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Kellie Williams '21: A First-Generation College Graduate Following Her Passion for Selfless Service
Kellie Williams '21 came to Texas A&M University with a desire to make a difference. She'll walk the graduation stage on May 14 with the skills and education needed to selflessly serve.
By Rachel Knight '18
Kelly Williams '21 initially enrolled as a nursing student at Texas A&M, but switched her major to sociology to help solve societal challenges.
Kellie Williams' passion for serving others led her to enroll as a nursing student at Texas A&M University her freshman year. She wanted to make a difference, and believed the medical field was the best place to do so.
Williams' opinions and beliefs about the most influential and effective way to help people changed after broadening her education with liberal arts classes. Now, she's set to graduate with a bachelor's degree in sociology on May 14.
"Being a first-generation college student, I didn't know where I was going to find my place at Texas A&M or where to even begin. I knew I had a passion for helping others and I thought I was going to do that by becoming a registered nurse," Williams explained.
Her intro to Sociology class inspired Williams' to change her major and career path. The switch from nursing to sociology brought her closer to achieving both her education and career goals.
"I was invested in learning more about the society that I lived in and what could be done to make a difference," Williams shared. "I discovered that helping others and making an impact doesn't just have to be done by physically helping others like I thought I would do as a nurse. Sociology was the light at the end of a long, dark tunnel. I realized that I could impact lives everyday as long as I am learning about the society I live in and the flaws that it has. From that day forward I strived to take classes that taught me about topics that are hard to discuss and who was affected."
Just before starting the final semester of her undergraduate career, Williams received an email from Kathryn Dietrich, an instructional professor in the Department of Sociology. The email was a solicitation for interns from a local nonprofit organization called SARC, which is short for Brazos Valley Sexual Assault Resource Center.
"I was nervous to respond at first, because we were in the middle of a pandemic and I was about to start my last semester at Texas A&M," Williams shared. "I spoke with my current supervisor for an hour and we discussed social problems and how we were both passionate about making an impact. Now I am three months into my internship, and I have been given so many opportunities to grow."
Williams duties at the nonprofit organization included writing blog posts for the organization's website, completing training to become a sexual assault resource center advocate, and conducting and presenting research. She credits her sociology classes with preparing her for her internship and future career.
Williams will continue to make a difference in Brazos County after walking the graduation stage by continuing to volunteer with SARC.
"Becoming a sociology major was the best decision I could've ever made," Williams said. "Without these classes and all my professors, I would've never realized my true passion which is pursuing a career in a nonprofit organization so that I am able to help or impact others every day."
While sociology has helped provide the tools Williams needs for a successful career, her passion for helping others comes from a more personal experience.
"There was a point in my life where my overall mental health was damaged, and it affected my life and the people around me. I knew I was being negatively affected, but I was afraid to ask for help," Williams said. "I finally gave in and reached out for help. After I was able to build myself, I realized there are other people like me who are afraid to come forward or don't know how to. Since this day I have decided that I will do whatever it takes to help someone. Nobody should feel alone or afraid to ask for help."
After graduation, Williams will continue volunteering with SARC while seeking employment from other Brazos County nonprofits. She shared a range of emotions experienced by most graduates in anticipation of graduation.
"I first feel very excited to move onto the next chapter of my life," Williams began. "In just four years I have grown so much, so I am excited to see growth in the next years to come. On the other hand, I am nervous for this next chapter. I have become very comfortable with my life as a college student and the idea of change can be scary. Overall, I know that I have an amazing support system and that I am passionate about making an impact. As long as I am helping others, I know that I will be successful after graduation."
The College at Work
Katheryn Dietrich
Kellie Williams


