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Ray Winstone reunites with Amanda Redman in ITV's The Trials of Jimmy Rose
By Patrick McLennan
(Image credit: AP/Press Association Images)
Ray Winstone (opens in new tab) will reunite with Amanda Redman in a new ITV crime thriller, The Trials of Jimmy Rose.
Ray and Amanda memorably played a husband and wife in low-budget cult classic film Sexy Beast in 2000. Ray will play the title role of a career criminal in the ITV series, while Amanda will play his wife, Jackie.
Ray said: "Alan Whiting has created and written a gift of a role. I'm excited to be playing him and to be working with the great Amanda Redman. She's such a fine actress, and together with Adrian Shergold and the production team, I'm sure we'll be able to bring Jimmy and Jackie to life."
The Trials of Jimmy Rose tells the story of the notorious armed robber, Jimmy Rose, who throughout his lifetime has made crime pay, but what he's gained in luxury has come at a massive cost to his family.
During his latest stretch in prison Jimmy's family have moved on with their lives. His years of taking them for granted have taken their toll and unexpectedly Jimmy won't be on the receiving end of a universally warm welcome when released from prison this time.
Crucially, can Jimmy put his criminal life behind him and regain their respect and love by being a grandfather, a father and a husband, not a criminal?
The Trials of Jimmy Rose is a three-part drama, which will go into production in November in the Manchester area.
Patrick McLennan
Patrick McLennan is a London-based journalist and documentary maker who has worked as a writer, sub-editor, digital editor and TV producer in the UK and New Zealand. His CV includes spells as a news producer at the BBC and TVNZ, as well as web editor for Time Inc UK. He has produced TV news and entertainment features on personalities as diverse as Nick Cave, Tom Hardy, Clive James, Jodie Marsh and Kevin Bacon and he co-produced and directed The Ponds, which has screened in UK cinemas, BBC Four and is currently available on Netflix.
An entertainment writer with a diverse taste in TV and film, he lists Seinfeld, The Sopranos, The Chase, The Thick of It and Detectorists among his favourite shows, but steers well clear of most sci-fi.


Let's help Carroll Co raise funds for their soup kitchen!
Tickets are $15 at the door. A limited number of advance tickets are available for $10 at Sweet Peas, First Methodist Carrollton, Carrollton Casa, Bowdon City Hall and Carrollton Cultural Arts Center.
Ticket includes soup lunch and one ceramic bowl.
This festive lunchtime event raises funds to support the Carroll County Soup Kitchen. CC Soup Kitchen feeds hundreds of residents, every month, through volunteers and community supporters who attend this event.


Here are my 20 recommended albums of 2012 in date of release order. You can hear tracks from about a dozen of these albums on the next show which will be broadcast on Monday the 17th of December. My thanks go to all the promoters and artists who have sent me albums and mp3s over the last 12 months and a special mention goes out to to everyone who was involved with Diversity FM and to Neil King for inviting me to join Acoustic Spectrum.
I really like posts on top songs or albums. Although I may not always agree with the arrangement, I still appreciate such posts because these provide several songs or artists that I know nothing about. This would inspire other music lovers especially to those who are talented in playing the guitar with their mandolin picks (for instance). Then, I get to search these and find songs that are really interesting. So, thank you for this one, too.


Offering 4 ensuite bedrooms and only 600 yards from Constantine beach.
There is something very special about Kalundu. Curated from its vast garden, sprawling living space and guest-focused touches it'll render you smitten and struggling to leave. Shall we go in…?
Sometimes it takes a recipe of elements to achieve perfection. Kalundu has many of them. Its unassuming frontage is part of the surprise that awaits. This single level home sleeps 8 guests and room after room offers space, calm and a slice of serenity. Families, friends, your pets all have room to roam here, unencumbered and without fear of tripping over one another.
The sitting room may draw you to repose or to savour an evening's entertainment via the enormous wall-hung TV. This rooms connects almost seamlessly, courtesy of generous internal doors, to the vast kitchen diner. A space so ample that an island breakfast and dining table for 8, if not 10, still leaves room for those inclined to practice their dance moves after dinner. The granite topped island just a hint at the luxury touches provided here, whether you're a pastry chef grateful for the cool surface or an interiors buff with an eye for style.
All on one level, Kalundu spreads out its wing, quite literally. Across the other side of the house, you'll find four en suite bedrooms. Out through the patio doors and you might need to squint to find the end of the garden. Who will wear out first? The dogs or the kids, or you if you get drawn in to chasing either. At just 600 yards from Constantine Bay, a Cornish beach holiday is yours for the taking. Equally, the South West Coast Path is pretty much on your doorstep, while golfers will be suitably challenged at the impeccable Trevose Golf and Country Club. Two dogs are welcome here and they'll love the garden as much as you.
Only four of you can make it? Ask about our low occupancy discount for full week bookings.
Four en suite twin bedrooms are each beautifully decorated. Each a haven of its own. Two of the en suites have separate bath and shower.


Choose from a selection of pet charms to accompany this stylish PU leather keychain, in which two photographs or even a lock of hair can be placed for safe keeping in loving memory of a pet.
This high quality commemorative item comes embellished with a choice of charms, which include a bone, paw print, heart, angel wings, guinea pig or horseshoe.
Instead of a plaque you could hang this also around the neck of your pet's urn.
If you, a family member or close friend have lost a cherished pet then this fully customisable item is the ideal keepsake. Add your photo and keep their memories close to you.


after the caving tragedy on the Canary Islands.
Rescue teams have recovered the bodies of six people who apparently suffocated to death while exploring underground caverns on Tenerife this weekend.
They were part of a caving expedition which entered the Barranco de Los Cochinillos cavern, in Los Silos, on Saturday.
It was made up of two groups, one from the Canaries Astrophysics Institute, and the other, members of the Tenerife Friends of Nature Association.
The tragedy seems to have happened when they mistook their route, and became trapped in the Piedra de los Cochinos, a 200 year old man-made gallery where temperatures reached 30 degrees Centigrade, and the volcanic terrain gave off toxic carbon dioxide gases.
One by one, they began to lose consciousness.
Some regained consciousness two hours later and one of the group managed to make the call for help. Others, however, decided to continue the journey, and entered a gallery which led to a dead end.
Rescuers had brought out 24 of the group by Sunday night: six of them remain in hospital recovering from hypothermia, exhaustion and gas inhalation.
José Segura, the central government representative on the Canary Islands, made the announcement 24 hours after the group of 30 began their journey underground that 6 of them had lost their lives.
Two have so far been identified: a 24 year old Spanish woman, and an Italian man who is studying at the Astrophysics Institute.
Reports indicate that the remaining four are all Spanish nationals.


More than 20 years experience as a certified massage therapist and advanced bodyworker addressing specific issues and providing simple health solutions for soft tissue injuries, aches and pains... serving the southern Humboldt and northern Mendocino counties.
The exquisite design of the human body is complex and simple at once, and being curious by nature, the intricacies of the body have kept me ridiculously interested in what I do. I have worked extensively with medical professionals in clinical settings. Now, I enjoy the peace of a solitary practice. Wondering is a happy celebration of life and adding value to the world, when and where I can, is a guiltless pleasure.
THERAPEUTIC MASSAGE: Outcome-based massage is targeted and specific soft tissue therapy, drawing upon a variety of techniques to address; • chronic muscle tensions, aches and pains that often masquerade as joint issues or arthritus • recovery and rehab for traumatic, repetitive, overuse or sports related injury • weakness • limited range of motion • dysfunctional patterns of compensation, protection and stress • scar tissue • insomnia • fatigue • depression... Some of the techniques that most influence outcome-based therapy are: • sports massage • myofascial release • deep tissue • swedish • lymphatic • neuro muscular activation • trigger point therapy • active stretch and release • medical and orthopedic massage • hot stones as heat therapy and • passive stretch. The aim of outcome-based massage therapy is to apply, and then track the outcome of, specific therapy. By identifying patterns we hope to achieve efficient and lasting results through massage and stretching, allowing clients to move beyond restriction, compensation and dependency on therapy. MASSAGE for DEEP RELAXATION: Blends the long soothing strokes of swedish massage with a variety of techniques drawn from the wellspring of revered traditions. You can choose all soothing relaxation or you can combine it with a therapeutic focus to suit your needs.


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What have the L.A. Rams done in free agency?
NFL Free Agency 2016: Players The LA Rams Should Get - lasportshub.com
As day two wraps up, let's recap the moves that the team has made so far
by Greg Sousa (article) and Milos Kitanovic (video)
March 10, 2017 at 10:56 PM March 10, 2017 at 10:56 PM
The Los Angeles Rams have made some interesting moves as the second day of Free Agency in the NFL wraps up and everyone can start to take a breath, look back and analyze what has happened. The team signed three new players, released five players and made one trade in a flurry of moves.
So far the team has only lost one free agent, as wide receiver Kenny Britt went to the Cleveland Browns. However, indications have pointed to safety T.J. McDonald not returning and cornerback Trumaine Johnson is still in trade limbo after being franchised tagged.
The Rams's new signings
The Rams first signing was stealing left tackle Andrew Whitworth away from the Cincinnati Bengals, giving him a three-year, $36 million dollar contract with $15 million guaranteed.
At 35 Whitworth will be the team's oldest player, but he will offer experience, stabilize the offensive line and protecting Jared Goff's blind side. Whitworth is coming off back-to-back pro bowl seasons and was a first team all-pro in 2015. The team also addressed another major need, signing Buffalo Bills wide receiver Robert Woods to a five-year, $39 million dollar contract with $15 million guaranteed.
He will only be 25 at the start of the 2017 season, despite having played four years in the league. Woods has been the Bills No. 2 receiver behind Stevie Johnson and then Sammy Watkins and is known for his good running blocking, route running and reliable hands. The team also signed former Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray to compete with Sean Mannion for the backup job.
Players that the Rams let go
The Rams released two starters from last year's team, center Tim Barnes and tight end Lance Kendricks, who was the second longest tenured player on the team. They also released rotational defensive end Eugene Sims. Fellow defensive end William Hayes got traded, along with a 7th round selection (No. 233) to the Miami Dolphins for a sixth round selection (No.
These moves make the team thin at defensive line, especially after Ethan Westbrooks got arrested, but offloading these players opened up almost $16 million in cap room. Seldom used backup running back Trey Watts and AWOL backup running back Tre Mason were also released.
Greg Sousa
I am a jack-of-all-trades type of writer who will write about any topic that seems interesting. I graduated from Florida Atlantic University with a B.A.
Read more on the same topic from Greg Sousa:
Which NFL teams impressed in week 17? Which NFL teams went in the wrong direction in week 17? In Memoriam: 12/24/17 to 12/30/17
Blasting News recommends Tom Brady has late 'parting gift' to Patriots to help recoup lost 2021 Draft pick Arrington: Brady is a 'different animal' in the playoffs, Bucs will be too much for Saints Saints' Malcolm Jenkins: Tom Brady 'the greatest to ever do it' when kept in the pocket Ohio State Buckeyes: McCord, Stroud, Wade and Miller expected to leave in this year's NFL draft Adam Jones hits walk-off single at WBC Redskins need to fire Bruce Allen to retain Kirk Cousins '90 Day Fiance: The Other Way': Kenneth says his relationship is not acted Video '90 Day Fiance: The Other Way:' Sumit is facing backlash for choosing Jenny Video

