Still not networked. *sigh* I just got back from a long walk at lunch, through the market, and then the churchyard and park. I bought some organic pumpkin seeds and dates at a health food store (I'd been told that they had sunflower seeds, and they did – but not in the shell). Phil is going to be gone for two weeks, at a training course for his job. I'm very nervous at the thought of being alone here for half a month – I just barely started driving alone! Plus the house can be a bit spooky at night, like all houses, I suppose.
Phil really likes his job, although they've said that they're going to send him away to Leeds for two weeks of training. Wonderful. I'll be living by myself for half a month. Ah, well, at least we're both working.
Friday the 13th, and things are wonderful! Still no internet access, as you can see, but I've been trying to keep busy. Very strange to just sit here without the capability to do my job, knowing that I am new here and on my probationary period, and I can't do anything to prove myself! Very unsettling.
Things are going well. I feel a bit melancholy this morning, as it's the anniversary of the World Trade Center attacks; there have been memorials all morning on the BBC. In an indirect way, though, I think it brought me here. Many people have said that they began to live more for the moment, and not just let their lives slide by, after the attack. I know that I have certainly changed my life…I am married, living in a country that I am totally in love with, and I've started to build a completely new life. It's wonderful.
Phil is on his second interview this morning, at a local radio station for a copywriting position. They liked the two sample ads that he wrote, and scheduled him to come in again. If he gets it, most of our financial problems will eventually be solved. We need a second car, though, as we won't be able to commute together.
We had a minute of silence in the courtyard in memoriam of 9/11; I had tears in my eyes. Now, I'm back at my desk, looking for something to do. (I'm still waiting for internet access here at work. I'm working on what I can, but with no access to the site, there's not much that I can do. I've felt a bit like an orphan.) Ah, well…at least we're a fully employed family, as of this afternoon!
Phil is on the front page of two of the papers, after a letter that went out to both the Chronicle and the Guardian (as well as to the police). It is attached here. Pics are here.
As a recent new resident of Congleton, and living near the park, I've been dismayed to see the local vandals doing their bit to ruin it for the rest of us. Only recently the bridge was burned and needed new planking; I hear that the bird cage was vandalised, and now the fencing leading to the bridge. I know this because I witness a group of kids doing it. I tried to call the police to alert them, but on calling the local station was re-routed to Macclesfield calling centre, who informed me that Congleton Police station was closed (this is 7 pm on Sunday Sept. 1st). They transferred my call to Northwich, and it rang, and rang and rang. I hung up, and called Macclesfield back to ask if there was an alternative number; "No" said the dispatcher, "It seems that Northwich are taking their time answering the phone tonight.." and she transferred me again. It rang, and rang and rang. I gave up. I decided to do something myself, so I pulled out my camera and shot a few frames. The quality's not great, but I'm enclosing a few in the hopes that someone will publish them and shame someone into coming forth with some names. After I took the photos, I tried Northwich again and let it ring for a long time – upwards of 30 rings. In frustration I hung up, and am now writing this letter in the hopes that some justice, other than that provided (or not) by the local police forces, will prevail.
Haven't had much time to write, as I've been very tired in the evenings this week – I think I've been spoiled by being off work for so long. But yesterday at lunch, I sat on a high hill in a rolling green park, underneath a huge, old tree, listening to the church bells. And then I went back to work.
I am working now, as web designer for a college in Leek. As this is the week when classes start, I still feel a bit lost, but once things settle down and I can start discussions about what needs to be done for the site things will be fine.
I have to take a shower and get dressed, but I'll write more later. I finally feel as though I'll be able to stay.
Time to relax – I've been working all day on design ideas for one of the sites that we're doing. That's the trouble with freelancing (aside from never being sure if you can pay the rent) – you don't shut your computer off at five. ;) All in all it was a good day, though, very productive.
They found the two girls' bodies today…I knew they would, but I am still very sad. As a parent, I can imagine what those poor people must be going through. I don't know how people survive losing a child; I know they do, but I can't imagine what it would be like to drag yourself through every day of the rest of your life after that.
Another early morning, very grey and cold. We have an appointment this afternoon with a business interested in having a site done for them, so I am trying to get some work done this morning. Still sending out resumes, checking the papers and job sites every morning.
Last weekend we went to a Traction Engine Rally, as our neighbor had given us tickets to it. (No, I hadn't the slightest idea what a traction engine is, but hey…they were free.) It wasn't bad, actually. I wandered around, completely stuffed with these gorgeous hot, sugared doughnuts, looking at the crowds and the machines.
I really like how people go everywhere with dogs here. They take them shopping with them, to the park, and to events like this; so many people had dogs. I would love to get another dog, once we're finally settled and we're working. Phil's allergies would probably go nuts, though.
…I just feel like it at times. Phil and I are still not working, and we've pretty much reached the end of our savings. Every day we send out several resumes for jobs that we are usually overqualified for, and usually we don't get any kind of response back. I don't know why. It's been very difficult to keep a positive attitude, which is why I haven't kept up this blog, and also why I haven't kept in touch with friends and family as I should have. This has been very tough. I would sign up with a temp agency, but I'm really not a secretarial type, and I hesitate to take a job while I continue looking…it would be unfair to them for me to "sick out" for interviews and then quit as soon as I could. I'm going to have to get something soon, though – no matter what it is.
Confidence is at an alltime low.
Otherwise, all is well. Phil and I have been reasonably good to each other, in spite of being cooped up together with no money to do anything. (Ok, so he puts up with me.) We've picked up a few freelance sites, which is good, and once we get those completed (we're waiting on data from the businesses), we'll be okay for another month.
Due to the lack of internet access, it's been a long time since I was able to update this. Unfortunately, this will be a condensed version of my first weeks here. I am writing this from my re-assembled computer, in the second bedroom of the townhouse that we have rented. I am very happy – or would be, completely, if at least one of us was currently working!
The house is wonderful; it is a Victorian townhouse built in 1834. The front room, for company, has rose/gold/cream wallpaper and a dark, carved fireplace. The middle room is for family, eating, and watching TV (FOUR channels, only!!!), and has a second fireplace. The kitchen has been newly refitted with dark-green and brass fixtures, and has the original tile floor and a stable door leading into the garden, which needs a lot of work. Upstairs are the two bedrooms, one blue and one in Indian reds and yellows, with elephants. Hey, they came with the house. I love it – it's a very beautiful place, and should the owner ever wish to sell, we would like to buy it.
We've been busy setting the house up, unpacking, and doing some minor exploring. As I said earlier, we made the trip down to Devon, and both of us preferred this area. There were a few nice villages, but the buildings had more "old world" charm here. Exeter has difficult to get a feel for, and there didn't seem to be a "center," or a heart, to the city. We got lost multiple times, driving in the sheeting rain on the largely one-way streets, and became discouraged. I think we made the right choice; it's good to be close to Phil's family, as they have been wonderful to us. If we can just find work, we will be very happy.
Click here for miscellaneous pics.
Click here for pics of Little Moreton and Haddon Halls.


