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QBurgh > The Feed > Entertainment > Normalizing Queerness, One Gay Kiss at a Time
Normalizing Queerness, One Gay Kiss at a Time
'Love, Victor' stars Michael Cimino and George Sear on bringing gay sex to their YA series and impacting LGBTQ+ youth
Posted by by Chris Azzopardi June 20, 2021
Photo courtesy of Hulu
"Love, Victor," now in its second season, refuses to navigate coming out as simply a one-note experience.
The gay teen-romance, a series spinoff of the groundbreaking "Love, Simon" feature film, launched its debut season last year on Hulu. The first season was created for Disney+, but the company declined to air it after filming was complete. The show, Disney execs decided, was too grown-up for its young audience. Season 2, then, was created with Hulu audiences in mind, which means more mature emotional themes and a good amount of gay nooky — in fact, an entire episode is devoted to the show's romantic leads, Victor (Michael Cimino) and Benji (George Sear), having sex.
This season, the series follows Victor as a newly out high schooler, from all sorts of Benji-Victor ("Venji," as they've been collectively coined) romantic side plots –– meeting the parents, learning about gay sex — to how homophobia, when complicated by deep-rooted cultural and religious beliefs, has to be unlearned.
Before you read any further, know that this interview with Cimino and Sear, who talk about all that making out (and why they opted out of an intimacy coach for those sex scenes), includes some spoilers.
You guys owe me a few boxes of tissues for all the crying I did last night binging this season.
George Sear: Yeah, it's an emotional one.
Michael Cimino: It's a roller coaster, for sure.
Sear: I, myself, was tearing up yesterday because I watched the first three episodes, and particularly the scenes with the parents.
I also just have to start by saying that if I saw two boys making out as much as you two do in this season of "Love, Victor" when I was 16 years old, I would have made out with a lot more guys. Like, where were you in 1995?
Cimino: I was still, um, not even a thought! I wasn't even a thought in either of my parents' heads. But no, I think we're moving in the right direction. I don't think we're in a very different time, but I think that we're moving in the right direction (with) shows like this, where young LGBT youth can watch it and be like, "Oh, this is normal. This is OK."
I feel like a lot of straight teens are like, "Oh yeah, I can make out with this person or this person, and it's completely fine." But it should be exactly the same for the LGBT community. They should feel no pressure and (it) should be completely normal to just kiss people in public.
Or have sex with your boyfriend and have your mom or dad catch you, because that also happens with gay people.
Cimino: Yes — yes, it does. It totally does. And I think that, obviously, right now, we're definitely talking about… this show is definitely (about) queer Latinos and I love that about it. I think that it's kind of exactly like every other straight teen show but except through a queer lens. I love that part about "Love, Victor."
Sear: It does show the difficult realities of coming out in today's age, which is a difficult thing for most people, but also just the joy in celebrating who you are and embracing who you are on the other side of that. And living your truth.
I think gay sex has been really neglected on television and I was pleased to see the second season of "Love, Victor" really go there with the sex. What did you appreciate about the way that this season tackled sex, George?
Sear: I think just having LGBTQ writers bring their stories and their experiences into the script brings this authenticity and realness to the stories. So the writing is all there. You know, as an actor to be able to play this part and then have such great quality writing is really kind of everything. What about you, Mike?
Cimino: Honestly, the whole representation of Victor's sexual awakening and his sex life with Benji definitely relies a lot on George and I's chemistry. I think that George is — sorry to give you your flowers on here — so easy to work with and so incredibly understanding and so willing to just do things and try different things (to) see what works and what doesn't.
Sear: Yeah, it felt very explorative on set, didn't it?
Cimino: Yeah, for sure.
Sear: They did say, "Do you want an intimacy coach?" and we felt, to be honest, both really dedicated to these characters and wanted to honor this writing and we just sort of felt like we had a closeness and were able to do that on set.
Cimino: We actually completely opted out of having an intimacy coach. George and I both felt like we were very comfortable with each other already. We really just went for it, and I think that that kind of reads on screen, where it felt very explorative. It felt very new and exciting, and I think that's something that's really, really cool.
I don't know how you guys identify, but there's this conversation about straight people playing queer roles and if you are straight, you know what, you did your job. You were so believable in these parts. I really felt this relationship was a real relationship.
Cimino: Thank you.
Sear: Thank you for saying that.
Cimino: That means a lot to hear because that is obviously a topic for discussion, and I'm glad it's a conversation we're having. I think conversations such as those should be had, but I think, realistically, it relies purely on an actor-to-actor basis. I feel like there are actors that are taking LGBT roles and not representing the community in an accurate way. They're taking it as a cash grab and then they don't represent the community afterwards, where it's like you're not advocating for the community. They're not donating money to LGBT charities, they're not trying to do things that will help the LGBT community, but they're just taking the role because it's a cash grab or, "Oh, it seems like it will make a difference in my career."
What has it been like for both of you to bring this Venji romance to life on screen?
Sear: It's an ever-ongoing journey, particularly the difference between Season 1 and Season 2. Being on Hulu this time around, being able to tell more realistic stories, it's been great to be able to continue playing these characters and exploring their journeys collectively and individually and just exploring it in other areas, really, that we maybe weren't able to do in Season 1 (on Disney+). So, it's been great, and I hope we get the chance to get back to it.
Cimino: Definitely.
You have to do it again. You cannot leave me like you left me at the end of this season.
Sear: No, no. We'll manifest it.
Cimino: Yes. For sure, for sure. We've got to manifest it.
Michael, are you Team Venji or Team Vahim?
Cimino: Oh, man. I feel like… I don't know. I haven't been able to watch the show in its entirety, so I can't really say. I'm so torn.
Sear: Yeah. He doesn't want to let you down on this interview, that's what he's saying.
Cimino: I feel so torn.
Sear: No, I think ultimately you probably just want Victor to be happy.
Cimino: Yes, exactly. We just want Victor to be happy.
That's a pretty good non-answer.
Sear: That's a very good deflective answer, isn't it?
Cimino: I'm just… I'm confused, OK!
My opinion on the third season is that you three just form a throuple.
Sear: Hey, we'll pitch it.
Cimino: (Laughs.) Yeah, yeah, yeah, we'll pitch it. We'll put you in the "special thanks."
Because the show has had an immense impact on LGBTQ+ youth — I mean, it would have changed my life, like I told you, when I was 16 — what's one letter you've received from a queer fan that really made you feel like what you were doing here was really affecting lives?
Sear: Off the bat, one that sticks out to me — because there have been many — (was a) message from someone who's in the military. I don't think they had a very good experience with their sexuality, obviously, with the way things are in the military. And they said watching the show really just made them feel some sort of acceptance, and heard.
Cimino: I've gotten so many messages, but some of the ones that stick out to me the most are (from) people that are literally Latino and they're like, "This is my exact story and this is exactly what I've been going through with my mom, or my dad, or my uncle." It's crazy to know that we're still not in that place where people can just accept their children or their family for just being true to who they are as people. I think that it's really inspiring for me as an artist to continue to push myself harder and to continue to represent the community in an accurate way because I get to see the impact it's making on people's lives.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
Chris Azzopardi June 20, 2021
Chris Azzopardi
Chris Azzopardi has interviewed a multitude of superstars, including Cher, Meryl Streep, Mariah Carey and Beyoncé. His work has also appeared in The New York Times, Vanity Fair, GQ and Billboard. Reach him via Twitter.
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When I was a boy, my mother would say to me, "Norman. Don't you have anything better to do with yourself?!"
With madmen possessing nuclear capabilities and the president of the most powerful nation in the West rolling out a welcome mat to Islam and using devious means to institute sweeping policies against the will of the people that have been colossal failures elsewhere, cries arise for us to do something. I have felt the pull, and am sure that many of you have also. However, for me personally, the Lord has affirmed in my heart time and time again, that I need to stick to the study and propagation of the Word. Everything else that I do is just to put bread on the table.
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Yeshua came to a benighted world: and the light in the darkness did shine, and the darkness did not perceive it (John 1:5. Young's Literal Translation); yet the light of God's Word remains, having been passed down to us in Spirit and in script. Now, we are the torchbearers for this generation and the next, and we must pass the torch to them - a torch that burns brightly and strongly.
It was in a dark period of history that God assured Jeremiah, "Is not My word like fire?" declares the LORD, "and like a hammer which shatters a rock?" (Jeremiah 23:29). Let us build ourselves up in God's Holy Word as a hedge against present and future perils that no matter how dark the night gets our lives and our words may be lights on lampstands and cities on hilltops that cannot be hidden.
Whatever our call on this afflicted planet, let us treasure up God's Word in our hearts as David did in his (Psalm 119:11) and dance joyfully as he did when he escorted the ark into Jerusalem (2 Samuel 6). Then we will be wealthy and victorious in this world with wealth and victory overflowing to lavish upon others.
"Norman. Don't you have anything better to do with yourself?!"
If my dear mother were standing in front of me right now, I would answer her, "No, Mom. I have nothing better to do with myself than to learn and to burn with the Word of God and to urge people to learn it themselves and walk it out in their lives."
may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
Now, dear friend, I ask you: "Don't you have anything better to do with yourself?!"
Many blessings to you in the Word that will never fade away.


