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Home > Entertainment > Celebrity > SZA
SZA's 'SNL' Song "Big Boys" Has Gone Viral on TikTok
By Chris Barilla
Dec. 13 2022, Published 3:19 p.m. ET
With the release of her latest album, "S.O.S.," on Dec. 8, 2022, we're all officially on SZA time now. The singer's new offering boasts impressive features and catchy melodies, and the album has received praise from critics and fans alike.
However, a SZA song that isn't on "S.O.S." is going viral on TikTok. Titled "Big Boys," it's attracting millions of listeners on the platform. With that being said, what exactly do we know about the track?
SZA's spoof song "Big Boys" is a huge hit on TikTok.
One would assume that with a full album of new material recently released, the most viral SZA song on TikTok should be from "S.O.S." However, that is simply not the case. Instead, an officially unreleased spoof song created for SZA's recent Saturday Night Live appearance titled "Big Boys" is taking the video-sharing app by storm.
What is the meaning of SZA's song "Big Boys"?
The track, which is an SNL-fueled collaboration between Keke Palmer, SZA, Cecily Strong, Ego Nwodim, and Punkie Johnson, focuses on a group of single women who are pining after larger men for a romantic encounter. In its nearly-four minute runtime, the group touches on how much they all want a "big boy" this winter season.
Singing lyrics such as "That time of year when we find a man to keep us warm through these cold months" and "I need a big boy / With polar bear arms," SZA makes it clear that she's looking for a certain kind of partner this winter season.
She continues with lines like "Makes his own heat with his big boy body" and "Forget a six-pack, I need the whole damn keg."
Other descriptive terms used by SZA include "Big mouth breather and legs like a monster" as well as "Need an enormous man, feeds me snacks with his enormous hands."
The song is not officially released on any streaming platforms, but those curious to listen to it can check out the video of the group's performance on the official Saturday Night Live YouTube channel.
"Ghost In The Machine" by SZA: The Meaning Behind the Song Broken Down
SZA Explores the Destructive Capacities of Love in "Seek & Destroy"
R&B Songstress SZA Released a Song Titled "Shirt" — Is It About Her Love Life?
Latest SZA News and Updates

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
\section{Introduction}

Due to the negative $K$-correction for infrared-luminous galaxies at
$z>1$, submillimeter/millimeter surveys select the most bolometrically
luminous systems in the Universe (e.g.,\ Blain et~al. 2002). After
intense multi-wavelength follow-up observations it is now clear that
submillimeter-emitting galaxies (SMGs; $f_{\rm 850\mu m}>4$~mJy) are
gas-rich massive galaxies at $z\approx$~2--4 hosting energetic
starburst and AGN activity (e.g.,\ \citealt{smail02};
\citealt{alex05a}; \citealt{chap05}); the stellar--dynamical and CO
gas masses of these galaxies are typically
$\approx10^{11}$~$M_{\odot}$ and $\approx3\times10^{10}$~$M_{\odot}$,
respectively (e.g.,\ \citealt{swin04}; \citealt{borys05};
\citealt{greve05}). The compactness and high inferred gas density of
the CO emission from SMGs suggests that the CO dynamics trace the mass
of the galaxy spheroid (e.g.,\ \citealt{bouche07}). It is commonly
believed that SMGs represent a major-merger induced growth phase that
causes rapid black-hole--spheroid growth, and it is possible that
every massive galaxy ($>$~1--3~$L_{\rm *}$) in the local Universe
underwent at least one submillimeter-bright phase at some time in the
distant past (e.g.,\ \citealt{swin06}).

The close relationship between supermassive black-hole (SMBH) and
spheroid mass--luminosity--velocity dispersion in the local Universe
(e.g.,\ \citealt{gebh00}; \citealt{haring04}) suggests that the growth
of SMBHs and galaxy spheroids was concordant. The potentially rapid
growth rates of the SMBH and host galaxy in SMGs could cause these
systems to deviate significantly from the locally defined
black-hole--spheroid mass relationship, if the growth of one component
is much faster than the other component. It is therefore of interest
to constrain the SMBH masses and relative black-hole--host galaxy
growth in SMGs to give insight into the formation and evolution of
today's massive galaxies.

Using X-ray luminosity derived black-hole masses and photometrically
determined stellar masses, \cite{borys05} showed that SMGs lie more
than an order of magnitude below the locally defined
black-hole--spheroid mass relationship, under the assumption of
Eddington-limited SMBH accretion. While \cite{borys05} provided useful
first-order constraints, it is neccessary to determine the SMBH masses
of SMGs without having to assume the Eddington ratio of the SMBH.
Here we present recent results from \cite{alex08}, where we used the
virial SMBH mass estimator to calculate SMBH masses for a handful of
SMGs with detected broad emission lines. These results are used to
constrain the relative black-hole--spheroid mass ratio of SMGs and to
explore how quickly the SMBH and host galaxy is growing in these
systems.

\section{Weighing the Black Holes in SMGs}

Black-hole masses ($M_{\rm BH}$) have been directly measured for a
small number of galaxies in the local Universe, on the basis of the
velocity dispersion of stars/gas in the vicinity of the SMBH (e.g.,\
\citealt{gebh00}). Black holes cannot be ``weighed'' in the same way
at high redshift due to poorer spatial resolution and lower
signal-to-noise ratio data.  However, the well-established virial SMBH
mass estimator, which works on the assumption that the broad-line
regions (BLRs) in AGNs are virialized, provides an apparently
reliable, if indirect, measurement of SMBH masses in high-$z$ AGNs
(e.g.,\ \citealt{kaspi00}).

The virial SMBH mass estimator is somewhat restrictive for SMGs since
the majority of the sources are heavily obscured (e.g.,\
\citealt{alex05b}; \citealt{chap05}). However, the identification of
broad H$\alpha$/H$\beta$ emission from a small number of SMGs
(\citealt{swin04}; \citealt{takata06}) provides the opportunity to
estimate SMBH masses for a handful of sources so far. In \cite{alex08}
we used the virial estimator of \cite{greene05}, which calculates
$M_{\rm BH}$ solely on the properties of the H$\alpha$/H$\beta$
emission line and reduces potential uncertainties on the luminosity of
the AGN (e.g.,\ contaminating emission from the host galaxy or an
accretion-related jet) when compared to other estimators. Taking the
six SMGs from \cite{swin04} and \cite{takata06} with broad emission
lines (FWHM$>1000$~km~s$^{-1}$) that appear to be intrinsic to the
central source (i.e., unrelated to AGN outflows), we find relatively
modest SMBH masses [average $M_{\rm
BH}\approx(1-3)\times10^{8}$~$M_{\odot}$, depending upon the assumed
geometry of the broad-line region; see \S3.2 in
\citealt{alex08}]. Broad-line SMGs typically have relatively narrow
emission lines when compared to the optically bright quasar population
($\approx$~2500~km~s$^{-1}$ vs typically $\approx$~5000~km~s$^{-1}$),
which is a major factor that leads to the comparatively low SMBH
masses. Under the assumption that X-ray obscured SMGs have essentially
the same AGN properties as the broad-line SMGs but are obscured due to
the presence of an optically and geometrically thick torus aligned
along the line of sight (i.e.,\ the Unified AGN model), we can
calculate the Eddington ratio (defined as $L_{\rm AGN}/L_{\rm Edd}$;
i.e.,\ $\eta$) of the broad-line SMGs and derive SMBH masses for the
X-ray obscured SMGs utilising the Eddington-limited SMBH mass
constraints in \cite{alex05a}. We find a typical Eddington ratio for
the broad-line SMGs of $\eta\approx0.2$, leading to $M_{\rm
BH}\approx6\times10^{7}$~$M_{\odot}$ for a typical X-ray obscured SMG;
see \S3.4 in \cite{alex08} for further justification.

Due to a number of poorly constrained assumptions that need to be made
to calculate Eddington ratios (i.e.,\ the conversion from X-ray
luminosity to mass accretion rate, the derivation of SMBH masses, and
the calculation of the Eddington luminosity limit), the uncertainties
on any estimation of an Eddington ratio are large, particularly at
high redshift. However, the primary reason for the derivation of the
Eddington ratios in \cite{alex08} was to provide a way to estimated
SMBHs for the X-ray obscured SMGs, by scaling the X-ray luminosities
of the broad-line SMGs to those of the X-ray obscured SMGs. In this
approach, we only make the asssumption that the broad-line SMGs are
the unobscured counterparts of the larger X-ray obscured SMG
population, and therefore all of the above uncertainties become
negligible.

Two alternative scenarios for the relationship between broad-line SMGs
and X-ray obscured SMGs are that the broad-line SMGs either represent
a later stage in the evolution of the SMG population or are a higher
SMBH accretion rate phase (e.g.,\ \citealt{alex05b}; \citealt{stev05};
\citealt{copp08}). Under these assumptions, the SMBH masses of the
X-ray obscured SMGs could be higher than those derived here (i.e., up
to the $M_{\rm BH}\approx3\times10^8$~$M_{\odot}$ maximum calculated
for the broad-line SMGs). However, as we show in \S4, it is unlikely
that the SMBHs hosted by {\it typical} SMGs can be this massive. In
any case, given the similarity between the estimated Eddington ratios
of the broad-line SMGs and a handful of obscured ultra-luminous
infrared galaxies (ULIRGs) in the local Universe (the SMBH masses for
the obscured ULIRGs were calculated using the broad Pa$\alpha$
emission line, which is detected in a small fraction of obscured
systems; e.g.,\ \citealt{veil99}; see \S4.1 in \citealt{alex08}), we
favour $\eta\approx$~0.2 and $M_{\rm
BH}\approx6\times10^{7}$~$M_{\odot}$ for a typical X-ray obscured
SMG. See \S4 of \cite{alex08} for evidence that the AGNs found in
$z\approx$~2 SMGs are scaled-up versions of those found in local
ULIRGs.

