text:
import { List, Map, fromJS } from 'immutable';
import { expect } from 'chai';

import reducer from '../src/reducer';

const { describe, it } = global;

describe('reducer', () => {
  it('handles SET_STATE', () => {
    const initialState = Map();
    const action = {
      type: 'SET_STATE',
      state: Map({
        vote: Map({
          pair: List.of('Trainspotting', '28 Days Later'),
          tally: Map({Trainspotting: 1}),
        }),
      }),
    };
    const nextState = reducer(initialState, action);

    expect(nextState).to.equal(fromJS({
      vote: {
        pair: ['Trainspotting', '28 Days Later'],
        tally: { Trainspotting: 1 },
      },
    }));
  });

  it('handles SET_STATE with plain JS payload', () => {
    const initialState = Map();
    const action = {
      type: 'SET_STATE',
      state: {
        vote: {
          pair: ['Trainspotting', '28 Days Later'],
          tally: { Trainspotting: 1 },
        },
      },
    };
    const nextState = reducer(initialState, action);

    expect(nextState).to.equal(fromJS({
      vote: {
        pair: ['Trainspotting', '28 Days Later'],
        tally: { Trainspotting: 1 },
      },
    }));
  });

  it('handles SET_STATE with undefined payload', () => {
    const action = {
      type: 'SET_STATE',
      state: {
        vote: {
          pair: ['Trainspotting', '28 Days Later'],
          tally: { Trainspotting: 1 },
        },
      },
    };
    const nextState = reducer(undefined, action);

    expect(nextState).to.equal(fromJS({
      vote: {
        pair: ['Trainspotting', '28 Days Later'],
        tally: { Trainspotting: 1 },
      },
    }));
  });

  it('removes hasVoted on SET_STATE if pair changes', () => {
    const currentState = fromJS({
      vote: {
        pair: ['Trainspotting', '28 Days Later'],
        tally: { Trainspotting: 1 },
      },
      hasVoted: 'Trainspotting',
    });
    const action = {
      type: 'SET_STATE',
      state: {
        vote: {
          pair: ['Sunshine', 'Slumdog Millionaire'],
        },
      },
    };
    const nextState = reducer(currentState, action);

    expect(nextState).to.equal(fromJS({
      vote: {
        pair: ['Sunshine', 'Slumdog Millionaire'],
      },
    }));
  });

  it('handles VOTE by setting hasVoted', () => {
    const state = fromJS({
      vote: {
        pair: ['Trainspotting', '28 Days Later'],
        tally: { Trainspotting: 1 },
      },
    });

    const action = {
      type: 'VOTE',
      entry: 'Trainspotting',
    };

    const nextState = reducer(state, action);

    expect(nextState).to.equal(fromJS({
      vote: {
        pair: ['Trainspotting', '28 Days Later'],
        tally: { Trainspotting: 1 },
      },
      hasVoted: 'Trainspotting',
    }));
  });

  it('does not set hasVoted for VOTE on invalid entry', () => {
    const state = fromJS({
      vote: {
        pair: ['Trainspotting', '28 Days Later'],
        tally: { Trainspotting: 1 },
      },
    });

    const action = {
      type: 'VOTE',
      entry: 'Harry Potter',
    };

    const nextState = reducer(state, action);

    expect(nextState).to.equal(fromJS({
      vote: {
        pair: ['Trainspotting', '28 Days Later'],
        tally: { Trainspotting: 1 },
      },
    }));
  });
});

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-legislature-jocelyn-benson-michigan-elections-38d5966221e5a181ed922552bbf7c1d5
Voting 2020
Jocelyn Benson
GOP lawmakers get green light to appeal absentee ballot case
September 30, 2020 GMT
DETROIT (AP) — The Republican-controlled Legislature on Wednesday was granted the right to intervene and appeal a groundbreaking court decision that allows Michigan absentee ballots to be counted for 14 days after the election.
The ruling by Court of Claims Judge Cynthia Stephens means the case is certain to land in a higher court in the final weeks of the campaign season while more than 2 million absentee ballots are expected to be cast.
Stephens, noting mail delivery woes, recently said absentee ballots that are postmarked by Nov. 2 can be counted if they arrive within two weeks after the Nov. 3 election. Attorney General Dana Nessel and Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, both Democrats, have declined to appeal.
That leaves the GOP-led House and Senate to try to block the order and defend current law, which cuts off absentee ballots at 8 p.m. on Election Day. Separately, there are two lawsuits by Republicans in the Court of Claims and federal court.
President Donald Trump has been stirring doubts about mailed ballots, but experts have repeatedly said there are no signs of widespread fraud.
(backslash)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Kris Aquino says she used her own experience with ex-husband James Yap to give advice to Derek Ramsay.
Kris Aquino revealed that she gave Derek Ramsay advice about the latter's parental issues with estranged wife Mary Christine Jolly. "Kasi I went through something similar kaya marami akong nai-share sa kanya about it and I just said na … I told him, 'Derek look at me and James (Yap) who would ever thought na kaya naming mag-share ng parenting? Naayos namin na in such a way na it took time and effort from both ends," she said an interview with the press during the Chowking event on Tuesday, October 29, 2014.
Derek was sued by Mary Christine for allegedly failing to support their child, but reportedly settled in a "compromise agreement." The details of the agreement were kept private.
Earlier this year, Derek was rumored to be dating Kris but the Aquino and Abunda host clarified in her previous interviews that they are just friends. Kris said that she is currently single.


DJ Speedsta Naughty. South African Award Winning act DJ Speedsta returns as he kicks a start to the new year with a new track dubbed "Naughty" featuring Rapper, Yung Swiss.
Listen and Download The Hits Below.


Primary choirs are just great – every primary school should have one!
In the following ten tips we've rounded up the best of our advice and resources to help your choir well and truly take flight.
Singing is great fun and has the power to bring people together. Think about how to make at least one of your choirs fully inclusive and accessible to all pupils in your school.
Have a sense of what you want to achieve and set some achievable goals, e.g. regular rehearsals, a termly performance, to gain confidence in your leading, to improve singing quality.
Start with simple unison pieces aiming to sing them really well and gradually build the level of challenge and skill development. Consider the suitability of songs for the age of your singers, e.g. lyrics, musical complexity, how low (and high) the song goes. A healthy 'diet' of singing should be rich and diverse, so cover a broad range of styles, including pop, classical, world music, traditional, a cappella and accompanied. Keep in mind your pupils' opinions and preferences too, and consider them when making your choices. A great place to start is our Top Ten Songs for Choirs playlist.
If you need some encouragement, remind yourself with our Back to Basics guide and brush up on your conducting skills using Sing Up's handy poster.
Get other teachers/staff, parents or older pupils involved. Anyone who loves music, is enthusiastic or who can play piano or guitar would be a great asset. Older students might want to gain some experience of leading, so think about opportunities that will help them develop their skills. Check out our Leading Voices Activity Packs.
Give them constructive feedback discussing ways to improve as well as telling them what's working. Use recordings of the songs you're learning to demonstrate the songs and familiarise pupils with them. Get them to practise their listening skills - set them listening tasks so they learn how to listen in a focused way. Listening is a core musicianship skill they will need to develop over time.
5. Relax and support your breath from your tummy.
Whether to staff, family, friends, pupils, governors, the local community and other schools. It's a chance to be heard, refine your singing and increase confidence. It's also a great way of celebrating your choir's journey and achievements.
Start with rounds, as these prepare pupils to hold their own parts. Next attempt some simple part songs.
Include silly songs, games and warm-ups as these will keep students engaged and maintain energy levels.
What do you think of these tips? Have you got any to add? Let us know in the comments below!
- Teach everyone everything so no one is having to sit without anything to do. If it's a harmony that only a few will sing, teach it separately with just that group of singers if possible and then put together when everyone is at the rehearsal OR have sectionals and have some young leaders work with one group while you work on the harmony.
- Do a seating plan.
- Develop young leaders or singing detectives – roles could include teaching a warm-up, listening (and watching) for good singing posture, opening mouths wide, diction etc.
- Get an extra pair of hands to do the behaviour management so you can focus on the singing.
Any tips on managing behaviour when the choir group is large and a bit silly? I often find it difficult to try more challenging songs with older children (KS2) because their behaviour is a major distraction.
Awesome tips! WIl keep this near by to browse now and then. Thanks!


text:
Officer Lukas tweets his way to online fame
Mackenzie Malone, Guest Reporter|May 18, 2018
If you aren't following Officer Jacob Lukas on Twitter, you are definitely missing out. Lukas' popularity has soared among the students at Utica since starting his position as resource officer on April 17.
"It's grown so quickly," Lukas said. "120 followers to like a thousand in a matter of four days."
His Twitter account is one that students cannot stop talking about. For students at Utica that are active on Twitter, it's more than likely they've heard about Lukas' account.
"I think that Officer Lukas' Twitter is actually really funny," sophomore Maya Narusch said. "Even my mom has seen his tweets."
Lukas' funny and relatable tweets have allowed students to see him in a different light than the police officer that works in the school during the day.
"I think it's cool," junior Sama Alomar said, "that he has a Twitter that people can follow to see what he's doing in his everyday life outside of school."
Lukas has used his sudden fame to promote the Shelby Township Police Department Twitter page on his own account. He instructed his followers to follow the police departments page, with the incentive of a car pool karaoke video. Lukas told his followers that if they could get the account to 5,000 followers, he and Officer Leslie Heisler would post the car pool video on YouTube.
"I'm pretty surprised it took off the way it did," Lukas said. "We just wanted to get followers up on the Shelby page."
The karaoke video was uploaded to YouTube on May 14, and collected almost 5,000 views in three days.
Along with promoting the Shelby Police Department Twitter page, Officer Lukas has also been promoting #HumanizingTheBadge. The goal of the hashtag is to strengthen the relationship between the police force and the people that they protect.
"I think the point is to make people feel more comfortable approaching police," Officer Jim Malczewski said. "It's to let people know that police are people too."
Car Pool karaoke
Jacob Lukas
Officer Lukas
resource officer
Shebly Police Department
Uhs arrow
Mackenzie Malone, Social Media Editor
This is Mackenzie's second year on the UHS Arrow staff. This year she is excited to be the social media editor and write even more stories than she did...
As if the week before Christmas couldn't get any better, it certainly has. On Wednesday, Dec. 15, the first concert at Utica High School with the n...
Chieftain Charity Week
Teacher retirement results in new staff member
Michelle	• May 18, 2018 at 7:59 pm
I love officer lukas good article😍😍
https://uhsarrow.org/11094/feature/officer-lukas-takes-on-twitter/#comment-16159


If there is one truth for companies of all sizes, from one-person shops to the largest multi-nationals, it is that, sooner or later, they will have to find a solution to document storage.
Many businesses don't know they have a problem until they find themselves running out of space to store their records.
But, while it's a huge bonus, freeing up office space is definitely not the only advantage to storing documents off-site.
Many businesses underestimate the risk of keeping their paper records on their premises. Access by unauthorized employees, suppliers and contractors can result is serious and costly data loss – not to mention if someone breaks in and gets your sensitive financial information.
One of the most underestimated costs of in-house records storage is the lost productivity due to the length of time it takes to find and retrieve information. Off-site document storage systems make if faster and easier to get the information you need.
The problem with thinking that off-site document storage only saves space is that it makes it difficult to assess the full value of the service. In most cases, just the reduction in lost productivity is more than enough to offset the cost of off-site storage. And what's the value of peace of mind?