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I Have Seen This Campaign Before
Filed under: 2016 Elections,24/7 News Reporting,Appeasement,Arab World,Cap and Trade,Capitalist,Carbon Credits,Civilization,Concealed Carry,Coverup,Debt,Debt Ceiling,Default on Debt,Democrat,Disarm People,Donald Trump,Ecology,Economic Fascism,Economic Growth,Economic Independence,Economy,Elections,Executive Order,Extreme Leftist,Extreme Right,Femenists,Foreign Policy,Global Climate Change,Green Energy,Guns,Hillary Clinton,Hyper-Inflation,Increased Spending,Internal Pressures,J Street,Jeb Bush,Jobs,Keynesian Economics,Leftist Pressures,Livable Wage,Main Stream Media,Media,Media Intimidation,Muslim World,Peace Now,Political Identity,Politically Correct,Politically Incorrect,Politics,President,Proportional Representation,Quantitative Easing,Secular Interests,Sequestration,Spending Cuts,Taxes,Ted Cruz,Unemployment,Union Interests,United States,Wealth — qwertster @ 2:13 AM
Tags: Campaign, Democrat, Donald Ttump, Every Party Elite of Both in on Coronation Plans, Hillary Clinton, Hillary Coronation, Only Person Hillary Might Defeat, Party Elites, Presidential Election, Replican, Trump ChosenbyMedia and Republican Committee
I have seen this exact style and lack of truth in an election built entirely on one overriding misdirection repeated ad-nauseum. I reserve the right to keep you guessing and in the dark, just as the media coverage of the American Presidential Election has and will continue as they have chosen and scripted their coverage for one side, Hillary Clinton's coronation. One might ask why there has been so little a cry from the Republican elite and leadership. The reason has much to do with their complete lack of pushback against Donald Trump's initial success while their golden candidate, Jeb Bush, completely crashed and burned without any Republican emergency response team to douse the flames. They were assisting and even secretly arranging in quiet ways Donald Trump's victory as this was necessitated for a Hillary Clinton victory in the general election. Any honest and readily supportable Republican candidate with the possible exception of Ted Cruz, unsurprisingly the sole Republican who had any hope of toppling the Trump nomination, would have beaten Hillary like a drum. That was the requirement the Republican Party power brokers delivered upon just as directed in the Hillary coronation directive handbook which everybody appears to be playing by except The Donald. Thankfully The Donald is extremely well adapted for the role of the unscripted wildcard.
There was an excerpt from the comedy show "Third Rock from the Sun" where John Lithgow's character boils over (normal for his character) about the election and the anguish mixed with insanity he suffers over how to decide through all the lies and confusion (see video below) and Jane Curtain's character quotes, rather loosely, Winston Churchill about the horror that is Democracy as a form of government. If you are a Lithgow fan, as am I, then you will love this. This is also unfortunately how all too many voters in America are likely feeling and this confusion does not stop at the shores, it extends to wherever people are involving this election into their lives. Unlike Lithgow, many will not be burdened with having to make that fateful choice; only Americans can be so cursed. Some have defined this election as between a crook and a megalomaniac. Well, it could always be worse; they could both be megalomaniacal crooks which some claim is also the case. Our solace is that even if we still resided in the United States, our state is the second most extreme such that there is no chance of countering the overwhelming majority which makes all predetermined. What makes this election so beyond most not overly familiar with American political theater and how most of the states are all but preordained to vote one party or the other with near 100% accuracy. What this produces is the election will rest on as few as five swing states to a maximum of a dozen potential swing states. As Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Florida alone could elect Hillary Clinton if she wins all three, the election may be all but decided early. If not then after Ohio, Illinois, and a remote Michigan swing will end all expectations as after that Colorado and New Mexico are unlikely to make the difference, but one can never be too sure. Imagine if it has been announced that Hillary will win and then, against all the odds, California goes for Trump. There would be a lot of news anchors with egg on their faces at that.
The nicest thing about the American election is that the tense and shrill back-and-forth screaming and accusations being exchanged blow for blow will all be decided within two and a half weeks. The less than nice thing is whoever wins will be the President of the United States for, at a minimum, four years. Whichever candidate prevails, the media will be filled with either criticisms or adulation every day from inauguration through their run for reelection. The one thing of which we can all be assured is that the next President of the United States will take office facing more than the usual set of challenges facing them immediately as they take office. The world has seen perilous times with ominous omens and exceedingly high threat indexes but rarely at the levels as all indicators press are rapidly approaching. The state of the world begs the question of why anybody would actually seek the Presidency at this time. The obvious answer would be either an inflated, larger than life ego or an overbearing feeling of being preordained and whose time has finally come though overdue. Looking at the two candidates we find that we have one of each, imagine that. Who could have imagined such an interesting election where only two personality types would seek the Presidency and then get both personalities? Usually one candidate appears so much more fitting the times and they rise to the office but here we have two. With both fitting one of two differing profiles, the voters will need to decide which candidate as well as which profile and then which is more necessary to face the coming difficulties and possible scenarios which will likely present themselves in the upcoming months and years.
This is not an election to envy the American voting public as if they were to choose poorly, the world will pay a horrific price, perhaps things which completely change the world as we know it today with massive change of the progressing of civilization and the laws by which we are governed. There are few points throughout history where the right person is in the right position when their world needs their type, style or quality of leadership. Even more unlikely has been the right person elected where they ward off a coming threat. Probably the most obvious example was British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain as having the worst possible qualities for leadership facing the rise of Nazi Germany. Fortunately the British made a better choice once they realized that a war for survival was upon them choosing Winston Churchill. We can only hope that the world does not face a repeat of such as what led to World War II. The world would be far better off avoiding any war which would sink any sizeable parts of the world if at all possible.
Centers of World Conflicts
There can be little doubt that the world is once again approaching another central pivoting point where a future for the foreseeable future will be determined. If one were to plot out a logical future, it would point to a failing of technology to prove decisive in a coming conflagration. The main and possibly only hope the advanced Western technological edge would have to preserve the underlying social structures of passivity, full equality, gender blending, sexual independence, complete tolerance and the abhorrence of the use of force is if their technology can circumvent the fierce religious observance and intractability following the strictest interpretations of their religious dogmas as possible, demanding the conquest and submission of all who are in any way different. Their strictness in observances leads to intrareligious inflexibility forcing rejection of those following even the slightest difference of interpretation or of historic views of the passing of leadership such as the detestations which existed in Christianity during the reformation. The world is shrinking in unprecedented ways and rapidity which is forcing the disparate religions, societies, governances, philosophies and every other predispositions that separate the varying formations of humanity closer and into competitions which forces clashes in every manner of difference possible. The resolutions of these conflicts will determine the future, or even if there is a future, of humanity. This makes every election worldwide and especially in the West, especially the United States as the flagship, and the manner of succession in undemocratic lands and the resolution of wars before their effects spread endangering other lands, as with Syria, and in such a manner as to advance peace and not more conflict. Bringing conflicts to an end and preventing future conflict while advancing intersocietal tolerance are the most important of the coming challenges we are going to face as a planet. Whoever can advance strong, flexible, determined, intelligent, intuitive leadership with an understanding of the needs and respects demanded by others and being capable of incorporating such in their negotiations and even more urgent and feverish emerging engagements and confrontations would prove to be the most intelligent of leaders. Such a leader would also be required to choose wise and capable advisors with diverse backgrounds so they can present the widest of potential venues and paths forward. As the ancient Chinese curse read, "May you live in interesting times," and we most certainly are doing exactly that.
Oh, and where have I seen this campaign before? In a comic book come television show then movie series, Batman. There was an election in Gotham City between Batman and Penguin. Penguin ran a campaign based on how you always saw him in the company of police while Batman was always in the company of arch villains asking, who would you prefer as Mayor, one who keeps company of the police or someone who is always in the company of arch villains and criminals? (see below) Plot killer, Penguin won the election, of course. The result, well, that is the question after every election, isn't it.
The Hillary Clinton Harrowed Conundrum
Filed under: Abortion,Afordable Healthcare Act,al-Aqsa Mosque,Alawite,Amalekites,Amnesty,Anti-Israel,Anti-Semitism,Anti-Zionist,Appease Islamic Interests,Appeasement,Arab Appeasement,Arab Authority,Arab Spring,Arab Winter,Arab World,Bashir al-Assad,Battery Power Tech,Blood Libel,Borders,Boycott,Building Freeze,CAFE Standards,Calaphate,Cap and Trade,Carbon Credits,China,Chinese Pressure,Civilization,Conflict Avoidnce,Covert Surveillance,Coverup,Debt,Default on Debt,Disarm People,Divestment,Drones,East Jerusalem,Ecology,Ecology Lobby,Economy,Equal Outcome,Eugenics,Euro,European Governments,European Pressure,European Union,Executive Order,Facial Recognition Software,Forced Solution,Foreign Funding,Foreign NGOs,Gaza,Gender Issues Lobby,Global Climate Change,Government,Government Health Care,Green Economy,Green Energy,Green Line,Gun Ban,Gun Control,Hamas,Hate,Health Care,Higher Prices,Hyper-Inflation,Illegal Immigration,Interest on Debt,Iranian Pressure,Islam,Islamic Pressure,Israel,Jihad,Jihad,Keynesian Economics,Land for Peace,Leftist Pressures,Livable Wage,Mahmoud Abbas,Maniacal Fear,Mediterranean Sea,Middle East,Minimum Wage,Muslim Brotherhood,Muslim World,National Debt,North Korean Pressure,Obama Care,Old City,Organization of the Islamic Conference,Palestinian Authority,Palestinian Pressures,Political Identity,Pre-Conditions,President Morsi,Quantitative Easing,Regulations,Right of Return,Rioters Pressure,Sanctions (BDS),Secular Interests,Single Payer Plan,Socialism,Syria,Taxes,Temple Mount,Terror,Unemployment,Union Interests,United Nations Presures,United States State Department,Waqf,Warrantless Searches,World Government,World Opinion — qwertster @ 2:35 AM
Tags: Corruption, Dismal Reputation, Hillary Clinton, Putin, Syria, Universal Mistrust, Weak Leadership
There has been near constant accusations and bloviating all about Donald Trump's presumed short fuse. These attacks have come furious and provokingly and these are being used as chum in the water for the mainstream media to feast on; and believe us they have been coordinating and laying aside above the fold for every leading news-story; or should we say political editorial. These salacious assaults on Donald Trump would be far more convincing and less conniving if they were to include even a hint on Hillary Clinton's short fuse and ill-tempered side which were a driving force behind much of what has displayed her being ill-fit to be the President of the most powerful nation on the planet. When Donald Trump has an emotional outburst, his response is verbal and short-lived. Hillary Clinton is known to carry forth for the remainder of life, hers or her newly acquired target. When Bill Clinton lost his reelection election she famously called the Christian Campaign Manager a "F—-g Jew B——d." She became the wounded warrior and claimed that a "Vast Right Wing Conspiracy" was behind the accusations of sexual misconduct of her husband. Beyond that, Hillary took charge of the intimidation, belittling, slandering, character assassination, media control, story massaging and sundry miscellaneous attacks targeting any and all allegations and accusations against Bill Clinton thus assuring that no more women, or bimbos as the White House labeled those coming forward, would be coming up with any additional accusations or verifications against the President. This was a well-coordinated assault just as well planned and executed as was the campaign to get out the vote except this was a suppress the evidence effort.
Hillary Clinton on the Prowl for Voters
If this was the extent of Hillary Clinton perfidy, there would be little evidence of her unsuitability for the office of President of the United States. Hillary claims how she has always been so transparent in all her actions that the public can trust that all her actions will be entirely open and able to be monitored by all who are interested. Apparently Hillary Clinton has completely forgotten her efforts at designing her own version of a healthcare system. Her committee contained some of the best minds in the progressive movement plus the fly in the ointment, Hillary Clinton. The public was left in the dark. Congress was left in the dark. The media, including the leftist media, was left guessing, being fed tempting morsels but actually only gristle and no red meat. The universe was led on the merry path of flowers and unicorns with all the wonderful reports of total free coverage with almost no additional costs. Perhaps the promises of everything for nothing proved to be the straw that broke the healthcare back. When Hillary Clinton and companies' plan was presented to Congress, even the democrat faithful headed for the hills escaping as fast as they could. Her produced healthcare plan was such a monstrous and unwieldly conglomeration of regulations, legal demands, meticulous record keeping and required filings with the Federal Government that all who read the plan were flabbergasted. Commentary from numerous sources inside and outside, but close to the manners in which the plan was hatched, told of Hillary Clinton riding roughshod over all contrary opinions doing exactly as she thought best. This kind of leadership, totalitarian leadership, had actually driven a number of leading surgeons and physicians from participating or even signing the plan sent to Congress. They told of fiery outbreaks replete with profanity at some of the mildest of suggestions or alternative proposals where Hillary Clinton appeared to have lost all sense of reason.
Finally, there were numerous reports and even complaints filed against Hillary Clinton for abusive language, abusive treatment, violent outbursts and some workers fearing for their safety. These complaints and requests for transfer or alternate position from people who had nearly a lifetime of service climbing to reach a White House assignment and to then risk never making it back to their former privileged position was an acceptable sacrifice to be rid of Hillary Clinton. All of these point to Hillary Clinton not only having an explosive temper but also a short fuse with a vengefully long memory. Such was a temperament of throwing items, oft of value, for periods as long lasting as an entire day and even lasting through the next day or beyond as well. Some who have been found to get on the wrong side of Hillary Clinton have related that despite attempts to settle their differences or even apologize have failed dashed on the craggy cliffs which make up the beach at shoreline Clinton. Hillary Clinton has proven herself to be a person with a malleable core where beliefs come to die especially after receiving poor poll ratings. Taking the sum of these parts produces a picture of an unbalanced individual whose coworkers fear working anywhere near her spheres of influence.
Many have spoken similarly of Donald Trump, but from most appearances his tantrums have been largely bluster with little threat of physical violence, at least before the October Surprise of crass claims of sexual violence. Given the claims of violent actions, we would feel safer with a Donald Trump Presidency than a Hillary Clinton Presidency. Unfortunately, elections remain out by three weeks and it is still anybody's election to win or lose. Donald Trump will be facing sexual harassment charges most of which are likely people coming forth for their moment of fame. Hillary Clinton, on the other hand, is facing a truly deep character fault which will have a direct effect on her Presidency. As to which one is most likely to get the United States embroiled into a war, it would be Hillary Clinton with her establishment of a "No Fly Zone" probably on Aleppo could escalate with the downing of a Russian fighter jet leading to a direct confrontation. That is but a single potential point of contention where a single miscalculation could lead to great problems soon thereafter. That alone is food for thought.
Nation State or International Integration
Filed under: Amnesty,Assimilation,Baseline Budget,Bipartisan Support,Blood Libel,Border violence,Britain,Capitalism,China,Civilization,Clan,Congress,Coverup,Debt,Economic Fascism,Economic Independence,Economy,Education,Employment,Equal Opportunity,Equal Outcome,Eugenics,Euro,Euro Zone,Europe,European Governments,European Union,Executive Order,Failed State,Financial Crisis,Foreign Aid,Foreign Trade,France,General Assembly,Germany,Government,Government Control,Greece,Hate,Health Care,History,Humanitarian Aid,Hyper-Inflation,Illegal Immigration,Immigration,Inflated Spending,Inflation,International Court of Justice,International Criminal Court,International Politics,ISIS,Italy,Jobs,Keynesian Economics,Livable Wage,MENA,Middle East and North Africa,Minimum Wage,Nationalist Pressures,NATO,Organization of Islamic Cooperation,Panic Policies,Political Identity,Quantitative Easing,Regulations,Repatriation,Reserve Currency,Security Council,Sequestration,Shared Currency,Socialism,Spending Cuts,Standard of Living,Syria,Taxes,Threat of War,Trade,Tribe,Unemployment,Union Interests,United Nations,United Nations Presures,United States,World Opinion,World Pressures — qwertster @ 2:36 AM