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3 Most Popular Solitaire Card Games Across Globe
Published on January 6th, 2021
Traditional Solitaire card games have been around for as long as we can remember. But the arrival of new technologies has completely revolutionized the gaming industry.
With so many game variations in the market, choosing a free Solitaire card game is no longer a question of what you want.
Actually, it's all about what you enjoy. So, the sooner you narrow down your selections, the easier it becomes for you to build a pleasurable gaming experience. Thus, here are the three best options for Solitaire Masters Home-Page for 2020.
1. Klondike
Undoubtedly, Klondike is a name that ticks all the boxes. Card game enthusiasts know it as a perfect game for killing boredom and creating fascinating moments from the comfort of your home.
But for psychologists, playing Klondike is more than just a way to pass time. It also has incredible health benefits and real-life advantages owing to the strategies you will need to use to win a competition.
Simply put, Klondike features one deck, and the objective of the game is to organize all 13 cards of one identical suit as a complete sequence in ascending order.
Every sequence starts with the ace for each foundation and you build it upwards to the king. Like many Solitaire online games, Klondike has the tableau, which is created by arranging a maximum of seven piles.
Klondike is always described as a closed game because most of the cards are hidden, and you slowly reveal them as Spider Solitaire game.
Depending on your skill level, a Klondike card game should be winnable at the first attempt, or at least, enjoyable. And hey! This game is super addictive!
2. Spider
Get it right, folks! We are not talking about the usual spider here, representing an animal of the arachnid group. If you are looking for a fascinating Solitaire card game variation, Spider Solitaire fits the bill.
Following the inception of Microsoft Windows operating systems, this game, together with FreeCell witnessed massive growth across the globe.
Spider Solitaire, just like many thought-provoking card games, requires skillful play to win it at the first attempt. Usually, this game features two decks, with a maximum of 52 cards when the gameplay initially begins.
Unlike the aforementioned Klondike, the objective of Spider is to arrange the cards from king to ace by suit in descending order in the tableau columns, after which those cards are transferred to the 8 foundation piles.
As far as you can see, in Spider Solitaire, everything is built around the tableau, which gives it a unique feeling even before the actual gaming begins.
3. FreeCell
FreeCell rose to prominence in 1995, following its addition to the Microsoft Windows 95. When the game begins, you will have one deck of 52 cards with eight columns of faced up cards.
Aside from having four foundation stacks known as HomeCells, FreeCell also has 4 storage cells that help to store cards temporarily as the game continues. And perhaps, this is its most striking feature that attracts a lot of players.
As a rule, a classic Solitaire card game will have four card piles. But this doesn't mean that your selection must be restricted to boring gaming options with little to no health benefits.
There are many Solitaire game variations today, but Klondike, Spider, and FreeCell remain the most popular options. We're hoping that this guide will help you play Solitaire depending on your preferences, available game rules, and schedule.
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Q & Andy: Neil Patrick Harris
By Andy Warhol
ABOVE: PHOTO COURTESY OF NEIL PATRICK HARRIS
And the winner for most charismatic entertainer goes to (as it always does) . . . Neil Patrick Harris. In each of his four appearances as the host of the Tony Awards, the former star of Doogie Howser, M.D. and How I Met Your Mother has won an Emmy for Outstanding Special Program. And after a Tony-winning run as the lead in the latest incarnation of Hedwig and the Angry Inch last year, the newlywed father is gearing up to host the biggest ball of them all, the 87th Academy Awards, on February 22. Perhaps it is unsurprising, then, that he has such great taste in movies.
ANDY WARHOL: How were you discovered?
NEIL PATRICK HARRIS: At a weeklong summer camp in Las Cruces, New Mexico. The brilliant playwright Mark Medoff plucked me out of obscurity to star in the movie Clara's Heart [1988].
WARHOL: What was your first job?
HARRIS: I worked at a bookstore in Ruidoso, New Mexico, when I was eight or nine. It was called the Aspen Tree, and it was amazing.
WARHOL: Who was the nicest person you worked for?
HARRIS: That's a tough one, as I've been very fortunate. My first thought? Kelly Ripa. She is lovely and hilarious and savvy and unbearably generous—always available for a suggestion, a piece of advice, or a cocktail.
WARHOL: What's the craziest thing a fan has sent you?
HARRIS: Once a fan sent me a long letter telling me that she was going to kill herself. She didn't follow through. In fact, the next day she sent me another letter about shopping in the mall.
WARHOL: Is there anything you regret not doing?
HARRIS: I regret not dancing more, just cutting loose on the dance floor. I still admire those who don't care much about what others think of them.
WARHOL: Do you dance at home?
HARRIS: When you have twin four-year-olds, you are able to dance like a fool, often. And I do.
WARHOL: What are your beauty secrets?
HARRIS: Moisturizer. Every night. No one wants to be leather face.
WARHOL: What's your favorite movie?
HARRIS: Ooh, I have lots. The Goonies (1985), Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971), Clue (1985), Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), Waiting for Guffman (1996), The Game (1997).
WARHOL: Do you have a dream role?
HARRIS: I'd love to be some sort of villain in a big-budget action movie. Or a superhero franchise. That'd be rad.
WARHOL: What's the biggest crowd you've performed for?
HARRIS: I sang the National Anthem at Dodger Stadium with my father when I was a teenager. It was a dream of his and I was more than happy to oblige.
WARHOL: When do you get nervous?
HARRIS: I'm not good at cocktail party situations, small talk from one stranger to the next. Oh, and hosting the Oscars—that'll be a doozy.
WARHOL: Are you a good cook?
HARRIS: Thankfully, my husband is a trained chef, so I get to defer to him. I'm a good sous chef. I take orders well.
WARHOL: Do you get depressed if you don't work?
HARRIS: Oh man, not at all. I like to stay busy, but lately I've been fantasizing about doing absolutely nothing. I've been watching episodes of This Old House and yearning to, like, refinish a floor.
WARHOL: Do you think it is vanity to worry so much about what you look like?
HARRIS: I actually think it's good to care about your appearance. But then I see some twentysomething male model with unkempt hair and ripped clothes, and I think that'd be cool, too. Although, he likely spent more time on his look than anyone.
WARHOL: What do you think about love?
HARRIS: Love is awesome and endless, but it is constantly changing its form. You love something for what it is, then it changes. But that change can make you love it even more.
Q & Andy: Andrew Lloyd Webber
Q & Andy: Tommy Wiseau
Q & Andy: Spike Lee
Q & Andy: Marilyn Manson
Q & Andy: Michael Kors
Q & Andy: Kathy Bates


Today I explored the East Asasif and found many tomb sites that I have not seen before and one in particular at the side of Sheshonq Temple that I have no knowledge of.
I spoke to a guardian and asked about the long wall that is at the side of this temple, he said it is the Panorama View from Karnak to Hatshepsut. Well, I think what he possibly meant was that it is a Processional Causeway that leads from the Nile opposite Karnak Temple and leads all the way to Hatshepsut. You can make out this possible rout on the map provided. I walked along the rout towards Hatshepsut and could clearly see the stone lines of a causeway. It was made up of very dark brown ancient stone blocks that stood out apart from all the surrounding stones, rocks and debris. There was a distinctive mark on many of the stones, a distinct line carved in the stone blocks.
If indeed this is a causeway, then it pre-dates earlier site areas and tombs that now intersect it.
I would be pleased to hear from any of you with ideas on this.
At the top far right you can see in dark shadow the Sheshonq Temple. There you can see the start of the causeway with walls on each side. If you look to the top left you can make out the causeway again. The temple site (in dark shadow) that intersects it is Mentuemhat TT34. Clearly this temple would have been deep under the causeway.
On this map I have outlined the possible causeway in red. It extends all the way to Hatshepsut Temple.
Sheshonq Temple in the distance.
The above pictures show what remains of the causeway. Beyond this, east towards the Nile, there is no visual evidence and nothing to be seen across the farmland. I have no information on the site area around where it starts near to the main road.
This is my walk along the causeway.
The carved lines in the stone blocks become a symbol of this causeway all the way to Hatshepsut.
Looking back towards the Nile.
There are the remains of a causeway leading from the temples of Deir el-Bahri and linking them to Karnak.
The causeway provided direct access to the area, which was likely used as a staging area for 'The Beautiful Festival of the West' (also known as 'The Beautiful Feast of the Wadi' among other variations). The walled causeway would have linked to a canal or another body of water via a landing station.
The festival itself was likely an age-old tradition that was probably celebrated in many areas of Egypt. It celebrated Hathor of the West, emerging from the western mountains to welcome the dead into the netherworld.
In Ancient Thebes, the festival was celebrated in association with the Amun, whose procession travelled across from the east bank to the mortuary temples in the west. The festival is likely to have begun by the reign of Mentuhotep II of the 11th Dynasty, as his mortuary temple there is a prototype of Hatshepsut's. Directly opposite this early Middle Kingdom structure -- on the east bank -- are the mud-brick remains of Middle Kingdom Karnak, indicating the site as a cult centre of Amun centuries before Hatshepsut.
Hatshepsut's temple itself has been argued to emphasise her link with "her father" Amun, therefore legitimising her unusual reign as justified. However, the festival procession would also 'stop by' other mortuary temples, including that of Ramasses II and III.
The procession continued until some time in Dynasty 20, when all three temples (Mentuhotep II, Hatshepsut, and the smaller wedged-in temple built by Tuthmosis III) were destroyed by the collapse of the cliffs above.