Expertly filleted by our butchers to include the wing bone – these chicken breasts provide a generous portion of our Herb Fed chicken.
Available in 4 or 8 supreme pack size.
Minimum pack weight (4) 1.5kg. Minimum pack weight (8) 3kg.


Have you ever worn a mask to prevent yourself from catching cold ? No ? Well, many people in Japan do. Read more about this modern Japanese cultural phenomenon below and learn new Japanese kanji and vocabulary.
The New Year's holiday is over and JOI started classes again on January 4th. So I was having various thoughts about what kind of year I would like to make it this year, and realized that if I tried to make some large goals for the year I would maybe quit them halfway so I 'll aim for a small goal. I have decided to try to "get some quality sleep " this year.
Recently, in my yoga class, I learned the Alternate Nostril Breathing technique. It is a method of alternately breathing through your left and right nostrils and it is effective in maintaining the balance between your the sympathetic nerve and parasympathetic nerve systems which also leads to deep sleep. I think this year I want to get some good quality sleep so will try Alternate Nostril Breathing before I go to bed everyday. By doing this, I heard that I'll be able to wake up refreshed the next day and be active from the morning.
It is a small thing but it is still quite difficult to continue it everyday . While hoping that the fickle side of character doesn't show its face, I think will try to continue this everyday.


text:
Sean Lilly Wilson
Fullsteam Brewery | Durham, NC
Sean is owner and Chief Executive Optimist of Durham-based Fullsteam, a "plow to pint" brewery and tavern founded in 2010. Fullsteam's mission is to pioneer a Southern beer economy through the act of commerce – fostering economic opportunity for farmers, foragers and agricultural entrepreneurs in a post-tobacco South.
Sean's passion for connecting beer to the region's farm and food systems earned him two James Beard Foundation semi-finalist honors in the Outstanding Wine, Spirits, or Beer Professional category. He recently served as president of the NC Craft Brewers Guild and received the guild's first-ever "Industry Impact" award in 2015. His beer career began as founder and president of Pop The Cap, a grassroots lobbying nonprofit that helped modernize North Carolina's beer laws in the mid 2000s.
Follow Fullsteam on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Sean is participating in the Karen Barker Tribute dinner on 10/18 and the Fall Fête on the Green on 10/19.


text:
Silesian Museum
Silesian Museum delivers new exhibitions spaces
September 18, 2017 Katowice the City 0
The Silesian Museum has finished the second stage of the former "Katowice" coal mine's extension. […]
New seat of Silesian Museum opened
On Friday, 26th of June, the Silesian Museum officially opened gates of its new seat located in the post-industrial site of the "Katowice" coal mine in the area of the so called culture district.
The construction work's inauguration took place in July 2011. The works were carried out by the consortium of two companies: Budimex and Ferrovial Agroman. The building was handed over to the Silesian Museum in …
Tamex will work for Silesian Museum
April 29, 2015 Katowice the City 0
The Silesian Museum decided a tender procedure concerning a prime contractor of revitalization works on two post-industrial buildings. The cultural institution appointed "Tamex Obiekty Sportowe" to conduct the undertaking.
Tamex will earn gross PLN 19,6 million for the execution of works. The Warsaw-seated company has to finish the renovation by …
Next stage of renewal starts in Silesian Museum area
The Silesian Museum is going to continue a revitalization process of the surroundings of its new seat. Works should be commenced soon on an old bath house and carpentry shop. Also, it is planned to renovate a water tower within a public-private partnership.
All the three brick facilities were part of the former "Katowice" coal mine and are now closely located to the new Silesian Museum's seat from …
Qumak selected to create multimedia exhibition for Silesian Museum
February 16, 2015 Katowice the City 0
Qumak will design and implement the permanent multimedia exhibition to be located in the new Silesian Museum's building. The exhibition will present the history of the region.
The IT company from Warsaw will get PLN 11,58 million for the realization of the undertaking. Within the contract, Qumak will prepare the exhibition called …


The LSSN recognizes the the importance of tracking universal tumor screening outcomes as well as other areas of research that are in line with the LSSN vision and mission. As such, LSSN members have created a working list of research questions that will be answered in the future. Members are also working on creating guidelines and an application form for those interested in research collaboration. Once complete, this information will be added to the website.
How has the number screened/number of institutions doing universal screening changed since EGAPP?
Prevalence of LS mutation in patients with various cancer types – is screening appropriate?
What is the estimated frequency of LS associated cancers?
What is the penetrance of LS for various cancers?
Average number of family members identified via cascade screening?
What is the number of Medicaid/Medicare patients identified with LS?
What proportion test mutation positive after screening positive under various screening protocols?
What proportion of individuals identified with LS do not meet Bethesda or Amsterdam criteria?


The instrument F130P is a batch control 7-digit, resettable totalizer with 1 to 7 digits, a 11-digit non-resettable. It is designed to be mounted directly on the meter or in proximity to it.
Can be connected to explosion proof box containing service functions and power. It can be equipped with built-in lithium batteries that allow you to install it even in hazardous environments without the need for external power. Lithium batteries allow the instrument a range of about five years, after which time the condition of the batteries will be shown on the display to the operator who will be able to replace them without difficulty. 8-28 VDC external power supply. It is equipped with 2 transistor outputs for 2-stage batch or transmission pulse at a distance.


