Building Open Opportunity Structures Together (We Are BOOST) cordially invites everyone to a special community event “Why Live Green: Seven Leaders, Seven Ways You Can Live Healthier and Happier” on Sunday, October 26th from 3PM - 6PM at Dock Street Brewery located at 701 S. 50th Street (50th & Baltimore Avenue) in West Philadelphia, PA.

Event will include panel discussion featuring topics by seven sustainable and green living community leaders. There will be a Q&A session, Brewery tour, giveaways, and networking buffet (included) following the panel presentation. A cash bar will also be available.

Panelists and topics include:

• Anastasia Harrison, LEED AP, AIA, IAQA
Director of Business Development - WESKetch Architecture + Interiors, Inc.
TOPIC: “Why Live Green? Real Reasons, Rationales, and Practical Steps You CAN Take”

• Stephen F. Finkelman, P.E., LEED AP
Associate - CMX Engineering
TOPIC: “LEED for Homes and Energy Conservation Strategies”

• Doug Cohen
Founder - Inspired Futures Global Campaign
TOPIC: “Leaders of the Next Generation: Youth and Sustainability”

• Marianne Malloy
Eastern Regional Network Program Coordinator - Environmental Leadership Program
TOPIC: “ELP: 21st Century Community-Building and Social Capital Creation”

• Peter Abrams
Proprietor - Modern Metal Work & Trenton Atelier
TOPIC: “Waste-Stream Treasures: What You Throw Away Does Not Go Away!”

Additional panel speakers will be selected and announced.
Note: if you or someone you know is interested in speaking at this event, contact BOOST at (206) 202-2883 or email whylivegreen@weareboost.org.

Donation:
$35 per person
$30 group rate (5+)
$15 children under 12

For more information or to RSVP, visit http://www.weareboost.org or call (206) 202-2883.
You may also email whylivegreen@weareboost.org to register for this event.
Tickets will be available at the door if this event does not sell out.

Walk into Cream & Sugar Coffee and Sweet Shop at 4004 Spruce Street and be prepared to use all your sensory functions. See the gourmet individual-sized desserts in the bakery case immediately as you enter the store, smell the fresh brewing coffee, taste the chocolates, feel how dense their giant chocolate chip bakery cookies truly are, and hear the music - together these characteristics along with a friendly, helpful staff create a delightfully warm, welcoming, and tasty sanctuary from the chaos of our everyday world. Everything in the store from the cannoli cream and strawberry cream cheese to the milkshakes and chocolate covered cheesecakes to the bagels and bread puddings are locally or store made. Cream & Sugar caters to the neighborhood resident and college student alike on every budget. Try their coffee and donut special at only $1.50 - a real steal, or if you can splurge, try a gourmet biscotti latte and rice pudding special for $6.00. The shop also offers gift baskets, party platters, and custom bakery cakes. You imagine it and the staff there will deliver! Have a question about a product or interested in placing an order, email the store at creamandsugarsweets@yahoo.com or simply stop on in. The store is open 7 days a week 7am-11pm, and open until 1am Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings. Bring in a copy of this online write-up between now and October 31st for 10% off your first purchase of any bakery item. Also, stop on in Halloween afternoon between 3-7pm and say trick-or-treat for a sweet treat!

There have been several references made to Obama's celebrity. He has even been scorned for his popularity. It is now negative to be popular, yet the definition is deceiving:

Adjective
S: (adj) popular (regarded with great favor, approval, or affection especially by the general public) "a popular tourist attraction"; "a popular girl"; "cabbage patch dolls are no longer popular"

But think about that populair girl in high school that we all, barely in secret, hated. She wore the best hairstyles, was a true fashionista, had the boyfriend with the car, the latest designer accesories, and God help us if she was smart too! We hate her because we're jealous. We want that charisma, that effortless appeal.

So we make up rumors about her. Someone says she's a ho, another says she has "the clap", and another says she's having sex with the teaher. And although, we don't believe it, we spread it along, making it more "credible" with each retelling. Then after repeating the ludicruous claims a few more times you feel like an idiot. And worse, you just made her even more popular.

This juvenile pattern is too similar to the Obama campaign. The slander, the rumors, the obscenities. From Obama hates gays to Obama the anti-crist; the media is a mad house for eccentricity.

