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Family and friends remember Neto White and Leondro Carabajal
Police say man who killed boys was drunk
Friends and family gathered Friday to remember 9-year-old Neto White and 17-year-old Leondro Carabajal, the victims of an alcohol-involved crash.
Police said the boys were hit by a drunk driver as they pushed their van on Pikes Peak Avenue near Parkside Drive after the vehicle ran out of gas.
Several dozen people gathered around a roadside memorial for the boys, lit candles and cried together.
"We're all just taking it so hard because he was just so young and always such a good boy," said Christine Carter, Neto's family member.
Neto was a student at D-2's Wildflower Elementary. Family said he was always smiling, and loved sports, Legos and being with family and friends.
Leondro was nicknamed "Dimples" and went to Sierra High School, according to his Facebook page.
"We've known him for many, many years and we're taking it just as hard with him dying," said Carter.
Carter said through their grief, Neto's family has learned about the community's generosity. They've gotten donations and a lot of prayers.
"We're just so, so thankful for all the great prayers and thoughts," said Carter. "The family will need prayers."
People can donate to the family at the Harrison School District 2 Federal Credit Union located at 1060 Harrison Road. The account is under the White Family Memorial Fund. No word yet on a memorial fund for the Carabajal family.
The man who police say killed the two boys is 47-year-old Robert Icenogle. He faces charges of vehicular homicide, vehicular assault and DUI.
Copyright 2012 KRDO. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. | {
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Hi, Bruce here from www.ebodi.com.
I love weight training.
I love the feeling of lifting a weight and the sensation in my muscles as I challenge them to various feats of strength.
I also enjoy knowing that my body is strong and capable of almost any challenge that comes my way.
If you have been a reader of my newsletter for any length of time you probably are familiar with this and are likely to also enjoy this very healthy activity.
For those of you who are “into” lifting weights then, this email is going to be of special importance (and one you are sure to enjoy). I am going to discuss some of the most overlooked, misunderstood and abused components to a weight training program that can have a very significant impact on the results you will see.
Training until muscular momentary muscular failure
Training to failure is when you continue to lift a weight until no more reps can be performed or, in other words, until “failure.” This is a technique that is often used by bodybuilders and is an excellent way of breaking down muscle fibers and increasing strength. Science supports this as researchers at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) have concluded that going to failure is important for maximizing strength gains.
In this study, they had two groups of athletes perform either four sets of six reps (with failure on the last set) or eight sets of three reps (without failure) on the bench press.
At the end of the study, the failure group demonstrated double the strength increase (10% vs. 5%).
However, it is often abused. Training to failure on every set is not recommended as this often leads to overtraining and injury. If you do train to failure make sure you are exercising each body part once every 5-7 days. If you do not train to failure this rest interval can be reduced to once every 48-72 hours.
Strip sets, drop sets, forced reps, rest-pause, eccentrics, etc.
Advanced training techniques such as this are fantastic for breaking through a plateau and adding some much needed variation to your training program. The problem is that once discovered they are often abused. I can recall seeing one young man at a gym using three of these techniques within the same set! This is not wise. Pick an exercise and use one advanced training technique once per week for four weeks before switching to a different exercise and an entirely different advanced training technique.
Warming up with high reps
Performing high-rep warmups of “10-15 reps” is not always the best way to prepare your muscles for the work sets to come. Instead, your warm up sets should be thought of as a “primer” for your work sets. Think of your warm up sets as being a mental signal for your nervous system. If your work sets are going to be 6-8 repetitions then “prime” your nervous system with warm up sets of 6-8 repetitions. In addition, keep your warm up sets very light and save your strength for your actual “work” sets.
Time your rest intervals between sets
Anyone who has trained with me knows that I love my stopwatch. In fact, I think that a stopwatch or interval timer is one of the best pieces of training equipment in existence. If you want to increase strength, then keep the exercise rest intervals longer (2-3 minutes between sets). If you want to increase muscle size, then reduce this to 90 seconds (in order to increase cumulative fatigue). Finally, if fat loss is your goal, keep your rest intervals brief (60 seconds) and focus on putting more work into less time.
Pay attention to your rest between each rep
In bodybuilding there is a term called “the pump.” Arnold Schwarzenegger affectionately referred to this during a very famous scene in the movie “Pumping Iron” (a classic film and required viewing for anyone who is into bodybuilding). If you want to temporarily increase muscle size, then you will need to become familiar with the pump. The pump is when there is an increase in blood flow to a muscle and a temporary swelling in muscle size (hence the term “pumped”). If you want to achieve this look, then one trick is to reduce or eliminate the pause at the bottom and top of a repetition. This constant tension will increase the pump and the temporary illusion of increased muscle size. If you do not want this look (and are more interested in increasing strength), then insert a pause into the bottom and top portions of each rep and avoid the pump.
Stretching before lifting
It turns out that you can get too much of a good thing. Intense stretching before weight training can reduce strength and increase the likelihood of injury. In addition, while stretching post-exercise is vital, hyper mobility of a joint complex should never be the goal. The contortionist who brags about being able to fit their entire body into a tiny little box is not necessarily better off than the bodybuilder who has a hard time scratching the back of his neck. As with all things, balance is the key. The correct balance of strength and flexibility will produce the greatest performance results. This is why I often tout yoga as being an excellent adjunct to (but not replacement for) weight training.
This post is a bit longer than I originally had anticipated but there is just so much more to weight training and “3 sets of 10.” I hope you enjoyed this. Be sure to “like” on Facebook and feel free to share with your friends! | {
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Where else but in New York City can you listen to a world-class musician, discuss a book with a famous author, take a part in poetry reading, have a glass of wine at an art exhibition opening, and all that on the same day, and all that free of charge!
The trick is to know about those free events, free things to do BEFORE they happen, not after the fact. That's where Club Free Time comes in handy! Become a Club Free Time member and start using these unique New York City (NYC) opportunities today!Join the Club!
Club Free Time is your perfect guide to Free Entertainment and Free Culture in the City That Never Sleeps.Join the Club!
October and March are the busiest months in NYC in terms of free events, free things to do. That is contrary to the common misconception that most of free events happen in New York City in summer. That 'summer' misconception is due to big publicity that some of New York City summer free events get.
In fact, New York City never ceases to amaze you with quantity and quality of its free culture and free entertainment whether it's summer or winter, spring or fall.
So start using these unique New York City opportunities today!Join the Club!
In addition to providing information about free events, Club Free Time offers its members complimentary tickets to classical music concerts, dance performances and theater in New York City (NYC): when a producer wants that special buzz of the 'full house' - Club Free Time members are welcomed for their enthusiasm and sophistication!Join the Club!
Get a taste of free culture and free entertainment in New York City (NYC)!Join the Club!
'Open up a whole new cultural world... in one of the most vibrant capital cities in the world, sampling cultural delights beyond anyone's wildest dream.' Rupert Parker, journalist, photographer, cameraman, and TV producer
Price: free, no reservation required
Featuring: the Cathedral Choir; Young People’s Chorus of New York; Schola Cantorum on Hudson; The Cathedral Organs and New York Symphonic Brass. Back for the 30th year, the annual A City Singing at Christmas promises to delight listeners. This festive concert, a tradition in New York City, will be sure to put you in the mood for a joyous and holy Christmas season as you listen to the choirs and instruments and join in the singing of great Christmas hymns and carols.
This event takes place at:
New York City ( NYC )
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to shows, concerts ... (CFT Deals!)
Regular: $60; Member: $0.00
Regular: $50; Member: $0.00
Theater | An amusing musical
Regular: $75; Member: $0.00 | {
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PBSNewsHour/YouTubeWhen Richard Ross began going into juveniles' jail cells, often sitting on the concrete floor and asking inmates about their lives, he was shocked at what he found.
In Texas, he learned, it wasn't out of the norm for 10-year-olds to be behind bars.
But the most shocking revelation of all was that kids as young as 7 were housed in juvenile facilities.
Currently, there are more than 70,500 juveniles imprisoned in the U.S., according to the Huffington Post, which first brought Ross' pictures to our attention.
Ross toured more than 300 prison sites in 30 states and interviewed more than 1,000 kids and administrators.
Ross photographed the young inmates going about their daily lives, including taking classes and living in their cells.
The juvenile inmates spend six and a half hours a day in a classroom, which for "some of these kids, it's the best educational experience possible for them," Ross said. PBSNewsHour/YouTube
"Many of the population have special ed. needs," Ross told PBS Newshour. "It's not always met."
What struck Ross most was that most of the inmates came from families with limited expectations, so they expected little from themselves in turn. | {
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Lakers forward Nick Young sprained his right ankle during Thursday’s practice, leaving his playing status unclear for the team’s preseason opener Saturday against the Golden State Warriors in Ontario.
“He’ll probably sit out tomorrow,” Lakers coach Mike D’Antoni said after practice Thursday. “We’ll see about Saturday.”
The Lakers also play Sunday against the Denver Nuggets at Staples Center. They will already be without Kobe Bryant, who left Wednesday evening to Germany for a procedure on his right knee, according a source familiar with the situation.
Young is listed as day-to-day. Because of his absence, the Lakers’ scrimmage on Thursday entailed Jodie Meeks playing shooting guard with the first unit.
Follow L.A. Daily News Lakers beat writer Mark Medina on Twitter. E-mail him at [email protected] | {
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California sea lion
The California sea lion (Zalophus californianus) is a coastal sea lion of western North America. Their numbers are abundant (188,000 U.S. stock, 1995 estimate), and the population continues to expand about 5% annually. They are quite intelligent and can adapt to man-made environments. Because of this, California sea lions are commonly found in public displays in zoos and marine parks and trained by the US Navy for certain military operations. This is the classic circus "seal", though it is not a true seal.
California sea lion males grow to 360 kg (850 lbs) and 2.4 meters (8 ft) long, while females are significantly smaller, at 100 kg (220 lbs) and 2 meters (6.5 ft) long. They have pointed muzzles, making them rather dog-like. Males grow a large crest of bone on the top of their heads as they reach sexual maturity, and this gives the animal its generic name (loph is "forehead" and za- is an emphatic; Zalophus californianus means "Californian big-head"). They also have manes, although they are not as well developed as the manes of adult male South American or Steller sea lions. Females are lighter in color than the males, and pups are born dark, but lighten when they are several months old. When it is dry, the skin is a purple color. A sea lion's average lifespan is 17 years in the wild, and longer in captivity. By sealing their noses shut, they are able to stay underwater for up to 15 minutes.
Range and populations
As its name suggests, the California sea lion is found mainly around the waters of California. However, they can also be found from the Alaska Panhandle in the north to Mexico in the south. The Galápagos sea lion and the extinct Japanese sea lion were once considered subspecies of the Californian sea lion. Now, these two populations are generally considered as distinct species.
The California sea lion population is divided into three stocks. The US stock ranges from waters around the US/Mexico border to the Alaska panhandle. It breeds mainly at the Channel Islands. The sea lions apparently have taken up breeding sites in northern California, and females are now commonly found there. The western Baja California stock ranges from the waters around the US/Mexico border to the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula. This stock breeds mainly at the Cedros Island area and near Puerto San Carlos. The Gulf of California stock is found throughout the Gulf of California and breeds mainly in the Isla Ángel de la Guarda/Tiburón Island region.
California sea lions prefer to breed on sandy beaches. They usually stay no more than 10 miles out to sea. On warm days, they stay close to the water's edge. At night or on cool days, the sea lions will move inland or up coastal slopes. Outside of the breeding season, they will often gather at marinas and wharves, and may even be seen on navigational buoys. Sea lions living around islands are less vulnerable to predation than coastal ones. The sea lion's major predators are killer whales and white sharks.
California sea lions can also live in fresh water for periods of time. They feed on Pacific salmon in front of Bonneville Dam, 146.1 river miles from the Pacific Ocean. Historically, sea lions hunted salmon in the Columbia River as far as The Dalles and Celilo Falls, 200 miles (320 km) from the sea, as remarked upon by people such as George Simpson in 1841. In 2004, a healthy sea lion was found sitting on a road in Merced County, California, almost a hundred miles upstream from San Francisco Bay and half a mile from the San Joaquin River.
California sea lions feed on a wide variety of seafood, mainly squid and fish, and sometimes even clams. Commonly eaten fish and squid species include salmon, hake, Pacific whiting, anchovies, herring, schooling fish, rock fish, lampreys, dog fish, and market squid. They feed mostly around the edge of the continental shelf sea mounts, the open ocean and the ocean bottom. Average annual food consumption of males in zoos increases with age to stabilize at approximately 4,000 kg (8,818 lbs)/year by the age of 10 years. Females showed a rapid increase in average annual food consumption until they were three years old. Thereafter, females housed outdoors averaged 1,800 kg (3,968 lbs)/year.
California sea lions may eat alone or in small to large groups, depending on the amount of food available. They will cooperate with other predators (dolphins, porpoises, and seabirds) when hunting large schools of fish. Sea lions from the Washington will wait at the mouths of rivers for the salmon run. They also have learned to feed on steelhead and white sturgeon below fish ladders at Bonneville Dam and at other locations in the Columbia River, Willamette River, and in Puget Sound. Adult females forage between 10 and 3000 km from the rookery, and dive to average depths of 31.1 to 98.2 m, with maximum dives between 196 and 274 m. They travel at an estimated speed of 10.8 km/h, and young sea lions have an initial defecation time averaging 4.2 hours. Adult females spend 1.6-1.9 days on land and 1.7-4.7 days at sea.
California sea lions are highly social, and breed from May to June. When establishing a territory, the males will try to increase their chances of breeding by staying on the rookery for as long as possible. During this time, they will fast, using their blubber as an energy store. Size is a key factor in winning fights as well as waiting. The bigger the male, the more blubber he can store, and the longer he can wait. Before mating begins, females may form "milling" groups of two to 20 individuals. The females in these groups will mount each other and even the territorial male. Eventually, one or two of the females will mate and the milling stops. The territorial and mating system of the California sea lion has been described as similar to a lek system. The females choose their mates rather than the territories where the males are.
A male sea lion can hold his territory for only up to 29 days. Females do not become receptive until 21 days after the pups are born, thus the males do not set up their territories until after the females give birth. Most fights occur during this time. Soon, the fights go from violent to ritualized displays, such as vocalizations, head-shaking, stares, and bluff lunges. There can be as many as 16 females for one male. For adult males, territorial claims occur both on land and underwater. They have even been known to charge divers who enter their underwater territory.
The females have a 12-month reproductive cycle, 9-month actual gestation with a 3-month delayed implantation of the fertilized egg after giving birth in early to mid-June. Mothers may give birth on land or in water. The pups are born with their eyes open and can vocalize with their mothers. Pups may nurse for up to six months, and grow rapidly due to the high fat content in the milk. California sea lions, along with other otariids and walruses, are possibly the only mammals whose milk does not contain lactose. At about two months, the pups learn to swim and hunt with their mothers.
California sea lions are well known for their dog-like barks. They are very vocal, particularly during the breeding season. Adult males make deep, loud barks repeatedly when establishing territories. After that, the males are mostly quiet unless their territorial boundaries have been violated by a rival. Barking may also attract mates. Female sea lions emit a unique vocalization when calling their pups, and the pups themselves will bleat and make a high pitched alarm call. Juveniles and subadults of both sexes will make high-pitched barks when alarmed.
After the breeding season, females normally stay in the breeding areas or migrate further south, while the adult males and juveniles generally migrate north for the winter. Social organization during the nonbreeding season is unstable. However, a size-related dominance hierarchy does exist. Large males use vocalization and movement to show their dominance, and smaller males always yield to them. Nonbreeding groups are gregarious on land and often squeeze together. Most sea lions found in man-made environments are males or juveniles, because sea lions do not breed there and those groups are more likely to migrate to those places during the nonbreeding season.
Interactions with humans
Most of the iconic trained seals of circuses and marine parks are California sea lions. They are highly intelligent and can be trained to do different behaviors, such as throwing and catching balls on their noses, running up ladders, or honking horns in a musical fashion. Even adult males can be trained. Some groups, such as the Captive Animals Protection Society, object to using sea lions for entertainment, claiming the animals are used as "clowns" in unnatural environments and are simply gimmicks with no educational value. On the other hand, people have claimed training captive sea lions has allowed them to experience just how intelligent they are.
The California sea lion is used in military applications by the U.S. Navy Marine Mammal Program, including detecting underwater mines and equipment recovery. Sea lions can be highly useful as they can reach places inaccessible to human divers. They can dive to 1,000 feet (304.8 m) and swim silently and up to 25 miles per hour (40 km/h) in short bursts.
Sea lions have been sent in the Persian Gulf to protect U.S. ships from enemy divers. The animals are trained to swim behind divers approaching a ship, and attach a clamp, which is connected to a rope, to the diver's leg. Navy officials say the sea lions can get the job done in seconds, and the enemy does not know the clamp was attached to his leg until it is too late.
In the United States, the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) protects California sea lions. Nevertheless, their population has increased and now conflicts with humans and other wildlife. They damage docks and boats (which, given sufficient numbers, can actually sink under the weight of the basking animals), steal fish from commercial boats, and attack and injure swimmers in San Francisco Bay . Because of this, they have been shot at by locals and fishermen.
In 2007, legislation amending the MMPA to permit their lethal removal from near salmon runs when their population exceeds their maximum sustainable level was introduced (HR 1769: Endangered Salmon Predation Prevention Act). The purpose of HR 1769 is to relieve pressure on the crashing Pacific Northwest salmon populations. Officially, pinnipeds (including sea lions) account for only an estimated 4% of salmon loss in 2007. However, that figure comes from actual surface observation. Much predation occurs underwater, leading marine biologists to conclude the true rate is higher.
Short of lethal removal, attempts have been made to identify individual aggressive salmon predators, and to relocate them. Relocation generally fails because they simply return. In January 2008, at the request of Washington and Oregon, the National Marine Fisheries Service drafted a proposal to euthanize approximately 30 animals annually at Bonneville Dam. The Humane Society threatened a lawsuit. In response, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals directed that the animals be removed, but not killed.
From the Humane Society court case—NMFS's decision to authorize the killing of these animals is impossible to reconcile with: (1) NMFS's 2005 decision finding that fishermen's annual take of up to 17 percent of listed salmon is not significant and has only 'minimal adverse effects on Listed Salmonid ESUs in the Columbia River Basin'; (2) the States' 2008 decision to increase fishing quotas from 9 percent to 12 percent of the total spring run; and (3) NMFS's 2007 decision finding that hydroelectric dam take up to 60 percent of listed juvenile salmonids and up to 17 percent of listed adult salmonids 'meet[s] or exceed[s] the objectives of doing no harm and contributing to recovery with respect to the ESUs.'"
In 2009, strandings of recently weaned pups increased three-fold. Lesser winds reduced ocean upwelling, which in turn reduced food supplies. Worse, poisonous domoic acid from algal blooms got into the sea lions' food chain. Nearly 3/4 of that June's 341 stranded pups died. Strandings were only a small part of a much larger problem. The National Marine Fisheries Service estimated the 2009 pup mortality rates were twice as high as those in 2008, again at 3/4 of the estimated 59,000 newborns.
- ^ a b Aurioles, D. & Trillmich, F. (2008). Zalophus californianus. In: IUCN 2008. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 30 January 2009.
- ^ IMPACTS OF CALIFORNIA SEA LIONS AND PACIFIC HARBOR SEALS ON SALMONIDS AND WEST COAST ECOSYSTEMS, U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Marine Fisheries Service, February 10, 1999; p. Appendix-7
- ^ Lowry, Mark S. and Karin A. Forney, Abundance and distribution of California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) in central and northern California during 1998 and summer 1999. Fishery Bulletin, Vol. 103, no. 2, pp. 331-343.
- ^ William H. Burt and Richard P. Grossenheider, A Field Guide to the Mammals. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston. 3rd ed. 1976; p. 83. Fiona A. Reed, A Field Guide to Mammals of North America North of Mexico. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston. 4th ed. 2006; p. 477.
- ^ "California Sea Lion at Central Park Zoo". http://www.centralpark.com/pages/central-park-zoo/california-sea-lion.html.
- ^ Don E. Wilson & DeeAnn M. Reeder (editors). 2005. Mammal Species of the World. A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed), Johns Hopkins University Press, 2,142 pp. Online
- ^ http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/pdfs/sars/po2007slca.pdf
- ^ Kindersley, Dorling (2001,2005). Animal. New York City: DK Publishing. ISBN 0-7894-7764-5.
- ^ a b Riedman, M. L. (2004). California Wildlife Habitat Relationships System: M170 California Sea Lion. DFG: 1-3.
- ^ Sea Lion Discovered Near Los Banos
- ^ "Sea Lion Diet", Southwest Fisheries Science Center, 2/9/2007.
- ^ R. A. Kastelein, N. M. Schooneman, N. Vaughan, P. R. Wiepkema, "Food consumption and growth of California sea lions (Zalophus californianus californianus), Zoo Biology, 19, 143-159.
- ^ Riedman, M. (1990). The Pinnipeds: Seals, Sea lions, and Walruses. Los Angeles, University of California Press. pg. 168
- ^ SeaLionPredation.com - news and information on seal and sea lion predation of salmon and steelhead in the Pacific Northwest
- ^ Lowry, M. S. and J. V. Carretta "Market squid (Loligo opalescens) in the diet of California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) in southern California (1981-1995)", CalCOFI Rep., 1999, 40:196-207.
- ^ a b c d e Odell, D. K. "The Fight to Mate: Breeding strategy of California sea lions", pg 172-173 of The Encyclopedia of Mammals, 2nd edition (2001) MacDonald, D. (ed) Oxford University Press.
- ^ a b Heath, C. B. 1989. "The behavioral ecology of the California sea lion, Zalophus californianus". Ph.D. dissertation, University of California, Santa Cruz.
- ^ a b Peterson, R. S. and Bartholomew, G. A. (1967). The Natural History and Behavior of the California Sea Lion. Special Publication No. 1, The American Society of Mammalogists.
- ^ Captive sea lions
- ^ Watkins, Thomas (2007-02-12). "Navy may deploy anti-terrorism dolphins". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 2007-02-16. http://web.archive.org/web/20070216022617/http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070213/ap_on_re_us/dolphin_defenders. Retrieved 2007-02-12.
- ^ Leinwand, Donna (2003-02-17). "Sea lions called to duty in Persian Gulf". USA Today. http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2003-02-16-sealions-usat_x.htm. Retrieved 2010-04-28.
- ^ Reply to Questions from Representative Henry Brown, Hearing on HR 1769, “Endangered Salmon Predation Prevention Act”, August 2, 2007, p. 2.
- ^ a b "Sea lions' death warrant?". 2008-01-08. http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1200632102166420.xml&coll=7.
- ^ Sea lions removed to save salmon - Environment - MSNBC.com
- ^ Humane Society vs Oregon Dept Fish and Wildlife
- ^ "The Newsletter of the Marine Mammal Center: 29 (2). Fall/Winter 2009.". 2010-01-18. http://www.marinemammalcenter.org/pdfs/TMMC_FaWT%2009_rd6_color.pdf.
- Bonner, N. (1994). Seals and Sea Lions of the World. New York: Facts on File.
- Rice, D. W. (1998). Marine Mammals of the World: Systematics and Distribution. In Special Publications of the Society for Marine Mammals no. 4. Lawrence: The Society for Marine Mammalogy. ISBN 1-891276-03-4
- Heptner, V. G.; Nasimovich, A. A; Bannikov, Andrei Grigorevich; Hoffmann, Robert S, Mammals of the Soviet Union, Volume II, part 3 (1996). Washington, D.C. : Smithsonian Institution Libraries and National Science Foundation
- Peterson, Richard S; Bartholomew, George A. The natural history and behavior of the California sea lion (1967), [Stillwater, Okla.] American Society of Mammalogists | {
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WEST OCEAN CITY — Charges are pending this week against two Wilmington mothers for allegedly neglecting and abandoning their young children at a West Ocean City motel while they went to the Boardwalk.
Around 9:40 p.m. last Saturday, Maryland State Police responded to the Bed Time Inn in West Ocean City in reference to an allegedly abandoned 3-year-old girl located by a waiter in the hotel restaurant. The waiter located the child after she approached him and clung to his leg.
The investigation revealed the girl had walked from her first-floor room through the parking lot adjacent to Route 50, passed the swimming pool and into the restaurant. While troopers were looking into the whereabouts of the child’s parents, a 10-year-old child approached them and told police she was the cousin of the 3-year-old and that they were staying in the same room. The girl told police she had just awoken and found her cousin missing.
The investigation revealed there were three related families staying in three separate rooms in the motel. In one of the rooms, there were five unattended children ages 8-13, which is not a violation of Maryland state law because of the presence of the 13-year-old.
However, troopers went to the room where the 3-year-old and 10-year-old girls were staying and found it unoccupied with the door open. The mothers of the two children were contacted by cell phone and were found to be on the Boardwalk in Ocean City. They were instructed to return immediately to the Bed Time Inn in West Ocean City.
Through the investigation, troopers learned the two mothers planned to leave the children after they had fallen asleep. The investigation is ongoing and charges are pending. Social Services also responded and interviewed the two mothers, identified as Adrian Henry, 31, and Sharon Henry, 23, both of Wilmington, Del. Child Protective Services, Social Services and the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office are involved in the investigation.
First Of Three Alleged Armed Robbers Sentenced
SNOW HILL — The first of four men arrested in January for a spree of armed robberies in northern Worcester County and Wicomico County last December pleaded guilty this week in Circuit Court to armed robbery and the use of a handgun in the commission of a felony and was sentenced to a combined 20 years in jail, all but five of which were then suspended.
Last Dec. 2, Worcester County Bureau of Investigation (WCBI) detectives and deputies from the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office responded to the Shore Stop convenience store on Route 589 near Ocean Pines for a reported armed robbery. The investigation revealed two suspects, later identified as Akeem Mason, 17, of Painter, Va., and Dalton Entzminger, 17, of Accomack, Va., entered the store with Mason armed with a handgun and robbed the clerk.
The two suspects stole an undetermined amount of cash and cigarettes from the clerk before exiting the store and fleeing in a vehicle. A short time later, the same suspects, along with Jordan Criner, 23, of Berlin, and Takeyah Mason, 21, of Melfa, Va., robbed the Dash In convenience store in Willards in Wicomico County using the same basic method.
Wicomico County Sheriff’s deputies apprehended the four suspects a short time later and held them on charges related to the Willards armed robbery. The four suspects were then connected to the armed robbery of the Shore Stop near Ocean Pines. Each was charged with 16 total counts including armed robbery, assault, conspiracy to commit armed robbery and handgun charges.
After the arrest, WCBI detectives were able to connect Criner to a pair of armed robberies in the area in August, including the same Shore Stop convenience store on Route 589 near Ocean Pines. Around 1 a.m. on Aug. 25, two masked men entered the Shore Stop on Route 589, brandished a handgun and demanded money from the clerk. The clerk complied and the suspects fled the scene with an undisclosed amount of cash. About a half an hour later, the same suspects entered the Shore Stop store in Pittsville and robbed the clerk. Detectives were able to connect Criner to the August armed robberies in the same areas.
On Wednesday, Akeem Mason pleaded guilty to armed robbery and the use of a handgun in the commission of a felony. He was sentenced to 10 years in jail for each conviction, with all but five years of the combined sentence suspended. He was also placed on probation for three years upon his release. Criner, Takeyah Mason and Entzminger are each scheduled to appear for trial next week in Worcester County Circuit Court for their roles in the numerous armed robberies.
Guilty Plea For Armed Robber
SNOW HILL — An Ocean Pines man, one of two arrested in January on armed robbery and other serious charges after a joint investigation by the Ocean City and Ocean Pines Police departments connected him to a pair of strong-armed robberies of taxicab drivers last December and now awaits his fate pending the outcome of a pre-sentence investigation.
Around 1:15 a.m. last Dec. 30, Ocean City police responded to the area of 5th Street and Edgewater Ave. in the resort in reference to an armed robbery that had taken place. The victim, an on-duty cab driver, told Ocean City police he had received a call from a restricted number requesting a taxi from Ocean Pines to Ocean City.
The victim told police he had picked up two unidentified individuals on Marview Drive in Ocean Pines about 25 minutes earlier and brought them into Ocean City. The driver dropped the two suspects, later identified as Thomas Scaniffe, 17, of Ocean Pines, and Joshua Hohman, 19, of Marion Station, off in the area of 5th Street, at which time the two suspects allegedly assaulted the victim and stole money and other belongings.
A second similar incident took place later on Dec. 30. Around 9:30 p.m., a taxicab driver responded to Brandywine Drive in Ocean Pines to pick up a fare bound for Ocean City. Two males entered the cab at that time and demanded money before assaulting the driver with an unidentified weapon.
Two days later, on Jan. 1, after a joint investigation conducted by the Ocean City and Ocean Pines Police departments, Ocean City Police were able to identify Scaniffe as one of the suspects wanted in connection with the two taxicab armed robberies. Hohman was later arrested for his alleged role in the cab robberies.
On Wednesday, Scaniffe pleaded guilty to two counts of armed robbery and a pre-sentence investigation was ordered. Each conviction carries a maximum penalty of 25 years. Sentencing has been set for July 15. State Police Busy With Drug Arrests
BERLIN — During routine traffic patrols throughout northern Worcester County last weekend, Maryland State Police (MSP) arrested 10 individuals on drug charges including seven in the span of a couple hours on Saturday.
Around 1:50 p.m. last Saturday, an MSP trooper stopped a Dodge Ram pick-up on Route 113 at Harrison Rd. for speeding. When the officer approached the vehicle, he detected the strong odor of marijuana coming from the passenger compartment. A probable search turned up three Baggies of marijuana on the person of the suspect, identified as Cory Hendricks, 20, of Dagsboro. Hendricks was arrested and charged with possession.
Around 2:30 p.m. last Saturday, a MSP trooper stopped a vehicle for speeding on Route 50 near Route 346. During contact with the occupants, the trooper detected the strong odor of marijuana. A probable cause search revealed marijuana in the glove compartment along with more pot on the person of a suspect identified as Khalifa Woods, 19, of Glen Burnie. The driver, Jeremy Harsanyi, 20, of Pasadena, and passenger Matthew Polm, 18, also of Pasadena, were arrested for possession.
At about 4:30 p.m. last Saturday, a MSP trooper pulled over a van in the parking lot of the Sunoco station on Sunset Ave. in West Ocean City for a traffic violation. Upon contact with the driver, identified as Carl Sickler, 35, of Berlin, the officer observed drug paraphernalia and burnt crack cocaine residue in the vehicle. Sickler was arrested and charged with possession of crack cocaine and paraphernalia.
At 6 p.m. last Saturday, an MSP trooper stopped a vehicle on Route 50 near Route 346 in Berlin for following another vehicle too closely. As the trooper approached the vehicle and made contact with the driver, identified as Mark Wade, 23, of Landover Hills, he detected a strong odor of burnt marijuana. A probable cause search turned up an undisclosed amount of marijuana. Wade was also found to be wanted on a fugitive warrant through the Prince George’s County Sheriff’s Office for failing to appear on traffic charges.
Around 7 p.m. last Saturday, an MSP trooper pulled over a vehicle on Route 50 and Main Street in Berlin for going 76 miles per hour in a 55 mph zone. The trooper learned the vehicle was a rental and the operator was in violation of the rental agreement because he was not the authorized driver. A K-9 scan of the vehicle was positive and an undisclosed amount of marijuana was discovered under a large speaker in the trunk. The driver, identified as Presley Burnett, Jr., 24, of Laurel, Md., was arrested for possession.
Shortly before 4 p.m. last Sunday, a Maryland State Police trooper pulled over a 2005 Jaguar on Route 50 at Dale Rd. for going 70 mph in a 55 mph zone. As the officer approached the vehicle, he detected an unusually strong odor of air fresheners. The officer asked the driver, identified as Joseph Nkata, 23, of Beltsville, Md., even he had any illegal drugs in the vehicle, to which he replied, “a little bit,” according to police reports.
A subsequent search revealed marijuana in the vehicle as well as in a backpack belonging to the passenger, identified as Phillip Springs, 23, of Bowie. Both Nkata and Phillips were arrested and charged with possession of marijuana and were later released.
Alleged Stabber Charged As Adult
SALISBURY — A 17-year-old juvenile was arrested on first-degree assault and other charges last week after allegedly stabbing an adult male during a domestic argument.
Shortly after 2 a.m. last Saturday, Salisbury Police responded to PRMC to meet with a stabbing victim. The victim told police he had been involved in a domestic argument with the suspect, later identified as Shatazia Monique Driggins, 17, of Salisbury. The argument turned into a physical altercation during which Driggins allegedly obtained a small knife from her residence and stabbed the victim in the back.
The victim was treated for a wound determined not to be life threatening. Driggins is a juvenile, but is being charged as an adult because of the severity of the crime. She has been charged with first- and second-degree assault and reckless endangerment.
SALISBURY — A Hebron man was arrested on assault and other charges last week after allegedly attempting to slash a man with a knife on the victim’s porch following an earlier altercation.
Around 5:15 p.m. last Saturday, Salisbury Police responded to a residence on Homer Street for a reported assault. The victim told police he was in his residence when he heard a lot of banging and noise at the front door. The victim went to the door and found the suspect, later identified as Paul Joseph Kelly, 24, of Hebron, trying to force his way in.
The victim allegedly told Kelly to quit banging on the door and to leave the property. Kelly then allegedly produced a knife from his pants pocket and slashed at the victim, attempting to cut him. Kelly was arrested and charged with attempted first-degree assault, second-degree assault, reckless endangerment and carrying a dangerous and deadly weapon.
Alleged Counterfeiter Nabbed
SALISBURY — A Willards woman was arrested on counterfeiting charges this week after passing a phony $20 bill to a victim in a convenience store parking lot for change early Monday morning.
Around 12:48 a.m. on Monday, Salisbury Police responded to the Wawa on S. Salisbury Blvd. for a report of a suspect passing counterfeit currency. Police met with the victim, who said a woman later identified as Brooke Joseph, 20, of Willards, approached her and asked for change for a $20 bill. Only after the trade did the victim realize the $20 bill she had just obtained was counterfeit.
Police located Joseph still on the convenience store property and arrested the suspect on charges of theft and possession of counterfeit currency. The authentic currency was returned to the victim.
Traffic Stop Yields Loaded Guns
SNOW HILL — A Georgia man was arrested on possession of concealed deadly weapons charges last week after a cache of loaded guns was found in his vehicle during a speeding stop on Route 113 in Snow Hill.
Around 2:15 last Thursday, a Maryland State Police trooper pulled over a Ford pick-up truck bearing Georgia tags on Route 113 in Snow Hill for a speeding violation. As troopers approached the driver, identified as Jeremiah Smith, 30, of Haddock, Ga., they noticed a rifle lying on the passenger seat.
Troopers asked Smith if he had any other weapons in the vehicle and he told police he also had a Glock handgun. The handgun was also located and Smith was placed under arrest. Troopers conducted a search, which revealed a total of five rifles and four handguns. Two of the rifles and three of the handguns were loaded.
Smith was arrested and charged with possession of a concealed deadly weapon and wearing and carrying a concealed weapon. Smith was held initially on a $10,000 bond, but was later released after posting bail.
Copper Wire Thief Nabbed
SALISBURY — A Salisbury man was arrested on burglary and theft charges last week after maintenance workers caught him allegedly stealing copper wire from a vacant property.
Around 1 p.m. last Friday, a Wicomico County Sheriff’s Deputy responded to a vacant property on Nokomis Ave. in Salisbury for a reported burglary. The deputy met with a representative from a local property management company who said they arrived at the property earlier to do maintenance work when they discovered a suspect, later identified as Paul D. Green, 51, of Salisbury, inside attempting to steal copper wire.
Green attempted to flee from the building, but maintenance workers were able to detain him until police arrived. The investigation revealed Green had entered the building by breaking a rear window. Green was arrested and charged with first-degree burglary and theft. He was taken before a District Court Commissioner and was ordered held on a $50,000 bond. | {
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Hand Gesture Recognition Using Artificial Neural Networks
Mustafa, Mohd Amrallah (2007) Hand Gesture Recognition Using Artificial Neural Networks. Masters thesis, Universiti Putra Malaysia.
Hand gesture has been part of human communication, where, young children usually communicate by using gesture before they can talk. Adults may have to also gesture if they need to or they are indeed mute or deaf. Thus the idea of teaching a machine to also learn gestures is very appealing due to its unique mode of communications. A reliable hand gesture recognition system will make the remote control become obsolete. However, many of the new techniques proposed are complicated to be implemented in real time, especially as a human machine interface. This thesis focuses on recognizing hand gesture in static posture. Since static hand postures not only can express some concepts, but also can act as special transition states in temporal gestures recognition, thus estimating static hand postures is in fact a big topics in gesture recognition. A database consists of 200 gesture images have been built, where five volunteers had help in the making of the database. The images were captured in a controlled environment and the postures are free from occlusion where the background is uncluttered and the hand is assumed to have been localized. A system was then built to recognize the hand gesture. The captured image will be first preprocessed in order to binarize the palm region, where Sobel edge detection technique has been employed, with later followed by morphological operation. A new feature extraction technique has been developed, based on horizontal and vertical states transition count, and the ratio of hand area with respect to the whole area of image. These set of features have been proven to have high intra class dissimilarity attributes. In order to have a system that can be easily trained, artificial neural networks has been chosen in the classification stage. A multilayer perceptron with back-propagation algorithm has been developed, thus the system is actually in-built to be used as a human machine interface. The gesture recognition system has been built and tested in Matlab, where simulations have shown promising results. The performance of recognition rate in this research is 95% which shows a major improvement in comparison to the available methods.
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Obama’s Hot War July 23, 2014Posted by rogerhollander in Barack Obama, Foreign Policy, Imperialism, Iraq and Afghanistan, Israel, Gaza & Middle East, Libya, Palestine, Syria, Ukraine, War.
Tags: foreign policy, gaza, glen ford, Iraq, israel, libya, obama's hot war, pakistan, roger hollander, Syria, U.S. imperialism, ukraine coup, ukraine separatists, war
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Roger’s note: Glen Ford tells it like it is with no apologies. A refreshing contrast to the mealy mouthed mainstream corporate media and much of the progressive Blogosphere.
A Black Agenda Radio commentary by executive editor Glen Ford
The deeper the U.S. slips into economic decline, the higher it ratchets up the pace and stakes of armed conflict. Washington appears to have crossed some kind of Rubicon, to embark “on a mad, scorched earth policy to terrorize the planet into submission through relentless escalation into a global state of war.”
“Washington’s policy is the constant fomenting of war for the subjugation of the planet – or the world’s destruction, if the U.S. cannot remain Number One.”
The United States has set the world on fire. It is nonsense to talk of a “new” Cold War, when what the world is witnessing is multiple conflagrations as intense and horrifically destructive as at any period since World War Two. Virtually every one of these armed conflicts has been methodically set in motion by the only power capable of perpetrating such massive, simultaneous mayhem: the United States, along with its underlings in London, Paris and Tel Aviv – the true Axis of Evil.
Washington is embarked on a mad, scorched earth policy to terrorize the planet into submission through relentless escalation into a global state of war. Unable to maintain its dominance through trade and competition, the U.S. goes beyond the brink to plunge the whole planet into a cauldron of death. As Russia is learning, it is extremely difficult to avoid war when a great power insists on imposing it. That was a lesson inflicted on the world 75 years ago, by Nazi Germany.
Whoever coined the phrase “No Drama Obama” should be sentenced to a lifetime of silence. The First Black U.S. President systematically brought swastika-wearing fascists to power in Ukraine to start a war on Russia’s borders. The passengers of the Malaysian airliner are victims of Obama’s carefully crafted apocalypse, a pre-fabricated conflict that could consume us all. Obama methodically and without provocation laid waste to Libya and Syria, and now the jihadists unleashed by the United States and its allies are destroying Iraq all over again and threatening to erase Lebanon and Jordan and even the oil kingdoms of the Gulf. Obama has signed yet another blank check for Israel’s ghastly war of ethnic annihilation in Gaza – a crime against humanity for which the U.S. is fully as culpable as the apartheid Jewish State, which could not exist if it were not part of the U.S. superpower’s global war machine.
Wars “R” Us
Those who say the United States is adrift or has no coherent foreign policy are colossally wrong. Washington’s policy is the constant fomenting of war for the subjugation of the planet – or the world’s destruction, if the U.S. cannot remain Number One.
The Americans have made Africa into a killing field. Somalia and its people have been smashed and dispersed, setting the whole Horn of Africa ablaze. Ethiopia commits multiple genocides under U.S. sponsorship, while Washington’s mercenaries in Rwanda and Uganda grow fat on the bones of six million Congolese. South Sudan thrashes in agony, the result of dismemberment by American, European and Israeli ghouls. The sounds of chaos and mass murder reverberate from the Magreb in the North, through the vast Sahel region, and now deep into West Africa, a direct result of criminal U.S. aggressive war and regime change in Libya.
Obama “pivots” to East Asia with the goal of turning Japan into a militaristic state with an invitation to rejoin, after all these years, the game of global conquest. Poor Afghanistan and Pakistan have no future at all, unless the U.S. leaves their region and allows them to develop an organic partnership with China. But a world based on mutually beneficial relations among peoples has no room for empire – which is why the empire wages war against the world.
For Black Agenda Radio, I’m Glen Ford. On the web, go to BlackAgendaReport.com and sign up for email notification each Wednesday, when a new issue of BAR appears.
BAR executive editor Glen Ford can be contacted at [email protected].
Anne Frank Is Palestine’s Child, Too July 15, 2013Posted by rogerhollander in Israel, Gaza & Middle East, Palestine.
Tags: anne frank, anti-semitism, fascism, gaza, gaza children, gaza massacre, israel military, Palestine, palestinian children, Palestinians, racism, roger hollander, vacy vlazna
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The Suffering of Palestinian Children Is Not Unlike Anne Frank’s
In the context here of youthful suffering, let us consider the similarities between the Nazi victimising, traumatising and slaughtering of Anne Frank to the victimising, traumatising, mutilating and slaughtering of the teenagers and children of Gaza. The children of Gaza have also been trapped, or, as Anne may have put it, “chained in one spot, without any rights” for seven years in the largest concentration camp in the world.
“Who has inflicted this upon us? Who had made us Jews different from all other people? Who has allowed us to suffer so terribly up till now?”
“In the Shifa hospital I saw a sight I will never forget. Hundreds of corpses, one on top of the other. Their flesh…their blood, and their bones all melting on each other. You wouldn’t know the woman from the man or even the child. Piles of flesh on the beds, and lots of people screaming and crying, not knowing where their kids are, their men or their women.
“Mr Dussel has told us much about the outside world we’ve missed for so long. He had sad news. Countless friends and acquaintances have been taken off to a dreadful fate. Night after night, green and grey military vehicles cruise the streets.”
Today, the roundups dreaded by Anne Frank find new forms in the West Bank of Palestine. There, Israel systematically ramps up the state of anxiety and fear with night-time raids and violent home invasions. Arrests of children and adults occur mainly at night, when the whole family is suddenly awakened and their home invaded by armed soldiers shouting and ransacking the family’s possessions. This leads to the kidnapping of the family member, or members, targeted, leaving the family distraught and their lives devastated. Reuters reported that, according to UNICEF, “approximately 700 Palestinian children, between the ages of 12 and 17, are kidnapped, detained and interrogated by the Israeli army, the Police and security agents in the West Bank every year, and are subject to cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment in direct violation of the Convention on the Right of the Child, and the Convention against Torture.”
In both the West Bank and Gaza, the effect of unending oppression has become tragic for Palestinian children. The respected Gaza journalist Mohammed Omer points out in “For Gaza’s Children the Trauma Never Ends”:
“The Nazi persecution and World War II in Europe, which lasted from 1933 to 1945, affected an entire generation of children. By contrast, Israel’s dispossession and occupation of Palestine has lasted some six decades–and counting. Generations of Palestinian children have been affected physically, psychologically and materially.”
For Anne Frank, the experience of Nazi oppression had the effect of making her former life seem surrealistic. She wrote:
Anne then lists the humiliations Jews were subject to under the Nazi’s apartheid regime. Interestingly, her experience can easily be reworded, as follows, to reflect the Palestinian experience:
“Freedom was severely restricted by a series of anti-Palestinian apartheid decrees that violate international law:
–Palestinians live under military law, while Israelis live under civil law.
–Identity cards only for Palestinians.
–Segregation between Jewish and Palestinian communities.
–Jews-only roads and transport.
–Movement restrictions for Palestinians.
–Unequal access to land and property.
–Forcible eviction and home demolitions for Palestinians.
–Palestinians forbidden the right of return, while Jews anywhere in the
world have the right to live in Israel.
–Deportation of Palestinian prisoners.
–Palestinians are forbidden from living with Israeli Arab spouses.
–Separate and unequal education systems.
–Forced resettlement of Bedouins.”
In addition, Adalah reports that “In the four short months since the current Knesset came to power, MKs have proposed as many as 29 new discriminatory bills that attack the rights of Palestinians in Israel and the OPT.”
Even though for Anne “t he approaching danger [was] being pulled tighter and tighter,” and she felt “like a songbird whose wings have been ripped off and who keeps hurling itself against the bars of its dark cage,” we Palestinian young people share with her that confounding universal metamorphosis of the human teenager into a young adult overflowing with the same heartfelt reflections, confessions, emotional struggles, lamentations, loves, fears, hates, and hopes.
Palestine’s wandering poet May 12, 2011Posted by rogerhollander in Art, Literature and Culture, Iraq and Afghanistan, Palestine, Political Commentary.
Tags: gaza, israel, mahmoud darwish, Middle East, mike marqusee, national poet, Palestine, palestine poetry, palestine's poet, palestinian people, plo, Poetry, protest poet, west bank
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Mike Marqusee on Mahmoud Darwish, the poet of the Palestinian people
On a bright winter morning we made a pilgrimage to the hill of Al Rabweh, on the outskirts of Ramallah, where the poet Mahmoud Darwish is buried. An ambitious memorial garden is planned, but at the moment it’s a construction site littered with diggers and cement mixers. The oversize tombstone is crated up in plywood. We were welcomed by cheerful building workers and joined by Palestinian families paying their respects and taking snaps. Sitting amid the pines overlooking the tomb (and a nearby waste ground populated by stray dogs), we spent an hour reading Darwish’s State of Siege, a sequence of poems he wrote in response to Israel’s 2002 assault on the city. Here he called on poetry to ‘lay siege to your siege’ but observed bitterly that:
This land might just be cinched too tight
for a population of humans and gods
Darwish was six in 1948 when his family fled their village in western Galilee. When they returned a year later they found the village destroyed and their land occupied. Since they had missed the census they were denied Israeli citizenship and declared ‘present-absentees’, an ambiguous status that Darwish was to transform into a metaphor for Palestine and much more.
He was 22 when he read his poem ‘Identity Card’, with its defiant refrain ‘Record: I am an Arab’, to a cheering crowd in a Nazareth movie house. Repudiating Golda Meir’s assertion that ‘there are no Palestinians’, his poems played a key role in the Palestinian movement that emerged after 1967, fashioning a modern Palestinian identity using traditional poetic forms in a renewed, accessible Arabic.
Repeatedly arrested and imprisoned, Darwish left Israel in 1970 and remained in exile for more than a quarter of a century. His political journey led from the Israeli Communist Party to the PLO, which he joined in 1973 (penning Arafat’s famous ‘Don’t let the olive branch fall from my hand’ speech to the UN). He settled in Beirut, from which he was expelled along with the PLO following the Israeli invasion of 1982, the subject of his inventive and harrowing prose memoir, Memory for Forgetfulness.
In the years that followed, Darwish wandered – Tunis, Cyprus, Damascus, Athens, Paris – broadening his poetic scope and deepening his insight. He was elected to the PLO executive committee in 1987 but resigned in 1993 in protest at the Oslo accords. ‘There was no clear link between the interim period and the final status, and no clear commitment to withdraw from the occupied territories,’ he explained. It’s said that when PLO leader Yasser Arafat complained to Darwish that the Palestinian people were ‘ungrateful’, the poet (remembering Brecht) snapped back, ‘Then find yourself another people.’
Oslo did allow Darwish to return to Palestine and in 1996 he settled in Ramallah, only to find himself under siege again six years later. In his last years he wrote more prolifically than ever, responding to the tragedies of Iraq, Lebanon and the violent conflict between Palestinian factions:
Did we have to fall from a tremendous height so as to see our blood on our hands … to realise that we are no angels … as we thought?
Did we also have to expose our flaws before the world so that our truth would no longer stay virgin? How much we lied when we said: we are the exception!
When Darwish died in 2008, thousands joined the cortege and there were candle-lit vigils in towns across the West Bank and Gaza. The Palestinian Authority declared three days or mourning and issued a series of postage stamps in his honour.
Being the Palestinian national poet was a heavy burden, one that Darwish bore from an early age, and though he chafed under it he never shirked the load. Instead, he succeeded in transforming the Palestinian experience into a universal one. The themes of loss, exile, the search for justice, the dream of a homeland, the conundrum of identity: all became, as his work evolved, human and existential explorations, without ceasing for a moment to be rooted deeply in the vicissitudes of Palestinian life. For decades he mourned Palestine’s losses, denounced its tormentors, celebrated its perseverance, and imagined its future.
And we have a land without borders, like our idea
of the unknown, narrow and wide
… we shout in its labyrinth: and we still love you, our love
is a hereditary illness.
Though preserving Palestinian memory and identity was his life’s work, Darwish conceived of this as a creative act of self-renewal: ‘Identity is what we bequeath and not what we inherit. What we invent and not what we remember.’ Among his last verses was this admonition:
We will become a people when the morality police protect a prostitute from being beaten up in the streets
We will become a people when the Palestinian only remembers his flag on the football pitch, at camel races, and on the day of the Nakba
Darwish was a ‘national poet’ who challenged as well as consoled and inspired his national audience. As he moved away from his earlier declamatory, public style towards a more personal idiom, elliptical and oblique, and at times (unpardonable sin for a ‘national’ poet) obscure, he met resistance. ‘The biggest achievement of my life is winning the audience’s trust,’ he reflected in 2002. ‘We fought before: whenever I changed my style, they were shocked and wanted to hear the old poems. Now they expect me to change; they demand that I give not answers but more questions.’
Even in translation, where we miss so much, Darwish’s voice rings clear. In his mature style there’s a seductive fluidity: he moves lightly from realm to realm, pronoun to pronoun (‘I’ to ‘we’, ‘I’ to ‘you’, ‘us’ to ‘them’), from the intimate to the epic, past to future, abstract to concrete. Metaphors topple over each other, abundant and inter-laced. This is poetry that fuses the political and the personal at the deepest level.
Throughout, his evocation of loss and exile, of coming from ‘a country with no passport stamps’, is poignant, elegiac but open-ended, conjuring resolution from despair: ‘We travel like everyone else, but we return to nothing’; ‘There is yet another road in the road, another chance for migration’; ‘Where should we go after the last border? Where should birds fly after the last sky?’; ‘In my language there is seasickness. / In my language a mysterious departure from Tyre’.
Guests on the sea. Our visit is short.
And the earth is smaller than our visit
… where are we to go
when we leave? Where are we to go back to when we return?
… What is left us that we may set off once again?
Yet, convinced that ‘Out of the earthly/ the hidden heavenly commences’, Darwish affirmed the richness and beauty of life, especially life in its ordinariness:
We have on this earth what makes life worth living: April’s hesitation, the aroma of bread at dawn, a woman’s point of view about men, the works of Aeschylus, the beginning of love, grass on a stone, mothers living on a flute’s sigh and the invaders’ fear of memories
In one of his late poems, Darwish pays tribute to his friend Edward Said, putting this advice in Said’s mouth:
Do not describe what the camera sees of your wounds
Shout so that you hear yourself, shout so that you know that you are still alive, and you know life is possible on this earth.
Mike Marqusee writes a regular column for Red Pepper, ‘Contending for the Living’, and is the author of a number of books on culture and politics | {
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calling them into the house. But The Game
which science has yet to study.
she’ll choose another. And when the other
Yo’ bitch chose me, what more can he do
but offer a threat to conceal the boy
inside, who remembers he has a mother
calling him into the house? What can she do,
this young woman, but remember how pretty her
mother’s face was, framed in the doorway?
Though she remembers the screen door
striking closed behind her mother’s voice,
she stayed out. Why didn’t they just head home
when the streetlights buzzed on? Too late
for questions now. By the time grown
folks are talking,’ all hope is lost.
These are niggas with money
problems; that is, their pockets
Look like they got the mumps. Some
brotha is talking unity in the black
community, calling the pimp
into the house, calling the ho
off the corner before those street lights
shine down on her face. What does he know
about life at the top? This brotha? Blackness
now is just fodder for race theory later. But
today, Goldie, the pimp, hands out money
to kids who stay in school. He’s the Mack
of the Year, but his ass is confused, too,
if he doesn’t hear the mothers calling
for his head on a stick, which he’ll
probably think is just a cool cane.
Poor, pastel-suit-wearin’ muthafucka.
Pimp, you ain’t no hero, so take off
your cape. Sista, listen, even a blue-collar worker
knows at the end of the week
you gotta pay yourself, first.
There may not be any food in the house
for the young girl, there may not be a tv
in the house for the little boy, but stop looking
at your poop-butt friends when I’m talking to you.
Stop asking questions when grown folks are talkin’;
you need to bring your young self home, even if you
think there’s nothing there waiting on you. Boy,
git your ass in this house, and leave those girls alone! | {
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Puerto Rican Group Seizes Church in East Harlem in Demand for Space
By MICHAEL T. KAUFMAN ();
December 29, 1969,
, Section , Page 26, Column , words
The Young Lords, a cadre of Puerto Rican activists in East Harlem, yesterday nailed shut the doors of a church with six-inch railroad spikes and occupied the building.
December 29, 1969
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California's top pitcher to be decided Thursday
Cal's Kristina Thorson garners less ink than crosstown rival Anjelica Selden, but her numbers are absolutely gaudy, writes Mary Buckheit.
The UCLA trophy case is already as congested as the 405 on a Friday afternoon, but as the No. 1 Bruins (42-5, 14-3) continue to reel off wins, they had better make room for some more hardware.
In the final week of the regular season, it seems as though the Pac-10 trophy is headed back to Westwood, and no one looks likely to join the Bruins, so they can't even hop in the car-pool lane.
The Bruins have just three games left. They wrap up their season in Palo Alto, Calif., with two games they should take from an underachieving Stanford squad. The remaining test for the Bruins comes Thursday, when they head to Berkeley for a date with the No. 7 Cal Bears (42-11, 10-8) in a contest that already has college softball fans salivating.
Back-and-forth debates are sparked at the mere mention of their names. Cal's Thorson seems to garner less ink than the other ace in blue and gold, but her numbers are absolutely gaudy. Her Bears might not be capable of the kind of power young Selden's teammates provide at the plate (oh, but what if they were?), but her hurling stats meet and often exceed the likes of those of Selden, Alicia Hollowell, Katie Burkhart and Brianne McGowan. Thorson will head into Thursday's matchup with 29 wins and 14 shutouts. She is coming off a sterling weekend at Arizona State in which she struck out 14 Sun Devils in 11 innings over two games.
For her part, Selden is an impressive 12-2 in the circle against Pac-10 opponents. In 93 innings pitched against fellow Pac-10 players, she has 116 strikeouts. Last week, Jelly passed legend Lisa Fernandez for third place on UCLA's career strikeout list -- halfway through her sophomore year!
These talented women have provided us with eye-popping box scores all season, and if you've been lucky enough to see them throw in person, then you know they both have the power to humble anyone who steps into the batter's box. Both seem equally deserving of any award thrown their way, and whether or not they're aware of it, we're all wondering which way pitcher of the year honors will be tossed.
Look for a strong showing from these amazing arms as they go at it Thursday.
Mary Buckheit is a regular contributor to ESPN.com and can be reached at [email protected]. | {
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With spring training just around the corner, St. Louis Cardinals players old and new are putting the finishing touches on the offseason as they prepare for 2013.
Some players are sure things to make the opening day roster, but the same can’t be said for everyone. With a handful of minor question marks regarding the starting rotation, bullpen, second base and a backup shortstop, some of the Cardinals young talent will have a shot to make the team.
With one of the strongest farm systems in the MLB, the Cardinals have plenty of options, but are they ready yet?
Last year several showed that they are, but just like everyone else, they will have to show it again in spring training.
Following are the chances of several top Cardinals prospects making the opening day roster. To be eligible for the list, a player must still have rookie eligibility. That means a player must not have exceeded 130 at-bats or 50 innings pitched in the Major Leagues, or accumulated more than 45 days on the active roster of a Major League club during the 25-player limit period.
The prospect that everyone used to be excited about (prior to the Oscar Taveras explosion) ended the 2012 season by reminding Cardinals fans what they had to look forward to.
Despite command problems early in 2012, Shelby Miller turned his season around full circle and ended the season with his first big league win in dramatic fashion.
Short of a horrible performance in spring training, I can’t envision a scenario where he doesn’t make the opening day roster in one form or another.
Chance: 95 percent
Who will make the fifth starter slot?
While everyone was talking about Miller and Taveras, Trevor Rosenthal snuck up and put on a show in 2012.
A young pitcher with tremendous heat and a good handle on pressure situations, Rosenthal has an extremely high ceiling. Considering that he was one of the best arms in the bullpen down the stretch, there is little reason to not expect him to begin 2013 in St. Louis.
The question is whether it will be in the rotation or the bullpen. My hunch is that the Cardinals will be reluctant to throw off Miller’s mojo by a move to the bullpen, so I expect to see Rosenthal in the bullpen awaiting an injury.
Chance: 95 percent
Kolten Wong is viewed by the Cardinals as the future at second base.
At this point, however, he is just that: the future. It’s entirely possible he could see a call up at some point in 2013, but given that he finished the season at Double A Springfield I expect to see some time in Memphis to begin the year.
His day will come soon enough and there is no reason to rush his continued development. Don’t look for him on the opening day roster.
Chance: 40 percent
Many view Martinez as one of the best pitchers to come up through the Cardinals farm system in years, but he still has a bit of refining to do.
After spending some time at Double A Springfield in 2012, he made some progress and has shown that he has the stuff to make it in the big leagues.
In all likelihood, he will begin 2013 back in Springfield with a Memphis promotion in his near future. Martinez is another example of one not to rush since it would create a serious rotation logjam in St. Louis. With presumably Miller, Rosenthal and Lance Lynn all in the running for the fifth starter slot, there is really no reason to promote him at this point.
Chance: 15 percent
Matt Adams is an interesting situation. With Allen Craig at first base, there is likely no way to get him regular playing time in St. Louis at the beginning of the season.
It’s entirely possible this is a situation that will work itself out once the season begins, but short of a spring training injury, he probably won’t see St. Louis to start the season.
He could be a formidable bench bat given his ability to hit for average and power. Cardinals GM John Mozeliak showed reluctance in 2012 to use him in that role feeling that he needed to be playing every day regardless of whether it was in St. Louis or Memphis.
Chance: 50 percent
The man everyone is dying to see in St. Louis, Oscar Taveras, has a legitimate shot at starting the season in St. Louis if the pieces fall into place for him.
If he comes in and dazzles the Cardinals brass and for some reason Jon Jay doesn’t, it’s possible he could make the roster. Until everyone is in Florida, it will be hard to tell because many factors play into the Taveras equation.
Carlos Beltran ended the season with knee issues. How is he moving around and feeling? Is Jay ready to prove himself as an everyday center fielder once again?
If everyone else looks good, my assumption is that Taveras will start the season in Memphis and at the first sign of trouble make the short trip to St. Louis.
As mentioned previously, he needs to be ready to go when Beltran’s contract ends at the end of the coming season. There is no better way to do that then by giving him a short stay at Memphis and then having him spend some time with Beltran who would make a fantastic mentor for the young, slugging outfielder.
Regardless of how it comes, one thing is certain. His debut will be made soon.
Chance: 45 percent | {
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'Are you from China?' College student, 20, killed by racist thugs in New Delhi
Indians from a part of nation near Myanmar and China say they face discrimination in rest of the country for their 'Asian' features
He was a slight young man, who sported hipster eyeglasses and a wispy moustache. He had dyed his spiky hair blond, but that was not the only thing that made college student Nido Tania stand out in the Indian capital.
Tania was from northeastern India, a narrow strip of territory wedged between China and Myanmar, whose people say they face discrimination in the rest of the country for having "Asian" facial features. When Tania, 20, stopped in a dairy to ask for directions on Tuesday afternoon, the shopkeeper taunted Tania for not knowing his way around, saying, "Are you from China?" and making fun of his hair.
The incident escalated into a violent altercation in which several men thrashed him with sticks and steel rods, friends and officials said.
He died in his bed the next day, succumbing to severe injuries to the chest and brain, according to preliminary medical results provided to his family.
The incident has sparked outrage in New Delhi, which was already reeling from a spate of high-profile rape cases, and has added to a growing sense of insecurity in a capital that is aiming to be a showcase for India's growing economic might.
Hundreds of protesters rallied on Saturday in Lajpat Nagar, the market where the beating took place, calling it a hate crime and demanding that the assailants be prosecuted.
"This was a racist hate crime," said Albina Subba, an advertising writer originally from the northeast Himalayan town of Darjeeling.
"Our community is often targeted like this … We look different, so it's easy for people to see we're not from Delhi."
She added: "We have little faith in the Delhi police, but this time we want them to take action."
"This happens every day in Delhi. Each and every one of us has experienced discrimination because of our physical features," said Sophy Chamroy, a 22-year-old student from the northeastern state of Manipur.
India's 1.2 billion people have many languages and customs but, as with the rape cases, racially motivated assaults seem to occur in New Delhi and other major cities with regularity. Many victims from the northeast are young people who have migrated to the capital for school or job opportunities lacking in their poorer home areas.
Last year in New Delhi, three students from Manipur were beaten by neighbours. In a separate case, a 21-year-old beautician from Manipur was found dead in her apartment with injuries to her face and toes. Police labelled it a suicide and dropped the case but many suspected she was slain.
So widespread is the discrimination against people from northeastern India that the federal government in 2012 passed a law that punishes the use of a racial slur with up to five years in prison. Still, activists say, authorities rarely enforce such laws and police are as likely to participate in discrimination as intervene to stop it.
"You don't know what is on the minds of people in Delhi, because these incidents keep on recurring," said Geetartha Barua, an official with the state government of Arunachal Pradesh, where Tania lived.
Tania was in New Delhi on vacation and going to visit an ailing friend in the area near Lajpat Nagar when he walked into the dairy, friends said.
Tania smashed a glass display case in anger after being taunted, prompting the shopkeeper and several other men from the market to set upon him and a friend. The shopkeepers called the police, who got Tania to pay about US$120 for the broken glass. The police did not take any action against the assailants, Barua said.
Police officers let Tania go, but when he passed the shop a second time the attackers beat him again, said Jotam Toko Tagam, the former president of a New Delhi organisation for students from Arunachal Pradesh. When he reached his sister's flat, where he was staying, he complained of pain and was bleeding from his wrist. He fell asleep early on Thursday morning after applying balms across his body, Tagam said. Around 1pm the next day, friends tried to wake him but found his body cold and limp. Brought to a nearby hospital, he was pronounced dead on arrival, Barua said.
The case sparked an outcry across Indian media and websites with many criticising the response by the Delhi police. Three men reportedly have been detained for questioning. Barua said police did not open a murder investigation until 24 hours after Tania had died, after the incident had begun to make news.
"We are being forced to go exert pressure on different quarters to get the police to investigate this matter properly, at a time when the situation is very sad," Barua said. | {
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What is pityriasis rosea?
Pityriasis rosea is usually harmless.
What causes pityriasis rosea?
The rash does not appear to spread from person to person.
What are the symptoms?
Pityriasis rosea causes a rash.
- The rash often begins with a single, round or oval, pink patch that is scaly with a raised border (herald patch). The size of the patch ranges from 2 cm (0.8 in.) to 10 cm (3.9 in.). The larger patches are more common. See a picture of a herald patch .
- Days to weeks later, salmon-colored, 1 cm (0.4 in.) to 2 cm (0.8 in.) oval patches appear in batches on the abdomen, chest, back, arms, and legs. Patches sometimes spread to the neck but rarely to the face.
- Patches on the back are often vertical and angled to form a "Christmas tree" or "fir tree" appearance.
- Mild itching is a problem for about half of the people who get the rash.
- The rash usually lasts 6 to 8 weeks, but it can last up to several months.
In rare cases, the rash may take other forms. Rounded bumps (papular rash) may be seen in young children, pregnant women, and people who have dark skin. Blisters (vesicular rash) may be seen in infants and young children. In some people, the herald patch may not appear, or two herald patches may appear close together.
If you get a rash on the palms of your hands or the soles of your feet, see your doctor. This can be a sign of something more serious than pityriasis rosea. | {
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We could use some midfield cover as Ramsey is not good enough yet.
All I hope is that we resign walcott and dumping some dead weight would be a bonus.
The problem is not personnel as people like to point out. How many of you really dont think we have good enough players to score against a team like villa who conceded 8 goals against the manchesters. And we could only register one $#@!ty shot on target? Even they had 4 shots on goal. Clearly the problem extends far beyond the players.
Results 5,326 to 5,350 of 5732
Thread: Arsenal Thread
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I dunno man, maybe some pure striker? Who knows. Unless they're willing to spend, I think we get some true specialist that can finish.
