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https://www.chron.com/life/health/article/Miss-South-Texas-amazing-weight-loss-5528039.php
Miss South Texas' amazing weight loss transformation
Houston woman drops 100 pounds, vies for Miss Texas title and now has a book deal
By Heather Alexander
Updated 2:39 pm CDT, Wednesday, June 4, 2014
Miss South Texas Keli Kryfko lost 100 pounds to transform herself from an overweight teenager into a Texas pageant queen.
Photo: Keli Kryfko
A Houston woman who dropped 100 pounds and 10 dress sizes is on the road to becoming Miss Texas with her eye on the Miss America title.
In eighth grade, Keli Kryfko weighed 230 pounds and could barely do a sit-up measuring a size 24, but the bullying taunts of her classmates didn't get her down.
Kryfko says the "fat girl" name calling just spurred her to make a change.
"I decided enough was enough, I didn't want to let other people have the ability to define me anymore," said Kryfko, arriving back in Houston today after two weeks of TV appearances.
Kryfko started small, first giving up Dr Pepper -- which she says was the toughest breakup of her life. After years of effort, she is now appearing across national networks to tell the story of her journey which she hopes will end with the Miss America crown.
"Initially I wasn't sure why I wanted it but then I realized it's so much bigger than the title," Kryfko said, "It's for the girl who doesn't get asked to the school dance, the kid who's being bullied and for the people who are overweight everywhere to know that they can do it and they don't have to be afraid to go for the big dreams."
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The Dallas born 23-year-old, who now lives here in Houston, became Miss South Texas in January and has already appeared on Fox and Friends, ABC's Good morning America and Inside Edition on CNN. She also has a book in the works.
Kryfko's blog, "High heels and Treadmills" details some of the philosophies that have helped her on the road to transformation and gives an idea of what her printed work will be about.
Top of the list is "believe in the impossible" followed by "kind is the new cool." The beauty queen notes that kindness will take you further than 6-pack abs ever could.
Kryfko keeps to a rigorous schedule to keep her in shape though, doing 30 minutes of cardio every morning along with an hour of weight and cardio circuit training in the evening. She says even in the middle of pageant season she will make at least an hour at the gym every day.
Right now she's training for the Miss Texas pageant which opens July 1. If she wins there, it will be on to Miss America which takes place in Atlantic City in the fall.
"I would love to be the right person to represent Texas at Miss America ... to be able to represent a place I love so dearly, that would be the ultimate experience," Kryfko said.
At the heart of it all though Kryfko says it is her 14 year old self that drives her on.
"I really admire that girl who was 230 pounds who said enough was enough and decided to make such an adult decision at such and early age and put down the can of Dr Pepper. Sometimes when I'm feeling down, I really have to dig deep and find that girl and say I'm doing this for her." Kryfko said.
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text:
const sinon = require('sinon');

const appMock = {
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};

const expressMock = sinon.stub().returns(appMock);
expressMock.appMock = appMock;
expressMock._resetSpies = () => {
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};

module.exports = () => expressMock;

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
On Thursday 26th September, the U16 Hockey team played at the County Schools Tournament at Oakland's college… and what a tournament they had! We faced Haileybury, Aldenham and RMS in the group stages. After a close first game with Haileybury (we lost 1-0) we went on to win our next 2 games. We met Queenswood in the semis and had a great game winning 2-0. We then faced Haileybury again in the final … after a great save by Issy Gardiner in the final minutes, we secured a 0-0 draw at full time. It went to penalty flicks to decide the winner. At 4 flicks each, it went to sudden death. Issy once again stepped up and saved Haileyburys first shot! Next up our captain Hermione Kay…. and boom…. CHAMPIONS! What great effort and enthusiasm from all the girls… getting better as each game went on! Through to Regionals as champions!
At the Schools Regional Hockey Tournament on 3rd September at Cambridge University, the U16s came away 'runners up' having been 1-0 in the first 5 minutes of the first match to a very strong team from Kent. We then won our second match against a Cambridgeshire team, meaning we went into the semi-finals where we were up against Sevenoaks. The girls were excellent and had lots of possession but Sevenoaks where too strong. The final score was 3-0. (Sevenoaks smallest win of the day!) Well done, girls… you were brilliant!
Presdales U13's played an 11-a-side hockey friendly against Haileybury School last Friday evening. Our team consisted of mostly Year 7's competing against an all Year 8 Haileybury team. The match was closely contested, with the girls showing fantastic competitive spirit throughout. The game ended in a 0-2 loss (both penalty shuffles) but the girls should take great credit from their performance. It was their first time playing 11-a-side and they had never played together as a team before! Well done, girls, a great first match!
On Friday 27th September, four Year 7's competed in the English Schools Gala in Watford. The girls did their best against some fierce competition from schools all across the East of England. Well done to the girls for trying their hardest and encouraging each other so much!
We are through to Regionals to represent Hertfordshire! On Saturday 28th September, the U16 netball team played brilliantly in their group, securing a place in the semi-final against Berkhamsted. They absolutely smashed it and won 10-7! Well done, girls, fantastic team effort and positive attitudes all day. When they got knocked back, they came back stronger than ever and put in THE best performance against Berkhamsted we have ever seen. Congratulations to you all. Photos of the girls above are with their place medals as, unfortunately, they lost to Broxbourne in the final but we are still off to Regionals!
Congratulations and well done to the Year 10 netball team who beat STAHS 30-26 this week in the first round of the County Cup Competition. A close game but the girls played really well even in the rain! Player of the Match was Maddie Robb. Good luck in the next round!
Over the past three weeks the girls have been taking part in the Lea Valley Cross Country League. Amazing efforts and impressive results when we hosted the first fixture on 26th September and we had some great results in the freezing conditions at Sele School last week and at Simon Balle this week. Results below:
Minors individual:-
1st : Bethany Botheras
2nd : Martha Kerr
Juniors individual:-
1st : Jess Downing
Seniors individual:-
3rd : Roisin Hurley
Overall results:
1st: Minor team
1st: Junior team
Unfortunately, our Senior team didn't score due to county hockey and then the regional so we didn't have a full team each week.
Well done to all who ran! Excellent effort and good luck in the Cross Country Championship competition on 6th November at Simon Balle!
This week the U14 Football team won 6-2 against St. Michaels in the first round of the County Cup. Amber Madell scored 4 of the 6 goals. Evie Martin scored the goal of the match and Amber Leighton scored the other one (after doing a particular move that coach Mr Macrae told them to do at half time, so he was very impressed)! The girls played some great football, lots of good passing and movement. Eva Cullen was excellent in goal and made some good saves. The whole team were worthy candidates for Player of the Match but stand out performances were Eva Cullen (GK), Hannah Nash, Grace Collins, Evie Martin and Amber Maddell. Congratulations, girls, we are playing STAGs in the next round … good luck!
This week the Year 10 football team played at the District 6-a-side tournament. The girls played some nice football, lots of good interchanges of passing and in good spirit. They won 1-0 v St Mary's but unfortunately lost 0-1 v John Warner so came runner's up. Well done girls!
Online Safety News Careers News