text:
Erin Frances Fisher
Blog March 1, 2012
Flowers, Throw up
I had my first studio throw-up last week with a student. As a long-time bad-with-motion traveller, I'm pretty impervious to vomit; none got on the piano so it really wasn't a problem.
This week the student was excited to bring me flowers and a card. I feel great.
Harpischord, Chair, Sheila Heti
Being done classes has meant that I have a little more time again, and though I'm looking forward to returning to work on a MFA in the fall, it's been nice to have the morning free before slogging it out on the computer then teaching. (Always on one keyboard or the other)
A number of my students are playing J.S.Bach's Inventions, so I cleared off the harpsichord of notes for the novel and more than a few glasses/mugs/plants. It's just a kit, but more apartment friendly then a piano (as is the tiny pump organ beside it) and I've developed a weird affection for it.
I also dragged out "Darwin's Bastards" collection by Zsuzsi Gartner because Sheila Heti has a story in it and she's reading and being interviewed by Lee Henderson tomorrow. (Check it out here: Open Space) And yes, that is an overgrowen pitcher plant behind the book.
A Few Books
I recently read "The Flame Alphabet" by Ben Marcus. The book looks great, the title is good, and the premise (the language of children has become toxic) got me on a bus in search of it. Additionally, it has Big Names (Chabon, Sfran Foer) on the back pumping the book's Awesomeness. And there is some awesomeness to the book–there's a lot of great descriptions and the quality of writing is A+. There's just…too much of it. And nothing really happens.
There are comprehensive (uncomfortable) reviews already out there, so I won't go on, but reading "The Flame Alphabet" got me thinking of all the really great books I've read lately.
Here (in the order they came to me) are a few:
1. The Sisters Brothers ~ Patrick deWitt
A Western that doesn't go where you expect it. Dark, funny, and surreal. A book that inspires writing (read: I wish I wrote this)
2. Breath ~ Tim Winton
I've admired Tim Winton's prose since discovering his short stories "The Turning", and while his stories seem well-knit I haven't always loved the structure to his novels. This one, though, was fab: a lesson in retrospective.
3. The Golden Mean ~ Annabel Lyon
A novel about Aristotle, this book convinced me to try first person point of view (thank-you, Annabel.)
4. Civilwarland in Bad Decline ~ George Saunders
Bleak, funny, heartful; classic Saunders plus ghosts.
Blog February 5, 2012
Interview and Novella
A couple days ago Will Johnson emailed and asked if he/PRISM could interview me about my Malahat win and a few of my stories. Will is a UBA Writing MFA student, and went through UVic the same time as me, though we never shared a class. You can find the interview at his site here: Interview with writer Erin (Frances) Fisher or at PRISM here or scroll down and read it here.
In other news, I've just finished editing my novella. It doesn't have a home yet, but because it's just under 20,000 words I'm hoping I'll be able to convince some journal or other to adopt it. If not, it probably won't be seen until I put together a collection of short/long stories. The title is currently under review, but here's a hint about the subject matter:
And here's the interview with Will Johnson…
Last year, Victoria writer Erin Fisher won first place in PRISM international's fiction contest for her story "Bridges". This year, Fisher repeated that success by taking the top spot in The Malahat Review's fiction contest. PRISM caught up with Erin recently, to discuss her recent successes and her plans for the future.
PRISM: Your piece "Apiculture" just won The Malahat Review's Open Season Awards. Congratulations! You're having quite the year–how does it feel?
ERIN FISHER: Pretty great. It doesn't change any of the work that must be done, but it provides a boost to energy.
P: Tell us about "Apiculture". What was your process while writing it, and what were you hoping to accomplish with this story?
EF: "Apiculture" underwent many, many rewrites. I wanted a child narrator who was being built by the events that occur in the story, as well as the depth that is added by the retrospective, but I didn't want the future time/place/situation of the narrator mattering. I knew the layers and plot of the story before I started writing, but it took a lot of tinkering to get it working properly.
P: Your writing is very experimental/edgy. Why do you feel drawn to non-traditional styles of story-telling?
EF: I'm not sure. I enjoy reading all types of stories, and have tried a less ornamental style of writing, but it came off wrong. Every story (so far) has had a different way of forming in rough draft, but in the end each one comes down to me and it and scissors and a lot of floorspace. Being flexible with structure allows the story's form to help solve problems. On content: it can be more fun to get to the core of the piece through a little weirdness.
P: Both your prize-winning stories have a strong theme of childhood in them. Is this a coincidence, or is this a theme that you're interested in continuing to explore?
EF: I'm interested in child narrators because they are in the process of becoming people, and (like I said above) instead of having a wealth of experience behind them, children are being built by the events that occur in the story. Although I have a few drafts of stories without kids, I think that (with or without intent) there will be some aspect of childhood in most of my pieces.
P: You also published a story in Granta this year. Can you tell us a little bit about it?
EF: Sure. Granta published my piece "Suite in Dark Matter" last November. It was published online alongside issue 117 Horror, which (after the shock of acceptance) surprised/amused me. The story is structured after a baroque keyboard suite, and the main character is a pianist who, while digging through compost at night, discovers an angel. In writing this piece I tried to work the rococo style of a traditional suite into the writing. The choice in using the suite structure came down to the content (lapsed pianist) and the POV switch at the end.
P: How long have you been a writer? When did you start submitting your work to literary journals?
EF: I became attached to writing about five years ago. I went to UVic intending to further study composition (music) and took "Form and Structure of Short Fiction" to compare structural styles. After that, I just kept writing.
P: Who are some Canadian authors you admire?
EF: Annabel Lyon, of course Alice Munro, Miriam Toews, William Gibson's "Burning Chrome", and too many more. I just finished reading "The Sisters Brothers" by Patrick deWitt–this is one of those books I wish I wrote.
P: I understand you're currently trying to get into an MFA program for Creative Writing. What else is on the horizon for your writing career? And what are you currently working on?
EF: I've been teaching at the Victoria Conservatory of Music for the last six years, and will be continuing on there. I'm planning on doing an MFA either distance or in Victoria, but besides that–just keep writing. In the works: I've just finished a novella, and have started the early map of a novel.
Blog January 23, 2012
Forthcoming Publication–Malahat Review
Excited to announce that my short story "Apiculture" won the fiction category of the Malahat Review's 2012 Open Season Awards, and will be published in the Spring 2012 issue of the magazine. I wrote this piece in a UVic writing workshop with Steven Price last winter, though the story has gone through multiple overhauls since then.
The judge this year was Padma Viswanathan. Her comments can be found here: (here)
Thumbs Up!
Year 2012 Begins
A great way to start the new year: Cuba (thanks prism international for the funds!) and a publication in Granta, and finishing off a BFA at UVic!
Studio Recitals 3:30 on Sunday January 15th and 29th in Wood Hall, VCM.
Forthcoming Publication: Granta
Story "Suite in Dark Matter" to be published by Granta online, possibly even this week. Their latest issue is the Horror issue, and from what one of the editors said I wonder if that's what gave my story an edge…
Granta says: "I'm so glad we'll be publishing this story. I've been a fan of it since I first read it, and it has never stopped creeping me out."
Blog May 26, 2011
Erin's Students: Year End Recital
Monday May 30th, 7:00-8:00, Wood Hall in the Victoria Conservatory of Music. 30 awesome performers from the age of 3.5 through 17 have been working hard all year and get to show it. I'm excited, students, as I'm sure you are too! Admission is free, but come early for a seat and to find parking (street parking only!)
John K Samson Comments on "Bridges"
Prism sent a few of John K Samson's comments to John Threlfall and he passed them on to me:
Judge John K. Samson felt Fisher's story was "crafted as tightly as an enduring poem, and is full of fuse-like sentences that fizz and explode in unexpected spots. The narrator is pleasingly unclear and unsettling; I'm still not entirely certain who or what it is, though I have some ideas about it I cherish. The slightly opaque parts of it are actually strangely inviting—it is a story that allows the reader to participate and speculate, and there is something playful about it. I guess that makes sense, as it concerns innocence and childhood. I found it remarkably original."
Blog May 3, 2011
PRISM international posts 2011 Fiction/Poetry Winners
PRISM says:
This year we received over two-hundred and fifty short stories and over three-hundred and fifty poems! Needless to say, the decisions were difficult and the quality of the work was phenomenal. But after weeks and weeks of deliberation, the editorial board and the editors decided on the final shortlists. The poetry shortlist went to Brad Cran — the poet laureate of Vancouver. And the fiction shortlist went to John K. Samson — musician, fiction enthusiast and publisher.
The winners of 2011 PRISM international poetry and fiction contest are —
Poetry Grand Prize Winner — $1,000
"My Father in his garden, depicted in the woodblock print of the Taishō dynasty" by Pamela Porter
Poetry First Runner-up — $300
"Reincarnation Study 1982″ by Sheryda Warrener
Poetry Second Runner-up — $200
"Pop Quiz" by Scott Ramsay
Fiction Grand Prize Winner — $2,000
"Bridges" by Erin Frances Fisher
Fiction First Runner-up — $200
"Squatters" by Robert James Hicks
Fiction Second Runner-up — $200
"The Ghost" by Mark Jacquemain
Congratulations to all of the winners! Thank you to everyone who entered! And thanks to our judges Brad Cran and John K. Samson! The winning entries and runners-up will be published in the Summer 2011 issue of PRISM (49.4).
ALSO: The New Malahat Review Launches tonight! I'm teaching but it should be a fun thing!


text:
Pro-Life Coalition Petitions "Big Three" Networks to #CoverTheMarch
The Alliance for Fair Coverage of Life Issues calls on ABC, CBS, & NBC to cover tomorrow's March for Life and adopt guidelines when covering the life issue.
TV Episode Review: A.D. Episode 1
If the rest of the series can live up to this first episode, A.D. may be one of the best and most memorable adaptations of the New Testament ever produced.
Adam Graham
RNC Chair Reince Priebus Takes Strong Stand on Primary Debates
RNC Chair Reince Priebus is right to pull the plug on partnering with CNN and NBC for primary debates if they continue with their Hillary Clinton films.
The Shameless Exploitation of the Trayvon Martin Shooting
Since the 15th century Lady Justice has been portrayed as a Greek…
Tony Beam
A Tribute to Keith Olbermann
Reason TV put together some highlights that should really make us miss…
Keith Olbermann Suspended by NBC For Donating To The People He Shills For
NBC has suspended Keith Olbermann indefinitely without pay because of campaign contributions…
Palin on Leno
Former Governor Sarah Palin appeared on Jay Leno's "debut" back in his…
Obama's Speech to Kids
The White House posted President Obama's speech to students yesterday, you can…
Conservative Books Slighted by Networks
Further proof of media bias. The New York Bestseller's list is a…


text:
Q: Google Chrome not rendering PDF colours properly When these PDFs are opened in browser in Google Chrome the colours are changed drastically, but when opened in another browser or opened in Preview on Mac the colours go back to normal.
It also doesnt occur in some other languages.
You can see in the screenshot below what it should display (top) and what it is displaying (bottom).

A: The first page consists of a single large JPEG2000 compressed image: 8 bit indexed color, 1276 x 1790 pixels.
A quick look at a comparison of browsers shows Chrome does not support JPEG2000 (officially at least, since you still got to see something).
There seem to be some plugins that add JPEG2000 support to Chrome, but

*

*that is a local solution, it does not fix the issue for all users; and

*Chrome uses its own internal PDF renderer, so it might not work "inside" PDFs.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Master of Science in Management - Finance (MSc) (Brock University - Goodman School of Business) Master of Science in Management - Organization Studies (MSc) (Brock University - Goodman School of Business) Master of Science in Management (MSc) (Brock University - Goodman School of Business) Master of Science in Management - Marketing (MSc) (Brock University - Goodman School of Business) Master of Science in Management - Accounting (MSc) (Brock University - Goodman School of Business) view all
Telfer School of Management
Management (MSc Course)
111245Save Compare
Master; Co-op
Management Science, General
The Telfer Master of Science in Management program is designed to enable you to fully exploit the revolutionary power of great questions. It prepares you to think differently—to motivate yourself to look at challenging questions related to business, management, human behaviour and social interaction from original perspectives, and then find equally novel ways to uncover empirically driven answers to those penetrating questions. Choose the Telfer Master of Science in Management.
Management (MSc Course) at Telfer School of Management
Thesis Based:
National: $22,153
Applicants who have a four-year undergraduate (honours) degree in management, in science, computer science, economics, social sciences or engineering, with the equivalent of the University of Ottawa "Minor in Administration" or "Engineering Management and Entrepreneurship Option" are eligible for admission to the MSc in Management program. To be considered, applicants must have at least a 75 per cent (B+) cumulative grade point average (CGPA), calculated in accordance with FGPS guidelines. Students lacking academic background in management may be required to complete prerequisite coursework as a condition of admission. The specific requirements of the qualifying program will be determined by the admissions committee based on the academic and professional profile of the applicant.
Applicants to the program must have achieved at least a 50th percentile score on either the GMAT (General Management Admission Test) or GRE (Graduate Record Examinations), and submit at least two letters of recommendation and a statement of research interest of between 800-1000 words. The research statement is a letter of intent stating the applicant's motivation for studying in the MSc in Management program, their commitment to conducting research, and outlining their preferred areas of research interest. Applicants should indicate whether or not they wish to complete one of the two concentrations and they are encouraged to identify a possible research supervisor as part of the application process.
Graduate Management Admission Test or Graduate Record Examination
Test of English as a Foreign Language (Paper Based) or Test of English as a Foreign Language (Internet Based) or International English Language Testing System (academic or immigration)
Resume/Curriculum Vitae
Statement of Research Interests


