India's relations with the US in the last decade have undergone a transformation. Ever since our independence, our relationship with the US has been marked by suspicion, lack of empathy and differences in world view. In recent years, many in India have viewed with cynicism US using the excuse of its "values" to justify its interventionist and regime change policies marked by, what is more, glaring double standards. We have been chary of excessive engagement with the US lest it acquires too many leverages over our policies. The US has sanctioned us in critical strategic nuclear, missile and high technology sectors ever since our 1974 nuclear test. US policies in our neighbourhood, in particular with regard to Pakistan, have damaged our security. In this background, the shift towards growing mutual confidence, wide ranging political, economic and security related engagement in recent years has been an unprecedented change.
In 2010, during his India visit, President Barack Obama described the India-US relationship as a defining one for the 21st century. What "defining" may actually mean is difficult to define. It could mean that the US sees India growing into a major global power in the years ahead, and believes that the relationship forged between the oldest and the largest democracy, between the world's largest and the third largest economy in time, with their shared values of democracy and pluralism, could define how international relations will be played out in the 21st century. This would imply that India and the US together could determine the configuration of international relations and the principles governing them and that they could optimally manage global commons and work for the consolidation of political and human values universally. This sounds rather grandiloquent, but such rhetoric comes easily to the Americans.
India has been more subdued in its rhetoric. Despite the general sentiment towards the US becoming more positive and the opprobrium attached to being seen as "pro-US" virtually disappearing, there has been political reluctance to embrace the US too tightly to avoid any perception within the country and externally that India was diluting the independence of its foreign policy. But India too has used vocabulary about relations with the US that is contrary to realities. We have said that India and the US are "natural partners", when objectively this has not been the case for the last 67 years and is not likely to be reflected in our ties in the years ahead either.
Democracy and pluralism can be a bond, but in relations between the US and India, this bond has not shielded us from punitive US policies. In our case, US did not have to active on democracy promotion to gain geopolitical advantage as it has done in other geographical areas, but it has targeted us in the 1990s on human rights issues, especially relating to Kashmir, and remains censorious on issues of treatment of religious minorities and religious conversion prompted by domestic Christian lobbies. It is well to remember that it denied Narendra Modi a visa for the US for nine years under an act of which he was the only victim. In any case, US conduct towards India over the years has not given much weight to India being a democracy. Cold War geopolitics has guided its policies for most of the time, and later it has sought to curtail and smother India's strategic capabilities. In contrast to this, the US has been benign towards military dictatorships or done business with authoritarian regimes in our neighbourhood, often at India's expense.
Beyond that, it is unrealistic to speak of a natural partnership between the world's strongest political, military, technological and economic power, the head of a powerful military alliance with military bases in several countries, one that considers itself endowed with the responsibility of maintaining the word order, that is rich in natural resources and one that shapes the global agenda in all fields and a developing country beset with huge problems of poverty, technologically weak, militarily import-dependent and economically still far away from even middle income status. There can hardly be a "natural partnership" between two countries unequal in so many ways, unless it is one of dependence. We are not in the same geopolitical area as the US; we do not have common enemies, and we do not face similar security challenges. If we did, we might have had reasons to gravitate towards each other naturally because of such shared interests.
A natural partnership would also imply that there is a basic convergence in thinking and goals that would draw two countries together even if a gulf occurred at times. In other words, it would not be natural for them to stay apart and be distant from each other as such differences would be bridgeable not fundamental in nature. If viewed in this light, we should look at the expression "natural partnership" as a rhetorical flourish rather than describing the reality of our relationship. Our interests have actually not been served by US policies in West Asia, towards Pakistan, its support for jihad to fight the Soviet Union which has spread extremism and terrorism in our region, its willingness to engage the Taliban and its handling of Afghanistan. The US has fuelled China's rise for strategic reasons rooted in the Cold War and the interests of its corporate sector. Its views on China's policies in South Asia, especially Beijing's relationship with Pakistan that damages our security in many ways, have been problematic for us.
In fact, India and the US have had to overcome a difficult legacy. The US has for decades done great damage to India's strategic interests by obstructing the development of our nuclear and missile capabilities and denying us dual use technologies by imposing global sanctions through its domestic legislation as well as international export control regimes. At the same time, it has overlooked Pakistan's acquisition of nuclear and missile technologies from China and has taken a tolerant view of serious Pakistani infractions of the non-proliferation regime, even shielding the Pakistani kingpins from international scrutiny. It has politically undermined India's sovereignty over J&K by frequently intervening on Pakistan's behalf and helping it to keep the issue alive internationally, though it has been more circumspect in recent years. Even now it refuses to recognise Indian sovereignty over Jammu & Kashmir and prefers adopting an equivocal position that leans in favour of Pakistan's core position by references to "consulting the wishes of the Kashmiri people", which indirectly denies the legitimacy of the election process in J&K. It has armed Pakistan in the past despite the obvious security implications for India and continues to do so even now. It has also been responsible for unleashing jihadi terrorism in our region by legitimising such groups and their ideology in the fight against the Soviets in Afghanistan, unmindful of the consequences for our region and the exposed position of India to such forms of religious mobilisation. It has been unduly tolerant of Pakistan's use of these terrorist groups against us as an instrument of state policy, despite its war on terror. Even now, despite the shelter given to Osama bin Laden by Pakistan, its support to Afghan Taliban groups that target US/NATO troops in Afghanistan, the ISI abetted attacks against our diplomatic representations there and explicit accusations by former Afghan President Karzai about Pakistan's use of terrorism to destabilise Afghanistan, the US has been focused essentially on its own concerns about an orderly withdrawal from Afghanistan with Pakistan's assistance and has treated regional and Indian concerns as of secondary importance.
The US is aware of Pakistan's double-faced Afghan policy and its obsession to counter Indian presence and influence in Afghanistan. The US has always discouraged Indian military assistance to Afghanistan- other than providing training to Afghan security forces- in deference to Pakistan's sensitivities, though it supports India's economic assistance, even to the point of wanting to do India-US cooperative projects there. The US decision to open a dialogue with the Taliban which disregards India's objections to any political accommodation with it without insisting on the red lines laid down by the international community creates potential problems for India. It continues its failed policy of offering carrots to Pakistan, including military aid, in the hope of buying its co-operation. The manner in which Pakistan army chief General Sharif has been treated during his lengthy visit to the US in December 2014 suggests that the US has not been able to forge a clear policy of dealing with a country whose duplicitous conduct it recognises. Secretary Kerry went to the extent of calling the Pakistan military a binding force when he met the General, which has the unfortunate implication that the US endorses the political role that the Pakistani military sees for itself in the country as the ultimate custodian of the idea of Pakistan, even if this was not Kerry's intention.
Notwithstanding all this, it is necessary for India to have as friendly a relationship with the US as possible. The US cannot be ignored because of its superpower status. It has to be managed in a way that one can extract the maximum from the relationship while minimising the compromises one has to make to achieve that. The 2005 India-US nuclear deal opened the doors for establishing a relationship at a much higher level than ever before. With the dissipation of strategic distrust as a result of the deal, the range of bilateral engagement expanded phenomenally. Numerous sectoral and subject specific dialogues were set up with the US, covering the areas of energy, education, health, development, science and technology, trade, defence, counter-terrorism, non-proliferation, high technology, innovation and the like. With no other country do we have such wide ranging institutionalised dialogues. The objective has been to build up Indian capacities in a number of sectors with US technology and know-how, a process that would assist in India's development and growth, giving the US getting greater access to an expanding Indian economy as a result.
The nuclear deal removed the nonproliferation issue from distorting our bilateral agenda with the US as well as other important members of the international community, though US nonproliferation lobbies have not given up efforts to generate pressure on India on nuclear issues in a bid to create a basis for extracting more curbs on India's freedom to develop its nuclear weapon programme, especially by tying up our programme to that of Pakistan and advocating steps to reduce nuclear dangers in South Asia. Following the nuclear deal, sanctions on almost all Indian entities have been lifted and high technology controls have been eased to a degree. The US has committed itself to support India's membership of the four technology control regimes: the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), the Wassenaar Agreement and the Australia Group. This support is repeated in political declarations as was the case when Modi visited Washington in September 2014 when Obama noted that India meets MTCR requirements and is ready for NSG membership, but without setting any time-tables. An actual push by the US in favour of India's membership is lacking, not the least because, having made an exception for India in the NSG, the US would be reluctant to go out of its way to press India's case actively. India's task will be to prod the US to implement its strategic commitment at the earliest and not use it as a bargaining lever to extract more concessions from India in non-proliferation areas, particular on administrative arrangements for implementing the nuclear deal in full that will give the US greater access to our nuclear plants over and above IAEA safeguards, and obtain commercial contracts for its companies on its terms. The US is miffed that having done the heavy-lifting for India in the NSG, its companies have not procured civil nuclear projects in India because of our Nuclear Liability Act which provides for supplier's liability in certain circumstances. The US has openly lobbied for an amendment of our law, and could well link its active support for India's membership of the NSG to actual openings for its companies to build nuclear power plants in India as well as a solution to the outstanding problem of "national tracking". During each high level visit after the nuclear deal, the issue has been raised by the US and India has been obliged to show some "progress" in implementing its commitment to acquire GE and Westinghouse nuclear reactors that would produce 10,000 MWs of power.
During President Obama's second term, India-US ties began to lose momentum because many on the US side had expected much more to emerge from the newly minted relationship of strategic trust and this had not happened. Apart from disappointment on the nuclear power front, there were strong hopes of the US obtaining a sizeable part of India's defence procurement pie. That the US has bagged almost $ 10 billion worth of defence contracts in the last five to six years, whether for C-130 and C-17 heavy lift aircraft, advanced maritime reconnaissance aircraft, attack, heavy lift and VIP helicopters, and in that period became India's top defence supplier, is not seen as sufficient strategic reward for the nuclear deal and the NSG exception.
In this, the US is not giving enough importance to the point that, given its history of imposing sanctions in situations of conflict and tension or for other considerations, India is reposing great trust in building a defence relationship with the US. It is true, though, that India under the UPA government baulked at signing the three foundational agreements with the US- the LSA (logistics agreement), BECA (for access to high defence technology) and CISMOA (interoperability agreement)- that would supposedly strengthen defence bonds and make India more eligible for transfer of advanced defence technologies to India. Here the concern has been that India should not be seen as moving too far into the US defence orbit as that would cause an imbalance in its relationships with other powers. This reticence has been balanced, however, by numerous joint military exercises involving the three arms. The naval exercises in the Indian Ocean area have been particularly elaborate, involving submarines and aircraft carriers, which sends an important strategic message as these waters are crucial for the trade and energy flows for China and other east Asian and Southeast Asian countries.
Under the Defence Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI), the US has offered to co-develop and co-produce initially about ten defence items in collaboration with Indian partners, including Javelin anti-tank missiles. The Indian response has not been particularly enthusiastic, with the BJP government rejecting the Javelin programme for price escalation reasons and choosing an Israeli missile instead. The US is still hoping to make progress on the DTII, with the added advantage of dislodging Russia from its privileged position as India's main defence supplier.
Some US and Indian specialists have also explained the decline of White House's interest in India because of India's reluctance to solidify a strategic partnership with the US and cling instead to strategic autonomy, which is seen as a renewed version of non-alignment. India has been accused of fence sitting, of being a free-loader on security provided by others, of not wanting to assume responsibility as a growing power for upholding the global system, which actually means India's readiness to shore up the US built global order. At the official level, US leaders have expressed understanding of India's desire to preserve its strategic autonomy and claim that they do not expect India to choose sides. The US seeks burden sharing in upholding the international system from which it feels others benefit without assuming responsibility. The dialogue on global commons is intended to steer India towards this burden-sharing concept. In the maritime domain, freedom of navigation and securing the sea lanes of communication are areas of particular interest in partnering India, given India's dominating position in the Indian Ocean and the steady expansion of its naval power. The US attaches importance to the bilateral dialogue with India on global commons- air, space, sea and cyber- and emphasises partnership with India in defining the rules, with the intention no doubt to ensure that as India rises and seeks a change in the international rules so far defined by the West, it does so in close concert with the US. In cyberspace, cyber security has become a major international concern. India's emergence as a major IT power and the vast expansion of its telecommunication network makes it a choice partner to develop new rules of the game with least contention.