I mean, we're certainly not lacking the wingers/rover types of players to get strikers the ball.Be Together - Not the same.
It's a combination of management and personnel. It's not just one or the other. Seriously - we have players like Gervinho and Ramsey lining up for us, and up front we have absolutely zero options, unlike the title-chasing teams. Even Chelsea with their striker crisis have Torres and Sturridge - we are one injury away from Chamakh starting for us.
Since our 'glory days' we have had a habit of persisting with players that are not good enough for a team that wants to be successful. Denilson, Bendtner, Eboue, Almunia, etc. Guys that play way too many times. At least with seasons passed we had the quality through our squad to carry such dross but that's not the case now, or so it seems. I know Ramsey is young and I'm being unfair in a way but we need to start taking things serious or we will continue to fall behind.
I don't mind players that are not full of flare, trickery, pace etc - so long as they do the basics correct and keep the game ticking. Our sub-par players don't even do these things.
And then you have management that throws on a DM (Coquelan) in the final few minutes against both Villa and Everton. Why not Arsha, why not Rosicky? Playing for draws is fine against City or Utd but Everton are considered our CL place rivals and Villa....were in the bottom 3 ffs. I guess even Arsene has lost a little faith in the team.
He keeps going on about our shot confidence and he's got a point but victory over Spurs and then Montpellier should have seen us kick on. We have nearly a full strength team so we can't use the injury excuse anymore.
*kneejerk* Yes as you can tell I'm a little pissed with our timid performances.
How we conduct ourselves in January will be interesting.
In years passed guys like Diaby and Rosicky [+even RvP] could stay injured for a season long and we'd still mount a respectable title challenge but eventually crumble due to those injuries. Now we need these guys to come back and lead us to respectable performances. Huge difference in the quality of our personnel. I'm interested to see if these new fiscal deals will breathe any life into the 'ambitions' of the club
Anyway this is from an Arsenal forum. Pretty much sums the season up to this point:
Sorry for the long post
Last edited by Nitey; 11-28-2012 at 22:29.
TBF the baggies have been pretty immense this season. We should be able to hold them off since they can't even beat Swansea.
Anyway, any news on Kos after he was taken off early yesterday?
Well our next run of games are very winnable, even by our current standards.
West Ham (h)
No game is easy by any means but we should be looking to get a healthy amount of points from those games. We've had tough fixtures so far so hopefully we come to the party.
As for Kos, Wenger said 3 weeks. It's unfortunate because he was just getting back to his best =/
Our passing was something else yesterday.
Our wingers/ crossing was bad as well.
Poor Giroud was on an island.
I agree completely, Nitey.
I'm already weary about Swansea.
I'll be honest, I haven't kept completely up to date with their recent form, but Laudrup is a pretty good manager, and Swansea can turn on the style when they really need to. I'm not too confident about that [tomorrow's] game at least.
They beat WBA 3-1 or something the past weekend, and we all know that WBA been very decent so far. So they are definitely coming into the game with a ton of confidence. Something I think we lack.
Make that 5 wins in 15 games, 2 against 10 man teams. 4 losses in 15, 2 at home.
A lot of tension at the club right now, and Wenger is going to get roasted by the press and fans alike. I just hope we don't crumble any further. I struggle to see how we're gonna get into the top 4 unless we dramatically improve as a team.
We have the players to finish 4th and outplay most teams in the league.
Then again, QPR have the players to not be sitting rock bottom of the league.
No urgency is what really irks me. Aside from a 20 min window in the 2nd half we were ridiculously bad
Swansea dominated and deserved to win at least 1-0.
Edit: Oh and, who the hell managed to trick Arsenal into giving Gervinho a contract? We hardly make those 'wenger knows' signings anymore. Santi only came because Malaga needed to sell. Ffs
Last edited by Nitey; 12-01-2012 at 17:41.
my biggest problem is the lack of urgency, heart, and fight in the team. Watch almost any other game. even lower teams and see how hard they work. how much it means to them.n Arsenal look $#@!less, uninterested, and complacement. They look like they're out of ideas before they even start.
Maybe the manager has lost the dressing room? Players have left so easily over the years after Wenger 'made them what they are'. Maybe he just doesn't have that conviction he once had.
I don't know.
But I agree with what you say. It's disheartening to see opposition teams/players show so much heart, drive and determination and they probably get paid half of what a our players are 'earning'
If we cannot put ourselves in a strong position at the end of the month, when you consider our fixtures for December, then it will be extremely tough for us in the 2nd half of the season. No matter what happens in January.
DINAMO788 likes this post
At least we still have the Champions League.
Who are we facing in the next round?
I wanna see me some Rosicky.
I just read the chairman had a heart attack following a bout of pneumonia.
He is having a good recovery.
I think Rosicky will start tonight. We're taking a young squad apparently. I agree with that decision as we're already qualified and finishing 1st or 2nd shouldn't mean a whole lot cos you can meet Real Madrid finishing 1st or Barca finishing 2nd . Besides, the our key players could do with a breather
Not sure when the draw is for the next round ties
Could have been 5 nil. I'm shocked we didn't score from open play - we missed some sitters for sure. A bit gutted we got a pen from Caz's dive ;/, silly Spaniard. Though their player dived just as bad in the closing stages in the box, but the ref didn't fall for it.
It's no surprise that when our midfield comes to the party that we look much more assured. I hope this isn't a one off and we continue playing this kind of football. Best general play since that international break. Since then we've only gotten 2 victories against sides with 10 men but today we played some lovely stuff.
Wilshere man of the match for me. When he moved into the AM role after Caz went off he was dictating the game, and played very well before too
Enjoy it. Prepare for the media $#@!storm for the dive
Last edited by Nitey; 12-08-2012 at 17:25.
Those Young incidents must really have stung if it's got you coming into a thread you never come into
Sadly, there's a lot of divers in the league currently. Serial-divers, that is. Young, Bale, Saurez. Sucks.
Not to mention players like Rooney and Gerrard that have dived a lot too. Can't blame the refs anymore, players need to kick it out
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I don't think there should be bans. For repeat offenders maybe, but fines would be good.
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Shaan Patel had his fair share of rejection when he was applying to college.
Even armed with a perfect SAT score, he was rejected from every Ivy League school to which he applied — Harvard, Princeton, and a special medical program at Brown. He also got rejected from Stanford.
Undaunted from past rejections, Patel went on ABC's "Shark Tank" and struck a deal for his SAT-prep company, Business Insider's Eugene Kim reported over the weekend.
"That was amazing," Patel said after accepting his offer. "Mark Cuban is my business partner. That's pretty cool."
Cuban offered Patel $250,000 for a 20% stake in his company.
Patel told Business Insider he is using the money to hire more employees, expand to more cities, and improve his offline and digital marketing efforts.
Patel, 25, an entrepreneur from Las Vegas, Nevada, has never quite followed the expected path.
In a previous interview with Business Insider, Patel told us he spent his formative years growing up in the Sky Ranch Motel, a self-proclaimed budget motel that his family owned and operated as well as called their family home.
"At a young age I saw, like, drug deals and prostitutes," Patel told Business Insider.
The motel is a source of embarrassment for his mother, but Patel says he embraces it and doesn't try and downplay its existence in his life.
"It's kinda like that's where I grew up and people should know," he said.
With a backstory like that, some people may be surprised to find out just how impressive Patel's high-school accomplishments actually are.
He was the valedictorian of his class, was crowned homecoming king, and even shook President George W. Bush's hand in 2007 as a White House Presidential Scholar, a program that recognizes two academically gifted students from each state.
He also scored a perfect 2400 on his SAT in high school, an accomplishment he has since parlayed into a thriving SAT test-prep company that got him the backing of Cuban.
Ivy League rejections
Buoyed by perfect test scores and numerous extracurricular activities, Patel applied to colleges seeking out some of the top programs in the US. He was rejected from the Ivy League and Stanford.
"I do think that Asian-Americans have a disadvantage applying to college," Patel said.
Patel is Indian-American and made the comment in reference to both his own rejections as well as recent news stories citing Asian-Americans who say they face discrimination in college applications.
But, not one to dwell on disappointments, Patel explained that he got into the University of Southern California on a full scholarship.
At USC, he pursued the joint BA/MD program that had always piqued his interest. In high school, Patel had volunteered in the emergency department of a hospital, and that developed into a passion with medicine and the desire to become a doctor.
The joint-degree program at USC offered a way into medical school and the security that he would be able to realize his dream of becoming a practicing physician.
More disappointment before finding success
Patel has always been the type of person who embraces having a full plate. "I like being busy," Patel said. "Busy" seems to be a bit of an understatement.
After he had finished his undergraduate studies and was about to start his first year in medical school, Patel tried to launch an SAT prep book to help students prepare for taking the exam using the methods he did. His attempts were unsuccessful. One editor even went as far as to give him the brutal feedback that he didn't have an engaging personality and was not a great writer no matter how well he scored on the SAT.
Undaunted, he used the last of his scholarship money — just $900 — to launch an SAT prep company website called 2400 Expert (Patel is changing the company name to Prep Exepert in March). He advertised it as the only SAT prep course taught by a student who got a perfect score in high school.
The very first course ran during the summer before med school, and it took off from there. Word caught on after his pilot course showed an average improvement per student of 376. Patel says this kind of score improvement is unheard of in the test-prep industry.
Once the summer was over, Patel trained qualified instructors and managed the company remotely from California.
And more satisfying, McGraw-Hill, one of the major education-publishing giants, saw the success Shaan was gaining and offered him a book deal after all. Shaan's book, "SAT 2400 in Just 7 Steps," was published in July 2012.
More College Aspirations
Patel was juggling a growing SAT prep business with studying for medical-licensing-board exams and doing 36-hour surgical-rotation shifts at the hospital. He still loved the medical profession, but was also highly interested in learning how to scale and grow his business.
He decided to take a two-year leave of absence from USC to pursue business school, where he has already completed his first year working towards his MBA at Yale's School of Management.
Last summer, rather than working in an internship like most of
his classmates, Patel focused his attention on 2400 Expert.
Since he launched his company in
2011, he says he has grossed over $6 million in sales from
2400 Expert course sales, his McGraw-Hill book sales, and
licensed content sales.
Patel says his company is now online and in 20 cities including New York City, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Dallas, and Atlanta.
So the logical question for Patel is whether he's planning on continuing on with the medical field, and how he aims to make it all fit together.
Patel says his decision to go to business school was not solely driven by the desire to grow his company. He's also very interested in the management of healthcare.
His plan once he graduates from Yale is to go back to USC and finish his last year of medical school.
And he aims to choose a specialty that allows him enough flexibility where he can practice medicine and run his own clinic, as well as leaving time to pursue his other entrepreneurial interests as well.
As someone who has struggled and succeeded in launching a business, Patel is particularly qualified to answer what it takes to start your own company. His biggest advice is not to let rejection get you down. "Rejection is the necessary evil of entrepreneurship," he said. | {
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Newspaper Page Text
ROCK ISLAND ARGUS. S1I
SIXTY-SECOND YEAIL NO. 104.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1913. TEN PAGES.
PRICE TWO CENTS.
REBELS FORCE 1
Army Weakening, He Con
sents to a President
NUMBER OF MEN KILLED
Troops Becoming Demoralized,
One Detachment Quitting
Capital Under Fire.
Mexico City, Feb. 18. While desul
tory firing of cannon still wm In prog,
resa t noon, the belief wai gaining
ground that a settlement of some kind
would be reached before nightfall.
Washington, Feb. 18. Many feder
als were killed in heavy fighting In the
vicinity of the American embassy In
Mexico City. Many bullets entered
the embassy, but caused only slight i
Washington, Feb. 18. Diaz and the
rebels may soon be in full control of
the residential section of Mexico City,
according to a despatch from Ambas
Mexico City, Feb. 18. President
Madero agreed today in principle to
the appointment of a president ad In
terim. The announcement that Madero
liad agreed to the appointment of a
provisional president was made on the
authority of Mexican Foreign Minister
I.asouraln. The news of Madoro's de
piston became known early In the fore
neon. At that hour the position of
'he government was weakening; and
the federal troops apparently were be
Tli" situation of the federals became
bo rriticu". that one strong detachment
f troop retired from the capital be-I
ford no.-in una was marching In tne
d'rertlnn of Cuernavaca, 40 m'.les
Klrlnc went on practically the
wliole f.Uht from both federal
pi;-! rebel positions. In the total
iliirk'i'-KH it w& Impossible to
uncertain whether any advantage
was Rained by either side. At 5:15 the
artillery duel ceased. No reason for
lb,' cessation of hostilities la known.
to ram dyamitb shells.
It was thought the break la the bat
il meant merely a change of tactics.
The federal ommander s'ated authori
tatively that no truce had been ar
ranged. Th government. It la said,
Intends to throw dynamite shells.
The federals today obtained posses
sion of the T. M. C. A. building, held
by rebels since the cond day of
flirlit'nir. A rebel battery ha been
. ed In position within one block of
t . rnlt-d States embassy.
:), S:li fipbting was not renew
lOUi day of the civil war
found virtually no change In the po
sitions of the antagonists, hut it Is un
derstood tb federals have received re
inforcements. GrW Tl'RJfED OJI POI.1CB.
At 10 o'olock the big guns of the
rebels at the arsenal were brought
Into play on tho national palace with
fierce fire. Federal troops are con-
cantraMa in mo ?iuuii ui
ace. The palace u threatened by
bodie of rebel, who mad a sortie.
Silas Gtlmore, an elderly American,
manager of an Important mechanical
works here, rwolved three bullets In
the right forearm while walking along
Collr.a KreeC He ran Into the middle
of a skirmish.
taft rsusacDir. sat kadbro.
Mexico CUT. Feb. 18. President
Madero yesterday received the roply
o President Taft to his telegram pro
testing against posN Intervention.
In which PeMnt Taft asuurwd Mm
that the reports of the Intention of
the United State to land troops were
"1 dw expected any lees than
this." bommected Madero on Tart's
mesaa. "I regard tt aa satisfactory
The flgntln continued throughout
the day, but tha federal guns were
quite aa lnoffeotlvo aa over In dis
lodging the rebels from their en
trenched ana fortified positions. Fur
thermore, tho federals did not sh&w
the earn aggressiveness which char
acterize their action in tha early
days of the battle. Thla la believed
to be due to the fact that they real
Ire that for the preeent the govern
ment force ara not of sufficient
strength to defeat the rebels.
BOMBS AT SHORT B.AMGE.
General Huerta announced.
ever, that he expected soon to begin
rn encircling movement in which
bombs would be used at short range,
General Blanquet is loyal to the gov-
ernment sod will be placed In com-
r:rnd of the reserves at the national ,
pr.lare. Both Sunday and yesterday
Madero appeared sanguine of the ul-
tlmate success of the federal army,
He declared that the outlook was op -
MISS EMERSON IS
JAILED IN LONDON
London, Feb. 18. Miss Zelie Emer
son, a militant sufTraget of Jackson,
Mich., was arrested today and sen
tenced to two months at hard labor.
Miss Emerson, and her companions
broke all the windows of the Liberal
association's building at Bow last
night. Mlaa Sylvia Pankhurst was alEO
given two months at hard labor.
tlmlsUo and that he bad been offered
support of all kinds.
la his opinion. Zapata, the guer
rilla, is not in favor of Diaz. Nearly
all the non-combatants have moved
out of the danger sone. Dread and
cornmeal are abundant In the capital
and are being distributed among the
WO KITES VIOLATED.
Washington, Feb. 18. Secretary
Knox told President Taft and the cab
inet today that notwithstanding all
the fierce fighting in the city of Mexico
the last eight days, there had been no
Infraction of the ruleB of civilized war
fare or the principles of international
law to warrant any interference by
tb United States.
The responsiveness of Madero and
Diaz, he said, to the suggestions of Am
bassador Wilson had been so com
plete and satisfactory as to Justify of
ficials in their opinion for a strictly
neutral attitude to be observed by the
United States. During the past week !
Knox talked to several European am
bassadors. 0 CRITICISM HEARD!
In no instance had there been a dis
position to crlttclzj the administration
for not intervening. He declared to
day that the steady progress of move-1
, mnnts in concentration of ships, sol-
aims and marines was not designed to
raoet existing condition, but only to 1 The resolution provides for an amend
guard against unexpected and graver j ment to the constitution.
of foreigners in Mexico beyond tie
ability of the defacto government of
the country to insure.
IS SHIP'S AT GCAXTAAMO.
Four battleships under repair at At
lantic coast navy yards are expected
to follow the Connecticut, which sail
ed thla morning from New Tork for
Gnantanamo. and which will give Rear
Admiral Badger 15 battleships at that
M1UOV ESTABLISHES KEXJEP.
With, sickness and famine con front
lag the ptople of Mexico City, Am
bassador Wilson has established an
embassy relief organization. WUaon
reports many killed In yesterday's
fighting. Hundreds of Americans and
other foreigners are prevented from
leaving becanae firing makes it impos
sible for them to make necessary prep
aration. XAcnrvE era stolen.
13 Paso. Feb. IS. A machine gun
of the Thirteenth cavalry at HachiTa,
X. M disappeared Sunday night. It
la believed rebels came across the
border and stole the piece.
LECISLATOtt TSGES ACTIO.
Lansing. Mica, Feb. IS. A reeohj
tion was Introduced in the Michigan
legislature by Dr. PJon Wheeian of
Hallsdale urging President Taft and
Wood row Wilson to take action to re-
store peace and protect American Uvea
1q Mexico. Wheelan's Bon Arthur is
employed la Mexico City. He baa not
teen heard from in two weeks.
Receivers tor Rubber Firm.
Boston, Feb. 18. Receivers were ap-
pomtM today ror the crude robber
j firm of George A. Alden company, one
i of the oldest rubber houses in the
THE SPIRIT OF 1913
Fcrecast Till 7 p. m. Tomorrow fer
Rock Island, Davenport. Molina,
Unsettled weather, with snow or rain
late tonight or Wednesday; colder to
night, with lowest temperature slightly
below the freezing point.
Temperature at 7 a. m., 39. Higliest
yesterday. 49; lowest last night, 38.
Velocity of wind at 7 a. m., 5 miles
Relative humidity at 7 p. m., 60, at
7 a. m.TTff'. '
J. M. SHERIER. Local Forecaster.
(From nodu today to noon tomorrow.)
Sun sets rises C:"0. Evening star:
Venus. Morning Ntars: Jupiter. Murs.
Charleston, W. Va.. Feb. IS. Charg
es that William Seymour Edwards, one
of the republican candidates for Unit
ed States senator, tried to buy the
votes of members of the legislature,
were dismissed today by Justice Gil
christ. WOULD END BOOZE
MAKING IN IOWA
Des Moines, Iowa, Feb. 18. Repre
sentative, Dawson introduced a Joint
resolution asking prohibition of the
manufacture or sale of liquor in lowa.
WITH SIMPLE CEREMONY
Paris. Feb. 18. The inauguration of
President Potacare took place today
with very simple ceremonies. , There
was great display of popular enthus
iasm as the chief proceeded to the
palace to take offlcs. Premier Brian d
at 2 o'clock tbis afternoon called at
the private residence of tb president
elect. The two proceeded in a four
horse open carriage, with an escort,
to the palace. In spite of aero weather
the streets were lined with people.
M'KEEN, FORMER HEAD OF
VANDALJA RAILWAY, DEAD!
Terra Haute, Ind, Pen. 18. W. R. I
McKeen, former president of the Tan- j
dalla railroad, and one of the beat j
known fimmderB In the state, died j
today following a loopy ears' Illness. I
He had been a delegate ta all repub
lican ooffvantlone from 1872 to 1904.
He was the only civilian in the state
to be made a member of the Legion
NEW YORK LEGISLATURE "?Vatlngcm, FU It. The yerwport
ORDERS PDUCE IWQUlRYlfiSBSr
Albany, -K. m. OB. Tb leglala-
ture adopted. mwnrtTTmutfy a reeolu-
tkm providing tor m seaxnhmg lnveti-
gatkm of ton Kew Yurfa pottos situa
tion by a Joint wimmUWB of senators
vviiaon mcvpra rwmier rreotoency.
Trenton, N. J., Feb. 18. Governor
Wilson has accepted the honorary
presidency of the national peace con-
WILSON'S 7 BILLS
PASS THE HOUSE
Trenton. N. J., Feb. 18. Objections
to seveu anti-trust bills fathered by
Governor Wilson came to him from
an unlooked for quarter today, when
a group of state labor leaders suggest
ed a possibility that the bills might be
construed as affecting labor unions.
They called the governor's attention to
a provision which would prohibit "any
pnmhtjifttjnii o. agreement between
two of more corporations, firms or per
sons to create restrictions in trade,
'.imlt production or increase prices."
The governor pointed out that the
act restricts "persons dealing in com
modities.'' and said the courts of New
Jersey had consistently held labor was
not a commodity, so there could be no
application to the labor question.
Wilson's seven anti-trust bills pass
ed the house this afternoon exactly in
the same form as they passed tha sen
ate last week.
Hilles Gets New Job.
Albany, N. Y.. Feb. 18. Charles
D. Hilles of Dobbs Ferry, secretary
to President Taft, and chairman of
the republican national committee,
was appointed last night by Governor
Sulzer as a member of the board of
managers of the New York training
school for girls at Hudson. When the
nomination was received In the sen
ate the democratic leader; Wagon,
moved immediate consideration. "In
view, not only of the distinction Mr.
Hilles has gained as one of the citi
zens of the state," said Senator Wagon,
"but also because of the very valued
and valiant service he rendered the
democratic party In the laat cam
paign, I move his immediate confirma
tion." The nomination was con
firmed. Many Escape Bomb.
Chicago, Feb. 18. A bomb, believed
to have- contained dynamite, was ex
ploded last night in front of a saloon
owned by Emanuel Abrahams. No one
was injured, but the windows in the
front of the building were shattered.
Abrahams, who has been active in lo
cal politics, told the police he believed
a political enemy was responsible for
Pana Rejects Commlaalon Rule.
Pana, 111., Fib. It. The commission
form of government lost by a vote ot
226 to 634 in a special election yes
terday. Of 150 voters la one ward
only 12 votes were registered for it
All five wards went against the pro
Janvtus Under Knife.
St. Lou la. Pen. 18. Tony Jann-us,
the aviator, la 111 of appendicitis and
will be operated on.
' nought Peansrlvmnia, with Curtias tor
bine engine, was the lvwvst of all pro
ponds opened at lbs aavy department
It tO Ve not a&r de "biggest anlp
in the American xtsrr, bat as far as
known -wm exceed in size any
Uhip bo far laid down by a xorelsn
! power. The tonnage wffl be 15,000, al-
i most three times timt at the old fa-
mons Oregon. The ccrst complete will
87 TO LEWIS
ON 4TH VOTE
Deadlock in the Illinois
Assembly is Tight
STILL TALKING DEALS
Judge Sherman Serves Notice
That He Will Not Accept
the Short Term.
Springfield, HI, Feb. 18. The fourth
joint ballot today for the long term
Lewis, democrat, 87.
Sherman, republican, 76.
Funk, progressive, 19.
Berlyn, socialist, 4.
Raymond Robins, progressive, 1.
Not voting, 3.
The fourth Joint ballot for the short
term senatorship resulted in no choice.
The vote was scattered among a score
of candidates. Boeschenstetn, demo
crat, and Sherman, republican, led,
LO!0 TERM IS BARRIER.
Lawrence Y. Sherman, republican
senatorial primary nominee, told the
managers of James Hamilton Lewis,
democratic primary nominee, today
that he would not consent to a pro
posed combination involving his elec
tion as the short term senator. The
Lewis managers informed Mr. Sher
man and his friends with equal em
phasis that they would not agree to
the proposal that the republican nom
inee get the long term.
Both sides are standing firm. If one
or the other gives in and is willing
to take the short term a republican-
democratic combination for the elec
tion of the two primary nominees ap
pears a certainty.
LEWIS MEN FAVOR DEAL.
Governor Dunne still stands for two
democratic senators, but his friends,
who are looking out for the interests
of Colonel Lewis, are out in the open
for the Sherman-Lewis deal. The
Lewis managers would like the assur
ance of Presldent-elct Woodrow Wil
son that under the circumstances the
election of one republican senator will
be justifiable. Democrats who profess
to have a line on Governor Wilson's
opinions believe he would never con
sent to giving up the long term. j
WHIP HAND TO REPI BI.ICAXS.
The republicans insist upon having
the long term because they believe
they can force the democrats to take
the short term or nothing. Less than
half a dozen republicans have balked
on the proposed election of Sherman
and Frank H. Funk, progressive. They
have taken the stand that any combi
nation should involve the election of
the two primary nominees, ITSt if it
proves impossible to put through the
Lewis-Sherman combination they will
abandon their opposition. The pro
gressives ask only for the short term.
Representative Joseph Carter and
two other progressives were in con
ference last night with Governor
Dunne. The progressives have sug
gested that they might be willing to
vote for two democrats if, in addition
to getting all the minority patronage.
they were permitted to name the sec
ond democrat It Is understood Gov
ernor Dunne would not consent to
their naming the second democrat.
Furthermore, it is believed he would
prefer to make a bargain with fne re
publicans, as he then would be more
certain of sufficient votes for the con
firmation of his appointments.
ASK BOEJCHEJTEIS TO O.C1T.
A committee of democrats compos
ed of Representatives W. A. Hubbard
and Charles A. Karon and Senators W.
A. Compton and W. D. Piercy is seek
ing to convince Charles Boeschenstein,
democratic caucus nominee for tire
short term, that he should withdraw
Mr. Boeschenstein's managers, how
ever, declare their Intention to pull
votes away from Lewis Ju?t as long
as the Lewis managers seek to elect
the colonel without giving any con
sideration to the caucus nominee
n.OOD OF RILLS.
A flood of bills, the first to be intro
duced In the house since the conven
ing of the legislature six weeks ago,
today swamped the reading clerk of
the house, when, by the adoption of
a oet of temporary rules, the members
made the introduction of bills legally
possible. Nearly a hundred bills were
Raid Chicago "Fences."
Chicago, Feb. 18. Raids on "fences'
and arrests of a number of business
men aald to have profited more by
raids of auto bandits than the bandits
themselves, were planned today by the
police. Names and addresses were, ob
tained from Robert Webb, confessed
slayer of Detective Hart.
Upper Berth Law Upheld.
Madison, Win., Feb. 18. The su
tireme court upheld the constitution
ality of the "upper berth law." It pro
vides the upper berth shall be closed
when not occupied.
EXPECT TO PASS
BILL OVB VETO
Washington. Feb. 18. Friends of
the Burnett-DllUngham 'literacy test"
immigration bill claimed to have
enough votes to repass the measure
over Taft's veto when the senate re
convened today. A vote on the meas
ure was scheduled for 3 o'clock.
Stone, in a speech, said literacy was
not a good test of citizenship. The
blackhand and similar organizations
were composed largely of people who
could stand a literacy test.
"Who murdered Garfield? Who as
sassinated McKlnley? Who commit
ted these frightful crimes?" demanded
Stone. "Every one of them could take
this test and enter the country."
The senate passed the immigration
bill over Taft's veto, 72 to 18. An at
tempt will be made to repass the bill
in the house.
The senate committee agreed to fa
vorably report the bill prescribing
eight hours as the maximum time oi
a day's work for women In the District
Senator Kenyon will introduce a bill
restricting employment of women
throughout the country to eight hours
by prohibiting their employment be
yond that time in any industrial con
cern engaged in Interstate commerce.
200 HOMES BURN
IN TURK CAPITAL
London, Feb. 18. A conflagration
which threatened to wipe out most of
Constantinople was under control at
an early hour today. More than 200
houses and shops surrounding the
great mosque of St. Sophia were de
stroyed. The mosque appears to have
suffered no serious damage.
News of the Balkan war is becoming
extremely scarce. Meagre dispatches
from Constantinople are subjected to
long delays and strict censorship.
Enver Bey, the young Turk leader,
reported yesterday as severly wound
ed, telegraphed friends today denying
$640 MORE FINES
FOR AL TEARNEY
Chicago, Feb. 18. Alderman Al
Tearney, president of the Three-Eye
league, today was fined 8640 on 82
charges of violating the 1 o'clock clos
ing law at bis saloon.
FATHER AND SON
Do Not Speak for 19 Years Be
cause of Beating Adminis
tered to Boy in 1893.
Harboring In his mind the memory
of a trouncing administered him by
his father 19 years ago, Richard Hlnk
ley, who left hia home at the age of
five, yesterday broke the long silence
for the first time. Hot words were
exchanged between father and son
which resulted in the former's arrest
on a disorderly conduct charge, the
warrant being sworn out by the boy.
This morning in police court the
charges against the prisoner, Albert
Hinkley, were dismissed.
It appears that when Richard was
five years of age he ran away from
home and was lost over night. When
be returned to his home, the father
beat the lad until his body was cov
ered with great welts. This happened
In Chicago. The authorities removed
the lad from his home and placed him
in an orphan's home, contending that
the father was an improper guardian.
Some time afterward Richard was tak
en from the Institution and since has
been making hia home with relatives.
Father and son have met each oth
er frequently, but during all this
time, the memory of that beating years
ago has rankled in the son's mind and
he has steadfastly refused to recog
nise his father.
This morning the Judge asked the
young man If he would not return to
reply his ratners home. "ro, was
the reply, "I will never go back to
him or speak to him. I can never
forget the way he treated me when
was a boy."
The father, who ! an aged man,
upon hearing his son's words, bowed
his gray head and breaking down
completely, wept. The court dismiss
ed the charges.
Herbert Laneton Dead.
Washington, Feb. 18. Herbert
Lanston, Inventor of a typesetting ma
chine which bore his name, is dead.
Popuar Eleotion Approved.
Madison, Wis., Feb. 18. A Joint res
olution providing for the popular elec
tion of United State senators passed
the assembly. It already had passed
Kansas City Further testimony
tending to show the use of cyanide of
potassium la tne Swope home by Dr.
B. Clarke Hyde, accused of murder,
was given by Miss Lou E. Van Nuys,
who waa a nurse In. tho Swop horn
during the illness of Margaret Swope.
Big Eastern Strike is
Prevented by Commit
MADE UNDER PROTEST
Requested Also That All of the
Hearings Be Open to the
New York. Feb. IS. Eastern rail
roads agreed today to arbitrate the
demands of the Brotherhood of Loco
motive Firemen and Englnemen under
the Erdman act. This breaks the
deadlock. The decision of the roads
was announced in an official state
ment issued by Chairman Lee of the
conference committee of managers.
"The managers feel." says the state
ment, "that the public will not tol
erate a strike."
Lee's communication was addressed
to Judge Knapp of the commerce court
and O. W. Hangar, acting United
States commissioner of labor, who
have been acting as mediators In tho
In part .it said:
"At the urgent request of you, as
representatives of the government,
and under the strongest protest we
are able to voice, the managers' com
mittee agrees to arbitrate the fire
men'B controversy under the Erdman
act. The managers shall earnestly
request that the hearings be open to
"The managers feel the public will
not tolerate a strike. Realizing tha
three-fold responsibility to the public,
their men and their shareholders, they
only agreed to arbitrate under the
Erdman act when It seemed the only
way to avoid the calamity cf a strike.
The question tho public should serious
ly consider 1b whether. In compelling
the railroads to arbitrate under a
curing temporary convenience and ao
curing temporary convenience and ac
commodation, they are not sacrificing
their permanent welfare.
1VAIIXS OF OTHER DEMANDS.
"The manage ra" committee wishes to
warn the public at this time of another
and similar ' demand for Increased
wages made by conductors and train
men. We desire to put the publlo
on notice as to the crisis that will con
front them when these demands are
considered by the railroads."
WAGES MAIN aiKSTlOW.
The question to come before the ar
bitrators is principally ono of wages.
The railroads have already expressed
a willingness to raise wages, but not
to the maximum demanded. To grant
this, they assert, would cost $12,000,-
000 a year. The firemen themselves
admit the defects of the Erdman act.
and while the present dispute will bo
settled under the existing law after
wards. President Carter of tho Broth
erhood will meet with the heads of
other railway and labor organizations
and representatives of railroads and
request congress to amend the law in
CARMEN STRIKE R.XDR.
Kansas City, Feb. 18. A strike call
ed In September, 1911, Involving 11,000
carmen throughout the Missouri, Kan
sas ft Texas railroad system, ceased
at noon today. The strike followed
the refusal of the company to honor
the contract with the carmen as laid
down by a committee of the union as
a whole. President Ryan of the In
ternational Brotherhood of Railway
Carmen said the company had now,
agreed to recognize the actions of the
committee as a whole as binding over
the entire system. The principal shops
affected by the strike were Sedalla,
Mo., Fort Worth and Denison, Texas,
and Parsons, Kan.
Qulncy Has $500,000 Fire.
Quincy, 111., Feb. 18. The Daytoi
tablet factory was destroyed by Are
last night. The plant covered an en
tire block 'and the fire threatened to
spread. The loss to the tablet factory
Is estimated at $500,000.
8uffrageto Leave Cheater.
Chester, Pa., Feb. 18. With their
ranas unnroxen tne iitue Dana or sur
fragets walking to Washington started
southward at 10 o'clock this morning.
Cairo, Egypt, Feb. 18. J. P. Morgan
continued to improve in health today,
according to a cablegram to his son.
3 ASSASSINS ARE
SLAIN IN PUBLIC
San Salvador, Feb. 18. Three of the
assassins of the late President Araa-,
Jo were shot by a platoon of soldiers
thla morning in tho preaano et a
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London, Nov 27 (ANI): Kendall Jenner, the younger step-sister of reality TV star Kim Kardashian, has posed for the cover of Australian Miss Vogue at the young age of 17.
The star daughter of Kris and Bruce Jenner showed off her svelte figure and model good looks in a backless black midi-dress with a large hat and black high heels in one of the pictures.
The teenager wears the same outfit on the cover of the magazine as Miss Vogue's third ever cover girl.
Kendall, who was clearly proud of her achievement, tweeted a link to the magazine's website and re-tweeted a post from the shoot's photographer Russell James.
"Congrats @KendallJenner on your Ms VOGUE cover. Rare few models make it Vogue ever-especially by age 17!" the Daily Mail quoted James as tweeting.
She also posed in a Gucci black hat with feather detail teamed with a black Burberry belted jumpsuit, and an orange patterned strapless swimsuit with floaty cream blouse in other pictures for the shoot.
Despite her envy, Kim tweeted how proud she was of her younger half sister posting "The Miss Vogue shoot @kendalljenner shot is stunning."
The 32-year-old had to wait until the grand old age of 31 to make her first Vogue cover, appearing on L'Uomo Vogue - the Italian men's edition of the magazine earlier this year. (ANI) | {
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This is a great story that was sent to me a friend of ours:
The Cross of Christ Custom for Marriage
Sr Emmanuel, a French sister of the Beatitude community, who lives in Medjujorje, shares one of the beautiful local customs regarding marriage
In the town of Siroki-Brijeg in Herzegovina not one single divorce has been recorded among its 13,000 inhabitants. Not one single family has broken up in living memory. For centuries, because of the pressure of the Turks and then the Communists, the people suffered cruelly as their Christian faith was always threatened. They knew through experience that salvation comes through the cross of Christ. That is why they have indissolubly linked marriage to the Cross of Christ.. they have founded marriage which brings forth human life, on the Cross, which brings forth divine life. The Croation marriage tradition is so beautiful that it is beginning to take hold in Europe and America too.When a couple is preparing for marriage, they are not told that they have found the ideal partner. No! What does the priest say? "You have found your cross. And it is a cross to be loved, to be carried, a cross not to be thrown away, but to be cherished." I know if fiances were told this in my home country France, they would be struck dumb. But in Herzegovina, the Cross represents the greatest love and the crucifix is the treasure of the home.
When the bride and groom set off for the church, they bring a crucifix with them. The priest blesses the crucifix, which takes on a central role during the exchange of vows. The bride places her right hand on the crucifix and the groom places his hand over heers. Thus the two hands are bound together on the cross. The priest covers their hands with his stole as they proclaim their vows to be faithful according to the rites of the Church.
The bride and groom do not then kiss each other, they rather kiss the cross. They know that they are kissing the source of love. Anyone close enough to see their two hands joined over the cross understands clearly that if the husband abandons his wife or if the wife abandons her husband they let go of the cross. And if they abandon the cross they have nothing left. They have lost everything for they have abandoned Jesus. They have lost Jesus.
After the ceremony, the newly weds bring the crucifix back and give it a place of honour in their home. It becomes the focal point of family prayer, for the young couple believes deeply that the family is born of the Cross. When a trouble arises or if a conflict breaks out, it is before this cross that they will seek help. They will not go to a lawyer, they will not consult a fortune teller or an astrologer, they will not rely on a psychologist to solve the problem. No, they will go straight before their Jesus, before the cross. They'll get on their knees there and in front of Jesus they will weep their tears and pour out their hearts, and above all exchange their forgiveness. They will not go to sleep with a heavy heart because they will have turned to Jesus, the only One who has the power to save.
They will teach their children to kiss the cross every day and not to go to sleep like pagans without having thanks Jesus first. As for the children, as far back as they can remember, Jesus has always been the friend of the family, respected and embraced. They say "nighty, night" to Jesus and kiss the cross. (As Fr Jozo says "They go to sleep with Jesus, not a teddy bear") They know that Jesus is holding them in his arms and that there is nothing to be afraid of, and their fears melt away in their kiss to Jesus.
The thing I like is that we did something similar during our wedding, a fellow parishioner who attends morning mass with Jordan knew of our upcoming wedding, He stopped Jordan one morning and let him know his prayers would be with us on our special day and handed him two crucifix pendants, one blue and one red. And during our ceremony the priest told the story and blessed those for us. I felt so blessed that day not only to be marrying Jordan but to have the love of a parishioner who I have never met with a gift like that. But I fully agree that Christ needs to be the center of your marriage and also your relationships with your children. I cannot wait for the traditions we are setting with Vincent to be passed on through the generations, I will fully know that we have done our part. | {
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'Real Romney' Authors Dissect His Latest Campaign
In The Real Romney, Boston Globe reporters Michael Kranish and Scott Helman examine Mitt Romney's political rise since 1994, when he ran for the U.S. Senate in Massachusetts. They explain how Romney shifted from supporting abortion rights to heavily courting social conservatives in the 2008 Republican primary.
"When he looked at the race, he saw Rudy Giuliani, the former New York mayor, and John McCain, the senator from Arizona — they were the big boys in the center, if you will, in the Republican Party," Helman tells Fresh Air's Terry Gross. "There was no room for Mitt Romney there. Where there was room was on the right."
As Romney prepares to accept the official Republican nomination in Tampa this week, Kranish and Helman talk about the latest developments in the campaign, Romney's finances and experience at private equity firm Bain Capital, and his recent remark in Michigan that "no one's ever asked to see my birth certificate."
Shifting right is in sharp contrast to Romney's father's politics. During the 1964 convention in San Francisco, a young Mitt Romney watched his father, George Romney, try and fail to get the Republican platform committee to reject extremists and support civil rights. George Romney represented the moderate wing of the Republican Party, says Kranish, and thought it would be "political suicide" if his opponent Barry Goldwater — also known as "Mr. Conservative" — was the presidential candidate.
Although George Romney dropped out before the first primary, when Goldwater eventually won the nomination, he "walked out of the convention, very upset," Kranish says.
Mitt Romney represents the "Barry Goldwater wing of today," Kranish says. While his father was more of an "outspoken moral leader," he is "more of the technocrat, the competent executive, the manager," Helman adds.
Kranish and Helman's book, The Real Romney, is now out in paperback with a new afterword.
On Romney's pragmatic politics
Scott Helman: "Certainly there are some consistencies that we see. In '94, when he first ran for Senate, and now, he's a man who cares very much about his family and his faith and so forth. There are certain bedrock principles that to him have not changed, but when you think about him politically, they're two completely different Mitt Romneys.
"The Mitt Romney who ran in 1994 started out as a political independent. He's somebody who railed against the Contract With America, which of course was the big Newt Gingrich GOP revolution that year. He was a strong supporter of abortion rights. He was very outspoken in favor of gay rights, even writing this famous letter to the Log Cabin Republicans, a Republican gay rights group, talking about how he could be more effective than Ted Kennedy could be, his opponent, on gay rights.
"So you go up and down the line and it's a very, very different political profile. So I think the one thing ideologically almost that's consistent from then to now is he's a pragmatist. And at the time, he was running against a very liberal senator, with an impressive civil rights record and he was in very blue Massachusetts, so he had to be a certain type of candidate to be successful — and to a large extent that continued in his gubernatorial run in 2002. After that, when he starts to run for president, it's a very different environment and he realizes he has to be someone completely different to succeed in a Republican primary."
On Romney's experience at Bain Capital
Helman: "Whatever you think of Mitt Romney, whatever you think of his tenure at Bain, whatever you think of Bain Capital or private equity, I think we have to stipulate that Mitt Romney certainly has some economic fluency. He has trafficked in this world for years, and I think there is certainly some truth to his statement that he knows how jobs come and he knows how jobs go. So I think he is largely correct to say that he has some significant understanding of how the American economy works, but I think it's a different question entirely, when we're saying, 'Do we want this kind of man to be our leader? Do we want somebody who is very successful making money for very wealthy people running the economy that's supposed to be for everybody?' And I think that's where his pitch is a little less persuasive.
"Certainly, there is an argument to be made — and we're hearing it a lot from President Obama and his re-election team — that Mitt Romney has been really good for the 1 percent and he'd be really good for the 1 percent if he were president. He knows what these guys want and need. He wants deregulation. He wants lower tax rates for the wealthy. He wants smaller government.
"So I think connecting those policy prescriptions to his Bain tenure, I think that is politically problematic for him. And I think that's one of his big challenges at this convention, is how he's going to cast that experience. Because the fact is the polls that I've seen suggest that Americans still believe that Obama identifies with them more than Mitt Romney does, and that Obama would be better for the middle class. And I think Mitt Romney can't win if it stays like that. So he has to find some way to say that, 'Even though pretty much everything I've done in my business career has been to make money for largely wealthy investors, that I can apply that expertise and experience to everybody else.'"
On how Romney's Mormon faith figures into the campaign
Michael Kranish: "Mitt Romney does not want to talk about the tenets of Mormonism. He's made that clear that this should not be something that he should have to discuss, that you should go to his church and so forth.
"And yet at the same time, you've had many people ... who have said you can't understand Romney without understanding what his faith means to him. He has said that his Mormon faith is 'one of the most important treasures of my life.' So you do need to understand that. Plus, he was a leader of the Boston-area Mormon churches for a number of years. This was practically a second full-time job. So he wasn't just a member, he was a very strong leader of that church.
"And I think what you've seen very recently is that they've come to the conclusion that [his campaign] needs to find a way to talk about what his faith means to him without talking about the individual tenets. And what'd they like to do — and I know what they're talking about doing — is talk about how as a church leader, he helped people who were disadvantaged, that this was the way this very, very wealthy man heading a private equity company in Boston was able to meet with people who might have been poor or disadvantaged in various ways — as a church leader."
On Romney's comment "no one's ever asked to see my birth certificate"
Kranish: "Mitt Romney has stayed away from this issue entirely. He well knows that there are plenty of other people in the party who are happy to take it on and that he can maintain his distance. Although obviously, he's appeared on stage with Donald Trump who's endorsed him. And the reason I was particularly surprised is that it was Mitt's father, George, who ran for president despite being born in Mexico and did not come to this country until he was 5 years old. At the time, his father's campaign took some questions about that and it never really came to complete conclusion because George dropped out before the first primary.
"But I looked back at newspaper stories of the time and there were serious questions being raised about whether George was qualified since he was born in Mexico and didn't come here until he was 5, whether he could fit the definition of being a native-born citizen and so forth. And their explanation was that George's parents had lived in the U.S. at a certain time and that he was therefore qualified under that. But I think he's been particularly sensitive because his father went through some of these same questions when his father ran for president."
TERRY GROSS, HOST:
This is FRESH AIR. I'm Terry Gross. As Mitt Romney prepares to accept his party's nomination, we're going to talk with the authors of the book "The Real Romney," which has just been published in paperback with a new afterword. Michael Kranish is deputy chief of the Boston Globe's Washington bureau and a former White House correspondent. Scott Helman is a staff writer at the Globe and former political editor. He was the lead writer on the 2008 presidential campaign.
Their book covers the role of Romney's ancestors in the history of the Mormon faith, his own leadership within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, his father George Romney's political career as governor of Michigan, Mitt's career as a venture capitalist with Bain Capital, and his political career.
I recorded this interview with Kranish and Helman yesterday. Kranish was in Tampa, where he's covering the Republican convention. Helman was in Boston planning to get on a flight to Tampa after our interview.
Michael Kranish, Scott Helman, welcome back to FRESH AIR and thank you so much for coming. So Michael Kranish, you wrote on Sunday about the 1964 Republican convention, where George Romney, Mitt's father, was a player. He had briefly been a contender in the Republican presidential primary, and you write about how he tried to get the Republican platform committee to adopt an amendment rejecting extremists. Who were the extremists that George Romney was worried about at the 1964 Republican convention?
MICHAEL KRANISH: Well, it's very interesting, and I see these two conventions as bookends in Mitt Romney's life. Mitt was there with his father, George, in 1964 in San Francisco, and at that time his father George represented the moderate wing of the party. Barry Goldwater, of course, became the nominee. And George thought this was a mistake. He thought it would be, quote, political suicide for Barry Goldwater to be the nominee of the Republican Party.
So he tried at the platform committee, with his son watching, to have them adopt a platform plank that would basically support civil rights legislation. Barry Goldwater had voted against the 1964 Civil Rights Act. And that failed. And then George tried to get them to adopt a plank rejecting extremism because there was concern at the time that the John Birch Society was having too much influence in the party. That plank was rejected.
And then Barry Goldwater became the nominee, and as Mitt later recalled it, his father walked out of the Republican convention in 1964, very upset, never endorsed Barry Goldwater. What's so striking is that now Mitt Romney is coming in, calling himself severely conservatively, and he's not, you know, the moderate like his father walking in. He is now representing, if you will, the Barry Goldwater wing of today. So it really is a turnabout, and I really think it gives you a sense of the long, ideological winding path that Mitt Romney has traveled to get to this moment.
GROSS: And Goldwater lost the election really badly to Lyndon Johnson.
KRANISH: That's right, and Governor Romney, you know, no doubt felt that he was right, that he thought this was a big mistake, and Barry Goldwater was rejected. You can look back now in history and say the way that Goldwater was steering the party towards a more Southern strategy is where the party is today.
So now Mitt Romney in essence is coming along all these years later, 48 years later, and he is sort of more in line, I guess, with that Southern strategy, if you will, that the parties are very different than they were in his father's day. So obviously the party has changed, the Republican Party has changed dramatically, and Mitt Romney has changed dramatically in his views as well.
GROSS: After Barry Goldwater lost the presidential election in '64, he wrote an angry letter to George Romney asking why didn't you support me. And you quote what George Romney wrote in response, and I want to read that. George Romney wrote: Dogmatic, ideological parties tend to splinter the political and social fabric of a nation, lead to governmental crises and deadlocks, and stymie the compromises so often necessary to preserve freedom and achieve progress.
How do you think that reverberates today?
KRANISH: I have read that quote to some audiences, and I read it recently, and to my surprise the audience started cheering. They just felt that summarized, at least that's the way I took it, the problems of today, that George Romney way back those years ago has summarized views that are even more relevant today perhaps than they were then, because that seems to be where we are.
And so I do wonder, as Mitt Romney is taking the stage here, what voice he'll hear in his ear. Will he hear the echo of what his father said all those years ago? And you know, will he act on that? Will he - and that is, there is a sense among those who know him that he will try to reach back to that to some degree, to, you know, as traditionally is done, he'll say I want to work with Democrats.
Obviously, you know, we'll have to see what happens if he's president. But it is something that is a strong echo in the Romney family legacy, and we're looking to see how and whether Mitt embraces that same kind of viewpoint and concern.
GROSS: So your book is called "The Real Romney," and Scott, I want to ask you: If you compare how Romney is running now in his presidential campaign to how he ran in his gubernatorial or Senate campaigns, are they all - is he consistent in those campaigns, or are there things that lead you to ask who is the real Romney, comparing those campaigns?
SCOTT HELMAN: I think it's incredibly inconsistent, actually. I mean, certainly there are some consistencies that we see. I mean, in '94, when he first ran for Senate, and now, he's a man who cares very much about his family and his faith and so forth. There's certain bedrock principles, I think, to him that have not changed. But when you think about him politically, they're two completely different Mitt Romneys.
I mean, the Mitt Romney who ran in 1994 started out as a political independent, he's somebody who railed against the Contract with America, which of course was the big Newt Gingrich GOP revolution that year. He was a strong supporter of abortion rights. He was very outspoken in favor of gay rights, even writing this famous letter to the Log Cabin Republicans, a Republican gay rights group, talking about how he could more effective than Ted Kennedy could be, his opponent, on gay rights.
So you go up and down the line, and it's a very, very different political profile. So I think, you know, the one thing ideologically almost that's consistent from then to now is he's a pragmatist, and at the time, I think, you know, he was running against a very liberal senator with an impressive civil rights record, and he was running in very blue Massachusetts. So he had to be a certain type of candidate to be successful.
And to some extent that - to a large extent that continued in his gubernatorial run in 2002. You know, after that, when he starts to run for president, it's a very different environment, and he realizes that he has to be someone completely different to succeed in a Republican primary. And I think we're still seeing the result of that shift.
And all these things that we hear Mitt Romney say, and we sort of compare them to how he said them before, you have this kind of puzzled look on your face because you think, well, how could the same person say this and also say that. And I think the answer is, he, you know, just like he did in business, he looks at each situation that he's in and figures out how to be successful in that situation, and in many cases part of that consideration was who do I have to be politically to win.
GROSS: In your book "The Real Romney," you write a lot about not only Mitt Romney's commitment to the Mormon Church but the history of his family in the church. His great-great-grandfather was a part of the church back in the Joseph Smith era. Joseph Smith founded the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
So, he's been very private about his faith. However, last week he invited some members of the press to come to his church and observe him at a service. Michael Kranish, were you one of those journalists who was there?
KRANISH: No, this was a pool. So there were a couple of reporters that are allowed to represent the rest of the press, who happened to be on duty that day up by his summer home in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire. I did write about this issue a couple days later, however, and Terry, I think what you're seeing is that Mitt Romney does not want to talk about the tenets of Mormonism.
He's made that clear, that this should not be something that he has to discuss, that you should go to his church and so forth. And yet at the same time, you've had many people, and I think we may have talked about this last time we were on your show, who have said, you know, you can't understand Mitt Romney without understanding what his faith means to him.
He has said that his Mormon faith is, quote, one of the most important treasures of my life, unquote. So you do need to understand that. Plus, he was a leader of the Boston area Mormon churches for a number of years. This was practically a second fulltime job. So he wasn't just a member; he was a very strong leader of that church.
And I think what you've seen very recently is that they've come to the conclusion that they need to find a way to talk about what his faith means to him without talking about the individual tenets. And what they'd like to do, and I know what they are talking about doing - is talking about how as a church leader he helped people who were disadvantaged, that this was the way this very, very wealthy man, heading a private equity company in Boston, was able to meet with people who might have been poor or disadvantaged in various ways - as a church leader.
And so one of his aides have said a couple days ago that some of those folks might get up on the - at the convention and talk about how Mitt Romney helped them. Obviously, as Scott wrote in the book, there are also some other cases where there are some controversial things that Mitt Romney as a church leader advised some people to do. So I don't know that those people would talk.
But they are trying to use his church leadership days in a different way to hopefully, in their point of view, seal some of the connection that Mitt Romney seems to have been lacking in some of his prior appearances.
GROSS: How did Mitt Romney handle his faith in previous campaigns?
HELMAN: When Mitt Romney first ran for office in 1994, his faith did become a big campaign issue, in large part because his opponent, Ted Kennedy, and his family, made it an issue. There was a lot of controversy around Ted Kennedy's nephew, Joe Kennedy, who had said that, you know, he thought it was outrageous that the Mormon church prevented women from holding leadership roles and that they excluded blacks from holding the priesthood.
And it was a big moment, I think, for Mitt Romney and a big wakeup call that suddenly this faith that he had known had been seen skeptically, but I think this was the first time he got a taste of just how politically sensitive this was. And in fact Ted Kennedy himself at one point said that he thought that some of these things that Mormons believed, and particularly the point about not letting blacks in the church until 1978 - or hold leadership positions until 1978, that that was something that should be examined in a political context.
Now, he later backed off from that, but of course there was a great irony for the Romneys, that here you had the Kennedys, you know, Ted Kennedy, whose own brother, Jack Kennedy, in 1960 had given this famous speech in running for president saying that, you know, he wasn't going to speak for Catholicism, and Catholicism didn't speak for him, that it was, you know, here they were kind of invoking that legacy in a very perverse way.
And in fact there's a great story of a press conference that Mitt Romney was giving when he was really burned up about how this faith issue had come up. George Romney, his father, was actually there, in his 80s at the time, sort of advising his son's campaigns.
And he was circling the gaggle of reporters and just fuming at this and how the Kennedys had brought this up and made it a part of the campaign. At one point, in true George Romney fashion, he bursts into the press conference, interrupts his son and sort of starts shaking his fist and saying, you know, this is outrageous what the Kennedys are doing and this should have no place there.
And, you know, of course it was a great TV moment, right, so all the TV cameras went right from Mitt Romney right over to dad, because it made for a much better story. But I think that gave you a sense of how much this really bothered them, that it had become an issue.
And in fact, even after the race, after Mitt Romney had lost, he said one of the things that really ate at him was the way that the Kennedys had brought up the faith issue and made it part of the conversation.
So that was, you know, a bad, a sour experience, I think, if you will, for Mitt Romney. Fortunately for him, and I think for a lot of other Mormons, certainly in Massachusetts, it was almost nonexistent as an issue in 2002 when he ran for governor.
And then we see it crop back up again when he first runs for president in 2008, and of course that's when he really starts to court social conservatives. He's trying to talk to all these evangelicals, and of course a lot of them, as we know, have - are very skeptical, or worse, about Mormons and what they believe.
GROSS: If you're just joining us, my guests are Scott Helman and Michael Kranish of the Boston Globe. They're the co-authors of the book "The Real Romney," which has just been published in paperback with a new afterword. And Michael Kranish is speaking to us from Tampa, Scott Helman from Boston; he's on his way to Tampa. Let's take a short break here, then we'll talk some more about Mitt Romney. This is FRESH AIR.
(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)
GROSS: If you're just joining us, my guests are Michael Kranish and Scott Helman of the Boston Globe. They're co-authors of the new book "The Real Romney"; it's just been published in paperback with a new afterword.
Michael Kranish, you've been writing about Mitt Romney and his finances, taxes and Bain. He released his 2010 tax returns, and Gawker just released - Gawker just got their hands on a bunch of financial documents from Bain Capital. What are some of the key things you've learned about Romney and his personal finances from these documents?
KRANISH: Well, let me provide some perspective. There's been a lot of talk about the last 10 years of Mitt Romney's tax returns because Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has alleged, without providing evidence, that Mitt Romney paid no taxes for 10 years. So the context for this and the paradigm that really should be set is Mitt Romney's own words.
He said in 1994, in running for the U.S. Senate against Ted Kennedy, that Kennedy should release his tax returns to show that he had nothing to hide. Kennedy refused, and Romney as a result did not release his own tax returns. So Romney's the one who set this up, that this should be done.
And then in 2002, when Romney's opponents did release their tax returns and said, OK, now you release yours, at that time he refused to release any tax returns and said it was a privacy issue. So this time around, it shouldn't be surprising that there was a lot of pressure for him to release his tax returns.
And what he has said is he would release - he has released his 2010 tax returns and so far a summary of the 2011 information. Frankly, that doesn't tell us an awful lot about his time at Bain Capital. He was at Bain Capital running that company from 1984. And then through '99 he was directly controlling a lot of the deals, and then he stayed as CEO until 2002.
So the 10 years after that are the years that Harry Reid's talked about, which is when he basically got a severance deal. But, you know, the real issue, if people are looking at, you know, going back to Romney's own words about what's going on about do you have something to hide, would go back to the time when he's at Bain Capital, because seeing those early tax returns are the ones that would show you how much money he made on certain deals and if those deals were the same deals that were good for the companies that were bought or if factories were shut down in those deals and he profited to a certain degree.
Those are the kind of things that you might want to see. So whatever is released in more recent years wouldn't show a lot of that. What the more recent documents have shown, they are not Romney-specific documents, but they're documents about various Bain funds that Romney at this time has some investments in.
And some of those funds are held in the Cayman Islands and other places like that. They're - a lot of the investments are not in a company stock A or B. As Romney has said, they're - it's all managed by a blind trust. The blind trust person running that decided to invest in Bain Capital funds. And in some cases those are hedge funds. They're various things that in fact might bet on whether a company does poorly.
But those are investments, you know, much later, and they're run by a blind trustee. So my overall point is that really by not releasing the earlier tax returns, there's a lot that we don't know and apparently we won't because he doesn't intend to release them.
And the other point is that his tax rate has been very low because as a person in the private equity business, he gets a break from the get-go, and that is that instead of most of his income coming and taxed by salary, it's taxed at what's known as carried interest, which is essentially the capital gains tax rate, which is about half the tax rate of, say, someone, you know, in a middle-class situation.
So it's just like Warren Buffett has said that his tax rate is lower than his secretary. Mitt Romney in the private equity business, it's the same thing. I don't know how much his secretary made, but from the get-go he was paying a very low tax rate. And so one of the things I wonder, President Obama in his budget had proposed that that be eliminated, that he felt that was an unfair break, and I wonder if that kind of issue also will become something we'll hear more about in the campaign.
GROSS: One of the questions that has been raised based on the Bain financial records that were released is that there were investments that, you know, the partners, and I think Romney would be included in these investments, investments in funds that hold complex securities that can profit from downturns in the economy like by shorting stocks, by betting against interest rates in foreign currencies, credit default swaps, which can bet that something's going to lose, and you gain if they lose.
So in terms of his experience, his financial experience showing him how to boost the economy, if he's had investments that have bet against success, bet against the economy, what does that say? Or does it say nothing? Is that just what investors do?
KRANISH: Right. The dilemma in discussing this is that these are funds that his blind trustee person decided to invest in.
GROSS: I see.
KRANISH: So Romney can say, you know, look, I didn't invest in those funds, the trustee invested in those funds. And it's hardly uncommon. I'm not excusing anything or saying this is fine or bad, just making the general point that a lot of funds, you know, have that, that use short stocks and so forth.
I've spent a lot of time talking to Romney's Bain partners over the last year or so, and every single one of them that I've talked to have said their job was not necessarily to create jobs, their job was to make as much money for their investors as possible.
And some of them take a little bit of umbrage at the idea that Bain has now been cast as this job-creating machine. They say they think in the end that more jobs are created than lost, but they say their fiduciary duty was to their investors to make money, and if that meant that jobs were cut in certain deals, then jobs were cut.
If that meant that factories had to be closed because it could be more profitable to do it in some other way, then factories were closed. Those were decisions that Mitt Romney would have been more directly involved with, which is a little different than a fund that a blind trustee person, you know, may have invested in.
So as someone who's spent a lot of time looking at this, the deals that Romney was directly involved in, which have plenty of upsides and downsides that we can talk about, probably are the most relevant to talk about in terms of what he did, what his decisions were and whether those were good for the economy or not.
And there are plenty of deals. There are about 100 deals made over 15 years, a lot of which we write about. Plenty of those, you know, are controversial. But the bottom line is they ran a fund that was basically a fund for very wealthy people to invest in. That was his job, and typically it a million dollars or more to get into those funds.
It's not like a typical mutual fund. So these individuals who invested in that fund, they did very well. Oftentimes their money doubled or almost doubled every year. It's a different matter about how that profit was made. In some cases it was made because businesses were turned around, or maybe there were things that were shut down or changed.
It's a - each deal is different, and there are many different ways in which they made money for their investors.
Michael Kranish and Scott Helman will be back in the second half of the show. Their book "The Real Romney" has just been published in paperback. I'm Terry Gross, and this is FRESH AIR.
(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)
GROSS: This is FRESH AIR. I'm Terry Gross back with Michael Kranish and Scott Helman, authors of the book "The Real Romney," which has just been published in paperback with a new afterword. Kranish is deputy chief of the Boston Globe's Washington bureau and a former White House correspondent. Scott Helman is a staff writer at the Globe and former political editor. He was a lead writer on the 2008 presidential campaign.
We recorded our interview yesterday. Kranish was in Tampa, Helman was in Boston preparing to leave for Tampa.
So, Michael Kranish, one of the things you've written about regarding Romney's finances is how he and other partners at Bain used their IRAs both to invest but also perhaps to shield money from having to pay taxes on - that is perhaps stretching what an IRA is supposed to be able to do. Could you describe what questions you have about Mitt Romney's IRA?
KRANISH: Right. Well, a lot of people in this country have IRAs; they were set up by Congress to help average working people save a modest amount for retirement. And the average amount that an individual has in IRAs in this country is about $90,000. Mitt Romney in his financial disclosure report said that his IRA was worth between 20 million to $100 million. And as you know, an IRA, when you put money in there, it's shielded from the initial taxation and then you pay taxes when you are in retirement and take it out and presumably at a lower rate than you would have otherwise, and in the meantime a lot of money can accumulate.
I asked an independent research group to analyze where Mitt Romney's IRA stood in relation to the rest of the country and they came back and said that his IRA, even at the lowest estimate of 20 million, would have been in the top one-100ths of one percent of IRAs in this country. So by any measure, his IRA is extraordinary. Very few people have an IRA of 20 million, not to mention the possible topside of 100 million.
So how did he do that? How did you get an IRA so large if there are restrictions on how much you can put into IRAs every year? Depending on how it's done, the restriction might be $5,000 a year or in some kind of corporate plans it could be up to $50,000 a year. But still, how would it grow so large so quickly? So I and another reporter at the Globe, Beth Healy, looked at this and talked to Bain partners, other folks, and part of the reason is is that they use these IRAs that were established with a certain amount of money to make side investments in deals that Bain Capital already thought were pretty good or sure winning deals. So they would use their own personal funds from the IRA to then invest in the same deals that Bain Capital was investing in.
Some of these deals were extraordinarily successful. So there was a deal for, for example, where Bain put in $50 million into an Italian Yellow Pages company and got back a billion dollars. Separately, Bain partners invested in that same deal and deals like it. And so you can imagine they put in a somewhat modest amount of money personally and they got back a big return. Those returns accumulated exponentially. So over time, you have the IRA really exploding in the amount of money that's in there, and it's a - I think a large part of the explanation as to how an IRA all these years later could be worth between 20 million to $100 million. It's not what Congress envisioned obviously, when they set up IRAs, but the Romney campaign and the people that I've talked to, they say this is all legal and that when the money is withdrawn upon retirement, then Romney would pay some kind of a tax rate on that.
GROSS: I don't know a lot about what you can and can't do with an IRA. But is it legal to take the money in your IRA and just choose what investments you want to make with it?
KRANISH: Well, sure. I mean you can have what's called a self-directed IRA and so with your IRA you could say now I want it in, you know, Fidelity's X fund and then later on say, no, change that to the Fidelity Y fund. It can't...
GROSS: Right. But that's different than - I mean isn't that different from saying we're going to invest in this like new company that Bain's investing in? Because I understand having your retirement money in one of the funds in the larger company that your workplace uses as, for its retirement funds. But that's different from just choosing individual places to invest in with your IRA money. That's OK?
KRANISH: Right. Well, I asked the same question. And as it turns out, the Bain Capital IRAs are held by Merrill Lynch and there's a individual who has to be responsible for making sure that the deal is appropriate under the way the plan was set up, so every plan might have different particular rules. You couldn't go out and invest, for example, in tulips, but in this case, the person overseeing the IRA can say, you know, this seems like a reasonable investment and go ahead. So there are various restrictions on that that's set up plan-to-plan but in this case they were allowed under this plan to invest in side personal investments in Bain deals.
GROSS: Now Scott, you recently wrote a piece trying to investigate this question. Mitt Romney says that his experience at Bain has taught him what you need to know to create jobs and to fix the economy. So picking up on what Michael said earlier, how related is his experience at Bain to creating jobs and fixing the economy?
HELMAN: I think it's undeniable, whatever you think of Mitt Romney, whatever you think of his tenure at Bain, whatever you think of Bain Capital or private equity, I think we have to stipulate that Mitt Romney certainly has some economic fluency. He has trafficked in this world for years and I think there is certainly some truth to his statement that he knows how jobs come and he knows how jobs go. So I think he is largely correct to say that he has some significant understanding of how the American economy works, but I think that's a different question - it's a different question entirely, when we're saying, well, do we want this kind of man to be our leader? Do we want somebody who is very successful making money for very wealthy people running the economy that's supposed to be for everybody? And I think that's where his pitch is a little less persuasive.
I mean certainly, there is an argument to be made - and we're hearing it a lot from President Obama and his re-election team - that Mitt Romney has been really good for the one percent and he'd be really good for the one percent if he were president. He knows what these guys want and need. He wants deregulation. He wants lower tax rates for the wealthy. He wants smaller government.
