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Navadisha 2016
Posted: May 26th, 2016 | Author: Ian Abbott | Filed under: Festival | Tags: Navadisha 2016 | Comments Off on Navadisha 2016
Navadisha 2016, mac, Birmingham, May 20-22
Kesha Raithatha (photo: Ian Abbott)
"Power is not an institution, and not a structure; neither is it a certain strength we are endowed with; it is the name that one attributes to a complex strategical situation in a particular society." – Michel Foucault
Navadisha 2016 was a three-day conference produced by Anita Srivastava and co-produced by Piali Ray that sought "to stimulate, steer and secure the future of South Asian Dance as part of UK's ever growing dance landscape". The Navadisha team, with Chitra Sundaram acting as conference moderator and lead consultant, curated over 65 presenters and more than 20 performances attracting over 200 UK and international delegates who were ready to celebrate and deliberate new dynamics in South Asian dance.
It has been over 16 years since the last Navadisha when a young Akram Khan and Mavin Khoo presented their duet No Male Egos; Navadisha 2016 opened with a specially commissioned duet from Connor Scott (BBC Young Dancer 2015 winner) and Vidya Patel (BBC Young Dancer 2015 finalist) who jointly choreographed a light 5-minute work in a mere eight hours. Khan, Khoo and Shobana Jeyasingh each offered a keynote provocation and while Khan struggled with definition — "What the fuck is South Asian dance? I don't know how to define it…" — Jeyasingh offered an arresting, personal and insightful response touching on pertinent issues: "Dance as a noble hobby", and with respect to the classical and contemporary debate, "we share common soil, common roots and common sustenance."
Over the course of the event there were some luminous contributions from individuals who articulated an alternative approach to, and use of, classical dance forms whilst demonstrating an integrity within their own practice:
Subathra Subramanium (Sadhana Dance) explored the rigour and collaborative process between bharatanatyam and science, charting expeditions to the Arctic Circle with audiences of bearded seals and walruses to the surgical precision of the operating theatre and identifying a shared dexterity between classical dancers and surgeons.
Hari Krishnan (inDance) offered a queer narrative and perspective from his practice as a choreographer. Presenting nudity, sexuality and intimate touch in and to this community is a radical act and I'd like to see other LGBTQ+ artists offered the chance to engage and contribute to this dialogue.
Lina Johansson (mimbre) presented insight and advice on how her company creates work for outdoor settings, recognising that audiences can begin to watch a piece at any moment and often wander off if their attention drops. She aims to craft work to capture and retain a diversity of ages.
Shalini Bhalla (Just Jhoom) opened a vital dialogue (often ignored in South Asian communities) around issues of mental health and depression. She shared her story of hospitalisation and of using the healing power of her dance practice to train over 250 instructors across the UK to teach the fitness and bollywood hybrid, Just Jhoom. She recognised the social value, community and friendship that comes from participants dancing together in class in a familiar environment.
Nova Bhattacharya (Nova Dance) offered an international perspective and was frustrated with the "fucking monochromatic viewpoint" in both the dominance and assimilation of American modern dance and European aesthetics into the Canadian dance ecology, and passionately advocated for a palette of voices and forms to be represented.
However, in a set of panels (often with 7, 8 and 9 people each having three minutes to speak in the 60-minute sessions) there was a lack of coherence and audience consideration mixed with a multitude of surface statements and extensive personal biographies. Many of the flooded panels had insufficient time and/or were poorly moderated, not allowing questions and response from the audience. With such an international panel of delegates, rich with experience and insight, the opportunity to engage in a rigorous debate was missed. There was little visible thread between the speakers whose consistent mode was that of broadcasting rather than listening and responding to peers.
"Creativity cannot be held within the confines of history. It needs to be honestly and harmoniously allowed to reinvent." Aditi Mangaldas
There were nearly 15 panels across the three days, looking at: Changing lives / Inspiring Stories, New Narratives / New Perspectives, Professional development, mentoring and career progression, but one that stood out in the language used to describe it was: "Stars in our eyes: Part 1 – The Performer's Perspective." Five stellar and compelling performers from a range of South Asian dance practices (Aakash Odedra, Amina Khayyam, Seeta Patel, Shane Shambhu and Sonia Sabri) each shared how they see it: My vision, my goals, my dreams, my challenges!
The conference team often publicly referred to this set of artists as "Gen Next" or "Young Artists", invoking a sense of power and using a patronising tone that I found unhealthy. Patel in her three minutes offered a provocation: "It is an exciting time which shouldn't be patronised by a reference to ourselves as orientalised, antiquated museum pieces. Whether classical or contemporised, with integrity we can reach further from existing, limiting perceptions. To artists I ask: are we perpetuating a landscape of outdated perceptions that limit who we are and can be? To the powers that be: do you want an exotic other artist or an artist whose doesn't rely upon cultural differences to make them great?" Her comments garnered a wealth of response in the room and on the hashtag #Navadisha16.
I sensed an unspoken power, faux etiquette or, to use a term cited by Patel on day one, an invisible hand at play manifesting itself in multiple ways throughout the conference. There is an unwillingness to engage in an open dialogue as the fear of retribution is high. Julia Carruthers, Programme Director at Warwick Arts Centre, in the Venue, Producer and Promoter panel called on the "aunty" or "akka" generation to move on and make way for new voices and new leaders. Anusha Subramanyam, Artistic Director of Beeja, in the How dance is enhancing people's lives panel spoke of her frustration at the disparaging attitude towards her work as a choreographer working with young people with disabilities, in communities and other contexts.
Over the last three years I've experienced, led, partnered and convened a number of dance conferences, symposia, festivals and gatherings in different styles including: Association of Dance of the African Disapora's Re:generations 2014, the Integrated Summit, Btown Throwdown and South Asian Dance Summit at Pavilion Dance South West as well as DanceLive15, Buzzcut and Rise 2016 in Scotland. Common threads across these events were: a sense of care for the artist and audience, providing a space for difference and the removal of ego for the greater good. Within Navadisha 2016 there was an invisible simmering and Kav Kaushik paraphrased Game of Thrones: "Winter is coming and the kingdom is focused on civil war."
"Growth is painful. Change is painful. But nothing is as painful as staying stuck where you do not belong." – N R Narayana Murthy
Throughout the conference there were a number of felicitations paying respect to pioneers in the field, from Naseem Khan OBE (on the 40th anniversary of her ground-breaking report, The Arts Britain Ignores) to Pratap Pawar, Pushkala Gopal and Nahid Siddiqui, three dance artists who inspired generations of students, dancers and teachers in the UK. Alongside this formal recognition a number of new ventures from Leena Patel, Kamala Devam, Shane Shambhu were publicly launched in front of a rich and illustrious makeup of guru's and industry powers which felt a generous and unique celebration introduced by those further along in their career trajectory.
As part of the conference and in partnership with International Dance Festival Birmingham there were a number of full-length performances and excerpts across the three days. Highlights came from Sooraj Subramaniam, whose classical Odissi was an elegant and emotive solo; Kesha Raithatha, who has been working with Eva Recacha, presented a taut Kathak-inspired contemporary work which would sit well in most small-scale dance houses across the UK and Hembharathy Palani's Twine, bathed in a Tizer-lit haze, was a meditative trio on the notion of slowing down.
I noticed that some things were missing from the conference: there was no voice of young people or a young presence on the education panel and yet we saw groups from the ISTD or Centre for Advanced Dance Training perform on stage. There was no authentic voice of what it is like to go through and experience these systems; their voice was muted. There was no discussion about music, its relationship to dance and how it is fundamental not only to the teaching but also to the presentation of the classical forms. The relationship between guru and student would have been a ripe arena to explore, looking at reverence and power dynamics between two people. The majority of National Dance Network members were not present and those who were appeared only on days they were on a panel; Paul Russ, CEO and Artistic Director of Dance 4, admitted, "The unconscious bias needs to be acknowledged." If the dance houses and dance development organisations who programme and support artists choose not to attend and engage against the backdrop of Arts Council England's Creative Case for Diversity and the monochromatic male leadership of dance organisations, both their own palette and that of their audiences are given little chance to broaden; the unconscious bias will remain until the "uncles" are removed.
In the closing plenary, "The Conference" (without consultation or engagement with delegates) made a series of recommendations: the need for further round table discussions; not waiting 16 years until the next event; passing the baton onto "gen next" and encouraging them to lead on the next Navadisha, and for venues to present more classical and contemporary Indian work across the UK. This was a very public offer and challenge to the "young artists" to create and mould the structures and opportunities to reflect the landscape they wish to engage with. If this is a ceding of power and relevance then I look forward to what the future holds as there are articulate, rigorous and original voices that have been constrained by power politics within the classical Indian dance ecology.


