text:
#Margaret Attwood
Well Read Wednesday The Lockdown Reader 3 The General Fiction List
No Comments on Well Read Wednesday The Lockdown Reader 3 The General Fiction List
Today's adventure into the pile of books I've read this year looks at the novels, but as mentioned in Part 1, my fiction reading is divided into two lists. Today I will take you through the stand alone novels which have kept me entertained. The second list which will follow in part 5, covers the many novels written by the same author Patrick Gale.
Lets get started with two novels which I've already reviewed in earlier blog posts and so will only mention briefly here. First there was the hilarious High Fire by Eóin Colfer. I have been a big fan of his internationally bestselling Artemis Fowl series so this, the author's first adult fantasy novel was long awaited. Colfer did not disappoint and the book is a is a hilarious but unlikely, high-octane adventure about a vodka-drinking, Flashdance-loving dragon who's been hiding away from the world – and any potential pitch-fork and torch-carrying mobs – in a Louisiana bayou.
The second of these previously reviewed books is the novel Normal People by Sally Rooney. This was a Number One Sunday Times Bestseller, the winner of the Costa Novel Award 2018 and also spawned one of the best television series of this year. Two young teens from the west of Ireland meet at school, but then they both earn places at Trinity College in Dublin. The connection that has grown between them lasts long into the following years. This is an exquisite love story about how one person can change another person's life – a simple yet profound realisation that unfolds beautifully over the course of the novel. You have to avoid the feeling that they both need their heads banged together, or at least for someone to sit them down and tell them that they are profoundly in love, but maybe it works all the better for that.
Next came Tin Man which had sat in my to-be-read pile for way too long. Sarah Winman crafted a wonderful story but to describe it as a love story would not do it justice. In essence this is the tale of two boys, Ellis and Michael who are inseparable. The boys become men and then Annie walks into their lives and changes both nothing and everything. If that has you intrigued then good. Go and read it because you will not regret it and you will understand why this book was Shortlisted for the 2017 Costa Novel Award. Lets stick with women writers for the moment since this gives me a chance to mention in passing, how modern women authors are toppling the classic white male authors from their literary perches! My next choice therefore is the remarkable Love and Other Thought Experiments by Sophie Ward. This novel was longlisted for the Booker Prize 2020, but it came to my attention when it featured on BBC Two's Between the Covers. I shall steal in part from the book blurb to describe the story in which lovers Rachel and Eliza are planning their future together. One night in bed Rachel wakes up terrified and tells Eliza that an ant has crawled into her eye and is stuck there. Rachel is certain; Eliza, a scientist, is sceptical. Suddenly their entire relationship is called into question. What follows is a uniquely imaginative sequence of interlinked stories ranging across time, place and perspective to form a sparkling philosophical tale of love, lost and found across the universe. For those who like their storytelling peppered with a good dose of philosophy ( I do ever since Sophies World) then I really do recommend this highly imaginative novel. Of course among women writers, few can match the success of Margaret Attwood who this year brought everything that the fans of The Handmaids Tale had waited so long for. The sequel appeared in the form of The Testaments and was not only an instant best seller but won the Booker Prize. The scarily familiar Republic of Gilead is now starting to rot from within. At this crucial moment, two girls with radically different experiences of the regime come face to face with the legendary, ruthless Aunt Lydia. But how far will each go for what she believes? The story draws us uncomfortably in but I warn you it may leave you in tears by the end.
My next book is a slight cheat in this list. It's not a novel but a biographical essay, I have snuck it in here because it is written by one of my favourite novelists, Irishman Colm Tóibin and it's subject is a woman who was one of the architects of the great Irish Literary Revival, Lady Augusta Gregory. Called Lady Gregory's Toothbrush, this essay gives us a beautiful insight into the life of the outspoken Irishwoman. In his inimitable and sensitive way Tóibin delivers to us, this remarkable figure in Celtic history, she was married to an MP and land-owner, yet retained an unprecedented independence of both thought and deed, actively championing causes close to her heart. At once conservative and radical in her beliefs, she saw no conflict in idealizing and mythologizing the Irish peasantry, for example, while her landlord husband introduced legislation that would, in part, lead to the widespread misery, poverty and starvation of the Great Famine. Nevertheless, as founder of Dublin's famous Abbey Theatre, an outspoken opponent of censorship, and mentor, muse, and mother-figure to W. B. Yeats, Augusta Gregory played a pivotal role in shaping Irish literary and dramatic history. Perhaps the surprise nugget in this tale is that, despite her parents' early predictions of spinsterhood, she was no matronly figure, engaging in a passionate affair while newly-wedded and, as she approached sixty, falling for a man almost twenty years her junior.
Next comes a tale of Deep England. In Perfidious Albion by Sam Byers, we find ourselves in Edmundsbury, a small town in the east of England where fear and loathing are on the rise. Brexit has happened and the ramifications are real. This is a not so unfamiliar England where a grass-roots, right-wing political party 'England Always' is fomenting hatred. The residents of a failing housing estate are being cleared from their homes. A multinational tech company is making inroads into the infrastructure. The real fun starts with a controversial tweet; a series of ill-judged think pieces and a riot of opinions – suddenly Edmundsbury is no longer the peaceful town it had always imagined itself to be. We are face to face with new technologies and the realisation that the interests they serve are maybe not so new. This is clever satire, rich with irony which manages to be both very funny and very profound.
From contemporary Britain we now travel back in time to Ancient Greece and the second of Stephen Fry's books on the Greek Myths. Heroes: The myths of the Ancient Greek heroes retold. Whether you are familiar with these age old tales or not, few mere mortals have ever embarked on such bold and heart-stirring adventures, overcome myriad monstrous perils, or outwitted scheming vengeful gods, quite as stylishly and triumphantly as Greek heroes both good and bad.
Next we turn from myth to magic with The Ocean at the End of the Lane by the Master storyteller Neil Gaiman. I found this book to be a wonderful fantasy but at the same time a dissection of childhood memories and how they can and do effect our adult lives. I was doubly pleased that my edition is beautifully illustrated throughout by the very talented Elise Hurst.
Now any book which mentions a library in the title usually grabs my attention. In the case of Matt Haig's The Midnight Library there was so much hype around it's publication that I was wary. Then the Sunday Times Bestseller List was topped, as was The New York Times list. Once again it was a pick on BBC Two's Between The Covers book club which grabbed my attention so I ordered it. I loved it. The premise of the story is brilliantly simple. Apparently between life and death there is a library. When suicidal Nora Seed finds herself in the Midnight Library, she has a chance to make things right. Up until now, her life has been full of misery and regret. She feels she has let everyone down, including herself. But things are about to change. The books in the Midnight Library enable Nora to live as if she had done things differently. With the help of an old friend, she can now undo every one of her regrets as she tries to work out her perfect 'if only' life. But things aren't always what she imagined they'd be,. Of course that perfect life is not always so perfect and soon her choices place the library and herself in extreme danger. Before time runs out, she must answer the ultimate question: what is the best way to live? For me some of the outcomes were predictable but what I loved most of all was the notion that books have the power to change lives and that second chances are always there for the taking.
With so many great new finds this year there has been little time to reread any old favourites. Two notable exceptions were the books in Anne Rice's Wolf Gift Chronicles The Wolf Gift and The Wolves of Midwinter. In these books Rice has delivered her slant on the werewolf myth in just the same way that she built a new architecture for the vampire legend. In the first book we meet journalist Reuben Golding visiting the extraordinary, grand mansion of Nideck Point to write an article about it. He is shown around by it's current utterly captivating occupant. Following a brutal attack the owner is murdered and Reuben finds himself changing. His hair is longer, his skin is more sensitive and he can hear things he never could before. Now in a choice between man or monster, he must confront the beast within him or lose himself completely. The book is full of the kind of rich detail in setting, characterisation and world building which makes Anne Rice one of my most favourite authors.
The Wolf Gift however is only a grand preface to the glorious second novel, The Wolves of Midwinter. Here again I shall turn to the book blurb to summarise this tale:
"It is the beginning of December and it is cold and grey outside. In the stately flickering hearths of Nideck Point, oak fires are burning. The Morphenkinder are busy getting ready for the ancient pagan feast of midwinter. Everyone is invited, including some of their own who do not wish them well. Reuben, the newest of the Morphenkinder, is struggling with his new existence as a Man Wolf, struggling to learn to control his desires and bloodthirsty urges. His pure, luminous girlfriend Laura seems all set to join him in this new way of life, but Reuben is not at all certain he will love her if she becomes as he is. Beyond the mansion, the forest echoes with howling winds, which carry with them tales of a strange nether world, and of spirits centuries old who possess their own fantastical ancient histories and taunt with their dark, magical powers. As preparations for the feast gather pace, destiny continues to hound Reuben, not least in the form of a strange, tormented ghost who appears at the window, unable to speak. But he is not alone: before the festivities are over, choices must be made choices which will decide the fate of the Morphenkinder for ever." If you loved The Vampire Chronicles you will love these books too.
I will end this list with a book that stands out as one of the most extraordinary that I've read this year
I have long admired the now world famous Greek economist Yanis Varoufakis who in Another Now: Dispatches from an Alternative Present delivers science fiction, Utopian vision, socialism and green politics. This is no naïve Utopian tale but one set in an alternative near future where we are asked to think what might have happened if Occupy and Extinction Rebellion had actually won. There are no banks. No stock market. No tech giants. No billionaires. Capitalism has gone as we know it. The author is to my mind a modern day reincarnation of a classical Greek Hero. His description of the other world is utterly compelling and believable but of course having wooed us with it's appeal, he also leads us to the point where we start to ask if this is what we really want. Here I remind you of my musings on The Midnight Library and its second chances. The grass may often look greener on the other side of the fence but isn't it really only greener on whichever side of the fence that you mow it?
Coming soon The Lockdown Reader 4 The Reference books.
Well Read Wednesday: The Lockdown Reader 2 The Non-fiction list.
No Comments on Well Read Wednesday: The Lockdown Reader 2 The Non-fiction list.
Welcome to part 2 of this exposé on my lockdown reading habits and here as promised is a guide to the non-fiction books I've been reading this year to feed my life-long hunger for knowledge, skills and culture. I was surprised at the number of books which qualified and so my comments about each of them will have to be brief. The list has also been divided into three distinct groups as suggested by the image above so first of all lets take a look at the upstanding group in the middle.
1. Various Topics.
This first group vary in subject matter although I did consider a further sub-division for the ancient history books but the links were more fuzzy than that. First we have the unexpected best seller from last Christmas, Charlie Mackesy's runaway The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse. This beautiful volume of gentle cartoon images and their attendant words could easily have fitted in the fiction list but I found the pages to be thoughtful, inspirational but never preaching. This is surely a self help-book of the most gentle kind.
