text:
Azary Messerer
A bow to ballerina Maya Plisetskaya
About Azary
Asaf and Sulamif Messerer, the ballet dynasty
Azari Plisetsky
Boris Messerer
Child star in 15 Year Old Captain
My mother's letters. Raisa Glezer
Ra Messerer
Stanley Plesent
АЗАРИЙ МЕССЕРЕР (1939-2017)
Rakhil Messerer – a silent film star
by Azary Messerer
email по-русски
She appeared in films under the name of Ra Messerer. In the family she was often called Ra, and I knew this name long before I learnt of the ancient God of the Sun in Egypt. She had in fact been like the sun, radiating kindness and wisdom to all those around her.
Rakhil was born on March 4, 1902 in Vilna, the largest center of Jewish culture at the time. Jews comprised 51% per cent of its population. But Rakhil could not remember Vilna (now Vilnius), because her family moved to Moscow when she was only two years old. Quoting her mother, Ra told me that among her ancestors on the maternal line there were Vilna's "tzadiks" — sages and healers. Since her mother's name was Shabad, perhaps relating to Tsemakh Chabad (1864-1935), a physician and a major public figure of Vilna. In the Jewish Encyclopaedia, I read that he was the prototype of the famous Dr. Doolittle. What a pity that I did not ask Kornei Chukovsky (who wrote Dr. Doolittle's Russian version) about this when I was lucky enough to have interviewed him in the late 60's in Peredelkino.
Apparently, Rakhil showed great ability in childhood, and despite the limitations imposed on the Jews she was admitted to the prestigious Moscow classic school founded by the Duchess of Lviv. Director of the school was her daughter, the Princess of Lviv and it was said that the girls "learn from the princes and the princesses." As a girl Rakhil loved music lessons most of all — she sang in the school choir — and she also liked to study the Russian language. Her Russian language teacher was a former populist1, who had been imprisoned for some time for his revolutionary activities. He gave her only the perfect score for grammar and speech at school. I have met only a few people in my life with such a perfect command of Russian language. Most of them studied before the revolution in private schools, and Rakhil was one of them.
WATCH a clip of screen shots from films with Rakhil Messerer
Alas, the sound film was invented after Rakhil's cinematic career had ended. Where many actresses were forced to leave the profession because of poor speech, her speaking abilities would have kept her in good stead.
Her education at school was interrupted by the Revolution of 1917. These were the hungry, cold years, and Rakhil at a very tender age had to help her mother take care of her younger sisters and brothers. Rakhil's younger sister Elizabeth (who also became an actress) wrote in her diaries:
"In our family Ra enjoyed great prestige as an elder sister and mother's 'Assistant Principal'. I remember that when I was little she combed my hair, took me out for walks and, when we visited friends, I would look up to her and wait for her nod of approval before asking for something. After our mother's early death she became like a mother for our youngest brother Alexander, who at the time was only 13 years old (Rakhil was 27)." At present Alexander has remained "the last of the Mohicans" in the Messerer family at the age of 93 and has teenage great grandchildren.
Rakhil often made important decisions that determined the fate of her siblings. For example, she was the only one in the family who knew about Asaf's passionate desire to study ballet. He was afraid to speak about his plans with his father, knowing that, for all his love for the theater, he would not approve of such a decision. Rakhil said to Osia (as she called Asaf) "if you love ballet so much, then you should study it." Asaf enrolled in a private ballet school at 16 years of age and achieved such phenomenal success that within two years he was admitted to the Bolshoi Theater's graduation class. This is when Rakhil decided that her younger sister Sulamith had all the inclinations to follow in the footsteps of her brother Asaf. She took Mita, as she was called in the family, to take entrance examination at the Choreographic School and even made her a pretty tutu. So both renowned artists chose ballet as a life career, partly thanks to Rakhil.
Rakhil was well aware of her siblings' creativity; they would often give home performances staged by their elder brother Azary who later became a famous actor and director. Rakhil herself also played an active role in these performances and decided early to devote herself to art.
At nineteen, Rakhil was admitted to the Institute of Cinematography shortly after its foundation. During the entrance exam, the chairman of the examinations committee, Lev Kuleshov asked her to perform a sketch — to catch a butterfly. Rakhil for a long time was creeping up to imaginary butterflies with the imaginary scoop net, failing to catch them. In the end, she started to cry with vexation so convincingly that the examiners themselves were almost in tears.
Along with Lev Kuleshov, she studied under such renowned directors and teachers as Jacob Protazanov and Dziga Vertov. Among her classmates there were future celebrity filmmakers like Ivan Pyrjev, Boris Barnet, and Vera Maretskaya with whom she developed a long-term friendship. Students of VGIK gathered in the house of the Messerers, and had dancing parties with charades and masquerades. A soulmate of the company in her student years was her classmate Vladimir Plisetski — a witty, charming athlete. She met him at equestrian lessons. An excellent rider, he helped her master this skill important for a film actress.
At one of the parties he had brought along his older brother Mikhail. It so happened that both brothers were infatuated with beautiful Rakhil — it was a love triangle. But it was Mikhail who would eventually win her heart, and they got married. Eventually, Vladimir left the cinema, became a gymnast, an acrobat and an entertainer; he performed in Claudia Shulzhenko's show. During the war, he joined the front as a volunteer, heroically distinguished himself as a scout, having been dropped many times behind the front line with a parachute. Vladimir died in December 1941, during one of these desperately daring operations.
Rakhil's career could be called an overnight success. The great director Protazanov thought she was an exotic, biblical-type beauty (huge, sad eyes, raven black hair, and dark complexion) and gave her starring roles filmed in the new studio Uzbekfilm, which opened in Tashkent. There, she co-starred in the movies "Second wife" (1927), "Leprous" (1928), "The Valley of Tears" (1929) and others. These films were a great success, and Rakhil's sad eyes stared off posters in many cinemas throughout the country. She played tragic heroines. Today, these films are still relevant, as their main theme was the liberation of women of the East from the yoke of Muslim Sharia law. For example, in the beginning of the film "The Second wife", Ra appears veiled — humble, downtrodden; by the end of the film, having experienced many disasters, she decides to revolt against the unhappy marriage and cruel relatives. These days, watching on TV women of Iran and Afghanistan, fighting for their rights, I am often reminded of Ra in her films shot in Uzbekistan.
There is no doubt that Rakhil was a talented actress; she was able to reach and touch her audience. And I find these movies particularly painful, because I know that Rakhil's life poised many severe tests for her, not unlike the lives of the heroines she played.
Apart from Tashkent, she worked on films set in the Altai mountains, in Kalmykia and in Kiev, where she starred in the film "The daughter of a rabbi". It should be noted there were no stuntmen used in films at that time and actors had to do all the tricks themselves. Having already mastered the art of horse-riding, Rakhil now learned how to ride a motorcycle. In general, she was remarkably multi-skilled: staging plays, dancing, and, most importantly, taking bold decisions. Her courage and resourcefulness would help her survive the most testing trials in her life.
In 1925, Rakhil gave birth to a daughter, Maya. Rakhil continued to act in films in Tashkent and in Moscow, at the Mosfilm Studios. Occasionally, she brought Maya on set. Four-year-old Maya attended the premiere of the movie "Leprous". During the film's climax, the heroine is thrown under the horse's hooves by bassmachis. Maya was in hysterics. Rakhil tried desperately to calm her down, saying that it was just a movie and not a real life. Yet Maya kept screaming, "But, Mommy, they killed you! They killed you!"
Rakhil with Alexander (left) and Maya (right)
With the birth of the second child Alexander, Rakhil was forced to leave the cinema. Her husband was appointed manager of mines Arktikugol and Consul of the USSR in the Norwegian arctic island of Spitsbergen, where he managed the production of coal. There were numerous articles written about this project including a book by the prominent poet-futurist Vadim Shershenevich. This book describes dramatic events: ships breaking through the ice and weathering severe storms on their way to Spitsbergen (located at 78 degrees north latitude). A steamer "Malygin" was squeezed by the blocks of ice, while a ship "Ruslan" got covered by ice and sank, with only a few on board managing to escape. Miners worked under dangerous conditions in permafrost, in continuing darkness.
In 1932, Rakhil arrived at Svalbard2 with her baby Alik and a seven-year-old Maya on the last departing ship: they endured monstrous gales and storms, as all transportation was cut off for the next six months. It was soon revealed that Arktikugol, the organization responsible for the welfare of the workers and the polar explorers in Svalbard, had failed to deliver blankets. Rakhil, together with some other wives of miners began to sew quilts from materials available in storerooms, deciding not to wait for the next delivery that would take six more months.
She worked as a telephone operator. But her time there was marked by her ability to bring some joy and laughter into the lives of the Soviet Arctic colony workers. She organized amateur concerts. Under her direction, an opera was staged, the "Little Mermaid", where Maya played the role of the mermaid. Those in the audience could not have guessed that they were witnessing the debut of one of the greatest Russian performers of all time. The Prima Ballerina, Maya Plisetskaya. The family would often remember Pushkin's phrase that she uttered with naivete of a child: "And what is money, I do not know."
Rakhil with Mikhail Plisetsky and their children (Alik and Maya)
75 years later, Rakhil's younger son Azari (who became a well-known ballet teacher and choreographer) visited Spitsbergen. In the museum of Barentsburg he saw photos of his father and banknotes issued for internal use in Svalbard with the facsimile signature of his father, M. E. Plisetski. These are now a numismatic rarity. Azari added to the museum's collection an inscribed miner's lamp, donated to his father by the miners of Barentsburg.
Rakhil, having returned back from the Arctic, led relatively peaceful life for about two years. Mikhail Plisetsky was awarded medals and honors for his work, among them, an "Emka," car, one of the first Soviet made cars. Academician Otto Schmidt, who headed the General Directorate of the Northern Sea Route, appointed him as a general manager of the trust "Arktikugol" and they were also given an apartment in the centre of Moscow. This was the height of "good life" and bestowed official prestige on the family.
One remarkable event took place in January 1935: a special performance organized by the Messerer family. On that day actors and theatergoers crowded at the entrance of the MKHAT 2 theatre. The tumult was so great that the ushers had to stand outside the front doors in order to allow entry only to those with invitations.
The famous Messerer Five
The famous Messerer Five was comprised of three sisters and two brothers. The show included excerpts from the films in which Rakhil starred. Sulamith and Asaf performed the pas de deux from "Don Quixote" and their best solo. Azary and Elizabeth played scenes from several classic and contemporary plays and performed parodies on Stanislavsky, Nemirovich-Danchenko, Alisa Koonen, and others. The evening proved to be an enormous success.
But the fearful atmosphere in Moscow had already started to manifest itself, and the so-called Great Terror, unleashed by Stalin, soon was in force. Rakhil's husband Mikhail was arrested on April 30, 1937, when Rakhil was seven months pregnant. In her autobiography, Maya Plisetskaya describes in detail the scene of the arrest. Maya was then 11-years-old, and she was told that her father was "urgently summoned back" to Spitsbergen.
Later, Maya told me how she vividly remembered her father's hands, his long thin fingers with a scar from the sword fight (he had fought in the Civil War on the side of the Reds). She paused, then added that every day she sees in her mind's eye how they broke her father's hands… I could not believe her and asked, "Do you really mean every day?" "Yes, and often at night," she replied. I thought later that such powerful emotions must have been channelled into her work as a great ballerina and a tragic actress.
For Stalin and his henchmen it was not difficult to concoct a reason for the arrest and to eliminate any person, no matter how famous or well-regarded by the state in the past. Maya was not correct, writing that the reason for her father's arrest was the visit in 1934 to the USSR of his older brother Lester Plesent, who had immigrated to America before World War I. Half a century after his arrest, in 1992-93 to be exact, Alexander, Rakhil's younger brother, gained access to the records of the interrogations of Mikhail Plisetsky. In the dossier No. 13060 (consisting of 12 volumes) the name of his American brother never appeared. But other reasons concocted by the investigators stand very clear from the yellowish pages: he was too loyal to his close friends when they experienced hard times. In Svalbard, Michael hired R.V. Pickel who was considered to be officially in disgrace for his close links to the "deviationist" Zinoviev. Later, in 1936, Pickel "made a confession" at the famous public mock trial of Zinoviev, Kamenev and others. In particular, he acknowledged his "participation in an assassination attempt on Stalin's life." Soon after the trial he was shot and all those associated with him were also arrested. Michail Plisetsky rejected the monstrous accusations made against him for a long time, but in mid-July, unexpectedly, he signed a confession. And there was a reason for this incredible act: on July 13, 1937, Rakhil gave birth to Azari. On July 22, Rakhil returned with him home from the hospital. And on July 23 there was a telephone call and a voice on the other side said, "Do not ask who is calling but tell us — who was born?" Rakhil, frightened out of her wits, replied, "A boy."
That dreadful call was most likely made from the dungeon where Michael Plisetsky was being interrogated. The interrogators would use anything personal information or of emotional nature to squeeze a confession from the victims. Soon after they began to arrest "wives of the enemies of the people." In the early spring of 1938, Rakhil and baby Azari were taken away and later shipped to a labour camp.
On that day, Rakhil bought some flowers and was about to go out with children to see the ballet "Sleeping Beauty" at the Bolshoi, with Asaf and Sulamith in the lead roles. When the secret police came for her, she told Maya to go with Alik by themselves, to give the flowers to Mita and Asaf and tell them that she was urgently "summoned to her husband to Spitsbergen" together with the baby.
Even before the performance had started, Sulamith learned that the children came to the 16th official entrance by themselves. She wrote in her memoir: "I do not remember how I danced; I recall only my brother whispering in my ear 'Keep dancing, keep dancing, maybe nothing bad has happened…'"
During the intermission Mita called Rakhil. Her terrible fears were confirmed: Rakhil and little Azari were arrested. Sulamith took Maya to live with her, and Asaf took Alik who was a year older than his own son Boris.
Rakhil was jailed in a cavernous circular cell in the notorious Butyrskaya prison along with dozens of other mothers, many with screaming babies. Inmates would try their best to support each other morally. They would sing a lullaby in the Butyrskaya that Rakhil would later recall:
Early in the morning, at dawn,
Come the guards.
The children stand roll-call.
The sun would rise.
A thin ray
On a moist wall,
And touch the tiny prisoner,
Someone's dearest.
But the gloomy abode
Will not brighten.
Who will return the rosy cheeks
To my little sun?
Behind bars and locks
Days last a year.
Children cry and even mothers
Cry sometimes.
But the new generation is nurtured,
With hearts like steel;
My child, never believe
Your father was a traitor.
The last lines sound a discordant note to the dark lyricism of the poem. However, they reflect Rakhil's credo. She was a frail little woman, but with the strength of character not unlike a hardened soldier. Her investigators soon realized that she was a hard nut to crack. She did not make any compromises and denied that she knew anything about the alleged "crime" of her husband. In her case it was recorded "she denies everything, but most probably she knew all about it".
After Butyrskaya prison Rakhil and Azari were sent to the Gulag or rather to the so-called "Algeria" — Russian acronym for Akmolinskiy Camp for the wives of traitors. They were transported in cattle cars packed with political prisoners and ordinary criminals. Rakhil learnt from a gypsy woman who slept with one of the guards that they were being taken to Kazakhstan. Cold winds whistled through the cracks in the walls of the carriages. The prisoners suffered from terrible thirst, as they were fed salty dried fish without water to drink. But even more she was tormented by the thought of not being able to let her close ones know about her whereabouts. To remedy this, she had put to use something she learnt from jailbirds.
On a piece of paper Rakhil wrote a few lines with matches: "We're moving in the direction of Karaganda, to the camp in Akmolinsky region. The child is with me…" She also wrote down her family's address in Moscow: "Dzerzhinsky Str., Building 23, Apt. 3 ". Rakhil folded the paper triangle and sealed it with crumbs of black bread. When the train stopped at one of the stations, Rakhil stood up on the plank and through the barred window saw two signal women standing on the tracks. She waved to them and threw the letter. One of the women immediately turned away, but the other one followed the flying piece of paper with her eyes and nodded to Rakhil.
When Rakhil described this moment to me, it seemed like a slow motion scene: a flying piece of paper and the long gaze of a woman following it. What a scene for a movie!
And the kind soul did not nod in vain. The letter arrived! Sulamith decided that God spoke to her to help her save her sister. She put on her best suit and attached to it the "Honorary Award" she had just received (a rarity at that time). She made her way to the reception of the Cheka office and begged for the permission to visit her sister and at least bring her child home. Then, permission in hand, she undertook an arduous journey of thousands of miles to the "Algeria" camp.
On learning of her sister's visit Rakhil was stuck dumb. When she recovered, she realized that Sulamith wanted to take Azari away. Although she wanted him free, but she also knew that this could lead to her own premature death at the camps. As a nursing mother she was able to avoid hard labour duties at the camp. As they had to communicate in front of the camp's commandant, the sisters understood each other's predicament without words. At the end of the meeting Mita said that the boy was still too weak to withstand a long journey home and asked for permission to send food parcels to them. Mita was granted permission to send parcels, and she headed back to Moscow, to try to further alleviate the fate of her sister.
Could she somehow reduce the sentence or rescue Rakhil and Azari from the Gulag altogether? Alas, there was little hope. In Moscow there was a rumor that at one reception in the Kremlin after the concert, Stalin proposed a toast to Rakhil's brother Asaf Messerer. Was this true? Many years later in New York I asked Asaf about this incident and he confirmed it. He and ballerina Olga Lepeshinskaya were regarded as the leading pair at the Bolshoi and were occasionally invited to participate in concerts in the Kremlin. One day after such a concert, Asaf and a group of artists were sitting at a banquet table talking, when he suddenly felt ill at ease: it seemed that everyone was staring at him. He turned back and saw Stalin standing behind him. Asaf was about to get up when Stalin patted him on the shoulder and said: "Great dancing. Very high jump! Here you are," and he pointed to Lepeshinskaya, "she is like a dragonfly, and you — you are like an "orlik" [an eagle]". At that moment Voroshilov interrupted Stalin and he was momentarily distracted, but soon after he came back to Asaf, raised his glass and said that he drinks to his health. Asaf was stunned by this manifestation of the "royal favor" and was not sure how to respond. But Stalin already moved away.
The family asked Asaf to help Rakhil since he received such high praise from Stalin. Shortly thereafter Asaf was invited to organize a festive concert in the club of the NKVD. Ironically, this club is located on the same street as infamous Lubyanka prison. At that time it played a considerable role in the cultural life of Moscow. The Club belonged to a most powerful (and wealthy) organization, had a huge hall for performances, and only the absolutely best of the artistic elite were invited to perform. Once you were invited, it was unthinkable to refuse.
In early 1939 Asaf was sitting at the NKVD Club at the premiere of a performance that he had directed. He began talking to his neighbour and learned that this person was working under no other than the Deputy Secretary of NKVD. Asaf, who had so convincingly played heroic roles on the stage, was in reality very shy. One can imagine how hard it would have been for him to take such a bold step as to ask the man to talk to his chief and arrange a meeting to discuss a personal matter. He suggested that it would be better if his sister went to the meeting as she would be more familiar with the case. Perhaps the success of his production and the fact that Asaf was greeted with a standing ovation when he came onto the stage had an effect as the neighbor did arrange an audience for Mita with the Deputy Secretary (who was later also shot as the purges began to take their toll on the perpetrators as well).
Sulamith eloquently described him all the tribulations of Rakhil and her baby and achieved the unimaginable: Rakhil's camp sentence was replaced by an exile in Kazakhstan, namely in the town of Chimkent. Moreover, Mita was allowed to go to the camp and personally help to relocate her sister to her place of exile!
Chimkent was the farthest Central Asian town in the region, where, during long summer days people suffered from scorching heat exacerbated by myriads of flies. In addition to the local Kazakh population, there were many exiles, among them people like Rakhil, widowed women with children. There was a cultural club where Rakhil immediately set up and organized a ballet troupe. Although she had not had professional ballet education, she attended numerous performances and rehearsals at the Bolshoi and the Ballet School and knew popular dances, such as the Dance of Little Swans. Later, Maya Plisetskaya participated in one performance when she visited her mother during holidays.
Rakhil with Maya, Alex and Azari
Beautiful and still young, Rakhil attracted many local men who wanted to marry her, but she believed that her beloved husband would return one day and did not reciprocate their intentions. Once she received a parcel with chocolates "Mishka in the North" which she apparently had not tasted before. The originator of this brand, also of the chocolates "Squirrel" brand, was a famous theater director Natalia Sats, whose husband, before he was arrested and shot, was the Minister for food production in the country. She once jokingly told me during an interview that people would remember her because of these chocolates. So, Rakhil decided that Mita had sent those candies as a sign that her Mikhail (Mishka is short for Mikhail) had returned to Spitsbergen, and she might soon see him. Like many other women, she did not understand the meaning of the monstrous Stalin's sentence "Ten years incommunicado," which actually meant death by a firing squad. By this time Mikhail Plisetsky had already been shot. Only four decades later, Rakhil received the documentary evidence of her husband's death and the subsequent rehabilitation:
"Dear Rakhil Mikhaylovna!" — a certain A. Nikonov, head of the secretariat of the Military Collegium of the Supreme Court of the USSR, wrote in 1989, "Enclosed is the information you requested: Mikhail Emmanuilovich Plisetsky, born in 1899, member of the CPSU (Bolshevik) from 1919, until his arrest, manager of the Trust "Arctic Coal" was unjustly sentenced to death on Jan. 8, 1938, on false charges of espionage and sabotage by involvement in the anti-Soviet terrorist organization. The sentence was carried out. This happened immediately after the verdict, on January 8, 1938… Further investigation carried out in 1955-56, showed that M. E. Plisetsky was wrongly convicted…" The execution by firing squad was sanctioned by Zhdanov, Molotov, Kaganovich and Voroshilov. Their names appear on the title page of the so-called "Stalin's hit list". We know now the place of the execution and the burial site, the notorious NKVD "Kommunarka", near Moscow.
Mikhail died in the prime of his life, without any idea that his daughter Maya Plisetskaya would be destined to become a world-famous ballerina. Rakhil forever remained single and hated the bloody Stalinist regime, which deprived her and her children of a father, a regime that destroyed millions of lives… She taught this hatred for the injustice to mankind, and also she inculcated the will to Maya and to her sons, and to us, her relatives, to stand up to Stalin and his henchmen.
Maya Plisetskaya
Rakhil returned to Moscow two months before the start of the World War II and moved with Sulamith and her husband to where Maya lived, a tiny two-room communal apartment in Schepkinsky Proezd, behind the Bolshoi Theater. Rakhil and Azari slept on a camp bed that was unfolded at night-time near the door. However, such conditions seemed to her a veritable paradise after the camp conditions and the miserable hovels in Chimkent where she spent years.
She was also happy to see her daughter's triumph at a ballet school concert. Maya Plisetskaya believes that this "Impromptu" performance staged by Leonid Yakobson was of a particular importance in her career as she "transformed from a novice ballet student into an independent, mature and a daring professional ballerina." A few months after the start of the war, Rakhil and the children evacuated to Sverdlovsk, in the Urals, where she managed, with great difficulty, to get a job of a registrar at a local health clinic that enabled her to receive coupons to buy food for the children. Rakhil gave me a packet of letters she received from her relatives who were scattered throughout the country during the war. Unfortunately, letters from Rakhil are missing, but letters from her loved ones survive and demonstrate that she was the major link between all family members; her boundless wisdom and compassion helped them to endure hardships. I was especially moved by the letters from her father Mikhail Borisovich to his son, my father, Emmanuel Messerer, who died during a German bombing raid when he was on duty patrolling the roof of a Moscow home. This tragedy was concealed from my grandfather. The letters were returned to him with a stamp of "unknown addressee" and he begged Rakhil to explain the silence from Nulia, as they called my father. Rakhil tried to pacify him and distract him in her letters, blaming the inefficiency of postal services in wartime.
In a letter from Elizabeth on February 16, 1942, it is apparent that Rakhil tried to send a parcel to her older brother Mattaniy, a Professor, who languished in Gulag. Rakhilinka, my sunshine. I've shed many tears when reading your letter. How awful to learn about our great misfortune, the loss of our beloved Nulia. I won't ask you for details, not to aggravate the matter….Also I am deeply disturbed to read about the plight of Mattaniy. What can we do? Two days ago I received a postcard from him. He asked me to send him a parcel. He asks for some sugar, rusks and tobacco. It is very painful. I feel real pain when I think of him. I can send him a food parcel, except for the sugar. But they allow parcels to be sent only to the front and not within the country. Perhaps you will have better luck in sending it? I will still try… Do keep in touch; it is such joy to receive letters from you."
And here is an excerpt from Asaf's letter who was evacuated into Kuibyshev where he managed the Bolshoi Theatre troupe: "Dear Rakhilinka. I received your letter asking about accommodation in Kuibyshev. The housing issue is very tough here. It is almost impossible to find a room, and the only way is to move into the hostel of the Bolshoi Theater. I think I will be able to organize this, but, please, keep in mind that there are 20-25 people living in one room… Also I am very concerned about the epidemic of typhus. Firstly, you can get infected on the train, and secondly, it might be difficult to gain the entry to Kuibyshev."
Rakhil wanted to move to Kuibyshev because of Maya who missed on her ballet lessons for one year and it was important for her to continue her studies. But soon Rakhil learnt that part of the troupe had returned to Moscow and, according to rumors, the ballet school classes resumed. She took a great to let her sixteen-year old daughter go to Moscow, despite the dangers and perils of coming to the capital without a special pass. She wanted Maya to join Sulamith who had been invited to participate in the first Moscow ballet performances during the war. Fortunately, Maya was able to enter the graduation class and soon she began to perform in The Bolshoi as the theatre was in need of soloists at that time.
Sulamith with Maya
I remember Rakhil immediately after the war. Her sons, who studied at the Bolshoi Ballet School, spent summers at a summer camp, in Polenovo, near famous Tarusa. Rakhil got a job there. I was also taken to this camp though I was only 6 years old. It was the first time for me to be away from home for three months and, thanks to Rakhil, this experience was not so traumatic. She treated me like a mother as I sought her comfort after every boyish conflict.
Since then, all my life, I loved her as a second mother. When our communal apartment was renovated, I asked to live with Rakhil in their communal apartment at Schepkinsky Proezd. The family accepted me despite the congestion, and I slept on the bed between two famous ballerinas — Maya and Sulamith. Mom's brother, who lived with us, joked that from an early age, I showed a great promise with women. I did not understand of course what he meant.
In the 60's, Sulamith started taking long trips abroad, mostly to Japan, where she founded the first classical ballet school, naming it after Tchaikovsky. She left her son Mikhail with Rakhil, knowing that her sister would take good care of him and look after his education. There was never a limit to Rakhil's motherly love for everyone. (Recently Mikhail Messerer has been appointed the chief choreographer of the Mikhailovsky Theater in St. Petersburg and continues to work as a teacher at the Royal Ballet in London).
A film director Basil Katanyan, Maya Plisetskaya's friend, who often visited her in her house wrote in his book Touching the Idols: "I am very fond of her mother, Rakhil Mikhailovna, such a decent, good woman. I admire her gift to do many things at once: cooking, cleaning, etc., with every family member having a different schedule. Maya goes to ballet classes and her garments have to be ironed. Alex comes home from rehearsals, the junior needs help with his homework … She is always responsive and expeditious."
Boris Pevzner, the nephew of Rakhil's husband recalls:
"My mother, Mikhail's first cousin, was a good friend of Rakhil; and after Misha's arrest, their relations became even closer. During the war, at the end of 1943, we moved to Moscow and often visited Rara, as my mother called her, at the house behind the Bolshoi. I remember that in one room, where Maya lived, there hung on a long hoop a rather modernistic lampshade made by her, and in the other room, toy railway cars, made by seven year old Azari, ran on the floor. After we moved to Leningrad, I would visit Rakhil whenever I came to Moscow, even after the death of my mother in 1964. She always met me with great hospitality, and I felt her kindred warmth. If I was lucky, and Maya was dancing on that day, Rakhil would take me with her to see the ballet. Because of her, I saw the four famous ballets of Shchedrin — Plisetskaya: Carmen suite, Anna Karenina, Seagul, and The Lady with a lap dog. She took a keen interest in my family, and in my life. I felt that it was a true interest, that the more she learned about her relatives, the fuller her life became. She will always stay in my memory as a very energetic and kind person, with a warm smile.
Rakhil was fully involved in all aspects of her children's life: the triumphs on the stage as well as their turbulent times. Rakhil deeply felt for Maya's troubles in the 50's, for example. Maya wrote that at the time she was on the verge of a suicide: for six years, the KGB suspected her of spying because of her one brief meeting with a British diplomat. She was not allowed to travel abroad. British, American, and French impresarios demanded Maya to be included in the Bolshoi Ballet tours, but the Goskoncert always announced at the last minute that, for one reason or another, she allegedly could not go. Thanks to her mother's moral support, Maya survived this terrible period. She also writes that together with her husband, a prominent composer Rodion Shchedrin, they managed to secure a small apartment in 1958 largely due to the efforts of her mother whose "personality, although gentle, showed determination in the extreme." And it is true that for the sake of her children, Rakhil was ready to fight any bureaucratic obstacles till the end.
WATCH a clip with Maya Plisetskaya dance in the "Dying Swan"
In the 70's, there was a fierce struggle between two camps at the Bolshoi Theater, the one of Maya Plisetskaya, and the other of Yuri Grigorovich, the artistic director of the Bolshoi Ballet, an authoritarian figure who managed the Bolshoi ballet and who would not allow leading choreographers to take part in the production of ballet performances. This animosity had an impact on the ballet careers of both Maya's brothers: Azari and Alexander. Grigorovich, in every way he could, hampered their progress in the theater, and they were forced to leave Moscow for a long period. Rakhil suffered a great deal from this separation from them. And, of course, the worst tragedy in her life was the early death of her son Alexander Plisetsky, who suffered from heart disease. He did not survive to take up the invitation from a well-known surgeon in America who promised to perform surgery on him. He died during surgery at a Moscow hospital. Rakhil's health rapidly deteriorated after this tragedy.
Rakhil's life was full of great sadnesses as well as great joys. She never missed a single performance in which her children Maya, Alexander and Azari participated. Rakhil would sit in the front row, alongside her younger brother, Alexander, next to the famous Lily Brik (the muse of the poet Mayakovsky) wearing one of her beautiful black dresses, smiling at the many admirers of her children who came to pay their respects during intermissions. Sometimes she would give them family photographs signing "A memento from Maya's mother."
Towards the end of her life, Rakhil got the opportunity to travel. She stayed in England with her sister Sulamith, who was awarded an OBE for her contribution to British culture. She spent six months in Cuba, where Azari worked, as well as time in France and Spain. In her ninetieth year she came to America, accompanied by her brother Alexander, who tenderly looked after her, and actually helped extend her life.
In the US they lived in a beautiful house that belonged to Mr Stanley Plesent, Rakhil's husband's nephew. The house was located on the beach at Larchmont, one of the most beautiful suburbs of New York. In the mornings and the evenings, she always looked beautiful and majestic even in her old age, sitting in the front garden, with neighbors passing by and stopping to exchange a few words with her. They called her "The Queen of Larchmont". The two Plesent brothers, Stanley and Manny, carefully preserved the relics of their father Lester's visit to Moscow in 1934: a book about the labor feat on Spitsbergen with a patriotic inscription by Mikhail Plisetsky, and a ritual tallis that was given to Lester before he left Moscow. And of course, they cherish the photos of Rakhil made during her visit to America.
Rakhil died at the age of 91 and was buried in the family grave at Novodevichy Cemetery in Moscow, at the start of the famous Cherry Orchard avenue. Her brother, the acclaimed MKhAT actor Azary, was the first to be buried there in 1937. Rakhil named her youngest son, who was born the same year, after him. This family tomb is located next to the graves of Chekhov, Levitan, Stanislavsky, and Gogol. And nowadays, just like at the nearby graves of these cultural icons of Russia, there are flowers placed on her grave by some unknown person. It seems that to this day Muscovites still remember Rakhil.
Clips from films starring Sulamith Messerer:
Member of a 19th-century socialist movement in Russia who believed that political propaganda among the peasantry would lead to the awakening of the masses and, through their influence, to the liberalization of the Tsarist regime. (www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/403562/Narodnik
Svalbard is an archipelago in the Arctic Ocean north of mainland Europe, about midway between mainland Norway and the North Pole
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Valerie on Azary Messerer