The US at one time described India as a lynchpin of its pivot or rebalance towards Asia. Now it is avoiding embarrassing India by such a discourse. The underlying motivation behind the pivot and US interest in drawing India into this strategy is China, though this is not stated publicly in such open terms. India has been cautious about the US pivot towards Asia as its capacity and willingness to "contain" Chinese power is doubted because of the huge financial and commercial interdependence forged between the two countries. India seeks stable and economically productive relations with China and wants to avoid the risk of being used by the US to serve its China strategy that raises uncertainties in the mind of even the US allies in Asia. However, under the Modi government, India has become more affirmative in its statements about the situation in the western Pacific and the commonalities of interests between India and the US and other countries in the Indo-Pacific region. The government has decided to "Act East", to strengthen strategic ties with Japan and Australia, as well as Vietnam, conduct more military exercises bilaterally with the US armed forces as well as naval exercises trilaterally with Japan. Modi has spoken publicly about greater India-US convergences in the Asia-Pacific region, to the point of the joint statement issued during his US visit being intrinsic to India's Act East and Link West policies.
The last decade has seen a significant expansion of India-US economic ties, with trade in goods standing at $62 billion and the total exchanges, including investment, amounting to almost $100 billion, making the US India's largest economic partner as a single country. Vice-President Biden, during his July visit to India spoke of $500 billion of bilateral trade if the right choices were made in removing trade barriers and inconsistencies in the tax regime. This has been echoed by Secretary Kerry when he participated in the Vibrant Gujarat summit. The US has welcomed relaxation in FDI norms in sectors like telecom, defence and insurance.
It is in this larger background that Prime Minister Modi chose to accept President Obama's invitation to visit Washington in September 2014, contrary to assumptions that because of the visa denial insult heaped on by the US for nine years, he might not accord priority to engaging the US so early. In his judgment, however, his personal pique was less important than the country's interest; he was clearly interested in making a revived relationship with the US a crucial part of his development agenda.
The visit presented him with a difficult challenge as he went at a time when the mood towards India had soured because of the reasons outlined earlier: our nuclear liability act preventing US firms to get business in India, our reticence in forging stronger defence ties with US, including in defence manufacturing, commercial concerns of US companies in the pharmaceutical and solar power sectors because of our patent laws and local manufacturing requirements, the stand off at the WTO on the food subsidy issue. It was not immediately clear how much the visit would achieve; in the event, in terms of concrete outcomes, the result seemed to have been modest- more in the nature of establishing mechanisms to sort out problems rather than actual breakthroughs. No real closing of differences that divide us was announced, which was understandable as not much preparatory work was possible prior to the visit which was more to mend fences than achieve dramatic results. Moreover, many of the issues involved would require policy, legislative and administrative responses from our side and cannot be solved on the basis of purely political goodwill and diplomatic flexibility.
To recall, in the joint press briefing, Modi said that he believed that with the change in Indian policies and processes, the India-US relationship will grow rapidly in the coming years. This may well be true, but no time-frame was outlined for this and the change in policies and processes in India requires time, even with the best of intentions. The Americans, on the other hand, are by nature impatient. The joint statement stated that both sides will facilitate actions to increase trade five-fold, meaning almost reaching US-China levels, which is unachievable in any realistic time-frame. They pledged to establish an Indo-US Investment Initiative and an Infrastructure Collaboration Platform to develop and finance infrastructure. An agreement on the Investment Initiative has been signed in Washington this month, but bringing about capital reforms in India is not something that can be achieved in a hurry. It is also unlikely that the US will develop industrial corridors like Japan or competitively build highways, ports and airports and the like. India has offered U.S. industry lead partnership in developing three smart cities, but the details of the partnership have to be worked out. The two leaders committed to work through the Trade Policy Forum- which has not met for some years despite efforts on our part- to promote an "attractive" business environment- without specifying any metrics- and to establish an annual high-level Intellectual Property (IP) Working Group with appropriate decision-making and technical-level meetings as part of this Forum. This group has been holding meetings in advance of Obama's visit. They reaffirmed their commitment to implement fully the U.S.-India civil nuclear cooperation agreement and establish a Contact Group to advance this. The Contact Group is also engaged in problem solving before the President's visit, but the issue are legally complicated and a solution has to stand the test of public and legal scrutiny.
On IT related issues, Modi publicly pressed for Obama's support "for continued openness and ease of access for Indian services companies in the US market", without obtaining a reaction from the latter. On the food subsidy versus trade facilitation standoff in the WTO, Modi maintained his position firmly and the subsequent compromise with the US has secured the Indian position. He welcomed "the US defence companies to participate in developing the Indian defence industry", without singling out any of the several co-development and co-production projects offered by the US as part of the TDDI. The reference in the joint statement to India and the US intending to expand defence cooperation to bolster national, regional and global security was rather bold and ambitious. If such cooperation bolstering national security makes immediate sense, the reference to regional security does not, given that the US continues to give military aid to Pakistan. After announcing $ 1 billion of military aid to Pakistan at the end of December 2014, a further package of of $532 million was announced. It was subsequently denied by the US that this aid was on the basis of certification that Pakistan was acting against terrorist groups on its soil. Actually, US has been giving national security waivers to Pakistan under the Kerry-Lugar legislation that makes aid to Pakistan contingent on verifiable actions by it to suppress terrorism. As regards India-US defence cooperation bolstering global security, it could be understood in the context of securing the sea lanes of communication in the Indian Ocean area, but beyond that it is not clear what the intention is, and it can lend itself to considerable geopolitical speculation. It was decided to renew for 10 years more the 2005 Framework for US-India Defence Relations, with defence teams of the two countries directed to "develop plans" for more ambitious programmes, including enhanced technology partnerships for India's Navy, including assessing possible areas of technology cooperation.
On geopolitical issues, India showed strategic boldness in the formulations agreed in the joint statement. Modi's reference to the great convergence on "peace and stability in the Asia Pacific region" was significant in terms of China's assertiveness there. That he said that the US was intrinsic to our Look East and Link West policies suggests that India now views the US as being almost central to its foreign policy initiatives in both directions, which is a rather bold formulation geo-politically speaking. The joint statement spoke of a commitment to work more closely with other Asia Pacific countries, including through joint exercises, pointing implicitly to Japan and Australia, and even Vietnam. In this context, the decision to explore holding the trilateral India-US-Japan dialogue at Foreign Minister's level was significant.
On the issue of terrorism and religious extremism, India and the US have rhetorical convergence -which is easy- and some specific cooperation on counter-terrorism issues which is found useful, but, on the whole, our concerns are not adequately met in view of the fact that US regional interests are not fully aligned with India's. Modi did not support the US position on the ISIL in West Asia, though some in India advocated this. In fact, he called for the fight against the ISIL to be more inclusive, suggesting the inclusion of Iran and Syria in it. The joint statement called for the dismantling of safe havens for terrorist and criminal networks, to disrupt all financial and tactical support for networks such as Al Qaeda, Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad, the D-company and the Haqqanis, leaving the Taliban out, an omission that is striking because of its implications. In any case, such statements against Pakistan-based terrorist groups have been made before but are treated as pro-forma by Pakistan in the absence of any real US pressure on Pakistan to curb Hafiz Saeed who, in fact, is being given even more political space by Pakistan to continue his extremist tirades. Even Lakhvi is being treated by Pakistan with calculated ambivalence, despite India-US joint calls for bringing those responsible for the Mumbai massacre to justice.
During his Washington visit, Modi apparently invited Obama to be the chief guest at our Republic Day on January 26, 2015- a bold and imaginative move characteristic of the Prime Minister's style of functioning. That this unprecedented invitation was made in the first was surprising, and it was equally surprising that it was accepted at such short notice by Obama. It had become conventional wisdom over the years that such a gesture could not be made to the US President because of the history of our relations and many points of divergence in thinking and policies that still exist. It is evident that Modi and Obama struck a good personal equation. The earlier alienation has been supplanted by empathy. Obama made the unprecedented gesture of accompanying Modi to the King Memorial. This certainly helped to invest Modi with political prestige as India's man of destiny, a "man of action" in Obama's words. These developments have widened India's foreign policy space with both friends and adversaries.
The ice has been broken with the US but the difficulties in forging a balanced relationship with the US remain. The US Congress has, for instance, decided to continue the investigations of India's investment and trade policies for another year, although the US Trade Representative (USTR) halted further action under Section 301 of the US Trade Act against India's IPR policies before his visit to India in November 2014 to hold the long delayed meeting of the Trade Policy Group. This was prompted by some steps we intend to take, but the USTR will make a final call depending on their implementation. The US maintains its opposition to local manufacturing requirements and the USTR has cautioned against extending them to the defence manufacturing sector.
With the Indian government moving forward decisively on the GST, raising the FDI ceilings in the insurance sector and amending the Land Acquisition Act, besides other steps to decontrol diesel prices, those of urea, reduce subsidies in general, disinvest in PSUs and reduce interest rates, the signalling to the US is positive.
At Washington, we agreed that we had an enhanced strategic partnership on climate change issues and we committed ourselves to working with the US to make the UN Conference on Climate Change in Paris in December this year a success. This gives a handle to the US to ratchet up pressure to obtain some emission reduction commitments from India, buoyed diplomatically by the US-China agreement. Vice-President Biden had, during his July 2013 visit to India, focused heavily on green technologies and the stupendous international market for them, signalling US ambitions to sell such technologies to India.
With the latest accommodative signals from Washington and the new Afghan President on Pakistan's role in Afghanistan, we will face problems as the US completes the process of troop withdrawals by 2016. We will continue to have differences over US policies in West Asia. US policies towards Iran have affected our energy security scenario by preventing investment by our companies in the Iranian hydrocarbon fields. We had a paragraph on Iran in the joint statement in Washington, clearly at US insistence, which the Iranians would have noted with some displeasure. While the US supports India's permanent membership of the UN Security Council, the support remains on paper as the US is not politically ready to promote the expansion of the Council. On the issue of reforms of the global institutions too, we will continue to face US recalcitrance, although these issues do not concern India alone and affect the interests of some other major countries too.
Apart from the ceremonial part which has a political significance of its own, the US will expect the Obama visit to yield some visible results. This would be necessary to justify his second visit to India as President. Our side will also need to justify the invitation to Obama by demonstrating some significant results, failing which the usual criticisms on both sides will surface. On our side, there will be talk of a crucial opportunity missed, and on the US side, lack of clarity in India about how far it wants to go with the US strategically and be a real partner. It is certain that the Defence Cooperation Framework Agreement will be extended for another 10 years, with more ambitious content, including more military exercises. The US hopes for at least one joint defence manufacturing project to be announced during the visit as a start. From Defence Minister Parrikar's public remarks, it seems something may be announced in this area, It will be interesting to see if anything is announced on naval technologies following the joint statement issued during Modi's Washington visit. To the Americans, the Indian side now seems more open to discussing the three stalled foundational agreements, though any agreement is unlikely for the time being. Discussions on a Bilateral Investment Treaty are likely to continue for some time. Obama will not be able to give satisfaction on either the UNSC permanent membership or that of the export control organisations or reform of global institutions during his visit. On the nuclear issue, the contours of some understanding are emerging, but whether an agreement can be concluded in time remains uncertain.
While Prime Minister Modi is manifestly keen to forge stronger ties with the US, he will be mindful of maintaining a balance in our external relations. He has already reached out to China and expects to visit that country this year to maintain the momentum of improving ties and economic cooperation with it. He sent strong signals to President Putin during the latter's visit to India in December about the value he attaches to India-Russia relations, about which the Russians are reportedly very pleased. Any thinking in some circles in India that Modi has chosen to strategically lean towards the US at the cost of our other relationships would be misreading his intentions. Modi is strengthening India's strategic autonomy by forging stronger understandings with all our major partners by giving them stakes in India's economic development. Modi is not thinking of taking sides but working with all sides pragmatically.
At the end of the day, India and the US have to find common ground to protect their respective interests, which is happening and should be pursued further.


