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Tag Archives: J. L. Carr
2020 has been a tumultuous year for obvious reasons. I've read somewhere in the region of 100 books – most of them in the first half of the year while on furlough during the national lockdown. A stressful time for many of us, I'm sure; but it did give me the chance to read some excellent books, many of which feature in my highlights of the year.
This time, I'm spreading my books of the year across a couple of posts – novellas and non-fiction in this first piece, with my favourite novels to follow next week. With the exception of some of the memoirs, most of these books were first published several years ago – a factor that reflects the types of books I tend to enjoy reading. So, if you're looking for the best *new* books published in 2020, this is not the place to come – there are many other literary blogs which cover that territory very thoroughly…
So, without further ado, here are my favourite novellas and non-fiction books from a year of reading. These are the books I loved, the books that have stayed with me, the ones I'm most likely to recommend to others. I've summarised each one in this post, but you can read the full reviews by clicking on the appropriate links.
The Dig by Cynan Jones
A haunting, deeply moving book about death, grief, brutality and compassion, beautifully expressed in spare, poetic prose. The narrative focuses on Daniel, a recently widowed sheep farmer struggling to cope with the lambing season deep in rural Wales. In writing The Dig, Jones has crafted an enduring story of loss, isolation and savagery in a harsh, unforgiving world – and yet, there is great tenderness here too, a sense of beauty in the language, particularly in Daniel's memories of times past.
The Ballad of Peckham Rye by Muriel Spark
The gloriously off-kilter world of Muriel Spark continues to be a source of fascination for me. I loved this novella; it's wonderfully dark and twisted, characteristically Sparkian in its unconventional view. Dougal Douglas is a particularly sinister character, a mercurial individual who brings chaos into the lives of those he encounters. There is a touch of the dark arts about this novella with its slyly manipulative protagonist. If you liked Spark's The Driver's Seat, chances are you'll enjoy this too.
Winter in Sokcho by Elisa Shua Dusapin (tr. Aneesa Abbas Higgins)
A haunting yet captivating novella of great tenderness and beauty – a story encompassing themes of detachment, fleeting connections and the pressure to conform to society's expectations. The narrator – a young woman who remains unnamed throughout – is something of a misfit in her community, her French-Korean origins marking her out as a source of speculation amongst the locals. Into her life comes Kerrand, a French graphic artist from Normandy whose speciality is creating comics. Almost immediately, there is a certain frisson to the interactions between the two, a connection that waxes and wanes as the days slip by. The book's enigmatic ending only adds to its sense of mystery.
The Harpole Report by J. L. Carr,
Earlier this year, I read Carr's excellent 'football' novella, How Steeple Sinderby Wanderers Won the FA Cup in which a team of plucky underdogs overcome the mighty Glasgow Rangers to scoop the much-prized trophy. It's a book that shares something with the author's earlier novella, The Harpole Report, which takes another British institution – in this instance, a Church of England Primary School – as its focus for a most amusing satire. In essence, the book constructs a picture of a term at St Nicholas C of E, during which George Harpole – who has taught there for some time – is appointed as the school's Temporary Head. This is a very amusing book that perfectly captures the preoccupations and absurdities of state-funded education in the early 1970s. A marvellous period piece imbued with nostalgia.
Love by Hanne Ørstavik (tr. Martin Aitken)
This haunting, dreamlike story of a neglectful single mother and her eight-year-old son will almost certainly get under your skin. Right from the start of the book, there is a something of a disconnect between parent and child, a sense of separateness or isolation that sets them apart from one another. The narrative unfolds over a bitterly cold night, during which these two individuals embark on separate yet strangely connected journeys, searching for their own sense of fulfilment in an uncertain world. The ambiguous nature of the ending only adds to the unnerving feel of the novel as a whole. One for book groups and individual readers alike.
Motherwell: A Girlhood by Deborah Orr
Ostensibly a memoir exploring Orr's childhood – in particular the fractured relationship between the author and her mother Win, a formidable woman who held the reins of power within the family's household. Moreover, this powerful book also gives readers a searing insight into a key period of Scotland's social history, successfully conveying the devastating impact of the steel industry's decimation – especially on Motherwell (where Orr grew up) and the surrounding community. This is a humane, beautifully-written book of how our early experiences and the communities we live in can shape us, possibly prompting us to strive for something better in the years that follow.
Square Haunting by Francesca Wade
A fascinating collection of mini-biographies, focusing on five female inhabitants of Bloomsbury's Mecklenburgh Square, including Dorothy L. Sayers, Eileen Power and Virginia Woolf. What I love about this book is the way the author uses this particular location as a prism through which to view the lives of these pioneering women, painting a rich tapestry of life within London's cultural milieu from the end of WW1 to the beginning of WW2. In short, an erudite, evocative and beautifully constructed book, highly recommended for anyone interested in London's social/cultural scene in the 1920s and '30s.
The Lonely City by Olivia Laing
This is a terrific read – a compassionate, multifaceted discourse on what it means to feel lonely and exposed in a fast-moving city, a place that feels alive and alienating all at once. At the time of writing this book, Laing was living in New York, recently separated from her former partner, an experience that had left her feeling somewhat adrift and alone. During the months that followed, Laing found herself drawn to the work of several visual and creative artists that had captured something of the inner loneliness of NYC, a sense of urban isolation or alienation. Through a combination of investigation, cultural commentary and memoir, she explores the nature of loneliness, how it manifests itself both in the creative arts and in our lives. A fascinating book, beautifully written and constructed – a contemporary classic in the making.
Broken Greek by Pete Paphides
Ostensibly a childhood memoir, Broken Greek offers a moving account of Paphides's upbringing in the suburbs of Birmingham in the 1970s and early '80s – 'a story of chip shops and pop songs,' as the subtitle accurately declares. In writing Broken Greek, Paphides has given us a tender, affectionate, humorous memoir, one that brilliantly conveys the power of music – not only for the emotions it stirs within us but as a means of deepening our understanding of life and humanity, too. I read this during lockdown, and it lifted my mood considerably.
How to Cook a Wolf by M. F. K. Fisher
Another excellent lockdown read, but for very different reasons to those for Broken Greek. Initially published in 1942 and subsequently updated in the 1950s, How to Cook a Wolf is a terrifically witty discourse on how to eat as well (or as decently) as possible on limited resources. In her characteristically engaging style, Fisher encourages us to savour the pleasures of simple dishes: the delights of a carefully cooked omelette; the heartiness of a well-flavoured soup; and the comforting taste of a baked apple with cinnamon milk at the end of a good meal. The writing is spirited and full of intelligence, a style that seems to reflect Fisher's personality as well as her approach to cooking. A rediscovered gem to dip into for pleasure.
The Shapeless Unease by Samantha Harvey
Harvey's book is something of a companion piece to Insomnia, Marina Benjamin's luminous meditation on the hinterland between longed-for sleep and unwelcome wakefulness. The Shapeless Unease brilliantly evokes the fragmentary nature of this interminable condition, perfectly capturing the freewheeling association between seemingly disparate thoughts as the mind flits from one topic to another. Along the way, Harvey touches on a range of other subjects with her characteristic blend of insight and intelligence – topics ranging from loss, grief, childhood, writing, swimming and the distortion of our national values into the divisions wielded by Brexit. One to keep by the bedside for the long white nights when sleep fails to come.
House of Glass by Hadley Freeman
I loved this thoroughly absorbing memoir by the journalist Hadley Freeman, a book that combines the personal and the political in an emotionally involving way. Ostensibly, House of Glass tells the story of Freeman's Jewish grandmother, Sala, and her family, a narrative that spans the whole of the 20th century. It's a book that asks searching questions about a whole host of issues including familial identity, integration, personal outlook, xenophobia and social mobility – topics that remain all too relevant in Europe and the wider world today, where instances of racism and nationalism are still very much in evidence.
So, that's it for my novellas and non-fiction books of the year. My one regret is that I never found the time to write about Craig Brown's Ma'am Darling, a book I adored. Join me again next week when I'll be sharing my favourite novels from a year of reading.
This entry was posted in Ørstavik Hanne, Backlisted Writers, Book Reviews, Books of the Year, Carr J. L., Dusapin Elisa Shua, Fisher M. F. K., Freeman Hadley, Harvey Samantha, Jones Cynan, Laing Olivia, Orr Deboarh, Paphides Pete, Spark Muriel, Wade Francesca, Women in Translation and tagged Aneesa Abbas Higgins, Cynan Jones, Deborah Orr, Elisa Shua Dusapin, Francesca Wade, Hadley Freeman, Hanne Ørstavik, J. L. Carr, M. F. K. Fisher, Martin Aitken, Muriel Spark, Olivia Laing, Pete Paphides, Samantha Harvey on December 15, 2020 by JacquiWine.