The Illinois 100th General Assembly (State Representatives and Senators) were sworn in on January 11th, 2017. Immediately bills began to be filed of various topics, including your gun rights. Here we are 3 weeks later and we have a virtual shopping list of proposed anti gun legislation in Illinois.
True to the prediction of Todd Vandermyde, Liaison for the National Rifle Association in Illinois, the anti gun politicians and their financial backers know they won't be able to get much of anything done at the federal level. Therefore they have focused their attention at the state and municipal levels. We can expect a non stop attack against our gun rights in Illinois. The currently proposed anti gun legislation brings a multitude of taxes which will affect your ability to buy a firearm or take part in the shooting activities.
HB271 Handgun Ammo Serialize – This bill is hold over from the 99th general assembly which went nowhere. It is an impractical bill which would require each and every bullet manufactured and sold in Illinois to have a unique serial number laser engraved. Other states have enacted such laws which have cost tax payers millions and done nothing to curb, nor solve crime.
HB329 Concealed Carry Prohibit Place – Adds video gaming establishments to the list of prohibited areas. Currently the only gambling establishments are horse and dog tracks as well as off track betting facilities and casinos. This also makes it illegal to carry a concealed firearm in ALL residences in Illinois unless a welcoming sign is posted.
HB504 FOID Card Terrorist Watchlist – Illinois very own "No Fly, No Buy", which again is a hold over from the 99th general assembly and is a clear violation of due diligence guaranteed to us in the United States constitution.
HB521 Lost & Stolen Firearms Penalty – Creates a penalty if you do not report your firearm lost or stolen. This is similar to the penalty introduced by Cook County in 2013.
SB009 Amendment 2 – creates a 5% tax on shooting ranges, gun clubs, hunting clubs and just about any other recreational activity outside of the shooting sports within Illinois.
HB1810 TAX-FIREARMS – creates a 3.75% tax on firearms and firearm parts in Illinois.
Some of the above bills are currently scheduled to go to committee. Your opposition is required to ensure your continued gun rights in Illinois. 2017 is the year for you to get active and fight for your gun rights in Illinois. We can expect a non stop attack for at least the next 4 years. Don't let down your guard.


