text:
Home > Open Forum
제거하면 노출 안됨 $('div.entry-content p#t_img').css('display', 'none'); });
December 16,2016 Open Forum
Caught Between Two Big Powers? Central Asia Under the Weight of Russian and Chinese Influence
Sebastien Peyrouse, Elliot School of International Affairs, George Washington University
Prev Next	List
In 1991, the Soviet Union's collapse reshaped the East/West problematic as it had emerged after World War II. Inside Soviet space, a number of cultural elements distinguished the five states of Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan) from the rest of the former Russian empire, namely their shared cultural, linguistic, and religious traits with the Middle East. In the beginning of the 1990s, these traits were perceived by many observers to be indicators that Central Asia would "rightfully" return to its allegedly natural space, that of Islam. However, after twenty-five years of independence Central Asia's purported "return" to the Muslim world must be relativized. In the domains of politics, geopolitics, economics, and culture, the continuance of a Russo-Soviet framework of thought, remains rather striking. Moreover, in two decades since independence, Beijing has become one of the Central Asian countries' main partners. It positions itself as the second most influential external actor in the region, surpassing Russia in economic terms.
This article presents the evolution of the Russian and Chinese influence in Central Asian states, and the numerous questions it raises. How can Central Asian governments conduct an independent and balanced foreign policy in light of the weight of their two big neighbors, and the lack of interest and/or geographic distance of other Middle Eastern or Western potential partners? Moreover, have Beijing and Moscow succeeded, so far, in conducting in this region a concerted policy, or do we see a rivalry emerging between the two powers? Lastly, Russia's recent foreign policy (annexation of the Crimea, politics in Ukraine), and the strong influence of China, raise growing concerns among the peoples of Central Asia, especially on the ability of their governments to withdraw from what some see as geopolitical shackles.
Differing Historical Legacies of Russia and China in Central Asia
The presence and influence of Moscow and Beijing have been shaped by two very different legacies in Central Asia. Despite significant strengths in the areas of politics, economy, and culture, Russia's reputation in the '90s was that of a former colonial center; keeping it at distance was the order of the day. By contrast, Central Asia perceived China to be a major asset in its attempt to "de-Russify" itself. But the Chinese had to create relationships with the five states virtually from scratch and to allay Central Asian suspicions about their regional ambitions. In less than two decades, both of these legacies have been reshaped in a rather positive way: Russia has partially succeeded in inverting its Soviet legacy, turning it into an asset of shared proximity, while China has managed to set itself up as a reliable partner of Central Asian governments.
Russia: Advantages and Disadvantages of Post-Soviet Continuities
Russia benefits from a considerable heritage in Central Asia. Despite some reforms, the 25 years of independence have seemingly been insufficient to "undo" the politico-economic system that prevailed for several decades. The political field remains the most obvious element of continuity with the Soviet Union, which did not disappear because of war, foreign occupation, or military defeat but self-imploded. Political elites in Central Asia have long remained the same as those that were in place during communist times. The majority of current ministers and deputies have careers as apparatchiks behind them. Today they are vacating their places, which are being taken up by their children, who themselves have been educated in cadre-training institutions linked to the presidential apparatus similar to the former Party schools.
These broad patterns of continuity do not mean that significant developments have not occurred since independence. New public figures have emerged thanks to the economic liberalization, in particular in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. Yet, the current regimes in the five states have—to very different degrees, which, nonetheless, belong to the same lineage—inherited ideological characteristics from the USSR that have, in turn, been transformed by the new conditions of independence. Despite the few years of "Western-style" democracy in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, and, in a more limited way, in Tajikistan, all five states have adopted an authoritarian structure and endorse Putin's notion of "vertical power."1
These post-Soviet continuities have given Russia the upper hand in its competition with China and with any other country for influence in the region. Although, after the implosion of the Soviet Union, resounding critiques rang out throughout Central Asia about Russia and its "colonialism," these lasted for a brief period only. Since 2000, Russia has once again become a respected power in Central Asia, admired for its economic and geopolitical revival. Moreover, the onset of social difficulties in the independent states quickly attenuated their criticisms of Moscow. Nostalgia for the Brezhnev years have become an increasingly popular leitmotiv, and Russians were, soon, no longer being blamed for all evils.2
On the cultural level, the advantage is also clearly with Russia. Russian remains the most spoken international language in the region, and even has an official status in three states, namely Kyrgyzstan (officially bilingual), and Kazakhstan and Tajikistan (language of inter-ethnic communication). Russian culture remains very present, in particular through the television and cable channels that Moscow broadcasts to Central Asia. As a whole, the Central Asian populations continue to look at the world through the prism of Russia, which they perceive as more familiar than that of any other country in the world (China, Iran, Turkey, or Western Europe and the United States).
China: Developing Good Neighborly Relations and Settling Border Disputes
With the collapse of the Soviet Union, China was quick to become aware of the unique opportunities contained in this new geopolitical situation. However, in 1991, Beijing was, above all, concerned about the impact of Central Asia's independence on the situation in Xinjiang, as well as about the risks of conflict linked to the non-resolution of territorial borders.
Although China immediately recognized the independence of the five states, it considered that it had been a victim of the "unequal treaties" signed in the nineteenth century with European powers. According to Chinese authorities, these treaties excised, among others, some 910,000 km2 from China to the advantage of tsarist and then Soviet Central Asia. Beijing however agreed to reduce its territorial claims to "only" 34,000 km,2 chiefly out of a desire to secure political allies in Central Asia. It signed border demarcation treaties with the three bordering Central Asian countries. This cession of territory was viewed very suspiciously by some in the Central Asian region, in part because they fear that Chinese will seek more.3 Even today, the sentiment that this peaceful solution might only be provisional remains very present in Central Asian public opinion.
Furthermore, the Sino-Kazakh cross-border river management remains unresolved. Both of Kazakhstan's main rivers, the Ili and the Irtysh, have their source in Xinjiang and the Chinese Altay. In the framework of its Xinjiang development program, Beijing has increased its withdrawal of water upstream from both rivers. For the Kazakh authorities, this spells economic and ecological disaster.4 Also, relations between Central Asia and China have been concerned with managing the difficult Uighur question. The Uighur diaspora in Central Asia includes about 300,000 persons, based mainly in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.5 Anxious about the political radicalization of sections of Uighur society and the spread of an autonomist narrative with Islamic connotations, China demanded that the Central Asian states prevent any anti-Chinese movement from emerging on their territories.6
However, despite its initially negative overall image in Central Asia, China has succeeded in improving its reputation with soft-power diplomacy. For more than 15 years, it has succeeded, with Russia, in establishing itself in the region, eclipsing many other actors and partners. The two powers have shared, without apparent serious clashes, their geopolitical influence.
Russia and China: Common Political Objectives
Russia and China have similar geopolitical objectives in Central Asia: both desire stability on their borders, are concerned about the ability of states to withstand destabilization (whether from civil war, popular uprising, or palace revolution), and consider the region the main transit zone for drug-trafficking from Afghanistan. They have, therefore, coordinated their regional surveillance activities through measures designed to control military aid to the five states, to shape their chief security policies, and to give the regimes political support.
This political rapprochement between Russia, China, and Central Asia has been facilitated by the common struggle against the Islamist threat. Both Moscow and Beijing established themselves in the region chiefly by its will to fight against the Islamist movements. A Sino-Central Asian geostrategic rapprochement has also materialized on the Afghan question. For the Central Asian states, with the withdrawal of most NATO troops in 2014, Afghanistan remains an "open wound," which feeds Islamism, drugs, and arms networks, and prevents the development of relations with the south. So long as there is no stability in Kabul, it will be difficult for the Central Asian states to develop economic relations with India or Pakistan (in the form of pipelines, export of electricity, or business relations). China shares Central Asia's concerns and wants to see stability on its short Sino-Afghan border. Beijing has, thus, financed a growing number of projects in Afghanistan, gaining recognition from them as one of their essential strategic partners.
Both Moscow and Beijing reject the notion that the West ought to have any right to oversee Eurasian space. Central Asian governments' growing anti-Western arguments have, therefore, received the support of both. These governments have indeed criticized the West's constant reproaches about democratization, civil society, good governance, and human rights. This triangular cooperation intensified after the "colored revolutions" in Georgia, Ukraine, and Kyrgyzstan in the 2000s and the Arab Springs in the 2010s: Moscow and Beijing have refused to accept that neighboring countries could wind up in the hands of pro-Western political forces. Understanding that they faced the same kind of danger, Central Asian presidents sought the support of forces that would enable them to hold onto power. In this context, they all have fallen in line behind Vladimir Putin and Hu Jintao/Xi Jinping, echoing their accusations of unacceptable Western interference, and arguing that strong regimes were needed to avoid Islamist destabilization.
Russia: the Primary Security and Military Partner
Russia's return to Central Asia is not solely political, but also military and strategic. Since independence, the five states have been politically incapable of developing military cooperation among themselves. They require a lot of help: their armies are badly trained, they lack quality equipment and materials, they are undermined by corruption, and their mediocre living conditions mean that military personnel are small in number and unmotivated.7 Russia has, thus, managed, without much difficulty, to remain their principal military partner. In most Central Asian countries, it has military bases, rents strategic sites, or participates in joint military exercises.8 Moreover, it continues to train the majority of Central Asia's military cadres, and remains the primary partner of the five states with respect to purchases of military equipment.
For Moscow, regaining ground in the military sphere has been a way to counter the Central Asian states' cooperation with NATO, which started in the '90s. Since 2000, the Kremlin has launched a series of multilateral security initiatives with them, especially in the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) framework,9 which holds training or joint military exercises to simulate terrorist attacks or to fight against drug trafficking. The CSTO includes a provision for the preferential sale of Russian military equipment to member states. The Kremlin has aimed to transform the CSTO into a force on a par with NATO, so that it can speak to the latter as an equal, and oblige the Central Asian regimes to go through Moscow before engaging in any common military initiatives with the West.
At the level of security cooperation, China has remained far behind Russia. Its military aid to Central Asia remains very limited. Moreover, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is the only multilateral tool that China has at its disposal to influence the geopolitical positioning and military stances of the Central Asian states. It is the only regional organization to which both China and four of the five Central Asian states belong.10 The SCO has had undeniable success: it has worked to attenuate old historical tensions between the Russian and Chinese spheres of influence, established mechanisms of cooperation enabling the states of the former USSR to become more familiar with their Chinese neighbor, and also to establish a common discourse on the menaces that the region's states judge to be threatening, the foremost being Islamism.
However, on the strictly geopolitical level, the SCO has no clearly defined common objectives. While this organization has been important in defusing potential border conflicts, unlike the CSTO, it has no solidly constituted military structure, does not present itself as a military defense alliance analogous to NATO, and has not tried to form multilateral military or police units. At the strategic level, the SCO's activities are numerous but remain mostly at the declaratory level. The absence of coordination between member states is patent, the willingness to exchange information restrained, the financial means way too few. Moreover, the Central Asian governments are concerned about infiltration from the Chinese secret services and popular reactions that would arise from any involvement of China in the local military sector. Beijing has, thus, had difficulty transforming the SCO into a security-oriented organization like the CSTO. Nevertheless, it seems quite satisfied to leave Moscow in charge of the main security questions, which are difficult and costly, preferring to concentrate on economic development and trade relations.
Russia/China: Economic Competition or Collaboration?
The economic question is central in the debate over Russo-Chinese collaboration/competition in Central Asia. Their economic power differential is a potential source of tension. Like Central Asia, Russia is a producer of primary resources. However, it cannot do without Central Asian reserves: it gets part of its revenue from transit rights and resale of Central Asian production with a significant price markup on the European market. China, for its part, is in need of primary resources and is seeking to diversify imports by expanding overland trade with landlocked Eurasia to mitigate the geopolitical vulnerabilities of relying one-sidedly on sea-borne imports. Both therefore, have motives for collaborating, but also concerns that have created competition.
Russia-Central Asia and China-Central Asia Commercial Flows
Strong economic relations with Central Asia seem to have provided Russia with a single solution for its multiple objectives: first, to maintain political influence over the Central Asian regimes through the control of resources; second, to continue to collect considerable transit revenues from these landlocked countries; third, to slow down the emergence of competing export routes. Russia, therefore, regained an important, though no longer monopolistic, economic position in Central Asia at the beginning of the 2000s.11 Russian-Central Asian trade tripled between 2003 and 2007, shooting from USD 7 billion to USD 21 billion.12 It decreased with the international crisis, falling to USD 14 billion in 2010, but rose again in 2013 to around USD 30 billion. In 2015, these commercial exchanges stand at almost USD 22.5 billion (reflecting a decrease in commodity prices), positioning Russia as the region's third-largest trading partner behind China and the EU.13
More so than other international actors, Russia plays a structuring role in the development of the Central Asian hydrocarbon market. Russian companies (Lukoil, Rosneft, and Gazprom) have made significant inroads into Central Asia. Always on the lookout for possibilities to export resources and collect transit rights, Russia contributes to increasing the export levels of Central Asian resources and to reducing internal trade between the five states. It is also reinforcing the region in its role as an exporter of primary resources by neglecting to develop the local hydrocarbon refining capacity, especially the manufacture of products with high added value, which makes it an inefficient trade pattern from the point of view of Central Asia's long-term interests.
Besides energy's predominance, Russia's trade with Central Asia involves other important sectors: uranium, electricity, hydroelectricity, construction, telecommunications, transport and railways (but not the automobile market), banks, and, lastly, certain agribusiness sectors. Russia remains important in mineral resources, which are important for the heavy industry sector, but is a relatively limited and uncompetitive actor in terms of small and mid-size companies, new technologies, etc. This stratification reflects a more general one in the Russian economy, which continues to be rent seeking and is finding it hard to diversify. But it can also be explained by the equally restrictive state of the Central Asian economies, in which small and mid-size enterprises and new technologies struggle to find a place.
Moscow has, however, lost more and more control over the Central Asian economies, where it faces competitors like Turkey, Iran, South Korea, Western countries, and, most important, China. Its strategy has been to update the Soviet legacy by promoting with some republics an integrated space in terms of transport, electricity, and communications—deemed the "integrating" factors par excellence, that slow down the economic dissociation between Russia and Central Asia that results from Chinese pressure. The Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) is aimed at creating a market of 160 million people and maintaining common dynamics in terms of trade.14 Through this union, the Kremlin has been openly mulling creating some supranational mechanisms—in mainly the economic and financial domains, but also potentially the strategic sector—that would guarantee an integrative dynamic between Russia and Kazakhstan, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Armenia and, potentially Tajikistan, currently under pressure from Putin to join the union.