The Harpole Report by J. L. Carr
Earlier this year, I read Carr's excellent 'football' novella, How Steeple Sinderby Wanderers Won the FA Cup (1975), in which a team of plucky underdogs overcome the mighty Glasgow Rangers to scoop the much-prized trophy. It's a book that shares something with the author's 1972 novella, The Harpole Report, which takes another British institution – in this instance, a Church of England Primary School – as its focus for a most amusing satire. It really is a terrifically funny book, a throwback to the golden age of British comedy in the 1970s.
In essence, the book constructs a picture of a term at St Nicholas C of E, during which George Harpole – who has taught there for some time – is appointed as the school's Temporary Headmaster. (It turns out that the previous Head, Mr Chadband, has been granted a leave of absence, supposedly for the pursuit of professional studies. However, from one or two hints revealed during the book, the exact nature of these 'studies' appears to be somewhat dubious.)
The story unfolds through a combination of sources, including excerpts from Harpole's journal; entries in the official school log-book; memos between Harpole and Mr Tusker, the Assistant Education Officer at the Local Authority; letters from Harpole to his fiancée, Edith Wardle; and various other documents. Interspersed with these vignettes are observations from an unnamed individual who has been commissioned to compile an independent report on Harpole's tenure as Acting Head. It's a very engaging technique, one that enables a surprisingly vivid picture to be pieced together from a variety of different perspectives, especially with the benefit of reading between the lines.
As one might imagine, there are many trials and tribulations to be faced when running a school. During term-time, the well-intentioned Harpole must deal with a plethora of problems from disgruntled parents to sensitive members of staff and pupils, all set within an environment hampered by petty bureaucracy and constrained resources.
Some of the novella's most amusing scenes are conveyed through the administrative memos from Harpole to Tusker and vice versa. In this passage, Tusker is responding to a complaint by Mr Theaker, the school caretaker, who has taken umbrage at being asked to hoist the Union Jack flag on a daily basis. The resultant memo from Tusker to Harpole is typical of this official's communications, characterised by their antagonistic, narrow-minded style.
TUSKER TO HARPOLE
I was called upon to-day by the industrial disputes officer of the Transport and General Workers' Union, complaining that you have instructed your caretaker, Mr E. E. Theaker, to hoist a flag each morning.
I would point out that the Local Educational Committee has laid down the principal duties of its caretakers are to maintain (a) Heat (b) Cleanliness (c) Security, and that Other Duties should only be undertaken when and if time permits. In view of this, no doubt you would like to re-consider the ill-considered position you have taken up, and I shall expect to hear what course of action in this vexatious matter you propose to take.
I note that you have not yet informed me why you require a second flag. (p. 7)
Theaker – a man who is something of a law unto himself – proves to be the cause of another incident when one of the teachers, Mr Pintle, discovers that his precious teaching aids for History lessons have disappeared from the school's storeroom…
[HARPOLE'S] JOURNAL
…Just as I was going home, Pintle, almost incoherent, rage intermingled with grief, burst accusingly in. This being the season of the year when he does the Normans, he had been to the Surplus Apparatus and Staff Illustration Store to put back his Viking longship (made of 3,500 matchsticks) and to take out his cardboard Norman Keep. Apparently the Store was empty and the Keep (which he had made in his first year out of college) had gone. I hurried back with him and the little room was certainly empty of educational apparatus and now housed brushes, mops, cleaning paraphernalia, a child's desk and an old armchair.
As I gazed unbelievingly at this, Theaker came round the corner. He was taken aback but rallied, declaring defiantly before I had time to speak, 'Well, it was only full of junk.' (p. 36)
This journal entry captures something of the book's character, a humorous, idiosyncratic style that runs through much of Carr's work.
By conveying Harpole's approach and leadership of the school, Carr is able to touch on various social issues of the day, weaving them into the narrative in a wonderfully satirical way. The damaging impact of corporal punishment; the negative effects of streaming; and the unfairness of social discrimination, especially against girls, all feature at one point or another in the book.
Poverty, malnutrition and lack of support at home are also topics that Harpole must turn his mind to, especially when the Widmerpools (surely a nod to the odious Kenneth Widmerpool from A Dance to the Music of Time) move into the catchment area. The junior Widemerpools are a notoriously unruly bunch, with reading ages well below the expected levels. A programme of intensive reading produces some excellent results, if only this encouraging run of progress could be maintained…
In addition to these knotty sociopolitical issues, there are more light-hearted activities for Harpole to contend with, including Sports Day, school outings, and an amorous governor to name but a few.
Alongside Harpole himself – who emerges as a principled, well-intentioned man, battling against an archaic, bureaucratic system – the pen-portraits of the other teachers are beautifully sketched. There is young Miss Foxberrow, an energetic Cambridge graduate with progressive ideas; Mr Croser, a rather smug young teacher with strong moral standards; Mrs Grindle-Jones, a traditionalist rapidly approaching retirement; and Miss Tollemarche, whose note-taking on the attendance register is hopelessly inaccurate. Each one presents a particular challenge for Harpole in their own individual way.
Also of note are the letters from Miss Foxberrow to her sister, Felicity, commenting on Harpole and the various developments at the school. These too are wonderfully humorous, revealing something of Miss Foxberrow as a character and her growing admiration for the Temporary Head. Finally, on the personal front, there are the notes from Harpole to his fiancée, Edith, in which he relates the potential theft of a missing spanner and the subsequent lack of interest in the case from the police – another source of amusement in this sharply satirical tale.
In summary, this is a marvellously funny book that perfectly captures the preoccupations and absurdities of state-funded education in the early 1970s. A period piece imbued with nostalgia.
My copy of The Harpole Report was published by Penguin Books; personal copy.
This entry was posted in Book Reviews, Carr J. L. and tagged Book Review, Fiction, J. L. Carr, Penguin Books, UK on September 17, 2020 by JacquiWine.
How Steeple Sinderby Wanderers Won the FA Cup by J. L. Carr
The British writer and publisher J. L. Carr is undoubtedly best known for his masterpiece, A Month in the Country (1980), a book I truly adore. Nevertheless, this author is much more than a one-book wonder as his excellent 1975 novella, How Steeple Sinderby Wanderers Won the FA Cup, clearly demonstrates.
I loved this tale of the plucky underdogs – titular non-leaguers Steeple Sinderby Wanderers – overcoming all the odds to beat the mighty Glasgow Rangers, scooping the much-prized FA Cup in the process. Although very different in style to Carr's most famous work, How Steeple Sinderby… shares something of that novella's tone, an air of wistfulness and longing for halcyon times past.
In short, the book charts the progress of a village football team who, through a combination of talent, discipline and determination, achieve their dream of going all the way to cup final and snatching victory in the game's closing minutes.
And then the truly magnificent Slingsby, who had withstood this assault like a rock, gathered the ball and, on the turn, squeezed a fierce low kick from the scrum. And one wondered… one wondered if this had been plotted months ago when this village side was still lost in the obscurity of the midland plains. It had been All or Nothing. Nothing if McGarrity had scored, Nothing if Wilmslow hadn't risen from the earth… If, if, if… (p.111)
Crucial to the team are its key players: centre forward Sid Smith, a once-promising striker now lured out of retirement; Monkey Tonks, the local milkman whose strength and agility make him an ideal candidate for goalkeeper; and last but not least, Alan Slingsby, whose earlier career at Aston Villa was cut short due to his wife's need for round-the-clock care.
The story is narrated by a local man, Joe Gidner, who is tasked with documenting the official history of the Wanderers' triumph. As such, the novella comprises Gidner's reflections on the season, intercut with extracts from newspaper reports on crucial matches, along with the occasional summary of committee meetings at the Club. Several of the press reports are penned by Alice (Ginchy) Trigger, a staff reporter from the East Barset Weekly Messenger. Ginchy – whose remit covers funerals, inquests, weddings and all sport – is one of a cast of idiosyncratic characters who give Carr's novella its wonderful sense of place, rooted as it is in a somewhat eccentric rural community, quintessentially English in tone. At one point, Ginchy is asked to provide a running audio commentary on one of the games, for broadcast to an orchard full of restless Hartlepool fans who were unable to gain entry to the ground. It's gloriously eccentric, full of partisan enthusiasm for the plucky home side.
They're all around Monkey Tonks and he's trying to push them away as he can't see. And everybody's running into one another and the ball's knocked two of theirs down. HE'S RUNNING! BILLY SLEDMER's RUNNING! There's nobody in front of him but their goalie and he's coming out crouching. HE'S SCORED! We've got THREE. THEY CAN'T WIN US NOW! (pp. 69–70)
Mr Fangfoss, the formidable Club Chairman, is also worthy of a mention here, a confident, outspoken man who sees off all-comers – the meddling Club President included – with the most marvellous of put-downs.