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Small Nations with Big Problems: How Climate Change Disproportionately Impacts Developing Countries
Written by: Gyles Ward '21
Edited by: Jordan Feldman '24
If climate change is a crime against the environment, industrialized nations are the prime suspects. China, the U.S., and the European Union are the world's largest greenhouse gas emitters, responsible for a combined 46.36% of global greenhouse gas emissions.1 While these and other developed countries contribute to climate change the most, they're impacted by it the least. With fewer protective barriers to climate change, developing nations suffer the most.2 One might posit the question: how will they survive? The answer is simple, they don't.
A typical case is Malaysia, an emerging economy and developing nation.3 Malaysia only contributed 0.63% of total greenhouse gases in 2016, yet it finds itself at the center of climate change catastrophes.1 Characterized by an equatorial climate and annual northeastern and southwestern monsoon seasons, the country has been flagged as a global warming cataclysm. Mean daily temperatures have been on an uptrend since 1956.4 The rising temperatures can be partially attributed to El Niño, a natural climate event where wind shifts push warm surface waters in Indonesia eastward, resulting in higher temperatures and humidity in Pacific regions.4 5 However, according to Yap Kok Seng, the former head of the Malaysian Meteorological Department, these noticeable increases are more congruent with anthropogenic global warming trends.6 In fact, as earth's temperature rises between 0.15 and 0.20 degrees Celsius per decade, temperatures increase by 0.25 degrees Celsius, 0.20 degrees Celsius, and 0.14 degrees Celsius per decade in Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak respectively.7 8
Countries with urban economies can more effectively recover from these environmental changes. However, in low-resource countries that rely heavily on agriculture, the stakes are much higher.4 In 2016, agriculture made up 8.1% of GDP in Malaysia.9 Higher temperatures in Malaysia, therefore, pose an imminent threat not only to societal structures, but also to economic systems. For instance, rice production is an essential Malaysian industry, supplying 75% of the local rice demands and providing much needed employment to farm workers.10 A 2011 study simulated rice yield under higher temperatures and increased carbon dioxide emissions and found that under global warming conditions, yield would decrease by 0.69 tons per hectare and cost the country RM299.145 (about 72.5 million USD) millions annually.11
Malaysian states are also menaced by rising mean sea level. In fact, the average annual rate of increase from 1984 to 2013 was 3.67 mm.12 Comparatively, the global sea level annual rate of increase was only between 1.7 mm and 3.1 mm. Furthermore, the frequency of heavy rainfall days, thunderstorms, and extreme wind events has steadily risen since the 1980s. For instance, in 2014, a series of EF3 tornadoes ravaged the states of Kedah and Selangor. Each tornado lasted 10-15 minutes and featured wind speeds of 240 km/h.4 If hotter temperatures can decrease agricultural yield, then extreme weather events can wipe out agriculture altogether, along with homes, communities, and clean food and water resources. Extreme flooding in Kelantan and Terengganu during the monsoon season in 2016/2017 is but one example. Damage to infrastructure, agriculture and tourism amounted to approximately $4 million.4 Surprisingly, dry spells have also become more prevalent since 1975, causing droughts and water shortages in some states; distinguishing Malaysia as one the only countries to experience extreme wet and dry seasons within the same year.6
Studies have also shown a correlation between climate change and the spread of vector-borne disease. Dengue fever, a virus carried by Aedes mosquitoes, is endemic to Malaysia.13 Heavy rainfalls during monsoon seasons provide the perfect environment for Aedes Mosquito development. Moreover, precipitation also augments humidity, which leads to a more hospitable environment for other disease-totting vectors like sand flies and ticks.14 15 Conversely, extreme drought during dry seasons in Malaysia could also increase indirect viral infection. Drought makes safe food and water inaccessible. As a result, populations may migrate to areas where diseases are more transmissible (lands with heavier rainfall).2
Malaysia isn't the only developing nation suffering inordinately from climate change. Africa only contributes 2-3% of the world's total greenhouse gas emissions, yet it is considered extremely vulnerable to the changing climate; the continent is expected to see a rise in mean annual temperature by 2 degrees Celsius.16 Similarly, Bangladesh accounted for only 0.41% of greenhouse gasses in 2016 but is suffering a clean water crisis as a result of global climate change.1 17 These health and environmental problems also lead to restricted civil rights and gender and racial discrimination. For instance, most women in developing nations are tasked with gathering water. Droughts and extreme weather events complicate this task tremendously by desiccating water reserves. Consequently, women must travel farther distances, which increases the risk of injury. Climate change is not just an environmental problem, it reduces the quality of life on all fronts. 2
So, we know the problem, but what's the solution? Individual countries and regions can invest in and institute greener policies but that will only do so much. The problem is collective, so the solution must be too. Every country must act. Nevertheless, industrialized nations, like China, must act first. China must regulate their manufacturing and construction practices, which account for 6.16% of global greenhouse gas emission, the U.S. must adopt cleaner energy alternatives, and the European Union must shift towards low-emission transport methods.1 18 It must happen and it must happen now. Climate change is an urgent issue that requires an urgent response. The earth is ill, and we have the remedy, we just need to administer it.
1. Ge, M, Friedrich, J. 4 Charts Explain Greenhouse Gas Emissions by Countries and Sectors [Internet] [cited 2020 Nov. 7]. Available from: https://www.wri.org/blog/2020/02/greenhouse-gas-emissions-by-country-sector
2. Barry, L. et al. Climate Change, Human Rights, and Social Justice. Animals of Global health. 2015; 81(3), 310-322
3. Hedrick-Wong, Y. How Close Is Malaysia From Its Goal of Joining The OECD? [Internet] [cited 2020 Nov. 7]. Available from: https://www.forbes.com/sites/yuwahedrickwong/2020/03/04/how-close-is-malaysia-from-its-goal-of-joining-the-oecd/#591bd80c75fa
4. Ho, K, Tang, D. Climate change in Malaysia: Trends, contributors, impacts, mitigation and adaptations. Science of the Total Environment. 2019; 650(2), 1858-1871
5. Gerstengarbe, F.W., Werner, P.C. Encyclopedia of Ecology. Amsterdam: Elsevier; 2008.
6. Khor, M. Lessons from the great floods [Internet] [cited 202 Nov. 7]. Available from: https://www.thestar.com.my/opinion/columnists/global-trends/2015/01/19/lessons-from-the-great-floods/
7. NASA. World of Change: Global Temperatures [Internet] [cited 2020 Nov. 7]. Available from: https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/world-of-change/global-temperatures
8. Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment Malaysia. Biennial Update report to the UNFCCC. Malaysia, 2015.
9. Department of Statistics, Malaysia. Selected Agricultural Indicators, Malaysia, 2017 [Internet] [cited 2020 Nov. 7]. Available from: https://www.dosm.gov.my/v1/index.php?r=column/cthemeByCat&cat=72&bul_id=MDNYUitINmRKcENRY2FvMmR5TWdGdz09&menu_id=Z0VTZGU1UHBUT1VJMFlpaXRRR0xpdz09
10. Rahim, F. et al. Supply & Demand of Rice in Malaysia: A System Dynamics Approach. International Journal or Supply Chain Management. 2017; 6(4)
11. Vaghefi, N. et al. The Economic Impacts of Climate Change on the Rice Production in Malaysia. International Journal of Agricultural Research. 2011; 6(1), 67-74
12. Kamaruddin, A.H.M et al. Long-tern Sea Level Trend from Tidal Data in Malaysia. Control and System Graduate Research Colloquium. 2016; 7, 187-192
13. Hii, Y. et al. Research on Climate and Dengue in Malaysia: A Systematic Review. Current Environmental Health Reports. 2016; 3, 81-90
14. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Dengue [Internet] [cited 2020 Nov. 7]. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/dengue/
15. Campbell-Lendrum, D. et al. Climate change and vector-borne diseases: what are the implications for public health research and policy? Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. 2015; 370
16. Giesen, C. et al. Climate change and vector-borne diseases: what are the implications for public health research and policy? Pathogens and Global Health. 2020; 114(6), 287-301
17. Abedin, A. et al. Climate Change, Water Scarcity, and Health Adaptation in Southwestern Coastal Bangladesh. International Journal of Disaster Risk Science. 2019; 10, 28-42
18. European Commission. Transport Emissions [Internet] [cited 2020 Nov. 7]. Available from: https://ec.europa.eu/clima/policies/transport_en
[Image citation] Johor Flood 2007: Wikimedia Commons [Internet]. 2007 [cited 2020 Nov 30]. Available from https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Johor_Flood_2007.jpg


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Home » Equitable Adoption and Intestacy: How Paternity Issues Can Complicate Your Legacy
Equitable Adoption and Intestacy: How Paternity Issues Can Complicate Your Legacy
By Fox Rothschild LLP on November 8, 2018
Posted in Adoption, Appellate Practice, Divorce, Estate and Trust Issues, Paternity
A recent decision handed down by the Appellate Division in an estate litigation matter serves as a reminder of the all-too-frequent intersection of family law and trusts and estates law. The fact that this case, In the Matter of the Estate of Douglas Castellano and the Parentage of Gregory Bock, is a published decision only further underscores its importance in matters related to paternity, divorce, adoption and intestacy.
I am particularly fond of cases with fact patterns that read more like an episode of Jerry Springer than something you'd typically find in a legal text. In this case, a woman, Elisa, ended a two year relationship with her partner, Douglas, and married a man named Gregory two months later. Seven months after the marriage, Elisa gave birth to a child, Greg, Jr. The child was named after Greg, Sr., who was listed as the father on the child's birth certificate, despite the fact that Greg, Sr., knew he was not the father and that Douglas was well aware he was the father.
When Greg, Jr., was barely three years old, Greg, Sr., and Elisa divorced. Greg, Sr., was granted visitation of the child and paid Elisa $80 per week in support. Even so, Greg, Sr.'s relationship with Greg, Jr., tapered off and he only saw the child approximately two times per year until Greg, Sr., died when the child was a teenager. The child only learned the identity of his biological father from his mother at the age of 30. Following that reveal, Greg, Jr., and Douglas had a casual relationship, consisting of occasional phone calls and even fewer visits. The relationship never blossomed further and Douglas was tragically murdered 8 years later in 2016. Given his unexpected and untimely death, Douglas passed without a will.
Aside from Greg, Jr., Douglas' only living relatives were his siblings. When they sought letters of administration for Douglas' estate, Greg, Jr., filed a caveat which prompted their lawsuit. Under the intestacy laws, if Douglas died with no spouse, no children, and no living parents, his estate would pass to his siblings. If, however, Douglas was found to have descendants (in this case, children) the siblings would not be entitled to inherit.
On a motion for summary judgment, the trial court declared that as a matter of law, Greg, Jr. was Douglas' sole descendant and therefore entitled to inherit from the estate. The siblings appealed, asserting that the trial judge failed to give sufficient weight to a presumption under the New Jersey parentage act, which declares a "man is presumed to be the biological father of a child if… [h]e and the child's biological mother are or have been married to each other and the child is born during the marriage". The Appellate Division rejected this argument and affirmed the ruling below.
In so holding, the court found that the only question was whether Greg, Jr., was Douglas' descendant. Because a DNA test conclusively established paternity as such, the case could have been rather simple. However, the siblings raised the novel argument that given the statutory presumption that Greg, Sr., was the child's father, representations about the child's paternity during Elisa and Greg, Sr.'s divorce, and principles of equitable adoption, summary judgment was premature and improper.
As far as the statutory presumption of parentage, the court found that it was unequivocally overcome by the DNA test. Moreover, the parentage act was designed to "facilitate the flow of benefits from the father to the child," and not sever a biological link.
Under the theory of equitable adoption as argued by the siblings, Greg, Jr., should have been considered "equitably adopted" by Greg Sr., and therefore not the descendant of Douglas, given the the child's treatment and representation as Greg, Sr.'s child at birth and during the divorce. The court found this argument unconvincing and concluded that this case lacked the gravitas found in earlier cases which have utilized the remedy of equitable adoption. Specifically, the court found that while Greg, Jr., took Elisa's husband's name, who was listed on the birth certificate, none of that was within Greg, Jr.'s control. Moreover, he was a toddler when Elisa divorced and had no input in the content of her judgment of divorce. Indeed, the court found that the child's fleeting relationship with Greg, Sr., after the divorce was insufficient to sever the irrefutable, biological link to Douglas. Moreover, the court opined that principles of equitable adoption have been historically employed to protect and enforce inheritance rights between parent and child, not destroy them.
The court boiled down the siblings' case to the argument that the principles of intestacy should not apply because they had a stronger relationship with Douglas than Greg, Jr., did. In a wholesale rejection of this argument, the court made plain that the laws of intestacy do not make such an exception simply because one relative knows the deceased better than the other. The court concluded its opinion with the oft-cited reminder in estate litigation matters that if the decedent had intended a different result than that which the law provides, he could have (and should have) executed a will to that effect.
This case provides a cautionary tale for anyone who desires to have their estate pass in a manner inconsistent with the default rules laid down by the legislature. This is especially true for individuals who know they have legally unrecognized children who might pose an unwelcome surprise for loved ones in the event of an untimely death. For everyone else, it is a reminder that compelling circumstances are required to apply the principles of equitable adoption and formalizing relationships is the best way to predict how your relatives will be treated in family law and estate matters.
Katherine A. Nunziata is an associate in the firm's Family Law practice, based in the Morristown, NJ office. You can reach Katherine at (973-548-3324) or at knunziata@foxrothschild.com.
Tags: Adoption, Appeals, intestacy, Paternity, wills
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The free Freshkills Park shuttle bus will transport participants from LA Fitness (145 E. Service Road) to the visitor center every 15 minutes from 7:30 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. A return shuttle will depart from the visitor center back to LA Fitness every 15 minutes from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Participants can also walk to and from LA Fitness. Free shuttle service will also depart at 7:15 a.m., 7:45 a.m., and 8:15 a.m. from the corner of Richmond Terrace and Schuyler Street (near the ferry terminal) to the visitor center, with return service departing from the visitor center at 9:45 a.m., 10:15 a.m., 10:45 a.m., and 11:15 a.m. All participants must park in the LA Fitness Lot, there is no parking at Freshkills Park.


