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Ep 193: A Trip to "Fog City" with Layla Reyne
June 17, 2019	Big Gay Fiction Podcast	50:12
https://chtbl.com/track/11743D/traffic.libsyn.com/secure/biggayfictionpodcast/BGFP_193_LaylaReyneInterview.mp3
Jeff opens the show talking about the work he's doing on the manuscript for the Hat Trick re-release.
New patron Lucy is welcomed.
The guys talk about Tales of the City on Netflix and the new season of Pose on FX. Will reviews Anticipating Disaster by Silvia Violet while Jeff reviews Prince of Killers (Fog City #1) by Layla Reyne.
Jeff interviews Layla Reyne about the new Fog City series as well as how it felt wrapping up the Trouble Brewing series earlier this year. They also talk about Layla's RITA nominated book, Relay, and the upcoming fall release, Dine with Me.
Complete shownotes for episode 193 along with a transcript of the interview are at BigGayFictionPodcast.com.
Interview Transcript – Layla Reyne
This transcript was made possible by our community on Patreon. You can get information on how to join them at patreon.com/biggayfictionpodcast.
Jeff: Welcome Layla back to the podcast. It's great to have you here.
Layla: Thank you for having me back.
Jeff: I had to have you back to talk about this new series, "Prince Of Killers," as listeners will have heard right before this interview, blew my mind to pieces and back.
Layla: That's what I wanna hear.
Jeff: Tell everybody what this new series is and in particular what they have to look forward to in "Prince Of Killers."
Layla: Sure. So the series is "Fog City." It's set here in San Francisco. It's a new romance suspense series. You don't need to have read any of my series before that. I won't say that there aren't some Easter eggs for those that have, because we are all existing in the same place and time. But, this is a little different because this is following a family of assassins. So in books one to three of the "Fog City" trilogy, starting with "Prince of killers," you've got Hawes Madigan, who runs a cold storage business by day, a very successful family kind of business in the city. And then by night, the families, they're assassins. And he and his two siblings, Helena and Holt, are kind of the triumvirate that is currently the heir apparent. He's the heir apparent and they kind of all run it together. His grandfather is ailing and so that's kind of the setup and fairly successfully he is making some changes in the organization.
And so in comes…in the first scene, which is actually set at one of my favorite restaurants in the city, Gary Danko, walks Dante Perry who kind of has this strut about him, you know, long hair, looks like a rock God. But he's carrying a gun, which he immediately notices, Hawes does, and Perry tells him, "There is someone trying to kill you." And Hawes kind of laughs it off to start with because, dude, he runs an organization of assassins. That's what they're paid for. But then as Hawes and the family come to learn, it does look like someone is trying to stage a palace coup, so to speak. And so "Prince Of Killers" involves sort of the first stages of that and them trying to figure out who it is. And Dante has his own motivations as well. You know, he is trying to find the killer of someone who was close to him and Hawes doesn't want him to find out who that is either. So I will leave it at that without spoiling too much.
Jeff: Let's talk about the elephant in the room a little bit, and that is the fact that while you have left, for example, the books of the Whiskeyverse on some subtle cliff hangers, this one's bigger than normal for you.
Layla: Yeah, I'm not hiding anything, guys. This one's got a cliffhanger. I wouldn't say anyone's life is in jeopardy, but it's definitely a cliffhanger. I have made no bones about that "The Usual Suspect" is one of my favorite movies. So hello. And, you know, I grew up in TV land and so I love cliffhangers and I kind of embrace it with this. And, you know, the good thing is the plan is for all the books to be out this year. All the covers are done. By the time this airs, book two will be in the hands of editors and I should be working on book three by then. So, they will all come this year and it's in the blurb. So you know, everybody, fair warning. I'm not trying to hide it here. So…
Jeff: Yeah. And I love how you make the analogy to TV because I would put the cliffhanger that you did on the level of like the mid-season break. Not quite the end of season break, but that mid-season, it's Christmastime, we're gonna go away for a while and we'll have a big thing when we come back.
Layla: That's right. It's the end of November sweeps.
Jeff: Exactly.
Layla: That's where we're at, not gonna lie. And then book two picks up right where it ended and goes on in there.
Jeff: Yeah. Which I'm super looking forward to.
Layla: I'm writing. It's been a…It's fun and, you know, I can't…yeah, I can't spoil anything.
Jeff: Yeah. Don't say anything else. I don't wanna know. I don't want the listeners to know.
Layla: Okay. Okay.
Jeff: What was the inspiration for "Fog City" overall? Because since you've gone with this family of assassins, it's certainly different from what we're used to in the Whiskeyverse where you've got all the, you know, FBI agents and other kinds of, you know, law enforcement as your main characters.
Layla: So ironically, I was wandering through Wander Aguiar's photography website looking for covers for a different project and I saw this picture of what will be the book three cover. And I had to know what the hell is their story. I mean it just jumped at me and I was like, I have to know the story. And then one of my good writer friends, Allison Temple said, "You can't buy the pictures until you have a story." She's like, "Do not spend the money." So by the end of the weekend, I had the story. I had all three of them and then I was like, "Okay, so let me piece together the three covers." And so that's kind of how it, in its original, came about, you know, thinking about doing it. So art really did inspire art in this case because the photos were just amazing.
I wanted to branch out and do a little bit of something different. There have been hints of the people in the gray area, you know, Jamie, good guy, but some of that hacking is not exactly on the up and up. Mel, I think we saw go more and more, you know, in her bounty hunter business and be a little bit more flexible once she left the FBI. And so kind of going from there and wanting to play more in that gray area and having read books too, L.J. Hayward's "Death And The Devil" series, in particular, you know, it's fun and it's to some extent pretty liberating. I don't think it was…it wasn't harder. There are less rules. Right? I don't have to check the FBI's hierarchy chart every day to make sure I'm naming someone the right position. So in that regard, it's actually been a bit easier.
Jeff: Your shades of gray is 100% right because it's not a spoiler to say that Hawes, not only did he have the legit business on the side, but he's even trying to modify the ways that the family does the assassin business to make it, I guess, less bad maybe.
Layla: Yeah. So, there's an event that happened three years ago that kind of drives a lot of the series and when you read you'll find out what that is and to the extent it drives Hawes' three rules, which are in the blurb, which is no indiscriminate killing, no collateral damage, and no unvetted targets. So, if they're not…He is turning the organization away from kind of the killing machine that his grandfather, Papa Cal, was. And his parents were very methodical, very efficient, not a whole lot of emotion in it. And so, he's trying to find the balance between those two of it being, you know, I don't wanna say the killer with a heart of gold, but he is a killer with a conscience. And so he doesn't even like the moniker Prince of Killers and what that stands and how it came about, which you'll read about in the book as well. So, he's definitely a great character.
