text:
Jackie Sutton and Peter Housiaux inducted into the XŌtaki College Alumni Trust Hall of Fame
XOtaki College
Author: Max Lutz
Created: Mon 14 Jun 2021, 01:58 pm
Category: Hall Of Fame
Location: Otaki
Speech by XŌtaki College Alumni Trust chair Max Lutz
XŌtaki College Alumni Trust chair Max Lutz, left, with Hall of Fame recipients Jackie Sutton and Pete Housiaux.
Ladies and gentlemen on behalf of the XŌtaki College Alumni Trust it gives me great pleasure in welcoming you all on this very auspicious occasion to induct Jackie Sutton and Peter Housiaux into the XŌtaki College Alumni Trust Hall of Fame.
It is with pleasure we welcome Jackie and Ralph Sutton and Peter and Ann-Marie Housiaux and their families – many of whom have travelled from all over New Zealand and a few from as far afield as New South Wales and Queensland to be present today. A special welcome also to Jacqui Pritchard, Chris and Kathy Parkin, Mayor Guru and Claire, Ray and Irene Mackle of the Philipp Family Foundation, and Dale Nahkla, chair of the Ōtaki College Board of Trustees.
I feel very privileged to be Chairman of the Alumni Trust and would like to take the opportunity to introduce my fellow trustees:
Kim Cook, Emma Henderson, Janice Brown, Peter Housiaux, Peter Northern, Scott Wylie, Kerry Walker and Andy Fraser – working as a dedicated team since the Trust's inception in 2014. In this time the Trust has raised over $500,000 for the benefit of the students of Ōtaki College with the money spent on various infrastructure projects and funding annual financial scholarships.
Notable projects include the completion of the Te Whare Hui building, refurbishment of the swimming pool, the fitness playground, the SS Otaki Commemoration and installation of solar panels providing power savings for scholarship funding. Major funders I would like to thank are the Philipp Family Foundation, the late David Pritchard and Chris Parkin.
Covid-19 certainly stepped in the way of several of the Trust's projects. The $9000 scholarship awarded to Parekawa Finlay to fund her attendance at the Globe Theatre in London remains in the bank waiting for the time she is able to travel to England for the rescheduled programme.
The Trust's latest project is the new canopy structure many of you would already have sighted this evening. The request from Andy Fraser to the Trust to build an all-weather structure to protect students from the elements was always seen as a project that was in the too-hard basket.
I am not sure who, but one of the trustees suggested a pole type structure with an estimated cost of $30,000. This looked very achievable when Graham and Michelle Peter made generous seed funding available to purchase the kitset structure. However the next step involved getting consent from KCDC only to be told that excavation for the poles could not happen due to the proximity of specimen native trees. To overcome this problem the Trust involved our good friend and architect Rob Kofoed and ex-student and builder Hamish Sweetman, who together devised a lovely design and practical building plan.
Once again KCDC consent provided a stumbling block with huge compliance costs imposed on a non-profit volunteer Trust. Despite this we moved forward and were shovel-ready when along came Covid-19-related complications stopping all progress to work around a deferred exam timetable, not to mention the fact that progress was reliant on the volunteer builders and building supervisor who had their own jobs to work around.
After all of this we have managed to achieve a stunning fit-for-purpose structure but one that has gone well over budget at three times the cost of the original proposed structure. We are now seeking ex-students and supporters who would be prepared to fund the eight seats required at a cost of $1000 per seat or contribute to the $5000 needed for the finishing cladding to the walls of the structure.
Covid-19 also caused the postponement of our planned Hall of Fame event until tonight.
We are here now and it is with much pleasure that the trustees of the XŌtaki College Alumni Trust induct Jackie Sutton and Peter Housiaux into the Hall of Fame to join inaugural inductees Chris Parkin and the late David Pritchard.
See the citations for Jackie and Peter


text:
YOUR BEST GLOBAL FASHION PARTNER
Our story is unbelievable!
Back in the 70's, an audacious group of "islanders" were bold enough to invest into the unknown to supply leading fashion brands from the remote island of Mauritius. And they did it extremely well, can you believe it?
Over the years, those trailblazers nurtured a unique multicultural environment with a strong entrepreneurial mindset.
The rest is history.
Today, we went from "clothing underdogs" to "legit" fashion players with a strong presence in
Mauritius, Madagascar, India and Bangladesh.
We invite you to consider CIEL Textile to be your best global fashion partner.
Get to know us more!
TURNOVER (USD)
GARMENTS PER YEAR
MAURITIUS MADAGASCAR INDIA BANGLADESH
WE'RE ON A MISSION TO IMPROVE FASHION, EVERYDAY
EXCELLENCE AT CORE
WINNING IS IN OUR DNA
We've been in the infinite game of fashion for 50 years.
Excellence has always been our goal, our "raison d'être".
We supply 43.5 million garments annually to the smartest brands around the world.
WINNING WELL
OUR PEOPLE, OUR GOLD
TRUST & FUN
WINNING? YES, BUT WINNING WELL
Our teams don't just win, they win well; with ethics, respect and trust.
They bring their passion, their love and have fun everyday.
They proudly create value for our company, our communities and the environment.
"Our people our gold".
We mean it!
We make sure that our teams are continuously valued and taken care of across Mauritius, Madagascar, India and Bangladesh.
About Ciel Textile | Best Global Fashion Partner | Clothing Production
AGILE & CREATIVE
WE'RE A PROUD TRANSFORMATIONAL PARTNER
We've always been audacious enough to go beyond manufacturing.
Yes! We provide transformational solutions to our customers to sustain their success in the fashion game.
We never stop daring : advanced sustainable product savoir-faire, state of the art automation R&D, 3D/Virtual Design, you name it…We relentlessly explore the fashion of tomorrow today and support our customers to cut through the hype.
GOING BEYOND WITH CIEL
We do a lot, but we don't do it alone.
CIEL is an international Mauritian Group, listed on the Stock Exchange of Mauritius on the SEM Sustainability Index. The Group invests and operates in 6 strategic sectors in Mauritius, Africa and Asia. As a family-controlled Group, CIEL continues its entrepreneurial journey started in 1912 to be the leader in each of its industry.
Visit the CIEL Group website
Meet Kelly, Miarisoa, Tsiry and Zo – our graduates, from Madagascar, taking part in the CIEL Textile International Graduate Program, an exclusive initiative designed by CIEL Textile for ambitious and talented young people to interact with the group's leaders, enabling them to build on their skills and grow - both on a personal and professional level.
CIEL Textile: 50 years of excellence and strong ambitions for the future
While CIEL Textile had the honour to celebrate its incredible entrepreneurial journey through its
Our world is made up of two important resources: people and environment. We're not perfect, but we try our best to nurture both resources.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Woman tahsildar burnt alive in office near Hyderabad
Last Updated : 05 Nov 2019 06:05:53 AM IST
Vijaya Reddy (file photo)
In a gruesome act, a man burnt alive a woman revenue official inside her office near here on Monday, but in the process also suffered critical burn injuries himself, the police said.
The shocking incident occurred in the Abdullapurmet Tahsil Office in Ranga Reddy district on the outskirts of Hyderabad.
Vijaya Reddy, a tahsildar or Mandal Revenue Officer (MRO), was in her chamber when a man walked in, and while talking to her, poured petrol and set her ablaze at around 2 p.m.
The official died on the spot while two employees who tried to save the tahsildar were injured.
The assailant, who has been identified as K. Suresh, too suffered burn injuries and ran out of the office, the police said.
Rachakonda Police Commissioner Mahesh Bhagwat said the accused, who sustained 60 per cent burn injuries, was shifted to the government-run Osmania Hospital in Hyderabad.
The officer said the murder took place over a dispute relating to Suresh's seven-acre land in Baharam village. There was some dispute between Suresh and his tenants and he was angry over the MRO not doing anything to sort out the issue.
The incident occurred during lunch break when there were not many visitors in the office.
The body of Vijaya Reddy has been taken to the Osmania Hospital for autopsy. A large number of revenue officials gathered at the hospital.
The Abdullapurmet mandal or block was carved out recently and Vijaya Reddy was its first MRO. She is survived by her husband and two children.
The incident sent shock waves among the government officials and evoked all-round condemnation. The employees began protest, demanding security.
An association of revenue officials called for protests across the state on Tuesday to demand severe punishment for the guilty.
State Education Minister Sabita Indra Redddy, who hails from Ranga Reddy district, condemned the gruesome murder. She said if anybody has any complaint against any government employee, he should approach the higher officials.
Director General of Police M. Mahender Reddy condemned the incident and said that such a barbaric act was totally unacceptable in a civilised society.
"We shall bring the culprit to book and ensure that the severest punishment is awarded at the earliest. Justice will be rendered to the victim and her family members," he said.


text:
Q: How to run a string command that is a using decorator pattern I have a piece of code that produces the following output

new tutor(new lecturer(new coursecoordinator()))

I need a way to allow c# to execute this as a string however after searching I have not been able to find any examples that relate to string such as these. Any ideas as to the best way of approaching this would be appreciated.