 \setcounter{figure}{0}
 \begin{figure}[!t]
 \plotone{dalexander_fg1.eps}
 \caption{Black-hole--host galaxy (corresponding to the spheroid mass
   for these systems) mass relationship for SMGs and other systems (as
   indicated). SMGs (circles) cannot lie a factor $\approx$~4--6 above
   the local relationship (as found for $z\approx$~2 quasars and radio
   galaxies; \citealt{peng06}; \citealt{mclure06}) without
   overproducing the local black-hole mass density; see \S4 for
   discussion. The solid square indicate where X-ray luminous
   broad-line SMGs would lie, assuming that the average CO dynamical
   mass represents the spheroid mass in these systems, and shows that
   this subset of the broad-line SMG population could be more evolved
   than typical systems. The solid bar indicates how the SMBH masses
   for the SMGs varies depending upon the assumed Eddington ratio
   ($\eta$). This figure is taken from \cite{alex08}; see \S5 of that
   paper for further details.}
 \end{figure}

\section{Exploring the Black-Hole--Spheroid Mass Relationship in SMGs}

By combining the SMBH mass constraints with host-galaxy masses, in
\cite{alex08} we explored the $M_{\rm BH}$--$M_{\rm SPH}$ relationship
for $z\approx2$ SMGs. On the basis of CO spectroscopy and
interferometric imaging, the dynamical masses of SMGs within the
central 2--4~kpc are $M_{\rm DYN}\approx10^{11}$~$M_{\odot}$ (e.g.,\
\citealt{greve05}; \citealt{bouche07}); similar constraints are
derived from $H\alpha$ emission-line widths (\citealt{swin04}). Given
the high inferred gas density of the CO emission in SMGs (comparable
to or higher than the mass density of galaxy spheroids in the local
Universe) it is likely that this dynamical estimate corresponds to the
mass of the spheroid (e.g.,\ \citealt{bouche07}). By comparison, the
average stellar mass derived from ultra-violet--near-IR photometric
data by \cite{borys05} is $2\times10^{11}$~$M_{\odot}$; here we only
consider the six $z>1.8$ SMGs in \cite{borys05} that do not have UV or
near-IR excess emission over that expected from stars, giving a value
$\approx$~2 times lower than estimated by \cite{borys05}. The
stellar-mass estimate is slightly higher than the masses estimated
from CO and H$\alpha$ dynamics, and may be more representative of the
overall mass of the system rather than just the spheroid; however, we
note that uncertainties in photometrically derived stellar masses are
typically a factor of $\approx$~3.

In Fig.~1 we show the average SMBH--host-galaxy mass ratio for the
X-ray obscured SMGs and compare it to that determined for distant
quasars--radio galaxies (e.g.,\ \citealt{mclure06}; \citealt{peng06})
and local obscured ULIRGs with broad Pa$\alpha$ derived SMBH
masses. The SMBHs of the X-ray obscured SMGs are suggestively smaller
than those of comparably massive galaxies in the local Universe, by a
factor of $\approx$~3--7, although given the number of assumptions in
the determination of these quantities this result should not be
considered statistically conclusive. However, we note that we find the
same result for local ULIRGs, providing corroborating evidence that
SMBHs in $z\approx$~2 SMGs are smaller than those found for comparably
massive galaxies in the local Universe.

Importantly, our results are statistically inconsistent with those
derived for $z\approx$~2 radio galaxies and quasars, which suggested
that distant galaxies have SMBHs a factor of $\approx$~4--6 times more
massive than those found for comparably massive galaxies in the local
Universe (more than an order of magnitude higher than found here for
SMGs; e.g.,\ \citealt{mclure06}; \citealt{peng06}); see Fig.~1. One
factor in this discrepany may be related to the selection of the
source populations since high-$z$ radio galaxies and quasars by
definition have massive SMBHs and are likely to be comparatively
evolved objects (e.g.,\ \citealt{lauer07}); indeed, the X-ray luminous
subset of the broad-line SMGs would lie close to or above the local
SMBH--host galaxy relationship if it was assumed that they are hosted
by galaxy spheroids as massive as the typical SMG population (see
Fig.~1). However, as shown in \cite{alex08}, there is a key factor why
typical SMGs do not lie on the $M_{\rm BH}$--$M_{\rm SPH}$
relationship found for $z\approx$~2 quasars and radio galaxies: they
would overproduce the mass density of the most massive SMBHs in the
local Universe.

\section{Why SMGs cannot lie on the Elevated Black-Hole--Spheroid Mass Relationship Found for $z\approx$~2 Quasars and Radio Galaxies}

If we assume that SMGs lie a factor $\approx$~4--6 above the local
$M_{\rm BH}$--$M_{\rm SPH}$ relationship, as found for $z\approx$~2
quasars and radio galaxies then, given a spheroid mass of
$10^{11}$~$M_{\odot}$, they would have to host black holes of $M_{\rm
BH}\approx10^9$~$M_{\odot}$. The space density of $M_{\rm
BH}=10^9$~$M_{\odot}$ SMBHs in the local Universe is
$\Phi\approx10^{-5}$~Mpc$^{-3}$, which is the same as the observed
space density of SMGs at $z\approx$~2. This scenario is therefore only
plausible if SMGs are continously bright at submm wavelengths and
never ``switch off'' over the peak $z=$~1.7--2.8 redshift range of
submm activity (i.e.,\ a duty cycle of $\approx$~1.5 Gyrs). In order
to stay bright at submm wavelengths and maintain such high
star-formation rates for such a long duration, gas masses an order of
magnitude larger than those found for SMGs would be required, which
would only be feasible if the gas reservoir of SMGs is continously
replenished. Furthermore, the ultimate stellar masses of SMGs after a
1.5~Gyr lifecycle of star formation and SMBH growth would be
$>10^{12}$~$M_{\odot}$, which would lead to even larger SMBH masses,
further compounding the SMBH space-density problem. Indeed, given the
measured gas masses of SMGs, the submm-bright lifetime of SMGs is more
likely to be $\approx$~100--300~Myrs (i.e.,\ at any given snapshot
only $\approx$~10\% of galaxies that will be SMGs over the peak
$z=$~1.7--2.8 redshift range will be bright at submm wavelengths),
which leads to a duty-cycle corrrected space density for SMGs that is
an order of magnitude larger than that found for SMBHs with $M_{\rm
BH}=10^9$~$M_{\odot}$ in the local Universe
($\Phi\approx10^{-4}$~Mpc$^{-3}$).

The SMBH space-density arguments alone show that typical SMGs cannot
host black holes with $M_{\rm BH}\approx10^9$~$M_{\odot}$. However, we
can consider an alternative scenario, where the spheroid masses of
SMGs are overestimated by an order of magnitude (i.e.,\ $M_{\rm
SPH}\approx10^{10}$~$M_{\odot}$), which would place SMGs a factor of
$\approx$~4--6 above the local relationship. This hypothetical
scenario appears unlikely since the large star-formation rates of SMGs
and the likely duration of submm-bright activity would lead to an
increase in stellar mass of $\approx10^{11}$~$M_{\odot}$. Therefore,
unless this additional stellar growth only occurs outside of the
spheroid region, the mass of the spheroid in a typical SMG is likely
to be $\gg10^{10}$~$M_{\odot}$ (i.e.,\ given the high star-formation
rates of SMGs it would take just $\approx10^7$~yrs to "build" a
stellar mass of $10^{10}$~$M_{\odot}$). Since the observed spatial
extent of the CO emission in SMGs is confined to a compact region with
an inferred gas density consistent with that expected to produce a
galaxy spheroid (e.g.,\ \citealt{bouche07}), this suggests that the
star formation is predominantly confined to the galaxy spheroid
region, making this scenario unlikely.

We can also determine the largest SMBH mass that SMGs could host and
then explore whether the inferred spheroid mass is plausible, under
the assumption that the $M_{\rm BH}$--$M_{\rm SPH}$ ratio at
$z\approx$~2 is a factor $\approx$~4--6 above the local
relationship. On the basis of the duty-cycle corrected space density
of SMGs ($\Phi\approx10^{-4}$~Mpc$^{-3}$), the largest possible SMBHs
that typical SMGs could host without overproducing the local SMBH
space density are $M_{\rm BH}\approx3\times10^8$~$M_{\odot}$, which
would imply that the spheroid in SMGs could not be larger than $M_{\rm
SPH}\approx$~(3--5)~$\times10^{10}$~$M_{\odot}$. Since we have
considered the largest possible SMBH mass for SMGs, we are clearly
taking the extreme assumption that no significant SMBH growth will
occur in SMGs between $z\approx$~2 and the present day. Furthermore,
this spheroid mass constraint is consistent with the average gas mass
of SMGs and would therefore dictate that the spheroid can {\it only}
significantly grow during the SMG phase. These scenarios place severe
constraints on how much SMGs and their progeny can evolve and
therefore appear unlikely. Although here we have considered the
largest SMBH that an SMG can host, we note that significantly smaller
SMBHs would lead to spheroid masses of order
$\approx10^{10}$~$M_{\odot}$ (assuming that the $M_{\rm BH}$--$M_{\rm
SPH}$ ratio is a factor $\approx$~4--6 above the local relationship),
which appears unlikely unless the star formation in SMGs is
predominantly occuring outside of the spheroid region; see constraints
above. We note that \cite{hopkins06} took a similar approach to
estimate the general degree of evolution in the $M_{\rm BH}$--$M_{\rm
SPH}$ ratio, given space-density constraints in the local Universe,
also finding that typical $z\approx2$ systems cannot lie far from the
local relationship.

