I'm a firm believer that Billy Joel is one of the finest craftsmen in the history of pop songwriting. As a musician, pianist, melodist, and lyricist, he has constantly brought an impeccable originality and mastery at creating three- to four-minute masterpieces. He's also incredibly diverse. If you've seen him in concert, you've seen his ability to morph like a chameleon between musical styles, absorbing legends like Ray Charles ("Baby Grand"), Joe Cocker, 50's doo-wop (the entire An Innocent Man album), Franki Valli and the Four Seasons ("Uptown Girl"), The Rolling Stones ("You May Be Right"), The Beatles (in countless instances), Beethoven ("This Night"), the Russian Romantic tradition ("Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel)" and others, especially the Storm Front album), and more. If I had the time, I could write dozens of Songblogs that traverse his almost four decades making records, and each one would be completely unique. Billy's genius lies in his innate ability to assimilate a wide variety of influences, and turn them around into new original songs that pay homage to the past but are their own unique and valuable creations that bear the stamp of his unique personality.
In today's Songblog, I'll look at one of his relatively early ballads, "She's Always A Woman," taken from the 1977 album The Stranger, which won multiple Grammy awards and which many consider to be among the best pop albums of all time.
After the first verse is played and sung so simply, the piano begins an arpeggiated pattern (0:29 in the YouTube video above) that serves to propel the song forward, and once we've heard two verses (which stay very simple harmonically), we hit the first chorus (0:56), which forms a beautiful contrast as it cycles through several chord worlds before taking us back neatly to the simple verse. The chorus is in two halves, the second half (1:13) pivoting to a surprise minor i chord which gives the structure so much strength and sense of journey.
Especially in the verse, you get the sense that the accompaniment is following the vocal. The beginning of the song feels like a 6/8 waltz, but then the time signature patterns start breaking up and being grouped into twos, threes, and fours, depending on how much extra breathing room a given vocal line needs.
The lyrics, taken by themselves, are beautiful poetry, and need no interpretation as their meaning is crystal clear. He's extolling the beauty of his woman, and mesmerized by her despite her flaws.
I write the music first and then if I like the music I write lyrics. I think every piece of music has something apparent in it lyrically. For me it's like fate knocking on the door. Beethoven's symphonies were written when, if you look at the time period, there was some awesome stuff going on. And you think that's what he must have been writing about. But maybe it was something as banal as what's with the rent? It's like Michelangelo sculpting marble. Inside that marble is the sculpture, he's just got to find it. That's how I write lyrics. I write music and then ask, "What does this music say to me?" I wrote a song called James, and the guy's name was not James. But had I said Fred it wouldn't have worked.
I love hearing this demo, realizing that he really worked on the music and melody exclusively until he felt they were as solid as they could be, before he began to approach the lyrics.
If you're new to Billy Joel, I highly recommend the recently-released documentary/concert Last Play At Shea, which documents Billy's historic 2008 concerts that were the last concerts played at Shea Stadium in New York before the complex was torn down. The film is a blended documentary which interweaves Billy's history with the history of New York and the Mets.
Billy is also an eloquent speaker about his craft. Simply searching YouTube for "billy joel questions and answers" reveals many search results of live audiences interviewing Billy about his life and work, and there's a gold mine of insight there.
What is it about this song that makes it a great song to you? Leave a thought in the comments below.
If you've enjoyed this article, and don't already have it, support the artist by buying the album (iTunes/Amazon) or single (iTunes/Amazon).
This post is part of the Songblog series, a series of essays dissecting a selection of popular songs from a songwriting and production perspective. Please contribute to the discussion by leaving comments below. Keep up with future Songblogs by following me on Twitter.


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Board index Cycling On the road
Cymru am byth - we love Wales!
Commuting, Day rides, Audax, Incidents, etc.
Cugel
Re: Cymru am byth - we love Wales!
Postby Cugel » 28 Sep 2019, 10:02am
brynpoeth wrote: More good news, newyddion da, in the Grauniad
Welsh nationalist sentiment is surging, provoked by This Madness
New streets (heolau newydd) in Caerdydd are to have names in Welsh only, no English equivalent, that is the plan at least
Plus Two!
That article noted also that modern Welsh nationalism was less about pride (although there is a good dollop of the better kind of pride too) and more about inclusivity and self-determination. Plaid Cymru is, emblematically, in favour of EU remaining; and tends to capture those in Wales who value the still-extant socialist traditions that build and enable a good society rather than the degraded and hooliganistic kind of place found in some English places these days (e.g. Lewes).
People toss around "nationalism" and "patriotism" as though these were singular and simple concepts. They are no such thing. Welsh nationalism is far more complex, subtle and convincing than the football yob xenophobia and outright racism found in the more rabid leavers, including one or two examples around here.
Joined: 2 Oct 2011, 8:55pm
Postby pwa » 28 Sep 2019, 10:12am
Cugel wrote:
Plaid are, by their own admission, a bit lefty. Which is nice and clear and is probably in tune with Wales as a whole. It must be difficult being a centre right Welsh nationalist, but I can't say I've ever met one of those so maybe they don't exist.
There is nothing new about streets having purely Welsh names. My own street has a Welsh name with no English alternative. And we are just outside Cardiff. It causes some amusement when we get someone from a call centre in, say, the North East of England trying to say our street name. Satnav voices struggle with it too. It can be quite funny.
Mike Sales
Joined: 7 Mar 2009, 3:31pm
Postby Mike Sales » 28 Sep 2019, 10:21am
pwa wrote: There is nothing new about streets having purely Welsh names. My own street has a Welsh name with no English alternative. And we are just outside Cardiff. It causes some amusement when we get someone from a call centre in, say, the North East of England trying to say our street name. Satnav voices struggle with it too. It can be quite funny.
There is a story about somebody living in Penisarwaun having trouble when spelling it out for an English phone operator.
I used to live in Caellepa, no English version. Try saying that, Englishman!
That is why I voted Plaid.
Mike Sales wrote:
I don't speak Welsh, but I once had a discussion with a Welsh speaker (who had picked it up late in life) and we agreed that in West Wales the Welsh language is, among other things, a defence against some of the worst aspects of modern culture.
Postby Cugel » 28 Sep 2019, 2:05pm
pwa wrote:
The main reason me and t'ladywife moved to Wales was one of attraction - the attraction of a culture and it's practitioners where community and a careful conservation of the tried & tested amalgamate to provide an inclusivity, stability and depth lacking now in most post-modern cultures. The post-modern is full of the shallow, the temporary and the meaningless. It's like one of those Yank cartoons where there's a change of scene about every half a second and the main theme is violent contentions with a goody-winner and a baddy-loser albeit the contentions concern nothing that matters a jot. A lot of English regions have gone-cartoon. Brexit is some sort of dark cartoon, full of baddies and goodies heading for violent confrontations they think they can just jump-up from, undamaged.
Many these days seem to operate with the crass assumption that socialism and conservatism are some sort of mutually-exclusive attitudes, with the former spoiling our consumerist urges whilst the latter allows everyone to do anything they like. In practice, socialism and conservatism are mutually supportive in that the sociability mechanisms increase the opportunities and range of what it's possible to like and enjoy without preventing everyone else from enjoying the same privilege - whilst also destroying the infrastructure that provides the supports and opportunities..
In Wales they still value public services of quality, from roads, transport, libraries and all the rest to simple good habits of neighbourliness. Yet many of the Welsh are highly individualistic, some bordering on eccentric. They represent a fine example of the paradoxical resolution of being socialistically-minded about their institutions and public services whilst being genuinely individualistic but also conservative enough to reject the new-daft when they see it.
I recall my youth, when that was true in England. It still is in parts; but so many people there seem nothing more than constructs of some mass media organs of the nastier kinds, full of often very stupid and fact-free notions served up to them by "reality" TV or Hate Mail "stories" or very stupid Yank movies. Many "are what they own" wrapped in a layer of mass media cliche and nothing more.
Language is the main repository of out mental constructs and notions; and therefore of many of our behaviours. English seems these days to be full of mass-media language rots & cankers, many of them cooked up in some Yank media lab such as Hollywood and similar factories of crass ideological claptrap of the faux-individualista ilk. Much of English culture has become one big advert for a shallow consumerism in which nothing has value except money and the status is buys via conspicuous consumption and the consequent ability to denigrate "losers". Vast herds of "individuals" are in fact indistinguishable in their beliefs and behaviours, which aren't theirs at all but rather a series of simplistic gestures reminiscent of The Twist or perhaps Jiving installed via the TV.
The Welsh language might be rather too fixed & stable to meet all the "needs" of the post-modern world but it seems to be a language that forms and represents a very healthy and resilient culture, with an historical depth. English still has the same capability but no one learns the old-fashioned stuff these days, as 150 words of assorted cliches is so much easier, especially if you have to buy something or emit a bit of hate speech.
Cugel, ranting.
Here's an interesting article by Rowan Williams, the ex-Arch of Cant, about Welsh cultural history & attitudes.
https://www.newstatesman.com/culture/bo ... ought-back
In the depths of the article is a reference to a Welsh author, Caradoc Evans, who wrote scurrilous portraits of various West Welsh folk and their doings.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/131 ... UTF8&psc=1
I have sent for one or four of his books, to obtain an alternative view of the Cardies et al from that of mine own view.
Postby brynpoeth » 4 Nov 2019, 7:18pm
Have you read the books yet Cugel?
There is another Caradoc from Bethesda, I think I have one of his books. Drank a lot
Postby Cugel » 4 Nov 2019, 9:54pm
brynpoeth wrote: Have you read the books yet Cugel?
ALthough frantically making various wooden things for Christmas (some with stained glass) and pursuing various other pursuits, I've manged to read Caradoc's "My People" and a good portion of them R S Thomas poems you mentioned. I have to stop myself speaking (or even typing) in Caradoc Ceredigion English-Welsh style, dear me man bach. I would like to quote the odd pithy Thomas thing here too and will when the right thread arises (or I find the right poem of the many, many).
Cugel, Just finished oiling the ladywife's new sewing and dressmaking table.
You wantoners, men of Wales
With your sheep and your pigs and your ponies, your sweaty females.. penning your sheep in a gap of cloud..
RS T
Postby pwa » 5 Nov 2019, 8:38am
I have never bothered with RS Thomas. I've always had him down as a rather gloomy type, and I don't feel drawn to that. Am I wrong about that?
Postby Mike Sales » 5 Nov 2019, 8:41am
pwa wrote: I have never bothered with RS Thomas. I've always had him down as a rather gloomy type, and I don't feel drawn to that. Am I wrong about that?
Cynddylan on a Tractor
Ah, you should see Cynddylan on a tractor.
Gone the old look that yoked him to the soil,
He's a new man now, part of the machine,
His nerves of metal and his blood oil.
The clutch curses, but the gears obey
His least bidding, and lo, he's away
Out of the farmyard, scattering hens.
Riding to work now as a great man should,
He is the knight at arms breaking the fields'
Mirror of silence, emptying the wood
Of foxes and squirrels and bright jays.
The sun comes over the tall trees
Kindling all the hedges, but not for him
Who runs his engine on a different fuel.
And all the birds are singing, bills wide in vain,
As Cynddylan passes proudly up the lane.
R.S. Thomas. Gloomy?
Nice. Thanks. Maybe my view was coloured by a TV documentary about him. But you are right about that poem, which reminds me of farmers I have known. In love with their tractors. My Dad was a farm labourer in his youth and he too had a fixation with Massey Fergusons. Totally daft but quite endearing.
Postby Cugel » 5 Nov 2019, 12:09pm
That poem is one of many by RST that is expressing a quiet dismay at how machinery is spoiling lives and environment. RST is not very "obvious" or adamant in expressing this dismay but the theme is prominent in many of his poems.
My first pass through his stuff did bring me to that notion you mention - gloomy and (as the ladywife put it) "an average competency as a poet". However, re-reading does eventually reveal some quite subtle and hidden asides to the more obvious "message" or observation. In some ways the gloom is just a West Welsh recognition that life is always full of difficulties and dangers as well as wonderful moments of pleasurable immersion in a thrilling place throbbing with often queer human histories and personalities of many kinds.
Postby pwa » 5 Nov 2019, 1:43pm
If RS Thomas was regretting the farmer's joy in his tractor, I think he was missing something. I took my Dad (aged 80+ and eyesight starting to fail) to the Museum of Welsh Life, where he was delighted to find an ancient Massey Ferguson tractor that was like those he used in his youth on a farm in Ireland. He remembered with fondness the wonderful impact that machine had on the lives of farm workers, letting them get their work done with less stress. If he could have hugged that thing he would have done. Perhaps RS Thomas, being a soft handed clergyman, did not understand what it is like to do manual work for a living.
Return to "On the road"

