Sir Howard Elston, our community affairs editor, lifts the lid on local social media groups.

Birmingham celebrates 550th birth anniversary of founder of Sikh faith.

Stephen K Amos talks to Brian Donaldson about Everyman, and everything.

Richard Lutz watches democracy go down the pan.

Fundraisers share their own poignant memories.

Well, this is something to definitely look forward to. Continue reading…

Brian Donaldson talks to comic Simon Evans.

A cheeky take on Jane Austen’s classic comedy of manners tickles Richard Lutz’s ribs. 

Dave Woodhall pays tribute to writer, broadcaster, campaigner and long-time friend Steve Beauchampe.

Stephen Pennell looks over a photographic record of the coolest neighbourhood in Britain.

St Basils to benefit from novel fundraiser.

Southside BID calls on government to #RaiseTheBar.

New factory built homes revealed at Port Loop.

Solihull development to inject over £1.3 million into local services.

Urban Splash & Places for People lead the way at Port Loop.

Urban Splash reopens its construction site at Port Loop.

India, the world’s largest diamond polishing hub that employs over one million people, is likely to see a staggering 50% job loss. Diamond merchants are struggling to manage their inventories or pay salaries to their craftsmen. Knock-on effects are being felt by one million more workers employed in the gems and jewellery industry.

The five southern states of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala together consume as much as 45 per cent of all liquor sold in the country, the report by Crisil said. While Tamil Nadu and Kerala top the list in revenue percentage terms at 15 per cent each, for Kerala the tax on liquor is its single largest revenue source.

Looptone has released its new sample library for epic-scale trailer soundtrack production Leviathan Hybrid Trailer, a collection that combines orchestral and electronic sound design techniques. The pack is aimed at anyone looking to evoke that modern trailer sound, be it for actual soundtrack scoring or as a flavor enhancer in dance and pop production. This […]

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Plugin Boutique has announced a sale on the Perfect Room plugin by Denise, offering a 64% discount on the reverb effect plugin with a unique algorithm that enhances natural character and coloration. Classic algorithmic reverb plugins use a combination of short feedbacking delays to create the illusion of reverberation. These delays cause unwanted metallic resonances […]

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Kilohearts has announced a sale on selected plugins, offering a 50% discount for the next few weeks. We are offering 50% off some of our most popular effects (VST/AU/AAX/Snapin). Trance Gate, Tape Stop, Reverser, and Resonator are all HALF-PRICE for a limited time. Chop your sounds up, wind them down, flip them over and make […]

The post Save 50% on Kilohearts Trance Gate, Tape Stop, Reverser, and Resonator plugins appeared first on rekkerd.org.

Reveal Sound has released its new soundset Spire Trance Essentials Vol. 3, a collection of 100 presets for the Spire synthesizer and 5 construction kits. Most of the presets are transformable by Macro MODs and ModWheel. You can use all presets, WAV samples and loops in your commercial releases without having to pay any hidden […]

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Applied Acoustics Systems has released its new sound pack Kicks & Snares, a collection of 100 drum sounds for the Ultra Analog VA-3 synthesizer and AAS Player plugin. You can never have too many kicks and snares! Resident sound designer Adam Pietruszko signs off on an expertly crafted and clever collection of punchy bass drum […]

The post AAS launches Kicks & Snares + 50% OFF everything Ultra Analog VA-3 appeared first on rekkerd.org.

Micah Frank has announced the release of Tape Pieces Vol. 2, a new installment in the series of collaborations between Micah Frank and Chris Child (Kodomo). The EP contains four compositions that Chris and Micah built from field recordings, cassette tapes and synthesizers. While Tape Pieces Volume One focused on the layering and cascading of […]

The post Micah Frank releases Tape Pieces Vol. 2 + Strata particle tape loop device (FREE) appeared first on rekkerd.org.

Reverb Machine has released a new synthwave tutorial guest-written by retrowave artist Forhill, in which he uncovers the patching and mixing techniques used to craft his signature sound. The article covers topics such as programming custom synth patches, using EQ to shape sounds, using stereo modulation and delay effects to create wide stereo sounds, and […]

The post Lo-fi Retrowave Synths with Forhill + Free Diva patches at Reverb Machine appeared first on rekkerd.org.

Sounds 2 Inspire has announced the release of the Revival Series soundset featuring a collection of 120 presets for Novation’s V-Station software synthesizer. Sounds2Inspire revisits the classic software synthesizer Novation VStation and adds a sound bank of freshly squeezed main leads, acid leads, plucks, poly leads, basslines and pads. Re-exploring Novation VStation’s synthesis, effects and […]

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Plugin Boutique has launched a sale on the Texture effects plugin with the heart of a synth by Devious Machines. Texture comes with over 340 inspirational in-built sounds to choose from, and you can also import any sample as a texture source with full access to Texture’s powerful granular synthesis engine. Part FX plug-in, part-synth; […]

The post Devious Machines Texture plugin on sale at 40% OFF appeared first on rekkerd.org.