January 11, 2019 January 10, 2019 Lee Ann L.
It's a brand new year and I'm going to continue participating in the 52Frames challenges with the goal of becoming a 2019 weekly warrior (submitting a picture 52 weeks). This is Week 1 challenge.
I came up with this one when I realized I didn't have enough knowledge to execute the original idea I had in mind. I'm juggling all the things I want to do this year — continue photography, writing and add learning Elements/reading books and quilting/crafting into the mix. Will I succeed? Or, will it all come tumbling down?
I believe this qualifies for the extra credit challenge, imperfections, because I used no makeup, have gray balding eyebrows and deep dark marks under my eyes. I was just on a rebound from being sick with a migraine and needed to get this done.
There were over 1200 individual submissions. As a result, the album was split into two on facebook. If you're curious and have some time, go check them out! Here's a link: Self-Portrait and click on one of the birds holding a sign to see an album.
I love this pic, and the creativity behind it! The black shirt was a great choice, as it brings out the silver in your hair. The combo really sets it apart from the backdrop. I wouldn't have noticed your eyebrows if you hadn't mentioned it, and it's not that noticeable.
I can't figure out what the book on top is?
I have every confidence that you can achieve your goals. You are an inspiration to me.


text:
TNT renews "The Last Ship", "Major Crimes", and "Falling Skies"
By Jared Munson on July 18, 2014 • ( Leave a comment )
Via Press Release:
TNT Renews Three Summer Hits:
The Last Ship, Major Crimes and Falling Skies
All Three Dramas Rank among Basic Cable's Top 5 Scripted Series So Far This Summer
Falling Skies to Wrap Up Epic Story in Fifth and Final Season
TNT has renewed three of its chart-topping summer hits: The Last Ship, Major Crimes and Falling Skies. All three dramas rank among basic cable's Top 5 scripted series this summer with total viewers and adults 25-54. They have also helped TNT score a significant lead as basic cable's #1 network in primetime for the summer-to-date.
TNT has ordered 13 episodes of The Last Ship, an increase over its first-season order of 10 episodes. The network is also ordering 15 episodes for season four of Major Crimes. And Falling Skies will mark its fifth and final season with 10 episodes.
"TNT's refreshed and recharged drama brand is soaring this summer, and that is due in large part to these three enormously popular dramas," said Michael Wright, president, head of programming for TNT, TBS and Turner Classic Movies (TCM). "The Last Ship has become this summer's top drama among key adult demos with its epic scale and visceral storytelling. Major Crimes continues to be one of the most enduring and popular crime-drama franchises on television. And Falling Skies has begun an ambitious and thrilling story arc this summer as it sets the stage for next year's climactic final season."
The Last Ship is a blockbuster hit in its first season, not only among total viewers but also among key adult demos. The action-packed drama from executive producer Michael Bay has averaged more than 7.2 million viewers in Live + 7 delivery in its first season and currently ranks as basic cable's #1 scripted series this summer with adults 18-49 and adults 25-54. The show is also cable's #1 new series for the year-to-date among total viewers and adults 25-54.
Major Crimes is showing an uptick over last year, with 7 million viewers in Live + 7 delivery for its third season so far. It ranks second behind Rizzoli & Isles among the summer's top scripted series on basic cable. Major Crimes has also drawn key demo deliveries of 2.1 million adults 25-54 and 1.5 million adults 18-49.
Falling Skies has averaged more than 5.5 million viewers in Live + 7 delivery for its fourth season, including 2.5 million adults 25-54 and 2.1 million adults 18-49. It ranks behind The Last Ship and Rizzoli & Isles among basic cable's Top 3 scripted series this summer with adults 25-54.
TNT's summer success also includes Rizzoli & Isles, which ranks as basic cable's #1 scripted series this summer. The show has brought in a whopping 8.5 million viewers in Live + 7 delivery in its fifth season, a slight increase over its summer average last year, and ranks right behind The Last Ship as basic cable's #2 scripted series this summer with key demos. In addition, TNT's new crime-drama Murder in the First has averaged 5.0 million viewers in Live + 7 delivery for its first season, and Perception is averaging 4.6 million viewers in Live + 7 delivery for its third season.
TNT will continue to roll out summer dramas in August. The network will launch the highly buzzed-about drama Legends, starring Sean Bean, on Wednesday, Aug. 13, at 9 p.m. (ET/PT). It will be followed by Franklin & Bash, which is coming back for its fourth season. And on Aug. 18, Dallas will return to continue its third season.
Complete descriptions for TNT's newly renewed series are included below. The network will announce additional summer renewals in the coming weeks.
The Last Ship – Sundays at 9 p.m. (ET/PT)
TNT's action-packed drama The Last Ship, stars Eric Dane (Grey's Anatomy) and is executive-produced by blockbuster filmmaker Michael Bay (Transformers). The Last Ship opens with a global catastrophe that nearly decimates the world's population. Because of its positioning, the Navy destroyer U.S.S. Nathan James avoids falling victim to the devastating tragedy. But now, Captain Tom Chandler (Dane) and his crew must confront the reality of their new existence in a world where they may be among the few remaining survivors. Rhona Mitra (Strike Back) plays Rachel Scott, a strong-willed, intelligent and fearless paleomicrobiologist assigned to the ship. Adam Baldwin (Firefly, Chuck) is XO Mike Slattery, a former homicide detective and Chandler's second-in-command. Also starring in The Last Ship are Travis Van Winkle (Heart of Dixie), Charles Parnell (Pariah), Christina Elmore (Fruitvale Station), Sam Spruell (Snow White and The Huntsman) and Marissa Neitling (Leverage). Based on William Brinkley's popular novel, The Last Ship comes to TNT from Bay's Platinum Dunes and its partners, Brad Fuller and Andrew Form, whose credits include the upcoming Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Bay, Fuller and Form have served as executive producers, along with series co-creators Hank Steinberg (Without a Trace, The Nine) and Steven Kane (The Closer), and director Jack Bender (Lost).
Major Crimes – Mondays at 9 p.m. (ET/PT)
Television's favorite squad of detectives is on the case in Major Crimes, TNT's powerful crime-drama that ranks as one of basic cable's Top 5 original series. Major Crimes focuses on how the American justice system approaches the art of the deal as law enforcement officers and prosecutors work together to score a conviction. The elite team is headed by two-time Oscar® nominee Mary McDonnell as Los Angeles Police Captain Sharon Raydor, G.W. Bailey as Lieutenant Provenza, Tony Denison as Lieutenant Andy Flynn, Michael Paul Chan as Lieutenant Mike Tao, Raymond Cruz as Detective Julio Sanchez, Phillip P. Keene as tech expert Buzz Watson, Kearran Giovanni as Detective Amy Sykes and Jonathan Del Arco as Dr. Morales, with Robert Gossett as Assistant Chief Russell Taylor. Graham Patrick Martin stars as Rusty Beck, the homeless teen and former material witness taken in by Captain Raydor. In addition to the main cast, Major Crimes also features recurring appearances by Jon Tenney as Agent Fritz Howard, Ransford Doherty as Coroner's Investigator Kendall, Kathe Mazur as DDA Andrea Hobbs, Malcolm-Jamal Warner as Lt. Chuck Cooper and Bill Brochtrup as Rusty's therapist, Dr. Joe Bowman. Also returning in the third season is guest star Tom Berenger as Jack Raydor, Capt. Raydor's estranged husband. Major Crimes is produced by The Shephard/Robin Company and Walking Entropy, Inc., in association with Warner Bros. Television. James Duff, Greer Shephard & Michael M. Robin, Rick Wallace, Adam Belanoff and Leo Geter serve as executive producers.
Falling Skies – Sundays at 10 p.m. (ET/PT)
TNT's epic drama Falling Skies – from Amblin Television and executive producer Steven Spielberg – tells the extraordinary story about life and survival in the wake of a catastrophic alien invasion. Noah Wyle stars as Tom Mason, a college professor who became an unlikely resistance leader. Moon Bloodgood is Dr. Anne Glass, a pediatrician who became the survivors' primary physician and eventually fell in love with Tom. Will Patton is Colonel Weaver, the gruff and emotionally scarred commander leading the battle against the invaders. Also starring in Falling Skies are Drew Roy, Connor Jessup, Maxim Knight, Colin Cunningham, Seychelle Gabriel, Mpho Koaho, Sarah Carter, Doug Jones and Scarlett Byrne. Since premiering as basic cable's #1 new series of 2011, Falling Skies has ranked as one of the Top 20 original series on basic cable with total viewers and key adult demos. In addition to Spielberg, Falling Skies is executive-produced by Amblin Television heads Justin Falvey and Darryl Frank, along with David Eick and Greg Beeman.
Categories: Television, Television News
Tagged as: falling skies, final season, major crimes, renewed, The Last Ship, tnt
"True Blood" actress Deborah Ann Woll joins "Daredevil"
Hollywood Reacts to James Garner's passing

