Starting fresh can sometimes be a good thing, even in today's political world.
After a dramatic midterm election night with Democrats taking control of the House and Republicans holding onto the Senate, many incumbents in both chambers won another term, while other newly elected federal officials will swear into office for the first time in January. Illinois will also see a new face in its government when multi-billionaire businessman J.B. Pritzker becomes the next governor of the state around the same time.
Depending on how they voted, some Illinoisans will feel alarmed under Pritzker's newfound leadership, while others in his favor will find it a breath of fresh air. Whatever your party affiliation, everyone should have an open mind about the incoming Pritzker administration. Illinoisans should let him serve in his position for a little while before they start throwing in their two cents.
On the campaign trail, Pritzker and current Gov. Bruce Rauner fought endlessly for the highest office in the state. So much mudslinging occurred between both candidates throughout the yearlong campaign that it left many voters hesitant on both men and whether or not to even vote in the governor race.
In the days leading up to the election, I talked to numerous students at the University about the governor race, and so many of them felt unsure on who they should cast their vote for.
Several factors played a huge role in the race: Rauner's poor job in office since inauguration, Pritzker's Chicago connections with Illinois Speaker of the House Mike Madigan and their respective billionaire wealth. Student voters, and some adult voters I discussed with, grew tired of the race with so many ads on television and online. They couldn't wait for the election to finally be over.
Both candidates spent a record amount of their own personal funds on the campaign, the most in any governor race in United States history. Pritzker spent a whopping $146.5 million and Rauner spent $57.45 million, showing how much each candidate wanted the position.
On election night, Pritzker defeated Rauner with a final result of 54.15 percent to Rauner's 39.16 percent of the vote. Pritzker won many counties that had voted for Rauner in 2014, like Rock Island, Peoria and even here in Champaign, which goes to show how most Illinoisans felt about the current administration.
But no matter how you feel about the gubernatorial election, the people of Illinois have spoken. So everyone should let the new governor do what he campaigned to do like growing the economy, helping all children earn an education and even legalizing marijuana.
At the dawn of a new era in the state, Illinoisans should be optimistic about their new leader.


