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Malaysia's Anwar Provides Alibi, Challenges Sodomy Allegations
Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has provided an alibi to police to prove he did not sodomize a former male aide.
Anwar's lawyer, Sivarasa Rasiah, told reporters Friday that Anwar has given full details of the alibi to police, but refused to elaborate.
Anwar was arrested Wednesday outside his home, after the 23-year-old former aide filed a sodomy complaint against him. He underwent several hours of interrogation and a medical examination, but refused to allow authorities to take a DNA sample.
His lawyer Rasiah Friday said Anwar will consider giving his DNA only if it can be independently verified that all procedures are done "professionally" and without police interference that might alter the results.
Rasiah said Anwar has reason to believe DNA evidence will be fabricated, because of what happened to him before. In 1998, Anwar was dismissed as deputy prime minister and convicted on sodomy and corruption charges. The sodomy charges were later overturned, but he had already spent six years in jail.
The lawyer also said the need for DNA analysis has not been justified, since the police report made by the complainant remains "shrouded in secrecy."
Anwar has dismissed the sodomy allegations as a conspiracy against him.
Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi denied the charge, saying there is no conspiracy or "act to victimize" Anwar. He challenged the opposition leader to provide a DNA sample, saying if he really has not done anything, then he should give one.
Sodomy carries a punishment of up to 20 years in jail in Malaysia.
In March, Anwar led the opposition to a stunning electoral victory, breaking the ruling National Front coalition's two-thirds-majority hold on parliament for the first time in four decades. The opposition also won control of five states.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.
Malaysian Opposition Leader Released on Bail
Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has been released on bail after police arrested him on sodomy charges, Wednesday. Chad Bouchard reports from Jakarta.Anwar Ibrahim was released Thursday, after spending the night in a Kuala Lumpur jail. A male aide last month accused him of sodomy, a crime which carries up to a 20-year jail term in Malaysia.He failed to appear for questioning, Monday, and agreed to meet…
By Chad Bouchard
Malaysian Opposition Leader Arrested
Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has been taken into police custody in connection with sodomy allegations. Chad Bouchard reports from Jakarta.Police arrested Anwar Ibrahim on a road near his home, Wednesday, less than an hour before he was scheduled to appear voluntarily for questioning about accusations that he sodomized an aide.Witnesses say about a dozen police officers blocked a road leading from Anwar's home, stopped his car and took him…
Malaysia's Anwar Pleads Not Guilty to Sodomy Charges, Freed on Bail
Malaysia's leading opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim pleaded not guilty to sodomy charges in a Kuala Lumpur court and was freed on bail, allowing him to campaign for a seat in parliament. VOA correspondent Nancy-Amelia Collins in Jakarta has more.Top opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim called the charges of sodomy against him "treacherous and malicious accusations" after the charges were read out Thursday in a…


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Mariya Peykova
Email Address: mariya.peykova@3pb.co.uk
Mariya is of Anglo-Bulgarian-Cypriot heritage and fluent in Bulgarian and Greek. She also speaks French at an intermediate level. She is completing a pupillage at 3PB and will be doing a civil pupillage.
She joins 3PB having been a Judicial Assistant to the Rt. Hon. Lord Justice Leggatt and Lady Justice King DBE at the Court of Appeal and with the Hon. Mr Justice Stewart, assigned to assist with the Kenya Emergency Group Litigation in the High Court. Her work as a JA involved producing case summaries and bench memos on matters before the court, discussing the case with judges, and attending court with them. This has advanced her skills in rigorous legal reasoning, organisation, legal research, drafting skills and evidence review. Mariya joins us with a reputation already for excellent time-management and great communication and advocacy skills.
Mariya also worked as a Research Fellow on the WiseGrid project at Queen Mary University (sponsored by the European Commission) where she assisted Dr. Rafael Leal-Arcas, the principal investigator on the project. Mariya's research focused on the implications of the gradual 'smartening' of the energy market; a developing area of the law. Mariya was previously a legal consultant at the International Bar Association (IBA), where she assisted Dr. Mark Ellis (Executive Director) with the investigation into the compliance of the Libyan regime trials with International Human Rights instruments. She also assisted a Task Force of IBA lawyers by undertaking legal research and drafting the final IBA report on the independence of the legal profession.
After completing the BPTC Mariya undertook a 6-month judicial internship with Judge Silvia Fernandez de Gurmendi, former President of the International Criminal Court, where she carried out legal research on issues arising in the context of international criminal and human rights law, and assisted by drafting the orders and judgments of the Chamber. She has previously worked as an intern at the Office of MEP Ivailo Kalfin, former Deputy Prime Minister of Bulgaria, at the EU Parliament in Brussels.
In her work outside chambers, Mariya formerly volunteered with Liberty and Reprieve, where she drafted papers to assist in death penalty and wrongful imprisonment cases, and has provided pro-bono assistance to DiyLaw, a legal charity that provides assistance to litigants in person.
'Towards a carbon-free, decentralised, and democratised system of energy generation' - Journal of International Law, Vol 35, Issue 1, 2020 (Forthcoming), Queen Mary University of London, School of Law Legal Studies Research Paper No 319/2019
'Decarbonizing the Energy Sector' - Michigan State Journal of Animal and Natural Resource Law, 2019 (Forthcoming), Queen Mary School of Law Legal Studies Research Paper No. 309/2019
'The ICC Reparations regime: The future of international criminal justice or an empty promise?' Gray's Inn Student Law Journal, November 2015.
'Energy Transit: Intergovernmental Agreements on Oil and Gas Transit Pipelines', Rafael Leal-Arcas, Mariya Peykova, Tathagata Choudhury and Malakee Makhoul, Renewable Energy Law and Policy Review, 2015.
'Energy Transit Activities: Collection of Intergovernmental Agreements on oil and gas transit pipelines and commentary', Co-authored with Professor Rafael Leal-Arcas, Report prepared for the Energy Charter Secretariat Knowledge Centre, July 2014, Queen Mary University of London, School of Law Legal Studies Research Paper No. 177/2014.
Mariya speaks Bulgarian (Native/Fluent), Greek (Native/Fluent) and French (Business Fluent).
LL.M in Public International Law, Centre for Commercial Law Studies, Queen Mary University of London 2012
LL.B (Hons), Queen Mary University of London, 2011
Overseas Internship Scholarship (International Criminal Court) , Gray's Inn
Graduate Association Award, The Grammar School, Nicosia
Ioannis and Iro Gregoriou Memorial Scholarship (7 consecutive years), Nicosia
Edexcel High Achiever Award, the Grammar School, Nicosia
New York Attorney-At-Law, Admitted in 2019
Bar Professional Training Course, University of Law, 2013

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Practices that can be done in the city where pluralism, interfaith encounter, and a contemplative lifestyle stretch our souls.
Spiritual practice lies at the heart of a monk's life oriented around the presence of God and the service of others. Teasdale discusses his devotional activities: contemplative meditation, lectio divina, the practice of nature (walking and sky meditation), study and reflection, and the nurturance of silence and solitude. Although these are important, he notes that they must be linked with the virtue practices of compassion, mercy, kindness, sensitivity, and love in daily encounters with others.
The inner monk can also be nourished by a close relationship with the good Earth, participation in the struggle for justice and peaceful change, and an appreciation for urban living as a soul-stretching challenge. Teasdale shares ways in which his spiritual friendships have deepened his Christian faith. He talks about lessons he has learned from encounters with homeless people in Chicago. And he makes a good case for the city as a milieu where our moral mettle is tested and our love and patience are given ample opportunities to expand.