A: If I understand correctly, then you should be able to do it via the implicit operator overload. Here it is on MSDN
//To use, put in the "tutor" class.
public static implicit operator string(tutor t)
{
    //return the tutor object, in string form.
    //For the example, I just return the .ToString() function found on all objects.
    return t.ToString();
}

This will let you seamlessly use the statement "new tutor(new lecturer(new coursecoordinator()))" as a string.
EDIT: I think I misunderstood, perhaps this answer will help a passer-by anyway.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Whether you're a seasoned traveler or new to exploring the world, one of the best ways to get a culture fix is to pack your bags and make a weekend go of it. The UK, especially, has too many options to name, but I've somehow managed to whittle it down to just seven.
You'll notice – I'm leaving London off this list. Not because it isn't worthy of a weekend jaunt (it indeed is worth that and more), but because it's a somewhat obvious choice. London is… well… London. And, by the way, one of my favorite places on earth!
Kick back and read on for seven other must-visit UK spots that are perfect for a quick getaway.
Known as the "City of Dreaming Spires", Oxford is home to the prestigious Oxford University, plus a few dozen other colleges. However, this city offers so much more. When you visit, you'll take in the spectacular city views from high atop Carfax Tower and stroll through the Botanic Garden and University parks. The Bodleian Library is a can't miss and in between it all, you'll want to grab takeaway traditional fish and chips perhaps before shopping in the world-class Covered Market.
The sand and water will serve as a great place to catch a beautiful sunrise followed by a beach cruiser ride. Amusements won't fail to entertain along with a relaxing walk along the famous Brighton Pier. When you're done with the beach, you won't want to miss snapshots of the Royal Palace along with a unique shopping experience in The Lanes. To fuel up for the rest of your weekend, you'll have a wide range of international cuisines from which to choose or seek out the more traditional fare in local, nearby restaurants.
If you want a weekend of shopping, this destination is your best bet. You'll find a plethora of big brand names, but especially on Buchanan Street (aka Style Mile) and in Merchant City. The city is also home to The Glasgow School of Art, which is a must-see. In the evening, head to the West End to one of the great bars and cafés for a quick bite, while you discover even more hidden gems throughout the city.
History buffs, rejoice! You'll love Birmingham, with its miles and miles of canals to see the sights from the most special of angles via boat. The second largest city in the UK is home to hundreds of fun cafés and bars, so don't miss those. Even better, time up your trip with one of the many festivals the city hosts year-round.
Have another go at the beach by visiting Cornwall. Majestic beauty will fulfill your thoughts of paradise, while Saint Ives serves as the must-see spot of your trip. You also can't go to Cornwall without seeing The Eden Project too, which is the world largest rainforest in captivity open year-round.
The Edinburgh Castle will top your list of attractions in the capital of Scotland, if for nothing else than to view The Stone of Destiny and Crown Jewels all in one visit. You'll also want to see the Museum of Scotland along with Royal Botanic Garden, which is second oldest in the UK, coming in just behind the one in Oxford.
Rest, relaxation and wellness are what's its all about at this destination. The biggest attractions have and still do lie in the waters, which include the ancient Roman Baths and the more modern Thermae Bath Spa. Once you've met your R&R threshold, head out to get your fill with delicious food and drinks will strolling through the town's many museums and galleries.
Once chosen the destination that most caught our attention, a very important step is the choice of accommodation where to stay. There are lots of online sites for booking of apartments and hotels. By now everyone knows that booking in advance means saving, despite the last minute to fill empty rooms.
Few know instead of the possibility of further saving by using 'secret' codes. For example, there are Travelodge discount codes that, if inserted at the time of booking, allow us to take advantage of an additional and free discount without any effort! These discounts can make us save up to 25%! Thanks to the money saved we could give ourselves a longer stay or an unscheduled dinner; of course, this applies only to the most careful users!
Albania Travel Guide for First Timers: Everything You Need to Know!
The UK is definitely on my wishlist!
UK the best place for tourist to stay, visit places or spend quality time there with family or friends. There are lots of things which you can explore even in free of cost. I think everyone should visit UK once in a life.


text:
Tag Archives: Memorial Day
Thoughts on Memorial Day 2021
Every Memorial Day we pause to remember those who served and those who died in the wars that involved our country. Not all wars are included. For example, we make no mention of the so-called Indian Wars that did not end until 1924. Perhaps the latter are omitted because even the most nationalistic American tends to look back at them with shame.
We are right to remember those who served, whether as volunteers or draftees. Most, even those who could not understand why they were fighting, did so as a matter of duty to one's country, and for many, it was more then that. They believed, or were able to convince themselves, that they were fighting to defend their country and the noble ideals for which it stood, even if they were among those groups of citizens who were denied the ideals for which they fought. Despite 200 plus years of history "We the people" remains a promise, a goal, a work in progress towards which we continue to strive.
We see evidence of the cost the veterans paid in the many monuments that are often neglected except on Memorial Day or July 4, and we see it in the physical scars that some veterans bear for the remainder of their lives. Often overlooked are the psychological scars that haunt many veterans with memories of war that cannot be exorcised by pills, liquor, or counseling. The pain suffered often extends to those loved ones who live with the physical and psychologically wounded, or with memories of loved ones who lost their lives in past and present wars.
During the fall of 1993 I visited the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, DC. It was very late during the night, and yet there were still people visiting the memorial. Some were very emotional. Perhaps they were looking for the name of a son, husband, or father who died while serving his country. The average age of those who served in the Vietnam War was 22. The youngest to die in combat was only 15. His name was Dan Bullock.
Dan Bullock was an African American who dreamed of one day becoming a pilot, police officer, or U.S. Marine. At age 14, he altered the date on his birth certificate to say he was born on December 21, 1949 rather than 1953, and joined the Marine Corps on September 18, 1968. He arrived in Vietnam on May 18,1969 and was killed in action just 20 days later on June 7.
It took a lot of courage for a young man–dare I say boy—of only 14 to volunteer for military service during wartime. He had to have been physically strong for his age and a strong spirited individual to have survived Marine boot camp. I cannot help but wonder what he might he have become had he not joined, or having joined, survived the war?
Memorial Day should be a day of mourning not a day of celebration. Cancel the parades, picnics, sporting events, and trips to the beach or the mountains. Cancel all the Memorial Day sales and close all the stores and even the restaurants. There is nothing to celebrate. We celebrate positive events—births, weddings, graduations, promotions, anniversaries, etc. etc. War is insane! War represents the worst in human nature. Although it has been with us since the beginning of human history, and will no doubt be with us to the end of history, any rational human being would agree that war has no victors.
A friend of mine posted on social media the official statistics on how many Americans died in our nation's past wars. As one might expect, World War II had the highest number of deaths, 291,557. More then 7,000 have died in combat since 2001. But as I mentioned above, the number of deaths is only a small part of the cost a people pay for participating in wars.
Instead of listening to the national anthem and watching heroic war movies, listen instead to antiwar songs and read the memoirs and poetry of those who know the true meaning of war. I have been told, and I believe it true, that those who abhor war most are those who have experienced it.
I did not serve in the military during the Vietnam War. I tried very hard not to be a participant. As a historian by profession, I have studied the history of wars throughout the millennia of human history. What have I learned? I am not sure I can answer that question. I remain puzzled. I read once that Leon Tolstoy wrote War and Peace in attempt to understand why so many men would march halfway around the world to kill a bunch of people they did not know or have any reason to fight. Did he find an answer? I do not know. Tolstoy was a pacifist, but pacifism is not a rational answer, unless of course, everyone was to become pacifists. And how likely do you think that will occur, given the historical record of human folly?
So, I sit here on this Memorial Day with no desire to join the celebrations or go out shopping in order to show my patriotic support for the American economy. In the past two years I lost a very good friend and a brother-in-law, both of whom I would like to have known much better. Both of them served as officers in the Vietnam War. One was a Marine captain; the other a captain in the Army. Both lived the remainder of their lives with the after effects of the war. The one was wounded 5 times and carried pieces of shrapnel around in his body. The other could never forget those under his command who died, nor come to terms with the feeling that the United States abandoned the Montagnards whom they recruited to fight the Viet Cong.
One thing I do conclude, sitting here thinking about this Memorial Day, is that the line from the Roman poet Horace, "Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori," * often quoted to glorify war, is a lie, a very BIG LIE.
Until next time, be good to all God's creatures and live under the mercy.
*"It is sweet and honorable to die for one's country."
Posted in American History, Historian's Almanac, Opinion & Editorials
Tagged antiwar, Dan Bullock, Memorial Day, Memorial Day 2021
A Fallen Soldier Comes Home
Posted on June 9, 2012 | 11 comments
Korean War Memorial (Photo credit: inge87)
Yesterday evening I went to the airport to pick up my wife. She was returning from a visit with her mother in Washington State. Her flight was due in at 5:15 p.m., so I made sure to be there early. I wanted to greet her at the gate, not just pick her at the curb like she was a piece of luggage.
Her flight was delayed. At 5:30 those of us waiting were told that her plane had arrived and was at the gate. I waited, and I waited. No one seemed to be getting off the plane. Just before 6:00 p.m. an ambulance arrived. Several medics with a stretcher, oxygen, etc. went down the hall in the direction of the gate escorted by security.
As I continued to wait, I began to wonder, what happened? Did someone on the flight have a medical emergency? Was it my wife? I continued waiting. Finally, about ten minutes past the hour, the passengers began to appear. Yup, there she was, the love of my life.
As we were going down the stairs to retrieve her suitcase, she explained what caused the delay. There was a family on board accompanied by four soldiers. They were bringing a soldier home from the war. Yes, there is a war going on. Soldiers on both sides, and many civilians—men, women, and children—are dying.
The people onboard the plane were asked to remain seated until the family disembarked. It was a simple thing to do, a gesture of respect for the family and of course the soldier, also on the flight, but in the baggage compartment, in a coffin.
The family and the honor guard stood on the tarmac as the coffin was taken off the plane. It was then that the soldier's mother collapsed. Hearing that, it was easy for me to understand why the passengers were delayed in disembarking and why there was an additional delay for the luggage to be unloaded.
While we waited at the luggage pickup, the four soldiers stood nearby with several family members. The soldiers were in dress blues, numerous ribbons on their breasts, yellow strips down the sides of their trousers, and of course, those silly looking berets our soldiers wear these days.
While standing there waiting, I noticed one family member with the soldiers. She looked young, perhaps a sister of the fallen warrior. She stood there with her arms folded staring at the conveyer where luggage would soon begin to appear. Her head was bent slightly forward. The corners of her tightly closed mouth were turned down. I could tell she wanted to cry, but knew she must not. She had to remain stoic for the others. Emotionally, I began to feel as if I could sense her pain. I wondered what she was thinking.
We celebrated Memorial Day only a week ago. The news media was full of scenes of parades and politicians laying wreaths and making speeches. I thought about writing something to mark the occasion, but simply could not do it.
I have friends and family members who served in the military. Some served in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. I know others, some of them students of mine, who have served in Iraq and/or Afghanistan. I have a great deal of respect for them, because they did what they believed they should do. They were faithful to their convictions.
When I think of war and all the suffering caused by wars, as I was forced to do yesterday evening, I have very mixed feelings. War is insane. To say that war is barbaric is too rational. Do civilized people commit acts of genocide, fire bomb cities, drop atomic bombs and napalm on innocent people? In every war the seeds of the next war are planted.
Just in the past two days national news reported on massacres of civilians in Syria. Men, women, and children, some of them burned to death in their homes, all of them sacrifices to the gods of war. One news story told of how the suicide rate among our soldiers now exceeds more than one per day. More are taking their own lives than are being killed by enemy action.
A friend of mine in graduate school served in Vietnam. He was a graduate of Virginia Military Institute. He was wounded just days before he was to return home, leaving him with a disability for the rest of his life. One afternoon he showed me some pictures of him in full dress uniform at VMI. Parading on the drill field, he said, was fun. Vietnam was different.
That mother of the soldier who returned home yesterday evening will never get over the loss of her child. The wife will never really be able to forget her husband. Was the baby I saw in the arms of one of the family members the child of the fallen soldier?
The soldier-son-husband-father will soon be "laid to rest" as they say. The honor guard will see that the funeral is dignified. I expect veterans will be present. They will play taps and even fire a few rifle shots over the grave. The flag will be taken off the casket, folded and given to the widow. Everyone will slowly walk away to continue living a life that will never be the same.
Don't give them any of that rubbish about how he died for his country, or how he gave his life in defense of freedom. Those are the lies that the makers of war tell the mourning. Enough of that!
Wars have happened all through history, and they will no doubt continue to happen in the future. I am sorry, but I cannot make sense of them. Let's cancel future Memorial Day holidays. After all, they are only excuses for a day off from the drudgery of everyday life, excuses for picnics and parties.
The poet Carl Sandburg said: "Someday they'll give a war and nobody will come." He was wrong. There will always be those who for whatever reason will heed the call to arms, to rally around the flag, or to defend the fatherland. "War," said Bertrand Russell, "seems a mere madness, a collective insanity." Are we all insane?
I close with this song:
Until next time be good to call God's creation and always walk under the mercy.
Tagged Bertrand Russell, Carl Sandburg, fallen soldier, Korean War, Memorial Day, Memorial Day 2012, Vietnam, Vietnam War, Virginia Military Institute, war, World War II