text:
Covington offers rebates on natural gas appliances during the annual rebate rally
Steve Horton to remain city manager
Covington City Manager Steve Horton has tentatively agreed to remain in his position until June 2013 and delay plans to retire this summer.
Mayor Ronnie Johnston had publically stated he wanted Horton to remain on board and Johnston announced the success of his efforts Monday night.
The city will attempt to work out an official agreement with Horton to keep him as city manager for an additional fiscal year. If an agreement cannot be reached for some reason, Horton has agreed to remain city manager until a replacement can be found, Johnston said.
"The decision to stay involves several things, chief among them is the overwhelming response of the citizens that have talked with me and offered their verbal comments of support and requests for me stay. It is the people in this community that make it what it is and it is them that I have a heart for," Horton said in a Tuesday email. "Next, the mayor has committed to me that he sincerely plans to be an advocate of all citizens and will foster and support positive economic and community development initiatives. Knowing these things about the mayor, I want to help him in his transition, which is at least a year long process.
Horton said he also appreciated the encouragement he received from council members and county officials and said he wants to help carry out some programs that were born out of the city's recently-completed three-year strategic plan.
"Lastly, this is my home and I hope that my further participation during the transition will benefit our employees and citizens and help to ensure that as much institutional and community knowledge as possible gets passed on and discussed so as to promote sound understanding of where our community has come from, the challenges we have overcome, and the future we hope to see become a reality," he said."
Horton has served as city manager since November 2005 and has also worked as assistant city manager, public works director and police chief in his 34 years with the city.
"First I believe the next couple of years is very important to Covington and I cannot think of a better person to help guide this city through this important time. I believe his leadership and integrity is invaluable at this time. I believe the economy is going to be turning around and the city of Covington will be better prepared to take advantage of that growth with Steve Horton's leadership," Johnston said in an email Tuesday.
"I honestly believe that after we have spent some time together it became clear that our vision for this city was the same and found that we were both man of strong faith and in love with the city."
Report: Lidl scales back plans for Georgia
Covington welcomes newest officers
Minor injuries in Wednesday afternoon crash
Former Covington housing manager pleads to theft


text:
May 18, 2019 / by emptywheel
"I Have Been Sending Everything to Victor:" On Paul Manafort's Treasury-Sanctioned Meeting Planner, Viktor Boyarkin
Because the Mueller Report is a prosecutions and declinations report, it's pretty circumspect in its suggestions that someone might be a spy. Admittedly, it makes an exception for Konstantin Kilimnik, about whom it provides five pieces of evidence and a comment redacted for sources and methods reasons — on top of repeating the FBI's assessment — that he's spooked up.
Manafort told the Office that he did not believe Kilimnik was working as a Russian "spy."859 The FBI, however, assesses that Kilimnik has ties to Russian intelligence.860 Several pieces of the Office's evidence-including witness interviews and emails obtained through court-authorized search warrants-support that assessment:
Kilimnik was born on April 27, 1970, in Dnipropetrovsk Ob last, then of the Soviet Union, and attended the Military Institute of the Ministry of Defense from 1987 until 1992.861 Sam Patten, a business partner to Kilimnik,862 stated that Kilimnik told him that he was a translator in the Russian army for seven years and that he later worked in the Russian armament industry selling arms and military equipment. 863
U.S. government visa records reveal that Kilimnik obtained a visa to travel to the United States with a Russian diplomatic passport in 1997. 864
Kilimnik worked for the International Republican Institute' s (IRI) Moscow office, where he did translation work and general office management from 1998 to 2005.865 While another official recalled the incident differently,866 one former associate of Kilimnik's at TRI told the FBI that Kilimnik was fired from his post because his links to Russian intelligence were too strong. The same individual stated that it was well known at IRI that Kilimnik had links to the Russian government.867
Jonathan Hawker, a British national who was a public relations consultant at FTI Consulting, worked with DMI on a public relations campaign for Yanukovych. After Hawker's work for DMI ended, Kilimnik contacted Hawker about working for a Russian government entity on a public-relations project that would promote, in Western and Ukrainian media, Russia's position on its 2014 invasion of Crimea. 868
Gates suspected that Kilimnik was a "spy," a view that he shared with Manafort, Hawker, and Alexander van der Zwaan,869 an attorney who had worked with DMI on a report for the Ukrainian Ministry of ForeignAffairs.870
[Investigative Technique Redaction]
For others, they simply note — as they do here for Kilimnik — that a non-diplomat came to the US on a diplomatic or military visa. That's what they do for Viktor Boyarkin, another close Deripaska aide: they just casually mention that he was in the US on a visa that doesn't match the rest of his biography.
Kilimnik also maintained a relationship with Deripaska's deputy, Viktor Boyarkin,857 a Russian national who previously served in the defense attache office of the Russian Embassy to the United States.858
For some reason, Mueller doesn't invoke another description of Boyarkin in his report: That Trump's own Treasury Department sanctioned him in December.
OLEG DERIPASKA RELATED DESIGNATION
Victor Alekseyevich Boyarkin (Boyarkin) is a former GRU officer who reports directly to Deripaska and has led business negotiations on Deripaska's behalf. Deripaska and Boyarkin were involved in providing Russian financial support to a Montenegrin political party ahead of Montenegro's 2016 elections. Boyarkin was designated pursuant to Executive Orders (E.O.) 13661 and 13662 for having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Oleg Deripaska, who was previously designated pursuant to E.O. 13661 for having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of a senior Russian government official, as well as pursuant to E.O. 13662 for operating in the energy sector of the Russian Federation economy, as well as with entities 50 percent or more owned by designated persons.
And while that sanction description is itself fairly coy, Boyarkin's company in that batch of sanctions is telling: It includes several entities related to the Internet Research Agency's trolling project, nine of the GRU officers indicted in the DNC hack, some of the related GRU officers who hacked the World Anti-Doping Federation, and the two GRU officers who tried to kill Sergei Skripal.
I guess noting that Kilimnik has ties to a guy who got sanctioned with all the other key players in the election year interference would be too obvious?
In an interview with Time last fall, Boyarkin boasted that Manafort spent his time running Trump's campaign "offering ways to pay [the money he owed Oleg Deripaska] back.
Boyarkin told TIME this fall that he was in touch with Trump's then-campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, in the heat of the presidential race on behalf of the Russian oligarch. "He owed us a lot of money," Boyarkin says. "And he was offering ways to pay it back."
That same Time article suggests that Manafort may have been involved, through Deripaska, in Montenegro's 2016 election that resulted in a coup attempt, which is what Boyarkin got sanctioned for.
Boyarkin, you see, is the guy through whom Kilimnik was sending the stuff ultimately designated for Deripaska. The Mueller Report notes that explicitly with regards to the reporting Manafort did on his role in the campaign to his paymasters.
Immediately upon joining the Campaign, Manafort directed Gates to prepare for his review separate memoranda addressed to Deripaska, Akhmetov, Serhiy Lyovochkin, and Boris Kolesnikov,879 the last three being Ukrainian oligarchs who were senior Opposition Bloc officials. 880 The memoranda described Manafort' s appointment to the Trump Campaign and indicated his willingness to consult on Ukrainian politics in the future. On March 30, 2016, Gates emailed the memoranda and a press release announcing Manafort' s appointment to Kilimnik for translation and dissemination.881 Manafort later followed up with Kilimnik to ensure his messages had been delivered, emailing on April 11, 2016 to ask whether Kilimnik had shown "our friends" the media coverage of his new role. 882 Kilimnik replied, "Absolutely. Every article." Manafort further asked: "How do we use to get whole. Has Ovd [Oleg Vladimirovich Deripaska] operation seen?" Kilimnik wrote back the same day, "Yes, I have been sending everything to Victor [Boyarkin, Deripaska's deputy], who has been forwarding the coverage directly to OVD."883
Manafort's July offer for briefings for Deripaska also went through Boyarkin.
For example, in response to a July 7, 20 I 6, email from a Ukrainian reporter about Manafort' s failed Deripaska-backed investment, Manafort asked Kilimnik whether there had been any movement on "this issue with our friend."897 Gates stated that "our friend" likely referred to Deripaska,898 and Manafort told the Office that the "issue" (and "our biggest interest," as stated below) was a solution to the Deripaska-Pericles issue.899 Kilimnik replied:
I am carefully optimistic on the question of our biggest interest. Our friend [Boyarkin] said there is lately significantly more attention to the campaign in his boss' [Deripaska's] mind, and he will be most likely looking for ways to reach out to you pretty soon, understanding all the time sensitivity. I am more than sure that it will be resolved and we will get back to the original relationship with V. 's boss [Deripaska].900
Eight minutes later, Manafort replied that Kilimnik should tell Boyarkin's "boss," a reference to Deripaska, "that if he needs private briefings we can accommodate."901
Presumably, if Kilimnik sent everything designated for Deripaska to Boyarkin, that would include polling data and the campaign's plans on how to win Michigan (indeed, there's a redaction in the breach hearing that likely refers to Boyarkin) shared in that meeting on August 2, 2016 where Manafort and Kilimnik also discussed how to carve up Ukraine and how to get his debts forgiven by Deripaska.
That's what makes a second meeting in Madrid (there's a February one that Kilimnik also attended, which was included among the lies reviewed in Manafort's breach determination) so interesting. In January, Manafort met with yet another Deripaska guy who once had an inexplicable diplomatic visa for the US, Georgiy Oganov.
Manafort's activities in early 2017 included meetings relating to Ukraine and Russia. The first meeting, which took place in Madrid, Spain in January 2017, was with Georgiy Oganov. Oganov, who had previously worked at the Russian Embassy in the United States, was a senior executive at a Deripaska company and was believed to report directly to Deripaska.940 Manafort initially denied attending the meeting. When he later acknowledged it, he claimed that the meeting had been arranged by his lawyers and concerned only the Pericles lawsuit.941 Other evidence, however, provides reason to doubt Manafort's statement that the sole topic of the meeting was the Pericles lawsuit. In particular, text messages to Manafort from a number associated with Kilimnik suggest that Kilimnik and Boyarkin-not Manafort's counsel-had arranged the meeting between Manafort and Oganov.942 Kilimnik's message states that the meeting was supposed to be "not about money or Pericles" but instead "about recreating [the] old friendship"-ostensibly between Manafort and Deripaska-"and talking about global politics."943 Manafort also replied by text that he "need[s] this finished before Jan. 20,"944 which appears to be a reference to resolving Pericles before the inauguration.
While this wasn't detailed in discernible way in Manafort's breach determination, according to the report, he nevertheless lied about this meeting, too, in particular that it was not primarily about debt relief, but was instead about setting up his old relationship with Deripaska, which Rick Gates explained, "Deripaska used Manafort to install friendly political officials in countries where Deripaska had business interests."
Boyarkin — the guy whom Treasury sanctioned along with a bunch of other key players in the election year operation — set up that meeting to "recreate the old friendship."
As I disclosed last July, I provided information to the FBI on issues related to the Mueller investigation, so I'm going to include disclosure statements on Mueller investigation posts from here on out. I will include the disclosure whether or not the stuff I shared with the FBI pertains to the subject of the post.
Originally Posted @ https://www.emptywheel.net/2019/05/18/i-have-been-sending-everything-to-victor-on-paul-manaforts-treasury-sanctioned-meeting-planner-viktor-boyarkin/


Michael Manning, a practicing pharmacist, has been a fantasy and science-fiction reader for most of his life. He has dabbled in software design, fantasy art, and is an avid tree climber. He lives in Texas, with his stubborn wife, two kids, and a menagerie of fantastic creatures, including a moose-poodle, a vicious yorkie, and a giant prehistoric turtle.
The story that began in Mageborn continues as Mordecai and his children struggle to prevent the destruction of Lothion by the She'Har's ancient enemy.