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


200 Jung elaborated on this issue many years later in Answer to Job (1952), where he studied the historical transformation of Judeo-Christian God images. A major theme in this is the continued incarnation of God after Christ. Commenting on the Book of Revelation, Jung argued that: "Ever since John the apocalyptist experienced for the first time (perhaps unconsciously) the conflict into which Christianity inevitably leads, mankind is burdened with this: God wanted and wants to become man" (CW II, §739).
In Jung's view, there was a direct link between John's views and Eckhart's views: "This disturbing invasion engendered in him the image of the divine consort, whose image lives in every man: of the child, whom Meister Eckhart also saw in the vision. It was he who knew that God alone in his Godhead is not in a state of bliss, but must be born in the human soul. The incarnation in Christ is the prototype which is continually being transferred to the creature by the Holy Ghost" (Ibid., §741).
In contemporary times, Jung gave great importance to the papal bull of the Assumptio Maria. He held that it "points to the hieros gamos in the pleroma, and this in turn implies, as we have said, the future birth of the divine child, who, in accordance with the divine trend toward incarnation, will choose as his birthplace the empirical man. This metaphysical process is known as the individuation process in the psychology of the unconscious" (Ibid., §755). Through being identified with the continued incarnation of God in the soul, the process of individuation found its ultimate significance.
252 In Black Book 4, this is spoken by his soul. In this chapter and in Scrutinies, we find a shift in the attribution of some statements in the Black Books from the soul to the other characters. This textual revision marks an important psychological process of differentiating the characters, separating them out from one another, and dis-identifying from them. Jung discussed this process in general in 1928, in The Relations between the I and the Unconscious, chapter. 7, "The technique for differentiation between the I and the figures of the unconscious" (CW 7).
In Black Book 6, the soul explains to Jung in 1916: "If I am not conjoined through the uniting of the Below and the Above, I break down into three parts: the serpent, and in that or some other animal form I roam, living nature daimonically, arousing fear and longing. The human soul, living forever within you. The celestial soul, as such dwelling with the Gods, far from you and unknown to you, appearing in the form of a bird." (Appendix C, p. 370).
The textual changes that Jung makes among the soul, the serpent, and the bird from the Black Books in this chapter and in Scrutinies can be seen to be the recognition and differentiation of the threefold nature of the soul. Jung's notion of the unity and multiplicity of the soul resembles Eckhart's. In Sermon 52, Eckhart wrote: "the soul with her higher powers touches eternity, which is God, while her lower powers being in touch with time make her subject to change and biased toward bodily things, which degrade her" (Sermons & Treatises, vol. 2, tr. M. O'C. Walshe [London: Watkins, 1981], p. 55).
In Sermon 85, he wrote: "Three things prevent the soul from uniting with God. The first is that she is too scattered, and that she is not unitary: for when the soul is inclined toward creatures, she is not unitary. The second is when she is involved with temporal things. The third is when she is turned toward the body, for then she cannot unite with God" (ibid., p. 264). ~Footnote 252; Red Book.
39 In Jung's copy of Eckhart's "Writings and Sermons, the phrase "that the soul would also have to lose God!" is underlined, and there is a slip of paper on which is written: "Soul must lose God" ~Footnote 39; Red Book; Scrutinies.
82 The Pleroma, or fullness, is a term from Gnosticism. It played a central role in the Valentinian system. Hans Jonas states that "Pleroma is the standard term for the fully explicated manifold of divine characteristics, whose standard number is thirty, forming a hierarchy and together constituting the divine realm" (The Gnostic Religion: The Message of the Alien God and the Beginnings of Christianity [London: Routledge, 1992], p. 180).
In 1929, Jung said: "The Gnostics … expressed it as Pleroma, a state of fullness where the pairs of opposites, yea and nay; day and night, are together, then when they 'become,' it is either day or night. In the state of 'promise' before they become, they are nonexistent, there is neither white nor black, good nor bad" (Dream Analysis: Notes oj the Seminar Given in 1928-1930, ed. William McGuire [Bollingen Series, Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1984], p. 131).
In his later writings, Jung used the term to designate a state of pre-existence and potentiality, identifying it with the Tibetan Bardo: "He must … accustom himself to the idea that 'time' is a relative concept and needs to be compensated by the concept of a 'simultaneous' Bardo-or pleromatic existence of all historical processes. What exists in the Pleroma as an eternal 'process' appears in time as aperiodic sequence, that is to say; it is repeated many times in an irregular pattern" (Answer to Job, 1952, CW II, §629; see also §§620, 624, 675, 686, 727, 733, 748).
The distinction that Jung draws between the Pleroma and the creation has some points of contact with Meister Eckhart's differentiation between the Godhead and God. Jung commented on this in psychological Types (1921, CW 6, §429f). The relation of Jung's Pleroma to Eckhart is discussed by Maillard, op cit., pp. II8-20. In 1955/56, Jung equated the Pleroma with the alchemist Gerhardus Dorn's notion of the 'unus mundus' (one world) (Mysterium Coniunctionis, CW 14, §660). Jung adopted this expression to designate the transcendental postulate of the unity underlying the multiplicity of the empirical world (Ibid., §759f). ~Footnote 82; Red Book; Scrutinies.


text:
Pag-IBIG declares record-high P31.79B as 2021 dividends
The Pag-IBIG Fund Board of Trustees has approved the dividend for members' savings for 2021, declaring a record-high amount of over P31 billion which shall be credited directly to its members' savings accounts, top executives announced on Friday, March 11.
"During the Pag-IBIG Chairman's Report last February 24, I announced that the rates of Pag-IBIG Savings remained higher than other instruments in the market. This announcement came with a caveat that these were to be approved by the Board. And now, I'm happy to announce once again that the Pag-IBIG Board has approved dividends for our members' savings in the amount of P31.79 billion – the highest declared amount in the history of PagIBIG! The Board also adjusted upwards the previously announced indicative rates. The final dividend rates are now 5.5% for the Pag-IBIG Regular Savings and 6% for MP2. Giving higher returns on members' savings is part of our efforts to give the best benefit to our members, especially as they face economic challenges due to the ongoing pandemic, while ensuring the Fund's sustainability and stability", said Secretary Eduardo D. del Rosario who heads the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development and the 11- member Pag-IBIG Fund Board of Trustees.
Meanwhile, Pag-IBIG Fund Chief Executive Officer Acmad Rizaldy P. Moti explained that the higher rates are a result of a higher dividend pay-out ratio approved by the Board. He said that while the agency is required to give back to members only at least 70% of its annual net income as dividends, the Management and the Board always sought to give back more.
"Pag-IBIG Fund has always looked out for the wellbeing of our members. And when we perform well, it's our members who benefit the most. For 2021, I'm glad to say that the Board decided to retain the highest payout ratio of 92.15%. We are able to do this for the second consecutive year because of our strong financial position and improving loan portfolio despite the economic effects of the pandemic. We, the Management, thank all members of the Board for recognizing the Fund's efforts to maintain a stable Fund. We also recognize that the members themselves – their trust and confidence in the Fund's programs – helped us deliver a great performance year after year. This is your Lingkod Pag-IBIG at work when you need us most," Moti said.
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Online cockfighting wagers rake in billions
Comparing platforms of presidential candidates


