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Ivan the Terrible
(My) Top Ten List
November 21, 2015 December 23, 2020 spinenumbered25 Comments
Every month, the Criterion Collection asks a friend – a filmmaker, a programmer, a writer, an actor, an artist – to select their ten favorite movies available from the Criterion Collection and jot down their thoughts about them. The entries (from people like Jane Campion, Jonathan Lethem, and Sonic Youth) are often surprising, and always entertaining.
Big thanks to Aaron, Kristina, and Ruth for organizing the Criterion Blogathon and for allowing me to craft my own Criterion Top Ten List. I love lists. Not in the sense that they represent any kind of canonical statement of anything, but in the way that they reflect certain perspectives. Good lists say as much about their authors as they do about the films they include, and Criterion's Top Ten Lists are loaded with as many insights about their "friends" as they are about the films themselves, making those lists doubly valuable to us cinephiles. In truth, when picking between the hundreds of masterpieces amassed by Criterion, it's hard to imagine anyone coming up with a bad Top Ten and I'm not sure anyone reads a Criterion Top Ten List to applaud or gripe about what got included. I read them to see what speaks to these individuals and what personal insights or connections they can share. Isn't it great to see how classy Roger Corman's keeps his Top Ten, how absolutely characteristic Chuck Klosterman's List proves to be, how amazing is Kim Newman's choice to include The Human Skeleton, and how utterly greedy Guillermo del Toro is by stuffing 21 films into his Top Ten? I love it.
My Criterion Top Ten List has been a thornier process than I imagined, with only about half of my initially considered titles actually withstanding the months-long screenings and re-screenings done to prepare a list I feel fairly confident in. In selecting these 10 films, I asked myself why I liked them, why they stay with me, why they resonate, and how I came upon them. In doing so, these films not only reflect my tastes in film but also trace my relationship with the Criterion Collection over the last 15+ years. It includes the third Criterion title I ever bought and one that I saw for the first time less than 3 months ago. There are themes: unrequited love, seriocomedy, ensembles, meticulous production design, dream sequences, widescreen black and white. And there are, for me, many surprising exclusions. No Godard, no Kurosawa, no Powell and Pressburger, and no Maddin. There's no Days of Heaven, The Firemen's Ball, Close-up, When a Woman Ascends the Stairs, A Night to Remember, The Tin Drum, Good Morning, Les misérables, Divorce Italian Style, The Night of the Hunter, the Flamenco Trilogy, Forbidden Games, The Battle of Algiers, Il Posto or Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, if just for the DVD's menu screen. (I'm already way over 10 films just talking about what didn't make the cut!) But the best thing about this Top Ten List is knowing that it's not permanent, that I might reach into some box set later tonight, read Criterion's next monthly announcement, or simply grow into being a slightly different (and hopefully better) person and find myself connected to another film that forces its way into my imagination and onto this list.
For the moment, here is my Criterion Top Ten List, arranged for ease of reading (and not for ranking) and including a plain text portion that I imagine would accompany each title in the usual fashion of the Criterion website and an italicized portion that serves as a more personal annotation for each selection.
Action, Blogathon, Crime, Criterion Collection, Denmark, Film, France, Funny, Hollywood, Italy, Japan, Martial Arts, Melodrama, USA, USSR8 1/2, All That Jazz, Babette's Feast, Blogathons, Bob Fosse, Do the Right Thing, Federico Fellini, Gabriel Axel, In the Mood for Love, Intentions of Murder, Ivan the Terrible, Ivan the Terrible Part I, Ivan the Terrible Part II, Jean Gremillon, Kihachi Okamoto, Kill!, L'avventura, Lists, Michelangelo Antonioni, Pickup on South Street, Remorques, Samuel Fuller, Sergei Eisenstein, Shohei Imamura, Spike Lee, The Criterion Blogathon, The Royal Tenenbaums, Top Ten, Wes Anderson, Wong Kar-Wai


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Mercedes can overtake Ferrari again - Bottas
12:33 Thursday 28 February 2019 by
Valtteri Bottas is confident that Mercedes can overhaul Ferrari across the 2019 campaign, even if they turn up to Australia trailing the Scuderia. Ferrari have looked the team to beat so far in pre-season testing, with most noises coming out of the reigning champions admitting they face a deficit.
Underlining Ferrari's strength a few short minutes after Bottas' media briefing in Barcelona on Thursday, Charles Leclerc took to a string of single-lap runs, lowering the best time of this year's testing to 1:16.231 at lunch on the penultimate day of on-track action.
Ferrari have steadily chipped away at the Silver Arrows' dominance, and appeared to have delivered a quicker car at times last year, but it was not enough to prevent Mercedes securing constructors' championship glory for a fifth year in a row.
Bottas is sure that his team has what it takes to go toe-to-toe with Ferrari, even if they begin on the back foot.
Asked by GPFans if an early deficit could cost Mercedes in the long run, Bottas said: "For sure it would be nice to see us being competitive in Melbourne and that is definitely our target. We know we can be, it's a strong team.
"But if it's not the case, if we are behind, then it's going to be down to us to chase them.
"It's an amazing team with amazing facilities and people, so I think even catching up is not impossible to achieve.
"It's a long season, and compared to last year it's going to be a bigger development race.
"So, definitely, if it is the case that we're behind in Melbourne, there would be no point being too worried and giving up, then it's down to hard work as a team."
Mercedes have introduced a radically different aerodynamic package on the W10 for the second week of testing, which Bottas says has helped iron out some of the 'diva'-like tendencies of Silver Arrows past.
"I would say everything we put on the car, at least from my side, this week feels better," he explained. "So I would guess to stick with that.
"But I don't know the meetings, what's been going on at the factory and the future and so on, so I can confirm anything.
@mercedesamgf1 #W10 ???????????? ???? LAT Images #VB77
A post shared by Valtteri Bottas (@valtteribottas) on Feb 27, 2019 at 12:57pm PST
"I'm not afraid of that [the W10 being a diva]. It's early days, still a lot of development to do with the car
"We've only driven it a few laps in the shakedown at Silverstone, which was not ideal conditions, and here in Barcelona. So it's way too early to say.
"The team is really working and we're in good shape and keep making progress. There's some areas I feel the car has made good steps forward: like slow speed corners, the car feels better than last year but [there are still] some other areas to improve."
MORE: Leclerc turns the screw on Mercedes as Ferrari flies
MORE: Ferrari confirm cause of Vettel crash
F1 signs long-term deal with Australian GP
Racing Point sponsor SportPesa denies business shutting down
Alonso going cold on Dakar challenge?
Brawn shrugs off copycat fears: F1 cars already look alike!

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Government is concerned about delays and congestion at South African border posts, especially at Beitbridge, Transport Minister Sibusiso Ndebele said on Tuesday.
"The delays at the borders are caused by operational inefficiencies, which result in duplication in processes," Ndebele said in a speech prepared for delivery at the Freight Intra-Africa conference in Pretoria.
Ndebele said Cabinet was looking at establishing a mechanism which would bring border entities under a single command and control structure.
The traditional design and layout of the border posts was part of the problem, he said.
"The road infrastructure at the border posts is designed in such a way that it serves a funnel, with narrow approaches which channel all types of traffic to a single lane.
"This is a serious constraint which hampers traffic circulation in and around the border posts," Ndebele said.
Other challenges relating to traffic circulation were related to the absence of regulations.
For instance, there was a tendency to establish truck stops, and other similar facilities, at the entrances.
Ndebele said government was looking into developing a mechanism to regulate truck stops with safety and security standards.
He said the cost of doing business in Africa was very high. This was partly because of high transport costs, high costs of services and the erratic nature of their delivery.
"In order to break the cost cycle, there is need for improvement in infrastructure and more efficient use of the existing infrastructure at border posts," said Ndebele.
This had already happened at the Zambia to Democratic Republic of Congo Kasumbalesa border post and the Chirundu border. Work was also being done at the Nakonde to Tunduma border post between Zambia and Tanzania.
Ndebele said the Zimbabwean government had signed a concession agreement for the construction of new border post facilities at Beitbridge.
"As the department of transport in South Africa, in the last two years, we have embarked on a project to develop traffic flow optimisation plans through our major commercial border crossings.


So, how does the Halal Movement plan to achieve such a lofty goal? They are doing it in the time-honored way of any crime syndicate, like Mob boss Al Capone with extortion for "protection money" or the "pay-to-play" schemes of Jesse Jackson and his son, Jesse Jr.
Through the Halal certification movement, you must obtain the proper seal of approval before you can sell products that are acceptable to Muslims. There are many certification bodies and some of them are headed by criminals out to make a quick buck without any actual certification protocol.
Where does the money go? Into the pockets of the certifiers. There are hundreds of certifiers and some of them have connections to Muslim Brotherhood front groups. At the very least, these Muslim certifiers pay their annual Zakat [annual obligatory charity] and we know that part of it is slated to go toward jihad. So, the consumer of these products pays for jihad and at a higher price because producers need to make up for the money lost by paying hefty certifying fees. This is the ultimate play "pay-to-play" scheme.
You might think that it does not concern you. Let the Muslims eat their own food as you would never buy it. You know that animals in a Muslim slaughterhouse are often killed in a way that means they die an agonizing death as they bleed out. You don't want to consume meat that has been flooded by stress hormones at the time of death, and you don't want to consume food that has been prayed over by an imam who gives blessings to Allah.
But, wait. Maybe you are consuming Halal food without knowing it. Maybe it is already in your child's lunchroom or sold at your corner market. Maybe the neighborhood diner with the great lunch menu serves Halal food. How would you know? Halal is not always clearly identified. And the tiny little Halal certification seal is not discovered on food packaging unless you are making a point of looking for it under close scrutiny. At this stage, the push is not so public with a marketing campaign to accept Halal or even prefer it. That is coming. This is just another advancement in the stealth invasion for global conquest.
The main push now is two-pronged.
3. To ensure everything is Halal with no cross-contamination with the non-Halal or the Haram.
As you can see, the plan is for a well-integrated system with no openings for outsiders. The movement is toward a global model with Malaysia at the hub. Halal industrial parks are being created and the move is to create more links in the supply chain. These potential links are presented to Muslim entrepreneurs as opportunities for the vast profits a multi-trillion-dollar global industry holds for them.
It all fits in with "Tawid", an Islamic doctrine at the forefront of Islamic thought today because it concerns the union of all Muslims that see they have been fragmented by colonialism and nationalism. Tawid is a powerful symbol of union for the entire Islamic community. It goes beyond borders. It is the ultimate unifier of Muslims the world over and what can be more unifying than putting the entire globe under the Halal umbrella?
If you don't want Halal for everyone what should you do?
Become an activist: Boycotts? Awareness Campaigns?
It is up to all of us to get involved.
Think of the best way you can help.


