Tionne T-Boz Watkins crept into the hearts of millions as the sultry-voiced singer of TLC.

Also comprised of crooner Rozonda Chilli Thomas and rapper Lisa Left Eye Lopes, TLCs albums CrazySexyCool (1994) and FanMail (1999) catapulted the trio into music history as one of the best-selling female acts of all time. Chart-topping hits such as Waterfalls, No Scrubs and Red Light Special earned the female group numerous accolades since the 1990s, including four Grammys, five MTV Video Music Awards and five Soul Train Music Awards.

Lopes perished in a car crash in Honduras in 2002, but Watkins and Thomas continued creating music, including a self-titled, crowd-funded EP that includes the single Way Back featuring Snoop Dogg, which they released this year.

Strong as ever even as a duo, TLC headlines I Love the 90s: The Party Continues tour, which makes a stop in Scranton at the Pavilion at Montage Mountain on Saturday, Aug. 26, at 6 p.m. Other acts on the bill include Coolio, Tone-Loc, Young MC and Rob Base.

During a recent phone interview from the road, Watkins previewed what fans can expect to see and hear at the show.

Q: What city am I catching you in?

A: I am melting like the Wicked Witch of the West in Las Vegas. Its so hot here.

Q: TLC has always been really brave about facing social issues in your performances and songs. With politics and injustices making news every day, can audiences expect to see some of that trademark outspokenness on this tour, too?

A: Well, youll definitely hear it on this album, for sure on (the song) American Gold. But we always have something to say, no matter what. (Laughs) I think it just naturally comes across from us being who we are, so we still stand up strong for everything when we sing it, always.

Q: TLC also always inspired with the looks of your videos and live shows, so is the live act still a big spectacle, or is it more stripped down?

A: Nah, we still give you a production. We got the lights ... the dancers, the band. Its a full production always. Well never stop that.

Q: How are you feeling these days? How is life on tour? (Watkins has sickle cell anemia.)

A: I cant complain. I just have to take care of myself daily, so I do oxygen before and after the show. Theres a lot of Gatorade and water with electrolytes. I have to do certain things to stay on top of it. I wont pretend that its easy, but if I pace myself and watch the things I do, and do what my doctor says, I stay pretty healthy. I have my physical therapist and masseuse out here; they keep me in shape pretty good, too, rubbing out all the kinks ... because Im always dancing.

Q: These days, it seems like artists band together for tours like I Love the 90s, which feel almost like mixtapes. What is it about this music that stays fresh and never gets old for listeners?

A: I think about that time, everybody has that era where you just remember that song, like Oh my god, it makes me feel You remember that song by Will Smith, Summertime? Every time you hear it, you go, I remember that summer. I was at the park. I think of that time, it was such good music, organic, and it was refreshing. Lyrically, the content was strong. I think it was just a good era of music. And I think its kind of like everybody grew up with it, so theyre still bumpin to it. My daughter even be out there like (singing Montell Jordans) This Is How We Do It.

Q: Whats your favorite moment during live performances, being in front of all those people singing along with you?

A: Its to see the fans faces. Theres a couple of times that moment when they first get to see you and that energy its just like they lose it. Its really cool. When their favorite jam comes on, they might hear the horns to (Creep) and theyre like, Ahh! You can tell some of them, its either (that) thats their jam, theyre reliving their high school days or This is the song that makes me feel great about myself. So you just feel all the different emotions. And all their faces, its cool to look at when the lights arent blinding me.

Q: With this Kickstarter EP, you have made it known this is probably going to be the last TLC album. But has your mind changed at all being on this tour and seeing the response from fans? You just sound like youre having so much fun. Its hard to believe this could really be the last.

A: When we say our last, we dont mean the last of TLC, but yes, it is the final album studio album. That doesnt mean we wont do a residency. The thing thats so great is we have a body of work now that has lasted 25 years, and hopefully this new music will make it go even longer, but that doesnt mean well be going away. So Ill still be performing, you can still rock with us, but I doubt its going to make me change my mind to go in the studio to make another studio album, honestly. This industry is a little crazy for me, so I really think this has to be it.

Q: Finally, I have a few silly questions for you from some superfans. What music do you listen to when youre taking a nice, relaxing bath?

A: Oh, thats a good one! I love Marvin Gaye, I Want You, and theres a song called So Beautiful

by Musiq Soulchild and also Sade, Cherish the Day. Soft music like that calms me, because I have two (kids) that follow me, so thats my relaxing music.