And then when you look at the broader picture of everyone in the series, Holt is, you know, this…he has a kid and he is, first and foremost, a father, right? And he is a hacker and he, because of where he's at in his life, has pulled back to being kind of the digital assassin of the bunch. And then Helena, who is the sister, who is my typical female complete badass, love her, she works for…she does a criminal defense work in her day job where she is actually working for people who are wrongfully accused. And so there's some shades of gray in her as well. And then even one of the other side characters is the chief of police who has an interesting relationship with the Madigans and he knows that there is some benefit to what they do and you're gonna find out there's some backstory with him as well as to where he is. So, there's a reference to him in…If you've read "Trouble Brewing," there's a reference to him in "Noble Hops." It's the same chief, for those who are watching, that read that. So…
Jeff: That was one of the Easter eggs that I missed. Because you and I have talked about the Easter eggs and there was some that I caught it and some was like, "Dang it."
Layla: So that's one of…he's the new chief, you know, that's a little bit more flexible in the way things are done. And so everybody…and then Dante is also, you know, playing in his shades of gray as a PI and how far he's willing to go and what he's doing personally and professionally. Like where's that line for him?
Jeff: Helena is the one that I found the most interesting in her shades of gray because here's an officer of the court who occasionally does some, you know, very illegal things, which isn't to say that, you know, all lawyers are, you know, on the right side of the law. But for her, it seemed like really…
Layla: Right. And she makes a line about balancing out her karma, right? That's kind of how she approaches it to some extent of, you know, part of what they're doing and why he…particularly Helena and Hawes are so well aligned like that, you know, Hawes wants the contracts of the people the law can't reach or that escape the law, you know, who get around it, let's just say, because of who they know or who they pay. And that's kind of who their targets…that's the targets he wants. People that have, you know, skirted justice for nefarious reasons. And her day job is the people who justice has wrongfully done. And so they kind of work hand in hand and her feeling on it plays to both of her careers.
Jeff: You mentioned in this book you had less rules, so like, you're not looking upon the FBI flow chart and things. Were there challenges to coming at these characters who had these shades of gray or was it…"free for all" is a little bit much, but certainly more freeing I guess.
Layla: Yeah, certainly challenges. Though, I mean, you still have to balance the fact that, "Hey, they're killing people." Right? And how you balance that with their conscience, with the people around them, particularly Kane, who was the police chief, has a lot to deal with and going on kind of. So yeah, I mean it is definitely there. There were different challenges for me, I kind of liked it because I got to go a little bit more, even though it's a shorter book than usual, I think going into their heads more than I typically would because there's a lot more internal conflict – while still having tons of external conflict. I felt like there was more internal conflict about what they're actually doing than, you know, being an FBI agent and knowing you're on the right side of the law. So this was more…they had to kind of walk that line, particularly Hawes.
Jeff: One of the things I like most about the book that is…in a lot of ways, it's separate from the romance and it's separate from the suspense element a lot is the family unit. And it's a recurring theme, at least in the books that I've read of yours from, you know, Irish And Whiskey and their families. And then what we see of the families in "Trouble Brewing" of the main characters. And here I really feel like maybe it's because we're so much closer to the family that we really, even in the shorter book, get a lot about Hawes and Holt and Helena and their interaction with each other. What was your plan as you like populated this family and the characters that you wanted to put on the page?
Layla: So, it kind of, I would say, came about organically to an extent. The first scene I wrote like that weekend when I saw the pictures, I wrote it and then I posted it in my little reader group's like, "I hate you." And in that first scene, actually there's a reference to the siblings, but you actually don't see them, but then they pop up. And part of it too was I had already found their pictures as well. I kind of knew who they all were, but, I also knew who we needed to do X, Y, and Z from a plot standpoint. I also didn't want Hawes to be an island to himself. Right? And to some extent, giving the life that he lives. And, you know, the two aspects of his life, that family is gonna be the only…like they can't really let anyone else get close. Right?
And so, they're so tight with the family. That's the only people they trust. And so, that's, I think, particularly why, you know, that's who he debriefs with. That's who they're planning with and everything because that's kind of it. And then, sort of, you have in that expanded family, you also have Holt's wife, Amilia, and you have the grandmother, Papa Cal's wife, and like that's the tight-knit crew. And it has been that way for that family for three generations. And that's kind of what you find out is that, this is what they do. And because of that, they have to keep it close to the vest and the families who they trust.
Jeff: But even through that, you've got Helena pushing on Hawes to make the connection to find somebody. Which I love because even as all hell's breaking loose, it's like think about doing that because you could have what Holt has.
Layla: Yeah. They both…you know, Holt's happily married with a kid. And I think for both, for Hawes and Helena, you know, that's the ideal. Their parents were happily married, right? Papa Cal and Rose were. So you can have happiness, right, in this. You just have to find the person who accepts it and where's that line? And Dante is someone who could be that person, right? He comes in and he seems to know what they do. He seems to be okay with it. And it's got a hint of insta-lust for sure. Like they're immediately attracted to each other, but it's not until later where Hawes kind of starts to think, "Huh, here's this person who maybe gets it and is okay with it," the way that Holt and Amelia ended up working out. And Amelia is part of the group, she actually has her own specialty with pressure points and being kind of a perfect Trojan horse for the group because she's not as out there as the rest of the Madigans are with the business. So yeah. So, he starts to see that. And Helena is kind of also walking a thin line of, "I wanna be happy, but do we know who this dude is?" Right. "Hey, Buddy. Okay, go have fun. But be careful." So, he's trying to be the rational one in that scenario.
Jeff: So, we know that this is a trilogy. How far does "Fog City" go overall? Do you have a grand plan?
Layla: I do, I do. Hawes and Dante will have a trilogy. So they're the main characters through books one to three. And then Helena will have a book and then there's another fifth book, but I'm not gonna say who that is because that'll spoil things. But everybody will get their HEAs by the end of it. I'm looking at five and then I've got some ideas for spin-offs and I may already have some cover photos bought for them. I would say I like building big verses, right? I mean, I grew up…I mean my intro to really reading a lot of romances, Kristen Ashley, and I love that big verse concept. And so I like building them too.
Jeff: And if you, you know, put it back on TV, I mean, you look at things like the Arrowverse and all of its characters or all of the Chicago shows on NBC, you can have all of your one big, huge comboverse.
Layla: Yeah. No, and that's kind of like that. I grew up in all that too. I was a TV person first. I come from that world where it is all intertwined like that. I like doing that. I like cameos and seeing characters and it's fun. And you know, Mel runs everything, just remember that. That's all you need to know.
Jeff: Even if the characters don't know that, she's really in charge.
Layla: Everything. Yeah.