I just built this guitar for my sole European dealer in Brighton England, The Acoustic Music Co: http://www.theacousticmusicco.co.uk/…/catalogsearch/result/… Please check it out, it is African Blackwood with German spruce, it's available to buy and it sounds amazing!!
I'll be speaking at the Fretboard Summit Nov 6-8 along with my nephew guitarist Brady Cohan, at Costanoa Lodge in Pescadero, just 30 miles north of Santa Cruz!
Newest Model BK cutaway headed to Japan!
This BK was built for So Isobe at Miki Musical Instruments in Osaka. If you are In Japan and want to check out a Traugott here's your chance!
My nephew Brady Cohan tangoing with his Traugott on Dancing With the Stars this week!!! LOVE YOU Brady!
Adam Miller's new recording "Shifting Units" will be released Sept. 2nd. Check out this vid to learn more!!
Raul Midón - Song: "Waited All My Life"
Check out this Epic version of "Waited All My Life" Live on WPFW 89.3!
Here are a bunch of shots of my newest guitar, taken by local photographer R.R. Jones, www.rrjones.com. This is a seven-string fan fret with 3 bass strings and the four inner strings of the guitar. The tuning from treble to bass is: D, Bflat, F, C, F, C, G.
The bridge pieces are designed by Rick Toone, http://www.ricktoone.com/, they are Stainless and Aluminum. The top and back are Brazilian Rosewood, the body is Swamp Ash. The neck is Mahogany and the fingerboard is Ebony. The guitar pick up is made by Jason Lollar, http://www.lollarguitars.com/, and the bass pick up by Bartolini, http://www.bartolini.net/. Lastly, these killer knobs are knurled and custom made of Brazilian Rosewood by David King, http://www.dknob.com/.
I also got assistance from two up and coming guitar makers in town, Stephen Strahm and Jason Lindsey, I want to thank everyone very much!
It's been awhile since I've made a 12-string guitar or a guitar with serious inlay; a customer requested both for this set of guitars! Each of these Model R cutaways have inlay crafted by Larry Robinson http://robinsoninlays.com/, German Spruce tops and some killer Brazilian Rosewood back and sides.
Thanks to a growing fanbase, the 27-year-old has been getting his fair share of airtime on the Fox show this year.
No matter how you feel about season 12's contestants, themes, song choices or judges, most viewers -- and certainly those of us in the press corps -- can agree on one thing: that American Idol guitarist is something else.
Taking the leads for Ray Chew's band is Brady Cohan, a seasoned player who first picked up the guitar at age 12. Now 27, the native of Los Altos, Calif., up north in Silicon Valley, studied music at USC and graduated in 2007 with the aim of "becoming a better musician," he tells The Hollywood Reporter. Being in a band wasn't a top priority for the dashing musician. Rather, he saw himself more behind the scenes.
Among the artists who Brady has traveled with: Natalie Cole, Cee-Lo Green, Keyshia Cole and Queen Latifah, until a friend told him about an opportunity to audition for American Idol.
Indeed, accompanying a bluesy singer like Kree Harrison is certainly in his wheelhouse, and in a way, both performers seem to boost each other.
You can also end up making semi-embarrassing expressions which, Cohan admits, he's struggling with. And he's not alone: John Mayer, another stellar player, has the same problem with "constipation face" (our description, not his).
Check out some of Brady Cohan's original music on his official site and follow him on Twitter at @bradysgstring.
My nephew Brady Cohan rocks American Idol!
Brady Cohan, guitarist with American Idol's House Band performs Pink's "Perfect" with Kree Harrison on May 8th http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=b7BgkJDcLB8#!
Really STOKED my nephew Brady Cohan is the guitar player for American Idol this season!! He's been really killing it and they even let him do some acoustic tunes on his Traugott now and then. Here's a shot of him with his Model R, I guess having me as his uncle gives him a few fringe benefits. As one of his guitar-playing buddies said to me, "DAMN! my uncle is a plumber!"
"Guitarist Charlie Hunter and Luthier Jeff Traugott go under the hood of their ongoing Guitar Collaborations"
Check out the summer 2011 FRETBOARD JOURNAL #22, there is a big article about my collaboration with Charlie Hunter.
Brady Cohan releases debut solo EP, "Don't Miss a Thing"
Check out the new article detailing my collaboration with the group New West on their all-acoustic CD titled Sleeping Lady which uses all Traugott guitars. Check it out here.
Charlie Hunter was recently highlighted on NPR's Weekend Edition and gave an interview with host Liane Hansen to talk about his new album I Neglected To Inform You You Will Not Be Getting Paid, that was recorded in glorious mono. Charlie uses a seven-string guitar that I built for him so that he can play bass and guitar at the same time. You can check out the interview here, or his website here.


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© Photo: Key to Baikal
April, 07
Water Will Cure All Diseases: the Healing Mineral Springs-arshans of Eastern Baikal
On the eve of World Health Day, we decided to continue the story about the healing spings-arshans of Baikal. This time we will tell you about the hot springs of Eastern Baikal, where the healing waters rush both underwater and on the land and help people to recover from various diseases.
World Health Day celebrated on April 7 around the world is a holiday designed to focus on the issues of a healthy lifestyle and timely prevention of diseases. The ways of solving these problems are extremely different and most often can be found outside the hospital walls.
Many people know that the aura of Lake Baikal will give you energy for a whole year. However, the time spent on the coast of the beautiful lake will give you an opportunity not only to improve your mental state, but also to solve many problems directly related to health, without any medical intervention.
Mineral Water Comes from Under the Ground, and Sometimes This Water Is Hot...
Hot Springs of Baikal or How to Warm Oneself during Siberian Winter
Baikal region can rightly be called the "water world" with a large number of unique healing springs, alongside with an abundance of lakes and rivers. Some of these springs are hot at any time of the year. Such springs with water heating to more than + 20 Celsius, are called geothermal.
What ensures the heating of water? Scientists name two major factors. Firstly, the transfer of magma, a molten mass formed in the deep zones of the Earth, to its upper layers during volcanic phenomena. Secondly, the presence of heat exchange processes at a considerable underground depth. The closer to the center of the Earth, the higher the temperature.
The first reason is the most characteristic one for the Baikal zone located in the deep fracture of the Earth's crust and characterized by mountainous landscape and high seismic activity. In this place magma comes close to the earth's surface, which heats up the water. Respectively, thermal springs emerge at the bottom of Baikal and on its coast.
This time we will tell you about the curative springs of the Eastern coast of Lake Baikal.
The Springs of Zmeinaya Bay ("Snake Cove")
Zmeinaya (Zmeevaya) Bay is located in Barguzinsky district of Buryatia, on the Svyatoy Nos peninsula with its coast washed by the Chivyrkuisky Bay. You should not be afraid because of the name of the bay. Only harmless whip snakes live here.
Svyatoy Nos is one of the largest and most attractive peninsulas of Baikal, and there are no such solitary coves hidden from Baikal winds anywhere on the coast, except in the Chivyrkuisky Bay.
The strait got its name from the Evenk (Tungus) "Chivir" word meaning "to move", "to wriggle".
Zmeinaya Bay makes people happy with its beautiful views. It is surrounded by a cozy beach area: this makes it pleasant to plunge into the purest warm Baikal water. Small rocks rise around the bay, guarding its peace. But the main advantage of the Zmeinaya Bay is its widely known thermal springs.
If you determine their position with the connection to the settlements, then, as a rule, people get to the bay from the village of Ust-Barguzin where the office of the Zabaikalsy National Park is located.
Curative properties: the springs come out both underwater and on the land. Two baths in the form of log cabins with running water are made of solid wood for the convenience of bathing people and stand near the main source, at this, one of these baths is suitable for use of vacationers with children.
Water temperature depends on the season and, according to some data, can even reach + 56 ° С. But, on average, it makes up +40 - + 45 ° С. It is no coincidence that these springs are listed among hottest ones on the Eastern coast of Baikal.
According to the expert opinions, the chemical composition of the bath resembles the waters of the famous Belokurikha resort and belongs to the so-called "Allinsky" type of mineral medicinal waters. The composition is hydro-carbonate-sulphate-sodium, with a content of fluorine and silicic acid. This water has a low mineralization level, a noticeable odor of hydrogen sulfide that can also be tasted.
Since ancient times, the springs-arshans of the Zmeinaya Bay have helped people in the prevention and treatment of diseases of the joints, musculoskeletal system, radiculitis, and chondrosis. They also have a beneficial effect on the skin.
Sukhaya (Zagza) Thermal Spring
Sukhaya spring is located in Kabansky district of the Republic of Buryatia, on the coast of Lake Baikal, about 4 km away from the eponymous village. It is located at the distance of 168 km from the city of Ulan-Ude, and 82 km away from the nearby Selenginsk railway station.
Sukhaya is a monument of nature located on an area of about 0.4 hectares. The spring is surrounded by a coniferous forest that is perfect for walks after swimming. All people who have visited this part of Eastern Baikal note the picturesque surroundings and the comfortable mild continental climate with an average summer temperatures from + 19 to + 20 ° С (–22 ° С in winter).
Curative properties. Compared with many other arshans of Eastern Baikal, the springs of Sukhaya are quite young. In 1938–1940, during the search for oil, a welling spring of thermal water with beneficial properties was discovered at the same time. Thus two wells appeared: both are currently operating.
According to its composition and properties, Zagzy mineral water resembles the waters of the more famous "Zhemchug" resort in Tunkinsky district of Buryatia.
Average water temperature makes up + 35 ° С, it contains radon, as well as sodium bicarbonate, and a small amount of hydrogen sulfide and nitrogen.
The wonderful healing properties of these hot baths are noticed by patients with the following problems:
-women's reproductive system;
- diseases of the peripheral nervous system;
- bone and joint pain;
- skin;
- injuries of the musculoskeletal system.
Springs of the Barguzinskaya Valley
The Barguzinskaya Valley stretching to 200 km, is considered to be a unique natural health resort with its wealth being the variety of mineral waters suitable both for drinking and balneotherapy. And if you add these advantages to treatment climatic zones, it becomes clear why the valley is included into the top three springs of Buryatia (Shumak, Goryachinsk) by its healing properties.
The Barguzinskaya Valley is represented by about 150 springs, mainly sulphate-hydrocarbonate-sodium, with their temperatures up to + 50 ° С, and by 10 mineral lakes.
The gem of the valley can be rightly called the Umkheisky complex located in its north: the most distant and the most unusual one. Here the outcrops of waters of about a hundred mineral spring can be found on the small island of Umkhei along the banks of the Barguzin River. The water containing fluorine, silicic acid and hydrogen sulfide can be used to heal about 20 diseases.
Baikal Ice and Snow around the Lake: What Sports to Do on Baikal in Winter
The climatic and technical conditions of the Baikal region there are perfectly suitable for skiing. Skiing season lasts from mid-November to mid-May.
What Sports to Do on Baikal in Winter
The area of the Baikal Mountains in winter receives around 5-6 meters of snowfall, so winter sports is one of the favorite tourist activities this time of year.
Khor-Tagna - the Most Beautiful Village in the Baikal Region
We proceed with introducing the surprising villages of Lake Baikal to you. The subject of this article will be the village of Khor-Tagna that was included into the list of "The Most Beautiful Villages and Towns of Russia" in 2019. This place is really amazing. "Key to Baikal" will tell you why you should visit Khor-Tagna and its surroundings.
Baikal Celebrates Omul Festival
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Q: Ubuntu is running in low graphic mode I am using ubuntu 11.04 on dell insprion 1545. But I am facing a problem that when I start laptop a message shows on the black screen that says