Plugin Boutique is offering the ERA 4 Voice Leveler plugin from Accusonus free of charge with any purchase during May. The ERA 4 Voice Leveler is an audio restoration tool that is incredibly useful for normalizing the volume levels of speech or dialogue recordings in seconds. If you are you a podcaster, videographer, vlogger, dialogue […]

The post Get ERA 4 Voice Leveler by Accusonus FREE with any purchase at Plugin Boutique appeared first on rekkerd.org.

Cinematique Instruments has announced the release of its new Klang of the Month series free Kontakt instrument, Reverberated Strings. The instrument brings the sound of the reverb tail isolated from some recorded string instruments, resulting in a warm deep pad. Very often we think about what will it sounds when just playing the reverb of […]

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Reveal Sound has announced an update to the Spire synthesizer instrument for Windows and Mac. Version 1.1.17 brings some improvements and fixes. Changes in Spire v1.1.17 Added drag and drop modulation signals assignment: Quickly configure your routing without surfing the interface menu. Fixes for ARP hanging notes. Fixes for Cubase 10.5 (GUI). Stability improvements. Spire […]

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Eventide Audio has announced the release of its new dual-voice pitch shifter plugin for Windows and Mac. MicroPitch is the latest incarnation of an iconic effect originated by Eventide in the 1970s. With each generation, Eventide has added to, refined, enhanced and built on its legendary predecessors. MicroPitch is a fine-resolution pitch shifter providing effects […]

The post Eventide’s MicroPitch pitch shifter for Windows and Mac on sale at intro offer appeared first on rekkerd.org.

K-Devices has announced the release of an iOS/AUv3 version of WOV, an effect plugin for creating a wide range of textural transmutation, from familiar static tremolo waves to evolving glitchy stutters. WOV for IOS comes with a set of intriguing presets from sound designers Richard Devine and Stév! It is a deeply creative tool that […]

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MusicDevelopments has announced the release of Melodya, an advanced motive editor and melody generator plugin for Windows and macOS. Melodya separates shape and rhythm and includes several melodic and rhythmic transformations. Melodya is an advanced motive editor and melody generator which is simple to use but at the same time it offers many detailed settings […]

The post MusicDevelopments releases Melodya melody generator & motive editor with intro offer appeared first on rekkerd.org.

Igor Vasiliev has announced the release of Classic FX, an iOS app featuring a selection of reworked classic audio effects designed to add brightness and expand the sound space of any instrument. The app features unique effects with unified control parameters that provide convenience and at the same time many opportunities for individual expression and […]

The post Igor Vasiliev reworks classic audio effects with Classic FX app for iOS appeared first on rekkerd.org.

Alonso Sound has released Revealed Bass House Kits Vol. 1, a sample pack featuring 5 construction kits. Each kit includes the WAV files of all the elements of the track; from bass, synths, leads, kicks, fills, fx, claps, percussion, and more. In addition, each Kit contains the MIDI files of all the melodic and bass […]

The post Alonso Sound releases Revealed Bass House Kits Vol 1 & Sylenth1 Plucks Vol 9 appeared first on rekkerd.org.

UVI has launched a sale on the Sparkverb algorithmic reverb effect plugin, offering 60% off for a few days only. Sparkverb features an advanced design with stunning sound and CPU efficiency, and intuitive controls and ergonomics for phenomenal ease-of-use. Easily traverse everything from natural sounding spaces to infinite, shimmering ambiences with stunning depth and fidelity […]

The post Sparkverb algorithmic reverb by UVI on sale for $49 USD appeared first on rekkerd.org.

United Plugins has announced the release of MorphVerb reverb plugin with an introductory 87% discount for a few days only. MorphVerb lets you blend smoothly between reverb types. It features ducking, a real-time spectrogram, and controls for the reverb algorithm, modulation, saturation and compression of the reflections. MorphVerb covers all reverb types you could think […]

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Audio Plugin Deals has announced a flash sale on the Veevum Trilogy by Audiofier, a bundle of three Kontakt instruments designed for creating interesting textures and ambient sounds. VEEVUM Trilogy offers 3 instruments at once in one bundle: VEEVUM ONE (LO-FI Sampling), VEEVUM A/D (Analog & Digital Synths Sampling) and VEEVUM REAL (Acoustic and Hybrid […]

The post Flash Sale: Get 60% off Audiofier Veevum Trilogy textures and ambient sounds appeared first on rekkerd.org.

Emkay Global expects PVR and Inox Leisure to post steep year-on-year drop in revenues at 19 per cent and 24 per cent, respectively.

Around 75 retailers that operate 200 brands have written a letter to mall owners, seen by TOI, stating that revenue-share percentage should be a flat percentage depending on the category of stores. They suggested, for instance, revenue-sharing percentage for vanilla brands should be 10-12%, including common area maintenance (CAM), while for fast food brands and large format lifestyle stores, it should be 7-8%.