JEFFERSON CITY - State Rep. Warren Love apologized Thursday for an "extremely poor choice of words," which some lawmakers have equated to a call for lynching. But Love told the Associated Press he isn't planning to resign.
Love, (R, Osceola), posted on Facebook Wednesday that he hopes whoever vandalized a Confederate monument in southwestern Missouri is "hung from a tall tree with a long rope."
In a statement Thursday, Love said, "I apologize for using offensive and inappropriate language to convey these thoughts and ask for the forgiveness of my colleagues, constituents, and all Missourians."
Gov. Eric Greitens on Thursday became the latest government official to criticize Love, along with Sen. Maria Chappelle-Nadal, D-University City, who recently suggested President Donald Trump should be assassinated.
Leaders in MO need to do better & I don't think the Sen or Rep should be representing the people of MO; both should face same consequences.
U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill called for Love's resignation in a statement Thursday, and said his comments were "unacceptable."
Legislative Black Caucus Chairman Alan Green asked that House members formally reprimand Love and remove him from office. Green said Love's statement was "un-American, repulsive and unbecoming" of a lawmaker.
House Speaker Todd Richardson said the state deserves public servants who don't engage in "irresponsible rhetoric."
In a phone interview with KOMU Wednesday, Love said he was only trying to make his feelings clear in his post.
"It appears that several people have interpreted a post I made about vandalizing an object of remembrance in a national veterans cemetery in Springfield to be rather harsh and inciting violence," Love said. "I did not mean it that way and was only using an old cowboy statement that is a Western custom for thieves that steal cattle and horses."
In his statement Thursday, Love said he does not "support violence or hateful acts" toward the vandals.


In May I met with the development team for Coach's Eye. This is an app you can use on your tablet or smart phone to video action and then play back in slow motion, stop to analyze what is happening, draw lines and show your students what they are doing in real time. The app is very inexpensive and was suggested to me by Barb Dow. All I can say is thanks Barb for introducing me to this terrific product!
When I met with development team from TechSmith they were interested, helpful and showed me all the features I hadn't discovered yet like sharing and the ability to have someone take video with Coach's Eye to send to me for analysis. I can then annotate and return with my voice over the action at the speed I play it. The team is also willing to take suggestions on how to improve the product.
This is one of the best teaching tools whether you are an instructor who needs the student to see what is happening in the moment or to use as a student. Anyone can use the program to make a clip for you to look at while you are riding. If you have a tablet I highly recommend that you get this app and use it in your teaching. Coach's Eye is easy to use, inexpensive and a valuable addition to your learning process for any sport and especially riding.


text:
How to Enter the Limca Book of Records
By Jessica Leigh ; Updated September 29, 2017
The Limca Book of Records is similar to the Guinness Book of World Records, except it focuses on Indian achievements. Since its first printing in 1990, the Limca Book of Records has been celebrating the excellence of the Indian culture. In addition to featuring records in the book, Limca also honors People of the Year for their individual achievements. This book does more than simply feature records; it encourages others to break the records. Do you have what it takes to make the book?
Choose a record to break or set. Be creative, the more extraordinary the accomplishment, the more likely it is to be featured in the book. Don't limit yourself to what is already in the book, you may also be featured in the book by being the first person to do something.
Contact the Limca Book of Records team to ask them to approve your idea for a new record or to inform them that you'd like to break an existing record. Your endeavor will have to be approved before you proceed further. You can write to the following address: Limca Book of Records, c/o Coca Cola Inc., Enkay Towers, Udyog Vihar--V, Gurgoan 122 106, India. You can also contact them by telephone at (+) 0124-234 8041/571 Ext: 2371/2377 or by email at editorlimcabook@gmail.com.
Once you've received approval for your idea, practice until you are confident that you have the current record beaten or you have set a new record.
Provide documentation of your record-breaking or record-setting feat to the Limca Book of Records. Have someone take video or photos, or you can send written documentation such as newspaper articles. You should also send two letters of reference stating that you successfully completed the record-breaking activity.
You will receive notification if your attempt is valid and your record will be featured in the book.
If you don't succeed on your first attempt, don't give up. Most records aren't broken overnight; it takes commitment and perseverance.
Some records may involve dangerous activities. Be sure to exercise caution and use all proper safety measures. If approved, such records will include a disclaimer in the book. Activities that involve hurting or killing other creatures will not be approved.
The Limca Book of Records
The Limca Book of (blog) Records
Jessica Leigh is a professional writer with works published for "The Houston Chronicle" and various websites. In addition to pursuing a degree in legal studies she has years of experience in the financial industry as a tax preparer.


text:
Remember My Name -- I'm Living Forever
I was feeling a whole range of emotions when I first heard of the redux film project that is the 2009 rehashing of the 1980 CLASSIC, Fame. I have tended to vacillate between pure excitement for the movie, which will hit theaters in the US on September 25th, and complete dread. Excitement because it's Fame, one of the best 1980's films period, one of the best musicals period, one of the best movies about accomplishing your dreams period. Dread because it is 2009, and the cast is drenched in "up and comers" that range from the lead singer of V Factory and a former member of 3LW (yay!) to c-list Disney actors (yay?).
For those of you who are unfamiliar (for shame!!!!), "Fame" is the story of a group of kids attempting to pursue their artistic dreams at a high school in New York City, that is based on a real (and still thriving) high school here in the City (now known as LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts). I even had some friends in college who attended.
There are days when I have an overwhelming fear that this will be unacknowledged fluff in a vain attempt to be "High School Musical, Part 16". The story is so important, so real, so relatable and so New York, that if I am even the slightest bit dissapointed (and I know I will be on some level), it will be very very upsetting. But it's easy to say that this project is the one soundtrack I was most looking forward to this year.
The soundtrack was released to stores this past week, and for the most part, I'm on board. It's one of those musical soundtracks that straddles the line between traditional soundtrack and contemporary "Broadway" soundtracks, as it contains tracks by Santigold, Anjulie, Sam Sparrow, A'ksent and Tynisha Keli, as well as film "numbers" featuring the movie's stars (mostly V Factory's Asher Book and Naturi Naughton, formerly of 3LW).
The big judgement factor came when you realize they have re-do the film/musical's two signature songs: "Fame" and "Out Here On My Own", which were both sung by the incredible Irene Cara in the original film. Naturi Naughton tackles them both, and I have to say she does them with considerable style and grace. She puts her own flare on them without smudging the original, which is quite difficult to do, and it truly shows how much she was snubbed by her "Cheetalicious" former bretheren in 3LW, as her vocals were very much on point. I particularly love her cover of "Fame", as I'm so partial to that song to begin with, and they made it sound very '09 dance/urban/pop, which I'm guessing is the main attempt with this film. However, it goes without saying that she deserves serious props for the vocally difficult "Out Here On My Own", for her incredible vocal control alone.
Asher Book's include a cover of John Legend's "Ordinary People", and the classic "Someone to Watch Over Me", which has been performed by a laundry list of remarkable performers, including Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald. His vocals leave a little bit to desired, because when you think "Fame" (or at least I do) you think of earnest and grandiose vocal talent that draws you in with their intensity and tone. This isn't to say that Asher doesn't do well, it's just these songs feel a bit too big for his vocal capacity. I am quite proud of him, though -- as the performances are very stripped down (I suppose that's part of his character), and after only hearing his chops through the ampified and electrolyzed (new word -- you like?) V Factory, this is an interesting change.
Another interesting inclusion is the mysterious cuts credited to Raney Shockne. The Louis Armstrong-inspired vocals cover Screamin' Jay Hawkin's classic "I Put A Spell On You" and the songbook classic "You Made Me Love You". The songs have this strange vintage vibe without feeling retro and still being very 2009. However, Shockne is a producer and composer, so I'm not sure who's vocals these truly are...or if they are Shockne himself? Anyone have any insight?
What do you think? Are you psyched for 'Fame'?
by: Mel at: Wednesday, September 02, 2009
am ridiculously excited for Fame the moviscal. And also I quite like the album - you're right in your assessment. Natalie does a very good job of performing such classic songs :) Pity we can't live tweet each other during the movie :P


10 races for the National event held at Middle Harbour Yacht Club on Sydney Harbour..
In 2017 we won the Nationals on Starpac with a student crew and Instructor Sean as skipper.
At least two training sessions are required per event.