Ubuntu is running in low graphic mode. Your screen, graphic card and input device setting could not be detected correctly, you will need to configure these yourself

I have read that there is a file Xorg.conf that contain the graphics card information. I have also use the command
sudo cp /etc/x11/xorg.conf /etc/x11/xord.conf_backup

but its not working.

A: Can you not just log out and choose "Ubuntu (classic)" from the login screen?

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


The Cuban Pastors spent a very busy week with us at First Presbyterian. Pastor Beidy spent her first weekend at the Presbyterian Women's Conference in Louisville, Kentucky, before joining us at First. Pastor Beidy had only great reports to share about her experience. The week of activity with both Pastors Ary and Beidy was filled with lots of joy and excitement. Session and Deacons began the week with a very informal roundtable discussion about how we all came to First Presbyterian Church. We all shared some of our stories with the Pastors and it was very personal and enriching. The week was busy, commencing with Worship, and a Serbian picnic as the kick-off activities with Pastor Ary. The week then continued with a tailgate and baseball game, shared meals, shopping, Music and More, and many prayers for the future of the Mission.


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Tag: TrumpSocialism
"Far-Left, Radical Socialist Policies"
May 16, 2021 May 16, 2021 gdrthinktankLeave a comment
Under the influence of a primitive demagogue, the Republican Party leadership continues to feed its base with whopping lies.
After Trump's presidency, many Americans believe that the current administration is destroying cherished American values and drives the U.S. toward socialism. In this context, Elise Stefanik, chair of the Republican House Conference, uttered a phrase that makes a person who had lived involuntarily in a socialism for almost thirty years cringe:
She called the agenda of the current US-Administration "far-left, radical socialist policies."
At this point it should be noted: Whoever uses dull slogans exposes himself to the suspicion of wanting to take others for fools; he also reveals that he might be unable to contribute any conclusive arguments for the solution of real problems. By no means for the first time in its history is the GOP summoning the specter of socialism to scare Americans away from any acceptance of policies other than its own.
In contrast to Stefanik, this writer experienced socialism firsthand, opposed it in the GDR ("East Germany") with modest means as much as possible, put up with personal disadvantages in the process, and experienced with millions of others the fall of the Berlin Wall as a result of a peaceful revolution.*
I can say with certainty: this woman has not the faintest idea what she is talking about when she mouths the word "socialism."
I repeat here what should be easy for even the average person to understand: Socialism is when the means of production are not in private hands, but in the hands of the state. Period. There is not even a hint of a precondition in the USA that can bring the country toward socialism.
What the country lacks are accompanying governmental measures to curb social injustice, which cries out to heaven in the United States. Previous presidents have already denounced this and/or used government power to fight social injustice: from John Adams via Teddy Roosevelt (by the way: a Republican), Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry Truman to Lyndon B. Johnson.
None of them was a socialist because of it.
Whoever manages to compare a policy of social justice with socialism, and in doing so also falls on open ears among the population, is in my eyes an unscrupulous populist. A person who has a minimum knowledge of history and is still of sound mind, will not follow these pipers.
By the way – anyone who fobs off his own base (de facto: his own family) with cheap, propaganda-ridden phrases should not deserve to be elected to any responsibility whatsoever.
What has the Republican Party turned into?
*I was born in 1961 at the junction of the Cold War, just 21 miles from the deadly border that once separated Germany. Bear in mind that I grew up behind barbed wire not because of a non-functioning socialism (which we did not want), but as a direct consequence of World War II sparked by Germany. In the further historical development, the inner-German border was built by communists in the midst of increasing tensions and the collision of interests between the U.S. and its erstwhile ally, the Communist-Bolshevik Soviet Union, which eventually morphed into hostility. – Without this illegal, impenetrable border, millions more people would have fled from the Soviet sector to the free West than had already done so before 1961.
The Shameful Failure of the Churches
May 4, 2021 May 4, 2021 gdrthinktankLeave a comment
Hardly any media in this country describes it in depth, because the subject is probably too hot a topic to bring forward to American society: The United States has a huge problem not only with guns, racism and polarization, but also with religious obstinacy, emanating in large parts from white evangelist institutions whose leaders have no interest in a God, but ostensibly in self-sufficiency on the local level and in political influence on the big national stage.
Such a phenomenon is by far nothing new in the history of the Church over the past centuries, considering that oppression, exploitation, extermination, and conquest for self-interest have always been the true motives of Christianity behind a facade of pious faith. In the more modern perception of our time, especially the evangelical orientation seem to take on the most perverse forms, namely to an extent which one would not necessarily expect from a religion practiced in the Western world.
For those who never suspected that the Churches would ever decisively support a perverted wacko like Donald Trump and continue to do so, have long since been proven wrong. Facts speak for themselves: Without the active participation of evangelical Christians, without the influence of evangelical organizations, churches and pastors, an intellectually and morally degenerated figure like Donald Trump would have never made it to the presidency of the United States of America. The incontrovertible fact that the vast majority of evangelical Christians in this country – or those who fancy themselves as such – have been at the forefront of the Trump-mania, will cling to the Christian claim of this country in the history books for the next hundred years.
The heinous lackeys largely responsible for the disastrous development in their communities is the majority of profiting local pastors, ministers, and preachers, who not only perfectly know how to make money with the gullibility of the masses, but are also talented to push impudence and absurdity to the limit – Sunday after Sunday and also in between all possible occasions. The so-called pastor can blurt out whatever he likes, even what his preferences are in his spare time; be it shooting including the killing of animals or whatever else pleases him: he need not expect a reaction of disgust. As always with such constellations, the mass of alleged Christians trot docilely like a flock of sheep in the desired direction of the mindless propaganda, all taking place in the name of their Lord.
Seen in this light, it is not surprising at all that even many elderly, otherwise impeccable church persons casted their vote for someone who, long before his election, said that one could grab any woman between her legs if he only is famous enough and has money – an infamous statement dismissed by his own wife as "locker room talk."
Against all common sense and with open eyes and ears, evangelical Christians continue to follow Trump's lies, even though the coronavirus he downplayed has cost so many American lives. They still believe his rants about a rigged election, his laughable claims about the assault on the Capitol. They buy his presumed Christian attitude because he staged himself standing like a jerk in front of a church with a Bible in his hand. He could talk about injecting disinfectants into human bodies and blather about airports that George Washington's army supposedly conquered in the 18th century. He could call himself the "most stable genius" on camera and stir up racially motivated sentiments against people of different origins and different skin color. He could pay hush money to prostitutes and deny scientific proof about the nature of the coronavirus and man induced climate change. What kind of Christians are those who voted for him anyway in 2020? What else does someone have to say and to do before he is met with refusal?
What alleged Christians think about putting such a person on the shield to the detriment of their own country would remain not only a question of the human brain, but primarily a matter of conscience and character. On the other hand, not a whole lot can obviously be expected from people who do not seem to notice how undignified and in principle unchristian their demeanor is – a support for a figure representing nothing more than what any halfway decent person would commonly consider offensive.
If churches have nothing better to offer in terms of moral leadership, then one can only say: it is disgusting.
Political Scientist predicts Biden-Victory
October 24, 2020 October 26, 2020 gdrthinktankLeave a comment
A look ahead what might come next
American political scientist Allan Lichtman predicted the outcome of each presidential election since 1984 correctly, when Ronald Reagan won his second term. According to Lichtman, Donald Trump will be the first president since George H. W. Bush in 1992 not winning reelection. But, it would be a surprise if any outcome of the 2020 race would allow the country to calm down. Instead, times of even more unrest seem imminent.
In the event of Donald Trump nevertheless winning reelection, the country will probably, if not certainly continue on its wavering course as a banana republic – a circus neither taken seriously by thinking fellow US citizens nor anywhere else in the rest of the world. Four more years of Trump will dangerously amplify social injustice, fume a ubiquitous racism and thereby deepen the divide between Americans even further, making life a horror for many people of different skin color and different thoughts – especially in less educated regions of the United States. The commencement toward a calamitous development of government-controlled deception and encroachments not authorized by legislature but enthusiastically welcomed by the political right, was already observable during the past summer months – not too different anymore from what I have seen in the East German (socialistic!) dictatorship a few decades ago.*
Should Joe Biden come out as winner – and given his advanced age Kamala Harris should be intentionally mentioned here –, the tone coming from the White House, no doubt, will return to a civilized level. Allies in the world will feel relieved and the United States' reputation will revert to the normal. The country will recommit itself to central problems facing all mankind pressingly and darkly, like the fact of man-induced global warming. The United States will also return as the respected leader to the table of the international community. In other words: It will be back to the status of fact that no country in today's world is capable of going its own way by sheering out from the global community whenever it seems convenient. There is no America first, as there is no other country first. America needs the world, and the world needs America.
Domestically, Biden and Harris first of all face a rampant pandemic with frightening prospects for the coming winter months. In the presence of a tremendous crises, it remains to be seen if enough room for maneuver is left to tackle other primary problems. If there is, team Biden might move a few things around from here to there. They might even patch up some shortcomings to the advantage of the little guy. In terms of health care, many people presumably should be in better aid than under Donald Trump.
But Biden/Harris will not effectively attack the cardinal American sin that John Adams in his worst nightmares saw coming more than two hundred years ago: They will not curb the super-rich living at the cost of the rest, they will not shift the blatant inequity in wealth toward a more balanced and bearable level to benefit all Americans. They will also not touch greedy corporations decisively, not to mention dare regulating them in terms of workers' rights – for any such provisions will stand in the way of the ruthless profiteer's lone interest and their legalized entanglements with the machinations of American politics. Biden/Harris will more than likely not cap the profit margin of Health Care Insurance Companies to leave money in the pockets of the general public, and they will never even think of touching the country's most popular, upfront bill dodger: the churches.