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An Iranian Feminist Vampire Defangs the Patriarchy
Sonhaber 2. November 2021
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Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini: Former FIFA and UEFA officials charged with fraud
It follows a six-year investigation into a payment of two million Swiss francs (£1.6m) from FIFA to Platini. Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter and [...]
Leaders vow to protect forests
World leaders promised to protect Earth's forests, cut methane emissions and help South Africa wean itself off coal at the U.N. climate summit Tuesday [...]
US panel urges kids 5-11 get COVID shots, final OK due soon
An influential advisory panel on Tuesday recommended kid-size doses of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5 to 11, putting the U.S. on the br [...]
Russian security chief meets with CIA director in Moscow
A top Russian security official met the visiting chief of the Central Intelligence Agency on Tuesday, a rare encounter amid tensions between Moscow an [...]
Taliban governor of Helmand's message to west: 'Come back with money, not guns'
Sonhaber 15. September 2021
Talib Mawlawi, who spent years fighting the British, urges western nations to recognise Taliban as Afghanistan's legitimate leaders Helmand's new T [...]
The poet Mazlum Çetinkaya, one of the authors of our newspaper, was threatened with death
Sonhaber 22. August 2021
While they were talking to his lawyer, the writer Mahmut Alinak, over WhatsApp, they were interrupted and asked: "Are you Mazlum Çetinkaya? We've been [...]
U.K. Reports Most New Coronavirus Cases Since Start of February
Sonhaber 23. June 2021
A surge in cases of the delta variant continued to push the U.K.'s coronavirus infection numbers to levels not seen since the winter, even with most o [...]
World powers launch new push for peace in Libya
World powers gathered Wednesday in Berlin to seek lasting peace in Libya by ensuring the conflict-wracked North African country stays firmly on the pa [...]
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Obama's Latest Speech on Afghanistan: Bridging the Say/Do Gap to Finally End the War
Kevin Gosztola 2011-06-23
23 Jun 2011 Kevin Gosztola
Those who read President Barack Obama's speech will likely be reading to find hints of when the conflict might finally come to an end. Support for a pullout from Afghanistan is at an all-time high, according to a recent Pew Research Center poll. But, there is little reason to put much stock in the fact that ten thousand troops will be leaving Afghanistan this summer. Withdrawing a number of troops around July of 2011 was always part of a plan, a way of deftly managing public opinion.
When Obama went ahead and added thirty thousand troops, he knew, as shown in Bob Woodward's book Obama's Wars he had two years with the public. He understood the perils of escalating a war, as retired Lt. Gen. Karl W. Eikenberry, retired Gen. James L. Jones and Lt. Gen. Douglas Lute all offered a level of dissent against Admiral Mike Mullen, Gen. David Petraeus and Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates. And, Obama allegedly told Vice President Joe Biden in private to oppose a big troop buildup but could not stand up to military brass. In the end, though, he was able to set a withdrawal timetable of ending the war by 2014.
Like any speech on war by US presidents these days, it began by re-opening the wounds of 9/11, by forcing all Americans to recall the fear or pain they experienced that day. It transitioned into a history of how America had gotten to this point—why America invaded Afghanistan, how it got "sidetracked" in Iraq (sorry for your luck Iraqis) and why America committed to a surge in Afghanistan about a year and a half ago. It proceeded to outline the plans and goals for the next stage of the mission and then concluded with pure, pathological American exceptionalist fallacies.
A key difference between this speech and the surge speech is during the speech there weren't any US State Embassy cables or war logs from WikiLeaks to reference and call "bullshit" when something was said with an err of confidence that seemed preposterous. Fast forward to June 2011, with plenty of information on US diplomacy and US military operations in Afghanistan, there is ample reason to doubt the assertions President Obama makes in his speech.
When Obama announced the surge, he committed the US to refocusing on al Qaeda, reversing the Taliban's momentum and training Afghan security forces to defend their own country. According to Obama, the US is meeting these goals or objectives and so the country will be able to "recover" the surge and be back around the level of troops that were in Afghanistan when President George W. Bush left office.
One week ago, Jonathan Owen for The Independent reported, "Not a single Afghan police or army unit is capable of maintaining law and order in the war-torn country without the support of coalition forces." Owen cited a US Department of Defense report on Afghanistan from February showing "out of more than 400 army and police units in Afghanistan" none are capable of operation without assistance from coalition forces. And, Owen also highlighted the fact that twenty-five billion US dollars have been used to train and equip Afghan forces thus far and Lieutenant-General William B. Caldwell does not think the "training mission" can be complete until 2017.
A cable from December 2009 titled, "Karzai Looks Forward," features this exchange on the Afghan army and police:
Turning his attention to the Afghan National Army (ANA), Karzai announced that the ANA leadership should lead simpler, more spartan lives. He criticized widespread reports of ANA generals driving expensive cars and NDS reports that only no officers had died in battles with insurgents, only ANA soldiers died (the latter account was disputed by Minister of Defense Wardak). Reflecting on ANA recruitment, Karzai asked why so few Afghans from the provinces of Zabul, Ghazni, Helmand, Herat, and Farah enlist in the ANA. He bemoaned the fact that only drug users join the Afghan National Police (ANP) in Khandahar and Helmand Provinces. Upon hearing the latter, Minister of Interior Affairs Atmar interjected that a partially completed personnel asset inventory conducted in Khandahar and Helmand turned up the surprisingly good news that only 20 percent of ANP personnel were drug users. [emphasis added]
These days, what percentage of Afghan police are drug users or addicts? How is that impacting operations? More importantly, do private contractors like DynCorp leaders still "pimp little boys to stoned Afghan cops"?
A June 2009 cable shows the DynCorp leaders pimping Afghani children to the police. At bacha bazis or "boy-play" parties eight to fifteen-year-old boys are "made to put on make-up, tie bells to their feet and slip into scanty women's clothing." The boys dance seductively to older men. Their "services" are auctioned and men will sometimes purchase them outright. And, the State Department understands that bacha bazis are a "widespread, culturally accepted form of male rape."
Purchasing services from a child is illegal under Sharia law and the civil code in Afghanistan. The party mentioned in the cable led to the arrest of two Afghan National Police. Are "dancing boys" still a problem for law enforcement in the country?
What about this story from the cables on Australian Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd saying the situation "scares the hell out of me"? Or the fact that he found France and Germany's contribution to fighting the Taliban to be "organizing folk dancing festivals" and the comment from Australian Special Representative on Afghanistan and Pakistan Ric Smith that the mission was like a "wobbly three-legged stool"?
Obama's speech singled out the Afghan national police, but what about the unconventional forces the United States has been using? A November 2009 cable indicates the Afghan government and local communities were using "unconventional security forces. These "local and private bodies" were proliferating because of the lack of "public confidence in the police."