So I think, you know, connecting those policy prescriptions to his Bain tenure, I think that is politically problematic for him. And I think that's one of his big challenges at this convention, is how he is going to cast that experience. Because the fact is the polls that I've seen suggest that Americans still believe that Obama identifies with them more than Mitt Romney does, and that Obama would be better for the middle class. And I think Mitt Romney can't win if that stays like that. So he has to somehow find a way to say, even though pretty much everything I've done in my business career has been to make money for largely wealthy investors, that I can apply that expertise and that experience to everybody else.
KRANISH: Terry, if I could just add, you know, one of the most interesting things that Romney said about this time was something he wrote - if I can just quote it. He said, quote, "I never actually ran one of our investments. That was left to management." And the reason that's important to understand is that he was running an investment fund. It wasn't like his father, George, who went in to run American Motors Corporation and turn it around. Mitt Romney would be the first person to say, and as I quoted, he did, that that's not what he did. He ran an overall investment fund. Deals were proposed and brought to him. He would say yes or no, and then a couple of cases he was on the board. For the most part that was the major part of his decision-making, let's invest or not invest. And so people can look at that and with the 30-second ads it can be hard to understand that because it sounds like he may have gone in, you know, and directly run this company or that company.
Most of what he did, he made most of his money in leveraged buyout deals that were basically investments in existing companies and he got paid management fees, there were loans taken that the company that was being bought had to pay back. So it's a more nuanced story that we really did try to take a lot of time to explain exactly what he did. And I think that quote that I read you gives you a little bit more perspective as to what he did and didn't do.
GROSS: Mitt Romney very recently wrote a Wall Street Journal op-ed piece that was called "What I Learned at Bain." And he wrote, my presidency would make it easier for entrepreneurs and small businesses to get the investment dollars they need to grow, by reducing and simplifying taxes; replacing Obamacare with real health care reform that contains costs and improves care; and by stemming the flood of new regulations that are tying small businesses in knots. And he goes on to say, I'm not sure Bain Capital could have grown or turned around some of the companies we invested in had we faced today's anti-business environment. Andy Puzder, the chief executive of CKE Restaurants Incorporated, which employs about 21,000 people at Carl's Jr. and Hardee's restaurants, has said that quote, "the current unfriendly economic environment perhaps best explains why American companies are sitting on over $2 trillion which they could invest," unquote.
So it seems to me there's maybe two separate thoughts on here. One is making it easier for entrepreneurs and small businesses, and the other is a favorable economic climate for companies that have 21,000 employees and their needs might be very different from the small entrepreneur.
KRANISH: Well, it goes to his overall belief - his overall belief as in the theory of, quote, "creative destruction," and that the private economy will find what works and what doesn't - and this is what led to the famous op-ed he wrote about the auto bailout, where it was headlined "Let Detroit Go Bankrupt"- that that is part of what he believes in. And if you are a supporter of Mitt Romney that's something that, you know, you may well believe in yourself - that this idea that there's too much regulation and that business is not investing. There are certainly plenty of business people who would say, you know, that is the case and that they don't like all the regulation and that an overall change in lots of things, you know, would improve conditions. So that is really one of the fundamental questions in the election: Do you believe in Mitt Romney's philosophical view about this or do you believe in President Obama's? That's really, you know, one of the main things that people will be examining.
HELMAN: But I think a lot of this gets lost just in the talking points. I mean, you know, the fact is the capital gains rate is still very low, it has not been raised. President Obama has not raised that. You know, we talk about energy, you know, Obama has angered a lot of liberals by being open to drilling in and around this country. So there are plenty of things - it's easy for Romney and Republicans I think generally to say oh, you know, you know, business hates all the regulation and government is on their back and so forth. But the fact is, you know, there have been several things that have happened recently that have been favorable to business that Obama has either not changed or proposed himself. And but so I think it becomes kind of a crutch or a trope, if you will, to say, you know, Democrats love government, they hate business and it's, you know, that fits in a 30-second ad and that's how you vote.
GROSS: If you're just joining us, my guests are Michael Kranish and Scott Helman. They both are with the Boston Globe. They're the authors of the book "The Real Romney," which has just been published in paperback with a new afterword.
Let's take a short break here, then we'll talk some more. This is FRESH AIR.
(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)
GROSS: We're talking about Mitt Romney with Michael Kranish and Scott Helman of the Boston Globe. Helman is a staff writer and former political editor at the Globe and was a lead writer on the 2008 presidential campaign. Michael Kranish is deputy chief of the Globe's Washington bureau and a former White House correspondent. Their book, "The Real Romney," has just been published in paperback with a new afterword, and they're covering the Republican Convention.
I want to ask you about Dr. Jack Wilkie. And he's the now 87-year-old doctor that apparently is the person who came up with the idea that Congressman Todd Akin quoted, which is that if a woman is raped that her body has a mechanism to shut down the sperm from fertilizing an egg. Now, Dr. Wilkie from what I've heard, had been a surrogate for Mitt Romney. Do you know much about Wilkie or his relationship to Romney?
HELMAN: I - this is Scott - I don't know much about Wilkie or his relationship. I'm trying to think if I ever saw them together in the last campaign and nothing comes to mind. I mean, what I will say...
GROSS: While you're thinking, I'm going to quote something...
HELMAN: Yeah. Sure.
GROSS: ...that Jack Wilkie wrote: Every woman is aware that stress and emotional factors can alter her menstrual cycle. To get and stay pregnant, a woman's body must produce a very sophisticated mix of hormones. Hormone production is controlled by a part of the brain which is easily influenced by emotions. There's no greater emotional trauma that can be experienced by a woman than an assault rape. This can radically upset her possibility of ovulation, fertilization, implantation and even nurturing of a pregnancy. And he goes on to write that women who report rape often do that - they often falsely claim rape. Anyway it's just...
HELMAN: I mean it sounds like...
HELMAN: It sounds to me, you know, all those things sound like you're reading something from some, you know, 17th-century encyclopedia. I mean it's just amazing...
GROSS: It was 1971. Yeah.
HELMAN: Right. Exactly. I mean it's incredible, I think, some of the things people are saying about rape in 2012. One thing I will say that Romney, in the last campaign, you know, he really set out in that 2008 race to establish himself as the top candidate for social conservatives. I mean that was where the space was. When he looked at the race he saw Rudy Giuliani, the former New York mayor, and John McCain, the senator from Arizona, they were the big boys in the center, if you will, in the Republican Party. There was no room for Mitt Romney there. Where there was room was on the right and that's why we see this real recalibration of Mitt Romney as a political figure because he had to fill that space. And in part of the effort that he went to to do that was to court people like this doctor and people like Joe Arpaio, the very rabidly anti-immigration sheriff in Phoenix.
HELMAN: I remember flying out with Romney when he did an event with Joe Arpaio. These were the people he was courting in that campaign. And, you know, we've seen him moderate that to some extent this time around, but I mean that just gives you a sense of the lengths that he went to to appeal to the hard right of the Republican Party.
KRANISH: And in this campaign, he has tried to back out, not change his position on that. He's already changed that position once. But he hasn't focused on it as much as he did in 2008. So for example when he wrote his book "No Apology," at the end he has a list of 64 action items, as he calls them, and abortion is not on the list.
He does talk about his anti-abortion views in the text of the book, but the fact that it's not on that list of 64 action items gives you a sense that they made a political calculation that there are certain social conservatives who would simply not support Mitt Romney and that they needed to focus more this time around on the economy.
So certainly, you know, he maintains his same position, but he hasn't focused on it in quite the same way that he did in 2008.
GROSS: Mitt Romney recently said in Michigan: No one ever asked me for my birth certificate. Were you surprised that he said that?
KRANISH: I was surprised, and the reason that I was surprised is that Mitt Romney has stayed away from this issue entirely. He well knows that there are plenty of other people in the party who are happy to take it on and that he can maintain his distance, although obviously he's appeared onstage with Donald Trump, who has endorsed him.
And the reason I was particularly surprised is that it was Mitt's father, George, who ran for president despite being born in Mexico and did not come to this country until he was five years old. At the time, his father's campaign took some questions about that, and it never really came to a complete conclusion because George dropped out before the first primary.
But I look back at newspaper stories from the time, and there were serious questions being raised about whether George was qualified, since he was born in Mexico and didn't come here until he was five, whether he could fit the definition of being a native-born citizen and so forth.
And their explanation was that George's parents had lived in the U.S. at a certain time and that he qualified under that. But I think he's been particularly sensitive because his father went through some of these same questions when his father ran for president.
GROSS: So doesn't Romney run the risk of having people, having journalists use that statement as an opportunity to go back to the George Romney question about whether he legitimately ran for president because he spent his first five years in Mexico where he was born, and in a community that was founded as a polygamist community so that they could have freedom of polygamy outside of the government of the United States?
KRANISH: Well, it's interesting. If you look back, Mitt Romney for many years didn't focus very much on the fact that his father was born in Mexico. In this campaign he's mentioned it a number of times, particularly before Hispanic audiences, mentioning that his father was born in Mexico, although his father obviously was not an Hispanic. But he's pointed that out, that there is some heritage in the family.
He certainly has not focused on the fact that his great-grandfather, Miles Park Romney, established that colony to evade the laws against polygamy in this country. Mitt's father and Mitt's grandfather were not polygamists, but the colony was initially founded on that. And to this day there are Romneys, I've been to that colony in Mexico, there are quite a number of Romneys who still live in this colony, in a very beautiful part of Mexico about four hours from the U.S. border.
HELMAN: And I think there's a bigger risk, Terry, here, and that is that every time Mitt Romney does something like this, it just puts him more into this, you know, extremist camp within the Republican Party. I mean, this - Mitt Romney now should be focusing on the middle of the country, on independents. This is a group that he's done well with in the past. And yet we see him pushing himself further and further, I think, to the right.
And it's going to be really interesting to see how he tries to swing this back at the convention because to the extent that he's associated with the birther movement, and, you know, now he's picked in Paul Ryan someone who is very, very conservative not just on fiscal issues but also on women's issues, on abortion rights, somebody who has favored bills that allow no exceptions for rape or things like that, you know, this puts Mitt Romney exactly where President Obama and his team want him, which is in this far right of the Republican Party, out of the mainstream, somebody who cannot win a general election in the fall.
GROSS: The abortion question is actually kind of confusing now about where everybody stands. The party platform, the Republican Party platform, says that there should be no exceptions made for incest or rape. And Paul Ryan, who supports that and has sponsored legislation like that, defers to Romney. You know, Romney supports an exception in cases of rape or incest, but Paul Ryan, who doesn't, says, you know, Romney's the person who'd be president, it's about him, it's not about me. But the Republican Party is Ryan's position. So can you figure out what the position of a Romney administration would actually be?
HELMAN: Romney would, you know, be the one to - there is no tie-breaking. You're the president or the vice president. So Romney's position certainly would prevail. His position has been, and they've restated it this week despite the platform, that he has exceptions for rape, incest, life of the mother and so forth.
So, you know, taking him at his word, that would be the policy of the Romney administration. Obviously that's a - you know, that is a limited position, certainly. So that seems to be where they would be headed with that.
KRANISH: But politically it's a disaster for them because Todd Akin's comments about what is rape and legitimate rape versus illegitimate rape, now you have the party platform, which takes a very hard line on abortion, and he's picked Paul Ryan, who in the past has voiced a very hard line on abortion.
This is exactly what Mitt Romney does not want to be talking about, because it's a risk on the right, because it reminds people of how firmly in support of abortion rights he once was in his - not very long ago. And it's a disaster on the left and certainly in the center because Mitt Romney wants to talk about the economy and how President Obama has failed and how it's time to fire him and get this country working again, all those slogans, and yet here we are trying to parse, you know, the party's views and his views on abortion.
And every moment that he has to spend talking about that is a losing moment for Mitt Romney.
GROSS: My guests are Boston Globe reporters Scott Helman and Michael Kranish, authors of "The Real Romney," which has just been published in paperback with a new afterword. We'll talk more after a break. This is FRESH AIR.
(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)
GROSS: If you're just joining us, my guests are Michael Kranish and Scott Helman. They both are with the Boston Globe, and they're authors of the new book "The Real Romney," it just came out in paperback with a new afterword.
So you're both covering the Republican convention. I'm just wondering, like, how do you like covering conventions?
HELMAN: I always wonder - Michael's more of a political junkie than I am, so I think he enjoys it a bit more, maybe, than I do. But I mean, it is theater, and I think it can be hard, but it's important to try to suss out the substance and try to figure out what the message is and what the policies are going to be and how it, you know, might differ from what President Obama would bring were he re-elected.
You know, as you know, logistically as a reporter, it's very, very difficult. The security is crazy. Now it looks like we're in for a few days of rain, which of course is going to be fantastic as we're all, you know, waiting in these long security lines. So, you know, it's fun on one hand, but I will also be happy when it's over.
KRANISH: Well, if I can add one thing, Terry, and that is going back to where we started, in 1964, Mitt was there when his father was at the epicenter of a war within the Republican Party that was exposed to all. And there was booing of Nelson Rockefeller when he gave a convention speech, and Barry Goldwater said extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice.
At this convention, certainly there are people who are - you know, disagree with Mitt Romney, but they're trying to do everything they possibly can to have one central, smooth message. They want to, you know, stifle any idea that there's great disagreement within the party after the brutal primaries. So that's what they're trying to do.
You know, clearly, you know, there are disagreements within the party, but they want to present a certain message. It's up to us to, you know, to make clear what's really going on beneath that surface.
GROSS: And what do you think are the major disagreements in the party that we won't see on stage?
KRANISH: Well, Ron Paul has a lot of supporters here. So a lot of those people are still active. They had a big event during the week. You know, there are people who are not terribly enthusiastic about Mitt Romney who are supporting him because he's the nominee, that some of them are more enthusiastic about Paul Ryan.
That's always the case. You know, you often have, you know, nominees that, you know, the party, some of the people are not enthusiastic about. They want to present it now that they're all unified coming out. They obviously want to rally their base. I mean, they have basically made the decision that this is in the large part a base election, and by that I mean that if they get out, you know, their strong supporters that they believe they can win.
There was some thought before Ryan was picked that they might have a strategy that looks a lot more to the middle, and they might have picked someone who's more moderate, and they hope that Paul Ryan can fill some of that. But the overall belief is that they basically have made the strategic decision that it's a base election that they can win by turning out their base, especially in key swing states.
GROSS: Well, I want to thank you both very much for joining us. Scott Helman, Michael Kranish, thank you. I hope you have a good convention in terms of finding very interesting things to write about and analyze. Be safe, be well, thank you so much.
KRANISH: Thank you, Terry.
HELMAN: Thanks for having us.
GROSS: Michael Kranish and Scott Helman are the authors of "The Real Romney." It's just been published in paperback with a new afterword. You can read an excerpt of the book on our website, freshair.npr.org. Or you can also download podcasts of our show. And you can follow us on Twitter @nprfreshair and on Tumblr at nprfreshair.tumblr.com. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR. | {
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|Founded by||Hashomer Hatzair members|
Ein Shemer is a kibbutz in Israel in the Shomron region, surrounded by citrus groves, orchards and fields. It is located just south of Route 65, about 6 km northeast of Hadera, and is in the Menashe Regional Council. The kibbutz was founded in 1927. The kibbutz makes a living from agriculture and industry as well as work of individual members outside the kibbutz. The children study at the regional council elementary school, and at the kibbutz-oriented high school, Mevo'ot 'Iron.
In 1913 a small group of young Jews belonging to the HaShomer (Watchmen's) organization chose to establish a guard post near the entrance to Wadi 'Ara, which would also serve as a way station for travelers between the Mediterranean coast and the Galilee.
From then on, the place was inhabited on-and-off by a few groups of pioneers, each of which was driven away by the harsh conditions – malaria, lack of water (until 1935, water had to be brought in by horse and cart from nearby Karkur), remoteness from any other settlement, and World War I which was raging and making life difficult.
In 1921, after British takeover of the land from the Ottoman Turks, members of Gdud HaAvoda, the Work Battalion, arrived in order to build a one-acre, fortified courtyard. They constructed a two-meter high stone wall with slits for shooting at attackers and a large, iron gate. A solitary, two-story stone building was also constructed which was intended to house the local people in times of trouble. The house was built in the style of 19th century houses in southern France and stands on the site to this day. Despite the large investment and effort expended on building the wall and the house, the members of Gdud HaAvodah left only a small contingent to stay on after completion of the construction. Of these, eventually only one person remained, who would later become the first member of Kibbutz Ein Shemer. His name was Shmuel Shuali and he was affectionately called Shmuel the First by his fellow kibbutz members and by what would be future generations of kibbutzniks.
In 1927, the first pioneers of HaShomer HaTzair arrived at the site. The group consisted of 18 women and 36 men, all in their late teens and early twenties. These youngsters left behind parents, homes, and future careers in order to fulfill their dream of revitalizing the Jewish people in its ancient homeland, to work the land with their own hands and to make the Zionist vision come true.
They had immigrated from Poland and had at first lived and worked at Ein Ganim near Petah Tikva, awaiting the opportunity to settle and make their contribution in Eretz Israel. Shavuot 1927 is considered the date of the founding of the kibbutz. In the coming years, more groups of HaShomer HaTzair pioneers from Poland joined the first group. Each group had its own name – Binyamina, Shomriya, BaDerech – which it kept even as its members were integrated into the kibbutz.
The hardships that these early settlers endured, like other pioneers who founded other kibbutzim, were great. Eighty years later, it is hard to grasp the enormity of the self-sacrifice that they made in leaving their childhood homes, families, relatives, language and native land. Many of them came from affluent families and most never saw their families again. The lives of the kibbutz members were almost unbearable and 80 of the 100 first members fell ill with malaria. In 1934 the kibbutz was finally hooked up to the electric grid, and only in 1935 water was found on the site, leading to a revolution in the development of the farmstead and to the erection of a local water tower. As members of HaShomer HaTzair, the founders sought ways to bring about cooperation and friendly relations with their Arab neighbors, and social contact was slowly made with the farmers of the area. Yet during the 1930s and 1940s there were security concerns and tension. In 1938 two members of the kibbutz were murdered in an attack by an Arab gang. Following World War II kibbutz members took part in the so-called "illegal" immigration of Holocaust survivors to the Land of Israel, which was prohibited under the British Mandate. When British soldiers raided neighboring Kibbutz Giv'at Haim in 1945, Ein Shemer members rushed to the defense of that kibbutz and of the right of Jews to immigrate to the Land of Israel. In the ensuing combat one member, Elimelech Shtarkman, was killed and several others were wounded.
From the 1940s onward, scores of new members joined the kibbutz, some of them HaShomer HaTzair members from Egypt and the Balkans, which doubled the population of Ein Shemer. Others came through the Youth Aliya organization from Europe after the Holocaust and native Israelis also joined through several groups and individually. This diverse flow of new members greatly enriched the social character of the kibbutz. Ein Shemer gradually stopped absorbing groups; its population since then has increased mainly by absorbing the partners of the second and third generation of members who chose to make the kibbutz their home.
Kibbutz Ein Shemer is one of the founders of HaKibbutz HaArtzi, the settlement movement of HaShomer HaTzair, and was one of the first four such kibbutzim (today there are 85 in the movement out of a total of about 265 kibbutzim). Among Ein Shemer's members have been prominent personalities in state and movement institutions, including: Zvi Lurie, one of the signers of the Israeli Declaration of Independence; Israel (Kurt) Hertz, one of the leaders of the Histadrut; Ya'kov (Kuba) Riftin, a six-time Knesset member from the Mapam party; and David (Dado) Elazar, a member of the Yugoslavian youth group on Ein Shemer who went on to become commander-in-chief of the Israel Defense Forces.
Ein – Because the founders of the kibbutz originally belonged to a gar'in group named Ein Ganim Because of their aspiration to find a spring of water [ma'ayan – ayin – ein] on the land – which eventually came to pass. Shemer – Because members of HaShomer group set up a guard post on the spot Because the kibbutz founders belonged to HaShomer HaTzair youth group Because the kibbutz is situated within the area of the Biblical kingdom of Shemer, king of the Shomron.
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The kibbutz economy in the early years was based primarily on agriculture: flocks of sheep, herds of cows, orchards, orange groves and field crops. Ein Shemer member Abba Stein developed the Anna and the Ein Shemer, two species of apples now grown in various places in the world, as well as other species of apples and plums. Another member, Moshe Grossman, was one of the founders of Granot, an agricultural co-operative that has since become a major economical force in the Israeli agricultural market. Beginning in the 1970s the agricultural branches of the kibbutz were reduced in size and now include cotton and other field crops, avocado groves and cowsheds. Industrial and commercial branches were established and gained prominence in the kibbutz economy. A rubber factory, Ein Shemer Rubber Industries and a plastics factory, Miniplast Ein Shemer, were set up on the kibbutz in 1968 and 1976 respectively, and a small shopping center for the general public was established at the Karkur intersection nearby. Other sources of kibbutz income are from members who work outside the kibbutz, as well as personal initiatives such as the artistic blacksmith's forge, ecological greenhouse, film production company, event planning company, architect's office, center for holistic treatments and others.
In the mid 1980s Ein Shemer, together with much of the kibbutz movement, underwent a severe economic downturn as a result of the monetary policy of the new right-wing Israeli government. At the end of the 1990s the kibbutz emerged from the crisis after signing an agreement among the kibbutz, the banks and the Israeli Land Administration.
At about the same time as the economic crisis, the kibbutz underwent a social transformation, as the center of social life went from the collective to the family unit. In the 1980s the children, who had slept in children's houses since the kibbutz was founded, began sleeping in their parents' homes. During the 1990s many items of consumption were privatized and the members' personal budgets were enlarged as the communal budget decreased in scope. Since about 2000, an ongoing discussion has been raging concerning possible future distribution of differential salaries to the members – an issue that has not yet been decided upon as of 2010[update].
Education and culture
Since its founding, the kibbutz has always made education one of its main priorities. The kibbutz children were given special, preferential conditions. They lived in a children's house with their peers, under the guidance of dedicated educators who nurtured in them a love of nature, humanity, a sense of justice and cooperation. Over the years the characteristics of kibbutz education changed, yet to this day kibbutz education is considered among the finest in the country. Ein Shemer's kindergartens have a special kibbutz character, based on treating each child individually and holistically, and at the same time creating a deep connection between the children, their natural surrounding and the community. Another unique educational enterprise is the regional high school, Mevo'ot 'Iron, which was founded in 1949 by members of Kibbutz Ein Shemer and which other kibbutzim, Ma'anit, Barkai, and Metzer later joined. Today the school is a drawing point for young people throughout the area, and has about 1,000 pupils, including young immigrants from Ethiopia and the former Soviet Union.
For many years Ein Shemer had one of the leading volleyball teams in Israel, and during the 1950s and 1960s the men's and women's teams were at the top of the national league. One of the high points for local sports fans was the game held in 1960 between HaPoel Ein Shemer and Galatasarai, a Turkish team, for which a playing court and bleachers were built on the kibbutz and still stand. Today Ein Shemer is a partner in a regional volleyball team, HaMa'apil-Ein-Shemer-Menashe.
All through the years, the kibbutz has been known for its innumerable artists and intellectuals, far out of proportion to those of the general Israeli public or of other kibbutzim. In the first generation some of the prominent figures were: writers Moshe Zertal, Zvi Lurie, Rivka Gurfine and Zvi Arad; poets Azriel Uchmani and Arieh Shamri, caricaturist and artist Yitzhak (Ignatz) Palgi, architect Ya'akov (Kuba) Gever and many others.
Among the second generation, of the sons and daughters of the kibbutz, are poet and author Eli Alon, artists Avital Geva and Tzilla Lis, archaeologist and author Adam Zertal, thinker and writer Avishai Grossman, educator and writer Rafael (Rafi) Shapira, musician Miri Grossberg, Uri Hofi an internationally known teacher and Artist Blacksmith and many others.
Notable talents of the third generation include: author Rakefet Zohar, cinematographer Oren Tirosh, musician Zamir Golan and artist Atar Geva.
The Old Courtyard is a reconstruction museum depicting early kibbutz settlement in Israel. Founded over 20 years ago, it stands upon the original one-acre site where the first pioneers established the kibbutz and features indoor and outdoor exhibits of the early years of kibbutz life, as well as pioneering activities such as bread baking for children and youths. Its other attractions include an operable oil press, the oak train (a reconstruction of the Ottoman Turkish train that ran through the region at the beginning of the last century), an exhibit of tractors and agricultural machinery from the early 20th century and others.
The Ecological Greenhouse is an educational center dealing with ecology and social commitment. Jewish and Arab youths participate in seminars and workshops devoted to peaceful co-existence, ecology, environment and scientific research.
Hofi's Forge consists of a smithy, an exhibition hall and a school for blacksmiths founded over 20 years ago by Uri Hofi, a world acclaimed blacksmith-artisan.
On the grounds of the kibbutz is a relief sculpture of the renowned sculptor Nathan Rapoport (not a kibbutz member), commemorating both the operations that brought so-called "illegal" Jewish immigrants to the Land of Israel and the participation of Ein Shemer members in those operations. Another notable monument is one by sculptor Rudlinger (member of Kibbutz HaZore'a), commemorating two paratroopers, Kibbutz Ein Shemer members, who were killed in the Six-Day War in 1967.
- Donald Sanford, American-Israeli Olympic sprinter | {
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We’re just under a month away from the release of JTB‘s Heavy Days, and after giving ourselves a good long time to soak in the album, we think we might be kind of ready to review it. The boys dropped us two copies before heading westward so we thought it only fitting to give two reviews: one from Forever Young and one from Deviants Die.
It’s poppy, it’s psychedelic, but most importantly, it’s heavy. There’s a reason that word appears so many times in the album, reminding everyone who’s stuck on the catchy melodies and flange-freakouts what this album is really about: rocking-the-fuck-out. It’s a bit of a departure from their last vinyl release, The Boys R Back In Town; you won’t find any thirteen-minute paeans to the act of ghost riding on this album; it’s too busy making you move to the distortion-drenched rhythms of singer Jake’s three-stringed guitar. Don’t get me wrong, there’s still enough studio trickery to make Michael Rother jealous, but it’s done to only flavor the album, not dominate it like their earlier releases.
Insomnia is not a fun problem to have, but I have figured out ways of putting my sleeplessness to better use. Twice now I have found myself watching the sunrise in the mean streets of Nashville playing Heavy Days at the highest possible volume. The first of which being a much more moving experience. Scooped in a car around 4 AM on a Friday morning, a friend and I drove around the streets of Nashville for no real reason, just cruising. And, after a while, we started to talk about how weird Nashville is. How weird it is that we have a to-scale replica of The Parthenon. The conversation led us there, to those giant steps around 5:30 in the morning. We continued then to play JEFF’s Heavy Days in it’s entirety while dancing in/around The Parthenon, praising the Greek Gods and Goddesses while the morning staffers and the sun started to show up [absolutely true story.] The epitome of Nashville was reached that morning, and every morning should only dream to be so lucky. It should be mandated that Heavy Days be played at The Parthenon at sunrise every morning. In all seriousness though, Heavy Days is JEFF’s magnum opus [so far] and it’s the kind of record that I’ll have to buy 4 or 5 copies of because I’ll overplay them again and again. And over the next while, you’ll read reviews of the album where people will compare JEFF to bands like Wavves, and they’ll say things like “The Brotherhood is the bridge between stoner and pop.” And they’ll try to peg it as a Be Your Own Pet off-shoot. But JEFF is not Wavves. And “stoner” and “pop” are the bridges from JEFF to every other band. And I don’t think anyone could’ve shot from Be Your Own Pet and landed where they have. I’ve watched the Brotherhood grow for a long time, and I’m just now realizing that I’ve been lucky enough to witness some really heavy shit. Thanks guys. That, and I played the record for my mom, who’s response was, “This sounds like real rock and roll.” She knows her shit, too. Trust.
There you go! Doesn’t the JTB font on the album remind you a lot of the Nevermind font? Whatever. The album comes out on October 13 on Infinity Cat. We’ve heard talk of a release show at Glenn Danzig’s House, and the Grooms myspace says something about a show in Nashy with JEFF on the 13th…. we’ll be sure to keep you posted. Until then, you can catch them at Little Hamilton with Chain & The Gang on Sept. 26. | {
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Real Girls, Real Bodies, Real Issues, Real Answers
by Nancy Amanda Redd
This is a great book for all girls or even women who still have questions about their bodies. The author, Nancy Redd, was a beauty pageant contestant who decided that the shame girls have about their bodies stems mostly from a lack of knowledge. It is true isn’t it? How many of us learned, incorrectly, from our friends the “facts” about our bodies? How many photos have you seen of a normal woman’s body which is not airbrushed and photoshopped into perfection? This book provides girls with real life examples of all the various forms the human body comes in.
“We deserve to celebrate, not hide, our differences and uniqueness by seeing our real selves in print.”
While the book is fantastic for helping to create a realistic sense of our bodies, it is also vital for helping to eliminate shame. Girls will often not seek medical attention because they are embarrassed. Often simple medical issues can be handled quickly if only they seek advice. Knowing what is normal further helps us to stop needless worrying because we think something is abnormal when it isn’t.
The book is divided into the following five sections, Skin, Boobs, “Down There”, Hair / Mouth / Nails, and Shape. Each section follow a basic format which begins with the author sharing her personal experiences. Next there are “Fast Facts” which give quick bits of information such as “Breasts begin developing while you’re in your mother’s womb. They just lie flat until puberty. Breast growth can continue well into your twenties.
Each part then covers various topics related to the main chapter. The information often includes the following format, What’s going on (why the condition happens), How do I deal (do you need to see a doctor? things you can do yourself to help) and What if they notice (how to respond to comments). Often there is a “I confess” portion where the author writes more about her personal experience with the topic.
There are numerous photos though out the book which help to illustrate that “normal” can vary from person to person. One photo shows something that a girl might be ashamed of yet is common for up to 5% of the population, it is a third nipple. There are also multiple photos of women of various sizes and colors, and breasts of various sizes. Taking away the mystery from what other women look like helps teens to realize they are fine just as they are.
The book also offers practical advice on topics as diverse as how to properly measure yourself for a bra (with photos), how to shave your legs and how to get rid of period stains from your clothing.
This book should be on your gift list for any young girl in your life.
Disclaimer: I purchased this book with my own funds and was in no way compensated for this review. | {
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PHILADELPHIA—When Jim Ellis was a youngster, his father took him out in a boat and threw him into the lake.
The lesson: Sink or swim.
Terrence Howard, Bernie Mac, Tom Arnold, Regine Nehy, Kevin Phillips
US theatrical: 27 Mar 2007 (General release)
Swim he did. Ellis went on to become a competitive swimmer and coach, turning out nationally ranked African-American swimmers from a tiny pool in Philadelphia’s gritty Nicetown neighborhood.
And now, like last year’s underdog Philadelphia sports movie “Invincible,” about bartender-turned-Eagle Vince Papale, Ellis’ tale has been taken on by Hollywood and turned into “Pride,” which stars Terrence Howard as the young Ellis. It opens Friday.
Ellis seems incredulous that his story has made it to the screen. “For 30 years, I’ve tried to get a swimmer on the Olympic team. I have not. If that’s the way they measure a coach, I have not succeeded,” he says.
Who believes that?
“Let’s go!” shouts Ellis, his booming voice echoing off the cinderblock walls. He’s a compact guy of 59, cropped salt-and-pepper hair, stalking the pool in khakis, sweatshirt and deck shoes.
Ask him how long practice will last on this bright, chilly Saturday morning, and a slight smile manages to stretch his stubbly beard: “Till I get tired.”
He looks at the dozen kids crawling through the water and says with respect: “They could be home, watching cartoons.”
In “Pride,” set in 1974, Ellis is hired to shut down Philadelphia’s dilapidated Marcus Foster Recreation Center. After winning over the center’s crotchety janitor (Bernie Mac), Ellis rehabs the pool and whips the neighborhood kids into a championship swim team bearing the name “PDR,” as in Philadelphia Department of Recreation, despite the objections of a city councilwoman (Kimberly Elise), the contempt of a neighborhood thug (Gary Sturgis), and the scorn of a coach from the Main Line (Tom Arnold).
Ellis’ road to Hollywood began in 1990 with a New York Times Magazine cover story about the Junior National Championship meet in Cleveland. Three of Ellis’ swimmers had times among the top six nationally; eight others ranked regionally in the top 10.
“This was something new,” the article said. “While there have been a scattering of black individuals competing on a national level in the past, the PDR squad, coached by Jim Ellis, was by all accounts the largest contingent of black swimmers ever to appear at a national swim meet.”
The article drew white families to the program, which at its peak, in the `90s, had 150 kids. “I didn’t have the resources the white clubs had,” said Ellis, who still relies on dues—about $800 a year plus travel for the top kids—to pay his coaches. Now, he said, he has 25 to 30 swimmers.
The article also piqued the interest of Kevin Michael Smith, who later wrote a script treatment with friend Michael Gozzard. (This being Hollywood, the finished screenplay also carries the names of rewrite men J. Mills Goodloe and Norman Vance Jr.) First-time feature director Sunu Gonera shot the film last year not in Philadelphia but in Louisiana, to save a few bucks and boost the post-Katrina economy. The soundtrack carries gems from the stable of Philadelphia International Records’ Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff.
The studio points out that “Pride” is “inspired by true events.” Ask Ellis what is true in the movie, and he shoots back: “My name is.”
He laughs heartily.
“I’m honored. I see this as a story about a guy getting kids together and doing something positive.”
The producers, he says, “knew nothing about swimming” when they took on the project.
They saw the story.
“What I see is a chance to bring our story to a lot of nonswimmers—that Afro-Americans can swim,” Ellis says.
Howard, who lives outside Philadelphia in Plymouth Meeting, Pa., spent a month shadowing Ellis. “He has a most magnetic nature,” says Howard. “He’s studying me as a man who wants to play him while I’m studying him ... In order to climb a mountain, you have to know how high it is.”
Ellis grew up in Pittsburgh, and in the mid-1960s went east to Cheyney State, where he swam competitively in the 50-, 100- and 200-meter freestyle. He started as a long-term sub at Bartram High in 1971.
While a student at Cheyney, Ellis started as a water safety instructor with the Rec Department, “racing kids every now and then” at the pool, at what is now Sayre-Morris Recreation Center in West Philadelphia. He’d work with the kids who didn’t get picked for basketball.
After the kids learned to swim, he wanted to keep them in the pool. He saw competitive swimming as a mental and physical outlet, a way to develop discipline—so he created a swim team. In 1972 he fielded his first team.
“He set really high goals for us,” says Tracy Freeland, who was one of Ellis’ first kids at Sayre. Freeland, now 39, teaches health and physical education at University City High and is Ellis’ assistant. Freeland’s three daughters—ages 17, 9 and 6—now swim on the team.
Freeland recalls one meet at which he was entered in eight events. Ellis promised Freeland a Wendy’s Frosty dessert for each win. Two years later, Ellis finally paid up: eight Frosties.
Ellis moved on to Foster when its pool opened in 1980 (a few years after the Hollywood version).
Ellis, who earned a master’s degree from Temple, also became a full-time math teacher at Edison, Chester, Germantown, Central, Overbrook, Tilden Middle School, and most recently Bodine.
Ellis’ dual careers collided in 1994 when he and 15 other Rec Department employees were identified in a department audit as also being on the school district or some other city payroll—a violation of the City Charter. Ellis was told that he had to give up one job. When word got out, an outcry ensued. “It got settled” is all Ellis will say about how he still has both jobs. He also sidesteps questions about his personal life; he is separated and has a 31-year-old son.
He began a sabbatical from the school district Feb. 1 so he could promote the film. He’s also undergoing laser treatments on his eyes, which have been affected by diabetes.
As a high schooler in Pittsburgh, Ellis said, he went to try out for the swim team. When he showed up at the pool, the white coaches assumed he wanted to wrestle or lift weights. “They told me, `The gym is across the hall.’ “
Though PDR is a national success—and Ellis is popular on the swimming circuit—he says he’s never been offered a college job. (In the movie, Ellis is turned down for a job at the all-white “Main Line Academy.”) Ellis will not say whether he thinks racism is at work.
So Ellis stays at Foster, working part time. To anyone who will listen, he argues that Philadelphia kids deserve better swimming facilities, regardless of where they live in the city.
In the summer, the team trains in Kelly Pool in West Fairmount Park, which is a regulation 50 meters.
Ellis has been hoping for decades for someone to fund a 50-meter indoor pool, but he’s made do with the 25-yard pool at Foster, where the roof leaks, a garden hose pumps in warm water, and a drippy overhead pipe oozes roof drainage into the diving tank.
The actor Howard, who swam as a youngster, is appalled at Foster. “It’s like a long-distance runner only being able to have a block to train,” he says.
Ellis walks alongside the pool during practice, nibbling on a McDonald’s hash brown he mooched from a kid. “People don’t want to swim for me because I’m crazy,” he says. “People can’t keep up with the regimen. The program is not for everybody.”
His top kids show up before dawn three days a week. They swim two hours, go to school, return to the pool, and swim till dark. They’re expected to get good grades. “The parents have to get involved. It’s a family program, a lot of car pools, time management,” he says.
Stacy Lopez, waiting in Foster’s anteroom for her son Stefan McKell, says the 14-year-old was a good swimmer in Trinidad, where they’re from. Friends told her, “You need to get him to Jim Ellis.” Three mornings a week, they leave their West Philadelphia home to get a bus at 4 a.m. so they can get to the concrete building at Germantown Avenue and Staub Street by 5.
For eight years, Angel Cherry has made the drive from Northeast Philadelphia for her daughter Cynara Cherry-Cary, now 15. “It builds character,” Cherry says. She’s referring to her daughter, too.
“... I have not succeeded.”
Ellis’ own words.
Despite the pool’s shortcomings, Ellis’ work has paid off. Virtually all of his top swimmers have gone to college on scholarships. Tracy Freeland got a four-year ticket to Howard University. Many of his kids have high-powered careers. Ryan Smith, a top swimmer during the `80s, is a New York entertainment lawyer. Trevor Freeland, Tracy’s brother, is an executive with Deutsche Bank in New York.
“If you’re disciplined at swimming, you tend to be more disciplined in other areas of your life,” said Monica McCollum, a New York-based writer for Town & Country who had Ellis for algebra at Central and managed the swim team there.
“He’s from the old school,” says Tracy Freeland, his assistant. “He won’t bite his tongue for anybody. He’s not willing to change his philosophy to please people.” | {
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The Village of San Michele
The village of San Michele is 3,56 kilometers far from the same town of Bassano del Grappa to whom it belongs.
To the municipality of Bassano del Grappa also belong the localities of Baggi (3,10 km), Ca' Meneghetti (5,35 km), Caluga (4,60 km), Caluga Vallison (4,27 km), Campese (5,11 km), Campien (6,30 km), Carbonara (3,23 km), Case sparse (-- km), Colle Alto (5,88 km), Contra' (5,70 km), Contra' dei Cani (1,71 km), Crocerone (3,85 km), Due Mori (2,65 km), Fagare' Basso (6,68 km), Fantinato (2,74 km), Fornaci (4,09 km), Marchesane (4,91 km), Melagrani (2,42 km), Merlo (11,17 km), Nascinguerra (3,31 km), Palo (4,56 km), Ponte Storto (3,64 km), Pre' (5,43 km), Quartiere Pre' (5,98 km), Roberti - Rivarotta (6,27 km), Rovole (6,63 km), Rubbio (9,36 km), San Lazzaro (1,65 km), Sant'Eusebio (2,17 km), Schirati (8,02 km), Valrovina (5,13 km), Zen (2,60 km).
The number in parentheses following each village name indicate the distance between the same village and the municipality of Bassano del Grappa.
The locality of San Michele rises 134 meters above sea level.
Data about population living in San MicheleIn the village of San Michele live five hundred and thirty-one people: two hundred and fifty-four are males and two hundred and seventy-seven are females.
There are two hundred and nineteen singles (one hundred and thirteen males and one hundred and six females). There are two hundred and sixty-one people married, and eight people legally separed. There are also twelve divorced people and thirty-one widows and widowers.
Please find in what follows the table of the distribution of inhabitants by age.
Data about foreigners living in San Michele
In San Michele live eight foreigners, five are males and three are females. 2 come from Europa, 6 from Africa, 0 from America, 0 from Asia and 0 from Oceania.
Please find in what follows the table of the distribution of foreigners by age.
|From 0 to 29 years||4||0||4|
|From 30 to 54 years||1||3||4|
|More than 54 years old||0||0||0|
Education in San Michele
There are in San Michele five hundred people in school age, two hundred and thirty-eight are males and two hundred and sixty-two females.
|Genere||University degree||High school diploma||Middle School diploma||Primary School diploma||Literates||Illiterates|
Employment rates and workers in San Michele
There are in San Michele 257 people aged 15 years or more. 242 are employed and 13 were previously employed but now are unemployed and seeking for a new job. There are 152 males aged 15 years or more, 143 are employed and 8 were previously employed but now are unemployed and seeking for a new job. There are 105 females aged 15 years or more, 99 are employed and 5 s were previously employed but now are unemployed and seeking for a new job.
Families and their compositions
There are in San Michele 200 famiglie residenti, for a total of 531 people.
Please find in what follows a table showing the number of families along with the number of people for each family.
|People||1||2||3||4||5||6 or more|
There are 200 famiglie living in San Michele. 12 live in rented houses, 168 live in houses of their own property and 20 live in houses for different reasons.
The buildings and their characteristics in San Michele
There are in San Michele 155 buildings, but only 136 are used. 118 buildings are for residential use, 18 buildings are for commercial or productive pourposes. Among the 118 buildings for residential use 10 were build using bricks of tuffs, 60 were built in concrete and 48 were built using other materials like steel, wood and so on. Among the 118 buildings for residential use 37 are in excellent condition, 72 are in good conditions, 9 are in mediocre conditions and 0 are in bad conditions.
In the following three tables the buildings built for residential use in San Michele are classified by building year, by floors number and by rooms number.
Buildings in San Michele by year of construction
|Date||Before year 1919||1919-45||1946-60||1961-70||1971-80||1981-90||1991-2000||2001-05||After year 2005|
Buildings in San Michele by floors number
|NUmber of floors||One||Two||Three||Four or more|
Buildings in San Michele by rooms number
|Number of rooms||One||Two||Three or four||From five to eight||From nine to fifteen||Sixteen or more|
Please find in what follows:
- A set of photos about San Michele (when available)
- Weather and weather forecast for the municipality of Bassano del Grappa, to whom San Michele belongs.
- Map and road map of San Michele
- A selection of videos about San Michele
The parishes in the town of San Michele
There is just a single parish in San Michele. The same is listed in what follows, along with some related information.
|S. Michele Arcangelo||Via S. Michele, 67 - San Michele||San Michele||Bassano del Grappa||Vicenza||36061||625||Diocese of Vicenza|
Where to stay in San Michele and its neighborhoods
Hotels, Resorts, B&B in San Michele and its neighborhoods.
You can arrange the results by number of stars, by popularity, by distance or even by the guest review score choosing among young couples, mature couples, families with young children, families with older children, people withfriends, or solo travellers.
Free ads in San Michele
Most recent free ads in San Michele, municipality of Bassano del Grappa, province of Vicenza, Veneto region, updated at 16:16:12, 26 July 2016. Place your free ad on San Michele: no registration needed. Place your free ad.
Up to now there is no free ad placed in San Michele
|Most recent free ads in the province of Vicenza|
|Cerco lavoro come babysitter e aiuto compiti||2013-08-23|
|cerco in affitto vacanza||2013-07-26|
|Most recent free ads in the region Veneto|
|Cerco stanza o mini appartamento||2016-07-10|
|Facchin family in Venezuela||2016-06-27|
|Vendita casa a schiera||2016-06-20|
Photos of San Michele
Photos provided by Panoramio. Photos are under the copyright of their owners.
Marostica - Colline di San Benedetto / San Benedetto hills
Marostica - Colline di San Benedetto / San Benedetto hills - Vecchie case / Old houses
La forza di due ...
Sui colli di San Floriano / St.Floriano hills
Colline a San Michele / St.Michele hills
Il canneto / The reed bed
Il torrente Silan
Bassano del Grappa
Natura vs. Tecnologia / Nature vs. Technology
I sentiero verso il Monte Scomazzon a Marsan
Map and road map of San Michele
Look at the interactive map of San Michele and get the road maps, the satellite maps and the mixed ones too. Interactive maps of San Michele also allow an immediate view of: bar,restaurants,pubs,pizzerias,dancing,night clubs,banks,jewellers,beauty centers,hair stylists,supermarkets,pharmacies.
Just fill in the free text search box placed on top of the map with any of previous categories and then press enter.
Please feel free to use the same free text search box placed on top of the map to find any kind of business activities you're interested into. | {
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Despite going both directions and ending up not far from where they begun, struggling to leave behind the detritus of a genre so one dimensional it makes Ke$ha look sophisticated, 'Stone' and the sinister, glacial 'Architect Of Love' offer hope that NYPC could yet escape the new rave grave.»
Buy now from:
forget everything you thought you knew about new young pony club, because on their second album it's all changed. if 2007's critically acclaimed, mercury music prize nominated 'fantastic playroom' was the culmination of the hybrid disco sound they pioneered, 'the optimist' heralds the beginning of a brave new future for the band. self-produced and more importantly self-funded and self-released, 'the optimist' is the sound of a band taking full control of their present and future, circumnavigating their own way. with no four on the floor, no cowbell and no monotone sexy talk, the creative freedom enjoyed by the band has opened up a new experimental side, as shown by the psychedelic-dub- balladry of 'stone' and the atmospheric, cracked beauty of 'architect of love', and the singles 'lost a girl', 'chaos' and soon-to-be-huge 'we want to'. it's an assured, deliciously adventurous next step for new young pony club, open your ears and have a listen.
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Kim St. George, director of marketing and innovation at Mann Packing Co., Salinas, Calif., became known as a produce industry up-and-comer almost a decade ago and she hasn’t slowed down since.
She has been on the United Fresh Produce marketing and merchandising council (2013-present); the Produce Marketing Association’s exhibitor advisory committee (2010-13), where she served as vice chairwoman and chairwoman; and on the PMA Fresh Summit committee (2011-present).In her position at Mann Packing, St. George’s primary job responsibilities include driving new product development through innovative product ideas in segments like cut vegetables, package design, customer and consumer marketing programs and company marketing and packaging projects.
“There is never one day that is identical to the previous day,” St. George said. “I love the variety and challenges that we encounter every day and that is what I love about marketing at Mann Packing.”
On any given day, St. George can be working with all departments within the company to help launch a new product or collaborating with agricultural operations. St. George is also involved in purchasing, package design and production.
“Marketing is the pulse of the company and it encompasses so many elements,” St. George said. “Bringing all those elements together to create a complete program or package is extremely rewarding.”
“You couldn’t describe a better person to lead a group or a marketing effort,” said Bruce Knobeloch, senior vice president of business development at Azzule Systems, Santa Maria, Calif. “She communicates well, follows through on projects and knows how to interact with and lead a team in an organized manner.”
St. George believes that the most effective leadership style is leading by example and stresses the importance of respect and professionalism in everything that the company touches.
“I believe in building and cultivating a cohesive team within our marketing department where we all work towards a common goal,” she said.
Looking back at her career, St. George has been challenged in many ways. One challenging experience was her first exposure to a recall in 2006, while working at River Ranch Fresh Foods, Salinas, Calif.
“Coordinating between all internal departments, regulatory agencies, media and messaging to consumers, customers and employees within a very tight timeframe in a high stress environment was challenging,” said St. George. Taking the lead of the team during the spinach E. coli outbreak was a challenging experience that tested her skills as a leader.
Looking toward the future, St. George wants to continue to make significant contributions to Mann Packing and the produce industry, while mentoring the next generation of young produce professionals.
“The sky is the limit for Kim St. George and her future will be bright, Knobeloch said. “Her unique set of skills will allow her to succeed at anything that she applies herself to.” | {
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youth → uncountable
Meaning: the time in someone's life when they're young
Example sentence: My cousin did lots of exciting things during his youth, but then he became a tax consultant.
youth → countable
Meaning: a young man
Example sentence: Youths in brightly-coloured shirts chased a ball on a field to impress the young females of their tribe.
In which sentence is the word "youth" uncountable?
This entry is in the following categories:
Contributor: Matt Errey | {
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Frequently Asked Questions
When should a child begin guitar lessons?
The answer to this question varies from child to child. If the child interacts well with adults and possesses a good attention span, between the ages of 8-10 would be a good time to begin guitar lessons. However, the success of the child will largely depend on parental involvement both in the lessons (taking notes, observing) and supervising the practice sessions at home. Although I don't require parental involvement during the lesson at the Academy, it is strongly encouraged. It is important to try to make learning an adventure, not work for the child.
What are the benefits to learning to play guitar?
- Improves self esteem
- Increases fine motor skills such as hand/eye coordination, especially for young children
- Learning to read music enhances reading comprehension and math skills, based on research
- With parental involvement, it fosters positive parent-child relationships and communication
- Learning something new is fun!
My child has a learning disability. Can he or she still take guitar lessons?
Absolutely. Having worked for several years in a public charter school teaching a classroom of students with varying learning abilities, I am experienced in teaching students with learning disabilities. Although I understand that learning disabilities can sometimes present a challenge, I encourage parents to not let this deter them from deciding against their child taking lessons. In fact, learning a musical instrument often helps to improve self esteem and other academics.
Am I too old to begin lessons?
Absolutely not. I have enjoyed great success with older beginners. We are never too old to learn something fun and new like the guitar!
What kind of instrument should I buy?
This is a very important question and makes the difference between a pleasant or frustrating experience in the beginning. A poor quality instrument (such as First Act, sold at WalMart) will be more difficult to play and will not sound good. Children under the age of 9 should consider a half size guitar. The guitar head should not be higher than the chest with a properly sized guitar. I also recommend children learning acoustic guitar to begin with a nylon string guitar instead of a steel string guitar. It will be a more comfortable experience on their hand with a more versatile instrument. I recommend the Yamaha CGS for a half size nylon string guitar, which can be found by following this link...(you will need to choose 1/2 size by scrolling down on "select a style")
I recommend the Yamaha CG122 for a full size nylon string guitar, found by following this link...
Yamaha makes high quality, inexpensive instruments. Any CG nylon string model would be suitable for a complete beginner. The links above are only suggestions.
I also recommend a music stand, tuner, and guitar foot stool or support for acoustic guitar students.
What can I expect from guitar lessons at the Guitar Academy?
At your first lesson, we will discuss your individual musical goals and devise a plan for achieving these goals. Each lesson will be structured toward obtaining these objectives. In the context of the student's musical style of interest, all aspects of right and left hand technique are covered. I attempt to structure a student's lesson plan based on their musical aspirations and needs. You can always expect the highest level of professional and ethical standards to be followed.
What makes you qualified to teach guitar?
There are no professional standards or requirements to be a "guitar teacher" (there should be!). Most importantly, I have years of teaching experience and completed professional teaching credentials and certifications in Florida. I have taught for nearly 20 years and nearly 1,000 students. I have performed worldwide and in the United States within a variety of settings (solo, chamber, and in pit orchestras). I have two guitar performance degrees in which I studied under some of the best classical players in the world. For more information about me, visit the "About Us" section of the website. | {
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Regarding the Tooth Fairy, Easter Bunny and Santa Claus
Warning: Spoiler Alert!
Our 10-year old recently had a tooth fall out, and she asked my wife outright “is the tooth fairy real?”
Master 13 and Miss 15 were within earshot and looked quizzically and almost disdainfully at their Mum as if to say, “well are you going to lie, AGAIN?!” The pressure of the moment and some parental guilt drew the following confession from my wife, “No, the tooth fairy is not real.”
Miss 10 was quite upset and shocked to hear this news. Partly because of the sense of betrayal and partly because she had enjoyed the mystique and adventure of believing in the Tooth Fairy. This revelation prompted further confessions regarding the Easter Bunny and Santa Claus, adding to Miss 10’s disappointment. The jig was up. We were exposed as people of questionable moral fibre and limited integrity.
Maybe I’m a bad parent. Maybe I’m a reckless, cold-hearted person living a life of lies and deceit. Maybe I’m a hypocrite. If so, then I will plead guilty as charged. But the truth is that I don’t feel any sense of shame or guilt in perpetuating the ‘lie’ of the Tooth Fairy, Easter Bunny and Santa Claus.
Now, before you completely write me off and hit send on your hate mail, allow me to explain.
You see, I AM the Tooth Fairy, Easter Bunny and Santa Claus – at least to my children. The Tooth Fairy, Easter Bunny and Santa Claus are part of who I am as a Dad. Each of these characters has a different persona, a unique manner of communicating and a deep love for my kids. I enjoy playing these roles for my kids. I see the joy that it brings them, the sense of curiosity, adventure and fun. I appreciate their eagerness to play along, whether they believe or not. It stirs their creativity and imagination and passion for the mysterious and unseen. Beyond all that, from a purely selfish perspective, I also enjoy the creative outlet.
As adults, we become so sure about everything. We become black or white, left or right, good or bad. And it bothers me that our children and young people are rapidly heading in the same direction. I’m not suggesting that we shouldn’t pursue truth or justice. We should, and I do. I’m talking about how we explore and articulate our opinions and beliefs and how politics and public discourse seems to be increasingly hard-line and polarised. What happened to mystery and faith and hope and wonder? What happened to the benefit of doubt and mercy and grace? What happened to ‘believe the best’ rather than the worst all the time? Why are we so unwilling to engage people at a human level? Why are we so fearful of ‘the other’?
You may accuse me of being a wishy-washy idealist and offer some witty remark about whipping out my ukulele and singing ‘kumbaya’. It’s ok. I get it. Evil and bad people exist. We are supposed to be honest with our children about ‘the reality and dangers of the world’. As a Christian Pastor, I should know better than to make up stories and lie to my kids. If that’s what you think, I’m ok with that. But in my opinion, the Tooth Fairy, Easter Bunny and Santa Claus help to make my kids’ world a fun and interesting place.
I don’t need to take credit for everything I do. I’m completely secure in my children thinking that someone else goes to all the trouble of writing them notes and leaving them gifts. And I am willing to face the disappointment of Miss 10 because I want to be able to have the conversation with her about why I think it’s important that we have these characters in our world.
I want my kids to be able to live amidst and possibly even embrace the uncomfortable tension of faith and doubt, belief and unbelief, certainty and uncertainty. I want them to be willing to imagine and explore ideas and concepts that may or may not be ‘real’. I want them to be excited by the mystery of life and wake up to a container that, just the night before, only had a tooth in it and now has money and a note, in the tiniest handwriting, just for them.
Throughout history, the greatest philosophers, inventors, writers, artists, scientists, engineers, doctors, and teachers have never been content to accept everything at face value. They were willing to suspend their disbelief and imagine other possibilities, realities and ideas. To find the extraordinary in the ordinary, the uncommon in the common and the unknown in the known.
Life is messy and curious and uncertain. People who stop believing in stuff are boring or dead or both. The Toothy Fairy, Easter Bunny and Santa Claus taught me that. Peace out. | {
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On hand were some of the greatest living catchers in the history of the game; the 1986 World Champion Mets backstop Gary Carter, former Red Sox / White Sox All Star Carlton Fisk, The Big Red Machine's Johnny Bench, former Mets player/ coach & 1973 NL Champion Mets manager Yogi Berra.
Also on hand were former Detroit Tiger catcher & current coach Lance Parrish & one of the best catchers of his era; Ivan Rodriguez. Also on hand for this special night was Mike Piazza's long time family friend & former Dodgers Manager; Tommy Lasorda.
A commemorative poster featuring Piazza was given out to the fans, in which centerfieldmaz was in attendance. Then a ceremony where speeches were made in Piazza's honor. His feat was celebrated by the Mets organization, his team mates & the 36,000 fans at Shea Stadium, as well as the visiting Detroit Tigers.
After the pregame ceremony Art Howe's third place Mets (32-34) hosted an inter league game with Alan Trammel's fourth place Detroit Tigers (31-35) in front of 36,141 paid at Shea..
The pitchers were Tom Glavine for the Mets up against Alan the Tigers' Nate Robinson.
|Detroit Tigers||New York Mets|
|1||Alex Sanchez||CF||1||Kazuo Matsui||SS|
|2||Brandon Inge||3B||2||Todd Zeile||3B|
|3||Ivan Rodriguez||C||3||Mike Piazza||C|
|4||Dmitri Young||1B||4||Shane Spencer||LF|
|5||Rondell White||LF||5||Richard Hidalgo||RF|
|6||Craig Monroe||RF||6||Ty Wigginton||2B|
|7||Omar Infante||2B||7||Mike Cameron||CF|
|8||Jason Smith||SS||8||Jason Phillips||1B|
|9||Nate Robertson||P||9||Tom Glavine||P|
The Tigers scored in the 1st inning, as both Brad Inge & Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez singled. Then Delvin Young reached on a fielder’s choice but Pudge was thrown out. Rondell White then doubled scoring Inge.
As Delvin Young also tried to score, Mike Cameron threw a bullet to Kazo Matsui who then threw a perfect throw to Piazza behind the plate, nailing Young at the plate. The crowd erupted in excitement as Piazza the man of night, made a fine defensive play. Young struck again later with a solo HR in the 4th inning.
In the Mets 5th, Ty Wigginton & Mike Cameron both singled, then Jason Phillips moved the runners over. Tom Glavine singled tying up the game 2-2. Relievers Ricky Bottalico & Braden Looper held down the Tigers to the 9th inning, pitching an inning each.
In the 9th Tiger pitcher; Danny Paterson retired Richard Hidalgo & Ty Wigginton. Mike Cameron stepped in & saved Piazza’s Night, as he became the games hero with an exciting walk off HR to left center field. It was the first of two exciting nights for Cameron.
Saturday June 19th 2004: The next day, the Mets sent Al Leiter to the mound against Detroit's Jason Johnson. The Tigers took a 2-0 lead by the 2nd inning.. The Mets got a run back on Eric Valents fielders choice with the bases loaded in the 2nd. In the 8th the Tigers got a run off John Franco making it a 3-1 game.
In the 8th Karim Garcia doubled & reached third on a wild pitch. Jose Reyes reached second on an error & Garcia scored. Reyes got to third tagging on a Ty Wigginton fly out, he then was brought in by Cliff Floyd tying the game.
The game stayed that way until the 10th inning, Reyes tripled off Craig Dingman with one out. Wigginton & Floyd were both walked intentionally, loading them up for last nights hero; Mike Cameron. Cameron came through again, driving a walk off game winning single to left center field scoring Ty Wigginton.
In Cameron’s first year with the Mets he led the team with 30 HRs with 30 doubles 22 steals & 76 RBIs. He batted .231 & struck out 143 times (10th in the NL). | {
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Our group, which has quite a large age range from 3-11, had been getting on nicely with Roots, as long as we split into two groups for the story: littler ones hearing a very pared down "mini story" and older children listening to the Bible extract as printed in Roots.
Then, in June, MummyB went on a Godly Play course and learned how to tell the Good Samaritan story. She was even given the gold box containing all the story props as part of the course fee.
When I spotted that the lectionary reading for 10th July was the Good Samaritan, I invited her to come along and see how our group would respond to the story told in this way.
Until that morning, I will admit to having been rather sceptical of Godly Play, with its prescriptive rules about having a dedicated room and needing to buy *all* the story sets before starting, as well as the teaching style of not making eye contact with the children, and following the Godly Play year rather than the lectionary. The logistics of our church buildings mean that a dedicated Godly Play room is not possible, however much we might want one (we only have our Young Church room for a couple of hours on a Sunday morning because it is let out for other groups during the week); we feel strongly that it is valuable for the children and adults to follow the lectionary together in their different sessions so that families all have the same story to discuss when they meet up after the service.
But there was something absolutely magical about the children's reaction to the (familiar) story of the Good Samaritan: their eyes were focused on the people as they moved along the mat; they asked questions about the story that hadn't occurred to them before; their responses, whether through play or craft, made me feel as though this way of telling and playing is ideal for our mixed age group.
So, in the weeks since, I have made my own Mary and Martha story bag using air dry clay for the props and wooden figures from eBay for the people; I've searched on Pinterest for Godly Play Lord's Prayers ... and ended up devising my own way of doing it; and this week, I've built flat barns from lollipop sticks and made a flat farmer figure, along with his carrots, corn and cabbages, for the Parable of the Rich Farmer. The lovely Becky Ramsey kindly sent me a script for Mary and Martha; I've written the Lord's Prayer and Rich Farmer scripts myself.
It occurred to me that other young church leaders might also be using Godly Play in a non-Godly Play setting, and that this might be a good space for me to share what I'm learning as I go. | {
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Monday, 30 March 2015
We have some special overseas guests coming to stay this month and I wanted to do something for Easter gifts. Plus Miss Ivy and I were bored and needed a little project. She likes nothing better than standing on a dining chair to help in the kitchen... she particularly likes washing potatoes but anything will do, as long as it's at adult height!
So I had a bag of Cadbury's white chocolate melts in the pantry which are sooo yummy. I use them for cake pops but end up eating them by the handful. So I decided to melt some and get Ivy to do the decorating... and this is what happened next...
The packet will give you the instructions for melting in the microwave but it's really simple... just microwave them until they melt but you must stir them every thirty seconds to prevent lumps. Pour your melted chocolate into whatever container or mould you want to use. Make sure you grease it first. I just used a flat lid from a plastic container. The lid makes it easy to pop the chocolate out with a little twist of the plastic.
And the melted chocolate became Miss Ivy's blank canvas to get creative. I gave her three bowls of sprinkles but they were immediately mixed into one. Once I convinced her not to eat them all she did some dainty sprinkling. And then it wasn't so dainty as she grabbed the whole bowl and emptied it onto the chocolate. Now this is where I want to grab the bowl and even out the sprinkles... but remember, this is a toddler project! So I just shook off the ones that had no chocolate space to stick to and stuck it all in the fridge.
Once the chocolate hardened I twisted the lid to break it into pieces... I guess your toddler could do this part too... your toddler, not mine. Mine would eat all the chocolate.
I divided the chocolate into clear bags and then made cute tags from photos I took of Ivy making it. And there you go - toddler made Easter gifts!
I might try this with Easter cookies too... I will mix all the ingredients, Ivy will eat the batter. I will make the icing, Ivy will eat the icing. I will smother the cookies in icing and Ivy will eat the sprinkles before tipping them over the cookies. Sounds about right!
Enjoy and Happy Easter to you all. xx
Friday, 6 March 2015
Those of you in the know would have seen tassels on giant clear balloons all over the place.
How about adding a string to a honeycomb ball? Just gorgeous!
If you can hang one garland of tassels then why not hang three? Or four?
More is definitely better in this case... what a stunning backdrop.
Why not tie a tassel on your favour balloons to complement the garland in your decor?
You'll only be able to use one tassel on each balloon of this size before it doesn't want to float anymore.
I love this! If you can't afford multiple garlands then just get one and use it well. This is such a great look!
How clever is this? Instead of rolling the cut tissue paper into tassels, this party stylist has left them open and cut them to make interesting shapes. What a breathtaking backdrop!
Who says tassels are just for parties? Why not use them in your home decor? This nursery is beautiful!
Or use an embroidery hoop to make this gorgeous mobile for your nursery.
We now stock DIY tissue paper tassels in our Etsy shop in some fabulous colour options. We've cut the paper so all you have to do is roll them up and create your masterpiece.
We've got new colours and lengths arriving soon so keep an eye out for more prettiness!
Tuesday, 3 March 2015
This bubbly young birthday girl is a huge Madeline Hatter fan... I had to do my research to figure out just who that is and found myself addicted to a tv show usually watched by tweens. Ever After High is about a group of teenagers who are the offspring of our favourite fairytale characters.... Cinderella's daughter, Prince Charming's son etc... and of course, the Mad Hatter's daughter, Madeline.
Madeline is all about friends, hats, tea parties and lots of purple & teal, a bit like the birthday girl, Ari. My brief was to style & cater a tea party, to be dinner for eight 11 year old young ladies. Finger food, cake, cupcakes, a mini dessert table, a photo backdrop, and hats...
I'm a big fan of adding touches of gold or silver to a party theme... it somehow makes things a little more elegant. In this case it had to be gold as Madeline Hatter has gold shoes. So our gold chevron table runners came in handy once again and made a plastic teal tablecloth look fit for a queen! I tied the plastic plates, cutlery and napkins with some gold wired ribbon and the girls' names were pegged to their champagne glasses. We used plastic glasses but I dipped all the bases in gold glitter to make them a little more special. This is something really cheap and easy for you DIY hostesses to do. Books covered in kraft paper added some height to the table decor and I used some glitter washi tape to liven up some regular playing cards. I displayed them fanned out in some little photo clip holders that I had spray painted gold. I piled the table with vintage tea cups and used glitter jars and teapots filled with flowers to finish it all off.
The girls arrived to pink lemonade from our gorgeous glass dispenser and served in cute glass milk bottles with paper straws and 'drink me' tags. They dined on mini pizzas, meatballs, fruit platters and chicken skewers served on high tea cake stands and wooden platters.
After dinner came the cake... The (amazing) chocolate cake was baked by Sweet'Ems Cakes & Catering. She covered it in white fondant for me so all I had to do was the pretty stuff! I painted gold dots/lines around the cake and added gum paste flowers I made. Around the top of the cake were hand painted meringues and I used hand drawn cake toppers to tie it all back to the theme.