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Canada's unionization rate is dropping
By Adam Freill November 28, 2022
Over the past 40 years, the country's percentage of workers in unionized environments has fallen to 29 per cent.
(Sources: Statistics Canada, Survey of Work History, 1981; Labour Force Survey, May 1997 and May 2022.)
As the characteristics of Canada's major employers have changed, so too has the country's percentage of workers in unionized environments. A recent report by René Morissette at Statistics Canada indicates the percentage of employees who are union members fell from 38 per cent in 1981 to 29 per cent in 2022. The drop of nine percentage points may be the result of changes in the Canadian labour market, which has seen employment move from manufacturing and towards more service sector jobs over the past four decades.
Not all groups of workers experienced a decline in unionization, however. Union representation fell by 16 percentage points among men but remained stable among women. As a result, 31 per cent of women were unionized in 2022, compared with 26 per cent of men. The report author explains that the decline in unionization observed among men was partly driven by employment shifts away from manufacturing, a sector with traditionally high unionization rates.
Type of job also impacted the likelihood of being a member of a union, with unionization rates falling by almost 11 percentage points in full-time jobs since 1981 but rising by about three percentage points in part-time jobs in that same timeframe.
www.statcan.gc.ca
Unemployment rate hits record low
Part-time jobs keep unemployment rate stable in January: StatsCan
Surge in job growth drives Canada's unemployment rate down to new 40-year low
Construction paces labour gains across Canada
Exploring the evolution of P3s
Alberta pushing forward on Highway 3 twinning plans

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Before the widespread use of prescription pain medications as a back pain relief medicine, drug addiction was perceived as something reserved for habitual users abusing illegal drugs such as heroin.
Due to the over-prescribed category of painkillers known as opioids, however, drug addiction is mainstream and anyone who is prescribed pain medication for back pain is a candidate for addiction. The problem is so severe that it has been officially designated as an epidemic: The National Institute on Drug Abuse estimates that in 2017, the average number of people who misused prescription pain relievers for the first time was 5,480 per day.
If your doctor prescribes any of these drugs as an upper back pain treatment, a lower back pain treatment, or for joint pain, the best way to avoid the risk of addiction is to strictly adhere to the dosage and frequency instructions. If you are prescribed a back pain relief medicine that is addictive, you may want to give the medication to a trusted friend or family member to dispense for you.
Today, there is a way to get proven relief for a chronic joint, knee, and back pain, without the risk of pain medication addiction and without disrupting your current lifestyle.
ReJoint is a doctor formulated, 100% natural, safe, herbal remedy that can provide you with the relief you want. For more information, visit https://drhrejoint.com/or call (201) 875-8055.


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		public abstract bool IsPointInFill (object backend, double x, double y);
	}
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


The best organizations have the best talent. . . Financial incentives drive company performance. . . Firms must change or die. Popular axioms like these drive business decisions every day. Yet too much common management "wisdom" isn't wise at all-but, instead, flawed knowledge based on "best practices" that are actually poor, incomplete, or outright obsolete. Worse, legions of managers use this dubious knowledge to make decisions that are hazardous to organizational health.
Jeffrey Pfeffer and Robert I. Sutton show how companies can bolster performance and trump the competition through evidence-based management, an approach to decision-making and action that is driven by hard facts rather than half-truths or hype. This book guides managers in using this approach to dismantle six widely held-but ultimately flawed-management beliefs in core areas including leadership, strategy, change, talent, financial incentives, and work-life balance. The authors show managers how to find and apply the best practices for their companies, rather than blindly copy what seems to have worked elsewhere.
This practical and candid book challenges leaders to commit to evidence-based management as a way of organizational life-and shows how to finally turn this common sense into common practice.


I hope you also have fun spring break plans and, if not, here's some inspiration to get you started! This week we're highlighting some non-traditional but beautiful home decor choices, from non-white kitchen cabinets to shelves that aren't floating and a barn door that isn't rustic!
Favorite beautiful window treatment trick: I grew up sewing, so I'm pretty comfortable with the sewing machine… but even simple sewing jobs still require me to get it out from it's hiding/storage place, so I love no-sew tricks! Lantern Lane Designs shows her quick tricks for no-sew curtains with an easy *faux* pinch pleat.
Favorite dollar store hack: You know we love dollar store projects! See how Repurpose and Upcycle used a few super affordable supplies to make these petite hanging planters.
Favorite Amazon find: Did you fellow Fixer Upper fans know that JoJo wrote a recipe book? I stumbled across it over on Amazon and I bet it will be amazing! Get it here.
Favorite everything: There's just so much to love about this space by Sims Hilditch, I couldn't pick just one thing! The gorgeous mudroom cubbies, that tall vaulted ceiling, the brick floor — beautiful all-around. The rest of the house is stunning, too — check it out here.
Favorite reason to paint: This sample sale at Home Depot is a great deal, and it's all online so you don't even have to go to the store! A sample is a must if you're wanting to repaint but aren't sure about the color change, or one sample can of paint can paint an entire accent wall, like the herringbone accent wall we demonstrated on Facebook Live this week, or one of these handpainted walls, or many of these interior wall painting patterns.
Favorite wall treatment: Call it shiplap, plank wall, or paneling reborn — I love the texture a good wall treatment can add to a room, and this DIY wood plank wall adds so much to Joyfully Growing's space!
And for those of you wondering about the paint color, we don't know with 100% certainty, but we put the image in one of our favorite paint color matching apps and Leisure Blue by Sherwin Williams looks like a very close match. It also could be a toned down version of Aegean Teal that we featured here. UPDATE: The designer who worked on this home chimed in over on Instagram and let us know that it is Storm Cloud by Sherwin-Williams. Thanks, Allison!
See more of our favorite barn doors and affordable hardware choices here.
Favorite reminder that it IS spring: Fresh flowers! Saw Nail and Paint has beautiful blooms all throughout her gorgeous spring home tour, but this living room shot just speaks to me. Simply beautiful, and those pink magnolias have my heart all a-flutter!
Favorite workspace: Not all workspaces are beautiful like this (I'm looking in the direction of my garage right now…) but Rain on a Tin Roof has totally transformed her office with so many fun touches — and would you believe that desk is a DIY?
Favorite reason to go BOLD: A small furniture makeover is the perfect place to add a BIG pop of pattern or color. We've done it before on an IKEA dresser, and this Moroccan tile style side table looks wonderful over at The Style Safari.
Favorite DIY modification: Reader Steve sent in this table he built and modified from our cooler patio table plans. Way to make it your own, Steve!
I love all these ideas! I can't wait to start decorating for spring!
Oh yay, thanks for featuring my wood plank wall! I pinned and shared 🙂 Your linkups are my favorite, thanks for hosting! Happy Friday!
Aww, thanks for the kind words, Ashley!
Thanks so much for sharing my spring home tour, and for hosting this wonderful link party each week!


