text:
Author Interview with Sonia Patel
Posted on 1 November, 2016 30 October, 2016 AuthorCrystal
We welcome debut author Sonia Patel to the blog. Rani Patel in Full Effect hit the shelves last month and we were able to review it here. Rani is a young woman trying to sort out who she is apart from the father who has been sexually abusing her for years. She feels strong and in control when she's rapping, but when she's with her new boyfriend (a much older man) or on her own, she falls into old destructive patterns. Sonia Patel has created a powerful and intense novel and she's here to talk about it with us today.
Many readers wonder about the line between reality and fiction. In your author's note and on your website, I noticed many of the experiences that shaped Rani may have carried traces of your past – starting with her heritage. Can you tell us a little about growing up as a first generation Indian American in Hawaii?
The first word that comes to mind with that question is isolative.
My Gujarati parents, like Rani's parents, had a traditional Hindu arranged marriage in India. They immigrated to New York and that's where I was born. My early years were spent there and in Connecticut. Both places had a large Gujarati immigrant community and we spent practically every weekend with other Gujarati immigrant family or friends. This was quite important for my mother who clung tightly to her Gujarati social network and culture. So it came as quite a shock to her when my father decided to move to Moloka'i. Like Rani's family, we were the only Indian family on the island (compared to the other Hawaiian islands, Moloka'i is the island with the largest percentage of Native Hawaiians) at the time. It was very difficult for my mother to be cut off from her Gujarati connections, especially because my parent's marriage was rocky. Once on Moloka'i, I basically lost all connection with my Gujarati culture because our family fell apart. Though from the outside, no one could tell. All I knew was that I was glad I was brown because at least I fit in with most of the kids at school, even though when I opened my mouth I couldn't speak pidgin at first and sounded totally haole (foreign with my mainland accent). The only thing that reminded me that I was Gujarati was the food my mother cooked and the Bollywood films she would watch. Other than that, I felt basically culture-less. Unless you count my father as a culture.
Moving to a more difficult question about your life – what was it like to look back at your own family issues as you worked through Rani's story?
It was—is—emotionally charged. I'd been writing rap as a way to cope with my issues, then later my experiences with treating patients. This kept things kind of at arm's length. When I realized I had a story to tell that involved parts of me and parts of teen/women I'd treated and known, things became real. Fast. I couldn't stop the story from flowing onto paper. The way different teens deal with the effects of family dysfunction and covert and overt familial sexual abuse is often similar. I never had a psychiatrist to discuss and work through my experiences when I was growing up, so I'd been putting the pieces of my life together haphazardly. When I started writing Rani, things came together and made more sense. When I read snippets from the book it still evokes feelings of sadness, hurt, anger, shame, and joy.
Sexual abuse may not be an easy topic to read about, but it's a reality for a large number of young adults. As you're sharing this novel, what kind of reactions have you been hearing from readers or potential readers?
Most adults and teens seem to get it. They appreciate that Rani's father abused her and that the abuse wired Rani's brain to think, feel, and act in negative ways that set her up for recreating the abuse with other men. They understand that Rani isn't dumb and though they feel mad at her at times, they have empathy that it's part of her process in being a trauma survivor. Rani doesn't have the words to describe the covert and overt incest and family problems so she speaks through her negative thoughts, feelings and actions. Most people seem to get that it takes awhile for her to gain insight into this and so it'll take time before she can begin to make positive changes in her life.
There are the few readers who think Rani is dumb and too naive. They can't understand why she drinks, hangs out with an older man who sweet talks her, and basically, to them, seems to set herself up for being raped. They get mad at her and then seem to forget empathy for the trauma induced brain changes that cause her to repeat negative behaviors. A couple of them have said that she's a tease. It was almost like they were blaming the victim. All I can say to that is perhaps those readers did not truly understand my author's note at the end of the book. Those readers don't seem to appreciate that a survivor of covert and overt incest has been a sexual object or in that role for years and that the way they think, feel, and act has been hardwired into their brains. They've learned that that is all they are good for. Those readers don't seem to understand that survivors can't just become empowered and feminist simply because being raped is wrong. Of course rape is wrong, but a survivor of chronic incest has been conditioned to expect nothing more for themselves and to repeat negative patterns. Until they gain insight, they will likely continue to engage in the same negative behavior. So healing starts with insight and insight can only begin when they find the words and support to describe their traumatic experiences.
Throughout the book, music empowers and brings healing to Rani. What is it about hip-hop specifically that can create such change?
For Rani, the power of hip hop was multifactorial. Rap was front and center. The powerful beats and poetry allowed her to express the misogyny she experienced in a way that wasn't encouraged in her life otherwise. It resonated with her and gave her a sense of the self-worth she still didn't have. Plus, she was exposed to hip hop during its golden age—when there was tremendous political,social, and musical innovation in rap. Rap was building its identity and this was symbolic of how Rani was also building her identity. Additionally there was hip hop fashion and dance that allowed Rani to create her own identity separate from her abusive father and distant mother.
Does hip-hop still play a significant role in your life?
YES! I can't imagine my life without hip hop music, rap, fashion (especially my kicks), and dance. I still write rap. It's still my primary form of self-therapy. I feel the most like myself when I'm writing rap or poetry. Also, when I'm sportin' my latest fly hip hop outfit. And when I travel, I always look for hip hop clubs. Recently I was in Oakland and got to shake my thang at two such clubs with amazing hip hop music. Overseas, Seoul and Tokyo had a killer hip hop music and dance scene.
Hip-hop is sometimes included in discussions about poetry since there is such attention to the sound and impact of the words. Do you write a lot of poetry and do you have plans to publish a verse novel or volume of poetry? I would totally read either.
Awww! That is so sweet! Thank you. I actually love writing poetry, especially poetry that I can perform. Like rap, poetry helps me express issues that I feel passionate about or issues I'm struggling with. Recently, I performed one at a local slam called Stop Visually Assualting Me (&Yourself)! It's based on the issues of how many of my teenage girl patients are being lured into a false sense of self-worth by posting revealing body shots on social media. Body reveal in social media seems to be turning into a horrible epidemic that's hurting the youth I treat. Of course I discuss these issues with my teen patients, but it's so troubling to me that I had to write about it in a poetic manner.
There are very few young adult novels that address Native sovereignty. What led you to include this in the narrative?
I was fortunate enough to have some amazing mentors in the fight to protect the water of Moloka'i from developers. Some of them were also active in sovereignty issues and actually most locals on the island are activists in one way or another. Whether it's testifying at hearings. Or protesting. Or choosing to live off the land in ancient Hawaiian ways. My empathy and support has always been towards oppressed and subjugated cultures because I come from one—Indians at the hands of the British, being a colored kid on the mainland, etc. I am honored that I got to participate in much of the activism around the water issues on Moloka'i growing up. That was something my father was involved in, much like Rani's father in the book.
I had to include those issues because if I didn't, I wouldn't be depicting Moloka'i's vibe accurately.
What's up next for you as a writer?
I am currently working another YA novel. It's a love story about a trans Gujarati boy from the city and a girl from rural Hau'ula and involves issues of sex trafficking, depression, alcoholism, bulimia, and complex family issues. The story is based on my work with my teen patients. It's a tribute to my patients who struggle with so many things I wish they didn't have to…
I wish you had asked me….
If in the past I'd shaved my head like Rani.
If in the past I'd dyed the stubble blond like Rani.
We're always on the lookout for great books to read. Have you read anything lately that moved you to laughter or tears?
My kids are into graphic novels and I recently read the Barefoot Gen series again. My son actually introduced me to it. He devoured that series in a couple of weeks and was so moved he wrote to the author in Japan. The author passed away but his wife wrote a nice letter back. I also mentioned the series in Rani and so I decided to read it again. Laughter and tears fo' shua!
Posted in Interviewscomment2 Comments on Author Interview with Sonia Patel
4 Books I Want to Read This Winter
2 Replies to "Author Interview with Sonia Patel"
Lyn Miller-Lachmann says:
1 November, 2016 at 10:03 pm
Thank you for the interview, Crystal and Sonia! I look forward to reading the book! I'm sorry about those readers who so lack empathy for what your protagonist and girls like her have been through that they blame the victims and attack the book rather than use it to gain understanding.
Pingback: New BFF: Zeezee with Books | The Belgian Reviewer