Q: Any new music youre excited by?

A: I would say Bruno Mars because he is killing right now. Hes covering all the funk. Unfortunately, Prince ... and all them are not here anymore, and hes covering that whole genre of music. So when 24K Magic came out, I was like, Ohhhh! I almost threw my phone out the window. So yes, I would say Bruno, all day.

Q: Last question. Were you prepared for how iconic your haircut would remain to this day? I know a few girls who definitely went into salons and asked for The T-Boz.

A: That is so awesome because I used to argue for that haircut, because in my head, I thought it was awesome. So Im like, Oh my god, this is going to be cool, and I remember them being like, What do you mean, sideburns? Youre going to look like Elvis Presley. So thats why I tell people, if you like something about yourself, even if people cant see your vision, be yourself. Do what you want, because it ended up well for me. People started talking about it, and it ended up being iconic. So I never thought it would go that far, especially when I would see men with my haircut (laughs), and that was like the best ever. That is one of my favorite haircuts ever.

Contact the writer: pwilding@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9100 x5369;

@pwildingTT

on Twitter

If you go

What: I Love the 90s: The Party Continues tour, featuring TLC, Coolio, Tone-Loc and more

When: Saturday, Aug. 26, 6 p.m.

Where: The Pavilion at Montage Mountain, 1000 Montage Mountain Road, Scranton

Details: Tickets start at $29.35 and are available at the box office, livenation.com and 800-745-3000.

The rest is here:

TLC, Coolio and more '90s hitmakers unite for nostalgic tour - Scranton Times-Tribune

Country music comes to Fiji for a week.

Artists (from left) Jonny Taylor (back), Luke Dickens, Liam Brew, Ashleigh Dallas, Catherine Britt and Pete Denahy on stage for the finale on the final night of Tunes in the Tropics.

Tunes in the Tropics was sold out for the first time when it was held last week in Fiji.

Organised by Chris Watson Travel, the country music festival has become a regular event at Fiji Hideaway Resort on the Coral Coast, and this year brought 225 people to Fiji, filling every room in the seaside resort.

Artists and fans flew into Fiji on Saturday, August 5, and the music kicked off that night with Golden Guitar winner Ashleigh Dallas, who has performed at every Fiji festival.

Other artists who performed over the week included Catherine Britt, Travis Collins, Pete Denahy, OShea, Darren Coggan, Mickey Pye, Jonny Taylor, Luke Dickens and Damian Baugley from The Viper Creek Band.

There were four Star Maker winners among that lot, and another - Liam Brew - was a surprise guest artist at the event, playing some of the songs from his forthcoming album.

For the first time this year, the event also included songwriter sessions. For the first one on Wednesday last week, OShea, Dallas and Collins revealed some of the stories behind their songs, while the second songwriter session the following day featured Britt, Coggan and Pye.

Several of the artists also played acoustic gigs near the bar, or by the pool, during the week.

While the evenings were filled with music, the days were spent relaxing by the pool, snorkelling, scuba diving.

Two of the artists - Travis Collins and Ashleigh Dallas - took groups out on a deep sea fishing trip and river cruise respectively.

Funny man Pete Denahy was a first-time artist at the festival.

Ive had an absolute blast, he told Talkin Country on the final night of Tunes in the Tropics, admitting he didnt know what to expect when he arrived.

I cant say enough about this. If anyone is thinking about coming it is definitely worthwhile. - Pete Denahy

Ive done a heap of snorkelling, a bit of reef walking and drunk a few coconuts, and had a couple of really good gigs.

I cant say enough about this. If anyone is thinking about coming it is definitely worthwhile, its a great holiday.

Tickets are already selling to next years event, which will feature Adam Harvey and American John Stone.

Ashleigh Dallas

Damian Baugley

Darren Coggan

O'Shea, Ashleigh Dallas and Travis Collins at the first songwriter sessions.

At the second songwriter sessions were Catherine Britt, Darren Coggan and Mickey Pye.

Liam Brew was a surprise guest artist at Tunes in the Tropics.

Pete Denahy

Mr Watson first took a line dancing group there almost 10 years ago after he had visited the resort on a previous holiday.

Then in 2010 the first festival of live country music was held, headlined by John Williamson and Felicity Urquhart. Called the Oz Country Music Festival, it returned the following year with artists such as Kasey Chambers, Luke Austen, Shane Nicholson and The Sunny Cowgirls.