Next is Mary Beard's SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome. A comprehensive, but far from being a dry academic telling of the history of the first millennium of ancient Rome. It takes us from the mythical Romulus and Remus in the 8th Century BCE to 212 CE when Roman citizenship was given to every free inhabitant of the empire by Caracalla. SPQR stands for the phrase "Senatus Populusque Romanus", meaning "The Senate and People of Rome.
Professor Beard was the reason that I chose the next book, on a chance visit to the London Review Bookshop just across the road from the British Museum. Four in a Bed is a small slim volume containing writings on the subject of sex from the pages of The London Review of Books. Eleven authors deal with this diverse subject matter, but for me the most heroic is the recollection by Mary Beard from her graduate student days, of her own rape. The article morphs into an analysis of rape which in Mary's unique style does not tip-toe through the matter!
Swinging back to ancient Rome, I wanted a guide book in advance of a plan to be in Rome for the Ides of March this year. Covid put paid to that trip, but the book proved to be an excellent reminder of sites visited many years ago. I heartily recommend Strolling Through Rome by Mario Erasmo for anyone in need of a handy guide to the eternal city. Before parting from the topic of Ancient Rome lets take a look at the much vilified classical text The Twelve Caesars by Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus, better known simply as Suetonius, or perhaps unsurprisingly by classicists, even more simply as Suet! I had always been led to believe that this set of biographies was so much 'fake news'. For a fuller account of how I came to change that view and see it as a peek under the petticoats of a great dynasty, take a peek at the blog post I wrote back in August .
This year my garden has been my therapist and I have read many articles on the benefits of gardening and the great outdoors for both mental and physical well-being. For me, the outstanding piece of writing on the subject this year has been Rootbound: Rewilding a Life by Alice Vincent. This book is a touching memoir, botanical history and biography, which examines how bringing a little bit of the outside in can help us find our feet in a world spinning far too fast. It is a joy to read. Staying for a moment with the theme of self preservation, another form of therapy for me has always been cooking and in particular baking. Aside from the ubiquitous banana loaf, one of the cool bakes this year has been the sourdough loaf. For some, the kitchen is a place of mystery, but few things are more likely to reduce a baker to hushed tones that the mystery that is sourdough. In this wonderful little book (with a big title) How to Raise a Loaf and Fall in Love with Sourdough, baker Roly Allen beautifully explores the myth and magic from that alien living creature known as the starter, to the final glorious loaf.
Okay we're down to the last two books in this group. First is Dr. Michael Mosley's Fast Asleep:How to Get a Really Good Night's Rest. Another subject on which so much has been written lately. If you want a readable account of the science and a host of helpful tips on this topical subject, this is a good place to start. Finally another unexpectedly good read. All That Remains: A Life in Death, by leading professor of anatomy and forensic anthropology, Dame Sue Black. Death and dead bodies are a part of everyday life for this amazing woman. One of my Happiest memories from that magical part of this year pre Covid, was a late-night trip to BBC Broadcasting House where I was a regular attendee at the live broadcasts of Mary Beard's Cultural chat show Front Row Late. This was the last night of the series and one of the guests was Sue Black. After the show I found myself glass in hand, sitting between the two Dames, Mary and Sue. This highly intelligent and articulate Scottish scientist turned out to also be utterly charming and friendly and I left the gathering determined that I should read her book. I am genuinely glad that I did and I urge anyone with interests in death, forensics, detective/murder stories, professional glass ceilings or even Sottish academia to do the same.
2.Reading and Writing.
The second pile covers two of my favourite subjects. The first and arguably best known of these is On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King. Few books have sat in my To-Be-Read pile as long as this has. The book describes King's experiences as a writer and delivers his advice for aspiring writers. I loved reading about his experience, but reading his advice reminded me that many writers believe that their way is the right way and possibly the only way. Similarly On Writers and Writing comes from Margaret Attwood, an author who needs little introduction. Edited from a series of lectures, the author examines the role of the writer? Prophet? High Priest of Art? Court Jester? Or witness to the real world? Looking back on her own childhood and the development of her writing career, Attwood examines the metaphors which writers of fiction and poetry have used to explain, or excuse, their activities. It is an easy but very insightful read.
The next three books take an altogether more analytical look at the process of writing. In The Science of Story Telling, Will Storr reminds us how much storytelling is an essential part of what makes us human. In this thought-provoking book, Storr demonstrates how master storytellers manipulate and compel us, leading us on a journey from the Hebrew scriptures to Mr Men, from Booker Prize-winning literature to box set TV. The author applies dazzling psychological research and cutting-edge neuroscience to the foundations of our myths and archetypes, he shows how we can use these tools to tell better stories and make sense of our chaotic modern world. I found it a really fascinating read. Next is Writing a Novel by Richard Skinner. This author believes it is the duty of a novelist to bring our whole selves to the page; to write from the gut, not the head, to find your story, not force it; to meet your reader in a spirit of openness. In this very readable book, Skinner offers up frameworks, strategies and stimuli to help you meet that duty, drawing on his deep experience as one of the UK's leading creative writing teachers. He covers the essentials – narrators, characters and settings with charm and rigour. This book is definitely not a set of instructions: it is a way of thinking, a conversation, a relationship in itself and I highly recommend it. The last of the three 'how to' books is First You Write a Sentence, by Joe Moran. To quote from the blurb, "Using minimal technical terms, First You Write a Sentence is his unpedantic but authoritative explanation of how the most ordinary words can be turned into verbal constellations of extraordinary grace. Using sources ranging from the Bible and Shakespeare to George Orwell and Maggie Nelson, and scientific studies of what can best fire the reader's mind, he shows how we can all write in a way that is clear, compelling and alive." I loved it and if any writer (or reader) wants one book to help them in their craft let it be this one. The final entry in this category is Power of Reading: From Socrates to Twitter by Frank Furedi. This author is a cultural and social historian who delivers an eclectic and entirely original history of reading. The very act of reading and the choice of reading material endow individuals with an identity that possesses great symbolic significance. This book explores the changing meanings attributed to the act of reading. Although it has an historical perspective, the book`s focus is very much on the culture of reading that prevails in the 21st Century. Furedi argues vigorously for the restoration of the art of reading, declaring it every bit as important as the art of writing. I could never disagree with that.
3. Queer Studies.
The final pile are the books I read in order to immerse myself in the culture of which I am very much a part. I may have lived through and experienced the coming of age of the LGBTQ+ movement but I still like to read other accounts and study other points of view relating to those times. The Velvet Rage: Growing up Gay in a Straight Man's World by Alan Downs PhD argues that today's gay man enjoys unprecedented, hard-won social acceptance but serious problems still exist. Substance abuse, depression, suicide, and sex addiction among gay men are at an all-time high, causing many to ask, "Are we really better off?" The book draws on contemporary research and the authors personal story to passionately describe the stages of a gay man's journey out of shame and offers practical and inspired strategies to stop the cycle of avoidance and self-defeating behaviour. Updated to reflect the effects of the many recent social, cultural, and political changes, The Velvet Rage is an empowering book that has already changed the public discourse on gay culture and helped shape the identity of an entire generation of gay men. In a similar vein comes Matthew Todd's, Straight Jacket: Overcoming Society's Legacy of Gay Shame. This is part memoir and part ground-breaking polemic, Straight Jacket looks beneath the shiny façade of contemporary gay culture and asks if gay people are as happy as they could be – and if not, why not? Even Sir Elton John declared that it should be read by every gay man on the planet!
Next is a classic book from 1996 which I chose to revisit after replacing my long lost copy. PWA: Looking AIDS in the Face, by Oscar Moore is actually a compilation of the author's column in the Guardian newspaper which gave us moving and informative insights into what it's like to live with the physical deterioration that AIDS inevitably brings. Humane and witty and written with a tough-minded, dry humour, PWA (Person With AIDS) proved to be a comfort to people, whether touched by illness or not. Parts of this book and the memories it awoke reduced me to tears again.
Straight Expectations by Julie Bindel follows on in some ways from the first two books but it asks what it means to be gay in the era of same-sex marriage and equal rights? More than four decades after the start of the gay liberation movement, lesbians and gay men can legally marry, adopt children, and enjoy the same rights and respect as heterosexuals, or can they? Another great, thought provoking read. Continuing with the idea that the fight is not over, United Queerdom by Dan Glass tells us that injustice is rife and LGBT+ inequality remains. Complete LGBT+ liberation means housing rights, universal healthcare, economic freedom and so much more. Although many people believe queers are now free and should behave, assimilate and become palatable, this activist, author shows that the fight is far from over. My last look at this history came in the form of a great little book which I found when the author appeared at last year's Hay Literary Festival while I was there. From Prejudice to Pride: A History of the LGBTQ+ Movement by Amy Lamé is a visual feast, filled with photographs documenting LGBTQ+ life from the past and present, and from around the world. Lamé looks at the rise and achievements of the LGBTQ+ movement and the different communities, pioneers and stories of heartbreak and courage that have marched alongside it.
Chance discoveries are matched only by books given as gifts by dear friends. One such was Queer Magic by Tomás Prower. Just as the cover tells us this is a tour of LGBTQ+ spirituality and culture from around the world. Not a book I might have picked up myself but I am so grateful that I was given it because it is a truly fascinating book which delivers great insights into queer relationships and spiritual practices from different historical eras and regions of the world.
The last two books in this pile and in this blog are related to one of my areas of experience, interest and research. First is The Leathermans Protocol Handbook by John D. Weal. Much has been talked about and even fantasised about over many years regarding the protocols and the 'Old Guard' but it has rarely been written about. Part of the reason for this is that when Larry Townsend wrote The Leatherman's Handbook in 1972 most people read it and thought "job done". However good the handbook was, everyone (including Larry) knew that there were other points of view. This book was published in 2010 and here again the author tells us that it is not the bible of protocols but rather it is a document of his personal journey as a 'collared' boy through the latter days of the Old Guard. Much of this history has sadly been lost during the era of HIV, HEP C and Crystal Meth. This book is a fascinating and valuable part of our history recording times which have started to fade. Just a year earlier another book added to the record of those times and experiences. Ask The Man Who Owns Him: The Real Lives of Gay Masters and slaves by david stein and David Schachter (the use of upper case or not is intentional here for a reason) This book does exactly what it says and records, as interviews, the real lives of sixteen Master and slave couples from America and Canada. For those who are used to the BDSM relationships found in erotic fiction this will be a complete surprise since there are no stereotypes here! This again is not the whole story but is a damned big part of it and the book should be read by anyone seeking either the lifestyle or the truth about it.
Wow! That's over 2.5k words I hadn't expected to write but I am glad I did.
Next, in Part 3 I will cover the stack of general fiction read this year.