Tags: All for All, Best Stagnated, Capitalism, Decline, Demand Goods, Effort Meaningless, Effort Rewarded, Euro, European Union, From Each According to Their Ability, Germany, Greece, High Needs, Internationalism, Leaders Lead, Lew Ability, Nationalism, No Ability, Produce Nothing, Progress, Socialism, To Each According to Their Need, Welfare for Nations
The election this fall is not about Islamic State, al-Qaeda, Taliban, or other security. It will not be about most of the items the media is talking about. What it is about is the economy, jobs, employment, wages, and everything about the economy but not in the obvious ways being discussed. Where will this next Presidency balance? The main item is which way does it benefit the United States most, continuing internationalism or returning to nationalism.
The media and most politicians are pushing this global economy, global integration, global cooperation, global solutions while hiding a dirty little secret, they are selling global as the solution while having the United States and the advanced nations pay for everything while equalizing the global playing field, whatever that means. We had a debate last night and we heard more of the same. Clinton claimed more globalism and taxes on the rich and Trump tried and may have meant to sound like Reagan. What they were not telling the people is that Clinton was using the same internationalism where the world matters more than the United States so in order to equalize the world the United States and the advanced world has to bleed to allow the rest of the world to catch up and then all will be well and how wonderful the world can be. Trump is actually claiming that every nation take their own and put them first and attempt to allow the nations who are leading the world to continue to be the leaders and then assist other nations in making gains and follow and give them access to advances as they are able to implement these advances. So, which way will work best. That depends on which nations one decides should be permitted to advance their own interests than to share with the world.
Internationalism is wonderful if your country is on the receiving end and not so wonderful if you are being bled to bring the other nations up to their level. The problem with that are many of these nations that are presumably being given advances in order to raise them to the same level are led by dictators who are enriching themselves and not making their nations any closer to the advanced world as that does not directly benefit them. What these dictators are not being intelligent about is that had they advanced their nation they would have enriched themselves in the process. They are not even thinking nationally rather than internationally. Internationally is a recipe for disaster as it inhibits the leaders from leading and demands that the least efficient be granted the largess while the leaders are placed in financial straight-jackets. Internationalists place a stop sign where all nations must park their own business and park their nation by the side of the highway and wait for the rest of the world to reach an equal position. The problem is that many of these nations, which they are waiting for to reach the same point, are themselves broken and not gaining and will never catch up as they are not even making any effort to reach the next level. Internationalism believes that making all nations equal will solve the world's problems and inequalities, despite it not ever bringing the rest of the nations to first world status.
World Map with Borders Deemphasized
Nationalism is the opposite view which allows each nation to advance at their own rate and still demands that the first world assist the developing nation but does not demand they try to make equal those nations so dysfunctional that they are the closest thing to an economic black hole as can be found. Nationalism rewards each nation for their efforts and allows each nation to gain at their own speed. Allowing the leaders to lead gives other nations a target and proven path they can emulate but without national gain by the wealthiest nations to blaze the trail for the others to follow. The basis for nationalism is it allows each nation to set their own monetary policies and is against unifying monetary policies as such a system is flawed and destroys the lesser productive nations which has been proven by the European Union Euro which has benefited Germany while leaving Greece behind. Nationalism allows each country to do the best for their own people and society. That does not mean that nations which are developing should not be aided and it is in the interest of the most advanced nations to assist those nations who are developing and making the right choices and allowing them to benefit from the experiences of those nations who have traveled those roads before them. But those nations which are completely dysfunctional cannot be assisted as long as their governance is broken and until the nation decides to change their dysfunctions there is no reason to throw good money after bad.
Internationalism is a wonderful, feel-good policy filled of kind words and low on actual results. Internationalism demands that all nations be made to give according to their ability and the funds are granted to countries according to their needs. Internationalism demands open borders allowing free immigration with no limits or criminal and other background checks or other limits or restrictions. The policies sound as if they will allow all nations equal opportunities in word while defining this policy as bringing all nations up to the same level and making things fair for all nations. The truth is that this is accomplished by tearing down the greater nations while benefitting some of the least deserving nations who are corrupt criminal enterprises more than they are actual functional nations. Rewarding the worst while impeding the best prevents progress and will constantly restrict progress and the discoveries of new technologies and new systems which would result in assisting those nations seeking a better future to implement the proven methods. To get an idea on the difficulties caused by internationalism there is a perfect example which we can observe, the European Union. How has that equal currency been working for over half of Europe who are not Germany or Britain but are Greece, Spain, Italy and even France and many of the former Warsaw Nations. The common currency has taken the small differences of economic production where the agrarian economies which work on a different production level having to survive with the same policies of the industrial and other highly developed nations.
World Map and Relative Wealth of Nations
Permitting each nation to perform at their highest level and to their full potential will set target paths for other nation to follow along the proven road set by the highest performing nations. Progress is the fuel that raises all nations in turn. Progress provides the test paths and allows developing nations to benefit from their more advanced nations but only when they decide to advance. No nation could be forced to grow their economy and advance their national infrastructure and when a nation refuses to advance itself then forcing the rest of the world to wait for such a nation to reach an equative level is ridiculous and counterproductive. Internationalism is wonderful idea if it could function as promised. Nationalism is the dirty sounding word which is accused of being selfish because it benefits the wealthy nations and prevents developing nations from ever reaching the top level. The obvious fault is that accusation is completely false. If nationalism prevented up and coming nations from ever becoming the top nations were true then China would have ruled the world, Spain would be a leading nation, Greece would be the top nation in Europe, Egypt would be the most advanced nation in construction and engineering, Persia would still control East-West trade routes, Portugal would be a great power with colonies throughout the world, and the Hittites would be the great power in the norther worlds of Europe through to Turkey. Top nations change and have changed throughout the history of the world while nationalism was the rule of the world. Internationalism has caused massive stagnation as the world as a whole is not permitted to advance because the leading nations are held back presumably for the benefit of the lesser nations. This will always be a supported philosophy as there will always be more developing and undeveloped nations than leading nations as only a few nations will be in the top ten percent, which is why it is referred to as the top ten percent. Internationalism has been working so well over the past twenty to thirty years since 1979 while the rest of history was pathetic and without economic advancement advances by all nations and we are still using salt as a currency, aren't we? The progress from salt as money to salt as something on almost every dinner table was a result from nationalism, not internationalism.
Compare the two with eyes open and the preferable form, open competition or controlled advancement, the choice could provide opportunity or a slow decadence and eventual decimation. Internationalism is welfare on an international scale much in the form of the Soviet Union and the initial Plymouth Rock Colony which would have starved if not for the Native Americans who grew and hunted for surplus for the winter and had sufficient to teach and feed the Pilgrims. After that experience of all get all they need, while most gave nothing in effort, they introduced a new program where each family kept a percentage of what they grew and the remainder was shared, the amounts of food skyrocketed. That is the balance which nationalism can produce, the most advanced achieve at their highest level and those developing nations learn from those leaders and in time some will replace them as they eventually falter. That is the secret of effort based economies, the people or nations at the top changes with time when another makes decisions which make them even more profitable as the other sinks under likely bureaucratic waste. You decide.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Sesame seeds add a nutty taste and a delicate, almost invisible, crunch to many Asian dishes. They are also the main ingredients in tahini (sesame seed paste) and the wonderful Middle Eastern sweet called halvah. They are available throughout the year.
Sesame seeds may be the oldest condiment known to man. They are highly valued for their oil which is exceptionally resistant to rancidity. "Open sesame"—the famous phrase from the Arabian Nights—reflects the distinguishing feature of the sesame seed pod, which bursts open when it reaches maturity. The scientific name for sesame seeds is Sesamun indicum.
Not only are sesame seeds a very good source of manganese and copper, but they are also a good source of calcium, magnesium, iron, phosphorus, vitamin B1, zinc and dietary fiber. In addition to these important nutrients, sesame seeds contain two unique substances: sesamin and sesamolin. Both of these substances belong to a group of special beneficial fibers called lignans, and have been shown to have a cholesterol-lowering effect in humans, and to prevent high blood pressure and increase vitamin E supplies in animals. Sesamin has also been found to protect the liver from oxidative damage.
Rich In Beneficial Minerals
Sesame seeds are a very good source of copper and a good source of magnesium and calcium. Just a quarter-cup of sesame seeds supplies 74.0% of the daily value for copper, 31.6% of the DV for magnesium, and 35.1% of the DV for calcium. This rich assortment of minerals translates into the following health benefits:
Copper Provides Relief for Rheumatoid Arthritis
Copper is known for its use in reducing some of the pain and swelling of rheumatoid arthritis. Copper's effectiveness is due to the fact that this trace mineral is important in a number of antiinflammatory and antioxidant enzyme systems. In addition, copper plays an important role in the activity of lysyl oxidase, an enzyme needed for the cross-linking of collagen and elastin—the ground substances that provide structure, strength and elasticity in blood vessels, bones and joints.
Magnesium Supports Vascular and Respiratory Health
Studies have supported magnesium's usefulness in:
Preventing the airway spasm in asthma
Lowering high blood pressure, a contributing factor in heart attack, stroke, and diabetic heart disease
Preventing the trigeminal blood vessel spasm that triggers migraine attacks
Restoring normal sleep patterns in women who are experiencing unpleasant symptoms associated with menopause
Calcium Helps Prevent Colon Cancer, Osteoporosis, Migraine and PMS
In recent studies, calcium has been shown to:
Help protect colon cells from cancer-causing chemicals
Help prevent the bone loss that can occur as a result of menopause or certain conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis
Help prevent migraine headaches in those who suffer from them
Reduce PMS symptoms during the luteal phase (the second half) of the menstrual cycle
There is a little bit of controversy about sesame seeds and calcium, because there is a substantial difference between the calcium content of hulled versus unhulled sesame seeds. When the hulls remain on the seeds, one tablespoon of sesame seeds will contains about 88 milligrams of calcium. When the hulls are removed, this same tablespoon will contain about 37 milligrams (about 60% less). Tahini—a spreadable paste made from ground sesame seeds—is usually made from hulled seeds (seeds with the hulls removed, called kernels), and so it will usually contain this lower amount of calcium.
The term "sesame butter" can sometimes refer to tahini made from sesame seed kernels, or it can also be used to mean a seed paste made from whole sesame seeds—hull included.
Although the seed hulls provide an additional 51 milligrams of calcium per tablespoon of seeds, the calcium found in the hulls appears in large part to be found in the form of calcium oxalate. This form of calcium is different than the form found in the kernels, and it is a less absorbable form of calcium. So even though a person would be likely to get more calcium from sesame seeds or sesame seed butter that contained the hulls, there is a question about how much more calcium would be involved. It would defintely be less than the 51 additional milligrams found in the seed hulls. And there would also, of course, be a question about the place of hull-containing sesame seeds on an oxalate-restricted diet.
Zinc for Bone Health
Another reason for older men to make zinc-rich foods such as sesame seeds a regular part of their healthy way of eating is bone mineral density. Although osteoporosis is often thought to be a disease for which postmenopausal women are at highest risk, it is also a potential problem for older men. Almost 30% of hip fractures occur in men, and 1 in 8 men over age 50 will have an osteoporotic fracture. A study of 396 men ranging in age from 45-92 that was published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found a clear correlation between low dietary intake of zinc, low blood levels of the trace mineral, and osteoporosis at the hip and spine.
Sesame Seeds' Phytosterols Lower Cholesterol
Phytosterols are compounds found in plants that have a chemical structure very similar to cholesterol, and when present in the diet in sufficient amounts, are believed to reduce blood levels of cholesterol, enhance the immune response and decrease risk of certain cancers.
Phytosterols beneficial effects are so dramatic that they have been extracted from soybean, corn, and pine tree oil and added to processed foods, such as "butter"-replacement spreads, which are then touted as cholesterol-lowering "foods." But why settle for an imitation "butter" when Mother Nature's nuts and seeds are a naturally rich source of phytosterols—and cardio-protective fiber, minerals and healthy fats as well?
In a study in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, researchers published the amounts of phytosterols present in nuts and seeds commonly eaten in the United States.
Sesame seeds had the highest total phytosterol content (400-413 mg per 100 grams), and English walnuts and Brazil nuts the lowest (113 mg/100grams and 95 mg/100 grams). (100 grams is equivalent to 3.5 ounces.) Of the nuts and seeds typically consumed as snack foods, pistachios and sunflower seeds were richest in phytosterols (270-289 mg/100 g), followed by pumpkin seeds (265 mg/100 g).
Sesame seeds are tiny, flat oval seeds with a nutty taste and a delicate, almost invisible crunch. They come in a host of different colors, depending upon the variety, including white, yellow, black and red.
Sesame seeds are highly valued for their high content of sesame oil, an oil that is very resistant to rancidity. Sesame seeds are the main ingredients in both tahini and the Middle Eastern sweet treat, halvah.
Open sesame—the famous phrase from the Arabian Nights—reflects the distinguishing feature of the sesame seed pod, which bursts open when it reaches maturity. The scientific name for sesame seeds is Sesamun indicum.
While sesame seeds have been grown in tropical regions throughout the world since prehistoric times, traditional myths hold that their origins go back even further. According to Assyrian legend, when the gods met to create the world, they drank wine made from sesame seeds.
These seeds were thought to have first originated in India and were mentioned in early Hindu legends. In these legends, tales are told in which sesame seeds represent a symbol of immortality. From India, sesame seeds were introduced throughout the Middle East, Africa and Asia.
Sesame seeds were one of the first crops processed for oil as well as one of the earliest condiments. The addition of sesame seeds to baked goods can be traced back to ancient Egyptian times from an ancient tomb painting that depicts a baker adding the seeds to bread dough.
Sesame seeds were brought to the United States from Africa during the late 17th century. Currently, the largest commercial producers of sesame seeds include India, China and Mexico.
Sesame seeds are generally available in prepackaged containers as well as bulk bins. Just as with any other food that you can purchase in the bulk section, make sure that the bins containing the sesame seeds are covered and that the store has a good product turnover to ensure maximal freshness.
Whether purchasing sesame seeds in bulk or in a packaged container, make sure there is no evidence of moisture. Additionally, since they have a high oil content and can become rancid, smell those in bulk bins to ensure that they smell fresh.
Unhulled sesame seeds can be stored in an airtight container in a cool, dry, dark place. Once the seeds are hulled, they are more prone to rancidity, so they should then be stored in the refrigerator or freezer.
Use the traditional macrobiotic seasoning, gomasio, to enliven your food. You can either purchase gomasio at a health food store or make your own by using a mortar and pestle. Simply mix together one part dry roasted sea salt with twelve parts dry roasted sesame seeds.
Sesame seeds add a great touch to steamed broccoli that has been sprinkled with lemon juice.
Spread tahini (sesame paste) on toasted bread and either drizzle with honey for a sweet treat or combine with miso for a savory snack.
Combine toasted sesame seeds with rice vinegar, soy sauce and crushed garlic and use as a dressing for salads, vegetables and noodles.
SEE our Organic nursery in Central Florida