It was next held in 2014 under the new name Tunes in the Tropics, and Beccy Cole, Morgan Evans, Mike Carr and Amber Lawrence were some are the artists to perform.

In February last year, the event went ahead, despite Cyclone Winston hitting the island on the day it was due to start.

About half of the audience who had booked made it to Hideaway in the days after the cyclone, and it provided much needed support to the country, with an auction raising money for the aid effort.

See original here:

Tunes in the Tropics 2017: Country music in Fiji | PHOTOS & VIDEO - The Northern Daily Leader

BELMAR, NJ Live entertainment will be front and center this weekend at Waves on Main, the landmark restaurant at the corner of 10th Avenue and Main Street.

CMJ Jazz Band will return on Friday, August 18, promising that the music will be rocking with its repertoire of smooth jazz, funk, rock and fusion tunes. The local favorite features the musical mastery of Coo Moe Jhee on bass, Joe Lisa on guitar/violin, Bill Bang on drums and G.Shaw, aka "The Garden State Great," on vocals.

Also making an encore performance will be guitarist Joe Barker, showcasing his extraordinary talent on Saturday, August 19. Entertainment on both nights begins at 7 p.m.

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With awesome entertainment like this, and homemade food served in a relaxing and fun environment, Waves on Main is the place to be this weekend, said Kathy Farese, who owns the restaurant with her husband and chef Lou Farese. While Lou and his staff are in the kitchen preparing made-to-order entrees for all our guests, the music will get everyone in the mood for a great meal.

Waves on Mains contemporary coastal American cuisine is a blend of classic seafood, steak and chicken entrees, each specially prepared and served with a house salad or soup.

The appetizer menu is full of choices, including sauted mussels and clams, marinated beef tenderloin skewers, bacon-wrapped scallops and coconut shrimp.

And dont forget to check out the specials, which Lou creates everyday using his culinary creativity to offer customers a unique twist on new food trends.

The 150-seat restaurant is conveniently located in Belmars central shopping district, nestled among its many shops, in walking distance of the train station, and just blocks from the Belmar marina and beach. During the warm months, guests can be seen enjoying their meals on the outdoor patio topped with a distinctive black canopy and surrounded by greenery.

Waves on Main is open Tuesday through Friday for lunch and dinner, and Saturday and Sunday, for brunch, lunch and dinner.

To verify hours of operation or make reservations, call 732-503-7137 or visit Waves on Mains Facebook page for the latest news and menu updates.

See more here:

Waves on Main: Where Music Gets Everyone in the Mood for a Great Meal - TAPinto.net

WooliebuGGer recently released Constant Evolution Parts 1 & 2, from his forthcoming EP or album, slated to drop later this year. Hailing from Aurora, Illinois, WooliebuGGer began creating music at the age of 14, stating, I am inspired everyday by the idea of what can be accomplished.

Stylistically, WooliebuGGers sound encompasses electronic, experimental, ambient, minimal and glitch elements. And his musical influences include Brian Eno, Kraftwerk, Future Sound Of London, Stereolab, Pink Floyd, The Doors and The Beatles.

Constant Evolution is a single, lengthy song composed of two distinct segments: part 1 consists of a radiant dance beat, while part 2 dampens the rhythm and takes on a flowing, almost psychedelic flavor rife with extended, syncopated notes.

The bipartite song begins with a percolating synth rhythm, followed by a mesmerizing, futuristic melody that exudes electronic dance elements riding on leitmotifs projected by the synths. The leitmotif gives the impression of gazing into a sonic mirror that reflects the melody in ever devolving fractal patterns. The groove is provided by handclaps that ebb and flow, depending on the intensity of the synth matrix. Part 1 concludes with a protracted synth note that vibrates horizontally as part 2 enters riding a clicking, popping groove, with white noise sound effects and an escalating shrill tone that abruptly halts. The tune segues into percussive effects backed by, and riding on, a rapidly stuttering synth, which eventually fades, leaving only the percussive effects, which assume a light industrial feel that elongates and increases in tension, like something out of 2001: A Space Odyssey. As the tune culminates, two part harmonies percussion and synth slowly fade, increase and end on a vibrating tone.

The overall sound of parts 1 and 2, together, is electronic ambient music that is kept fresh by the replicating leitmotifs serving as an elastic melody, a melody that ultimately devolves into an austere, minimalist series of detached sonic expression in Part 2. Even though part 2 depicts an almost mechanical detachment, it remains intense with suppressed energy.