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govt-has-commenced-its-journey-towards-building-new-india-president-kovind
Govt has commenced its journey towards building New India: President Kovind
Root News of India 2019-01-31 13:27:28 PARLIAMENT 6935
New Delhi, January 31 (RNI): President Ram Nath Kovind today said his government has commenced its journey towards building a New India where every person has access to basic amenities, gets justice with dignity, is healthy, secure and educated, has equal opportunities of advancement and every daughter feels safe. He said, a New India, which commands the respect of the entire world.
He was addressing the joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament.
Mr Kovind said the country is following the dreams of Mahatma Gandhi to build an inclusive society based on ethics and principles. He said India is moving ahead guided by the ideals of social and economic justice as enshrined in the Constitution by Baba Saheb Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar.


Indiaís most celebrated design talent, Manish Arora, has once again worked his magic. In partnership with SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS, he has conjured up a witty, touching and deeply romantic story on the theme of love. Love Story of the Heart is a collection of five heart shapes in crystal; each one tracks a different stage of love. The 6261 Devoted 2 U Heart Pendant celebrates passionís fire and energy with a unique asymmetrical design inspired by overwhelming desire. Available in 17mm, 27mm, and 37mm.


text:
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	 * @param message @see java.lang.Exception#Exception(java.lang.String)
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	public RandomOrgKeyNotRunningError(String message) {
		super(message);
	}
}


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Home > posts > New York: Even the Albany Times Union Excoriates Gov. Cuomo's Green Energy Subsidy Boondoggle
February 10th, 2017 2:49 pm
New York: Even the Albany Times Union Excoriates Gov. Cuomo's Green Energy Subsidy Boondoggle
Things are going from bad to worse for New York Governor Andrew Cuomo's crony capitalist green energy subsidy boondoggle.
For readers who remain unaware of this catastrophe, last August the state's Public Service Commission (appointed entirely by Gov. Cuomo himself) rushed through a "Clean Energy Standard" requiring 50% of state power to come from green sources by 2030. It forces healthy power companies to buy "Zero Emission Credits" from a state bureaucracy, whose proceeds in turn go to struggling upstate plants. And here's the kicker. In addition to costing New York citizens and businesses $1 billion in its first year and an estimated $8 billion over the course of the scheme, all of those subsidies go to plants owned by a single company named Exelon. In other words, a state-level Solyndra.
The plan is so objectionable that even environmentalists and those on the political left have turned against it, and the Cuomo Administration has already been forced to dramatically scale it back.
Now even the left-leaning Albany Times Union is excoriating this debacle in a new piece entitled "A Surprise Tax on the Way":
By its own account, 2016 was a 'monumental year' for Exelon, for good reason. It's not every year that a company gets a $7.6 billion boost courtesy of New Yorkers.
Exelon is slated to reap that windfall over the next 12 years through a fee on just about anyone who gets an electric bill in New York, all to support its nuclear power plants in the state. That's an energy tax by any other name, but as a fee levied by a state commission, it has drawn far less attention that, say, an income tax increase of that scale would receive…
One might be tempted to say, fine, let communities make up their own minds about nuclear power, except for this: The entire state will have to foot the bill for a $7.6 billion economic development program to pay for 2,100 jobs for just a dozen more years and directly enrich one of the nation's wealthiest power companies. All this was decided by the governor and three members of the Public Service Commission (which will shortly be down to only two). Hardly taxation with representation."
The good news, as the Times Union notes, is that the state legislature can quickly remedy the situation:
Lawmakers, however, will have a chance to take a closer look at this huge corporate subsidy for a company with an annual net income of more than $2 billion…
With the fee due to take effect in April, and the legislature next week scheduled to review the energy and environment portions of the governor's budget, it's a good time for lawmakers to consider if this is the best route to a clean energy future, the best way to help upstate communities, and the best use of the public's money. They may agree this is a reasonable short-term strategy. Or they may conclude there are far better investments the state could make in these areas and in clean energy, at far less cost to hard-working New Yorkers."
For the sake of New York consumers and businesses, hopefully legislators will heed that advice and put an end to a program that has already proven a disaster, and will only get worse if allowed to continue into the next decade.
Tags: CES, Clean Energy Standard, Cuomo, New York, PSC, Public Service Commission
This Week's "Your Turn" Radio Lineup CFIF Reiterates Concerns Re: Proposals to Restructure Nation's Air Traffic Control (ATC) System
Crony Capitalist N.Y. Utility Subsidy Boondoggle Now Facing Federal Lawsuit
N.Y. State Senator Flanagan Fights Gov. Cuomo's Crony Capitalist Green Energy Subsidy Boondoggle
N.Y. Public Service Commission Chairwoman Offers Global Warming Rationalization for Taxpayer Subsidy Boondoggle
PSC Confirmation Hearing Offers New York State Senators Opportunity to Demand Answers and Changes to Cuomo's "Clean Energy Standard" Boondoggle
State Senator in N.Y. Post: "Residents Shouldn't Have to Pay for Cuomo's Upstate Nuke Bailout"


I'm really looking forward to joining Ros Blackburn (autism lecturer and coach) and Jem Lester (author of Shtum) on stage tonight at the LSE Literary Festival.
Emma Claire Sweeney will be a guest speaker at the Personal Social Services Research Unit and LSE Literary Festival's Viewing Autism Through the Arts Lens, part of the LSE Space for Thought Literary Festival 2017. She will be joined by journalist Jem Lester and the panel will be chaired by LSE Professor Martin Knapp.
Our scientific understanding of autism has developed significantly over the last few decades, yet how much do we as a society really know about the experiences of people with autism? Novels such as The Reason I Jump, plays like The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night, and movies such as The Accountant increase our awareness of autism, but how far can arts and literature further revolutionise the way we understand autism?


Hopefully italisizing the word 'can' didn't piss off too many of you guys. I was being a generalist, I know, and I purposly was. As a rogue though, I rarely get surpassed on the damage bars, and if I do, most of the time it's by a mage, or another rogue.
Yes yes, I have been outdamage by a 'lock (actually, humiliated) in UBRS, but that's about it.
I was wondering that despite there are more than half of the players play as DPS, there was no proper page talked about this in details. (The old version of this page consisted only of a small paragraph of some nonsense.) Therefore, I spent a whole good week to write up this new page. Actually, it turned out to be longer than I expected, even though I had already tried my best to restrict it to only more important information. Well, there are just too many things about DPS one can talk about.
I know some of the statements here maybe a bit controversial. All the things I wrote here have good theory behind, so if you want to change anything, please have good reasons and have some backup evidences.
It's very good, apart from the grammar. I'll see if I can find time to edit it for you, but in the meantime, how about taking a couple of hours a week out of playing WoW, and studying some English?
A lot of good info here, but yes, the grammar is atrocious. Would be nice if someone who knew trhe content better than me :) could rewrite it.
This page was last edited on 23 October 2010, at 06:23.