Jeff: Now, we gotta give you a congrats too because in the midst of you getting this ready, it was announced you're a finalist for the Romance Writers of America RITA Award, for the book, "Relay."
Layla: Yes. Yes.
Jeff: Which is awesome. For those who don't know, tell us what "Relay" is about.
Layla: "Relay" is book one and the "Changing Lanes" duology, which is "Relay" and "Medley." So, two books. The duology follows the four men who are on the U.S. men's medley relay team, swim team. And so, the first book, "Relay," which was nominated, is about Alex Cantu and Dane Ellis, who had a little summer love affair at a training camp 10 years ago and didn't go well because Dane is the son of an evangelical minister and very closeted. And so he ends up on the same Olympic team with Alex, who is the team captain, who's worked his tail off basically to get where he's at and he is…you know, it's enemies to lovers to start.
Obviously, there's a lot of friction there from what happened in the past. And then they end up on the relay team together, have to work together. And so then you've got a bit of a second chance love story. That's what it rolls into. And so you see up through the first two legs of training camp and Olympic training in the first book. So you see the two domestic sites. And then in the second book, "Medley," which follows the other two characters, Boss and Jacob, that's a mentor-mentee. A little bit of an age gap, like 26 to 19, I think. And Jacob's this lovely like pirate-quoting cinnamon roll. I love him. He's so much fun. And two bi characters.
Jeff: Pirate-quoting cinnamon roll?
Layla: Yeah, he's a cinnamon roll character, like, he's a total dork.
Jeff: I love that description of him.
Layla: And so, then you see international training in the Olympics in that book. So they go hand in hand. And I'm really…you know, there are definite problems with the RITA awards has been brought up with getting better representation. I am happy this book got through. Alex is a character of color. And, you know, when I wrote this, I wanted to say, you know, "This is the U.S. Olympic team, a representation that I would like to see," right, that's diverse in sexuality and race and, you know, I'm glad that it did get to the finalists because that's at least out there.
Jeff: And again, congrats for that. That's cool. I'll have to go pick that up now because I have not picked up your sports books and I'm certainly like a sports romance lover anyway, so…
Layla: One of my good friends was a competitive swimmer up through college and so I talked to him a lot and then one of my other friends swam up through high school and then a little bit in college too. So, it was something different, you know, and I think it was right about the Olympics time where we started talking about that idea and then it just rolled.
Jeff: As I mentioned, there was some research involved there too, just to know what the training program was like and where it happened.
Layla: And then some of it was my own, like, but too, they go to Vienna for training and I studied abroad there. And I've kinda always wanted to put it in a book. And so that was a lot of fun – everywhere there is somewhere that I went and even the fight that happens up in the wine country kind of happened to a friend. And so it was interesting like to see kind of, it was a different source of the fight, but you know, I was traipsing through this little village in the middle of the night going, "Where'd you go?"
Jeff: That's awesome. Drawing from real life events. You've got a bit of a con schedule going on this year. You're headed to BLC so you'll be at the first incarnation of Book Lovers Con in New Orleans, but you're also making your very first trip to GayRomLit this year.
Layla: I know, I can't wait. It's finally back out here, relatively close to us on the West Coast. I'm so looking forward to that. You know, I loved…I've been to an RW International and then I went to RT last year and I love the reader interaction like that. I like that part of it so much. And so that's why I'm going back to Book Lovers Con to get more of that, but then I really want to go to GRL because those are particularly our readers, right, and my favorite authors, so I can't, you know, wait to meet some folks. See folks that I met last year, meet others, and then like… two of my closest writing friends I've never met in person, they're both going to be there. So I can't wait for that.
Jeff: So name drop a little bit. Who are these people you're meeting in person for the first time?
Layla: Well, what's cool at Book Lovers Con is that I'll get to meet Annabeth Albert, who's been a sprint partner, publishes with the same…with Carina Press too. So that'll be awesome. But then, yeah, at GRL, it'll be Erin McLellan, who you actually reviewed "Clean Break," and Allison Temple. So we're looking forward to that.
Jeff: Very cool. Now, of course, "Fog City" continues through this year. I know you've got at least one other book sneaking it's way out there. What else is coming up this year?
Layla: So there'll be the three "Fog City" books and then "Dine With Me" comes out in September and it's very different from everything else. So, well, I guess not, you know, if you read my books, and even in "Fog City," there's food, there're restaurants because I am a complete and total foodie. And so "Dine With Me" is kind of my love letter to restaurants that I've loved, to food experiences that I've loved. And it follows Miller Sykes who is an award-winning chef who gets a diagnosis, a medical diagnosis, and basically if he gets treatment, he will lose his sense of taste. It's a high likelihood that the treatment and surgery will compromise the sense of taste. And as a chef, dude, how? Like even as a foodie, you know, God, I can't imagine and I can't even…as a chef, wow. And so rather than get treatment, he decides to go on the last tour of his favorite meals. And it's not just high end, you know, it's dive bars and, you know, there are high-end restaurants also all across the spectrum for everything a different place offers. And that's partially my experiences too, everywhere there is based on somewhere I've been.
And then Clancy Rhodes who is the financial backer for this effort is kind of along for the ride. He's a total foodie, experiencing it, and how he starts to piece together what's going on and also starts to realize they have a lot in common. Despite, you know, a bit of an age gap and coming from different places in different worlds, they are both kinda facing these great expectations and how to handle that. And he has to convince him that, you know, life is more than just your taste buds, right, and that love's worth it. And so it's the book of my heart. It's been in my head for years. I've sat on the first chapter since 2015, 2016 it was on the initial list of blurbs I gave my agent, and we finally found a place to make it happen. So I'm super excited about it.
Jeff: That's awesome because it's always good to get the book of your heart out there.
Layla: Yes. Yeah. Like I said, it's different. You know, there is a ticking clock aspect to it given the diagnosis and what's going on but, there's not a car chase, which is unusual. But it's a much more internal book and a lot of food gushing. So, you know, I generally say have snacks and tissues, just FYI.
Jeff: That's not really a bad thing for any book to have the snacks and the tissues nearby.
Layla: You'll really need it. So, I'm excited. That comes out September 16 and that'll be from Carina, that one will.
Jeff: Cool. And I have to ask before we wrap up, how was it to wrap up the Whiskeyverse for now – as "Trouble Brewing" wrapped up earlier this year?
Layla: Yeah. I mean, good. Right. I like where everybody got to. I loved writing that last scene in "Trouble Brewing" and "Noble Hops." You know, it was just kind of a nice – everybody's where they should be. Right. I was glad to give everybody their happily ever after there. I did see some things, which are in the pipeline. And so, things may happen in the future depending on time and whatnot. But I'm excited for it and I'm glad Nick and Cam and Mel and Danny and Aiden and Jamie all got their happy. They definitely deserved it.