Constant Evolution Parts 1 & 2 evokes turbulent, stylish sonority, along with tensile flamboyance under precise control. The latter component, the tensile flamboyance, provides the tune with an edgy tightness that imbues the music with pressure and strain that borders on apprehension. To that end, although its eccentric and quasi-experimental, it is good. That being said, if youre searching for relaxing ambient music, this is not it. On the other hand, if youre searching for ambient music that is pregnant with mysterious sonic symbolism stridently asserting its vitality, this is just the ticket.

Find out more about WooliebuGGer here.

Listen to more WooliebuGGer here.

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Music Review: Constant Evolution Parts 1 & 2 WooliebuGGer - HuffPost

Ever suffered from anxiety? I have, and it's no picnic. About 10 years ago, I checked into the ER before a speaking engagement thinking I was having a heart attack. The electrocardiogram showed that my heart was as strong as ever. What had happened? I had had a panic attack, which is a sudden, overwhelming surge of anxiety and fear that mimics a heart attack. Doctors told me it had been induced by stress. That made sense. It was one of the most stressful periods of my life.

Numerous speaking engagements later, I had learned how to control feelings that commonly led to anxiety. I had learned that anxiety is often the result of fears (mostly based on things that haven't happened yet) you may have about uncertain situations, places, and even people in your life.

This is a serious issue. A study by Dr. Michael Freeman, a clinical professor at University of California, San Francisco, found that nearly half of 242 entrepreneurs surveyed reported having one or more lifetime mental health conditions such as anxiety or depression.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the U.S., affecting 40 million adults, a whopping 18 percent of the population.

If anxiety is beating up on you, you can reduce it with these helpful hacks.

The most commonly suggested way to manage anxiety is to calm the nervous system by using diaphragmatic breathing (deep breathing). Doing it for a few minutes sends the brain the message that you're not actually in any danger, and in return it will kick your body into relaxation mode instead of fight-or-flight. If any part of your brain is sending signals that you're under threat (and in reality, you're not), kick the fear by gently talking yourself out of it. Convince that part of your brain sending you into fight-or-flight mode that you are just fine.

If you're feeling anxious, move. Literally move -- go outside and get some fresh air. Put on your earbuds and start listening to your favorite relaxing music (give the speed metal or gangsta rap a break) while going for a brisk walk. Try to take your mind away from what's bothering you. Focus as you walk on positive thoughts that will make you feel safe, accepted, loved, and honored. When you're at homeostasis, reflect on how fortunate and blessed you actually are.

Journaling about your fears and worries helps you process how you really feel, which can be healing. Use a notebook, and write these headings at the top of a page: 1) Situation; 2) Thoughts/What am I telling myself?; 3) How anxious do I feel? Jot down a short sentence about the situation and the date so you can monitor your progress. Most important, write down any thoughts you're having either in anticipation of or during a situation that causes anxiety. What are you telling yourself? Is it true, or does it come from irrational fear? In the third column, rank how you feel on a scale of one to 10, or write a few words to describe how you feel. Once you get clarity on the situation, you can look at what actions to take to move yourself forward.

Often, worry is the direct result of trying to control people, things, or certain situations that are actually well beyond your control. Understanding that you can't and shouldn't control everything and releasing your worry will help you manage your emotions better. Focus on the things that are in your control, slow down, and take one thing at a time. Now you can refocus on what's immediately in front of you, and go from there. Releasing your attempt to control will help ease some of the discomfort you're experiencing from your anxiety.

By exposing yourself to whatever it is you fear, it loses its power and control over you. No matter what it is that you fear, if you literally submerge yourself in it for a long-enough period of time, the illusion of fear (because there's no such thing as fear--it's all in our minds) will eventually be gone. That weakness becomes your great strength. When you figure out the thing that you fear, it's usually the most important thing you need to make yourself or your business successful.

A growing body of research in neuroscience suggests that mindfulness is one of the best-kept secrets for helping people deal with anxiety. You can practice it by intentionally focusingon your emotionsand accepting in a nonjudgmental way whatever thoughts and sensations you're experiencing in the moment. Matt Tenney, author of The Mindfulness Edge, summarizes it like this: "We train our awareness so that we become less distracted by our own thinking, which allows us to enjoy our lives more, to be more present with people, and to see our world, both inner and outer, with greater clarity."