The weight of China on Central Asian economies: Burden or factor of development?
Growing Chinese influence has, above all, profoundly changed the economic status quo in Central Asia. As in other regions where Beijing is establishing itself, its strategies respond to many objectives, seen by the Chinese authorities as intrinsically related. First, China consolidates its geopolitical influence in Central Asia by creating economically-based good neighborly relations that work to diffuse potential tensions. Secondly, it contributes to regional development in order to avoid political and social destabilization, which could have domestic consequences in Xinjiang and slow down Chinese economic growth. Lastly, the Central Asian states provide new markets for Chinese products, markets that could open up to the whole of Russia, Iran, and Turkey. For landlocked Central Asia, the Chinese economic engine opens up the prospect of new trans-Eurasian corridors and is, thus, seen as a unique historical opportunity.
Hydrocarbons—mainly gas from Turkmenistan and oil from Kazakhstan—and uranium—from Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan—are at the forefront of Chinese activity in Central Asia. But China also aims at a multitude of other sectors, in particular those linked to infrastructure and communications. It is one of the only external actors that attaches importance to the frequently neglected banking sector, which enables the Central Asian states to pursue large-scale projects. Chinese aid for development is granted either by subsidies, which are generally paid in kind in order to reduce the risks of corruption, or by preferential or concessional credit paid by the Export-Import Bank of China (Eximbank), the Development Bank, or the State Bank. They offer higher lines of credits than those extended by Islamic or European banks, and at lower interest rates than those of the main international lenders.15 Though the money from loans is, on paper, granted to the beneficiary country, it is generally transferred to the company in charge of the project, which makes it possible to keep the money inside the Chinese system. This gives China a certain advantage over countries with privatized economies.
The Central Asian states as well as China have every interest in developing mutual relations as their economies are more complementary than in direct competition with one another. China has the capacity to export consumer products to Central Asia at low prices, which suits the low living standards of the local populations, whereas Russian, Turkish, and Iranian, not to mention Western, products remain too expensive. It is also able to provide technological goods to the middle and upper classes, whose consumption patterns were constantly rising, in particular in Kazakhstan.
For a long time, China and Russia were not in competition with one another, since each has its own sphere of activity. But this situation has evolved. Both are trying to reinforce their political leverage over weak Central Asian states pragmatically through their growing economic presence. Such a strategy is made easier by the two countries' large, state-run energy companies, which function as instruments of official political interests. Although Russia was more present in Central Asia than China through the 2000s, this dominance has been reversed in the 2010s.
China has launched several offensives to increase its economic influence in the region. Since the first half the 2010s, it has been trying to widen the SCO's competencies in the economic domain, sensing an opportunity for the development of its "Far West" region, Xinjiang, and the conquest of new markets. But China's dynamic in favor of a common market has revealed divergence in Central Asian states and even contradictions of interests. In view of the growth differential, Russia and the Central Asian states are all fearful of becoming Chinese economic protectorates. They have underscored the differences in economic levels between the states, and argued that a free-trade zone is only possible between countries with similar rhythms of development. In a post-Soviet space where the industrial sector is yet to recover after the USSR's collapse, the existing enterprises are unable to match either the efficiency or the profitability of their Chinese competitors. Trade between member states is considerably impeded by the absence of any payment agreements, transport problems, the complexity of border and customs procedures, and the refusal of some states, like Uzbekistan, to facilitate the circulation of goods and people. The One Belt One Road (OBOR) confirms China's economic offensive over the region. Announced in 2013, this new development strategy focuses on connectivity between China and Eurasia, and underlines China's will to gain bigger influence in Central Asia and, more generally, in global affairs. It is supposed to ease the movement of goods, services, and people, and to integrate the region into a cohesive economic area through building infrastructure, and developing trade exchanges.16
Central Asia's economic relations with Russia and China follow the same logic. The five states are increasing the amount of raw materials (energy, ferrous and non-ferrous metals, and minerals) that they export to Russia and China, which account for two-thirds of their exports, the rest being made up of services but not a single finished product. They import a massive amount of Russian and Chinese finished products, which account for 65 percent of Russian exports, and more than 80 percent of Chinese exports. Whatever the future of Russo-Chinese competition, the region is bound to experience a reinforcement of its economic specialization. Their last transformation industries are at risk of becoming completely extinct. This specialization, coupled with continuing deindustrialization, may lead to social destabilization, insofar as it will accelerate the declining living standards of certain strata of the population, and reduce Central Asia's stock of human resources and labor skills in an increasingly globalized world.
New Factors of Influence
The political and economic weight in Central Asia of Beijing and Moscow raises many questions. The capacity of both to exert influence in the coming decades will depend on their ability to alleviate political and cultural apprehensions among the population and governments. New factors (migration, Russian foreign policy and annexation of the Crimea, increasing Sinophobia) have already changed the influence of Moscow and Beijing in the region and the perceptions of Central Asian states.
For at least ten years, labor migration has reinforced Russian's influence, enabling it to recover cultural and linguistic sway in the region and to provide a new pole of development for Central Asian societies. At least five million Tajiks, Kyrgyz, and Uzbeks now work seasonally in Russia, thereby recreating, in all its complexity, relations with the former metropole that is at once economic and social.17 Consequently, Central Asian societies continue to view the world through the Russian prism, regarded as a more familiar "West" than the more alien one of Western Europe or the United States.
The choice of Russia for migration seems natural, since the Russian Federation has the most dynamic economy in the region and it is possible to earn salaries that are much higher than in Central Asia. In addition, with the exception of the citizens of Georgia and Turkmenistan, Russia does not require entry visas for post-Soviet citizens. The latter's Russian language skills and their shared Soviet past means that they can move to Russia and still live in a familiar cultural space. The networks facilitating emigration are also more developed than elsewhere, due to the fact that the Russian market for Central Asian produce was already established in Soviet times.
These migratory flows have important consequences for Central Asian societies. Money transfers ensure a regular source of income for families, create a rise in domestic demand for goods, support economic growth, and broaden investment possibilities. Migrants return with much better training and linguistic competencies than they can acquire in their home countries. This also indirectly compensates for the disappearance of an efficient Russian language learning system in the rural regions of Central Asia.
In impoverished societies—the Soviet Union's demise has chiefly meant decreased living standards—the possibility of going abroad to find a job constitutes a veritable "safety valve." The populations that travel to Russia regularly have access to a society which, though far from being democratic, nonetheless, constitutes a model of development for their countries. Despite their double-edged nature, these migratory flows have shown the emergence of new kinds of interaction between Russia and Central Asia. This includes the maintenance of cultural exchange, and the preservation of ethnic mixing.
However, Russian influence has suffered reversals and criticism. Russian foreign policy, after the annexation of the Crimea, has provoked debates among the Central Asian elites. Maintaining economies in a state of dependence on Moscow could be particularly risky, as the current crisis in Russia and its consequences for Central Asia have shown. The EEU has raised many controversies in recent years in the two Central Asian member states, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, and has aroused local nationalist circles.
China, by its economic strength, financial capability and investment in the region, can be a counterweight. However, its influence in these countries has raised controversies too, which have ranged from issues of national integrity to economic questions, and both Sinophile and Sinophobe groups have rapidly formed.
To date, all Central Asian governments have spoken very positively about their "excellent relations" with Beijing. They are not Sinophile by conviction, but have little choice and are driven by a logic that also has a Sinophobe dimension: a desire to build closer ties because it is better to maintain healthy relations with a large and feared neighbor. Moreover, the "Chinese question" has become increasingly central to political debate in Central Asia. According to many surveys over the last 15 years, the majority opinion is that China remains a challenge for Central Asia. The topic of trade and economic relations remains highly sensitive. The energy issue raises concerns: an increased dependency on China would jeopardize national sovereignty.18
China is thanked for attenuating Central Asia's landlocked character, for building infrastructure (roads, railways, tunnels, electricity lines, etc.), and providing consumer products appropriate to the low standard of living of the Central Asian population. It is also able to provide goods to the middle and upper classes, whose consumption patterns were on the rise, particularly in Kazakhstan. However, many Central Asians are persuaded that Beijing is trying to transform the economies of Central Asia to suit its own interests, to weaken their potential for autonomy and even to establish their status as Chinese protectorates dependent on China for technological know-how.
Moreover, views of China are still stamped by the old clichés of Soviet propaganda casting China as the historical enemy. Discourse on the Chinese "slow expansion" (tikhaia ekspansiia) is frequent in Kazakh, Kyrgyz, and Tajik newspapers. The idea that Chinese authorities conceal their imperialist objectives is widespread. Many Central Asians share the feeling that there exists a "civilizational difference" between China and Central Asia. Diverse arguments are used to justify the existence of this apparently impassable "culture barrier": some conceive of it in terms of Islam, others in terms of Russo-Soviet acculturation, and still others as involving a difference in national essence.
The question of China's increasing influence in Central Asia is sensitive; few have an unequivocal response. Sinophilia and Sinophobia go hand-in-hand in Central Asia. Both can be present in the same person depending on the question addressed. However, Sinophobia is becoming increasingly prominent with possible long-term consequences. Violent recent incidents targeting Chinese traders in local markets demonstrate the sensitivity of growing Sinophobic feeling, which is being used more and more by some nationalist political circles , as in Kyrgyzstan, where some groups even justify polygamy in order to counter the loss of identity which supposedly would result, among other things, from the growing presence of Chinese migrants.
Finally, the quasi-alliance between Moscow and Beijing within the SCO, despite growing rivalry, raises concerns in Central Asia.Itis viewed positively insofar as it has a stabilizing, supervisory role on Central Asia. However, it simultaneously limits the foreign policy options of the region's states, which struggle to make their differing viewpoints heard. Local elites are generally aware that they are treated like a buffer-zone and share the sentiment that the quasi-alliance is more a form of control over them than a real partnership.
For years, Central Asia has been playing a careful balancing game between Moscow and Beijing. As a result, many Central Asians argue for a third way to pull their countries out of what they see as the impasse of the Russo-Chinese partnership. This third way generally takes the form either of building relations with the West, or of a Central Asian alliance, occasionally with pan-Turkic accents. However, experts often argue that the West has caused much disillusionment in Central Asian societies, obliging their leaders to opt for more pragmatic ties with Moscow and Beijing. The West is perceived as too far away and too little involved to act as a reliable partner, and the distrust that has crept in will require time to heal. Concerns are also expressed about the poor prospects of forming a Central Asian alliance. Many Central Asians, especially in think tanks and political circles, criticize their governments for having failed to unify the region at the beginning of the 1990s, which has weakened long-term geopolitical leverage. The leadership struggle between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan is particularly detrimental. Long after the disintegration of the Soviet Union, the dominant feeling in Central Asia is of a lack of credible alternatives, leaving no choice other than to side with Moscow and Beijing.
1. See "Nazarbaev: Zhelanie Zapada sdelat' u nas demokratiiu po obrazcu SShA nesostoiatel'no," Sputnik, November 25, 2016; and Mariya Omelicheva, Democracy in Central Asia : Competing Perspectives and Alternative Strategies (Lexington: University Press of Kentucky, 2015).
2. On post-Soviet nostalgia in Central Asia, see Timur Dadabaev, Identity and Memory in post-Soviet Central Asia : Uzbekistan's Soviet Past (New York: Routledge, 2016).
3. M. Laruelle and S. Peyrouse, The Chinese Question in Central Asia. Domestic Order, Social Changes and the Chinese Factor (London, New York: Hurst and Columbia University Press, 2012).
4. S. Peyrouse, "Flowing Downstream: The Sino-Kazakh Water Dispute," China Brief 7, no. 10 (May 16, 2007): 7-10.
5. Y. Schichor, "Pawns in Central Asia's Playground: Uyghurs Between Moscow and Beijing," East Asia, no. 32 (2015):101–116
6. R. Castets, "Uyghur Islam: Caught between Foreign Influences and Domestic Constraints," in China and India in Central Asia. A New "Great Game?", ed. Laruelle, Huchet, Peyrouse, and Balci (New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2010), 215–234.
7. Erica Marat, The Military and the State in Central Asia: From Red Army to Independence (London: Routledge, 2009).
8. D. Gorenburg, "External Support for Central Asian Military and Security Forces," SIPRI/Open Society Foundation working paper, 2014.
9. P. Baev, "The CSTO: Military Dimensions of the Russian Reintegration Effort," in Putin's Grand Strategy: The Eurasian Union and Its Discontents, ed. Frederick Starr and Svante Cornell (Washington, DC: Central Asia-Caucasus Institute & Silk Road Studies Program, 2014), 40-48.
10. Turkmenistan has refused to participate in any regional organization except the UN Special Program for the Central Asian Economies (SPECA), and the Organization of Economic Cooperation (OEC). See Sebastien Peyrouse, Turkmenistan. Strategies of Power, Dilemmas of Development (Armonk: M.E. Sharpe, 2011).
11. M. Laruelle and S. Peyrouse, Globalizing Central Asia. Geopolitics and the Challenges of Economic Development (Armonk: M.E. Sharpe, 2012); Craig Oliphant, Russia's role and interests in Central Asia, Safer World, 2013.
12. V. Paramonov, and A. Strokov, Ekonomicheskoe prisutstvie Rossii i Kitaia v Tsentral'noi Azii (Shrivenham: Defence Academy of the United Kingdom: Central Asia Series, 2007), 3-4.
13. See the statistics provided by the European Union: http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/.
14. S. Roberts, A. Marin, A. Moshes, K. Pynnöniemi, "The Eurasian Economic Union, Breaking the pattern of post-Soviet integration?" The Finnish Institute of International Affairs, 2013.
15. R. Pomfret, "Turkmenistan's Foreign Policy," The China and Eurasia Forum Quarterly 6, no. 4 (2008): 29.
16. T. Winter, "One Belt, One Road, One Heritage: Cultural Diplomacy and the Silk Road," The Diplomat, March 29, 2016, http://thediplomat.com/2016/03/one-belt-one-road-one-heritage-cultural-diplomacy-and-the-silk-road/; S. Djankov, S. Miner, eds. "China's belt and road initiative motives, scope and challenges," Peterson Institute for International Economics, March 2016.
17. M. Laruelle, ed., Migration and Social Upheaval as the Face of Globalization in Central Asia (London: Brill, 2012).
18. S. Peyrouse, "Discussing China: Sinophilia And Sinophobia In Central Asia," Journal of Eurasian Studies 7, no. 1 (2015): 14-23.
Afghanistan Arab Spring Armenia authoritarianism banking Belarus Central Asia Collective Security Treaty Organization colonialism colored revolutions Crimea drug trafficking energy Eurasian Economic Union Georgia Islam Kazakhstan Kyrgyzstan migration NATO One Belt One Road Putin Shanghai Cooperation Organization Soviet Union Tajikistan Territorial Disputes terrorism Turkmenistan Ukraine Uzbekistan Xi Jinping Xinjiang
Prev	Next	List
Jan 20,2020 Special Forum
Nov 04,2019 National Commentaries
An Indian Perspective
Japan-North Korea tiesLegalist repressionopinion surveysUkraine crisis and North KoreaAnti-Japaneseism