Children at Christ Church are offered a range of experiences in drama and music, which we believe helps them to develop into sociable, confident learners. We ensure that all children have weekly drama and music lessons provided by specialist teachers.
The characteristics of a good musician and communicator (children are given the opportunity to develop their communication skills through the art of drama).
A whole school overview for drama and music.
What are the characteristics of a good musician?
What are the characteristics of a good communicator?
• An exceptional talent for listening attentively so as to understand what is being said.
• A rich and varied vocabulary that gives clarity and interest to conversations.
• Clear speech that can be easily understood by a range of audiences.
• An excellent grasp of the rules used in English conversation, such as tenses and the grammatical structure of sentences.
• A highly developed ability to tell stories that capture the interest and imagination of the audience.
• A delight in initiating and joining in conversations.
• Respect for others when communicating, even when views differ.


text:
The Babson Boulders of Dogtown
Roger Babson had a problem. His family thought he was crazy or felonious or both. He had started to carve mottoes in to the boulders which lay in the fields near the long abandoned settlement of Dogtown close to his home in Gloucester, Massachusetts.
Image Credit Flickr User aaronknox
Babson was later to write in his autobiography: My family says that I am defacing the boulders and disgracing the family with these inscriptions, but the work gives me a lot of satisfaction, fresh air, exercise and sunshine. I am really trying to write a simple book with words carved in stone instead of printed paper. Besides, when on Dogtown common, I revert to a boyhood which I once enjoyed when driving cows there many years ago.
Image Credit Flickr User aaron.knox
Image Credit Flickr User d4vidbruce
By 1930 Babson was in his fifties and a renowned entrepreneur and business theorist, the scion of a ten generation dynasty based in Gloucester. He went to MIT and founded Babson's Statistical Organisation which analysed business reports and statistics for clients. It perseveres to this day as Babson-United Inc. Perhaps his decision to carve mottoes on to the rocks near his home represented an attempt to boil down his knowledge in to easily digestible, pithy sayings.
In fact his desire to deface was more than a mid-life craving to carve mottoes in to stone, to leave behind platitudes for later generations. The project was undertaken during the Great Depression and it was Babsons intent to help out the unemployed stonecutters of Gloucester by giving them work. Perhaps a sense of responsibility also led him to this act of charity – he had, after all, predicted the crash with alarming prescience.
On October 5 1929 Babson had given a speech. In it he had proclaimed that Sooner or later a crash is coming, and it may be terrific. That very day the market declined by 3% and it became known as the Babson Break. Yet more was to come – within two weeks the London Stock Exchange crashed. A short while later $14 billion value was wiped off the stock market value on October 29 alone. The Wall Street Crash, as predicted by Babson, had come to pass.
Babson died in 1967 at the age of 92. The fields in which he carved his rocks are gone but the boulders remain. Now they (24 all told) lie in what is a young but somewhat overgrown forest. Yet his memory remains as the area has been turned in to The Babson Boulder Trail and is used by many for hiking and mountain-biking. It can be difficult to find some of the boulders but once discovered their inscriptions – and their plain but sensible messages – are still unmistakably visible.
Image Credit Flickr User D4vidbuce
You may think that Babson's mottoes state the obvious but as Einstein once said - if you can't explain it to a six year old, you don't understand it yourself.
Picture of Babson - Wikipedia
Use Your Head - Flickr User iandavid
Labels: Babson Boulders , Carvings , Dogtown , Massachusetts , Massachusetts Institute of Technology , Mottoes , Platitudes , Rocks , Roger Babson , The Great Depression
Remember Lidice
On 2 July 1942, most of the children of Lidice, a small village in what was then Czechoslovakia, were handed over to the Łódź Gestapo offi...


text:
Noel Gallagher releases She Taught Me How To Fly video
Noel Gallagher is streaming a video for "She Taught Me How To Fly", the third single from his latest album with The High Flying Birds, "Who Built The Moon?"
The former Oasis guitarist explains the retro-sounding track was inspired by his appreciation of 70s new wave act Blondie.
"How you write a song for Blondie is, every morning before you go to work, you listen to 'The Best Of Blondie', and all of a sudden, things start to fall out of the sky," Gallagher tells NPR. "As I was singing it, I was thinking, 'I can hear Debbie Harry singing it, and I can hear Clem playing the drums, and I can see them all on Top Of The Pops.'"
The guitarist did not consider offering the tune to Blondie "because the song's really good and Blondie are not having it. If it was [only] all right, I could always call Debbie. As it's actually brilliant, she can have it when I'm finished with it."
"She Taught Me How To Fly" will be released on 12" vinyl on May 25 alongside an instrumental version plus a remix by legendary DJ and producer Justin Robertson.
The song follows the album's lead single, "Holy Mountain", and the follow-up "It's a Beautiful World."
Produced by David Holmes, "Who Built The Moon?" features guest appearances by Paul Weller and Johnny Marr and earned Gallagher his third consecutive UK No. 1 record.
The rocker recently wrapped up a North American tour in support of the project and just kicked off a European run with the first of two shows in Paris, France on April 3.
Liam Gallagher announces fall European tour
Liam Gallagher cancels Sao Paulo show after illness cuts Lollapalooza Chile set short
Liam Gallagher announces North American tour
VIDEO: Liam Gallagher performs at Lollapalooza Argentina
Search Oasis at hennemusic
Labels: Oasis


text:
James & Martha Wallace
Both together and independently, Jim and Martha have been extensively involved in the community for over 30 years – both very active in Habitat for Humanity, both long-time supporters of Smile Train, and Martha has been a devoted volunteer of the Settlement House for Children for 25 years.
Samaritan Center
In October, RecognizeGood was proud to honor the final Legends of 2012. Jim and Martha Wallace are a special couple whose work within the Austin community and around the world should inspire us all. On a beautiful October evening at the Barton Creek Golf Country Club, participants of The Samaritan Center's 2012 Minister's Cup Golf Classic took time out from their celebration and fellowship to join us in recognizing the work of this extraordinary duo.
Nancy Blaich, the Wallace's nominator and CEO of the Samaritan Center, said of the couple, "James and Martha have led a life of service we should all strive to emulate. They have been extensively involved in the community for over 30 years." The couple has been involved in countless charities over the last three decades, and have worked diligently to serve their community both together and independently. Jim, whose community service extends from his personal to professional life, has served as a Texas Senator, a District Court Judge and was eventually elected to the Texas Supreme Court in 1981. Together, Jim and Martha have been very active in Habitat for Humanity and have worked on over a dozen new homes. Their long-time support for Smile Train, has helped provide surgery for children with cleft palates around the world. Martha has been a devoted volunteer of the Settlement House for Children for 25 years.
The 14th Annual Minister's Cup Golf Tournament was dedicated to Jim & Martha Wallace and we are proud to have been welcomed to honor them as RecognizeGood Legends at the golf tournament dinner.
The Minister's Cup encourages Congregations and Organizations to join in fellowship with other members of Austin's faith based community, and enjoy a friendly golf tournament supporting a worthy cause. Proceeds from the event helped to support the Samaritan Center.
Don Ames, co-owner of Ames & Weinheimer Wealth Management, and himself a RecognizeGood Legend, presented the Wallace's with a Pay-It-Forward check of $1,000 which they promptly donated to the Samaritan Center. In addition to funds raised through the Minister's Cup, their donation will go to support the Samaritan Center's ministry to provide professional, affordable, faith-sensitive counseling services. Accepting the award with grace and humor, Martha said, "I'm certainly not deserving of all this attention, but I'll take it." Following the ceremony, Nancy Blaich said, "There are a lot of adults, children and veterans that will benefit from this donation."