Top officials close to the development told ET that HUL will train a large set of advisors and beauty consultants, numbering about 1,500, to become entrepreneurs so that they can set up their own businesses.

FMCG major Hindustan Unilever on Thursday reported a decline of 3.93 per cent in consolidated profit to Rs 1,512 crore for the fourth quarter, impacted by the coronavirus crisis from mid-March.

The workforce problems at two ITC food plants - one in Pune in the western state of Maharashtra and another in the southern state of Karnataka - show how labour issues weigh on Indian firms after a nationwide coronavirus lockdown forced thousands of workers to go back to their villages.

Total income during the latest quarter stood at Rs 1,724.51 crore, up 24.78 per cent from Rs 1,382 crore in the year-ago period , Varun Beverages said in a regulatory filing.

The 5.7% stake in Hindustan Unilever that is now on the market, was accepted by GSK as payment for the sale of the malted drink brand and other nutrition brands to Unilever, agreed in late 2018.

I don’t know the type of person I would be if I were an only child, and honestly I don’t even want to imagine that version of myself. My older sister Isabel has taught me so much in my brief 19 years, both through her successes and her (occasional) mistakes. We weren’t the best of friends as children; my mom always tells me she was legitimately worried we would hurt each other in one of our epic brawls. My dad even started calling family game night “family fight night” because they would usually end with Isabel and me being sent to our rooms. But as I’ve grown older, I’ve begun to understand the complex person that is my sister. Isabel is probably the most courageous, self-sufficient person I’ve ever known. She won’t back down from anyone or anything. At 16 she decided to spend six months in the south of France as an exchange student, despite having taken only two years of French. I can’t imagine taking that chance now much less in high school, but that just shows how different we are.

I believe in thank you notes. I believe in sending them and in receiving them. Absolutely for gifts – every gift REQUIRES written acknowledgement – but also for random acts of kindness or thoughtful behavior and for hospitality. Ask anyone, “Hey, how are you doing?” and they will most likely respond, “Busy. I am SOOO busy. There is just too much going on.” People are busy. Everyone is busy. Work. Play. Shopping. Recreation. Family. Cooking. Errands. Laundry. School. Housework. Social commitments. Yard work. Commuting. Volunteering. It’s hard to make time for yourself, much less for others. That’s why it is so darned special when someone takes the time to do something nice. It may be something small, such as checking to see if you have books that need to be returned to the library since they are going. Or something bigger, like inviting you over for dinner because they know you’ve spent the day carting around mulch in the yard and will be too tired to cook. I believe people who make the

I cry every day. My tears are tears of anguish but also tears of the most intense joy. I don’t think I am depressed. I think I am responding appropriately to our contradictory and often terrifying world of conflict and violence. I think I am also in a constant state of amazement and wonder at the many quotidian miracles I witness…and how astonishing is Mother Nature’s delicate balance. Recently my husband and I saw a tiny baby black bear chasing a newborn spotted fawn dashing precariously across South Atherton Street, just before the town of Boalsburg. We still cannot believe it happened. I have discovered that some of us have been nourished by a profound sense of beauty and empathy at life on Planet Earth. This doesn’t mean I don’t also feel repelled by institutional racism, rampant cruelty, indifference, and denial. It’s hard work, but I am learning to reconcile these extremes and keep repugnance at bay—enough so that I am still under the magical sway of precious life. I believe the

I believe in Jeopardy. Growing up, my family had a dinnertime routine. No matter what food we were eating or who was sitting around the kitchen table that night, we would always watch Jeopardy! at 7 o’clock. As Alex Trebek read the questions (or, as they’re known in Jeopardy terms, answers), we ate leftover lasagna and tried to remember facts about world geography and Shakespeare. The first person to shout out the correct answer was the winner. There was never any prize for us playing along at home, but that didn’t matter to me; being smarter than my parents and my sister was all the reward I needed. It was during these nightly viewings of Jeopardy that I first realized I didn’t like not knowing things. Nothing was worse to me than watching an entire category of clues go by while I knew nothing. I devoted my time to reading almanacs, newspapers, and even the dictionary in an attempt to learning everything about, well, everything. I don’t consider myself a competitive person; I lose

I believe in party dresses. My mother and I both use clothes to make a statement. For 26 years, my mother, Margaret Simmons, worked as a high school home ec teacher. She can sew anything: business suits, wedding dresses. She must have altered a hundred prom dresses over the years for her students who were not conventionally sized. My mother loves fabric in bright colors, purples and reds. But she went to work every day in rather conservative business suits. That was her cry for some modicum of respect from school administrators who thought nothing of interrupting her class to get a cup of coffee from the home ec room kitchen. My mother started college in the 1950s. Teaching and nursing were pretty much the only fields that were open to her. Like most of her female classmates, she dropped out to get married. Three kids later, she finished her degree at the age of 40, staring down the difficult reality of single parenthood. She needed respect and a living wage. She didn’t get either.