text:
The Dialogic Imagination: Four Essays
M. M. Bakhtin
University of Texas Press, Mar 1, 2010 - Philosophy - 480 pages
These essays reveal Mikhail Bakhtin (1895-1975)—known in the West largely through his studies of Rabelais and Dostoevsky—as a philosopher of language, a cultural historian, and a major theoretician of the novel. The Dialogic Imagination presents, in superb English translation, four selections from Voprosy literatury i estetiki (Problems of literature and esthetics), published in Moscow in 1975. The volume also contains a lengthy introduction to Bakhtin and his thought and a glossary of terminology. Bakhtin uses the category "novel" in a highly idiosyncratic way, claiming for it vastly larger territory than has been traditionally accepted. For him, the novel is not so much a genre as it is a force, "novelness," which he discusses in "From the Prehistory of Novelistic Discourse." Two essays, "Epic and Novel" and "Forms of Time and of the Chronotope in the Novel," deal with literary history in Bakhtin's own unorthodox way. In the final essay, he discusses literature and language in general, which he sees as stratified, constantly changing systems of subgenres, dialects, and fragmented "languages" in battle with one another.
User Review - lalaland - LibraryThing
Bakhtin has some interesting thoughts. Used this book to support thesis in college regarding the small-town chornotope in Stephen King's novels. Read full review
Вопросы Литературы И Эстетики: Four Essays
Mikhaïl Mikhaïlovitch Bakhtine,Professor M M Bakhtin,M. M. Bakhtin
Narrative: A Critical Linguistic Introduction
Michael J. Toolan
The Promise of the New South: Life After Reconstruction - 15th Anniversary ...
Edward L. Ayers
Title The Dialogic Imagination: Four Essays
University of Texas Press Slavic Series
Author M. M. Bakhtin
Editor Michael Holquist
Translated by Michael Holquist, Caryl Emerson
Publisher University of Texas Press, 2010
Philosophy / General

