Carolyn Martinez has been singing to large crowds at Vicky's of Santa Fe in Indian Wells on Thursday nights. I had the opportunity to hear Carolyn sing over the past couple years and have always been impressed with her voice and the way she approaches lyrics. Carolyn is one of the few singers today that can sing lyrics with believable emotion convincing the listener that the lyric is really part of their personal life story. Carolyn is a joy to listen to and she sings only the best of songs from the "Great American Songbook". On Thursday evening, Carolyn impressed her audience singing many American classics and also sang several songs in Portuguese and Spanish. In my opinion, she is the best singer of Jobim in Desert.
Carolyn's voice reminds me of the great voice of singing star Eydie Gorme, but Carolyn's voice is younger, softer and her range is very impressive.
Carolyn was joined tonight by three top musicians, David Ring on Piano, Larry Holloway on Bass and Roger King on Drums. David Ring has been performing in the Desert area for quite a while but I never really heard him play for an entire evening until tonight. He is a great Piano player, and his Jazz solos were fresh, new and remarkably constructed. A real treat for any Jazz fan. Larry Holloway just keeps impressing his audiences with his outstanding Bass playing. Tonight was the first time that I got to heard Roger King play drums, and he did an impressive job playing soft when required and never missing a beat when the music got hot.
Carolyn and her group appear at Vicky's every Thursday from 6:30 to 10:00. I understand that on February 17 the group will move to Sunday nights from 6:30 to 10:00. Don't miss the chance to hear Carolyn sing, you will not be disappointed.
If you love Jazz, songs from the greatest American songwriters, great guitar playing and great burgers, there is only one place in the Desert that can fill this bill. You can find it all at Woody's Burgers and Beer in Palm Springs on Wednesday nights. Music lovers have known for a long time that Brian Nova is one of the most talented guitar players working today but few have had the opportunity to see Brian at his very best singing and playing in the perfect venue that allows him the freedom to musically do his thing! Brian Nova has played with many of the greats in Jazz and take it from me, he is also one of the greats. When it comes to playing jazz guitar, Brian has the fastest hands in the West. His playing imagination produces solos that are remarkably new, fresh and brilliant. In addition to his wonderful guitar work, Brian is also a great Jazz singer. His singing is original and creative just like his guitar playing. He is another example of the high level of musical talent living and working here in the California Desert.
Brian and his group play at Woody's Burgers and Beer every Wednesday night. So put next Wednesday at Woody's on your "To Do" list for great Jazz and great food also.
Yve Evans was at Backstreet Bistro playing and singing to a sold-out crowd of mostly very loyal fans. After you hear Yve perform, you never want to miss a chance to see and hear her again. When Yve performs you get the chance to see a major superstar. Yve can do it all. She has stage presence, plays Jazz on the keyboard as good as anyone you have ever heard and sings like an angel. She will remind you of all the great Jazz singers like Ella and Sarah. Oh by the way, did I say she has a great sense of humor in the Pearl Bailey school of comedy? The scene at Backstreet tonight was like a school reunion with Yve as President of the class!
Supporting Yve tonight was desert favorite, Bill Saitta on bass. Bill is playing bass better than ever and he also happens to be a perfect straight man for Yve. Jay Lewis was the drummer tonight and he also is a perfect fit for Bill and Yve. Jay has the softest hands of any drummer playing in the desert.
Yve and this group of musicians play frequently in the desert at Backstreet and also at the great Jazz club in Palm Springs, Woody's Burgers and Beer. I know there is a lot of great live Jazz here in the desert but take my advice: Check out where Yve is performing next and make sure you go to see her. Make sure you have reservations because her shows are always packed.
Ari Shagal, The Next Carol King? Pre-Release CD Review: "To Each" from "The Summarily Dismissed"
When I took a look at the cover of this new, soon-to-be-released CD, "To Each" I was not sure I wanted to review it. The art work on the cover is hip and modern and yet left me with no clue as to what kind of music was inside. But my curiosity got the best of me and I decided to give it a listen. I am so glad I did. All of the songs were written by Ari Shagal who turns out to be a sensational song writer. The words and medodies are fresh, new and exciting. Ari Shagal is without doubt one of the brightest songwriters writing today. Her melodies are strong and her lyrics are current, hip and intelligent. This CD could easily become the score for a New York play. Each song is easy to listen to and each song tells its own short story.
The group of musicians that created this CD are an exceptionally talented especially group. Each of the lead singers, Ferima Faye, Matthew Lomeo, Ari Shagal and the great Jazz volcalist Kenny Washington could easily star on their own CDs. The large cast of supporting musicians are also wonderful in every way resulting in a perfectly balanced joining of instruments with voice. I would have liked to see a picture of Ari Shagal and the other major singers. I believe it will become one of the best CD's of 2013. As to a description of the kind of music on the CD, I would have to say that it is a mix of Jazz, Pop and Soul combined with wonderful story-telling lyrics. This is the first CD from Ari Shagal and "The Summarily Dismissed" and it's a blockbuster! Ari Shagal does everything on this CD, sing, compose, arrange and play piano and organ, synthesizer and keyboard. She is a major league talent! I am so glad I decided to listen to this CD!
Congratulations to Ari Shagal and the wonderfully talented performers on "To Each"for creating what will surely be one of the best CD's of 2013!
The Manhattan Transfer made its annual visit to the McCallum Theatre in Palm Desert, California to the delight of a packed house of loyal long-time fans. This appearance was special as the group was celebrating its 40th year together. Hard to believe that this multitalented group has been singing for 40 years. They did not miss a beat or a note tonight. If there are any more talented vocal groups singing today, other than the sensational Four Freshmen, then I have not heard them. The four members of this group are mega singing stars whether singing as a group or individually. Tonight we had the pleasure of hearing the group sing its classic hits from the past and also had the pleasure of hearing each individual sing solos of their own choice. In my opinion, The Manhattan Transfer never sounded better with their amazing harmonies and vocalese stylings. Vocalese is a word they coined to express the art of singing lyrics in the form of a jazz instrument.
Tim Hauser founded the current Manhattan Transfer group in 1972 and has produced many of the group's albums. Alan Paul is also a founding member of Manhattan and is a nine-time Grammy winner. Both Tim and Alan were from New Jersey. Janis Siegel is the third founding member of the group. Janis has released more than 6 solo albums and has garnered critical praise from her fans. Tonight, the group sang "Birdland", a song Janis arranged and won a Grammy for in 1980. Cheryl Bentyne joined the current group in 1979. Cheryl has also published many solo CDs and she won a Grammy with Bobby McFerrin for their vocal arrangement of "Another Night In Tunisia".
Tonight's show was a clinic in how the human voice can turn into a beautiful musical instrument. What a treat for us that these four incredible talents shared the same stage to give us almost two hours of visual and listening ecstasy!
The Manhatten Transfer is touring again and if they get to your city, don't miss a chance to see and hear them.
If you are a fan of superb Jazz piano, especially when it's part of a great Jazz trio, then a new CD from Pamela Hines, is made just for you. This is my first experience hearing Pamela Hines and I became a fan after the first time I listened to the 9 cuts on her new CD, " 3.2.1.". In my opinion, the quickest way to determine the talent of any Jazz musician is to listen to how the musician approaches the great standards. On this CD, Pamela presents the listener with truly inspiring renditions of three classic gems. The first two are ballads that never seem to get old, "Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most" and "I Guess I'll Hang My Tears Out To Dry". Pamela approaches both of these great songs with emotion and understanding and her performance is marvelous by any Jazz measure. The third standard is an up tempo version of "East Of The Sun" that is fresh and exciting.
To balance these standards, Pamela chose several Bill Evans compositions that would test the ability of most piano players. The first cut is "34 Skidoo" that Evans has lots of fun with by changing the time signature throughout the song. The other two Evans compositions were "B Minor Waltz" and "Loose Blues".
Pamela Hines has been very busy in the last three decades performing in clubs, concerts and festivals in New York, Boston and nationally. She is a Jazz treasure, and I look forward to hearing lots more from her. Pamela is joined on this CD by two wonderfully talented musicians, David Clark on Bass and Yoron Israel on Drums. This CD will be released on January 15, 2013.
Is there anything better than hearing a live 16 piece orchestra playing the best of the Count Basie playbook? Well, as it turns out there is, when you add the fabulous singing by Yve Evans. Tonight's performance at the Indian Wells Theater was inspiring for everyone in the packed house. On stage were some of the best musicians in the county being conducted by great bass player, Jeff Stover, playing the best of the Count Basie charts that never sounded better. They call themselves the Indian Wells Pops Orchestra, but this group of musicians is so much more than a local orchestra. They excel at producing the big band sound, and it is obvious to all that every talented member of this orchestra loves playing the big band charts.
From the first moment Yve Evans walks the stage, she immediately captures her audience and once she has them, she never lets them go. Yve is not only a wonderful, caring person, she is also one of the greatest performing jazz singers of all times. We, here in the Coachella Valley, are so privileged to be able to see and hear Yve sing in many intimate settings. And as great as it is to listen to Yve sing in an intimate room, hearing her sing "Basie Songs" with a live 16 piece orchestra, is as good as it can get!
If you missed this performance of the Indian Wells Pop Orchestra, you have another chance on Sunday Feb 10, when they return to play "Swing Time" a tribute to big band swing with guest singer, Sherry Williams.
You can also get to enjoy the talents of Yve Evans who will be performing at Backstreet Bistro in Palm Desert on Tuesday, January 22nd. Don't miss the opportunity!
Etta James, also known as "Peaches", was a giant in Rhythm and Blues and Rock and Roll. She could do it all! During her long career she won six Grammys and 17 Blues Music Awards. She was born on January 25,1938 and past on January 20, 2012. Etta was inducted into the "Music Hall of Fame" in 1993, into the "Blues Hall of Fame" in 2001 and into the "Grammy Hall of Fame" in both 1999 and 2008.
Etta started singing the blues and made the transition into Rhythm and Blues and then finished her career with what I believe was some of her best work singing great torch songs out of the "Great American Songbook". That's when I found her, late in her career but still singing like no other singers I had ever heard. Most fans look back to her Blues singing as their reason for loving her so much, but I was just knock over after hearing love songs sung by Etta James.
I found three classic Etta James' songs on "Youtube" that I wanted to pass on to you. After you listen to the three songs I have attached, take some time to research other gems in the Etta James library. It will be a very satisfying effort.
"I want a Sunday Kind of Love"