Interior Minister Hanif Atmar had a plan to use a "traditional militia concept."
Locals who are loyal to the government and register their existing arms could serve as police auxiliaries, receiving food and even some pay from MOI in return for helping the police. Atmar's longest-serving advisor, Habib Wayand, explained that the Minister prefers to encourage small groups linked to local shuras, rather than large militias that might bite back or prove loyal to commanders with their own agendas.
Exactly, how are these militias impacting operations now? And, also, a prime proposal from Atmar in February 2010 involved sending twelve to fifteen thousand police to train in Jordan at a facility constructed for training Iraqi police. There is little indication this proposal has been accepted by US forces tasked with training Afghanis to keep their country "secure." Atmar also reported a "need to train 50,000 per year to meet expansion targets and offset attrition" but the maximum training capacity was around 30,000 trainees.
Less than 100 al Qaeda are in Afghanistan. It seems true that the goal of refocusing on al Qaeda has been achieved but why did US forces ever have to "refocus" on al Qaeda? Was there ever a point when they weren't going after al Qaeda?
The Afghan War Logs released by WikiLeaks almost one year ago revealed the Pakistan spy service was meeting directly with Taliban for "secret strategy sessions to organize networks of militant groups that fight against American soldiers in Afghanistan, and even hatch plots to assassinate Afghan leaders." To what extent do these operations persist?
The released war logs also showed the US military covered up "a reported surface-to-air missile strike by the Taliban that shot down a Chinook helicopter over Helmand in 2007 and killed seven soldiers, including a British military photographer." There may be political leaders affiliated with the Taliban who are willing to talk, but how does the US intend to halt the fighters who are committed to fighting US forces?
The questions are not raised because this author supports the war effort and wishes to see it continue. Doubts are made evident because President Obama appears to be certain that it will all work out by 2014. It seems quite clear that this speech is part of a ploy to con Americans into believing the mission is ending and will end as the timetable being discussed suggests yet it appears it could take another half decade to train forces or further sort out a political solution. In the meantime, if the US is being consistent, wouldn't forces have to remain to prevent a vacuum from forming?
Furthermore, the conclusion of Obama's speech shows that what is at stake for America, as for any war, is its credibility and reputation. Obama, whose weapon of choice in governance is often compromise, lays out two choices, in the same way he laid out two choices when working to pass health reform. The are not necessarily the only two choices America has but they are two choices, which Obama averages to get a solution that will make possible a balancing act between the military and political establishment and the citizens of the United States.
He presents one of the choices as isolationism or retreat. This means no longer being an "anchor for global security," letting despots and terrorists flood the earth and create anarchy. The other choice he presents is overextension, struggling to confront every evil that can be found in the world. (Absurdly, he does not hint at the reality that the US already tries to go after all evil or at least exploits this as a pretext for many, many operations.)
Upon establishing these poles, he plants a stake in at what he deems "the center." The solution is not necessarily right or wrong but "pragmatic." The answer is not to deploy large armies when targeted operations can be used. When innocents are being slaughtered, the US can rally international action (e.g. Libya). Somehow, the final stages of Afghanistan are part of this "centered course."
The disenthralled approach obfuscates the past and recasts the future. US-assassination squads operating with "kill-and-capture lists," the use of drones, intelligence agents awash in data they don't know what to do with, and the killing of civilians going unreported, all revealed in the Afghanistan War Logs, can continue as tools so long as they are employed properly. Brutal night raids, which have led Afghanis in villages to fear US forces more than the Taliban, become legitimized. The brutality of war cast as "pragmatism" suggests what is unfolding is part of a measured approach and whether those who get bombed at weddings care about "pragmatism" versus "realism or "idealism," that does not matter.
The most fraudulent part is the mythological portrayal of America that Obama presents:
In all that we do, we must remember that what sets America apart is not solely our power — it is the principles upon which our union was founded. We are a nation that brings our enemies to justice while adhering to the rule of law, and respecting the rights of all our citizens. We protect our own freedom and prosperity by extending it to others. We stand not for empire but for self-determination. That is why we have a stake in the democratic aspirations that are now washing across the Arab World. We will support those revolutions with fidelity to our ideals, with the power of our example, and with an unwavering belief that all human beings deserve to live with freedom and dignity.
The sophistry of these words dares one to ask whether engaging in warrantless wiretapping, torture, or rendition, invoking state secrets to prevent transparency, denying habeas corpus to detainees in prisons like Guantanamo and Bagram (along with black prison sites that likely still exist), holding detainees in detention indefinitely, asserting the right to target and kill US civilians bypass due process or employing military commissions—"kangaroo courts"—is what nations that adhere to the rule of law and respect the rights of people do.
The portrait of America presented and its underhandedness obscures how America has typically been at war with those in the country who engage in acts of self-determination, who dissent against power.
Search warrants, grand jury subpoenas, indictments, trials, spying, infiltration, entrapment, raids, and severe limits on demonstrations with bystanders, protesters and journalists all subject to arrest at demonstrations are all omitted. Obama cannot sell America as a model country for freedom if that paragraph contains hints at abuses of the state or Executive.
Thus, the next stage of the Afghanistan war, officially launched by this speech, is benign compared to the pathological rot in the military and political establishment, which conditions someone to be able to stand before a world and utter such misrepresentations.
Gareth Porter, investigative journalist, says this morning on Democracy Now!, "There is an effort here to create a narrative that as he put it, the war is receding, the tide of war is receding. When in fact, nothing of this sort is happening…Clearly, the Taliban are carrying out counterattacks this year and will do so again next year. That is not going to come to an end." And, about 70,000 US military forces along with thousands of contractors would remain in the country after 2012.
Thanks to transparency, technology and the courage of whistleblowers, citizens in this country can begin to bridge the gap between what leaders say and do in such a way that has never been possible before in this country's history. Information released by outlets like WikiLeaks can be used to confront speeches like this one head on and work to bridge the say/do gap. It's relentlessly working to bridge this gap that will force leaders into a corner that will eventually lead to deception being exposed and the war coming to an end.
US to Release 60 Million Barrels of Oil From Strategic Petroleum Reserve
Unfortunately, Another Correct Prediction
Kevin Gosztola
Kevin Gosztola is managing editor of Shadowproof. He also produces and co-hosts the weekly podcast, "Unauthorized Disclosure."