Aside from that, the worst-case scenario I fear most hopefully will never happen. For that much seems clear: Even in case of a Biden victory, resentments among Americans will not disappear. The United States, with all the guns, racists, denialists, propagandists, and conspiracy theorists out there, is far from becoming a peaceful country. Horror fills the mind if one imagines the unthinkable: that in the sign of a worsening corona crises the country would find itself on the verge of civil war-like conditions.
*If there is anything comparable at all in America with socialism that I have witnessed while once have lived myself in a pseudo-socialistic system, it were the scenes of 1 June, 2020, in Washington DC, transmitted via the media. I no longer trusted my eyes when armored vehicles in a "free country" were slowly rolling towards peaceful protesters to remove them from Lafayette Square and surrounding streets, so President Trump in a histrionic gesture could hold up a Bible in front of St. John's Episcopal Church. On that day and in front of the world, the Trump administration revealed shocking dictatorial traits, in effect similar to a system of government observable in some countries in Latin America, Africa, or currently Belarus.
Worldview of a Local Yokel
If churches tell people how to vote, then these churches should be taxed. They invest in the stock market from their sheep's tithing and own property worth more than 600 billion free of tax. At the same time, Joe Schmo toiling for Walmart has to pay his share into the coffers, thereby subsidizing the heavenly phrase mongers and their Sunday morning story time. According to a study from the University of Tampa, poverty in the United States could be eliminated if religious institutions would not be granted a pass on taxes.
"The only way to make any real money in this world was to start a religion." L. Ron Hubbard, Founder of the Church of Scientology
In the countryside of Guns and God, where church comrades Jim Bob and Joe Bob happily shoot through their neighborhood and a widespread mentality seems out of step with realness, one will wonder no longer how things could change for the better. In lockstep with such obvious backwardness and a meticulously fostered system of "good old boys"-connections, serves a local newspaper in the scenic north Georgia mountains. The provincial paper, distinguished by its perpetual dullness, was capable of publishing the reader's letter of an alleged Reverend, whose name I do not even want to cite on my blog.
On pages 4 and 5 in the paper's October 14, 2020 edition, the presumed minister jabbers about a topic he in his perfected bigotry obviously never heard much more about than through dull propaganda widely distributed in the United States. His assertions culminate in the sentence that America is – quote – "on the verge of becoming a socialistic state, which is clearly the work of the great deceiver Satan." End quote.
I wonder how much time this scriptural genius has spent with lunatic conspiracy ideologists to utter such nonsense. At this juncture, I could go through his absolute baseless gibberish about Socialism line by line and confute him, factually accompanied by verifiable historic facts and first-hand experience. Instead, I would like to refer the reader to my various writings on this blog site.
Apart from that – and probably more importantly – is the rationale that a Reverend as a religious servant should never convert himself publicly into a political ideologist. But that's exactly what this man does, for he not only uses a poor language in a baseless and repulsive propagandistic style, but rather makes his intention abundantly clear: namely, suggesting to his readers not to vote for the Democratic candidate because the consequence would be nothing but Socialism. This, Mr. Reverend, is not only shameful in attitude and false in itself – it also incapacitates you as your boss' servant, always in service, whose public rhetoric consequently should be separated from his political bias.1 For what you did, you should change your job.
I am more inclined at this point to express my incredulous astonishment about how in the world, in the United States of America and in the 21st century, a newspaper can publish such horrendous, ultimate mischief without at least labeling a customized warning notice, especially when the personified existence of Satan is mentioned2. This has nothing to do anymore with freedom of speech, but rather with the journalistic obligation to exercise diligence. Or do the protagonists of this newspaper assume that their own children will get educated by being exposed to such ultimate stupidity?
1 And therefore again comes George Carlin's quotation in mind: "I don't know how you feel, but I'm pretty sick of church people. You know what they ought to do with churches? Tax them. If holy people are so interested in politics, government, and public policy, let them pay the price of admission like everybody else."
2 I am aware of Satan's central character in the Bible, although the unforgettable, genuine Lutheran Pastor Thoms in his religious instructions never mentioned this horrible figure toward us children. The spook probably would have scared the hell out of us. – I had encounters with Satan in a more appropriate place – in the book of fairytales sent in 1969 over the Iron Curtain by my aunt in West-Germany. It is still on my book shelf.
Americans and their Specter of Socialism
The closer it gets to the election day, the more the political right in the United States is riding their hobbyhorse of "Socialism" in a desperate attempt to defend a President who not only has proved a lack of intellect and morale, but bullies, lies, and sneers. Followers that are still holding on to him – careless or clueless about the incorrectness of terms used in the heated political language – walk straight into the verbal trap, eagerly abusing the mystic expression themselves. And yet, the strenuous iteration does not make it an inch truer.
This writing comes from someone who – not voluntarily – has lived nearly thirty years in the pseudo-Socialism of the extinct German Democratic Republic (GDR). I would not want to have it back.
Nevertheless, a dose of clarification seems necessary at this point in view of the utter nonsense spreading like a virus in Trump's America almost every time the term "Socialism" is being referenced.
So, my fellow Americans, hold on to your seats, lean back for a minute, grab one of your numerous dictionaries especially Trump supporters should always have at hand, and look up what "Socialism" stands for. I am for my part quoting for you Webster's Third New International Dictionary (unabridged), page 2162. A pretty heavy book, by the way – but any other American dictionary will do.
Socialism is a – quote – "System or condition of society in which the means of production are owned and controlled by the state." End quote. Period, that's it – no more, no less.
A socialist command economy – I did not have to see it with my own eyes decades back for coming to the conclusion: Such state controlled, nationalized economy cannot function due to its utter inefficiency. Which makes me wonder: Where in the United States are such circumstances in existence? Is somebody out there who can please prove me wrong?
Hold your politicians, regardless of their political color, responsible for their baseless propaganda trick, don't let them take you for a fool with an imaginary scapegoat that does not exist. Don't fall for the catch phrases from political pied pipers who themselves have never lived in Socialism, like no American within the United States has ever even seen a glimmer of Socialism in their country.
For the sake of bettering the conditions for most Americans, it is worth noting here that an accompanying, controlling mechanism – ensuing from the government in terms of checks and balances – must be incorporated in the legal system to protect the little man from exploitation. It's not called Socialism, but rather: Justice. Those who have – for example – ever worked for America's largest retailer, W******, (and again, I was there, too), should know what the talk is about. The indiscriminate cut of work hours without any legal regulations versus the corporations own dictates, recurrent bullying, the shortening and eliminating of night shift allowances, the virtually non-existent access to institutions to defend themselves, a broadly lawless work environment in general, as well as a wage which does not allow hard-working Americans to make a decent living – all these facts experienced by the author disparages American citizens to a merely disposable mass of people without rights. The phrase of a "Free Country" becomes a farce here. Not even in the pseudo-Socialism of the GDR have I witnessed human beings being treated like this, which arises the question: Why do Americans, in their very own country with a Christian claim, humiliate their own people that way, albeit the means for a fair treatment and more income justice are available and could be easily arranged? Why?
By the way: If social justice is an interpretation of Socialism, then the pastor in church who commonly calls his sheep all "brothers and sisters", obviously invoking equality, might be called a communist as well – that is, God forbid, the consecutive comparative of the spell "Socialism."
Ironically, some 50 years ago, in that very same Socialism I lived through, once a teacher, not exactly convinced of the subject himself, asked his little students what it might look like in Communism. A girl raised her arm, stepped outside the bench and replied with an upright posture: "In Communism they are all brothers and sisters."
By now we should know what propaganda is. If not – ask your dictionary.
John Adams, the Roosevelt's – all Socialists?
October 8, 2020 October 20, 2020 gdrthinktankLeave a comment
Those Americans obsessed with the term "Socialism" and inclined to exploit it propaganda-like for the upcoming election should first of all consult the history books or simply a dictionary to get things straight in their head. Having spent nearly 30 years in the pseudo-Socialism of the German Democratic Republic (GDR), I have experienced history first-hand. Socialism in its definition places the means of production not in private hands, but in the hand of the state. This much is certain: No economy can effectively function under such condition.
I cannot even notice the slightest sign of such development in the United States. Instead, I see a largely absent system of government-controlled provisions which could protect the little man from being squeezed out like a lemon. If you do not know what I am talking about, go – for example – and work for America's largest retailer and try to make it from paycheck to paycheck while caring for a family. If folks there do get additional "handouts" from the government, it originates from the ordinary taxpayer and not from those shoveling Billions into their greedy gorge. In conjunction with that, think about the unjust distribution of the enormous wealth in the United States. Think about the unscrupulous profiteering of Health Care Insurance companies at the expense and health of the common people.
If any corrective measures to curb the very big money would be judged "Socialism", then your country in its history has produced outstanding Americans who could easily have qualified as "Socialists" – one of them long before the term was even coined.
He was John Adams, second President and the only signer of the Declaration of Independence who never owned a slave. Adams was already concerned about "the few versus the many" in the young American Republic. In other words: Despite the absence of a nobility like it existed in Europe, he feared that sooner or later the country's wealth would be concentrated in the hands of few people and institutions to the disadvantage of the working majority.
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt, 26th President and a Republican, openly sided with the Unions when coal miners in Pennsylvania took their issues to the street. Try to say the word "Union" nowadays in a break room belonging to that sacred retailer mentioned further above. They will talk to you in private.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt rescued millions of Americans from the despair of the Great Depression by creating Public Works programs. He initiated Social Security, encouraged the formation of labor unions and committed himself to the revival of more equal liberty in his country.
Three great men in American history: Did they leave a smack of Socialism in the history books just because they took a stand for the general welfare?
Sure, America today finds itself in different times with different problems. But to really save the country from further decline, a new type of President combining the attitudes of the three great Presidents would have to emerge. A President with a sense of mission.
I do not see it happen anytime soon. Instead, clueless windbags on the political right parrot dull paroles about Socialism and other brainwashing nuisance, thereby polarizing and dividing the United States of America even further.