 \setcounter{figure}{1}
 \begin{figure}[!t]
 \plotone{dalexander_fg2.eps}
 \caption{Growth times (i.e.,\ the time it would take to double the
   current mass) of the SMBH and host galaxy (spheroid) for SMGs
   (solid circle) and the X-ray luminous subset of the broad-line SMG
   population (solid square). Although very uncertain, the SMBH--host
   galaxy growth of SMGs is consistent with no net change in their
   $M_{\rm BH}$--$M_{\rm GAL}$ ratios for likely submm-bright
   lifetimes and a more AGN-dominated growth phase would be required
   to significantly move SMGs and their progeny up the $M_{\rm
   BH}$--$M_{\rm GAL}$ plane. The X-ray luminous subset of the
   broad-line SMG population may represent this AGN-dominated phase;
   see also Fig.~3 and \S5.2 of \cite{alex08} and \cite{copp08}.}
 \end{figure}

\section{How far can SMGs move up the Black-Hole--Spheroid Mass Plane?}

Due to the large space density of SMGs and their rapid growth rates,
our constraints show that SMGs and their progeny cannot lie the factor
$\approx$~4--6 above the local relationship found for $z\approx$~2
quasars and radio galaxies. However, our constraints do not rule out
the possibility that the SMBHs and spheroids in SMGs will grow beyond
our currently derived $M_{\rm BH}$--$M_{\rm SPH}$ ratio, although they
do provide tight limits. As shown above, on the basis of the
space-density constraints of SMGs at $z\approx$~2, the ultimate SMBH
mass of typical SMGs cannot exceed $M_{\rm
BH}\approx3\times10^8$~$M_{\odot}$, limiting the amount of SMBH growth
in SMGs and their progeny by up-to a factor of $\approx$~6.

We can explore how quickly SMGs can move up the $M_{\rm BH}$--$M_{\rm
SPH}$ plane by estimating the growth rates of the SMBH and host
galaxy; see Fig.~2. Although highly uncertain due to a number of
assumptions required to determine key parameters, the relative growth
of the SMBH and host galaxy appear to be similar, indicating that SMGs
will not significantly move up the $M_{\rm BH}$--$M_{\rm SPH}$ plane
over the likely duration of the submm-bright phase. For example, it
would take $\approx$~400~Myrs for the SMBH to grow by the maximum
factor of $\approx$~6 allowed. These analyses suggest that an
AGN-dominated growth phase, where the SMBH grows substantially faster
than the host galaxy, is required to significantly move SMGs and their
progeny up the SMBH--spheroid mass plane. An AGN-dominated growth
phase may be associated with optically bright quasars, where the
relative SMBH growth could exceed that of the galaxy spheroid. Indeed,
the relative SMBH--host galaxy growth times of the X-ray luminous
subset of the broad-line SMGs is sufficient to increase the
SMBH--spheroid mass ratio by a factor of $\approx$~8 over 200~Myrs;
see Fig.~2 and \S5.2 of \cite{alex08}. We note that the CO-derived gas
and host-galaxy masses of submm-detected optically luminous quasars
are consistent with those expected for an AGN-dominated phase that
follows the rapid SMBH--spheroid growth phase of luminous SMGs
\cite{copp08}, providing evidence for this evolutionary scenario.

We finally note that given the rapid growth rates of SMGs (i.e.,\
star-formation rates high enough to build a massive spheroid of
$M_{\rm SPH}\approx10^{11}$~$M_{\odot}$ in 100~Myrs), it is quite
amazing that the $M_{\rm BH}$--$M_{\rm SPH}$ ratio does not deviate
far from that seen in massive galaxies in the local Universe. This
suggests that some mechanism connects and regulates the growth of both
components.

\acknowledgements

I thank the Royal Society for generous support and the following
collaborators for allowing me to present this research: A.~Blain,
F.~Bauer, N.~Brandt, S.~Chapman, K.~Coppin, R.~Ivison,
K.~Men{\'e}ndez-Delmestre, I.~Smail, and M.~Swinbank.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaArXiv


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If at Llandow lock the gate and ENSURE YOU PAY THE FARMER WHEN RETURNING THE KEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Any mishaps or accidents must be recorded and reported to the Competition Secretary who will file a report with the MSA if necessary.
This is only a quick guide to arranging a Nav Scatter. The definitive rules are contained in the blue book under section K 12 -13 if in doubt read the book, if in further doubt ask the comp sec and watch him read the book. A navigational scatter event is defined by the RACMSA blue book. This is just a short article to help you wade through some of the more technical stuff, but the definitive answer should always be the " blue book".
The first thing is to allow you self plenty of time, both in lead time up to the event and for the actual preparation of it. The bare minimum lead time that is needed is 5 weeks, this covers the time the RAC needs to grant the permit and time needed for the post office to deliver the permit to you the event cannot go ahead without you being in possession of the permit! Please do not listen to the "I always get a permit no problem, overnight normally" brigade; the RAC can and will issue permits in a shorter time, but in the past, we (BAC) were constantly asking for late permits and got handed a fine for doing so!!
If you want to collect points for organising and your competitors want to claim points for competing on your event the committee of the Club need to have approved the event 4 weeks before it runs and if you want any competitors at all, the event needs to be advertised!! So reasonably you need to allow yourself at least six weeks. Once the Committee has given you the OK (a mere formality, we always want organisers) get a cheque from the treasurer made out to the MSA, and a permit application form from the Competition Secretary.
Currently we are organising events of Clubman's status, with members of two other Clubs being invited. These Clubs must be invited in writing, and you must receive conformation from them that they have accepted the invite. The form is a bit daunting but if you need advice ask the Competition Secretary (it's the only time anyone talks to him!). When you get the permit back it will have stamped on it " subject to approval of RLO" the Rally Liaison Officer. For this area is Alun Morgan. Send your list of control points to him and leave it a few days and then phone him to check that is ok. If you have followed the guidelines below there should be no problems, but if there is a control that the RLO wants moved or an extra black spot that he wants put in, his word is law!
Or in the case of a nav scatter lack of it! – The definition of a nav scatter is "Competitors should be requires to visit a number of points at random and no merit should be attached to visiting more than 75% of the points listed The majority of the points should not be readily accessible without leaving the car". To get away from the onerous work of PRing the route you need to ensure that your control points (or anywhere that the competitors are required to stop) are a minimum of 500 metres away from a household. This sounds easy but South Wales IS a very crowed area, if you want to borrow the map from the Competition Secretary, he has marked most of the places that fill this requirement on the map. Just find as many points on the map as you think can be visited in "ample" time (the blue book).
Once you have decided the points you will use send them off straight away to the RLO. You must then decide how you are going to define your controls. The simplest and most common way is to use 6 or 8 figure map references, but you can use tulips, herringbones, circular herring bones, reversed herring bones, spot heights, clock faces & lots of other techniques. But all of the techniques above can only define a point, they must not be used to define a obligatory route as the RLO is only interested in the points you will visit so you can send your "route" (for want of a better word) off to him as soon as you decide which points will be visited or you can wait until you have sorted all your paperwork and clue sheets out and send him what the crews will have.
There are through out the country Black spots of PR sensitive people, in these you may not run a rally or you might have to restrict the event in some way. We are lucky that we only have one area around Blackmill. This square must be marked a s a black spot on all BAC events plus any other black spots that the RLO might decide at a later date.
3. A clue sheet for the crew of each car, this will tell them how many controls there are, the maximum number they have to collect, the time the have to do this in, the way to find the controls and any black spots.
The Competition Secretary has copies of all of these forms if you need them.
Make sure it is published!! Write an ad for the Club magazine, put up posters in likely spots (only put your Phone number down, not the start & time) put up a poster on the Club notice board, get all your paper work ready, if you are giving handouts, or panic envelopes it may be worth putting them all in an A4 envelope one for each crew. Try if possible to use a laser printer or photocopier for you paperwork, if you use a inkjet printer it is likely to run in the rain. Collect the code boards you will need, one for every control you intend to use plus one to show the crews at the start. You don't have to use control boards you may want to use phone boxes, road signs, telegraph post numbers or any thing else you can think of to ensure that the crew has visited the control, but remember that if you want to keep you PR work down to the minimum you must make sure that there is no habitation within 500 metres. If you need control boards, ask the Competition Secretary but leave plenty of time and make sure he doesn't see what numbers or letters you are using (he's not above recording them).
As each crew arrives, ensure that their cars comply with the "spirit of the event" (no rally cars, road legal, etc.) and get them to sign on and pay for the event. Check their Club card, for the purpose of this event their Club card is their competition license; no card, no start. This is even more important if the event is run with invited Clubs make sure that either that your clock / watch is accurate to BBC time and inform each crew as they sign on of their start time. As each crew's time to start arrives hand their pack to them, repeat another 11 times!!! After each crew has had their pack a few minutes, go to them all in turn and check that everything is OK. If all OK wait until approx. 15 minutes after first car was handed pack and either depart to pub, go to finish and wait or if you have a black spot or control to check, toddle off there.
Try to set the finish away from the Barley mow and make it a relaxed section. At the finish, collect the clue sheets from each crew; note their time of finishing and then when you have them all, or when the last crew would have been OTL, retreat to the Barley mow for results and well-earned refreshments.
Add all points for all crews; get someone else to check them. Announce the results. Write up results for the magazine editor, claim your organiser's points and then don't forget to collect the control boards for two reasons. One; to keep the countryside tidy, two; just to reassure yourself that the smart Alec who swore blind the board wasn't there was wrong.


