This reenactment of the main fleet action during the Battle of the Saintes scales the number of ships used down by a factor of 3, so that instead of 36 Royal Navy ships of the line engaging 33 French ships of the line, there are 12 versus 11 ships respectively. The rules for the battle can be found here.

One difference to the real battle is to allow the winds (represented by the gods of the winds, the Venti) to change according to a dice roll at the end of each move. If the score is 1, the wind changes 1 point anticlockwise, 2-5 gives no change to the direction, and if a 6 is thrown, the wind changes 1 point clockwise. Likewise the strength of the wind may change, with a die roll of 1 decreasing it by one unit, 2-5 gives no change, and 6 increases it by one unit. Thus the capriciousness of the Venti can decide the fleet action on the day as the winds work in favour of one or other fleet, due to their possession of the weather gauge.

The fleets assume the positions used on the day, approximately those before the battle began at 08:30. The French ships form line ahead, and sail north to south. The English also form line ahead, intercepting them on opposite tack on a course heading North East.

The initial weather conditions match those at the start of the battle and are given by the Venti.

with Volturnus, God of the east wind, blowing with a moderate breeze.

The left hand side of the board below is North. Given the initial positions

the weather gauge lies with the French, which should please Admiral de Grasse in his flagship, the Ville de Paris.

Move 1

Both fleets continue on their courses.

The White squadron of France (Neptune, Hercule, Triomphant) lead, followed by the Red squadron, headed by Admiral de Grasse in his flagship, the Ville de Paris, and Languedoc.  If the ships continue on their present course, the French will be able to ensure they overlap the English fleet, unless they change tack.

Aboard HMS Princessa, the duty bound in Sailing and Fighting Instructions for his Majesty’s Fleet bear down on Admiral Samuel Drake.

XIII – Signals for Battle

“As soon as the Admiral shall hoist a Red Flag on the Flag-staff at the Fore-top-mast-head, and fire a Gun, every Ship in the Fleet is to use their utmost Endeavour to engage the Enemy in the Order the Admiral has prescribed unto them.”

Sail at’em. Astern, HMS Conquerer, and the rest of the fleet follows.

The Venti are consulted.

Volturnus surrenders to Subsolanus, as the wind swings to the South East. The Weather is heading towards the favour of the English.

Move 2

La Royal adds Pluton to their centre, the Royal Navy HMS Monarch. Subsolanus continues blowing with his present moderate strength.

Move 3

Scipion joins the French, HMS Yarmouth the English fleet.  The English will intercept the French centre if things continue the same.  The Venti continue as before.

Move 4

Neptune changes tack and steers towards the English, on a south west heading.  HMS Barfleur, with Admiral Hood commanding the Red squadron joins on the board.

Subsolanus continues as before, not upsetting the Admiral’s plans.

Move 5

The French follow their leaders tack and the fleets race towards each other. Gun decks cleared, first shots ready. Soon, soon, just hold your nerve!

Even Subsolanus durst not change for the exchange of fire that is surely to come beneath his breeze.

Move 6

“Feu!” The first broadside from Neptune rips into the starboard gun decks of  HMS Princessa, causing heavy damage.  Unable to return the fire, the pleasure is given to HMS Conquerer, which takes out one gun deck on  Neptune in return. White smoke drifts across the waters.  The fog of war has returned to the high seas and Mars nods his approval.

Damage points:-     Royal Navy 3     La Royale 1

Subsolanus continues to blow at the same strength for the next move.

Move 7

Broadsides from the White squadron (Neptune, Hercule and Triomphant) sweep into the English, with HMS Conquerer receiving the worst.  She loses her starboard gun decks, and worst still, a fire breaks out.  Can her crew save her before she succumbs to the flames?

Damage points:-     Royal Navy 6     La Royale 1

Subsolanus tires a little, and blows more gently in the next move.

More soon, once the hurlyburly’s done, when the next moves are lost or won.

269 words

Is all that is takes to form

A perfect poem prose

A perfect verse indeed

Is all that you need

To take the mind of things

Things that are swimming around

A pond that is empty

No fish in the sea, like words seemingly venti.

Venti thinks big

But her aunt, Count Louise

Does not think it polite for young girls to think.