text:
Research & Action Spring/Summer 2012
New Publications Spring/Summer 2012
Research & Action Report, Spring/Summer 2012
Jean Baker Miller Training Institute Webinars Available On DVD
The Jean Baker Miller Training Institute (JBMTI) at the Wellesley Centers for Women is the home of Relational- Cultural Theory (RCT), which states that culture has a powerful impact on relationships, and that people grow through and toward relationships throughout their lifespans. JBMTI scholars study the complexities of human connections, and they explore the personal and social factors that can lead to chronic disconnection. Scholars at the Institute offer online webinars that focus on current research and studies surrounding RCT. Each webinar focuses on a specific area of RCT, and allows the community to engage with JBMTI staff and faculty. Recordings of the following webinars by Amy Banks, M.D., director of advanced training at JBMTI, are now available on DVD for purchase.
The Smart Vagus: Exploring The Social Wisdom Of The Tenth Cranial Nerve*
Amy Banks, M.D.
Available from WCW Publications SKU #DVD06 for $20.00
This webinar introduces participants to the third branch of the autonomic nervous system, the smart vagus nerve. It explores the role this neural pathway plays in taming the stress response system so that we can find and maintain healthy human connection. Through interactive discussion, this webinar looks at the ways that society can shape this neural pathway and how this neural pathway then helps shape society.
Love and PTSD: Understanding The Devastating Impact Of Interpersonal Violence*
Interpersonal violence, particularly when done within the context of an intimate relationship, has long been known to leave deep psychological scars on the survivors. Over the last 20 years, as neuroimaging techniques have advanced, the neurobiology of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been unraveled. This webinar describes how the brains of trauma survivors are shaped by violence and how the brain changes literally leave people with PTSD feeling as if they are caught in a perpetual cycle of violence. It explores ways that clinicians can use neurobiology to help them remain empathic with clients who are often repeatedly disconnected and hopeless in therapy sessions.
*These DVDs and other Wellesley Centers for Women (WCW) publications are available from the WCW Publications Office or from the online catalog. Shipping and handling must be paid by the customer for any mailed orders. Visit www.wcwonline.org/publications or call 781.283.2510 to purchase WCW publications.
Afterschool Matters Journal Available
The latest issue of Afterschool Matters, the national, peer-reviewed journal dedicated to promoting professionalism, scholarship, and consciousness in the field of afterschool education, was published this spring under the direction of Georgia Hall, Ph.D., senior research scientist at the National Institute on Out-of-School Time (NIOST) at the Wellesley Centers for Women and editor of the journal. The spring 2012 issue features articles on a citywide implementation of project-based learning in Philadelphia; positive behavior support strategies; engaging library partners in 4-H programming; action research strategies for youth work supervisors; and a personal account of how a day-school teacher's collaboration with her afterschool counterpart benefits students.
The spring 2012 issue also features articles on creating effective learning environments for afterschool programs by Wendy Surr, M.A., NIOST research associate, and healthy eating in out-of-school time, by Jean L. Wiecha, Ph.D., Hall, Ellen Gannett, M.Ed., NIOST director, and Barbara Roth. Afterschool Matters is published by NIOST with support from the Robert Bowne Foundation. Online editions are available at: www.niost.org/afterschoolmattersjournal.
Other Publishing News
"Can Sex Education Delay Early Sexual Debut?" by Sumru Erkut, Ph.D., Jennifer Grossman, Ph.D., Alice Frye, Ph.D., Ineke Ceder, B.A., Linda Charmaraman, Ph.D., and Allison Tracy, Ph.D., has been accepted for publication in the Journal of Early Adolescence. The article reports on the first-year results of the evaluation of the comprehensive sex education intervention curriculum, Get Real: Comprehensive Sex Education that Works, developed by Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts.
The evaluation uses a random assignment design, in which students in 24 participating middle schools were assigned randomly to intervention and control conditions. In the intervention schools, students were exposed to the curriculum, while in the control schools they received sex education as usual. A random assignment design is considered the gold standard in evaluation; it makes it possible to attribute change over time in intervention students' self-reported sexual activity to their exposure to Get Real. While the full intervention is designed to be implemented in nine lessons each in grades six, seven, and eight, this study is based on survey results from students who were exposed to the first year of Get Real.
Participants were 548 boys and 675 girls who completed valid surveys in both sixth grade (baseline) and seventh grade. The sample was 35 percent Latino, 32 percent Black, 24 percent White, three percent Asian, and six percent Biracial. Overall, students in schools randomly assigned to the intervention condition were 30 percent less likely to have initiated sex (defined as heterosexual intercourse) by seventh grade when controlling for gender, age, race/ethnicity, living in an intact family, and a tendency to give socially desirable responses. This finding is noteworthy because previous research has identified "early starters" of sexual activity to be particularly prone to poor adult outcomes in sexual health, family formation, economic security, incarceration and also resistant to interventions.
Tracy Gladstone, Ph.D. co-authored "Developmental risk of depression: Experience matters" (Beardslee, W.R., Gladstone, T.R.G., and O'Connor, E.E.) in the journal Psychiatric Clinics of North America (in press).
Gladstone co-authored "Preventive interventions for children of parents with depression: International perspectives" (Beardslee, W.R., Solantaus, T., Morgan, B., Gladstone, T., and Kowalenko, N.) in the Medical Journal of Australia (in press).
"My Grandmother Was Sent Forth," an excerpt from the memoir, Lies about My Family by Amy Hoffman, MFA (forthcoming, University of Massachusetts Press, Spring 2013), will be published in the June 2012 issue of Ocean State Review.
Judith V. Jordan, Ph.D., co-authored "The Wisdom of Connection" (Surrey, J. and Jordan, J.V.) in Wisdom and Compassion in Psychotherapy: Deepening mindfulness in clinical practice, edited by Christopher K. Germer and Robert D. Siegel; publisher: Guilford Press.
Peggy McIntosh, Ph.D., authored "Reflections and Future Directions for Privilege Studies," published in the March 2012 issue of Journal of Social Issues, Special Issue: Systems of Privilege: Intersections, Awareness, and Applications, edited by Kim A. Case and Jonathan Iuzzini.
Michelle Porche, Ph.D., co-authored "Smoking and Co-occurring Disorders: Implications for Smoking Cessation Interventions for Adolescents in Residential Addiction Treatment" (Fortuna, Porche, Alam, Douglass, and Kim) in the Journal of Dual Diagnosis (in press). Krista Douglass, a Wellesley College student (Class of 2012), was an important contributor to this and other manuscripts in progress for a project focused on gender, adversity, and risk.
Porche, in collaboration with Daniel Pallante from the Ohio Educational Development Center and Catherine Snow from Harvard University's Graduate School of Education, published "Professional Development for Reading Achievement: Results from the Collaborative Language and Literacy Instruction Project" in the June 2012 issue of The Elementary School Journal. The article describes the intervention that Pallante developed to provide whole school reform that improves literacy instruction and boosts reading skills of at-risk students.
The article "Infrastructure Investment Begins with Children" by Mav Pardee in the journal Communities and Banking, was based on the study, "Building an Infrastructure for Quality: An inventory of early childhood education and out-of-school-time facilities in Massachusetts," by Wendy Wagner Robeson, Ed.D., Joanne Roberts, Ph.D., and Nancy L. Marshall, Ph.D.
Research & Action Report Spring/Summer 2012
WCW Scholar Leads Wellesley College/U.S. State Department Institute on Women's Leadership
Layli Maparyan Appointed the New Executive Director of the Wellesley Centers for Women
Commentary: Expanded Learning: Opportunities for Partnerships with a New Twist and a New Name
Spotlight: New Funding and Projects Spring/Summer 2012
View this issue as a PDF >>