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Yep! That's what's happening right now in my WIP. And I can't get the song out of my head! It's an old one, from the sixties when part of the book is set, and though there have been more recent covers of it, I've been using the original – You Don't Own Me by Lesley Gore – since that's what my character would have listened to at the time.
The novel I'm working on is called Gold Plated and the main character, Rosanna, is remembering being eighteen in the late sixties and being let down in love. She goes home to her mother to be looked after while she gets over the break up.
'My mother knows straight away that something is wrong when I arrive home late that evening, but I tell her I don't want to talk about it. Wise woman that she is, she leaves me in peace that night and for the first few days I'm home. Days when I hardly leave my room. Days when I don't get out of bed, or don't dress if I do. I leave my room only to go to the bathroom or to return the tray Mum so kindly brings up at regular intervals with some tasty treat or other on it along with a warm drink and a loving smile.
I dig out my records and play a series of heartbreak songs, followed by a series of angry songs, ending up with playing Lesley Gore's You Don't Own Me over and over again, convincing myself it was I who set myself free from the hold of his caresses and whispered endearments. He had my heart in his hands and he couldn't let me go, so I had struggled free.
Most of the words don't fit my situation, but there is something in the tone of the song, something in its power that resonates with me.
So I've been playing this track over and over while I've been writing and it's time to move on to another scene, but the song lingers in my head as I write, keeping the mood, holding on to the anger, the hurt, the angst.
Do you remember the original Lesley Gore version? Or Dusty Springfield's from a few years later? Among other versions, there is a recent one by a singer called Grace. Perhaps you've heard that one.
As a reader, do you find it helpful to listen to music that's mentioned in a book? As a writer, do you like to use music in your writing? For me, the answer is a resounding, 'Yes!' on both counts.
Hope you enjoy the track and do share your thoughts. I'd love to read them.
What do We Know of Wendy Janes?
I had the great pleasure to meet up with Author Wendy Janes in London a few months ago. It was a real treat to get to know Wendy in person and I wish we lived nearer one another so we could meet often. However, we don't, so we can't, so there it is.
Next best thing, I've invited her to sit by my virtual fireside and have a chat with me about herself, her writing and her goals, and I'm inviting you to join us. So draw up a chair, help yourself to tea or coffee. Hot chocolate for me – plenty in the pot if that's your pleasure too. Oh, and help yourself to the cup cakes.
So, Wendy, can you tell us a bit about yourself?
I live in London with my husband and youngest son. I feel very lucky that since my youngest son started school I've been able to work from home, running my freelance proofreading business and advising parents over the phone on The National Autistic Society's Education Rights Service. While I've always written diaries, short stories and prose-poetry for myself, it's only in the last few years that I've had the confidence to share my writing with an audience. Some of my short stories have appeared in anthologies, and in October 2015 I self-published my novel, What Jennifer Knows.
Now can you tell us something that might surprise us?
I've never learned how to drive. I did try when I was seventeen and gave up after the lesson when I nearly caused an accident by pulling out into a main road in front of a car. I simply didn't see it coming. Thank goodness my instructor had dual-control. I can still feel that dart of hot-cold shock when I think about him slamming on the brakes that day.
I once performed at Wembley Arena. Over twenty years ago a group of us (including my mum) danced to The Trout by Schubert as part of a day of movement and dance. I think you can see how excited I was from this photo of me at the 'Artists Entrance'!
Oh, my, look at those glasses. My only excuse is that it was 1992.
I love them! I wore glasses since I was four years old till I got contacts, and I can tell you, there are worse than yours of 1992!
I just love this photograph, Wendy. It really brings back the late 90s. And I wish I had seen you dance.
So, can you tell us something you are proud of about yourself?
At the end of the 1980s I started up a local branch of a support group for lonely and isolated new mums. We'd meet at each other's houses, go on outings, and a small core of us would provide information and support where needed. When the group became too big to fit in each other's houses, we raised funds to set up a mother-and-toddler group in a local community hall. I'm still close friends with five of the mums from the original group.
He's a wonderful man, but he genuinely doesn't seem to see the piles of papers, clothes, tools and camera equipment that he leaves lying all over the place. After thirty years of tidying up after him, encouraging/cajoling/nagging, some people might say he'll never change, but I'm still hopeful that one day we'll live in a completely clutter-free house.
What makes you smile, Wendy?
My granddaughters. At six years old and nine months old, the way they embrace all of life's new experiences is a joy to see.
I know you enjoy your work with The National Autistic Society. Can you tell us a bit about that please?
A small team of us help parents whose children have a diagnosis of autism to try and secure the right education for them. We each work from home offering a listening ear and giving advice via phone and email. Much of my time is spent ascertaining what the parent wants to achieve and then using law, regulations and guidance to empower the parent in reaching towards that goal. Sometimes we can come up with a way forward in a trice, other times it takes far longer, and sometimes things don't work out as expected. Whatever the outcome, I always hope I've helped in some small way.
It's an absolute privilege to do this work.
Has your work with The National Autistic Society influenced your writing?
And your work as a proofreader? How has that influenced your writing?
I've read books that annoyed me to the point where I wanted to throw them across the room. Sometimes because they have lacked a good editor and/or proofreader. Other times just because the story is weak or the telling of it poor.
As a reader, rather than a proofreader, what do you think makes a good story?
Unfortunately many books are spoiled by poor editing and proofreading. A typo can completely jolt a reader out of a story, and when that happens over and over again, I'm not surprised you've wanted to throw a book across the room!
As a reader I think authenticity is at the heart of good writing. If a story is populated by two-dimensional characters or by characters that don't ring true then the story won't come alive.
What one thing has a 'bad' book taught you not to do in your own writing?
Telling the reader in the narrative that something is happening; telling it again in dialogue; and then, just in case readers haven't got the point, telling them again in the narrative. I strive to avoid this mistake that turns stories into stodge.
As a writer, what elements do you find are the most crucial to include in your stories?
What are three things you have experienced as an author that have helped you during the writing stage?
Support of other authors. I've met some wonderful authors online, many are now very good friends.
Support of family. My husband and youngest son are particularly brilliant sounding boards, and excellent at reminding me that there is life outside of the PC.
Reading some wonderful fiction while writing helps me strive to improve my writing.
You said you think authenticity is at the heart of good writing, and I do agree. You also said, "If a story is populated by two-dimensional characters or by characters that don't ring true then the story won't come alive." The goal of a writer is to give the readers characters they can connect with. The characters in your novel, What Jennifer Knows, are very engaging.
What advice could you give other authors to help them find that authentic voice that speaks to readers?
Thank you. I'm so pleased you found Jennifer and her friends and family engaging.
I know some people suggest you read your work out loud, either to yourself or others. I think what can also help to hone your voice is to have someone else read your work back to you. That way, you can hear exactly how your words sound to someone else.
You have a gift of storytelling, and I know you have written many short stories, some of which appear in published anthologies, have you ever thought of publishing a compilation of your stories?
Again, thank you. Yes, in April I'm planning to self-publish a small collection of new short stories. While writing What Jennifer Knows some of the supporting characters had their own tales to tell that would have detracted from Jennifer's story, so I've been working on six stories that reflect significant moments in their lives.
I hope people who haven't read the novel will enjoy meeting Rollo, Cynthia, Sue, Gerald, Blythe and Tim, and will want to see them again in the pages of What Jennifer Knows. And for those who have read the novel, I hope they'll enjoy their reunion with characters they met there, and be entertained by the glimpses of Jennifer as she matures from young student to grandmother.
Is there anything you wish you'd known before you started writing your first book, that you could share with eager, would-be writers?
If I'd known that a first draft of a book doesn't have to be polished I could have saved myself a lot of early angst and self-doubt. So, my advice to would-be writers is to get the words on the page and let your ideas flow. No one else needs to see your first draft, stop thinking about your audience at this point and simply write what you want to. Then, once you have that first draft you can start to work on it.
Well, I do hope you enjoyed getting to know Wendy a little better. Hope you can join me again soon. I'll replenish the cup cakes, I promise.
Christine Campbell is the author of six published novels: Family Matters, Making it Home, Flying Free, Here at the Gate, Searching for Summer, and Traces of Red.
You can find out more if you click here, on the sidebar of this blog, or if you click on 'Books' on the menu bar.