The Club's tactical guru, the Hungarian Dr Kossuth, is another highly memorable character. Here he is with his beautiful, breathtaking wife, arriving at the ground for a pre-tournament match.
On this particularly fine April day she was wearing her expensive leopard skin coat with a little fur hat perched on her heaped-up hair and long leather boots. And the Doctor was wearing a long black Central European overcoat with the astrakhan collar which marked him as having seen better days. Naturally, I refused to take their 5p admission. (pp. 11–12)
En route to the final, the Wanderers must face all manner of opposition, from the confident Barchester City – the first of the Big Boys in the qualifying rounds – to the much-fancied team from Manchester, complete with a coterie of fans who run riot through the village.
There is a wonderful comic tone running through this novella, from the descriptions of the Wanderers' preparations to the observations on their various opponents. I love this passage on Barchester, a town much despised by its neighbours for the smugness of its residents.
Barchester has a cathedral and, until they built the Discount Hyper-Market, this was its biggest attraction. On fine Saturdays the City draws about 250 paying spectators, augmented by between 20 and 30 Pensioners who are driven out for air from the Cathedral Almshouses by the Warden Canon. But, in cold, wet weather, they get no more than 70 or 80 – including the full tally of Pensioners – all huddled in their 'grandstand', which is very interesting architecturally because it tones in with the Cathedral and is the only football building mentioned in the Professor Pevsner's 'Buildings of England'. (p. 43)
The spirit of village league football is also beautifully conveyed – an endeavour where belief and enthusiasm are all important, irrespective of the ramshackle nature of the set-up.
What strikes me about this marvellous novella is some of the aspects it shares with A Month in the Country despite the apparent difference in focus. As in Country, the fleeting nature of happiness is a key theme here, a sense that what has passed can never be recaptured, however much we wish it could be. Probably the best we can do is to cherish the memories, keeping them alive in our hearts and minds.
The book also has some interesting things to say about the nature of life in a rural community, almost as if there is something broader going on here alongside the touching tale of wish fulfilment.
People don't know about rural England between the last Mystery Autumn Foliage Coach Trip and the Mystery Blossom Journey into Spring. Mud, fog, dripping trees, blackness, floods, mighty rushing winds under doors that don't fit, damp hassocks, sticking organ keys, stone floors and that dreadful smell of decay. (p. 11)
For a novella first published in 1975, it also feels somewhat ahead of its time in terms of insights into the modern game – perhaps most notably, the importance of sports psychology and European-style methods of football management. Moreover, Carr is also aware of the negative impact of commercialisation within the game, particularly when the Club comes under pressure to convert to a limited company with sponsorship deals being touted as incentives.
So, in summary, How Steeple Sinderby… is very highly recommended indeed, even if you have absolutely no interest in football. Trust me, the writing is more than good enough to transcend any concerns on that front.
How Steeple Sinderby… is published by Penguin; personal copy.
This entry was posted in Backlisted Writers, Book Reviews, Carr J. L. and tagged Book Review, Fiction, J. L. Carr, Penguin Books, Penguin Modern Classics, UK on May 1, 2020 by JacquiWine.
My books of the year, 2019 – favourites from a year of reading
2019 has been the year of the big series for me. I've read more books than ever this year, mostly due to being laid up at home for the best part of three months while recovering from a major fracture. Not an experience I wish to repeat, but it did give me the time and mental energy to work through some lengthy sequences of books, many of which feature in my highlights of the year.
Regular readers may also recognise one or two familiar names – Penelope Fitzgerald is here again, as is William Trevor. Nevertheless, there are several *new* entrants too – with books by Anita Brookner, J. L. Carr and Laura Cumming, to name but a few. (I've been reading more memoirs this year, a trend reflected in the range of choices included here.)
Anyway, without further ado, here are my favourites from 2019 in order of reading – a baker's dozen of brilliant books. These are the books I loved, the books that have stayed with me, the ones I'm most likely to recommend to others. I've summarised each one in this post, but you can read the full reviews by clicking on the appropriate links.
Look at Me by Anita Brookner
Perceptive, engrossing and enigmatic, Look at Me – Anita Brookner's third novel – is something of a minor masterpiece, probing as it does the inner life of a lonely young woman who experiences a brief period of renaissance, only to be scarred by the torrid experience. Frances is drawn into the seductive world of a glamorous, bohemian couple, then cast aside like a discarded toy. Few writers can capture the acute pain of social isolation and dashed dreams quite like Anita Brookner, and this novel has to be one of her best, most nuanced explorations of these themes.
At Freddie's by Penelope Fitzgerald
Set in a London stage school in the early 1960s, At Freddie's is another of Penelope Fitzgerald's marvellous tragicomedies. Many of the familiar elements from the author's early novels are here – isolated women; hopeless, befuddled men; precocious children – all caught up in a somewhat eccentric, idiosyncratic community. Once again, Fitzgerald has drawn on some of her own experiences in writing this book – in this instance, her time spent as a teacher at the Italia Conti drama school during the decade in question. An excellent novel, both darkly comic and poignant, shot through with a deep understanding of the foibles of human nature.
A Dance to the Music of Time by Anthony Powell
A magnificent twelve-novel sequence exploring the political and cultural milieu of the English upper classes in the early-mid 20th century. Impossible to summarise in just a few sentences, Powell's masterpiece features one of literature's finest creations, the odious Kenneth Widmerpool. It's fascinating to follow Widmerpool, Jenkins and many other individuals over time, observing their development as they flit in and out of one another's lives. The author's ability to convey a clear picture of a character – their appearance, their disposition, even their way of moving around a room – is second to none. Quite simply the highlight of my reading year.
More Was Lost by Eleanor Perényi
A remarkable memoir by the American-born writer, Eleanor Perényi. In essence, the memoir covers the early years of Eleanor's marriage to Zsiga Perényi, a relatively poor Hungarian baron whom she meets while visiting Europe with her parents in 1937. It's a gem of a book, both charming and poignant in its depiction of a vanishing and unstable world, all but swept away by the ravages of war. By turns beautiful, illuminating, elegiac and sad; a rare book that feels expansive in scope yet intimate in detail all at once.
Your Face Tomorrow by Javier Marias (tr. Margaret Jull Costa)
I wasn't sure about the first book in this trilogy when I read it back at the end of 2018, but after a longish break from the series my perseverance with it paid off. Widely considered as Marias' masterpiece, Your Face Tomorrow is a tremendous achievement, a thought-provoking treatise on truth, betrayal, coercion and culpability. When viewed as a whole, the narrative raises some key questions about the nature of violence, particularly whether the final outcome can ever justify the means. An intricate series that remains frighteningly relevant today.
The Patrick Melrose Novels by Edward St Aubyn
Another of my recuperation reads, this sequence charts the turbulent life of the central character, Patrick Melrose, from his lowest and darkest moments to something approaching recovery and self-repair. It is a story in which the sins and failures of fathers and mothers shape the lives of their children in the most destructive of ways. When read as a series, the novels are bruising yet immensely satisfying as they give the reader such a deep insight into the central character's inner life, complete with its anxieties, complexities and self-destructive tendencies. By turns astute, painful, shocking and excruciatingly funny, this is a fiercely intelligent examination of dysfunctional families.
A Month in the Country by J. L. Carr
A sublime, deeply affecting book about love, loss and the restorative power of art. Set in small Yorkshire village in the heady summer of 1920, Carr's novella is narrated by Tom Birkin, a young man still dealing with the effects of shell-shock following the traumas of the First World War. Above all, this is a beautifully written novella imbued with a strong sense of longing – a sense of nostalgia for an idyllic world. Best read in summer to reflect the book's atmosphere.
Love and Summer by William Trevor
Set in the idyllic countryside of Ireland in the 1950s, Love and Summer is a gentle, contemplative novel of lost love and missed chances. Trevor perfectly captures the rhythm of life in a small farming community, the sort of place where everyone knows everyone else's business, where any deviation from the expected norm is noticed and judged. It is a world populated by lonely, damaged individuals, people who expect little from life save for a simple existence with few opportunities or openings. Beautifully written in a simple, unadorned style; fans of Colm Tóibín would likely enjoy this one.
Territory of Light by Yuko Tsushima (tr. Gillian Harcourt)
I loved this. A beautiful, dreamlike novella shot through with a strong sense of isolation that permeates the mind. Originally published as a series of short stories, Tsushima's novella focuses on a year in the life of a young mother, recently separated from her somewhat ambivalent husband. There is a sense of intimacy and honesty in the portrayal of the narrator's feelings, something that adds to the undoubted power of the book. Themes of isolation, alienation and disassociation are heightened by the somewhat ghostly nature of the setting – an apartment located in a commercial building where the mother and child are the sole occupants at night. Strangely unsettling in tone yet thoroughly compelling.