Thinking, she’s been told

Has evoked

A plague just centries before

Before there Were words

Poor Venti, the dear hoped.

Yet to think in itself is as innate as breathing takes place.

So Do not let your dear count Louise

Take advantage of thee

The thoughts are itself, sure to please.

I – 1781

At Yorktown, British pride was seen to fall,
The World Turn’d Upside Down was heard by all,
French ships besieged the Britons till they fell,
Ad’mril de Grasse’s men had tales to tell,
America and French cries heard o’er land,
Their armies fought together hand by hand,
At anchor, the French fleet in Ches’peake Bay,
New orders see them sail upon their way,
Intrigues out on the Carribean sea,
A fleet of thirty five for King Louis.

II

de Grasse in early November set sail,
By months end he had crossed the oceans veil,
But plans against the isle of Barbados,
By strong trade winds were lost, all turn to dust,
Instead a new plan based upon St. Kitts,
Was hatched to make England’s fair isle submit,
In anchor, off the port of BasseTerre,
Six hundred British men saw in dispair,
Ten times as many Frenchmen come ashore,
A siege begins; the tightening grip of war.

III

But Ad’mril Hood of Royal Naval fame,
Got wind of the foul Gallic plan to shame,
Sailed from Barbados with a fleet of ships,
In battles blast the French he hopes to whip,
He could by stealth sneak in a sleeping bay,
Attack a few trapped ships along the way,
Asleep at rest and anchor in BasseTerre,
A plan ennobled! Those who care to dare,
Must risk their all if Victory’s smile they wish,
And hear the sounds of captur’d flags swish.

IV – 1782

Jan’ry twenty fifth sees England back at sea,
For the port of St Kitts, Hood wants to free,
Breath of Subsolanus! Guide on the ships,
And let them close the range to blows and grips,
Collision delays Ad’mril Hood’s plan,
Alerting the French to the schemes of man,
de Grasse alarmed sets sail with his fleet,
Southwards heading the Venti’s whims to beat,
Hood turned about and headed back the same,
Ships weave and tack in Ad’mrils deadly game.

V

Next noon, the hills of Nevis were covered,
As onlookers watched the fleets maneuver,
Hood tacked to starboard and towards St Kitts,
Which threw the French, and de Grasse on his wits,
The French turned round and began to pursue,
The English fleet ahead, their sails in view,
By two, the English fleet began to anchor,
French hearts were in a rage filled with rancor,
A French port now regained by England’s men!
Whose sailors now sigh and mutter, ‘Amen’.

VI

The rage of de Grasse ensures battle new,
Next morn as the French sailed along and through,
But exchange of cannon fire will not shift,
The English oak stood firm, returned short shrift,
Pluton led the van and soon was shattered,
Her decks destroyed, sails rent and were tattered,
France turned away and back out to the sea,
The isle now had new owners for the quay,
Audacity! Call out aloud Hood’s name,
The capture of this port adds to your fame!

VII

Britain stirs and returns back out to sea,
Our other famed Ad’mril called Rodney,
By Feb’ry nineteenth he reached Barbados,
A fleet of a dozen o’er Atlantic’s cross,
By Feb’ry twenty fifth, the two fleets do join,
Rodney and Hood, thirty four ships o’er line,
de Grasse pursued, anchored in Fort Royal,
Martinique’s safe harbour for Frenchmen loyal,
The quarry scented and chased into his lair,
The British wait for France and Spain to dare.

VIII

One hundred and fifty miles south to north,
Would see sailors artful maneuvers spring forth,
Martinique, Dominica, Guadeloupe,
A battle to be fought in this Carrib group,
France and Spain now made plans for Jamaica,
‘To redraw the lines of the map maker’.
At Cap Français, with fifty ships of the line,
Twenty thousand troops would cross the deep brine,
Rodney’s fair command: ‘This plan to dispel,
And to break France and Spain, their aims to quell’.

IX

April eighth France once more sets out to sea,
With ships o’er the line numbered thirty three,
Convoy of one hundred and fifty sail,
With which to land across the oceans veil,
An invasion Fleet! The moment comes near,
For failure or success, cries or good cheer,
England at sea numbered but thirty six,
With these ships they hope to end the French tricks,
‘Twixt isles Dominica and Guadelope,
Near Îles des Saintes lay the next battle group.