Dip and yoghurt brand, Black Swan, has made its foray into the experiential and creation space with the launch of a new experience-led campaign at Taste of Melbourne.
Black Swan Beta will give Taste guests the chance to be part of the future of Black Swan via a concept described as 'part laboratory, part kitchen and part hole-in-the-wall restaurant'.
25,000 Taste guests will have the chance to design their own dip or yoghurt masterpiece, get their hands on one of Black Swan's future innovations and indulge in the most expensive dip the brand has ever created.
They will also be able to take a seat a seat to taste the wonderful world of the dip range on the Taste Train, a moving feast via a revolving conveyor belt.
Guests will be able to choose from a number of bases such as Hommus, Tzatziki and Greek Style Yoghurt. They can then mix in a number of the 28 add-on ingredients offer including Crumbed Bacon, Chia Seeds, Passionfruit Pulp, Diced Beetroot and Wasabi and infuse it with one of six flavoured oils with the likes of Roasted Onion, Basil and Lemon on offer.
If you're overwhelmed with the paradox of choice, Black Swan has already done some of the hard work for you. Five signature limited-edition dips have been specially created for the event, with the 'Maple Bacon with Caramelised Onion', 'White Caviar' and 'Edamame Hommus with Wasabi & Pickled Ginger' dips sure to be a hit with foodies.
If you don't get the chance to make it to the festival, you'll still be able to enjoy the experience as Black Swan Beta will come to life in content as 'Born to Create', a multifaceted content campaign bringing the activation to life outside of Taste, demonstrating Black Swan's love of real flavours, real stories, real people and their love to create.
All elements of the activation will be showcased across paid, owned and shared channels – allowing the diverse and versatile product range to be shared and engaged with a wide reaching audience.
Monde Nissin Australia head of marketing Brooke Tierney said, "We are really excited about launching Beta at Taste Melbourne, and reaching a wide audience with purpose built content. It is not only a great platform to allow consumers to experience the versatility of both our dips and yoghurt range but it encompasses the rich history and innovative spirit of the brand.
"As a collaborative team, we have pushed really hard to challenge the way in which we sample to consumers and we can't wait to see how consumers react to some of the flavours we have created and who knows we might see them on the shelves at a later date".


text:
Q: index action for gem 'public_activity' I'm using 'public_activity' gem to create activity feed. I've followed this tutorial
The tutorial shows you how to create activity feed for users who follow certain people.
class ActivitiesController < ApplicationController
  def index
    @activities = PublicActivity::Activity.order("created_at desc").where(owner_id: current_user.followed_user_ids, owner_type: "User")
  end

...

How can I add current_user's id, so that on index page he sees activity from people he is following plus his own?

A: Could you make another variable and place it before the @activities variable in the index view?
Something like this is the controller:
class ActivitiesController < ApplicationController
  def index
@activities_current_user = PublicActivity::Activity.order("created_at desc").where(owner_id: current_user.id, owner_type: "User")
@activities = PublicActivity::Activity.order("created_at desc").where(owner_id: current_user.followed_user_ids, owner_type: "User")
  end

Then in the View:
<% @activities_current_user.each do |activity| %>

    <%= link_to activity.owner.name, activity.owner if activity.owner %>
    <%= render_activity activity %>

<% end %>

<% @activities.each do |activity| %>

    <%= link_to activity.owner.name, activity.owner if activity.owner %>
    <%= render_activity activity %>

<% end %>

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


To get in the right frame of mind, what would be better than to meet some of your favourite players ahead of a match? That's what will happen at Thohoyandou's Thavhani Mall when Kaizer Chiefs, in partnership with Vodacom, will be hosting an activation ahead of Saturday afternoon's encounter against Black Leopards.
The activation will take place from 9:00 until 13:00 at the Thavhani Mall, which is situated right behind the Thohoyandou Stadium.
Selected players will be in attendance, including local hero Mulomowandau Mathoho.
The activation will not only be an opportunity to meet and take pictures with some Glamour Boys, supporters will also be able to engage and connect with KC Mobile. Besides that, the KC Retail team will be present and have authentic Kaizer Chiefs merchandise on sale.
There are also various ways to get tickets for the sold-out game against Black Leopards, which will kick-off at 15:00. For example, supporters who get connected to KC Mobile with the KC Mobile starter pack and recharge for R29 or more, will be instantly rewarded.
People who will connect with KC Mobile on the day, by getting a SIM card, also stand a chance to get specials deals, including airtime, data or get 1 GB of data at a discounted rate.
Another chance to win tickets is to buy Kaizer Chiefs merchandise at the activation.
There will be a great atmosphere at the activation with supporters getting the opportunity to see each other before the game. There will also be music and lots of fun provided by DJs and MCs.


text:
Rekindle brotherly love, pray for national peace, NOA tells Nigerians
By Seye Olumide and Ernest Nzor (Abuja)
As Nigerians join the world to celebrate Christmas, the National Orientation Agency (NOA) has called on Nigerians to use the celebrations to rekindle brotherly love among Nigerians and pray for national peace in the spirit of Christmas.
NOA, Dr. Garba Abari
Oyo Lawmaker Tasks Christian On Peace, Unity
Director General of NOA, Dr. Garba Abari, who made the call in a Christmas felicitation message to Nigerians, yesterday in Abuja, called on the Christian faithful to make special prayers for national peace, unity and progress during the festive season.
In a statement issued by its Assistant Director of Press, Paul Odenyi, Abari said Christmas, which tells the story of God's love for man and the joy it brings, should inspire Nigerians, as a deeply religious people, to love their fellow human beings and democratise joy by sharing and caring for each other.
Recalling that the year 2021 witnessed pockets of divisive sentiments and insecurity in some parts of the country, Abari was optimistic that if Nigerians imbibed the virtues of love, selflessness and brotherliness, as Christmas preaches, those challenges would quickly be surmounted.
NOA boss, however, canvassed perpetual vigilance by Nigerians as they go about the festivities of the season with a view to preventing security breaches and ensuring protection for them and their loved ones. He also urged Nigerians to use the opportunity of the Christmas and New Year holidays to get vaccinated against COVID-19 while observing all the preventive protocols, especially avoiding crowded spaces during the celebrations.
While wishing Nigerians a joyous Christmas celebration, Abari stressed the need to stay safe throughout the season.
Meanwhile, lawmaker representing Oyo Central zone, Senator Teslim Balogun has also urged the Christians to be sober and circumspect as they celebrate 2021 Christmas, which is the birthday of Jesus Christ.
Folarin made the call through a goodwill message he personally signed and made available to newsmen in Ibadan.
The Chairman Senate Committee on Local Content, while admonishing Christian faithful to continually imbibe the full essence of Christmas, charged them to supplicate for the peace and unity of Nigeria.
He urged all Christians to exemplify the teachings of Jesus Christ, which are deep-rooted in peace for mankind, especially at this critical time of nation building.
The three-term Senator reawakens the consciousness of Nigerians of the reality of new variants of COVID-19.
He lamented extremely low COVID-19 vaccination rate in Nigeria.
More so, former senator representing Cross River State North senatorial zone, Senator Stephen Odey, has called on Nigerians to harmony among each other in order to ensure peace and unity across the country during the Yuletide season.
Odey, in his message to commemorate this year's Christmas celebration, yesterday in Abuja, Senate Odey, prayed for peace and nation's unity as well as religious tolerance among the citizenry.
He enjoyed on Christians faithful in particular and Nigerians to use the occasion of the Christmas celebration to renew their faith in Jesus Christ as Saviour of mankind and pray for peace and the development of Nigeria.
He said the Christmas mark the celebration of the birth of a new dawn for the salvation of souls for all humanity especially for the Christian believers and should therefore not be used for evil behavior.
He charged the people of the state to use the season to deepen their faith in God as God has the solution to all societal challenges.
He stressed that this year's celebration is another opportunity for fervent prayers for a new dawn and prosperous future for individuals and Nigeria nation.
Odey Wish peoples of Cross River North senatorial a joy and love, adding that Merry Christmas to you and your family.
Dr. Garba Abari
National Orientation Agency
IOM rescues 29,000 irregular Nigerian migrants in five years
The International Organisation for Migration (IOM), says it has assisted 29,000 irregular migrants back to Nigeria, since April 2017.
Christmas: Ugwuanyi, heads of security agencies meet, assure residents of safety
Determined to decisively address the recent security challenges in Enugu State, especially in Eha Amufu, Isi-Uzo Local Government Area (LGA), Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and heads of security agencies in the state..
USAID, NOA partner on reducing maternal, newborn mortality
USAID-funded MOMENTUM Safe Surgery in Family Planning and Obstetrics project implemented by Engender Health Nigeria in partnership with the National Orientation Agency (NOA), yesterday, advocated for a reduction in maternal and newborn mortality.
Religious gangsterism against Tinubu, won't win 2023 presidency for opposition - Onoh
Dr Josef Onoh, the Bola Ahmed Tinubu (BAT) Presidential Spokesman in the South East has said that the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate is in the best position to win next year's presidential election than the Labour Party (LP) P\presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi and his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate counterpart, Atiku Abubakar because…
Easing the Niger Bridge traffic agony at Christmas
Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola's recent announcement that work on the Second Niger Bridge has been completed made cheery news, especially, for motorists and other travellers who use the Niger Bridge at Onitsha at Christmas. The route is usually bedlam, indeed, hell on earth during Christmas and New Year festivities. There is hysteria that…
Okpala Uku Dike Flood disaster relief to raise N5m for Onuaboh victims
Chief Joseph Dike, who doubles as the Okpala Uku and Iyasele Onowu of his Onuaboh community was very proud of his modest home at Onuaboh. He had personally supervised the architectural drawings to reflect his love for Brazilian style edifice, building a 10-room bungalow with its prized courtyard where he holds community conferences and meetings.…

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


...Sometimes, in order to reach an ideal, one has to muster the courage to take the most difficult road.
Our company, which produces the famous wines of the Langa region, is "only" 20 years old. In the wine universe, that is truly "young." But we believe that the most important factor when producing these wines is not age, but dedication to tradition.
We believe in young, talented, and capable people with clear and achievable goals.
We have been practicing organic agriculture for years, because we want to leave our soil in a better state than we found it in. All of our choices are based on our respect for the environment, for those who work with us, and for our clients.