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Mixed Marriages Survive Conflict
Couples from different Muslim sects continue to marry despite sectarian tensions.
By Hazim al-Sharaa
After five years of waiting, Sunni Mohammad Saad was very happy to finally marry his fiancé and college friend Shayma Ahmad, a Shia.
The marriage, which took place on August 21, had been postponed due to resistance from the groom's father, who for some time was opposed to their union as he thought their different religious backgrounds might come between them.
The two – who finally became engaged three months ago – were also unable to meet for a year during their courtship because the sectarian violence in the country was so intense.
Dressed in a new suit, Mohammad, 30, glanced towards his bride sitting next to him in her white gown.
He said that at the height of the bloodshed, he doubted whether he would be able to marry Shayma. But, he continued, he was not prepared to consider anyone other her, "despite my father's insistence [at the time] that mixed marriages are bound to fail".
The couple first met at college and soon fell in love. Mohammad at first hid his father's opposition to their relationship from Ahmed and only told her once he had changed his mind, leaving them free to marry.
"I succeeded in convincing my father, who thought that increasing sectarian violence proved his theory," said Mohammad.
Ahmed's family was not opposed to the marriage – their only concern was that their daughter should find a good husband to provide a decent life for her.
Iraqi law prohibits mentioning a Muslim citizen's sect in official documents, which makes it hard to come up with a figure for mixed marriages. Once commonplace in Iraq, sectarian tensions have complicated such unions, but not put a halt to them.
Married to a Sunni for 30 years, Sameera al-Mosawi, a Shia who heads the family, woman, and child parliamentary committee, said, "They (marriages between Sunni and Shia) have not disappeared in spite of militias' control of the capital's neighbourhoods."
Sectarianism is not an inherent part of Iraqi society, said al-Mosawi, who belongs to the Iraqi United Alliance – the biggest Shia bloc in parliament. "Despite their cruelty, the gunmen could not force Iraqis to hate each other because of their beliefs," she said.
The badly ventilated hall in the suburb of Karrada – a majority Shia area in southeastern Baghdad – where Mohammad and Shayma celebrated their marriage was filled with the relatives and friends of the couple, belonging to different Muslim sects and ethnic groups.
The guests danced the Dabka – a traditional Arab dance, where each person holds the hands of the one next to him or her.
Shayma, 25, rubbed beads of sweat from her forehead.
"[I feel] as if I am in a dream," she said. "Everyone advised me to forget about marrying a person from a different religious group."
Shayma explained the difficulties experienced by the couple during their courtship. The neighbourhoods in her area had been partitioned into Sunni and Shia sections, meaning the couple were unable to see each other for a whole year. "We stayed in touch over the internet and with our cell phones," she said.
As the wedding celebrations drew to a close, Sunni friends and relatives started leaving the hall first because their neighbourhoods are still heavily policed by American and Iraqi forces.
"I have to go early because parts of my neighbourhood are still unstable, as there are some gunmen there," said Khalid Jamal, from the largely Sunni area of Ameriya.
At the end of the party, all the remaining guests gathered outside to congratulate the couple, and waited for a car to take them to Mohammad's house in the al-Khadraa neighbourhood, which has a Sunni majority.
The newlyweds will stay with Mohammad's family. While they would previously have had concerns about bringing Ahmed to live in a Sunni area, improved security in the capital meant they were no longer worried.
"A year ago, it would have been difficult to bring the Shia wife of my son to our neighbourhood, but conditions are getting better as a result of military operations," said Mohammad's father.
Flicking his worry beads, he said that he would not interfere in his son's life any more, "I will not ask him which sect his sons will belong to. I hate sectarianism."
Hazim al-Shara is an IWPR-trained reporter in Baghdad.
ICR Issue 271
http://tinyurl.com/y3o9wfr3
Iraq: Aug '08
Voter Apathy Among Iraq Displaced


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Az "Istenszülő oltalma" görögkatolikus templom Görömbölyön, Miskolc egyik városrészében található, a Bacsinszky András téren.

Bacsinszky András munkácsi püspök 1770-ben lett tapolcai apát, a címet és a vele járó javadalmakat Mária Teréziától kapta. Ezzel Görömböly virágzó egyházközség lett (Tapolca hosszú ideig Görömbölyhöz tartozott), s a püspök az addigi fatemplom helyett 1781-ben kőtemplomot építtetett a település fölötti dombon. Azonban nem ez a jelenlegi templom, azt 1854 és 1868 között építették fel neoklasszicista stílusban, Demkó István parókus (aki a templom felszentelését már nem érhette meg) kezdeményezésére. A templom felszentelésekor az új parókus már Hucskó Mihály volt.

A templom hajója két, a szentély egy csehsüvegboltozatból áll, kórusa a déli oldalon kétszintes. A berendezés egyes darabjai valószínűleg az egykori fatemplomból származnak, például a dúsan faragott, aranyozott királyajtó, a barokk  gyertyatartók és a karzat alatti vörösréz gyertyatartó. Az ikonosztáziont 1912-ben készítette a budapesti Oberbauer cég. 1920-ban felújították a templomot, ekkor kerültek a helyükre az ólomüveg ablakok is. 1968-ban seccókat festettek a mennyezetre, és a többi rész festését is megújították.

A mennyezeti freskókat 1999-ben restaurálták, felújították a 25 méter magas, félgömbkupolával fedett templomtornyot és kicserélték a tetőt. A munkálatok költségeit a Nemzeti Kulturális Örökség Minisztériumától kapott összeg és a hívek adományai fedezték. A templomnak három harangja van, melyek közül a déli harangszót biztosító, több mint 4 tonnás harang Gombos Lajos műhelyéből került ki 1985-ben. A templomhoz pincekápolna is tartozik.

Források
 Parochia.hu
 Miskolc-Görömböly honlapja

Miskolc katolikus templomai, kolostorai
Miskolc 19. századi építményei
Magyarország görögkatolikus templomai, kolostorai
Magyarország neoklasszicista vallási építményei