text:
New owner plans on turning Upside Down House inside out
John ColsonAspen, CO Colorado
Jordan Curet/The Aspen Times
ALL | Jordan Curet/The Aspen Times
ASPEN A former chef for one of Aspen's sushi restaurants has bought the Upside Down House and plans to reopen it in June under a new name, with new hours and a refurbished interior.But no, he won't be serving sushi out of the tiny Main Street deli, which he said once was the kitchen of the home of real estate broker Tom Moore, owner of the deli space and the entire block of retail shops at the corner of Monarch and Main streets.Joe Freeman, 36, and his fiancee, Krista Eddy, completed the purchase of the business on May 22 and immediately gutted the place in preparation for a remodel.They plan to reopen in mid-June, under a name they have not picked yet but with a menu very similar to the one that locals have become used to over the years.Freeman, explaining that he is fully aware of the trademark problems that plagued the old In & Out House, said he has been working with a trademark attorney to come up with a name he can stick with.The deli had operated as the In & Out House for some 35 years, serving sandwiches, soups, chips and beverages to a loyal lunchtime crowd. Then a trademark battle with the In-N-Out Burger chain, based in California, forced a name change in 2006.And while former owner Michelle Abruzzo and her manager, Garrick Cox, indicated in February that they planned to keep the deli open long term, financial difficulties forced the sale of the business.Freeman said Friday that he first moved to Aspen in 1994 from his native state of North Carolina, and has been in the restaurant business "since I was 18," but always before this as an employee, most recently for two years at Kenichi. This is his first stint owning his own business, he said.He declined to name the purchase price of the business, and he said the purchase included all equipment and furnishings, though the pair is having to replace some of the fixtures and equipment."We're just pretty much buying the right to do business in Aspen," he said with a smile.The restaurant, whatever it is called, will be open from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays to begin with, until the new owners get a feel for what customers want and what they, as owners and servers, can put up with.John Colson's e-mail address is jcolson@aspentimes.com