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Tax warning: Late submission of self-assessment could lead to £100 fine
Mike Wakeford
Taxpayers should take note of an important upcoming deadline – the 31 January 2020. This date marks the self-assessment tax return deadline for last year's tax year (6 April 2018 – 5 April 2019).
Taxpayers who submit their self-assessment tax return after this date risk facing an automatic £100 fine – even those who do not owe any tax to HMRC.
With less than three weeks until the deadline, it is important for those who complete self-assessment tax returns to prepare and submit their return, to avoid facing a fine.
Last year, HMRC saw 93% of tax returns completed on time; however, the number of people who submitted late has been around 700,000 for the last few years.
Late payment fees have been estimated to raise over £70m a year for HMRC.
If you are faced with a late submission fine, it can be appealed but only if you have a reasonable excuse. This may include the death of a close family member, or suffering from a serious illness/condition.
Naturally, you will want to avoid any extra payments on top of your bill, especially if you do not owe anything.
At Moore, our personal tax team work hard to submit self-assessment tax returns on time to avoid any late-submission penalties.
We know how hard people work for their money, and how inconvenient it is having to spend large amounts of money on late fees and fines.
Contact us today to find out how our personal tax team can help relieve the stress of your self-assessment tax return.
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Epic Lebanese Marriage Ceremony
Starts Off With Folks Dropping Their Feelings Through Snapchat!
These Instagram Accounts Are Serving To People After The Beirut Explosion
Lebanese Fida Fadel Lebanese Pinterest Lovely
Lebanese Bride Virtually Hit By Explosion While Filming Wedding Ceremony Video
This customized originated in a single a half of Greece, the place it is a substitute for wedding presents, however it has turn out to be extra widespread lately. At the reception, the couple customarily uses a toasting cup referred to as a Coupe de Mariage. The origin of giving this toast began in France, when a small piece of toast was literally dropped into the couple's wine to make sure a healthy life. The couple would carry their glass to "a toast", as is widespread in Western tradition today. Nowadays, the guests usually gathered on the town hall or church and the bride and bridegroom enter collectively, adopted by the family and guests.
It backs that declare up with a wall full of myriad accolades and customer awards; partnerships with Hibbard's "Original" Frozen Custard and De Dees Dairy; and by being the go-to cake and pastry maker for so much of a marriage celebration .
Stunning Sri Lankan beauties are becoming increasingly well-liked among international men; in 2019, 23 Sri Lankan brides, with the assistance of a fiancée visa, moved to the USA for marriage.
Baumstamm sägen, the custom of cutting a log together, represents the first obstacle that the couple should overcome of their marriage.
Lebanese brides pay a lot of attention to the attraction they've with a potential associate, however they also wish to see a dependable and reliable man by their side.
Beautiful Lebanese women are used to consideration from men and know every trick in the book guys use to get a girl to note them. That is why you need to be artistic and innovative in your strategy, but not to the purpose where you may be being performative. Lebanon is an Arab nation, but it doesn't have lots of the traditional characteristics of an Arab nation. They can get an training, construct a career, or transfer overseas if they need. Jewish communities all throughout America had been rocked this week after discovering that a Lebanese Muslim man residing as an ultra-Orthodox Jew managed to trick a Haredi woman to marry him in New York City's borough of Brooklyn.
"There is a lot injury, many people have been killed and others were injured. One day after the tragedy, she returned to the place the place she was making the clip, collectively along with her husband, Ahmad Subeih, a 34-year-old businessman from Lebanon. The Brazilian tradition is very wealthy with its quite a few traditions, celebrations, and in many instances superstitions.
Begins Off With Folks Dropping Their Feelings By Way Of Snapchat!
"First of all we heard an explosion however we thought it was far away, it was a small explosion," Mahmoud advised Euronews. Subeih recalled the aftermath of the blast, which officers have blamed on a huge stockpile of extremely explosive material saved for years in unsafe situations on the port. She recalled the aftermath of the blast, which officials have blamed on an enormous stockpile of highly explosive material stored for years at the port.
These Instagram Accounts Are Serving To Individuals After The Beirut Explosion
" a Lebanese bride asked a wedding get together at an adjoining desk one morning. In each Lebanon and Israel, solely spiritual leaders can perform marriages, so lovers who want to hold the rabbis, sheikhs, clergymen and pastors out of their love life should tie the knot elsewhere. We'd love to see this dress in cake type, however then once more, their dessert was fairly over-the-top, too.
Lebanese Fida Fadel Lebanese Pinterest Stunning
Crystal had nixed any smoke effects at their reception—but was pleased that the venue ignored her request. "I was practically tripping over my dress every time I went backward in the dance—which was fairly a bit," she says. "The smoke coated it expertly and made it appear to be I was floating." Crystal was sure to cowl the small print of their first look with each the photographer and videographer after their stateside vendors did not capture that moment at their Florida ceremony. "I told them that footage of him was the most important," Crystal says. Lebanese nongovernmental organizations and artists use videos to create awareness of the risks of early marriage, which impacts 6% of all women in Lebanon. The large explosion that erupted at the capital's port killed a hundred thirty five individuals, according to reviews, and it injured another 5,000.
Lebanese Bride Virtually Hit By Explosion Whereas Filming Marriage Ceremony Video
Therefore, you attach nice significance to non-public hygiene and supported naturalness. Next up is MatchTruly.com, a website with years of experience in relation to linking up individuals of different origins. If you're somebody that treasures that feeling of being in trusted palms, then MatchTruly.com might moreover be simply the issue for you. Numerous evaluations are circulating about the internet about this platform, thus testifying to their success.
Lebanese mail order brides worth their religious upbringing and their family beliefs, but in addition they have plenty of contemporary views. They have many dreams and aspirations and so they won't permit any religious prejudice to cease them. According to the bride's mother and father, their daughter found her husband's secret a few month after the wedding, when she discovered a Lebanese passport among his belongings. Hamdan explained that he had dreamt of the gorgeous wedding ceremony traditions, but he felt it was necessary to give the cash, as a substitute, to people who have been injured by the explosions or became homeless now. A young woman is seen within the photographs smiling in her white marriage ceremony dress as she poses for the professional shoot in a city square on the day of her nuptials.
Young Lebanese women could be surprisingly unbiased for an Arab country, however they've a strong attachment to their parents. A Lebanese bride won't ask for his or her permission to date you, but when issues get serious and there could be marriage on the horizon, she will certainly want her dad and mom to meet you and type an opinion about you. You will quickly notice that Lebanese women aren't as unique as you think and in many https://asiansbrides.com/lebanese-brides/ ways, they are similar to the women you already know. However, Lebanese mail order brides have sure expectations from dating, and here are 5 suggestions for making the most out of your time with a Lebanese bride. Lebanese women for marriage at the second are getting extra recognition among Western men, and it's completely deserved. A Lebanese wife has everything it takes to make you the happiest man on the planet, and listed here are the three best qualities of Lebanese wives.
However, the ceremony's important occasion happens when the bride and the groom trade nuptial cups of sake also identified as san-san-ku-do. With the addition of Western tradition, the trade of rings and weddings vows also take place. Those friends who didn't attend the non secular ceremony are capable of view the ceremony on video screens positioned in the lobby. With the 2 kinds of ceremonies, Shinto and Western, obtainable it was bound for the two to be mixed into what is called a contemporary Japanese marriage ceremony. On the start of the marriage day, the participants are to prepare on the parlor's beauty store. The duty of the sweetness store is to decorate the bride, the groom, and the opposite participants in the formal Japanese apparel. Dressing the bride is a vital task as a result of the bride is to change into several outfits all through her wedding day.
Investigators are probing the explosion as possible negligence in the storage of tons of highly explosive fertilizer in a waterfront warehouse. The authorities, in the meantime, has ordered the home arrest of a number of port officers. The digital camera momentarily veers to the left to film a facet avenue the place smoke is already visible, earlier than its shaken operator recovers. Back in the sq., there are signs of damage and debris, while the bride and groom can be seen fleeing. "I still do not have a photograph of my marriage ceremony day at house," Seblani, 30, stated, back in the identical square as other couples celebrated their nuptials, identical to they did. She was standing radiant in a white robe and headdress in a sq. in Beirut final Aug. four, the day she married businessman Ahmad Subeih, when the scene was shattered by a deafening roar as a strong shockwave almost blew her off her toes. Then that of the Lebanese at present and the distinctive method during which they've managed their existence at the crossroads of worlds.
The Newlywed couple also make a loud and elaborate entrance into their reception equipped similarly, with dancers, music and drums in tow. Typically only close family come to these celebrations however don't assume that signifies that numbers will be small! One can expect to see flowers galore, loads of meals, dancing and music. Just before it's time to leave for the church the Grooms mother and father come and present the Bride with a gift. Usually it is a gold necklace or diamonds for her to wear on her Wedding Day.