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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James McMurtry main page
James McMurtry — More Journalist Than Autobiographer
[Arkansas Online]
James McMurtry has been known to refer to himself as a "beer salesman." His job is to draw people to bars and clubs and midsize venues that book him and his band. He puts on a show. If people want to dance, that's all right. They might get thirsty and drink more.
An album is something to sell on a merch table, like a T-shirt. A souvenir of an experience, not the experience itself.
There's not much money in them anymore. They're a part of his business, but not the biggest part. Some people still buy physical product — vinyl records and CDs — but for most of them, that's a way of signaling support for the artist and the local record stores.
If you want to hear the latest album from almost anyone, all you have to do is tap your favorite digital subscription service — Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon, what have you — then type and swipe. There it is: "The Horses and the Hounds."
If you have been waiting almost seven years to hear the new James McMurtry record, you can exhale now. "The Horses and the Hounds" is a worthy successor to "Complicated Game" and may even be a better work of art. It's only been out since Aug. 20, and I'm still not finished with "Complicated Game." I play the whole recording a couple of times a month and still hear new things in it.
I've barely scratched the surface on "The Horses and the Hounds," but the conventions of my business say I'm pushing the expiration date for a story about it, so I'd better get something down now.
It's a straightforward country rock record, leaning toward rock, with smart lyrics sung by a confident deadpan baritone, a white dude pushing 60. It's all story songs and acoustic guitars and deeply conservative in the ways it means to deliver its emotional cargo. It opens with "Canola Fields," with the wonderful line:
I was thinking 'bout you crossin' Southern Alberta
Canola fields on a July day
Are about the same chartreuse
as that '69 bug
You used to drive around San Jose
McMurtry isn't a novelist like his famous father, the late Larry McMurtry, but his lyrics have something of the observational precision of a novelist and the compression of poetry.
A song lyric should be evocative, but should also sound like something somebody would actually say. Bad lyrics result when someone tries to force a rhyme or goes deaf to meter. This happens to even the best lyricists — as when in Jackson Browne's otherwise immaculate song "The Pretender" he sings "the children solemnly wait for the ice cream vendor" or when Bruce Springsteen wrote "Secret Garden" — but it never seems to happen to McMurtry. He's extraordinarily disciplined in a way that suggests he counts syllables sometimes.
A good lyric doesn't neces- sarily have to tell a story. A lot of songwriters use words more as sonic values than as vessels of meaning haunted by connotation and allusion, but McMurtry may be the best at putting us in the head of a character caught up in a particular human drama.
You get through one of his five-minute songs like "Carlisle's Haul" off "Complicated Game," and you feel like you'd read a book about these characters, if you haven't lived out their lives.
"Canola Fields" is about a certain kind of nostalgia, a second chance with someone you probably should have gotten with in the wayback, except that, if you had, it probably wouldn't have worked given how complicated everyone's life was back then. It's about "cashing in on a 30-year crush" and how you "can't be young and do that."
Maybe you can't be young and write that either, though one thing that McMurtry would tell you about his songwriting process is that he's not confessional. He's more a new journalist looking for specific revealing details about the people he's interested in enough to write about; people who seem to be flown-over Americans — working-class to upper-middle-class denizens of small towns and small cities removed from our cultural coastal elite centers. That's his work, not his biography. McMurtry's characters think their own thoughts; it would be a mistake to confuse them with the artist. "The Horses and the Hounds" is the latest album released by James McMurtry.
THE SONG, NOT THE SINGER
I interviewed McMurtry once. The session wasn't a debacle, but wasn't satisfying for either one of us. It can't be easy giving 100 interviews a year to journalists who are either trying to knock out a quick preview or convince their subject that they're somehow different from every other writer who has asked them questions that could be easily answered by checking the clips.
If you try to press him to talk about his songwriting process, he'll tell you he'll hear a line in his head, and if it sticks there he'll try to figure out who might have said it and why. And that might lead to a song. He used to type bits of lyrics out on his phone, in the notes application, in the comic sans font.
He writes the melody and the lyrics at the same time, then goes back and does the chords.
I tried to get him to talk about his guitars and guitar playing and how he achieves his live sound, figuring that since everyone else asked him about his dad and his songwriting he might warm to a discussion about tools. Even though he's a really good player with an interesting style, the rig-rundown guitar talk strategy didn't go anywhere. He was cordial and professional, but steered the conversation back to his talking points, the same way any media-savvy actor might.
(McMurtry has an acting resume — his turn as precocious preteen Randolph in Peter Bogdanovich's 1974 version of "Daisy Miller" is choice. When a would-be suitor asks young Randolph if he knows the title character — played by Cybill Shepherd — he deadpans, "I don't know her. She's my sister." He also played a cowboy in the 1989 miniseries "Lonesome Dove," based on his father's epic Western novel.)
Yet there's very little about McMurtry that presents as show-bizzy. Some might take his characteristic laconic mien as shtick, but if you were reared in Texas you'll probably accept it as authentic. Lots of guys walk around in those parts wearing trucker caps and talking slow.
Just because McMurtry attended Woodberry Forest School, an exclusive all-boys private academy in Virginia where he was a classmate of Marvin Bush, the younger brother of George W. Bush (whose administration he railed against on his 2008 album "Just Us Kids"), that doesn't mean he's a preppie.
Or maybe we should take notice of the fact that even the dullest of us contain multitudes. As Katharine Hepburn put it in "The Philadelphia Story," the time to make up your mind about someone is never.
Trust the art, not the artist, and certainly not the artist's publicist or Wikipedia page. James McMurtry (courtesy James McMurtry)
WHERE DID YOU HIDE THE BODY?
I came to McMurtry relatively late.
I still remember getting a promo copy — a vinyl album — of his debut album, "Too Long in the Wasteland," in 1989. Columbia put some muscle behind that effort, produced by John Mellencamp, who had engaged Larry McMurtry to write a screenplay for "Falling From Grace," a movie Mellencamp produced and directed at the height of his commercial success.
In 1987, the senior McMurtry gave Mellencamp a tape of his son's songs, and Mellencamp was impressed. He called up the kid and asked him if he could write more. McMurtry said sure, and they went into a studio and made "Wasteland."
"Hey, if it wasn't for Dad's connections, I wouldn't have made it anywhere," McMurtry told Phoenix New Times in 1992. "It's really that simple."
"Wasteland" could have been taken for the work of a dilettante, an erudite rich boy in a work shirt, doing his best to get out from under the nimbus of Daddy's reputation and money, and if he'd given up after a try or two and moved on to a career in academia or whatever, well, maybe that would have been fair criticism. (For the record, Larry gave his son a guitar, but James credits his English-professor mother with showing him his first chords.)
His second record on Columbia, "Candyland," was better, but didn't chart. I stopped paying attention after that, though occasionally one of McMurtry's songs would break through. But it wasn't until the 21st century and I saw him in a small club that I became a fan.
And even then I kept a little mental index card on Mc- Murtry that consigned him to a genre I think of as NPR Music (an admittedly dismissive rubric, though some of my favorite artists reside beneath it): a clever lyricist and a songwriter in the Woody Guthrie-Bob Dylan tradition who is a little too sensitive to critical evaluations that focus on his literary facility while downplaying his musicality.
That was a misconception. McMurtry was more interested in playing guitar than anything else while he was at the University of Arizona in Tucson in the early '80s; he wanted to be Norman Blake or Doc Watson, a great flat-picker.
But his songs were what people paid attention to and what led him back to Texas and the Kerrville Folk Festival, where he was one of six winners in 1987. Even without his father's connections, he might have carved out the kind of career he's had, where he sells a reliable number of units and plays just about as often as he wants.
Or at least he did, until covid-19.
There are a couple of other songs on "The Horses and the Hounds" that rip me up.
One of them, "Jackie," is an icy violin-driven waltz about a ill-fated horsewoman who drives a truck to make ends meet. Her credo:
I just got two rules, if my
conscience be known
Don't lie to me, don't bring
me nothing home
Faithful's a nice word in
Life's just too crazy for that
It's heartbreaking, spare and offhand and beautifully sung in the rough but shaken voice of a bereaved friend.
Then there's "Ft. Walton Wake-Up Call," a spoke-sung cousin to McMurtry's best known-song, the crystal methamphetamine travelog "Choctaw Bingo." Here our hero and the woman he must feed are trapped in a particular circle of hell — a Florida beach motel on a 30-degree day.
They need to get back to Atlanta but the airports are socked in by the weather and the rental car has a flat and our protagonist — who feels guilty for having snapped at the desk clerk — keeps losing his glasses.
While McMurtry is not big on the verse-chorus-bridge formula approach to songwriting — he once offered the opinion that choruses ought to be outlawed — here he's hit the jackpot. "I keep losing my glasses" is the year's biggest ear worm for me.
If that's not a conventional sort of record review — I was once told that a record review should be no more than seven column inches long — I guess I'm sorry. "Complicated Game" is one of the better albums of the past decade (a time when the cultural currency of the album has decreased), and "The Horses and the Hounds" can hang with it. I hope it's not another seven years before we find out if McMurtry is going to return to the mean or continue at this new level.
For all his talk of being a beer salesman, McMurtry is acting like this archaic form still matters.
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Introducing the 2019 Toyota Highlander. It features an automatic transmission, all-wheel drive, and a 3.5 liter 6 cylinder engine. All of the following features are included: 1-touch window functionality, a built-in garage door transmitter, a trip computer, heated seats, front fog lights, rear wipers, and a blind spot monitoring system. Features such as automatic climate control and leather upholstery prove that economical transportation does not need to be sparsely equipped. Passengers in the third row enjoy seat back reclining functionality, providing an extra level of comfort and convenience. For drivers who enjoy the natural environment, a power moon roof allows an infusion of fresh air. Premium sound drives 6 speakers, providing you and your passengers a sensational audio experience. Toyota ensures the safety and security of its passengers with equipment such as: dual front impact airbags, head curtain airbags, traction control, brake assist, a panic alarm, and 4 wheel disc brakes with ABS. Electronic stability control stands out as a technologically savvy innovation, keeping you better connected to the road. A Carfax history report indicates just one previous owner. We pride ourselves on providing excellent customer service. Please don't hesitate to give us a call.