Reciprocal change is a difficult and paradoxical idea in chess composition. It happens when two mates are interchanged between the same two defenses between two phases. In algebraic terms: In one phase mate A follows defense X while mate B follows defense Y. In another phase mate B follows X and mate A is switched to defense Y. Even though I have not had much success at it, reciprocal change is one of my favorite themes. We begin with a crystal clear example by Barry Barnes.
In order to pull off reciprocal change one needs two effects after the key: the new mates must work and the old mates must fail. In this case obviously the wQ plays a crucial role. Before the key she guards the squares d5 and g5 and she gives these up for guard on e3 and e6.
The try and key separate the duals and reciprocally change them. Here the mechanism is uses the guard on the squares f5 and c4 and the opening of black lines to swap the mates.
Here we have a doubling of the theme. A common mechanism for reciprocal effects is the forming of batteries: should the rear piece play first forming the battery or should the front piece play and clear the way for the rear piece. In this amazing problem we see this strategy to perfect. We see two possible Q+R batteries to be formed one with the wQ to f1 and another with wR capturing e6. However, we can move the front piece for two nice tries.
Here we have a twinning mechanism to achieve reciprocal change. The reciprocally changed mates come from two different knights playing to the same square.
Another great but simple reciprocal change by Indonesian composer. Here the change is based on the focal control of the bQ on the long diagonal.
This is probably one of the most original mechanisms for reciprocal change that I have ever seen. The problem uses a so called Forsberg twinning to replace a piece by different piece of the same color. The goal in each part is to guard c2 so that the wBg8 can mate on c4 by closing the wR's line.
In addition to reciprocal change we have two Gamage unpins. It's amazing how the whole problem works and why the guards on c3 and d4 dictate the defenses and keys in each part.
We have a wonderful prize winning problem. Notice the wR,wS, and wB on the e-file. This is what is known as a half-battery. Guarding e6 (in particular if any move of wSe7 or wBe6) will threaten 2.Sf7. However, something must be done about the defense 1...Sg5. Let's try moving the wQ first.
Thus we see the half-battery theme, reciprocal change, and a 3x3 Zagoruiko (3 different mates after the defenses 1...Qe7,Qe6,Sg5). Wow!
We end with my reciprocal change problem which is obtained by means of twinning. The twins have the same key, which can be considered a flaw, but here it might be a feature. Part a) is a usual Novotny whereas part b) is what I call a reversed Novotny. The reciprocal change happens by pinning and line opening, i.e., if the bQ is removed from the board then after the captures of the key pawn on d4 both mates Bb3 and Qxe5 would work. However, in part a) she blocks the wRd1's line so only the standard Novotny mates work, where as in part b) the moves of the bBc3 and bRf4 open the bQ's lines so the other mates are the ones that work. One thing that was really important to me was working in the defense 1...Qe3 2.Sxf4 in part a) so that the wRd1 was utilized.
In general two-movers with multiple solutions are not considered to be sound problems. However, sometimes multiple solution problems can be composed intentionally with wonderful effects. Here are some of my favorites.
This problem originally had a bB on h7 to thwart the try 1.e3? but was later removed and now has two solutions. We have wonderful play in both solutions including Schiffman defenses, pin mates, battery play, and a true Salazar theme (reversal of key move and variation).
This is probably my favorite double solution problem. I love line doubling and this is a wonderful example with two flight giving keys and perfectly match play in each solution.
In this problem Black does not have any moves so White must give the bK some room to move. A different piece plays to the f7 square to release the stalemate.
Here is something exotic from the British grandmaster. Notice that the bK has many flights, five to be exact: e4,e5,e6,c4,c6. Here the three solutions all have checking keys but there is beautiful mate transference on the e-file flights and changed mates on the c-file flights. A wonderful problem which goes beyond the usual problem conventions.
Finally here is one of my own. You may recognize it as a modification of one of my old problems. It is nothing special but it does have some interesting features. First, it is a complete block - every move by Black has a set reply. For complete blocks, there are 3 three types of non-threat caring solutions: a pure waiting solution, a solution with added mates, and a mutate. Each of the solutions accomplishes one of these.
Focal play happens when a black piece is overloaded with guard on at least two squares so that when it moves it relinquishes control to one of the squares.
We begin with a famous problem from Sam Loyd. Notice that the bQ's guard on b4 and e7 prevents the wS from mating - this is the focal position. Moreover, there are mates set for just about every black move, except 1...Qe1,Qe4 in which case the bQ maintains her focal control over b4 and e7. The wPg2 is a famous nightwatchman - it is superfluous but it offers the tries of 1.g3? 1...Qe4! 1.g4 1...Qe1! Instead the flight giving key 1.Be5 blocks the e-file to break the focal control. You can see Loyd's careless construction here. The wBd1 is an extremely wasteful way to place the wK and the wRs are a little bit over overkill. I prefer David Shire's version below with two less pieces and considerably less force. The wBg3 makes all the tries and the use of the wK is outstanding.
There is no way to hold the block so the wQ takes over the control of the foci.
Focal play can often lead to duals. For example, in the above Mansfield problem the 1...Re2 unguards both the foci e2 and g6 so is met by 2.Qxe2/Qg6. The problem to the right does not have this flaw, i.e., it has dual free focal play. The initial position is a complete block and a waiting move will hold the play. 1.Rc7? 1.Rc8? offer nice tries but interfere with the wQ's lines and are countered by 1...g4 and 1...Rg3 respectively. The only move that holds the position is the surprising 1.Qh2! Excellent construction.
Now we turn to a try play problem. There are mates set for the wQ 1...f2/dxe5/Bg2~ 2.Qxg2/Qxe5/Qa2. Moreover the wSs can overload the bB on g5. But which one should it be and to which square. 1.Sg4? handles 1...Bd8/Bh6 with 2.Se3/Sf6 but falls to 1...Bxc1! 1.Sh5? handles 1...Bd8/Bh6 with 2.Sf4/Sf6 but falls to 1...Be7! This is a theme A defense: Black closes the line of guard to e5 to defeat the White mate which will close a second line of guard to e5. 1.Sf5 prepares 1...Bd8/Bh6 with 2.Se3/Se7 but goes down to another theme A defense 1...Bf4! Finally 1.Sg6 does the trick. Interesting enough the wSg7 is camouflage and only there for the tries! It does make for a nice 4x2 Zagoruiko.
Here is another try play problem. There is a battery pointed at the bK on the a-file and a half-battery along the first rank and the bRs are doing double duty on each of these lines. It looks like wBg1 should break the focal control of one of the rooks: 1.Be3? (2.Sh2) 1...Rd6!
Thus it appears that the bRs can handle the two batteries. So White must form a third battery!
Thus the white mates that are forced were the original threats that were defeated by the same black moves in the try play: the Dombrovskis paradox tripled!
Thus it turns out that wSf6 must break the focus, but this changes the threat!
I probably should have put a bP on c2 to avoid a dual after 1...Qa2.
In general the three move problems are out of my composing comfort zone (to date I have only composed 4 three movers). However, I have been fortunate enough to successfully compose 2 miniature three move problems. A miniature is a problem with at most seven pieces. In general not a lot of strategy can be accomplished in a miniature, but these problems may make you think otherwise. Here are my two problems are along with some of my all time favorite three move miniatures.
Probably one of the most famous problems of all time. Notice the bR can check and the bP on e2 is ready to promote. White must bring his king into play to enable the battery. Surely the way to do this is to go through b5 followed by b6 as to avoid the check coming from 1...e1=Q. 1.Kb5? looks good at first but what about 1...Rg8. This foils the plan because 2.Sd4+ (say) can be met by 2...Ka7 and now the wK is obstructing the wS on b5! What remains is 1.Ka5! and now the onslaught of black checks can be handled by the battery.
Another classic. The bad double flight taking key sets up a nice little dance between the bB and wQ. The idea is that the wQ must hold e5 and have access to another square on the diagonal b8-d6. This is accomplished by following the bB wherever it goes and passing through the line it opens.
Here is one that exploits the chessboard to its fullest. The beautiful corner key waits for black to abandon control of the B+P battery and allow the pawn on b2 to open without cutting the other bishop's line. You can figure out the key by trying to move the wBd4. 1.Be5? 1...Bd6!, 1.Bf6? 1...Be7!, 1.Bg7? 1...Bf8!. The only move left is for the wB to hide in the corner so that it cannot be captured.
The perfect rendition of the Indian theme with only 5 pieces. The spectacular key sets up a stalemate release.
1.Bg8 c2 2.Rf7 Ka2 3.Ra7.
Speaking of the indian theme, Loyd executes an indian maneuver with a nice flight giving key.
Here is Wurzburg's famous doubling problem. The idea is that the wQ must come in along the wB's line. Wurzburg throws in a wQ sacrifice and a model mate for good measure.
We saw the classic themes of the indian and doubling above. Here is a bristol clearance classic.
More classical themes: under-promotion and grab. The try 1.e8Q? falls to 1...Se5 because 2.Qxe5 would stalemate! So only a rook promotion works and a complete bS grab ensues.
Some Warton magic is always welcome. Here the wK makes all of the moves in the main variation.
I have always liked a surprise key that sends the wQ off to the edge of the board. The idea is that the wQ must set up an indirect masked battery to cover the squares g2 and h2. The key makes a double threat, but these are virtual - they never materialize.
A battery is where a front piece is blocking a rear line piece so that when the front piece moves it opens guard of the rear piece. In its simplest form battery play can be dull and boring, but when done just right the effects can be scintillating. I love battery play and most of my problems have some form of it. Here are some of my favorites starting with a modest composition by myself.
We begin with one of my own. While this is not my most original problem, I do feel that execution is well done. Here there is battery play from both White and Black. A flight granting key and four unique openings from a single battery with cross-checks and shut-offs.
This time we have eight openings from the B+R battery to fend off the pesky bQ. Outstanding as usual from the great composer.
Here is a beautiful example of indirect batteries. An indirect battery is one that points at a flight square of the bK. Not much play but the idea is well presented.
Here is a triple knight battery. The wSe6 has three (!) different rear pieces behind it. The excellent key gives two flight squares.
Here is a classic battery play problem. The key gives three flights and pin-mates galore!
Here is a doubling of my problem above. I achieved 4 openings from a single battery with a lead knight whereas the composer presents 8 openings from two batteries with lead knights. Where as I used flight squares met by double checks, the composer here uses self-blocks and double checks. What a wonderful problem!
Five distinct openings from one battery with beautiful strategy. The white economy is perfect: six pieces and no pawns. My favorite are the self blocks on g2 permitting the white interference mates.
We end with a couple more modern problems with battery play. Both try and key offer two flights and cross checks. Clear idea and execution and well matched play between try and key.
Here is something beautiful by the great modern two move composer. A battery begs to be formed on e4, but which piece should be the lead piece the wB or wS? Try and key have nice play and changes between the two.
Checks on the wK are always of interest in a two mover. Recently I have been exploring an idea that changes a set capture reply to a check by exploiting a self-pin. Specifically, there is a battery aimed at the bK with the front piece pinned. In the set play the capture of the front piece checks the wK and is countered by a capture by the rear piece of the battery. The key will make some type of error that abandons this reply but now White exploits the fact that Black self-pins when it checks. This idea can lead to some fantastic keys. Please also see my arcitle in the September 2016 Problemist Supplement. We begin with a classic by Mansfield.
Mansfield executes the idea to prefection in this beautiful Meridith. Notice the set check 1...Rxc7+ 2.Rxc7. However, this cannot be preserved because the wB must withdraw to mount a threat and in doing so will give a flight square at d4. This check forces the wB to the square h6 so it can interpose the check. The reason that the set mate is abandoned is the flight on d4 after the wB moves away.
