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U.S. Rep. Christopher Smith: "We Need a New Sense of Urgency"
It was a bit of a reunion in Washington, DC last week as U.S. Rep. Christopher Smith thanked the Vitae Foundation and its supporters for 25 years of effectively reaching out to women with "honest, thought-provoking, research-based, culture-of-life messages."
In the early 90s, Rep. Smith, a top congressional pro-life strategist, met with a group in St. Louis that included Vitae Founder Carl Landwehr and Father Joseph Naumann (now Archbishop and the new head of the U.S. Bishops Pro-Life Committee), where the Vitae Founder explained a new vision for pro-life work that didn't exist at that time—using media to change the culture by changing hearts and minds to a culture of life.
"Always adapting to the time, what began by Vitae as primarily TV and radio spots, has matriculated into sophisticated digital marketing," Rep. Smith told the crowd gathered in Falls Church, Virginia. "Since the early 90s, Vitae has presented information in a highly respectful way to women contemplating abortion, at or near the critical hour of decision. And the results are breathtaking."
But for every woman reached by these "thoughtful messages," Smith said there are many more who never had access to them and were victimized by the abortion industry's "false and misleading advertising propaganda."
Vitae President Rob Rysavy told the crowd that Vitae uses 25 years of research on the abortion-minded woman to fill an unmet need.
"You know that at pregnancy centers miracles happen. A woman who is considering abortion may not know where a pregnancy center is or even know it's an option. We make that vital connection," Rysavy stated. "We do this so we can save lives and change the culture."
Smith agreed with the Vitae president. "The unmet need for Vitae Foundation's incredible outreach begs the question: Will we do more to assist? To reach more women, are we willing to double down and significantly multiply these lifesaving messages?"
Landwehr told the crowd that the pro-life movement is near a "tipping point," and yet we don't even know we are inching our way there. With Pregnancy Help Centers (PHCs) outnumbering abortion facilities 3-1, we need to continue to aggressively market to the woman who is pregnant yet doesn't want to be.
"Our job is to market life better than the abortion stores market death," Landwehr stated. "Women are coming to PHCs via digital marketing. About 70 percent of them are abortion determined. Of that demographic, 54 percent carry to term if we can get them to a PHC."
Vitae's philosophy, Landwehr explained, is likened to that of Wayne Gretsky. The Hall of Fame hockey player always said he didn't skate to the puck; he skated where the puck was going.
"That's Vitae. We look where the communication's industry is going, and we make sure we are there, engaging women who shop online for everything from a car to an abortion," the Vitae Founder noted.
As a 37-year veteran in Congress, Smith has spent his entire political life fighting for women and against the abortion industry. He noted his encouragement that a record number of state laws have been enacted in recent years that are designed to protect life to the maximum extent permissible under the infamous Supreme Court ruling of 1973.
There's also a correlation to what Vitae strives to accomplish and the legislative work done in the Nation's Capital and across the country, the co-chair of the Congressional Bipartisan Pro-Life Caucus noted.
"When hearts are changed, when culture changes, legislation moves more effectively," the New Jersey statesman stated. "Despite laboring in this struggle for years—or decades—I believe we need a new sense of urgency."
Even though there is a pro-life majority in both houses of Congress, albeit razor thin in the U.S. Senate, it is still difficult to get pro-life bills to the president's desk. He highlighted several pieces of legislation that have been passed by the House, but languish in Senate committees, like Smith's No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act. This bill would end Obamacare abortion-on-demand funding and make all current pro-life appropriation riders like the Hyde Amendment permanent rather than having to be renewed every year.
Despite these being challenging times, we have reason to hope, Smith noted. More and more younger people recognize the sanctity of life. While still unconscionably high, the number of abortions procured each year is declining. First baby pictures today are of unborn children—not newborns—as birth is recognized as an event in the continuum of life, not the beginning.
"Vitae messaging is having a profound impact, changing lives forever," Smith noted. "We are at the tipping point where we will accelerate toward a culture of life and away from a culture of death."
Help Vitae today with a donation so we can direct more and more women in need to life-saving PHCs. This is the fuel to move us toward that tipping point Carl and Rep. Smith mentioned.
By Vitae|2017-12-12T11:07:03+00:00December 11th, 2017|Uncategorized, Vitae|0 Comments

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


I was born in Bartın, graduated Istanbul Sâmiha Ayverdi Anatolian High School. I was interested in charcoal and traditional ebru arts for a while. I was attended in many club activities in high school and took part in social responsibility projects. I joined Model United Nations conferences, I took various duties in the organization. I have been in the Netherlands for a while with the exchange program that my school has organized with Hageveld College. Written in various magazines. I underlined the participation of young people in the process. I joined the youth panes and made presentations & talks.
I participated in seminars/workshops of many think tanks based in Turkey. I keep following the events with interest. I interned at the program of the People's Republic of China Academy organized jointly by the Turkish International Relations Studies Association (TUİÇ) and the Turkish-Chinese Cultural Center. I had the opportunity to travel to 23 different countries for international projects, training, conferences, and trips.
I joined the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Youth Assembly as the 5th member. I worked to support the civil society activities against addictions by working at Genç Yeşilay's Research and Development Commission. I have been worked as project director at Young Diplomat Academy which is organized by the Turkey Youth Foundation HQ Foreign Affairs Unit. I am still doing volunteer work in various non-governmental organizations and carrying out projects.
I graduated from the Department of Political Science and International Relations at Istanbul University. I continue my postgraduate studies at the European and East Asian Governance program at Universität Trier.
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Hawick got off to the perfect start in their East of Scotland Division Six campaign as they notched a win at Buccleuch Park on Saturday.
Skipper Phil Mactaggart won the toss and elected to field first, with Ryan Johnston picking up the first wicket when Ronan Alexander took a catch at square leg.
Johnston and Neil Storey both bowled tight opening spells and the latter got his reward with a wicket in the final over with Allan Moffat taking the catch.
Stuart Hair and Christo Beukes kept the pressure on, with the former claiming one wicket and the latter taking two, including an excellent caught and bowled, to leave Dunbar on 71 for five. However, Dunbar's opening batsman N. Binnie remained unbeaten and Dunbar posted a total of 143 for seven from their 40 overs.
In reply the home side got off to a solid start with father and son partnership, Gary and Ronan Alexander, putting on 24 before the latter was caught on the boundary for two.
Pierce Solley joined Alexander Snr at the crease and the pair looked to chase down the total. Solley hit two sixes on his way to 47 as the pair put on 81 for the second wicket.
However, two balls later, Beukes was caught behind to give the visitors a glimmer of hope.
Moffat joined Alexander as he reached his half-century as they guided the Teries home with just under five overs to spare as Moffat remained unbeaten on 25 and Alexander on 57.


In response to proposals to introduce new radio systems into 3550–3650 MHz radio spectrum in the United States, the authors have performed measurements and analysis on effects of interference from a variety of radar waveforms to the performance of a Long Term Evolution (LTE) base station receiver. This work has been prompted by the possibility that LTE base station receivers may eventually share spectrum with radar operations in this spectrum range. The base station receiver that was tested used time division duplex (TDD) modulation. Radar pulse parameters used in this testing spanned the range of both existing and anticipated future radar systems in the 3100–3650 MHz spectrum range. LTE base station receiver data throughput rates, block error rates (BLER), and internal noise levels have been measured as functions of radar pulse parameters and the incident power level of radar pulses in the base station receiver. The authors do not determine the acceptability of radar interference effects on LTE base station performance. Rather, these data are presented for the use of spectrum managers and engineers who can use this information as a building block in the construction of frequency-and-distance separation curves for radar transmitters and LTE base station receivers, supporting possible future spectrum sharing at 3.5 GHz.
Note: This report was reissued in May 2014 to correct the duty cycles of four radar interference waveforms that were misstated in the original version of this report. The error was due to a mistake in the equations on page 8, now corrected, in which a pulse repetition rate (PRR) variable was used instead of a pulse repetition interval (PRI) variable. The waveforms' pulse widths, pulse repetition rates, and chirp bandwidths were correctly reported.


Setsubun is the day before the beginning of spring in Japan.
During this festival it is a custom to throw beans (Mamemaki) and therefore it is also called the Bean-Throwing Festival.
Throwing those fortune beans invites luck and drives out all the bad things.
In Fukuoka, we celebrate Setsubun at Tochoji Temple in Hakata on the third of February.
Our school also takes part in the festivities and some students scatter beans from a stage dressed up as either a demon or as one of the seven gods of fortune.
Join us and collect your good luck!