As an architect, I used to design projects in my country, Dominican Republic. I never considered moving to the United States, but one day, I was robbed at gunpoint in my house. Nothing was the same after that. This, and other details, led me to travel all over the US.


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Home » HS2 Phase 2a in-person one-to-one appointments available for you to book now
The HS2 Phase 2a Engagement Team are holding a number of in-person one-to-one meetings in various locations across Phase 2a.
We would like to invite you to book an appointment for a one-to-one meeting at a venue near to you. The team will be available to discuss any questions you may have, and you will have the opportunity to find out more about Phase 2a and the programme of work in your local area.
The table below shows the locations where appointments are available and the date they are being held. You will also find a link to register for an appointment via the platform EventBrite.
Location Venue Date Event Registration Link
Madeley The Madeley Centre, New Road, Madeley, Nr Crewe, CW3 9DN Friday 22 October https://22madeley.eventbrite.co.uk
Colton Colton Village Hall, Bellamour Way, Rugeley WS15 3NL Tuesday 26 October https://26colton.eventbrite.co.uk
Whitmore Whitmore Village Hall, Coneygreave Lane, Whitmore, Newcastle Under Lyme ST5 5HX Wednesday 27 October https://27whitmore.eventbrite.co.uk
Longdon Longdon Village Hall, Brook End, Rugeley, Staffordshire, WS15 4PN Thursday 28 October https://28longdon.eventbrite.co.uk
Weston All Saints Church Hall, Main Road, Shavington, CW2 5DP Friday 29 October https://29weston.eventbrite.co.uk
Hough Hough Village Hall, Cobbs Lane, Hough, CW2 5JN Monday 1 November https://1hough.eventbrite.co.uk
Stone Rural Council Office, Moddershall, Stone, Staffordshire, ST15 8TG Tuesday 2 November https://2stone.eventbrite.co.uk
Ingestre Ingestre Village Hall, 2 Ivy Cottages, Tixall, Stafford, ST18 0XT Wednesday 3 November https://3ingestre.eventbrite.co.uk
Stone Town Stone Station Community Centre, Station Approach, Stone, ST15 8LH Thursday 4 November https://4stone.eventbrite.co.uk
Yarnfield Yarnfield Conference Centre, Stone, Staffordshire, ST15 0N Monday 8 November https://8yarnfield.eventbrite.co.uk
In addition to the locations set out above, we will also be holding one-to-one meetings at venues in Fradley and Streethay, Hill Ridware, Kings Bromley, Armitage and Woore. The dates for these events will be confirmed and shared with you shortly.Should you have any further questions about these events, HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk.
HS2 Community Engagement team
Contact our Helpdesk team all day, every day of the year by:
Freephone: 08081 434 434 | Minicom: 08081 456 472 | Email: HS2Enquiries@hs2.org.uk
To keep up to date with what is happening in your local area, visit: www.hs2inyourarea.co.uk
This page was last updated on 13 October 2021


text:
Lack of Clarity in BBC Report on Violence and Arrests at Leicester Demonstrations
The latest available BBC report on yesterday's EDL and UAF demonstrations in Leicester reveals that some ugly violent incidents marred the day and a number of arrests were made. However, as you will see from the excerpt reproduced below, the report is written in such a way as not to reveal who was arrested and why. An anonymous commentator on my blog has claimed that some EDL members engaged in acts of violence, and I would be surprised given the numbers involved (the BBC's revised estimates now stand at 2,000 for the EDL and 600 for UAF) if the demonstration had been entirely peaceful. Let me once again however make it clear that I do not condone violence, but I support the EDL's right to protest peacefully. Anyone who deliberately initiates and engages in acts of violence must expect the full force of the law to be brought against them.
Given the BBC's editorial hostility towards the EDL and the anti-Islamisation movement in general, it is therefore surprising that it does not mention how many of the thirteen arrested were from amongst the ranks of the EDL. This suggests to me that as in Bolton earlier this year the majority of arrests were of UAF counter-demonstrators. Indeed in Harrow on 11 September 2009 UAF demonstrators and hothead elements in the local Muslim population attacked the police at the site of a demonstration planned by Stop the Islamisation of Europe (SIOE), even though the demonstration itself didn't take place. Likewise, not long after that they attacked the police in Luton with a variety of items including fireworks even though there was no EDL protest. Unite Against Fascism has a long history of seeking to stir up anti-English hatred and initiating violence in pursuit of its Trotskyist violent revolutionary strategy, as the guiding members of UAF such as Martin Smith and Weyman Bennett are members of the Socialist Workers' Party (SWP) Central Committee.
Even the BBC cannot gloss over the reality of UAF violence, hence its report only makes mention of one specific incident of directed violence, and this was against two EDL coaches which were leaving the city. For me, "throwing stones and bricks" at vehicles is simply inexcusable, for serious injury or death could have resulted. Read the excerpt below, and draw your own conclusions:
Thirteen men have been arrested during two protests in Leicester, which sparked the biggest police operation in the county for 25 years.
The English Defence League (EDL) held a static demonstration and Unite Against Fascism (UAF) staged a counter-protest on Humberstone Gate East.
Riot police moved in after several fireworks, bottles and coins were thrown.
There were also reports of violence away from the demonstration site.
Gangs were seen throwing stones and bricks at two coaches carrying EDL supporters as they left the city.
Those arrested at the main protest site were aged between 30 and 42 and were not from the Leicester area
Labels: BBC, EDL Leicester Demonstration 9 October 2010, Martin Smith, SIOE, SWP, UAF, Weyman Bennett
Dazzer Monday, 11 October 2010 at 08:34:00 BST
...strangers in our own land.
Reflections on British Nationalism and the Foundat...
Ugly Violence Taints EDL Leicester Demo
BBC plugs 'We are One Leicester Peace Festival'
Chris Lough delivers EDL Leicester Speech
EDL and MDL on the Streets of Leicester
Lack of Clarity in BBC Report on Violence and Arre...
UAF in Leicester: Noisy, Repetitious and Tedious
What really happened at the EDL Leicester Demo? Vi...


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Chiara Costanza
Chiara Costanza : Associate Artist
Artist website: https://www.chiarakickdrum.com/
Chiara is a music composer and performer based in Melbourne.
Classically trained in piano and later exposed to electronic music, Chiara has been an active composer and producer since 2014.
Her work ranges across composing music for film and TV, creating electronic music for live performance, composing soundscapes for immersive environments and art installations, and the experimental use of field recordings with analogue and digital synthesis.
She recently composed for Australian STAN Series 'The Other Guy', for Cannes Film Festival Palme D'Or Winner short film 'All These Creatures', and for contemporary dance choreographer Prue Lang with Sydney Dance Company.
Classically trained in piano in Italy and later exposed to electronic music after moving to Melbourne in 2004, Chiara has since moved into a well respected position in the Melbourne Techno movement through her dedication to a refined DJing technique and production of electronic music. This eventually led to extra studies in sound art and design at RMIT University, extending her interests into composition and sound design for screen.
Chiara is freelancing and working with Electric Dreams Studios in Melbourne, as well as Nylon Studios and Melodie in Sydney. She is also part of New York's initiative Free The Bid.
In the past couple of years, Chiara has also been a sessional lecturer at Monash University in Melbourne, in the Creative Music Technology Department. She is currently artist residence and tutor at the Melbourne University Conservatorium of Music.
Chiara Costanza — current to August 2019