A survey of 100 respondents conducted at the recent AI World Conference and Expo in US city Boston by Dun & Bradstreet revealed that only 8% of enterprises said they were cutting jobs as a result of AI, and 34% said demand for people remained unchanged.
Most companies said they had passed the teething stage and were now focusing on implementation and determining what value the technology provides, with 20% at the stage of full deployment. Only 11% said they were not deploying AI, while the rest were at various different stages.
Prominent challenges are still evident, with 28 per cent saying a shortage of human expertise and data being the two biggest hurdles to further implementing AI.
"Data is the foundation upon which any technology – especially AI – can be built," said Anthony Scriffignano, chief data scientist at Dun & Bradstreet.
Further challenges anticipated for 2019, in order of severity, are technology infrastructure; hesitation from executive decision-makers; lack of budget; regulatory challenges; and the lack of a strong digital base.
The main uses of AI in the organisations were analytics (62%), automation (52%) and data management (42%). Another 29% were using the technology for back-end systems improvements and 23% for consumer-facing chatbots.
Mark Bridger, senior vice-president for Europe at OpenText, said any disruption to jobs caused by AI was not something to be feared.


text:
Beatles Album Covers Photographer Robert Freeman Dead at 82
Parlophone / Capitol
Photographer Robert Freeman, whose work included some of the Beatles' most recognizable album covers, has died at the age of 82.
Freeman began his career shooting images for the British newspaper The Sunday Times. His work caught the eye of Beatles manager Brian Epstein, who commissioned the budding artist for a group portrait in 1963.
Thus began a long-lasting working association with the Fab Four. Over the years, Freeman would shoot and design the covers for many Beatles' releases. In his book The Beatles: A Private View, the photographer remembered the session that produced the iconic Meet The Beatles (aka With The Beatles) album art, his first cover shot for the band.
"Since the photograph was needed urgently, I had to improvise a studio situation in the hotel," Freeman recalled. "The dining room was the most suitable location. There was a broad side light from the windows and a deep maroon curtain that could be pulled behind them to create a dark background. They came down at midday wearing their black polo-necked sweaters. It seemed natural to photograph them in black-and-white wearing their customary dark clothes. It gave unity to the image. There was no makeup, hairdresser or stylist--just myself, the Beatles and a camera."
Freeman went on to explain the unique arrangement of the band members. "They had to fit into the square format of the cover, so rather than have them all in a line, I put Ringo (Starr) in the bottom right corner," the photographer remarked. "He was the last to join the group, he was the shortest and he was the drummer! Even so, he still had to bend his knees to get to the right level--and look natural!"
The result was one of the most recognizable and imitated covers in rock history. Freeman would go on to craft the images for more of the band's albums, including Beatles For Sale, Help! and Rubber Soul. His work even expanded beyond photography, as the artist contributed ideas for the band's posters and promotional materials, while also designing the end credit sequences for the Beatles' first two films, A Hard Day's Night and Help!.
Freeman also shot the first Pirelli Calendar and later dabbled in filmmaking. The photographer suffered a severe stroke in 2014, at which time his family sold several pieces of Beatles-related memorabilia to support his recovery.
News of Freeman's death was confirmed by the official Beatles Twitter page.
Ringo Starr also took to Twitter to express "peace and love" to Freeman and his family.
Meanwhile, Paul McCartney penned a heartfelt message on his blog, calling Freeman "imaginative and a true original thinker". Read the message in its entirety below.
"Dear Robert Freeman has passed away. He was one of our favourite photographers during the Beatles years who came up with some of our most iconic album covers. Besides being a great professional he was imaginative and a true original thinker. People often think that the cover shot for Meet The Beatles of our foreheads in half shadow was a carefully arranged studio shot. In fact it was taken quite quickly by Robert in the corridor of a hotel we were staying in where natural light came from the windows at the end of the corridor. I think it took no more than half an hour to accomplish.
Bob also took the Rubber Soul cover; his normal practice was to use a slide projector and project the photos he'd taken onto a piece of white cardboard which was exactly album sized, thus giving us an accurate idea of how the finished product would look. During his viewing session the card which had been propped up on a small table fell backwards giving the photograph a 'stretched' look. Instead of simply putting the card upright again we became excited at the idea of this new version of his photograph. He assured us that it was possible to print it this way and because the album was titled Rubber Soul we felt that the image fitted perfectly.
I will miss this wonderful man but will always cherish the fond memories I have of him.
Thanks Bob."
Rockers We've Lost in 2019
Next: Every Beatles Song Ranked
Source: Beatles Album Covers Photographer Robert Freeman Dead at 82
Filed Under: The Beatles

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Q: Convert Elm Html nodes to string output I have a viewFunc that returns some HTML. I would like to validate its return value. I wrote a test case using elm-test.
viewFunc |> Expect.equal (span [] [ text "hello world"])

It works well as long as my test case passes. However, when it fails, I get the following error:
    <internals>
    ╷
    │ Expect.equal
    ╵
    <internals>

It's not helpful at all. How could I have a more meaningful error message? Is there a way to stringify Html nodes? I looked around in the documentation of elm-html but haven't found anything.

A: Rather than comparing entire chunks of Html msg together, you'll get better results using the Test.Html.Query module (and corresponding Test.Html.Selector and Test.Html.Event modules). This allows you to create more targeted tests (e.g. testing whether a certain element has certain text or a certain class, rather than testing the entirety of the HTML structure). And the test failures do provide much more context to help you debug.
I've built an example on Ellie, here's the basics of what a test might look like:
test "Button has correct count" <|
    \() ->
        viewFunc
            |> Query.fromHtml
            |> Query.has [ Selector.text "hello world" ]

The results in the console for a failure would be:
> Hello World

    ▼ Query.fromHtml

        <div>
            Hello World!
        </div>

    ▼ Query.has [ text "hello world" ]

    > has text "hello world"

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Why wait? Get the furniture you want now – interest-free for up to 6 months* with a ONCE credit facility.
Apply in store or online – it's easy!
Simply click on the APPLY NOW button, below. This will redirect you to the Once application. You will be asked for your details and then the usual questions about income and expenditure.
You can download the Once card Facts Sheet and FAQ page by clicking the buttons, below.
What happens if I'm approved?
* Credit approved applicants only on the Once Agile card; fees, terms and conditions apply including a $99 Annual Fee charged on account open date and annually on anniversary this date. Finance provided by Once Credit Pty Limited ABN 99 112 319 632, Australian Credit Licence number 386194 (Once). Once® is a trademark of Once. Once is a subsidiary of FlexiGroup Limited.