A reader and her husband were traveling on Alaska Airlines. While transferring planes in Seattle, they discovered their next flight was canceled, forcing them (and everyone else on the plane) to seek an alternate flight.
Her husband stood in the long customer service line while his wife called an Alaska Airlines customer service number through an app to see if it would be a faster way to solve their dilemma. Her call was connected before her husband reached the head of the line. This is their story.
The wife believed she was speaking with an Alaska Airlines employee. He did not inform her otherwise. He told her that all subsequent flights to her destination that day were canceled, so she would need to book a new flight on another airline (which turned out to be a subsidiary of the airline they were flying) to get her there that same day. And so, she did.
Meanwhile, the husband reached the front of the line and was told by an actual Alaska Airlines rep that all flights were not canceled. He rescheduled them on the next flight. The airline rep checked their account and confirmed that the airline made no additional charges to their account.
Fast forward three weeks. A charge for over $500 appeared on their credit card statement for the flight the wife booked. Our reader did some investigating and it turns out she wasn't speaking with an Alaska Airlines employee like she thought, but rather, an independent travel agent. How'd that happen? She was told by the airline that when the airline is inundated with phone calls, they allow calls to be rolled over to third-party online providers.
However, when I called the airline directly, the rep said they don't allow calls to roll over. However, she said they are aware that some customers have called the 800 number listed on their website and in some instances a third party company has hijacked their number. Either way, the customer doesn't appear to have been speaking with an Alaska Airlines agent on the phone.
In this case, there was no need to pay for a new ticket to get the existing flight rescheduled. The couple disputed the charge but it was upheld as valid because the wife gave the travel agent her credit card number, thereby authorizing the charge. She is now working with Alaska Airlines to get relief from the original ticket purchase since it was a calamity of errors that caused this over-ticketing situation.
Moral to the story: Always make sure you know who you're talking to before you provide your credit card information. From what our reader found out, it appears there is no requirement for the travel agent to identify himself as an independent agent. Nobody seems accountable for the outright lie the traveler was told about all flights being canceled the rest of the day, necessitating an unnecessary double booking of the flight.
UNLIKE YOU, DEBT DOESN'T DIE: When you die, does your credit card debt instantly vanish upon your death? Credit issuers don't just walk away. They will go after the funds of the deceased person's estate or any joint cardholders.
If you open a joint account with a spouse or business partner, all cardholders are liable for the debt no matter which person actually made the charge.
You should also know that in some cases, while an authorized user might not be liable for the debt, their credit rating can be affected by late payments. Why should this matter? Because if you're caring for an elderly parent or someone else in poor health and are an authorized signer on their account, and for some reason they aren't able to pay or they start making late payments, this could impact your credit score. This is because the credit card company will supply the credit bureaus with this information.
If you fall into this category, you might consider being removed from the account just to be on the safe side. You don't want your credit score impacted by events you might not control.
Another area of concern is divorce. Make sure that once the assets and debts are split, any joint credit cards are updated to reflect the new ownership or closed to make sure other authorized users aren't added to the account without your knowledge. If this happens and you fail to get your name off a credit card or your ex-spouse passes away or stops making payments, you might find yourself liable for debts that aren't yours.
And remember that when someone passes away, creditors get paid before beneficiaries. The bottom line is, if there is any way to collect, the credit card company will chase down all avenues of collection, so be prepared.
If you have any questions about how this topic affects you, an estate attorney is a good place to start.


Nothing says fall in Canada like hot apple cider, fresh baked apple pie, or packing your child's lunch with a shiny apple for snack time. Apples are prized for their aroma, flavour and health benefits, and there's a variety to suit every taste. Whether you like a sweet or tart apple, or are looking to eat it fresh or consume your apples cooked, there is a perfect apple for every occasion or dish.
High in pectin and flavonoids, the latest health-related research suggests apples may reduce the risk of: heart disease, high cholesterol, some cancers, stroke, COPD and Type-2 diabetes. It seems the old adage "an apple a day keeps the doctor away" may in fact be true.
Ambrosia – Sweet, crisp, low acidity – great raw and in salads.
Cortland – Mild, sweet taste and crisp texture. Excellent for salads and fruit plates; resists browning. Good for pies and sauces.
Crispin – Tart to sweet taste and firm texture. Delicious in pies and chunky sauces.
Empire – Slightly tart, juicy, and crisp – great raw, in salads and sauces.
Fuji – Great for eating fresh.
Gala – Sweet, fragrant, and crisp. Enjoyed raw and in salads, pies, and tarts.
Golden Delicious – Firm, juicy apple that keeps its shape when baked. Also, delicious cooked for applesauce.
Honeycrisp – Sweet, juicy, and crisp – great raw.
Idared – Tart and maintains flavour when baked.
Jonagold – Firm, slightly coarse texture. Great for eating fresh and cooking.
Macintosh – Mildly tart, juicy but sweetens as it ripens – great raw, in salads, pie, sauce, and for baking.
Northern Spy – Excellent for pies and baked apples.
Red Delicious – Excellent for eating fresh and in salads.
Red Prince – A versatile apple, suitable for eating fresh, cooking and baking.
Russet – One of the oldest varieties in Ontario and more popular in Europe. Great fresh, in applesauce and baked.
Spartan – Delicious fresh and baked in a pie.
SweeTango is another Canadian variety, grown in Nova Scotia and Quebec – Very crisp, sweet and tangy apple. Great fresh, cooked, and baked.
For seasonal availability information by variety, visit Ontario Apple Growers.
Select firm and vibrantly coloured apples that are free from bruises or punctures. Fresh apples should have a bright, pleasant aroma and tight skin. Apples should be handled with care, as they can bruise very easily. Brownish freckled areas do not affect flavour and naturally occur on certain varieties.
Some apples are best for eating out-of-hand, while others are best enjoyed cooked or baked. Be sure to refer to our information about varieties above to find the type that suits your needs and preferences.
Store apples in a cool, dark place or keep them in the refrigerator crisper, in a plastic bag.
Apples produce a natural ethylene gas that speeds the ripening of other fruits so be sure to store apples away from other produce, unless you want to speed up their ripening time.
To Freeze Apples: Remove the peel and core before cutting into slices. Lay the slices flat on baking tray, and place in the freezer. Once the slices are completely frozen, you can place the slices into freezer safe bags or containers and store in the freezer for up to 8 months. Frozen apples lose their crisp texture, so they are best used in cooked recipes after thawing.
Another idea is to cook apples first, such as apple sauce and then freeze them in an airtight container.
Whether baking, caramelizing, deep-frying, grilling, poaching, eating fresh, sautéing, or adding to a salad, the uses for apples are endless.
If you are slicing apples to eat fresh, toss them with a bit of lemon or lime juice, or acidulated water (1 cup water to 1 teaspoon lemon juice). This will prevent them from browning if you do not plan to eat them right away.
The best technique to peel an apple is to use a vegetable peeler over a knife; a knife will take away too much of the juicy flesh.
It takes four apples to make a glass of pure apple juice.
Three medium apples equal about 1 lb. (500 g).
One medium apple yields about 1/4 cup (175 mL) of sliced apples.
Lighten up your baking: when a recipe calls for oil, substitute half with smooth applesauce. There will be fewer calories and no difference in taste although baking times may vary slightly.
Use a U-shaped peeler instead of a knife to peel apples.
In a recipe, one medium apple yields about 1/4 cup (175 mL) of sliced apples.
Cooked apples go very well with meat such as pork and chicken, as well as vegetables like potatoes and cabbage.
If you don't have a melon baller to core an apple, use a measuring spoon – a ½ teaspoon works best!
Apples that are a little older can be revived. Just chop them into large chunks, coat with cold apple juice and pop them in the refrigerator for half an hour.
Apples produce a natural ethylene gas that speeds the ripening of other fruits. Simply place an apple in a paper bag with the other fruit you'd like to ripen. Leave the bag open to allow it to breathe and store on the counter out of direct sunlight.
Calling all juicers! Apples are a perfect base for fresh juice. Combine with carrot and some leafy greens for a healthy, delicious home pressed juice.
What Do Apples Go Well With?
When there is an abundance of local apples, apple sauce is an easy go-to but if you want to step it up – make apple butter! Simply cook apples until they are very tender and caramelized brown. Puree or blend to use over toast, pancakes, or even use as a glaze for roasts.
Apples are delicious to eat out of hand but can also be used to make delectable snacks in various forms. Try making apple Oka bites as a fun appetizer, or try making apple leather, apple turnovers, or decadent  apple cream cheese squares.
For those days you just need something simple and home baked, try making an apple tart, apple cupcakes or this apple strata.
Apples aren't just tasty in sweet treats; they are amazing in savoury meals as well. Chicken apple sauté is tasty, easy to make and full of fibre.
Apple quesadillas and apple stuffed squash are great ways to enjoy the bright flavour of apples in savoury dishes. Apples can be added to mac and cheese for a fun twist. Or try it in this wild rice and quinoa salad for a delicious crunch.
Roasted Ontario apple gravy can bring a natural sweetness and seasonal flair to your favourite fall and and winter holiday meals. It also happens to be completely vegan (if you use vegetable stock) making it an excellent option for those with dietary restrictions.
Nothing could be more economical than cooking with cabbage and apples this time of year, so consider this cabbage, smoked sausage and apple soup for your budget-friendly weeknight dinners.
Ontario apple and chicken turnovers turn store-bought favourites – rotisserie chicken, apples and frozen pie crust – into a simple-to-make meal for the pressed-for-time cook.
According to the Canadian Nutrient file, one medium apple contains a great number of your daily-recommended intake of nutrients: just 72 calories, no fat11% of Vitamin C, offers 10% of fibre, and 4% of potassium.