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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California college yanks invite for Customs and Border Protection to join job fair
San Jose City College's president said the invite "understandably caused concern among some in our campus community."
California college yanks invite for Customs and Border Protection to join job fair San Jose City College's president said the invite "understandably caused concern among some in our campus community." Check out this story on USATODAY.com: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/onpolitics/2019/05/01/customs-and-border-patrol-uninvited-job-fair-san-jose-city-college/3638167002/
William Cummings, USA TODAY Published 12:31 p.m. ET May 1, 2019 | Updated 12:41 p.m. ET May 1, 2019
The U.S. Border Patrol is holding asylum seekers in a "transitional" camp under the Paso Del Norte Port of Entry bridge. The migrants are waiting to be transported to another facility for processing (March 28) AP, AP
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency was uninvited to a job fair at a California college on Tuesday over fears that immigration officials' presence could "cause undue distress and concern" among some community members.
"As many of you may have already heard, a job fair scheduled to take place on campus on April 30th had originally included US Customs and Border Protection as one of the organizations recruiting prospective employees," acting San Jose City College President Elizabeth Pratt told students in an email on Monday. "This understandably caused concern among some in our campus community and the wider community that we serve."
Pratt decided it was "best for our campus community" to not have CBP at the fair.
Migrants want asylum?: Pay up, Trump says
DHS chief Kevin McAleenan: Agency needs more money to handle crush of migrants at border
More: President Donald Trump orders crackdown on 'visa overstays' in latest push against illegal immigration
"We serve a very diverse student population, a large percentage of whom have immigrated to the US from other nations and an even larger percentage of our students have family members who are immigrants," Pratt explained to the students. "For many in this population, the presence of US Customs and Border Protection representatives on campus – regardless of their intentions or reasons for being there – can cause undue distress and concern. This is something we strive to prevent whenever possible for this already vulnerable population."
A San Jose City College spokesman told USA TODAY that the decision was "not in response to pressure from student groups." In her email, Pratt encouraged students interested in pursuing a career with CBP to contact the agency on their own.
A flier circulated on social media by a group called Dump Trump San Jose had called for a protest to be held on Tuesday against CBP's involvement in the job fair.
Citing "escalating violence, family separations, incarceration, and deportations leveled against migrants and immigrant communities by Border Patrol and ICE," the flier called for students and area residents to rally in order to "send a clear message" that "the agents of upholding racist borders are not welcome here."
Another online flier included phone numbers for Pratt and job fair organizers. It included a script for callers to demand that CBP be banned from the job fair and "all future on-campus events."
"The US Border Patrol is a fundamentally racist and anti-immigrant institution," the script reads. Without providing evidence, the text blames the agency for "the abuse of hundreds of thousands of migrants annually, as well as the deaths of hundreds," and accuses it of "collaborating with white supremacist groups like the Ku Klux Klan."
"WE WON!" the Dump Trump San Jose group declared in response to the college's decision to revoke CBP's invitation. It said it was "only a tiny step in the much greater struggle that must be carried out to support migrants and immigrant communities in the face of emboldened racism, xenophobia, white supremacy, and fascism in the US."
CBP said in a statement that the agency respected the college's decision but stressed that its "main objective was to inform job-seekers about the rewarding career opportunities CBP has to offer, not to conduct any law enforcement activities."
Border Patrol staffing: Border Patrol struggling to hire, keep agents, but may never get 5,000 Trump ordered
In one of his first acts after taking office, President Donald Trump signed an executive order calling for the hiring of 5,000 additional Border Patrol agents. But the agency has struggled to recruit new hires and to retain the employees that it has. The hiring problem comes as the agency is facing a major surge in asylum seekers arriving at the southern border.
In February, CBP began to "fast track" new hires and last week it announced new incentives aimed at retaining the agents that are in place.
"CBP has aggressively implemented an innovative and multifaceted recruitment and retention strategy," John P. Sanders, CBP's chief operating officer said in a statement announcing the new incentives.
"We are facing a humanitarian and border security crisis on the Southwest border, and those who serve on the frontline are vital to that effort."
CBP legal battles: U.S. customs can seize your laptop or phone without a warrant. Advocates cry foul in court
More: FBI arrests member of armed civilian group that detained migrants
President Donald Trump tours border wall
President Donald Trump speaks with members of the US Customs and Border Patrol as he tours the border wall between the United States and Mexico in Calexico, Calif. on April 5, 2019. President Donald Trump landed in California to view newly built fencing on the Mexican border, even as he retreated from a threat to shut the frontier over what he says is an out-of-control influx of migrants and drugs. Saul Loeb, AFP/Getty Images
A US border patrol helicopter overflies the US-Mexico border fence as President Donald Trump visits Calexico, Calif., as seen from Mexicali, Baja California state, Mexico, on April 5, 2019. Guillermo Arias, AFP/Getty Images
President Donald Trump visits a new section of the border wall with Mexico in Calexico, Calif., Friday April 5, 2019. Jacquelyn Martin, AP
Mexico's federal police remain at the US-Mexico border fence as President Donald Trump visits Calexico, Calif., as seen from Mexicali, Baja California state, Mexico, on April 5, 2019. GUILLERMO ARIAS, AFP/Getty Images
The motorcade of President Donald Trump arrives at the border wall between the United States and Mexico in Calexico, Calif., April 5, 2019. Saul Loeb, AFP/Getty Images
Members of the US secret service and border patrol agents on horseback, patrol near the US-Mexico border fence in preparation for the visit of US President Donald Trump to Calexico, Calif., as seen from Mexicali, Baja California state, Mexico, on April 5, 2019. Guillermo Arias, AFP/Getty Images
President Donald Trump is given a piece of the border wall from Customs and Border Patrol Chief Patrol Agent Gloria Chavez during a roundtable on immigration and border security at the US Border Patrol Calexico Station in Calexico, California, April 5, 2019. Saul Loeb, AFP/Getty Images
President Donald Trump speaks with members of the Border Patrol as US Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen, second from right, looks on during a press conference in Calexico, Calif., April 5, 2019. Saul Loeb, AFP/Getty Images
A "baby trump" balloon flies above the Binational March of Unity in Calexico, Calif. during President Donald Trump's visit to the border town on April 5, 2019. Omar Ornelas, The Desert Sun-USA TODAY Network
Ed Ramos, a trump supporter stands in front of the wall separating the U.S. and Mexico during President Donald Trump's visit to the border town of Calexico, Calif. Omar Ornelas, The Desert Sun-USA TODAY Network
A man holding a U.S. and Mexican flags rides his bikes a few feet from the wall separating Mexico and the U.S. during the Binational March of Unity in Calexico, Calif. The march was organized by as a response to President Donald Trump's visit to the border town. The march of over 100 people was composed of members from Mexicali, Mexico and Calexico, California. Omar Ornelas, The Desert Sun-USA TODAY Network
As seen from the press vehicle in the motorcade accompanying President Donald Trump, people line the street in El Centro, Calif., Friday April 5, 2019. Trump headed to the border with Mexico to make a renewed push for border security as a central campaign issue for his 2020 re-election. Jacquelyn Martin, AP
U.S. President Donald Trump arrives at the wall that separates Mexico and the U.S. in Calexico, Calif. on April 5, 2019. Omar Ornelas, The Desert Sun-USA TODAY Network
President Donald Trump greets people after he arrived on Air Force One at Naval Air Facility El Centro, in El Centro, Calif., Friday April 5, 2019. Jacquelyn Martin, AP
Read or Share this story: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/onpolitics/2019/05/01/customs-and-border-patrol-uninvited-job-fair-san-jose-city-college/3638167002/
Donald Trump's White House is leaking - literally - on the media
Affordable Care Act threatened as Trump administration, GOP states fight US House, Democratic states in court
Donald Trump goes after Fox News in late-night Twitter rant
Ross Perot, a self-made billionaire and former presidential candidate, dies at age 89
Navy's choice to head Naval Operations to step down amid call for inspector general's investigation
Mitch McConnell responds to report his ancestors owned slaves by pointing out Obama's did too