Nothing can stop Samantha Gash. An accomplished lawyer, Samantha decided there was more to life, and traded in her heels for running shoes and went out to change the world through social impact campaigns. And change the world she does, armed with true grit, determination and unrelenting focus.
Samantha was the first woman and the youngest person to complete the 'Four Deserts' Grand slam – one of the world's toughest endurance competitions that spans 1000kms across the hottest, coldest, driest and windiest deserts on earth.
In 2014, Samantha and UK ultra-runner Mimi Anderson founded Freedom Runners – an initiative that combined a fundraising and awareness campaign around the high cost of feminine hygiene products for women in Sub-Saharan Africa and its link to female absenteeism in school. Over 32 days they ran 1,968 km across South Africa's Freedom Trail and raised over $55K for a Save the Children program.
But running took her much farther than that. In 2016, she became a World Vision Ambassador and used her feet to raise awareness of the barriers to quality education for Indian children. 3200kms and $150k later, she did just that.
Samantha uses authentic storytelling and dramatic documentary footage to share her journey through life. She is an inspiring change leader and will guide your team through managing industry disruption in an engaging and memorable way.
Samantha was the co-founder of Freedom Runners – a 1968km expedition run along South Africa's Freedom Trail that raised funds to support an initiative that addressed feminine hygiene management and education. The 32 day expedition was used as a vehicle to raise attention to the high cost and inaccessibility of feminine hygiene products for women in sub-Saharan Africa and it's detrimental link to female participation in school.
She is currently writing her memoirs with publishers Macmillan in NYC.
Like many young people her age, Samantha Gash had a desire to challenge herself and to make a difference in the world. Ambitious, determined, naïve and stubborn Samantha couldn't have imagined that her journey would take her to the four corners of the earth and impact so many lives.
Samantha took up the sport of running in 2008 as a break from study. After hitting the wall at 32kms and on the verge of quitting, she just managed to complete the Melbourne Marathon that year. Motivated by the experience of pushing her mind and body beyond what she thought was possible, Samantha ambitiously took the ultimate challenge and entered the '4 Deserts Grand Slam'.
The '4 Deserts Grand Slam' requires competitors' to run four, 250km ultra marathons across the driest (Chile), windiest (China), hottest (Sahara) and coldest deserts (Antarctica) on earth. When all four races are completed in one calendar year, it is regarded as one of the toughest endurance events on the planet. Samantha made history by becoming the first woman and the youngest person at the time to complete the Grand Slam. Her journey was captured for the big screen in the award-winning film Desert Runners.
Samantha's view on what she was capable of changed forever from this point. With an increasing desire to push the physical envelope even further, the following year Samantha found herself entered into a 222km non-stop run across the Himalayas, in an event that had only been completed by one man. The penny dropped during Samantha's journey across the Himalayas that she wanted to use her capacity to run long distances for a reason outside of herself. The following year, while working as a lawyer, Samantha ran 379kms non-stop across Australia's Simpson Desert. Receiving national attention, the run took 3.5 days and nights to complete and raise $32,991 for Save the Children Australia.
Within two months after returning from the Simpson Desert, Samantha co-organised a fundraising community running event on behalf of Turia Pitt and Kate Sanderson – victims of the Kimberley ultramarathon bushfire. A race that Samantha was also a competitor in. They raised over $40,000 to support their continuing rehabilitation, to be split between the two ladies.
In September 2014, Samantha ran an average of 61kms for 32 days in a row across South Africa's Freedom Trail (1968kms in total) with UK runner Mimi Anderson. It was reported that year that almost nine million South African girls aged 13 – 19 missed time at school due to a lack of sanitary products. Mimi and Samantha raised $55,000 on behalf of Save the Children to support a holistic initiative that increased access to feminine hygiene products and provide education around the importance of attending school.
As an Ambassador for World Vision, on Samantha completed a 76 day/3253km run from the West to the East of India. She raised over $150K to fund six education focused programs and visited 18 communities that World Vision support across the country. These stories were shared through a digital platform with organisations and individuals taking part in global peer-to-peer fundraising campaign.
How can you link something you are passionate about for a purpose outside of yourself through a process of focus, leadership and collaboration? Samantha outlines her methodology in being able to push her body and mind through some of the most extreme environments. Practical tips will show you how to develop motivation and create wins by following a passion, with a purpose.
Execution - where the (shoe) rubber hits the road.
Dreaming big is important - doing is always the hard bit. Learn about the planning, risk mitigation, and continual failures that plagued Sam's planning from well before Day 1. Learn about the importance of cultural recognition, and framing of setbacks.
Find the values, risks and benefits of a life outside your comfort zone - illustrated by Samantha's example of crossing India. True growth lies in pushing your boundaries - Samantha explains what can make you - and break you - on the paths that lie outside your comfort zone.
Composure and resilience under duress.
Find out Samantha's formulae for maintaining clear team goals in extreme, and sometimes dangerous settings. The ultimate lesson on leading (and following) in chaos.
Identifying and empowering your 'support team' can be the key in enabling you to achieving goals outside of your comfort zone. Find out how Samantha created a world class 'misfit' team of non-runners, family, friends, and mavericks that supported her push to world record runs. Diversity, hilarity and hi-jinks were ever present in these endeavours, and you might find some gems in her approach to team building.
Samantha was wonderful, she was on time and relaxed. There wasn't anything that was too much, and the audience got the chance to meet with her afterwards. She was so engaging, the audience were enthralled by her tales, and energised by her message. Samantha was a big hit and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend her as a keynote.
Samantha was extremely well received, and an absolute delight to have at our event. Her experiences captured the imagination of our guests, and the advice she gave based on these experiences inspired everyone. Sam was receptive to understanding the context of the event and then demographic of the audience – a dream for any event manager trying to communicate key messages! Sam was warm, humble and passionate, and able to adapt to her surroundings to really speak our language...Thank you Sam for sharing your life lessons and encouraging us all to push beyond our comfort zone.
I'd like to personally thank you for serving as a speaker at our conference last week. The feedback we have had has surpassed previous conferences with regards to ratings of speakers, content and learnings from the sessions. Your willingness to share your insights and experience with our delegates played a significant role in the success of the event.
Samantha Gash delivered an inspiring, captivating and emotional presentation to the future leaders of all industries. Her humility and bravery is not only aspirational for all, but she helped our delegates tap into their own bravery rather than have them admire that trait in someone else. It is the fourth time I have seen Samantha present and each time it has been an immense privilege. She was a favourite on the day.
I recently had the pleasure of listening to Samantha speak at a financial services industry function and found her to be thoroughly engaging. It is very refreshing to hear someone speak so clearly and authentically about taking on extraordinary challenges. Samantha spoke without hesitation about her passion to make a difference and was compelling and inspiring. Her aim to make an impact on women's lives in Africa while creating employment is at once creative and meaningful. Samantha's talk did not fail to connect with anyone who understands the importance of young women needing confidence to take opportunity in life…starting with the basics. Her feats, this purpose and the way she connects, means time with Samantha Gash is very worthwhile.
Samantha's story is authentic, moving and inspirational. Her delivery was heartfelt and honest and had attendees glued to their seats. Samantha's energy, positivity and passion is infectious and left the audience inspired by what can be achieved with determination, motivation and pushing yourself beyond where you thought you could not go.
I had the absolute pleasure of working with Samantha Gash on our flagship Business Forum conference. Sam is such a dynamic and engaging speaker that we were very lucky to have on our stage. Sam's story is amazing and resonated with our audience, many of whom were members in business at the C-suite level. I have never seen so much immediate positive feedback, it left delegates feeling moved and inspired – and most importantly, actionable suggestions – on how to implement these valuable life session in corporate life.
Samantha tells an incredible and personal story. Although her physical pursuits have been super-human, her messages to our teams are more about how much of a role the mind plays in setting and achieving goals – whether they be business or personal. She really helped my team put business issues into perspective, and helped them realise that 'what' we do as a business, is far less important than 'why' we do it.
Such an inspirational story that brought tears to many people's eyes. Sam is a greatspeaker and has an extraordinary story to tell. She spoke about her physical and mental preparation & how she prepared for the unknown and there were many messages and takeaway tips for our people. I would not hesitate to recommend Sam.
Samantha is truly inspirational. I have seen many speakers over the years but Samantha's authentic presentation and incredible personal story has inspired me to succeed in several aspects of my life - both personally and professionally. I feel very fortunate to have heard Samantha present, she exceeded our expectations and would highly recommend her as speaker.
Sam delivered a brilliant and inspiring presentation. She was powerful and passionate, and delivered a strong message of courage and determination. Sam's story of personal achievement and commitment to constant never ending improvement was the perfect empowerment for our team. Her ability to uplift an entire audience was enlightening, and everyone was thoroughly captivated by Sam's amazing story.


A crumbling church near Retford which shut two years ago will be given a new lease of life with more than £1m of restoration work.
St Peter's Church, in Gamston, has been taken under the wing of The Churches Conservation Trust – the national charity protecting historic churches at risk.
There were fears the Grade I-listed structure would never re-open but now the lengthy list of repairs it needs will be sorted out.
Peter Aiers, chief executive of the trust, says: "We are delighted to welcome such a charming and historically significant church into the care of CCT.
"Once we have repaired this building it will be open for all to see and use.
"We cannot do all of this on our own - we need the support and help of the local community to help ensure that the building remains a vital asset to the village and welcomes visitors from near or far."
The earliest surviving elements of the stone-built church are 13th century, but there is believed to have been a church on the site from at least the end of the 12th century.
The 14th century tower houses a complete ring of six bells, said to be of exceptional significance.
In 1855 Sir George Gilbert Scott carried out an extensive restoration, including work to the roofs and to the interior fabric, fixtures and fittings.
St Peter's closed for regular worship in November 2015, bringing its future into doubt.
The church requires substantial repair work which will include the complete re-roofing of the nave, chancel and porch, masonry and timber repairs, and conservation of interior fixtures and fittings.
CCT will host a special event on Saturday, March 24 at 11am to mark the vesting of the church where visitors can meet staff and find out more about the planned conservation and repair work. The church will remain open for visitors until 2pm.
A significant amount of essential repair work will be carried out on St Peter's, which will cost in the region of £1.3m.
The church will be closed for up to two years while these repairs are carried out and will be opened to visitors when completed, although a number of special open days are planned during the work.
The trust will be looking for volunteers to get involved with keeping the building open and used by both local people and visitors from further afield.
Those interested in volunteering should contact Pete Clegg on pclegg@thecct.org.uk / 07733 108 553.


text:
Michael W. Reeves
Dogie Rancher is Found Dead in Home Saturday
Michael W. Reeves, aged about 78 years, was found dead in his cabin near Dogie, Wyoming last Saturday May 28th by Joe O'Brien, a neighbor in that community. He had evidently been dead for several days as the body was in a badly decomposed condition.
Reeves was last seen alive last Tuesday, the 24th of May, when Mr. O'Brien, who was on a deal to lease the Reeves place, called at the homestead and talked to the owner for some time. He was sowing grain by hand at the time of O'Brien's visit but said he intended to go after some horses, which trip would take him a day or two. However, Wednesday evening when O'Brien rode over to the cabin and called no one answered and the place looked deserted O'Brien did not dismount from his horse, thinking that Mr. Reeves had not returned from the trip which he had mentioned.
Saturday evening he again went to the ranch and this time pushed open the door of the cabin, which was not tightly closed and at once saw the form lying on a cot in the room. He ascertained that the man was dead and then rode 35 miles to the nearest telephone to notify Sheriff D. A. Shoopman and Coroner Earl Peet.
The Sheriff and coroner left Lusk about 1 a.m. and returned at 8 with the remains. The Coroner's verdict was that death was due to natural causes, the deceased likely having suffered a heart attack after working in the field on the previous Tuesday.
The deceased is survived by two sons, John and Charles, and one daughter, Mrs. James, all of Crawford, Nebraska. They were notified and came at once to Lusk.
Funeral services were held at the Lusk cemetery at five o'clock Monday evening with Rev. George Jenkins officiating. The funeral arrangements were in charge of the Peet Mortuary.
Photo courtesy of the Joshua Brackett Eagle Scout Project.
Cemetery Record REEVES, MICHAEL View Record


text:
Q: How to debug "WSREP: SST failed: 1 (Operation not permitted)" with a MariaDB Galera cluster in Docker? Requirement: CentOS-based Docker container providing a MariaDB 10.x Galera cluster
Host Environment: OX X El Capitan 10.11.6, Docker 1.12.5 (14777)
Docker Container OS: CentOS Linux release 7.3.1611 (Core)
DB: 10.1.20-MariaDB
I found a promising Docker image, but the documentation seems to be obsolete, the commands to start the cluster do not work. At the time of writing the image uses wsrep_sst_method = rsync and so I figured that the following commands should work (replace /Users/Me/somedb with an empty directory on your host):
docker pull dayreiner/centos7-mariadb-10.1-galera

docker run -d --name db1 -h db1host -p 3306:3306 -e CLUSTER_NAME=joe -e CLUSTER=BOOTSTRAP -e MYSQL_ROOT_PASSWORD='pwd' -v /Users/Me/somedb:/var/lib/mysql dayreiner/centos7-mariadb-10.1-galera:latest

docker run -d --name db2 -h db2host -p 3307:3306 --link db1 -e CLUSTER_NAME=joe -e CLUSTER=db1host,db2host -e MYSQL_ROOT_PASSWORD='pwd' -v /Users/Me/somedb:/var/lib/mysql dayreiner/centos7-mariadb-10.1-galera:latest

The first container (db1) comes up and seems OK. But the last line that tries to add db2 as a second node to the Galera cluster results in the following error (docker logs db2):
2017-01-10 15:26:10 139742710823680 [Note] WSREP: New cluster view: global state: :-1, view# 0: Primary, number of nodes: 1, my index: 0, protocol version 3
2017-01-10 15:26:10 139742711142656 [ERROR] WSREP: SST failed: 1 (Operation not permitted)
2017-01-10 15:26:10 139742711142656 [ERROR] Aborting

I could not figure out what is wrong here and would appreciate ideas on how to analyze this further. Is this a problem of rsync, Galera or even Docker?

