Both are eminently familiar. They are Tismaneanu's own words, from publications in the 1990s, that are uncredited in the footnotes. When confronted by this in the past, Tismaneanu is typically defensive, claiming that the works are cited in the bibliography and since they are his own words, he can't be accused of plagiarism (it is in fact either plagiarism or auto-plagiarism by any academic definition). The question is why these two, among other citations, are uncredited in the text? The answer is pretty clear: this is a collective work (as Tismaneanu ceaselessly reminds us, assumed by all members who participated in its preparation), but because Tismaneanu was the head of the commission he was "more equal than others" and in the typical patron-client style of Romania he was given special deference as its guiding light.
As to the content of these two mentions, it is important to point out that Iulian Vlad's invocation in the first mention is mainly in the context of criticizing the Iliescu regime of having limited post-communist justice to a very small period of the communist era: Vlad is thus something of a prop for inveighing against the Iliescu regime, while his actual responsibility or guilt is secondary. The second mention has a rather incredible claim: that Vlad was a career member in the Ministry of Internal Affairs, apparently without ideological convictions. So, here, Tismaneanu is invoking the condemnation of communism, and yet his own words about Vlad suggest he wasn't a communist. In fact, Vlad was a member of the Interior Ministry (Securitate) from the Stalinist early 1950s onward. And from what has emerged since 1989, it is pretty clear was devoted to Nicolae Ceausescu's national communism (including efforts, it appears, to make sure those in key positions throughout the Securitate and communist administration were ethnic Romanian). Even from the mid-1990s, thus a decade before the Raport Final, Vlad was showing up with Ceausescu court poet Corneliu Vadim Tudor in public settings and defending the latter. Although the cause of the unchanged nature of Tismaneanu's characterization–" a career Ministry of Internal Affairs officer, apparently without ideological convictions"–probably owes more to his typical combination of arrogance and superficiality, it is still extraordinary that this could have made it into the Final Report unedited and unquestioned.
But aside from the two direct mentions of Iulian Vlad in the Report itself, why should Tismaneanu be so surprised about Vlad's current reception? After all, one can argue that Tismaneanu has himself indirectly contributed to revisionist views of Iulian Vlad and his role in December 1989 through his superficial reception, scrutiny, and promotion of the claims of others. Let's looks at 3 cases briefly.
Doru (Teodor) Maries cu Angela Bacescu, revista Europa (Est-Vest) nr. 31 , iunie 1991, p. 3.
3) Finally, the Tismaneanu Report presents the claims of Military Prosecutor General Dan Voinea according to which Television, rather than Iulian Vlad and the Securitate, were responsible for the bloodshed after 22 December 1989.
In episode three, we looked at video evidence from 24 December 1989 in the streets surrounding the Television building. In one of the videos, a revolutionary demonstrates for the camera the difference between the size of the bullets the enemy, the terrorists, were firing, and the standard ammunition the military and civilians were using. In the second, a draftee described the difference between the weapons they were using and those of the terrorists: https://romanianrevolutionofdecember1989.com/the-tismaneanu-commissions-final-report-television-and-the-terrorists-iii/.
In episode four, we looked at the comments of weapons' specialists who in early January 1990 recounted that the "terrorists" had most likely used among other weapons, 5,6 mm Heckler-Koch guns–thereby indirectly confirming the above observations regarding the use of unusual ammunition by the "terrorists," especially bullets under 6 mm caliber: https://romanianrevolutionofdecember1989.com/the-tismaneanu-commissions-final-report-television-and-the-terrorists-iv/ .
Soucoup outlines precisely the field of battle at the TV station, pointing out exactly from what buildings the terrorists fired, claims which corroborate many of the details outlined in military personnel in episode 5 (xeroxes reproduced below).
–Am putea realiza, pe scurt, o ,harta' a vilelor din care s-a tras in Televiziune?
–Avind in vedere ca am actionat atit afara, cit si in interior, in zona studiourilor, pot sa va spun ca asupra Televiziunii s-a tras din cele 5 vile din strada Pangratii, pe care le vedeam de la cabina poarta din aceasta parte. S-a tras din frontul doi de vile, cele de pe Calea Dorobanti. S-a tras din B-dul Aviatorilor, nr. 72–o casa inalta, care avea unghi de tragere asupra Televiziunii. S-a tras din Consulatul sovietic din Piata Aviatorilor, nr. 2-4. S-a tras din tot frontul de vile de aici, incepind de la nr. 246, pina la 212, cit si din frontul doi de cladiri din spatele lor. S-a tras de pe strada Teheran. S-a tras si din strada Arhitect Cerchez, nr. 16 (vila lui Valentin Ceausescu), precum si din strada Muzeul Zambaccian, aici mai ales din vilele de la numerele 12, 13, 14. S-a tras, de asemenea, din Institutul ,C.I. Parhon' si din resedinta ambasadorului Angliei (Pangratti, nr. 15)…Acesta a fost frontul general de atac asupra Televiziunii, care s-a conjugat cu accesul prin interior al unor forte bine intruite, care s-au amestecat printre revolutionari.
D.V. — UM 0596 — Fiind la Punctul de Control la Poarta Pangratti in ziua de 22.12 in jurul orei 24.00, a inceput sa se traga in zona. Observa trageri dinspre Ambasada Marii Britanii la intervale mari si cu armament usor, dar dupa zgomot nu stie ce fel e si nici ce calibru. Oberserva ca in cladirea de pe colt la poarta Pangratti se auzeau focuri de arma cu un asemenea armament usor.
S.C. — Garda TV — Remarca ca se trage dinspre cladirile ambasadorului britanic cu arme de calibru mic si foc cu foc. De asemenea, spre Televiziune se mai tragea din vila lui Valentin Ceausescu si dn vilele de pe Calea Dorobantilor. In dimineata zilei de 23.12 se tragea din vilele pictorilor cu arme de calbru mic deoarece zgomotol era diferit de cel obisnuit.