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California makes it more expensive to leave your utility
Written By Kim McGuire October 12, 2018
REGULATION: California regulators vote to increase monthly "exit fees" for customers who leave investor-owned utilities, a move critics say will hurt community choice programs and renewable energy use. (Palm Springs Desert Sun)
COAL: A proposed coal export terminal in Washington presents a test for President Trump's goal of "energy dominance" and the governor's climate ambitions. (E&E News)
***SPONSORED LINK: Secure your spot for the EVs & the Grid Workshop, October 10-12 in West Hollywood, California. See the showcase of all public and private programs and initiatives that are enabling electrification. Government, utilities, and environmental advocates will guide property developers and fleet owners.***
PIPELINES: Gas begins flowing through part of a Canadian pipeline that exploded, causing disruptions throughout the Pacific Northwest. (Bloomberg)
UTILITIES: A South Dakota utility launches a residential time-of-use pilot program for its Colorado customers in hopes of saving them money on their electricity bills. (Daily Energy Insider)
• A recent shuffling of employees at an office in Utah prompts rumors that Tesla is backtracking on solar, but the company says the move is just a consolidation. (Greentech Media)
• Construction begins on a 200 MW California solar farm, the largest solar project ever built for a community choice aggregation agency in the state. (news release)
• Oregon gets $13 million in a settlement with a solar company accused of inflating energy tax credits. (Oregonian)
• Solar energy will power a newly redesigned golf clubhouse owned by the city of Denver. (Westword)
OIL AND GAS:
• An Alaska ballot measure pits the state's love of salmon against its need for oil and gas revenues. (National Public Radio)
• As Colorado voters consider increasing drilling setbacks, a Denver suburb faces a 20-fold increase in the number of wells in the city. (Denver Post)
• A Hawaii refinery breaks ground on the construction of a $27 million unit that will produce ultra low-sulfur diesel and jet fuel. (Honolulu Star-Advertiser)
GEOTHERMAL: The BLM plans to lease 27,000 acres in Nevada for geothermal energy development. (ThinkGeoEnergy)
***SPONSORED LINK: Join us at Grid Modernization 2018, October 23-24 in Denver. The Summit will bring together regulators, utility leaders and key technology innovators to explore how to optimize grid investment, meet growing customer demands and operational needs.***
GRID: An Oregon electric utility plans to build and test three smart grids. (North American Windpower)
COMMENTARY: A state senator from Virginia urges Nevada residents to reject a ballot measure that would deregulate the state's electricity market as a similar move in his home state didn't lower rates. (Utility Dive)
About Kim McGuire
Kim McGuire writes the Western Energy News daily email digest. For more than two decades, she has been writing about science and environment for newspapers around the country. Most recently, she was a reporter for the Houston Chronicle, where she focused on NASA and environmental issues affecting Texas. Prior to that, she worked at the Minneapolis Star Tribune, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the Denver Post and the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. She was awarded a Ted Scripps Environmental Journalism fellowship at the University of Colorado in 2004 and was part of a 2007 reporting team that was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize.
More by Kim
Montana tribes celebrate Biden's Keystone XL pledge
PIPELINES: Montana's Fort Peck Assiniboine & Sioux Tribes are among those encouraged by President-elect Joe Biden's pledge to cancel the Keystone XL pipeline. (Billings Gazette)
PUBLIC LANDS:
• More than 100 local Western officials in a letter ask President-elect Biden and U.S. Representative Deb Haaland to protect public lands and address climate change.
Critics say Colorado's new climate plan still too vague
CLIMATE: Colorado Gov. Jared Polis reveals a new plan to reduce greenhouse gas pollution with a goal of reaching 100% renewable energy by 2040, but critics say the roadmap is still not specific enough. (CBS Denver, Colorado Sun)
ALSO: A new California program aiming to support Native American tribes' clean energy efforts in the state awards $2 million to tribal climate change initiatives.
Lawsuit blames PacifiCorp for northern California wildfire
UTILITIES: Victims of last year's Slater fire in northern California and southern Oregon sue Pacificorp for negligence, saying the utility's failure to maintain its transmission lines is to blame for the blaze. (The Oregonian)
POLLUTION: A new study finds that up to 50% of all Western fine-particle pollution is now caused by wildfire smoke.
More on Western Energy News
Subscribe to Western Energy News


The marketplace has changed. There is no precedent for tomorrow. The internet is no longer an option, it is a strategic necessity. The good news is that you can cut costs and expand your business at the same time.
Doing business online is more than just having a static website - it is all about creating community with your customers and developing customer evangelists.
At PyroCoach, we provide SEO coaching to businesses and organizations as well as start-up SEO and digital marketing companies. Most of what you read about online marketing is ancient history in the internet age. We constantly look to the future to see what is beyond the horizon so that your company gains a competitive edge and stays several steps ahead of your competition.
You operate in a constantly changing, global marketplace. Such a wide variety of competition requires careful thought and planning when you need to get your message to clients.
Traditional marketing approaches are too expensive and ineffective. You can't afford to experiment with ad campaigns that result in negative ROI. In a competitive market, you need a lower cost advantage. You need to talk to experts who understand your business needs.
Pyro Coach address these needs and make your goals a priority. Through search engine optimization, Google AdWords, and social networking consultation services, we will ensure your organization gets noticed.
Contact one of our consultants today and begin a marketing strategy that boosts your image and visibility with your clients.


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Welcome To Heavy Planet!
If you are looking for new Stoner Rock, Doom, Heavy Psych or Sludge Metal bands, then you have come to the right place. Heavy Planet has been providing free promotion to independent and unsigned bands since 2008. Find your next favorite band at Heavy Planet. Thanks for stopping by!
LP Review: Rhythm & Booze by PIST
Rhythm & Booze by PIST
It was March '14 when our ears were introduced to the savagely groovy metal riffs on Manchester, England's, PIST, with their debut EP Riffology, in our New Band To Burn One To section, and it's with great joy that the long awaited release of their debut album captures everything that we first loved about the band: brutal, drink infused riffs, husky, angered vocals, and a percussion section that leaves you moshing around every dark, beat-down dive you'll find these guys demolishing.
The aptly named Rhythm & Booze record kicks off with what will soon be regarded as the band's trademark sound on the track 'Shitstorm': a compact amalgamation of razor riffs played along a fuzzy metallic edge, pounding drums, and a screaming vocalist that wants to rip your face apart while at the same time pouring a beer down your neck and partying till dawn. 'Dirt on Me' is fucking brutal! It's perfect party music for you and your stoner/metal/rock friends to smash beer cans together and through each other round in the party to end all, well, weekends. The one thing you cannot say about PIST is that they don't give it everything they've got, because they do, and then chuck in the last of the drip tray too. 'Detached' has riffs that make your guts curdle, teetering between sludge and metal, all the while keeping a Southern Rock styling, which can be strange to hear from lads from a northern city in England.
PIST aren't just about drinking, fighting, fucking, and partying (although if they were that'd be enough) they're also great songwriters and musicians, raining in their animalistic instincts to create solid songs that form a well-rounded record, and not just a long onslaught of noise over belching.
As the record closes with the delightfully named 'Cunt Lip' and 'Chunder', you soon realise that the eighth beer you've somehow managed to down in one has made you aware of the hairy dude across the bar, who is eyeing up your woman and is calling you a pussy, and that he wants to brawl, and that everyone in the room is up for a good old punch up, and you let yourself go into the flow of the night's brutality. This is all come about through Rhythm & Booze, and it was worth it. You can thank PIST for your black eye!
Rhythm & Booze is out now through When Planets Collide.
Facebook|Bandcamp
Posted by Pete at 4:21:00 AM
Labels: Album Review, beer, Booze, Fights, LP Review, Manchester, metal, PIST, Rhythm & Booze, riff, sludge
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Acquisition Solutions builds consulting skills with ICOR buy
Merger boosts advisory services to government clients
By David Hubler
Acquisition Solutions Inc., a provider or procurement advisory services to the federal government, has purchased substantially all of the assets of ICOR Partners LLC., a company that provides strategy and business improvement consulting to the government.
The financial terms were not reported. The transaction closed Jan. 8 and was announced today.
With the purchase of the Arlington, Va., company, ASI has formed a new business unit specializing in management solutions, according to a company announcement today.
Founded in 2002, ICOR primarily supports civilian government clients. The firm has expertise in information technology enterprise architecture and governance, business transformation, performance and portfolio management, the ASI announcement said.
The veteran-owned private company is an 8(a) certified small business by the Small Business Administration.
Since its founding, ICOR has experienced a compound annual growth rate of more than 70 percent, according to the company's Web site.
"ICOR perfectly complements our expertise in acquisition, program management and knowledge management, and shares our commitment to avoiding the conflicts of interest faced by some firms," said Anne Reed, ASI's president and chief executive officer.
ASI supports not just procurement, but the holistic range of disciplines in the acquisition cycle, including systems engineering and architecture, mission and business planning, and program management, Reed said.
"ICOR brings us deep capabilities in all three of these areas," she added.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE ON THIS DEAL.
She said ICOR's employees will join ASI to offer public sector clients a broader range of services and solutions.
David Hubler is the former print managing editor for GCN and senior editor for Washington Technology. He is freelance writer living in Annandale, Va.
Tue, Jan 12, 2010 Observer III
What does this acquisition do for the companies often asserted bullet-proof no-conflict-of-interest with other government work claim? This would appear to be big trouble for holding that line.