Jeff: Yeah. Yes, they did. They worked for it.
Layla: They worked for it.
Jeff: Yeah. It was such a satisfying read. If anybody hasn't picked those books up, they need to for sure.
Layla: Thank you.
Jeff: So what is the best way for folks to keep up with you online so they can keep track of all the "Fog City" releases and the upcoming "Dine With Me" and everything else?
Layla: Yeah, so probably my Facebook group, Layla's Lushes is where I'm at the most. And you can find a link to that on my Facebook page too, which is just Layla Reyne. So, that's me on pretty much all the platforms on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. I'm on Instagram a fair bit. There's a lot of food and my pugs there, so just FYI. I would say the reader group and the newsletter too, which is on my website, there's a banner, so it's laylareyne.com and you can follow and find it there.
Jeff: Yup. We will link to all that in the show notes along with all the books. The reader group is the place to be because it's where you find out about like, oh, the first chapter of "Fog City" well before anybody else does.
Layla: Yeah. I kind of like…I have a hard time sitting on stuff. I ran one of the big "X-Files" spoiler sites back in the day, so if that tells you anything, I'm a bit of a spoiler junkie and have a tendency to spoil things though, just FYI.
Jeff: Yeah. Everybody should go join up with that if you're into Layla's books in any shape, form, or fashion.
Layla: Yes.
Jeff: All right. Well, Layla, it's been so good talking to you. Thank you so much for the great read that is "Prince of Killers" and I look forward to keeping track of "Fog City" as the year progresses.
Layla: Excellent. Thank you so much for having me again. It's been fun.
Here's the text of this week's book reviews:
Anticipating Disaster by Silvia Violet. Reviewed by Will Nice-guy Oliver enjoys his quiet bookish life – so he's less than thrilled to be attending a family reunion at a ski resort. He braves the frigid temperatures and disapproving attitudes of his extended family to please his grandmother, who he adores.
Irresistibly sexy bisexual outdoorsman David is in town to help his friend mend a broken heart. While his bestie distracts himself with a pair of slope bunnies, David sets his sights on klutzy Oliver, offering to give him private ski lessons.
Flirtation leads to friendship and to David accompanying Oliver to some of the planned reunion activities. When certain family members mock Oliver's nerdish tendencies, David fiercely defends him. Can't they see how smart and sweet and kind he is?
To give Oliver a vacation from his relatives, David takes Oliver to Anticipation, the picture-perfect mountain town that he calls home.
The more time that our heroes spend together, the more they think this might just be the real deal. The problem is that neither one of them does casual relationships. David has his life in Anticipation and Oliver has his life back in Florida with his grandmother.
A long-distance arrangement doesn't seem particularly practical and they sadly part ways.
Oliver returns to his real life and, after some time apart from David, he realizes (with some help from grandma) that his quiet existence might be more about hiding from life than truly living it.
He decides that David is well-worth the risk and heads back to Anticipation to start a new adventurous chapter in his life story.
I really enjoyed Anticipating Disaster. The author takes some familiar character types and story tropes and crafts a really compelling story, while at the same time giving the romance her own twist. The set-up might be pure category romance, but let's be real, this is a Silvia Violet book, so you know that the heat level is going to be cranked up to 11.
Oliver has a penchant for lacy undergarments and, over the course of the story, David discovers he likes cute guys with a penchant for lacy undergarments – like, A LOT.
Also, in the bedroom, David has a talent for turning some particularly filthy turns-of phrase. So the time our that heroes spend together do not disappoint – these aren't the kinds of sex scenes you'll skim over.
This book is the first in a series with the quaint town of Anticipation serving as the backdrop for future installments. A few side characters are introduced in Anticipating Disaster and I look forward to the new romances that will unfold in upcoming books.
Prince of Killers (Fog City #1) by Layla Reyne. Reviewed by Jeff. Anyone who's been listening to the show over the past year knows that I've fallen hard for romantic suspense, and in particular the stories that Layla Reyne writes. As soon as I offered the chance to read an advanced copy of Prince of Killers I jumped on it and devoured it in just a few days. Not only is the suspense tight but the budding romance had great sizzle.
I've never read romantic suspense where someone in law enforcement wasn't at least one, if not both, of the central characters in the love story. In this book, our main character is on the flipside of the law as the leader of a family of assassins. This provided an interesting twist and I loved the ride.
The titular prince of killers is Hawes Madigan who has recently come into leading his family's business because his grandfather is on his deathbed. One evening, just before a job, Hawes gets information that someone inside the organization is looking to take him out and possibly targeting others inside his family. The bombshell is dropped by the mysterious Dante Perry.
The news of betrayal from the inside throws Hawes for a loop. He figured some associates might take issue with the new rules he's put into place, which include no indiscriminate killing, no collateral damage and no unvetted targets. He introduces these rules because of past incidents that haunt him.
The introduction of the Madigan family and how they approach their line of work fascinated me as much as the suspense of the internal sabotage and the romance that blooms between Hawes and Dante. Hawes has a twin sister, Helena, and younger brother, Holt who has a wife and baby daughter. Holt's the tech wizard for the organization and Helena has another career as an attorney helping those who are wrongfully accused. Hawes's life revolves solely around the family businesses–both the legit refrigeration business and the not-so-legit assassin game.
The interplay of the family members as they try to sort out the traitor in their midst while dealing with their dying grandfather is so sharply written. There's barely time for them to process any one thing that happens and yet the do make time to support and care for one another. Helena even pushes Hawes toward Dante as a potential partner because she wants her brother to have someone. Hawes taking the leap to trust and fall for Dante is one of things I love most about the book as he finds the strength to overcome the fear of putting his family at risk. Even though Holt has made a family for himself and his parents and grandparents had a successful family life, Hawes feels that he needs to be cautious since he's the family leader now.
Dante also goes out of his way to get Hawes and the family to trust him with not only their brother's heart but aspects of the business as well. Hawes using Dante as his rock as the plot against the family unfolds, exposed his vulnerabilities perfectly. Meanwhile, the bombs that dropped in the final quarter of this book were ones I hadn't seen coming and got my heart thumping.
This is book one of a trilogy and as was the case with Layla's other books I can't wait to see where she takes this story. Similar to the Irish and Whiskey and Trouble Brewing trilogies, the Hawes and Dante's story doesn't fully wrap up at the end of the book. Of particular note, Prince of Killers ends with a significant cliffhanger. I don't mind cliffhangers but if you are averse to that kind of ending you might want to wait until book two's out so you won't be waiting long to see what happens next. For me Layla's redefined what a family of assassins looks like with this book. Fog City kicks off with some mind-blowing twists and I can't wait to see what happens next.