Rising costs and fixed incomes make it practical to move to a smaller home. You get to enjoy lower utility bills, reduced consumption and more time since cleaning your new living space will go much faster, The Balance says. If you want to go for the minimalist approach or the cost-savings that come with a smaller home, here's a look at expert tips and advice.
Ask yourself how often you use an item. That's one way to go through your belongings and filter out what you'll donate or leave behind before the move.
Given the tighter space, it's smart to look for items that can serve dual or even multiple purposes. Sometimes, though, it takes a bit of creativity to see how you can re-use an item.
Hopeless at sorting through all your belongings? Maybe you have too many things accumulated from over the years. Scout around for moving companies in Seattle that offer home downsizing services like Moves Made Simple. With a pro to help you go through everything, you'll find it easier to get this done.
Before you move into your new home, measure everything along with your furniture. Then measure your furniture. That way, you have an idea, more or less, of what will fit into your new apartment.
Don't book at the last minute. If you need home downsizing services in Seattle, get this done weeks or a month ahead. Waiting too long may mean settling for a dodgy moving crew because all the reputable ones will probably be booked by then.
If you love that cute cat display, souvenir or china set, use it now. Don't keep them for use later or only when you have guests. You'll enjoy them more than just locking them in a box or cabinet.


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HomeMarket AnalysisAlibaba Opening NFT Marketplace, Backed by Sichuan Government
Alibaba Opening NFT Marketplace, Backed by Sichuan Government
Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group Holding is opening a non-fungible token (NFT) marketplace with the approval of the Sichuan provincial government.
The marketplace launched this week as a new section on Alibaba Auction, the Chinese tech giant's online auctioning platform. Dubbed "Blockchain Digital Copyright and Asset Trade," the service enables writers, musicians, and other artists to sell the rights to their content via blockchain.
A platform run by the Sichuan Blockchain Association Copyright Committee, the New Copyright Blockchain, will issue the NFTs. Although Chinese authorities are cracking down on private cryptocurrencies, they are enthusiastic about blockchain technology. By allowing Alibaba to sell NFTs, Chinese authorities are facilitating the integration of blockchain technology into key industries as part of its effort to become the most advanced blockchain power in the world by 2025.
NFT auctions
The platform has already listed numerous products, which it will start auctions off from next month. A Star Wars illustration and a painting of the West Pearl Tower, a landmark in Sichuan's capital Chengdu, are included. Each auction starts at 100 yuan (US$15), while bidding requires a deposit of 500 yuan. Upon victory, buyers can view their prizes on Tencent Holdings' WeChat by visiting the public account for Bit Universe.
Alibaba already sold 8,000 limited-edition NFTs based on two pieces of artwork commemorating ancient art from the Dunhuang Caves. The "NFT payment code skins" quickly sold out on the "AntChain Fan Grain" mini program in the Alipay app.
NFT mania
As unique, encrypted tokens, NFTs enable immutable proof of ownership, although the technology does not prevent unauthorized reproduction. However, the purchaser of the original NFT retains ownership of the content, whether it be music, artwork, or a deed.
NFTs became a hot new form of digital investment earlier this year, continuing to surge to new highs in Q2. By the beginning of July, NFTs had achieved sales of over $2.5 billion, according to data compiled by DappRadar. That was up from just $13.7 million in the first half of 2020, and is expected to reach $175 million by October.
Ethereum 2.0 Becomes The Leading Hodler of Ether With $21.5 Billion in Funds
What is Bitcoin? | Shall I invest? | CA Rachana Ranade


The year was 1896 when a proud Thomas Edison eagerly showcased to the public the Vitascope – one of the earliest film projectors. A young reporter/illustrator with the New York Evening World by the name of J. Stuart Blackton visited Edison, expecting only to interview the inventor about this exciting new device. However, intrigued by the technology, and encouraged by Edison, Blackton went on to experiment with this medium, creating films of his own and toying with every new idea that chanced upon his vivid imagination. In 1900, Blackton would go on to release one of the earliest surviving stop-motion animation films – The Enchanted Drawing – and in 1906, what is regarded by many as the first 'true' animation made on standard motion-picture film, projected at 20 frames per second – Humorous Phases of Funny Faces.
Suddenly, here was a new approach to creative storytelling, a versatile medium that could be used to depict even the most fantastical of animated events and characters. Paying tribute to this art form is the annual IndiEarth Animation Film Festival in Chennai, showcasing over 50 landmark animations across various genres from all around the world. IndiEarth has partnered with the Alliance Francaise of Madras and Dolby India to present the third edition of the festival, which is hailed as India's first quality international festival dedicated exclusively to the art of animation.
"Well, luckily with animation, fantasy is your friend," Steven Spielberg once remarked, and that holds true for many modern animation artists who utilize the creative freedom of the medium to transport their viewers into fantastical realms of the unknown. Filmmaker Alain Bidard does this with his film Battledream Chronicle – an apocalyptic fantasy where the Empire of Mortemonde has taken over planet Earth. It is the first ever feature length animation film from the Caribbean island of Martinique, and after travelling the festival circuit worldwide it will be screened in India at the IndiEarth Animation Film Festival. Other award winners include Suresh Eriyat's Fisherwoman and Tuk Tuk, which recently bagged the national award.
From the realm of fantasy to the world of reality, Hemant Gaba's film Japan In Nagaland is a documentary portraying the obsession with Japanese anime in Nagaland. "The youth of Nagaland are crazy about Japanese Anime, I'm excited to share a glimpse of that bizarre world through this documentary" Gaba told IndiEarth, "With the advancement in technology over the past few decades, animation film is ever on the rise – so it was about time to have our own indigenous animation film festival. IndiEarth has stepped up to that expectation".
Making its worldwide premiere at the festival is filmmaker Abhishek Verma's latest work Maacher Jhol – a hand drawn 2D animated short about a young man seeking acceptance for his sexual identity. "IndieEarth is special because my first animated film Chasni was screened at the first edition of the festival" says Verma, "The beauty of animation as a medium is that anyone can use it to share their ideas on screen, technology has facilitated the ease of this". Verma will also conduct a workshop titled Art & Communication: Animation In The Digital Age, where he will introduce participants to practical hands-on skills training in the art of animation, while also exploring worldwide trends within the discipline.
"The festival is doing its part for the growth of animation in India; the positive response from audiences will hopefully encourage support and commercials for Indian animators" says Sonya Mazumdar, CEO, EarthSync, "We are excited to bring a fascinating collection of animations to this 3rd edition of IndiEarth Animation Film Festival, which audiences in India may not otherwise be able to access easily".
In fact, the festival was founded on this very premise – to provide a platform for both established and up and coming animation talent, while enabling these works to reach wider audiences. "It is important to support initiatives like this because it supports artists who rise to the challenge of creating non-commercial forms of art," says Pierre-Emmanuel Jacob, Director, Alliance Francaise of Madras, "It allows these artists to find a space to share their works with the public, and provides a public platform for these forms of art that question the society in which we live, and force us to think and act as catalysts of change".
"At Dolby, we have always believed in encouraging new and established talent who experiment with new technology and innovations within the medium" says Ashim Mathur, Director Marketing, Dolby India, "By partnering with IndiEarth's Animation Film Festival, we get the opportunity to support a host of noteworthy animators by giving them access to the state of the art screening room and infrastructure to showcase their work".