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TV Talk: First Responders, Gossip Culture, and a Historical Take on the Zombie Apocalypse.
Before falling down the rabbit hole that is the Nintendo Switch, this girl found her time being occupied by a slew of addictive TV shows. These shows could not be further apart on the spectrum, but each one of them provides hours of entertainment that will have you hooked from start to finish.
Taking a spot on the binge-worthy box sets list, 911 Lone Star spotlights the first responders of Austin, Texas. This charming show will brighten anyone's day while simultaneously tug on the heartstrings as we follow the daily struggles our characters face. The team themselves are a diverse bunch and through them, the show respectfully explores several conflicts encountered both on the job and in their personal lives. Despite this, Lone Star never veers into the melodrama, instead choosing to explore these incidents through communication, emotion, and humour, making the characters all the more relatable. Despite the severity of the situations they face, 911 Lone Star is a feel-good show, one that makes you appreciate the dangers our first responders place themselves in to ensure the safety of others, something we can all appreciate at this time.
The Trouble With Maggie Cole
ITV's latest comedy-drama puts us in the heart of a gossip fuelled community. Dawn French's Maggie Cole finds herself on the town's most hated list after a drunken interview sees the town's rumoured dirty laundry being aired to the entire nation. The fallout of this interview sees Cole isolated from the community while forcing the affected community members to face their own troubles. For a comedy, The Trouble With Maggie Cole takes a surprisingly dark turn as individual secrets are on the verge of exposure, and desperation leads to some drastic actions. While we're only 4 episodes into the show, Maggie Cole is a message about gossip control and the damage such rumours can inflict on individuals by a community that thrives on gossip. It's a show that should make you think about the consequences of indulging in trivial gossip that you have no business to be privy to.
This South Korean drama is a thrilling blend of history, politics, and the supernatural. Set in Korea's Joseon period, Kingdom throws us into the heart of political turmoil within a zombie apocalypse. It's a combination that shouldn't work as effectively as it does, but this show provides a new take on the zombie landscape as the zombies themselves are utilised as a way of gaining political advantage. Led by a compelling cast of characters we are treated to an array of fascinating character dynamics as Ju Ji-hoon's Prince Lee Chang forced to prove himself as a capable leader amidst this plague. Through him, we are treated to a range of emotions as he faces the crushing betrayal from his closest and oldest allies whiles the odds stack against him. There are plenty of twists and turns throughout the two seasons, and with season one focused more on the origins and spread of this zombie plague, the second season shone with its character-driven story culminating in a breathtaking showdown within the palace walls. It's a surprisingly fresh take on the zombie apocalypse, but there is room for improvement as the mechanisms behind the infestation could use some further clarity and some characters could benefit from a deeper exploration of their history and motives. Nevertheless, Kingdom is an addictive tale of survival, politics, and zombies.
Have you seen any of these shows?
March 28, 2020 March 28, 2020 LoisTV Talk, What I've Been Watching911 Lone Star, Fox, ITV Drama, Kingdom, Netflix, The Trouble With Maggie Cole, TV Review, TV Talk, What I've Been Watching
5 thoughts on "TV Talk: First Responders, Gossip Culture, and a Historical Take on the Zombie Apocalypse."
Love the way you described 911 Lone Star. You can keep mentiniong it in every single post from now on hahaha
Lone Star's just going to be a permanent fixture on the blog now haha.
I haven't seen any of these yet. We've basically been watching The Voice and Expedition Unknown here.
I do love the Voice. It's the one show my entire family will watch together haha.
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Memories of Papé, the short film by Nicolas Polixene
The private diary by French director of Martinique descent
Memories of Papé
Diary of my short film.
My name is Nicolas Polixene and I'm 33 years old. Native of Martinique, I was born and I live in Paris, where I work as writer and director. Cinema has been my passion since childhood, because I always considered it my way to share emotions with others and to get in touch with the world.
We all know it's not easy to succeed in the world of cinema: it takes a mix of talent, perseverance, courage, patience and a good dose of luck.
We must be able to enter the industry and, at the same time, preserving our sincerity. I needed my time, archived projects and even failures before figuring out the right way to do it.
One day, I saw a scenario contest that held my attention. The theme was "a history of the islands," and was the Prix Océan.
I put all my strength to prepare for the competition also because I always dreamed of doing a film set in the island where my parents were born: Martinique. An island and a culture to which I have always felt extremely tied, since I had a Creole education although born and raised in France.
This screenplay contest was also opening some very interesting doors from a professional point of view: the winner would receive 30,000 euros from the French television for the production of the short film and a premiere screening during the Directors' Fortnight section of Cannes Film Festival.
At that time, I began to reflect on the script of Papé. In telling a story of Martinique's island, many personal aspects related to my origins have emerged. One of these interested me particularly – the language. Having grown up in Paris, I never spoke fluent Creole even if I was understanding it. Even my wife, though she is from Martinique as well, she has never spoken the language. Our child could get in touch with the language of his native country only thanks to his grandparents.
Reflecting on what we leave behind us has been one of the key points in the writing of the script.
The passage and the transmission of culture and knowledge as opposed to the shock that exists between the old and the new generation on the island were the main topics of Papé. To illustrate this, it seemed natural to me to tell the story of a fisherman. As a fisherman, someone holds the tradition and the traditional knowledge of a place.
The script of Papé was liked and it won the contest. Thanks to this prestigious award the production of Papé immediately begun, with the aim of making a film entirely in Creole language, but at the same time as universal as possible to be understandable even for those unfamiliar with the realities of the Caribbean islands.
While my producer was in charge of the organization of funds, I was preparing in my directorial choices. I wanted a simple and honest film as the story of its protagonist: beautiful images that tell the loneliness and the regrets of an old seaman.
For practical reasons we had to shoot the film in Guadalupe instead of in Martinique, which perhaps allowed me to have a more objective look.
Having never worked before in the Caribbean islands, my producer sent the draft of Papé to local producers to have their feedbacks, but we never received any response, although, as you will see, our message was not unheeded.
In December 2014, with my producer and my assistant we started inspection in Guadalupe.
We were looking for some fishermen's old houses to set there part of the short, but we soon realized that those houses were very rare in the island: they had all been turned into restaurants for tourists.
Finally, we got to an old house near the sea. The owner, an old fisherman, told us that the house had been destroyed by the Hugo tornado in 1989 and since that time he had to move to another house. However, he never wanted to get separated from this house despite the strong pressure of the municipality which would like to buy the house and make it a tourist facility.
The history of this house and the strong relationship of the fisherman with this place touched me deeply and I decided to set the movie in that place after making some restoration.
Although we proposed to the fisherman to stay in a hotel during the days of filming, he refused, saying that he would not want to leave his house now, that thanks to me, it became magnificent. This was a particularly good moment for me and made me really happy as I realized that my movie was able to bring a bit of serenity to another person.
At the same time, the casting for the actors were also started: I wanted all of them to be non-professional actors and we managed to find them quite quickly. All except one: the protagonist. I wanted a true fisherman and it was not easy to find the person with the right intensity for this role.
They were missing few days to our departure and we had not yet found the protagonist.
Shortly before losing hope, I decided to make a last round with my assistant and was at that time that I saw under a tree an old fisherman.
I understood that it would be him the right protagonist. I approached and I told him what we were doing. He looked at me, smiled and said to me: "I know who you are, you are the ones from the French production who are looking for an old fisherman. It is 8 months that I do grow my beard and that I wait for you… You could have get here a bit before!"
Yes, our mails to local producers, even though they had received no response, had created a buzz among the people of the island, till him. For some lucky fate we met under a tree in my last moments of inspection on the island.
The filming
January 2015, and the filming began. They were six days of pure happiness, for which I really thank all the people who took part in this project. Especially the fact that the actors were not professionals created during the filming a strong enthusiasm and motivation. There was a synergy that allowed to built the story around the fisherman's personality.
The première at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival
Here we come to May 2015. The moment I imagined since I started to write Papé, finally arrived.
There I was, on stage, microphone in my hands to present my short film at the Cannes Film Festival. On the cinema's screen appeared the Directors' Fortnight logo, with the names of the great masters of cinema who took part to this contest. The lights went down and my film began. I remember that my heart was beating at 200 km/h. After many years of difficulties, doubts, questioning, my film was projected on the screen of Cannes and I had the feeling, finally, to be truly a director.
This projection was undoubtedly the most emotional and intense of my life… When I think about it, I still shudder today.
We are now more than a year away from that day, and my short film circulated in more than 30 international festivals and won several awards.
I would have never imagined something like this when I was writing the story. I am always full of happiness when the audience leaves happy after the screening of my short and thanks me for telling the story of this island, so little represented in the cinema.
WHOLA
WHOLA è un gruppo di ragazze nate negli anni '90. Abbiamo storie un po' diverse, ma a tutte noi piacciono le storie, soprattutto quelle raccontate bene.
HollyShorts Film Festival 2020 Starts the Race to the Oscars
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Sundance Film Festival 2016: a taste from the short films program.
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(DAYFORNIGHT)
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London Latin Jazz Fest
Ivan 'Melon' Lewis Trio
With Reiner'El Negron' Elizarde and Georvis Pico
SHOW'S OVER
Event Has Passed
Last Show: Wednesday 28 th September 2016
Cuban born and Spanish based pianist and producer, Ivan 'Melon' Lewis is a Latin Grammy nominee who is recognized as one of the most talented and influential pianists of his generation. In the 90s 'Melon' was noted for his work with the Cuban singer Issac Delgado, establishing an era with an inimitable sound. Ivan 'Melon' Lewis will perform for the first time with his trio at London Latin Jazz Fest. The artist will visit his Afro-Cuban roots in a warm journey through boleros, danzons and much more.
In the 90s "Melon" was noted for his work with the Cuban singer Issac Delgado, establishing an era with an inimitable sound. Ivan "Melon" Lewis will perform by first time with his trio at London Latin Jazz Festival. The artist will visit his afro-cuban roots in a warm journey through boleroes, danzones and much more!