MANILA, Philippines (Updated) — Camarines Sur 1st District Rep. Rolando Andaya Jr. formally yielded his majority leadership to Capiz 2nd District Rep. Fredenil Castro whom he described "our best choice" for the position.
As anticipated, Andaya motioned to nominate Castro as the new majority leader of the chamber during Monday afternoon's plenary session. The motion was approved without objection.
The Camarines Sur congressman also moved for a change of referral of the inquiry into budget anomalies from the rules panel to the committee on appropriations, which he would now chair.
"In the meantime, I would like to nominate my first, original choice as Majority Leader, the great but gentle Fredenil 'Fred' Castro of the 2nd District of Capiz as the new Chairman of the Committee on Rules," Andaya said.
"He may have gone to the wrong law school but still, I nominate this famed law professor, this feared trial litigator, this bemedaled sportsman, this veteran lawmaker, whose sartorial style is as elegant as his oratory, as the Chairman of the Committee on Rules," he added.
READ: Who is new House Majority Leader Fredenil Castro?


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Home»Offsite: Akhil Sharma at NYS Writers Institute
Offsite: Akhil Sharma at NYS Writers Institute
Indian-American fiction writer Akhil Sharma in the Assembly Hall, Campus Center on the University at Albany's uptown campus.
Akhil Sharma, "a supernova in the galaxy of young, talented Indian writers" (Publishers Weekly), received the PEN/Hemingway Award and the Whiting Writers' Award for his first novel, An Obedient Father
(2000). Set in New Delhi, the novel tells the story of a single mother
who lives with her young daughter in a tiny apartment with her own
father, a corrupt civil servant who sexually abused her throughout her
childhood. Writing in the New York Times, Richard Eder called
it, "[A] cunning, dismaying and beautifully conceived portrait of a
corrupt man in a corrupt society," and said, "An Obedient Father is hard, as well as rich and enthralling."
Tuesday, April 22, 2014 - 8:00pm
12203 Albany
Family Life (Hardcover)
By Akhil Sharma
Published: W. W. Norton & Company - April 7th, 2014