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Israeli pop star Noa Kirel wears 'Kanye West' outfit in 'message to world'
in Art & Entertainment
Noa Kirel is seen on stage at the European MTV Awards 2022 in Dusseldorf, Germany, Sunday, Nov. 13, 2022. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Singer walks MTV red carpet in Germany in a fashion statement against rapper's antisemitic comments
Israeli pop star Noa Kirel arrived at the European MTV Awards 2022 in Dusseldorf, Germany, on Sunday wearing an outfit adorned with the face of rapper Kanye West and dozens of gold chains with the Star of David and the "Chai" symbol.
West, also known as Ye, has drawn harsh criticism and denouncement for a series of antisemitic comments in recent weeks that have also led to dropped partnerships with a host of brands including Adidas.
Kirel said she chose to wear the outfit as "a fashion item with a message for the whole world; an item that signals that I am both Jewish and Israeli. We have been experiencing a lot of antisemitism, especially in light of Kanye West's statements. I am proud to be an Israeli artist who represents Israel in the world," she was quoted as saying by public broadcaster Kan in a statement.
Her stylist told Kan that the pop star wanted "a crazy outfit, something everyone would remember."
Kirel, who will represent Israel at the Eurovision song contest next year, won "Best Israeli Act" at the MTV European Awards for the fifth-straight year and was representing Israel at the event.
Kirel, 21, is one of Israel's most famous current pop singers, known for her hit singles "Pouch," "Million Dollar" and "Tikitas." She is regularly in demand at events across Israel and the subject of intense paparazzi coverage. Kirel completed her IDF service earlier this year after serving as part of its "talent track," performing for troops and pursuing a career at the same time.
West, meanwhile, has been embroiled in controversy ever since Balenciaga's Paris Fashion Week show last month, during which he debuted a line of "White Lives Matter" shirts.
The controversial slogan has been described by the Anti-Defamation League as a "white supremacist phrase."
Since then, the rapper and fashion mogul has spouted antisemitic sentiment across social media and in news interviews, including vowing to go "death con 3 on Jewish people" and claiming that he is the target of a "Jewish underground media mafia."
He was temporarily suspended from both Twitter and Instagram and has been dropped by Adidas, his talent agency CAA, and the MRC studio.
On Saturday, "Saturday Night Live" aired a show in which comedian Dave Chappelle addressed the controversy surrounding West and appeared to defend him.
In his lengthy monologue, Chappelle danced along the lines he was mocking West for, emphasizing that he was not antisemitic while arguing that "it's not a crazy thing to think" that Jews control Hollywood and insinuating that Jews have been making Black people into scapegoats for their past trauma.
JTA contributed to this report.
Netanyahu's vow to govern for all Israelis at odds with very nature of his coalition
Researchers find first-known map of the stars hidden under old Syriac manuscript

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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By Debra Heine 2017-10-16 13:52:11
•• 2017-10-16 13:52:11 ••
Lord, please, please, please let this woman be a Democrat. Amen.
'Alien abductee' mom in high-stakes run for Congress https://t.co/4F7lgZNUob
— Fox News (@FoxNews) October 16, 2017
And nope.
Bettina Rodriguez Aguilera, 59, is currently trailing in a crowded race in Florida to replace Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla.
The aliens weren't green little men with antennas and buggy eyes. She told two TV hosts -- both female journalists with long, lustrous blond hair -- that the aliens "looked just like you."
Aguilera -- the mother of Bettina Inclan Agen, former Republican National Committee Hispanic outreach director, and mother-in-law of Jarrod Agen, Vice President Pence's deputy chief of staff -- said the ET visits began when she was 7 years old.
The aliens appeared before her and "telepathically" told her to walk outside. Then they took her into their spaceship and spoke to her about events that would happen, she says. They supposedly told her about ISIS – though she wouldn't give specific details – and that the world's energy is in Africa and that God is a universal energy.
She said that "the aliens were dressed in party outfits."


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For Brandy Owens Domengeaux, Excellence has always been the Standard
Georgia State Law professor, Brandy Owens Domengeaux, has always excelled. As a child growing up in Mobile, Ala. and later in Albemarle, N.C., she made straight A's in school.
In the second grade Domengeaux decided she wanted to become a lawyer and a teacher, although she was discouraged by others along the way. She remained steadfast in her pursuit. Today, she is doing both of those things as senior lecture of law, teaching Lawyering Foundations and Legal Writing and Analysis to LL.M. students in the College of Law.
However, she took a somewhat unconventional path to get here. Domengeaux earned her bachelor's degree in elementary education at Winston-Salem State University. She taught second and fifth grades prior to attending law school, and she says that the lessons learned during her time an elementary educator stay with her now.
"During my first year teaching second grade, I had students who were on a kindergarten reading level and others who were on an eighth-grade reading level," Domengeaux said. "My job was to ensure that each student was supported, encouraged and challenged to reach their full potential no matter their level. Keeping that in mind helps me to this day as a law professor, especially teaching a foundational skills course."
After teaching elementary school, Domengeaux was ready to fulfill the other half of her lifelong dream. She knew she wanted to attend law school at a Historically Black College or University (HBCU) because of the close-knit environment, cultural connections and the opportunity to build lifelong relationships with professors and colleagues. She went to Southern University Law Center in Louisiana, where she immersed herself in public interest work. The summer after her first year of law school, she worked with the Innocence Project New Orleans on a case that exonerated a client who had spent nearly 28 years in prison for a crime he did not commit.
Domengeaux graduated as valedictorian of her law school class and worked at Lightfoot, Franklin and White in Birmingham, Ala. for several years before moving to Atlanta to practice corporate law at King & Spalding. However, becoming a mom marked a turning point in her life.
"I was the only associate on my team with a child at the time, and we were the largest practice group in the firm," Domengeaux said.
She looked toward academia for an opportunity to achieve balance. She was recruited by Atlanta's John Marshall Law School to teach writing courses, and during her tenure she also helped develop bar exam preparation programs. She taught there for four years before returning to practice for a short time at Greenberg Traurig. Then, a chance encounter with professor Maggie Vath and professor emerita Anne Emmanuel in 2015 brought her Georgia State Law.
"It is an honor and privilege to have the opportunity to prepare the next generation of practice-ready lawyers," Domengeaux said. "In my classroom, my students are the junior attorneys and I am the more senior attorney, and my goal is to teach them the skills to think, analyze, write and read like a lawyer in order to zealously advocate on behalf of their clients."
In addition to teaching, Domengeaux helps students develop study strategies for law school and for the bar exam. She also works with students to help them fine-tune their time management skills. Most importantly, she encourages them to take care of themselves and find their own path in law like she did. Going from elementary educator to attorney to law professor might be an unexpected path, but it is not an impossible one.
"I tell students 'this is your journey,'" Domengeaux added. "We're not all meant to occupy the same space."