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Search the Database for Brookfield - LaGrange Park SD 95
Brookfield - LaGrange Park SD 95 | Brookfield, IL | United States | Website
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The world which we are policing is changing - and it is sometimes said that change will never be as slow as it is now! The public expect the police to continue with the core mission - responding to emergencies, investigating crime and neighbourhood policing - but they also expect an effective response to serious organised crime and online crime, a focus on crimes which target the most vulnerable and a determined response to a range of terrorist threats. This changing context requires us to be constantly forming and reforming, changing and reshaping. Police reform is not a criticism of the service but a way to ensure that everything we do is relevant and meets the needs of the public as best we can given the limited resources that we have.
A series of short, fast-paced talks (against the clock!) from a range of diverse speakers who will showcase campaigns, projects and innovative practice that is having a positive impact in their area.
The Mental Health Act Review – just another review?
Practical impact - the impact of a 'no-deal' resolution and the potential implications this has on law enforcement agencies.
Preparations - contingency planning in the event of a 'no-deal' scenario and the resulting implications this will have on operational policing and law enforcement.
Public reassurance - what more can be done by policing and law enforcement agencies to best deliver public safety and reassurance in the build up to March 29th and immediately after?
The plenary will conclude with an extended Q&A session where the panel will be joined by additional experts.
Next year the Government will carry out a departmental spending review and it is critical that policing makes a robust, evidence-based, case for resourcing the service.
This session will provide delegates with an insight into the focus of the spending review submission and how we have come together across law enforcement to deliver the piece. We will explore the objectives of this work and our key narrative around demand and resilience, capability and efficiency & productivity. We will also look for delegates to provide a further steer on how we can reduce demand across law enforcement, how partners can assist in this, and how we can we can increase productivity.
The public expect a criminal justice system (CJS) that delivers justice for all, with the police, courts, Crown Prosecution Service, government departments and other agencies working in a joined up, effective and accountable manner as a whole system. This session will explore the modern challenges facing the criminal justice system for police and prosecutors, what changes are taking place and what more is needed from all involved in the CJS to meet changing demands.