A: That's my image on dockerhub.
I had not tested the cluster (until now) on a single host, only running on multiple hosts. You're right though, running two on a single host seems to abort the second node on start.
This looks to be caused by the default bridge network not behaving nicely. Possibly some issue with handling the ports for state transfer. Not really sure why.
If you modify your commands to first create a custom network for your clustered containers to use on the backend, and then run the cluster members using that network, that seems to work when running two nodes on a single host:
# docker network create mariadb

# docker run -d --network=mariadb -p 3307:3306 --name db1 -e CLUSTER_NAME=test -e CLUSTER=BOOTSTRAP -e MYSQL_ROOT_PASSWORD=test -v /opt/test/db1:/var/lib/mysql dayreiner/centos7-mariadb-10.1-galera:latest

# docker run -d --network=mariadb -p 3308:3306 --name db2 -e CLUSTER_NAME=test -e CLUSTER=db1,db2 -e MYSQL_ROOT_PASSWORD=test -v /opt/test/db2:/var/lib/mysql dayreiner/centos7-mariadb-10.1-galera:latest

No errors this time on the second node:
# docker logs db2 -f
...snip
2017-01-12 20:33:08 139726185019648 [Note] WSREP: Signalling provider to continue.
2017-01-12 20:33:08 139726185019648 [Note] WSREP: SST received: 42eaa277-d906-11e6-b98a-3e6b9531c1b7:0
2017-01-12 20:33:08 139725604124416 [Note] WSREP: 1.0 (f170852fe1b6): State transfer from 0.0 (951fdda2454b) complete.
2017-01-12 20:33:08 139725604124416 [Note] WSREP: Shifting JOINER -> JOINED (TO: 0)
2017-01-12 20:33:08 139725604124416 [Note] WSREP: Member 1.0 (f170852fe1b6) synced with group.
2017-01-12 20:33:08 139725604124416 [Note] WSREP: Shifting JOINED -> SYNCED (TO: 0)
2017-01-12 20:33:08 139726105180928 [Note] WSREP: Synchronized with group, ready for connections
2017-01-12 20:33:08 139726105180928 [Note] WSREP: wsrep_notify_cmd is not defined, skipping notification.
2017-01-12 20:33:08 139726185019648 [Note] mysqld: ready for connections.
Version: '10.1.20-MariaDB'  socket: '/var/lib/mysql/mysql.sock'  port: 3306  MariaDB Server

Try that, see how it goes. Also, if you run it using docker-compose it will also work without any problems. This is likely because compose creates a dedicated compose container network by default. You can see an example compose file in this gist.
Just make sure to use a different directory for each mariadb instance, and after you have your cluster started, stop db1 and relaunch it as a regular cluster member (otherwise the next time db1 is started it will keep bootstrapping a new cluster).

A: Works after upgrading the Docker image to MariaDB 10.2.3 (from 10.1.20).
I am not 100% sure whether I have a truly valid cluster now, but at least show status like "wsrep_cluster_size"; produces the following output and the DB is usable:
+--------------------+-------+
| Variable_name      | Value |
+--------------------+-------+
| wsrep_cluster_size | 3     |
+--------------------+-------+

Note: I also omitted the -v option and placed the DB files inside the Docker container instead of on an external volume. I don't think that this makes a difference regarding the cluster, but I did not verify 10.2.3 with -v. However, I tried 10.1.20 with both variations (external volume with -v and container-internal files) and both did not work.


text:
Rey Mysterio
'Lucha Underground' Has A Free Comic You Can Read Online
Lucha Underground is probably the single best superhero show on television. Seriously, I don't mean that in the usual "pro wrestling is like superheroes" sort of way where you talk about larger-than-life characters battling their way through morality plays. I mean that it's a pro wrestling promotion with a complex continuity that involves a dragon that has taken human form, an avatar of death fighting an avatar of life, and a long-running plot about Seven Ancient Aztec Medallions that will give you the power to rival the gods themselves. The season ends with someone turning into a spaceship to return to their home in the stars. It's not about superheroes in the way that Monday Night Raw is about "superheroes," it's about superheroes in the way that Legends of Tomorrow is about superheroes. So while I'm definitely glad to see it happen, it's not entirely surprising that they're promoting the start of the second season by branching out into comics. What is surprising, though, is that you can read the entire full-length comic for free.


Tomorrow's embedded devices need to run high-resolution multimedia applications which need an enormous computational complexity with a very low energy consumption constraint. In this context, the register file is one of the key sources of power consumption and its inappropriate design and management can severely affect the performance of the system. In this paper, we present a new approach to reduce the energy of the shared register file in upcoming embedded VLIW architectures with several processing units. Energy savings up to a 60% can be obtained in the register file without any performance penalty. It is based on a set of hardware extensions and a compiler-based energy-aware register assignment algorithm that enable the de/activation of parts of the register file (i.e. sub-banks) in an independent way at run-time, which can be easily included in these embedded architectures.