Mayor Rob Ford is lashing out against fellow councillors amid allegations he used paid members of his staff to help run a trio of football teams.
A report published in the Globe and Mail Wednesday said two of the mayor's special assistants helped out with the day-to-day running of Ford's minor football team, the Rexdale Raiders, this past summer. The report also says another special assistant, a former quarterback for the University of Toronto Varsity Blues, is helping coach Ford's high school team the Don Bosco Eagles this fall.
The report resulted in criticism from several councillors, including Coun. Adam Vaughan who called Ford a "hypocrite" in an interview with CTV News.
In a statement issued Wednesday afternoon Ford fought back, calling anyone criticizing his staff "a coward," however he did not directly address allegations that staff members helped out with his football teams during work hours.
The same statement did say that members of Ford's staff accompany him at "most times" to assist with official business.
According to the Globe and Mail report, Ford assistants Isaac Shirokoff and Chris Fickel were listed as contacts on a Facebook page for the Rexdale Raiders. Their cell phones, which are funded by taxpayers, were provided as contact numbers for anyone seeking additional information about the program.
"That's how I run my office, but I don't run the mayor's office," he said.
Ford's football-related work has been the subject of much debate recently.
Just last week Ford took the stand to defend himself in a conflict-of-interest trial that could see him removed from office. That trial revolved around an allegation that Ford acted improperly when he voted to toss a ruling that would have required him to repay donations he collected for the Rob Ford football Foundation using councillor letterhead.
A judge is currently deliberating the case and isn't expected to come up with a verdict for months.


text:
11 Reds From Central Luzon Surrender to the Police
Through strengthened anti-communist campaign of the government, police authorities in Central Luzon continuously made headway in peace initiatives following the recent surrender of 11 CPP-NPA-NDF red fighters, supporters and affiliates yesterday, January 15,2021.
PNP Chief, Police General Debold M Sinas welcomed the gesture of peace and reconciliation by the rebel returnees. "We are keeping our doors open to enlightened members of the local communist terrorist movement who wish to return to the fold of the law and lead new lives with their families," he said.
Citing reports from PBGen Valeriano T De Leon, Central Luzon PNP Regional Director, Sinas said local authorities facilitated the voluntary surrender of the 11 communist fighters along with their firearms:
a. One (1) M-14 rifle without serial number , three (3) magazines for M-14 and thirty (30) rounds of 7.62 live ammunition
b. One (1) Blackwater M-16 rifle with defaced Serial number, one (1) magazine for m16 with 9 rounds of live cal. 5.56 ammunition;
c. One (1) Smith and Wesson cal.38 revolver without serial number with four (4) empty shells of cal.38; and
d. Two (2) more cal. 38 revolvers with serial number and without serial number, respectively
"We are now reaping the gains of local peace initiatives being pursued by the security sector in collaboration with local government units all over the country. We hope that other concerned sectors and other members of the community will channel their initiatives and support these peace endeavors of government so that we can all together achieve lasting peace for in the country," the Chief PNP said.
RD, PRO3 will proceed to Nueva Ecija PPO on Monday January 18, 2021 for the presentation of surrenderers and at the same time distribution of financial assistance. (PIO-PNP)


Ideal as a lavish receptacle in which to serve the most luscious medjool or barhi dates, the caddy's generous proportions easily accommodate all manner of indulgences, and not necessarily edible. Use it for beauty or desktop essentials, for potpourri, or as a keepsake box. In satin finish pewter with a wood finial.


text:
#ShoppingWith
Conjure a Prehistoric World with These Palm-Frond Fossil Slabs
The museum-quality pieces were excavated from a site in Wyoming, which was once a lush, nearly tropical Eden.
Eocene Epoch palm-frond fossil diptych, 2019
Rarely has the scientifically significant been as visually appealing as the two halves of a 50-million-year-old palm-frond fossil currently on offer from Green River Stone Company, in Logan, Utah. Perfectly preserved in two book-matched stone slabs that stand eight feet tall, the frond is from a tree that grew in the Eocene Epoch.
"It was long ago, when Wyoming was Florida," says proprietor Cynthia Scott. She means that Wyoming, where the fossil was found, had a subtropical climate back then, about 50 million years before modern humans first appeared on this planet.
Jerome Montgomery, Scott's husband and the company's director of geology and paleontology, was the one who excavated it, with the help of his team. He explains that the key to the frond's pristine condition is the former lake bed where it was found, one of the world's most renowned fossil deposits.
Jerome Montgomery's team unearths fossils at the Green River Stone Company's private quarry in southwestern Wyoming.
"It was the best location for preserving specimens," Montgomery says. "There was enough depth that whatever died or dropped in there and fell to the bottom wouldn't decay because of the lack of oxygen." The rivers feeding the lake carried in extra sediment for good measure, and there the frond lay until it was excavated, in 2018.
"This is a home-run, spectacular item," Scott says of the pair of striking black silhouettes in textured stone. "The symmetry is so compelling." She couldn't help but suggest ways to use the unique pieces, which have a particular appeal, given the world's current preoccupation with the environment. "Having them flank a fireplace or entryway — there's so much potential," Scott says. "You could decorate a room around them."
Discover More Green River Stone Company Fossils
10 Incredible Dinosaur-Era Fossils, Bones and Artifacts
28 Summer-Perfect Pool Houses
29 Incredible Pools
9 Makers Who Are Crafting Eco-Friendly Decor
35 Wondrous Outdoor Dining Spaces
No more stories to load; check out Introspective Magazine.


text:
Career Development in Children: Identifying Critical Success Conditions and Strategies
HomeProjectsCareer Development in Children: Identifying Critical Success Conditions and Strategies
Project Partner: Ironwood Consulting
Career-related learning helps children understand who they could become. Alongside that, it helps them develop a healthy sense of self that aids development of their foundational skills and enables them to reach their full potential (Niles & Harris-Bowlsbey, 2016). We know that teachers engage students in a variety of learning and play activities that introduce and develop foundational concepts and skills, such as healthy habits, socioemotional skills, empathy and teamwork. Such concepts and skills are crucial for successful career development in later life-stages, but they are not usually undertaken through a career development lens by grade 4-6 teachers. This study will shed light on how such foundational concepts and skills, introduced and developed by classroom teachers, intersect with career development and manifest into career-related learning in Canadian elementary schools. It is anticipated this research will highlight the important and often unrecognized work done by elementary educators, including what strategies and interventions they use to develop these critical skills.
Develop a greater understanding of what is happening in elementary education in Canada related to introducing/building career-related foundational skills (including current curriculum, how career development is incorporated into learning);
Produce a catalogue of career-related foundational skills;
Produce a teacher's aid toolkit that validates and informs teacher practice;
Collate knowledge of different practices in delivering career-related learning;
Develop a greater understanding of the role geographic context plays in influencing practice related to delivering career-related learning;
Increase understanding of the barriers and enablers (conditions and strategies) to good practice in career-related learning;
Identify the learning outcomes required at grades 4-6 for career, enterprise and employability learning;
Document innovative and creative practices including the use of digital technology to deliver career-related learning;
Understand approaches to the evaluation of teaching and learning practice; and
Develop a greater understanding of the training and development needs of teachers, which enable them to be more effective in the delivery of career-related learning.
The project will use a mixed-methods, multi-phase approach, gathering data from educators (including administrators and teachers), parents and grade 4-6 students in public school settings across Canada and individuals within the wider business and industry communities. Diverse perspectives (including Indigenous communities, immigrant communities, francophone communities, special needs educators, and urban, rural, and remote communities) will be included to deepen understanding of individual and collective beliefs, perceptions and interpretations concerning career-related education.
Research is being undertaken by an international project team lead by Dr Lorraine Godden, Senior Partner, Ironwood Consulting and Consultant and Instructor II at Carleton University; Nicki Moore, Senior Researcher iCeGS, University of Derby; Dr Heather Nesbitt, Consultant and Adjunct Assistant Professor at Queen's University; and Dr Stefan Merchant, Consultant and Adjunct Assistant Professor at Queen's University. The project team has been extensively involved in a variety of research projects that align with and underpin the need for the proposed study, including research related to the Ontario Youth Job Connection program and the UK's Gatsby Benchmarks.
Supporting Career Development in Children: A Literature Review
This document contains a review of literature which investigates the practices to support the development of career-related foundational skills in children Grades 4-6 in Canadian elementary schools. The review explores the scholarly literature related to career development terminology, career development frameworks and theoretical understandings, and empirical work that examines the ways teachers introduce and develop foundational career skills.
This literature review includes:
An extensive exploration of career-related terminology that educators might encounter in the career-related work in schools;
An outline of typical career-related learning outcomes seen in Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom; and
An examination of what career-related learning looks like in elementary schools.
Supporting Career Development in Children: Curriculum and Policy Review
The curriculum and policy review examines provincial and territorial policy, reporting and curriculum documents for career-related learning, including relevant social studies, health and wellness, and social and emotional learning documents. This pan-Canadian exploration provides insight into what is happening in elementary education across Canada with regards to career development and education.
Findings include:
Some provinces and territories, such as Ontario, British Columbia and Yukon, have embraced a Kindergarten to Grade 12 approach to career education.
In other areas of the country, career education begins to emerge in Grades 5 and 6 (e.g., Alberta, Saskatchewan and the Atlantic provinces).
Still other regions do not appear to have any formal career education currently in place at the elementary level (e.g., Nunavut).
Supporting Career Development in Children: A Review of Business and Industry Partnerships
This literature review examines partnerships between elementary schools and business and industry. In particular, it reports on industry perspectives regarding the importance of developing foundational skills. It also establishes where and how the wider business and industry community are providing services, programming, training, resources or partnerships to and with elementary schools across Canada.
This review answers:
Which provinces and territories have business and industry partnerships?
What partnerships and programs currently exist between business and industry and elementary schools?
Which provinces and territories have Industry Education Councils and what connections do they have with elementary schools?
Who will benefit from reading these reviews?
Teachers – in elementary and secondary schools who are supporting their students with career-related learning;
Guidance counsellors – who are delivering and managing career-related knowledge, information and services across their schools;
School leaders and district school board administrators – who are determining the scope of career-related learning across their schools;
Curriculum developers – who are looking for worthwhile practices to incorporate into career-related programming and development;
Policymakers – who are directing courses of action across the policy life cycle, and are evaluating the role of different policy actors within career-related policy in schools;
Government – who are making decisions as to what career-related learning should look like in schools; and
Business and industry partners – who are making decisions to form or undertake strategies that support career-related learning in their local and broader community schools.
To learn more about this project, contact Dr Lorraine Godden at lorraine@ironwoodconsulting.ca.