Daniel Verner Archives - Art Matters!
Art du Jour Gallery will showcase the work of two well known Rogue Valley artists through the month of November. A reception for them will be held on Third Friday, November 15, from 5 to 8 p.m., 213 E. Main, Medford, across from Vogel Park.
September 3 – 28, Art du Jour at 213 E. Main, Medford presents Judy Hubler's paintings featuring children just being themselves. On Third Friday, Oct. 18, from 5 to 8 p.m., meet pastel artist Mary Jo Heath at an artist reception for the exhibit "Paintings of Peru." Show will run from October 1 – 31.


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Canyon Skating
More Films Rules #PBSFilmFest
The Black Hills of South Dakota are not known for epic skiing adventures but for those willing to strap on a pair of skates and explore the unmapped canyon streams that criss-cross the forest, an epic adventure awaits.
About the Filmmaker
Charles Michael Ray grew up in the Black Hills of South Dakota. He holds a degree in geology from the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology but he spent the first 25 years of his career cross-crossing western South Dakota as a public radio reporter. He loves finding ways to have fun in the outdoors and has spent much of his life getting to know the intimate details of the Black Hills, Badlands and other parts west. Today, he works as the Communications Manager for his alma mater, the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology.
Q&A about the Film
Canyon Skating's Producer Charles Michael Ray answered some questions for PBS about his love for canyon skating and the effects of climate change on his favorite pasttime.
Read the Full Q&APBS:
What goes into filming canyon skating and getting the variety of action shots that you did?
Charles Michael Ray: Several years of work. It's quite rare when the ice is good enough to skate. It's also quite rare when I happen to have a day off at the same time. I did not skate at all in 2017 because we had no decent ice. On the days when the ice was right I'd gather resources and call many friends to try and get out for a good skate. Often we will check various creeks and canyons to see what one might have the most potential.
Technology changed over the years that I shot this. When I started, in about 2003 there were no GoPros and no HD recording and no decent image stabilization. I could not afford fancy equipment on a small time public radio reporter's budget. At first I was shooting on a MiniDV Sony camcorder. Each year I'd try and get a little more footage and improve my shots and get a better camera. Eventually, I talked SDPB TV into letting me use one of their large TV cameras. That along with my own GoPro footage became the bulk of what ended up in the final piece.
There is a lot of tape on the cutting room floor. As for the variety of action shots, I wish I could have had more! I think more drone images would help this piece. I kept looking for the right waterfall to skate, but they are hard to find frozen properly. I skated some huge ones as a kid; I still dream of finding one again. At some point you have to let a production go and put together what you have. The ice does make for a smooth medium for handheld shooting moving images. On ice skates with a decent camera you can convey the feeling of flying along smoothly without a lot of fancy stabilization equipment. I enjoyed sharing that feeling of flying over ice with the audience. It's one of the best parts of this crazy little hobby. I also could not have done this without many friends. Creek skating is not something to do alone. Thanks to advice from friends, I often carry a rope in a throw bag used commonly for whitewater kayaking. It's a slight bit of safety. The credits to [this submitted] version were cut off; many skaters who helped with this were thanked in the original piece.
More from the Q&A
About SDPB
South Dakota Public Broadcasting (SDPB) is a statewide multi-media network offering quality entertainment and lifelong learning via Television, Radio, Digital and Education & Outreach.
More about SDPB | SDPB's Facebook | SDPB's Twitter | SDPB's Instagram


Located on a calm street near the railway station, Le Charleston has is fully renovated and very well equiped. You will receive a warm and individual welcome, whether here for business or pleasure. You can enjoy your breakfast on the flower-covered patio or relax far from the hustle and bustle of the town. For meetings or just for a quiet drink, a lounge is available. The hotel has a closed car park with 14 spaces and direct access from reception. Whether alone, as a couple or with family, the 31 rooms at the Charleston will provide you with maximum comfort. Rooms have a desk, free WiFi, flat screen television with satellite channels, a welcome platter, telephone ... The bathrooms have been renovated in the Belle époque style and are fitted with a shower and WC, hair dryer andd quality welcome products.
The hotel offers an underground garage, free wifi access and satellite channels. ***Attention, the reception desk is closed from 10.00 pm. Please, get in touch with the hotel for any late arrival. You will be provided access codes to enter the hotel.*** City to pay : 1,10 € per day and per person. Horas de recepción: Lu. - vi.:	desde las 7:00 hasta las 22:00 h.Sá. y do.:	desde las 7:00 hasta las 22:00 h.


Aside from these commonplace areas in the home that want improvement, reworking or renovating is also a good idea. In a separate case involving a taxpayer from one other circuit, the Tax Court docket ruled that the price of expansion ought to be capitalized.… Read More..
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These improvements add to the dwelling amenity of the home's owners and normally add worth to the home. Whereas repairs then again is something you to decelerate or cease any depreciation that may be occurring on your private home or property. Capital improvements are those house enhancements that may ultimately assist cut back your taxes.
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House enchancment tax credit apply for improvements made between January 1, 2006 and December 31, 2007. Set up of shingles or alternative of previous ones value somewhere from $2-$4 per square foot while flashing across the chimney costs about $300-$500.… Read More..
The third type of residence improvement modifications you can also make involved the skin of the home, and usually the basic issues that make your house, these are generally just a little tougher and you will want to think about perhaps getting some professional help for these duties, until you realize what you are doing.… Read More..
In the case of dwelling building, there are literally thousands of basic contractors to select from. Cable's DIY Network is devoted to dwelling repairs and remodels that owners can do themselves. We're normal contractors in Florida and not tax attorneys but our expertise has been that many householders will neglect to examine what they will or can not declare on their taxes and so they often miss out on a chance to maximise their funding.
Interior painting and exterior portray should be subsequent in your list of preferred dwelling enchancment initiatives. Enhancements should be installed in or on the taxpayer's principal residence in the United States. The amount that you use is proportional to the quantity of mortgage factors that may be deducted and proportional when calculating the house enhancement tax reduction.
So from a tax perspective this can be a good time to perform those repairs. However, reworking a kitchen, including a couple of rooms, constructing a storage or installing a swimming pool would be classed as enhancements. Repairs, upkeep and upkeep usually do not qualify as a capital enhancements.
Depending on the character of projects you can resolve upon the budget, duration and different elements for house improvement. Any dwelling improvement which is completed for medical causes such as elevators, ramps, raised sinks and door widening might qualify for a tax deduction.
Don't Sweat It provides owners the short option to accomplish initiatives they have been delaying. Consult with the IRS concerning the Katrina Emergency Tax Reduction Act as it increases the permitted qualifying home improvement loans. House vitality improvements are additionally useful for reducing your electrical payments and extra savings over time.… Read More..