Every year around this time, I begin looking forward to December. The cooler weather, the cheery mood and, of course, Christmas day are all on my mind! Company-wide, we're producing and editing holiday content for all of the publications that will go to newsstands in November/December. With so much beautiful holiday inspiration around the office, it's hard to not get in the Christmas spirit!
With that said, from now until July 20th, we're offering a number of deals in the Hoffman Media Store with our Christmas in July Sale! We have something for everyone on your list with up to 75% off many products. Spend $50 and get free shipping with code CHRISTMAS. Happy shopping!


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Pedestrian critically injured after being hit by car in Queens
Dean Balsamini
Social Links for Dean Balsamini
A woman was struck by a car at Cross Bay Boulevard and 163rd Avenue in Queens.
Seth Gottfried
The driver remained at the scene of the accident.
A woman crossing the road in Queens is in critical condition after being struck by a car late Friday, police said.
About 11:40 p.m., cops responding to 911 call for a crash at Cross Bay Boulevard and 163rd Avenue found an unidentified woman in her 20s unconscious with severe leg and head injuries, the NYPD said.
Emergency medical workers took her to Jamaica Hospital.
The 1998 Ford Mustang's driver, a 31-year-old man, remained at the scene and refused medical attention, police said.
Cops said the investigation is ongoing.
Read Next Silence to the violence: No shootings reported overnight i...


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On the European Confederation of Watercolour Societies
(by Piet Van Leuven, former ECWS-coordinator)
It had struck me as a mysterious fact that there exist in various countries societies dedicated exclusively to the art of painting in watercolours, whereas similar associations for other artistic disciplines are very seldom. One of these, and a very active one indeed, was the Belgian Watercolour Society of which I was a member. The core of this institution was a group of artists located in the remote little village of Mol. In that area had been established also a number of scientific research centres, such as "Euratom". There an international amalgam of scientists and other professionals created a spirit of universality and probably that made the idea of a link between watercolour societies in different countries ferment in a small circle of my friends painters. Some of us had experience with international (scientific) institutions and started thinking of a similar structure for the watercolourists' community. As a result the "European Confederation of Watercolour Societies" (acronym: ECWS) was founded, March 14th 1998, on the occasion of the inauguration of the annual watercolour exhibition in Mol. Two societies were involved in the initiative : the Belgian "Aquarelinstituut van België", which had launched the idea and the Italian "Associazione Italiana Acquerellisti", which had seconded it enthusiastically. The statutes were solemnly signed by the presidents Swa Claes and Angelo Gorlini, during a ceremony in a spacious gallery looking out over the lake and in the presence of an odd hundred witnesses, artists and art lovers.
Nordiska Akvarellsällskapet joins the ECWS
After we had founded the European Confederation, I became aware of the existence of "Nordiska Akvarellsällskapet" and immediately started up a correspondence with Björn Ericsson, then president, to invite the Nordic artists to partake in the enterprise of establishing a network between the major European watercolour societies. From the start Björn showed a great enthusiasm. He was able to convince the board and in February 2000 he signed the convention thereby joining the NAS as the third member association to the ECWS. The following year I met him personally in Antwerp on the occasion of the Watercolour Festival and I could appreciate him as a fervent protagonist of international cooperation.
Now the action radius of the ECWS was greatly magnified and encompassed the countries Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden. The number of individual members increased by about 2000. Since then, the NAS has been one of the pillars of our confederation by participating actively in any discussion on general policy, by sending in highly qualified work for the exhibitions and by punctual presence at the council meetings.
Further growth
During the following years five Spanish societies applied for membership of the confederation and, after the statutory requirements had been verified, they were invited to join. The watercolour society of Aragon, "Agrupaciòn de Acuarelistas de Aragón" and the Basque society, "Agrupaciòn de Acuarelistas Vascos", signed the statutes respectively in January and February 2001. For the Madrid based society, "Agrupaciòn Española de Acuarelistas", the statutes were signed in April 2001. The Catalonian society, "Agrupacio d'Acuarelistes de Catalunya", signed in April 2002. And finally in May 2002, the "Agrupaciòn de Acuarelistas de Andalucìa" joined. At those occasions it became apparent how venerable some of these societies were : for instance, the society of Catalonia had been founded in 1865 !
In September 2003 the Finnish watercolour society, "Suomen Akvarellitaiteen Yhdistys", affiliated to the confederation.
The latest of the Spanish societies to become a member of the confederation was the "Grupo de Acuarelistas de Baleares" in December 2003.
In the meantime the French aquarellistes had organized themselves and created the "Société Française de l'Aquarelle". Although the French situation was still rather fragmented it was considered of immense value to have this country with its great tradition in the visual arts as a member of the confederation. The statutes were signed in March 2006.
Just recently the Confederation has been enriched by two other valuable member-societies: the Estonian Watercolour Society (Eesti Akvarellistide Ühendus) whose president, Mrs. Tiiu Pallo-Vaik, signed the statutes on July 20, 2011 and the Polish Watercolour Society (Stowarzyszenie Akwarelistów Polskich) whose president, Mr. Ryszard Rogala, signed the Statute on September 13, 2012.
A missing link
By that time the confederation had put itself on the map between the Mediterranean and the Arctic Circle. It was felt, however, that an important link was missing : Great Britain, the cradle of Western European watercolour tradition. The three British "royal" societies were therefore kindly invited to join the confederation. To my great surprise did none of the presidents answer my repeated letters of invitation. In a moment of desperation I took the liberty of asking the mediation of his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, he himself a gifted painter in watercolours. Thanks to his intervention I finally received a reaction from these venerated societies. The "Royal Watercolour Society" expressed its interest in a membership but wished to postpone a decision. Since then (2006) no further sign has come forward. The "Royal Institute" seemed to prefer its "splendid isolation". The "Royal Scottish Society of Painters in Watercolour" did accept and in July 2006, their president signed the statutes. Thereby a symbolic bridge across the Channel had been built. However, in 2009, they regretfully resigned from the ECWS, because, among other factors, "the members had not been able to support the ECWS exhibitions".
Daydreams for the future
The European Confederation of Watercolour Societies had now assembled watercolour societies representing 11 European countries. Of course, many more established associations of painters in watercolours exist throughout the continent. It cannot be that in countries such as Germany, Switzerland, etc…with a great tradition in the visual arts, watercolour societies would not be willing to join the ECWS. So far I was not successful in making contact. With the extension of the European Union towards Eastern Europe there is a great number of potential members available for the confederation. It was felt, however, that it would be wise to pause for a while and let the organization mature.
One problem in joining together groups of painters from such a variety of traditions into one federation is the fact that the societies are structured in different ways. The Scandinavians for example, have brought together the five Nordic countries into one society. Their populations are so scattered throughout the vast area that practically no personal contacts are possible. The Spanish painters on the contrary are divided in regional societies and seem to have an active social intercourse. In other cases the society covers only a part of the national territory. Another problem is the different recruiting criteria for individuals as member of the societies. Within the societies there is vast difference in artistic level and in the balance of amateurism versus professionalism. This is inevitable because some of the societies also play the role of "academies". The investigation of these particulars is in itself an interesting study of art history. It will be a task for the ECWS, perhaps the most difficult one, to harmonize the different outlooks.
Within the watercolourists' community there is an often heard complaint that their artistic discipline is usually classified as a "minor" art by the public at large and that it seems to be outside the field of vision of the patrons of contemporary art. It cannot be denied that the technique of watercolour painting is often practised unprofessionally and that the undiscriminating proliferation of low level exhibitions tends to incriminate the medium with amateurism. I see it as one of the major tasks of the ECWS to counter this opinion by showing the art loving public work of the highest standard.
There are two different aspects to this : the conservation of technique and the innovation of vision. First there is the ever returning debate about "purism" against "mixed media". I agree that artistic expression should have no limitations of a technical character and that only the artistic quality of the finished work counts. But, on the other hand, there is a kind of nobility in the restriction of one's means; in our case the restriction to pure pigment, water and paper. "In der Beschränkung zeigt sich erst der Meister". This necessitates of course an utmost mastery of the medium. And it is here that our watercolour societies can play an essential role in conserving and propagating to younger generations the basic techniques of their ancient art. However, conservation of the traditional way of painting in watercolours should not hamper the development of a new or avant-garde iconography. Here also the ECWS should play a crucial role in selecting for the exhibitions those pictures that can stand as examples for such an innovative movement. As it is now, it is the responsibility of each of the member societies to make sure that their contribution to the annual exhibitions meets these criteria. I am happy to say that the Nordic Society has been exemplary on this point.
It is true that the different regions represented in our confederation have their own historic and cultural background and consequently the style, temperament and atmosphere of their artistic output will be very different. It would be a shame to lose this differentiation. It is a task of the ECWS to confront these different traditions and schools, not to equalize them but to make them cross-fertilize. This may lead the way for the "Art of Painting in Watercolours" to become a respected contemporary form of artistic expression. Not only the large international exhibitions but even more so the personal acquaintance between artists sharing the same passion is a springboard for achieving this goal.
Recent developmensts
(by Cristina Bracaloni, current ECWS – coordinator)
I took the baton from Piet van Leuven in 2012 in the occasion of the symposium held in Genoa (Italy) and the sign of the ECWS Statute by the Polish association. Frankly I was impressed and even a bit worried by the request to take such important role but I accepted with pleasure.
Since 2012 further watercolour societies joined the Confederation: the German watercolour society (Deutsche Aquarell Gesellschaft) whose President, Mr. Lars Kruse, signed the Statute in 2014 and the Irish watercolour society (The Water Colour Society of Ireland) whose President, Mr. Liam O'Herlihy, signed the Statute in 2017.
To date the ECWS counts fourteen watercolour societies.
From 2012 the Confederation has been active, symposia have been held regularly every year, organized with enthusiasm by the member-societies.
In 2020 the outbreak of coronavirus impacted deeply, among others, on culture sector and artistic events have been cancelled or postponed and this involved also our annual symposium. So, it was exciting to meet again in Ulm (Germany) in 2021 in the occasion of the exhibition and symposium hosted by the German society.
In the wake of what has been done by Piet van Leuven I tried to reconnect with the British societies without success but I have also been committed to giving visibility to our Confederation oversea. I introduced the ECWS to some of the most relevant watercolour societies in USA and we have had some satisfying collaborations so far. There is still a lot to do but I am confident that our dream will continue.