We were riding a bus back into New Jersey Saturday evening when we saw the sunset. I took out my camera, but the sun and moon are always a lot smaller than your average point-and-shoot can resolve decently, plus the ride was too bumpy and the light too dim to get a good photo or standard video at full zoom. Instead I decided to go into Continuous shooting mode, hold down the shutter button, and got a series which I could later put together into this video, cropping each frame so the sun was as close to center as possible. I repeated the video four times to make up for the series not being long enough, added some mixed loops from Garageband, and voila, artsy sunset timelapse video.


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Cesar commits
Cesar Azpilicueta signs new three-and-a half-year deal at Chelsea until 2020
The 27 year old full back has become a first team regular since establishing himself at the club after his move from Marseille in 2012
By Dan Pellegrini
Updated: 13 Dec 2016, 13:51
CESAR AZPILICUETA has signed a new three-and-a-half year contract at Chelsea where he will now be tied to the club until 2020.
Azpilicueta joined the club in 2012 as the ageing Ashley Cole was nearing the end of his Chelsea career and ultimately usurped the former Arsenal and England left back in 2014.
Chelsea's Cesar Azpilicueta after the Premier League match at St Mary's Stadium, SouthamptonCredit: PA:Press Association
Chelsea's Cesar Azpilicueta, right, competes for the ball with West Bromwich Albion's Allan-Romeo NyomCredit: AP:Associated Press
Antonio Conte celebrates after the game with Cesar AzpilicuetaCredit: Reuters
Cole went on to join Roma before heading to America to play for LA Galaxy and in that time Azpilicueta has become a regular in the team and a stand out performer.
The 27 year old who joined the club from French club Marseille has won the Premier League, Europa League and EFL Cup in his time at the club and with his current sides form it looks like there will be more trophies to come.
Chelsea are taking full advantage of not being in Europe by leading the Premier League by three points ahead of Arsenal and in recent weeks they have had some outstanding results including a 3-1 victory away to title rivals Manchester City.
On signing the new deal the Chelsea defender said: ''I'm really happy to have signed a new contract. Since I arrived here my target was to progress as a player.
''This new contract gives me the chance to continue my relationship with the club, that's I wanted and obviously I'm really happy here.
''We've had some really good moments so far this season. From day one, we started working hard. We have a new manager with new ideas and I'm really happy to be working with him.
Azpilicueta added: ''Obviously we can still improve but the long term aim for us is to win trophies, that is what we all want, the players, manager and fans.''
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As Pep Guardiola went squeamish, bulldozing Diego Costa showed why he can guide Chelsea to Prem title
I can't believe some of the mistakes from the Prem this weekend, the vast majority from Man City too
Feeling Robbed
Robert Lewandowski laughs in the face of France Football after being ranked 16 in the Ballon d'Or
Are you a Middlesbrough fan? Here's why you have the worst value football season ticket in the UK
In a season that has seen defenders being given a torrid time of late, Chelsea know the importance of keeping hold of top quality at the back, therefore it makes sense to tie down one of their key defenders for the next three seasons, once this campaign has finished.
Clubs are clambering over one another to sign the best defenders and if there is any hint whatsoever that a player could be nearing the end of a deal clubs will circle.
Cesar Azpilicueta and Gary Cahill celebrate following the Premier League match with Manchester CityCredit: Getty Images
Antonio Conte has improved Chelsea defensively with his side conceding just twice since a 3-0 defeat to Arsenal at the Emirates back in September.
And with more clean sheets being registered Chelsea know that once they score its more than likely they can win the game which gives the whole squad a huge boost.
Chelsea are still in the market for a central defender but are more than happy with their full backs in a season that is looking all the more likely to be a successful one.
Cesar Azpilicueta