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Review / Champaign / Urbana
Most visited articles of 2020
December 15, 2020 / 7:00am / By Smile Politely Editors
The easy way out would be to talk about how terrible 2020 was, and how our publishing reflected just how bad it was to be alive (well, if you're not in the 1%).
But the uncertainty of everything made us here at Smile Politely a bit more aware of the strength we have with this platform, and privilege to talk about so many different people, businesses, and incredible organizations worthy of propping up when everything has gone to shit. That's our duty, more than anything, to the community.
This responsibility is not lost on us as we went about our business week in and week out after March 13th. When the pandemic hit, we were a bit shellshocked like everyone else. But how do you operate a magazine that's so focused on the "what's going on" and "what do I go out and do" in C-U when it really isn't safe to do and gather? There's no perfect method, but we chose to focus on people, because the human beings in this community are quite resilient.
People aren't always great, though. We saw true colors of many in and around C-U, for better and worse.
Just as this year has thrown the entire bookshelf at us, and even though there's a lot to be upset about, we're awfully thankful to be able to be here, working alongside the community of engaged contrbutors and partners who banded with our crew of editors to make some noise. We published around 2,000 articles and SPlogs in 2020, so while "most visited" doesn't mean "best", it turned out to be a nice smattering of interesting pieces.
If you're curious about year's past, feel free to check out 2018's most visited, as well as our 2019 decade-end version.
As always, thank you for reading.
— Patrick Singer, Executive Editor
Photo from Google Maps.
20. Sodo Theatre is closing, will become a "bar and axe-throwing venue"
► Published March 5th / 11:00 am / Patrick Singer
SoDo Theatre's closing is the final nail in the coffin for arts and culture programming in Downtown Champaign. That is a tragedy, and I, and SP's Editorial Board, have discussed it before. Of course, the space was leased to yet another bar, but this time one that promises heavy, sharp projectiles!
Looks like the pandemic has put this development on ice for now; they might need to use those axes to chop an escape. (JH)
Photo by Jessica Hammie.
19. City of Champaign doesn't want your graffiti
► Published July 30th / 3:43 p.m. / Jessica Hammie
The City of Champaign really dug itself into a hole this summer with its piss-poor responses to the Black Lives Matter movement and calls for racial justice here in C-U.
After initially failing to investigate a person who drove a car into a crowd of protestors, protestors used chalk on the sidewalks and street at the incident site. Shortly thereafter, the City issued a statement about how that sort of "graffiti" is a "blight" and graffiti is "unlawful," yadda yadda yadda. Never mind that the graffiti was in response to a whole bunch of people having a near-miss with being maimed or murdered. (JH)
Photo from Wikipedia Commons.
18. We must reopen schools in the safest possible way: A proposal for Unit 4 and District 116
► Published July 17th / 7:00 a.m. / Editorial Board
We thought we had some pretty good ideas for providing some in person connection for students while keeping things relatively low risk. Alas, we are not the ones making decisions. (JM)
Screenshot from the News-Gazette's website.
17. Let's talk about white Republican women
► Published December 3rd / 7:00 a.m. / Editorial Board
No, white Republican women are not the most silenced or oppressed or bullied group in the United States. (JH)
Photo from Enjoy Illinois' website.
16. Dallas & Company allegedly closing after Halloween (but not due to the pandemic)
► Published October 26th / 8:38 a.m. / Patrick Singer
What a weird terrible time it is, and when you see a business closing right now, your first instinct is to think that it is a result of the pandemic. While it is certainly hard to imagine that Dallas & Co. wasn't affected by the pandemic, now was the time that Andy Dallas and his crew were going to call it a day after decades of business. This gem will be missed, for all its oddities it housed and how many people it helped fulfill their awesome weirdo costumes through the years. (PS)
Photo by Alyssa Buckley.
15. Six edibles that could enhance your calm
► Published April 20th / 7:00 a.m. / Alyssa Buckley
Everything sucks right now, so of course this made the list. We are all just trying to make it through, and this is one way to do it. (JM)
Photo by Anna Longworth.
14. The time is now for Champaign and Urbana to present a Phase 4 plan
► Published May 21st / 7:00 a.m. / Editorial Board
Remember that time in college when you stayed up all night to research and write a paper due by 8 a.m. the following morning? Remember how you didn't get a good grade on it?
Yeah, this is that, but with a pandemic and lives at stake. (JH)
Photo from Facebook.
13. For some reason, Dr. Tom Pliura is posting alleged COVID-19 test results to Facebook
► Published April 7th / 2:00 p.m. / Patrick Singer
Before we had U of I saliva tests and free-to-all nasal swab tests at Marketplace Mall, COVID-19 tests were only available if you had symptoms, and they were not free. Enter Tom Pliura, a doctor from Le Roy who runs Campustown Urgent Care, swooping in with thousands of tests he acquired himself, and planned to offer up to the public. Then, inexplicably, he started posting COVID-19 test results to his personal Facebook page, which is just slightly unethical. A quick peek at his latest FB posts show him minimizing the number COVID deaths by comparing them to abortions. Cool, cool. (JM)
Photo provided by Suzu's.
12. Suzu's, a Japanese bakery, is coming to Downtown Champaign
► Published September 15th / 7:15 a.m. / Julie McClure
Opening a business is no small feat, particularly during a pandemic. But with Chef Suzuko Enomoto heading up the endeavor, bringing traditional Japanese flavors to the landscape of Downtown Champaign, it will surely do well. I've sampled a few items, and the miso brownie is life changing. (JM)
Photo by Tim Bailey.
11. Please, Mayors, protect us
► Published July 7th / 7:00 a.m. / Editorial Board
In July, as COVID cases locally were creeping up and up after the lifting of mitigations, the Editorial Board wrote about the potential damage to the community if Greek Reunion Weekend took place.
The Greek system is, let's just say, a little problematic. We shall not enumerate all the problems here, but suffice to say that a whole bunch of people with voracious appetites for alcohol who have historically displayed little respect for others were ready to descend on Campustown bars like locusts in a plague.
So we wrote an article asking the mayors of Champaign and Urbana to step in. And they did, finally, by closing the bars that weekend.
One 2020 crisis avoided. (JH)
Photo from Champaign Public Library's Facebook event page.
10. Explore the real history of witchcraft with the Illinois Rare Book and Manuscript Library
► Published October 27th / 7:00 a.m. / Debra Domal
What started as an interesting and timely online event sponsored by the Champaign and U of I libraries grew to a national viewing with an audience of over 50,000 people from all over the U.S., which is kind of amazing. (JM)
9. Goodrich Quality Theater parting ways with Savoy 16, potentially jeopardizing future
► Published July 25th / 4:48 p.m. / Patrick Singer
COVID-19 has absolutely terrorized the arts community. It is so depressing to think about all of the theaters and concert venues that are facing the hardest challenges of a lifetime in 2020. Though Savoy 16 isn't a boutique by any stretch, it was obvious that they were hit just as hard as anyone else. We don't have many theaters to choose from in C-U, especially now that the Art Theater is gone, so when you see news that another one is potentially going to go away, that's disappointing.
Thankfully, it looks like it will be saved by another company, but what it looks like and how it will navigate 2021 remains to be seen. (PS)
Photo by Anthony Erlinger.
8. Overlooked, under-appreciated foods in Champaign-Urbana
► Published October 2nd / 7:00 am / Anthony Erlinger
It's no secret that SP's Food and Drink section is our most visited. Readers like you (and me, frankly), are interested in what's new and exciting and/or terrible and disappointing. We all get stuck in our patterns for take out, ordering the same beloved item over and over again. That's why this article was so well received: it reminded us all that there are other restaurants and menu items that we should consider, because they are just as great as our favorites. (JH)
7. A mail sorting machine was removed from a Champaign U.S. Postal Service location
► Published August 21st / 3:33 p.m. / Patrick Singer
I don't read Mother Jones all too often, but in the midst of the USPS madness prior to the election, it was all anyone could talk about and they were doing some good reporting on the matter. It made me sick thinking about the nefarious behavior going on behind closed doors with Donald Trump and Louis DeJoy as they attempted to suppress mail-in voting. When Mother Jones reported on sorting machines in the U.S. that had been removed, the list of locations caught my eye. Lo and behold, there was a machine in Champaign that was removed. Thankfully, we have the most secure election of all time to thank for helping us get past this attack on the important USPS system. (PS)
Photo by Smile Politely.
6. 2020 election results (with updates)
► Published November 4th / 6:00 p.m. / Smile Politely Editors
Well, this election was a doozy, huh? From the national level on down to the local level, the revealing of results lasted well beyond November 3rd. This was of course due to the massive wave of mail-in voting. Champaign County did not quite match the blue wave of 2018 in terms of county offices, but local Dems did increase their majority on the board and flip both the Recorder and Circuit Clerk offices in their favor. Rodney Davis is still here. Still. Here. (JM)
Photo from The Kingfisher at UIUC Facebook page.
5. U of I students vote to make kingfisher the new mascot; Administration says no
► Published March 10th / 10:30 a.m. / Jessica Hammie
Make the kingfisher the mascot. (JH)
Photo provided by Gottheil family.
4. Sen. Kamala Harris is Joe Biden's VP pick; Now remember she used to live in C-U
► Published August 11th / 3:18 p.m. / Patrick Singer
If you are reading this for the first time, and didn't know Kamala Harris lived in Champaign-Urbana at one point in her life, we welcome you. Indeed, this SPlog is something of a combo. When Sen. Harris announced she'd be running for President in 2019, Seth busted out this gem, the original post, so kudos on that find for starters. After that, when President-elect Joe Biden announced Harris would be his running mate, we posted about it again because the internet is a place where things often get buried, and this was most certainly worth a resurfacing SPlog to say the least. (PS)
Photo by Noshfolio.
3. Zorba's has permanently closed
► Published May 5th / 1:23 p.m. / Patrick Singer
When it comes to Campustown restaurants, Zorba's was a mainstay for a very long time. There aren't many restaurants that remain from the pre-Campustown 2000 era, but this one kept on moving forward. So much has changed around the restaurant, closed after 47 years of business in late Spring. It is hard to say whether or not it was due to the pandemic, or if it was just time for them to hang it up after testing the waters a few times before. Readers love nostalgia, especially when it comes to eating and drinking in C-U, which is why this one soared. (PS)
Photo from Black Roose/Rosa Negra's Facebook post.
2. Rogue Barber Co. had a very bad week, and they deserve it
► Published July 26th / 9:54 a.m. / Patrick Singer
From time to time, we're presented with opportunities to publicize about citizens behaving badly, which isn't really what we're built to do, and not something we're usually interested in doing. When it came to the situation at Rogue Barber Co., where ownership was actively promoting racism and bigotry, there was an obvious line that was crossed. This was all happening at the height of the Black Lives Matter movement this summer, in the midst of all of such unity to fight for and support those members of the community that need allies the most. While we were disappointed to see how the owners were behaving, we were proud of the community that came together to point out how wrong it was. (PS)
Screenshot from Village of Mahomet website.
1. Maybe don't have an unofficial prom during a pandemic
► Published June 24th / 12:32 pm / Jessica Hammie
You know what would have been awesome? If these selfish asshats in Mahomet were the first and last to have a large, unmasked gathering of people that led to a super spreader event.
They're not. Over the course of the summer, we heard anecdotes and saw the evidence of massive weddings and parties, all of which led to COVID cases in Champaign County. And these people who contracted COVID at these parties and weddings went to work, where the spread their disease to others, further endangering all sorts of people who are just trying to get by in these difficult times.
If there is one thing we have learned from all of this, it's that people who feel entitled to their way of life have no regard for others.
They can all fuck off. (JH)
Contributors to this article include Jessica Hammie, Julie McClure, and Patrick Singer.
Top image by Smile Politely.