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


MUMBAI: Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI), an apex body of hotel associations in the country, has put online travel aggregators such as MakeMyTrip and GoIbibo on notice in response to grievances by its western region members. It said the aggregators' business practices were exploitative, unethical and divisive, leading to "predatory" pricing and other market distortions that could harm hoteliers and consumers in the long term.
FHRAI has written to the aggregators outlining the most critical concerns of the industry, which includes distortion of market prices, demand for exorbitant commissions, and hosting of illegal and unlicensed bed and breakfast accommodation (B&B). FHRAI wants them to engage in dialogue with the industry to resolve issues that could threaten their livelihood, business, investments and entrepreneurial initiatives/spirits. If not, it may result in a nation-wide protest, affecting ties and businesses, industry sources said. "One of the biggest concerns is that after securing discounted rates from a hotel, they discount it on their online platforms without the hotel's consent," said Gurbaxish Singh Kohli, vice-president, FHRAI and president, Hotel and Restaurant Association of Western India.


text:
One-handed pianist ready for Paralympic concert
IT is not just athletes overcoming disabilities to perform miracles at the Paralympics, as a talented pianist born with only one hand will show.
Nicholas McCarthy
IT is not just athletes overcoming disabilities to perform miracles at the Paralympics, as a talented pianist born with only one hand will show on Sunday.
Nicholas McCarthy, from Tadworth, is one of the founder members of the British Paraorchestra and will perform with them and world-famous band Coldplay at the closing ceremony.
It caps an incredible year for the 23-year-old after he became the first one-handed pianist to graduate from the Royal College of Music in its 130-year history in July.
Nicholas only started playing the piano at the age of 14. Within three years he was awarded a place at the Junior Department of the Guildhall School of Music in London, winning the annual piano prize before he left in 2008.
He has since played recitals at prestigious venues including the O2, Victoria and Albert Museum, Christchurch Cathedral and a Maltese palace, winning widespread critical acclaim. But nothing Nicholas has done will compare to Sunday, he believes.
"It's the biggest concert I think I'm ever going to do in my life, there will be 720 million worldwide viewers," he said.
"I won't be able to match that. And as a classical solo pianist, performing with one of the biggest bands in the world is not normally on my agenda. I'm so excited to be part of it."
As well as accompanying Coldplay, who Nicholas was rehearsing with on Friday, the orchestra will play the Paralympic anthem as the flag is lowered and handed over to Brazil.
Nicholas said the British Paraorchestra was special as it "shows the determination of human beings" and is a "way to celebrate disabled musicians and a platform to show the world that disabled music can work to a very high standard".
He added: "Very few people in the world get to do what they want to do. I feel very lucky. I've been very fortunate with my career so far.
"I am hoping to continue onto bigger and better things. So far I am happy to let things roll the way they are going, I've got some exciting concerts coming up."
Nicholas has accepted a place at the Royal College of Music to study on its Masters of Performance postgraduate programme, is to appear on a TV documentary, and hopes to welcome Surrey followers at a concert at Croydon's Fairfield Halls on Thursday (September 13). Tickets are available at www.nicholasmccarthy.co.uk or on 020 8688 9291.
It is a concert which has been supported by his father Ray, who said: "I'm very proud of my son.
"He has the determination to always see things through and our only concern was whether he could make a career out of it and he has, he enjoys it and loves it.
"I'm not personally into classical music but once you start to listen to it you realise that you know the songs already.
"He has introduced me and his mum to a world we didn't even know existed. He's incredible.
"He's overcome all odds. It is highly difficult to play with one hand and when Nicholas plays, when you're listening to it, you would not know that it was played with just one hand."
Nicholas said his family had helped him overcome the odds, adding: "Missing my right hand has made me more determined. With determination you can do anything.
"I want to inspire people to believe in themselves and to be able to do and learn something and hope they look at me and think 'look what he achieved with just one hand'.
"It has been an uphill struggle. I knew it wasn't going to be easy, it's not the most obvious career choice for someone with only one hand.
"I was aware of this but I was determined."


This rustic finca is located in the small village of Buger, which can be reached on foot in just 750 meters. So, you can freely enjoy a glass of wine in a typical bar with Mallorcans once.
The house has a spacious garden area with many terraces and Nieschen, so you will surely find a nice place to relax and unwind. The pool is just a few meters from the house and is fenced so that your children are safe here.
The house has on the ground floor with a combined living-dining room with adjoining kitchen. In a small gallery there is a sofa, so you can easily here watching TV. The open kitchen is equipped with everything you need for a carefree holiday. In the basement is one of the four bedrooms with en suite shower room and exit to the terrace. On the upper floor are the 3 bedrooms and another bathroom.
This pleasant holiday house where you will feel at home!
Plus Apartments Beach Matorral Jandia with Sea Views 659!


text:
Q: CSS Invalid selector not working with reactive form I'm facing a problem where i cannot bind :invalid css selector with my input since i have custom validation. invalid is only active with basic validator example: input type="email" so the invalid will work with example@ or example@example.exmaple while my function only validates the last one (example@example.example).
Project Link

HTML FILE

<input class="custom-input" type="email" [(ngModel)]='Email' name="email" placeholder="Email" formControlName="emailTxt">
<div class="err>
   this is an error
</div>

TypeScript File

this.signUpForm = this._fb.group({
   emailTxt: [null, Validators.compose([
     Validators.required
   ])]
 }, {
     validators: [
       EmailValidation('emailTxt'),
     ]
   });

Form Validation Function

export function EmailValidation(controlName: string) {
  return (formGroup: FormGroup) => {
    const control = formGroup.controls[controlName];

    if (control.errors && !control.errors.invalidEmail) {
      return;
    }
    if (control.value.trim().match(/^([a-zA-Z0-9_\-\.]+)@((\[[0-9]{1,3}\.[0-9]{1,3}\.[0-9]{1,3}\.)|(([a-zA-Z0-9\-]+\.)+))([a-zA-Z]{1,5}|[0-9]{1,3})(\]?)$/) == null) {
      control.setErrors({ invalidEmail: true });
    }
    else {
      control.setErrors(null);
    }
  }
}

CSS File

.custom-input:invalid{
    & ~ .err {
      max-height: 200px;
      padding: 0 18px 10px 20px;
      color: red;
    }
}

i expect the invalid selector should to be triggered with every control.setErrors() function

A: Add below CSS code in your project, that's definitely works
input.ng-dirty.ng-invalid {
  border: 1px solid red;
}

A: This will work Definitely ☺ add to ur css file
input.ng-invalid.ng-touched, select.ng-invalid.ng-touched {
    border: 1px solid red !important;
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Powerful mp3 to wav and wav to mp3 converter.
Lets you convert your audio files into the MPEG Audio format required .
Convert audio cd tracks to mp3, wav, wma, ogg, vox files.
A professional DVD to FLV convertsion tool.
All Video DVD Creator Solution, SD/HD Video to DVD Creator Package.
Cached: IP: 52.55.186.225 23 April, 2019 03:20:30 (London - UK).