X

April ninth finds fleets becalmed on the sea,
Waiting for the breezes from the Venti,
Which issued forth gently from Volturnus,
Enough winds for sails to fill with the gusts,
Fleets begin to head slowly towards each other,
de Grasse made his convoy head out for cover,
And sent his van out to attack England,
Some nine ships o’er line who made the stand,
Rodney’s ships tacked to join in the battle,
Causing the French ships to turn and scuttle.

XI

April twelfth sees final battle begin,
As the two fleets sail, one will know chagrin,
France sails from compass points north to the south,
Expecting blasts of fire from cannons mouth,
From England’s ships who before blazing forth,
Sail from the compass points south-west to north,
Volturnus breath keeps sails upon their course,
The Venti’s breeze, the ships sole motion source,
Thus a line of battle is to be joined,
Prize money to be won as ships purloined.

XII

The race of two fleets on opposite tack,
The loser may find themselves on the rack,
As gain of weather gauge in age of sail,
Gives possessor first choice in deadly hail,
France wins but overshoots the English van,
Marl’boro fires first on sixth ship as best can,
Le Brave’s seventy four cannons soon make reply,
White smoke pours out each ship to fill the sky,
England sails close towards the enemy’s lee,
Sailors whisper ‘God! make their shot miss me’.

XIII

Line of sail diverge past their meeting point,
French van tack south west, continues fleets join,
Ships slide past by and fire with full fury,
The sailors lot, the cannons killing spree,
Thus English rear feels full fury and might,
And enters the fray, the hard battle’s fight,
But breath of Auster! Venti’s change of fan,
The French ships on south tack must change their plan,
Creates a gap, a hole in line of sail,
Which Rodney finds, and tears back the battle’s veil.

XIV

Luffing to the wind, Rodney breaks French line,
HMS Formidable and five more behind,
Interval abreast, the whole English rear,
Soon follow where their Admiral did dare,
The French line caught, England now punctured thrice,
Gift of Fortuna Belli’s roll of dice,
France forced off to leeward in deep disarray,
Their van soon scattered and no more did stay,
So duel for French ships now became the norm,
As each fights for its life through cannon’s storm.

XV

de Grasse in his flagship, crowded by nine,
Strikes Ville de Paris colours o’er the brine,
HMS Barfleur, Hood’s flagship takes the fame,
De Grasse offered his sword, the Ad’mril’s shame,
Ardent, Glorieux, Hector soon followed suit,
César blew up; a sad final salute,
Thus four ships captured, an Ad’mril as well,
Rodney’s fame and fortune made; tales to tell,
His dogged tenacity in pursuit,
Showered forth prize money, Vict’ry’s fair loot.

Epilogue

Yorktown’s loss caused Britain troubles and woes,
The white flag, an army succumb’d to blows,
But soon the tales returned to daring do,
And once again the nation hoped anew,
At Westminster the cries were heard with glee,
‘Our Navy triumphed once again at sea!’
Judged in the balance, tumults twists and turns,
Loss and Victory, wars gamble sometimes earns,
Good Christians know pride comes before the fall,
Fortuna Belli’s whims confounds us all.

IMR      MMIX

The full poem is available as a powerpoint slideshow file here (3.5 MB file!).

So, Summer is almost upon us. Am I looking forward to the long days on the beach, the balmy weather, the lazy BBQ’s at friends houses? Yeah, sure. Of course. But Summer, for me, is about the important things.

Starbucks Frappuccino’s.

Ahhh, yes. Nothing quenches my thirst quite like a frappe, and I’ll tell you this: No one, NO ONE, makes an iced drink quite like Starbucks. Say what you will about them being a multi conglomerate (Blah Blah Blah) corporation – They make damn good drinks. My personal fave? A dark mocha frappe, with extra ice (So it’s chunky rather than just viscous) and no whipped creme. There are also a whole host of other flavours, ranging from java chip, chocolate, caramel and many others. 

So if you ever pass a Starbucks on a hot day – take my word on it and give one a go. Refreshing, delicious and thirst quenching. I’m addicted!

Starbucks Frappuccino

5 modele, 5 combinatii – toate fericite as spune

Prima – alba cu linii subtiri negre dispuse vertical. Usor de purtat, usor de asortat. Nici nu am ce sa va povestesc mai mult.