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
70% of library users want self-published books in their library
March 30, 2022 June 6, 2014 by Roger Packer
Up to 70% of library users want self-published titles to be available in their libraries and a new initiative from the company behind Library Journal aims to help authors in the library sector.
Libraries are a massive market for self-published authors, offering the potential for tens of thousands of sales and building a widespread engagement with readers. The recent Book Expo America in New York included a presentation within uPublishU on Moving Beyond Online Sales: Marketing to Libraries.
Ian Singer, vice-president and group publisher at Library Journals, said data from a survey of library users found that up to 70% of patrons want self-published titles to be available in their libraries.
He set out the details of a new service recently unveiled by Library Journals – Self-E, a database of self-published books chosen by Library Journal, which will be free for authors.
Self-E is based on Library Journal's BiblioBoard platform and the first of the fiction modules will be online by the end of the year.
It is a discovery platform designed to expose ebooks to more readers through the public library, locally or nationwide.
Authors whose ebooks are selected by Library Journal for inclusion in the Self-e modules can use a digital badge promoting their inclusion to potential readers. Ebooks that are not selected will still be accessible to local library patrons via state-specific modules.
The whole scheme is free and there is no cost to take part and distribution via the Self-e platform is royalty-free.
The scheme doesn't restrict authors or publishers from promoting and selling their ebooks to any market, including the public library market through other vendors, so, for example, you'd be free to enter the Self-e scheme as well as have your book available to libraries through Smashwords' link-up with OverDrive.
If your ebook is not selected for Library Journal's Self-e modules, you can still opt to include it in a statewide module with other local authors.
The Self-e submission process is admirably simple, with ebook files in PDF or ePub format plus metadata to help in the curation and discovery of your ebook.
If the ebooks are in the correct format and pass the technical requirements, they will go through a comprehensive curation process. Submissions are being taken throughout the summer and fall and the first selections will be made later this year. Authors will be notified by email if their ebook has been selected and in which module it will appear.
LJ is setting up a beta program to build a transparent system for authors to see how many people are reading their ebooks and where those people are and will work with the media to spotlight Self-e's most popular ebooks.
At the BEA presentation, Lori Bennett of Nelson Literary Agency, said, "Quality ebook production counts more in libraries than in any other e-content market." She said authors who can't create a quality book themselves should hire someone to do it for them.
Librarian Jessica West, of Rust Library in Virginia, told the audience her library had set up its own imprint, Symington Press, powered by the Espresso Book Machine. The library charges only for printing costs, which are about $5-$25 per copy for a book with a colour cover and black-and-white interior.
You can read more about the BEA presentation at Library Journal
More about Self-e submissions
Barnes & Noble shuts down hardware store in Nook link-up with Samsung
Brave new app from Rosetta Books


text:
The 1932 Centenary Gentlemen football team represented the Centenary College of Louisiana during the 1932 college football season.