Although I truly don't believe Obama to be the anti-crist, I won't be buying a round trip ticket for the Obama train anytime soon. He is a victim of celebrity becoming greater than the man. Celebrity so great, it overshadows his virtues and insults his value. I want to love him, but I don't even know why I like him. He's like the P. Diddy of politics; loved because he's cool. And of course others will argue that he deserves better than just the attribution of cool.

But I'm not there yet, you know, giving out praise and credit. My stubborn nature prevents me from being a fan for no other reason than--I'm a hater at heart. I hated that popular, I spread the rumors. And though I look back in shame but with wisdom, I realise that this is my human nature. I cheer for the under dog providing necessary support. Obama doesn't need it and so I haven't given it.

I've watched him in two debates with great intentand listened to his words. Still the only thing that I could see was his charisma, his style, his swagger, his inner-Diddy. Of course I'll still vote for him, afterall McCain's no under dog either. But I don't have to love him.

And when Diddy speaks we listen, but we don't hear. We're past the point of taking that man serious. Afterall, how can we trust a man who changes his name with the leaves and ever thought shiny suits were cool?

But how can he tone it down? How can he bring that persona back down to Earth? In my opinion, it's already gone too far.

PIMP MY EXXON

MUSIC IS OUR OIL TO HOST PRESS CONFERENCE AND FREE CONCERT AT ROCK & ROLL EXXON ON OCTOBER 11TH 2008 TO ANNOUNCE THE "MUSIC IS OUR OIL" WORLD TOUR CONCERT/FILM

It's better than the MTV reality show Pimp My Ride and it's happening in Philadelphia on October 11th 2008. An EXXON gas station recently dubbed "ROCK & ROLL EXXON", is getting "pimped out," "tricked out," and rebranded to serve as the venue for a press conference and "BETA TEST" concert to unveil a revolutionary world tour/concert and film titled "MUSIC IS OUR OIL” (MIO). The MUSIC IS OUR OIL world tour, which is scheduled to begin June 19, 2008, will send America's greatest Hip-Hop and Rock artists to oil producing countries to barter music and other essential commodities for 20 million barrels of oil. The 20 million barrels of crude oil will be transferred into 125-gallon MIO gas cards, which will be distributed to 3.2 million Americans thru the Temporary Assistance for Needy Family (TANF) program.
Organizer, and producer of MUSIC IS OUR OIL, 3Kingdoms Entertainment CEO Mikal Kamil says, "The purpose of this press conference is to introduce to the world a new American model we call "MUSIC IS OUR OIL." We will announce MIO's strategic vision, execution, and expected outcome. We will also encourage the great thinkers, activists, and doers of the world to be a part of this "Great Collaboration." Kamil says, "We are living in very progressive and different times. For the first time in history an African American is running successfully for president of the United States and EXXON MOBILE is hosting a BETA TEST concert on their gas station lot. In a very sexy and cool way MIO will show how gasoline can be used as a positive purchase and as part of the energy solution."
Much of the coolness of the BETA TEST will come from the eclectic personalities involved in the concert. The outgoing cast will consist of grafitti artists, indie rock bands, hip-hop artists, leading members of the music, oil, gas, ethanol, solar and auto industry and surrogates from the Barack Obama campaign. Adding to the list of unusal suspects, ethonol fueled indy cars, electric cars, gasoline tankers will serve as the backdrop for the concert's stage.

MUSIC IS OUR OIL presents
"THE BETA TEST" concert
After the press conference, 3Kingdoms Entertainment, Rock & Roll EXXON and EXXON distributor Lehigh Gas will sponsor a free concert titled "The Beta Test." "The Beta Test" will be held in Philadelphia outside at Rock & Roll EXXON gas station; located at 2330 Aramingo ave. The free concert will feature 10 indie rock bands and hip-hop artists who will barter their musical performances for gasoline. Artists will recieve a full tank of gas and the additional gas will then be transferred into 25-gallon MIO gas cards, which will be issued to low-income residents thru the Temporary Assistance for Needy Family (TANF) program. In addition all of the staging and concert production items as well as grafitti artists services are being bartered for gasoline. Circumventing the deflated dollar, weak economy is essential in offseting the cost of the event. With an emphasis on diversity, experimentation, linkage, collaboration and being part of the solution, the BETA TEST concert will transform a local EXXON gas station lot into ROCK & ROLL EXXON. The BETA TEST will also serve as a platform for the Obama/Biden and MCain/Palin campaign to push their "GET OUT TO VOTE" intiatitive. Surrogates from both candidates will be attending.

