can improve gait and balance and help prevent falls. Master swimmers experience very little decline in the speed with which the brain tells muscles what to do.”

Once you’ve become efficient at swimming, it won’t do much for weight loss, though the calories burned can aid weight maintenance.

“But it’s not about weight,” Ms. Sherr said. “It’s about tone and body fat. The more you swim, the better your body tone and less your body fat.” Still, dedicated swimmers also need some weight-bearing activity to protect their bones.

With more than 10 million residential pools and 309,000 public pools in the country, what keeps a majority of Americans from enjoying the relief and refreshment of a regular swim?

The main obstacles are fear of the water; not knowing how to swim and breathe properly; lack of a culture of swimming; and no convenient or affordable access to a pool or body of water. Add to those an odd complaint I’ve heard from many women: a reluctance to mess up one’s hair.

Water aerobics classes can overcome most of these issues. Swimming lessons are available at Y’s and many schools throughout the country, and while it is best to start young, no one is too old to learn.

In my view, everyone should know how to swim and feel confident in the water; you never know when your life, or the life of someone you love, will depend on it.

Goggles allow you to keep your eyes open under water without irritation from pool chemicals or salt. If you find lap swimming boring, you may enjoy it more using an aquatic device that can play music or recorded books, although both Ms. Sherr and I prefer freedom from electronic intrusions and the silence that encourages minds to wander.

[boloorsportsmania]

#396 LYN-TASTIC batting gives Gujarat Lions some thumping; 120 runs were scoerd of boundaries by Gambhir and Lynn which is ridiculous; Pune lose 8th game in a row in IPL while defending score as Maxwell stars in huge Punjab XI win; Garcia in top of Masters leaderboard along with Pieters, Fowler and Hoffman; Can Garcia finally win a major after being in top 10 for stagerring 21 times in !!! and more...:-)

<p>Gujarat Lions were red hot team last year till they lost steam in knock outs. But this time their bowling was weak as Bravo and Jadeja were not available due to injury. Roy opened with McCullum. Roy was dismissed early on  by Chawla. But Mccullum and raina then accelerated. Runs came thick and fast. Kuldeep trapped McCullum when NZ former skipper was looking dangerours. He made 35 of 24. Finch was dismissed for not much as well. Dinsh Karthik who has been in red hot form in domestic season joined Raina. They had 87 run stand off 9 overs which took Gujarat to 183. It was par score in Rajkot. But once Lynn opened up initially with a couple of lusty blows, it was literally murder of Lions attack by KKR. Both hits fours and sixes at will. They won the match inside 15 overs by 10 wickets !!!.  Lynn made a swashbuckling 93 of 41 balls. Gambhir made a remarkable 76 of 58 but was overshadowed by the Australian. Lynn has been in erd hot form in Big Bash as well. KKR hit as many as 18 boundaries and 8 sixes. 120 runs came in boundaries!!! Thats ridiculous!! </p>

<p>Pune faced Punjab on Saturday day match. Pune were made to bat first. They had lost 7 matches while defending score. Pune lost in form Rahane and Mayank early and that set the tone for Punjab. Pune never looked threatening post that. It showed as even Smith fell for just 26. Though Stokes and Tiwary played brilliantly, Pune were well short of 180. They just managed 163 which was never going to be enough.There were cameos by Amla and Vohra early on . But at half way stage, Punjab were in some trouble at 85-4 at 12 over. But 20 ball 44 by Maxwell ensured Pubjab won in style. Miller and Maxwell creamed 6 sixes in their unbeaten 79 run stand.Pune have now lost 8 matches while chasing.</p>

<p>In Augusta masters 2nd round, Hoffman struggled to find the rhythm he found in first round. he carded a 3 over 75 to be at 4 under par. Garcia, Pieters and Fowler joined Hoffman at 4 under. SO it was 4 way tie at leaderboard. Garcia had a solid back nine to have a good round of 3 under 69. Garca has never won a major and has been in top 10 of majors for a staggering 21 times, been in 2nd poistion four times and in top 5 eight times. Thats been a long 17 year old career without major.Fowler had day's best round of 67. Pieters had a solid round of 68. Mcgirt played solid but missed some key puts but was still in contention at 2 under. It was Langer who made dream run till he faltered in last round. This time , it is 1992 winner Fred Couples who has been making news. 52 yeard champion made a solid 70 to be at 1 under. Rose ended day 1 under, Mickelson at even par, Spieth at even par. Spieth made 3 birdies of last 3 holes. Rory Mcolroy had frustrating day as he missed loads of putts to end at 1 over par.</p>

[tsunagite]

Do you have names for other Guest Receptions? Like Phigros is Chronicle Metropolis, Arcaea is Fragrant Sanctuary... Something like that.