text:
Home/Government Appointment Discretion and Judicial Independence: preference and opportunistic effects on Brazilian Courts*
Government Appointment Discretion and Judicial Independence: preference and opportunistic effects on Brazilian Courts*
Código: WPE – 371
Autores/Pesquisadores:
Felipe Lopes
Paulo Furquim de Azevedo
The prolific literature on de facto judicial independence misses a key variable: the government's discretion over the appointment of Supreme Court Justices. In this paper we explore a distinct feature of the Brazilian judiciary system to assess political influence due to government appointment discretion. As there are two courts, the STF (Supreme Federal Court) and the STJ (Superior Court of Justice), which deal with similar matters and have different restrictions on the appointment of their members, it is possible to compare the degree of political influence to which they are subject. We test (1) whether there are differences in the degree of political influence depending on the president's discretion over the nomination of a justice, and (2) whether the justices actively benefit the party of the president who has appointed them. We find evidence of the former, but not of the latter effect.
Download do arquivo no formato PDF


The town's state legislative delegation has secured an amendment that will allow the town to apply for state reimbursement of the roof replacement project at Fairfield Warde High School.
An amendment to a recently approved state school construction bill means the town can apply for state reimbursement to replace the roof at Fairfield Warde High School.
"This positive news is a much-welcomed benefit for Fairfield taxpayers," First Selectman Michael Tetreau said.
The roof-replacement project was estimated to cost about $11 million, but the two bids received for the work came in at $6.36 million and $6.34 million. Tetreau estimated the town would receive a reimbursement of about 25 percent of the eligible costs.
Originally, town leaders made the decision not to seek state reimbursement because that would have required adherence to state regulations for the pitch of the high school's roof, which would have meant about an additional $5 million in costs. According to the town's legislative delegation, state environmental and clean-air quality regulations require roof replacement projects to make adjustments in the pitch of a roof to assure proper water runoff. But, state legislators said, the pitch requirement for Warde did not guarantee additional protection from water damage.
"We decided we were not going to spend $5 million to get about $3 million back," Tetreau said of the prospect of seeking reimbursement without the waiver on the roof's pitch.
State Rep. Brenda Kupchick, R-132, was contacted by school administrators in 2010 about the leaking high school roof, and Kupchick helped to shepherd the legislation through the committee process, joined by state Sen. John McKinney, R-Fairfield, and state Reps. Kim Fawcett, D-133, and Tony Hwang, R-134.
A statement released by the four legislators said, "The original intent of the law was to cover new construction, not replacement projects, so there was a good reason for us to seek the changes we needed."


text:
Gift (Compact Disc)
By Andrea J. Buchanan, Jessica Almasy (Read by), Therese Plummer (Read by)
High school sophomore Daisy Jones is just trying to get by unnoticed. It doesn't help that she's the new girl at school, lives in a trailer park, and doesn't even own a cell phone. But there's a good reason for all that: Daisy has a secret, unpredictable power -- one only her best friend, Danielle, knows about. Despite her "gift" (or is it a curse?), Daisy's doing a good job of fitting in, and a gorgeous senior named Kevin even seems interested in her But when Daisy tries to help Vivi, a mysterious classmate in a crisis, she soon discovers that her new friend has a secret of her own. Now Daisy and her friends must deal with chilling dreams and messages from the beyond. Can Daisy channel the power she's always tried to hide, before it's too late?
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Maximum Grade Level: 10
Social Themes - General (see also headings under Family)
Kobo eBook (March 27th, 2012): $17.99
Paperback (July 10th, 2012): $15.99
MP3 CD (August 25th, 2015): $9.99
Find a Book!


You might find it strange to call a garbage bag cheerful, but one look at these sunshiny yellow bags will change your mind. They'll brighten up any trash day, and the large 32-33 gallon size makes them really handy for cleaning up after a big gathering. The eye-catching color also means sorting your trash or charity donations is easy as pie. The high-quality low-density resin lets them handle bulky or sharp trash without puncturing, and they have a painstakingly reinforced gusset which gives them an extra line of defense against splitting or leaking, even under heavy loads.
These trash bags are perfect. I have never had anything leak and the come in great colors for the kitchen.
Excellent just excellent. 1.5 ml. Nice and heavy thick plastic.
No rips or tears. And the price was right. Actually a better deal than the big box stores. Will order again.


The weather was sunny and warm for the Sunday running of the Tour du Lac Brome, the Knowlton road race, which enjoyed a great turn-out for the 2006 edition of the 20km, 10km, 5 km and 1.6 km races around Brome Lake and the town of Knowlton.
In previous years the number of runners has been around 250 and the perfect conditions brought out large crowds from all over the Eastern Townships to take part in this very popular local marathon. The parking lot at the Brome Duck Farm was filled to capacity and crowds gathered early to get the best place ti pitch a few lawn chairs and hide a cooler in the shade of the trees to enjoy the race.
The Lions Park is the traditional start and finish line of the race. The 20 km race started first with runners taking off at around 10:45 for a loop around Brome Lake and through Knowlton. The elite group of racers usually finish the 20 km loop in just over an hour and the heat and strong beaming sun this year may have had some effect on the results.
Crowds along Victoria street taking part in garage sales cheered as the first runners began heading for the finish line giving the extra moral support for the sweating joggers who were brave enough to run 20km on a Sunday after a Saint Jean night of celebration. The cheering was inturrupted a couple of times by the sirens of the First Responders heading out to an accident that occured on the course. Details were not released but the later races were delayed because of the incident during the one leg of the race.
After the race a the runners had a picnic in the Lions Park, relaxing with a souvlaki and mixture of salads or enjoying a frosty beer to help ease the cramp leg muscles and sore calves. The park was full of family and friends of runners and just supporters of this ever popular race. The park was full of new faces as many of the participants come to Knowlton from all over Quebec to participate in this well known event. No doubt the runners enjoy visiting Knowlton and after the race the downtown area was filled with tourists enjoying the shopping in Knowlton and sitting on the terrases of the local restaurants enjoying the sounds and smells of a beautiful summer day.
Of course, as far as racing 20km goes, or even running a 1.6 km race I must say that I would really only be inclined to do so if there was a large slobbering, hungry wildact chasing me! But judging by the tattoo on this runners leg that isn't a sentiment shared by everyone. This serious runner had a tattoo of himself crossing the finish line of the Boston Marathon as well as the times and years of his performances in Montreal Marathon and other 26 km events. The Tour du Lac Brome brings out all calibre of runners from those just trying to test their limits to others who are obsessive about running and living the lifestyle of ultimate health and movement.
To see more photos and the results of the race of this year and previous years visit the official Tour du Lac Brome website.