“The rising cost of energy has created a strain on all consumers across the country. In addition to dispersing gas cards through the Music is our Oil program, we’re encouraging people to use E10, a 10 percent blend of ethanol and 90 percent gasoline,” said Toni Nuernberg, executive director of the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council (EPIC), a Music is Our Oil sponsor.
The more than 9 billion gallons of ethanol in our fuel supply is helping to keep prices at least 15 percent lower, saving the average American family approximately $500 per year, according to Merrill Lynch.
“The long-term solution to high gas prices is diversifying our energy choices” said Tom Collina, executive director of 2020 Vision, a national group promoting alternative energy. “We need to give consumers more choices such as plug-in electric cars. With plug-ins, you can go from $4 per gallon of gas to $1 per ‘gallon’ of electricity.”
Plug-in Electric Vehicles (PEVs) will soon be on the market from GM, Toyota, Nissan and others. 2020 Vision supports the early introduction of these vehicles as well as federal incentives for consumers to make these cars affordable. “These cars are cheaper to drive, use domestic fuel, and dramatically reduce global warming pollution,” said Collina. “They are the ultimate solution to high gas prices.” 2020 Vision will drive a plug-in car to the event.

Other collaborators and sponsors include: Rock & Roll EXXON, Lehigh Gas, International Recipricol Trade Association, Pennsylvania Gasoline Retailers and Allied Trades, Ethanol Promotion and Information Council and 2020 Vision.

The BETA TEST is a test concert of the intended June 09 MUSIC IS OUR OIL world tour concert/film. Aside from the entertainment and oil industry, MIO has a lot of moving parts connecting to one mainframe. The BETA TEST concert is an early step in the development of the MIO world tour concert series. The BETA TEST will serve as the precurser to the start of larger activities with many moving parts. The "Great Collaborators" of MIO will use the BETA TEST to discover whether MIO's entertaining, logistical, marketing, technological, social and philanthropic concepts can be successfully realized.
Starting three years ago, 3Kingdoms Entertainment's Mikal Kamil did the unthinkable; he brought the entertainment and energy industry together to help raise money for low-income Americans that couldn't afford heat. This event was dubbed "Artists For Heat." Mikal Kamil, brainchild of MIO says, "We are also doing The Beta Test for personal reasons. We want to prove the naysayers wrong AGAIN. We want to say WE TESTED THE MIO AND IT WORKS."
On June 19, 2009, 3Kingdoms Entertainment will launch MUSIC IS OUR OIL and revolutionize the world of benefit mega events. Additional details regarding the logistics of MUSIC IS OUR OIL will be disclosed at the press conference. Members of the press and energy advocacy community are invited to attend both the press conference and concert. Tickets to the free concert will be distributed in Philadelphia through local radio promotions, and a variety of other promotional activities.

What: Press conference to announce revolutionary world tour concert/film and
Free concert with alternative Rock and Hip-Hop artists titled "The Beta Test”
Featuring: Leading members of the music, oil, gas, ethanol, solar and auto industry
Indie Rock Bands and Hip Hop artists: Matt Duke, The Feather Tops, Whiskey Livin, The Adam Monaco Band, Preston Swift, Hezekia, Stillicide, Nickelz, Dinner Thieves and Mellow Veneer
When: Press Conference: October 11, 2008 at 11:00 a.m. ET
Free Concert: October 11, 2008 at 3:00 p.m. ET
Where: Press Conference: ROCK & ROLL EXXON- gas station-
2330 Aramingo Ave
Concert: ROCK & ROLL EXXON- gas station-
2330 Aramingo Ave
Contact: To RSVP for news conference and concert, contact 3Kingdoms@verizon.net, musicisouroilbetatest@gmail.com

Penn Institute for Urban Research has partnered with Next American City magazine to host
a spirited dialogue between Philadelphians and representatives of the John McCain and
Barack Obama campaigns.

TONIGHT! (6 October 2008)
6pm-8pm
Center for Architecture
1218 Arch St
Philadelphia, PA 19107

This event is the inaugural lecture of Penn Institute for Urban Research’s (Penn IUR)
Philadelphia 360 lecture series, all 5 of which will be held at the Center for Architecture
this fall and spring semester. Philadelphia 360 is a project made possible by funding by
the William Penn Foundation. The series features national experts addressing the
economic development challenges Philadelphia faces and opportunities to make it one
the of the leading innovators in the country, including issues of elected and private
sector leadership. Future sessions will focus on the latter and, in particular, anchor
institutions.