A dozen purple and teal cupcakes in gold wrappers, some matching foil wrapped choccie hearts and gorgeous filled lolly jars made for the perfect mini dessert table. Above the table, a chandelier made from honeycomb balls, balloons, crepe pom poms and lanterns... And nearby was a wall of crepe paper streamers twisted to make the perfect backdrop for group photos.
After dinner and games and gifts and cake, the girls finished off the evening with tea and chocolate milk. Hot milk was served in vintage tea cups with a wooden spoon of chocolate to stir into it. Like the girls weren't on enough of a sugar high.
The girls then resigned to the theater room to sing karaoke and watch movies... I cleared up and reset the table for their breakfast and left to the sound of eight very high pitched voices screeching 'Thrillleeeer....'
If you like what you see please head over to our Facebook page and hit the LIKE button! We're also on Instagram so come and say hi.
Items from this party available to hire: Table runner, cake stands, platters, vintage tea ware, lolly jars, cake stands, A frame stand, glitter jars
Items available from our shop: name tags, thank you tags, paper straws, wooden pegs
Custom made for this party: glitter playing cards, the girls hats, glitter champagne glasses | {
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3D printing technology is starting to become commonplace for several medical applications, including dental work, hip replacement, prosthetics and custom made surgical guides that reduce procedure time by hours. More recently, a process to convert MRI and echocardiographic data into a 3D model that can be printed and used for surgical pre-planning has started to be used more often, especially for heart surgery. Unfortunately the programs and printers used in many of these applications are still prohibitively expensive and often not covered by patients’ insurance plans. But the technology is there, and doctors and surgeons always want the best tools available to them while working with their patients, so they are starting to find some creative ways of using the technology with the hope that it will become more affordable.
Recently a group of doctors at the University of Michigan were examining the ultrasound data of a 22-year-old mother-to-be. She was 30 weeks into her pregnancy when they noticed a large mass on the face of the fetus. The doctors didn’t know what the abnormality was, and were afraid that the mass would block the airway of the baby when it was born. If that was the case then the doctors would need to quickly intubate (place a plastic tube into the windpipe) the baby at birth to help with breathing. That could risk the life of the baby, so obviously the doctors wanted to get more information so they could be prepared for whatever needed to be done.
The young mother was given a second ultrasound, however the new imaging still didn’t reveal enough information about the mass because of the the positioning of the fetus. So the doctors tried an MRI, but again they couldn’t get enough data on the mass be sure that the fetus’ airway would be clear after birth. So as a last ditch effort to safeguard the health of the fetus, the doctors turned to 3D printing to help them get a clearer picture of what they were in for. They started by using a specialized MRI process to capture enough data to build a 3D model and then 3D printed it so they could get a clearer look at the placement of the mass on the fetus’ face.
“In this specific instance where airway distress is a major possible issue, I think [3D printing] potentially can help to revolutionize that field. It really provides a new tool so that doctors are much better prepared to deal with airway problems or other congenital anomalies that they need to diagnose critically right when babies are born. I would suggest that there’s no replacement for being able to hold an object in your hand and have this tactile three-dimensional ability to assess something. When you’re actually holding a model of a skull, for example, in your hand, it’s a whole different experience,” explained Dr. Albert Woo, the director of the 3D printing lab at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, who was not involved in this study.
Once the doctors had a 3D printed model of the fetus’ face it became instantly clear that the baby had a cleft lip and palate deformity that wouldn’t cause any airway obstructions. Thankfully, a cleft lip is a relatively harmless birth defect that is generally easy to correct with plastic surgery. The baby was delivered without incident and was able to be discharged without any difficulties.
“The neonate was born with a protuberant cleft lip and palate deformity, without airway obstruction, as predicted by the patient-specific model,” noted the research team in their study abstract. “The delivery was uneventful, and the child was discharged without need for airway intervention. This case demonstrates that 3D modeling may improve prenatal evaluation of complex patient-specific fetal anatomy and facilitate the multidisciplinary approach to perinatal management of complex airway anomalies.”
This was the first time that 3D printing technology was used to diagnose a facial deformity and assess the severity of airway risk with a fetus in utero. The team of doctors submitted their findings to the Oct. 5 online edition of the medical journal Pediatrics where they reported that 3D printing technology took the guesswork out of a high-risk pregnancy. The case report, “Antenatal Three-Dimensional Printing of Aberrant Facial Anatomy,” was written by a team including Kyle K. VanKoevering, MD; Robert J. Morrison, MD; Sanjay P. Prabhu, MBBS; Maria F. Ladino Torres, MD; George B. Mychaliska, MD; Marjorie C. Treadwell, MD; Scott J. Hollister, PhD; and Glenn E. Green, MD.
Discuss this story in the 3D Printed Fetus forum thread on 3DPB.com.[Source: Medical Xpress] | {
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What Were They Thinking?
A version of this article appears in the March/April 2009 issue of Home Energy Magazine.
March 09, 2009
While conducting an informal energy audit, I saw this installation in the basement of a home occupied by several young adults in Kalamazoo, Michigan. They needed a clothes dryer, so they installed one. They didn't realize that it was hot, humid air that comes out of a dryer, and not water. This situation has been in place for at least a year, and one of the occupants has indicated that at times there is moisture and slime on the basement walls. There was no water in the bucket to act as a trap. All that was being collected in the bucket was lint. The cold winters in Michigan, resulting in cold basement walls, no doubt cause the water to condense on the walls near the dryer. There are between eight and ten people living here. That probably means the dryer is frequently used. While helping this group to get the dryer exhaust hooked up, I noticed they also had a dehumidifier in the basement not far from the clothes dryer. The group used a three-step process to dry their clothes: Take the moisture from the clothes and put it into the basement air with the dryer. Take the moisture out ...
To read complete online articles, you need to sign up for an Online Subscription. | {
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Under the direction of Márcia Fortes, Alessandra d'Aloia, and Alexandre Gabriel, Fortes D'Aloia & Gabriel (formerly know as Galeria Fortes Vilaça) presents a dynamic program in which Brazilian and foreign artists, young and established, create ambitious exhibitions.
During Art Basel 2017, the gallery will present the work of Los Carpinteros - Casi Guitarra
Fortes D'Aloia & Gabriel
São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro
Hall 2.1 | L22
In the series Casi Guitarra (2016–2017), Los Carpinteros transform the intrument into a flat image but keep its funcionality, allowing the viewer to engage himself/herlself by playing it. Its wooden support is made with types which are commomly used in the making of real guitars, such as Nogal (Walnut), Roble (Oak-tree), Laca (Lacquer).
Casi Guitarra deals with the idea of displacing and altering what is immediately recognizable, whilst reaffirms the artists' long-therm interest for music – many of their past works also feature musical instruments or refer directly to Cuban rhythms. Los Carpinteros' work are whimsical, and it is this aspect of their work that allows them to play in a mutable territory: that between the pragmatic and the impossible to their playful distortions of handmade objects.
The artist duo Los Carpinteros consists of Marco Castillo and Dagoberto Rodríguez, born in Cuba in 1969 and 1971, respectively. They live and work between Madrid and Havana. The venues and titles of their solo shows have most notably included MARCO (Monterrey, 2015); Parasol Unit (London, 2015); Faena Arts Center (Buenos Aires, 2012); Silence Your Eyes, Kunstmuseum Thun (Thun, Switzerland) and Kunstverein Hannover (Hannover, Germany, 2012); and Handwork – Constructing the World, Es Baluard (Palma, Spain). Group shows they have participated in include the Bienal de Havana (2012, 2000 and 1994); the 4th Bienal do Mercosul (Porto Alegre, 2013); the 51st Venice Biennale (2005); and the 25th Bienal de São Paulo (2002). Their works figure in important collections around the world, such as those of Guggenheim (New York); MoMA (New York); MOCA (Los Angeles); CIFO (Miami); Daros (Zürich); Tate Modern (London); Reina Sofía (Madrid); TBA-21 (Vienna) and others. | {
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|[02/27/09 - 06:56 PM]
Development Update: Friday, February 27
Updates include: David Morse moves to "Empire State" on ABC; Steven R. McQueen joins The CW's "Vampire Diaries"; and Rebecca Rand Kirshner Sinclair to run "90210."
|[02/27/09 - 01:57 PM]
'Saturday Night Live' Returns with a Pair of Live Shows in March Featuring Dwayne Johnson and Ray Lamontagne March 7 and Tracy Morgan and Kelly Clarkson March 14
Morgan will host for the first time while Johnson returns for his third.
|[02/27/09 - 01:26 PM]
Spike TV's 'Pros Vs Joes 4: All Stars' Features Adam Jones, Alonzo Mourning, Tim Brown, Simeon Rice, Priest Holmes, Steve Francis, Rich Gannon, Glen Rice, Steve Mcnair, Robert Horry, Antoine Walker and Shawn Kemp
The new season of "Pros vs. Joes" starts Monday, April 27 at 11:00/10:00c.
|[02/27/09 - 12:56 PM]
MTV Premieres First Ever "Cribs Awards" Hosetd by Kim Kardashian on Saturday March 7 at 1pm ET/PT
The special will be followed by five back-to-back new episodes of the series.
|[02/27/09 - 12:55 PM]
IFC Casts Julian Sands and Neha Dhupia in Bollywood Hero
Chris Kattan toplines the mini-series, which airs August 6-8.
||[02/27/09 - 12:01 PM]
The Futon's First Look: "Reaper: Season Two" (The CW)
|[02/27/09 - 11:44 AM]
Larry Klein Named Showrunner for "The Brian Mcknight Show"
The weekly entertainment show, due this fall, will "feature live performances from the hottest Hollywood stars, musicians, athletes and comedians, and bring fresh, original content to weekend audiences."
|[02/27/09 - 12:01 AM]
Over 25 Million Votes Send Allison Iraheta, Kris Allen and Adam Lambert to the "American Idol" Top 12
FOX details the latest "American Idol" elimination.
|[02/26/09 - 06:24 PM]
Development Update: Thursday, February 26
Updates include: Brittany Snow to headline the "Gossip Girl" spin-off; Christina Cole is "Maggie Hill" for FOX; and Derek Luke reports for "Trauma" at NBC.
|[02/26/09 - 03:08 PM]
Animal Planet, Discovery & Spike TV to All Ramp Up in April
"The Ultimate Fighter," "Deadliest Catch," "Mythbusters" and "Groomer Has It" are among the nearly 30 series due in the month of April on cable.
|[02/26/09 - 02:43 PM]
Bravo's "Top Chef: New York" Stirs Up Highest Rated Season Ever
Bravo spins the numbers for February 24-25.
|[02/26/09 - 12:54 PM]
Most Dramatic Natural Events on the Planet Featured in Epic Six-Part Premiere Series, Nature's Most Amazing Events
Filmed over two years, the six-hour event airs on May 29-31.
|[02/26/09 - 12:52 PM]
BBC America Co-Produces Powerful War Drama, Occupation and Acquires Apprentice Uk
"Occupation" is due this fall while "Apprentice UK" will roll out in the spring.
|[02/26/09 - 12:50 PM]
ABC Ranks No. 2 to an "Idol"-Filled FOX in Young Adults
ABC spins the numbers for Wednesday, February 25.
|[02/26/09 - 08:42 AM]
NBC Announces New Primetime Comedy-Reality Series Created by Jerry Seinfeld Marking the Iconic Comedian's First Television Series Since 'Seinfeld'
"The Marriage Ref" will feature "opinionated celebrities, comedians and sports stars who will candidly comment, judge and offer different strategies for real-life couples in the midst of a classic marital dispute."
|[02/26/09 - 08:24 AM]
FOX Renews Hit Animated Series "The Simpsons" for Two Additional Seasons
The 44-episode pickup ensures the series will reach an astounding 493 episodes.
|[02/26/09 - 08:14 AM]
CBS Orders Two More Editions of "Survivor" for Broadcast During the 2009-2010 Season
"SURVIVOR is one of CBS's signature series and a symbol of enduring quality and entertainment on prime time television," said the network's Nina Tassler.
|[02/26/09 - 08:11 AM]
Faith Hill, Toby Keith, Tim Mcgraw, Sugarland, Taylor Swift and Keith Urban Will Be Among the Performers on "George Strait -- Acm Artist of the Decade," a New Concert Special to Be Broadcast Later This Year on the CBS Television Network
Only four other acts have received the Artist of the Decade accolade, including Marty Robbins in 1969, Loretta Lynn in 1979, Alabama in 1988 and Garth Brooks in 1998.
|[02/26/09 - 07:00 AM]
Hudson Plane Crash - What Really Happened: All-New Discovery Channel Special Reveals the Untold Story of the Us Airways Flight That Landed on the Hudson
The one-hour special airs Wednesday, March 4 at 10:00/9:00c.
||[02/26/09 - 12:06 AM]
Interview: "Brothers & Sisters" Executive Producers Alison Schapker & Monica Owusu-Breen
|[02/25/09 - 06:48 PM]
Development Update: Wednesday, February 25
Updates include: James Burrows to helm two pilots; NBC eyes an "I'm a Celebrity..." revival; and Michael Rady is the first to join "Melrose Place" on The CW.
|[02/25/09 - 04:32 PM]
Repeats to Dot March Sweeps
"Grey's Anatomy," "Gossip Girl," "NCIS," "The Mentalist," "Lost," "Chuck" and "Heroes" are among the many series opting to run at least one repeat during the ratings period.
|[02/25/09 - 03:45 PM]
Wwe Monday Night Raw Ratings Soar Over the Top Rope
USA spins the numbers for the month of February.
|[02/25/09 - 12:49 PM]
TV One and A. Smith & CO. Productions Announce Deal for Eight New Episodes of Top-Rated Bio Series "Unsung"
The series "celebrates the lives and careers of successful artists or groups who, despite great talent, over the years have been under-recognized or under-appreciated."
|[02/25/09 - 12:47 PM]
Naomi Judd Returns to Her Role as Judge on Season Two of CMT's "Can You Duet"
Last season, Judd's insight as a judge and mentor helped develop some of today's brightest talents in country music.
|[02/25/09 - 12:46 PM]
CMT Orders Eight Episodes of New Original Series "World's Strictest Parents"
The series will serve as companion programming to new episodes of NANNY 911 premiering primetime in April on CMT.
|[02/25/09 - 12:46 PM]
ABC Family Brings Seventh and Final Season of Acclaimed Warner BroS. Television Series "Gilmore Girls" to the Network
The network, which currently runs the series' first six seasons, is tentatively set to begin airing the final episodes in June.
|[02/25/09 - 12:12 PM]
Guest Stars Shine on the CW in March and April
Upcoming guests include Tori Spelling, Jennie Garth, Nick Lachey, Diablo Cody, Michelle Trachtenberg, Wallace Shawn, Aimee Teegarden, Clay Aiken and Ciara.
|[02/25/09 - 11:15 AM]
Phil Keoghan of CBS's "The Amazing Race" Rides Across America Presented by Gnc Live Well
"I fly over 400,000 miles a year and I figured it was time to stretch my legs," said Keoghan.
|[02/25/09 - 11:00 AM]
Two-Night Movie Event 'Knights of Bloodsteel' Premieres April 19 on Sci Fi
The cable channel confirms our previous report.
|[02/25/09 - 07:54 AM]
FOX Springs Into Super-Charged March
FOX details its March sweeps highlights. (SPOILERS)
|[02/25/09 - 07:48 AM]
Lou Diamond Phillips, Ming-Na, Elyse Levesque and Alaina Huffman Cast in Sci Fi's 'Sgu: Stargate Universe'
They join the previously announced stars Robert Carlyle, Justin Louis, David Blue, Jamil Walker Smith and Brian J. Smith.
|[02/25/09 - 06:01 AM]
VH1 Enlists Brutally Honest, Professional Matchmaker Steven Ward to Teach Women to Find MR. Right in New Series 'Tough Love'
Drew Barrymore's Flower Films and High Noon Entertainment are behind the series, due on Sunday, March 15.
|[02/24/09 - 06:38 PM]
Development Update: Tuesday, February 24
Updates include: "Melrose Place" a go at The CW; LL Cool J set for the "NCIS" spin-off; and The CW adds "Beautiful Life" to its pilot roster.
|[02/24/09 - 02:11 PM]
America's Hottest Dance Show "So You Think You Can Dance" Swings Into Fifth Season Thursday, May 21 and Wednesday, May 27 on Fox
Weekly performance shows will air on Wednesdays (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) and weekly results shows will air on Thursdays (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT).
|[02/24/09 - 01:41 PM]
The CW Announces Early Pickups of Series
"Gossip Girl," "One Tree Hill," "90210," "America's Next Top Model," "Smallville" and "Supernatural" are all set to return next season.
|[02/24/09 - 12:56 PM]
'Heroes,' 'Biggest Loser' and 'Svu' Lead NBC's Primetime Week of FeB. 16-22
NBC spins the numbers for the week of February 16-22.
|[02/24/09 - 12:55 PM]
Hallmark Channel Ranks #8 in Prime Time for the Month of February and Delivers Highest-Ever February W25-54 Demo
The Hallmark Channel spins the numbers for the month of February.
|[02/24/09 - 12:53 PM]
The Mentalist Is the Top Scripted Program on Television for the Second Straight Week
CBS spins the numbers for the week of February 16-22.
|[02/24/09 - 12:52 PM]
February Prime Time Jumps 20%-29% Across Kids at Cartoon Network
Cartoon Network spins the numbers for the month to date.
|[02/24/09 - 12:48 PM]
ABC Marks Its Most Competitive Finish During an "Oscar" Week in 4 Years in Viewers and Adults 18-49
ABC spins the numbers for the week of February 16-22.
|[02/24/09 - 11:40 AM]
ABC Family Enjoys a Record-Setting February in Primetime
ABC Family spins the numbers for the month of February.
|[02/24/09 - 11:14 AM]
Craig Ferguson to Host CBS's Monday Night with Comedic Interstitials on March 2 and 9
Paris Hilton and Jim Parsons (in character as Sheldon) will also appear in the interstitials.
|[02/24/09 - 11:04 AM]
Lifetime Television Orders Fourth Season of Cable's Highest-Rated Series Among Women 18-49
"This early pick-up - even prior to the Season 3 premiere - is a true testament to our commitment and support of this great show," said the network's JoAnn Alfano.
|[02/24/09 - 10:46 AM]
Bad Girls Club and "America's Next Top Model Obsessed" Make Oxygen Fasting Growing Cable Network for W18-34 & 18-49
Oxygen spins the numbers for the month of February.
|[02/24/09 - 09:49 AM]
BET Captures the Flavor of the 'New Harlem Renaissance' with the Debut of the Original Series 'Harlem Heights' Premiering Monday, March 2 at 10:00 P.M.*
The series features a diverse cast of eight young adults from different backgrounds who share common goals.
|[02/24/09 - 09:19 AM]
Live to Tell, from the Producers of "48 Hours," Wins Its Time Period in Key Demos, Making It the Night's #1 Program in Viewers on Saturday, February 21
CBS spins the numbers for Saturday, February 21.
|[02/24/09 - 08:59 AM]
Ion Television Expands Original Programming with the Acquisition of the Border and the Guard
The imports will make their U.S. debuts on ION later this year.
|[02/24/09 - 08:35 AM]
Bravo Posts Best February Ever with Record Growth Across All Key Demos
Bravo spins the numbers for the month of February.
|[02/24/09 - 06:01 AM]
Starz Entertainment Renews 'Crash'
Plus: Ira Steven Behr has been tapped as showrunner while James DeMonaco and Todd Harthan have been named executive producer and supervising producer, respectively. | {
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Today it’s a common assumption in Africa that pre-colonial African societies didn’t have homosexual cases. However contemplation has led to studies and then discovery to the contrary. This has led to a controversy as staunch heterosexual activist claim homosexuality is a consequence of neo-colonialism introduced by the Western World. The other side lies the scholars who claim that homosexuality was nothing new to the continent.
THE HISTORY OF AFRICAN HOMOSEXUALITY
Deep and careful research into sexuality in African history (pre-colonial) has revealed homosexuality might have been an intrinsic part of African life. In his book “Heterosexual Africa?” Marc Epprecht suggests that the conception of sexuality as it is today was different from how it was viewed in pre-colonial Africa. For him, because heterosexuality was not antithesis to homosexuality in pre-colonial times, there was liberty to move between the two divide. It is believed that same sex relations were not frowned upon and people had the freedom to switch genders at will. This means that a man can declare himself a woman for sake of sexual liberties. This practice was prominent in Uganda among the Nilotico Lango tribes. Here are a few more examples
- It was well believed that Kabaka (king) Mwanga II, who ruled in the latter half of the 19th century, was gay. It is also generally believed young boys had same sex relations in order to avoid getting a girl pregnant before marriage; girls at puberty were believed to do same.
- Archaeological findings in form of cave paintings of the San people near Guruve in Zimbabwe suggest that same sex sexual relations date back to the time of Bushmen as naked men having sexual relations was depicted.
- The rain queen Modjadji of Balobedu peoples found in southern Africa is believed to be homosexual in her relations as she has ‘many wives’. Often times, families and tribes give out their daughters to the rain queen to pledge their allegiance and pray for her benevolence. She is believed to have mystical powers which helps her control the sky and its elements. The only male sexual relations she is to have is with close relatives and it is for the sole purpose of procreation.
- Among the early Zande warriors found in Congo and Sudan, homosexual relations was believed to be commonplace. The warriors were said to marry younger men who in turn performs the duties of a wife until he is trained to become a warrior. He too marries a younger man and the circle continues. This tradition was not left alone for the warriors; as the prince was also believed to have a page boy who satisfies his sexual desires. At the demise of the prince, the page boy is killed and buried with him. These findings was documented and later published by English anthropologist E.E. Evans-Pritchard in early 20th century.
- The Bantu speaking farmers of Gabon and Cameroun were also not left out as man to man sexual relations was believed to transmit wealth between them. The Nupe’s from Nigeria were not left out as they believed homosexual relations led to rearmament.
It was well believed that Kabaka (king) Mwanga II, who ruled in the latter half of the 19th century, was gay.
ORIGIN OF THE CONTROVERSY
There is a clear divide in African discourse and scholars pertaining to the issue of homosexuality in African history. One school of thought vehemently states that homophobic relations is un-African, satanic and perpetuated by evil spirits, even see it as a way through which the west continues her colonial influence on the continent. The other states that homophobic relations may have in fact been an integral part of African history and hence African life.
The latter school of thought claims that after the colonial invasion and the missionary contact in Africa, many African social structures as well as traditions were reshaped to suit the colonial legacy they left behind. The advent of Christianity and Islam is believed to have brought with it the need and indeed institutionalized only man-woman relationship. This is believed to explain why much of Africa stands to contravene any line of thought that claims homosexuality is African. Christianity and Islam frown on homophobic relations and as such, its introduction and subsequent entrenchment has made heterosexual relationship the norm while homosexuality is viewed as the vice.
… after the colonial invasion and the missionary contact in Africa, many African social structures as well as traditions were reshaped to suit the colonial legacy they left behind.
According to anthropologists Stephen Murray and Will Roscoe in the “Expanded Criminalisation of Homosexuality in Uganda: A Flawed Narrative / Empirical evidence and strategic alternatives from an African perspective,” they were of the opinion that Numerous reports also indicated that in the highly sex-segregated societies of Africa, homosexual behaviour and relationships were not uncommon among peers, both male and female, especially in the years before heterosexual marriage. These kinds of relations were identified with specific terms and were to varying degrees institutionalized.
They went further to state unapologetically that what the colonisers imposed on Africa was not homosexuality “but rather intolerance of it — and systems of surveillance and regulation for suppressing it.”
It is imperative to understand that much of Africa’s cultures and tradition was passed down from generation to generation using oral tradition. This may have accounted for loss of many African cultural practices and ways of life as oral tradition is greatly endangered at the death of a griot. (A griot is the custodian of knowledge and history in African tradition.)
Pro African homosexuality school of thought believes that since pre-colonial Africa had no organized means of archiving her history, much of it might have been lost through time and time. Also, they believe that what has come to be known as tradition in Africa has been revised, shaped and toned down to suit western colonialists, even the issue of sexuality. In addition, they also believe that the heterogeneous nature of the African society provides an avenue for different cultural practices to emerge. They were of the opinion that it is unfounded and biased to claim that homosexuality is un-African thereby assuming African is homogenous in nature.
[quote] – … it is unfounded and biased to claim that homosexuality is un-African thereby assuming African is homogenous in nature.
AFRICAN SEXUALITY IN THE 21st CENTURY
The legislation and subsequent passage of gay rights bill in the United States has been greeted with much negativity around Africa. Although homosexuality has received legal status in most western states, virtually all African states have stood firmly against it.
You can read more on this here: Will Africa Ever Embrace Homosexual Relationships
SEXUALITY: AN ISSUE OF MORALITY
What defines morality or standards of right and wrong has always been an issue of controversy in most societies. Sexuality as it relates to homophobic relations is generally perceived as undesirable in modern day Africa. Could it be a case of an overwhelming illusion that homosexual relations are un-African when historical research clearly proves otherwise? While the controversy and debate continues, a nudging question that remains unanswered is who defines morality and on what moral basis sexuality is founded upon.
It would suffice to say like Sylvia Tamale that
‘The homosexuality-is-un-African mantra negates everything that African history and tradition has transmitted to posterity. A tenet of African philosophy holds that “I am because you are.” In short, it matters little about the differences that each one of us displays but much about the essence of humanity that binds us together. What really matters is the respect for human dignity and diversity.’
[Header image]– Thoba Calvin and Tshepo Cameron Sithole, Modisane, Pretoria, 2013. They were South Africa’s first gay couple to marry in a traditional ceremony.
By Pieter Hugo. Courtesy , COURTESY GALERIE STEVENSON, LE CAP/JOHANNESBURG ET YOSSI MILO, NEW YORK | {
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I wanted to share with you, Federico Caprilli in the words of his students, Captain Piero Santini and Colonel Paul Rodzianko.
The first excerpt is from Santini’s book, Riding Reflections, The Derrydale Press, New York 1932. The second excerpt is from Rodzianko’s book, Modern Horsemanship, Seeley Service & Co, Ltd., London 1936.
From Piero Santini/ Riding Reflections pgs. 3-5
When the lively and energetic Lieutenant Caprilli was recalled from the small garrison in the South of Italy where he had been sent to cool his heels and his juvenile exuberance after a somewhat hectic debut in Turin, the method which was to make him famous was already clear in his mind. In his exile, owing to his astonishing success in steeplechases and in jumping competitions, he had caught the eye of an intelligent superior officer, and it was thanks to the faith he had succeeded in inspiring in the latter that the young officer — who seems to have had but few partisans of his method at the time — was allowed to demonstrate, to a special committee nominated for the purpose, the practical results of his theories. He presented to the critical and not altogether benevolent eye of his superiors a troop he had been instructing for four months; the result was a veritable triumph, and in 1904 we find Caprilli installed at Pinerolo with carte blanche as to the instruction of the yearly batch of young subaltern pupils.
Such was the dawn of what might be called the contemporary era of riding.
Caprilli was not much given to writing and the little he did put on paper deals more with the rider’s mental attitude towards the horse*—which might he described as one of gentle persuasion as opposed to the forcible methods then in vogue — than with the rider’s actual position as he conceived it. The result has been that, never really having compiled an exhaustive treatise on every detail of his method, most of his principles have been handed down, mainly by word of mouth, to succeeding generations of Italian Cavalry instructors. This has prevented strict standardization and, outside of the Italian Cavalry, has led to a certain misleading elasticity of interpretation which Caprilli’s written word would have done much to keep within bounds.
At the time of Caprilli’s appearance on the scene of Pinerolo, horsemanship there, as everywhere else in the world, was based on severe bits and on leaning back at jumps with the feet thrust forward in such a way that the rider was practically dependent on the reins for keeping his seat; and on that most illogical of all theories, “lifting” the horse over the jump by violently jerking his head up — practices which Caprilli condemned as causing discomfort and pain to the horse and consequently disgusting him with his work.
Caprilli entirely suppressed the prevailing methods and based his own on the principle that a horse should be interfered with as little as possible and that, although continually under the rider’s control (he was the sworn enemy of the loose rein), he should move with the freedom and natural balance of a riderless animal — this to apply to all contingencies and not to jumping alone, for the forward seat does not consist, as the amateur is apt to believe, in a jumping formula, but should be understood as a complete and distinct method of equitation.
From Col. Paul Rodzianko/ Modern Horsemanship pgs. 17-23
THIRTY years’ experience, and the fact that I have been a pupil of two very great horsemen, gives me the hope of producing a book which will be useful to all interested in riding and training.
I studied under James Fillis when he was Director of the Russian Cavalry School in St. Petersburg. Later I worked for many years under Captain Caprilli in the Italian Cavalry School. Since then I have trained horses and pupils in many countries.
My main point in this book is to explain the principles of horsemanship evolved by Caprilli. His methods give great importance to the natural balance of the horse. The rider is taught never to interfere with that natural balance and the results are particularly successful in cross-country riding.
Polo, Haute Ecole, and Hacks are different matters, for then an artificial balance of the horse is required and James Fillis’s system gives best results.
Caprilli was the genius of cross-country riding.
James Fillis was a genius of Haute Ecole.
My sincere thanks are due to both of them. I have tried to explain their principles clearly.
I am also greatly indebted to the friends who helped me to compile this work.
It may be of interest to give a short summary of the careers of my two great masters. 1868-1908 From childhood Caprilli loved and seemed to understand horses. He entered the Military School at Modena and soon gained a reputation as a brilliant rider. Astonishment was aroused by the ease with which he managed horses beyond the control of instructors. While studying, he came to the conclusion that most systems of riding were un-harmonious and forced. After years of practice and study he developed his famous method, which he called “The Modern* System of Equitation.”
This method took into account the build and character of the horse and readjusted the seat of the rider accordingly.
Caprilli’s fame spread beyond Italy. Well-known riders came from all parts of the world to see the young officer and study his theories.
Caprilli’s work, however, was hampered by serious opposition, for his military commanders refused to accept his ideas.
His theories were bound to arouse controversy. At the risk of his military career he continued working. His iron will, unbounded energy, and fanatical confidence brought their reward. The phenomenal success of his pupils and horses won him recognition. Caprilli proved that his successes were due, not only to his own ability, but to his method of training.
Even military circles had to admit his authority. Caprilli became Instructor to the Cavalry School. The whole training system was changed by his idea of preserving the natural balance of the horse and harmony between rider and horse.
He was planning many ambitious schemes when he was killed by falling from a horse in 1908.
The death of Caprilli was an international loss. His pupils are proceeding on the lines he laid down. Caprilli’s system is simple and simplicity is the ideal in all things.
Italian Cavalry School
Caprilli divided the Italian Cavalry School in two parts: (1) Pinerolo (Savoy), the Headquarters and Junior Section; (2) Tor di Quinto (Rome), the Senior Section.
At Pinerolo the pupils and horses are given a preliminary training. The town is very picturesque and the pine-covered hills around provide splendid exercise grounds for the practice of cross-country riding.
The Senior Section (Tor di Quinto) is a small cavalry station outside Rome on the left side of the Tiber.
Here the pupils who have finished the Pinerolo course are given further training in cross-country riding, steeple-chasing, hunting, &c. The hunting in the Compagnia Romana is very fast and dangerous.
The Pinerolo course lasts about one year and that at Tor di Quinto about six months.
There is a constant stream of visitors who come to study riding from all over the world.
The principles I am about to describe endeavour:
(i) To teach horse and rider to attain efficiency with the least possible waste of energy.
2) To enable the horseman to train a horse for any kind of work.
The horse is said to be balanced when energy and weight are equally distributed over his body. He must be able to move in any direction with the maximum speed and the minimum energy.
Caprilli taught that the rider’s chief aim must be to respond to all changes of balance by following the movements of the horse. Certain rules must be followed in regard to the rider’s seat.
Before Caprilli, the natural balance of the horse was seldom studied. The methods used often went against the animal’s conformation.
The position of the rider obviously affects the centre of gravity of the pair. For this reason it is important to realize that a heavy man and a light man should not sit in the same way on the same horse.
Caprilli’s training is strictly progressive. Each exercise must be thoroughly studied and understood before passing on to the next. By experience the rider will learn what is meant by change of balance of the horse and he must try to follow it.
If the muscles of a young horse are correctly developed, amazing results may be obtained, even from an ordinary animal.
The most characteristic point of Caprilli’s method is the lightness and willingness with which rider and horse work together and the calm, easy manner in which serious obstacles are overcome.
To prove the above statement it is only necessary to compare a horse trained under Caprilli’s system with a horse of the same type trained in any other way.
In these instances it is possible to see the difference between a horse who is excited and strained by his work and one trained to be light and graceful and in harmony with his rider.
The uninformed have sometimes criticized the new system on the grounds that it was only suitable for show jumpers. This is a mistake. Caprilli centred his attention on cross-country riding. Jumping must be practised to teach change of balance to horse and rider. If the horses and riders trained under this system excel all others at jumping it is merely the result of correct training. | {
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Creating bold, contemporary abstract art from her home in the Waitakere ranges, Jen Sievers somehow manages to produce artworks filled with light and energy while also juggling a career as a graphic designer and being Mum to an energetic toddler.
Quirky Fox spoke to Jen about her return to art after almost six years, her inspiration and the importance of housework...
What were your first inclinations toward being creative? Was it always a part of you or was there a pivotal moment?
I've always been interested in creating art. When I was really young I drew constantly, I progressed to chalk pastels and later paint. I grew up wanting to be an artist.
I went to art school for a few years and decided to change direction - the dream of making art a career changed into a dream of being a Graphic Designer - it seemed like a practical way of creating, while still earning a living.
I painted on and off for a while, and then didn't paint at all for about 6 years. I was still creating on daily basis, being a designer... and my job has taught me so much about colour and composition (which really helps with abstract painting!!)
I got back into painting in a bit of an epiphany moment. I moved to a new house in a semi rural setting and was overwhelmed with the feeling of being inspired by my surroundings. One Friday afternoon my daughter went down for her nap and I literally grabbed whatever house and craft paints I could find and started painting on a piece of plywood. I haven't stopped since.
You still work as a graphic designer as well as juggling motherhood and your art. How do you balance the three? Does painting become an outlet for you or does it occasionally get pushed to the side?
It's a constant juggle, but one that I quite enjoy. I'm not very good at sitting still, so this gives me something to focus on in the evenings after work. I generally sit on the couch and plan, sketch or work on my marketing. I have an amazing husband who makes sure I have a few hours alone each weekend day to get stuck in to my paints.
My painting is definitely my 'me time' - and has been so valuable helping me express myself as something other than a mother.
A lot of my work can be done in small bursts - do a few strokes then wait for a layer to dry - which works perfectly when you're chasing a three year old around. I think the one thing that tends to suffer is the house work, that definitely gets pushed aside before my art does!
As well as your abstracts you've recently produced some beautiful, strong portraits, your 'queens', what lead to their creation? Is this a new direction or a series designed to sit side by side with your abstract works?
The move to paint portraits even surprised me!
I had a spare hour one afternoon and wanted to try something new, to push my boundaries a little. So I tried to see if I could paint a portrait using the same sorts of style and strokes that I use in my abstracts. And it worked! I'm also so inspired by the 'Queens' movement, and how empowering it is for women. I like to think they can sit together - the colours and marks are all from the same soul.
You work on a variety of platforms: canvas, paper and slightly less conventionally Perspex. How did your work on Perspex come about and what challenges did it create?
I've always been fascinated with seeing through things and layering in my art. When I was studying I used to make little layered collages out of printed acetate and layers of glass. I noticed a few artists painting on perspex and realised that I might be able to do the same thing - I was so happy to find out I could use my usual acrylic paints.
It does come with its challenges though - I paint on the back of the perspex, so each painting is done in reverse. And I have to start with the top detailed strokes, and end up with the back strokes.
It takes a lot of planning, so each painting is mapped out before I start. I then have to work hard to keep the expressive quality of the brush strokes even within a tightly planned layout.
Colour is such an important aspect in all of your pieces. How do you decide on the palette for your works?
I spend an unhealthy amount of time on Pinterest and Instagram, gathering random images that feel magic to me and figuring out if their colour palettes would make good paintings. I then do very rough sketches, either on my computer, or on my phone if I'm out and about, to test them out.
Sometimes I stick with one palette, or variation of it, for a few paintings, and then go on the search again!
I usually pick one strong colour that I want to be the main feature, then find a strong contrasting colour to complement it. I then throw in a wild card to liven it up... then a few neutrals to calm it back down.
Painting is your primary medium, but do you work in other mediums or explore other crafts?
During the years I didn't paint I experimented with all sorts of crafts including photography. The one that probably consumed me the most was a small business I had restyling old wood furniture: I would find old dressers, cabinets and tables on Trademe, sand them down and paint them crazy colours. My love of putting paint onto a surface was hard to hold back. If I had more time I would love to experiment with any mediums I can.
As an artist what have you learnt about your craft that you use everyday?
To trust my instincts!I sometimes ignore a niggling feeling that a painting/idea or colour palette isn't going to work out... and each time I ignore it it turns out badly.
Jen's exhibition 'Colourscapes' opens Saturday 14 January.
Comments will be approved before showing up.
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In the company of foxes...
Be the first to know about our latest exhibitions. | {
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"The Curse of the Mummy's Tomb" begins in Egypt with an expedition to unearth a coveted mummy's tomb. The expedition comes to a halt when the American financial backer, Alexander King (Fred Clark) decides to take the findings on tour of the British Isles before eventually going onto the United States. However, at the ceremonial opening of the mummy's sarcophagus ends badly when the mummy's body disappears. As the members of the expedition begin to be murdered one by one, it's up to the young Egyptologist, John Bray (Ronald Howard) to put the pieces of the puzzle together and discover the mummy's curse.
In this reviewer's opinion, audiences have also been fascinated by ancient Egypt. Since the discovery of King Tut's tomb by Howard Carter in 1922 and the myth of a curse which ensued, there has also been a fascination with mummy's, curses and what not. The Universal horror film series concerning the mummy has also been among my favourites. The trend of cursed mummy's tombs continued beyond the '60's and Hammer's revival into the '70's. The "Doctor Who" serial, "Pyramids of Mars" oftentimes crops up on people's list of best serials, and it was included in part of BBC America's "Doctor Who Revisited" specials. What's more, the mummy franchise was resurrected in 1999 and it spawned two sequels. However, the true question is - did "The Curse of the Mummy's Tomb" contribute well t0 the history of mummies on film?
I'll say now that this movie was rather odd, beginning with a very unusual structure. There are two flashbacks throughout the course of the movie, which really breaks the narrative's flow. What's more, the first two acts of the movie don't seem to know what genre this film should be. There are hints of humour throughout the first portion as well as action and adventure and some mystery, and of course horror. It's not until the film's third act do things really hit their stride as the mummy returns to life to kill all those in his path. This portion of the movie was well-handled, and I wish that more time could have been devoted to the mummy attacks, as these scenes were especially creepy. There's also something rather unnerving about the fact that the mummy just so happens to be wandering around the streets of Edwardian London.
|This pose is probably familiar to Sherlockian|
actor Ronald Howard
All in all, "The Curse of the Mummy's Tomb" is not exactly Hammer's finest hour, but it's hardly a bad picture either. It has plenty of creepy, atmospheric moments and enough severed hands for two pictures (it's a long story). I give the movie 3 out 5 stars. It's a worthwhile Hammer production, but surely not the pinnacle of Hammer horror. | {
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- ANIMATED GIFS
These night scenes are usually more romantic then their normal videos. And somewhat darker. This one brings us hot young studs Jon Kael and Dylan Maguire and was released last summer.
Jon Kael is a super hot young stud. Lean and muscular and on his way of becoming one of their best bottoms. In an interview featured later on Freshmen, he admitted that only after joining the cast of BelAmi, he learned how great a big cock feels up his ass.
Luckily for him, for this scene he was teamed up with Dylan Maguire. A super cute guy with a very thick cock. And with many years of experience, Dylan knows very well how to give Jon what his hungry ass i craving for.
After Jon has sucked Dylan’s fat cock hard, Dylan shows off his oral skills. He swallows Jon’s big uncut dick, rims his ass and chews on the hot stud’s big and heavy balls.
Jon has thick low-hangers, that swing around while he’s riding Dylan’s fat cock, slapping against the shaft of Dylan’s dick while he’s pounding Jon’s hole.
Dylan shoots his load right into Jon’s gapping hole, then he gets a nice facial from Jon before licking the hot stud’s dick clean. | {
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New creative teams. New series. New directions. New beginnings. It all kicks off this June with DEADPOOL #1!
Deadpool’s gone through A LOT these past few years, and while he’s accomplished a lot, the merc with the mouth may have taken his eye off his mercenary business for a bit too long,” said series editor Jake Thomas. “So how does a soldier for hire get business back up and running? The only way Deadpool knows how: Maximum effort, reasonable rates.”
“Skottie Young has one of the wildest, most unhinged creative minds I’ve ever worked with, and I mean that as the sincerest compliment I can muster,” Thomas continues. “His ideas for Wade are flying fast and furious, this book is going to be a non-stop chaos party as Wade battles his way back on top of the mercenary game using every dirty trick, cheap sales tactic, crass promotional ploy, and underhanded advantage he can…and he’ll be bringing along some old friends for help. As for Nic Klein, he’s one of my favorite artists working, and the work he’s doing on this book is INCREDIBLE. I’ve seen Nic bring humor to a story, but I haven’t seen him go this wild…as a fan of his, an utter joy. You can see the fun he’s having right there in every panel. He’s completely owning every inch of this story. The character work, the world design, the action beats…honestly? It might be TOO good. [Editor] Mark Basso has had to hold me back multiple times from telling Nic to just stop because I can’t take the strange, beautiful glory of those pages anymore. That’s the pain I endure to bring you these amazing Deadpool stories. My blessing and my burden. You’re welcome.”
For more information on DEADPOOL, including interviews with the creative team, visit Polygon.
For up-to-date information on all new #1 titles, visit http://marvel.com/marvel2018comics.
Written by SKOTTIE YOUNG
Art and Cover by NIC KLEIN
On Sale 6/6/18 | {
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Cheap Accommodation, Hotels and Serviced Apartments Young
Book Me a Room offers comparison and bookings for short and long term accommodation, hotels, serviced apartments and all type of cheap accommodation Young
Young is a town in the South West Slopes region of New South Wales, Australia and is the centre of Young Shire. At the 2006 census, Young had a population of 7,141. Young is marketed as the Cherry Capital of Australia and every year hosts the National Cherry Festival. Young is situated on the Olympic Highway and is approximately 2 hours drive from the Canberra area.
If you are going to plan the honeymoon on your own, you can get tremendous options from the internet. You can get various options that suit your budget and requirement too. Once you have decided the honeymoon destination, then you can select the hotel that matches your budget. If you are going to enjoy the honeymoon fever at islands, then you must be looking for the island resorts. You can select the honeymoon destinations and honeymoon hotels as per your choice. Some of the exciting honeymoon hotels can be beach resorts, hilltop resorts, hotels on the cruise, Hotels that provide various amenities such as spa, pubs and disco etc. You can choose the kind of honeymoon you want to have.
Young is such among many destinations, its amazing place to be visited. It is wise to select the Young luxurious honeymoon resort that perfectly matches your budget and that will give the joyous feel too. | {
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A few years ago, when I was living in London, I came across this singer I really really liked. This singer was Ed Sheeran. Back then the name didn’t really ring a bell for anyone I asked, they only recognised the A team when I made them listen to it. Now, about 4 years later almost everyone has at least heard his name at some point or another and he’s one of the most successful artists in the world.
And therefore, he now got his very own concert movie called Jumpers For Goalposts and let me tell you this: It is absolutely brilliant!
Jumpers for Goalposts is a documentary that mainly focuses on the 3 sold out Wembley shows Ed played in London this year.
I myself was lucky enough to see Ed Sheeran live in concert last year and I was completely blown away. When this guy with the guitar comes on stage you’re not quite sure what to expect at first, but once he gets started the whole stadion/arena is on fire. If you weren’t as lucky as me, this movie is the closest thing you’ll get to seeing him live and trust me, you will be so impressed.
What’s great is, that the movie also gives you some backstage footage and personally I think it’s quite incredible how normal and down to earth Ed still seems, considering what an absolute musical genius he is.
If you would like to know more about Ed and his story in general, I can also recommend you to read Ed Sheeran – A Visual Journey. It’s an autobiography where he talks about his life, his music and his career in his own words, beautifully complemented by drawings of Phillip Butah, who has been a family friend of Ed’s family ever since he was a kid.
Generally I can say I am a huge Ed Sheeran fan (if you hadn’t noticed) and I think it’s just incredible how talented that man is, especially considering his young age (makes one’s own résumé look a bit pathetic to be honest but we can’t all be geniuses, right?) Until this day I’d say his concert was still the most impressive one I have ever been to (sorry Rolling Stones, you know I love you) and seeing the Wembley shows, even just on screen, made me remember exactly why. | {
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Hacksaw Ridge Review
HELP ME GET ONE MORE…
World War II (aka WWII or WW2) was a difficult time, facing war, death, and violence across many nations and thousands of lives caught in the middle. Spanning roughly six years (from when the war officially began and ended), World War II was a chaotic war, with the Allied forces (US, England, France, and Poland being the key players as well as several other nations who would join) facing off against Germany’s Nazi regime (led by Adolf Hitler) and other Axis-powered nations (Italy and Japan). As many know, the war was fought on two fronts; one being waged in Europe (against Germany and Italy) and the other being waged in the Pacific Ocean (against Japan). From this turbulent time of war, come stories of bravery, valor, and sacrifice, tales of men who fought against insurmountable odds and live to tell their story or help turn the tide of battle. Over the years, many veterans of the war have told their various memoirs of their involvement in WWII (via mostly books) with Hollywood taking an opportunity to cinematically represent their account through either feature films and some TV mini-series programs. One particular tale has caught the eye of actor / director Mel Gibson with harrowing story of Desmond Doss as Gibson and Summit Entertainment present the film adaptation of his story in the new film Hacksaw Ridge. Does this bio-war drama find its resonating target or is just another “paint-by-numbers” Hollywood war flick?
Raised in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia as a young boy, Desmond Doss (Andrew Garfield) learned the harsh reality impact of violence early, raised by his alcoholic father, Tom (Hugo Weaving), who is haunted by the loss of all of his friends from WWI. Growing up into a responsible, God-fearing man, Desmond’s heart catches wind of the young Dorothy Schutte (Teresa Palmer), a nurse who takes a shine to his humble and kind-hearted ways, with the pair eventually getting engaged to be married. However, before walking down the aisle with Dorothy, Desmond, feeling the need to do his patriotic duty to serve his country, enlist in the army. Arriving for basic training, Desmond, proclaiming to be a Seventh-Day Adventist, desires to be a combat medic, refusing to take part in the handling and training of gun. This, of course, inferiorities his superiors, with Sergeant Howell (Vince Vaughn) and Captain Glover (Sam Worthington), Desmond’s religious faith is put to the test through hazing, menial labor duty, drawing ire from fellow comrade trainee Smitty (Luke Bracey). After pending a court-martial hearing, Desmond, along with the rest of his unit is shipped overseas to Japan to take Okinawa, participating in the ferocious battle to take Hacksaw Ridge, and presenting the young man with a hardship challenge of survival and duty.
THE GOOD / THE BAD
Sorry for the mini-history lesson above, but you’ll be surprised how many people don’t know about WWII. Like I said, the second World War was long and terrible, filled with sadness, death, and gruesome battles on both battlefronts (i.e. in Europe and in the Pacific Ocean). Some years after the war, Hollywood began to produce films about WWII, fixating on this war due to the large impact it had on the world, its people, and in many cultures. While the war may have ended roughly 71 years ago (from today), Hollywood still hasn’t given up on recreating the battlefields of WWII, fixated on some fictional dramatized characters, but mostly on the real-life accounts of those who fought and / or participated in the war. Some of my personally favorite movies about WWII include Patton, Saving Private Ryan, The Guns of Navarone, Flags of Our Father, Inglorious Basterds (not really a hard-hitting historical drama, but still pretty good), and Unbroken. Perhaps my personal favorite isn’t a feature film, but rather a TV mini-series and, of course, I’m talking about HBO’s Band of Brothers and the follow-up min-series The Pacific. Both are incredible and do a good job showing the battlefronts in two “theaters of war” during WWII. I do highly recommend both of them to watch (if you haven’t already).
Now back to my review. I remember hearing about the trailer being released for a movie called Hacksaw Ridge, with Andrew Garfield being the lead role, but I dismissed it at first. I know, it’s true. I usually praise the film’s trailers because I loved them, but I didn’t take much note of it as I didn’t even do a post for the trailer until sometime after was officially released online. When I did get around to seeing it (the trailer), which I believe it was in theaters around the end of September, I was definitely intrigued to seeing the movie when it came out. I couldn’t believe I dismissed the movie’s trailer so easy. So…what did think of the movie? Well, I loved it! With only some minor quibbles, Hacksaw Ridge is a stunning and vivid WWII drama that successfully blends the horrors of the war and the indomitable power of faith through such perilous times.
Hacksaw Ridge is directed by actor / director Mel Gibson, who has directed such films as Braveheart, The Passion of the Christ, and Apocalypto. It’s been while since Gibson has sat in the director’s chair (roughly a decade since Apocalypto came out), but, after a long absence, he returns to bring the story of Desmond Doss to the big screen. With Robert Schenkkan and Andrew Knight penned the film’s script, Gibson frames the feature of Western spirituality (Christianity) and of Doss’s strong beliefs in his faith. There are some moments that go a bit heavy handed in dialogue and in symbolism, but, for the most part, Hacksaw Ridge doesn’t go overboard in its religious aspects and overtones. Like a lot of religious based movies, the film’s best moments (religiously speaking) are the small intimate moments between characters or just with Desmond’s own personal moments. As it was probably in real life, the events in Hacksaw Ridge are a true testament to the power human spirit and one’s own perseverance and the film captures that beautifully.
The first act is lighthearted, introducing to us (the viewers) to the character of respectable Desmond and his courtship with Dorothy. In conjunction, this first act also portrays Desmond’s home life, showing his first moral confliction in his youth as well as his dealings with his drunken and abusive father and his soon-to-be-shipped-out brother, adding to pressure and his soon-to-be decision to head to war. From there, Desmond undergoes basic training, falling “inline” with the stereotypical moments of war / military boot camp scenarios (i.e. the variety of soldier trainees, the loud drill sergeant, the training sequences). While a bit clichéd, it still worked and felt its own as Desmond is conflicted with what the army presents him with and what his moral judgement says to do. In truth, the film becomes a little bit of a military “courtroom” drama for a bit, which is pretty interesting to see playout. Even when the film enters the fray of battle by the third act, Gibson doesn’t lose sight of what’s important, which is the character of Desmond and the courageous and astounding act that he goes through to save the many lives that he did.
If you’re familiar with Apocalypto or The Passion of the Christ, then you probably know that Gibson is no stranger to violence and Hacksaw Ridge follows a similar path. By the film’s halfway point, the movie shifts to the battlefront in the taken of Hacksaw Ridge in Okinawa and it’s one of the hellish and brutal depictions in recent movie history. Guns are blazing, bombs are bursting, bodies are falling, and the carnage is elevated to its maximum level, swirling all around the character of Desmond Doss as he carefully navigates the battlefield. Think of the opening D-Day battle sequence in Saving Private Ryan (intense and bloody) and that’s what you get in the second half of Hacksaw Ridge. Personally, I loved it. My heart was racing and my intensity level was dialed up to 10! It definitely worked well to counterbalance the more lighthearted moments in the film’s first act. Gibson doesn’t “romance” the film’s war premise (this isn’t a kind-hearted History Channel presentation), but rather goes for dramatic realism of the decisive taking of the ridge and the complete nightmarish battle that takes place there. In short, this movie isn’t for the faint of heart, so if you’re queasy or uneasy about the dramatic portrayals of war, violence, and blood, then Hacksaw Ridge might not be towards your liking.
What’s also interesting (to me at least) is that I really didn’t know much about the story of Desmond Doss. I know that the taking of Iwo Jima and Okinawa were big and decisive battles during WWII, but I never heard about the events of Hacksaw Ridge and what Desmond Doss did. It was quite interesting to see how the story of Desmond’s journey plays out and without him ever firing a gun. Definitely a true American hero. As a side note, in terms of production / filmmaking goes, Hacksaw Ridge is presented as a well-crafted film. Costumes, production layout, and props and other movie nuances all feel appropriate to the film’s time period (1945). There’s a couple of cinematography shots that are worthy noting, thanks to cinematographer Simon Duggan and the films score (composed by Rupert Gregson Williams) is great with several swelling pieces that are heartfelt and uplifting.
Cast in the role of Desmond Doss is British Actor Andrew Garfield. The character of Desmond is very much the emotional centerpiece in Hacksaw Ridge and Garfield certainly does deliver enough charm, vulnerability, and passion to make the character a very likeable / relatable protagonist. Garfield, known for his role of Peter Parker in the Amazing Spider-Man films and as Eduardo Saverin in The Social Network, captures the spirit of Desmond, a humble man who stands by his spiritual beliefs, even though those around to don’t particular understand his moral principles. All in all, Garfield portrayal of Desmond is terrific and acts as the compelling anchor for the film. Acting as the romantic pairing to the character of Desmond is Dorothy Schutte, who is played by Teresa Palmer. While the character isn’t exactly new for the genre and does get push to the side towards the film’s third act (understandably so), Palmer still does fine her niche within Dorothy, making a believable connection with her and Garfield’s Desmond.
Perhaps the best supporting cast member in Hacksaw Ridge is Desmond’s father Tom Doss, played by actor Hugo Weaving. Weaving, who many will know him from his roles in The Matrix trilogy, Peter Jackson’s Middle Earth trilogies (The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit), and Captain America: The First Avenger, does a great job in the role of Tom, an abusive and broken man, who is haunted by the memories of his fallen friends, turning to alcohol to ease his pain. Weaving is a very good character actor and he part in Hacksaw Ridge is another fine addition to his body of work. If Weaving’s Tom was the best supporting player, then actor Vince Vaughn’s Howell is definitely the most surprising. Why you may ask? Well, that’s because Vaughn usually stars in a comedy feature rather than a dramatic period piece. His portrayal of Sergeant Howell fits him, providing some comedic bits here and there as the tough drill sergeant type (i.e. verbal hazing some of his new recruits) and does fair well (nothing grand) in the rest of the movie, when Hacksaw Ridge enters its more aggressive war phase. Avatar actor Sam Worthington plays Captain Glover, the superior to Vaughn’s Howell and of Desmond’s squad, and does a fine job in the role. It’s nothing new to the role of an army captain, but it suits Worthington well in that role. Lastly, Aussie actor Luke Bracey plays Smitty, Desmond’s alpha male tough guy fellow soldier. He definitely looks the part and, like Worthington, does well in that particularly role, even if that role isn’t anything new or original.
Perhaps my only negative criticism is (and it’s a minor one) is the multitude of side characters in Hacksaw Ridge. Beyond the ones I mentioned above (Palmer, Vaughn, Worthington, Weaving, Bracey), a lot of the various soldiers that area in Doss’s company are one-dimensional stock-like characters. I really didn’t expect them to be well-rounded supporting characters, but some (if not all) sort of blend into the background, especially when the movie heads to Okinawa. This includes characters Andy ‘Ghoul’ Walker (played by Goran D. Kleut), Vito Rinnelli (played by Firass Dirani), Randall “Teach” Fuller (played by Richard Pryos), and Milt ‘Hollywood’ Zane (played by Luke Pegler). I know there playing real-life characters, but these supporting members in Hacksaw Ridge are just there to filling the army soldier rank and file in the feature. Don’t get me wrong, there acting performances are not in question, its just they are “window dressing” for the feature. Lastly (another minor criticism) is that the movie never explains what happened to Desmond’s brother, Harold Doss (played by Nathaniel Buzolic), who enlisted in the war as well.
The titular powers of war, faith, and the power of courageous humanity collide in the movie Hacksaw Ridge. Mel Gibson return to the director’s chair with his newest war-bio pic drama, which dives into the crossfires of WWII, depicting a hellish ordeal through battle and survival. Yet, while there are some small minor problems here and there, the feature, underneath its war premise, is rooted in an incredible story of a person’s unwavering faith and the power of the human spirt. In addition, the movie was well-crafted and had collective group of talented actors (both in major and minor roles). Personally, I really liked this movie. It was a very interesting story and definitely held my interest and probably one of Gibson’s finest work to date. Just to reiterate again to what I said above, Hacksaw Ridge isn’t for the faint of heart. As for my recommendation, I would give a highly recommended stamp of approval. It’s just that good. While Hollywood will continue to return their cinematic lens to the various battlefields of WWII, showcasing the brutality of war and the valiant bravery and sacrifice of those who fought in it, Hacksaw Ridge is definitely one for the history books and in the film catalogue library of the war / military genre.
4.5 Out of 5 (Highly Recommended)
Released On: November 4th, 2016
Reviewed On: November 11th, 2016
Hacksaw Ridge is rated R for intense prolonged realistically graphic sequences of war violence including grisly bloody images | {
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Stride Rite: Shoes that peddle gender stereotypes(Read article summary)
Stride Rite is a popular kids' shoe store that garners online scorn for advertising campaigns that offer girls and boys stereotypical products and shopping experiences.
Amy Sussman/AP Images for Stride Rite Children's Group
Last April, I posted about how Stride Rite positions girls as pretty and boys as active. After seeing their in-store advertisements and reviewing their product descriptions online, I concluded that according to Stride Rite, girls are meant to be looked at, so their play shoes are a route to prettiness, while boys are meant to be active, so their play shoes are made for play.
Last week, while doing some back-to-school shopping with her young daughters, Margot Magowan of Reel Girl encountered similar advertising at her local Stride Rite store in San Francisco. She was deeply disappointed in how the brand perpetuated the idea that girls are dramatically different from boys–sparkling princesses versus powerful fighters. And she linked back to my post from last year to offer context, showing that Stride Rite’s hyper-gendered marketing is business as usual for the brand.
Her blog post about it struck quite the chord: The Daily Mail, the Huffington Post, and Jezebel all picked up the story, quoting Margot and myself on the topic. Margot also was interviewed by Fox and Friends.
As Margot put it on Fox and Friends: “Feet are not that different. Boys and girls, especially four-year-olds, have basically the same shoes and basically the same feet.” So why such a strong and stereotypical gender segregation?
The Daily Mail connected Stride Rite’s marketing to broader trends; for example, they cited research by Elizabeth Sweet, a doctoral candidate in sociology at the University of California, whose research suggests that gender segregating and stereotyping of toys is becoming worse with time–so much so that “the world of toys looks a lot more like 1952 than 2012.”
[The Christian Science Monitor editor's note: For it's part, Stride Rite responded to these concerns with the following statement, which focuses on their footwear but not their marketing strategies.
"Stride Rite Children’s Group develops footwear that is specifically designed to meet the needs of growing children while offering a broad assortment of products in a range of styles that are of interest for both girls and boys. We strongly believe that all kids should be active and we provide shoes that enable and encourage kids to play and use their imaginations. Our commitment to quality, style and “kid rite” innovation is at the forefront of our minds as we strive to provide options to all parents and children."]
Meanwhile, Jezebel offered a characteristically entertaining approach to the subject, writing:
This just in: being a child and taking steps to propel you from one area to another is a gendered act. Boys walk; girls sparkle and twirl and make princess wishes. Boys also crouch and pretend to shoot webs out of their hands, because that sort of thing is fun when you are a boy. (The only time that girls crouch is when they are picking up face-up pennies in their never ending quest to make a lot of wishes.)
On the other hand, the Huffington Post coverage offered a fairly straightforward summary of our blog posts, but the comment thread was often infuriating:
- Some commenters were defensive, arguing that there’s nothing wrong with being a girly-girl who likes princess products. This is true, but the argument misses the point: The problem is when girls are ONLY offered girly-girl/princess items. There are so many ways to be a girl, and marketing like Stride Rite’s reduces girls to ONE form of girlishness only.
- Other commenters defended corporations like Stride Rite and blamed parents for the gender stereotyping of childhood, claiming it is the parents’ job to raise their children properly. This, too, is true, but also misses the point: even the most devoted parents are hard-pressed to fight back against the billion-dollar marketing machine that is so invested in separating the boys from the girls. (After all, fostering a separation between the sexes is a great way to sell twice as many products.)
Inspired by that comment thread, Lori Day of the Huffington Post wrote a terrific piece about the media’s shameless peddling of gender stereotypes to children. She explains:
"A lot of adults are laughing all the way to the bank as our kids pass under the bus. The strategy is simple: convince kids of both genders that they are very different from each other and that they need completely different products with different colors and different labels, and they will naturally only want what they’ve been told is “for” them and what has been spoon fed to them since birth. Parents will then dole out double the money buying separate products for their sons and daughters, ensuring that the retailers and marketers double their profits and double down on the stereotyped messaging. And why wouldn’t they? It’s brilliant. It’s lucrative. It’s also a breathtaking act of psychological vandalism against our children. Media shapes perception, and perception becomes reality."
The Christian Science Monitor has assembled a diverse group of the best family and parenting bloggers out there. Our contributing and guest bloggers are not employed or directed by the Monitor, and the views expressed are the bloggers' own, as is responsibility for the content of their blogs. Rebecca Hains blogs at rebeccahains.wordpress.com. | {
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New coach Mark Anscombe has picked 35 players for his first training squad.
The 35 men picked by Canadian men’s head coach Mark Anscombe in his first squad present an interesting mix.
Fourteen are veterans of Kieran Crowley’s Rugby World Cup squad. Eleven were in the Crowley-selected, Francois Ratier-coached Americas Rugby Championship squad. There are eight uncapped players.
It’s notable that a good number are familiar names from Canadian U20 squads of recent vintages.
The squad will assemble at Shawnigan Lake on May 28, before being cut down to 28 on June 5, ahead of Canada’s opening June test match vs. Japan on June 11 at BC Place. Canada then host Russia in Calgary on June 18, before wrapping things up vs. Italy in Toronto on the 25th.
Let’s break things down by position.
Hubert Buydens – (San Diego/Prairie Wolf Pack) Saskatoon, SK Tom Dolezel – (London St. George’s/Ontario Blues) London, ON Jake Ilnicki – (San Diego/BC Bears) Williams Lake, BC Ryan Kotlewski – (Calgary Saints/Prairie Wolf Pack) Calgary, AB Djustice Sears-Duru – (Glasgow Warriors/Ontario Blues) Oakville, ON Matt Tierney – (Section Paloise/Ontario Blues) Oakville, ON
Three of this group – Buydens, Ilnicki and Sears-Duru – were at the RWC and have been playing professionally this season. Dolezel missed out on last summer’s campaign because of a broken arm but was always in consideration during Crowley’s tenure.
Kotlewski, an engineer by training, won his first cap during the ARC vs. Chile after being a regular Canada A choice the last few seasons and he has also played in Australia.
Tierney, still just 19, has been with Pau’s Academy team and has done very well there, by all accounts.
Ray Barkwill – (Sacramento/Ontario Blues) Niagara Falls, ON Eric Howard – (Brantford Harlequins/Ontario Blues) Ottawa, ON Andrew Quattrin – (Aurora Barbarians) Holland Landing, ON
Barkwill we know well. The definition of a guy who’s playing a game he loves, he’s clearly the incumbent.
Kyle Baillie – (Ohio/Atlantic Rock) Summerside, PEI Paul Ciulini – (Aurora Barbarians/Ontario Blues) Vaughan, ON Jamie Cudmore – (Clermont Auvergne) Squamish, BC Evan Olmstead – (Newcastle Falcons/Prairie Wolf Pack) Vancouver, BC Cam Pierce – (Section Paloise/Kelowna Crows) Vernon, BC
This is one of the squad’s areas of strength. Cudmore is recovered from his neck surgery and returns to the playing life, having been an assistant coach to Ratier during the ARC. He’s signed on to play with Oyonnax next season, with a transition into coaching planned. But clearly there’s plenty of spark left and he looks like to add to his (surprisingly low) total of 39 caps.
Evan Olmstead played so well for London Scottish during the second half of the 2015-16 English Championship season that he won himself a Premiership contract with the Newcastle Falcons. He impressed in a mostly reserve role last summer.
Young Paul Ciulini is a mountain of a man and started all of Canada’s ARC games. Just 20, his future is exceptionally promising.
Kyle Baillie was another fresh cap in the ARC and landed a contract with PRO Rugby as a result. He’s versatile and could be seen in the back row as well.
Cam Pierce’s return to consideration is notable as well. He joined the ARC squad late in the competition, playing against Argentina XV and Chile. He was capped just once by Kieran Crowley, the crazy rain-soaked mid week test vs. Japan in Tokyo in 2013.
Aaron Carpenter – (London Welsh/Ontario Blues) Brantford, ON Alistair Clark – (Bay Street Pigs/Ontario Blues) Oakville, ON Kyle Gilmour – (St. Albert RFC/Prairie Wolf Pack) St. Albert, AB Matt Heaton – (Darlington Mowden Park/Atlantic Rock) Godmanchester, QC Clay Panga – (Westshore Valhallians/Prairie Wolf Pack) Calgary, AB Lucas Rumball – (Balmy Beach RFC/Ontario Blues) Scarborough, ON
Other than long-time number eight and sometimes hooker Aaron Carpenter, there’s not a ton of experience here but it’s a very intriguing group. Carpenter has said yes whenever Canada has called and his deserving to now be listed as one of the greats. His three world cups is second only to Cudmore’s four and his 71 caps make him the squad’s most experienced player.