text:
American Center for Puccini Studies
Musical Mind
La Serenata
Hear the Voices!
Harry and Kay knock it outta the park at the Orioles game!
Excerpts from Madama Butterfly
Read what they're saying!
Mad about Puccini - and Verdi!
Professional Opera Company Salutes its Namesake's Predecessor
Featured in CultureSpot.MC
by Ellyn Wexler
Read the article "Mad about Puccini - and Verdi!"
Feature article in The Kentlands Town Crier
by Tamar Rhode
We invite you to attend, to learn, but above all, to be entertained...
On the first Monday of every month, Kay and Harry present a concert in the Kentlands Mansion, now a little gem of performance, on its way to becoming the crown jewel of Kentlands culture. If you were fortunate enough to attend The American Center for Puccini Studies birthday celebration of Puccini in December 2015, or the one-hour presentation from Puccini's Edgar last April, you understand. If you have children in whom you wish to instill a love of the arts, music in particular, mark your calendar for a very special performance of Cinderella as part of the First Mondays series at the Mansion. (Despite the organization's name, First Mondays, Cinderella is scheduled for the second Monday (July 11) since the first is July 4th).
This will not be your average presentation of Cinderella. Then again, nothing about these First Monday performances is average, common, or ho-hum. This version has been translated from French by Harry Dunstan himself and presents the story from the fresh perspective that Cinderella needs no magic to be beautiful, that her inner kind and true self already make her perfect.
The First Monday series is designed to bring people back to the human experience of opera. Rather than offering a remote or removed experience – like watching TV, or watching Live at the Met where you see opera on a movie screen, or even like watching a large stage opera performance – attending this series in our own intimate, elegant, cozy Kentlands Mansion is almost participatory, and is most engaging. When Harry narrates or thunderously accompanies a scene on piano, or sings in his huge tenor voice, he is right in front of you. You feel every word and every note, and thanks to a helpful handout of 'Cliff Notes' and back-to-basics explanation you understand. There are no subtitles; there is no need.
Kay, born and raised on an Iowa farm, studied music at Stephens College in Missouri. Thanks to a life altering recommendation (and the desire for warmer climes) she came to Washington for voice lessons with Todd Duncan, the original Porgy in Porgy and Bess and the first black singer to join the New York City Opera.
Kay describes both her and Harry's voice as large. They are, and they fill every square inch of the Mansion. But so too is Kay's personality. The daughter of a farmer who lived to 91 and a mother still going at 90, Kay is the embodiment of 'Iowa stock' – strong, purposeful, full of life.
She has played piano and organ since age 10 and has had extremely good teachers. She considers herself very lucky to lead the life she does – teaching voice to students ranging in age from 12 to 90, running the Center, and hosting enormous barbecues throughout the year, hot or cold, on their 7 grills.
Does she live and breathe Puccini? Yes, she says. Everything is about the arts, music in particular. Doesn't she have any hobbies? Harry, who I now know is her husband, answers for her. She is a 'world class' cook, gardens, and reads voraciously.
I turn to Harry for his story but Kay, who admits she is the talker of the two, a concept difficult to digest after hearing him narrate Edgar to the depth he has, jumps in. She says that though they both communicate very well, whether to an individual or to a group, Harry is a strong story teller. This is evident later when he recounts an experience he had when an African American stage hand, never before exposed to opera, was found off in a back stage corner crying after catching glimpses of La boheme while working.
Harry was born in Norfolk and though both he and Kay were raised in a church environment, Harry is careful to point out that he is spiritual, rather than religious. Call it what you will, his drive and sheer will to have you know what he knows about music, opera, Puccini, is immense. This is his spiritual quest and his background and talent in this endeavor are impressive.
Harry's thesis, a manual on How to Perform Puccini, is sought after around the world. He quotes Proust and Leonard Bernstein, instructing that music, more than anything in the world, is what unifies us all. Next thing I know Harry and Kay are analogizing music to string theory, as the substance that holds the universe together. It's hard to keep up with them but easily apparent that they are in their own musical world, a world in which they would like everyone to live, or at least stay for a lengthy visit.
Their combined intent is to get you, the audience, as excited about music as they are, to have you experience what they have, to fully understand that music is, more than language, more than anything, what links us all. We need only embrace it. Go. Experience.


text:
Q: Ruby Rails update all atrribute using param Currently im using this code to update one attribute, is there any way i can update all 'title' at once ? like using update_all maybe ?
title= params['myform']['title']
@book.update_attribute(:title, title)

Thanks!

A: yes there is a way:
ModelName.update_all(:title => title)

More details here.


Campfire Audio is proud to introduce a new innovation to our dynamic driver design; Polarity Tuned Chamber™ 3D printed tuned chambers in front and behind the driver allow us to optimize the performance of our dynamic driver. This opens up the sound and gives the driver an effortless power that must be heard to be appreciated.
Polaris is designed to combine 2 excellenct finishes; a Cerakote Lid and Anodized Body. This visually striking combination is as durable as it is good looking.


Welcome back! This week's theme is Easter! I don't know about you, but I'm getting excited for the upcoming Easter holiday. Decorating eggs (I have two small granddaughters so this will be so much fun to do this year), egg hunts, Easter baskets for the little ones, of course Easter dinner! I had such a hard time trying to decide which pins to post, there really are so many cute things out there but here are a few inspiring pins from my Easter Pinterest board.
Things we find 'Pinteresting' Thursday is hosted by Cherished Handmade Treasures and Holly's Stamping Addiction. To help spread the word about "Things we find 'Pinteresting' Thursday" feel free to grab the linky button on the left-hand sidebar and post it on your blog.
All linked up, new follower and tweeted about your party :) Have a lovely Thursday!


Recently released images and footage from the August 4 collision between three cyclists and a North County Transit bus reveal clear absentminded negligence on the part of the bus driver. Initially, it was reported that the bus driver saw the cyclists on the road ahead, swerved into oncoming traffic to avoid them, then swerved again to avoid oncoming traffic and hit the cyclists with the side of the bus.
Each North County Transit bus is equipped with six cameras, one of which records the driver and the road ahead from the driver's perspective. One of the victim's attorneys reassessed the accident and found a different story. "The bus impacted the rear end of all the bicycles it was a frontal impact…This was a clear sunny day on a straight road with clear visibility," the attorney said.
The videos are time stamped. At the time of the accident, 12:49:41, there was no oncoming traffic. Further analysis of the video shows that "The bus driver clearly had an object in his hand up to the right side of his face and/or in front of him at the time just before the impact," according to the attorney. The driver, currently on administrative leave, has a history of reckless driving and rear-end traffic accidents, all of which he pleaded guilty to.
I Was Injured On My Bike By A Distracted Bus Driver. What Do I Do?
As cycling culture grows in the San Diego community, motorists need to be extra vigilant because the slightest collision can have tragic consequences for cyclists. Our attorneys have decades of experience defending the rights of cyclists injured by negligent and distracted drivers. If you or a loved one has been injured in a bicycle accident, contact us. We will fight to ensure that you receive the full compensation you deserve for your physical, emotional and financial hardships. Furthermore, we will bring the negligent motorist responsible for your suffering to justice. To schedule a free consultation with one of our attorneys, call our firm at (858) 530-4800.


text:
package ru.lotnyk.mvc.database;

import ru.lotnyk.mvc.model.User;
import java.util.List;

/**
 * interface Action.
 * @author Roman Lotnyk(romanlotnik@yandex.ru)
 * @version 1
 * @since 05.08.2017
 */
public interface Action {

    /**
     * addUser.
     * @param user user
     * @return return
     */
    User addUser(User user);

    /**
     * editUser.
     * @param id id
     * @param user user
     * @return return
     */
    User editUser(int id, User user);

    /**
     * deleteUser.
     * @param id id
     */
    void deleteUser(int id);

    /**
     * viewUser.
     * @return return
     */
    List<User> viewUser();

}


text:
After the end of the Merkel era, Germany's new progressive coalition heralds a wave of change in German politics. But the new government will face old challenges, unresolved by the outgoing cabinet. One of them remains the chaotic relationship with Germany's eastern neighbor, Poland.
The Polish-German relationship has not been easy. The reconciliation process initiated by Willy Brandt and Egon Bahr in the 1970s was slow and arduous, ultimately resulting in a historic good neighbor treaty. Germany was a strong supporter of Poland's NATO and EU membership, which took Polish-German relations to another level. The German labor market opened up completely to Poles in 2011; economic exchanges flourish. The project of bringing the two nations together was also progressing steadily. Over the past two decades, the two neighbors have developed positive mutual perceptions and the majority are convinced that bilateral relations are quite good.
It seemed that, once and for all, the historical animosities were overcome. The reconciliation was so successful that some even wondered if Warsaw could replace Paris in German European politics, or at least if the Franco-German tandem should not expand into a trio of leadership. But not only the Weimar triangle of France, Germany and Poland seems to be a withered format from a bygone era. Much has changed in Poland since 2016, when the Law and Justice Party (PiS) took over.
The militarization of collective memory
The history of Polish-German relations is turbulent and dates back to beyond WWII. Prussia played an important role in the fall of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth at the end of the 18th century. The Medieval Great War with the Teutonic Knights has become a living symbol in modern Polish culture, metaphorically describing the eternal threat coming from the German neighbor. This topos, even if it is latent, is deeply anchored in the Polish collective memory. Acknowledging this is crucial to understanding how easy it is to activate it, without rational premises or legitimate reasons.
This anti-German sentiment has been repeatedly militarized by the PiS Spin Doctors. In 2005, then-presidential candidate Donald Tusk was accused of being a Wehrmacht soldier. This weighed heavily on his campaign, in favor of Tusk's rival, Lech Kaczyński. At the time, the architect of this claim was fired from Kaczyński's campaign in disgrace.
Kaczyński even went so far as to use the metaphor of the German Fourth Reich.
A decade later, under the leadership of twin brother Jarosław, he was appointed chairman of Polish public television TVP. Today, not a day goes by that the public media scolding Germany. "Germany envies Polish economic success"; "Brussels, Berlin and the opposition plotting against Poland"; "Opposition and Germany want to punish Poland" – these are just a few examples of headlines demonizing the Berlin government.
Crude as it may sound, this witch hunt illustrates the current government's need for enemies to consolidate its support as well as to justify potential failures, especially on the international stage. This strategy seems to work well with certain segments of voters.
An anti-German coalition in Europe?
At the same time, Jarosław Kaczyński develops a different rhetoric for a more informed audience. At the Warsaw summit, a meeting of the European far right in early December, he presented his geopolitical framework, a great story for the future of the European Union. He warned not only against a Europe weakened by "political correctness" and European institutions based on the illusion of a European demos and therefore devoid of democratic legitimacy.
He also warned against contemporary Germany "to undo the historical memory of the twentieth century" which had once forced it to restrict its ambitions and open up space for Berlin's supposedly hegemonic aspirations to subjugate the European Union by institutional means, in particular through federalization. Kaczyński even went so far as to use the metaphor of the German Fourth Reich. Symptomatically, the AfD was not invited to this meeting. Is Kaczynski plotting to build a coalition that is not only illiberal but also anti-German in Europe? In any case, reserve and mistrust are the conditions that Chancellor Olaf Scholz and the new Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock will have to face.
For the current Polish government, there is neither understanding nor willingness to respond to calls for the reestablishment of the rule of law.
At the same time, the official visits to Poland took place in a superficially courteous atmosphere. During her first visit, on December 10, Annalena Baerbock was greeted by President Andrzej Duda and then welcomed by her Polish counterpart, Zbigniew Rau. Even polite, the latter's attitude has been described by some commentators as "condescending". As a young woman representing an almost exotic party on the Polish political scene, it will always be twice as difficult for Baerbock to be heard and taken seriously in conservative circles.
Still, she showed courage and appeased her host by pointing out passages about the deep Polish-German friendship in the coalition deal and underlining her skepticism towards Putin's Russia. Two days later, Chancellor Olaf Scholz met Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki. This time it was a conversation on equal terms, without condescension. Yet this exchange echoed, or further accentuated, the divides between Berlin and Warsaw.
Disputes between Berlin and Warsaw
Both meetings have shown that there are some points of contention that weigh heavily on bilateral relations. The first is the future of Nord Stream 2. Poland has long viewed it not only as a strategic threat to European energy security, but it has also brought historic flashbacks of Germany and Russia making deals to the United States. above heads of state sandwiched between the two.
Today, the pipeline is all the more controversial as the pressure exerted by Vladimir Putin on Ukraine increases. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy openly called it a "dangerous geopolitical weapon". The new German government will have to work quickly to find a long-term sustainable consensus on this project within the coalition and reassure its eastern neighbors.
Second, managing expectations from the EU. For the current Polish government, there is neither understanding nor willingness to respond to calls for the reestablishment of the rule of law. Moreover, the further federalization of the EU is the exact opposite of what the current Polish government wants.
Let's hope that the current stalemate will not affect people's hearts and that the work invested in reconciliation for decades will continue.
At the same time, Poland has recently emerged in a new role, protecting the EU's external border from the ruthless militarization of migratory flows by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko. Even if there is an opportunity for constructive cooperation in this area, it is obvious that Berlin and Warsaw will pull Brussels in opposite directions.
The third is the history card game by the Polish government. 76 years after the end of World War II, he wanted to create an Institute for War Losses to pursue "the [financial] balance of German and Soviet occupation ". Such an institution is not only a tool for the instrumentalization of history for political ends, but also a manifestation of the geopolitical imagination of Polish national conservatives. "Raise the country off its knees" is the guiding principle in shaping their foreign policy. As theatrical as it may sound, these assertions will taint Polish-German relations for a long time.
There are certainly other issues in the background which show the growing level of estrangement between Warsaw and Berlin, such as the quarrel over the status of Poles and the teaching of the Polish language in Germany. Or divergent views on climate and energy policy, with the exit from coal and plans for new nuclear power plants at the heart. It is to be expected that at the diplomatic level, the Polish-German dialogue will remain calm and reserved. Neither the mundane stories about personal ties to Poland nor the new landmarks will ever soften the PiS 'hard line on Germany.
But despite all this, trade and economic exchanges between two countries remain unscathed. Hopefully the current stalemate will not affect people's hearts in the same way and that the work invested in reconciliation for decades will continue. It will be necessary to rekindle this relationship with positive energy when the roles one day turn around in the future.
The program allows two JoCo teenagers to immerse themselves in German culture
The documentary presents Strassenfest, German culture
The week in the art news – German Minister of Culture calls for a national strategy on Benin bronzes
German Culture Commissioner: "The culture sector will survive the pandemic" | Cultural | Reports on the arts, music and lifestyle of Germany | DW
German art and Latvian crafts in Valmiermuiža / Article
German American announces the addition of Corporate Senior Management
The Ultimate German Food Trail
Eurozone Growth Slows To Nine-Month Low As German Recovery Stalls – Business Live | Business
Lawrence's pastry chef receives German-American friendship award • Current Publishing
German> Center for Languages and Cultures> USC Dana and David Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences


text:
Election Coverage: Climate Change
October 27, 2016 October 27, 2016 Pandoras Box	0 Comments
(Photo Credit Danielle Cruz)
Written by Danielle Cruz Edited and Abiola Fraser
In election 2016, climate change has become an issue that Americans can no longer ignore. As a result, many are demanding that Presidential Candidates, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, begin to advocate that they will take more action than their predecessors and raise awareness of this rising issue.
Cheryl Adams, a York College Biology professor, says, "I don't think people are overreacting to climate change…if anything people are not paying enough attention to this issue.
In fact climate change has become such a recurring issue. In the past year, America has experienced eight events of climate change causing environmental disasters scientist say are supposed to occur only every five hundred years.
Our Presidential Candidates share contrasting views on the climate change issue. Clinton affirms the seriousness of climate change, while Trump dismisses the claims entirely.
"Hillary has always been proactive in regards to issues of climate change," saysJeffrey Maguire, a 21-year-old Modell's Sporting Goods Sales Associate.
Clinton, in various interviews and press conferences, has advocated her support in combating climate change, and raising awareness of it as an issue that must be addressed actively by Americans, stating that it is an "urgent threat" to the future of America.
"I'm really looking forward to her plans on making the nation run on clean energy," says Maguire.
On the contrary, Trump sees climate change as an overreaction to minor changes in the weather. In various tweets and interviews, Trump has repeatedly stated that he does not think that climate change is an issue, calling it a "hoax" and "a very expensive form of tax."
According to CNN, Trump once sent out a tweet saying, "The concept of global warming was created by and for the Chinese in order to make U.S. manufacturing non-competitive." Although Trump stated that he was only joking about climate change being created by the Chinese later that day. Despite scientific claims and facts on climate change, he still refuses to acknowledge it as a threat.
In a peer-reviewed scientific journal published by the Institute of Physics Science, stated that over ninety-seven percent of scientists agree that climate change is an issue caused by human misuse and disregard of Earth's resources.Many other scientific journals have also proven that over the years, global temperature has risen and will continue to rise if climate change agreements are not actively discussed by world leaders.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a panel of scientist from all over the world who assess the science behind climate change, has stated that "Scientific evidence for warming of the climate system is unequivocal."
Professor Michael Sharpe, a York College Political Science professor, states that " Climate change is a real issue… with the melting of the polar ice caps in the Arctic and rising sea levels, it is pretty visible what is happening."
Clinton has mentioned that should she be elected president she would work to create climate change laws and praised the steps enacted by the Paris Climate Agreement.
The Paris Climate Agreement is a global climate deal signed by one-hundred and ninety-five countries in December of 2015. The deal committed the countries that signed it to work and limit the temperature increase with plans to utilize solar and wind energy.
While America has yet to reach the plan's goals, Trump has publicly disagreed with it stating that he will "cancel" the agreement if he were to become president.
Adams believes that his reluctance to acknowledge climate change is business driven. "Passing climate change acts can affect people's profit; Trump is probably thinking of how it can and will negatively impact his businesses and investments."
Jessica Savchuk, a nursing major, agrees with Adams stating that "some people rather remain ignorant rather than face the facts that (they) messed up and (climate change) is an issue that needs to be fixed."
While many voters think that climate change is a topic that should be discussed at length by each candidate, some voters, especially supporters of Trump, think that climate change is not something worth debating.
Brendan Joseph, a 32 yr old security guard states, "Trump has better stuff to focus on right now. Our top priority is getting terrorists out of our nation… Hillary talks about the issue of climate change, but that's just to get the sympathy of the voters."
Some voters, however, worry that she will try to pass climate change laws but will not be successful in making prominent and lasting changes.
"The fact of the matter is that when I was younger this was a topic still being discussed by politicians and nothing has happened, it is still a prominent issue," says Adams.
"It is a gridlock," says Sharpe "Republicans are in the majority now and that is one of the reasons they can not get these laws passed (now)… perhaps with the next election it will change but the republicans as of now have more elected officials."
← Raising the Minimum Wage: Each Presidential Candidate's Plan
CCNY Engineering Students Hope to Win the National ChemE Car Competition →


text:
Home Broadcast News beIN SPORT launches on Verizon FiOS
beIN SPORT launches on Verizon FiOS
The network, dedicated to live and exclusive coverage of the world's best soccer and international sports, announced its launch on Verizon FiOS TV. Verizon added both beIN SPORT HD and beIN SPORT en Español HD to its FiOS TV lineup.
With beIN SPORT HD, FiOS TV customers can now see all the top soccer leagues and tournaments from Europe and South America, including Spain's La Liga, Italy's Serie A, France's Ligue 1, South American World Cup Qualifiers and Copa America 2015. The network also carries the U.S. Men's National Soccer Team away games of the 2014 World Cup as well as international tennis, golf, volleyball, rugby, handball, motorsports and more.
Verizon will offer beIN SPORT on FiOS TV Channel 598 in its Ultimate HD package. The Spanish-language channel, beIN SPORT en Español HD, will be available on FiOS TV Channel 1598 in Verizon's La Conexion and Spanish-language TV packages. The channels are available now to FiOS TV customers in Florida, Texas, California, and Pittsburgh, and will be available in all markets by mid-April.
Previous articleUnivision, DirecTV strike new carriage deal
Next articleCarl's Jr., Hardee's debut Jim Beam Bourbon Burger campaign


News: Danish toy company Lego has launched Lego Architecture Studio – a new set of building blocks aimed at the architecture and design community.
The Lego Architecture Studio set comprises over 1,200 pieces of 76 unique components, from chamfered wedge-shaped blocks to simple bricks, designed to give as much freedom and creativity to the maker as possible.
"Anyone with an interest in architecture can now create their own Lego original designs, as well as building mini architectural masterpieces such as the Eiffel Tower and the Trevi Fountain," said a statement from Lego.
The new design, which became available in the UK and Europe for the first time this month, has eschewed Lego's typical bold primary colours for a monochromatic scheme of white and transparent elements.
Building elements have been made as simple as possible and without embellishments to make them flexible for the creation of small or large-scale models.
"Architecture Studio takes Lego fans back to the basic building bricks that have inspired generations of aspiring architects, including me," said urban planner and founder of Common Office, Finn Williams, who launched the European version of the product at Lego's London flagship store last week.
Lego aims to also strengthen the kit's appeal to architects, engineers and construction industry professionals with a 250-page guidebook.
Architecture companies led by Sou Fujimoto, Ma Yansong and Moshe Safdie are among those that have contributed to the manual, reflecting on the construction toy's double use as a design tool.
The book also includes thematic examples of architecture to inspire Lego users, using diagrams to suggest ideas about scale, mass, surface, section, modules and repetition, as well as examples of projects built using the 1,200 bricks.
The launch of the kit coincides with the growing popularity of the Lego Architecture series, which offers sets to create reproductions of iconic buildings in Lego brick form such as Farnsworth House and Falling Water, with customised pieces and detailed plans.
The new Architecture Studio is also intended as a reference to Lego's Scale Model Line from the early 1960s, when the company's then owner Godtfred Kirk Christiansen sought to tailor the toy for a Modernist market interested in the new International Style.
The line included five elements that matched the existing Lego bricks, but were only a third of the height making it possible to create more detailed structures. Scale Model was phased out in 1965, but its pieces were integrated into the main Lego line.