I am a black conservative black male. I'm ashamed of my black people. Obama represents bigger government and leans heavily on the far left. He believes in raising taxes. How can you be a black entrepreneur owning a small business support him? The government will take 62% of your profit leaving you with 36 cents on the dollar. I'm all for supporting black people but my principles comes first. This man panders and says anything to get a vote. One day he claims to be pro choice now a banner on his pathetic website says he's pro life. My mother always told me the friends and company you keep is a reflection on you. Obama has friends and associates running his campaign who are not good for America. He wants to socialize our nation? Look at Europe? Do we really want our rights taking away from us? Do you really want the government running our life? Everything the government does fails. Look at Fannie and Freddy. I really wish McCain would call names. Connecticut own Chris Dodd needs to do the right thing and step down. New World Order is soon coming.

Politics as Usual!? Philadelphia filmmakers explore politics on the eve of this critical election in a month-long exhibit of independent media presented by the Philadelphia Independent Film and Video Association (PIFVA) The show will run at the Projects Gallery from October 10 Through November 8, 2008. The program will be looped during gallery hours on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 4:00 to 7:00 pm and on Fridays and Saturdays from noon to 7:00 pm.
Mingle with PIFVA members and guest filmmakers at the Opening and Closing events. The OPENING on Friday, October 10 from 6:00 to 9:00 pm will be hosted by Big Tea Party's Elizabeth Fiend and include a live poetry performance. The exhibit CLOSING on Saturday, November 08 from 3:00 to 6:00 pm will be hosted by Green City Journal's Caryn Hunt and include moderated discussion with local activists. For more information contact PIFVA at 215.382.2579 or email contactus@pifva.org
Films to be exhibited:
• Bush for Peace By Sarah Christman and Jen Simmons (1 min)
• Choose to Choose by Christiane Badgley (12 min)
• A Mural's Message by the Beacon Center Youth (1 min)
• Copy This Tape by Skylight Films (17 min)
• Blockbuster Letter from the Editor by Ken Winikur & John Lumia (1 min)
• Free the (Schuylkill) River Park Documentary by Rob Stuart (15 min)
• Bean Scene by Deb Rudman with AQ Quintero (1 min)
• Casino Free Philly videos by Edmund Goppelt (20 min)
• Asians Misbehavin': Model Minority Man by Anula Shetty & Mike Kuetemeyer (5 min)
• Taking of Bodine: Never Forget by Community Leadership Institute & Scribe Video Center (10 min)
• Ending an Epidemic Act-Up Fight Back by Big Tea Party (6 min)
• Dis Poem by Tania Isaac (3 min)
• Amiri Baraka's Something in the Way of Things (In Town) by Bryan Green (9 min)
• Iraq Veterans for Peace, Winter Soldier: Iraq and Afghanistan by Amadee Braxton, Gail Lloyd, Serena Reed (20 min)
Philadelphia Independent Film and Video Association (PIFVA), founded in 1979, is a membership organization whose mission is to strengthen, promote and serve Philadelphia's independent media community through programs which provide opportunities to learn, mentor, produce and screen work, advocate for the community and network. PIFVA is dedicated to increasing the creative capacity of the Philadelphia region by supporting and expanding the work of regionally based media makers. PIFVA's education programs promote public appreciation of independent media making and encourage the talent and ability of area's creative community of filmmakers.

Our webmaster wrote about this inicident on his blog, but notes that there is no media coverage and this lasted for quite a while. Here is what Doug has to say as of 9:21 pm October 1st:

SEPTA decided to close Market East Station at 7 PM tonight for "police activity". This stranded myself and several thousand commuters both in the city, and in trains on their way to the city. Market East was completely evacuated. At the time I spoke to a SEPTA employee at Suburban Station around 8 PM, he stated that they were waiting on the "all clear" from the police before they could re-open the station.