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Vinyl Record Memories
Relive the Times, The Music, The Golden Age of Vinyl Records.
Think About It Darlin Lyrics
"Who's Gonna Play This Old Piano"
Think About it Darlin Lyrics was written by Jerry Foster and Bill Rice and was a #1 song for Jerry Lee Lewis in 1972.
The song was released off the album "Who's Gonna Play this old Piano" and the cover has the piano Jerry Lee learned to play on that his parents bought him when he was eight.
The same album cover you see here on this page.
It is something of a crime that all the country music that Lewis recorded during the late sixties through the seventies and into the eighties, doesn't get the air play that other artists from that era receive.
Having said that I realize that those ballads, Another Place, Another Time, What Made Milwaukee Famous, She Even Woke Me Up to Say Goodbye, Middle Age Crazy, and others I have included on these pages, are simply masterpieces.
The range, maturity, and feeling he put into them will make those songs last forever. This is Jerry Lee Lewis 40 years ago and each and every song will stand the test of time long after Jerry Lee is gone.
In my opinion, Jerry Lee Lewis is the greatest Rock-N-Roll Honky Tonk Piano Player of all time.
The following video was a live performance at Austin City Limits in 1983.
Think About It Darlin'
1972 #1 song by Jerry Lee Lewis
Written by Jerry Foster, Bill Rice
Search the corners of your precious heart
And if you find something there
And there's anyway to call it love...and we still got a prayer
I've got more love for you sweetheart...than you'll ever find again
So before you close that door on me...Think about it darlin'
Think about it darlin' give yourself a little time
Consider all you mean to me...and you might change your mind
Mmmm I haven't been the kind of man...you wanted me to be
But if you'll stay darlin' I'll try to change..Don't give up on Jerry Lee
Lord things were good between us once...I know they could be again
And there's nothing good about goodbye...So Think about it darlin'
Closing in on 50? - This is your song - "Middle Age Crazy"
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All posts in "Car Profiles"
Mazzanti Automobili: The New Evantra Pura
In the world of supercars and hypercars, it has become a bit of a gimmick that manufacturers will release a car, and then, a year or two down the road, release a special, limited, or track-only version of that car. This has happened with many manufacturers from all countries, around the world. There are a few manufacturers, however, that stay dedicated to a tight model line, and each car from that model line is the absolute best it can be at the time it was built.
Mazzanti Automobili, a specialist hypercar coachbuilder and producer in Italy, is one such company. In fact, their model line is exactly three cars: The Evantra Classic, the Evantra 781, and the Evantra Millecavalli R. That is, it was three cars until October 2021, when their latest hypercar, the Evantra Pura, was unveiled to the world. Designed and manufactured without compromise, this car is set to become the next great Italian limited edition collector's hypercar, as you will soon see.
The History Of The Evantra
The Evantra model has always been at the core of Mazzanti Automobili's design and engineering concepts, due to the fact that the initial boxed steel frame and chrome-molybdenum cage of the 2012 prototype proved to be extremely strong. Structural rigidity was key, due to the fact that the Evantra was always meant to be a comfortable but agile and sporty two seater coupe. After testing and proving, the base model, now known as the Evantra Classic, went on sale in 2013.
As part of the whole concept of a coachbuilt hypercar, each and every vehicle was built precisely to customer specifications. The bodywork could be made out of carbon fiber, hand-wrought aluminum, or pretty much any combination of both. Each interior was made to measure, with the driver's seat made to fit the customer's own unique body shape, in essence making each interior a one-off, one of the core values of being coachbuilt.
Evantra (Evantra Classic)
The original engine for the 2013 Evantra was a GM-supplied 7.0L V8 that was stripped down to the block and rebuilt by Mazzanti's in-house engineering department. What resulted was a 701 HP V8 that sat directly behind the cabin in a mid-mount longitudinal position, passing power through a 6-speed sequential transmission. During prototyping and testing, however, those same Mazzanti engineers were able to extract a further 50 HP from the engine, meaning the 2013 production cars left the factory with 751 horses going to the rear wheels.
With a limited production run of five cars per year, this allowed each engine to undergo stress testing and fine tuning, making each engine, like the car, a one-off in terms of its tune and timings. As such, if you were to test an Evantra Classic on a dynamometer, you would get a number close to 751 HP, but each and every car would give you a different result.
Evantra Millecavalli
With the success of the original Evantra, Mazzanti introduced the Millecavalli, a more hardcore version of the base car, in 2016. The 7.0L GM V8 was not only stripped down to the block again, this time it was bored out to 7.2L, had new pistons to match the boring made, and just for power's sake, had two turbochargers bolted to it. The result is the 7.2L Mazzanti Twin Turbo V8, which produces a net 1,000 HP, with 885 lb-ft, or dead on 1,200 Newton-meters, of torque.
This new engine was the basis of the Evantra Millecavalli's name, as in Italian, Mille is "One thousand" and Cavalli is "horses," meaning the car is literally named the Evantra One Thousand Horses. Its interior is again customized to each customer, but features a more track oriented setup, including a bespoke 6-speed sequential built only for the Millecavalli. This means that the dash provides only necessary information, and the materials are more suited to letting the driver focus on speed and handling, instead of out and out luxury.
Evantra 771
In 2016, the next Evantra was revealed, the 771. This version was displayed at the 2016 Bologna Motor Show, and gained immediate attention. It shared the same basic lines of the Evantra, yet somehow flexed a bit more, was that little bit more aggressive, and spoke of the extra 20 HP from its 7.0 Mazzanti-reworked V8, so that it produced 771 HP.
The engine of the 771, with its direct feed air shaft from the roof scoop
Special features of the Evantra 771 are that it came with special, Mazzanti-only lightweight wheels from OZ Racing, shod with 255/30R20 fronts and 325/23R20 rears Pirelli P Zero tires. MacPherson struts were installed in all four corners, giving the car exceptional responsiveness and ride comfort without diluting the hypercar experience.
Brakes were increased in diameter from the Evantra, with a 380mm rotor with 6-piston calipers in the front, and 360mm rotors with 4-piston calipers in the rear. The 771 was also the first Mazzanti to offer second generation carbon-ceramic brakes, offering fade-free performance without the grabby, jerky nature of the first generation carbon-ceramics offered by many supercar manufacturers in the mid-2000s.
As the Evantra 771 became more and more desirable as a hypercar, and due to the limited production of only five cars per year, the decision was made to switch the engine from the 7.0L Mazzanti-fettled V8 to another GM-supplied V8, this one being a 6.2L V8 based on the widely known LT2 Corvette engine. Of course, this engine was stripped down to the block and extensively reworked by skilled Italian engineers, and ended up producing 781 HP.
As well, the Evantra 781 changed the suspension from MacPherson struts to fully adjustable, independent double wishbone suspension at each wheel. This was done to give the 781 a more aggressive handling profile and increasing high speed stability in response to road surface imperfections.
Evantra Millecavalli R
The most recent Evantra, the Millecavalli R takes the already insane performance and handling of the Millecavalli and turns all the dials up to maximum. The 7.2L V8 was taken back to the Mazzanti engineers, and with a further boring and reworking of the tuning, is now a 7.4L Mazzanti V8 with a nigh unbelievable 1,121 HP and 892 lb-ft of torque.
The biggest difference over its brother model is that the R receives a full aerodynamic package. This is meant to be the track-only version of the Evantra, yet because of it keeping the boxed steel and chrome-molybdenum frame and cage, it is fully road legal. Also, as part of the track-oriented nature of the car, special Michelin Sport tires are made for the car.
The New 2021 Evantra Pura
A totally reworked front aero package increases downforce without introducing any increased drag.
In Italian, the word Pura means "pure." For Luca Mazzanti, the man behind the name of the company, it is something he has been searching for in his cars from day one. Not purity in the sense of design or shape, but purity in the way that the car feels around the driver. Let us remember that each and every Evantra is almost a one-off due to being customized to each client, and Luca wanted something for those that remember the days of three pedals, a manual shifter, and the connection that gave, the pure exhilaration, of being completely one with the machine.
The core of this search for the purest driving experience comes with the all-new 7-speed manual transmission designed for the Evantra Pura alone. Left behind are the sequential 6- and 7-speed transmissions of the other models, as they don't give the same connection as a gated transmission, each shift accompanied by that mechanical feeling of the lever sliding home. The clutch has also been redesigned for the car, to give superb feel and allow the driver to slip it perfectly, with a move from a dual-plate clutch package to a triple-plate clutch.
The Mazzanti Automobili badge, denoting a handbuilt carbon fiber hypercar
The engine is borrowed from the Evantra 781, yet as with each model, has taken a trip through Mazzanti's in-house engineering and tuning department. What has emerged is a 6.2L V8 with a bespoke supercharger, which feeds the dual-injection-per-cylinder engine with compressed air from even the lowest revs. This, in turn, helps the V8 produce 761 HP, but more importantly, 970 Nm of torque (about 715 lbs-ft).
Bespoke OZ Racing wheels made just for the Evantra Pura
This pursuit of driving purity is not only down to the engine and clutch, however. The body has been extensively lightened, and the aerodynamics have been reworked with the use of computer-aided fluid dynamic simulation. These simulations were carried out by both Mazzanti and their strategic partners who help design Formula 1 and Le Mans racing cars, giving highly detailed results that let the aerodynamics be optimized for the power and speed of the car.
The reworked spoiler and diffuser at the rear of the Evantra Pura. Also note the visible elements of the chrome-molybdenum engine support frame
The Pura is also the first Evantra that will not include any aluminum body parts at all in its construction. In pursuit of that pure driving experience, the car will be made of a special weave of carbon fiber composite that has immense torsional and structural rigidity, yet is so lightweight that this Evantra produces another first, that being its dry weight of 1,280 kg (2,822 lbs), the first car weighing under 1,300 kg.
Hood vents both cool the radiators and create a flow of air over the windshield and roof of the Evantra Pura, helping feed the hungry supercharger and create a smooth pressure layer over the aerodynamics of the car
It is this combination of factors that has led to Luca Mazzanti bestowing the name Pura onto this model. The control of a light, single clutch with three plates. A gated 7-speed manual shifter with positive and solid feel. A lighter weight body, tuned aerodynamically to provide the possible handling and high speed experience. A V8 engine with a Mazzanti-designed supercharger giving the best sound and power, a bellow of 8 cylinders matching with the soprano scream of the twin screws in the supercharger housing.
We can just imagine what the bellow of the 6.2L supercharged V8 will sound like out of those exhausts, placed so that they help increase the Venturi effect of both the diffuser and spoiler to increase downforce
The result is the most pure Evantra made. It bolts to 100 KPH (62 MPH) in 2.9 seconds and pulls strongly to a top speed in excess of 360 KPH (224 MPH). It also carries the purest of partner parts, among them Brembo second-generation carbon-ceramic discs and calipers, Tractive Suspension shocks within adjustable MacPherson struts with spherical bearings, and a Brembo-Mazzanti ABS system that, on customer request, can have an ABS deactivation button fitted to the interior.
Of course, no interior will be the same, and Luca Mazzanti, with a little knowing smile, has no intention of showing the newly redesigned interior. This is because, as with all other Mazzanti's, there will only be five cars made per year, and he wants to have something that only clients will see, which is their own customized interior. We can't blame him, really, as that is part of what makes Mazzanti Automobili special: Each car is bespoke to its owner, and really, it's up to that owner to choose what they like around them as they drive without having to share it with anyone.
2021 Evantra Pura Technical Specifications
Model 2021 Evantra Pura
Top speed >360kph / 224mph
0 – 60mph 2.9 seconds
Measurements 4325*1955*1225 mm
Boxed steel cradle + roll bar and engine and gearbox
support frame in chromium-molybdenum trellis
Weight distribution 43% front and 57% rear
Weight (dry) 1280 kg
Car body Carbon fibre
Engine (GM Block) 6200 cc V8 Supercharged
Power HP and Nm 761 hp – 970 Nm
Engine layout Rear / mid
Gearbox 7-speed manual (Mazzanti)
Clutch Single – 3 discs
Brake discs (Brembo) Carbon ceramic 380mm front + 360 mm rear
Brake calipers (Brembo) 6-piston brakes front + 4-piston rear
McPherson – adjustable option
Suspension fitted with Spherical bearings
Shock absorbers Tractive Suspensions
Tyre size 255/35/19 + 315/30/20
Traction Rear wheel drive
Tank capacity 70L
Fuel consumption Combined cycle 12.4 lt per 100 km / 22.7 MPG
December 3, 2021 / Comments Off on Mazzanti Automobili: The New Evantra Pura
An In-Depth Look at the Ford Focus RS
Blisteringly fast, sometimes unforgiving and exclusively blue, the Mark I Ford Focus RS is a sublime analog sports car disguised as a boy-racer-ish hot hatchback. In the two decades since its introduction, this Euro-only limited production Ford has matured into a pretty desirable classic.