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Home / The Well Armed Woman Blog / The DI-ADEM: First AR Designed For Women, By Women
About Guns, The Well Armed Woman Blog
The DI-ADEM: First AR Designed For Women, By Women
Written by Barbara Baird for Range 365
The DI-ADEM is the first AR built for women, using input from at least 140 female shooters, and currently is for sale only to those who helped it come into being: members of The Well Armed Woman's 350 chapters across the country, with more than 12,000 members. It's also the crown jewel of the DI line from LWRCI, a company reputed for making ARs of high quality and substance.
Recently, I and some other gun writers were lucky enough to try it out at the range and talk to the folks involved in creating this cutting edge rifle.
The back story of how this gun came to market begins with a panel discussion involving a select panel of women industry leaders held two years ago at an Industry Summit held in Savannah by the National Shooting Sports Foundation.
Among those leaders was Carrie Lightfoot, founder of The Well Armed Woman, which bills itself as "the complete resource for the woman gun owner."
David Golladay and David Ridley of LWRCI said they were impressed with, not only Lightfoot's non-profit organization but also with her articulate and passionate methods for moving the organization forward.
Read our helpful Frequently Asked Questions here
The left side of the DI-ADEM. You can see the purple trigger, the rifle's only bit of color.
photo by Barbara Baird
In further conversations, Lightfoot and the two Davids decided someone needed to build an AR for women—and that the someone should be LWRCI, a company known for building barrels that still deliver after 35,000+ rounds.
LWRCI took the first step, sponsoring TWAW and its chapter organization and attending two conferences. Representatives from the gunmaker also, and most importantly, talked to women on the range about what they wanted.
Lightfoot then reached out to the women in various TWAW chapters across the country and asked them to help provide input for building this special rifle.
She and her team then compiled a spreadsheet with the results.
Last week, in the LWRCI plant in Maryland, all that work and data gathering came to fruition. A press event was held during which I and a few other folks got to witness the ARs rolling off the line. A group of engineers then posed proudly with Lightfoot and the gun her she and her organization helped create.
Carrie Lightfoot with the all-male team of engineers who built the DI-ADEM.
One of the men who worked on the design of the rifle said the whole group of engineers for the project were male, and that they figured they knew what women wanted out of an AR from the start.
But, once the information started coming in from TWAW chapters and women in the field, the engineers had to admit that they didn't know what women wanted at all.
One of the most surprising things to them was the fact that the women didn't want any color on the gun, except for the trigger – which is a Cerakote-applied purple, the organization's color.
Here are the final specs of the DI-ADEM rifle, gleaned from the features the women surveyed said they wanted in an AR:
DI-ADEM Specs
action: direct impingement housed in a lightweight upper receiver
caliber: 5.56 NATO
overall length: 32 to 35.4 inches
forend: custom-designed slim, compact rail system (uses M-lok rail attachments) plus an angled ergonomic foregrip with QD sling mounting points. Comes with rail panels and handstop
bolt carrier: proprietary LWRCI nickel-boron coated DI bolt carrier group with integrated gas key
charging handle: ambidextrous
barrel: Cold-hammer-forged, NiCorr-treated, spiral-fluted barrel
barrel length: 16.1 inches
controls: fully ambidextrous
sights: Skirmish back-up iron front and rear sights
stock: Magpul CTR stock with QD sling mounts and enhanced padded buttpad
trigger: enhanced fire control group with 6-lb. trigger (Cerakoted purple) and an advanced trigger guard
buffer tube: H2 bugger, Mil-spec 6-position buffer tube and spring
grip: custom designed slim grip
bonus: mag well features The Well Armed Woman logo
MSRP: $1499 to TWAW chapter members through Aug. 31; $1899 to general public
For now, the gun is only available to TWAW members. As of Aug. 31, the rifle will be available to the general public, if there are any from the original limited run of 1,000 left, that is.
A full profile shot of the rifle.
mfg photo
"Even though the engineers may not have understood what was important to women, the instruction was to 'give them what they want,'" said Lightfoot. "That's huge in this industry."
Lightfoot said they worked on the grip with a few iterations and particularly wanted to get the feel and balance right.
"The balance is remarkable … I can tell you that it almost becomes weightless because it's balanced so well. And the handguard has been designed for a woman's hand, so that our hands can really wrap the guard and control the gun," she said.
Along with the plant tour, Lightfoot shot the gun at LWRCI's private shooting range on Ragged Island. She and several members of the press enjoyed an afternoon of shooting these ARs, along with other new guns in the line, on steel at 100 yards.
"I think the media people really enjoyed it, and I am looking forward to reading what they have to say about this gun," said Lightfoot.
As a media person, and a seasoned AR shooter, I can attest to the gun's extremely fine balance and it will not only be a great addition to a lineup of ARs – should you be lucky to own a few by now – but also, it's the perfect gun for a new AR owner. As for the price, I tend to think that if there are men who want the quality that LWRCI affords in its line of direct impingement guns, then there are women who also will appreciate the features of this gun.
Find out more about the LWRCI DI-ADEM here and see veteran shotgunner Anne Mauro run a mag through it in the clip below. It was actually Mauro's first time behind a semi-automatic rifle, and she definitely makes the most of it.
Anne Mauro Shoots the new DI-ADEM rifle from LWRCI
Benefits of the AR-15 For Female Shooters
Are there benefits of the AR-15 For Female Shooters? The AR-15 is a firearm that, largely due to the fact that it has been repeatedly vilified by numerous major media outlets, has attracted a...
The AR-15 – Time To Set The Record Straight
The AR15 is getting a bad rap. There is so much misinformation communicated through both ignorance and malice. It's time to set the record straight. Let's begin with some history.
The TWAW/LWRCI DI-ADEM AR-15 For Women: Frequently Asked Questions
Why would a woman want an AR-15? An AR-15 or MSR (Modern Sporting Rifle) is the most modular and popular rifle system for many reasons. Because the military has adopted this platform: the ammunition used...
TWAW DI-ADEM – Built For Women, By Women
The first AR-15 built for women by women. 18 months in design with hundreds of The Well Armed Women across the country has created this truly unique rifle built by LWRCI. Read The Frequently Asked Questions...
The AR15 – The Facts – Infographic
AR-15, Shooting and training
AR Rife Facts: AR does not stand for "assault rifle" or "automatic rifle". AR stands for "ArmaLite Rifle" and is often called a Modern porting Rifle (MSR). AR's shoot one round with each trigger pull s it is not a fully automatic rifle as many believe.
4 thoughts on "The DI-ADEM: First AR Designed For Women, By Women"
Are there any more AR-15 available? I went to my local gun store and they weren't able to order it.
Carrie Lightfoot says:
You can find more information about the DI-ADEM and purchasing by clicking HERE
Jessop Viki says:
Are the AR-15's still available? As a TWAW member, I would like to get one. Thanks.
Here is the Order Form, CLICK HERE.
There is also a phone number that I would reach out to to see their lead times and availability.


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Conagra Brands to acquire Angie's Artisan Treats, LLC, Maker Of Angie's® BOOMCHICKAPOP® Ready-To-Eat Popcorn
Angie's BOOMCHICKAPOP ready-to-eat popcorn
Conagra Brands, Inc. (NYSE: CAG) announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Angie's Artisan Treats, LLC, the maker of Angie's BOOMCHICKAPOP ready-to-eat popcorn, from TPG Growth, the middle market and growth equity platform of alternative asset firm TPG.
Financial terms were not disclosed. The transaction is expected to close by the end of the calendar year, subject to customary closing conditions, including the receipt of regulatory approvals.
Sean Connolly, president and chief executive officer of Conagra Brands:
"Adding the Angie's BOOMCHICKAPOP brand to Conagra's portfolio is another important step in our ongoing plan to modernize our portfolio and accelerate growth."
"The Angie's BOOMCHICKAPOP business is a leader in the fast-growing, better-for-you snacking segment. It will be a great complement to our growing snack business."
"We are looking forward to working together to grow the brand and create value for our shareholders."
Mark Zurcher, chief executive officer of Angie's Artisan Treats:
"The Angie's BOOMCHICKAPOP business has achieved exceptional growth through great teamwork between our team, Angie and Dan Bastian, our founders, as well as support from TPG Growth."
"The business has thrived, but is still in the early innings of realizing its full potential. The goal from the beginning has been to make real connections with more consumers by bringing them our positive energy, bold flavors, whole grain goodness and authentic 'live out loud' attitude."
"We are confident that the Angie's BOOMCHICKAPOP business will continue to expand its reach as a part of Conagra Brands."
The Angie's BOOMCHICKAPOP brand was founded by husband and wife entrepreneurs Dan and Angie Bastian in 2001.
The brand features more than a dozen varieties of ready-to-eat popcorn and is available nationwide in natural food, grocery, club, drug and mass retail outlets.
Angie's BOOMCHICKAPOP has a presence in the U.S., Canada, South Korea, Peru, the Caribbean and Mexico.
Angie Bastian:
"I love Conagra's vision of being the most-energized, highest-impact culture in food. We see Conagra as a perfect fit for the Angie's BOOMCHICKAPOP brand."
"It was a dream of my husband Dan and I to create positive energy when we started our little popcorn company in our Minnesota garage."
"We're proud of what our team has built, and can't wait to see it taken to the next level. Dream big, work hard and crush it!"
Mark Grabowski, Partner at TPG Growth:
"It's been a pleasure to work closely with the management team and founders through the company's transformation to a better-for-you snacking leader as Angie's BOOMCHICKAPOP."
"We're focused on partnering with high growth, dynamic brands that distinctly resonate with today's and tomorrow's consumer."
"Angie's BOOMCHICKAPOP is a great example of this – its commitment to great taste and authenticity has enabled it to flourish as an adored consumer brand in the better-for-you snacking space."
"We wish them continued success with Conagra."
Do you want to receive regular News Updates on Chips and Snacks?
Companies in this Article
Conagra Brands, Inc. (NYSE: CAG) is one of North America's leading branded food companies. Conagra Brands is the new name for Conagra Foods after the spin-off of Lamb Weston.
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Angie's BOOMCHICKAPOP


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Program—Readings of American realist fiction
Readings of American realist fiction
Wednesday 4 July 2007 , 8 PM
Diowin Walton, Death Of Salesman, 1985
Wednesday 4 July, 8 pm
Entry: Free (with beer, lemonade and cookies)
Margaret Salmon
To mark American independence day, Witte de With presents an evening of readings from American realist fiction and drama, including Raymond Carver, John Steinbeck and Arthur Miller, to accompany Margaret Salmon's exhibition.
Adopting an almost anthropological approach in her filmic portraits, Margaret Salmon observes and records her characters in their usual habitats. She views them as representatives of universal types featured throughout the history of art, literature and cinema: "I think these archetypes transmit everyday truths and experiences to which we can all relate. This is the essence of my work. I am attempting to explore, deconstruct and celebrate these common human themes."
Stylistically, Salmon's influences include several key pieces of American realist fiction and drama. For example, "The conversation in P.S. obsesses over work and money and sacrifice, so I filmed the main character working the land, almost like some Great Depression character from a Steinbeck novel." In addition to its imagery, she also draws upon the sparse yet compact dialogue of realist fiction, notably from the short stories of Raymond Carver or the works of Arthur Miller.
The aesthetic of her work is clearly American, from the architecture she portrays ' the clapboard houses in Peggy and Ramapo Central ' to the settings she chooses: the summer barbeque or the woman laying in the sun on her front porch. Her films portray a contemporary America, but one steeped in its own history and contained within small, semi-rural or suburban communities, far from the more brash version of America that we see in today's media and mainstream cinema.
Readers:
Alexis Blake
Roberta Enschede
Esther Kurtz
Format of the evening:
Raymond Carver's Everything Stuck to Him, from What We Talk About When We Talk About Love (1981)
Extract from John Steinbeck's Cannery Row (1945)
Scene from Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman (1949)
Tillie Olsen's As I Stood Ironing from Tell Me A Riddle (1961)
Extract from John Fante's Wait Until Spring, Bandini (1938)
James Leo Herlihy's Pretty on the Bus at Night-time, from The Sleep of Baby Filbertson (1959)
Margaret Salmon's exhibition will be open from 7:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. to enable you to visit the show immediately prior to the reading. The exhibition is normally open 11 a.m. – 6 p.m., Tuesday to Sunday, until 19 August 2007.
20 May – 19 August 2007


Showcasing brilliant under 20's acoustic talent, Freedom Road return for their 7th year at Tribfest.
Freedom Road Creative Arts aim to make a positive difference in the lives of children and young people and to empower, raise confidence and give a voice to them, primarily through the creative and performing arts. To support, nurture and raise their aspirations as individuals in order to help them be, not only rounded, contributing adults, but also successful ones.
For more information about Freedom Road Creative Arts, click here to go to their website.
Click here to see video highlights from The Freedom Road Under 20s Marquee at Tribfest.