Koh Rok in Krabi waters connected Trang. A second small island is well able to appreciate the trip from Pak Meng Beach. Trang will come from. Lanta Yai Krabi was You can go on a morning trip.
The beauty of Koh Rok is treated the same. With the supervision of Koh Lanta National Park. With the distant island of Koh Lanta is a natural, both on land and underwater. Complete the Andaman Sea in the middle. Koh Rok is composed of two islands in the Koh Lanta and Koh Lanta. The side facing the beach Raceway separated by a shallow sea The distance of the island, about 250 meters.
4. Scenic hilltop can travel comfortably.
5. Check for a camping area with bathroom cleaner on the island.
11.30 Buffet Lunch with Seafood on Rok Island and variety of drink.


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Google Announces New Nexus 7 Tablet with 1920 x 1200p screen
By Michael A. Prospero - LAPTOP Reviews Editor 2013-07-24T12:45:46Z
Hugo Barra, the Vice President of Android Product Management at Google, announced today Google's follow-up device to the Nexus 7, which Google is call ing"The New Nexus 7." At Google's event in San Francisco today, head of Android and Chrome Sundar Pichai talked about how the Nexus 7 has accelerated the growth of tablet activations, with Google's data showing tablet activation numbers approaching 10 million.
Together with Asus, the technology giant developed the new Nexus 7 to be more portable and comfortable than its predecessor, with design improvements making the device almost 6 mm( 0.24 inches) narrower, 2mm (0.07 inches) slimmer and 50 grams (1.76 ounces) lighter. The New Nexus 7 will also be the first device to ship with the newly-announced Android 4.3.
Android 4.3's improvements include improved battery life and better performance, a new emoji keyboard ( :0), an autocomplete for the dialer, and a new interface for the camera app. Support for Bluetooth 4.0 LE means that Android 4.3 devices will be able to interact with low-power gadgets, such as fitness devices, which only need to transmit small packets of data, and will greatly increase their endurance.
As was leaked yesterday by Best Buy, the new Nexus 7 will have a 7-inch, 1920 x 1200 display, 1.5-GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor with 2GB of RAM , Android 4.3 Jelly Bean and an Adreno 320 graphics card. The 16GB version will cost $229, and the 32GB version will cost $269. Its rear camera will have a resolution of 5-MP, while the front camera will be of the 1.2MP variety.
MORE: Google Nexus 7 vs. Apple iPad Mini
7 Best Tablets for Students 2013
ASUS Memo Pad HD 7 Hands-On: $149 Tablet Could Be Nexus 7 Killer
Google Nexus 7 (2013) vs. Apple iPad Mini: Specs Compared


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Texas Woman Arrested, Accused Of Stealing Donations Meant For Angel Tree ChildrenA Texas volunteer with the Angel Tree program has been charged with stealing donations that were meant as Christmas presents for children and returning them for store credit.
Neighbors Mourn Loss Of Irving Boy Allegedly Killed By His Mother Who Said 'Demons' Made Her Do It
Filed Under:accused killer, Child abuse, Child Death, DFW News, Irving Police, jail, Joevani De La Pena, Peach Tree Lane, Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, Tisha Sanchez
IRVING, Texas (CBSDFW.COM) – Neighbors of an Irving mother accused of killing her 8-year-old son, saying demons made her do it, said Monday evening they're still trying to process this.
"I don't know what happened to me but at 5 o'clock I couldn't sleep," said neighbor Hem Mehta.
Joevani De La Pena's body was found in an RV behind a family member's home on Peach Tree Lane Sunday morning.
Joevani De La Pena (courtesy: Fransisca Dennett)
Tisha Sanchez, 30, is now in the Irving City Jail facing a capital murder charge. Her bond is set at $2,000,000.
Police say there were signs Sanchez may have been mentally unstable.
Tisha Sanchez (credit: Irving Police Department)
Hem Mehta described waking up early Sunday morning with a feeling something wasn't right. Later, he looked outside and saw police officers at his neighbor's door.
"At that point we realized something happened," said Mehta.
Court documents show Sanchez called 911 that morning, telling dispatchers her son was unconscious or had passed away.
Then her sister also called, saying Sanchez told her demons made her sacrifice her son and that she needed to forgive her. She believes her sister suffocated her son with a pillow.
The Mehtas don't have the heart to tell their 10 year old son what happened, only telling him Joevani is gone.
"He was a really good friend," Mehta said.
The two met about a year ago and quickly bonded.
"When I was outside doing some jump roping he was on the tree," said Aaray Mehta, Joevani's friend. "Then we started making friends."
"I couldn't sleep last night. He just came into my mind. This morning when I was going to the office I feel like he's there and he's waving at me. He was a really nice kid," said Sabits Mehta.
The family said they are shaken by the loss and surprised to hear past concerns about Sanchez's mental health.
Seven months ago, the way she was handling her son in a store caused shoppers to call 911.
Police say she resisted arrest, but there wasn't enough evidence for abuse charges.
They instead took her to a hospital to get checked out.
Texas Department of Family and Protective Services investigated, but closed the case a few weeks later.
Sanchez is now also facing an assault on a peace officer and resisting arrest charge for the incident at the store.
Joevani De La Pena went to school in Irving ISD.
"Our thoughts are with the family of an Irving ISD student who passed away this weekend. This is a tragic loss for our district and our community. We are grieving for the loss of a young life, and we pray for the family and friends most affected by this loss," said Irving ISD Superintendent of Schools Magda Hernandez in a statement Monday afternoon. "Our entire district extends heartfelt condolences to the family at this difficult time."


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The Mysterious Planet - Colin Baker
The Mysterious Planet
The TARDIS is drawn to a space station where the Doctor is subjected to a Time Lord inquiry into his behaviour, presided over by an Inquisitor. The prosecuting counsel, the Valeyard, presents the first piece of his evidence, which consists of a recording played back on a screen linked to the Matrix. It concerns a visit by the Doctor and Peri to the desolate planet Ravolox, which turns out to be a future Earth, shifted light-years through space.
The court watches as the pair get caught up in a conflict between the surface-dwelling Tribe of the Free, led by Queen Katryca, and the planet's other inhabitants, a group of subterranean technocrats and their robotic ruler Drathro.
Two shady off-worlders, Glitz and Dibber, are meanwhile attempting to appropriate from Drathro some mysterious 'secrets' - details of which are censored from the Matrix record. The 'secrets' are eventually destroyed, along with Drathro, as a result of the Doctor's actions.