text:
Top 7 Sabah Parks That You Must Visit On Your Borneo Trip
Post Author:borneoadmin
Malaysia is full of parks serving varied purposes. Some are for recreation, some preserve wildlife, and the rest concentrate on agriculture and corals. While visiting Borneo, you will be greeted with many Sabah parks that will take your gaze for a heavenly toss.
In today's article, we discuss the top 7 Sabah Parks that you must visit when you are on your Borneo trip. Let's get started.
1. Taman Negara Gunung Kinabalu
Taman Negara Gunung Kinabalu is situated on the western coast of Sabah. Established in 1964, with UNESCO designating it as a World Heritage Sight in 2000 thereafter, it is one of the most important biological sites in the world, consisting of more than 4500 species of flora and fauna.
In the park, you can peak to Mt. Kinabalu, or enjoy the Poring Hot Spring, or you can go to the Desa Cattle Dairy Farm and see the preservation and milking of the cattle. You can also visit the Kipungit Waterfall and Maragang Hill to enjoy nature at its best.
2. Crocker Range National Park
Crocker Range National Park gets its name from an administrator in Borneo, Maunder Crocker. The park spreads its wings around 1,400 sq. km. and resides at an elevation of 5,900 ft.
Recognized as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 2014, there are a lot of natural wonders which make it an excellent holiday destination. Also, it is home to more than 107 species of mammals, 52 reptile species, 500 species of plants and insects.
You can trek up to Mt. Trusmadi or Mt. Alab, and you can come across many from more than 265 species of birds. Additionally, you can walk into the insectarium, check the Fern Garden, watch the Rafflesia Plot bloom, or go on a pine or salt trail. To top it up, go to the observatory tower to refresh your senses with the stunning, not-so-common views of it all in unison.
3. Palau Tiga Park
If you are a fan of the Survivor TV series, you would be glad to know that it was shot partly on the Palau Tiga Park. The name translates to 'Island Three' in the Malaysian dialect, which refers to the three humps that you can see on the landmass from a distance.
Not only for the Survivor fans, but there are also a lot of reasons why it catches the attention of the visitors alike. You can hike the jungle trails, explore the absolute wilderness, or sit and relax. For the adventurous, you go snorkeling or diving to experience the vast stretch of flora and fauna that reside here.
The origin of the island is due to the mud volcanic eruptions, and even today, you will find numerous small mud volcanoes oozing fresh, mineral-rich mud. Not to forget, mud bathing is a must-to-do activity when you are on the island.
4. Tun Sakaran Marine Park
Tun Sakaran Marine Park is a 35,000-hectare archipelago, which is a perfect blend of nature and marine biodiversity. There is something for everyone, and it is impossible to cover it in a day trip.
It has a vast marine life consisting of more than 500 species of fish and over 200 species of invertebrates. To partner them, there are wide varieties of corals, which makes it a complete package.
When in the park, you can go bird watching at Tun Sukaran, meet the Bajau population, hike up Bohey Dulang, or sit and gaze at nature's beautiful creation.
5. Tunku Abdul Rahman Park
Within walking distance of Kota Kinabalu lies a part spread over 4929 hectares, the Tunku Abdul Rahman Park. Whether you are looking for a one-day trip or more, it is the perfect destination for you and your family.
The park consists of 5 islands and is two-third covered in the sea. Sapi, Gaya, Manukan, Mamutik, and Sulug are the five islands, and you can go snorkeling on either of these. When on the run, you can get a glimpse of some wildlife, but make sure not to go too close.
You can catch sight of some birds on Gaya Island and occasionally turtles if you are into swimming. On Sapi Island, you may come across notorious macaque monkeys and be aware of their thieving activities.
Sapi, even though the farthest, is the best of them all for diving and snorkeling. Manukan and Mautik Islands are known for their coral reefs, whereas Gaya is famous for its beach at Police Bay. Expect a reasonably warm temperature and high humidity throughout the year, which can be troublesome if you are not used to such conditions. You can read more about it here.
6. Turtle Islands Park
Gazetted in the year 1977, the Turtle Islands Park is home to several endangered turtle species in the world and lies 40km north of Sandakan in the Sulu Sea. It consists of Selingan, Gulisan islands, and Bakungan Kecil.
When in the park, you can catch a glimpse of the green turtles and hawksbill ones. You can go to Selingan, which has a turtle hatchery, park's headquarters, and space for tourist accommodation. Turtles are more likely to come out in the evening of night, and it makes a case for an overnight stay at the park.
You can watch the turtles laying eggs, experts hatching the eggs, tagging of mother turtles, or releasing the babies in the sea when the time is right.
7. Sabah Agriculture Park
Developed and maintained by the Agriculture Department, the Sabah Agriculture Park lies in a 200 ha site offering visitors educational and recreational activities. You will find more than 400 native orchids species, an ornamental garden consisting of 21 small gardens, and a model garden, which includes 5 small, themed gardens.
Aside from the gardens, you can also catch sight of a crops museum housing 400 species of plants, a bee centre cum museum, and a mini zoo. Overall, a great place to visit for those who love gardening or agriculture and would like to know more.
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Although I work in multiple mediums, I am always attracted to the human figure, texture, weathered and decaying surfaces, bones, rust, and the natural world. These interests create common threads that weave through my work regardless of medium.
I consider oil paint my primary medium. I like to work in oil because it allows me to work slowly, in layers, and offers a greater freedom and range of effects than other mediums.
My paintings are usually figurative. For me, figurative works evoke an emotional response that is rarely attained in landscape or other genres of painting.
I am inspired by the visual poetry of the human form. I'm attracted to the turn of a wrist, the curve of a spine, the shadow of a collar bone. I love the way light can make skin glow and the way shadow defines a form, then the challenge of trying to recreate that beauty and complexity in paint. In addition to the physical qualities of a figure, I am interested in the psychological aspects of the human mind - and strive to convey mood and feeling in my paintings.
Melissa was born and raised in Detroit and attended Wayne State University where she earned a Bachelors Degree in Art Education and a Masters Degree in Art Therapy.
She worked previously as an art educator in the West Bloomfield school district. She has been exhibiting her work professionally in the Detroit area since 2006 and has since won numerous awards.
She also serves as a board member and exhibition committee member for the Detroit Artists Market.


Since 1998, Correlink Systems Inc. has provided quality software development services for clients in various industries, including Insurance, Healthcare, Technology, and Finance.
We become deeply involved in our customer's business, methods, and technology.
Our understanding of your business is then coupled with our technical expertise and effective, focused, deliverable-driven task execution.
We review our process and progress continuously to ensure it is on-track and producing the desired result.
Our principal consultants have many years of experience managing, designing, developing, and implementing client-server and web-based business software. In addition, our developers are all senior-level programmers and are proficient in a variety of web-based and client-server technologies.
Our staff has participated in major system development efforts for many successful companies, including Kaiser Permanente, Pacific Life, Bank of America, and IBM.
Copyright (c) 2012 Correlink Systems, Inc. All rights reserved.


text:
package org.jetbrains.plugins.scala.console.actions

import com.intellij.openapi.actionSystem.{AnAction, AnActionEvent, CommonDataKeys}
import com.intellij.openapi.diagnostic.Logger
import com.intellij.openapi.editor.ex.EditorEx
import com.intellij.openapi.project.DumbAware
import com.intellij.openapi.util.TextRange
import org.jetbrains.plugins.scala.console.ScalaConsoleInfo
import org.jetbrains.plugins.scala.console.actions.ScalaConsoleExecuteAction._
import org.jetbrains.plugins.scala.{ScalaBundle, inWriteAction}

import java.io.{IOException, OutputStream}

class ScalaConsoleExecuteAction extends AnAction(
  ScalaBundle.message("execute.scala.repl.statement.menu.action.text"),
  ScalaBundle.message("execute.scala.repl.statement.menu.action.description"),
  /* icon = */ null
) with DumbAware {

  override def update(e: AnActionEvent): Unit = {
    val editor = e.getData(CommonDataKeys.EDITOR)
    if (editor == null || !editor.isInstanceOf[EditorEx]) {
      e.getPresentation.setEnabled(false)
      return
    }
    val console = ScalaConsoleInfo.getConsole(editor)
    if (console == null) {
      e.getPresentation.setEnabled(false)
      return
    }
    val terminated = ScalaConsoleInfo.getProcessHandler(editor).isProcessTerminated
    val isEnabled: Boolean = !editor.asInstanceOf[EditorEx].isRendererMode && !terminated
    e.getPresentation.setEnabled(isEnabled)
  }

  override def actionPerformed(e: AnActionEvent): Unit = {
    val editor = e.getData(CommonDataKeys.EDITOR)
    if (editor == null) return

    val console           = ScalaConsoleInfo.getConsole(editor)
    val processHandler    = ScalaConsoleInfo.getProcessHandler(editor)
    val historyController = ScalaConsoleInfo.getController(editor)

    if (editor == null || console == null || processHandler == null || historyController == null) {
      LOG.info(new Throwable(s"Enter action in console failed: editor: $editor console: $console processHandler: $processHandler historyController: $historyController"))
      return
    }

    val document = console.getEditorDocument
    val text = document.getText

    // Process input and add to history
    inWriteAction {
      val range: TextRange = new TextRange(0, document.getTextLength)
      editor.getSelectionModel.setSelection(range.getStartOffset, range.getEndOffset)
      // note: it uses `range` instead ot just editor `text` because under the hood it splits actual editor content
      // according to the highlighter attributes and passes correct ContentType to the history console
      console.addToHistory(range, console.getConsoleEditor, true)
      // without this line there will be a slight blinking of user input code SCL-16655
      // see com.intellij.execution.impl.ConsoleViewImpl.print
      console.flushDeferredText()
      historyController.addToHistory(text)

      editor.getCaretModel.moveToOffset(0)
      editor.getDocument.setText("")
    }

    val lines = text.split('\n')
    lines.foreach { line =>
      val lineWithFeed = line + "\n"
      try {
        val outputStream: OutputStream = processHandler.getProcessInput
        val bytes: Array[Byte] = lineWithFeed.getBytes
        outputStream.write(bytes)
        outputStream.flush()
      } catch {
        case ex: IOException =>
          val MaxLogStringLength = 1000
          LOG.warn(s"Unexpected exception occurred during writing to process input:\n`${line.substring(MaxLogStringLength)}`", ex)
      }
      console.textSent(lineWithFeed)
    }
  }
}

object ScalaConsoleExecuteAction {
  private val LOG = Logger.getInstance(this.getClass)

  val ActionId = "ScalaConsole.Execute"
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Sea King HAS.1 converted to carry retractable Thorn-EMI Searchwater AEW radar extended on boom from starboard main door. 9 conversions.
� Sea King AEW.Mk 2s are known to their crews as 'bags'.
� Searchwater radar used by the AEW.Mk 2 is similar to that fitted to RAF Nimrods.