Ramsey recently released his 80th collection of songs entitled "Ramsey, Taking Another Look".
Ramsey has been an iconic leader in the contemporary jazz movement for over 50 years, with an unforgettable sound and outgoing personality that has allowed him to cross over to the pop and R&B charts. The Ramsey Lewis Trio, with bassist Eldee Young and percussionist Redd Holt, became a fixture on the Chicago jazz scene, releasing their debut album, Ramsey Lewis & His Gentlemen of Jazz, back in 1956. Lewis earned his first gold record, as well as a Grammy award for Best Jazz Performance, for their swinging version of Dobie Gray's hit "The In Crowd." He returned to the pop charts in 1966 with versions of "Hang On Sloopy" and "Wade In The Water." Throughout the years, Lewis' trio has undergone membership changes, all the while staying true to Lewis' high musical standards.
After Young and Holt left Lewis' trio to form their own group, the pianist hired a new rhythm section with Cleveland Eaton on bass and Maurice White on drums. When White left the band to form Earth, Wind & Fire, Morris Jennings signed on as the trio's new percussionist. White returned to produce Lewis' 1974 smash album entitled Sun Goddess, in which Lewis first experimented with electronic keyboards and featured Earth, Wind & Fire on the album. In 1983, Lewis returned to the studio with Young and Holt for the album Reunion.
Throughout his illustrious career, Lewis has also joined forces with countless other artists to create new and innovative music. In 1984, he collaborated with Nancy Wilson on The Two of Us; in 1988, he recorded with London's Philharmonia Orchestra for the album A Classic Encounter; and in 1989, Lewis and Dr. Billy Taylor cut a set of piano duets in We Meet Again. In 1995, Lewis launched the side project Urban Knights, in which he collaborated with a handful of successful crossover jazz stars, including Grover Washington, Jr., Earl Klugh, and Dave Koz. In 1997, Lewis added disc jockey to his resume, hosting a popular show on Chicago's WNUA-FM that ran until 2009. A new show was syndicated in 2006 under the name Legends of Jazz with Ramsey Lewis and was broadcast on jazz radio stations across the country. In 2006, a well-received 13-episode Legends of Jazz television series hosted by Lewis was broadcast by PBS on public TV nationwide and featured live performances by a variety of jazz artists including Larry Gray, Lonnie Smith, Joey Defrancesco, Dave Brubeck, Chick Corea, Kurt Elling, Benny Golson, Pat Metheny and Tony Bennett.
After having played mostly in an acoustic trio for the last fifteen years, Lewis' latest endeavor has him returning to his electric roots. The three time Grammy® winner released Ramsey, Taking Another Look on September 20, 2011, featuring a new electric quintet with Henry Johnson on guitar, Michael Logan on keys, Joshua Ramos on bass and Charles Heath on drums. On the ten song CD, Lewis rekindles his 1974 career-defining album "Sun Goddess" through a collection of re-recorded tracks from the original disc perfectly balanced with five new tunes. "Jungle Strut" has all the attitude of its 1974 original and Lewis makes magic on the Fender Rhodes in "Tambura." And rather than re-recording the title track "Sun Goddess", Lewis has beautifully re-edited the original studio recording featuring Earth, Wind and Fire. Lewis and his Electric Band breathe new life into classic covers, such as the new high-octane rendition of Stevie Wonder's "Living For The City" and a tender interpretation of the timeless "Betcha By Golly Wow."
Recently, Lewis and students from Chicago's Tribeca Flashpoint Media Arts Academy celebrated the success of his recording of the Stevie Wonder hit, "Living for the City," from the new CD by filming a Music Video for the track. So far, nearly 32,000 people have watched this Video on YouTube, which was entirely shot and edited by Film & Broadcast and Recording Arts students. He is a long-time resident of Chicago, and believed in the importance of giving the Tribeca Flashpoint Media students this valuable experience and unforgettable opportunity.
Famous for his passion for Steinway pianos, this is the first time Lewis has played the Fender Rhodes electric piano in over a decade. Lewis observed, "I was pleasantly brought back to what I loved about the instrument. Unlike an acoustic piano, you get that groove-oriented electric sound. And, you can add vibrato, enhance bass and treble. As a musician, it allows me to take on different and exciting roles. I feel almost like a horn player or even a singer because of the Fender Rhodes' unique qualities and capabilities."
John Paul Pizzarelli, Jr. (born April 6, 1960) is an American jazz guitarist, vocalist, songwriter and bandleader. He has had a lengthy career as a recording artist, performing for a variety of labels that include Telarc Records, RCA Records and Chesky Records, among others. He has recorded twenty-three albums of his own, as well as other joint recordings with his father, Bucky Pizzarelli. Additionally, he has appeared on more than 40 albums of other recording artists, including those of Paul McCartney, James Taylor, Rosemary Clooney and his wife, Jessica Molaskey.
Pizzarelli has recorded nearly 40 albums of music, either as the leader or in tandem with other performers. Among others, Pizzarelli has recorded with such luminaries as George Shearing, Rosemary Clooney, Johnny Frigo and Buddy DeFranco, as well as the Boston Pops Orchestra and Cincinnati Pops Orchestra. Many if not most of his albums have received good to excellent reviews and are very popular sellers. Additionally, he has been a guest performer on numerous records throughout his career, for a total of over 140 albums.
Pizzarelli often performs with his own jazz quartet, composed of his brother Martin Pizzarelli on double-bass, drummer Tony Tedesco and Larry Fuller on piano. He is also sometimes compared to another jazz singer, Harry Connick, Jr., for his performances of jazz standards and overall popularity.
Although lauded for his swinging interpretations of jazz standards, Pizzarelli also composes his own songs. He is also a fan of bossa nova and released an album entirely composed of that type of music.
Perhaps his most famous and highly regarded album, though, is Dear Mr. Cole, an album featuring Pizzarelli's versions of some of Nat "King" Cole's best known songs. The John Pizzarelli Trio only appears together on track one of the album, "Style is Back in Style". The rest features Pizzarelli performing with Christian McBride on bass and Benny Green on piano.
Pizzarelli and his wife, singer Jessica Molaskey co-host the nationally syndicated weekly radio program Radio Deluxe with John Pizzarelli.
He appeared on the March 31, 2007 episode of the NPR weekly radio news quiz, Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me, on the "Not My Job" segment. Pizzarelli sings "Birthday Emotions" on the children's television show Sesame Street.
On October 30, 2012, World on a String: A Musical Memoir, an autobiography of Pizzarelli (co-written with Joseph Cosgriff) was published.
A homage to Billie Holiday was the album To Lady With love (Red Anchor, 2014) of jazz singer Annie Ross which John and his father supported as sidemen.
Pizzarelli, an Italian American, was born in Paterson, New Jersey, the son of legendary jazz guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli. During childhood, Pizzarelli was a counselor at the now defunct Knights Day Camp. He grew up in Bergen County, New Jersey and attended Don Bosco Preparatory High School in Ramsey, New Jersey, an all-boys Roman Catholic High School. He frequently expresses pride about being from New Jersey; a fan favorite at his live shows is the Cosgriff-Bernardi number I Like Jersey Best, a largely humorous tribute to the Garden State.
Pizzarelli is a huge Boston Red Sox fan, and has played baseball (in one capacity or another) all his life. In high school he split his time between studying music and playing sports. As he once said in an interview: "I wasn't making any of the sports teams and I was a big sports fanatic. That's when I realized there was a reason why I was going to band practice." In April 2007 he performed at the BLOHARDS luncheon at The Yale Club of New York City, the BLOHARDS being Red Sox Nation chapter in New York.
He married the actress and singer Jessica Molaskey in 1998, and the couple have a daughter, Madeleine. Pizzarelli also has a son, John Paul Pizzarelli, who is now attending college. They now live in New York City.
Ann Hampton Callaway (born May 30, 1958) is a multiplatinum-selling singer, composer, lyricist, pianist, and actress. She is best known for writing and singing the theme to the TV series The Nanny, writing songs for Barbra Streisand and starring in the Broadway musical Swing!.
Callaway was described by the New York Times in 2011 as a jazz-cabaret singer who "smolders more than she sizzles." She performed for Bill Clinton in Washington, D.C. and was the invited guest performer for Mikhail Gorbachev's Youth Peace Summit in Moscow. She has recorded and performed the award winning show "Sibling Revelry" with her sister Broadway star Liz Callaway. Callaway is associated with her tireless devotion to The Great American Songbook and has produced two critically acclaimed public television specials called "Singer's Spotlight With Ann Hampton Callaway" featuring guests Liza Minnelli and Christine Ebersole, towards her dream of an ongoing PBS series.
Callaway signed with the Grammy-winning label Telarc International recently and the result was the CD Blues In The Night, a tribute to her growing up in the Chicago area. Her new CD, At Last was released in February 2009 to unanimous rave reviews. Her 2004 CD, Slow from Shanachie Entertainment is her most pop-inspired album to date. Ann has recorded two holiday CDs: Holiday Pops! with Peter Nero and the Philly Pops and her solo CD, This Christmas (Angel/After 9). Her recording "Signature" features the signature songs of the great jazz legends of the 20th century, performed with pianist Kenny Barron and guest artist Wynton Marsalis. Other CD recordings include Easy Living (After 9), To Ella With Love (After 9), After Ours (Denon), Bring Back Romance (DRG), Ann Hampton Callaway (DRG) and the award winning live recording, Sibling Revelry (DRG). She has also been a guest artist on over forty CDs.
Callaway composed over 250 songs for television, Broadway, off-Broadway and several of today's leading interpreters of songs. Her music and lyrics have been performed and recorded by Barbra Streisand, Liza Minnelli, Patti LuPone, Michael Feinstein, Blossom Dearie, Peter Nero, Karrin Allyson, Donna McKechnie, Harvey Fierstein, Lillias White, Barbara Carrol, Amanda McBroom, Liz Callaway and Carole King. She composed "At the Same Time" for Barbra Streisand and that recording, Higher Ground, debuted nationally at #1, giving Ann her first of three platinum records. Ms. Streisand asked Ann to write lyrics to a Rolf Lovland melody which she entitled "I've Dreamed of You" which Ms. Streisand sang to James Brolin at their wedding. The song was later recorded on her CD, "A Love Like Ours", released as a single and selected for the album, The Essential Barbra Streisand. Ms. Streisand performed both of these songs on her live double CD, Timeless. Ms. Streisand later chose Ann's song "A Christmas Lullaby" for her holiday CD, Christmas Memories.
The Cole Porter Estate officially recognizes Ann Hampton Callaway as the only composer to have collaborated with Cole Porter, having set her music to his posthumously discovered lyric, "I Gaze in Your Eyes". It was first recorded by Ann for Ben Bagley's Cole Porter Revisited series. Later, the song was recorded by Elaine Paige and was featured in the West End hit musical revue A Swell Party. Ann was one of the creators of the Broadway musical Swing!, writing "Two and Four" as well as several additional lyrics to the standards in the Tony- and Grammy-nominated score.
In addition to the theme for The Nanny, she has written the TV themes for Day's End, Cabaret Beat, and The Jim J and Tammy Fay Show. Ann composed incidental music for the David Weiner play, Baltimore Star and her song "Manhattan In December" was included in the 2005 off-Broadway musical revue A Broadway Diva Christmas. Her songwriting is administered by Williamson Music.
Callaway has performed on numerous TV shows including The Today Show, Larry King Live, The Charlie Rose Show, The Oprah Winfrey Show, The Rosie O'Donnell Show, and ABC News. She starred in Midnight Swing for the PBS television special Live from Lincoln Center and was featured in another PBS special with Keith Lockhart and Boston Pops. She has also performed for the Macy's Fourth of July Fireworks Spectacular and has made two appearances on NBC's Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. She appeared at the Vail Jazz Festival in 2010.
Her voice has been heard in numerous TV jingles and voice-overs including spots for Coca Cola, Ethan Allen and State Farm. Ann has also done extensive broadcasting for Sirius Satellite Radio as a performer, DJ and interviewer. Ann recently appeared in Robert DeNiro's movie The Good Shepherd, was heard on the soundtrack of Queen Latifah's Last Holiday and was featured in the role of Mrs. White in the award winning film Volare for Jim Henson Productions, directed by Temela D'Amico.
Callaway's honors include receiving a Tony Award nomination for "Best Featured Actress in a Musical" for her work in Swing! and winning the Theatre World Award for "Outstanding Broadway Debut". She has garnered fifteen MAC Awards from the Manhattan Association of Cabarets & Clubs, two Backstage Bistro Awards, The 2005 Nightlife Award, the Johnny Mercer Songwriter Award and the Norman Vincent Peale Award for Positive Thinking. Most recently in 2015, Ann was nominated along with her Sister, Liz Callaway, for a BroadwayWorld.com Award for their show Sibling Revelry. This was produced by Black Sapphire Productions at the Hippodrome Casino Leicester Square London.
In September 2005, Ann performed her original composition "Let the Saints Come Marching", written to honor Hurricane Katrina victims, on a national TV broadcast on the Fox News Channel. Her song "Who can see the Blue the Same Again?" was released earlier in 2005 as a single paying tribute to the tsunami survivors and raising much needed money for The Tsunami Fund of the PRASAD Project. In the aftermath of September 11th, Ann composed "I Believe in America", which she performed on Larry King Live and released as a CD single. Just days after the tragedy, Ann heard an 8,000-year-old prayer from the Rigveda and composed "Let Us Be United". Ann recorded the song with Kenny Werner, the Siddha Yoga International Choir and five-year-old Sonali Beaven, who sang in honor of her father who lost his life on Flight 93. It was released on CD and DVD and its proceeds continue to benefit Save the Children and the PRASAD Project. Ann's father was the late John Callaway, Chicago's TV and radio journalist, and an author, moderator and speaker. Her mother, Shirley Callaway, a singer, pianist and coach, was featured at New York's Town Hall, singing with Ann and her sister, Liz. Ann resides in New York with her partner, Kari Strand.