Lucas Rumball and Clay Panga may have been Canada’s best players at the ARC. Panga’s a savvy veteran even if he’s only won a handful of caps, while Rumball has the makings of a future captain. Both were dynamic forces.
Kyle Gilmour struggled with injury after signing with Rotherham after the RWC. He then broke his cheekbone in training before the USA game in the ARC. He’s a workhorse flanker and if fit, will likely start.
Matt Heaton has been playing in the English third division for a couple years now and is another intriguing former Canada U20 prospect.
Andrew Ferguson – (Oakville Crusaders/Ontario Blues) Mississauga, ON Jamie Mackenzie – (UBCOB Ravens/Ontario Blues) Oakville, ON Gordon McRorie – (Calgary Hornets/Prairie Wolf Pack) Calgary, AB
Lots of experience here. Mackenzie is back playing after taking a post-RWC hiatus to chase a job in Vancouver. He’s now settled and back in the mix.
McRorie and Ferguson were the main scrum halves at the ARC and both are candidates to be chosen as goal kickers.
Guiseppe du Toit – (UVIC Vikes/BC Bears) Maple Ridge, BC Dylan Horgan – (UCC Rugby Club) Cork, Ireland Pat Parfrey – (Swilers RFC/Atlantic Rock) St. John’s, NL
If there’s a position of worry, it continues to be who will wear the number 10 jersey. Parfrey has played here before and done alright, though I prefer him as a New Zealand style number 12. He’s clearly the most experienced. He was the fly half by the end of the ARC, supplanting Gradyn Bowd.
The other two options, du Toit and Horgan, are both former Canada U20 pivots and both come highly rated. Crowley picked du Toit for the 2014 ARC, when it was contested by Canada A and the former Shawnigan Lake high school star struggled. But with a couple years of (UVic coach) Doug Tait tutelage now under his belt, you figure he’s better primed for the step up to the senior team.
Horgan’s an interesting case. He played fly half for Jeff Williams’ Canada U20 squad in 2015, but is born and raised in Ireland.
Nick Blevins – (San Francisco/Prairie Wolf Pack) Calgary, AB Trenton Cooper (Oshawa Vikings/Ontario Blues), Zephyr, ON Ciaran Hearn – (London Irish/Atlantic Rock) Conception Bay South, NL Ben LeSage – (UBC Thunderbirds/Prairie Wolf Pack) Calgary, AB Mozac Samson – (Calgary Saints/Prairie Wolf Pack) Calgary, AB
Lots of experience in Blevins and Hearn, who were a preferred partnership for Crowley. You’d figure they’ll be first choice – unless Hearn gets called in to join the 7s squad for the Rio qualifier at the end of June.
Mozac Samson, before he suffered a concussion, was a revelation at outside centre in the ARC. He would be a solid choice, given the opportunity.
Ben LeSage is still very young but had a strong season for UBC and is another name to watch for the future.
Trenton Cooper young and fast, played a bunch for the Maple Leafs 7s squad this winter.
Matt Evans – (Cornish Pirates) Maple Bay, BC Dan Moor – (Balmy Beach RFC/Ontario Blues) Toronto, ON Taylor Paris – (Agen) Barrie, ON Theo Sauder – (UBC Thunderbirds) Vancouver, BC Brock Staller – (UBC Thunderbirds/BC Bears) Vancouver, BC Jordan Wilson-Ross – (James Bay AA/Ontario Blues) Alliston, ON
This is yet another intriguing package of players, with some experience and some burgeoning youth in the mix.
Matt Evans was the full back at the world cup and you’d assume will be in that spot again.
Taylor Paris has recovered from his devastating right knee injury suffered on the eve of the RWC. He didn’t get into a Top 14 match with Agen but he did manage several reserve team games before dinging up his left knee in training at the end of April. Like Hearn, he’s also been listed as a possible option for the 7s qualifier.
Dan Moor’s blazing speed won him a starting spot throughout the ARC and he scored three tires because of it. It seems a safe bet the former Queen’s man will be a strong candidate to start.
Brock Staller was a bit of a find of the ARC for Ratier. He was called up part way through the campaign when Samson and others were knocked out of action. He’s played mostly on the wing for UBC but has been a centre in the past and played some full back for Canada. He’s got a hammer of a kicking foot and could push for a starting place because of it.
Jordan Wilson-Ross was a squad player with the sevens program for a couple years, played some for Canada A but missed out on Rugby World Cup consideration, because of Canada’s deep talent pool on the wing as much as anything. A former star running back in Ontario high school play, Wilson-Ross is a physical runner.
Last is Theo Sauder, another former Canada U20 player. He’s been on the sevens radar for some time: former head coach Geraint John picked him for the Maple Leafs while he was still in high school. There was a chance for him to join the sevens program in Langford this season but he chose to stick with his studies at UBC. He’s played mostly as a full back or winger but this season was used as a fly half in the Thunderbirds’ CDI Premiership-winning campaign. Will he get a chance to run out at 10, or will his blinding pace keep him out wide?
WHO’S NOT HERE
The list of players who aren’t in the mix, either because of injury or personal reasons is pretty impressive.
Experienced Canada campaigners Tyler Ardron, Brett Beukeboom, Jeff Hassler, Jason Marshall, Jebb Sinclair and DTH van der Merwe are all off injured but will surely be considered again when healthy.
Gradyn Bowd hurt his shoulder during the ARC and is recovering from surgery. Callum Morrison suffered a neck injury during the ARC and obviously isn’t fit yet.
With all the travelling he’s been doing over the last year, Phil Mackenzie is taking some family time.
Andrew Tiedemann was a regular for Beziers this season in France but he and his wife have a baby on the way. Benoit Piffero and his wife also have a baby due in June. Doug Wooldridge, who finished out the season with Clermont, is getting married.
And of course, the sevens squad are off-limits for the time being. They’ve got their Olympic qualifier at the end of June. | {
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Almost daily, new clients ask me why a specific law firm is ranked on page one of search engines. The potential client is upset and does not believe it is fair to have this firm with hardly any experience on page one of search.
They believe their firm is the best firm in the city because they have years of experience, participated in hundreds of trials, have been published in journals, and went to the best law schools. In short, they feel as though they have the best lawyers because of their pedigree.
Their argument usually boils down to the idea that this new upstart firm should not rank high because:
- They are young with no experience.
- That other firm is not well known.
- That other firm is well . . . new.
The issue is that these new firms are creating new and innovative websites. They focus their content not on themselves, but on answering questions and providing the best resources. They create engaging content. Content that has a low-bounce rate and high-time on site. Content that is shared widely.
The issue is that the older firms with good pedigrees simply have websites that don’t showcase their talent:
- Their content is shorter and needs to be more detailed.
- Their content is about themselves only and not answering questions.
- They have no mentions online in legal directories, blogs, social media, and the press.
So overall, their extensive experience, pedigree, and victories are not translated well to the web. The good news is that all of this can be solved. Since the firm has a great pedigree, their story just needs to be told better.
Our Advice Remains the Same, Even After 17 Years of Building Websites
We have been recommending the same advice for years now. Build a better website. Write more content that answers the user’s questions. Build real backlinks through quality directories and doing real world community involvement (which gets you backlinks and helps out your community). Get press mentions by being great at your job and winning trials, solving issues, and then telling the world about your victories. | {
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Boss looks ahead to the busy run of games
Simon Grayson described Town’s busy run of Christmas fixtures as “season defining” when he spoke to htafc.com ahead of the trip to Charlton on Saturday.
After the trip to the Valley, the Terriers face games against Middlesbrough, Leeds United, Bolton, Hull City and Crystal Palace.
However, Simon started by focusing on Saturday’s challenge against Charlton in which he wants his team to build upon the last away performance against Barnsley.
“We know what we need to do this weekend,” he said. “We need to start the game brightly – it’s all about what we can do. We have proven this season that we are hard to beat away from home. I want the team to build on the professional performance they displayed against Barnsley the last time we went away from home.”
On Charlton, he said: “They have been in the mix so far this season. We don’t go too far back when analysing the opposition. We only go off the last three or four games and in those games they got beat by Middlesbrough, then they beat Cardiff and then won at Bristol City and Burnley. They are a hard working team that has quality in good areas; they are a threat up front with Rob Hulse and Danny Haynes.”
After guiding the Addicks to the npower League 1 title in his first full season in charge, Chris Powell has steadied the ship at the Valley after a rocky start to life in the Championship.
“Chris did a great job last year to get the team promoted and to be fair they were quite easily the best team in the Division. They had a few bad results at the start of the season, but he is the right man to be charge and that has shown with his team’s recent form.”
Town face a number of tough games before Christmas and Simon believes they could shape the Terriers’ season heading into the New Year.
“The next five or six weeks are big for us” he said. “You look through the run of fixtures and you see Charlton and Middlebrough who are both flying and then we have a local derby against Leeds; after that we have very tough games against Hull, Bolton and Crystal Palace. It could be a defining period of the season for a lot of teams, not just necessarily us. These games come thick and fast and if we can be somewhere around where we are now come January then we can assess the situation and see what we need to do as a football club to try and take us to the next level.”
Liam Ridehalgh was the only Town player to be involved in any transfer activity on Thursday when he joined Rotherham on loan. However, Simon also revealed that young defender Murray Wallace had attracted the interest of a number of clubs.
“We have had enquiries for one or two other players,” Simon confirmed. “Murray Wallace could have gone out on loan but we decided that he is doing well enough and will benefit from being in and around the squad. He is ready to step in, if, and when, required.
“There were probably three or four clubs that asked about him, which shows how highly he is rated. He’s unfortunate not to be in our 18 regularly, but he is working hard. I will have no hesitation in throwing him in if any of the lads at the back suffer an injury or hit a lack of form because he has done very well in the U21 games and training.”
To finish Simon provided an update on the fitness of strike duo Jermaine Beckford and James Vaughan.
“I’m not going to give too much away on whether it’s good news or bad news; I’m not one for divulging that sort of information. They are both making progress and they are being analysed on a daily basis.”
Speaking about Vaughan, Simon said: “I can confirm that his scan showed that his thigh is making very good progress, so he’s moving in the right direction. I don’t know if he will be fit for the weekend or for the games over the next few weeks, only time will tell.”
Pay on the day at Charlton - for more information click HERE | {
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We are excited to announce the launch of BlocksCAD for Education!
The Educator account comes with a centralized Teacher Dashboard where you can:
- Create classes
- Manage your student's accounts
- Access and Edit student code
- Download student .stl files for your 3D printer
- See how long students spend on their designs
Educator accounts come with complete access to our digitized introductory activities. These 20+ activities cover topics from the basic (creating and moving shapes) to using variables, loops, and logic in your designs. Each activity comes with:
- Detailed teachers notes
- Instructions for students including how to start, reflection questions, and aspirational models if they finish the early
- Example Solution that the teacher can edit to explore the model
No programming experience? No CAD (computer-aided-design) experience? No problem!
We have resources to help you learn BlocksCAD, including:
- A series of Skills Videos on Youtube covering all basic BlocksCAD features
- An online BlocksCAD Basics course
- Professional development options for schools (both online and in-person)
In BlocksCAD, you write a computer program to describe a solid 3D model. So you can:
- use variables to make a design that can change sizes - like a ring where you can specify the finger radius.
- use loops to make even patterns shapes in a design - like the numbers on a clock or the steps in a staircase.
- use randomness in models - like a forest randomly generated from different types of tree shapes
- use conditional logic to add patterns to your shapes - rotate every other ring in a line to make an interlocking chain.
- use modules to build up your own library of shapes to use in designs.
BlocksCAD is based on the open-source programming language OpenSCAD, a powerful and popular language in the 3D maker community. BlocksCAD's block-based interface makes programming accessible to students as young as 3rd grade (8 years old), but is powerful enough to continue making sophisticated designs through high school.
BlocksCAD is a great tool to build geometrical proficiency and other math skills. Building models is fun, so students are highly motivated to practice these skills as it enables them to make really cool stuff:
- 3D cartesian coordinates
- positive and negative numbers
- solid shapes, like cubes, spheres, and cylinders
- geometrical transformations, like translation, rotation, reflection, and scaling
- set operations, like union, difference, and intersection
- arithmetic, including order of operations
Older or more experienced students can use BlocksCAD to
- use variables to create parameterized models
- plot trigonometric functions
- plot parametric functions
- learn polar coordinates
- and more!
"My students absolutely love BlocksCAD, and they now beg for time to work with the software. I have been teaching them different uses for the coding blocks incrementally, and they have taken to it like fish to water! They have designed snowflakes using transformations and variables, created mini-figures, and now that we are reading a classic book in class, The Cricket in Times Square, they are designing their very own cricket cages! Their goal is to design them, print them, and then test them with their very own live crickets."
Charlie Laurent, 4th Grade Teacher, Rocky Hill School
"My 3rd grader fell in love with 3D design at her school. It has quickly became a favorite activity at home as well. The software is perfectly adapted to kids’ world and the creation (or invention) of the things. The pursuit of new projects naturally made our daughter creating project plan first, organizing objects, applying her skills from the “smart games” and feeling that math is cool (no kidding!). I am surprised how enthusiastic my daughter is learning geometry, math, programming skills just to be able to build her new things with this application."
Alex Prozument, parent of 3rd grader | {
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David Byrne can’t stop making stuff and sometimes not all stuff he makes is created equal.
Take for instance his new
stinkfest song “Who” with singer St. Vincent.
It is available for free download as a peek into the duo’s new album together “Love This Giant”.
I have to admit, I’m pretty disappointed with the song and I don’t anticipate the rest of the album being that amazeballs either.
What I appreciate about David Byrne is sometimes the same thing that makes me cringe. He not only supports young talent by attending their shows and publicly speaking about them, but he often collaborates with hot young talent… and sometimes he shouldn’t.
Sometimes David Byrne should stick with what he does best, which is write and perform inside his merry Davidbyrneland.
What struck me first about this song is how polished and classically-trained St. Vincent’s voice is and how wobbly and not classically-trained David Byrne’s voice is. DB’s voice is an acquired taste which by itself is pure magic, but when paired with others who sing more “normally”, sounds like a mentally-challenged goat trying to have his voice heard.
Add in the fact that “Who” is musically disjointed with St. Vincent and David Byrne sounding like they’re singing two separate songs and you got yourself one of DB’s smelliest creations.
I don’t know, maybe I’m not being very open-minded, but I kind of miss David Byrne being, well, old David Byrne.
It may also be the fact that I tried very hard to like St. Vincent, but something about her rubs me the wrong way. So, I had to check myself and ask, “Ok, Lauren. Do you not like her because she’s amazingly beautiful and talented?” The answer is, “I’m slightly jealous of her extreme beauty and talent, but mostly think she’s comes across as a cold lady based off of her interviews, personal accounts from others and her songs.” St. Vincent could use an image enema.
What do you guys think of the new collaboration by David Byrne and St. Vincent? | {
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We selected and profiled a set of Tecnolatinas to provide a sense of the relevance, breadth of scope and ambition of these young companies:
- Afluenta: A peer to peer lending platform, this startup brings investors and borrowers together, allowing the first ones to loan money to the second ones, and profit from the interests.
- Mercadolibre: leading marketplace and one of the top ten global e-commerce companies
- Despegar: one of the global top five online travel agencies, present in 21 countries
- Satellogic: building a constellation of nanosatellites to provide affordable commercial grade images from space
- Bluesmart: created the first smart connected suitcase raising US$2.2M on Indiegogo
- Open English: provides online English language education, reaching almost half a million students across the Americas
- B2W: one of Latin America’s largest digital companies, and one of the world’s largest in the e-commerce space
- Dafiti: regional fashion online retailer and marketplace
- Etermax: a mobile game developer with over 60 million monthly active users worldwide
- Guiabolso: a personal finance application with over 5 million downloads
- Globant: creates digital products focused on serving large clients in developed countries
- Hotel Urbano: large pure online travel agent with exclusive focus on the Brazilian market
- Nubank: a digitally managed credit card business with over a million users in Brazil
- OLX: craigslist of emerging markets, with presence in 40 countries, focus outside Latam
- CargoX: a Brazilian startup that has been described as the “Uber “for trucks
We also profiled two up-and-coming global Tecnolatinas to illustrate the potential that lies beneath and beyond our Radar
- Semtive: developed innovative home-scale wind generators and hybrid street light posts and became the first Singularity University company from outside the US
- Mural: invented a visual digital board for online brainstorming, synthesis and collaboration that is being adopted globally by players such IBM and IDEO
The detailed profiles are provided in the appendix of the report.
Tecnolatinas Profiles - Add Form
Sign up to receive the latest materials about Tecnolatinas!
Join our mailing list to receive the latest materials and updates from our team. | {
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Am I a soldier of the cross,
A follower of the Lamb?
And shall I fear to own his cause,
Or blush to speak his name?
Must I be borne to Paradise,
On flowery beds of ease,
While others fought to win the prize,
And sailed through bloody seas?
Are there no foes for me to face?
Must I not stem the flood?
Is this vain world a friend to grace,
To help me on to God?
Sure I must fight if I would reign;
Increase my courage, Lord;
I’ll bear the toil, endure the pain,
Supported by thy Word.
When thine illustrious day shall rise,
And all thy saints shall shine,
And shouts of vict’ry rend the skies,
The glory, Lord, be thine.
The History Of This Hymn
Composer — Thomas A. Arne (1710-1778).
Bible Scriptures Associated With This Hymn
1 Corinthians 16:13-14 (NRSV) — “(13) Keep alert, stand firm in your faith, be courageous, be strong. (14) Let all that you do be done in love.”
1 Peter 5:4 (KJV) — “And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.”
2 Timothy Chapter 2 (NKJV) —
(1) You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
(2) And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
(3) You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
(4) No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.
(5) And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.
(6) The hardworking farmer must be first to partake of the crops.
(7) Consider what I say, and may the Lord give you understanding in all things.
(8) Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to my gospel,
(9) for which I suffer trouble as an evildoer, even to the point of chains; but the word of God is not chained.
(10) Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
(11) This is a faithful saying: For if we died with Him, we shall also live with Him.
(12) If we endure, we shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us.
(13) If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.
(14) Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers.
(15) Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
(16) But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness.
(17) And their message will spread like cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort,
(18) Who have strayed concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the faith of some.
(19) Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”
(20) But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor.
(21) Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.
(22) Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
(23) But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife.
(24) And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient,
(25) in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth,
(26) and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.
The following words are from a “Reprint” (No. 5403-5404) from “The Original Watch Tower and Herald of Christ’s Presence:”
ENDURING HARDNESS AS GOOD SOLDIERS
“Thou, therefore, endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.”— 2 Tim. 2:3.
THERE are many illustrations used in the Bible, and all of them very forceful. The one which represents the Christian as a soldier, has a great deal of meaning. We are not to suppose that the angels in Heaven are soldiers, nor that that term would be applicable to them. There is no war going on in Heaven, but there is a war going on here on earth.
Six thousand years ago our first parents became entrapped, and the whole race was sold under Sin—became the servants of Sin and Satan. More and more this influence has prevailed—not that all willingly surrender to Satan, but that he puts darkness for light and light for darkness, and thus deceives mankind and leads them captive at his will.
All who desire to be in harmony with God would be out of harmony with Satan and Sin. And they might at times have resisted these, and have tried to do God’s will. But there was no organized undertaking for the overthrow of Sin until Jesus came. His mission was to overcome Satan, overcome Sin, and to bring everything into full harmony with God’s arrangement. Earth, this province of God’s great Empire, being in a rebellious state, needed to be conquered and restored, and Jesus undertook the work, with Divine backing.
The first step was laying down His own life as a Ransom-price for the sin of the whole world, and thus making good for the original transgression. But before taking His power and exercising it in the overthrow of Satan and Sin, Jesus, according to the Father’s will, began the selection of a Church class, variously styled members of His Body, His Bride, His companions and brethren in the Kingdom, His Royal Priesthood, under Himself as the great Royal High Priest. All those who have heard the Message, and whose hearts have been responsive, who have recognized the wrong conditions here prevailing, and who have felt sympathy for the race that is here sold as slaves of Sin and Death—all these have been invited to become members of this select class.
TERMS OF WARFARE STATED AT BEGINNING
These were informed at the very beginning that it would be necessary for them to fight a good fight. They were invited to enlist in the army to battle against Satan, and instructed that they should have full confidence that ultimately faith would have its victory. They were also told that they must suffer, laying down their lives as their Head and Forerunner laid down His life—not living for the world, but contrariwise, accepting His arrangement and living altogether for the purpose of carrying out their consecration with Him.
The final honor to which God has invited them is to a share in His great Kingdom, with His Son. This implies a change of nature to all who have become soldiers of the Cross, followers of the Lamb; for “flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God.” These are called to forego the rights and privileges of the present time, and by their lives to leave their mark, for a testimony to the world, for the benefit of mankind, and especially for the glory of God and for the calling out of others who might desire similarly to walk in the narrow way.
The warfare that these are called upon to wage is a warfare against sin and the powers of darkness. (Eph. 6:11.) They are pledged to the Lord for right, for truth, for goodness. They are thus to fight the good fight.
These soldiers will find, too, that some of their greatest difficulties are right in their own person.
They have tendencies toward sin, because of being members of the human family, children of wrath, of sin, even as others. Their relationship to the Lord is as New Creatures.
SELF OUR SPECIAL FOE
The New Creature is obliged to fight against and to control the flesh.
This is a great battle which each fights for himself.
Each soldier may more or less assist and set an example to the other soldiers, but the chief battle is with himself. It is a hand-to-hand conflict. Although he is expected at all times to be on the alert against the wiles of Satan and the world, yet his special fight is with the enemies in his own flesh. St. Paul himself had taken the shield of faith—wherewith to quench the fiery darts of the wicked—and the helmet of salvation, and the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. Timothy was a young soldier, and the Apostle was encouraging him with advice. He had already come into the Lord’s company, under the Lord’s standard.
THE QUALITIES OF A GOOD SOLDIER
St. Paul intimates that any one of us may be a good soldier, or contrariwise, a bad soldier, a poor soldier. We can imagine some soldiers who would be very disregardful of orders, not prompt to obey the command of the Leader. We can see that a good soldier is:
(1) one who is very much in sympathy with the Captain of his Salvation. He is an intelligent soldier, and sees that he has on the proper armor, that he wears it properly and that he gets the very best possible use out of this armor. He sees that in his walk he has a soldierly bearing [behave like a good or brave soldier], as a proper representative of the King, and of the great Kingdom so near at hand.
(2) He is not ashamed of his flag, nor of the garment of Christ’s righteousness. He is to lift up the standard of righteousness everywhere. He enlists in this warfare, knowing that it means his death—the death of the flesh, of the human nature. He is to be a good soldier—not merely outwardly loyal, merely wearing the uniform, but having the full spirit of the Cause.
This means that whatever experiences come to him he is to receive these thankfully, and be glad to have the privilege of enduring something for His Captain and in the interests of the Kingdom to which he has sworn allegiance.
The thought which the Apostle is impressing is that all good soldiers should endure hardness—hard, distressing conditions, circumstances that are quite unpleasant, difficult. Earthly soldiers are obliged to tramp through water and mud, enduring long, wearisome marches. Sometimes they are short of rations, sometimes obliged to sleep on the ground. Sometimes their battles are waged in the face of great opposition.
So the soldier of Christ is to endure whatever experiences may come to him, under the guidance of his Captain, not only willingly, but gladly, rejoicing that he has been permitted to enter this army of the Lord, knowing that these experiences are working out for him “a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.” These various hard experiences of the Christian are designed to work out for his good, that he may “lay hold on eternal life,” and gain a share in the Kingdom with his Redeemer.
Hymn Book Purchase
The Hymns Of Dawn (hymn book) can be purchased at:
The Chicago Bible Students Online Bookstore: https://chicagobible.org/product-category/books/page/4/
The Dawn Bible Students Association: http://www.dawnbible.com/dawnpub.htm
Acknowledgment & References
Bro. Charles Russell—the founder of the Bible Students movement, who is the compiler of “Poems and Hymns of Millennial Dawn” which was published in Allegheny, Pa., in 1890. This Bible Students’ devotional originally contained a total of 151 poems and 333 hymns.
Later on, the hymns from this book formed a basis for the hymnal titled “Hymns of Dawn” which was published by the Dawn Bible Students Association in East Rutherford, New Jersey (USA) and the 1999 edition contains a total of 361 hymns.
- Harvest Truth Data Base
Suggested Further Reading
Fight the Good Fight of Faith
Are You Able?
EXODUS 3 & 4 – Overcoming Timidity and Fear of One’s Own Inabilities
Why and How To Obey God?
2 CORINTHIANS 5:20 — What Does Being “Ambassadors For Christ” Mean?
The Agony of Gethsemane
The Cost of Discipleship
The Lord Is My Shepherd, (R.1396) — Reprints of the Original Watch Tower and Herald of Christ’s Presence.
Pastor Russell Blogspot – PASTOR CHARLES TAZE RUSSELL & THE WATCH TOWER SOCIETY:
Pastor Charles Russell founded the Bible Students movement:
Did Russell Start The JWs?
Who We Are. BIBLE Students DAILY – https://biblestudentsdaily.com/category/who-we-are/
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After the wild success of the Sopranos, cable—particularly premium cable—became the wellspring of quality television. Plenty of lower tier cable networks like TNT and USA churned out their own middling and formulaic comedic dramas to pass the time in between sitcom reruns and years-old movies, but HBO and Showtime more than made up for it. In recent years, even those oft-ignored lower cable channels became harder to pass up. FX (and now FXX) took massive gambles on Louie, Wilfred, and Terriers and mostly won, AMC knocked it out of the part with Mad Men and The Walking Dead, and Starz shocked just about everyone with Outlander.
But that quality also trickled down into network television. If you’d asked me 10 years ago if ABC was going to be THE VOICE in network television diversity, I’d have laughed in your face. They are the opposing force against CBS. Not that there’s anything especially wrong with CBS, but it’s not exactly know for its progressivism. That being said, Hawaii Five-0 and Criminal Minds are some of my favorite shows, despite their subject matter, so there you go. Fox continues to do its edgy thing, but it’s lost a lot of its fire with age. Gotham is the kind of risk only Fox would take, but they’ve done it in the least riskiest way possible. But at least ABC, CBS, and Fox (and The CW) know their target audiences. The trouble with NBC is that the only personality they have nowadays is “We were pretty cool in the 90s!” I really want Constantine to work, but somehow I suspect it’ll end up as yet another supernatural detective show—NBC wants to take risks, but it’s not daring enough to actually go through with them.
The Big Four have a vested interest in maintaining their version of the status quo for as long as possible. It was the Frankensteined young upstart, The CW, that saw the wide open playing field of SFF and ran for it. They aren’t the only channel to throw themselves into SFF, but they are the only ones who have been able to maintain, improve, and expand it. The reason for their success is two-fold. They know their audience extremely well, and have learned how to play their very specific tune with precision and grace. But their success also comes through trusting SFF it as a valid storytelling option rather than treating it as a gimmick or as a trendy way to capitalize on Twilight. Which means right now, the best comics TV show on air is The CW’s Arrow.
What’s really interesting is the shift toward internet television. Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon have all gotten in on creating shows, and even if they all aren’t excellent, they’re all at least unique and intriguing. Some of the best television in the last couple of years isn’t on the small screen but on the digital one. And with Transparent, Amazon took the high mark and said “Is that all you got?” Frankly, I can’t wait to see what comes next in this brave new digital world, but in the meantime, here’s what’s coming up this fall.
Shows with an “*” are new this season.
The 100 (CW, Wed 9p)—premieres 10/22
American Horror Story: Freak Show (FX, Wed 10p)—premieres 10/8
Arrow (CW, Wed 8p)—premieres 10/8: I’m telling you, Arrow is the superhero show you’ve been waiting for. Full of charm, action, suspense, clever plotting, good dialogue, great characters, feminism, and diversity. Watch. This. Show.
*Ascension (Syfy, Mon 9p)—premieres 11/24
*Constantine (NBC, Fri 10p)—premieres 10/24: What happens when you take a rich, complex world and attempt to cover up the brutal network-demanded defanging by cluttering it up with too many nods to fans? A) Gotham; B) Constantine; C) Both; D) Stahp, networks, for the love of Hera.
Doctor Who (BBC America, Sat 9p): I’ve reached a point of painful resignation with DW, wherein I willingly watch every episode, and very occasionally fall in love all over again, but mostly it’s a series of continual disappointments. When not even Capaldi can improve on Moffat, you know there’s a major problem.
*The Flash (CW, Tue 8p)—premieres 10/7: By all accounts, it sounds like Arrow but happier. Please and thank you.
*Gotham (Fox, Mon 8p): Each ham-handed introduction of a character from the comics and continual wink-wink-nudge-nudge lines tossed in their direction only serves to make the show less interesting.
Grimm (NBC, Fri 9p)—premieres 10/24: It’s like OUaT: too scattered to commit to its camp and too uncommitted to sustain the more serious plots. It doesn’t have to be grim, but it should at least strive to be good.
*The Intruders (BBC America, Sat 10p)
Legend of Korra (Nick.com)
Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (ABC, Tue 9p): I really, really want to like this show, but I really, really don’t. This and Gotham are the only shows I’m watching this season despite not actually wanting to.
Once Upon a Time (ABC, Sun 8p): I caught Sebastian Stan’s episodes this summer. By which I mean I watched only the Sebastian Stan scenes and fast-forwarded through the rest.
The Originals (CW, Mon 8p)—premieres 10/6: It’s rare to have a spin-off better than its original, and Vampire Diaries is pretty darn good.
Person of Interest (CBS, Tue 10p)
Resurrection (ABC, Sun 9p)
*Star Wars Rebels (Disney XD, Mon 9p)—premieres 10/13
Supernatural (CW, Tue 9p)—premieres 10/7: The show’s had some very rocky patches in recent seasons, but unleashing Demon!Dean on the world should make for some excellent fireworks. I’ll be sporadically covering the final season starting this Tuesday.
Vampire Diaries (CW, Thu 8p)
The Walking Dead (AMC, Sun 9p)—premieres 10/12: Season 5 shambles back onto your televisions, thankfully sans The Governor. Once again, I’m reviewing it weekly starting this Sunday.
*Z Nation (Syfy, Fri 10p): More like Zzzzz Nation, amirite?!
The Blacklist (NBC, Mon 10p): Why, America? Why?
Blue Bloods (CBS, Fri 10p)
Bones (Fox, Thu 8p)
Castle (ABC, Mon, 10p)
Chicago Fire (NBC, Tue 10p): Meh.
Chicago P.D. (NBC, Wed 10p): Meh x2
Criminal Minds (CBS, Wed 9p): Surprisingly, Jennifer Love Hewitt’s recently introduced character is like a breath of fresh air. Wish they brought her in years ago.
CSI (CBS, Sun 10p): The unkillable juggernaut.
Elementary (CBS, Thu 10p)—premieres 10/30
*Forever (ABC, Mon 10p): This is going to be my Moonlight, I just know it. I can already see myself drooling over the box set.
The Good Wife (CBS, Sun 9p)
Gracepoint (Fox, Wed 9p): Despite being an almost shot-for-shot remake of Broadchurch, Gracepoint feels more like a retcon of the American version of The Killing.
Grey’s Anatomy (ABC Thu 8p)
Hawaii Five-0 (CBS, Fri 9p): It’s so much more enjoyable when you watch it under the veil of McDanno.
Homeland (Showtime, Sun 9p)
*How to Get Away with Murder (ABC, Thu 10p): I would give all the monies if ABC would air this nightly, à la telenovela style. Once a week is not nearly enough Viola Davis.
*Legends (TNT, Wed 9p)
*Madam Secretary (CBS, Sun 8p)
*The Missing (NBC, Sat 10p)—premieres 11/15: We’ve hit maximum Procedural capacity.
*The Mysteries of Laura (NBC, Wed 10p): Every season has its version of Work It, a trite, tone-deaf, plodding show that relies on insensitive tropes and grating stereotypes. This is that show.
NCIS (CBS, Tue 8p): Your grandparents have single-handedly kept this show alive.
NCIS: Los Angeles (CBS, Mon 10p): Literally the only thing I know about this show is that it once crossed over with Hawaii Five-0.
*NCIS: New Orleans (CBS, Tue 9p): CBS tries again to spin-off NCIS. Because 1 spin-off isn’t nearly enough.
The Newsroom (HBO, Sun 9p)
*Red Band Society (Fox, Wed 9p): Paging Dr. Network Television Version of The Fault in Our Stars.
Revenge (ABC, Sun 10p)
Scandal (ABC, Thu 9p): The slogan TGIT—Thank Goodness It’s Thursday—is both perfect and terrible, and I grimace every time I hear it.
*Scorpion (CBS, Mon 9p): CBS’s conception of The World Wide Web is vaguely right-ish but mostly jabberwocky and involves lots of shouting and hipster hackers.
Sleepy Hollow (Fox, Mon 9p): YES YES YES!
*Stalker (CBS, Wed 10p): There is not enough “ugh” in the world to convey how I feel about this awful, terrible show.
*State of Affairs (NBC, Mon 10p)—premieres 11/17
*Transparent (Amazon Prime): Heartbreaking. Beautiful. Powerful.
White Collar (USA, Thu 9p)—premieres 11/6: Final season.
*A to Z (NBC, Thu 9:30p): Better than Manhattan Love Story and Selfie, but somehow less interesting than both.
Awkward (MTV, Tue 10p)
*The Awesomes (Hulu)
The Big Bang Theory (CBS, Mon 8p)
*Black-ish (ABC, Wed 9:30p)
Bob’s Burgers (Fox, Sun 7:30p):
Gene: “It’s the documentarian who hates Dad and puts wigs on cows!”
Tina: “Werner Herzog?”
Brooklyn Nine-Nine (Fox, Sun 8:30p)
Comedy Bang! Bang! (IFC, Fri 11p)—premieres 10/17
*Cristela (ABC, Fri 8:30p)—premieres 10/10
*Garfunkel and Oates (IFC, Thu 10p)
*Happyland (MTV, Tue 11p)
Key & Peele (Comedy Central, Wed 10:30p): LIAM NEESONS!
*Manhattan Love Story (ABC, Tue 8:30p): I’m a huge fan of the new rom-sitcom trend, but this is not the show to lead the charge.
*Marry Me (NBC, Tue 9p)—premieres 10/14: “Six years ago, Annie and Jake bonded over their mutual love of nachos and they have been inseparable ever since.” *rolls eyes* Ken Marino and Casey Wilson are in this. *perks up*
The Mindy Project (Fox, Tue 9:30p)
New Girl (Fox, Tue 9p)
The Regular Show (Cartoon Network, Thu 7:30p)—premieres 10/9
*Selfie (ABC, Tue 8p): The only thing keeping me watching is John Cho.
*Survivor’s Remorse (Starz, Sat 9p)
Boardwalk Empire (HBO, Sun 9p): Final season
Comic Book Men (AMC, Sun 12a)—premieres 10/12:
*Death Comes to Pemberley (PBS, Sun 9p)—premieres 10/26: Any connection to Jane Austen, no matter how remote or tenuous, and I’m there.
Hell on Wheels (AMC, Sat 9p)
Makers (PBS, Tue 9p): Documentary series about awesome women being awesome. In other words, yay!
*Marco Polo (Netflix)—premieres 12/12
Reign (CW, Thu 9p)
Talking Dead (AMC, Sun 10p)—premieres 10/12: Aka, AMC’s excuse to not include important plot points and explanations of character behavior in TWD.
Alex Brown is an archivist, research librarian, writer, geeknerdloserweirdo, and all-around pop culture obsessive who watches entirely too much TV. Keep up with her every move on Twitter, or get lost in the rabbit warren of ships and fandoms on her Tumblr. | {
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Tom And Jerry are among the last animals living in Storybook Town, a fairy tale-inspired theme park “where dreams come true, if you believe.”
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The Struggle for Time and Space Begins Again…! The legendary Arceus. Long ago Arceus granted a fragment of its awesome power as the Jewel of Life to help Michina in the town’s hour of need only to be betrayed when it was time for that power to be returned. After so many years Arceus is about to return to reclaim its power – enraged vengeful and seemingly unstoppable. Not even the combined might of Dialga, Palkia and Giratina can stop Arceus from devastating all existence across multiple dimensions. But Ash and his companions joining forces with their new friend Sheena, may have discovered the only way to redeem that ancient betrayal. Their journey will be both dangerous and uncertain: even if Ash and his friends can set an old wrong right again will there be time to return the Jewel of Life before Arceus destroys everything and everyone they’ve ever known?
Fuelled by his restored faith in humanity and inspired by Superman’s selfless act, Bruce Wayne and Diana Prince assemble a team of metahumans consisting of Barry Allen, Arthur Curry and Victor Stone to face the catastrophic threat of Steppenwolf and the Parademons who are on the hunt for three Mother Boxes on Earth.
Two friends are invited for a weekend to a luxury island with their boss. The boss gets shot and nobody seems to notice, except for the two friends. In order not to become suspects of murder they treat the body as a puppet and make people believe he’s still alive. The killer wants to do his job so when he is informed that the stiff is still alive he’s got to shoot him again, and again, and again.
The Evil Dead meets Scream as an evil professor, through an ancient staff and a book of incantation, possesses the bodies of a group of fraterity and sorority pledges during a night of “hazing” activities in an abandoned mansion. When the students meet one grisly death after another, the survivors finally realize it’s the professor who is possessing their friends and killing them all off. Now none of them trust each other– is it their friends or puppets of the professor that they’re hanging with? Somone better figure it out quick… or none of them will make it through the hellish night of The Hazing!
Doug, a dorky young mamma’s boy, who is about to get married to his beautiful bride, Callista, when he notices a change come over her. He catches her sneaking around at night and lying to him, and she’s begun to display flu-like symptoms. So naturally Doug thinks she caught a disease while cheating on him. In reality she has become possessed via an ancient stone and she’s been eating his friends and family without him knowing.
An up-tight lawyer, Lenny Rubins, (Timothy Spall), has to put his dream retirement on hold when his ailing mother (Honor Blackman) emotionally blackmails him into reuniting his estranged children for a Jewish holiday. They may be peas from the same pod, but in Lenny’s eyes, his grown-up children are certainly not even from the same planet: a ruthless control-freak and hard-nosed capitalist, an outspoken, argumentative eco-warrior committed to the cause, an outer-worldly Buddhist Monk; and to cap it all, a bible bashing born-again Rabbi. While they might quarrel, fight, and perhaps even be starting a war in Africa, they are still family. It is going to take a whole lot of soul-searching and sacrifice for everyone to come together in this comic drama. Written by monterey media inc.
When 19-year-old Adam agrees to do a day’s driving for his mum’s gangster boyfriend Peter, it takes him on a 24-hour journey into a nightmarish world of murder, sex trafficking and revenge, in the company of aging hit man Roy.
Russ Richards is a TV weatherman and local celebrity on the verge of losing his shirt. Desperate to escape financial ruin, he schemes with Crystal the TV station’s lotto ball girl to rig the state lottery drawing. The numbers come up right, but everything else goes wrong as the plan starts to unravel and the game turns rough.
One by one the archaeologists who discover the 4,000-year-old tomb of Princess Ananka are brutally murdered. Kharis, high priest in Egypt 40 centuries ago, has been brought to life by the power of the ancient gods and his sole purpose is to destroy those responsible for the desecration of the sacred tomb. But Isobel, wife of one of the explorers, resembles the beautiful princess, forcing the speechless and tormented monster to defy commands and abduct Isobel to an unknown fate. | {
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Wednesday, February 10, 2016
6:30 PM to 8:30 PM
Florida State College at Jacksonville Deerwood Center
9911 Old Baymeadows Road. G1709. Jacksonville, FL 32256
You see the headlines about immigrants and refugees daily, but what are their experiences really like? Join us for our first Salon of 2016 where we'll present a selection of TED Talks on the immigrant/refugee experience.
Panel discussion featuring local voices, including:
Professor of Law at Florida Coastal School of Law and Director of the Immigrant and Human Rights Clinic.
Third-year law student at Florida Coastal School of Law specializing in international, human rights, and refugee law.
Palestinian American, vice president in finance technology, and member of Floridians Responding to Refugees.
Managing Partner of Bataineh Palmeri, a business and corporate law firm, and executive board member of OneJax. Mohammad was born in the Middle East and came to the US as a young boy. | {
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President Frederic Will, BA, Ph.D.
Vice President Susan Nash, BS, MA, Ph.D.
Secretary Turhan I. Baykan, MD, Ph.D.
Stuart Blackburn, Ph.D.
Stuart Blackburn did his PhD at the University of California, Berkeley, in South Asian Studies and Folklore. He taught for many years at SOAS in London and later held visiting professorships at Heidelberg, Berkeley and Berlin (Humboldt University). Since the 1970s, his fieldwork and publications have focused on oral traditions and culture in India. He is the author of seven monographs (including the prize-winning Inside the Drama House, California, 1996) and the editor or co-editor of eight other books. He is currently a research associate at SOAS and writes historical fiction.
Dietrich, Ayse, Ph.D.
.Dr. Ayse Dietrich is Professor Emeritus of Russian History, Literature, Language and Linguistics. She has a bachelor degree from Ankara University, Faculty of Letters, Department of Russian Language and Literature. She also has a master degree from the same University. She received a scholarship in 1987 to study in the United States, and received a master’s degree from New York University, Department of Russian Language and Literature and a third master’s degree and a doctorate from Cornell University, Slavic Department. She was the chair of the Department of Russian Language and Literature at Ankara University since 2008. She is currently working as a part-time instructor at Middle East Technical University, in the Department of History and the Eurasian Studies, teaching courses on Russian History, Soviet History, History of the Caucasus and Language Policies in Late Imperial, Soviet and Post-Soviet Russia. She is the founder and editor of the International Journal of Russian Studies (IJORS), published in the U.S.A.
Georg Gugelberger, Ph.D.
Georg Gugelberger is professor emeritus of Comparative Literature at the University of California, Riverside, and Director of the University of California's Education Abroad Program at U.N.A.M. in Mexico City.
David McPherson, Ph.D.
David McPherson is professor emeritus and former chair of the English Department at the University of New Mexico. His areas of expertise include the drama of Renaissance England and comparative literature.
Susan Smith Nash, Ph.D.
Susan Smith Nash has refined numerous literature courses in the humanities, including world literature, American literature, and film. She earned her doctorate from the University of Oklahoma, where she currently teaches. Nash is widely published in the areas of literature, film criticism, e-learning, and the discourse of science. She has also served as editor for journals that focus on literature and literary criticism.
Frederic Will, Ph.D.
Frederic Will has taught widely both in the United States and abroad. He has taught French, German, and Classics at Dartmouth, Penn State, University of Texas, University of Iowa, University of Massachusetts, and on Fulbright Grants at the Universities of Tuebingen, Tunis, Chad, and Cote d'Ivoire. He has taught in the University of Iowa Writer's Workshop and co-directed the Translation Workshop at the University of Iowa. He has been a founding editor of Arion: A Journal of Classical Culture, and Micromegas: A Journal of Poetry in Translation. He has written 53 books in various genres: cultural criticism, poetry, technical philosophy, fiction, travel accounts, autobiography, and translation. He received fellowships from the American Council of Learned Societies, the Ford Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Bollingen Foundation. His literary and editorial papers are in the archives of the Humanities Research Center at the University of Texas.
Clark, Paul, Ph.D.
Paul H. Clark is an East Asia area specialist and Associate Professor of History at West Texas A&M University. Dr. Clark is the author of The Kokugo Revolution: Education, Identity and Language Policy in Imperial Japan (2009) and is the recipient of a 2006 Fulbright-Hays Faculty Research Abroad Fellowship. He is preparing the following Study Guide: Chinese History.
Wu Dingmin, Ph.D.
Professor Wu Dingman's area of expertise is Chinese culture, and he is the author of A Panoramic View of Chinese Culture (2010). He prepared the following Study Guide: Chinese Culture.
Clark, Paul, Ph.D.
Paul H. Clark is an East Asia area specialist and Associate Professor of History at West Texas A&M University. Dr. Clark is the author of The Kokugo Revolution: Education, Identity and Language Policy in Imperial Japan (2009) and is the recipient of a 2006 Fulbright-Hays Faculty Research Abroad Fellowship. He prepared the following Study Guide: Japanese History.
Guvenc, Bozkurt, Ph.D.
Bozkurt Guvenc is Professor Emeritus and former Dean of Arts and Sciences of Hacettepe University, and founder of the Population Studies Dozent of Hacettepe University. Dr. Guvenc is author of 24 books in Turkish, 4 books in English, and more than 250 scholarly articles and papers. He prepared the following Study Guide: Japanese Culture.
Marcus, Marvin, Ph.D.
Marvin Marcus is a professor in East Asian Studies at Washington University specializing in Japanese literature. Marcus’s area of specialization is modern Japanese literature of the prewar (so-called kindai) period, and his research has focused on personal narrative and ‘life writing’—memoir, reminiscence, essay, diary, and autobiography. He also researches aspects of the Tokyo literary community—the bundan—and the literary journalism that was its lifeblood. Marcus has extensively researched and written on authors such as Mori Ōgai, Natsume Sōseki, Shimazaki Tōson, Futabatei Shimei, and Uchida Roan. Literary translation has been an essential component of this work over the years. Paragons of the Ordinary (Hawaii, 1993) concerns Ōgai’s biographical writings. Reflections in a Glass Door (Hawaii, 2009) centers on Sōseki’s wide-ranging personal writings. Marcus’s current book project, entitled Writing in the Margins, brings together a number of interrelated perspectives on kindai literature through the ‘marginal’ endeavors of major writers. He prepared the following Study Guides: Japanese Autobiography, Japanese literature.
Blackburn, Stuart, Ph.D.
Stuart Blackburn is a research associate / research fellow, University of London, School of Oriental and African Studies, Department of Languages and Cultures of South Asia. He prepared the following Study Guides : Indian Autobiography, Indian History, Indian Culture, and Indian Literature.
Stewart, Devin, Ph.D.
Devin J. Stewart is associate professor of Arabic and Islamic studies at Emory University. His specialties include Islamic law and legal theory, Shi'ite Islam, the Qur'an, and Arabic dialects. His written works include numerous articles and reviews. Stewart has also published three books: Islamic Legal Orthodoxy: Twelve Shiite Responses to the Sunni Legal System; Interpreting the Self: Autobiography in the Arabic Literary Tradition; and Law and Education in Islam. He prepared the following Study Guides: Arabic Autobiography, Arabic literature, Arabic Culture, Arabic History.
Dietrich, Richard, Ph.D.
Richard Dietrich is a Lecturer in History, Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey. He prepared the following Study Guide: Persian History.
Gould, Rebecca, Ph.D.
Rebecca Gould, Assistant Professor, Yale and Singapore National University. She prepared the following Study Guide: Persian Autobiography.
Clark, Elizabeth, Ph.D.
Elizabeth Morrow Clark is an associate professor of history at West Texas A&M University. She holds her doctorate in Russian and East Central European History from the University of Kansas. Dr. Clark is a two-time Fulbright Scholar to Poland. She serves on the Editorial Board of Humanities-Net’s H-Russia. She prepared the following Study Guide: Slavic History.
Dietrich, Ayse, Ph.D.
Dr. Ayse Dietrich is Professor Emeritus of Russian History, Literature, Language and Linguistics. She has a bachelor degree from Ankara University, Faculty of Letters, Department of Russian Language and Literature. She also has a master degree from the same University. She received a scholarship in 1987 to study in the United States, and received a master’s degree from New York University, Department of Russian Language and Literature and a third master’s degree and a doctorate from Cornell University, Slavic Department. She was the chair of the Department of Russian Language and Literature at Ankara University since 2008. She is currently working as a part-time instructor at Middle East Technical University, in the Department of History and the Eurasian Studies, teaching courses on Russian History, Soviet History, History of the Caucasus and Language Policies in Late Imperial, Soviet and Post-Soviet Russia. She is the founder and editor of the International Journal of Russian Studies (IJORS), published in the U.S.A.
McSweeney, Terence, Ph.D.
Terence McSweeney is currently a Lecturer in Film and Television Studies at Southampton Solent University. His publications include 9/11 Frames per Second: The “War on Terror” and American Cinema, and numerous book chapters and articles. He serves on the Advisory Board for the International Journal of Russian Studies. His research interests include Russian, South Korean, and American cinema, as well as film theory.
Akgun, Secil Karal, Ph.D.
Professor Seçil Karal Akgün chaired the History Department of the Middle East Technical University in Ankara and teaches modern Ottoman and contemporary Turkish history. She is the author of multiple books and articles published in Turkey and abroad. He prepared the following Study Guide: Turkish History.
Bayram, Nazli, Ph.D.
Nazli Bayram is a member of the Faculty of Communication Sciences, Cinema and Television Department, Anatolia University, Eskisehir, Turkey. She prepared the study Guide on Turkish Cinema.
Çulha, Tülay, Ph.D.
Tülay Çulha is an associate professor in the Department of Turkish Language and Literature of Kocaeli University, Turkey. Dr. Çulha's area of expertise includes the Turkish World North-West (Kypchak) Turkish language and literature, especially Karaim Turkish and Literature. She currently conducts academic research in this field. She prepared the following study guide: Turkic Literature.
Demirci, Sevtap, Ph.D.
Sevtap Demirci is professor at Bosphorus University, Istanbul, Turkey. Her doctorate is from the University of London. She is the author of numerous books and publications on international and Turkish history. She authored the following Study Guide: Turkish History.
Golden, Peter B., Ph.D.
Dr. Peter B. Golden, Professor Emeritus of History, Turkish and Middle Eastern Studies, Rutgers University, is the author of numerous publications on Central Asia and world history and is one of the most renowned Turkish and Central Asia scholars in the world. His An Introduction to the History of Turkic Peoples is widely respected. He prepared the following Study Guide: Turkic History.
Silay, Kemal, Ph.D.
Kemal Silay is Chair of Ottoman and Modern Turkish Studies Department, Central Eurasian Studies, Indiana University. He is the author of numerous works on Turkish politics, history, and culture. He prepared the following Study Guides: Turkic Languages, Ottoman History, Ottoman Literature, Turkish Literature I & II, Turkish Culture, Turkish Folklore.
Tülüveli, Güçlü, Ph.D.
Güçlü Tülüveli, Ph.D., is an assistant professor of Ottoman history currently working in the Department of History, Middle East Technical University. He had received his B.A from METU, M.A from Bosphorus University and his Ph.D. from the Center for Byzantine, Ottoman and Modern Greek Studies, University of Birmingham, England. His area of expertise is Ottoman socio-economic and urban history in the early modern era. He prepared the following Study Guide: Ottoman History.
Yesilada, Birol, Ph.D.
Birol Yesilada is Professor of Political Science and International Studies, Contemporary Turkish Studies Endowed Chair, Portland State University. He prepared the following Study Guide: Turkish Politics.
Latin American Studies
Hunter, Priscilla, Ph.D.
Priscilla Hunter is Professor at Oregon State University specializing in Spanish language literature. She is the author of numerous books and publications on South American literature.
Diala, Isidore, Ph.D.
Isidore Diala is a professor at Imo State University, Nigeria. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Ibadan. A widely published author, Dr. Diala has been awarded fellowships in both Germany and the U.K. His recent articles are on Nigerian and post-colonial literatures. He prepared the following Study Guide: African Autobiography.
Ojaide, Tanure, Ph.D.
Tanure Ojaide, Ph.D. is Professor of Africana Studies at The University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He prepared the study guides on African Literature and Culture.
Davis, Robert Murray, Ph.D.
Robert Murray Davis is Professor Emeritus from the University of Oklahoma, specializing in British, Western American, and Central European literature. He is the author of numerous books and publications on literature, and has authored several award-winning memoirs. He prepared the following Study Guide: British Culture.
Fox, Valerie, Ph.D.
Valerie Fox earned her doctorate from the State University of New York - Binghamton. She teaches English at Drexel University. Her areas of expertise include autobiography, Japanese literature, and American literature.
McGinnis, Susan H., Ph.D.
Susan McGinnis earned her doctorate at the University of Oklahoma. Her areas of expertise include drama and medieval literature.
McPherson, David C., Ph.D.
David McPherson professor emeritus and former chair of the English Department, University of New Mexico. His areas of expertise include the drama of Renaissance England and comparative literature. He prepared the following Study Guides: Drama, Renaissance Literature, Renaissance Culture.
Nash, Susan Smith, Ph.D.
Susan Smith Nash has developed numerous literature courses in the humanities, including world literature, American literature, and film. She earned her doctorate from the University of Oklahoma, where she currently teaches. Nash is widely published in the areas of literature, film criticism, e-learning, and discourse of science. In addition, she has served as editor for journals focusing on literature and literary criticism. She prepared the following Study Guides: American Cinema, Poetry, Fiction, Ancient Literature, Medieval Literature, Enlightenment Literature, 19th Century Literature, and 20th Century Literature.
Sayre, Robert F., Ph.D.
Robert F. Sayre is a professor emeritus of University of Iowa. An acknowledged and
distinguished scholar, Dr. Sayre is widely published in the field of autobiography and memoirs, and his essays, articles, and anthologies have received positive reviews. He prepared the following Study Guides: American Literature, Autobiography, Non-Western Autobiography, British Autobiography, and American Autobiography.
Gugelberger, Georg, Ph.D.
Georg M. Gugelberger is Professor of Comparative Literature at the University of California, Riverside and Director of the University of California’s Education Abroad Program at U.N.A.M. in Mexico City. He prepared the following Study Guide: Latin American Autobiography.
Will, Frederic, Ph.D.
Frederic Will is a widely published professor of comparative literature who has been a Fulbright Scholar in Greece, Tunisia, and Ivory Coast. He is the founding editor of Micromegas, a journal of poetry in translation, and served as administrator and faculty member of Dartmouth, University of Massachusetts, and University of Iowa. He prepared the following Study Guides: British Literature, French Literature, German Literature, Ancient Autobiography, Non-Western Autobiography, and German Autobiography.
Speelman, Raniero M., Ph.D.
Dr. Raniero M. Speelman studied Italian, Humanistic Latin and History of Art at Leyden University and has been working since 1987 at Utrecht University, the Netherlands, as Assistant Professor. He is a specialist on Renaissance culture as well as on travel literature and Italian literature. He published books, critical text editions and articles on Pietro Della Valle, Primo Levi and others. He was the first Erasmus guest lecturer at Hacettepe University’s Art History Department and is a frequent guest lecturer at Ankara University, Turkey. He is as well a lecturer at the EYE, the Netherlands Institute of Movie Education and at the HOVO (Higher Education for Elderly People) at Utrecht. He co-authored the following study guides: Renaissance History and Italian Cinema.
Ozkan, Nevin, Ph.D.
Dr. Nevin Özkan studied Italian language and literature at Ankara University and has been working there since 1982, ultimately as full professor and Head of the Italian Department. She is a specialist on travel literature and Italian literature. She translated works by Pier Paolo Pasolini, Primo Levi, Marco Lodoli, Edmondo de Amicis and other contemporary Italian authors and published books and articles on travel writing and on Turkish documents in the Modena archives. She co-authored the following study guides: Renaissance History and Italian Cinema.
Thompson, Paul, PhD
Paul Thompson is Professor Emeritus in Sociology at the University of Essex. He is Founder-Editor of Oral History and Founder of National Life Stories at the British Library. He is a pioneer of oral history in Europe and author of the international classic The Voice of the Past. His other books include The Edwardians and Living the Fishing. He is co-author of Pathways to Social Class and Growing Up in Stepfamilies, and most recently, Jamaican Hands Across the Atlantic.
Buztemur, Recep, Ph.D.
Recep Boztemur is Professor of World History in the Department of History, Middle East Technical University, with a BS from the Faculty of Political Sciences in the University of Ankara, MA from the Department of Political Sciences at METU and Ph.D. from the Middle East Center, University of Utah. Founder and Chair of Middle East Studies at METU, he taught as visiting professor in the University of Utah and Eurasian National University in Astana. Dr. Boztemur has a number of works on the Middle East, Balkan, Ottoman and World History. He prepared the following Study Guides: Turkic Culture, Turkic History.
Richard Dietrich, Ph.D.
Richard Dietrich is a Lecturer in History, Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey. He prepared the following Study Guides: Persian History. Ancient History, Ancient Greek History, Roman History, Byzantine History, Islamic History.
Gursel, Bahar, Ph.D.
Bahar Gürsel currently gives lectures as an assistant professor at the Department of History of Middle East Technical University (M.E.T.U.). The areas of interest of Dr. Gürsel include US History, History of Modern Britain, Nineteenth- and Early Twentieth-Century Italian History, American Cultural and Diplomatic History, Immigration History, and History of Eastern and Western Civilizations. She prepared the following Study Guide: Modern History.
Soykut, Mustafa, Ph.D.
Mustafa Soykut is professor of early modern history at the Department of History of Middle East Technical University, Ankara. He has studied in Trieste and University of Bologna in Italy and received his PhD from Hamburg University in Germany. He received a number of scholarships in Italy and Germany and awards including the Distinguished Young Scholar Award of the Turkish Academy of Sciences for his research on Italy and the Ottomans. Professor Soykut also lectures on the culture and history of religion of the Indian subcontinent. He prepared the following Study Guides: Medieval History and Early Modern History.
Stearns, Peter N., Ph.D.
A widely published author and researcher in world history, Dr. Peter N. Stearns is Provost and Professor of History at George Mason University. Stearns was Chair of the Department of History at Carnegie Mellon University and also served as the Dean of the Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences. In addition, he founded and edited the Journal of Social History. Dr. Stearns was educated at Harvard University. Professor Stearns's publications in world history include two popular textbooks and more than 100 works in world history and other topics. His books include The Industrial Revolution in World History, Gender in World History, Consumerism in World History, Western Civilization in World History, Childhood in World History, and Global Outrage: The Evolution and Impact of World Opinion. Textbooks include World Civilizations and World History in Brief. He edited the Encyclopedia of World History.
Davis, Paul, Ph.D.
Paul Davis, Emeritus Professor of English from the University of New Mexico, has developed and taught several courses in world literature, led a curriculum development project in world literature sponsored by the National Endowment for the Humanities, and edited several texts in world literature, including The Bedford Anthology of World Literature, the text for this course. A specialist in the literature of the nineteenth century with a Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin, he has written many articles on Victorian literature and several books on the works of Charles Dickens.
Johnson, David, Ph.D.
David Johnson, Emeritus Professor of English from the University of New Mexico, developed and taught courses in creative writing, mythology, and world literature. In addition to publishing books of poetry and a book on writing poetry, he was a co-editor of Western Literature in a World Context and a co-editor of the six-volume Bedford Anthology of World Literature (2003), the text for this course. He has published articles on mythology, comparative religion, and travels in Mexico. He has lectured and conducted workshops throughout New Mexico. His most recent book is Rebirth of Wonder: Poems of the Common Life (2007). He presently teaches short courses in autobiography and comparative religion in the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of New Mexico. | {
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- yourtown Prize Homes
- Proof Christmas dreams do come true…
Proof Christmas dreams do come true…
As a child, Mary* was convinced she would one day win a Prize Home.
Growing up in Queensland, the hopeful youngster would visit the luxurious properties with her parents.
Each time, she’d proclaim that one day she would be the winner.
Fast forward to 2015…
Now an adult with her own family, Mary hadn’t forgotten about her dream to win a home.
In 2015, she decided to become a myplace member, meaning she not only had the chance to win a Luxury Prize Home, but even more bonus prizes.
It meant she could set and forget so her family never missed a chance to win and help young people in the process.
A year later, their world was turned upside-down when Mary was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis.
It hit the family hard.
The decision to become a myplace member however, proved to be a blessing.
The ultimate Christmas present…
On Thursday 22 December, 2016, Mary received the call we all dream of - she’d won yourtown’s $2.7 Million Christmas Prize Home draw.
After learning of their win, the family went straight to yourtown’s Brisbane office to pick up the keys and sign the paperwork.
Next stop: their million dollar beach home.
Walking through the doors was overwhelming, but soon enough the kids were checking out their new bedrooms and unwrapping the gifts under the tree.
Their plans for Christmas Day were quickly changed, with family and friends invited over for a celebration they’d never forget.
“What this win has done for my family I can't even put into words,” Mary told us, “The timing could not have been better.”
“With this win came a lot of relief, the everyday stress was lifted instantly, my future was already looking brighter.
“Just knowing we can financially support our children in whatever dreams they have makes us the happiest.”
The family have since sold up and relocated to their home town.
The win has set them up for life after the stress of wondering how they would ever afford the ongoing treatment and medication needed following Mary’s diagnosis.
“I encourage everyone to buy a ticket, not only to have a chance to win a mind blowing Prize Home and all the extras, but to help support the kids that need it through Kids Helpline,” she said. | {
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In 2016 Britain Stronger in Europe, an umbrella campaign led by the then Conservative prime minister David Cameron, made the argument for Britain’s continued membership of the European Union. At the time of the referendum, Cameron’s unpopularity was rapidly on the increase as the austerity he had imposed on the nation was starting to be felt more widely. His Conservative-led coalition government back-loaded their cuts between 2010 and 2015 so they fell after the 2015 general election – they dropped at the precise time that Cameron ended up calling an EU referendum.
In spite of this, the Remain campaign was not a complete failure. If it had been such a failure, it would not have been such a close result with 52 per cent for and 48 per cent voting against Brexit. Vote Leave could have ended up with a landslide, but it didn’t.
There were many criticisms of that 2016 campaign. It was accused of failing to properly address people’s concerns about immigration. It was too focused on our cities, London in particular. Many advocates of the cause were accused of being part of the “establishment”. The “metropolitan, liberal elite” was the usual invective directed at those on the Remain side of the argument – this is still the case – even by those who think Brexit is a disaster. It never seemed to matter that a Brexit elite composed of public school boys like Boris Johnson and Jacob Rees-Mogg was and is still arrayed on the other side of the argument. Nor did it seem to matter that the whole weight of the trade union movement, representing millions of workers, came in behind the Stronger In campaign too.
But clearly mistakes were made. Stronger In, ideally, would have been built from the bottom up, from the grassroots, and it should have had a clearer and representative collective leadership. The People’s Vote campaign has learned these lessons, as the huge march in London – co-sponsored by The Independent – vividly illustrates in technicolour today. The march takes place following a summer of intense activity in each and every region of the country. We held rallies in Bristol, Edinburgh, Cambridge, Newcastle, Liverpool, Birmingham and had events in countless other areas – events led by local speakers from all walks of life.
The breadth and depth of our campaign means we work across party lines. In the past few weeks, the Conservative MP Anna Soubry and I (we co-chair the All-Party Parliamentary Group on EU Relations) have been campaigning alongside the energetic and dynamic youth organistion For Our Future’s Sake (FFS). We have gone to Manchester, Exeter and Hull in addition to campaigning in our own regions. FFS is one of over 10 groups with hundreds of thousands of activists across the country that all campaign under the #PeoplesVote umbrella. Those on the opposite side of the argument – led by the hard right ERG group of Tory MPs and UKIP – have come nowhere close to matching this grassroots organisation.
And it is about time that the “metropolitan, liberal elite” smear was properly dealt with once and for all. I’m fed up hearing about it. I’ve heard it said about the community I am from and represent, which scored the highest Remain vote in the country. We are proud to have “liberal” values which respect and embrace difference, and uphold the rule of law. We don’t think being a diverse “metropolitan” area composed of people of different races or religions is something to be ashamed of or makes our voice any less valid or, indeed, authentic.
Let me tell you: Lambeth is not some “elite”. One in four people lives in absolute poverty. More than half of our residents do not own their own home. We are the eighth most deprived local authority in England and we have some of the most acute social problems, such as domestic violence and substance abuse, in the country. Like so many areas that voted Leave, many in our area have also not seen the benefits of globalisation and have found themselves at the rough end of a dysfunctional economy. The only difference is that we do not believe that leaving the European Union will improve or address the problems we face – we believe it will exacerbate them.
Sure, there will be some individuals who might fit the stereotype painted of the People’s Vote movement but it is not a fair representation of the overall campaign which is a complete cross-section of the country. As Richard Brooks, one of the co-founders of FFS, said this week: “I personally grew up in a working-class home, raised by a single parent in council housing – as have many other FFS campaigners.
“The grim reality is that for every 10 excellent pieces of campaigning young working-class kids do, they will always get drowned out by celebs – because that’s what the media pick up. The same media who then complain about over saturation of posh people in the Brexit debate.
“I’ve spent the last six months supporting working-class young people from diverse backgrounds, getting their voices heard in the media, and I have to say, nine out of 10, when offered, those voices are rejected [by the media].”
Brooks’ comments will be borne out by what you will see on the streets of London on Saturday with over 150 coaches bringing people from every region to march on Westminster and demand they get a say on how and whether we leave the EU.
In particular, over 2 million young people have not had a chance to vote on Brexit yet – that’s why they will be at the front of the march, leading the charge. Above all it’s a march for their futures.
Chuka Umunna is the Labour MP for Streatham | {
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Every title-winning season review DVD features a segment congratulating the manager for rotating two keepers regularly every time one makes a mistake. Every great side down football history has been remembered for having two fantastic goalkeepers, working perfectly in tandem while only playing half the games.