LINCROFT, NJ - The Ladies Auxiliary of the Lincroft Volunteer Fire Company is sponsoring a fundraiser called Fun at the Firehouse. The festivities start at 7:30PM on Friday, November 3rd at the Lincroft Fire House located at 601 Newman Springs Rd. in Lincroft (diagonally across from ACME).
The proceeds from the fundraiser will be used to purchase critical equipment for the Lincroft Fire Company. Just as important, the fundraiser offers an opportunity for friends to get together locally and have a great time. Dessert, coffee and tea will be available.
There is no admission fee; however, donations would be greatly appreciated. Reservations for a full table (requires 8 people) may be made, otherwise, players may come to join the fun on a first come basis. The doors will open at 7:00PM.
No skills are required to play the game, just a willingness to have a good time. At each game table there will be playing cards dealt out. As the caller calls off cards from a separate deck, players remove the called card from their hands. When a player has no cards left, they win! Each winner selects their own prize from a pile of more than 200 wrapped gifts. There are multiple winners in each game. Raffles will be sold during the evening for gift baskets and a 50/50 prize. Everyone is guaranteed to go home with at least 1 prize.
Currently, the Ladies Auxiliary is accepting contributions for game prizes and gift baskets. Please contact Maria Dunn (732) 345-9525 to make donations, for reservations or to obtain more details.
The Ladies Auxiliary is a support group for the Lincroft Fire Company. They supply food/beverages to the volunteer fire fighters upon return from fire calls and to those who remain 'on call' at the fire house when there is a state of emergency. In addition, the Ladies Auxiliary sponsors fundraisers for the fire house. New members are always needed by the fire company and the Ladies Auxiliary, so become a member soon!


text:
CBS 6 TV Schedule
Victim shot in skirmish during attempted robbery near VCU
Posted 6:09 am, April 14, 2017, by Albert Stichka, Chelsea Rarrick and Alix Bryan, Updated at 12:57PM, April 14, 2017
RICHMOND, Va. -- Police responded just after 5 a.m. Friday to a reported shooting in the Carver neighborhood, at Catherine and Bowe Streets. Virginia Commonwealth University sent an alert to shelter in place as police responded to a possible shooting. The all clear was given by the university about an hour later.
The shooting followed an earlier, attempted home invasion in the 1300 block of W. Clay Street, according to VCU officials. The suspect was unable to gain entry to the home, and one shot was fired during the incident. Within 10 minutes, the suspect approached two people sitting in a car at the intersection on Catherine and Bowe Streets. Officials said the suspect wielded a gun and attempted to rob the victims, and a skirmish ensued. The victim sustained a gunshot wound during the struggle. **There have been multiple conflicting reports from police on the scene, VCU officials, and Richmond Police representatives, as to whom was shot. The most recent statement is that only the victim was shot.**
The vcitim was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries, and the suspect was taken into custody.
Crime in this area is reported by VCU alert systems, in accordance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure Act. The neighborhood is off-campus of the Monroe Park college area.
This is the second morning in a row that there was a shooting in the Carver community, and the third violent overnight event in a row, with notices sent through the VCU alert system.
Cousin of shooting victim says Sam Kwarteng, 20, was a senior at VCU studying in the electrical engineering program
On Thursday, April 13, Samuel Kwarteng, age 20, from Alexandria, Va., was shot and killed during an altercation off campus in the 1200 block of W. Moore Street, just blocks away from the scene of Friday's shooting.
"It is with great sadness that I inform the university community of the tragic death this morning of a VCU student," VCU President Michael Rao said. VCU Counseling was available for any students who needed to discuss the tragedy, Rao added.
On Wednesday, April 12, a there was an overnight armed robbery and home invasion in the 1100 block of W. Grace Street, a block where many VCU students reside. At approximately 2:33 a.m., police said that four or five male individuals forced their way through a rear door and into the apartment.
The suspects, one with a long gun and all but one in ski masks, bound the occupants with duct tape and robbed them of several items, including cash, mobile phones, and a computer.
Suspects in Grace St. home invasion.
The Richmond Police Chief announced Thursday that there will be four community police outreach meetings in April, one in each precinct.
The first meeting will be in the second precinct, from 6 – 8 p.m. on Tuesday, April 18. The location is the Southside Plaza Community Center at 4100 Hull Street Road.
The second meeting will be in the fourth precinct from 6 – 8 p.m., Wednesday, April 19. The location is the Richmond Police Training Academy, at 1202 W. Graham Road.
The third meeting is in the third precinct from 6 – 8 p.m., Tuesday, April 25. The location is First Baptist Church at 2709 Monument Ave.
The last meeting will be held in the first precinct from 6 – 8 p.m., Thursday, April 27. The location is at St. John's Church, at 2401 E. Broad St.
Filed in: Local, News
Suspect arrested in Richmond double shooting that left 1 critically injured
Man wanted for attempted murder after 'deliberate and brutal' gas station shooting
3 men wanted after double shooting during attempted robbery in New Kent
18-year-old arrested after contractor shot during robbery on Northside
2 killed in Richmond on Christmas night
Instagram Local
Men arrested for killing 8-year-old boy
2 teens arrested after girl shot near playground
13 people were shot at a Chicago home, police say
Police 'need' witnesses 'to come forward' in Christmas slaying at Richmond restaurant
Mother grieves for son killed in Richmond restaurant: 'Why be violent? Especially at Christmas.'
Man killed at Henrico home on New Year's; suspect arrested


"All right, Jon....you insisted, so here I am, but I have a pile of work waiting, so I can't give you more than about five minutes." Rachel Torres looked her irritation.
"Look, I'm sorry, Rachel, but you've been putting me off for months, now." Jon sat in her office, a folder crammed with papers clutched in his lap.
"I haven't been putting you off, Jon, I simply don't have anything to tell you."
Without comment, Jon stood, put his folder on the edge of her desk, opened the rings, began pulling out papers and photos, laying them on top of the mound of papers already occupying the surface.
Her eyes opened wide when he pointed out the two photos of the Norman families, told her about his discoveries in Salamanca.
Then he sat down again, and launched into a recitation of his discussions with Dr. Goldsmith and Kip Cantorum.
The clock on the wall had ticked well past twenty minutes by the time he had finished.
The detective sat staring at the paperwork, picked up a photo, perused it, an enigmatic look on her face, laid it back down, stared out the window, frowning.
Jon waited impatiently, staring at her, trying to read her thoughts without success.
At last she sighed, turned back to him. "Jon, I told you before not to go after Crey."
He nodded, solemnly. "Yes, I know that. And you told me that you would drop my case if I did."
"That was no idle threat, Jon."
"I understand." He paused, straightened his shoulders, plunged on with determination. "If you drop my case, I'll understand, you did warn me." He swallowed. "But, Rachel....I can't stop. You have to understand this. I can't run away from the truth any longer. I have to find out. I have to know what happened to me, who did this, and why. If that means that I have to do it alone, that is what I will do. I can't turn my back on this any longer."
He sat quietly, suddenly at peace, waited for her reaction.
"I see," was all she said.
He studied her face, suddenly guessed. "You know something, don't you, Rachel? Something you've been keeping from me." He watched her carefully. "It's about Crey, isn't it?"
She sighed again, covered her mouth with a hand, turned back toward the window.
"You understand," he continued softly, "it doesn't make any difference any more. I'm going after Crey, whether you want me to or not. I have to. I have to find out if there is any connection between me and the Paragon Protectors, and there's no way to investigate them without approaching Crey." He paused. "There's really no reason for you *not* to tell me."
The detective closed her eyes. Jon waited quietly.
At last she turned around to the desk, pushed some papers around, pulled out a file he recognized as his own. She laid it on top of the mound, opened it, began leafing through the sheets, pulled a stapled stack out, stared at it for a moment, handed it to Jon. Then she walked out of the office, pulling the door closed behind her as she went.
Jon watched her, then turned to the sheaf in his hand.
He made out that it was some sort of lab report. He tried reading it from the beginning, but wound up lost in a sea of technical jargon and police terminology. After reading the first paragraph three times, he gave up and began scanning the report, looking for anything he *could* make head-or-tails of.
In the midst of the report, he suddenly realized that what he was holding was a lab report on the tiny scrap of metal that he had gotten from the butcher in Steel Canyon.
He sat forward in the chair, leaned over the paper as he searched it for meaning.
He hardly noticed when Rachel Torres walked back into the office, a cup of coffee in one hand, an open soft drink in the other, which she set on the edge of the desk in front of Jon, settling into her chair and sipping her coffee, her eyes glued to Jon's face.
On the last page, the word "Crey" lept out at him. He read that particular sentence over and over, then began rereading the sentences before and after it.
At last he dropped the report to his lap, sat staring off into space.
Rachel leaned over the desk, tapped the top of the soft drink can.
"No, thanks....." he mumbled, his attention elsewhere.
He blinked, turned to look at her.
"You understand that under normal circumstances, I couldn't let anyone read that report. I'm only giving you special curtesy because you're a registered Hero."
"Yeah, I got that....." He paused, blinked, then, "....thanks...." belatedly.
"Do you understand the report?"
He dragged his attention back into the room, focused on the detective's face. "I'm not sure. Maybe. It's an analysis of that metal piece I brought you."
"And there was something about blood typing, but I'm not sure what the conclusion was on that."
"There were small scratches in the surface, too small to see with the naked eye, but they managed to scrape a bit of blood out of them. The blood matches your DNA, Jon."
He sat bolt upright. "Then...."
"Yes....there is a connection between you and that scrap of metal. We don't know what the connection is, but at least you had some contact with it, physically, the night you were in the alley."
"And the bit about Crey? There was something about a serial number, wasn't there?"
She sighed. "The scratches were actually a partial serial number that had been manufactured into the part, at the microscopic level. There isn't enough to identify the actual part it was broken off from, but yes, what's left of the serial number matches a line of parts manufactured and sold by Crey Industries."