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Lehigh Valley theater, classical and arts highlights for the week
Sunday Arts Go Picks: '1776,' National Theatre Live, Lenape Chamber Summer Series
Call Board: Celtic Cultural Alliance poetry contest
Celtic Cultural Alliance has announced a poetry contest for all ages.
Theater: Munopco presents musical 'Hairspray' in Allentown
We're decades from the 1960s, but as is often said about plays with staying power, the issues in "Hairspray" aren't unfamiliar today. "Hairspray," which Munopco brings back to the stage in Allentown this weekend, is a fast-paced, lively musical rooted in the subject of race relations.
By Jodi Duckett
Classical: Kutztown Summer Chamber Music Festival tunes up
55 students will be participating in the 8th Kutztown Summer Chamber Music Festival, starting June 30.
By Steve Siegel
Theater review: 'Twelfth Night' at Pa. Shakespeare Festival is playful, smart and satisfying
As "Twelfth Night" at Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival opens, an old fool stumbles to a piano and begins to play. It's a fitting start to one of Shakespeare's most musical plays, which also happens to be about foolishness in love. The production is playful, smart and wonderfully satisfying.
By Kathy Lauer-Williams
Two Lehigh Valley-connected theater designers lose at tonight's Tony Awards
Two veterans of Broadway with ties to the Lehigh Valley, nominated for a total of four Tony Awards, lost in their categories tonight. Ann Roth of Lower Mount Bethel Township was nominated three times for costume design. Santo Loquasto, formerly of Easton, lost for scenic design.
More summer theater in the Lehigh Valley
In addition to the productions presented by the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival, Muhlenberg Summer Music Theatre and Northampton Community College Summer
Lehigh Valley arts, classical and theater highlights for the week
Sunday Arts Go Picks: 'Who Shot Sports' panel discussion, Valley Vivaldi, Stahl's Pottery Festival
Summer Theatre preview: NCC Summer Theatre: Tony-winning musicals and a dark comedy
NCC Summer Theatre's second season has six shows, including three musicals, a dark comedy and a children's show.
Summer Theater Preview: Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival: Sweeping musical, a hot period dramedy and a triple helping of the Bard
The Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival 27th season has three Shakespeare works, the hot property 'Shakespeare in Love' and the musical 'Ragtime.'
Theater: NCC kicks off summer season with rousing musical 'Newsies'
Northampton Community College Summer Theatre has kicked off its season with a rousing musical you haven't been able to see before in the Lehigh Valley. It's the Tony Award winning "Newsies," which tells the story of the real-life newsboy strike of 189N
Lehigh Valley theater, art and classical highlights for the week
Sunday Arts Go Picks include "Newsies" at NCC, Step Outdoors artisans, Techne Music Festival.
Theater: Pennsylvania Playhouse presents comedy romp 'Fox on the Fairway'
For fans of theatrical door slamming, comedic horseplay and improbable — and sometimes romantic — couplings, the Pennsylvania Playhouse in Bethlehem has a show for you. Opening Friday is "The Fox on the Fairway," a 2010 farce by Tony Award-winner Ken Ludwig.
Family: Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival opens 'Alice in Wonderland'
Alice, a curious little girl, chases the always late White Rabbit to a world of enchantment in the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival production of "Alice in Wonderland." It opens Friday and runs through Aug. 4 at DeSales University in Center Valley.
Freddy Awards 2018: 10 great quotes
The Freddy Awards were presented Thursday night. Here were some of the most memorable quotes.
By Mike Hirsch
Great Pennsylvania Music & Arts Celebration and Mayfair: 10 best things at Memorial Day festivals
Here are the Top 10 things you find at Allentown's Mayfair and The Great Pennsylvania Music & Arts Celebration on Memorial Day weekend
Freddy Awards 2018: Parkland dominates with 'The Hunchback of Notre Dame'
Parkland High School dominated the 16th annual Freddy Awards ceremony at the State Theatre in Easton, winning the top award for Outstanding Overall Production of a Musical for its production of "The Hunchback of Notre Dame."
Top 5 Concerts of the Coming Week
Top 4 Concerts of the Coming Week for Allentown and Philadelphia
Pines salutes George Cohan with 'Yankee Doodle Dandy'
Pines Dinner Theatre of Allentown presents an original musical, "Yankee Doodle Dandy," celebrating the life and music of George M. Cohan.
Broadway performer Frankie Grande returns to Muhlenberg to star in 'How to Succeed in Business'
Frankie Grande, Broadway performer, TV and web personality and the brother of singer singer Ariana Grande, returns to Muhlenberg College in Allentown in July for its Summer Music Theatre series. He'll play J. Pierrepont Finch in "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying."
Allentown's Mayfair: What to expect with festival moving to Cedar Crest College
Mayfair, Allentown's Memorial Day weekend festival, to bloom again as Cedar Crest College
Emmaus senior makes Freddy dance magic as lead choreographer in 'West Side Story'
Emmaus senior Luke Csordas was lead choreographer for the school's 14-time Freddy nominated production of "West Side Story." This year is the first time in theater director Jill Kuebler's 13 years at the helm that a student has held the position of lead choreographer.
By Margie Peterson
Theater: Bucks County Playhouse kicks off season with 'An Act of God'
God has decided to take a fresh look at one of his greatest cultural achievements, The Ten Commandments, in "An Act of God," a Broadway comedy by David Javerbaum opening May 18 at the Bucks County Playhouse.
Opera star Deborah Voigt, Allentown jazz saxophonist Steve Coleman highlight season at Easton's Williams Center
The 36th season of the Williams Center for the Arts in Easton features 29 events and exhibitions, including a matinee recital by international opera star Deborah Voigt and Allentown-based jazz saxophonist Steve Coleman, a recent MacArthur Foundation Genius Grant winner.
Q&A INTERVIEW: Lisa Simone says playing Mother's Day tribute to Nina Simone at Musikfest Cafe is promise fulfilled
Lisa Simone will carry that sentiment with her to the stage SundayMay 13 when she performs a Mother's Day tribute to her mother Nina Simone. She performs with the Rob Stoneback Big Band at Musikfest Cafe at ArtsQuest Center in Bethlehem.
Her mother's keeper: Lisa Simone hopes show of Nina Simone's jazzy songs helps her memory stay alive
Lisa Simone on Sunday performs a Mother's Day tribute to Nina Simone with the Rob Stoneback Big Band at Musikfest Cafe at ArtsQuest Center in Bethlehem.The concert also will serve as a 10th anniversary of Lisa Simone's solo debut album, "Simone on Simone," on which she sang her mother's songs.
Civic's 19th Street Theatre in Allentown: Restoration project is well underway, with artists focusing on its art deco glory
We take a look at progress in the $5.5 million renovation of Civic's 19th Street Theatre in Allentown
Parkland tops Freddy Awards nominations; Emmaus second
Parkland High School's "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" dominated the 2018 Freddy Awards nominations, which were announced Thursday. Here is the complete list.
By Jennifer Sheehan
Theater: Young Playwrights Festival in Bethlehem stages five works
Touchstone Theatre's one-act play festival on Saturday features a humorous Chicago gangster story, a fairy tale with strong snappy and sassy females, and a tale of a boy and his comic book heroes.
Lehigh Valley art, theater and classical highlights: 5-by-5 art show, 'Tuesdays with Morrie'
Here are four Lehigh Valley art, theater and classical highlights for the weekj.
Theater: Why Civic thinks this 'Tuesdays with Morrie' will be better than its production 10 years ago
Twenty years ago, a sportswriter named Mitch Albom wrote a memoir, "Tuesdays With Morrie," recounting the 14 Tuesdays he spent talking about life with his former college sociology professor Morrie Schwartz, who was dying from Lou Gehrig's disease. Civic Theatre revisits the state production.
Q&A INTERVIEW: Brett Eldredge talks about career, music and first headline tour, coming to Sands Bethlehem Event Center
In a recent call from a tour stop in Indianapolis, Ind., before coming to a sold-out show at 7:30 p.m. May 4 at Sands Bethlehem Event Center, Brett Eldredge spoke about his career, his place and his future.
Theater review: Sondheim's 'Into the Woods' magical, flawless at DeSales
When "Into the Woods," which explores the lessons of Grimm's fairy tales, first opened on Broadway in 1987, it was another Stephen Sondheim musical that surprised with an unusual theme but became a classic. The current production by DeSales University gives it the elaborate treatment it deserves.
By Dave Howell
Classical: Borromeo String Quartet, quartet-in-residence at New England Conservatory of Music, returns to Bethlehem
The Borromeo String Quartet, quartet-in-residence at the New England Conservatory of Music, returns to Bethlehem as part of the Chamber Music Society series for a concert featuring two world premieres.
Theater: Pocono Mountains Theater Company bringing works to Valley
The Pocono Mountains Theater Company is headed to the Lehigh Valley. The company is bringing a staged reading of a new drama called "Perp" to Moravian College April 21 and a one-woman drama about the Nickel Mine Amish schoolhouse shooting here in May.
'Ragtime' cast announced for Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival
Veteran artists from Broadway, film and television will star in the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival production of the musical "Ragtime," which opens its season June 13-July 1 at DeSales University.
Classical: Allentown Symphony oboist to perform free concert at St. John's
In the second in this month's series of free concerts by Allentown Symphony Orchestra musicians at St. John's Lutheran Church in Allentown, Rick Basehore, principal oboist, will perform a recital Tuesday of music by Poulenc, Telemann and Goossens.
Review: 'Brighton Beach Memoirs' at Pa. Playhouse full of emotion
"Brighton Beach Memoirs," and Neil Simon himself, are so iconic in modern theater you might not remember that this play is not a light comedy. The Pennsylvania Playhouse production, directed by Rody Gilkeson, is nearly three hours long, so, fortunately, both the drama and the humor come off well.
'Glee' stars Lea Michele, Darren Criss to bring duo tour to Easton's State Theatre
Lehigh Valley art, theater highlights for week: Allentown Art Museum exhibits, 'Rent' at State, installations at Zoellner
Sunday Arts Go Picks: Allentown Art Museum exhibits, On Your Feet in Philly, Rent at the State
The inspiration behind NBC's 'Rise': Bucks drama teacher who turned program at struggling school into a powerhouse
Lou Volpe, retired drama teacher for Harry S. Truman High School in Levittown, Bucks County, is the inspiration for the new NBC drama "Rise," created by the producer of the hit musical "Hamilton." Volpe will be inducted into the Bucks County Playhouse Hall of Fame April 14.
Theater: Neil Simon's 'Brighton Beach Memoirs' opens at Pennsylvania Playhouse
"Brighton Beach Memoirs" at Bethlehem's Pennsylvania Playhouse is the first part of a semi-autobiographical trilogy by Neil Simon.
Tap dancing tyrants to rule in 'Dictators 4 Dummies' at Touchstone Theatre in Bethlehem
Mussolini, Hitler and more appear in Touchstone Theatre's satirical musical 'Dictators 4 Dummies,' which warns of the dangers of complacency.
How to see 'Hamilton' in Philadelphia: Season tickets now on sale for Kimmel Center's Broadway Series
Kimmel Center Broadway Series, with 'Hamilton', announced
Theater: Bedlam company presents stripped-down versions of 'Saint Joan' and 'Hamlet' at Lafayette College
Staging big works like Shaw's "Saint Joan" and Shakespeare's "Hamlet" with a cast of four playing more than 20 parts in each and basically no set, might seem difficult and even inadequate to convey the depth of those works. It is difficult, but quite compelling in the hands of Bedlam theater.
Classical: Moravian College's early music ensembles join for 'City, Chapel, Court and Country' concert
Those who enjoy a bit of theater with their music will appreciate the Moravian College Early Music Ensemble's concert Sunday at Peter Hall on the Moravian campus in Bethlehem.
Theater: Cedar Crest's 'A Voice of My Own' puts spotlight on female authors
"A Voice of My Own' seems like the perfect theatrical vehicle for the all-female Crest College College, and also a great way to learn about and be inspired by female authors.
Family: Production of 'Oliver' in Quakertown will mark a number of firsts
When Star of the Day productions presents the musical "Oliver" this weekend, it will mark a number of firsts for the theater company.
Christian Coulson of 'Harry Potter' to play King Richard at Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival
A 'Harry Potter' actor has been tapped to play King Richard II at the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival. Christian Coulson, who played Tom Marvolo Riddle in 'Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets,' will star in the Shakespeare tragedy July 19-Aug. 5 at DeSales University.
Review: Bach Choir truly regal and joyous in first performance at State Theatre
Acoustics at the State Theatre in Easton result in momentous and deeply satisfying first performance by the Bach Choir.
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text:
Arrest made in alleged City Beach beating
UPDATE 2:58 p.m. Thursday: Bonner County Courthouse officials confirm that Haskins posted bail Thursday and is no longer at the Bonner County Jail.
An 18-year-old Bonner County woman is in jail facing felony battery charges following an alleged attack at City Beach July 2 that left a female juvenile with serious injuries.
Caitlyn Haskins' booking photo at Bonner County Jail. Photo courtesy BCSO.
The victim reported that what started as a verbal altercation with two females turned physical. Caitlyn Grace Haskins allegedly hit the victim over the head with what appeared to be a bat. Another 17-year-old female also allegedly took part in the attack. Charged with battery, the alleged juvenile perpetrator has been released to a responsible party, according to a statement from the city of Sandpoint. Both suspects are from the Sandpoint area.
The city reported that police concluded the investigation July 7 and forwarded their findings to the Bonner County Prosecutor's Office for charges July 8. Police arrested Haskins on a warrant for aggravated battery July 9.
"We appreciate the public's patience and support as the investigation into this matter was being completed," said Sandpoint Police Chief Corey Coon in a July 9 statement. "This type of crime is not common in our community and certainly doesn't define who we are."
Social media became a major platform for discussing the case for days following the alleged assault. Between several posts on a number of pages — including Sandpoint Local Forum and the City of Sandpoint Facebook pages — more than 1,000 comments and hundreds of shares accumulated. While a great number of the comments expressed support for the victim and her family, many others criticized the police department for what they perceived as a slow response to the incident, while still others disparaged and decried the alleged perpetrators.
Despite the robust online discussion, Chief Coon told the Reader that social media "did not affect how the officers conducted the investigation."
A social media post by Caitlyn Haskins before her July 9 arrest.
One post, made by Haskins on her private Facebook page prior to her arrest, made the rounds on the day police put her in custody. It consists of a selfie above a caption reading: "Still not in jail. Still haven't gotten a call from cops. JUST CHILLIN." She goes on to add: "yes I'm going on with life like nothing happened cause NOTHING HAPPENED. Just another day. Making another dollar, living my life." The post also included laughing and shrugging emojis.
The victim's mother wrote on her Facebook page July 8 that her daughter received facial reconstruction surgery to treat a broken eye socket, shattered cheekbone and caved-in sinuses. The mother also made a call to action in the same post, encouraging parents to check their children's phones and talk to them about their lives to learn if they're being bullied.
"I still can't wrap my brain around everything but this is the extent of where bullying has gone," she wrote.
Haskins appeared July 10 in Bonner County Magistrate Court, where bond was set at $50,000.
Tags: arrestbat beatingbcsoBonner County beatingCaitlyn Haskinscity beach beatingLyndsie Kiebertnewssandpoint news
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text:
Is public perception improving?
ByAndy Bateman
By Andy Bateman
July 6, 2009 – A letter submitted
to the Orangeville Citizen last week illustrates, again, the views of some
members of the public towards the aggregate industry.
"The area will be permanently damaged by a large mining
"There will be "irreversible damage to our
unique and irreplaceable resources."
(Our emphasis in
both cases)
Clearly, there is still plenty of opportunity to improve
some public perception, but the question is how best to go about doing just
that. Some ideas are included in our current poll for your consideration.
The full text of the published letter was as follows:
"'Dismayed' at comments
We read with dismay recent comments attributed to Melancthon Mayor Debbie
Fawcett. In response to a question regarding the role of the Municipality in
preventing the Highland Companies from establishing quarry operations in
Melancthon, Ms. Fawcett was quoted as follows:
"It's been rumoured for years, so it's not that much
of a surprise to us. Can we stop it? I don't think we can stop it. Can we get
the best deal for the community? We'll try as best we can…to make it as safe
as possible".
We are appalled that Ms. Fawcett, as the leader of local
Council, is abdicating the responsibility entrusted to her by the citizens she
represents. Even if Ms. Fawcett were to favour a quarry proposal (something not
explicit in her public comments) she has a duty, and an obligation, to
aggressively negotiate on behalf of the Municipality. To publicly admit a lack
of confidence in her ability to oppose the anticipated quarry application is,
at best, a poor negotiating tactic.
NDACT has been vigorously advocating a course of action
which would enable municipal governments in Dufferin County
to afford additional protections and safeguards to this unique area of
agricultural land. That course of action is to designate the potato growing
areas of Melancthon and Mulmur as a "specialty crop area", in the
same fashion as such designations and protections have been extended to the
Holland Marsh and the fruit growing regions of the Niagara Peninsula.
It IS possible for the Municipality to take positive
action to prevent Melancthon from being permanently damaged by a large mining
operation. Before coming to the conclusion that she, as leader of the
Municipality, is powerless to affect the outcome of a quarry application, Ms.
Fawcett has a duty, and an obligation, to explore all options available to her
government, and then to pursue a course of action which is in the best
interests of all her constituents.
Two well attended community meetings organized by NDACT,
coupled with the obvious concerns expressed in the media and in Council
meetings by Melancthon residents, lead to the inevitable conclusion that a
growing percentage of the population does not support the approval of mining
operations as contemplated by the Highland Companies. The interests of a large,
Boston based
Hedge Fund should not be placed above the concerns and views of Ms. Fawcett's
constituents.
Melancthon electors may wish to reflect on the comments
made by Ms. Fawcett, and on the quality of leadership she has provided on the
quarry issue since the last municipal election. The next municipal elections
will be held in 2010. Melancthon ratepayers may not wish to delay expressing
their views on Ms. Fawcett's performance on the quarry issue until that time-
by then it may be too late to prevent irreversible damage to our unique and
irreplaceable resources.
Respectfully submitted, North Dufferin Agricultural and
Community Taskforce"
Commentary: Perception is reality
Anatomy of a quarry fight
Ontario to consult public on infrastructure
Gencor Industries
Manitoba's Construction Sector Remains Strong
Construction employment decline slows