Back in reality, winning sides are built around a solid spine, and the man between the posts is a vital part of that. As Ferguson tries to build another great team, getting the goalkeeper right is essential, as he discovered when he signed Peter Schmeichel.
And in David De Gea, Manchester United have someone who could become a superb no.1. But rather than showing faith in what is undoubted talent, his confidence and form has been scuppered as he sits on the bench waiting for Anders Lindegaard to make an unfortunate error so he can take his place in the starting line-up again.
I’m all for managers attempting to rip the rulebook up and trying something different. Without changing ideas we’d be sat watching a 2-3-5 formation every week. But this isn’t that radical from Sir Alex – afterall, he’s tried it before. I’ve desperately tried to forget the dark years of rotating Tim Howard and Roy Carroll in 2004 and 2005, and yet the last year has brought them all rushing back. It failed then, and there is absolutely no evidence that, seven years on, it’s suddenly morphed into a stroke of genius. In fact, all the evidence points to exactly the opposite.
We’ve got goalkeepers with rock-bottom confidence, an uncertain and confused defence, and we’ve kept one clean sheet in the Premier League this season, at home to Wigan.
The continued chopping and changing of De Gea and Lindegaard is extremely frustrating, and to be honest, difficult to fathom.
Patrice Evra recently explained that no Manchester United player feels safe from being dropped because there is currently a large squad of talented players all vying for places. As he himself said, perhaps last year there wasn’t enough of a challenge to players in some areas of the squad.
Certainly with Evra, this subject has probably been done to death. Throughout last season, I read countless articles and twitter conversations bemoaning the fact that the Frenchman had taken his eye off the ball and was only keeping his place because there was no one else. The arrival of Buttner at the start of this campaign has seen the subject revisited as fans hope that particular issue is now resolved.
Yes, if a player has a consistent loss of form, and for a run of games leaves fans uttering regular expletives, his place being taken by an exciting back up is an excellent option. Everyone needs a kick up the backside occasionally.
But goalkeepers are different. They don’t run around for 90 minutes twice a week and need a rest, and they don’t need altering to match the other team’s tactics. A keeper’s confidence, form and focus is improved through consistent starts.
Additionally, there is a big difference between three ineffectual games, and one isolated mistake which can instantly leave an important player excluded.
Torres open goal misses aside, mistakes are amplified at the back. As a general rule, if a striker misses one obvious chance, he and the team can make another, which he may well go on and score.
If a goalkeeper makes a clanger, it’s probably a goal to the opposition, and the team finds themselves behind. Suddenly the complexion of the game has changed. Ashley Young had a goal chalked off for offside at the weekend, which was much maligned. But in two weeks, will many people remember that clearly? Probably not. Yet Lindegaard’s errors against Reading remains fresh in the mind.
Given the annual defensive injury curse has started early this year, and fans had already seen Carrick deployed as a centre back before the end of August, the confidence that comes with a settled goalkeeper would have been vital. Vidic, Ferdinand, Smalling, Jones, and Evans have already had spells on the sidelines, so the back four is uncertain at best. Much has been written of the damage done to United’s title hopes last season by a constantly changing rear guard which was unavoidable then and continues to be so, but voluntarily messing about with what should be a settled face behind them smacks of folly.
When United signed De Gea in 2011 for a fee of around £17m, Ferguson said: “We identified him quite a while back as one we should go for. He’s young, very quick, good composure, presence and an outstanding replacement for Van der Sar.”
That’s a fantastic testimony, and a large fee suggests that he was prepared to put his money where his mouth was. And yet the slightest mistake and De Gea is relegated to a very expensive benchwarmer.
In that quote, Ferguson acknowledges that De Gea is young. It’s escaped no one’s notice that he was only 20 years old at the time, and United bought potential on top of an impressive start to his career at Atletico Madrid.
He’s a sensational shot stopper. Against Everton, what now looks like an unfortunate loss on paper could have been a much heavier beating without his intervention. Restored from the bench against Galatasaray, he made a late double save to keep a clean sheet and ensure the three points.
While it is fair to point out his command of his box, particularly on crosses, isn’t consistently good enough yet, that is something else that won’t improve from the bench. It also won’t improve through the occasional start in the Capital One Cup against Newcastle’s reserve strike force, until the late appearance of Cisse. Sir Alex says he wants to give both keepers experience of the Premier League, but De Gea’s experiences with added referee protection in Europe and in “lesser” cup competitions domestically just doesn’t provide the same learning curve.
With Anders Lindegaard, you are supposedly blessed with a “safer” option. Perhaps an advantage in commanding the box, but what is safe about sacrificing world class saves? Not to mention inheriting dreadful distribution. With the Dane, it seems as if every ball has to go out to the centre backs, because his accuracy isn’t good enough to try any further. Against Tottenham, we saw perfectly how much pressure this puts the defence under when forwards press high up the pitch. De Gea can pick out a winger and start a counter attack. With Lindegaard, that poor distribution can give the opposition a chance to continue the pressure that United should have just alleviated by getting the ball back!
Realistically, I’d still be unhappy if Lindegaard was chosen as Ferguson’s first choice permanently, because I think De Gea is a better long term option. But if Sir Alex thinks the Dane is a better bet, then stick with him, and give him his chance to turn into the keeper that a great United side will need.
Be bold, make a decision and stand by it through the tough times. One squad will struggle to develop two young keepers to a world class standard. And United need one. | {
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Global Peace, represented by Executive Director, Dr. Vasu Gounden, met with the current National President of Junior Chamber International (JCI) Norway, Ms. Nora Gamst and Mr. Karl Svendsen, JCI’s Skills Development Committee Member for Europe, in Oslo, Norway on 19 May. JCI is a new partner of Global Peace, with a memorandum of understanding (MOU) recently signed on 6th May in Accra, Ghana. The partnership between Global Peace and JCI gives both organisations the opportunity to share knowledge and resources to enable young people around the world to take action for peace and development.
Dr. Gounden shared the key purpose and vision for Global Peace and discussed the priorities for 2019 which included the 100 Cities 100 Dialogues initiative. The Dialogues will bring together young people with their decision-makers to share a platform to discuss their aspirations for what a better future will look like and their inputs in finding creative and innovative solutions to challenges our world faces.
Through the partnership and extensive network, Global Peace will collaborate with JCI leadership to bring the Inter-Generational-Dialogues (IGDs) to cities around the world. JCI Norway was formed in 1956 and has been in operation for over 60 years. Throughout the years, JCI Norway has been involved in numerous activities and development projects across the country through its many active citizens. Global Peace is excited at the prospect of hosting an IGD in Oslo in the coming months. | {
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This article originally appeared on VICE France.
Being on lockdown can be very tough for people with addictions and compulsions. The constant isolation can highlight our destructive relationship with a substance of choice, whether it be food, drugs, gambling, or sex. But while we can still stock up on food or have drugs delivered (at your own risk), getting laid is very much at odds with social distancing measures.
People might be feeling extra horny in isolation but sex addiction (or hypersexuality disorder), isn’t the same thing as a strong libido. And while experts disagree on whether sex addiction should be a formal medical diagnosis (it's not currently listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders), they do agree that compulsive sexual behavior can be damaging to people's mental health and personal lives. Psychiatrist Laurent Karila said compulsive sexual behavior can be triggered by boredom, stress, or fear of failure—emotions pretty much synonymous with the current lockdown.
Jean-Victor Blanc, head of the addiction department at Saint-Antoine Hospital in Paris, said the majority of patients seeking help with him for sex addiction are men from the queer community. In his work with them, he has identified two types of sex addicts. Chemsex addicts, who take recreational drugs to enhance their sexual experiences, while the second type are those with an uncontrollable sexual appetite. Through friends of friends, I got in touch with four sex addicts (two self-reported and two diagnosed by specialists) from this community, to learn more about how their life has changed now that they can’t meet up for sex.
Théo*, 24, stylist
VICE: How was your sex life before lockdown?
Théo: I had many partners, often multiple guys at the same time without protection. I’m HIV positive but I have an undetectable viral load [when someone's blood, after years of treatment, contains so little of the virus that a test can't detect it], so the virus isn't transmittable**.** I was having chemsex regularly, usually after parties on the weekend, when my inhibitions have disappeared. Although I keep encounters private, a few people around me know about my sex life.
Are you getting off online now?
No, surprisingly! I masturbate once a day, twice if I get turned on by two hot guys in a TV series, a raunchy Instagram account, or a suggestive text.
Do you feel tempted to go out and have sex?
For now, I just watch porn if I really want to fuck. When the urge is too strong, I chat on Grindr until it gets too close to meeting IRL, then I cut it off. I think I’d feel like a real idiot right after cumming [if I met up with someone] because I’d have to lie to my friends about not being able to resist.
Jonathan*, 37, restaurant owner
VICE: How was your sex life before the lockdown?
Jonathan: I’ve been in a relationship since last August. Unfortunately, we weren't having sex often because I would jerk off obsessively for two to seven hours a day. I would touch myself so much my dick would bleed sometimes. I told myself every day that it would be the last time. My boyfriend and some friends knew about it, but I still felt misunderstood.
Does it interfere with your life?
Enormously. I need to be alone to do it, which prevents me from doing things and opening up to people.
Are you watching more porn?
Strangely, no. Probably because I have more time to myself and I no longer have fear of missing out, like not being able to sleep with someone because I can't get hard or because I’m in a relationship. I don’t have to worry about getting HIV, which my grandfather died of. I still have bad habits, but I don’t feel the need to escape reality because there is less pressure. I mean, I still jerk off, but not even every day.
Would you say that the lockdown is having a positive impact on you?
Yes, it's a good thing. My boyfriend comes to see me every three days and I've noticed how difficult I've been with him and how that stems from my inability to love. Now I can be more present instead of getting lost in my fantasies and self-degradation.
Franck*, 49, real estate manager
VICE: Can you tell me how much sex you were having before the lockdown?
Franck: I used to have 8 to 15 hookups per week depending on my schedule, sometimes with multiple guys at once. I’d also masturbate every day. It was almost always unprotected, I’m on PrEP [a drug preventing HIV infections]. I had a few regular partners, but most of my casual meetings were through the apps.
How are you coping with the isolation?
I’m trying to stay in control otherwise I could easily spend the whole day with my dick in my hand and toys up my ass. A week after the beginning of the lockdown, I was super horny and I masturbated compulsively. Two weeks in, I've managed to calm down a bit but I’m having a hard time with my impulses. For example, when I go food shopping and I walk past guys, I stare at them and feel the urge to approach them, even though I know we need to keep our distance.
Do you think you'll pull through?
If we are asked to stay in quarantine for another two or three months, I’m worried I’d give in to the temptation to hook up, but I’d still take maximum precautions.
Etienne*, 38, business manager
VICE: How was your sex life before the lockdown?
Etienne: Before the lockdown, I would hookup at least once a day, usually twice. Although I’m on PrEP, I use protection. I’ve always been terrified of STDs and I’ve been very lucky not to catch anything.
Did it take up a lot of space in your social life?
Chemsex removed any barrier I needed to stay safe and not fuck for hours on end. At the beginning it was fun, but over time it became the center of my life to the detriment of my relationships. I was totally aware that I was harming myself, but I couldn't avoid it. I gradually realized how damaging it was for so many young guys, so I stopped. My friends know that I have an intense relationship with sex, but they’d never suspect it to be such a burden on my life.
Are you finding it hard to respect the lockdown?
No, it's been much easier than expected. I’m stress-free, I sleep like a baby, I think not being under pressure is doing me a lot of good. Although I am watching a lot more porn.
What are your hopes for after the lockdown?
I'd like to put something out there. If everyone got tested before sleeping around again we could potentially slow down another public health issue: the STD epidemic.
*Names changed for privacy. | {
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I’m here today with my friend and longtime acquaintance, Susan Piver. We worked together years ago in the music industry. And she became an author. She’s evolved in many, many directions, and is now a Buddhist teacher. She runs the Open Heart Project, is developing what may be the largest online mindfulness community in the world. Spends her time between Boston and Austin. And how would I say, I think what inspired me, Susan, to invite you to join me on this podcast is that the most meaningful book I’ve read in relation to how to address the challenge of this pandemic is Pema Chodron’s book, When Things Fall Apart, and you’re the person who gave me that book many years ago. So, thanks for joining me and I look forward to exploring with you in these very troubled times.
How does a Buddhist practitioner see and teach people who are in great disorientation and despair at a time like this pandemic that we’re all going through?
Yeah. Well, thank you for inviting me to into the conversation, Rob. You know that I always love talking with you. I always get so much out of it. It’s an interesting time for teachers of all kinds, for Buddhist teachers, certainly. There is so much suffering, there is so much uncertainty and so much need for compassion and friendship and simply being with, which is the ultimate healing balm, is just being with each other rather than trying to solve each other’s problems.
However, there’s another thing that is interesting to explore at this moment, and actually, we have no choice but to explore it, which is the Buddhist view of the great good fortune that comes with uncertainty, that comes with not knowing what the F is going on. In a spiritual tradition, that is considered a lucky occurrence. Not an occurrence that feels good, not something that makes us all happy and chill, but a moment of absolute freshness because when we have no more game, our strategies don’t work, our hearts are broken. What we thought was going to happen is no longer happening. No more game. A space opens up and we must find a way to exist with uncertainty, which requires a continual return to the present moment, because we can’t make a plan, we can’t reflect on what happened in the past as a way of predicting what will happen in the future necessarily. And we can’t make plans for what we’re going to do because we don’t know what’s next.
So the present moment is particularly alive right now. And the present moment was, which can sound trite, it’s overused, at least, is not necessarily a place of ease and relaxation. It’s a place of vital awake, vital alive. I know that’s bad English, but it’s a place where all you can do is be awake. And there’s no place to hide. That’s a weird Buddhist view of good luck.
I’m speaking now as an economist, 40 years of a secular religion, where people were taught to believe that technical wizards, the Silicon Valley world, would transform our society and deliver us from evil. They were magicians. We’ve been told that the market solves all the problems. We’ve been told that individuals should focus and depend on what you might call their own freedom to do whatever they want as something to cherish. And while there are elements of truth in these things, the incoherence of this society that was thought to be what you might call trusted and trusting of elites, trusting of financiers, trusting of tech wizards to bring us to that Promised Land, that place, that’s in tatters now.
And so when you talk about the value of uncertainty, I think maybe that accepting that uncertainty is of the essence in addressing the challenge. But we’re in a place now where the emperor has no clothes and a whole lot of things have broken down. Before celebrating uncertainty, I think we got to understand a little bit about the fear, what you might call losing, it’s like being at sea and losing all your navigational charts and knowing their reefs all around you that you could run aground. How do we, not stabilize on false certainty, how do we embrace the uncertainty so the things that we pursue and the things that we aspire to are more coherent, more satisfying, more reassuring?
Yeah, that’s the question. Those are the questions. The first thing in finding a way to stabilize within instability, because the first impulse when things become unstable is to find a way to go back where you came from, and restabilize things in a recognizable way. That’s not possible right now. The answer, weirdly, is one word, which I’m happy to elaborate on, and that word is curiosity, because we may think, oh, well, okay, now some Buddhist lady said I need to find a way to become stable with an instability and enjoy uncertainty. Okay. If that is a Gambit, if we try to do that as a ploy to return to familiar shores, the ground will collapse underneath us. There’s a genuine need of really not knowing what’s going on and without an agenda for appreciating that unknowing, if that makes sense.
So, we have an agenda for every word we speak, every gesture we make, every action we take. That’s how we’re raised. It’s very hard to imagine not doing those things. However, those things, attributing meaning, trying to accomplish a purpose, comes from conventional wisdom, and unconventional wisdom is called for right now. So the first thing that is interesting to experiment with is putting down conventional wisdom, and then seeing what happens. And the first thing that will happen, if you’re like me or 99.9% of everyone, is become afraid. That fear is not a problem. Giving meaning to the fear, concocting a story around the fear, trying to dispel the fear, those things are problems. But fear itself, if you look just underneath the surface, and the surface is always the story, I’m afraid because this, I’m afraid if I do that, it will go away.
If we let all that go and instead tune into the sensation of fear, the feeling of fear, which is no one’s idea of a good time, by the way, nonetheless, just under the story is awakeness, wakefulness, because fear and sleepiness don’t go together. You can’t be afraid and sleepy. It’s a weird kind of wakeful quality, that if we can tap into its essence, something valuable can come of it. But if we keep trying to hide from it, explain it away, defeat it, first it’s not going to work, it’s just going to get stronger. And second and more important, we will miss the opportunity for greater wisdom than what has been conventional. And that’s what we need right now.
So there is no innovation, I know these are, I’m making very dramatic statements here but these are my observations. There is no possibility of innovation without uncertainty. There is no possibility of true lasting insight without cultivating some sense of receptivity. And we live in a world that does not dig receptivity. We dig action and accomplishing and so forth, and nothing wrong with those things. But the things we really value and the things that are most needed right now, innovation, insight, wisdom, compassion, those are not things we can go out and get no matter how smart we are. Those are things that arise if we make space for them. They arise.
And so, it’s a very unwestern, I would say, way of problem solving, which is to let go of solutions. Make a space which aka, the practice of meditation, although you can do it whatever way you want. And then develop some curiosity about the experience that arises within that space, not as a conqueror, but as a shepherd. Those are really different things. Does that make sense?
Yes. Number of things come to mind again in relation to economics. It is quite clear that the financial economics, financial theory and economics built a framework based on false certainty, meaning markets are anchored to “value” 30 years from now, and then what mathematicians called backward induction, we know what the price today is that puts you on the trajectory to get there.
The deeper thinkers in economics, and I would place Frank Knight from University of Chicago and John Maynard Keynes at the head of the list, and Friedrich von Hayek a little bit also in that realm, had a notion of something called radical uncertainty. There are unknown unknowns. There is no way to know not only what the probabilities are of outcomes, but to even envision the outcomes and in some way, the things that will be churned up are based on subjective psychological expectations that will arise somewhere along the trail and will change the trail.
So these advocates, Keynes wrote his first book before his famous books, was called the Treatise on Probability. Frank Knight wrote Risk, Uncertainty and Profit. And what I guess I’m pointing at is they were talking about embracing not knowing and seeing that as a structural feature of society. And what the so called rocket scientists did after 2000s, they pretended everything was a stable statistical distribution. This terminal condition in 30 years was known unknowable, and that they could show the boss, meaning the CEO at a major financial firm measures of their risk every night. So the boss could go to bed, sleep, be confident, everything was under control. And then we blew the financial system to smithereens in 2008 because it was a completely false notion.
I’m always attracted to a book, it’s called The Party, it’s about the Chinese Communist Party by Richard McGregor, who was a Financial Times correspondent. He wrote in the opening, I think it was a preface to the book. At around 2008 or 2009, the US Treasury Secretary, Hank Paulson and others went to meet the Chinese leaders and they said, well, emulating you guys and your Western finance, you blew us up in the early 90s in the Asia crisis, now you blew yourself up. We just got to find something different to do. I guess what I’m pointing toward is this embracing uncertainty is much more amenable to Eastern philosophy and consciousness than it is to Cartesian enlightenment consciousness.
And now, in a world, I’ll call it a G-20 world and more not a G-7 world of the white Protestant North Atlantic, we’re in a place where the basic premises on what to do and what’s right to do are really what you might call, not confused, but in the stir of different philosophical systems. And what you’re raising with the Buddhist perspective and Taoism and other things, I made a podcast two nights ago with Andrew Sheng, who’s a delightful financial regulator economists thinker based in Malaysia, has worked in Hong Kong and China. And he sounded just like you. He sounded exactly like you, I’ll send you some of his work. You’re basically raising what you might call a challenge to the creation of false certainty, which, as I mentioned in the case of finance in many contexts, by clinging to it can do an awful lot of harm.
What you just said, and I imagine what Andrew said too, which I look forward to hearing, is a very pithy perfect outline of the entire Buddhist path, which has nothing to do with religion, by the way, or beliefs or gods because Buddhism is non-theistic, so put that aside. And in the Buddhist view, as well, beliefs, interestingly, are considered obstacles, which always makes me laugh. But the entire Buddhist path is based on something called the Four Noble Truths, you probably know this.
And just extremely briefly, the first noble truth is life is suffering, which sounds like, ew. But I’m pretty sure the Buddha didn’t mean life sucks. It’s the more accurate translation of the word Duhkha is unsatisfying. It’s unsatisfying because there is no chance of creating anything permanent. Every hair on your head, every word you say, every piece of furniture you own, every dollar you have is going to go away. It’s going to come into existence, it’s going to exist for a while, and then it’s going to disappear. There’s nothing that’s exempt from the truth of impermanence. That’s the first noble truth. So now, what are you going to do with your economics? Well, that’s a question for others, but I find it fascinating.
And then the second noble truth is called the cause of suffering, which is basically pretending the first noble truth isn’t true. Its grasping is the cause of suffering. Trying to create permanent structures causes suffering. It’s interesting because the Buddhist view doesn’t say poverty causes suffering, although, of course it does. It’s not about heartbreak and loss and grief. Those things are inevitable, we can’t avoid the suffering of being human. But the real suffering is from grasping, is from exactly what you just said, trying to create false structures that actually come and collapse on us all.
And then the third noble truth is called the cessation of suffering, which means now you know the cause, you also know the cure, just stop doing that. And then the fourth noble truth is called the Eightfold Path, which you could study, right view, right intention, right speech, and so on. How do you do it is the fourth noble truth. Those things that you just said, that is the Buddhist path. You can’t create anything permanent. Now what? Now what? It’s a very interesting question. And the things that you and I were talking about earlier, the things that our culture values the most, and they are truly valuable things, excellent commerce, profound ideas and skillful leadership. Those as far as I can tell, sitting from my vantage point of my meditation cushion, those are the things that are valued by our society. And they are valuable things.
But when we think that any of them is going to prevent the suffering of being human, that’s where we run into problems. If I have the right idea, if I can lead my team here, if I can have X view of how the economic picture is going to unfold, I mean, great. Please share those things with others. But they’re not going to change the truth that everything is going to dissolve. So, why is spiritual practice in the Buddhist view, at least as I’ve been trained also called a path of warriorship? Well, this is why, because it takes unbelievable courage. On good days, I can do it for 10 seconds. But it takes so much courage and so much discipline, meaning presence of mind to remain with the truth of uncertainty and still give everything you have, still find joy, still give gifts, still experience the delights of being a person. That’s our job. It’s a tall order and it takes training.
And last thing I’ll say and I’ll stop my little rant is what has heretofore been called soft skills, which always makes me really pissed off, listening, caring, working together, making space for very divergent viewpoints. Well, those are the hard things to do. And those are the things that are required right now. So I’m happy and excited for the great thinkers in our world who have been uncompromising in promoting those values, that now there’s a chance that they will be heard. That makes me very happy.
Well, you mentioned commerce, leadership and profound ideas, as what you might call rituals of reassurance, or there’s like a place that you can follow and calm your nerves because you know the best and the brightest or whoever are leading you there. David Halberstam’s book, the title is somewhat satirical in that the best and the brightest created a mess in Vietnam, or the notion that the financial wizards were all fine until they blew up the world in 2007 and 2008.
I often say that there are four, you have four noble truths, I have four tragic flaws in economics.
I can’t wait.
I envision it, I’ll say this in a context. I envision expertise as valuable, but currently expertise, trust in it and integrity is in tatters in many realms and in economics. And so, the four, how would I say, dangerous or flaws that contribute to the demise of faith in expertise. Our first, what I will call, how would I say, commission. Instead of providing a public good as an expert, you’re marketing to get paid. It’s a commodification that distorts your view because you’re pleasing those who pay you not telling the truth to a broader social audience, and with very highly concentrated wealth, this is much more dangerous phenomena because the experts are more dependent on sources of funding or a narrow group of people and views.
The second, I’ll call that the error of comission. You commit an act to this misleading for selfish purpose. The error of omission is one of avoiding confrontation with issues and with power that could reverberate and affect your career, your success, your appointments, your chairs. In an elite structure, it is dangerous and smart people are often conscious of what not to say. There’s a woman who’s absolutely brilliant, a PhD in cultural anthropology from Cambridge, England. She’s been the US editor of the Financial Times and she’s on my board, named Gillian Tett. And when I started INET, I sought her advice, we had lunch one day. And she said, “Rob, it’s very simple. Study the silences because when you see what’s not said that should be under investigation, you’ll know the map of where power is and what you have to challenge.” So I would say that’s the, I will call the error of comission and the error of omission.
And then the third I would call, and we refereed to a little bit earlier, kind of the technical rituals of hiding in the monastery, pretending that acumen with mathematics and statistics is a substitute for choosing the right problems and examining and things that are important to society. And it’s a sort of a cousin to the errors of omission. If you can’t take on things without controversy but you want to demonstrate your license or your right to be viewed as an expert, these rituals of how would I say, dexterity with the tools of the trade, are a way of creating an identity. But it’s a bit of a sidebar relative to the needs of mankind.
And then the fourth gets back, the fourth, what I’ll call tragic approach to economics, gets back to what you were talking about. And I would call at some level demagoguery. But what I find fascinating, going back to your notion of ideas, leaders and commerce is that here, if you get up as an expert into a forum when people are uncertain and you say I don’t know, people find that unsatisfying. There is a demand, there is a yearning for an expert who can know.
And so, we are all complicit in this ritual society and the people who aspire to be leaders, which you might call contributing to the urge for false resolution of uncertainty. And I think that that is something that a true expert, someone with high integrity and with trust has to develop the confidence and the conviction to say, it’s a dimension of humility in the way I see it. I think that the economics profession is really going to be struggling now because I don’t want to say it misspecified but it just didn’t address many things that are now just right there, and very, very powerfully important to the quality of life all over the planet.
Do you remember the scene in The Wizard of Oz where Toto the dog, Dorothy the scarecrow are all watching, they’re watching the wizard smoke and everything. And Toto rolls over and he pulls the curtain, and you see the man behind working all the levers. And Dorothy walks over and he’s been unmasked, he’s not the wizard, he’s just a man. You’re not a wizard. To me, that is the parable. I showed that at my second conference as the parable of the challenge economics is facing because it’s a pretend wizard right now. And there are a lot of smart well meaning people and doing good evidence-based work. What I’ll call dogmatic tendency has really done a lot of harm to the society and to the reputation of economics.
I don’t know anything about economics but I agree with everything you just said nonetheless. In some way goes back to this fear and need for, a fear of uncertainty and need for certainty. And he or she or they who can ride uncertainty, that’s going to be survival of the fittest right there. Going back to the Wizard of Oz metaphor, one of the details that struck me that I hadn’t thought about till just now is that the way The Wizard was unmasked was by a playful accident. Toto wasn’t like I’m going to get you wizard, I’m going to show everyone who you are.
It wasn’t an act of aggression, which would have only created aggression on the part of the wizard presumably, like, yes, I am a wizard, how dare you blah, blah, blah. But this was just sort of a playful accident where no one could deny the truth. But if it had been-
I would use your word. You had a word you used earlier. I would have called Toto’s exploration innocent curiosity.
I’m digging it, innocent curiosity. And if it had been anything else, it would have been a moment of potential warfare. But because it was just something that happened, and right now, I’m not saying we’re in a moment of playful curiosity or uncertainty, but we are in such a moment that no one anticipated was prepared for is a better way of saying it. And now what? We all see it. It’s exciting moment with a lot of potential and a lot of danger.
Let me talk or ask you because we’ve discussed this before, I have been trained in transcendental meditation and watched many of these, how would I say, disciplines or paths. And you’ve written about the many different paths. But the thing that you’ve raised with me in conversation before was I might call the cheapening or commodification of spiritual disciplines. There is something that’s very powerful and very deep and very helpful in making what you might call the cotton candy version that can be sold on scale and make a lot of money for an entrepreneur feels dangerous to me. It feels like it’s one of those siren songs of temptation that could take spiritual discipline off course at a time when I would say it needs to be understood by and practiced by many, many more people that have had access to it in recent years, or within my lifetime.
Yeah. That’s one of my favorite questions to ponder. We can look at yoga as an example. Yoga’s great, no argument there. Yoga was developed as a spiritual practice and it’s still practiced as such by some but largely not. So okay, it’s still benefiting lots and lots of people, there’s no arguing there. It’s unlikely that that’s going to happen with the Buddha Dharma, I believe, that’s my opinion. [inaudible 00:31:10] live long enough to see if I’m right or wrong. I guess it’ll be some time.
But one of the interesting things about Buddhism as a non-theistic tradition, is when it arrives on new shores, it blends with the dominant culture. And it not only changes the dominant culture to some small or big degree, but it itself is changed by the dominant culture, which is very interesting. So, when the Buddhism went to Japan, it mixed with the Shinto indigenous tradition and became Zen. And when it went to Tibet, it mixed with the Bon tradition and became what we know Tibetan Buddhism as.
And now it’s here. So, what is it going to mix with? Our dominant cultural values are not Judeo-Christian, I don’t think, they’re consumerist. Our culture is governed by consumerist values. So now, Buddhism, this is my view, I just want to be sure to say that again, is mixing with the consumerist culture. And if it happens as has happened in history so far, it will change the dominant culture. Not like make it into a lala land, but it will introduce some different values, let’s say at the very least. And it will be changed by the dominant culture, which is where it becomes very interesting to me. It doesn’t mean it’s going to become a cheesy New Age religion because that is not possible in my view. But there’s a meeting.
In my world, the Buddhist world, there are people on one end of the spectrum who are saying let’s make a buck. Okay, good luck you people. I say. And then people on the other end of the spectrum are saying, this is precious and elite, and you’re going to have to jump through a lot of hoops and demonstrate a lot of particular forms of intelligence before I’m going to let you have it. That’s also BS. Buddhism is sometimes called the middle way, and I truly believe there is a middle way between those two ends of the spectrum. The middle way, by the way, is not the middle, but it’s some other indefinable point. That is the noble challenge for me of my life is can I find that middle way because I have to live and pay my rent, my mortgage, and all those things, blah, blah, blah. But I know that this is not, can’t be kept on a mountaintop. It’s needed and it’s important and so forth and so on. I just think it’s really interesting to see how “mindfulness” is mixing with consumer culture.
And the last thing I’ll say is, on the Buddhist path in the Tibetan traditions, which is the only place I’ve ever practiced, I’ve been Buddhist for 25 years and only in this one part of Buddhism, but you start out as you would on any spiritual path with certain practices. Practice of meditation and contemplation, and so on, and anyone can do those things. And, in my mind, almost everyone should. And then if you want to get “serious on this path,” there are other practices that are not publicly available, that you have to train first for, just like if you want to be a doctor and you take biology in high school, someone doesn’t just give you a scalpel and say go start operating on people. You have to do certain additional training and then, okay, there’s mantra practices and guru yogas and visualizations.
All of these really fascinating and intense and beautiful spiritual practices that you pass through, that you pass through, that you experience. Maybe you could do them for the rest of your life if you want. And then at the end of the path, all the teachings once again, the highest teachings become completely available to everyone. Not hidden, anybody can read about them. And those teachings are called self-secret. They keep themselves a secret because unless you have a certain kind of preparation or mindset or karma or whatever you might want to call it, those teachings will not make sense to you, it will sound like gibberish.
That’s a long-winded way of saying, mindfulness awareness meditation, spiritual practice in the Buddhist tradition and I’m sure other traditions too, can’t be ruined. They are self-secret. They can be misused, they can be bypassed, they can go unnoticed. But the likelihood that they’re going to be changed and lost is slim. Not saying we don’t have to try, but certainly anything is possible.
But, the truth about meditation is that at some point, it becomes very difficult and also kind of boring. And anyone who says otherwise, I don’t know what they’re doing, I’d like to like to hear a little bit more about it. At that point, that’s the turning point for 90% of people. Well it’s not working for me or this is not a good practice for me or I don’t like it or my meditation is running or I’ll do something else. That’s fine. Nobody knows but you. But that moment is a critical turning point, and if you want to go further, it requires some teaching and some effort, anyway, blah, blah.
Am I talking to your point or am I just talking?
Yes. I think you’re, how would I say, inside the dilemmas of how people organize themselves is maybe the word. In other words, how they cope, how they explore their anxiousness, how they explore what is authentic guidance and how they define meaning.
One key point that you and I spoke about earlier but we haven’t spoken about right now is, I think, how did you describe it as we were talking before the recording started, the fancy white-ification of spiritual practice is not just an ethical dilemma, why should this just be for white people? Why does it happen that if you go to a Buddhist meditation place, almost everybody’s white, why? And how do we change that? Those are very, very, very important questions to me. But it’s not just an important question from an ethical standpoint, it’s an important question from a cultural healing standpoint because the healing of the nation, which by the way is I think what Ross just calls smoking pot, but that’s another story, will only happen, healing of the nation needs to include all of us. That’s a tall order.
You could call it white-ification or Yelp-ification, I don’t know what kind of adjective to assign it. If any of you who are in the audience have read some of David Brooks studies that sort of mocked the aspiring, what I’ll call upper, lower middle, excuse me, upper class or aspiring administrative class. He talks all about the false rituals of what restaurants you eat at, what diet, what kind of yoga you do as testaments, they’re like purification rituals that are very superficial. And I sense, what you might call the status badges, it’s like a Cub Scout getting their accomplishment, or Boy Scout or Girl Scout getting their accomplishment badges, that they add all of these things to an identity that turns out to be quite superficial. And in many ways, people can be seen as not practicing what they preach.
I sense that in the African American community, and for that matter, in the Caribbean and Africa itself, that there is in many instances, including health crises, a much more acute sense of despair and danger. And perhaps these spiritual disciplines could be of even greater value given the adversity that these people face. But it’s a very different kind of what you might call magnetic attraction than that yelp-ification, white-ification analogy that you and I’ve talked about.
I won’t pretend to know how to connect, my instinct I think we talked about this is that I look at gospel music and I look at what goes on in the black church and the nature of community there, the kind of fortification, togetherness, togetherness under conditions of adversity. And I’ve wondered if what you might call the seeds of a fruitful spiritual community or a meditation practice together with others in the community, how would I say it, might have the potential to really take hold and really be beneficial. But I don’t know enough to, I haven’t lived it, I’ve observed it growing up in Detroit, which by the way, I believe perhaps until very recently, Detroit was the place that had the most places of worship per capita and per square mile of any place in the world.
We may attribute that to Henry Ford who invested a lot in all the different denominations and Christian and Muslim and Judaism as a means of social stabilization at the time he was what you might call the architect of the auto industry based in Detroit. But there were churches and synagogues and temples on every corner. It’s really quite stunning even today just to see those structures. I’m very attracted, I’m doing some work right now vis-a-vis Detroit and I’d like to explore with people about whether Detroit could be what you might call a test platform. I’m working on chess in schools and other things there.
I remember in 1990, I think it was either CNN or ABC News said that Detroit is the cloud that hangs over belief in the American dream. Meaning until that rapid and violent decline, decline of what used to be a centerpiece of our economy, was put to bed and this society was regenerated in a healthy way as part of America that we would all suffer. I think there are some very devoted people to bringing that city back together, but I would like to explore with you how to, infuse into Detroit some of the spiritual practices that have benefited many people you work with.
I really appreciate how with all the places your life has taken, you remain firmly team Detroit. I really appreciate your devotion and loyalty and care for your city of origin. That’s really-
Well, I’m sitting here on an audio podcasts but I can make a confession, I’m wearing a hoodie that came from Chrysler Corporation, and it says imported from Detroit. Remember the famous M&M commercial that was used in the Superbowl. That’s on my back right now.
I rest my case.
Other than my audible confession, the evidence would have been hidden. But I think, Susan, it’s fascinating to me. I Started out reaching out to this young woman who I was told after being at a seminar on how to run an independent record label that I should engage with her because she had developed the accounting system for labels, master rights, mechanical, publishing, other publishing, and how to put that system software together as I was trying to move out of the, what you might call wild and wooly world of hedge funds and into running the record business. And if you don’t embrace your perspective and the perspective on uncertainty, the idea that when I walked up to the counter and asked that woman to teach me, she came to work with me, would end up on this podcast today as the Buddhist teacher I’m talking to, how would I say, you’ve got real illusions because I did not imagine that at that time.
And I’ve watched you grow, I’ve watched you build your practice. I’ve watched you work online, I’ve watched you work in writing various books. The latest one I think is called the Four Noble Truths of Love. It’s just, how would I say that, effervescent curiosity that started our friendship came from a very different place than what we’re talking about now.
I am so moved by what you’re saying. I’m so touched by that. And that our friendship has moved along with all those changes in both our lives is a testimony to this very wonderful meeting of the minds/friendship that we have, which is a great treasure to me. And I also would, who knew, who knew?
Yeah. Well, all I can say to our audience is it’s quite clear to me that you practice what you preach. And that humanism and that human spirit and the way in which you have evolved yourself suggests to me that you do embrace that which you teach to others. Where is the Open Heart Project available to people who are curious? What is your website, location and so forth? How could I click on it or type it in and get there?
Just openheartproject.com. There’s a sign up for the newsletter right there, and I send a meditation instructional video every week, it’s 10 minute clip to anyone who signs up for that. And each meditation is preceded by a short talk. By short, I mean less than 10 minutes, on some way of applying Buddhist practice in everyday life. So the most recent one, they come out every Monday, yesterday I guess it was, was on mindful speech, which could there be anything more important right now than that? It’s my great delight to make those off of those teachings. I’d be very happy to practice together with anyone who’s listening right now.
Excellent. Very good. Well, how would I say, we sit astride the pandemic, who knows where we’ll be? The guidance that you give by example and in your teaching of how to embrace the uncertainty and how to evolve in a constructive direction is sorely needed. Thanks for being here today and thanks for sharing with us all.
It’s been a joy.
For me too. Bye, bye. | {
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With a flap of his White Tiger Wings, Xiang Shaoyun instantly arrived before Yun Feng.
"Trash, you think just because you have a tiny bit of strength, you can stop me? Watch me. I'll snap your wings off first," said Yun Feng as he grabbed at Xiang Shaoyun.
The hand spurred the spiritual energy in the surroundings and sent it toward Xiang Shaoyun, trying to crush his pair of wings.
"Do you think I'm still the same old me? I'll kill you before you can do anything!" Xiang Shaoyun roared. The Overlord Skyslaying Saber appeared in his hand, and he swung it at Yun Feng.
It was a slash surpassing the strength of a War King, even surpassing the might of a true King. It had mustered a prowess comparable to an Emperor's. One slash spurred the spiritual energy in the surroundings, causing them to converge and form a ray of light several hundred meters long that instantly arrived before Yun Feng.
"Yun Feng, watch out!" Linggu Haonan cried out.
But it was too late. Yun Feng was completely looking down on Xiang Shaoyun. In his eyes, the young man was a bug that he could crush as he liked. He had made the mistake of underestimating the enemy. When Xiang Shaoyun erupted with such powerful battle prowess, he was stunned.
"NO!" He roared in fear, but he couldn't avoid the attack in time. He was split into two, his blood splashing everywhere.
Linggu Haonan and his subordinates were stunned. Chen Jiayan, Du Xuanhao, Murong Qing, and the others were similarly stunned. They all knew what Xiang Shaoyun's cultivation level was. Thus, it was inconceivable for them that he could erupt with such combat prowess.
"Impossible! How can you possess such combat prowess? Zhu Jinxi, go and take him down!" said Linggu Haonan.
"Yes, commander. I will definitely take him down," answered Zhu Jinxi before rushing toward Xiang Shaoyun with his weapon raised.
Unlike the careless and arrogant Yun Feng, he utilized his full strength from the get-go and sent a boundless force crushing toward Xiang Shaoyun. Each of his attacks was strong enough to destroy mountains and rivers; no King could survive. Even ordinary Emperors would have a hard time dealing with his attack.
"Hehe, it has been many years since I last fought someone. Today, you shall be my target practice," said Xiang Shaoyun who was suddenly sneering.
Next, his body flickered, and after creating a series of afterimages, he broke through the encirclement of Zhu Jinxi's attacks. He arrived behind Zhu Jinxi and slashed his saber down, sending a majestic saber energy that was no weaker than Zhu Jinxi's attacks.
The nimbleness Xiang Shaoyun displayed was one that few people could defend against. Zhu Jinxi was given a fright. He quickly turned around and slammed his hammer down at Xiang Shaoyun.
Fall of Meteor.
Zhu Jinxi was showing no mercy, sending a dreadful hammer strike that was akin to a falling meteor. However, Xiang Shaoyun's saber energy was extremely odd, moving at an extremely harmonious trajectory that was capable of reducing force, and it reduced the might behind Zhu Jinxi's attack by more than half. It then traveled past the hammer attack and sliced at Zhu Jinxi's arm.
Not even Zhu Jinxi's Emperor-level aura could stop Xiang Shaoyun's attack. Just like that, his arm was sliced off from the wrist by the Overlord Skyslaying Saber, causing blood to splash everywhere.
Zhu Jinxi was forced to retreat while gripping his severed wrist. He had already lost his arm, so he couldn't continue fighting his opponent. Without Linggu Haonan's command, a few other people took the initiative to attack. They did not attack rashly. Rather, they spread around and tried to suppress Xiang Shaoyun with their auras before attacking together.
Their attacks were dreadful, and not even their mounts were idling around as the mounts attacked together with their masters. The attacks filled the sky, laying waste to the entire area. Down on the ground, Liang Zhuangmin took the chance to drag Hua Honglou away.
"What are you doing? Are we not staying with Shaoyun?" asked Hua Honglou in confusion.
"That was my plan. But look at his strength. He is obviously capable of escaping by himself. If we stay, we will only be his burden. Only if we leave will he be able to focus on escaping," Liang Zhuangmin explained.
Although Liang Zhuangmin looked like a simple-minded person, he was in truth extremely astute and could see through their current predicament clearly. Hua Honglou found herself to be in agreement, and thus they started fleeing as quickly as possible.
With their strength, escaping from Linggu Haonan's group was almost impossible. But Xiang Shaoyun's sudden display of strength had completely pulled away their attention. And thus, the two were able to escape unopposed.
"Is this young man Xiang Shaoyun? He's already with the strength of a Dragon Ascension Realm cultivator! How powerful, and what a freak!" Murong Qing cried out in astonishment.
"No, this is not his actual strength. He must have used some forbidden technique or received the help of a super expert," said Chen Jiayan with a frown.
"That's right. He is likely still a peak Transformation Realm cultivator. Looks like this kid has an extraordinary background. Otherwise, there wouldn't be so many Dragon Ascension Realm experts hunting him," said Du Xuanhao.
He recalled how Xiang Shaoyun had rejected him without even thinking about it when he had offered to be his master. At that time, he believed that Xiang Shaoyun was simply an arrogant frog in a well, but now, he realized how wrong he was. This young man was no frog in a well. Rather, it was a fact that a mere Emperor was not good enough to become his master.
"Ancestor, if it's possible, please save Xiang Shaoyun," begged Chen Zilong.
"Kid, have you gone mad? Do you not see what kind of person he has offended? There are at least three of them stronger than me. I am not strong enough to save him. If I try anything, the entire Chen Clan will be in jeopardy," said Chen Jiayan sternly.
While he talked, he shrouded their surroundings with his aura, silencing their conversation to others. He was afraid that Linggu Haonan's group would overhear them. He did not think that he would be able to be their contender just because he had successfully forced them to change their mind about killing all the disciples.
He could sense that apart from Linggu Haonan, there were two other cultivators whose strength he couldn't tell at all. How could he offend these experts for the sake of someone unrelated to him? Disappointment covered Chen Zilong's face, and he had nothing else to say.
"It's better if we get far away from them. We don't want to be hit by the shockwave of their fight," suggested Murong Qing.
The others agreed. They thus pulled even farther away from the battlefield. In the sky above the battlefield, Xiang Shaoyun streaked everywhere, moving like a phantom dancing amid their attacks. While he dodged, he countered with fatal attacks. Suddenly, he arrived before a sixth-stage Dragon Ascension Realm expert and swung his Overlord Skyslaying Saber at the expert's stomach.Previous Chapter Next Chapter | {
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Most whole-genome scan studies of type 2 diabetes have ascertained families on affected sibpairs. Although assuring enrollment of multiplex families, this strategy may lead to the enrollment of unrepresentative families, particularly in low-risk populations where relatively few diabetics have an affected sibling. In high-risk populations such as Hispanics and Native Americans, population-based ascertainment is often possible, since the high frequency of the disease favors enrollment of multiplex families even when they are not specifically sought. The results of the first generation of genome scan studies caused concern because of a perceived lack of reproducibility. More recently, however, a number of replications have emerged, specifically on chromosomes 1q, 2q, 3q, 9p, 10q, and 11q. The MODY 1 and 3 regions on chromosome 12q and 20q have also been replicated in multiple studies. The clinical features of diabetes in these latter families, however, suggest the common form of type 2 diabetes, rather than maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY). Also, diabetes in these families does not appear to be caused by the classical MODY mutations. Interestingly, functional variants of the MODY 4 gene (insulin promoter factor-1) have been associated with both MODY and the common form of type 2 diabetes. Currently available linkage studies implicate relatively broad chromosomal regions, and the challenge of narrowing these regions to facilitate gene discovery remains formidable. The linkages that have been replicated thus far provide good starting points to search for functional variants in type 2 diabetes susceptibility genes.
Copyright 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. | {
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M-I-C-K-E-Y-M-O-U-S-E! Mickey Mouse! Mickey Mouse!
Mickey Mouse is one of my favorite Classic Disney Characters. He started it all! So it is only fitting that we honor him in the Walt Disney Marathon Weekend Kid Races. This year is the 20th Anniversary of the Walt Disney World® Half Marathon presented by Cigna, and our first year participating. My sweet boy, Noah will hold his banner high as he crosses the finish line in his 2nd Run Disney Kid Race this January in the iconic Mickey Mouse costume pictured above. Three exceptionally talented and extremely gracious Etsians helped put this very special run costume together.
Strut your stuff in the hippest pair of ears around! The Mickey Ears ball cap was designed by Gina Roberts, the owner and designer for Gigi’s Flower Fancy. Roberts has been selling her handmade crafts since the 80’s and can now be found on Etsy. She has a passion for making Disney hats and other Disney paraphernalia. Using the “ear-perfection” method, Roberts is able to create stay up ears that do not sag, wilt, or flop. You can stuff em in a bag and the felt ears will pop back up every time. Customize your ball cap to your fancy by adding a bow, flower, or a monogram…get ear crazy! Perfect for a Halloween costume, day at the park, Disney weddings, and Run Disney Outfits! The cap is available in adult or child size and is easily adjusted for the perfect fit making them RUN PROOF!
Made in the USA for both boys and girls!
The Classic Style Mickey shorts used for Noah’s run costume was designed by Cherylyn Morris owner of One Two Three Shop Boutique on Etsy. Cherylyn’s love for clothing design was stirred when she was a teen in high school nearly 20 years ago when she needed a new skirt for school. Knowing that her mother was not going to purchase a new skirt, Morris got creative and gave new life to her old one. Today, her inspiration derives from her children as she now designs storybook clothing. Her shop features an array of dresses and tops inspirited by magical characters that can be worn by your child everyday. The Mickey shorts are really to cute for words, I mean they are just perfect! Cherylyn has replicated Mickey’s classic red shorts with two large white circles (the buttons) on the front. They are made with a light, thin material allowing your young runner to stay cool in the heat of the race. The elastic waist gives an extra stretch to provide a comfortable fit.
This runner costume would not be complete without Mickey’s white gloves. The gloves used in this costume were designed by Alicia of Alicia Marie Create. The gloves are made from nylon/spandex material with the tips cut off to allow for breathability while running. Detailed with three black stripes representing Mickey’s three fingers as originally designed by Walt Disney. They are perfect to complete your outfit for a Disney marathon or any costume run! If you live in a colder state you can also find thicker “Winter” gloves in Alicia’s Etsy shop. Gloves can be made in adult or child size and take up to a week to ship as they are made to order and customized to meet your needs.
This costumes is perfect for your young runner and will definitely bring home the Big Cheese at any Run Disney event!
I am very grateful to Gina, Cherylyn, and Alicia for sharing their talent and custom designs to help put this look together. | {
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Print is still more popular than e-books amongst readers aged 16-24, although teenagers are more likely to read e-books than their older counterparts, according to the results of a survey carried out for The Bookseller Children’s Conference.
Luke Mitchell carried out the survey to mark the launch of ‘SYN: State of the Youth Nation’, a new research tool from market research company YouthSight.
Out of 1,000 respondents aged 16-24, 64% said they preferred print books, 16% said e-books, and 20% said they didn’t mind.
When asked how often they read e-books, 32% said they never read e-books, 35% said once a month or less, 8% said once a week or less, and 7% said more than once a week.
However, the respondents aged 16-19 are more likely to read e-books than the 20-24s, because 14% of the younger group read e-books at least once a month, compared to only 7% of the older respondents.
The 16-19s are also less likely to have a preference for either print or e-books, with 23% of that group saying they are agnostic about format. Less than a fifth of the older group said they didn’t have a preference.
The younger age group were also more likely to say they don’t read any books (23%) than the older group (16%).
When it comes to electronic reading devices, nearly half of all of those surveyed (43%) said they read using their smartphones. The next most popular device was a Kindle, used by 34%, then iPad (27%), laptop (23%), other tablet (19%), desktop computer (3%).
The majority (64%) said less than £3 is the right price for an e-book, whilst 26% said they would be willing to pay between £3 and £5.
One respondent said: “E-books should not cost the same as a print book. Sometimes print books are cheaper than their electronic equivalents!”
Picture: Rolf Marriott
- Nearly three quarters of young people prefer print
- Print dominates but e-books growing for kids
- Early Digital Census results reveal growth in print and e-book sales
- Young people who engage less with reading prefer screens, says NLT report
- Adults and teenagers still prefer print books to e-books, WBD survey says | {
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Life is a continuous learning experience. Throughout our lives we keep rising and falling, picking up important lessons along the way. Some of these lessons come from experience, yet there are others that we learn watching others or reading in books for example. No matter how much we learn from the books there is a significant difference between practical and theoretical experience. Furthermore, there are many life lessons that we simply cannot learn until we face certain situations in our life. Most people would say that there are some lessons that come too late, catching us off-guard and unprepared.
The following list unveils some of the most important lessons in life that people learn the hard way.
1. Walk your own path
People like to judge other people. This peer pressure can make you stray from the path you started to carve for your future. Don’t mind other people’s aspirations, don’t ever let someone else’s goals and dreams influence your vision of life. It’s your path and you decide where it takes you and how long it takes you to see it through.
2. Don’t hesitate when you should act
There is an old Roman proverb that people often quote – “Carpe diem” – meaning “Seize the day”. More often than not, we fail to act due to lack of confidence or courage. This hesitation keeps us from moving forward and puts us in a cage of wondering what might have been. Whenever you feel it’s time to act, take action. No matter the outcome, you will end up smarter than before.
3. Experience what you have learned
No matter how much we think we know about some topic, it’s only after we have put that knowledge into use that we get confirmation of the actual level of understanding that we possess. Sure, we could read about painting, learn all the techniques and brush types, colour palettes, etc. but only when we get in front of a canvas and start painting we put our knowledge to the test.
As EduGeeksClub’s career expert, Julia Smith once wrote: “Young people often face difficulties when it comes to putting what they have learned into practice; therefore all this knowledge becomes useless when it should be the fuel that propels their careers”.
4. Good things don’t come easy
If you want to have a good life with a successful career, emotional satisfaction, and trustworthy friends you have to work hard. Luck can take you only so far and the rest is entirely up to you, the amount of effort you put in every day, and the ability to learn from your mistakes. Don’t think for a moment that someone else is going to fight your battles with the same vigor and devotion as you would.
5. Never fail to try more
Even when we’re feeling most prepared there is a chance we fail in accomplishing our goal. An athlete could lead the entire race only to fall just in front of the finish line and lose. This doesn’t mean the athlete should stop competing; on the contrary, he would work even harder for the next competition. The results will come, eventually.
6. Take care of your health early
When we’re young we can push our body to its limits day after day. It seems as nothing can touch us and we are invincible. However, as we grow older all the parties, drinking, smoking, and eating fast food take a toll on our health. Start developing healthy habits while you’re still young and healthy. Take regular checkups with your doctor and dentist in order to prevent future problems.
7. Make every moment count
Life goes by faster than we think. When you’re in your twenties you think you’ll stay there forever but before you know it you are in your thirties and it’s too late for the things you wanted to do as a young person. Live your life to its full extent because life is short and we never know what tomorrow brings.
8. Live and let live
We often try to help people when we see they’re making a mistake. This type of behavior can lead us into all kinds of troubles and misunderstandings. Don’t force your ideas onto others, let those who want your help and guidance seek you out. Sometimes it’s best to stay away and let them come to you or you might seem intrusive to others.
9. Be flexible with your goals
Sometimes we feel it’s the right time to take action and put our plans in motion only to realize that we were wrong. It’s important to analyze our current position and how our activities could influence our future. Sometimes it’s better to postpone a certain goal or even change it for the time being. Accepting a promotion in a bad time could get us in more trouble than good if the time is not right.
10. For every action, there’s an equal opposite reaction
Before you say something or act in a certain way, think about the consequences. A person could be unprepared to hear some truth or won’t respond well to our gesture, no matter how good our intentions are. Treat each word with caution.
Take these pieces of advice as guidance, not as a rule. Your life is your own and you know what’s best for you. However, keep in mind that morning is wiser than the evening. Enjoy life! | {
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First, I want to wish all of you a Happy New Year. This starts the second year of our blog. We’ve designed the blog as an auxiliary resource that expands on the ideas covered in our book Design: A Beginner’s Handbook. With that in mind I thought it would be useful to explore the work of the photographer Erica Baum.
Where do ideas come from? This question comes up often for beginning students and artists. Is there some magic answer? For an artist like Baum the answer resides close to home and is found in her personal history.
Baum has always loved reading and writing. As early as elementary school she was receiving awards for her stories. She went on to get a degree in anthropology and later an MA in teaching English as a second language. At the same time, she was involved with art from a young age and after receiving that MA she went back to school to get an MFA in Photography.
Baum is known for photographs that recontextualize found text. She zooms in close, often highlighting a single word or a small segment of a larger sentence or paragraph. The photographs become poetic spaces that combine the formal considerations found in visual art with word associations and abstract storytelling.
When Baum first entered graduate school she says that “I began my work there in almost anthropological fashion, taking photographs of college life – fascinated, in particular, by Yale’s preppy, upper-middle-class aspects, which were foreign to me. Gradually I focused less on the students and more on details and textures, until I found myself photographing the squiggles, marks and partial erasures left on blackboards after classes were dismissed.” The image above is an example of one of these blackboard photographs – cropped so that the source is unclear and the viewer must become an active participant in explaining, and thus completing, the image. Of this work Baum comments, “I’d established a set of parameters within which theoretically endless encounters could unfold.”
One day Baum went to photograph blackboards but discovered that all the rooms were occupied. Instead, she found herself in the library with her large view camera, peering into the card catalogs (still in use in the early 1990s). Opening a drawer “…was a kind of revelation: there were whole worlds in there. Photography, I realized, was a form of concentration; I could turn my attention to anything.”
Her Card Catalog Series is filled with absurd juxtapositions that appear as a natural part of the library ordering system. Words bump up against each other for no other reason than an alphabetical connection, leading the viewer to project their own associations onto the text.
Baum’s work over the last twenty years has continued the investigations into found text that she began in graduate school.
I find these photographs from Baum’s Naked Eye Series remarkably beautiful. The photographs appear to be intricate collages that combine abstraction and figuration. But in fact, these aren’t collages at all. They are photographs of cheap paperback books from the 1950s and 60s, fanned open, the garish colors of the page edges forming the vertical compositional lines. Partially visible figures gaze out from the books. The name for the series comes from the first book Baum photographed, a book on UFOs that included eyewitness assertions that what they saw was real. “When something is seen with the naked eye it is supposed to be unmanipulated and true. It’s like the camera’s lens that we no longer believe delivers only just the facts.”
The photographs above are part of Baum’s Dog-Eared Series. Who hasn’t found themselves folding down the corner of a book page as a place marker. Unlike most people Baum noticed the accidental “found” poems in these folds, which she turned into a type of concrete poetry. As is the case in all of Baum’s work there is a strong visual and formal presentation that is combined with linguistic investigations to make a hybrid form.
Like many of the artists we’ve discussed this past year Baum looks closely at the surrounding world, honing in on the easily overlooked and turning it into something worthy of a viewer’s attention. So my advice to you is pay attention, anything can become transformed into a work of art. | {
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19 July 2012 - The exploitation of human beings is a highly lucrative business for organized criminal groups. As a new UNODC campaign launched this week highlights, it is an illicit market which affects millions of victims worldwide every year. With traffickers making an estimated $32 billion annually, human trafficking is one of the world's most shameful crimes and one which robs people of their dignity and basic rights.
Developed to raise awareness around transnational organized crime, the campaign highlights some of the key threats being faced today - with human trafficking one of the leading concerns. The campaign, which can be seen on www.unodc.org/toc, includes a new video which is being rolled out online ( www.youtube.com/unodc) and through international broadcasters and illustrates the key financial and social costs of this international issue.
While the best-known form of human trafficking is for the purpose of sexual exploitation, hundreds of thousands of victims are also trafficked for forced labour, domestic servitude, child begging or the removal of their organs. The many different types of human trafficking means that there is no single, typical victim profile. Cases are seen in all parts of the world and victims are targeted irrespective of gender, age or background. Children, for example, might be trafficked from Eastern to Western Europe for the purpose of begging or as pickpockets; while young girls from Africa could be deceived with promises of modelling or au pair jobs only to find themselves trapped in a world of sexual and pornographic exploitation.
A central component of the campaign is driving action against transnational organized crime. It calls not just on Government authorities to act, but also highlights the role of communities and individuals.
Some of the steps that the campaign suggests in tackling human trafficking include:
As the guardian of the United Nations Convention on Transnational Organized Crime and the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing Convention, UNODC has been at the forefront in tackling human trafficking. UNODC offers practical help to Member States, not only by helping to draft laws and create comprehensive national anti-trafficking strategies but also assisting with resources to implement them. At the national level, countries continue to implement the Protocol and work towards integrating anti-human trafficking legislation into their domestic laws.
Towards the end of 2012, UNODC will be publishing a new global report on trafficking in persons. Based on data collected from Member States, the report will provide a basis for evaluating how trends have changed since the last global UNODC data collection exercise in 2009 and will provide guidance as to what remains to be done.
UNODC also manages the United Nations Voluntary Trust Fund for Victims of Human Trafficking (especially women and children). Officially launched in 2010 by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, the Trust Fund supports the provision of on-the-ground humanitarian, legal and financial aid to victims of trafficking and provides members of the public an avenue through which they can donate to this important cause. | {
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The movie “All About Eve” has become many things since it first premiered on October 13, 1950. You can read all about it in Wikipedia’s “thematic content” of the movie here.
I first watched this award-winning film in the late 1980’s while living in Portland, Maine. Maybe I watched it on Turner Classic Movies or maybe I rented it at Videoport, Portland’s early and unmatched Tyrannosaurus Rex of movies.
I did not analyze the movie to any great extent. I like the whippet-fast dialogue and the over to top drama that is Bette Davis.
And I particularly liked this scene, where Bette Davis’s character, Margo Channing, analyzes her career:
“Funny business, a woman’s career. The things you drop on your way up the ladder– so you can move faster– you forget you’ll need them when you go back to being a woman. That’s one career all females have in common whether we like it or not. Being a woman. Sooner or later, we’ve got to work at it, no matter what other careers we’ve had or wanted. And in the last analysis nothing is any good unless you can look up just before dinner– or turn around in bed– and there he is. Without that you’re not a woman. You’re someone with a French provincial office– or a book full of clippings. But you’re not a woman. Slow curtain. The end.”
Back in the late 1980’s, when I was in my 20’s and my life looked like a blank canvass in front of me, I was focused on accomplishment. I did not think much about being a woman and what that meant. I thought about getting things done, getting ahead, acquiring stuff. My husband was not interested in those things although he never challenged or discouraged me from doing the things I wanted to do. I’m sure he watched “All About Eve” with me a time or two.
I left him, in part, because of our incompatible life goals.
Since that time, I have filled my book with clippings. Many women I’ve met while travelling this road have bigger and better clipping books than mine. After all, it’s a funny business, a woman’s career.
Look, I’ve thought about this post for a long time, maybe months. Maybe years. I know Margo Channing’s lines are just theatre; it’s a movie and movies are only imitations of life. But there is a reason they reverberated with me when I was 25 and why them come to me 30 years later as I turn 55. In the last analysis, nothing is any good unless you can look up just before dinner and there he is.
I don’t know what this means for me as I move forward into the twilight of my life. I would like to lean back and think about the tasks and projects I’ve undertaken in the last 30 years and drop some of them. I’m tired of coordinating volunteers and arranging things. I’d like to spend more time outside in the natural world. I’d like to wake up without panic and water my flowers instead of sitting at my computer at dawn cranking out a report or an article I’ll be paid less than minimum wage to write.
So there you have it. I’m standing at the gate and contemplating the path.
If I had a young daughter, getting ready to launch out into life, I would give her Margo Channing’s advice. Find a good man and do it while you’re young. Slow down, lean back, and live your life with no regrets. Keep your soft, womanly heart wide open.
Slow curtain. The end. | {
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We invite you to submit papers on
The papers can address the following aspects:
Further ideas for topics and aspects to be addressed can be found above and here:
The papers will be presented in oral or poster sessions. Accepted and presented contributions can be published in the conference proceedings.
Call for Papers:
Please submit your contributions for the "Call for Papers" by e-mail to office(at)esv.or.at.
For the Young Energy Researchers Conference and to propose a speaker, please use the respective online submission form:
Check the "Frequently asked questions" for further information.
The paper should:
Which topics should the papers address?
Examples for topics can be found above and here: | {
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Our commitment to improving Aboriginal health
We are committed to improving Aboriginal health. Please read our Statement of Commitment.
The Western NSW Local Health District (WNSWLHD) is committed to improving the health of Aboriginal people: we identify this as a strategic priority for the organisation. In line with this, an Aboriginal Health Plan and implementation roadmap has been developed to provide direction and track our progress against key Aboriginal health priority areas.
Some of the key areas of Aboriginal health are:
- Ensuring programs and services are accessible, affordable, relevant and appropriate for Aboriginal communities;
- Continuing to develop and strengthen effective partnerships and working relationships with the Aboriginal community controlled sector, Primary Health Networks, Aboriginal communities and other key stakeholders;
- Development and support of a skilled Aboriginal workforce;
- Ensuring governance, planning and advisory structures within the organisation are supportive of culturally relevant decision-making.
Looking for a service in your area? To find a health service use our facility listing map.
Our Aboriginal nations
Our Local Health District includes the lands of many Aboriginal nations.
Publications and reports
Our Improving Aboriginal Health Strategy 2018-2023 outlines the journey over the next five years for Aboriginal health for our Local Health District, our key partners and most importantly for our local Aboriginal communities.
The strategy focuses on improving the health and wellbeing of our Aboriginal population by setting realistic, achievable goals that focus on improving the environments we deliver our services in, the way we deliver these services and by strengthening our Aboriginal workforce.
Our Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) was launched on 14th September 2017 by Professor Tom Calma, Co-Chair Reconciliation Australia and our Chief Executive, Scott Mclachlan. The launch took place during the 2017 Aboriginal Health Forum, which was attended by more than 100 members of our workforce.
The RAP is about what our organisation can do to contribute to reconciliation in Australia. It will help us develop a more culturally safe and tolerant workplace that will contribute to improving service delivery to Aboriginal peoples, their families and communities.
Aboriginal Signage Strategy
The Arts and Signage Strategy aims to increase the districts cultural security by improving the cultural safety of its facilities.
The increase in cultural security will be achieved by a phased roll-out of culturally safe signage, including the use of unique Aboriginal artwork and language, at Base Hospital and Multipurpose Services.
The Western NSW Local Health District is pleased to invite Aboriginal Artist to submit a portfolio of their work to be considered for the Arts and Signage Strategy. The following town(s) are now accepting expressions of interest:
- Nyngan is currently accepting expressions of interest, click here to find out more and download the expression of interest form
Our Aboriginal workforce
We are committed to developing a skilled Aboriginal workforce reflective of our local Aboriginal population.
Meet our mob! We are proud of our Aboriginal workforce. We have Aboriginal people in various roles at varying levels within our organisation.
We have a variety of partnerships with other organisations who are also committed to improving Aboriginal health in our area including:
- Bila Muuji Aboriginal Health Services Bila Muuji works to address health inequality in their local communities: Brewarrina, Bourke, Coomealla, Dubbo, Forbes, Orange, Wellington and Walgett.
- TAFE Western
TAFE Western is committed to fostering social and economic development by providing innovative and relevant training aligned to job opportunities and community needs.
Programs and services
Integrated Care is about better connecting and resourcing our highly skilled and dedicated health network (GPs, nurses, specialists, allied health providers) to provide care that responds to all of a person’s health needs – physical and mental – in partnership with patients, carers and family.
Marang Dhali – Eating Well
Marang Dhali – Eating Well is a practical cooking and nutrition program consisting of 4-6 weekly sessions, usually 2 hours long, delivered by trained Aboriginal facilitators.
‘Marang Dhali’ is the Wiradjuri language phrase for ‘eating well’. We acknowledge and thank Stanley Vernard ‘Stan’ Grant Snr, AM, an Elder of the Wiradjuri Nation and Language Specialist of the Elders Council, for his advice and permission to use this phrase in the title of our Program.