A doua – patratele miiiici, mici, mici. Permite purtarea cu jeans sau costum; cu cravata sau fara..o minunatie (trebuie sa recunosc – e preferata mea!)

A treia – foaaarte eleganta. O zebra mai hotarata- neagra cu linii subtiri albe. Face ravagii!

Pe urmatoarea o stiti deja, dar se potriveste cu tema aleasa asa ca o arat din nou – pentru ca vreau, pentru ca-mi place mult si pentru ca pot!   Alba cu linii negre, cu gulerul si manseta negre…o regasiti si in frontispiciu tronand promitator.

Ultima – neagra cu puncte albe. Unora li se pare o aroganta – modelul asta e nascut cravata, nu camasa! Ei…cine se incumeta sa o poarte?

La caduta del comunismo è dovuta in grandissima parte all’opera di Gorbaciov e del suo vice Ministro degli Esteri Shevardnadze che, partiti con un progetto di democratizzazione e di riforma si ritrovarono nelle mani degli americani che li manipolarono e li strinsero in un vicolo cieco.

ad un certo punto non riuscì più a controllare e che finì nelle mani di un personaggio ambiguo ed inquietante :Boris Eltsin che, sotto il controllo degli americani, regalò l’immenso patrimonio

industriale e minerario dell’URSS ad una banda di oligarchi molti dei quali miliardari.

La Russia è popolata di mendicanti e di miliardari e perde popolazione.Quasi dieci milioni di abitanti in meno di venti anni fa.

Sono davvero l’impero del Male e della Guerra perenne.L’idea di democrazia serve a massacrare i popoli dell’Afghanistan, dell’Iraq, del Pakistan, della Somalia e la sua politica mondiale non è di pace ma di accerchiamento e strangolamento della nazioni con culture diverse da quelle del capitalismo imperialista.

Fonte:

http://bellaciao.org/it/spip.php?article25211

Venti ne permite sa fim imbracati business in culorile sezonului.

Zebrele - cum imi place mie sa le numesc – sunt tesaturile incerte …dungi colorate pe alb sau dungi albe pe fond mov, verde sau albastru?

Ca sa se dea si mai mare, pluseaza cu gri in loc de alb pentru culori ca mov si roz!

CASAMODA - vine din urma cu a sa colectie Premium – albastru si maro plusssssscombinatia stralucita de alb + albastru + gri!

Dar sa vedem pozele…

Eh, aici se modifica schimbarea. Avem 3 categorii, si anume:

1. Dungata cu guler alb si manseta alba – da, puteti spune ca s-au purtat acum ceva timp, DAR culorile sunt noi si inca se poarta!!

2. Dungata cu guler alb si atat - acum e momentul ei, iar culorile sunt foooaaaarte business!

3. Ceva incredibil  – camasa alba cu linii verticale negre + guler si manseta negre. Va promit ca o sa arate senzational. EU am avut ceva indoieli pana cand am vazut-o pe un …purtator. GENIAL!

Si inca un amanunt, pozele sunt facute mai acum o saptamana, cu subsemnata de fata. Cred ca nu am avut aparat bun…ele arata mult mai bine

Pentru cei care considera camasile UNI monotone : DUNGA LATA, fratilor!!!

Camasile de genul asta m-au facut mereu sa ma intreb : sunt albe cu dungi colorate sau colorate cu linii albe.

In ceea ce le priveste pe cele cu dungi subtiri mi-e foarte clar ca sunt ca zebra…mmm..indecise si confuze.

Pentru o tinuta de birou nu ai cum sa gresesti purtand astfel de camasi, doar daca nu le asortezi cum se cuvine.

Aveti grija la cravata, daca e si ea cu dungi, macar sa fie de grosime diferita de a celor de pe camasa!

LA ROSA DEI VENTI

Ripassando qua e là… mi è venuta in mente una filastrocca per riuscire a memorizzare i venti “obliqui”….

Il Maestro (maestrale) dice al Greco (Grecale) quello sciocco (Scirocco) del Libeccio …

Venti ne propune culorile sezonului. Ca sa nu existe confuzii ar trebui sa va ofer numele culorilor conform paletei Web dar n-o sa fac asta.