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Time, and teams, march on.
Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra talks about blowing a 19-point lead and losing to the Charlotte Hornets in the home opener on Fri., Oct. 28, 2016.
This season-opening week including Miami's 97-91 loss Friday has been about that for Miami, team and city. A franchise is looking for somebody to, metaphorically if not literally, fill that locker stall Wade left empty. Chris Bosh, not cleared medically, remains on the team, technically, but he's a man without a country. The Heat is holding auditions: Who will be the next star?
The inside lane to that answer seems clear.
He's the 7-0, 265-pound man-child, center Hassan Whiteside.
Pat Riley believes it. He'd better. He enriched Whiteside with a four-year, $98 million contract extension over the summer. That's star money, face-of-franchise money. That's money that might have been devoted to keeping Wade. That's also money that allowed Whiteside, 27, to buy a $7 million Miami Beach mansion into which he had installed a 1,500-gallon fish tank. Hey, when you're big, you go big.
Now the justifying of that lavish contract has begun — and we have seen already this young season that it will be a challenge.
Riley, the roster architect in rebuild-mode, liked that.
He has shown that potential fast.
After 18 points,14 rebounds and four blocks in Wednesday's season-opening win in Orlando, Whiteside had 20 points and 15 rebounds in Friday's loss.
We have seen how unstoppable he can be. But Friday we also were reminded how opponents almost nightly will try to prod Whiteside, test his composure, trigger his temper. Charlotte deployed professional irritant Cody Zeller to do that. At one point the two centers collided, with Zeller pulling him down and getting Whiteside on his lap. Whiteside sustained a small cut on his left elbow.
Keeping his composure will be what Whiteside must prove he can do; about the scoring and rebounding and blocked shots, there is little doubt. But his minutes Friday were limited by an early fourth foul. That contributed big to Miami blowing a 19-point lead. Points in the paint dried up with Whiteside on the bench or playing in foul trouble.
Waiters finished 5-of-16 shooting for 13 points with 7 rebounds and three assists in 34 minutes on Fri., Oct. 28, 2016.
I thought coach Erik Spoelstra should have put Whiteside back in the game sooner than he did.
Playing smart and with composure will be the challenge for Whiteside. For sure, motivation doesn't appear to be an issue.
Miami has largely been written off as it launches the post-Big 3 era. Most media estimates don't have the Heat making the playoffs. But Spoelstra has emphasized that the club's standards have not changed in the transitional new era; the playoffs remain the foremost goal. The youthful core of Goran Dragic, Justise Winslow, Josh Richardson and Tyler Johnson surrounding the epicenter Whiteside will give Miami a chance.
Winslow (4-of-14 field goals finished with 10 points, six rebounds and five assists in 32 minutes in Miami's 97-91 loss to the Hornets on Fri., Oct. 28, 2016.
The season, not the media prognostications, will tell us how good (or not) the Heat is, post-Wade.
The season, not anybody's lavish contract, will tell us who is most ready to be this franchise's next big star.
The finding out should be interesting, because it's been awhile since Heat fans have entered a season not being sure of either.


I don't think I have ever made a chunkier, crunchier and downright chai-ier granola in my life. This is hands down a new favourite when I'm after those satisfying big clusters. Let's be honest, who doesn't look through the freshly made batch to hunt out the biggest clusters and then devour them before anyone else gets a look in? Please say it's not just me.
I love to bake granola, and am so happy to be sharing another recipe with you today. I've switched the granola game up a bit here, as you'll notice the recipe is syrup and oil free. So, what makes it so chunky? I blend juicy dates with some water, almond butter and vanilla to make a creamy and jammy paste to bind the dry ingredients. Thanks to the sugar content of the dates, the oats develop a real crunchiness in the oven without the need for added sugars.
This recipe is also gluten free (use gluten free certified oats if your intolerant) and so is a real crowd pleaser. Though what makes this Chai Spiced Walnut Granola extra special is in the name Chai Spiced. As much as I love cinnamon and ginger, I don't often bake with chai spices in general. I think chai spices are gorgeous – they smell so comforting and fragrant and have a really powerfully sweet and spicy flavour combination that screams wellness and contentment. I used freshly ground cardamom and cloves for this breakfast cereal, along with ground cinnamon, ginger, mixed spice, a pinch of salt and vanilla essence to catapult your senses into a chai dream. I don't have a pestle and mortar, but instead crushed the pods with a rolling pin and chopping board.
Remember my favourite granola trick to ensure a crunchy cereal: allow to cool in the oven switched off and the door left slightly ajar. It really does work.
A chunky cluster granola full of warming chai spices and juicy raisins.
Soak the pitted dates in boiling water for 10 minutes. Remove the dates and reserve the liquid.
Preheat the oven to 170Fan/190*C and line two baking trays with parchment paper.
Mix together the oats, walnuts, spices and salt in a large bowl.
To a food processor, add the dates, almond butter, vanilla and reserved liquid. Blend until smooth and creamy, scraping down the sides as necessary.
Pour the wet mix over the oats and stir to combine.
Tumble into the baking trays the bake for 25-30 minutes, turning over halfway through.
Turn off the oven, leave the door ajar and allow to cool inside the oven to ensure crunchiness and large clusters. Once cool add the raisins, stir and store in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.
Are you a chai lover? I would love to hear what you think of my Chai Spiced Walnut Granola. If you make this, please tag me in your creations – I'm @nourishing.amy on Instagram and use the hashtag #nourishingamy.
Looks wonderful. I'll have to make some for my husband. He loves granola and yoghurt for breakfast.
Definitely granola is my favourite brekkie along with freeze dried berries and my new love of Alpro Coconut milk. I on your recommendation shake the coconut milk every time before I pour so it doesn't come out all lumpy etc. Thanks you for this great advice as I am so happy I am not pouring it down the sink! Especially has definitely prevented a little more non wasted food! 👍xxxx I have even got my Dad into eating granola now for brekkie with fruit on top.


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CGB Hall Of Fame: Syd'Quan Thompson (6) v. Vinny Strang (11)
By Twist NHook Apr 16, 2011, 5:30am PDT
Share All sharing options for: CGB Hall Of Fame: Syd'Quan Thompson (6) v. Vinny Strang (11)
Two more footballers face off today. We have WR Vinny Strang taking on DB Syd'Quan Thompson. Both were definitely fan favorites. The winner will take on Mike Pawlawski in the next round. This is the Pete Newell Regional.
You can read the whole bracket here. Voting will end on April 22 at noon. So, vote early and vote often. A fuller look at the matchup after the jump. GO BEARS!
Pete Newell Regional
Syd'Quan Thompson (6)
Hydro shares with us his personal memories of Syd in the Remembering the Seniors post.
My first memories of Syd'Quan Thompson was his performance against Tennessee. Most Cal fans will remember it wasn't good. Tennessee was scoring touchdowns on him. The aftermath of his performance was devastating. People were ripping him left and right saying how bad he sucks and how he shouldn't be playing. But what a lot of those people didn't realize was that Syd's problems against Tennessee were because he was wearing a cast on one of his wrists and he couldn't tackle. The problems weren't that he was blowing coverages. And if my memory serves me correctly, I don't think Tennessee really scored a touchdown over Syd; their touchdowns came from underneath passes where their WRs sort of ran over Syd's one handed attempts to pull them down. In other words, Syd's problems weren't really his coverage abilities. I'm not sure many Cal fans realized that though.
In my eyes, when I saw Syd see his first real reps in practice and on the field in 2006, my opinion was that Syd was a solid practice player. He covered his men well, and was around the ball when it was headed in his direction. He seemed like a solid player with a pretty good chance at being a great CB. A lot of Cal fans thought to the contrary though.
via shuttersounds.thedailynathan.com
(Photo from The Daily Nathan)
I had no idea Syd'Quan Thompson would be as good as he is today but I got my first hint that he might be this good at the 2006 Cal Football Awards banquet. At that banquet Daymeion Hughes (now Dante Hughes) won one of the defensive player awards.
When he took the stage to accept his award, he went through the usual thanks to family, coaches, and friends. Then he did something a little different. He went on to encourage the younger CBs to keep at it, practice hard, and don't give up. He said they could be as good as him. Then he singled out Syd'Quan Thompson. He said to Syd, in front of the entire banquet, that Syd could be better than him. He said it many times. "Syd, you can be better than me." He said it with conviction. He knew it.
I've talked about this many times before, but when somebody really good at their trade points out that someone else can be just as good or even better, you better listen. Those that are some of the best at their trade know what it takes to become the best, and who has what it comes to be the best. In 2006, Dante Hughes was one of the best CBs in the nation. He knew what it takes to get there, and he saw that Syd'Quan Thompson had it too.
Vinny Strang (11)
OhioBear: Small in stature, but the heart of a Golden Bear. Tough as nails. Scored the go-ahead touchdown in the 2003 Big Game. His epic punt return TD at Illinois (which I witnessed live with CALumbus Bear) was an awesome thing to watch live!
Danzig: If you're a Holmoecaust survivor you know who this is... if not, let me just say that Vinnie Strang was our Rudy. Every time he made a play the crowd (all eight of us) would go wild... he was the underdog's underdog.
Take the time to watch this highlight reel. Vinny was listed at 5'7, 150 lbs. Think about that for a moment. That's smaller than most of us and he went toe to toe with recruited Div-I, Pac-10 5* bluechippers and more than held his own. In a game largely dominated by the thoroughbreds, here was an Everyman who made plays with heart and determination. A true Golden Bear for the ages.
Vince Strang from jack bauer on Vimeo.
Scout.com has a great two-part interview here.
"In his final game at Cal, a 52-49 win over Virginia Tech in the 2003 Insight Bowl, Strang delivered yet another highlight-reel moment. After two end-arounds had resulted in little gain earlier in the evening, Tedford called the play again with 8:34 left and Strang scampered into the end zone from 13 yards out to give his team a 49-35 advantage. "
And here.
"Despite his small stature, Strang still found a way to be a success on the field. "I knew that I was fast and agile and that allowed good things to happen," he said. "I knew that I was going to get hit, get knocked down and that there would be times where physically I would get beat. I knew that I could get up and keep going at it. Someone might get me once but I will get him more than one time. I'm going to go out there, believe in myself and my teammates that I will get the job done. Despite the fact that I am undersized, I'm going to find a seam, find a way to get off the line and keep working. Once I'm in the open field, it doesn't matter how big you are, if I see something I will take advantage of it." "
And another feature from Calbears.com:
"At 5-foot-8, 150 pounds, Strang is all heart. From first impression, he has no business beating the opposing secondary. Thankfully, the instant replay erases any doubts.
"People underestimate you when you are undersized," said Strang. "I can use my speed to my advantage. I can get guys on their heels and loosen them up a little. They aren't ready if you blow by."
Kansas State wasn't ready. Neither was Colorado State. Strang burned both secondaries for 34-yard and 30-yard touchdown catches, respectively. And against Illinois, his 68-yard punt return late in the first half put Cal up by two touchdowns. As one of the fastest players on the team, Strang has a knack for getting open, as well as stretching the defense."