text:
Empowerment through VOICE
The Ambassador of JOY, Barry Shore, brings You the man that has enabled Angelina Jolie, Sylvester Stallone, Pierce Brosnan, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Tony Robbins amongst other major personalities to excel in their craft through the Work of Vocal Leadership. Arthur S Joseph is internationally acclaimed as THE person changing the World through Voice. In this Must Listen and Share Episode You will hear directly from the Master about Stature, Conscious Loving Breathing, and effective Communication. By "Finding Your Voice" YOU will maximize Your power, purpose and pleasantness to persuade. ASJ, as he is affectionally known, relates that MASTERY is the KEY to YOUR Success and long term fulfillment. His famous and oft quoted insight is: Structure does not impinge, it liberates. And then freedom without direction is Chaos. Your Brand is the essence of YOU. When YOU are able to be Yourself in full conscious awareness You WILL inevitably Succeed. Tune in. Be Enlivened. Listen Repeatedly. Share.
Arthur Samuel Joseph
Arthur Samuel Joseph M.A., is the founder and chairman of the Vocal Awareness Institute. He is widely acknowledged as one of the world's leading communication strategists and authorities on the power of the human voice, and has made it his life goal to Change the World through Voice. As a former faculty member at the University of Southern California, Mr. Joseph has made appearances at Yale, George Washington, NYU, and many other highly recognized institutions to speak about his life's work. With over 5 decades of teaching experience worldwide, Mr. Joseph is recognized for training world famous actors like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Angelina Jolie, singers, political leaders, broadcasters, fortune 500 CEO's, hall of fame athletes and thought leaders including Tony Robbins and Steven Covey. His lifelong dedication to his mission, "To change the world through Voice" imbues his work with a vital sense of urgency in a global community increasingly dependent upon loving communication.
By Barry Shore|2019-11-04T20:27:13-08:00November 4th, 2019|Podcast|
WHAT'S TRIGGERING STRESS IN YOUR LIFE?
TAKE THIS FREE 60 SECOND QUIZ TO FIND OUT THE COLOR OF YOUR STRESS.
TAKE THE FREE QUIZ NOW
Listen on your favorite streaming platform.
barry@barryshore.com