Sa fie usor de inteles pentru toata lumea o sa apelez la comparatii ROGVAIV si nu numai, pentru fiecare in parte:

Verde - este verde, dar i se spunea teal . Eh, teal asta e ceva mai rece decat verdele si mai cald decat albastrul.

Violet – pe asta il cheama purple si de fapt e mov. Bancurile legate de culoarea mov nu-si au sensul pentru ca nuanta asta nu are nimic vulgar in ea.

Roz - sa fie roz? sa fie la limita dintre fuchsia si ciclam inchis? Arata bine oricum i-am spune.

Rosu - dar inchis! bordo, grena, sangeriu, trandafiriu… si daca purtatorul e si brunet…mmm..parerea mea!

Alb - aici nu e nimic de comparat, doar ca albul asta da mai mult senzatia de chic decat de obisnuitul …lipsa de imaginatie.

Camasile uni permit multe modalitati de asortare, tocmai prin simplitatea lor. O cravata in acelasi ton dar nuante diferite, o cravata in culori complementare – simpla sau cu model.

Mentiuni: pentru a nu dauna retinei tale si a celor din jur, nuantele tari trebuie calmate cu tonuri neutre (pentru femei: bej, crem ; pentru barbati – culorile alea care nu au culoare) si asortate cu grija. Mai pe seara aveti dezlegare la negru – costum sau doar pantalon si sa nu uitam de incaltaminte, curea si sosete.

dopo un lungo giro

.

hai l’odore selvatico del freddo

.

con fauci potenti azzanni

.

le porte  le case  i corpi  più dentro

.

spingi  gli angoli delle stanze    con pungoli

di lato  le sbrecci

.

tu

.

di venti    un corpo       di chiodi      geli di

un tempo concluso     tu

.

un vuoto di parole

fattosi vangelo.

nel vortice Faedo- foto di M.Zanovello

Non guardatemi.

A vista

non guardatemi oltre il palmo

lo sguardo    è un’isola    di tormentate filigrane

e l’occhio si disperde

nella vaghezza della luce

E’ un travaso la vi(s)ta

il vedere     un fonema  isolato

di schizzi celebrati nel corpo dei sensi

e una sillaba profonda

incontrata  nella via dei venti.

So, I was at Starbucks about an hour and a half ago, and was not only there to get a latte (Skinny Vanilla), but, after seeing the ads on TV, also decided to try their VIA ReadyBrew vs. Regular Brew taste test. I noticed the sign that said, in big letters, mind you, “TRY OUR STARBUCKS VIA TASTE TEST!” So, it’s pretty obvious that they have this ready, right?

I asked the employee if this was free, and she said, “Yes.” So, next to my latte, I also decided to try the VIA vs. Brew taste test. While the one employee is busy making my latte, the other goes to the back room. She emerges empty-handed, and says to me, “Sorry, but we don’t have any brewed coffee yet.”

You don’t have any coffee brewed yet? It’s 10:30 A.M., TWO AND A HALF HOURS AFTER YOU OPEN, and you’re telling me that you don’t have any normal black coffee brewed? That’s absurd. What coffee shop doesn’t have brewed coffee? Even though I like them, not everyone likes fancy espresso drinks. Some people just like and want normal, black coffee (like Martin from Frasier). You can’t just assume that EVERYONE is going to want a “Grande, double shot, no foam, extra whip, upside down, skinny, macchiato with extra caramel.”

It’s also false advertising. You put up a sign on the menu proclaiming that you hold the VIA taste test and that you want us to try it, but you don’t have brewed coffee ready?

So, when I got home, I e-mailed a complaint to Starbucks, telling them all about this, and that my next visit to a Starbucks will be at a different location, where they have everything ready when it needs to be. And if I don’t get a reply of some sort by next week, I’ll call their retail support. I think customer service is VERY important with any type of place. Even if the coffee or food is good, you can’t expect me to keep going to your store if you screw things up and don’t have anything ready two hours after you open.

-Tony

Been to Starbucks lately?  Of course you have.  Have you noticed that you need to learn a new language just to order a cup of coffee?  They actually publish a guidebook for those of us who aren’t native speakers.  Here are some of the more colorful combinations you can put together.