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Danny Shell is the 162nd ranked of 181 active US Southeast Pro Middleweights.
Danny Shell is the 21st ranked of 23 active Tennessee Pro Middleweights.
Danny Shell is the 714th ranked of 815 active United States Pro Middleweights.
Danny Shell is the 10th ranked of 12 active Mississippi Pro Middleweights.


text:
'A part of Edmonton's history': First store opens in restored Oliver telephone exchange building
Jul 07, 2018 • Last Updated July 7, 2018 • 2 minute read
Plum Home and Design, an Edmonton-owned home decor and design boutique, is the first business to open its doors inside the historic 1913 restored Oliver Exchange building located at 12019A 102 Ave. The former Edmonton telephone exchange building has been restored by developers Beljan and will be a hub of locally owned food and retail businesses in the Oliver neighbourhood. Jenna Pryor, left, and her mother Pamela Freeman, the owners of Plum, decided to move their business into the space in part due to the fact the developers were determined not to take it out with a wrecking ball, but instead keep the craftsmanship and special antique qualities of the building. Photo by Larry Wong /Postmedia
The restored telephone exchange building is opening its doors to fresh ideas while keeping much of the historic 1913 architecture in tact.
Plum Home + Design was the first business to launch on Friday morning in the Oliver building that will soon be home to several locally-owned food and retail businesses.
Mother and daughter owners, Pamela Freeman and Jenna Pryor, said they were immediately drawn to the space and the decision by the building developers, Beljan, to keep as much of the original building qualities as they could.
"We've been dreaming about this space and working on it so it's a great feeling to have customers walking through the front door," Pryor said just hours after the boutique opened for business. "What we loved is it's a part of Edmonton's history and I think anyone who opens a business in Edmonton hopes to be part of Edmonton's history as well."
The heritage site was built in 1913 serving as the West End Telephone Exchange and Pryor said it was important to them to restore as much as they could to use in their space.
"We kept every original door I could get my hands on. They're now my new office doors," she said. "We kept original windows, polished the concrete that's over 100 years old. It's nice to be part of such a long history."
Plum is going into its seventh year of business and prior to the move operated in two different locations with a 530-square-foot retail space. The new space is almost 4,000 square feet, Pryor said, and allows them to house both the retail store and design offices in one spot.
Other local businesses will soon be opening their doors in the coming weeks including Culina TO GO, Iconoclast Coffee and Brio Bakery, leaving the neighbourhood already buzzing about this new spot, Pryor said.
"All of a sudden there's this great hub for the neighbourhood to come in and socialize," she said. "In Edmonton, in the winter, that's a really nice thing to have."
duscook@postmedia.com
twitter.com/dustin_cook3


Photographic Story Like Dalí's paintings, his house is unique. One of the most unique aspects is the numerous eggs. As I waked around photographing outside Dalí's, I was surprised to find an egg balanced on the dovecote. To me, it is precariously balanced and it causes a certain amount of tension – have you ever tried to balance an egg like that? I learned that the eggs around Dalí's house are a symbol of rebirth and the connection with natural processes. The egg stands against all the forces of nature, so the tension is also an inspiration. Digital – Archival Pigment Print This photograph was taken with a high-quality digital camera. The photograph is printed on an Epson Stylus 4800 or 11880 printer. Clyde uses archival Ultra-chrome K3 i and prints on archival Harman Hahnemuhle paper. The limited edition photograph is then mounted and matted to current archival standards. This is a limited edition series and each photograph is numbered.


We help corporate legal teams automate their workflows and the decision-making process by implementing next-gen Artificial Intelligence (NLP and Machine Learning) solutions.
Our platform provides A.I. as the solution to reduce endless effort of legal teams in managing their contracts. We help make legal functions more efficient and cost-effective.
We strive to achieve the most accurate result that is more than 80% precision and 80% recall based on the quality of document.
The platform uses NLP to review contracts for deviations and to identify obligations in less than two minutes per contract.
Integrates seamlessly with standard contract repository tools and, is compliant with best data security standards.
Our proprietary A.I. powered legal platform. Contact us if you want a demo or if you would like to explore a customized solution.
'CRUXIQ', a proprietary A.I. powered tool, developed to reduce the cost of high-volume/low-value "legal" functions.
An end-to-end platform that supports legal teams in contract abstraction, knowledge management and collaboration.
Life at Surukam is dynamic, fun-filled and fast-paced. We aim to keep our team happy and curious. If you would like to join us, check out the list of open positions below and send us a note.
Feel free to contact us with your requirements!
© 2017 Surukam Analytics Pvt. Ltd.


text:
package freeyourstuff.rest.jersey.server;
import java.util.List;

import javax.ws.rs.Consumes;
import javax.ws.rs.GET;
import javax.ws.rs.POST;
import javax.ws.rs.Path;
import javax.ws.rs.Produces;
import javax.ws.rs.QueryParam;
import javax.ws.rs.core.MediaType;
import javax.ws.rs.core.Response;

import freeyourstuff.data.model.Item;
import freeyourstuff.data.store.ItemStore;

@Path("/")
public class RestServer {

	@GET
	@Path("query")
	@Consumes(MediaType.APPLICATION_FORM_URLENCODED)
	@Produces(MediaType.APPLICATION_JSON)
	public List<Item> getItems(
			@QueryParam("lon") double longitude,
			@QueryParam("lat") double latitude){
		System.out.println("Query at: " + longitude + " " + latitude);
		return ItemStore.getItems(longitude, latitude);
	}

	@POST
	@Path("add")
	@Consumes(MediaType.APPLICATION_JSON)
	public Response addItem(Item item){
		String result = "Record entered: "+ item;
		System.out.println("Added item: " + item.toString());
		ItemStore.addItem(item);
		return Response.status(201).entity(result).build();
	}
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


The term "Havingfunyet.ca" or "RMG Agencies Inc." or "us" or "we" refers to the owner of the website whose registered office is 1260 Journey's End Circle, unit 10, Newmarket, Ontario, Canada. The term "you" refers to the user or viewer of our website.
You may not create a link to this website from another website or document without Havingfunyet.ca or RMG Agencies Inc.'s prior written consent.


How is the score in the site audit tool calculated?
Many customers assume that this score refers to the number of pages on the site scanned as compared to the total number of pages on the site. This is actually incorrect!
The score is essentially a "grade". It is calculated using a complex formula that looks at the total number of passed tests for all pages divided by the total number of tests performed. This is weighted as well so that errors represent more than warnings and notices.
We do not provide the exact code used to calculate that score, and due to the complex nature of the calculation, it's unlikely that customers would ever be able to reproduce the exact calculation on their own.


text:
Q: React datepicker hide on click outside broken I'm trying to update my react component based on array in my controller.In the controller I'm doing merge over diaries and change its content and I can't update the view in my react component.Can someone explain me how can I update react state from my controller??Thank you !
var app = angular.module('app', ['react']);
app.controller('MainCtrl', function ($scope) {

    $scope.resultProps = {
        item:[]
    }
    $scope.firstArrayProps =  {
        item:[]
    }
    $scope.secondArrayProps =  {
        item:[]
    }

    $scope.mergeDiariesFunction = function (first,second) {
       .... merge diaries CODE
    }
    $scope.runMerge = function () {

        var first = angular.copy($scope.firstArrayProps.item);
        var second = angular.copy($scope.secondArrayProps.item);
        first = $scope.sortDiaryByStartDate(first);
        second = $scope.sortDiaryByStartDate(second);

        if($scope.firstArrayProps.item.length == 0 && $scope.secondArrayProps.item.length == 0)
        {
            sweetAlert({
                title: "",
                text: "There's no need to merge empty diaries.Please,add periods.",
                type: "warning"
            });
            $scope.resultProps.item = [];
        }
        else {
            $scope.resultProps.item = $scope.mergeDiariesFunction(first, second);
            $scope.showMydirc.show = true;
            $scope.hideBool.show = true;