Read the original here:

6 Powerful Brain Hacks to Cope With Anxiety Every Day - Inc.com

Ever want to escape lifes worries and drift away on a sea of bliss?

Michelle Garrett, a Norman massage therapist specializing in ashiatsu and owner of Drift Therapeutic Spa says Drift, in partnership with Float OKC, may have just what you need to find that escape.

The whole goal with floating is to reduce sensory input during the session, said Float OKC owner Neal Smock.

While both floating and massage help people relax, the combination, Garrett and Smock believe, multiplies the relaxation.

They pair really well together, Smock said.

Drift offers several types of massage, including aromatherapy, Ashi-Thai, deep tissue, hot stone, Swedish and prenatal in addition to ashiatsu barefoot massage.

Garrett said clients should first consider how much pressure they want before selecting which type of massage is best for them. Those who want something really gentle might try Swedish massage. For an extra-relaxing experience, she suggests adding aromatherapy which can be paired with all massage types.

Still, theres nothing like ashiatsu barefoot massage to get a truly therapeutic experience, she said.

We offer deep tissue massage, but most of our clients who like a lot of deep pressure opt for the ashiatsu, Garrett said. Its what were known for. You still get the long flowing strokes, so its still relaxing.

She recommends the ashiatsu for people with chronic tension and pain.

To pair massage with floating, the client can decide which he or she wants first. Garrett said often a client will float to release tension then follow with a massage. Other times, a person may want the deep massage first then finish unwinding in the float chamber.

Its a personal choice, that can vary by client, she said.

Smock said people use floating to decompress, and, while some might want a totally dark, quiet experience, others may want to leave on a dim light in the chamber or have soft, meditative music playing.

People are often surprised how quickly an hour passes in the float chamber Smock said.

Garrett agreed. She said during her first experience floating, five minutes in, she thought, this isnt for me, I dont think I can do this, but then her mind disengaged and the next thing she knew the lights were coming on, and she couldnt believe an hour had passed.

Dont fight the urge for your brain to jump from thought to thought, Smock said.

As the thoughts flow through, eventually without the constant sensory overload we experience in our daily lives, the mind will relax, he said.

Some people even fall asleep which is completely safe, because of the high content of epsom salts which makes the water dense and allows people to float effortlessly. The salts also give the water a silky feel.

Each float chamber has a private shower on the outside, so clients shower before and after floating. Ultraviolet light filters and cleans the float water which is warmed to 93.5 degrees to match the surface temperature of skin.

Thats really important for the sensory aspect, because with the water matching your skin temperature, it becomes neutral, Smock said. It feels like youre floating on nothing.

After few moments, people no longer consciously think about being in water, he said.

While the client controls the light, going pitch black to eliminate sensory input helps the mind rest, Smock said. The spacious chambers are four feet wide by eight feet long and at the lowest point are seven feet high to prevent claustrophobia.

After floating or massage, clients are welcome to decompress further with a cup of Prairie Bloom herbal tea. Drift uses cruelty free, mostly organic Prairie Bloom Botanical products, in part because of the quality of the products, but also because theyre produced locally.

Garrett, a Norman native, said she is pleased to partner with other local businesses.

Float OKC has been in Edmond for two and half years and has been partnered with Drift in Norman since mid-July.

Smock owns the float side of the business, while Garrett owns the Drift massage side of the business.

Drift Therapeutic Spa

480 24th Ave. NW, Suite 120

405-701-2832

driftnorman.com

More here:

Float your troubles away - Norman Transcript

Editor-In-Chief Scott Peterson's take on life(Photo: Matt Colby/Now Media Group)Buy Photo

I had forgotten how much joy I could get from looking up a word in the dictionary.

But I did that surprising thing when I was out of range ofcell phones and beyond the Wi-Fi frontier, and was desperate to understand a word in the book I was reading.

I dusted off a 1956-vintage Webster's dictionary that probably had not moved from the shelf in this cottage since the day it was published. But there it was, page after page of words, new (well knew to bobby socksers) and old alike, ready for me to browse and discover new things.

As a certifiable word nerd,I own literally dozens of dictionaries, but as the Internet turned my brain into oatmeal, I almost never get them out anymore. Who wants to go to "all that trouble" to look up a word when there is a tool in your pocket that makes it so fast and easy.

Northern Wisconsin has always been one of my favorite getaways, a state of mind where you can sample the best of how things used to be before modern life steamrollered over them.