text:
Sprinklr Family Unites to Celebrate PRIDE Month
Wednesday, June 26th, 2019 | 4 min read
We all need a sense of purpose and to belong. Having had the good fortune to work globally, I've learned that no matter where I am in the world, these are the universal threads that connect us.
As we at Sprinklr come together to honor Pride Month, we've chosen to give back and make a difference beyond ourselves. Worldwide, we're joining forces for the good of others with all proceeds raised from various events donated to OutRight Action International, a LGBTIQ rights advocacy group.
I'm excited that each Sprinklr location also is celebrating Pride Month in its own local and meaningful way. (Check out the Pride 2019 blog.) Pride Month, held annually in June, commemorates the 1969 Stonewall riots in which LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer) trailblazers stood up against exploitation at the Stonewall Inn in New York's Greenwich Village.
We Strive to Create a "No-Judgment Zone Culture"
These strong words from our founder and CEO Ragy Thomas truly reflect Sprinklr's culture of belonging. All-inclusiveness is simply part of who we are — The Sprinklr Way, our way of working, living, and being. We treat everyone like family with the utmost respect and care, and it's crucial to our company's mission and to the legacy we continually strive to achieve–to enable everyone to be happier.
Pride is Love and Joy Among All of Us
The Sprinklr culture of caring was front and center as year-round Spirit Champion Tony Vargas, Sprinklr's North American Facilities Manager, introduced our Pride Month initiatives at the recent company-wide Town Hall meeting:
"Because of cultural, geographic, religious, and personal differences, challenges and ways of expressing pride, love and acceptance, we invite you to celebrate in a way that makes the most sense to you, whether out loud with shirts and badges or quietly in your heart."
What a powerful way to truly embrace everyone in the Sprinklr family — employees, customers, friends, strangers — and beyond.
To Make Our Employees and Customers Happier, We're Making the World Happier
Sprinklr's Pride Month celebrations range from #SprinklrPride-themed meals and happy hours with rainbow cocktails and goodies at locations worldwide to a speaker on unconscious bias from Stonewall London in the United Kingdom, sporting Pride pins and tank tops around the globe, #SprinklrPride-themed bake sales, and more.
Also, for every photo posted with #SprinklrPride, Sprinklr will donate $1 (USD) to OutRight. Our target is for every Sprinklr location to participate.
Making a Difference Matters to Everyone
Beyond Sprinklr, social responsibility and caring is essential in today's workplace. More than 6 out of 10 younger workers won't even consider taking a job if a company doesn't have strong corporate social responsibility. Nearly 9 out of 10 say their job is more fulfilling if given the opportunity to make a positive difference on social and environmental issues, according to a Cone Communications survey.
I'd like to share more words from Tony: "We want everyone at Sprinklr to have the opportunity to celebrate the culture of belonging that we are committed to amplifying. No matter where you are from, what you believe, who you love, and who you are, you belong at Sprinklr, without being judged. To that end, we infuse our culture with the energy to make sure we all belong."
Check out more celebrations of #SprinklrPride on our Twitter page @Sprinklr #Pride2019
By Diane Adams
Diane Adams is Chief Culture & Talent Officer at Sprinklr.


The stories revolve around the daily adventures of Paz, his mom Big Penguin, grandpa Pappy and Paz`s friends Rabbit, Dog and Pig. Paz is a curious little fellow, who explores his brightly coloured world with wide-eyed enthusiasm. Paz is an instigator of adventures … and he sees them EVERYWHERE!
Paz © 2003 Egmont Imagination, Telescreen B.V. and Discovery Communications, Inc. All rights reserved. / Paz © 2004 Telescreen B.V. and Discovery Communications, Inc. All rights reserved.


despite the great restrictions in materials and design.
via sensing and response to juxtapositions of physical signals.
in plant structures such as the wood, the shoot, and the dandelion fruit.
How do they respond to the environment? And why?
because of the unique opportunities they offer to unfold the functional significance of altered forms.
synthetic biology, biomimetic engineering, and agriculture.
Adaptive biological structures are a great source of inspiration for 'smart' engineering strategies.
We are investigating the potential of physical priming of crop resilience as a solution for climate-smart agriculture.
Our synthetic biology tools and protocols may catalyze cellular agriculture.
We support and promote diversity.
(in terms of scientific backgrounds, scales and types of problems, nationalities, food choices, and any other measures).
Our research threads through several fields of biological and physical sciences, as well as social science and design.
We believe that diversity will bring about synergy, open mind, and more out-of-box thinking.


Our church building is located at 2539 Riverside Drive (Hwy 201) in Vassalboro, ME.
Heading north from Augusta, we are 1/4 mile north of the Oakgrove Road and Riverside Drive intersection.
Traveling south from Winslow, we are about 4 1/2 miles south of the Carter Memorial Bridge.
Look for the big stone sign.


This article first appeared at the NYTimes eXaminer.
One of the regions of the world most severely hit by the current global capitalist crisis is Europe. The European crisis has been rendered even more severe by a regression to a pre-Keynesian outlook that, as Paul Krugman has pointed out in his New York Times columns, is reminiscent of the outlook of Herbert Hoover and other political leaders in the early stages of the Great Depression. In today's Europe this regression takes the form of brutal austerity measures that drastically cut government expenditures and attack ordinary workers' and citizens' salaries and pensions. The ostensible purpose of these measures is to reduce government deficit and debt and to alleviate the sovereign debt crisis that is posing a threat to the future of the eurozone and the European project alike. In fact, however, these measures are proving counterproductive, thus leading to some debate even within the still dominant neoliberal camp. Against the 'budget slashing' neoliberalism favored by Angela Merkel and the European economic and political elites a more subtle 'Keynesian neo-liberalism' is making its appearance.
A recent New York Times editorial on the European austerity programs illustrates this alternative approach. The editorial begins by pointing out that two years "of unrelenting fiscal austerity … have brought [Europe] nothing but recession and deepening indebtedness." As the editorial explains, this is due to the 'growth-killing' effect of 'spending cuts and tax increases' at a time of economic crisis. As the economy shrinks and unemployment soars, the editorial suggests, government tax revenues suffer, making the austerity programs counterproductive even from a narrowly fiscal point of view.


I want to own a van someday and I am going to live in that van. It won't be like one of those mobile homes. Outside, it's going to look unsuspectingly normal. Maybe I will color it black or forest green. No one will know it can transform into a grill bar. I don't really like camping so it's going to have all the features of a boutique hotel room. I love stargazing after I dropped acid so I should be able to do that without getting out of the car. Again, I don't really like camping or call it "glamping" if you wish, I still don't want it. I have heard all kinds of horror stories about bears giving an unwanted visit.


I love going to Walt Disney World in November! I think the weather is perfect at that time of year! According to the Disney website, the typical temperatures for that time of year are: October - December 78/58ºF Rainfall, 3 in. So, not too bad at all! Attendance wise, according to the Disney website it's one of the least crowded times to go as well! Not all of the Christmas decorations are up prior to Thanksgiving so double check the Disney Website and Disney Blog for an up to date schedule of events. I hope this information helps you with your planning and if you have more questions, please ask away, we are always here to help! Have a Magical Time at the Walt Disney World Resort! Thanks so much for asking the Moms Panel!


The demand of the green tea is increasing due to the changing lifestyle coupled with the growing consumer awareness and rising health and wellness concern. The demand of green tea is increasing significantly for its various health benefits. Tea is one of the most widely consumed beverages in the world especially in Asian Countries. Furthermore as green tea has been found to be superior to black tea in terms of health benefits, the demand for green tea has increased.
Green tea is made from camellia sinensis leaves that have undergone minimal oxidation during processes. Green tea comes in various forms such as powder, tea bags and loose leaf, of which due to increasing demand for on-the-go products, the demand for green tea bags have tremendously increased in recent years.
Global green tea market is highly concentrated in Asia Pacific. Latin America has massive potential for green tea, as there is an increasing consumer awareness regarding the green tea coupled with the per capita disposable income is anticipated to fuel the sales of green tea during the forecast period.
Increasing cardiovascular diseases and obesity cases are anticipated to fuel the sales of green tea during the forecast period. Also, the presence of catechin a type of natural phenol and antioxidants in green tea inhibit the growth, motility, and invasion of cancer cells and helps in removal of malignant cells. These medicinal and functional aspects of green tea will support the growth of the global green tea market during the forecast period.
One of the recent trend in the market is RTD green tea. Ready to drink green tea is gaining acceptance among the consumer due to the convenience solution. Also, the manufacturers of green tea is focusing to enhance its packaging solution in order to attract new customers.
Access the market data and market information presented through more than 25 market data tables and 25 figures spread over 110 numbers of pages of the project report "Green Tea Market Research Report- Forecast to 2023"
Decaffeinated segment is estimated to account maximum market proportion during the forecast period of 2017 to 2023. Loose leaf segment is estimated to retain its dominance throughout the forecast period of 2017-2023. Tea bags is projected to witness highest growth as compare to the other segment. In terms of distribution channel, supermarkets & hypermarkets is likely to hold maximum market proportion during the forecast period. However, online sales are gaining momentum in the developing nation which is projected to observe maximum growth during the review period.
The Global Green Tea Market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and rest of the world (ROW). Among these, Asia Pacific region is expected to retain its dominance throughout the forecast period. This is attributed by the increasing per capita disposable income coupled with the changing lifestyles of the consumer in developing economies. Europe is also estimated to hold healthy market proportion in the green tea market. However, China is projected to register maximum CAGR during the forecast period in Asia Pacific region. Especially China and India offer a lucrative opportunity in the Asia Pacific region for the green tea manufacturers. Latin American region is projected to show a high potential in the green tea market due to the rising disposable income of some of the countries.


Wire is arguably the foundation of jewelry making. You will be given the ability to make your own earring hooks, free form shapes and mechanical construction. Learn how to apply what you learn in constructing your own jewelry.
Intro to Wire Working Class is available as a private lesson in 2 Sessions. Each class is 2.5 hours long and you choose your dates/times. Tool rental and materials included. Silver available on hand for purchase.
Wish to bring a friend or two? Select below for a two, three or four person class!
In need of financial assistance in taking a class? Apply here for a discounted rate. Discounts are given on a need basis.


text:
Federal Headlines
Woman accused of sending ricin letter to White House arrested
Joe Biden to prioritize legal status for millions of immigrants
Image via AP.
The letter appears to have originated in Canada.
A woman suspected of sending an envelope containing the poison ricin, which was addressed to White House, has been arrested at the New York-Canada border, three law enforcement officials told The Associated Press.
The letter had been intercepted earlier this week before it reached the White House. The woman was taken into custody by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Peace Bridge border crossing near Buffalo and is expected to face federal charges, the officials said Sunday. Her name was not immediately released.
The letter addressed to the White House appeared to have originated in Canada, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police have said. It was intercepted at a government facility that screens mail addressed to the White House and President Donald Trump and a preliminary investigation indicated it tested positive for ricin, according to the officials.
The officials were not authorized to discuss the ongoing investigation publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.
There have been several prior instances in which U.S. officials have been targeted with ricin sent through the mail.
A Navy veteran was arrested in 2018 and confessed to sending envelopes to Trump and members of his administration that contained the substance from which ricin is derived. The letters were intercepted, and no one was hurt.
In 2014, a Mississippi man was sentenced to 25 years in prison after sending letters dusted with ricin to President Barack Obama and other officials.
Republished with permission of the Associated Press
In this article:Barack Obama, Canada, Donald Trump, ricin, Secret Service
Written By Associated Press


A Shepard's diagram typically describes the composition of soil in terms of three materials: clay, silt, and sand. The pyramid labels each portion according to the respective proportions of those materials in a particular clump of soil. Naturally, seeing such a diagram led me to think about law departments.
My notion was that a company has three basic sources of legal guidance: its internal law department (if there is one), the law firms or private lawyers it hires, and the clients, consultants, outsource services and others who help identify, prevent, or deal with legal issues. In the diagram I call that third group, collectively, "resources".
So, here is the Shepard's diagram of the three legal services. Each side ranges from a low percentage of reliance on that service to a high percentage. So, for example, the top component represents a company where the law department does everything, there are no outside counsel, and the "resources" are mid-way. I tried to label the components that result in a short way, but realize that the labels can be improved.
Mostly, this diagram allows you to represent numbers tied into the relative contributions of law department service providers.
This is good way of visualizing a prudent organization structure for a law firm. Never really saw it this way. Thanks Rees.