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Talkspace Announces First University Partnership with Williams College
Enrolled students will have ongoing, no-cost access to licensed therapists through Talkspace online therapy.
Talkspace
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass., Sept. 10, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Talkspace, the global leader in telebehavioral health, today announces its first higher educational institution partnership with Williams College. One in three college freshman globally experience a mental health disorder, however many students feel ill-equipped with the necessary resources to manage them.
Williams College takes a creative leadership role in reimagining the purpose and reach of college mental health services that combines excellence in mental health treatment with multifaceted wellbeing promotion efforts. With a deep commitment to ensuring that all students thrive, Williams is expanding its spectrum of services by partnering with Talkspace to provide convenient, confidential and secure online messaging therapy with licensed clinicians year-round. In addition to having access to the college's robust on-campus resources, including one of the best staffed college counseling centers in the country, students can use Talkspace to send unlimited text, audio and video messages to a dedicated licensed therapist anytime, anywhere. Therapists will respond to students daily, no fewer than five days per week.
"Demand for mental health services at colleges and universities in the U.S. continues to rise and we are committed to providing a diverse portfolio of services and wellbeing promotion efforts that meet the unique needs of students, and to developing innovative approaches to meet this need," says Dr. Wendy Adam, Director of Integrative Wellbeing Services for Williams College. "At Williams, we are well-resourced and have a high utilization rate for our services, about 30% of our student population each year, yet we continue to pursue ways to reach students who may not choose to access traditional mental health services, who study abroad or have limited access to care when on school breaks."
In the past year alone, three out of five U.S. college students experienced overwhelming anxiety. Yet only 10-15 percent of students, on average, sought help at their counseling center. Barriers like clinician availability, time-commitment and fear to ask for help prevent students from accessing behavioral health care during an important developmental phase in life.
Williams is highly invested in meeting this national mental health crisis by leading in multiple ways: through providing ongoing, uncapped access to traditional mental health services on campus; expanding access to care even when students are not on campus through Talkspace; and, to college-wide wellbeing promotion efforts aimed at developing student wellbeing skills and practices. Williams College will offer Talkspace services to students year-round, including summers and study abroad semesters, at no cost to students. Students can message a therapist in full confidence, knowing the service is HIPAA-compliant and secure. They also have full control when it comes to choosing a therapist to work with, maintaining the relationship or requesting a change, at any time.
"Developing a service that is as effective as it is convenient has opened the door to therapy for so many," says Talkspace Chief Commercial Officer, Lynn Hamilton. "The flexibility Talkspace offers seamlessly integrates into the busy schedule of a college student, who may not otherwise have time to make regular appointments. We couldn't be more excited to begin our higher-education partnership with Williams College."
Talkspace's commercial business now covers more than five million lives, including national education partnerships with greek organizations.
You can find more information on Talkspace and Williams College at: www.talkspace.com/williamscollege.
About Talkspace
Talkspace is a telebehavioral healthcare company. Its signature psychotherapy product connects individual users with a network of over 5,000 licensed therapists through an easy-to-use and HIPAA-compliant web and mobile platform. With Talkspace, users can send their dedicated therapists unlimited text, video, picture and audio messages from anywhere, at anytime. Therapists engage with clients daily, 5 days a week. Talkspace also provides psychiatry services, including prescription fulfillment, adolescent therapy and couples counseling. Founded by Roni Frank and Oren Frank in 2012, with the mission to make therapy available to all, and eliminate the stigma associated with mental health, Talkspace has already been used by over 1 million people.
For more information about Talkspace, please visit https://www.talkspace.com
To learn more about online therapy, please visit https://www.talkspace.com/online-therapy
For more information about Talkspace commercial relationships, visit https://business.talkspace.com
About Williams College
Founded in 1793, Williams College is the second-oldest institution of higher learning in Massachusetts. The college's 2,000 students are taught by a faculty noted for the quality of their teaching and research, and the achievement of academic goals includes active participation of students with faculty in their research. Students' educational experience is enriched by the residential campus environment in Williamstown, Mass., which provides a host of opportunities for interaction with one another and with faculty beyond the classroom. Admission decisions on U.S. applicants are made regardless of a student's financial ability, and the college provides grants and other assistance to meet the demonstrated needs of all who are admitted.
Gregory Shook, director of media relations
SOURCE Talkspace
www.talkspace.com


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A Look Behind The EEOC Curtain: Enforcement Statistics Show Fewer Charges Filed In 2019, But Monetary Recoveries Ticked Up In Some Areas
Seyfarth Synopsis: The EEOC recently released its enforcement and litigation statistics for Fiscal Year 2019. Notably, the statistics indicate that 2019 saw the lowest number of charges filed in over 20 years, though there was almost no perceptible dip in retaliation charges. For example, despite the #MeToo movement remaining prevalent in 2019, the number of sex discrimination charges fell to their lowest number since 1997. However, monetary benefits recovered through mediation, conciliation, and settlement jumped in some areas, including for charges alleging sexual harassment.
On January 24, 2020, the EEOC released its comprehensive enforcement and litigation statistics for Fiscal Year 2019 (available here). In addition to enforcement and litigation activity, the data breaks down charge statistics by allegation and state – showing which charges are being filed and where. The dip in the number of charges that employers saw in 2018 continued through 2019, with the number of charges reaching its lowest point since 1997. The prominence of sex discrimination charges seen in 2018 due to the #MeToo movement all but disappeared, with sex discrimination charges falling from the second-most filed charge to the fourth, dropping to their lowest number in over 20 years.
Charges Are Down Overall
In total, 72,675 charges were filed in FY 2019. Not only is this down from the 76,418 charges that were filed in FY 2018, but also FY 2019 saw the fewest charges filed for all fiscal years going back to FY 1997 (the second lowest, 75,428 charges, occurred in FY 2005). Putting this number in perspective, the number of charges filed exceeded 80,000 per year in every year from FY 2007 until FY 2018, sometimes by wide margins.
Consistent with this overall decline, there was a decrease in almost every category of charges in FY 2019 as compared to FY 2018, with the exception of some very modest increases in charges alleging "color" discrimination (a separate protected class under Title VII) and violations of the Equal Pay Act. The categories that decreased the most were age and sex discrimination, by almost 1,600 and 1,100 charges, respectively. It should be noted, however, that this does not necessarily mean that fewer individuals are reaching out to the EEOC. This dip could be attributed, at least in part, to the agency's implementation of new charge intake procedures in an effort to increase efficiencies.
Texas And Florida Are Still Hot Spots; Illinois Falls From The Top Five
Looking at the states where the most charges were filed, the hot spots largely remained the same in FY 2019 as in FY 2018. Like FY 2018 and FY 2017, Texas (with 10.2 % of all charges filed) and Florida (with 8.2%) were the top two states for charges in FY 2019.
Texas and Florida are no surprise, given their relative populations. But population is still not everything when it comes to charges. For example, Georgia (at number 3) surpasses states with higher populations, and Pennsylvania (tied with California for fourth) has more filings than New York. Notably, Illinois fell out of the top five states this year, moving from fifth to sixth place with 5.4% of all charges filed.
Retaliation Charges Remain In First, With Disability Discrimination Charges Moving To Second
In total, 39,110 retaliation charges were filed with the EEOC in FY 2019. As has been the case for over five years, this made retaliation the most frequently filed charge in FY 2019. Behind retaliation were disability, race, and sex discrimination charges, each alleged in approximately 32%-33% of the charges filed with the EEOC. As the EEOC's report noted, the percentages total more than 100 because some charges allege multiple bases of discrimination.
Disability discrimination was the second-most-often alleged theory of discrimination, seeing the highest percentage of charges filed since 1997 at 33.4%. Race discrimination came in a close third. Interestingly, sex discrimination charges (which would include pregnancy discrimination, gender discrimination, and sexual harassment) fell from the number two slot in FY 2018 back to the fourth most frequently filed charge, which was where it was in FY 2017. The #MeToo movement remained a prevalent media topic in FY 2019, so this drop in charges cannot be chalked up to decreased visibility.
Although the raw numbers do not provide any explanation, one would hope that the increased public scrutiny on this issue has led to greater adoption of effective measures to address sex discrimination, which are having an actual impact in the workplace.
EEOC Saw A Slight Dip in Overall Recoveries But Increases In Particular Areas
As we reported here, FY 2019 saw a slight drop in recoveries by the EEOC. During FY 2019, the EEOC recovered more than $486 million for alleged discrimination victims. This represents a 4% decrease from $505 million in FY 2018 and is roughly on par with the $484 million recovered during FY 2017. In particular, the relief obtained through mediation, conciliation, and settlement declined marginally from $354 million in FY 2018 to $347 million in FY 2019. Further, litigation recoveries dropped to $39.1 million in FY 2019 from $53.6 million in FY 2018 (the FY 2017 and 2016 numbers were $42.4 million and $52.2 million respectively).
Despite the overall marginal decrease in recoveries, FY 2019 saw recoveries in some particular areas increased. For example, relief obtained through mediation, conciliation, and settlement for sex harassment charges surged from $56.6 million in FY 2018 to $68.2 million in FY 2019. Recoveries for race discrimination-based charges similarly increased, jumping from $71.3 million in FY 2018 to $79.8 million in FY 2019.
Despite the dips in the overall number of charges, the EEOC's enforcement efforts show no sign of waning. Employers should treat these statistics as an early warning system that shows where the Commission's enforcement efforts may be heading next – to that end, it is notable that retaliation and disability discrimination issues are firmly in the forefront. By continuing to set the culture in their workplaces through leadership and accountability, along with sound human resources practices, employers can guard against these issues and avoid hefty settlements and litigation with the EEOC.
EEOC Chair Janet Dhillon's Announcement Of Strategic Priorities: A New Era Of Transparency For The Commission?
New Chair Of The EEOC Begins To Make Her Mark: A Look At The EEOC's Inaugural Agency Financial Report
Adverse Employment Action
Gender-Based Pay Discrimination
Labor Law Violations