National's failure to invest in the long term, especially in innovation, skills, infrastructure and other economic development measures has been criticised by the OECD, says Labour's Finance spokesperson Grant Robertson.
"The OECD's latest economic forecast for New Zealand backs up Labour's position that growth is primarily driven by record population growth and, unfortunately for National, it paints a less rosy picture than the Budget.
"Immigration and construction in Christchurch are set to tail off, leading to a slowing in growth. As the organisation says, it's time for significant reform to restore the Kiwi dream and create opportunities for middle New Zealand.
"The major solutions are, sadly, ones the Government has refused to consider. The OECD calls for research and development tax credits to boost innovation, increasing urban infrastructure and reforming skills development.
"That's straight out of Labour's plan to diversify the economy, get business growing and exporting, create jobs and boost wages. There was nothing in the Budget from this increasingly arrogant Government to properly tackle these issues," says Grant Robertson.


Hello everyone! I am still alive :P - people have been commenting and e-mailing wanting to know how things are since I've pretty much disappeared these past several weeks. I won't lie it's definitely been a struggle (to put it lightly) trying to adjust to everything and juggling 2 kids, a toddler and a newborn on my own.
If you're reading this it means that the NEW MFT June products are available NOW at the MFT store!
Make sure to check out the launch blog post for all the links to the other DT member's blog posts, plus stay tuned to the end of this post for info on how you can be entered to WIN!
I used the new Zig Zag Stitched Square STAX Die-namics to create a window for this card - I die cut the stamped panel with the second largest die. I then stamped the sentiment onto that piece and die cut it again with the next smallest Zig Zag Stitched Square STAX die.
I popped both pieces up with foam tape onto my card base then added a die cut Flutter of Butterflies - Lace butterfly to finish it off.
Also make sure you check out MFT's blog post for the last of the sneak peek info plus links to all the other DT member's blog posts.
I did some more "color smooshing" with my current favourite color combo of MFT Dye inks and die cut one of the pieces with the new Flutter of Butterflies - Solid Die-namics.
I popped up the Zig Zag Stitched Rectangle with foam tape and did the same thing with the butterfly to add even more dimension and that was it!


Hello friends! Leigh here, with a brand new Color Kaleidoscope Layout! I love the bold and saturated colors in the Color Kaleidoscope line! I chose to create a layout about my art, and focus on the paint spill technique.
One of my favorite products, debuting with this new line, are the Watercolor Markers! They are such a versatile tool, and coordinate so well with all of Vicki's collections! After playing with the markers, I got the idea to cut the patterned paper in this collection to look like a paint spill at the top right of the layout.
You can either cut each paper free-hand or use a utility knife like I did. The We R Memory Keepers Glass Mat made this cutting job easy. I chose my colors, and then cut curvy lines. I cut larger curves with each added layer of paper. A quick tip for picking colors: make sure the colors coordinate with your photo for an even more cohesive look. I used some older American Crafts Thickers for the bold title.
An angled close-up shows the dimension created with some pop-dots under a few of the bentup layers. I like to bend the edges so each layer is fluffed up rather than flat against the layer below it.
The bottom left of the layout shows the photo collage, gesso, new stencils, and the Watercolor Marker mixed media on the page. I added the gesso through the stencil using the same angle I did in the top right corner. I also used the Color Kaleidoscope Die Cuts at this same angle again. I then added the paint brush die cut on top to create a horizontal line that points to my journaling. The Watercolor Markers are great because you really only need one drop, and then you can add more water with a Vicki Boutin Water Brush. That means you get a lot of bang for your buck!
The finished layout has lots of color and pattern, but still utilizes white space well. I love adding hand-written journaling to create a faster finished page. What new items are you most looking forward to from the new Color Kaleidoscope line? The new products alway give me so many ideas to try out! Happy crafting!
Wonderful and creative technique. Love your layout!


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Home General The Great Reset is Not a Conspiracy Theory
The Great Reset is Not a Conspiracy Theory
The Great Reset is being proposed by the World Economic Forum ("Davos"). It even has its own website.
Several "partners" involved are Apple, Microsoft, Facebook, IBM, IKEA, Lockheed Martin, Ericsson, and Deloitte. Ben Sixsmith, who wrote for The Spectator US, doubts whether the Great Reset can be seen, as some like to suggest, as "socialist Left Marxist" or a "global communist takeover plan."
According to Andrew Stuttaford, who wrote for the National Review, the Great Reset is, in essence, corporatist, not communist. The participation of companies of the type that Sixsmith mentions is, in reality, the participation of certain members of their senior management, using shareholder funds for purposes that have nothing to do with the bottom line and everything to do with the wielding of power within a system akin to a concert, with the state — if not necessarily the government — acting as the conductor.
One expression of corporatism called "stakeholder capitalism," has recently won strong support from all over the world. Stakeholder capitalism rests on the notion that a company's management owes a duty to more than its shareholders.
According to Stuttaford, it's something that Klaus Schwab, the WEF's founder and executive chairman, has been advocating for a long time. A key feature of the Great Reset is that stakeholder capitalism should be adopted one way or another.
This would reduce a company's shareholders to just a category of "stakeholder," which would effectively transfer the power that capital should confer away from its owners and into the hands of those who administer it.
But Stuttaford believes that stakeholder capitalism is a betrayal of democracy, as well as of shareholders. The power it gives to managers is increasingly being used to support an agenda influenced by a cabal of activists, NGOs, representatives of the "international community," and politicians too arrogant to go through the usual legislative process.
Stuttaford says that Sixsmith's view on stakeholder capitalism is too lax. To Sixsmith, it is simply "a concept so vague that Facebook, IBM, Lockheed Martin et cetera are free to interpret it quite as they wish."
Citing Steve Dunning who wrote for Forbes, "Firms can go on privately shoveling money to their shareholders and executives while maintaining a public front of exquisite social sensitivity and exemplary altruism."
But while removing one possible obstacle to shoveling money to executives is one of stakeholder capitalism's appeal to managements, it is only one part of its attraction.
Stuttaford explains that much of stakeholder capitalism's appeal is in whether it is from the social approval that it can generate for a manager who uses his or her role in such a positive way, or in its ability to hand executives power, which they can wield, as noted above, with relatively little accountability now that their responsibility to shareholders has been so diluted.
Sixsmith explains that The Great Reset "considers a world after the pandemic," a conceit he finds "audacious given that it was written less than six months after the virus had even appeared."
"If you read The Great Reset in anticipation of some baroque manifesto for world tyranny," warns Sixsmith, you will be disappointed. "There are no elaborate schemes for globe-spanning coup d'états and totalitarianism."
It's not a conspiracy theory. According to the Kwak Brothers, The Great Reset is, in short, simply a proposed shift in which economies and governments will be globalized, and the people, as a result, would be weakened and subordinated.
You can watch their video below.
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text:
Q: file_exists para verificar noticias Olá, estou tendo problemas com meu código. A ideia inicial dele é percorrer o servidor e mostrar os links referentes à notícia.
<?php
$inicio=180;

if(file_exists("http://www.sitequalquer.com.br/noticia_".$inicio.".htm")){

      while($inicio){

        echo 'noticia'.$inicio.'
';

        $inicio++;

      }

    }else{

        echo "http://www.sitequalquer.com.br/noticia_".$inicio.".htm";
    }

?>

Eu estou rodando este código em minha máquina; mas não tenho conhecimento se o comando file_exists funciona para percorrer arquivos externos.