Kyle Coetzer will miss next week's two ODI's against Ireland and Richie Berrington will deputise in his absence.
Coetzer is staying behind to complete his Level Four coaching qualification.
He will return to the squad for the last two ODI's in the series against the UAE later in th short tour.
Scotland are completing fitness testing today before flying to the Middle East on Friday.
They face Ireland on Tuesday and Thursday at the ICC Academy Oval, before facing the hosts on Sunday 21st and Tuesday 23rd.
Head Coach Grant Bradburn told Cricket Scotland Media: "Richie Berrington will captain the team for the two games against Ireland and then assume the vice captaincy for the UAE matches. Richie is highly skilled as a player and hugely respected within our team. It is fantastic that he has agreed to step up into a formal leadership role on this tour, which we believe he will thrive on.


text:
Nirali N. Shah is an American physician-scientist and pediatric hematologist-oncologist, serving as head of the hematologic malignancies section of the pediatric oncology branch at the National Cancer Institute. She researches the translation of immunotherapeutic approaches to treat high-risk hematologic malignancies in children, adolescents and young adults.

Early life and education
Shah was raised in Chicago where her father is an internal medicine physician. She was interested in medicine at a young age. When Shah was 10, she fundraised for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and heard about pediatric oncology. As an undergraduate, she shadowed a pediatric hematologist-oncologist and developed an interest in understanding the complexity of how haematopoiesis is disrupted by leukemia. Shah completed a B.S. in secondary education in chemistry at University of Illinois at Chicago in 2000.

Shah received her M.D. in 2004 from the University of Illinois College of Medicine. Shah subsequently completed a dual residency program in internal medicine and pediatrics at the Harvard Combined Residency program and trained jointly at the Boston Children's Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital, during which time she also served as Chief Resident. She then joined the Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Fellowship joint training program between the National Cancer Institute (NCI), Pediatric Oncology Branch (POB) and Johns Hopkins University and was an Associate Research Physician in the Pediatric Oncology Branch. In 2012, Shah earned a Masters of Health Science in Clinical Research through the joint NIH-Duke University School of Medicine. She completed the American Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation Clinical Research Training Course (2012).

Career
In 2019, Shah was appointed as an NIH Lasker Investigator. She is a member of multiple societies, including the American Society of Hematology, the American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, the Children's Oncology Group, the Therapeutic Advances in Childhood Leukemia & Lymphoma consortium and the Pediatric Blood and Marrow Transplant Consortium. Shah is board certified in General Internal Medicine, General Pediatrics and Pediatric Hematology Oncology.

Research
Shah is a physician-scientist who serves as the head of the hematologic malignancies section of the Pediatric Oncology Branch. Her primary research interests focus on translation of immunotherapeutic approaches to treat high-risk hematologic malignancies in children, adolescents and young adults. She has a particular interest in prevention and treatment of relapsed disease after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Her clinical trials focus on exploring and optimizing chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR-T cell) based strategies and other antibody based therapies to target surface proteins found on leukemia cells to improve outcomes for chemotherapy refractory disease. Additional areas of expertise include pediatric hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in both malignant and non-malignant diseases, development of early phase clinical trials in pediatric oncology, and ethical considerations for inclusion of minors in research. Shah also serves as the NCI Fellowship Program director for the joint Johns Hopkins Hospital-National Cancer Institute Pediatric Hematology-Oncology Fellowship Program.

Her clinical work has included implementation of conduct of several Phase I trials for the treatment of relapsed/refractory pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Prior trials have included a pediatric phase I trial of vincristine sulfate liposomal injections (Marqibo®), a pediatric phase I trial of moxetumomab pasudotox, (an anti-CD22 targeted immunotoxin based therapy), and a pilot trial using WT1 dendritic cell vaccines for the treatment of post-transplant relapsed leukemia. Results from the trials have included establishment of a safety profile, identification of a dose and an understanding of pharmacokinetics leading to development of Phase 2 multicenter studies that she will be leading. More recently she has led the effort in CAR-T cell therapy targeting CD22 for the treatment of relapsed/refractory ALL and will be leading a trial using a combinatorial CD19/CD22 targeted CAR-T cell approach. In addition to her work in leukemia, she also serves to support pediatric transplantation at the NCI by serving as an associate investigator on several transplant trials focused on patients with primary immunodeficiency and is leading the effort on transplantation for children with DOCK8 deficiency in collaboration with investigators in NIAID.

Personal life
Shah speaks English and Gujarati.

Selected works

References

Living people
20th-century births
Year of birth missing (living people)
Place of birth missing (living people)
Scientists from Chicago
Physicians from Illinois
American medical researchers
Cancer researchers
Women medical researchers
21st-century American women scientists
21st-century American women physicians
21st-century American physicians
American oncologists
American hematologists
Women oncologists
Women hematologists
American people of Gujarati descent
American women of Indian descent in health professions
Duke University School of Medicine alumni
University of Illinois College of Medicine alumni
National Institutes of Health people
American physicians of Indian descent

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


This simple 50-Year Perpetual Calendar pocket calculator is intriguing, effective and it's origin goes back 500 years. Calculate the future days of the week, within a 50-year span. Simply rotate the dial, line up selected year with selected month. Locate the date and find the day of the week.


How do you pitch a solution to a problem no one knows about?
How do you pitch the solution to a problem no one knows they have?
How do you pitch a solution to a problem no one knows they have?
Cyber security in your car is quickly becoming a serious threat, and CDK had tons of data to prove it—if only they could win over the audience and get them on-board.
Charts, tables and graphs are good as supporting evidence but don't really hit you in the gut. We excavated the key automotive cyber security messages and wrote a script all about educating, engaging and entertaining.
For inspiration, CDK sent over a 1953 National Safety Council video on distracted driving. Full of amazing but terrible cliches and cheesy animation, the video—with its old-school style and the more-you-know message—provided the perfect springboard for playfully creating awareness.
Our design team took a deep dive through the aesthetic world of mid-century safety videos and retro car commercials. The historical specificities and eccentricities created a world that feels accurate and draws us into the power of the message.
The mock safety video was a great warm up act, providing humor and a spark for kicking off CDK's more serious conversation on automotive cyber security. In both 1950 and today, video is the most engaging medium to convey your message.