text:
Now and Then: Springing into a Flin Flon spring
Vincent Murphy-Dodds / Flin Flon Reminder
Repurposed rubber boots along the North Star Road. - SUBMITTED PHOTO
"Spring has sprung, the grass is riz. I wonder where the bluebirds is."
Not grammatically correct poetry, but that was the popular way of greeting the spring season back in my childhood days in Flin Flon.
Two injured in early morning uptown shooting
Edmonton liquor store looks to ID-scanning technology to combat thefts
Hall of Famer Raines pulling for Expos teammate Walker ahead of 2020 HOF reveal
Cdn envoy Dominic Barton to testify at Canada-China parliamentary committee
The spring melt was a slow-going process as the brutal winter weather was reluctant to loosen its grip. Despite the dreadful days of this past February, I would say that the winters of the 1940s and 1950s were colder – especially on those dark, January mornings when minus-45 would greet you as you shuffled your way to school.
The arrival of the March equinox gave us hope that the long, northern summer days were just around the corner. Phantom Lake, here we come.
Spring in Flin Flon was announced, as it were, by the running of water along the sidewalk curbs. This phenomenon was not wasted on the rubber-booted boys and girls who would slosh along the sidewalk following their imaginary boats as their wooden matchsticks raced towards the curb drain. Great competitions ensued and shouts of "No fair, you can't touch your boat if it gets stuck!" were part of the racing excitement.
Winter boots were put away and the rubber boots were brought out as a somewhat futile effort by Mother to avoid soggy socks. This was, in fact, an act of futility as any Flin Flon kid worth his or her salt would just have to walk into a pond and see how far they could go without having the water go over the top of the boots.
Of course, there was also the soft pond ice that one kid would challenge another to walk on. "Dare you!" "Double dare you!" "Yeah, well I triple dare you!"
Made it all the way across without going through the ice. Neat!
A boot full of ice water while on a hike was remedied thusly: pull off the boot, wring out the sock, grab a handful of dead grass, shove it in your boot, put your sock on and carry on.
Kids' feet grew over the winter season, so last year's boots wouldn't fit. Not a lot of parents had a lot of money and rubber boots were handed down from brother to sister to brother, or from neighbour to neighbour. You were subject to either admiration, envy or scorn if you were fortunate enough to have new boots. A life lesson.
I haven't seen kids today racing matchsticks, but there is one thing that hasn't changed – a child's inherent compulsion to stamp their rubber-booted feet in a puddle of water. What is it? Is it in the DNA? Did our most ancient ancestors take up this practice many millennia ago? Tell the truth, my friends. Don't you still have that desire to stand in a puddle of water and stamp your booted feet?
Recent advances in sports gear have introduced boards wherein one attempts to stand on a highly priced slab of Styrofoam and paddle one's way over the waves. Ever-inventive Flin Flon boys created their own boards from a pile of junk lumber (courtesy of HBM&S) and with a six-foot, 12-by-four-inch plank, a 60-pound kid (do your own metric conversions) could easily float and pole around in a foot or so of spring melt water - and probably fall off.
Hey, part of the fun, eh!
Aside from kid's play adventures, there are a few other Flin Flon spring things that come to mind.
Back in the day, most families had a dog, which were allowed to roam free. The spring melt became the "Big North of 54 Doggy-Doo Reveal".
Men with cars took the tire chains out of the trunk and hung them up in the garage.
Who remembers the lottery wherein people would guess when an old car that was left on Ross Lake would go through the ice? Are those cars still rusting away on the lake bottom? Who knows?
One more spring thing. At our little Church Street house-on-the-side-of-a-rock, the snow would accumulate in the backyard. The shade of the garage slowed the melt on the north side to the point that there was still a ridge of ice in mid-June. Bring out the pick axe.
And to answer the bluebird question – and complete our poetical incorrectness: "The bird is on the wing."
That's interesting. I always thought the wing was on the bird.
Got any comments or reflections on this column? Contact Vincent at vincent.murphy@sasktel.net.
© Copyright Flin Flon Reminder
The Flin Flon Reminder welcomes your opinions and comments. We do not allow personal attacks, offensive language or unsubstantiated allegations. We reserve the right to edit comments for length, style, legality and taste and reproduce them in print, electronic or otherwise. For further information, please contact the editor or publisher, or see our Terms and Conditions.
Now and Then: Looking back at old Flin Flon life
Back in Time: Finding the origins of northern place names
Popular Reminder Local History
Food bank stresses year-round needs after holidays
Back in Time: Who was George W. Evans?
Back in Time: Teaching in the pool hall before the first school
Back in Time: Upgrading Flin Flon's early social scene
Now and Then: Recalling how we used to call


The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHRSA) found, according to USA Today, that over 1,200 people die in hit-and-run accidents each year. The number of deaths is increasing yearly. According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, about 3 in 5 hit and run accidents kill a pedestrian. There's simply no excuse for failing to stop and render assistance. In the tragic event that a driver kills someone, the driver MUST call the police.
At Banks and Jones, our trial attorneys understand how crushing it is to lose a loved one. We sympathize with any victim of a hit and run who suffers a traumatic brain injury, paralysis, broken bones, or any type of serious injuries. Our Knoxville hit and run lawyers work with the police to determine the identity of the person who failed to respect human dignity and failed to offer assistance to you or a family member. We also conduct our own investigation to aid the police, and when necessary, to identify the driver. Our lawyers leave no stone unturned to win your case.
A driver may have stolen a car or may already be fleeing from the police. Other drivers may be frightened or panicked. Other people are so distracted they don't even realize they hit you.
Stop. Drivers must stop and park their car as close as they can to the accident scene without obstructing traffic.
Provide his or her name, address, and vehicle registration information.
The hit and run laws apply to interstates, highways, streets, roads, parking lots, apartment complexes, and any public locations.
If the driver is identified, we demand that he/she be held liable for your injuries or for the death of a family member. We work with the police and prosecutors who bring criminal actions. We bring the civil actions.
Our lawyers don't stop with the driver. Other people or businesses may also be liable. Normally, the owners of the vehicle, if different from the driver, are responsible for their driver's actions. We demand that the owner's insurance company pay for your damages. If the company refuses to pay the damages, our Knoxville hit-and-run lawyers sue both the owners and the driver.
First-party insurance claims. If the driver can't be identified, didn't have insurance, or didn't have enough insurance, our Knoxville attorneys fight to have your own car insurance policy pay the damages that are due – provided you had uninsured or underinsured coverage. We make sure you notify the insurance company and law enforcement so that your coverage applies.
Tennessee does not have social host liability.
Immediately contact the police so they can investigate what happened. Police should also arrange for medical help if needed.
Contact your uninsured motorist carrier as soon as possible to place them on notice about the accident.
Note the make, model and color of the vehicle that struck you – if you know.
Note any damage the other car suffered or likely had as a result of the accident.
Take pictures with your smartphone or a camera.
You should also ask if anyone around the site saw the accident. If so, get their names and contact information.
Delay in hit and run cases can hurt your case. Memories fade. The sooner you speak with an experienced Knoxville attorney, the better we can refresh your memory, speak with witnesses, and work with the police. Our attorneys will also negotiate your claim on behalf of your insurance adjustor and the insurance companies of the driver and any other responsible parties. We always Fight 2 Win your case in court. For help now, call the attorneys at Banks and Jones by phoning us at 865.407.2122 or by contacting us. Consultations are free.