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text:
US military announces cut in major defence programmes
Article Posted on : - Jan 07, 2011
Under the proposed plans, the Marine Corps' new amphibious assault vehicle (EFV) could be shaved off. A Marines Corps photo
WASHINGTON (AP): US Defence Secretary Robert Gates is announcing the latest round of cost-cutting measures for the military, including a plan to do away with a new amphibious vehicle that can ferry troops to shore while under fire.
The plan is aimed at staving off potentially deeper cuts by the White House or Congress by showing that the Pentagon is taking seriously a call to rein in the nation's deficit.
The Defence Department is responsible for the biggest piece of discretionary spending in the federal government's annual budget.
It's been largely protected until now. Newly elected conservative tea party activists, including Republican Sen Rand Paul, have said that cuts to military spending must be considered if the federal government is to reduce its deficit.
"Gates has done a good job so far in protecting the budget," said Loren Thompson, head of the Virginia-based Lexington Institute and adviser to several major defence contractors.
"But the deficit is so huge and the other claims on the budget so big that he is starting to lose ground," Thompson said.
Gates was on Thursday expected to announce that he would cancel a $13 billion plan to buy the Marines amphibious assault vehicles from General Dynamics Corp called the Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle.
While a top priority for the Marine Corps, the EFV has long been considered a target of Gates as he looked to trim the budget. Gates has questioned whether D-Day-style landings are going to be common in future wars when the enemy is developing sophisticated weapons that can easily attack ships hovering close to shore.
Other cost-cutting measures were planned as well, including the delay of the Marine version of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, according to defence analysts familiar with the plan.
Defence F-35 US Navy
Indian Navy undertaking mega exercise in Indian Ocean Region
Tata Boeing Aerospace delivers first fuselage for AH-64 Apaches for Army
Maiden joint exercise between special forces of India, Egypt underway in Rajasthan
Women in Army have performed exceedingly well: Army Chief Gen Pande
The Indian Army has decided to commission women officers into the artillery regiments and a proposal on it has been sent to the government, Army Chief Gen Manoj Pande has.