text:
changingoutlooks
Musings of an eternal optimist!
THE ROAD LESS TRAVELLED…EMOTIONAL & MENTAL SUPPORT DURING COVID-19
Posted on March 31, 2020 by changingoutlooks under life
"Everything can be taken from man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms – to choose one's attitude under any given set of circumstances." Viktor Frankl
I am reminded of this quote every time I hear a TV anchor announce one more person tested COVID 19 positive. There is an increasing feeling of dread and disaster when someone is infected. What I hear is anger about the person infected.
I would like to state upfront that I am not condoning the actions of people who have not followed precautions or directives by the government or healthcare professionals. They deserve to be treated accordingly. However, there are many who had no idea they were infected and discovered they were carrying the virus only when they tested. We have all read numerous accounts on social media about how people have contracted the virus. It was not a deliberate attempt for them. They were in the wrong place at the wrong time – just sheer bad luck.
Having said that, how do we treat people who have tested positive in our own family, friends circle or neighbourhood? Yes, physical isolation is a must, to keep everyone else safe. Is emotional isolation warranted? Do we have the right to treat affected person/family like pariahs at an emotional level?
No. We do not have the right. Remember, it could have happened to any of us.
A National Crisis
COVID 19 is a national crisis, a global crisis. It is a war that humanity is waging against a virus. I am not getting into where it came from, which country is responsible for spreading it, how & why. I am looking at our collective ability to help people deal with this trauma when they discover they are infected.
A crisis can occur on a physical or psychological level. The physical aspects of a crisis tend to be obvious, particularly if they involve human injury or death. The psychological aspects of a crisis tend to be significant and more widespread. However, the psychological aspects of a crisis are hard to identify and often overlooked.
A crisis is defined by three factors: negative events, feelings of hopelessness, and events beyond normal control. Crises are perceived as being negative events that generate physical emotion and/or pain. People who experience a crisis, experience feelings of helplessness, powerlessness, and entrapment. Those who have lived through a crisis also feel as if they have lost control over their lives. Crisis events tend to occur suddenly and without warning. The lack of time to adjust or adapt to crisis generated problems is what makes the event so traumatic.
COVID 19 presented us with such a crisis. The containment process itself is stringent and a strict one with two important factors:
Human beings are not used to both factors. It has been tough to understand and accept for so many people. Especially in a society like ours, where we tend to feel, "This won't happen to me." It can, it may – happen to me, happen to you. If it does, I know what I want from people around me.
The corona crisis has slowed us down enough to make us think about what we want from ourselves, how much are we willing to give and our own expectations.
There are provisions being made for physical & medical support for a COVID 19 patient. I can get admitted to a hospital and treated. However, the single most important expectation, besides good medical care, is emotional & mental care. I would want emotional support from my family and friends. I would want help to deal with the trauma of going through an illness like this. I would not want to be ostracized emotionally or mentally.
Sadly, in India, we do not have the framework or infrastructure to deliver that emotional support. From what I hear, the doctors and nurses are doing a fabulous job of counselling their patients. I know professional counsellors are willing to help. My counsellor friends have told me to refer anyone seeking help in these times and they will gladly handhold. The keyword, however, is to seek. Believe you me, these are times when we need that help. We need that 'someone' who will counsel and guide us to get out of trying situations. There is no shame or stigma attached to it.
A crisis like this affects us at different levels – medical, physical, economic & social. Underlying all these is the psychological impact. The impact can be felt in any of the following:
A positively diagnosed person.
A person undergoing financial problems due to the lockdown
People working from home (a lot of people have broken homes and may not know how to deal with the situation)
The so-called stigma of being a corona patient or a member of the patient's family
These are but a few circumstances.
We can start by not being judgmental about people we know who are tested positive. I am sure they did not go around wanting to be infected.
Let us show them kindness & empathy, besides giving them the physical help of providing food, shopping for them or getting their medicines.
Please do not isolate them emotionally. A quick telephonic chat, a message or a video call will assure them that you are around.
Positive reinforcement goes a long way and helps people become optimistic.
Patients & their family members can be sensitive to and less capable of coping with the irrelevant humour floating around as forwards. We can be empathetic to that. Do not brush it off as 'soft' behaviour.
Those of you who can collaborate through your organisations to help small business owners generate revenue for themselves, please explore such opportunities.
In times such as these, vulnerability is not a weakness. When we encounter an unexpected challenge of threat, the only way to save ourselves is to hold on tight to people around us and not let go. Life does not make sense without interdependence. We need each other and the sooner we realise that the better for us all.
After all, Paul Romer said, "A crisis should not go waste." Let us use this to become more compassionate, helpful & non-judgmental human beings.
"I didn't want to take forever to retire"…goodbye to the world's favourite "Gambler"
Posted on March 21, 2020 by changingoutlooks under music
The trademark silver beard and husky, gravelly voice are gone forever. Kenneth Ray Rogers, known the world over as Kenny Rogers has left a void for all music lovers.
Like most in my generation, who grew on a staple music diet of pop, country, ballad, jazz & soft rock, Kenny Rogers was that cross over artist who did country, pop & ballad in such an effortless manner. A Houston boy, Kenny was the fourth of eight children in the Rogers household and took an interest in singing while quite young and as a teenager joined a doo-wop recording group who called themselves "The Scholars". At age 19, Kenny recorded "That Crazy Feeling" for a small Houston label, Carlton Records, and, he played bass with the jazz groups of Bobby Doyle and Kirby Stone.
His music career began to take shape. His early professional years were stylistically eclectic. After moving to Los Angeles in 1966, he joined the folk-pop unit the New Christy Minstrels and then splintered off with others in the group to form "The First Edition". Their first big soft-rock hit, "Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town" hit #6 on the US charts, (Mel Tillis' downbeat song about the faithless wife of a handicapped Vietnam vet), while later successes included "Something's Burning", "Just Dropped In", "Tell It All Brother" and "Reuben James". The husky-framed singer's ingratiating personality and sensual gravel tones soon took center stage and the group eventually renamed themselves "Kenny Rogers and the First Edition".
The band's fortunes began to wane in the early '70s, and Rogers signed a solo deal with UA in 1976. He struck pay dirt immediately with "Lucille," an absorbing vignette about a barroom encounter with a disillusioned woman and her estranged husband. The number became Rogers' first No. 1 country hit and reached No. 5 on the national pop chart. It also scored Rogers his first Grammy, for best male country vocal performance. Incidentally, his mother's name was Lucille, though the song was no reflection of her life.
By the end of the '70s, he notched five more No. 1 solo country singles. The two most famous ones were The Gambler & The Coward of The County. Each inspired a popular TV movie; Rogers would portray Brady Hawkes, the protagonist of "The Gambler," in a series of telepics that ran through 1994. At the dawn of the '80s, as outlaws and urban cowboys staked their turf on either side of the country and pop fence, Kenny Rogers bridged the divide and focussed on romantic balladry. "Lady" and "Islands in the Stream" (the latter one of many duets with frequent singing partner Dolly Parton) consolidated his standing as country's biggest crossover attraction. With Sheena Easton, he sang Bob Seger's "We've Got Tonight" and it went on to become No. 6 on the pop chart & ruled the country charts. Kenny Rogers had 23 top 10 country hits during the decade, five of which crossed to the pop side.
AS the younger generation of country musicians flexing a less countrypolitan style supplanted him, Kenny made his last toplining appearance in a pair of telepics as reformed gambler Jack MacShayne in 1994. In 1999, he notched a final No. 1 country hit, "Buy Me a Rose," with Billy Dean and Alison Krauss.
From the mid-'90s, he maintained an active touring schedule, till his health failed him in 2015. Kenny Rogers was a multi-faceted personality and increasingly turned his attention to various entrepreneurial enterprises, opening a chain of fast-food chicken outlets, Kenny Rogers Roasters, and a Sprint car manufacturing firm, Gamblers Chassis.
Here are some Kenny Rogers trivia that will interest his fans:
He was a well-respected photographer & was invited to the White House to create a portrait of First Lady Hillary Clinton for the 1993 CBS-TV special, A Day in the Life of Country Music (1993).
Named "Favorite Singer of All Time" in a 1986 "PM Magazine/USA Today" poll.
Voted "Favorite Male Vocalist" in 1989 by "People" magazine readers.
In March 1999 was awarded the Recording Industry Association of America's prestigious Diamond Award, celebrating sales of more than 10 million albums for his "Greatest Hits" album.
His high school vocal group's original song "That Crazy Feeling" landed them a spot on television's American Bandstand (1952).
Co-host, with Lorianne Crook, of an infomercial for TimeLife's "Superstars of Country" collection of country music [2005].
His duet "Islands in the Stream", with fellow country singer Dolly Parton was ranked the #1 on CMT 100 greatest country duets of all time.
Sang "Lady" with Lionel Richie playing the piano.
He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 6666 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California.
On Oct. 27, 2013, he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Kenny Rogers always said, "Don't be afraid to give up the good to go for the great", which is exactly what he has done now. You will be missed by generations. Rest in peace my favourite Gambler.
A Friend For Life – Bonding With the Son In Law
Posted on January 1, 2020 by changingoutlooks under life, Weddings & Families
Dear Akash & Vasu,
I wondered what to write as my first blog for 2020. Thank you both for being my inspiration!
In the stereotypical world that we live in, many articles & write-ups can be found about the mother in law/daughter-in-law relationship. The son in law somehow never gets written about.
You both became part of the family even before your respective weddings took place. I do not mean this superficially. Your attitude and the way you simply blended in with all of us endeared you right away. From attending golden jubilee anniversaries to birthdays to poojas at home, you both went with the flow. Not just that, you rolled up your sleeves and worked side by side with all of us. This is in stark contrast to how some other sons in law behave – remain aloof towards their in-laws' side of the family.
As a spouse, your ability to accept our girls as they are and encourage them to pursue their dreams is phenomenal. I have observed intelligent conversations between you all and it gladdens my heart, not just as a mother, also as a woman. In observing you, I have found you to be of complete integrity, true character, loyal & honest. I have seen you rationalize situations even when your wives were being a little stubborn about the same. Today, I would like to salute that and praise you unabashedly.
All marriages have to be worked on. It is not easy. It is everyday work. A lot of times, women believe they are the only ones who invest in a relationship and work at it. I am proud to say that you both have done the same in so many different ways. I understand the pressures you may go through, the uncertainty & insecurities that crop up once in a while. You have handled a lot of that with aplomb and I feel happy that we have established a relationship where we can talk about it comfortably.
We have raised daughters who love you wholeheartedly and who understand marriage is total commitment and a covenant that goes beyond broken promises and hearts. It is not be taken lightly and I know, they will stand by you. Yet, some aberrations will happen, mistakes will be made, by both of you. You know the best part, I trust you all to deal with them and handle it to the best of your ability.
You may have understood by now that we women think a little differently. For a wife, if the husband makes an effort to build a relationship with her parents, then she feels cared for and secure. Our girls are no different and you have made them feel secure & cared for. Thank you for doing that.
There is a saying – a man who treats his woman like a princess is proof that he has been born and raised in arms of a queen. I have often told both your mothers, that we are blessed to have you both as sons in law and a part of our family. As a mother, I would like to thank Archana & Rama for the value system they have given you. And today I can happily say…
Thank you dear Akash & Vasu for being who you are and how you are. Stay happy & stay blessed!
Manohar Parrikar – Till We Meet Again
Posted on March 18, 2019 by changingoutlooks under Uncategorized
I was curious and excited to attend the Make In India – Defence Manufacturing Conclave in Hyderabad in February 2015 for two reasons. One, because it was hosted by the think tank I am part of and two, I was going to get an opportunity to hear India's Raksha Mantri, Manohar Parrikar.
The conclave proved to be a different one altogether. For the first time, I saw a Defence Minister sit among the audience, attentively listen to all the speakers, make notes and ask questions. I was introduced to him in my capacity as an office bearer of an Ex Service Men (ESM) organisation, Akhil Bharatiya Poorva Sainik Seva Parishad (ABPSSP) and also as an entrepreneur. We exchanged a few pleasantries and I told him that I would like to brief him about our activities for Veterans & their families, from time to time. He said he would be in touch and that was that.