        }
    }
});

my react component...
var DiaryResult = React.createClass({
    getInitialState: function() {
        return {
            items : this.props.item,
        };
    },
  init:function () {
    this._super.apply(this,arguments);
      if (this.get("props")) {
          this.get('props').set(this.get("resultProps") || "default", this);
      }
  },
    render: function(){
        var arrayItems =  this.state.items.map(function (item,i) {
            return (

                    <FormattedDate value={item.start}/>
                    <FormattedDate value={item.end}/>
                    {item.hours}

            );
        }.bind(this));
        return (

                    Start Date:
                    End Date:
                    Hours:

                {arrayItems}

        );
    }
});

and my html ....
body  ng-app="app" ng-controller="MainCtrl as mainCtrl">

<react-component name="DiaryTable" props="firstArrayProps" />

<button class="myButton" id="mergeButton" ng-click="runMerge()">Merge diaries</button>

<react-component name="DiaryTable" props="secondArrayProps" />

<react-component name="DiaryResult" props="resultProps" />

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
namespace MassTransit.Saga
{
	using System;

	/// <summary>
	/// A saga policy defines how the pipeline should handle messages when being routed
	/// to the saga. Checks are made for the existence of a saga, whether the message should
	/// create a new saga, or otherwise
	/// </summary>
	/// <typeparam name="TSaga">The saga that will handle the message</typeparam>
	/// <typeparam name="TMessage">The message that will be handled by the saga</typeparam>
	public interface ISagaPolicy<TSaga, TMessage>
		where TSaga : class, ISaga
	{
		/// <summary>
		/// Determines if the message should result in the creation of a new instance of the saga
		/// </summary>
		/// <param name="message">The message that triggered the action</param>
		/// <param name="saga">The saga that was created</param>
		/// <returns>True if the saga should be created, otherwise false</returns>
		bool CreateSagaWhenMissing(TMessage message, out TSaga saga);

		/// <summary>
		/// Called when an instance of the saga associated with the message already exists
		/// </summary>
		/// <param name="message">The message to correlate to the saga</param>
		void ForExistingSaga(TMessage message);

		/// <summary>
		/// Called when there are no matching instances of the saga available
		/// </summary>
		/// <param name="message">The message to correlate to the saga</param>
		void ForMissingSaga(TMessage message);

		/// <summary>
		/// Checks to see if the saga should be removed based on the current state
		/// </summary>
		/// <param name="saga"></param>
		/// <returns></returns>
		bool ShouldSagaBeRemoved(TSaga saga);
	}
}


Here's a picture of " head wounded" Steve outside the Shark EM Hootch, Duc Pho 1970. "Actually, I was climbing on top of my gunship for typical checkout. However, the main rotor was running and I took a direct hit from the control rods. On another note, a little later, I was to leave the RVN to stateside after I had the front of my foot shot off by small arms fire. Ahhhh...the 'life' of a Crew Chief."


If you want the hottest drones on the market, take a look at our bestsellers!
Call us at 530-305-4259 to order your drones or drone parts. We are open 24 hours a day !
Get your remote control helicopter, RC cars, RC planes, or other drone accessories or drone part replacements in the mail!
Enjoy your time in the skies! Fly your modern drones high in the sky. It's that simple.


Naica Optical Selenite Wand #1 measures approximately 9 1/2" x 13/16" x 3/8" (241mm x 20mm x 10mm) and weighs approximately 2.7 ounces (68.3 grams). This crystal is very nice energy, and these make excellent wands.
"The golden sword of truth". These are the first words I hear as soon as I pick this piece up.
Selenite, for me, has always been the link to Christ Consciousness, that higher vibration which we often aspire to incorporate into our current physical dimension. This golden Selenite is all of that and more. What is given to me in the form of a visual, is the movie, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, where all children are looking for that elusive golden ticket hidden in a chocolate bar. Golden Selenite IS our ticket to a one on one, direct connection with Divine Source.
Work with golden Selenite to become one (reconnect with) with unconditional love, ALL THAT IS, in essence, your truest, highest self. You ARE Divine Source. Often, we get all caught up in the physical aspects and experiences of our current situation and during those times we may be removed from our own divinity.
Golden Selenite is a reminder that even during those times, even with all of our faults and foibles, we are Divine in the process. Everything we do is for a reason. Everything we experience, those we have the experiences with, where the experience occurs--these are all predestined by you, the Divine, in order to understand yet another aspect in another dimension of existence, all created by you/Divine.
Golden Selenite brings a unique and instantaneous sense of clarity on the highest of levels.
It is not about judgment (that is a physical/ego thing) or passing blame (again, a physical/ego thing). "She did this to me because SHE is insecure..." No, no. It is about complete understanding. "She IS me and I AM her."
This is more than just attempting to put yourself in anothers shoes to try to understand from a different perspective. It is actually BEING--all of it in totality, one and the same.
Golden Selenite is an excellent tool to use when working to "cut cords" or release energy that is not in line with your current understanding/experiences.
Many times the question most frequently asked is "Why?" The response, as it is relayed to me is gentle, loving and without judgment, "Because you chose it."
If you lightly tap your golden Selenite with another crystal point, you may hear a distinct "singing"/tone/vibration. It also feels like this tap connection with quartz somehow activates the golden Selenite. After I did the tapping, an energy is palpably felt after the action. One that was not felt before.
This is a high vibration crystal, well above the 7 common body chakras we all know. This goes well into the auric chakras (8th through 12, sometimes more depending on who you read/study with). Working with the golden Selenite will help to connect and align ALL together.
For those who work with self healing or with others using various healing modalities, use golden Selenite as a want to move over the body to clear and unblock unwanted energies. It will, at the same time fill all bodies both physical and above with golden, healing light. Think of an MRI scan of the entire body, or a TSA agent using their scanning wand.
I believe the golden Selenite can help with any issue by allowing the user to see/understand the actual cause of the issue, not just the symptoms of it so that a better, more complete plan of action can be taken.
The message from golden Selenite is this, "You have chosen your lessons. Do the best you can. Learn from them. Take responsibility. Do not judge. You are loved throughout it all because you ARE LOVE, Divine and unconditional."
From MetaphysicalRealm1.com - The Yellow/Gold Selenite Crystals feel so spiritual to me, and the color is truly High Spiritual Gold. These crystals have a really lovely floaty sensation that helps us reach higher in the ethers. The energy of this crystal is also softer, very cloud-like. The yellow/gold color comes from iron deposits in the crystal. These crystals are unique and cannot be classified as either Satin Spar Selenite or Optical Selenite. Their formation is different, and the crystals can be very large or very small. From MetaphysicalRealm1.com - Optical Selenite is a different crystal formation than the Satin Spar Selenite. It is clear layers of Selenite, one on top of the other. It is very different in looks from the Satin Spar Selenite, but its energy is much the same. Much of it is found in the United States, in our West--states like Utah and Idaho. It is also found in Mexico as well.


NOTE:	Spring roll wrappers are available at Chinese food stores.
Shell prawns, remove back vein, chop prawns into small pieces; chop shallots; peel and finely chop carrot; slice mushrooms thinly, peel and grate green ginger; chop water chestnuts; shred cabbage finely.
Put all prepared ingredients into bowl. Add pork mince, sherry, soy sauce, sugar and salt; mix well.
Put cornflour and water into bowl, mix well. Spoon tablespoonfuls of pork mixture evenly across one corner of spring roll wrapper, roll up in an envelope shape making sure edges have been brushed with cornflour mixture. Put into deep hot oil, fry until golden brown and cooked through, approximately five minutes. Makes about 25.