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Eastern Christians meet with Obama, call for solidarity in the face of persecution
"In Defense of Christians" summit concluded yesterday, after Sen. Cruz's controversial remarks on Wednesday.
September 12, 2014 Catherine Harmon General 0 Print
Eight Eastern Christian leaders met yesterday with President Barack Obama, at the close of a three-day conference in Washington, DC aimed at strengthening ties between Christian communities in the Middle East and at raising awareness about the dangers faced by those communities.
From Catholic News Service:
"We felt how deeply moved [Obama] was by what was happening to the Christians there," Lebanese Cardinal Bechara Rai, Maronite patriarch, said at a Mass later the same day at Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Catholic Church. …
The cardinal said each of the leaders from Eastern Catholic and Orthodox rites had a chance to speak individually to Obama, who the White House said "dropped by National Security Advisor Susan Rice's meeting at the White House."
Although the White House did not release details of the discussion, throughout the summit the Christian leaders spoke of the threat to Christians and other minorities posed by Islamic State militants, particularly in Iraq and Syria. Several said they were advocating religious freedom, an inherent right. They spoke of the need for local leaders and the international community to become involved in a solution because, as one Orthodox bishop said, "no one can possibly agree to a beheading."
A White House statement, read out near the end of the In Defense of Christians summit, said Obama reinforced the U.S. commitment to fight Islamic State militants and other groups that threaten the Middle East, as well as American personnel and interests in the region. …
"The president emphasized that the United States recognizes the importance of the historic role of Christian communities in the region and of protecting Christians and other religious minorities throughout the Middle East," the statement said.
The In Defense of Christians summit was the site of a historic first: the gathering of all the Christian patriarchs of the Middle East in the US, according to Rebecca Teti, who was in attendance. She writes at Catholic Vote that the leaders were able "to meet together to present a unified voice in Washington as advocates for their people across the Middle East."
These are people who have serious internecine and theological squabbles amongst themselves and don't easily mix, but IDC got them to Washington under a promise of keeping things as apolitical as possible in the circumstances and focusing on defending Christians, not tackling political resolution of Mid-East tensions – on which the churches themselves do not agree.
Most of the proceedings of the three-day event were overshadowed in the media, however, by Sen. Ted Cruz's appearance at the IDC gala dinner on Wednesday evening. A few minutes into what was supposed to be the evening's keynote address, Cruz stated, "Christians have no greater ally than Israel," and was met with boos from some in the audience in response. From the Daily Caller:
"Those who hate Israel hate America," [Cruz] continued, as the boos and calls for him to leave the stage got louder. "Those who hate Jews hate Christians. If those in this room will not recognize that, then my heart weeps. If you hate the Jewish people you are not reflecting the teachings of Christ. And the very same people who persecute and murder Christians right now, who crucify Christians, who behead children, are the very same people who target Jews for their faith, for the same reason."
The cries of "stop it, stop it, enough," and booing continued. "Out, out, leave the stage!" At this point IDC's president, Toufic Baaklini, came out to the stage to ask for the crowd to listen to Cruz, but Cruz had already had enough.
"If you will not stand with Israel and the Jews," he said. "Then I will not stand with you. Good night, and God bless." And with that, he walked off the stage.
In a statement released after the event, Cruz said the evening had "deteriorated into a shameful display of bigotry and hatred." "They cannot shout down the truth," he said. "And we should not shy away from expressing the truth, even in the face of – especially in the face of – ignorance and bigotry."
In its own statement, IDC expressed regret that "few politically motivated opportunists chose to divide a room that for more than 48 hours sought unity in opposing the shared threat of genocide, faced not only by our Christian brothers and sisters, but our Jewish brothers and sisters and people of all other faiths and all people of good will. Tonight's injection of politics when the focus should have been on unity and faith, momentarily played into the hands of a few who do not adhere to IDC's principles. They were made no longer welcome."
Maronite Bishop Gregory J. Mansour, speaking to Catholic News Service, criticized Sen. Cruz for making support for Israel a "litmus test" for standing with his fellow Christians.
"Christians don't ally themselves to any state," said Bishop Mansour. "We are not allied to the state — to the United States or to Iraq, or to Syria. …
Bishop Mansour, who said he liked Cruz personally, told CNS: "I ran after him, and I saw him, face to face, as you and I are talking. He was very upset."
But he pointed out that many in the audience at the gala dinner were Palestinian Christians.
"Come on, you have to talk to your audience, you have to talk to the people who are here. I felt that showed a great insensitivity on his part," said Bishop Mansour, whose comments were echoed by others in attendance.
"We've been very careful, all the organizers and everybody involved," said Bishop Mansour. "The only one who was not very careful was Sen. Cruz."
About Catherine Harmon 576 Articles
Catherine Harmon is managing editor of Catholic World Report.
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Catherine Harmon May 30, 2011 0
Sandro Magister's latest column levies a rather heavy charge against Pope Benedict – that while the Holy Father writes and speaks at length and with great insight about the importance of truly beautiful, reverent liturgical […]


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Video across platforms: do measurement challenges lead to a reporting problem?
Posted at asi on 23rd May 2017
Richard Marks gives a summary of the recent 2017 asi APAC Television & Video Conference in Singapore
The international version of the asi Conference over the last 26 years has tended to move around Europe each November: Budapest last year, Nice later this year. However, the first three APAC asi Conferences have kept Singapore as a base. This is partly to help establish the event before it goes on the road around the region, but is also related to the growing importance of Singapore as a media hub.
A side effect of this 'residency' is that comparisons between events are somewhat easier: you become more aware of gradual shifts – rather like noticing changes in a friend you only see once a year.
Certainly in just the two years since the first APAC asi Conference a number of themes are becoming increasingly apparent.
It is clear that online video is co-existing with broadcast and not replacing it, although with the rise of OTT it is less clear how TV and video services will be aggregated and packaged. Meanwhile, in just three APAC Conferences we have seen significant advances in cross-platform video measurement. It is still unclear though whether the same metrics we have used for TV can equally be applied to online video. If we can now measure all video, how do we report it?
Tracking data presented by PwC at the Conference questions a series of assumptions around the future of TV. Consumers are spending more time than ever on video consumption, and television (the medium) is at the heart of this. Yet the way TV is being watched is evolving – with on demand growing at the expense of linear, whilst viewing spreads across to other screens. TV isn't dead, but it is undergoing disruption and there will be winners and losers.
A panel of speakers from GfK, Nielsen, Kantar Media, BARC India, Workpoint Entertainment and Television Broadcasts Ltd (TVB) from Hong Kong, Thailand, India and Singapore discuss cross-platform measurement with Richard Marks.