The first Ford Focus RS is one of the finest examples of affordable power at the dawn of the third millennium. Saying that this hot hatchback was worthy of the famous RS insignia is an understatement, because it is way more than just a Focus with a lower stance and the strongest production engine that could fit in the engine bay. It was conjured, engineered and executed out of sheer enthusiasm rather than for profits, and that shows from the moment you step on the gas.
If you're lucky enough to live in Europe, continue on to see why you may want to get one of these cars for yourself right now (or as soon as it turns 25 if you're in the US).
Ford Focus RS Background and Development
Starting with the British Escort RS1600 two-door sedan in 1970, the European Ford and Cosworth embarked on a joint venture to create a number of RS cars—fast Blue Ovals for rally and sport. Though the RS insignia appeared on the Capri Coupé, the Sierra sedan and as a standalone badge on the RS200 Group B special, it was really the Escort RS that had the strongest impact on the masses.
Whether it was a rear-wheel drive sedan or a front-wheel drive hot hatch, with or without turbochargers, the Escort RS never failed to give power to the people—becoming an integral part of European automotive folklore for three decades. On the other hand, each regular Escort couldn't be farther from its RS-badged counterparts, as it was getting increasingly dull, stripped of any joy and character with each new generation that entered the market.
In its sixth and final generation, the Escort RS got a dramatic sendoff in 1992, as the Ford Escort RS Cosworth. A phenomenal version of an otherwise terrible car, this masterclass in hot hatch engineering was built on a shortened Sierra RS chassis, meaning it had four-wheel drive and a 2.0-liter, 224 horsepower Cosworth YBT T34 four-pot.
This Group A homologation special didn't manage to win a WRC title, but its whale tail spoiler and mean attitude ensured it a place in the British automotive pantheon.
The Ford Focus in the New Millennium
The Escort survived throughout the nineties and the early aughts and was desperately in need of being replaced by an all-new philosophy. With a history of building joyless cars, Ford had to reinvent itself to stay relevant globally. Moreover, as per the Ford 2000 plan, the new millennium asked for a true world car to spearhead the Blue Oval's lineup in all corners of the Earth.
That car was the Focus—the funky compact hatchback that debuted in 1998 in Europe and got to the US in 1999. Developed under the brilliant Richard Parry-Jones, the Focus was more than just a new name in the C-segment; it was a disruptive force.
What Parry-Jones wanted was an affordable car people would actually enjoy driving. He pushed to make a car that steered more precisely and had better road holding while still being affordable for the customer and commercially viable for the company.
The risk he took with a novel rear suspension design paid off, and the Focus eclipsed both its predecessor and head-on competitors, making their engineering solutions seem dated and inferior.
Conceiving the Mark 1 Ford Focus
Thanks to Parry-Jones, the Focus was an entry level family car that felt fun, comfortable and involving—something the competition could hardly follow. With such a foundation, Ford naturally had sporty ambitions for the new nameplate.
Still, the idea of a really hot Mark 1 Focus was still a European affair. After all, hot hatchbacks always felt more at home in Europe, and Ford didn't abandon its rallying efforts, teaming up with M-Sport to build and run the Focus WRC and signing superstar driver Colin McRae for the 1999 season.
The same year, Ford showcased the Focus Cosworth concept car at the Los Angeles Motor Show—but behind the curtains, the upcoming Focus was distanced from Cosworth, and the high performance model was entrusted to a team of 60 engineers from Ford and Tickford Engineering.
To make the hot Focus a reality, Tickford re-engineered 70% of the base car, sourcing specialized high quality components from Quaife, Garrett, Brembo and Sparco, among others.
Initially, this hot hatchback was supposed to be a Ford Racing Focus, but after the Ford Racing Puma was not met with the reception it frankly deserved, Ford decided to revive the evocative RS badge—which turned out to be just the right decision.
The Birth of the Ford Focus RS
Still in development, the pre-production car was shown at the Birmingham Motor Show in 2000 and the 2001 Geneva Motor Show, but the production took longer than expected. So the Focus RS hit the showrooms in late 2002, a year and a half later than originally planned.
In the meantime, Ford unveiled the 170-horsepower SVT Focus for the US market in 2001, whereas Europe got the spiced up ST170 in 2002.
Despite the development being carried out in the United Kingdom, Ford produced the Focus RS in the Saarlouis plant in Germany between 2002 and 2003, making it available in 4501 copies only. Unsurprisingly, the UK market was the biggest one, with 2147 cars being right-hand drive, whereas the remainder was scattered throughout Europe.
The RS model was based on the pre-restyle Focus, despite the regular model receiving a refresh in 2001. However, halfway through the production run, it did get a number of mild changes colloquially known as Phase 2.
From a cynical point of view, the Focus RS was a parts bin special, but the choice of high quality suppliers and how all their parts worked together made the final product well worth the RS badge (and the wait). The Focus RS was received as an instant hit, praised for its physics-defying handling, and revered for its turbocharged power delivery—all at a competitive price of only 19,995 pounds.
For a multitude of reasons, the Focus RS became a hot topic in all echelons of European car culture. On the streets, the tracksuit-wearing crowd was charmed by its looks and performance, whereas the racing community appreciated all the engineering that went into it, making it a solid foundation for rallying.
So, two decades later, how does the original Focus RS hold up? Is it still hailed for all its traits and what made it a crown jewel of the Focus range in the first place? Let's see!
Chassis, Body, & Interior of the Ford Focus RS
Exterior Impressions of the Ford Focus RS
The looks of the Focus were the most distilled expression of Ford's New Edge design language, but the final execution didn't sit well when the Focus came out in 1998. Unlike the whimsical Ka supermini and the handsome little Puma, the Focus was just too odd and radical, especially for a car in a segment that had to appeal to the widest of audiences.
Under Jack Telnack and Claude Lobo's guidance, John Doughty blended straight lines and curves with sharp angles and clean geometric surfaces, making the Focus stand out from its relatively conservative contemporary competition. Today, this clean and simple look has aged exceptionally well, making the original Ford Focus an exemplary piece of turn of the millennium car design.
For the RS model, the structurally sound 3-door Focus shell underwent a comprehensive overhaul, transforming the clean, futuristic silhouette into a car that would be more aggressive and appealing to the new generation of hot hatch aficionados.
With flared wheel arches, a tailgate spoiler, a unique front bumper adorned with a gaping air intake, fog lights, and air extracting louver-like vents, the Focus RS looked quite like its increasingly popular rallying counterpart.
Beneath the surface, the unibody shell was strengthened throughout, increasing the car's rigidity and ability to withstand punishment when pushed to its limits. As a final touch to this special treatment, the original Focus RS could be painted any color the customer wanted—as long as it was Imperial Blue.
Inside the Ford Focus RS
The true blue theme continued on in the interior as well, with Sparco bucket seats finished in black and blue vertical stripes with black Alcantara accents. Breaking the tradition, Ford chose Sparco over Recaro as a supplier for all other RS-specific parts, so the interior got bespoke aluminum pedals, a handbrake lever, a gear stick, and a ball-shaped knob, too.
Other details unique to the RS were custom blue gauges and a steering wheel wrapped in blue and black leather with a blue 12 o'clock marker. Rather inexplicably, the water temperature gauge inside the instrument cluster was omitted in favor of a turbo boost gauge, prompting many owners to find aftermarket solutions for reading out vital engine parameters.
Finally, the last RS-specific interior bit was a unique carbon fiber gearbox console with a green starter button and a stamped serial number of each car produced. The Phase 2 model got "ENGINE START" written around the green button, as well as additional stitching on the seats.
Ford Focus RS Engine & Transmission
The Focus RS was powered by a transversely mounted 2.0-liter DOHC inline four from the Zetec-R family, yet branded as Duratec RS. This 16-valve four pot has a cast iron block and aluminum head and was thoroughly re-engineered to withstand additional power coming from forced induction.
That being said, Duratec RS got forged pistons and connecting rods, sodium-filled valves, a more capable water pump, an oil cooler, and high flowing injectors.
The aviation grade Inconel-made Garrett GT2560LS turbo was developed exclusively for the Focus RS, allowing the Duratec RS to produce a total of 212 horsepower at 5,500 RPM and 229 lb-ft of torque at 3,500 RPM. This power gave the 2,817 lb car a 0-60 time of 6.3 seconds and a top speed of 144 miles per hour—quite a punch for an early 2000s hot hatch and still respectable today.
In Phase 2, the car got a new engine map, making it less thirsty and more friendly for daily use.
Power delivery was as direct as could be, with Ford bypassing turbo lag by cooling the compressed intake air via a liquid circuit with a separate radiator instead of using a conventional intercooler system. By saving space like this, the engineering team improved responsiveness, cutting on lag one would usually find in turbocharged cars of similar vintage.
Via a composite AP Racing clutch, the engine was mated to the only transmission that could fit the Focus and withstand the engine's torque output. It was the Ford MTX-75 transmission, a close-ratio 5-speed unit with a short shifter kit, sending power to the front wheels through a bespoke Quaife automatic torque biasing differential.
Distributing torque to the wheel with more traction, the worm gear Quaife ATB diff was a key piece for the Focus RS' exceptional handling, though the car also gained a reputation for torque steer, especially in wet weather and despite Tickford's efforts to minimize it.
What definitely didn't help is that the original Focus RS had a front-biased weight distribution of 59.5:40.5 and no form of traction or stability control, making it too challenging in the hands of inexperienced drivers.
Ford Focus RS Suspension & Handling
The Focus' main selling point was its MacPherson suspension at the front (similar to what you'd find in a Mustang) and what Ford called Control Blade at the rear. Richard Parry-Jones' brainchild, this compact multi link suspension blended the packaging of a trailing arm setup with geometry of a double wishbone suspension.
In this setup, the Control Blade steel trailing arm took care of the braking and traction loads, whereas the long rear lateral arm controlled the toe and two shorter front lateral arms controlled the camber.
This engineering solution increased ride quality and enhanced the car's maneuverability in many ways, giving the engineers greater ability to fine tune it on the RS model, while the clever design also lowered the center of gravity by eliminating the need for rear shock towers. The fact that it was fairly cheap to produce and easy to assemble created a breakthrough in the segment, giving the Focus a huge advantage on the market.
For the RS, the engineering team completely overhauled the suspension, redesigning new front arms, lower arms and trailing arms, stronger bushings, and anti-roll bars, and installing stiffer Sachs dampers.
As a result, the Focus RS was lowered by 25mm (compared to the standard version) and, in addition to that, it had revised geometry and wider track on both axles, matching the Focus WRC 03 rally car's track.
As the final piece of the handling puzzle, the RS got a quicker steering rack too—amping up its responsiveness and allowing for more direct feedback at the steering wheel.
Ford Focus RS Brakes, Wheels, & Tires
Stopping power was granted through a Brembo system with 324 mm ventilated and grooved steel discs at the front and and 280 mm solid discs at the back. The rotors were gripped by four-piston calipers front and single-piston floating calipers in the rear.
The Focus RS was exclusively equipped with lightweight 18×8-inch five-spoke OZ Racing wheels with a 4×108 bolt pattern, and wrapped in 225/40ZR18 Michelin Pilot Sport high grip tires.
Legacy of the Ford Focus RS
Offering a raw and thrilling analog run for quite an affordable price, the original Ford Focus RS succeeded in becoming another street racing hero for the Playstation generation, while McRae's rallying escapades between 1999 and 2005 wrote its name in Y2K's motorsport history.
Although the road going Ford Focus RS wasn't directly a homologation car for the radical Focus RS WRC 03, strong associations between the two cemented the car's cult status—making it a worthy successor to everything the Escort had accomplished in past decades.
But before it became cherished as a legitimate modern classic, Focus RS was first loved for its immense tuning potential. Its bulletproof engine and turbo setup made it ideal for various modifications, be it for road, track or rallying use. This in turn means that the number of surviving examples is limited even further, especially those in their original condition.
As it usually goes with limited supplies of cars that happen to be amazing, the increasing demand for this model has driven values back up to its original price tag. And the fact that it is another phenomenally fast Ford that America never got will make it even more valuable when it reaches 25 years of age.
The automotive industry has shown us too many times that looks can be deceiving. With its street-fighter-esque, cartoonish features providing cover for a mature and compelling sports car, the Mark I Ford Focus RS is one of the brightest examples of how the art of deception can amaze you once you look beyond the surface.
All photos by Djordje Sugaris.
November 12, 2021 / Comments Off on An In-Depth Look at the Ford Focus RS