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Black lives matter in Europe too
Cheyanne Ntangu
The police and civilians haven't always had the best of relationships and have come into conflict on a yearly basis.
When the subject of police brutality is spoken about it is almost certain that the incidents discussed will link to the United States.
Especially in the most recent years as the deaths of Eric Garner, Michael Brown, Sandra Bland, Tamir Rice, and many more have made it into the public sphere across the globe due to online activism on social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook.
African-Americans make up 12.2% of the US population but they are the second most like community to be killed by the police after Native Americans.
According to The Guardian the reported tally of people killed by American police states that 1,092 people were killed by the police in 2016. The statistics show that 6.66% killed were black.
Furthermore, the killedbypolice.net database claims, more than 130 people have been killed so far in 2017.
But why are blacks targeted so much by the police?
Senior communications officer at the European Network Against Racism in Brussels, Georgina Siklossy told us: "There is a pervasive use of ethnic and religious stereotypes by law enforcement across Europe, which leads to police brutality and ethnic profiling. Heightened concerns over migration and the threat of terrorism may be fuelling discriminatory policing practices."
Shortly after taking office, Donald Trump signed three executive orders regarding "public safety" which includes tendering officers with more authority. When running for presidency, Trump made it clear that as president, the concept of "law and order" would be back in motion.
While he may be a joke to the political world he certainly wasn't joking about that – he seeks to "define new federal crimes, and increase penalties for existing federal crimes, in order to prevent violence" against the state and federal police.
He claims this yet he hasn't mentioned the high killings of Native Americans, black and Hispanic/Latino communities but of course, that's not part of Trump's America.
He asserted that the United States faced the "threat of rising crime" and that "things will get better very soon."
At this stage, we have a better chance of creating a brand new world from scratch than Donald Trump "making America great again".
Black Lives Matter Protest, London [Cheyanne Ntangu]
But even though all of this is happening in the United States, it is undeniable that the suffering of black communities in Europe are hardly highlighted either.
It seems like European media publications and societies are more engrossed in the events happening in America than face the realities of racism, discrimination and hatred towards people of colour in Europe, as well as, the fragmented relationship between law enforcement and the public.
However, it is now time to change the discourse and speak about issues in Europe such as institutional racism within the police and how the law enforcement agencies have failed to protect black people from the violence of their agents who use racist stereotypes to do their job.
Siklossy told Artefact: "Most Europeans generally view anti-Black racism as an American phenomenon. Due to the influence of mass media and familiarity with historic events, such as the slave trade, the Civil Rights movement, the wider European public has come into contact and become familiarised with Afrophobia as it exists in the US."
She adds: "There has been relatively little attention paid to the distinct issues which arise in the European context. Failure to consider this issue in the light of factors prevalent in Europe – such as the legacy of colonialism, role in transatlantic slave trade, and the diverse backgrounds of those described as 'Black', which means that Afrophobia, more generally, and police brutality against Black people, is not really addressed and talked about among state actors and members of the public in Europe."
There are 12 million black people living in Europe and the population is increasing, however, the lack of visibility of these black communities and dialogue among the state and public is extremely troubling.
It illustrates the possibility of racial inequality and discrimination follows, in workplace, in society and in the justice system to increase.
Additionally, as government bodies don't seem to care, the lack of trust between black communities and the police increases, and incidents across European countries have exposed police forces being racist when reinforcing authority, making it difficult for black communities, especially in inner city areas, to feel secure.
Most recently in France, a police officer has been accused of anally raping a young black man with a police baton during a violent arrest in a Parisian suburb.
The prosecutors claim that the law enforcement had stopped dozens of people after hearing calls of drug dealing sites in the area.
Investigators stated that the police officer who sodomized the young black man with a baton claimed that they did so "accidentally" and that the incident does not institute rape.
However, the 22-year-old youth worker who has no apparent criminal record argued otherwise.
Théo alleges that he was physically and sexually assaulted by a housing estate in Aulnay-sous-Bois; he said that he was antagonised by the officers after witnessing one of them smack a young person during an identity check.
Théo explained that the officers took him around the corner and sodomised him with a truncheon, spat on him, beat his genitals and called him names such as "bitch" and "negro".
This brutal attack led Théo to suffer from severe anal and facial injuries, portions of which were captured on video.
President François Hollande visits Théo in hospital after incident. [Twitter/François Hollande]
The young man was immediately taken into hospital for emergency surgery. The French Interior Minister Bruno Le Roux said that each of the four officers involved has been charged with aggravated assault and one was charged with rape.
Even if the allegations of drug selling in the area were true there are ways to reinforce authority, order and discipline and this wasn't surely one of them.
According to French press, the police stated that Théo's pants "slipped down on their own" and his wounds were accidental. But an early investigation by France's national police force concluded that the incident wasn't minor and while "very serious" was "not a rape" due to the "unintentional character" of the officer's actions.
This is a typical response when it comes to police officers taking advantage of their authority. Government bodies would rather continue to be prideful and patriotic to their beloved countries than shed the light on the wrongdoings of officers.
For them, it is better to put up a façade which has the world believing that everyone is living harmoniously in their countries, despite it evidently being far from the truth.
It is not very often that you hear of such news occurring in France beside political and terrorist propaganda. The minority French population refuse to stay silent as Théo's story caused a huge uproar as the hashtag #justicefortheo hit the internet and protesters marched in the streets of France.
In 2015 TV5 Monde Senior Editor Slimane Zeghidour stated that racism in France is not based on skin colour, to try and establish a difference between France and the United States. He stresses that there is "very little" to "no racial prejudice" but there is a "very strong prejudice of class".
"In France, there is no racism based on skin colour. To see evidence of this you only have to look at the streets of France where you'll see more mixed-race couples than in New York or Rio de Janeiro," Zeghidour said.
"To get to the heart of the problem, you can draw a parallel between the US/UK and France: in France, white French people are intensely mixing with Arabs and Blacks and interracial marriages are more common than in any other country in Europe.
"In the US it's the opposite. Different peoples don't intermarry, inter-racial marriages are still very rare. However, elites do accept racial diversity among their ranks in academics and political parties," Zeghidour added.
But this may not be completely true.
In the article 'Why black people in France are still invisible', Aude Konan writes: "France has a deeply ingrained racist culture. It is very common to pretend that racism doesn't exist and, even if it does, that it's not that bad. Yet, in the name of the freedom of speech, racial and religious prejudices invade the public space. And when anti-racism activists denounce it, they are accused of paranoia and censoring."
This makes you wonder how many severe incidents or issues have not being documented and why minorities don't have a voice.
"This is an extremely serious incident of police violence and it highlights the urgent need to address police violence and discriminatory treatment of ethnic and religious minorities across Europe," Siklossy told us.
"This incident is also symptomatic of widespread ethnic profiling by police forces, which leads to individuals being singled out for identity checks or searches because of their race, ethnicity or perceived religion, and police violence against ethnic minorities in Europe, and in particular people of African descent," she added.
In 2016, 18-year-old, autistic teen Mzee Mohammed was also harassed by the police but unlike Théo, Mzee died in custody in Liverpool.
He was arrested last summer by Merseyside Police for "aggressive and erratic" behaviour, after reports that Mzee was allegedly carrying a knife around a shopping centre.
Video footage of Mzee being held down by several police officers was published on the Internet. Eight security guards, 18 police officers, a police dog and a helicopter were sent to the scene all for one boy who was already on the ground.
The teenager died after allegedly becoming "unwell" in the custody of police. An ambulance was called and Mzee was taken to the Royal Liverpool Hospital where he was pronounced dead later that evening by doctors. An IPCC investigation was opened shortly after.
Mzee's case and death led to masses of demonstrations in across several cities in England over the treatment of black people by the police.
The death of Mzee and other black people while in the care of the state raises concerns and questions the nobility of the ones placed in a position of authority.
The director of campaign group Inquest, Deborah Coles, made a statement about Mzee's death: "The day after Theresa May highlighted issues about race and disproportionality in the justice system it is deeply concerning to learn of the death of a vulnerable black teenager. There needs to be the most thorough and robust scrutiny of the actions of the security guards and the police who were in contact with him moments before his death."