Its a gr8 thread. Infact im also a gr8 fan of Mani. Never miss any of his movies. I dont know y some didnt like AE. and the way he directed the movie was diff. and i felt that im watchin 3 diff movies.
And Kannathil mutthamittal is the only movie which got 5 star rating by Times of india in delhi. And as far as i know it was the only other language movie which was rated in delhi(usually they rate only hindi n eng movies).
I used to like Mani Rathnam until Roja.
But Bombay was a cheap shot. After that, all his movies have been provocative using shock and awe tactics only.
Guys ! Please please please keep the Thalai-Malai clashes out of this thread. Nearly every other thread is loaded with them.
yeah - i'd say that's an accurate observation on his filmmaking - wouldn't really go so far as to call him one-dimensional, but yes, his penchant for taut storytelling certainly seems to have lost its vim.
i think mani suffers from a syndrome that seems to affect all great filmmakers at some point - if you look at the standards he set for himself with his early films ("Mouna Ragam", "Nayagan") - its tough for anyone to cross (or even reach) that threshold - even if you're mani ratnam !
part of the problem also probably lies with the audience ... every time an MR film is released we go to the theatres expecting to see a "Nayagan" - which probably fuels the disappointment when you get films like "Alai Payuthey".
i happened to be reading an article the other day that made an interesting comparison between mani ratnam and another great filmmaker from the west - oliver stone, the man who made memorable films like "Platoon", "JFK" and "Any Given Sunday".
if you make a comparative study, it's strange to see the similarity in their career paths - both achieved tremendous success very early on (mani with "Mouna Ragam", stone with "Platoon", which won him an oscar) - both were hailed, at that point, as brilliant young filmmakers, on course to revolutionise the art.
both went from strength to strength and their films only got better ("Nayagan", "Roja" for Mani, similarly "Wall Street", "Born on the Fourth of July" for Stone).
but somewhere down the line things started going wrong and they started sacrificing their USPs in favour of grandeur - mani ratnam made "Bombay" and Stone "The Doors", "Natural Born Killers" - the canvasses became larger, the storylines more contrived, the plots started losing their unique flavour.
of course, they still show flashes of their brilliance now and then -mani's "Dalapathi", "Iruvar" and stone's "JFK" (possibly one of the greatest films ever to come out of Hollywood). occassionally one gets the eerie feeling that these men are probably past their greatest days as filmmakers. but that doesn't stop us from awaiting with bated breath, the next offering from their stables.


A few bars can't hold you back. Break on through to the other side in the Stance Men's Sidestep Jailbreak Crew Socks, made of superior cotton and athletically ribbed for sheer on the run pleasure.
77% combed cotton, 13% elastic, 10% elastane.


text:
typedef char* String; // Type alias.

typedef struct SimpleDynamicString // Structure that stores string object.
{
	int length_; // Space have used in bytes.
	int free_; // Space free in bytes.
	char data_[]; // Store string content.
} SDS;

// Return the size of space has used in bytes, i.e., the member length_.
// O(1)
static inline int get_length(const String str)
{
	SDS *sds = CAST(SDS*)(str - sizeof(SDS));
	return sds->length_;
}

// Return the size of free space in bytes, i.e., the member free_.
// O(1)
static inline int get_free(const String str)
{
	SDS *sds = CAST(SDS*)(str - sizeof(SDS));
	return sds->free_;
}

// Create a new SDS string with the data specified by the 'string' pointer and 'length'.
String SDSNewLength(const void *string, int length);
// Create a new SDS string starting from a null terminated C string.
String SDSNew(const void *string);
// Create an empty SDS string.
String SDSNewEmpty();
// Free an SDS string."
void SDSFree(String string);
// Duplicate an SDS string.
String SDSDuplicate(const String string);
// Make an SDS string empty(zero length).
void SDSClear(String string);
// Guarantee that there is at least free `need` bytes in at the end of the SDS string.
String SDSAllocateMemory(String string, int need);
// Append the string `append` of 'length' bytes to the end of SDS string `string`.
String SDSAppendLength(String string, const void *append, int length);
// Append the c-string `append` to the existing SDS `string`.
String SDSAppend(String string, const char *append);
// Append the specified SDS string `append` to the existing SDS string `string`
String SDSAppendSDS(String string, const String append);
// Destructively modify the SDS string `string` to hold the string `copy` of `need` bytes.
String SDSCopyLength(String string, const char *copy, int need);
// Destructively modify the SDS string `string` to hold the string `copy`
String SDSCopy(String string, const char *copy);
// Grow the SDS string to have the specified length and fill the added bytes with null.
String SDSGrowWithNull(String string, int new_length);
// Modify the string into a substring specified by the `begin` and `end` indexes.
void SDSRange(String string, int begin, int end);
// Remove the part of the string from left and from right composed just of
// contiguous characters found in 'set', which is a null terminated C string.
String SDSTrim(String string, const char *set);
// Compare two SDS strings string1 and string2 with memcmp().
int SDSCompare(const String string1, const String string2);

#endif // NOSQL_SRC_SIMPLE_DYNAMIC_STRING_H_

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Today was fairly cool with a chilly north wind. We drove from Portsmouth, Ohio to Upper Sandusky, Ohio with pit stops at Glacier Ridge Metro Park in Dublin, Ohio and Lawrence Woods State Nature Preserve near Kenton, Ohio. We had no time left to bird Killdeer Plains WMA. But we did squeeze in a late attempt for the Western Tanager in Upper Sandusky. Unfortunately, we arrived too late in Upper Sandusky. Ok. It was after 8pm, but at least we had daylight and we tried.
Some highlights from today include Virginia Rail, Ring-necked Pheasant, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Red-headed Woodpecker, Vesper Sparrow, and Bobolink plus 11 species of warblers. Only Black-throated Blue Warbler was a new species of warbler bringing the trip total number of warbler species to 32.
Total species for the day was 82. Trip total is now 140 species. The Big Year Tour total is 362.
Tonight we are only 1 hour 15 minutes away from Magee Marsh Wildlife Management Area near Oak Harbor, Ohio–Thee Pinnacle of Warblerdom in May. I will look at radar and winds tonight and determine a plan for tomorrow.
Remember to check out the species lists for each of our trips. This trip list is being updated daily while we are on tours. Species List is here. And take a look at our upcoming trips at bigyeartours.com.


text:
Fuel Cell Technology on Passenger Vessels
Yasemin Bilgehan Polat
Business Development Engineer
Shipbuilding and Ocean Engineer
Regarding emissions consideration, unpredicted fuel prices, and searching for alternative fuels, leading to a shift in green ferries in the ferry and RoPax sector. Ferry market is more flexible towards to introduction of alternative fuels compared to ocean-going sector. This applies especially to ferries operating on local routes where fuel availability can be secured with less risk while several cases local market conditions can favor the implementation of some fuel types like LNG, fuel cells, electrification, battery technology etc. Among the possible alternatives, fuel cells are considered to be one of the most promising future technologies.
Ferries which use fuel cell drives also offer quiet, zero-emission operation. They can be used in ecologically sensitive waters and offer the potential for the development of regional tourism. Low or zero emission propulsion is now a requirement in many passenger vessel tenders, the key point of victory is generally laid under innovative promissory of alternative fuels and energy sources.
Researches and ground-breaking new buildings with the funding for LNG and alternative fuels and propulsion systems and with the help of gradually normalized energy storage systems (ESS) and Classification Societies gained a lot of experiences of LNG, electric and hybrid power solutions. Furthermore, the classification societies are interested and focused on the fuel cell technology over a decade to reach future-proof vessels. The European Union, China, Japan, and the United States are noticeably moving on hydrogen fuel cell powering systems and promoting their technologies.
A fuel cell utilizes basic electrolytic properties of oxygen and hydrogen molecules to produce electricity. The transfer of electrons between the molecules can be used to supply direct current (DC) power. The supplied electrical power will be continuous as long as both oxygen and hydrogen flows are maintained and constant. The only waste byproduct produced by this ideal system is water.
There can be a direct supply of hydrogen, but at present hydrogen bulk storage is problematic and the infrastructure is lacking. Hydrocarbons and alcohol fuels, which are readily available, convert to hydrogen by a reformer, then fed to fuel cell. Since hydrogen storage is quite difficult and dangerous, methanol is possible alternative for powering fuel cells with conversion to hydrogen. The biggest benefit of using methanol is that, it can be stored in a normal tank, no need to be cryogenic or type C tank. Besides the advantageous side of the methanol is a cost-effective alternative marine fuel and also worldwide availability through the existing global infrastructure, also significantly reduces sulphur oxides, nitrogen oxides, particulate matter and black carbon emissions.
Although the fuel cell technology has a potential for ship propulsion in the medium to long-term, there are some major drawback for that technology. There are still numerous researches, newbuilding and retrofitting projects for examine and develop fuel cells if they feasible for marine usage.
Building a Hybrid Beauty: Victoria of Wight
Victoria of Wight is the brand new and the largest ferry of the Wightlink fleet and has unique features in most ways..
Autonomous System in Passenger Vessels and Human Factor
Autonomous system has started in the land based projects and it is a manner of time that it will be applied on the ships..