text:
The best PS5 accessories in 2022
By Rael Hornby
Squeeze more potential out of your console with the best PS5 accessories
Black SN850 NVMe SSD
SC-HTB01 SoundSlayer
PS5 Media Remote
PlayStation 5 DualSense Charging Station
Sony PS5 Console Cover...
PlayStation Pulse 3D Wireless Headset
Arctis 7P+
(Image credit: Sony)
The best PS5 accessories offer next-gen newcomers and early adopters alike ways to improve upon Sony's stellar console. From increased immersion to added convenience, the right accessory can take your day-to-day PlayStation experience to the next level. While it's early days for the accessories market of Sony's ninth-generation console, there's still plenty of interesting options available.
Don't yet own a PS5? Join the club. Personally, I just like to buy the accessories regardless and include them in any casual selfies I take so that people think I do. But if that sort of superficial peacocking isn't to your tastes, you can always check out our PS5 U.K. stock watch or PS5 U.S. stock watch pages. You can also follow Laptop Mag on Twitter where we do our best to post any news on retail stock when available.
If you're looking for a way to squeeze more potential out of your PS5, look no further. At Laptop Mag, we've compiled our list of the best PS5 accessories currently available, and a few others that are coming soon. So whether you're looking for a new headset for online play or a hassle-free way to keep your controller topped up, here are the best PS5 accessories.
What are the best PS5 accessories?
The PlayStation DualSense Controller is no doubt one of the best PS5 accessories to come out of this console generation so far. Sony's DualSense controller takes rumble to a whole new level, adding impressive adaptive triggers and responsive haptic feedback. While you likely already own one, there's always room for one more until the final nail is planted into the casket of couch co-op. Especially so if you use a charging cradle and want to easily hot swap between game pads.
Speaking of which, the Sony DualSense Charging Station is another fantastic accessory. Able to house and charge two DualSense controllers at once, Sony's charging station is ideal if you want a wire-free solution to charging up your controller or would like a backup available at the drop of a hat.
Games are ballooning in size, and there's no reason to think it won't carry on the longer into the current generation of consoles we get. As such, additional storage could become a genuine necessity. That's where the WD Black SN850 SSD comes into play, offering an abundance of additional storage up to 2TB. It's fast, easy to install and comes recommended by the PS5's lead system architect.
1. PlayStation DualSense Controller
The best accessory for PS5
Battery life: ~10 Hours
Connection: Bluetooth / USB-C
Compatibility: PS5 / Windows
Great ergonomics
Immersive adaptive triggers
Responsive haptic feedback
Sony's DualShock brand of controllers had been a staple of the iconic PlayStation style since 1997. Sleek, light and tactile; the DualShock was the king of console controllers for many. However, with the arrival of the PS5, Sony decided to retire the DualShock brand, and unveil the all-new DualSense controller in its wake. A change like this isn't without its risks, and while some had their doubts, the DualSense has proven itself to be a worthy successor to the throne.
Take everything you loved about Sony's DualShock 4, then cram it full of growth hormones and the best haptic feedback tech around. What results is one of the most immersive controllers to arrive to console gaming since the Wiimote. The rumble motors are replaced by dual actuators that offer an incredible range of dynamic vibrations. The all new adaptive triggers add varying levels of force and tension to your in-game interactions. This new level of feedback can simulate a wide range of in-game situations, from the clash of swords to the feel of the terrain beneath the wheels in your favorite racing title.
While a DualSense controller comes with the PS5, there's no harm in adding a second. Couch co-op might be less prominent right now, but it's nowhere near dead, especially when it comes to party games. It also makes it easier to hot swap between two controllers when your battery runs low, preventing any interruption in play.
2. WD Black SN850 SSD
The best SSD for PS5
Capacity: 500GB/1TB/2TB
Read speed: 7,000MB/s
Write speed: 4,100MB/s - 5,100MB/s
View at Newegg (opens in new tab)
View at GameStop (opens in new tab)
Lightning fast read/write speeds
Recommended by those in the know
Impressive SSD lifespan
Heatsink option is pricey, but necessary
Is this truly an accessory, or is it a much needed upgrade? Who's to say, but I'm including it anyway. The WD Black SN850 SSD is the solution to your looming PS5 storage problem, and if you're not aware of that problem, take note of how many modern titles are routinely creeping towards 100GB in size. Games like Far Cry 6, Call of Duty: Warzone and Ark: Survival Evolved are all weighing in north of 90GB, and they're not even the heaviest hitters — Spider-Man Miles Morales Ultimate Edition requires an eye-watering 170GB alone. That brings us back full circle to the WD Black SN850 SSD.
Western Digital's SSD was one of the first that met Sony's compatibility requirements for the PS5, and to this day it remains as one of the best options to choose from when it comes to expanding your storage. Not only does it offer lightning-fast read and write speeds, but the 1TB option also has an impressive lifespan of 600 Terabytes Written. The spritely SSD is even recommended by the PS5's lead system architect Mark Cerny.
The only downside to the WD Black SN850 SSD is its price. While the regular cost of the base SN850 is already a sizable $189.99, Sony recommends using SSDs outfitted with a heatsink, which can push that price up to $249.99. Whether or not the convenience of having all your favorite games on hand is worth that price is entirely up to you. However, if you don't have lightning fast internet, a purchase like this can make a massive difference over time.
3. Panasonic SoundSlayer GN01 Wearable Gaming Speaker
The best neckset for PS5
Connection: 3.5mm
Noise Cancelling mic: Yes
Echo Cancelling mic: Yes
Speaker: 3.0 cm Cone type x 4
Battery life: ~7 hours
View at World Wide Stereo (opens in new tab)
4-channel surround sound
Noise & echo canceling microphone
Lightweight and comfy
Immersive but not isolating
Weaker headset audio
In 2009, peripheral manufacturer Mad Catz unveiled a pretty unconventional Modern Warfare branded 'throat communicator.' Inspired by real-life military tech, the neckset used a snug-fitting plastic collar to pick up speech directly from the voice box. It seemed pretty impressive up until you wore it. If your neck was any thicker than a Sharpie, it felt as if you were being slowly throttled into a pressure headache by the hands of an apathetic eight-year-old child.
Luckily, the 'neckset' has since come a long way, and Panasonic seems to have things firmly on the right track. The SoundSlayer GN01 Wearable Gaming Speaker sits on the shoulders and neck, much like a pair of neckband earphones. Its lightweight build makes it comfortable to wear over longer stretches, and houses an industry-first four-channel real surround sound speaker for an incredibly immersive experience. Panasonic's GN01 is also outfitted with a high-performance noise and echo-canceling dual-microphone, which allows clear communication without any interference from the mounted speakers.
Of course, you're likely to get the best audio experience with a pair of quality headphones. However, the SoundSlayer GN01 provides a way of feeling connected to your game without feeling disconnected to everything else going on around you. This could very well be a double-edged sword in certain situations, but it makes a great alternative to a headset when you need to listen out for a package arriving or when you feel like breaking the stigma of gamers being antisocial shut-ins.
4. PlayStation 5 Media Remote
The best multimedia accessory for PS5
View at Macy's (opens in new tab)
Great for box-set bingers
Dedicated app buttons
Matching PS aesthetic
Built-in IR transmitter
Only available in white
Sure, it may not be the most exciting accessory, but that doesn't mean it isn't one of the better ones out there. The PlayStation 5 Media Remote is exactly what it claims to be — a media remote for the PlayStation 5. Its buttons and chassis match the overall aesthetic of the PS5 itself. It can even do all of the classic things you'd expect from a remote, such as inconveniently disappearing down the sides of your couch or suddenly reviving dead batteries because you pressed the buttons harder.
Convenience is the thing to keep in mind when looking at this accessory. If you're a media junkie, you'll be well aware that the PlayStation has much more to offer than gaming. With a host of apps for both video and audio streaming services, your PS5 has real jack-of-all-trades entertainment potential.
Don't waste both hands fumbling with thumbsticks and menus, the PS5 Media Remote comes with four shortcut buttons to rapidly access lifetimes of content from Spotify, YouTube, Disney+ and Netflix. What's more, you'll still have a hand free for holding your pizza.
5. Sony DualSense Charging Station
The best charging cradle for PS5
View at Adorama (opens in new tab)
3-hour charge time
Houses two DualSense controllers
Official product
Keeps things organized
The PS5's DualSense controller can comfortably last anywhere between 9 and 10 hours of playtime. However, there's nothing worse than picking up your controller the next day to find it's as dead as Google Stadia. While the time it takes to fully charge the controller is just 3 hours, that's a lot of wasted time not playing your favorite games.
After gaming into the early hours, you may well have forgotten to plug your controller in to charge. Or even accidentally shut down your PS5 thus halting any ongoing charging. That's where Sony's DualSense Charging Station becomes such a handy accessory. No more fumbling with cables or leaving your PS5 on standby. Simply drop your DualSense controller into the cradle and push down. That's it.