Despite what the employee told me in the customer service office, he was almost immediately contradicted by a female employee there who stated that it was a "bomb scare" to another passenger....A crowd of commuters gather at the closed station. SEPTA really dropped the ball here. They had NO signage or personal on hand. There were a few police officers inside of the station that were completely unhelpful in answering queries from stranded passengers. No announcements were made over the PA at Market East nor Suburban Station. Basically, we were left in the dark as to why the station was closed....I eventually got home with the help of a subway, light rail, and a 1.5 mile walk across town.

Just to underscore my comments above, I'm no security expert--there may have been a very good reason for closing down Market East. SEPTA themselves may have not even had a say in the matter, they might have just been told to close the station by police. What SEPTA could control is how they reacted to this crisis. They could have made announcements. They could have made signs. They could have put notices on the train status boards. And they could have drawn up some emergency action plan in advance, that provided alternate subway/rail/bus paths for passengers to take to their destination.

Did I mention I'm paying $116/month for this? You're doing a heck of a job, SEPTA.

Oh! Did we mention that Septa and Amtrak and PennDot will be at a transit summit in Ardmore this evening?

Here are the details:

Thursday, October 2, 2008
WHAT: Congressman Gerlach’s Main Line Transit Summit
WHEN: 7 P.M. to 9 P.M.

WHERE: Lower Merion Township Building

75 East Lancaster Avenue
Ardmore PA

TENTATIVE AGENDA:
7 P.M. Sign-in period and chance to get materials from AMTRAK, SEPTA and PennDOT

7:15 P.M. Welcome and opening remarks

7:25 P.M. Presentation by SEPTA

7:40 P.M. Presentation by AMTRAK

7:55 P.M. Presentation by PennDOT

8:10 P.M. Question-and-Answer Session

8:55 P.M. Closing remarks

With news about the economy growing more dire each day, you may be wondering how well your job will fare in a recession. Some industries have already been hit hard: real estate agents, mortgage lenders, construction workers, and others in the housing industry are likely to be searching for their next move.

If you’re concerned about your job’s susceptibility to an economic downturn, you might begin searching for similar positions in an industry that will remain strong in a recession. It’s best not to try to start a completely new career in a down economy, but that doesn't mean you can't find a recession-proof job you'll enjoy. Your job satisfaction depends in large part on your personality preferences (your Myers Briggs personality type), and there are recession-proof jobs for every type.

In a recent interview with CareerBuilder.com, outplacement consultant John Challenger listed the top five recession-resistant industries: Education, Energy, Environmental Sector, Health Care, and Security. To read more about the jobs in each industry that will be in high demand, and see which jobs are best for your Myers Briggs personality type, visit the PersonalityDesk Myers Briggs Blog.

The employees of Wendell August Forge, a truly American company, are proud to join with our customers in honoring the men and women of the United States Military serving overseas. Our talented craftsmen have created an exclusive ornament, Washington Praying at Valley Forge.

Come into our Exton store and request this ornament for your loved one serving overseas, provide us with an APO or FPO address, and we will mail the ornament with a personal note from you, at no charge whatsoever.

Join with us as we thank 10,000 members of our Armed Forces serving overseas for all they do to protect and defend the freedoms that make America the greatest country in the history of the world.

Quantity is limited to 10,000 in Exton and we can only send 1 ornament per family and per serviceman and servicewoman. Group orders cannot be honored. Address forms and cards must filled out at the Wendell August Forge showroom at the Main Street in Exton -sorry, no phone orders can be processed at this time. Please call 1-800-386-6155 for more information. Hours are Monday - Saturday 10am-9pm and Sunday 11am-6pm. Ornaments will be available 9/27/08 through 10/11/08 or while quantities last.

Max's produce is a great spot right off the square. Whether you need something that is made to pick up and take home and eat "ready made" or are looking for fresh items to cook with, I truly love this spot.

Recently I was making a home cooked meal and Kim was so helpful, she shared with me her suggestions for making the meal, perfect from a visual and taste appeal standpoint. This came in specifically to dessert. I bought fresh mango, raspberries and bananas from Max's along with fresh mint leaves and then ran over to Bacchus to buy dark, dark chocolate sorbet. The colors were perfect and Kim was right, it was the right end to a delicious meal in beautiful glass bowls.

So, for the urban, not so domestic young woman, I was able to make a delicious dessert with visual appeal.