The Game Fanatics staff has weighed in on God of War and we're excited to tell you how we feel about the game. Tyler Chancey, Johnnie McIntyre and myself have some impressions about the game and we hope you join us down in the comments below for a more in-depth discussion.
It's not often we get to witness an established IP undergo such a radical and revolutionary change as God of War. It's even less common when it works. And boy does it work in spades.
From the rewarding exploration to the snappy, responsive combat sandwiched between an incredibly emotional narrative, God of War delivers an unforgettable experience that feels endless yet concise. This is the fastest 30-40 hours I have ever put into a game and it's all thanks to the expertly crafted pacing.
The game ramps up early on and pretty much never really plateaus and encourages players to really soak it all in. Kratos as a character has never been this multi-dimensional, in this game he feels remorse. Incapable of redemption yet he carries on and tries his best to be there for Atreus because he knows it's the right thing to do. It's a narrative thread that is felt throughout the game, you don't want anything bad to happen to Atreus and Kratos really embodies this sense of fatherhood and compassion. The writing is also top-notch. Kratos calls Atreus "boy" for about 90% of the game and as a player it's almost comical how he continuously uses the word, almost to the point of replacing his actual name with it. Atreus confronts Kratos about this very thing and the writing shines because of it. Kratos has nothing to say after this confrontation. Atreus is right.
Silence in God of War is almost as important as the setting and atmosphere. The moments in which no dialogue is spoken serve as some of the better scenes in the whole game. There's one moment in particular on a lift on the way to the Witch's dwelling with Kratos and Atreus that is immensely powerful and all you hear is the crackling of fires and the wooden lift ascending. It's a long lift ride and you feel every second with Kratos. Every second of panicked uncertainty. Every second of desperation. All captured with no dialogue. These quieter moments, although tense, recall some of the greatest moments from video games of the last few years. Uncharted 4 with Nate and Sam just sitting together once they reached Libertalia. In The Last of Us when Joel and Ellie share a dream-like fleeting moment with a giraffe.
Back in 2010, I buried Kratos. His last big adventure was so cartoonishly horrendous and violent it turned the character into a caricature of what angry teenage boys believe cool. Being angry all the time, killing anyone that gets in their way, and being highly confrontational with daddy. It didn't matter how satisfying it was to chop apart monsters and gods if the guy doing the killing was infinitely worse than them. And after your last adventure ends with the entire world falling into chaos with all of the Greek gods dead,I wrote Kratos off as completely irredeemable and left him in the past to rot.
When the new God of War was announced, I was beyond skeptical. From the first trailer to all the gameplay shown, it screamed of a game that didn't know what it wanted to be. A Frankenstein's monster of gameplay fads. A third-person narrative-focused action game with an open world, RPG elements, and following the Dad Trend by giving Kratos a kid to interact with. The whole thing felt like Sony was trying to wring more cash out of the property. To get Kratos to appeal to players again, like an old man awkwardly trying to appeal the youth that didn't fully grasp the language.
The whole thing sounded as appealing as a root canal. Even the gimmick of having him wind up in the world of Norse Mythology came off as quaint and desperate. No matter how many spectacular set pieces or satisfying battles there were to be had, I was already writing off this soft reboot as a lost cause.
Fast-forward to me reaching the credits of the new game and I was eating enough crow to give Odin some awkward glances. God of War not only packs some dazzling boss battles and some of the meatiest combat I've experienced in a long time, it is a game that finally put its violent protagonist under the microscope. Crucially examining his deeply ingrained flaws, and allowing him to make amends both personally and through his son, Atreus.
But it doesn't sacrifice satisfying gameplay to make narrative points. The journey travels at just the right pace, with all the appropriate character beats hitting exactly on queue. Ramping everything up to some of the most exciting set pieces I've played this year, and an ending that not only promises future installments, but a father-son dynamic for the ages.
It must also be noted that God of War is a giant middle finger to the game industry's conventional wisdom. A high-budget single-player only experience with no season pass, DLC, microtransactions, or online functionality, all while fully embracing being a video game at its best. In this current climate, many publishers would call such a venture risky, despite it being what video games have been for decades.
With about half of God of War under my belt and the game beginning to peak in several ways there is a lot that I can say about this game. I could go on about its strong combat and gameplay mechanics that make the controller feel like an extension of my arm directing controlling Kratos. I could talk about how amazing the visuals are and the scope and scale that have been crafted into the world. It would be easy to have a few paragraphs that discuss the amazing and risky change from a Greek mythology-based world to Norse mythology. The game is so good that any full review can go into depth with any of these things.
What I will say is this: Santa Monica Studios took a character and franchise that was more than a decade old and five games in and made it great again (our President would be proud). They did this by both staying true to the character as well as taking him and the world he resides in to new heights and hard lows. Santa Monica did what so many other franchises and storied gaming characters can't; continue an old series and give it new life. Kratos' personality, character and his struggles have been lovingly crafted and homed in this new God of War.
Typically a one-note vengeance machine in his previous outings, Kratos has been transformed into a character that players can empathize with and understand. His exploits to accomplish his goals remain the same, but the reasons behind them are what resonate with us; lost love, family and tackling his own paternal demons while learning to reach out to his son. The game is great because it has done what no other God of War has before it. It gave players a great gameplay experience and a story that truly tells a tale we can all enjoy.
That is our thoughts on God of War. Do you agree, disagree, or have thoughts of your own to share? Let us know in the comments below.


text:
Impressive Start to 2019 for Bayliss and Cube Racing
Oli Bayliss became the youngest rider to podium in Australian Supersport history over the weekend, when the 15-year-old rode to a 4-3-4 finish after qualifying fourth with a time of 1:37.340 at Phillip Island for the first round of the Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK).
Team owner, Ben Henry: "That was a great weekend for Oli. At 15, he has a lot to learn, but his talent on a bike goes without saying. I'm really proud to see him grow as rider with Cube Racing, and third overall in his first SuperSport race weekend is amazing. When you meet Oli, you can't help but like him and his cheeky attitude, but when it's time to race, he's motivated, serious and is developing into a great racer."
Oli Bayliss: "I'm really happy with that result. I knew I would be able to race near the lead group, but to finish with a podium is awesome. I made some mistakes, and had a few moments out on track, but was able to keep my head, stay with the riders around me and keep pushing. Riding the 600 is so much fun. I'm learning a lot every time I ride the bike and I'm lucky to have a great team and sponsors behind me this year."
The Cube Racing Team now heads back to their Cube Performance Centre base on the Gold Coast before setting their sights on testing and ultimately Round 2 of the ASBK in Wakefield, near Goulburn, approximately 2.5 hours south-west of Sydney. For full race results from Round 1 of the ASBK CLICK HERE
Image Credit: TBGSport / Andrew Gosling
Next Race – Round 2, Wakefield, March 22-24
Stay up-to-date with the team throughout the year and over the race weekend via our social media:
* Facebook: @CubeRacing
* Instagram: @cuberacing
For more information on the Australian Superbike Championship head to www.asbk.com.au
Tough Start to Season for DesmoSport
WAIST LOCK LITE
We're really just a bunch of motorcycle enthusiasts with one thing in common: we like to think outside the box


text:
Home BARBERNV Eight barbers make final cut in hunt for Britain's Best Shave
Eight barbers make final cut in hunt for Britain's Best Shave
Eight barbers are celebrating this morning after securing their places in the final of a competition to find Britain's best wet shaving barber.
The group of hopefuls trounced scores of other talented barbers in heats across the country to be named regional winners – and were then whittled down from 12 to just 8 based on their overall scores, in order to get the green light for the final.
The successful barbers will now come face to face in a nail-biting shave-off, to be held inside a boxing ring at this year's Barber UK. Finalists will battle it out to impress judges on a range of criteria – including preparation, razor technique and post-shave routine, making a final bid for the crown – and the prestigious overall title of Britain's Best Wet Shaving Barber.
The final of the competition, organised by the esteemed British Barbers' Association and premium men's grooming brand The Bluebeards Revenge, will take place on the first day of the popular Barber UK trade show at the Birmingham NEC over the 22nd and 23rd May. Scores of spectators are expected to turn out for the event, which will see wet shaving expert and 2015 champion Luigi Caterino return to defend his title
This year's Best Shave winner will walk away with £500 worth of The Bluebeards Revenge grooming products and merchandise, and a chance to become an ambassador for the brand – as well as the much-coveted title of Britain's Best Wet Shaving Barber.
Nick Gibbens, marketing manager at The Bluebeards Revenge, said: "The level of talent in the first year of the competition was extremely high, but our 2015 entrants managed to exceed that to an impressive degree. This time around, the bar has been raised even higher, with some fresh new faces proving a real force to be reckoned with for last year's top contenders.
"The aim of Britain's Best Shave is to raise barbering standards across the industry as a whole, inspiring young barbers to reach the top of their game, but also enabling experienced barbers to put their skills to the test and see how far they have really come.
"Figures showed that the number of barbers performing cut-throat shaves had jumped by a whopping 50% in 2013, and the number has continued to rise over the past couple of years as we have seen wet shaving making its way firmly back into favour."
Mike Taylor, director of the British Barbers' Association, said that this year's heats were a close call.
"When it came to the scores on the doors in some of our regions, there were barely a couple of points in it. The standards were consistently high – and even more so than we have seen in previous years.
"It's clear that the word is getting about the competition, as we were inundated with entries this year. It's a really positive sign, and shows us how much those in the barbering industry want to be at the top of their game. They want to be the best, and that's what this competition is all about – not just being good, but being the very best that you possibly can be and offering clients an impeccable level of skill as well as incredible service."
The regional winners of Britain's Best Shave 2016 winners are:
London – Elvis Gjokaj (Alley Barbers, Epsom)
South East – Enver Yeshilbullut (Kings Barbers Male Grooming, Kent)
East Midlands – Shakar Bakini (Mojo Barbershop, Rugby)
West Midlands – Sadik Khalifa (Style Hair Arts, Nuneaton)
Scotland (and defending champion) – Luigi Caterino (The Italian Job Barbershop, Galashiels)
East Anglia – Liza Schwartz (Spencer's Hair Salon,
Northern Ireland – Barry McCafferty (The Derry Barber Company, Derry)
Wales – Sean Sweeney (Sweeney Barbershop, Dina Powys)
Yorkshire & The Humber – Kevin Voyse (Distinction Training Academy, Doncaster)
North East – Dan Ryan (Kutz Barbers, North Shields)
North West – Phil Christodoulides (Burgundi Male Grooming, Salford)
The line-up for the national final at Barber UK – Sunday 22nd May 2016
The draw is as follows:
QF1 – Luigi Caterino (Defending champion) vs Sadik Khalifa – (West Midlands Champion)
QF 2 – Liza Schwartz – (East Anglia champion) vs Sean Sweeney – (Wales champion)
QF3- Elvis Gjokaj (London champion) vs Barry McCafferty (NI champion)
QF4 – Shakar Bakini (East Midlands champion) vs Enver Yeshhilbulut (South East champion)
SF1 (QF1 vs QF2) – 2pm
Final (SF1 vs SF2) 4pm
Previous articleF.A.M.E. SPEND THE DAY WITH SKYLER MCDONALD
Next articleFudge Announces New London & South East Distributor


After sharing his heavily textured "Hatphones" tune with us last month, Berlin-based producer Comfort Fit (a.k.a. Boris Mezga) is now premiering a hypnotic video for the track "World's Falling Apart" from his just-released full-length of the same name. Eerily mirroring Mezga's unconventional collection of sounds, the clip introduces a string of off-kilter, nature-inspired images as it unfolds. It's also noticeably infused with a healthy dose of psychedelia—courtesy of directors Ricky Kershaw and Jeff Metal—eventually culminating in a heavy, kaleidoscopic time-lapse segment which parallels the track's darker undertones. Comfort Fit's Worlds Falling Apart is available now via First Word.


text:
Q: problems with Array.prototype.indexOf.call If i click the a element "Link1" e.target in the function is the node Link1. I want to know in what index this node is in the ul children in this case i want indexOf to return 0 because Link1 is on position 0, and i i click 2 i want it to be 1.
HTML

Link1

Link2

JAVASCRIPT
self.query('.link').forEach(function(linkNode, flikIndex, flikArr) {
    dojo.query(linkNode, 'click', function(e) {
        var t = e.target; //If i click Link1 this is Link1 and if i click Link2 and so on.
        var parent = t.parentNode; //Contains the parent to my a in this case li
        var ancestor = t.parentNode.parentNode.childNodes; //Containes 2 li
        var index = Array.prototype.indexOf.call(parent, ancestor); //Return -1 but i want it to return 0 because Link1 is on place [0] in the array.