I initially thought that he would restrict his meetings to the President & Secretary of ABPSSP to get regular briefings about ESM welfare and certain critical issues pertaining to OROP, which had become an agitation at Jantar Mantar at that time. Imagine my surprise, when one day I get a call from him, asking me when I would be in Delhi next and could I meet him! It was a jaw drop moment for me.
I made a trip to Delhi from Bangalore to meet him and shared an update about skill building for veterans and their families through ABPSSP. He asked incisive questions about how many actually benefit in terms of employment, self employment, what kind of opportunities are presented by the corporates. I answered his questions with data and he smiled & said, "I like the fact that you are stating numbers." Thus, began our work towards the welfare of the ESM community. During the course of our association, he once remarked, "I appreciate your never say die spirit and I hope you continue to be Jhansi ki Rani, fighting for causes you believe in so strongly."
From then on, our meetings became regular and he always had questions & suggestions. He asked me if I travelled to different states to meet the ESM & their families and I said, "Yes Sir, I do. We have adopted a few places, especially villages where our bravehearts come from and we are now focusing on developing them as Adarsh Graam under the Veer Sainik Graam Yojana project of ABPSSP." He helped us a lot in approaching the local authorities & state governments in Jharkhand, Odisha & Chhattisgarh.
My trips to Delhi became more frequent as my daughter moved back to the capital from UK. I could now ask for frequent meetings which I did for purely selfish reasons – I got to learn so much from Manohar Parrikar. He became this mentor, elder bother and friend all rolled into one and the more I got to know him, the more fascinated I was by his memory, sharp grasp of complexities and result oriented approach that saw many a change in the Ministry of Defence. I discovered the humane side of Mr Parrikar. His quiet visits to families of martyred soldiers, action towards their problems that were stuck in the bureaucratic labyrinth of the Ministry, ensuring quick decisions were implemented & cross verification of the same, his simple approach when he interacted and easy manner of communication, are all traits that made him differently unique in the world of politics. When he decided to work with you, he did with complete trust. No halfway measures for him.
During one of our conversations, I requested him that he must come home during my stay in Delhi. He said,"Let's talk when you land in Delhi." He gave me a second jaw drop moment when one evening, he announced that he is coming over for some simple "ghar ka khana", chilled beer & masala peanuts. It was an evening to remember with my parents, daughter and a couple of close friends with whom he was also familiar. My daughter told him, "Uncle, I thought as Defence Minister you will have guards surrounding you, black cat commandos will come home and do a thorough check of our place, something like a James Bond movie." He laughed heartily and said, "I am not James Bond and I am coming to meet a friend and the family. Why would I need security to surround me?" That was Manohar Parrikar for you.
I was extremely hassled when he had to go back to Goa as Chief Minister and felt (countless others also would have felt the same) that we were losing a Defence Minister to gain a Chief Minister. He very patiently explained why it was necessary for him to go back to Goa. The last meal we had together at his Delhi residence where he asked me if I had read Robert Greene and I said, "I have read one book of his – The 48 Laws of Power." He gave me a copy of 33 Strategies of War and said, "Read this. You will understand much more about power & politics."
He was very happy when I wrote to him about getting my book of poems published in August 2017 and called to tell me that he wanted an autographed copy. I told him only if he gives me sometime when I came to Goa. So, when I did make that visit to Goa, he did spend an hour, despite an unimaginably busy schedule. His personal secretary, Upendra Joshi, remarked that "It is amazing how Sir makes time for everything." That was how Manohar Parrikar built relationships – he gave people time & listened to them. Subsequently, when he read the book, he called again to congratulate me on the poems I had written about soldiers.
Very recently I messaged him about my daughter getting engaged and invited him for the engagement. He declined stating health does not permit him to travel, but, if he got better, he would try to make it for the wedding.
Now, that is not going to happen. The void you have left, Manohar Dada cannot be filled. A deep felt gratitude to the Almighty for having given me the opportunity to get to know you and work with you for a while.
God speed and rest in peace. Till we meet again.
Cancer took my inspiration, guide & friend away, don't you see?
Time was a ticking bomb thrust decisively.
If cancer had any idea what beauty lay within your soul,
I can promise it would have seen the glow.
Silence began moments ago,
When a voice said its time to let go.
Even though you are gone now,
Your memory will always remain in our hearts.
Your smile and face will never fade.
We will think of you as we go on each day.
The good times we remember
And the days spent together, will be in our memories forever.
When I sat down to watch the TV tonight,
And I started to cry…
I thought of your strength & then your pain
And asked Lord Almighty why?
I'll just leave it at that and know you're in a better place.
Your heart is right with God.
So, Manohar Dada we love you & we will miss you so much.
I also know you are at peace today.
So watch over us and make sure we're okay.
And I will see you again someday.
A Promise To Stand By…
Posted on January 2, 2019 by changingoutlooks under Uncategorized
I ended my 2018 by watching Nathicharami on 31st December. It was one of the best things I did on new year's eve.
I must admit, the desire to see the movie was because I heard the music before and loved every bit of it. Then I saw the official trailer and my curiosity was piqued. I do not know of other Kannada directors having explored the subject of what two young Indian women go through in a particular phase in their lives. I saw the movie & spoke to some friends who had seen it. Most of them emphasised on the theme as "awakened sexuality of the young widow". I beg to differ here.
To me, the entire experience was going through Gowri's journey after she becomes a widow. It is about how she battles loneliness, sleepless nights, parents who pressurise her to get married again (perhaps for the wrong reasons), a predatory boss and her own desires that make her feel guilty. Salvation comes in the form of two office colleagues & friends who help her with a dating app and connect her to Dr Carvalho, the psychiatrist. He helps her peel the layers of her emotions, and, deal with the mental conflicts. Loved his metaphors and one liners!
A parallel story unfolds with Suma, an educated woman from a village, yearning for her husband, Suresh's love & affection. I appreciated the unfurling of this marital relationship, where Suresh is always condescending in his behaviour towards Suma and criticises her supposed "village mentality". The director, beautifully leads you to question Suresh's frustration at one level & audacity at another level, because he also displays "village mentality" in the movie.
Yes, sexual desires or sexuality has been used as a subject to bring out deeper issues like guilt, societal reaction & gender sensitivity. Nathicharami is metaphorical, refreshing & relevant. Metaphorical, because it shows Gowri anchored to a time & relationship in the past. Refreshing, because it talks about consent for sex in a marital relationship & sensitively explores predefined notions of morality & desires. Relevant, simply because it opens up a sea of questions that ordinary women today face in the many facets of relationships.
The movie by award winning director, Mansore, has good cinematography and amazing music by Bindhu Malini. Her unique voice is what you hear in the songs and her ease of combining various musical instruments to create hauntingly beautiful music is testimony to her musical expertise. The use of the trombone, drums & guitar is melodious and it is the kind of music I would love to play while I sit in my balcony or on my terrace, sipping a glass of wine and watch the sun go down & the moon come up with the stars shining.
I wish more and more directors, producers and actors give us such wonderfully crafted & engaging movies like Nathicharami. We will promise to stand by them.
Gift Yourself a New Year…
Posted on December 31, 2018 by changingoutlooks under life, Uncategorized
Once in a while it hits people that they really don't have to see the world in the way they have been told to. That is the beauty of exploring, learning, understanding & accepting newness in life. That is serendipity (in a way) and letting go of what we are conditioned to or cling on to. All of us like to feel we are in control of our lives, plan every step and steer the course of all happenings exactly at the time we want it to happen. We all want to know what's going to happen before it does, like to play scenarios out in our heads, use favourite words to make sense of this world as much as we can. Even though we know, in the back of our minds, that it may never fully happen.
Somewhere, between being a daughter, a wife, a mother, a friend, an entrepreneur, I realised that no matter what pre planning I do, there will always be moments in life that will be unexpected, out of the blue and hit you like a ton of bricks. And then, you are in a free fall.
Now, the beauty of free fall is that, it is the right moment to find your wings. Wings help you fly.
There is flip side to free fall, too. When you fall, if you do not allow your wings to come out, spread and flap them, you are likely to hit the ground with a big thud. The most important thing then is to trust your instinct, let go and allow your wings to emerge.
You will never know you can fly if you do not unfurl your wings, flap them and push yourself to soar. You'll never know the strength in your muscles if you don't flex them. You'll never know who you can become, if you don't take the first step.
Two and half decades ago, I was jolted from that familiar, comfortable bubble I had built in my life. And I went into a fall. I also discovered I could fly. That changed everything.
There will always be winds of change, forcing us to come down at times, falter in some cases, change direction completely and soar. Allow for those serendipitous periods in life, which will give you the freedom to discover a new you.
May that be your gift to yourself this year! May 2019 bring out the serendipiter & the discoverer in you! Happy 2019!!!
Play It, Sam.
Posted on November 27, 2017 by changingoutlooks under Uncategorized
26th November, 1942, when Warner Brothers and director, Michael Curtiz held the premiere of "Casablanca", they thought they were giving the world another Hollywood flick. Little did they realise that this movie would become an icon and change so many things for so many people.
Casablanca catapulted Humphrey Bogart & Ingrid Bergman to a new level of stardom, with dialogues & lines from the movie woven into every romantic, flirtatious conversation for 75 years. The story is iconic – a devastating romance between Rick Blaine, an expat cafe owner and Ilsa Lund. The two characters played Humphrey Bogart & Ingrid Bergman leave an indelible mark on your mind with powerhouse performance. Released during World War II, to capitalise on the Allies invasion of North Africa,Casablanca is about triumph of idealism over cynicism, passion over protest, and human nature in all its glory.
Here are some facts that people may not be aware of, even though you may have watched the movie umpteen number of times.
Playwright Murray Burnett co-created expat café owner Rick Blaine, piano player Sam, Czech resistance fighter Victor Lazlo and fresh-faced Ilsa Lund when he and his writing partner Joan Alison penned a play called "Everybody Comes to Rick's" in 1940. The play was intended for Broadway, but never made it. Warner Bros, however, saw the potential and decided to make a movie out of it. The rights were purchased for $20,000. No sequel has been made, even though a lot of producers and directors approached Murray Burnett for the same.
Imagine, if the movie was called "Lisbon". That was the original title of the play and the story was set in Lisbon. It was later changed to Casablanca. Yet, Burnett never visited the city in his lifetime.
Humphrey Bogart was the quintessential romantic guy I wanted in my life, when I saw the movie. I wanted to be romanced & loved the way Ingrid Bergman was in Casablanca. Imagine my surprise when I read that in real life, he was 5 feet 8 inches with Ingrid Bergman towering over him by two inches. The director had to make Bogie stand on wooden blocks or make him sit on piles of extra cushions to make him look taller!
There is no doubt that the film looks exotic and I have always thought that Casablanca during the war, looked like that. Did they shoot the movie on location? No, hold on. It was almost entirely shot in Warner Studios, Burbank, California. They did such a great job, that generations of men & women fell in love with Casablanca, the place.
Originally intended for an early 1943 release, showing Casablanca to the public was a rushed affair. It premiered on 26th November 1942, in New York City. The film then went into wide release on January 23, 1943, to coincide with the Casablanca Conference, a high-level meeting between Winston Churchill and Franklin D. Roosevelt in Casablanca.
Many of the actors had first-hand experiences of the war and of Nazi brutality. S. Z. Sakall, who played the waiter Carl, was a Jewish-Hungarian who fled Germany in 1939 and lost his three sisters to a concentration camp. Helmut Dantine, who played the Bulgarian roulette player, spent time in a concentration camp and left Europe after being freed. Curt Bois, who played the pickpocket, was a German-Jewish actor and refugee. Conrad Veidt, who played Major Heinrich Strasser, was a German film star and refugee, and even though he fled the Nazis, he was often cast as a Nazi in American films.
Director Michael Curtiz was a Hungarian-Jewish immigrant who had arrived in the U.S. in 1926, but some members of his family were refugees from Nazi Europe.
The last surviving member of the cast was Madeleine LeBeau, who played Yvonne, Rick's girlfriend. She died on May 1, 2016, at the age of 92.