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Category Archives: Phalange
Sheol Welcomes Ariel Sharon
After eight years in a coma Ariel Sharon (1928-2014), Israeli military leader, Prime Minister and war criminal, died on 11 January. Ironically, but quite understandably, he was lauded as a man of peace by western leaders. American Secretary of State John Kerry asserted that Sharon was a man who attempted to "bend the course of history toward peace," a truly ludicrous proposition that demonstrates the stranglehold Israel has on US politicians. Among Israelis he was more honestly known as the "Bulldozer," while for Palestinians he was the "Butcher," a recognition of his complete disregard for non-Jewish lives. Apart from his Jewishness Sharon was an individual who would have been quite comfortable in the Hitler administration, something that may be said about a disturbing number of Israeli politicians these days.
Biden is Jewish?
the world remembers the man of peace
Sharon was a sabra, that is, he was actually born in Palestine, giving him marginally more credibility in his claim to the land than someone who had recently arrived from Brooklyn. To his credit he was not involved in terrorism against the British, as were two other Israeli Prime Ministers, Menachim Begin and Yitzhak Shamir, but this may simply be because of his youth. He fought as part of the Haganah in the War of Independence in 1947-48 and after the armistice in 1949 he remained in the Israeli military for the next quarter century. During this long tenure he showed himself to be a brilliant military commander, but he was also insubordinate and extremely aggressive, often losing more men than his superiors thought was necessary.
the young warrior
From the beginning of his career he also demonstrated a ruthlessness and complete lack of morality when dealing with his country's enemies. Shortly after the armistice he organized Unit 101, a sort of special operations squad that conducted raids across the armistice lines in retaliation for Arab attacks, to some degree setting the standard for the Israeli military. Collateral damage among Arab civilians was not a concern, and responding in 1953 to an Arab raid into Israel, his unit attacked the West Bank (then controlled by Jordan) village of Qibya, which had been used by the Arab force. His men blew up 45 houses, a school and a mosque, killing between 65 and 70 civilians, at least half of them women and children. The operation was disavowed by the Israeli government.
the old politician
Sharon performed brilliantly during the 1956 Suez crisis, the 1967 Six Day War and the 1973 Yom Kippur War, but controversial political views led to his dismissal in 1974. His political career began the following year, and despite his lack of experience he was made Minister of Agriculture when Menachim Begin became Prime Minister in 1977. During this period Sharon became the major supporter of the settlement movement, which began in 1974 with the creation of Gush Emunim (Block of the Faithful), whose members wished to see the West Bank annexed by Israel. Sharon's policy: "Everybody has to move, run and grab as many (Judean) hilltops as they can to enlarge the (Jewish) settlements because everything we take now will stay ours. … Everything we don't grab will go to them." The Jewish settlement of Palestinian territory would be Sharon's greatest achievement and his lasting legacy.
defenders of Greater Israel
In 1981 Begin appointed Sharon Minister of Defense, and a year later Israel invaded Lebanon, providing the opportunity for Sharon to become an actual war criminal. On 15 September 1982 in response to the assassination of Lebanese president and Israeli ally Bashir Gemayel Sharon, Begin, chief of staff Rafael Eitan and foreign Minister Yitzhak Shamir decided to reoccupy West Beirut, violating their agreement with the United States. The Israeli army surrounded the Sabra neighborhood and Shatila refugee camp, where thousands of Palestinians, mostly women, children and old men, lived, and the following day Sharon and Eitan invited the Christian Phalange militias (See Ironies from Israel #2) to "mop up" the refugee camps, providing Israeli jeeps to transport them. The Phalange, originally modeled on the Nazi SA, entered the camps and began raping, mutilating and butchering the inhabitants, all of this being observed by Israeli officers stationed in buildings around the area. When darkness fell, the Israeli army continuously fired flares, illuminating the camps. The following morning the army ordered the Phalange to stop. By that time more than a thousand Palestinians, including small children, had been killed.
"personally responsible"
The United Nations condemned the massacre as "genocide," with which term the US and other nations disagreed. An independent commission headed by Seán MacBride concluded that Israeli authorities or forces were indirectly or directly responsible for the slaughter, while the Israeli Kahan Commission, created only after 400,000 protestors gathered in Tel Aviv, concluded that Israel was only indirectly responsible. Sharon, Eitan and some intelligence officials were found to "bear personal responsibility," and it was recommended that Sharon be dismissed. He refused to resign and Begin refused to fire him until massive protests forced a compromise whereby Sharon would cease to be Minister of Defense but remain in the cabinet. He also acquired the name "Butcher of Beirut."
International outrage subsided, and Sharon remained part of the cabinet for the next eighteen years, serving as Minister Without Portfolio, Minister for Trade and Industry, Minister of Housing and Construction, Minister of Energy and Water Resources and Minister of Foreign Affairs. He became Prime Minister in 2001 and served until his stroke in 2006. As a cabinet minister he vigorously pushed the settlement of the
West Bank, but in 2005 he "disengaged" from Gaza, forcibly removing some 7000 Jewish settlers. For this he was lauded as a "man of peace," taking the first bold step towards ending the occupation and creating a Palestinian state. What nonsense. Unlike the West Bank, which is essentially Judea, Gaza was never part of ancient Israel and consequently expendable in the creation of Greater Israel, and the move took some of the attention away from the massive settlement program in the West Bank. "Disengagement" meant turning Gaza into a huge prison camp, its frontiers, territorial waters and air space controlled by the Israelis, who periodically bomb its fading infrastructure.
In an attempt to end terrorist attacks and suicide bombings in 2002 he launched Operation Defensive Shield, the largest military operation in the West Bank since the Six Day War. Various international organizations concluded that both sides could be faulted for their behavior and that Israeli use of heavy weapons in urban areas resulted in civilian casualties. More critically, the Israelis purposefully destroyed much of the Palestinian infrastructure, including private property belonging to a number of NGOs. By deliberately debilitating the Palestinian Administration and weakening the economic infrastructure Defensive Shield dramatically aided the settlement program.
In 2002 private groups began the construction of the "separation barrier," which after some hesitation Sharon's government embraced, pouring in funds. The concrete wall, generally more than twenty feet high, and other obstacles, including exclusion zones, are designed to protect Israel, but it also allows the Israelis to begin transferring Palestinian land to Israel by running the wall east of the 1967 cease fire line. More than 8% of the West Bank has now been in effect turned into Israel.
a new crusader castle
Many Israelis see Ariel Sharon as an embarrassment and even a war criminal, but generally he is remembered for his heroic and brilliant exploits during Israel's major wars. His lasting legacy, though, is the settlement of the West Bank, where more than a half million Israelis now live and enjoy rights and resources denied the Palestinians. Israel now directly controls about two thirds of the proposed Palestinian homeland, while the remainder is cut up by Israeli-only roads and military enclaves. In complete conflict with international law Israel is gradually annexing the West Bank and painting herself into a corner. If the Palestinians are granted citizenship in Greater Israel, it will no longer be a Jewish state, which is unthinkable. The only alternative is apartheid, a system that is slowly being established. And through inaction and political cowardice my country is abetting this loathsome development.
9 Comments Posted in Ariel Sharon, barrier wall, Israel, Palestine, Phalange, Qibya, Sabra and Shatila, settlements, Uncategorized
Ironies from Israel #2: die Fahne hoch!
On June 6, 1982, responding to the assassination of their ambassador, 60,000 Israeli troops poured into Lebanon in an effort to end Palestinian raids into northern Israel. Israel had invaded before in 1978, driving up to the Litani River with the help of its client army, the Christian South Lebanon Army, but on this occasion the IDF marched all the way to Beirut, precipitating a general conflict between Christian and Muslim forces inLebanon. Their major ally in this incursion was the Phalange, a virulently anti-communist and anti-Palestinian Maronite Christian militia that had played a major role in the country since the days of the French mandate. Under pressure from Israel Bashir Jumayyil, son of the founder of the Phalange, was elected president of Lebanon, and after his assassination Israeli support went to his brother Amin, who replaced him. During the IDF occupation of Beirut the Phalange, with the complicity of Israeli forces, massacred hundreds of Palestinians in the Sabra and Shatila refugee camps.
Israel's best friend in Lebanon, the Phalange was organized in 1936 by Pierre Jumayyil, who modeled it after another paramilitary organization that had seriously impressed him: the Nazi Sturmabteilung (SA or Brownshirts).
Leave a comment Posted in history, IDF, Israel, Nazis, Phalange, SA, Sabra/Shatila, Uncategorized


Research reveals a wealth of information concerning Jeanne which presents a number of quandaries for the genealogist but fertile ground for the novelist: She came to Quebec in 1671 as a Fille de Roi (FdR), the FdR records hint who else may have come on the same voyage. She did not stay at one of the FdR housing units but under the protection of Lady Anne Gagnier. She came with a dowry, and was 24 years old (old for a FdR). She married Francois Allard in November of 1671.
Her home was Artannes-sur-Indre, a small French village on the banks of the Indre River in the heart of the spectacular Loire Valley Chateau Region. Both her parents were living at her departure, and the dowry hints her father had some means. The church of St. Maurice in Artannes is next to an old Abbey famous from the time of Jeanne d'Arc (Joan of Arc). We visited Artannes, the church and Abbey in 2001. It remains a lovely riverside village. To discover how I interpreted the facts in the matter of Jeanne Anguille, you must read Book One: The New World.
Here are photos from the mill and the Abbey in Artannes-sur-Indre.


Chirp, Chirp our yellow chickie ornament has hatched. Our glittered yellow clay chick hatching from a speckle plastic egg. The inside egg is painted bright pink or lime green.
We only have a limited of each color so let us know info@swirlydesigns.com if you prefer a certain color or else you will get what is available.
Click closeup to see colors.
We have only 1 lime and 2 pink ones left.


The front is a siler coloured metal with a stamp of CF on the front. The back is wooden.There is a ring out of the back to balance the plaque when it stands. It comes in its own blue box shown on the photo.