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D-Day 75th Anniversary – Salute to Normandy Veterans
By Mr White
Educational, Events, Military News, News, War Feature, WWII
Salute to Normandy Veterans
More than 4,000 Armed Forces personnel will lead the nation in marking the 75th anniversary of D-Day with major commemorative events in Portsmouth and Normandy in June.
A major national commemorative event on Southsea Common in Portsmouth will be attended by D-Day veterans, VIP guests and service personnel.
Members of the public are invited to attend the commemorations in Portsmouth, where a flypast of 26 Royal Air Force aircraft will salute the veterans in gratitude for their service.
Up to 300 veterans, who are now all over 90 years old, will leave Portsmouth on a specially-commissioned ferry to attend events in Normandy on the following day. Up to 11 Royal Navy ships will accompany the veterans as they depart Portsmouth to provide a spectacular salute on the eve of the 75th anniversary.
Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said:
"75 years ago troops from 14 Allied countries united together, many on the south coast of Britain, before launching the historic operation to liberate occupied Europe. Britain must always keep the legacy of that special generation alive. I urge people to join our Armed Forces in showing that all of us, young and old, will never forget the price they paid for the freedom and peace we now enjoy."
Chief of the Defence Staff Sir Nick Carter said:
"The Armed Forces are honoured to dedicate so many personnel and assets to this significant commemoration. Our forebears, who planned and executed Operation Overlord, and those who enabled it to happen by fighting in Italy, Africa and beyond, have the enduring respect of our Armed Forces. We will ensure the example of that special generation lives on."
At 0726 on 6th June, a lone piper of the British Army will play at Arromanches in Normandy to mark the exact moment the first British soldier landed on Gold Beach.
Later that morning, the Normandy Memorial Trust's statue will be inaugurated by senior UK and French figures in a ceremony at Ver-sur-Mer.
Service personnel will then join veterans at Bayeux Cathedral and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's Bayeux War Cemetery for The Royal British Legion's traditional annual commemorative ceremonies.
Portsmouth D-Day 75th Commemorative Events
Portsmouth will host a number of events for the 75th Anniversary of D-Day which will provide members of the public, Armed Forces, veterans and families to enjoys a memorable day out from the 5th to 9th June.
D-Day 75 Commemorative Events – 5 June
The day will begin with a major national commemorative event on Southsea Common, including a flypast of 26 RAF aircraft – including Spitfire.
Later that afternoon there will be a flying display above Southsea Common by the Red Arrows.
The evening commemorations will see MV Boudicca depart Portsmouth with 300 D-Day veterans on board for their trip to Normandy. The ship, specially chartered by the Royal British Legion, will be escorted by a Royal Navy vessel to represent the famous crossings that took place 75 years ago.
Thursday 6 June 2019
The commemorative events for D-Day 75 continue on 6 June with a Remembrance Service held at the D-Day Stone in Southsea opposite South Parade Pier. The morning event invites the people of Portsmouth to pay their respects to those who paid the ultimate sacrifice on 6 June 1944.
Throughout the day there will also be live coverage on the big screen at Southsea Common of events in Normandy. These will include an inauguration at the site of the Normandy Memorial Trust's British Normandy Memorial and The Royal British Legion's services at Bayeux Cathedral and Bayeux Cemetery.
The evening will conclude with a showing of the music and entertainment taking place beside the beaches in Arromanches.
Portsmouth Music Hub will kick off commemorative events on 7 June, with a performance on Southsea Common of a special composition for D-Day 75.
In the early evening, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra will perform its own D-Day 75 composition on Southsea Common. The piece, written by James Olsen for a specially formed young person's choir, is inspired by the reminiscences of D-Day veterans and the D-Day Story.
The evening will conclude with a children's film screening on the big screen at Southsea Common. The film that gets aired will be voted on by the public.
The Portsmouth Revival will take centre stage for D-Day 75 commemorations on 8 June. The event – taking place on Southsea Common – will feature entertainment and activities for all the family, including music and dancing from the 1940s; arena displays; military and vintage vehicles; exhibitions and displays; a 1940s vintage market, and film screenings.
Later in the evening will be the Sunset Concert for Heroes. This free, unticketed 1940s-themed concert will welcome the Portsmouth Military Wives Choir and the D-Day Darlings to Southsea Common.
The day's events conclude with a fireworks display on Southsea seafront.
The Portsmouth Revival continues through to Sunday 9 June. The weekend-long event will see Southsea Common hosting a plethora of activities for the whole family, including 1940s-style music and dancing, arena displays and exhibitions. There will also be military and vintage vehicles on display, as well as film screenings and vintage market.
Source: TheDDayStory / Gov.uk
Do you have any D-Day heroes in your family?
Maybe you are researching them and your family's military history – search the Forces War Records 'WWII Daily reports (missing, dead, wounded & POWs)' collection, which can be found HERE
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George Frideric Handel; say the name and Messiah immediately comes to mind--it is as if Messiah were synonymous with its composer; and there is hardly a city large enough to have a community chorus that does not perform Messiah in some shape or form annually during the Christmas "season." But Handel was approximately as prolific in total output as his contemporary JS Bach. Messiah is perhaps Handel's single greatest composition, but he wrote many other fine, worthy works. Perhaps you are straining your mind to think of some others and you recall: Water Music, Music for the Royal Fireworks and the Coronation Anthems (Zadok the Priest has been performed at every British coronation since George II, for whose coronation it was composed). And now, perhaps, you strain your mind even more and... oh, yes, he wrote a bunch of operas, and weren't there other oratorios besides Messiah. Can you name any? I have posed similar questions to many of my non-professional musical friends and they usually hem and haw in response. Even some professionals do not get past just a few other compositions.
Beethoven revered Handel greatly. Haydn's last eight great works for choir, soloists and orchestra (his last six masses, The Creation and The Seasons) probably would be entirely different and inferior had it not been for his exposure to Handel's lasting effect on England during his stay in London. Mozart's Requiem may well have been different, had not Mozart been familiar with some of Handel's major works, including Messiah" Mendelssohn's great oratorios may not have occurred had not Handel elevated the humble oratorio to a musical status on par with the opera. Of course this is speculation, but it is also a fact that artists are not sui generis and the influence of others before them cannot be denied; those who are familiar these composers and their "post-Handel" compositions nearly always see a great number of his probable influences.
You may counter by bringing up the criticism commonly leveled against him: Handel was a frequent musical plagiarist, as if that puts a great cloud over his otherwise original and prodigious output. This criticism is still prevalent among many amateur and professional musicians, and they still allow it to taint, even poison, their view of an otherwise great composer (this criticism still seems to carry a lot of weight for those who value "originality" and "artistic integrity"). However, the vast majority of composers from the late Baroque period (Domenico Scarlatti, Vivaldi, Telemann, et al.) used what many call the "parody" technique, in which parts of or entire compositions are loosely "based" on other works that were either written by themselves or other composers. This parody technique may be loosely compared to what is usually called "arranging" nowadays, as in so-and-so's arrangement of "O Come, All Ye Faithful." And although musical plagiarism in a stronger form—copying entire melodies or even entire movements of works by other composers was not uncommon in his day, Handel may have been the most egregious, even to the point of being chided by a publisher. Perhaps a little history to assuage some of Handel's "guilt" (I have dual motives with the history: not just assuaging his guilt, but also giving a brief look into who he was).
In a day when being a professional musician meant almost absolutely that you worked for a church or had a wealthy patron, Handel was in all likelihood the first successful "free agent." Although he was technically and continuously patronized by British monarchs from Anne through George II, the monarchs were relatively parsimonious, and Handel made his real money in the "public market." His patrons kindly allowed Handel the freedom to compose other works (than those requested by them) and also to perform them under his own management and for his own profit. Handel wrote and put on, under his management and direction, most of his forty-two operas and twenty-nine oratorios. Most were financially lucrative and allowed Handel to amass enough wealth so that he died with a substantial estate, unlike nearly any other composer before or after him, at least up to Mendelssohn, who was independently wealthy.
In order for Handel to be so successful, he had to continually produce new works to satisfy the demands of his concert attenders. Some have criticized Handel as pandering to his "bourgeois" audience--as if pandering to a wealthy patron or demanding church somehow exempted the other composers of the period, or as if there were no true appreciators of great music in his audience; this point also seems to prejudice some of the highbrow connoisseurs of "fine" music. Handel lived in an age when professionally performed music was vastly more available to and demanded by the (wealthier) masses than any earlier era in the history of Western music.
Handel was something of a strange sponge--he absorbed things quickly, but in his own way. He often spoke sentences which intermingled three or four of the languages in which he was fluent. Handel was born in Germany and there he learned much about counterpoint and the rudiments of Italian opera (at the time all the rage in Germany); his musical mentors there also exposed him to a great variety of styles. In his twenties, he moved to Italy for about three years and learned more of opera and the Italian style of composition for strings; he composed several operas and a number of other notable works while in Italy. His apparent skill and winsome nature earned him the epithet "Il caro Sassone" (the dear Saxon) while there. After a brief visit back to Germany, he moved to England at the ripe age of 27. England became his home for the rest of his life.
It is entirely possible that at least some of his "borrowings," as the more gracious critics call them, were merely things he had absorbed so fully in his diverse and prolific musical "education" that he "reused" them without realizing they were written by someone else. Handel also borrowed from himself probably as frequently as he borrowed from others. Reusing one's own previously composed material was relatively common in the Baroque Era; Bach's great Christmas Oratorio, for instance, is virtually all music Bach composed earlier for other purposes and reused in the oratorio. At the rate which Handel produced operas and later oratorios, he may have "had to" plagiarize (whether consciously or not) just to meet demand. At his peak, Handel was producing two or three major works per year, while also managing, directing and even selling tickets for the performances, not to mention composing the odd concerto, hymn or anthem, as well.
What a timely article — just last night I was listening to Patricia Petibon sing Handel, and the other day I was going through many of Sabine Devieilhe's performances. The biggest criticism that I have heard of Handel's music is that, while brilliant, it does not have great emotional depth. I believed that myself until a few weeks ago when I heard his Italian cantatas and his oratorio, Il trionfo del Tempo e del Disinganno.
I now believe that his most popular works, as good as they are, are nowhere near his best. He was a giant.
Charles L.: I believe Handel is a giant (which is why I chose to write about him). Most older music histories claimed that he and Bach were the two giants of the late Baroque (and they were fully aware of Handel's borrowings). Many modern histories tend to give him short shrift or be somewhat dismissive. People of the "Ah, Bach" camp tend to see Handel as lightweight, and though he certainly was not the complete master of counterpoint (fugue, etc.) that Bach was, Handel has his own excellences that I think make him great in his own right.
Charles L.: Thanks for mentioning Patricia Petibon. I had not heard of her, but she obviously has an appreciation for and sensitivity to the master: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5WUO7hsgCA is a fine example of this.
article Mr. Wilhowski, and I hope there will be many more to come.