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Next!!!
We're off to the Central Jersey Beer Fest today. But before leaving, it's worth taking a few minutes to point out what's 'round the corner.
New Jersey Breweries book signing, with Lew Bryson and Mark Haynie
When: 5-7 p.m., Friday Sept. 26th
Where: Flying Fish Brewing, Onley Avenue, Cherry Hill
Wallet: Free, unless you're buying a book, which you should if you don't have it already (Here's a thought, buy an extra copy, mail it to Governor Corzine's office, slip in a note: Now is the time to revise New Jersey's arcane laws concerning beer. Signed, New Jersey Craft Beer Drinkers.)
Last time we stopped by FF, they had their 2008 Oktoberfish on tap for the brewery tours. That's reason enough to swing by. But, seriously, on the heels of Lew and Mark's book (released last July), it's a perfect time to embrace all that the Garden State has by way of breweries and brewpubs, and to lend a voice or show some solidarity in the hopes that the industry can continue to grow.
By the by, Lew and Mark will be signing copies from 1-3 p.m. at Borders on Route 73 in Marlton the next day. See Lew talk about the book here.
Oktoberfest in Philadelphia
When: 1-5 p.m. (special noon VIP tasting) Saturday, Sept. 27th
Where: 23rd Street Armory (in Center City)
Wallet: $45 for general admission. $15 for designated drivers. $75 for the VIP tasting
This event (see more details here) fills the void left by the city's loss of the Oktoberfest at Ludwig's, the German restaurant on Sansom Street. (It was sold. High Point Brewing was often a part of the festivities at Ludwig's.) Flying Fish will be among the 50-plus beers being poured at the armory event. Proceeds go toward Philly Beer Week 2009 (March 6-15), and the breast cancer research drive Mugs for Jugs. Get a Maßkrug and help out a good cause. Seems like mugs and jugs have long association with beer, something not lost on Frank Zappa. (Rest in peace, Frankie, you're very much missed.)
Basil T's-Toms River
When: 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 3
Where: Basil T's Brew Pub & Italian Grill, Hooper Avenue and Bay Avenue, Toms River
Wallet: $65, all inclusive, so you get food and brew
Music: Firehouse Polka Band
We had hoped to hit this last year, but had a work commitment that meant getting up with the chickens the next day, something that a night on the town doesn't mesh well with. So we regrettably had to pass. This year, we hope to be there, to sample the Oktoberfest and catch the mädchen in dirndls.
The dinner is hosted by beer writer Kurt Epps and brewer Dave Hoffmann. As many people know, Basil's-Toms River is Dave's moonlighting gig, an easy trip down the Garden State Parkway from his mainstay of Climax Brewing in Union County.
River Horse Oktoberfest
When: Noon-5 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, Oct.11-12
Where: Back lot of the brewery, 80 Lambert Lane
Wallet: Pay as you go event
Music: 519 South Band
Oktoberfest 2007 was the first event that Glenn Bernabeo and Chris Walsh had at their disposal to start selling the new image of River Horse. They'd only taken over a month before as the new owners. And they did quite a job.
And they've been on a roll since: new beer styles coming out of the brewery, more events, a bigger presence around the Garden State and in neighboring Pennsylvania.
Last year's RH Oktoberfest drew a healthy crowd, as did the two-day festivities at the brewery during ShadFest. This year's fall festival should be on your calendar. And, as always, when you're finished on the Jersey banks of the Delaware, take a moment to hit Triumph's brewpub in New Hope. Locally made beer on two sides of the river within walking distance really makes this area a special treat.
Garden State Craft Brewers Guild OktoberFestival
When: 1-5 p.m., Sunday Oct. 19
Where: Newark Bears Riverfront Stadium, Newark
Wallet: $40 in advance; $45 day of festival. See Web site for details
First things first. Yes, this is on a Sunday during football season. But the Giants game will be on the Jumbotron at Bears stadium, so you won't have to miss Big Blue. The Eagles have a bye week so you're good there, too. The N.Y. Bretts, er, uh, Jets are on the road in Oakland, with a 4:15 p.m. kickoff, so that might be the only wrinkle with this fest being on a Sunday (unless you have tickets to the Giants game, like friend of the blog Tom E. does. Enjoy the game, Tom).
Anyway, we've run into a lot of North Jersey people (just last weekend, in fact) who mention they'd like to see a guild festival closer to their neck of the woods. Happily, here's the answer. And if you noticed on the guild's Web site, there will be cask ale, in addition to the Märzens. That alone might be reason to go.
Posted by Jeff Linkous at 1:57 AM 0 comments
Labels: Basil T's-Toms River, Garden State Craft Brewers Guild, New Jersey Breweries, Philadelphia Oktoberfest, River Horse
Don't forget Andy
Shame on us.
We nearly forgot to point out that Andy's Corner Bar in Bogota is one of the places in New Jersey that does Oktoberfest right.
And that happens on Saturday, Sept. 20th, which as we know is the start of Oktoberfest in Munich (we'll be in Woodbridge, good beer there, too. Has us cursing the scheduling conflict. See what we mean when we said September is a busy beer month?)
High Point and their 2008 Ramstein Octoberfest (yes, they spell it with a C) will be a featured brew at Andy's, with the oak barrel tapped at 2 p.m. Ramstein beers are a fixture at Andy's, have been for quite a while, in fact.
Of course there's a German menu – the best wursts you can find, plus all the side dishes and trimmings that keep you happy. (Food will be served from 2-7 p.m., while the beer will flow until the 2 a.m. closing, or of course, like any bar must do, last call in anticipation of closing time.)
Andy's is well know for its impressive beer list – it's really one of the best beer bars in New Jersey – and on Saturday, the 16 taps (10 inside, six outside) will pour only Oktoberfest or pumpkin ales.
Here's a taste of the beer list ...
German: Ayinger, Erdinger, Hofbrau and Spaten. Trivia tidbit (via Wikipedia, so yeah, take it for what it's worth): The Hofbräuhaus in Munich inspired a worldwide famous song, and the phrase "eins, zwei, g'suffa" ... Hmm, we always thought it was a count of three, but anyway ... There's also Weihenstephaner Fest in bottles.
Our favorite O-fest: Ramstein. High Point makes great beer, and they're good people.
Credit where credit's due: Samuel Adam's Octoberfest. Some folks think Boston Beer has gotten too big, but let's not forget Jim Koch's doggedness in creating a beer brand 20-plus years ago that remains a big part of the rising tide that still floats a lot of microbrewer boats.
Regionally brewed festbiers: Sly Fox, Lancaster.
Smashing (good) pumpkins: Weyerbacher Imperial Pumpkin Ale, Dogfish Head Punkin Ale.
Aufwiedersehen! Tschüss! und Mach's gut!
Labels: Andy's Corner Bar, New Jersey Beer Bars, Oktoberfest
Central Jersey Beer Fest 2.0
It's back, it's bigger, and yeah, as all promos for sequels boast, better than ever.
The Ws and the H
What: Second Annual Central Jersey Beer Fest
When: 1-5 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 20th (Rain date is the 27th)
Where: Parker Press Park in Woodbridge
Why: It's for charity; plus it's one of Woodbridge's Main Street events
Weather: As of now, the forecast is picture-perfect: sunny in the mid-70s
How much: Twenty bucks. Tickets are limited (Phone number is 732-634-2929)
What you get: A souvenir glass and unlimited sampling (which means, you can enjoy small pours of the brews; however, don't get drunk or be dickish. That will get you – rightfully so – shown the door. The 2007 event was family friendly and commendably free of bad behavior; help keep it that way)
Hungry? Yes, there will be food vendors (plus live music)
Last year's inaugural drew 650 people, depsite only four featured breweries: JJ Bittings (the event organizer), Climax Brewing (Roselle Park), Pizzeria Uno (Metuchen/Woodbridge) and the Tun Tavern (Atlantic City). It was a crowd pleaser, answering a thirst for a fall beer festival in the Garden State. (Watch video of the 2007 fest.)
This year, the lineup has doubled, with Jersey brewers Cricket Hill (Fairfield) and River Horse (Lambertville) and Boak Beverage (Pompton Lakes), joining the returning 2007 lineup.
Brian Boak, a familiar face and volunteer at High Point Brewing (Butler), started Boak Beverage on the strength of winning top honors in the New Jersey State Fair homebrew contest a few years back and the fact that plenty of people liked his beer. High Point contract brews for Brian, and he self-distributes in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. This is his first festival, and he'll feature his core brands, Monster Mash Imperial Stout (the state fair winner) and his Belgian turn, Two Blind Monks.
Rounding out the beer lineup are Weyerbacher Brewing (Easton, Pa.) and Hunterdon Distributors, which will bring draft and bottled beers from out west: Lagunitas, Boulder Brewing, Stone, Rogue and Flying Dog, and Smuttynose from the Granite State.
Point of order
That latter part of the list raises the question, is this a Jersey brewer fest? Yes and no. Yes, in that the foundation of the festival is made up of Jersey-based brewers, and no, since this fest is independent of the Garden State Craft Brewers Guild (although five of the home state brewers are guild members). The guild will hold a fall festival at the Newark Bears stadium on Oct. 19th (that's a Sunday; more about that one soon).
OK enough parsing. The bottom line is, version 2.0 of the Central Jersey Fest grew, fattened up and looks to easily outdo the inaugural version.
We chatted briefly with August Lightfoot, brewer at JJ Bitting brewpub (which is a stone's throw from the park), who said he's bringing his 2008 Märzen (it's not on tap at the pub yet, hint, hint), an imperial IPA inspired by the WHALES homebrew club, his raspberry wheat and a standby keg of porter.
Some more styles to expect: Tim Kelly of the Tun Tavern plans to bring a Belgian wheat, possibly a pumpkin spice ale (it was being filtered on Tuesday), and an IPA dry-hopped with Jersey-fresh Cascade and Nugget hops (grown by Tim's friends, Ray Gourley and Kathy Haney).
Labels: Central Jersey Beer Fest, Climax Brewing, Cricket Hill, JJ Bitting Brewing, Pizzeria Uno, River Horse, Tun Tavern, Weyerbacher, Woodbridge
Ein Prosit, Ramstein
Gemütlichkeit (geh MOOT' lik KITE'): noun. Geniality; friendliness. ORIGIN mid 19th cent.: German.
We'll get back to the deutsch in a minute. First things first.
You know you've hit on a good idea when you see someone else doing it.
This weekend was a busy one for New Jersey beer lovers: Pizzeria Uno's cask ale event and High Point Brewing's debut of its Ramstein Oktoberfest 2008 falling on the same day.
We tried to figure out how to do both equally, but alas, there was no easy solution, since we had planned to do some coverage of Ramstein, and it was 45 minutes away, along the Morris-Passaic County line.
We ended up spending a very short time at Uno, in Metuchen, or Woodbridge, depending on how you want to map it – and believe us, we really, really, really wish it weren't this way, because cask-conditioned beer simply cannot be beat; it is to die for – then hit the Parkway-78-287 combination to arrive in Butler in time for the High Point/Ramstein open house. (That's a shot of the casks at Uno.)
But we weren't the only ones.
Halfway into the Ramstein event, we looked up and saw a couple who had been sitting to our right at the bar at Uno, just an hour earlier.
Meet Fred and Doris Kirch of Freehold, regulars at Uno and followers of the High Point/Ramstein brand as well.
Fred said they had been anticipating the release of Uno's Oktoberfest; hence their stop there about noon. But they also wanted to make a return visit to High Point. So they doubled up on the day. Like we did.
We feel validated. Great minds … yada, yada, yada.
But at the same time, we seriously wished we could have made a day of Uno's event. We sampled some kick-ass smoked porter from Captain Lawrence Brewing, and did an obligatory turn on a cask version of Climax ESB. (Dave Hoffmann makes great beer, and when we say obligatory, we mean how could we pass it up? Also, Dave, we stopped at Liquor Mart for your Oktoberfest, but they hadn't received it yet. We'll be calling.) Sigh, too much to pack into a day.
Take-home beer
We will say this, Uno's Oktoberfest and Ike's IPA were our take-home beers. Uno brewer Mike Sella turned in an excellent Märzen, and if you're anywhere near the Woodbridge-Metuchen-Edison area, you'd be crazy to not stop at Uno for a pint or some take-home while it lasts. (Seriously, Mike nailed it; this is good beer.)
As for Ike's IPA … If you're into assertive IPAs that still answer with malt, then this beer will make you quite happy. It's hoppy, but drinkable, flavorful without being coarse, like some takes on IPA can be nowadays. Plus, it leaves a nice hop smack on your lips. And the best thing, it's one of Uno's flagship beers, so odds are you will find it on tap anytime you stop by. Which you should.
Meanwhile, in Butler
Märzens are among our favorite beers, and the Ramstein event has become one we've calendared. High Point's Oktoberfest (6% ABV, and yeah, we know their tap handles spell it Octoberfest) is among the best we've tried. (Last year, at Deutsche Club of Clark, we got to sample some unfiltered, golden Paulaner Oktoberfest from two oak barrel's worth flown in from Munich.) Of course, German beers are their focus, but High Point never disappoints. But alas, the Oktoberfest is only available on draft (check with the brewery for locations).
Greg Zaccardi, High Point's founder, says the event drew 185 people, the largest crowd for this open house. HP went through six kegs of its Märzen, as the legions queued up with their growlers.
Gemütlichkeit
Back to the deustch. Like the beer, there was plenty of conviviality, the social part that is beer, the Gemütlichkeit.
Food is part of that, and the volunteer-prepared food spread at High Point's open house was enough to spoil you.
So, some shout-outs. First to Karen Ontell (at left, with her mom) for that food and the hard work that went into creating it. Great job, Karen. (Remember, she does theme catering; reach her at kontell@optonline.net)
And to the Nutley crew of Thomas Pluck and John Milkewicz, loyal Ramsteiners, who've made the trek to Butler for open houses several times before (like last month for the eisbock. That's Thomas in the olive green shirt below, John in red.)
Thomas is the keeper of the Pluckyoutoo blog. Movies, beer, hotdogs and boobies. Sounds like the bases are covered, in this Internet-express-yourself age. John stood out to us by virtue of our editing video of last year's Ramstein Oktoberfest event. Watching footage over and over makes for faces you don't forget.
John's holding a growler in the foreground at 1:33 and 1:57 minutes into the piece, in some b-roll footage. (We knew we saw him from somewhere!) But more importantly, John's a Marine Corps reservist, and pulled some duty in Iraq (at the sprawling, multitasked airbase in al-Anbar Province), so a toast to you there.
Apparently a diehard Ramsteiner, John, a lance corporal, shipped out for Iraq just days after popping in on the 2006 High Point Oktoberfest open house. He's been back for a while. Glad you're home, John, back in Jersey.
Also, a nod to Bryan Jenkins, morning anchor with News12 New Jersey. Karen and Howard Ontell ran into Bryan during a Jamaica vacation and stayed in touch with him afterward, forwarding him emails about Ramstein events over the following months.
Great to see you could make the big one, Bryan. This is Jersey craft beer at its best. Spread the word: Think Jersey, drink Jersey.
And finally, to the Star-Ledger photo staff guys who knew where the good beer was that day. Can you capture Gemütlichkeit with a lens?
Labels: Bryan Jenkins, High Point Brewing, Oktoberfest, Ramstein