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There Will Be Fat Jokes
For a little bit there, Juno walks the tightrope between Creepy and Every Man's Fantasy Of Fucking A 16 Year Old With An Awesome Taste In Music, but I think it deftly makes it to the other side unbruised.
If you go and see this movie, you'll come away with the same reaction affixed to your lips like a sticky Sunny D residue: "Oh, that was cute." And it is. Juno is a cute movie. Kinda funny, kinda smart, kind of endearing. Quirky characters have real-life problems and everything gets resolved with a kiss and a song. So, in that sense it succeeds. Juno also succeeds as a feasible date movie that manages to not star Matthew McConaughey or Kate Hudson (though, we're sickeningly close with Jennifer Garner, but she manages to come away unscathed thanks to the ensemble).
Just about every year, a movie comes out of nowhere with little-to-no budget and scant media press behind it, only to blow through theaters gobbling up millions of dollars in its wake. You know, like My Big Fat Greek Wedding or Little Miss Sunshine. Juno is this type of movie, and quality-wise it lands somewhere in the middle. Were I ten years younger, I probably would've loved this movie. As it stands, I just sort of think it's cute.
Ellen Page - Juno - is getting the most hype from this movie, what with being nominated for all those fancy awards and everything. I'm sure I haven't a clue as to her competition, but something tells me Ellen Page probably shouldn't win, since I saw her one time on David Letterman - hence making me a foremost expert on all things Ellen Page - and this Juno character she plays kind of sounds and acts like her in real life. I mean, she could've just as easily written all her own dialogue.
Not that it matters, though, since the child-stars rarely if ever win.
Big ups to Schillinger who plays the dad. Can J.K. Simmons legally change his name to Vern Schillinger, his character from Oz? Every time I see him in anything else, I can't help but imagine he's just finished tattooing a swastika on somebody's buttcheeks.


The main aim of this paper is to make the case for why a fundamental reappraisal rather than incremental development of work stress and coping theory is required. In order to do this we present, in simplified form, some of the basic tenets of theory in this field. These tenets are questioned and their limitations identified in two ways. The first way is through contrasting the son of stories that emerge in counselling and psychotherapy about the causes of people's distress with the simplified accounts found in stress and coping theory. The second way is through a critical examination of the specific ideas that stressors are 'out there' in the work environment and that individuals go through a simple process of primary and secondary appraisal when dealing with potentially harmful aspects of the work environment. Drawing on the notion of the employee as an active crafter and shaper of their job and data showing the complex ways in which people make sense of potentially negative work circumstances, we show how these ideas are of very limited value. In conclusion, we suggest that these limitations are so serious that fundamental reappraisal rather than development is required.


Here at OxyGo, we know that providing oxygen users with the best POCs on the market changes their lives for the better. And for us, that means that we don't sell our products directly to patients. How can that be? The short answer: It's all about the OxyGo difference.
"I think patients get the best care—the care they need—from providers. That's why we connect patients that contact us with providers to get their OxyGo. We don't sell direct to patients, for cash or otherwise." says Victoria Marquard-Schultz, Managing Director of OxyGo, who is clearly passionate about providers and what they do for patients. "We focus on connecting patients to providers which in turn helps patients live better lives with OxyGo." This philosophy is ahead of the curve, as evidenced by trends cited in a recent HME article.
That's we are excited to unveil the OxyGo Concierge service to better connect patients with local providers. The OxyGo Concierge service a unique partnership that will help enable patients to live better lives with direct, accessible care, while increasing business opportunities for our providers. To learn more and make the most of this exclusive program, please call 440-249-0214.
Additionally, OxyGo has co-op marketing opportunities, patient financing options, and leasing options to help providers create business and cash flow in the competitive bidding environment. We believe that amazing customer service means doing what is best for both the patient and the provider. Want more proof? For the second year in a row, OxyGo POCs have been independently rated as the industry's best—ahead of ALL competitors. Check out the independent report here to see why OxyGo is rated #1 again and again.


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The koala crisis: clinging on to help restore koala habitats
Over decades, koala numbers have dramatically plunged. Since roaming Australia for the past 25 million years, numbers of these furry marsupials have dropped by as much as 95 percent.
Today, it's estimated that there are less than 80,000 koalas remaining in Australia, with most of their natural habitat already lost due to the aftermath of deforestation.
Since settlement, the increased disturbance by humans and the clearing of land and eucalyptus forests have affected Australian wildlife, leaving them to suffer in detrimental ways.
From increased stress to compete for food resources, to injury and even death – the population of these tree-dwelling animals are plummeting, with little sign of relief.
But Meghan Halverson, president of the Queensland Koala Crusaders hopes to turn it all around.
For more than a decade, the wildlife warrior has been working tirelessly to help repopulate koala numbers, one tree at a time.
"Habitat loss and fragmentation are the number one threat to koalas in the wild," she said. "The Queensland Koala Crusaders are doing everything we can to help Australian koalas. We aim to be a voice for koalas."
Formed in 2012, the not-for-profit are working to help stem the rapid decline of wild koala populations across the state, and to help find sustainable solutions to ensure a promising future for koalas and their homes.
Apart from working with government officials, advisory committees and expert panels to come up with plans for better ways of managing the species, the Queensland Koala Crusaders constantly strive for a collaborative and humane approach to koala conservation efforts.
"We raise funds in hopes that one day we can build a koala sanctuary. That way, in times like the recent bushfires we'd have a place for them to rest and recover post hospitalisation," Meghan explained.
"In the last couple of years, we've also established a koala rescue unit and planted thousands of trees to help repopulate koala habitats."
To assist with the mission to protect koala habitats, The Body Shop UK partnered with the Queensland Koala Crusaders as part of their World Bio-Bridges Mission project and granted them with $90,000 to plant trees.
Meghan said, soon after the Body Shop Australia also got on board and practically doubled the amount of funding.
"Through a collaborate effort we were able to partner with Noosa and District Landcare, Noosa Parks Association and local and state government in a new acquisition of land in Noosa to plant 24,000 trees which will spread somewhere between 16 to 400 hectares," she said.
"The ultimate goal is to get that area's habitat – which was once a pine plantation – rehabilitated and restored into native bushland. We know there are existing koalas in the surrounding areas so we're hoping to connect four areas of habitat to provide a better place for koalas to thrive and grow their numbers in the future."
Since its launch, the 10-year mission has seen around 7,000 out of the 24,000 trees planted. But koalas aren't the only species the seed sowing will help.
"We're not only helping koalas. We're helping other endangered species including, sugar gliders, greater gliders, black cockatoos and the flying-fox – a synergistic species to koalas," Meghan said.
"The flying-fox pollinates koala feeding trees when they fly from tree to tree. If we didn't have flying-foxes, then we wouldn't have koalas either because we wouldn't have eucalyptus trees."
Systems in the Australian wildlife chain are sensitive, and even the smallest changes can have an incredible ripple effect on the ecosystem.
So, how can the everyday person help?
"We can plant trees using a strategic approach by connecting habitats," Meghan enthused.
"We can donate to groups like ours so that we can continue to do the work we do and hopefully buy up some property to provide a koala sanctuary."
She also encouraged pet parents to be responsible owners by making sure cats or dogs are confined at night.
"Regardless of whether you're on a big property or small one, your animals should be contained. The strong nature of a dog's bite can puncture a lung and cause internal bleeding, infections or even kill a koala," she said.
People can also volunteer, learn about their local species and teach kids to do the same. And for drivers travelling through known areas of koala habitats and crossings, be diligent, slow down and watch out for wildlife crossing the roads.
"One of the most important things we can do is work collaboratively. The way to save species, and the world, is by working together. We don't need to reinvent wheels; we just need to work together to help make a difference."
For more information on how you can help save koala homes, visit koalacrusaders.org.au.
NRMA Insurance-Helping Koalas
RFS - TROY HARRIS
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What are Australia's most stolen cars?
The real cost of owning a boat