The line "Play it again, Sam" is one of the most widely quoted lines from Casablanca — but it never appears in the film. In the famous piano scene, Ilsa leans on the piano and says, "Play it once, Sam" and "Play it, Sam." Rick also says, "Play it" — but nobody says, "Play it again, Sam." Most attribute the phrase, and the misunderstanding, to Woody Allen's stage play of the same name, which became a major motion picture in 1972.
There have been many spoofs, TV serials, radio plays based on Casablanca, but, never a full fledged remake. Among the famous parodies are the Marx Brothers' A Night in Casablanca (1946) and Neil Simon's The Cheap Detective (1978). The film is also heavily referenced in The Usual Suspects (1995) and in Woody Allen's Play It Again, Sam (1972), where Rick appears to give Allen's character life advice.
Ingrid Bergman, who remains for many, the most beautiful woman to act on silver screen, never actually wanted to be starred in Casablanca. The screenplay was apparently rewritten a dozen times and she, during the filming, did not know, whom she would finally land up with, Rick Blaine or Viktor Laszlo.
The music for the film was written by Max Steiner, an Austrian-born, Hungarian-Jewish composer and arranger who gained fame for his score of Gone With the Wind and King Kong.
The classic song "As Time Goes By" was included in the original play, but Steiner didn't like it and wanted it excluded from the film adaptation. But Bergman had already shot the scenes with the song and cut her hair for her next role, so they couldn't be re-shot, and the song stayed.
After the movie was released, "As Time Goes By" spent 21 weeks on the hit parade.
75 years and still going strong. Casablanca is a movie that can still stir many hearts. It definitely does mine. Every time I watch it.
The 365 Page Book Called 2017
"We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves….its first chapter is New Year's Day."
It's that time of the year again! The winter season signals the year-end and tells us that a new dawn is approaching. This "change of year" symbolism is important for two reasons: first, it allows us to take stock of the year that has gone by and second it provides us with the hope of being able to start afresh and not get weighed down by the past.
I have never been where I am today. I have never been the age I am today, or had the experience I have today. The river of life flows and I find myself in places I have never been before. What an exhilarating moment of truth that is!
Everything is new. It is a starting point. At the same time there is a flow from the past that influences the process of ringing in the new. There are so many dreams and aspirations that one has in a lifetime. These change as we grow older and gather more experiences. Mine have changed too! I have realised that I want more for some of the people in my life, I dream more about what we will be as a society and a country. I see a lot of great people out there contributing in building a India of our dreams. You may not even hear of these contributors in your lifetime, for they focus on their actions. I want to highlight a few of them today for they have genuinely made a difference.
Dreamers Doers started by Manjunath Hebbar is a platform for all those social entrepreneurs who want to showcase their work and collaborate with the like minded to impact social causes positively.
Skip Armour brought to us by Chakradhari Rowe that helps a common man understand what is safety & security for an individual, a society and therefore, a country.
Swayyam that teaches us eco conscious low impact living and how to connect back to the earth for our basic living. Malvikaa Solanki, the brain or rather the heart behind this can teach the young & old a thing or two about the "earthy" choices we make in life.
Bal Utsav that brings life-changing education to children living in poverty. They revitalise government schools, support teachers, facilitate interventions in the space of water, sanitation and hygiene. The founders, Ramesh Balasundaram & Binu Ramesh Verma are ever ready to facilitate learning for children and parents alike.
Durga India, a project by I'm Every Woman started by Priya Varadarajan and yours truly is focused on creating awareness among the girls & women about their own safety in an increasingly unsafe world. Durga's effort to create safer public spaces for women, including public transport, gets them to work with Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation & install safety alarms in buses.
The Results Cafe, a self improvement project started by Mandeep Kataria & Prashant Reddy that enables & empowers people to stick to their resolutions and not get waylaid. Powerful, for in the end, we all need that push at some time.
These may seem like drops in the vast ocean…but, remember the old adage. They are doing their bit to create a better, stronger and self sufficient India. An India that is crossing the threshold and moving into a space where the world has to sit up and notice. Which brings me to the point of all the nay sayers out there. You can criticise, negate and shoot down any contribution made by anyone, be it an individual, a community or even the government. The fact is there are people whose purpose is to make a positive difference…even if it is to one individual. Negativity does not deter them. They look at the larger good and spread that goodness around them.
The above mentioned dreamers have influenced my own life in such significant ways that I initially did not even realise it. Who I am on the 1st of Jan 2017, somewhere is a result of that influence. What binds us together is this vision we have for this country of ours, for our society, community and people. We all want the following:
A Swachch Bharat that is eco friendly. A national conscious against littering, spitting, throwing trash everywhere.
A country where girls and women feel safe and are safe. Both are equally important – the feeling & the being.
An India where basic amenities are available to all citizens, in a manner in which they can afford it. That means no freebies for political gain.
A youth that understands the power of our Constitution, the power of voting and contributing to the electoral process.
Adherence to law and order. No negotiating as far as this is concerned.
I am sure every upright citizen wants the same. So, when there is a collective dream, the only thing we have to do, is follow it.
I picture ourselves and India starting a book called 2017 stretched out to 365 pages before us, beckoning to a future somewhere in different chapters that calls us to drive a positive change. All that we will become lies out there, in those pages. The beauty of starting this book is we all can write a sentence, a paragraph or a chapter. It doesn't matter. What matters is that we write.
We spend December 31st & January 1st walking through our lives, chapter by chapter, drawing up a list of work to be done, cracks to be patched. Maybe this year, to balance the list, we ought to walk through the chapters of our lives…not looking for flaws, but for potential.
Praying that everyone writes beautiful lines in the Book of 2017! Happy New Year!
If you don't become the ocean, you'll be seasick everyday…
Rest in peace Leonard Cohen.
In Beautiful Losers, his second novel, he said, "Do not be magical, be magic." Cohen was magic and therefore, magical. Poet, novelist, songwriter, singer all rolled into one, Leonard Cohen entered the music scene in New York in 1967. For almost 60 years he mesmerised those who heard him.
I first heard Cohen in 1983 at a friend's place on a rainy afternoon in Hanoi, Vietnam. Those were the days of a cassette recorder and when Cohen's voice echoed in that room, eight other voices went silent. It was a distinct voice…one which took "500 tons of whiskey and, you know, a million cigarettes" to develop as he said in an interview. The album was "Recent Songs". To say we were hooked would be an understatement. There was this hunger and curiosity to know who Leonard Cohen was. Personally, I thought & still think he was the only other person whose songs influenced me as much Bob Dylan. His response to Dylan winning the Nobel Prize for Literature was, "giving the award to Dylan is like pinning a medal on Mount Everest for being the highest mountain"
One of the most fascinating and enigmatic song writer/singer, Cohen rarely made it to the pop music charts. Influencing many musicians and winning numerous awards, including The Companion of the Order of Canada (highest civilian award in Canada), Cohen's folk-rock music commands the attention of critics and younger musicians more firmly than any other musical figure from the 1960's who continued to work till the outset of the 21st century. The testimony to this was the release of his latest in October 2016 – "You Want It Darker" a solemn album of elegies. The power of his words can be felt in his last letter to his muse Marianne Ihlen. It said, "well Marianne it's come to this time when we are really so old and our bodies are falling apart and I think I will follow you very soon. Know that I am so close behind you that if you stretch out your hand, I think you can reach mine." She died in August 2016.
Cohen's successful blending of poetry, fiction, and music is made most clear in "Stranger Music: Selected Poems and Songs", published in 1993, which gathered more than 200 of Cohen's poems, several novel excerpts, and almost 60 song lyrics. It may have seemed to some that Leonard Cohen departed from the literary in pursuit of the musical, I would call him as a quintessential Renaissance man who straddles the elusive artistic borderlines.
Thank you for speaking from specific vantage points at every stage in your life. Thank you for the quiet nights, the solitary reflections, the 360 degree perspectives, the wry smiles and the truth.
I will miss you.
Letters From Home…Saluting Military Spouses Across The World
Posted on October 23, 2016 by changingoutlooks under Uncategorized
If you're not in love with a soldier, you can't know adventure. You don't understand why green & brown camouflage bags & fatigues are better than any designer clothes & accessories. If you're not in love with a soldier, you don't know what it's like to say that good-bye. If you're not in love with a soldier, you won't know what it means to stay away for years shouldering your share of family responsibility, while he is responsible for protecting the country. If you're not in love with a soldier, you can't know the immense joy, the uncontrollable smile, or the butterflies in your stomach when you see your soldier march into an airport lounge, get off on the railway platform and walk towards you with his lopsided smile. If you're not in love with a soldier, you don't know what it's like to wait for a phone call or email or a text message for days. Yes, even in this age of super fast internet connectivity.
This open letter is for all those who wish to know what a military spouse goes through. We are the "silent ranks" and there is a reason why we are silent. We wait…for letters, phone calls, emails and most important, homecomings. But, hold on, there's more. We wait for practice camps, new commanders, military exercise schedules and dates for field.postings. We also wait for leave approvals and short weekend breaks…which sometimes get cancelled.
We are not perfect wives. The staying away gets to us and sometimes nothing seems to go right. We get tired of taking decisions all by ourselves, at nights the pillows are soaked with our tears when we consistently try to stay strong. We become a single parent in that period of separation and learn to grin & bear it. There are times when I go numb with the loneliness…however, when I think of how much I love my soldier, I am proud to be an army wife.
We are like other wives, yet, different. We clean our homes & mop floors but, are unsure for how long we will do it in the same place. We plant and grow gardens wherever we are, but we can't grow roots. So, potted plants become as dear a possession as any. Like other wives we too buy furniture. It can't really be fancy antique stuff. It has to be sturdy enough to last various postings and moves. We learn to entertain by serving a six course meal wherever possible, and with just bread & eggs too…with the same ease & panache. We make new friends all the time, yet, never discard the old ones. Because we know we will meet somewhere, sometime and that bonds us for life. The same holds good for our children…they learn to network and build lasting relationships.
Sure, I have been frustrated at times and been angry at certain situations in our life. When the exigencies of military life have kept us apart not just for days & months, but, for years, I felt that life is unfair. However, I also realise that it is the same for my man in uniform. I also know that he goes through the same levels of frustration of not being home with me & the children. I pray that he is safe when he is posted at the borders, not just because he is fighting the enemy. He is fighting harsh weather conditions also. I also know that when he is posted to certain operational areas and there are tragedies that take place, I am the only person he will turn to, to share his emotional upheaval. I am his rock, anchor & stronghold…I am the woman he loves. And that, is a feeling I will never exchange for anything in the world.
As military wives, we take care of our homes & families for months & months, without letting our husbands know some of the challenges. Not because we don't want to tell them. But, because we want them to focus on protecting you & us. Like someone very correctly said, "He risks his life for people he doesn't even know, imagine what he'll do for me."
There is a universal recipe for being a military wife…3/4th cup patience, 3/4th cup tolerance, 1 pound courage and a dash of adventure (every now & then). Mix all ingredients together with large tablespoons of elbow grease. Marinate frequently with salty tears. Keep aside for a year. Pour of excess fat. Sprinkle lightly with money regularly. Knead the dough until payday. Season with spices from across the country. Bake throughout the soldier's tenure. Serve with complete pride.
So, the next time you meet a military wife, do look beyond the obvious that is shown to the world. Discover the inner strength & the fortitude the lady hides behind her words & smile…you will get to know a "woman of substance."
This post is also a tribute to two beautiful ladies, Radha Patil & Shakuntla Malik, both army wives & women of substance who have been responsible for shaping me as an individual…Radha Patil from the day she gave birth to me and Shakuntla Malik in my formative years. You both continue to influence my life in myriad ways. Thank you!!!
XIANQUI – A CHESS GAME WITH A DIFFERENCE!
The Heroes Who Never Came Home…And We Never Heard Of!

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


We know more about birds than we do about any other comparable group of organisms. Consequently, birds serve as a unique barometer of planetary health. The capacity of birds to fascinate and enthral is unsurpassed. Around the world, a veritable army of field-researchers, amateur naturalists and engaged citizens are at work observing, recording, and monitoring birds. Each new record, every additional data point, is a small, but important, piece in a huge jigsaw puzzle. BirdLife draws together these individual pieces of data to reveal the bigger picture of what is happening to our planet's birds and, by extension, to our planet itself.
BirdLife's flagship publication—State of the World's Birds—is now established as one of the most authoritative and influential syntheses of its kind, and the latest iteration, launched last year, is already helping to shape the global conservation agenda. This talk, by the report's lead author, will focus on the deteriorating status of birds globally—outlining key trends, emerging threats and the chief drivers of extinction. Although the current situation is ominous, it will also demonstrates that approaches do exist for halting the biodiversity crisis, so long as there is sufficient political will and adequate resourcing.


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The National Academies Press: The Future of Electric Power in the United States (2021)
Richard Brooks 101,780
Co-Founder and Lead Software Engineer Reliable Energy Analytics LLC
Dick Brooks is the inventor of patent 11,374,961: METHODS FOR VERIFICATION OF SOFTWARE OBJECT AUTHENTICITY AND INTEGRITY and the Software Assurance Guardian™ (SAG ™) Point Man™ (SAG-PM™) software...
1,530 items added with 669,196 views
Feb 27, 2021Feb 27, 2021 2:28 pm GMT
I'm just starting my review of this text, but it looks promising based on several people I recognize from the committee and list of reviewers. I'll have more to say in a couple of days about this 352 page textbook.
When the committee examined prior attempts to project even simple things like total demand, it found that most estimates had missed the mark. For this reason, it did not try to predict what the system will look like several decades in the future. Instead, the committee identified a number of driving forces— social, technical, economic—that are likely to alter the landscape of the U.S. power system. These include the following: 1. Possible large growth in future demand for electricity. 2. Efforts to decarbonize the U.S. economy, and eliminate the emission of conventional pollutants, both by transitioning power generation to low or zero-emission sources and by making much greater use of decarbonized electricity as a substitute for fossil fuels in transportation, buildings and industry. 3. Developments at the edge of the grid such as distributed generation, storage, microgrids, energymanagement resources, and energy efficiency measures. 4. Grid stability challenges arising as a result of high penetrations of nondispatchable sources of generation such as wind and solar. 5. A desire to reduce social inequities. 6. Concerns about the impacts of the energy transition on employment. 7. A changing international environment including powerful market forces arising from globalization, shifts in the locus of electricity-relevant innovation, and growing concerns about state-sponsored competition and disruption.
Source: www.nap.edu
clean-power
policy,-regulatory-&-legal
reliability-&-resiliency
Dr. Amal Khashab on Feb 27, 2021
Thanks a lot for sharing such valuable information.
Matt Chester on Mar 1, 2021
For anyone looking to give it a read, don't be scared off like I first was-- it's not behind a paywall and it is accessible for free 'as a guest'!
Dr. Amal Khashab on Mar 6, 2021
That is a great thing , with such valuable source of deep knowledge. I was about to ask Energy Central to pay for downloading , and make it available upon members' request with a condition of summarizing and highlighting as Subject for Discussion.
Audra Drazga on Mar 4, 2021
Richard - it would be great if you can share some highlights when you are done!
Richard Brooks on Mar 4, 2021
Will do, Audra. I'm being pulled in multiple directions at present and have had to put this on the back burner, but I do intend to get back to this after all of the PJM and ISO New England meetings on resource adequacy, capacity markets, Order 2222 and how to calculate NET CONE, et al, have been completed. There is a tremendous amount of churn at the moment and lots of uncertainty with regard to capacity markets going forward. Lots to take in and think about.
Richard - glad to see you are keeping busy!
Thank Richard for the Post!
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Episode #110: 'Pursuing the Parallel Goals of Renewable Energy and Grid Reliability' with Geof Syphers, CEO of Sonoma Clean Power [an Energy Central Power Perspectives™ Podcast]


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Colin Cowherd: Why is Mainstream Media Scared to Criticize Lamar Jackson?
posted by Wil Leitner - Jan 13, 2020
Colin Cowherd: "Stop pandering and stop coddling these millionaire athletes. Lamar Jackson didn't play well and he deserves to get ripped. We ripped Peyton Manning for being an MVP and then not looking the same in the playoffs. Stop patronizing Lamar Jackson, he doesn't need your sympathy and he doesn't need your pandering; he's a rock star, he's going to win MVP, and he's going to be worth $100 million. He's a baby and he will get better, but the criticism is fair. He got drafted in the first round and the media was like 'THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS!' 'FIRE THE GM'S!'... Why? He got drafted in the first round! Roger Staubach got drafted in the 10th round, Johnny Unitas 9th, Tom Brady 6th – it's a hard position to evaluate. Then people are now saying he didn't lose the game because he had '350 yards!' He didn't play well, folks, and most of his yards were Dak yards, GARBAGE YARDS. Stop protecting this kid, he doesn't need our sympathy." (Full Video Above)
Listen to Colin Cowherd explain why he doesn't understand why so many members of the mainstream media spent the entire weekend sticking up for Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson when it was painfully obvious that Jackson had his worst game of the season in Baltimore's humiliating blowout home loss to the Titans in the Divisional Round.
Jackson has been one of the most polarizing players in the NFL since he came into the league, sparking a fierce debate on the long-term success of running quarterbacks, and also a deadlock in contention when it came to Jackson's ability to throw the ball from the pocket.
However, Colin doesn't understand why Jackson's performance versus the Titans is even being debated, when he should be getting unanimously denounced for his dud in the biggest game of his career, just a year after his dud in the playoffs versus the Chargers last year as well.
Check out the video above as Colin details why Jackson's most vocal apologists need to get lost this week.
Want to know more about The Herd with Colin Cowherd? Get their official bio, social pages & articles on FOX Sports Radio! Read more


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Michigan Wolverines vs. Virginia Tech Huskies Point Spread – Pick Against the Spread
No. 13 Michigan Wolverines (10-2 SU, 8-4 ATS) vs. No. 17 Virginia Tech Hokies (11-2 SU, 4-9 ATS), 8:30 p.m. EST, Allstate Sugar Bowl, Tuesday, January 3, 2012, Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, La., TV: ESPN
by Badger, Sports Handicapper, Predictem.com
Point Spread: Mich. -2.5/VTech +2.5
Over/Under Total: 51
Even though they are taking a lot of heat for passing over higher-ranked teams in order to pick teams with more national appeal, the folks at the Sugar Bowl should have a good game on their hands when the 13th-ranked Michigan Wolverines meet the 17th-ranked Virginia Tech Hokies in the Superdome on January 3rd.
With teams like Boise State, South Carolina and Kansas State crying foul over the system, the representatives of the Sugar Bowl instead chose Virginia Tech and Michigan in order to sell more tickets and make more money. The only problem is that Tech fans havent come close to selling out their allotment of 17,500 tickets and are now being forced to give them away to charities in order to try and wipe the egg of their faces.
Regardless, the game itself should be a good one featuring the continuing revival of the Wolverines program back to national prominence against the steady-eddy Hokies program that has been on the cusp of the national title chase for several years.
One year after going 7-6 and firing then-coach Rich Rodriguez, the Wolverines have come back onto the scene under first-year head coach Brady Hoke. Using essentially the same players that Rodriguez couldnt get to play defense, the Wolverines won 10-games behind a renewed defensive effort that ranked 7th in the nation in scoring defense (17.2 ppg).
The Wolverines were also playing some of their best football of the year at the end of the regular season, trouncing Illinois (31-14) and Nebraska (45-17) by big scores before scoring a huge 40-34 victory over border rival Ohio State the last week of November. Now the Maize-n-Blue will try and keep the momentum rolling and reverse a trend that has seen them drop five of their last six bowls games.
But Virginia Tech also had an excellent season under longtime head coach Frank Beamer, culminating in their fourth BCS bowl game in the past five seasons. The Hokies won 11 games, including a seven-game win streak during the heart of the regular season, before reaching another ACC Championship game and dropping a second game to Clemson for the title, 38-10.
With only two losses all season long the folks around the Virginia Tech program are feeling a little slighted by their low ranking, so look for Beamer to play the disrespect card in order to pump up the Hokies as they attempt to defend the honor of the ACC in the Sugar Bowl and prove they belong.
The oddsmakers out in Las Vegas are helping to fuel some of those disrespected feeling in Blacksburg, since they set the opening point spread with Michigan as 1.5-point favorites. With most of the money coming in on the Wolverines so far, the number is up to Michigan minus -2.5 at most of the offshore sportsbooks on the Web, with a few minus -3s here and there.
The over/under total is trending in the opposite direction, opening at 51.5 back in early December with it dropping ever since down to 51 (in Vegas) or 50.5 (offshore) depending on where you place your wagers.
Tired of your credit card not working at online sportsbooks? End that problem today by signing up at Sportsbetting where your card WILL work!
When you breakdown the offenses in this game, it becomes clear that both teams rely heavily on one player.
For Michigan that player is quarterback Denard Robinson. Robinson is the true definition of duel-threat quarterback, running for over a 1,000 yards (1,163, 16 TD) and passing for over 2,000 (2,056, 18 TD) to lead a Wolverine offense that finished 36th in the NCAA in total yards per game.
Robinson combined with running back Fitzgerald Troussaint (1,011 yards, 9 TD) fuel a Wolverine running game that is one of the best in the country (236 ypg 12th). With a trio of solid receivers (Junior Hemingway, Jeremy Gallon and Roy Roundtree), Robinson has plenty of weapons to use in play action once the defense starts creeping an eighth defender into the box to stop the run.
For Virginia Tech their stud player on offense is running back David Wilson, who ran for 1,600 yards with a silly 6.1 yards per carry average and nine touchdowns. When Wilson is stopped or held in check (32 yards in ACC title game vs. Clemson), the Hokies struggle because they just dont score enough points (28.5 ppg 54th) to hang around in shootouts.
Fortunately the Hokies dont have to rely on sophomore quarterback Logan Thomas to win games throwing the ball because the Hokies field one of the best defenses in the land. Ranked 15th overall in yards allowed (314 ypg), 10th against the run (108 ypg) and 8th in points allowed (17.2 ppg), Virginia Tech has only given up more than four scores in a game twice.
The Wolverine defense has been the backbone of the teams success this season, but if there is a chink in the armor it is the run defense. Michigan gave up 129 yards a game on the ground, so they surely will be tested by Wilson and the Hokies in the Sugar Bowl this Tuesday night.
The wild card in this game will be special teams, a trademark of Virginia Tech teams of the past. However, it is the Hokies that might struggle since they cant seem to keep a kicker on the roster out of trouble.
Starting kicker Cody Journell was suspended early in December for his involvement in a home invasion, and backup kicker Tyler Weiss was sent home a few days before kickoff for breaking curfew. That means that either kickoff specialist Justin Myer, punter Michael Branthover or redshirt Connor Goulding will handle the kicking duties and none of them have ever made a field goal in their careers, yet alone a clutch kick in a late-game situation. And anyone who watched the first LSU-Alabama game can attest to how important a kicker can be in late-game situations (right Coach Saban?).
With no playing history between these schools, the betting trends for this game are sketchy.
Michigan has played well outside of the Big Ten (9-2 ATS in L11 non-conference), but those games were mostly against the early-season mid-major programs and not against the likes of a team like Tech. Perhaps the most interesting trend is the fact that the Wolverines are not a team built for a dome, going 0-4 ATS in their last four games on turf.
Virginia Tech has struggled out of the ACC (0-4 ATS in L4 non-conference), and they havent exactly been a great wager to begin with (3-9 ATS in L12 overall), so wager with caution on the Hokies.
The over under trends are opposites depending on the team. With Michigan its all about the over, with the over going 10-1 in their last 11 bowl games and 5-0 in their last five neutral site games. With Virginia Tech its the under, with the under going 4-0 in non-conference games and 6-1 in the month of January (i.e. in bowl games).
Badgers Pick to Cover the Point Spread: Two of the top defenses in the NCAA and the total is set at over 50? It sort of smells like a trap, but Im a sucker for good defense. Im taking the under of 51.
Additional College Football Betting Previews


But I have to be dragged out to work, what can I do?
Is this the right path? Am I going the right way?
Do I wanna just quit?
What? Where is the right answer?
Is this the right answer? Or is that the right answer?
Is the right answer that no one knows?


In reply to an application filed under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, the civil aviation ministry has informed that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is investigating the purchase of 68 Boeing planes by Air India. In December 2005, the Air India had placed a $11 billion order for buying 68 aircraft, including Boeing 737s, 777s and 787s. In 2011, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) had reported the purchase as faulty as it had an adverse impact on the airline's financial health. The then civil aviation minister Praful Patel has rejected an allegation of wrongdoing and pointed that the decision to order 68 planes was approved by an empowered group of ministers and later by the Union Cabinet.
The Air India board had initially proposed buying 28 planes but the decision was revised and the 40 more planes were added to the order size. The CAG had also questioned the urgency shown in placing the order for 68 planes as it emerged that the earlier proposal for acquiring 28 aircraft had taken two years (w.e.f. January 2002) to prepare and submit, while the revised long-term fleet for the 50-aircraft plan was completed in a span of four months (w.e.f. August 2004) under the Chairmanship of V Thulasidas. The Air India was advised to revisit its proposal by the civil aviation ministry for expanding its requirement of aircraft and the CBI is looking into why the Air India changed its original order.


A new Topgolf location in Glendale, Arizona, set to open in Fall of 2018, is looking to hire 500 new employees.
The driving range will begin a series of hiring events beginning August 1 and ending August 11. They are in need of maintenance workers, servers, bartenders, guest-services staff, and kitchen staff.
If you would like to apply for the high-tech range, you can do so here.
The building is 67,000 square feet and three stories high. The bays are heated and air-conditioned. A bar and private room for events are included in the structure.
This is the third Topgolf location in the Valley and 47th nationwide. It is located near 99th Avenue and Bethany Home Road, west of the Loop 101 freeway.
The new location is scheduled to open this Fall. Until then, you can visit Topgolf's other Arizona locations in Gilbert, Scottsdale, and Tucson.
Is The Phoenix Housing Market Changing?


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US Festivals
London Resorts Are Located Near More Than Two Dozen Museums
Posted on November 20, 2018 March 8, 2018 by vera
These are particular places to go to and immerse yourself in a different world for a small amount of time. These museums are additionally distinctive in that the actual structure belongs to the museum collection as a historic object. The group has identified a potential web site in Southwark, south London, for the museum and hope to see a building open there in 2021 serving also as a customer attraction and social centre. Its description states that The Doll and Toy Museum of the City of New York is situated in Public School 142 in Brooklyn.
For example, The Henry Ford has a Curator of Transportation, a Curator of Public Life, a Curator of Ornamental Arts, and so forth. The nineteenth century additionally introduced a proliferation of science museums with roots in technical and industrial heritage museums. Lastly, museum reveals can often spark meaningful and informed conversations. Much like the Nationwide Constructing Museum, the constructing of the Schifferstadt is a historic construction, in-built 1758, and due to this fact also an embodiment of historic preservation and restoration.
It's going to house work from totally different French museums, together with those from the Louvre as nicely. Though many museums and institutions, together with the Nationwide Trust, British Museum and British Library marked the anniversary of the law change last year, Galliano mentioned there was a hazard individuals would now think the job was carried out. Explore the connections between artwork and life on guided excursions of the Andrew Wyeth Studio, N. C. Wyeth Home and Studio, and the Kuerner Farm.
The Peristylia hall in National Museum of Indonesia in Jakarta , the most important and one of many oldest museum in Indonesia. Nonetheless different museums adopt a extra aesthetic approach and use the homes to display the architecture and artistic objects. Key to this is the big demographic of overseas guests to the museum, with sixty three{7c508b066d193d1afcb548752bac909f5bc2408e83f1baf5ba3f53f4aaf682b2} of the guests residing outside of Spain and thus feeding foreign investment straight into Bilbao.
^ Brooklyn Institute of Arts and Sciences, The Children's Museum of the Brooklyn Institute of Arts and Sciences (Brooklyn: The Brooklyn Institute of Arts and Sciences, 1901) 7. Get up near the objects that made historical past – from iconic maritime exhibits to nice British art. Our various collections will take you on a journey of discovery through the history of Scotland and around the globe, taking in the wonders of nature, artwork, design and style and science and expertise – all underneath one roof.
Posted in museumTagged dozen, located, london, museums, resorts
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last update by Marcus Dawson - 06 Mar 2009
A footbridge which spans the junction where the Derby to Birmingham line diverges towards Uttoxeter and Crewe.
This general location is often referred to as Stenson Junction - although Stenson Junction is approx 1 mile north.
Cross Country workings from Derby to Birmingham, East Midlands Trains operate services from Derby to both Birmingham and Crewe.
Freight services mainly operated by DB Schenker and Freightliner.
Serco test trains and movements from Brush works to the West coast will also often pass here.
A quiet footbridge on a little used footpath. To the north is a small field bordered by the Trent and Mersey Canal and to the south is a large waste land left after the demolition of the Willington Power station, only the cooling towers remain.
From the A38 / A50 junction:
This is the junction for Toyota, follow the B5005 Etwall Road towards Willington. After you cross the railway either:
Turn left by the Green Man public house. Continue past the Rising Sun public house and immediately turn left into a car park just before the bridge under the railway line. This car park is indicated as the 'station' car park, from here follow the public transport directions.
Or turn right up Findern Lane and park in Mercia Marina.
North Stafford Junction map co-ordinates
You have a number of options:
Park in the Mercia Marina car parks. From here follow the canal side footpath under the road and continue across the newly pathed wetlands area towards the Trent Canal foot bridge. Cross the bridge and turn right walking along the tow path untill you reach a footpath through the hedge which leads to the bridge.
Or park in the area opposite the Nadee Indian Restaurant just off the Buckford Lane, opposite Stenson Junction. From here follow the canal towpath, NOT the small road was as this will lead you to a domestic residence and you'll have to turn around and come back. Once you have passed a black and white footbridge across the canal you will reach a footpath through the hedge which leads to the bridge.
Trent Barton buses operate a service from Barton-Upon-Trent to Derby which calls at Findern and Willington.
If using the railway get a train from either Derby or Birmingham to Willington. Then exit the station and turn right and walk past the Green Man and then the Rising Sun Public Houses and turn left just before the railway bridge up towards the 'station' car park. From the car park head towards the canal towpath and follow the canal in the Derby direction (opposite direction from the road bridge that crosses the canal). Follow the canal towpath and after 5-10 minutes you will pass under the Crewe line. Keep going under this bridge and round the corner and you will approach a wooden footbridge that crosses the canal. Just before this bridge on the right is a gap in the hedge. This leads you down to the bridge. Walking time is around 15 to 20 minutes.
There are the Willow Tea Rooms at the nearby Mercia Marina. But Willington is the nearest village and this has a local shop, chip shop and a couple of very good pubs.
North Stafford Junction general view map
North Stafford Junction close up map
This location offers numerous different shots with the better ones being north bound from both the Birmingham and Crewe lines. Southbound shots are good for the Crewe line but can be a little tight for trains in the Birmingham direction depending from where you take the photograph.
For video road noise can be heard from the nearby A38 but should not interfere too much, especially when a train is passing. But if you are planning to use a tripod the bridge parapets are quite high and the bridge itself will vibrate with passing trains. It would be better to position yourself on the steps up to the bridge.
The Crewe line
Video by Andy Appleton
Colwick


A glamorous set of 36 pink feather cake toppers will add style and drama to any celebration cake. This product is simple and easy to use by inserting into a flower pick for an instant cake topper.
Each pack contains 36 separate feathers which are approx 13 cm in height and 6 cm in width (sizes may vary). The stem is structured which means it will stand up vertically on top of your cake. Also available in lots of other colours.


text:
Art history professor, longtime DC resident Tom Hardy dies at 81
By Annaliese Alexander Last updated Dec 12, 2022
Jacob Nathaniel Pring, a DC-area LGBTQ rights advocate whose career included working as a mortgage loan officer and Lyft driver by day while organizing social events and parties at night and on weekends at DC gay bars and other venues, including "Gay Day" at the National Zoo, died Sept. 26, at his home in Springfield, Va. He was 47.
His longtime friend Nicholas DiBlasio said another friend and housemate at the group home where Pring lived found him deceased in his room. DiBlasio said Pring's passing was sudden and unexpected and friends and family members were awaiting the results of toxicology tests associated with an autopsy performed by the Virginia Office of the Chief Medical Examiner to determine the cause of death.
"Jacob was a good man, and he had an engaging personality and a marvelous smile," according to Sasha Chijoku, one of his housemates who posted a tribute to Pring on Facebook. "Above all, Jacob's personality was big, and the only thing that was perhaps bigger was his smile," she wrote.
DiBlasio and others who knew him and posted messages on social media said Pring for many years organized and promoted weekly leather-oriented events at gay clubs and other LGBTQ supportive clubs. Among them were the events held at the DC gay bar Green Lantern and the LGBTQ-friendly nightclub Crucible called CODE and XXX parties.
In a January 2013 interview with the Washington Blade, Pring said between 100 and 150 mostly gay men turned out for those events.
"There's always new people coming in," he said. "People bring their friends. It's fun. No attitude, no drama."
DiBlasio said Pring was born and raised in Pennsylvania. Pring's Facebook page says his hometown was Levittown, Pa. Pring's LinkedIn page says he studied computer engineering at Temple University in Philadelphia from 1998-1999 and studied biology at the University of the District of Columbia from 2014-2017, where DiBlasio says he believes Pring received his bachelor's degree.
"I served in the US Air Force and the Air National Guard," Pring stated in a September 2020 Facebook posting. "I chose to do my part to keep our country safe," he wrote, adding, "This stuff about Trump saying crazy things he has said makes me so angry! Please vote that asshole out! please!"
Pring, an outspoken supporter of LGBTQ rights, makes it clear in his social media postings that he was a staunch Democrat.
While a student at UDC in 2015, Pring created a student military veterans group called VIRTUES, which he said stood for "Values, Integrity Readiness, Tenacity, Unity, Excellence, and Service."
In his LinkedIn page, Pring says he worked from 2003 to 2006 as a Senior Mortgage Consultant for the firm Preferred Service Mortgage and in the following year, he held a similar position with Access National Mortgage. It says that beginning in 2020 he served as a loan officer with Intercostal Mortgage LLC.
DiBlasio said about a year later in 2021 Pring switched jobs to resume working as a Lyft driver, which he had been doing periodically in earlier years.
David Mariner, former executive director of the DC Center for the LGBT Community, praised Pring for creating yet another important event – Gay Day at the Zoo – which Mariner said served and continues to serve as a fundraising event for the DC Center
"He was out as an HIV-positive person and created social spaces for poz men," Mariner said in a Facebook posting this week.
Mariner was referring to Pring's launching of a series of "Poz" events for both people with HIV and their friends and loved ones.
"The Poz events bring faces to the disease & helps eliminate the STIGMA surrounding people with HIV/AIDS," Pring stated in a Facebook message. "The DJs are HIV+ & Jacob Nathaniel Pring himself has been Poz for 7 years!" his message states.
Pring's friends have pointed to other social media postings by Pring discussing his own struggles with substance abuse and depression. But in recent years, Pring's postings have said the support he received from counseling and support groups helped him "walk away" from drug use.
"I have had a blessed life," he wrote in a Sept. 7, 2020, Facebook posting. "Walking away from the drugs for good has me sitting here reminiscing of younger days," he wrote. "We don't get to go back but we sure do get to live an older life. I switched gears," he continued.
"Sex ran my life for 30 years. Now, I feel like a retired older elder," he stated. "I have lived life to the fullest. I can't imagine what life has left in store for me. But I have reached a new mental frontier. I feel lucky and blessed to have made it to this new age of living!!!"
But DiBlasio said about one year later the death of Pring's mother, to whom he was very close, took an emotional toll on him. "That was about a year ago and that hit him pretty hard," DiBlasio said.
Another one of Pring's friends, who identifies himself on Facebook as Mike Di, appeared to sum up Pring's life as he was known to many of his friends and loved ones in a posting on the day he learned of Pring's passing.
"Jacob, I am so sad to hear the news of your passing tonight. The progress you made over the past 10+ years putting yourself through school, tackling the demons, living clean, etc. It was all remarkable and I'm so proud of you," he wrote.
"I'm grateful that you left about a thousand pics of yourself (& with friends) here on your Facebook," Di said. "It's a gift really…you can never be forgotten, nor the highs and lows of the last 15 years of your life that are documented in the pics."
Chijoku added in her tribute to Pring, "He was a fine man, and certainly Heaven is being greeted right now with the toothiest grin I've ever had the pleasure to know!"
Pring's sister, Michelle Forrest, said family and friends were planning a memorial service or celebration of life for Pring at the family's hometown of Levittown, Penn. as well as in DC, and an announcement would be made when the plans are finalized.
Pring was predeceased by his mother, Paulette Marks of Levittown, Penn. He is survived by his father, John Pring of Bethlehem, Penn.; his brother, Matthew Pring of Texas; his sisters Michelle Forrest of Brooksville, Fla., and Amy Lindquist of Levittown, Penn.; and many friends. Among the friends are Nicholas DiBlasio, Sasha Chijoku, Todd Westberg, Babak Movahedi, John Madej, and Tommy Sanders.
Jacob Nathanial Pring in 2010. (Blade file photo by Michael Key)
Mon Valley Performing Arts Academy offers cost-effective arts education | Helping the Helpers
What is nuclear fusion? – The Hill


text:
contenu Home > Library > Publications > Reports > European Women's Voice - (...)
European Women's Voice - Spring 2011
Posted on 17 June 2011 |
The EWL in June 2011 published the inaugural edition of its e-magazine, the European Women's Voice. The fist issue of this thematic publication was dedicated to Violence against Women, and its dissemination corresponded with the Annual Conference of the EWL on this same theme.
european women s voice spring 2011 violence against women 3
by Rada Boric, member of the Executive Committee of the EWL
It is a great pleasure for me, on behalf of all members of the European Women's Lobby (EWL), to introduce to you the very first edition of the European Women's Voice, the online thematic publication of the EWL, dedicated to research and analysis articles on a given issue. We have decided to focus the first edition of the European Women's Voice on violence against women, an issue at the core of our activities and those of our membership, which identified the struggle against all forms of male violence against women as the number one priority of the EWL over 2011-2015. Indeed, violence against women remains the most pervasive violation of women's human rights worldwide and in all countries of the European Union (EU). Every day, seven women die from male domestic violence in the EU. The EWL consistently calls for decisive action to put an end to this phenomenon on the part of the EU, which should take a leadership role in protecting human rights, including women's rights.
The aim of this edition of the European Women's Voice is to present an update of a diversity of research and analysis addressing violence against women in the EU. The following pages demonstrate how women's rights face new challenges and new forms of violence against women have appeared, but also how women's organisations are building new horizons of action towards a Europe free from male violence against women. Testimonies and projects will open your eyes to hidden forms of violence against women, despite the illusion of a general awareness of the issue in Europe, and demonstrate the need for persistent and everyday vigilance and action on the part of decision-makers. In addition, the articles of the European Women's Voice will provide insight into the structural nature of violence against women and highlight its deep roots in our patriarchal societies, arguing for structural solutions.
There is political momentum at the EU level for European action to end violence against women: the European Commission has committed to delivering an EU strategy and action plan, and both the European Parliament and the Council of the EU have repeatedly stated their demands for an EU policy framework on combating violence against women. The EWL has been calling for years for such a comprehensive policy framework building on the international human rights definitions of violence against women. Such a framework should encompass legally-
binding instruments to criminally address all forms of violence against women and strengthen the protection of all women, a European Year on ending violence against women to raise awareness and foster prevention, as well as substantial and sustainable EU funding to support service providers and build partnership with dedicated NGOs.
While the EU has taken the lead over the last fifty years in promoting women's rights related to employment, a strong common policy on violence against women is still missing. We hope that the political work of civil society organisations and growing evidence of the gravity of this phenomenon will lead to renewed political courage to develop strong and comprehensive policies towards the realisation of a Europe free from all forms of male violence against all women. I hope that you will enjoy the intellectual challenge of the articles that follow, and that reading through them will convince you of the urgency of action and play a guiding role in defining engaged policies, both at European and national levels.
Please click on the image to download the full document in PDF format.


The Triangle Town Center Barnes & Noble selected Fabian's letter as the high school level winner for their store. Her letter will now go on to compete at the state level, where if it wins will result in a $5,000 cash prize for both Minter and the school.
Lamar Minter teaches in the SSS Microsoft IT Academy, which offers students the opportunity to earn Microsoft Office Specialist certification. In addition, he serves on the school's AVID Site Team, advises the Men of Distinction club, and is also a member of the Johnston County Arts Council Board of Directors. He has been a tremendous asset to the SSS faculty. The faculty and staff are thankful to have teachers like him as well as students like Solieth Fabian as part of their team.


Cows are responsible for about three-quarters of total methane emissions, a gas that is 20 times more portent than carbon dioxide as a greenhouse gas. Therefore, Canadian scientists are trying to breed cows that would burp less.
It's saddening that instead of showing compassion and mercy to cows, humanity is trying to manipulate them even more, as if mere commodities. The most efficient way to reduce greenhouse gases from cattle is to stop raising them for food.


If you have been a client to MAC's Lash and Skin Studio, you know that we ADORE using and representing organic skincare products from Éminence Organics! They are an amazing skincare brand that stands strongly for the care and healthy utilization of the beautiful elements and materials nature has to offer us! They even plant a tree for every product sold! So, what more of a reason would you need to try out their products for yourself?!
At MAC's, we retail a HUGE selection of products from Eminence. Right now, we have two kinds of AMAZING gift sets for sale!
This set is PERFECT for someone who is just diving into the beautiful world of Éminence skincare, or for someone who already loves it, and really wants to stock up on the essentials!
It comes with mini, best-selling products, such as the Stone Crop Gel Wash, the Strawberry Rhubarb Dermafoliant, Bamboo Firming Fluid, Stone Crop Whip Moisturizer, and the Neroli Age Corrective Eye Serum. Included also is a vegan friendly cosmetic bag, so you can carry your new products safely in travel! These products work for ALL skin types, so you or your designated gift-receiver is sure to enjoy all the heavenly essentials to healthy, youthful, and beautiful skin. This set retails for $76.
This gift set is a mix of the products you need to get ready and make you and your skin literally look "Red Carpet Ready" in just 2 minutes! The Hibiscus Ultra Lift Eye Cream helps to immediately get rid of under-eye bags and dark circles, and just makes your eye area look instantly more awake and lively. The Hibiscus Instant Line Filler works to make the skin plumper, getting rid of fine lines and wrinkles! The Hibiscus Ultra Lift Neck Cream hydrates and tightens the neck's appearance, making the skin there more tight and youthful. The Cinnamon Kiss Lip Plumper does exactly as it says, making lips fuller, glowier, and plumper! You or your gift-receiver can carry these convenient travel size products that are essential for a glowing, youthful looking day or event in the metallic clutch that comes in the set! This stunning set retails for $80.
Stop into MAC's today to treat yourself with an amazing, essential set of skincare products you can use anywhere! Even consider one as a Christmas gift or other gift for a fellow skin-lover!


In today's often uncertain landscape, opportunities exist for SMEs to grow but how can they leverage the right financial tools to maximise their growth?
The UK's SMEs are optimistic about the global economy and their role in it – and it's evident that they are going back to basics to unlock ambitious growth over the next 12 months, according to new research from American Express and Oxford Economics*.
Colin O'Flaherty, UK vice president and general manager, global commercial services at American Express says the research found that "41 per cent of UK SMEs are actively leveraging the advantages of being a small business to fuel revenue growth".
That said, while UK SMEs are ambitious, they can find it difficult to access the financial tools they need to grow. The research found that 60pc of SMEs say inadequate cash flow affects their ability to pay their suppliers on time yet less than a quarter are taking advantage of more flexible ways of financing.
Mr O'Flaherty says that American Express works with thousands of UK businesses every day, "to offer payment tools which help them achieve savings, efficiencies and control over their finances – whether they want to boost their cash flow or simply want support to take the hassle out of making payments abroad".
Here we met Colin O'Flaherty of American Express along with their SME customer Cornerstone and research partner Oxford Economics.


text:
Higgins è un centro abitato degli Stati Uniti d'America situato nella contea di Lipscomb dello Stato del Texas.

La popolazione era di 397 persone al censimento del 2010.

Storia

Geografia fisica
Higgins è situata a  (36.120027, -100.025597).

Secondo lo United States Census Bureau, ha un'area totale di 1,1 miglia quadrate (2,8 km²).

Società

Evoluzione demografica
Secondo il censimento del 2000, c'erano 425 persone, 198 nuclei familiari e 116 famiglie residenti nella città. La densità di popolazione era di 388,7 persone per miglio quadrato (150,5/km²). C'erano 253 unità abitative a una densità media di 231,4 per miglio quadrato (89,6/km²). La composizione etnica della città era formata dal 90,82% di bianchi, lo 0,94% di afroamericani, il 2,59% di nativi americani, il 3,29% di altre razze, e il 2,35% di due o più etnie. Ispanici o latinos di qualunque razza erano il 4,94% della popolazione.

C'erano 198 nuclei familiari di cui il 19,2% aveva figli di età inferiore ai 18 anni, il 52,0% aveva coppie sposate conviventi, il 6,1% aveva un capofamiglia femmina senza marito, e il 41,4% erano non-famiglie. Il 38,4% di tutti i nuclei familiari erano individuali e il 26,3% aveva componenti con un'età di 65 anni o più che vivevano da soli. Il numero di componenti medio di un nucleo familiare era di 2,15 e quello di una famiglia era di 2,90.

La popolazione era composta dal 20,2% di persone sotto i 18 anni, il 4,2% di persone dai 18 ai 24 anni, il 18,6% di persone dai 25 ai 44 anni, il 30,4% di persone dai 45 ai 64 anni, e il 26,6% di persone di 65 anni o più. L'età media era di 48 anni. Per ogni 100 femmine c'erano 94,1 maschi. Per ogni 100 femmine dai 18 anni in giù, c'erano 87,3 maschi.

Il reddito medio di un nucleo familiare era di 25.714 dollari e quello di una famiglia era di 32.875 dollari. I maschi avevano un reddito medio di 17.917 dollari contro i 20.250 dollari delle femmine. Il reddito pro capite era di 16.164 dollari. Circa il 17,8% delle famiglie e il 21,1% della popolazione erano sotto la soglia di povertà, incluso il 40,0% di persone sotto i 18 anni e il 16,0% di persone di 65 anni o più.

Note

Collegamenti esterni

Comuni del Texas

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
const Gulp = require('gulp');
const Plugins = require('gulp-load-plugins')();
const Fs = require('fs');
const Del = require('del');
const BrowserSync = require('browser-sync').create();

const PackageJSON = JSON.parse(Fs.readFileSync('./package.json'));

const BANNER = `
/*!
 * Bootstrap v${PackageJSON.dependencies.bootstrap} (https://getbootstrap.com)
 * Copyright 2011-2018 The Bootstrap Authors
 * Copyright 2011-2018 Twitter, Inc.
 * Licensed under MIT (https://github.com/twbs/bootstrap/blob/master/LICENSE)
 */
`;

Gulp.task('gulp:lint', () => {
  return Gulp.src(['gulpfile.js'])
    .pipe(Plugins.eslint({ useEslintrc: true }))
    .pipe(Plugins.eslint.format())
    .pipe(Plugins.eslint.failAfterError());
});

Gulp.task('js:clean', () => {
  return Del(['dist/js/**/*']);
});

Gulp.task('js:copy', Gulp.series('js:clean', () => {
  return Gulp.src(['bootstrap/dist/js/**/*.js'], { cwd: 'node_modules' })
    .pipe(Gulp.dest('dist/js'));
}));

Gulp.task('css:clean', () => {
  return Del(['dist/css/**/*']);
});

Gulp.task('css:lint', () => {
  return Gulp.src(['scss/**/*.scss'])
    .pipe(Plugins.stylelint({
      configFile: '.stylelintrc',
      failAfterError: true,
      reporters: [
        { formatter: 'verbose', console: true },
      ],
    }));
});

Gulp.task('css:build', () => {
  return Gulp.src(['scss/**/*.scss'])
    .pipe(Plugins.plumber({
      errorHandler(err) {
        console.error(err.message);
        this.emit('end');
      },
    }))
    .pipe(Plugins.sass({
      includePaths: [
        'node_modules/',
      ],
      outputStyle: 'expanded',
      sourceMap: true,
      sourceMapContents: true,
      lineFeed: 'lf',
      precision: 6,
    }))
    .pipe(Plugins.plumber.stop())
    .pipe(Plugins.postcss({
      noMap: true,
      use: 'autoprefixer',
      config: '../build/postcss.config.js',
      replace: 'dist/css/bootstrap.css',
    }))
    .pipe(Gulp.dest('dist/css'));
});

Gulp.task('css:banner', () => {
  return Gulp.src(['dist/css/*.css'])
    .pipe(Plugins.replace('/*! [<<original banner space>>] */', BANNER))
    .pipe(Gulp.dest('dist/css'));
});

Gulp.task('css:minify', () => {
  return Gulp.src(['dist/css/*.css', '!dist/css/*.min.css'])
    .pipe(Plugins.cleanCss({
      level: 1,
    }))
    .pipe(Plugins.rename({
      extname: '.min.css',
    }))
    .pipe(Gulp.dest('dist/css'));
});

Gulp.task('docs:clean', () => {
  return Del(['docs/css/**/*', 'docs/js/**/*']);
});

Gulp.task('docs:copy', () => {
  return Gulp.src(['dist/**/*'], { base: 'dist' })
    .pipe(Gulp.dest('docs'));
});

Gulp.task('docs:css', () => {
  return Gulp.src(['docs/assets/scss/**/*.scss'])
    .pipe(Plugins.plumber({
      errorHandler(err) {
        console.error(err.message);
        this.emit('end');
      },
    }))
    .pipe(Plugins.sass({
      includePaths: [
        'node_modules/',
        'scss/',
      ],
      outputStyle: 'expanded',
      sourceMap: true,
      sourceMapContents: true,
      lineFeed: 'lf',
      precision: 6,
    }))
    .pipe(Plugins.plumber.stop())
    .pipe(Plugins.postcss({
      noMap: true,
      use: 'autoprefixer',
      config: '../../../build/postcss.config.js',
      replace: 'docs/assets/css/bootstrap.css',
    }))
    .pipe(Gulp.dest('docs/assets/css'));
});

Gulp.task('packing', () => {
  return Gulp.src(['dist/**/*', 'docs/bootstrap.html', 'README.md', 'LICENSE'], { base: '.' })
    .pipe(Plugins.rename((path) => {
      // NOTE: ディレクトリ構造を変更するために gulp-rename を使う
      // FIXME: gulp-rename の仕様により引数代入を許可する
      /* eslint-disable no-param-reassign */
      path.dirname = path.dirname.replace(/^(?:dist|docs)/, '');
      path.dirname = `honoka/${path.dirname}`;
      /* eslint-enable no-param-reassign */
    }))
    .pipe(Plugins.zip(`bootstrap-${PackageJSON.config.packageName.toLowerCase()}-${PackageJSON.version}-dist.zip`))
    .pipe(Gulp.dest('./'));
});

Gulp.task('docs:serve', () => {
  BrowserSync.init({
    server: 'docs/',
    port: 8000,
  });
});

Gulp.task('docs:reload', () => {
  BrowserSync.reload();
});

Gulp.task('watch', () => {
  Gulp.watch(['scss/**/*'], Gulp.series('css', 'docs:copy', 'docs:reload'));
  Gulp.watch(['docs/**/*.html'], Gulp.series('docs:reload'));
  Gulp.watch(['docs/assets/scss/**/*.scss'], Gulp.series('docs:css', 'docs:reload'));
});

Gulp.task('docs', Gulp.series(
  'docs:clean', 'docs:copy', 'docs:css',
));

Gulp.task('serve', Gulp.parallel(
  'docs:serve', 'watch',
));

Gulp.task('clean', Gulp.series(
  'css:clean', 'js:clean',
));

Gulp.task('css', Gulp.series(
  'css:build', 'css:minify', 'css:banner',
));

Gulp.task('js', Gulp.series(
  'js:copy',
));

Gulp.task('test', Gulp.series(
  'css:lint', 'gulp:lint',
));

Gulp.task('build', Gulp.series(
  'clean', Gulp.parallel('css', 'js'), 'docs',
));

Gulp.task('release', Gulp.series(
  'build', 'packing',
));

Gulp.task('default', Gulp.parallel('build'));

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


We feel that it is important to work together during the settling in period. Parents and Carers know their own child well. All children are different and each settling in time needs to reflect this. We hope that by the time your child starts nursery you will have had a chance to attend some stay and play sessions and received a home visit from their key worker.
It is vital that children maintain regular attendance in order for us to ensure that their learning progresses and they are able to reach their full potential. Please phone the school to inform us if your child is absent from nursery for any reason. Children's attendance is regularly monitored and will be reviewed each term.
We ask that you arrive promptly to bring and collect your child at the beginning and end of each session; children benefit from the regular routines that nursery provides, and feel more confident when they arrive at the same time as others, in addition it reduces disruption to learning. However, we are aware of the challenges of family life; please speak to your child's key worker if you are finding it difficult to manage your child's attendance; and we will do our best to support you with this.