If you have a second DualSense controller, then the charging station becomes even more useful. Anytime you get a low battery warning, you can simply hot swap to a freshly charged gamepad. With the Sony DualSense Charging Station, you can ensure your game sessions are interrupted as infrequently as possible, making it an ideal accessory for the PS5.
6. Sony PS5 Console Covers
The best choice for PS5 customization
Visit Site (opens in new tab)
Easy to attach
A splash of color!
Limited selection
Not cheap
The black-and-white color scheme of the PS5 isn't for everyone. Aside from the fact it makes your PlayStation look like some chad penguin's popped collar, white doesn't tend to conform to most people's entertainment setups. The fact that the PlayStation 5's faceplates are so easy to remove has led a number of third-party manufacturers to spring up around the internet, offering alternative colors and designs. However, Sony has been rather litigious in its efforts to prevent the existence of these third-party plates, often clamping down on a business before they can get their first batch of orders out of the door.
Over a year after the PS5's launch, Sony has taken a break from its anti-consumer, capitalist bully methods to begin offering its own custom faceplates. Wave goodbye to those white fins, and say hello to Midnight Black and Cosmic Red.
Well, that isn't the greatest of selections to choose from, either, but other colors like Nova Pink, Starlight Blue, and Galactic Purple are expected to follow sometime in the first half of the year.
7. Pulse 3D Wireless Headset
The best headset for PS5
Connection: 3.5mm/USB Wireless
Noise cancelling: No
Drivers: 40mm
Tempest 3D audio
Native PS5 EQ settings
Mic isn't the best
3D audio isn't new, but it is new to the PlayStation 5. Last generation's Xbox One had access to Dolby Atmos, a surround sound technology that added height channels in order for sounds to be interpreted as three-dimensional objects. While PlayStation didn't follow in its footsteps until the PS4 Pro, the use of Dolby Atmos was only compatible with Blu-Ray movies. However, when it came to the PS5, Sony had 3D audio for gaming at the forefront of their minds.
Instead of adopting Dolby Atmos, Sony developed an entirely new proprietary 3D audio format. The result of which is Tempest 3D audio. The Pulse 3D wireless headset is the best way to experience the true potential of this new audio tech, as it delivers incredible soundscapes with crystal clear clarity. You can even alter EQ settings on the fly thanks to native options on your PS5, saving you the hassle of connecting to a PC like most other headsets.
While the built-in mic isn't the greatest, it is serviceable. But it's the 3D audio that's going to lure you in, and by many accounts, the experience is pretty impressive. Trace every footstep, feel the presence of every sound around you, and immerse yourself even deeper within your PlayStation experience with the Pulse 3D Wireless Headset.
8. PlayStation 5 HD Camera
The best streaming accessory for PS5
Dual wide-angle lenses
1080p capture
Chroma keying
Built-in stand
Poor in low light conditions
Are you wearing the best gaming headset? Are you sitting comfortably in the best gaming chair? Do you have one of the best USB microphones hooked up and ready to capture every word you utter? Then you're almost ready to take the world of Twitch by storm. What's missing? How about a way of throwing your gorgeous mug on screen and showcasing all of your gaming drip and swagger to the world at large?
The PlayStation 5 HD Camera is a great and simple way to broadcast or capture yourself alongside your gameplay footage. Dual wide-angle lenses allow you to record Full HD images and effortlessly overlay that footage over gameplay. The camera is also capable of upping the production level of your footage by chroma keying out your background if you make use of a green screen.
While there may be a slight stigma in using your PlayStation 5 to broadcast gameplay, it does take much of the hassle out of live streaming. With the use of the PlayStation 5 HD Camera alongside services like Lightstream, there's very little to hold you back from creating interesting visuals for your streams and media.
9. SteelSeries Arctis 7P+ Headset
The best premium headset for PS5
Solid gaming audio
Premium aluminum design
Comfortable ear cups
No EQ settings
SteelSeries have some fantastic headsets available for a number of platforms, and the Arctic 7P+ is one of the best. Building upon the success of the Arctis 7P, one of the best gaming headsets available at the time, the Arctis 7P+ improves on battery life, adds USB Type-C charging and supports the PS5's Tempest 3D audio. It's a decent upgrade to an already top-of-the-line gaming headset and solidifies the Arctis 7P+ as the go-to premium headset for PS5 players.
Wearing the Arctis 7P+ is a dream thanks to its adjustable velcro Airweave headband and ear cushions. The Airweave fabric used is a breathable moisture-wicking material that affords impressive comfort and cushioning for everyday use, which makes it ideal for gaming sessions. The headset fits snugly, tailoring to a variety of head shapes and sizes without any tightness or squeezing. They're comfortable enough for all-day use, and with a sizable battery life of roughly thirty hours you can do just that.
Whether you're using the Arctis 7P+ for gaming or listening to music, the 40mm neodymium drivers offer some incredible audio. Sounds are loud, clear and well balanced. From the intense concussive blasts of fireballs in Final Fantasy XIV to thwipping around New York City as Spider-Man, the 7P+ consistently impressed.
See our full SteelSeries Arctis 7P+ review.
10. PlayStation Plus
The second best paywall you'll ever buy into
View at CDKeys (opens in new tab)
Free titles every month
PS+ Collection library
Discounts & cloud storage
It's a paywall
It just wouldn't be console gaming if you didn't have to pay extra to play with friends online. Across the board, console manufacturers have buried the concept of free online multiplayer deeper than dinosaur bones. While some semblance of free multiplayer still resides within the hit-or-miss flophouse of free-to-play games, if you want to get the most out of your online titles, a paid online multiplayer subscription is your only option. PlayStation Plus is Sony's online subscription model and while it can be seen as an unnecessary paywall, there are some redeeming qualities to be found.
Beyond access to online play, a PS+ subscription also allows players to redeem a selection of free games each month. These games can range from indie titles to full on AAA releases, and they remain yours to play while you have an ongoing subscription. PS5 owners also have exclusive access to the PlayStation Plus Collection, which includes access to twenty of the most popular PS4 games for free.
Furthermore, you'll get exclusive PlayStation store discounts alongside 100GB of cloud storage for save files. That means you can continue your in-game progress even if you sign-in to a PlayStation while away from home. There's perks-a-plenty to be sure, but it is still a needless paywall to online content. However, even if you don't play online games, the additions to your game library might be worth the price of a subscription alone.
Looking ahead: PS VR2 & Project Spartacus
You may be wondering why our list of the best PS5 accessories doesn't include Sony's popular PSVR headset. The reason isn't compatibility, as the headset, PlayStation Camera and library of PSVR games are entirely compatible with the PS5. Instead, when it comes to Sony's PSVR, the writing is on the wall.
Last year, Sony revealed the first details of their long rumored next-gen VR headset, ingeniously dubbed the PSVR2. The new system seemingly leaves the original PSVR in the dust with improvements right across the board. As such, recommending anybody spend $300+ on the original PSVR at this point seems futile. That is, of course, unless Sony announces that the PSVR2 is not backwards compatible with older PSVR titles.
If you'd like to keep in the know about PSVR2 and hear the latest rumors and speculation, feel free to check out our dedicated page for the PSVR2 and everything we know so far.
Project Spartacus
To put it lightly, last gen started as a bit of a disaster for Xbox. Aside from an initial attempt to kill the used games market, the insistence that we allow a Kinect camera to observe our every move and remain always online did have quite the Big Brother vibe to it. However, even after dropping many of these cursed features, Xbox had an uphill battle on its hands. One of the things that pulled it back for Microsoft was the mightily impressive Xbox Game Pass service, a subscription based game library that works a bit like Netflix.
Sony has its own similar subscription service in PS Now. It's a reasonable offering of downloadable and streamable titles, but it hasn't quite managed to reach the same heights as its Xbox counterpart. Luckily though, it hasn't reached the same depths as Google's. With that being said, if rumors are to be believed, Sony has something up its sleeves with revamping the service entirely.
Project Spartacus is the heavily rumored revamp and merging of both PlayStation Plus and PlayStation Now services into a single subscription package with even more to offer. Owners of either the PS4 or PS5 will apparently be able to access online multiplayer and a library of classic and modern PlayStation titles stemming all the way back to the original console. While true backwards compatibility has been a thorn in Sony's side, a recently filed patent does seemingly indicate that there may finally be a solution on the horizon, adding further weight to the mounting Spartacus rumors.
While there's no official word from Sony about the validity of these reports, the service could be unveiled as early as the Spring of 2022 if they are to be believed.
Sony PlayStation 5 DualSense Wireless
Western Digital Black SN850 NVMe SSD
Panasonic SC-HTB01 SoundSlayer
Sony PS5 Media Remote
Sony PlayStation 5 DualSense Charging
Sony PlayStation Pulse 3D Wireless
Sony PlayStation 5 HD Camera
SteelSeries Arctis 7P+
Sony PlayStation Plus Essential
Rael Hornby
iOS 17 tipped to support Apple's new AR/VR headset — what we know
Apple Studio Display just dropped $300 — lowest price ever
Hurry! The MacBook Pro M2 is at its lowest price ever
Dell Inspiron 16 2-in-1 (7620) review
WWE 2K23 release date, pre order bonus and early access info