To change the guardianship of a child, you will need to file a petition with the court in the city or county where the child resides currently. Along with the petition, you should file evidence to back up your reasons for changing guardianship and provide written consents from the child's current guardians. Once you have provided the court with these documents, a judge will review the case and make a determination on what guardianship arrangement will be in the best interest of the child.
Prepare a petition for guardianship. To have the court consider transferring legal guardianship, you will need to draft a petition pursuant to your state's child custody laws. The petition should list the child's full name, date of birth and place of residence, along with demographic information on the child's parents, current guardian and proposed legal guardian.
List the reasons for changing guardianship. Because a change in guardians and living arrangements can be difficult on a child psychologically, the court may not approve the petition unless you provide compelling reasons why the new custody arrangement is in the child's best interest.
Obtain signed consents from the child's current legal guardians. If the child's parents and current guardian agree to the change in guardianship, they will need to execute a document that states that they are in agreement with the proposed arrangement. If they wish for a temporary change in guardianship only, they should state the date they wish for the guardianship arrangement to remain in place. The parents and guardians should sign and date the documents in front of a notary public.
Green, Anna. "How to Change the Guardianship of a Child." , https://legalbeagle.com/5755534-change-guardianship-child.html. Accessed 20 April 2019.


The Helpmann Academy is an important part of Adelaide's cultural sphere – and it is a name that will surely be familiar to any artists starting their careers in this city. Their offerings of grants and learning opportunities – including masterclasses, seminars, and mentorships – are used by many local artists to get a start in their vocations. For people less actively engaged in the arts scene, they could be an organisation you are unfamiliar with but could well have played a crucial part in the nascent career of a local artist you know.
Flinders graduate and Filmmaker Stephanie Jaclyn on the set of her web series 'Freemales'. Stephanie received a 2017 Helpmann Fellowship to undertake training and development opportunities in London. Photo courtesy of the artist.
Behind all this, is a small and dedicated team of individuals working to help offer opportunities to Adelaide's artists. To discover more about what goes into reaching the results the Helpmann Academy has achieved, Tulpa recently sat down with Jane MacFarlane, the Academy's CEO.
Helpmann Academy is one of a number of organisations providing support and opportunities for artists. We began by asking who the Academy is geared towards helping. Jane said that they 'only support emerging artists', people who are 'graduates in the first five years of their career'. One of the things she says is important is that prospective Helpmann grantees know 'they're not competing against mid-career artists.' It's made very clear that for all the significance of Helpmann – that may make it seem imposing to the less experienced artists – it is just for these artists that the Academy exists. 'A lot of people don't apply because they don't feel they're established enough or they're not good enough but everyone who applies through Helpmann is starting out in their careers,' Jane explains.
Flinders graduate and actor, Annabel Matheson. Photo by Ian Routledge, Foul Play Theatre.
The process of grant-writing is not one many artists relish but it is a fixture of the artist's life – particularly in their earlier years. On this matter, though, Jane explains that they are engaged in 'helping artists as much as we can in their grant applications so we offer to read grants, [and] give feedback. Part of it, for us, is not just in [them] receiving the grant but [also] artists learning skills in grant applications that will hopefully help them in the long term.' So an artist writing a grant application to the Helpmann Academy will likely receive helpful feedback to get them a step closer to their next application being a successful one.
2017 Helpmann Academy Night of Jazz with Marquis Hill. Photo by Russell Millard.
Considering the broad and significant work the Helpmann Academy does for the careers of young and emerging Adelaide artists, there is one important question. What would be the ultimate goal for the Academy? What would it look like with absolute success? Perhaps as one ought to expect, Jane answers, 'not to exist.' She elaborates: 'we want to see artists truly valued and be successful both financially and in terms of their aspirations'. Those who work at Helpmann 'want to see artists live their dreams and be able to do what they do without having to juggle four or five jobs on top of their practice'.
Looking to the shorter-term goals of the Helpmann Academy, Jane says they are trying to look at 'two main approaches'. One is to continue to open up their masterclasses and seminars up to as many artists as possible. The other approach is to look at 'ways we can fund larger scale projects and opportunities for artists as well'. In looking to Helpmann's future, one can also look to their past, as the past three years have seen quite a bit of growth – Jane says they have doubled the amount of support.
As the conversation turns to the state of the arts in Adelaide, Jane explains one of the city's arts scene's strongest points is 'how connected it is'. 'Compared to other places,' she says, 'it is a lot easier to connect industry and organisations and people'. This element directly benefits Helpmann as they 'have partnerships with lots of other arts organisations and work together with them very successfully.' As an example of the Adelaide art scene's ability to connect, Jane puts forward that Adelaide is now UNESCO's first City of Music. 'I think that is the music industry coming together really successfully.' Adelaide's artistic sphere has clearly been noticed from the outside and its successes rewarded. Embedded in this connectedness of Adelaide's arts, is Helpmann, and they are well and truly doing their part to connect people, to upskill the city's creatives, and to provide learning opportunities.
All in all, Jane MacFarlane paints a picture of a city with a lot going for it in its creative industries. There may be more to be done, hence the Academy's existence, but Adelaide is a city well on its way to greater successes – aided by organisations such as the Helpmann Academy.
Feature image property of the Helpmann Academy.


text:
Just a Gigolo () is a 1978 West German drama film directed by David Hemmings and starring David Bowie. Set in post-World War I Berlin, it also features Sydne Rome, Kim Novak and Marlene Dietrich in her final film role.

The film was panned by critics and audiences; this led Bowie to quip that it was "my 32 Elvis Presley movies rolled into one".

Plot
A Prussian officer (David Bowie) returns home to Berlin following the end of the Great War. Unable to find employment elsewhere, he works as a gigolo in a brothel run by the Baroness (Marlene Dietrich). He is eventually killed in street fighting between Nazis and Communists. Both sides claim his body but the Nazis succeed in capturing it and bury him with honours, "a hero to a cause he did not support".

Cast
 David Bowie as Paul Ambrosius von Przygodski
 Sydne Rome as Cilly
 Kim Novak as Helga von Kaiserling
 David Hemmings as Captain Hermann Kraft
 Maria Schell as Frau von Przygodski
 Curd Jürgens as Prince
 Marlene Dietrich as Baroness von Semering
 Erika Pluhar as Eva
 Hilde Weissner as Aunt Hilda
 Werner Pochath as Otto
 Rudolf Schündler as Oberst Gustav von Przygodski
 Evelyn Künneke as Frau Aeckerle

Production
Around the time of its release, David Hemmings said that Just a Gigolo was intended to be "highly ironic, tongue-in-cheek, about the period". Marlene Dietrich was persuaded to come out of retirement to make the film, reportedly receiving $250,000 for two days' shooting.

It was Bowie's first movie role after Nicolas Roeg's The Man Who Fell to Earth (1976). As Roeg's film had played upon Bowie's earlier identification with science fiction and alienness, so Just a Gigolo fitted his then-current interest in pre-war Berlin, pricked by meeting Christopher Isherwood, whose Goodbye to Berlin had inspired the musical Cabaret. The city had also been the recording location for Bowie's latest studio album, "Heroes" (1977).

The singer has variously claimed that he took the role "as a favour to Hemmings", who at the time was also planning to produce a documentary of Bowie's 1978 concert tour, and because "Marlene Dietrich was dangled in front of me". Actually, the two stars never met. Dietrich played her brief part in Paris, where she lived, with the result simply being cut into Bowie's scenes that were shot, along with the rest of the film, in Berlin.

Soundtrack
The soundtrack of Just a Gigolo included jazz and cabaret standards performed by various acts including Pasadena Roof Orchestra, The Manhattan Transfer and the Village People. As well as appearing on screen, Sydne Rome sang a track called "Don't Let It Be Too Long", by David Hemmings and composer Günther Fischer, while Marlene Dietrich performed the song "Just a Gigolo".

Unlike his work on The Man Who Fell to Earth, Bowie did contribute a piece of music to the film; his so-called "Revolutionary Song" was co-written with musical director Jack Fishman and played by a band called the Rebels. It was released in Japan as a single, which later became something of a collectors' item.

Release and aftermath
The film opened in Berlin on 16 November 1978. It received poor reviews and was pulled from cinemas. Hemmings recut the picture for its UK premiere in Leicester Square on 14 February 1979 where, at an ostensibly black-tie affair, Bowie wore a kimono. Reviews were again negative; the Sunday Mirror called the film "all show and no substance" and considered Bowie "completely miscast", while Time Out advised its readers to simply "overlook it".

In an interview with NME in September 1980, Bowie was quoted as saying:

Bowie's biographers have labelled the film "an active pain", "an unadulterated flop", and a "debacle". Its reputation among mainstream critics generally remains low, Halliwell's calling it an "international misadventure... interminable... clumsily made", while Leonard Maltin describes it as a "weird melodrama". Allmovie's Hal Erickson has nevertheless given the film a 3-star rating.

Just a Gigolo was released to DVD in a number of markets in 2004. It was digitally remastered and received its first official release in the United Kingdom in 2021, where it was accompanied by a 54-page booklet on the making of the film.

References

Sources

External links

1978 films
1978 drama films
1978 LGBT-related films
English-language German films
German drama films
German LGBT-related films
Films about male prostitution
Films about prostitution in Germany
Films directed by David Hemmings
Films set in 1919
Films set in the 1920s
Films set in Berlin
West German films
1970s German films
Films about gigolos

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Emma Louise Hewitt, född 28 april 1988 i Geelong, Australien, är en australisk sångerska och låtskrivare inom musikgenren trance. Hon är bosatt i Amsterdam.

Referenser

Födda 1988
Australiska låtskrivare
Australiska sångare
Trancemusiker
Kvinnor
Levande personer
Personer från Geelong


When I ran across this post by Brianna Hoftun on Tumblr I knew it was something I had to share with you.
You see not everyone is exposed to positive role models or even inspiring words at an early age. For some of us it wasn't something we received from our families or communities, instead it was something we learned with age. Now don't get me wrong, although finding your self-esteem can be an amazingly empowering and soul opening moment, the truth is it can also be a bit sad to realize just how much time you spent in search of it.
Ladies, You dont even need to be told.
I completely agree, but growing up without affirmations and negative words impacts you. It makes the road to self love a little longer for some.
Wow I really like this.