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


In a continuing effort to offer our customers the best possible machine vision inspection systems, Pressco has developed a number of upgrade paths for the INTELLISPEC™ and INTELLIMASS™ products. These upgrades are meant to extend the useful lifetime of existing inspection systems, add powerful new inspections, improve hardware versatility and increase processing power.
Understand the various options that may be available to keep your system hardware and software up to date.


text:
Tendai Biti
Finance Ministry Gobbles $10.6b In Unauthorised Expenditure – Biti
7th October 2020 Top Story
By Anna Chibamu
THE finance ministry has been accused of using US$10.6 billion between 2015 and 2018 outside budget allocations and without the approval of Parliament.
This emerged Monday during the hearing of the proposed Finance Adjustment Bill before the Public Accounts Portfolio Committee (PAC) chaired by MDC Alliance Vice President Tendai Biti.
Biti described Treasury's decision as a "massive invasion of the Constitution" as the finance ministry used "abnormal finances outside the budget allocation".
According to the former finance minister, the constitution was ignored as the ministry spent funds recklessly even after Auditor-General Mildred Chiri had, in her audit reports, exposed the over-expenditure figures.
Biti told senior officials from the finance ministry led by chief director of expenditure management, Pfungwa Kunaka that Treasury should have followed the law.
"The over expenditure by the Finance ministry was a massive invasion of the Constitution. This was outside the allocated budget. This is a deficit on top of a deficit. Very abnormal. These amounts are extraordinary," Biti said.
In response, Kunaka indicated to the committee his ministry now fully understood the expectations of PAC.
"Treasury now fully appreciates the expectations of PAC, in particular the need to bring this Financial Adjustment Bill to closure," he said.
Most of the financial anomalies of the US$10.6b expenditure were carried out during the controversial government-sponsored Command Agriculture Programme.


An automotive LED headlight bulb is a semiconductor-based solid state light source that offers considerable advantages over other lighting sources in automotive forward lighting. LED headlight bulbs are designed to generate, efficiently, accurately and reliably, a center-weighted distribution of light (high beam) and a light distribution to give adequate forward and lateral illumination that respects a cut-off line to avoid glazing the oncoming drivers (low beam). The majority of today's automotive headlights typically employ filament-based halogen bulbs, or high-intensity discharge (HID) lamps such as xenon lamps that produce electric arc illumination from a plasma arc discharge within an arc tube. These light sources have inherent disadvantages that drive the application of LED technology in automotive headlights. Both halogen and xenon headlamps have limited reliability and are prone to a catastrophic failure mode. They're fragile and require bulky optics to shape beams. With enhanced reliability and durability, improved contrast and color accuracy as well as incomparable energy efficiency, LED technology is rapidly gaining ground in the automotive lighting. LEDs consume only a fraction of the energy of a halogen or a xenon headlight. The instant-on and hot re-strike capabilities of LEDs bring safety illumination anytime when there's a need. An LED emits the light from a solid sate semiconductor chip, which provides greater resistance to shock and vibration, thereby increasing its lifespan significantly. The directionality of its light emission leads to superior optical control in creating uniform and accurate beam pattern. One of the major challenges in mass application of LED technology for vehicle lighting is the management of heat that dissipates from the junction diode. Without proper thermal design, heat will accumulated in the constrained space and the raised ambient temperature of the surrounding environment may result in phosphor thermal degradation and eventually a reduced lifecycle. Maintaining performance of the opto-luminescent phosphors through effective thermal management is therefore critical for automotive lighting manufacturers to make their products stand out in the market.