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The future of the boutique fitness industry
Akin Akman - AARMY Co-Founder, joined Yahoo Finance to discuss the future of the boutique fitness industry.
SAN DIEGO — In the days before Joe Biden became president, construction crews worked quickly to finish Donald Trump's wall at an iconic cross-border park overlooking the Pacific Ocean, which then-first lady Pat Nixon inaugurated in 1971 as symbol of international friendship. Biden on Wednesday ordered a "pause" on all wall construction within a week, one of 17 executive orders issued on his first day in office, including six dealing with immigration. The order leaves projects throughout the border unfinished — but still under contract — after Trump worked feverishly last year to build 450 miles (720 kilometres), a goal he said he achieved eight days before leaving office. The Trump administration said it had identified $15 billion to reach a total of 738 miles (1,181 kilometres), but it is unclear how many of those additional miles are under contract and what cancellation fees Biden would face to fulfil his pledge to not build "another foot." Biden ordered answers within two months on how much the government committed, how much it would cost to extricate itself and whether contracts could be repurposed for other uses. The White House had no immediate comment Thursday, but given the lack of communication between Trump aides and Biden's transition team, quick answers may prove elusive. "It is remarkably opaque," said Dror Ladin, an attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union who's scheduled to argue before the U.S. Supreme Court next month that it was illegal for Trump to divert billions of dollars from the Defence Department to build the wall. John Kurc, an activist who posts videos of dynamite blasts by wall construction crews, said he saw one dynamite charge being set Wednesday afternoon in Guadalupe Canyon in easternmost Arizona, even as the inauguration was playing out in Washington. Heavy machines have been crawling over roadways gouged into rocky mountainsides, tapping open holes for posts on U.S. Bureau of Land Management property. In Texas' Rio Grande Valley, the busiest area for illegal crossings, advocates for the Texas Civil Rights Project saw idle trucks and construction equipment Thursday, though rain may explain the lack of activity. In San Diego, crews were out Thursday replacing a steel fence with imposing, tightly spaced poles topped with flat steel plates rising 30 feet (9 metres), said Dan Watman of Friends of Friendship Park, a group that promotes public access to the cross-border park overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Contractors began last week, said Watman, who was informed of the project in a December conference call with Border Patrol agents but got no explanation for it. The agency referred questions to the White House. Trump said the border wall would be "virtually impenetrable" and paid for by Mexico, which never happened. While the wall is much more formidable than the barriers it replaced, it isn't uncommon for smugglers to guide people over or through it. Portions can be sawed with power tools sold at home improvement stores. Despite Trump's bravado, Border Patrol officials have said the wall was never meant to stop everyone but rather to slow their advance. Jose Edgar Zuleta, whose business selling religious jewelry in the Mexican city of Puebla dried up during the coronavirus pandemic, cleared two walls in Friendship Park in October with a special ladder. He moved through brush in a heavily patrolled area for about half an hour before getting caught. His 21-year-old son, who went ahead of him, got picked up hours later. Zuleta agreed to pay smugglers $19,000 for him and his son but only if they made it to the U.S., where they hoped to work as landscapers in Southern California. He returned home to his wife and mother and may try again. The cross-border park has hosted yoga classes, concerts and countless news conferences, including one in 2018 with then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions to announce a "zero tolerance" policy that caused thousands of children to be separated from their parents at the border. An old bullfighting ring and ocean-view restaurants surround the Mexican side; wetland scrub stretches into the United States. Years ago, people passed baked goods, kissed and shook hands through a chain-link fence. Watman remembers passing tools back and forth in 2007 to plant a cross-border garden that still stands. Since 2012, after construction of a double wall at the park, the Border Patrol has opened a gate many weekends for up to 10 people at a time to exchange words with those in Mexico. The latest sprint of construction there is part of a $101 million contract to SLSCO Ltd. to build 14 miles (22 kilometres) in San Diego with Homeland Security appropriations. SLSCO, based in Galveston, Texas, didn't immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday. At issue before the Supreme Court on Feb. 22 is billions of dollars that plaintiffs say was wrongly transferred from the Defence Department after Congress denied the money that Trump sought, triggering a 35-day government shutdown in 2017. It is unclear if Biden will adopt Trump's position before the Supreme Court. The government's brief is due Feb. 11. Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador welcomed Biden's decision to stop wall construction but, in defence of Trump, noted that U.S. presidents going back to 1990s built border barriers. He displayed a chart to prove his point. ___ Associated Press writers Nomaan Merchant in Houston, Anita Snow in Phoenix and Christopher Sherman in Mexico City contributed. Elliot Spagat, The Associated Press
Toronto Mayor John Tory urges Pfizer improve COVID-19 vaccine production
Toronto Mayor John Tory has joined a chorus of Canadian politicians in urging Pfizer-Biotech to produce more COVID-19 vaccine. Tory followed Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Ontario Premier Doug Ford, among others, in speaking directly to executives from the pharmaceutical multinational. Tory said he wanted to make a constructive case after the company said it would not be able to fulfil next week's order to the federal government. "The best way to go about these kinds of conversations is to make your case as a Canadian, which I did, and as the mayor of the largest city in the country, and to try to make Canada's case," Tory said. Trudeau has said he spoke to Pfizer on Tuesday and Ford said he was in contact with the pharmaceutical manufacturer on Wednesday. Tory said he knows members of Pfizer's management team from his previous career as a business executive, and that he reached out to them in concert with the federal government. "I'm trying to help the country's efforts to try to see if we can't get more supply," the mayor said. "I can't tell you what results my intervention, or anybody else's, will have." Toronto has had to shut down its two vaccination programs until the federal government provides more doses to the city's public health unit. An immunization clinic at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre closed after two days of inoculating front-line health care workers. The city also paused a pilot in shelters for people experiencing homelessness. Dr. Eileen De Villa, Toronto's chief medical officer, said everyone's frustrated with the shipping delay, because the vaccine offers people hope. "Having it slowed down and having the change in course is not what we wanted," De Villa said. "But we expect there will be eventually vaccine coming available and we'll do our very best." De Villa said there were 986 new cases of COVID-19 in Toronto on Thursday and 10 more deaths linked to the virus. The update included 102 cases from earlier in the week that had previously gone unreported because of a technical error. Councillor Joe Cressy, chairman of the Toronto Board of Health, joined Tory and De Villa at the Thursday afternoon news conference. All three detailed the city's ongoing efforts to support racialized communities that have been hit hardest by the pandemic. Toronto, Ontario Health, hospitals, and community health providers have been working to improve access to testing in those neighbourhoods. Toronto reports nearly 271 testing clinics have been booked in more than 20 different city-owned facilities, with 89 more dates to come in January at 12 different sites. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 21, 2021. John Chidley-Hill, The Canadian Press
Long-term care residents told commission prolonged isolation is 'inhumane'
TORONTO — Residents of Ontario long-term care homes described the devastating impact of the prolonged isolation brought on by the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic as they testified before an independent commission earlier this month. A group of residents spoke to the Long-Term Care COVID-19 Commission through video conference on Jan. 13, laying out the intense loneliness and deteriorating mental health experienced by them and their peers. Some characterized the conditions, which they said have kept them with minimal human contact for weeks or months at a time, as "inhumane." One resident identified as Maria S. said the home she lives in had no COVID-19 cases until November, but then the virus "spread like wildfire." The facility is separated into eight sections, each housing 25 people, and two of those sections had no cases at all, she said. Still, the entire facility was closed off and everyone had to isolate for at least eight weeks, she said. "You weren't able to talk to anybody, to see anyone... Through Christmas and New Year's, we sat in our rooms," with only one essential worker allowed, she told the commission. "It is inhumane to leave people in their rooms without any contact with anyone for that long a period of time," she said. "So it has been a long haul of loneliness and no interaction except with your staff, and again, that is limited interaction." Another resident, identified as Ann D., said she feels like she is "in jail," and has noticed a change in her fellow residents as well. "You can see the life is just draining out of their faces," she said. "Every day it is getting worse and worse... and they are just not the same person they were two weeks ago, and they are not the same as they were two months ago." Others described the cumulative harm of the pandemic over the last year, comparing themselves to animals locked up in cages. A resident identified as Robert K. said he lost 20 pounds after the "mental and physical isolation" robbed him of his appetite. Unable to see his wife due to "draconian" rules, and no longer able to read or write due to an eye condition, Robert said he is "very limited in recreational activities," particularly when volunteers aren't allowed in homes. "I feel like my brain is in a straight jacket," he said. "I feel like I want to break out, and I don't know how." Their testimony came after another group of residents appeared before the commission in the fall, urging the government to address the issue of isolation before the second wave of the pandemic took hold. The COVID-19 pandemic has carved a deadly path through Ontario's long-term care system, killing more than 3,250 residents and 10 staff members since the start of the global health crisis. The commission, led by Superior Court Associate Chief Justice Frank Marrocco, was convened to investigate how the virus spread in the system, and issue recommendations aimed at preventing similar outcomes in the future. It has heard that shortages in staff and personal protective equipment, as well as other factors, contributed to the outbreaks. Currently, 251 of the province's 626 long-term care homes are reporting an outbreak of COVID-19. Last year, the province loosened visitation rules a few months into the pandemic, but the commission has heard many homes continued with a lockdown. Additional restrictions were later imposed on homes in hot spot regions, limiting visitors to staff, essential visitors and caregivers. A directive issued earlier this month states that long-term care homes in regions designated as green or yellow under the province's pandemic management plan can allow caregivers and support workers who have had a negative PCR COVID-19 test in the past two weeks and attest to not testing positive later, or who have a negative antigen test the day of their visit. Homes in those regions can also admit visitors provided they meet the same criteria. Caregivers can visit facilities in regions deemed orange, red or grey zones if they have had a negative PCR test in the previous week, or a negative antigen test that day. But no visitors are otherwise allowed in homes in those regions. The province has rolled out vaccinations in long-term care homes, vowing to administer a first dose in all facilities by mid-February. The commission's hearings aren't open to the public but transcripts are posted online, typically in the days that follow. It is expected to submit its final report to the provincial government on April 30. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 21, 2020. Paola Loriggio, The Canadian Press
The Latest: Fauci to resume virus updates in White House
WASHINGTON — Dr. Anthony Fauci is back in the White House briefing room. Fauci, the nation's leading infectious disease expert, was tasked by President Joe Biden to give an update on the coronavirus pandemic after largely being sidelined in recent months by former president Donald Trump. Fauci said the new administration would "be completely open and honest" in dealing with the pandemic and, in an implicit rebuke to the Trump administration, said everything now would be "based on science and evidence." He also said in the Biden administration, the rule would be "if you don't know the answer, don't guess." Fauci, who repeatedly attacked by Trump for breaking with his rosy view of the pandemic, provided an update on the new, more contagious strains of the virus, which has now claimed the lives of more than 400,000 Americans. ___ THE VIRUS OUTBREAK: President Joe Biden signs burst of coronavirus orders, requires masks for travel. US Chamber of Commerce supports Biden's virus plan. Dr. Anthony Fauci vows full US engagement with WHO. Angela Merkel sees signs of coronavirus decline in Germany, but extends restrictions until Feb. 14. India sends 2 million doses of coronavirus vaccine to Bangladesh. __Follow all of AP's pandemic coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic, https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-vaccine and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak ___ HERE'S WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING: COLUMBUS, Ohio — Gov. Mike DeWine announced Ohio will use $50 million in federal pandemic aid dollars to buy two million at-home rapid coronavirus tests to help local health departments respond faster to testing needs. The Republican governor also said the state's 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. pandemic curfew, due to expire in a couple days, will be extended, though he didn't provide details. Meanwhile, Lt. Gov Jon Husted said the state is wrestling with huge numbers of fraudulent unemployment claims being filed for federal pandemic aid. Husted said 1.4 million of those claims, nearly 800,000 have been flagged as fraudulent, including a claim someone made in Husted's name. The at-home test kit deal involves a partnership between the state, Miami-based digital health company eMed and Chicago-based medical device company Abbott Laboratories. Users can administer the BinaxNow at-home rapid antigen tests with results available in about 15 minutes. A company spokesperson said users will receive online guidance to take the tests, and the results will be recorded with the Ohio Department of Health. Devine said local health departments have been asking for this type of rapid testing. ___ TOPEKA, Kan. — Kansas is shifting into the second phase of coronavirus immunizations as the Republican-led state House approved a bill that would extend the state's pandemic emergency declaration. The 119-3 vote sends the bill to Gov. Laura Kelly, who has until Jan. 26 to act before the declaration expires. It expands the use of telemedicine and adds flexibility in health care licensing through March 31. But it also limits Kelly's ability to close businesses and allows counties to opt out of mask mandates and other health orders she issues. The move comes as Kelly said communities can move beyond immunizing health care workers and long-term care residents. She urged patience in a news release, noting that the next phase includes about 1 million Kansans, including those ages 65 and older, prisoners and essential workers such as teachers and law enforcement officers. However, the next weekly shipment of vaccine from the federal government contains only about 45,000 new first doses. Kelly said local health departments, will decide how their limited supply of the doses will be allocated by population groups. ___ WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden is signing 10 executive orders aimed at combating the coronavirus pandemic, including one broadening the use of the Defence Production Act to expand vaccine production. Biden also signed an order Thursday mandating masks for travel, including in airports and planes, ships, trains, buses and public transportation, as well as one directing the Federal Emergency Management Agency to reimburse states for some costs related to their COVID-19 response and to provide funds to help reopen schools. Biden is ordering FEMA to begin setting up vaccination centres and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to begin a program to make vaccines available through local pharmacies starting next month. And he's mobilizing the Public Health Service to deploy to assist localities in vaccinations. The administration is trying to provide 100 million vaccine injections during the first 100 days of Biden's presidency, an initial step toward getting the country inoculated from the disease so that schools and businesses can fully reopen. ___ TORONTO — The leader of Canada's most populous province says he isn't buying the excuse from Pfizer about why Pfizer deferred all its COVID-19 vaccine deliveries to Canada