Hi Steve, it is completly crazy.
I dont know if the test program as done something, if the fact that I went to FSUIPC without activating the script and play with the button did something, but now it works again.
Anyway, a big thanks for your patience and your help, and of course for your EXCELLENT script.
Thats very odd Frank. Something isn't right somewhere; but see how you get on and give me a shout if needed.
Here is why I am asking you the question, I have an EFIS from opencockpit, and I use a lua script from roarkr on AVSIM, and when I push the VOR 1 switch to VOR 1 , I have my MCP Pro HDGSEL button that light up, and then immediately light off, and of course on the NGX, I can see that the VOR1 swicht goes back to off, even if on my Opencockpit EFIX the switch is still on VOR 1. Have of course the same problem using ADF 1 / VOR 2 / ADF 2.
Do you have any idea what can I make to solve the problem.
That way, no EFIS code will ever be executed by script. If it persists I would firstly suspect the script you are using for the EFIS is sending the wrong LUA commands.
Hi Steve, the EFIS is set to 1 into your sript so it is disable.
The other script I am running is this one : NGXEFIS_PP_2.02.lua, you can find it on AVSIM by searching opencockpit. I prefer to tell you the script than copying it here without the authorization of the writter.
I've just had a quick look at the other guys script and found the problem. It uses the same offset's as my script for the MCP so that when data is written by the open cockpits interface it is interpreted by my lua script as a change in the MCP state. Esentially the memory addresses 0x66D0 to 0x66DD are used by both scripts and therefore clash.
The only way around this is for the scripts to be changed so they do not use the same offsets. Its late here, but a quick check seems to indicate that if you do a search and replace in my LUA file for every occurance of "66D" and replace it with "66E" and then save the file, that should sort out the conflicts.
thanks again, for your kindness.
LOL, hardly. Glad its working OK though.
I can't get the CMP Pro to sync correctly with the ngx. It loads up fine but then the stitches start going nuts. The EFIS works like a charm but the mcp is temperamental. It appears that something is directing the left and right FD switches on then off repeatedly. If I put both FDs and the AT in the up position they stop stitching for a while but then the dials stop working correctly. I am using GF 1.93.2 setup as I can't get the 2.03 zip file to open on my pc. McAfee also thinks the download site is a Trojan. I'm running a registered version of FSUIPC 4.8 I also use EZdok and TrackIR.
Are you using LINDA? If so, make sure you disable the VR Insight MCP support, it makes the Goflight MCP go crazy.