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Carl Frederik Waage Beck (born 1979 in Copenhagen, Denmark) is a Copenhagen-based community activist and artist working under the pseudonym Paintshooter.

Paintshooter graduated in 2006 with an MSc in Economics & Business Administration from Copenhagen Business School.

As a child, he was inspired to become an artist, as he grew up surrounded by artists who gathered at his parents' art gallery "Kaffeslottet" on the island of Bornholm.

Beck is a self-taught artist, an impressionist - he mostly paints portraits alla prima in oil on canvas.

In 2009 his first show – an event and portrait exhibition named "Elect your saviour"- took place in Brorsons Church, Copenhagen.

The Exhibition and church was at that time occupied by roughly 30 Iraqi refugees seeking Asylum in Denmark.
Paintshooter was the vicechairman of the Parish Council which allowed the Iraqis to stay in the church.

The Refugee seekers were later dislodged in a police raid ending a 3-month long stalemate.

References

External links
 Paintshooters blog
 BLågaarden parish council

Danish contemporary artists
Stuckism
Living people
1979 births
Copenhagen Business School alumni

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


kristina + peter | ohio statehouse winter wedding.
six months ago today we had the honor of shooting this incredible winter wonderland of a wedding. even without the snow we'd hoped for, the details and planning that went into this one were pure magic. a special thanks for everyone who had a part in this wedding (see vendor list below the photos) for doing their part in a dream-wedding come true. we had a hard time choosing our favorites to share with you all. we hope you enjoy these.


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Home » Digital Marketing News » Soccer Scores Big In The U.S.: A Look Into The Audience Causing The Sport's Rising Popularity And Marketing Potential
Soccer Scores Big In The U.S.: A Look Into The Audience Causing The Sport's Rising Popularity And Marketing Potential
March 27, 2019 Victoria Pallien
Soccer's popularity has officially spread to the U.S., crossing the Atlantic Ocean from Europe. Larger American cities now rally to support their Major League Soccer (MLS) teams, spirit in full swing.
Audience Interest In MLS Grows Steadily
In the U.S., 2019 marks the 24th year for MLS, and 47% of American adults say they're interested in the sport, according to Nielsen research. That puts America's soccer fandom higher than the global average, which is 43%.
Overall, the global interest in soccer (or football, as it's called outside the U.S.) is much higher than in other sports, the 43% equating to 736 million individuals across the markets surveyed in Nielsen's World Football Report. The second most popular sport worldwide is basketball with 36%, or 626 million, of adults interested.
While soccer saw a drop-off of fans in some countries like Brazil, who experienced interest slipping from 72% in 2013 to 60% in 2017, Americans' interest has steadily climbed for the past two decades.
MLS Fan Demographics Reveal Diversity
MLS popularity has grown exponentially in part because of the organization's expansion in local U.S. markets. Orlando, Atlanta and Minnesota received their first MLS teams between 2015 and 2018, and interest in MLS has increased 40% since 2012 in these markets. Nielsen also reported that interest in general soccer in these same markets increased 29% since 2012.
In 2017, 38% of American men and 26% of American women reported being "interested" or "very interested" in soccer. Soccer was most popular among Americans 16 to 24 years old (55%), followed by adults between 25 and 34 years old (50%). American adults between 55 and 69 years old were the least interested in the sport (14%).
Nearly a quarter (24%) of low-income earners were interested in soccer, while the level of interest in the sport among medium-income earners and high-income earners was virtually the same at 41% and 40%, respectively.
Why The MLS Has A Growing Fan Base In The U.S.
Nielsen noted several factors that may have caused the popularity increase in MLS, including the increased popularity of youth soccer, the growing U.S. Hispanic population, recent World Cup qualifications and the success of the FIFA video game.
In the U.S., the low-scoring game with nonstop play struggled for years to grow a television audience or attract national-level sponsors. But as American football declines in popularity, soccer is growing. One of the power moves boosting the MLS fan base is the recruitment of stars from overseas. Wayne Rodney, for example, transitioned from Manchester United to D.C. United last year, bringing his European football fans with him.
Incredible Marketing Power In The Soccer Industry
With a global fan base, the sport of soccer offers powerful marketing potential. Between in-person events and televised games, a long list of industries leverage soccer's worldwide reach to relay marketing messages to diverse audiences. In fact, the tourism industry spent $1.4 billion globally on soccer sponsorships across the top six leagues between 2008 and 2017.
Brands from Germany and the United Arab Emirates historically make the biggest soccer sponsorship investments. But sponsorship investments from the United States are growing, an indicator that marketing within soccer is a lucrative initiative.
Powerful Influencer Marketing With Top Players
Marketing in soccer goes further than billboards, jerseys and sporting events. Famous soccer players have the potential to reach incredible audiences and increase brand exposure. Cristiano Ronaldo, for example, has 127 million Instagram followers, which led to 509.2 million engagements on the platform between January and May 2018. As influencer marketing reaches new heights, top soccer players' followings can become increasingly valuable.
Below is a chart of the three soccer players with the most social media followers as of May 2018.
Below is a chart indicating the most popular celebrity profiles on social media sites. It's important to note that the top soccer player has more followers than the top celebrity, indicative of just how much reach these players have. Plus, the fourth most popular celebrity is retired soccer player David Beckham.
Predictions For Soccer's Growth
As technology becomes more involved in sports, the sports marketing landscape is evolving.
Viewing Channel Updates
Soccer once relied heavily on television, but as the digital landscape progresses, streaming may have the power to replace television as the top way to view soccer action. Solving the lack of time outs issue, streaming games allow for advertising along the sides of the screen.
eSports Boom
Nielsen attributed the popularity of soccer and the MLS in part to the beloved FIFA video game. As gaming's popularity holds strong, the eSports industry is growing wildly and the number of gaming tournaments and championships are growing. Tomorrow's soccer celebrities may include both those who play the game on the field and those who play the game on the screen.
Content Demand
Nielsen reported, "Digital media has blown open the idea of what sports content is, who produces it, who controls it and who benefits from it." The research brand described the current demand for content from consumers as a "24-7, furious, free-for-all battle" for dollars and attention, which means soccer fans can also join the ranks of soccer influencers.
Soccer's popularity has seeped into American consumer interest, providing vast opportunity for marketing. From jersey sponsorships to sideline signage and from digital campaigns to influencer marketing on social platforms, soccer fans are a growing and viable audience.
Reimagining Your Digital Marketing Win?
Victoria Pallien is a Marketing Communications Writer at Digital Media Solutions (DMS), the fastest-growing independent digital performance marketing company. DMS helps its clients accelerate growth by deploying diversified and data-driven customer acquisition solutions that deliver scalable, sustainable and measurable marketing results. DMS performance marketing solutions connect the right consumers with the right offers at the right time to achieve the marketing objectives of our clients. DMS is continually innovating to provide new and emerging media and technology solutions that minimize waste and maximize results across the most competitive industries. Since its inception, DMS has demonstrated incredible year-over-year growth which has earned recognition on the Inc. 5000 list in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018.
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It is reduced on an enormous scale in three principal forms; viz., cast iron, steel, and wrought iron. Iron usually appears dark brown, from oxidation or impurity, but when pure, or on a fresh surface, is a gray or white metal. It is easily oxidized (rusted) by moisture, and is attacked by many corrosive agents. Symbol Fe (Latin Ferrum). Atomic weight 55.9. Specific gravity, pure iron, 7.86; cast iron, 7.1. In magnetic properties, it is superior to all other substances.
Not only is recycling good for the environment, but you can make money doing it as well. Whether it's collecting cans or selling your old cell phone, there are plenty of ways you can make money by recycling. Some methods are easier than others, but with some effort, you can make a nice profit by recycling a few valuable items.
A reddish-brown, ductile, malleable metallic element that is an excellent conductor of heat and electricity. It is widely used for electrical wires, water pipes, and rust-resistant parts, either in its pure form or in alloys such as brass and bronze. Atomic number 29; atomic weight 63.546; melting point 1,083°C; boiling point 2,595°C; specific gravity 8.96; valence 1, 2.
Yellow Brass is much different than regular brass in both the scrap price and the way it looks. Brass is a mixture of copper and zinc, the more yellow the color of the brass, the more zinc there is mixed in. Check the scrap price of Yellow Brass with your local scrap yard and they will be able to give you an estimate. Some scrap yards however do not pay a different price for different types of brass, simply because they do not bring in enough quantity to segregate it. Also be sure to keep your yellow brass separate from other brass and scrap metals to get the best pricing for scrap metals.