On November 11, I and six other Duranders met with our newly re-elected Ward 2 Councillor, Jason Farr. The purpose of this meeting was to express our concerns with the recent street designs proposed by City staff for cycling infrastructure in the Durand neighbourhood.
You can view the current design here [PDF].
The purpose of this article is not to provide a detailed report on this meeting. Rather, it is my intent to provide some background information on the issues involved, how they personally affect myself and my family, and how we can move forward together.
The Hamilton staff proposals contain serious violations of the CROW design engineering standards for bicycle traffic.
The Janette Sadik-Khan quote also seems to apply to City of Hamilton staff. Instead of following the established engineering design standards, City staff chose to "wing it" and make up their own designs.
When this happens, the best outcome is that they merely waste a lot of time re-inventing the wheel. Worst case is that they come up with very dangerous designs. Unfortunately, that is exactly what happened.
Several particularly horrific examples in the staff proposal placed bike lanes in the door zone of adjacent parked cars. That results in the bike lane being the most dangerous place on the entire road to ride a bicycle!
This is, of course, in the ultra-wealthy part of Durand with its multi-million dollar mansions.
Now I certainly do not begrudge mega-rich people using their clout to eliminate cut-through car driving around their mansions. I am sure that they love their children and want to live in safe neighbourhoods. But me and my neighbours, we also love our children and want the same safety for ourselves and other not-quite-so-rich people.
Where the CROW standards have been systematically implemented such as in The Netherlands, cut-through car driving has been progressively eliminated from virtually every residential neighbourhood in the entire country.
This is one of the key reasons why The Netherlands has the world's safest roads.
So what is the solution? How are we going to get City staff to follow recognized traffic design engineering standards and stop "winging it" by making up their own stuff?
One solution is to bring in an actual bicycle traffic design engineer. Someone with the necessary education, training, professional certification and experience. The City of Burlington did just that.
They brought in Wim Mulder, a bicycle traffic design engineer from Burlington's twin city of Apeldoorn in The Netherlands. You can read a description of his recommendations [PDF].
Needless to say, as a competent professional, Mr. Mulder's recommendations are based upon the CROW traffic design engineering standard.
Another solution is to follow the example of Janette Sadik-Khan and push for trial projects. I strongly recommend viewing her TED talk, "New York's Streets? Not So Mean Any More".
Her descriptions and photographs of what she was able to do with paint, temporary barriers and lawn chairs are quite remarkable. Since the materials could be quickly installed they could be just as quickly removed if the sky were to fall. Needless to say, it did not.
Durand Neighbourhood has excellent potential. At a standard urban bicycle design speed of 20 km/hr, a nine-minute commute of 3 km includes St Joseph's Hospital and the entire downtown Hamilton employment zone.
With numerous grocery stores, banks, libraries, churches, GO station and other destinations within this nine-minute 3 km zone, Durand should be a healthy neighbourhood with a high walking, cycling and public transit mode share.
And yet... it is not. Why?
I know many people who live in Durand and have commute-to-work distances of between 2 km (downtown) and 6 blocks (St. Joseph's Hospital). Even the nurse who works at St. Joe's drives a car six blocks to work.
Why? If you ask her, she will say, "It takes me longer to walk to work from the St. Joe's parking garage than it would to ride a bike straight to work from home. But I don't do that because car drivers scare the $#!%&!! out of me."
I get the same answer from everyone else. Car drivers have effectively terrorized almost everyone else off of the road.
My own family is an excellent example of the profoundly dysfunctional streets in Durand. Four of the people that car drivers have effectively terrorized off the road are my wife and three teen-age children.
My family lives on Park Street just south of Herkimer. Cut through car drivers travelling east on Herkimer can see the traffic light at James Street turn green as far back as Durand Park.
These cut-through car drivers know that if they are going to "beat the light" they have to blast through at speeds of 70-90 km/hr. So they do!
Needless to say, this does a rather effective job of terrorizing everyone else off of the road. Even during peak hours, the cycling mode share is very low and definitely does not include my wife and children.
Are the Hamilton staff proposals going to fix this? Are they going to shut down the Herkimer Racetrack? Are cut-through car drivers going to be prevented from terrorizing everyone else off of the road? The answers are no, no and definitely not.
The Hamilton city staff proposals violate the CROW standards by failing to eliminate cut-through car traffic in Durand, except in the ultra-wealthy area around Aberdeen.
It is easy to predict that any proposal that fails to eliminate cut-through car driving will be a failure. Any such proposal will never move us out of our current very low mode share of walking, cycling and public transit.
One of the jokes that I tell on myself is that I really don't have any original ideas. What I mean by that is that I do not consider myself to be a traffic engineer. So my approach is to simply read the CROW manual and implement established traffic design engineering standards.
So here is my proposal: Let's do it right on a temporary basis in the spring and summer of 2015. Eliminate all cut-through car driving in Durand with cheap, temporary materials such as paint, signs, Jersey barriers and knock-down sticks.
These can be quickly and easily installed and just as easily removed if the sky should fall.
My prediction is that the sky will not fall but Durand will transform itself into a safe, liveable residential neighbourhood.
The 1-way grid of Durand/Kirkendall is utterly ludicrous, and serves no purpose other than cutting 30 seconds off of the commute of folks going from Ward 8 into St. Joe's or City Hall. Just bite the bullet and convert everything south of Hunter over 22 feet wide into 2-way (30 feet if it has both-side parking).
Providing that suitable barriers are used to filter out cut-through car driving, the 1-way grid in Durand would actually be quite useful. It would mean that for car drivers, there is only one way into, through and out of Durand. But pedestrians, cyclists and public transit vehicles (with suitable gates) could travel through.
This is a key part of making walking, cycling or public transit the fastest, easiest and most convenient way of travelling from A to B. A good example is in Groningen. Note particularly the section from 2:12 - 3:50 in the video that explains how eliminating cut-through car driving was a key part of transforming Groningen.
Provided that there is a counter-flow lane for cycling, there are legitimate uses for one-way streets.
Herkimer and Charlton are not "cut through" traffic. They're intended as east/west secondary arterials that service the south part of the lower city. There is no other route for traffic. That's not to suggest they couldn't be calmed (Herkimer especially) but traffic between James and Dundurn on those streets is by design and there is no other choice.
That IS the purpose. Can't have precious Ward Eighters or Ancasterites ever hitting a red light.
How have the speedbumps on the Charlton between Queen and Locke been working? I still see a fair bit of traffic through there but I'm not there all that often. That's definitely an effort to curb cut-through traffic and slow the traffic way down.
I don't see that just because they aren't in the Durand, that the Durand neighbourhood couldn't learn from that experience. THey have the same issues as we do, to an extent.
What route would you prefer serviced the south end of the lower city? How would you like cars to get from John to Dundurn? Charlton has been calmed as much as possible between Queen and Dundurn, Herkimer could still use some work in this neighbourhood, but Herkimer and Charlton are arterial roads between Queen and James. I'm not sure there's any other choice to move traffic in this area.
People travelling from John to Dundurn should not be travelling by car.
Why not? I lived at John and Charlton, and would drive down Charlton to the liquor store, to Murphy's subs, to Zarky's, to the dog groomer, and to our realtor's office. Not driving was not an option in those cases. Please don't lecture to me about how to use my city's streets. I don't lecture to you about how you can't use the Jolley Cut, or Charlton, or Herkimer.
ah yes, the old 'more people driving everywhere is good for the environment' argument. That's always a beauty.
are you really expecting us to plan our city around the odd time someone comes in from Brantford? No thanks. The most logical route would be to the Henderson hospital, or down the 403 to Main St to St Joes or General.
Or perhaps someone from Brantford could consider using the Brantford General Hospital.
LOL. Have you ever been the the Brantford General. Do you have any understanding of How medicine is triaged in Ontario. Do you think people in Brantford want to come to Hamilton. I think you are talking out of your lower orifice.
All are welcome to come to our hospitals. They can take Main St to either St Joes or the General. What sane person from Brantford is going to find a weaving route through Herkimer and Charlton to get to the hospital?? They're going to take the normal, direct route.
I don't think he meant "just" John to Dundurn but East of John to Dundurn "and beyond" ( i,e to the 403 or to Ancaster, or to the East Mountain) by using that route. Say from Wentworth South to Chedoke, or Sherman and Stinson to the great new innovation park on Longwood?
You can go up to Cannon and through to Dundurn. You can't use King because it is a parking lot from Wellington to Bay.
"That's 6-7 minutes cycling at the standard urban design speed of 20 km/hr" if you don't hit a light, it's not snowing or raining and you are under 60 in good health.
Actually, as a Beasley resident I would say that it is totally inappropriate to ask Cannon and Wilson (which cut through my neighborhood just as Herkimer and Charlton cut through yours) to take even more of the burden of automobile traffic than they already do.
How many pedestrian fatalities has there been on Herkimer in the last 50 years?
Is this really a safety issue?
Do we keep stats on delay/time/death rates for in transit patients by ambulance or otherwise? Is there any way to really know if someone dies stuck in traffic?
When you use safety an death as the primary argument to reduce traffic on Herkimer, are you not inviting the question about comparative safety?
If no one has died on Herkimer because of speed or traffic related issues, and one person has died because of a traffic jam, who wins the argument? If one pedestrian has been killed an no one has died for failure to get to the hospital who wins?
"We will all die if we don't lower the speed limit" is known as an in terrorem argument. It is the same argument as "we will all die if we can't get to the hospital in time." If you eliminate that argument, what is the argument to reduce traffic on Herkimer?
Is it quiet and undisturbed enjoyment of property?
If my child was killed by a speedster I would be pissed. If my wife dies because of a traffic jam I would be pissed. That would be anectodal. As a planner I would want to know exactly how much time would be reduced by reducing traffic flow on Herkimer.
"who bought property in "Durand" or on Herkimer in particular in the last 50 years who did not know that a major hospital existed at the end of the street and that Herkimer was a through street?"
Which has exactly what to do with speeding traffic?
If we're throwing around university freshman logical fallacy terms, you are attacking a straw man. No one, as far as I can tell, is saying, "We will all die if we don't lower the speed limit".
The street becomes safer for all users, including drivers. Safer streets mean fewer 9-1-1 calls.
The modal share of walking, cycling and transit use all increase, which improves public health and reduces obesity, diabetes and heart disease, while also reducing air pollution and related hospitalizations/deaths.
The street becomes more comfortable and welcoming to its residents, which increases social interaction and reduces stress, both of which also improve public health.
This is not anecdote. It is strong, clear evidence from a wide variety of public health, transportation engineering and land use studies.
who bought property in "Durand" or on Herkimer in particular in the last 50 years who did not know that a major hospital existed at the end of the street and that Herkimer was a through street?
Don't do this. Just don't. People are allowed to advocate to make their neighbourhood safer, especially in the face of new information. 50 years ago, almost no one understood just how corrosive and pernicious it would be to transform urban city streets into one-way multi-lane thoroughfares. Now we know better, and it would be profoundly irresponsible not to act on our improved knowledge.
In any case, just because something is a legacy does not mean people are not allowed to change it. There are hospitals all over the world in dense urban centres that don't have multi-lane one-way arterials running into them, and they work just fine. The people living on and around Charlton and Herkimer have every right to organize and advocate to make their neighbourhood safer, more accessible, more inclusive and more enjoyable.
Queen is another deadly arterial. Earlier this year, there were two separate collisions involving pedestrians in the same month.
One of those was a high speed police chase. The location was inconsequential. Stop blaming the street for driver stupidity. We didn't hear about the bicyclist who was hit making a left from John to Charlton, an accident that occurred because John was two way.
Highway? It's two freaking lanes. It's a minor arterial, it's 10 blocks and if you think a two lane road destroys the livability of the neighbourhood, perhaps you don't really want to live in an urban environment.
I'm all for complete streets, but this type of hyperbole weakens the argument.
Um, no. Nowhere do the comments you quoted even suggest anything to the effect of "We will all die if we don't lower the speed limit" - not that exact quote and not any reasonable paraphrase of that quote.
Your false, hyperbolic distortion of what people are saying about these streets is the very definition of a straw man attack.
You posed rhetorical questions which advance an agenda and fool no one.
Um, yes. The exact comments no but if I amend my post to "People will die if we don't lower the speed limit" and "people will die if we don't get them to the hospital in time." People have essentially said those two things.
The comments still vilify the poor lady who does not want access to the hospital bunged up with traffic "calming."
The questions are not rhetorical. So at least one person was fooled. They should be addressed.
And I will stop posting on this thread. Save and except to say that I live in the neighborhood and have for 25 years after moving from the East end. (When I lived in the east end I dated a girl in Westdale for 3 years and rode to her house on my bike day and night without fear or incident.) I raised 5 children in my neighborhood without incident. I am more worried about the criminals and mental health patients living in the halfway houses than traffic by a factor of 100 to 1. I see no need to reduce the traffic flow on Herkimer any more than it has been. I like living near the hospital in spite of the sirens at night. I don't mind people using the Jolley Cut, the James Access or the Queen Street Hill and I accept that Herkimer and Charleton are major components of those routes. I don't view the streets as "raceways" or "monster parking lots." I think that if you bung up the through streets people will be more likely to use the side streets which will be counter productive. And in spite of all that, I have thoroughly enjoyed my life living downtown although that enjoyment is decreasing not increasing. While I no longer walk young children down the street, my perception is that a lot of the changes, bike lanes and unintelligible road markings and signage are more dangerous than less. I bought my home there knowing full well what was going on in my neighborhood to be. I think Markland is far more dangerous with the bike lane than it was before. I have been stalled many nights trying to get home down Herkimer after the traffic calming and I have personally witnessed ambulances with flashing lights stuck in traffic. In a way it is fortuitous that the traffic volumes have been dropping because otherwise the roads WOULD BE parking lots during rush hour. Those are statements and not questions.
I guess it is time for me to stop ignoring the neighborhood association, get my friends together and join it.
I lived for 5 years at John and Charlton. I echo all of the above comments. I never once felt unsafe walking along or across any of the streets. I was more worried with the drug addicts and drug deals in Woolverton Park, Corktown Park, the chronic break-ins of cars on Catherine, Young, Walnut, Forest, and the like. I think that in 5 years of living downtown, I only once saw a car coming that clearly was not watching and would've hit me if I hadn't been watching.
Neither did we have any problems with racing, aside from the odd Saturday night where you'd hear something at 2 or 3 am of someone coming down the Jolley Cut way too fast.
Congrats! You make TONNES of sense!
"I have been stalled many nights trying to get home down Herkimer after the traffic calming and I have personally witnessed ambulances with flashing lights stuck in traffic."
Unless there is an issue with the Queen Street Hill the only time the potential for the above exists is during evening rush hour...........and even then traffic is "stalled" from the light at Charlton to maybe Hess.
Lol. Stalled in Hamilton means someone hit a red light. Once.
That issue has a solution. Equip ambulances with the same electronic gate opening devices that public transit vehicles will use.
Then ambulances and public transit vehicles are the only cut-through motor vehicle traffic allowed in Durand.
Once again, this is not an original idea of mine.
That suggestion is absolutely ridiculous. To say that you own the street because you live there is preposterous. If I choose to take a road that my taxes have paid for, I will. I would never even think to restrict access to other vehicles on my street. How would anyone ever come to visit you? How would any sort of delivery be made? Why do you deserve a gated community but no other community does? Thanks for the laugh though.
First CharlesBall then his alter ego notlloyd, big surprise.
She's onto the secret plan.
This is the real reason cities around the world are going to 30k speed limits, with streets designed to match...trying to kill people by slowing down ambulances.
There were similar objections by emergency services back in the 1970s when Vancouver made diagonal sidewalks and pedestrianized some short blocks in the grid system of the West End. Guess what, 40 years later they are still there in on of the densest neighbourhoods in North America and no one wants to remove them.