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Q: Firestore one-time read using Flutter, i got to printing document data in console want to output it in UI In my Firestore DB, inside 'location' collection i have 2 docs,(named as Europe,Australia) having a field 'name' with their string values (same as their document names).
I have worked with StreamBuilder and Streams before, but this time i dont want real-time calls, but just once.
I wanna print that 'name' field data of all the docs inside location collection.
This is what my UI code looks like:
class HomePage extends StatefulWidget {

  @override
  _HomePageState createState() => _HomePageState();
}
class _HomePageState extends State<HomePage> {

  double spaceInBetween = 25;

  @override
  Widget build(BuildContext context) {

    DatabaseService().getData();

    return Scaffold(
      body: Container(
        child: Text("data here")
      );
}

I wanna print all that documents data, with all their names using ListView.builder() on the HomePage.
This is my DatabaseService class (using the official FlutterFire Docs https://firebase.flutter.dev/docs/firestore/usage/ but didnt find what i was looking for)
class DatabaseService {

  final locationCollection = FirebaseFirestore.instance.collection("location");

  getData() async {
    await locationCollection.get().then((QuerySnapshot querySnapshot) {
      querySnapshot.docs.forEach((doc) {
        print(doc['name']);
      });
    });
  }

}

Also wanted to know if there's any other way i could do this, using FutureBuilder or anything else, just wanna get field data from all docs in a collection from Firestore and print it (im still learning).
Thank you :)

A: I think the answer is FutureBuilder. You can create a Future method which is going to get datas from Firebase servers and return it. After that you just create a FutureBuilder which is going to help you to show datas and if something wrong with the server or the internet connection you will not get any error messages because FutureBuilder will show an CircularProgressIndicator.
I made a demo code for you to demostrate FutureBuilder.
class MyHomePage extends StatefulWidget {
  @override
  _MyHomePageState createState() => _MyHomePageState();
}

class _MyHomePageState extends State<MyHomePage> {
  final locationCollection = FirebaseFirestore.instance.collection("location");

  @override
  void initState() {
    super.initState();
  }

  Future<List<String>> getData() async {
    List<String> name = [];
    await locationCollection.get().then((QuerySnapshot querySnapshot) {
      querySnapshot.docs.forEach((doc) {
        name = doc['name'];
      });
    });
    return name;
  }

  @override
  Widget build(BuildContext context) {
    return Scaffold(
      body: Container(
        child: Center(
          child: FutureBuilder<List<String>>(
              future: getData(), // call getData method
              builder: (context, snapshot) {
                List<String> nameList = snapshot.data ?? []; // create a local variable which is storing data from the getData method
                if (snapshot.hasError) print(snapshot.error);
                return snapshot.hasData
                    ? ListView.builder( // if getData method give datas listviewbuilder is going to show datas
                        itemCount: nameList.length,
                        itemBuilder: (BuildContext context, int index) {
                          return ListTile(
                            title: Text(nameList[index]),
                          );
                        },
                      )
                    : Center(child: CircularProgressIndicator()); // if something wrong with the server or with the internet you will see a CircularProgressIndicator
              }),
        ),
      ),
    );
  }
}

A: In order to ensure you only get the data once, you can use a FutureBuilder and ensure you define the future outside the build method (for example in the initState) so that it doesn't get called again whenever the build method is called.

FutureBuilder
...
The future must have been obtained earlier, e.g. during
State.initState, State.didUpdateWidget, or
State.didChangeDependencies. It must not be created during the
State.build or StatelessWidget.build method call when constructing the
FutureBuilder. If the future is created at the same time as the
FutureBuilder, then every time the FutureBuilder's parent is rebuilt,
the asynchronous task will be restarted.
https://api.flutter.dev/flutter/widgets/FutureBuilder-class.html

Update the getData method of your DatabaseService class to this below:
 Future<List<String>> getData() async {
    final QuerySnapshot locationDataSnapshot = await locationCollection.get();

    final List<String> listOfNames = locationDataSnapshot.docs
        .map((QueryDocumentSnapshot documentSnapshot) =>
            documentSnapshot.data()['name'] as String)
        .toList();

    return listOfNames;
  }

This code above fetches the list of documents from the location collection and maps them to a list of names, which is then returned.
You can then get define the future object to get this data in your initState and use it in your FutureBuilder like shown below:

class MyHomePage extends StatefulWidget {

  @override
  _MyHomePageState createState() => _MyHomePageState();
}

class _MyHomePageState extends State<MyHomePage> {
  Future<List<String>> _nameListFuture;

  @override
  void initState() {
    super.initState();
    _nameListFuture = DatabaseService().getData();
  }

  @override
  Widget build(BuildContext context) {
    return Scaffold(
      body: FutureBuilder<List<String>>(
        future: _nameListFuture,
        builder: (context, snapshot) {
          if (snapshot.data == null) {
            return Center(child: CircularProgressIndicator());
          }

          final List<String> nameList = snapshot.data;
          return ListView.builder(
            itemCount: nameList.length,
            itemBuilder: (context, index) => Text(nameList[index]),
          );
        },
      ),
    );
  }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


f you need your roof cleaned in Westchester, Putnam or Dutchess County getting your roof and gutters cleaned is easy just contact Westchester Powerwashing for a free on-site consultation and estimate. Or give us a call.
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As you know, real estate is one of your largest and most important investments. Westchester Power Roofing is able to help you protect that investment and help you continue to enjoy the beauty of a properly cleaned roof using the safest cleaning solutions. Yes, Westchester Power Washing is an outstanding member of the Power Washers of North America (PWNA).
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text:
How to Use Left Hand Mod...
Android 13 to Offer more...
Galaxy Fold Will Launch in September
Prutha Hirve | July 25, 2019 | Samsung News | No Comments
Samsung expects the launch of its foldable flagship, Galaxy Fold in September. Originally the device was scheduled to launch on 26th April, but the screen breaking issues compelled the company to postpone its release. After that company focused on comprehensive improvement of the Galaxy Fold and improve the overall user experience. Due to this unexpected delay Best Buy and AT&T canceled all the pre-orders and refunded the money to customers.
The September launch of the Galaxy Fold can lead to the competition with Huawei Mate X as it is also expected to launch in the same month.
Company has made extensive evaluation and all the required improvements to the product in meantime. However, if launched as scheduled earlier, the Galaxy Fold would be the first foldable smartphone by major manufacturers.
The issue of screen cracking was occurred due to peeling off the layer of plastic film on the phone's internal display by reviewers. This happened because reviewers failed to understand the warning of not to peel off the layer and this lead to the crack in the display.
In other cases bulge occurred on the internal screen of the device because some debris entered the phone's top hinge. Now Samsung has solved all these issues and improved the device with an extended protective layer to cover bezels.
In order to prevent the debris from entering the device, protection caps have added on top as well the bottom side of the hinge. Also, the metal layers below the Infinity Flex Display have been included to reinforce the protection of the display.
Further, the company has reduced the space between the body and the hinge of the device. Samsung is also working to optimize the more apps for the Galaxy Fold's User Interface.
As the company expects the launching of the Galaxy Fold in select markets in September, the more details will available close to the launching date. Customers have to wait until September to get this amazing and improved foldable smartphone.
Tags:Galaxy Fold, Samsung
Galaxy A Series Not Getting Android 10 Beta
1 Comment | Dec 5, 2019
Samsung may Open One UI 4 Beta For Nearly all Users in First Wave
Galaxy Watch 4 & Active 4 may Launch on August 3
Samsung Galaxy Fold Ready to Release


Featuring Martin Healy Advocate, Youth Disability Advocacy Service. Alex Rowsell secretary and public officer at Reinforce, a Melbourne-based self-advocacy group for people with intellectual disabilities.
With Rhiana and Zoe Whitson.
Zoe comes from a big family; four sisters, Mum and Dad. Rhiana is Zoe's big sister. Rhiana chats with her family about the rewards and challenges of growing up with intellectual disability.
Presented by Rhonda Jancovich. Works written and read by: Andy Jackson, Elanor Jackson, Emily Manger, Initially NO, Anna Fern, Avril Bradley, Nathan Curnow, Maree Cowan, Sandy Jeffs, Steve Smart and Vicki Thornton.
Presented by Piers Gooding and Flick Grey.
Featuring Our Consumer Place Co-ordinator Merinda Epstein, long-time activist, advocate, writer/ researcher and cartoonist in the 'mental health' consumer movement Dr. David Webb, Melbourne-based psych survivor, academic, author, activist and disability advocate.
Featuring: Compass Clubhouse members. Suzie, John, Troy, Warren and Steve.Compass Clubhouse is organised by people recovering from ABI based in Northcote. Members run the club and manage their own recovery.
With Phineas Meere, Daniel Kirby and Peter Johnson.
Featuring Thomas Banks and his Mentor Rose, exploring sexuality and disability from a personal perspective. George Panousieris from Leadership Plus on leadership and disability. Melissa Noonan from Limbs 4 life on what IDPwD means to her.
Exploring the interface between music and disability.
Young women with disability explore everything from self advocacy, fashion and parliamentary representation to dating, technology and queer rights. Featuring: Selene Mathews, Carly Findlay, Naja, Heather Forsyth, Jessica Parraga, Tully Zygier, Beth Barnard, Kelly Vincent and Angie Jones.
Marisa Sposaro in conversation with Jeanette Lee from Yooralla, Community Learning and Living Service. Leanne Daniels, a vision impaired mother from Victoria on some of the challenges faced by vision impaired parents. Therese Sands fromPeople with Disability Australia talking about the forced sterilisation of women with disabilities.