Lionsgate has partnered with Profiles in History, one of the world's leading auction houses for Hollywood memorabilia, to hold The World of The Hunger Games Auction on May 20, 2016.
For one day only, nearly 500 authentic costumes, props, and set pieces will be available for purchase from each of the franchise's four films: The Hunger Games, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1, and The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2.
The auction will feature genuine costumes worn by the series' leading cast members, unique props, and recognizable set pieces used throughout the film production process.
Of course, the auction is more than a little expensive, with items like Haymitch Abernathy's empty alcohol bottles or President Snow's tissues costing about $300-$500.
Along with the minor objects, there are also grand ones from the Tribute Parade Chariot ($2000-$3000) to the Peacekeepers Military Vehicle ($10,000-$15,000).
Katniss Everdeen's first Chariot Parade clothes, the black ensemble, is priced between $30,000 and $50,000.
For more information, including the full catalog, head over here.


text:
A Federação das Indústrias do Estado da Bahia (FIEB) é a entidade que representa a indústria baiana, tendo como objetivos principais promover e apoiar ações que visam o crescimento, modernização e melhoria da competitividade industrial do Estado e que melhorem a qualidade de vida dos industriários e de seus dependentes.

A FIEB ao lado do Centro das Indústrias do Estado da Bahia (CIEB), do Serviço Social da Indústria (SESI), do Serviço Nacional de Aprendizagem Industrial (SENAI) e do Instituto Euvaldo Lodi (IEL) compõem o Sistema FIEB. As instituições atuam em conjunto e de forma integrada, prestando serviços nos campos de educação e qualificação profissional; saúde e lazer; informação especializada; e difusão tecnológica. O Sistema FIEB é uma das 27 Federações que fazem parte do Sistema Indústria, coordenado pela Confederação Nacional da Indústria (CNI), instituição máxima de organização do setor industrial brasileiro. Reunindo 40 sindicatos patronais filiados, que representam mais de 1.500 empresas de vários segmentos industriais, o Sistema FIEB é caracterizado como entidade privada e está sediado em Salvador, na Bahia, no bairro do Stiep, próximo a um dos principais centros empresariais da cidade, a Avenida Tancredo Neves.

O atual presidente é Ricardo Alban, eleito para o quadriênio 2014-2018 após a morte de Carlos Gilberto Farias, ocorrido em novembro de 2014, na qual Alban foi eleito por ser o primeiro vice-presidente. Ele é presidente do Sindicato da Indústria do Trigo na Bahia (Sinditrigo).

História

Da fundação aos anos 1970
O ano de 1948 marca a criação da Federação das Indústrias do Estado da Bahia (FIEB) e do Serviço Social da Indústria (SESI), surgidos em uma época em que a atividade industrial do estado se resumia, praticamente, às áreas de fiação e tecelagem, fumo e fábricas de alimentos. O SENAI – Serviço Nacional de Aprendizagem Industrial, que, na Bahia, nasceu em 1945, foi incorporado à Federação, fundada por representantes de sindicatos patronais, para juntos defenderem interesses da classe, de forma mais coesa. Posteriormente, com o surgimento do Centro Industrial de Aratu e o início de implantação do Pólo Petroquímico de Camaçari, a FIEB teve que se adequar às novas exigências da industrialização.

Grandes marcos
 Aquisição da primeira sede própria, em 1958, que ocupava quatro andares do edifício Nelson de Faria, na Cidade Baixa, com espaços para administração da FIEB, SESI, Gabinete da Presidência e auditório para 120 pessoas;
 Criação do Instituto Euvaldo Lodi (IEL);
 Cruzada pelo interior da Bahia para criar Comitês de Fomento à Industrialização, iniciativa do então presidente Ulisses Barbosa Filho. Esforço este que move a Federação até os dias atuais com marcos como o lançamento do Programa de Interiorização da Indústria, em 2011;
 Criação do Centro de Assistência à Média e Pequena Empresa (CAMPI);
 Finalização, em 1977, das instalações do SESI em Itapagipe, Salvador, que incluíam ginásio coberto, piscinas semi-olímpicas, campo de futebol, quadras polivalentes, entre outras facilidades.
 Participação destacada no I Encontro dos Empresários do Nordeste (EMNOR), em 1978, que obteve grande repercussão nacional, tendo como objetivo defender a economia da região.

Dos anos 1980 à atualidade
A consolidação do Polo Petroquímico de Camaçari e a inauguração da Caraíba Metais deram maior dinamismo à economia baiana, nos anos 1980. Na primeira década do século XXI, a Ford se implantou na Bahia.  A FIEB esteve presente nestes e nos demais momentos importantes do processo de industrialização do Estado. A partir de 2003, iniciou o processo de integração de sua estrutura, ainda hoje em curso. A Federação é hoje reconhecida como uma entidade que presta importante apoio ao desenvolvimento industrial da Bahia, incentivando a inovação e formando mão de obra qualificada. Veja algumas de suas realizações:

Anos 1980
 Inauguração, em 1985, do Palacete das Mercês, próximo ao centro financeiro de Salvador à época;
 Empenho no processo de incremento às exportações, com participação em missões ao Chile, México, Polônia, Hungria, para promover maior intercâmbio entre os países e o Nordeste brasileiro;
 Assinatura de convênio entre o IEL e o Centro Industrial de Aratu (CIA), para desenvolvimento de programas de estágio;
 Lançamento da revista Bahia Indústria, que hoje circula.
 Organizou debates com Josaphat Marinho e Waldir Pires, candidatos ao governo da Bahia, para discutir planos de ação, problemas e propostas.
 Liderou conversas sobre a crise energética na Bahia e no Nordeste, em 1987, assinando convênio com a Companhia de Eletricidade do Estado da Bahia para beneficiar as indústrias

Anos 1990
 Envolvimento no processo de Revitalização do Sistema Ferroviário da Bahia e do Sistema Moderno de Transporte de Massa;
 Inauguração do SENAI-CETIND, Centro de Tecnologia Industrial Pedro Ribeiro Mariani, em Lauro de Freitas;
 Reativação do Centro das Indústrias do Estado da Bahia (CIEB);
 Mudança para a nova sede, adquirida em 1991, posteriormente ampliada e denominada de Conjunto Albano Franco, no bairro do Stiep, em Salvador.
 Desenvolveu ações voltadas para a modernização dos portos, tornando-os mais competitivos.

Século XXI
 Inauguração do Campus Integrado de Manufatura e Tecnologia (SENAI CIMATEC), na Av. Orlando Gomes, em Salvador;
 Incorporação de novos sindicatos da indústria;
 Criação de Conselhos Temáticos em áreas estratégicas, a exemplo de Inovação e Tecnologia; Responsabilidade Social Empresarial; Micro e Pequena Empresa; e do Comitê de Petróleo e Gás;
 Inaugurada unidade do SESI Lucaia, para atendimento nas áreas de Saúde e Segurança no Trabalho;
 Campanha pelo fim da CPMF, revogada pelo Congresso Nacional em dezembro de 2007. A FIEB lançou manifesto contra prorrogação da contribuição, com milhares de assinaturas, enviadas ao Congresso;
 Inauguração do SENAI CIMATEC 2, com a presença do então presidente da república, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva;
 Lançamento do Programa de Interiorização da Indústria, que irá contemplar, inicialmente, as regiões Oeste (Barreiras e Luís Eduardo), Sul (Ilhéus e Itabuna) e Feira de Santana.