Aboriginal participants cook healthy recipes, discuss ideas for good nutrition and share the prepared meal together, or take some home for the family to try. Target groups have included Elders and men’s groups, young mothers and teenagers.
To run a program, money is needed for food ingredients, venue hire and cook books The Program is coordinated by Health Promotion Officers from Population Health, Western NSW Local Health District and Aboriginal Health Workers, who have been part of the decision making since the start in 2011.
Western NSW Local Health District facilitators are supported by Health Promotion, receiving $600 per program (placed in local supermarkets), bulk Participant Packs (for participants to keep for home use) and annual Facilitator Sharing Days.
Marang Dhali was developed in response to the growing issue of food security in western New South Wales.
Mental health, drug & alcohol
The mental health of our Aboriginal people is very important to us. Read more about
mental health, drug and alcohol services across Western NSW Local Health District.
Information to help keep you healthy | {
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There’s been a wave of Twitter chats recently around favourite bad films (Kong: Skull Island), unpopular opinions (The Lion King is mediocre animal Hamlet with mostly bad tunes) and the like. It’s a great platform for the random and reactionary. But one film kept bafflingly coming up as a “guilty pleasure” with astonishing regularity: Practical Magic.
Now, we all know why that is. We know that it doesn’t actually matter on any level whether it’s a good romantic comedy or not (it is), if the script is smart (mostly), the performances are on point (yup) or the structure makes sense (eh, more or less). What matters is that it’s a women’s film, and we can easily dismiss womeny things that men couldn’t possibly be interested in like love and magic and, um, being beaten and strangled by your insane abusive ex. Actually, it really is a women’s film.
Practical Magic is the best examination of womanhood and patriarchy that ever masqueraded as a fuzzy love story. It starts with a botched hanging and a ruined woman’s curse and takes a left turn through young widowhood, manslaughter and demonic possession. Through all of it is the constant support that women offer other women. It’s the sister who drives through the night to hold your hand, tell you stories and remind you that your breath stinks so you can maybe, eventually get out of bed. And it’s her in return racing to collect you and soothe your bruises; it’s her knowing where the bodies are buried. It’s the in-jokes and rituals and thousand little hurts that only bind you closer together.
And when the ghost of a terrible relationship literally won’t let you go, it’s the sister who rallies the crowd, won’t let go and puts blood, sweat and tears into saving your soul from darkness.
It’s not faultless; what film is? If I had to pick a feminist hole, it would be in the portrayal of Gillian whose own, deeply sexual power isn’t exactly blamed for the disaster she finds herself in, but is definitely cast in an unflattering light next to the repressed spark of Sally’s more pure magic. The hint that she’s slowly passing into a boho wyrd sister role with the elder aunts is a little irritating; but since they still indulge in midnight margaritas, naked dancing under the moon and bird-stabbing love life magic, it’s not exactly a peaceful retirement. Like Marianne and Elinor Dashwood, Gillian and Sally are at their best when they accept themselves as they are, instead of – respectively – as they dream of being or as they think they should be.
There’s nothing to feel guilty about in loving a film that appeals to the power of the female collective to heal hearts broken by relationships with men. Whether it’s a beautiful relationship doomed by death before its time or a deeply unbalanced one riven with male violence, the balm in the end is the fellowship of other women.
Indeed, even if it were as fluffy as the Faith Hill banger that accompanies it, you can jettison any thoughts that this makes it unworthy of your time and attention. Even if it’s the most womany thing of all the womany things – especially if it is, in fact – you can like what you like without feeling the need to justify it.
Unless it’s I Just Can’t Wait To Be King. | {
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In 2016, there were 50.77 million Internet users in the Philippines. This number is likely to increase to 57.84 million by 2022. Data shows that people in the Philippines spend an average of 4 hours on social media platforms every day.
As a result, many brands and marketers prefer promoting content on social media over typical advertising. They reach out to influencers on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook or YouTube with relevant and authentic followers to endorse their products.
As influencers play an important role in marketing, brands need to create effective and easy hiring methods. Manually searching for them may be a good option at first, but it has its limitations.
It does not guarantee that the desired influencer will meet the brand requirements. If the brand fails to find the right content creators, the entire process becomes futile. Subsequently, it affects brands with the delay in the marketing campaign.
To avoid all this hassle, influencer marketing platforms like Affable.ai assist in running campaigns smoothly. The platform has a database of over 6 million content creators, gives access to a custom list of influencers based on your target market, manages campaigns and tracks competitors' activities.
MayMay Entrata is a well-known musician with a large fan following on Instagram. She uploads pictures posing in various outfits, some being stage outfits.
Camille Trinidad is a well known YouTuber and an Instagram personality. She uploads her pictures on Instagram sporting the outfit she wears on a particular day.
Rabiya is an actress and a licensed physical therapist. Crowned Miss Universe Philippines 2020, Rabiya shares snaps from various photoshoots and other projects.
Having more than one million followers, Laureen posts captivating videos of various fun style challenges. She shares pictures with aesthetic outfits with equally photogenic backgrounds.
Andre is passionate about travelling, fashion and fitness. He posts from all the locations he has visited. Sometimes also promoting various brands by wearing their outfits.
Jessy is a famous actress, YouTube creator and Instagram personality. On Instagram, her uploads consist of her daily life updates while promoting various beauty products and cosmetics.
Christine is an actress and model with a large following on Instagram. Besides self-care updates, she also posts behind the scenes of her ongoing projects.
Maria Carmela Brosas a.k.a K Brosas is a known actress,singer and comedian. She talks about self-care and about how she enjoys her alone time.
Bianca Manalo is an actress and crowned Miss Universe Philippines 2009. Her Instagram uploads consist of brand endorsements, events attended by her, and short videos on fitness and self-care.
Maria Mika Medina, crowned Miss Universe Philippines 2016, posts about all tourist destinations visited by her and shares promotional posts for beauty products and cosmetics.
Aubrey Miles is a fitness influencer who posts video clips from her workout sessions. She inspires her followers to lead a healthy lifestyle by incorporating exercise and healthy eating habits in their daily lives.
Derrick is an up and coming athlete and fitness influencer on Instagram with a good number of followers. He posts pictures and videos of him working out at the gym and doing other sports activities.
Marline is a fitness enthusiast. She uploads clips from her workout sessions and motivates her followers to lead a mindful life. Of late, she started sharing the journey of being a new mum through social media.
Jay Manalo is a fitness, lifestyle and travel influencer. He posts pictures and video clips of his gym sessions and motivates his followers to be the best version of themselves.
Sawalan is a fitness enthusiast and influencer. He uploads pictures and videos from his gym sessions and endorses brands he collaborates with to promote a product.
Sam Pinto - Semerad shares her journey of motherhood by posting pictures of her with the baby and narrates her experiences of being a mum with the followers.
Melai Cantiveros - Francisco’s likes to share fun moments with her family. She frequently posts a few promotional posts of brands.
‘kryzzzie ‘ is a well recognised digital creator who is also a parenting influencer on Instagram. She has been sharing her journey of motherhood with her followers. She posts pictures with her child and heartwarming moments with the family.
Andi is a recognised parenting influencer who posts pictures and videos of candid moments with her daughters. She shares photos of them having fun, and some of them also include promotional posts.
Pia is a notable artist. Her content is mainly about her family and friends. She also posts about the brands she is working with and events attended by her in recent times.
Jeeca is an established food influencer on Instagram. She creates and shares recipes from her childhood. Jeeca is also the author of the cookbook, Vegan Asian. And as the name suggests, she has shared recipes of vegan delicacies with her readers in the book.
Vanjo Merano is a Filipino food Influencer and a food blogger. He shares recipes and tips for making authentic Filipino food. On Instagram, he gives details about all the recipes he attempts to make.
JP Anglo is a renowned chef and food influencer. He posts about the dishes that he makes. Also, he does food reviews of different restaurants and gives feedback to his followers for them to try.
Clyden San Pedro is a pastry chef and food stylist. He shares pictures of fancy cakes and patisserie.
Chris is a chef and photographer. He shows off his culinary skills on his Instagram profiles by trying his hands on different recipes and sharing them with his followers.
Maggie Wilson posts include the places she has visited and events attended by her. She also uploads promotional posts of brands and establishments that she has worked with in the past.
Cherin is a renowned actress who flaunts her looks by sharing snippets of her photoshoots. She has collaborated with brands like Dior, Jacquemus and Rolex.
Roxie Baeyens, crowned Miss Earth Philippines 2020, has worked with well-known brands like Pantene, L’oreal and Garnier.
Crowned Miss Earth Philippines 2020, Roxie Baeyens, has worked with well-known brands like Pantene, L’oreal and Garnier.
Zach is a luxury travel and lifestyle influencer on Instagram. He merges travelling with lifestyle to endorse a perfect staycation look. Zach also reviews places and hotels he has visited and encourages his followers to see those beautiful places.
Drew Arellano uploads pictures and videos from all the places he has visited with his family. He also shares candid moments of him with his kids.
Mikki a.k.a ‘thetravelpro’ is a luxury travel and adventure enthusiast. He posts pictures from all the picturesque locations and sometimes collaborates with the resorts for promotion on social media.
‘iamlarbs’ is a travel influencer who shares pictures of him at various beautiful locations.
Ria is a travel, lifestyle and fashion influencer. She posts artistic and aesthetic pictures from different locations around the Philippines.
Laura is a travel and lifestyle influencer. She likes to be one with nature and motivates her followers to live and travel sustainably.
Alodia is a gamer who streams on Facebook. She is also the co-founder of Tier One Entertainment and co-owner of the esports team, Blacklist International and Alodia Beauty and Alodia Art.
Ann is a gamer and a cosplayer. She has collaborated with gaming brands or equipment to promote them.
Dexie Diaz is a streamer, model and cosplayer. Through Instagram, she promotes gaming equipment brands and updates her followers about the events or collaborations she has been part of or is likely to attend.
Rojean Delos Reyes is a gamer and streamer on Twitch. And, plays most games on PlayStation and Nintendo Switch. Reyes is a fan of manga and Japanese snacks.
Eric Tai a.k.a ‘Eruption’ is a gamer, streamer and fitness influencer. Through his Instagram, he updates his followers about his streams and collaborations.
John Prats is a renowned actor, director and producer. He shares behind the scenes from various shoots and events. Scroll through his feed to find photos of Prats' fun and heartwarming moments with his children.
Iza Calzado Wintle is a well known actress. She is the co-founder of She Talks Asia and a dance enthusiast. She posts pictures from various photoshoots and events that she attends.
Amy is a TV and radio host. She is a YouTube creator with a huge fan following. Amy updates her followers with the latest happenings and motivates her followers by posting thoughtful messages on Instagram.
Fifth Solomon is an established director, writer and actor. He posts about the travelling locations, events he has attended and behind the scenes of various commercial shoots.
‘sam_conception’ is an actor and musician. He updates his followers about the events and highlights snippets of behind the scenes shots from the projects.
Viy Cortez has her line of cosmetics and skincare products. She provides updates on the new products launched by her brand.
Maureen Wroblewitz is the first runner up for Miss Universe Philippines 2021. She has worked with renowned skincare brands Olay and St. Ives and collaborates with local brands.
Gelli de Belen-Rivera promotes self-care and posts skincare tips to help her followers.
Noemi reviews a large variety of skincare products and gives her honest reviews to her followers.
Sheillyn is a well established Instagram influencer in the skincare community. She has worked with a variety of skincare brands like Olay. She is particular about self-care and personal well being.
Loisa is an established actress and an animal lover. She uploads a lot of fun antics that her cute animal friends get to. Other than that, she is also fond of sharing skincare rituals.
Megan Young is a famous public figure, crowned Miss World 2013. Besides frequent updates about her daily life, Megan posts pictures and videos of the time spent with her adorable dog, Soba.
Dr Aivee uploads all the fun and joyous moments she spends with her family along with their cute little pets.
Joeymeadking is a custodian of shared farmland as well as an animal caretaker. She posts pictures of all the fun she encounters while looking after her animal friends on the farm and otherwise. She also uploads pictures from all the locations she has visited.
Kayesha is an animal lover. She has one dog and four cats and refers to herself as their fur mom. She uploads all the fun antics that her pets get to and encourages her followers to adopt pets instead of buying them.
Bianca encourages her followers to live mindfully through her content on social media. She motivates them to take care of themselves and their surroundings. Bianca also shares various recipes through her YouTube channel.
Troy Montero is a well-known athlete. His posts inspire his followers to live a healthy lifestyle by working out and developing healthy eating habits.
Florence Peter D. Virtucio is a wellness travel and lifestyle influencer. He promotes various brands and motivates his followers to lead a mindful lifestyle.
Culver is a fitness coach and trainer. He posts videos and pictures of his workout and encourages his followers to lead a sustainable, fit and healthy lifestyle.
Crystal is a dermatologist and a famous Instagram personality. She encourages her followers to focus on their mental and physical health and shares personal experiences through her posts to help motivate them.
This digital era has seen a continuous increase in the popularity of social media marketing. It makes influencers a necessary part of branding and social media marketing strategies. If you struggle to find the best influencers or manage influencer marketing campaigns, check out affable.ai for a free demo today.
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We don't spam. | {
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Chris Mullin is a former Labour MP and minister, and the author of Error of Judgment: The Truth about the Birmingham Bombings. The Friends of Harry Perkins, a sequel to his novel A Very British Coup, is published next month.
On the evening of 21 November 1974, bombs planted by the IRA in two crowded Birmingham pubs, the Tavern in the Town and the Mulberry Bush, exploded, killing 21 people and injuring at least 170. Many of the injuries were life-changing. None of those responsible has been brought to justice.
This month, almost 45 years later, an inquest opens into the deaths. The inquest has been forced on the authorities by the persistence of a small group of bereaved relatives who want to know who made the bombs and who planted them. The coroner has resisted this demand, arguing that it is not the job of an inquest to identify perpetrators. The relatives challenged his decision in the courts: the police, they say, know the names of those responsible and should be obliged to disclose them. The police respond that, although they have their suspicions, they have insufficient evidence to charge anyone. The lower court refused to order the coroner to address the issue, but did conclude that he hadn’t properly considered the matter and referred it back to him. The coroner stuck to his original decision. The relatives then took their case to the appeal court, which found for the coroner. There the matter rests.
I know the names of the bombers. Four men were involved: two bomb-makers and two planters. More than thirty years ago two of them described to me what they’d done in some detail. By a process of elimination, assisted by information from former members of the West Midlands IRA, I also identified at least one of the remaining perpetrators, perhaps both, though neither would admit to me their role in the bombings. But I have never named names. Journalists do not disclose their sources. I interviewed many of those who were active in the IRA’s West Midlands campaign. To gain their co-operation I gave repeated assurances, not only to the guilty, but to innocent intermediaries, that I would not disclose their identities. I cannot go back on that now, just because it would be convenient. My purpose at the time was to help free the six innocent men who had been convicted of the bombing. I was never under the illusion that I could bring the perpetrators to justice. My researches, conducted between 1985 and 1987, formed the final chapters of my book about the case, Error of Judgment. In it two of the perpetrators are quoted at length, but not identified. I no longer have any compunction about identifying two of the men involved, who are now dead (I am about to do so), but the man described in my book as the ‘young planter’ is still alive, and I will not name him.
Within four hours of the explosions on 21 November five Irishmen – Paddy Hill, Gerry Hunter, Richard McIlkenny, Billy Power and Johnny Walker – were arrested at Heysham in Lancashire as they got off a train from Birmingham New Street which connected with the ferry to Belfast. A sixth man, Hughie Callaghan, was arrested the next day in Birmingham. The five were taken to Morecambe police station where Dr Frank Skuse, a Home Office forensic scientist, tested their hands for evidence of contact with explosives. Meanwhile a posse of detectives from the West Midlands Serious Crimes Squad headed up the motorway to interview the suspects. In Morecambe Skuse conducted a Griess test, swabbing the hands of the suspects with ether, mixing it with caustic soda and noting the reaction. By dawn, he was claiming that the test had returned positive results for two of the five prisoners. He had no business making such a claim. Griess was only a screening test. Having obtained his initial results, he should have taken the samples back to his laboratory in Preston and fed them into a mass spectrometer, which gives a much more accurate result. Instead, Skuse told the West Midlands detectives he was certain at least two of the suspects had recently been in contact with nitroglycerine. From that moment, their fate was sealed.
Up to this point Lancashire police had resisted pressure from the West Midlands detectives to hand over the suspects for interrogation. After Skuse’s contribution the pressure became impossible to resist. Lancashire police effectively lost control of their police station and a programme of violence and intimidation began, lasting three days and two nights (during which time the prisoners were transferred to Queens Road police station in Birmingham), which resulted in four confessions. This was before the Police and Criminal Evidence Act (1984), which laid down strict rules for the treatment of suspects. Before its passage, confessions could be extracted by any means necessary, so long as any injuries inflicted weren’t too obvious. There were no tape or video recordings, no lawyer present, just police officers. The suspects who confessed claimed they did so after being beaten and deprived of sleep, having aggressive dogs put in their cells and, in one case, being subjected to a mock execution using blank cartridges.
The confessions were mistaken in details about the bombings and contradicted each other in major respects. Among the things they got wrong were the locations of the bombs, the types of bag they were carried in (something which only became apparent after scientists examined remnants found in the rubble, by which time it was too late to correct the confessions), and which suspects were supposed to have bombed which pub. They didn’t explain where the bombs had come from or who had made them. (Years later, at the Birmingham Six’s final, successful appeal in 1991, it was discovered that the interviewing officers had been rewriting their supposedly contemporaneous notebooks up to the day the original trial started.)
The trial took place at Lancaster Castle in the summer of 1975. Mr Justice (later Lord) Bridge made no secret of his approach to the evidence. ‘I am of the opinion,’ he told the jury, ‘not shared by all my brothers on the bench that, if a judge has formed a clear view, it is much better to let the jury see that and say so and not pretend to be some Olympian detached observer.’ He was as good as his word. The trial lasted 45 days. In addition to the six, there were three other people in the dock, charged with conspiracy to cause explosions. One of them was Michael Murray, a workmate of two of the six, who made no secret of his membership of the IRA. In the best IRA tradition he chose not to participate in the proceedings. His presence in the dock alongside the six was deeply damaging to their case. This is no doubt the reason the prosecution decided to try them together.
The case against the six was divided into what the judge called three chapters. The first was circumstantial evidence: they were in the wrong place at the wrong time and drank in the same pubs and clubs as a number of the wrong people. Even Bridge admitted that this ‘fell a long way short of anything that anyone could possibly regard as proof’. The two remaining chapters were the confessions and Skuse’s evidence. Skuse told the court, as he had told the police officers, that he was ‘99 per cent certain’ at least two of the accused had handled explosives.
There were clear difficulties with the prosecution case. The confessions were riddled with contradictions and the suggestion that they had been obtained by intimidation and violence could not be entirely dismissed – no one disputed that the men had suffered numerous injuries during their first few days in custody. The police position was that the injuries must have been inflicted after the suspects were remanded to Winson Green prison. The prison officers’ position was silence. The men’s position was that they had been assaulted both at the police station and at the prison. The distinction was important because if it could be demonstrated that the assaults had occurred in police custody the confessions would be invalid. A long procession of police officers ranging in rank from detective constable to chief superintendent gave evidence that no one had laid a finger on the suspects. In his summing up the judge outlined, in tones of incredulity, the scale of the conspiracy the police would have to have engaged in if the defendants were telling the truth. We now know that a conspiracy on this scale is essentially what did occur.
There were problems, too, with the evidence provided by Skuse. After applying the Griess test to the men’s hands at Morecambe, he did what he should have done before giving the police his conclusion and went back to his laboratory to feed the samples into a mass spectrometer. They all tested negative. What’s more, the clothes of all six men tested negative and a search of their homes revealed no trace of explosives. Where the bombs came from was a mystery left unexplored. Nevertheless, Skuse stuck to his assertion that the two positive Griess tests were proof of recent contact with explosives. Dr Hugh Black, a former Home Office chief inspector of explosives, appearing as a witness for the defence, pointed out that a range of innocent substances – anything containing nitrocellulose – could produce a positive Griess test. The problem was that Black was relying solely on his knowledge of chemistry. He had conducted no tests to support his (entirely accurate) assertions. The judge pounced on this.
Throughout the trial Bridge lost no opportunity to intervene on behalf of the prosecution. Not only did he criticise Black for failing to conduct experiments, he also went for the prison medical officer, Dr Harwood, whose evidence inconveniently asserted that the defendants showed signs of injury when they arrived at Winson Green. Harwood’s problem was that he was trying to cover for what Bridge called ‘his cronies’ in the prison service by making out all the assaults had been carried out by the police. Bridge took him apart. Finally, there was a tricky moment when one of the Lancashire police officers strayed off-script on a key issue of timing. Under questioning from the prosecution, he stuck to his story. Eventually the judge rode to the rescue.
Bridge’s summing up covered 189 pages and took three days to deliver. It is peppered with heavy hints as to his view of the evidence, although he always took care to insert the sentence, ‘Members of the jury, it is entirely a matter for you.’ One of the most remarkable passages came towards the end, when Bridge turned to Michael Murray, who had sat silently throughout the proceedings. ‘You may think,’ he told the jury, ‘that Murray’s conduct in this trial has shown a certain measure of dignity totally absent from the conduct of his co-defendants. You may find yourself in difficulty in withholding a certain measure of respect.’ Murray, as it turned out, was the only person in that courtroom who actually had anything to do with the bombings.
My attention was first drawn to the Birmingham case by my friend Peter Chippendale, who covered the trial for the Guardian. He told me he thought the wrong people had been convicted. It was ten years or so before I began to investigate the matter. In the early 1980s I persuaded Carmen Callil at Chatto and Windus to commission a book on the case, but the advance was small and did not begin to fund the research necessary. In 1985, Ray Fitzwalter, the editor of ITV’s documentary series World in Action, agreed to take me on temporarily and give me the resources to look into the case.
To begin with, I spent much time, along with the World in Action journalists Ian McBride and Charles Tremayne, trying to find a police officer involved in the case who would tell a story different from the one told in court. The search proved fruitless. Next we got two independent forensic scientists to test Skuse’s evidence. They found, just as Black had suggested during the trial, that a range of innocent household substances containing nitrocellulose, from varnish to sprays, could produce a positive Griess test. Of particular interest was the discovery that packs of playing cards used to be coated with nitrocellulose. The five men on the train to Heysham had played cards during the journey. We got Ian McBride to shuffle a pack of old playing cards and, sure enough, his hands produced a positive Griess test. With that, the forensic evidence collapsed. Soon after a World in Action documentary describing our findings was shown in October 1985, I was contacted by a former police officer who had been at Queens Road police station and witnessed some of the comings and goings in the cell block. We made a second documentary.
The case against the six men had always been weak, but that in itself did not prove their innocence. The only way to do that was to track down the actual bombers. My colleagues were not immediately interested in this line of inquiry so I went about it alone, beginning with a visit to the Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams in July 1985. I didn’t expect him to deliver up the real bombers; I wanted him to indicate that he had no objection to my interviewing particular individuals, whose names I would put to him. I wanted especially to talk to Michael Murray, who, having served most of his 12-year sentence for conspiracy to cause explosions, had recently been released and was living in Dublin.
Murray was not at all keen to meet me, but agreed after the intervention of intermediaries. We agreed that I would not disclose his identity and that when we came to a question he didn’t want to answer he would say so, but not mislead me. I met him three times, in July and November 1985 and April 1986. The first interview lasted three hours. Despite his initial reluctance he provided an account of what happened on the night of the bombings. Two men had made the bombs and two others had planted them in the pubs. The targets had not been the pubs, but the buildings they were part of: one was in the Rotunda, a local landmark, and the other was underneath the New Street office of the Inland Revenue.
At that meeting Murray declined to discuss his own role, but at our second meeting he was frank. He was one of the men who had made the bombs and he had given the warning phone call (which had come too late). This still wasn’t enough to free the jailed men. The police never claimed to have caught the bomb-makers. Indeed they had never offered any explanation as to where the bombs came from. I had to find one or both of the planters and persuade them to describe what they had done in such detail that it wouldn’t be possible for anyone to go on pretending that the right people were in prison.
I drew up a list of all those known to have been involved in planting bombs in and around Birmingham. Tracking them down wasn’t too difficult since many of them had served long prison terms. I started with those who’d been in prison at the time of the pub bombings. They didn’t necessarily know the identity of the bombers, but they did know which members of the West Midlands IRA were at liberty that night. They all agreed on one point: none of the Birmingham Six had been a member of the IRA.
I then began to track down those members of the West Midlands IRA who had been at liberty on the night of the bombings. Gradually I narrowed down my list of suspects and when I had been given the same name by three separate sources, I moved in on him. He lived on a bleak housing estate and was in his early thirties. He had been involved in seven or eight other city-centre bombings before the pub bombings. He set out to give me a sanitised version of his career, but as we started discussing the night of 21 November his voice began to tremble and fade away. At first, he lied, saying he had been warned to stay at home that night because something big was going to happen. After we changed the subject his voice grew stronger again. ‘I think you were in the pubs,’ I said to him. There was a long silence. We were sitting on the floor. He stared straight ahead, smoking. Then it all came tumbling out. This is what he told me:
On the evening of the bombings a person came to see me and said, ‘You’re needed for an operation.’ I went with him to a house. We went by car. The bombs were in the parlour, behind the sofa. One was in a duffle bag and the other was in a small brown luggage case. I was given the duffle bag and a pistol. I put the gun in my coat pocket. The other man carried the case. We walked into town. It was a good mile. The other fellow told me the targets ten minutes before we arrived. He said: ‘The one in the Tavern is for the tax office and the one in the Mulberry Bush is for the Rotunda.’ He added: ‘There’ll be plenty of warning.’ Believe it or not I accepted it. I didn’t want the stigma of cowardice attached to me. He kept saying, ‘Don’t worry, those people will be well out of there.’ I kept on about it and he repeated there would be substantial warning.
We approached down Digbeth. Just before we arrived we stopped in the entrance to a row of shops. The other guy opened the case and was fiddling with something. Then he reached inside my duffle bag. That was when the bombs were primed. We crossed the road without using the underpass because the police were sometimes down there. We did the Tavern first. Up New Street. Past the Mulberry Bush. The other fellow went to the bar and ordered two drinks. I took both bags and found a seat. I was shitting myself. The other person came back with the drinks. We took a sip and then got up leaving the duffle bag under a seat.
At the Mulberry Bush the procedure was the same. ‘This time I ordered the drinks. The other person found a table at the back. The bomb was left by a telephone.’ We talked for nearly four hours. I pressed him repeatedly for the name of the other man, but he refused to tell me. As I left, he said: ‘No offence Mr Mullin, but I never want to see you again.’
I learned from other sources that the other planter was called James Francis Gavin. It was from his house in Bordesley Green that the bombers had set out. By the time I was told about him, Gavin was in Portlaoise Prison, near Dublin, serving life for a murder committed in 1977. A pipe layer by profession, he was married to an English woman, served in the British army for three years and lived in Britain for many more. During the course of my three-hour interview with him he readily admitted to his involvement in the IRA’s West Midlands campaign and even to having advised IRA units all over the country about the layout of British military bases. When it came to the pub bombings, however, he flatly denied involvement. Instead he doggedly suggested that the bombings were the work of British agents bent on discrediting the IRA – something the IRA had never alleged. His reasons for this became clear as the interview progressed.
In the immediate aftermath of the pub bombings the IRA had issued a statement saying that it was not its policy to kill civilians; there would be an internal inquiry and the results of it would be published, ‘however unpalatable’. There was an inquiry, but the results were never published. I later interviewed an IRA veteran who sat on the inquiry. ‘A lot of lies were told,’ he said. ‘The people who had come out of England were interviewed. They all said, “It wasn’t us.” I firmly believed them at the time. Eighteen months later I was sitting in the house of one of the people who had been active in Birmingham. People had had a few drinks and they started talking. It became clear that we had done it. A second inquiry was held. It concluded that we had been lied to and that the people who had done it were walking around free.’
Michael Murray had confessed to being one of the bomb-makers. Gavin, even if he hadn’t admitted it to me, and the young man I spoke to had planted the bombs. A fourth name crops up from time to time: Michael Christopher Hayes, who was active in the West Midlands IRA in 1974 and returned to Ireland some time in 1975, remaining active there. Sean O’Callaghan, who infiltrated the IRA as an agent of the Irish security service, identified him as the one-time ‘quartermaster’ of the IRA English operation. According to another knowledgeable source he was its deputy head during the 1980s and so would have been involved in planning all the bombings that took place on the British mainland in that period. That would include the Brighton bombing of 1984. I interviewed him in October 1987. Like Gavin, he admitted to a leading role in the IRA’s West Midlands campaign, but denied involvement in the pub bombings. Lately, however, he has become more talkative. In Dublin in 2017 he gave an interview to a BBC journalist in which he accepted ‘collective responsibility’ for the bombings, but again denied direct involvement. He also made the unlikely claim that he had defused a third bomb in Birmingham that night: it had been left in the doorway of a branch of Barclays Bank in Hagley Road but failed to go off. This may or may not be true, but it does confirm he was active that night.
Michael Murray died in 1999, James Francis Gavin in 2002. Michael Christopher Hayes remains at liberty in Ireland. So does the young planter. Remarkably, they all spent time in West Midlands police custody after the bombings. The Birmingham Six were finally freed in 1991. | {
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The "awkward age" in the life of the church are those years between Holy Baptism and the beginning of Sunday School. Parents try to fulfill their parental responsibilities and take seriously those baptismal promises and bring their new son or daughter to church. At Grace we have also pledged to keep that son or daughter in front of the congregation in those early years by developing a "Cradle Roll" where at least once a year, we recognize those young people and their "baby steps" of faith. For more information about the Cradle Roll, please contact the church office.
Sunday School is open to children from Preschool through fifth grade. Grade Lutheran uses a lectionary-based curriculum, Whirl, for its Sunday School program, which means that the readings during worship provide the basis for the Sunday School lesson. Classes begin at 10:0 a.m. and conclude each Sunday with the pastor leading the children into church to begin worship. We welcome and encourage new registrations throughout the year. Please contact the church office for more information.
Vacation Bible School, 2019
Rylee Burns - Freshman - Cecil College
Eddie Collins - Junior - St. Peter's University
Shannon Dwyer - Freshman - Montclair State University
Emma Kostenbader - Junior - St. Bonaventure University
Marc Kostenbader - Freshman - NJCU
Christyn Trimblett - Freshman - NJCU
Gabrielle Trimblett - Freshman - Penn State
Emma Wodzanowski - Freshman - Ramapo College
Monday Morning Bible Study
Join the pastor for weekly reflection and study of the readings for the following Sunday. The study begins at 11:00 a.m. and is open to the community. No previous knowledge of the Scriptures is necessary, just a believing heart!!
Saturday Morning Bible Stury
The study is open to the community and meets on the third Saturday morning of the month at 10:00 a.m. at Grace. These studies are short overviews of various books of the bible.
The Book Club meets on the second Friday of the month at 7:00 p.m. Book suggestions are always welcome. Please come join us!
We are currently finishing up To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee.
Beginning in October, our next book will be The Story of God and All of Us by Roma Downey and Mark Burnett.
The men's group meets on the second Saturday of the month at the 53rd Street Diner (Chandelier) at 9:00 a.m. Join us as we engage in fellowship and conversation.
Bethel Bible Series - New Testament
The Bethel Series offers an excellent tool to enhance the biblical literacy within Christian congregations nationally and internationally. The study uses a historical approach to the Hebrew-Christian heritage of faith with an overview of the Old and New Testaments. Hermeneutics, the study of the Scriptures in the context of the period in which they were written, brings a new understanding of the biblical narrative.
Rich with Grace
A weekly reflection
"A Man: by Kim "Morning Star" Snyder
An Introduction to the Parables.
Professor Garwood P. Anderson, Ph.D.
Nashotah House Theological Seminary | {
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ERC Starting Grant for Martin Eckstein
Junior research group leader of the Hamburg-based MPSD receives a €1.5 million Starting Grant of the European Research Council for his research on ultrafast dynamics in complex materials
In his research proposal “Theory of ultra-fast dynamics in correlated multi-band systems”, Martin Eckstein and his group plan to investigate how state-of-the-art laser spectroscopy can be used to manipulate solids on the extremely short timescale of femtoseconds. For comparison, one femtosecond is only one millionth of the processor clock time in a modern computer.
In this context, complex material properties such as magnetism and superconductivity are of particular interest. These properties often emerge in so-called multi-band systems, in which the electrons can take several possible configurations at each atom. In his research, Martin Eckstein would like to obtain a theoretical understanding how these configurations evolve in time under the influence of strong laser light, and how this can bring about collective behavior, like in a swarm of birds, which are suddenly all flying in the same direction. With this understanding, one could develop concepts to generate entirely new states by the interaction of light and matter, or to switch between states with different properties in an extremely short time. Such experiments could, for example, also form the basis for new ultrafast communication technology.
“It is a great honor for me that the ERC has decided to support my research so generously,” says Martin Eckstein. “The MPSD in Hamburg is an internationally renowned institution in the very active field of ultrafast dynamics. It has already been an ideal environment for the work leading to the ERC proposal, and I am looking forward to exciting research in the coming five years.”
Martin Eckstein studied physics at the University of Augsburg, which also awarded him a doctorate in theoretical solid state physics in 2009. Subsequently, he spent a two-year postdoctoral research stay at the ETH Zürich. Since October 2011 he leads a junior research group at the Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter and is professor at the University of Hamburg.
ERC Starting Grants are awarded annually. They are designed to encourage young talented research leaders to gain independence in Europe and to build their own careers. The program supports research projects conducted at public or private research organizations in one of the EU Member States or Associated Countries with funding of up to € 1.5 million over a period of up to 5 years. The sole evaluation criterion is the scientific excellence of the researcher and the research proposal. | {
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Simon Cowell now has a new claim to creepy fame: when not cutting down wannabe stars on American Idol, he was busy impregnating his best friend's wife—allegedly. In seriously icky Hollywood gossip, the US Weekly has reported that the 53-year-old Brit has got New Yorker Lauren Silverman "up the duff."
Though 36-year-old Silverman is still technically married to Cowell's good buddy, real estate mogul Andrew Silverman, she is 10 weeks along, apparently with Cowell's child. Sources say the Silverman marriage has been on the rocks for some time, during which Cowell became cozy with Lauren.
Do you remember your first time? Many of us have some bittersweet menstrual nostalgia going on, as this contest will attest. Now a company called HelloFlo wants to pander to your every monthly need, delivering care packages straight to your home so you don't have to think about it. The best part is, they include candy to take your mind of the cramps!
According to an article in Jezebel, HelloFlo founder Naama Bloom took the entrepreneurial leap because she wanted to show her children "that being happy in what you do is worth a little struggle." In her case struggle is equated with selling truckloads of tampons.
After her company's brilliant foray into advertising, though, I suspect that struggle will indeed be "little."
The commercial, centred around the idea of a cheeky control freak camp gyno, is priceless and will have you pining for your young self all over again:
"It's like I'm Joan and their vag is the arc...It's like Santa for your vagina." Watch and love.
Would you consider a mail order service for your period needs?
Social media is increasingly becoming a war zone. But the enemy is often faceless, cloaked in anonymity. One woman received death and rape threats, prompting Twitter to devise a button to report online abuse for individual tweets.
According to an article in the Belfast Telegraph, when feminist Caroline Criado Perez campaigned to put a woman's face on a new bank note, she hadn't expected the hate-filled Pandora's box to blow up on her. This athlete's triumph was recently marred by a shocking online assault.
Police are now involved, and Twitter has been urged to up its security. A 21-year-old man was recently arrested in Manchester, England, in connection with suspected harassment.
But to many, the site didn't take action quickly enough to protect Perez. A petition urging the free social media site to rethink its policies gained more than 12,500 signatures. Others plan to stage a Twitter boycott on 4 August.
Though the report abuse button already exists for individual tweets via Twitter's latest iPhone app, the company has yet to extend the option to other platforms.
"We don't comment on individual accounts," said a spokesperson for the media giant. "However, we have rules which people agree to abide by when they sign up to Twitter. We will suspend accounts that, once reported to us, are found to be in breach of our rules. We encourage users to report an account for violation of the Twitter rules by using one of our report forms."
For the likes of Perez, while such abuse isn't unusual, the level of intensity and aggression involved was.
"It's infuriating that the price you pay for standing up for women is 24 hours of rape threats," said Perez, the freelance journalist who petitioned the Bank of England to put author Jane Austen on the new £10 in 2017.
Been at the receiving end of any abusive tweets? Are social media sites doing enough to protect users? | {
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Throughout his career and personal experiences, Allen Chi has held a strong support of educational initiatives in a variety of fields and industries.
In Newark, New Jersey, the local school department began to suffer at the hands of the city’s increased cost of living. Young people starting families and recent college graduates seeking careers in education were straying away from the city for that reason. To combat this issue, Teacher’s Village was born. Teacher’s Village is a living and learning community centered in the heart of Newark. The community is mapped out across a mixed-use lot which takes up five blocks downtown in the city. Hoping to attract educators and families to the area, Teacher’s Village maintains 204 residential units and 65,000 square feet of retail space. The lot seeks to breathe new meaning into the one stop shop concept. Centered around an education focus, the Village has three charter schools and a daycare, all within an incredibly short commute from the homes of Teacher’s Village residents. This allows for a more productive timeline as educators are able to spend more time maintaining after-school activities and programs for the students.
Allen Chi is a proud supporter of Teacher’s Village’s innovative approach to tackling the increased cost of living issue. In the project’s earliest stages, Chi actively supported the endeavor as he regularly seeks out opportunities to support education charities.
As a child, Allen Chi loved chess. The game has turned into a lifelong passion of his. In his childhood, he saw the game as a direct benefit to his strategic mind. The IQ-increasing benefits of chess have been widely discussed across various communities from gaming to psychology and beyond. To this day, Allen Chi cites his early childhood love of chess as having a positive impact on his success in school. He believes that chess should be a common activity in elementary school classrooms. With a focus on strategic planning and tactical skills, the game of chess offers a unique opportunity in terms of learning and mental development.
Allen Chi has attended various mathematics and science-centered events in elementary and middle schools across the United States to discuss his educational view on chess. He also visits local senior centers to promote the game of chess because he genuinely believes that regular engagement in the game can help to combat Alzheimer’s disease and memory issues that come with age. He has recommended the online resource Chesscademy to individuals of all ages. Chesscademy, in Allen Chi’s opinion, is an excellent tool for making use of the benefits chess can have on one’s brain activity and health.
Allen Chi is a proud alumnus of the prestigious Stanford University. Maintaining a modest acceptance rate of only 5%, enrollment at Stanford is a coveted goal of academics both nationally and internationally. Although he is not a recent graduate of the University, Allen Chi continues his relationship with the institution by engaging in volunteer efforts backed by Stanford. Alumni of Stanford University participate in volunteer opportunities such as:
- Community-based Charity
- Regional Clubs and the Beyond the Farm Service program
- Classmate Continuity hosting events to benefit fellow alumni
- Student Mentorship
- Stanford and the Arts
- Cantor Arts Center, Stanford Live and the Stanford Historical Society
- Non-clinical Hospital Volunteering
- Stanford Hospitals and Clinics and Packard Children’s Hospital
Since 1994, children’s museum Kidspace has hosted an annual Pumpkin Festival. The event initially started as a safe alternative to the trick-or-treating activity enjoyed by children on Halloween night. Today, the Pumpkin Festival has established itself as a solid stand-alone two day event, drawing in an attendance of over 20,000 people every single year. Activities at the event include:
- Pumpkin Picking @ the Pumpkin Patch
- Petting Zoo (Farm Animal Lessons)
- Bouncy House Games
- Carnival Games
- Arts & Crafts
- Pony Rides
- Entertainment & Performances
Admission to the event is free for children and their families. This is made possible by volunteer efforts and direct donations to Kidspace. Allen Chi proudly supports Kidspace and the great success of Pumpkin Festival. | {
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Creative Writing in a Chemotherapy Infusion Center
If it’s Wednesday, you won’t find me in my office, not at my desk at home nor the one at work. You won’t find me at the quirky Blue Moose Café, or The Grind just off campus, indulging in reading and writing with a healthy dose of caffeine. You won’t find me in the Robinson Reading Room of the Wise Library at West Virginia University. Instead, you might find me riding the Personal Rapid Transit, or PRT, a monorail that connects the various WVU campuses around Morgantown, traveling from downtown to the Health Science Center. When the doors open at the depot, you might find me climbing stairs and walking across the parking lot towards the Mary Babb Randolph Cancer Institute, making my way to the second floor of the building, to the chemotherapy infusion center. It’s here that I spend Wednesdays, working with patients with cancer, although I’m not a doctor or a nurse. I’m a creative writer. Instead of taking a patient’s vitals, I’m there to take his or her story.
The chemotherapy infusion center is a large box; the outside of the box is lined with cubbies, with three walls and a curtain that slides across for some additional privacy. The box’s center contains nurses stations, computers that can be wheeled around to cubbies, The kind of instruments and gear you’d expect to see in a bustling clinic. When I arrive I check in with the charge nurse. She’ll direct me to patients who I might have deliveries for—deliveries not of flowers or lunch but of stories—and or direct me to new patients to work with. New patients, new stories.
In October 2015, I met with Dr. Carl Grey. Carl, a young doctor, has a compact, athletic build, blonde hair, thick glasses and a shy smile. He married a woman I knew from grad school who runs the literary imprint of the WVU Press. In my mind, this makes them a power couple. Carl had a clever idea—that patients would be more open to tough conversations with their physicians if those patients had reflected on their lives and values first, and doctors could know those lives and values through expressive writing. But he wasn’t sure how to get started.
I’d worked with a dying man, about a year before, helping him craft a memoir. During this time I learned about narrative medicine, and attended workshops run by Rita Charon, MD, PhD. I like to call her St. Rita, because I find her work a miracle. St. Rita believes stories matter, and that the care of sick unfolds in stories. She believes that through these stories we bear witness to lives, and through writing and reading we join in attention, representation and affiliation in ways that make order from chaos. Through my work writing with patients with cancer, I find my view in line with hers. In the chemotherapy infusion center, I get some of those stories, the stories of the patients. I don’t ask about their cancer explicitly, but of course the patients can talk about that if they want. In West Virginia, where I live and work, patients like to talk about work, food, and family. I can’t tell you how many stories include parts of recipes and the food eaten at family events—from barbecue to soup beans, fried chicken to Hawaiian meatballs. Gardens, too. Tomatoes, squash, beans, lettuce, you name it. In West Virginia, telling a good story is considered an art of its own.
My storytelling patients range from late teens to over 80 years old. They are all receiving chemotherapy for some kind of cancer, some in early stage, others progressed. Not all, but most are Appalachian, many natives of West Virginia who still live here.
Part of the reason I’ve talked in summary about the patient stories is that, under our project, they’re protected by HIPAA. That allows the patient to be in control of their story. We do survey them to see where they end up. Most are shared with family members and friends.
To get a patient story, I sit with each, working through a release form and some surveys. One survey collects quality of life information and another collects demographic data. Both will be logged in a secure database so we can analyze the results later. We have a study group and a control group. The study group begins the storytelling immediately, while control group does the story portion at a later date. I’d never thought of writing in these terms before, and it’s interesting learning this world of research. I go through guided questions to get at stories and while I do this I record the conversation. Later, this recording is worked up into a transcript, and from that transcript I work on a first-person account. When I have the story ready, I bring it to the patient in a crisp blue folder. Patients read through and can make any edits they need or want to make. When their story is finished, it’s theirs to keep and share. Most of the patients I work with have never thought to write anything down about their lives, and when I bring their stories, they get excited to read them. One patient, having a tough day in the clinic, actually went from slumped and ashen looking to sitting up, with brightness in his eyes. Carl has often said the stories turned out more beautifully that he imagined. We do file a copy for the study, and he reads every one.
Carl and I worked for about six months on grants to help make this project a reality. There have been plenty of supporters, and just as many naysayers. We forged on through the conviction of our belief and a lot of long arduous days writing and revising grant proposals. It pays off: of the first group of patients we’ve worked with, about 20% have been referred for symptom management or participated in Advance Care Planning because of the story project. Advance Care Planning is a set of directives patients create so that their wishes for their care are carried out if they are unable to speak for themselves. It shows one way the arts can have a palpable affect in a life, and how humanities and STEM are better together than in competition. The stories actually lead to improved care.
I like to think I might help change health care for the better. I am a rheumatoid arthritis patient, a condition that cut short my progress as a ballet dancer. Writing became a way to deal with that loss, and to forge a new identity. My younger brother is a cancer patient. Diagnosed young, cancer wasn’t just a shock to him but our whole family. Writing has helped me be a better caregiver and sister to him. My brother shares in the excitement about the ways in which writing life stories might better the relationship between doctors and patients.
Our writing in the cancer institute is a two-year pilot project. I don’t know what will come at the end of that time. I hope I’ll be able to do more work like the writing I do with patients with cancer. I feel touched, honored, and blessed to work with them. Most of all, I feel humbled. I find myself the caretaker of stories, and it’s an important job.
Because of this project, a group of patients with cancer will have a part of their life on the page. What I wish and hope is that these stories are meaningful artifacts for these patients and their families. For my share, the process of making the stories creates meaning for me, and buoys my faith in all the good things that writing can do. I’ve been asked if I get depressed going to work in the infusion center, but truth told, Wednesdays are the best day of my week. I know patients don’t wish to be in the infusion center. Maybe the making of these stories makes their time in the infusion center a little bit better.
My work infuses me with hope, spreading through me as if through an IV. A great hope is that more creative writers might have opportunities to do this kind of work. There are many programs people can attend—from the workshops and Masters program at Columbia University, under St. Rita, to more humble workshops, like the one I’m adding to the annual West Virginia Writers’ Workshop. Learning about how others write with patients can lead to new projects and initiatives. I recently learned about the Art for Healing at Yale New Haven Hospital’s Children’s, a program that integrates many art forms in support of healing. There are many, many more. We need to harness this collective power of art and healing. Writing can be a way to personal fulfillment, but writing can also be in service to others. This is one small way. If we have enough small ways, we have something big, changing way we live in the world, word by word, story by story. If we can do it in the heart of Appalachia, where, it seems, nothing comes easy, then I think we can spread it to all the places where people look for care. St. Rita says, “Stories matter.” Believe her. | {
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Belle Green Lane, Ince3 Comments
Item #: 19866
i was in that walking day in 1957 g.c it looks like theire just about to go over rose bridge.
oh sorry its belle green lane walk day i thought it was st williams ha.i werent in that one.
The young lady on the right looks very much like Margaret Knowles (married name Margaret Shirley) who lived in Branch Street, near to where I lived on Manchester Road. | {
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Happy Birthday Greeting Card
Also great for:
If you are sending a pair of earrings to somebody and want more than a handwritten H&C postcard then a beautiful gold foil greeting card by Pretty Post is the perfect option. Leave a message in the notes box to let me know what you would like to say, and I will handwrite it for you. If you want the card left blank for you to write, no need to leave me a note!
Pretty Post is owned by Zoe, a wonderfully talented woman who I personally buy all of my stationary from. Zoe designs the cards which are then brought to life with gold foil to add a bit of decadence. Zoe makes sure her cards are 100% biodegradable, even the foil.
Keep different colour metals stored separately, preferably in the pouch you receive it in! Plated pieces will last over a year if you take them out when showering, swimming etc. Solid gold will just need a buff with a jewellery cloth if it dulls.
Under £75 - UK Standard £2.85
Over £75 - UK Standard FREE
Need your order faster?
UK Next Working Day £6.85
Worldwide delivery available- delivery charges apply
For more information on all delivery rates please click here
Happy Birthday Greeting Card
Part of the Responsible Jewellery Council.
Carbon offset deliveries and packaging that minimises waste.
Here to help
Have questions? Get in touch with us at any time.
My postal packaging is now 100% recycled and recyclable. I pack the earrings in a reusable pouch rather than a box and I don’t put packing slips in with your order.
We purchase carbon offsets for all of our deliveries through Shopify's partnership with Pachama. On top of our couriers own green efforts to get your order to you.
Where possible the solid gold used is recycled and several of my sources are part of the responsible jewellery council.
The story so far
Launched in March 2019 as a "bit of extra pocket money” for founder Abby Summerville. With a background in luxury brand sales and working as a brand consultant for starter and small brands, Abby put her experience gained throughout her career of sourcing and selling globally to good use, and started researching suppliers, makers and artisans from all over the world, from UK to USA, South Korea, Hong Kong and India on a mission to find affordable pieces that meant that the cool and decadent styles weren’t just for high ballers, and that she really could offer something for everyone, of every age and pay check which is why a lot of the collection can be bought as singles.
Curated ears are getting more and more popular, with the piercers around the world getting more and more creative, coming up with new ideas, piercings and turning these odd looking things on the side of everybody’s face into pieces of art! The more the better!
With Helix & Conch popping up on ears such as Sam Chapman, Myleene Klass, You Magazine editor Jo Elvin and more, plus featuring in Grazia, House of Coco, Hello and Stylist Magazine, things are showing no signs of slowing down and Abby wants to thank everyone for all their support.
"When you buy from Helix and Conch you aren’t buying from a huge brand: you are buying from me. I’m a down-to-earth working mum of two young boys. I hand pack the orders (although that may need to change soon as it isn’t leaving me much time to do the creative side of things!), handwrite the postcards, know the names of my customers and recognise those that keep coming back for more. I hate an impersonal service, so it was hugely important to me that I kept things personal, and even if things get huge, I will do everything I can to keep personal touches.”
Helix and Conch metals
How should I store my pieces?
Keep different colour metals stored separately, preferably in the pouch you receive it in!
Can I keep them in when I exercise?
Plated pieces will last over a year if you take them out when showering, swimming etc. Solid gold will just need a buff with a jewellery cloth if it dulls.
Solid or Plated?
If you want to wear your earrings constantly and not worry about tarnishing then solid gold is best. Plating will fade over time and go back to the original silver base colour. | {
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Billie Eilish is all over the news lately and there’s a good reason as to why. She is absolutely amazing and has accomplished so much at a young age. And now she has another accomplishment she can add to her list! Eilish is now the youngest artist ever to write and record a James Bond theme song. Say what!?
The upcoming film’s official Twitter account announced that Eilish (who is just 18 years old) will perform the theme song, which she co-wrote with her brother Finneas O’Connell.
Eilish also confirmed the news on Instagram with a photo of the 007 logo. | {
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There have been many musicians over the years who have openly identified as gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender in classic rock. The first bisexual rock star was Sister Rosetta Tharpe, a rock and roll pioneer.
Many lesbian, gay, bi, and trans rock musicians were in the closet for years or even decades before coming out. Many of these musicians are people you’ve heard of.
Classic rock is for all to enjoy, no matter your sexual orientation. I am writing this post from Ireland, where people voted on a referendum for marriage equality. This is a huge step in the right direction. Thank you to all of the people who voted yes. In honour of that I want to talk about my favourite LGBT musicians from the 60s and 70s.
Note: I have since updated this post to include LGBT musicians from the 80s. There has been quite a bit of demand for it, so I will deliver. This is the most popular post on the blog and I am very proud of this post! Thank you for reading! Enjoy!
Alice de Buhr – lesbian – Drummer for the band Fanny.
Andy Fraser – gay – Bassist and founding member of Free. He formed the band when he was 15. He co-wrote and produced the band’s biggest hit, “All Right Now” and the song came out just before his 18th birthday. He was born in London to a Caribbean father and an English mother and started playing piano at the age of 5 and trained classically for 7 years before switching to guitar. He was expelled from school at 15 and started playing in East End West Indian venues. One day, he was introduced to Alexis Korner, who basically was a mentor to him. Still aged 15, he got his first big gig playing bass for John Mayall. At 16, he formed Free. The band went on to play at the Isle of Wight Festival 1970 and were considered hard rock pioneers. The band broke up in 1973. Paul Rodgers and Simon Kirke went on to join Bad Company. Andy Fraser formed Sharks. Paul Kossoff formed Back Street Crawler, but died at the age of 25.
Arthur Conley – gay – Soul singer best known for the 1967 hit “Sweet Soul Music” (#2 US), which was a remake of Sam Cooke’s “Yeah Man”. In 1964, he released the song “I’m a Lonely Stranger”. Otis Redding was so impressed with it that he signed him to his record label, Jotis Records. In the 70s, he moved to the UK and later the Netherlands and changed his name to Lee Roberts. Some claim that the reason he left the US was because people didn’t accept his sexuality. He passed away in 2003.
Billy Preston – gay – R&B and soul singer and session musician. He grew up listening to gospel music and that had an influence on his singing. As a kid, he played organ backing gospel singers Mahalia Jackson and James Cleveland. He was a Christian and that made it hard for him to come out of the closet and he didn’t come out until right before his death. He released his debut album when he was 16, 16 Year Old Soul. It was released on Sam Cooke’s SAR Records. He did session and touring keyboard work for The Beatles (and later on George Harrison), Eric Clapton, The Rolling Stones, Little Richard, and Ray Charles. He was signed to the Beatles’ Apple Records in 1969 and recorded two albums on that label: That’s The Way God Planned It and Encouraging Words. In the 70s, he got a few big hits: “Outa-Space”, “Will It Go Around In Circles”, “Space Race”, and “Nothing From Nothing”.
Billy Wright – gay – Jump blues singer and major influence on Little Richard, even helped him get a record deal and inspired his flamboyant image. He grew up singing gospel music at church. He also liked to do drag.
Boy George – gay – Lead singer of 80s new wave band Culture Club. He is one of the biggest icons of the New Romantic movement of the early 80s, a subculture known for flamboyant fashion and heavy makeup inspired by glam rock and historic fashion. Culture Club were a multicultural band with band members of Irish, Black, and Jewish descent. In 1982, the band got their first #1 hit in the UK, “Do You Really Want to Hurt Me”. Within the next few years, they got top 10 hits with “Karma Chameleon”, “Church of the Poison Mind”, and “The War Song”.
Brian Jones – bicurious – Guitarist, founding member of The Rolling Stones, and in my opinion the most fabulous member of the band. Allegedly, Brian Jones had a crush on Dave Davies.
Chuck Panozzo – gay – Bassist for the band Styx. He started the band in his hometown of Chicago. He still tours to this day with Styx part time. Styx are a hard/prog rock band best known for the songs “Lady”, “Renegade”, “Come Sail Away”, and “Mr Roboto”. The band released their first album in 1972. He came out in 2001 as gay and said he has AIDS. Of this he says “What the band has taught me psychologically is that I need to go out and be with my band as they continue their legacy in the rock n’ roll world forever. How could that not help me in my recovery process? I have a band that is willing to make sure that I stay healthy.” Of his sexuality and being closeted in the 70s at the peak of Styx’s popularity he says “I was one of those closeted, clandestine type of guys. We would tour like crazy, and my initiation into the gay scene was stifled by the fact that I wasn’t out publicly. When I was on the road with Styx—I’m the bass player—sometimes I would separate from the band and I’d find a bar.” He is a big supporter of LGBT rights and AIDS awareness.
Cris Williamson – lesbian – Folk singer and important figure in the women’s music movement. She was born in South Dakota and raised in Colorado and Wyoming. At the age of 16, she released her first album, The Artistry of Cris Williamson. Her 1975 album The Changer and the Changed (released on women’s music record label Olivia Records) was one of the best selling independently released albums of all time, selling over half a million copies.
Dave Davies – bisexual – Member of The Kinks. He mainly played guitar and sang in the band. He started the band with his brother, Ray, and friend Pete Quaife. The Kinks were a major part of The British Invasion, touring the world with bands such as The Yardbirds and The Honeycombs. They continued to release albums into the 80s. However, they were banned from touring the States in 1965 because a complaint was filed with a musicians union in the US for apparently misbehaving on stage. Their influences range from the blues to skiffle to British music hall. My favourite songs of theirs include “You Really Got Me”, “All Day And All Of The Night”, “A Well Respected Man”, “Victoria”, “Waterloo Sunset”, and “Lola”. Dave Davies opened up about his sexuality in his autobiography, Kink. Dave Davies now tours solo.
Dave Wakeling – bisexual – Lead vocalist of ska band The Beat. The Beat’s first two albums, I Just Can’t Stop It and Wha’ppen?, peaked at #3 on the UK album charts. My favourite song he wrote for the band is “Save it For Later”, released in 1982 on the band’s last album, Special Beat Service. He wrote the song when he was a teenager, before he formed The Beat. The band originally didn’t want to record it because it was “too rock.”
David Bowie – bisexual – Got his big break in the music business with “Space Oddity” in 1969. Since then he changed his image many times from the androgynous “The Man Who Sold The World” era to the glam rock “Ziggy Stardust” to “The Thin White Duke”. He was well known for his stage personas and loved to act as those characters. As well as his image changing, his music has changed a lot as well. There’s something for everyone in his discography. He and his wife in the 70s, Angie, were bisexual. David Bowie’s inspirations included American rock and roll, skiffle, and Bob Dylan. He was also inspired by contemporaries: Lou Reed, Iggy Pop, and Marc Bolan. He got to work with Lou Reed and did some vocals on the album Transformer. He was on Marc Bolan’s 1977 show, Marc, performing with Bolan. He came out as bisexual in the 70s. He was well known for the songs “Changes”, “Queen Bitch”, “Starman”, “Rebel Rebel”, “Heroes”, “Let’s Dance”, and “Under Pressure” (with Queen).
Debbie Harry – bisexual – Got famous in the 70s and 80s as the lead singer for the band Blondie. Blondie’s best known songs are “Heart of Glass”, “One Way Or Another”, “Call Me”, and “Rapture”. Before Blondie she was in a band in the 60s called The Wind In The Willows, was a go-go dancer, and was a Playboy Bunny. As well as being a musician she is an actress. She came out in a 2014 interview with the Daily Mail. She also refused to perform in the Sochi Olympics due to homophobia in Russia. Of her sexuality she says “Sure, I was in a relationship with a man for almost 20 years and I’ve had other relationships with men, but I’ve also had them with women. I find it very strange that people are less willing to accept that you’re bisexual if you’ve had long-term relationships predominantly with men.”
Dee Palmer – transgender and intersex – Member of Jethro Tull from 1977 to 1980, but she did play a part in their albums from 1969-1976, providing orchestral arrangements. Besides working with Jethro Tull, she arranged other classic rock bands music in an orchestral style, such as Queen, The Beatles, Genesis, and Yes.
Dug Pinnick – gay – Bassist, songwriter, and co-lead vocalist of hard rock band King’s X. He often plays a 12 string bass. The band had a new wave sound and began as Sneak Preview, releasing only one album in 1983 under that name. After that, they toured and moved to Houston, where they met Sam Taylor, who worked for ZZ Top’s production company and suggested they change their name to King’s X. They released their first album as King’s X in 1988, called Out of the Silent Planet. It has a much different sound from the last one, with a more prog metal sound. The following year, they released their second album, Gretchen Goes to Nebraska. When Dug Pinnick came out as gay in the 90s, Christian shops stopped carrying King’s X albums.
Dusty Springfield – lesbian – English blue eyed soul singer. She started her career in the 50s singing in holiday camps. In the 60s she was one of the best known British female singers. Her first solo single was released in 1963, “I Only Want To Be With You” and it was a success. She wrote a few songs, but her biggest hits were covers and songs written by other songwriters. In 1964 she released “Wishin’ and Hopin'”. In 1968 she released “Son of a Preacher Man”, one of her biggest hits. She was a big fan of Motown and her sound was influenced by musicians from that record label. She even hosted a Ready Steady GoI special featuring Motown artists such as The Temptations, The Miracles, The Supremes, and Stevie Wonder. This is part of the early beginnings of Northern Soul. She worked with musicians like Kiki Dee and Elton John. She came out as bisexual in 1970, which took a lot of bravery. In reality though, she was lesbian and needed a cover because if it was known she was gay, her career could be over.
Elton John – gay – Went from playing piano at pubs to being one of the best selling musicians ever. The third best selling musician in the United States, only behind Elvis and The Beatles. He played music that had anything from an R&B sound to a more progressive rock sound. He even enjoyed playing classical music. He is best known for being in a songwriting team with Bernie Taupin. In the 70s he played at famous British venues such as The Marquee Club, The Speakeasy, and The Twisted Wheel. He even performed with John Lennon at his last concert. He originally came out as bisexual in 1976, but later came out as gay in 1988. He started the Elton John AIDS Foundation in the early 90s. He got the record for best selling single in 1997 with a remake of “Candle in the Wind”. Elton John did the music for Billy Elliot. Well known songs of his include: “Your Song”, “Daniel”, “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road”, “Tiny Dancer”, and “Philadelphia Freedom”. I really enjoy the album Tumbleweed Connection.
Eric Emerson – bisexual – Actor, dancer, and musician who was part of the Andy Warhol Factory scene. He was the lead vocalist of the glam punk band The Magic Tramps. If you like The Velvet Underground and Lou Reed, you’ll like The Magic Tramps. I like the songs “Ode to Jimmy Dean”, “Warriors of the Rainbow”, “Magic in the Moonlight”, and “My Reflection”. When his father found out he was bi, he said to him, “What he don’t understand is that my generation can swing both ways.”
Esquerita – gay – Born Eskew Reeder Jr in South Carolina, he was another influence of Little Richard’s. He was a self taught piano player and played secular and gospel music. In the late 50s and early 60s, he played rockabilly music and recorded with Jimi Hendrix, Dr John, Allen Toussaint, and Elvis’ backup singers, The Jordanaires. In the late 60s, he recorded music under the stage name, The Magnificent Malochi. In the 70s, he performed in black gay clubs as Fabulash. Sadly, before his death due to complications from AIDS, he was poor and working as a parking lot attendant and washing car windshields for tips in Brooklyn.
Felipe Rose and Randy Jones – gay – Members of The Village People. Before joining The Village People Felipe Rose was a dancer at a club in New York. He is Native American and he is seen in performances and music videos dressed in Native American regalia. He supports AIDS charities and Native American charities. Felipe Rose is not the only gay member of The Village People, his bandmate Randy Jones, the cowboy is also gay.
Fred Schneider – gay – Lead singer and one of the founding members of the B-52s. He is known for his trademark spoken delivery, known as sprechgesang (seriously German has some pretty awesome words to describe things that don’t have an English word. I really should learn German). He wrote the band’s debut single, which launched the band into stardom, “Rock Lobster” with bandmate Ricky Wilson. This song is a very good example of Fred Schneider’s vocal style.
Freddie Mercury – bisexual – Frontman for Queen. Before joining Queen, he went to the same art school as Pete Townshend, Ealing Art College. He joined a band called Smile with Brian May and Roger Taylor. All of the band members wrote songs that became hits for the band, but Freddie wrote a good amount of them. He had a wide range of influences from 50s rock to progressive rock to hard rock to disco. As a singer he was very versatile. As well as singing he played guitar and piano and played piano from a young age.
Genesis P-Orridge – transgender/third gender – Experimental musician from England. They were born in England in 1950 and their interests were the occult and the avant-garde. They changed their name to Genesis P-Orridge at the age of 21. They founded the counterculture art collective COUM Transmissions and later on formed the industrial band Throbbing Gristle in the mid 70s. The band are widely regarded as the founders of industrial music, which was inspired by Krautrock, art pop, and noise music. They played bass, violin, and vibraphone and did vocals for the band. After the breakup of Throbbing Gristle, Genesis P-Orridge founded the band Psychic TV in 1981. They retired from music in 2009.
George Michael – gay – Half of singing duo Wham! In the 80s, he believed he was bisexual, before later coming out as gay. Wham! had a few hits in the 80s with “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go”, “Young Guns (Go For It!)”, “Bad Boys”, and “Careless Whisper”.
Holly Johnson and Paul Rutherford of Frankie Goes To Hollywood – gay – Frankie Goes To Hollywood were most famous for the 1983 hit “Relax”. The song was controversial and banned by the BBC because of its sexual themes. The music video for the song took place in a gay S&M club. Other well-known songs by the band include “Two Tribes”, “The Power of Love”, and “Welcome to the Pleasuredome”.
Jackie Shane – transgender – Soul and R&B singer originally from the US who moved to Canada and was well known in the local Toronto scene. She was born in Tennessee in 1940 and moved to Montreal in 1960. Frank Motley discovered her when he saw her sitting in the front row of his show. Going from audience member to lead singer of Frank Motley’s band, she moved to Toronto in 1961. Her first single was a cover of “Money (That’s What I Want)”, released in 1962. Later that year, she released “Any Other Way”, which was her biggest hit, reaching #2 on the CHUM charts in Toronto. Five years later, that single was reissued and was a minor hit, peaking at #68 on the national charts. By the 70s she faded into obscurity, but was offered to be a singer for Funkadelic, but turned down the offer because she wanted to take care of her mother.
Jane Wiedlin – bisexual – Guitarist of all-girl new wave band The Go-Gos. She is mixed, of German and Lebanese descent. Her biggest influences are The Beatles and The Monkees. She co-wrote the song “Our Lips Are Sealed” with Terry Hall of ska band The Specials.