But even the great indoors has new adventures, too, when you free yourself from the shackles of technology.

I saw my wife actually laying out kings and aceson the table to play solitaire with real playing cards. It was like I was reliving my childhood on days when I was sick and needed to entertain myself. No buttons, no flashing ads, no music. Just tactile and visual nourishment.

In a restaurant on the lake, it was the same thing. Back at home, couples would be staring at the little slabs from their pockets, conversing only to share the occasional Facebook post, if they talked at all, but here was a dining room filled with people talking to each other! The din from a roomful of chatter was invigorating.

Out on the lake, when we ran out of gas in the boat, I could have grabbed my phone and tried desperately to reach someone, but we did the old fashioned thing. We flagged down a passing boat, and met a friendly couple who gave me a ride back to our cottage, where we picked up gas and refueled. This is what people did back in the day.

I played Yahtzee with my wife. I got to know my future daughter-in-law better. I listened to the Brewers game on the radio. I sat by the lake and watched the sunset. I watched them make fudge through a storefront window in Minocqua. I bought groceries in a story that did not have 10,000 choices. I saw an otter swim past our boat. I went out for an ice-cream cone. I browsed in a book store (and it was crowded with other people doing the same thing). I meandered into an antique store, another place that has timeless treasures.

There are a lot of great reasons to escape in Wisconsin, but the ride in the time-machine is the most underappreciated part. You have the time to go back in time to remember the things that mattered. Sometimes, you have to go backward in order to find the way forward.

Read or Share this story: http://www.lakecountrynow.com/story/opinion/columnists/scott-peterson/2017/08/10/going-off-grid-life-really-ever-relaxing/556610001/

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Going off the grid: Was life really ever this relaxing? - Lake Country Now

It wasn't THAT long ago that it was a big deal for a college student to have their phone in their room. Of course I'm probably dating myself, still college students have always needed some small comforts of home to make their dorm room their own space. While smart homes have been kind-of-a-thing for the past few years, smart dorms are arriving on college campuses this fall.

Here are some of my favorite gadgets for college students:

The Nox Sleep Light from Sleepace connects to your smartphone and will help you start and end your day in a peaceful way. At night, the light gives up an amber glow which has been proven to help people relax. It also plays soothing music or relaxing sounds that gradually silence once it determines that you've fallen asleep. It does that by picking up and reading your breathing patterns. In the morning, rather than jolting you out of bed with an alarm sound or loud music, the Nox slowly raises the light in the room to simulate the rising sun. I have it set to chirping birds at 7 a.m. The Nox attempts to sense when you're at your lightest moment of sleep and will begin waking you up with the sound of birds chirping louder and louder and the light becoming brighter. In addition, the Nox Sleep Light is designed to monitor, track and improve your sleep quality through the app. It's $150.00

The Sound Oasis bluetooth speaker will help drown out noisy neighbors or roomates with several 'soothing' sounds that are stored on an included SD card. There are sounds of waves, a brook, music, white noise and a heartbeat (yep, it is a little creepy sounding, but it works for some people). The 360-degree speaker also connects to any smartphone device to stream music from Pandora, Spotify or any other music app on the phone. The BST-400 Stereo Bluetooth Sleep Sound Therapy System is $130.

The Amazon Echo Dot and Tap are two of the more popular Amazon Alexa products. Both these devices will answer questions, read news and audio books, set reminders and control smart home devices. The Tap has an included 360-degree speaker while the Dot should be connected to an external speaker for great sound. The Amazon Tap is $130.00 while the Dot is $50.

If you do get an Echo Dot you'll want a bluetooth speaker to go with it. The Vaux speaker has good sound but it also turns an Echo Dot into a wireless device by keeping it charged even when the speaker is not connected to a wall outlet. The Vaux is like a 'puck holder' cradling the Dot and providing power. It has a mini-audio plug that connects to the Dot's external audio plug and can hold a charge for hours.

The Vaux Cordless Portable Battery and speaker for the Amazon Echo Dot is $50.

A printer is something that doesn't immediately pop into your mind when moving into a dorm room, but it can certainly make a difference as the semester begins. Rather than running down to the library or another building to print out a paper the student will have it in their room connected to their computer. Printers are small enough to keep on a desktop now and prices have dropped to below $50.

Wish I had been able to do that when I was in school.