• Triple venti skinny upside-down caramel macchiato (3 shots of espresso put in first instead of last in a large cup with nonfat milk, caramel sauce and vanilla syrup)
• Grande skim triple shot hazelnut latte, no whip (3 shots of espresso in a medium-sized cup with skim milk, hazelnut syrup and no whip cream)
• Half-Caf, Double Tall, Non-Fat, No Foam Latte (1 shot regular espresso and 1 shot decaffenated expresso in a small cup full to the top with steamed nonfat milk)
• Grande, quad, ristretto, nonfat dry cappuccino with legs (4 shots of espresso to go using only the sweetest part of the coffee in a medium-sized cup with more foamed nonfat milk than liquid milk)
• Doppio venti light ice unleaded Frappuccino con panna (2 shots of decaffeinated espresso on ice with whipped cream and only a little ice in a large cup)

Funnier than us trying to use this language is the look on the faces of the baristas when you actually get one of these out.  Ten to one they won’t have the foggiest idea what you are talking about.

While pouring ridiculous amounts of non-fat milk into my Venti at Starbucks this morning, I got called “ma’am” by a girl much taller than me, but definitely younger. I need to digest this (and the milk. I think I’m lactose.)

That’s all I have the strength to write for now.

Sincerely,
Devastated

Oggi su facebook mi è arrivata una nota molto carina. Non capita spesso, allora meglio sfruttarla al massimo!

Rubo al buon Paolo la trascrizione di uno di quei foglietti che sono sui calendari cristiani e che si strappano giorno dopo giorno, buon seme, una parola per oggi…ecc… quelli lì. E lo ringrazio per avermi taggato in questa nota.

Un noto oratore cominciò il suo sermone tenendo in mano una banconota da venti euro. Nella sala c’erano 200 ascoltatori, egli chiese: “Chi di voi vorrebbe questa banconota?”. Le mani cominciarono ad alzarsi, ed egli disse di nuovo: “Darò questo biglietto ad uno di voi, ma prima farò una cosa”. L’oratore appallottolò la banconota e poi domandò: “C’è qualcuno che ancora la vuole?”. Altre mani si alzarono. “Bene, e se faccio così?”. Lasciò cadere il biglietto a terra e lo schiacciò con la scarpa. Poi lo raccolse, adesso era tutto raggrinzito e sporco. “Adesso chi lo vuole ancora?”. Le mani continuarono ad alzarsi. “Ah, avete imparato una lezione molto importante: non importa cosa faccio con i soldi, voi li volete lo stesso, perché il loro valore non diminuisce con i maltrattamenti. Restano ancora venti euro!”.

Molte volte siamo accartocciati, scaraventati e gettati nel fango da decisioni che prendiamo e circostanze che sopravvengono nella nostra vita, allora ci sentiamo privi di dignità; ma non importa cosa è accaduto o cosa avverrà, tu non perderai mai il tuo valore agli occhi di Dio. Per Lui, sporco o pulito, accartocciato o no, sei ugualmente prezioso. Il Salmo 17:8 dice che Dio ci considera come la “pupilla dei suoi occhi”. Il valore della nostra vita non viene da ciò che facciamo o ciò che siamo, ma da chi apparteniamo! Cristo è capace di darci il vero valore e la vera vita che ogni essere umano desidera e vuole vivere, per Lui tu sei speciale, non dimenticarlo!

“Che cosa è l’uomo, perché te ne ricordi, e il figlio dell’uomo, perché lo visiti? Eppure tu lo hai fatto di poco inferiore a Dio, e lo hai coronato di gloria e di onore” – Salmo 8:4-5

“What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor” – Psalm 8:4-5

Sto fogliettino mi è arrivato al momento giusto e mi ha incoraggiato. Spero faccia lo stesso con alcuni di voi.

Dio vi benedica.

Paoletto.

davidissimo.wordpress.com

Cafe’ Rating: Venti with cream (4 out of 4)

Buckle your seatbelt, friend, cause The Anchormen are about to take you for the ride of your life.  Each song on Always a Road is an abstract of different points in the journey of faith.  From the moment of decision to the anticipation of Heaven, Ride delivers twelve songs that capture milestone moments in the life of every believer.  You will find yourself somewhere in this project along with the hope and inspiration to continue on your trek.