text:
What "crisis pregnancy centers" really do
Low-income people are going to the centers for basic services. They don't always get what they need.
By Anna North Mar 2, 2020, 7:10am EST
Share All sharing options for: What "crisis pregnancy centers" really do
The lobby of Informed Choices Pregnancy Resource Center in Gilroy, California, on March 13, 2018.
Nic Coury/Washington Post via Getty Images
When Aya got a positive pregnancy test, she wanted to confirm the results at a clinic.
But the first six places she called either required her to pay out of pocket, or had no appointments for a week. So Aya went to a pregnancy resource center.
Sometimes called crisis pregnancy centers, the facilities' "primary mission is to dissuade women from choosing abortion," Katrina Kimport, an associate professor at Advancing New Standards in Reproductive Health (ANSIRH), a group at the University of California San Francisco, writes in a new study of patients at the centers, published on Friday in the journal Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health. The centers, most of which are religiously affiliated, typically offer services like pregnancy tests and sometimes resources like diapers or baby clothes, alongside counseling with an anti-abortion message.
The inner workings of pregnancy resource centers don't always get a lot of coverage in the media, and unless they've visited one, many people may not know much about the facilities. But they have been a subject of major concern among abortion-rights advocates in recent years, because such centers have been found to give misinformation about the risks of abortion. Some advocates feared that the centers "inappropriately interfered" in patients' decisions around their pregnancies, "preventing people from being able to choose or obtain an abortion," Kimport told Vox.
But that's not what Kimport found in interviews with 21 patients, including Aya, who later went to a prenatal care clinic. Most of those patients had already decided to continue their pregnancies when they went to the resource centers. They visited the facilities for basic necessities — like ultrasounds and diapers — that were expensive or difficult to get elsewhere.
In many cases, the patients did get help at the centers. But some resources came with strings attached — free baby clothes and other supplies, for example, were only available if patients took workshops or classes, some of which had a religious component. Some women found the required instruction troubling, with one saying of a parenting video, "it hurt me."
Meanwhile, the patients Kimport talked to, most of whom were low-income, also had major needs that could not be met by pregnancy resource centers, from food insecurity to homelessness to high-risk pregnancies that required specialized care.
It's not necessarily surprising that the centers couldn't help women with these problems, Kimport told Vox — that's not really what they were designed to do.
But in recent years, states and the federal government have been increasingly positioning the centers as social safety-net providers, shifting money toward them and away from other facilities that provide a wider range of services, like family planning clinics. The Trump administration, for example, last year barred groups that provide or refer abortions from getting federal family planning funds, but awarded a grant to a network of pregnancy resource centers in California.
Kimport's research suggests that as family planning clinics and other service providers lose funding, pregnancy resource centers, at least as they're currently designed, won't be able to fill in the gaps.
For the patients Kimport talked to, going to such a center "didn't meet all of their needs," she said. "It didn't even meet most of their needs."
The women in the study mostly went to pregnancy resource centers for things like pregnancy tests or baby clothes
Pregnancy resource centers as they exist today first began appearing in the 1960s, after states began liberalizing their abortion laws, according to Heartbeat International, which identifies itself as the country's first network of such centers. Their spread increased after 1973, when the Supreme Court established Americans' right to an abortion in Roe v. Wade. Today, there are around 2,500 such centers across the country.
In general, the centers' goal is to encourage people to carry their pregnancies to term rather than having abortions. For example, Heartbeat International aims "to make abortion unwanted today and unthinkable for future generations," according to its website.
Heartbeat's affiliates around the world — the organization says it has more than 2,800 facilities on six continents — offer a range of services. "Some pregnancy resource centers provide pregnancy tests and material aid (diapers, clothing, etc.) while other pregnancy help medical clinics offer limited ultrasounds, STI testing, and prenatal care," said Andrea Trudden, the group's director of communications and marketing, in an email to Vox. Some also offer financial aid courses or mentorship for couples.
Pregnancy resource centers have been criticized in the past for ads and website copy that made them look like they offer abortions. In fact, they do not offer the procedure, and research has shown that their websites often include misinformation about its risks, like the false claim that abortion is linked to breast cancer or mental health problems. This has led to concerns that the centers will trick people into believing they offer abortion, then dissuade them from the procedure with false claims about its dangers.
For Heartbeat International, individual affiliates have a lot of autonomy when it comes to services they offer and information they provide, Trudden said. But in general, "our clients have the right to choose an abortion, and they also have the right to know more fully what may be at stake in their decision."
Because of concerns about misinformation, however, Kimport wanted to learn more about why patients go to pregnancy resource centers, and what happens when they get there. Other researchers have studied the centers in recent years, often looking at the information presented on their websites.
But, Kimport writes, "the voices of pregnant people who have visited the centers" are largely missing from the existing scholarship. So she and her team asked patients who came to prenatal care clinics in southern Louisiana and Baltimore, Maryland if they'd ever been to such a center, and if they were willing to talk about their experiences.
The first surprise for Kimport was that relatively few patients had actually been to the centers. Over a two-year period from 2015 to 2017, she found just 21 people who had been to one and were comfortable talking about the experience (a few said they had visited a center but preferred not to talk about, but about 80 percent agreed to be interviewed). Nineteen of the 21 patients were black, one was Latina, and one was white; most worked low-wage jobs or were unemployed.
The second surprise was that despite the centers' mission to dissuade people from having abortions, most people were not even considering that option when they went to the centers. Just four of the 21 women were thinking about terminating the pregnancy when they went to the center, and all four were also thinking about continuing it.
Most of them went to the centers not for help deciding what to do, but to get resources or services they needed for their pregnancies or eventual children.
One woman, identified in the study as Samantha (all names are pseudonyms), needed proof of pregnancy to qualify for Medicaid insurance. Aya wanted proof of her pregnancy from an "official" entity because she believed it would help with her husband's green card application. In contrast to the other facilities she called, the pregnancy resource center could see her for a same-day appointment at no charge, so she went there.
All the women in the study were "deeply concerned about their ability to materially provide for a new baby," Kimport writes, and some went to the centers at least in part to get baby products like clothes. "They had clothes, they had baby chairs and bouncers," one woman told the researchers. "They offered a lot."
The services and baby products weren't necessarily "free"
These items didn't cost money, but they typically came with strings attached: namely, that pregnant people would keep coming to the center and participating in programs. "I went to a parenting class," one said. "When you go, you watch, like, two movies, and you earn five [center] 'dollars,' and they give you a list of things that they have that you can shop for."
A points system is common at pregnancy resource centers, Trudden of Heartbeat International said. "It encourages continued learning while providing practical items for the family," she added. "Many parents find this to be a great benefit and love the fact that they can provide for their family while learning life skills."
But in Kimport's study, some of the women described the classes as unpleasant or upsetting. While respondents did report that the counseling they received was "religiously inflected," Kimport said, that wasn't necessarily the problem — in some cases the women were religious themselves. In one case, however, a woman was shown a video with an explicitly anti-abortion message and was angry that the center presumed she was seeking an abortion. Another woman felt hurt by a video because it reminded her of past trauma in her life.
In some cases, the need to show up to appointments in order to get resources caused problems for women. One respondent, Katelyn, told researchers that the pregnancy resource center scheduled her appointment for a time when she was supposed to be working. "Desperate for the resources they offered and believing that attending all of the center's appointments was important for the health of her pregnancy, Katelyn missed work to go to the appointment," Kimport writes. Katelyn was fired, and she and her boyfriend ended up losing their apartment because they couldn't pay rent.
The findings underscore what other researchers have found about pregnancy resource centers and their offerings. "While their services may not cost money, they're not necessarily free," said Andrea Swartzendruber, an assistant professor of epidemiology and biostatistics at the University of Georgia who studies the centers. "They cost people's time and energy."
Once they had attended classes, the women were not always able to choose what items they received. One woman, Danielle, said she was considering saving up her points to get something larger, but her counselor at the center "was like, 'Oh, I'm just so excited. I want you to get something.' So, she picked out a bottle, a blanket, a little set of lotions and some onesies." Danielle was grateful for the items, but, Kimport writes, "they were not her own choice."
In general, the products the women reported getting were relatively minor, like prenatal vitamins, a water bottle, or baby clothes.
All of the women in the study — including Katelyn — said their visit to a center was a positive experience. Many were grateful for the baby items they got, even if they weren't necessarily what they would have chosen.
One thing the centers did provide for respondents, Kimport writes, was a place where "their desire to have a child was supported and encouraged." That's significant because, as she notes, low-income women, especially women of color, are sometimes actively discouraged from having children, including by their health care providers.
However, the centers are not truly "safe spaces for emotional support" for many people of color, Nourbese Flint, policy director at the reproductive justice organization Black Women for Wellness, told Vox.
Black people who have visited pregnancy resource centers have told her they faced racist assumptions about things like their income or whether their fathers are in their lives, Flint said. They also, she said, sometimes heard the increasingly common anti-abortion message that abortion is a conspiracy against black people. That message implies that "black women are not able to make decisions about whether or not they want to keep a pregnancy by themselves," she added — "that it's just outside forces and we're not smart enough to understand what's best for our lives."
And overall, Kimport said, while pregnancy resource centers did supply some of what the study participants needed, "there were still, for many of the respondents, very acute social and material needs that were not met through going to these centers."
Pregnancy resource centers are being touted as a replacement for the social safety net. The study suggests they aren't one.
Pregnancy resource centers weren't necessarily set up to meet all those needs — as Kimport noted, they are privately run and often staffed largely by volunteers.
But increasingly, they're being asked to take the place of social services agencies.
In 1996, Missouri and Pennsylvania began to allocate state funding to pregnancy resource centers. Other states began to make similar moves, including Louisiana, which began devoting some of its budget for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families — meant to help low-income people with their basic needs — to programs offering "abortion alternatives," including pregnancy resource centers. Today, 16 states directly fund the centers, Swartzendruber told Vox.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration last year awarded a grant to Obria, a network of pregnancy resource centers in California, under Title X, a program designed to provide family planning support to low-income Americans. The same year, the administration issued a rule barring providers that receive Title X funds from providing or referring for abortions. That forced Planned Parenthood and many other providers that offer a full range of reproductive health services — including, in some cases, prenatal care — to stop taking Title X money, and some have closed as a result.
Nationwide, research has shown that "decreases in the social safety net have been accompanied by a growth of privately run pregnancy resource centers," Kimport said.
But her research suggests that those centers aren't offering the same services as the social safety net providers they're supposed to replace — and that the help they do offer comes at a cost to pregnant people, even if that cost isn't financial.
Kimport acknowledged some limitations in her study. Since the people she interviewed had visited a prenatal care clinic after going to a pregnancy resource center, the study might not have captured the full range of experiences of people who went to the centers — for example, she might have gotten a different picture if she interviewed people who went to the center but then ended up getting abortions. And while most of the people in Kimport's study were already decided about their pregnancies when they went to centers, Swartzendruber said her research suggests people go to such facilities for a variety of reasons, including help with decision-making.
Still, the study can help flesh out Americans' understanding of pregnancy resource centers — especially since research and media coverage delving into people's experiences there has been relatively rare — as well as pointing out holes in the social safety net that cause some people to go to the centers in the first place. For example, Kimport said, "if you need proof of pregnancy in order to get on Medicaid, but it costs money to get an official proof of pregnancy, that does seem to be a contradiction."
And for Flint, the centers are "unfortunately capitalizing on a gap that we have in our system in terms of responding to the actual real needs of pregnant folks and the actual real needs of families."
Overall, the study is a reminder that for too many pregnant people in America, getting basic care and resources is difficult or impossible — and at least as of now, pregnancy resource centers don't change that reality.
Next Up In Explainers


HCM CITY — The HCM City-based Tre (Youth) Publishing House opens the Old Book Fair on December 15.
The event features more than 1,000 titles in various fields, including books published five years ago, which are being sold at discounts of up to 50 per cent or more.
More promotional and cultural programmes will be held to attract readers, especially young people and children, to the two-day event.
Nguyen Minh Nhat, director of the publisher, said we hope university students and young workers who are regular customers of the publisher will enjoy the old books at reasonable prices.
"We encourage organisers and individuals to buy old books for charity. We offer them at a discount of 70 per cent," he said.
Featured are titles about events and heroes from different periods of the country's history, especially the 81 years since the Party's founding.
A popular book is Le Minh Quoc's collection of eight books on great Vietnamese men, titled Ke Chuyen Danh Nhan Viet Nam (Stories of Vietnamese Great People), a research work on outstanding people in politics and culture.
Patriots and liberation soldier during the wars are also included.
Several books from Tre's bestsellers, written by veteran and young authors such as Nguyen Nhat Anh, are also on sale.
According to Nhut, the publisher will soon launch a website to offer old books.


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Q: For what values of $a$, does the series $\sum^\infty_{n=1} {(n+a)^n \over {n^{n+a}}}$ converge? For what values of $a$, does the series $\sum^\infty_{n=1} {(n+a)^n \over {n^{n+a}}}$ converge?
I see that if I write $$\sum^\infty_{n=1} {(n+a)^n \over {n^{n+a}}} = \sum^\infty_{n=1} \left(1+ {a \over n}\right)^n {1 \over {n^a}}$$ then $a$ must be $a>0$ for $(1+ {a \over n})^n {1 \over {n^a}} \to 0$. (if $a \le 0$ then there is no convergence of course).
And if I compare with $1 \over {n^a}$ then the series converges if $a>1$.
But is that all?