Projects Gallery announces a call to artists for its February 2009 Juried Art Exhibition entitled “Guilty Pleasures”. Icy February is often considered the month of love; but with the advent of Valentine’s Day a wealth of conflicting emotions often emerge. Named for a pious saint, originally a sensuous pagan celebration, now thought of as a purely commercial entity, this holiday is a mass of cultural contradictions. Guilty Pleasures can be that which is desired, that which we love to hate, or that which elicits passion in any direction. Projects Gallery encourages entrants to expand upon the literal and present work that is in the spirit of personal interpretation of the theme. The show will be displayed February 6-28, 2009 at Projects Gallery in Philadelphia.

Eligibility:
Open to all artists 18 years and over. Work must be original and completed within the past 2 years. Works for consideration may be of any media but must be no wider than 24” and in accordance with the theme “Guilty Pleasures.” All work must be available for sale. An artist statement and resume will be required from all accepted artists. Artist is responsible for transportation of work to and from gallery. Accepted video artists must supply viewing equipment.

To Enter:
There is a non-refundable entry fee of $20.00 (U.S.) per artist for up to five image entries. Resumes, artist statements, or bios may be included with entries. All entries must be received no later than December 10, 2008. Make checks payable to: Projects Gallery. Submissions must be digital 300 dpi at least 8” jpg or tiff format on a CD/DVD. Do not send original artwork. Please include a list of entries with the following information: artist name, titles of images, media, date, and dimensions of work submitted.
Mail entries, list of entries, entry fee, a SASE if you desire CD returned, to:
Projects Gallery
629 N 2nd St.
Philadelphia, PA 19123, U.S.A.

Calendar
• December 10, 2008 deadline for entries
• January 5, 2009 entrants notified
• January 24, 2009 accepted works due to gallery
• February 6, 2009 opening reception
• February 28, 2009 exhibition closes
• March 1-3, 2009 pick-up work or prepaid shipping returned

Projects Gallery exhibits contemporary figurative expressionistic works. Announcement cards will be produced, press releases will be sent out, and exhibition will be highlighted on website.

Work will be juried by Gallery Director Helen Meyrick.

Questions? Contact at info@projectsgallery.com.

Experts in the field of personality type say that the personality characteristics of political candidates make a strong impact in their political success. Dr. David Keirsey, an expert in the field of Myers Briggs type, has theorized that presidential candidates with a particular personality style (what he calls the Artisan temperament) win elections reliably when pitted against candidates with a different personality type.

This is particularly relevant in the present election because McCain appears to many observers to be an ESTP, one of the four types within the Artisan category. Type theorists are more divided on their guesses about Obama's type; Keirsey has theorized that he is a INTJ, a Rational type, where others have guessed he is an ENFJ or ENFP, both Idealist types. According to Keirsey's theory, this confers a definite advantage for McCain.

I'm not certain I agree with Keirsey's theory about the power of personality type in elections, but I was very interested to study the candidates in light of personality styles. I've written more about my observations and guesses as to the presidential candidates' personality types in my Myers Briggs blog.

WHO: Rachel Unthank & The Winterset, opener Devon Sproule



WHERE: World Cafe Live - Downstairs, 3025 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104

WHEN: Sunday, September 28th.

Doors @ 6PM

Show @ 7:30PM

MORE INFO & TICKETING:

tickets.worldcafelive.com

rachelunthank.com

devonsproule.com

ARTIST BIO:

"Intimate, epic, overflowing with feeling and musical intelligence" The Independent

Mercury Prize 2008 Nominee: The Nationwide Mercury Prize is for best British or Irish album of the last 12 months.

Dancing down the leftfield and singing in their own lilting Geordie accents, Rachel Unthank & The Winterset are the "inheritors, curators and gleeful distorters" (Ian MacMillan) of Tyneside's traditions.


Elements of blues, jazz, burlesque cabaret, classical and leftfield contemporary music make their take on folk music peerless, fearless and wholeheartedly brave, winning fans as disparate as Robert Wyatt, Kate Rusby, Paul Morley, Phil Jupitus and Joan As Police Woman.

Debut album Cruel Sister won Mojo Folk Album of the Year, and new album The Bairns has been described as "utterly gorgeous" by The Guardian as "a work of towering quality" by The Telegraph. Described as "a bewitching, dream-like, down-to-earth masterpiece" in the Observer Music Magazine's Top 50 Albums of the 2007, The Bairns is already a classic in its own lifetime.

Congratulations, and Happy Belated Birthday Spencer!