Commonwealth has quickly become one of the most popular nightlife destinations in Las Vegas. Sarah explores both the upstairs and downstairs bars. Plus a look at The Library, which is a mysterious prohibition themed room you must know a secret to get into.


text:
Will Iran, Korea really back off nukes?
Some laud moves with the two nations. Others are suspicious.
July 18, 2007 | Washington
After years of setbacks to nonproliferation efforts involving North Korea and Iran, the news appears to be good: a reactor shuttered, inspectors readmitted, the brakes applied to uranium enrichment.
Or, as some critics of the diplomatic efforts contend, are the two nuclear scofflaws hoodwinking the international community with clever diversions while they pursue a goal of developing nuclear weapons?
North Korea last weekend shut down a nuclear power plant that provided fuel for its nuclear weapons program, while Iran has slowed its uranium enrichment program. Both countries have agreed to readmit international inspectors: North Korea to verify and monitor the disabling of its Yongbyon nuclear reactor, and Iran to monitor a heavy-water reactor that experts say could be used to develop weapons-grade plutonium.
Iran has also agreed, for example, to a set of new inspection safeguards for its nuclear fuel-enrichment plant in Natanz.
And six-party talks on North Korea's nuclear operations are set to resume Wednesday in Beijing.
But not everyone thinks that the nonproliferation developments signal progress. Some caution that what looks like promising compliance by North Korea and Iran could simply be a facade behind which the two countries advance toward entry into the club of nuclear countries.
The North Korea deal, which rewards Pyongyang with food and oil, marks the end of the Bush administration's tough, desist-or-else approach to what it considered rogue regimes with nuclear ambitions, says John Bolton, the administration's former United Nations ambassador.
"This is North Korea succeeding with a tactical maneuver, something they've perfected over the last 50 years, but I still think they are never going to give up their nuclear capability because it is their trump card," he says.Now an expert in international institutions at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) in Washington, Mr. Bolton expects both regimes to interpret recent actions by the international community, including the US, as a green light to pursue their nuclear aims.
Prospect of denuclearization
But supporters of the North Korea deal in particular say it puts the international community back on a path – albeit a difficult one – leading to the Korean peninsula's denuclearization. It is not surprising, they add, that the Bush administration's regime-change advocates would condemn the accord with Pyongyang, since it suggests a return to pragmatic bargaining with adversaries.
"All the people who want to bomb Iran and believe we can cause a collapse of the North Korean regime have a vested interest in downplaying the significance of any negotiated solution," says Joseph Cirincione, a nonproliferation expert at the Center for American Progress in Washington.
"First we had Libya, and now North Korea is showing the efficacy of a policy that tries to change a regime's behavior, rather than trying to change a regime."
After years of diplomatic and economic isolation over his weapons programs and support for extremist organizations, Libyan leader Muammar Qadaffi gave up his programs for developing weapons of mass destruction in 2003. That decision resulted in full reestablishment of the country's ties to the international community, including with the United States. "We negotiated away a nuclear threat," says Mr. Cirincione, "and now Libya's nuclear program is in crates in Oak Ridge, Tenn."
Not so fast, say critics of agreements like the one with North Korea. They say Libya saw the writing on the wall with US action against the regime of Saddam Hussein and chose a different course.
In the case of North Korea, they add, the Yongbyon reactor was nearing the end of its useful life anyway, so Pyongyang gets fuel oil and food shipments for closing a relic. In that way, they say, the US and its partners in the six-party talks – China, South Korea, Japan, and Russia – are aiding in the longevity of a regime that starves its own people and threatens the North Pacific region with missile tests.
The key now, both proponents and opponents of a February deal with Pyongyang agree, will be the willingness of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il to disclose and open to inspection and the dismantling of all his nuclear facilities and materials, including an unverified number of nuclear bombs. No one expects anything other than the missed deadlines and dramatic about-faces that have typified the North's diplomatic approach in the past.
Advantage of today
But that does not minimize the clear advantage of a closed Yongbyon reactor today, supporters say. Up until last weekend, the nuclear plant was operating while negotiations sputtered along.
"The fundamental flaw of the previous situation was that North Korea was operating a reactor that was producing plutonium while the six-party talks fiddled and dawdled," says Daryl Kimball, executive director of the Arms Control Association in Washington. "I'm not satisfied either, but the fact is that North Korea is no longer producing fissile materials," he adds. "And it makes a difference if you have material for six to nine weapons, or for 69."
As for Iran, Mr. Kimball says it is clear the Iranian government is trying to take steps that will stall movement toward a third UN Security Council resolution that presumably would entail even tougher international sanctions against Iran.
The key issue with Iran remains getting it to halt uranium enrichment, Kimball says, and for that he advocates what he acknowledges will be difficult negotiations. "Any agreement will have to have some kind of security assurances, something that gives Iran a clear vision of how [giving up uranium enrichment] can lead to better relations with the West," he says.
That approach has the advantage of tapping into Iranian public opinion. A new poll of Iranians conducted on behalf of Terror Free Tomorrow, a Washington organization favoring public engagement with populations susceptible to extremism, found that while a slight majority of Iranians favor their government developing a nuclear weapon, 4 of 5 Iranians favor opening up their country's nuclear program to full inspections and to renouncing possession of nuclear weapons if it is accompanied by outside economic assistance and international trade, in particular with the US.That is all well and good, detractors say, but Iran is not really a democracy with a government that responds to public opinion. For critics of the current course, like the AEI's Bolton, the better option for a safer world would have been regime change, at least in the case of Iran, and an end to the Kim Jong Il regime.
Bolton says lost time and progress by both regimes in their nuclear programs make that option more difficult. But he says military action to take out Iran's nuclear sites, as difficult as that would be, still must be considered. "Admittedly, it's not an attractive option – until you look at the alternative, which is for Iran to possess nuclear weapons."
But Cirincione maintains that, as hard and unpredictable as negotiations with Pyongyang and Tehran may be, the prospects are better than under what he calls the nonproliferation-through-regime-change model. "We went to war with Iraq for the purpose of preventing an imminent nuclear threat. The path we're now on with North Korea won't be easy," he adds, "but it's a lot easier than Iraq."
Why latest Korea nuclear talks raise hopes
Is Iran studying North Korea's nuclear moves?
Will Iran follow North Korea's lead?
https://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0718/p01s01-usfp.html


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Rustic style bungalow, in a nice and quiet urbanization just a step away from Denia Centro, (15 min walk distance). Capacity for 4 people in summer. With a swimming pool and a nice community garden. Direct exit from the terrace to the garden and pool. Large terrace with barbecue, part of it roofed to enjoy it with friends or family, in summer or winter season.
Free from November to April 2019, then holiday-rental. Do not miss the chance to enjoy a warm winter in a calm and relaxed atmosphere and to celebrate a different Christmas and New Year.


We often have the pleasure of working with clients to renovate historic homes in Florida communities like Winter Park and downtown Orlando. The architectural details in older homes can be divine focal elements, and it's always fun to uncover things like pristine original hardwood floors, classical archways or beautifully carved mantels hidden under layers of 1980s ugly carpet and paneling. Direct, literal restorations of antique homes can seem like a good idea at first, but we often encourage clients to rethink the space. Our goal is to preserve what's best while keeping the space open and inviting for modern living.
And t his raises the question- what to keep and what to replace? Sometimes clients will have collected antique faucets, sinks, or door knobs and will want us to find ways to use these in the renovation. While this can work, it often becomes a money pit, requiring extensive retrofitting of the home's infrastructure. Even something as seemingly simple as an antique door can require totally rebuilding the casing and surrounding area, disturbing existing finishes and causing more trouble than it's worth.
We usually recommend that for things like plumbing and electrical, clients looking for an antique feel to match the age of their homes should seek reproductions rather than originals. There are many sources online for high quality fixtures that look original but work with today's infrastructure. For things that you count on like lighting and water, it's best not to jerry-rig something to make an old item work, when reproductions look just as good.
If you do want to incorporate items in the home to reflect the period when it was built, something like a door knocker or a mantle would be a better choice. Antique furniture and accessories, judiciously blended with new, can also bring the past to life in a renovated historic home. Seamlessly integrating the architectural details of an older home with modern conveniences is always a pleasure, and provides a much more comfortable and satisfying home environment for our clients.