The Driver's Seat by Muriel Spark
This is a challenging book to summarise in just a few sentences, particularly given the twisted nature of the narrative (I'm not even going to try to describe it.) Once again, Spark has crafted an unforgettable story that disturbs as much as it intrigues, leaving the reader both unsettled and fascinated by her somewhat distorted view of the world. She is a remarkable writer – uncompromising in terms of vision, style and the execution of her art. Utterly brilliant and completely bonkers all at once – a book that will likely divide opinion.
On Chapel Sands by Laura Cumming
This absorbing memoir revolves around the story of Cumming's mother, Betty Elston – more specifically, her disappearance as a young child, snatched away from the beach at Chapel St Leonards in 1929. What I love about this book is the way Cumming uses her skills as an art critic to shed new light on the unanswered questions surrounding her mother's childhood. More specifically, the importance of images, details, perspective and context, in addition to hard evidence and facts. A remarkable story exquisitely conveyed in a thoughtful, elegant style.
Childhood, Youth, Dependency by Tove Ditlevsen (tr. Tiina Nunnally, Michael Favala Goldman)
When viewed together, these books form The Copenhagen Trilogy, a striking series of reflections by the revered Danish writer and poet, Tove Ditlevsen, who grew up in a down-at-heel district of Copenhagen in the years following WW1. The books chart Ditlevsen's lonely childhood, awkward adolescence and troubled adult life in a style that is simple, candid, striking and elegant. There is a frankness to the author's account of her life, one that gives the books a sense of intimacy and immediacy that feels hard to resist.
Olive, Again by Elizabeth Strout
Just as good if not better than its predecessor, Olive Kitteridge. Here we find Olive in her mid-seventies to early-eighties, dealing with the challenges of everyday life in her own inimitable way. While there are many things to love and admire about this book, it is Strout's insight into the fragility of our existence that feels most affecting. There is some brilliant writing here about the loneliness and terror of old age (the anxiety is palpable), the realisation of lost opportunities and past failings; and ultimately the fear of death itself. This is a profoundly moving book – a highly perceptive portrait of a genuine individual and the small-town community in which she lives.
So, another very satisfying year of reading for me. I really have read some excellent books in 2019. (My one regret is not having enough space to include a favourite crime/noir novel of the year – if I had to choose, it would be The Blunderer by Patricia Highsmith, a writer whose books never fail to disappoint me.)
All that remains is for me to wish you all the very best for the festive season and the year ahead – may they be filled with plenty of bookish delights!
This entry was posted in Book Reviews, Books of the Year and tagged #ReadWomen, 4th Estate, Anita Brookner, Anthony Powell, Arrow Books, Autofiction, Books of the Year, Chatto and Windus, Crime, Edward St Aubyn, Eleanor Perényi, Elizabeth Strout, Fiction, J. L. Carr, Javier Marías, Laura Cumming, Memoir, Muriel Spark, Noir, Novella, NYRB Classics, Patricia Highsmith, Penelope Fitzgerald, Penguin Books, Penguin Modern Classics, Picador, Tove Ditlevsen, Viking, Vintage Books, William Trevor, WW1, WW2, Yuko Tsushima on December 17, 2019 by JacquiWine.
A Month in the Country by J. L. Carr (1980)
What can I say about this classic novella that hasn't been said before? Probably not a lot, other than it to reiterate just how wonderful it is. A masterpiece in miniature – I loved it.
Set in small Yorkshire village in the heady summer of 1920, Carr's novella is narrated by Tom Birkin, a young man still dealing with the effects of shell-shock following the traumas of the First World War. A Southerner by nature, Birkin has come to Oxgodby to restore a Medieval wall painting in the local church – much to the annoyance of the vicar, Reverend Keach, who resents the restorer's presence in his domain. In reality, there is another purpose to Birkin's visit: to find an escape or haven of sorts, an immersive distraction from the emotional scars of the past.
Naturally, the project brings Birkin into contact with other residents in the village, many of whom are intrigued by his work. There is Moon, an archaeologist and fellow veteran of the war, a point that gives him some understanding of Birkin's mental condition; Alice Keach, the vicar's beautiful young wife who seems somewhat out of place beside her husband at the vicarage; and the Ellerbecks, a kindly local family who befriend Birkin, providing him with homemade food to supplement his meagre supplies.
I don't want to reveal much more about what happens in the novel, other than to give a flavour of some of the keynotes. There's a touch of romance in the air, an element of mystery in the story behind the painting, and a gradual renewal of sorts for Birkin – a sense of restoration, both creatively and emotionally.
Standing up there on the platform before a great work of art, feeling kinship with its creator, cozily knowing that I was a sort of impresario conjuring and teasing back his work after four hundred years of darkness. But that wasn't all of it. There was this weather, this landscape, thick woods, roadsides deep in grass and wild flowers. And to south and north of the Vale, low hills, frontiers of a mysterious country. (p.83)
Above all, this is a beautifully written novel imbued with a strong sense of longing, a nostalgia for an idyllic world. (Birkin is narrating his story from a point of distance, looking back nearly 60 years to the summer in question.) It also perfectly captures the ephemeral nature of time – the idea that our lives can turn on the tiniest of moments, the most fleeting of chances to be grasped before they are lost forever.
People move away, grow older, die, and the bright belief that there will be another marvelous thing around each corner fades. It is now or never; we must snatch at happiness as it flies. (p.104)
A sublime, deeply affecting book about love, loss and the restorative power of art – one I would wholeheartedly recommend if you haven't read it already. (For more detailed insights, do take a look at these excellent posts by Max and Caroline. The wonderful Backlisted team also covered the book on one of their podcasts, which you can find here.)
My copy of A Month in the Country is published by NYRB Classics; personal copy.
This entry was posted in Backlisted Writers, Book Reviews, Carr J. L. and tagged Book Review, Fiction, J. L. Carr, NYRB Classics, UK, WW1 on July 19, 2019 by JacquiWine.
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text:
Funkatears Electro – "Q16" sets up a musical journey into the depth of Surreal Electro bliss!
There are many genres of music. Within these genres are multiple sub-genres. While genres and subgenres provide a genuine attempt at categorizing music into distinctive sounds, sometimes these styles do not easily fall into clean-cut categories. Inside these categories are eclectic artists who push the boundaries of any given...
Idow – "Summer's Over" is a truly breathtaking project
Born in Silver Spring, Maryland, Idow is a singer, songwriter, producer and audio engineer who creates alternative R&B, merging downtempo electronica, with soulful R&B. She began to write songs at a younger age, but took things more seriously at the age of 17, releasing her first single a tear...
Stefano Pesapane – "After All" flows smoothly like hot melting butter!
Drummer composer and producer Stefano Pesapane uses the studio like a weapon. He has pulled his sonority into a territory that is chill, sleek and crisp. It is also a testimony to his performance prowess. But in all its super-cleanliness and focused virtuosity, Stefano's single, "After All" maintains a...
Funkatears Electro – "Jiggy is Luxury" ft. Luise – abundant in sound, creativity and fractious thought!
If you've listened to a Top 40 radio station sometime in the past year, you've likely not to have heard the eclectic electro project Funkatears Electro, led by producer, Vonsoh, who started his career in 2004. Their music is described as "surreal electro", and is probably considered too bold...
Systovis – "Life" – an immersive sonic landscape
Musically inspired by Yelawolf and Eminem, the 26 year old unsigned and independent rapper/vocalist Systovis, also known as Stovey the Kid, is making waves in the Midwest. The St. Louis native has already had Strange Music's Stevie Stone feature on his album, entitled "A Mind of Destruction". There is...
Paolo Virdis – "Survive" will infuse energy into any crowd
Paolo Virdis releases "Survive," his newest electronic single set to mesmerize listeners from the press of play. The production is filled with elements that will take anyone on a musical journey. The infectious synths with the hard-hitting kick will have listeners wanting more from this talented artist. Through "Survive,"...
Red Tan – "Be There For You" revels in the explorative modern-pop aesthetic
The evolution of a popular music, almost unlike any other genre, sinks its claws into everything that makes the performer a person. This is definitely the case with London based, Filipina singer and artist Red Tan, who loves to make music inspired by electro-pop and other modern styles. Perfectly...
DJ Ketamer – "KETAMER" – the sound palette is perpetual!
Doc Ketamer is a DJ / producer born in Naples. At the age of 20 he started traveling throughout Europe organizing juggling shows. From the year 2000 he began to collaborate and play with different sound systems. In those years he focused on live sets. In this same period...
Lyndon Rivers: "We Will Win" hits hard, both on a technical and emotional level
Fresh off the drawing board of EDM's most prolific underground producer, Lyndon Rivers, comes the track "We Will Win". The track is once again filled with that Rivers uniqueness that winds throughout his most interesting pieces. Though he produces so much music, it comes as a surprise that none...