Inquest statistics show a total 158 deaths in police custody or otherwise following contact with the police in England and Wales (BAME population) since 1990. This number raises caution as it the figure is relatively small.
However, national newspaper, The Guardian, claims 1,500 have died following police contact since 1990.
Additionally, the IPCC statistics indicate that six per cent of black people have died in police custody in the past decade.
Incidents such as this show the severity of racial profiling that black people face by the police and how difficult it is for blacks to wholeheartedly trust the law enforcements if they are continuously being targeted.
Moreover, how can they respect and believe the state have their best interest at heart if they continue to do nothing more than record numbers of deaths?
"There is a lack of trust between Black communities and the police which arises from various methods used by the police such as ethnic profiling and lack of full investigation of racially motivated crimes," says Georgina Siklossy.
"These practices breach fundamental rights standards and have an extremely negative impact on the minority communities targeted, often leaving innocent individuals feeling humiliated, alienated and damaged, physically and psychologically.
"Ethnic profiling leads to lower levels of trust in the police, making the very communities whose support is necessary for fighting crime and terrorism reluctant to cooperate with law enforcement authorities" she claims.
Siklossy, also tells Artefact about the non-existent policies concerning racial injustice: "There is currently no national or European policy developed to address racial inequalities and discrimination experienced by black people. Instead, we find that black people continue to be rejected, alienated and discriminated against."
"To reverse the trend there is a need for strong and specific policies to address Afrophobia, including its structural dimensions and impact on economic and social outcomes for people of African descent and Black Europeans," she added.
Similarly, in the Netherlands, Arubian-born Mitch Henriquez was murdered by police in June 2015 after the night at the Park Festival in Zuiderpark in The Hague.
The killing was a result of intense police violence and his death was quickly compared to Eric Garner's in the US.
According to the public prosecutor's statement, the 42-year-old man was placed under arrest after claiming he had a weapon with him.
The man allegedly resisted arrest and the police then had no choice but force in order to bring him to the police station. Henriquez began to feel sick on his way to the station, so officers performed CPR. They brought him to the hospital in a critical condition.
However, family members gave a different account of the story. His cousin said: "Henriquez was joking around with a group of friends when a group of officers confronted them. Then they arrested him. His entire face was beaten black and blue."
The eyewitness also declared on social media: "I was standing no more than four metres away from him but I didn't hear the man say anything about having a gun. He walked away and four officers jumped on him." And: "An officer kept beating him on his head and legs."
There were also a series of videos showing four officers sitting on top of Henriquez, trying to gag him while holding him in a headlock and further abusing him until the man laid lifeless.
Chika Matu, 21, is of Nigerian and Moroccan descent born and raised in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Matu told Artefact that when she was living in the Netherlands she dealt with racial profiling by the police.
"At the age of 14, I was arrested for "allegedly" doing something illegal. I was under age and they held me in custody until early morning without notifying my mother. They wouldn't let me call her," she said.
Matu also said that after being antagonised by the police, they allowed her to go, however when escorting her home they attempted to drop her off at a dead end, which was around thirty minutes away from the nearest town. She then had to insist and demand her rights before they brought her to her home.
"In Holland, black people don't speak up much because we are the minority there. So we get silenced a lot, we get told that we're being ungrateful and we should go back to our own countries. People in Holland are very hostile towards foreigners. They don't believe that they have the right to speak up," she says
"The police target black people. They go to neighbourhoods where there are more black people so that they can target them," Matu added.
It is clear that the European Union is in need to develop standards for fair and effective policing, which should include an explicit prohibition against ethnic profiling, the collection of data on police stops and the provision of appropriate training for police officers.
As it appears that black lives hold very little value for European police forces that are composed of predominantly white men.
In order to reinforce safety and order for all communities, the EU members should ensure that national legislation and policy guidelines prohibit ethnic profiling and establish a requirement for reasonable suspicion for all police stops.
Police officers should participate in training that raises awareness of racial profiling and implicated bias.
Also, police forces should invest in the community by building and restoring trust and good relationship between the police and black and other minority communities.
As Siklossy says: "Police services need to rethink their role, their relationship to the public, their internal procedures and practices, their recruitment policies and their effectiveness in tackling crime."
Featured image via Mikael Marguerie, Flickr CC
assault black men Crime France françois hollande Inequality Injustice miniority communities policebrutality social media the netherlands Trump united kingdom
Georgia Casey
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Frederick Douglass and 'The Abolitionists' Take Center Stage on PBS in January
Posted byBy Stan	| October 31, 2012 CommentsComments (0)
Radicals. Agitators. Troublemakers. Liberators. Called by many names,the abolitionists tore the nation apart in order to create a more perfect union. Men and women, black and white, Northerners and Southerners, poor and wealthy, these passionate anti-slavery activists fought body and soul in the most important civil rights crusade in American history.
What began as a pacifist movement fueled by persuasion and prayer became a fiery and furious struggle that forever changed the nation. Bringing to life the intertwined stories of Frederick Douglass, William Lloyd Garrison, Angelina Grimké, Harriet Beecher Stowe and John Brown, The Abolitionists takes place during some of the most violent and contentious decades in American history, amid white-hot religious passions that set souls on fire, and bitter debates over the meaning of the Constitution and the nature of race.
It reveals how the movement shaped history by exposing the fatal flaw of a republic founded on liberty for some and bondage for others, setting the nation on a collision course. In the face of personal risks — beatings, imprisonment, even death — abolitionists held fast to their cause, laying the civil rights groundwork for the future and raising weighty constitutional and moral questions that are with us still.
Vividly bringing to life the epic struggles of the men and women who ended slavery, The Abolitionists interweaves drama with traditional documentary storytelling. Directed by Rob Rapley, The Abolitionists stars Richard Brooks, Neal Huff, Jeanine Serralles, Kate Lyn Sheil, and T. Ryder Smith, and will premiere as a special presentation in three parts on AMERICAN EXPERIENCE, Tuesdays, January 8-22, 2013 from 9:00-10:00 p.m. ET on PBS (check local listings).
TagsAmerican historyfrederick douglasspbsslavery
Skeletal Remains Found in Mexico Reveal Stories of African Enslavement 500 Years Ago in Latin America
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Mississippi Cemetery Crews Find 119 Unmarked Graves of Enslaved Africans During Maintenance Work
'We're Not a Broke Country': Congresswoman Jackson Alleviates Concerns About Who's Responsible for Slavery Reparations
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Measles Cases and Deaths Soaring Worldwide, WHO Says
FILE - A child is given a measles vaccination during an emergency campaign run by Doctors Without Borders (MSF) in Likasa, Mongala province in northern Democratic Republic of Congo.
The World Health Organization reports measles cases and deaths have soared around the globe since 2016. It reports an increase in cases to nearly 870,000 last year, while more than 207,000 people died—a 50 percent increase from 2016 levels.
The U.N. agency says the failure to inoculate children on time with two doses of measles vaccines is the main driver for increased cases and deaths. It says vaccination coverage remains well below the 95 percent needed to control the disease and prevent outbreaks and deaths.
Added to this mix is the coronavirus pandemic. Although reported cases of measles are lower this year than last, WHO says efforts to control the coronavirus outbreak have resulted in disruptions in vaccination.
WHO's senior technical advisor for measles and rubella, Natasha Crowcroft, tells VOA different strategies are needed to prevent new measles outbreaks in the time of COVID-19, the disease brought on by the coronavirus.
"The Number One action we need to take is to prevent outbreaks from happening in countries where we have got the highest risks…and there are several where there is not the ability to be able to put the health system in place to be able to rely on," she said.
Crowcroft says countries where routine immunization for children was happening will recover quickly from delays or suspended coverage during this difficult period. She says weak countries will continue to be at risk of deadly outbreaks unless swift action is taken to close this widening gap.
The WHO reports more than 94 million people are at risk of missing vaccines because nationwide campaigns have been put on pause in 26 countries. This led to huge outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Madagascar.
Eight of the 26 countries now have resumed their campaigns. They include Brazil, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Nepal, Nigeria, Philippines and Somalia.
Measles Mumps and Rubella Vaccine May Protect Some People from COVID-19
COVID-19 Slowing Immunizations for Measles, Polio, HPV, Cholera, Meningitis
WHO: COVID Restrictions Led to Polio, Measles Outbreaks
More Health News
EXPLAINER: Scientists Struggle to Monitor Tonga Volcano After Massive Eruption
Third Blow for Millions in India's Vast Informal Sector as Cities Impose Curbs