Lorreine says that when she married Chance, he was charming and they had a great marriage. Now, she claims Chance is a controlling narcissist. She claims that his behavior began when he started hanging out with a motorcycle club.
Lorreine and Chance say their arguments have become so aggressive that the police have been called numerous times. In the video above, hear how the two argue. And, Lorreine describes how she claims Chance has been physically abusive with her and what happened when she fought back with a baseball bat.
Is there hope for this couple? See what happens on Friday's episode of Dr. Phil. Check here to see where you can watch.


A great opportunity to meet new players, enjoy a few games of doubles and have some fun. As most foursome will have a variety of playing abilities, please be considerate of others. Please try to assist new players with their court etiquette and encourage them in their games.
This is not meant to be a highly competitive night.
All six courts are reserved for the Mixer Night from 8.00 pm to 10.00 pm.
No other play is allowed for this time.
Player must sign up on the Mixer Box on the black board and play 1 game of 21 rally points (with setting) doubles with a group of 4.
After completing one game, the foursome must come off court. Each player in the foursome must sign up again in the space of the next available box.
i) If the current box has 1 name, only 2 players from the same foursome can sign up, leaving the box with 3 players. It is up to the group to find another player to make-up the foursome.
ii) If the current box has 2 names, only 2 players from the same foursome can play.
iii) If the current box has 3 names, only 1 player from the same foursome can play.
iv) If the current box has 4 names and a foursome is coming off court, 2 players from the foursome will sign-up in the new box and the other players will sign-up in the next box.
v) If a player/s missed a turn or two, player/s can join in any box provided they have not played previously as a foursome.
vi) Each player must sign for the current box. A player cannot sign up other players.
A new box cannot begin until the existing box is completed with 4 players.
There will be no queue jumping or player/s waiting to sign-up for a better foursome.
The sign-up is on a first come first serve basis.
The idea is to encourage player/s to play with different foursome throughout the night.
It is possible for the same twosome to play together throughout the night provided they do not play with same twosome they have previously played or throughout the night.
A warning will be given to any player/s breaking the rules for the first time. If the player/s does not follow the rules, they will be pulled off the court and re-assign to play with a different foursome.
If a foursome wants to play together throughout the night, then they have to play before 8.00pm or after 10.00pm but not during the mixer night.
A supervisor will be present to run the Mixer Night.


Dustin Palmer joined The Asia Foundation's board of trustees in 2019. He is currently a program manager at Code for America, a national nonprofit that uses technology to improve government services. As a 2016-2017 Luce Scholar in Yangon, Myanmar, Dustin worked for MyJustice, a €20 million initiative to improve access to justice in Myanmar. Dustin supported the program's policy and evaluation efforts, including technical advice to the Myanmar Attorney General's office and developing the first national survey on justice issues.
He was previously a senior associate at Third Sector, a nonprofit advisory firm that supports governments in using data and innovative financing structures to improve outcomes in social services. He also worked for three years on legislative strengthening programs at the National Democratic Institute, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that supports democratic institutions worldwide. Dustin holds a bachelor's degree in Political Science and American Culture Studies from Washington University in St. Louis and an MPA from Princeton University's Woodrow Wilson School. During graduate school, Dustin interned with KontraS, a legal aid organization in Jakarta, Indonesia, and served as an advisor to the New York City Mayor's Office on Criminal Justice. In his spare time, Dustin volunteers with Crisis Text Line, a free, 24/7 support service for people in crisis.


text:
Q: Print the indices of elements in one list according to the values of another list in seperate lines A = [['a'], ['a'], ['b'], ['a'], ['b']]
B =  [['a'], ['b']]

I have two list A and B. I have to print those elements index number(index number+1) of list A ,which elements also exist in list B. For every element of list B, I want to print the indices of the values in list A sequentially in one line. How can i fix this?
My code:
for i,x in enumerate(A):
    for y in B:
        if x == y:
            print(A.index(x)+1,end=" ")

Output of my code:
1 1 3 1 3

Expected output:
1 2 4
3 5

A: The code will go like this to get 1,2,4 as output
for i,x in enumerate(A):
    if x==B[0]:
        print(i+1,end=" ")

A: One solution is to use dictionaries:
A = [['a'], ['a'], ['b'], ['a'], ['b']]
B =  [['a'], ['b']]
dict_B = dict([(b[0],[]) for b in B])
for i,a in enumerate(A):
    if a[0] in dict_B:
        dict_B[a[0]].append(i+1)

for key in dict_B:
    print(' '.join(map(str, dict_B[key])))

Output:
1 2 4
3 5

Another one is to use numpy:
import numpy as np
np_array = np.array(A)
for elem in B:
    item_index = np.where(np_array==elem)
    print(' '.join(map(str, item_index[0]+1)))

Output:
1 2 4
3 5

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Watch Pleasure Burn LIVE rehearsal.
Join Pleasure Burn for an Intimate & Acoustic-ish Evening.
Pleasure Burn cordially invites you to join the festivities on October 30th @ Touch Vinyl.
www.EnjoyPleasureBurn.com Rehearsal. Harvard & Stone – Oct 21st Touch Vinyl – Oct 30th (Cassette Release Party) Molly Malones – Nov 17th We hope you can join us.
We are proud to announce the launch of www.EnjoyPleasureBurn.com Thanks for listening, watching & sharing.