It's the 6th of September.... which means that today is the Otaku Club 6th anniversary!
It's been a very memorable six years, and we are still going as strong as ever here. True to our motto; by Otaku for everyone, we try our best to deliver contents that are not only for geeks, but for all kind of people to help understand and recognize our true passion in fields including anime, games, manga, light novels and many more. Thanks to the writers that made great contents, we could publish posts much frequently now, me especially, as the founder and creator of this site extend humblest thanks to them. We also like to voice our gratitude to all the readers and fans that had been supporting us this far, because you guys are the people that motivate us to keep on going. We promise you to bring out contents more constantly now, and hope that you guys would keep on cheering for us!
Thank you very much guys. Looking forward to one more strong year with you guys here in the Otaku Club.


text:
This is a guest post to promote the fact that the first book in the Legends of Windemere series has been made permanently free.
So grab yourself a copy, and curl up to this delightful treat! I will let Charles take it away from here.
Thank you to Cyrus for helping to spread the word that Legends of Windemere: Beginning of a Hero is now free. Back when I started publishing this fantasy series in 2013, it was the only genre I was working in. Now, I've branched out into Rated-R dystopian adventures with a lot of action and humor. That book is called Crossing Bedlam and I've been asked to talk about what it's like to write such different types of stories.
First, you need to know what each one is about. Beginning of a Hero follows Luke Callindor, a young warrior from a famous family who is out to prove he is worthy of his surname. He lies to get his first adventure and finds himself facing a demonic assassin while trying to protect a royal heir in a military academy. It doesn't help that he has no idea who he is supposed to be guarding from the creature. Needless to say, Luke stumbles a lot and has to depend on several new friends as well as learn what it really means to be a hero in Windemere.
Crossing Bedlam takes place in the Shattered States, which is the USA after it has been isolated by the world. Impenetrable walls are along its northern and southern borders while a global navy prevents anyone from escaping. Soon after the initial attack, Washington DC was nuked and the rest of the country fell into chaos. None of that really matters because Cassidy is more concerned with staying alive and fulfilling her mother's last wish. A decade after the country collapsed, she is attempting to travel from New York City to San Francisco to toss her mother's ashes off the Golden Gate Bridge. It's a dangerous journey filled with dangerous locals and disturbing obstacles. On the plus side, her companion is Lloyd Tenay, a serial killer she broke out of Riker's Island. She had more people, but Lloyd killed them when her back was turned.
The differences between the two are actually rather cosmetic. Both of these stories have a lot of action, are written in the same style, and look into the concept of identity. Lloyd is trying to find his place in a new world, Cassidy is still in her mother's shadow, and Luke Callindor is determined to earn the identity he craves. That's really where the similarities end because Windemere and the Shattered States have very little in common. Leaving out genres, the worlds require different answers for the same problem. An injury or obstacle in Windemere can be solved with magic while the same one in the Shattered States needs a more realistic, possibly technology-based solution. That alone causes a different type of thinking for me. I guess I have less of an imaginary cushion when working within the real world than one of my own design.
Something I had to alter was how I did research when it came to Crossing Bedlam. When it comes to Windemere, I mostly have to create stuff and make sure it remains consistent. There are times when I look into monsters to see if they'll work in my world or research animals to put a creature together. Small things pop up here and there in fantasy writing, but it really comes down to remembering your own world. Now when it comes to the Shattered States, Google Earth and Wikipedia were my friends. I had to see where Interestate-80 went and check out each stop for real world locations. I needed to research tasers, vehicles, rhinos, communication devices that could work in this world, heavy artillery, pop culture references, and whatever else came up while I was writing. I couldn't wing it like I do with Windemere, especially since people love to catch authors with wrong information.
Another big difference is the tone of the stories and characters. Luke Callindor is a hero and acts the part in a world with a history of such things. Noble deeds are common and there isn't a deep level of cynicism in Windemere when compared to the real world. It's also not a setting that stems from the collapse of a society. That fact is why Shattered States has a more vicious edge to it. Cassidy and Lloyd are survivor types who will do things that a 'pure hero' wouldn't ever consider. They'll kill, threaten, and maim to get to the next part of their adventure. Making a deal with gangs and warlords is perfectly fine to them even if it means innocents that they've never met will suffer. It's the way to survive their world, which darkens the tone. Not to say that you can't have some humor in it, which a central part of Lloyd's insane personality. It's only that the jokes are going to be different in such a world. Windemere can have some lighthearted bantering while Shattered States is more likely to have dark and perverted jokes made at the expense of someone else. Being an author who can't stop himself from putting humor into his stories, this can be a big challenge because the two schools can cross a bit and then I have to rethink the joke during an edit.
I'd say working with fantasy and dystopian genres is like mixing apples and oranges. I can't because I've had fruit salad with both in there. So I have to say that it requires a different focus and mental track for each one. Windemere has actually become the heavier of the two as it progresses because I'm working on battering characters. Shattered States might never reach that and remain my 'relaxed and fun' series as I add more adventures. Part of that is because Cassidy and Lloyd are already pretty broken, so they shrug a lot more off than Luke Callindor and his friends. The difference results in a change in tension and stress when I'm working. While Windemere requires less research, I feel more pressure to make sure the story is epic. Shattered States requires a lot of research, but I can go with the flow a lot more and its feels organic. It's going to be very interesting when I step into another genre after one of these two ends.
Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this and check out Beginning of a Hero for free. Thanks for listening to this wild ramble.
Grab Legends of Windemere: Beginning of a Hero for Free!


All-Star big man Anthony Davis will return to the lineup after the New Orleans Pelicans failed to honor his trade request before Thursday's deadline.
The Detroit Pistons have agreed to trade guard-forward Reggie Bullock to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Anthony Davis (born September 8, 1952) known as "AD", is a former American football running back. He played in the World Football League, the Canadian Football League, the National Football League, and the USFL. Davis played college football at the University of Southern California.
Anthony Davis was a college football All-American in 1974, and led the USC Trojans in rushing, scoring and kick return yardage for three consecutive seasons. He is long remembered for scoring 11 touchdowns in three games against Notre Dame. In a 45-23 USC win on December 2, 1972, he scored six touchdowns which set a school single game record. Two of those scores came on kickoff returns He returned the opening kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown after the Irish won the coin toss and chose to kick. Later in the game after the Irish scored on a short pass and narrowed the Trojans' lead, he returned the following kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown. In his career as a Trojan he returned 37 kickoffs for 1,299 yards, an NCAA record 35.1 yard average. His six career kickoff returns for touchdowns are also an NCAA record as well as his kickoff return average of 42.5 yards in 1974, which is the highest kickoff return average for any single season leader ever. He was also the first Pacific-8 Conference player to rush for more than 1,000 yards in three consecutive seasons – 1,191 in 1972; 1,112 in 1973 and 1,469 in 1974. In all he carried the ball 784 times for 3,772 yards and 44 touchdowns. In his senior year (1974) he was a unanimous Consensus All-American selection. Davis was also a two time (1973-1974) first team All Pac-8 Conference selection. He was also the third multiple recipient of the W.J. Voit Memorial Trophy, awarded each year to the outstanding football player on the Pacific Coast. Davis won the Voit trophy in 1972 and 1974.
On November 30, 1974, he started an amazing rally which brought the USC Trojans back from a 24-0 second quarter deficit against #4 ranked Notre Dame to a 55-24 win. Just before halftime he scored on a 7 yard lateral pass from quarterback Pat Haden. Davis found paydirt a second time on a 102-yard kickoff return to open the second half. With only 3:25 elapsed in the third quarter Davis scored a third touchdown on a 6 yard run. Then with still 8:37 left in the same quarter, Davis added his fourth and final touchdown of the game on a 4 yard dash, dropped to his knees, went into his "endzone dance" , then added a two-point conversion and the Trojans had the lead 27-24. Incredibly, Davis had scored 26 of the Trojans' first 27 points.
It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Anthony Davis."


this post contains a tracking link that will track when you click it for my sponsor, but it doesn't give me any incentives or rewards if you do click it.
I think it is the teacher girl deep inside of me, but I have just always had this thing for anything related to school supplies, office supplies,etc. I actually got a file cabinet for like my 7th birthday because my best friend and I were always playing school and we actually even had a teacher that would give us her extra copies of her work sheets!
I have always had a vast collection of notepads, pens, markers, and all of that good stuff. I even had a chalk holder, and one of those slide grading scales back in the day. I think we probably played school more than we played house or restaurant (and I even had guest check and a kitchen center ya'll).
I even started having planners REALLY early on. I think the first one I had was in 4th grade and I really just used it to keep up with peoples birthdays, phone numbers, and such. Nothing complicated…. I can remember though when I was in 7th grade it was actually this thing for us to keep a planner and it was this rinky dink thing they put together and it SUCKED.
I have always been really picky about planners- I like the bigger ones – about notebook size for starters. I guess I am just a planner snob! So needless to say,I am always on the prowl for a good planner if you couldn't tell. I literally stalk the stores around back to school time to find one that is acceptable to me!
So when I found out about the Inspired Year Planner, I knew I wanted to be able to check it out! The inspired year planner is not your typical planner! It not only has your typical calendar, but it also has awesome way to organize your goals too!
The Inspired Year Planner was created by the lovely miss Kathy who actually had this planner on kickstarter after she had created a similar version and been selling it on Etsy. Her kickstarter was funded in less than 3 weeks- at 120%of her original goal!
I know that as a blogger some people don't know why in the world I would really need a planner … Well I use mine to not only keep up with when bills are due, birthdays, pay checks and such but I also use one to help organize when I get various review items, when I pitched people for things, when things arrive ,etc It is actually quite handy to have a planner for these things because I know that sometimes papers can get thrown away but if it is right there in one handy dandy spot it is easier to keep up with and not get lost!
You know what though? As a blogger, and even in general I do have long term goals & short term- ones for my site, ones for things around the house and my life and all of that good stuff! Having a place to keep up with all of these things in one foul swoop is a really nice thing. There are also monthly themes and even awesome quotes throughout!
Oh and you have got to love the tabs too- because I have had planners without them and it is a pain!
I know that in the past I have had goals and such and wrote them on a piece of paper or in a blog post, but having it laid out where you can do it in this sort of way is really nice! It is nice to be able to look back and see them and see how you progress over time! It is very inspiring to see where you were beforehand and where you are now, and the quotes are really awesome as well!
It is also so easy to get sidetracked on goals, and it is even easier to forget that you even have some of them especially if they are smaller ones.. and sometimes its those long term ones that you forget about! This way you can just write them down in one central location and not have that happen!
I know that sometimes I feel like I am in a rut, and that I really don't accomplish that much when I know that I do. I think this will be a great tool to help show me that I am purposeful, and that I do manage to do more than I think I do! I know when I first found out about this planner I was absolutely craving something to help keep me inspired because I was feeling so burnt out and this has helped me quite a bit with that!
You can also enter to win your own copy of the planner directly from Kathy herself!: This Cherished Life Inspired Year Planner giveaway!
I know that I am looking forward to using my planner to help me keep things straight in the next several months, and I am going to have a blast with decorating it and everything as well! I think it will be very helpful to keep me on track and inspired, especially in the next few months when we have what I always call the "dark days" when the time changes and we don't have as much daylight!