Schedule

References

Centenary
Centenary Gentlemen football seasons
College football undefeated seasons
Centenary Gentlemen football

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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text:
The Adventure of the Three Gables
Preview: Issue 1 of 2
I don't think that any of my adventures with Mr. Sherlock Holmes opened quite so abruptly, or so dramatically, as that which I associate with The Three Gables. I had not seen Holmes for some days, and had no idea of the new channel into which his activities had been directed. He was in a chatty mood that morning, however, and had just settled me into the well-worn low arm-chair on one side of the fire, while he had curled down with his pipe in his mouth upon the opposite chair, when our visitor arrived. If I had said that a mad bull had arrived, it would give a clearer impression of what occurred.
The door had flown open and a huge negro had burst into the room. He would have been a comic figure if he had not been terrific, for he was dressed in a very loud grey check suit with a flowing salmon-coloured tie. His broad face and flattened nose were thrust forward, as his sullen dark eyes, with a smouldering gleam of malice in them, turned from one of us to the other.
"Which of you genelmen is Masser Holmes?" he asked.
Holmes raised his pipe with a languid smile.
"Oh! it's you, is it?" said our visitor, coming with an unpleasant, stealthy step round the angle of the table. "See here, Masser Holmes, you keep your hands out of other folks' business. Leave folks to manage their own affairs. Got that, Masser Holmes?"
"Keep on talking," said Holmes. "It's fine."
"Oh! it's fine, is it?" growled the savage. "It won't be so damn fine if I have to trim you up a bit. I've handled your kind before now, and they didn't look fine when I was through with them. Look at that, Masser Holmes!"
He swung a huge knotted lump of a fist under my friend's nose. Holmes examined it closely with an air of great interest. "Were you born so?" he asked. "Or did it come by degrees?"
It may have been the icy coolness of my friend, or it may have been the slight clatter which I made as I picked up the poker. In any case, our visitor's manner became less flamboyant.
"Well, I've given you fair warnin'," said he. "I've a friend that's interested out Harrow way—you know what I'm meaning—and he don't intend to have no buttin' in by you. Got that? You ain't the law, and I ain't the law either, and if you come in I'll be on hand also. Don't you forget it."
"I've wanted to meet you for some time," said Holmes. "I won't ask you to sit down, for I don't like the smell of you, but aren't you Steve Dixie, the bruiser?
"That's my name, Masser Holmes, and you'll get put through it for sure if you give me any lip."
"It is certainly the last thing you need," said Holmes, staring at our visitor's hideous mouth. "But it was the killing of young Perkins outside the Holborn Bar—— What! you're not going?"
The negro had sprung back, and his face was leaden. "I won't listen to no such talk," said he. "What have I to do with this 'ere Perkins, Masser Holmes? I was trainin' at the Bull Ring in Birmingham when this boy done gone get into trouble."
"Yes, you'll tell the magistrate about it, Steve," said Holmes. "I've been watching you and Barney Stockdale——"
"So help me the Lord! Masser Holmes——"
"That's enough. Get out of it. I'll pick you up when I want you."
"Good mornin', Masser Holmes. I hope there ain't no hard feelin's about this 'ere visit?"
"There will be unless you tell me who sent you."
"Why, there ain't no secret about that, Masser Holmes. It was that same genelman that you have just done gone mention."
"And who set him on to it?"
"S'elp me. I don't know, Masser Holmes. He just say, 'Steve, you go see Mr. Holmes, and tell him his life ain't safe if he go down Harrow way.' That's the whole truth."
Without waiting for any further questioning, our visitor bolted out of the room almost as precipitately as he had entered. Holmes knocked out the ashes of his pipe with a quiet chuckle.
"I am glad you were not forced to break his woolly head, Watson. I observed your manoeuvres with the poker. But he is really rather a harmless fellow, a great muscular, foolish, blustering baby, and easily cowed, as you have seen. He is one of the Spencer John gang and has taken part in some dirty work of late which I may clear up when I have time. His immediate principal, Barney, is a more astute person. They specialize in assaults, intimidation, and the like. What I want to know is, who is at the back of them on this particular occasion?"
"But why do they want to intimidate you?"
"It is this Harrow Weald case. It decides me to look into the matter, for if it is worth anyone's while to take so much trouble, there must be something in it."
"But what is it?"
"I was going to tell you when we had this comic interlude. Here is Mrs. Maberley's note. If you care to come with me we will wire her and go out at once."
DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES, (I read)—
I have had a succession of strange incidents occur to me in connection with this house, and I should much value your advice. You would find me at home any time to-morrow. The house is within a short walk of the Weald Station. I believe that my late husband, Mortimer Maberley, was one of your early clients.
Yours faithfully, MARY MABERLEY.
The address was "The Three Gables, Harrow Weald."
"So that's that!" said Holmes. "And now, if you can spare the time, Watson, we will get upon our way."
A short railway journey, and a shorter drive, brought us to the house, a brick and timber villa, standing in its own acre of undeveloped grassland. Three small projections above the upper windows made a feeble attempt to justify its name. Behind was a grove of melancholy, half-grown pines, and the whole aspect of the place was poor and depressing. None the less, we found the house to be well furnished, and the lady who received us was a most engaging elderly person, who bore every mark of refinement and culture.
"I remember your husband well, madam," said Holmes, "though it is some years since he used my services in some trifling matter."
"Probably you would be more familiar with the name of my son Douglas."
Holmes looked at her with great interest.
"Dear me! Are you the mother of Douglas Maberley? I knew him slightly. But, of course, all London knew him. What a magnificent creature he was! Where is he now?"
"Dead, Mr. Holmes, dead! He was Attaché at Rome, and he died there of pneumonia last month."
"I am sorry. One could not connect death with such a man. I have never known anyone so vitally alive. He lived intensely—every fibre of him!"
"Too intensely, Mr. Holmes. That was the ruin of him. You remember him as he was—debonair and splendid. You did not see the moody, morose, brooding creature into which he developed. His heart was broken. In a single month I seemed to see my gallant boy turn into a worn-out cynical man."
"A love affair—a woman?"
"Or a fiend. Well, it was not to talk of my poor lad that I asked you to come, Mr. Holmes."
"Dr. Watson and I are at your service."
"There have been some very strange happenings. I have been in this house more than a year now, and as I wished to lead a retired life I have seen little of my neighbours. Three days ago I had a call from a man who said that he was a house agent. He said that this house would exactly suit a client of his and that if I would part with it money would be no object. It seemed to me very strange, as there are several empty houses on the market which appear to be equally eligible, but naturally I was interested in what he said. I therefore named a price which was five hundred pounds more than I gave. He at once closed with the offer, but added that his client desired to buy the furniture as well and would I put a price upon it. Some of this furniture is from my old home, and it is, as you see, very good, so that I named a good round sum. To this also he at once agreed. I had always wanted to travel, and the bargain was so good a one that it really seemed that I should be my own mistress for the rest of my life.
"Yesterday the man arrived with the agreement all drawn out. Luckily I showed it to Mr. Sutro, my lawyer, who lives in Harrow. He said to me, 'This is a very strange document. Are you aware that if you sign it you could not legally take anything out of the house—not even your own private possessions?' When the man came again in the evening I pointed this out, and I said that I meant only to sell the furniture.
"'No, no; everything,' said he.
"'But my clothes? My jewels?'
"'Well, well, some concession might be made for your personal effects. But nothing shall go out of the house unchecked. My client is a very liberal man, but he has his fads and his own way of doing things. It is everything or nothing with him.'
"'Then it must be nothing,' said I. And there the matter was left, but the whole thing seemed to me to be so unusual that I thought——"
Here we had a very extraordinary interruption.
Holmes raised his hand for silence. Then he strode across the room, flung open the door, and dragged in a great gaunt woman whom he had seized by the shoulder. She entered with ungainly struggles, like some huge awkward chicken, torn squawking out of its coop.
"Leave me alone! What are you a-doin' of?" she screeched.
"Why, Susan, what is this?"
"Well, ma'am, I was comin' in to ask if the visitors was stayin' for lunch when this man jumped out at me."
"I have been listening to her for the last five minutes, but did not wish to interrupt your most interesting narrative. Just a little wheezy, Susan, are you not? You breathe too heavily for that kind of work."
Susan turned a sulky but amazed face upon her captor. "Who be you, anyhow, and what right have you a-pullin' me about like this?"
"It was merely that I wished to ask a question in your presence. Did you, Mrs. Maberley, mention to anyone that you were going to write to me and consult me?"
"No, Mr. Holmes, I did not."
"Who posted your letter?"
"Susan did."
"Exactly. Now, Susan, to whom was it that you wrote or sent a message to say that your mistress was asking advice from me?"
"It's a lie. I sent no message."
"Now, Susan, wheezy people may not live long, you know. It's a wicked thing to tell fibs. Whom did you tell?"
"Susan!" cried her mistress, "I believe you are a bad, treacherous woman. I remember now that I saw you speaking to someone over the hedge."
"That was my own business," said the woman sullenly.
"Suppose I tell you that it was Barney Stockdale to whom you spoke?" said Holmes.
"Well, if you know, what do you want to ask for?"
"I was not sure, but I know now. Well now, Susan, it will be worth ten pounds to you if you will tell me who is at the back of Barney."
"Someone that could lay down a thousand pounds for every ten you have in the world."
"So, a rich man? No; you smiled—a rich woman. Now we have got so far, you may as well give the name and earn the tenner."
"I'll see you in hell first."
"Oh, Susan! Language!"
"I am clearing out of here. I've had enough of you all. I'll send for my box to-morrow." She flounced for the door.
"Good-bye, Susan. Paregoric is the stuff.... Now," he continued, turning suddenly from lively to severe when the door had closed behind the flushed and angry woman, "this gang means business. Look how close they play the game. Your letter to me had the 10 p.m. postmark. And yet Susan passes the word to Barney. Barney has time to go to his employer and get instructions; he or she—I incline to the latter from Susan's grin when she thought I had blundered—forms a plan. Black Steve is called in, and I am warned off by eleven o'clock next morning. That's quick work, you know."
"But what do they want?"
"Yes, that's the question. Who had the house before you?"
"A retired sea captain, called Ferguson."
"Anything remarkable about him?"
"Not that ever I heard of."
"I was wondering whether he could have buried something. Of course, when people bury treasure nowadays they do it in the Post Office bank. But there are always some lunatics about. It would be a dull world without them. At first I thought of some buried valuable. But why, in that case, should they want your furniture? You don't happen to have a Raphael or a first folio Shakespeare without knowing it?"
"No, I don't think I have anything rarer than a Crown Derby tea-set."
"That would hardly justify all this mystery. Besides, why should they not openly state what they want? If they covet your tea-set, they can surely offer a price for it without buying you out, lock, stock, and barrel. No, as I read it, there is something which you do not know that you have, and which you would not give up if you did know."
"That is how I read it," said I.
"Dr. Watson agrees, so that settles it."
"Well, Mr. Holmes, what can it be?"
"Let us see whether by this purely mental analysis we can get it to a finer point. You have been in this house a year."
"Nearly two."
"All the better. During this long period no one wants anything from you. Now suddenly within three or four days you have urgent demands. What would you gather from that?"
"It can only mean," said I, "that the object, whatever it may be, has only just come into the house."
"Settled once again," said Holmes. "Now, Mrs. Maberley, has any object just arrived?"
"No; I have bought nothing new this year."
"Indeed! That is very remarkable. Well, I think we had best let matters develop a little further until we have clearer data. Is that lawyer of yours a capable man?"
"Mr. Sutro is most capable."
"Have you another maid, or was the fair Susan, who has just banged your front door, alone?"
"I have a young girl."
"Try and get Sutro to spend a night or two in the house. You might possibly want protection."
"Against whom?"
"Who knows? The matter is certainly obscure. If I can't find what they are after, I must approach the matter from the other end, and try to get at the principal. Did this house-agent man give any address?"
"Simply his card and occupation. Haines-Johnson, Auctioneer and Valuer."
"I don't think we shall find him in the Directory. Honest business men don't conceal their place of business. Well, you will let me know any fresh development. I have taken up your case, and you may rely upon it that I shall see it through."
As we passed through the hall Holmes's eyes, which missed nothing, lighted upon several trunks and cases which were piled in the corner. The labels shone out upon them.
"'Milano.' 'Lucerne.' These are from Italy."
"They are poor Douglas's things."
"You have not unpacked them? How long have you had them?"
"They arrived last week."
"But you said—why, surely this might be the missing link. How do we know that there is not something of value there?"
"There could not possibly be, Mr. Holmes. Poor Douglas had only his pay and a small annuity. What could he have of value?"
Holmes was lost in thought.
"Delay no longer, Mrs. Maberley," he said at last. "Have these things taken upstairs to your bedroom. Examine them as soon as possible and see what they contain. I will come to-morrow and hear your report."
It was quite evident that The Three Gables was under very close surveillance, for as we came round the high hedge at the end of the lane there was the negro prize-fighter standing in the shadow. We came on him quite suddenly, and a grim and menacing figure he looked in that lonely place. Holmes clapped his hand to his pocket.
"Lookin' for your gun, Masser Holmes?"
"No; for my scent-bottle, Steve."
"You are funny, Masser Holmes, ain't you?"
"It won't be funny for you, Steve, if I get after you. I gave you fair warning this morning."
"Well, Masser Holmes, I done gone think over what you said, and I don't want no more talk about that affair of Masser Perkins. S'pose I can help you, Masser Holmes, I will."
"Well, then, tell me who is behind you on this job?"
"So help me the Lord! Masser Holmes, I told you the truth before. I don't know. My boss Barney gives me orders and that's all."
"Well, just bear in mind, Steve, that the lady in that house, and everything under that roof, is under my protection. Don't you forget it."
"All right, Masser Holmes. I'll remember.'
"I've got him thoroughly frightened for his own skin, Watson," Holmes remarked as we walked on. "I think he would double-cross his employer if he knew who he was. It was lucky I had some knowledge of the Spencer John crowd, and that Steve was one of them. Now, Watson, this is a case for Langdale Pike, and I am going to see him now. When I get back I may be clearer in the matter."
I saw no more of Holmes during the day, but I could well imagine how he spent it, for Langdale Pike was his human book of reference upon all matters of social scandal. This strange, languid creature spent his waking hours in the bow window of a St. James's Street club, and was the receiving-station, as well as the transmitter, for all the gossip of the Metropolis. He made, it was said, a four-figure income by the paragraphs which he contributed every week to the garbage papers which cater for an inquisitive public. If ever, far down in the turbid depths of London life, there was some strange swirl or eddy, it was marked with automatic exactness by this human dial upon the surface. Holmes discreetly helped Langdale to knowledge, and on occasion was helped in turn.
When I met my friend in his room early next morning, I was conscious from his bearing that all was well, but none the less a most unpleasant surprise was awaiting us. It took the shape of the following telegram:
"Please come out at once. Client's house burgled in the night. Police in possession.
"SUTRO."
Read The Adventure of the Three Gables today