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Qualcomm Snapdragon 710 SoC With Premium Features for Mid Range Smartphones Launched
Qualcomm Snapdragon 710 SoC With Premium Features for Mid-Range Smartphones Launched
By Sumit Chakraborty | Updated: 24 May 2018 11:06 IST
Snapdragon 710 SoC is the first mobile platform in the new portfolio
It is more powerful than the Snapdragon 660 processor
Consumer-ready products are expected in Q2 of the year
Qualcomm has announced an all-new Snapdragon 710 system-on-chip (SoC) mobile processor that is more powerful than the Snapdragon 660 SoC, but not as capable as the top-end Snapdragon 845 processor. This is the first model in the new Snapdragon 700 Mobile Platform series Qualcomm had unveiled at the Mobile World Congress in February 2018. The new Snapdragon range is designed to offer features and performance that were previously exclusive to the premium Snapdragon 800 series. The Snapdragon 710 is the first mobile platform in the new 700-tier portfolio. As per an earlier report, Xiaomi may adopt the processor in two of its upcoming smartphones. The Snapdragon 710 is currently available to Qualcomm's customers such as mobile manufacturers and other device manufacturers, and consumer-ready products are expected in the second quarter of 2018.
The new Snapdragon 710 Mobile Platform is built on a 10nm process and features a multi-core AI Engine and neural network processing capabilities. Kedar Kondap, Vice President, Product Management, Qualcomm Technologies, says, "By incorporating key AI capabilities and performance advancements, the Snapdragon 710 is designed to transform our customers products into the ultimate personal assistant, enhancing critical everyday consumer experiences, such as high-end camera features that will benefit from on-device high-speed AI processing, without sacrificing battery life."
Qualcomm is touting similar promises with the Snapdragon 710 that it first showcased when it announced the lineup. The processor is said to deliver up to twice the overall performance improvements in AI applications, as compared to Snapdragon 660 SoC. It utilises AI capabilities to capture and share contextually-aware images and videos and personalise voice and speech patterns for more natural interactions. The Snapdragon 710 Mobile Platform's architectures such as Qualcomm Hexagon DSP, Adreno Visual Processing subsystem, and Kryo CPU, leverage heterogeneous computing to run on-device AI applications more efficiently now.
The Snapdragon 710 SoC features the new Snapdragon X15 LTE modem, a Category 15 LTE modem that is said to support up to 800Mbps download speeds. It also includes 4x4 MIMO technology for up to 70 percent faster download speeds in weak signal conditions, says Qualcomm. The processor also offers new Wi-Fi features, Bluetooth 5, Qualcomm Broadcast Audio, and Qualcomm TrueWireless Stereo Plus.
In terms of display features, the Snapdragon 710 SoC supports with 4K HDR playback for viewing HDR videos and apps. This is a new feature for processors other than the Snapdragon 800 SoC series. It also brings more brightness, wider colour gamut, and colour depth to the Snapdragon 710.
Qualcomm says that because of improvements in the Adreno 616 Visual Processing Subsystem architecture, Snapdragon 710-based handsets can expect to see up to 40 percent reduction in power consumption for both gaming and 4K HDR video playback, as well as a 20 percent reduction in power consumption when streaming video, when compared to Snapdragon 660-based smartphones. Also, the new Kryo 360 architecture, built on ARM Cortex technology, is optimised to support up to a 20 percent boost in performance, 25 percent faster Web browsing and 15 percent faster app launch times, the company claims. The Snapdragon 710 SoC comes with Qualcomm Quick Charge 4+ technology, device users can get a 50 percent battery charge within 15 minutes, says Qualcomm.
Further reading: Qualcomm, Snapdragon, Snapdragon 710
OnePlus 6 Teardown by iFixit Gives It a Repairability Score of 5 out of 10


Covenant Groups at Follen are a wonderful way to deepen your friendships here, engage in deep listening and deep sharing of personal life wisdom, and participate on occasion with your group in "helping projects" either for Follen or for the wider world.
Each Covenant Group is a group of 8-10 people who represent the diverse fabric of the Follen community. The groups meet monthly to nurture their members within the church. There are currently 15 Covenant Groups at Follen; about one-third of the adults in the congregation participate.
Covenant Group sessions are prepared each month by group leaders. There is a theme for each session, which is introduced through opening words and a reading. Most of each session is then devoted to reflections on this theme by the members of the group.
Visit the Congregation News page for information about this month's Covenant Groups session.
For more information or to sign up for a group, email Catherine Collins at covenantgroups@follen.org.