next week. Ontario Premier Doug Ford says it unacceptable that other countries are getting the doses and Canada is not. Pfizer announced a temporary reduction in deliveries last Friday so it could upscale its Puurs, Belgium plant, which supplies all shots delivered outside the United States. Ford says that's "crap" and says Pfizer is messing up. Governments in Europe also say the delay is costing critical time during the early stages of the rollout to care homes and hospital personnel. ___ MADRID — Spain posted a new daily record of 44,357 coronavirus infections. The Health Ministry reported 404 deaths on Thursday, increasing the confirmed total to 55,041 deaths and 2.5 million cases. The country's 14-day average case rate rose to 796 per 100,000 inhabitants, up from 736 on Wednesday. Despite the numbers, government coronavirus expert Fernando Simón says the country could be reaching a plateau. But he says a decrease in new "hospitalizations and admissions to ICUs won't be noticed for at least another week." ICU bed occupancy by COVID-19 patients is at 36% nationally. Two regions, La Rioja and Valencia, have occupancy rates above 50%. ___ PARIS — France will require people wear higher quality face masks in public, a measure likely to render many home-made cloth masks obsolete. Government officials say the new rule will be published Friday to help slow the spread of a possibly more contagious variant of the coronavirus. The rule will require face masks worn in public approach the standard of surgical masks in their ability to filter out most tiny particles. Officials say most washable masks sold in French stores already meet the required standard. However, lower-quality homemade cloth masks are unlikely to make the grade. ___ BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — Argentine President Alberto Fernández was given the Russian Sputnik V vaccine for the coronavirus after local health authorities recommended its use for those 60 and older. The 64-year-old president was given a shot by a nurse at the Hospital Posadas in Buenos Aires, the capital. Fernández assured Argentines that the vaccine, which has been distributed to the public since Dec. 29, is safe. Argentine officials on Wednesday expanded their recommendation to cover vaccinating those 60 and older after receiving data from Russia indicating it was safe and effective for that group. Fernández will get a second dose after 21 days. ___ VILLA EL SALVADOR, Peru — The Peruvian government announced new oxygen-production equipment it says will assist hospitals across the country. Oxygen has become a scarce commodity in this city of more than 508,000 during a second wave of coronavirus infections. Most of the hospitals in Peru lack the equipment necessary to produce oxygen. The desperation has led some businesses to triple its price, forcing many to plunder their savings or sell belongings to afford it. While some are price gauging, others are stepping in to help. In Villa El Salvador, a group of 13 friends, among them engineers, economists and lawyers, pooled their savings to recently open an oxygen plant and offer lower prices. Peru has recorded more than 1 million confirmed cases and more than 39,000 deaths during the pandemic. ___ WASHINGTON — The largest business lobbying group in the U.S. is supporting President Joe Biden's early moves to confront the coronavirus pandemic. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce chief policy officer Neil Bradley says Biden is correct in his assessment that controlling the coronavirus is the key to fully reopening the economy. "America must return to health before we can restore economic growth and get the 10 million Americans who lost their jobs in the last year back to work," Bradley said. "We support the new administration's focus on removing roadblocks to vaccinations and reopening schools, both of which are important steps to accelerating a broad-based economic recovery for all Americans." Biden's predecessor had put pressure on states to quickly reopen. The U.S. is facing its most deadly wave of the pandemic, with joblessness on the rise again. The U.S. Chamber is particularly influential with Republican Congressional lawmakers, who hold sway over Biden's proposed $1.9 trillion coronavirus package. ___ JOHANNESBURG — South Africa's president says Jackson Mthembu has died from the coronavirus, becoming the first cabinet minister to succumb to the disease. The 62-year-old Mthembu in recent months had been a central figure in communicating to the public the South African government's response to COVID-19. In announcing the death Thursday, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa called Mthembu "an exemplary leader." He tested positive on Jan. 11. Mthembu's death comes as South Africa battles a second wave of the coronavirus that may be driven in part by a new variant of the coronavirus. ___ CHICAGO — Health researchers say young children need to be careful with alcohol-based hand sanitizer, especially dispensers at eye level. The researchers say they've seen more cases of children who got the substance in their eyes. Studies published Thursday in JAMA Ophthalmology detail cases in France and India, some resulting in eye pain and cornea ulcers that ultimately healed. But a few youngsters required eye surgery and researchers say risks include blindness. Many cases involved dispensers in public places. U.S. poison control centres also have had an increase in calls about kids exposed to hand sanitizers. While most resulted in little or no harm, the American Academy of Pediatrics notes the products should the kept out of young children's reach. If a child does get sanitizer in their eyes, doctors advise washing the eyes with warm water and having the youngster get an eye exam to make sure there is no damage. ___ MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey is extending a statewide order requiring face masks in public to help slow the spread of the coronavirus. Ivey announced the decision at the state capitol on Thursday. The new order means the rule will remain in place through March 5. Medical officials had urged Ivey to extend the order amid the rollout of COVID-19 vaccinations, which have been hindered by a limited national supply. The state of nearly 5 million people has had 446,000 vaccine doses delivered and administered 184,000 doses. There's been about 430,000 confirmed cases and more than 62,000 deaths from the coronavirus in Alabama. ___ PHOENIX — Arizona, the state with the worst coronavirus diagnosis rate in the country, reported nearly 9,400 confirmed cases on Thursday. The Department of Health Services reported 9,398 cases and 244 confirmed deaths, increasing the state's pandemic totals to 699,942 cases and 11,772 deaths. According to the state's coronavirus dashboard, there were 4,580 hospitalized COVID-19 patients occupying inpatient beds on Wednesday, down from the Jan. 11 record of 5,082. One in 147 Arizona residents was diagnosed with the coronavirus from Jan. 13 to Wednesday. South Carolina was close behind at one in 148. Arizona's seven-day rolling average of daily new cases declined from 8,884 on Jan. 6 to 6,973 on Wednesday. The rolling average of daily deaths rose from 103 to 142 during the same period. That's according to data from Johns Hopkins University and The COVID Tracking Project. ___ BEIRUT — Lebanon has extended a nationwide lockdown to Feb. 8 amid a rise in coronavirus infections and deaths that has overwhelmed the health care system. The lockdown had been scheduled to end Feb. 1. Hospitals in Lebanon have registered a 91% occupancy of ICU beds. Deaths have surpassed 2,000, with between 40 to 60 daily deaths this week. The national health committee had recommended a two-week extension. But the government decided to keep the lockdown, in place since Jan. 14, until Feb. 8. ___ The Associated Press
Port Authority Eyes New Plan for Midtown NYC Bus Terminal
(Bloomberg) -- The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey released a new plan to replace its neglected, overcrowded midtown bus terminal, more than seven years after the transit agency first sought proposals to overhaul it.Replacing the decaying depot, which opened in 1950 and was expanded in 1981, will take a decade at least and billions of dollars, Port Authority officials said. The new five-story terminal will be able to handle almost 40% more passengers. It will provide storage space for buses, curbing traffic congestion and pollution and gates to accommodate inter-city coaches that previously picked up and dropped off passengers on city streets.The bi-state agency plans to fund the project with $3 billion in its current capital plan and the sale of air rights for as many as four new high rise towers, officials said. The agency will also seek federal aid and an agreement from the city to allow a developer to use payments in lieu of taxes to help finance the project, much like the new Moynihan Train Hall railway station."It's way past time that this building be replaced," said Port Authority Executive Director Rick Cotton.On busy days before the Coronavirus pandemic, 260,000 commuters walked the bus station's bleak corridors, where missing ceiling panels revealed leaky pipes. Comedian John Oliver called the bus terminal the "Single Worst Place on Planet Earth."Plans to replace the bus terminal were delayed by design challenges and disputes between New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie over where to build and how much to spend.In 2016, New York's top appointee to the Port Authority wanted to build a replacement next to the NJ Transit station in Secaucus, New Jersey. Scott Rechler, the appointee, retreated after John Degnan, appointed by Christie, said he wouldn't support the LaGuardia Airport redevelopment.The Port Authority reviewed more than 30 sites for the bus terminal and consulted with riders and residents, who were aggravated by the congestion and pollution from the buses. Without a place to park, motor coaches circled the streets awaiting their turn to get into the terminal or idled on city streets, spewing diesel fumes.The new terminal will be designed to serve electric bus fleets and employ technology to speed bus movements, officials said. New bus ramps between 10th and 11th Avenues will enable direct access from the Lincoln Tunnel.Construction will be staged to minimize disruption to existing terminal operations and coordinated with other Port Authority projects at the Lincoln and Holland tunnels and George Washington Bridge.(Adds electric bus fleet capacity in 9th paragraph. A previous version of this story incorrectly stated the capacity of the new building.)For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.comSubscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source.©2021 Bloomberg L.P.
Jeff Katz obituary
Jeff Katz obituaryCorporate investigator who rejected dubious tactics and agents to shine a light on foul play
Pitt Meadows council wants CP Railway to pay more local taxes due to company's impact on city
Council in Pitt Meadows, B.C., wants Canadian Pacific Railway to pay more local taxes to better reflect the impact its operations have on the city's residents. On Tuesday night, council voted to direct staff to kick off a push to have the tax classification changed for the railway, which cuts right through the middle of the city and creates noise and pollution, according to the mayor. It's the start of a long lobbying effort that will have to go through the Lower Mainland Local Government Association before it's taken to the Union of B.C. Municipalities and finally the B.C. government. City officials say it would increase the taxes CP Railway pays Pitt Meadows from the 2020 total of about $1.7 million to more than $2.1 million. If council is ultimately successful, the impact would not be limited to Pitt Meadows — the change would take effect across the province, meaning any municipality with railroads and railway operations would receive more tax revenue from rail companies. Railways are currently given a tax classification of Class 6, which is described as "business and other" and mostly covers properties like offices and retail space. Pitt Meadows council wants to have that changed to Class 5, which is light industrial. The impacts of the railway in Pitt Meadows, according to Mayor Bill Dingwall, include diesel particulate, noise and vibrations affecting residential neighbourhoods, and loud bangs from train cars coupling along the tracks — all of which he considers inconsistent with the current classification. He said the company runs about 45 trains through Pitt Meadows each day, and about 1,000 trucks access the large intermodal facility near the Pitt River, where goods are loaded and unloaded. He said the operation continues 24 hours a day and seven days a week. "If you look at the impacts of rail going through your community — it's not the same as a dentist," Dingwall said. Proposed railway expansion The railway's tax rate recently caught council's attention when the company proposed a major expansion in Pitt Meadows on about 100 acres of agricultural land it had purchased to the south of its intermodal facility. Dingwall said the entire council and many members of the community are opposed to the expansion, which would include grain silos and fuel storage — both considered a high hazard, especially for a city without a full time fire department. If the railway's tax rate is changed to Class 5, the annual taxes on the proposed facility would increase by about $660,000. Dingwall said the council is unanimously behind a separate plan involving the railway — a $141 million project to build road crossings that wouldn't be interrupted by regular trains. CBC News has contacted CP Railway for a reaction to the council's vote. Do you have more to add to this story? Email rafferty.baker@cbc.ca Follow Rafferty Baker on Twitter: @raffertybaker
Canes' season paused, while Caps play on without 4 regulars
Rod Brind'Amour lamented Carolina's season coming to a screeching halt despite doing "a great job" adhering to pandemic protocols. For Peter Laviolette, his Washington Capitals will keep playing for the next week without four prominent players who broke the rules. Each team is getting punished in a different way after being affected by the virus. The Hurricanes had games postponed through at least Saturday and won't get to practice in person with a handful of players on the COVID-19 list. There's no indication the Capitals are being shut down, though they will have to play the next four games without captain Alex Ovechkin, No. 1 centre Evgeny Kuznetsov, top-four defenceman Dmitry Orlov and starting goaltender Ilya Samsonov. "We totally understand why the rules are in place, and there's no arguing with that," said Laviolette, who's in his first season as Washington's coach. "We knew the rules. We're not sitting here saying that we were uninformed or we weren't aware. We need to do a better job." The NHL fined the Capitals $100,000 for breaking protocol by having those four players in a hotel room together with none of them wearing a mask. Laviolette said there was a positive test result, which led to contact tracing, and Washington will be forced to ice a patchwork lineup for its home opener Friday night against Buffalo. There's no hard and fast timeframe for how long a player who tests positive or has potential exposure must be out. The NHL defers to local authorities, and the minimum four games for the Capitals players relates to the District of Columbia's quarantine regulations. After Ovechkin expressed regret for the mistake that will cost him and his fellow Russians two games against the Sabres and two against the New York Islanders, teammates said Thursday the protocols were spelled out for them before the season. "It's not a situation we want to be in, but here we are," centre Nicklas Backstrom said. "We're a tight group. Every time we're on the road, we see a chance to really connect as a group, but obviously it's a violation." Carolina has been off since Tuesday, when Teuvo Teraivanen, Jaccob Slavin, Jordan Martinook and Warren Foegele joined captain Jordan Staal on the COVID-19 unavailable list. The Hurricanes have so far had three games postponed because of their outbreak and won't play for at least a week. "We'vw done all the protocols — we've tried," Brind'Amour said. "Obviously it didn't matter, it got into our room." Carolina, Dallas, Florida, Nashville and defending Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay have all had at least one game postponed because of COVID-19 concerns. The NHL said 17 Stars players tested positive, and their first four games were rescheduled. "We're in a position that we have catch-up to do: catch up in the standings, catch up in games played," said Dallas coach Rick Bowness, whose team finally plays its first game Friday at Nashville. "The other teams are playing 56 games in 118 days, I think we're playing them in 108, so our schedule just got a lot more condensed and there's going to be times with this schedule because of the cancellation of those games it's going to really hurt us." Each team is required to carry a "taxi squad" of four to six players who travel with the team and can be called up if necessary as a way to prevent postponements. The Capitals had to dig three deep into theirs to make up for some big losses. Because of the taxi squads, the NHL doesn't have an official number of players unavailable that would postpone a game. Commissioner Gary Bettman said before the season those decisions would be made on a case-by-case basis. Brind'Amour and Carolina general manager Don Waddell didn't seem to question any player's judgement amid the team's pause. Some players are stuck in Nashville while the rest of the Hurricanes are home because of NHL protocols spelling out what to do when positive test results happen on the road; everyone's limited to virtual practices and meetings with the practice facility closed. "I think we all understood there was a chance that something like this was going to happen," Brind'Amour said. "It's not really about was it going to happen, it's how do you deal with it. I think that's really what we're going to find out." ___ AP Sports Writers Aaron Beard and Stephen Hawkins contributed. ___ More AP NHL coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/NHL Stephen Whyno, The Associated Press


The Versatile Tableware Range Designed For Modern Living. Crafted To Offer All The Beauty And Benefits Of Denby Stoneware With All The Appeal And Simplicity Of White'. The Timeless, Neutral Tones And Shape Design Of Denby'S Natural Canvas Make It A Range Suited To Any Home'S Style And Colour And Works Equally Well When Mixed And Matched With Other Items. The Unique And Rich Denby Glaze Gives Warmth As Well As Durability And Makes Every Piece Unique. The 'Roulette' Patterned Texture Of Feature Pieces, Inspired By The Iconic Chevron Pattern Of The Sixties And Seventies, Showcases The Earthy, Artisan Roots Of The Range. Every Item Can Be Used In The Oven, Dishwasher, Freezer And Microwave.A Beautiful And Functional Medium Plate From Denby'S Natural Canvas Range. Ideal For: Starters, Jammy Toast, Side Dishes, Warm Bread And Desserts.


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Q: Two .env environments with different passwords In my app, I am using two API's that require different credentials. I am storing each in a .env file and read them using process.env. Both .env  and .config files are in different directories.
The first config.js:
const dotenv = require('dotenv');
const cfg = {};

dotenv.config({path: '.env'});

cfg.port = process.env.PORT;

cfg.apiKey = process.env.apiKey;
cfg.authDomain = process.env.authDomain;
cfg.databaseURL = process.env.databaseURL;
cfg.projectId = process.env.projectId;
cfg.storageBucket = process.env.storageBucket;
cfg.messagingSenderId = process.env.messagingSenderId;

module.exports = cfg;

The second config.js
const dotenv = require('dotenv');
const cfg = {};

dotenv.config({path: '.env'});

cfg.port = process.env.PORT;

cfg.accountSid = process.env.TWILIO_ACCOUNT_SID;
cfg.authToken = process.env.TWILIO_AUTH_TOKEN;
cfg.twimlAppSid = process.env.TWILIO_TWIML_APP_SID;
cfg.callerId = process.env.TWILIO_CALLER_ID;

module.exports = cfg;

I configured both .env files the same way. But apparently the second config.js is not able to read the credentials such as: TWILIO_ACCOUNT_SID, TWILIO_AUTH_TOKEN, etc. Which led me to believe that for the second .env file I have to configure differently than the first one.
How do I load the two sets of credentials into one environment? Or do I have to load them into different environments?
Thanks for your time.