text:
Sam Houston's Hall serving two-game suspension
(STATS) - Sam Houston State entered the season without All-America defensive end P.J. Hall as he serves a two-game team suspension because of an academic issue.
Hall wasn't in the lineup Friday night when the third-ranked Bearkats beat No. 7 Richmond 48-34 in Waco, Texas. The 6-foot-1, 280-pound senior also will miss the defending Southland Conference champion's game at Prairie View A&M next Thursday.
Hall was the Southland defensive player of the year and a first-team All-American as well as the runner-up for the STATS FCS Buck Buchanan Award last season. He has totaled 36 sacks and 67 tackles for loss through his first three seasons.


text:
Home›Destinations›Middle East and Africa›Tanzania›Tanzanian Coast
Tanzanian Coast
Things to Do in Tanzanian Coast
It's a rare commodity, an endless, unblemished beach. With 1,424km (883 miles) of Indian Ocean shoreline and relatively few urban blips along the way, Tanzania's coastline is a revelation. Beyond Dar es Salaam, the country's economic workhorse, there's precious little development and, apart from a handful of towns and villages, nothing resembling the concrete claustrophobia and human overcrowding that afflicts better-marketed tropical destinations such as Zanzibar and Mombasa.
An exotic jumble of beautiful palm-lined beaches and a steamy industrial port, Dar es Salaam -- the "House of Peace" -- is a confluence of striking contrasts. Wrapped in Swahili kangas, village women on their way to market bump shoulders with citified ladies tucked into Western office suits; men in traditional Omani-style koffias walk alongside lads in boardshorts and T-shirts bearing images of Barack Obama; and teens in hip-hop get-ups sit next to their sisters modestly tucked away in black bui-bui. You're as likely to hear the call to prayer ringing out from the mosques as you are to see crowds congregating outside steepled churches, and the sleek mirror-glass business blocks stand cheek-by-jowl with crumbling monstrosities. Everywhere there are visual tableaux that leave you scratching your head, trying to remember where in the world you are. In parts this is unquestionably a part of Africa, but there are pockets of Asia, Europe, and the Middle East here, too. For better or worse, the city represents an exotic cosmopolitan blend that is a reflection of a multifangled, albeit compact, history.
If you have absolutely no interest in seeing Dar es Salaam (or, simply, Dar), chances are, you're here just for a night, either preparing for your trip into the bush or about to head home. Or perhaps you've set your sights on Zanzibar's fabled beaches and haven't even considered the mainland coast. But instead of going with the flow, it may be seriously worth considering the path less traveled, with the chance to locate yourself on a paradisiacal stretch where the tour buses just don't go.
Here, along the coast, you could also choose to combine the best of both worlds at Sadaani National Park, where one of the country's loveliest lodges abuts both beach and bush, with a rare chance to witness pachyderms frolicking on the shore, watch hippos and crocs wallowing in the river, and even swim with dolphins and turtles in the warm, blue sea. Or, if you'd like to balance your safari with a look at an enchanting undersea world, you can sign up for some exceptional diving at little-known places such as Mikindani (a time-warped Swahili town in the far, far south) or Ushongo (a remote haven on the epic beach that stretches virtually unimpeded between Dar and Kenya).
Along this coast, too, there are still remnants and ruins signaling an ancient history of interaction with the outside world. Many of these reminders, clustered around little-developed Swahili towns such as Pangani and Bagamoyo, point to dark times when slavery and colonial exploitation were legitimate commercial enterprises. While the beach and the ocean are surely where you'll be focusing your attention, you can easily diversify your holiday with a short visit to these time-ravaged former Arab trade centers.
Dar may strike most as little more than a transit point between ill-timed flight connections, but there are some fabulous beaches within easy reach of the city, and whether you're a barefoot beachcomber or sun-worshipping snob, there's a patch of paradise earmarked just for you.
The North Coast -- As tranquil and, with few exceptions, untouched as the shores of the Tanzanian mainland seem today, the virginal coast belies centuries of turbulent and often bloody conflict that raged along this coast as Africa's tragic destiny unfolded in the hands of hostile outsiders, greedy to tap into the wealth of the largely unexplored continent. With a long history of exploitation, ports along the Tanzanian coast reached degrees of prominence during the 18th and 19th centuries, along with a growth in the international demand for ivory and slaves. Towns such as Tanga, Pangani, and Bagamoyo, on the coast north of Dar, emerged as major trade centers connecting Zanzibar with inland trade routes. Although there had long been some kind of foreign presence here, Arab traders had traditionally installed themselves on the islands off the Swahili coast -- Zanzibar and Pemba, Mafia, and Kilwa -- because of an abiding fear of attack by the indigenous African population and as a way of preventing their slaves from escaping.
Christian missionaries and European politicians crusaded against the slave trade, gradually stamping out one form of human exploitation (at least on the mainland, where slavery was criminalized) and replacing it with their own brand of imperial control. With the decline of the trade routes and the relocation of the German Protectorate's headquarters to Dar es Salaam in 1891, Northern Tanzania's ports fell out of favor (Bagamoyo's harbor simply wasn't deep enough for the new kinds of ship), and much of the land around them was given over to cash crops destined for European markets. Today these towns live on with some poignant reminders of the past, but none is likely to hold your interest for too long; generally, they're best thought of as beach escapes with the added bonus of some off-the-beaten-track cultural add-ons (including the ancient Kaole Ruins near Bagamoyo and vestiges of an old Arab slave town at Pangani). Only Tanga, at one point a major focus for German development, retains a port of any significance, but the town itself is a lazy, cheerless place, barely worth lingering in for longer than it takes to recover for your onward journey.
In a way, the easy-going rhythm of this coastal belt is like a giant collective sigh of relief following a history of oppression by slave-trading Arabs, and, much later, the Europeans who put an end to the slave trade but made every effort to install themselves as colonial overlords. While the scimitar-shaped dhow sails billowing on the horizon may take you back to the days when waves of traders, explorers, adventurers, pirates, slavers, and invaders landed on these shores, it takes very little effort in coming to the conclusion that the true wonder of this once-harangued coastline lies in the discovery of one of the world's finest beaches.
Ushongo Beach
Bagamoyo Dar es Salaam
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Frommer's EasyGuide to the Big Island Buy Now


The Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources has issued a warning about a sharp change in weather conditions in Azerbaijan.
Report informs citing the National Hydrometeorology Department of the Ministry that in Baku and Absheron peninsula, from March 17 evening to March 19 daytime, the north-western wind will be 15-18 m / sec, 20-25 m / s at times, on March 18 it will intensify up to 28 m / s in some places of the peninsula, rain predicted at times and it will die down on the evening of March 20. The temperature will drop by 4-7 degrees.
Intermitted rain is predicted starting from the western regions on daytime of March 17 until the evening of March 20, sleet and snow will fall in mountainous and foothill regions. It will be intensive in some places. The western wind will be 15-20 m / s on March 17-19, and intensify up to 23-28 m / s in some places. The temperature will drop by 5-8 degrees. Water levels in rivers are likely to increase.


For a treatment that truly relaxes both body and mind, look no further than this luxuriously indulgent treatment for rejuvenating tired limbs and brightening up lacklustre skin.
Located at the five star Brown's Hotel in London, the spa is quietly tucked away on the lower ground floor with spacious and peaceful treatment rooms to take you away from the hustle and bustle of nearby Piccadilly Circus. My therapist Sian was polite, experienced and courteous and ensured that my time there was as relaxing and tranquil as possible.
Usually quite vigilant about my facial skincare routine, I had been rather neglectful of the rest of my body of late and it certainly showed. Dull, rough and so dry that it was akin to a desert lizard's, I think it's safe to say that it had seen better days.
What followed during the next 90 minutes was just the antidote to my reptilian-like skin woes – a thorough top to toe body exfoliation, a wonderfully refreshing massage with some fantastically fragranced and intensively moisturising Aromatherapy Associates creams, oils and serums, and a stress relieving scalp massage to top it off. The treatment was so tension alleviating in fact that I fell asleep, soon to be politely woken up by Sian, mid-snore and legs akimbo in my paper under-weared glory. Not my best look.
Post-treatment, my skin felt silky smooth, polished and buffed. With summer well and truly here, this is a treatment worth booking in for to get thoroughly beach body-prepped to ensure you have the confidence to bare some skin this season.
Ayesha tried the Aromatherapy Associates Enrich Body Treatment, £140 for 90 minutes. To book call 020 7518 4009.