The first cut, “Start With Me” is a great opening act.  Written by Marty Funderburk and Adam Paul Williams, Startfeatures all four of the Anchormen and Karl Rice (tenor) on the chorus.  With a progressive Southern Gospel sound uniquely Anchormen, they immediately lift the eyebrow of expectation leaving you anxious for more.  Rarely in the world of Southern Gospel will you see a quartet so deftly feature and honor each member by purposefully selecting music that showcases their respective talents.  This project is rife with potential singles that reveal the vocal prowess’s of Paul Harkey (bass), Karl Rice (tenor), Michael Bartlett (baritone) and Kevin Casstevens (lead). 

Their forthcoming single, “All in a Sunday’s Work” recounts the simple pleasures of the quintessential Sunday.  Michael has no difficulty convincing the listener that Sunday’s are done best by believers! “Rise and shine and go to church, singing old hymns, each and every verse, pot roast dinner ’round the family table, bowing our heads telling God we’re grateful, no way I’m gonna rush, spending time with the ones I love, But I’m gonna live this day for all it’s worth.  It’s all in a Sunday’s work.”

A song called “Never” featuring Karl Rice, has a shot at radio significance.  This lovely arrangement features a subtle but wistful banjo, yum!   Songwriting team Gina Boe, Lisa Qualsett and Kevin Stokes put to lyrics the sentiments of the once-hardened sinner turned believer.  ”From ‘I’ll never’ to ‘I’m sorry’ His grace never so deep, I thought hope was lost for me until the voice of calvary…“ 

A sure-fire radio hit is a Ronny Hinson song called “Everything But Time”.  Bass singer, Paul Harkey leads this show-stopping tune lyrically full of witty “Hinsonisms“.  “So don’t be the one who lived and never made a dent.  God has given you one chance to shine, Don’t ever let your marker be he just came and went, Don’t find out you had everything but time.“ 

Lead man, Keith Casstevens, really shines on “Almost Time to Fly”.  This joyful romp reminds the listener “right before our eyes the sky will burst wide open, as ole Gabriel starts to play our welcome song.  I can’t tell you just the moment this will happen, but I know for sure it won’t be very long.” Another gem, “One Day I Will” written by Donna Beauvais, will likely be sung in churchhouses across America.  This fully orchestrated piece soars in an impeccably timed key change at its climax.  With One Day, the Anchormen take us to heights of worshipful adoration.

Finally, a hidden treasure is cut #11, “Grace is There”.  Among my favorites on this CD, the fully-orchestrated Grace encourages the listenener, “Just before you feel like turning back, you’ll find you’re never alone.  Grace is there, by your side.“   All in all, The Anchormen turn a corner with this CD as they skillfully navigate the changing landscape of SG radio.  I believe other artists will refer to the Anchormen playbook in the future, as they, too, embrace the future of Southern Gospel.

Website: www.theanchormen.com

Always a Road: Songlist

Start With Me
All In A Sunday’s Work
The Sweetest Sound I Know
Never
Everything But Time
Somebody Here
One Day I Will
Almost Time To Fly
The Letter
Better Than Ever
Grace Is There
For The First Time

Il ciclone Etau ha colpito le isole occidentali del Giappone e sono almeno 13 le vittime. In base alle notizie diffuse dalla radio statale Nhk sono 47.000 gli sfollati ed il servizio meteorologico giapponese ha lanciato l’allarme per forti piogge, inondazioni, frane di fango e venti fino a 126 km/h. Secondo le informazioni diffuse dalla polizia, sarebbero almeno 8 le persone disperse a Hyogo, nel Giappone occidentale.