By the way, I think he should have gone with a more ecomical version: -wPa2,wPb3,bPb4 +wSa5,wPa3. He probably had them there to avoid duals, but that might be the only time I ever improve a Mansfield problem!
Here is my version of Mansfield's problem in which I change the axis from diagonal to orthogonal. Set play: 1...Qxf3+ 2.Bxf3. This check forces the wR to d6 to self-pin and block the oncoming check. There is not much play but the economy is nice and the rendering of the idea is clear.
Here is a favorite problem of mine. In the above problems the changed check is met by the threat. This problem shows that a threat is not necessary to pull off the idea! In fact this is the only such problem that I know of that does not have a threat.
Beautiful execution in a near minature!
We now turn to the idea in which the key piece is a knight. Here is an example that I concocted. It is the only example I know of that is a minature. The problem contains a double threat but each of the threats is forced.
Here is quite possibly my favorite composion that I have made. True, it is not the most complex problem, nor does it display a modern theme. But it is so elegant. No pawns, the bK is mirrored (nothing occupying his field) and there are some nice model mates in the solution.
Even though it is met by the threat, the mate following the check by the bQ is worth another look. That's right, we have a pin-mirror-model mate that is quite possible the most beautiful mate contained in any of my chess problems.
In the previous problem the key always ungaurded a square that was needed for the set reply to the check. We now look at problems where the key makes a different error. The follow problem was used in the 2004-05 British Solving Championships. Notice the half-pin along the 6 rank. The set check exploits this: 1...Bxe4+ 2.Bxe4. The rook must retreat to make the threat but it can only retreat so far 1.Rh1? 1...Bxe4+!
The key is 1.Rh2! threatening 2.Rc2 (to block the oncoming check). The bPf7 plays a star role by opening the bQ's line but interfering with the bBs: 1...f6 2.Sxd4 and the amazing mate 1...f5 2.Re6. Let's analyze that last variation. By moving to f5 the bP opens the bQ's line thereby defeating the threat, but interferes with the bBg6 unpinning the wRe4 which then pins the bPd6 and shuts off the bQ to mate. Bravo!
Here is one of my own half-pin abandonments. This time there is extra set play to make the half-pin even more enticing.
The R+S batter is awefully strong and maybe the key should be something that liberates it. Moving the wK is an option.
Instead what we have is 1.Qb5! (>2.Qe2). And now those same moves that defeated our threat in the tries allow it as a variation: the Dombrovski paradox. Critics might say that the checking refutations are too strong.
Finally we end with some of my problems that have been published but whose solutions are not yet available. Happy solving!
Here is an example in which the set check does not even appear in the set play. Another elegant and open position. The solution is not available yet so give it a try.
Here is my only problem published in the prestigious Die Schwalbe. Notice the set checks - one of them will be changed. Also this problem accomplishes something call regisive refutations. There are 5 "tries" that are defeated by more than one refutation and these refutations decrease with the different tries.
Notice the two set checks. The idea is doubled and combined with the Fleck theme of multiple forced threats.
Another economical problem. Notice the set play after the captures of wSe4, which, of course, the key will disrupt.
We are interested in situations where Black can double check White in a two move problem. Since a King in double check must move, we see that such a double check by Black must be met by a royal battery. We will explore this situation in depth in this post. This was one of my first research experiences in in the theory of chess problems. We also refer readers to the July issue of StrateGems in 2016 (SG 75) for my article.
The above problems give you a typical way for Black to double check in a two mover: Black fires a battery that leaves the rear battery piece pinned while the front piece is captured by the wK which at the same time fires its own battery. I set out to investigate the following question: is it possible for Black to double check with out the checking pieces being captured? The answer is yes and here are some examples.
Here the double check is executed with a R+S battery and the bS must self pin when performing the check.
Here is one of my personal favorites. This time the wQ unpins the wSe5 allowing checks galore.
In my investigation I noticed that I could not find an example in which a bR and a bB delivered the double check without capture. The geometry will not allow for a R+B or B+R battery to be fired with the pinning that is required. However, there is another way! It turns out that it is possible for a bR and bB to double check without either piece moving!
The key to having a bR and bB double check and both be pinned is to use an en passant capture. Notice that the wK sits in check in the diagram. This is necessary: it will be impossible for a bB and bR to double check and not be captured in a two move problem unless the wK is in check in the initial position.
Certainly, the key is obvious with the wK in check, but the play afterward is really nice with interference, self-blocking, and three wK battery mates.
One final open question remains. In the above problem the piece that fires the battery (the pawn) is captured. Is it possible to have a bR and bB double check and not capture the pawn? The answer is yes but I think it requires a checking key.
The wK moves f4 because it is the only square available after the en passant capture! Question: can any one pull off this task without a checking key? Specifically, is there a #2 with a double check from a bB and bR without capturing the bB, bR, or bP that does not have a checking key? Send me a comment.
The Novotny theme is probably one of the oldest ideas in chess compositions. The mechanism is due Antonin Novotny (1827-1871) and is related to the Grimshaw interference. The idea is the following: if a rook and bishop's lines cross each other, at a square called the critical square, then if white places a piece on the intersection of the two lines it will block both lines so that white can exploit this. The key usually makes a double threat and the captures of the key piece force the individual threats (not always though!). Since the Novotny's have been around for close to two centuries, problems that have only a Novotny mechanism are generally not very interesting. However, when combined with other ideas the Novotny has given rise to a large number of excellent problems.
Here is the simplest example of the theme I could find. The square c7 is the critical square that blocks the bB and bR's line. The key 1.Sc7 blocks both of these lines and makes the double threat 2.Qd8/Qg7. The capture of the wS by the bB blocks the bR's line allowing only 2.Qg7 while the capture by the bR allows only 2.Qd8. A textbook example.
Here is a fine example of Novotny tries forming a white Grimshaw. The solver will notice the set Grimshaw on b4: 1...Rb4 2.Qe1, 1...Bb4 2.Qxd4. So we can try 1.Bb4? threatening 2.Qe1/Qxd4. However, 1...Be6 defeats the threats by closing the wBc8 guard on f5. White cannot play the set mate 2.Rb5 because the key piece is blocking the way. Likewise, 1.Rb4 fails to 1...Re6 because now the wR has blocked the wBa3 to d6. Finally, the key is 1.Be6 this time a Novotny on e6! Captures of the key piece separate the threats. Meanwhile Black can defeat both threats by playing to b4 but these create a black grimshaw and allow the other threats. To recap: we have two Novotny tries creating a white Grimshaw and a different Novotny key which is defeated by black Grimshaw moves allowing the original threats.
Here is a neat variant of the Novotny in a light setting. The wSc1 is ready to mate on d3 and e2 as soon as the bR. The key moves precisely to the critical square 1.Be4! I call this problem a delayed Novotny, because the key appears to make the double threat 2.Sd3/Se2 since it closes the bR and bB lines. However it does not make these threats because it also grants a flight square in its sacrificial move. Instead it makes a single threat 2.Qh4. Captures of the key piece lead to the Novotny mates 1...Rxe4 2.Sd3, 1...Bxe4 2.Se2. Nice by-play: 1...Bg5 2.Qf3, 1...Kxe4 2.Qf3, 1...Bf5 2.Qxf5.
Perfect execution from the great Russian composer.
And now for something fantastic. With only 12 pieces the composer pulls off a perfect disappearing Novotny. The key appears to be a simple Novotny 1.Be5 threatening 2.Qd6/Qe6. We've seen it all before the capture on e5 by the rook should lead to Qd6 and capture by the bishop should lead to Qe6. Wrong! 1...Rxe5 removes the guard of d6 hence does not permit 2.Qe6 but does self block and allows 2.Rd8. 1...Bxe5 removes guard of d4 and again self blocks allowing 2.Be6.
You can always count on something good from this composer. The critical square is d4. The problem features a Novotny try and key. Let's try 1.d4? which looks like it makes two threats 2.Rf6/Rf2, however because it unguards e4 it only makes the single threat of 2.Rf6. The self-blocking defense 1...e4 allows 2.Rf2. However this try is defeated by 1...Be7! The correct key is 1.Bd4 which has a similar effect of appearing to threaten both 2.Rf6/Rf2, however because the bishop unguards g3 there is only one threat: 2.Rf2. Again the self blocking defense 1...hxg3 allow for the suppressed threat 2.Rf6. This type of pattern is known as the pseudo Le-Grand and this particular form with the avoided threats is known as a Sushkov theme. The composer is a known expert of the Sushkov theme.
We could probably devote a whole blog post to the Novotny ideas of this composer. This is a really interesting that idea you could call a Novotny switch. Notice that there is a set Grimshaw interference on f6 1...Bf6 2.Rb6 1...Rf6 2.Rf4 (shut-off). The try f6 exploits this but is defeated by 1...Qxc5. Instead the key 1.Sf6 looks like it should threaten those two mates but it does not. Why? Because it open up the lines of the other bR and bB which guard those threats. It also opens up two white lines and hence has two new Novotny threats 2.Rc4 (since the wBg8 guards this square) and 2.Bb6 since the wRd4 now guards d6. However, the bBg2 and bRd8 can now close both of these lines by playing to d5 but this only brings back 2.Rb6 and 2.Rf4. This also has an interesting wrinkle in that the bQ, which possesses the power of a rook and bishop can capture the Novotny piece, but this leads to 2.Qc1.
Here is probably one of my favorite Novotny ideas of all time: the masked Novotny. Notice that the wBe7 and wRg6 could mate except that they are doubly controlled, once from the rear and once indirectly. The key 1.e4! moves to the critical square of the bRe8 and bBh7 and threatens 2.Rd1. Black can defend with 1...Qb6 pinning the wR but this removes the rear guard on the wBe7 and the key pawn blocks the bRe8's path so that 2.Bg5 mates. Likewise 1...Rxg5 also defends by removing guard on d1 but also gives up its position on the wRg6. The wP again blocks the bBh7 allowing 2.Rc6 to mate. Nice by-play 1...dxe4 2.Rc4.
Here is something for your solving pleasure. Given the fact that it is a Novotny you will probably figure it out quickly. One of the virtues it possesses is that it makes a single threat and the Novotny mates only work after the captures. Have fun.
One way to etch your name into chess problem history is to invent your own theme. Walter Grimshaw (1832-1890) did just that. A Grimshaw interference is a mutual interference by two line pieces that play to the square where the lines intersects. A Grimshaw interference occurs be between a pawn and bishop or more commonly a rook and bishop. We begin with a simple example that illustrates the idea perfectly.
Here is an economical example by the German miniaturist. The key 1.Qa2 threatens 2.Qg8 and black can defend by blocking the wQ's path at d5. However, the bB and bR interfere with each other on this square giving the Grimshaw interference.
Now we have perfection on a chess board. This is probably one of the most famous chess problems ever composed. We have a triple Grimshaw: 3 pairs of interferences between different line moving pieces. The problem is a complete block and the waiting key 1.Bb3 holds the block. There are Grimshaws on the squares b7, f6, and g7.
A wonderful problem. My favorite part is how the composer worked in the Grimshaw defenses to defeat the threat.
A clear rendering of a white Grimshaw. The try 1.Bc3? threatens 2.Qa2 but is defeated by 1...Se5 because the wB closed the wRs guard on c6 hence 2.Rxe5 will not work. Likewise the try 1.Rc3? also threatening 2.Qa2 is defeated by 1...Rc7 because the wR closed the wB's line to d4 hence 2.Sxc7 will not work. What remains is 1.Rc4 making a different threat 2.Sc3.
Here is my only problem (so far) that contains a Grimshaw interference. The Grimshaw is not the point of the problem rather it happens in the by-play. See if you can find the three tries - moves that are foiled by a single black defense. I'll post the solution after it has been published.