Antares 36 is available in Croatia from Split and Sibenik. Fill out "Get a Quote" form and check availability for your selected period.
Motor yacht charter Croatia with Beneteau Antares 36 perfect motor boat for smaller family charter visiting Croatian islands on bareboat basis or with skipper. With its essential focus on cruising comfort, the Antares 36 offers very generous living spaces, as does the flybridge with its fantastic views over the sea. But the Antares 36 is also true to her origins, and her flared hull makes for comfortable passage making and remarkable stability in all sea states. It features spacious salon for it's size and two cabins. It can accommodate 4+1 guests.


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Q: FBSDKProfilePictureView showing up blank I'm trying to display a user's profile picture from Facebook using FBSDKProfilePictureView, however it is just showing up as blank when I set the profile ID. I get the Profile ID using the Graph API and the /me node. I then set the ID in my setupCell method which is called in cellForRowAtIndexPath:, the setup is straight forward, just the following:
public func setupCell(userId: String?) {
    if userId != nil {
        profilePicture.profileID = "4";
    }
    welcomeLabel.text = "Welcome back, Mark"
}

(Test data uses Zuckerberg's info)
I've verified the userId is set, so it is getting the user id. I then override layoutSubviews like so:
override public func layoutSubviews() {
    super.layoutSubviews()
    profilePicture.layer.cornerRadius = profilePicture.bounds.height / 2.0
    profilePicture.clipsToBounds = true
    profilePicture.setNeedsImageUpdate()

    welcomeLabel.sizeToFit()
}

I thought setting the needsImageUpdate() would do it, but apparently not. I found another post on here advising me to add two more domains to my app transport security, here's the relevant parts of that that I have:
<key>NSAppTransportSecurity</key>
<dict>
    <key>NSExceptionDomains</key>
    <dict>
        <key>facebook.com</key>
        <dict>
            <key>NSIncludesSubdomains</key>
            <true/>
            <key>NSTemporaryExceptionRequiresForwardSecrecy</key>
            <false/>
            <key>NSTemporaryExceptionMinimumTLSVersion</key>
            <string>1.1</string>
        </dict>
        <key>akamai.net</key>
        <dict>
            <key>NSIncludesSubdomains</key>
            <true/>
            <key>NSTemporaryExceptionRequiresForwardSecrecy</key>
            <false/>
            <key>NSTemporaryExceptionMinimumTLSVersion</key>
            <string>1.1</string>
        </dict>
        <key>akamaihd.net</key>
        <dict>
            <key>NSIncludesSubdomains</key>
            <true/>
            <key>NSTemporaryExceptionRequiresForwardSecrecy</key>
            <false/>
            <key>NSTemporaryExceptionMinimumTLSVersion</key>
            <string>1.1</string>
        </dict>
        <key>fbcdn.net</key>
        <dict>
            <key>NSIncludesSubdomains</key>
            <true/>
            <key>NSThirdPartyExceptionRequiresForwardSecrecy</key>
            <false/>
        </dict>
    </dict>
</dict>

I'm not sure what I'm missing here? It has to be something somewhat easy. Any other data that may needed I can provide, I'd love any help you can provide!

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
CNL Publication Search: J.M. Fellous
Found 3 Abstracts
J.M. Fellous Rudolph, M. Destexhe, A. Sejnowski, T. J. Synaptic Background Noise Controls the Input/Output Characteristics of Single Cells in an In Vitro Model of In Vivo Activity, Neuroscience, 122, 811-829, 2003 (PDF)
Destexhe, A. Rudolph, M. J.M. Fellous Sejnowski, T. J. Fluctuating Synaptic Conductances Recreate in Vivo-Like Activity in Neocortical Neurons, Neuroscience, 107(1) 13-24, 2001 (PDF)
J.M. Fellous Sejnowski, T. J. Dopamine Facilitates the Sustained Firing of Rat Layer V Prefrontal Pyramidal Cells in Vitro, Society for Neuroscience Abstracts, 27, 2001 (PDF)
J.M. Fellous Destexhe, A. Sejnowski, T. J. Dynamic Clamp of Cortical Neurons in Vitro Simulates in Vivo Activity Patterns, Society for Neuroscience Abstracts, 26, 1623, 2000 (PDF)
Jose, J. V. Tiesinga, P. H. J.M. Fellous Sejnowski, T. J. Entrainment by Synchronized Inhibition Boosts Information Transfer in Neocortical Neurons, Society for Neuroscience Abstracts, 26, 188, 2000 (PDF)


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Proves (Proveis in tedesco) è un comune italiano di 254 abitanti della provincia autonoma di Bolzano in Trentino-Alto Adige.

Origini del nome
Il toponimo è attestato come Provessum (de Provesso) nel 1274 e come Proveis nel 1524 e deriva probabilmente dal nome di persona latino Probus con un suffisso -asius.

Storia
Nel 1946 il comune, facente parte assieme a Lauregno della zona germanofona dell'Alta Val di Non, è passato dalla provincia autonoma di Trento alla provincia autonoma di Bolzano in seguito all'accordo De Gasperi-Gruber.

Dal 1998 un tunnel stradale ricongiunge il paese alla Val d'Ultimo.

Stemma
Lo stemma raffigura un fagiano di montagna in un quadrato dorato, con i lati ricurvi ed i vertici ornati da trifogli, su sfondo azzurro. Il fagiano ricorda che la zona era famosa per l'attività venatoria; i quattro vertici rappresentano i quattro comuni originari di lingua tedesca della Val di Non: Lauregno, Proves, Senale-San Felice, gli ultimi due unificati. Lo stemma è stato adottato nel 1966.

Monumenti e luoghi d'interesse

Architetture religiose
 Chiesa di San Nicolò Vescovo. La chiesa parrocchiale neogotica del paese, dedicata a San Nicolò, venne costruita tra il 1870 e il 1876 sulla base della precedente cappella medievale. È decorata con notevoli affreschi eseguiti dal pittore nazareno Albrecht Steiner von Felsburg.

Società

Ripartizione linguistica
È uno dei 3 comuni di lingua tedesca della val di Non, in quanto la sua popolazione è nella quasi sua totalità di madrelingua tedesca:

Evoluzione demografica

Amministrazione
Nella "giornata mondiale dei consumatori", il "centro tutela consumatori utenti" di Bolzano assegna il "premio del consumatore 'OK d'oro'" al comune di Proves, con la motivazione di aver ridotto le tariffe municipali del 43,6%.

Note

Bibliografia
  Klaus Altenstetter, Die Siedlungs- und Agrarverhältnisse von Laurein, Proveis und Rumo am Nonsberg (Schlern-Schriften, 252), Innsbruck, Wagner, 1968.
  Hannes Obermair, Nonsberger Regesten. Das Archiv Unterweg-Perger in Proveis, in «Der Schlern», 66, 1992, n. 9, pp. 587–600.
  Karin Valorz, Proveis 1949-1999: die sozioökonomische Entwicklung einer Berggemeinde am Deutschnonsberg, Innsbruck, Università degli Studi, 2000 (digitalizzazione della Biblioteca F. Teßmann).

Altri progetti

Collegamenti esterni

Proves

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Use this type of filter to define a fixed range of dates. For example, you may want to see all orders placed between March 1, 2009 and June 12, 2009. Follow the steps below to create a Range of Dates filter.
In the Filter Field dialog box, select Range of Dates and then click Next.
The Filter dialog box opens showing the Range of Dates options. Use the slider or the drop-down date controls to select minimum and maximum dates for the range you want to include. The range is inclusive, which means that the minimum and maximum dates are included in the filter.
If the field also includes Time you can select the Show Times option to further refine your filter range.
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Santa train and illuminations to form part of Longleat's Christmas attractions
They are returning after a year's absence due to the coronavirus pandemic
Nancy ConnollySenior news and features reporter
A giant Christmas tree and 100 illuminated trees are just some of the festivities planned this winter at west country safari park
Christmas is returning to the region's most popular family attraction this winter after a very difficult winter last year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Festivities at Longleat Safari Park have always been a favourite among families in Somerset and all over the country.
The Santa train is one of the main events for children and will be more popular than ever this year.
As Christmas magic glistens around the park, the much loved Santa train will be stopping at Longleat Central Station once again, to whisk you away to a magical grotto and meet Father Christmas himself.
READ MORE: 16 reasons Bath is the best city to live in Britain
It is just one of the seasonal festivities to return to the safari park this winter.
There will be amazing illuminations on the grounds in front of Longleat House, seat of the massive country estate, with a giant sized illuminated Christmas tree reaching up to the stars and a new Flight Before Christmas event which will mimic the activity of flying creatures including barn owls.
There will be 100 illuminated trees around the park.
The Longleat website says: "Journey through a mesmerising tunnel of light and sound, leading you to the front of the iconic Longleat House.
"Marvel at the magnificent musical display and surround yourself by over 100 warmly lit Christmas trees.
"Then, as the animals are tucking in for the night, explore a wonderland walk through Jungle Kingdom and Monkey Temple.
"There will be a charming trail of illuminated sculptured flowers dotted alongside the snowy paths.
"Wander through the hedge maze as it's adorned by thousands of twinkling lights for a magical atmosphere at twilight.
"And bask in festive spirit as you listen to carols in the park's main square."
It all sound amazing, a real treat for young children especially and great to see Christmas events being organised as normal around this time of year.
The festivities begin in early November and continue until January.
Booking is essential as numbers have to be limited due to the pandemic.
To find out more visit the Longleat website.
Why the Red Arrows have been spotted flying over Somerset
The Somerset pub with a bar in a horsebox where you can see three cities