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


It occurred to me today that I hadn't yet written anything yet about the DrinkUP meeting that occurred here Wednesday night. Scott Beale, the founder and primary tentacle of Laughing Squid is in town this week and held a small informal get together at the Royal Oak Brewery. Much fun was had and many delicious beers were consumed.
The picture here, and all pictures in the linked gallery were taken by my dear girlfriend, Rebecca. We met quite a few awesome people, and really that gives me hope for the Detroit area in general. I've been considering the possibility of a Barcamp in Detroit and with the kind of turnout we had on Wednesday, I think this event could be a very good thing. The main issue would be locating a venue. Barcamp Grand Rapids had a connection at a school out there, and so was able to use classrooms and all of the resources that go along with that like projectors and such, which would be nice.
OK I don't really have an end to this post in mind so I'm just going to stop writing now. Hah.


Finding real and workable ways to lower customer churn is a major challenge for all companies. Customer churn impacts business performance through revenue loss. It also reduces profitability and triggers greater marketing and re-acquisition costs. For high-churn companies, customer retention programs are an even bigger challenge. Churn rate shows how the business does with customers by your side.
It costs a lot to lose customers. When thinking of churn impact, consider these statistics by Forrester. It costs 5 times more to acquire new customers than to retain existing ones. The Harvard Business School reports, on an average, that 5% increase in customer retention rates results in 25 to 95% increase in profits. KPMG found customer retention is the main driver of a company's revenue. As per Gartner, a massive 80% of future corporate revenue is netted from just 20% of the existing customers. Marketing Metrics claim the probability of selling to existing customers is 60 to 70% and only 5-20% for a new prospect. So, how do high-customer churn industries turn around their outcomes?
One needs to find out why customers leave. The easiest way to understand this is to really listen to your customers, actively looking for what went wrong. Instead of opting for customer exit surveys, you need feedback on how the product solves the customer's problem by connecting deeply. Communicating with customers helps in analysis of churn. One needs to actively use channels for this, ranging across email, website and social media. The feedback works well for serving customers and understanding it can make all the difference to churn rates.
The only thing that helps eliminate churn is to engage customers with interesting and innovative marketing messages. Give customers the motivation to come back by showing them everyday values in using your products. Making oneself a part of the customer's daily workflow can offer your brand more benefits than you can imagine. Engagement is all about providing clear messages in the age of Big Data. Key functional benefits of the product and regular updates such as deals, special offers or sales need to be shared.
While face-to-face communication is the strongest customer engagement method, IBM research found websites and social media channels enable companies to engage with customers. Customer retention programs for churn prevention focus on providing quality, educational or support materials to increase retention and lower churn. Offering free training, video tutorials, webinars and product demos make customers feel comfortable and informed. Tools that work tap the full potential of products and services.
One needs to separate the most valuable customers from the rest and go the extra mile in making sure they receive what they have signed up for. There are customers one needs to retain. High-value customers bring in the biggest revenue. A history of the interaction with the customers shows how deeply involved a brand is at each stage, whether there are problems with the product and whether the issues are dealt with. Segmenting the customers on the basis of those yielding profits, those with the readiness to abandon your brand and the ones with the likelihood to positively react to offers to stay better predicts customer churn. Another advisable tip is offering incentives like special offers and discounts, to customers likely to defect.
No matter how sophisticated the retention strategies they are, they cannot work if one is attracting the wrong audience. It is better to target those customers who look for the value you provide. Invest in customers who will invest in you.
The most common method of keeping customers loyal to your brand is exceptional customer service. Poor or inadequate customer service is a key catalyst for customer churn. As per the Customer Experience Impact Report by Oracle, the main reasons why customers leave the company are rude, incompetent staff. Churn on account of poor service stands at 70%, according to Forum Corporation research. Average customer experience is a trigger for the churn. Providing stellar customer service is the key to making customers happier.
Complaints are the tip of the iceberg. The biggest part of the problem is the one hidden from view. Pathwwway ltd. finds that close to 96% of unhappy or dissatisfied customers don't complain and 91% of those who do simply leave and never return. Typical businesses hear from only 4% of dissatisfied customers. Complaints need to be taken seriously and acted on, and to prevent customer churn, customer retention programs need to focus on dissatisfied customers as well.
Finding out how different one is from competitors is important. Be clear about what makes your brand stand out. It is important to focus on being the brand that has staying power. Clearly see what customers want and what makes them stay instead of leaving. Prevent customer churn by creating conditions where customers can see the benefits of products and services on offer.
High-churn industries also need to work on improving user onboarding. Clearly communicating with users is important. Users who leave are generally unable to perceive how the business could add value to them or their business. Clearly communicating the brand story with users through each stage of the sales funnel is important, as one onboards users.
Customers leave a website if they cannot navigate the page or find information regarding the products. This boosts churn rate. For handling situations, customer support teams need to have a proactive approach, where agents proactively ask customers for insights and inputs. Customers need to get their solutions to queries immediately and this reduces the churn rate and makes the customer experience better. A strong customer base and a low churn rate are the results of a more proactive approach.
Individuals need to feel like they are part of a community. This holds true when it comes to reducing customer churn. Building an active and engaged community around products and services is important. Your customer retention programs need to anticipate what the customer wants, even before they realize it themselves.
In a competitive world, customers get plenty of options and getting the most value out of a brand is important. With a proper marketing strategy, the focus needs to be on customer satisfaction and retention. Increase engagement with customers, leading to long-term relationships. With proper planning and specific retention programs, customers can appreciate the benefits of products and services, as well as your brand, especially for high-churn industries.


Thanks for the information Tim.
What are the disadvantages of using the cheaper XF 105 against the pricier XF 305?
Nice write up. How do I know that the cameras (xf305) are truly genlocked. Im trying to use two of them in conjunction with a Black Magic Ultra Studio 4k and I cannot see the second camera.
BMD hardware is very sensitive to genlock sync and requires perfect sync before you will see anything other than black on any "3D" dual SDI input. This is a good thing because other muxer boxes (Matrox MC100 & AJA Hi-5) will still mux signals that are not in perfect sync. I haven't personally tested the Ultrastudio 4K yet but I will assume the 3D input modes are still available just as with Ultrastudio 3D. Do your testing with Blackmagic Media Express. When 3D is working you will see both inputs side by side in the preview window.
When the camera is locked to an external source I think you should see "EXT-LOCK" on the side panel. You can use the component cable to connect the luminance (green) of one camera to the genlock in of the other. This works in all frame rates except 24p.
If you are shooting 24p then you will need an tri-sync signal generator (like the AJA Gen-10) to provide genlock sync to both XF305 cameras.
I've got the cameras genlocked using your method with the out component green of the master camera to the genlock in of the slave camera. The slave camera's display does blink on and off for a few seconds, so I'm assuming it's genlocked. I still can't get the 4K to see both cameras. Do I have to set anything in the Genlock Adjust menu setting on the cameras? I've tried different resolution settings too. I'm not shooting in 24p either. I have ordered the Gen10 to see if that helps. Also, what pull down setting do I need to have the cameras set to? I'm trying to use 1280x720 60p.
You won't have to change anything in the genlock settings. Defaults will work fine.
I would recommend working with 1080i59.94 instead of 720p60. It is important that the component output from the "master" camera is also set to 60i (a.k.a. 59.94i) which it is by default. In fact you could use NTSC. Pulldown only matters in 24p.
If the Ultrastudio 4K works the same as the Ultrastudio 3D you should see 3D options in the video format menu for the Blackmagic Media Express app once you have connected to the SDI inputs A & B. Select the appropriate one for your input type. See attached frame grab. If it is working properly you will see a left and right image in the "Log & Capture" tab once you close the preferences.


text:
Javornice () je obec, která se nachází v okrese Rychnov nad Kněžnou v Královéhradeckém kraji. Žije zde  obyvatel.

Části obce
 Javornice
 Jaroslav
 Přím

Historie
První písemná zmínka o obci pochází z roku 1358.

Pamětihodnosti
 Kostel svatého Jiří – pozdně barokní z let 1785–1787
 Socha Bolestné Panny Marie
 Socha Panny Marie Assumpty na pilíři, u vchodu na hřbitov; z roku 1880
 Sousoší Piety
 Památník Marie a Vojtěcha Sedláčkových

Osobnosti
 Vojtěch Sedláček (1892–1973) – český malíř
 Josef Korejz Blatinský (1909–1989) – dokumentarista lidové kultury

Fotografie

Poznámky

Reference

Externí odkazy

Vesnice v okrese Rychnov nad Kněžnou
Obce v okrese Rychnov nad Kněžnou
Sídla v Podorlické pahorkatině
Mikroregion Rychnovsko

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Story : A student who loves the nature unites with the Mechanic who loves to help the people. Both of them should face the Most deadly business man to save his people of Garage.
A godfather-esque figure, a defiant family member, a gang of obedient followers, hundreds of people coming for help and enemies looking for a way to end this reign, and an heir apparent. Not a new story for sure, and yet, Janatha Garage manages to make a mark with a bit ov novelty. With several pages taken from The Godfather, this film takes you into the world of two spirited men - Anand (NTR) and Satyam (Mohanlal) - who'd give away all they have just for the cause they believe in. A man who loves the earth's environment joins a man who loves the beings on earth in a mission, and the result leaves us with mixed feelings.
The most impressive aspect about the film is that director Koratala Siva never deviates from the narrative and like in most contemporary commercial cinemas, there are no forced comic sequences nor is there the an unnecessary loudness and brazenness in the action. But that's not all, this is one story which is never dominated by a star despite the presence of two of them!
Director Koratala Siva starts off with a parallel narration of the duo's stories but it is the point of culmination, and intersection of them both that is a bit of a setback. It seems all of a sudden that NTR's new duty has overshadowed his love of nature. And it is here that we begin to wonder if Siva is just going on a different direction from where he began. The second half proves to be a bit slow and you just notice how glimpses from the first half begin to repeat again.


text:
#pragma once
#include <aws/lightsail/Lightsail_EXPORTS.h>
#include <aws/lightsail/LightsailRequest.h>
#include <aws/core/utils/memory/stl/AWSString.h>
#include <utility>

namespace Aws
{
namespace Lightsail
{
namespace Model
{

  /**
   */
  class AWS_LIGHTSAIL_API CreateBucketAccessKeyRequest : public LightsailRequest
  {
  public:
    CreateBucketAccessKeyRequest();

    // Service request name is the Operation name which will send this request out,
    // each operation should has unique request name, so that we can get operation's name from this request.
    // Note: this is not true for response, multiple operations may have the same response name,
    // so we can not get operation's name from response.
    inline virtual const char* GetServiceRequestName() const override { return "CreateBucketAccessKey"; }

    Aws::String SerializePayload() const override;

    Aws::Http::HeaderValueCollection GetRequestSpecificHeaders() const override;

    /**
     *
The name of the bucket that the new access key will belong to, and grant
     * access to.