text:
Q: Twitter intent tweet adding forward slash I'm following the API guidelines to make a tweet:
http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Don%27t+hide+your+incessant+curiosity%2E+Exclaim+it%2E+%23quote+http://itechthereforeiam.com+via+@mjbrender
But it keeps appending a '/' to the end:

Don't hide your incessant curiosity. Exclaim it. #quote
  http://itechthereforeiam.com via @mjbrender/

I found a few conversations headed this direction, but nothing answering the question.
Thanks for helping.

A: Don't know if you ever got this to work, but I moved the via statement to the "front" and it got rid of the slash.
For example:
https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?via=UserName&url=http://MyURL.com&text=Share your Story and Win!&hashtags=myHashTag&

I previously had the via tag at the end and it would product the slash. With this code, the via still appears at the end, rather than the beginning of the message, just without the trailing forward slash.
Hope this helps!

A: It's because you don't URL-encode MyURL.
Try this :
https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Don%27t+hide+your+incessant+curiosity.+Exclaim+it.+%23quote+http%3A//itechthereforeiam.com+via+@mjbrender


text:
Total Quality Logistics Hiring for New Lexington Office
Lexington, KY- Total Quality Logistics (TQL), the 4th largest third-party logistics brokerage in the U.S., is currently hiring for its new Lexington, KY, sales office scheduled to open in August 2011. "Our main goal in opening an office in Lexington, KY, is to attract Lexington's local sales talent and grow our business in the region," says Kerry Byrne, TQL Executive Vice President.
TQL grows organically by transferring experienced Logistics Account Executives and then hiring local sales talent to complete the team. The experienced Account Executives help instill the TQL culture and corporate values in new team members. TQL is seeking self-motivated employees to join its new Lexington sales team. Interested candidates can go to www.TQLJobs.com to apply.
In the 13 years since its inception, TQL has grown to sales of $762 million in 2010 with projected sales of more than $900 million in 2011. The company has added 1100+ employees and opened seven additional satellite offices in cities across the country. TQL facilitates more than 400,000 truckloads annually for more than 7,000 clients across the U.S., Mexico and Canada.
ABOUT TOTAL QUALITY LOGISTICS (www.TQL.com)
Total Quality Logistics is the nation's 4th largest freight brokerage firm with offices in Cincinnati, OH, Columbus, OH, Chicago, IL, Denver, CO, Charleston, SC, Charlotte, NC, Tampa, FL, and Indianapolis, IN. For the past 13 years, the company has arranged full truckload transportation for thousands of clients nationwide and has built a reputation for its integrity, reliability and unmatched customer service standards. TQL strives to be the most trusted and reliable freight brokerage firm in the logistics industry and has been consistently recognized for this commitment. TQL was recently named a "Top Workplace" in Cincinnati and has earned many accolades both nationally and locally for its outstanding business practices and performance. To learn more about Total Quality Logistics and its superior freight brokerage service, visit www.TQL.com.


text:
Ayuso ist der Familienname folgender Personen:

 Fernando Prado Ayuso (* 1969), spanischer römisch-katholischer Ordensgeistlicher und Bischof von San Sebastián
 Guadalupe Porras Ayuso (* 1987), spanische Fußballschiedsrichterassistentin
 Isabel Díaz Ayuso (* 1978), spanische Politikerin
 Juan Ayuso (* 2002), spanischer Radrennfahrer
 Larry Ayuso (* 1977), puerto-ricanischer Basketballspieler
 Manuel Sánchez Ayuso (1941–1982), spanischer Ökonom und Politiker (PSOE und PSP)
 María del Pilar Ayuso González (* 1942), spanische Politikerin (PP), MdEP
 Marisol Ayuso (* 1943), spanische Schauspielerin
 Miguel Ayuso Guixot (* 1952), römisch-katholischer Geistlicher, Kurienbischof, Theologe, Orientalist und Islamwissenschaftler
 Omar Ayuso (* 1998), spanischer Schauspieler

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
WeWork is in trouble
Founder and CEO Adam Neumann (Credit: JamelToppin/Forbes)
With $2.5 billion in cash as of June 30th, WeWork only has enough money to last until next spring. Deep cuts could free up some resources –– the company spent $184 million on payroll last year. WeWork also announced that it's halting all new lease agreements with property owners, FT reported.
Good start: The co-working company is selling the luxurious plane Adam Neumann used to travel the world. WeWork recklessly bought the Gulfstream G650 for $60 million last year.
Burning through capital: After its failed IPO, money has become an even bigger issue. WeWork could try tapping the high-yield bond market again, but credit investors would demand a steep price. WeWork's existing bonds yield about 9.8%, far above the average 5.7% for junk bonds, according to Bloomberg… S&P Global Ratings lowered its issuer credit rating on the company from 'B' to 'B-', and revised the outlook to negative..
Be Smart: The new $3 to $4 billion loan from JP Morgan and Goldman Sachs being discussed is contingent on the company raising additional capital. SoftBank is reportedly considering injecting another $1 billion into the company.
Cleaning house – too little too late: Around 17 friends and family members of Neumann, including his wife Rebekah have been fired. Prominent names include Michael Gross, Chris Hill (Neumann's brother-in-law), Zvika Shachar, Roni Bahar. Many of those let go were part of a group referred to internally as Adam's "oval office", sources close to the company told the WSJ.
Related Topics:co-working, Featured, wework


One glance at this beautiful teal vessel and you will be smitten.
Lucy Batt's 'Tailored' teal vessel is another example of her luxurious glass artwork. Admire the extraordinary skill and craftsmanship that has produced this perfectly symmetrical hand-blown teal vessel.
The bold teal colour draws you in to look closer. The dipped centre is a decadent and rich red colour, which is encircled by a layer of white glass. The teal vessel boasts a geometric pattern engraved on the polished outer layer. It will make a fabulous addition to any home or office!


text:
Latest|International
Sales, profit soar for Guess in Asia
September 3, 20182 mins read
Guess has returned to profit in the first half of this year, with high rate of growth in Asia-Pacific a key factor.
Sales by Guess in Asia rose by 32.3 per cent during the first half of this year, expressed in US dollars, and by 27.1 per cent in constant currency, with same-store sales up by 20 per cent.
That was more than double the sales growth of the company overall.
For the full year, Guess is predicting comp sales in Asia to be up by the low teens in percentage terms, with profit up in the low- to mid-20 per cent region.
The company is performing across all markets, even in its core US home market where it has been struggling in recent times.
Globally, for the six months to August 4, Guess achieved net sales of US$1.17 billion, up 14.1 per cent. Net earnings were $11.6 million, compared to an adjusted net loss of $3.3 million for the same period last year.
"Overall, I am very pleased by the momentum we are experiencing across the globe," said CEO Victor Herrero in the company's earnings statement.
"We are now planning for positive comps in all regions, including the Americas. Looking forward, I feel confident that the 'turnaround' has only just begun, as we are well positioned to exit this fiscal year with every business segment profitable and the company firmly on the path to our 7.5 per cent operating margin goal by continuing to execute on our strategic initiatives," he said.
Operating margin for the Guess in Asia rose by 120 basis points over the first half to 3.4 per cent, from 2.2 per cent a year ago. The company said the improvement was driven by reduced occupancy costs, partially offset by higher expenses resulting from retail expansion in Australia.
The company said a lower number of markdowns in the US also helped reverse its loss.
Vestiaire Collective's fast-fashion ban: clever or counterproductive?
Japan, South Korea mitigate China sales slump for luxury group Burberry
Nepalese jeweller Kajal Naina opens first flagship store – in Hong Kong
Bed Bath & Beyond US in a 'death spiral'
Singapore retail sales surged in November as travel resumed
Banksy says fashion retailer Guess 'helped themselves' to his work
FJ Benjamin raises S$3 million from share placement to Far East
Guess Asia sales improve, but store closures loom
FJ Benjamin launches five online stores – more to come
Guess and Alipay partner in US to serve Chinese travellers


Vitamin B12 is an important consideration for anyone following a plant-based diet – but even more so for women who are pregnant.
B12 is a water-soluble vitamin that is naturally present in some foods – primarily foods of animal origin such as meat, milk and eggs. Vitamin B12 is required for many body functions, such as red blood cell formation, neurological function and DNA synthesis. If, through the diet, you aren't getting enough of this essential nutrient, be sure it is included in your vitamin supplement – especially during pregnancy.
In research conducted by Tormod Rogne and colleagues at Akershus University Hospital near Oslo, low levels of vitamin B12 are associated with a 21% increased risk of preterm birth. Globally, low birth weight and preterm birth cause half of all infant deaths in the first 28 days.
For women consuming animal products in their regular diet, vitamin B12 deficiency is rare – but can happen in instances of malnutrition and poverty. Other causes can include medication, malabsorption, either due to a condition such as atrophic gastritis or celiac disease, or after surgery on the gastrointestinal system, such as after gastric bypass.
Those that are particularly vulnerable to B12 deficiency are those who eat vegan diets.
"In countries where vegetarian diets predominate, such as in India, the percentage of pregnant women with B12 deficiency can exceed two thirds," says Rogne.
Vegan foods that contain B12 are generally fortified with the vitamin (rather than being present naturally) such as fortified breakfast cereals or plant milks such as soy or rice. In supplements, B12 is present as cyanocobalamin.
The RDA in pregnancy and lactation is 2.6 and 2.8 mcg, respectively – just slightly greater than the needs for all adults (2.4 mcg).