    }
}

Please help me get the right index

A: var index = Array.prototype.indexOf.call(parent, ancestor);
//                                       ^ Array ^ Element in the array

So you want this:
var index = Array.prototype.indexOf.call(ancestor, parent);

Since ancestor is the element ("array") that contains parent.

A: Try this:
let nodes = Array.from( parent.closest('ul').children);
let index = nodes.indexOf(li);

When we work with a NodeList, getting the index of the li can be tricky using this approach:
var ancestor = t.parentNode.parentNode.childNodes;
var index = Array.prototype.indexOf.call(ancestor, parent);

If we have text in the lis, then these are also considered childNodes, and so the index of the li which is returned will be its index in the nodeList which consists of other children such as text, and not merely other lis. Therefore, you may not be getting the desired result in case you are only interested in the position of an li relative to the other lis in the ul


For the purchase of any article, we offer you the opportunity to pay in three times without fees.
When you finalise your order, you can use the button "Pay by credit card in 3 installments".
First payment will be debited at the order, the second one will come one month after and the last payment another month later, all equal amounts. You will not be charged any additional cost for this payment in three times.


text:
Case: Bring ›
Bring Logistics, a leading third-party logistics provider in the Nordic region, use a Rocla automation solution in their warehouse in Berger, near Oslo. Nine Rocla VNA AGVs handle the pallets in the very narrow-aisled racking area.
The 32,000-square-metre, highly automated Skedsmo Logistic Center opened in the spring of 2010. Nine Rocla VNA units, automated guided vehicles designed for facilities with narrow aisles, handle the pallets in the very narrow-aisled racking area. Automating such processes in the warehouse increases safety and reduces the operation costs.
The racking area where the vehicles operate contains, in total, 81,200 pallet places, extending to a height of 10.65 metres. The automated trucks pick up and leave their loads at a conveyor when transporting pallets into and out of the racking area. The transport capacity is 173 pallets an hour, with a maximum lifting capacity of 1,000 kg per pallet.
Using Rocla AGVs in VNA warehouses minimises the risk of incorrect load handling. These AGVs handle the loads in the same way every time, and the risk of pallets falling is very low. Automation also reduces the need for personnel working in the same area, which limits the risk of a serious incident. The temperature in the Bring Logistics racking area is lower and there is less light than in a traditional warehouse with human-operated VNA trucks, factors that reduce energy consumption.
Rocla's automated guided vehicles use multi-method navigation in the Bring Logistics warehouse: laser navigation in the master aisle and inductive wire navigation in the narrow aisles. The AGVs are equipped with triplex masts and sideways telescopic forks as used in Rocla's manual narrow-aisle truck. Thanks to Rocla's modular design and use of standard components, the delivery time was shorter than in traditional automation projects. The time to return on investment for an investment of this nature in three-shift operation is less than two years.
Other Case Studies
"Automating pallet handling was a more cost-efficient solution than using a manual solution. We chose Rocla because Rocla was able to offer a proven technology concept to fit our demands related to safety and function," explains Mr Geir Nielsen, the logistics director at Bring Logistics.
Very Narrow Aisle with Tri-Lateral Head


Young Thug was recently called out by someone online, after a video of his daughter was posted by his baby's mother, in which she says she misses her dad.
Thugger was then accused of being a deadbeat dad, who needs to spend more time with his children.
So, in typical Young Thug fashion, he stunted on Instagram, posting up a number of receipts totaling thousands… spent at retailers like Ugg, J. Crew, Club Monaco and Bloomingdale's. Items on the list included kids shoes and clothes.
Each photo (since deleted) featured the caption, "Dead beat," along with a crying and laughing emoji, proving that Thugger provides for his children.


Window replacement prices range between £340 & £2115 incl. VAT & Installation.
Whether you're building a new home or thinking of replacing your existing windows, it's important to understand all the options available to you. However, with all the different styles, materials and features to choose between, we understand that selecting the right windows for your property can seem a little daunting. To ensure you make an informed decision in purchasing the right windows, we've put together this helpful guide.
Windows are an incredibly important element of your home as they are now designed to make your living space more comfortable, secure and energy efficient. Before committing to making a purchase, you must determine your exact needs and budget, along with the best window type for your property.
Think seriously about the style of your home and the look you wish to achieve before selecting your windows. This is quite important, especially as some window types are more suited to modern or traditional looking properties. Remember, the last thing you want to do is invest in a new set of windows that stand out for all the wrong reasons.
Once you've considered each design and chosen an ideal window type, your next step is to review your budget. You also need to factor in the additional installation and removal costs, as well as any optional extras.
Let's say you're on a limited budget but like the idea of investing in triple glazed windows. It might be that you can't quite stretch to triple glazing and will need to opt for double glazing instead. With so many materials, glazing and bespoke options available, it shouldn't be difficult to make smart choices while sticking to your budget.
When you consider that a new window is priced between £160 and £1825 before installation costs, you must always take all of the other costings into account to work out how much you will actually need to spend.
If your windows are more than a couple of decades old, it's likely that they'll need replacing. Old windows lack insulating properties and are terrible culprits for allowing draughts to enter your property. They are also prone to sticking as they get older and can become easily damaged, warped or broken compared to modern windows.
The best thing you can do is check all the windows in your home to get a feel for what they're telling you. If they stick, fog up, feel draughty or don't work in the same way they did when you purchased them, then they're trying to tell you that they need to be replaced.
Nowadays, windows are much more energy efficient and can reduce your energy bills by around 10% to 25%. They're also highly effective at making your home a more comfortable place to live because they keep your home warmer during the colder months and pleasantly cool during the warmer months of the year.
Then there's the fact that newer windows require less maintenance. Even if you don't live in a coastal region, older window styles need looking after more than their modern day alternatives. Depending on the finish you choose, you can now enjoy virtually maintenance-free windows.
Plus, many modern window styles will enhance your home's security and be less of an easy target for potential intruders. Most window types come with high-quality locks or feature strong casements and glazing to better protect the safety of your household.
Another advantage of replacing your windows is that you can really improve the appearance of your home. There are lots of impressive window styles and casements to choose between, making it easy to add real value to your property. A set of stunning windows is a big selling point too, especially when they're energy efficient, low-maintenance and highly secure.
We're going to share some key information about each window type to make the decision process a little easier.
A typical bay window is constructed of a number of central windows and various side windows that project outwards from your property. The side windows are usually smaller than the centre windows and set at a 30 or 40-degree angle. The entire window unit projects outwards to provide you with a better view and a deeper window sill area that can be used for storage or as a window seat.
3, 4 or 5 section bay windows are a popular choice among homeowners because they allow ventilation and natural light to enter a property from two directions. They also help to make your living space appear more spacious.
The larger the bay window and the more sections you choose to have, the higher the price.
Although most people think bow windows are the same as bay windows, they are actually quite different. They are usually designed with 3, 4 or 5 window sections that are put together to form a curve shape that projects outwards from your exterior wall. As a bow window is curved, you won't be left with any protruding corners. You can also choose from various designs including awning, casement and double-hung, as well as opt for operable or fixed window sections.
By protruding outwards, bow windows make your room seem larger than it really is. They also enable more natural light to flood your space and can greatly enhance your view of the outdoors.
With the right glazing, a bow window can meet your energy efficiency requirements and keep your home comfortable throughout the year.
Sash windows can be made to slide up or down (or both) and open fully or partially. You simply slide one window over the other to open the sash window. They are made with a spring or spiral balance to ensure the window stays open in its desired position. This type of window is also capable of tilting inwards and outwards to help make cleaning easy.
Modern uPVC sash windows can come with various locking systems to enhance your window security. As they can be opened from both the top and bottom, they can allow warm air to escape while letting cool breezes into your home. Sash windows also tend to be reasonably priced, ranging from £475 to £825. Just be aware that you will pay more for sash windows with woodgrain finishes.
Modern day casement windows are hinged on the side and open outwards with the use of a single-lever latch. If you prefer, you can opt for a casement window with an additional small top window. This smaller window (also known as an awning window) is hinged at the top and opened in the same way as the main casement window. You can also have a fixed casement window, which is ideal for allowing more natural light into a room.
Casement windows tend to be installed in hard to reach areas, such as above the kitchen sink because they are easy to operate. You simply open and close the window by turning the lever and pushing the window outwards. Fully operable casement windows range from £425 to £700, and fixed casement windows cost between £335 and £600.
Tilt and turn windows can be tilted inwards and opened fully to give you complete control over ventilation. They can even be positioned at a precise angle for a smaller opening and immediate access to fresh air without compromising security. With just one simple hand action, you open, tilt, turn or close your window.
As tilt and turn windows can be opened to around 180 degrees, they're ideal for various properties including high rise flats and apartments. Thanks to the unique dual action movement, these windows are extremely easy to clean from the comfort of your home. They also offer secure ventilation and can be used as a convenient fire escape when installed on a ground floor. Tilt and turn windows are affordably priced, ranging between £450 and £675.
Unlike standard casement windows, French casement windows boast two separate windows that meet in the middle. Both windows will be hinged on the side nearest to the wall and one of the windows will be built with a flying mullion. These windows perform in a very similar way to French doors because they open horizontally from the central point and leave you with unobstructed views. They also come with a single-lever hatch for effortless operation.
Not only can you allow plenty of fresh air to flood your home in seconds but you can also install French casement windows in any lower or upper storey room of your home. They're also energy efficient, fitted with high-security locks and ideal fire escapes when installed in rooms on the ground floor. As for pricing, the typical cost of a French casement window is between £350 and £725.
Double glazed windows come with an extra layer of insulation to prevent heat loss and guard your home against noise pollution. They are designed to make your property more energy efficient and comfortable year after year. By retaining heat during the colder seasons and keeping your rooms cooler in the summer months, double glazing can also help to reduce your energy bills. As double glazed windows are virtually impossible to force open, your household can also feel more safe and secure.
The amount you will need to spend on the right double glazed units will depend on which type you choose. There are various options available including bay windows, sash windows, bow windows, casement windows, French casement windows, tilt and turn windows and A-rated windows. Prices start at around £1100 and can reach up to as much as £2100.
Triple glazed windows work in the same way as double glazed windows while offering a better level of security, noise insulation and energy efficiency. They also reduce heat loss and ensure your home can be heated in less time, which in turn, helps to save you money on your energy bills. Many homeowners and property developers refuse to settle for anything less than triple glazed windows because they can achieve such low U-values.
Renowned for their sound insulation qualities and excellent security, triple glazed windows are ideal for all homes including those located in areas that experience extreme weather conditions. As they consist of 3 glazed panels, they keep noise pollution out and are virtually impossible to break into. Casement style triple glazed windows range from £310 to £450 and triple glazed windows with one opener are priced at £425 to £575.
As you've probably already guessed, A-rated energy efficient windows improve the energy efficiency of your home and help to reduce your carbon emissions. That means you can save money on your energy bills while enjoying a comfortable living space throughout the changing seasons of the year. These windows are built with either double glazing or triple glazing to allow plenty of light into your property and prevent the heat from escaping.
A-rated energy efficient windows also act as excellent sound barriers and keep noise pollution at bay. They're also incredibly strong and secure, which means they'll last for many years to come and increase the value of your property. As the current building regulations state that all new homes must be built with windows that come with a minimum of a C energy rating, A-rated windows are a smart choice. The average price for an A-rated window is between £410 and £775.
It comes as no surprise that timber and wooden windows are a favourite among homeowners for their magnificent looks. However, you may not be aware that they're also a leading choice for longevity and performance. Wood is a natural insulator, which means a set of timber or wooden windows will improve energy efficiency and create a barrier against outdoor noise. Plus, with the right maintenance, your timber windows will look their best for many years.
One of the really great things about timber and wooden windows is that they suit all kinds of modern and period properties. They're also an eco-friendly option because timber is a sustainable and renewable material. Top-quality timber and wooden window prices start at £475 and go up to around £875.
Feel free to check out our guide below for more information about prices on suitable replacement windows for your home.