See the article here:

What the Tech? Smart dorm gadgets - WRCB-TV

Kkiftlik Park ontinues to present various types of music in its very unique atmosphere.

A free spirit swirls around the %100 Urban Music series at Kkiftlik Park's Kkiftlik Bahe. The festival brings together many local and international bands in a welcoming and relaxing atmosphere.

The first event of %100 Urban Music starts on Aug. 27 with Asian Dub Foundation, the famous figure of reggae in Turkey, Sattas, and favorite rapper Sansar Salvo in addition to Ais Ezhel, who combines different styles.

Combining dub bass, punk rock guitar, jungle rhythms and traditional Indian music with dance hall lyrics, Asian Dub Foundation has performed at many music festivals, including Exit Festival in Serbia, Rock For People in the Czech Republic and Couleur Cafe in Belgium. The band has also shared the stage with bands such as Rage Against the Machine, The Cure and Radiohead.

Sattas, and the popular rapper Sansar Salvo will warm up the stage after sunset.

A promising artist that broke through with the latest album combining new school hip-hop and rap, Ais Ezhel, will add color to this selection and motivate people to move to the dynamic sound.

%100 Urban Music bringing together different music genres at Kkiftlik Bahe, starts with one of the few dub bands of Turkish underground electronic music, Alphadub, which rose to fame with their "Beton Orman" (Concrete Jungle) program at Ak Radio.

Originally posted here:

Eclectic styles at %100 Urban Music series - Daily Sabah

Posted: Aug. 8, 2017 9:49 am Updated: Aug. 8, 2017 9:58 am

Don't mind me. I'm just taking a bath/cleaning the tub. I just flipped the camera for a picture to illustrate something we moms do every day. Today it's the bathtub but sometimes it's using the toilet while scrubbing boogers off the wall and reviewing the words of the week that I've taped up. I bet they haven't even glanced at them twice. Maybe the booger on the wall is some sort of protest.

And this my friends, is why we are tired. We think about everything there is to do and then multitask as much as possible. Why? Because it just makes good sense, and I think deep down we think the quicker we get all our jobs done, the quicker we can get some me time. It's fun to make believe. I mean I'm holding a disinfecting wipe and chipping away at spilled nail polish while taking what's meant to be a relaxing soak. Maybe I have a problem. Let's review. Every day I combine looking for missing items with cleaning the mud room. I still use baby wipes. First to clean faces, and then clean up the spilled cereal. I listen to reading assignments and stories of who touched who while tying shoes and packing backpacks. I've perfected drinking my tea (aka my sanity in a cup) while physically running my people to school. I spill a lot but it's a big cup.

None of this should wow anyone because we all do it. Every day we try our best to do as much as we can until it's safe to sit down, and by the time we get there, a lot of times all we can do is quietly stare into the distance. Sometimes I black out while doing the dishes. This glazed over spaced out stage can unknowing last long periods of time.

I call it the sock zone.

My dad used to sit on the edge of the bed half asleep and put one sock on, then take forever to put the other one on due to the lack of ambition to get out of bed. I feel like I've gone off on a tangent here and possibly wondered onto another blog subject. Stay tuned for sock zone

Anyways, I feel this spaced-out time is very much needed. It's us part recharging and part having a planning period for our next hour, day, week considering everything that needs to be organized to make it all happen. Me time. It looks a little different with four very different children firing different problems my way, requiring me to respond in different ways. I space out a lot these days.

So yeah, I'm taking some me time and having a bath. There are no candles -- don't want anyone to get any ideas. There's no relaxing music. God knows, I can't play music or the children might find me. Also, I need to be able to hear what's going on, in case all hell breaks loose. What I am doing is Cloroxing grubby fingerprints and cleaning up my bath salts that one of the minions has spilled all along the perimeter of the tub. I will then review my bathing situation. Do I have time to shave before someone needs me or will I be very rudely interrupted with one leg in the air? Ugh! Whatever. I'll go for it. I can always combine this with a good healthy body image talk or any other overly informative talk that makes watching the TV downstairs seem like a better option.

Because I can multitask like a mother!

Jen Reekie was born and raised in Quincy and received a communications degree at the University of Kansas, which has come in quite handy as she communicates every day with four children who don't hear a word she says. This stay-at-home mom enjoys the challenge, though, and shares her experiences in this blog, "Mum's the Word." She welcomes your feedback, questions and stories about staying sane while raising kids.

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Multitasking me time - Herald-Whig