Janis Ian – lesbian – A folk singer who started her career in the mid 60s. She was inspired by Joan Baez. She released her first single at the age of 14, a song she wrote at the age of 13. She was not afraid to write about social issues and this song, “Society’s Child”, was about an interracial relationship. Her first album released in 1967 was #29 in the US. It wasn’t until 1975 that she would get a top 10 hit with “At Seventeen”. She got success in 1975 with her album Between The Lines reaching #1 in the US. Her follow up album Aftertones did well also, reaching #12 in the US and #1 in Japan. She came out as lesbian in 1993 and married her wife 10 years later in Toronto, Canada.
Janis Joplin – bisexual – Singer-songwriter best known for being the frontwoman of Big Brother and the Holding Company and later on known for her solo career. She was originally from Texas and she was inspired by blues music when she was in high school. She moved to San Francisco when she was 20 and worked with Jorma Kaukonen, who would later be in Jefferson Airplane. She moved back to Texas a couple of years later. She joined Big Brother and the Holding Company in 1966 and came back to San Francisco. She played at various festivals and events like the Mantra-Rock Dance, Monterey Pop Festival, where she made her breakthrough, and at Woodstock. Her best known songs are “Piece of My Heart”, “Ball and Chain”, and “Me and Bobby McGee”. She died at the age of 27 in 1970.
Jayne County – transgender – Lead singer of punk band Wayne County & the Electric Chairs and involved in the Warhol Factory scene. She was also a DJ at Max’s Kansas City in New York. She is the first openly transgender singer. Her band moved to London and they signed to Safari Records, releasing albums like Storm The Gates of Heaven and Things Your Mother Never Told You. The band are known for their profanity-filled lyrics and campy image.
Joan Armatrading – lesbian – St Kitts-born songwriter who was raised in Birmingham. She first performed at Birmingham University at the age of 16, singing a mix of original songs and covers. In 1970, she met Pam Nestor, a longtime collaborator. She released her debut album in 1972, Whatever’s For Us. The album didn’t chart and neither did her sophomore album, Back to the Night. In 1976, she got her first top 10 hit with “Love and Affection”. That song was off her self-titled album, which went gold in the UK. Her peak fame was in the 80s with the release of gold albums Me Myself I, Walk Under Ladders, and The Key. In 1980, she was nominated for two Grammys. “Drop the Pilot” was her biggest hit, released in 1983. It topped the charts in South Africa and was a top 10 hit in Australia, and reached #11 in the UK.
Joan Jett – doesn’t like labels, so I’ll say sapphic which is a term for women who like women (WLWs) – You can’t write about LGBT rock stars without talking about Joan Jett, who very much values privacy when it comes to her love life. She never confirmed or denied rumours that she is lesbian or bisexual. She tells people to assume away. That said, she said this to the New York Times in response to a question about a movie about her playing at an LGBT film festival when she’s not out:
Jobriath – gay – Released his first album called Pidgeon in 1969 before he was known as Jobriath. Very similar to David Bowie and Peter Gabriel in the way that he wore very odd costumes on stage. Many consider him the first gay rock star. He released his first album as Jobriath in 1973, a self-titled debut. It had a glam rock sound with some classical music influences. He died of AIDS in 1983 and was one of the first famous musicians to die of AIDS.
John Lennon – bisexual – Does he need any introduction? One of the major songwriters of The Beatles and had a successful solo career. In 2015, Yoko Ono revealed that John Lennon was bisexual. Of his sexuality, Yoko said:
“John and I had a big talk about it, saying, basically, all of us must be bisexual. And we were sort of in a situation of thinking that we’re not [bisexual] because of society. So we are hiding the other side of ourselves, which is less acceptable.”
Johnnie Ray – gay – If you’re not familiar with music of the 50s, you must have heard this name in the opening lyrics of Dexys Midnight Runners’ “Come On Eileen”. He was more of a jazz and pop singer, but his music was influential in rock and roll, and he’s considered to have been a pioneer in the genre. Ringo Starr said that the three singers The Beatles listened to most were Chuck Berry, Little Richard, and Johnnie Ray. He grew up in Oregon and became deaf in one ear as a childhood because of an accident during a Boy Scout ritual. He wore hearing aids during performances. In the early 50s, he got into R&B music and gained a following at black nightclubs. He became known for his over the top theatrics while performing, which gave him the nickname Mr Emotion. He was in one movie in 1954, There’s No Business Like Show Business, with Ethel Merman and Marilyn Monroe. The 60s was very different from the 50s music and style wise and anything old was out, but he didn’t stop performing entirely. In 1969, he toured Europe with Judy Garland and was best man at her wedding. He struggled with drinking from the 60s until his death in 1990 of liver failure.
As for his sexuality, before he was famous, he was arrested in Detroit for cruising in the toilets, soliciting an undercover officer for sex. Because he wasn’t famous at the time, the newspapers didn’t report it. He was briefly married to a woman named Marilyn Morrison, at the peak of his fame. He was arrested again there at the end of the decade for soliciting an undercover officer for sex at a bar. There were rumours throughout his career that he was gay, but he never publicly came out. Still, he had fan girls even though he was gay.
Johnny Mathis – gay – Pop singer-songwriter with a long career starting in the 50s and even got a few hits in the 70s. In 2017, he came out as gay in an interview with CBS News Sunday Morning. He said this to Us Magazine: “I come from San Francisco. It’s not unusual to be gay in San Francisco. I’ve had some girlfriends, some boyfriends, just like most people. But I never got married, for instance. I knew that I was gay.”
Judee Sill – bisexual – Country singer-songwriter from the 70s. She had relationships with both men and women.
June Millington – lesbian – Member of all girl group Fanny. She’s the lead guitarist of the band. She was born in the Philippines and moved to the United States with her family in 1961. She has been playing in bands with her sister since the mid 60s. Fanny released their first album in 1970 and they played on the same bill as The Kinks and Procol Harum. She left Fanny in 1973 and started a solo career. She was part of the Women’s music movement in the 70s. Recently she’s been working on an autobiography, Land of a Thousand Bridges, and does work with the Institute for the Musical Arts, which supports women interested in playing music. The organisation organises summer camps, workshops, and has a recording studio.
Kate Pierson – bisexual – One of the singers of the B-52s. Her vocal harmonies with Cindy Wilson were a key part of the B-52s sound. She was born and raised in New Jersey. The band were formed in Athens, Georgia in 1976. The band went to a Chinese restaurant, had some drinks and after that they had a jam session. The band’s name comes from southern slang for a beehive hairstyle. True to the name, the band have a very retro aesthetic, a throwback to the 60s, but with a more modern sound. In 2003, Kate started dating Monica Coleman. In 2015 they got married. She has described herself as a “late-in-life-lesbian”. In an interview with Al Jazeera, she said this about her stance on transgender rights: “Well, I’m bisexual, and I was always with men, and now I’m with Monica for 11 years, going on 12, and so this is an issue that I care a lot about.” “Roam” is one of the band’s biggest hits and features some great vocals from Kate Pierson and Cindy Wilson.
Keith Strickland – gay – Originally the drummer of the B-52s, but after Ricky Wilson’s death, he became the guitarist. He came out as gay in 1992, after the band scored major hits like “Love Shack” and “Roam”. He is the main composer of the band, writing the music. In 2012, he retired from touring.
Klaus Nomi – gay – Iconic singer who was known for his stage persona and vocal range. He was born in Germany in 1944 and moved to New York City in 1972 and worked as a pastry chef while taking voice lessons. He performed in a satirical version of Richard Wagner’s Das Rheingold in 1972, but his big break came in the late 70s when he performed in “New Wave Vaudeville”. While at the performance, he met Kristian Hoffman of The Mumps and they collaborated, with Hoffman writing songs for him. He later played at the famous venue, Max’s Kansas City and sang with David Bowie on Saturday Night Live. What a way to end the 70s! He also worked with artists like Jean-Michel Basquiat and Keith Haring. His self-titled debut was released in 1981. Some songs I like from that album are “Lighting Strikes”, “Nomi Song”, a cover of Lesley Gore’s “You Don’t Own Me”, and “Total Eclipse”. The following year, he released Simple Man. Some highlights from the album are “After the Fall”, “Falling in Love Again”, “ICUROK”, and “Rubberband Lazer”. Klaus Nomi passed away in 1983 due to complications from AIDS. Right before his death, he was working on an opera. These songs recorded right before his death were released on a compilation album, Za Bakdaz, in 2007.
Lance Loud and Kristian Hoffman of Mumps – gay – Lance Loud was the frontman and Kristian Hoffman was the keyboard player. Mumps performed at Max’s Kansas City, Hurrah, and CBGB and audiences liked them, but they never got signed to a major record label and only released two singles independently, “I Like To Be Clean” and “Rock & Roll This & That”.
Laura Nyro – bisexual – Singer-songwriter whose music style took diverse influences from jazz to gospel to r&b to show tunes. Her best known albums are Eli and the Thirteenth Confession and New York Tendaberry. Fans of her work include Todd Rundgren, Carole King, Joni Mitchell, Bette Midler, and Elton John. She released her first album in 1967 when she was 19. Songs from that album went on to be covered by other musicians such as Blood, Sweat & Tears, The 5th Dimension, and Barbra Streisand. She identified as a feminist and said that both the feminist movement and peace movement influenced her songwriting. She died of ovarian cancer in 1997 at the age of 49.
Les McKeown – bisexual – Lead singer of Scottish boy band The Bay City Rollers. Sang on the hits “Shang-a-Lang”, “Bye Bye Baby”, and “Saturday Night”.
Lesley Gore – lesbian – Singer known for the songs “It’s My Party” and “You Don’t Own Me”. “It’s My Party” was a #1 for her while she was still in secondary school. She performed on the TAMI Show, a concert film from 1964. She was discovered by Quincy Jones. As well as being a singer, she wrote songs and acted. Her music was relatable to young people. In university she realised she was lesbian, but didn’t come out until after the peak of her career.
Little Richard – identified as gay at one point, but some say he was bisexual – Rock and roll pioneer in so many ways. Not just in sound, but image. He was rocking androgyny way before the psychedelic and glam rock scenes. He’d wear flashy clothes and makeup. He was even a drag queen, performing under the name Princess LaVonne. Now, his relationship with his sexual orientation is a sad one. As you might know, he is religious and has trouble reconciling the two. He has called his sexual orientation unnatural. The original lyrics of his song, “Tutti Frutti”, referenced being with a man – “Tutti Frutti, good booty / If it don’t fit, don’t force it / You can grease it, make it easy.”
Long John Baldry – gay – A blues singer. He was known as “Long John” because he was 6’7″. He sang with Blues Incorporated, Cyril Davies R&B All Stars, and Steampacket. He released his first solo album in 1964, which had covers of “I Got My Mojo Workin”, “Hoochie Coochie Man”, and “Dimples”. He publicly came out as gay in the 70s.
Lou Reed – bisexual – Singer for The Velvet Underground. He wrote most of their songs. He also had a successful solo career with well known songs such as “Satellite of Love” and “Walk on the Wild Side”. He wrote and sang a song called “Kill Your Sons” based on his father making him go to shock therapy sessions as a young adult. He moved to New York City in 1964 and then met John Cale and he got in touch with Sterling Morrison to start The Velvet Underground. The band were not commercially successful at the time, but they were still influential and people easily recognise The Velvet Underground And Nico album cover that Andy Warhol did. Andy Warhol were very important and mentored the band and they were part of the Exploding Plastic Inevitable. Lou Reed left the Velvet Underground in 1970 and had a solo career. He was known for having a unique sounding voice. Some Velvet Underground songs I recommend are “Sunday Morning”, “Heroin”, “I’m Set Free”, “Sweet Jane”, and “Rock & Roll”.
Marc Almond – gay – Singer-songwriter and half of pop duo Soft Cell. As a teenager, he got into rock music by listening to John Peel’s radio show. He was really into glam rock in its heyday. Before the fame, he went to art school and acted in some performance theatre pieces and short films. Soft Cell’s biggest hit was a cover of Gloria Jones’ “Tainted Love”, a popular song in the Northern Soul scene. He later had a solo career. Of his sexuality, he said he didn’t like being pigeonholed as a “gay musician” because it’s a way of marginalising someone’s work and making it seem less important and not appealing to the mainstream because it implies that it’s not important to those who aren’t gay. He’s right. Music doesn’t have a sexuality. It’s art and art is for all to enjoy.
Marc Bolan – bisexual – Marc Bolan was best known for his work under the T. Rex/Tyrannosaurus Rex moniker. His manager, Simon Napier-Bell said he was bisexual, but never was open about it. In an interview with Record Mirror, he said in response to a question asking if he was heterosexual, “No, bisexual, but I believe I’m more heterosexual ‘cos I definitely like boobs. I always wished I was 100 per cent gay, it’s much easier.” To sum up his career, he started off in a trio with Helen Shapiro, playing guitar. He was kicked out of school when he was 15 and became a model. He recorded his first single, the Cliff Richard-style “All At Once” in 1964, at the age of 17. The following year, he released another single called “The Wizard”. He was in one more band, John’s Children, before going on his own with Tyrannosaurus Rex/T. Rex. Tyrannosaurus Rex more folk sounding, with a psychedelia twist, and it’s a good bit different from his better-known glam rock stuff, but still amazing. During the folk era, he wrote a book of poems called The Warlock of Love. A couple of his early albums have really long titles like Prophets, Seers, and Sages: The Angels of the Ages or My People Were Fair and Had Stars in Their Hair, But Now They’re Content to Wear Stars on Their Brows. The year of change for Marc was 1970, when he released his first glam rock single, “Ride a White Swan”. From there, he changed his style to a glittery androgynous one, this was the beginning of his meteoric rise with hit after hit. The years 1971-1973 were his peak with hit singles like “Hot Love”, “Get it On”, “Jeepster”, “Telegram Sam”, “Metal Guru”, and “Children of the Revolution” either topping the charts or just barely missing it, peaking at #2. His popularity declined in the mid 70s, but he made a comeback in 1977, with a TV show called Marc. Punk bands like The Jam performed on the show. On the last episode of the show, he and David Bowie performed together. Two weeks before what would have been his 30th birthday, Marc Bolan passed away in a car crash.
Mick Jagger – allegedly??? bicurious – I can’t say for sure if Mick Jagger is bisexual, which is why I avoided including him on this list for a long time. Allegedly, David Bowie’s wife Angie caught Mick Jagger and David Bowie in bed together. The two were androgynous rock stars who might have been open to experimenting with the same sex. Both Jagger and Bowie denied these rumours.
Morrissey – may be bisexual, but he doesn’t like labels – Singer of Manchester indie band The Smiths. He and Johnny Marr wrote the songs for the band. In the 70s, Morrissey would visit gay bars and clubs. In his autobiography he said that his first relationship was with a man. Songs like “This Charming Man”, “Handsome Devil”, “What Difference Does It Make”, and “Hand in Glove” have references to homosexuality.
Neil Tennant – gay – Singer and one half of The Pet Shop Boys, the most successful British pop duo. He met his bandmate, Chris Lowe, in London at an electronics shop and they got along because of their interest in electronic music. He was raised a Catholic and wrote the hit song “It’s A Sin” to describe his strict upbringing. He came out as gay in the 90s. The Pet Shop Boys are best known for the songs: “West End Girls”, “Rent”, “Heart”, and “Domino Dancing”.
Nickey Barclay – bisexual – Keyboard player for the all-girl rock band Fanny. She came out a few years after she left the band.
Nona Hendryx – bisexual – Distant cousin of Jimi Hendrix and singer of the group, LaBelle, whose biggest hits were “I Sold My Heart to the Junkman”, “Down the Aisle”, “You’ll Never Walk Alone”, and “Lady Marmalade”. They also have a cool cover medley of Thunderclap Newman’s “Something in the Air” and Gil Scott-Heron’s “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised”. LaBelle appeared on Laura Nyro’s 1971 album, Gonna Take a Miracle. Hendryx released her self-titled debut in 1977 with highlights like “Winning” and “Everybody Wants to Be Somebody”. She has worked with Tina Weymouth, Nancy Wilson, Peter Gabriel, Prince, and Keith Richards and sang on “Sun City” with Artists United Against Apartheid. In 2001, she spoke to The Advocate about her bisexuality.
Norma Tanega – unknown (not sure if lesbian or bisexual) – Folk singer from California. In her 20s she moved to Greenwich Village to pursue her dreams. She was in the folk scene there and was politically active, protesting the Vietnam War. For a time, she lived in England and dated Dusty Springfield, who she wrote some songs for. She released her first single in 1966, “Walking My Cat Named Dog” and that same year she released an album of the same name. Some good songs on that album are “You’re Dead”, “Jubilation”, and “A Street That Rhymes at 6am”.
Pete Burns – can be described as bisexual and androgynous, but he did not like labels – Singer of Hi-NRG and synthpop band Dead or Alive. They were best known for the 1985 hit “You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)”. Pete Burns was from Liverpool. He worked at a record shop and was in a short-lived goth band called Nightmares in Wax, which only recorded a few songs and later on, after a lineup change, became Dead or Alive. He was known for his androgynous appearance and big hair. before their biggest hit “You Spin Me Round”, they had a minor hit, a cover of KC and The Sunshine Band’s “That’s The Way (I Like It)”. After those two songs, the band didn’t have any hits that matched that success.
Pete Shelley – bisexual – Lead singer of Buzzcocks. He was born Peter McNeish in Lancashire and chose the stage last name Shelley as a tribute to his favourite poet, Percy Bysshe Shelley (husband of Mary Shelley). While at university, he formed Buzzcocks with some friends and they made their debut in 1976 opening for The Sex Pistols in Manchester. What made the pint-sized 5’4″ Pete Shelley stand out as a punk rocker was that he had a more clean, wholesome image, not a loud, rebellious image. He liked writing songs in a gender neutral way so everyone could relate to them, you might notice this in his band’s biggest hit “Ever Fallen In Love With Someone You Shouldn’t’ve”. Besides punk rock, he had an interest in electronic music and in his pre-Buzzcocks years he recorded an experimental Krautrock like album called Sky Yen. He resumed making electronic music in the 80s with albums like Homosapien and XL-1. “Homosapien” was his most overtly gay song, winning a ban from BBC radio for lyrics like “homo superior in my interior”. He identified as bisexual for his whole life. He died in 2018.
Pete Townshend – bisexual – Guitarist and primary songwriter for The Who. He and Roger Daltrey continue to tour to this day. He was behind genius albums such as Tommy, Quadrophenia, and Who’s Next. He taught himself guitar. He dropped out of art school in 1964 because he was making more money than his own professors by playing gigs. He joined The Detours with John Entwistle and Roger Daltrey. The Detours became The Who and Keith Moon later joined the band. Pete Townshend suggested that they call themselves The Hair. Pete Meaden discovered them and changed their name briefly to The High Numbers. They went back to being The Who, being managed by Kit Lambert and Chris Stamp. Here’s their first single “I Can’t Explain”.
Peter Straker – gay – Played the part of Hud in the musical, Hair. Also was well known for working with Freddie Mercury, who produced one of Straker’s albums, This One’s On Me. He shared lead vocals with Jaki Whitren on the song “Some Other Time,” on the Alan Parsons Project album I Robot.
Phil May – bisexual – Pretty Things frontman. The Pretty Things are a band with a cult following, best known for the sad WWI concept album S.F. Sorrow, released in the tragedy-filled year of 1968. Famous fans of the band include David Bowie (who considered Phil May a god and wrote “Oh You Pretty Things” and covered two of their songs), David Gilmour, Mick Jagger, and The Who. He was born Philip Arthur Dennis Kattner and adopted the surname May from his aunt and uncle who raised him.
What made May stand out in the sea of British rockers of the 60s was his super long hair. In fact, he was said to have the longest hair of any British rocker in that era. His hair kept growing and by the 70s, he had chest length locks. It is unknown when he came out as bisexual, but he loved to switch around pronouns when covering songs and he said that he felt really confident about his androgynous looks.
Phranc – lesbian – Punk and folk singer-songwriter from Los Angeles who has a trademark androgynous look and influenced Queercore. Self-proclaimed “All-American Jewish Lesbian Folksinger”. She got her start in bands Nervous Gender and Catholic Discipline. She released her first solo album in 1985 called Folksinger. It’s worth listening to and there’s a cover of Bob Dylan’s “The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll”. Her second album released in 1989, I Enjoy Being a Girl has a better produced sound to it and she produced it with Violent Femmes producer Victor DeLorenzo.
Ray Davies – bisexual – Leader, lead vocalist, and main songwriter of The Kinks. As I said earlier in the paragraph about Dave, the band have written quite a few songs about LGBT issues. He’s the more guarded and reserved of the two brothers, so it’s hard to get a straight answer about what he identifies as, but in this early 70s interview with Candy Darling, Tinkerbelle, and Glenn O’Brien he pretty much says it: he likes both men and women. “Why don’t you ask me what sort of men I like?” he asks. When Tinkerbelle asked him if he likes men, he said mhmm. He also said in a 1994 interview when asked about his sexuality, “I don’t know what I am. I’ve got female traits in me, male and female. I prefer people who are not ashamed to exhibit both. That doesn’t mean to say I have any bias one way or the other.”
Ricky Wilson – gay – Original guitarist of the B-52s. He was a member of the band until his death in 1985. Two years before his death he found out he had AIDS and he kept his illness a secret from the rest of the band. He was one of the main songwriters of the band and would often collaborate with Fred Schneider and Keith Strickland. His guitar sound added to the quirkiness of the band. He was the first member of the band to come out as gay. Every member of the B-52s was gay or bisexual, except for Ricky Wilson’s sister, Cindy.
Rob Halford – gay – Lead singer for hard rock band Judas Priest. He wrote or cowrote a lot of the band’s hits. The band’s influences include Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, and Deep Purple. They released their first album, Rocka Rolla, in 1974. The band reached major success in 1979 and were famous throughout the 80s. You might know the song “Breaking The Law” because of Beavis and Butthead. Of coming out of the closet he says “It’s a wonderful moment when you walk out of the closet. Now I’ve done that and I’ve freed myself.”
The Singing Nun – lesbian – A Belgian one-hit-wonder known for “Dominique”, released in 1963. Indeed it’s true she was a nun, but she left her convent when she was 1966. Later, she said she was forced out. That year, she reunited with her friend, Annie Pécher, who she knew from summer camp. Annie really liked her, but she didn’t feel the same way about her, at first. They moved in together and 14 years later, they had a romantic relationship. She owed the Belgian government a lot of money in back taxes from the royalties she received in the 60s from her hit and she didn’t have the money to pay them back because the money went to her religious congregation. She recorded a disco version of “Dominique”, but it didn’t go anywhere. She and her girlfriend started a centre to help children with autism and it had to shut down, leaving them devastated. She and Annie took their lives in 1985, overdosing on alcohol and barbiturates, and were buried together.
Siouxsie Sioux – bisexual – Lead singer of Siouxsie and the Banshees. She was born Susan Ballion in London. Her father was Belgian. As a child she was very lonely and dealt with a lot of trauma. One of her biggest inspirations was seeing David Bowie perform on Top of the Pops. As a teenager, she got better and went to gay clubs with her friends. She became a big fan of the Sex Pistols and wanted to make music of her own. What made her stand out in the scene is her gothic style. Siouxsie and the Banshees made their debut in 1978 and throughout the 80s they had a lot of success with many hit singles. She said in an interview, “I’ve never particularly said I’m hetero or I’m a lesbian. I know there are people who are definitely one way, but not really me. I suppose if I am attracted to men then they usually have more feminine qualities.”
Sister Rosetta Tharpe – bisexual – While her career started in the late 30s, she was incredibly influential and considered the original soul sister and Godmother of Rock and Roll. Her beginnings were in gospel music and she quickly crossed over into R&B and rock and roll, being one of the first gospel musicians to do so. Songs from the late 1930s like “Rock Me”, “That’s All” and “This Train” demonstrate this and were commercial successes. Not only was she an influential singer, but also an influential guitarist who participated in guitar battles at the Apollo in Harlem. Unfortunately, she was the target of sexist and backhanded compliments like being told she “played like a man”. In actuality, she played guitar better than most of her male contemporaries. Her song “Strange Things Happening Every Day”, released in 1944, was the first gospel song to make the Harlem Hit Parade (later known as Race Records and R&B) and some consider it the first rock song. Some rumours claimed she dated gospel singer Marie Knight. She saw her perform at a Mahalia Jackson concert and invited her to tour with her. Sister Rosetta Tharpe remained active in the 60s, performing alongside musicians like Muddy Waters. She passed away in 1973 as a result of a stroke. Little Richard, Johnny Cash, Aretha Franklin, Isaac Hayes, Tina Turner, and Karen Carpenter called her a major influence.
Shona Laing – bisexual – This Kiwi singer-songwriter got famous at the age of 17 with the song “1905”, released in 1972. The song reached #4 in her home country. Two follow up singles she released that year were successful: “Show Your Love” (#4 in the New Zealand charts) and “Masquerade” (#11 in the New Zealand charts). She had a comeback in the 80s with the songs “(Glad I’m) Not a Kennedy” and “Soviet Snow”. The most famous band she collaborated with were Manfred Mann’s Earth Band. She contributed vocals to some songs on the album Somewhere in Afrika. She came out as bisexual at a concert in 1996.
Sylvester – gay – Disco musician best known for the song ‘You Make Me Feel Mighty Real”. He was known as “Queen of Disco”. He started off singing gospel music in church. He was also influenced by blues and jazz singers like Billie Holiday and Josephine Baker. He started The Disquotays as a teenager in the 60s with some friends he met at gay clubs. He was known for his androgynous dress sense. He moved to San Francisco in the 70s. Some other songs he made were “Dance (Disco Heat)”, “Do Ya Wanna Funk”, “Down Down Down”, and “Over and Over”.
Tom Robinson – bisexual, but identifies as gay – Singer-songwriter and LGBT rights activist. He was the leader of the Tom Robinson Band. He was born in Cambridge, England and realised he was gay when he fell in love with a classmate. He started his band in 1976 and they released their debut single “2-4-6-8 Motorway” (which vaguely mentions a gay lorry driver) in 1977; it peaked at #5 in the UK charts. In 1978, they released a song called “Glad To Be Gay”, which was originally written for the 1976 London Pride parade and banned by the BBC. On sexuality, he said that he didn’t understand bisexuality at first, but then came to understand it better.
Wendy Carlos – transgender – Best known for composing the scores for A Clockwork Orange and The Shining. She plays keyboard and synthesiser. She is also one of the first famous people to come out as trans, coming out in 1979 in an interview with Playboy Magazine. She also released albums that combined electronic and classical music like Switched-On Bach and The Well Tempered Synthesizer, from 1968 and 1969, respectively.
Not musicians, but were important to their careers:
Andy Warhol – gay – Manager and producer of The Velvet Underground. He was mostly known for his art and the Factory scene around it. The Factory scene had many drag queens, trans women, and LGBT celebrities and popular icons. He was one of the most famous openly gay people before the gay liberation movement took off.
Bob Crewe – gay – Songwriter and record producer best known for his work co-writing songs with Bob Gaudio for Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons.
Brian Epstein – gay – Manager of The Beatles. Born to a Jewish family in Liverpool. Found out about The Beatles when they recorded “My Bonnie” with Tony Sheridan. He was in charge of the record department of the NEMS music store. The Beatles all frequented the shop. He was influential in creating the image of the band. Besides managing The Beatles, he managed Gerry & The Pacemakers and Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas.
Desmond Child – gay – Songwriter who wrote hits like “I Was Made For Loving You”, “I Hate Myself For Loving You”, “Livin’ on a Prayer”, and “Dude Looks Like a Lady”.
Joe Meek – gay – Producer, sound engineer, and songwriter who worked with quite a few early-mid 60s artists from the UK like The Tornados, Screaming Lord Sutch, Heinz, Billy Fury, Tom Jones, The Honeycombs, and Tommy Steele. If you like the cosmic sounds of Hawkwind and Pink Floyd, you might want to thank Joe Meek since he was a pioneer in the space rock genre, writing the successful song “Telstar” in 1962. The song went to #1 before the British Invasion began, being the first American #1 by a British band. Not only that, but he even released a space-themed concept album in 1960 called I Hear a New World.
John Reid – gay – Former manager for Elton John and Queen. Dated Elton John in the 70s.
Kenneth Anger – gay – Filmmaker. You could say he invented the music video. Classic rockers Mick Jagger and Jimmy Page worked on a couple of his movies.
Kit Lambert – gay – Managed The Who. Came across them when they were known as The High Numbers and started to make a film about them with Chris Stamp as an up and coming unsigned band. He was also a producer for the band at one point. He and Chris Stamp were fired in 1974.
Larry Parnes – gay – Manager of pre-British Invasion rock stars like Marty Wilde, Billy Fury, Vince Eager, Dickie Pride, Lance Fortune, Duffy Power, Johnny Gentle, Terry Dene, Nelson Keene. He also managed 60s singer Georgie Fame who reached #1 with “Yeh Yeh”. He was known for giving the musicians unique stage names that were supposed to correspond with traits they had.
Michael Aldred – gay – Co-presenter of Ready Steady Go! Got his start in music by writing articles for a magazine called Jazz News. He auditioned for teen advisor for a pop music series, Ready Steady Go! in 1963 and was one of the two selected to present. The other was Cathy McGowan. The producer of the show wanted to make it more appealing to youth by having presenters from the same generation. He was only 18 and a half when he started presenting Ready Steady Go! and was the youngest TV presenter in Britain. He later had flings with Andrew Loog Oldham and Dave Davies. He tried releasing music of his own, but it didn’t go anywhere so he went into producing music and went back to his roots in music reviewing, writing for Goldmine and Audio. He died in April 1995.
Richard O’Brien – transgender (possibly non-binary) – Actor and TV presenter best known for writing the cult classic Rocky Horror Picture Show. All songs in the musical were written by him. The film version came out in 1975. You might know songs like “Dammit Janet”, “Time Warp”, “Sweet Transvestite”, and “Touch-a, Touch-a, Touch-a, Touch Me”.
Robert Mapplethorpe – gay – Photographer known for his black and white photographs. Known in the classic rock world for his friendship with Patti Smith, who he dated for 5 years. He took the album cover photograph for Horses.
Robert Stigwood – gay – Manager of Cream and the Bee Gees and produced Grease and Saturday Night Fever.
Sandy Stone – transgender – Member of women’s music record label Olivia Records collective and sound engineer for the record label.
Simon Napier-Bell – gay – Manager for bands like The Yardbirds, T. Rex, Japan, London, Ultravox, and Boney M.
Stacia – bisexual – Dancer for 70s space rock band Hawkwind. Joined the band at the age of 19. She was known for dancing while nude with body paint and being 6’2″ tall. In a 1974 interview with Penthouse, she said she was bisexual.
Tony Stratton-Smith – gay – Owner of Charisma Records and manager of Genesis, The Nice, and Van der Graaf Generator. Before entering the music industry, he was a sports journalist.
I hope you enjoyed this post on The Diversity of Classic Rock. Please leave your thoughts and questions in the comments section below. Thank you!
Want to learn more about LGBT history in classic rock? Read my post about classic rock songs about LGBT people. There’s a part two, too!
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New Findings: What is the central question of this study? Does exercise training impact resting and postexercise cardiac troponin T (cTnT) concentration? What is the main finding and its importance? This randomized controlled intervention study demonstrated that 12 weeks of either high-intensity interval training or moderate-intensity continuous training largely abolished the exercise-induced elevation in cTnT when exercise was performed at the same absolute intensity. There was no impact of training on resting cTnT or postexercise appearance of cTnT when exercise was performed at the same relative intensity. These findings provide new information that might help clinicians with decision-making in relationship to basal and postexercise values of cTnT in individuals with different training status. Abstract: We evaluated the influence of 12 weeks of high-intensity interval training [HIIT; repeated 4 min cycling at 90% of maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) interspersed with 3 min rest, 200–300 kJ per session, 3 or 4 days each week] and work-equivalent moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT; continuous cycling at 60% (VO2max) on resting cardiac troponin T (cTnT) and the appearance of exercise-induced cTnT. Forty-eight sedentary obese young women were randomly assigned to HIIT, MICT or a control group. The (VO2max) and body composition were measured before and after training. At baseline, cTnT was assessed using a high-sensitivity assay at rest and immediately, 2 and 4 h after 45 min cycling at 60% (VO2max). After a 12 week training period, cTnT was assessed before and after 45 min cycling at the same relative and absolute intensities as before training. Training led to higher (VO2max) and lower fat mass in both HIIT and MICT groups (all P < 0.05). Before training, cTnT was significantly elevated in all three groups (by 35–118%, all P < 0.05) with acute exercise. After training, both resting and postexercise cTnT concentrations (same relative intensity) were similar to pretraining values. In contrast, postexercise cTnT (same absolute intensity, which represented a smaller exercise stimulus) was not elevated from rest in both HIIT and MICT groups. In conclusion, 12 weeks of either HIIT or MICT largely abolished the postexercise elevation of cTnT concentration when exercise was performed at the same absolute intensity. There was, however, no impact of training on resting cTnT or postexercise appearance of cTnT for exercise performed at the same relative intensity.
Scopus Subject Areas
- Nutrition and Dietetics
- Physiology (medical)
- cardiac biomarker
- high-intensity interval training
- moderate-intensity continuous training | {
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Unwrapping Bridgerton Looks: 6 Ways to Do Beauty Like Royalty
Fancy yourself a Regency royal? Check out these Bridgerton looks for tips on how to incorporate their trends into your routine.
The standards of the Regency beauty were perfectly spelled out in the racy, period TV series Bridgerton. Characterized by the glaring shift from elaborate, over-the-top style to softer, more natural features, the era is a period of beauty in transition fitting for the age of refinement. In the show, this progression is depicted through the stark contrast between the styles of the young and mature royals. These Bridgerton looks make us wonder: how exactly do they pull it off? Here are six ways you can do beauty like royalty.
Massive Dos Are Massive ‘Dos
Sure, sky-high hairdos and wigs were on their way out, but that didn’t stop Queen Charlotte, played by Golda Rosheuvel, from blessing us with her outrageous Bridgerton looks. The Queen does what she wants, and in the photo is one of her most elaborate headpieces to date.
If you want to do hair like Regency royalty in the 21st century, one way to do so is by wearing it up into near-sculptural buns, ponytails, and curls. In the show, she wears a wig. However, if you’re using your own hair, make sure to use strengthening products to make it resilient to the
Pale, Delicate Skin Was In
Emphasis on “was.” Season 2 Bridgerton looks are showing more diversity among the cast. But you didn’t need to know that you can rock these looks whatever your skin color. Instead, focus on luminous, dewy skin. Dry cracked hands? Simply intolerable. You can achieve this healthy glowing skin, first and foremost, by staying out of the sun and wearing sunscreen. Ultraviolet rays can cause moisture to evaporate from your epidermis, dulling your dewy glow.
On your body, apply Vaseline Gluta-Hya Serum Burst Dewy Radiance all over to even out your skin tone. Don't forget your hands, elbows, and neck — the most common locations to develop skin discoloration.
Richly Colored Locks
Whether it’s a deep caramel, a radiant blonde, or a fiery red, hair color definitely makes an impact in the Bridgerton world. To look like a royal, make sure your hair color is always in tip-top shape. If you’re , follow the instructions precisely. Take care of your colored locks by moisturizing them daily with a conditioner for colored hair.
To prevent dryness and damage, use a deep conditioning mask once a week. Finally, when your roots start to peek out at the end of the month, spray them with TRESemmé Root Touch-up Spray, which comes in three variants, Black, Dark Brown, and Light Brown.
Mini Bangs (But Tread Lightly)
The Bridgerton sisters may have starkly different personalities, but they do share a love for baby bangs. Daphne’s baby bangs and how they evolved throughout the first season were symbolic of her coming of age. So, maybe, the case is the same for her feisty little sister Eloise? Only time will tell. Meanwhile, if you’re going to try bangs, go with less drastic to ease you into the style.
Bring Your RBF
Given that world of Bridgerton is full of scheming and intrigue, best to bring your best RBF to ward off the busybodies. The perfect accessory to match bejeweled gowns and crows, the RBF is something you should own and celebrate. Ignore the stigma — you don’t have to smile if you don’t want to.
According to a study by the University of California, women with RBF are better at communicating and expressing emotions because they’ve had to work extra hard at it their entire lives. So, ahead, smirk like the Queen, it’ll get your everywhere.
Empire Waist All the Way
Empire-cut dresses... what’s not to love? While mostly deemed unflattering in modern fashion, empire-cut, also known as empire-waist dresses are one of the most prominent Bridgerton looks. With their origins in Greek art and fashion, empire dresses are lighter and more comfortable than their corseted counterparts and were worn in warmer climates. The raised waistline denoted a high status in the era; plus, the lighter the fabric, the wealthier the wearer.
Feel even cooler when you use Dove 0% Aluminum Deodorant Roll-On, which protects you from sweat and odor with a refreshing cucumber and green tea scent.
Drawn to Bridgerton looks? Start with the baby steps above to incorporate some Regency beauty trends into your routine. | {
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by Jean E Rhodes School closures and the loss of face-to face instruction remain persistent struggles as schools work to contain COVID-19. In recent months, researchers have begun to publish studies and reports that have explored the academic and social toll that these closures have taken on students academic and social-emotional well-being. In a new […]
McDonald, Bowker, Rubin, Laursen & Duchene (2010). Interactions between rejection sensitivity and supportive relationships in the prediction of adolescents’ internalizing difficulties. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 39, 563-574. Summarized by Stella Kanchewa, MA, University of Massachusetts at Boston Clinical Psychology student. In adolescence, young people must learn to contend with increasingly complex social worlds and […]
Marston, E. G., Hare, A., & Allen, J. P. (2010). Rejection sensitivity in late adolescence: Social and emotional sequelae. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 20(4), 959-982. summarized by Max Wu. Background Adolescence is a developmental period during young people may be sensitive to feeling rejected by their peers and others, particularly since they are often developing close […]
Downey, G., Freitas, A. L., Michaelis, B., & Khouri, H. (1998). The self-fulfilling prophecy in close relationships: Rejection sensitivity and rejection by romantic partners. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 75, 545-560. Introduction: Research shows that people’s beliefs about their significant others (including expectations concerning rejection and acceptance) can influence the course of their relationships […]
Purdie, V., & Downey, G. (2000). Rejection sensitivity and adolescent girls’ vulnerability to relationship-centered difficulties. Child Maltreatment, 5 (4), 338-349. Introduction: Many difficulties experienced by adolescent girls are relationship centered. Some involve struggles with teachers. More often, they revolve around romantic relationships and may range from jealousy and other interpersonal struggles to dating violence […]
Topics of Interest
- AlongMarch 30, 2022 -
In support of our continued conversation on how to support today’s youth, this issue of the Chronicle of Evidence-Based Mentoring is proudly sponsored by Along, a free digital tool designed to support educators to build developmental relationships with their students in easy and fun ways.
- MENTOR: The National Mentoring PartnershipNovember 12, 2014 -
MENTOR: The National Mentoring Partnership (MENTOR) is the unifying champion for expanding quality youth mentoring relationships in the United States. For nearly 25 years, MENTOR has served the mentoring field by providing a public voice, developing and delivering resources to mentoring programs nationwide and promoting quality for mentoring through standards, cutting-edge research and state of the art tools.
- Academic Web PagesAugust 6, 2012 -
Academic Web Pages is the leading provider of customized websites for researchers, centers, nonprofits, and universities. AWP designed and has contributed generously to the creation of the Chronicle of Evidence-Based Mentoring.
No images available at the momentFollow Us! | {
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By SKC Ogbonnia
Unlike my father, my mother Esther Oligwe Ogbonnia hardly cares who wins or who loses in presidential politics so far there is peace. Not in 2015!
Full of excitement following Muhammadu Buhari’s victory, I placed a call to my mother in Nigeria, but she was not her usual cheerful self.
SKC (Me): “Mama, why are you sounding strange?”
Mother: “Hmmm…I am okay but not very okay. There is trouble. The problem seems to be your friend—the Hausa man. They say the man has become the president again by force and plans to take away our Bible. They also say he is the same person who caused us harm during the war, and is going to replace all our people in government work with Hausa.”
SKC: “Who is saying all those things about Buhari? When did you become a politician?”
Mother: “Well, I am not a politician. And I may never have crossed River Niger or know how to count 1.2.3, but I can smell counterfeit from a distance. My son, the fear of that man is rearing up everywhere—in the church, our meetings, and the marketplace. Even our ‘who is who’ in the North have already packed back to Enugu . I pray this aura of doom will not be felt where you are in America ...”
SKC: “Mama, please do not mind them. I am very happy to have supported the man. As I told you before, he is better than Jonathan by far. He will end corruption and provide jobs for our youths. Kidnapping and armed robbery will go away. Those saying bad things about Buhari are some of the same people who stole the money meant to complete Ugbo road. They are afraid he will put them in prison. That is why”
Mother: “So the Buhari man is truly a good person? But did you hear that he locked up Jim Nwobodo and one good man from Onitsha area for no just cause? Do you know they also say that he killed one young boy from Udi Agbaja for nothing? Biko, how did you know the man?”
SKC: No, I did not know Buhari before. However, when he was head of state, there was no corruption. Watch…things will change within few months. NEPA will provide light day and night… You will say, I told you so.”
Mother: “Well, I have heard you, my son. So, we should not worry? I am feeling better now, but I don’t know about our people. They see the man as danger…”
Clearly, the general perception of Muhammadu Buhari in the East before the election was that of a jihadist, dictator, and a bigot—all roped in one, thanks to a montage of propaganda orchestrated by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The then ruling party did everything humanly possible to cling on to power. And you can’t blame them. Having squandered our common wealth while at the helm, PDP had nothing on the ground for the Igbo masses and thus needed to sustain mass following by deceit.
For example, one infantile lie drummed since 2011 to prevent the restless Igbo youths from revolt had been that “Things will get better once President Goodluck Jonathan zones presidency to the Igbos after his tenure.” It was not surprising, therefore, that Buhari’s victory was readily seen as a coup d’état in the East, particularly among the jobless youths, who thence seem to have nowhere else to perch than clench their angst towards one form of Biafra or another.
The gist, if it is not already manifest, is that these new Biafrans, most of who are under the aegis of PDP Youth Wing, are the byproduct of the party’s gloomy narratives of Buhari. In fact, any careful review of the recent activities of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), leaves no one in doubt that his rebellion was heightened by the defeat of Jonathan and PDP. And it does not take a genius to discern why prominent opposition leaders from the East have continued to tiptoe around the Biafran agitation even when it has widened.
For sure, the rallying cry for the current Biafran movement is the inexplicable marginalization of the Igbos. But we must not ignore one bitter truth: The last 16 years of democratic rule did not take place under Muhammadu Buhari or the All Progressive Congress (APC)—but squarely under PDP where every ethnic group, including the Igbos and their Southern neighbors were well represented.
Yet both President Buhari and APC have not helped matters. Upon assuming office, Buhari’s body language, including lopsided political appointments, began to appear as if the old Eastern Region was an illegal alien. To add salt to an open injury, the president shocked the democratic world by stoking a statement generally interpreted as a plot to marginalize the zones that gave him fewer votes. This gaffe was definitely beyond the pale and had deserved every damage control.
Sadly, instead of telling the president the simple truth, many APC leaders went as far lampooning the Igbos for expressing their right to choose. The ruling party conveniently brushed aside the fact that virtually all Nigerian presidential elections in history were influenced by ethnic sentiments, yet there is no record where a section of the country was denied its share of the national cake on the basis of voting pattern. The whole APC approach on political appointments triggered a nationwide outrage, with many groups charging the new government of ethnic chauvinism. According to a faction of the Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), the development was a clear testament “that Buhari is not seeing Ndigbo as part of Nigeria .”
The presidency reluctantly addressed the dilemma, quipping that, “At the end of the exercise, no part of the country will be left feeling left out.” Unfortunately, recent events suggest otherwise. The much-awaited ministerial allocations have come and gone but failed to reflect the balance needed to allay the fear of Igbo marginalization.
Although it is true that Igbos, particularly Chibuike Amaechi, Kachikwu Ibe, and Godwin Emefiele, occupy powerful positions in the central government, the gesture is wallowed in mistrust. The crème of Igbo intelligentsia as well as leaders of the Biafran agitation perceive the motive as a postwar federal agenda to drive a wedge between the Igbos of the South East and their brothers and sisters of the South-South. Moreover, many are dismayed with the attempt by the Federal Government to isolate the history of Biafran movement solely to the Southeast. After all, not only does the Igbo territory extend beyond the Southeast, the die-hard leaders of the Biafran war included the natives of the South-South zone, such as Chukwuma Nzeogwu, Phillip Effiong, and Joe Achusia, to name a few.
This medley of unforced errors on the part of APC government did nothing but play into the prevailing PDP narratives—those very fears narrated by my mother when I had called from America after Buhari’s victory. Today, the opposition is gaily saying “I told you so.” For the restless Eastern youths, it was the perfect excuse to finally embrace the call for secession from Nigeria —with Nnamdi Kanu as the totemic leader. Kanu has since been arrested and denied bail by the federal authorities. And different pleas for his release have also been rebuffed, leading to mass protests and loss of property as well as innocent lives.
But the quagmire must not continue. Rather than brute force, there is the need for solution through diplomacy.
First, President Buhari should go above the fray and order without further delay the release of Nnamdi Kanu. There is no doubt that Kanu’s rhetoric is hugely offensive, and deserves every condemnation, but keeping him behind bars for expressing his fundamental rights of self-determination does more harm than good. The matter is gradually gaining worldwide sympathy, and Nigeria ’s economy must not be exposed to a new wave of ethnic havoc on top of Boko Haram.
Second, the APC government ought to find ways to dialogue with the pro-Biafra groups and reassure them of a genuine desire to carry the Igbos along, with specific attention to youth employment. Such dialogue can help the agitators to realize that the real enemies include their own brothers, faceless politicians, who carted away development funds in the East.
Third, but most ironic, if the war against corruption is a good omen, Buhari must be careful to avoid being mired into another form of Igbo marginalization. Even though the anticorruption war has already visited high profile culprits in every other zone of the federation, notorious politicians in the Southeast are still acting as if Goodluck Jonathan still holds sway. It is time to double up and expose the political merchants who abetted ageless money-spinners, such as Enugu-Onitsha/Enugu-PH Expressways, 2nd River Niger Bridge, Dredging of River Niger, Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport, Constitutional Amendment exercise, the criminal demolition of Eastern Nigeria Secretariat at Enugu and, of course, various abandoned Constituency projects littered across the area. The president may as well head further south to unmask the incubus choking other vital projects with huge employment opportunities, particularly Calabar and PH ports, PH International Airport, and the East-West Highway . Seeing is believing. Nothing can assuage the feelings of these youths more than prosecuting the crooked politicians who exploited the poor masses for selfish gains.
The view immediately above mirrors a topical goal of the current Biafran movement which, in its own words, strives to hold accountable “all looters, embezzlers, kidnappers, sponsors of terrorism, child traffickers, corrupt judges, crooked university lecturers, murderous Nigerian security forces and all thieving individuals masquerading as public officials who steal public funds thereby preventing developmental projects from impacting positively on the lives of the ordinary people.” This very idea of the pro-Biafra group is hardly unpopular. In fact, one may think their statement was adapted word-for-word from the campaign book of President Muhammadu Buhari. Said differently, these youths and Buhari share common dreams for a corrupt free society, after all. And they need each other. Sustaining our hard-fought change demands broad participation across the breadth and depth of Nigeria . | {
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Rating: Votes: 0
John Mellencamp — Grandma's Theme lyrics
John Mellencamp Grandma's Theme lyrics was added to the site 4 Dec, 2006 and since that time has 0 hits and voted 0 times. Other popular John Mellencamp lyrics are: Rain On The Scarecrow, Troubled Land and Check It Out.
Songwriters: MELLENCAMP, JOHN
Written by: Traditional
Was a dark stormy night
As the train rattled on
All the passengers had gone to bed
Except a young man with a baby in his arms
Who sat there with a bowed-down head
The innocent one began crying just then
As though it's poor heart would break
One angry man said, "Make that child stop it's noise
For it's keeping all of us awake."
Grandma's Theme is a part of the traditional song listed below:
THE BAGGAGE COACH AHEAD
On a dark and stormy night as the train rolled on
All passengers gone to bed,
Except a young man with a babe on his arm
Sat sadly with bowed down head;
Just then the babe commenced crying
As though it's poor heart would break.
One angry man said, "Make that child stop it's noise,
For it's keeping us all awake."
[ Lyrics from: http://www.lyricsty.com/john-mellencamp-grandmas-theme-lyrics.html ]
"Put it out," said another, "Don't keep it in here;
We've paid for our berth and want rest."
But never a word said the man with the child,
As he fondled it close to his breast.
"Oh where is it's mother? Go take it to her,"
One lady then softly said.
"I wish I could," was the man's sad reply.
"But she's dead in the coach ahead."
As the train rolled onward, a husband set in tears,
Thinking of the happiness of just a few short years.
Baby's face brings pictures of a cherished hope now dead,
But baby's cries can't awaken her in the baggage coach ahead.
Every eye filled with tears as the story he told
Of a wife who was faithful and true;
He told how he'd saved up his earnings for years,
Just to build a home for two;
How when heaven had sent them their sweet little babe,
Their young happy lives were blest;
His heart seemed to break when he mentioned her name,
And in tears tried to tell them the rest.
Every woman arose to assist with the child;
There were mothers and wives on that train.
And soon was the little one sleeping in peace,
With no thought of sorrow or pain.
Next morn at the station he bade all goodbye,
"God bless you," he softly said,
Each one had a story to tell in their homes
Of the baggage coach ahead.
Grandma's Theme lyrics © EMI Music Publishing
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- Country Gentleman lyrics | {
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Angelina Jolie’s Daughter Cast as Sleeping Beauty in Maleficent!Aug 23, 2012 @ 11:40 am
In a turn of perfect casting, Angelina Jolie’s cherubic daughter, Vivienne, has been given the role of young Sleeping Beauty opposite her mother’s villainess in Maleficent, EW reports. The 4-year-old twin will appear in a quick flashback sequence, where we see Elle Fanning’s teenage Princess Aurora as a young child. With her blond locks and her mother’s full lips, we think she looks quite the little princess! Maybe she can ask big sister Shiloh for some tips: Brad and Angie’s middle daughter appeared as a baby in dad’s The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. Maleficent is due in theaters March 2014.
Plus, see our favorite movie princesses! | {
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When I entered the Best Buy Theater, I walked past the box office and immediately braced myself as a lanky guy with long shorts, a baggy T-shirt, and a basketball hat trudged toward me with two security guards following attentively. He thrust a leg outward as if stepping over a small fence and smacked an adjacent wall with his fist. I was, for a second, preparing to be starstruck. But no. It wasn’t Tyler, the Creator.
As I stood jotting notes in the lobby, teenagers and 20-year-olds swirled around me waiting for an opener to go on. I searched unsuccessfully for an interviewee as a tiny guy with long shorts, a baggy T-shirt, and a basketball hat tapped me on the shoulder and leaned close as though he had important information.
“Just so you know: I’m a little bitch, all right?” He hurried off, and I caught him murmuring to little clusters of people who were, like me, now in the know: He too was not Tyler, the Creator.
On the way out of the theater after the show, a 20-something wearing long shorts, a baggy T-shirt, and a basketball hat walked right up to the coat check and barked something at the attendant. She retrieved for him a skateboard in a plastic bag. This was also not Tyler, the Creator.
I was surrounded by hundreds of boys in long shorts, baggy T-shirts, and basketball hats — the unofficial uniform of Tyler, the Creator, and his rap collective Odd Future — all of whom were in attendance to see Tyler and OF’s Earl Sweatshirt perform together. However, after some negligible openers, then Asher Roth, then Raekwon, Peter Rosenberg — the Hot 97 DJ whose birthday was ostensibly being celebrated at this concert — stepped out on stage to solemnly inform the audience that he was going to announce a small change in the lineup. We were not going to see Tyler, the Creator and Earl. Not exactly.
All of Odd Future would be performing instead.
Though there are ostensibly a dozen or two members and associates comprising the rap group Odd Future, the two young men at the center of the swirl are unequivocally Tyler and Earl. The blistering ascent of the group and their confusing, intentionally obtuse celebrity rang through the hall on Thursday, the two rappers clearly reveling in each other’s company, finally, and all the funny dissonances of their story ringing through the performance. Earl, now 18 and back from a reform school in Samoa, surveyed the crowd (and as he repeatedly hinted, the prospect of future crowds) hungrily, and Tyler raged — lovingly, in a sense — about Rosenberg’s advanced age and impotence.
The opening rappers and filler DJs are not worth much discussion here: As anyone who’s attended a hip-hop show will affirm, each performed unremarkably and asked, as if on cue, “Does anyone smoke weed up in here?” Yes, the audience would patiently say, we do.
As mentioned, the assonant Asher Roth was the first performer of note, though it was funny for the initiated that he was on the bill at all — he seems not to have moved past Earl’s two-year-old scorching assessment at the beginning of his exceptional debut “Earl“: “I’m a hot and bothered astronaut/crashing while jacking off to/buffering vids of Asher Roth eating applesauce,” referring to an embarrassing clip of Roth drunk on the Internet. It’s a line that can and did visibly drop a jaw.
Raekwon followed, and though he always delivers admirably, there was none of the clamor and chorus of Wu-Tang, and too few martial-arts movie samples. Maybe unfairly, I expected the lyrical novelty and camaraderie of the Wu-Tang Clan to precede perhaps their most influenced progeny yet, but Raekwon — again, admirably, and with verve — presented a roster of hits. As dozens of 16-year-olds tried to properly configure the Wu-Tang “W” with their hands, he performed cocktail in hand throughout.
When Rosenberg reemerged to introduce Odd Future, his tone recalled the awkward, insistent interview he performed with Tyler and Earl in March, on his radio show. His obvious love for the group was constantly overwhelmed, as it was in the interview, by the member’s futzing with microphones, denial of most of Rosenberg’s claims (and sometimes questions), and, of course, incessant insults. But the inelegant rapport between the DJ and the rappers leans heavily on what makes Odd Future’s project truly great: They live to be thorns in the sides of music businesspeople. Or as Jay-Z might say: the music business, people. Their model for art is simply self-design (the design we all know how to perform from Facebook, Twitter, or any number of other social media outlets); anything else is extra, a product of Tyler’s deft manipulation of the hype machine. He’s so good that, as The New Yorker noted, he practically called Steve Rifkind, who’d later offer him a record deal, a pederast via Twitter.
In the Hot 97 interview, Rosenberg goaded Earl about his absence during Odd Future’s ascent: “Were you pissed? Were you annoyed?” But the rapper, and as evidenced last night, the real auteur of the group, knew where Rosenberg was going, and he used the opportunity to be authentic and absolutely prescient.
“Yeah, initially,” said Earl, looking around the studio, “but I also go to fuckin’ see that … all this shit isn’t fun all the time.”
Tyler’s first words on stage recalled the first roar at a hardcore show, and he didn’t bother to pace himself. It was nothing short of beautiful to watch him and Earl interact; even Tyler’s early warning of the unnamable things he would do to New York’s anus landed a smile on Earl’s face. This was so obviously what the two of them have been waiting for — Earl seems to understand Tyler’s lampooning of contemporary rap on a deeper level than the rest of the group, and he bounded around the stage behind Tyler, laughing at his jabs at the audience, at his bandmates, and especially at Earl.
The show exulted the group’s friendship and togetherness from the beginning. Earl and Odd Future hugged and dapped throughout, and the set started off warmly, with a sweet nod to Earl’s return from the opening song, “Couch”:
Was always smart-mouthed and quick-witted
But something was always missing, like six digits.
It may or may not have been the nature of a theater in Midtown, but I found none of the terror and mayhem from either their records or public persona on view. They sailed from “Rella” to “Sam Is Dead,” both from their second release as a collective, The OF Tape, Vol. 2, and seemed to delight in each beat coming on, as though remembering, “I love this one!” Tyler stood front and center on stage, certainly in command, though he and the others — even the typically quieter, sheepish Earl — would trade posts to go stomping around the stage like any good rap crew, though more in the style of punk frontmen, or skankers, than rappers.
When they reached “Earl,” the song that hooked millions of listeners virally in 2010, Earl falteringly took the lead. He held the microphone to the audience for many of the first verses, and even though smiling hugely throughout, was emphatically not Tyler, the Creator when handling the public. Earl does one thing grippingly, live or on record, and that is: rap.
Where Tyler worked the audience, Earl had a blast in the background, observing everything to appropriately determine his next move (Odd Future has no stage decorum whatsoever, and no synchronized formations; the chaos is gripping because of it) and delighting in fits of fist-pumping. And in the middle of “Earl,” I bore witness to a heartwarming, well-earned stage dive. The rhymes from “Stapleton,” also from Earl’s debut, though not performed, resonated even in a mainstream theater:
Your rhyme’s rentals — give ‘em back to they owners
At the end of the bar, I spit with the permanence
Learn: I’m a curb-stomping person
Like third-strike-verdict-dropping, jaw-dropping verses.
Even with the cacophony of a theater PA system in effect, Earl’s total dominance of language shone through each song. In the verse from “Stapleton,” he quietly enunciates the lack of rhyme in the first couplet, and during the set, he only briefly lost that incredibly sensitive linguistic surprise, recovered as soon as he understood where the microphone volume had leveled out. Though he performs with a more demure panache Tyler and the rest of Odd Future, it is clear that his style is going to, as he says, proceed “with the permanence.” It’s a delight to see in person: he really is as good as the records.
I followed the entire group — Frank Ocean had joined them onstage (though silently) after his performance at Terminal 5 earlier in the night, with only Mike G and Syd The Kid apparently absent — to Williamsburg’s 285 Kent, where they went to see fellow Californians Trash Talk, the hardcore band and Odd Future’s signees. There, out in Brooklyn, was the mood of the records that has captured public attention — a wash of young adults, denimed to the teeth and crammed like bouncing piano hammers under a fog of evaporated sweat.
Here, at 1 AM, the influence of hardcore punk and especially horrorcore precedents like Gravediggaz finally oozed out. I walked in with Tyler and Frank Ocean, though they seemed a little nettled, and rightfully so: The crowd began moshing to the set-up music before anyone started performing at all. Tyler and Domo Genesis, however, milked it like veterans as soon as they got on stage. In a sense, the Trash Talk show — replete with audience members diving from five-foot-high speakers, Tyler swinging from pipes on the 20-foot-high ceiling, and dancers accidentally obliterating beer cans and cigarettes — offered the heart of Odd Future’s ethic. Hardcore has long held a resilient place in the trajectory of difficult music. It’s at once dazzling (even though dynamic range is not foregrounded) and sort of stunningly inaccessible: If you can’t spend time in a pit of what appear to be shaved gorillas, try another concert. For instance, the audience spent minutes before the show tossing one of those enormous industrial plastic trash cans — a great visual pun — amongst themselves in the pit.
At 285 Kent, the comments given to me by every interviewee at Best Buy finally shone through: Fans love Odd Future because they are uncompromising; the beats and flair are just a bonus. Trash Talk seared through their set in much the same way, and when they performed a song from The OF Tape, Vol. 2 with members of Odd Future, it blew everyone in the audience to thrashing, laughing shreds.
Odd Future will continue to fascinate because they make no compromises for pleasure. Live, they are all pleasure, a group of young people who inspire because they seem simply to do precisely what they want to do, something of a rarity in the lives of young people, much less in the music business. It’s a brutal but ultimately exuberant glossophilia, and the Trash Talk show confirmed it for me: They prefer the clamor of everything at once, even the ugly. | {
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Rev. Thomas, the former General Minister and President of the United Church of Christ, is now a professor and administrator here at CTS. Follow his timely, provocative writings on the issues of our day.
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Sitting behind me on the bus to Midway Airport earlier this month were two high school seniors heading home after three days at the University of Chicago. They had been admitted and were now deciding whether to enroll. It didn’t look good for the University of Chicago. The young woman was leaning toward New York University where she has been accepted in the “NYU in Abu Dhabi” program with a full scholarship for tuition, room, and board. An all expenses paid trip in March to visit the Emirates no doubt helped her make her decision. There she will join a freshman class populated primarily by English speaking students from some of the prestigious private international high schools around the world. The young man was holding out for Harvard where he is on the waiting list. His enthusiasm for Cambridge was nurtured by a Harvard summer program for gifted students he attended last year.
As I overheard the conversation behind me during our fifty minute ride I learned a lot about these two young people. She was from an affluent suburb in the New York City area where she attends an extremely competitive public high school, probably not unlike the one I attended in my youth. Her best friend, she reported, was juggling admissions to MIT, Cal Tech, and Stanford. Big incomes and high parental involvement and expectation propelled her and many of her classmates toward the top schools in the country. He, on the other hand, attends a struggling public high school in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Of the nearly 1,000 in his 9th grade class, less than two-thirds will probably graduate. The rest were either held back or dropped out. But, like a fortunate survivor in the midst of this sea of failure, he had benefited from the life boat of a rigorous advance placement program he described as a kind of school within a school. “You see the other students,” he told his seatmate, “but you don’t really go to class with them.”
These were delightful, hardworking, bright, and thoughtful young people. In addition to their academic accomplishments he tutors struggling students; she is president of the school’s gay/straight alliance. I hope they thrive and expect that they will. But as I looked around the crowded city bus, I couldn’t help but ponder the profoundly uneven playing field on which our nation’s youth compete. The demographics on the bus reflect the neighborhoods between Hyde Park and Midway Airport. There are a few lower middle class communities of well tended bungalows. But they are scattered between the far more prevalent working poor neighborhoods and desperately blighted communities, devastated by foreclosures which have left street after street home to abandoned houses and apartments. African American, Hispanic, and poor make up the principle demographic on the 55 Garfield Local.
Some young people from very poor neighborhoods do find their way to the elite colleges and universities. They do so because of hard work and innate intelligence, courageous sacrifices made by their parents, and gifted, dedicated teachers committed to working amid the challenges of our urban school systems. Some do. But very few of the teens I usually see on the 55 Local appear to be headed in that direction. Even if they are, the finances are daunting. When I went to Gettysburg College in the late 1960’s the cost for one year, all inclusive, was well under $8,000. When our son graduated from Gettysburg College in 2004, tuition, room, board and fees for one year totaled over $30,000. Six years later the College now reports the total cost will exceed $50,000 per year. The acceleration of rising costs is staggering. Scholarships and loans can only cover so much. If a good second tier school like Gettysburg costs this much, what is the price of an Ivy League education? (And if you don’t think that matters, take a look at the membership of the Supreme Court. Seven of the nine attended Harvard, Princeton, Cornell, Stanford, or the University of Chicago as undergraduates; eight out of nine attended either Harvard or Yale Law School.) There are, of course, less expensive options, but in state after state tuition costs for public universities are rising dramatically in the face of draconian budget cuts while community colleges struggle to cope with a rapid rise in applicants.
Those of us who have done well after beginning life on the high or middle part of the playing field can be tempted to think our achievement is merely a product of our own diligence. Hard work and intelligence certainly was part of it. But let’s not kid ourselves. The field was tipped considerably in our favor. There will always be those who make the best of a bad situation, just as there are some who will make the worst of a good situation. But that shouldn’t blind us to how unlevel the playing field really is for our children.
According to a recent poll, well over half of those who self-identify as members of the Tea Party movement believe that the government is doing too much for poor people in this country and not enough for the middle class. Is that why Sarah Palin abandoned her job on a modest tax payer dole as governor of Alaska in order to go on the speaking tour where she commands $100,000 per engagement along with a suite and either first class seats or a private jet? At least tax payers no longer have to pay for her rants about government and guns.
Still, it’s hard to swallow the rhetoric about the supposed largesse being lavished on the poor. The fact is that for the past decade the government has been handing out huge financial benefits, but they have primarily been going to the very wealthy in tax cuts that have helped to bankrupt the rest of us, including our public schools. Contrary to what the crazy fringe of the aging white male population in this country has been yelling at Tea Party rallies these days, the playing field has been tipping further and further against the poorest of the poor and their schools.
Restoring excellence and equity to our public schools will not be easy. But it would be nice, at the very least, if the hardness of heart so prevalent in our public rhetoric these days, whether aimed at the poor or increasingly at their teachers, would be softened a bit by the recognition that intelligence and hard work are not the only things that send some of our nation’s youth to a full ride in Abu Dhabi or Cambridge while others are always facing a field tipping higher and higher against them. The longer we fail to see and deal with it, the further our nation will slide toward a very real and ominous tipping point beyond which there may be no return.
Many of our nation’s most prestigious colleges and universities were founded by the forebears of our mainline denominations who eagerly invested in education. Their goal was not to form an elite ruling class dominating commerce and government, but to educate citizens for service in church and society. The ties to those elite schools are mostly gone, but the mission of educating all of our citizens remains. Blaming our public schools today is all the rage. As church people, we must do better. If we don’t cry out against the tipped playing field in our nation’s neighborhoods and schools, who will?
John H. Thomas
For more information about issues related to public education, go to the United Church of Christ’s website: www.ucc.org/justice/public-education/ | {
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The world’s most dangerous animal isn’t the lion, tiger or bear. It’s actually the mosquito. “Mosquitos have killed more humans than any other creature in human history,” says Haydn Parry in today’s talk. “The mosquito has killed more humans than wars and plague.” Every year, about a million and a half people succumb to malaria […]
Featured topic: TED on Photography
Young gun: Fellows Friday with Ed Ou January 4, 2013
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New talks released daily. Be the first to know! | {
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