text:
Home Networking AMD's value proposition for enterprises with AMD EPYC processors
AMD's value proposition for enterprises with AMD EPYC processors
Vinay Sinha, MD-India Sales, AMD, said outdated legacy systems and cost are two primary challenges commonly faced by CIOs across various industries in enabling a productive and protected remote workforce.
Firstly, in line with recurring nation-wide lockdowns, businesses were forced to abruptly implement an organisation-wide remote/hybrid work model. During this shift, it was discovered that outdated infrastructure and legacy systems were major hindrances to the efficacy of the remote workplace for three key reasons: (1) Incompatibility with external software and hardware systems, including personal devices that remote workers may use to access business systems, (2) insufficient bandwidth to handle the copious amounts of incoming data and connections and (3) increased security risks.
The second challenge is with regards to managing and allocating funds in the face of an unprecedented rise in IT expenses since the outbreak. To elaborate, costs are incurred in two forms: operating costs, and opportunity costs. Significant operating costs are being incurred by CIOs to enable an efficient, safe and protected transition to remote working, by modernising legacy systems and upgrading hardware and software security features for remote employees. Large opportunity costs are also seen as finite budgets disallow other transformation projects from being carried out.
The afore-mentioned challenges will never be one-and-done – legacy systems should be updated on an ongoing basis, within the company's available resources. AMD works closely with CIOs and partners to address these challenges in a collaborative and sustained way to build agile and robust IT infrastructure without compromising on resilience.
Key priorities CIOs
If there is anything that 2020 taught us, it is that agility and resilience is key in the face of today's unpredictable and volatile business environment. Therefore, digital transformation (DX) in multiple aspects, including legacy system modernization, increasing data-management capabilities and security enhancements are a few top-of-mind priorities for CIOs and IT executives in the next quarter.
CIOs have taken up the task of modernizing legacy systems and reconceptualising dated operating models. This not only empowers remote workforces, but also increases overall productivity by streamlining various other business processes with high-performance computing capabilities that bring about improved efficiency, flexibility and scalability.
CIOs are also incorporating measures that would ensure more efficient data-management capabilities. With the accelerating volume and velocity of data, it is absolutely pertinent for CIOs and IT leaders to reconstruct their data-management processes to allow the business to extrapolate actionable insights to guide profitable business decisions.
CIOs, who have recently embarked on the modernisation process, would have few factors to consider and as mentioned above, AMD works collaboratively with CIOs and IT leaders to determine the ideal infrastructure for their business needs. With technology like the AMD EPYC 7003 Series processors, CIOs can expect improved efficiency, value and performance. The latest AMD processors increase transactional database processing by up to 19 percent, improve Hadoop big data analytic sorts by up to 60 percent, and offer superb performance for flexible Hyperconverged Infrastructure – all of which help CIOs turn data into actionable insights faster.
CIOs and IT leaders will continue to advance security features and capabilities. With industry-wide rapid transformation, comes evolving security challenges and threats. Therefore, a key priority for CIOs would be to continuously and incrementally make software and hardware security updates to prevent malicious actors from misappropriating proprietary company and personal data. Protection is a key focus at AMD, with processors designed with security features in mind. Built-in at the silicon level, AMD Infinity Guard offers the advanced capabilities required to help defend against internal and external threats and keep your data safe with virtually zero impact to system performance.
Key enterprise IT trends
According to IDC, by 2023, over 65 percent of the APeJ will be digitalised, and this has activated and accelerated a number of notable enterprise IT industry trends, particularly in creating an optimal IT infrastructure. This includes the shift towards Hyperconverged Infrastructure (HCI) and the increased adoption of Cloud.
HCI consolidates traditional, hardware-based infrastructure into a virtualized, software-defined environment, and is a key IT trend to watch out for because this software-defined environment is typically easier to maintain and provides seamless addition of capacity, cost efficiencies, scalability and security features from existing systems. Therefore, to facilitate a speedy shift to an upscaled infrastructure, CIOs and IT leaders across all industries are compelled to modernise their data centers by moving towards HCI for its ability to help streamline operations, improve performance, and reduce costs.
This also goes hand-in-hand with the adoption of Cloud, which results in flexibility, cost effective scalability, and a well-managed space in which to innovate. AMD is working with ecosystem partners to help them address and adapt to these complex and emerging technologies, while keeping the IT infrastructure highly efficient. AMD EPYC processors are also powering a number of HCI and Cloud Environments with partners such as Dell Technologies and VMWare.
AMD CEO Dr Lisa Su mentioned at COMPUTEX this year that billions of users rely on AMD EPYC processor-powered services because it delivers leadership performance in cloud computing workloads, offering high compute density, advanced security features and optimal business value. AMD EPYC is established as the new standard for the modern data center, and is winning not just in cloud, but across enterprise, commercial HPC and supercomputing.
A notable value proposition is with respect to AMD's advanced security features. Embedded in 3rd Gen AMD EPYC processors is AMD Infinity Guard, a modern multi-faceted approach to data center security features, which includes the latest advancement in AMD SEV technologies called Secure Encrypted Virtualization-Secure Nested Paging (SEV-SNP), adding strong memory integrity protection capabilities to help prevent malicious attacks.
Micron ships 176-Layer QLC NAND and unveils 2400 PCIe Gen4 Client SSD
AMD intros Ryzen 6000 series of mobile processors at CES 2022
AMD amends GlobalFoundries deal, will buy $2.1 bn worth of wafers