A: For your first question, yes, you can load both set of credentials in one environment as the keys are different for each one, you just need to import both config.js in your 'main' code.
If what you need to do is to use two set of credentials in the same api, you could both credentials in the same JSON as follow:
{
  firstSet: {
      TWILIO_ACCOUNT_SID: 'value',
      TWILIO_AUTH_TOKEN: 'value',
      TWILIO_TWIML_APP_SID: 'value',
      TWILIO_CALLER_ID: 'value'
  },
  secondSet: {
      TWILIO_ACCOUNT_SID: 'value2',
      TWILIO_AUTH_TOKEN: 'value2',
      TWILIO_TWIML_APP_SID: 'value2',
      TWILIO_CALLER_ID: 'value2'
  }
}

Defined your two different credentials, you could define the logic to use one or another or both credentials in your config.js, depending on your needs, and export that to your application where you could pick the credential from the config to use in the api.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


The fires in Southern California have now, for the most part, abated or been contained. Many animals—both domesticated and wild—lost their lives as the fast moving fires, stoked by the Santa Ana winds, scorched the homes and parched vegetation in their path. The flames engulfed . . .
More tragedy for horses this past week. First, at a sloppy and soaked Monmouth Park in New Jersey on Saturday, European horse racing star George Washington broke down in the home stretch of the Breeder's Cup. As workers rushed to the hobbling 4-year-old colt, who . . .
We can never relent in our efforts to make people more aware. Even people who love animals often do not know what the best course of action is when it comes to proper care of animals. My own childhood experience is a poignant and personal . . .
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As firefighters continue to battle the inferno that has rampaged through Southern California, The HSUS Disaster Services team and San Diego County Animal Services have moved in to help rescue and shelter hundreds of animals. Readers responded to yesterday's blog post and to footage of . . .
The HSUS's and The Fund for Animals' Wildlife Center—a sanctuary and rehabilitation facility in Ramona, Calif., part of San Diego County—takes in native wildlife species and is situated in one of the most fire-ravaged areas of the state. Thus far, miraculously, the center has survived . . .
The request arrived at the headquarters of the disaster response team at 3:18 p.m. on Monday afternoon. Within an hour, Dr. Barry Kellogg, veterinarian and acting director of disaster services for The Humane Society of the United States, "pushed the button." Local authorities in San . . .
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At The Humane Society of the United States, we stick up for petkeeping because we believe in the mutual benefits of the human-animal bond—and not just in the United States. A recent example arose when we learned of disturbing reports of a crackdown on petkeeping . . .
If you take a look at the video, it's almost surreal. It's a holding and training facility for fighting roosters, with dozens of cockfighters housing birds there. It is now no more, thanks to a raid by HSUS staff and personnel from the San Diego . . .


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CSI Compressco LP Announces Quarterly Distribution
THE WOODLANDS, Texas, Jan. 19, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — CSI Compressco LP ("CSI Compressco") (NASDAQ: CCLP) announced today that the board of directors of its general partner has declared a cash distribution attributable to the quarter ended December 31, 2022 of $0.01 per outstanding common unit, or $0.04 per outstanding common unit on an annualized basis. This cash distribution will be paid on February 14, 2023 to all common unitholders of record as of the close of business on January 31, 2023. CSI Compressco LP Logo About CSI Compressco CSI Compressco is a provider of compression services and equipment for natural gas and oil production, gathering, artificial lift, transmission, processing, and storage. In addition, CSI Compressco provides a variety of natural gas treating services. CSI Compressco's contract services business includes a fleet of approximately 4,800 compressor packages providing approximately 1.2 million in aggregate horsepower, utilizing a full spectrum of low-, medium- and high-horsepower engines. Additionally, our gas treating equipment fleet includes natural gas cooling units used to reduce the temperature of natural gas so that it can be further treated, processed, or compressed. CSI Compressco also provides well monitoring and automated sand separation services in conjunction with compression and related […]
CamTrader offers a preview only. View original article. www.yahoo.com


text:
No Ivory Tower for This Composer
Photo courtesy of CSUF New Music
Composer Pamela Madsen rehearses with the CSUF New Music ensemble.
By Paul Hodgins | November 15, 2019
A Schedule of Madsen's Upcoming Premiers
'Earth Horizon' – To be premiered by CSUF New Music Ensemble
WHEN: 8 p.m. November 14, 2019, 8 p.m.
WHERE: CSUF Meng Concert Hall
'ORATORIO FOR THE EARTH: KAMA-River of Stars' – For CSUF Symphony Orchestra, University Singers, ModernMedieval and bass-baritone Nicholas Isherwood
WHEN: To be premiered May 9, 2020
I. Lost Horse Mine Lament (premiere)
II. Center of Centers (premiere)
III. Tenebrae-Now the Hour Bows Down, for bass-baritone Nicholas Isherwood, baritone, electronics, video by Quintan Ana Wikswo (premiered Feb. 19th, 2019). Orchestra/choral version
IV. Earth Horizon, for Amy Williams, Sarah Cahill, Pamela Madsen, Eric Dries, pianists, Kate Stenberg, violin (premiered February 23, 2019). Orchestra/Choral version
Grace Notes, for ModernMedieval Vocal Trio (premiere)
'ORATORIO FOR THE EARTH: The Land of Journey's Ending' – For Brightwork new music/Moscow Contemporary Music Ensemble: violin, flute, clarinet, cello, piano, percussion.
WHEN: To be premiered February 26, 2020
I. Country of Lost Borders
II. The Consecrating Mother
'For Two Sense' – Ashley Bathgate, cello, Lisa Moore, piano, Brightwork New Music
WHEN: To be premiered in 2021
III. Journey to the Land of the Moon
IV. Medicine Wheel
V. Coyote on Holy Mesa
When Pamela Madsen was a young student musician, times were different. "You listened to certain repertoire, played certain pieces, composed a certain way and stayed in your camp," said Madsen, an accomplished composer who teaches at California State University, Fullerton. "At my undergraduate school, Indiana University, you had to choose one thing to specialize in," Madsen recalled. "I wanted to major in both composition and piano, and that just wasn't allowed at that time."
Madsen has spent her career pushing boundaries, expanding her horizons, and working hard to make music that matters and comments directly on the state of the world. Those goals inspired her to write the most significant work of her career, a multi-part piece called Oratorio for the Earth, which will debut in several concerts over the next few months, here in Orange County and elsewhere.
Oratorio for the Earth is ambitious in theme as well as length. It addresses the importance of listening deeply to nature and communing with the wilderness, but its deeper themes are more urgent: Madsen's obsessions include the ongoing struggle for social justice, the primal relationship of our bodies to the earth, and the unseen bonds that interconnect humanity. Oratorio for the Earth employs spoken-word and sung text, field recordings of sounds in nature, traditional instruments, electronics and video.
The themes of her oratorio are not new to the veteran composer.
"I've been working, often collaboratively, on things that have to do with the environment since 2000," Madsen said. "I worked with Judy Chicago in Los Angeles on her 'Envisioning the Future' project." (Chicago is a respected feminist artist, teacher and writer known for her large collaborative art installations that focus on birth and creation themes.) "I've also created a lot of pieces that have to do with the social change that music can bring. Those are just some of my concerns."
Madsen said it's her deep-seated need to comment on the state of the world that drives her to compose.
"I try to make my work really engage on more than one level. I always have to question why I'm composing, this need to be heard. The last thing I want to do is fill the world with more sounds that people don't listen to. It's beautiful, but is my music necessary? That's a question I ask about my teaching, too."
Social relevance wasn't a quality taught in the academy when Madsen was young.
"I was trained to write extremely academic music. I can do that; I can write music that celebrates the inner workings of my mind. But I don't put it out there in public unless it's necessary. It must have something bigger to say."
Madsen credits Pauline Oliveros as her principal mentor. When Madsen was a graduate student at the University of California, San Diego she studied with Oliveros, a pioneering avant-garde composer and teacher who developed a deep-listening philosophy based on principles of improvisation, electronic music, ritual, teaching and meditation. Madsen's relationship with Oliveros lasted more than three decades until the latter's death in 2016.
"As a young woman composer there weren't very many role models for me," Madsen said. "Pauline became one—not as someone who wanted me to follow in her footsteps, but in other ways. She supported and believed in me, and I would talk to her regularly. I also went on deep-listening retreats with her."
Madsen is director of the CSUF New Music Ensemble and she often debuts her work on campus, drawing from the large talent pool of students and colleagues. "I often compose with specific performers in mind," she said.
The CSUF New Music ensemble rehearses a piece by Pamela Madsen for an upcoming concert.
Madsen has other fascinating local affiliations as well. She has been partnering with Crystal Cove Conservancy as a featured composer since 2012. "It's an inspiring place," said Madsen, an avid hiker and backpacker. "It reminds me of the power and beauty of the natural world. For me, that's where inspiration begins."
Paul Hodgins is the senior editor of Arts & Culture at Voice of OC. He can be reached at [email protected].
CLASSICAL MUSIC COVERAGE
Classical music coverage at Voice of OC is supported in part by a grant from the Rubin Institute for Music Criticism. Voice of OC makes all editorial decisions.
Rubin Institute for Music Criticism
Orange County Women's Chorus Creates 'Something New' for Our Times
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Jeremy Denk Hits the Right Notes in Streamed Performance
REVIEW: The MacArthur 'genius' fellow plays virtuoso piano at Irvine Barclay, yet the sparse audience is a bit lackadaisical.


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