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Tag Archives: Nick Kroll
Film Review: Vacation (2015)
August 18, 2021 by Talking Pulp	in Film Review, Reviews and tagged 2010s, 2015, adventure, Beverly D'Angelo, Charlie Day, Chevy Chase, Chris Hemsworth, Christina Applegate, Colin Hanks, comedy, Ed Helms, family, film, John Francis Daley, John Hughes, Kaitlin Olson, Keegan-Michael Key, Leslie Mann, Michael Peña, National Lampoon, Nick Kroll, Norman Reedus, Regina Hall, review, Ron Livingston, Vacation	| Leave a comment
Directed by: Jonathan Goldstein, John Francis Daley
Written by: Jonathan Goldstein, John Francis Daley
Based on: characters by John Hughes
Music by: Mark Mothersbaugh
Cast: Ed Helms, Christina Applegate, Skyler Gisondo, Steele Stebbins, Leslie Mann, Chris Hemsworth, Chevy Chase, Beverly D'Angelo, Charlie Day, Ron Livingston, Norman Reedus, Keegan-Michael Key, Regina Hall, Nick Kroll, Kaitlin Olson, Michael Pena, Hannah Davis Jeter, Colin Hanks, John Francis Daley
BenderSpink, David Dobkin Productions, New Line Cinema, 99 Minutes
"I just wanted to sing Seal with my family like normal people." – Rusty Griswold
Full disclosure, I'm not an Ed Helms fan. I think the main reason for that is due to him making the final season of The Office pretty damn insufferable. I also don't necessarily blame him for that, I think it was the writing and whoever was calling the shots on that show at the end. But with that, I was burnt out on Ed Helms for several years.
So, as I approached this film, I wanted to go into it with an open mind and without my previous biases. I knew I'd have to eventually get to this, as I was already watching and reviewing all the Vacation movies and didn't want to simply omit this one just because it didn't feature Chevy Chase and Beverly D'Angelo as the leads.
I'm happy to say that I found this to be pretty decent. It does have some laughable moments, features cameos with a lot of people I like and Ed Helms had solid chemistry with Christina Applegate. Also, he played this version of Rusty Griswold pretty straight and not as over the top as his Andy Bernard character from The Office.
Ultimately, though, this is a rehash of what the original film was with the same destination in mind. The adventure on the way to WallyWorld followed similar beats and homaged some classic moments but there was enough original stuff in this to allow it to stand on its own and to not just be a paint-by-numbers remake.
I also like that this did bring back Chevy Chase and Beverly D'Angelo in their iconic roles, even if it was just a small part within the larger movie.
I can't really say that this is all that memorable, though. It's better than some of the other Vacation movies but that was never really a high bar to begin with.
In the end, this is goofy, mindless escapism and while some jokes don't land as intended, the movie still has a good, positive spirit about it and I liked the core characters.
Vids I Dig 483: Hats Off Entertainment: Geico 'Cavemen' Sitcom – Forgotten Failures
October 18, 2020 by Talking Pulp	in Videos, Vids I Dig and tagged art, comedy, culture, Hats Off Entertainment, history, Nick Kroll, TV	| Leave a comment
Film Review: Loving (2016)
March 7, 2017 by Talking Pulp	in Film Review, Reviews and tagged 2010s, 2016, biography, Cannes, drama, film, history, Joel Edgerton, Michael Shannon, Nick Kroll, review, romance, Ruth Negga	| Leave a comment
Release Date: May 16th, 2016 (Cannes Film Festival)
Directed by: Jeff Nichols
Written by: Jeff Nichols
Based on: The Loving Story by Nancy Buirski
Music by: David Wingo
Cast: Joel Edgerton, Ruth Negga, Marton Csokas, Nick Kroll, Michael Shannon
Big Beach, Raindog Films, Focus Features, 123 Minutes
I really wanted to get around to seeing Loving before the Academy Awards. Ruth Negga was nominated for Best Actress for the film and I have been a fan of her work since first discovering her on the great British television show Misfits. People really need to watch Misfits; I think it is still available on Hulu.
The film is also the first time that I had seen Nick Kroll shed his comedy shtick and try something serious. Kroll did great, by the way.
Loving is the true story of the Loving family and how their interracial marriage caused them a lot of problems in Virginia in 1958, as well as after. It follows their story of love and showcases the challenges that they face. In the end, their situation led to a Supreme Court decision that prevented any sort of legal troubles for interracial couples that marry.
The acting in the film was superb and Negga really takes things to another level, especially in the latter half of the film. Joel Edgerton was solid but he is usually pretty good. Michael Shannon has a small role as a photographer but he is also really impactful.
The focal point of the movie is the relationship between the Lovings. They support each other, they carry each other and ultimately, their bond is tested but only gets stronger.
Loving is a good movie about an important story that needed to be told. I wouldn't consider it to be a great picture but it features a really strong display of acting prowess from its stellar cast.


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Laura Katariina Mononen, née Ahervo le  à Lohja, est une fondeuse finlandaise. Spécialiste des épreuves de distance, elle remporte notamment une médaille de bronze aux Championnats du monde 2017 en relais à Lahti.

Biographie
Membre du club d'Hameenlinna, Laura Mononen est active depuis 2004 dans le cirque blanc, avec une participation aux Championnats du monde junior. Elle participe à sa première épreuve de Coupe du monde en  à Lahti. En 2011, elle obtient son premier podium dans la Coupe de Scandinavie dans un dix kilomètres classique. Elle commence à marquer ses premiers points en Coupe du monde lors de la saison 2011-2012, avec comme meilleurs résultats une  sur le Tour de ski et une  sur le trente kilomètres d'Oslo. Au début de la saison 2014-2015, elle obtient son premier top 10 en se classant dixième du dix kilomètres classique de Davos. Elle s'illustre ensuite sur le Tour de ski en effectuant le troisième temps de la cinquième étape, un quinze kilomètres poursuite en style libre à Toblach.
Son meilleur résultat sur une manche de la Coupe du monde est une cinquième place au trente kilomètres classique d'Oslo en mars 2016, après avoir fini neuvième du Tour de ski. Cet hiver, elle obtient son premier de cinq podiums en relais à Lillehammer ().

Aux Championnats du monde 2017, Mononen remporte la médaille de bronze avec ses coéquipières du relais (Aino-Kaisa Saarinen, Kerttu Niskanen et Krista Parmakoski), à Lahti devant leur public finlandais. En fin de saison, elle enregistre le meilleur classement général de sa carrière en Coupe du monde avec la dixième position.
Aux Jeux olympiques d'hiver de 2018, pour sa seule participation à cet événement, à Pyeongchang, elle arrive  du quinze kilomètres libre et  du skiathlon.

Aux Championnats du monde 2019, elle signe son meilleur résultat individuel sur un rendez-vous majeur avec une douzième place sur le skiathlon. Début 2019, elle a aussi égalé sa meilleure performance dans l'élite avec la cinquième place lors de l'ultime étape du Tour de ski, la montée vers l'Alpe Cermis.

Aux Championnats du monde 2021 à Oberstdorf, elle est notamment seizième du trente kilomètres. Mononen prend sa retraite sportive à l'issue de cet hiver, déçue de ses résultats dernièrement.

Palmarès

Jeux olympiques d'hiver

Légende :
  : pas d'épreuve
 — : Non disputée par Mononen

Championnats du monde

Légende :
  : pas d'épreuve
 — : épreuve non disputée par Mononen

Coupe du monde

Laura Mononen obtient son meilleur classement en coupe du monde avec une dixième place en 2016-2017.
 Meilleur résultat en épreuve individuelle :  ( d'Oslo en 2016).
 5 podiums en relais : 3 deuxièmes places et 2 troisièmes places.

Classements détaillés

Coupe de Scandinavie
 du classement général en 2011.
7 podiums, dont 1 victoire.

Références

Liens externes

Fondeuse finlandaise
Naissance en octobre 1984
Naissance à Lohja
Fondeuse aux Jeux olympiques d'hiver de 2018

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Leah's Crafty Life: TWO KITS this month @ TallyScrapper!
You do beautiful work....Don't think I had ever visited your blog before.
How did you get your name in cursive at the bottom of your posts?????
You so rocked Shirley's kit!!
As for smoking? I still wanna join you!!~sigh~ But the Chantix makes it SOOOOOOOO much easier!!
Oh My gosh Leah, this is so COOL!!! I bought the tally scrapper kit last month and ADORE IT!!!! love what you did with it!
time for an update woman! what's going on in my favorite neck of the woods?


Pimp Out Your Stand With Axe Hugger's® new funktified furry line. Made from plush faux fur in 9 styles, these Axe Huggers® are sure to jazz up your guitar stand and give your stand and your guitar extra style! The ultimate guitar stand accessory slides over the rubber on your standard guitar stand easily to instantly create a super funky plush cradle for your Axe!


If you are like most people nowadays, you like videos. Most people enjoy videos more these days because it makes learning new information a breeze. So this video upsell is a must have for anyone interested promoting this Social Media Marketing pack. These wonderful videos complete the Second (2) Video Upsell to the Social Media Authority Package.