A: Hint:
$$\frac{1}{n^a}\leq \left(1 + \frac{a}{n}\right)^n\frac{1}{n^a} \leq e^a\frac{1}{n^a}$$

A: The series$$\sum^\infty_{n=1} \left(1+ {a \over n}\right)^n {1 \over {n^a}}$$ converges for $a>1$. Indeed  $$ \left(1+ {a \over n}\right)^n {1 \over {n^a}}\sim_{\infty}\frac{e^a}{n^a}$$ that converges for $a>1$

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
all: test

.install-deps: $(shell find requirements -type f)
	@pip install -U -r requirements/dev.txt
	@touch .install-deps

isort:
	isort -rc aiohttp
	isort -rc tests
	isort -rc examples
	isort -rc demos

flake: .flake

.flake: .install-deps $(shell find aiohttp -type f) \
                      $(shell find tests -type f) \
                      $(shell find examples -type f) \
                      $(shell find demos -type f)
	@flake8 aiohttp --exclude=aiohttp/backport_cookies.py
	@if python -c "import sys; sys.exit(sys.version_info < (3,5))"; then \
	    flake8 examples tests demos && \
            python setup.py check -rms; \
	fi
	@if ! isort -c -rc aiohttp tests examples; then \
            echo "Import sort errors, run 'make isort' to fix them!!!"; \
            isort --diff -rc aiohttp tests examples; \
            false; \
	fi
	@touch .flake

check_changes:
	@./tools/check_changes.py

.develop: .install-deps $(shell find aiohttp -type f) .flake check_changes
	@pip install -e .
	@touch .develop

test: .develop
	@py.test -q ./tests

vtest: .develop
	@py.test -s -v ./tests

cov cover coverage:
	tox

cov-dev: .develop
	@echo "Run without extensions"
	@AIOHTTP_NO_EXTENSIONS=1 py.test --cov=aiohttp tests
	@py.test --cov=aiohttp --cov-report=term --cov-report=html --cov-append tests
        @echo "open file://`pwd`/coverage/index.html"

cov-ci-no-ext: .develop
	@echo "Run without extensions"
	@AIOHTTP_NO_EXTENSIONS=1 py.test --cov=aiohttp tests
cov-ci-aio-debug: .develop
	@echo "Run in debug mode"
	@PYTHONASYNCIODEBUG=1 py.test --cov=aiohttp --cov-append tests
cov-ci-run: .develop
	@echo "Regular run"
	@py.test --cov=aiohttp --cov-report=term --cov-report=html --cov-append tests

cov-dev-full: cov-ci-no-ext cov-ci-aio-debug cov-ci-run
	@echo "open file://`pwd`/coverage/index.html"

clean:
	@rm -rf `find . -name __pycache__`
	@rm -f `find . -type f -name '*.py[co]' `
	@rm -f `find . -type f -name '*~' `
	@rm -f `find . -type f -name '.*~' `
	@rm -f `find . -type f -name '@*' `
	@rm -f `find . -type f -name '#*#' `
	@rm -f `find . -type f -name '*.orig' `
	@rm -f `find . -type f -name '*.rej' `
	@rm -f .coverage
	@rm -rf coverage
	@rm -rf build
	@rm -rf cover
	@make -C docs clean
	@python setup.py clean
	@rm -f aiohttp/_frozenlist.html
	@rm -f aiohttp/_frozenlist.c
	@rm -f aiohttp/_frozenlist.*.so
	@rm -f aiohttp/_frozenlist.*.pyd
	@rm -f aiohttp/_http_parser.html
	@rm -f aiohttp/_http_parser.c
	@rm -f aiohttp/_http_parser.*.so
	@rm -f aiohttp/_http_parser.*.pyd
	@rm -f aiohttp/_multidict.html
	@rm -f aiohttp/_multidict.c
	@rm -f aiohttp/_multidict.*.so
	@rm -f aiohttp/_multidict.*.pyd
	@rm -f aiohttp/_websocket.html
	@rm -f aiohttp/_websocket.c
	@rm -f aiohttp/_websocket.*.so
	@rm -f aiohttp/_websocket.*.pyd
	@rm -f aiohttp/_parser.html
	@rm -f aiohttp/_parser.c
	@rm -f aiohttp/_parser.*.so
	@rm -f aiohttp/_parser.*.pyd
	@rm -rf .tox
	@rm -f .develop
	@rm -f .flake
	@rm -f .install-deps
	@rm -rf aiohttp.egg-info

doc:
	@make -C docs html SPHINXOPTS="-W -E"
	@echo "open file://`pwd`/docs/_build/html/index.html"

doc-spelling:
	@make -C docs spelling SPHINXOPTS="-W -E"

install:
	@pip install -U pip
	@pip install -Ur requirements/dev.txt

.PHONY: all build flake test vtest cov clean doc

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
<template>

		<form class="searchbox" if.bind="searchable && !staticMode && columns.length">
			<input type="text" class="search"
				   placeholder.bind="searchInputPlaceholder" value.bind="searchTerm"
				   keyup.trigger="search()"/>
		</form>

	<slot></slot>
</template>


text:
q&as with the pros
the table bay hotel
The Chinese Girl comes home
Vladimir Tretchikoff's Chinese Girl
I remember as a child going to an exhibition in Garlicks in Cape Town, which I think was one of Tretchikoff's earliest. It was scoffed at by the art community, it was commercial, he wasn't a true artist etc etc. But like the Coffee Pinotages scoffed at by the Sniff and Spiteratti, he had the feel for what people wanted. Almost every work of his became iconic – and his Chinese Girl was one of them, one of the most widely reproduced and recognisable pictures in the world.
Frequently named as one of the world's top art collectors (June 2012, Art News) Laurence Graff, who owns Graff Diamonds in London and the Delaire Graff Estate in Stellenbosch, has added to his already impressive collection with the purchase of the Chinese Girl.
Commenting on his recent acquisition, Laurence Graff said: "As a young man, I noticed the image of Tretchikoff's Chinese Girl continuously displayed in many different locations in print form. It was the first piece of art that made an impact on me, and I believe ignited my interest and passion for art. You can imagine my surprise to have learned of the sale of the original painting and of course, my decision to buy it was immediate."
The really good news is that the Chinese Girl will be returned home to South Africa in Summer 2013, where it will be exhibited at the Delaire Graff Estate in Stellenbosch, South Africa. The painting's arrival will be marked by a special launch event, which will be used to raise funds for Mr Graff's charitable foundation, FACET (For Africa's Children Every Time).
April 21st, 2013|Categories: Michael's Writings|Tags: Laurence Graff Collection|
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michael's writings
As a young aspiring chef, Michael laid a solid foundation for his career at the Cordon Bleu Cooking School in London. Over the next 30 years he had a series of high profile hospitality management posts, was the Public Relations Manager for Boschendal and ran three successful restaurants in the Cape, one of which, Parks, featured in the national top 10 restaurants.
Michael is a family man, author and broadcaster.
A lifetime devoted to the promotion and appreciation of the South African wine and food industry has earned him many accolades, including the Lannice Snyman Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2013 Eat Out Awards.
Michael continues to be prolific, informative and entertaining on his wine and food website, michaelolivier.co.za
Copyright 2016 Michael Olivier | All Rights Reserved


Ultra chic lace dress style 425 from Intrigue by Blush will hug your figure beautifully, perfect for your next upcoming event. This gown showcases a romantic off the shoulder neckline with cap sleeves and a subtle sweetheart detail. The long fitted silhouette is a stunning mermaid fit made in an elegant lace material that is beaded throughout, find this and more at Peaches Boutique.


The Cyprus government and the London Cypriot community are protesting a publicity campaign advertising holidays in Turkish-occupied north Cyprus on public transport.
Posters have gone up on dozens of London buses, 22 tube stations and 25 central locations in the British capital, the Cyprus News Agency said.
They urge Londoners to "Beat the Blues" by taking a holiday in "North Cyprus".
The month-long campaign started on January 28 as the breakaway north seeks to generate early bookings from the UK market.
The Cyprus High Commission has written to London mayor, the transport committee of the city council and to Transport for London in protest.
Letters of protest have also gone to the mayor from the president of the National Association of Cypriots in the UK Christos Karaolis to London mayor Sadiq Khan. Transport for London is under the responsibility of the local authority.
Karaolis said that the posters advertise areas which have been under illegal Turkish occupations since 1974 and points out that many London Cypriots own property in the north which they cannot visit.
Lobby for Cyprus has also slammed the advertising campaign. In a message on Twitter it noted that many refugees forcibly displaced from Cyprus by Turkey who sought sanctuary in London will suffer the further indignity of seeing their occupied lands, appropriated homes & property promoted for tourism at London Tube stations. Shame on you TfL for supporting Occupation Tourism.
Last week, Karaolis had written to the Sun to protest a special offer to readers for a seven night stay in the Turkish-held north.


We carry a wide selection of car rosaries for sale at affordable costs. Our rosaries are available in various styles and colors, and lengths that perfectly suit your car's rear view mirror. Hanging a rosary in your car offers peace of mind while driving, whether your commute is lengthy or short. Choose a rosary to reflect your birthdate by choosing one of our colored glass bead rosaries. Colored car rosaries measure 6 1/4" in length and are adorned with 6mm beads, a centerpiece and crucifix. We also offer pendants for the mirror, guardian angel rosaries, rosaries featuring Saints and more. Shop our auto rosaries online now or contact us with additional questions.