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Circus review: Amazing feats under the Big Top
During Thursday's opening night of the 137th edition of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus in Oakland, a big video screen at the side of the floor (a new feature) flashed with a phrase that said the circus is older than baseball, Disney and Coca-Cola.
It's a sobering fact; what's equally interesting is that traditional elements of the most recent version of The Greatest Show on Earth are by far its most fascinating parts.
Take the dog-act — something even the persistent animal rights activists won't protest. The acrobatic Maltese, Yorkies and poodles under the direction of the Chilean Olate family are wild, adorable powder puffs flying through the air. The star is Priscilla the poodle, whose maniacal succession of back flips is worthy of Olympic attention.
Then there's trainer Tabayara Maleuenda with his gorgeous white and Royal Bengal tigers. It's clear that Taba isn't simply setting up and playing out tricks; he and each of the big cats (he calls them by name) clearly have a special connection.
The old-fashioned stunts are still thrilling. The teeterboard acrobats and gymnasts in the Bulgarian Palazovi Troupe successfully complete a five-person pyramid. Brothers Mauricio and Albert Aguilar from Mexico get your heart started with their balancing act on a wire 25 feet in the air. The international Flying Poemas dazzle on the trapeze.
Longtime fans of Ringling Bros., however, might notice that this year's event is not necessarily the extravaganza it has been in past decades. Costumes seem thinner and less sparkly. There are fewer clowns, and the big production numbers don't quite have the delightfully tacky glitz and glamour of years gone by.
Still, they work, particularly in the bordering-on-high-concept "Bello Bration," which closes the first act. The number has everyone in the company wearing goofy wigs and dressed as Bello, the daredevil clown with the outrageous up-do who headlines this edition of the circus. While an affable and able stuntman, Bello's shtick doesn't quite sustain the show.
At the beginning, he falls in love with aerialist Erendira, and they do have a moment together on 70-foot sway poles, but it's less engaging than it sounds — as are the Wheel of Steel, a huge hamster wheel-like apparatus on which Nikolas Wallenda and Bello cavort, and human cannonball Tina Miser, whose husband, Brian, went missing opening night.
Ringmaster/singer Tyron McFarlan keeps the pace nicely; he's got a commanding presence that's big enough not to be threatened by the unusual addition of contemporary music to the circus mix. At a couple of points, strains of the ubiquitous "You're Beautiful" could be heard; the song actually worked.
There is one area in which the "less is more" theory proves positive in regard to the 137th Ringling circus: For most of the show, there's just one center ring, not the typical three. For audiences who like to focus, it's a pleasure to enjoy each astonishing feat as it happens, rather than experience the frustration of trying to look three places at once.
Where: Oracle Arena, 7000 Coliseum Way, Oakland
When: 11::30 a.m., 3:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. today and Sunday
Tickets: $15 to $95
Contact: (415) 421-8497 or www.ticketmaster.com
Note: Show moves to HP Pavilion, 525 W. Santa Clara St., San Jose with performances at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday-Friday and 11:30 a.m., 3:30 and 7:30 p.m. Aug. 25-26. <
artsentertainmentOther Arts
San Francisco: Places to go, people to see
Review: 'The Nanny Diaries' dull and unoriginal


Leonor Marquez " Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in their shoes.That way you'll be a mile away & you'll have their shoes. "
"Good luck Leonor & Cocopuffs. Proud to be on the virtual team."
"I am a proud Cocopuff!"
"Best of luck to the Cocopuff team."


From the first three notes of "What Are You Doin'," you know this is a Michael Burks record by the Iron Man's guitar playing. The record, I'm a Bluesman, is a 1998 recording Michael made at Kingsnake Studios that sat in the archives of Wightman Harris for a number of years. Michael's widow, Bobbie, decided it needed to see the light of day and be heard by Michael's fans world-wide. I'm proud of Bobbie for her determination to get this project off the ground, and am very happy to have some new music by the Iron Man to listen to. Time to share it with y'all.
Michael's problems with love continue in our next track, a condition he refers to as "Love Disease." "Call my doctor…doctor, can you help me please…well my doctor told me…he can't cure the love disease." Unlucky in love again, Michael is working through the pain it's causing him and hopefully he'll manage a complete recovery. It doesn't matter who he calls for help --- his doctor, his mother, his preacher --- none of them can provide the cure for what ails Michael most, his love disease. I have to admit that Michael's cover of the Hall & Oates tune, "Sara Smile," surprised me but it's probably my favorite song on this disc. Michael's a big teddy bear with a heart of gold, and the love he expresses in "Sara Smile" is real. "When you think you can't go on…I'll come and hold you…it's me and you…forever….Sara, smile." Beautifully done and I can see Michael in front of his microphone serenading a rapt audience that he's holding in the palms of his hands.
Michael's incendiary guitar returns in a tune written by Lou Pride, "I Didn't Take Your Woman." "If you hadn't been good…or good to her…treated her right…she'd still be there…right back with you now…instead of in my arms tonight…let me tell you, I didn't take your woman…you gave her to me." A woman treated badly will always look for the arms of a man who wants her most and Michael's proof of that here.
Michael's not a man that can be fooled easily and he tells his woman that in a tune he wrote with Bob Greenlee, "You Ain't Slick." She calls in sick to work, dresses to go out to play and Michael says it best, "You ain't slick…I know every move you make…and you ain't that quick." This one isn't long for Michael's affections and I'm sure she'll see the door before too long.
I hear some horns in the background of our next track, "Blues Will Never Die," and Bill Samuel's arrangement for the horns is impressive. "If your love for me is dead…you know the blues will never die." Michael loved the woman in question and his heart will grow heavy and endure the pain of her leaving his life for a long time to come. You can pack up the pictures, removed all of the reminders of what was…but your memories will haunt you…"and the blues will never die." "My Little Girl" is a beautiful ballad of Michael's that shows the importance of his child to him even while his relationship with her mother is falling apart. "I know that it's over…life goes on without you…now you found another…you doing what you gotta do…now I live beside your world…oh, but I need my little girl." His little girl is everything to Michael and he will do whatever he has to…just to keep her in his world.
Michael continues to be unlucky in love and he covers his significant other's infidelity in our next cut, "Games Two Can Play." His fretwork continues to echo the sadness he feels at being deceived, but he's up for the challenge of moving on as he sings, "I asked about your new man…you say he's just a friend…two can play this cheating game…baby, I'm on my own dear." Michael was a blues man through and through, a topic he covers in "That's What I Am." "Just like bacon and eggs…just like ham…on rye…that's me and the blues…I'm a blues man…til I die." Indeed my friend, you definitely were a blues man until the day you died and we miss you to this day.
The record closes with another tune written by Michael, "Raised Up In Arkansas," celebrating the land he came from. "I was born in the water…raised up in Arkansas…oh, about the age of two…I started playing my guitar." Michael got started at an early age and left us way too early but I'm grateful for his time on earth and the friendship I shared with him.
My hat's off to Bobbie Burks and Wightman Harris for bringing this labor of love to fruition. It's a stellar recording that can stand toe to toe with anything ever released by Michael and a fitting tribute to the Iron Man and all he stood for to Blues fans worldwide. I'm sure this will never be a disc with great distribution, so I encourage anyone who was a fan of Michael to go to his website, www.michaelburks.com, and grab this treasure for yourself. You'll be glad you did.