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It was the biggest raid in Metropolitan Police history, involving 500 officers and the discovery of more than £35m in cash. But when the officers broke open 6,717 safe deposit boxes in June last year they didn't realise they were unlocking a controversy over the right to freedom and privacy. By Simon Garfield
Simon Garfield
Sat 1 Aug 2009 19.01 EDT First published on Sat 1 Aug 2009 19.01 EDT
police officers on Park Street during the raid investigating money laundering at Park Lane Safe Deposit in London?s Mayfair on 2 June 2008. Photograph: Anthony Devlin/PA Wire/Press Association Images
Nigel Mawer is a large policeman with heavy responsibilities. As acting commander of the Metropolitan Police Specialist Crime Directorate, in recent years his work has encompassed internet fraud protection, child abuse, the cash-for-honours enquiry and the identification of victims after the London bombings. In June 2008, he commenced another spectacular investigation, called Operation Rize - a series of raids on London's privately owned safe deposit boxes. The operation involved almost 500 officers and cost more than £1m, and as he describes the intricacies of its planning, a process that took 18 months of surveillance, you might believe Mawer had seen too many Gene Hackman films. You might also believe something you may not have thought since the age of four: that police work is fun.
Mawer's office computer at New Scotland Yard contains a document which summarises the results of the raids: guns, cocaine, cannabis, forged passports, all denominations of cash, gold, gold dust, jewellery, Dutch paintings, forged banking material and counterfeit bonds. There were also unusual things, such as a builder's hammer, chisel and a pipe wrench wrapped in a cloth, contained in a box that hadn't been opened for 10 years.
The cash amounted to more than £35m. The contents led to ongoing investigations into money laundering, drug dealing, tax fraud, paedophilia, burglary and possession of firearms - almost 1,000 cases in many countries - and Mawer estimates it may take up to 10 years to complete all his intended prosecutions. Operation Rize is the most complex series of raids in Metropolitan Police history, and despite relatively few convictions to date, it may turn out to be one of its most successful. By targeting the smallest of things - a metal container often no bigger than a cereal box - the police claim they have revealed and disrupted a huge world of criminality. But only now, a little more than a year after the raids, is the full story of Operation Rize beginning to emerge. Some of it is indeed a Gene Hackman movie; other parts may suggest something less engaging, and more Orwellian.
The Hampstead Safe Depository located at 575 Finchley Road looks a little like banks before they became concerned about image - dull and foreboding. It sits near the turn-off for the North Circular and M1, the end of a commercial parade that also offers an estate agent and a convenience store. Beyond its glass doors there is a small entrance hall with a sofa where a visitor may wait before visiting their box in the storerooms below, and as they sit they are observed by CCTV. It is a calm place; it is difficult to imagine it under armed police siege.
Mawer and his colleagues had been suspicious of the place for a while - they talked of it as a "key crime enabler". Traditionally, a safe deposit box has always been a place where anything may be kept undeclared from public view, and traditionally the police have always regarded such places with suspicion. "If you're a criminal you can store your pension in there," Mawer says. In recent years, the big banks have gradually closed their safe deposit facilities, finding them not only unprofitable, but also hard to justify in the face of the government's increasingly stringent money laundering regulations. But the private depositories have flourished accordingly, not least Safe Deposit Centres Ltd (SDCL), set up in 1986 with the promise not only of secure premises and a large range of storage options (beginning with an A4-size shallow box for around £100), but also the prospect of discretion and full insurance cover for contents. "If you looked at their original website they basically said, 'No questions asked'," Mawer tells me. "They also offered a money service bureau, post point and safe depository - all the services that criminals actually need. From a laundering perspective it's fantastic. You can move money and change money, you can access it and it's a mail drop as well if you want that to be your business address. So it's quite a nice enterprise..." SDCL set up in Hampstead, and then expanded to Edgware and Mayfair. The more people felt they had to protect or hide, the better they did.
To control the flow of illegality, the managers of safe depositories have been obliged by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) to register their business and report any suspicious behaviour by their customers. But this has only been law since December 2007. The Metropolitan Police has for several years also maintained its own outreach programme with safe depositories, attempting to build up a trusting relationship. Mawer says that although some companies have been accommodating, SDCL was less so ("probably the worst response we got"), and had failed to register with the FSA or report any suspicious activity. His department first approached SDCL three years ago, and began surveillance of its three premises not long afterwards. Solicitors for SDCL refute Mawer's claim, stating that the company has always followed clear industry guidelines.
Operation Rize is a meaningless title, merely the next codename from an automatically generated list at New Scotland Yard. "What was really unfortunate," Mawer says, "was that it turned out to be a town in Turkey, and we didn't know that. They were very upset that we tainted their town." "Now we're doing rocks," says DCI Mark Ponting. "And musical instruments - like Operation Glockenspiel." But the name Operation Rize has since become famous for something else: it marked a legal precedent.
Mawer's ambitions - "We wanted to open every box" - would have been regarded as impossible only three years before, but a change in the law worked in their favour. The Proceeds of Crime Act (2002) allowed for a raid to be conducted on an entire set of premises if enough evidence could be gathered to show that at least some of it was harbouring criminal activity; no longer would a warrant be required to search every room or office, or in this case every box. But because the police could have no advance knowledge about each box holder's property, legitimate or otherwise, the raids would represent an unprecedented development of police practice: to a large extent their actions would be based on guesswork.
The first step was to convince a judge at Croydon Crown Court that the raids would be in the public interest. "This wasn't just a fag-packet job," Ponting told me. "We used all the techniques you'd expect: 24-hour manned surveillance, CCTV, surveillance of the owners, and in the course of that the comings and goings of the box holders." The police gathered evidence on about 200 box holders over 18 months, about a third of whom were suspected of illegal activity. A statistician then extrapolated these findings for the judge, who needed to be convinced that a stringent policy was in place to ensure innocent box holders would be reunited with their property as swiftly as possible.
The warrant application ran to several hundred pages; when it was granted, three weeks before the raids occurred, many other logistical challenges arose. The police had to establish their legal position in the event that claims were made against them by box holders; a secure storage facility had to be found to house an estimated £100m worth of assets; a hotline and information campaign was arranged to handle thousands of enquiries. Then there was the difficulty of breaking into the boxes, and the operation began resembling yet another film, this time by Guy Ritchie. After trying several techniques on dummy boxes, the police chose the sort of angle grinder you would buy at a DIY store, and cut straight lines by the side of the hinges; each box took about two minutes to open. (Another option, drilling the lock, would prove quicker, but would also destroy evidence; if a key was later found in a suspect's possession, it would be the surest way of linking someone to a box's contents.)
Secrecy within the police was another issue. For most of the 500 officers involved, the details of the operation were only revealed when they gathered at an army briefing room on 2 June, the morning of the raids; previously they were only aware they would be required to work the day or night shift for up to a fortnight. A large proportion of the Met's armed officers were required at the three sites and in the transport of money from the premises. "It would have been rather embarrassing if people had turned up with guns and walked in and emptied the depository while we were there," Mawer says. "And very embarrassing if our lorry got robbed en route to the secure store."
They began breaking in at about 3.30pm.
The boxes took 11 days to empty, but such was the haul that a detailed inventory of contents wasn't completed until November. The opening of every box was conducted under a strict protocol. Each of the officers wore forensic suits, with their actions videoed from above and the side. Once the box was removed and checked for explosives, it was levered open and the contents laid on a table for a draft listing; exact quantities of money would only be counted once the contents were labelled, bagged and removed to the secure storage. "The searching conditions were appalling for those officers doing those 12-hour shifts," Mawer recalls. "The lights baking hot, June was a hot month anyway." But at least the work was eventful: "I can remember being in the premises and someone opening a box and saying disappointedly, 'Oh gosh, it's only half-full of money.' You can get quite blase about it."
All told, 6,717 boxes were opened. Of these, 3,549 were seized. The owners of 849 boxes are subject to further enquiries, while the contents of 2,677 have since been restored. As of 23 June 2009, £24.73m has been "detained" pending further investigations and £4.24m has been received by the Inland Revenue. (Of the boxes that were restored, 764 were suspected of having tax irregularities connected with them; a proportion of box owners immediately admitted underpayment of tax, and agreed to pay their stored cash to the Revenue ahead of any criminal proceedings.)
Ponting says that only now is his team concentrating on "top-level" money laundering investigations and the links to drugs dealing. To date, only 45 arrests have been made, and 13 charges brought, but for public relations purposes he has compiled an eye-catching list of successful prosecutions and pending investigations. Some are unnerving, a few are baffling, and others faintly comical.
There is the case of Gavin Leon, 44, whose box was held under a false name at Hampstead Safe Depository and contained a 9mm Glock pistol, cocaine, MDMA and cannabis; he pleaded guilty and was imprisoned for five years for possession of a firearm and a total of 45 months for drugs offences. There was the case of Yaset Berhane, 27, whose box at Park Lane held £122,000 in cash, some of it in marked notes from a drugs sting mounted some months before by the Sussex Police; he was sentenced in March to three years for drug trafficking and two years for money laundering. David Wilson, 38, already under investigation for supplying drugs, was sentenced to two years. Operation Rize revealed £100,000 in a safe deposit box at Edgware, since confiscated, that would have been available on Wilson's release from prison.
Then there was the case of an unnamed person who had £950,000 in a box in the Edgware depository, believed linked to the taxi industry. There were two men arrested after their box at the Park Lane depository revealed an envelope with indecent photographs of children and discs of digital images. There was a box at Hampstead containing £150,000 held by a woman who claimed the money derived from incapacity benefits, although she was later arrested for her part in a London vice ring.
There were the large bags of gold flakes and small nuggets that took two officers to lift, and stolen Dutch paintings that are still being investigated, alongside historical artefacts believed to be from the Middle East. At Hampstead, a box containing a chisel and other builder's tools had no registered owner: "There is clearly a story behind these items; to retain it within a secure facility heightens the suspicion." The majority of the finds came from boxes no larger than a laptop case, but some were stored in lockers containing holdalls and plastic bags. Ponting's list also contained items found at further raids on suspects' homes, such as more drugs, more forged documents, and elephant tusks valued at £40,000.
The day before I met Ponting he had received details of a successful conviction involving a man with several identities. "Only 18 months," he said, "but in the box the individual had a Nigerian passport in his name with a photograph on, a Spanish passport, different name but same photograph, Norwegian passport, different name same photograph, UK passport same name same photograph, Lebanese birth certificate in his name, UK provisional driving licence in a different name. Also, about £100,000, and we've identified six properties in the UK, USA, South Africa and Spain, which are all restrained, so he can't move the money...
"The reality is, whatever you think would be in there is in there," Ponting says. "Everything. Every conceivable form of criminality... Let's be honest, it's been an absolute success."
Others would disagree. The world that Operation Rize uncovered was more than just a repository of criminality; it was also a world of domesticity. Because of the premises' locations, a large proportion of the boxes had Jewish owners, and contained many items of jewellery, gold and other family heirlooms brought to England at the time of the Holocaust; there was also a trend to leave considerable quantities of cash. London's Asians and other minority groups also used the SDCL's premises for secure temporary storage.
The Serious Crime Directorate maintains it has always regarded the return of legitimate property in Operation Rize as its first priority, but this is not how its results are judged. The disruption caused to almost 2,000 box holders with legitimate contents involved not only the effort required to reclaim their own goods, but also an unusual burden of proof. Having filled a box with any items without question over the past two decades, it was now up to the owners to show they were not acting beyond the law. Ponting told me he was "desperate" to reunite seized property with its rightful owners, and that his department made strenuous efforts through local media and community groups to alert people to the correct procedure. "Is what they've got in [the box] reasonable and is the explanation reasonable and is it corroborated? If it is, you've got it back."
But the process of restoration has not always been straightforward. "We anticipated all the calls from innocent box holders wanting their contents back," says Mawer. "But what we didn't anticipate was all the bad guys calling us up, too. 'I'm going on holiday this weekend and I need my passport.' And when you opened the box up there wasn't even a passport in it. There was a phenomenal amount of people who were concerned about the contents who were desperately trying to lie to us to get it back. It swamped the call centre. If it had only been legitimate calls we would have managed."
Mawer is fond of one particular call his office received regarding the return of jewellery. "It was needed for a wedding in India that weekend, so we fast-tracked the box and got it to the family in time. But there's a network out there, so every single other person who also had jewellery in a box also came in and said that they also had a wedding in India that weekend." (Owners received no compensation for the disruption, but were offered free storage for a year on police premises.)
As so often with criminal activity, the chief beneficiaries of Operation Rize may be the lawyers. Several firms have been engaged by box holders to assist them in the restoration of their property or defend themselves against allegations that their contents are suspicious. "There are a lot of very angry people," one solicitor told me on the condition of anonymity. "When you start renting a box you have to fill out a simple form and produce some ID, and you don't expect to have to prove the contents are yours perhaps years later. If you have a quantity of cash which you have saved legitimately, it can be very hard to remember exactly how you came by it."
And so Operation Rize has turned from a dramatic large-scale raid into an issue of daily freedoms. Solicitors will now argue the civil liberties case in court, questioning to what extent a law-abiding public should suffer in the name of diligence and safety. While disruption is tolerated at airports and the entrance to public buildings, how should we check new encroachments lest they become the norm? In the case of Operation Rize, they may reasonably argue that public disruption and cost has been a secondary consideration in pursuit of money laundering. "We know we've had a significant effect on serious and organised crime both nationally and internationally," Mawer told me, but he admits this is a hard thing to quantify.
When the Daily Mail ran a story about Operation Rize a few days after the raids in June 2008, its website asked readers for their comments. They were varied. "The ultimate in big brother," concluded Allan from Poole. "What next, raid everyone's houses in the excuse of searching for criminals? Surely they should have needed a warrant for each box. After spending two years investigating they should know who they are going after. This country gets scarier and scarier every day." Janet from Bromley commented on a "brilliant job - well done to the police, who are doing this fantastic work which hopefully will deter these greedy crooks." Tyler Dobson from Austin USA thought "Orwell is alive and well in the UK," while S Nisbet from Seaton wrote, "Now this is in the open, I'm just waiting to hear from the Human Rights mob and Cherie's chambers cashing in with more court cases at our expense..."
So where should one put one's valuables now? For an organisation that depends on secrecy and concealment to work effectively, the police force has always frowned upon institutions and individuals who do likewise, and has always regarded those in possession of large amounts of cash as the probable beneficiary of illegal activity. But we live in turbulent times, and since the run on Northern Rock in September 2007, those who for a lifetime have kept money in the banks and building societies have looked for other, less volatile possibilities; with negligible interest rates for savers, the safe deposit box has become a realistic option.
Perhaps Operation Rize has destroyed this possibility, or perhaps it has made legitimate storage safer. The FSA has sharper teeth since the raids exposed wrongdoing; there is talk of installing cameras even in the private rooms where customers open their boxes. "We've changed the face of the industry," Mawer says. (In June's birthday honours, he was awarded the Queen's Police Medal.) "The question is, where will the criminals go next? Some will keep it under the mattress. Some will bodypack it out of the country, and you've also got things like the Big Yellow self-store."
But at the Hampstead Safe Depository everything appears to be running smoothly again, and it is believed to be complying with FSA regulations. Its solictors say they "are fully co-operating, and will continue to do so, with the current investigation." Its three directors, arrested on suspicion of money laundering, are bailed until their appearance at a London police station in the second week of September.
The visitor to the Finchley Road premises today is greeted by a young woman who runs through the business of renting a new box with some enthusiasm. The first door will be opened by a security guard, the next by your swipecard and pincode, she explains. There are two unique keys to your box, and if you lose one you forfeit the £100 deposit as a replacement is made; if you lose both, the lock will be drilled and a new one inserted, but that can get expensive. The place is open 362 days a year. You need a passport and a recent utility bill. The smallest available boxes have gone up in size and price - a 305 x 480 x 60mm document box now costs £30 per month or £180 per year plus VAT. Beneath the gaze of many cameras, the assistant walks downstairs to explain how the keys work, and the boxes are all pristine.
At the end of my visit she gives me a leaflet showing prices and opening times, but it was a little out of date. At the top was a logo of a heavily barred gate guarded by two centurions, an image that might have come from a medieval colouring book. There was also a paragraph that had been scribbled out about the provision of "free and low cost insurance up to £30,000" (they now offered no insurance at all). And then there was the old slogan beneath the company name. "Convenient confidential safekeeping" it read - none of it as true as it was.