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WIM Series Finale in France
Women's International Match Racing Series > 2017 Bedanne > WIM Series Finale in France
Bedanne 2017 – Day One Chat with PRO
2017 Busan Cup – Daily Highlights – Final Day
Posted on December 11, 2017 in 2017 Bedanne, News
– International Bedanne's Cup in Tourville-la-Rivière
Nine teams from five countries are set to begin racing at the 2017 Women's International Match Racing Series (WIM Series) final event – the International Bedanne's Cup. Local hero, Pauline Courtois, tops the line-up for the final WIM Series event of 2017. "We are very excited to be able to host the WIM Series in our home club with a chance of winning the overall title" an exuberant Pauline Courtois exclaimed.
After Hurricanes Irma and Marie ripped through the Caribbean in September and left St. Thomas severely damaged, the WIM Series scrambled to find a replacement final event to take the place of the Carlos Aguilar Match Race. The Ligue de Voile de Normandy (LVN) stepped up to help out by organizing the International Bedanne's Cup with very short notice. "It has been many years that the LVN has wanted to organize an international match racing event for the women. We have been very active in match racing training and we want to help advance the women. The difficulties in St. Thomas gave us the occasion to help the WIM Series and we hope this will be a great event. And we hope next year to do it again – perhaps in the summer" smiled Cédric Chateau, Event Manager for the LVN, as he looked out at the teams practicing in the cold rain. "It will be a little colder outside than St. Thomas, but we will make the event as welcoming as possible for the sailors with palm trees and red wine inside the warm club house" continued Chateau.
The International Bedanne's Cup with a prize pool of 10,000 Euros is organized by the Ligue de Voile de Normandie with the technical support of the Club Nautique de Saint Aubin – Elbeuf (CVSAE) and sailed at the Base de Loisirs de Bedanne in Tourville-la-Rivière, France. The CVSAE President, Jean Paul Réné, welcomed the sailors to the small lake in Normandy: "We are very proud to welcome the sailors and the WIM Series to Bedanne. All of the volunteers and club staff have been working very hard for many weeks to make the event and we look forward to sharing our home with all of the teams."
The event will be sailed in CVSAE's fleet of equally matched and colourful Beneteau First Class 7.5 boats. "We are very happy to sail these boats that we are familiar with and to be sailing in our home waters for the final event of the WIM Series", smiled a confident Pauline Courtois, one of two teams who train year-round at the host club along with Margot Vennin and her Team CVSAE.
Courtois and her Match in Pink by Normandy Elite Team are the top ranked team at this event and have the opportunity to win the Terry J. Kohler Perpetual Trophy for the 2017 WIM Series championship as they currently sit in 4th just 9 points out of first. Each team may count their top 3 (of 4) events for the WIM Series championship and with 25 points awarded to the event winner, a change at the top is likely. The top four teams all planned to attend the final event, but due to the change of schedule, three of the top four had to later decline their invitations – Renée Groeneveld (1st), Anna Östling (2nd), and Trine Palludan (3rd) were unable to change work commitments when the dates changed. This opens up the possibility for the overall title to go to Courtois.
Skippers in the International Bedanne's Cup, the final event of the 2017 WIM Series, in Tourville-la-Rivière, France, France (name, nationality, team name, world ranking November 15 2017):
Pauline Courtois, FRA, Match in Pink by Normandy Elite Team, 5
28 years old sport teacher Pauline Courtois from Brest started sailing at seven and racing at nine. She has been in match racing on different positions since 2011. In 2013 she finished runner-up when calling the tactics for Julie Bossard in the WIM Series event in Saint-Quay-Portrieux, and took a bronze medal in the French championships. Pauline finished 7th on the 2016 WIM Series and this year finished runner-up in Lysekil and recently won the French Women's Match Racing Championship.
Marinella Laaksonen, FIN, L2 Match Racing Team, 6
25 years old mathematics student Marinella Laaksonen is not only the highest ranked female Finnish skipper on the World Sailing ranking, but she also has two straight National Championships in Women's Match Racing. Before getting into match racing, Marinella sailed dinghy classes like Europe dinghy, Zoom 8 and 49er FX. She finished 5th in the World Championship on her home waters of Helsinki earlier this summer and made the quarterfinals in Lysekil.
Linnea Floser, SWE, Peregrine Racing, 13
Living in the Swedish capital Stockholm, and representing the Royal Swedish Yacht Club (KSS), 24 years old Linnéa Floser made her debut on the WIM Series at the 2016 Carlos Aguilar Match Race event in St Thomas. She has raced several dinghy classes and is working as a personal trainer at SATS Lidingö and as a skipper at the At Sea Events match racing centre. Floser's match racing career started in 2015, with fast climbing to her current ranking position. Linnéa Floser is a certified personal trainer, and has studied science and meteorology at the Stockholm University, and now works as the Chief Operations Officer at At Sea Events.
Sanna Mattsson, SWE, Swedish Women's Match Racing Team, 20
This 25 years old Swede's whole life seems to be about sailing. Sanna Mattsson graduated from the Sailing High School in Lerum, Sweden, five years ago. She is hired by the Swedish Sailing Association to coach RS Feva sailors, and she's also training new coaches for the West Coast Sailing Association. With a background in several dinghy classes, in the spring of 2016 Sanna formed a brand new match racing team and made her WIM Series debut in Helsinki. After competing successfully this year in Sweden, the team returns to the WIM Series for 2017 finale in France.
Ekaterina Kochkina, RUS, ProKateam Sailing Team, 28
Ekaterina Kochkina may be young, but she has accomplished a lot since starting as a youth 14 years ago in the Optimist and working her way up through dinghies to match racing in keelboats. She was bitten by the match racing bug in 2012 and now completely devotes herself to match racing when not working as a sailing instructor at the Moscow Sailing Academy. Her list of top finishes include silver medals at the last 3 open Russian National Match Racing Championships with her eye on the gold this year. Kochkina made her WIM Series debut in 2017 in Helsinki for the Women's Match Racing World Championship and she returns to compete in France with her ProKateam Sailing Team.
Margot Vennin, FRA, Team CVSAE, 43
As one of the youngest skippers on the WIM Series, Margot Vennin, 21, makes her skipper debut on the WIM Series at the 2017 International Bedanne's Cup. When not racing Margo is an engineering student from Paris. She only began match racing in September of 2016 following a successful international career in dinghies with a top ten finish at the 420 World Championship and winning the French Inshore Youth Championship as crew. Margot and her team from the local club, CVSAE, hope to be competitive at the Bedanne's Cup and carry that into further success on the WIM Series in 2018.
Anne-Claire Le Berre, FRA, French Women's Match Racing Sailing Team, 51
35 years old Anne-Claire Le Berre from Brest on the Atlantic coast of France returns to the match racing circuit after second child and a job change. She has match raced since 2005 and achieved the world number 1 ranking in early 2016. She has done three Olympic campaign – 4 years each in the 470, Yngling, and match racing. Anne-Claire Le Berre is a naval architect currently working in Lorient as an engineer for the Imoca 60 offshore team Initiatives-coeur with skipper Sam Davies preparing for the Vendée Globe 2020. When she has time, her primary sailing is match racing with a silver medal at the Worlds in 2016 and winning the Busan Cup in 2015.
Margot Riou, FRA, APCC Women's Sailing Team, 56
Margot Riou has put together a young team of students who share the same passion for sailing with the same motivation for competition and formed the APCC Women's Sailing Team (Equipage Féminin – APCC). The team from Pornichet is making a mark on the J/80 fleet racing circuit in France as well as the match racing circuit. Riou and her team come to the Bedanne's Cup with a recent a silver medal performance at the 2017 French Women's Match Racing Championship.
Allie Blecher, USA, Team BAAM, unranked
Allie Blecher makes her debut on the WIM Series at the 2017 International Bedanne's Cup. Although she is currently unranked in the world match racing ranking, you can't take her lightly. She is a four-time US Collegiate All-American fro the formidable College of Charleston Sailing Team where she earned Quantum Women's Sailor of the Year honors – the highest honor you can receive. Since graduating, she has progressed from competing in Laser Radial dinghies to 49er FX skiffs and more recently keelboats – J/70s and Melges 32s and started match racing. While not sailing she work as a Procurement Analyst in the aerospace industry in Southern California.
2017 WIM Series Standings after three events (Skipper, team, nationality, WIM Series points):
Renée Groeneveld, Dutch Match Racing Team, NED, 61
Trine Palludan, Team Kattnakken, DEN, 60
Anna Östling, Team Anna, SWE, 58
Pauline Courtois, Match in Pink by Normandy Elite Team, FRA, 52
Lucy Macgregor, Team Mac, GBR, 48
Caroline Sylvan, New Sweden Match Racing Team, SWE, 42
Marinella Laaksonen, L2 Match Racing Team, FIN, 38
Alexa Bezel, Swiss Women Match Racing Team, SUI, 21
Johanna Bergqvist, Team Bergqvist Match Racing, SWE, 20
Mikaela Fors, Pen & Hammer Sailing Team, FIN, 14
Linnéa Floser, Peregrine Racing, SWE, 14
Antonia Degerlund, Team Sköna Vibbisar, FIN, 11
Sarah Parker, Team Parker, AUS, 10
Clare Costanzo, Team Costanzo, AUS, 8
Octavia Owen, Athena Racing, GBR, 7
Margot Riou, APCC Women's Sailing Team , FRA, 7
Martina Karlemo, Team Karlemo, FIN, 6
Eunjin Kim, Team Ladies, KOR, 5
Sanna Häger, Stockholm Match Racing Team, SWE, 4
Ekaterina Kochkina, Team SailWay, RUS, 3
The International Bedanne's Cup in Tourville-la-Rivière, France, will kick off the round-robin racing on Tuesday the 12th of December, with final races, prize giving and closing ceremony on Saturday the 16th of December.
2017 WIM Series (date, event name, location, boat type):
16-21 June – 2017 Women's Match Racing World Championship – Helsinki, Finland – J/80
7-12 August – 2017 Lysekil Women's Match – Lysekil, Sweden – Fareast 28
13-18 November – 2017 Busan Cup Women's International Match Race – Busan, South Korea – K30
30 November – 3 December – 2017 Carlos Aguilar Match Race – St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands – IC 24 – Canceled due to hurricanes
11-16 December – 2017 International Bedanne's Cup – Tourville-la-Rivière, France – Beneteau First Class 7.5
The WIM Series is hosted by WIMRA. Official suppliers are Sailnet, Sebago, MILK, Adstream, Intertidal Ventures, Fredag and Match Racing Results Service.
Video: All videos are available on www.wimseries.com/videos/
The International Bedanne's Cup is organized by the Ligue de Voile de Normandie with the technical support of the Club Nautique de Saint Aubin – Elbeuf (CVSAE) and sailed at the Base de Loisirs de Bedanne in Tourville-la-Rivière, France.
More information about the International Bedanne's Cup:
Organizing Committee Contact : Cédric Chateau – cedchateau@gmail.com, +33 (0)6 63 02 67 29
Organizing Communications Contact : Marie-Soline Schlesser – ms.schlesser@gmail.com, +33 (0)6 63 74 57 34
www.facebook.com/bedannecup/


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Inception Lighting's weatherproof and durable design is made to withstand the elements. Blending in with your architecture this permanent LED light is virtually invisible by day and lights up your building top at night for a warm inviting glow.
Downtown areas coast to coast are bringing new life to their districts by lighting up the tops of their buildings, creating an atmosphere of entertainment and fun. Businesses can coordinate with each other or individually for special events, grand openings, and local community happenings such as Second Saturdays or monthly events, creating the community atmosphere that signals, "Clearly, this is the place to be!" This also opens up new ways to get creative with communicating promotions and publicity, corresponding with an announcement on social media, commercials, radio, or other engaging marketing.
Are you ready to light up your night?
Contact Valley Lighting Group today!