text:
A Spiritual Ethic
In exploring modern spirituality, which has largely cast off the religious appurtenances with which it has long been associated, it can be extremely difficult for someone with a religious background to understand the ethical and moral stance that emerges with spiritual maturity. In "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance", Robert M Pirsig describes how his alter ego Phaedrus spends a long time in India at the Benares Hindu University struggling to understand "the illusory nature of the world" as taught in the philosophy department there.
Finally "Phaedrus raised his hand and asked coldly if it was believed that the atomic bombs that had dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki were illusory. The professor smiled and said yes." Phaedrus "left the classroom, left India, and gave up." The ethical gap between conventional religion and spirituality is, I think, as vast as the gap uncovered in this little anecdote.
If I was to offer a form of words to encapsulate the ethical stance of modern spirituality it would be something like 'an acceptance of what is'. Because it is possible for anyone to create a mental picture of 'acceptance of what is', we assume its meaning is therefore known. Nothing could be further from the truth. In the Zen understanding of 'a finger pointing to the moon', the irony is that the observer seizes on the finger, while totally ignoring the moon. To really know 'what is' is to endure a long and painful unravelling of our fantasies of 'what is'. Only the experience of losing our fantasies and in the process encountering reality can flesh out the meaning. So in this article it is important to recognise that words can only ever be 'fingers' pointing to the 'moon' of experiential knowledge. The problem is not that nothing can be said about the fruits of experience – the problem is that words can never convey the taste of a fruit to someone who has not actually tasted that fruit for themselves.
Nonetheless, some things can be said. In Christianity, as in Western forms of religion more generally, human beings are said to have eaten of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. In this parable, man assumes a power previously reserved to God, the power to judge what is good, and to separate it from what is evil. Ironically, man is punished for this knowledge by being cast out of the garden into a harsh world. There is a sense in which modern spirituality is a return to the garden, but not as a retreat from the world into a protected Eden. No, the transformation is more fundamental. The liberated man (or woman) can no longer play the role once reserved for God, assuming that he knows what is good and what is evil. He is no longer the judge. He recognises that he never really does know what would be a good outcome in any given situation. If he really doesn't know what would be a good outcome, then it follows that he acts without prejudice. He does not hope for one outcome over another. He is, in a profound sense, impartial.
Western morality is predicated on an assumption that human needs are mostly interpersonal in nature. Undeniably we need air, water and food if we are to continue to live, but the issues that dominate our moral battles have to do with the legitimacy of the expectations we make on others and that they make on us. It takes a profound shift, and experience of essential states not usually noticed in everyday life, to begin to see that for the most part this is simply wrong. The needs whose satisfaction demands input from others are mostly fantasies, at best the residue of our experiences of infancy, where we really were dependant on others for our very survival. As adults we carry within ourselves the qualities we so desperately seek outside us; that we seek from others. When this is profoundly understood, the usual pursuits of society; power, wealth, pleasure and status, are seen as irrelevant to our fulfilment.
This is amusingly illustrated in the attempt to interrogate Eckhart Tolle, author of the best-selling book "The Power of Now", about his wealth while on a recent visit to Australia. Tolle's success had not been harmed by his friendship, and a later business partnership, with the American talk show icon Oprah Winfrey. The reporter who interviewed Tolle demanded to know how much he was worth.
Tolle gave a little chuckle and said that he understood it was about three million dollars. The reporter pressed on. How, he demanded, did Tolle justify the prices being charged for attendance at his workshops in Australia. Tolle explained that he left that to others, but he assumed there were costs to be met. At this point it is expected that the recipient of wealth will rush to justify his good fortune, or explain what good deeds he plans with the wealth he has accumulated. Not so Tolle.
Pressed, he thought it possible that some of this money would eventually be used to set up a foundation, but he clearly was not greatly interested in this.
The air of somewhat injured outrage that this interview created in some people is fascinating. There is an assumption that someone who claims to care about others will want to distribute his wealth in humanitarian good works. This fits comfortably with the Christian ethic as it has developed in a Capitalist society, but is almost irrelevant to the spiritual seeker.
If liberation consists of finding within ourselves what we have long assumed will come from others, giving others money is almost counterproductive in terms of their true welfare. This is not to deny the exercise of generosity in situations where the need of others is clear and present. To a person who is able to transcend the usual boundaries between self and other, it makes no more sense to withhold help to another than it would to harm one part of my body in supposedly promoting the welfare of another part. That said, giving alms is rarely likely to help the recipient in accessing what is of most value for them.
This point can be teased out a little in exploring the attitude of a spiritual teacher such as A H Almaas to the virtue of compassion. Compassion is generally assumed to be "a feeling of distress and pity for the suffering or misfortune of another, often including the desire to alleviate it", or so my dictionary states. But the Buddha drew a distinction between pain and suffering that still holds. Pain is something that occurs, but suffering is something that we create for ourselves. A spiritual teacher who truly cares for others will want those others to learn how to stop doing those things which ultimately create their suffering. This learning may be difficult, even painful. So the spiritual teacher will recognise that some pain, at least, may be to the long term benefit of the student. In this context, compassion may be to inflict no more pain on others than they are able to bear at that time in the service of truth.
And this brings us at last to the fundamental moral issue underlying spirituality – the quest for truth. In a Western world much influenced by a range of views generally identified as 'postmodern', the quest for truth is viewed as rather naïve, or perhaps simply unattainable.
Truth is contextual, we are told, and if my truth appears to differ from your truth, who can say which might be right? Indeed, it is considered very bad form to be too critical of others beliefs, no matter how outrageous. In this ultimately nihilistic mix of attitudes and opinions, the very idea of truth, let alone hardwon inner truth, is inclined to be viewed with condescension or contempt. In this respect, at least, the inner spiritual journey is very much out of sync with the spirit of the age.
Yet spiritual schools have always viewed the spiritual quest as something for those who have outgrown the prevailing wisdom of society. Sometimes early success in life might induce disillusionment sufficient to bring a young person to a school or teacher, but generally it was assumed that only those who had suffered a long while would want to make the effort to seek transformation. Also, it is of the nature of the egoic self, the construction of which enables the person to cope with the travails of life, that it is most effective in young adulthood. At this stage of life the self appears able to deliver what it promises. Even as it becomes clearer, as the years pass, that the promised success is proving rather elusive, often the assumption is that just a bit more effort will eventually bring the anticipated rewards. Disillusionment deep enough to force a radical reappraisal of one's life is rare in youth and by no means common in later life.
Astute observers have commented that modern spirituality is closer to science than to religion. The quest for inner truth is not so different to other forms of quest for knowledge. It involves education, but an education that remains conceptual will not be enough – it must also be based on experience. Ultimately it is intensely personal, but initially the assistance of a teacher is necessary. To find one's way through the difficult terrain of inner exploration on one's own would be like studying advanced mathematics without textbooks, and reinventing the calculus for yourself. It is not impossible, but it is rather unlikely. And while there are commonalities in spiritual paths these should not be exaggerated. The different logos of spiritual schools do not necessarily lead to the same outcomes. Choice of a teacher matters.
There is much more that could be said about the moral stance of spirituality, but I will close with one further comment. It is possible to identify some meta values, values which underlie the processes that might lead to spiritual growth. In particular, I would point to the value of curiosity, or even wonder, in spiritual development. Christ's words about becoming like little children may well reflect this valuing of interest in 'what is' for its own sake. Indeed, one of the central paradoxes of spiritual development is that while the truth will indeed set you free, desire for freedom will inevitably keep you from the truth and the resultant freedom. Curiosity indicates an interest in the truth of 'what is' that is not based on desire. It is open and fluid and present in the moment. It is not instrumental – designed to get you somewhere.
Where religion attempts to make us more loving, faithful or just, spirituality is at base unconcerned with these outcomes. It seeks to bring us to an awareness of 'what is' that may well transform our relationships, but not through guilt or promise of eternal reward. In becoming mature human beings, we may have to endure much, feel the pain we have repressed, give up on all the ambitions we have harboured. Only thus can we enter the eternal now where life is lived more abundantly, and love is its outflow, and not a duty.


When you want to shake up your fitness regime and do something new, should you pick pilates or yoga? Health and fitness writer Amy Abrahams gives a balanced view.
While similar, "yoga is made up of a series of static postures and pilates is based on putting yourself into unstable postures and challenging your body by moving your limbs," says Dawne Likhodedova, founder of Be Pilates.
Yoga is recognised for improving flexibility, posture and balance. But its benefits for your bones and joints go further – a study* last year found just 12 minutes of yoga a day can lead to an improvement in bone quality. If you're a beginner, try something gentle like Hatha yoga, or Iyengar, which uses props, such as blocks and straps, to help alignment. For something more dynamic, try faster-paced Ashtanga.
For non-specific lower-back pain, the NHS says there's some evidence pilates can offer relief, thanks to its focus on the core and use of supportive apparatus. Meanwhile, a University of York study** found that regular yoga can lead to a significant improvement in back function and ability to undertake activities. So it's a tie.
While yoga works the abdominals in a generalised way, pilates "particularly increases strength and tone of abs and core muscles," says Likhodedova. Try this 'hundred' move: lie on your back with legs in tabletop position (hips and knees bent at 90 degrees, so the shins and feet are parallel to the floor), lower back slightly flat to the floor, and arms by your side with palms down. Draw in your stomach muscles. On an exhale, lift the head and shoulders from the floor. While flexed forwards, pulse arms up and down – building up to 100 times – before lowering head, shoulders and feet back to the floor.