text:
(Chris Haston/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)
BTS And Halsey Dance Together For Magical First 'Boy With Luv' Performance
And received deafening screams from the Billboard Music Awards audience
Trey Alston 05/02/2019
K-pop sensations BTS had the Billboard Music Awards audience screaming at the top of their lungs on Wednesday night (May 1) as they performed "Boy With Luv" onstage for the first time live with Halsey. It was a mythical set that further cemented them as global superstars. The magic's in the shoulders. As they rolled them from left to right and then back, a new age dawned on pop music. It's the age of BTS.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TmmvTBOAPEY
BTS didn't walk onto the stage: They came from under a wall, backs turned toward the audience. They emerged with a theater in the background and for their energetic performance, they offered a show outside of it. They could barely contain the smiles that made frantic dashes to the edges of their faces while they glided around the stage. It was magical. They were a synchronized entity, matching each other's bouncing shoulders and body jerks. Halsey snuck in behind them and came right through the middle and hopped into the routine without missing a step. She was all smiles throughout the energetic number and by the time that the figurative smoke cleared, the screams from the cloud burned through the silence of the night.
BTS released their new album Map of the Soul: Persona earlier this month. Soon after, they performed "Boy With Luv" on Saturday Night Live. Halsey recently wrote an honorable entry about the boy band's artistry and influential aspects for Time's 100 Most Influential People of 2019 list.
Check out a video of the performance up above.


text:
Q: Apache Camel - Transferir un archivo por MQ Websphere quiero transmitir un archivo de un servidor a otro por medio de Camel.
Cuando leo el archivo y lo envio a MQ lo hago de la siguiente manera:
<route id="FileToMQ">
   <from uri="file:/home/walter/Pru/Entrada"/>
   <to uri="wmq:ALPHA.QREMOTE.NOVEDADES.BETA?grouping=true&groupMessageSize=2097152"/>
</route>

y luego otra ruta para recibir el mensaje de MQ y guardarlo nuevamente en una carpeta.
<route id="MQtoFile">
    <from uri="wmq2:ALPHA.ALL.NOVEDADES.BETA?grouping=true"/>
    <to uri="file:/home/walter/Pru/Salida"/>
</route>

El problema es que un archivo se genera en /home/walter/Pru/Salida pero con un nombre como "ID-servidor3-49815-1518022285419-197-1"
Como debería hacer para no perder el nombre del archivo y que en la salida se genere el mismo nombre del archivo de entrada?
Muchas gracias,
Walter

A: No deberías usar el parámetro grouping=true.
Lo que estás haciendo es agregar diferentes ficheros en uno y eso implica que el resultado es un nuevo mensaje Camel, perdiendo los headers originales.


If there is one thing I love most about working with couples, it's being a part of a wedding day – the full day! In spending the whole day with you, I am able to tell the story from beginning to end with beautiful images. I may not be shooting every second, but I love being there when everyone is getting ready.
Capturing those sweet moments, like when the stylist is setting your final curls, is amazing. Or like when make-up is done and your favourite people surround you to help you into your wedding gown – each moment is simple, and yet stunning.
No matter where the getting ready is happening, whether it be a hotel room, a home or your favourite hideaway, there are a few things to think about. To get the most out of your getting ready moments, consider setting yourself up for the perfect images with these tips.
1 Pick a room that's flooded with natural light – the brightest room is the best!
2 Ask your hair and make-up artist to set you up by a big window – again we are wanting to find that natural light.
3 Ensure your room is cleared, organized and de-cluttered (this one is a biggie, and it's harder to accomplish than it seems, so take some stress off yourself and ask your bridesmaids to help).
4 Don't forget to order food and schedule enough time to eat it – right before your lips are done!
5 If you'd like your mother and/or bridesmaids to help you get ready, let them know that they need to be fully dressed before you get into your gown.
6 Blank walls and/or white walls are awesome for beauty shots. Yes, we will want to take a minute or two to photograph just you, the bride-to-be, when your hair and make-up are fresh and you're fully dressed.
7 Lay out your details ahead of time. Place your jewelry, shoes and dress alongside any printed/paper goods like invitations, ceremony programs, etc. This way, I can easily find and photograph your details while you're getting your hair and make-up done.
8 Don't skimp on the lipstick or blush! Regardless of your skin tone, photography will wash out a bit of the colour. Bold lips look amazing in photographs, don't be shy!
Remember these are just tips based on my experience – let these be guidelines and not stress factors!
And, most of these tips apply to guys, too – less the make-up tips, of course!


Silverado is located in California. Silverado, California has a population of 2,033. Silverado is less family-centric than the surrounding county with 26.53% of the households containing married families with children. The county average for households married with children is 37.36%.
The median household income in Silverado, California is $84,750. The median household income for the surrounding county is $75,998 compared to the national median of $53,482. The median age of people living in Silverado is 46.7 years.
The average high temperature in July is 88.6 degrees, with an average low temperature in January of 46.2 degrees. The average rainfall is approximately 13.8 inches per year, with 0 inches of snow per year. No weather information available.


text:
Home > JT Archives > Live
The true jazz experience happens onstage in front of an audience—our concert and festival reviewers take you there.
Everything's Great in Guelph — Unless You Ask Sainkho Namtchylak
Stuart Nicholson
Ornette Coleman's remarkable career has operated at two levels: fighting the battle every lonely visionary must fight and fighting against the frustration that flows from this. It has meant the alto saxophonist, who once threatened to pull the jazz temple down by abandoning prearranged harmony and to some extent the constraints of bar lines as … Read More "Everything's Great in Guelph — Unless You Ask Sainkho Namtchylak"
Josef Woodard
Greetings from cold, snowy Moscow, Idaho, temporary jazz capitol of America. Between February 21 and 23, this modest college town just east of the Washington state line is inundated with jazz activity, with a veritable nomadic encampment of student band competitions (junior high through college), master classes, workshops and a roster of celebrated artists. The … Read More "Everything's Great in Guelph — Unless You Ask Sainkho Namtchylak"
Don Henke
Alto Saxophonist Lee Konitz and pianist Frank Kimbrough played a one-time only duo performance at the Dayton Art Institute on Saturday, January 20, under the auspices of Cityfolk, Dayton's jazz and ethnic presenting organization. Cityfolk's Dave Barber introduced Konitz and he came out to play an extended solo improvisation on Cole Porter's "The Song is … Read More "Everything's Great in Guelph — Unless You Ask Sainkho Namtchylak"
John Murph
The Library of Congress presented trumpeter, composer and controversy-stirrer Dave Douglas in a delightful portrait of three colors on October 14. The debut of his emotionally complex commissioned piece, "Irrational Exuberance for Violin and Piano," for piano and violin, was the centerpiece of the evening, while performances with his groups, Charms of the Night Sky … Read More "Everything's Great in Guelph — Unless You Ask Sainkho Namtchylak"
Doug Ramsey
The Vail festival grew out of an idea that originated in Colorado in 1963 when Dick Gibson began his jazz parties. The Gibson affair became the model for dozens of similar gatherings but, with Gibson and his parties long gone, Vail expands beyond private jam sessions for wealthy subscribers. Beginning in late July with a … Read More "Everything's Great in Guelph — Unless You Ask Sainkho Namtchylak"
Estoril, near Lisbon on Portugal's sun-drenched coast, is the home of one of Europe's most intimate jazz events. For the festival's 19th year, impresario Duarte Mendonca presented concerts by four established artists and two intriguing lesser-known musicians, Dena DeRose and Bill Carrothers, between July 7 and 15. The festival also included club performances and a … Read More "Everything's Great in Guelph — Unless You Ask Sainkho Namtchylak"
Five Essential Mary Lou Williams Albums
Chick Corea 1941–2021
Sonny Rollins: Bright Moments
Top 10 Jazz Albums of the 1980s: Readers' Picks