A: A função file_exists funciona apenas para arquivo locais.
O certo é usar o curl pra fazer a conexão com a página desejada e verificar se a resposta é válida.
Geralmente verificar o código de status da resposta já resolve (por exemplo, 404 para páginas não encontradas) mas sites menos elaborados podem acabar retornando 200 para páginas não encontradas. Nesses caso é bom analisar o conteúdo da página recebida.

A: file_exists funciona apenas para caminhos absolutos, ou seja, dentro do filesystem do servidor.
Aconselho verificar se file_get_contents retorna código 200, e não 404, para o que você quer fazer.


MUSICAL | The captivating and moving story of twin boys separated at birth, only to be reunited by a twist of fate, and a mother's haunting secret. Voted Most Popular British Musical of All Time by New York Times readers. Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Musical.


Old Oaks replacement windows are both affordable and efficient, and people who are thinking about adding these products to their home in Old Oaks are going to want to do some research. As a homeowner, you likely understand that there are nearly limitless ways that you can improve your home. Most Ohio homeowners in the Columbus area are going to have a long list of projects that they would like to do when they get some spare time. However, completing these projects is not always easy and it is important that you determine a few priorities. If you are having window problems, adding replacement windows should be at the top of your list, as these Columbus window replacement products can make your home much more attractive and efficient.
If you have ever shopped for replacement windows in the past, you are aware of the fact that there are going to be several options to pick from, and some preliminary decision-making is going to be important. In the following paragraphs we will go over some of the options that people in Old Oaks are going to have. Hopefully these tips will help you pick the Old Oaks replacement windows that are going to help you make your house into the kind of home you have always wanted.
One of the first decisions to make is going to be picking between custom or standard replacement windows. Standard options are those that are going to be sold at your local hardware or home improvement store, and they are typically going to be fairly affordable. The big downside to standard Old Oaks replacement windows is the fact that you will need to pick between the styles and colors that are currently available, and you may also need to do some cosmetic work to your home in order to get a good installation.
If you decide to choose custom Old Oaks replacement windows you should be prepared to pay a bit more for the actual precuts, but you might be paying significantly less for the installation. Custom products are going to be specifically fitted to your OH home, and you will be able to choose the colors, materials and styles that you want. Because you will most likely be investing a decent amount of money into your project, custom Ohio replacement windows are often recommended, as they are going to be an addition that you will continue to love for years to come.
When you are picking out your Old Oaks replacement windows, there are a few types of materials that you can choose from. Each material that is used for frame construction is going to have its own specific benefits and disadvantages. When you are comparing materials in Old Oaks, you will want to consider durability, cost, style and energy efficiency. When customers take all of these characteristics into effect while shopping, they will be able to find Old Oaks replacement windows that are going to be a perfect fit to their homes.
Energy efficiency is one characteristic that you are going to want to pay special attention to. It is very likely that people in Ohio are going to spend well over a thousand dollars on heating costs each year. If you have a home that is not energy efficiency, you are going to be wasting a lot of money. By purchasing Old Oaks replacement windows that are energy efficiency, you will be doing a lot to insulate your home and save on heating costs. While you are shopping in Old Oaks or the Columbus area, take the time to look for the replacement windows that are going to be energy efficiency and will help you save money.
Finding a good retailer and installer is also going to be a big part of your decision in Old Oaks. Some of the companies that sell Old Oaks replacement windows are going to have much cheaper prices for their products, and will also offer affordable delivery and installation. When you are looking for companies to perform your installation, look for contractors or carpenters that already have a lot of experience with replacement windows and come highly recommended. Doing this kind of research will help you avoid companies that are not going to give you the installation that your deserve.
In the past, it would often take OH homeowners days to find the Old Oaks replacement windows that they were looking for. Now, you will only need your computer a few minutes of extra time in order to research some of your options and find the products that you want. Use our free tools on this website to make comparisons, and start making attractive and efficient changes to your Old Oaks home.


text:
The Sport News
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Sport > Olympics
Mexico cuts budget for all, from athletes to archaeologists
4 hours ago | | 2 articles
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1 day ago |
CHICAGO - The Bears opened up Halas Hall for a flag football tournament for Special Olympics on Saturday. Around 200 Special Olympics athletes were able to participate and get...
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KIEV, Ukraine - Ukraine's new president has asked officials to consider a bid to host the Olympics, even with the economy still damaged by years of political turmoil.
Persistence, positive attitude launched Olympian Herb Douglas Jr
Pittsburgh native Herb Douglas Jr. won a bronze medal in the 1948 Olympics and started the Jesse Owens Foundation.
Swimming-As Olympics near, swimmers look to make their mark at worlds
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2 days ago | | 3 articles
Considered one of the greatest defensive fighters in history, Whitaker won Olympic gold and titles in four weight classes.
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Everyone is busy celebrating the U.S. women's national soccer team 's World Cup win. But Carli Lloyd 's on-stage celebratory dance from Jennifer Lopez truly may have taken the...
Pernell Whitaker, an Olympic gold medalist and four division champion who was regarded as one of the greatest defensive fighters ever, has died after being hit by a car in...
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2 days ago |
As scorching days become more common, athletes grapple with how to handle the heat.
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text:
ChocolateChip-UI is a framework for making mobile Web apps. It has three components: semantic HTML5 markup, CSS and JavaScript. To successfully make an app with ChocolateChip-UI you'll need at least moderate experience working with JavaScript. This is so you can use templates, make Ajax requests and handle callbacks for user interaction. If this is beyond your current skills, consider getting someone with Web development experience to help you. ChocolateChip-UI is built on jQuery, so you will need a compatible version of it to work with ChocolateChip-UI.

Please visit [ChocolateChip-UI's Website](http://chocolatechip-ui.com) for documentation and tutorials. This project includes examples for iOS, Android and Windows Phone 8 to help you get going.

##Building

You do not have to build ChocolateChipUI. This repository has all examples and test pre-built for you. To view the iOS examples, please use the Safari Browser. For Android, use Chrome. For Windows Phone, use IE 10 or MS Edge.

If you want or need to make modifications to the code for whatever reason, you'll need to build the files from the source code. For details how to do that, read on.

ChocolateChip-UI uses Gulpjs to build. This is a Node package, so you'll first need to have [Node installed](http://http://nodejs.org). After installing Nodejs, or if you already have it installed, on Mac OS X use the terminal to cd to the directory. On Windows you can use the Windows command prompt to do this. Once you are in the folder, run the following command in your terminal.

###Gulpjs

On Mac OS X, you'll need to run the command in your terminal with **sudo** to avoid installation errors:

```shell
sudo npm install -g gulp
```

For Windows, just run this:

```shell
npm install -g gulp
```

Enter your password when it requests. After you should see a number of Nodejs modules being installed in a folder called **node\_modules**. You do not need **node\_modules** in your final project. The node modules are there to enable the build process with Gruntjs.

Now that you have the node modules install, you can just type `gulp` in the terminal and hit return/enter. This will kick off the build process, which will produce the following directories:

```
chui/
data/
demo/
examples-android/
examples-ios/
examples-win/
images/
node_modules/
```

If you're starting a new project, you only need the files in the **chui** folder. If you want to create a custom build, then just run any of the tasks:

```
gulp js android
```

```
gulp js ios
```

```
gulp js win
```

These will build the ChUI JavaScript file, normal and minified, as well as the OS theme normal and minified.

You can also build out just the examples for a particular platform:

```
gulp android_examples
```

```
gulp ios_examples
```

```
gulp win_examples
```

This will include the ChUI JavaScript, the theme and all the examples for that platform.

If you intend to customize a theme for branding purposes, you should do so in the LESS files in the source. But instead of having to rebuild the theme each time, you can ask Gulp to watch the theme. That means every time you make a change and save a file, Gulp will rebuild the theme for you.

To watch all there themes, run:

```
gulp watch
```

To watch specific platform theme, run one of these:

```
gulp watch_android
```

```
gulp watch_ios
```

```
gulp watch_win
```

You could also build a theme and watch it all at once:

```
gulp js android && gulp watch_android
```

```
gulp js ios && gulp watch_ios
```

```
gulp js win && gulp watch_win
```
##ChocolateChipJS

If you want to use ChocolateChipJS instead of jQuery, you can just run the following command:

```
gulp --chocolatechipjs
```

This will put the latest version of ChocolateChipJS in the chui folder and also output all examples to use ChocolateChipJS instead of jQuery. You can learn more about how to use ChocolateChipJS on [our website](http://chocolatechip-ui.com).

###Note

You do not need Nodejs to use ChocolateChip-UI. Nodejs is only used to build the framework and examples from the source files.

##Contributing Code
###Avoiding Carriage Returns in Commits

ChocolateChip-UI uses Unix linefeeds (LF) for new lines. Github for Windows adds carriage returns to linefeeds (CRLF). If you try to check in such files, Git will flag every line with changed new lines, which means practically everything. To avoid this we've added a .gitattributes file to the repository. This will prevent Github from converting the new lines on Windows.