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2016 Music Rotation Pt. 1
Posted on July 23, 2016 by TheTalent in Uncategorized
Lee warned me in January so I know he'll appreciate this shout out. He told me:
"Manny, 2016 is gonna be the best year in music in a long time. Probably most memorable in recent memory. I don't remember a year in music that will be as good as the one we're about to experience."
In the first week of June 2016, I told Lee he was right. I was skeptical because I figured 2016 was just a year where the big names that didn't drop in '15 would round out that amazing year. I won't lie, 2015 was very impressive especially if you honorably include J. Cole's 2014 Forest Hills Drive, which dropped less that 20 days before 2015 officially started. Beginning with that album everyone dropped better than average, mainstream projects. My personal favs from 2015 would have to be
A$AP Rocky – A.L.L.A
Joey Bada$$ – B4.DA.$$
Travi$ Scott – Rodeo
Kid Cudi – Speedin Bullet 2 Heaven
Justin Bieber – Purpose
Ty Dolla $ – Free TC
All solid projects, IMO of course. They were full of classic deliveries from the artists as well as a little fun and experimenting that always adds a nice touch. Well, except for Cudi, he hit us with a curveball in the shape of a kick ass grunge album a la Nirvana. Nonetheless, the first half of this year has been amazing. We've gotten long awaited releases from some of Hip-Hop's (and music's for that matters) biggest players. Here I let you all know which of these projects achieved artistic success so far: (click album titles for a listen!)
A$AP Ferg – Always Strive and Prosper
Released: April 22nd, 2016
Favorite Track: Let You Go
Harlem native and A$AP Mob's own A$AP Ferg didn't get the memo about the sophomore slump that dreads all up and coming artists. Ferg's direct success from underground to mainstream with 2013's Trap Lord set a precedent. He was expected to deliver on a main stage level. Ferg brought a different dynamic to the A$AP brand with the head banging hard hitting trap-rap that is usually only seen from the likes of southern rappers. But those who really connected with Ferg knew. They knew he had more up his sleeve. In his prologue mixtape, Ferg Forever, he demonstrated his versatility. We saw glimpses of what was to come. Despite this he lacked the one thing I always though Ferg needed in order to be taken seriously as an artist: content. On FF the production was all over the place drawing influences from everything from love songs to caribbean beats. But most of the songs were just rhyming and clever allegory. There was no story telling, there was no passion, it was just Ferg having fun. Well, he finally let his fans take a look into his life that involved more than trapping and being on tour. The content on Always Strive and Prosper is very rich, and he does it in a perfect balance of traditional rap, head banging, and all with sprinkles of experimentation. Ferg's sophomore album also has an all star list of features with the likes of Skrillex, Missy Elliot, Future, Chuck D, his mother, Lil Uzi Vert, Big Sean, Rick Ross, Chris Brown, Ty Dolla $ign, ScHoolboy Q, Crystal Caines, and of course his A$AP cohort. He tells us intricate and detailed stories of growing up in Hamilton Heights, or Hungry Ham, in Harlem, NY. He tells us stories of how he looked up to his drug dealing, hustling uncle and how he inspired him a special kind of way on the track Psycho. He lets us into his mindset when he was working at Ben and Jerry's and was ready to give up on life when he decided no more struggling and decided to follow his dream on the Missy supported house-trance sampling Strive. Ferg's content really sticks here and I personally view him in a much more mature light. I hate that this album was dropped smack in the middle of Beyonce's and Drake's releases so it was indeed slept on. So now that those two artists' hype has gone down a little (despite One Dance's reign on the charts), take a step back and appreciate Ferg's heartfelt story of inspiration, hardship, love, and excitement that brought him to where he is now: stardom.
Drake – VIEWS
Released: April 23rd, 2016
Favorite Track: Controlla
The long awaited follow up to 2013's Nothing Was The Same was finally released over a year after the title was announced originally as Views from the 6. Now we all know that as much as Drake gets haters, he has A WHOLE LOT of people who genuinely love his music. With VIEWS, Drake tries to give us a look into the Toronto culture, that I for one was not really familiar with. He gives us a melting pot of Caribbean influences, Noah 40 (always improving), and the his most recently developed trap infused sounds as well. The worst thing about this album was it's expectations. Many critical Drake fans expected his Magnus Opus, but – news flash – we already got it: NWTS. Drake took three years to give us a trial and error. He's developed new sounds for sure but being that we've gotten two projects since NWTS, VIEWS is just Drake being Drake at this point. I appreciate the little Caribbean flavor sprinkled through the album, and that it wasn't excessive. The world would've had a field day if we got a whole album of dancehall. Nonetheless, VIEWS has some very enjoyable tracks like Controlla, Child's Play, Too Good, and Hype. The album is better than the general "mehh" Twitter gave the album. It does however lack overall lyricism and content. I think it's okay though, because he's gotten so successful he can put out whatever and the publicity will be there. It's sort of like JAY-Z's Magna Carta Holy Grail. The project had amazing production and delivery but lackluster lyrics. Now I'm not comparing the two different artists but Drake is making his case to be the new Hovito-like character in the game. Yeah he still has twenty years or so but Drake is getting comfy with his music and as long as the majority still streams his work he doesn't feel the need to push his envelope like he used to between '06-'10. In closing: great album to play very loud with your friends in the car. Windows down optional.
Kanye West – The Life of Pablo
Released: February14th, 2016
Favorite Track: FSMH Pt 1 & 2
I've already harped on this album earlier in the year. It's damn good. Not Ye's best but he sure damn let us know that he's fully embracing music when he does so. Following up his "protest to music" which we know as Yeezus, he brought us another revolutionary sound. He infused gospel, rap, house, among other genres to bring us TLOP. Since its exclusive TIDAL release back in mid February, Kanye changed the meaning of an album by going back and editing every single track. After that he also added two tracks; Frank's Song, which is just Frank Ocean's verse from Wolves, and Saint Pablo a track he released afterwards featuring Sampha and sampling JAY – Z. He went back and made every song a little different, thanks to the digital world we live in it was possible. The new elements of his style mixed with some of the classic Kanye sounds great in my opinion. Like his big brother Jay, his lyrics kind of fell off a bit, but bars are sprinkled on tracks like No More Parties in LA and 30 Hours. Kanye haters keep hating because he's still asshole Ye with shade thrown to the like of Nike, Ray J, and Taylor Swift. I hope you all know he doesn't give a damn either. So to my fellow stans, let's anxiously wait TLOP's follow up Turbo Grafx 16, expected this summer. To the haters keep hating because he's never going back to pink polo, backpack Ye. He's damn near 40.
Flatbush ZOMBiES – 3001: A Laced Odyssey
Released: February 5th, 2016
Favorite Track: R.I.P.C.D
After a couple of years of underground indie releases and rising to the forefront of New NY Hip-Hop, The Brooklyn Trio bring us a mainstream album. Right off bat, they didn't sell out, they sold independently and boy it is a ride. We all know a full length album of pure rap from New York is hard to come by these days. Meechy, Architect, and Zombie Juice brought their A game. The intro track, The Odyssey has long trippy verses from each member. Much like their fellow New Yorkers with the likes of A$AP Mob, The Underachievers, and Pro Era, their music stays true to hard hip hop beats with trippy influenced tendencies. When you have music influenced by drugs such as LSD or mushrooms, you either get really weird music or really GOOD music. Thankfully, The ZOMBiES delivered. I'm happy that another group besides A$AP is releasing to wider audiences. For a while New York rap was on life support and my Flatbush brethren gave it another spark of life with this project. Tracks like R.I.P.C.D. and New Phone, Who Dis? comment on the life of fame and money on how much the music game has changed. On top of the we get your usual trippy journey songs like Bounce and Spike Lee joint. Solid project for sure and can't wait to see what else is in store for this group.
Rihanna – ANTI
Released: January 28th, 2016
Favorite Track: Consideration ft. SZA
The over three year wait Rihanna gave us for a full length project was well worth it. Rihanna is constantly pushing the envelope in terms of reinventing herself in music, vibe, and even in her business ventures. Her deal with Puma? Genius. Anyways, last we heard music from Rihanna we heard a little more of an indie sound when she collaborated with Sir Paul McCartney and Big Brother Kanye. While we did not see the entire album produced by Kanye or any more features from Sir McCartney, Rihanna hit it out of the park. Arguably one of the best albums of 2016 so far, Ri Ri gives us tales of love, angst, and just overall badassness. One of the smoothest tracks I can't get enough of is James Joint, the 1:12 interlude, has provocative lyrics that literally put me in a trance the first time I heard it. I don't usually pick the first track of an album as my favorite but goodness her and SZA were a match in heaven on Consideration. The hard hitting beat with their angelic singing was just perfection for me. Further down the tracklist we get the unbeatable chemistry with Drake on the amazing single Work. We hear innovative production just like we heard on 2012's Unapologetic and I love it. The album takes a very alternative R&B sound and I love when artists, females especially, take their beautiful voices and mix their voices with unorthodox beats. It just sounds great. Rihanna definitely nailed it. So hopefully amid all the Puma collabs and touring, we won't have to wait 3 more years for another Rihanna project!
Bas – Too High To Riot
Released: March 4th, 2016
Favorite Track: Dopamine Ft. Cozz
This album is one of the best rap albums of the year. Hands down. Bas is a lyricist that definitely deserves to be on J.Cole's Dreamville label. Now, I did not hear of Bas until this album created widespread buzz all in spring music convos. At first listen, I could not stop, His jazz infused beats with the story he tells gives a it a real underground feel. The album hits best when you need time to yourself, like to meditate or a late night drive. The Queens rapper delivers with stories of leaving school, love, and loss of family. I like his content, his production, and his flow. He gives of a J.Cole type of vibe but with his own style for sure. The single track, Night Job, with J.Cole rides so hard. The verses he exchanges with his labelmate go hand in hand and we see a less political/conscious Cole which is always fun. One of the smoothest and more trancey songs, Ricochet featuring The Hics, resonates with me well. The duet on the opening minute sets vivid imagery of lovers sharing a blunt in a dim lit room. Great mixes of sounds. All across. I'm also grateful for getting introduced to Cozz on my favorite track Dopamine. It gives us "You're never as low as you think." Bas and Cozz comment on holding on through hard times. Things will get better. These messages are very important for people my age who may not be on par with their "successful" classmates or counterparts. Nonetheless, the topics are ear grabbing throughout the album and the wondrous production make this album a hit for me, hands down.
Chance The Rapper – Coloring Book
Released: May 12th, 2016
Favorite Track: Blessings (Reprise)
After Kanye introduced us to the beautiful product of combining rap, neo soul, and gospel on TLOP, Chance took the amazing sound and gave us a whole project. With the follow up to the undisputed best project of 2013, Acid Rap, Chance shook the music world yet again. Chance emerges from battles of drug abuse, depression, and the joy of his first child as a new man. The motifs throughout this project are loud and clear. Through his faith he overcame much hardship. Through the album we learn much about his journey and we also get a chance to learn about ourselves. The first time listening to was definitely an experience for me. Personally I am not the biggest gospel fan, but after this project I even explored further to see where he got the influences for most of the tracks. The music is truly uplifting and exerts positive vibes all throughout. The growth between his own projects is so evident for Chance. The message on tracks such as All We Got and both the Blessings tracks can make anyones day. His powerful verse combined with the Ty Dolla $ign led chorus on the reprise can be looped on my car stereo all day, no questions asked. While the gospel vibe is very evident throughout he still added tracks that stay true to his underground roots. Mixtape, Juke Joint, and Smoke Break all display impressive features with the likes of Young Thug, Lil Yachty, Justin Bieber, Towkio, and Future. I can't help but notice the lack of true hip hop besides the one or two tracks compared to the musical experience that was Acid Rap, but it makes up for it with its positive message throughout the project. This mixtape was so well received that the Musical Academy added "stream only" projects for Grammy contention. Was this new "Chance Rule" make the rapper's proclamation from his verse on Ye's Ultralight Beam facts?
"Let's make it so free and the bars so hard that there ain't one gosh darn part you can't tweet.."
Can Chance snag a Grammy from this critically acclaimed mixtape next year? Early guess? It's between him and Big Brother Ye.
The Red Hot Chili Peppers – The Getaway
Released: June 17th, 2016
Favorite Track: Feasting on The Flowers
It goes without saying that I was caught off guard when I heard that the funk-rock legends (officially as of 2012) were working on new music. They haven't really made airwaves since 2006's Stadium Arcadium which is where a lot of people my age really got into the Chili Peppers. Little did they know they've been rocking out since 1984. After a lackluster release in 2011 with I'm With You, it seemed as though the band was fizzing out. Washed as we would say. After their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame in 2012, it seemed as though the windows were closing on the glory days. Then we get a summer vibe filled album with The Getaway. As a traditionalist by nature, I was skeptic when I heard the group dropped Rick Rubin as their longterm producer and went with the edgier more modern Brian "Danger Mouse" Burton. Well, I'm here to tell you First, we finally see the new guitarist Josh Kilnghoffer really come into form and mature with his chords and riffs. Then we see piano underlying tracks and even a co-write from Elton John on Sick Love. On top of all that we see samples and even trading instruments. So different is an understatement and a long ways from the 1989-2011 run of Rick Rubin and the Chili Peppers. As a long standing fan of the entire RHCP catalog, I like this album. There is an acceptance of maturity from the members that you hear when they take it back with some songs with a strange mix of modern samples and old school chill vibe. The whole album can be imagined on a chill summer night, a couple beers in and just relaxing with your buddies. The Chili Peppers keep their traditional funk bases with Danger Mouse's pop punk schemes mixed in. Not to mention, we get less of Anthony Kiedis' rap influenced onomatopoeia, and a lot of deeper content. On Feasting On The Flowers, Kiedis sings an ode to founding member and original guitarist to the band, Hilel Slovak. Although this isn't the first song about him, the metaphors on the terrors of dying young on heroin overdose are real each time the band dedicates a song to the issue.
"26 a number much to small for someone's golden years."
So yeah, content is mixed in through the likes of breakups, trippy journeys, and good times. The unlikely duo of Danger Mouses pop roots and the Chili Peppers funk-rock created a beautiful sound. I'm here for it and I'm glad the band came back strong. Anyone down to catch a show when they get back from Europe?
So these eight aforementioned projects were my heavy rotation for the first half of the year. Some awesome projects that just joined my rotation are:
Still Brazy – Y.G.
There's A lot Going On – Vic Mensa
Waves LP – Mic Jenkins
** Blank Face ** – ScHoolboy Q
COOLAID – Snoop Dogg
California – blink 182
And what's to look forward to?
Good Charlotte (wheeet)
Travi$ Scott
Pusha T
And possible JAY-Z
These might be in my second half of 2016 rotations so look for that post out later!
So yeah until then check out the works I've mentioned and if you have any dope suggestions let me know on social media!
Under promising and over delivering ,
Vacay Avi Stackks
Published by TheTalent
UNC Grad. That Dope Uber Driver. I love hats. I love writing about life, your roaring 20's, entertainment, fashion, sports, and food.	View all posts by TheTalent
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