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How China Could Kill Japan's Abenomics Gains
Michael Lingenheld Contributor
I am Managing Editor of Cup & Handle Macro Research.
The US and EU can gripe about Japan tinkering with its currency, but if the Chinese turn antagonistic, expect all of the gains from Abenomics to be lost.
The G-20 Summit in Shanghai was largely a non-event, but there were some interesting developments on the sidelines. Notably the "Group of Four," a gathering of central bank and finance officials from the US, EU, China and Japan, warned the Japanese against direct intervention to weaken the Yen (JPY).
The concern is that it would spark a series of competitive devaluations around the world. Why direct intervention is so egregious and Abenomics, a massive devaluation effort, is acceptable is unclear, but these aren't the only officials warning Japan against further action.
Both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump have pointed their fingers at Japan for stealing American jobs with an artificially weak currency. The Japanese government hasn't commented on the accusations, but surely they're taking note.
On February 17, we posited that Prime Minister Abe's position could be in jeopardy well before he's required to hold a new election in 2018. Now, one of Abe's advisers is saying there's a 90% chance the Prime Minister will look to renew his mandate with a general election this year. Approval for Abe's cabinet was steady at 47% in a poll published by the Nikkei newspaper on February 29, and citizens seem to be more upset over his views on the military than the economy. The last thing Abe needs is blowback from the West over his policies because Japanese markets are sitting at tenuous levels.
While Abenomics nominally includes structural reforms and fiscal spending, its primary tool has been monetary policy. If investors get the sense that Abenomics will be curtailed in some capacity, expect JPY to surge and the Nikkei 225 to drop.
Gallery: 2016 30 Under 30 Asia: Finance & Venture Capital
Now, the BoJ is unlikely to walk back easing measures anytime soon. The decision to give negative rates a go in January was decided with a 5-4 majority within the central bank. One of the "no" voters was replaced this month with a strong believer in stimulative policies, so that majority just got a little stronger. However, BoJ Governor Kuroda said on Monday that the central bank is done easing for now and will study the impact of negative rates.
Japan bulls argue that the government still has levers to pull outside of monetary policy. Top advisers to Mr. Abe have said in recent weeks that the government should prepare a fresh stimulus package and delay implementation of another sales-tax increase set for next year. The government can borrow money for 40 years paying 0.5% in interest, so a budget deficit is hardly their biggest worry at the moment.
That Trump and Clinton are upset with Japan's currency practices is really just headline fodder, but the Chinese have legitimate reasons to be upset. China pegs its currency to USD and has watched Japan gain a huge advantage in trade since 2012 via Abenomics.
In fact, you could argue its China's inability to combat a stronger CNY/JPY that global exports have collapsed. Their leaders have met in recent years, but the two countries are less than friendly with one another. In fact, about 53% of Chinese respondents and 29% of Japanese respondents expect a war to break out by the year 2020, according to a 2014 survey.
Michael Lingenheld
I am the Managing Editor of Cup & Handle Macro Research. Prior to Cup & Handle, I managed a macro portfolio for a prominent hedge fund, focusing on FX, interest ...


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Dean Hall 334
jon.shellenberger@cwu.edu
Native Hawaiian author Kristiana Kahakauwila to Speak at CWU April 23
Writer Kristiana Kahakauwila to Speak at CWU on April 23
Acclaimed fiction writer Kristiana Kahakauwila will visit Central Washington University on April 23 for a public reading and craft talk.
Kahakauwila, author of This is Paradise: Stories, which was named a 2013 Barnes & Noble Discover Great Writers selection, will conduct a craft talk from 12 noon to 1 p.m., followed by a public reading of her works at 6 p.m. Both events will be in the Brooks Library Second Floor Commons.
Her stories include realistic, suspenseful tales depicting domestic and intercultural turbulence in Hawaii. Critics have described them as "vividly imagined," "gritty," "glowing with life," and "a real tour of Hawaii."
Currently an associate professor of creative writing at Western Washington University, Kahakauwila is a hapa writer of kanaka maoli (Native Hawaiian), German, and Norwegian descent. She also teaches in the Low Residency MFA at the Institute of American Indian Art (IAIA) in Santa Fe.
Kahakauwila is currently at work on an historical novel set on the island of Maui and has published excerpts and essays in Kartika Review, Red Ink, Mistake House, and GEO Magazine, among others. She earned a BA in comparative literature at Princeton University and an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Michigan.
Her appearance, part of the annual Lion Rock Visiting Writers Series, is sponsored by the CWU College of Arts and Humanities, the CWU Department of English, the Brooks Library, the Multimodal Education Center, Karen Gookin, the CWU Wildcat Shop, and CWU Women's Gender and Sexuality Studies.
For more information, contact Lisa Norris, Department of English, 509-963-1745, Lisa.Norris@cwu.edu.
Writer Kristiana Kahakauwila to Speak at CWU on April 23Acclaimed fiction writer Kristiana Kahakauwi
Follow the CWU American Indian Studies page on Facebook : CWU-American Indian Studies Program
American Indian Studies Calendar


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By Nancy Cordes CBS September 22, 2007, 9:55 PM
Gauging The Internet's Political Power
hillaryclinton.com, hillary clinton announces her candidacy on her web site
AP/hillaryclinton.com
In 1972, computers and campaigns were just getting acquainted. Fundraising appeals using direct mail lists were considered revolutionary - and helpful to a young Karl Rove working on the Nixon re-election campaign.
"Young people have got to reach other young people," Rove told CBS News at the time, "and that is what we are seeking to do."
The merger of politics and technology was so new the Nixon campaign felt its use of computers should be shielded from the public.
How things have changed.
In 2007, candidates announce that they are running for president, raise money and even hold debates on the Internet. Earlier this month, the Democrats held the first candidate "mashup" - their responses to questions were posted online for internet users to edit any way they choose.
Still, a recent poll showed that 72 percent of those surveyed get their political information from newspapers. Analysts say that means campaigns have to keep both old and new media in mind when trying to connect with voters.
"The other media, the traditional mass media, drives the message where the candidates want it to go," said Michael Cornfield of the George Washington University, "and that's why they still remain invaluable as we get close to an election."
So when the history of the 2008 campaign is written, how big a role will the internet have played after all?
For Joe Trippi, an architect of Howard Dean's groundbreaking use of technology in the 2004 campaign, and now with candidate John Edwards, it will have been the key.
Trippi imagines looking at the next president a few years from now and saying "Wow, who'd have ever thought when that moment happened on YouTube or the Internet? That's when this candidate started getting momentum that drove them to the presidency."
Others remember that Dean, for all his online appeal, didn't end up being the nominee, and the current Republican front-runner hasn't exactly embraced the new technology.
"The only candidate who is under-performing in terms of using the Internet is Rudy Giuliani," Cornfield said. "And because Rudy Giuliani is leading in the polls I think that tells us that the Internet, while it is a favorite of the activists, and while it is increasingly important, is still not thoroughly essential to becoming a victor in the polls."
Nancy Cordes On Twitter»
Nancy Cordes is CBS News' congressional correspondent.
A Twitter List by CBS News
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Cardamom lends a spicy herbal note to baked doughnuts that are light and perfectly sweet; best enjoyed at tea time with Cardamom Rose Tea.
Preheat oven to 350°F and grease two doughnut pans.
In a large bowl whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, cardamom and salt. Set aside.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the tea, oil, egg and vanilla until egg is fully incorporated.
Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir until batter is formed. Stir in the lemon zest.
Scoop the batter into a piping bag and cut off the tip. Pipe the batter into the prepared doughnut pans and bake for 23-25 minutes until golden brown.
Place the pans on a wire rack to cool for about 5-10 minutes.
Meanwhile, in a medium-size bowl whisk together the glaze ingredients. Dip the doughnuts in the glaze and place on a wire rack until the glaze is set.