text:
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT, Theater
TRULY TAILORED: Holiday ballet celebrates the season at the Wilson Center
Front, left to right: City Ballet Orchestra conductor Alex E. Hill, City Ballet artistic director Andrea C. Hill, and guest artists Adam Chavis and Jan Burkhard. Photo by Merlee Hill Photography
"I know Christmas is coming soon when I find 'Nutcracker' sheet music in my mailbox," muses Beverly Andrews, concertmaster of the City Ballet Orchestra. "Opening the familiar score is like greeting a favorite old friend again."
Andrews and City Ballet Orchestra members' homes have been filled with sounds of Sugar Plum Fairies for months. They've been preparing the return of "A Carolina Nutcracker" to the Wilson Center December 7-8.
A take on Tchaikovsky's traditional holiday ballet, "A Carolina Nutcracker" is set in 1865 Wilmington at the Bellamy Mansion. It marries classic elements of the original, like Drosselmeyer, the Mouse King and the Sugar-Plum Fairy, with Cape Fear history. Clara is recast as real historical figure Ellen Bellamy at age 13, alongside other Wilmington-based characters from the period. Featuring Carolina Ballet principal dancer Jan Burkhard (Sugar Plum Fairy) and Adam Chavis (Drosselmeyer), will dance to the score, performed by a 50-piece orchestra and treble chorus.
"[The instrumentalists] play with emotion and grace particular to the flavor of each dance," Andrews says. "When it's a battle scene, the pit erupts with fiery motion, wild bow arms and flashing fast fingers. When it's a delicate snowflake dance, the orchestra pit sways and lilts like gently falling snow. We keep the story in our heads as we play, and we smile a lot, just knowing we are part of a grand Christmas tradition."
City Ballet's artistic director Andrea Hill and her husband, music director Alex Hill, have been producing "The Nutcracker" since 1996. Their first runs were with Ballet Theatre of Central Pennsylvania until 2010, and here in Wilmington with City Ballet since 2011.
"Ours was the very first 'Nutcracker' at the new Wilson Center in early December 2015," Alex notes. "In fact, we had been planning this production for more than a year in advance with Wilson Center Executive Director Shane Fernando, while the performing arts center was still under construction."
Since its debut production, "A Carolina Nutcracker" has featured a live professional orchestra, treble chorus and even a horse-drawn surrey, provided by Springbrook Farms/Wilmington Carriage Tours. Building upon E.T.A. Hoffmann's 1816 short story and the 1892 ballet version in St. Petersburg by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov, the Hills have truly tailored this "Nutcracker" to Wilmington.
"We've painstakingly researched people, events, families and customs of that time, and merged them all into the traditional 'Nutcracker' story," Andrea adds. "It is a type of historical fiction."
encore spoke to the Hills and City Ballet's Jan Burkhard to learn more.
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encore (e): Nothing says holidays like "The Nutcracker." How connected is "The Nutcracker" to your own sense of season?
Andrea Hill: As a classical ballet/classical music family, it is a big part of our sense of season! It's funny that, after this many years, we never really tire of the music or the story. Our six children have grown up with it, and all of them have performed in it in some capacity. It's a great start to our holiday season, and we're thankful to share it as a family, among many other holiday traditions we love.
Jan Burkhard (JB): "The Nutcracker" has always coincided with my feeling the holiday spirit. It has almost always been all that I've known as the "kickoff" or "countdown" to Christmas. Every time I hear the start of Tchaikovsky's score, I'm instantly brought back to my childhood and it's always followed by a warm smile. While "Nutcracker" time is almost always viewed as a tough time for professional ballet dancers, largely due to the amount of shows we typically perform, it is still looked at as a time of nostalgia, comfort, and joy for all. "Nutcracker" truly is, and always will be, special.
e: How many times have you seen or played a role with this particular show?
Alex: Neither Andrea nor I actually "see" the show in the traditional sense. She is working and watching from backstage, helping dancers with entrances, costume changes, scene changes, etc., and I am conducting the orchestra in the pit and only see a little bit of it from below. Ballet Mistress Diane Orio-Gerberg is always in the house watching, taking notes, and then bringing corrections and suggestions back to the dancers.
JB: This year will be my third year performing "A Carolina Nutcracker." I've been performing "The Nutcracker" since I was a child. The first one I did was with my first dance school in my hometown Piscataway, NJ. After that I performed as a child with The New York City Ballet's "Nutcracker" at Lincoln Center. The latest "Nutcracker" I've been doing is Robert Weiss' with Carolina Ballet in Raleigh, NC for the past 15 seasons. I've seen and been a part of it more times than I can count!
e: Do the different local elements have an impact on your respective jobs?
Andrea: All our productions of "The Nutcracker," for over 20 years, have included a spoken prologue—a fable called "The Hard Nut," part of Hoffmann's original tale—which sets up most of the character relationships and really helps the audience understand the plot. In this production, that fable is delightfully told in recorded narration by Nan Graham, a beloved specialist in all things Southern and a familiar voice to listeners of WHQR. The prologue, and the fable, set the tone and place in an innovative way, like a voice from Wilmington's own past.
JB: It's always fun to be a part of different "Nutcracker" versions—the holiday spirit it brings you never gets old. When a version can be so specifically tailored to its community and audience, like "A Carolina Nutcracker," the performance is even more impactful for its attendees. I find the show to be more special, touching and personal.
e: What are your favorite moments/scenes from the production and why?
Alex: There are so many wonderful scenes, but we've put a lot of thought into the conclusion of Act I—the dramatic heart of the story. The furious "Battle of the Mice" (a very difficult piece for the orchestra) is followed by a beautiful, lyrical slow movement. In most "Nutcracker" productions, this scene involves a "snow queen" character with a nameless "cavalier," neither of whom are relevant to the story. We've staged it as a "pas de trois" for Drosselmeyer, Nutcracker and Ellen, where Hoffmann's central dramatic conflict is heroically resolved. The emotional release of this scene leads into the magical "Waltz of the Snowflakes," with an ethereal wordless treble chorus and a stage full of swirling dancers in white. It is truly a scene to remember.
JB: I find the whole opening of "A Carolina Nutcracker" to be very unique and special. The way the original storytelling of the Bellamy family occurs with the dancers on stage sets up the whole show so perfectly and really engages the audience into the personal nature of this version of a "Nutcracker." It's a perfect mix of taking a classic story and making it Wilmington's own.
A Carolina Nutcracker
Featuring the City Ballet Orchestra
Dec. 7 at 7 p.m., Dec.8 at 3 p.m.
Wilson Center • 703 N. Third St.
Shannon Rae Gentry December 3, 2019 A Carolina Nutcracker, City Ballet Orchestra, encore magazine, School of Carolina Ballet, The Nutcracker, Wilmington NC, Wilson Center
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St. Martin's Church is a Roman Catholic church at Hoofdstraat 29 in Hillegom. The church was built in 1870/1871 after the large Clandestine church on the Bakummerlaan had become too small for the many parishioners. Because of the rise of the flower bulb culture, the population of Hillegom grew so hard that in 1915 a second parish was founded and the Sint Jozefkerk was built. Saint Martin's Church quickly became too small and so a new church was built between 1923 and 1926. Due to lack of money, it was decided not to build a new tower, but to integrate the old tower into the new church. In 1990, both parishes were merged because of the declining church visit. The Sint Jozefkerk was disposed of but the church building is still on the Monseigneur van Leeuwenlaan. The Sint Martinuskerk was thoroughly restored and renovated in 2008/2009.