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Bohr's Youth
Studies at Copenhagen
To Manchester with Rutherford
War and Manchester
The Institute and the Nobel Prize
Bohr as Mentor
War and Personal Tragedy
Splitting the Atom
Final Years
Summary Bohr's Youth
Niels Henrik David Bohr was born on October 7, 1885, in a large Copenhagen house that belonged to his maternal grandmother. His father, Professor Christian Bohr, was an internationally renowned physiologist who held a medical degree but never practiced as a doctor. His mother, Ellen Adler, was the daughter of a prominent banker and politician. The parents held progressive views and raised their children with an emphasis on such values as generosity and openness. Christian and Ellen also endeavored to create an effective intellectual atmosphere for their family, which also included older sister Jenny and younger brother Harald, by encouraging independent development.
Harald, born just eighteen months after Niels, became Niels's inseparable companion. Many anecdotes tell of their devotion to each other. Once, when Niels was heard calling all over for his brother, an older cousin finally asked what he needed. Niels replied that he had been given a bun and wanted to share it with Harald. Both boys showed great intellectual promise, but Harald was regarded as the brighter of the two. Armed with a sharp wit, he used to tease Niels, who neither defended himself nor protested. Harald, however, along with his father, recognized Niels as "the special one of the family." Christian was careful to allow both to follow their own paths, and Harald went on to become a distinguished mathematician, receiving his doctorate two years earlier than Niels.
The influence of their father on both children is undeniable. The boys were allowed to sit in and listen to the spirited discussions that arose when distinguished colleagues visited the Bohr home. Christian Bohr instilled in them an appreciation for knowledge and its pursuit. Professor Bohr was a great admirer of Goethe and would recite passages of Faust to his children. He also appreciated authors such as Shakespeare and Dickens, and he encouraged his children to become familiar with both German and English cultures. Not only did Professor Bohr keep their educations balanced, but he also showed them the value of a well-rounded life. He took them on long walks and expeditions to foster an appreciation for nature. They also became accomplished athletes, learning soccer (or European football) at a young age. Both brothers achieved national recognition as soccer players, and Harald even became a member of the medal- winning Danish Olympic team of 1908.
Not much is known about Niels's early schooling. At the Gammelholm School, which he attended from first grade until university, he was a successful though not brilliant student, who excelled in physics and math but also performed well in history and languages. His most difficult subject was composition, as he struggled with the formal requirements of his teachers. He especially disliked the rule of having a strict introduction and conclusion to every essay, and in one essay on metals he mockingly ended, "In conclusion I would like to mention aluminum."
As he advanced to the upper grades, Niels's natural ability became more evident as the school's math and science departments failed to keep up with him. Frustrated with outdated textbooks, he began reading scientific journals that exposed him to the advancing breakthroughs of physics. By the time he entered the University of Copenhagen in 1903, he was more than prepared for the challenges it would bring.
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Mid-December is a great time to see shooting stars blasting forth from the Name A Star Live constellation Gemini! Also, a full eclipse of the Moon will be visible throughout North America the night of December 20-21.
If you're in the northern hemisphere of Earth, and if weather permits, then over the night of December 13-14 you may get a good view of the Geminid meteor shower. (If you're in the southern hemisphere, then you may notice some shooting stars popping up over your northern horizon over the night of December 14-15.) The annual Geminid Meteor Shower is one of the two best meteor showers of the year. The other shower — the Perseid Meteor Shower — occurs in August each year.
The night of Dec. 13-14, look for shooting stars to emanate from the constellation Gemini.
Shooting stars are very tiny meteors – basically, dust particles or small 'pebbles' – that burn up in a flash of light as they enter Earth's atmosphere. These meteors are leftover bits of comets that have passed by Earth in years past: As comets pass by Earth from time to time, they leave a trail of small debris in their wake. This debris remains in the solar system. As Earth revolves around the sun each year, Earth passes through the trails of debris.
To see the shooting stars, all you need is a clear sky (away from city lights), a lawn chair, and some winter clothing if you live in the northern hemisphere of Earth.
As you see the shooting stars, try to notice where they are coming from in the night sky. If you have one of our planispheres, you'll see that the meteors come from the constellation Gemini.
Enjoy the view … and may all your wishes come true!
A total eclipse of the Moon will be visible throughout all of North and Central America (local weather permitting) the night of December 20-21 … but you'll have to stay up late to see it! A lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth's shadow covers at least part of the Moon's surface. A total eclipse occurs when the entire Moon is covered in Earth's shadow.
The total eclipse of the Moon, February 21, 2008. The Moon does not become completely dark during a total eclipse: Sunlight refracted through the Earth's atmosphere casts an orange glow on the lunar surface.
Observers throughout North America, the Hawaiian Islands, and Central America can see the total eclipse of the Moon from 2:41 a.m. to 3:53 a.m. EST, December 21 (11:41 pm Dec. 20 to 12:53 a.m. Dec. 21 PST). If you're in Australia, New Zealand, or east Asia, the eclipse will already be underway at sunset December 21. Those of you in Europe, western Africa and South America may see a partial eclipse at sunrise the morning of December 21.
Visit MrEclipse.com for full details.
The mighty planet Jupiter again dominates the night sky this month. Jupiter is the bright point of light you'll see toward the south after sunset (towards the north, if you're in the southern hemisphere of Earth): It's easy to spot.
Venus and Saturn will be in the Name A Star Live constellations Virgo and Libra, respectively, in December. Both planets are low on the eastern horizon around sunrise in mid-December. Look for the two planets about an hour before sunrise: Saturn will be above the planet Venus.