Gender Equality is one of the 17 UN SDG's, which provides a framework for eliminating poverty globally, ensuring that all human beings enjoy prosperity and peace and protecting planet Earth.
An economic perspective, why does Gender Equality matter?
Gender Equality promotes economic stability and boosts growth. Studies have suggested that gender inequality has not just macroeconomic but development-related implications as well. In recent studies by the IMF, a 30 percent boost in Pakistan's GDP could materialize if we closed the gender gap. Gender equality will also lead to a greater equality in the overall income distribution for a country. Gender wage gaps are directly correlated to income inequality, higher gaps in the labor force participation between men and women which then ultimately results in inequality of earnings between the two genders. Higher income inequality can undermine the sustainability of growth for an economy. Additionally, women also work in the informal work sector (due to inequality of opportunities, unequal access to education, health and finance) where earnings are much lower. Evidence from Europe suggests that greater female representation in senior management positions could boost potential output because it will improve firm profitability and also support corporate investment. Lower gender inequality also contributes to other development outcomes such as improved health outcomes for women and children.
The report highlights that access to equal opportunities for both genders has increased, but sizeable gaps still remain for example in education. The last three decades have seen a steady decline in gender differences in school enrollment in all regions and trends are showing women in all regions except Africa are more likely to be enrolled in tertiary education than men.
Globally, health indicators have also improved substantially. There has been a significant decline in maternal mortality rate in Middle East and Central Asia whereas the Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest rate of mortality. Similarly, the adolescent fertility rates have declined in all regions from 1980-2014, with Sub-Saharan Africa having the highest average rate. High fertility rates have been shown to be correlated with lower economic activity for women. Due to the high adolescent fertility rates, girls are unable to go to schools which increases gender gaps in education. Subsequently, later on these girls will not enter the labor market which can increase the gender gap in economic participation and wages.
Financial access has improved for both the genders – but even in this category, the gender gap is systematic and persistent. Globally, 72% of men have formal bank accounts whereas only 65% of women have formal bank accounts. Larger gaps can be seen in developing countries Legal restrictions also bar women from participating fully economically and politically. The Women, Business and Law report of 2018 stated that 2.7 billion women globally face legal restrictions when it comes to having access to jobs and choice of jobs as men. Husbands can prevent their wives from working in 18 countries and while in 59 countries no laws of sexual harassment exist at workplace.
The report pointed out that there have been mixed developments in equality of outcomes; as globally in the labor market there have been reductions in gender inequalities. Good progress has been made in increasing female participation rates in corporate leadership and political positions worldwide as well decreasing the gender wage gaps in many countries. However, the female labor force participation rate varies worldwide, and even where the participation rate is higher for women the quality of jobs differs for both the genders. In most countries, women are only involved in the informal sector which does not pay well and exposes them to vulnerable conditions. The World Economic Forum (2016) concluded that women's earnings in the informal sector are about half of those for women on average. However, in some countries such as Libya in sub-Saharan Africa, the female to male estimated earnings have reached parity.
The room to implement policies that will foster and enhance women's participations in economic activities is large. The need to work for women varies across different regions and countries because of development needs and income but even after accounting for personal preferences towards working, policies can play a pivotal role for women's employment decisions. In general, low income and developing countries can benefit the most from policies that look to invest in education, health, increasing financial inclusion, promoting equal rights for women and infrastructure. To ensure there is greater protection for women in the informal sector, unconditional cash transfers can play an important role.
Studies and empirical evidence has shown that educational attainment correlates positively with higher female participation in the workforce. Studies have been done in Nigeria and Pakistan to see if conditional cash transfers can increase female employment rates. Furthermore, in Turkey only 17% of women who were illiterate, participated in the work force but the participation rate exceeded about 70% amongst those women that held graduate degrees. These studies make a good case for an increase in education levels for women as it directly correlates to more female economic participation.
Similarly, investing in adequate healthcare for women especially in developing countries can go a significant way in increasing their economic opportunities.
Developing countries which have invested in infrastructure by making available safe transportation, building better roads and mobile networks can aid women in accessing work at different levels and regions. A great example of this is that of Mexico which introduced female only public transportation buses so that women could travel freely and safely. Better access to infrastructure in some instances can also lead to a better performance in other social indicators for example in India, providing sanitation facilities can help protect girls from gender based violence and this can lead to an increase in school attendance.
Additionally, greater and equal access to finance including digital financial services could have an impact on labor productivity and can then lead to more equal incomes across countries.
Revising laws against discrimination, equal property rights and female inheritance legislation and promoting equal rights for women can have an upward effect on labor participation rate for women. Countries such as Namibia, Malawi and Peru reduced gender discrimination to revise their legal frameworks and in the decade following these changes, these countries experienced extensive increases in female labor participation rates.
Policies that invest in elderly and child care and parental leave will provide flexibility for working women as the responsibility of taking care of children and elderly mainly falls on their shoulders. If high quality and affordable child and elderly care is provided it will enable women to return to the work force much sooner than before. For example, in Mexico, one third of the women aged between 25-44 spend about 40 hours per week taking care of children, disabled, elderly and dependent individuals. Offering parental leave schemes can help women keep a balance between work and family life. In developed economies, 26 weeks of paid parental leave is provided and all of the OECD countries offer paid parental leave except for the US and Korea.
Policies that offer both maternal and paternal leave can also help shift gender norms as this enables fathers to take as much responsibility of caring for their children as mothers. Sweden has employed a 'use-it-or-lose-it' parental leave allowance which promotes equal sharing of leave. Policies that cater to flexible work arrangements like park time work benefit both men and women as they can balance their paid work and family commitments. Due to the traditional division of labor, these policies can be more important to women as it allows them to return to and remain in the work force. . Removing tax burdens on female secondary earners by replacing family taxation with individual taxation can improve aggregate labor market outcomes.
The report concludes that achieving gender equality needs to be a coordinated effort between the various levels of government and the non-governmental actors as well. Canada's alternative federal budget is a good example of how the civil society and its institutions are working in unity to ensure a gender perspective in fiscal policies. In Germany and Spain, gender budgeting initiatives are allowed to be discussed at the local level. The federal government in Mexico disseminated resources to be invested in women's economic and health empowerment programs and locally the Mexico City initiated a program for safe transportation for women. Gender inequality persists worldwide and can take different forms. It is imperative for economic growth to enhance women empowerment. Gender equality needs to be mainstreamed in policies as leaders have now come to see its contribution to promoting sustainable development.