Mission: To provide an opportunity for students to experience Spanish culture while living in the United States. Spanish Club seeks to enrich students' knowledge of the Spanish language and culture.
Objectives: To learn more about Spanish culture and experience it. To practice speaking Spanish with native and non-native speakers.
Spanish club will be at the upcoming International Festival and will include: piñatas, soccer, tortilla making station, churros, and more! Come join us in the cafeteria Thursday October 24th!


text:
Lil Baby's 'My Turn' Hits Fifth Week at No. 1 on Billboard 200 Chart
By Keith Caulfield
Album now has most weeks at No. 1 among all albums in 2020.
Lil Baby's My Turn holds steady at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart, earning a fifth total week at the top of the chart. It sits tight for a fourth straight week with 70,000 equivalent album units earned in the U.S. in the week ending July 2 (down less than 1 percent), according to Nielsen Music/MRC Data. It spent its first week at No. 1 when it debuted atop the chart dated March 14.
With five weeks at No. 1, the set now owns the most weeks at the top in 2020 for any album, and the most in total since Post Malone's Hollywood's Bleeding locked up its fifth and final nonconsecutive week at No. 1 on Nov. 16, 2019.
The Billboard 200 chart ranks the most popular albums of the week in the U.S. based on multi-metric consumption as measured in equivalent album units. Units comprise album sales, track equivalent albums (TEA) and streaming equivalent albums (SEA). The new July 11-dated chart (where My Turn is No. 1 for a fifth week) will be posted in full on Billboard's website on July 7.
'I Don't Even Feel Like I'm in My Prime,' Lil Baby Talks 'My Turn'
My Turn was released on Feb. 28 via Quality Control/Motown/Capitol Music Group and marks Lil Baby's fifth charting effort. Among those earlier four albums were a trio of top 10s: Street Gossip (No. 2, 2018), Drip Harder (with Gunna, No. 4; 2018) and Harder Than Ever (No. 3, 2018).
Notably, with a fifth week at No. 1, My Turn ties Boyz II Men's II for the most weeks at No. 1 for a Motown album in the last 40-plus years. II also logged five nonconsecutive weeks at No. 1 (Sept. 17-24, Oct. 8, Oct. 29, 1994, and March 11, 1995).
Only two other Motown other albums have logged at least five weeks at No. 1: Stevie Wonder's Songs in the Key of Life (14 nonconsecutive weeks, Oct. 16, 1976-Jan. 8, 1977, and Jan. 29, 1977) and Diana Ross & The Supremes' Greatest Hits (five consecutive weeks, Oct. 28-Nov. 25, 1967).
My Turn was already the longest-leading album released by Quality Control. The label's two earlier No. 1s, Migos' Culture and Culture II, spent one week atop the list, respectively, in 2017 and 2018.
Lil Baby Admits He's 'Kinda Excited' About Massive First-Week Numbers for 'My Turn'
My Turn leads a top 10 absent of any debuts -- the third time that's happened in the last four weeks. The chart also went without a bow in the top 10 on the June 27 and June 20 lists. However, while there are no new albums debuting in the top 10, there is a lot of reshuffling in the region -- and one album jumps back into the top 10 after nearly two months.
Lil Durk's Just Cause Y'all Waited 2 surges from No. 56 to a new peak of No. 2 with 43,000 equivalent album units (up 202 percent) after the set was reissued on June 26 with seven new tracks. Nearly all of that unit total was driven by streaming activity, with 41,000 of the sum from SEA units (up 200 percent).
The album debuted seven weeks ago at No. 5 (May 23 chart) with 57,000 units earned in its first week.
'More Is More': Why Hip-Hop Stars Have Adopted The Instant Deluxe Edition
Just Cause Y'all Waited 2 is the latest in a series of R&B and hip-hop albums in 2020 that have seen chart benefits from a deluxe reissue. It follows other titles such as A Boogie Wit da Hoodie's Artist 2.0 (80-3 on the July 4 chart; up 292 percent to 43,000 units after nine tracks were added to a deluxe edition on June 19 – 18 weeks after its release) and Lil Baby's My Turn (5-3 on the May 16 chart; up 147 percent to 100,000 units after six tracks were added to the album on May 1 -- nine weeks after its release).
Other sets that got a post-release boost from bonus tracks, but on a much swifter schedule: The Weeknd added three new songs to After Hours in its second week of release (helping it hold at No. 1 for a second week on April 11 with 138,000 units, down 69 percent) and Lil Uzi Vert's Eternal Atake got 14 new songs in its second week (the set stayed steady at No. 1 for a second week on the chart dated March 28 with 247,000 units, down 14 percent). NAV's Good Intentions didn't even bother waiting a full week to add songs -- as the album had 14 new songs added to its tracklist on May 11, just three days after its release on May 8. Good Intentions debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 dated May 23 with 135,000 units.
Back in the new Billboard 200 top 10, a trio of former No. 1s are at Nos. 3-5, as DaBaby's Blame It on Baby climbs one spot to No. 3 (40,000 equivalent album units; up 7 percent), Post Malone's Hollywood's Bleeding rises 5-4 (39,000 units; up 7 percent) and The Weeknd's After Hours returns to the top 10, rising 11-5 (32,000 units; up 1 percent -- a small percentage gain this week can yield a big positional jump, as the unit gap between titles in the top 10 is small). After Hours was in the top 10 just two weeks ago, and has only been out of the top 10 for two weeks in its 15-week chart run.
Harry Styles Throws a Sexy Beachside Picnic in 'Watermelon Sugar' Video: Watch
Another album returns to the top 10, but after a much longer time away from the region, as Harry Styles' Fine Line bolts from No. 13 to No. 6 with 32,000 equivalent album units (up 4 percent). The set is up in SEA units (25,000; up 3 percent), album sales (6,000; up 3 percent) and TEA units (1,000; up 16 percent). The former No. 1, which opened atop the list and spent two weeks in charge, was last in the top 10 on the Feb. 8-dated tally.
The set continues to profit from the sustained popularity of its hit single "Adore You," which hit No. 2 -- a new peak -- on the most recently published all-format Radio Songs airplay chart (dated July 4). The song peaked at No. 1 on the Pop Songs chart dated April 11 (the list ranks the most played songs of the week on top 40-formatted radio stations) and at No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart dated April 11 (the Hot 100 is an airplay/sales/streaming hybrid tally).
Also fueling Fine Line is the album's latest hit, "Watermelon Sugar," which, on the July 4-dated charts, climbed 35-24 on Radio Songs, 18-14 on Pop Songs and 19-16 on the Hot 100.
Polo G's The Goat rises 10-7 on the new Billboard 200 with 31,000 equivalent album units earned (down 2 percent), Lil Uzi Vert's former leader Eternal Atake shifts 9-8 with just under 31,000 units (down 3 percent) and Drake's Dark Lane Demo Tapes falls 7-9 with 30,000 units (down 5 percent).
Future's former No. 1 High Off Life closes out the new top 10, as it steps 12-10 with 29,000 equivalent album units (down 8 pecent).


text:
Smetana, like Dvorˇák, was a Bohemian, with a capital "B," born in the village of Litomysl, Bohemia, into the family of a prosperous brewer who was a keen amateur violinist. It was from his father that young Friedrich, as the boy was called by his German-speaking family in mainly German-speaking Bohemia, received his initial musical instruction. But young Friedrich was a natural, picking out tunes on the family spinet at the age of three and who, by the time of his first formal training at age six, was a bona fide child prodigy pianist. It is important to mention that Friedrich was fiercely loved by his parents, not only because he was a good-natured and extraordinarily talented child, but for the fact that he was alive at all at age six: his ten siblings had all died before reaching the age of two. Still, Smetana's father Frantisˇek (Franz), while loving music, considered the profession of musician as unworthy, indeed "effeminate."
The boy was destined for a career in business, or possibly the law, and accordingly sent to Prague at age 14 to attend that city's Academic Gymnasium. There, predictably, he spent more time playing chamber music – even writing some for his friends – and attending concerts, than preparing for "real" life.
In 1840, Smetana heard Liszt play in Prague and this determined the 16-year-old on a career, like Liszt's, of performer-composer. Although he eventually achieved some success as a pianist, with the encouragement of Liszt and Robert and Clara Schumann, it was as a composer, particularly as a nationalist composer, that he would gain renown and widespread influence during his lifetime and beyond. But not until he became a Czech, as differentiated from a Bohemian, composer.
That transformation took place before and during the abortive Prague Revolution of 1848, when Smetana briefly manned the barricades with his Czech brethren – according to one biography speaking barely a word of their language – against their Habsburg overlords. Smetana's politicization did not lead to his "discovery" of Czech folk music; he knew it already. It led, rather, to his discovery of its importance as an element of an original compositional style. Smetana is best known as a musical patriot, above all for the folksy comic opera Prodaná nevista (The Bartered Bride) and the monumental orchestral tone poems of Má vlast (My Fatherland). These are the products of Smetana the public figure, the musical father of his country, now proudly assuming his Czech first name, Bedrˇich.
The private man composed two autobiographical works, the String Quartet in E minor ("From My Life," 1876) and the present Trio, dating from 1855. The Trio was an attempt at coming to terms with the recent death from scarlet fever of his young daughter Bedrˇiska.
Long after the Trio's composition, Smetana wrote a letter to one of the doctors who had tried to save his failing hearing and it contained the following: "The death of my eldest daughter, an exceptionally talented child, motivated me to compose... my Trio in G minor. It was performed the same year in Prague [the composer took the piano part]... The audience was unresponsive and the critics hated it." A year later it met with a much warmer reception, however, when it was performed, again with the composer at the piano, with Liszt in attendance, in Smetana's Prague apartment. Liszt was profoundly moved and arranged for subsequent performances in Germany and Austria.
The G-minor Trio has never achieved the fame of the E-minor Quartet. The latter is an "easier" work, of balanced light and shade, from a man who had experienced both great joys and great sorrows. The grief-stricken composer of the Trio was only 30 years old and, as may be guessed, particularly aware of the fragility of life. To pile misery on woe, Smetana's wife, Katerina, would give birth to another daughter shortly after Bedrˇiska's death, and that child would live for only eight months.
"Self" is perhaps the central notion of Romanticism, and it is with his grieving self that Smetana is concerned here. The somber principal subject of the opening movement is announced on the violin's G string, unaccompanied, and the ensuing material of the movement never strays far from G minor. While both the following movements are also begun in and remain dominated by that dark tonality, there is some major-key alleviation of the sorrowing there. The second movement is a serious scherzo which, one of the composer's early biographers suggests, is a "portrait" of the child, beginning with sadness over her loss and then, in a slow, wistfully Schumannesque alternativo (Smetana uses this expression in place of the usual "trio," but it serves the same function, to provide contrast), then a return to the scherzo and another alternativo, dignified and lofty, perhaps a vision of the grown woman. The finale is a rondo beginning in energetic defiance, but soon subsides into a tranquil, hymn-like elegy: a benign sadness, an end to the pain.
Notes by Herbert Glass