It could be depressing for some pet to move to a new home especially to cats as they can't easily adjust to the new environment and ambiance of the place. This always happens when a place is new to them and they think that they are not comfortable the way they are brought there and other reasons. It could be the cause for them to move and act in a very weird way and sometimes give them a terrible nervousness that tend them to hide and cry. As responsible pet owner of any animals, you need to know the proper ways and steps in order for you to move your cat or other animals safely and well.
Here are some moving tips and reminders especially if you are carrying your pets like dogs and cats in a car to your new home.
Check the Tag Identification of Your Pet: In most states in America, they would have a microchip inserted to the pet in order to know the identification of it like the owner. There are some pets that they freak out when they are outside of the house or when they can see a lot of people. The tendency is that they would run away and get lost and this is the reason why they have this tag in their skin. It would be very easy to find them or when someone found them, they could return it into the vet.
Visit Your Vet for Some Suggestions: If you don't have a good way to bring your cat, then you can call a vet and maybe they can help you about the steps to do.
You May Look for A Pet Hotel: If you are visiting another city or country and no one is there at home to take care of them. Then, you could find a pet hotel in which they could stay there for many days while are away. Of course, it would be a bit expensive but the care and cleanliness of the place would be guaranteed here.
Make Them Feel Comfortable: It is needed for your pet to give them a comfortable travel or space when you move them to a new house. You could hire a tow truck in roder for them to have an enough space to move around or they won't feel bad being in small area of the car. Remember that there are some cats or dogs that they are not very comfortable taking a ride or riding a car.
Keep Their Schedule the Same: When you reached your new place, make sure that you would still keep the same routine that your pet has. In this way, they would feel that nothing has changed. Give them their meal the same time you used to let them eat.
Give Them a Comfortable Area After Moving: Make sure that the place where they are going to sleep is comfortable enough for them. You could put back the pet's toy and stuff.
Towing companies usually get a bad reputation. Despite giving a priceless service during emergency cases, towing is a service which a lot of people really love to hate. Most individuals which warn us about the dangers or risks of hiring a towing company are the ones which have never experienced hiring one in an emergency case.
One of the greatest misconceptions about towing companies is the cost they charge. Several people deeply grieve the cost of using a towing truck for road assistance however, when you understand and know the different expenses included in the towing service, it definitely makes sense why towing prices are charged that way.
The tow price involves the use of the towing truck which is an expensive truck to maintain and operate, together with the gap to the place of your vehicle. As malfunctions tend to happen at any time, and place, the drive for a towing truck can sometimes be far.
Pricing can significantly vary because of these primary factors, even though it is worth nothing which most towing companies charge a considerably modest price when accounting for the operating costs of their tow service.
Towing companies often give much more than just the towing service. In most instances that is only part of a broader scope of road assistance services available, with some other services involving lockout assistance, tire changes, and jump starts as well.
Therefore, if you are ever in need of some road assistance, just remember that towing near me has several more to give beyond their usual towing service.
A lot of drivers think towing vehicles are not available in rural places however, this simply is not the case. While it can also be hard to get roadside assistance from a bigger tow company based in many places of the state, smaller regional towing service companies are often available for those more complicated to reach places.
Should there not be some small towing companies in a rural place during malfunctions and accidents, most established towing companies can prepare to come for help. Furthermore, driving from far away increase the price of the towing service however, this is not usually the bad thing in vehicular accidents or emergency malfunctions in the middle of somewhere.
One big reason a lot of individuals avoid contacting a towing company is the misconception which it takes them a long period of time just to arrive. While waiting for their road assistance is actually possible, it is only usually in rural areas or when the weather condition has made driving very dangerous.
We should stop from thinking that garage is only for cars. Nowadays, there are many people who are becoming more innovative and have a lot of ideas to have in making this place more organized and be used for placing more things and usable stuff. There could be a chance that you could store more things here like your sports equipment, your tools for gardening or machines for renovating the house or for cleaning the front yard or the back yard of your house, some house necessities and supplies like wax, rags and even pots. Most of the men as well would make this place like a mechanic shop in way that most of their things and stuff for their cars are there. The would even fix the garage door repair Castle Rock CO if ever that there are some problems or malfunctioning in the door. Here are the ideas that you can actually make on your own and start having an organized garage at home. There could be more than this but these are some of the most useful and easy to make at home.
You can make use of the wall of your garage if it is made of cement or even a good quality of wood. You can also make an idea of putting a wall-typed of closet or drawer onto it. It would be very convenient for you to access things as they are just in one place. You can hire someone to estimate the area of the wall and he or she can give you the exact dimension of the closet that you can use for it. You can have as much layers or piles of closet connected to the surface of the wall. If you don't have time to do this or to hire someone then you could get an idea of buying box-typed of plastic containers. In this way, you could pile them up and that way it would convenient for you to remove them one by one.
If the garage surface is made of woods or plywood only then you could try the string to be attached to it and then it could be used to organize some of your stuff like the toys of your kids. You could use a cord as well to hang them. You can actually tie on one end and to the other end to make a hanging bridge and you can put the things there by using a hook to hang.
Having a small but wide divider could be a great solution for most of your tools and can stuff in the garage. In this manner, everything will be organized in proper places and be able to locate the things or the cans that you are looking for. You can buy some pieces of woods to make this one. You can watch a tutorial video to make this one and just follow the simple procedure. You can paint it afterwards to make it look even nicer and attractive to eyes.
Nowadays, the search engine optimization world has changed a lot. But still, there are certain fundamental principles that remain unchanged. For instance, keyword targeting, which is solely intended to improve organic rankings is no longer effective in search engines, even though keywords are still important. Aside from getting more SEO benefits, keywords can help reveal a lot more about internet users as well as what they are struggling with.
Sometimes, you can easily get carried away with search engine optimization. But, experts suggest that the best technique to do it is to apply common sense and to keep it simple. This is because most SEO plugins will be the one to take care of all the common architecture related things for you. Therefore, in this article, we will be only focusing on some of the many important techniques that you should be aware of or need to do yourself.
Before you start purchasing AdWords and changing title tags, it is best that you analyze your SEO's current state first. Without checking the organic search performance prior to starting an SEO campaign, chances are that you will only do more harm than good.
Therefore, it is strongly advised that you get to explore first which certain pages are currently yielding the longest time and most views on a page from Google Analytics. After that, cross-check this information with your currently performing keywords. Doing this technique can certainly give you a great idea as to what areas you are already strong at or need improvement.
Bear in mind that there are specific pages like your home page, which might already be doing well. Thus, tweaking your keywords may not impact the overall performance of your page too much. Instead, try to focus on optimizing websites that are already performing well.
This is considered as the most important factor in an on-page SEO, most especially for the SEO for remodelers and contractors. You may already have a long list of greatly performing keywords that can be effectively used for your business. But, forming a list of niche-specific keywords will definitely help your business attract and gain new customers who are searching for that specific topic. You can also check the Google Trends report in order to discover what search terms people are often using and update your keyword list for these particular changes.
When you combine no-follow and do-follow links, you'll get a natural link profile in which Google will even reward. Content marketing is all about writing high quality and engaging content, creating in people the urgency and need to link to you as well as share your content on different mediums of social media. For example, have you seen one particular website where most bloggers link their contents to it? The main determining factor in the success of these sites is that they invest a lot of time, resources and money into creating a single content or another piece of post.
Most trees are sturdy and solid however, sometimes, they need support in a form of bracing and cabling. Bracing places weak tree sections with threaded rods and bolts. On the other hand, cabling places bendable steel cables between branches of trees in order to redistribute the weight of the limb and give the tree trunk an extra support. If you think a tree on your residential or commercial property needs bracing or cabling to prevent unwanted damages and injuries, take a quick read and learn some clear signs.
The branches of your tree which are very heavy put a lot of pressure on the tree trunk and may break off easily, potentially leading to property damage and worse, serious physical injuries. Aside from that, overextended limbs are also very highly susceptible to any additional weight such as ice and snow that makes them even more hazardous.
Specific and careful pruning measures during the winter, spring or summer alleviate this issue while cabling gives redistribution of the weight in which the tree trunk requires to support its branches. In addition to that, cabling is strongly suggested over pruning in the fall season because of several spores which may hurt the trees on your residential and commercial property.
Splitting or other signs of structural weaknesses of your tree basically requires bracing in order to keep the perennial woods from turning into a potential danger. You may recognize splitting or any other signs of structural weaknesses on one or some of the tree branches and on the truck and crotches. Furthermore, bracing gives a threading action that holds splitting or any other signs of structural weaknesses together.
The development of your tree may sometimes lead to two hulking stems made from the same tree trunk area forming a "V" shape. The V-crotch stems should be not taken for granted and dealt with as soon as you recognize it in order to prevent structural failure and breakage, as the stems don't actually feature the connective tissues which keep them strong and sturdy. If the tree is young, you may safely get rid of one of the stems in order to promote healthy development of your tree. On the other hand, older trees with V-crotch problems generally benefit from bracing and cabling.
There are several professional and experienced service providers that feature a talented team technicians and arborists dedicated to keeping the woody perennials all throughout your local areas safe, beautiful and healthy as possible. These company service providers give you a full suite of services such as stump removal, cabling and bracing, pruning as well as hauling. As a matter of fact, a 24-hour service is also offered for emergency situations. If you recognize a problem that you are not sure on what to do, do not hesitate to ask expert advice from professionals such as http://www.classictreecarekc.com/.
Clean your carpet before it becomes very dirty.
This is because if you will choose to wait until your carpet becomes filthy, the tendency is that the cleaning process will be much more difficult and expensive, not to mention the cleaning will take time.
Vacuum thoroughly before as well as after every carpet cleaning procedure.
Make sure that you are able to vacuum your carpet thoroughly beforehand in order to remove any large solid particles from the fibers of your carpet. After that, consider vacuuming again right after you have thoroughly cleaned your carpet and after making sure that it is completely dry.
Pretreat stains as well as high traffic areas.
Simply mix a drop of mild detergent with a glass of hot water in a clean empty spray bottle as well as mist lightly all the dirtiest areas of your commercial or residential carpet. After that, let the solution stay for ten minutes before your general carpet cleaning procedure.
Use much lesser soap or detergent than directed.
As a matter of fact, the soap that is being used in rented carpet cleaning machines tend to foam a lot as well as leaves behind too much residue that can later act as a dirt and germs magnet. Simply use one tablespoon or less of mild soap or detergent to a gallon of hot water in order to prevent any soap residue as this is already enough to clean a filthy carpet.
Use a milder acid rinse.
As a matter of fact, you can also be able to purchase a neutralizing agent or make your own by using one cup of white vinegar to one gallon of hot water. After one pass, rinse it with a detergent solution.
Do not wet the carpet too much.
Rented carpet cleaning machines can actually put too much moisture into your carpet and moat do not have the right or enough suction to thoroughly extract it. Having said that, make only a single pass with the water and soap solution and one pass with the acid neutralizing or vinegar and water rinse. After that, make 3 drying passes but with the water feature now switched off.
After you have cleaned your carpets, remove any excess moisture from the air through opening your windows, using dehumidifier and fans, or putting your air conditioning system on a moderate setting of about 72 – 78 degrees. In addition to that, you should never try to replace your furniture or walk on your carpet until it has been dried completely. Most of the time, this can take up to twelve hours but six to eight hours is also good. But, if you want to have a much faster cleaning process, hire a professional carpet cleaning in Keswick.


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Home » Tamil » News » Vijay Sethupathi's look from his upcoming film 'Junga' is something you've never seen him before in
Vijay Sethupathi's look from his upcoming film 'Junga' is something you've never seen him before in
Interestingly, 'Junga' is being produced by Vijay Sethupathi himself and instead of charging remuneration, Vijay has agreed to produce the film on a profit sharing basis.
By Gautham Pattikonda | October 4, 2017 03:38 pm | 17,165 reads | 0 comments
Actor Vijay Sethupathi, who is fondly called as Makkal Selvan, will next be seen in a film titled 'Junga' that is being directed by Gokul. 'Junga' stars Sayyeshaa as the leading lady in the film and the shooting of the film is currently underway in France. A picture of Vijay Sethupathi is going viral on social media which reveals one of his looks from 'Junga'. Vijay Sethupathi looks Uber cool and stylish in this look, which is something he has never tried and sported before.
Interestingly, 'Junga' is being produced by Vijay Sethupathi himself and instead of charging remuneration, Vijay has agreed to produce the film on a profit sharing basis. It is being reported that 'Junga' will be the biggest release in Vijay Sethupathi's career in terms of grandeur and budget. 'Junga' will be shot majorly in France while the rest of the portions will be shot in Austria, Croatia, Bulgaria and Chennai.
Vijay Sethupathi: No movie will run for its lead hero and will run only if the content is good
Vijay Sethupathi will also be seen in genius Mani Ratnam's upcoming film which is yet to be titled. The film will also feature Jyothika, Simbhu, Fahadh Faasil and Aishwarya Rajesh in other lead roles. Vijay just had a release, Karuppan, which had a decent run at the box office. Touted to be a set in a rural backdrop, Karuppan had Vijay playing the role of a bull tamer which he pulled off with utmost ease, as always.
Besides the Mani Ratnam film, Vijay Sethupathi also has a film in Telugu alongside Mega Star Chiranjeevi which is titled Sye Raa Narsimha Reddy/
Tags: Gokul, Junga, Sayyeshaa, Vijay Sethupathi


This was one of the greatest fine shot i ever seen. I too enjoy by seeing this quite amazing pic with better closure. Good work. Keep on going.!!
You don't have to hurry to be a great photographer.
And I think this one is a very nice shot!
I hope the image you shared is larger.
Thanks! Keep it up and you'll make it.