SVoD certainly seems to be in the ascendancy at the moment, although in the haste of Netflix and Amazon Prime to gain market traction the eventual profitability of their business models remains unproven. GfK's Viewscape seems to indicate that SVoD complements rather than threatens pay-TV services, perhaps being more of a natural successor to video rental and DVD purchasing than a substitute for linear viewing. This backs up the finding of the SKO presentation which won best paper in Budapest last November.
Arguably, SVoD is contributing towards an increasing globalisation of major TV brands. Social buzz data from Parrot Analytics shows the power of global series like Sherlock, The Walking Dead and The Big Bang Theory, but also the strength of regional content. Social TV analysts Shareablee highlight the power of Facebook in particular in driving TV conversations. However, as a paper from the BBC World Service outlined, it can be an increasing challenge to actually get the right brand attribution for that content, particularly when it comes to news, with content spreading across platforms and being re-used and re-purposed on social media platforms.
Short-form content on YouTube can get impressive reach, but those 'billions' of views are not able to rival global programme brands, formats and sport in terms of duration of total viewing time. Eurodata Worldwide aggregated 2016 viewing data from 92 countries to show a global daily average of exactly 3 hours viewing to TV, down a mere 3 minutes from the year before. That figure is just 2 hours 8 minutes for young adults, which raises the question: will they watch more TV when they get older (although across more devices) or will they maintain their viewing to other forms of video?
Another key point of debate at the Conference: is online video content and advertising essentially an extension of television in terms of how we should measure and report them – or are they different beasts entirely? Our final session in Singapore focused specifically on metrics, but really it was a theme that was referred to throughout both days of the event. It's a question that has profound implications for the future of the industry – and also for how we actually organise sessions at the asi Conference itself!
George Mao revealed some results of Facebook's recent research into response to content on different platforms.
Facebook makes a convincing argument that advertisers need to take account of the unique characteristics of online video – which has implications for both execution and for placement, but also for measurement in a world in which every second is vital. Is all online video the same? Data from OzTAM analysed by Milton Data seems to indicate that persistence levels (minimum stream durations) have less impact on the reported viewing levels of catch-up broadcast content, presumably as people are seeking the content out as opposed to trialling it. If short-form video is a 'taster' menu, then broadcast and SVoD content may be more of a main meal.
Yahoo7 reported that 30-second ads in catch-up players perform better on ad effectiveness metrics than 15-second ads, but again that is for broadcaster services. It seems clear that advertisers cannot simply reformat ads for different platforms without taking into account the type of content it accompanies, the screen showing it and the resulting attention of the viewer. Perhaps we are looking at a Venn diagram – two overlapping circles of broadcast and online, with broadcast catch-up and VOD at the intersection, demonstrating characteristics of both. This seemed to be acknowledged in BARC India's planned 'ekam' suite of analysis tools, in which broadcast content and ads can be looked at separately from other online video or in combination.
As an industry we also face the challenge of how currency systems will sit within the planning and buying system going forward. Effectively TAM video measurement systems sit at the crossing of two roads, one leading from content to advertising and the other from planning to trading. Bas de Vos has recently moved from running a TAM service with SKO to being a supplier with GfK and posed some important existential questions resulting from the implications of automated planning and trading. It may well be that in the future the industry supplies currencies for offline media, provides planning standards for digital media and cross-media and sets the rules for trading standards. This will certainly have implications for the companies like TechEdge, which delivers the data to people's desktops each morning.
StarHub's Germaine Ng Ferguson explained how SmarTAM combines traditional and digital measurement for better audience insights.
Talking of cross-media, a number of papers – from MediaWorks in New Zealand, from Millward Brown in Singapore and Median in the Czech Republic – indicated the benefits of cross-platform reach and that multi-media strategies can make 1+1 = 3. Meanwhile, if audience data is combined with consumer data, as StarHub's SmarTAM system demonstrates, the power of TV as a medium is amplified.
The conference clearly demonstrated that significant progress is being made in cross-platform currency measurement. The new GfK SGTAM service in Singapore showed integrated data that demonstrates how greatly the online uplift on broadcast audiences varies by lifestage, with Gen Z having 13x as much audience increase as Baby Boomers. The architectural plans for the new Kantar TAM system in Hong Kong were unveiled and again involve a hybrid approach to bringing together TV and online viewing. However, it was commented that work is needed by all the measurement suppliers to better communicate to clients how these hybrid systems actually work. It is no longer as simple as a meter in the home.
OzTAM's iPanel – a separate panel used to innovate new techniques before moving them into primetime on the main panel – certainly puts them in a great position to test enhancements to traditional approaches: what measurement tasks will the general public accept and which are a step too far?
Andrew Li Cheng shared the work CSM Media Research is doing with huan.tv to design a real-time rating system in China.
This Conference was notable for an increasing geographic coverage of the region. We had delegates from 24 countries and heard for the first time from Japan, where the Nielsen partnership with Video Research was previewed. We learnt that CSM has built a live ratings system for huan.tv in China and also saw the first fruits of the new Nielsen Digital Content Ratings (DCR) in Thailand.
I am now into my fourth decade in the measurement industry and certainly left Singapore with a spring in my step and got the definite impression that delegates found the two days inspiring as well. The challenges we face are complex and in some cases not yet well defined. There is though a wealth of innovation in the APAC region. Significant progress is being made and whilst the measurement industry is far from future proof, it is certainly 'future ready' and prepared for the challenges ahead.
Thanks for a successful event are due to my fellow session chairs, David Webb, Julie Petersen and Partho Dasgupta and to our event sponsors Nielsen and GfK.
See you next year – most probably in Singapore!
The 2018 asi APAC Television & Video Conference will be held on 10th-11th May, venue to be confirmed.
The 2017 asi International Radio & Audio and Television & Video Conferences will be held on 8th-10th November in Nice, France.
For more information on these asi conferences please go to our Conference Programmes page.
Originally posted at asi
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Graduate Makes His Mark Behind the Scenes
From big man on campus to big man on camera, Mark Haynes (Class of '05) earns his living in an unconventional way.
DHS grad Mark Haynes (left) was body double for Florian Munteanu (right) during the filming of Creed II.
Photo Submitted
Sam Dolinger, Opinion Editor
Of the many odd jobs and career paths for Dallastown graduates, Mark Haynes of the Class of 2005 may have one of the most unexpected.
From bodybuilding to modeling for plus size Halloween costumes, this former Dallastown baseball player has seemingly done it all.
Recently, he's been seen in several TV shows and movies – well maybe he's not always seen.
Haynes has worked behind the scenes as both a body double in the recently released movie Creed II and as a member of the stunt cast on season four of the hit TV show Gotham.
Still Image from CW production of Gotham
As a member of the stunt team on Gotham, Haynes faces off against the Riddler.