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Rob Bell Is at It Again
by Aaron Cline Hanbury
A 19-year-old Rob Bell took off his Birkenstocks. He didn't know a lot about the Bible, but he knew something about it was different. He'd just finished preaching his first sermon, which came on something of a whim, when he became aware that he was "standing on holy ground." He had a strong feeling his "life would never be the same again."
For Bell, there was something about standing up in front of a group of people and reading "an ancient text and then unleashing it in the space" that changed him.
This was the experience Bell expected from digging into the Bible, though it was far different from what he saw growing up. But when he got into the Bible himself, he found what he was looking for. And 25 years later, he's still captivated by that ancient text—though he has questions.
So, Rob Bell did what Rob Bell does: He processed his thoughts publicly. In this instance, his thoughts initially took the form of a "book" on Tumblr. He wrote a "chapter" a day, publishing each on the platform.
Some 75 posts and 100,000 words later, Bell had his thoughts out. Now, those thoughts have been expanded and put into the form of a traditional paper-and-ink book call, What Is the Bible?: How an Ancient Library of Poems, Letters, and Stories Can Transform the Way You Think and Feel About Everything.
We sat down with Bell to talk about the Bible—what it is and how it changes people.
When we approach the Bible, what are we approaching? What is the Bible?
I want people to answer the question, "What is it?" with another question, which is, "What does it do?" And, "What happens to you when you engage with it?"
I actually want people to come away with another question, which is the answer to the question: "What happened to you when we started talking about nonviolence? What happened to you when we looked at that story of loss and betrayal?" Because that's the power of the Bible.
I want to rescue it from static categories and defenses for it as some sort of intellectual thing that's either right or wrong, and I want to reclaim it as people had experiences and they wrote some things down and when you engage with their experiences there's always the chance you may find something of yourself in them—and that to me is divine.
Why did you choose to approach a major project about the Bible?
I don't live in a religious area, and I noticed how often people found the Bible fascinating who had never read it. Because the Bible is in the cultural stream: David and Goliath, healing the blind man, I was blind but now I see, turn the other cheek. This stuff is just there in the cultural stream.
What I noticed in L.A., living in an area that isn't conventionally religious, was how often I would say, "Oh you know where that comes from? There's this whole thing involving the Babylonians." And my friends who have never been to church are the ones who are saying you should totally do this Bible stuff. It's so interesting and dangerous and provocative and hopeful.
We talk about the Bible being simultaneously divinely inspired and humanly written, and you wrestle with this human-divine tension. Can you talk about that?
I've read books about the Bible that were sort of attempts to explain it, but they can't say certain things because you realize the author might lose his or her job, so it ends up avoiding all the real questions everybody has.
That's why you start with the human stories because actual people wrote these stories down, and then people edited these stories together. They were old traditions, and they left out some content, and they included other content, which they tell you they're doing.
A lot of people who perhaps grew up with the Bible need to be told that it's different [from other books], that it's inspired, that it's sacred. I would simply begin [by asking] about a section of the Bible that is sacred to you. Otherwise you're just repeating things that other people told you.
But the idea behind a sacred text is that in your interaction with it, you would be moved and the Spirit would speak on something to you, and you wouldn't need to be convinced of its divine nature or origins. So what I'm interested in is people actually having an experience where those sorts of questions are no longer their pressing questions.
You say you don't like the category of inerrancy. Can you explain that?
No one ever asks me if my marriage is working because those aren't the categories.
It's a classic example where somebody somewhere in a lab must have been looking at data and was like, well, does this data have errors in it or is this research correct? And somehow they began to think about the Bible in those terms.
It's already missing the point because those aren't the kinds of questions you would ask about a book that speaks to this level of the soul. It's almost like history needs poetry and poetry needs history, and the moment you're putting it in those categories you've already lost the plot. So I think so much damage has been done by people defending [their view of the Bible].
Once you begin to read [the Bible], if you're reading the prophets where they're talking about exchanging the poor for a pair of sandals, and what happens when you have a widening gap between the ruling wealthy elites and the poor masses who can't feed their kids, and how this is an affront to what it means to be human, if at that point you're like, "Well, is this inerrant?" You're so asking the wrong question at the wrong time.
Hope In the Midst of Darkness
You reflect on some of the oddities of the Old Testament—stories like Ehud's murder. You say they're more than just weird stories.
So many people read what's called the Old Testament or more accurately the Hebrew Scriptures and they're like, why is there all this violence? One of the answers is because the editors of these stories want you to see the futility of violence. You don't think to yourself, "Oh, obviously Quentin Tarantino thinks that the solution to every problem is violence. When you see a Quentin Tarantino film, in some ways you think he's spoofing on the ridiculous notion that violence can solve things. So there's this whole level of subtlety and nuance, and I would argue like the book of Judges, which is just Game of Thrones meets a David Cronenberg film, I would argue that's the editor's point. The editor is saying, "Have you noticed here that the violence isn't working?" So you'll have critics of the Bible saying they don't believe in these ancient violent fairytales. Well, neither do the people who wrote it. That's probably why they're writing it.
What does it mean for the Scriptures to have authority for Christians?
The word authority is that which you give influence to. We have this extraordinary capacity to give influence and not give influence to things and people and voices. For many people when you say authority what they mean is some person told them this is how it is, and they unquestioningly went along with that. But if there is anything at the heart of the Scriptures, it's growing up and growing in maturity to where you're learning how to discern things yourself.
That's how I would start with that question: You're living according to something. You're giving somebody—teacher, mentor, Marc Maron, HBO, somebody somewhere— you're giving them influence. And for most people it's a grab bag of influences that are just sort of piecemealed together. The power of a lineage or a tradition is that it gives you a grounded center. And then, of course, a tradition that is capable of self-critique, a tradition that is capable of affirming the truth found in all other traditions—that is something that could actually help you.
What do you do when you disagree with something in the Bible?
I instantly want to know what's going on just below the surface. So in first-century Galilean culture there was a patriarchal system that said this is how it is and any questioning of that system got you kicked out of the system. And you had a particular taxation system, and then a scribal system, that actually made people's lives miserable. There was a whole social order that wasn't working, it was actually oppressing people. And to refuse to participate in an oppressive system often put you at odds with your family of origin, so when Jesus says something like your mother, father, brother, sister, these were real pressing issues. Do I stay in an oppressive system or do I leave it?
So, I think about it less in terms of do I agree or not agree, but I think about it in terms of curiosity.
What does it look like for you personally to be a consumer of the Bible?
I may get an idea and then … so the Gospel of Mark opens with Mark saying, "This is the good news of Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God." And "son of God" was a Roman propaganda term. The czars were considered sons of God because they came from the Divine. They crushed everybody in the power of the gods. And "good news" was a Roman military propaganda term. Oh my word, Mark opens his Gospel with very political propaganda, but it's about Jesus not the czars. So he's essentially telling a counter-narrative. I might get on that and then just go down the rabbit hole. Well, what else is going on there?
Or I might think the Psalms are fascinating. Somebody said half the Psalms are laments, half the Psalms are basically, "Where are you, God?" "Why do you hide Your face?" I might go, "Oh interesting, I should go through and make a list of all the lament." Or see that a healthy spirituality is filled with denials of the divine.
So that's how it works. Something gets birthed and it raises a whole series of questions, and I go after the questions and gradually it all starts talking to each other. And a book, a podcast, a tour, something starts to come out of it. So to answer your question, there's no rhyme or reason.
Aaron Cline Hanbury
Aaron is the editorial director of RELEVANT. Follow him on Twitter at @achanbury.
Aaron Cline Hanbury May 16, 2017
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Going to Arkana was the best decision I made in the past 6 months. Sure, they can improve on some of the logistics (organized groupshares, following the schedule a bit more, etc., but overall it was an incredible space full of love, warmth, and healing.
The facilitators were top-notch. Angel, Paco, Alise, Chandra, and Filipe are some of the most kind and generous souls I've ever met. The Shamans were wonderful. And most importantly- they created a healing space for all to safely express themselves and grow to love themselves and one another.


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Q: Computing $[T]_\beta$ notation I am having what I think is a notational issue with the following problem:
For each of the following linear operators $T$ on a vector space $V$ and ordered bases $\beta$, compute $[T]_\beta$, and determine whether $\beta$ is a basis consisting of eigenvectors of $T$.
$V = \mathbb{R}^2, T$$\begin{pmatrix}a\\b\\\end{pmatrix}$ = $\begin{pmatrix}10a-6b \\\ 17a-10b\end{pmatrix}$, and $\beta$ = {$\begin{pmatrix}1\\2\end{pmatrix}$ $\begin{pmatrix}2\\3\end{pmatrix}$}.
I feel like a total idiot that I'm stuck on this because I know how to compute the change of basis matrix but I'm getting caught up on notation.
How on earth do I do this?

A: Crash course! Let $V$ and $W$ be finite dimensional vector spaces, and $\mathcal{B} = (v_1,\ldots,v_n)$, $\mathcal{C} = (w_1,\ldots,w_m)$ be bases for $V$ and $W$.
If $v \in V$, we can write $v= \sum_{i=1}^n \lambda_i v_i$ for certain $\lambda_1,\ldots, \lambda_n \in \Bbb R$. We put $$[v]_{\mathcal{B}} = \begin{pmatrix} \lambda_1 \\ \vdots \\ \lambda_n\end{pmatrix},$$and call this column vector the "coordinates of $v$ in the basis $\mathcal{B}$".
If $T\colon V \to W$ is linear, then $[T]_{\mathcal{B},\mathcal{C}} = (a_{ij})$ is the $m \times n$ matrix such that $$T(v_j) = \sum_{i=1}^m a_{ij}w_i, \quad 1 \leq i \leq n.$$Meaning "compute $T$ at elements of $\mathcal{B}$, write the results as combinations of $\mathcal{C}$, and put it in columns": $$[T]_{\mathcal{B},\mathcal{C}} = \begin{pmatrix} | & & | \\ [T(v_1)]_{\mathcal{C}} & \cdots & [T(v_n)]_{\mathcal{C}} \\ | & & | \end{pmatrix}.$$This matrix verifies $[T(v)]_{\mathcal{C}} = [T]_{\mathcal{B},\mathcal{C}}[v]_{\mathcal{B}}$ for all $v \in V$. That is, you can transfer all computations regarding $T$ to these matrices and column-matrices. Also, $[T]_{\mathcal{B}}$ is shorthand for $[T]_{\mathcal{B},\mathcal{B}}$, since you do not want to write $\mathcal{B}$ twice.
Lastly, you can understand changes of basis very easily with this notation. If $\mathcal{B}'$ is another basis for $V$, then you can look at the particular linear map ${\rm Id}_V\colon V \to V$. The change of basis is done by the matrices $[{\rm Id}_V]_{\mathcal{B},\mathcal{B}'}$ and $[{\rm Id}_V]_{\mathcal{B}',\mathcal{B}} = [{\rm Id}_V]_{\mathcal{B},\mathcal{B}'}^{-1}$, which are not the identity matrix unless $\mathcal{B} = \mathcal{B}'$!

In your exercise, we compute $$T(1,2) = (-2,-3) = 0\cdot (1,2) + (-1)\cdot (2,3),$$which says that $$[T]_\beta = \begin{pmatrix} 0 & \ast \\ -1 & \ast \end{pmatrix}$$To get the rest of that matrix we compute $$T(2,3) = (2,4) = 2\cdot (1,2) + 0\cdot (2,3),$$so that $$[T]_\beta = \begin{pmatrix} 0 & 2 \\ -1 & 0 \end{pmatrix}.$$The vectors in $\beta$ are not eigenvectors because $[T]_\beta$ is not diagonal.