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We sell Biodiesel under the Biodiesel One brand. Biodiesel is the name of a clean burning, renewable diesel fuel replacement made from vegetable oils or animal fats.
The fuel produced by Sunfuel is made totally from recycled cooking oil or animal fats and used mostly in generators of all sizes, commercial diesel equipment, vehicles, and marine vessels.
Sunfuel have establised energy plantations in Ukraine as part of our feedstock security programme.


If you have existing data in other CRM systems, databases or spreadsheets, you can import it into Workbooks from a CSV (Comma Separated Value) file. CSV files are a standard way of exchanging data between systems.
Our import tool is extremely powerful and allows you to carry out various types of import.
Rapidly import data such as customer, organisation and lead's or export through the straightforward export function (available within multiple views).
Discover more on our importing data page.


The endogenous metabolite histamine (HA) is synthesized in various mammalian cells but can also be ingested from exogenous sources. It is involved in a plethora of physiological and pathophysiological processes. So far, four different HA receptors (H1R–H4R) have been described and numerous HAR antagonists have been developed. Contemporary investigations regarding the various roles of HA and its main metabolites have been hampered by the lack of highly specific and sensitive analytic methods for all of these analytes. Liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) is the method of choice for identification and sensitive quantification of many low-molecular weight endogenous metabolites. In this chapter, different methodological aspects of HA quantification as well as recommendations for LC-MS/MS methods suitable for analysis of HA and its main metabolites are summarized.


text:
Because of its beautiful villas, Berlin-Karlshorst was once called the "Dahlem of the East". Today, many new residents flock to the area and many new building projects are under way.
Heiligenberger Straße
Housing near the Karlshorst Race Track
Köpenicker Allee
Trotting race track
Prinzenviertel
Preinzenviertel
Waldsiedlung Wuhlheide
German-Russian Museum
The S-Bahn station Berlin Karlshorst in the evening.
Karlshorst, which ist best known for its horse race track, combines various types of buildings. Magnificent villas and apartment buildings from the Wilhelminian period stand next to housing estates from the 1920s and 30s and private detached houses. The district is idyllic and very green. There is little need for renovation.
Karlshorst-North
The city train line S3 divides Karlshorst into two parts. In the north, old buildings - especially to the west of Treskowallee - and single-family homes dominate. East of Treskowallee, a lot of new construction has been added. Around Zwieseler Straße, on the former site of the KGB's largest foreign headquarters, single-family and terraced houses have been built. A lot has changed in the neighborhood Rheinisches Viertel, on the former site of the Federal Office for Radiation Protection between Waldowallee and Köpenicker Allee. Today, there are city villas and terraced houses here.
Karlshorst-South
There is also a new building project in the southern part: private homes and row houses have been built in the new neighborhood "Carlsgarten" at the Karlshorst racecourse.
The neighborhoods of Seenviertel and Prinzenviertel, located around Ehrlichstraße and Liepnitzstraße, were formerly named after Prussian princes. Today, Brandenburg lakes are their namesakes. The villa district of Karlshorst features mansions and coutnry houses in a rich variety of architectural styles as well as paved and tree-lined streets. The tram stops on Ehrlichstraße and there are shops for daily necessities.
The Waldsiedlung Wuhlheide, located around Hegemeisterweg, is a listed estate of terraced houses from the 1920s. It consists of two-storey single- and multi-family houses with gardens and stables for small animals. The streets are narrow, the houses are colorful: they shine in wine red, ochre and light grey, the doors and shops are painted green and blue.
Last edited: 13. July 2021
Portrait of Lichtenberg
Lichtenberg: Useful Information
Lichtenberg: Residential Areas & Infrastructure
Fennpfuhl
Rummelsburg
Friedrichsfelde


text:
The developer of the Bondurant warehouse and distribution center project speculated to be an Amazon fulfillment center has spent more than $6.7 million on nearly 170 acres of farmland for the project.
Ryan Companies, the developer of "Project Bluejay," purchased the land Oct. 16 from a group of several property owners. The land sits east of Northeast Hubbell Avenue and north of the Wolf Creek development
The purchase price equals about $40,000 per acre.
The average value of high-quality farmland in central Iowa is about $9,684 an acre, according to an average of the last two surveys conducted by the Iowa Chapter of the Realtors Land Institute, which surveys its members every six months.
Kyle Hansen, a real estate broker with Hertz Real Estate Services in Nevada, said he typically sees farmland selling between 9,500 and 10,500 an acre, but land often sells at much higher prices when it's repurposed for development.
"You can typically see on average from 3½ to four times the agricultural value being put on a property for commercial and industrial uses," Hansen said. "We would say that sale is very representative."
Bondurant had long been eyeing the site for development, completing the criteria to make it a certified site through the state of Iowa earlier this fall.
Once complete, the $250 million warehouse and distribution center will measure about 780,000 square feet and employ as many as 1,120 people per shift, according to documents from the city of Bondurant. Plans call for 1,800 parking spots and 200 trailer stalls.
►More on Project Bluejay: What we know so far about the mysterious distribution center
Bondurant approved a site plan for the project in late September. Neither the city nor developers have shared who the company behind the project is, with the city citing nondisclosure agreements signed by officials.
But all signs point to the property being an Amazon fulfillment center.
State documents also show the company behind the project employed 647,500 people at the end of last year, the exact number of employees reported by Amazon. They also included a passage outlining company's guiding principles that was lifted word-for-word from Amazon's website.
Project designs resemble those for plans for an Amazon fulfillment center proposed in July for Prince George's County, Maryland.
Ryan Companies in 2016 constructed an Amazon fulfillment center in Shakopee, Minnesota.
Ian Richardson covers Ankeny and Altoona for the Register. Reach him at irichardson@registermedia.com, at 515-284-8254, or on Twitter at @DMRIanR.
Your subscription makes work like this possible. Subscribe today at DesMoinesRegister.com/Deal.


December 14, 2010 - Mattress To Go of Utica has won the prestigious Pinnacle Award for the second consecutive year. The award, announced at the annual Therapedic convention recognizes the dealer with the highest levels of customer service.
"Therapedic is very proud to again present this award to Jeff and Mattress To Go," commented Timothy Sheaks, Therapedic's Regional Sales Manager. "Jeff provides a level of expert knowledge and service unlike anyone else in Michigan."
One factor in the award is an exciting charitable program, Comfort For Everyone™, that donates a new pillow to a local shelter for every mattress set purchased.
"It received praise from Therapedic," said Scheuer.
Therapedic also recognized Mattress To Go for creating the Beducation video series on You Tube.
To get to Mattress To Go from Rochester and Rochester Hills, go east on Avon to Van Dyke. The store is on the northeast corner of the intersection.
The Therapedic Mattress Company is one of the top-ten mattress companies in the United States and handcrafts one of the world's most award-winning lines of mattresses. Their plant in Rock Island, Illinois, services the entire Midwest.


Raytheon has won a US$574 million contract to upgrade and support CIWS for the Royal Canadian Navy.
Raytheon has won a CN$704 million (US$574 million) contract to upgrade and support 21 Close-In Weapons Systems (CIWS) for the Royal Canadian Navy.
The CIWS is a point defense system for detecting and destroying short-range incoming missiles and enemy aircraft which have penetrated the outer defenses, typically mounted shipboard in a naval capacity. The support contract is valid through late 2037 and will include an initial 10 year service period followed by five, three and two year option periods.
The contract includes engineering services, project management support and disposal services as well as procurement of spares and test equipment, the Canadian Ministry of National Defense said in a statement last Friday.
Work is expected to help protect Canadian naval vessels for up to two decades, Defense Minister Harjit Sajjan said.
"Today's announcement is aligned with the goals we set out in 'Strong, Secure, Engaged' – we are making strategic investments in the Royal Canadian Navy that will help protect our sailors as they conduct the full spectrum of operations in a modern security environment," Sajjan said in a statement.