Dulux Metallic Effects creates the look of glimmering metal and Pearl Effect creates the glamorous lustre of natural pearl.
Dulux Metallic Effect or Pearl Effect paint.
Dulux Metallic Effect – interior feature walls, doors, trim areas and furniture.
Dulux Pearl Effect – interior feature walls, furniture or accessories.


On behalf of Robert A. Solomon, P.C. on Monday, July 30, 2018.
As a New Jersey mom-to-be, your developing baby likely is always foremost in your mind. You can hardly wait until the day (s)he enters the world and you see him or her for the first time. Although your pregnancy has progressed normally and you do everything you possibly can to make sure both you and your growing baby stay healthy, you nevertheless probably occasionally worry that (s)he could suffer a birth injury or have a birth defect.
On behalf of Robert A. Solomon, P.C. posted in Wrongful Death on Friday, July 27, 2018.
Roadways can be a dangerous place. Motor vehicles of various sizes are traveling at high rates of speed. Mix in some drivers that are not attentive because they are on their phone, are speeding, fatigued or even under the influence of alcohol or drugs. This can make roadways extremely dangerous and difficult to evade an accident if a negligent driver were to come into the path of another vehicle.
On behalf of Robert A. Solomon, P.C. posted in Birth Injury on Thursday, July 19, 2018.
New parent or not, bringing a child into New Jersey is an exciting and scary time. When a mother is in labor, she is likely concerned about the process, as complications could happen. Even when a pregnancy was healthy and went well, issues could present themselves during the delivery of the baby. If a medical provider does not act appropriately when these issues come about, the newborn could suffer a birth injury.
On behalf of Robert A. Solomon, P.C. posted in Medical Malpractice on Friday, July 13, 2018.
There is the presumption that a New Jersian's education, training and professional experience makes them more reliable in a certain profession. Take the medical profession for example. These professionals obtain years of education and training, preparing them for anything their medical career could throw at them. Unfortunately, education and training does not cover all bases, and some medical professionals are unprepared. This could lead to medical errors, harming a patient.
On behalf of Robert A. Solomon, P.C. posted in Medical Malpractice on Friday, July 6, 2018.
For the most part, individuals in New Jersey and elsewhere do not look forward to seeing the doctor. Whether it is a routine checkup, because one has fallen ill or were seriously injured, going to a clinic or hospital means trusting in those medical professionals. While these individuals have years of training and experience, ensuring patients are properly cared for, inadequate care could occur when steps are missed or details are overlooked. Medical malpractice could come in the form of a minor medical mistake or a major medical error. No matter the case, it is vital to understand what happened and how best to address the matter.


text:
<?php

namespace Telegramapp\Telegram\Laravel\Controllers;

use App\Data\Models\Pin;
use App\Data\Models\Map;
use App\Data\Models\Task;
use App\Data\Models\User;
use Telegramapp\Telegram\Laravel\ViewModels\DashboardViewModel;
use Telegramapp\Telegram\Laravel\ViewModels\UserEditViewModel;
use Illuminate\Validation\Rule;
use Sentinel;
use Validator;
use Illuminate\Http\Request;
use App\Data\Models\Groups;
use DB;

class TeacherController extends Controller
{

    public function dashboard(User $user)
    {
        // $groups = User::whereHas('groups', function ($query) {
        //     $query->where('slug', '=', 'teacher');
        // })->get();

   		return $this->renderView('vendor.admins.dashboard', function($vm) use($user){

            /**
             * @var $vm DashboardViewModel
             */
            $vm->User = $user;

        }, 'Dashboard');
    }

    public function getMaps(Map $map) {

        $map = Map::all();
        $pin = Pin::all();

    	return $this->renderView('vendor.teachers.maps', function($vm)use($map, $pin){

            /**
             * @var $vm DashboardViewModel
             */
            $vm->Map = $map;
            $vm->Pin = $pin;

        });

    }
    //     public function getPins(Pin $pin) {

    //     $pin = Pin::all();

    //     return $this->renderView('teachers.maps', function($vm)use($pin){

    //         /**
    //          * @var $vm DashboardViewModel
    //          */
    //         $vm->Pin = $pin;

    //     });

    // }
    public function addUsersToGroup(User $user, Groups $groups)
    {
        $user = User::all();
        $groups = Groups::all();

        return $this->renderView('vendor.teachers.addtogroup', function($vm)use($user, $groups){

            /**
             * @var $vm UserEditViewModel
             */
            $vm->User = $user;
            $vm->Group = $groups;

        });
    }
    public function postAddUsersToGroup(Request $request)
    {

        $groupNr = $request->get('group_nr');
        $userId = $request->get('user_id');
        // dd($userId);
        foreach($userId as $user){
        $group = DB::table('group_users')->insert(array('group_nr' => $groupNr, 'user_id' => $user));
        };

        return back();
    }

    public function getGroups(User $user, Groups $groups)
    {

        $user = User::all();
        $groups = Groups::all();

    	return $this->renderView('vendor.teachers.groups', function($vm)use($user, $groups){

            /**
             * @var $vm UserEditViewModel
             */
            $vm->User = $user;
            $vm->Group = $groups;

        });

    }

    public function addGroup(Request $request, Groups $groups)
    {

        $validator = Validator::make($request->all(), [
            'Name' => 'required',

            ]);

        if ($validator->fails()) {

            return redirect()
            ->back()
            ->withErrors($validator)
            ->withInput();
        }

        $id = Groups::create($request->all());

       	$groups = DB::table('groups')->get()->pluck(['id'])->last();

       	$groupNr = 'g' . $groups;

    	$group = DB::table('groups')->where('id', '=', $groups)->update(array('group_nr' => $groupNr));

        return back();

    }

    public function editGroup(Groups $groups)
    {
        return $this->renderView('vendor.teachers.editgroup', function($vm)use($groups){

            /**
             * @var $vm UserEditViewModel
             */
            $vm->Group = $groups;

        });
    }

    public function updateGroup(Request $request, Groups $groups)
    {
                $validator = Validator::make($request->all(), [
            'Name' => 'required',
            'GroupSlug' => [
                'required',
                // Rule::unique('groups')->ignore($groups->slug, 'group_slug'),
            ],

        ]);

        if ($validator->fails()) {
            return back()
                        ->withErrors($validator)
                        ->withInput();
        }

        $groups->update($request->all());

        return back();
    }

    public function getTasks(Task $task) {

    	return $this->renderView('vendor.teachers.tasks', function($vm)use($task){

            /**
             * @var $vm UserEditViewModel
             */
            $vm->User = $task;
        });
    }

    public function getWords(User $user) {

        $user = User::all();
        $groups = Groups::all();

        return $this->renderView('vendor.teachers.words', function($vm)use($user, $groups){

            /**
             * @var $vm UserEditViewModel
             */
            $vm->Users = $user;
            $vm->Groups = $groups;