How do you tune a Mandolin?
How do you hold a Mandolin?
What is meant by a right-handed or a left-handed player?
How do you count frets?
Which finger should you use for which notes?
What types of mandolin are there?
What mandolin should you buy?
What type of plectrum should you use?
What is 'setting up' a mandolin and what does it involve?
What are the parts of a mandolin called?
How do I tune a Mandolin?
The four courses (pairs of strings) of a Mandolin are tuned g,d'a'e''. The thickest pair (at the top for a right-handed player) are tuned to the note G above middle C. The next pair are tuned to the D above, the next to the A above that and the thinnest pair are tuned to the E above that. The strings are tuned in unison (both in the pair are tuned to the same note). The Mandolin can be tuned to an electronic tuner, another instrument (e.g. piano), or to itself. Often, tuning to concert pitch is desirable, but sometimes you may need to tune to another instrument which is not in concert pitch so that you can play ensemble. See Tuning a Mandolin for more details.
How do I hold a Mandolin?
A Mandolin is normally rested in the lap and for a right-handed player, the fretboard and tuner point out to the left. Reverse this if you are a left-handed player. A Mandolin can also be used with a strap around the neck instead of rested in the lap in which case the Mandolin should be about the height needed for your strumming arm to be horizontal. The Mandolin should not be gripped. The strumming hand should be free to move the plectrum up and down on the strings without the hand or arm touching the soundboard, which will deaden the vibrations and quiten the sound. The hand which forms the notes on the fretboard should have the neck resting between the thumb and first finger (put your thumb pointing up to the ceiling and your first finger pointing straight out to the wall, now put the neck loosely just about where the nut is into the angle between the two). Curl your fingers over to the fretboard. Your first finger should be able to press down on each string at the first fret and your third finger should be able to press down on each string at the fifth fret. Your hand will naturally move from the vertical so your thumb now points slightly away from you. You may need to slide your hand slightly up the back of the neck to achieve this. Your strumming arm may just rest on the edge of the body and your plectrum should be in a position mid-way between the bridge and the end of the fretboard.
This refers to which hand you hold the plectrum in to pluck the strings above the soundboard. A right-handed player will therefore use the left hand to press down on the frets to form the notes and a left-handed player will use the right hand.
How do I count frets?
Frets are counted from the end of the neck where the tuners are. The frets are the horizontal pieces of metal set in the fingerboard against which the strings are 'stopped'. This shortens the string and raises the pitch. Many instruments have a plastic or ivory nut at the tuner end of the fingerboard, so the first fret back towards the bridge is fret 1. Some have a fret right next to the nut, and this is fret 0 so fret 1 is the next towards the bridge. If you can't get your finger between the fret and the nut, it's fret 0. Frets 5, 7 and 12 usually have an inlaid dot or design just before them. Fret 12 is often distinguished in some way, as stopping a string there sounds a note an octave above the open string. Sometimes, frets 3 and 9 or 10 are also marked in some way and others above fret 12 may be as well.
Choosing strings is tricky and there is no simple rule. Some of the factors which affect the string gauge are the age of the instrument, it's construction, the type of music you play and your preference for the sound. A light gauge will sound brighter but sustain less (and appear quieter) than a heavier gauge. Alloy strings (bronze or phosphor bronze) sound brighter than steel but need changing more frequently as the brightness dulls quite quickly with playing. Lighter strings tend to be single 'filaments' and heavier strings are 'wire wound' - a central core with a thin wire spirally wrapped around it. Nearly all mandolin strings are metal, although some baroque Neapolitan mandolins did use gut. These are now a specialist item.
A light set of metal strings are typically 09/09 12/12 18w/18w 26w/26w (the number e.g. 09 is the gauge, the pair is shown as 09/09 showing that both strings in the course are the same, and a 'w' shows that it's wire wound). A heavy set would typically be 12/12 16/16 26w/26w 40w/40w. Thes are only typical gauges - there are heavier and lighter sets and the individual gauges vary in different sets e.g. a heavy set from a different manufacturer may be 12/12 17/17 28w/28w 40w/40w. One of the important things is how much tension the set of tuned strings is putting on the mandolin - especially the neck. Modern mandolins have a truss rod in the neck - a metal rod which can be tensioned to keep the neck flat but older models did not and have a possibility of 'banana-ing' in a gentle curve making the srings at higher frets stand higher from the frets. Expert advice should also be sought about the gauge of strings a particular instrument an withstand the tension from.
Which finger should I use for which notes?
The usual advice is that this is the same as the violin. First finger covers frets 1 and 2, second finger covers frets 3 and 4, the third finger covers frets 5 and 6 and the fourth finger is for fret 7. This is called 'first position'. Moving the first finger up to a fret normally played with the second finger (and playing with the other fingers up to 9th fret) is the second position and so on.
The major types of Mandolin are the Neapolitan bowl back ('tater bug') and the flat back. The flat back comes in two types - A style or Artist and F style or Florentine. Another type of flat back is guitar shaped and then there is the solid bodied electric mandolin.
You can find different electric mandolins for sale.
What mandolin should I buy?
Buying cheap is false economy but don't go mad and find the most expensive one if you're a beginner. It's always best to try before you buy. Do you like the tone?, is the action easy to play?, is the neck straight?, are any frets buzzing? - there are many questions which you can only answer by looking and playing. However, having said that, a reputable dealer will supply by post a well set up instruments with all of the obvious defects removed. That just leaves 'Do I like the tone?' Distance selling regulations (in the UK at any rate) mean you can return an instrument within a reasonable time if you don't like it although you'll probably have to pay the postage if it's not being returned becauser of a defect. Mandolins are either hand made by Luthiers who take many weeks to make a beautiful instrument so they're expensive, or in a factory so they're cheaper. The cheapest factory made ones are plain, have cheap mechanicals (like tuners) and are usually not well finished. Finishing takes time (sanding, polishing, adjusting etc) so mid-range factory instruments have either been hand finished in the factory or by the dealer selling them. Expensive factory instruments should be very well finished as well as being 'fancier' and have better mechanical parts. Whatever you buy, it should be set up for playing. The better instruments use better types and quality of wood, metalwork and components which affect the tone, and have more time spent on them, making them presentable and playable. The very cheapest have plywood soundboards - avoid these they will never produce a good sound. Better instruments - even budget and modestly priced have a solid wood soundboard. You can tell by looking at the cross section in the sound hole - if it's plywood, you can see the layers.
It's an instrument tuning based on a standard note so that everyone plays in pitch. The standard is A - 440Hz or C - 523.3Hz. However, a tuning fork, well tuned piano or electronic tuner will give you concert pitch notes or tuning. If you're playing with a non-tunable instrument (like a concertina or melodeon that's not for some reason in concert pitch) you'll have to tune to it if you want to play together. If everyone tuned to concert, you'd be able to tune to an electronic tuner and join right in bang on pitch, but if that piano is a semitone south, everybody (who can) will have to tune down to it.
What type of plectrum should I use?
Personal preference really. There's plastic, nylon, tortoiseshell substitute (please don't use real tortoiseshell) even wood and metal. For the diehard recreationalists, there's probably quill. The thickness is whatever you feel comfortable playing with. Thinner usually means quieter but don't go mad. The very thick ones are for bass guitar. .40 mm is probably considered thin, .60mm - .70mm about medium and .80mm - 1mm is getting heavy.
Setting up is getting the mandolin playable. The bridge position, the action (the height of the strings above the fretboard - all the way along!), fret flatness (otherwise you'll get buzzes) and truss rod setting. Most of these should be left to a professional because there is a relationship between them and a consequence to tinkering with them. Especially leave the truss rod alone unless you know what you're doing. Basic advice is if it moves, you can set it yourself, if it doesn't move - leave it to a pro. A good dealer will always set up a mandolin before sale. They will set the action how you like it (high or low) and make sure it plays in tune all the way up the neck. A health check for your instrument once a year is a good idea.