text:
‧Business
Thu, Mar 28, 2019 - Page 10 News List
Sony chief executive Yoshida clinging to struggling mobile unit despite loss
Sony Xperia 1 smartphones connected to a TV screen are displayed at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, on Feb. 26.
Sony Corp's turnaround over the past decade was built on hard-nosed accountability and the willingness to close troubled businesses. Indeed, Kenichiro Yoshida was elevated to chief executive officer because he acted as the company enforcer when he was finance chief.
However, Sony's latest move has some investors wondering what happened to the old Yoshida.
The Tokyo-based company on Tuesday said that it would combine the struggling Xperia mobile business with its television, audio and camera operations into a single division.
Analysts are concerned that would make it harder for investors to see losses in the smartphone unit, which has long struggled against Apple Inc and Samsung Electronics Co.
The move comes after investors have complained for months that Yoshida should get rid of the Xperia business.
Shares plunged to a 17-month low last week after Jefferies' Atul Goyal became the latest analyst to downgrade the company, citing worries over mobile losses.
The latest move would buy Yoshida more time, but analysts say it would not resolve the underlying problems.
"By hiding the mobile-related losses, they would take the pressure off from shareholders to shut the division down," Amir Anvarzadeh, a market strategist at Asymmetric Advisors Pte, said in a note to clients. "Nevertheless, the losses are bound to rise further."
Sony pushed back on the idea that it wants to hide Xperia losses.
It will disclose results for that division "for the foreseeable future," spokesman Takashi Iida said.
The company would provide more details about its disclosure policy on April 26, when it reports the latest results.
"Through more cooperation among our divisions, we can create new value by better utilizing the combined assets and personnel in our electronics area," Iida said.
"More interaction among employees will also lead to the development and growth of our staff," Iida added.
The Xperia business has lost ¥101 billion (US$913 million) over the past four quarters, compared with operating profits of ¥82 billion at its TV and audio division over the same period, and ¥89 billion at its camera unit.
Yoshida has rebuffed pressure to get rid of the unit, saying that it is vital for pushing innovation, including 5G-related research.
The restructuring would create a new division called Electronics Products and Solutions, and is scheduled to go into effect on Monday next week.
That would mark the first major reporting overhaul since 2012, when previous head Kazuo Hirai split the consumer electronics unit into individual parts in a bid to boost transparency.
Sony shares yesterday closed little changed at ¥4,765 after the announcement.
The stock has dropped 11 percent this year, compared with a 7.7 percent gain for the broader TOPIX.
"Sony's unwillingness to exit Smartphones is a disappointment and a strategic mistake, in our view," Goyal wrote in his report last week.
The analyst cut his buy rating for the first time in five years and slashed his price target to ¥5,500 from ¥8,500.
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text:
Iomys horsfieldiiJavanese flying squirrel
By Shannon Cruz
Javanese flying squirrels are limited to southern Asia. Their native range stretches from the peninsula of Malaysia down through Sumatra, Java, and Borneo. There have been additional sightings of individuals in Singapore, Tioman, and Penang. ("Iomys horsfieldii", 2010; "List of mammal species present in Singapore", 2009)
oceanic islands
Javanese flying squirrels are fairly adaptable animals. They are found in a wide variety of habitats. They can live in a variety of forest environments, even those that are degraded. They also inhabit scrub and are found on durian plantations. They shelter in hollow trees. ("Iomys horsfieldii", 2010; "The Terrestrial Mammals of Pulau Tioman, Peninsular Malaysia, with a Catalogue of Specimens at the Raffles Museum, National University of Singapore", 1999)
scrub forest
1000 (high) m
3280.84 (high) ft
Javanese flying squirrels are mostly orange-brown to brown-gray, with a tail that is a slightly brighter shade on the ventral surface and sides. Body length averages 182 mm and the tail is as long as, or slightly longer than, the body. Like other flying squirrels, Javanese flying squirrels have a thin flap of skin, the patagium, connecting the fore and hind limbs to allow for gliding. The patagium is slightly darker in color than the rest of the body. Javanese flying squirrels also have relatively large eyes and ears and long claws for gripping the trees that they live in.
There is no information regarding sex differences in Javanese flying squirrels, but in the closely related Hylopetes and Petinomys species, males and females are not appreciably different, so it is likely that male and female Javanese flying squirrels are also similar in appearance.
There are three named subspecies of Javanese flying squirrels, though too few specimens have been found to be certain whether these constitute distinct groups. Iomys horsfieldii davisoni has dark brown-gray fur and a dark brown tail mottled with red-brown at the edges and a short tooth-row. Iomys horsfieldii penangensis has lighter, brighter coloration and a longer tooth-row. Iomys horsfieldii thomsoni is very similar to I. h. davisoni, but the tail is uniformly red-brown rather than mottled.
Javanese flying squirrels can be distinguished from their closest relatives by their large size, the orange tinge to the lighter underbelly, and the absence, or near absence of hair on the upper surface of the ear lobe. The very similar Petinomys genibarbis can be distinguished from Javanese flying squirrels by the presence of a 5 mm wart on the cheek, sprouting long black whiskers. ("Mammals of the Indomalayan Region", 1992; "Phylogenies of Flying Squirrels (Pteromyinae)", 2002; "Mammals of Thailand", 1977; Farelli, 2008)
sexes alike
Javanese flying squirrels are not well studied and their mating system is as yet unknown.
As with other aspects of Javanese flying squirrel behavior, reproductive behavior is unknown. However, in a related genus of southeast Asian flying squirrels, Petaurista, females reportedly have one or two young in a litter, so it is possible that Javanese flying squirrels also produce a small number of offspring. The breeding season for Javanese flying squirrels is unknown. However, they live in a tropical climate, which might allow them to reproduce year round. ("Iomys horsfieldii", 2010; "Mammals of Thailand", 1977)
The breeding interval of the Javanese flying squirrel is unknown.
The breeding season of the Javanese flying squirrel is unknown.
There is no information available about parental investment in Javanese flying squirrels.
The lifespan of Javanese flying squirrels is unknown. In the related genus Petaurista, the longest recorded life span in captivity is 13.5 years. Squirrels in this genus are larger than Javanese flying squirrels and thus their life expectancy is probably longer, but there is no definitive proof either way. ("Mammals of Thailand", 1977)
Javanese flying squirrels are nocturnal and arboreal. Like other flying squirrels, they are probably able to glide long distances between trees and use their long claws for grip. Almost nothing is known about their social behavior. Members of the related genus Petaurista have been recorded foraging alone or in small groups, so it is possible that Javanese flying squirrels also organize themselves in this manner. ("Iomys horsfieldii", 2010; "Mammals of Thailand", 1977)
scansorial
The home range of Javanese flying squirrels is unknown.
Little is known about communication and perception in Javanese flying squirrels. Because they have large eyes and ears (relative to their body size), they probably have well developed hearing and sight, as many arboreal and nocturnal species do. Their sight is probably adapted to work especially well at night, as they are primarily nocturnal. As with similar species, they likely use visual, auditory, and chemical cues in communication, although no behaviors specific to Javanese flying squirrels have been noted. ("Iomys horsfieldii", 2010; Farelli, 2008)
There is no information about the diet of Javanese flying squirrels. However, members of the related genus Petaurista eat fruits, nuts, and shoots, and it is likely that the diet of Javanese flying squirrels is similar, i.e. they are probably herbivorous and frugivorous. ("Mammals of Thailand", 1977)
There is no information about the predators of Javanese flying squirrels. The civets Paradoxurus hermaphroditus and Arctogalidia trivirgata share much of the same range as Javanese flying squirrels, are known to be arboreal, and eat squirrels and small mammals, so they are likely candidates. There are many other arboreal carnivores in southeast Asia, such as Prionodon linsang and Arctictis binturong, that feed on squirrels and small mammals, and any of these might prey on Javanese flying squirrels. ("List of mammal species present in Singapore", 2009; "Mammals of Thailand", 1977)
Little is known about how Javanese flying squirrels impact their ecosystem. Because they are probably herbivorous and frugivorous, they likely benefit their ecosystem by helping to disperse seeds.
As probable herbivores and frugivores, Javanese flying squirrels likely serve in seed dispersal.
Javanese flying squirrels can be pests on orchard plantations. ("Iomys horsfieldii", 2010; "The Terrestrial Mammals of Pulau Tioman, Peninsular Malaysia, with a Catalogue of Specimens at the Raffles Museum, National University of Singapore", 1999)
Iomys horsfieldii is listed by the IUCN as a species of least concern because it is widespread and common in Indo-Malaysia, and is also very adaptable. Still, these flying squirrels have become rare to extinct in Singapore. This probably reflects a skyrocketing human population and the deforestation of much of the island. Fortunately, this is not a major threat to the species in most of its range and populations outside of Singapore are stable. Iomys horsfieldii is currently a protected species in Indonesia and has additional protection in several other areas within its range. ("Iomys horsfieldii", 2010; "The ecological transformation of Singapore, 1819-1990", 1992; Thorington and Hoffman, 2005)
Shannon Cruz (author), Michigan State University, Barbara Lundrigan (editor), Michigan State University, Tanya Dewey (editor), University of Michigan-Ann Arbor.
Referring to an animal that lives in trees; tree-climbing.
active during the night
islands that are not part of continental shelf areas, they are not, and have never been, connected to a continental land mass, most typically these are volcanic islands.
scrub forests develop in areas that experience dry seasons.
remains in the same area
Living on the ground.
Boonsong Lekagul. 1977. Mammals of Thailand. Kurusapha Ladprao Press: Nai Kamthon Sathirakul.
1992. Mammals of the Indomalayan Region. Oxford, New York: Oxford University Press.
2010. "Iomys horsfieldii (Waterhouse, 1838)" (On-line). ITIS Report. Accessed February 25, 2010 at http://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=632503.
2010. "Iomys horsfieldii" (On-line). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Accessed February 25, 2010 at http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/10845/0.
2009. "List of mammal species present in Singapore" (On-line). National Parks Singapore. Accessed March 16, 2010 at http://www.nparks.gov.sg/cms/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=130&Itemid=128.
2002. Phylogenies of Flying Squirrels (Pteromyinae). Journal of Mammalian Evolution, Vol. 9, No. 1/2: 1573-7055. Accessed March 13, 2010 at http://www.springerlink.com/content/v267p03046q0031t/.
National University of Singapore. 1999. The Terrestrial Mammals of Pulau Tioman, Peninsular Malaysia, with a Catalogue of Specimens at the Raffles Museum, National University of Singapore. The Raffles Bulletin of Zoology, Supplement No. 6: 101-123. Accessed March 13, 2010 at http://rmbr.nus.edu.sg/rbz/biblio/s6/s6rbz101-123.pdf.
1992. The ecological transformation of Singapore, 1819-1990. Journal of Biogeography, Vol. 19, No. 4: 411-420. Accessed March 16, 2010 at http://www.jstor.org/stable/2845569.
Farelli, 2008. "Iomys horsfieldii, Javanese Flying Squirrel" (On-line). National Parks Indonesia. Accessed March 16, 2010 at http://www.indonesiatraveling.com/National%20Parks%20Indonesia/mammals%20indo/I,%20J,%20K,%20L/pages/iomys-horsfieldii.htm.
Thorington, R., R. Hoffman. 2005. Family Sciuridae. Pp. 754-818 in D Wilson, D Reeder, eds. Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference. Baltimore, Maryland: The Johns Hopkins University Press.
Order Rodentia rodents
Rodentia: information (1) Rodentia: pictures (767) Rodentia: specimens (847) Rodentia: sounds (2)
Family Sciuridae squirrels
Sciuridae: information (1) Sciuridae: pictures (355) Sciuridae: specimens (69) Sciuridae: sounds (1)
Genus Iomys Javanese flying squirrel and Mentawi flying squirrel
Iomys: specimens (6)
Species Iomys horsfieldii Javanese flying squirrel
Iomys horsfieldii: information (1) Iomys horsfieldii: specimens (6)
To cite this page: Cruz, S. 2011. "Iomys horsfieldii" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed January 19, 2020 at https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Iomys_horsfieldii/