"Gotham is one of my favorite sets that I've worked on. The makeup artists for that show really get to be creative because the show has this freakshow vibe to it. It feels like Halloween every day there because you get to wear a lot of different outfits and makeup," Haynes said.
Haynes got a stunt contract which made him a member of the main cast. Occasionally, a member of the stunt cast gets a line of dialogue, and Haynes even got to do a scene roughing up one of Batman's greatest foes, The Riddler.
More recently Haynes worked on the set of Creed II, a movie released over Thanksgiving, where he was the body double for Florian Munteanu, known in the movie as Victor Drago, the son of one of the most hated movie villains of all time, Ivan Drago.
Haynes, a member of SAG-Aftra (the union for actors) got the job when the casting company for Creed II looked to the actors on file looking for somebody like him, Haynes was able to submit for the role.
As of December 4th the newest movie in the Rocky franchise has already brought in almost $84 million and is still waiting for full international release.
The massive Dallastown graduate worked with the star Michael B Jordan to bring rounds of excitement to the movie, even though it is likely viewers won't even notice he's there.
"Production uses a double for a couple of reasons," Haynes explained. "It gives the main actor a rest… Days of filming usually take fourteen hours or so."
Traditionally a stand-in is used before filming to adjust for lighting and camera angles, but Haynes got the exciting opportunity of also acting as a body double for Munteanu. When the cameras rolled Haynes appeared in shots where the actor is not prominently featured.
Filming started before Easter of this year and wrapped in June. Much of the filming was done on sets in Philadelphia and Glenside PA (Arcadia University.) Haynes was on set for about three to five days a week.
Creed star Michael B. Jordan and Haynes at the wrap party in June.
"Each day is about twelve hours on set so there is a lot of down time. I read a lot of books and got to know a lot of very nice people" Haynes said.
Haynes was sure to single out Dolph Lundgren (Ivan Drago) as a very nice person on set and spent a lot of time with Lundgren's trainer Chris Skogberg.
Haynes and Skogberg got to know each other well on set because of their similar interests and backgrounds in fitness and weight lifting.
The Dallastown graduate-turned-Hollywood-stuntman cited his own excitement as a fan of the franchise.
"I think it'll be right up there as one of the best… the plot is really great and some of the scenes are pretty intense too," Haynes said.
Haynes listed off some of the things he enjoyed most about working on the movie, but specifically commended the caterers for always having a variety of delicious foods and the comradery of the cast and crew. Ideals that will come to no surprise to some of Haynes' favorite high school teachers.
One of Haynes' "odd" jobs is modeling for adult Halloween costumes.
At first glance it may seem odd to single out such small parts of production, but Haynes has been emitting that type of classy energy since his time here at Dallastown.
"He liked attention and his peers liked to give him attention. However not in a jerk way of getting attention. In a fun classy way," Mr. Gould (Health & Anatomy) said about Haynes.
Haynes' outgoing and uninhibited personality is reflected by the lasting impressions he made on his teachers.
"I had Mark during his senior year in my Geography class, after having his older brother Mike in a previous year. Both 'Haynes boys' were full of personality and very funny, with Mark being a little more reserved than Mike. They never backed down from a dare especially if it would get a laugh," Mr. (John) Myers said regarding the Dallastown alum.
Regardless of what he does next, Haynes has a collection of supporters at Dallastown waiting to see-or probably not see-what he does next.
Classroom Game Has Kids Talking
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Comments on Uncommon Classics: Key Largo
The Counseling Chronicles II: Workshops
Dyer Bids Farewell to Dallastown
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Showcase For The Specialist
GLI Lends a Helping Hand to Those in Need
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Mattress maybe safest option after all
The European Union's response to the banking crisis in Cyprus is politically feasible but misguided, argues Ross Buckley.
When you say nothing at all: NSW and the right to silence
The NSW Parliament's recent criminal justice reforms diminish human rights, add to the complexity of criminal justice and increase the risk of wrongful conviction, argue Gary Edmond and David Hamer.
Law professor named as Young Global Leader
UNSW Law professor Jane McAdam has been named among an elite international group of young leaders recognised for their potential to shape the world's future.
Tasmania leads way on voluntary euthanasia
Australia's politicians have long had a deaf ear when it comes to community support for voluntary euthanasia. This looks set to change in Tasmania, where its leaders have begun the process of translating that support into law, writes George Williams.
Support for fixed-term elections a catalyst for action
The Prime Minister's announcement of a poll date in September could herald a push for the introduction of a fixed term for federal elections, writes Scientia Professor George Williams.
Higher court fees erode the right to justice
Most Australians take for granted access to their day in court, should they need it, and a fair hearing when they get there. However, this basic human right is now beyond the means of many, writes Michael Legg.
Troubles brewing as violence resumes in Belfast
The peace process has failed to deliver for the Loyalists of Northern Ireland. A moment of supreme political leadership is needed to prevent a return to anarchy, writes Fergal Davis.
Can we ever define terrorism?
One man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter. Despite the ambiguity, finding a workable definition of "terrorism" might not be so hard, argues Fergal Davis.
Clock ticks on urgent reform
Labor should drop personality politics and honour the deal it made to enact laws securing integrity in public life, argues George Williams.
World takes centre stage in law revamp
An overhaul of UNSW's undergraduate law degree for 2013 will nurture a new type of global lawyer and set the standard for legal education in Australia.


text:
Help Us To Raise A Fund For The Needy People
Rupantaran
Food for Needy people
from New Delhi, Delhi
We are RUPTARAN FOUNDATION The Coronavirus pandemic has caused devastation across the globe. Besides the tragic toll on human life, with countries shutting their borders and quarantines, economies have taken a huge hit. The tragedy has just begun to unfold in India and the job losses are mounting, especially among the daily wage workers. Experts say the effect on this group will be catastrophic.
But now we don't have enough funds to serve food in the upcoming days. and also our food distributing van is also not there it is completely damaged So we have decided to do crowdfunding for all those people who are in needy of this serious situation in our country.
Now it has been more than a month they don't have proper food to eat. There was also no work for them to do due to lockdown. I and my friends have decided to help poor people by proving food to them and proper care for them. But the money raised by us was enough to feed them till now. We are running out of money.
We have said to them that we will help them. So with the help of you, we can feed them some food and make them happy. There are many small kids in them. So we have planned to help the food needy people. So now plz help us with this thing and make this work successful until the lockdown was removed from our country India...
Most of the victims of these riots were primary earning members and their families are from the low to middle-income classes. The loss to these families due to the loss of the primary family members can never be compensated.
Fund Utilization
Food Distribution :3,00,000
Food Distribution Vehicle:7,00,000
Please come forward and support us to raise the funds a small donation also can make big changes.
Only INR donations accepted towards this cause