     */
    inline const Aws::String& GetBucketName() const{ return m_bucketName; }

    /**
     *
The name of the bucket that the new access key will belong to, and grant
     * access to.

     */
    inline bool BucketNameHasBeenSet() const { return m_bucketNameHasBeenSet; }

    /**
     *
The name of the bucket that the new access key will belong to, and grant
     * access to.

     */
    inline void SetBucketName(const Aws::String& value) { m_bucketNameHasBeenSet = true; m_bucketName = value; }

    /**
     *
The name of the bucket that the new access key will belong to, and grant
     * access to.

     */
    inline void SetBucketName(Aws::String&& value) { m_bucketNameHasBeenSet = true; m_bucketName = std::move(value); }

    /**
     *
The name of the bucket that the new access key will belong to, and grant
     * access to.

     */
    inline void SetBucketName(const char* value) { m_bucketNameHasBeenSet = true; m_bucketName.assign(value); }

    /**
     *
The name of the bucket that the new access key will belong to, and grant
     * access to.

     */
    inline CreateBucketAccessKeyRequest& WithBucketName(const Aws::String& value) { SetBucketName(value); return *this;}

    /**
     *
The name of the bucket that the new access key will belong to, and grant
     * access to.

     */
    inline CreateBucketAccessKeyRequest& WithBucketName(Aws::String&& value) { SetBucketName(std::move(value)); return *this;}

    /**
     *
The name of the bucket that the new access key will belong to, and grant
     * access to.

     */
    inline CreateBucketAccessKeyRequest& WithBucketName(const char* value) { SetBucketName(value); return *this;}

  private:

    Aws::String m_bucketName;
    bool m_bucketNameHasBeenSet = false;
  };

} // namespace Model
} // namespace Lightsail
} // namespace Aws

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Daily demonstrations are the key focus of Sonardyne International Ltd.'s presence at this year's Ocean Business in Southampton. Taking place at the National Oceanography Centre (NOC) from Tuesday 9th April to Thursday 11th April, Sonardyne's trials and research vessel, Sound Surveyor, boasts a packed programme schedule including SPRINT INS, 6G multi-user acoustics and Solstice Side Scan Sonar.
Inside on Sonardyne's stand, E1, visitors will be able to explore technology for acoustic positioning, inertial navigation, sonar imaging and wireless communications. The company's Survey Support Group (SSG) and application experts will also be on hand to offer guidance and advice on any subsea project. Visitors can also get hands-on with Sonardyne at one of the daily classroom sessions held in the Student Centre, Room 121/05. With three sessions to choose from, attendees can receive guidance on choosing the right acoustic and inertial positioning systems for their requirements, discover how to spend less time calibrating and more time surveying with the company's new Lodestar GyroUSBL or, in conjunction with the on water demonstrations, can explore the development of Solstice and its wide-ranging AUV applications.
For those attending the conference on Thursday 11th April, Sonardyne's Engineering Director, Simon Partridge, will be presenting a new concept in tetherless ROV-AUV hybrid operations. This will be followed by Project Manager Nick Street giving a joint presentation with Subsea 7, looking at the history and technological requirements of Bundle Tow Monitoring.
Anyone interested in attending a demonstration or classroom session can guarantee their place onboard in advance of the show by booking via Sonardyne's website here. Limited places will be available to book during the show by visiting Sonardyne on stand E1.
In addition to the academic and technical side of Ocean Business, Sonardyne is also actively involved in the event's renowned social programme, hosting a Wine Trail station on Tuesday 9th April and exclusively sponsoring the prestigious Gala Dinner held on Wednesday 10th April at Southampton Guildhall.
With the countdown to Ocean Business 2013 having begun, Sonardyne will be posting regular updates, including a vessel and classroom demonstration schedule, on our website and via Twitter @Sonardyne.
For more information about Ocean Business, click here.


Tempest Fantasy with the Carolina Ballet on Sunday, March 6 at 2:00 p.m. Sign up on the JLR webpage for a free ticket; only 8 spots remain!
Wood Sign Painting class on Saturday, March 12 at 6:00 p.m. come out for a fun craft night with the girls. Just bring yourself and your creativity! Bridget with It's All Chic will bring everything else. Go to the It's All Chic Facebook page, under the more tab at the top go to events. Choose March 12 JLR event and pick the sign you want to paint. Just comment what sign you want and Bridget will contact you individually for price and payment information. She will create your stencil and build your sign for you to paint at our paint party at the CCL.
Beach Bag Book Club on March 24 at 6:30 p.m. Sign up online now to bring a book you have read and would recommend. We will send out a sign-up genius so you can list the book you are bringing and provide a handout at the event. From this, we will build a summer reading list to share. Carrie Ritter will facilitate and be reached at rittercm@gmail for any questions.
The Bargain Box team will accept gently-used, high quality quota donations for those active members who have signed up online (limited to 40 on a first come first serve basis). Members in turn will receive quota credit for their donation. Active members may bring a minimum of 10 items with a maximum of 25 items to be donated. Team members will be available at 6:15 p.m. at a table inside the meeting area for drop off. Donations can be made until the end of the membership meeting. Clothing items only! No housewares please! Sign up required!


Product Analogy is an Internet Marketing platform where we assist customers to decide and buy the products of their own choice from the platforms like Amazon. We provide them with complete information related to products and aim to help them buy the best, which can satisfy their needs in the best possible way.
We at Product Analogy, aim to guide the customers to get the best value for their money. We strive to help our customers throughout the process of deciding the most suitable product for them by providing them with product reviews, information, benefits, perceived problems and price comparisons collected by our team with complete honesty.


text:
Revisions to Labor Laws May Mean Less OT
LEIGH STROPE
AP Labor Writer
Heeding the complaints of business, the Bush administration is revamping decades-old labor regulations in an overhaul that could force many Americans to work longer hours without overtime pay.
The administration argues that the pillars of American labor law, which established the 40-hour work week, a minimum wage and overtime pay, are antiquated. But labor unions fear changes would severely restrict who is legally required to be paid for overtime work.
"Nothing prohibits employers from requiring as many hours as they want," said Chris Owens, public policy director for the AFL-CIO. "The overtime pay requirement is the only thing that acts as a brake on excessive work hours."
It is just one of several changes the administration is pursuing to workplace regulations and programs, including the Family Medical Leave Act, job training programs and unemployment insurance.
The overtime changes are confined to a section of the 1938 Fair Labor Standards Act that defines blue-collar and white-collar workers and determines who must be paid an hourly rate of time-and-a-half for working beyond 40 hours a week. About 80 million workers now are covered by the overtime rules.
Under current regulations, employees are only exempted from the overtime rules if they meet several criteria, including salary, management and other administrative responsibilities and whether jobs require advanced "intellectual" skills and training.
Under the salary test, last updated in 1975, workers earning more than $8,060 a year are exempt from overtime if they meet the other criteria as well. The administration wants to raise this.
Low-wage workers are being hurt under the current overtime pay regulations, said Tammy McCutchen, administrator of the Labor Department's wage and hour division. She said a minimum-wage worker logging 40 hours a week earns more than $10,700 a year.
"If this minimum level is raised, more employees automatically will be entitled to overtime, thus providing additional protections to low-wage workers," she said.
At the same time, however, the department is clarifying and simplifying job descriptions and duties tests. That could move many higher paid workers into the exempt category, though McCutchen said she could not quantify the impact.
"If the changes result in moving an employee who previously received overtime into exempt status not entitled to overtime, the law would no longer require the employer to pay overtime," she said.
Employer groups such as the Chamber of Commerce complain that under the complex rules involving job duties and salary levels, many highly skilled, well-paid, professional workers are required to get overtime pay. A surge in overtime pay litigation aimed at employers also is a concern.
The law "was created to protect those workers who had the least economic leverage," said Randy Johnson, the chamber's labor vice president. "Now it's been distorted to provide overtime to engineers making over $80,000 a year."
The Labor Department is expected to issue the new overtime pay rules for public comment by the end of March. Congressional action is not required.
Unions acknowledge that the overtime regulations, known as "white-collar exemptions," are outdated and confusing _ they have essentially remained unchanged for 50 years.
"They're so difficult to interpret that they generate more class-action lawsuits in the workplace than antidiscrimination laws," Labor Secretary Elaine Chao said this week. "We're going to change that by bringing these regulations into conformity with the realities of the 21st century workplace."
Workers filed 79 federal collective-action lawsuits seeking overtime pay in 2001, surpassing for the first time class-action suits against employers for job discrimination, according to the American Bar Association.
Also on the Bush administration's labor agenda this year is an overhaul of the department's job training programs, established under the Workforce Investment Act that Congress must renew this year.
President Bush is proposing to cut about $144 million in employment and training programs in his 2004 budget being released Monday. Most grants programs would be cut, and that money consolidated into two programs _ for youth and adults. The administration wants to eliminate overlap of services and provide more flexibility. An additional $2 billion would be added to fund the new re-employment accounts that Bush wants states to offer to help workers pay for job search expenses.
A review of the Family Medical Leave Act, which marks its 10-year anniversary on Wednesday, also is under way. The law gives most workers 12 weeks of unpaid leave for the birth or adoption of child, or a serious health condition of the employee, parent, child or spouse.
Employer groups want leave restricted only to serious health conditions, and they object to the inclusion of what they consider to be minor ailments that they say allow some workers to abuse the law.
Employers say they aren't able to discipline people who abuse the leave _ such as being chronically late for work _ because employees can claim protection under the law.