If you are editing the source code on Windows, depending on the text editor you are using, or if you do a copy/paste, you may inadvertently introduce Windows carriage returns. Also some Grunt actions, such as concatenation with banners, automatically create newlines with carriage returns on Windows. When these carriage returns are added to the source code, they will show up as a changes at commit time. You can avoid this. Navigate to the ChocolateChip-UI repository in the command prompt, then execute these two Git commands:

```
git config core.eol lf
git config core.autocrlf input
```

core.eol tells Git to always checkout this repository with LF.
core.autocrlf tells Git to convert CRLF to LF on commit.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Metis Held Three Data Science Events in Two Cities in One Night
By Emily Wilson • December 07, 2015
As we gear up for another busy week filled with events and preparation for the current Data Science Bootcamp cohort to graduate on December 16th, we're taking a quick look back to last week, when we hosted three events in one night in two cities.
First, in NYC on Wednesday evening, we hosted an alumni panel for the current cohort, featuring three recent graduates: Lyle Payne Morgan Smith, a Data Analyst at BuzzFeed, Erin Dooley, a Research Analyst at NYC Department of Education, and Gina Soileau, Teaching Assistant at Metis. Each spoke candidly about their job searches, interview experiences, and current positions.
"I came to Metis from working in Broadway Theater. I was doing ticket pricing, so I was using a lot of data but, everything was in Excel. Everything I was looking at, I thought, Oh, it would be cool to do this, it would be cool to do this, but I don't know how to this," said panelist Erin Dooley. "I came to Metis looking for exposure to the tools that are out there and also, just in general, [to find out] what the data science landscape looks like. Now in my new role at the New York City Department of Education, I'm a Research Analyst and I already feel like any idea I have, I know how to start implementing it."
The cohort, fast approaching graduation, asked questions of the panel for an extended period of time that overflowed into a round of pizza and drinks in the classroom. We're currently transcribing the entire robust conversation into a Q&A that will be published on the blog soon, so be on the lookout for upcoming insider tips and information about the Data Science job search.
Also in NYC that evening, we held an Open House for our upcoming evening course on Big Data Processing with Hadoop & Spark. Course designer and Metis Instructor Dorothy Kucar, a Senior Software Engineer, presented on the topic, providing a brief demo of the Hadoop software framework. She also went over what prospective students can expect from the course. Interest in the topic is high due to the fact that Hadoop & Spark are largely considered the workhorses of distributed computing in the business world today.
In case you missed this event and are interested in learning more about the Hadoop & Spark evening course, we're hosting a panel discussion with leading data scientists in conversation about their use of Hadoop & Spark in business. While the event has reached capacity RSVPs, we encourage those interested to sign up for the waitlist.
[Note: Through December 21st, the price of our Hadoop & Spark evening course is $2250 -- after December 21st, it is $2500.]
Last but not least, in San Francisco we hosted a Meetup on Differential Privacy as Applied to Machine Learning with the Bay Area Women in Machine Learning and Data Science group. Dr. Nina Zumel, a principal consultant and the co-founder of Win-Vector LLC (a data science consulting firm in San Francisco), spoke on the ideas behind differential privacy and reviewed how it can be used to enable safer re-use of holdout data in machine learning.
"We had a great crowd. In fact, the speaker commented on exactly that point afterwards. She said it was one of the best audience she's had. Everyone was very engaged and seemed to have some background in the field," said Lingqiang Kong, Metis Teaching Assistant in San Francisco.
If you're interested in attending upcoming and future events at Metis, join our Meetup communities in New York City and San Francisco.
Why Choose Metis San Francisco? Here's What Makes Our Data Science Community Special
By Stephany Bittar • November 07, 2018
During the Metis bootcamp, we place a strong focus on community. In this piece, San Francisco Program Manager Stephany Bittar writes about how that foundation is built and how it grows through daily collaboration, outings in downtown SF, ping pong tournaments, and much more.
Exploring the #Data4Good Movement with 4 Data Scientists
Countless individuals with diverse data science backgrounds are applying their skills, training, and knowledge to improve and/or solve some of the world's toughest challenges. This is referred to as the #Data4Good movement, and we were lucky enough to coordinate with DataKind to host four such individuals on a panel to ...


Palestrina: Motets, Book 5: "Gaude gloriosa"
Morley: "Now is the month of Maying"
Arcadelt: "Il bianco e dolce cigno"
Bates: "Stelle, vostra mercè l´eccelse sfere"
Hawley: 7 Madrigals: "Io son la primavera"
Salazar / Arr Russell: "Salve Regina"
Trad. / Arr. Garrop: "Járba, Mare Jarba"
Trad. / Arr. Shaw & Parker: "I want to die easy"
Trad. / Arr. Shaw & Parker: "Hark, I hear the harps eternal"
Trad. / Arr. Jennings: "Keep your hand on the plow"


Hello guys! Today I wanted to review one of my absolute favorite LINE webtoon series, Hooky. Hooky is unique in that it isn't really a manga, manhwa, or even manhua – it is an original English work! The author, Miriam Bonastre Tur, speaks Spanish as her native language, and if I'm not wrong Hooky is her first full-fledged work in English. Not that I can tell, as it is very well written.
Dani and Dorian have missed the bus of the school of magic. Now, they must find someone who teach them how to be a great and good witches… Or maybe not.
The artwork in Hooky has a unique style, one I wouldn't class as either stereotypical "anime" art or something like the "Western" art that we see from Marvel and DC.
Typical anime art is often marked by sharp features, elongated limbs, and hair that always seems to stay perfectly "messy" and/or defying gravity in all sorts of strange ways, leading to some interesting cosplays (think Goku's hair in Dragonball for a classic example).
In Western comics, on the other hand, people tend to be realistically proportioned, as are their faces and hair. The one thing that often does gets exaggerated is detailed musculature (see the Hulk for reference).
What about Hooky? Hooky has a cast of purely Western characters which are drawn in a rounded, softened way which is nothing like Marvel or DC. Yet they also don't quite fit into the doey-eyed ranks of bishounen or bishoujo… it's something else altogether, with clean color and detail added to a more simplistic, cartoon-like base style.
If I had to label it, I would say Hooky's art has a distinctively Spanish flavor. The gorgeous backgrounds and quaint cobble-stone streets are reminiscent of the bright, lively city of Barcelona, which also happens to be the author's hometown.
Hooky truly brings the magic of childhood back to life. If you liked Gakuen Babysitters or light fantasy such as The Enchanted Forest Chronicles, you're going to love Hooky. The twins Dani and Dorian are absolutely delightful, and their liveliness and hilarious interactions will just leave you feeling happy after each episode.
With that said, however, the story itself is not as innocent and frivolous as it may seem. At the core of the story lies the conflict between witches and regular humans, and the author doesn't "dumb it down" it in any way. There are those who are out to burn every last witch alive. There are those who want to overthrow the human kingdom. There are neutral parties and those who work hard to keep the peace. All of this is gradually revealed through the lens of innocent children who don't know anything, who just want to play and befriend people on either side, who don't realize or understand (at the beginning) just how deeply this grudge runs and why it is this way. It's as much a coming-of-age story as it is lighthearted fun, and the pure, innocent lens the author chooses to portray this conflict with makes it all the more poignant.
The adorable twins who miss the bus on the first day to school and become the protagonists of this story. Dani (full name Daniela) is the lively, energetic one whose magic unfortunately often ends up a mess, whereas Dorian is more serious and is often found with his nose buried in a book. Dorian excels at magic and his studies, but has a more timid personality and is not able to make friends as quickly or easily as Dani. Their family, the Wytte family, appear to be big shots in the wizarding world.
A loud, flamboyant, and outgoing boy, who appears to have many friends and is well liked on the streets. He lives with Pendragon, the magic "master" who takes Dani and Dorian in after they miss their bus to magic school, and appears to think of Pendragon as his surrogate father. An adventurous and headstrong character who can also be quite rude at times.
The princess of the realm. She is out searching for her missing prince William when she runs into Dani, Dorian, and co. She ends up staying with them at the master's place and begins to pick up a little magic here and there herself, despite initially looking down on magic. Her father is the king whom some of the witches hate and wish to dethrone.
One of the best things about Hooky is that it is a webtoon published straight on the web AND originally in English, which means that there are neither scans nor translations to worry about. The author's English is flawless as far as I can tell, so get on LINE Webtoon and start reading!
Medium. As much as Hooky is delightful and the little character moments a pleasure to read and read again, there is a strong plot with emphasis on mystery and surprises. Who will become king of the witches? Will this character turn evil or not? Are they all walking into a trap/whose side is that character really on?
Chapters often end on cliffhangers like these, and those little surprises and reveals are part of the joy of reading Hooky. In fact, this is one of the series I would recommend following along week by week rather than waiting for the complete story, as I think it's part of the experience. (Aside: the comments on LINE Webtoon are sometimes as good as the story itself!) On the flip side, this means that once you know the answers to those mysteries, it won't be quite the same the second time around.
The first vibrant and delightfully childlike story that comes to mind is Gakuen Babysitters. However do note that this is missing the fantasy element of Hooky.
If you're just looking for feel-good stories featuring kids and their sense of wonder/unique ways of interpreting the world, Yotsuba&! and Bunny Drop (Usagi Drop) may also be good choices.
For stories that feature more of the supernatural, try Cardcaptor Sakura. And if you haven't seen Kiki's Delivery Service before for the love of god go watch it! Another adorable story about a little witch trying to make it in the world. Little Witch's Diary is worth a mention here as well – super cute, and the fairytale references are reminiscent of the Snow White reference we had in the beginning Hooky.
For something that digs deeper into the darker side of things, with good people who have deep seated biases against something or the other, try The Pale Horse .


Thank you to all the ladies who attended the October 2018 Women's Self Defence Workshop.
Congratulations to the following students on their promotion to Dan ranks at the Regional Black Belt Testing on Sunday, 10th June 2018 @ WembleyCKD.
We are pleased to confirm the promotion of Master Chandresh Lad to Sixth Degree Black Belt and Senior Master Instructor.
We are very proud to announce that Mr Shyam Rach won three trophies at the 2018 International Showcase of Excellence.