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Tied Together with a Smile
Posted on October 19, 2020 Categories Alabama, books i've read, chores, college football, crime fiction, diversity, documentaries, editing, goals, LSU, revising, Saints, short stories, television, the apartment, writing
Monday morning and facing down the three clinic days, which makes me tired to even just think about, honestly. I love working with my clients, though; that's always a plus, and while my program coordinator is out quarantining (her roommate tested positive for COVID-19 last week), I think I can handle my job without her being there. (This is why I was so concerned about the stomach issues on Saturday; the last thing in the world I need right now it to have to go out on quarantine myself.)
There actually wasn't a Saints game yesterday; I didn't realize it was a bye week for the Saints–it was just weird that neither LSU nor the Saints had a game on the same weekend (I looked up the time for the game earlier in the week and didn't realize it brought up next week's game instead), and it's been quite a while since that happened. In fact, I cannot remember the last time bye weeks fell on the same weekend–although to be fair, LSU wasn't supposed to have a bye.
But still.
We watched the season finale of The Vow last night, and it seemed to wrap up pretty quickly; Paul was very quick to assert, "there's going to be a second season, clearly" and after looking around on-line this morning a bit, I see that the show has been renewed for a second season. We enjoyed watching the show, despite its deeply uneven story-telling and a sense that it was longer than it needed to be; I also didn't think compressing everything–from the arrests, etc. to the present day–into the final fifteen minutes of the finale was the best methodology; it really felt rushed, particularly since some previous episodes were obviously dragged out; it could have been six episodes, I think.
We also watched the first episode of the Jude Law mini-series The Third Day, and decided not to continue. It was very well done–some of the images were exceptional–but it was all just very murky and strange and really, you should watch one part of a three-part show and have literally no idea what's going on, or have no sense of the characters, or why you should give a shit about their story. We won't be watching more, I think, which is a shame; the previews looked wonderfully creepy and spooky; and while the first episode contributed greatly to the mood of creepy dread, that was about all we came away from it with, other than little to no desire to watch any more of it.
I started going through old journals yesterday–I found the one in which I started keeping the journal again (2017! It's been three years!)–mainly because I am trying to get back into Bury Me in Shadows again; it's been weeks since I worked on it, and I was thinking I needed to go through my notes and so forth to make sure everything is going into the story that needs to be in the story. The old journals are fascinating; there's also the plans and notes for Royal Street Reveillon in them, as well as the birth of short stories that have since been written and even, in some cases, published; there are other story ideas and titles that never were followed up on–some of them are quite good, upon a review with fresh eyes–as well as sketches and ideas for stories that were written but wound up not really working after several drafts were completed ("The Problem with Autofill" is one of those; it's a great concept but it doesn't work because the central conceit winds up triggering how can you be so stupid as a reader reaction, which kills the story, frankly). It's also interesting to see that this particular novel began being titled Bury Me in Satin, which I discarded early on, changing "satin" for "shadows", which works ever so much better.
I also managed to do some filing and organizing, and I do feel much better about everything I now need to get done–and feel confident I can do it all.
I also read some short stories yesterday.
"Love & Other Crimes" is the title story from Sara Paretsky's short story collection, and yes, it's a V. I. Warshawski story. One of the problems I've always had with writing crime fiction short stories is the compression of the investigation aspect. I am used to spreading the story out from anywhere from sixty five thousands words to just over a hundred thousand; Royal Street Reveillon was slightly more than a hundred thousand, and is probably my longest novel. I wrote my first ever Chanse short story, "My Brother's Keeper", for my own collection Survivor's Guilt and Other Stories, and I've started yet another, "Once a Tiger," that has stalled, along with a couple of other investigation short stories that have never reached a complete first draft–some Venus stories ("A Little More Jazz for the Axeman," "Falling Bullets," and "Stations of the Cross"), and there's a Jerry Channing story (he has appeared in the Scotty books; he's a true crime writer) whose title I cannot recall at this moment. I struggle with these stories, obviously; reading Ross MacDonald's Lew Archer short stories (The Archer Files) helped somewhat, as did reading Sue Grafton's Kinsey short stories (Kinsey and Me); and it's really no surprise that Paretsky–MWA Grand Master and crime fiction legend–can also pull off the private eye short story. A kid from the old neighborhood is being framed for murder; his sister rather snottily hired Vic to prove his innocence. She manages to do so–ironically, he was really implicated in another crime, just not the murder–and the success of the story makes me think that I should change the way I write these kinds of stories. I am not much of an outliner anymore–somewhere around Murder in the Rue St. Ann I realized that I never really stuck to the outline so wasn't really sure I should keep doing them; instead, I either come up with a very loose synopsis–or just know where I am going to end it and start writing in that general direction and see where it goes. But…maybe I should outline the short stories that are investigations rather than just starting to write and seeing where they go; I always stop writing when I get stuck, and who knows if or when I will ever get back to it? But I am also digressing from the point of what a great story Paretsky opens her collection with! I don't think all of the stories are necessarily Warshawski stories–the next, "Miss Bianca," doesn't appear to be–but I am really looking forward to seeing what other magic she hath wrought with her writing.
After reading the Paretsky story, I moved on to the Lawrence Block anthology The Darkling Halls of Ivy–whose theme is crime stories set in academia. The very first story is David Morrell's "Requiem for a Homecoming,' and it's an interesting take on a crime story. A successful screenwriter returns to his alma mater for Homecoming as a special guest, and the story opens with him having a drink in a campus-area pub with an old friend from his college days…and then bringing up a twenty-year old murder that occurred when they were both undergrads. They talk a bit about the murder, and some things that never came out in the investigation all those years ago–including the pov character having gone out on a date with her once, but didn't come forward because he supplemented his income by dealing drugs–the drug dealer would be an obvious suspect and this could have jeopardized his scholarship to USC for grad work in screenwriting–but there's also a lot more to this fiendishly clever story. But Lawrence Block's anthologies never disappoint; my bucket list includes getting to write a story for one of these.
And on that note, it's off to the spice mines with me. Have a lovely Monday, Constant Reader.
Tagged A Little More Jazz for the Axeman, Bury Me in Satin, Bury Me in Shadows, Chanse MacLeod, COVID-19, David Morrell, Falling Bullets, Jerry Channing, journals, Jude Law, Kinsey and Me, Kinsey Millhone, Lawrence Block, Lew Archer, Love & Other Crimes, Miss Bianca, Murder in the Rue St. Ann, My Brother's Keeper, Once a Tiger, Requiem for a Homecoming, Ross MacDonald, Royal Street Reveillon, Sara Paretsky, Stations of the Cross, Sue Grafton, Survivor's Guilt and Other Stories, The Archer Files, The Darkling Halls of Ivy, The Problem with Autofill, The Short Story Project, The Third Day, The Vow, V. I. Warshawski, Venus Casanova
A Perfectly Good Heart


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ARIA Hall Of Fame Member Max Merritt Has Died, Aged 79
Max Merritt of Max Merritt and the Meteors, has died at the age of 79.
Merritt was born in Christchurch, New Zealand in 1941 and, after relocating to Australia in 1964, he formed Max Merritt and the Meteors.
In 1966, Max Merritt and the Meteors were the support act for The Rolling Stones.
Max Merritt and the Meteors… Max is on the far right.
They had hits with 'Try A Little Tenderness' and 'Western Union Man' but it was his original 'Slipping Away' that became his biggest hit – reaching number 2 in Australia and number 5 in New Zealand.
In 2007, he was diagnosed with Goodpasture Syndrome, a rare auto-immune disorder where the body mistakenly makes antibodies that attack the lungs and kidneys.
In 2008, Merritt was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame alongside Dragon, Russell Morris and The Triffids.
He died in a LA hospital. He is survived by his daughter Kelli, son Josh and three grandchildren.
celebrity death
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Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is a steroid hormone made from cholesterol by the adrenal glands.
The adrenal glands are located on top of each kidney. The outer region of the adrenal gland, called the adrenal cortex, secretes corticosteroid hormones that have important effects on the body's metabolism (the process by which foods are transformed into basic elements which can be utilized by the body for energy or growth), on chemicals in the blood and on bodily characteristics such as hair and body shape.
The smaller, inner region of the gland is called the adrenal medulla, and it functions as the body's first line of response and defense against physical and emotional stresses.
DHEA is called the "mother hormone" because it acts as a precursor to other hormones in the body such as estrogen, progesterone, cortisone, androgen and testosterone, to name a few. The fetus manufactures DHEA, which stimulates the placenta to form estrogen, thus keeping a pregnancy going. Production of DHEA stops at birth, then begins again around age seven and peaks when a person is in their mid-20s. From the early 30s on there is a steady decline (about 2 percent each year) until around age 75 and older when the level of DHEA in the body is about 5 percent of peak.
In the 1970s and 1980s, DHEA was being sold as a weight-loss aid. In 1985 the FDA banned over-the-counter sale of DHEA due to unsubstantiated claims and lack of data on safety and effectiveness for weight loss. Today it is back as a "dietary supplement."
DHEA has been touted as an "antidote for aging" and a "superhormone" that can help burn fat, build muscle mass, boost libido, strengthen the immune system, prevent heart disease, cancer, osteoporosis and non-insulin dependent diabetes, ease the effects of menopause, retard memory loss, help in the treatment of lupus, limit burn damage, combat stress and prevent or slow the progression of Alzheimer and Parkinson diseases.
There is much interest in the physiology and use of DHEA "replacement" in men and menopausal women. The scientific community and the public await the results of these investigations, but in the meantime, DHEA and/or DHEA-Sulfate (DHEAS) supplementation is not recommended as a therapeutic option in menopause outside of clinical trials.
Research data in the elderly on both hormonal and immunologic effects suggest that DHEA may become a supplemental treatment for lupus patients.
There are two types of DHEA available: pharmaceutical grade DHEA supplements and DHEA extracts.
Only a doctor can prescribe pharmaceutical grade DHEA. Synthetic or pharmaceutical grade DHEA is produced from pharmaceutical grade ingredients. This form is molecularly identical to the DHEA that we produce.
DHEA extracts are available over-the-counter and are made from the Mexican yam called Dioscorea that contains a sterol called diosgenin which contains about 5 to 10 percent of true DHEA. The other 90 percent of the drug ingredients include varying amounts of other hormones.
What are the short-term and long-term side effects?
Are there any DHEA clinical trials in this area? Do you recommend participation?
Do you have other patients on DHEA? What changes, if any, have occurred with them?


Some shops have already run out of essential items. According to one local news website, pharmacies have exhausted stocks of diabetes and blood pressure medications.
Hyper-inflation forced Zimbabwe to jettison its own currency, the Zimbabwe dollar, in 2009 and switch to foreign cash instead.