text:
Google reportedly working on censored search engine for China
Don't be evil, says Google. The corporate motto may suggest a desire to be seen as virtuous but that desire will look hollow if reports that the search giant is willing to bow to Chinese censorship demands are true.
Multiple media sources are reporting that Google is working on a search service for the Chinese market, specifically modified to meet the censorship demands of the country's governing Communist Party.
Chinese state media has denied the claims, with the state-owned publication China Securities Daily, run by the country's state securities regulator, saying the reports are "not true".
However, news website The Intercept and later The New York Times reported on Wednesday that the California-based search giant is working on a mobile search app and search software that would leave out websites and search terms blacklisted by the Chinese government.
The New York Times said its report was based on information provided to it by two people — who spoke on condition of anonymity — with knowledge of Google's plans. They claim that Google has already demonstrated the service to the Chinese government, with negotiations between them ongoing.
The reports have prompted major concern among free speech and human rights activists, who fear that if Google were to return to China, having pulled its search engine from the country in 2010, it would be a regressive step given the country's extensive system of censorship.
China goes all out censoring online reaction to Xiaobo death
Permalink https://p.dw.com/p/2gZms
That system, sometimes referred to as the Great Firewall, includes the blocking of multiple news and social media websites as well as the many search queries or items the government deems problematic, ranging from religion to issues of human rights abuses in the country.
Ok Google, block those search results please
While there is no guarantee that Google will return to China, the company has not denied the veracity of the reports.
Read more: Sieren's China: Internet blockade only hurts China
"We provide a number of mobile apps in China, such as Google Translate and Files Go, help Chinese developers, and have made significant investments in Chinese companies like JD.com," said a Google spokesman. "But we don't comment on speculation about future plans."
The prospect of Google returning to China is in line with the trend of several US tech giants willing to tailor their products and services in order to gain access to the massive Chinese market. Facebook, LinkedIn and Apple are among those who in recent times have shown a willingness to meet Chinese expectations on privacy, or lack thereof.
Having pulled their services from China eight years ago due to concerns over censorship, Google have made a clear pivot towards China in recent times. In June , the company announced a major investment in the Chinese retailer JD.com while the Alphabet-owned company has also unveiled plans to build a major artificial intelligence research center in the country.
'A dark day for internet freedom'
Although talks between Google and the Chinese government are believed to be ongoing, they may be overshadowed by the developing trade conflict between the USA and China, which shows little sign of abating at the moment.
China's search sector is currently dominated by Baidu, which heavily censors its searches. In order for Google to satisfy the Chinese government sufficiently to pave a way for its return to the market, it may have to provide similar levels of censorship controls.
"It will be a dark day for internet freedom if Google has acquiesced to China's extreme censorship rules to gain market access," was the response to the reports of Amnesty International.
aos/kd (AFP, Reuters)
Google invests in Alibaba rival JD.com
US internet behemoth Google has announced it's investing half a billion dollars in China's second-largest e-commerce company, JD.com. The move is meant to expand its retail services around the world. (18.06.2018)
Sieren's China: Internet blockade only hurts China
At the fourth World Internet Conference, Beijing celebrated its vision of "sovereign internet." Western IT CEOs have to accept this, but DW's Frank Sieren thinks that China's cyber policy will only cause more isolation. (07.12.2017)
China's internet crackdown reaches new level of restriction
Foreign VPNs have been removed from China's Apple stores, WhatsApp messages are being filtered and a massive censorship campaign scrubbed social media of Liu Xiaobo. What is happening to the Chinese web? (01.08.2017)
China shuts down thousands of websites for breaking the law
The state's clampdown has served as a "powerful deterrent," said a senior official. But human rights groups have warned that the measures amount to repression of dissent. (24.12.2017)
China's Weibo bans homosexual content
Sina Weibo, China's popular microblogging platform, has announced it is banning content related to homosexuality. A rallying cry by users saw the hashtag "I am gay" also blocked by Chinese internet censors. (15.04.2018)
How much do Chinese people care about privacy?
Facebook's data scandal and Baidu CEO's recent remark about the Chinese people's low sensitivity toward privacy issues have stirred up heated discussions at a time when the CPC plans new surveillance projects in China. (12.04.2018)
China takes a bite out of Apple privacy claims
What happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object? We may be witnessing the answer with Apple, a long-time privacy advocate, acceding to Chinese demands on access to its iCloud services in the country. (28.02.2018)
US to apply more pressure on China with new tariff hike
US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer has said the scope of tariffs on China is set to increase. The measure would come amid an ongoing trade dispute and after Trump threatened to apply levies on all Chinese goods. (02.08.2018)
Related Subjects Media Freedom, Google, People's Republic of China, Amnesty International, Censorship
Keywords Google, China, Free speech, censorship, People's Republic of China, Amnesty International, internet activists, net neutrality
Permalink https://p.dw.com/p/32Uk2
Who should bring the internet to Africa's remote regions? 28.05.2019
US-based tech giants and China are helping to fund the development of Africa's digital infrastructure revolution. Do the potential benefits outweigh the risks?
Chinese photographer Lu Guang's detention raises alarm 02.05.2019
Award-winning Chinese photographer Lu Guang has been detained by local police in Xinjiang since last November. His whereabouts are still unknown as officials continue to put pressure on his family to remain silent.
Is Google selling out for access to China's massive tech market? 19.10.2018
As Google looks at developing a search engine censored by Beijing, China's online authoritarianism combined with its development as a global hub for artificial intelligence innovation presents an ethical dilemma.
US judge reduces Bayer damages to $25 million
The US judge reduced the damages Bayer has to pay, but it faces thousands more lawsuits over weed-killer Roundup.
Defending glyphosate: A 'Roundup' of German agribusiness sentiments


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I monti Turkistan, noti anche come monti Turkestan, sono una catena montuosa di Kirghizistan, Tagikistan e Uzbekistan. Diramandosi dai monti Alay, si estendono per 320 km con andamento est-ovest tra la valle di Fergana e quella dello Zeravshan.

Descrizione
Le vette più alte sono il picco Piramidalny (5509 m) e il picco Skalistyj (5621 m). La catena è costituita soprattutto da scisti, arenarie e calcari.

Al di sotto della linea delle nevi, boschetti di alberi crescono lungo i versanti settentrionali, mentre i versanti meridionali, più aridi e dirupati, sono quasi privi di vegetazione. In Tagikistan la strada tra Ŭroteppa e Dushanbe attraversa il passo Shakhristan a 3378 m di quota.

Galleria d'immagini

Note

Altri progetti

Collegamenti esterni

Turkistan
Turkistan
Turkistan


Say Out Loud, LLC is a publishing company providing publishing services to authors. All titles are currently English langauage. However beginning in 2011, all titles will be offered in French, Spanish and Mandarin Chinese. Titles are also offered in digital formats. All Say Out Loud titles are offered through global distribution channels.
Connie Ellis Myers has been a librarian for over fifteen years. She has worked in libraries and introduced the love of reading to children from pre-school to high school. She has also held the position of a public library director. She has traveled to many parts of the world and lived in Singapore for several years. Connie considers herself a linguist. She has studied French, Mandarin Chinese (in Singapore) and Spanish. She has a great love for children and their safety.
ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA SORORITY INC. – a legacy of sisterhood and service. Since 1908, the sisterhood of Alpha Kappa Alpha has responded to the world's increasing complexity. It continues to empower communities through exemplary service initiatives and progressive programs.
SCBWI - Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators The SCBWI acts as a network for the exchange of knowledge between writers, illustrators, editors, publishers, agents, librarians, educators, booksellers and others involved with literature for young people. More than 19,000 members worldwide, the largest children's writing organization in the world.
ACEI - Association for Childhood Education International Association for Childhood Education International's (ACEI) mission: To promote and support in the global community the optimal education and development of children, and to influence the professional growth of educators and the efforts of others who are committed to the needs of children in a changing society.
AuthorNation.com - An online community for Authors, Writers, Poets and their readers. AuthorNation.com features New Writing, Blogs, and writing oreiented forums and events.
The North American Bookdealers Exchange - It is an international book marketing organization. This organization markets books and products all over the world.