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Shelf Awareness for Monday, April 13, 2009
Amazon's 'De-ranking' Policy Sparks Online Ire
Amazon.com came under Internet fire Sunday when word began to spread that the company had been "de-ranking" certain titles, especially--though not exclusively--lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender books. The disappearing sales rankings sparked a mass Twitter response, and by early evening Sunday "#amazonfail" was the top-ranked Trending Topic on the social networking site. The matter was a hot topic on Facebook as well.
The Seattle Post-Intelligencer reported that on his blog, self-published author Mark Probst had written that "mysteriously, the sales rankings disappeared from two newly-released high profile gay romance books: Transgressions by Erastes and False Colors by Alex Beecroft. Everybody was perplexed. Was it a glitch of some sort? The very next day HUNDREDS of gay and lesbian books simultaneously lost their sales rankings, including my book The Filly.'"
The Post-Intelligencer added that Amazon.com Advantage member services responded to Probst's inquiries by stating that "in consideration of our entire customer base, we exclude 'adult' material from appearing in some searches and best seller lists. Since these lists are generated using sales ranks, adult materials must also be excluded from that feature."
On Jacket Copy, the Los Angeles Times's book blog, Carolyn Kellogg wrote, "Amazon's policy of removing 'adult' content from its rankings seems to be both new and unevenly implemented. . . . Our research shows that these books have lost their ranking: Running with Scissors by Augusten Burroughs; Rubyfruit Jungle by Rita Mae Brown, Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic by Alison Bechdel, The History of Sexuality, Vol. 1 by Michel Foucault, Bastard Out of Carolina by Dorothy Allison (2005 Plume edition), Little Birds: Erotica by Anais Nin, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly by Jean-Dominque Bauby (1997 Knopf edition), Maurice by E.M. Forster (2005 W.W. Norton edition) and Becoming a Man by Paul Monette, which won the 1992 National Book Award."
Kellogg pointed out that among the books still ranked are Naked Lunch by William Burroughs, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (2007 Vintage International edition) and Maurice (2005 Penguin Classics edition).
"But as troubling as the unevenness of the policy of un-ranking and de-searching certain titles might be," Kellogg concluded, "it's a bit beside the point. It's the action itself that is troubling: making books harder to find, or keeping them off bestseller lists on the basis of their content can't be a good idea."
Responding to that post, Patty Smith, Amazon's director of corporate communications, told Jacket Copy that there "was a glitch with our sales rank feature that is in the process of being fixed. We're working to correct the problem as quickly as possible."
"Amazonfail and the politics of anti-corporate cyberactivism" was the headline for a Foreign Policy piece on the issue that noted, "Every time I see a group of bloggers and social media guys take on a company that has made an outright stupid decision, they usually win. Not only because they are right, but because the company usually ends up paying much higher fees in publicity services to deal with a swell of the negative publicity--all embedded in the precious Google juice--than the losses it would incur from dealing with complaints from their conservative customers, who may want to restrict the publication of certain materials."
Notes: More E-Readers?; Bad Parent Lit; Skylight's Class Act
In other Amazon news, the company is developing a new version of the Kindle that features a larger screen, which ought to appeal to newspaper executives and readers, the Wall Street Journal reported. The new Kindle might make its debut before the holiday shopping season. An Amazon spokesperson declined to comment to the Journal.
The item came at the end of a week in which it was rumored that Barnes & Noble is working on an e-reader. In addition, Hearst Corp. and News Corp. recently have acknowledged that they are developing e-readers.
In a front-page article today, the Wall Street Journal surveyed a new trend that might be called bad parent lit. Examples published recently or in the near future include True Mom Confessions: Real Moms Get Real by Romi Lassally, Bad Mother: A Chronicle of Maternal Crimes, Minor Calamities and Occasional Moments of Grace by Ayelet Waldman, It Sucked and Then I Cried: How I Had a Baby, a Breakdown, and a Much Needed Margarita by Heather Armstrong, Home Game: An Accidental Guide to Fatherhood by Michael Lewis and a fall title that collects essays from the Bad Parent column on Babble.com.
Fans of the genre say that "sharing their foibles helps relieve the pressure to be a perfect parent--and pokes fun at a culture where arguments over sleep-training methods and organic baby foods rage on," the Journal wrote. "Critics say it's the latest form of oversharing online--the equivalent of posting your every move on Twitter or Facebook--and only reinforces parents' worst habits."
Here's a great story from Skylight Books, Los Angeles, Calif., as explained on the store's blog. The teacher of a 10th grade honors English class at Los Angeles High School wanted to include The Catcher in the Rye in the curriculum but the school did not have copies of the book and could not afford to purchase them. Contacted by 826LA, Skylight asked staff and customers to donate 25 copies--and the goal was met in one day. As manager Steve Salardino wrote on the blog, "Now, that would be a feat at any time but to know that through the struggle of these particularly hard and lean times the people that step into this store still choose to share what they have to help those in need makes me misty and proud to work here."
Obituary Note: Judith Krug, a director of the American Library Association and a founder of Banned Books Week, died Saturday. She was 69, the Associated Press reported. Krug, who had been head of the ALA's Office for Intellectual Freedom since 1967, was ill for more than a year with stomach cancer.
Stephenie Meyer and a range of other YA authors were featured guests--and draws--last month at a benefit called Project Book Babe, to help out Faith Hochhalter, a former bookseller at Changing Hands, Tempe, Ariz., who helped launch many authors' careers and is fighting breast cancer, the Phoenix New Times reported.
Tickets cost $300 and included a signed copy of a book by Meyer, time to talk with the authors and a chance to obtain additional books. Among attractions during the auction: the unpublished epilogue to Forever Dawn, which went for $5,100; lunch with Meyer, which brought $6,500; and the dress Meyer wore to the New Moon prom event, which fetched $5,500.
The authors praised Hochhalter for her enthusiasm for their titles and promoting them to children, parents, other booksellers, teachers and more. As J. S. Lewis, co-author of the Grey Griffin series, said of Hochhalter, "It's her passion and love for what she does. She's a fan first, and I don't say that in a bad way. . . . It's this feeling that every morning is Christmas morning and when she gets to unwrap a new book, she gets so excited about it. She has a childlike enthusiasm that is so catching."
For all the Stephanie Plum fans who want movies to be made out of the Janet Evanovich books starring the bounty hunter, Borders has made its own 10-minute movie. And in honor of the next Plum book, Finger Lickin' Fifteen, Borders is encouraging fans to make their own Plum videos of 2 to 10 minutes, post them on YouTube and notify Borders of the URL. Borders will then share some of them with other Borders customers on its website and via the Borders Shortlist e-mail. To hunt down more information on this, click here.
Unusual book event!
Identical twins Logan and Noah Miller are promoting their film, Touching Home, and the book about it, Either You're In or You're in the Way: Two Brothers, Twelve Months, and One Filmmaking Hell-Ride to Keep a Promise to Their Father, on June 6 at 6 p.m. in AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif. (where the Giants play). On the field, "the music, art, and movie festival" called Bookstock 2009 will feature a screening of Touching Home as well as a book signing by the Miller brothers and an appearance by actor Ed Harris, star of the movie. "The cure for the recession depression" includes a beer and wine garden and food and supports the Giants Community Fund. Copies of the book ordered online or at local bookstores before pub date serve as admission for two; children are free.
The book is about how the twins decided to make the film to honor their father, who died homeless and alone in a jail cell. "Without a dime to their names nor a single meaningful contact in Hollywood--they managed to write, produce, act, and direct a feature film" in less than a year.
Either You're In or You're in the Way appears April 28 (Harper, $26.99, 9780061763144/0061763144).
Vertigo Books Closing: 'Not Enough People Buy Books Here'
Sadly Vertigo Books, College Park, Md., is closing in two weeks, the store announced. In an e-mail and on the store website, owners Todd Stewart and Bridget Warren said there were many reasons for closing "but basically, not enough people buy books here.
"We have many loyal customers, just not enough of them, and our cloning experiments have not yielded satisfactory results. And way too many people (not you, but someone you know) are buying their books at Amazon. We'll spare you the inside baseball stuff about the near monopolistic force Amazon has become in the industry."
The store made the case for supporting local businesses and noted that because "one of us grew up Irish Catholic," the store is holding a wake on Saturday, April 18, beginning at 5 p.m. "Bring a dish or something to drink and join us for a free form wake and potluck . . . If you shopped, read or worked here, we want to see you."
They asked customers and people in the industry to stay in touch via staff@vertigo-books.com. "We were never good about photographing and documenting the store's activities. If you have event calendars, photos or memorabilia to share, please send them on. A computer with archived materials was stolen last summer, so your contributions would be much appreciated."
Vertigo was founded nearly 18 years ago in Washington, D.C., and moved to College Park in 2000. The store has always specialized in literature, politics, children's and African-American literature.
The store will be missed. As the Washingon City Paper wrote in a story with the headline "This Sucks: Vertigo Books Is Closing," Vertigo had "an awesome staff, offered a great selection, and produced interesting readings each month from well-known authors and should-be-well-known authors. They championed African-American literature in particular and had close ties with the DC-area community. They defined the independent bookstore."
Media Heat: Ron Darling Pitches His New Book
This morning on Good Morning America: Marlee Matlin, author of I'll Scream Later (Simon Spotlight, $26, 9781439102855/1439102856). She will also appear today on Access Hollywood and Larry King Live.
This morning on the Today Show: Beth Kobliner, author of Get a Financial Life: Personal Finance In Your Twenties and Thirties (Fireside, $16, 9780743264365/0743264363).
Today on Live with Regis and Kelly: Nancy O'Dell, author of Full of Life: Mom-to-Mom Tips I Wish Someone Had Told Me When I Was Pregnant (Simon Spotlight, $16.99, 9781439110256/1439110255). She's also on Fox & Friends tomorrow morning.
Today on the Diane Rehm Show: Quinn Bradlee, author of A Different Life: Growing Up Learning Disabled and Other Adventures (PublicAffairs, $24.95, 9781586481896/1586481894).
Today on Fresh Air: Michelle Goldberg, author of The Means of Reproduction: Sex, Power, and the Future of the World (Penguin Press, $25.95, 9781594202087/1594202087).
Today on NPR's Talk of the Nation: Mark Bittman, author of Food Matters: A Guide to Conscious Eating with More Than 75 Recipes (Simon & Schuster, $25, 9781416575641/1416575642).
Today on Oprah: Dana Canedy, author of A Journal for Jordan: A Story of Love and Honor (Crown, $25.95, 9780307395795/0307395790).
Tonight on Charlie Rose: Tony Dungy, author of Uncommon: Finding Your Path to Significance (Tyndale House, $24.99, 9781414326818/1414326815).
Tonight on Larry King Live: Tori Spelling, author of Mommywood (Simon Spotlight, $25, 9781416599104/141659910X).
Tonight on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Kristin Chenoweth, author of A Little Bit Wicked: Life, Love, and Faith in Stages (Touchstone, $25, 9781416580553/1416580557).
Tomorrow morning on Good Morning America: Jim Karas, author of The 7-Day Energy Surge (Rodale Books, $26, 9781605298801/1605298808).
Also on GMA: Terry Murphy, author of Life in Rewind: The Story of a Young Courageous Man Who Persevered Over OCD and the Harvard Doctor Who Broke All the Rules to Help Him (Morrow, $24.99, 9780061561535/0061561533), will also appear.
Tomorrow morning on the Today Show: Donald Trump, author of Think Like a Champion: An Informal Education in Business and Life (Vanguard Press, $24.95, 9781593155308/1593155301).
Tomorrow on Live with Regis and Kelly: Kathie Lee Gifford, author of Just When I Thought I'd Dropped My Last Egg: Life and Other Calamities (Ballantine, $22, 9780345512062/0345512065). She also appears tomorrow morning on the Today Show.
Tomorrow night on Charlie Rose: Suzy Welch, author of 10-10-10: A Life-Transforming Idea (Scribner, $24, 9781416591825/1416591826). She also appears tomorrow morning on the Today Show.
Tomorrow night on the Daily Show with Jon Stewart: Ron Darling, author of The Complete Game: Reflections on Baseball, Pitching, and Life on the Mound (Knopf, $24.95, 9780307269843/0307269841).
Tomorrow night on the Colbert Report: Susie Orbach, author of Bodies: Big Ideas/Small Books (Picador, $14, 9780312427207/0312427204).
Tomorrow night on the Late Show with David Letterman: Bill Scheft, a Late Show writer and author of Everything Hurts (Simon & Schuster, $24, 9781416599340/1416599347).
IndieBound: Other Indie Favorites
From last week's Indie bestseller lists, available at IndieBound.org, here are the recommended titles, which are also Indie Next picks:
A Fortunate Age by Joanna Smith Rakoff (Scribner, $26, 9781416590774/1416590773). "Joanna Smith Rakoff's first novel chronicles the sometimes ludicrous, maddeningly funny, and, often, moving adventures of a gifted group of twenty-something friends in New York City just after college graduation. Combining cockeyed details of development that ring true with empathy and insight, Rakoff tells the story of marriages, children, and the success (or failure) of these characters' art with a light and witty touch. A portrait of a generation, A Fortunate Age is a delight."--Jill Owens, Powell's Books, Portland, Ore.
Picking Cotton: Our Memoir of Injustice and Redemption by Jennifer Thompson-Cannino and Ronald Cotton, with Erin Torneo (St. Martin's, $25.95, 9780312376536/0312376537). "A black man is accused of a terrible crime by a white woman and spends years in prison before being exonerated by DNA evidence. Then, the previously incarcerated man and the victim become friends, team up, and set out on a mission to rescue others falsely accused. No novel tells a story this important or heartrending. Read it!"--Deal Safrit, Literary Book Post, Salisbury, N.C.
Tunneling to the Center of the Earth: Stories by Kevin Wilson (Harper Perennial, $13.99, 9780061579028/0061579025). "In this fantastic debut collection of stories, Kevin Wilson infuses the everyday, mundane world with a touch of magic, reexamining the familiar through a slightly warped lens. Each of Wilson's characters possesses a touch of melancholy, but each one manages to reconcile this sadness. Definitely a must-have for fans of the short story."--Christopher Chadwick, ASUN Bookstore, Reno, Nev.
For Teen Readers
The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan (Delacorte, $16.99, 9780385736817/0385736819). "With a story that alternates between gut-wrenchingly romantic and skin-crawling creepy, Ryan's novel will scare the pants off even the most seasoned horror fans, but it will also break the hardest of hearts. A brilliant start to what I hope is a long career."--Katie Glasgow, Mitchell Books, Fort Wayne, Ind.
[Many thanks to IndieBound and the ABA!]
Mandahla: A Final Arc of Sky
A Final Arc of Sky: A Memoir of Critical Care by Jennifer Culkin (Beacon Press (MA), $24.95 Hardcover, 9780807072851, April 2009)
Jennifer Culkin began her nursing career in the NICU and PICU (neonatal and pediatric intensive care units) more than 30 years ago, so she is intimately acquainted with heartbreak and death. That alone would be interesting, but she is also a marvelous writer, mixing tragedy and reflection with luminous prose. One of her first patients was a tiny girl with "an immense head, a wasted body, and the skin of a fish . . . a sacrifice for a primitive god, pinned on her slab by the sheer mass of her head. Entranced and alone behind the translucent leavings of her skin, a halo made of insect wings." When Culkin held her, "she settled in, turned toward my warmth with hers. Her own heat was so slight, like her hold on earth."
After moving to the Pacific Northwest, Culkin became an emergency flight nurse and writes compellingly of the drama inherent in this work. Describing a thrash, or a difficult flight, she says the common denominator of all thrashes is that a patient is trying to die while in the air. She describes the confinement of the helicopter interior: the patient's legs extend down into the cockpit where a copilot would sit; the nurses are wedged on either side of the patient, but out of their seatbelts, rolling around with their instruments as they struggle to keep the patient alive; bodily fluids often splash around. "After a thrash, the cabin resembled the site of a depraved murder."
She masterfully laces sky and flight into this narrative of medicine and trauma. Once, as they were about to take off, she wanted "to tell the dad I'd love his boy as much as I could. But it was already too late. The next hours would be bereft of tenderness, a matter of the process running its course." Trauma flights from the field with CPR in progress end in death most of the time: "If you could scoop a victim out of the wreck and put him directly in the OR with a trauma team standing by, you might sometimes get a save. But not with time and distance working against you, not with miles of sky, an invisible gusher somewhere deep in the interior firmament, and cells winking out by the millions in every body system." And patients are not the only deaths she encounters; she writes movingly of the deaths of colleagues, when flights are overdue and the only question is not if there are friends on it, but which ones.
A few years ago Culkin was diagnosed with MS and had to go on disability, but she is still tied to her calling. "Several times a week the sound of the [Agusta helicopter] overhead hooked me from sleep, deep in the night. It nailed me coming and going, outbound and inbound on flights to the peninsula . . . For every flashing light up there, there's a different LZ, another story, another undignified human tumble. The sky, hardboiled and helicoptered, will never let me go, not completely."
Decades after Cullkin moved from ICUs to the back of a helicopter, she thinks of a pilot who would say, at lift-off, "Four souls aboard," and muses on how fragile we are. That sense of fragility as well as resiliency and strength follow Culkin through her life as she marries, has children and cares for dying parents. We are privileged to share her passion and heartbreak as we in turn follow Culkin through the skies and the lives she limns so eloquently.--Marilyn Dahl
Shelf Talker: An eloquent and compelling memoir by a critical care and flight nurse that soars with tragedy and tenderness.
by Jennifer Culkin