        }, 'Words');
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
package com.github.avarabyeu.guicyspark.controller;

import com.google.common.base.Preconditions;
import com.google.gson.Gson;
import spark.ResponseTransformer;

import javax.inject.Inject;
import java.lang.reflect.Type;

/**
 * Sparks ResponseTransformer with deserialization support
 * It's pretty strange that there is no any support for RequestTransformer (or smth else)
 * Thus, Transformer will be used for both serialization and deserialization
 *
 * @author Andrei Varabyeu
 */
class Transformer implements ResponseTransformer {

    private final Gson gson;

    @Inject
    Transformer(Gson gson) {
        this.gson = Preconditions.checkNotNull(gson);
    }

    @Override
    public String render(Object model) throws Exception {
        return null == model ? null : gson.toJson(model);
    }

    public <T> T unrender(String rendered, Class<T> type) {
        return gson.fromJson(rendered, type);
    }

    public <T> T unrender(String rendered, Type type) {
        return gson.fromJson(rendered, type);
    }
}


This week, a massive list of games and apps are on sale for just $1 through Google Play, a few of which I think some of you should already own. For starters, you can grab Leo's Fortune for $0.99, which is an awesome platformer, plus grab The Room Two for $0.59. If you like escape games, you can't beat The Room Two in terms of quality for half of a dollar.
On top of those titles, you can grab most of the Metal Slug series for $1 each, as well as Table Tennis Touch for $1.99. If arcade fighting is more your style, you might enjoy The King of Fighters series, which is also on sale for a lowered price of just $0.99.


text:
Chris Hobgood, Disciples leader and anti-racism advocate, dies at age 83
Hobgood was the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) general minister and president from 2003 to 2005, and founded the Disciples Center for Public Witness.
Nasrallah Boutros Sfeir, a cardinal and former head of the Maronite Church, dies at age 98
Sfeir became patriarch amid Lebanon's civil war. He became known as a voice against injustice.
Cecilio Perez Cruz, Salvadoran priest, shot to death
Several colleagues believe he was murdered for being outspoken about deforestation near his parish.
ELCA pastor deported to Colombia
Betty Rendón, who is also a doctoral student at Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, was arrested when ICE raided her home.
Jean Vanier, author who shaped theology of disability, dies at age 90
Through the L'Arche network of communities and his books, he lifted up the brokenness of people with and without developmental disabilities—and their potential for transformation.
The doors that Rachel Held Evans wedged open
She pointed toward a God who loves us in ways we can't yet comprehend.
by Elizabeth Eisenstadt Evans
Christian educator James Tebbe receives high-level civilian honor in Pakistan
Analogous to the US Presidential Medal of Freedom, the award honors Tebbe's leadership at Forman Christian College in Lahore.
Jean Vanier and the gift of L'Arche
Vanier found fullness of life in those snatched from despair and placed in homes based on mutuality, respect, and care.
by Melissa Florer-Bixler
Rachel Held Evans, Christian writer and speaker, dies at age 37
Evans's books A Year of Biblical Womanhood, Searching for Sunday, and Inspired traced the evolution of her faith.
by Emily McFarlan Miller and Christian Century staff
J. Peter Sartain to retire as archbishop of Seattle and Paul Etienne to step into role
Sartain, who is in poor health, had requested a coadjutor archbishop serving alongside him in a transition period. Pope Francis chose Etienne.
Timothy Dalrymple to lead Christianity Today as Harold B. Smith retires
"I couldn't be more pleased," Smith said about turning over the role of president and CEO of the media ministry to Dalrymple.
Wilton Gregory to lead Catholic archdiocese of Washington, D.C.
Gregory helped navigate the church's response to the 2002 sexual abuse scandals—including new policies and norms to address it.
Xavier Arbex, priest in Peru, advocates for victims of gold mining
Peru is among the world's top sources of precious metals. Mining is poisoning people and turning forests into wasteland.
by Paula Dupraz-Dobias
Two leaders of faith-based immigrant rights group charge ICE with violating their rights
Kaji Douša and Ravi Ragbir of the New Sanctuary Coalition point to recent reports as evidence that they are being targeted for being outspoken advocates for immigrants.
Dean Peerman, a Century editor for 60 years, dies at age 87
In March 1965, he and fellow editor Martin E. Marty participated in the second civil rights march in Selma, Alabama.
by David Heim


text:
Michael J. Dorff
As a teacher and scholar, Michael Dorff's love of mathematics is tangible. His extensive professional influence throughout the world has popularized the "art" of mathematics while also encouraging substantial undergraduate research.
Growing up in an active Catholic home, Michael decided as a teenager to investigate other churches. While playing the cello in a youth orchestra he was introduced to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ("the Mormons") through a fellow orchestra member. He read the Book of Mormon in just ten days and after further investigation joined the Church. Though Michael's mother and brother were skeptical at first, they were intrigued by Michael's change of heart, which sparked their desires to explore this newly found faith—leading to their conversions as well.
After receiving a bachelor's degree in mathematics education from Brigham Young University, Michael Dorff taught high school math in California and in Germany. He then returned to school and earned a master's degree from the University of New Hampshire and, in 1997, a PhD from the University of Kentucky. From there, he taught at the University of Missouri–Rolla before coming full circle and joining the faculty at Brigham Young University in 2000. He now serves as chair of the BYU Mathematics Department.
He is the founder and director of the funding organization CURM, the Center for Undergraduate Research in Mathematics, and he runs the Careers in Math Speaker Series on BYU campus. He is also well known in the field for his published research on harmonic mappings. He has been a Fulbright scholar in Poland, a recipient of the Deborah and Franklin Haimo Award for Distinguished College or University Teaching of Mathematics, a fellow of the American Mathematical Society, and is currently the president-elect of the Mathematical Association of America, which includes over 25,000 members. A popular math speaker and lecturer, he travels the world over and often sponsors international post-doctoral researchers here at BYU.
In the classroom he simply goes by "Coach Dorff," a title he adopted to reflect his fervent desire to inspire students and help them achieve their goals. Often he teaches large sections of introductory calculus classes so he can infuse starting students with his love of math.
Michael Dorff and his wife, Sarah, have five daughters. He loves reading, traveling, music, and Christmas. In his BYU devotional, he spoke about the powerful difference that comes into our lives when we choose to see things, and especially to see people, in a different and positive light.
Professor Dorff was also a part of BYU Magazine's Thing of Beauty video series. Watch the series here.
Seeing Things Differently
MP3	PDF


text:
Today's NewsTransportation Safety
Can technology eliminate highway crashes?
Will rapidly developing technology-based safety enhancements for vehicles be able to counter human error – which causes more than 30,000 traffic fatalities a year on U.S. roads?
That's the subject that will be explored by an expert panel of government officials, car manufacturers, researchers, automobile media groups, industry associations, and safety advocates at an event convened by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the National Safety Council (NSC).
Warnings and blind spots
The expert panel, titled Reaching Zero Crashes: A Dialogue on the Role of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems, will discuss how driver assistance systems such as forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, blind spot detection, and other technology-based safety enhancements can prevent or mitigate vehicle crashes and save lives. The group will also explore how to educate and train the public on the use of such technologies and how human factors influence vehicle design.
The NTSB issued its first safety recommendation on the use of technology to mitigate crashes in 1995 and has made numerous vehicle technology recommendations during the past two decades. "Promote Availability of Collision Avoidance Technologies in Highway Vehicles" is on NTSB's Most Wanted List of transportation safety improvements. The National Safety Council and the University of Iowa have launched the MyCarDoesWhat campaign to educate drivers about the technologies in their vehicles and how to safely interface with them.
NTSB Board Member Earl Weener and National Safety Council President and CEO Deborah Hersman will lead the panel. "It is past time for mass use of these life-saving technologies in order to reach zero crashes," said Weener.
Experts from the following organizations plan to participate in the panel:
• The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
• The Highway Data Loss Institute
• AAA National
• The University of Iowa
• The University of Michigan, Transportation Research Institute
• AARP and The Hartford Center for Mature Market Excellence
• Global Automakers
• Property Casualty Insurers Association of America
• The National Automobile Dealers Association
• Volvo
• State Farm
• The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• Kelley Blue Book
• US News and World Report
• Consumer Reports
• American Driver and Traffic Safety Education Association
• Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety
The meeting will be held in the NTSB Board Room and Conference Center, 429 L'Enfant Plaza SW, Washington, DC, Oct. 27, 2016, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST. The meeting is open to the public. RSVPs are welcome. For more information, visit www.ntsb.gov/drivertech, and email mailto:media@nsc.org with questions.
KEYWORDS: accident prevention driver assistance systems traffic safety transportation technology


Combining a historic castle with modern apartments, it is no wonder that this hotel is a member of the Leading Hotels of the World. Positioned in the heart of Velden am Wörthersee at the beautiful Lake Wörthersee.
The hotel covers an immense 3600m² Acquapura Spa which futures an indoor pool, outdoor pool, exclusive saunas, a wide selection of beauty treatments and massages and a steam room for all your relaxing needs.
The spacious rooms all have a flat-screen TV, a bedside touch panel and a minibar. Thanks to the floor-to-ceiling windows, you can enjoy panoramic views from your room on the beautiful town and the lake.
At the Bartholomäus restaurant you can enjoy your breakfast and a daily changing 4-course dinner menu. If you dine in another restaurant inside the hotel, you will receive a credit of €40,- per person on food consumption on the invoice of the respective restaurant.