text:
Channing Tatum Is Using Sculpting As Therapy Amidst Jenna Dewan Divorce
Trending News: Channing Tatum Has Started Sculpting To Cope With Divorce
No matter how strong your relationship or marriage may be, sometimes it just doesn't work. Calling it quits is never easy, but there is a healthy way to go about it and you can bounce back. Which is exactly what Channing Tatum is showing the world.
After publicly announcing his split from his wife of nine years, Jenna Dewan, back in April, he's picked up a therapeutic hobby to help him get through tough times. And it just so happens to be the same one Brad Pitt swears by: sculpting.
Learning From Brad Pitt
Taking to Instagram, Tatum revealed his newest passion and showed off one of his (we must say) seriously impressive pieces. Yup, it seems he's taken a cue from Brad Pitt (who, according to The Hollywood Reporter, skipped the 2017 Oscars because he was "holed up creating a sculpture at British artist Thomas Houseago's Frogtown studio") and is now using sculpture as a form of therapy amidst his divorce.
"This was my attempt at creating a sculpture of Picasso's Guitarist," the 38-year-old wrote. "It was starting out ok. Then I had to get different clay for the hands."
A post shared by Channing Tatum (@channingtatum) on Aug 29, 2018 at 12:44pm PDT
"Then my [four-year-old] daughter destroyed it," he continued. "Hahahaha oh well. Start anew." As you can see, his sense of humor sure hasn't left him.
Sculpture's Hidden Powers
It may seem like a strange choice, but according to research, claywork can actually be extremely therapeutic. For one, it's believed to facilitate the expression of emotions and feelings "due to the tactile quality of the clay" and "rhythmical movements that accompany claywork." It also helps with catharsis because "working with such a primitive and original material as clay satisfies previously frustrated needs."
What's more, the creative process has been found to help individuals tap into "emotions, memories, and fantasies from different levels of consciousness." Then there's the finished product, which often ends up being filled with symbolism that can actually help spark healing dialogue and communication. All positives.
Pitt himself explained some of the benefits of sculpting to GQ last year, saying, "There's a lot of manual labor, which is good for me right now. I'm having a moment of getting to feel emotion at my fingertips… I know the manual labor is good for me, getting to know the expansiveness and limitations of the materials."
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As your trips to your local supermarket confirm, the price of agricultural commodities is exploding. Most recently, corn is hitting record highs — having more than doubled in the past two years. This is a result of exploding demand from the world's consumers, combined with U.S. government mandates and subsidies promoting the use of grain-based ethanol.
Even as corn has soared to levels not seen since the Civil War, the futures price of the cattle it feeds has risen only a more modest 31% during the same period. In relative terms, this has actually made cattle cheap. Today, a 1,250-pound steer in the United States is worth about 4.2 times the cost of the corn he consumes over five months to reach slaughter weight, down from almost 12 times in December 2005. Not since 1996, when corn reached what was then a record $5 a bushel, have cattle been this cheap relative to their primary source of feed.
This relative imbalance means that today U.S. feedlots are losing money on every animal they sell. Not surprisingly, hog farmers in South Dakota are already starting to liquidate their herds and get out of the business. As of May 1, feedlots in the United States held 11.1 million head, down 1.4% from a year earlier. Ranchers last year cut the number of young females they held by 3.5% to 5.67 million on Jan. 1, the second straight annual decline.
Meanwhile, even as soaring corn prices mean that fewer cattle are coming to market, demand for beef across the globe is exploding. U.S. beef exports in the first quarter soared 29%, thanks to a declining dollar and as rising global incomes increase meat consumption. Remember, the first thing global consumers buy as their incomes rise is not a flat-screen television or a computer but more and better food. And global demand for beef, pork and chicken may grow as much as 50% by 2020 as the population increases and incomes improve.
Stagnating production in the United States and exploding demand across the globe can lead to only one thing: soaring prices. Wholesale choice-grade beef in the United States, the world's biggest producer and consumer, are already expected to rise by 16% next year. That's the biggest gain since 2003 and the second-largest since 1979. There already have been big increases in beef prices in China, Russia, India and throughout Southeast Asia this year.
So buy the iPath Dow Jones AIG Livestock TR Sub-Index ETN (COW) at market today and place your stop at $41.50.
Fertilizer giant Potash (POT) continued its relentless trajectory upward, closing at a new record high of $239.50 on Tuesday, before correcting slightly. With the December $210 calls up 77.40% during just the past three weeks, sell half of your options to take some quick profits. Tighten your stop to $205.00.
But in terms of price performance, Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile S.A. (SQM) has outdone even Potash, hitting almost $60 last week. Even after correcting, it ended the week 9.65% higher, and now is up an option-like 46.39% in the last three weeks. Tighten your stop to $45, but expect to be stopped out in the next couple of days if this stock continues to correct.
The Market Vectors Coal ETF (KOL) also had a solid week as it resumed its solid uptrend. With the options up 62.50% since May 19, sell half of your options to lock in your profits here. Hold on to the ETF and the rest of your options. Move your stop to $49.25.
Overall, your Global Stock Investor recovered in line with the broader markets this week. Potash (POT) continued to soar to record highs, even as the Elements Rogers International Commodity ETN (RJI) hit never-before-seen levels. Potash now is up more than 118% since you first added it to your portfolio in October.


text:
Q: understanding unary operator precedence Having an issue with C and understanding how the compiler is processing this code
#include <stdio.h>

int j=0;

int main(int argc, char *argv[]){
printf("%d %d %d %d %d\n",j++, j*5, j++,  j++,  j);
}

Hi okay so basically i am trying to understand what is going on here?
when i compile and run i get this as a result
2 10 1 0 0
it is not clear to me what exactly the compiler is doing, why does the number change like that? which one is being done first and why does some report a 0 while other 2 and none reports a 3?

A: The entries are being processed back to front.  I'm not 100% but I'd think that the order of processing of arguments to a printf() statement is not set so the result is not predictable (from compiler to compiler).

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Every tour is led by owner, Carol Etheridge. We have specialized in tours to the south of France since 2000. Our tours are designed especially for our friends and customers who have expressed a desire to visit France. The activities, restaurants, and accommodations have been carefully selected to provide a top quality tour that combines the right mix of fun, adventure, culture, comfort, and relaxation.


CHATSWORTH, Calif.—Industry veteran and AVN Hall of Fame Founders Branch member Christian Mann, who has served as general manager at Evil Angel since 2008, reportedly passed away Wednesday after fighting bile duct and pancreatic cancer for approximately a year and a half.
Mann first made made his condition public with this open letter that he penned to the industry at the end of January 2013. Earlier this month, he chose to enter the care of hospice when the treatment he was receiving for his continually growing tumors appeared to no longer be working. Wedensday morning, Mann's wife Melissa posted to her Facebook page: "Over the weekend, Christian's condition has deteriorated rapidly. Because I have not left his side for three weeks, I do not see the changes as starkly as others who visit, but there is no mistake this time. I do not believe he is in pain, and my only hope now is for a swift resolution."
Late Wednesday evening, reports began to surface on Facebook and other social media that Mann had succumbed to his illness. An immediate outpouring of grief and condolensces spread throughout the adult cyber-community.
Perhaps the most succinct sentiment summing up the universal feelings of all came in one of the first tweets to appear about the breaking news, at around 9:30 p.m., from Evil Angel director Kevin Moore: "The industry lost a giant tonight. I can't fathom the business without him."
"Obviously there are few people I was as close to as Christian," Fishbein said. "He was the brother I never had. Some of the best times of my life were with Christian. And even though I've known for a while this was coming, I'm just devastated."
Mann's tenure in adult saw him wear many assorted hats, but predominant in his legacy was his longtime run as owner of Video Team, where he brought ethnic and niche fare into the forefront of the market with such lines and series as Afro-Centric and No Man's Land. He sold Video Team in 2006 to Metro Media but remained with the company until making the move to Evil two years later.
Mann was brought up on federal obscenity charges in Texas in 1989, and prevailed in his trial there. When Evil Angel founder John Stagliano was facing his own such charges more than 20 years later in Washington, D.C. (which were dismissed in July 2010), Mann was elected to the Board of Directors for the Free Speech Coalition, an organization in which he had been active for many years and remained so up until the final stages of his cancer battle.
Evil Angel CFO Adam Grayson offered the following thoughts on Mann: "We've been working together here for five or six years now … I've gotten to know him really well here at Evil Angel; we worked really close together.
"His father was in the magazine printing business, and he started working for his father, which was his entre into this little world. I know he did sales at CPLC for a number of years, and then I guess either before that or after that he worked in sales in the gay video business for a long time, and he pretty much ran Catalina for several years when Bill Higgins owned it.
"I started January of '09, which means Chris started August of '08. We didn't really know each other; it was actually Joey Silvera who got me the meeting here. We're both guys who've been around the block, he a lot longer than I, but we just hit it off professionally. We just really had a common vision for this company, and where it was and where it should be, and a rough outline of how to get there, and it really became a great three-headed attack. Christian was really the sales and marketing and operational guy; John was obviously the creative genius, and I'm sort of the dorkey financial technology guy, but it was really nice. The three of us worked together well and got along. Our expertise didn't really overlap that much, so everybody sort of had their little fiefdom.
"The biggest business contribution was probably, we were running all of our internet in house, and frankly, doing a not-so-good job at it, because it really wasn't our core competency. It was Christian who really steered us toward a long-term partnership with a web technology company which ended up being Gamma. We did that deal in the fall of 2009, and we are actually coming up on the five-year renewal, and that deal has been a game changer for this company.
"There was a lot of status quo when Christian and I got here. He was always forward looking in saying, 'Why do we have three people doing this job where if we just improve the software or we improve the process, we could have one efficient person doing it.' If you do enough of those, they sort of add up into a lot of increased efficiency and a lot of savings."
"Chris passed away last night.
"I have known Christian Mann for close to 30 years. He has been a good friend for all that time. I remember the first time I met Chris, he was stepping out of a limo to visit the sales people at General Video West. He was working for the gay movie company, Catalina, and I knew for sure he was gay. I was wrong.
"I was so impressed. The limo, the crisp clothes, he looked successful. I wanted that. He was inspiring.
"Christian is one of the most intelligent people I have ever met in my life. He has always been a great advisor. His even temper and quick wit was always a great refresher in a tense conversation.
"He seemed to do what was logical; he made good decisions.
When I became clean and sober over 8 years ago, he was the first person I called. He was very supportive and gave me a direction that I have followed ever since. Once again he was an inspiration. But this time it was for living, not success.
"I am so grateful that I was able to call him my friend. I will never understand how such a great guy, someone who is of service to so many, someone who is so caring, gets dealt a hand like this. No one said life is fair, and this proves it to be so.
"This world was a better place with him here. I know I will miss him terribly. My condolences go out to his wife and kids. He will be missed.
"I know I will see him further down the road."
Check back on AVN.com in the coming hours for more memories of Mann and his long career.
Photo of Christian Mann courtesy of Melissa Mann's Facebook page.
Click here for more remembrances of Mann.
Click here for a statement from Evil Angel.
Click here for information on a celebration of life for Mann.