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pugwash Archive
Best Asheville Concerts of 2015
best-of list, live shows
I'm always amazed and grateful that despite being a comparatively small market, Asheville draws high-end touring talent. 2015 was no exception. Among a long list of local shows, these are my Top 5 for this year: Jessica Hernandez & The Deltas – The Grey Eagle, March 12 Hernandez got her big break when she wowed
Album Mini-review: Pugwash — Play This Intimately (As If Among Friends)
new release, pop, powerpop, rawk, review
File Next to: Fountains of Wayne, XTC, Electric Light Orchestra This may just be the effort that pays off for guitarist-singer-songwriter Thomas Walsh and his bandmates. The Dublin-based band has released six albums, including three – count 'em: three – best-ofs on three different labels. Though critically acclaimed, Pugwash haven't gained traction in the American
Pugwash: "Don't Expect One Direction. Expect no direction."
interview, live shows, new release, powerpop
Pugwash haven't become a household word in the United States, but it's not for lack of effort. With their winning melodies, sharp hooks and winsome lyrics, the Dublin, Ireland-based group is a critics' darling. The group made its southeastern USA debut at The Altamont Theatre on Friday, September 4. No less than three separate record
Third Time's The Charm: Pugwash Aims for America, Part Three
interview, new release, pop
Continued from Part Two… Unlike their earlier deals with other labels, Pugwash's recent A Rose in a Garden of Weeds is not a one-off licensing deal. "Omnivore is our label," Thomas Walsh says. "At this stage in our lives, we try to hold onto our records, but when it comes to Omnivore, they're definitely our
Third Time's The Charm: Pugwash Aims for America, Part Two
Continued from Part One… Some listeners might peg the music of Pugwash as "retro," though in reality it's classic pop in the best sense of the word. Many reviewers have pointed out sonic similarities between Thomas Walsh's voice and Jeff Lynne's. But the hallmark of Pugwash's music is the song construction. At its best, it's
Third Time's The Charm: Pugwash Aims for America, Part One
Irish band Pugwash has been around for fifteen years, and during that time, leader and songwriter Thomas Walsh has worked with a long list of people whose names will be familiar to fans of what one might call guitar pop: Andy Partridge, Dave Gregory, Ben Folds, Jason Falkner, Nelson Bragg, Michael Penn, Eric Matthews and