Something like this. But I suck-ass at names so these may change later.

The other rhythms games I don’t have names for currently… (Since most of em only have like 1 or 2 Rhythms)

BMS Rhythms generally live on their own somewhere else, save for those like Blackest Luxury Car or STAGER, who by this point are basically representatives for Muse Dash and Tone Sphere .<.

[krispyweiss]

Album Review: Huffamoose - ... and that's when the golf ball hit me in the head

Here comes Huffamoose ... again.

Eighteen years after I Wanna be Your Pants, the Philadelphia-based quartet is back with ... and that's when the golf ball hit me in the head. While the music is immediately identifiable for its quirky, off-kilter melodies; cynical, yet heartfelt, lyrics; and Craig Elkins' laconic vocal delivery, some things have changed as the Huffamoose men are - like their fans - now middle aged and electric guitarist Kevin Hanson sings half of the LP's 10 tracks.

It’s an album that makes you laugh on the first pass and makes you think on subsequent listens and the result is Sound Bites' second-favorite Huffamoose album after the band’s self-titled debut.

"Mary" and "Celeste," who in the 1990s were willing to listen to Elkins' apologies, are now "Melinda Marion," who pretends she doesn't seem him at the mall, even as the singer ’fesses: I miss the me that belonged to us.

It's one of many times Elkins notes the passage of time - what's happenin' to my ass crack/it appears to be migrating north, he laments on the countrified "Devolution," where the singer discovers that we're all born as Coltranes before becoming Kenny G.s as the years roll by.

Elkins uses "Summer" as a metaphor for those golden years between, say, 18 and 25, that people try to stretch into their 50s. Driven by Jim Stager's simple yet infectious bassline and Eric Johnson's frenetic drum fills, the second cut gives the album its title and sums up its gist after Elkins sees himself in a window and finds his dad staring back at him.

And that's when the golf ball hit me in the head/that I'm further away from 20 than I am to dead .../and the white replaced the red in my three-day-old beard/and everywhere I go, the youngins call me sir

Hanson, making his debut as a Huffamoose lead vocalist, uses his tenor to juxtapose Elkins' deliciously laid-back delivery, which shifts wildly from baritone to falsetto and sounds like no one else. The guitarist borrows a snippet of "Day Tripper" for "Birds," a loping blues that features slide guitar and more exquisite work from the rhythm section, and turns to a flautist to add a breezy feel to "Don't Look Now," which calls out modern America for its backward-looking stance.

He, too, is an inventive lyricist, pointing out that every snowflake has a twin when it liquefies on the soaring ballad "Son of a Gun" and describing alcoholism more hysterically and honestly than nearly anyone ever has on "Oh, Whiskey," an infectious track that features a Jew's harp on the intro and a fiery solo from Hanson on the outro.

Oh, whiskey, what made you juggle those plates and pry off the Barbie doll legs in front of the neighbors/bad things come without warning, so meet me in the basement for a quick one/you have the right stuff, don't you/do not exaggerate the thread count in the fabric of your cosmos

People familiar with Huffamoose have spent the past quarter-century wondering why this band failed to take off. And the mystery is something Elkins also explores on the bookending tracks "Send Out Your New Song," which addresses marketing in the virtual age as he and his 'mates try to keep the dream alive, and the breezy "Wind Outta My Sails," in which the singer and acoustic guitarist takes solace in his family even as he acknowledges things haven't turned out as he planned.

... and that's when the golf ball hit me in the head is an album that should be picked up on faith alone as it proves - again - Huffamoose is the best band you've never heard of. People who go for sharp, insightful lyrics, virtuosic playing and untraditional melodies won't be disappointed.

Grade card: Huffamoose - ... and that's when the golf ball hit me in the head - A-

12/12/18