Presidentes

Atuação
O Sistema FIEB é composto por cinco instituições, que atuam de forma integrada, embora cada uma atue em diferentes frentes de interesse, a exemplo de representação institucional, educação, tecnologia, saúde e qualidade de vida.

Instituições
 Federação das Indústrias do Estado da Bahia (FIEB)  É o órgão de representação institucional do Sistema FIEB e que congrega todos os demais. Tem por missão articular a indústria com outros segmentos da sociedade, participar ativamente da política industrial no estado e assegurar ações que valorizem o homem. É responsável por garantir e incentivar a atuação integrada de todas as instituições do Sistema e é um órgão que visa unificar o pensamento estratégico de entidades sindicais da indústria baiana, identificando oportunidades de melhoria que beneficiem à todos.

 Centro das Indústrias do Estado da Bahia (CIEB)  O CIEB é a entidade que congrega as empresas industriais do Estado com a missão de atuar no apoio e fortalecimento das micro, pequenas e médias empresas, promover a interiorização dos serviços prestados pelo Sistema FIEB e desenvolver programas voltados para a melhoria dos padrões de gestão das empresas. A entidade desenvolve ações como promoção de seminários, encontros empresariais, workshops, sondagens empresariais e atende a demandas de empresários, envolvendo desde estudos econômicos a demandas jurídicas, fiscais, tributárias e de gestão administrativa.

 Serviço Nacional da Indústria (SESI-Bahia)  O SESI-Bahia tem como missão promover a qualidade de vida do trabalhador e de seus dependentes, com foco em educação, saúde e lazer, e estimular a gestão socialmente responsável da empresa industrial. Desenvolve projetos de ensino fundamental, médio, pré-escolar, oficinas artesanais e escola para crianças portadoras de necessidades especiais.

 Serviço Nacional de Aprendizagem Industrial (SENAI-Bahia)  O SENAI-Bahia tem como foco a melhoria contínua do padrão de qualidade e produtividade da indústria, oferecendo qualificação profissional e prestação de serviços especializados nas áreas de educação, técnica e tecnológica, pesquisa aplicada e consultoria. As principais unidades do SENAI-Bahia são: Dendezeiros e Cimatec, localizados em Salvador e o Cetind, sediado em Lauro de Freitas. Além destas, o SENAI-BA mantém dois Centros de Formação Profissional no interior do estado (Ilhéus e Feira de Santana). Possui agências de apoio nos municípios de Camaçari, Eunápolis, Teixeira de Freitas, Jequié, Itapetinga, Barreiras e Posto da Mata. Para complementar a cobertura dos serviços em todo o Estado da Bahia, O SENAI possui Unidades Móveis (nas áreas de Manutenção Industrial, Informática e Alimentos).

 Instituto Euvaldo Lodi (IEL-Bahia)  O IEL-Bahia promove a interação entre o sistema educacional baiano e empresas do estado, estimulando a inovação tecnológica através da oferta de um amplo conjunto de serviços e ações, em parceria com organizações de conhecimento. São serviços promovidos pela instituição: capacitação empresarial, interação entre empresas e universidades, além do apoio à inovação tecnológica e ao empreendedorismo.

Conselhos e Comitês Temáticos
A fim de suscitar a discussão sobre temas relevantes à indústria foram criados os Conselhos Temáticos, que são considerados como órgãos consultivos integrantes da estrutura do Sistema FIEB. Os Conselhos são formados por dos empresários e executivos de vários setores industriais e têm por objetivo formular diretrizes e estratégias que sirvam de base ao processo decisório e ao posicionamento político, econômico e social do Sistema FIEB.

Hoje existem nove Conselhos Temáticos e dois Comitês. São eles: Comércio Exterior; Assuntos Fiscais e Tributários; Inovação e Tecnologia; Infraestrutura; Responsabilidade Social Empresarial; Meio Ambiente; Economia e Desenvolvimento Industrial, Micro e Pequena Empresa e Relações Trabalhistas; e os Comitês de Portos e de Petróleo e Gás. Os temas eleitos como prioritários pelos Conselhos e Comitês acompanham a evolução da indústria e os assuntos que merecem destaque e necessitam de discussão e alinhamento.

Sindicatos filiados
Sindicato da Indústria do Açúcar e do Álcool do Estado da Bahia; Sindicato da Indústria de Fiação e Tecelagem do Estado da Bahia; Sindicato da Indústria do Curtimento de Couros e Peles da Bahia; Sindicato da Indústria do Tabaco no Estado da Bahia; Sindicato da Indústria do Vestuário de Salvador; Sindicato das Indústrias Gráficas do Estado da Bahia; Sindicato da Indústria da Extração de Óleos Vegetais e Produtos de Cacau e Balas da Bahia; Sindicato da Indústria da Cerveja e Bebidas em Geral do Estado da Bahia; Sindicato das Indústrias do Papel, Celulose, Papelão, Pasta de Madeira de Papel e Artefatos de Papel e Papelão do Estado da Bahia; Sindicato da Indústria de Trigo, Milho e Massas Alimentícias da Bahia; Sindicato da Indústria Panificação de Salvador; Sindicato da Indústria da Construção do Estado da Bahia; Sindicato da Indústria de Calçados da Bahia; Sindicato das Indústrias Metalúrgicas, Mecânicas e Elétricas da Bahia; Sindicato das Indústrias de Cerâmica da Bahia; Sindicato das Indústrias de Sabões, Detergentes e Velas da Bahia; Sindicato das Indústrias de Serrarias e Carpintarias de Salvador; Sindicato da Indústria de Fibras Vegetais e Algodão da Bahia; Sindicato das Indústrias de Produtos Químicos e Petroquímicos da Bahia; Sindicato da Indústria de Mineração de Pedra Britada do Estado da Bahia; Sindicato da Indústria de Material Plástico da Bahia; Sindicato da Indústria de Produtos de Cimento do Estado da Bahia; Sindicato das Indústrias de Produtos Químicos Farmacêuticos; Sindicato da Indústria de Mármores, Granitos e Similares; Sindicato da Indústria de Congelados, Sorvetes e Sucos das Bahia; Sindicato da Indústria de Carnes e Derivados da Bahia; Sindicato da Indústria de Vestuário de Feira de Santana; Sindicato da Indústria do Mobiliário da Bahia; Sindicato da Indústria de Refrigeração e Tratamento de Ar; Sindicato das Indústrias de Construção Civil de Itabuna e Ilhéus; Sindicato das Indústrias de Café do Estado da Bahia; Sindicato das Indústrias de Eletrônicos, Computadores e Informática de Ilhéus; Sindicato das Indústrias de Sistemas de Telecomunicações; Sindicato das Indústrias Metalúrgicas, Mecânicas e Elétricas de Feira de Santana; Sindicato da Indústria de Reparação de Veículos da Bahia; Sindicato da Indústria de Mineração, Calcário, Cal e Gesso da Bahia; Sindicato da Indústria de Laticínios e Produtos Derivados do Estado da Bahia; Sindicato Nacional da Indústria de Componentes para Veículos Automotores; Sindicato da Indústria de Cosméticos e de Perfumaria; Sindicato da Indústria de Artefatos de Plástico, Borracha e Têxteis de Feira de Santana.

Ver também
CNI
SESI
SENAI
IEL

Ligações externas

Confederação Nacional da Indústria
Indústria na Bahia
Organizações da Bahia
Organizações fundadas em 1948