text:
Q: Formik handling state with array of objects I'm newly using Formik library for forms and I ran into problem. I'm not sure how can I handle state with array of objects from inside the component. I know about setValues and setFieldValue methods.. also about FieldArray but my target is to add newZone into newZones array when I click on add button and I don't want to render it. I want to customize rendering and place it under accordion.
sandbox here: https://codesandbox.io/s/rough-haze-zdlw9?file=/src/App.js
Will I need all custom handlers? Will I need to use local state inside component and then use setFieldValue to set state? Or can I somehow use FieldArray in there without rendering?
Thank you

A: You are using React-Bootstrap components instead Formik components, so you must manually assign handleChange and value props to every input component. You also have to call setFieldValue() when user clicks button Add.
Example:
https://codesandbox.io/s/quirky-leaf-tr3rv


text:
by Tom McCarthy
284 pages, Alma Books, Richmond, 2006
Review by Bill Kirton
A personal aside before I start. I was aware of the power of PR and bullshit quite early. A brief (but relevant) example: in sixth year at school, the headmaster thought it would be useful to offer us extra-mural clubs to broaden our interests. I chose philosophy – not because I knew anything about it or found it interesting but because I knew it would impress others. Week after week I sat through discussions, understanding nothing. Then came my turn to lead the discussion. 'You're doing French,' said the two teachers in charge. 'Why not take existentialism?' (Sounds unlikely, but it's true.)
So I did. I read the slimmest volumes I could find and gave a talk saying things like 'Existence precedes essence', 'we are condemned to be free', and 'actions only have meaning retrospectively'. All the others in the group (including the two teachers) nodded and pretended to understand. Needless to say, I had absolutely no idea what I was talking about. But I got away with it.
Later, as a student, I had to read the primary (fictional) sources – such as Sartre's La Nausée and Camus's L'Etranger. They were both disturbing, the Camus was a better read, but the need to understand the thinking interfered with the straightforward pleasure of reading and (paradoxically) involvement. Now, however, Tom McCarthy's Remainder redresses the balance. It conveys the ennui and apparent disjointedness of experience felt by Camus's Meursault and the nausea engendered by the sheer thinginess of things as perceived by Sartre's Roquentin. But it's also a bloody good, mysterious, page-turning read.
It's narrated by the unnamed hero who, as a result of an unspecified accident (something technological fell from the sky and hit him), has to relearn to do even simple things. The settlement he receives from those responsible is 8 ½ million pounds, which frees him to indulge his various fancies. This is established very early and the rest of the book charts his progressively more complex attempts to access authenticity (of the narrative and of himself). He's acutely aware of the contingency of everything and has a fixation with the immediacy of things. He remembers or experiences specific incidents and, thanks to his money and the organisational abilities of a facilitator, Naz, he's able to reconstruct and/or relive them in minutely conceived detail. In immaculate existential parlance, it's not a question of acting, but doing. Enacting and re-enacting. It's a series of attempts to become one with the place and the moment, a search for substance and authenticity.
With the same lack of emotion as Meursault and the constant recurrence of Roquentin's feelings of nausea (dizziness is a constant with him), the character moves through his life with a single-mindedness of purpose and a progressive determination to overcome the arbitrariness of experience.
At the same time, McCarthy reveals the workings of the novel form itself, simultaneously undermining and yet confirming the power of fiction to be (or seem) real. His language is chosen with great care to convey both precision and imprecision. At one point, the narrator wants a specific piece of music to be played on the piano; it's part of a major narrative sequence that's choreographed in minute detail, but his instructions to the facilitator with regard to the music are 'it was called Second or Third Concerto or Sonata in A Major or B-flat, Minor, Major – something along those lines.'
Elsewhere, he describes a concierge thus: 'as I walked around her in a circle, looking at her from all sides, her stunted arms and featureless face seemed to emanate an almost toxic level of significance.' His description of a van recalls Roquentin's feeling of nausea when he holds the pebble or looks at the root of the tree and senses the excrescences of matter. 'It seemed bigger, its sides more faded, its tyres more bulging, its edges more turning, its steps more pobbled, more ready to take weight and relinquish it again, its indicators and exhaust more dirty, more protruding. There was something excessive about its sheer presence, something overwhelming.' Matter, he says, is his 'undoing'.
But my focus on the philosophy is doing McCarthy a disservice. This is a terrific novel, one which evokes all these uneasy feelings and builds from very funny, obsessive behaviours to a perhaps unexpected and yet inevitable violence. There's the need to procure enough liver and pans to maintain the smell of it frying at a constant level for hours, or days, on end. Naz also has to source a supply of cats to laze on and run across the roof opposite – the problem being that they keep falling off and getting squished on the ground. And there are killings, re-enactments of a murder, and an anarchic ending which nonetheless is a perfect resolution for the hero.
As well as being a persuasive (and entertaining) rendering of the existential condition, this is a compelling story. For McCarthy, accuracy is not the same as truth, the unexpected will always intervene in the best-laid plans. Remainder satisfies at many levels and hoists its author into my select list of favourites.
Labels: Bill Kirton


Twitch boss Matthew DiPietro is clear that the industry needs to do more about online sexism in gaming.
The senior executive was speaking to us from the streaming site's headquarters in San Francisco.
Gamers have told Newsbeat about their experiences and Twitch says it's doing all it can to stamp out sexism on the platform.
But Matthew tells us this isn't a problem that Twitch can solve on its own.
He says the industry needs to invest money to "move forward on this issue".
He's calling for "investment in terms of people, education and money.
"Technology that allows users to create the experiences that they want on their various social media channels - Twitch included.
"It's a very tough problem and I think it will take a long time for the industry as a whole to come to grips with, but we are very interested in playing our part."
As programme manger on the site, former e-sports host Anna Prosser Robinson is in charge of the content that Twitch broadcasts on its own platform.
She tells us about the work they're currently doing to tackle sexism.
"It's making sure we show a more diverse cast of faces on our channels.
"That can inspire others to get on board and be a part of the conversation."
She says the site is also working to moderate comments more efficiently.
"We're actively seeking ways to give our broadcasters more and better tools to control what they see and what they're on the receiving end of.
"People can potentially be able to use technology to identify messages that might not be automatically banned… but might have a malicious intent."
For some gamers these changes can't come quickly enough.
Matthew tells us: "There is no such thing as fast enough.
"There is always faster and we're committed to building tools to create a world in which harassment is no more than a tiny nuisance, if that."
TIGA is one of the trade bodies that looks after gaming in the UK.
It says: "Most games businesses take this subject very seriously.
"There is always more that can be done.
"Games businesses should have community policies in place and sanctions against people who infringe these policies."
Xbox makers Microsoft told us: "We believe that everyone has the right to create, play, and share their opinions about games without the fear of being a target of violence, harassment, or threats.
"No company is immune and that's why the industry must take a strong stand against this issue."
YouTube told Newsbeat: "Bullying and harassment has no place on our platform and we have clear community guidelines against it."
"We're extremely proud that YouTube gives anyone, regardless of gender, age, ethnicity or sexual orientation a platform to succeed."
UKIE is the other body that represents the gaming industry in the UK.
It says: "Online abuse is a society-wide issue and is a shared responsibility to combat through technology and through education.
"The games industry takes this seriously and companies employ teams as well as technical solutions to report abuse."


text:
Quality-of-Life Planning Handbook
This handbook provides a roadmap to the quality-of-life planning process. It provides guidelines for organizing the process, a sample schedule and examples of components that will become part of the plan. Contact us to purchase printed copies. Also available in Spanish (does not include all graphics from the English version).
Updated Quality-of-Life plans
Pilsen: A Center of Mexican Life
Pilsen, on Chicago's Southwest Side, is one of the city's largest Latino communities, known for its bustling streets (18th Street, lined by shops and restaurants, is the main drag) and lively Mexican culture. The Resurrection Project, established in 1990, is leading NCP redevelopment efforts there.
South Chicago: Change on the Horizon
Not that long ago, South Chicago was synonymous with steel, which was produced in great quantities there. But as that business waned, so did the community. Recently, however, residents and community organizations have brought new life to neighborhoods that had been in decline.
West Haven: Rising Like the Phoenix
The Near West Side, on the outskirts of Chicago's loop, suffered serious disinvestment following the disturbances of the late 1960s, as businesses and residents fled for more secure surroundings. But following construction of the United Center, the West Haven neighborhood witnesses the arrival of more affluent newcomers who have renovated buildings next door to rehabbed Chicago Housing Authority apartments.
Quality-of-Life plans 2005
Ten new quality-of-life plans were officially released by New Communities Program neighborhoods on May 18, 2005, culminating 18 months of planning that involved more than 3,500 people citywide. Each of the plans is available in Adobe PDF format below. These are large downloads (about 5 MB each), so they may take a while on slower connections. Shorter summaries are also available.
View all Quality-of-Life Plans
Quality-of-Life Planning
Summary of all the NCP plans: Chicago Neighborhood Plans
View all Quality-of-Life documents
Economic profiles, existing land use, school test scores, and more
View all maps and data
Economic profiles, links to resources on affordable housing, child care, organizational development, market research, fundraising, and other topics of interest to CDCs. Existing land use, school test scores, and more.
New Communities Program partners
Local & federal government
Resources for non-profits
Community development resources
Chicago Lawn
Douglas, Grand Boulevard, North Kenwood-Oakland
East Garfield
Little Village (South Lawndale)
Pilsen (Lower West Side)
Be sure to select Chicago LISC for program designation.
All donations are tax-deductible.
Lots of news, all in one place
Looking for information about LISC Chicago? 4/1/2014
Crowdfunding for community development? Yes! 5/17/2013
Neighborhood network eyes ACA push 5/10/2013
Two communities plan "all-in" safety initiatives 4/18/2013
Fired up, ready to go: LISC Chicago's neighborhood network 4/8/2013
Access quality-of life-plans, NCP publications, photographs, and other documents and media that chronicle how Chicago neighborhoods are working to become better and stronger.
NCP publications
Community development links
Learn about NCP, LISC/Chicago, and the people who direct those programs and offices.
LISC/Chicago
Officers and consultants
This page can be found online at http://www.newcommunities.org/tools/index.asp
LISC/Chicago's New Communities Program (www.newcommunities.org)
135 S. LaSalle St., #2230
Fax: 312-422-0802info@newcommunities.org
The New Communities Program is supported by a major grant from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
Website design by Webitects.com
Copyright © 2003–2019 Local Initiatives Support Corporation/Chicago


Yum! Grinsane is now two months old with over 20 comics online! March Madness is here, and not the kind that requires a basketball – there are lots more strange and silly toons coming your way. Check out the archive if you've missed any of your meds (the cartoon kind that make you smile like a skeleton).