The word is supposed to be Itallian for 20, as in 20 oz. of coffee at your local Starbucks, Caribou, or wherever. I prefer homebrew. Not that I know any more about coffee than your local barista, but because coffee shops charge entirely too much and don’t allow the ambiance I as a writer would like. Perhaps it’s where I live. No, that can’t be the case, because I travel all over Atlanta and the rural suburban areas (listen to me, I’ve lived inside the perimeter for just over a year and I’m a full fledged snob about it– shame on me!) and all the coffee shops are the same. Each of them seems to attract the local yuppie types. Who else can afford $2 every morning for a little cup of coffee? Most regulars at “the shops,” as I call them, wouldn’t debase themseleves by purchasing a plain black coffee and spend upwards of $5 and still haven’t touched a bite of solid breakfast food! Triple venti caramel chai machiato with a skinny splash of espresso. My Latin is bad, and I’m sure I messed something up with that order. The upside to the coffee shops, by and large, is that I haven’t encountered a single barista who would laugh in my face for such an appalling butchered order. Maybe when I leave, but the people I’ve encountered when I do plunk down $2 for a cup of coffee are at least trained to appear non-judgemental. Similar to the Waffle House waitresses who do not snicker when I order hashbrowns with ham and cheese. Again, maybe when I leave, but at least the people paid to help with those over-priced orders are courteous enough to be nice to those of us who are lingo-ally challenged. Venti– 20. My 20th post on this site and my 20th post without a stomachful of $2 a cup coffee.

© n02VIII Vagabond Lit

Cafe’ Rating: Venti (4 out of 4)

The moment I reviewed “The Funeral of Jesus,” I knew this song was destined to make He’s Alive Radio history.  It has been years since any single song has generated as much buzz in the way of phone calls and emails.  As of this review, it has camped out at #1 on our weekly Southern Gospel chart for four weeks running, and likely won’t be vacating this week.  The only way to explain this kind of outpouring is a little word (used less and less frequently in SG music these days)… anointing. 

I double-dog dare you to listen to this song and not feel something.  When I interviewed Big Mo and asked him about Funeral, he explained that it was recorded in one take, with no post-edits.  It’s as though Heaven smiled on this amazingly written story of what might have happened in the tomb on Resurrection Sunday morning.  The result?  Shazaam! Holy Ghostbumps the likes of Mt. Rushmore!

A tour of the rest of the CD cemented my opinion of our new-found sensation.   The balance of “Remember Me” is also quite unforgettable.  The follow-up to Funeral, “Three Days,” is a beautiful ballad reminding the listener of Christ’s intervention in the human debacle.  “Forever lost for the sin we had done, sentenced to die and justice held the gun… Three days changed it all.”   

 If you feel like rockin’ the jukebox, fire up “Bigger the Battle.”  Although I’m not prone to playing air-guitar, I’m tempted to get a few licks in with Mo as he sings, “One thing comforts me, God made us a promise, We’ll not go down in defeat, the bigger the battle, the sweeter the victory.”

Also worth spinning, DJ’s, is a song called, “The Gate.”  The quintessential story song, Gate tugs heartstrings and delivers a beautiful denouement.  “Remember Me” is a heart-felt prayer that retells the thief’s last cry on the cross.  The listener can easily identify with the sinner’s humble plea for the mercy of a savior.  “I’ll love you forever, like pieces on the ground, scattered all around, Lord please remember me.”

As a DJ, I already have a spot carved out in “the rack” for “Remember Me.”  The listeners have excellent recall for anointed projects, and this one has struck He’s Alive gold!

Listen to my recent interview with Big Mo in the MP3 player on Melissa’s Page.

Contact Big Mo Ministries @ www.bigmoministries.com

Hey, you!

Yes, that’s it. Good. Good.

Now, look a little bit to the left. See that picture? The one below “About Me” and to the left of “Lease.”

Yes, that’s the one. In case you missed it, here it is again.

I can relate to how the cow is feeling right now. There is a high probability that I look this way on certain days. You know, those days when the laundry isn’t just folded right. Or, when Starbucks runs out of Classic syrup, and can’t sell you a sweetened Venti iced tea. Or, when you find out that the pair of shoes you’ve been wanting to buy forever went on sale yesterday at 75% off, but is no longer on sale when you checked back today. That kind of day.

But, I also wanted you to know that, underneath the scowl is a really good person (or cow). And, behind the scowl is a smile.

Yes, look closer. There is a smile somewhere in there.

A genuine, warm, and heart-felt smile. Bubbling deep inside. Slowly making its way to the surface. See the corners of her mouth turning upwards? Look again. I know you see it, too.

And, I know that along with that smile comes an overwhelming sense of gratitude for life and all the people (and things and cows) that come with it. Including you.

And, no, I did not call you a cow.

U.I.O.G.D. (remember this? It is something I saw every school day for 10 years)

Lease