text:
Artists Julio González
Spanish Draftsman
Movements and Styles: Cubism, Surrealism, Modern Sculpture
Born: September 21, 1876 - Barcelona, Spain
Died: March 27, 1942 - Arcueil, Paris, France
"This new art: To draw in space."
Summary of Julio González
Despite Julio González's late start and short creative period of work, marked by poverty and war, he realized key works that capture his radical approach to sculpture. The strong ties to the local craft traditions in Barcelona informed his image of form and his choice of material with the formidable training and his acquired welding skills during WWI allowed him to combine fully contradictory concepts of the modern - from Cubism, Surrealism, Constructivism, to various forms of abstraction - in his sculptures. And especially influential was González's intensive collaboration with Pablo Picasso. Although González never gained broad popularity, he is known as the father of iron sculpture and is consistently included among the famous modern sculptors of the 20th century, such as Brancusi, Giacometti, Laurens, and Picasso.
González chose iron as his metal of choice, because of his objection to its modern uses for munitions and for society's mechanized, scientific environment. He aimed to transform this metal into evocative forms. The method of collage informs his process of welding together disparate pieces of metal, even found scraps of metal and bars, creating arabesque-like delineations in space to capture the human experience of beauty and defiance.
González, inspired by Rodin, left visible the process of making, such as chasing the subject out of the metal, the marks of beating the metal into shape, or showing the skeletal elements used in welding a piece together. The material's unfinished, rough surface or scrap iron pieces expressed the object's corporeality and lent it an emotive quality, which was intended to shape the viewer's perception of the work. For the first time, González used welded metal as a new medium and technique for sculpture.
Influenced by Picasso's revolutionizing attitude toward the dialogue between painting and sculpture, González began to depict forms in space in his own sculptural work. He therefore understood space as a new material to manipulate and to construct with. This led eventually to González's own invention of drawing in space, which meant using the given lines and surfaces in the material to create open constructions in and with space suggestive of the female figure or human body.
Drawing provided González with the opportunity to try out his ideas and even occupy himself, when sculpting materials were scarce. They reveal his sense of color and the importance of light and shadow in the composition of spatial form.
González's Catalan roots led to his deep connection with the Republican cause in Catalonia and Spain's defiance against the fascist threat. His pessimism toward the Spanish Civil War colored his political sympathies, which can be seen in his drawings and sculptures.
González was born Julio González Pellicer in Barcelona to a family descended from a long line of metal smiths. As a child, he began learning decorative metal working in his father's workshop. His father, Concordio González, was a part-time sculptor, and his mother, Pilar Pellicer Fenés, came from a long line of well-known artists, her father having been an important 19th century Catalan illustrator and designer. As the youngest of four children, González was particularly close to his mother and to his older brother, Joan. As his family loved music, he learned to play the mandolin at an early age to accompany his singing. He attended a Catholic school that followed the educational model of medieval craft guilds, where technical training was highly valued.
Julio González's childhood, life, career, and various anecdotes Read Julio González's Biography
And, the artists and movements that built upon Julio González's art Read Julio González's Artistic Legacy
Important Art by Julio González
The below artworks are the most important by Julio González - that both overview the major creative periods, and highlight the greatest achievements by the artist.
Leaning Head (c.1908 - 1910)
Artwork description & Analysis: Gonzalez depicts the introspective mood of a young woman through the way her head leans forward, her calm facial expression, and her closed eyes. He draws upon his technical expertise in repoussé in these early small busts. This metalworking technique allowed for greater plasticity, as can be seen in the shape of the woman's head, an enclosed globe, the soft modeling of her face, the texture of her hair. The palpable sense of form not only anticipates his abstract, cubist heads of the 1930s, it also evokes Rodin's emphasis on corporeality. Gonzalez thus took his first step towards dissolving the fully plastic round volume into geometric form. He would rely more and more on the viewer's perception to associate the abstracted forms, a globe (head) and cylinder (neck), surfaces and lines, as referencing the head, face, or figure of a woman. Yet parallel to Rodin, Gonzalez reveals his process of making. He leaves exposed the marks of beating the metal sheets into the shape of the head to capture a simple human moment, a young woman lost in thought.
Beaten copper, wood base - Peter Nahum At The Leicester Galleries, Mayfair, UK
Le Couple (1927-1929)
Artwork description & Analysis: In this small sculpture, only 7 1/2 inches long, a couple reclines, embracing each other. Yet, these figures are essentially abstract forms. It is the sense of interlocking and enclosed spaces rather than volume that contribute a human quality to these forms. The linear and geometric surfaces of the welded unmodified scrap iron pieces make apparent the influence of Cubism; the way scrap iron bars become arms and legs, flat slabs become the torso. The stylized heads reflect Gonzalez's fascination with the Etruscan couple reclining on a sarcophagus that he studied in visits to the Louvre. The influence of Luca Cambiaso, an Italian 16th-century artist who often sketched human figures geometrically, reducing them to cube forms, can also be seen in the work. The spatial construction of line and surfaces create a feeling that these two figures, this couple, are not only welded together physically, but emotionally.
At the time he created The Couple, the artist also made a similar sculpture of a woman alone, a work that was purchased by the American painter and art dealer, John Graham. Graham was a friend of David Smith, the American sculptor whose first works of forged sculpture in 1933 included a figure based upon González's reclining woman.
Forged iron - Private collection
The Woman and the Mirror (1937)
Artwork description & Analysis: From a series of approximately ten drawings, this collage-drawing depicts a female figure with red spiraling curved legs that connect to a penciled skeletal torso supported by a thick inked black line that rises and contracts into a thin line to intersect with a sketched winged right arm. The figure's left arm is delicately hinged and held in place by a line extending out to suggest a shoulder. This same line defines the curve of the neck that ends in a circle for the head with two black dots for eyes. The left arm extends forward in a bold gesture, underscored by its wide, black and green curving shape. At its extremity, a hand seems to curve upward in the gesture of holding something. A white rectangular paper, symbolizing a mirror, hovers near the left hand.
This drawing of a woman and mirror comes closest to the sculpture he welded in iron of the same name. Gonzalez's sketches of a woman and mirror show how the artist continuously drew from his experience of reality, continuously putting his ideas on paper and then, realizing them in abstract sculptural forms.
In contrast to his sculptures, Gonzalez's drawings can be seen as a "visual diary," according to the art historian Valerie Fletcher. The drawings are "the sensitive barometer of Julio Gonzalez's way of thinking," as the art historian Josephine Whiters has commented. Gonzalez precisely dated most of his drawings with day, month, and year, unlike his sculptures that he left undated. In general, these studies in color only present visual exercises that have a tangential relation to the realized sculptures. They serve instead as a laboratory for Gonzalez's creativity, especially during the onset of the second World War when welding became impossible due to the scarcity of materials and supplies.
Collage with pastel, pen and india ink and pencil on paper - Christie's Auction House
More Julio González Artwork and Analysis:
Interactive chart with Julio González's main influences, and the people and ideas that the artist influenced in turn.
Manolo Hugué
Julio González Videos


From Germany's Swabian Alb region – the Silicon Valley of the automobile industry – to one of the fastest growing gps tracking solutions vendors in Europe in just a few years. The letters VT.DA stand for Vehicle Tracking and Driver Assistant.
Road endurance test in order to be able to simulate the loads in the customized driving application and total vehicle testings under extreme climatic conditions in which the interaction and function of all vehicle components are tested (hot and cold worldwide country trials) laysed the cornerstone for future product and brand success in the field of gps tracking and fleet management.
Since 2017, Mario has been acting as VT.DA CEO and employs his wealth of experience to manage VT.DA ́s day- to-day operations as well as to develop its structures and organization for its future growth. Mario has more than 20 years' experience in the Internet world and is one of the Internet veterans. He has founded and successfully built several companies in this area.
As the sector's first company, VT.DA pursues a multi-platform approach and multi brand strategy that conquered the market between entry-level and premium gps tracking products.
Our consumer-brand Trackimo® is a product with premium components at an attractive price. Today we are not only the dominant provider in this sector: in addition to Trackimo®, in 2017 we also already succesful tested the smallest gps tracker with 4 tracking technologies and eSIM technology. The market launch is scheduled for mid 2018.
What does the near future hold in store for us: Our aim remains powering thousands of gps tracking devices.
VT.DA – a model of success – including for our reseller partners.


Looking for Sports Jobs at Mankato Moondogs?
Mankato Moondogs are just one example of the thousands of teams, leagues and sports industry employers we feature on WorkInSports.com. As the most trusted source for job openings in the sports industry, you can count on us to help you find your next break.


The manufacturers in society have come up with substances that will help the individuals in society to get quick recovery within a short period. CBD oil has got a medicinal value which will help the individuals to get back to their usual health within a short period and continue to do their work. One should visit a specialist who will guide them on what they should use for their bodies to become physically fit and regain their normal health. CBD oil will get used by the patients for various purposes at all times in society. One should get the CBD oil when they want to relieve the pain in their bodies at any given period of time and ensure that they get back to normal at all times. A person should stay without any pain so they can boost their concentration levels and do their work correctly and get good returns.
The experts should guide their clients on how they should use the CBD oil for them to get the results they expected. The professionals should guide the clients who buy substances from them on how to use them so they can get good results within a short period. Individuals may get some consequences when they misuse the CBD oil and they will make their health to become bad. One should, therefore, listen to the experts as they will give them the instruction on how to use it so they can benefit from it. A person must benefit from the products offered to them by the skilled people in their society within a short period of time. The substance will not have any odor, and hence the individuals will not become affected when they use it at any time.
Different factors will determine the cost of the item that a person needs from the market at any time. One should look for money to buy the product they need from the market at any time for them to benefit from it at any at all times. The service providers will ensure that they have been able to deliver to the doorsteps of their clients once they place an order at any time. The service providers make the work of the clients to become easier by delivering the goods and services to them in their homes and offices. One must ensure that they have satisfied their clients at all times and continue serving them.