text:
Arlington prosecutor goes to Va. Supreme Court against judges who challenge her new policies
Dehghani-Tafti says demands by Arlington judges are part of national resistance to justice system overhaul
Parisa Dehghani-Tafti, center, the commonwealth's attorney of Arlington County, speaks at a forum in December with two other newly elected county prosecutors, Buta Biberaj, left, of Loudoun County and Steve Descano of Fairfax County. (Sarah L. Voisin/The Washington Post)
By Tom Jackman
When Parisa Dehghani-Tafti ran for commonwealth's attorney of Arlington County last year, she made it clear she wanted to bring drastic changes to the prosecutor's office, to include eliminating cash bail and refusing to prosecute small marijuana possession cases. The proposals are standard among progressive prosecutors across the country seeking to overhaul the justice system.
But after Dehghani-Tafti was elected in November, the pushback to her agenda was quick.
On Jan. 7, six days after she took office, she moved to dismiss a marijuana possession charge set for trial in Arlington Circuit Court. Prosecutors dismiss cases all the time, for all manner of reasons, and the process in court typically takes seconds with rare explanation from prosecutors.
Instead, an Arlington judge demanded a written brief from the prosecutor explaining the reasons for the marijuana dismissal, then scheduled oral argument on the issue, even though the defendant did not object to having his case dropped. Two months later, the Arlington judges entered a written order requiring prosecutors to spell out their reasons, "in detail all factual and not conclusory bases," for dismissing or amending charges in all cases, to explain the "good cause" required by Virginia law for a "nolle pros," or non-prosecution, or a dismissal with prejudice.
Dehghani-Tafti responded with her own pushback. Saying that the Arlington circuit judges are violating her prosecutorial discretion in how to charge cases, she has gone to the Virginia Supreme Court and asked it to order the Arlington judges to withdraw their order for written explanations of all proposed dismissals. No timetable has been set for when the Supreme Court might hear or decide the case.
It's the latest battle between law enforcement entities that have seen cases handled a certain way for decades, and prosecutors who want to try a new way. In Boston, a trial judge tried to prevent the new prosecutor from dismissing a case against a protester, only to be reversed by a higher court. In Philadelphia, the legislature gave the state attorney general ability to take over prosecution of gun cases from the new prosecutor. In St. Louis, the governor is seeking to give the state attorney general "concurrent jurisdiction" in murder cases with the new prosecutor. In Fairfax County, some judges have resisted the new prosecutor's attempts to dismiss all simple marijuana cases.
"The only difference I see" in the handling of criminal cases, Dehghani-Tafti said, "is who's sitting in this [prosecutor's] seat. There's been a seismic shift in who sits in these seats, and it's been at the behest of the community. I ran on certain policies, saying what we're going to do, being transparent about it and letting the community decide. The person sitting in this seat reflects the priorities and desires of the community, and has a mandate. The judges don't, because they are not elected."
The Arlington circuit judges who began seeking written briefs on all dismissals in January, then made it a written order in March, are Chief Judge William T. Newman and circuit judges Daniel S. Fiore II, Louise M. DiMatteo and Judith L. Wheat. They declined to comment on Dehghani-Tafti's motion for a writ of mandamus to the Supreme Court. But in an opinion on the January case that provides an insight into the judges' thinking, Fiore wrote that Dehghani-Tafti's intention to drop many marijuana cases essentially nullifies a law passed by Virginia legislators.
The Virginia Attorney General's Office said the law firm of Sands Anderson had been hired to defend the judges, but the firm did not respond to requests for comment.
Dehghani-Tafti's motion is supported by an amicus brief from 62 prosecutors around the country, including the district attorneys in New York City, San Francisco, Boston, Philadelphia and Chicago. It's also supported by Jeff Haislip, the Fluvanna County, Va., prosecutor who is chair of the Virginia Commonwealth's Attorneys' Services Council, and the prosecutors in Alexandria city, Fairfax and Loudoun counties.
"Tellingly," the supporting prosecutors wrote, "courts historically did not interfere with prosecutorial discretion when that discretion was being used to ramp up prison and jail populations and fuel 'tough on crime' thinking and mass incarceration. It is particularly troubling that, now, as reform-minded prosecutors are being elected in cities and counties across the country, courts are intervening in charging and prosecutorial decisions perceived by some to be too lenient."
The section of Virginia code at issue in the case is short and direct: "Nolle prosequi shall be entered only in the discretion of the court, upon motion of the Commonwealth with good cause therefor shown." Cases that are "nolle prossed," or not prosecuted, may be charged again in most cases, while a "dismissal with prejudice" may not be charged again.
Two bills are pending in the Virginia General Assembly that would give prosecutors much greater latitude to dismiss cases without judges' approval, and both have been approved by committees during the legislature's special session on justice reform.
In most jurisdictions, when a prosecutor states they want to "nolle pros" or dismiss a case, the defendant doesn't object and the judge approves the ending of the case, usually with no explanation from a prosecutor or inquiry from a judge. Dehghani-Tafti's brief notes that last fall, when the Arlington public defender asked for the prosecutor to state the "good cause" for a nolle pros, Judge Newman responded, "Well, they don't have to give a proffer for good cause unless … you're seeking a dismissal."
In January, when Arlington prosecutors wanted to nolle pros a case of marijuana possession, Judge Fiore requested briefs, oral argument, then issued a 10-page opinion in July. "Essentially," Fiore wrote, "the Commonwealth argues public policy as the reason to disregard a criminal statute that was fully considered, voted on and passed by both chambers of the Virginia General Assembly," and the reason to nolle pros a case.
"The Court will not sanction an executive's opinion," Fiore added, "that a law passed by the Virginia legislature is an ineffectual law, for in doing so the Court would be partisan and thus violate the Judicial Canon prohibiting partisan consideration when rendering an opinion or judgment of the Court." Fiore then nolle prossed the case, anyway, because lab tests on the marijuana were legally insufficient.
Dehghani-Tafti's brief argues that the Arlington judges not only encroached on her prosecutorial discretion, used by prosecutors and police constantly in deciding how to charge a defendant, but also exceeded their authority by demanding written reasons for nolle prosses in every case. She said that would be burdensome on attorneys already carrying large daily caseloads.
Resistance from the judiciary in Arlington, Fairfax and Norfolk caused an assistant commonwealth's attorney in Hampton, Va., Del. Michael P. Mullin (D) to file a bill that states that when a prosecutor seeks to dismiss a case, "a court shall grant the motion" unless the motion was made for illegal reasons. In the Senate, defense attorney Sen. Scott Surovell (D-Fairfax) introduced a bill to define "good cause" to include cases "not in the interests of the Commonwealth to prosecute … at such time." Both are set to be considered by their respective houses in the coming weeks after being voted out of committee.
The case raises a similar issue to one still being fought out over the prosecution of former national security adviser Michael Flynn in federal court in Washington. After Flynn pleaded guilty, the Justice Department moved to dismiss the case against him, prompting accusations of favoritism. U.S. District Judge Emmet G. Sullivan declined to immediately grant the Justice Department's motion, unleashing a torrent of disapproval from many who said the judge was improperly overriding prosecutorial discretion.
"Simply put," a group of 15 Republican attorneys general wrote in an amicus brief supporting the dismissal, "the decision not to pursue a criminal conviction is vested in the executive branch alone — and neither the legislature nor the judiciary has any role in the executive's making of that decision."


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text:
UH changes its travel policy
HOUSTON "We want people to understand they are spending other people's money," said UH Provost John Antel.
What a difference a 13 Undercover investigation makes. We exposed the special alcohol account used by UH administrators. The bar tab was picked up by the students.
"A separate account for alcohol? Geez, I really don't know about that," said Antel weeks earlier.
The sightseeing during trips to meet foreign educators.
"Have you ever seen the Taj Mahal?" asked Antel.
Actually, no, because we've never gotten anybody to pay for a trip to India.
Expensive business meals at the finest restaurants, wives included.
The UH student senate wanted answers.
"There's nothing illegal about what we've done, but I have to come clean with you. I think there have been some lapses in judgment about the way the money was spent," said Antel.
It was the provost who just weeks earlier defended the wining and dining on the kids money.
"Pay for the bill because we are doing the university's business, that's why," said Antel.
Now Antel said, "There is going to be rigorous enforcement about how this trip promotes university business."
The new UH travel policy will tighten scrutiny on foreign trips.
"Most people are forthright about what they are doing, but we found in a few cases it was a little too cryptic and unresponsive to the questions about why people were going abroad," said Antel.
Deans will still get to spend $100 a person on business meals.
"What we tried to do now is conform as much as possible with what the University of Texas, Texas A&M, and Texas Tech, and other universities are doing with travel, entertainment, and expenditures," said Antel.
If that's true, it's more than any elected official gets to spend.
"They should be limited to same kinds of tough limits that we have for other state employees," said education watchdog Tom Smith.
It is nearly triple other high ranking state employees.
"It's just about elitism and feeling they are entitled to something that other people aren't," said Smith.
Antel promised, "We want to be the best stewards of money whether its state money or money coming from tuition from students."
UH will still wine and dine its donors using donated money.
One student asked what we had in our stories: Couldn't donors be entertained on campus at the restaurant in the hotel school?
"Some of the people we raise money with are very affluent people. They expect we're not going to spend $500 on a bottle of wine, but they expect something above what we would have on this campus," said Antel.
As for the students' money, it will no longer be used for food, liquor, entertainment and business or first class travel. More than a million in tuition money saved as a result of our investigation so far.
"There are certain people misusing this money, is there anything being done to the people? Are they being reprimanded or is there any sort of punishment," asked one student.
The provost claims some top administrators may be disciplined, but he won't say who.
"There's always the possibility that we won't reimburse some of the things they have asked for," said Antel.
The new UH policies are listed below.
Documents related to this story
UH announces travel policy change after 13 Undercover investigation (pdf)
Letter from UH Chancellor/President Renu Khator (pdf)
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Ricky Nelson Remembered starring Matthew & Gunnar Nelson
Due to COVID-19 and in keeping with federal guidelines, Ricky Nelson Remembered starring Matthew & Gunnar Nelson at The Fargo Theatre is being rescheduled to Thursday, February 4, 2021. Any tickets purchased will be honored for the new show date. We apologize for any inconvenience, and please take care of yourself and each other! If you have any questions or concerns, reach out to Tickets300 at [email protected] or 866-300-8300.
Fargo Theatre
314 Broadway N, Fargo, ND
Audience: All Ages
Seating: Reserved Seats
Traveling for the show?
A musical celebration of America's first "Teen Idol", Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Ricky Nelson emerged from "The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet" to establish himself as one of the most important rock artists and influential musicians of the last 50 years, selling over 140 million recordings. The Nelson Family Legacy continues as Ricky's twins Matthew and Gunnar Nelson present an interactive, multi-media rock & roll concert experience, taking the audience on a musical journey down memory lane. Matthew and Gunnar (triple platinum recording artist Nelson) perform their dad's greatest hits including "Poor Little Fool," "Hello Mary Lou", "Travelin' Man", "I'm Walking", "Garden Party", alongside their self penned chart toppers "Love & Affection" and "After the Rain." This show is truly a slice of Americana, appealing to multi-generational audiences.