The new coin for trolleys and lockers!
Everybody hates getting caught-short at the supermarket – you're dashing for that last trolley in the rank… you get it, hurrah, only to then discover you're missing that crucial element that will make the whole visit easier… a pound coin for the trolley!
Trolley coins – making life easier!
If you're not familiar with them, they are one of the most sought-after promotional products around! And because they're so popular we've increased our range so now you really can get the ideal printed trolley coins for your needs.
Promotional trolley coins are basically British pound coin sized metal or plastic discs that are an ideal substitute for real coins and can be used again and again. Just don't try using them at the till!
The most popular are our New 12 sided trolley coins. As the name suggests, they have 12 sides (the same as the new pound coin) and are the same thickness. They have a hole punched into the top part (as most of the range do) so they can be kept on a trigger-clip keyring which comes supplied with each coin.
Branded the way you want them!
When it comes to printing the majority of our coins are stamped nickel. This means the surface is indented, just like real pound coins, but the recessed parts are then filled with your chosen colours. What make stamped trolley coins so special is that you get up to 4 colours printed as standard at no extra cost to you – it's a fantastic deal! With all our trolley coins you can also choose to have your branding on either one or two sides too!
If your design means you need to use a wide range of colours (like shades, gradients or photos) we also offer full colour trolley coins too – again, printed on one or two sides. These are printed onto paper which is then covered by a transparent epoxy resin for protection and durability.
Need a trolley coin without the hole? Try our high quality stamped Horse shoe trolley coin holder which can be printed one or two sides. Rather than a trigger clip being hooked into the coin, these coins insert into a metal horseshoe-shaped holder with a magnet inside the top edge to keep it in place.
On a budget? Our fantastic plastic Value Trolley Coins are the answer. These lightweight coins aren't stamped like nickel coins but instead are printed in full colour directly onto the surface of the coins.


If you are considering having your son circumcised, we would like to provide you with related insurance and cost information to assist you in your decision. In addition, we welcome you to learn more about circumcision care.
Many commercial health insurance plans cover the cost of the circumcision procedure. However, we recommend you contact your insurance provider prior to delivery to verify your specific benefit coverage.
The North Carolina Medicaid program does not cover circumcisions for newborns as it is considered an elective procedure. If you have Medicaid and are considering having a circumcision performed, payments must be made in advance.
$269.00 Physician charge if the procedure is performed by a Women's Hospital Faculty Practice physician. Private physicians charge their own professional fees, so consult with your physician regarding charges.
Monday through Friday: 8:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. in Admitting and on weekends and holidays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Maternity Admissions Unit (MAU).
If you have any questions, please contact our Women's Hospital Cashier at (336) 832-6563 or the Maternity Admissions Registration at (336) 832-6536.


It was just three years ago that Michelle Williams earned an Oscar nomination for her portrayal of Marilyn Monroe in Simon Curtis' My Week With Marilyn, but already another big screen portrayal of the Hollywood legend is in the works. Today, the project has found an actress to take on the role. The Wrap is reporting that Jessica Chastain is now attached to play Monroe in Andrew Dominik's upcoming drama Blonde.
In this ambitious book, Joyce Carol Oates boldly reimagines the inner, poetic, and spiritual life of Norma Jeane Baker—the child, the woman, the fated celebrity and idolized blonde the world came to know as Marilyn Monroe. In a voice startling, intimate, and rich, Norma Jeane tells her own story, that of an emblematic American artist—intensely conflicted and driven—who has lost her way. A powerful portrait of Hollywood's myth and an extraordinary woman's heartbreaking reality, Blonde is a sweeping epic that pays tribute to the elusive magic and devastation behind the creation of the great twentieth-century American star.
The 700-page book was a finalist for both the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award when it was released in 2001. Oates' work has been used as source material for the big screen many times, the most notable probably being the 1996 adaptation of Foxfire starring Angelina Jolie.
As one of the most popular, talented actresses in Hollywood, Chastain has been immensely busy and has multiple films set to come out this year and next. Right now her next film officially scheduled for release in the U.S. is Christopher Nolan's Interstellar - which will be out in November - but her upcoming slate also includes the August Stridberg adaptation Miss Julie, J.C. Chandor's drama A Most Violent Year, and Guillermo del Toro's throwback horror Crimson Peak.
Scheduling is still being worked out with Chastain and Blonde, as she is also scheduled to soon start production on the World War II drama The Zookeeper's Wife, but the hopes are to start shooting Blonde in August of this year - presumably in target of a 2015 release date.


text:
Economy among Zelensky's key priorities, - Bohdan
Head of the Presidential Administration joined the evening show of 112 Ukraine TV channel several minutes after his appointment
Zelensky's Advisor on legal issues Andriy Bohdan
24tv.ua
The economy is one of the priority directions of President Zelensky's policy. Andriy Bohdan, the newly appointed head of Presidential Administration said that on air of 112 Ukraine TV channel, as he appeared in the studio of The Pulse, the Tuesday evening show.
Bohdan stated that bad roads need to be repaired, and this is when the people will be able to feel the changes. According to him, the first thing that is necessary to do is to find money to fix the roads of the regional and the state levels.
Besides, the Head of Zelensky's administration stated that the customs office and the tax service are to be reformed. Ukraine could use the experience of international organizations in these areas, he added.
Related: Newly appointed Head of Presidential Administration joins 112 Ukraine TV channel's evening program
At the evening show on 112 Ukraine TV channel, Bohdan stressed that the main directions of the president's activities are tariffs and ending the war," and all our directions, about which you have heard from us many times."
Related: Zelensky appoints counselors, deputy heads of Presidential Administration
In addition, he noted that in connection with the new appointment, he suspended his legal practice.
The Head of the Administration of the President commented on the dismissal of the Verkhovna Rada. According to the Bohdan, the decision to dissolve the Parliament absolutely complies with the constitution.
Ukraine's economy Presidential Administration of Ukraine Zelensky Andriy Bohdan
Zelensky, Poroshenko, Yanukovych and their office expenditures: Who's the most expensive president? 14 January 2021, 17:00
Zelensky invites Elon Musk to visit Serhiy Korolyov Museum of Cosmonautics in Zhytomyr 12 January 2021, 18:12
Zelensky not satisfied with talks on Covid-19 vaccine held by Health Minister 15 January 2021, 14:48
Gas prices for Ukraine's population to be reduced by 30% 13 January 2021, 18:21


text:
Enquiry and Discovery: A Discussion of Dominic Scott's Plato's Meno
Gail Fine
Oxford Studies in Ancient Philosophy 32:331-367 (2007)
Aristotle's Critique of Plato's Theory of Innate Knowledge.David Bronstein - 2016 - History of Philosophy & Logical Analysis 19 (1):126-139.details
In Posterior Analytics 2.19, Aristotle argues that we cannot have innate knowledge of first principles because if we did we would have the most precise items of knowledge without noticing, which is impossible. To understand Aristotle's argument we need to understand why he thinks we cannot possess these items of knowledge without noticing. In this paper, I present three different answers to this question and three different readings of his argument corresponding to them. The first two readings focus on the (...) fact that we do not use the knowledge we allegedly possess innately. However, I argue that these readings fail to produce convincing arguments. I then offer a third reading, which focuses on the fact that we do not notice the knowledge we allegedly possess innately when we use it for the first time. I argue that this reading produces a more convincing argument than either of the first two. (shrink)
The Origins of Dialectic in Ordinary Discourse.Lee Franklin - 2016 - History of Philosophy & Logical Analysis 19 (1):88-104.details
The opening discussion of the Meno features a halting conversation in which Meno struggles at length to answer Socrates' question, "What is Virtue?" Whereas Socrates demands a unitary account, presenting Virtue as one, Meno repeatedly speaks of Virtue in plurality. Through the opposing sides of this conflict, Plato highlights impediments that appear to prevent ordinary speakers from inquiring into nature. These include the fallibility of ordinary beliefs and statements, and the inability of ordinary speakers to countenance properties as entities in (...) their own right. In an argument often overlooked by interpreters, Plato reveals commitments implicit in ordinary discourse by which these impediments are overcome. As this argument shows, ordinary speakers such as Meno take their own terms to speak univocally and truly about a plurality of items. This is sufficient basis to proceed in dialectic, and to inquire into nature, through language. (shrink)
Is Plato an Innatist in the Meno?David Bronstein & Whitney Schwab - 2019 - Phronesis 64 (4):392-430.details
Plato in the Meno is standardly interpreted as committed to condition innatism: human beings are born with latent innate states of knowledge. Against this view, Gail Fine has argued for prenatalism: human souls possess knowledge in a disembodied state but lose it upon being embodied. We argue against both views and in favor of content innatism: human beings are born with innate cognitive contents that can be, but do not exist innately in the soul as, the contents of states of (...) knowledge. Content innatism has strong textual support and constitutes a philosophically interesting theory. (shrink)
Plato: Meno in Ancient Greek and Roman Philosophy
XII-Escaping One's Own Notice Knowing: Meno's Paradox Again.Mary Margaret McCabe - 2009 - Proceedings of the Aristotelian Society 109 (1pt3):233-256.details
Plato: Meno's Paradox in Ancient Greek and Roman Philosophy
Escaping One's Own Notice Knowing: Meno's Paradox Again.Mary Margaret McCabe - 2009 - Proceedings of the Aristotelian Society 109 (1pt3):233 - 256.details
The complex way Meno's paradox is presented in the Meno forces reflection on both the external conditions on inquiry—its objects—and its internal conditions—the state of mind of the person who inquires. The theory of recollection does not fully account for the internal conditions—as Plato makes clear in the critique of Meno's puzzle to be found in the Euthydemus. I conclude that in the Euthydemus Plato is inviting us to reject the externalist account of knowledge urged on Socrates by the sophists (...) in favour of a more richly internalist epistemology. (shrink)
Plato: Euthydemus in Ancient Greek and Roman Philosophy
Plato: Theory of Recollection in Ancient Greek and Roman Philosophy
Definování Areté V Platónově Dialogu Menón.František Weis - 2014 - E-Logos 21 (1):1-15.details


Located in a plush by-lane of bandra west, I Think fitness is a revolutionary new fitness center taking fitness to another level.
I Think Fitness is the brain child of fitness enthusiast Suren Joshi, and Mishali Sanghani, the co-owners of the popular eatery, Pali Village Café.
The high-end equipment at the fitness club is accompanied by highly qualified personal trainers who are available for the training needs of all its members. I Think Fitness also houses a resident DJ whose music will inspire to work out to your best capacity. The fitness center also provides in-house Wi-Fi and generous parking space with valet services for members within the premises of the building. There is also an outdoor area in the building that is used for sporting activities like basketball and volleyball. The terrace area is utilized for yoga and pilates, providing the perfect ambience to rejuvenate.
The health café open to all offers organic, raw, delicious, pure and natural foods created by Pali Village Café chef Conrad D'Souza.
[quote]"The food will be gluten free, and the menu will comprise of all eggs and day breakfast, steamed veggies, salmon and tuna concoctions, yogurt, fresh juices, protein drinks, light pizzas, set meals and lots more. Besides the usual cooking techniques, the kitchen will make use of dehydration of vegetables to create healthy culinary creations that are also delicious"[/quote] says Mishali Sanghani, who has taken special care to ensure that everyone appreciates this feature of the fitness club.