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Tommaso Traetta – IL CAVALIERE ERRANTE (The Errant Knight)
Il Cavaliere Errante (The Errant Knight), a comic-heroic drama, belongs to the last creative period of Tommaso Traetta: here he first developed the amiable side of his talent arriving to originality and acquired lightness in his musical expression.The opera is essentially a fairy tale: a Spanish prince makes his men abduct the lady whom he is in love with, he holds her prisoner in an enchanted island, and there, with the aid of the spells of a magician, tries to convince her to marry him. The lady, however, is in love with the Errant Knight who, with the help of a good witch and with his faithful servant, is able to dissolve the incantations, free his beloved and marry her. The score is full of parodies, recitatives and virtuosic arias for all the characters and presents some topoi used by his successors, from Mozart to Rossini.
Tommaso Traetta – MESSA IN DO
In Traetta's biography, the contribution to European opera history with over forty titles, both serious and comic, was always emphasized. It was rather less considered the equally significant production in the sacred field.
The Mass in C, which presents in its general structure the typical alternation between choral interventions and soloists, is in fact full of "roundness" and "liveliness" of musical images.
The executive proposal of this edition offers the philological transcription of all voice parts and summarizes the orchestra for solo keyboard accompaniment: a solution that will allow this composition to be performed by all the choral ensembles even when a real orchestra is not available.
A composition of great charm that helps to learn more in depth the religious repertoire of one of the major European composers of the mid-eighteenth century.
Tommaso Traetta – STABAT MATER of Naples
The medieval sequel Stabat Mater dolorosa, whose unsigned text is traditionally attributed to Jacopone da Todi, had a remarkable fortune during the Catholic Counterreformation and soon entered the oral repertoires of the secular confraternities, especially in Southern Italy, constituting a strong emotional moment on the eve of Holy Week. However, this masterpiece is part of a compositional tradition that has characterized the transmission of a sacred musical style typical of the so-called "Neapolitan school." The research tools available to musicologists today make it possible to observe a wider dissemination of the Stabat by Traetta than a decade ago and such a widespread presence can only testify to the fortune of this composition, which we can now declare well-deserved. In it two of the voices are soloists – soprano and alto – alternating with four-voice chorus sections. This element makes the Stabat by Traetta the ideal point of convergence of the two Neapolitan traditions, that with multiple voices, which dates back to the seventeenth century, and that with two voices, soprano and alto, consecrated by Scarlatti's and Pergolesi's masterpieces.
Niccolò Van Westerhout – LIRICHE
Unfairly neglected has been so far the production of chamber vocal music, although prominent in the whole career of Niccolò van Westerhout.
The 30 songs published here for the first time in a modern edition testify to compositional continuity in this genre for nearly fifteen years. The oldest dates back to 1879 (two versions of "Melancholic Singing" on the verses of two scapigliati poets, Emilio Praga and Ugo Tarchetti, respectively), when "Niccolino" was twenty-two and began to become acquainted in the Neapolitan setting, also thanks to the favors of esteemed intellectuals who had discovered him. Most of them date back to the last decade of his life, especially the years 1888-1890.
At the end of the anthology of romanze da camera, a special "Salve Regina" was opportunely inserted. It is a page explicitly taken from the opera Doña Flor.
The composing characteristics of van Westerhout's arie da camera are the syllabic treatment a delicate and hesitant instrumental accompaniment, due to a combined melody motion, and a general atmosphere that is intriguing and permeated of sweet melancholy.
Niccolò Van Westerhout – LIRICHE (Songs for voice and piano)
Apart from the three operas that came to be performed (Fortunio, Cimbelino and Doña Flor), which had controversial stories but assured a national resonance to the author, van Westerhout was openly praised by his contemporaries for the massive production of instrumental music – a rare presence in the career of Italian composers of his time – and especially for piano music. Unfairly neglected, however, has been so far the production of songs, although prominent in the whole career of van Westerhout. This project is a complete edition of this repertoire that allows entry into his special world of sound for the first time ever. It is in this production that we have the feeling of knowing Nicolino's sensitivity, his thoughts, his solitude and the elegant melancholy that makes me him one of the most wavered rediscoveries of the Italian nineteenth century, in the shadow of its splendors in which he is still waiting for his great and well-deserved praise.
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Pasquale La Rotella – STABAT MATER
In the compositional parable of Pasquale La Rotella (Bitonto, March 5, 1880 ─ Bari, March 20, 1963) sacred music is an important and at least as significant as the one that saw him an opera composer, conductor, teacher and first director of the Liceo Musicale "Piccinni" in Bari.
Most of his sacred production dates back to the years when he was magistro et rectore of the "Schola Cantorum" of the Regia Basilica Palatina of San Nicola. It will be necessary to climb over chronologically two wars and forty long years of brilliant and multifaceted career as an all-round musician to find new pages of sacred music. The occasion to put the famous text of Jacopone Da Todi into music came to him from the celebrations for the 230th anniversary of the birth of Tommaso Traetta. In close correlation with the work of the famous countryman, La Rotella decided to deal with the treatment of one of the highest subjects of Western sacred art, composing, at the venerable age of seventy-seven, "his" Stabat.
Michele Cantatore – TERZA MESSA
Michele Cantatore is one of the most illustrious personalities that Ruvo has ever produced throughout its cultural history. A fine example of how culture can triumph over poverty, how light can dispel the dark, and how spirituality can overcome harsh situations. A rare model of how art and beauty can become vehicles for social advancement and freedom from the suffering and intractability of destiny. The composer's connection with his local area is also important. The creation of a genuine tradition linked to the Christian community to which he belonged means that the music he composed is not the subjective expression of the writer, but a common heritage of faith and art. The 50 years of service to music that maestro Michele Cantatore accomplished is an example and encouragement for us all to live with consciousness and passion, to experience religious musical works with humility and austerity, without self-aggrandisement, without deceptive ambition, moved only by faith and the love of beauty, and with the ultimate goal of praising the Lord. Maestro Cantatore's great concert came to an end in 2005, leaving the people of Ruvo greatly in his debt; this book represents a first small expression of our gratitude to him.
EFFLUVII – Gabriele D'Annunzio pel tratturo regio al piano di Puglia
Another double record, this time centred on Gabriele D'Annunzio. The poet, much appreciated by scholars of Italian culture in the world, has often been taken as a model by the music world for the sound of his verses. The first of the two CDs concerns his contemporaries, all those Apulian musicians who, for some reason, have come into contact with the Vate or with the power of his verses, as for example Niccolò van Westerhout, Franco Casavola, Pasquale La Rotella and Rito Selvaggi. The second record, instead, was entirely commissioned by the Traetta Opera Festival to contemporary composers of the Apulian scene, many of whom are under 30. Between verses never set to music and interesting comparisons with famous compositions, it presents itself as a completely original production, full of interesting ideas and important insights into the contemporary music scene of our region.
ΧῶΡΑΙ – Salotto musicale pugliese
This double record is a tribute to the Apulian creative genius. The chamber romance, at the centre of our "salon", has always stood out as summa of music and word, and even more so when the leitmotiv is the unconditional love for a land which is sometimes generous and sometimes barren, but always showing deep affection to its children. As a comparison and in a sense of continuity, we present several generations of composers from the early twentieth century (Abbate, La Rotella, Costa, Fiume) to the present day, including Nino Rota and his students with their original pieces commissioned by the Traetta Opera Festival. It doesn't matter whether the compositions collected in this record were evoked by the verses of great poets of the past or by young authors (they too from Apulia): the sincerity of their musical inspiration inextricably links them to that feeling rich of colours and scents, of land, sea, centuries of history and that infinite wandering which has always been the identifying element of our region.
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LIRICHE (Songs for voice and piano) – Niccolò Van Westerhout (1857-1898)
The resigned and reserved character did not prevent Van Westerhout from being well-liked in Naples. His salon soon became very popular and he bonded with various artistic personalities, such as Arturo Colautti and Gabriele D'Annunzio.
Attentive to the symphonic novels of Northern Europe, he was among the first to introduce to the Neapolitan locale Richard Wagner's musical dramas, and to make people appreciate the immanent transcendence of his subjects and the dauntless chromaticity, which he will treasure in his own production. This cultural opening is all the more evident in the lyrics that Van Westerhout chooses to play in his liriche da camera; from the Milanese scapigliati poets Tarchetti and Praga, to Cavallotti's post-revolutionary stanzas, from the verses of a renown Neapolitan novelist such as Rocco Pagliara, to the choice of three female lyricists, among whom Evelina Cattermole and Annie Vivanti, highly acclaimed and with eccentric individuality. A special mention deserves the poet Heinrich Heine, the most chosen by Westerhout, who shares with him the conviction of artistic inspiration as a moment of pure personal reality, sinking the roots in that romantic intimacy that, disenchanted, was at the time in its twilight years.
And it is in this production that we have the feeling of knowing Nicolino's sensitivity, his thoughts, his solitude and the elegant melancholy that makes him one of the most wavered rediscoveries of the Italian nineteenth century, in the shadow of its splendors in which he is still waiting for his great and well-deserved praise.
NATAL'È (So It's Christmas)
The lyrics in this record are the same as many snowflakes: unique and yet here collected in order to create a single special atmosphere.
Waiting for Christmas has got a hundred faces. It is a child that comes to life, a child that waits, a child that laughs, a child that sings, just like those in the treble voices' choir 'Caffarelli' that, it is not a case, open this collection with Federica D'Agostino in Christmas Time by Rocco Cianciotta, first recording ever for the very young team of the Traetta Theatre in Bitonto directed by Emanuela Aymone.
Christmas is a memory, a song of joy. The lyrics by the famous composer from Bitonto Tommaso Traetta and his son Filippo Trajetta, a successful Italian American composer, lead us through the voice of the soprano Daniela Degennaro, to a simple and delicate past, in which candles substitute the thousands of colourful lights and the prayer becomes art, touching the humblest hearts.
Christmas is hope. It is the wandering on the cold wind of the protagonist of Viaggio di Natale by Rocco Cianciotta, whose faithful and laical tale, written and narrated by Maurizio Pellegrini, carries us around the houses in Europe, arriving directly to us, to our sometimes too asleep consciences.
Christmas is the surprise that Pietro Laera gives with his Improvvisazione for piano, intimate and shared emotion, over words.
And there are those who live Christmas night in other special nights, as well as we do, as Apulians, with Saint Nicholas, 'the real' Santa (Ni)Claus, whose history and tradition are entrusted to the evocative language of Pantaleo Gadaleta, a real collection of talking pictures to Maurizio Pellegrini's lines.
Christmas is our running, our staying together, our hugs, cards, the crib, gifts, biscuits, the dreams we hang on the tree, and the good resolutions we promise to ourselves thinking about tomorrow and about yesterday with shining eyes. After all, we are always children again at Christmas; and the voice of the 'Caffarelli' choir in Natale nel mondo by the unforgettable Raffaele Gervasio turns into the living voice of all of us.
FILIPPO TRAJETTA – An Italian musician in America
The monographic album collects three quartets and three marches by Filippo Trajetta (1777-1854), son of the famous opera composer Tommaso Traetta, after moving to the United States at the beginning of the nineteenth century. These are compositions of great historical importance, as well as incredible beauty, which come back to shine with a new light thanks to the work of the Modus String Quartet. Transferring to Naples to continue with the studies of harmony and counterpoint with Fedele Fenaroli and apprenticeship with the famous Niccolò Piccinni, Filippo was involved in the revolutionary motions of 1799 against King Ferdinando IV of Naples; was arrested for being the author of several patriotic hymns for which he was imprisoned in the underground of Castel dell'Ovo. After escaping, he was able to board Mount Vernon's ship to America, where he landed on July 3, 1800. He first settled in Boston, where he and his fellow musicians François Mallet and Gottlieb Graupner founded the American Conservatory and he composed some of his first works, including "Washington's Dead March" and the quartets in this album. He then moved to New York, where composed some oratorios and the opera "The Venetian Maskers", often cited as the first composite work in the United States.
Alfonso Rendano (1853 – 1931) – PORTRAIT
A class pianist, a solitary musician, curious and stateless but never forgetting his roots, a warrior but also a discontinuous composer, capable of coming into the limelight with pioneering feats and striking exploits, but also ready to disappear with proud escapes, stubborn silences and prolonged absences from the scenes. In short, this could be the descritpion of Alfonso Rendano, a rather neglected exponent of that Italian generation of the mid-nineteenth century which had the difficult task of reconciling the "country of melodrama" and the classic-romantic culture of Europe. The compositions in this album provide us a double portrait of Rendano at his beginning, who, as a composer, was able to switch between different registers. The three valses, dating back to the early seventies, despite their differentiated characters, present to us the young pianist-composer as totally absorbed in the tradition of his time, the Salonmusik, on which the foundations of all the piano careers of the nineteenth century were built. Pianists used to contribute to it with their own compositions, which had elegant, seductive, more easily communicative features. The Quintet in A minor for piano and strings, together with the Concerto for piano and orchestra, is the most demanding creation of Rendano's early years. It is therefore no coincidence that the two works were presented by their author as a "visiting card" in one of the most important moments of his career: the meeting with Liszt and the performances at the Grand Ducal Palace in Weimar in 1880. His Quintet was (sporadically) performed, but it was not published during the life of the author and remained a unique work whose knowledge was limited to very few experts. A surprising destiny for a work of extraordinary importance, whose four movements prove a far from impersonal adherence to the forms and conventions of classical-romantic chamber music. The gestures, certain tunes, the underlying texture – with the strings, often united and differentiated from the piano, guiding the creation – are unmistakable references to the Quintet in E flat major, Schumann masterpiece.