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Termination Fee May Not be Sole Remedy for Termination of Merger Agreement
By Francis Pileggi on October 7, 2019 Posted in Chancery Court Updates
A recent Delaware Court of Chancery opinion allowed a claim to proceed based on the theory that a termination fee for a merger agreement was not the sole remedy for breach of contract. In Genuine Parts Co. v. Essendant, Inc., C.A. No. 2018-0730-JRS (Del. Ch. Sept. 9, 2019), the court discussed a very fact-specific, contract-based reason why the termination fee was not the sole remedy for a potentially willful breach of the merger agreement.
The non-solicitation provision in the merger agreement had a "fiduciary-out" which was subject to various parameters and notice requirements. There was also a "willful breach" exception to the termination fee as a sole remedy.
In addition, the target-company met with another suitor before signing the merger agreement despite: (i) a representation that there were no other suitors; and (ii) no notice or disclosure of that pre-agreement meeting being made.
The claims included breach of contract because the competing bid that was accepted was allegedly not a superior bid.
Highlights of Court's Analysis:
The court explained that non-solicitation provisions are routine, and that there is no per se prohibition about a non-solicitation provision as long as there is a "safety valve" that allows for a board to consider a superior offer. See Slip op. at 23-24, and footnotes 76-78.
The court distinguished a prior Chancery decision, which had materially different terms in the applicable agreement, where the court determined that a losing bidder was unlikely to get specific performance beyond the termination fee. See Cirrus Holding Co. v. Cirrus Industries, Inc., 794 A.2d 1191 (Del. Ch. 2001).
By contrast, the court did follow the reasoning of another Chancery decision that found, based on the terms of the contract in that case, that a termination fee was not an exclusive remedy. See NACCO Industries, Inc. v. Applica, Inc., 997 A.2d 1 (Del. Ch. 2009).
Tags: Delaware commercial litigation, delaware litigation, francis pileggi, Sole remedy, termination-fee Print


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The new bins (middle and right) were piloted in the Flushing neighborhood of Queens this past summer. (Courtesy of NYC Department of Sanitation/Group Project) Courtesy of NYC Department of Sanitation/Group Project
New York City Unveils a Next-Generation Trash Can
Linda Poon
The winner of the BetterBin design competition is easier for sanitation workers to lift and deters bulk trash-dumpers. It could replace the ubiquitous green litter basket.
New Yorkers may not think much about the 23,000 steel litter baskets scattered around the city. "It's a piece of street furniture that we take for granted," says Robin Nagle, the in-house anthropologist at the New York City Department of Sanitation and an urban studies professor at New York University.
In use since the 1930s, the bins are ubiquitous but problematic: They weigh 30 pounds when empty, which means that garbage collectors have to lift as much as 100 pounds when they empty them. (In fact, garbage collectors hold one of the most dangerous jobs in the country, with a fatal injury rate of 33 deaths per every 100,000 workers, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.) The wide opening of the mesh bin allows trash to blow away and invites residents and business owners to dump bulky waste inside. The city's notorious rats easily climb in and out of the baskets. And their aesthetics are not to everyone's liking. As one reader put it to New York Magazine in 1972, "it's really pretty ugly."
Earlier this month, the city announced a new design for public waste bins following its year-and-a-half-long "BetterBin" competition, which drew over 200 submissions. The winning entry, by a design studio called Group Project, is sleeker, with a heavy-duty plastic bin partly nestled inside a metal stand.
The winning design features a removable bin that will ease the job of sanitation workers. (Courtesy of NYC Department of Sanitation/Group Project)
The outer material can weather the daily grind of the streets of New York, according to Group Project team leader Colin Kelly, while the inner bin is removable and weighs only 10 pounds, making it easy for sanitation workers to empty it into their trucks. A cross bar at the top of the basket functions as both a hinge for the lid and a barrier to stop people from dumping bulk and household trash—which often overflowed the bins.
The city will put the new bins to the test early next year to see how they hold up to New York winters. After more tweaks, the department hopes to send out the final product for mass production, although Kathryn Garcia, the city's sanitation commissioner, says there is no timeline for that yet.
Two finalists made it to the second stage of the competition—the runner-up featured handles for sanitation workers to grab. The decision ultimately came down to how the bins functioned when they were piloted in Flushing in Queens this past summer.
"At the end of the day, the [winning] design really met a lot of requirements, everything from durability to [being] lightweight, but still strong enough to not get blown over in strong winds," says Garcia, adding that it met the cost limit of roughly $200. She also notes that the plastic was good at resisting damage when workers banged it against the truck while emptying the contents.
The days of New York City's ubiquitous green trash bin may be numbered. (Eric Thayer/Reuters)
For such a seemingly simple piece of street furniture, the design process wasn't easy, says Kelly. "A trash can for the home is one thing, but designing a trash can for millions of people to see every day and for the amount of the abuse, and wear and tear, was a challenge for sure." (New York is a city of 8.6 million people.) There's a lot to think about aside from understanding how garbage collectors handle the bins. For example, after the initial pilot test, Kelly's team had to tweak their design to improve drainage on rainy days.
Contest entrants also attempted to solve another problem: litter. It's not uncommon to find overflowing baskets and trash strewn along New York's sidewalks, sometimes blocking the way of pedestrians. At least one report has named the Big Apple the dirtiest city in America.
In fact, the sanitation department has been trying to solve this problem for decades. The first reported trash-bin design contest held by the city dates back to 1930, says Nagle. The winning entry—a metal bin attached to a post on the street—is not what is in use today, but the winner, an art student from Chicago,was awarded $500. The city also came up with a few amusing anti-littering campaigns during the latter half of the 20th century. These included a talking trash bin called Lively Louie (the voice was provided by a live person hiding behind the receptacle) and a cartoon character named Phil D. Basket. None effectively changed public behavior, though. "There has not been enough research done on the socio-cultural understanding of how we [litter]," says Nagle.
Carefully, Japan Reconsiders the Trash Can
Allan Richarz
How #Trashtag Inspired People to Clean Up Their Parks
Britain's Beautiful Garbage Bins
Nagle is skeptical that the litter basket's redesign will change people's behavior, but she says these competitions aren't futile. At the very least, they help raise public awareness, especially at a time when civic pride and protecting the environment are increasingly among people's top issues. "Any kind of effort like this is always one piece of a larger strategy," she says, adding that the city needs to better enforce anti-littering rules while amping up public education about waste.
@linpoonsays
Linda Poon is a staff writer at CityLab covering science and urban technology, including smart cities and climate change. She previously covered global health and development for NPR's Goats and Soda blog.
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