We supply a stunning collection of contemporary basins. If you want to replace a dated basin with a stylish, on-trend design, or simply freshen things up a little then we have the perfect contemporary basin for you.
Our comprehensive range of contemporary basins includes pedestal, countertop, wall hung and many more designs so you can design your bathroom, cloakroom or en-suite in the most practical way.
When you're planning your bathroom, you'll want to use a bathroom brand you can trust; that's why we stock quality contemporary basins from manufacturers including RAK Ceramics and Hudson Reed.


Development happens on GitHub. Join the #core-passwords channel on the WordPress Slack (sign up here).
Albanian, Chinese (Hong Kong), Danish, English (Canada), English (UK), English (US), German, Norwegian (Bokmål), Russian, Spanish (Spain), Urdu and Vietnamese.


The URL shortening tool for all SciELO resources.
We are currently under beta testing.
The SciELO project ensures the resolution of the generated short URLs from ref.scielo.org, this way you can use them in your bibliographic references.


PnB Rock is back in the public as a free man. The rapper reportedly posted bond yesterday for him and his girlfriend, Stephanie Sibounheuang, who was also arrested. Reports initially stated that his bond was set at 10% of $500K, although other reports claim that he posted $500K for his and Sibouenheuang's release on Wednesday night from Bucks County Correctional Facility.
PnB Rock is still facing charges of possession with intent to deliver, possession of narcotics, receiving stolen property (for the stolen handgun), criminal conspiracy and other related offenses. Sibouenheuang was charged with possession of narcotics, receiving stolen property and criminal conspiracy.
Earlier this week, PnB Rock's home was raided by police in Bensalem, Pa. According to police, police received many complaints of loud parties and a strong scent of weed coming from the rapper's home. The complaints have been going on for a few months at this point. After an investigation, the police managed to find enough evidence to execute a search warrant on his home on claims that he's trafficking weed.
Police ultimately found four pounds of weed in his house, scales, packaging material, $33K in cash, as well as a stolen .40 caliber Glock.
Now that he's posted bond, we're hoping that he gets back into the studio and cooking up more tunes. The rapper delivered his project, The Throwaway$ in November to hold everyone over until Trapstar Turnt Popstar.


This is the first leak off of Runners Music Group's artist Bali's next mixtape entitled "All Work and No Sleep" hosted by DJ Khaled and DJ Smallz. This track is called "I Got This One" and it is produced by Schife and it features Jive and N.A.R.S. artist Kevin Cossom.
Thanks for these awesome tracks. I had not even heard this music until you posted it on here. Good looking out. Enjoy your blog.


SWBAT use a two-way frequency table to organize categorical data in two categories.
Sometimes, we have to get our hands dirty if we want to learn to use a new tool. Today, students dig into their data in order to come up with a neat two-way frequency table.
Today's opener consists of a dozen simple percentage problems. As students continue to brush up on their percentage skills, the main purpose of these problems is to show them that it's not always best to rush to use a calculator - or at least to rush to use the percentage algorithm. When we're finding a percentage of a multiple of 100, it's best just to think of it as a multiplication problem. When we're finding 10%, 50% or 25% of a number, it can save time to just divide by 10, 2 or 4.
In a message aimed particularly at students who have already done well on Percentage Practice #1, but want to get faster in order to accomplish more, I say that this will help.
Here is Part 3 of the "Where Does My Stuff Come From?" Project. As I describe in this narrative video, students work in groups to disaggregate their data by using a two-way frequency table, which will allow them to see associations between the countries that make the stuff we buy, and kinds of stuff produced by each of those countries.
This analysis may turn out to be a little messy, but that's part of the experience that I want my students to have. To spend two days poring over the numbers, trying to figure out what's going on within the data gives students a feel for why more efficient tools have been invented. In particular, I'm talking about statistical and algebraic structures that allow us to organize and generalize information, and about the computing tools that make it easier to gather and analyze data. I will refer back to this work frequently as the year proceeds.
There are two particular reactions that my students may have about this work. Some students are relieved to have such a conceptually straightforward task to complete - for the second consecutive day, this is essentially a counting exercise. This is an opportunity for such students to be successful and to gain confidence in this class moving forward. A subset of these students do benefit from the applied practice on simple arithmetic. I try to question such students in ways that will get them to think a little more deeply about the data with which they're working.
Other students see this as a rather tedious assignment and ask why we didn't just skip over Part 2, and straight to this part of the project. Indeed, when I've done this project with older students, that's exactly what I do, and I might consider ways to allow my more advance 9th grade students to skip from Part 1 to Part 3 in the future. But on the other hand, I do feel that the attention to detail, the group collaboration, and the practice with percentages offered by the sequence is worth the two class periods that it takes. These students have a point, and they deserve that acknowledgement. I tell them that this part won't take too long, that I'm glad they got the practice, and that this is probably as close as I'll come to giving them busy work this year.
To close today's class, I join in on the data collection and summarizing. As each group completes their work on the front of Part 3 of the project, they see that on the back, the task is to gather the results of this project for the entire class. "Don't worry," I tell them, "you've done a lot of the work so far - now you get to hand it off to me to finish up."
Projected on the front board, I have an Excel spreadsheet ready to go with columns for country names, each of the four categories, and the total, and I ask for a volunteer from each group to read their data aloud as soon as the group is done. As they do, I record it publicly. Once a group shares their own data with me, they're naturally invested in seeing what other groups have to share. Group by group, the data goes up, and as that happens we engage in impromptu conversations about the similarities, differences, what surprised us, and what does not about the data. We might have a little geography lesson, when students ask where a certain country is. We might begin to speculate about the reasons that the data looks like it does. We might wonder how accurate this data is on a larger scale. I love these unstructured moments that follow work on a task, in which we can just see where the conversation goes. It gives me the chance to get to my students better as they express their natural curiosity.
Additionally, Excel is brand new to many of my students. They're going to use it for themselves later in this course, but in order to introduce them to the program, I take this opportunity just to navigate the program for all to see, so it's not completely foreign when it becomes their turn to use the software. As we go, I'll demonstrate how to sum rows and columns, and this is always enough to convince the kids that this is probably a tool worth knowing how to use, especially after the nitty-gritty work in which they were just engaged.
Here is an example of the results for a whole class. There are all sorts of reasons that we might question the validity of this data, but it is our data, and as we look at together, I express some awe and I make that point to students. In this course, we're not delving too deeply into statistical methods, but in the next part of the project, we will get to compare what we've done here to some world trade data.


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text:
Bosnia and Herzegovina competed at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy.

Alpine skiing

Biathlon

Cross-country skiing

Distance

References

Nations at the 2006 Winter Olympics
2006
Winter Olympics


text:
Trump's cancellation of Taliban deal a 'good step,' say experts
New Delhi [India], Sep 9 (ANI): US President Donald Trump's decision to call off the peace talks with the Taliban is a 'good step', said former senior diplomat Suresh K Goel, adding that the deal would have otherwise authorised the terror group to exercise more power in the strife-torn country.
"Trump's cancellation of the deal is a good step otherwise it could have provided more authority to the Taliban," Goel, a former Director-General of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), told ANI.
The veteran IFS officer of 1978 batch had also served as a Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs and was India's Ambassador to Laos before joining the ICCR.
The diplomat opined that importance should be given to the elected government in Kabul and other socio-economic development that would bring peace in the country nearly two-decades of turmoil.
The US has been holding talks with the Taliban in the last few months at Doha despite the group's reluctance to hold direct talks with the Afghan government, which it views as a US puppet.
The peace deal envisages the withdrawal of foreign troops in exchange for the Taliban's guarantee that it would cut ties to terrorist organisations and ensure that the country would not become a safe haven for terrorists.
In addition, another former bureaucrat, Pavan Verma also reinstated that making a repeated effort to negotiate a peace deal with the Taliban at the cost of the elected government in Afghanistan would be detrimental to America's interests.
Speaking to ANI, Verma said, "Trump is desperate to move out of Afghanistan. It is, therefore, trying to negotiate a possible peace deal with the Taliban. But America should be careful neither to over trust the Taliban, nor to have any illusions with regard to the group which is a fundamentalist terrorist organisation.""America should understand that ultimately making peace with the Taliban at the cost of the elected government in Afghanistan would be detrimental to America's interests," he added.
In addition, Verma, who is also the spokesperson of Janata Dal, also stressed that Pakistan at present has been given a lot of importance by Washington which has a view that the cash-strapped nation might enable it to negotiate with the Taliban.
"But the United States has to understand how much to trust Pakistan," stressed the diplomat, adding that America, at the same time, "should also not undermine the Kabul government which has been elected by the people of Afghanistan."Last Saturday, Trump said he had called off peace negotiations with the Taliban after the group claimed responsibility for the Kabul car bombing which killed 12 people, including an American soldier.
In a series of tweets later, the US president said he had also cancelled a separate meeting with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, who is currently in Washington to seek Trump's help regarding the deal that has reached its final stage.
In addition, the Afghan government has also reiterated its stance on holding the presidential elections on September 28 to make sure the establishment of a legitimate government through the ballot box and to move forward the ongoing peace process with full wisdom and precision. (ANI)