Here is an effective backdoor play against a team that attempts to deny wing entry passes.
The basket cut is the foundation of motion offence. Here are a couple of good ideas from two great Motion Offence coaches to improve your cutting.
While a long outlet pass is still the fastest start to any fast break the breakout dribble may be the second fastest if executed well.


text:
After two weeks Kyle daycare murder case near jurors' hands — (San Marcos Mercury)
San Marcos Mercury
by BRAD ROLLINS
The last person to testify on Thursday in the capital murder trial of Kyle daycare provider Christina Lyons was the accused murderer herself.
During eight days of testimony in 428th District Judge Bill Henry's court, prosecutors have sought to portray the 33-year-old Lyons as a pill-popping, emotionally unstable shirker who blames her young daughter for injuries that killed 10-week-old Benjamin Spencer in November 2010.
Defense attorneys cast her as a conscientious and hardworking daughter of a Comal County sheriff's deputy who made a deadly mistake by leaving the baby alone within reach of her daughter while she used the restroom, sorted laundry and smoked a cigarette in the garage.
Answering questions today from court-appointed defense counsel Ariel Payan, Lyons acknowledged she failed in her duties as a childcare provider but said she didn't kill or otherwise harm the baby.
Lyons testified she returned from her break to find her young daughter in the backyard holding a baby with a knot on his head. Spencer died of injuries that included skull and rib fractures a week later.
"Whose job was it to protect him?" Payan asked.
"It was mine," Lyons said.
"Did you do that?" Payan asked.
"No," Lyons said through tears.
She testified she did not tell Kyle Police Det. Pedro Carrasco that she found her daughter holding Spencer because she wasn't thinking clearly and didn't want to involve the girl. She did, however, tell a Child Protective Services agent that her daughter was holding the baby when she reported the incident to daycare licensers the next morning.
Under cross examination, prosecutors asked Lyons about her prescriptions to anti-depressant Cymbalta, anxiety drug Xanax and sleeping aid Ambien.
Lyons said she began seeing a psychiatrist in 2008 when she became depressed after the birth of her daughter. At the time of Spencer's injuries, Lyons said she was taking her anti-depressant daily as prescribed and the others sparingly.
Lyons testified she sneaked away once or twice every day from the seven or eight children she watched to smoke a cigarette in the garage.
She admitted she left Spencer lying unattended on the living room couch while she did this on more than one occasion. But said she only did so during nap time when the older children were lying down elsewhere at her Steeplechase home.
Assistant District Attorney Amy Lockhart, who is prosecuting the case with Cathy Compton, asked if she was sacrificing her daughter to save herself.
"I am not saving myself. I'm trying to get the truth out that I do not know what happened that day," Lyons said.
A Dell Childrens' Hospital radiologist who reviewed Spencer's medical images testified that most likely his injuries could not have been caused by a four-year-old girl.
Lockhart and Compton have also grilled three of Lyons' relatives who testified they saw Lyons' daughter slamming a baby doll's head against a table on two separate occasions.
Prosecutors have pointed out that Lyons' husband Robert's and her mother Cindy's versions of one of those baby doll episodes differ. Robert Lyons said she was holding the toy by its legs; Cindy Cook said she was holding the doll by its middle, a discrepancy that may or may not call the account into question.
Closing statements begin tomorrow and, by early afternoon, a jury is expected be deciding Lyons' fate. According to instructions Henry will give to jurors, they will have the option of convicting Lyons on lesser charges than capital murder.


It's topical ceremony that client invite carpenters and us.
The container for Hirosaki-Knife for Salone.
Hirosaki is very far from Tokyo and have to go through Tohoku area that was hit by earthquake,then I will see them in Milan.
Hope it works very well.
I just finished interior design for Hair-salone in Daikanyama,really center in Tokyo.
I will upload all of photo soon.
I also finished house in tokyo recentry.There are still small constructions though Japanese magazine,modern living just published this house.I will ask a photographer to take soon.
Dailytonic took up Mishima house.
I will go to Ishinomaki to meet my friend's family who is my client as well.
I am not sure I can do for them so far.But I will bring my friends to help then on this weekend.
I also like to see how clients live there though.
Miha design,who are very close to my friend as well as are one of the talented architects in Japan,held open house yesterday.
I am always surprised at their way to make space.
It's in the housing area and very tight space in Tokyo.
But the house are very succeed to have very open,comfortable and private space.
There are lots of skylight and void,then first floor are amazingly bright though there are the house in the very complex area.The step and the structure wall makes good rhythm for the space.The long slit window in the dining is very effective.The window put on the gap in next door's house and another house.
I also met their teacher in their university there.This kind of event also works like that.
I broght my daughters there,it's usually not to invited.They liked to clime the attic as most children did that.I could enjoy to see my friends,nice architecture and entertained daughters.I could say It's perfect Sunday.
Good design is… INTUITIVE / FUNCTIONAL / SHAPE AND APPEARANCE / RESPONSIBLE / HONNEST / INNOVATIOVE / AESTHETIC / USER ORIENTED / DURABLE / GOOD BUSSINESS.


Saniyasnain Khan will visit CICC on Sun 21 Oct 2018 and make a speech on the Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him after Zuhr prayer.
He is an author with over 100 children's books on Islam. Please join this precious opportunity.


The DTK-2MHLP12FWB provides surge protection with exclusive load removal technology for two 12V alarm system loop circuits.
The DTK-2MHLP12B provides surge protection for two 12V alarm system loop circuits in a field-replaceable module. With required snap-track bases, protect up to 10 pairs with a common ground.
The DTK-2MHLP12F provides surge protection with exclusive load removal technology for two 12V alarm system loop circuits. With required snap-track bases, protect up to 10 pairs with a common ground.
The DTK-2MHLP12BWB provides surge protection for two 12V alarm system loop circuits in a field-replaceable module. Includes hardwired mounting base for easy installation.


Sideline/Stand Booster Blanket - 76x54. Soft; cozy blanket feels like your favorite sweatshirt. Great gift for soccer parents. Sweatshirt fleece blanket keeps you warm in the stands. Length: 76\'\'Width: 54\'\'80/20 cotton/polyester.


To get students to learn from each others' professional experience, assess their online collaboration and its results so as to reward this explicitly.
If the aim of a management course is to make students better managers, not management academics, it need to help them learn about real management practice – and for this the students themselves are a valuable learning resource.
In this activity, students first write a 600 word report on "performance" as it is understood in their own organisation. They next discuss each others' reports in an online conference. Finally, in a pair with another student, they learn about each other's organisations, and on their own they write an assignment comparing the two and identifying what each has to learn from the other.


text:
Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom
David W. Blight
Hottest Books of the Season
Winner of the 2019 Pulitzer Prize for History, a biography of the most important African-American of the 19th century: Frederick Douglass, the escaped slave who became the greatest orator of his day and one of the leading abolitionists and writers of the era.
Rave John Stauffer,
Mr. Blight's biography deserves full immersion. Though long, it is absorbing and even moving, and the payoff is enormous, for Mr. Blight displays his lifelong interest in Douglass on almost every page, and his own voice is active and eloquent throughout the narrative. It is a book that speaks to our own time as well as Douglass's... It is a brilliant book.
Rave Bob Blaisdell,
It's hard to imagine a biographer more knowledgeable about Douglass's life, times and writings than David W. Blight ... This grand and timely biography, Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom, is ever authoritatively informative, but it travels at a safe and steady 25 m.p.h. on a straight road while Douglass's life was often a dangerous and boundless adventure. Where Blight is best is investigating those topics where the usually intrepid Douglass hesitated to tread... In those mysterious spaces, Blight is the best guide we could ask for, even though he sometimes seems sorry to have to mention his and our hero's clay feet.
Rave Adam Goodheart,
David Blight's extraordinary new biography, Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom, captures the complexities of the man who lived and died at Cedar Hill: a figure both eminent and solitary who gazed across vastly different American landscapes ... But Blight thoroughly justifies his claim [that Douglass is a 'prophet of freedom'] in a book that is not just a deeply researched birth-to-death chronology but also an extended meditation on what it means to be a prophet ... Douglass himself was apparently never recorded by the phonograph operators. But in Blight's pages, his voice again rings out loud and clear, melancholy and triumphant — still prophesying, still agitating, still calling us to action.
Ron Chernow
What did you think of Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom?